“Ah! Finally free at last. Over the centuries trapped under the tyranny of that Shrine Maiden’s power, we can finally continue where we left off. Oh how long has it been?”

He took a moment to glance at the scene below. To the present day, a bunch of clueless kids staring at the labyrinth above. The school ground catches his attention.

“How the times have changed. It’s been so long. I can’t hardly wait. Oh what monster to send first? Very well, I Vilevelious, declare a grand scale invasion on Mathias.”

The crowd of monsters in the background begins to cheer.

“Now to get to business. Our labyrinth needs energy, so who shall be first to do the honors? Any volunteers?”

A general steps into the scene. Pounding his great flag on the floor, the room quickly fell flat silent.

“Allow me the honors to lead the battle. I shall gather lots of energy for the labyrinth.”

“Mushogun eh? Very well.”

“I shall not fail.”

Slamming his flag, Mushogun takes his leave teleporting out of the room. In a matter of moments, monsters begin to deploy with a grand scale assault.

Alistor ran back to campus to witness the terror. A horrified look on his face for the first time as he stood motionless.

“What happened here?”

Destruction was all around as he finds many of his classmates incapacitated. He quickly finds Katty, taking cover behind the walls between a couple bushes.

“Hey Katty! Are you alright?”

“Things aren’t looking so good. These monsters just came from the sky. That labyrinth somehow. I don’t know what to do.”

They hear the sound of a student screaming. She trips over as the monster approached. It begins to drain her energy away as they both witnessed the scene. Mushogun steps in.

“It seems that was the last one general.”

“Good, now return to base. Our job here is done.” Mushogun commanded.

Both monsters vanished before their very eyes as they came out from hiding. Katty goes to check on the girl. Checking for a pulse, he could only hear a faint beat.

“It seems she’s still alive but very weak. Barely still breathing.”

“So what do we do now?” Alistor asked.

“I guess check for any other stragglers in the building.”

The two made their way inside the school building. Searching for any others they can find.

Meanwhile back at the lair, Mushogun returns back victorious.

“The first batch of energy as promised.”

Vilevelious abruptly broke the news to his general.

“It seems you’ve done a sloppy job.”

“What? What do you mean? I cleared the school flat dry. No one else should still be left standing.”

He takes a look back at the viewing screen below. Alistor and Katty are seen snooping around the corridors. Laugher begins to echo across the room.

“What? Two stragglers. Well I’ll show them. I won’t need an army of monsters, one will just do. Personally handpicked myself.”

“Then get down there.” Vilevelious ordered.

Mushogun immediately deploys back down to the campus.

“No one makes a mockery of me!”

The general pounds his great flag on the floor. A monster begins sprouting from the cracks.

“Grass Horns! Seek out and take care of the remaining stragglers.”

“With pleasure general.”

The monster makes a huge leap into the school building.

Meanwhile, Alistor and Katty continues their search inside the building. Through a hallway completely in ruins, they find nothing.

“No luck so far. We’ll have to just abandon our search.”

Alistor comes to a sudden halt.

“Hey do you hear that?”

The wall suddenly bursts open from the side to their surprise. Through the smoke, Grass Horns appeared before them.

“What the heck is that?” Alistor jumped.

The monster immediately begins the attack. Swinging from one of its arms as they rolled to the side.

“I don’t think I want to find out. RUN!” Katty shouted.

The two make a dash through the halls as Grass Horns begins pursuit. Back outside, Mushogun watches from below.

“Why bother running from the inevitable? Give up now! Your energy is as good as ours.”

Katty quickly knocks down a row of lockers, hoping to slow the monster down. Grass Horn easily sliced through the barricade as they continue running.

“Any ideas now? We can’t keep this up forever.” Alistor warned.

“I’m trying to think.”

They immediately come across a barricade with a small opening at the bottom.

“Get ready to slide under.”

The two slipped through the bottom without issues as Grass Horns came to a sudden halt. Unable to fit or break through, the monster pulled back.

“Think you can hide from me? I’ll just have to find another way around.”

Katty and Alistor find their way to a door. Entering inside, they took a moment to catch their breath for a brief moment.

