Edward and Sylvia would guide Barry, Kat, and Puck, to a house where Luna was being kept. “Rest assured, the girl, Luna, is perfectly as the Kobold as said. So don’t be alarmed when you see her, she’s merely asleep as I put her.”

  Barry was about to speak, but remembered what Edward had told him about staying quiet and letting Kat be the only one to talk. Kat noticed his hesitation and gave a slight smile to him. “We believe you…if you had wanted us dead, you would have done so already.”

  “Hmm, you’re right about that. It would have been quite easy to dispose of you two if I wanted too, but I am not a monster like the people above chose to believe. As for my actions from earlier against the madman that you travel with, I wasn’t seriously thinking about killing him…I just needed someone to take my anger upon, was all.” A small grin could be seen, which made everyone but Barry laugh a bit.

  ‘Madman, huh? Can you fucking blame me with all the shit I put up with?’ Barry wanted to rant at the vampire so badly.

  Kat understood why Edward, and likely everyone else, would have resentment towards Oswald and his friend Ned for destroying their home in the past. She would have a difficult time forgiving someone they knew for doing such a thing, even if they were friends. “You have every right to be angry, all of you…losing a place or someone meaningful to you from someone you knew is not something easily forgiven…but I’m glad that you are still merciful to let us live. S-So thank you, from the both of us, for doing so…”

  Edward couldn’t help but smile even brighter, there was a human that didn’t see him as a monster, and it made him feel a bit better. “You hear this, Sylvia? There are still sincere people out there, this lovely young lady is proof of that.” Kat’s face reddened from his comment about her and tried hiding it.

  Sylvia agreed with him and was amused by her reaction. “I knew that, they’re just hard to find nowadays. But say, Kat, was it? You’re such a shy girl, loosen up a bit more.”

  “If only the madman could learn a thing or two about proper use of words like you, then I might have taken it easy on him before.” Edward was trying hard to get a rise out of him.

  ‘He really wants me to talk back, and as tempting as it is, I’m not giving him the satisfaction.’ Barry wasn’t going to let him have his way.

  They all entered a purple colored house with similar glowing mushrooms, that were seen around in the underground cave, as decorations, along with other variety of plants. It looked like an apothecary house from both inside and out.

  There was a bearded man sitting behind a counter, checking inventory of the place. He wore a white ruffle top with black pants and a buckle. He looked over at the group and smiling at first then shifting to a look of curiosity. “Hello there twins…I wasn’t expecting any new guests?”

  “Neither were we, but they say that they have come to retrieve back their friend that we’ve been looking after. So that’s why they’re here, Buford.” Edward explained.

  Buford gave a slight nod, then eyed the two new visitors. “So, what do you think of our little town that we have here? A bit gloomy here and there, but we make do. We always host bingo night every Saturday, which by the way is coming up soon, so-”

  Sylvia stopped him before he could continue on. “They’re not here to stay for long, it’s like Edward said. They’re really just here to get Puck and the little girl, Luna, back with them.”

  The man snapped his fingers, looking a bit disappointed. “Drats, you know we need more people for bingo night. Hardly anyone ever shows up, not even you two! You know how much that hurts me, a lot I tell you.” Buford crossed his arms, appearing upset.

  “We’re sorry, Buford, I promise that me and my brother will show up for the next one.” Sylvia felt sorry for putting it off for a while.

  Buford gave her a look of doubt, he wasn’t sure if she was being honest or not. “You promise?” He asked again, lifting an eyebrow.

  Edward tried speaking for himself, he didn’t want to be included in next Saturday’s bingo night and wanted to be honest. “Buford, I-”

  “We’ll be there 10 minutes early to help with the setup, you have our word!” Sylvia interrupted, placing a hand on her brother’s mouth before he could have a chance to deny.

  “Yeah, Puck be there too for bingo night! Wait, what is bingo?” The little Kobold thought that bingo sounded pretty cool, even though he didn’t know what it was.

  Buford was ecstatic to know that more people were going to show up to his event. “Haha, bingo is an enjoyable game of anticipation and chance, my little friend. It’s so fun that you’ll want to keep coming every week, I guarantee you.”

  Edward butted in, wanting to continue on with showing the group where Luna was being kept. “Yes, fun…anyway, we’ll be seeing the girl now. Come, let’s go.” He was not looking forward to showing up to bingo.

