With one leap, I went from the shitty street lit by golden streetlights to the even shittier dark, foul smelling sewers below.

The weight of the metal Cat and all the weapons attached to my shoulder wasn't that big a deal. I wouldn't blame Yur for it, given that it was the only way she'd be able to help out like this. The manhole entrance wasn't big enough for her, but at least she was makin' an effort.

My orange shoes clacked against the stone as I landed in this Godsforsaken place, makin' me once again glad I'd taken the group's advice not to come in sandals. Before I darted after the others, I took one last glance in Yur's direction. As expected, she wasn't wastin' a moment turning away to follow us on street level. I'd need to keep up with the group while conservin' energy to make sure she could track us. If I sprinted ahead of the group, she wouldn't be able to do a thing. In the worst case scenario, I'd need her help, one way or another.

What really pissed me off was that I could see that pansy [Witch] floatin' on her decked out broom above ground. She was able to fit, but she wasn't flyin' down here to help. What the Abyss was her excuse? Even I was takin' the fall and helpin' with this stupid rescue mission despite my [Enhanced Senses] makin' this a living nightmare that not even the best efforts of a Horror could top.

I growled to myself, teeth grinding together as I darted after the group, running over a path of green stone while leaving my one known path to the surface behind.

Just like that place we'd entered this cursed city from, the sewer was predictably a dump. Moss on the walls, rivers of waste and sludge, and the smell. I kept close to the walls despite the moss given it was farthest from the river of waste and whatever was living in that waste. Any sorta river was somethin' to keep a distance from, even one in the sewers.

One arm sat over my face, but that didn't make this place much easier to bear. The smell was the worst of it, but a place like this was bound to be a habitat for monsters even inside a city's walls. It was dark, disgusting, and dangerous. The only thing illuminatin' this place was the light of familiar [Mantles] ahead of me. Would it have fuckin' killed this big ass city to get some sort of enchantment or sets of runes to make this place not smell like the worst place to be on all of Alvelotyl?

Bad as all this stuff was, it crippled me in combat too. As if the Gods themselves wanted to take a big crap on my effectiveness in places like this, my magic was worse here. If I used my Heat Magic, I'd make the smell even worse. In the worst case scenario, I could end up letting loose a flame in the middle of a gas filled area to cause a damn explosion. It wouldn't hurt me as much as the monsters, but chances were it'd cause damage for the settlement and land me a fine. Or worse.

It was a double edged sword, one made even worse by the personal Abysses I'd strapped to myself.

"[Go straight ahead and be ready to turn. I can see the Aerasthetic Casters down the corridor, they've just taken a right.]" came Yur's voice from the Cat on my shoulder, her echoed words projecting to me and those ahead.

Her voice was... different, somehow, but I needed to focus. There was no way in Abyss I was openin' my mouth to reply if I didn't need to. Instead, I created a ball of [Light], an orange beacon that flew down the corridor ahead of the group, illuminatin' a lot of details in the river of sludge I didn't need to see. The others got the message, and turned when the ball did.

Maybe it would've been a smarter idea not to bother with this retrieval mission, but I couldn't stand the thought of these people getting away for free again. We'd captured two of 'em, but that wasn't enough. The other people in the Star might've been able to manage it, but I hadn't worked with 'em like this before. I had no way to know how truly competent they were in the field, and I wasn't leaving this up to a gamble. Not like the Don seemed to be willin' to do.

Even if they couldn't save that lethargic bastard who'd let himself get caught, it would've felt... wrong to just let the rest of 'em take the fall when I could've potentially done somethin'. Especially since Aerasthetic had fucked with all of us, not just those that were in the Star before Equinox arrived. I know Yur would've done more if she could, at least.

If not for the threat of war, Fareel mightn't have disappeared.

Cursing this whole damn situation, I pulled the arm away from my face to focus on keepin' my running form right. I felt my eyes begin to water as the stench filled my nose, but the sweat drippin' down my head was more worrying. The night's work and constant fighting was starting to take its toll. I'd taken stray cuts and been struck plenty of times durin' the night because that shitty Deer kept chasin' me around the gambling hall! If not for his Snow Magic and the crap it did to me last time, that fight would've been simple. Yur had the advantage of being a long range Caster. She didn't have to get into the thick of things to be effective.

Bad as it felt, the fatigue was... alright. The smell was awful, I was glad to finally get another chance to push this body. I'd put my own restrictions in place to make sure I got the most out of my growth, but-

Nah. I needed to focus on keeping up with the group. The last thing I wanted was to be separated down here, or run into a trap alone like an idiot. I doubted anything could take us down as a group, and I didn't want to get lost. Not here, and not for Languish's sake. Now that Yur had given us directions and we'd started closin' the distance, I could hear the echoes of their footsteps further down the tunnel. The chase was easy, if a pain.

Either way, I was gonna have a long, hot shower when I got back. If nothin' else, I could at least look forward to the knowledge that I could purge all this stink off me.

"They're slowin' down! Might be reinforcements up ahead!" Shafu called out from the middle of the group. She was right. "Could be a monster attack too, so be ready for anythin'! Slimes, Giant Rats, Sewer Alligators, that sort of thing!"

"S-Sewer what?" Streiphen called back with shock on his face. The pipsqueak had been stickin' beside me the whole time. He looked a little tired too, but he was keepin' up. When all was said n' done, he'd come a long way.

I was glad he'd asked, too. We didn't have anythin' like that back in Addersbrook, but I wasn't about to let any more stink enter my system if I didn't have to.

"[I've done some research on the city's fauna. They're a form of giant Alligator that live beneath larger settlements. They should have white scales, so they'll be easy to spot if we keep an eye on the water,]" Yur informed us.

"Can we leave that to your zone then?" Incognito called back.

"[I'll try, but... I've got my hands full trying to follow on the surface. It isn't easy.]"

I couldn't imagine it was. Not for someone that didn't have the luxury of hoppin' around rooftops and over the city streets.

Hearin' Yur talk to the others from my shoulder, I felt certain that the Cat was... weird. I knew the thing was supposed to based on me or whatever, but the thing creeped me the Abyss out. The voice and way of speakin' was Yur's, but it was... a little different.

