Adia watched as the mysterious figure finished off the monster that had once taken so much effort for them to defeat in the past. In truth, they hadn't managed to defeat it back then; they had only succeeded in sending it back through the portal. But who is he? He doesn't seem human. Maybe he's a monster too, Adia thought, her mind clouded by gaps in her memory. Her gaze slid over the dark armor that completely covered the stranger. Perhaps he hides his face because he knows no one could bear to look at it.
"Podbe, are you okay? I've got you, buddy," said Aiden as he carefully picked Podbe up from the ground. The dog mumbled Aiden's name, his voice weak but filled with determination. "That hit hurt," Podbe said through the link, looking up at Aiden with golden eyes that gleamed with a mix of pain and pride. "What are you doing here? Weren't you trying to open that portal?" asked the dog. To which Aiden replied, "That doesn't matter anymore. The guy destroyed the monster instantly."
Both turned their attention to The Dark Knight, approaching their companions. Podbe began to squirm anxiously, trying to break free from Aiden's arms. "Let me go, let me go!" urged the dog urgently. "I need to help them."
"No, Podbe, you can't," Aiden responded, his tone tinged with sadness. "That guy is extremely powerful. He could kill you in an instant. There's nothing we can do."
"He's right," added Reia, her voice firm yet laced with concern. "You can't do anything. You couldn't handle the monster, and now this other monster, Sir Larot, is even worse." Reia read another system notification stating they needed to flee and save as many people as possible during their escape. "That's the second notification saying the same thing. Dog, don't be stubborn," she told him, and Aiden echoed her words.
"But we can't just stand by and watch more people die. I have to do something. I can't let what happened to Elena's father happen again."
Aiden looked at them inside the link within the white space and said, "Did you know her father, the one who tricked me?" Feeling a bit resentful about the trap Elena had set for him, he added, "Well, I don't wish ill on anyone, but I'm sorry her father died."
"A lot has happened in a short time, kid. We'll catch you up later. First, we need to find a safe place for you," Reia said seriously.
The two were talking and didn't notice that the dog was no longer in the link. "Reia, where's Podbe? Where is he?" Aiden asked, alarmed. "You're right, he was in my arms, but I don't feel him anymore either."
Aiden exited the link to see Sir Larot about to strike down the others with a single blow when he noticed a paw blocking the attack. He heard Podbe shout "Golden Claw Slash!" through the link, since they weren't far from the scene and the link's range was at its limit. A few more meters, and he wouldn't have been able to hear Podbe or Reia. "I need to go to him. I can't leave him alone in this," Aiden muttered to himself as he began walking toward the fight.
"Golden Claw Slash!" exclaimed Podbe. Suddenly, the paw he launched toward the weapon began to grow larger, and the claws turned a radiant golden color. "Fifteen mana points deducted," Reia announced. The attack only managed to deflect Larot's sword.
"You again, mangy animal. I think I'll finish you off first," The Dark Knight said to the dog. "A dog with abilities? How is that even possible? Unless... no, it can't be," Doctor Laos pondered in his mind as Larot raised his sword and pointed it at the canine. "Damn it, I'm almost out of mana, and my health points are low. I can't move much. This might be one of my last attacks," the dog informed his artificial intelligence.
"It's time to die, beast!" Sir Larot shouted in a loud, resonant voice. But before the attack reached the dog, a cry of pain echoed through the air. It was Eduard who had rushed to rescue Podbe. Blood gushed from Eduard's right side, and a few meters away lay his severed arm. Where the arm should have been, only a stump—or practically the shoulder—remained. "Are you okay, little guy? Good thing I made it in time," he said weakly, then collapsed from blood loss, still clutching the dog with his left arm.
"But what's wrong with you people? Are you so eager to find out who will die first? As I've already told you, I'll kill all of you. How about... gathering together to say your goodbyes and be sent to the next world in one strike," Larot laughed. He wiped the blood from his sword and prepared to finish it all once more. "This is your end," he repeated. "And this time, it will be forever." However, halfway through his movement, he stopped because he felt a strong vibration behind him. He turned to see where the headless giant beast of the portal had been, now emitting an intense red light. From it emerged a large cocoon. The dark warrior changed course and headed straight for the cocoon, but when he got close, the aura emanating from it repelled him backward.
