Ikazuchi had recently arrived on Luluhawa island alongside Xerxes due to rumors of monstrous creatures lurking in the depths near the island. Stories of these beasts even reached the Northern area of Fiore where the guild was located. After several more instances, it was impossible for their interest not to be piqued. The guild quickly collected various information regarding the requests from the island, and verified the information before it was relayed to the interested parties. Ikazuchi and Xerxes had been among those that set off immediately after receiving confirmation. They shared the common desire to push their bodies to the limit and obtain greater strength, so they could easily work together or compete against each other depending on the circumstances. Either way, the presence of the other could only be beneficial during the travel and request.

Their arrival by ship had been peaceful, but the tension and anxiety of the sailors validated the rumors in a way that the information of the guild could not. He was excited for the battle that they would encounter, but also concerned for how they would actually defeat the beast. It had to be mentioned that neither Ikazuchi nor Xerxes were mages, and they both wore heavy equipment. They would be in danger if they were to enter the sea directly, but he also couldn’t deny the possibility of that happening.

Due to the time when they arrived, the duo was forced to spend the night on the island and experience the culture. The unique greetings and style of the inhabitants differed greatly from Fiore, so Ikazuchi struggled to adapt. By the end of the day, the duo found themselves lodging intending to seek out one of the many requests on the island on the following day. The two naturally hoped that they could earn a large sum of jewels while fulfilling their desire for combat.

Word Count: 310

The member 'Ikazuchi' has done the following action : Spin

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'Dice 100' : 54

As the Desiertian sits in his room, he stares at the small golden metal box that sat on the desk. The day before departing with Ikazuchi, Xerxes was visited by his brother Darius. It was a meeting that, while expected, was not something he looked forward to. Though he was close with his father, his mother meant everything to him. The fact that he was unable to be there nagged at him greatly. The two brothers spoke at length before Darius handed him the golden metal box that currently sat before him. It was a family heirloom, one that was rumored to have special powers, particularly powers relating to mana. Unfortunately, it was just rumors as no one was able to prove if it was factual or not. Xerxes had no desire for the heirloom but, given that he received it upon his mother’s request, decided to keep it. Sighing deeply, he gets up and decides to go and explore the area. He needed fresh air.

The sights on the island were breathtaking, a sight that Xerxes had not thought he would see. Something like an island was foreign to him, a pipe dream that he never thought he would realize. The fact that he was here was a testament. As he aimlessly walks around, greeting those that were still out, he spots a few men carrying equipment. Barrels of food, ammo, and other essentials, all of it was led to their massive red galleon with the letters ‘GG’ emblazoned on the side. Interest piqued; Xerxes moves towards the group as he overhears their conversation. “How much more shit we need?” “Just a few more. With all the attacks, the captain wants to leave tonight while the seas are calm. He does not want to tangle with that beast out there.” “I hear that. I heard that damned creature sank seven ships just last week.” Xerxes smiles at the thought, realizing that he and Ikazuchi just found their way. He quickly rushes back to their lodgings, banging on Ikazuchi’s door before letting himself in. “You can fuss at me later for not waiting. I just found our way to the sea.”

WC: 361

Ikazuchi had been performing basic maintenance on his swords when Xerxes burst into his room. He didn’t react to the originally unknown disturbance as he had his sword in hand. Had it not been Xerxes, anyone else would have met the well-maintained sword without hesitation. Seeing that it was his companion, Ikazuchi’s slight tension released as he continued scanning his weapon and appraising his work that was almost complete. “Close the door behind you.”

“Now, what did you find?” Ikazuchi wasn’t sure why Xerxes had been out at this time, but that also wasn’t his concern. If anything, it made things easier for himself as he wouldn’t have to seek out a request that would take them out onto the open sea where the sea creatures were rumored to be active. He would sheathe his sword while his guildmate explained the situation and lean it against the table he was sitting at in his room. On top of the table were his various pieces of equipment and small leather pouches as he had been confirming his equipment once more after arriving. Ikazuchi was unconcerned about his companion seeing him unguarded and unprepared, something that unintentionally expressed his trust in Xerxes. Even if they weren’t personally close, he didn’t believe his guildmate to be someone who would stab him in the back or take advantage of his current condition.

