Bryant looked about himself, rather warily as people, people, people, came and went. From this Awai to Micheal. It seemed a never ending pace of new faces, each just as trustworthy as the last. This of course meant that they weren't very trust worthy at all in his and Brandon's eyes. At the given moment, neither were very open to new people, despite the fact they acted like allies at the moment. That indeed did relax Bryant, but he was still nervous about their role, and if they were to suddenly jump on him and his family and try to kill them. It was obvious...obvious that the three would be toppled...in an instant. Bryant's eyes narrowed on the ground, the nerves getting to him.

Alasea turned back around, seeing that Kuro had disappeared. Michael, too, seemed to have left. She had detected neither one's leaving. She looked about slightly, then turned her walked over to R.D. and sat down next to him. She looked up at Awai.

"I think you should tell Juno about what happened here," she said to the Light Balance, "I'll look after R.D. and Maya in the meantime."

===In Xobelisk===

A black figure sat upon the Throne of Souls, one leg crossed over and a fist propping the head up. The being was made completely of shadow, barely discernible in the low lighting of the expansive, circular platform within the chamber. As Kuro appeared, the figure opened blood-red, serpentine eyes and gazed at the former Dark Balance.

"You may," the figure said in a deep, rasping voice. "What brings you to Shayol Ghul, Kuro?"

Alasea nodded to Awai once before the Light Balance disappeared. She looked over to the Hartnetts, whom Mercy was near, and smiled. "Relax, guys," she said reassuringly, "You're not in any danger here now. So, friends of R.D.'s?"

===At Xobelisk===

Ziatoch's eyes met Kuro's evenly, the two of them being equals in this dark realm. "I want what it can offer to Me," He said calmly. "Any useful treasures, any worthy allies. If it has something that would benefit Me, I desire it."

The shadow golem Ziatoch used as His current form sat up in the Throne and leaned forward. If it had a mouth, it would undoubtedly be smirking at the former Dark Balance. "Once it has no more use to Me, I will throw it away, like any useless, irreparable tool. Earth is not the destination of My true goal."

Bryant gave a sigh of relief when all the scary people went away. He stood up and nodded slightly looking to where they mostly stood, flashing images of each person in his head over and over again. He was examining each within his head, if only he still had his scouter, then maybe it would be easier to do such. But that was a lost item now and he would have to cope for the time being.

"Yeah." Bryant finally answered, "We're looking for something. Something I don't feel is right to say so openly." Bryant ended, folding his arms over his chest.

Alasea smiled at the group warmly. "Don't worry about it then," she said lightly, "Just rest for now. You've certainly earned it."

The girl stood up and dusted herself off. She drank in the power of the Pillar of Dawn and gazed about the ruined landscape. Slowly, the Daughter of Dawn placed her hand into the grass and pressed it, and a soothing light spread over it. The grass began to grow once more, the cracks were repaired, the land was healed. No longer were there signs of battle. She stood up, panting lightly. "I'll need your help carrying Maya and R.D. back to my place," she said, "You can rest there. Ready to go, Mercy?"

===At Xobelisk===

The dark eyes of Ziatoch gleamed in the darkness, as if he were smiling. A cold chuckled echoed through the air. "Universal conquest, eh?" he said, his tone light--it made him sound that much more chilling.

"Close, Kuro. Close. But not quite."

A black window opened up, a swirling vortex of darkness. The shadows cleared, and revealed a series of battles across the surface of Earth: Kuro should recognize them, they were the battles the CalmWaters crew had engaged in over the many months.

"You are correct in saying that the heroes of the Light, the brave men and women who stand against the growing tides of darkness, will come before me to engage me in battle, as they have against you and countless others over the Ages."

One by one, each battle came to its close, the death knell sounded on the beings of the dark, the heroes of the Light striking them down to throw their souls into whatever Hell that awaited them.