"What is this thing that has me intrigued?" Sir Larot muttered to himself. "That thing must be stronger. I'm already itching to fight it," he grinned beneath his helmet.
Meanwhile, Podbe's team approached Eduard to treat his wound and give him the magical potion he carried with him. "Hold on, old friend," Adia said as she searched for the container with the liquid.
Aiden approached Podbe to scold him for not listening and staying put, but the dog indicated that it was his duty. "Besides, this is what's at stake in the JORGS system. Don't you remember, Aiden, Reia?" the dog reminded them. "It's the system that upholds justice, order, gratitude, and service, to provide hope and support to those in need."
"So you were listening after all, little Podbe. But remember, your life is important too, and we care about you," said Reia. "Yes, that's right, stubborn little dog," added Aiden, and the three shared a mental embrace.
Adia turned Eduard over with Gat's help. "I'm fine," Eduard said, wincing in pain. "And the dog? Is he okay?"
"Yes, he's fine," she replied.
"Good to hear that," he smiled weakly. "Stay still and don't get up," she instructed as she conjured a couple of supplements to close the wound and stop the bleeding. "Apply pressure on that side," she told Elena, who placed gauze on what remained of Eduard's arm.
"Here, Maria," she handed her a bottle she found in Eduard's bag. After giving him the potion, Eduard's wound healed. "You're crazy, Eduard. I almost lost you. Don't ever do that again," she cried a little, hugging him tightly. "You lost your arm," she said, to which he responded, "I know, but you know I always protect others, even if it costs me my life."
"You old fool," she said, hitting him lightly on the head. The others were stunned to see this, and she turned away. "Marie, if this attack didn't kill him, you just might," she said, looking at Marie, who turned back, annoyed but clearly worried about the situation and her friend.
Before everyone could feel at ease, they saw how the red cocoon expelled the black knight with the aura it emitted. Doctors Laos and Swang took advantage of the chaos to quietly make their way toward the exit unseen. However, when they reached the door and opened it, they came face-to-face with Zeus and his group.
"Where are you going, Doctor? Did you get what we need to create what we're looking for?" Zeus asked.
Laos, a bit frightened, indicated that yes, they had everything—except for one tiny ingredient. "And what is that?" Zeus inquired, staring intently at the doctor. "The boy, sir," Laos replied.
"I see. Surely Larot will take care of bringing him," Zeus responded.
"Sir, I believe there's something very powerful emanating from an unimaginable energy here, and it's not Larot—it's something far more dangerous," Aragon interjected.
"Yes, that's what I was getting at, sir. Something came from the other side—something stronger than the soldier you sent to fight," the doctor explained.
"Something stronger than Larot? Nonsense. That man is strong. Isn't he? What do you think, Aragon—you've known him for a long time," Zeus asked.
Aragon thought for a moment and then replied, "He might defeat him, but it will take time. It's better if we leave this place immediately."
"Nonsense. We're the best this company has. Nothing can stop us," General Led declared confidently.
"You don't sense that presence like Larot or I do. You don't master the aura."
"The aura? Again with your nonsense?" Led retorted.
"The aura is the way to gauge how strong your opponent is just by feeling it, or to sense what's around you in order to anticipate your attack against any imminent danger," Aragon explained. "It's not nonsense."
Sparks flew between them, igniting a quarrel as if they had been rivals for years. "Enough," Zeus said, clenching his fists. "Let's put it to a vote: those who want to move forward and bring the key to continue our objective—the key being Aiden—and those who want to retreat and leave this place."
The seven of them voted, resulting in a tie. Led then said, "My lord, you have the final say," looking at Zeus.
"Fine, fine. I want to proceed. Let's bring the kid with us, and then we can retreat," Zeus decided.
Without further discussion, they all exchanged glances and moved forward. Upon arriving, they saw the red cocoon and, on one of the walls, Sir Larot stood up to approach the cocoon once more.
"What is that thing?" whispers could be heard among those present.
"That, sir, is the guardian of the portal, but it didn't look like that before," one of them pointed out, gesturing toward the gigantic creature lying on the ground.