HELLO ALBA.

1774, NOVEMBER 28th, MONDAY 6:22 am.

It was a silent trek from the elevator into the hall. Not a single soul dared made a sound — the group was stunned speechless from the sight.

Ten thousand DeathTech soldiers.

The war was lost.

Cross was going to lose.

Vida lead the way to Albatross's room; it was a straight shot from the elevator. She stood before the entrance for an eternity. The doors opened; boundless white surrounded them as motes of red lights drifted in the air like tiny, flickering stars.

In the center of this room a large man meditated. Behind him was a ten-story tall cathedral door. Above him was not a ceiling, but a mimicry of the universe. Galaxies, nebulas, and celestial bodies spun and twirled in cosmic beauty.

The man stood up and he was a giant. With a massive beard and wild, unkempt hair; both a mixture of gray and black. His mustache was a long, thin thing that shot far beyond his face and made a sharp bend upwards where it ended in a small curl.

A gargantuan black skull with demonic horns was the centerpiece of the large necklace he wore; it was beaded with full-sized human skulls. His garb was that of a monk's robes held by a belt with a brass sun buckle. Bandages were wrapped tight around his arms and legs.

>>> 42: ADD ARTWORK OF ALBATROSS <<<

"To think I'd see those burned hands so soon," he said. "Vida, it has been a long time."

The blind girl grinned. "Alba... It's good to hear you again."

Albatross's gaze fell over each member of the group.

"An old genius who forgot himself. A boy who can't be killed, wielding a shield. A sick doctor. A glitch in time. The inventor of artificial life. A man who can't outrun his fears. A person as brilliant as the sun," he paused. "And a girl who will become an evil monster... Quite a band of companions you've got here."

"Thank you."

"I know why you're here. Are you ready?"

Vida drew out Ouroboros and flames licked up the wheel.

"I see," Albatross nodded. "As for your companions, I will not hinder them on their quest."

Noche's eyes widened. "What! Just like that?"

A grin crept onto his countenance. "If they can pass my test."

She narrowed her gaze and stepped forward. "What test?"

He turned towards the blonde.

"My VIP is omnipotent power. My signature move is Repent. It can only be used on a willing creature," he said. "It causes them to suffer all the harm they've inflicted onto others – throughout their entire life."

Dia's smiling face flashed in Noche's mind. Tar gushed down the throat of a screaming girl — her torso ripped open; intestines spilled onto mud. Then the black liquid encroached on the screaming mother. It ate them both.

The expression of the Cross soldier appeared next. His face incredulous as Noche's dark blade pierced his chest. It was an accident. Friendly fire. She didn't mean to kill Rowan. Yet she did.

She took a step back and wounds flared from her recent fight against that DeathTech soldier. How many times had she killed that monster before it stayed dead?

Her face blanched – Noche had ended many lives.

"If you've never harmed another, then you shall not be harmed," Albatross stated.

The blonde swallowed.

"I'm gonna die," she thought.

Albatross's smile widened into something unnatural; stretched like rubber. Noche summoned her Omni-Oar, but Albatross vanished. He stood before her before she could blink. She barely raised her sword in time to block – his fist impacted the flat of the blade.

The unstoppable force sent Noche staggering back. A second fist followed up, it slammed into the sword, and the force was twice as strong. When the third fist impacted against the sword the strength had quadrupled. It was the fourth blow, which was eight times as strong, which sent the sword flying out of her hand.

Noche's eyes widened as the sword escaped her grasp. It landed a few feet to her side and half the blade sank into the ground. Both warriors stared at the weapon as the anchor chain came to a still.

"Even DriveMetal would have dented from that last punch," Albatross said. "For a sword to endure my blows – Where did you get that blade?"

With a flash of gold surrounded by black mist, the sword reappeared in Noche's hand. She swung down and the giant didn't deign to dodge. A red line appeared on his arm – Vida slammed Noche to the floor.

"Both of you STOP!" She growled. "Alba is my prey. Not yours."

Noche squirmed and bared her teeth, but Vida's strength was overwhelming. The blonde couldn't move. She was absolutely restrained. A massive hand landed on the blind girl's shoulder.

