Encounter 3: Uncertainty

"Where am I...Oh yeah...I was the only one who got out...It's morning already..." Reion thought to himself. He stood up thinking about what happened last night. "Go now! Quickly!" Scyren shouted. "But...I can't just leave you here, not with them...even you won't be able to defeat them by your own!" Reion replied loudly. "My barrier won't last, go...please...you must warn the people outside..." Scyren shouted again, in hope to convincing Reion to go. Without looking back, Reion decided to leave. While he ran, his tears began flowing from his eyes, they flowed to his chin and dropped to the ground. Leaving a track of tears. He still couldn't believe that every single leader of the monsters of rune midguard were there...why did they gathered there anyway...what were their purpose? Perhaps a full scale invasion? He had to find out...but first, he had to inform the empire...

Meanwhile in Glasshiem, "You let him escape..." a voice said. "No matter...the rest are already in our hands. He's the only one left." Another voice replied. "What about the wizard? He's connected too." A third voice asked. "Leave him...he won't last...besides, he's essential for the revival of the lord of death." One of the voices answered. "Remember your objective monsters, the gate will open soon, but not soon enough. Thus in the mean time we must eliminate anyone who poses a threat to the opening. Leave the rest to me." A new voice said.

At the horizons of morroc, a young monk stood tired from his journey. "I finally arrived...hopefully the letter has been sent safely and the commander is already here." Alrikern said to himself. He stepped forth towards the entrance of morroc and saw two guards. As he walked past them they greeted him in a formal manner, "Good afternoon captain, the commander is at the center building." Alrikern didn't say anything, he nodded and continued towards the central. "Captain? Was my request granted?" Alrikern thought to himself. When he entered the building, he was greeted by another group of guards and sent to the top floor. In the top room the commander reread the letter that Alrikern had sent to him.

Dear Vinsent,
By now you should have already receive the news that the empire has begun to take noticed of the growing republic forces. They have begun their first operation on morroc. The people are no longer satisfied with the government, you know that this is the best opportunity and so do I. That's why I have been giving you information about the empire this past few months. However I fear that this has to end soon. The empire has begun to take notice of me...they may do something to threaten me to reveal the secrets of the republic forces. I don't wish to endanger my love, Feon. Thus this may be the last time I contact you. We have known each other for quite sometime haven't we? Since we were kids...we have been close. I'm also probably the only one besides Alrikern, who knows who you really are. Things have changed a lot haven't they? I can still remember how much the three of us fought over the silliest things. Then came the day when we were separated. We stole one of the three treasures of the empire. A legendary weapon, that is now in your hands. We were discovered and Alrikern took the blame for us. He refused to reveal where the weapon was and was banished, but we still kept in touch. Later on you ran away from the palace, it was only when you formed the republic that you started trying to contact me. It's weird...how fate has led us here. However, if they do get hold of Feon...I don't know what I'll do...Consider it a warning in advance, this should give you an edge of what the empire's next move is. Don't feel sorry for me...I know you will, but I chose to take this path along side you. It was my decision, I don't regret. We have always believed in you and always will. I wonder...what kind of empire you'll built...too bad I won't be able to see it...

Rein Luvensen
Goodbye.

"Rein...thanks for everything." He thought to himself. "Vinsent? You okay?" Alrikern asked while walking up to him. "Yeah...now about the operation, your team will consist of the best of the best we can provide. Your objective is to obtain the black orb, which signifies the rule of rune midguard. The team leaves tonight, so till then get some rest." Vinsent replied. "Yeah...about that...thanks for letting me lead the operation." Alrikern said while holding down his head. "No problem, I know how much it meant to you...besides, I've always believed that one who fights with strong emotions is stronger. Oh and one more thing...you may have to rescue Rein as well...he may be in trouble, but it's just a thought." Vinsent said as he opened the curtains to see the republic army. "I understand." Alrikern said as he left the room.

