Vale watched as the Piscari Ap's dead body slid off his nails and faded into the stone.

The moment it did, the second one barreled into him and, despite the attack being weak, sent him sliding into the wall. Vale, with something behind him now, kicked off the wall to cancel the slide, then chased after the bastard who began zipping left and right in a pitiful attempt to evade Vale.

Dip and dodge as it may, the most it could manage was buying itself a few extra breaths before Vale's claws found their mark.

[Piscari Ap has been slain]

[+4 Aether]

Vale cast a glance toward Toy just in time to see her using the halbard to vault herself in the air to dodge the fish's attack before spinning around and transitioning to a devastating overhead cleave through its skull.

[Piscari Ap has been slain]

[+4 Aether]

The fishman sank into the ground, leaving its bone spear and toga behind.

Vale turned his head back toward the main battle only to realize it was nearing its conclusion.

Mias was continuing his killing spree, and Awilix had appeared around the bend and began assaulting the force from the back.

The warriors were sliding around from time to time from the weird attack, but otherwise unharmed and doing their job diligently. Vale's guess that their strength would improve over time proved to be spot on.

After one more minute had passed, the last Piscari Ap fell.

[You have completed Level 5, good job!]

'That was… easy.'

Vale screamed his order, which echoed through the stone chambers with ease.

"Great job! Now, get back into position!"

Then, he turned his back and sauntered to the throne, sitting on it.

Level: [6]

Enemies:

[Nascent Wretch: 1]

[Emergent Aberrant: 20]

[Emergent Mutant: 10]

[Emergent Monster: 1]

[Would you like to challenge the Level?]

"Yes, of course…"

[Level 6 will begin in 10 minutes, good luck!]

***

[You have completed Level 6, good job!]

Level 6… was surprisingly tricky.

Not that anyone from Vale's Legion died, but it became clear that was the furthest he could go in a row. With Ximena, he still had the means to defeat Level 7, handily even, but he decided to at least hold off for the rest of the day so everyone could heal and recover their Aether.

As for what was in Level 6… they were evolved versions of the Anuran Warriors from Level 1, except for the Wretch, which was a furry feline akin to those from Level 2.

While these beasts were in the likeness of Vale's past adversaries, they were much stronger. Their leaps carried much more purpose and heft. Each strike was well placed. A few even had items that provided some light so they could see.

All in all… Vale would be the first to declare that he'd have lost his battle had he fought one of these bastards if he were at the same strength as back when he'd fought Dickless; but now? It wasn't too challenging for him.

Other than the strength of his opponents increasing, this was the first time there had been any apparent correlation between the past opponents of the Levels.

So, Vale was going to present Mias with the facts and see if the scholar could work out a line of reasoning, and maybe they could predict future opponents.

But that could come later, after everyone had settled down.

Right now, he found himself trudging back through the labyrinth to Ximena's side to escort her back to her post.

He moved the streamers to the side, and a wave of cold caressed his body. Before him, Ximena stood in her full glory, all of her crystals summoned to suppress her power, but with the 100 Aether, the damning cold was hard to ignore.

Ximena held a stoic expression as Vale approached, but there was a light red tint on her soft cheeks.

"Hello… Master Vale."

Vale, unable to respond yet, braved the Absolute Zero and staggered to Ximena's side, then sank his lips into hers. Ximena swiftly began greedily reciprocating. In no time, Lust was activated and fought the cold, allowing Vale freedom and purpose in his movement.

Yet, Vale continued to kiss Ximena on account of his own desires… desires he wouldn't look away from or confuse anymore.

The gesture seemed to daze the crystal owl momentarily, but she didn't mind. No, not at all. Ximena slid her cold hands up and gripped Vale's back, pulling him in, and Vale did the same to her.

The passionate kiss continued for a lengthy fifteen more seconds until Vale finally pulled away with a dubious smile adorning his lips as he stared into the aloof owl's eyes and bright crimson cheeks.

