Continuing on the plan of attack, Ren explained the plan to Haru.
"Haru, take out the Skeleton Archers to the east. Just ignore the other monsters on the way. I'll take out the Devil Hounds to the west."
"Right'o.", Haru replied with a salute of two fingers immediately leaving his forehead.
After the exchange of words, the two started running to their objectives. While running, Ren yelled to Haru.
"After you take care of those creeps, continue on to the front where the Captain is!"
Haru nodded at Ren. On the way, he easily dodged the slow Skeleton Warriors while heading straight to the group of Skeleton Archers. After 20 seconds of running and evading, Haru reached his objective. He takes a deep breath and takes his fighting stance. He wasn't worried about the other monsters while the Skeleton Archers aimed for him. A moment before the Skeleton Archers could release their arrows from their bows, Haru instantly disappeared out of sight. Then one by one, the Skeleton Archers fell to the ground.
"Silent Strike", Haru said as he mumbles the skill he used. He then continued on, just like Ren said.
Meanwhile, on Ren's side. Like Haru, he just evaded the other monsters while heading to the pack of Devil Hounds. Before Ren could reach his objective, one Devil Hound let out a loud sound. Then, the pack divided into two groups. The smaller group headed for Ren while the larger group headed for the west side of the circle. Seeing this, Ren increased his speed while holding the hilt of his katana, preparing to use a skill.
"Sword Drawing: Frigid Dragon's Breath!"
As both Ren and the Devil Hounds neared each other, he draw his sword at a fast speed and passed through the group of monsters. After that, the monsters were defeated in a second. Ren didn't mind the ones he defeated and immediately chased the other group.
'I have to make it', Ren thought to himself. He then sheathed his sword and prepared to use another skill.
"Sixth Sword: Flash Boost!"
The knights on the west side prepared for the incoming group but before they could intercept the monsters, Ren appeared in front of them. Ren then draw his sword and taking his fighting stance.
"Eight Sword: Ten-Fold Strike!"
As the Devil Hounds approached Ren, they were brought down as if they were rushing to their death.
The knight's were amazed at Ren's swordplay but Ren ignored them and hurried to the front.
Both Ren and Haru successfully brought down their targets and was headed for the front. The only ones left were the slow Skeleton Warriors, a few Devil Hounds, and the Death Reaper.
While Drey, Maebara, and Amaki dealt with the monsters at the front, Ren and Haru arrived.
"Ren...Haru...what are you two doing here?", Amaki asked.
Ren didn't answer Amaki's question but instead said that they needed to get out of the room.
"But how do we do that!", Maebara said while pushing back a Skeleton Warrior with his shield. "We're completely surrounded!"
"Captain, have the encirclement divide into four groups. What they're going to do is wipe out the rest of the monsters."
"Are you sure, Ren?", Drey asked meanwhile fighting a Skeleton Warrior.
"Don't worry, the major problems have been taken care of. We only need to defeat all the remaining monsters and secure an exit route."
Drey had just defeated the Skeleton Warrior he was fighting. He then replied to Ren.
"I see where your going... Ok, let's execute your plan."
Drey faced the others and issued his orders.
"Everyone, divide the encirclement into four groups! The east and west side will focus on defeating the remaining monsters! The rear will focus on securing the entrance door. Once you've done so, standby and watch the area! That's all!"
"Yes, sir!", everyone yelled in unison as they executed the plan.
"And we at the front will wipe out the remaining four Skeleton Warriors and the Death Reaper. Is that ok?", Drey asked to everyone in the front.
"It's what I would've wanted!", Ren answered.
"But that Death Reaper has still to make a single move." Haru said, interrupting the two. "As I was running towards here, I noticed that it was completely still."
"Probably recovering his lost strength." Maebara answered.
"I think your right.", Ren replied. "Then..."
Ren explained how they're going to attack the remaining monsters and the Death Reaper.
"Maebara, you charge first at the Death Reaper and distract it. Amaki and the Captain will follow him and defeat the two Skeleton Warriors on each side. Haru and I will flank the Death Reaper and attack on both sides. Does anyone object the plan?", Ren asked beforehand.
"It's perfect.", said Drey.
"No problem here.", Amaki added.
Both took their positions. Drey tapped Maebara's shoulder saying their ready on his go.
Hearing this, Maebara positioned his shield at front and took a deep breath. He then charged the Death Reaper. As soon as Maebara started running, Drey and Amaki followed, distracting the Skeleton Warriors. Lastly, a few moments after, Ren and Haru ran on opposite sides and was headed for the Death Reaper.
The Death Reaper noticed Maebara's approach. It immediately grabbed it's gigantic scythe and attacked Maebara with a swing coming from above. Maebara blocked the incoming attack, pushing it back making the monster's attention turn at him. The two then engaged at combat. Maebara looked at both his sides, seeing the two attackers nearing the Death Reaper. The monster again attacked with a swing coming from above. Maebara blocked it. But instead of pushing it, he let the monster continue it's attack by breaking through Maebara's defense.
Ren and Haru both arrived at their destination. The two stopped, taking their fighting stances. Maebara then pushed back the Death Reaper's attack with full force, causing it to lose balance.
'Nice one, Maebara', Haru thought to himself.
"Ok...Silent Sneak!" Haru again disappeared.
