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"What the bloody hell is that thing? Is that a bat?"

Albreich tried to help Lilac in finding a better cover. The trader could clearly see a sniper from within the trees, but what he was confused of was because of how the shot before blew up the forest behind them and the next shots weren't even making any explosion. He thought quickly, and he walked outside without warning and shouted, "Don't even think about getting Ifrit, hound! You have to go through me first!"

"Albreich, what the hell are you doing, man?" exclaimed Sammael in surprise. "That hellhound can blow you up like a balloon."

"I know, and that's why he's not going to shoot me, right, Rhynsa?"

"Rhynsa.... Oh shit, this is not fuckin' right. He's supposed to be protecting the boy!"

"You're hunting Ifrit for your own gain, aren't you, Vantwork? I know you won't shoot me. Despite of you being a hellhound, you still have a creed to not involving innocent humans. I know who you are. You are out there killing for money, is that right? A hitman? Who pays you to kill this hellhound?"

Rhynsa didn't immediately answer, but Duke could see that he relieved his aim. He then shouted, "I have my own reasons to talk with Ifrit boy there, and my own reasons to kill him. It's not about money, human. It's about a personal goal."

"Well, if you can't break your promise you aren't getting him."

"He's not my concern, human. You're. You're in my list of targets. Albreich Schafner, a former Holy Order Paladin. The youngest man to ever get the title in the age of 25. How old are you now?"

"I am still in my 30's, Rhynsa Vantwork. You're the Order's wanted list for taking the fight against evil yourself. That's the reason I quit, Rhynsa. I quit because, despite of knowing that you saved people by killing criminals, you're still a goddamn demon and you're still a bounty hunter and a hitman! I don't want those racist men corrupt me with the thinking that the holy empire is still there. I am not a racist!"

"I appreciate that, Albreich Schafner, but you're still in my target list. Your former employer wants something from you, and I'm not supposed to kill you now. I'm not always a killer, but Ifrit there needs to die, for what he has done to me."

"So this is because of revenge? What have that hellhound done to you?"

"Ask him yourself. (Hey, Ifrit, remember me, asshole?)"

"(I don't remember fucking your wife!)"

"(That's not what I mean, you comical relief idiot! You don't even know my wife. You don't remember me, do you? Think, Ifrit! Do you know what they have done to me! Do you know what Hynorsi did to me?!)"

"(I don't understand! Who is Hynorsi?!)"

"(Hynorsi Schelkz is your father, Ifrit)," said Duke. "(Don't waste your time with this hound, he's just blind)."

"(Your family killed my family! Your soldiers killed my wife!)"

Without warning Rhynsa took aim and tried to shot through Albreich. The trader didn't budge and Ifrit tried to take the fall, but the next moment, Albreich emitted a light that burned Ifrit and all of the sudden the bullet that was intended for his heart stopped in midair, suspended by an invisible field that enveloped the trader.

"This force field is holy-based, so anything will not pass through," said Albreich. "All demons touching it will also get themselves expelled."

"B...but, that's mean you're..."

"I'm sorry, Ifrit, but before I was a wanderer and a trader, I was a demon hunter. Maybe it's hard to talk at this moment, but I will talk to you as soon as this is over. I think it's only you who can stop Rhynsa at this point. I don't say he's insane. He's lost, just like what the Fuzandre said."

"But, you're so nice with a hellhound! I thought a complete stranger like you would just freak out when you see my tail and horn."

"I still believe in your race, and I sympathize with your fate. Go on, Ifrit, open his eyes to this world."

"How? I barely know him."

"You can talk with a demon dog like he's a friend, and now, Rhynsa needs you. It...might looks weird, but he still likes you."

Ifrit didn't know what to say, but he nevertheless shouted, "(Rhynsa! Stop this nonsense! Don't you understand what they have done to you? If I was wrong, then I'm sorry, okay? Look, if you can't move on, you can't live in this world full of feelings)."

