“The twin nature,” Alnea mumbled, ducking down immediately after to avoid a spear coming towards his chest, only for the spear to turn into an axe in the very next moment, before changing its direction, and coming down on his head. And as if that was not enough, he felt three more fluctuations of Mysteries coming at him at that exact moment. That too, all from different directions. Such perfect coordination…

  Was it an effect of the Origin Sea’s assimilation? Or their common hatred against him? Maybe a mixture of—

  Alnea Slashed through the unnecessary thoughts, before unleashing a Golden Wheel to slash through the Mysteries lunging at him. But that left him no time to deal with the axe, so he could only roll back into the remnants of the Mysteries, still in the process of dispersing, to barely dodge the axe by a hair’s breadth. Yet, right in the next moment, a spike extended from the axe, aiming for the space between his legs.

  Cursing the abomination, and several generations of its ancestors, Alnea used his hands to push himself off the ground, and out of the axe’s way. But he did not let his emotions overwhelm his Heart. Instead, he quickly turned around, and—

  Was he still a step too late? He and his Inkah cursed Fate. Always creating troubles for him. Though, in retrospect, most of the troubles were invited by himself. Like the one he was facing at the moment. Being surrounded by Enthralled Wanderers from all sides. That too, of the kind that knew how to cooperate. Thankfully, he had to deal with only four of them. For the moment.

  Urging the lightning he had withdrawn earlier to surge and wrap around his legs, Alnea began Streaming in between the four abominations, looking for flaws in their formation, while constantly dodging their attacks, and occasionally, sending out a few attacks of his own. In vain. It did not matter if the abominations themselves never dodged or blocked his attacks. The wounds they suffered was quickly healed by the Origin Sea’s influence.

  …Who said that the Origin Sea was fair? It never healed his wounds. Or let him use its Mysteries so unscrupulously. Such blatant favouritism. He wanted it too. Unfortunately, the Origin Sea did not seem to be listening to his prayers, so he could only make do with what he had, and try not to get overwhelmed. Which did not prove to be as difficult as he had expected it to be.

  A couple of Fire Arrows, another couple of Fire Balls, some Lightning Arrows and strikes, and a few Wind Blades every now and then, mixed with occasional Elemental constructs like birds and beasts. That, along with the abominations changing their body parts into weapons if he got too close to them, was the extent of their attack patterns. Not much different from what it was before they had been Enthralled by the Origin Sea.

  Except, their attacks were much more coordinated and came without any interruptions. That too, without any preparations. A perk shared by all Enthralled Wanderers. And their most dangerous quality. That, and the fact that their attacks were much stronger than before. After all, each of their attacks was comparable to a blow from Perfect Grade Arcanas. Of only the False Rank, but of the Perfect Grade, nonetheless. If only the dumb Fire Spirit had not—

  Regardless, once he got used to rhythm of the abominations besieging him, Alnea could easily weave his way through their attacks, and even spare part of his attention to observe the Fire Servant’s situation. Surprisingly enough, the lunatic had not left the Final World yet. And even more surprisingly, despite being besieged by seven Enthralled Wanderers at once, he did not seem to be in any danger.

  Lighting Blasts, Wind Tornadoes, and Earthen Storms raged around the Fire Servant, as he stood still, and allowed those attacks to fall on him, only for them to pass through his body, leaving him unscathed. Dealing with the Fire raining down on him was even more easy. Unless they were kaleidoscopic in shade. All other fires just danced around his fingers, before going back the same way they came.

  Then again, what else could he have expected from Wanderers who had lost all their reason. Even if they had grasped certain Concepts before, it would be hard for them use it after being Enthralled. And without the aid of Concepts, most of their attacks could not even touch the Fire Servant. Unless they were aimed at his chest. Or rather, at the crystal heart burning in his chest. But those abominations did not seem to know his weakness, and he was not stupid enough to expose the crystal. Then why was his face so ugly?

  Alnea got his answer in the next moment, when he saw the Fire Servant hurriedly transform into flames to dodge the fist of an abomination covered in a thin layer of flame. So thin, that he almost missed it, until he saw the abomination punch the blood red flame left behind by the Fire Servant. In the next moment, the blood red flame was dyed in a kaleidoscopic shade, before being assimilated into the abomination’s body.

  No wonder the Fire Servant had such an ugly expression on his face. And why he looked so pale. Though that still did not explain why he had not left the Final World yet. After all, unlike him, the Fire Servant still had his Blood Card in his hands. He could leave anytime he wished. Yet, he chose to stay and suffer the abuse of the kaleidoscopic flames. Did the lunatic have some masochistic tendencies?

  “Hey, Tresting,” the Fire Servant said, glancing towards Alnea when he noticed the latter’s gaze. “Do you want to make another truce?”

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  “…How stupid do you think I am?”

  “…I am willing to take an Oath.”