“Looks like we made it to the cafeteria.”

“No one’s been in here yet.”

They both suddenly hear a small creeping sound in the room.

“It’s coming from that corner over there.” Katty pointed.

The two grabbed the nearest utensils they could find as they approached a cupboard. Without hesitation, Alistor opens the door as Katty ready his weapon.

“Whoa! Wait! Hold it!” A voice screamed.

Katty halts his attack in the middle of the strike as a huge figure came stumbling out.

“Bamboo? Is that really you?”

A moment later….

“So you’ve been hiding here this whole time. Anything you can tell us?”

“Sorry, it just all happened so fast.” Bamboo sighed. “I was minding my own business till everyone was bragging about that maze in the sky. I decided to take a look for myself from the window, but then the attack just happened. The sound of explosions and monsters sent student’s panicking, so I quickly took some cover behind the storeroom.”

They suddenly hear the cutting sound from the monster. Grass Horns arms skids through the walls from the other side.

“So any ideas? We need a plan to bring this thing down.”

Katty took a moment to examine the things around the room. The gas stove quickly catches his attention.

“Wait a minute. What are you guys planning?” Bamboo asked. “WAIT! That stuff is fragile. It’s expensive equipment you’re messing with. My soufflé is cooking.”

They make their way to turn the stove on. A small fire begins building up as they started tampering with it.

“If you got any better ideas. The monster is closing in on us.”

Grass Horns sliced opens the door startling Bamboo.

“Oh I hope you both know what you’re doing. This stove is worth more than my salary.”

The monster makes a leap onto the counter. Drawing close to the stove he only finds Bamboo, shriveled up by a corner.

“Wait…where are the other two? Who are you supposed to be?” The monster confusedly asked.

Under the counter’s cupboard, Alistor and Katty emerge right from behind pushing the monster to the burning stove. Grass Horns arm blades pierced through the stove surface.

“What? Hey! That’s not fair.”

The monster is seen stuck. Katty quickly changes the dial to full causing the pressure to further build.

“You might want to make a run for it.”

“Wait what?” Bamboo stuttered. “My soufflé….”

Without further hesitation, the three make a run out from the room. Escaping as a huge blaze begins to engulf the cafeteria. Grass Horns begin to slowly catch on fire. Breaking off one of its arms, the monster continues to struggle.

“Noooooo!”

The gas suddenly combust, commencing in one big explosion. From outside they witness the explosion leveling down the entire half of the school.

“Well, we made it at least.” Katty dropped to the ground.

The flames quickly dies out. Bamboo suddenly sensed something amiss. He goes to check the remaining debris while the other two rest. He immediately stumbles upon the gas stove. Opening up the oven compartment, he pulls out his cake. Burnt and black to a crisp.

“My soufflé… Huh?”

Bamboo feels a sudden shake from below. Grass Horns emerged, destroying the stove as it sent him flying to the other side.

“It’s not over yet! A real dirty trick, but you won’t get rid of me that easily.” The monster laughed.

Fear struck Alistor’s eye while Katty refused to turn around. Grass Horns emerged badly damaged with a missing arm.

A lightning bolt came crashing down from behind as the monster intensely stares at them. Completely furious, it drew close to them.

“Now what…” Alistor was near to giving up all hope.

“I’m gonna slice and dice the energy out of you.”

As Grass Horns begins to make an attack, a sudden force of energy impacts the monster. Sparks began to fly as Grass Horns collapsed over in one great explosion. Smoke and debris scatters through the air as the two took cover.

From the other side of the school grounds, Mushogun witnesses Grass Horns destruction.

“This isn’t good. Better report back. Argh!”

The general quietly makes his leave. The labyrinth in the sky immediately vanishes brining the light back into the day.

“What was that?” Katty asked.

The smoke clears away revealing a swordsman before them.

“Sairori? Is that really you?” Alistor asked. “How did you do that?” He was surprised with amazement.

The old man stares down intensely at the both of them.

“Humph! You’ve all doubted me the whole time, but the time has finally come. I will teach you. So be ready.”

Filled with motivation, the two decide to follow Sairori. Leaving behind what remains of the campus.