"They still have the Magic Cube right?" Emperor Scorpion asked his squad during their meeting.

Octopus nodded, "So what's the plan?"

Emperor smirked, "Get ready in a few. We'll pay a visit tonight."

=====

"Are you really sure you're going to leave now?" Layla asked her sadly.

"I need to, Lay." Lesley answered, "I need to find them."

"Can't you do it when you're with us? We are trying to locate them too." Layla answered.

She smiled sadly, "I know, but I need to travel Lay. Travelling means having more information. And I've been locking myself for months. I need to breathe new air."

"You still have the bracelet right, Miss Lesley?" Cyclops asked her.

Lesley nodded and showed him the bracelet they had given her before.

"Don't hesitate to press the button if you need us." Saber told her.

She nodded again and bade her goodbyes.

It was already dark when she decided to start her journey again. Lesley knew she would be starting in a scratch once again but she didn't mind. She was determined to save them.

Wait for me, Gusion and Harls.

She was only a few meters away from the SABER Squad Headquarters when she felt something odd. And when she looked back, a part of the headquarters was smoking and she could hear the alarms ringing.

Lesley's eyes widened and without a second thought, she ran back and used the chip that Dr. Rooney gave her.

She transformed to Stellaris Ghost and quickly used her camouflage so she could ran faster.

=====

"You need to update your system." Octopus commented while he was sitting on the roof, playing with his sceptor.

Cyclops snorted but didn't say a thing. They actually planned on leaving this branch since they already had a hunch that the VENOM Squad already knew this location.

After all, this place where they were staying was just a branch. They had several branches around Eruditio actually. Their main headquarters remained hidden.

Emperor glanced at them and frowned, "Where did you hide the sniper?"

"Who are you talking about?" Layla answered nonchalantly. This man wasn't her former comrade anymore.

"Are we playing dumb and the dumber here?" Nephila asked.

"So, now you are after the sniper and not the Magic Cube?" Saber asked, trying to provoke them.

Emperor kept on playing his dagger, "Well, either way. We will have them both at the end." He smirked, "Let's go, VENOM. We just paid you a visit."

Before Emperor Scorpion could even teleport to their vehicle, a black bullet almost hit his left ear. It was as if the shooter did that on purpose.

"The sniper is here!" Vespid announced.

But when they looked where the bullet came from, no one was there.

I can't see her but I can feel her presence. Emperor thought.

Nephila, who was trying to sense the sniper, was startled when she felt the bullet hit her hair. Some strands of it even fell on the ground.

Be thankful I did that on purpose. Lesley snorted. She could still remember that this Hanabi girl— or Nephila now, had met by Gusion once.

And to think they are in the same squad now! She was irritated by the thought. She badly wanted to save Gusion and Harley as soon as possible.

She saw Harley— no, it was Octopus now— looked at her direction and she quickly did camouflage and moved so she could change her position.

Lesley landed on top of one of the buildings inside SABER Squad territory, her back was facing them.

She flipped her hair and smirked at Emperor Scorpion before she vanished once again.

Meanwhile, Emperor Scorpion was left almost gaping, though amusement was dancing in his eyes. He was still looking at the direction where the sniper showed herself even though she was not there anymore.

"Let's go back." Emperor told his squad after a few seconds.

Octopus scoffed at him and Emperor noticed that.

"Come on Wolfi." He teased the midget.

Octopus tsked and just groaned in frustration. "Stop calling me Wolfi!"

They all hopped to their VENOM vehicle and started driving off.

"But it suits you." Emperor said, "It's a small octopus, right?"

Too annoyed, Octopus threw one of his squares to their leader which the latter dodged easily while laughing.
(A/N: I don't really know what to call Harley is throwing in his VENOM's skin first skill. Forgive me.)

"Kidding aside." Emperor said with a poker face, "Composed yourselves. We're going back to the lab."

The VENOM Squad nodded and went to their respective places.

=====

Lesley didn't know where to go first. She wouldn't dare to go back to the Moniyan Castle— at least not without Harley and Gusion.

She stop a little when she set her foot on a familiar pathway.