Word Count: 220
Total Word Count: 530

To the Desiertian’s complete lack of surprise, Ikazuchi was sat in his room maintaining his weapons. Given that the man was an experienced weaponsmith, proven by sword Breaker that he crafted himself, it was no surprise that this was what he was doing. The room was littered with equipment, from sharpening tools to leather pouches. Closing the door behind him, Xerxes pulls up a spare seat beside the man and removes Jotunn’s Fang from its resting place. “If you have some time, you mind doing some maintenance on this?” he asks inquisitively.

Figuring the response would be receptive, given the fact that their chances of success and survival could hinge on the effectiveness of his weapon, Xerxes placed it down beside the two and began to speak. “I took a walk down by the docks and overheard hat there is a crew loading up a massive red galleon to head out into the open waters. They were planning to leave early tomorrow morning to avoid running into that creature that everyone is afraid of. Even planned to go a completely different route in order to do so. The ship looks like it can take some damage and dish some out as well. The fact that they aren’t using it to hunt the beast is a crime. I say the two of us get onboard the ship and force the captain to confront the beast. That way, we have a full crew to dictate and we won’t have to split the profits of the kill.”

WC: 254
TWC: 615

Ikazuchi silently accepted his companion's spear before encouraging him to explain. He spent quite a bit of his free time back at the guild doing precisely this, so he would naturally be more willing to do so on an actual request with Xerxes. ‘It’s a good spear…’ He directly slid his hand along it while closely examining it. Due to the quality of it, there wasn’t too much wear and tear. The faint scratches, scars, and dullness were both a testament to the efforts of Xerxes and the quality of the weapon. If anything, Ikazuchi was concerned about the faint scent of blood coming from it.

The marks left on the shaft weren’t a concern towards the structural integrity, so Ikazuchi’s attention was directed towards the actual spearhead as he listened to Xerxes. ‘This is where the problem is.’ He didn’t hesitate to separate the spear into its various components and immediately clean the dried blood from it. This could result in the failure of a weapon if it were neglected, so Ikazuchi was particularly wary of it.

Xerxes had finished explaining the circumstances around the time Ikazuchi took the separated spearhead and closely examined the material. “Based on what they were saying, do you think there’s any chance they would hire us as guards?” His attention didn’t leave the spearhead as he spoke. The material was clearly organic, but it also had some of the properties of metal. As a blacksmith, his interest was piqued by this unique and rare material. Unfortunately, he couldn’t research it unless Xerxes left the weapon to him while he had access to his forge. ‘Maybe next time.’ He ignored his disappointment as he skillfully sharpened the pronged spearhead. He had paused for a moment between speaking and sharpening, but he added onto what he said before Xerxes responded. “If we’re going out to fight, we might as well be paid for it, right?”

Word Count: 320
Total Word Count: 850

Xerxes watched Ikazuchi work in awed silence, amazed by display of craftsmanship. Watching a master at their craft perform their craft was always something that interested the Desiertian greatly. Seeing someone who had such a level of knowledge for an aspiration of theirs gave Xerxes hope that he could accomplish his own aspirations down the line. As Ikazuchi separating the sections of the spear and meticulously cleaning the dried blood that seeped deep into the cracks, the Desiertian responds. “Yeah, you are right. That’s much better than what I planned to do. I figured we’d sneak aboard, encounter the captain in their quarters and force them to do it. Your way sounds more lucrative. I’m game.”

As Ikazuchi finishes up the maintenance and hands back Jotunn’s Fang, Xerxes grabs it and inspects the work. The spear felt lighter and the tips looked sharper than ever. The Desiertian felt like he could easily cleave through bones as if they were like butter. “Let’s go.” He says as he goes to exit the room. The sun begins to peak out about the clouds on the morning of the trip. The wind blew gently and the crystal blue sea seemed to glimmer as if were a diamond. Xerxes moved towards the red galleon with Ikazuchi not far behind him. They had a singular goal in mind for the moment, finding the captain. Xerxes easily spotted the man standing just outside the ship. He was a rather tall man with shaggy and tattered black hair. The man was adorned with a black coat with red highlights and had his right-hand hovering over a golden pistol.

“Always on alert.” Xerxes muttered to himself as he drew closer. Using his speed, the Desiertian quickly closes the gap between them and draws a hidden blade before gently pressing the tip of the blade against the man’s back. The captain grabs a hold of his pistol and attempts to draw it but stops just shy of doing so after he spots Ikazuchi. Knowing that he is out manned, his body relaxes as his hand eases off the gun. “Damn. What are you pirates?” he says. “He thinks we’re pirates? Rude, wouldn’t you say Ikazuchi?” the Desiertian says as he applies just a little more pressure with the tip of the blade. “You can think of us as hired help and we are here to help you.” Xerxes says with a smile.  

