Unusually short chapter. ^^ Don’t worry, the next will be unusually long. Saving all the action for Chapter 61!

Episode 60 Paradox!

Kunai lowers his arm, and inspects the blood flowing out from it. He winces slightly, frowning at the man standing before him, seemingly oozing an aura of power.

“L-Lord Gilford!” Rill cries fearfully, his eyes widening.

Lord Gilford peers at Kunai, Rill, and Ivy through a pair of thin, squinty eyes, their pupils as black and as cold as the dark, evil night. Shreds of black hair poke out under the heavy armor of the Silver Planet sitting over his head. In Gilford’s gloved hands, he holds an enormous axe, blood red in color. Its blade is curved and streamlined, shiny, yet dull from much use.

“I will say it again,” Lord Gilford growls, his voice one that is deep and low. “Which one of you here is the Third Phoneme?”

His dark, beady eyes automatically roam over to rest on Ivy, the only woman in the group. She stares back with terrified eyes, her mouth slightly open. Instinctively, Ivy draws back, while Rill clenches his clawed hand.

Kunai steps in front of Ivy, shielding her from Gilford. “The Third Phoneme is not among us,” he replies calmly, “if you came here looking for her, you’ve come to the wrong place. Now please leave.”

“Oh really…?” Lord Gilford snarls, laughing maniacally. “You say she is not among you, eh? You expect me to believe that, when this woman is standing here right before me?! HUH?!”

Kunai steps backwards as Gilford raises his voice wrathfully. He clenches a Steely in his hand, bracing himself for the moment of attack.

“I believe you lie,” Gilford growls, “since two of you perfectly match the descriptions sent to me! Even if the Third Phoneme is not among you now, you must know her whereabouts, at least!”

“And if I do?” Kunai returns, an unpleasant grin crossing his face. His legs bend lower, and his grip on the Steely intensifies.

“Be careful, Kunai!” Ivy cries automatically.

“Your name is Kunai, eh?” Lord Gilford says amusedly, overhearing Ivy. “I see…how very interesting.”

“And what if my name is Kunai?” Kunai retorts carefully.

“Nothing,” Lord Gilford replies, his eyes narrowing even more, “it’s just that I’ve already been quite informed of you already… So you’re Lord Kimura’s new pet, huh?”

“Lord…Kimura’s new pet?” Kunai repeats perplexedly.

“Well then,” Lord Gilford grins, “this situation here just got a lot more interesting. I came here looking for the Third Phoneme and to crush her comrades, but instead it looks like I’ve found something even better instead—a fight worthy enough to entertain me!”

Wing’s face remains serious, though slightly troubled, as he sits down again in front of his desk. He clasps his arms meditatively, staring pensively at Ryuu, Ayame, Sasha, and Lily. “So you want to know about the city’s treaty with the Myougun.”

“We came here on the advice of the Four themselves, Wing,” Ryuu replies, “and their advice was to increase our ranks. The villagers here have been waiting for something like this already. They want a rebellion. We’ll give you one. There’s no excuse to keep up this treaty with the Myougun.”

“What if I don’t want to help you?” Wing replies, his voice distant.

“What?!” Ayame cries outrageously. “Are you kidding me?! There may be peace now, but only because you’re letting the Myougun walk all over you! If you don’t do something about them, it could get even worse very soon!”

“You humans have no idea what you are talking about,” Wing retorts dismissively, “my people are happy, and that is all I care about. Fairies do not care about the trivial things that go on with the filth in the Myougun. That empire is business only involving your kind. We need not involve ourselves in it.”

“Then why even sign a treaty with the Myougun in the first place?!” Ryuu growls, slamming his fist on the table. “If all you care about is your precious fairy kin, then why even preserve this damn town?!”

“Impatient fools,” Wing answers, “think for a moment. Orbis has been desecrated. If Ellinia is destroyed as well, my people will have nowhere to go. Our proud kind is few and numbered these days. We must preserve all we can of our legacy. Therefore, the safest route is to ensure their safety…by forging a false treaty with the Myougun.”

