From behind his belt, he grasped the black sword hilt. A wry smile floated onto his lips, as he pulled out the hilt. As both his hands coiled around the hilt, a blade began to materialize purely out of darkness. "Now then..." he muttered.

"When was the last time that I've gone all out?"

He gripped the blade with both his hands, raising it above his head. He glared at his opponents as he slowly exhaled.

The blade was brought down in a blinding flash of darkness.

"Dark Magic: Black Tear."

The blade expelled a vertical wave of darkness, headed straight towards his opponent.

Arnhild smiled through her hood, appearing right before Nero. "Dammit," he muttered, twisting his sword, pulling it upward.

She smiled, blocking the blade with her own. Her blade of light was thinner and longer, her movements, faster.

"First time I'm meeting one of you," Nero said, continuing to clash his blade with hers, continuing to block her attacks. "So tell me. You really believe in creating a new world?" he asked, as the corners of his mouth began to arch.

"You must be very blessed if you haven't noticed the cruel disparities of this world. The distortions of life. Some die of starvation, while some have more than they can ever eat. People are classified by their magic or by their wealth. People are hurt or killed due to the circumstances of their birth. They're hurt due to their religion or race or species. They're in the name of false justice, and false virtue. We were born of these distortions. The Golden Dawn was born of these distortions. In order to correct them."

Arnhild smiled, as her hood fell off her head in the wind.

As Nero's obsidian eyes met hers, he smiled. "You don't really believe that, do you?"

Alexander and the others could do nothing more than watch the battle between High-Grade warriors. They were evenly matched.

Until Arnhild's grin widened, that is. A thin slice of light slid past Nero's face, cutting his face. Another to his leg. Another to his arm. Another to the side of his chest.

The Commander of the Golden Dawn was stronger.

"Of course I believe it. We must answer the sin of the world with our own sin.

Nero swallowed his saliva, wiping the blood on his face with the sleeve of his black coat. "Well," he said as he spat out a sigh. "I can't say I dislike people like you."

"But your ideas... That's what I can't stand!"

With each slash of his blade, horizontal arcs of darkness shot out, the distance between them grew. Arnhild had to evade this barrage of attacks any way she could.

"You really don't think this can work, do you? I'm so much faster than you after all."

Nero let out an exasperated sigh. "I'm not dumb enough to think that. I don't think I can beat you normally, if I'm being honest.

Arnhild looked up at the cave's ceiling. It was cracked, breaking, slashed apart.

A thin, nervous smile grew on her lips. "You..."

"Dodge this," Nero smiled.

Dozens of stones and rocks crashed down from the ceiling. Their field of view of each other began to be obscured, shrouded behind the oncoming storm of boulders.

Time seemingly slowed as Arnhild's golden eyes met Nero's.

Nero smiled in return. "I hope I see you again. A rematch would be fun," he said, as dozens of boulders crashed down onto the distance between them. "See ya."

He let out a sharp breath, turning to the Virtues. "Alright, kids. It's over. Let's get you all home."

Nero stared at them. The sight of Alexander with his broken arms, Anastasia with her magic exhaustion, Gabriel with his oh-so-obvious concussion, and all their other injuries overall made the smile fade from his face.

"You guys are really messed up."

Arnhild's laughter echoed. "That was brilliant, you know."

Nero slowly turned to see the white-haired leader of the Golden Dawn, standing above the pile of rocks and boulders. Her hair was flowing in the wind brought by the cave's destruction. Her white cloak was damaged, covered in grey and black dirt. Blood dripped from the side of her cheek and her arms.

"Damn," Nero muttered, letting out a sigh. He tiredly rubbed his eyes as he groaned.

"Bring them in," she muttered.

Three Connections emerged from behind her. These portals weren't like Anastasia's pale blue Connections that crackled about like lightning with echoing thunder. They were perfect, pitch-black circles letting out a low-pitched hum.

Three people cloaked in the same white and golden robes emerged from their individual Connections.

"These are some of my finest warriors. Three of my Titans. Each of them is as powerful as a Paladin. You won't be able to handle them easily."

Nero stared at the three new opponents. He smirked.

"Is that so?" he asked, still grinning as he readied his sword in front of him. "You've clearly never met one of us. I'll show you what kind of power a real Paladin has!"

Two of the robed assailants immediately charged at Nero.

Nero's eyes scanned over them. All three of them had fearsome auras. One bore a mace, the other, a spear. The most dangerous one was bare handed. He was noticeably more powerful. His robes were worn loosely, with a cloth blindfold over his eyes. His dark brown skin was in contrast with his pale white hair and robes. The 'Titan' wore a wide grin on his face.