WC: 403
TWC: 1,018

Ikazuchi was careful and meticulous as he inspected, repaired, and maintained the weapon to the best of his abilities. He paid close attention to the spearhead as he perfectly restored the edge, trying to glean any information he could from the process. ‘It seems to draw its power primarily from the unique material?’ His curiosity about the material only grew as he dealt with it. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t be able to do anything without his equipment at the guildhall.

One important detail was the fact that Ikazuchi was able to still follow what Xerxes was saying as he performed the final parts of the maintenance.  “Who are we to say no to more money?” He had a slight smile as he skillfully reassembled the weapon. All of the connections were firmer and the overall state of it improved. “I will take care of the maintenance from now on whenever we are at the guild.” He couldn’t help offer his services when they returned for both Xerxes and himself. ‘I can’t research it then…’

After giving the weapon back to his companion, the two departed for the ship that Xerxes had mentioned. Ikazuchi was impressed by the size and quality of the ship that he saw. He wasn’t a shipwright, but he had learned a bit about quality lumber during his time in the Worth Woodsea. It also seemed as though it would depart some time soon, so it was the perfect option for the two.

Ikazuchi was only one step behind Xerxes who quickly closed the gap to the captain at a certain point. He was able to clearly see his companion’s actions from his position, so he intentionally moved slightly slower and paid attention to the surroundings in order to ensure no one caught them off guard. “I’d say so, Xerxes.” Ikazuchi had a slight smile as he mumbled an additional line. “What kind of pirates don’t have a ship?”

After seeing that the surroundings were clear, Ikazuchi turned his attention directly towards the captain from the man’s side. “W-Why?” The man stuttered slightly due to the pressure of the dagger his guildmate wielded. Ikazuchi was eying the man’s gun as he responded to the question. “It’s simple, we want to go out to sea and we think you could use our services…” Ikazuchi’s left hand rested on his sword at this point. “Isn’t that right, Xerxes?” Just like his guildmate, Ikazuchi was giving the man a seemingly friendly smile.

Word Count: 410
Total Word Count: 1,260

“It’s exactly as he says. We are generously offering our services to safely guide you through these troubled waters to where you need to go. That big bad sea creature won’t be after you with us around.” Xerxes says as he eases the tip of the blade away from the captain’s back but still kept it close enough so the man knew Xerxes could use it as a moment’s notice. “How much are we talking about?” The captain says as he moves forward slightly, sticking his hand up the back of his shirt to check and see if he is bleeding. The Desiertian, pulling his hidden blade back in its proper place, turns the captain around points him towards the galleon. “Let’s negotiate.” He says as the trio begin to head towards the ship. A few minutes pass as both Xerxes and Ikazuchi find themselves on the ship. Xerxes had lost track of his Sleeping Calamity counterpart but knew that he was somewhere close by, likely counting the jewels they received in advance for their ‘services’. A few of the crew members eyed the Desiertian warily, unsure of just who he was or why he was there. Xerxes simply ignored them and longingly stared out at the sea.

“Alright men, listen up. I…decided that we needed to deviate from our initial scheduled path in order to burn some time. As such, I got us a little extra protection just in case we run into some trouble out in the sea. These men from Sleeping Calamity volunteered to help us.” A few eyes turned towards Xerxes as the captain spoke, those likely knowing the truth of why the two of them were on the ship. They weren’t dumb enough to try and do anything about it. As the captain finished his speech, the crew got to work. In unison, they raised the anchor and lowered the sails, all moving as a well-oiled machine. In a matter of moments, the massive red galleon moved towards the open seas, ready for whatever challenges that may come about. Unbeknownst to everyone on the ship, something massive lurked in the waters below them. It followed the ship’s course, slowly but surely closing the gap.

WC: 368
TWC: 1,387

Ikazuchi eased up as he noticed the captain of the ship had resigned himself to his fate. He only added one final comment before they made their way onto the ship. “Don’t worry, we’re worth every jewel.” There was a bit of sincerity in his voice as he wasn’t the type to simply take payment without doing anything. He would, without a doubt, perform his offered service to the best of his abilities. If they didn’t need to get out to sea as soon as possible, he wouldn’t have even bothered doing something tedious like pressuring a captain to hire them.

