The Grand Staircase

The room was dark and seemed to be untouched. In front of the door was a large staircase that was draped in red carpet. Nobody seemed to be here and yet I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched.

"Which way should we go first?" Satoru asked, looking around the dark area.

The lights to the left and right hallway suddenly turned on and revealed dark silhouettes on each hallway. One was in the right hallway while two were in the left. Finally, the lights upstairs turned on and revealed a figure we actually could see. In the girls hand, she was holding Naoki Mai by the collar.

"I guess tonight will be a little more lively than expected." The girl said before turning around, Naoki still in her clutches.

Satoru went to take a step forward but the old man put his hand out to stop him. To my surprise, Satoru actually backed down and took a deep breath. Now that we've actually encountered the enemy, were we supposed to split up like that old man said?

"Team One, go to the right hallway. Team Two will go to the left hallway. I'll accompany Team Three on the second floor." The old man ordered.

Everyone nodded their heads and made their way over to the designated areas given to them. As I ran down the hallway I saw the figure down the hallway turn around and enter the room behind him.

Without hesitation, I slammed the door open and entered the giant dining room. The room's scale could be compared to most of the party rooms I've been to in other manors.

"You again?" The man said, complete shock in his voice.

At the end of the room was a man I've seen before. He was the guy who utterly defeated me back at King's base. I quickly unsheathed Genki and activated my aura.

"I won't fail the boss a second time so don't expect me to go easy on you-." The man was cut off when I appeared right in front of him, my blade inches away from his body.

"I'll have you know I didn't just sit around these past three days. Everyone's grown much stronger now so don't think this will be easy!" I said, firing a beam into the ground that launched us away from each other.

"I'm sorry, do you two know each other?" Akari asked, looked back and forth between the man and I.

"It's not just John. Alice and Akio both know him. I was half asleep so I barely even got to see him." Ichiro said.

"That's not important." I said jumping back to regroup with everyone.

The man opened a portal and began to pull his scythe out of it. Akari and Ichiro both activated their auras and got into a fighting stance.

"As I said earlier, I won't fail again." The man said, stabbing his scythe into the ground.