Kariah-Belle Nadire sprung into action.

She leaped over one of Chako's men and landed next to Aya. Three shuriken struck the man in the head before a devestasting detonation.

"Sing!" She said urgently.

"Now? But-" Aya was cut off by Kariah-Belle as she conjured more of Kul's power.

"We've been put on the same squad for this reason! You know this! Sing!"

Aya hesitated but began singing a beautiful melody in the tongue of dragons.

The opposing sides fought around Aya. Everyone was doing their best to protect her and Kaden.

"Himoria!" Called Kyanè. "Get Vade out of here!"

She did just that.

A ball of swirling black mana formed around Kaden. Aya continued to sing.

A storm cloud formed due to the massive amount of mana in the area. At one point Kariah-Belle fought back to back with Kyanè. She never thought she be able to keep up with the older woman so soon.

She fought alongside Akio. It felt good to be fighting with her best friend again. It had been too long since they were last on an assignment together.

Kariah launch two lightning arcs at a Fae and Cullumbi. The Fae dodged. The Cullimbi was cut in half.

Before the Fae could reach her, an arrow went through her head. She was looked in the direction the had been shot. She didn't see Himoria so Kariah made a mental note to thank her later.

Suddenly the ball of swirling mana shattered and Kaden fell in the sand. Kariab-Belle rushed to his side.

"Speak to me bro." She whispered.

He groaned.

Close enough.

Chako cursed and Kariah saw him being pinned down by A'zaiah. He was missing an leg with a large wound on his chest and was using life support craft to keep from blood loss.

"You lose." She told him coldly. She then brought down her fist.

Aya stopped her from smashing his face.

"We may be recognized for bringing him in alive." She told her.

A'zaiah nodded then cuffed him. The cuffs had mana dampening technology.

"You're lucky day." She told Chako.

"Alright!" Exclaimed Kariah out of breath.

"We did it." Said Monty. He too was short of breath.

"Great job everyone." Kyanè told them as they gathered.

"That was entertaining." Kaden looked around.

"Agreed," Monty said.

Himoria joined them. So did Vade. He was using the life support skill. Aya radioed the ship.

"It'll be a few minutes." She said.

The team got comfortable. Kariah pulled out her holopad and began playing a game. It was another a game introduced to her by Ahrulius. She focused as she tried to catch what the game calls a pocket monster.

Suddenly Kariah felt sinister mana behind her. She turned to see Chako a foot away, poised to cut her head off with a mana powered weapon. She active her mana hull but her body hadn't completely. The blue aura shattered.

Akio flew past her and tackled the gang member. She slammed her scaled fist into his face and his life support craft flickered out of existence and fell unconscious. She then continued to beat her fist against his face.

That was new.

Aya warped and placed a hand on Akio's shoulder. "It's over." She said.

Akio snatched away and planted her emerald fist into the mans face.

Her mana hull flickered between green and black before becoming green again. Aya caught her arm this time.

"Akio stop!" Cried Kariah-Belle. "What's wrong with you?!"

"I hate them!" The Stoneheart shouted.

She stood and snatched away from Aya. She smiled a wicked smile even though she was crying and Kariah's heart sank. "Anyone who tries to take you from me, I hate them."

Kariah had never seen this side of Akio before. The woman had trouble showing her emotions so she often came off as detached. Detached was one thing but she had never been one to hate anything.

She knew losing Lax-Rim was taking its toll on her but Kariah-Belle never imagined Akio would become susceptible to black mana.

"Okay, Akio." Kariah began, "I won't let anyone take me away from you. I promise."

"But you're leaving." She was barely a whisper. Her express was back neutral.

A tear escaped Kariah's eye. "Akio, now's not the time."

"Now is a perfect time." Said Kaden. "Everyone but you wants to fight. Why?"

"Fight!? Didn't you hear what Alucard said!? They wiped out the universe! How are we supposed to fight that!?" Kariah-Belle cried.

"We can think of something!" Her brother shouted back. "We always think of something!"

Kaden looked at her almost pleadingly.

Kariah gave her brother a sympathetic look as she shook her head. "Not this time big bro."

Kaden looked as if he would cry. He looked away frustrated.

"Dammit!" Shouted Akio. "So much for forever."

More tears streamed down Kariah-Belle's face. She didn't want to leave her friends. She didn't want to leave the life that was given to her but what else could she do? Let them die?

No.

Never.

Not when she could stop it.

And she would. Even if she had to do it alone.

*******

"I cannot breathe, master." Rygilya Semtek was on his knees clutching his throat. He was gasping for air.

"Think, boy." Memphis told him. "What should you do?"

The young Darkness Tamer conjured mana and poured it into his armor. The lightning cloud that covered its midnight black design crackled with lightning. He could breathe again.

"What is this planet?" He said getting to his feet.

"It's called Tartarus. If you want to stay alive you'll stay in that state."

Rygilya saw monsters fighting each other on the way to this hideout. This would be the perfect training ground.

With this, he could become more proficient in mana control.

The pilot of the ship came out next. There was no point in trying to steal it. Memphis would just blow it out of the sky.

"Me-Memphis," she said. She wore a mana powered suit. It was an outdated model. "Please don't kill me."

"Why shouldn't I?" Memphis conjoured sword made of ice. "You'd just run off and tell someone where I am."

"I won't I swear!" The scientist cried.

"I don't believe you." He stalked towards her. She knew running would be useless.

She couldn't use mana to fight or flee. What a weakling. Served her right. The weak were just tools to be used by the strong.

"P-please." the girl whimpered.

"I take no joy in killing people who can't defend themselves." The mana said coldly. "but I can't allow you to live."

Rygilya stepped between them. "Let her live." He said.

Memphis searched his eyes. "Is that mercy I see?"

The older man laughed. "Your time on your own has made you soft. Do you need me to hold your hand and coddle you? Hate, greed, sorrow, are the only things a Darkness Tamer needs. You're pathetic."

The white-haired man then turned away. "Fine, I'll let her live. Know this. If you get in my way again, it might just be you I kill."

Memphis walked inside a large cave.

Rygilya let out a breath of relief. He looked at the woman who was shaking. He didn't know how she would survive on her own.

That wasn't his problem. He did his part.

Speaking of which, what was that? It wasn't like Rygilya to stick his neck out for others unless he could gain.

That chump, Kaden has gotten to me. He thought remembering their last encounter. Frustration seized him. Memphis was right. I'm pathetic.

Just then Kezell came from the ship. She instantly fell forward. The slave girl couldn't utilize mana even though she had exceptional life force. She wheezed.

Rygilya pulled a tube from his armor. He stuck it onto Kezell's skin. The tube transformed into a suit of armor around the girl. Rygilya had learned to be prepared ever since his run in with the ogres.

She yet again reminded the Darkness Tamer of his sister.

She franticly searched around the suit until she found a button. She hit it and the suit once again became a metal tube.

"What are you doing?" The Semtek asked.

"You hate knights." She was struggling to breathe. "I don't want you to hate me."

"Tch. Stupid. You can die for all I care."

Rygilya stood and walked towards the cave.

He heard the suit activate.

"You won't kill him." Said Kezell. "You won't kill Kaden."

The Darkness Tamer whirled then glared at her and she lowered her gaze.

"Stay in your place, trash." Rygilya spat.

He turned and walked into the cave. She didn't know anything. Rygilya would kill Kaden. He'd sever the bond they had and truly master the darkness. Then he'd finish this council for what they'd forced him to do.