Author's Note: Thank you for all your kind words and encouragement. Reading them made me want to cry, I'm forever grateful for the love and support shown to me.

I'll continue on writing and pushing on ^_^. Mistakes will be unavoidable, and for those who do continue to point them out, thank you very much.

I will reply to each of your comment individually after this, thank you for all the love.

K'xug stood beside Hana, observing her silently praying to herself. His hand started to itch, as if wanting to take away her worries and he placed his hand on her head.

Hana opened her eyes, glancing up to him and she raised her hand, gingerly placing it on his.

"K'xug."

He looked at her, a questioning look in his heterochromia eyes.

"I want to get stronger," Hana squeezed his hand, bringing it down from her head. "More and more stronger."

K'xug smiled.

The Hana before him was different from what she was in the past, where she depended on Xue and K'xug just because they were the strongest fighters around.

"So that I won't pull anyone down with me any longer."

K'xug nodded his head. An idea struck his mind and he pulled Hana towards him with their entwined hands.

Hana gasped, falling into his embrace.

He caught her smoothly with his other arm.

She recoiled back in alarm, looking up at K'xug.

K'xug met her eyes, waving his other free hand around and summoning out his sword. He raised it up, tilting his head at Hana.

Hana recognised this action of his.

It was an action whenever he wanted to ask someone to spar with him.

Do you want to?

K'xug smiled at her.

Hana nodded, unwavering.

"If you are looking for a place to practice or train," someone suddenly spoke up, startling the two of them. "Please follow me."

It was the capable assistant of Rugi, Masaru.

He smiled politely, bowing as he gestured to them. The two of them trailed behind Masaru, the determination to get stronger apparent on Hana's face.

Along the way, K'xug and Hana noticed that fewer guests were in the brothel now. The guests were being escorted out politely from this place, one by one.

"Ah, not to worry," Masaru explained, composed. "We received an urgent message to evacuate the people."

K'xug raised his eyebrows in suspicion.

"The place I am taking you to will be safe as well," Masaru added. "The owner ensured that of me, and everyone else here. You are his important guests after all."

Hana wore a fretful expression, tugging at K'xug's sleeve as she lowered her voice. "But Kai...Kai just left to find the others..."

K'xug put his hand over hers, softening the look in his different-coloured eyes.

He'll be fine.

Hana could interpret those words clearly and she nodded back at K'xug in response. They could only trust Kai to keep himself safe now.

However, since he was Xue himself, K'xug knew Kai would be able to handle himself just fine.

***

Kai was running down the streets, it seemed like people were being evacuated in a haste. He noticed it was the guards allocated all around the town doing its job.

"Something big is happening in this town," he furrowed his eyebrows, looking back at the brothel he had just left. "But the people back there didn't seem to have any intention of evacuating their customers."

He narrowed his eyes.

"Well, K'xug and Hana are strong," he muttered to himself. "They should be able to defend themselves."

Moreover, something else took priority right now.

We need to find Cecil as quickly as possible.

Kai recalled his conversation with K'xug. And with the grim response from the man, Kai knew that Cecil was in grave danger from the wound she received earlier from shielding Hana.

"Ah."

Kai placed his hand on his chest, feeling a strong tugging within his soul.

He knew what it was.

Every soul fragment within Xue, and even Xue himself experienced this all the time.

However, due to how strong it was, Kai could feel how close they were.

Alric: "D-do you think we should go there...?"

Leonaut: "Why not? It is our only clue now and time is not something Cecil can afford."

Isleif: "We need to find Cecil quickly!"

Zasiok: "For once, we agree."

Shin: "Why is it her that has to suffer?"

Sid: "My goddess..."

Meanwhile, Kai agreed with the soul fragments in his mind. He sprinted to the direction of the strange magnetic force pulling him, a drop of sweat rolling down his cheek.

Just hang in there.

Kai exhaled out, noticing that his surroundings were empty now. He gathered fire underneath his palms, and it wasn't just any normal fire. Just like Xue, Kai could utilise foxfire.

Just a little more, Cecil.

He surged forward with the momentum brought about by his fire.

***

"Miss Tsuki. I have brought someone eager to audition for the position of the dancer."

Cecil raised her eyebrows at that name, her fingers brushing past the makeshift veil she made with her bandages.

She remembered Rugi mentioning that name just before they departed.

It seemed like that mercenary had actually led her down the correct way, but directed her further into the alley, in order to sneak up behind her.

"Bring them in."

The female employee stepped forward, reaching her hand out for the sliding wooden doors. From the translucent white screen, Cecil could see a shadowy figure standing in the room.

"Try not to cough." the female employee whispered out.

It made Cecil blink in confusion and the doors slid open at the same time. Tendrils of smoke drifted past her face and the acrid stench of smoke entered her nose, almost making Cecil cough harshly.

The interior of the room was furnished ostentatiously, from the furniture all the way down to the carpets and clothes hanging from the wardrobe.

