The storm descended from the west. The dark clouds rained down harshly on the plains of the western coast, yet the worst was yet to come. A pillar of air lowered from the clouds and touched the ground as if the finger of a god had descended. It set its course eastward, where it quickly picked up sand, wood, and whatever it could rip from the ground. The sand ground against everything else in the cyclone, combusting anything flammable, and thus fueling the phenomena further. Though the mountains blocked its way on the east, there was a gap in the mountains, and that was where the wind was blowing it toward. Alarms rang out as the fiery tornado approached, leaving a path of glass behind it.

Eden's gate responded as usual. People evacuated inside, leaving only the wind and the sirens roaring in the turbulent air. Soon the surface entrances closed off with their reinforced metal doors and left anyone else on their own. An artificial dome covered the center of Babel, exposing only the lookout towers and entrances above the hot sand. The city's lower parts continuing west and east in the canyon had to depend on different means. Large tunnels on the sides worked as a traffic network but also housed large chambers for evacuation. They were not built by the humans hiding in them, however, but by the original residents of the canyon. For whatever reason, a colony of colossal fire ants had made the canyon their nest long ago, until the founders wiped them out.

A group of people appeared for the audience of no one. Not even security cameras could see in such weather. They quietly passed the entrances and ascended the dune toward the tower. The observatory had closed its windows with heavy iron doors, but they were not going to stop them. One figure stepped forth and grabbed one of its bolts between his hands. Their cloaks fluttered in the intense winds as the flaming pillar approached them.

"Could you hurry up, Martin?" Emil asked.

"I am working on it, but the bolt is thicker than I expected," Martin grunted.

"Let me help with that," Ándras lent a hand.

With a mere touch, the bolt dropped to the ground in splashes of molten metal.

"I suppose that works as well." Martin watched his step. "You can take it from here."

The group slipped inside one by one. The round room was dark, with the only flashes of light coming from the creaking window behind them and the dim, red warning lights flashing on the ceiling. Papers and dust drifted off along the floor along with some sand that got in.

"Did we trigger an alarm?" Orel looked up at the lights.

"No, probably just the storm warning. Else there would have been a welcome party waiting for us," Diarmuid said.

"Could you shut the window already? I can't hear a thing!" Martin yelled.

"Okeydokey." Ándras held the thing down and welded it shut with his fingertip.

"Shouldn't we keep an escape?" Diarmuid asked.

"I can blow it open if we need to," Ándras said.

"Escaping through the lower floors is the easiest way," Emil noted.

"This is why I hate beaches. There is going to be sand in my shoes for the next three months," Aston poured a pile on the floor.

"Better check if your empty head is full of it too." Martin sneered.

"Can we take these robes off already? They're so itchy." Ándras said.

"What's wrong with you all?" Hortensia snapped. "We're trespassing here!"

"Ahem, mind me for a moment?" Emil asked.

"What is it, Emil?" Hortensia asked.

"I need to go to the bathroom."

Hortensia rested her face on her hand. "Why didn't you go before we left?"

"It's not my fault my bladder is small." He said holding it in.

"For heaven's sake. Why did I join these buffoons?"

"I know! For adventure, right?" Ándras remembered.

"Right."

"There is not much time," Catori reminded.

"Agreed," Diarmuid nodded.

"Okay," Emil returned, zipping up his pants.

"Did you find a toilet?" Hortensia asked.

Emil's eyes wandered off. "Yeah, let's call it that."

Hortensia saw all she needed, which was a half-full trash can in the corner. Perhaps it was more than she wanted.

"Alright, so what do we do now? I sort of missed the emergency meeting," Diarmuid asked.

"Can't you leave the job already? We don't need it anymore." Ándras said.

"I still need it. This thing doesn't pay me anything."

"Right." Emil cleared his throat. "First we need to get out of Atlas. The good news is that Paradis is just outside. The bad news is that this floor is under direct security of the MIB."

"Do we have a map?"

"Not one we could get, but there should be directions," Martin said.

"How we get out of here is another thing," Emil pondered.

"There is no use in trying to hide in a public building. Clean up your clothes and walk out like you own the place," Diarmuid suggested.

"That might work. If we just keep ourselves discreet-"

"Wow, so cool," Orel lifted a sword off a table.

"Orel, what are you doing?" Emil distracted himself.