"(That's why I'm asking you, Ifrit. What will you do if a father lost his two boys and his wife in a single stroke of a blade by those you thought was friends? I saved myself by killing for good, and nothing will stop me from killing you with these hands. I'm sorry, kid, but the damage has been done)."

"(Well, maybe you should reconsider. If you kill me, and Nergora if he's around, who will be left for you? I know you want to kill me to avenge what the soldiers did to you, but if you can think, and if you still have that awakened feeling in you, you might want to reconsider. Killing me won't change who you are. You're still a murderer will love of money. What will your family say to you if they know what you have done?)"

There was a silence in Rhynsa's part, but then there was another gunshot that pierced Ifrit's cheek, and he said, "(I'm sorry, kid, but I've made my decision)."

"(Well, fuck me...then forgive me for defeating you!)"

Ifrit didn't give Rhynsa the time to make another shot. Like an animal, he ran quickly to where he thought Rhynsa was, but he realized he couldn't climb a tree, and he also realized that he picked the wrong tree before a bullet pierced through his leg. The trajectory would make his head the target if not for him to sense the bullet first and dodge it. He limped to a tree, and shouted, "(Don't involve my girlfriend, fucker. It's you and me, one on one. C'mon, make my day!)"

Then another gunshot was heard and Ifrit tried to dodge it. He couldn't, and it pierced his hand. He tried to at least burn the forest, but he knew that would mean he destroyed many lives and any potential humans living in the forest.

"(Are you getting soft? You won't find me within these trees, you know!)" shouted Rhynsa from a place. "(I won't hesitate to shot you!)"

"(Goddamn it, he's good. I won't be getting him if I can't climb these fucking...oh, wait a minute. Claws!)"

Improvising with the sharpness of a hellhound's claws Ifrit started to climb the tree. Clenching the tree tight until he managed to bore his claw deep into it, but in the process he started to feel something painful to his claws. As he pulled one to clinch the other, he realized that despite of being sharp, his hands couldn't take the pressure too much. He cursed himself for having sharp black claws, and his legs weren't helping, too.

"(I really need to be able to climb a tree or I won't survive myself)," said Ifrit to himself. "(Why do I feel I'm the idiot in this situation)?"

Ifrit had climbed half the way up when he started to lose his strength. He used too much of it when cutting the tree in and pull it out. It was all too different from cutting a flesh. The flesh was so tender and so easy to cut. This one was like cutting a rock. He thought wood wasn't a strong element. Now he could see why many humans still used the material for houses.

Right when he started to get weak from forcing his way up he was presented with a new problem. Rhynsa was really on the tree, and he noticed Ifrit's effort for a while.

"(Well, you do learn very fast, don't you, prince Ifrit?)" said Rhynsa sarcastically. "(Never thought a royal monarch is willing to cut his own hands just to get me)."

"(Welcome to the surface world, Rhynsa)."

He moved his rifle to point at Ifrit, but the black hellhound knew that he hesitated, and said, "(Maybe you should reconsider this, Rhynsa, for your own sake. We're in hiding from the world. We both masquerading as Lycans but we have no guts to even show our tail and horns. We can't start killing each other like this. Our kingdom is in ruins, okay? I don't have anything to do with you)."

"(Fine, then. Let me ask you this. What did you feel when you awakened that feeling? Did you feel pain or happy or...just nothing? Well, I am older than you, and you will know how hurt I am when I saw your royal guards killed my wife and son!)"

"(I'm not even there when your family were killed, Rhynsa!)"

"(Maybe you don't remember, or maybe you don't care! Your father might've known me for years, but hellhounds are devious creatures. Once you're in a downfall, you start hurting others for the sake of a secret, and that is you and that mutant you called a brother!)"

"(I am not my father, Rhynsa. You can't blame the past! Please, just stop hunting me. Give me that feeling when you save me from the rebels back in the rest area! Don't go near Lilac and Albreich, or even Nergora)."

"(Why do you still trust a demon hunter, huh? He can kill you anytime!)"

