Trace lingered at the tunnel’s four-way intersection and contemplated where to go next. He hadn’t heard the little squeaks that led him down this hallway in a few minutes and he wasn’t sure which way he should head, or why he’d even been following the rodent in the first place.

His answer came to him as he heard the sound of footsteps from the hallway to his left. He backed up putting his body against the wall, barely peeking his head around the corner. What he saw confused the ever-loving shit out of him.

“Miggy?” Trace asked, walking out into the open.

“Trace” Mig responded in a curt greeting, confusing Aj. In all their talks Mig had only referred to Trace as a revered mentor. He wasn’t sure why Mig was giving Trace such a cold reception.

“It’s probably because he kicked him out of his group” Kit mentally whispered in his ear. Aj was about to agree with him but was cut off by Mig noticing Trace’s missing arm.

“What happened to your arm!?” Mig asked, his voice full of concern.

“Don’t worry about it. What the hell are you doing here Mig?” Trace asked sternly, completely blowing over the concern about his missing arm. Mig’s face went from genuine concern to indignant as he raised his chin. He gave no other response.

“Don’t want to answer that, fine. Who are these people you’re with?” Trace asked, looking now at Aj and Kairi. Kairi looked at Aj to answer first.

“Oh, umm I’m Aj” Aj said. After a slight delay, he raised his hand and continued “I’m a sovereign”. Trace gave Aj a solid look up and down, evaluating him like a girlfriend’s dad on prom night. Not that Aj had even brought a date to his high school prom. Trace moved on to Kairi and nodded for her to speak. His face not giving away any details of his evaluation of Aj.

“Kairi Nami’Riah” Kairi said with a slight bow.

“Greetings” Trace responded, giving a rigid bow. As soon as he finished bowing he turned on Mig. “You’re joining up with the Nami’Riah!”

“No! This is just a situational alliance so that we can all make it out of here” Mig exclaimed.

“What’s the deal with the sovereign then?” Trace pointed at Aj.

“Well…. We actually are teaming up for right now too, but Aj’s his own thing. He’s not affiliated with any families or guilds.”

“That’s worse Mig. You see that right? You’re alone out here! Not even bonded, with a few makeshift allies who you’ve just met!” Trace said, a vein bulging up to his shaved forehead. He shook his head quickly.

“Never mind we can figure this out later,” Trace said, suddenly moving on. “Have you seen any signs of the rest of my group? We were separated.”

“I’ve seen no signs of anyone in the last few days other than the three of you,” Kairi said, gesturing her arms out towards them. “I would be happy if you would join us, Trace. We could use the extra help and perhaps we could find your stranded allies as well.”

“My priority is getting my team out of this stronghold and back on our journey” Trace said his eyes intently on Mig, before returning to Kairi. “We can group for now, but I won’t be leaving them behind.” Kairi nodded in response while Aj and Mig both gave slight nods in agreeance. The four of them started walking the metal halls of the stronghold together.

As they explored Trace asked about the combat abilities of Kairi and Aj. Kairi explained that she was a bonded with water and ice properties. She elaborated that she could make minor elementals like shinju that were mostly supportive in nature. Trace commented on the versatility of her abilities. Aj spoke up for himself and repeated what Mig had said earlier, he described himself as a durable sovereign with plant and fire properties. Trace only gave Aj a nod before turning to Mig.

“You’ve been in here for over a day. I’m sure you’ve seen combat. Any progress on the sword?” Trace asked, his voice even.

“A little bit,” Mig replied, his face softening. “I’ve focused cor into the blade, but I haven’t engaged its heart yet.”

“Probably a good idea,” Trace said, nodding. “The midst of combat wasn’t a good time to make the full transition, but you’re ready for it now Mig. You need to push yourself to do it in the next fight. Otherwise, you’ll stagnate. You can’t afford to stagnate here.”

“You’re right,” Mig said, his face full of contemplation as he considered Trace’s words. After a few seconds, however, his eyebrows furrowed, his face becoming a shade of anger.

“I would have figured this out by now if you hadn’t agreed to kick me out of the group. I’d probably be the next fucking Sevenbladed Swordsman!”

“Oooooo wait a minute, I do get that reference!” Kit said loudly to Aj, interrupting the drama. “He was like some sovereign that wielded a different sword for each element. He was a tertiary antagonist in the web novel, had some very sick moments!” Kit finished excited that his reading had finally been relevant. Aj was happy for him, but Kit butting in had distracted him from Mig and Aj’s interaction. By the time he refocused, both Aj and Trace were looking down away from each other. Kairi had her back to the whole interaction, petting Shinju as she looked on down the hallway.

“Why don’t we put this aside, until we’re out of here,” Trace said, looking back up at Mig. Mig nodded and the group started traveling together without another word.