Maybe I was just bein' paranoid, but I couldn't help it.

My ears shot up as the sound of screams and beastial roars bounced down the halls. Jackpot.

"You still there, Yur? Slow down if y'need to, battle's comin'," I told her, pinching my nose before whispering with as minimal a movement as I could.

"[Understood. I'll focus more on the Cat now, Sigura,]" she... replied.

Yeah. It wasn't just me. Her voice sounded a little different. I didn't blame the others for not pickin' it up. They hadn't known Yuri for as long as I had, but it sounded like... a younger version of Yur? It was a little higher pitched. More... ambiguous? Whatever was up with it, it sounded a little less her, and that freaked me out. I didn't know whether that was normal for speakin' through Familiars or not, but that didn't stop the weird vibe the thing gave off.

As we turned down another sewer corridor while running over a metal grate acting as a bridge, my eyes caught up with my ears. I could see what was goin' on to cause all that noise.

Yet another waste of space had appeared to block us off. More of those Aerasthetic Goons were in the middle of fightin' off a trio of massive albino Crocodiles. Err... Nah, not Crocodiles. They had to be the Alligators Shafu'd been blabbin' on about. They had snow-white scales that didn't look right against the green sewer water, and I saw the flash of [Releases] as the Goons tried to keep them from hamperin' the Caster group. Lucky for us, it slowed them down enough for us to close some of the distance.

"H-How'd they even fuckin' get into a city like this anyway?!?" I called out, mentally readying myself as the orange and gold edged [Mantle] around me thickened like a burnin' sunset.

"Resourceful, aren't they?" Incognito grinned, clenching both hands into fists before shooting twin [Releases] down the corridor, flashy blue shockwaves with ripples of other colours along the edges at the reinforcements. Two were knocked over, allowing the roaring 'Gators to get closer to the Casters and the two prone bodies that Gorilla Golem were carryin'.

"Stall them!" that bastard Snowman roared from the front of the group. "We won't grow if we don't fight! This is just yet another step in your growth!"

I couldn't tell if he'd used a Skill or somethin', because those started fightin' even harder to knock the Alligators away from a cluster of conjured barriers with blasts of [Release].

Idiots. Nothing but a bunch of stupid bastards. They wouldn't get a damn boost in power if they just died here. These things were monsters, not people. Alligators won't play by the same rules we do. Maybe they deserved as much, given that they didn't wanna play by the rules either.

As much as I wanted to ignore the damn Monsters and those useless Goons, the others couldn't leap over 'em the same way I could. Closin' the gap would've been easy if the others had agility like mine, but of course the one person who could've just flown over 'em all had bailed on us.

Gritting my teeth, I kept myself from goin' in alone. My blood boiled and cried out for a fight, but I didn't want to fight all those Casters on my own. If I fought as hard as I could, maybe I could beat 'em, but there was still the chance I lost. If that happened, I'd get captured too, and there was no way I was doin' that for the Star. Especially not for Languish.

"They enter the city shortly after hatching from eggs!" Ingrim informed me, pulling the trident from his back. "They're born small enough to fit through the bars! It's important to take them down quickly before more monsters arrive!"

Maybe I'd asked out of anger, but I couldn't give a damn how these monsters got here. All that mattered was that they were here.

As much as I wanted to punch somethin', I didn't want my hands gettin' any dirtier than they already had attacking these things. Golden light flared around my hands as I shaped them into a pair of [Light Swords], swinging at the closest Alligator. The reinforcements were small fry, but these things were a real threat. Not for me, maybe, but for the others. If one of 'em got injured, others would have to stay behind to protect them.

Their scales were tougher than I expected, but the blade cut into 'em. The resistance behind their scales and meat only made it harder to complete the slash, but I managed it. Turning, I blocked the blade of a Goon that turned their attention towards me. Bastards were all too willin' to bite the hand that fed 'em.

"[Spiral Crimson]!" Shafu shouted, lifting both of her arms.

With the sleeves down, a collection of red lights activated all along the Darkling's prosthetic limbs. With a flash of light, thin beams of red shot out in all directions, splitting apart in erratic motions as they landed all throughout the corridor. Some struck the ground, some sent splashes of sewage flying into the air, and another trio knocked away the Alligator in front of me, the man next to me, and almost me. I ducked as the shot went straight for my head, stunned and angry at the fact that I needed to dodge her attack at all.

"Aim your shit better, Shambles! You tryin' to fuckin' start with us too?" I roared, leg snapping out to kick another Goon against the sewer walls.

"Chaotic specialty, Sunburst! Can't aim it that well!" Shafu replied with a grin, as though that was a good enough excuse.

Annoyin' as it was, I couldn't say it wasn't effective. The others seemed to know to dodge and look towards Shafu when she casted the damn thing, since they were able to avoid the blasts with little issue as the lights branched out further and further, hitting many of the Goons present while shattering the barriers holding us back.

I couldn't use my magic, and I was carryin' a lot of weight alongside this heavy metal Cat on my shoulder. But this was manageable. We had this.

Some of that weight lifted from my body as a collection of knives and short rods of metal took to the air, flying towards the Alligator closest to me. The metal curved mid-flight, piercing both of the Alligator's eyes.

I couldn't help but grin. Yur was helpin' even from here.

With their barriers down, those idiot Goons went on the offensive. Ignoring the roaring, thrashin' Alligator, three of them jumped me. Twin streams of golden light swung up as I blocked two blades with my own, but I couldn't get a leg up to block the third strike as he hit me in the stomach with both fists.

"[Heavy Blow]! [Release]!" the Goon shouted.

Easy as these bastards were to take down, some of 'em still packed a punch. He knocked me off the bank, sending me hurtling towards the sewage. I was not gonna let myself get coated by muck, and I was fallin' fast from all the weight I was carrying.

"[Sky Step]!" I roared, kicking against the air. I wasn't in a good enough spot to go straight up, so I needed to push myself farther.

I flew to the other side of the sewer's banks, smashing hard against the wall. It was a clumsy maneuver, one that left cracks in the wall and stars in my eyes. Rage bubbled inside me as one hand went to my head. Both of the shitty [Light Swords] I'd made had been dispersed too. He'd broken my concentration long enough for them to vanish.

