"Yes. What more do you want me to say? Hell, I almost brought a new era because of my connections and shit with the royal family here, how's that for an exclusion? Plus, who the hell marries at my age? Dude, I've got a life to live before getting involved in that shit." Tiki looked around her files on the holographic table.

"I love easily persuadable, high-ranking officials too.", Anya sipped her beer, "Just look at what my dad did, makes it quicker than standing around and talking positive and awkward commends into each other's ego until they get convinced."

"Regardless of all this lovey dovely me explaining the past of my people and enticing you into our culture so you won't act like superstitious pieces of shit here.", she pulled up the castle in her map, "That's Izuko's home. And he sure as hell doesn't want us to come with a crush party into it."

On the map, in the center, lay a massive, tall building that was partially, but much less destroyed than other buildings within the city. On the very front, laid a gate with a half fallen watchtower and bent over metal door, the hologram making a perfect depiction of even the finest details. On the sides, concrete walls spanning tall were attached to the gate, them being as futile in protecting from intruders as the actual metal door itself as well, having massive Corrupted Obsulyte, sharp rocks spanning up as if an explosion went off on the spot. In the front, a total of 3 separate, gradually rising circular layers consisted of dead land with partial spots of grass here, with additional flags that were still following the wind current but were each partially burned by the ashes taken by the wind in different spots, and all eventually coming to the center, connected to a set of stairs going up into the main building. The actual building itself, looking vicious like the beings the Corrupted Obsulyte touched, had massive sprouts of sharp rocks protruding through its walls, essentially supporting the actual building itself after the fact, looking similar to what throwing paint on an empty canvas would be like. Its walls, surprisingly, were made with more concrete than it is steel, somewhat eroded and rusted supports, and despite the age of today, looked much more ancient, as if travelled through time as a whole. Two large pillars followed an entrance of destroyed, rock-like material based statues, leading to an entrance into a building with a triangular rooftop, right under a burnt purple carpet, its color still being a robust, dark shade of purple despite the circumstances surrounding it, firmly upholding its royal outlook for the world to see.

Going around the sides, it was standing atop a square-shaped area surrounded by even more statues, those rusted as they were made of steel instead, in front of more dead land and massive pulps of gooey, liquid Corrupted Obsulyte, almost like a fly trap waiting it's praying to come to it. The back side mirrored the front to the tea, with the only difference being that down below, a weird mix of dead and well more than alive garden was laced with a bush maze instead. The maze mirrored what looked like the symbol from the partially burned flags around the circular front areas, with the center being more than noticeable, as it was just marked with a massive red ball instead of any form of details or otherwise, like the rest of the holographic, 3D map.

"Wow...it looks kind of cool, actually. So ancient and interesting looking." Ikarisa pointed out.

"It's a repurposed castle from the Previous Era, made just for the royal family when they were still a thing. Actually, a lot of castles like this, although damaged and not maintained at all, are scattered throughout Sandaco, same with some churches and stuff. I dunno why, but what I do know is that they make for nice archaeological sites when they became publicly accessible once they established a safety net around the site for possible collapses. Just leftovers from an era where there were just way more kings and lords before the 2000s, having been way more well-kept during the era where monarchies were abolished around that time, only to return to ruin after monarchies were reestablished once Izuko famously came back to his home country from being born in the east and taking it back by sheer force."

"Alright, let's see then...what are all these 'X's', by the way?" Lass gazed at the marked map.

"I marked those areas as death spots. I have never seen something like this before, but I narrowly avoided getting annihilated by a Corrupted Obsulyte blast coming from the ground once. It's like landmines that would kill you for sure, but I was lucky enough to beat the shit out of a nearby Shadower and throw it towards there, having it trigger the thing instead. I did a lot of testing, and those areas I marked are definitely trapped. As for the big red ball...that's Izuko. He's been standing there, just relaxing as he made eye contact with me when I arrived atop the castle's roof. Definitely knew it was a futile attempt to fight him before I found reinforcements. Never did find any, but hope led me to make this attack plan if I ever miraculously did. And the attack plan is simple. Kill him. No jokes, no games. He smartly placed traps everywhere around all possible side routes, even behind the castle itself, that were capable of killing even the most durable Obsulyte users, since I saw a shit ton of soldiers who later came by Corosta falling to it. We enter from the front, we fight him up front. The castle itself was practically made as a perfect tactical point for people to retreat, completed with high grounds, vantage points, mirrored layouts to better fortify against attacks and much more. As expected of a leader his caliber...thought of everything."

"So the plan is straightforward, attack him directly?" Anya asked.

