Saber gently shook Ergo. "Hey Ergo, wake up."
Ergo slowly opened her eyes to see Saber in front of her. "Where am... I?"
"In one of the doors from that field," Saber explained.
Ergo quickly sat up. "Argil! Where's he? He took a direct hit from that guy!"
"Relax, he's just knocked out like you were," Saber reassured her.
They saw Argil with one cracked eye glass, and Marco was healing him.
"You know? He really likes you," Saber mentioned.
"That's good and bad to know at the same time," Ergo responded.
Saber stood up.
"Where is Chloe?" Ergo asked.
"Alive and kicking in," Chloe said from the distance.
Chloe came out of the shadow and in front of them. "You missed me?"
"Not at all," Ergo replied calmly.
"And not only her but look at this," Marco said, showing the handle.
"How were you able to do that?" Ergo was shocked.
"Not only that, but she was able to fight with that ghost, though only for some time," Lead added, walking closer.
"I'm still feeling uneasy, but I'm able to maintain my feet better than before," Chloe said.
"Alright, so Lead, now's a good time to explain what that is," Saber said.
Lead looked confused. "What which?"
Saber pointed up where the air was moving slightly visible.
"Are you able to see it?" Lead asked.
Saber smiled. "What if I am?"
This kid! What IS he? How is he able to do the things sorcerers can do while he hasn't even awakened yet? I might even lose my rank here, Lead thought.
"Alright, I'll explain," Lead said.
The floating Lead revealed itself, and everybody was shocked to see it.
"Are there two Leads, or am I dreaming?" Chloe's eyes were spinning.
"Yes, you're dreaming. Continue, Lead," Saber said.
"This 'Lead' you see here is just a part of my energy. My sorcery allows me to construct at least four of these servitors by separating a small portion from me, like five percent for one construct. In other words, this is my 'technique,' and many sorcerers have different techniques they unlock, kind of like how Ergo specializes in fire magic," Lead explained.
"I see," Saber said.
"Where are you guys? Don't keep your guest waiting, my snacks!" Gale shouted.
"He sounds pissed," Marco observed.
"He has to be. After all, Saber and Chloe did manage to make him feel inferior to them. Hey, Chloe! Want to go for another round?" Lead said.
"Us alone? Is this a date?" Chloe asked.
Saber blushed. "Never mind."
Chloe hugged Saber's arm. "You didn't give me your answer yet, my little dagger? Do you love me?"
"I-I'll give you my answer later," Saber said, hiding his red face.
"I'll be waiting," Chloe smiled.
"Before you go, Lead! Want to name our group? After all, there's no guarantee of returning, right? Might as well go down with a name," Marco suggested.
"Marco, if anything goes down, we'll execute the second command no matter what, is that clear?" Lead said.
Marco's eyes widened. "Clear."
Saber stared at them with a side eye.
"Before that, want to give this team a name, Lead?" Marco asked.
"Oh! It has been so long since that, hasn't it?" Lead reminisced.
"Yes, so true. Then what is it going to be?" Marco inquired.
Lead looked at Chloe and gave her a smile. "Then we'll call it 'The Bonded Souls.'"
"But isn't that name given by…" Chloe was surprised.
"Correct, you like it?" Marco asked.
"By who?" Saber asked.
"My brother. He used to call this group the name," Chloe explained.
"And from today onwards, we're going to officially name this group... 'THE BONDED SOULS'!" Lead declared.
Saber and Chloe jumped off the cliff. Gale caught Chloe and smashed her into Saber to the side.
Ergo started enchanting. "By flame and spark, ignite the dark, From ember's heart, let fire embark. Fury's breath, and phoenix's might, Unleash the blaze, bring forth the light! FIRE FLOWER BLOOM!"
Gale was about to run but wasn't able to. He looked down. The mud was drying around his feet. The flower of fire bloomed, exploding and covering the area in fire. Gale jumped out of the fire, and Lead's projection grabbed him from behind.
Saber and Chloe repeated the two-way slash, making Gale spit blood. Gale burst out his purple aura, and Argil activated the thunder spear. Gale screamed in pain, and Marco punched him with a mud arm. Gale fell and stood up, shooting both hands of green aura. Ergo, Argil, and Marco shot their specialties (fire, thunder, and terra). The green hands overpowered them and were about to hit them. Saber and Chloe slashed Gale's both knees, making him fall.
"Damn it!" Gale cursed.
Gale looked up. Lead jumped on him and was about to slash Gale's neck. Gale burst aura again, sending everyone flying away. Gale grabbed Lead with a green hand, squeezing him as smoke came out. Chloe was about to interfere, but Gale punched her away at the stomach.
"You're the real deal, aren't you. Rank no. 10?" Gale smiled.
"You're... mistaking me for someone..." Lead struggled.
Lead screamed in burning pain.
"No use in lying, geezer," Gale said.
"You're right, then... here's a truth," Lead admitted.
"And that is?" Gale inquired.
"Your head will be on the ground," Lead said, looking up.
Gale, confused, looked up. The projection was showing the middle finger. Saber came from the side and slashed Gale's neck.
"How do you even think a head can be sliced vertically, dumbass?" Saber said in motion.
Gale's head fell. The body also relaxed, and Lead screamed.
"MARCO! SECOND COMMAND!" Lead screamed.
Marco quickly took Ergo and Argil, while the servitor took Chloe. They rushed towards the entrance.
"Saber! Follow them!" Lead hurriedly instructed.
"What about you? And why? He's already dead!" Saber exclaimed.
"NO HE'S NOT!" Lead shouted back.
A gust passed them, and Marco felt a little push. Saber and Lead were in shock as the green aura pierced Marco through the chest, and Marco fell.
