Bulai. This city was always a sight to behold. And if Drexel was at least right about one thing, it was that Bulai was leagues ahead of Earth in the technology department. Buildings were groomed into tall, slim prisms that pierced the clouds. They collected solar energy through their entire exterior and, at night, released a soft glow to illuminate the dark streets. On any given day, people would be flying around with their anti-gravity shoes or riding along their metal beasts of air and ground. The joy of new creations was their strength. Unfortunately, that joy was nowhere to be seen when they arrived.

The commotion in the air was deafening amongst the burning buildings and smoke. People trampled over each other as they ran away from the tall grey clawed Nocturns that roamed the streets. They seemed to be a new breed of Nocturn that were unlike any others in Tolvia.

Gemini didn't have to ponder on it. This was a much bigger Nocturn attack than Patrice could handle alone. He knew hesitation was not an option! "Weis and Barum, get the people to safety! Frey and Patrice, you come with me!"

"Roger!" They said in unison. Weis and Barum dispersed and attended to the frightened crowds right away. Gemini then turned to Frey and Patrice.

"Ready?" Gemini stated.

"Ready!" the two Integras stated as they ran towards the monsters.

The monsters in front of them let out a terrifying roar. It boomed so loud that the land shook slightly beneath them.

Patrice ran up to the side of one monster and threw out a long thread at the monster's legs as it wrapped around its ankles. She pulled and tripped the monster onto the ground. Dust billowed away from the monster's fall.

Frey jumped in the air, dagger in hand, and stabbed the monster in the head. The monster roared loudly before exploding in dark light. Frey landed on the ground below, but was immediately tackled by another monster and hurled through the air.

"Frey!" Patrice yelled. Just then, Gemini ran to where Frey was about to land and caught him.

Gemini placed Frey down.

"You didn't have to catch me, you know." Frey stated.

"Yes, I did." Gemini stated. A fist came barreling down on them, but they both dodged to the side. Gemini thrusted to the left and Frey thrusted to the right.

Gemini and Frey both placed their palm towards the monster. "Secure!" they both yelled. Several energy rings formed around the monster. They raised their hands higher forcing the monster into the air. Immediately, they slammed their hands down forcing the monster to hit the ground and explode in dark light.

~~

In the distance, Weis and Barum guarded the front and the back of the crowd as they ran towards the largest exit point, the Bulai Bridge. Two monsters jumped and landed before them blocking both sides of the crowd.

Weis scoffed. "Geez, these things don't quit, do they?"

Barum shook his head. "Less talking, more killing." Barum drew his sword as Weis drew needles from his sleeves.

The monsters rushed in at both ends. Weis jumped over the crowd and threw numerous threaded needles that landed on the ground around them. The threads hardened and formed a shield above them. The monsters attacked the shield, which absorbed each blow as people huddled together.

Barum then came from behind and slashed one of the monster's backs. It roared in pain as black vapor spewed from the open wound. It turned to face its attacker only to notice Barum's wryly grin.

The monster vibrated violently before standing very still. Then it collapsed to the ground with numerous needles in its back. Soon after, it exploded in dark light.

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"Well, that's one way to take care of them," Weis said, wiping his brow as he stood on the shield.

Barum gasped. "Watch out!"

The other Nocturn jumped at Weis from behind. Without looking, Weis threw a few needles behind him. The Nocturn bellowed as needles impaled into its face. The monster immediately fell on top of the shield before exploding in dark light. He smiled and posted two fingers. "That's still two kills to your zero."

Barum crossed his arms. "Best three out of five. No gloating yet."

~

Gemini and the other two were still fighting off wave after wave of monsters. It felt as if there was no end to their spawning.

Patrice skidded across the ground and eventually knelled to the ground. "These things won't stop!" She stood up. "What should we do?"

Gemini knocked one of the monsters with a swift kick. "There must be a nest nearby. We need to find it and destroy it."

He hoped he was right. But these numbers were getting ridiculous. Most Nocturn nests were rarely this big. Something wasn't adding up.

