Chapter 57:

  Into the Fray Once More

  (Elizabeth's POV)

  She should have told him, but all this time...she was afraid. She didn't like thinking of it. So much so that she had even kept it hidden from herself. It was always there, of course, in the back of her mind, but like with most things it eventually blends into the background. Like a constant smell or sound that you got used to. It fades from your senses until you're made aware of it again through various means.

  In Elizabeth's case, that was every time Lucas had a headache or migraine. She was always vigint to keep the symptoms at bay, but the appearance of the Critical Dungeon and now his nosebleed...it was impossible to ignore. The reason she didn't tell him too much at once before was because of this fear. She didn't want to make things worse.

  The fact he remembered anything, even vaguely from dreams, was a blessing and curse. She had been thrilled to know he recalled their lives together, but terrified that by doing so he'd put himself in even more danger. She had always been aware of this possibility, which is why she developed the pills from an early stage to help.

  However, she needed a more permanent solution. Something she had only discovered recently. The very same thing that would help elevate the Pyers to another level would also help finally free Lucas of the curse pced upon him. Ambrosia.

  It purified things like nothing she had ever seen. Of course, this would be the first life she would use it in. All the other times that Ambrosia appeared...he was already dead. It was always too te, but not this time. She'd ensure that he survived until she could get her hands on it.

  "Stay close to Maya, understand?" Elizabeth told Lucas, cupping his face affectionately, though her words were firm, "You can explore the city if you want, but please, Lucas..."

  She looked upon him softly, for she was now unable to ignore the ultimate price he always paid. His life was the most precious thing to her. Without it, she had nothing. Call her irrational or whatever you wish, but to her...he was her life, and without him, the world could burn.

  "I promise, Ellie," he replied warmly, holding her hand against his face tenderly, "I won't leave Maya's side, and I have Denny and Hannah here as well."

  Elizabeth wanted to believe him. She did. It was just difficult not to think of everything that could go wrong. It was only the gentle kiss from him upon her palm that calmed her heart at all.

  "My life is yours, and I have no pns on wasting it," he spoke quietly, his words filled with a strong devotion, "I know I don't have the best track record, but...trust me. I'll be waiting for you."

  Her heart fluttered at his words, filling her with confidence. Elizabeth gnced at Maya who sat on the bed nearby. They locked eyes, and within each others gazes, they understood one another. She knew that Maya wouldn't let anything happen to Lucas, and she would impose a strict response should he misbehave.

  "I'll leave him in your care, Maya," Elizabeth told her, "Make sure he doesn't get into trouble."

  "You have my word, El," Maya replied, standing gracefully from the bed as she made her way over to Lucas, "I won't let him out of my sight...not for a second."

  As she said this, she draped her arms over his shoulders from behind, pulling him close. It was cute to see him blush, even as he gred at the two of them.

  "I'm not pissing in front of you..." he mumbled, "I can use the bathroom just fine by myself..."

  Maya rolled her eyes, holding up the rope attached to her wrist that connected to him.

  "Don't worry," she replied with a smirk, "I'll give you your privacy. Not like you can get far anyways."

  "...That is both hot and terrifying," Lucas sighed as Maya and Elizabeth chuckled lightly.

  "Well, it's just a precaution, my love," Elizabeth caressed his face, "Please, bear with it."

  "Don't worry," he smiled, "I understand. You just hurry back, okay?"

  Elizabeth nodded, leaning in to kiss him. She savored the taste of his lips and the heat of his body. She carved every touch, smell, and taste of him into her flesh and mind. She shouldn't take too long with the Critical Dungeon, but there were always variables. She couldn't let her guard down.

  As she reluctantly pulled away, she pced one st kiss gently upon his forehead and then one upon Maya's cheek, who put a hand lightly to the spot in surprise.

  "That's my thanks in advance," Elizabeth smirked, pleased with her reaction, "Take care of our boy. I'll return as soon as I can."

  Maya's face softened as she smiled warmly with a nod.

  "We'll be waiting, El," Maya replied and Elizabeth finally made her way from the room, though it was with a heavy heart that she did.

