***

Back on the Garden of Eden.

Admiral Kaiser sat at a large round table, his head resting on his intertwined hands as he looked over the Figures of Seven. His dark navy uniform, adorned in shining golden armour, glimmered in the room. A savage scar stretched from his eyebrow down past his nose, finishing at the bottom of his lip.

They all sat in patient silence as they waited for Admiral Kaiser to speak. Some of their legs tapped against the floor, their eyes wandered, anywhere that wasn’t toward Kaiser.

“The great Figures of Seven,” Admiral Kaiser’s voice dripped with sarcasm. "How are we coming along with the fight against the Wild Dogs?“

The people around the table looked at each other, deciding who was going to speak.

A scoff sounded out from the only woman at the table, Esdeath. “Go on then Frank, out with it.” Her lips turned into a sneer as she looked at the gruff-looking man sitting on the opposite side of the table.

Frank sent a glare her way before turning a respectful look at Kaiser. “It’s going well Admiral, we are preparing an attack through the service tunnels. It will weed out the rats from within.” His expression was dark, Frank’s long fringe almost dropped past his eyes.

“I heard they killed a lieutenant?” Esdeath smiled.

“I admit, it was an oversight.” Frank’s hand turned into a fist. His teeth gnashed into his lip. “I didn’t expect it, it won’t happen again from now on.”

“And I take it that is your word?” Admiral Kaiser’s eyes fell on the man that was in charge of security.

“Of course Admiral, it was a fluke they caught us unaware.” Frederick bowed his head towards the Admiral.

“A fluke?” The Admiral’s hands shifted from his face and gently fell on the table. “I put you in power… and you give me that as your reason?”

The floor trembled at the words, the surrounding room distorted. The shadow behind the Admiral fractured into glass as a deep void took its place. Then it reverted, as if nothing had happened.

“One more chance, Commodore Frank.” The Admiral shifted his eyes from him to the others. “With the Apostle War soon approaching, I hope you are all prepared.”

His words caused a deafening silence within the room.

***

Alphonse crouched under the rusted blade of a goblin. He planted his foot on the ground, twisted his hip, and sent a rocket-like punch to the monster’s chest. The sharp sound of bone snapping rang out within the cave’s narrow passageway. Alphonse’s body followed the goblin’s stumbling descent to the floor. His foot stomped down, crushing the little green man’s skull. The metallic stench of blood and brain matter filled the cave.

Alphonse looked back. Goblin corpses littered the floor. He wiped the blood from his face as he continued. He was getting used to moving with his strengthened body. Learning how to use [ Brutal Strikes ] was the problem. With it speeding up his swing, he wasn’t able to stop the cleaver in time, causing it to tear the enemy and continue past it. But he struggled to cut through the dense bone of the goblin without it.

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However, it was his [ Ice Arts ] that surprised him. The utility and effectiveness of the magic was far greater than he could have expected. The razor sharp icicles penetrated the soft areas of the goblin, where his clever couldn’t reach. Although using his magic caused a great strain on his mind, more so than any of his physical skills. After some research, he concluded that intelligence points to power ratio were much greater than strength or dexterity.

They did not give him much time to rest. He heard the familiar scuttling from deeper within the cave. The goblins seemed to come out in waves, each stronger than the others. Or was that because he was getting tired? Alphonse shook his head, gripping hold of his cleaver as he marched forward.

His march turned into a sprint as the footsteps got closer. He planted his foot on the side of the wall as [ Flicker Strike ] was activated. His body disappeared from the spot in a puff of smoke as he shot through the air. He calculated the timing perfectly. Just as he was about to turn the corner, he swiped across the air with his cleaver, accurately slashing through the throat of the little green man.

Alphonse's body continued forwards, unable to stop himself he smashed into the wall. He winced in pain but immediately dodged backwards. A wooden club collided against the wall where his head had been.

Alphonse thrusted his leg forwards as it sent the goblin crashing into the others behind it. He made use of the chaos to launch on top of the monster at the front. His thorn covered arms clutched around the creature’s throat, choking noises struggled to leave its mouth. It tried grabbing hold of his arm, but the thorns and spikes hiding underneath Alphonse’s fur tore at the goblin’s palm.

It soon lost feeling in its hand as the monster’s breathing stopped.

Alphonse’s cleaver descended upon the goblin corpse, blood splattered, and he immediately commanded it forwards. The ice created a pin-filled block of ice as it crushed the other goblins underneath. Their screams filled the small passageway as it slowly crushed them to death.

After resting for a while, he continued forwards. He wasn’t sure what had happened at the cave’s entrance or if Maya even lived. For all he knew, they could just be waiting for him there in an ambush.

The river had long disappeared; it seemed to vanish underneath the dense rock below. Alphonse thought it had to go somewhere. If the water was flowing, it meant that there was an exit. Maybe.

He heard shouting. He didn’t know what they were saying as it was in goblin speech, but the words sounded harsh to the ears. Alphonse made use of his [ Silent Steps ] as he inched towards the sounds. His head peaked around the wall as he was met with a wide opening. Little green men stood by a fire as a larger goblin spoke to them. Small bone-horns sprouted forth from its forehead. Its eyes seemed to brim with intelligence as its facial expressions mimicked that of a human. It was holding a wooden staff. Atop the shaft lay a shining gemstone.

The other goblins kneeled in front of it in reverence.

Hobgoblin? Alphonse thought. Strange tattoos that wormed their way up its arm were the only thing that differed it from having the image of a hobgoblin.

The edge of the hobgoblin's lips turned upwards as its head turned in Alphonse’s direction. He felt a sudden sense of danger as the monster conjured up a blazing ball of fire. It formed it instantly as it screamed through the air, towards Alphonse. He dodged behind the wall; he expected the flames to fizzle out, but an enormous explosion crashed into the wall. The force continued as it blasted through, smashing Alphonse to the ground.

His back throbbed in pain, the sheer heat transferred into his back and gnawed away at his brain. His hands trembled as adrenaline took effect, saving him from the mind numbing pain.

The sense of danger reappeared as he used [ Flicker Steps ] he moved down the passageway as another fireball decimated the wall. Shrapnel of sharp rock splintered around the area. A small piece tore past his arm and then imploded against the wall behind him.

He was stunned at the power of the spell. His eyes looked up at the hobgoblin as it quickly created another ball of flame.

His lips curled into a smile as he ran forwards, instead of away. It flung the ball in his direction. He timed it well as he jumped up and planted his foot against the wall. Activating [ Flicker Steps ] again, he threw himself towards the hobgoblin. Alphonse was fast, but the tall goblin finished casting the spell. It was about to throw it forwards when Alphonse grabbed hold of his cleaver, activated [ Brutal Strikes ] and threw it as hard as he could. The cleaver hurtled through the air as it hit the goblin, although the blade missed. The backside of the cleaver smashed into the hobgoblin's arm. Sending him stumbling to the floor.

Alphonse grabbed hold of the horned goblin as his jaw snapped down.