Nana's gaze was drawn to the far end of the room, where a man clad in loose red armor sat regally on a throne-like chair. The stark white tiled floor leading to him seemed to stretch endlessly, adding to the room's imposing atmosphere.
Instinctively sensing the potential danger, Nana raised her hand and cautioned Pegasus, "Please stay behind me and Todd until we figure out what's going on here." Her voice was firm, reflecting her desire to protect her less experienced teammate.
Pegasus, understanding the gravity of the situation, nodded in agreement. He took a slight step back, aligning himself behind Nana and Todd. "Something makes me feel like we aren't in a cave anymore," he murmured, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
"Or at least, what I thought of a cave was a lie." As he spoke, beads of sweat began to form on his forehead, a clear sign of his growing apprehension about the unusual and possibly perilous environment they found themselves in.
King Griswald, sensing the tension in the air, looked back at his team with a slight smile and an air of confidence. "It's okay, I will handle this," he reassured them, his voice steady and calm.
Stepping forward, King Griswald's boots echoed with a distinct clack against the smooth, tiled floor. The vast, quiet room amplified each step, underscoring the gravity of the moment. He walked about 20 feet forward, closing the distance between himself and the man in the red armor.
The man, seated regally, observed King Griswald with interest. He removed a pin and a notepad, preparing to record or respond to whatever the King was about to declare.
King Griswald, his hand moving to rest on a small sheathed dagger at his side, addressed the armored figure. "From my studies, you are the 1st guard of the Dragoon, is that right?" he asked, his tone conveying both respect and a hint of challenge.
"I have come to remove him from his seal and put him to his rightful death!" His words were bold, signaling his purpose in this unexpected encounter and setting the stage for a confrontation steeped in historical and mythical significance.
The man in the red armor continued to write with a steady hand as he responded, "I can tell by your age that you are a seasoned fighter. However, I must refuse your request. The Dragoon is one of the three great threats that have plagued this world. It is my soul's responsibility to ensure that he is never freed.
It is for the planet's greater good that he remains forever sealed." He stabbed his pen onto the paper before stating firmly, "Now, please leave this room and enjoy your lives."
King Griswald gave a slight bow and asked, "So that would make you 'Gisorn RedBorne,' is that right? I have read about your name in the history books and the great deeds you did during the 1st great threat."
Gisorn gave a slighted look. "You sure know your history, old man. Who exactly are you? And yes, that threat is sealed far off as he will also never be freed!"
"Please don't make me do anything I don't have to," King Griswald pleaded, his tone filled with reluctance.
Gisorn gave a slight smirk in response, taunting, "Oh, you poor old man. I guess you can have the same fate as the last ones that came through here."
Nana watched in the distance as King Griswald quickly assumed a lower posture before fully disappearing. She saw him shoot forward toward Gisorn, who still sat casually in his chair. Gisorn clicked his writing item on his notepad as King Griswald vanished with a gust of air swirling around him.
Before she could fully comprehend what happened, he began to write further as Team 3 burst into the wind, disappearing from where they were standing. General Mattison spoke out shortly, "Shit, he's teleporting us somewhere," as he tried to transform into a crow before suddenly disappearing as well.
Nana looked over, not remembering the guy with the wine's name, as he desperately threw up a barrier of wine around himself and the rest of those left. However, it proved in vain as he disappeared with his wine falling lifeless to the ground.
Before Nana knew it, she was standing in the empty room, with only Todd and Pegasus still at her backside.
Gisorn, taking a sign, asked, "Now, what to do with you anomalies? You both don't belong here at all. What do you hope to gain from all this, Green Man and young lady?"
Nana exchanged a quick glance with Todd, and he gave her a slight nod to move forward.
After a minute of slowly walking forward, they landed 20 feet from where he was. Nana then stated, "What do you mean we don't belong here?"
Gisorn, a bit annoyed, further stated, "Shouldn't the rest be obvious? Your souls aren't from this world to begin with, so what are you doing here?"
Nana paused for a moment, considering her response, before continuing, "Ultimately, we are here to obtain the Cross Link Sword to defeat another creature who isn't from this world. We have little interest in this world's quarrels."
Gisorn raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Ah, so you're interested in his old weapon. Now, why would you want something that weak? Wouldn't you rather go for the weapon that put the first creature in a seal?"
Nana responded by stating, "While that might be useful, our enemy is a bit more complex. Though a weapon that can seal someone strong but be useful in the future, are you able to help unlock the Cross Link Sword?"
Gisorn, looking down at them from his throne chair, stated, "Oh, so you do know it's locked in stone. However, it will remain locked in stone until the next threat emerges. Something like the Dragoon being released would probably do the trick, but as I said before, I cannot allow that to happen."