Enter Nyctala

*Vzoom!*

We exited the portal and descending from the sky fast. Xydrid, who protected me from falling off is unconscious and is barely gliding.

"Alden! Alden! Xydrid's out cold!" Ashley said.

I looked and see that Xydrid's eyes were closed.

"Xydrid!" I yelled, "Xydrid wake up! We're falling!"

I yell at him to wake up. I smack his head rapidly in hopes to wake him up.

Xydrid opened his eyes and notices we're plummeting downwards.

*Wrooosh!*

Xydrid flapped his red wings to stop our descent, but we're coming in too fast towards the ground.

"This is gonna be a rough landing!" Ashley yelled.

*KA-THOOM!!*

We crashed into the ground, dirt, trees, and even monsters were either crushed or knocked out of the way.

We skidded across the ground for a good 300 feet until we grind to a halt. I was thrown off of Xydrid on impact where Andre's coffin was flung off of Ashley's grip.

*KA-THUNK!*

[20 F-rank targets slain. 20,000 EP acquired.]

I get up and I found out that I landed one of the skeletons that was wandering about. I looked around the sky was unnaturally purple and darker. Yet, there is still light.

"Hey, everyone alright?" I said.

"Yeah, we're all good." Ashley said as she turns into a human. She dusts herself off and shakes her hair to rid the dirt. "And it looks like we're inside the purple fog."

*Thunk!*

Andre kicked open the coffin and emerges from it, holding his head.

"Ugh...when's the last time I was in a car crash this intense?" Andre moaned. He blinked and looked around the environment. He then smiled.

"Nice, we're closer to Nyctala when it comes to the fog." Andre said.

I walked to Xydrid and petted him.

"You did great, Xydrid." I said, smiling at him. Xydrid puffs his nose and shrugged himself off.

"I gotta say, Alden. You really saved us with that Space Magic. Thanks." Andre said.

"Yeah..." I replied. I looked out into the distance and see the blinding white dome in the distance, Andre, Ashley, and Xydrid looked to see that as well.

"That AOE is massive AND persistent." Ashley said. "I doubt any Undead and Hellkin will be able to go to that location anytime soon."

"Yeah. Even so, we made a good distance away from them." I said, still looking at the dome.

Ashley looked ahead and seeing the trees and plants changing color and the undead turning into dust.

"Guys, we're not out of the woods, yet!" Ashley said with her eyes open. We looked to where she was pointing and the environment in front of us is changing while the dome is still there. The purple fog that was there is beginning to fade.

"Uh...why is the fog disappearing?! We're many ways away from that AOE!" Andre said, stepping back. "Unless..."

"We gotta move now!" I yelled. I sent Xydrid and Andre's coffin in the Isolated Space and we began sprinting through the trees.

"There is a underground entrance towards my home! Follow me!" Andre said.

We continue eerie forest until we stopped in front of a bush of purple leaves and black branches. Andre lifts the bush and shows a hidden entrance.

We quickly enter the hidden passage and closed the door above us. It's completely dark and the only thing I feel is wooden stairs.

*Creak!* *Creak!* *Creak!*

Every step I take causes the wooden steps to creak and groan under my weight since I am a bigass Oni beefcake that is taller than any professional Basketball player.

"How many secret passages you made?" Ashley said.

"Twenty. The bush thing is one of the steepest." Andre said. "You can never have too many backups."

"I know that's true." I agreed. "Got a question."

"Shoot." Andre said.

"You sure these stairs can hold an Oni like me?" I asked.

*CREEAK!*

As I took another step, I have officially jinxed myself and others.

*CRACK!*

The step I took gave way, causing me to fall towards Ashley's back.

"Oh shi--!" I cursed, but was interrupted by me falling face first on Ashley's back.

*BUMP!*

"Ack!" Ashley grunted as I hit her back and subsequently rolled with me in the process.

*CRASH!*

Andre turned around and in his vampiric eyes, we crashed right into his face.

*CRASH!!*

"Argh!" Andre also grunted from the impact and tumbled along with us.

*KA-THUNK!* *CRACK!* *THUMP!!*

With each impact, we ended up breaking more of the wooden stairs, causing cracks in the walls, and kicking dirt.

We kept tumbling until we hit the last step, causing a loud crash.

*KRASH!!!*

"Oh man..." I groaned not from the pain, but the spinning from falling down the stairs.

As soon as I get up, I felt something soft on my hand. It is long, yet wide and scaly.

"Ashley, is that your tail?" I said.

"Yeah, it's a part of me." Ashley answered.

I let go of her tail stood up to see Andre's lower floor. I see an assortment of weapons, magic crystals, blood supplies, and multiple treasures that could make any kingdom look like some backwater alley.

"Nice man cave, Andre." I said, smiling at the view.

*Wooosh!*

Andre dashed past us and stood in front of the large fire pit. He then took a elegant bow to present his hideout.

"Lady and Gentleman, welcome to my humble abode." He said in a deep, yet formal tone to us as if he is presenting people of great importance.

"Looks like you're ready for war." Ashley said.

"Yeah, two wars to be in fact." Andre said.

"Two wars?" I said.

"The hero we're facing and...the other one in Nyctala." Andre said. "I've been stocking up as much blood possible along with my weapons and other supplies."

Another hero?! Just when we barely escaped, we're facing another one!? Talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire.

"When did you hear that? I never got the notification." I asked.

"Yeah, I never got that either." Ashley added.

"It was when I was barely at B rank. A girl named Nephiri Epsilon." Andre said. "She is an Outworlder like us and have been causing problems for me ever since. The reason that none of you got the notification is because I was in this world for much longer. 70 years to be in fact."

Soon, the room fell silent. Only the crackling embers of the torches is capable of breaking the silence. For we are speechless.