  Sylvia and Kat contained their laughter from noticing Edward’s bothered reaction, Barry also resisted bursting out loud in laughter, he was satisfied in knowing that the vampire was basically forced to show up for something he disliked.

  Buford let them go about their business, happy, knowing that bingo was going to be a hoot next time.

  The group passed on through the place and went upstairs, entering through one of the doors from the hall. It was a normal bedroom with some furniture and trinkets around. A woman in black robes and silver linings, with pitch black flowing locks of hair and eyeshadow, sat in a chair near a bed where a little girl was currently sleeping.

  Barry and Kat assumed that the girl must be Anna’s sister, Kat also had a feeling that the woman must be a witch because of her appearance and what she was tinkering with. The woman was sewing together a doll by hand, she was magically imbuing her magic into the needle and thread she was using, as if the woman was enchanting the doll. Puck rushed up to Luna to check how she was doing.

  “Hmm?” She looked up, taking notice of the people that just walked in, she greeted with a smile. “My, my, so I take it you’re bringing a party down here now, Edward? Care to introduce me to our new guests.”

  The twins looked at Kat, who was clearly nervous to speak, but was encouraged by Sylvia with a nudge. Kat had cold feet because the woman was a witch, someone that she idolized in their arts of black magic. “H-Hi, m-my name is K-K-Kat.” She waved a nervous finger at Luna. “W-We’re here t-to, reunite w-with h-her.”

  The witch was confused as all hell, as to why she looked so scared, then glared at Edward. “Why is she trembling? Poor girl is so shaken up that, I believe, you might have frightened her or something.”

  Edward sighed, “She’s a shy one, but has a kind soul.” His eyes then shifted to Barry. “This one, however, is a madman with no manners at all. I would look out for him, more than anything.”

  Barry kept shut, but his anger could not be suppressed, and everyone near him could feel it. ‘Why the hell am I being hated on by this guy again?’

  “Well, what’s his name then?” She was curious to know what the name of the madman was.

  Kat tried again to speak fluently in Barry’s place, but her social anxiety would strike again. “H-H-His name is B-B-Barry, m-ma’am, h-he may seem a-angry at times. B-But I assure you, h-he’s a n-nice person as well.” Nervous sweat could be seen forming on her.

  The witch was so puzzled as to what sort of visitors Edward had brought into their new home. The little girl he brought to shelter from the Chakarie attack was understandable, but the Kobold was someone that she wouldn’t ever expect to be brought in. Now it was a shy young woman who looked like she was being threatened, alongside a mysterious guy who hasn’t even spoken a word. “Edward, what sort of people are you-”

  “They came here on their own!” Edward could see the confusion from her expression. “These two appeared at our doorstep basically and asked to get their friends back, so that’s why we’re here. End of story, Calista.”

  Calista still wanted for Barry to introduce himself without having Kat speak for him, she wasn’t sure why he wasn’t saying anything but let it go. “Alright, alright...but YOU!” She pointed her threading needle at Kat, startling her. “Need to stop being so timid, have some confidence in yourself.”

  “Y-Yes ma’am.” Kat straightened her back to fix her posture, trying to take her advice in consideration.

  They all approached the little girl that laid in bed sleeping, her hair was braided into knots by the witch with flowers nestled. “I’ve been taking good care of the little girl while you all were away. No harm has been done to her, so be at ease.”

  Kat wondered why Luna was asleep in the first place. “Is there a reason why she’s sleeping in? Was she tired or…”

  “It’s because we weren’t sure we could have her awake without telling anyone about our location. Since this, game began and by messing with the menu screen, we found a feature that allows you to communicate to someone you’ve befriended through it. It was a risk that we considered…until you two came along.” Sylvia explained.

  Calista was curious about how Barry and Kat were able to find them. “How did you two get here anyhow? It shouldn’t be possible at all.”

  Barry pulled out the sigil from his inventory and raised it up to show everyone, he was about to explain whom he received it from and how he used it to get through their secret entrance, but then remembered that he wasn’t allowed to talk.

  Edward, Sylvia, and Calista were surprised to see the sigil once again, it was a gift that was given to Ned, Oswald, and his daughter Ivoria. “Aah, so that explains how…then, who gave you that one? Was from someone named Oswald by any chance?” Calista asked, peaked with interest.

  The young man remained silent, his lips not moving to respond back. Barry’s eyes switched glances between the witch and Kat, as if telling Kat to explain again for him.

