Back at the City of Magic, Ray & Lee had begun their perusal of the wares within the Mages' Guild, browsing through the many potion stocks available to them. Thiji was getting his fill of gems of various colors and an abundance of blue potions that made the shopkeepers somewhat disturbed at his generous patronage. Meanwhile, Raien had continued flaunting himself before his adoring fans, completely oblivious to the Battle Vixens' presence, which gave enough time for Elua & Heal-Do to reunite with their older siblings…
"You two are late!" Lupi scolded. "You must have had much relaxation during your R & R."
"Forgive me, sister… Elua and I just had a little talk, that's all," Heal-Do replied with her head slightly lowered.
"It's no trouble, really," Aege stated, still working on her and her sisters' weapons, "I was able to get some major tempering done with our equipment! The Trinities will never know what hit them this time around! Also, it may be a little impertinent to ask, but have any of you managed to find any information regarding where the next installation will be?"
"Unfortunately, nothing," Elua answered with a shrug. She looked over at her pet falcon, who also shook his head. "Mukuhawk and I haven't heard anything regarding the Emperium Frontier in about a month."
"DAMN!" Lupi shouted as she stomped the pavement with great force sufficient to break a man's foot. Due to the volume of her voice, however, Raien stopped for a moment and turned around toward the source of the noise, but he saw nothing but a forge that was seemingly left abandoned with weapons placed over a steel anvil.
"Eh, just my imagination again," he said coolly to his entourage, making them laugh all the while. As soon as the coast was clear again the Battle Vixens rose back up to their feet.
"Close call there…" Heal-Do sighed. "But we do have a hunch, sisters. Since there has already been three areas – one in three of Rune-Midgarts' cities – that means that the fourth could be in any one of two remaining places: here, or Alberta, where we go to and from home."
"And I'd place my money on Geffen, if you ask me!" Elua added. "A place like this and the surrounding areas would be the perfect place for it to appear!"
"Then at least we know something White Trinity doesn't for once…" the scarlet-haired Knight spoke, looking back over to Raien as he continued in the opposite direction, leaving them to continue about their business.
Back at Mt. Mjolnir, Botan & Momiji were seen standing before the Emperium Fortress's entrance, while Tsubaki & Youmei had appeared behind them. Inside was the Ruby Emperium, left unattended by the White Trinity guild, waiting to be wrested by the hands of the chosen warriors of Odin...
Youmei: The Emperium Fortress… here, in Mt. Mjolnir. To think that I would never get so close to the front gate all those months ago, let alone the interior.
Tsubaki: Yes, and now you will be able to exact your revenge on the Battle Vixens by taking this from White Trinity's hands.
Youmei: Redemption, not revenge. I will not stoop to the level of those savages.
Botan: In the name of the Allfather, these banners will be replaced with the colors of the Holy Saviors!
Momiji: We will see it done, sister! Lady Tsubaki, we are ready to storm the castle!
Without warning, a large arrow struck the ground before the four. The Acolyte twins jumped back high in the air and fell on their bottoms, while Youmei dashed to the front of her companions on instinct.
Youmei: Behind me, sisters! We are not alone!
Tsubaki, thinking: Defenses…? They left behind Guardians…? Did that Wizard know we would be here after all?!
Youmei: Forward, Saviors!
The Crusader advanced as the others followed behind her, deflecting the arrows fired by the Guardians within until they breached the front gate. With the Bow Guardians now in view the twins focused their magic and cried, "Pneuma!" as small clouds of green light appeared around them, nullifying their ranged attacks. They then proceeded to fire away at them with volleys of Holy Light – with Tsubaki's aid, of course – until they sustained enough damage to deactivate and dismantle into pieces.
With the primary defenses crumbled, Youmei commanded, "Forward! To the Ruby Emperium!" as she charged ahead with her blade held high, fighting off the Bow Guardians as they appeared. During their ascension, Tsubaki was paying close attention to Botan & Momiji, whom have been fighting with exceptional skill recently. It intrigued her knowing of the potential that laid dormant in these twins.