Just walking on the deck of the ship gave Ikazuchi a sense of sturdiness and stability that the ship they arrived on didn’t have. He had been concerned about this fact, so he was thankful that they would have a sturdy ship. He couldn’t imagine what the captain would feel if he knew that the two that he was leading onto the ship were intending to face off against the calamity that the crew hoped to avoid.

The negotiations were simply after the two verified their identities. Ikazuchi’s infamy had even reached this island, so the captain was both relieved and concerned. Xerxes would likely be similar in strength to Ikazuchi as they moved together, so it meant that he had two criminals with significant strength on his ship. They were even forcing him to employ them, so Ikazuchi could only imagine the man’s dilemma after learning this information. Unfortunately for him, it was too late to back out of the deal as he and his ship would only meet a bad ending if he did.

After they received their pay, Ikazuchi separated from his companion to check that the amount was correct below deck. He wasn’t concerned as he roamed into the ship despite the wary, almost hostile, gazes. He briefly inspected the various cannons and storage that were readily available near the flight of stairs before returning to the upper deck once more.

He arrived just in time for the captain to introduce them to the crew. Some clearly knew the reality of the situation, but none stepped forward to clarify as their captain had reached an agreement with Ikazuchi and Xerxes. ‘He knows better than to cross us…’ Ikazuchi was relaxed as he made his way around the upper deck, watching the busy sailors raise anchor and set sail. His curiosity got the better of him as this ship was equipped with better, more unique, weapons that the one that they had arrived at the island on. ‘These could help us with our hunt.’ Ikazuchi couldn’t help but acknowledge the weapons as he wasn’t sure if the creature they encountered would move close enough from him to cut down. His attention turned to the captain at this point. ‘I wonder if he knows that we aren’t mages?’ He couldn’t help but smile at that thought.

The ship’s route was one that consisted of many stops between the various islands and coastal ports for trading. If the two intended to accompany the ship for its entirety, they would likely spend months on the ship before they returned to Luluhawa Island. Thankfully, they were only contracted for a short time due to their persuasive methods, and they only intended to hunt the monster that they heard rumors of before disembarking.

Ikazuchi was unaware of the fact that something was lurking in the depths of the sea, stalking their ship from an imperceptible depth. He simply continued to roam the upper deck of the ship as he watched the sea or observed the sailors at work. He intentionally didn’t approach Xerxes during this time as his companion seemed unapproachable at a glance. He was curious about what his guildmate was thinking about, but it was the kind of discussion that wasn’t suitable for the open seas like they were moving into.

The day went by peacefully as the crew safely sailed further out into the ocean towards a remote island. There was only the seemingly endless sea in any direction as night descended upon them. The sailors were in the process of bringing the ship to a halt as they couldn’t safely navigate through the night, even with the help of magic.

After the uneventful day, Ikazuchi could only go approach his companion who he had given space to discuss their plans. “Xerxes, do you have a minute?” Ikazuchi approached his guildmate in order to converse after saying that, making it clear that he only asked as a formality in this situation. “It seems we’re spending the night at sea.” He looked around briefly after saying that before speaking again. “I know that this is normal, but I had been hopeful for the creature to appear today…” What Ikazuchi didn’t know was the fact that the creature in question was currently rapidly approaching from the depths under the cover of darkness.

Word Count: 820
Total Word Count: 2,080

For the Desiertian, the day went back at a surprisingly slow pace. He spent a majority of the day simply gazing out at sea, lost in thought. At his homeland, he lived in an area where such a large body of water was a fool’s dream. It was something that no one in his family ever dreamed to see and would likely not believe would ever exist. All they knew of was sand. Sand and nothing else. He wondered just how his mother and father would react if they were still among the living and saw something such as this. He smiled as he thought of them, the memories that they created over the years. He knew that at some point, he would have to go back and pay his respects to them both properly.

The Desiertian’s thoughts are stirred by the arrival of Ikazuchi who seemed slightly apprehensive to approach him as to not to disturb. Xerxes had not seen his comrade all day, nothing that he was probably exploring the ship or counting and splitting their earnings evenly. “Seems that way. As with you, I was also expecting it to show up or at least get a sighting of it. Oh well, at least we’ll get some payment out of this.” Xerxes says as he turns his gaze towards the sea once more. Unbeknownst to the two, the massive creature approached them, its shadow underneath the water eclipsing that of the galleon itself. It moves underneath, slightly bumping into the ship and causes it to rock. Not enough to cause concern but enough to let people know that something was off. Xerxes grips onto the side of the ship tightly as he shoots a knowing glance towards Ikazuchi, a smile appearing on his face. “It’s here.” He says as he draws Jotunn’s Fang. Suddenly, greenish appendages rise from the sea and latch onto the ship, wood splintering under the sheer weight and power of them. The beast’s objective was simple: crush the ship and sink the crew; force them all into its domain to play with them as it saw fit. The captain runs out from his quarters and yells at his crew prepare for battle as he moves towards the two Sleeping Calamity guildmembers. “Looks like you’ll be getting your money’s worth after all. If anyone dies, it’s on you guys.” He says as he goes man the steering wheel.