  She got the message and spoke in his place. “U-Um, someone called Ned was the one that gave Barry his, Oswald threw his back into the ruins of your city. Barry met Ned from his travels to Haglethorn, ma’am.”

  Again, the three Nightwalkers were shocked to hear that Barry knew Ned as well, aside from Oswald. “Oh, you mean mojo expert! Yeah, Puck and Barry helped mojo expert fight nasty monsters and save people from village. He can make mojo animals and big cuddly beast.” Puck vouched for Barry.

  This time, Calista was intrigued about the madman in the room, she wanted to hear him speak. “You! Madman! I know you can talk, and I find it weird that for Kat to speak for you, so talk. Tell me more about why Ned gave you his sigil.”

  Barry eyed Edward, as if asking for permission to speak. The vampire sighed and nodded his head, giving him the go. Barry grinned, finally free from his dumb rule. “First off, I’m sorry for offending any of you if I did. Second of all, I was tossed around like a fucking toy by this jackass, so how can I NOT be mad from what he did to me.” He pointed a thumb at Edward, who regretted giving him permission to speak again.

  Sylvia and Calista both shared a good laugh, while Kat kept hers inside. Edward was now the one feeling slightly embarrassed and explained. “I needed someone to take my anger on for what had happened to us in the past, so when I heard his foul mouth, I decided to vent it all upon him, believing he could take it…”

  “Right, so don’t call me mad when you know you’re the reason why I started cursing out at you…anyway. Here’s my story of how I got this sigil…” Barry then told his adventures and such to everyone in the room, which fascinated them all.

  After explaining all that had happened to him, the witch and vampires were in deep thoughts. Calista was the first to say something, “From what you’re telling me, we can agree that the majority of the gods are to blame for allowing this wretched game to happen. And that in order to find a clue in order to stop this great calamity, Oswald suggested recreating a potion of future sight to glimpse into the future in order to find one and that requires us giving you what you need…”

  “Correct, willingly, of course. We never planned on coming here with the idea of using force…although I’m sure all of you could erase us off the face of your world if you wanted too.” Even Barry knew that for a fact after getting bullied by Edward.

  “And there’s more people that came with you through the secret entrance, but they took a different door from the catacombs…wait.” Sylvia was speaking, then realized something. “There’s a chance that they might have encountered the Chakarie!”

  Kat and Barry were shocked to hear that assumption, Calista chimed in. “You may be right, one of the doors could have led them down a path that was connected to a tunnel that the Chakarie use to traverse underground. That could be why they haven’t arrived yet.”

  Barry checked his messages to see if he had received a response back from Anna and just as he did, he received a call from Ron and picked up. “Ron? What’s-”

  Ron interrupted, speaking out of turn. “We ran into trouble with the Chakarie while we were traveling! Sherry’s hurt right now from an ambush recently, we’re on the run currently to who knows where- wait, what! There’s people from above here! The Governor must have sent his men along with some citizens to fight the Chakarie!”

  Barry relayed the information to the Nightwalkers and replied. “We found Puck and Luna, just keep your ass alive while we try to meet you all halfway. Hang in there bookworm.”

  “Whatever, just- Hold on! Anna, do you see what I’m seeing? Barry, I think we see a town in the distance! It might be what you were talking about!” Ron sounded so sure of himself.

  Barry looked at everyone in the room with a serious look. “I think they might’ve found the town…we might be expecting more guests than usual. The Chakarie and the Governor’s men could be following my group from behind.”

  Edward was furious upon hearing this, so furious that he grabbed Barry by the neck collar and lifted him up, prompting him to end his call with Ron. “Are you saying that your friends might be exposing our hideout!”

  Everyone in the room was surprised by Edward’s sudden rage, Puck rushed to Barry’s aid and jumped up to tug on Edward’s arm to free Barry. “No! Leave Barry alone, he no mean to bring bad people.”

  Sylvia and Kat tried to calm Edward down as well, with his sister reasoning with him first. “Brother, I’m sure we both knew that this was bound to happen eventually. With the re-emergence of the Chakarie, it was inevitable. You have to understand this…it’s time that we…that we left somewhere else…far away.”

  Edward gritted his teeth, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing, and threw Barry at a wall. Kat and Puck then came to his side to check up on him. “Sister, how can you say such a thing! We’re the first one’s to have taken great care of the land above, our people have damn near constructed nearly everything that’s a part of the city that they live in today. You’re asking all of us to run away, not just once, but TWICE! This is madness!”

