7 Chapter 6: Members

The Proving Grounds: Forgotten City, Central

1821Y 02M23D 0300H

"Mat, there's a couple of idiots being attack by a horde over there" Azaleah gesturing over the area leading to the city hall. Mhirfa looks over where she pointed at. "We should help them."

"Let us just take a look at the situation before we decide." He said calmly to them. "I'll scout ahead," Azaleah shouted as she took off.

"Kay." Mhirfa took her wagons leash and followed.

. . .

The Proving Grounds: Forgotten City, City Hall

1821Y 02M23D 0300H

A towering warrior garb in golden scaled armor swung his huge sword, pummeling the mutants more than cutting them. "Never get tired of a good workout." From behind him, a mutant sneaks in.

"Acki, watch out!" Another male warrior in chainmail took down the mutant before it reaches him. "Are we going to die again?"

"Thanks, Menan."

"No probs, Bro" giving him a thumbs up.

A pinkish laser shot through from between them piercing a couple of mutants, followed by an evil laugh. "Get to work you, peasants, sacrifice your lives for me. Hahahaha." A girl in black robes with a pinkish ensemble walk in. "Luci, Menan, stop the theatrics and kill these things." Ordered by a girl in leather with a floating torso of a skull mask female hovering behind her.

Acki charges forward, sword swinging. "Baby, what are we here for again?" Smiling while he pummeled the hapless mutants. Baby rolled her eyes. "The key, we need the key from the mayor's office." Then she started moving seemingly like a dance, cutting down mutants along their path.

"Sewers? Uh... how distasteful." Clearly stating her disgust, "I say let us just go take down that ugly statue." as Luci fired off another beam. A guy in black free-flowing garments suddenly appeared beside Luci laughing ominously. "Shiro, you startled me!" Holding down her beating chest. Shiro pointed his katana towards a horde at the far end of the parking lot.

Menan gave out a deep sigh. " We are going to die again, aren't we?"

"Dios mio, Menan would you?" Baby angrily exclaimed as she analyzes the situation.

"Let me handle a few of them." Luci steps up. "Mage Art." Her eyes gave out a pinkish vapor, then pointed her wand towards the incoming horde. "Pink... Grand Arrow!" A huge pinkish laser shot out of her wand, piercing everything in its path.

Acki charges in, blocking the path towards their formation. "There's more of them." Shouted as he gets overwhelmed. Baby jump on top of him. "Flecha... Lluvia." The skull mask girl dual wielding the crossbows started firing dozens of arrows below them so fast, that it made the illusions of itself.

A brute showed up and charge towards Luci. Menan immediately blocks its path but was overpowered. "Shiro, buy me some time." Luci shouted hurriedly. Shiro appeared above the brute and slashed its eyes. Giving ample time for Luci to cast. "Pink... Great Sword." A sword shape beam emanates from her wand as she slashes the brute in half. "I am running out mana." Breathing heavily.

Baby grit her teeth. "Retreat,"

Acki holding back the horde of mutants. "Go on, I'll buy you some time." Menan came crashing in. "Correction, we will buy you, girls, sometime."

"Let's go Baby." They turned around but to their surprise, there were dozens of mutants blocking the escape route and Shiro was holding them off. Baby came rushing to his aide. Luci was left alone in the middle. A pair of brutes crash out of the building beside her. Luci stared at the monsters and bit her lips red and prepared herself for the worst.

"GET OUTTA... WAY..." A scream from somewhere caught everyone's attention. A huge commotion came behind their group, then suddenly a tank came flying above crashing at the brutes in the middle. What!? Was everyone's reaction, especially Luci bewildered at what just happened. The tanks' compartment opened up, then a priestess came rolling out holding a ladle and can barely stand up.

Luci rushed up to her. "Are you alright?"

"Am fine, am fine... " Spinning about holding her ladle. While everyone was still preoccupied with the priestess mutants went flying about. A person in full black armor with a wolf mantle comes walking towards them. He was armed with a great hammer and as large round steel shield. "You summoner, assassin with me. Mage, go back up those swordsmen."

Then a fairy hovered beside him. "Are we seriously helping these idiots?"

Luci grabs Mhirfa's hand and drags her away.

"Acki, Menan, hold them off." Baby ordered. "Okay." They answered simultaneously. The black-armored warrior charge towards the pair of brutes. "I'll handle them, find an opening." He holds off both the brutes attack parrying and blocking with both of his weapons. Shiro and Baby inflicted serious wounds on the brutes, and every time they point their aggression towards them, he bashed them making them regret ever looking away.