"As far as I know. However, there's a caveat. He definitely did manage to summon or turn people into Shadowers, Enmities or whatever the hell he did, so there's definitely going to be a raid from our backs if we face him. These two choke points with the Corrupted Obsulyte will definitely be filled to the brim with monsters once he chooses to counteract, and the Corrupted Obsulyte itself will only make things way worse as they get enhanced by it. Hence why we need to split into 3 groups, have enough firepower to kill Izuko here, and maintain positions on the two choke points, at least until the king killers can finish the job to either escape or go back to kill the rest of the mob. Behind the garden could also be a break in point for them, so we have to consider that too."

"Based on how intelligent they have gotten, I'm sure they won't choose the walls behind the garden, since they'd rather maintain a group like, single-unit structure and move in with everyone else. And also, the walls behind the garden seem robust enough to outlast their siege until they break through, which by that time we would either make Izuko fall or fall by Izuko." Ikarisa confidently said.

"I like this shorty. Information as valuable as that brought up at the right moment!" Tiki cracked her knuckles, "Plan couldn't be more straightforward then. Go in, defend the choke points, and fight Izuko head on. Our choices are limited, but with proper firepower distribution, we can make it. I suggest you let me in on Izuko. I've proven my part well enough."

"I'll go with you...I want to at least see him. One last time." Ikarisa sighed.

"I can hold the choke point with Anya on the left, and Yuno with Terna on the right." Lass suggested.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Teaming up again then?" Anya excitedly said.

"You're not accounting for spillage on your side. Two people can very well block the thing off, especially with Obsulyte powers, but one could let a few slip away, and disruptions such as that when we're up against Izuko is no joke." Tiki said.

"I think Tiki is right, Lass. Even with my Obsulyte powers I...I can fight the monsters, but I'm not that experienced in such advanced battles, with only basic rebel troops training." Terna momentarily lost her confidence.

"What if we change the plan into 3 choke points instead? Have me on one side, with your powers and Terna with Anya on the other, creating a bottleneck as the monsters rush in, and you stand in the middle to finish the remaining one's off there at the center?" Yuno suggested.

"There goes my excitement for a collaboration." Anya sighed, "But it does sound more solid, I have to admit. I know my fair share of combat anyways."

"Hmm...Yeah, I'm down for that. It actually sounds like an all-round good plan, if I get the ability to set sparks flying by overloading again. The only thing that we haven't factored in is Izuko's power compared to ours, for Risa and Tiki to go in. I'm getting less and less worried when seeing Risa fight the way she does, Tiki has well more than enough experience but...what about what a Sentinel can actually do?"

"Friendly reminder that you actually destroyed Neviro in one go." Yuno reminded him.

"He was a special case, and you know that. Izuko, judging from what Risa told me, how she presented him to me and the lore Tiki slammed down as well, is a much, much more established power figure than some god-knows-who tyrant who popped out of nowhere and got beheaded within a year's time.", Lass pointed out.

"That's fair enough." Yuno shrugged.

"I assure you, with how I'm feeling this shorty will do, I have no worries myself. I do have an eye for the strong ones anyway, and I have seen Izuko's powers at play before, during special training sessions I've had with him under a military project."

Lass tried to get a better look at the map, "Alright then that means all that's left is-" and he got interrupted.

As Lass leaned forward to check the details of his plan, his amulet managed to slip through his shirt, coming out in open view. It was mere seconds that took Tiki from being somewhat calm to realizing what standing in front of her. She aggressively got up and yanked Lass by the shirt, bringing him close to her face.

"You son of a bitch!" Tiki grabbed his amulet. "Who the [REDACTED] are you?!"

Everyone took their combat stances, preparing for the worst.

"Woah, what the hell got into you suddenly?!" Anya yelled.

"What is it?!" Lass tried to pull back, "Leave that alone!" he tried to push her arm away from the amulet.

"You wish to harbor that, huh?! Hea!"

Tiki punched Lass straight in the face, knocking him backwards and snapping the amulet off his neck. She then jumped back, a huge axe in one hand and a mullet to the other, pointing her weapon against everyone in the room.

"You came here to mock me?! I'll kill you all!"

Lass got up, taking out his sword, "You give that back before I bury you with it."

"Come on then!" Tiki provoked him.

"Why the hell are you like that all of a sudden?!" Yuno yelled.

"Lass, don't!" Ikarisa yelled, trying to calm him down.

"We can all relax and talk about what's going on before we jump into battle." Terna took her own stance.