  Calista rose from her chair, wanting to give her input as well. “We’re all angry inside, you don’t think that we still hold resentment towards the people above from pushing us away from what we call home? It’s heartbreaking, I know, to leave what we had built…but it’s also through our experience and time together that we learned to be better than what we are. Even if the citizens still think of us as nothing more than monsters, it doesn’t mean that we should prove them right by showing aggression back at them. We can always make a new home, as long as we’re all together.”

  The witch looked at Barry and Kat, nodding to them. “Right now, we have their friends along with unexpected company heading our way that we need to be ready for.”

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  Edward gritted his teeth, looking away from Barry’s face, who then spoke some sense to him. “Edward, you mentioned a woman named Ivoria, right? Sherry’s mother, I take it?” Edward looked back at Barry the moment he mentioned her name.

  “One of the people of our group is Sherry, and she’s hurt. She was willing to come down here and see you all, despite the potential dangers that she might encounter. Sherry claimed that she always wanted to see the Nightwalkers that her mother always talked about. And from what it seems like to me, based on your reaction, is that she must be someone important to you. Someone that you would want to protect.” Barry felt like Edward had a history with Ivoria because Oswald mentioned to him about Ivoria inviting the Nightwalkers over to visit.

  The vampire thought about what he said and settled down, he couldn’t believe that Sherry had actually planned on coming down to see them. One thing was for sure, he needed to protect her. “If what you said is true, then we must hurry and meet your friends before any harm is done. As for starting anew…as much as it pains me…I’ll agree to it.”

  Barry stood up and dusted himself off, ready to head out. “Then it’s settled, we’ll meet my group halfway and figure out our escape from there.”

  Calista had an answer to their plan. “I already have a solution to leaving this place…and it involves going back to the ruins of our city.” What she said was unexpected to everyone but Sherry, who knew what she was going to say. “Me, Sherry, and a couple of the other witches have been working on a portal that will send us to a lovelier home than this gloomy dump.”

  Edward looked at his sister, feeling somewhat betrayed that she hid this from him, but calmed down after understanding the potential risk of being exposed such as now. “Sister, you…agh, it’s fine. I’m over it…”

  She smiled slightly, nudging her brother on the shoulder. “I’m sorry for hiding it from you, truly. But I guarantee that you’ll love it there, there are no local neighbors around so we’ll have our own peace and quiet, oh, and there’s a beautiful lake there too! I can’t wait-”

  “Alright! We get it, there’s a lot to look forward to, is what you’re saying. Now let’s hurry! Calista, wake the girl up and do what you have to. We leave at once!” Edward said, then stormed out of the room. Sylvia skedaddled out of the room as well.

  Barry looked at Puck, he was glad to have reunited with the little Kobold again. “Hop on, Puck. We’ve got work to do.” Puck clapped his hands with joy and got on his back, Barry then rushed out to follow the twins.

  Kat wasn’t sure if she should leave with them or not, but ultimately decided to stay with the witch to help her with whatever she needed. This was someone that she idolized when it came to witchcraft. “I-I’ll stay with you and be of assistance, ma’am.”

  The witch did not mind her choice, in fact, she was pleased to hear that she wanted to stay. Calista wanted to know more about her and why she was so nervous. “Very well, then we will start with waking the girl up.”

  Buford was fixing himself a glass of wine that he’d been hiding from everyone, he felt like he deserved a drink just because. But the moment he saw the twins and Barry rush down, he quickly hid the bottle behind his back with a nervous look. “H-Hey, fellas. What’s the hurry?”

  “Buford, we might need your help right now-” Sylvia tried looking at what he was hiding behind his back and noticed an empty wine glass on the counter. “Buford, were you…what are you are hiding?”

  “Hiding? I’m not hiding anything, what makes you-” In a blink of an eye, Sylvia zoomed around the counter and snatched the bottle from his hand, causing him to admit guilt. “Damn it, listen Sylvia, a man needs something to get by when living in this damp place.”

  She wanted to break the bottle over his head so bad, “And you didn’t think any of us would have wanted a glass as well!”

  “There’s only enough for me, if I share with everyone with what I have, it’ll all be gone in less than a week!” Buford barked back.

  “We have the fucking Chakarie and the Governor's goons from above coming here any moment now, and you two are bitching over wine!? Let’s get moving!” Barry shouted, before dashing out of the door. Edward couldn’t have said it any better and followed.