That night...Alrikern walked up to the large cart which was supposed to be his transport. Two large birds like creatures were hooked to the cart ready to pull it. They were grand pecopecos. "Let me introduce the members in your team is, first is him..." Vinsent said while pointing to an assassin. "No need...we'll introduce ourselves." The assassin interrupted. "I'm Crilue. Specialty, The Blue Crimson technique." He said, as he drew his two swords. One was the legendary fire sword "Fire brand" the other the legendary sword of ice, "Ice falchion". "I'm Krion rarecroft. Specialty, Ice and lighting magic." A wizard said as he climbed into the cart. "And I'm Coalin Casteroth. Specialty, Dual axe technique." A Whitesmith said as he stepped forth. Alrikern turned to Vinsent and whispered to him. "Are you sure they're the best...two of them have weird techniques which I've never heard before..." "Don’t worry...trust me." He whispered back. Soon the team of four were on the cart and ready to set off. " Remember the importance of your mission, there can be no failures...or it may cost your life. Good luck." Vinsent said as he waved them goodbye.

The next morning, "Commander! They're coming!" A guard shouted. "Heh, prepare the troops at the entrance. We're going to counter their attack!" Vinsent ordered as he prepared his equipment. A few minutes later, the entire armada of the republic was at the entrance of the city morroc. Vinsent stood facing them. "Today's the day men! We have come so far fighting for our beliefs. This is one battle we cannot avoid, people die in wars…but at least if we die...we die for our beliefs. You know the battle plan! Today we fly!" he shouted as in the background, hundreds of men cheering.

Wait for me Rein... I'll show you a world you never knew exist...~ Vinsent.

Encounter 2 : Thoughts of the mind

A dark night, with a bright full moon...a special night to some, to others its just another night to sleep. Valkern walked up to the two who where hiding behind a broken wall in the ruins of Glassheim.

"So you made it, but what about the others?" one of them asked."They are busy with their own stuff, everyone has gone to their own paths..." he replied.
"So why you call us here?" Scyren asked as he stood up to look around.Reion stood up as well and pointed to a cave made of fallen buildings.
"Look closely."Scyren stared at the cave and said, "Black magic...the same type we use...but how?"
"That's what we are here to find out..." Reion said as he bends down.
Two knight of abyss soon stood out of that cave."Knight of abyss? Could it be that something in there knows we're here." Scyren exclaimed.
"Then lets not let them wait any longer, shall we?" Reion asked.Valkern grinned and said, "We shall!" Taking out their weapons, the three charged forth towards their enemy.

Meanwhile in pontera, Alrikern laid on the bed recovering from his last battle. He opened his eyes slowly, everything was in a blur, but he could make out a ceiling fan above him. "Where am I?" he asked as he tried to get up. A voice replied, "Don't move, your arm has been injured pretty badly. If I hadn't come by, you might have bleed to death." Alrikern turned his head towards the voice, as his vision started to return. He immediately recognized who his savior was. He wore a white outfit with no sleeves, showing his arm muscles. A scarf is tied onto one of his arms, and a falcon was resting on one of his shoulder. He was a sniper, the reborn version of a hunter. Normally, all reborn job class worked for the empire. However this one was different, he gathers information for the republic. A spy...to be direct, and also a good friend of his. "Heh, thanks...but if anyone finds out that you helped me...your secret may be revealed." Alrikern said, while starring at the spinning fan. "Hah, you think just because I helped a republican, I would be discovered? You think too much, you know that..." the sniper replied. Alrikern stood up and used his good hand to put on his traditional monk coat and said, "Hah...perhaps your right, but I can't stay here...besides, I need to see the commander."

Meanwhile back in Glassheim, Reion finished the last of the knight of abyss. He was almost out of breath. He turned towards the cave and saw a hooded person with a giant sword, shaped like a key. He was shocked and puzzled, he couldn't believe who stood in front of his way. He whispered to himself, "But why are you here...this feeling...no...I don't wish to fight you..." Valkern then shouted to him, "You guys go on ahead, I'll handle Cryrin!" Reion nodded, and ran up ahead together with Scyren .