Ren takes a deep breath while holding the hilt of his sword. Ren dashes towards the Death Reaper.
"Fourth Sword: Crimson Moon."
The monster was unaware of Ren's attack, thus hitting it's right side with a curving slash. Meanwhile, Haru appeared at the monster's back.
"Dual Death!"
Haru striked the Death Reaper's back two times with his dagger. The monster let out a cry of pain. He then disappeared again.
And with Drey and Amaki just finished defeating the remaining Skeleton Warriors, they both went for an attack on the Death Reaper.
"Silver Cross!", was Drey's attack.
"Azure Slash!", was Amaki's attack.
With the follow up attack, the monster shrieked in pain. It fell to the ground, barely standing.
With their plan a success, the five met up at the front. As they met up, a voice was calling to them.
"Hey guys...we've secured are exit!", it was Shin that was calling them.
"The battle's finally over." Amaki said in a calm voice.
"Yeah!", Maebara replied in a cheerful tone.
"Hey you two, you better not jinx it!", Haru said in a funny tone.
"Captain, what do we do now?", Ren asked.
"Hmmm...For now, let's get out of this room. We need to rest. Today's been a heck of a day after all."
"I second the motion.", Amaki said while chuckling.
"What about that big fella?", Haru asked while looking at the monster.
"It looks like it'll die in a few minutes...so let's leave it. But just in case..." Drey called out to Kenchi and to the man carrying a brown bow with beautiful markings in it. The Ranger, Nakamoto Akira, signalling them to come to him.
The two headed to where Drey was. As soon as they arrived...
"Kenchi...Akira...you two are the only ones here with strong long-range attacks. I want you two to finish of that monster." Drey explained to both of them.
"No problem." Kenchi said in a monotone voice.
"Let's get this over with." Akira said in a somehow lazy manner.
The two prepared for their finishing attack when the monster suddenly let out another loud cry. The cry was unlike the other. It wasn't painful to the ears but simply listening to it made them shiver down their spine.
"What is it now!", Maebara yelled loudly.
Drey turned around and waved his hand at the others at the front.
"Keep your distance!", Drey yelled to the others.
The seven on the front quickly backed away from the Death Reaper, unsure of it's next move. They met up with the other groups to organize themselves.
"Guys, you ok?", Shin asked in a loud voice.
"Yeah!", Amaki answered. " More importantly, we need to get out of here!", he added in a distressed tone.
"Yeah...We should.", Drey said in succession.
After all that conversation, the group signaled the others to get out of the room. But they were stilled fazed by the ongoing cry of the monster. So Maebara and Shin went to both groups on the sidelines. To snap them out of their shock.
Maebara finally arrived. He shook Mitahara who was still fazed by the monster's cry.
"Hey, Mitahara! Snap out of it!"
After a few shakes to Mitahara's body, he finally regained his composure.
"Maebara...", Mitahara said in a soft voice.
"What are you doing! We have to get out of here!"
"Yeah..."
As Mitahara gave his answer, Maebara yelled loudly at the others, getting their attention.
"Hey, you guys...We have to get out of here!"
The group made a run for it but as they turned their backs, a pillar beside them fell down. Luckily, none were caught under it but some knights were hit by the rubble from the pillar.
The group was stopped by the fallen pillar. They would have continued by going around it but instead, they turned around only to see that the Death Reaper was responsible for the recent attack.
In it's left hand was a black ball of magic, freely floating. Maebara's group didn't really understand the situation but Drey was shouting like a lunatic, telling them to continue running. The ball in the monster's hand then brought out a very fast ray of what seems to be a Fireball, a basic type of Fire Magic. The fireball knocked down another pillar. But the entire party was still to get out of the room.
The monster's hand shifted directions and aimed for the huge door that the party came in to. It then fired another Fireball, causing a small explosion above the door. There wasn't really much damage other than dust and a few fragments falling. But the door suddenly started to close. The door was in a form of a large arc and in it where two large stone walls that started to move from each side.
What the Death Reaper shot was a form of a circle that acted like a mechanism, preventing the door from closing once the switch outside was active.
After that, the entire party started to panic. But Drey then yelled to the entire party to move. At that time, almost everyone was acting only in instinct, for them to get out and live. Maebara and the other knights in his group picked up the wounded and immediately ran for the entrance. As they were running, Takeshi tripped because of the rubble.
The Death Reaper then focused it's attention on Takeshi, with eyes that seeks to kill someone. The monster flew towards him in a very fast speed. The fallen Takeshi struggled to get up and without him knowing, the monster was already behind him. It lifted it's scythe, striking Takeshi who didn't notice. But the attack didn't hit. Only a loud sound of metal clashing against metal was heard.
Ren was blocking the Death Reaper's attack that came from the left, with his sword in his left side. One of his hands was holding the hilt while the other, he used to support the blade of his sword with the palm of his hand.
"Takeshi, are you okay?", Ren asked in a composed manner.
Takeshi faced Ren and saw that he was blocking the Death Reaper's scythe. At a glance, he knew that the attack was meant for him and if Ren hadn't blocked it, he was surely good as dead. He was relieved that he get's to live another day, but that relief changed to frustration.
In a split moment, a very short time it is. A sword pierced through Ren's back. In that time started the dark betrayal against Ren.