“Was that a threat?” Xerxes says to Ikazuchi with a chuckle as he moves towards the nearest appendage. He sees three crew members futility attacking the appendage with their cutlasses, their strikes failing to even pierce the beast’s skin. “Out of the way!” Xerxes says as he forcefully moves them aside. Twirling Jotunn’s Fang slightly, he delivers three quick yet powerful strikes on the appendage as it quivers and loosens its grip. He continues his assault, one strike after another until the appendage is severed. The grip on the other appendages tighten as Xerxes sees some bubbling off in the distance. “That’s likely where the main body is…” he says inquisitively as he moves towards the nearest harpoon. He thought to relay this to his comrade but figured a battle-hardened individual such as himself had likely come to that conclusion on his own. He mans the gun and closes his left eye in an attempt to line up his shoot. He takes a quick breath and shoots the harpoon in the direction of the bubbles, chuckling to himself as the harpoon seems to have stuck to something. A small pool of blood seeps up as Xerxes gets off the gun and yells. “Everyone! Fire cannons, magic, whatever you have at the pool of blood! That’s where the creature is!” Though no one other than Ikazuchi wanted him there, they all nodded wordlessly and began the task, preferring their own survival over their mutual dislike. Magic, gunfire, and cannonballs all peppered the pool of blood and more and more blood began to seep to the surface. After a volley, everyone stopped and an eerie stillness befell the area. “Is it dead?” one of the men says as he leans over towards the water. “It’s coming…” Xerxes says as the ship begins to rumble.

At the bow of the ship, the creature emerges in full. A massive entity the likes of which Xerxes had never seen before. It opens its mouth and lets out a guttural roar as its appendages sweep the ship knocking down most of the crew. The grip on the ship tightens as Xerxes charges forward, knowing that he needs to stop this before things got worse. The creature, spotting the approaching Xerxes and likely an attacking Ikazuchi, attempts to stop them by focusing the majority of its relentless attack on them. Nimbly, the Desiertian dodges most of the strikes, using Jotunn’s Fang to counter the other attacks. Just given that his strikes, though effective, seemed to do very little to creature, he knew that Ikazuchi had to be the one to deliver the killing blow. To that end, he had to give him the opportunity to do so. Doing so would be dangerous but he knew that Ikazuchi would be able to finish the job. He looks behind him, wordlessly nodding to Ikazuchi before continuing to charge forward. He knew that his comrade would likely know what he was intended on doing. Though their time working together was brief, they were like kindred spirits. A large, sharpened appendage attempts to slam atop of Xerxes who narrowly dodges it. Deciding to use it as a platform, he hops on it and begins to run up to the creature’s face. It seemed to be distracted, likely due to Ikazuchi’s interference would be ideal for what he needed.

The Desiertian leaps up and prepares to stab Jotunn’s Fang in the creature’s temple. He figured that the spear’s slowing properties would be just enough for Ikazuchi to do what he does best with his monstrous strength. As he begins his descent, the creature opens its mouth and shoots out a few sharpened tentacles towards the Desiertian. Knowing that he can not fully dodge, he braces himself. The tentacles rips through some chunks of his upper arm while the final tentacle gouges out his left eye. The Desiertian screams in pain as he pushes forward, stabbing the spear deep in the temple. The creature roars as Xerxes lets go, falling rapidly towards the ship below. “Do it!” he screams towards Ikazuchi before he crashes hard on the top of the ship, crashing down to the deck below. He begins to lose consciousness as he hears a final roar from the creature before all goes silent. “Looks like he did it…” he says before darkness encloses him.

WC: 1,126
TWC: 2,513

Ikazuchi was forced to think that he somehow jinxed them as both Xerxes and himself were made aware of the creature’s presence. Thankfully, his guildmate’s desire for battle outweighed any desire to hold it against him. Ikazuchi nodded in response to Xerxes and drew his swords in sync with his companion. His attention focused on their various tentacles that assaulted the ship as the captain became active and shouted at them. Ikazuchi only gave the man a glance before assessing how he should deal with the assault.