"Marco!" Ergo cried out.
"You're alright, right?" Argil asked, concerned.
Another dart was incoming towards Argil. Ergo hugged Argil, and Argil's eyes widened in fear.
"W-WHY?! Why did you do this?!" Argil asked, scared.
"You remember what we promised about?" Ergo said, hugging him tighter.
Flashback:
In a garden full of flowers.
"Hey Ergo! Wait! Don't leave me behind!" Kid Argil (10 years old) called out.
Argil fell and cried.
"I told you so many times, not to run. What am I going to do with you?" Ergo (15 years old) said.
"Hey Ergo, don't leave me behind," Argil (12 years old) pleaded.
"I have to. To become the greatest mage, I have to leave everything behind and go alone," Ergo (17 years old) replied.
"Then I'll come with you too! And then, and then…" Argil stammered.
Ergo turned around to look at him.
"I'LL MARRY YOU!" Argil (12 years old) blushed.
Ergo's eyes shimmered with joy.
"Aren't you way too young for that?" Ergo (17 years old) chuckled.
"Then wait for me. I'll become strong, and strong enough to protect you with ease," Argil (12 years old) declared.
Ergo flicked Argil's forehead.
"Aww!" Argil winced.
Ergo hugged him, and Argil was in shock.
"Till then, I'll protect you…" Ergo (17 years old) said.
Present:
"...you no matter what," Ergo finished.
Ergo pushed Argil. "Now run! And learn a spell to revive the dead, alright?"
Ergo smiled and then died, a big hole in her abdomen. Argil shivered in fear.
"NOOO!!!!!!!!!!!" Argil screamed, in tears.
Saber, Chloe, and Lead's eyes widened with tears.
"You really thought I'd let you escape? Without playing? 'Dumbass'?" Gale recovered.
Saber and Chloe ran towards Gale. Gale grabbed both of them.
"You know when the game starts?" Gale taunted.
Saber and Chloe struggled. Gale stepped on Lead.
"When the enemy has a broken heart," Gale smiled devilishly.
Argil screamed louder and burst out white aura. All four were shocked.
"You bunch are full of surprises, aren't you?" Gale remarked.
Lead felt uneasy and turned a little blue.
"Ho ho ho! Look who's turning blue. It looks like the poison has finally taken over, huh, geezer?" Gale said happily.
"P-Poison?" Saber stammered.
"Yes, I'm a spirit, so anyone normal who touches my contaminated aura will be poisoned, and to get rid of it… Well, you won't be alive anyway, why bother?" Gale explained.
Argil suddenly appeared in front of Gale.
"You'll regret doing this to her," Argil said with serious white eyes.
Argil punched Gale in the face, sending him far.
It seems that while awakening, the sorrows and adrenaline are mixed together for a short power boost, but… Saber thought.
That power will soon disappear when the emotional levels drop to normal, Gale thought, wiping blood from his lips.
"Chloe! Take Lead with you and collect the group near the entrance," Saber instructed.
"Got it!" Chloe dashed off.
"So, what's your specialty?" Saber asked.
Argil looked at the handle. "Looks like a dagger."
Gale burst through the wall in excitement. "I've seen pairs like you, but… nobody made me THIS HAPPY!!!"
"LET THE HUNT BEGIN!" all three shouted.
Saber charged. Gale shot out an aura hand, which was deflected upwards. Saber caught the second arm, and Argil thrust his spear from behind Saber. Saber twisted Gale's holding arm, held Gale's hair, and pulled down, exposing his neck. Gale punched Saber with his broken hand and wiped out Argil far. Argil threw the spear at Gale's face, but Gale dodged it.
"You're pretty usele-?" Gale taunted, but the dagger in the aura hand activated, and Gale screamed in shock from the current. Saber grabbed the spear and thrust it, standing on Gale into his chest.
"Time to end this!" Saber said, removing the broken sword.
Gale grabbed Saber's legs and slammed him. Chloe dashed behind Gale.
"You haven't forgotten about me, have you?" Chloe taunted.
Chloe kicked Gale in the face. Argil grabbed Gale's leg and spun to break it. Gale kicked him off with the momentum from the spin, along with Chloe. Gale picked the sword.
"Time to see what's stopping you, shall we?" Gale said.
Argil threw the dagger at Gale. Saber grabbed it and shoved it in Gale's eye.
"Now, I'm pissed," Gale said, grabbing Saber's neck.
Gale shoved the broken sword into Saber's chest. Saber screamed in pain.
"SABER!" Argil and Chloe shouted, shocked.
"Ch-Chloe?" Lead called weakly.
"Lead? Are you alright? Can you move?" Chloe asked.
"My… my legacy finally comes to an end," Lead said.
"What are you talking about?" Chloe cried.
"I promised… your brother that I'd protect you, no matter what. But it looks like, we'll just meet the same fate. Alas! I couldn't do anything once again," Lead said, tears in his eyes.
The purple flames consumed Saber.
"You just burned yourself? What a waste," Gale said, confused.
Gale let Saber burn.
"Why YOU!?!" Argil shouted angrily.
Gale skewered Argil with the aura hand. "You were saying something?"
"Saber could've defeated this one, and I would've liked to see it too, but he got less time to develop at last. What a wasted potential. Looks like the Bonded Souls are… Unbonding apart…" Lead lamented.
"What now? That kid who got burned in his own aura could defeat me? What a joke, right? Any last wish?" Gale taunted, lifting his hand up.
Then I'll take it as a no, Gale thought as he swung and missed. Gale was in shock as he saw Saber standing behind him with Chloe in his arms. Gale smirked.