He studied the delicate princess's face, a face that was identical to Fleurs… But he was done with the confusion and self-prohibition. That face was not Fleurs, but a lonely girl named Ximena.

A girl whose heart was frozen by a cruel world…

By finally taking a step toward passion with the owl, Vale felt like he was one step closer toward the habilitation of self.

With a completely stoic face, minus the blush, Ximena asked:

"D-d-d-d-did it go well?"

'Cute…'

Vale smiled as he gripped Ximena's hand and started leading her away.

"Yeah, it did."

Ximena stared at the back of Vale's head as she listlessly followed.

"T-t-t-thats good."

While the owl was getting somewhat used to the kiss Vale needed to do to get close to her, what she hadn't expected was the continuation of the ritual despite it not being needed.

In other words, Vale had finally expressed full desire toward her in action, something he'd only done with words before. Even then, Vale was quite sparing in what he said to her.

Feelings welled and ran through Ximena's veins. Feelings she'd never felt before. A warmth she'd never known.

For a moment, the girl thought she felt her heart beat.

Vale and Ximena continued into the maze while detouring down a side corridor to let everyone pass and get on the other side of her.

As they waited, hand in hand, Vale looked directly at Ximena.

"Ximena… it doesn't have to be today. But when you're comfortable, I want to know more about you, what your life was like back on Kaldora, why you hate Salome, how you got your abilities, and what you want? Because I want… I need to know it all."

Valentin needed to build the distinction between Ximean and Fluer, so he could destroy his baseless idiocy in his mind and drive out the haunting spectres of his past. He needed that difference to be stark and resolute. Much more than a simple name between them.

The crystal owl choked on her words before eventually responding.

"Y-yeah… I'll tell you whatever you want to k-know. I'm f-fine to talk right now."

As the cacophony of steps signaling the passing Legion reached their ears, Ximena slowly spat out her words.

"I… I said it before, but I'll repeat it. I'm a Princess of the Crystal Owl tribe of the Chrys Commonwealth… Though I was simply one princess of many in the commonwealth. I was only next in line within my tribe. Even then…"

Ximena looked to the ground, and the red tint slowly drained from her face.

"That's only because everyone else died. All slaughtered by the scourge or…"

Ximena looked over toward where the footsteps sounded.

Vale quickly put two and two together.

"So… I'm next in line for the throne of a tribe that doesn't exist anymore, of a commonwealth that disbanded in a world on the path of destruction."

Vale gripped tightly onto the owl's hand as the last of the Legion passed them by, and they were allowed to make their way toward the entrance.

At this point, Vale could leave her behind, but he decided to walk his Champion all the way to her post. As he took the first step, Vale spoke:

"I won't pretend to know the depths of the horrors you witnessed or what atrocities Salome may have committed against you. And it may be terribly greedy of me to ask. Downright deplorable even."

Vale continued to put one foot in front of the other while weaving through the maze, leading Ximena.

"But I want… I want to ask if you think you can start anew?"

Ximena looked at him with a questioning look. Seeing her confusion, Vale quickly expanded on his point as he rounded the last bend and exited the maze.

"If you can start anew in the world of Pandora… When I look into your eyes, I see a reflection of myself and the past all too clearly. And from what I've learned about myself recently, is that… the past is the past. You can't change it. You can't fix it. As I said, I won't claim to understand the depths of your hatred or plight, but what I can understand is the control it can have over the mind…"

Vale looked forward.

"I guess what I'm saying is… forgiveness… I'm asking if it would be possible to forgive past grudges from Kaldora."

Ximena was silent for a moment as the two continued down the hallway and took the final bend, and the bottom of the ramp leading outside came into sight.

The moment they reached it, Ximena stopped and turned to Vale.

Ximena opened her mouth.

"I—"

But quickly choked on her words as a metal spear blitzed through the air, split her fabric sash in half, and pierced her abdomen through her crystal armor.

Impaled, the crystal owl dipped to the side and began to fall, coughing up blood as the crystals in her eyes grew dull.

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