Once, Sly, Cassandra, and Malakyh fought their way through hordes of enemy monsters. They found themselves in an open floor space with adorning columns on each side, a platform with stairs ahead–but they weren't alone. Someone clapped in the room's emptiness until they revealed themselves, sitting precariously on a wooden railing of a narrow walkway on the second floor.

Finnian, Sovran #0 - The Trickster.

“Looks like you finally found your way here, but, oh…” he points to them and counts. “Seems like we're missing a few people. A girl with a freakishly large Sword, a blonde enthusiast, and two kids. Where or where could they be?”

Sly had enough of his joking manner. “Enough with the jokes, Trickster. Where is Walsh? Or your Master, for that matter?”

Finnian tapped his chin. Feigning confusion. “Walsh is somewhere in these hallowed halls. The old man can get around when he feels like it. As for our Arbiter, they come and go where needed.”

“And aren't they needed here?” Malakyh questioned. “Is that not why you had enacted the Curse and the Altars, ensuring we destroyed them so they could become active?”

“Well, if you do the math, we have a few more regions to tackle. Verden Glen, Gearford, and Ravens Country have seemingly been infected with Altars. For now, the Curse and Miasma have done what they needed to do.”

“So, what,” Cassandra interjected. “You plan to continue infecting their regions?”

“Don't forget the Lysandrian Kingdom, the Valerian Republic, Crystalline City, the Aurora Federation, and we can't forget about the Argonian Empire.”

Cassandra seethed. “You're sick is what you are.”

His only response was to shrug. “Call it what you want, but it won't matter in the long run. The Curse has already started and will finish once every last region has an overgrown population of defeated Altars and their respective Great Void Beast guardians. Even if you decide not to get rid of Altars, the Great Void Beasts will wreak havoc, more Veilspawn will be released from the Ethereal Rifts, and Fiends will continue to be corrupted. They will wreck the regions and force people to fight back, anyway. Thus, the cycle will continue as it has been since the Primal Chaos era.”

“That doesn't mean the Children of Deimos must be in that world.” Sly threatened, glaring dagger-like eyes up at the Sovran.

“Oh?” Finnian raised an amused brow. “Do I detect a hint of malice from our great Rosevera Whip? How tantalizing.”

“Enough of your games.” Sly's voice commanded with absolute vigor, removing her whip that ignited with Wellspring power. “Let's take this fight head-on once and For all. No games.”

A darkened look crossed his features. The smile on his face was like a crooked doll. “With pleasure, let me invite the others.”

With a snap of his fingers, the Sovran’s Croger and Raelina appeared on the bottom floor.

Cassandra's focus turned to Croger. Her glare turned fiery, removing her ax from its sheath.

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“Guess we get to finish our fight, after all, Commander Praefectus.”

“You'll regret crossing paths with me, Croger. I swore to myself that you'd pay. For all the lives you have taken in your lifetime.”

Raelina swiped her black hair behind her shoulders. A calculating cat-like glare toward Malakyh. Her painted red lips pursed together.

“Bravo turning our precious little Belladonna. Your corrupt influence has blinded her to the truth.”

Malakyh scoffed. “More like your blind influence has corrupted her to see what she wants, but you weren't one for caring. Not even for your own coven.”

“hmph, let's see what Hersa’s pupil has learned over the years.”

Lastly, Finnian disappeared from the top roof and reappeared at the bottom with the others. He faced Sly.

“Now, Heroes of Aurum. Let us make this showdown one for the history books again.”

All at once, the six charged.

“Aurora, now!” Lyra shouted.

Aurora shut her eyes and exerted as much power as she could muster. Sparks of red and black electricity shot out from her, making the bandaged Man Ash Born Demon release her; she ran back over to Tierney and Ludwig Klause.

Eamon walked from around the metal table to Lyra’s side. They both waited as the Homunculus shook himself free of the initial shock Aurora had left him.

“You sure you wanna do this alone?”

Lyra tightened her grip around the hilt. Her eyes narrowed at the Homunculus, her father. After several years, she finally saw him. She knew it was him even when he was unrecognizable with his long black hair and bandaged skin.

“I have to do this, Eamon. That… it is him but not him. At least, on the surface, it's not. I can try and reach him, but if I can't—" she didn't want to say the words. She never thought she would have to take down her own father.

“Hey,” Eamon whispered. His hand rested on her shoulder. “You don't have to do this alone, you know.”

I know, she said through their key sync. They looked at one another instantly, eyes meeting and minds in sync as if there were no breaks.

You go high, I go low? He asked.

She smiled. You know me so well.

The Ash Borne demon, now free of his paralysis, focused his attention on them. Only for Eamon and Lyra to spring forward.

Eamon took the first lead.

“Eamon, think fast!”

Tossed into the air, Lyra had propelled his Escrima sticks from her bag. Eamon Dove grabbed them, tucked and rolled, and with lightning-speed reflexes provided by the shared Kesync powers of Lyra’s Wellspring powers. He flew like the wind directly into The Ash Borne demon.

Lyra Jumped in the air. Her sword gleamed with light as it propelled itself with the Force and might of Eamon's physical power.

Both of their attacks, however, were caught in each of the Ash Borne hands.

Lyra and Eamon's eyes snapped open in surprise. Not even the Sheer force of power caught the Homunculus off guard as he sustained any damage.

He's powerful, Lyra called out into their Kesync. What do we do?

Eamon gritted his teeth. His mind reeling with different possibilities. Overwhelm him with as much power as we can muster to get away from it. For now, let's get out of this infirmary.

Lyra nodded. Like Eamon, she concentrated on the Wellsprings' powers, calling upon as much as she could, including the power from Riftblade.

Whether it was Alivier or Lumos, who answered, the sword brilliantly shined.

The power surge was too great for the Ashe demon to hold, and it blew him backward, careening directly into the wall.

“Woah, is that new?” Eamon asked, staring at the sword.

Lyra held it up. “Yup, say hello to Alivier. He can't talk right now because he's a sword.”

“Have no fear! I'm very adverse in speech now.”

Lyra balked at the sword. “Are you serious? Now you decide to talk? Don't tell me I mourned before for nothing.”

Eamon tapped her shoulder. “You two will have to hold onto that conversation because he's back up.”

Lyra focused her attention on the Ash demon. She stood in a firm stance. “Eamon, get the girls and the doctor out of there. I can give you enough time to get by and for you to get back here.”

He nodded. “Got it. Come on, girls, Klause.”

As Eamon ran with the girls and Klause behind him. The Ash Borne demon lunged to attack them, but Lyra swooped in and blocked his incoming strike.

“Not so fast. I have a bone to pick with Walsh, but I guess I'll settle it with you and free you from my dad's body.”