  It was never easy to leave Lucas, but if she didn't act quickly, she had no idea how long Charlotte could st. She was a talent that couldn't be lost, along with the rest of the team which had gone with her. They were strong, and to lose them to Gorgon's Maze would hurt Elizabeth's future pns.

  If Elizabeth was right, Charlotte was probably keeping her team safe with her strong defensive capabilities. Charlotte was a master of defensive magic. Her barriers protected many during the first wave, and was one of the reasons she had earned the title "Guardian of Italy", which was also bestowed upon her guild.

  However, despite her defensive abilities, a Critical Dungeon was no joke when unprepared. The fact she sted a couple days spoke to her strength. That was something they'd need when things got really bad in the future. So, that was Elizabeth's main priority now. She would have to leave Lucas in Maya's care.

  As she walked the corridor of the hotel, ethereal fmes flickered along her body as the liquid metal of her armor slowly covered her body. As it solidified, her mind was focused. Those who saw her that day would describe her eyes as glowing with an unshakeable tenacity.

  She had only one goal. Clear Gorgon's Maze, and ensure there were no casualties.

  -----

  (Elizabeth's POV, Cont.)

  She arrived at the colosseum to see it cordoned off by Association, Legion, and Government forces. Waiting for her, as expected, was Zero Squad. Richard, Ailyah, the twins Priscil and Trevor, and of course...Sigrid.

  "Captain," Sigrid avoided eye contact as she greeted her, a slight look of shame within them.

  Pcing a hand upon her shoulder, Elizabeth forced her to look her in the eye.

  "Clear your mind," Elizabeth told her calmly, "I hold no grudge with you, so don't hold one with yourself."

  Sigrid gave a half-hearted, but grateful smile as she nodded. Her eyes looked more focused now, which was good. They'd need her at the top of her game if they were to survive this.

  Turning towards the others who were waiting, she looked them over to see if they were prepared. Ailyah was in her wizardly robes, Poseidon's Trident at hand as she hovered upon a witches broom. She gave Elizabeth a smile and nod in greeting, appearing carefree, but beneath the surface Elizabeth could see she was focused.

  Richard had his bow at the ready. She could see the skills he's learned have been a boon to him. He looked leaner, more sure of himself. The look in his eyes was sharper than ever before. He smiled calmly, ready to test out everything he's learned.

  The twins...well, they appeared nervous, but their eyes were set in an unwavering determination. Elizabeth pced a hand on both of their shoulders. As they looked up at her, she gave them a cool, approving cursory gnce before nodding.

  "You two have come far," she told them, "This will be a bit different from normal, but you can do it. Believe in your skills. Don't hesitate."

  "Thanks, Cap," Trevor gave a nervous, yet appreciative smile, "Just the nerves. They'll calm down in a bit."

  "Good," Elizabeth patted them on the shoulder before turning towards the entire group, "Alright, listen up. This gate is different than any you've faced before."

  Zero Squad listened with rapt attention.

  "This mission is twofold," Elizabeth expined, "There's a squad from Legion trapped within. Our first priority is securing them. Then, together, we will work to clear the dungeon and return safely. Any questions?"

  As silence fell over the group, she knew that they had none. Elizabeth took a second to look them all over. Sigrid was definitely a new face among them, but a wave of nostalgia washed over Elizabeth in that moment. Memories of the past.

  Each and every one of them were loyal and capable. Each and every one of them, save Sigrid because she was new in this life, have been with her till the very end. In this life...she'd see that they survived, but they had to face several tributions before that.

  It was...strange. She felt pride for them. Pride in them. They had come a long way. It wasn't a feeling that she was used to, even after all this time.

  "Watch each other's backs," Elizabeth ordered them, "Strike true. You'll survive this yet."

  Her words held many meanings, but all they needed to know was one of them.

  "We don't pn on dying today," Ailyah chimed up cheerily, "I'll shatter any who stand in my way."

  Her eyes lit with an intense confidence, a sentiment that the rest shared. Approving of their determination, Elizabeth nodded.

  "Zero Squad, move out!" Elizabeth commanded, turning towards the colosseum.

