Kaito and Abi hurry through the forest, the "snow" fall is almost like a blanket at this point, covering all but a few patches of ground and vegetation. As Kaito and Abi hurry to the town, they can hear the sounds of screams and battle. The two dash across a creek and up a hillside. At the top of the hill is a clearing where the town, just beyond the clearing, is set ablaze with fires and smoke. As Abi and Kaito approach the buildings, they see that the town is still occupied by two fighting forces, the wood elves that live there, and the humanoid reptilian creatures they had fought in the forest. Only this time, the creatures are fighting as an entire army, rather than in small groups. Multiple streams of colored heat can be seen shooting from inside the houses. A couple of elves take refuge on the rooftops of the houses not covered in red flames, shooting arrows down on the creatures who are trying to climb up towards them. In the center of town stands a twenty-foot-tall beast. The beast itself looks like it is part of the reptile's race, only it has been transformed somehow, as its unusual size and features are akin to more of an ogre than a reptile. Along with the beast in the center stands six elves. One is dressed in purple robes and is shooting blasts of blue energy with his hands at the beast. Three of the elves appear to be knights, guarding the robed elf against incoming waves of reptilian creatures. Another elf dons a white robe and attacks with the same techniques as the one in purple. The last elf is dressed in a black suit of leather armor and wields a bow, as well as dagger, which sits firmly in its sheath. Kaito looks at the scene in front of him and is frozen in place. He has never seen anything like this before. It is almost like watching a movie, only he knew this was as real as it gets. The smell of smoke and blood. The sounds of people in peril, the sounds of screams coming from the soldiers fighting each other. Kaito then looks around, searching for a way to get pass the many soldiers and debris blocking their path forward. He tries to figure out something he and Abi can do. He looks to his right, then turns his head to look left, both areas are blocked by countless soldiers and fires. Kaito then turns his attention to a house, damaged by the battle, not too far away from where he and Abi are standing. The back door to the house is busted down. Kaito then grabs Abi's arm and takes her with him quickly into the broken house to avoid being seen by the hostile creatures. Once inside, Kaito sees a tall bookshelf close to the back door and pushes it in front of the open doorframe; he then takes a moment to calm his breathing and look around the abandoned house. The inside of the house looks to be almost entirely black, most likely scorched by a fire at one time, though how long ago is unknown. Kaito walks up to the front door, which sits tilted on it hinges, blocking most of the doorway. Kaito peeks through a crack in the doorway to look out into the courtyard where the ogre-like creature is still battling the six elves. The elves continue their fighting, having moved away from the center of town, planting themselves in front of a nearby barn. In the center of town, flames continue to rage, along with the constant fighting between the elves and the reptile-like creatures. Elves equipped with blades and armor fight the reptilian raiders back while the elf civilians do their best to put the flames out and keep collateral damage to a minimum. Kaito thinks for a moment, trying to figure out a way outside and to the six elves fighting the ogre. He figures if they can bring that beast down, the rest will either give up and retreat, or be a lot easier to manage once it is gone. After all, the elves seem to have the combat advantage against the reptilian raiders, the only disadvantage being that of their numbers. Kaito looks around the house some more, then notices a set of small stairs that head to the second floor. He then turns to Abi, who is watching a few elves battling a larger group of reptilian raiders.
Kaito: Abi… Abi!
Abi: Huh? Wha?
Abi turns her head to the direction of Kaito's voice.
Kaito: Come with me upstairs. If we want to get to the leaders of this place, that might be our best bet.