With a flash of red light, the bastard Goon flew over the bank after me, his two pals not far behind. I felt the metal orb embedded in my chest burn as they landed on the bank. Did they think I was that fuckin' weakened, that they could press the attack this hard? If they were so damn confident, maybe they could handle somethin' more heavy.

Swerving around the blade swing of one Goon, my arm snapped out, punching the man right in the chest. He recoiled from the blow, stumbling back unsteadily with wide eyes. As much as it pained me, the sound of bone cracking made me feel better. I didn't want to waste time on these fuckin' idiots, but I couldn't just hit full force either. We couldn't be the first to properly break the truce.

I let my body work on reflexes alone as I dodged and fought back, focusing only on pullin' my punches whenever I felt my muscles tense a little too much before a hit.

Holding back against them pissed me off, but I knew it had to be done to make all this work. After knocking the others back and to the ground, I saw the Goon with the damaged ribs hobbling away, fighting to catch his breath.

"Chasin' me like that and not even willin' to finish the job?" I asked him, my voice lower than I thought it'd sound. More predatory. I grit my teeth with a wince, leaping back over the bank before landing on the back of the massive Alligator, swinging my fists down into it with enough force to crack its durable body. I didn't need to hold back against monsters.

'All things are gifts from the Gods'. That was what that cheapskate asshat Goliath said the moment we went into the casino. If that was the case, then why the Abyss was I so quick to anger? Some 'gift' that was. Then there was that Halfling from the store. That Alima woman said I shouldn't bottle this shit up, but the second I let it out, a guy gets cracked ribs.

My hands glowed a deep orange-gold as I continued to pummel the thrashing Alligator, running and jumping along its form to keep my balance.

In the midst of one jump, it roared. I stared down into its gaping maw and sharp teeth. For an instant, I wasn't in the sewer. My body was younger, smaller, and weaker. Clutching an arm torn to pieces by a different giant monster with a mouth full of fangs.

I roared back at the Alligator, my [Mantle] sharpening.

When I let that anger out, everything went to shit. It wasn't something I could just 'funnel' creatively or productively. It was a destructive force. The moment I gave it any leeway, it exploded violently.

Raising one leg, I snapped the limb down in a vicious axe-kick, sending the blades Yuri had stabbed into the creature's eyes even deeper. With one last guttural roar that forced me to push both Cat-like ears atop my head down, the monster collapsed against the banks of the sewer, sending more sewage spilling over the side.

My breathing was faster now, and my body trembled with... excitement. There were only two Alligators left, but would that be enough to work this out of my system? I couldn't just let loose on the Goons, no matter how much I wanted to give chase. My blood boiled with heat that I couldn't let out in a sewer, and I felt like I was going to burst.

"[Good job Sigura, but the enemy is getting away. We need to-]"

"Yeah, yeah. Shut it, Yur, I've got this," I breathed out, looking towards the others to shout. "I'm going on ahead! I'll-!"

My words were drowned out by echoing squeaks rolling down the halls. The Goons I could spot turned to look as a cluster of Giant Rats appeared, scurrying along the stone walkways to clog the path, each one covered in dark blue fur.

This was a relief. I could expend all my anger on these things, but... There were a lot of them. If I wasted time indulging in my anger here, the enemy would get away. It hurt, but I knew I'd be even more pissed later if I let that happen. I had to choose the lesser of two evils, or I'd be burned up.

"I'm going on ahead! The rest of you, hold 'em off!" I shouted, leaping off the Alligator as I began to give chase once again. The enemy hadn't gone far. I could still hear the echoes of their footsteps. Without having to keep pace with the group, I could catch them.

"I'll accompany you, Sunburst!" Overcharge hollered back, punching a Goon across the bank and away from the Rats as electricity crackled over his form.

"As will I. The others have this handled, yes?" Pack Rat added, flicking his fingers out to send a multitude of [Releases] flying forth to push back the Goons as one of his blueish portals opened up, letting him jump inside to warp next to me.

I didn't want other people to come with me, I-

"I'll come too, Miss Sunburst!" Streiphen added, as that weird black smoky stuff wrapping around him as he avoided a roaring Alligator's maw.

"No! You stay here and help, Streiphen!" I called back as the two arrived at my side. "You're good at this shit, Pipsqueak! They need you here too!"

Streiphen hesitated for a moment, but turned back towards the approaching Giant Rats.

"O-Okay, Miss Sunburst! Good luck!" the boy called out, standing alongside Ingrim against the approaching horde.

I wasn't waiting for anyone else. I didn't want to wait for these two either, but they had already made it to my side by the time I turned around to run.

"I'm not slowin' myself again for you two," I huffed, feeling a bead of sweat dripping down my face. "I'm catchin' them."

"You're more kind hearted than you give yourself credit for, Sunburst. Letting the boy stay behind like that during a chase like this," Overcharge commented with a smile as the three of us turned a corner in unison.

"I don't want him to see this shit if it goes wrong," I replied darkly, scrunching my eyes closed. "If Aerasthetic decide they prefer a corpse to a hostage."

Or what might happen if this boiling anger in me ends up causing me to do something I didn't want my teammates seeing.

The three of us picked up speed. These two bastards had stamina to spare and they were keeping up with me. I wasn't going at full speed, but still. Maybe I was restricting myself too much if the old Rat and this big lug could actually keep up.

Them, and Yur, but she was on my shoulder.

The commotion that vanished into nothing behind us was soaking the attention of monsters and other reinforcements whose shouts echoed down the tunnel, letting us chase unimpeded as the larger group of Aerasthetic's bastards got closer and closer.

"-most there! Make it to the top!" came the voice of that damnable Reindeer freak from a tunnel adjacent to ours.

The top? Were they climbin' up a ladder already? Gritting my teeth, I poured more energy into my legs, straining the muscles as I darted ahead, kicking up dust as I skidded around a corner before coming to a stop.

Moments later, the two idiots following me caught up. The enemy's footsteps weren't echoing down the halls anymore. Turning a corner, we saw them standing on a tall incline above us, panting and shivering from their run up the steep slope. Weak bastards. The fact that they'd escaped this far was a fuckin' disgrace.