  Buford and Sylvia decided they would settle this later and chased after them, admitting that they did have bigger problems that needed their attention.

  Buford and Sylvia caught up with the three, Edward had taken the lead to show them where Barry’s group might be coming from. “Here! From this tunnel over there!” He pointed.

  As Edward guided them, they could see two people sprinting out, with one of them carrying Sherry in their arms. It was Anna and Ron, who was looking to be out of breath from running the whole time. “Hey, over here!” Barry shouted to get their attention.

  “Barry!?” Ron was relieved to see him again for the first time. “We have company! They’re-” Projectiles of arrows and fireballs were sent soaring past them, as Ron and Anna dove to take cover. Ron shielded Sherry with his entire body, she had already been wounded on the side of her head by the Chakarie.

  When Edward glanced at Sherry, one look was all he needed to move up to them in a flash. A rush of wind carried over with him as he immediately set up a telekinetic barrier to shield them from the attacks that flew out of the tunnel. “I’ve got you all covered! Now go!”

  Sherry was barely conscious enough to catch a glimpse of the vampire that appeared like a guardian out of nowhere. “Is he…is he a Nightwalker?” She mumbled to Ron.

  Anna and Ron got back on their feet and hurried on out of there, the illusionist then responded to her question. “I-I believe so, but I need to get you to safety. You can save your questions for later.” Ron hurried to the town ahead, while Anna gathered with Barry and the rest.

  Edward could see a mob of Chakarie charging ahead towards them. Using his telekinetic powers, he lifted the arrows were blocked by his barrier and sent them back flying at their senders. Barry and the rest watched as a swarm of arrows nicked and tore through their enemies with ease.

  ‘That’s such a neat power he has, wish I had something cool like that.’ Barry admired.

  “Barry, I read your message. Were you able to find Luna?” Anna asked him, wanting to know now rather than later. She was looking incredibly tired from all the chaos that she faced on her side of her path.

  Sylvia interjected, “Would you mean happen to mean a little girl with a similar hair color to yours? If so, then yes. She’s with your friend Kat and one of our witches, Calista, at the moment. She’s in good hands, I promise you.” The vampire gave a warm smile to reassure her.

  Anna was a bit startled by the appearance of Sylvia’s as a vampire, not even realizing that her and Edward were one till now. “O-Oh, thank you...”

  “Sylvia! Your friendly underground vampire.” Sylvia answered her question with a bow.

  She then looked back at Barry, also noticing the Kobold that was on his back. “And who's this…”

  “Puck name is Puck! And Puck happy to meet friend of Barry.” The little Kobold waved a hand at her with a smile, she had a similar opinion like Kat’s of what she thought of Puck, which was that he looked adorable.

  Buford was the first to take part in the action that Edward in, wanting to charge in to help. “The name’s Buford, but we should be helping Edward out instead of just standing around. Come on!” The bearded man then dashed in to assist against the approaching Chakarie.

  They watched as the man got on all fours like a stocky beast on the hunt for his prey, the hairs on his body began to sprout out into thick black fur that overlapped his clothes that merged into him. His bodily proportions growing equally bigger as he shapeshifted into a hulking werewolf of the night that were depicted in horror movies back on Earth. The first sorry victim he targeted was pounced on from a distance, ripping their chest apart with his monstrous claws and tearing their head clean off with his savage jaws. He then moved on to his next victim.

  Barry and Anna were in awe at the sight of what just happened, glad that they weren’t enemies of the Nightwalkers. “Well damn, uh, that was brutal.” Barry commented.

  “Sure was, now let’s go help them clear out the Chakarie till Calista gets everyone ready.” Sylvia suggested and rushed into the fight, showcasing her own use of telekinesis, while also attacking with her claws that she protruded from her fingertips.

  Anna and Barry, with Puck, joined in to prevent their enemies from getting anywhere closer to the town.

  Barry pulled out a warhammer from his inventory this time, rather than his greatsword, and started bashing at his enemies that were too distracted by the much larger threats which were the twins and Buford. Puck would spew flames at every enemy that tried getting close to Barry, acting as a deterring force to those that tried.

  The Nightwalkers terrifying presence of violence and no mercy during the battle caused the Chakarie to lose their bearings and rethink about what they just got themselves into.

  The shamans that were a part of the Chakarie tried their chance at hurling spells of fireballs and needles of embers at the Nightwalkers, while a few of them channeled a spell together to transmogrify the very area of ground they stood on into mud in order to sink them within the ground.