Abi nods before grabbing her staff and walking over to Kaito. Kaito and Abi then head upstairs, the steps creaking as they climb up. Kaito watches closely to make sure each step holds, trying his best to put as little pressure on them as he can. Once Kaito and Abi climb upstairs, they are met with a narrow hallway. Down the hallway are three rooms, one to the left, and two to the right. Kaito and Abi walk slowly down the hall. Kaito checks each room he passes, making sure there are no creatures inside the house. As she walks down the hallway, Abi turns her head to the first room on the right, the only objects left inside the room being an overturned bed and a wardrobe lying on its side. The two warriors walk a little further down the hallway and notice that a small window at the end of the hall is open. Kaito turns to get Abi's attention and sees that she is looking into a room, the only room on the left side of the upper floor. He joins her and peers into the room. The walls of the room are painted with a faded pink. Similar to the first room, its wardrobe is flipped over. The room's closet has been ransacked; however, the bed is untouched. The bed itself is a bit smaller than a twin-size bed, and on the bed, sits a small cloth doll. Abi walks over to the bed and picks the doll up. The doll itself resembles a small elf-like creature with black hair and tan skin. A neat flower pattern covers the dress of the doll and is soft to the touch. Abi takes the doll and places it inside her satchel, then turns to Kaito.
Abi: Let's get going.
Kaito nods, then motions her to follow him.
Kaito: Follow me, I got a plan.
Kaito and Abi reach the window at the end of the hall. Outside the window, the adjacent house can be seen, and a perfect place to stand on the roof as well.
Kaito: Look, see how the houses are lined up?
Abi looks out the window and follows the line of houses, then nods.
Abi: Yeah…
Kaito: Just like how the elves used the rooftops to avoid the creatures on the ground, we use the rooftops to reach the other side of the street while avoiding the fighting on the ground. We can reach the group that is fighting the ogre a lot faster and safer that way.
As Kaito finishes his sentence, an arrow flies and plants itself onto the roof of the house they are currently in.
Kaito: Of course, arrows would still be a problem.
Abi: Kaito are you sure about this? I don't want another arrow through my wing, or worse, through my head.
Abi brushes her fingers through her hair and touches her forehead.
Kaito: It's our best bet if we want to help these people, by the look of things, that beast out there has the leaders backed up against a barn. They might not be able to hold out much longer. We gotta help them, in any way we can, got it?
Abi is hesitant to answer at first, but then she reassures herself that everything will be OK. With her war angel by her side, she has newfound confidence in their situation.
Abi: Got it, I've got your back, just lead the way. And don't get hurt please!
Kaito then squeezes through the window, planting himself onto the roof before looking around for anything hostile. Once he confirms that the coast is clear, he gets into a sprinting position. Abi watches him closely. As soon as he gets the courage, Kaito runs and jumps from one roof to the other, landing and sliding on impact. Abi cries out his name as Kaito slides down the roof. Before he falls off, Kaito takes out the sheathed dagger from the creature he killed earlier and plants it into the roof, stopping his descent. Kaito then climbs up the roof and once he has a stable footing, jerks the dagger out of the roof before sliding it back into its sheath. Kaito then looks at Abi, calling out to her.
Kaito: Alright, now it's your turn. I got ya if you start to fall!
Abi nods, then climbs out the window and gets in a sprint stance. She takes one good look at the edge of the roof that Kaito stands on and takes off. She leaps across the empty space between the houses, her wings spreading out and flapping to give her a lift as she jumps. She then lands next to Kaito on the roof, her wings slowing their movement before they disappear, leaving only a few white feathers behind.
Kaito: Somehow, I forgot about your wings. If you can pick me up, we can use those to get to the group of elves quicker!
Abi: No, we can't. Not only would it be dangerous with all the arrows and energy flying around, but my wings are still numb from the healing earlier, all I can do is flap them for a short amount of time. We'll have to stick to your plan.
Kaito: Damn… It's alright though, we'll manage. Let's just hurry, OK?
Abi nods, giving him an "Mhm" in response. Kaito and Abi then move over the roof's edge and onto the other side of the rooftop. On the adjacent roof, they see a group of townsfolk. One elf with a pitchfork pokes at the creatures as they crawl up the side of the house. Behind the elf are three more elves, one being a woman, and the others being a young boy and a girl. Kaito sees this family in trouble and pulls out his bow. As the man with the pitchfork yells for the creatures to get back, they continue to make their advance towards the family. The creatures find their way to the edge and jump up onto the roof. One creature raises its sword, about to strike down the man as he stands in front of his family. Before it can, however, an arrow pierces the creature's back, making it scream out in pain as it falls off the roof. The other creature turns around to look at where the arrow came from, then explodes in a flash of light. Kaito puts the bow on his back and jumps over to the other roof. Abi watches as her staff cools down, then does the same.
