"ANY WRONG MOVE AND THIS GIRL WILL DIE!"

  Grand Ecstasy and Wanderer are frozen in place, their gaze focused on the Assassin as he continues to threat everyone using the unconcious Helyna as hostage.

  "Tsk! I didn't notice that he still capable of moving. Sorry everyone." Monica's honest apology.

  "Apology accepted."

  Herian straighten his stance as he walks towards the Assassin and Helyna with a smirk on his face.

  "Yeah that's right. So drop your weapons." Herian speaks with a new found confidence.

  Grand Ecstasy and Wanderer looked at each other and with a silent agreement, puts their weapons on their BoS.

  "Throw your bags here!"

  The two parties follow suit and give their bags to Ameron.

  "Uhmmm..."

  The lingering pain on Helyna's scalp due to her hair being pulled finally wake the sleeping lady. Helyna at first is confused only for her to wake up to the sudden realization.

  "LET ME GO!"

  Helyna squirms and flails agressively.

  "Shut up!"

  "Agwk!" Helyna gags after recieving a kick from Herian to her stomach. Not content, Herian gives more brutal blows to Helyna as he vents his anger.

  "This is what you got for killing one of my men! This is what you get for turning us into fools! You fucking bitch!"

  "You bastard..." Graham gritted his teeth.

  Helyna is weak after the beatdown and can only whimpers out of pain. She finally focus her attention on her surroundings only to get surprised as she see Mateo and Claustrine alongside three unknown adventurers being locked down. Helyna is striken with guilt as she realize that she's being used as hostage thus stopping Grand Ecstasy and others to move.

  "J-Just leave me h-here..." Helyna's soft weakened words.

  "That won't do Helyna." Mateo's stern answer.

  Graham walks closer to Mateo.

  "Ok Mateo what's the plan?" Graham's calm whisper.

  "We're going to use their ease as their weakness. You two can fight unarmed right?"

  "Yes." Boltz and Graham answered simultaneously.

  "Good. We going to wait for an opportunity to turn this situa...tion?"

  Mateo alongside others are confused after the blizzard seemingly returns and engulf them once and for all.

  "What's with this weather?!" Herian's annoyance as he feel the chills returning.

  Despite the blizzard the two side continues to just observe each other as they know one instance of them losing attention means anything an a change of dynamics.

  "Hey Herian. How about we calm down for a moment and leave this blizzard first?" Boltz proposal.

  "And then give all of you a chance to fight back? Fuck off."

  "But this blizzard is going to become stronger. It's either we all die here or survive and continue this fight elsewere."

  The blizzard's rage intensifies even further yet Ameron is still steadfast on the hostage crisis.

  .

  .

  "B-boss..."

  "What?"

  "W-what is t-that?"

  Herian and the others look on the direction the Assassin pointed and from the blinding whiteness of the blizzard, a silhouette of a human starting to take shape.

  "W-who?" Graham squint his eyes.

  !!!!!!!!

  Ameron, Grand Ecstasy and Wanderer felt an intense pressure all of the sudden.

  "T-this is bad news..." Claustrine's nervous words as focus her gaze on the shadow who becoming larger and clearer. She look at Mateo who also give a confirming stare.

  The two feel familiarity on the pressure. It's almost similar to the ones that almost killed them months ago.

  The pressure that you fighting something beyond your level tenfold.

  The shadow finally got close enough that everyone see who's the stranger walking towards them.

  Pale white skin.

  Feminine Lizard-like face.

  White Scales armor.

  And an extremely long tail waving elegantly on each step. The tip of it have a similar appearance to what an Apex White Stalker have.

  "W-w-what is that thing?!" Herian's disbelief as he never seen such creature before.

  "That's not a beastfolk. What in a world?" Monica's awe and concern.

  "White Queen..." Mateo's soft words as he clearly recognized the descriptions he read from the reports. The anomaly which their mission to document.

  The White Queen gaze at Mateo and Claustrine. She shows a slight expression of annoyance but she set it aside in order to prioritize something.

  "Eekkk!!"

  The Assassin engulfed in fear after feeling the murderous gaze of the White Queen who held her tail like a sword.

  "DON'T YOU FUCKI-"

  Slash

  ...