"I apologize Vida. I got carried away," Albatross said. "I think Noche here learned her lesson. She is an ant challenging two elephants."

"Fuck you both!"

"It's ok. She's only fighting cause she knows she'd fail your test," Vida smirked.

Noche stopped squirming.

"You think I'd what?"

The blind girl snapped her grinning face down to meet the blondes.

"I said, you'd fail."

With a surge of strength, Noche threw Vida off her and to the side; the blind girl laughed as she slammed onto the floor.

"I will not fail his stupid, fucking exam!" She paused. "Test! I meant test."

Albatross raised an eyebrow, then his hand went to the cut on his arm.

"Corruption. That explains the blade being indestructible," he said. "A weapon that doesn't exist. A black sword, so that's our brains' feeble attempt to visualize the void."

His eyes flickered down to the blonde, who now stood before him. Despite her size of five foot ten inches, Albatross stood more than twice her size.

"Are you ready to repent?"

Noche swallowed, but her eyes were determined; the giant grinned. His massive hand landed on her head and encompassed the entire skull.

"Repent."

Light vanished.

Void encompassed everything.

An infinite expanse of nothingness.

Bit by bit, light returned. Everyone groaned and laid on the floor. Noche's eyes widened and she shot to her feet. Head scanning around wildly, there was no evidence of anything having changed. She was unharmed.

Albatross's gaze met her own and was equally perplexed. Noche locked eyes with him as she circled around him and back stepped towards the door. When she was a good distance away the blonde made a mad dash; the giant never turned his eyes from the blonde.

"Repent has never done that before," Albatross muttered. "What was that?"

Noche slammed into the door – it didn't budge.

"Stupid thing! OPEN!"

Her shoulder impacted against it. Nothing happened.

"Budge... Damn... You."

The Omni-Oar appeared in a flash of gold surrounded by black mist.

"I wouldn't recommend that," Albatross said. "You may not have noticed, but this room is a pocket dimension. Both doors are akin to portals. If you cut them with the blade that erases existence, you'd destroy the way out. Not open."

Noche grit her teeth and the sword vanished.

"Ohh? See Noche, you got a good head on your shoulders," Vida chuckled.

"Thanks. I only lost it once," she growled.

Albatross returned his gaze to the group.

"Who will be next?"

Shaylin skipped forward. "Pound me daddy!"

Albatross grinned. "I like this one."

His hand landed on her – there was an explosion.

Smoke drifted off Shaylin's unconscious body as she slammed onto the floor.

"Shaylin!" Noche yelled.

"Next?" The giant said.

Tak raced next to Shaylin and fell to his knees. He planted his ear onto her neck and paused.

"She's ok!" He wiped the wetness out of his eyes. "Shaylin's alive."

"Will you be the next to take my test?"

Tak scowled at the man, then nodded. A massive hand landed on his shoulder – a few orange wounds appeared on the immortal's body. As quick as they appeared, they healed.

"Well... That's practically cheating," Albatross murmured.

The white-haired boy bent down and picked Shaylin up.

"I-I'm ok. I'm ok," Shaylin muttered. "Mama just needed a nap."

They walked towards Noche's direction; Shaylin leaned with most her weight on Tak.

"Who will be next?" Albatross said.

Mary grimaced, swallowed, and stepped forward.

"I applaud your bravery," he said.

There was another explosion. Mary crumpled onto the floor; a small pool of blood gathering around her. Alice screamed and ran towards the brown-skinned girl. Her rifle came out of its case and triple fired at the bird of death. He perked an eyebrow but did not flinch when all three bullets slammed in-between his eyes.

"Bruh, I'm ok," Mary grunted. "Think I blacked out for a second."

Alice spun towards Mary and stared. Tears welled in her eyes as a frown became a smile. Her expression blanked when a giant hand landed between her horns.

"Your group has caused little harm," Albatross said. "It's surprising. Let's see if you're different... Repent."

There was a long silence. Nothing happened.

