Raid

The King's castle. The morning of the day of the end. Albatra's end.

An army at the door of an empty castle. The Guild Master standing at the helm, standing at the front of the army. Eight A-Ranks behind him, with their unique weapons and outfits.

"Melo? Where were you this whole time?" (A-Rank, Assassin, Fugucci)

"Guild Master made me take care of some D-Ranks." (A-Rank, Tank, MeloMelo)

"Same." (A-Rank, Magician, Torda)

"Torda...? That's where you've been? Next time don't go without me. Magicians like us should stick together." (A-Rank, Magician, Jayy R)

"Yo Bollin? It's nice to see you here... But... This isn't really a money type of job." (A-Rank, Healer, Doom)

"Doom... Doom... Doom... You don't understand me. I've changed ok. I am not money focused anymore." (A-Rank, Attacker, Bollin)

The last two A-Ranks hid in the back of the group. Their faces hidden, their bodies cloaked in black and white. They were mysterious. But the other six A-Ranks couldn't care anyless. All they wanted was one thing and one thing only.

The King dethroned.

"It's time." (Guild Master)

---

The Holy Knights charged the front line. their golden swords and silver armor piercing the sun. Mel stepped up from behind the Grand Master.

"Mel." (Guild Master)

"You owe me old man!" (Mel)

Mel tossed a needle into the air. She channeled all of her Harmony into one spell, all her energy, her spirit, her soul.

"Tropelet!" (Mel)

Purple Harmony dissipated into hundreds of little strings. The strings strung across the entire kingdom, from buildings, to taverns, all the way through the King's castle.

"Your up Doom." (Guild Master)

Doom an A-Rank Healer in a relaxing grey sweatpants sweatshirt combo walked up to Mel. He ungloved his left hand and placed it firmly on her back. He channels his own Harmony into her.

She began to glow. Overflowing, her power exploding.

All the Holy Knights from across the Kingdom of Albatra disappeared in a flash. A puff of smoke. And what replaced them were hundreds of F-Rank Adventurers.

---

An hour earlier.

"Guild Master? What are talking about? The pure energy and Harmony that would take to do? I couldn't possibly begin to fathom..." (Mel)

The Guild Master pulled out a single needle. He handed it to Mel.

"There are hundreds of other needles exactly like this spread across the Albatra. In clothes, pockets, taped to armor. Each one is connected to a Holy Knight. The A-Rank Fugucci personally placed each needle on each Knight so there is no worry-" (Guild Master)

"Guild Master I'm telling you that it is impossible, even just reaching that far would drain half of my Harmony, I would barley have enough to teleport ten Holy Knights." (Mel)

"Mel, Mel. I said there is no need to worry. I contacted Doom to help with that problem..." (Guild Master)

He stood up from his chair and walked to the Marbled Glass. His wrinkly face and wrinkly body reflecting in its watery gaze.

"Mel I brought you here not just foe your skills in Harmony, and not just for the unique spells and abilities you learned from your father. I brought you here because... I trust in you. From when I first saw you. As the little girl who made a ruckus in Magic School. Who learned the hardest spells. From Magic to Harmony. I have trusted in you. And I would like for you to trust in me. This plan has been in the works for many many years. All I needed was someone like you." (Guild Master)

"Guild Master... I'll do it..." (Mel)

The Guild Master turned around slowly.

"Before you say yes... There is one more thing." (Guild Master)

---

The A-Rank Adventurers ran throughout the castle. They split into four groups of two.

Torda with Doom.

Jayy R with MeloMelo.

Bollin with Fugucci.

And the final group was Mel, the two mysterious A-Ranks, and the Guild Master.

Each group went from hall to hall, floor to floor. The A-Rank groups of two would take the bottom floors one through nine. While the last floor where the King was would be given to the Guild Master's group.

It was a simple mission. Get in, get out. Except it wasn't as simple, there was one little hiccup. The S-Rank, Zwine. Zwine was an invisible figure. Unable to find or track, unable to talk or speak to. He was as mysterious as could be. And the worst part was that for some odd reason Zwine was forever contracted with the King of Albatra, even though he's an S-Rank Adventurer for the Guild.