  “Too late,” Alnea said, deflecting an abomination’s sword, and tilting towards his left to avoid the flames rushing out of it mouth. Though it was more of an opening, than a mouth. Just as the abomination’s sword seemed to be more of a tool than its body, transforming at its whims, changing from a sword to a spiked bludgeon in a moment, before coming back at him, forcing him to retreat once again.

  “You lost your chance.”

  “…Come on,” the Fire Servant said, with a hint of pleading in his tone. “I am sure that we can think of something.”

  “There is nothing to think about.”

  “What are you so angry about? I kept my word, did I not?”

  “…Which is why I should keep my distance from you,” Alnea said, glancing at the abominations around them. “Believing a bastard like you would only hasten my death.”

  “…Fine, I admit that I have my flaws, but who does not?” the Fire Servant said, noticing Alnea’s gaze. “And unlike other people, I am willing to work on my imperfections. Why can you not do the same?”

  “…Are you even listening to yourself?” Alnea said, wondering what kind of trick the Fire Servant was trying to play. “Besides, do you really think we have the leisure to take an Oath?”

  “…Then how about we just skip that part, and get straight to dealing with these Enthralled Wanderers?”

  “…And you expect me to believe you again?”

  “Then what do you want to do?” the Fire Servant said, fleeing from the kaleidoscopic flames once again. “Just keep dodging their attacks until you are exhausted, and then be devoured?”

  “…Why are you still here anyway?” Alnea said, not bothering with the Fire Servant’s nonsense. “You have your Blood Card in your hands. What is stopping you from leaving?”

  Instead of answering that question, the Fire Servant raised the Blood Card in his hand for Alnea to see. In the next moment, the blood red metal sheet began giving a faint glow, indicating that it had been activated. Yet, before it could summon the Mysteries of Space, and warp him out of the forest, the abomination burning in the kaleidoscopic flames arrived next to the Fire Servant, forcing him to flee once again. And the moment he moved, the Blood Card lost its glow, indicating that it had been deactivated.

  “…I see,” Alnea said, raising the edge of his lips in a smirk. “And here I thought that you had some masochistic tendencies…”

  “…So, how about it?” the Fire Servant said, ignoring Alnea’s snark. “Do we have a truce?”

  “…Let me think about it.”

  “Stop wasting time, Tresting,” the Fire Servant said. “We do not have any other choice.”

  …Though Alnea did not wish to admit it, he knew that the Fire Servant was right. Maybe, if the dumb Fire Spirit had not ruined his robe, he could have made a different choice. But at the moment—

  “You, do not have any other choice,” rang out a voice in the ruins of the forest, snapping Alnea back to his senses, forcing him to turn towards the direction where the voice came from with a mix of surprise, joy, and worry.

  “He has us.”

  “What are you three doing here?” Alnea said, glaring at the three girls, almost forgetting to dodge a mace, that turned into a spear midway. Fortunately, he was already used to the attack patterns of the abominations, so his body acted on its own, dragging him out of the spear’s reach. But that only served to increase his worry. With the condition that the girls were in…

  “…Did I not ask you to leave the Final World?”

  “Do not worry. I have already asked everyone else to leave.”

  “Then why have you not left yet?”

  “…And leave my fool behind?”

  “You…”

  Alnea took a deep breath, and shifted his gaze to Vestia, before saying, “I asked you to take care of them, not lead them to a group of Enthralled Wanderers.”

  “…I think you are underestimating them a little too much,” Vestia said, glancing at the girls beside her, before turning back to Alnea. “Besides, you also said that we could come to your rescue if something were to happen to you.”

  “…I am fine. Now, hurry up and leave.”

  “But we just came here.”

  “…This is an order as your Captain. Quickly, take everyone and leave the Final World.”

  “I am afraid I cannot do that, Captain,” Vestia said, flashing her dimples. “I have my reasons to complete our Final Trial at all costs.”

  “…You…”

  “What you?” Cecilia said with a snort. “We came here to save you, and this is how you welcome us?”

  “…Who asked you to save me?” Alnea said, glaring at Cecilia. “Don’t you know how terrifying Enthralled Wanderers can be?”

  “It is just some Enthralled Wanderers. What are you so worried about?”

  “…Just some Enthralled Wanderers?”

  “…It is not as if we have not encountered them before. Though I was unconscious back then. This is just right. I can use this chance to experience how ‘terrifying’ they can be.”

  “…This is not the time to fool around, Lia.”

  “Do I look like I am fooling around?” Cecilia said, cracking her knuckles. “Just sit tight and wait for us to rescue you.”

  “Stop trying to persuade her. You know how stubborn she can be.”

  “Then you should have not let her come here in the first place!” Alnea said, shifting his gaze to Yuri. “Don’t you know how dangerous our situation is?”

  “Then you should also understand why we cannot leave.”

  “…I will think of a way. You take the other two and leave the Final World before these abominations target you.”

  “Give up. We are not going anywhere without you.”

  “You…”