"Time and time again they do this. It's an intriguing thing, the potential of mankind. Despite whatever evil, whatever turmoil, they will rise up and prevail."

Other battles began in the dark viewer. One by one, each battle ended with the heroes slowly being killed off, each one brutally destroyed in battle.

"They will come here, to Shayol Ghul, to this very tower of Xobelisk, and beyond, into Paradise Lost."

The darkness writhed behind Ziatoch.

"I am counting on it."

Meta sent a weird stare at Sin over her shoulder for a moment, before looking around and noticing the pillar Sin had mentioned when talking about his father.

"So, he's in there?" She said, as she walked over towards the pillar of water. Sure enough, it seemed as if a presence radiated from it. When she came closer to it, she could see a figure within the watery confines of the pillar.

Meta's brow frowned, and she looked back at Sin. "How did he get in there?" She asked. "And how will he get out?"

Brandon nodded before Bryant could respond, but of course not in protest. Brandon picked up Maya, carrying her under an arm, gently of course. He then carefully put RD over a shoulder. He strained a bit at first, but RD's armor had disappeared, he was easier to carry. Brandon was able to bear the weight now. He then turned to Alasea and followed her, as did Veronica and Bryant.

Alasea smiled at Mercy and motioned for the group to follow her. She led them down the hill and into the sparse forest, to the house she had created. After allowing them in, Alasea directed Brandon to place Maya and R.D. in the two separate guest bedrooms for them to rest.

The Daughter of Dawn entered the dining room and plopped down into a chair, sighing tiredly. It'd be a rough day. "You guys want something to eat?" she asked.

===In Xobelisk===

Ziatoch smiled as Kuro left, leaving Him alone within the dark. "You are correct, Kuro," He whispered smugly, "The end of the Age is coming, and I will be the one to end it."

Bryant shook his head for himself. The other two were silent. However Brandon was rather busy finding the bedroom. He found it quickly thanks to Alasea. Veronica helped him put Maya down on one bed while Brandon laid RD down on the other.

In the mean time, Bryant invited himself to one of the chairs. He sat, his hands up in front of his face and looked into nothing it seemed. His eyes distant in thought.

"My name is Bryant Hartnett," He finally said, still staring, "My wife is Veronica and my brother, Brandon." Bryant then informed, his eyes shifting to her. "I think your name is Alasea, no?"

Alasea nodded in response to Bryant, smiling slightly. "Yes," she said, "R.D. told you about me, I'm guessing."

She looked towards one of the windows, her eyes distant. "How'd you guys get here?" she asked, "Normally something can't just appear right next to the Pillar of Dawn so easily."

"That..." Bryant began, already feeling nauseous again from the experience, "Was your friend's doing. He yelled 'Chaos Control' and poof, we're here." Bryant explained, "It wasn't a rather pleasurable experience, I assure you." He added.

Veronica came in, hesitant. Though she took a bold step and spoke: "They're in bed now, they should be fine when they wake up." She informed, mostly Alasea.

Alasea quirked an eyebrow at Bryant. "Chaos... Control?" she said, trying to think. Not once did she remember him using a technique called that, but she did remember the Chaos Emerald he was given at Khalis. Perhaps he had found a use for it. When Veronica entered and spoke, Alasea nodded to her and thanked her.

"You guys look beat," she commented, "You guys have a rough trip before coming here?"

Bryant looked over his shoulder to Veronica and nodded. He then returned to the girl. He sighed and Veronica almost giggled. That was a stupid question in its own right.

"Well, miss, if you have time, I have a story for you to hear." Bryant said. Then he would proceed to tell her about Sawyer, about how they were just simple mercenaries, apparently outdated for this world now. Then Veronica took a turn and spoke about their dealings with Blazen the God of Fire. They each then talked about their capture by the seven and of Dargor and Bahamut, then finally of RD and his battle with Xazax up to the chaos control. And of course about dropping the tank on him.

