Gina wakes up as Sylvia is looking at Lenny's corpse. She doesn't want to disturb the peaceful expression that he have right now, but Van suggest that they need to bury him so he can finally rest as the whole city as well.
"You're right. I want to see him in peace..." Sylvia says as she caress his face. The sky suddenly rains as Gina and Gran are sitting in a bench nearby. While this is happening, Mayuri and the group have return to the city and seen that the four are still alive. Gran then stands and takes a leave as he sees Mayuri approaching them. Gina then holds his hand as he looks at her. "Are you sure?" Gran ask as she nods.
"I want you to stay with me." Gina request, something that Gran quietly and subtly honor by sitting beside her. Mayuri then hugs Gina as her hand holding gets separated. Gran then waves to his lover while he goes to Sylvia and Van, who are now burying Lenny and he sees the Sword Saint panting heavily with every shoveling he is doing. "You okay there? Want a hand?" Gran ask, even though he goes to grab a shovel anyway regardless of Van's answer.
"This day makes a heavy toll." Van remarks with a sad expression on his face. Gran then looks far at his right. He sees Faffy lying there, being healed up by Veronica and Eugene as the spry dragon is just resting and groaning in pain. The pink haired mage is rubbing the dragon's head while Rinko is trying to help as well. Mayuri is sitting at the belly of the red dragon, while the sun is slowly setting.
Gran then feels a massive surge of Dimensional Flow at the direction where he and Soli last clash. He can feel the ominous fluctuation on the reality on that side of the world. "Tch, wicked and restless I see..." Gran remarks under his breath as he finishes the digging and the party takes the night off of one of the house that aren't devastated by Amun's massive flood of sand from earlier the day. Eugene and Van gathers whatever supply that they can get back from the camp on the border.
"Well well well... I thought you're gonna be staying there kid. You're master is really taking a hard hit back there." Leon is sitting at a bench in front of the door leading to the staircase to the wall and his room. Unknown to the two, Gran is also following and he grabs the two in the shoulder to surprise them. "What a childish take you are right now Gran." Van notices as Gran just made a peace sign while he smiles.
"Well, I need to take off my emotions somewhere. It is not nice for me to muck up all the sadness back there. Anything is too heavy, and I want to take a break before I tackle dealing with my past again." Gran explains to the two. Van sees that the Exorcist is actually taking in a facade right now. He can feel in his eyes and his body language that he is really keeping something inside of him, that he is stopping from unleashing.
"Damn then, I guess whatever you are feeling right now are an exception or far wimorse than sadness then?" Van banters as it makes Gran's eyes widen and he steps back fron the two. Leon is looking at the sides when he gazes upon Gran, and he looks at Gran's face and it is twisted with darkness and anger, something that scares him.
"Woah buddy, you okay there?" Leon ask as Van and Eugene looks at Gran. He shakes his head and slap his face as he looks back at them. "Uhm, Mr. Gran? You don't have to help us here." Eugene concernly states but Gran just waves to them.
"All is okay! I am fine, really." Gran says as he drag the two upwards the staircase. There he's the one who opens up the door and the three sees the Sage trying to heal up the damage caused by the Deconstruction Soli have made. Eugene tries to offer a help, but Gran steps in and he looks into the wounds more closer.
"I see, I can say that even if you're middle age you still got a supple skin. You are trying to stay beautiful madam." Gran jokingly says as he put his hand in her shoulder and side. "I know you are trying to help me, but can you at the very least be more courteous to me?" The Karina retorts as Gran use a weak Compress to suck up the parts badly affected by the Deconstruction and Gran work his brain out to close the said wound from her left shoulder and right side.
"Are you feeling better? I hope you can move a little bit with what I've done." Gran ask as he finishes healing the Sage with his powers. The Sage then jumps into the Exorcist as she plans to give him a kiss, but Gran isn't a willing participant. "Hey!! Get your Master off of me!!" Gran commands Eugene as he sighs and drag his master out of the way.
"Master, please stop embarrassing yourself." Eugene's request to Karina as it tantrums like a child. "But but! I just seen such a fine and capable man in my life!! I will dedicate my life to have you." Karina expresses as she blows a flying kiss to Gran, a thing that he pops out with a finger flick. "That's not gonna work. Gina will kill me." The Exorcist says as Van is able to find and grab all of the supplies that they can get there.