  Opening her hand, a fme coalesced within before solidifying into a sharp bde. The gate was before them. Swirling with the unnerving abyssal smoke. "Critical Dungeon..." Elizabeth though as they approached, "I refuse to yield this world again. It's mine."

  -----

  (Elizabeth's POV)

  It was Elizabeth's selfish wish to live her life as she desired. Everything she's ever done wasn't always for Lucas, thought it always included him. It was as much for him as it was for herself. Everything she's endured over all her lifetimes has culminated into this one life.

  She refused to waste it again. The Critical Dungeon, Gorgon's Maze, was as she remembered it in her past lives. A thick dense fog clung to giant stone trees. The air was rancid and acrid with a nasty smell that burned the nose.

  The sky above almost non-existent, what with the stone leaves creating a canopy of despair. Everything about this pce screamed that there was no escape. The Gate behind them was an inviting sight, urging them all to retreat, but Elizabeth and Zero Squad weren't tempted.

  "Damn," Richard whistled, tilting the brim of his archer's hat up to look around, "So, this is...oh, well would you look at that."

  His eyes flickered to something before him. The same thing that everyone, including Elizabeth, saw. A notification to indicate what kind of a dungeon this was...and the reasons why sending Runners would have been smart, but Elizabeth has long since given up on others doing what should be done.

  ---

  >NOTICE: You've now entered the Gorgon's Domain, The Land of Stone – Gorgon's Maze.

  >Decide your fate. Push forward or leave now. Life is precious.

  >Clear Conditions: Defeat the Gorgon at the heart of the maze.

  >Failure to do so will result in the Gorgon's Domain being unleashed. A world of stone will be ushered in.

  >Time Remaining: 4 days, 5 hours, and 37 minutes.

  ---

  Nothing about the notification was too unusual, at least to the untrained eye. For Zero Squad and Elizabeth, they saw it immediately.

  "There's a failure condition..." Ailyah mumbled, appearing understandably confused.

  "Usually that's for trials," Richard added, scratching his head in thought, "Well, if a dungeon has them. This...is for the entire thing."

  "And what's this about 'A world of stone will be ushered in'...?" Priscil inquired, her keen eyes looking around, "Are they saying that if we don't defeat the boss...there'll be a break?"

  "Looks like it," Richard sighed, adjusting his bow in his hand to the ready position, "You all noticed that as well, right?"

  "...Yeah," Trevor nodded.

  Sigrid took position by the twins and materialized her shield to hold before her. She gazed out over it with discernment at their surroundings.

  "It was too short a description, and..." Sigrid stated grimly, "There's no rank estimation."

  Everyone was silent as they all agreed. There was too little information about this pce. Usually, upon entering a Gate, there would be more information on the Dungeon. Such information would include trials or quests in addition to the main goal of clearing it, but there was one thing that always came with a Gate upon entering it.

  Rank Estimation.

  It was often a notification that Runners received when getting the yout of the Dungeon before reporting their findings, and then from outside they'd use specialized equipment to measure the Aether leaking from the gate in order to better pinpoint the actual Rank. It wasn't a fwless system, as Growth and Adaptive types would often change, but it was enough to get by.

  Of course, Runners weren't always used, and in the case that a Rank couldn't be measured, a forward team would be sent in lieu of Runners in case there were unexpected dangers that the Runners couldn't handle. Then, upon return, that forward team would rey the estimated Rank of the Dungeon. This is what Charlotte's team hoped to do, since the Government was impatient, and they couldn't risk sending anyone who might not make it back.

  "Charlotte..." Elizabeth thought of the woman with slight approval. She had had chosen the most effective way to minimize losses, since her specialty was defense. If things went wrong, she was confident in keeping her team alive until another, hopefully more capable, team could rescue them.

  "Your gamble paid off," Elizabeth told herself, speaking to Charlotte wherever she was, "We'll get you out."

  Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth took in the acrid scent of this pce and motioned for the team to group up.

  "Alright, listen up," Elizabeth told them, aiming her sword at the ground, "As you can tell, this Dungeon is different from normal."