"Ma! Can I kill this guy? Can I?" he asked.

The leader gazed down at him momentarily. "Of course, my child. Just remember why we fight," she said with a compassionate smile.

"Thanks, Ma. You're the best!" he shouted, dashing forward. Within the next instant, he disappeared.

William Nero continued fending off the other two. A small smirk began to float unto his lips, as more and more magic energy circulated in his body. His movements grew faster, his blade grew thicker. And now...

His blade cut against his spear-weilding opponent. A shallow cut, but a cut nonetheless.

Nero smiled. "Seems you're not at all what you're hyped up to be."

But he was too focused to see the blindfolded attacker coming at him with a single straight punch. Nero reversed his grip on his sword, barely blocking the attack.

The two weaker ones dispersed as the former paced backward, his grin remaining on his face. "Now that's what I'm talking about. That's a blade made out of pure magic energy, but it still managed to cut me," he said, displaying the linear slash on his hand and forearm, with scarlet blood dripping downward.

"For a simple attack to wound me like this... You must be strong as hell! So what's your name?" he asked, wiping the blood with his other sleeve.

"...William Nero," the Paladin muttered, drawing his blade forward.

"Nice, nice, nice," the Titan mumbled. "I'm Arngrim. Now... Let's beat each other up!" he shouted, his fist becoming engulfed in yellow flames. As the two of them burst forth, clashing, the others dashed backward at their leader. "Commander," one of them began, "What should we do now?"

"Kill the Paladin."

All three of these Titans were now attacking the lone Paladin.

'There're three warriors of them now... Can he even fight against all of them at once? I have to help him any way that I can,' Alexander anxiously thought.

"Nero, sir!" he shouted. "I can- We can help!"

"No! Stay where you are!" he shouted at the Virtues, beginning to grin. He turned his head to them as he spoke. "You're worried about me? You need to grow up."

"Careless, careless," Arnhild muttered, as she appeared right behind him. Her palm was glowing with golden light.

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"That'd be you." With a step to the side, Nero revealed a thin black circle. "Blackhole," he muttered, smiling.

The darkness immediately drew in the light.

'How did-'

"Immobilize. And incapacitate." Nero slammed his black blade into Arnhild's side.

"Ma!" Arngirm shouted in shock. Arnhild's body hit the ground

"Amazing," she muttered, gripping the side of her chest, as blood slowly seeped into her robe. "It seems like dark magic may truly be danger against me."

The other three attacked at once.

Alexander struggled to stay upright, urging himself to fight the pain and the fear, urging himself to run into that dense field of magic and help the Paladin.

Barely two minutes had passed before Nero's feet skidded across the rocky ground. Blood began to drip down his forehead from Arngrim's hit. More blood gushed from the hole in his chest. "Damn," he muttered. "Didn't expect this."

"Guess I have no choice anymore." He tossed the black blade to the side as he took in a deep breath.

"What's he doing?" Arngrim mumbled.

The shadow at Nero's feet began to spread. As he smiled, he uttered: "Arise."

The very air changed for a moment. A sense of dread had settled in the cave.

"I know you're starting to enjoy this, Nero, but I'm afraid I'll have to step in right now."

Nero turned to see Charles Archibald, slowly approaching him. He spat out a sigh, saying, "Dammit, Charles, this was gonna be fun."

The three attackers halted their attacks. "Who the hell is this old man?" one of them muttered. Arngrim stood frozen, gritting his teeth.

Even through her hooded face, it was clear that the leader was smiling. "You must be Charles Archibald," she said. "We've met sooner than I anticipated. I think-"

Archibald put up a single finger, as if to silence her. "I'm thinking." Archibald's eyes scanned over the Virtues. They were safe, for the most part. He smiled to himself as he thought, 'They all managed to grow within such a short amount of time. I'm glad.'

He turned to his white-robbed opponents. As he glanced at all of them, he clenched his jaw. 'One High-Grade as their leader, that blindfolded guy's upper 1, and the rest are around Grade 2.'

"Alright," he said, clapping his hands together.

"You must be the leader, right?" Archibald asked, his voice echoing in the cavern. He smiled, saying, "You have white hair. Just like the guy that tried to kill me a few months back. I take it you're related. Probably something like that."

The cane that he had held in his left hand shifted, turning into a silver shortsword. No, it was too long to be called a shortsword but, it was too short to be called a longsword. It was decorated with a golden edge around its blade and a crimson gem on its pommel. It began to glisten similar to Excalibur's constant glow.

Archibald took a single step forward. "So...You start Tribulation, you attack humanity itself, and you abduct my subordinates. I hate to break it to you, but you're not getting off easy." Archibald snapped his fingers.