"You want to led the battle against the empire's castle?" the sniper cried out in astonishment. "I have my reasons..." Alrikern replied while walking towards the door. "It's for her, isn't it?" the sniper asked. Alrikern stopped...he didn't looked back or said anything. There was a moment of silence before it was broken by the sniper, "Heh, knew it...anyway, tell the commanded that the empire's forces are heading towards morroc to wipe out all the republic forces there. And also give him this letter from me." Alrikern grabbed the letter and kept it in his pocket. He opened the door, and just as he was about to leave, the sniper reminded him, "Don't over strain your arm again...the next time you do that...you may very well lose it." Alrikern stopped again, he held his head down, his hair covering his troubled eyes. Clenching his fists, he replied, " Thanks for all your help Rein, but...I want to see her again...even if I lose my arm...I don't wish to have any regrets." Alrikern then left.

As he was walking, he looked up towards the sky to try to clear his head. Soon he realized the full moon. The breeze of the night blew back his hair, revealing his crystal blue eyes, now filled with tears of sorrow.Suddenly from out of nowhere, a guy in a black coat suddenly flew by. A dark wizard then flew by in the same direction , it seems like he was chasing the guy in a black coat. Alrikern stared in amazement, he had heard before that two of the third wills had the ability to fly. Were they the same two? He wondered. He decided to chase after them, he jumped onto a nearby cart and then jumped as high as he could to the rooftop. He barely caught the roof with his good hand, he then got a foothold on one of the windows. Kicking the foothold, he jumped onto the rooftop. When he did, he heard a loud sound. The two that were flying had now clash against each other, their surroundings were distorted by a wave of energy."Why are you chasing me?" the one in the black coat asked. "I need answers...I know you have them..." the dark wizard replied. The two placed down their weapons, the dark wizard waited for an answer. However, the one in the black coat didn't say anything...he turned his back and prepared to leave. "Hey! You haven't answered me yet!" the dark wizard cried out angrily. "I don't have the answers you seek..." he replied. "You can't lie to me...from your eyes, I can tell you know something...as a matter of fact it tells me that you don't lie very often..." the dark wizard said, trying to convince him. "Heh, you're just saying that so that I'll feel bad if I don't say anything." He replied while flying away. "Hey! I'm not done yet!" the dark wizard shouted while chasing after him. The two flew upwards, circling each other while countering each other's attacks. Waves of energy could be seen coming from them, soon they disappeared into the clouds. Two different flashes of light could be seen, followed by a very big one. Two figures soon fell from the sky, Alrikern decided to chase after the nearest one. He jumped over a number of rooftops chasing the fallen body. Soon it landed near the churchyard of pontera cliff. This was a place where many happy couples had made their vows to each other...but now it's peaceful appearance, had been disturbed. A crater was formed around the fallen person. He was still breathing, Alrikern decided to help him. He carried that person out of the crater and placed him on the ground near the edge of the cliff.

