BOOM!!

The condensed wind caused pieces of the metallic walls to tear apart, leaving long thick gashes that wrapped around the floor. The vast garden and forest that existed on that particular level was ripped and blasted into varying chunks, knocking dust into the air and making it hard to see anything. Even though it had just been one singular spell with enough power packed into it to level an entire Kingdom, Yalinay had used the small scale attack as a test to see what she was facing as well as give her compatriots enough time to make a full retreat. Even from the very beginning, she had already realized the futility of the situation.

"Did you get her?" Konan, her fellow Rift Hunter, asked.

"Direct contact. But you know as well as I that it didn't so much as scratch her." The blonde haired Aries member lowered her wand. "I doubt anything I could throw at her could phase that monster."

"A guy can dream."

"That was quite an opening attack Yarra. I expect nothing less from a Rift Hunter such as yourself." Nessinpa put her hands on her hips as the dust around her and Yamagaio was blasted away. "Now that you've shown me yours, I guess I should show you my own attack."

"Get on with it Goblin," Yamagaio said, glancing up from his book, not a speck of dirt on his pitch black clothing. "No need to stick to formalities or be courteous."

"You're welcome to leave if you don't like it," the female Goblin replied, giving the black haired man a side eye. "Yarra. I'm sure there're other places that could use your help. Your negative energy isn't needed in such a place Yarra."

"How interesting. Quite a sentence considering goblins and negativity coincide with each other." The Male Rift Hunter shut his book as he turned away. "However, I'll take you up on that. Anything to get away from the rotten stench you give off. If you need me, don't bother calling for me. The Arcane could always use one less monster."

With those words, Yamagaio disappeared in a cloud of pure midnight colored smoke, his magical pressure vanishing along with his body.

"Always an anomaly Yarra." Nessinpa shook her head softly. "The mindset of an adventurer yet harboring malice towards those with the same mindset. Yarra. Desires change but refuses to look past his own beliefs and ideals and see how flawed they truly are. What some would call hypocrisy I believe Yarra. Everyone has a story. Makes you wonder, what makes him feel the way he does and act upon it."

Yalinay didn't say anything, her wand raised once again and ready to defend herself at a moments notice. Beside her, Konan had also prepped for an attack, having summoned a large ruby red shield that he held on his forearm, a look of grim determination plastered on his youthful visage. Even while the female Goblin was talking casually, they never moved so much as an inch or relaxed their poses, eyes glued to the large monster situated before them. Though apparent they couldn't win, it was tantamount to suicide to turn their backs on their opponent. Especially one so dangerous and notoriously bloodthirsty.

Nessinpa noticed this and let out a sigh.

"I'm sorry for keeping the two of you waiting. Let's wrap this up quickly Yarra. I do apologize for this, but no worries-"

The female Goblin disappeared from her spot and reappeared in front of them, almost as if she had teleported instantaneously, much faster than the two could even THINK about blinking. The last thing Yalinay saw before a fist descended towards her chest was the look of pity upon the one the world had deemed naught but a monster.

-" I don't plan on killing you."

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BOOM!

It was a sound that was heard all throughout the Spider Dome, the first echoes of conflict that caused massive vibrations to travel along the infrastructures Athrafstos' walls. From the East to the West, North to the South, every group from Obinay's to Yokino's could feel the sparks of battle beginning to ignite and the clock to the end of the mission beginning to tick away. What was once a effort to apprehend the rogue Mapel as quickly and effectively as possible was now a race against time to prevent the noble from escaping. With the subject now being aware of the Coalitions presence, not including the tripped alarm, all hands were on deck. If they missed the chance to capture him here, it was unknown just how long it would take to track the man down again.

Luckily, by this moment, all groups had made it to the bottom floor and had proceeded to make their way upwards.

That is, all but two adventurers and one Rift Hunter whom were still fixed to one location.

BOOM!

Another explosion could be felt within the trap Jak and Mako found themselves in, this time one much larger than the first one had initially been. If they hadn't heard the first one, the second one really drove the point home.

While they were struggling with their own issues, the mission was continuing without them.

"Sounds like they made contact with the enemy," Jak noted.