Cecil shifted her eyes to the centre of the room. She saw a beautiful, silver-haired lithe woman almost twice her age, laying down on a couch, holding a pipe between her fingers and blowing out the air. It created circles of thin, white layers of smoke and the older woman dressed in a purple kimono started to speak.

"Do what you please," she spoke in a husky voice, smiling enigmatically as she waved. "And I'll see if you are up to my standards."

"Thank you."

Cecil summoned out her daggers, pausing for a moment. She closed her eyes, trying not to focus on the pain on her shoulder. Despite her numbing ointment she had used, there was still a dull ache on her shoulder.

She inhaled deeply, snapping her eyes open.

Mother poured her heart and soul into teaching me her dancing.

The least I can do is share my mother's passion with others.

Cecil smiled, appearing mysterious with the veil covering her face. She twirled around as she threw her daggers into the air.

***

Zasiok looked at Xue still lying unconscious on the sofa. Leonaut and Zasiok had tossed him onto there.

Veau had really caused some serious damage this time around.

It could be said that the biggest reason behind Xue mellowing down and becoming clear-headed, instead of drowning in his own vendetta, was because of a certain raven-haired woman.

It also could be said that the biggest reason the soul fragments could cooperate together instead of fighting for control was due to her as well.

If she were to disappear just like that, especially in the time when he was not conscious...

Zasiok closed his eyes.

It isn't only us that would raise hell.

Zasiok looked back at Xue.

He'll be the worst among us all.

Zasiok felt his hands trembling slightly, and he smiled helplessly. "No, we'll be equally bad as him."

He wasn't as composed as he hoped to be.

How could he be composed in the first place?

"If anything bad happens to her, I..." he mumbled to himself, looking at his other soul fragments. "We won't be sane at all."

All of them wore concerned looks, their frantic actions mimicking one another.

Cecil Lan.

Cecil Lan.

Cecil Lan...

Zasiok chanted in his mind, like a prayer.

***

"Ugh!"

Rugi was flung back.

Kiyae and Haru were flung back as well.

The three of them landed safely on the ground, panting heavily. They had cuts and bruises all over their body with Rugi being in the worst state among the three.

Fortunately, it wasn't only them starting to get exhausted.

Fighting three skilled fighters on his own while relying on powers that weren't his own, it was starting to take a toll on Jehan as well.

The streets and buildings were utterly demolished in their intense battle. Be it fire burning in the background, stone pillars jutting out from the ground or claw marks all over the floor or destroyed buildings, there was no place left unturned.

Rugi noticed the buildings were still on fire, and to prevent it from spreading, he hurled some water of his own over the fire. It extinguished the flames with a hissing noise, and Jehan observed this with a snort.

"The moment I start to head towards Cecil," Kiyae clicked her tongue. "He follows closely."

"Why is he so unusually tough?!" Haru growled out. "I have landed god knows how many punches and kicks, and he is still standing!"

"It's no use," Rugi struggled out as he held onto his injured arm. "After using dark magic of a high caliber, he is on a different level."

"Why do you know so much about him and all these anyway?!" Haru turned to Rugi.

"..."

Rugi did not respond.

"Get ready!" Kiyae barked out.

Slashes of dark magic were aimed right at them. The three of them leapt out of the way, dodging those deadly attacks. The four of them were about to clash once again, and no doubt leaving more destruction in their wake.

"...!"

"...?"

At that moment, both Rugi and Jehan sensed something as they halted their movements. They stiffened, their eyes widening as they snapped their heads to their right.

"Wh-what's wrong with both of you?" Haru questioned in confusion.

Kiyae frowned.

"...damn it." Jehan muttered to himself.

"Haru, Kiyae." Rugi called out to them softly, his eyes still focused to his right. "Head back to your ship right now."

"What? Why?"

"No chance, Cecil still needs our help."

"I'll find and help her, I promise you that," Rugi finally turned to look at them, his clear voice was low and solemn. "Ephert has sent many of his men here, and he has come prepared this time. Those men, other than possessing powerful weapons, they are powerful themselves."

Kiyae frowned even deeper. "Yun and Ryo are in trouble."

Rugi nodded. "There is no telling how many of them are here, that madman truly has the whole mercenary army under his control. They are overpowering my own guards."

"Tch. Why didn't you tell us about this earlier?" Haru spoke unhappily.

"I was in desperate need of help against him," Rugi smiled in resignation. "Though right now, it seems like I do not require any help now."

"What do you even mean by that?"

"Forget it, captain, let's hurry! There's no time!" Kiyae dragged Haru along by his collar. "We have known Rugi long enough to trust him anyway!"

The two of them set off hastily.

Jehan assumed they were going after Cecil once again, chasing after them. Rugi appeared right in front of him in a flash, aiming his sword at him.

"Even you are captivated by her? Not wanting me to even go close to her?" Jehan asked with a scoff, glaring at Rugi.

"What about you? Aren't you the same?" Rugi tightened the grip on his sword, smiling. "Why are you so insistent on seeing her and taking her away?"

Jehan smirked.

"I just want to."