  "Yeah, it feels...off," Richard cast a wary eye over the area, "Do you have an idea of what this is, Captain?"

  "A turning point," Elizabeth said simply, "A Gate we've not seen before, with missing information and an unknown rank."

  "Fuck..." he muttered, accepting of her expnation, "Alright, you have a pn?"

  Elizabeth looked up at them all, seeing the unwavering trust they pced in her within their eyes. She felt a warmth within her heart that came with a deep pain. Once again, memories of the past fshed in her mind. Though she would throw them all away to achieve her goals...she hoped to see them live in this life, and so she had prepared them as best she could.

  Now, their vacant, dead eyes with faces frozen in time came alive before her. They glittered with vibrant, resilient life that helped her remember Lucas's words from so long again.

  "We're not all so bad." his words touched her heart, and she agreed.

  "Yeah, they're not all so bad..." she smiled to herself, composing herself as she drew an X in the ground with the tip of her bde.

  "We're currently here, but..." she expined, drawing a circle around the X before crossing it out completely, "We don't know which way to go. This pce, from the looks of it, is going to be difficult to navigate. Keep each other within view, don't separate."

  They nodded their understanding as she pulled out a small tablet that flickered to life. Upon the screen was a dark blue bnk grid that blinked with six dots. To the left of this grid were six boxes with ECG readings corresponding to those six dots. They were the health monitors of Zero Squad, but as Elizabeth swiped on the screen to the right, twelve other boxes with simir readings were shown.

  The life signs of Charlotte's team.

  "We don't know where they are," Elizabeth expined, looking at the life signs closely, "Some of their readings are weak, meaning we'll have injured. Ailyah, be ready to assist."

  "You got it," Ailyah gave a confident smile, "I got plenty of potions, and my skills may be cking when it comes to other healers, but I won't be a burden."

  "Good," Elizabeth gave her an appreciative smile, "Richard and the Twins will begin looking for tracks. Sigrid, cover them."

  "Understood," they all said in unison.

  "You may face challenges unheard of in here," Elizabeth stood tall before them, "Don't lose faith. Believe in your abilities and each other. Don't falter."

  It was a warning as much as it was encouragement. This pce would test them, especially the Twins and Sigrid who were still retively new, though their skills were more than enough. For now, all they needed to do was trust her and follow her lead.

  "For now, let's begin..." Elizabeth turned from the portal back home and started venturing out into the Gorgon's Maze.

  There was something she didn't tell all of them. Something that would only be revealed when it was ready...that this was a Critical Dungeon, and what drew her most of all. The Fragment of Von Angeal.

  It was here, calling her like a desperate yearning to be together once more. She could feel it. Pulsing. Beating. Thriving.

  This pce would be even more dangerous once she drew closer to it, much like what happened to The Kraken's Nest. She hated to do it, but she had no choice. This would be a good test to determine what level of skill Zero Squad was at. If they could work well against a Critical Dungeon bolstered by her Fragment...then perhaps the future wouldn't look so bleak.

  For now, she kept this to herself, for she knew that it would alert everyone. It wasn't an ideal situation, but she wasn't worried about Zero Squad learning the truth...but Charlotte and her team. Were they trustworthy? How would they react?

  These were questions Elizabeth didn't have the luxury to think of, for before they had even gotten a few dozen feet, the ground began to rumble as three Rock Worms tore through the stone, their gnashing maws grinding with rows of sharp teeth.

  Zero Squad scattered, jumping away from the falling debris. Elizabeth was unfazed, making mincemeat of the rocks which fell towards her, staring down the creatures who had the audacity to stand in her way. However, this wasn't her fight.

  "Leave it to the Cap to not be fazed..." Richard shook his head in awed bewilderment, "What's the pn, Miss?"

  Elizabeth looked over her shoulder at them, as if the answer to the question was obvious.

  "Come on, Richard," Elizabeth sighed, her expression darkening with devilish delight, "Kill them. They're in my way."

  "Aye, aye..." Richard cleared his throat, drawing an arrow from nothing as light formed into the deadly projectile, "I should have known better."