"I found a sword." He lifted it above his head.

"Put it down. We don't want our fingerprints here."

"I can take that," Catori took the blade between his sharp fingertips. "A fine craft. Foreign, two-handed."

"What's a sword doing in an observatory?" Diarmuid scratched his chin.

"Is that half a melon?" Emil noticed the thing on the table Orel lifted the sword from.

"Ooh, a snack!" Ándras licked his lips.

"Did someone cut a melon with a sword?" Diarmuid asked himself. "And why did they leave it here?"

"Maybe they were busy," Orel shrugged.

"Ew, it's gone stale," Ándras spat out a mouthful. "And it's full of sand."

"Never in my life have I questioned my life choices like now," Hortensia was ready to gouge out her eyes.

"Hang in there," Emil patted her on the back.

"Come on, let's get a move on already!" Diarmuid said from the top of the stairs. "We're on dangerous territory. Anyone could walk in on us if we're not careful!"

Diarmuid hastily stepped back into the room. His ears picked up a frightening sound. Footsteps, ascending from below.

"Where did I leave it?" A man's voice said with an angry tone. "The students started asking questions already."

The group froze. It was as if their plans had already been found. Diarmuid hid around the corner, while Catori drew his sword.

"If it's not here or the cleaners took it out I am done with this. I didn't leave Gorason for this." Antoni said, scratching his neck as he reached the room.

His tall stature competed with Ándras, but his frame was that of a robed lamppost. The swift move of his hand made Diarmuid hesitate, but it was not aiming for him, but the light switch.

Before Diarmuid could help it, the man found it. The lights flickered and soon enough lit up the whole room.

"Huh? People are in here?" The man squinted his eyes.

"We are um..." Emil struggled with terror in his eyes. "Doing experiments in the dark!"

"Did you forget to rent the room? I didn't see a reservation in the list." The man scratched his head. "Who are you? I haven't seen you around here-"

The man fell forward, squishing his long nose. Diarmuid stepped up, his hand still stiff from hitting him in the back of the head.

"Is he dead? Orel asked.

"I didn't hit him that hard. Anyone got rope or something?"

"I got some," Hortensia opened her backpack.

"It would be easier to take him out now." Catori pointed his blade.

"We are not here to murder anyone, Catori." Emil stepped between them.

Catori stared him back with fierce eyes. "Fine then." He put his sword away-

Diarmuid took the rope and bent down to bind Antoni. As his arms were to reach him, he saw Antoni's hands holding the sheath. A cut appeared on his hand, and Antoni was gone. The group looked in terror as the man appeared at the doorway, holding an arming knife in his hand.

"So you were intruders after all. By the name of Antoni Trueno Diamante, you will not pass any further."

"How did he pass my rune defense?" Diarmuid looked at his wound. "And that speed...Is he also a teleporter?"

"He is not." Catori stepped up with swords on both arms.

"You beast could see it? Hmph, impressive." Antoni flicked the blood off his blade and sheathed it. "For a mutt like you."

"What are we going to do?" Orel asked Emil.

"I suppose there is no other way," Emil bit his lip.

"Is that my sword?" Antoni pointed at Catori's hand. "Give it back and I will make this painless."

"Fine, here," Catori threw the sword, though not as Antoni expected. He threw it like a javelin, flying straight at him.

"What a pain," Antoni caught it without any problem.

However, as his arm reached for it, Catori came right behind. Swinging in the air, the beast was ready to cut his head off.

"Puny tricks," Antoni disappeared.

Blood splattered in a horrid display. A deep wound bled all over the floor, not from the neck, but the chest. Dark fur turned red as Catori dropped to his knees.

"Fiore II should not be used in the hands of a beast," Antoni flicked the blood off and put the sword back in the sheath.

With his hand's aid, Catori rose back to the challenge.

"Hand over your life peacefully," Antoni gripped the hilt.

"Over my dead body," Catori took a weakened stance.

"Very well." Antoni sighed as his hands blurred.

Another gash burst with blood, and Antoni's blade again appeared with blood dripping down the slim piece of metal. He cleaned the sword again and sheathed it.

Orel turned to Diarmuid. "Is it a bad time to ask, but why is he putting the sword back in the sheath?"

"I'm not a swordsman, but it reminds me of an Azumian style."

"But isn't he using it to thrust?"

