As the sun rose so did the burning passion for the trio. After their victory Yusuke vanished into the unknown and has not been seen since. Hayase and Amber worried but Pepper assured them that he'd be fine.
Hayase was suprised his brother would just leave without a word and just abandon them completely.
Amber tried to convince Hayase that Yusuke would return but after 3 days the trio had no choice but to keep moving forward with their mission.
As they walked through the enchanted forest they passed by familiar enemies but they were no match for them anymore. Anyone who dared cross paths with them would meet the consequences of their actions… the trio found shade near a pond hidden behind the bushes and began to feast upon their dinner.
Hayase spoke out of curiosity.
"Do you ever think the district has been digging into all this? I mean I'm sure it's been a while since many have gone missing and-"
Pepper interrupted
"The district doesn't care about ordinary citizens and furthermore they don't care at all for the unknowns…Young Hayase"
"That's ridiculous why wouldn't they care about the people? I mean the district is made up on the basis of THE PEOPLE? It's a democracy" Amber said
"Trust me where I'm from there's nothing but lies and corruption that lies in the world. The districts only purpose is to make money, build a army, and make fund "useful" things."
"Why don't you take off that mask though?" Hayase said briefly
Pepper sat still.
"I don't see a purpose in revealing my identity to anyone other than myself. I personally like to respect the wishes of my god and my own religion."
"That's right! You mentioned something about Seishen right? That religion is not as popular as The Zaraian…but everyone is entitled to their own beliefs…" amber said as she munched on her fish.
"Seishen is my dearest religion young ones. It contains the truth of this entire world and universe…that's what I like to believe. My god is where my beliefs lie in. It is said that there is a far land where there is nothing but heavenly peace there. There are three guardians which guard the land of Seishen. They are called The Celestial Guardians-"
"Celestial Guardians?!" Hayase interrupted
Amber turned to look at Hayase.
"Mr Pepper do you know anything about a woman named Kimiko?"
"Kimiko…yes I do…she was mentioned in the book of Seishen…she is the most beautiful woman to have ever been seen in the whole universe. She is known to bring good fortune along with life and protection across the universe. Kimiko of Celestial Guardians…she truly is a hero."
"Could you explain more!?!"
"If you want to learn more you'll have to read the book my friend…the story begins with a poor woman who has nothing to live for but one day she comes in contact with Seishen offering her the way of Seikai…and the rest is history"
"But isn't it Zara who founded all of what we know? Everyone knows the tale of the queen." Amber said
"If that's what you wish to believe then you are to believe it…but I do tell you one thing has your soul not felt any better since you've learned the way of Seishen?"
The two looked at eachother.
"Now,now go off to bed younglings. We have an important duty tomorrow."
Hayase dozed off thinking about what Pepper had discussed to them earlier and then Kimiko appeared in his darkened Vision.
"Is something bothering you Hayase?" She questioned at she sat next to him
"It's just the fact that you are mentioned in the story…that's what I'm curious about."
"The story?"
"Earlier I was talking with Pepper and Amber and Pepper mentioned the book of Seishen. He mentioned you."
"The book of Seishen…?"
"Apparently it is said that there is a woman who came in contact with Seishen granting her the ability of Seikai…"
"Oh you mean -"
(The words are altered)
"Apparently it is said that there is a woman who came in contact with Seishen granting her the ability of Seikai…"
"A woman…strange…I don't recall that at all"
"Do you know anything about Zara? Can you tell me what the truth is?"
"ZARA!! THE ONE…"
(The words are broken.)
"Do you know anything about Zara? Can you tell me what the truth is?"
"Zara…she is the one who holds the most trust to Seishen. Zara is the one entitled to Seikai as she is the chosen one…"
Hayase's darkened vision began to fade.
"It seems like our time is up Kimiko."
"It's getting a bit cold isn't it…I can feel snow on my body"
"What're you talking about…"
Hayase awoke in the middle of a snowy tundra where Amber and Pepper awaited him.
Amber held her hand out as she lit a flame in her hand.
"How did we manage to get out here?" Amber spoke
"I'm not quite sure…this is all so strange and bizarre!" Pepper said as he grabbed the arm of an incoming attacker.
A beast with sharp lower teeth and a body made of ice appeared before them.
Pepper crushed the beasts hand and his body shredded into icicles.
"I think we have company guys!" Hayase said as he prepared for battle
A horde of the same beasts appeared out of nowhere and lunged towards them
Pepper in an instant took dashed towards them and took them out as fast as they appeared.
It's not so bad-
More hordes appeared from the ground and attacked Pepper.
Fire style: Fire ball!
Amber shot three big fireballs landing a direct hit on all of them causing them to burn and melt.
"Good thinking Amber." Pepper congradulated her.
"This is all strange don't you guys think?" Amber said as she lit her flame up again
"We should try to find our way out of this place." Hayase spoke out
The three of them made their way towards the cold tundra. More and more time passed and as it went they kept of facing more and more of the same enemies. The three of them grew more and more tired as they kept continuing through the harsh snow. The sun soon set and the moon pierced through the cold air.
Hayase laid in the snow lifeless
"We aren't getting anywhere…" Hayase said as he panted
"We just have to keep trying to find a way out of here…otherwise we won't be able to survive much longer out here." Pepper said as huddled closer to the fire
Hayase began to obeserve the surroundings and noticed something.
The mountains appeared familiar from when they had first awoken. And then he saw it…from the corner of his eye he saw a small elf crouching behind a rock up on the mountain.