  "Honestly, what did you expect?" Ailyah ughed, raising her staff as frost coalesced into shards around her like spears.

  In unison, they unleashed a barrage of attacks against the monsters in front of Elizabeth. Richard's arrow was loosed, flying swiftly towards its target before splitting off into several projectiles. [Break Shot] was the name of the skill, coupled with [Radiant Arrow]. It was a devastating opening that shattered the hard carapace of the Rock Worms, sending more rubble raining down.

  At the same time, [Frost Spears] was released by Ailyah, a multitude of frozen spears piecing the tough exterior of the creatures to then freeze them over with tiny icicles, halting their movements. Rushing forward after their initial barrage were the Twins and Sigrid.

  She was their vanguard who rushed forward as they followed behind. As she grew closer to the Rock Worms, she turned on her heels, skidding to a halt as she raised her shield like a springboard for the Twins. Together, they unched themselves with Sigrids help into the air. Drawing their bdes, both curved swords, a golden aura surrounded them as they activated [Precision Strike]. In a fsh of movement, they left lines of energy within the creature before it crumbled into nothing.

  In a mere matter of moments, the three Rock Worms were no more. Elizabeth stepped over their corpses, standing atop them with pride for her team. She had raised all but Sigrid to be what they are now, in a manner of speaking, anyways.

  "Keep this up, and we'll have no problems going forward," Elizabeth praised them as they all gathered together once more.

  "Oh, stop," Ailyah pyed coy, waving her hand in Elizabeth's direction, "You'll make me blush."

  Richard rolled his eyes at her with a smile, and Elizabeth simply shook her head amusingly. Meanwhile, the Twins and Sigrid took the cores from the Rock Worms, with Priscil stumbling as she pulled one out, being caught by Trevor. It was a rather strange, calming scene in such a desote pce. Priscil gave him an awkward, but thankful smile as she simply shook his head amusingly and steadied her.

  "Come on, we can't stop here," Elizabeth called to them as they quickly pced the cores in their inventories, "We have to ensure we reach Charlotte's team within an hour at least."

  "In this mess?" Richard looked around at the encircling fog and twisted turns of the forest, "Ugh, well, I guess we better get to work...Priscil, Trevor, with me."

  Richard leapt ahead of the group, followed by the Twins with Sigrid closely behind to cover them. Ailyah floated next to Elizabeth as they made their way forward.

  "So, this pce is pretty strange, huh?" Ailyah commented as they made their way forward, "Honestly, gives me the creeps."

  "Don't let your guard down," Elizabeth cautioned.

  "I'm not," she replied, gncing at Elizabeth with a keen eye, "You seem to be distracted, though."

  "Not at all," Elizabeth replied, gncing up at her, "I'm more focused than every before. You feel it, don't you? The difference in this pce comparatively."

  Ailyah was quiet for a moment before nodding, looking around at their surroundings.

  "Yeah, more than just that notification," Ailyah said, shifting a bit on her broom, "The Aether here is a lot denser than any dungeon I've been in. It's...uncomfortable."

  "Do you think you can harness it?" Elizabeth asked, seemingly out of nowhere, but there was a reason for the question.

  Ailyah looked at her curiously, but before she said anything else, she took a moment to think.

  "Well..." Ailyah pondered, finger to her chin, "If it was anyone else asking, I'd call them crazy, but...it's you, Captain."

  "It's me, huh?" Elizabeth chuckled, turning her attention to those in front of them, "I suppose I've done things that don't make sense, huh?"

  "Maybe a little," Ailyah teased with a smile, "But, you've never been wrong before, and you've really helped us out."

  Ailyah then grew solemn for a moment, though her expression remained warm.

  "When you paid my hospital fees..." Ailyah spoke quietly, "I thought you were insane. I mean, who was I to you? Yet, ever since, you've proven yourself to be someone who genuinely cares...and I'd give my life for you. We all would."

  "Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Elizabeth gave her as warm a smile as she could, "You've all become irrepceable, so don't do anything foolish, yeah?"

  "Irrepceable, huh?" Ailyah's expression slowly turned to one of sly devilishness, "You might regret those words."