"Yes, I knew about Bahamut... it was unfortunate," she said, "The battle took place only a couple miles from here, if you wish to see the battlefield tomorrow."

She sighed and stretched, standing up from the table. "Feel free to crash for the night here," she said, "You'll be safe here for the night. I'll be in my room if you need me. Don't leave the house, okay, Mercy?"

With that, Alasea exited the dining room, going down a hall into her own bedroom, which was nearby the guest bedroom R.D. and Maya were in. Night fell quickly on the settlement, and the moon rose into the night sky, casting a pale glow on the world, and leaving strange shadows over the distant island of Shayol Ghul in the distance.

It was late into the night, nearly midnight, when R.D. finally awoke. He found himself in a strange bed in a strange room. In another bed beside him was the still form of Maya. For a moment, R.D. watched the young girl breathe slowly in the state of sleep. After several long minutes, R.D. stood up and pulled the bandages off of his body, noticing that his wounds were healed.

He could feel something, a stillness in the air. It made him feel tense; it was as if something was lurking beyond the shadows outside of the house. R.D. quietly took one of his Phase Blades from its sheathe and stepped outside of the room, making his way past a slightly opened door. After a quick peek inside, he saw the form of Alasea resting silently in her bed, her back turned to him, her brown hair draped over the bedding and her bare shoulder. Silently R.D. made his way past, and into the living room. A fireplace was burning slowly in the living room, giving warmth to the house to ward off the chill of the night. The stillness, the strange feeling was stronger here. He frowned more, and made his way to the entryway and outside.

R.D.'s shoes made little sound as he crossed the grassy grove, walking into the sparse forest some distance to some point. He entered another grove, this one larger than the one Alasea's house was in. Here, the cold, still feeling was strongest. The hair on the back of his neck stood up, and he looked about.

"Whoever you are," he said quietly into the night air, "Show yourself."

"I guess there's no point in trying to sneak up on you," someone remarked. "Then again...that's not how I planned to have this meeting."

From the night, Malvettix stepped foward, glaring at R.D. with even eyes. "I'm very disappointed with you right now...Rising Dragon."

R.D. frowned, straightening up as he met Malvettix's gaze evenly. His green eyes narrowed slightly, and his grip on the Phase Blade tightened.

"I was wondering when you'd show up, Malvettix," he said neutrally to Matt's antithesis.

"Then let's cut to the chase."

Nightmare serpents opened their maws at R.D., gathering dark energy as Malvettix spread his fingers. His sleeves morphed into the jaws of some fantastic beast, fangs overlapping his hands as he gathered power.

"You took something from me, Rising Dragon," Malvettix hissed, devoid of his usual sadistic flare. "Something very important."

Just as the sleeves of Malvettix's coat morphed, R.D. had taken his sword in both hands and activated it. He did not attack, however, and looked at all of the nightmare serpents warily.

"Did I, now?" R.D. said, his tone guarded. "What makes him so damn important to you, anyway?"

"He is like what you would refer to as God," Malvettix replied. "Even indirectly, he is responsible for my creation, and I would honor his choice to eliminate my existence, when it would have come down to that." Now there was that smirk, that trademark of the shadowy being. "Yet I do not honor his wishes, like many humans do in the face of their maker. I suppose in that way, we are similar."

R.D. glared at Malvettix, gritting his teeth. Just as he feared; Malvettix was pissed that he had defeated Dragon Drive FINAL and in extension, Matt.

"And now you want to kill me for eliminating your chance at a final battle," he growled, an unfelt wind causing his clothing and hair to flutter about. "You want me dead because I beat Matt."

"Nothing would satisfy me more at this moment."

It almost sounded like a hum passed through the air.

"...but I have other things in mind."

The serpents closed their mouths, but did not recede. Malvettix lowered his arms.

R.D. quirked an eyebrow at Malvettix, and his eyes darted rapidly to each side as the serpents stood down. He lowered his blade slightly, but did not put it away.

"... like what?"