They had arrived to the top floor at last, where a duo of Sword Guardians stood side-by-side to greet them. They would step forward and raise their blades before Youmei would steel herself for the coming attack.
"Angelus!" cried Botan as Momiji followed with a Blessing. A bell appeared above the heads of herself and the other Saviors. As it tolled, feathers would pop out in place of the bell, combined with the halo and angel wings given by the Blessing. Youmei felt a great surge of strength through her body as she rose her shield with little effort, steadfastly blocking the Guardians' strike, and counterattacking with a cross-shaped double slash attack that would crush the Guardians with the power of Holy.
"Victory to Odin's chosen!" Youmei shouted triumphantly. Tsubaki gave an acknowledging grunt while Botan & Momiji cheered for a brief moment before falling to their knees.
"You two," Tsubaki uttered, "are stronger than I had originally anticipated. You've helped clear the way to our ultimate goal."
"It was our pleasure, Lady Tsubaki…" they both spoke simultaneously between pants.
P0o
A moment later, a bright red glow filled the room as the Ruby Emperium stood before them on a raised dais. The Saviors slowly approached the precious rock and stared in awe at its splendor…
"This is it," Youmei said. "The very mineral that controls this Fortress – the Ruby Emperium."
"It's… beautiful," said the dark Priestess, almost entranced by its crimson hue.
"And with this, we will be one step closer to the Holy Saviors' glorious conquest," the auburn-haired Crusader said shortly after.
An incredibly bright red light filled the room and the surrounding area… Meanwhile, as those events were occurring, Nora – whom was once again in the Sograt Desert to monitor the appearance of any dangerous beasts – had received a call from one of her crew members…
Nora: This is Kafra Nora. What's up?
The teal Kafra then gasped, turning her head around frantically at what her colleague had just informed her.
Nora: What? Already?!
After looking westward, Nora saw something shoot up into the very heavens.
Nora: Shoot, we don't have time for a broadcast, Pav; I'm all the way out in Morroc territory! (To herself) And I won't be able to notify the boys in time either…
Nora would then begin blitzing through the Sograt Desert with uncanny speed – even more uncanny for a Kafra employee.
Nora: We'll have ta' get the rest of the crew together later! Is there anyone else available?! The Western Branch…? It'll have ta' do for now. Report this to Headquarters while I contact Kafra Western Branch! Kafra Nora out!
The transmission ended and Nora went full speed towards Morroc while she attempted to get a hold of someone from the Western Branch…
Nora: This is Kafra Executive Nora. Get me with someone from our girls at the Western Branch!
Back at Geffen, the scene was much more exciting for what had shot up into the air was not one, but five beams of light with varying colors. This made the citizens of Geffen jump in fright, while White Trinity and the Battle Vixens felt the earth beneath them shake ever so slightly.
"So," Ray spoke, "the next battle has finally arrived…"
"Yes, finally here…" Lee followed.
"The next battle…" Thiji murmured, looking over to the direction Raien went some time ago. Speaking of, the Ninja and his female followers witnessed the phenomenon for themselves, and without another word, he would begin running back toward the town square, while the Battle Vixens had kept a low profile so as to not be detected.
Lupi: Finally!
Aege: Here at last, huh?
Elua: Those rays of light are coming from the Southwest…
Heal-Do: The Southwest? You don't mean Britoniah, do you?
Elua: That's exactly what I mean!
Aege: So our fastest ticket outta here is the western exit. Let's see if we can leave without being spotted.
Lupi: Like it matters! We'll crush them this time; stealth is for cowards!
The fiery female knight snatched her Hellfire Lance from Aege's forge and began to storm off into the city. Before they could come up with any alternative, the remaining three sisters equipped themselves with their respective weapons and followed their brash elder sister out of the City of Magic.