"Wait...you're shitting me, right? You are all oblivious, aren't you? This guy is bright here...he isn't what he's been telling you. He's with Cecilia!"

Everyone paused in an instant.

"What..." Lass relaxed his stance.

"This right here is a demon seal, the same thing that was used to entrap demon Obsulyte signatures and used as a power source and shit!! Not just any demon seal...it bares the crest of the house of Elysia. You're a family member of Cecilia, aren't you?!" Tiki yelled.

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Lass yelled back, "I don't even know her! She's just Risa's friend!"

"To be a moron worth of his fate...declining your own identity!" Tiki jumped at Lass.

Before their weapons could collide, Ikarisa swiftly pinned them both back down with her chains, creating them the same way by raising her hand and flicking it downwards as she did in Reingard during the raid, only more firmly.

"These chains..." Tiki chuckled, "Goddess Ikarisa. How could I not realize it...you concealed your powers or something? The same god who created us to suffer? Now I'm really in the mood for a killing." she began getting more aggressive, "Do not think I'll flinch for even a second at your presence. You do not scare me." she glared at Ikarisa.

"Not at first. But I had to hide my powers for the sake of our mission, to not be found. With that façade being over after the social media outlet, 'hiding it' was just my body using muscle memory to do what I always did, and avoid further conflict because of both them and the stupid title that surrounds them!" Ikarisa looked at Tiki.

"You can let me go now, Risa," Lass said.

"Not until we get one thing straight. No one is at fault here, Lass doesn't know a thing and you don't either, Tiki! You simply jumped to a conclusion! So please...don't engage in meaningless conflict like that! And besides, you were even the one who straight up said that it'd be futile and moronic to make us pay for the 'sins of our fathers'!! What Cecilia might have done, what demons might have done in the past, the present, or whenever, it doesn't matter, because what happens now, starts with you and what you choose to do!" Ikarisa yelled.

Somehow, someway, her mellow voice increasing its tone, despite the circumstances, felt soothing to the ear. Reminded of the simple words she said, glaring back and forth briefly before realizing that her heart overtook her mind, something that was both unusual for her as it was dangerous to act solely with, she gradually relaxed her muscles as she was also let go of the chains as they loosened up enough for her to be able to briefly correct her fighting stance back to neutrality.

"Tsk. Fine. I'm keeping this. I don't give a shit about how big of an emotional attachment you have to it. Until I know what it's all about, I won't give it back." Tiki said, still angered by the fact but calmed by logic.

Lass sighed, "Alright. We will go with that, so long as we don't suddenly become enemies for bullshit reasons.", he agreed, only to avoid meaningless conflict with someone he knew very well could endanger the others as collateral during their fight.

"Good. I'm letting you both go now. Easy and with slow breathing." Ikarisa dispelled the chains.

Everyone relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Jeez, that came and went fast..." Anya relaxed.

"Now move it. Let's not waste any more time with this meat bag." Tiki looked at Lass, "The dog comes with me. Everyone else does what you were set to do."

Not saying another word, not even Lass, they all got up and prepared to leave the safe house. But just before it.

"Before we go out...what did you say about the amulet?" Yuno asked.

"It's a demon seal. It was used to bring horrifying ends and entrapment to demons all around the world. Hence why Corosta was initially made as a way to help us survive back at The Beginning."

"But...I was sure it was a king's insignia." Yuno said.

"The Dirunon tradition? Hell no...You got it horribly wrong. This is a crest from the house of Elysia. It has been additionally turned into a demon seal...or it could've been one from the beginning. Moreover, it's active...meaning someone must be trapped in it," Tiki clenched the amulet. "God damn bastard."

"He isn't to blame. He honestly doesn't remember a thing!" Yuno said.

"How can you tell?" Tiki asked.

"Because he seems to be suffering from some amnesia. His memories become extremely hazy the more I go back to them. He and I are linked...I'm his Hyrusa guardian."

"Wait...so could this mean that he's from...no, there's no way. If he was from Dirunon then..." Tiki paused, her face taking on a surprised look. "Tsk. I'll need to see for myself."

"Just...don't hurt him when he doesn't need to get more hurt. Or the goddess." Yuno pleaded.

"So be it. Let's get out and get a move on. I can't drag ass around all day." Tiki jumped up.

Yuno sighed. "Yea, got it.", he whispered. "Lass...buddy. What happened? Who and...What are you, really?"

Yuno gazed upon Lass, with more questions for him than answers, as well as himself. As more and more mystery started floating around their bodies and minds he had but only hoped that he would be able to light some of the darkness in the nearby time to come...