"Erm. Good question, I suppose?"

"Castless Style, the sword art that casts no shadow." Antoni smiled. "It is my life mission to hone it to perfection. Only then it can be called true Castless Style."

"But why are you sheathing it?" Orel pointed. "Are you stupid or something?"

"Foolish child. It is the requirement to activate my spell," Antoni scoffed.

"Cool, thanks for telling," Orel gave a thumbs up. "Okay everyone, just get him before he puts the sword back in!" He yelled around.

"Wait." Antoni's jaw dropped.

"Okay," Ándras nodded. "I can take it from here." He stepped forth.

"What can a man like you do?" Antoni sneered.

"Watch me," Ándras lunged at him.

Antoni effortlessly pierced Ándras' heart.

"At least try and protect yourself-" He was about to say.

"That won't stop me!" Ándras wound up a punch.

Yet, his hand dropped to the floor with the swift strike from the arming sword.

"Did you think I couldn't cut you without my spell? Pierce is all I need for you," Antoni pulled the sword out of the chest.

"All I need is to keep this blade out of your hand, right?" Ándras gripped the blade with his other arm.

"Persistent little-" Antoni pulled the arming sword out of the sheath. "Castless Style: Prologue!"

The Fiore II swung hurriedly and lobbed Ándras' head clean off.

"Oh, so he CAN cut things too," Orel observed.

"Well, it is a sword," Diarmuid noted.

"Should we do something?"

Diarmuid shook his head. "Going in between that would just get us hurt."

"Do you think we can sneak past him?"

"I don't think he's that stupid," Diarmuid looked past him to the doorway. "But if we could just get him to move a bit..."

"Are you not worried about your friend?" Antoni huffed. "How many pieces do I need to chop him up to for that?"

Orel thought for a moment. "A bit more than that."

"Huh?"

The smell of blood and ash filled the air.

"Don't start a fire, Ándras," Orel coughed.

The head turned on the floor with an eery grin as if he had just pulled a prank on someone. "Sorry, I got a bit too excited. No one's been able to chop my head off, after all. It makes my blood boil!"

"This heat, and still alive..." Antoni slipped the sword out and backed away with mild burns. "What are you?"

The body tumbled around, searching for the head. Gripping it with both hands, it attached it back like a screw until the everlasting smile shined on the right side.

"My name is Ándras, I don't know who or what I am or where I come from. The only thing I know for sure is that you're getting in the way of my friends and I won't let that happen!"

"Brute after a brute, is there anyone who obeys the laws of chivalry anymore?" Antoni put the sword in the sheath.

Catori coughed blood onto his fur. "I will...Take up that challenge."

"Tsk. Even if it is with a furball, I would rather fight swordsman to swordsman."

"Then, let us clash."

"Yes." Antoni stepped closer to the duel.

"Good luck with that," Orel walked down the stairs.

"Have fun," Ándras slipped past as well.

"What stupidity, "Diarmuid sighed.

Emil looked back to the duel about to start. "Lets, let's just go."

"Sure," Hortensia was done with it.

The flashing red lights gave a chilling mood to the still yet tense air. Two brawlers measured each other up, waiting for an opening.

"Wait a minute," Antoni finally realized. "Where did everyone go?"

"Do you have time to think about that?!" Catori attacked with ferocity.

"Darn it," Antoni blocked it. "I will have to finish this fast." He sheathed the blade.

"I have no time to deal with idiots such as you either," Catori huffed.

Antoni scoffed. "What are you going to do? Do you even have magic?"

"I need no magic to win. I have something greater."

"And what that is supposed to be?"

"Skill," Catori breathed calmly and took a stance.

The rest of the group did as Diarmuid suggested and used the time to walk down the stairs to take off their cloaks and freshen themselves up as much as they could. From beyond another glass door was a hallway puzzling with steps and occasional chatter.

"Now everyone, act natural," Emil hushed.

"Sure," Hortensia glanced behind her to the bundle of overly excited idiots.

"Get in and get out as fast as possible. We need to keep ourselves undetected as long as possible." Diarmuid reminded.

Steps hushed outside. Shadows stood still as an alarm played, and an announcement opened on the radio systems.

"Everyone, remain calm. The MIB is on its way. The lockdown on Paradis will be lifted as soon as the intruder has been caught. Stay inside and wait until further notice."