Point-of-View: Ilex Sarralot

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"I...I can’t do this anymore. This is hell, I’m dying...," I gasped wearily, as I lay sprawled on the floor, my vision spinning.

"Hey, don’t lay down there, you’re sweating like crazy. Go take a shower or something," Remarked Mysst, reading a book on her bed.

"B-but I can’t move a muscle..."

I-I’ve been at this for weeks, and I’m at the end of my goddamn rope here. I’ve been spending so much time in her Chronal Dimension, relentlessly training to master the use of my Soul Weapon Ascension.

And outside of it, I’ve been in a constant state of immense exhaustion, completely and utterly worn out at all times...because immediately after I do get some level of rest and recover a bit of energy, it’s right back to training. I...I get that we’re in a race against a clock that we can’t even see, but still...this is way too brutal!

"I’m coming in!" Suddenly came Lynks’ voice, as the door opened and he barged in.

"Why can’t you ever knock?" Sighed Mysst in exasperation.

"Less wasted time this way," He shrugged, before leaning down beside me and adding. "Hey, not bad, you’re able to stay conscious even after returning from her Chronal Dimension now. Sounds like progress to me!"

"I don’t care...I’m done! I’m fucking done with this! From...from now on, I’ll just stick training the normal, old-fashioned way, out here in the normal world. I’m sick and tired of that stupid Chronal Dimension, I legitimately feel like I’m dying over here," I groaned, gulping as I felt myself starting to heave.

"I’m impressed you lasted this long, even the Commander threw in the towel and stopped using my Chronal Dimension after about three weeks. You’ve kept at it for a full month, in comparison, that’s not a half-bad feat," Mysst informed me, as she flipped a page in her book.

"Wow, really? Hey, how about that, bet you must be feeling pretty good about yourself, aren’t you?" Grinned Lynks, as he patted my shoulder.

"I don’t feel particularly good about anything right now..."

"So, tell me...how much control have you gained over your Soul Weapon Ascension?" He asked me curiously.

"Later. I’m too tired to talk anymore. Take me home, I want to sleep," I grumbled wearily.

"Yes, take him home...no offense, Ilex, but your sweat is really stinking up the room," Muttered Mysst, as she cracked open the window.

"Yeah, whatever..."

"Alright, up we go," Remarked Lynks, as he picked me up and lifted me, before heading for the door as he added with a slight gasp, "Oh, wow, you stink even more from up close! Plus your clothes are all soaked with sweat, so gross..."

"Grr..."

"Oh, wait...now that my Chronal Dimension isn’t needed anymore, I can go back to the capital, right? I don’t need to stay here anymore?" Inquired Mysst hopefully.

"Dunno. I’ll call the Commander and let you know. But with the barriers and the fact that no one’s allowed to leave any of the remaining towns with the nation in lockdown, I highly doubt it. Hey, but look on the bright side! Since you’re free now, I can split my workload with you," He grinned with a thumbs up.

"Ugh...yeah, that’s exactly what I was afraid of."

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Point-of-View: Larrk Stryker

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"Don’t forget, all of you are welcome here at any time," Remarked Oberr with a smile.

"Yeah, feel free to drop by whenever you can," Nodded Sinia in agreement.

"We’ll be sure to keep that in mind...thank you all so much for letting us stay here. I doubt we’ll ever be able to properly repay you guys for this, but we’re in your debt," I replied gratefully.

"Mhm, if there’s any way we can help you guys out in the future, we’ll do so, you can count on it," Added Argent graciously.

"Oh, nonsense, you owe us nothing. You’ve helped improve our quality of life down here, not to mention your help with eliminating the Monster problem we’d been facing. So, if anything, we’re the ones that owe you a debt of gratitude," Responded Tania with a shake of her head.

"You know what, let’s just call it even," I remarked with a wry smile.

"Yes, that sounds fair."

"Maybe someday, we can all meet up on the surface, we’ll just have to hope that the world becomes a better place by then," Chimed in Prysm hopefully.

"Nah, hoping for stuff won’t accomplish anything, let’s just force the world to change for the better, that’ll be a lot faster," Grinned Izzy, cracking her knuckles.

"Must be nice to be so optimistic...or violently optimistic, in your case," I replied as I nudged her.

"Oh, thanks!"

"That wasn’t necessarily a compliment, but sure, you’re welcome."

"Hey, I know! Once we start freeing the other Demons, let’s take over one of the nations they were held in! And all of you down here can move there too!" She suggested as her eyes lit up.

’Well, now, that’s a great idea,’ Azazel responded in my head, sounding like he was genuinely considering that option.

Uh, slow your roll, guys...

"Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, okay?" Argent smiled warily, patting her head.

Yeah, what he said.

"What do you mean? I thought it was a good idea...," She muttered with a pout.

"Anyway, uh...we should probably get going now. Prysm, you ready?" I asked her, as I glanced in her direction.

"Mhm, sure am. We’re teleporting into the forest outside of Kieph Town, right?" She responded with a thumbs up.

"Yeah, that’s right," I nodded, before turning to the Elders as the four of us linked up, adding, "Well...this is goodbye for now, I guess. Thanks again for everything."

"Take care of yourselves out there, farewell," Smiled Oberr in response.

"Here, let me use an Enchantment to temporarily boost your luck, consider it a small parting gift," Added Tania, as she formed a large Magic Circle around us.

"Till next time," Waved Sinia with a grin, right as Prysm activated her Teleportation Skill, taking us out of the Haven for the first time in a month...

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