  This would be an issue for Buford, who didn’t have any way of traversing through the difficult terrain. But that would not matter, as Sylvia and Edward levitated with their powers and lifted him out of the mud pits, launching him, as well as Anna, towards the Chakarie’s backline where their spell casters were.

  Barry was already on it, using the body’s of the Chakarie as stepping stones, as well as double-jumping his way deeper into their forces, clobbering his way to their shamans. Puck continued to rain down flames of hell upon those they passed by.

  ‘Sloppy, barbaric, unrefined, that is your fighting style. Have you no sense of rhythm?’ The spirit woman commented on Barry’s way of fighting.

  Barry took a couple of hits as he made his way, shrugging them off and retaliating back at his enemies with applied anger. ‘No, I don’t have any rhythm. I never said I knew how to fight to begin with.’

  ‘That makes so much more sense…’ The spirit woman seemed to be in deep thought about what to do with him.

  Anna and Buford joined him on the front lines in time to help deal with the Moldbreaker beasts that just arrived on scene. There were two of them charging head on towards Barry, Buford got in front of one and flexed his claws before attempting to halt the beast by the horn with all his werewolf might, making it come to a stop. While Anna teleported behind the rider of the next Moldbreaker, eliminating the Chakarie that was controlling it and steered the beast away, into a wall.

  The large beast that Buford had a hold on, was then lifted off the ground with its rider still mounted. This display of strength by the werewolf astonished everyone around him, Barry was amazed of the capabilities that a werewolf possessed, as he watched Buford toss the Moldbreaker into the rank of spell casters, letting out an intimidating howl to assert his dominance.

  “Wow, that so cool! Puck want to be as strong as you!” Puck applaud Buford’s show of brawn.

  An embarrassed, yet creepy, smile formed on the werewolf’s face in response to Puck’s applause. “Haha, workout a bit more little guy, and you will one day!”

  Barry, Puck and Anna focused on taking out the lesser infantry Chakarie, while Buford acted with pure primal savagery on the field of battle on purpose to draw aggro, tanking hits left and right but rapidly recovering from the wounds that were dealt to him. His claws shredding through the bodies of his foes like flimsy paper, caking his fur in dark red blood.

  Edward and Sylvia had cleaned up the rest of the Chakarie that were behind them and rejoined with everyone else, the tide was turning into Barry’s favor. With their combined forces, the Chakarie tried all they could to prevent their pushback, but eventually the pressure would become too much for them.

  This was the turning point that the Chakarie decided they would retreat with their remaining forces to regroup with the rest of their clan.

  “Let them go!” Edward ordered. “We will not chase, instead, let’s regroup back with the town and ensure we are set to leave this place back to the ruins of the city.”

  Everyone did as he told and hurried back to the town with haste. Barry, Puck, and Anna had leveled up once at the end of the fight with the Chakarie.

  When they arrived, they found Ron with Sherry, who was being treated with aid by a few of the town’s witches. “You’re all back. I take it that everyone managed to push away the Chakarie?” Ron asked.

  “Yeah, they backed off after realizing who they were fucking with. And by that, I mean our new Nightwalker friends. They were literally tearing up everything in their path, relentlessly.” Barry replied, he was glad that they were on their side.

  Edward saw Sherry as she was being carried for, he was hesitant about going up to talk to her. Sylvia and Barry noticed this, his sister wanted to give him a push of encouragement to talk to Sherry but figured that now was probably not the time.

  Calista could be seen rallying the rest of the town’s Nightwalkers, informing them of her plan to go back to their ruined city, where they had prepared a portal to their new home with the use of the mana conduits that they had been restoring the best they could since the destruction.

  As she was giving her speech, Anna caught sight of Kat and someone very dear that caused her to tear up, as she rushed to greet them with open arms. “Luna!”

  Luna heard her name being called out by a familiar voice and looked around, her expression also became one with tears of joy, sprinting to her big sister till they embraced each other in a loving hug. “Anna! You really found me, I missed you so much!”

  “I missed you too, mouse.” Anna couldn’t help but laugh a bit, she was just so relieved to be reunited with her sister again. “I told you that I’d find you, I was hoping that you would be safe since we were brought to this world.”

  Everyone was happy to see such a touching reunion by the two sisters, it was so wholesome that Kat and Sylvia wanted to cry. But their moment would be cut short with the announcement from Calista. “Everyone has their luggage, I presume? Otherwise, we're taking our leave from this sorry place of refuge and onto a lovelier place we can call home. We leave now!”

