-Zip!-

"Oi... oi oi! What the fuck was that?"

"How in the hell..."

"That's impossible!"

Scattered gasps of incredulity rang throughout the crowd, all of them no doubt stunned by what they saw.

"Ozzie!!" Geno swiftly reappeared from within the mob, similarly stupefied. It didn't take long before he reached Adammus's location, "Oh my god! Ozzie, you're alive! Oh... Your alive..."

It was true, there, in Adammus's hands, was the rat! Still alive and kicking! Adammus could do nothing but numbly hand over the rat, also stumped by the result.

'H-How?! I-I-I was sure it was dead! Even when I held it inside the doll, it was still limp!'

"Hahahaha!!!" While everyone was focused on the rat, a burst of shrill laughter suddenly rang out, taking everyone out of their stupor.

"You lost! You actually lost! Hahahahaha!!!" Turning around, he could see the girl's petite figure bending down, laughing...

"Since you lost, you have to listen to whatever I say!! Nyahahaha!!!"

Another sick feeling hit his gut, but instead of ignoring it like last time, Adammus decided to trust it, "No, it was just a game, there's no need to go that far,"

"What? Are you saying you won't do what you promised?" Her tone immediately became gloomy, deeply unsettling him, though his reply stayed the same.

"...Yes," There was a moment of tense silence, where everyone was quiet. Until it wasn't:

"Then I'll have to do it by force!" She spoke coldly, lightly waving her hands towards Adammus.

-Shoo...-

A purple cloud of mysterious fumes slowly removed itself from the doll before rushing for Adammus.

"W-Wha?! No—" Although he had no idea what it was, he knew the cloud was bad news. Getting up, he began running for the ship, shouting: "Men, that thing's dangerous! Run!"

His crew also began to flee along with him. But as if it was blind, the gaseous substance focused on Adammus.

He tried to escape.

Running.

Running.

Running...

Yet, he was still caught in the end.

"No! No! Nooo..."

-Cough! Cough!-

Inhaling in the gas, he began to choke violently.

"Huff! Huff! ...Hah?!" However, he quickly felt his legs begin to weaken while his breathing tightened.

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"Ahhh..."

-Thud!-

Eventually, he could no longer run and dropped face-first into the dirt, unable to get up.

"Hehehehe... Not doing so hot, eh?" He heard a smug voice from behind him, realizing instantly who it was.

"Hrnghh..."

"Now then... I need you to tell me: were there three shady looking people tagging along with you?"

"..." He refused to speak. Sadly, the purple cloud suddenly forced him to speak anyways, "They went into that cave,"

"Good! Come with me; I need fodder to carry me. Can't have my lovely little feet to get hurt, can I?" With that, she deftly climbed up his body and landed comfortably on his shoulders.

"..." Again, he tried to resist, but his body acted on its own once more, and his body picked her up before walking to the cave...

----------------------------------------

"Urgh..." Connor took a bit before he woke up and another to realize what's going on. Looking around, he was surprised to see Mariya on the ground and Malkov somewhere in a corner.

"Yo!" He turned back to Malkov, who was playing with... Mushrooms? Noticing his gaze on the mushrooms in his hands, he calmly explained.

"Due to certain mutations in their pigmentation, they absorb any light in the vicinity and store it, creating this effect. Pretty useful as a light source,"

"Yeah, I get that, but... Why?"

"Glowy mushrooms, you're gonna pick that or the torch?"

"...Mushrooms,"

"Exactly," He crossed his arms in satisfaction.

"Mariya's awake; let's get ready to go,"

"Hm? Where?"

Malkov pointed behind him, where the ghosts had gone, "There,"

"Ehhh... Ah? What's going on?" As if on cue, Mariya's cute yawns filled the room, informing everyone of her consciousness.

"Long story short: the ghosts hypnotised us," Again, he pointed at the pathway, "And since there's no other place to go, this should be the correct way,"

"I see, then let's get—"

"Tutut~! Not so fast!"

"!!!" From the cave's exit were two people: a man and a little girl. All three of them readied for a fight. However, when Mariya had a better look at her opponents, she couldn't stop herself from blurting out:

"I-Itagaki?!"

"Hoh? Oh my! It's my lovely little kouhai! How're you doing?"

"F-Fine, but... What are you doing here?"

"*Ahem* On the command of Aite-sama! I am here to spread fortune and dispel misfortune! Constantine Callaway, Mariya Takeuchi and Malkov Dietritsche, you are hereby declared apostles of misfortune and must be destroyed!"

"Kuh?!" Her declaration shocked her so much, Mariya felt her face go silly, and by the looks of her companions, she knew they were just as surprised.

"Surprised? I know I was! Who knew the great Aite-sama would make me kill my own junior! But I'll do anything for him... so please DIE!!"

In the blink of an eye, the man she was standing on unsheathed his sword before swinging it at them.

Connor was quick to react, also unsheathing his own blade to parry it back. He had long realized it was Adammus, but that didn't stop him from giving it his all.

-Clank!-

Metal meeting metal, Sword fighting sword, by the time five seconds had passed, they had already finished fifteen bouts.

-Shing!-

"Hup!" For a moment, they separated, allowing Itagaki to speak again.

"You make a great swordsman Connor!" She chuckled, "You would've been a great fortune teller! If only you didn't have that book!"

"?!" Hearing her mention the Book of Fate, Connor was both scared and vigilant.

"How did you..."

"Lord Aite knows all! Now then, enough talk; time to die!"

"Hmph! I'm not going to lose!" He readied his sword again, preparing to counter any attacks his way.

"Hehehe... I've got you!" With her confident roar, Adammus charged.

'You'll never beat me!' He sighed to himself and charged forward too.

-Swish!-

Again, he saw Addamus swing. And again, he moved his sword to block. This time though, right as he anticipated to withstand the heavy blow, something truly incomprehensible happened:

-Shiik!-

'Wuh?!'

His sword... Where was his sword?! Why was his hand empty!!

-Thud!-

"Kah!!" Before he was able to comprehend what happened, a sharp pain spread through his shoulder. This stunned him long enough for Adammus to knock down with a kick.

"Connor!!" As he laid there, the pain on his shoulder began to fester, probably dislocated.

"Argh..." He groaned in pain from attempting to move. Luckily, Mariya was able to help him.

"Here, let me..."

Finally able to sit upright, he was barely able to force the words out, "Hrgh... You... You...!! How did you..."

"Shishishi..." Her soft laughter bringing him to depths of hell and back, "Dead men don't need to know!"

-Swish!-