So the plan for the other A-Ranks was to scout out the inside of the castle. They would search across each floor for any dangerous enemies or abnormalities. Any straggling Holy Knights that weren't teleported, any dangerous traps, any dangerous Cursed Conduits or monsters that could be hidden. Anything was taken in as a possibility. Anything and all things. It was do or die. Either the Guild Master succeeds and becomes the new King, or he doesn't and becomes an enemy of the Four Kingdom's Alliance.

---

The Guild Master made it to highest tower in the tallest castle. He, Mel and the two mysterious A-Ranks stood at the door to the King's hidden chambers. A door made of cracked wood, surrounded on all sides by mossy stone walls.

"Royd. Please." (Guild Master)

The Guild Master stepped back as one of the mysterious A-Ranks unwrapped his right hand placing it firmly on the door.

"The King is inside." (Royd)

"Anyone else? Zwine?" (Guild Master)

"There are three others. But..." (Royd)

He focused harder.

"Their magic is far too weak. The two are probably F-Ranks who switched with Holy Knights while the other is... Probably his servant." (Royd)

"Then let's proceed." (Guild Master)

Mel stepped up, pulling out her silver coin and placing it on the lock. In a simple one-word chant she waved across the lock opening the door.

The Guild Master stepped into the room.

The two mysterious A-Ranks grabbed the two F-Ranks and threw them out of the room.

The King sat in his golden chair. His golden necklaces, golden rings, golden armor, golden bracelets, golden earrings, his face shining golden skin, golden eyes. His golden crown.

Many have called him the Greedy King. Many more have called him the Golden King.

"So you have come old man." (King)

"You have aged quite poorly yourself... My... King..." (Guild Master)

The King's Servant jumped in front of the King. He held out a small dagger and aimed it at the Guild Master.

"Are you prepared to use that?" (Guild Master)

The Servant looked at the King. He looked at the Guild Master. He dropped the knife.

"I'm... Do it!" (King's Servant)

The Guild Master slowly walked up to the King.

"Zwine now!" (King)

Black...

"Mel get down!" (Guild Master)

A silent explosion. A black void in the center of the room. A hole in the moss stone wall opened up. A looming man in black walked in. He took off one of his gloves.

"Zwine..." (Guild Master)

Zwine stepped in front of the King.

"Zwine get me out of here now!" (King)

Mel, the Guild Master and the other two A-Ranks stood three meters away from Zwine. They paced their distance.

A black hole in the wall.

"What is that hole? It's pitch black?" (Mel)

"It's his power. You don't want to be touched by him. It's instant. But we're gonna have to risk it. Get ready Mel I leave it all in your hands." (Guild Master)

"Yeah I got this!" (Mel)

"Kill those lowly scum! Now! Don't let them escape!" (King)

The King pointed and raged. His anger grew larger and larger until it couldn't be contained any further. He swung and kicked. Spit and snot running down his face.

Zwine stood relaxingly still. His arms linear. His skinny legs straight. His short black hair softly flowing in front of his black mask. He stepped forward. His black-gloved hand swaying against the curve of destiny.

Black...

The Guild Master pulled out an old relic. He held out his two wrinkly hands summoning a green force field a foot in front. Black and green. Zwine's Harmony was neutralized.

"Now Mel!" (Guild Master)

The two A-Ranks stepped in front of Mel. Royd pulled out a small bronze dagger. The other one pulled out a small shield.

"Kill them!" (King)

"Mel!" (Guild Master)

Zwine stepped through the green force field, his Harmony dissipated to dust, but his physical body remained.

Mel looked up at Zwine. She focused it all on one point. The invisible pink string. She grasped the needle, it's pointy end entering her skin, blood dripping like rain.

"Tropelet!" (Mel)

A puff of smoke.

---

Meanwhile two floors below.

Bollin stood in a dark hallway filled with countless old paintings of old men and women. A figure stood on the other side.

"So your Jasa. The new A-Rank. Heard you don't like to play with others." (Bollin)

Jasa stood silently, his red scarf floating ominously. His blank white eyes following Bollin's hefty voice.

Bollin chuckled.

"Hahaha. A quiet blind guy. How in the world did you even become an A-Rank. Or... Are you hiding something under that straight face?" (Bollin)