Hyuga and Natalia were both still trying to choke down the realization. They had just killed a Pristine Knight! Moreover, how did a Pristine Knight get corrupted into such an abomination? This was beyond Hyuga's intellect as is mind struggled to find any viable answers, yet there was none. Another holy presence joined them, Vice Captain Adair, only to share a little less shock than both of them at the sight of the Penance-bound body. He asked why they were here, truth is, they could ask him the same thing. However, that question was shoved aside when the blonde demanded an explanation.<br/><br/>"T-Those things we're fighting... we just used a powered up version of Absolve on it and found out that they..." Hyuga trailed, running out of words from his usually overflowing vault.<br/><br/>Natalia managed to collect herself faster than the normally calm Hyuga and turned to Adair. "Those things we're killing are former Pristine Knights. We used Vindicate, a powered up version of Absolve, to rid them of the taint and this is what we got." She said, ruby eyes turning cold. She knew she couldn't afford to let herself be swept away by emotion, not now. She walked over to the body and examined it closer. Their Faiths were shattered to the core, rendered useless.<br/><br/>"It all makes sense now..." Hyuga mumbled, finding himself shortly after Natalia. "The missing knights that were never found, they were being turned into these... these things!"<br/><br/>Natalia couldn't say anything. No words could wash away the truth behind their opponents now. No matter how difficult it may be, she knew they had to fight. Ruby eyes meeting green ones, Natalia readied her weapons. "Vice Captain Adair, we would like to request your aid to subdue one more of these things. It was alive when we shot it with Vindicate. I want to know if there's still hope in saving them. Hyuga and I know the spell but it's complicated and Hyuga is probably the only one who can do it the fastest. I need help to effectively give him time to prepare it and capture one of those."<br/><br/>Hyuga steeled himself as well. "Please. The rest of our squad is busy trying to keep these things from pouring in on us."<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">_________________________________________________________________________________</div><br/><br/><br/>Vlad, Joaquim and Georg found their backs against each other. At first they were doing well in keeping these things bottled in but now, they found themselves surrounded by these monstrous things. Multiple glowing red eyes stared them down as they slowly drew closer to their prey.<br/><br/>"Oi oi, this is beginning to feel like the three of us against the world don't you think?" Vlad commented drily, eyes darting left and right for any sudden movement from the numerous creatures before them.<br/><br/>"Bah! I'm not complaining! We should be used to this by now. Still, I have to admit, this is probably a liiiiittle unnerving." Joaquim added, pulling his blade up and poising himself to strike.<br/><br/>The former captain in Georg was stirring. Situations like these always made his blood boil but his heart pounding in fear for the lives depending on him. Right now, it was his squad on the line. If these things break through, Nat and Hyuga would be in trouble, and their Lieutenant was insistent on taking care of any leaks alone. "Remember what the Captain said, any of us dies, he'll make sure he kills us again. Keep your wits with you!"<br/><br/>Vlad and Joaquim smirked knowing that what their Captain wanted was easier said than done. The three steeled themselves and amped up their holy protection. The strain of Sin in the air was getting too heavy a burden to keep away. The first attack came from Vlad's front. The other responded in kind and charged in shield first into the fray. Joaquim and Georg infused their swords with Banish and charged out as well, determined to keep their defensive line steady. The air was filled with clang after clang followed by a hail of<span style="font-style: italic">Banish</span>bolts flying outward. Soon it was raining down with<span style="font-style: italic">Smites</span>and the three found themselves steadily holding ground. It was tough, but all of them knew somebody had to do it.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">_________________________________________________________________________________</div><br/><br/>The death count around him lay in numbers. Bodies of these creatures began to pile around him and he could feel his strength and magic reserves starting to wane. Alfrei's breathing was becoming ragged and he could feel himself working up a sweat, the heavy taint of Sin in the air not helping him at all. For a moment, he wondered why he insisted on defending this spot alone, but then realized that it was pointless to ask when he had a second sword in his other hand. He wasn't alone, his Vice Captain was with him.<br/><br/>"No rest for the weary huh?" he asked nobody in particular at the sight of a fresh wave of the same things. It was getting tedious but Alfrei still raised both swords. It hadn't even been a minute yet when he put down the last from the previous wave. Just how many of these things are there?<br/><br/>Taking in a huge breath of air, Alfrei steadied his breathing and focused his magic to his feet and arms while keeping another layer of holy around him to keep him protected from the taint. His mind envisioned the times he practiced<span style="font-style: italic">Lotus Dance</span>with Brynhildr, it made him smile. When the wave closed in, Alfrei's eyes sharpened as he prepared himself.<br/><br/>"Let's dance!"<br/><br/>With great speed and finesse, he was like a blender mowing through hordes of these things. His strikes were all aimed for the vital points he had learned of in combat and his attacks were relentless. He was like a well-oiled machine, slicing gracefully at each creature that came in range. At the rate he was going, he wondered just how long could he keep this up? Already he could see another wave from his periphery and it only prompted a sigh out of him.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">_________________________________________________________________________________</div><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #0080FF">Why is she going melee on that thing?</span></span>Guilford asked himself after watching Lethe's furious combinations at their opponent. He knew that it wasn't her forte but for her to be trying so hard, it wasn't that difficult to figure out she was conserving her magic. Vines of Sin formed by dark magic were making it strenuous for both of them to navigate the battlefield, and the occasional creatures coming at them in numbers was only adding to the difficulty. Guilford swiped down at another creature before going after his target once more. He noticed the Sin vines forming at his sides but paid it no mind, as long as they don't get in his way, he should be fine. Guilford raised his Nirvana forward and lunged at high speed for a thrust.<br/><br/>It was thanks to his heightened focus that he noticed a smile from his target but what followed came as a surprise. The blonde woman grabbed Lethe and threw her at him with great force, it was just in time for when he had already picked up speed too! With only a split second to react, Guilford knew that catching her with his sword thrust outwards was impossible. Guilford barely managed to avoid impaling his fellow Seraph by dropping his sword, let alone reposition himself to catch her as well. Guilford could only shift his weight back and straighten his chest to absorb the forceful impact without hurting Lethe too much in the process. The same couldn't be said of him for the wind was knocked out of his lungs on impact followed by a blunt pain as his back landed hard on the cobble ground. It took quite a long skid before their movement was stopped.<br/><br/>Guilford coughed continuously at the sudden surge of air refilling his lungs. He let his arms that were protectively wrapped around the other go before rolling her gently to his side and sitting up half dazed.<span style="color: #0080FF">"Good Light Lethe! What have you been eating?"</span>he quipped before coughing a few more times and lightly staggering back up.<span style="color: #0080FF">"You okay?"</span>he asked, seriousness back in his tone and purple eyes trained on their opponent. Without his sword on hand--that he noticed was being dragged by the vines to their opponent--Guilford will have to result to using his martial prowess. As if things weren't unfavorable enough!<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">"Well then, this leaves me no choice..."</span>he trailed and began channeling his holy power quickly. Moments later, Guilford began to surround himself with pure white light. The same light slowly crept its way around Lethe too and the male Seraph prepared himself to attack.<span style="color: #0080FF">"I don't know how long I can keep my <span style="font-style: italic">Providence</span> up with this thick taint in the air. I just hope it's long enough for us to defeat this woman."</span>