"Want a medal for stating the obvious?" Mako stopped poking the hollow point above him, shooting the redhead a smirk. "I'm sure Hadok can arrange something for you."

Jak glared, pulling his katana out slightly. "Want to lose a limb?"

"Oooh, so scary." Mako grinned. "I'm quivering."

"You're an idiot."

(("I hate to cut into your brotherly bonding but where the heck is the Vox Lion??!!")) The voice of Psyche once again pierced through Jaks head. With so much happening, it made sense that she was only now checking up on them. (("How did you lose track of something so dangerous??"))

"Lose track?" Jak repeated softly. "But he's right-"

The redhead didn't even fully his sentence before he whirled around on his heels, katana whipping out of its sheath. Likewise, Mako followed suit, prepared to face the threat.

However, the two of them met with naught but an empty room. In the spot where the Vox Lion had been resting, scorch marks could be seen as well as traces of black smoke, as if the creature had poofed out of existence. Jak wasn't sure when the creature had made its exit, but he knew there wasn't any danger.

If there had been, he and Mako would've already died.

"Its...gone?" Mako questioned softly, as if trying to assure he was seeing things correctly.

"It would seem that way," Jak affirmed, tucking his weapon away. "Hard to believe though. Neither of us heard anything. Or at least I didn't."

"Neither did I."

The redhead slowly walked over to the Vox Lions previous napping spot and knelt down, just as he had moments before Mako had made his appearance.

(("It's strange though. If the Lion had the ability to escape from this sealed off room, why would it stay here until just now?")) Jak touched the floor, the spot being hot to the touch. (("Did it use the fighting as a distraction? Or maybe it had kept itself here for personal reasons?"))

"Vox Lions are said to possess unique abilities and magical properties. At least that's what it said in my studies." Mako touched his chin, placing the staff back onto his back. "The only question would be why would the beast choose NOW to escape if it could've done so before hand."

Jak glanced up from his spot as Mako walked up beside him. Seeing how they were both raised by the same individual, it was only natural they followed similar thought processes. At the very least, it saved Jak from having to fully voice everything that was obvious by merely looking.

"Hard to say." The fiery haired Rookie once again moved to his feet. "To be honest though, it's probably the least of our worries."

"The least?"

Jak nodded. "We still need to get out of here and help the Coalition. Potential assassination or not, we still have a job to do."

"Then do you have a way to get out of here? I'm all ears."

"I'll think of something." Jak crossed his arms. "But I'm not in any hurry so, for now at least, I have something I want to finish."

Mako tilted his head, a curious look on his face. "And that would be???"

(("You have a second to spare Psycho?"))

Psyche responded almost immediately. (("Psyche Cho!! And I'm a tad busy at the moment. There's a lot of things I have to send and information to take in. No time for your childish-"))

(("Not even for the rest of what happened 3 years ago?"))

No reply.

"Hello?" Mako waved his hand in front of Jaks face. "Ornera to Jak, come in Jak. What did you need to finish?"

"I guess I can tell you as well." The redheads crimson hues flicked over to his fellow Rookie. "You have a right to know."

"Know about what?"

"About what happened to me." Jak let out a breath. "I'll give you all a run down of my telling of the Bird Massacre. About the brutal slaughter of my friends and guildmates. About the demise of the Sparrows."

"Here? Now?" Mako looked perplexed, a mixture of shock and confusion written over his face. "Why?"

The redhead looked towards the Athrafstos ceiling, crimson hues staring yet seeing nothing. "Multiple reasons. My story might help us pull apart the seams in this mystery. Psycho also said that she would trade some valuable information that would only help me and no one else. It's a hard deal to pass up."

"And we need to do this NOW?"

"Yes?" Jak gave Mako a sideways glance. "If you dont want to listen than don't. I'm aware of time and place but given the uncertainty of what might happen in the future, I might as well do it now."

Mako let out a small sigh before holding up his hands. "Alright. Admittedly, I am curious about of lot of things. We haven't properly talked about your past since you came back."

Jak nodded.

(("Start talking then,")) Psyche said, finally voicing herself. (("I can spare a bit of attention while I work."))