  And with that, the whole town banded together, with Edward and Buford leading them back through the tunnel that was also connected to the path leading to their ruined city. Ron had informed the Nightwalkers that the Chakarie had formed their own tunnels with their beasts, and that was why they were ambushed unexpectedly. The city's forces had also used the tunnels left behind to travel underground.

  Sherry appreciated the care the Nightwalkers showed when healing her, she wanted to be upfront leading the charge but was told to hang back by them and allow them to clear the way from any enemies that blocked their path. This upset her but did not argue, she also felt a certain familiarity with Edward, as if they had met before all that was currently going on.

  Barry and Puck weren't quite leading the Nightwalkers alongside Edward, Sylvia, and Buford. But they were up front along with the other werewolves. He realized that Edward and Sylvia were the only two vampires of the town; he wondered if there were more of them before the destruction of their previous city. The witches were their back line, along with the rest of Barry’s group, Calista was also there to oversee them and make sure no harm would fall to any of them.

  Calista also wanted to be sure of Sherry’s protection, she had seen Sherry before when she was just a child since she was one of the Nightwalkers that visited her mother, Ivoria, when she was alive. Calista would have a chat with her to reminisce the good times she had with her mother at a later time once they escaped.

  As they travelled past the fallen Chakarie and their beasts, they would all rush down the tunnel for about 5 minutes before eventually stopping around a corner upon sighting a brawl going down that was just winding down.

  In their path was a large group of knights, mages, and other volunteers sent from the city above, it appeared to them that they had just finished clearing out a mob of Chakarie and their beasts, albeit suffering some losses. “You weren’t kidding when you said the city’s men came down…” Edward said to Barry, his anger inside rose for what they had done to put him and his people out of their homes.

  They had used the tunnels that were burrowed by the Chakarie to enter their secret tunnels unintentionally.

  “Brother…” Sylvia placed a hand on Edward’s shoulder to get his attention. “You’re not thinking about using lethal force…are you?” The Chakarie as a whole were always considered enemies because they could not be reasoned with, whereas they knew that not all people above were inherently bad, it was just that the majority of people above that saw them as something to fear in the past.

  Edward thought for a moment, he wanted to let loose upon them but knew that was probably what Ivoria would not want. And not only that, he would also be proving the people above right by reverting back into the true terror of the night that they pictured. “No…I don’t plan on killing any of them…I will not become the monster I once was, nor do I wish for any of us to return to what we were before”

  Sylvia and Buford were relieved to hear him maintain his image, instead of giving into the rage he had harbored for so long. Barry wondered if he would be able to do the same in his place for a moment, but ultimately figured he would give in and go on a killing spree. Barry would give Edward more respect for being able to suppress his inner hatred.

  The city’s enforcers would take notice of them, with one of them appearing to be the commander of the group, adorned in gold and gray armor with etched flower patterns designed around it. “Those are not Chakarie- By the gods! Those are fiends of the night! I thought they were eliminated!” The commander shouted, him and his soldiers were astonished.

  Suddenly, a event-quest would appear to everyone on both sides, each side with a different detailed quest. The quest that the Nightwalkers were seeing was about them making their escape through the portal that they planned on using, and would be rewarded should they make it.

  However, the quest that Barry and his party, along with the city’s enforcers that were on the other side, would see was the following.

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  Event-Quest

  Title: Put an End to The Nightwalkers!

  Description: Thought to have been erased from down under the city, the Nightwalkers have reappeared in an attempt to escape with their lives to live another day to spread terrorism across Scion!

  Objective: Eliminate all Nightwalkers before they escape!

  Time Limit: —

  Reward: 25,000 Exp per Nightwalker Slain; 25,000 Gold per Nightwalker Slain

  Penalty: None

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  The city enforcers were astonished by the rewards that were being shown, believing that this was a great incentive given by the gods, further encouraging them to vanquish the evil spawns in front of them, brandishing their weapons as they prepared to do battle.

  Edward would then look at Barry, thinking that he must have received a different quest, one that involved betraying him and the rest of the Nightwalkers. “Barry, I know you must have received a quest from this, system, tell me you're not thinking of betraying our trust.” His expression was one of uncertainty.

  ‘Well, would you look at that…the rewards given by the system sure looks tempting…’ Barry couldn’t help but grin. ‘Now, how will Edward react to my response, I wonder…’