The sounds of the waves crashing onto the sides of the cliff, and the bright full moon, created a peaceful atmosphere. Alrikern thought to himself, "It would have been nice if she was here besides me..." "Ugh...my head..." the person in the black coat had awoken. "Hey you alright?" Alrikern asked. "Yeah...thanks by the way." The stranger replied. His hair was one side up while the other down. On his belt, he tied his short katanna . He looked as if he was around the end of his teen years. "No problem...it's not as if everyday you see a flying person. What were you guys fighting about anyway..." Alrikern asked. "It's nothing much...he wanted to know something which was best left alone...that's all..." he replied. Looking at Alrikern's bandaged arm, he asked, "So what happened to you? Why did you hurt yourself so badly?" Grabbing his injured arm, Alrikern replied, "Oh this...I fought with a lord knight and lost...I had to do it...I gave it my all, but apparently it wasn't enough." "You fought for someone didn't you...I call tell by the look of your troubled eyes and the way you replied." He said. Alrikern was shocked, did his eyes really gave it away? Alrikern decided to gave the stranger his reason, "Yeah...it was for her...I just wanted to see her again..." "Heh, I have the same feeling too...it's just that now she's gone...and I can never see her again..." he said as he bent his head down, so that his hair could cover his eyes. The stranger then said, "But no matter what happens...give it your all, so that..." the stranger paused for a moment. "You won't have any regrets." They both answered. They then stared at each other with eyes of astonishment. Soon they broke out in laughter and tears. "Hahah...I never thought in a million years that someone I just met, a total stranger would be able to come out with the same words!" the stranger shouted, while standing up preparing to leave. Alrikern stood up as well and said, "Hah...same here. What's your name? Mine is Alrikern Luvana." As the stranger walked away, he replied, "It's Rumora, Rumora Suiku." "May we meet again then." Alrikern said as they both left their separate ways.

Ragnarok~ The gate to the darkness

Encounter 1 : Fury

Many things had happen since the incident of the third wills. Triya and Reion have gone out in search of Withe. The rest had gone in search of their own paths. The third wills were soon banished and named as outcasts by the emperor. However in the past year, many uprisings from the republic began to occur. Within the same year the emperor was assassinated. Causing a young princess to sink into depression. The will of the late emperor stated that the throne was to be handed to the grand advisor till his daughter is married to a capable person who is able to rule the empire. The republic thought that this was the perfect time to strike, thus gathering about half the empire's support, they launched a full-scale invasion towards the empire.

It was late at night, a young monk sneaked closer towards the castle of pontera. He climbed up the walls with a grabbling hook and a rope. He climbed through the window and approached the princess's chamber. He knocked the door and whispered, "Sandra, it's me...Alrikern" The girl inside replied, "Go away...I told you...it's over between us..." Footsteps were heard, trying not to panic Alrikern whispered to her once more, "You know I can't accept that after everything we had together...I know your father's death is causing you to become like this, I'm here for you...remember? A guard is coming...at least let me in..." The girl didn't replied. "Hey you! What are you doing here!" the guard shouted. Alrikern turned to look at the guard and realized he knew him, "So...we meet again Kinren...it's been a long time hasn't it?" The guard replied, "Alrikern? So it is you...even when you were young you liked the princess didn't you? Well, I'm a lord knight now, the elite guards of the empire, and I can't let this past. Sorry." Kinren drew his broad sword and stood his battle stance. "Guess it can't be help...but I wont lose!" Alrikern replied in a firm voice.

Kinren stood his stance and didn't move a muscle. "If you aren't going to make the first move, then allow me!" Alrikern shouted as he charged forth with his fist equipped with a metal bar with spikes. As swiftly as possible he unleashed his technique, triple blow. However Kinren's broadsword was larger then normal swords, thus it was easier to block the blows. An opening, he thought to himself, he clenched his sword tightly and waved it to the other side. "Aura blade!" he shouted. A wave of energy was released through the movement, knocking Alrikern to a wall. "Heh, you have improved a great deal..." Alrikern said as he stood back up. He then charged forth once more, using his technique 'dash like bullet'. He ran straight in front of Kinren stopping for a moment leaving an impression image, then as soon as Kinren lifted his sword towards him, he slipped behind Kinren and attacked with a triple blow, chained with a quadruple blow, followed by a way of the dragon, and finally an asura strike. Forcing Kinren to crash through the castle walls to the outside. However, Kinren was able to make an air recovery, reducing the impact of falling from the castle. Alrikern then followed suit and jumped down from the castle to finish the battle.