Kaito: You guys alright?
Elf Father: Yeah, we're good, thanks. Who are you guys?
Kaito: We're here to help, is there a safe place you guys can go?
Elf Father: Yeah, the barn at the far side of this street is where everyone is being evacuated to…
The elf father looks towards the barn, then drops his pointing finger and arm, watching as the town's leaders continue to fight the large ogre-like creature. The group is now quite close to the barn where, as Kaito and Abi were just informed, holds refuge to a fair amount of scared and defenseless people. Kaito stares at the barn, then turns his head to look at the elf father.
Kaito: If that's where everyone is, then we need to hurry. We'll escort you guys to a safe place near the barn. I see some knights stationed around the nearby buildings, just follow us.
Elf Father: What is your plan?
Kaito: We're using the rooftops to get over to the barn, the ground is too dangerous to travel on. Abi and I will help you and your family along the rooftops, just stay safe alright?
Elf Father: Of course, thank you so much!
The elf father shakes Kaito's hand, then walks over to his family to tell them the plan. Once the father is done talking to his family, he looks over towards Kaito and waits for his signal. Kaito motions the group to follow him, showing them how to cross by getting a running start and jumping. The elf father watches the war angel, then looks at his wife and nods. He does as Kaito shows him and jumps onto the roof, the man's wife doing the same. The parents then look at their kids before speaking to Kaito.
Elf Father: Will the girl be helping our children cross? I don't think they can make that jump, sir…
Kaito: Don't worry, she can carry them and fly over here.
Elf Father and Mother: Fly?
Abi tosses her staff over to Kaito, the war angel grabbing it and holding it for her as she gets ready to jump. Abi then reaches down and picks up both of the young elf children. With both kids resting in her arms, she runs and jumps off the roof, her wings spreading and flapping to make the gap. Abi lands next to the couple and sets the kids down before wiping her brow.
Abi: Heavier than they look… whew.
The elf children's faces light up, never seeing anything like it before. The parents stare in awe at Abi as her wings close and disappear into her back.
Elf Father: I didn't know you guys were angels!
Elf Mother: If that is the case, then our town is surely saved!
The elf children watch as Abi closes her wings. The children then try to catch the feathers that fall slowly to the ground where she stands. Abi blushes as the parents praise her, then speaks, her tone switching from gentle to confident. It's obvious to Kaito that she is hyping herself up as much as she can in front of these people. He doesn't buy it, but the elves surely do.
Abi: Don't worry, citizens of Foritia, the Angel's Accord has recognized your cry for help against the Scourge. I am but the first angel of many to come and assist your land in this time of need.
Kaito shakes his head at her words and rolls his eyes.
Kaito: We need to hurry before we get surrounded. Stop with the self-flattery and come on, Abi!
Abi: Kaito, just let me do it this one time!
Kaito: This is no time to play around! You can bask in their praise later. Come on, let's move it!
Abi: Fine!
The elf father and his family look at Kaito, then back to Abi as they banter back and forth with each other. The four of them are confused by their behavior, but quickly follow them as Kaito and Abi walk to the other side of the rooftop. The whole group is ready to once again jump over to the next house. The group is now on the other side of the street. As they move across the rooftops, they get closer and closer to the barn. Kaito gets ready to jump, but notices something different about the rooftops in front of them. The rooftops themselves are intact, but a board lays between each gap of the houses, connecting them one by one. Kaito assumes that someone else must have had the idea before them. His eyes then land on a house that is close to the barn. On the flat roof of the house, he can see a group of elves. Two knights and an archer reside on the rooftop. A few knights are scattered around them, looking as if they are wounded. With the wounded are some other elves, who seem to be healing the injured knights, bright yellow coming from their hands as they work to save their fellow soldiers. The soldiers that still fight, however, keep the advancing creatures at bay by guarding the narrow plank of wood that the creatures have to cross. Kaito sees this and motions for the group to follow him. Kaito grabs his bow off his back, then looks down before he pulls an arrow from his quiver. As his hand reaches for an arrow, he notices just how empty the quiver is.
