As Alex yelled out his resolve, the flames on his sword increased in intensity as he suddenly began to slowly push back, going from a knee to standing back on both legs until miraculously, he was able to clearly slash through both hands, cutting them off from its wrists as Alex had managed to fend off the attack.

The cost however was that his strength was completely drained not to mention his left arm was reacting the worst that it had ever been so far.

The Ice Titan though saw its hands completely cut off but paid no mind to it as it opened its mouth again, this time not forming an ice ball but rather charging up an ice beam.

Alex was far too tired to even stand as all he could do was look up at see the attack that was more than likely gonna end him.

Right as the titan was finished charging its attack Alex heard another loud roar, this time from behind him.

Suddenly, a massive dragon would land on the platform, shielding Alex with a wing and sending out its own beam as the two collided in the middle.

Alex looked to the side and was shocked to see what it was.

'Wait. The Red Benares from Nagazora? The hell is it doing here?' Thought the boy to himself.

To his astonishment, the dragon's beam began to outpower the ice titan's beam as it'd smack it right in the face.

The titan roared in pain as he fell backwards and collapsed down to the ground, seemingly defeated.

The dragon turned its attention to Alex as the boy tensed up and instinctively placed a hand on his sword's handle just in case it attacked.

He then saw someone jump down from above and down onto the floor as it was none other than Mei.

[A Few Minutes Ago]

From where she was in the downtown district, Mei was in utter shock at seeing not only the insane rise of harsh frigid weather, but also the giant landmass floating in the air.

"H-How did this happen?......" She said in shock as Raven approached from behind.

"And here I thought I could leave you alone for just a second. The heck happened?" She asked.

"Raven...." Said Mei as she was shocked at her sudden appearance.

"I've heard some info from Schicksal's comm channels. I have a faint idea on what caused this. Oh right here, you told me to get these."

Raven would then hand over the salvaged Scepters to Mei.

"The situation has changed. I've salvaged them as best as I could, though I still doubt if you'll be able to make them work." She said. "Now then, do tell me this plan of yours."

As Mei held and stared at the Scepters in her hands, her mind began to go over all that had happened so far.

She thought about Owl, his betrayal and escape, the pursuit, and lastly Alex's blunt words of disdain towards her before his departure.

Mei frowned at that as she gripped the Scepters harshly, the item crackling a bit as they gave off a red glow.

"Electromagnetic Fields." Said Mei.

"I knew it." Responed Raven.

"The Scepters use EM Fields to disrupt the link between the Herrscher and its core. Jackall didn't give any details, but I've experienced its powers and memorized the EM patterns it created."

"Let me guess. You plan to use your powers to achieve the same thing, correct?" Asked Raven as Mei nodded.

"Yes. We still have a chance. I can duplicate the Scepters' effects. In fact, I can do it with greater power."

"Don't forget that you'll be fighting what's essentially two Herrschers fused into one now. Who knows how insanely strong it is now. You must overhwlem it on its own turf and take the cores. You only got one chance. One mistake, and its good night. Permanently."

"I understand yet that's what I must do, and I assure you I will succeed." Confidently said Mei.

Raven could only stare at her in silence as a third voice entered their conversation.

"If that's the case, then do allow me to offer my assistance."

The two looked to the side and saw Durandal approaching them as she had seemingly finished checking on the defense force at the outskirts.

"Honkai intensity in Coral is now twice that of an ordinary eruption. The numbers are still rising as we speak. That monster will only get stronger. We need to act quickly." She said.

"I agree. Help me get close to the cores, Durandal. I have a way to defeat this thing." Said Mei before turning her attention back to Raven. "Raven, you should retreat to a safe location."

The merc simply sighed and begrudgingly nodded.

"I don't like this at all, but I'm still in no condition to offer any meaningful help. Good luck." Said Raven as she quickly ran off.

Before Mei and Durandal could begin making their way to the Herrscher's location, they felt a massive rumble shake the ground that was followed by a loud roar as the two girls looked up and saw a giant ice titan had suddenly formed.

Before the two could even question it, a beep began to go off on one of Durandal's devices.

The blonde would turn it on as she and Mei listened in.

"Master Durandal are you there!?" Asked the voice of Alvitr.

"Yes its me. We've just noticed the massive titan. Is that what you wanted to say?"

"Y-Yes but that's not all! Scanners currently indicate that there's two lifeforms up at floating landmass. One's without a doubt thr Herrscher, and the other seems to be an ordinary person. Whoever it is they may be in grave danger!" She shouted.

While Durandal was confused as to what kind of person could possibly end up there at the eye of the storm, Mei quickly put two and two together as she let out an audible gasp.

"Hm? Something the matter Mei Raiden?" Asked Durandal.

"I'm sorry but I gotta go now! Try and get up there as fast as you can!" Hastily shouted Mei as she put her fingers in her mouth and let out a loud whistle.

Suddenly, a loud roar was heard as Mei would jump up and land on the back of the red dragon, it seemingly responding to her call as Mei flew up to the landmass.

[Back to the Present]

Mei approached Alex and offered a hand to help him up.

The boy initially was against this but knew that now was absolutely not the time to hold a grudge, especially since him preventing Ana's earlier capture and betraying Mei inadvertently led to this so he grabbed her hand as Mei would help Alex back onto his feet as she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness I got here in time. I'm impressed you managed to hold off that titan for as long as you did." She said.

Alex merely brushed her comments aside and looked at the dragon.

"What's that thing doing here?" He asked.

"Long story. Don't worry it's on our side. Care to explain what happened here?"

"Long story as well. All I can say is that Owl got a taste of his own medicine. The Herrscher back stabbed him. Literally."

"I see. That's unfortunate."

The two would turn their attention forward as they saw the Herrscher slowly descend from above, down to the ground as Mei stepped in front of Alex.

"You've done well on your own. Let me help out now. I have a plan to subdue her." She said as Alex gave her an important heads up.

"Be careful. Whatever was left of Ana Schariac is now all but dead. The Herrscher's completely in control now." He said, though Mei simply gave a confident smile.

"Don't worry. It's time that we make a stand."

--------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 13: Complete