In an instant, he appeared behind one of the Titans. The hooded man swiveled his head towards his opponent, thinking, 'He's fast!...'

Archibald extended the palm of his hand at the Titan. "Prominence Flash," Archibald muttered coldly. The cloaked attacker ignited in flames. He cried out, screaming for help.

Even so, the others all stepped back, hesitating to attack. The mace-wielding man swallowed his dry saliva as he looked in shock at his burning comrade.

Archibald's face turned stern as he gazed at the other Titans. His stale, unforgiving voice rang out, "Really? Don't tell me you came prepared to kill, but not prepared to be killed?"

Their leader sighed, drooping her head and arms. "Let's leave. We can't beat him. Not like this." Archibald disappeared, in an instant showing up behind her.

"Like I'll let you leave," he said bringing his blade down, cleaving the air apart.

In a blinding flash of light, her blade of light clashed against Archibald's own. Their clashes continued leaving imprints in the cave walls and invisible impacts throughout.

'What the hell is with these movements?! I can't even see them!'

"Kids," Nero said, swallowing his saliva. "Watch carefully. That's Charles Archibald. That's our world's strongest."

Alexander once again swallowed his saliva, as he commanded himself, 'Don't look with your eyes. Sense their energy...'

And slowly, silhouettes appeared in between their invisible movements, forming their appearances.

Alexander and Gabriel stood in silence, only watching and understanding. Witnessing speed and power to this extent, they both thought the same thing.

'Can I even reach this level of strength?!'

Nero sighed, thinking, 'Even with my level of power, the gap between me and Archibald is astronomical. And if that lady is just as strong... It's no wonder that her subordinates are frozen in shock. Archibald and that lady... They're both monsters.' Droplets of sweat dropped down from Nero's face as he clenched his jaw.

Another Connection opened up to Nero's side, glowing with a silver hue. From this, two others emerged. A woman with long, brown hair, and...

Leonard let out a soft gasp. "Dad?"

The brown-haired man turned to him. "Oh, hey, Leonard," he said, putting on crimson gauntlets.

"What are you doing here?"

"My job," he said as he began to smile. The gauntlets ignited with crimson flames.

"That's your dad?" Giovanna whispered to Leonard.

"I told you he was a Paladin."

With another loud clang, the invisible impacts ceased as Archibald and the cloaked leader halted. Archibald's feet skidded across the ground, still standing before Alexander and the other Paladins.

"Commander! We have to retreat!" Arngrim shouted, ripping off his blindfold, his eyes tinged with confusion and fear as he grit his teeth.

The commander gazed at the group of Paladins standing a few dozen meters before her. "First, Nero, and Charles Archibald, the strongest Paladin. And now Romanov, and Eldar. Yep. I know all your names."

"Two High-Grades, and two Grade 1s. That's how you classify yourselves, correct?"

"Well, still," she continued, letting out a sigh. "This isn't a fight we can win at this rate. I didn't expect this to go without blood being spilled. But I suppose-"

"No, thanks," Archibald said, as the corners of his mouth began to arch up. "This is reminding me of the old days." He clasped his hands together. "How about we get a little violent?"

Gabriel gripped the back of Alexander's hood, pulling him back. "You'll have to stand back," he told him. "If you get any closer... you'll just end up as collateral damage."

"What-"

Archibald's smile widened as he extended his hand forward. He snapped his fingers. "Negative."

Arnhild's eyes widened as a gasp left her lips. "Everyone, move!" she ordered, disappearing off to the side within a flash of light.

A wave of magic energy rushed through the cavern.

Everything directly in front of Archibald's finger disappeared. All destroyed. Even the air that filled up that space, even the stones on the ground, and the Titan that hadn't moved in time, all of it deleted from existence.

But... Archibald sighed. "Both of you dodged it," he said, staring at Arnhild and Arngrim. "Guess I should've focused more on range rather than precision."

Arngrim stared in shock at where his comrade once stood. Standing in his place was nothing more than dense magic energy, the remnants of that spell, and a sliced cloth of the pale robe.

'What the hell did he just do?!' Arngrim thought, struggling to stand.

Arnhild's eyes were still wide from that sight. Even with her speed, she could've died. She knew Archibald was holding back. If that spell was launched at full speed and full power, she would died in an instant.

"Not over yet, though!" Archibald shouted. His silver blade flung into his hand as he dashed at Arnhild.

Arnhild jumped back to evade.

Archibald appeared right behind her. Above her. With his hands wrapped around his blade, bringing the sword down with rapid speed, cleaving through the air.