Kaito: Two arrows left…
Kaito pulls an arrow back on the drawstring of his bow, then fires it at the creature blocking their way to the elf soldiers. However, the arrow hits the creature's armored padding instead of its head. The creature then turns to face Kaito, before having another arrow shot into its body and through its head. The creature then falls off the roof to the ground, disappearing from Kaito's view. Kaito looks for the source of the second arrow. The elf archer on the roof stands up, looking at Kaito and his group, and notices the elf family following them. The elf archer lowers her bow, then motions for the group to walk over the plank of wood. Kaito's group walks across the board, with Kaito being the last to walk across, making sure everyone gets to the guarded rooftop safely. One of the creatures attempts to grab the boy's foot in front of Kaito, but the war angel reacts quickly and cuts the creature's fingers off. The creature falls to the ground with a splat, followed by multiple screeches from the other creatures that continue to climb the building. The elf boy runs over to the soldiers in the middle of the reinforced roof while yelling in terror at being grabbed. Kaito walks onto the rooftop and is met with the elf archer. The two knights behind Kaito move up to grab the board and pull it back onto the roof.
Elf Archer: Who are you two?
The elf archer looks at Abi and Kaito, waiting for a response.
Elf Archer: Well?
Kaito: We're here to help.
Abi: Yep! We were sent by the Angel's Accord!
As Abi says this, she spreads her wings, letting the elf archer know that she is telling the truth. The elf archer's expression changes from worry to relief at Abi's words. She then walks over to the two knights and tells them something, before returning to Kaito and Abi.
Elf Archer: That's honestly the first good news we've had all week. How can we help you guys?
Abi steps in front of Kaito and speaks to the elf archer with the same forced confidence as before.
Abi: We of the Angel's Accord need to speak with your town's leaders as soon as possible.
Elf Archer: Well, that's not gonna be easy, look down there.
The elf archer points down towards the front of the barn, where the ogre and the group of elves fight. Energy blasts and empowered arrows fly around the battlefield and pierce into the beast. The beast responds to the attacks by throwing the town's debris and using beams of energy, causing more and more damage to the surrounding area as it fights the town's leaders.
Elf Archer: If we can find a way to get rid of that thing, it could potentially win the battle! But that thing is too powerful for us to take down. The only ones who are powerful enough are trying to keep it away from the barn… though that plan seems to be falling apart.
Kaito thinks for a moment, looking at the creature, the elves, then the barn. He notices something similar to a trebuchet lying on its side next to the barn, along with the bodies of both the invading creatures and elf soldiers.
Kaito: What if we use that?
Kaito points to the downed trebuchet-like device.
Kaito: If we could get over to that catapult looking thing, we could use it to trip the beast, then we all gang up on it to go in for the kill!
Abi's face lights up as she looks at Kaito with a smile.
Abi: That sounds crazy enough to work, Kaito!
Elf Archer: That's all well and good, but what about the creatures fighting around it? Won't they try to kill you in the process?
Kaito thinks for a moment. Abi puts a hand to her chin, trying to appear like she is thinking as well. Kaito looks at one of the knights guarding the plank, then points to him.
Kaito: I'll need one of them…
The elf archer turns her head over to the knights, her dark hood blowing in the soft wind. The look on her face is one of worry, but then she returns to a more rested expression.
Elf Archer: OK, go for it. It's not like we have a better plan at the moment.