Jehan disappeared right from the spot after that, appearing behind Rugi. Rugi widened his eyes in surprise, spinning around and defending a deadly attack from Jehan just in time. Rugi was currently being overpowered by him.

This opportunity wasn't wasted by Jehan.

He slipped away, chasing after Haru and Kiyae. Alas, just like how they were all Xue, they were quick to recover in battles. Rugi managed to stand in Jehan's way once again, using his water current to block his way.

Jehan growled in annoyance, sending out a barrage of ice spikes imbued with dark magic towards Rugi. The man was fatigued from their earlier battle and the fierce attacks overwhelmed him, eventually, he found himself pinned to the ground.

"Ugh!" Rugi coughed out blood.

"If you beg me, I'll still let you see her from inside my mind as I steal her away," Jehan smirked coldly, raising his claw into the air as he looked down at Rugi. "How about that?"

Rugi felt himself flaring up upon those words and thoughts he had never expected crossed his mind.

He surprised himself.

It seemed like he had really grown attached to Cecil.

However, Rugi held himself back and he smirked back at Jehan. "Are you sure about that? I don't think...he'll allow you to do that at all."

Jehan glared at him.

The claws loomed in dangerously on Rugi's heart.

Boom!

There was a flare of greenish-white flame from a distance. In an instant, the greenish-white flames shot towards them and there was a loud clanging noise heard.

Jehan was thrown off.

Next to Rugi, a handsome ash blonde-haired man stood there with his refined spear.

"You...I remember you," the ash blonde-haired man lifted his spear, pointing it at Jehan who wiped away the blood on his lips. "You almost hurt Cecil, and the one absorbing the souls forcibly."

Jehan took a step back, grimacing.

"You must be Xue, I presume?" Rugi asked, slowly pushing himself from the ground as he adjusted his loose kimono.

"..." The ash blonde-haired man hesitated, scratching his head. "Well, you can call me Xue or Kai."

Rugi blinked rapidly in confusion.

"Yo! You must be another one of us!" Kai greeted with a toothy grin.

"..."

Rugi really found today to be the weirdest and most hectic day of his life.

***

Yun approached the charming jet black-haired man leaning against the fence of the ship, sleeping peacefully.

"Ryo, get up."

Ryo did not open his eyes, only letting out a small grunt.

"Something is wrong."

Ryo opened his eyes sleepily, his silver eyes had a hint of bewilderment in them.

"I had expected one of them to come running back since they would be bored," Yun adjusted his spectacles. "However, almost five hours have passed and none of them are back yet. There is not even a glimpse of them."

"..."

"I have also sent someone out to scout out the area, and according to them, the civilians are evacuating to the other side of the town."

"Hmmm..." Ryo closed his eyes, crossing his arms as he snuggled close to himself. "They'll be fine..."

Yun looked down at his friend simply going back to sleep, taking off his spectacles and cleaning them.

"There are also a group of people headed our way, and they are most likely hired by Ephert. To kill us and burn down this ship."

"..."

No response from Ryo.

Yun sighed, putting on his spectacles. "Anytime now."

All of a sudden, Ryo burst open his eyes and stood up abruptly.

"Yun."

"Yes?"

"Enemies. Strong ones."

"Yes."

"Yun Yun. They are coming towards us!"

"Yes, and I told you to stop calling me that."

Ryo summoned out his halberd with a huge grin.

The crewmates that accompanied them readied their soul weapons as well.

Yun whipped out his fan in an elegant manner, gesturing to the crewmates to move back as he did so. They inched away from Ryo, unbeknownst to the jet black-haired man who was hopping up and down on the ship.

Just then, Yun flicked his hand and his fan generated a huge wind, powerful enough to lift Ryo off his feet.

"Ah?! Yun Yun?!"

The man was tossed into the air.

"If you want to fight, do it away from the ship."

The crewmates nodded eagerly to Yun's words.

They had seen first-hand what Ryo did to the buildings he had always fought on, nervously wiping the sweat from their forehead.

It was a good thing Yun was here to keep watch.

Ryo flipped around in mid-air, letting out a laugh as he grinned at Yun. "Oh! Gotcha! Away from the ship!"

Yun frowned, adding more force into his wind. "Maybe even further away..."

Even with the awkward positioning in the air, Ryo still managed to land on the ground safely. He swung his halberd around and he narrowed his eyes in the distance. Despite only seeing trees all around him, Ryo was able to discern where they were.

Five of them?

No, more than that.

Seven..maybe even ten!

"Alright!" Ryo grinned widely. "Let's have some fun, my friends."

On the other hand, Yun wasn't looking forward to the incoming fight compared to Ryo.

"If it is strong ones as proclaimed by Ryo," Yun mused to himself, feeling uneasy. "They must be really strong."

Yun heard the waves crashing onto the ship behind him, his expression contemplative.

"It seems like we have to take the probability of the ship being destroyed."

***

《 start 》

Don't you dare touch her--

...did I...

Did I really want to say those words out loud?

This is simply too surprising.

Cecil Lan.

Who exactly are you?

《 stop 》