"To be honest I don't know where to start from, but just know we've been weaved into a complicated mess that started right after we were transmigrated to face our Tribulations…" Halting, he let out an exasperated breath, that of frustration as the atmosphere suddenly turned into that of a solemn one.
"Be it fate or coincidence, which of the latter I believe to not exist. Raylen and I happened to have been dropped off at the same spot after our Tribulation. Then we found Jean after, Spencer before that.
Deciding to test out our luck, together we navigated through the narrow cave passages in search of our Triplet sister…" Pausing, behind him, Flynn and Amelia wore a confused look with a glint of surprise flashing past their eyes. Whilst, Alex and the duo beside him, showed none. Which was nothing strange to the group assuming they already knew who the twins, triplet were.
"Not long after, we found her… but not whole. Laying in her own pool of blood with a rusted sword stuck between her head. And while we were yet to come over with the shock, we watched her wrinkle back to life as she slowly turned into a Hollow. Well, almost."
"Before she could, a sword beheaded her with clean swiftness and we then watched as her head fell to the ground. While yet in agony, we saw who the perpetrator was, our Principal fashioned in Stellar armament looking, glorious as ever like a warrior made for battle." As if to highlight the importance of this moment, he went into further details, without a saddened look like it wasn't the death of someone precious to him.
Without picking on the fleeting sentiment of his words, Flynn's view of the jovial, friendly youth of the twins, triplet, was raised high with more strength than he had shown.
Just from this experience alone and being able to smile in such short little period, it could be seen how tremendous his Will was…
Meaning, Wills didn't just grant abilities or aspects, it also made Bearers keep their emotions in check on the positive side by steeling their resolve and not go berserk from the influence of Tia.
Now just how strong would it take one to smile after their 'loved' sibling's death.
"Skipping our reuniting moment, we burned our sister's dead body to ashes."
"Sure didn't feel good buh it was worth it than watch her walking dead."
"Man…" humping up his tone, like a lecturer leading his student into an abyss of curiosity, his voice sounded skeptic and rhetorical.
"What was a Prince level Bearer doing here…" he said, making the group instantly come to a realization they were yet to go after.
It was no secret that one had to be a Prince Level Bearer to be considered a Principal in every City High School as it was a highly sought position that was dueled publicly across every city every ten year term, selecting the best and strongest of the same level for this position.
In an ascending order, there were a total of 7 power levels used to categorize the strength of a Bearer. Starting from:
Baron
Count
Marquise
Prince
Duke
King
Emperor
While Emperor Level Bearers were never heard, only considered legends and myths. King Level Bearers were almost never heard of, only appearing when there was a looming extermination threat over a City. With that, there was a rumor that there was also at least one King stationed in every City and were the ones who held the reins of humanity.
With this said, King Level Bearers were not public merchandise and couldn't be seen.
And beneath them were Dukes, the official faces that managed the City, calling the shots. Though they frequently appeared in public for required special events more often than not. They were mostly stuck in offices or out of the city, leaving the next management power to Prince Bearers, such as being a Principal or CEO of a Stellar establishment.
While Marquises being two levels above Baron were the main stream mini-bosses across the City.
Count and Barons rarely take jobs and were out slaying Creatures to upgrade their strength.
Not wanting to sabotage the thinking group at his words, Ryker kept silent for a moment before going on.
"Apparently, well, according to him the situation above had gone out of hand with powerful undead minions and Creatures spewing out of the Tomb."
"Not only that, the City has been flown south in retreat and Kings were forced to put hand in the matter."
"Hehehe…" laughing a bit, he revealed a mocking smile as he then said something that made Flynn's pupils dilate, filling the atmosphere with grimness.
"The Principal hadn't come looking for us of course, he was part of a search party led by a King to look for a squad of Grand Dukes who went missing in the Tomb after it rose.
"But even so, the King Bearer disappeared after the battle in the Great Hall as you've seen."
Right after he said this, Flynn couldn't help but glance back at the now distant end of the hallway where the source of light that illuminated their path came from, remembering the devastated statues as dread tinted his face while Ryker continued.
"Hehe, Two of the statues already turned to the Summoned but they were no match for the King. And while those things summoned their minions, they were also obliterated."
"Destroying the third statue, he slashed the third to uphold the flames."
"Unfortunately for us though, we were about to succumb to Tia influence and were escorted out, given armaments to gather those we can and await their return."
"Oh, did you guys come from the south?" Ryker asked, seemingly having remembered something.
But in response, Flynn and Amelia glanced at each other before giving a negative nod, while also realizing where south meant.
"We came from the Hallway opposite the last statue…" Flynn said after a slight pause, then glance at Alex before continuing.
Whilst, Alex made an expressionless shrug in response to Ryker's gaze, not saying a word.
Staring consciously at the five, Ryker seemed to have let out a relieved breath, albeit minute Flynn noticed.
"They went south after sensing a tremendous Diabolical presence." He added throwing a jovial smile, before turning forward.
'Hey, didn't they go south.' Without seeing her expression. Just as he heard her voice in his head he quickly realized who she was referring to… only to be interrupted.
"We are here." Flynn heard Ryker say while taking a sharp turn that revealed a narrow passage similar to the one Kelvin had died in. Then squeezing their body past it, they were brought to a lit Small Cave filled with people, youths with their once ironed uniforms covered in dirt as they stared at the new arrival in surprise.