The Gnome kid was sittin' on an unfolded plate of metal on the back of his mech. Firecracker and Sparks were shivering from the exertion, lookin' like they were about to pass out. Now would've been a good time to betray Aerasthetic and slow 'em down for us, but clearly they weren't fuckin' thinking. Idiots. Snowman stood next to a set of levers jutting out from a metal panel, one that was barely hanging off its hinges. It had been yanked open by force, and it was easy to figure out it had to be connected to the closed valve further down the slope.

It didn't take a genius to see out what they were doing.

"End of the... line, Velvet Star. This is where you meet your end," Snowman huffed as the eyes of my allies widened. We'd been led into a trap. They weren't trying to escape, they were trying to set up a situation to kill us with. To open that valve and drown us in sewage while they had the high ground.

A proper declaration of war.

He grabbed the lever furthest to the right, and the rage within me boiled brighter than ever. My vision turned orange and red, obscured completely by a flaring, uncontrolled [Mantle]. There was no fuckin' way I was letting that be how I went out.

"Stop!" I roared at them, already feeling like I could go louder. More ferocious and intimidating. The well could go deeper. "YOU FUCKIN' MOVE YOUR ARM AN INCH AND I'LL KILL ALL OF YOU!"

The sheer emotion behind the words felt amazing to let out of my system, and the stunned reactions of allies and some enemies alike made it even more worthwhile.

"Empty words mean nothing to me, Chimera," Snowman replied coldly, even though he'd taken a half step back from my words. I felt a toothy grin spread across my face from that, satisfaction helping to push back the sweat and growing fatigue. His body language gave it all away. He knew I was serious. "You can't reach us before I pull my arm-"

I couldn't. I was fast, but I was tired, and he didn't need to move much. But I didn't need to move to kill them all. I'd been in these shitty sewers for long enough, both here and back in Addersbrook, to know exactly how to do this.

"Don't waste my time! You maggots have done your research and you know what my magic is! Heat and fire! You open that valve and there'll be enough gas in here for me to fuckin' blow this entire region sky fuckin' high!" I roared back, pointing a claw tipped finger at their group.

Snowman's eyes widened, and he turned to say something to the Triton pair, Sink and Swim. Annoying bastards. I couldn't tell what he was saying, and I didn't know whether that was because of the distance between us or the ringing cackle in my ears. Was I laughing? They shook their heads in creepily coordinated unison. Trying to escape with their abilities? Good fuckin' luck outspeeding an explosion.

"You wouldn't dare, Sunburst. Your allies are still here in the tunnels. Even if you have a way to shield those two, you can't protect all of them," Snowman retorted, his eyes hard as they locked onto me. "All of these tunnels are within our reach."

"I don't have a way to shield anyone, not even me," I retorted, a mad grin on my face. He needed to know that I could do this. That I would do it if I had to. That I was someone he needed to be worried about. This was how I'd live. "If we're gonna die by drownin' in sewage anyway then what's the fuckin' problem? Why shouldn't we all go to the afterlife together with a bang? That'd be a better way to go out anyway. If you don't believe me you fuckin' Deer bastard then try. me."

This felt... I didn't know. It felt right, and it felt wrong. Everything felt right, but there was a nagging feeling that wouldn't go away. It wasn't an easy feeling to describe, but it was an annoying one. I could die in this sewer, here and now, but I felt... better. In control. My body screamed at me to lunge. My Soul roared at me to cast. The glowing sphere in my chest felt hotter than ever, while my body grew hotter.

But I still felt uncertain.

Was this what that Gambol bastard and that Alima woman meant? Was this what I needed? I was 'channeling' my anger and using this little gift from the Gods like they'd said. For better or worse, this was my gift. Anger, rage, and the willingness to do whatever the fuck I needed to do to make it through this.

Snowman's arm was trembling.

"Fine. We'll both live another day, Sunburst. If you stay here for too long, we'll have others pull the valves and flood the sewer elsewhere. You may save your ally, but the lives of your group elsewhere will be lost. If we must sacrifice Goons to defeat the Velvet Star's Casters, then so be it," Snowman said, his expression hard and stone-faced.

I chuckled at that. Cackled. They were trying to bargain with us now. How fuckin' desperate was that? They'd set up some big trap to kill us, and we'd thrown it back in their faces. He was back-pedaling, and I was going to leap on that with everything I had.

"Someone needs to put your damn group in your place, Snowman! You think I won't chase you down the second you take your hand off that valve, then-"

Someone grabbed my shoulder. My claws snapped out, head whirling around to see-

Overcharge.

"This will have to do, Sunburst. I am as... eager as you to save Languish, but we cannot sacrifice the lives of our allies," he told me, his voice and expression stiff. Devoid of his usual smile. "We need to use the time they're escaping to regroup and leave the sewers with our teammates until others can flush out any lingering Goons."

He wanted to leave. My face snapped around to look towards Pack Rat, and the Roden refused to meet my eyes. They wanted to leave.

They were standing this close. Their best chance of retrieving Languish would be to give them a running start, and then rush them down before they could get back to the lever. They might have allies elsewhere they could contact quickly with [Message] or [Telepathy], but that would give us an opportunity to attack as they diverted their focus to-

The metal Cat sitting on my shoulder shifted its weight, rising its head with empty eyes and a still expression. Had Yuri not been moving or close enough to listen before now?

"[I'm sorry, you all suddenly sped up, so I lost time trying to catch up to you and re-establish a connection. What happened?]"

She sounded regretful. Yuri was concerned for the group.

"Hrr... We have come to a stalemate, Homebound. We were just about to leave," Pack Rat replied to her [Telepathy]. His words were stiff, leaving no room for argument.

"[A stalemate?]" Yuri asked in that weird, childish voice, her voice brimming with concern. Even through that weird tone, she sounded desperate. Not to take down the enemy, I suspected, but to save Languish.

Languish. Languish. Languish.

