The Arks 151 The Ark Of New Intrusion

She then clenched at her heart. It was starting hurt, badly. She tried to regulate her breathing but it was to no avail as the pain was unbearable.

"Shouldn't that Valkyrie be used to death?" asked d.u.c.h.ess Midford, looking at the sobbing mess.

"How can anyone be used to killing their family member?" asked Earl Yan, lighting a cigarette.

"Well, that's just mean that she's rather weak. Never expected that from a powerful being like a Valkyrie," stated the d.u.c.h.ess, shrugging off the poor girl's pain.

"Well, right in the middle of the Umbra incident, eh? This brings back memories," murmured the Time Mage as he stepped foot into the area.

He spun around, trying to get a sense of which Time he was at. It reeked of death. And the painful wails of a Valkyrie. Dawn was breaking.

"If I hadn't known better, I would've thought that I was back home," he said, with a painful smile.

He shook his head. Those were memories that were not worth remembering. He thought to find Mavislin but the situation wanted him to not interfere. The Valkyrie needed to know that not all victories include the winner smiling.

He then caught a glimpse of a brightened up room. It was located on the top of a building. Using Glitch, the Mage could easily reach right up to the window.

"Don't be too quick to a.s.sume," warned Earl Yan.

"Earl's got a point. People cry, not because they're weak. It's because they've been strong for too long," boomed a voice on the balcony.

The group spun around, readying themselves for another battle. But instead of finding an enemy, they found a very cheeky Time Mage. The boy glitched through the room, landing just beside the two women.

"h.e.l.lo, ladies," he said, bowing down to them.

He then frowned the Viscountess. But gave a cheeky grin to d.u.c.h.ess Midford. She turned away in disgust.

"What do you want, Time Boy?" asked Earl Yan, glaring at Raiyen.

"Hmm... The few Kings of the underworld. Oh, looks like the Marquess has fallen and the Baron isn't here," commented the Time Mage, as he scanned around.

"Who the h.e.l.l you?!" screeched the d.u.c.h.ess, whipping out a bow and arrow.

"Let's just say that I'm a Time Mage. Back from a certain ordeal, came to fix another problem," explained the cheeky boy, glitching out of the room once more.

"The Marquess might be down for the count, bringing along the alpha of the Umbras and one member. But, it's still no time to celebrate. We've got bigger issues to handle."

"And if I were you, I would be careful with the Viscountess," warned Raiyen, standing at the balcony once more.

"Why is that so?"

"Because the Viscountess is with Mavislin right now," replied the Time Mage, pointing at the 'Viscountess'."

The Viscountess forced a wide grin on the poor human face. Her features melted away, leaving only a black figure, with a purple hue as an outline. The group looked horrified. The Earl instantly grabbed the d.u.c.h.ess away from the imposter.

"An Umbra who took the ability to shapes.h.i.+ft?" asked Raiyen.

"Wrong. The Element Of Impersonation," replied the shadow, with a sea of voices.

"Same thing."

"We can only shapes.h.i.+ft who we have seen but not consumed."

Raiyen shrugged as he turned away from the room and looked outside.

"Where are you going, Time Mage?" asked the Umbra.

"You are welcome to follow me. Let's play tag, shall we?"

"Such childishness will not bring you victory."

"I don't care for such poetry."

"We will claim victory soon."

"This battle is far from over," warned the Time Mage, before leaping off the balcony and into the sea of buildings below.

The shadow then dived towards the Mage. Both beings disappeared to the outskirts of the domain. The group could hardly see where the two were headed towards.

"Hold on!" yelled the d.u.c.h.ess.

"Wait, let's meet up with Ling first," said Earl Yan, grabbing the d.u.c.h.ess by the shoulder.

The young d.u.c.h.ess nodded and headed out with the Earl. They had finally caught up with the sobbing Valkyrie and the Viscountess. The real one, they hoped. The Viscountess could summon up a small smile but had tears coming out.

"She'd sustained too much stress. If we don't get her proper treatment, her heart might give out," explained the Viscountess.

The scene was quite painful as Mavislin was lying down, with her entire body bruised up. She was tired, both physically and mentally. She was breathing heavily. Her arm that used the lance was completely immobile.

"That last performance took too much. We've got to call the High Queen," said Earl Yan.