Metals clash and blazing sparks fly.
The area around the pyramid is littered with corpses. Rena manages to grab the masked lady and throws her body over and into the ground.
*BAM!*
"UCK?!...ugh..." The masked lady groans; Her mask cracks.
Rena follows up with a stomp to the face, breaking the mask to reveal a monstrosity appearance. The lady fighting her has several stitches and burns across her face.
"Huff huff huff..."
Rena stares at the lady as she coughs a little blood.
Rena is in a bad shape too. Blood flows down her forehead to her chin and her body has many cuts.
The "scissors" weapon is currently shattered beside the pyramid. In the current room, very few stand alive. Kin and Jon are both leaning against the wall panting.
The injured Rena slowly trudges to the pyramid and musters her remaining strength. A thin aura ejects from her sword. She sends one diagonal cut at the pyramid cracking it. The energy within then erupts out, forcing Rena and everyone else away.
*THUD!*
"Ngh!" Rena's body slams against the rocky wall, further worsening her internal injuries.
The pyramid explodes into many different pieces. A fragment was about to land on Rena until Jon swoops in and deflects the remnants.
Kin helps Rena up and all remaining survivor escapes the cavern.
"T-Thank you..." Rena says after they return to the church.
"Huff...No problem," replies Jon.
"...What's your name?"
Jon jolts. "Ah...I'm Jon and that's my brother Kin."
"I see..."
The red beam is gone but the situation is not over yet.
=================================
Haren wakes up caressing his head. He looks around and sees me. He raises his brow in confusion.
"Sir...uhm...why am I?"
"You can call me Arsto, do you not remember why you were here?" I say. He doesn't seem to remember why he is here.
"Ah! Right, Liege Arsto was imparting knowledge to me. I apologise...for my...why did I?"
Hmm...there are gaps in his memories.
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"It's fine. I want to know a few things."
"Anything for my liege," Haren says. His obedience sends goosebumps.
Haren answers my questions diligently. It seems that Haren came to Rodgof under orders of the Demon Executive of Intelligence and Strategy. The attack on Ikas was also a diversion for the Demons to sneak Haren in.
The Dragon Heart given to Haren was also provided by his superior.
The more I interrogate Haren, the more confusing it gets. However, one thing is certain: This timeline already changed before I even do anything. This might come as a crisis since I've lost a major advantage of foresight yet I stay unfazed. This is a Tuesday...
Elvis Arcane has always been unpredictable. I just have to fight what comes my way.
"Haren, do me a favour," I say.
I whisper the plan to Haren.
"What?" Liam says. He entered the room and accidentally picked up our conversation.
"What's...going on?"
I smile and explain to Liam. Liam raises his brow.
"A-Are you sure you want to associate with them? You are a demonic human!" Liam exclaims.
"I can hide it. Besides, we need support and power."
...
Liam sighs and turns around. "I cannot accept that. You are the main pillar of everyone in Astrea, you can't die."
"Don't jinx it..." I say and tap on Liam's shoulder before leaving the room. Haren follows me.
After paying for the magic scrolls and rent, Liam returns to Port Ridge and I travel to a city called Haeru with Haren. It's an ordinary city not far from Oras.
=================================
10 hours later at Haeru...
=================================
Two institutions govern peace and order in Rodgof, The Imperial Army and The Bureau of Virtue.
The Imperial Army is a loyal force that defends the kingdom while The Bureau of Virtue is an organisation that investigates criminal activity with more freedom.
Needless to say, there is competition between the two giants. The Imperial Army is deemed royal and has more influence but The Bureau of Virtue has its "radical impartial justice".
The hierarchy in The Bureau of Virtue is as follows: Officer, Captain, General, and Marshal.
The Fifth Platoon Division of The Bureau of Virtue is stationed at Haeru. Among the captains, one is a short blonde woman named Melissa with black and white heterochromia. Shoulder-length hair and hair clips holding her fringe aside. Petite and vivacious. Anyone can mistake her for a young child if not for her uniform, a blue long coat and dark blue long pants. There are several collar pin badges on her coat.
*Knock knock*
Knocks came when Melissa does her paperwork in her office.
"Come in," says Melissa.
A man wearing a similar blue uniform but with fewer collar pin badges enters the room and bows to Melissa. "My apologies for the interruption. I have something urgent to report. A warrior had turned in a suspect that might be the leader of recent terrorism."
Melissa throws her glance at the man.
"What? Where is the suspect?" Melissa jumps out of her seat.
"In the dungeon, we are interrogating him right now."
Melissa rushes out of the room and the man follows.
They arrive in the underground dungeon and approach a wooden door. Inside the room is Haren chained to a chair. Several other officers in the room bow at Melissa.
"Good morning ma'am."
"Tell me, is he really the leader?" Melissa asks.
"According to witnesses and testimonies, yes. His name is Haren and he is a human from the Demon territory."
"Testimonies? From who?"
"Cult Terrorists. Those that we captured. Also, he admitted to infiltrating the castle at Hira."
...
Melissa clicks her tongue and glares at Haren, who simply returns a stare.
"Lock him up. We will decide what to do with him at a later date."
"Yes!"
The officers bow again to Melissa as she leaves the room. The same officer from before follows Melissa out.
"Who is the warrior that turned in Haren?" Melissa asks.
"He calls himself The Wandering Warrior Arsto. He is in the guest room, would you like to meet him?"
Melissa furrows her brows. "Arsto?"
She stops and locks eyes with the officer. "The criminals from Despair mentioned him. He was the one clearing all the..."
The officer widens his eyes. "Ah..."
Melissa runs across the hallway back up to the building above ground. She only stops outside the guest room and bashes the door open.
...
I can be seen holding a cup of tea and relaxing on a couch. Placing the cup on the table, I get up and bow.
"Greetings Captain Melissa Levia, I am Arsto."