Just then, several monsters were thrown in disarray. They flew into nearby buildings, exploding into light on impact. Gemini's eyes widened. Patrice and Frey were still fighting but neither of them showed such knockback power in their current fights. Looking further down to the other duo, they were fairly safe guiding the people away from the chaos.

"I want to go home!" a young voice yelled.

Several more monsters were hurled by water bursting from beneath them. They exploded as they landed on the ground. Gemini then looked ahead and it was déjà vu all over again.

Cassie, the red-headed child from Earth, was here.

This was unbelievable. The little girl was in this region. Better yet, how did she just do what she did? Fountains of water erupted from the ground. The child was crying and every time she hit the ground, more fountains erupted like geysers. Weis and Barum came back for the second batch of citizens only to find this water display.

"What's going on?" Barum said, running over to Gemini.

Gemini shook his head. "I don't know to be quite honest." He pointed to the child. "How did she get here?"

"I doubt it was a fact of merely strolling here from Earth," Patrice stated.

Gemini then slapped his own forehead. Of course, this child was here. If a Tolvian Key is in that child, in theory, that child is capable of also existing in Veith.

"Guys, listen," Gemini said, "She's the child that has a Tolvian Key inside of her. My guess is that the key is what's causing her to be here."

"Your guess, huh?" Patrice said, one eyebrow raised. "What do we do?"

"I know what we shouldn't do," Weis said, pointing at the launched monsters. "Approaching her head on is almost out the question."

"Well, guess I will just take her with me then," a voice said from afar.

All the guardians turned. Gemini recognized that treacherous voice. They all recognized that voice. It was none other than Drexel, in all his traitorous glory. He walked slowly through the crowd of flying monsters as he headed straight towards the guardians.

"Is this your doing?" Gemini asked.

"Do you even have to ask? Maybe it is, maybe it isn't," he replied, "but one thing I do know: that girl over there is coming with me."

Gemini and the rest took their fighting stances. "Over our dead bodies you will!" Frey yelled.

They were extremely close to a fragment of Tolvia. Even more so, they were dealing with a child. She needed to remain safe. For all they knew, she doesn't even realize she's in Veith. She may believe she's on Earth.

Drexel summoned his own dark spear. The tip was curved and had embroidery along the blade. The embroidery Drexel designed himself as a way to distinguish himself from the other Integras. Gemini only thought of the symbols as self-expression. Now, he understood it as rebellion. "So, shall we begin?"

Weis and Patrice ran up first. They thrust themselves at top speed, plunging their dagger and whip for Drexel's head. Drexel jumped back several feet avoiding the attacks.

Drexel sliced the air, launching an air blade that blew them away. They landed and skidded across the ground.

Patrice gritted her teeth. "Since when did he get so strong?"

Weis shook his head. "Don't know. Don't care." Weis rushed again at Drexel; but, ran straight into Gemini's extended hand. "Gemini! What are–"

"I'll take him on. You and the others get that child!" Gemini yelled.

Weis gritted his teeth; but, nodded in agreement. "Sure."

Weis nodded towards the girl. Patrice also gave a swift nod and followed him towards the girl.

Explosions of water still burst through the ground, showering the land around them.

Drexel rushed towards the Integras.

"Oh, no you don't!" Gemini yelled. Drexel found himself lifted by the collar in the air. Gemini held him in mid-air with his pole and launched him yards away into the city's open courtyard.

Drexel spiraled into the air before rolling onto the ground. Once he stopped, Drexel crept to his feet as Gemini landed a foot away from him. "Well, well, well." He wiped a small speck of blood from his grinning mouth. "I guess you get your match after all."

"Shut it," Gemini twirled his pole above his head. Slowly, the pole glowed intensely with each rotation until it faded to a dim glow. He impaled the ground with, now, his two-edged sword. "Let's end this."

Drexel glowed with anxiety and excitement. "Oh ho! Let's!"