As soon as Alrikern landed, Kinren charged forth and tried another aura blade technique. Alrikern dodge it by bending down, he then jumped forth and tried another triple blow, "Gotcha!" Kinren said as he used his technique, strike counter, a combination of the techniques parrying and auto-counter. A barrier was form and absorbed Alrikern’s triple blow. Kinren then used a technique called spiral pierce, which surprised Alrikern a lot, as it could only be done with a spear type weapon. While thrusting his sword at Alrikern, he placed a twist on the handle, making a spin of energy waves. "Spiral saber!" he shouted.
Alrikern knew he couldn't defend the attack with his knuckles, so he cast something on himself before taking the attack at full force. Alrikern was blasted towards the castle, crashing into the wall. As the smoke cleared, a monk could be seen standing, "Using the skill parrying to defend against my attack, and then using auto counter to absorb the power for your move. Knowing that trying to use spiral pierce with a sword would not be as strong as when using a lance, you used the energy from the auto counter, creating an even stronger blow then the original technique. You have become very strong...Kinren." he thought to himself. He then smiled and said, "I have to admit, it hurt quite a lot...but I'm still standing!"

"Let's finish this!" Kinren shouted while charging forward. He then used his 'Aura blade' technique over and over again. Alrikern tried to defend himself, but with each wave of energy, he began to lose his strength. He couldn't used any of his techniques as he was now focus with his spell, 'Physical Immune'. Soon he was knocked back towards the castle walls again. "I can't lose now...I have to see her...at least one last time." he thought to himself. Kinren pointed his broad sword towards Alrikern's throat and said, "It's over..." Alrikern bent down his head, the blood from his head flowed down his face. Many thoughts came to his mind, "Am I going to die?" he thought to himself. Even with his spell 'Physical Immune' on, a stab through the throat could very well mean death. "But I want to see her again...I can't die here...there's so much left that I need to do...I still have to defeat Withe..." he thought to himself again. Kinren lifted his sword, ready to stab Alrikern. However as he did, Alrikern punched Kinren's sword away from stabbing him. His other fist glowed, he opened his eyes and tears flowed down from them. He whispered to himself as he unleashed his technique, "I won't..." He punched Kinren's chest with his glowing fist, the energy was then released in the form of a dragon, blasting Kinren with incredible force. "Asura Dragon." Alrikern named his new technique. Kinren moved back as he was hit by the dragon of energy, his armor began to shatter by the great force, soon his chest armor was completely destroyed. He laid on the ground, unable to move.

"Is this...the power that comes when your on the brink of death?" he thought to himself. He tried to move...but his body seemed to have been drained of all it's strength. Alrikern on the other hand, was still standing. However his right arm had been over strained. His nerve vessels had burst, he couldn't feel his arm anymore...but it didn't matter. He turned back towards the castle, but before he could open the gate. Kinren shouted, "It's not over yet!" Alrikern turned back, and saw that Kinren was standing in his battle stance. Alrikern knew that in his present condition, he wouldn't last for long...but he couldn't bear to give up. He summoned a sprirt sphere in his hand, and said "Bring it on." Kinren summoned all his strength and charged forward. Alrikern then fired the spirit sphere at him. Kinren defened himself from the attack by slicing the sphere in half, but the sphere soon exploded as he did it. He fell back again, but this time he stood back up immediately. "I promised the emperor to protect the princess, thus I musn't lose this battle!" he shouted. He took out a crystal which his friend had created by fusing 100 bloody reds and 100 red gem stones. He then slotted the crystal into his sword. The broad sword begn to glow and burn. The whole sword was on fire, Kinren's hands began to feel the heat. It was as if his own hands were being burned, but he couldn't care less now. The only thing that mattered, was wining this battle.

He charged forward with his burning sword, Alrikern fired another spirit sphere at Kinren. However this time, Kinren took it and still continued to charge forward. Before Alrikern could summon another spirit sphere, Kinren had already reached him and swung his sword at him. Alrikern blocked with his fist, but as soon as he did, an explosion ocurred. "Wh..at...i..n th..e...wor" but before Alrikern could finish his sentence, he fainted.