  "Hey what's wrong?" Herian asked after the sudden silence of his member.

  Creeeek...

  Herian watch in horror as the Assassin slowly split clean in half. But before the Assassin even seperates into two.

  BLAM!

  A one kilometer rift appears on the bloody snow. The aggressiveness and speed of its appearance barely even registers to everyone.

  "What?!" Mateo's shock.

  But before they even register what just happened. The three party feel the snow under their feet rumble.

  "Something is happening! Brace yourselves!" Boltz screams.

  It happened in an instant. A huge circular thick field of snow alongside the people on it plummets down. On its place now lies a huge dark hole which seems bottomless.

  The White Queen look on the huge circular hole for a while. It seems that even her didn't expect what just happened. But instead of pondering on the thought, the White Queen just leave alongside the blizzard.

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  "Ughhhh...."

  Mateo slowly wakes up, everyone follows as they feel disoriented.

  "Did we just fall?" Claustrine asked.

  As they slowly come back go their sensese, the adventurers finally see the surroundings.

  "W-where are we? What is this place?" Boltz asked.

  "What is this place?" -Helyna.

  The adventurers gaze upon a vast meadow which seems infinite in scale.

  "Are we still on the Reverse Tower?" Herian asked as he pat his head.

  Grand Ecstasy, Wanderer and Ameron looked at each other.

  !!!

  Mateo, Graham and Herian raced towards the pile of BoS still placed on the snow.

  The other Ameron members now recovered from their beatdown wielded their weapons in hurry.

  Helyna leaps away from Herian and towards Monica and Claustrine who just watch the scene unfold.

  Mateo and Graham successfully retrieve the bags and dash away.

  "FUUUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUUUUCK!!!" Herian slams the snow repeatedly as Wanderer and Grand Ecstasy armed themselves again.

  "It's over now Herian. Time to face your punishment." Mateo's solid words as he points his sword towards Ameron party.

  "Mateo. I believe this is not the time for that."

  Mateo hears Claustrine and asses their situation. Right now, they're in an unknown territory and the base option for survival is to avoid reducing the numbers of people which might useful.

  Regardless on how unforgivable Ameron are, they still need manpower if situation needed.

  "Drop your weapons."

  "What's the point? There's no way we can defeat you all." Herian's defiance as he knows the impending doom of Ameron.

  "We're currently in a new area. Arguing and wasting our energy is not viable at this moment" Mateo's reasoning.

  "Ha. We're doomed so there's nothing to lose for us. In fact, we want to drag everyone down." Herian speaks with glee.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  "You know Mateo, they kinda make sense. These scums only gives us anxiety the longer we let them live." Monica's opinion.

  "We have no use for them." Helyna's cold words.

  "Besides. I can't afford spending my attention on them while also being aware on this new surroundings." Claustrine added.

  "B-boss... I'm actually don't want to die..." The Ameron mage walks closer to Herien to speak his peace.

  "As if you have any choice. It's either we die here, die fighting them or get executed by the guild."

  "The thing is... Atleast we can still fight equally on the court. It's not like they have solid evidence against us. Also, they can't just kill us here. The guild knows that our last mission is the Reverse Tower"

  The mage walks closer to Herian.

  "Ameron party died inside the Reverse Tower, in a new recorded area which they reached alongside Grand Ecstasy and Wanderer. The guild then see our remains and find out we got killed by human hands. Do you think Grand Ecstasy and Wanderer can say that they kill us all in the name of justice when they don't have any solid evidence of our crime? If they kill us without good evidence, the guild can view them as murderers for personal interest." The Ameron mage's lenghty explanation.

  "That's right! Words alone can't prove our guilt! And the guild views us favorably!" The swordsman agrees.

  Graham laughs alongside Boltz.

  "Are you telling us that our words don't hold any weight?"

  Graham pats Mateo's shoulder.

  "Mateo. You know what, lets allow them to live for a while until we bring this case to the guild."

  Herian meanwhile watch as the two leaders talk their fate. The mage's words have merit into as as what they only have are verbal testimony that can't be proven and they can just counter as slander.

  But Herian also knows that they have no way to win against two famous adventurers party. Especially if one of them is well favored by many people including powerful individuals. At that point, Ameron party is just buying time to extend their lives.