Her eyes widened as she spun around, her hand glowing with pale yellow light, aiming at Archibald.

They were evenly matched in speed; Whoever struck first would be the victor. And yet... She raised her arm, her hand pointing directly at Archibald, blocking the blade even if it meant losing her arm.

The blade struck her arm and Arnhild winced. But, "You finally got close enough!" she laughed, her eyes glowing with fervent mania.

A thin ray of light shot out at Archibald's head. But the magic never struck Archibald. Instead, he simply smiled. "Blood has been spilled. Your blood. Is this what you wanted?"

The air around the blade shifted, almost refracting the light around it. "Matter," Archibald said. He slammed the elongated blade down, striking Arnhild in the shoulder.

Arnhild's body collapsed to the ground and Archibald smiled.

Even so, she got up. Not even two seconds after nearly being torn apart, she got up.

"That should've ripped you in half. Seems like being unkillable runs in the family."

Arnhild dashed back to what was left of the cave wall. Her movements slowed as crimson blood began to soak her robes.

The hits she sustained from Nero, the cuts on her arms, and a diagonal slash across her chest. All of them still burned within her, bringing pain with each breath. Still, she smiled.

"Incredible!" she shouted, panting and huffing and her cloak soaked in crimson. "To think you were powerful to this extent!" Arnhild laughed, as blood dripped from her mouth.

Archibald wasn't paying attention to her. He simply stared at his bloodied blade. As he raised his head and stared at her, he smiled.

"So..." he began, his eyes glistening. "What's your next move?"

"Atlas!" Arnhild called. "Take us back!"

Archibald launched his dagger, throwing it like a missile, aimed for the commander. But with a low pitched pop, she and the others... disappeared. The blade struck the far end wall of the cave. Chunks of stone burst from the impact.

He, once again, disappeared, arriving at the cave's end. Retrieving his dagger, he spat out a sigh of exasperation.

He called out to his fellow Paladins, telling them, "Wake up that other guy."

Nero furrowed his eyebrows. "He's alive?" he asked, dashing at the collapsed Golden Dawn member. "You didn't kill him?"

"Of course I didn't kill him. Just restrained him with space itself," Archibald said with a smile. "Besides, you'd do that weird spell if he were dead."

"Because it's useful."

The brown-haired woman, Romanov put her hands behind her head as she let out a heavy sigh. "We came all this and we didn't do anything!" she complained.

"Quit complaining," Eldar told her. "No casualties on our side. It's a victory in my book."

Archibald jumped down from the stone's precipice, hovering a few inches off the ground towards the barely conscious man. He crouched down at him, flicking him the forehead. "Wake up."

The man's eyes slowly began to open, groggily blinking, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion. "Here's the deal. You're gonna be a prisoner of war. You'll be in jail and you'll have to give us all information you have on the Golden Dawn, but you'll live."

The man's eyes widened, his nostrils flared. His hands and feet fidgeted, struggling to break free from whatever magic he was tied with.

"Don't think of it as sympathy," he continued. "You're a terrorist. You're gonna pay for what you've done for the rest of your life. But you'll have to talk. Who you are, the locations of the Golden Dawn's bases, what-"

"No."

Archibald smiled, confused. "That's not how this works. You'll-"

"No!" the man repeated. "People like you..." he muttered. "...don't deserve to live in the new world." He swallowed his saliva.

The magic in his body burst, sending spikes of ice throughout his body. The ice glowed with crimson as the man's body was wrangled.

"What-"

Shards of ice burst into the air, leaving nothing but his corpse, twisted and distorted from the magic.

Archbald spat out a sigh. "That could've been a binding vow or his own will. Talk about dedication."

Alexander clenched his jaw. "What the hell..." he muttered, his voice quiver. "What the hell do they think life is?"

Gabriel stood there in silence, marveling at their auras of magic energy. Nero, Romanov, Eldar, and Archibald. Each of them carried the same dense cloud of magic energy. The colored lights shined even within the darkness of the cave.

Black, purple, crimson, and white lights respectively surrounding each of them.

He swallowed his dry saliva, thinking, 'I've gotten better at sensing those types of energy. I can tell... That's how I know how powerful these guys are... Those auras... That's their magic energy. No... Magic power!'

As Archibald approached the other Paladins and the Virtues, Nero turned to him, asking, "Was she really that powerful? To the extent that you're evenly matched?"

Archibald's face remained stern. "Light magic is tricky, that's all."

Eldar pulled out a grey, rectangular device, similar to a simple cell phone. "Let's just go back home," he said with a sigh.

A large silver circle grew underneath their feet, beginning to expand.