"I teasing. Repent only works on one willing," Albatross grew a wicked grin. "When you're actually ready for the test, then it'll hurt."

Alice's face hardened as a bead of sweat dripped down her temple. She nodded. Blood coated Mary's face from the explosion.

The violet-haired girl kept standing, but how she did was beyond anyone. Alice appeared like a victim straight out of a horror movie. She suffered the most damage out of everyone thus far.

"ALICE!" Mary rushed to the girl's side. "Alice are you ok!"

There was no response from the violet-haired girl. She almost toppled backwards, but Mary caught her. The brown-skinned girl opened her mouth, but Alice raised her hand.

"H-How many people—"

"—a lot, Mary," Alice paused. "A lot."

"Can you stand?"

Alice nodded.

Albatross stared at the two with intrigue plastered on his face. His expression changed when the next person approached.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

Boots nodded.

"You might die," the giant said.

"This is about my sister," the orange-haired boy said. "Do it."

Albatross closed his eyes, let out a sigh, and nodded. His hand landed on Boot's chest – a flood of blood filled the area. It dwarfed the damage Alice suffered. Miracle was the only word to describe the fact Boots's was in one piece, rather than a pile of limbs and viscera.

The man laid crumpled on the floor with wounds that threatened his life. Noche's screams filled the air. Tak grabbed Alice as Mary ran towards the dying scout. Prismatic energy became alcohol, bandages, and other such instruments.

Her eyes darted from injury to injury.

"He's still breathing!"

Sweat beaded down her face as she stabilized Boots.

"Bumbaklat, how many people have you hurt?"

"Many," Albatross said. "Edward's missions required ending a lot of lives. Children even."

Mary paused and stared at the giant.

"Fate deemed him worthy of a second chance," he said. "If you don't hurry. You'll lose him."

Mary grit her teeth and went back to bandaging Boots. Minutes later, she wiped the sweat from her face and sat up. Boot's in his stupor whispered something, but Mary couldn't make it out. She leaned in closer.

"Oscar. I'm sorry," he mumbled. "I'm so sorry."

Jack approached the bird of death and stood with trembling limbs.

"Scared?"

A nervous smile appeared on his face.

"Very," he paused. "B-But... In a way, i-it's nice to suffer any harm I've caused. It feels right."

The corner of Albatross's mouth turned up; the man nodded. His giant hand landed on Jack's shoulder.

"Repent."

Jack slammed his lids shut. A heartbeat passed, then two. His eyes opened bit by bit. He stared at Albatross – the man was grinning ear to ear.

"It is done," the giant said.

Jack blinked. "I'm... Unharmed?"

Albatross laughed. It was a deep, throaty laugh that filled the room. One full of mirth and life.

"It would seem so," he chuckled. "You've never inflicted harm upon another it seems. Jack Chandler."

A smile twitched on the security guard's face. He deflated like a balloon and fell to his knees.

"Oh, praise the sun," he muttered.

Jack rose and walked towards Noche, but paused and turned at the last minute.

"Wait... D-Does Professor grim have to take this test?"

Albatross turned to the old man and went silent. A minute passed before he spoke.

"No. He is gone, in all but body," Albatross said. "I don't test the dead."

The security guard nodded, speed-walked towards the old man, and took his arm. He led them both to the cathedral door, where most of the group now stood. Noche still struggling to push the barrier open.

"It... Won't... BUDGE!" She shouted.

Her Omni-Oar was slammed into the ground and instant-riptide was activated. The hilt slammed into the door and the weapon expanded, but the door would not open.

"Gee golly gosh, have you tried pulling?"

"Maybe you gotta lift it from the bottom bruh," Mary chuckled with a weak voice.

"Fuck you both," Noche growled.

Albatross walked past the group and approached the door. His massive hand landing on the behemoth barrier.

"This door won't open for the likes of you."

He pushed the door, muscles bulged and veins popped on his arm, as it inched open. The giant dripped with sweat and turned red as the gap widened enough for a person to slip through. Noche dashed forward, but Albatross let go of the door and it slammed back in place. The blonde ground to a halt and turned towards the giant.