Soon enough they cleared the area.

. . .

They gathered around the wagon. Mhirfa started preparing some sandwiches for the group to eat.

"Thanks for the help, I'm BabyGirl." The skull mask torso image slowly disappeared, a floating sphere on its place. Azaleah flew in between. "No need to thank us, weaklings... That's what the strong normally do. Hoh ho ho ho."

"Azi, don't ya be rude now." Mhirfa shouting from the wagon. "Its A-ZA-leah not A-ZI-leah you dumb cat!" Furious as she zoomed towards her."

"No problem." took off his helm then introduced themselves. "I'm Mat, the priestess is Mhirfa, fairy's Azaleah." Mhirfa shouted from the wagon. "Ah ain't a priestess, ya hear!" Azaleah flew around her teasing her. "Yeah, your just a dumb stray cat that followed Mat home and out of charity we adopted. Hoh ho ho ho." Mhirfa teary-eyed as she reprimands the fairy.

"Anyway, this pendejo over here is Acki our guild leader." Baby introducing her group. "Nice, to meet you" He came close to shake Mat's hand. "Next pendejo is Menan, he is a nobody."

"Ouch, that hurts — I am very important you know. They wouldn't last without me." Walk towards Mhirfa and took a sandwich.

"And —." Baby was about to introduce the mage but she cut in between. "I am the great goddess Lucifiene, I will allow you to kiss my hand knight." As she interrupted Baby; offering her hand as she laughs. Baby walk in between them. "Don't mind her, and the stealthy guy in the Oni mask is Shiro." The assasin just bowed his head.

"Hey pals, join us, we're getting the key from the mayor." Acki offered. "Then we can all get out of this place. Right Baby?"

"Yeah, the more of us the bigger the chance we can get out of here." Almost pleading Baby said this.

"Hmph, these —," Mat, gestured Azaleah to stop. "I need some help in a small matter. We are willing to pay in cash or in items." Cueing Mhirfa. "Oh, here." She gave them sandwiches. "He meant the payment, Cat! The payment!" Azaleah scolding Mhirfa. Mat sighed. "Nevermind,"

"You want to hire us? For what exactly" Baby questioned Mat. "To help kill a monster." He answered. Menan stood up but Baby signaled him to stay. Others also stayed put. "What are your offers?" He gestures towards the wagon. "Cash, Items, Help, whatever I have, to seal this."

"Okay... What kind of monster?" Baby Relaxed a bit then he responded. "A Sirenian Warbeast."

Everyone got alarmed. Menan stood up "A Warbeast, are you serious?" Acki taps him at the back "Hey, come on relax." Baby back away. "That's a no go amigo, sorry." Luci stood in front of him "I am curious, why do you want it dead?" Mat frowned "It is in the way, all I need is a yes or a no." Mhirfa clutch his tray of sandwiches and Azaleah hovered over his shoulder. "Sorry, it is just... thanks for the help again." Baby turned away. "Let's go guys."

Mat turned towards the wagon.

Luci moves towards Mhirfa and raised her head. She was all teary-eyed still clutching her tray. She hugged her then said, "We're friends now, Smirf —." Smirf looked at her and started stuttering. "We...re.. we..re" Luci wipe her tears away. "Take a deep breath, Love." She took a deep breath and finally said. "... gonna defeat the guardian — need ya'll help." Started to fully cry at her.

A beam shot besides Mat blasting a hole right through a concrete building. "Stop, right there" Luci shouted. Mat looked back; saw Luci's eyes covered with pinkish vapor and her wand crackling with energy. "We need to talk." She demanded.

"What's happening?" Baby came running back "This doesn't concern you." Luci held Mhirfa's hand and walk towards the wagon. Leaving Baby puzzled as to what just happened.

"What you want?" He calmly approach her. "I want in, I will help kill your mutt." extended her hand then raised two fingers. "On two conditions. One, you protect me with your life; two, I get paid."

Menan rush in shouting. "Are you crazy? There's only three of you against a Warbeast."

"Hey Luci, let's talk about this." Acki joining in. "Are you leaving us?" A teary-eyed BabyGirl confronting her. Lucy ignored everyone else and approach him.

"What's your price?" Mat asked. She gave an evil smile and said. "I want a piece of the Guardian."