"Well, someone else ising towards us."


    At the old man''s words, like choreography, they all turned back at once to see who it was.


    There was no one there so they turned back to the statue with varying looks on their faces.


    He noticed their expression and sighed quite loudly.


    "Surely you all don''t think I was stringing you along."


    "What do you think? We can''tpletely trust you yet, can we?" One of Davis men said, speaking up for the first time.


    Before anything else could be said, a soft flutter of wings filled the chamber, growing louder with each passing second.


    The air shimmered, and a burst of radiant light materialized near the ceiling.


    From it emerged a small figure, delicate and glowing, with bright wings— a fairy.


    They saw that it was the very same one they had met before.


    Its presence felt both out of ce and unnerving as they realized just how much power he possessed.


    "Well, well, well," the fairy chimed, its voice sickly sweet andced with mockery. "Look what we have here! A band of adventurers stumbling into things far beyond their understanding."


    He hovered in mid-air, casting an amused nce over the group. "Congrattions on finding this room, though. Quite the aplishment for such… ordinary souls."


    Neron raised his sword instinctively, eyes narrowing. "Where did you send us to?"


    The fairy waved a tiny hand dismissively. "That hardly matters. What does matter is that you''ve led me to where I wanted so there''s no need for you all anymore." He giggled, the sound echoing eerily. "But don''t worry, I won''t harm you. At least, not yet"


    Before any of them could react, a surge of shimmering light erupted from the fairy''s fingertips, spiraling toward the adventurers.


    The force struck them with the power of a gale, sending Neron, Lily, Davis and the rest of the team flying backward as if they were nothing more than leaves caught in a storm.


    Just like before, within the twinkle od an eye, they disappeared into a portal he created.


    "Now, now, now" the fairy muttered to himself as he dusted his hands. "Now that I have taken care of those bothersome humans, I have plenty of time to attend to this business."


    The fairy turned toward the Keeper, hovering just above the ground between the angel and demon statues.


    Its glowing eyes, once yful, darkened with intensity.


    "I''vee for the Arcana," it said coldly, all traces of humor gone from its voice. "Hand it over."


    The massive figure of the Keeper remained motionless for a long moment, as if weighing its response.


    Finally, its gravelly voice rumbled through the chamber. "The Arcana is no longer here."


    The fairy''s wings twitched, and its eyes narrowed. "I don''t have time for your riddles, old stone. Give me what I came for, or I''ll reduce this entire chamber to rubble."


    The Keeper''s head turned slightly, regarding the fairy with what could only be described as faint disdain. "The treasure you seek has been taken by one more powerful than you. And if it is the Arcana that you desire with this attitude of yours, then I know your intentions are dark."


    The fairy''s glow brightened, its wings fluttering faster in frustration. "You don''t understand the stakes here, old man. I don''t intend leaving here without the Arcana. I won''t be denied."


    The Keeper''s voice was calm, unyielding. "You are an enemy to this ce and I can see you want to usurp the bnce. The Arcana is beyond your reach, and your present arrogance will lead you to ruin."


    For a brief moment, silence hung in the air, the tension thick and palpable. Then the fairy''sughter broke it, high and sharp, like ss shattering.


    "Ruin? Oh, you ancient relics always love your prophecies of doom. Fine. If you won''t give me the Arcana willingly, I''ll simply take it from you dead. And believe me, old stone, you are no match for me."


    "Big words. Let''s see how you turn out in an actual fight," The old man said in a cool tone, still reclining at ease in his chair.


    ~CREAKKK!!!~


    The fairy''sughter still echoed through the chamber when the sound of grinding stone filled the air.


    Slowly, the massive angel and demon statues nking the Keeper began to stir.


    Their lifeless eyes glowed suddenly and their stony limbs creaked like old hinges as they moved.


    The angel statue raised its colossal sword, a de as wide as a man and made a show of showing how sharp it was.


    Meanwhile the demon flexed its taloned fingers, a low growl emanating from deep within its chest.


    ROARRRRRRRRR!!!


    GUARKKKKKKK!!!


    Both figures stepped forward, their movements slow but unstoppable, like mountains shifting.


    The fairy''s mocking smile faltered, his wings fluttering faster.


    "Ah, so the old relics do have some life in them after all," he sneered. "No matter. You think these lumbering brutes can stop me?"


    Without hesitation, the angel swung its sword, the massive de cleaving through the air with the force of a hurricane.


    ~FWOOSHHHHHHH!!!~


    The fairy dodged effortlessly, darting up and out of reach,ughing as he did. "I''m shaking in my boots right now. You''ll have to do better than that!"


    The demon seemed to be particrly pissed with the snidements and he followed up with a vicious swipe, its ws aiming to tear the fairy from the air.


    ~SWOSHHHHHHHHH!!!~


    But once again, the fairy was too fast, zipping between its fingers in a sh of light.


    From above, the fairy raised his hands, magic swirling around them like a vortex. "I could dance around you two all day, but let''s make this quick, shall we?"


    With a burst of power, he unleashed a barrage of searing energy bolts.


    ~BOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~


    They struck the statues with blinding force, causing chunks of stone to explode from their bodies.


    Yet, despite the damage, the statues kept advancing towards him as though they hadn''t been injured.


    "It seems you guys are formidable after all. I''m going to enjoy killing the both of you," The fairy said with a wide smile.