"Hey guys, I think it is about time we go back." The Sword Saint informs the three as Leon are standing at the door, going with the group.
"Hey, is there any sweets there? I need one!" Gran ask ae he spots the candy wrapper in one of the boxes. He grabs the box and haul all of the candy for himself. The Sage is trying to grab his arm to embrace, only for Eugene to stop her by her collar. Gran sighs while Van and Leon walks quietly. "Geez, what a day huh. Everything becomes dead in an instant." Leon states as they are approaching the place where they will have to stay for a while.
"Oh, looks like we aren't going to stay the night for long." Van says as they spots an incoming white carriage and an entourage of Holy Knights on horseback.
The group rush as the other inside the said abandoned house goes out as well. The ground are filled with debris and traces of people that are now gone. As soon as Lucy disembark from her carriage, she witness the trace and the lingering Mana and life from the ground. She's horrify as Van slowly approach her since he already knows what's she's feeling right now.
"Your Highness... Take deep breaths and calm down." The Sword Saint calmly says as he goes to rub her back, consoling her about the fate of every person in Vulcana that they fail to protect. Gran then goes to Gina's side, feeling down as he holds her hand.
Gina looks at him. He tries to be cheerful and carry the guilt by himself, but she can see that he is just keeping himself up so others won't fall under the pressure of what happens in this place as well. Gina then lead Gran to the bench where they were before. Gina then have him lean his head on her shoulder.
"I am seeing a man holding his own. It is okay to lean sometimes Gran..." Gina says as she caress his hair. A tear falls from his eye as he let it fall. He doesn't sob or express a noise, but he let the tears fall until he feels like he wants to burst his emotions out. When it does, he cries at Gina's chest.
The others doesn't want to look as they feel like they are intruding through a private matter. The others goes inside the house in order to take a nap and to eat dinner. The Princess command the Holy Knights to guard the perimeter, while Sylvia are only looking and lost on her own thoughts.
Gran stops crying as his eyes are red and he wipes off his face. Gina ask if he feels better now, which he just nods. "Thanks a lot Gina. I really do love you." The Exorcist blurts out. Gina just smiles as she replies. "Me too."
The Holy Knight Captain then stands up and stands beside the young princess. "Your Highness. I can take over here. Pleae have a sound rest inside." Sylvia ask of the princess, yet she just shakes her head and she request for her to take a rest instead. "I'm sorry, I neither need rest or anything else. I swear to Lenny's and the Royal Crown's name that I will protect you." Sylvia says, but Princess Lucy doesn't agree with that.
"I am a part of the Royal Family, yes, but I am now serving my subjects. You are one of my subject, and thus you need to heed my order for you." Lucy answers as she puts her left hand on Sylvia's right shoulder. "I understand the loss that you had, how excruciating it is inside here. And I want for you to forget it a little with a sleep." Lucy adds as she points at her heart. Sylvia then drops her guard and relaxes her shoulder.
"If that's what you wish for..." Sylvia smiles as she turns around to yawn. The whole group spent the night there, but Soli have a different plan, something he needs to accomplish before he confronts Gran again. He then sees Louis walking towards him when he is leaning in a tree. He look at the kid and he gesture for him to come closer to him.
"I still couldn't believe that you're able to follow me here. The mere thought of my control getting out due to that little stint bothers me." Soli shares as the kid just nods. Both of them walk through the night. The cool glow of the moon shines through the two of them while Soli is holding Louis' hand like a father does to his child.
"You think the breeze tonight is beautiful? I think I can bask through the greatness of it all." The monster says as they continue walking back to Aluteria, where he promises the battle will take place.
Just as the two of them are walking, Soli encounters some mixed race beings walking through the way they are going. The Mixed race folks are a mix of Tiger, Ox and an elf. Soli guesses that they are adventurers on how they carry themselves.
The group of five men just walk pass Soli and Louis, but he can feel the sudden rise of tension that the Monster stop walking. "Hey! You there! I think I've seen you somewhere before!!" The oxen folk ask as he draws his giant axe while the others follow suit.
"I don't think we've met, but I am afraid that your meddling will be the end of you." The monster says as he turnaround and looks at them. Louis let go and goes to the side as Soli fully turns to them and gestures to come at him. "Well then, I shall show you what true beauty looks like." Soli says as the group attacks in unison.