  Still... Living longer is the better choice than dying early. Atleast they still given time to contemplate or plan something. Maybe they can escape.

  The two leaders finally reach a conclusion as Mateo sigh and face Ameron.

  "We gonna let you live to face your trial on the guild's court. Give all of your weapons and supplies to us. Don't attempt to fight back or else." Mateo's glare sends the message to Ameron which make them swallow a lump on their throat. They have no choice but to surrender everything.

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  Grand Ecstasy, Wanderer and Ameron are now traversing the green meadow for 30 minutes now. The living members of Ameron in front, their hands tied tightly with ropes.

  Behind them are the other two party.

  "For real... What is this place? It's like we're just walking to an endless field of grass." Monica's question.

  "This is my theory. I believe we're currently on Layer 9 of Reverse Tower." Claustrine looking up to see the familiar warm lights in the ceilling.

  "Layer 9? How is that even possible if we didn't even set foot on Layer 8?" -Graham.

  "Who knows? Maybe we entered an different entry point and here we are." Claustrine shrugs.

  "If this is really the Layer 9. This place is eearily quiet."

  "You're right Boltz. We're walking half an hour now yet didn't encountered any monsters here. Just boring and endless grass."

  As the rest debate their predicament. Mateo and Helyna are talking on their own bubble.

  "Are you fine Helyna?"

  "Uhm yeah."

  Silence...

  "When did it start?",

  "What?"

  "You being a bounty hunter."

  "Ah."

  The atmosphere between the two is awkward as they can't established a clear conversation and only speaking in short quips and quick silence.

  "It started after that incident."

  "Is your party member agreed on this?"

  "They don't. That's why they kicked me from the party."

  "Oh."

  Another silence.

  "To be honest. I'm glad they disagree and kicked me. I can't imagine them killing people."

  "Speaking on which. Why you decide to become a bounty hunter Helyna?"

  "Because..."

  "Because of Dereia?"

  Helyna shakes her head slowly.

  "No. The one that's controlled Dereia. I can't stomach that such evil can exist and ruin innocent lives." Helyna speak full of spite as she remembers the past.

  Helyna only knows the fact that someone possessed Dereia and committed heinous crimes. Not what the Trifecta kingdoms keep hidden nor what the Bolairean peasant's view of Dereia. And specially not the truth only Grand Ecstasy knows.

  In Helyna's mind. Dereia was a victim of a unwanted and unreasonable people who commits crime just because. And the existence of such person resulted on the death of her father and other people who tried to stop the suffering.

  "I heared that you avenged Dereia's family. Thank you for cleaning the scums of this world."

  "Don't thank me Helyna. I'm not proud on that."

  "I see..."

  "So Helyna. How does it makes you feel? Snuffing human lives?"

  Helyna went silent as she can't answer Mateo's question. So Mateo is the one that answered it.

  "Its eating you inside right?"

  Helyna still didn't answer.

  "I'm right Helyna. I am correct?"

  "But those I killed can't barely even considered as humans. Including them. Why I should feel guilty killing their kind?" Helyna gives a murderous glare to the Ameron party who felt shivers on their spines.

  "Still... A human is still a human Helyna. And killing one of your kind only brings you ruin."

  "Are you telling me that what I did are evil?" Helyna's voice gets harsher. Mateo sigh.

  "No. You genuinely bring safety to the world by killing the wanted individuals that are dangers in society. But my problem is not your deeds but you as a person doing such actions."

  "What's does even that mean Mateo?"

  "Then answer my question Helyna. How is killing human lives make you feel?"

  Just like before, Helyna can't answer the question.

  "You starting to feel nothing or lose something on every life you take?"

  "That's just a little price I'm willing to give if I can ensure that I can eliminate the evil in this world."

  "Do you really think that's the only sacrifice? How much of your previous life you already thrown away? You already left your friends and then how about Misha? Do you also left her behind on the pursuit of your self-sabotaging mission?"

  "Enough of this Mr. Mateo. Please."

  Mateo respect Helyna's desire and don't press any further. The two just walk in silence and only giving quiet glances.

  "So how it goes?" Claustrine whispers beside Mateo.

  "Not good."

  "Atleast we can still communicate with her. There's still hope, we just need to give her time to reconsider."