  "Why would I?" Elizabeth asked genuinely, "You've proven capable and...those fees are nothing in comparison to all you've done."

  Elizabeth spoke deep from the heart, genuinely grateful for Ailyah and the rest of Zero Squad. She had thousands of lifetimes to repay Ailyah and the rest of them back for. Such things as paying for hospital fees were the least she could do for them.

  "It wasn't nothing to me...Elizabeth," Ailyah dropped honorifics to say her name with strong gratefulness, "You gave me my life back, and I'll repay that as many times I can."

  "You've no idea how true those words are..." Elizabeth thought to herself fondly as she looked at the woman who had, quite literally, given her life many times over.

  "Still, your life is precious, Ailyah," Elizabeth scrutinized her as she prodded her forehead pyfully, "So, savor it. You can't repay me if your dead, not that you need to repay me."

  "That's why I do need to," Ailyah grinned as she rubbed her forehead, "But anyways, my point is this...you never do anything without a reason, and I trust you with my life. So, yeah...I'll give it a try to harness the Aether here."

  "Just don't overdo it," Elizabeth told her.

  Ailyah nodded with a small smile. There were moments like these that Elizabeth often missed and was grateful for. Banter that closed the gap between her and the others. In the past, she could have never fathomed having a conversation like this, but after so many regressions, she's learned to appreciate the smaller things in life. Even if she'd throw them all away, they were still very precious.

  "Ma'am," Richard called, motioning for her, "I think we found something."

  Elizabeth walked over towards where Richard and the others were, with Ailyah following behind. He motioned towards the ground were there was a bit of dried blood against the base of a stone tree. There were also cw marks and what looked like the signs of a battle, but no bodies or remains of the creatures.

  "Look there," Richard pointed towards a giant hole in the ground that was rather hard to miss, "They probably ran into one of those worms too. Caught off-guard, they had to retreat to a more advantageous position...that way."

  Richard pointed towards a path between the trees, and sure enough, there were markings that looked to be from a rge creature that tried to burrow its way through the trees themselves before crumbling apart. Only what looked like boulders remained.

  "Did they stay to take the core?" Elizabeth asked, to which Richard shook his head, and Trevor held the grey, opaque gem-like core up for her to see, "Alright, let's hurry after them."

  Once again, Richard and the Twins took the lead. Elizabeth watched after them, being reminded of their pasts as Ailyah had mentioned hers. Richard was not only a veteran Pyer, but also a veteran in the old military of the United States. He had been a U.S. Ranger, one of the elite, before he was discharged and imprisoned for killing his commanding officer.

  Richard has a kind heart, but even he is human. When his unit was ambushed and everyone except him had died, Richard made his way back to command...only to discover his commanding officer breaking bread with those who had ambushed him. In his rage, Richard picked them off one by one, and in the end stood among the bodies of those who had betrayed him.

  He willingly gave himself up, and even though there was damning evidence against the commanding officer, Richard was still convicted of murder. However, he was simply discharged and imprisoned, rather than being dishonorably discharged. In the past, when the Gates first appeared, the prison he was in had been destroyed and he was among the few who Awakened at the time. However, he never left the prison, returning to his cell when all was said and done.

  When he was found, monster corpses around him, he was asked what had happened, and he gave the same response that he did the day he had killed his commanding officer and was arrested.

  "What I needed to do."

  Those words were all that he needed to say, and Elizabeth could appreciate that about him. Ever since, she didn't really interfere...but did help represent him during his trial. She sponsored him and cleared him of all wrongdoing. He was confused at first, but grateful when reunited with his family, who in the past had gone through hard times while he was in prison.

  The twins, Priscil and Trevor, well...their lives were better than when she had first met them many lives ago. They were once rapid, feral individuals having been raised in an abusive environment. They had been held captive by an Assassin's Guild that no longer exists in this life, and so their name wasn't worth remembering. All that Elizabeth recalled of them is that they took orphans in and raised them to be killers.