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The intruders had stopped for too long, Sever was concerned that they had spotted him. He stretched his body further into the wall, becoming thinner than nest paper as he stalked his prey. Sever thought it was odd that there were four intruders, Mother’s command had requested only three bodies. His role was not to question Mother’s instructions but to complete them to exact specifications. He would follow the intruders and wait for them to rest, he would sever their hearts from their bodies and he would devour the heart of the weak one. Mother would not miss its heart if he returned the three stronger ones. Especially if Sever returned the heart of the Slayer.

The intruders started moving. Sever followed, every segment of his body quietly skittering on the ceiling of the tunnel. Where the intruders turned, Sever followed, keeping the intruders at the edge of his sight.

Sever repressed a hiss as he witnessed the intruders use one of Mother’s stolen crystals to open one of Mother’s special tunnels. As the intruders entered the tunnel, Sever was not worried. He would not lose them. He was special. One of Mother’s favorites. Few of her children could control Mother’s special tunnels. It was an honor that made Sever very happy. It allowed him to better serve Mother.

Sever followed behind the last intruder as it entered the special tunnel. Without warning the weak intruder stopped and turned its head. It looked down the hallway in the direction of Sever. Its gaze just below where Sever’s segmented body hung from the ceiling.

Sever waited, his patience waning. Mother would not miss this heart. She did not instruct him to recover this heart. To saver its heart would bring Sever great joy. But the other intruders would be alarmed if this one did not follow. Sever had no doubt he would kill these intruders if he had the advantage, but alerted. If alerted, the Slayer would be a problem. It had averted and slain too many of Mother’s children for Sever to underestimate it. Sever held himself back. He would deliver the Slayer’s heart to Mother.

The weak intruder hesitated for one more moment, then it traveled through the special tunnel. Sever dropped from the ceiling, coiling his body together as he waited. After a long moment, Sever began to access the tunnel. Sever’s heart pumped Mother’s love throughout his endoskeleton. Sever reached a spindly arm out from his 3rd segment. Sever connected his arm to the tunnel entrance and transferred that energy into the door. A quiet and dark tunnel appeared. Sever entered.

Sever immediately connected to the ceiling above him as he pulled his body into the new space. A jolt ran down Sever’s abdomen. His initial assessment was clear. Mother’s tunnel was closing on him, squeezing on his 4th segment threatening to crush him. Sever’s twelve eyes looked down and saw a disgusting scene. The Slayer held its stolen crystal to the tunnel, attempting to force the tunnel to close. Sever would not let it use Mother’s own power to cut him in half. He focused. Willing Mother’s power to return and reopen the tunnel. The pressure receded. Sever pulled the remaining segments of his body through, slamming them into the Slayer.

The Slayer recoiled and dropped to the ground. The wounded intruder grabbed the Slayer, helping it to its feet. Sever ejected the bladed arms from his tail segment. With a swift motion, it prepared to impale the Slayer and bring pleasure to Mother. Sever felt an instant of pain on his head before he could strike. He brought down his tail on the Slayer anyway, as half of his head slid off. Sever turned the remaining six eyes on his head behind him and saw the two other intruders behind him. The bladed intruder and the weak one.

Sever screeched and disjointed his mind. Severs segmented body bent and twisted raising both ends up to take on both groups of intruders. Twelve eyes opened on what was Severs tail segment, as his second head opened its spiked maw.

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Mig had put everything he had into that strike. He’d connected with the heart of his blade and felt the full effect of that power as he kicked off the wall and sliced the abomination's head with little resistance. His immediate joy at success turned to fear as his strength left him and the abomination continued moving. Its giant centipede-like body twisting and rearing its hacked head in his direction. Mig tried to get up to defend himself but he could barely move.

Aj looked down at Mig as he struggled to get up. He knew that if he didn’t do anything Mig would die in that exhausted state. With a quick urging to Kit, Aj focused and thick vines protruded from his abdomen. With a quick throw, he sent the vines after the crazy-looking creature, trying to restrain it. The giant centipede resisted, whipping its head erratically to avoid the vines. It would have succeeded if it wasn’t missing half of its sight on this side.

Aj’s and Kit’s vines wrapped around the creature as it writhed and fought them with a multitude of thin-bladed arms. As it writhed though Aj became aware of a simple terrifying fact. The vines barely restricted the enormous creature's movement and they couldn't cover all the arms.

They were screwed, in a moment it would be upon them and they’d be shredded and severed to bits. It left him one option.

“Kit” Aj said.

“You’re sure?” Kit said his voice incredibly intense.

“Now!” Aj yelled, as the centipede's giant half-face was inches from Mig’s kneeling body.

Kit jumped into action. Ejecting a portion of himself from Aj’s body up to his abdomen. Kit’s hands gripped the centipede's face and flesh. His claws sinking into the open wound. Kit pulled the head towards him and opened his jaws. With a sickening crunch Kit bit into just beneath the head segment of the centipede creating a large tear. Dark blue ichor sprayed as Kit put his claws into that tear and detached the head from the rest of the body. As simple as someone would pull the lid off a stubborn jar, with a twist and snap.

Mig was dumbfounded as the plant tiger thing, recessed back into Aj’s body. He could’ve sworn it gave him a slight thumbs up.