Why? She wasn't even here in person, and her life wasn't in danger, yet she sounded more grounded and 'here' than I felt. All I had was bubbling anger and excitement, and her words felt more... real. Yuri. The person who'd sealed their emotions away back in Addersbrook, and had only recently been exposed to the full brunt of them. Languish was a nobody to her. Just a coworker.

I used to see Yur as someone detached and calm, but now she was different. She was more vibrant and interesting, but less... easy to predict? Less stable and reliable. The old Yuri would've accepted the risk to get the most out of victory. This wasn't her.

I took a deep breath of vile sewer air, and the sickening feeling in my gut intensified. There wasn't nearly as much compassion in my own voice than hers. I felt indifferent about these people, but Yuri didn't. Or... I didn't know how I felt. Or how she felt. My head was a mess now that the adrenaline was starting to wear off. The heat was dying down.

"We should regroup and inform the Don of recent events," Overcharge said, breaking the silence as he reached up to pat my shoulder. His voice wasn't nearly as... hard now. "Languish can handle himself for now."

I opened my mouth to speak, but Aerasthetic was already gone. My head turned to meet his eyes, and I blinked. My eyes felt heavy, but we still had... had work to do.

"Alright," I spoke, my mouth dry and voice hoarse. "Let's go."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"This is... an unexpected development."

The Don's voice was low. More serious and somber than I'd ever heard it. The anger I'd felt earlier had long since crawled back to whatever hole it came from in my mind, waiting eagerly for the next time it could come out to play. Now, all I felt was anxiety. I didn't want to be here at this meeting, but I couldn't just ditch my teammates now.

The rest of us were gathered in the Don's office. It hadn't taken long for us to fight off the Giant Rats as a collective before escaping the sewers. The streets of Divastyr had been left in chaos after the attack on the gambling hall, but we had no time to spare helping with the cleanup. That was the sort of thing the city's council and Watch were left to deal with. The sewer's waste had spilled out into some of the streets, the people had gotten into a frenzy, and the monsters that might be crawling to the surface from below were being beaten back by adventurers.

Regardless of all that, we'd all made it out.

Everyone except Languish.

Anxious as I felt, I tried to work up some feeling of annoyance. This was how the Don reacted? Treating his people like pawns and making these shitty, lackluster plans, then having the fuckin' nerve to get upset when one gets captured? What right did he have to feel like that? He relied too much on the abilities of his Casters, and didn't put any damn thought into these operations.

"What should we do about... Languish, Don?" Shafu asked, her voice uncharacteristically serious and pensive. Both of her mechanical arms were crossed in front of her, and the Darkling's expression was somber. "We don't know where they took 'em, and we haven't gotten word from them for any sort of exchange either."

"I suspect they aren't the type to perform an exchange," the Don replied simply. "They don't care for their disposable reinforcements, nor their non-essential Casters. If they did, they would have put more effort into carrying Sfumato away with them. It is a concerning thought if Aerasthetic has Casters to spare."

"How'd he even get caught anyway?" Incognito asked, face crinkled with genuine lookin' worry as he turned to look between Yur and the Don. It was one of the first times I'd seen him look anythin' but relaxed. Good thing he was finally fuckin' taking something seriously AFTER someone got kidnapped. Would he have been this damn distraught if it had been me or Streiphen that had been swiped?

"It's difficult to say. Languish and you of all Casters should have been able to escape with the use of your abilities," the Don replied, his auburn eyes turning down towards his furnished desk. "There may have been some unforeseen interaction between Cynosure's [Kumiho Aura] and the source of Languish's abilities."

"[Yes... I'm not sure why, but Sfumato wasn't affected by Cynosure's Aura in the same way the others were either, Don,]" Yuri added, her own voice less low and depressing than some of the others sittin' around in these fancy chairs. "[She was able to stand and her senses seemed unaffected, yet she wasn't using her magic at all.]"

"Sfumato. One of the two captives then," the Don mused aloud, swiveling his chair around.

"[That's right, Don.]"

"I see," the Human nodded, looking out through the window at the back of his office. Everything beyond the tinted window was stained black. "In that case, I believe it would be prudent to gather as much information on the enemy as we can going forward to avoid as many further complications as possible. Despite the capture of Languish, you've all gathered a wealth of information for us to work with, and that in itself is to be commended. You're all dismissed."

Glancing around the room, I saw that the others were stunned. Short meeting, huh? The reactions of the others became more fluid as the Don himself rose to his feet.

"Hrm. And you, Don?" Pack Rat asked. The grey furred Roden seemed about as stunned as I was to see the Don stand up as though he was about to rush out there himself.

"I intend to speak with the captives in person to try and gather additional intel," the black haired Human replied, looking towards the gathered Casters. "If they intend to fully dismantle Divastyr's balance, they may be willing to take Cynosure and Languish's lives in order to send a message. A declaration of war."

Overcharge shivered at that. The burly Eastern Drow gave a solemn, accepting nod, even if his eyes fell to the floor.

I only raised a brow at that. The thought was pretty surprisin' given his previous track record. Usually the Don just made everyone else do all the dirty work, but now he was goin' to handle somethin' himself? Even if it was here in the base, he'd still be up close n' personal with 'em. My faith in the guy was far from bein' at an all time high, but he was the one paying us and putting us up, at least for now. I was curious to see how he'd handle it.

"Mind if I watch? I'd like to see how you handle this sorta stuff," I told him, both hands stuffed into my pockets. Master Cat usually glared at me the moment I said a damn thing, but the Cat Adept hadn't said a word. He was turned towards the black tinted window, silent and unmoving.

"You're welcome to accompany me, Sunburst," the Don nodded, his shoes taking him over the carpeted floor and between the chairs of the gathered Casters.

"[I'd like to come too, Don. I have some things I'd like to ask the captives,]" Yuri added.

"Very well. You may come too, Homebound, but all of your questions must wait until I am finished speaking with them. I wish to ensure the tone and mood are set first. I have faith you can adapt and learn from my example, but it is important that the captives know exactly where they stand before anyone else converses with them," the Don replied, both hands reaching up to open the doors to the office. White light spilled into the room from the corridor, makin' the place look a lot less gloomy. Then, he looked over his shoulder at the well dressed Cat standing by the window. "Lock up the office when the others have left, Constantine. I will not be returning here tonight."