Cutting through the center of town, the Battle Vixens would seemingly be in the clear, until they would reach a set of stairs in which the way was obscured by a barricade of ice on the top stair.
Thiji: So you were here…
Aege: Shit, they saw us! Elua! Can't your falcon break through this barrier?
Elua, petting Mukuhawk: He could, but Mukuhawk is still recovering from the Emperium Jungle… I don't want to push him this time.
Heal-Do: But we can't just wait for the ice to dissipate! And going the long way would only hinder us!
Raien had arrived to his companions' side seconds later.
Raien: Sorry, guys. I came as soon as I saw the beams of light. What's with the Ice Wall?
Ray & Lee: Battle Vixens.
Raien: Dammit, not now…! Well, we can't just do nothing. We should hold them off!
The Ninja readied a Fuma Shuriken as he took to a battle stance.
Thiji: Ray. Lee. Didn't you two leave your weapons behind back at the Emperium Fortress?
Ray: Oh, crap, you're right…! We left them there hoping that this would be a short trip!
Lee: That's okay, Ray. We'll just find a Kafra lady and teleport there in an instant!
Raien: Yeah, you two get your belongings. Thiji and I will handle this.
Thiji: I am as ready as I will ever be…
The Gun-Knight and the Monk immediately head to a nearby Kafra employee that was spectating the sudden ice wall. She also had two fingers to her ear, as if communicating with someone far away. When she saw the two young men approach her, she bade her colleague to hold on as she attended to them.
"Oh, hello, White Trinity!" Kafra Pavianne greeted. "Strange happenings, isn't it? What can I help you with today?"
"Pavianne, we need a teleport to our Emperium Fortress, please," Ray said hurriedly as he flashed a special voucher. In response to this, the violet-haired Kafra turned her head away slightly, as if worried.
"What is it, miss?" asked the Monk.
"Well, I would be happy to teleport you straight there," Pavianne began, "but according to what I've been told, White Trinity no longer has ownership over the Emperium Fortress…"
"WHAT?!" shouted all four White Trinity members, as Thiji and Raien had overheard them whilst holding off the Battle Vixens. The Ice Wall had begun to crack…
"What could have happened?!" Lee wondered.
"We don't have time for games, Pavianne!" Ray exclaimed, but the look on her face was proof enough that she was telling the truth. The Gun-Knight growled in annoyance before saying, "Okay, fine. Just take us to Prontera and we'll hoof it from there."
"It'll cost you," Pavianne replied. Without a second thought, Ray took out a bag containing exactly 1,500 Zeny to the Kafra, in which she would begin the teleportation procedure.
"Lost our HQ and now we're outnumbered 2 to 1…" Raien sighed as the Ice Wall would continue breaking until finally shattering at Lupi's attacks.
"Knock, knock, assholes!" she screamed as she ascended the staircase.
"If you fight with all your might, there is a chance of life; whereas death is certain if you cling to your corner," spoke Thiji, giving another of his strategic quotes as he conjured a Frost Diver on the ground.
"As if I'm dying today!" the lightning Shinobi scoffed, preparing himself for battle.
At Prontera Field, Ray and Lee were already well out of the city limits and heading into Mt. Mjolnir thanks to a Peco Peco they rented from Prontera Chivalry…
Ray: Man, whoever took our Fortress from under our noses is going down so hard!
Lee: Hell, yeah, they're definitely not getting off easy for this!
Quickening their advance, the two would eventually make it to Mt. Mjolnir, and the Emperium Fortress would appear on the horizon. As they moved closer and closer to it, however, they would notice something different about it – namely the banners hanging from its marble walls.
Lee: Ray, haven't we seen that emblem before?
Ray: Yeah, you're right… (Gasps) No… it can't be -!
Familiar Voice, chuckling evilly: Oh-ho, but it is!