“It sounded like it.” Ikazuchi smiled at Xerxes’ comment as he moved towards the farthest of the appendages in order to operate as efficiently as possible alongside his companion. Ikazuchi had an advantage over Xerxes when it came to dealing with the creature's appendages due to his two swords allowing him to easily perform slashing attacks compared to his guildmate.

He quickly removed two of them from the ship on the opposite side before returning to the side where Xerxes was taking control of a mounted harpoon. ‘I’ll get this last one…’ He dashed to the final of the four initial appendages that latched onto the ship and cut it from the ship with ease. It was just in time for him to hear the command of his guildmate to the crew for a bombardment.

When he heard the captain’s question after the bombardment, Ikazuchi couldn’t help but mumble in response. “It wouldn’t die this easily…” A glance at his guildmate was all it took for him to see that Xerxes also knew the battle was far from over. As if to answer their expectations, the creature appeared on the bow of the ship as more appendages assaulted it from all sides, clearly still intending to sink it.

One of the appendages had even swept across the ship leaving many of the crew members injured, some potentially dead due to the force. Ikazuchi and Xerxes had managed to avoid this strike, but that would only matter if the crew were in a state to sail the ship after their victory. ‘This fucking fish…’ He charged alongside his companion and engaged in what would become the final encounter with the creature.

Ikazuchi intentionally matched his movements and moved alongside Xerxes throughout their approach and battle. He made a point to create the opportunities that his companion needed, and actively trusted Xerxes who had a longer weapon. He did what he could to assist as his companion skillfully used the creature's appendages as footing to approach. ‘Almost there.’

Their coordination had been almost perfect throughout the fight, likely due to their similar combat styles. The problem was that something unexpected happened as Xerxes received a surprise attack. ‘Fuck!’ Ikazuchi had to suppress his instinctive reaction to confirm his guildmate’s condition as he fell to the ship. He was spurred on by the shout of his companion as he took the opportunity to deliver the final blow and recover the spear still lodged in the creature.

Afterwards, the captain took control and managed the crew to confirm the condition of the ship and state of the crew. It was determined that they would have to return to Luluhawa or risk sinking, especially considering the various casualties from the battle. Unlike what Ikazuchi expected, the captain didn’t comment on the casualties or their efforts. It seemed that the man understood and accepted that the ship would have sunk had it not been for their efforts, not to mention the fact that one of the two had been injured during the process.

As for Xerxes, after the battle Ikazuchi rushed to check his condition and performed first aid. The wounds along his guildmate's upper arm were flesh wounds that would at most leave a scar if he didn’t rely on a healer, but the missing eye wouldn’t be so simple to recover. Ikazuchi could only sigh at that fact as he took responsibility for Xerxes’ condition.

The crew collected various resources from the sea creature that were split between the two of them and the crew. Ikazuchi accepted the smaller, but more valuable parts for the sake of traveling while the crew was left with the bulk that was similar in value. They would be able to sell or use the materials as a bonus on top of the pay they initially received. After processing and collecting the resources, the crew set off for Luluhawa island once the sun rose. It would only be when they were less than an hour from the island that Xerxes would awaken from his injuries and the two could discuss their circumstances.

Word Count: 770
Total Word Count: 2,850

Faint beeps could be heard as the Desiertian slowly regains consciousness. His body was in severe pain and heavily bandaged but he was alive. He could feel the pain radiating from his left eye socket, remembering the creature’s final blow gouged it out. He trails his hand along his face, feeling the bandages wrapping it. He sees Ikazuchi out of the corner of his remaining good eye, counting the spoils of their labor. “They get everything?” Xerxes says in jest, knowing full well that Ikazuchi would have long dealt with those paying out the jewels.

Struggling, he moves to the side of the bed and glances at the metallic box at the corner of the nearby desk. He figured that his comrade likely brought everything over from their rooms. His thoughts roamed a bit before he steeled himself. “Hey…Ikazuchi, could you step out for a bit?” he says as he finally gets up and slowly makes his way to the box. He hears the door close, signaling that Ikazuchi granted his request. Taking a deep sigh, Xerxes slowly opens the box and looks at the item inside. “Can’t believe I’m going to do this…” he mutters to himself as he reaches down.

WC: 202
TWC: 2,715
Quest Completed