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  Hours gone by and the unchanging scenery of the meadow is starting to confuse everyone as they traverse the bland looking place. Compared to the previous layers which artificial places created by a legendary mage, the vast field of grass are more artificial. More insincere and have no semblance of design put into it.

  Just an endless field of grass with not a single tree, rock or anything.

  "How huge is this place?!" Graham screams as he's even more annoyed. Compared to the previous layer, the nothingness is even more boring.

  "Screaming don't give you anything good Graham." Monica's calm words.

  "It is, atleast I'm doing something besides walking on this boring place."

  "We're walking for hours now. How about we rest and refresh our thoughts?" Boltz suggestion which agreed by everyone.

  .

  .

  .

  With no timbers to start a flame. Claustrine's flame is used to cook the food which is just a simple soup made of preserved vegetables and meat.

  "How about us? You not gonna let us die to starvation."

  Claustrine looked at Ameron like she's looking at walking breathing garbages. She is offended to the audacity of the criminals but despite that, Claustrine thrown few hard stale breads for them to eat. Ameron look at the breads on the grass with triggered expression on their faces.

  "Hey you fucking bitch! Are fucking disrespecting us?!" The Ameron swordsman shouts full of anger.

  "Yes that's exactly what I'm doing. Just be glad we still giving semblance of humanity to you."

  "Enough of that. Just eat." Herian calms down his party member and they just eat filled with humiliattion.

  Grand Ecstasy and Wanderer also do the same as they proceed to pour some soup on their bowl while Helyna's the last to take some food.

  "Bland soup, we meet again." Graham gives a sarcastic smile then he slurps on his bowl. He scoops few chunks of vegetable and meat with his metal spoon and savour the pure unadulturated taste of survival.

  After the soup. Wanderer just sit and look on the ceiling.

  "This place doesn't have a day and night cycle." Monica commented.

  "How can you be sure? We're just here for hours now?" Boltz question her theory.

  "Because before we got transported here, the place on Bloody Ice should be going on its night phase alongside other layers. If this layer follows the same rule, it must be night time right now. Yet, the lights is still active."

  "No wonder I'm feeling sleepy." Graham join the chatter as he yawn.

  Mateo walk towards Wanderer and offered them an opened white box with assortment of doughnuts inside.

  "Here have some." Mateo gives the box to the confused party.

  "W-w-wait... How can you have something like this and not tell us? What even is this?!" Monica is drolling on the sight of the desserts. The sweet smell taking an effect on her appatite.

  "Those are called doughnuts. A kind of bread. Enjoy because that's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Mateo gives a proud smile before he leave Wanderer on their own accord.

  Wanderer feels wonder and excitement. Being adventurers which specialized on exploring far away places. They don't have the luxury to bring delicious food impractical on their journey. All of their adventure meala down the road consist of preserved ingredients or food fresh from the wilderness.

  But in front of them now is what seems to be confectionaries crafted by a master baker. Circular breads with variety of colors, sizes and coatings. Some have holes while other is like filled with cream.

  Monica can't resist it anymore and pick the pink one and slowly take a bite while the other two watch gulping.

  *Chomp*

  Monica's eyes widen and she proceeds to mow down the entire doughnut to the point that she even lick the pink strawberry flavored icing.

  .

  .

  "What is this?! IT'S SO DELICIOUS!"

  Graham and Boltz also can't resist the temptation and proceed to take a bite.

  "ON WHAT GODDESS' GIFT IS THIS?!"

  "D-D-DELICIOUS!" Tears of joy flowing on Graham's cheek.

  Ameron meanwhile can only watch with envy as Wanderer enjoys the exotic delights.

  On the other part of the camp is Helyna also watching Wanderer enjoy the food. Deep down, she also want to have a taste but she's too shy to ask for a piece.

  "Hey why are you looking at them?"

  Mateo and Claustrine sits beside Helyna then place a set of doughnuts in front of them. The two then take a piece to eat.

  "Don't be shy. Have some Helyna." Mateo's friendly offer.

  Helyna look on the set of doughnuts and her curiousity and hunger take a hold of her. Helyna takes a chocolate small ball and put it on her mouth whole.