It was the colors of the Holy Saviors guild, and its four chosen elite emerged from the balcony overlooking the front gate. Botan and Momiji taunted them with stuck-out tongues and mocking laughter. Youmei seemed reluctant as she turned her head away, as if ashamed, her silken, auburn tresses obscuring her face from the two down below.
Botan: Yes! We finally got one up on you guys!
Momiji: Prontera is ours! The Holy Saviors have won this day!
Ray: You… you wenches!
Momiji: The nerve to call us wenches! You shall not speak to us so lowly!
The two of them would harry Ray and Lee with Holy Light blasts, putting them on the defensive as they attempted to locate their gear.
Ray: Dammit, we're defenseless! To Acolytes! Wait, I still have my guns…
Lee: And I have my fists!
Ray: Guess we got so worked up that we didn't think straight…
The Gun-Knight removed his revolver from its holster and aimed it at the twins.
Ray: All right, now it's our turn to – huh?
To his annoyance, Ray had noticed the magazine chamber was completely empty.
Lee: You didn't even bring any bullets?!
Ray: I told you, I thought it was just gonna be a quick trip to Geffen and back!
Tsubaki, laughing heartily: Oh, this is rich! The great leader of White Trinity, forgets to bring his only means of defending himself!
Lee: Watch it, Tsubaki! You're just lucky we don't have them on us right now!
As the Monk said as such, Youmei had returned, carrying the Gladiator Blade that was wielded by Ray and the Knuckle Dusters Lee used, along with their miscellaneous provisions. She threw them over the ledge and they would land several yards in front of them; Tsubaki and the Acolyte twins looked at the Crusader in befuddlement.
Lee: What…? Our gear…!
Ray: What's this all about?!
Tsubaki: I'd like to know myself…
She remained silent for a few seconds, staring at her comrades, and then down at Ray and Lee. She would then move over to the ledge and pointed her Holy Blade at them.
Youmei: Ray Kaza and Lee of White Trinity.
Before the two of them had any time to respond, she would gesture to their belongings once more.
Youmei: While I find no joy or pleasure in usurping this Emperium Fortress from you –
Tsubaki: Wait a minute! We took this fair and square!
Youmei: Hush, Youmei. 'Twas by your hand this deed was done, and though we now have a base of operations, it was still an act of cowardice.
Tsubaki, growling: The nerve…
Youmei, back to Ray & Lee: Nevertheless, I owe you, and the Holy Saviors owes you a debt that shall be repaid this very moment. Take your equipment and return to your friends. But know that when we meet again, we shall do so as enemies; may our future battles be honorable and glorious.
After her monologue, Youmei sheathed her sword and turned on the heel of her foot and walked away. Botan and Momiji followed suit, along with Tsubaki after giving one last mocking glare to them, but pushed aside the "act of cowardice" Youmei had called it. Regaining their bearings, Ray and Lee reequipped themselves and would begin leaving the area…
"Oh, man…" Lee said with a worried voice. "What do we tell the others?"
"What do you mean?!" Ray asked, almost defensively. "They'll know sooner or later, so it may as well be sooner! I know it blows our minds knowing our friend is now our enemy, but we gotta keep our heads straight or we're done for!"
Lee sighed and would search the bags for some fly wings to expedite their journey back to Geffen. Meanwhile, Thiji and Raien were already engaged with the forces of the Battle Vixens, and they are holding their own thanks to Raien's ninjutsu and Thiji's command over ice magic. Behind them stood another Ice Wall that blockaded the western entrance to the city; the Wizard's quick thinking prevented the Battle Vixens from a hit-and-run attack, and that the fight be focused solely on the two of them…
Raien, tossing Kunai at the Vixens while dodging arrows: Where are those two?! We're already losing the resources we came all the way out here to get!
Thiji, blocking Lupi's attack: They'll be here, just hold fast!
Lupi had overpowered Thiji and he was wide open for an attack. She would deliver a powerful thrust into his stomach, but would be caught off-balance by Raien who intercepted with a lightning strike. Aege made short work of his clones whilst Elua prepared an Arrow Shower, and they would soon be overrun.