“False…treaty?!” Ryuu repeats, his eyes bulging incredulously.

“Don’t you care anything about the humans living in your village, though?!” Ayame shouts back. “If the Myougun…if they—”

“We aren’t interested in a revolt,” Wing interrupts, waving Ayame away. “The Myougun has already promised not to harm us fairies. That is enough.”

“Why you conniving, evil, bastard!” Ryuu howls, kicking Wing’s desk fiercely. He plants a large hole straight through the wooden desk, and stomps away, fuming. Ayame, Sasha, and Lily follow tentatively, chasing after him.

Wing watches them depart through the door of his office, his face expressionless. “Tch,” he sighs, “humans.”

Outside, Ryuu storms about for some time, pushing his way roughly past several mages exiting from the town’s port. Ayame, Sasha, and Lily chase after him, squeezing their way past the tourists. Off in the distance, a loud horn sounds, already signaling the departure of the ship to Ossyria.

“Ryuu!” Ayame shouts, catching up to him at last.

Otis stares blankly from Ayame to Ryuu, a note of worry appearing in his eyes. “Aww, cheer up, Redheaded Gorilla!” he says out loud. “We can go look up some warrior girls’ skirts to cheer you up!”

Ryuu absentmindedly flings Otis off his shoulder, not even bothering to take pleasure in watching him land on the ground several yards away, consequently getting trampled on by the tourist-mages.

“That bastard Wing,” Ryuu growls under his breath, “he’s been secretly cooperating with the Myougun! He doesn’t give a damn about the humans living under his own big, fat, egotistical nose.”

“It’s not the end of the world, Ryuu,” Ayame attempts to console him. “So what if we don’t have Wing backing us? We can get plenty of support elsewhere.”

“No,” Ryuu replies bluntly, “Wing represents the fairies, whom we need on our side. Despite the fact there are very few of them left, they are capable fighters, and twice as good as humans with magic. He’s also the leader of Ellinia, and Ellinia is allied with Perion. If we don’t have Ellinia’s support, we don’t have Perion’s.”

“That would be a major blow for our cause, right?” Sasha asks.

“Exactly,” Ryuu replies, “but if we—”

A sudden, loud rumble disturbs them. The four of them look about wildly, as screams erupt from all over the town. Overhead, the sun flickers on and off, as huge, dark shapes block out the sun’s rays.

All of a sudden, the canopy roof of Ellinia parts, and several large Dragon Paradoxes make their way into the vicinity of the town, howling with loud, piercing shrieks. The fly over the sky in pitch-black circles, their ridiculously enormous sizes dwarfing even the sun.

Ryuu jumps to his feet, eyes widening, as he grasps the hilt of his sword. He unsheathes it with a long-practiced jerk, and it erupts at once into a livid fire.

“Wh-What’s going on?!” Lily stutters, glancing about apprenhensively.

On all sides, more and more Paradoxes pour in, taking all sorts of shapes. Humanoid Paradoxes march towards the town, while others in the shape of hornets, werewolves, bears, spiders, and other monstrous creatures follow.

“Looks like we’re under attack,” Ryuu mutters calmly. “Doesn’t look too good.”

“Why…why are we under attack?!” Sasha cries. “I thought Ellinia had a treaty with the Myougun! If that’s the case, why are they all of a sudden by sending their Paradoxes out here?”

“I can think of one reason that wouldn’t make Wing too happy,” Ayame says, drawing her Geta.

“Because we’re here,” Ryuu completes for her.

Next Time: Episode 61 Run! The Fates Have Appeared

Otis: One, two…three! Three separate fights have erupted all over Ellinia, pitting our loyal hero gorillas against the strongest of enemies! Who will win, and who will lose?!

Lily: But who are these who call themselves the Fatalists…?

Ayame: Find out next time!

Episode 61 Run! The Fates Have Appeared coming soon!