At Xentros' Bay...

Ezra: Are you sure that Julie is here?

Max: Yeah... probably. Now, will you please let me go?

Ezra: No way, you're gonna help me find Julie. And also, you are held responsible if something happened to her in this mission.

Max: Huh?! Why am I held responsible?!

Ezra: *intimidating look* Because those guild hunters you requested Julie to hunt down, will be the key to finally find their guild.

Max: You mean those killers...

Ezra: Not to mention, they're skilled and trained assasins.

Max thinks deeply, and grit his teeth in anger.

All of the sudden, Julie was running to the decks, to return back to her guild, when she bumped into Ezra and Max.

Ezra: Julie?!

Julie: Ezra?! You're back?! And Max?

Max: Yo.

Ezra: Where are the two guild hunters?

Julie: Ace pursuited them to the forest, and they were going to attack the guild! We have to turn back!

Julie tries to run again to the ship, but Ezra grabbed her hand to stop her.

Ezra: Who is this "Ace"?

***
Back at the forest...

Hansel: It's time to go. We need to finish the mission, before that mage comes after us again.

Gretel nodded in response.

They continued on running towards the Pixies Scale guild's location.

Ace on the other hand, jumps from branch to branch, pursuiting them once again.

Hansel felt a presence following them.

Hansel: Shit, he's here already. Gretel, you head towards Pixies Scale without me.

Gretel: But, what about the plan?

Hansel: Forget about the plan, we'll just have to improvise.

Hansel stopped running and punched the next tree Ace was about to jump into.

The tree fell down. And Ace was in plain sight.

Hansel: Ready for round 3 brat. *summons magic circles*.

Ace: Anytime.

Gretel just kept on looking forward and head straight towards the guild.

***

Hansel kept on punching Ace. Meanwhile, Ace wasn't fighting back at all.

Hansel: Why aren't you fighting back! Fight!

Hansel kept on hitting Ace without any mercy.

Ace suddenly backed off.

Hansel: Don't treat me like a weakling. Fight me fair and square.

Ace wiped his face.

Ace: *smirk* If I did that, there is no possibility of you being alive.

***

Gretel: I hope Hansel's all right.

A sword came out of knowhere and wounded Gretel's left thigh.

Gretel screamed in pain, while she was down on the ground.

A girl came out of the shadows and is holding a sword.

Ezra: So you're the guild hunter they were talking about.

Max suddenly stopped Ezra.

Max: Wait, something's wrong....

Ezra: What are you saying?! Aren't these the guild hunters you were talking about!?

Max showed the wanted posters at Ezra.

Ezra: I see...

Max walks up to Gretel.

Max: Do you know these people? If you do, tell me who they are.

Gretel looked at the posters.

Gretel: Make me.

Max summons a magic circle above her.

Max: Wanna bet?

***

Ace is now blocking all of Hansel's attacks.

Hansel's POV
What the heck!? This guy is toying with me!

Hansel put all his remaining magic energy to his right fist.

Hansel: Take this!

A strong shockwave suddenly appeared.

***

Ezra and Max is negotiating to Gretel.

Ezra sensed the shockwave coming their way.

Ezra: Get down!

Max quickly grabs Gretel down and covered her head.

Ezra grabbed a pebble.

***
Hansel: That tooks care of hi—

Hansel was surprised that Ace was able to caught his punch.

Ace: Is that it?

Hansel: It's not over yet.

All of the sudden, Hansel was down on his knees.

Hansel's POV
  My body feels numb.

Ace: *sigh* Using all of your energy will take a toll on your body.

Hansel: Damn it..!

Ace grabbed Hansel and carried him in his back.

Ace: Mages..

***

Ezra: Hey, are you two okay!?

Max: I thinks so.. how about you miss guild hunter?

Gretel was speechless.

Gretel's POV
  He hugged me tight.

Ezra: Anyway, where did that shockwave came from?

Gretel: Could it be!?

Max: Hmm...? What's wrong.

Ezra felt a presence coming towards them.

Ezra: Someone is approaching!

Max kept his guard up.

Max: Stay behind me, got it?

Gretel nodded in response.

Another members of the guild hunters came.

Hunter 1: Huh?! Who are you people?!

Hunter 2: Is that Gretel? What is the meaning of this!

Ezra: So... the two real criminals finally showed their faces. Kane and Rey of the Guild Hunters.

Rey: Hey Kane! This isn't part of the plan.

Kane: We have no choice, we gotta fight them to take back one of our slaves.

Kane charged towards Max.

Max: Air cutter!

Max's magic circle appeared in front of Kane, but he evaded it easily.

Max: He evaded it!? Even though my magic circle is 3 inch in front of him.

Kane: Don' t underestimate me!

Kane's fist turned into stone and tries to punch Max.

Ezra: Max!

Ezra sensed an attack heading towards her and quickly tries to dodge.

Rey: Don't you dare forget about me!

***

Ace suddenly stopped walking.

Ace: Hmm...? Looks like a fight between mages is going on in there.

Ace rushed and head towards there.

***

Kane: Take this!

Kane was about to hit Max, but all of the sudden, he stopped in mid air.

Kane: What the!? I can't move!

Max: Don't look down on me you murderer. Aerial grip.

Kane was in a pinch and was about to be squashed by Max's magic.

Rey: Hang on Kane!

Rey was about to attack Max, but he was knocked out by a pebble.

Ezra: Don't you dare look away while you're fighting with me.

Max looked at Kane with intimidating look.

Max: I have a bunch questions to ask you.

Kane was literally shivering in fear.

Ace finally reached his destination.

Ace: Is the fight already over?

Ezra: Are you another guild hunter.

Ezra picked up a stone and she throws it to Ace with full force.

Max: W-Wait he's a...!

Ace slapped the stone out of the way, and it changes it course to the sky.

Ace: Who're you?

Ezra: You look different from the rest.

Ezra picked up a stick and purged her magic into it, turning the stick into a sword.

Ace: Hmm... You got an interesting magic there.

Ezra: I'll give you the first taste of its power.

Ezra charged in to Ace.

Max: That's enough!

Max created a wall between Ace and Ezra.

Max: Stop it you two!
Ace, where did come from? Julie was so worried about you.

Ace: Oh sorry sorry, I was busy fighting this guy.

Max looked who's the person Ace was carrying in his back.

Gretel: Hansel! Are you okay!?

Ace: Oh it's the twin. He's okay, he just used up a lot of magic so he passed out. Anyway, what about you little girl, it seems that you're wounded.

Gretel frowned and looked away.

Max: Oh right.

Max went and help Gretel.

Ace: Looks like you guys finally caught the people in those posters.

Then all of the sudden, Ezra looked at Ace with intimidating eyes.

Ezra: So you're Ace, Julie told me about you. I didn't expect you're this good at fighting.

Ace: Thanks for the compliment.

Max helped Gretel by healing her wounds, while Ezra tied up the two wanted guild hunters.

They're all heading back to Xentros bay and head back towards their guild.

Gretel: Why are you helping us...we're criminals..why?

Max: Criminals or not, we know the bad mages from the good. And we know that you and your brother are good people.

Gretel was speechless.

Ace: Well, what he means is that, we will save both of you from the evil that's manipulating you, and set both of you free.

Gretel had tears in her eyes.

Ace: For now, let's go home.

To be continued....