A normal ground in an open field suddenly began to shake and spike up. After some while, it finally pushed up, leaves and dirt and all. A door structure opened up, and Julius emerged from within the hole artificially made by someone.

“Ah, I finally made it out. Ah, that was more uncomfortable than I thought, but fortunately… I am finally…” Julius gasped as he climbed out.

He smiled to himself in a satisfied manner.

As he opened his eyes and looked around him, his speech was cut short. His limbs lost all feeling and he slumped to his knees. His eyes bulged as he saw the soldiers who appeared all around him.

“N-No way… How could you have known?” Julius stuttered.

Surrounding him were soldiers who numbered nearly thrice as much as the ones in front of his house. They had known all the while that he had a secret exit and even counted on him to use it. Was this checkmate?

“I-Is it all over for me?” He asked himself in despair.

“No! I refuse to accept that. It can’t end now. My life is merely just beginning. I won’t go down like this” He said to himself.

If only he knew who ruined him… And why?

“Oh? Long time no see Auction Grandmaster” A voice appeared from behind the soldiers who surrounded him.

Immediately, the soldiers parted ways and bowed in the presence of the person who approached Julius.

Julius’ eyes widened as he saw who it was. It all made sense now that he thought about it, but it was still very much unbelievable.

“Long time no see, Julius Bodenheim” The Royal sneered at the kneeling Grandmaster.

“Lord… Phobio…?” Julius said hesitantly.

Phobio grinned widely as he saw Julius kneel before him. The man who embarrassed him in the Auction House. He was finally given the opportunity to have his revenge on him by his new master’s benevolence.

“W-Why are you doing this?” Julius asked him in shock.

“Uhn? Why? You have the gall to ask me that? How dare you?” Phobio barked at Julius.

“You not only captured and took me hostage, you also took the slaves of sir Rio, your friend and partner and decided to make a fortune off us. Fortunately, sir Rio managed to save me from my bonds while still searching for his slaves.” Phobio said.

“W-What?!” Julius said, utterly confused.

“Since sir Rio is a newcomer in town and has no influence, I decided to rely on mine as a member of the Royal family. After reporting this to my family, they were more than happy to help in assisting to bring you down. After further investigations, your other shady and illegal activities were brought to light one after the other! What an utterly repulsive and sad excuse for a human being you are Julius” Phobio continued.

“But I… When did I…?” Julius stuttered, trying but failing to form the right words.

“Fortunately, we were able to apprehend you before you absconded and got away with everything.” Phobio said, signaling the soldiers to draw closer.

“You know… I was all for arresting you since the previous day, but sir Rio, in his generosity and kind heart decided to give you one more chance to come clean. That is why he visited you this morning and asked you for the truth. But you still refused to come clean, even to your friend. What a traitor!” Phobio said, shaking his head.

“F-Friend…” Julius muttered.

Rio and him were never really friends. They merely had a professional relationship. They never got close enough to…

Suddenly Hexarion’s last words played back in his mind.

“Fair enough. I trust your words… After all… We are friends”

Now that he remembered, those words seemed strange, but he never thought much about them until now. His eyes bulged entirely upon the realization…

“So that’s how it is uh…. I was played from the very start” He mumbled to himself.

His eyes fell into emptiness and his body refused to respond anymore. He had completely lost.

“Silent now I see… You better be. Well, boys, pack him up. We’ll be taking him into custody now” Phobio said to the soldiers.

Three of them moved to capture Julius and take him with them.

“None of you should take a single step! That prey is ours” A menacing and dark voice came forth.

The soldiers looked at the two men who walked confidently and behind them were dozens of heavily armed men. Zad puffed his smoke into the air and dropped his cigarette on the ground, placing his hands into the pocket of his dark coat. He and Borgos smiled as they walked slowly toward the soldiers from their distance.

“What did you just say?” Phobio said with a frown.

“You heard me kid, don’t make me repeat myself. That prey is ours… Scram!” Zad said with a menacing look on his face.

“Halt” A voice appeared.

Suddenly a bright light shone, adjacent to the both sides. Both groups turned to see what caused the sudden commotion and from within the light emerged the third group. A lady clad in a dazzling white and silver hooded robe, with the hood down, led the small group who slowly approached both group.

“The sword of god has come. All ye heathens cease your activities and hand over the practitioner of the dark arts to the Apostles in the name of the gods.” The Apostle said to the both groups.

“You came dead last young miss. What makes you think you have the right to order us around like that?” Borgos said to her with a sly smile.

“You would dare question the words of an Apostle?” She asked with irritation.

“And? What if we refuse those words?” Zad asked her defiantly.

“Then face utter annihilation… Thus sayeth the gods” She said, her eyes glowed white.

All three sides, pitted against one another and ready to destroy the others… They all converged on the stage with only one intention.

To Win!