Kaito nods, then walks over to one of the knights, getting his attention and telling him the plan. The knight looks over at the elf archer, who nods her head in affirmation. Kaito then walks over to the edge of the roof closest to the barn, looking down at the balcony below the roof, which has half of its surface damaged and torn onto the ground. Kaito motions for the knight to follow him, then jumps onto the remaining piece of the balcony. Kaito climbs over the broken edge of the balcony, before dropping onto the ground and bracing his fall. Kaito watches as the knight does the same, his landing making more of a thump with all the armor he is wearing. His cape is the last piece of gear to touch the ground below him, and when the knight stands, the cape moves softly in the light breeze that blows through the town. Kaito starts to move but stops when he is suddenly attacked by one of the reptilian creatures. The creature comes out from behind the corner of the house with a jab of its sword at the war angel. Kaito jumps back and is greeted with a scene of the knight's sword cutting through the chest of the creature, the creature's body standing no chance against the large blade.
Elf Knight: Go! I'll watch your back!
Kaito nods and continues his run towards the downed trebuchet, dodging incoming arrows and energy blasts by ducking behind the town's debris. Occasionally, Kaito stops to fight off the advancing enemies that try to kill him. The knight stays close, protecting Kaito as best as he can against the overwhelming number of creatures. The two warriors soon find themselves next to the barn; the giant ogre and elves continue to battle, closer to the barn than ever before. As Kaito approaches the barn, a large blade is swung towards his head. Kaito manages to dodge the blade by ducking, the knight behind Kaito yelling the words "Friendlies, we're elves! Well, one of us is!" Stepping out from a shaded part of the barn's outside stable is another knight. This knight's armor is different from the others. Its surface is branded and decorated in a variety of gems. The look of the armor is the same, but the embedded gems lead Kaito to believe that this knight is of higher rank. From behind Kaito, the knight who had been following him speaks.
Elf Knight: Pricil! It's me, Javan!
Pricil: Then who is this weird looking creature?
Javan: A friend, he is with the Angel's Accord.
The higher ranked knight looks down at Kaito, her stare alone is enough to cut clean through him. She then extends her hand out to the young man.
Pricil: Get up!
Kaito reaches out to her hand, his body being jolted onto his feet as she pulls him up. Kaito is taken aback by the lady elf's strength, and almost falls forward from the momentum. Kaito then faces her, noticing that she resembles similar features to the archer he had met before; dark hair and tan colored skin. However, this elf's pretty face was marred by scars running down her cheek. She had clearly seen plenty of battle, the knight's attitude alone was enough to tell him that. Pricil looks at Kaito, then speaks again.
Pricil: Well, runt, what are you doing here? That group needs help fighting the ogre!
Kaito: I know, I know, that's why we came over here!
The three warriors hear the ogre's screeching roar, then a loud boom, followed by a splash of light and energy being expelled around the barn. The ogre did not hit the barn, but hit the ground at the front of the barn's entrance, damaging the door and space in front of the building. Screams can be heard coming from inside the barn as the attack booms and sends dirt flying into the cracks of the wooden structure.
Pricil: Well, do you have a plan? Or did you come to hide in here as well?
Kaito: Yeah, I do, but I'm going to need you two to guard me while I get it set up.
Kaito points his finger towards the trebuchet. Pricil seems to look displeased at what she sees, a downed siege weapon with a rope and a boulder tied to the end. The trebuchet looked as if it was in mid reload before being knocked over.
Pricil: You want to use a damaged trebuchet?
Kaito: Yes. I was thinking, if we can use the trebuchet to trip the beast, your town's warriors could kill it while it's down!
Pricil thinks for a moment, then looks at Kaito and Javan, who in turn look to her for an answer.
Pricil: It'll work, maybe…
Javan: Maybe?
Pricil: Look at that thing. When the group tries to attack it, it puts up some kind of barrier around itself.