With a single stomp and a clap, Soli is able to bisect the Oxen folk and stab the Tiger folk with his earth spire. The elf who tries to draw his bow gets slaughtered with a windblade while the others got crush by a block of gigantic ice dropping into there heads. Soli sighs in disappointment, but he got a brilliant idea when he goes to peek at Louis.
"That man got himself some help, maybe we should do the same." Soli remarks as he goes and put his hand on the bodies of the killed adventurers. He revive them all and he poke his finger to manipulate their brains.
Once he done this to all of them, they've become a follower like how Lenny act before. They walk alongside Soli and Louis.
As soon as they continue to move, Soli and Louis are always encountering some adventurers that always trying to fight him. It took him almost the whole night to reach Aluteria. Due to distance and how they often encounters opponent everytime, the two reach the outskirts of Aluteria. They are able to see the walls that protect the city from invaders and monsters. As soon as the first shine of the morning sun hits their skin, a certain man is sitting at the top of the walls, sleeping but his jacket and hair flowing through the wind.
"Well, I didn't expect you are eager to meet your little sister in the grave Gran!" Soli shouts as Gran opens his eyes and stand, looking down at Soli with an invigorated breath and anger seeping through his close fist.
"That's a low blow Soli, but that's fine. I never take you to being on top of everything you do... Loser." Gran banters as he points at the Monster. "I swear to mine and Master's soul. I will exorcise you."
As the Exorcist points at Soli, the Monster then spread his arms wide. The couple of dozens he controls appears beside him as he answers.
"Well then, let's see how beautiful you perform then."
As soon as Soli says that, Gran kicks up his left foot and he jumps down to meet the adventurers the Monster have revived and manipulated. He draws his ceremonial dagger as he rush to face the frontliner. The Oxen Head adventurer tries to swing his gigantic axe at Gran, only for him to duck and give him a Barrier encased fist to the jaw and send him flying with an uppercut. He then move towards the next one with a sideways dodge and he delivers a side to hook kick. Thr elf who's in the rear, shooting his bow suddenly raises his aim and he cast a spell.
Gran is busy as he notices the move the elf made. He peeks up and he sees multiple glowing arrows glowing as it falls down to him. He jumps and he handstand to get out of the way and a large man dashes and aims to punch Gran on his back. The Exorcist then sees the right hook the guy makes, and he spins to go with the flow and counters the attack with a right back fist and a left roundhouse kick. The attack send the adventurer to Soli, whom he slap away.
Next are a bunch of adventurers trying to strike Gran together. Gran isn't impressed with what is going on, but he takes a stance still as he throws his dagger at them. Thing is, a certain black clad swordsman suddenly appears between them and slices through them like ribbons.
"Well damn, I thought I can keep the ruse longer huh." Gran states as Van looks at him and smiles. "Well hot damn Mr. Gran, leaving us to have all the fun then?" The Sword Saint answers as he ask Gran to stand back a little. From the sea of trees where Soli emerges, a powerful glow of light then envelop the place.
"You'll pay to what you've done to him... Finishing Move!!" Sylvia shouts as she aims at where Soli and the adventurers are. The Monster makes several layers of Earth Wall to block the powerful blast of Mana coming unto him. The light destroys the revived adventurers in an instant, and Gina and the Valkyries drops to the wall where Gran is sitting earlier.
"You sneaky man! Why you left us there? I thought we are going with this together?" Gina ask as Mayuri looks at Gran with a murderous intent. Rinko and Veronica goes to the frontline as Sylvia's Finishing Move is finished. Faffy lands near the fight as Soli realizes that he is actually surrounded.
"What a hot mess I am right now! I see, is this the power of friendship?" Soli asks himself as he takes a deep breath.
"This is the end Soli. I'll end you where you stand." Gran threatens as he points his dagger at the Monster. Soli then looks up and he covers his face. He giggles, then after a moment he is now going into full laughter while covering his face still.
Gran doesn't hesitate one bit. Van does go in first due to his superior speed, but the wicked step and dash Sylvia make cannot be discounted for. Soli then spread his arms wide open again, and this time Gran and Gina sees that Soli generates something above them in an instant.