Pathway towards Castle Grandrock— her home.

She looked at the direction where the pathway was heading to. It was still a couple of miles away towards the Vance Household, but she could feel the longing in her heart.

Lesley couldn't bring herself on way home, her adopted parents would be very disappointed knowing she didn't protect Harley enough.

With a heavy sigh and heavy heart, she started walking towards the opposite directon.

Soon, Mom and Dad, Harley and I will be coming home.

With that, she walked away. Determination would be read in her eyes.

=====

"Brother! I'll be out for a while." Guinevere told her brother while running outside the Swan Castle.

"Be careful! Don't wander too much!" Lancelot shouted.

But Guinevere ignored her brother's warning.

The Azure Lake where the Swan Castle was located, was almost at the boundaries of Moniyan Territory.

And at the south of it was the Barren Lands, where the Dark Abyss was located.

Remembering this, Guinevere scoffed, "I'm strong! I can protect myself."

But then she remembered that encounter a month ago, where she encountered that sniper, Gusion and especially that Granger guy who was silent when he accompanied here in the Swan Castle.

She was irritated by the thought, "Those bullies— just wait and see when I get taller!"

Since she was too irritated, she didn't notice that she had gone too far from the castle.

"Great! And now I am lost!" She huffed and kicked a tree.

But the most unexpected part was— someone fell from the tree which made the Baroque princess shrieked.

"Fuck!" The stranger cursed, "And stop shrieking like a frog!"

"Frogs don't shriek, you dimwit! They croak! How dare you!" Guinevere said in a high pitch voice.

The stranger's back was facing her, though she could tell that he was only taller than her with few inches and had a white hair.

"Fuck, your voice is so high that it is irritating." The stranger said and spun around to see her.

With the sight of the stranger, Guinevere was utterly shock and felt nervous.

The stranger had curly horns and dark eyes.

Seeing her reaction, the stranger smirked, "You didn't expect my appearance?"

Being a mage herself, Guinevere could tell that he was from Dark Abyss. He was emitting dark aura— strong dark aura.

"You're from Dark Abyss..." Guinevere slipped out, "Just how far have I gone to?" She reprimanded herself.

"Based on your clothing, you're a noble..." The stranger hummed, "And that stone— Baroque?"

"Yes, and what's with that?" She asked.

The stranger's lips turned up to a lopsided grin, "Feisty. I like it."

Before Guinevere could react, the stranger dashed towards her and help up her chin. "Go back before you encounter many abyssal creatures. You are not safe here."

The stranger walked away but then he turned around once again, "By the way, I'm Dyrroth. Nice meeting you, princess." He said before he did a salute with a smirk and disappearing in the darkness.

With that, Guinevere released the breath she didn't realize she was holding. She didn't know what she was feeling at the moment.

That was the first time her heart beat so loud like that.

Shaking her head to wake her senses, she started walking to go back to the castle.

But she gave one last glance to the direction where the guy named Dyrroth disappeared to.

"Dyrroth huh..." She mumbled as she tried to find her way back to the Swan Castle.

=====

"You had the chance to get the Magic Cube then why didn't you get it?" Dr. Leo angrily said to the VENOM Squad.

Monitor Lizard was just silent at the corner with Nephila, Vespid was fidgetting in nervousness, Octopus was playing with his squares while Emperor Scorpion was playing with his dagger and even his feet were on the table.

"VENOM!" Dr. Leo shouted in annoyance.

"Too noisy." Emperor said and looked at Octopus, "Octopus."

Octopus nodded and threw one of his squares to the mad scientist, hitting his arm and making him unconscious.

"Finally, silence." Emperor lazily said, "Vespid, treat that old man. Monitor, bring him to his room."

Emperor stood but he stopped when Nephila spoke.

"How long do you plan on doing this?"

Emperor shrugged, "I trust Octopus, you should too." He said before leaving the room.

~~~~~

Alright— too many ships in this book. I wonder how long this book will be. Hmm...

Sorry for those who were against the ships in this. I am not forcing you to read this.

And I'm sorry it took me long to update. Tee-hee.