  When Elizabeth first recruited Priscil and Trevor all those lives ago, she had found them after a fight with that guild. They were a complete mess, attacking her desperately, afraid of being abused again, but instead she took care of them, and ever since...she ensured that the guild they had worked for never came into being whenever she regressed, if she went far enough back, and if she couldn't...she would always save the twins.

  So, in every regression that she could, Elizabeth created an orphanage sponsored by the Falcrest Corporation. A safe pce for those without a home, including the twins. They were provided school, fresh meals, clean clothes, and more. When the Gates appeared, she implemented a program for a training academy that those who desired to become Pyers could attend. No one was forced to attend, but those from the orphanage who wished to do so were always accepted, and the twins always signed up.

  Not everyone would become a Pyer via this method, but the twins excelled at their studies and though they didn't awaken right away, they soon would, and eventually joined Zero Squad. Grateful to Elizabeth for the chance she had given them, they always proved their loyalty even if they didn't know of their true past, for she had selfishly erased it from ever existing.

  It was what she had hoped to do for Maya, but with a heavy heart, stayed her hand at Maya's constant request. This life was the best she could hope for, for her dearest friend.

  As for Sigrid...she was never really a part of Zero Squad, but she was a force within the past known as The Bloody Valkyrie, and in this life it was unfortunate that her guild hadn't listened to Elizabeth's warning, but she didn't want to waste her talent. Thus, she had recruited her and did her best to help her overcome the pain and trauma of losing her entire team. If Elizabeth could have prevented it, she would have, but Elizabeth couldn't be everywhere at once.

  That warning was the best she could do at the time, but now...she would see that Sigrid grew to new, unknown heights than ever before in her previous lives. Sigrid's retionship with Maya held no bearing on that, for Elizabeth didn't hold any ill will against her. It was Maya's decision, and Lucas had supported them. What came of it was between them.

  Lost in thought, it made the walk through the winding stone forest a little more bearable, but soon she was drawn back to reality as Richard held a hand up for everyone to stop.

  "I believe we're close," he told them quietly, "Though, we may have company...Ma'am, could you check the monitor?"

  Elizabeth nodded, pulling out the small tablet from before and opened it up to reveal the familiar six blinking dots, but a little ways away was another group clustered together. She counted them out...twelve in total. Still holding strong.

  "Confirmed," Elizabeth said, returning the tablet into her inventory, "You said something about company?"

  "Yeah," Richard motioned towards the fog clinging to the trees all around them, "Been seeing movement too often to just be my eyes pying tricks, besides..."

  His eyes shifted to that of a hawk, glowing ever so slightly.

  "These new eyes...I like them," he smirked, causing Ailyah to roll her eyes and nudge him pyfully.

  "Show off," she teased.

  "Someone has to," he replied, hoisting his bow at the ready, "I appreciate the tip from before, Ma'am."

  Elizabeth gave a small nod of acknowledgement.

  "You've all kept up your training, yes?" Elizabeth inquired of them.

  "Of course," Trevor answered, slightly defiant in a way that said he was offended she even had to ask, "There's no way we'd fall behind!"

  "My brother, while rude, is correct," Priscil chimed in with a dazzlingly confident smile, "We've not been zy, Miss Elizabeth."

  "Rude!?" Trevor looked shocked that his sister would say such a thing, but Priscil simply crossed her arms with a huff.

  The two of them were adorable, and it made Elizabeth wonder something a little out of pce at the moment. What would her and Lucas's children be like? She hoped...she hoped that she'd be able to find out one day, but for now, she cleared her mind and focused.

  "Alright, Charlotte's team is up ahead," Elizabeth focused everyone up, "We have unknowns in the fog, and who knows what might be near the team. Everyone ready?

  Like they practiced a thousand times over, they all moved as one. Sigrid took the lead, shield at the ready. Priscil took the left fnk while Trevor took the right. Richard and Ailyah took the center, while Elizabeth guarded from the back. She could keep an eye on them from here, and with this formation, they could all react appropriately.

  "Alright, Zero Squad..." Elizabeth called to them, readying herself for battle as ethereal fmes danced along her body. "Move out."

  -----

  Nikushimi