Sure enough, when the mage in purple robes tries to attack the beast, the ogre covers its face. A black and red ball of energy, similar to the texture of fire, covers the creature's entire body. This negates any damage it would have sustained from the incoming attack completely. After the creature guards, it then follows up with an attack of its own, firing a beam of energy out of its mouth at the warrior who attacked it. The mage in purple robes barely dodges the blast as a house behind them gets completely destroyed in the process. Kaito notices something strange when the beast attacks. Once the beam of energy is fired from its mouth, the barrier around the creature dissipates. And once the ogre is done firing its attack, the barrier appears again. Kaito looks at the two knights, then speaks.
Kaito: We just gotta strike when it attacks, and the warriors fighting it will be a perfect distraction.
Pricil: We don't have any other ideas. Are you sure you can do this, runt?
Kaito: I don't know, but we have to try. I know for a fact I can't do it alone, there are too many creatures near the trebuchet. But I can do it with the help of you two.
Kaito points at the two knights, who then look at each other and nod.
Pricil: Alright then, let's move.
Kaito and the two knights fight their way to the downed siege weapon, dodging swords, arrows, and energy attacks along the way. Kaito himself gets grazed by an arrow on the arm and cut by a sword on the leg while moving towards the large weapon. The cut is not too deep, but it causes him to start limping as he hurries over to the downed trebuchet. The knights, being in full suits of armor, escape the attacks with no damage at all. The armor in its design does not restrict movement and allows them to keep up with Kaito. This makes Kaito angry, as he wishes he had that kind of protection now. Kaito finally reaches the trebuchet, the two knights keeping close to him at all times to protect him from any attacks. Kaito then looks around the trebuchet for the rope that operates the weapon's beam. As he searches for the rope, he yells to speak up to the two knights near him.
Kaito: You know, I need to get me a suit of armor like yours… gah this cut stings!
Pricil: Quit your bitchin and hurry up, runt! We can't hold this position forever!
Pricil is right. The two knights are doing their best to keep the area secure, but there are too many creatures approaching them. Kaito notices many arrows being fired at the area around them. The elf archer from the rooftop is trying her best to help out as well, but there are just too many creatures for them to handle. Kaito continues to look for the rope, trying to find it under the surrounding debris. He finally finds a trace of the rope and digs it out from some snapped planks. Once the rope is in his hand, Kaito pulls out his dagger to cut it. Kaito stops what he is doing when he hears a scream come from behind him. Pricil screams out as she cuts down one of the creatures she is fighting, but a creature gets through the two knights' line of defense and rushes Kaito, slamming him into the trebuchet. This causes the dagger to drop from the young man's hand. The creature bears its fangs and goes to bite Kaito's neck but Kaito responds by putting his left arm between them. The creature's teeth pierce deep into his arm, causing blood to pour from the open wound. Kaito yells out in pain and proceeds to hammer-fist the creature's temple with his free hand as it bites him and jerks him around like a wild dog. Kaito searches the ground for the dagger, grabs it, and makes a deep gash across the creature's face. The creature yells out in a growl, letting go of Kaito's arm. Kaito kicks the creature off of him, them watches as it stands up, ready for another charge. Before the creature can attack him, Kaito looks behind the creature towards Pricil, who had just finished cutting another creature down. Seeing Kaito in trouble, Pricil moves swiftly towards the young man. The knight then picks up the creature standing over Kaito and throws it into the air above them. She drives her sword up into the creature's chest as it falls back down to the ground before making a downward slashing motion. The creature's body tears in two and lands in front of the other creatures that are attacking the three warriors. The creatures look in horror at the sight they have just witnessed and back away slowly from the knight. Pricil screams out and takes a stance, the gems on her armor start to glow as a trail of blue energy emits from her body into her sword. Javan is now beside her and takes a defensive position against the reptilian creatures. Kaito watches the female knight, unaware of what is about to happen. Pricil screams out again and places the glowing sword beside her head. Getting into a back stance, she then swings the sword. A line of blue flame shoots out from the sword, cutting down the creatures who stand in front of them. Some of the surviving creatures start to run away in fear, while others are frozen in place by the display of her power.