"Of course, Don," the Cat replied with a strained tone, not turning to look back at the man.

"Hrr... If it does not trouble you, Don, Overcharge and I would like to have a few words once you are finished," Pack Rat said, turning around in his seat. It didn't take a genius to figure out what both of 'em would have to say.

"Is it urgent, Pack Rat?" the Don asked, still facing out towards the hallway.

The Roden paused.

"It is... not of immediate urgency, no," Pack Rat replied hesitantly.

"Then it can wait," the Don told him simply, beginning to walk away from the office.

"Hey, Yur," Shafu said, looking up at the Chimera's mech as I hopped out of the big chair the Don had prepared for me and others around my size. "If you get too bogged down by all this interrogation stuff, feel free to come back to the workshop. We can have a drink if you like, my treat."

"[Ah... Yes, I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Shafu,]" Yuri responded, her metal legs unfurling as the mech lifted itself up off the floor.

I hadn't thought of it as an 'interrogation' until the Darkling had said as much, but that sounded about right.

"I-I'll... I'll come too, Miss Yuri. To make sure everything is alright," Streiphen added, slowly but surely peeling himself off his chair. The pipsqueak's eyes hadn't left the floor since the meeting started, but at least he still had the energy to keep goin'. He'd had a rough night, but he was still fightin' on.

"[I'll be fine, Streiphen. You should head back to my room for some rest. It's late out, and you shouldn't be missing out on sleep if you can help it. It will... You'll need all the energy you can get if we're to do our best, Streiphen,]" Yuri explained, her mech turning slightly towards him.

The kid bit his bottom lip, both dark grey hands gripping the wrinkled emerald green suit he wore tightly. His expression was... pained. Really pained. Afraid, even.

"...Okay... I-"

"We should let the kid come too, Yur," I heard myself speakin' up. "He's stuck with us this long, I'd say he's earned it for better or worse."

Then, her mech turned slightly more to face me. It was a real weird trait, given that she didn't need to face people to speak to 'em. She didn't have a voice that needed proper projection, nor did she have conventional eyes. It was just a habit that carried over from her previous body. Might've been one of those 'Lucanian' traits. That sorta politeness crap was stuff that had always stuck with Yur. She prob'ly didn't even realise she was doing it.

"[... Alright. But if things take a turn for... Never mind. Sigura is right, Streiphen. You should be with us too,]" Yuri replied, her words hesitant as they echoed in my mind. I didn't think it'd be somethin' that'd eat at her, but still. I was just speakin' my mind. At least I was still more emotionally perceptive than her in regards to this, even if that didn't extend to others in the group. The fact that it was a contest in any area annoyed me, but I'd need to learn to deal.

"Y-Yes! I'll be alright, M-Miss Yuri, I promise," Streiphen said, his expression hardening as his back stood up straight. "I'll... I'll get some sleep right after this."

"[I'm glad. We could all benefit from some rest after tonight,]" Yuri replied quietly.

With a few waves and murmured goodbyes, we parted from the Casters left behind in the office. Some of 'em seemed more shook than others, but most seemed to be able to take the kidnapping thing in stride. The only one who hadn't come with us was that [Witch]. She'd 'excused herself' early and flew off to do some other crap, not even botherin' to stick around for the Don's meeting.

The walk down the corridor was quiet as we followed behind the Don. The Human didn't seem to be in any rush to get down to the basement, and carried himself with the same prideful air he always did.

Thankfully, the place didn't stink of sewer air thanks to some sort of enchantment or ability used in the base. We hadn't gotten a chance to change since comin' back, and the Don hadn't minded us bein' in his office despite the state we were in. I wasn't goin' to bed like this to risk the smell stickin' around, but I was glad that I didn't have to suffer through the smell of a meeting room full of people who'd been wadin' around in muck for a while.

"So. Is this somethin' you've done around here before?" I asked the Don as our group of four arrived at the top of the ornate stairs, heading down to the first floor.

Screen, the Machina lady, was hard at work with multiple blocks of light covered in text and pictures in front of her. She gave our group an idle nod, only to do a double take with wide eyes at the sight of the Don.

"An interrogation, Sunburst?" the Don asked, using one hand to wave for Screen to remain seated, giving her a nod of greeting before leading us down the corridor.

"That too, but I meant havin' captives trapped downstairs," I clarified.

"We haven't had guests like them for quite some time, no. The unspoken rules tend to limit the effectiveness of taking prisoners in battle," he replied. "There's a mutual understanding that even captives cannot be subjected to anything too visceral or permanent without serious consequences from the other territories."

"[Yet you decided to keep them here anyway instead of handing them over to the City Watch?]" Yuri asked, following close behind as her legs clacked against the stone floor at either side of the corridors. "[As bargaining chips to trade for Languish?]"

"If that were a possibility I would be delighted, Homebound. However, I don't suspect Aerasthetic to be willing to make such a trade," he answered, his voice low. "Circumstances are different this time around."

We arrived at the top of the staircase leading into the underground portion of the base. Our group was silent for some time as we followed behind the Don, heading through winding corridor after corridor before arriving at a wall that looked completely identical to all others. The Don stopped in front of it, placing a hand on the surface.

His hand glowed with Aera, a deep violet colour with black edges. The Don's energy looked so dense that his hand seemed more like a silhouette underneath it, as though the light he generated was a physical, transparent object.

The wall pulsed with light in reaction to his touch as a rune akin to an old jail cell appeared. Two bars on the top and bottom, with 'columns' of steel separating them. Much like the training room doors, the wall slid across, parting to reveal a small room.

It was barely big enough for Yur, but she managed to squeeze her way in through the doorway. The room was a dark purple, a few shades deeper than that of the corridor outside. As the wall closed behind us, a set of white lights flickered on overhead, illuminating a desk in front of a thick black window similar to the one the Don had in his office. I guessed it was one way glass, similar to the ones I'd seen back in my own cell in the Chimera facility. On our right was a shelf devoid of all possessions bar a longsword with a black and red sheath, the colours overlapping in triangular tooth-like patterns. Kirigami's sword.