Aege: We got 'em now!
Elua: Watch the arrows rain down!
Raien: Aww, man, we're screwed…
Lupi launched herself into the air and charged her lance with fire energy, preparing for an empowered Magnum Break, but just as gravity was about to pull her down after reaching the top of her jump, Lee appeared just in time with a Raging Trifecta Blow to stagger the Knight, followed by a Heavy Tackle – a technique he learned from Kafra Nora way back when – and sent her flying back toward the stairs which led to the inner ring of the city. A barrage of bullets would then emerge and with pinpoint accuracy, split the hail of arrows in half, canceling Elua's Arrow Shower…
Raien: Guys, you're late as hell! They're not letting up for a second!
Thiji: And they hit like fully-loaded trucks.
Ray: Give us a break, guy! We were ambushed by the Holy Saviors!
Lee: Yeah… can't believe we lost like that.
Raien: The hell do you mean, "lost?!"
Ray: Wait, what's a truck?
Thiji: Forget it; head out through the western exit. Those beams of energy were coming from that direction.
Ray: Uh, Thiji? I don't know if you haven't noticed, but the exit is kinda blocked by your Ice Wall…
Thiji: Trust me. Just run straight through!
Raien: We don't have time to argue. Let's get out of Geffen while we still have the lead!
They would do so, and White Trinity ran at top speed out of the city. As they neared the Ice Wall, Thiji and Raien didn't let up, but Ray and Lee, still skeptical, slowed their pace. Lupi and her sisters recovered from the brawl, spectating their cowardly adversaries' retirement. Then, what they saw next threw them for a loop: Thiji and Raien had phased through the Ice Wall with no issues! Ray and Lee, relieved to see this, would accelerate and head straight through the barricade as well without fear of being harmed.
Aege: What in the fuck did I just see…?
Heal-Do: They… they went straight through that Ice Wall!
As they reached the city limits, Thiji snapped his fingers, and at the blink of an eye, the Ice Wall did not melt, nor did it shatter into a million pieces; it vanished into thin air…
Elua: An illusion! They combined their magicks to trick us into fighting them! Wow… that's pretty damn impressive… that Raien is full of surprises.
Heal-Do: You mean Lord Thiji…
Aege: What did you just call him?
Heal-Do: Er, I mean –
As the other three sisters chatted amongst themselves over the recent predicament, Lupi would see a Peco Peco stables out of the corner of her eye, and sported a sly grin as she stood back up and approached it…
In the outskirts of Geffen, White Trinity would stop for a moment to catch their breath. Before them lied a vast plains area overlooking a large river. This river would actually be part of a massive lake that encircled Geffen, which would explain the circular structure. The western entrance into the city was connected by a large drawbridge made of marble that would lead into a forest.
Thiji: My… what a large bridge.
Raien: Geffen's Mages are totally overcompensating for something.
Ray: Yeah, well, we gotta cross this thing; it's our fastest ticket toward the source of where those lights were coming from.
Lee: No kidding. Let's hurry up and move.
Ray, loading his gun: I got point.
The Gun-Knight took the lead and slowly walked along the bridge, with Lee, Raien and Thiji close behind. The bridge seemed to have spanned for miles, and it was strewn with monsters. Being so close to the City of Magic, however, there weren't any hostile ones roaming around, just the occasional Lunatic and a larvae known as a Fabre, along with its imago form – the Creamy.
Due to the brawl Thiji and Raien had just escaped from thanks to Ray and Lee's timely interference, and the inconvenience of the latter two having to return to base to obtain their equipment, the four members of White Trinity decided to take a break along the side of the bridge and ate a modest meal of assorted fruits, bread, cheese, and grape juice to wash it all down. This would give them plenty of time to collect themselves and think of a plan of action for their next endeavor…