Hayase stood up from his resting position and walked towards the snowy mountain.
"Hey!" Amber shouted
Hayase stared at the elf and pointed his finger at the elf.
Emerald Beam!
A small green flashing beam shot straight from the tip of his finger and pierced through the elf.
The snow began to fade away as they appeared in a crystal palace made from ice.
An elf woman wearing a white robe appeared clapping her hands
"Can you believe I almost fooled you three?" She said as she laughed maniacally
"Tell us. What is this place?" Hayase said in a serious manner.
Amber and Pepper stood up
"I've heard you managed to defeat that kitty cat…and it amazes how far you've gone in this "game"
The elf glared into their eyes as she sat on her throne.
"It's a shame that I have to kill the three of you. Especially after such a big fight with Leon!"
"How do you know Leon??" Hayase asked
Pepper interrupted and stood forward.
"That's no ordinary elf Hayase…that's Bea the icebreaker…"
"Bea the Icebreaker? My,my, have I got a name"
Bea stood from her throne and pointed at Amber.
"Let me fight the girl and in return I'll let you leave this place with no harm done to you two."
Pepper hesitated for a moment
"You got yourself a deal…ice elf."
"What're you doing Pepper!?!" Are you trying to get her killed!?! Why don't we step in?!" Hayase said as she came close to Amber.
Amber looked back at them
"I'll do it Pepper"
Pepper nodded and spoke
"If we win you'll have to do us a favor for our winnings Bea"
Bea laughed
"What makes you think that I stand a chance of losing to such a girl?!"
She stopped laughing and nodded.
"If I "lose" consider yourself my Master and I your slave!"
Amber stepped forward filled with passion
Hayase questioned Pepper
"Why did you comply with this?" M
"I could sense her nature through her Seikai. Bea strikes me as the person who loves to make bets for her own amusement…so why not exploit that?"
"What if she gets killed!?!"
"That won't happen…Amber is a strong fighter. She'll be alright…" Pepper said with Guilt
The palace formed an arena barrier around the two insuring that Pepper and Hayase wouldn't interfere.
Bea made the first move and lunged herself at Amber, which Amber barley dodged.
Amber threw a kick which Bea grabbed and launched Amber across the opposite end.
Hayase watched in horror as Amber and Bea clashed with their fists, Amber being greatly out powered in hand to hand combat.
Pepper grew worried also.
"I'm liking this fight girl!"
"I'm enjoying myself too eh!"
Bea summoned Ice shards around her and launched them towards Amber landing a direct hit on her.
Amber knelt down in pain but quickly got up due to her ambition.
Fire style : Fireball!
Amber leaped into the air launching fireballs at Bea
Ice style: Ice Barrier
The barrier of ice took the hit which melted the barrier into water.
Amber lunged for another attack but was interrupted by Bea's fist sending Amber back once more.
"This is simply too easy!"
Bea laughed maniacally.
Ambers mind grew feint but the determination for finding her parents fueled her desire to win.
Fire style: Fire spear…
Amber lunged the blazing spear at Bea
Bea distracted took the blow straight through her chest
"How- dare you!"
Bea summoned a blade of ice in her hand
"You're dead!"
Bea swang her blade at Amber.
Amber dodged effectively and jumped into the air.
Fire style: Fire ring!
Amber released a ring of fire hitting her in the chest.
Bea knelt down and shreeked
Amber dropped down and hit her with a two hit kick sending Bea back.
Fire style: Fire Ball!
Amber formed the biggest fireball she has ever formed and launched it at Bea.
Hayase and Pepper let a gasp of relief
Bea fell to the floor.
The barriers dropped and Pepper rushed over to heal Ambers wounds.
"I guess she was weaker than Leon" Amber said out of relief.
"It took four of us to even take him down, it's almost as if Bea should've been our first priority…" Pepper said as she patched Amber up.
Bea laid on the ground hearing the conversation. Her heart filled with sadness and anger within seconds
"I'm not weak! I'm not weak!" Bea screamed
They turned to look at her.
"It's not that I'm weak! I can take all of you on! I'm the strongest! I swear!"
The palace began to shatter as Bea grew more devastated.
"You weren't supposed to find my little elf! Nobody's ever seen him before! It's not fair!" Bea cried
The palace shattered completely and they were in the tundra once more.
Beasts and Monsters began to spawn around Bea as she cried her tantrum.
The tundra broke into complete chaos as more and more beasts spawned in.
The beasts attacked head on directly at the three of them!
"It's not fair! I'm supposed to be the special one! Just cause I can't fight hand to hand doesn't mean I can lose! I chose the girl! She's supposed to be the weakest!"
The weather began to alter from sunny to brute cold repeatedly.
"There's so many of them! They're easy to break but we're completely outnumbered!" Hayase shouted
Bea's tantrum grew more and more every second when suddenly it all went away in a instant.
"You whine too much Bea…I don't understand why Michi decided to create you?" A knight said as he pierced through her chest with his pointy blade.
The Knight took his blade out of her chest and pointed it at Pepper.
"Michi wants to have a word with you…you traitor!"
"I'm no traitor fool. Michi is nothing but a beast, he is not a god."
"So be it…"
The knight prepared for battle.
The three took their stances.
The final battle awaited them! Infront of them stood Jean The Knight! The final Guardian of the forever lasting forest! With orders to exterminate the traitors and the ones interrupting the game Jean will do anything in his power to do what Michi requests.