  Helyna chews with a cold distant expression on her face. But as she chews further and taste the food. Her expression slowly changes, Helyna's mood starting to brighten up until.

  "Soooo Delicious..." Helyna speak with a sweet smile on her face only matched by the sugary delight she just eaten.

  "Hehe... Now that's the Helyna that I remember." Claustrine speak gently which make Helyna flustered a bit.

  But Helyna just ignore what she feeling and just continue to eat with a smile. It's been a while since she indulged herself in such treat since she started becoming the headhuntress.

  Yet as she continues to eat, she remembers the past. The happy moments with her previous party which she abandoned just so she continues her self-assigned mission.

  Memories with her little sister Misha as she bring her to the city of Zelestre and eat amazing food.

  And memories with her and Misha as they wait for their father to come home bringing them souvenirs consisting of food he brought from far away places.

  .

  .

  *Sob.*

  Helyna continues to eat.

  *Sob*

  Tears flowing on Helyna's cheek as she continues to eat more.

  *Sob.*

  Helyna weeping quietly as she eat the doughnuts. Mateo and Claustrine having a warm and gentle smile on their face as they pat Helyna's back slowly.

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  Back on Earth.

  Beltrand stares on the TV as the credits roll up. He just finished watching a classic Chinese martial arts film alongside Shiva who also got engrossed on the movie.

  It's been 2 days now since Mateo sent him back on Ternate for his self-training and so far, Beltrand is alternating on watching martial arts film and video demonstration.

  "Is this really a viable training method Beltrand?" Shiva asked curiously as for two days he help Beltrand on searching training materials.

  "It's not like I have a place where I can practice all of that. This town is too crowded and I don't want people to see me doing inhuman movements."

  "Hmmmm... Good point but actually there's a place we can stay for a while. You should said that earlier."

  "Really brother Shiva?"

  "Yeah. So how about we go there right now and see it yourself?"

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  Shiva stops his motorcycle with Beltrand as passenger in an open field. In the middle is a cabin made of Wood and bamboo mix. Around the house are bunch of small triangle structures which serve as shelter for the roosters who peacefully grazing the ground.

  On the corner is a garden full of assorment of plants and trees.

  The place is located on the deepest parts of the mountains where the motorcycle traverse numerous dirt roads and secluded spots with low to zero civilization on the viscinity.

  "Where are we?" Beltrand asked as he slowly get out of the motorcycle.

  "This is where dad spend most of his free time. His peaceful abode."

  "Are you sure we can stay here?"

  "Haha of course. As long as we don't meddle with his chickens."

  The two walk towards the cabin and enters. The place is truely suited for long term living as it complete with essentials like beds, a kitchen and utensils, and storage space.

  Shiva sets up his laptop and place his bag on the bamboo bed.

  "Why there's cockatrice here? And why there so small?"

  Beltrand is surprised as the colorful chickens are eerily similar to the forest cockatrice they commonly encounter and hunt on Yhigressia minus the size and the monstrousity.

  On Beltrand view. All of the chickens are just like elegant birds.

  "Cockatrice? Is chicken also exist on Yhigressia?"

  "No. But there's a monster which kinda similar at them."

  "Monster huh? Quiet terrifying to think that there's oversized version of those birds."

  "Are those... food?" Shiva asked curiously as he watch the roosters from the window of the cabin.

  "Hmmm... Kinda but eating those roided birds is an unpleasant experience."

  "Not good food then. But even so, why Sir Reymundo take care of so much chickens?"

  "Better see it for your self."

  Shiva search something as he type then he face the laptop to Beltrand. On the screen is a fight betweem two Roosters. Clashing mid-air with blades attached on their feet.

  "I understand the appeal now."

  "Good. So how about we return to the main reason we're here?"

  "Ah right."

  Beltrand stretches his arms and legs.

  "Can you become my sparring partner brother?"

  "No. You might just kill me."

  "Haha. I'm just joking. But having a freedom to try those moveset is enough. Thanks a lot Shiva."

  "Anything for Mateo's friends."

  The two exits the cabin and now towards the open field where Shiva search for a martial arts classes on YouTube which Beltrand do a live attempt.

  With no sparring partner. Beltrand can only imagine fictional scenerios and opponents where his moves can take effect.