Behind the black glass, I saw a padded white room. The red skinned Oni, Kirigami, was chained up at the back. She sat cross-legged on the floor with her head bowed, legs manacled together, and arms locked into place behind her back.

"I'll be going in alone, but the three of you are free to watch from out here," the Don announced, turning around to face us. "You should be able to hear everything happening inside just fine, but our guest will be unable to see you."

One way glass, just like the facility.

I gave him a nod of understanding as my eyebrow raised with surprise. Even if he'd come here himself, it still stunned me that this desk Goblin was actually goin' face to face with her to talk instead of hunkerin' down behind the safety of the glass. I figured she was probably magically restricted too somehow, but still. The guy was full of surprises today.

"[What about a potential escape?]" Yuri asked, her voice tinged with concern. "[If the enemy have access to Casters like Sink and Swim, they might be able to pull her out.]"

The idle smile on the Don's face grew at Yuri's words, and he nodded.

"We have precautions in place for such a case, Homebound. In fact, I would welcome a rescue attempt. It would at least show a greater level of character from Aerasthetic than I expect. You have nothing to fear, our guests are here to stay," the Human replied.

The Don made his way to a smooth wall to the left of the glass, once again planting his hand on the surface. With the glow of a violet jail-like rune, the wall parted, allowing the Don to enter the room.

Streiphen walked right up against the window as the Don stepped inside, giving him a front-row seat to whatever was happening next. Accompanied by the sound of jangling chains, Kirigami looked up from the ground. I felt pretty damn happy to see that she looked tired and pissed. It was all she deserved for the shit her group was putting us through.

"You... You're the Don?" the Oni asked, her voice hoarse, dry, and incredulous.

"In the flesh," the Don replied smoothly.

The Oni's eyes flared with red and black light, using [Insight] to verify his claims. Given what I'd seen of his Aera at the door, the depth of his magical energy should be enough to at least let the dumb bitch know he was someone with some Experience.

"I thought you'd send someone like the brain monster or that shitty [Witch] to probe me for answers," Kirigami snapped back. "Not even a glass wall or guard between us? Cocky bastard."

"That is something a prisoner shouldn't need to concern themselves with, especially one looking to break the truce," the Don replied. The black haired Human was facing away from me, but I could practically hear the smug smile through his voice. "I don't believe you or your people truly understand your position."

Kirigami turned away, her cheek bulging out slightly. For a moment, I thought she was going to turn and try spitting on him. That would've been a profoundly stupid thing to do, but it was about what I expected from someone like her.

When she spat in his direction, it was accompanied by a flash of red and black.

The Don's hand snapped out of his pocket with a level of blinding speed that left me stunned. Streiphen jumped on the spot next to me in shock from the sudden movement, and my eyes turned to the object he was holding.

She used [Release] to fire one of her teeth at him. He'd caught the projectile inches from his face. How the Abyss had he reacted so fast? Did he anticipate something like that, or was it sheer reflex? Either way, for being a guy that hid behind a damn desk the whole time, his physical abilities were nothing to sneeze at.

The Don turned the tooth around in his hand before flicking it back at the Oni with a brief violet flash. The tooth shot through the air, embedding itself deep in the Oni's shoulder as Kirigami cried out from pain.

Streiphen winced from the impact, but I was too stunned for a reaction like that. The circular ring of light that expanded outwards from the source of his [Release] looked... perfect. Even without [Insight], I could tell his form was pretty damn good. It was a single burst of Aera without a shred of wasted force or effort to it.

"I am no fool, nor am I a man who needs to hide behind his subordinates to get work like this done," the Don sighed, his voice tinged with exasperation. "To think you would try something like that... Anyone who has been in Divastyr for long enough can tell you of my ability. The fact that you tried something like that despite knowing who stood before you speaks volumes of your inexperience, Kirigami."

Blood dripped from the wound, with only the back end of the cracked white tooth visible. She raised her head to snarl at him, and I saw the empty spot in her gums where she'd managed to rip the tooth out to attack. Her gums weren't bleedin', so she either had some regenerative Skill, or she'd bitten it out in advance.

"If you truly wish to grow, do it in a way that doesn't cause you or your group to die or be hopelessly imprisoned from the consequences. Experience means nothing if you become unable to grow or benefit from it," the Don said, talking down to her.

"Did you just come in here to lecture me?" Kirigami growled, the chains binding her arms rattling behind her.

"No. I came for answers, and to give my ultimatum should I not receive those answers. If your group does anything to break the unspoken rules beyond these walls, I will resort to torture for answers the moment that happens. Consider your own group your personal time limit, Kirigami," the Don threatened.

Kirigami narrowed her eyes up at the Don, snorting aloud before she looked away, stonewalling him.

"Do you care so much for your group that you would not give intel on them in exchange for some leeway? Benefits, perhaps?" the Don asked after a few stagnant moments of silence.

"What're you talkin' about?" the Oni hissed, looking back up at him.

"I know your type, Kirigami. I have met countless like you. You want Experience and combat, something that can stimulate your growth. Abandon Aerasthetic and I will see to it that you find employment with a group far more stable and ready to provide you with what you want."

The Oni looked stunned by the Don's words, staring back up at him.

"I can't trust a damn thing you say. Why the Abyss would you do that?" she retorted.

"You can ask anyone in Divastyr and they will tell you I do not lie. If you're beyond my city's walls, I don't care whether you live or die, fail or prosper, grow or shrivel away into nothing. I have plenty of contacts that are willing to take on Casters with potential. Contacts that would let you experience far more than you could here," he replied smoothly.

She looked away, going still and silent. The only sound was that of blood from her shoulder dripping to the floor and that of Streiphen's light breathing next to me.

"I know what you are, Kirigami. You're the type of person that just seeks victory. You want nothing more than to win a satisfying battle and have the upper hand. There are countless young Casters like you, all filled with a passionate ambition and desire for personal growth. Many die or face unfortunate circumstances because they are too eager to meet their goals, falling tragically, horribly short of them as a result," the Don monologued.

I swallowed a lump that formed in my throat, turning my eyes away from the pair.