"I said I would not hinder your quest," a wicked grin emerged on his face. "I never said I'd open the door for you."

Noche scowled. "You never intended to let us leave."

"Not true – these doors only open for one selfless in deed," his grin widened. "If you are noble and pure, then these doors shall not hinder you... But I'd doubt they'd open for someone as selfish as you."

Red colored Noche's face as she bared her teeth.

"Don't feel too bad. Even I struggle to open these doors," Albatross smirked. "Only one person is selfless enough to open these doors. But I doubt Raptorman would help Cross."

"Gee golly gosh, so the more selfish you are, the harder it is to open?"

The bird of death nodded.

"As far as I know, I'm the only person in DeathTech able to open them," he said. "And even then, all I can manage is a few inches."

Shaylin giggled.

Noche rolled her eyes, scoffed, and kicked the doors. They didn't budge. Albatross chuckled and walked away.

"Best of luck to your group," he said.

"Alright fuck-che, let me try," Mary said.

Noche made a dramatic bow and motioned both arms towards the gates. Mary approached and pushed. It budged a centimeter before slamming shut.

"Oh yeah. Way to go, Mary. Great progress. Mary."

"Bitch! More than you!"

Noche's eyebrow twitched. She forced a grin onto her face and did a slow clap. As the two growled at each other Alice approached the door. She pushed and it budged, but didn't go much further than Mary.

Shaylin was next. She placed both arms on the barrier and her eyes lingered on the cybernetic one for but a moment. Her result was better than Alice, Mary, and Noche. It moved a few noticeable inches. Yet it did not open enough to see the other side.

The doors slammed shut with enough force to scatter dust. Tak approached the ginger and placed both hands on the barrier. At first, there didn't seem to be any resistance. When the path beyond became visible Noche gasped. However, that was as far as the immortal could open them.

He held them in place and the group stared. The gap was wide enough to fit a finger through, but not a whole hand.

"Fuck bruh, what are we going to do?"

"Maybe there's an alternate route," Shaylin muttered.

"I say we break the door down," Noche grumbled. "Fuck Albatross and fuck his stupid door."

Boots pushed past Noche and approached the door.

"Bruh, you shouldn't be moving."

The tall young man ignored her. Despite his grievous wounds, Boots didn't allow himself to stay down. He slammed his head into the door and pushed. Bit by bit the door opened – everyone held their breath when it got to Tak's best.

"Everything I've done, I did for spark," he muttered. "I won't stop here – not for some door. Not when I've come this far."

It continued to open as Boots ground his head into the barrier. Inch by inch the space widened – the door halted.

"Oh, come, ON!" Noche shouted.

She slammed herself into the door and assisted Boots with pushing. The door moved a fraction more.

"Hey, the dumbass may be onto something!" Mary shouted. "Everyone dogpile it!"

Shaylin, Tak, Mary, and Alice all threw themselves at the door. Everyone pushed together. The barrier opened a few more inches. It was large enough for Noche to stick her arm through.

"Just – a bit – more!"

"Power of friendship," Shaylin giggled.

Noche slipped due to the joke and the recoil sent the door slamming shut. The blonde tumbled to the ground as her teammates fell around her. Within seconds she shot to her feet, growled, and summoned her sword. It slipped out of her hand as her gaze lingered on the sight before her.

Jack stood before the door as it swung open – his outstretched hand hovering in the air.

He turned to the group with wide eyes and with his stammering mouth hanging open. The world went silent for a full minute. Albatross broke that silence with explosive laughter.

"Congratulations Jack," he boomed. "Never has this happened before! I'll naught forget this!"

The bird of death continued his cacophonous laughter. Jack blinked and shook his head. He turned to everyone, his gaze resting on Noche last. He stretched out a hand to her.

"Come on, let's go," he smiled.

Noche unconsciously took his hand and walked towards the exit. One by one the group left, until all that was left in the room were Vida and Albatross. The blonde turned to the blind girl one last time. Both face each other.

"Kick his ass," Noche said.

Vida grinned and nodded; the doors closed.