Pricil: Come on, you vermin, make this a good fight!
Javan looks at Pricil, then turns his attention towards Kaito.
Javan: If you're gonna do something, now's the time!
Kaito nods, then turns around and puts his hand on the side of the trebuchet. Blood drips from his open wound onto the wood, painting the siege weapon a deep shade of red. Kaito takes his dagger and places it down onto the rope before watching the ogre. The ogre turns its head towards the archer in black leather and charges up for an attack, leaving the barrier dropped for a moment. As soon as Kaito sees the barrier drop, he slashes the rope. The arm of the trebuchet shifts forward with an abrupt snap. The boulder and rope of the catapult slings out in a sweeping motion. The boulder slams into one of the ogre's legs, tearing it off. The boulder continues its momentum and crashes into a wall of a nearby house, causing a large plume of smoke and dust to form. The rope wraps around the other leg of the ogre and trips the beast. The warriors in the center watch as the ogre falls. Without a second thought, they start to charge up their attacks. The elf mage in the purple robe summons a bright blue ball of energy into his hands. The archer in black leather slides three arrows in place, each tip glowing a dark purple color. The white-robed elf points his hand out in front of himself, his palm glowing blue with a ball forming at the edge of his hand. All three elf warriors fire their attacks into the injured ogre. The archer shoots her arrows, the purple-robed mage throws his ball of energy down on top of the beast. The last attack comes from the mage in white. A large blue beam of energy shoots from his hand and hits the ogre square in the chest. The clash of all three energies creates an explosion of bright white light, which illuminates the center of the town, bathing the surrounding areas in light and shadow. All combatants turn their attention to the center of town, where the three warriors stand atop the ogre's smoldering corpse. The creatures left alive start to retreat, running away as fast as possible into the woods near the town. The creatures that surround Kaito and his group do the same, screeching in terror as they flee the area. Some of the elf archers shoot arrows at the reptilian creatures as they retreat into the woods. Soon, the town falls silent. The mage in purple watches as the last of the creatures flee, and once they are out of sight, he breaks the silence with only a few words.
Purple-Robed Mage: We are victorious!!!
The elf soldiers all yell out in a cry of victory. Kaito looks at the ogre's bloodied and unmoving body, then lets out a sigh in relief. The young man can see Abi in the distance. The angel girl helps the soldiers on the rooftop as they guide the elf family to safety. Kaito also watches Pricil and Javan as they walk over to the barn and snap the lock off the door, opening it up to reveal the townspeople who hid inside during the battle. The citizens walk out into the center of town to reconnect with their loved ones and to observe the damage dealt to their homes. Once Abi is done helping the elf family off the roof, she rushes over to Kaito, smiling and hugging him. Kaito yells out in pain as she does this, his body now badly wounded from the fight. He is a bit hesitant to hug her back at first as she is splattered in dark red blood from the creatures they were fighting.
Abi: Great job, Kaito!
Kaito smiles and steps back, then turns his attention to Pricil and Javan as they walk towards the two angels.
Pricil: For a runt, that wasn't half bad.
Kaito looks at Pricil, then nods.
Kaito: Just wanted to help, on the account of the Angel's Accord.
The young man then turns his attention to Abi, who blushes as he says this.
Abi: Of course! We wish to help any realm in danger of the Scourge.
Kaito starts to walk forward, then stops. His eyes suddenly start to feel heavy. Kaito looks around as his vision starts to blur. Then, without warning, he falls face first into the dirt.
Abi: Kaito!!
Abi rushes to his side and begins to heal him, trying her best to stop the bleeding as he lies still.
Abi: Stay with me, Kaito! Don't die on me!
Pricil and Javan call out for another healer to come to Kaito's aid. Kaito's eyesight, along with his hearing, starts to fade. All that Kaito can hear is the many voices talking around him, muffled and unintelligible to him. As his senses fade, his mind falls into nothing. His only company now is the calm sound of silence and the dark pressing nature of a black abyss.