"Do you know how Plasma Bombs are?" Soli ask as Van's blade almost slice his head off. Gran sees the expanding plasma above them all, and he stop in his track and he quickly cast his Stillness of the World.
"Phew, I barely made it." Gran exclaims as he notice that even though Soli doing this massive move, he still coats himself with the Deconstruction he makes. Van is able to bypass this due to his Mana and the reason why it doesn't get erased in an instant is a mystery to even Gran.
The Exorcist grabs the Sword Saint out as he goes ahead and use Repel Blast to take the plasma bomb out of the way. It takes him over 25 seconds to accomplish all of this as his ability ends. He pants as he turns around and see the gruesome result that he hope to prevent still happens.
Soli creates a massive omnidirectional earth spire attack that hit Van and flings Rinko to the walls as Veronica gets impaled. Mayuri also gor hit while Gina slice the spire off. Sylvia manages to jump away. "No, but how?" Gran ask as Soli turns to him but Faffy is now angry. The crimson dragon remembers Soli from when they first meet, and he fires the most largest blast he can create, his Finishing Move.
Soli raises his right hand and Deconstruct the attack in an instant. He steps right into Faffy's range and attempts erase him in an instant, but Gran doesn't let it. He uses his dagger and use Compress to rend the space between him and Soli. As soon as he is near, he smack Soli into the wall and he uppercut the Monster cleanly to the air. Gran then jumps into the air while the Monster is just smiling, reveling in the pain and struggle he is witnessing.
"Hey isn't this fun Gran? How you love beating monster like me to death?" Soli ask as Gran stuff his left fist in his mouth. "Shut up. You don't have the right to speak." Gran answers as he send Soli careening with a axe kick, hitting a stall. The stall owner run in fright as Gran lands with his back turn at Soli's dangling body in the wooden stall.
"Okay, that one actually hurt." Soli says as he stands up and heal all of his wounds like nothing happens. Then in an instant, Soli dashes through the wind and closes to Gran. He unleashes a flurry of punches that pushes the Exorcist out and he is force to parry and swipe up the punches Soli releases. The fight pushes the two into the open, where a woman doing her laundry is hit by Gran's back and he grabs and he pushes her aside to continue blocking and dodging Soli's attacks.
"His attacks are concentrated to one place... At my pendant!" Gran thinks as he counters and give a knee to hit Soli's gut and he punch him with a left hook. This make wince but his smile is still intact. The Monster then grabs a handful of wind and he throws a bunch of windblade at Gran, where he flips it over to evade and this gives an opportunity for Soli to hit Gran's back out with a powerful twisting punch, sending him into a rooftop.
Soli grins as he withdraws his arm, only for it to be hit by a spear and it explode in impact. Soli's face is burnt out while his arm is completely destroyed. Gina then goes to the battlefield as she fiercely confront Soli herself.
"Ah the lady. Fine day to see such beauty and be a brave flower in the battlefield." Soli says as he lunges and heals his arm and his face in an instant. Gina fill her spear with Mana as her energy rises from her surrounding. She blocks and stabs in return every attempt that the Monster makes to punch her. Soli then switch strategies as he makes the surrounding moist disappear. He then collects the water from the dry air and collects it ar his hands. Gina then jumps out of the dry spot as she notices that Soli aiming at her.
She raises her Mana to make a barrier spell, only for the Monster to fire a water jet from his hands. The pressure and cutting capability is so refine that it pierces through Gina's defense and graze her right cheek.
She's able to evade and she then closes the distance with a single step. She then delivers a fast stab and a slash through Soli's torso. The Monster blocks the slash, but her spear then glows.
"Oh?" The Monster utters as Gina forces her way to slash Soli out. The Mana runs through the Monster as his eyes rolls upward. His blood splurts out, but not a single scream from him can be heard. The Valkyrie leader then spins her spear as she proceed to end the fight by stabbing Soli's head, planning to end Gran's suffering with it.
"You really think so?" Soli mutters as it makes Gina look up. A bunch of icicles are above her. Soli then gestures to have the icicles fall. Gina tries to deflect all of the icicles in question, but it only gives the Monster the chance. He lunges at Gina and he throws a bunch of windblade attack at her. This send Gina back to the walls as she is bleeding and knock out.
"Then, next is..."