"Don't let this be your crowning mistake, Kirigami. Is this all you want the totality of your legacy to be?" the Don asked, bringing both arms outwards with a flourish. "Trapped in an enemy's dungeon with no true achievements or mark left on the world?"

"What do you want to know anyway?" Kirigami replied, her tone low and quiet. "Start saying something worthwhile and do not waste my time."

I turned my eyes back towards the pair. The Oni's face was turned away, while the side of the Don's cheek was raised. He was undoubtedly smiling.

"Firstly, I want to know your name. Your true name, not your Epithet. Should I have that and the ability to verify it, I will return shortly and speak with you on more amiable terms," the Don told her.

Several long seconds of silence hung over the room. The three of us stood watching the Don and his captive through the window.

Then, she spoke.

"Onaisha Basutera. That's my name," the Oni growled, scrunching both eyes closed. "You better not be breaking that truthful streak."

"Excellent to hear, Basutera," the Don smiled, turning away from the Oni before casually strolling back to the door. "I will return shortly."

With a flash of violet light, the wall parted for him, allowing the Don to rejoin us in the purple room. Once the door closed, I breathed deeply. I hadn't even realised I'd been holding my breath.

"[You didn't ask about the Boost that Aerasthetic seems to have access to right away?]" Yuri prodded, turning her mech towards the Don.

The man raised an eyebrow, his eyes turning to look towards her even if his body was still.

"Their Boost suppliers are not my priority, Homebound. You're free to ask them that yourself once I've concluded my interrogations, but not before then," the Don replied. With a wave of his arm, he gestured for us to follow as he opened up the wall, leading us back out into the corridor. Then, he led us a little further down before opening the wall of an identical cell. "My priorities are understanding why Languish couldn't escape on his own, and where they are most likely to be keeping him."

The next room was the same as the last. A desk, a black tinted window, and a shelf. This time, only a rolled up black whip sat on it. Sfumato's weapon?

The black skinned girl was bound in the same position Kirigami had been, her head bowed and hanging, allowing her smoke-like 'hair' to drift upwards.

"I suspect that like Languish, she is an Affinity. If she is also one who melded with a Spirit at a young age and bonded with it, then it is likely the Spirit within her had a way of taking the brunt of the [Kumiho Aura]," the Don posited.

"[And Languish?]" Yuri asked.

"His bound Spirit is far less likely to cooperate cleanly in the way that Sfumato's may have done. I presume his Spirit forced him to take the brunt of the Aura's effects on top of the other difficulties his Spirit presents. My assumption is that he found it difficult to recover from both effects afterwards, but I intend to confirm my suspicions promptly," the Don explained. "Please be patient for a little while longer."

Without another word, the Don made his way to the space on the desk's left, opening the wall before stepping into the padded room.

"I hope the Don doesn't have to hurt her too," Streiphen said quietly, standing right up against the dark tinted glass after the door closed behind the Human.

"A pleasure to meet you, Sfumato. Unless of course you would rather give me your real name to use instead?" the Don asked, tilting his head slightly as he approached her.

"Abyss take you, Titan," the woman spat, staring up at him with hateful black eyes.

"No attempted attack? At least you're wiser than your ally," the Don commented.

"Someone else got caught too?" Sfumato asked with shocked eyes. Then she caught herself, dulling her expression as she looked away.

"That's right. One 'Onaisha Basutera'. Kirigami," the Don told her. Despite her attempts to hide the first reaction, her eyes widened at the mention of the Oni's true name. As much of a negligent asshole as the Don was, I could respect him for this at least. "We had a brief chat, and she decided to both tell me her name, and that she was willing to divulge information on your group."

"There's no way she'd do that. She's not that kind of person," Sfumato replied, narrowing her eyes up at the Don. "I'm not going to talk, and neither will she. We can take whatever pain you or your people can dish out, Titan."

"'Don', if you wouldn't mind," the Human replied curtly. "Make no mistake Sfumato, pain isn't the only thing you have to fear. Your people are willing to break Divastyr's balance for this little restructuring act of theirs, aren't they? If they're willing to excessively harm or even kill our captured member, we will need to show ourselves capable of responding in kind. If you don't cooperate with us to ensure the safety of our allies, I cannot guarantee your safety either."

"You wouldn't!" Sfumato shot back, her eyes filled with worry and stunned shock. "Your group... the Star's just about saving face and looking good for the public. You wouldn't kill-"

"Being willing to go as far as one's enemy to protect their territory in the name of peace isn't something the public would frown upon, I suspect," the Don interrupted her, bringing a hand to his chin as he looked pensively towards the walls. "Being seen as 'weak' or 'easy pickings' is not a good look for any proud group in Scander. Defending our homeland isn't something the public would hate us for should your unruly bunch launch an all out war, I suspect."

"He... He wouldn't do it, would he?" Streiphen asked, his own eyes wide as he looked up towards Yur. I didn't envy her position.

"I can't see his face from here, Yur. You think he's bluffin'?" I asked her, hopin' that she'd take the hint. If she wanted to lie for the kid's sake, now was the time.

"[I... didn't think he would. It would negatively affect his standing, but... his eyes are hard. His expression is impossible to read, but he looks serious,]" Yuri replied, clearly not gettin' the hint. She sounded pretty shell shocked too, so maybe the thought to lie for the pipsqueak's sake wasn't even on her mind.

"Yeah, guess so," I sighed, turning my eyes back towards the pair in the room ahead of us. "S'pose he needs to be at least this serious if he wants to rule part of a city from the underworld. At least he wasn't all talk."

"We are willing to grant some leniency or even perks after some questions have been answered, Sfumato," the Don continued. "If you refuse to comply, we are not adverse to using more unsavoury methods to ensure the safety of our lands the moment your team truly breaks the unspoken rules in earnest. Do I make myself clear?"

Sfumato looked stunned. I knew that look in her eyes, weird as they were. She was searchin' his face, lookin' for any indication that he was bluffing. Looking for anythin' she could use to comfort herself or steel her resolve.

But judgin' by her face, she didn't find anything. It almost felt like he was daring her to call his bluff. She was trying to stare him down, but he was motionless. Stiff, unmoving, and proud as a statue.

"Fine. I... I'll talk," Sfumato replied, her words barely a whisper.