Ifrit didn't reply, didn't know what to say. Sure, for the past months, Albreich was so nice to him that he couldn't care less of two hellhounds helping him. Now that he knew Albreich was a demon hunter, he had doubts whether to keep travelling with him or not, but then...

"Time flies, but the heart doesn't," said Ifrit while watching Rhynsa. "No world is a lie if you care."

"(You talk poetry now, kid?)"

"(They put me into the world, Rhynsa. Deep down, you must have found something to fight for. We are the last of the Drundas kingdom, and we must stay with each other, watching each of our backs. Rhynsa, I'm sorry if everything I have ever done to you is wrong. I may be a spoiled brat or a son of a bitch, but...no world is a lie if you care. Rhynsa, you felt guilt. It's the guilt of not getting a nice life. Guilt for trusting the wrong hound, guilt for failing to save your beloved. I might become you one day, a wreck drifting in the ocean of guilt, if I let these claws kill you, or if Lilac dies, or Eshdar.... But...I may not know you that well, Rhynsa, but...I know deep down you're a very nice hound)."

"(What makes you say that?)"

Ifrit was silent for a while, before saying, "(When you have the chance to blow me up near that engine, you didn't do it a purposely diverted the bullet so it won't hit. When Krozani screamed at you, you didn't flinch much, meaning that you're still sharp and can easily hit that bat. And then, you waited for me to come up here, knowing that your leg is very easy to be grabbed, and...you put out the fire behind Lilac and Albreich before the bushes got on fire)."

"(I did that on satisfaction, Ifrit)."

"(You're an assassin and not a sadistic one. I know you're just trying to scare me, but I'm not. You're unsure on the circumstances, Ifrit, but...let me help you)."

"(I...I don't know what will this go, Schelkz. My family, they're...)"

"(I don't believe in anything, but they will be disappointed if you stray too far. Rhynsa...)"

"(I can't be influenced by you! I'm sick on getting lectured by a spoiled prince of a traitorous kingdom. Now stop talking about my family and just die!)"

"(Okay...then I'm gonna burn that thing behind you before you even know it is there!)"

"(What the...)"

Before Rhynsa could react, Ifrit opened his maw and breathe fire out. The jet of fire hit something behind Rhynsa, and as the brown hellhound turned, he gasped when he saw a hellhound was ready to cut him from behind. Ifrit reacted as quickly as he could. Taking Rhynsa by one arm as he fell, Ifrit pulled the trigger with Rhynsa's finger, and the sudden pain Rhynsa got from his leg made him surprised enough to give enough energy to make an explosive bullet. As it flew away from the muzzle of the rifle, it hit the hellhound through his heart, simultaneously blowing him up from the inside, throwing flesh and blood everywhere.

Though they managed to get away, Ifrit didn't realize that he was falling. Both of them forgot the altitude, and the black hellhound turned his body so his back was facing the group. He reached the ground hard, and he roared in pain as he saw Rhynsa rose over him. He drew a pistol and said, "(Are you crazy?! You will break your back if you keep doing that!)"

"(Breaking my back...or losing your pride? You choose. I'm already expendable)."

"(Why did you save me? And where the hell did you lose one of your horns?! Don't tell me you knock your head to a wall or something!)"

"(Well, you do care. I'm glad I can still find something like that in you)."

"(Wha...)"

"(You hesitated to pull that trigger on me, didn't you? When I forced your finger to pull the trigger, I had no choice but to cut your leg and make you surprised enough for me to put that finger and force that explosion out of you to blow that hound off. You really were trying to scare me, and don't tell me you really want to kill me, because...I know, deep in your heart, you still need me)."

"(What do I need from you, huh? Your kingdom is over)."

"(You still need me for your own life. That sadness on losing the ones you love, plus the new-found feelings leave a very big mark in your heart. You need other hounds that you trust and you care so much to relieve the pain and move on. I don't blame you, Rhynsa, but...you cannot live forever in the past)."

"(How can you say that? You never see your loved one killed in front of your eyes!)"

"(I...saw my parents executed, in my dreams. I've gotten too many nightmares, lately, about how they died. It's like a suppressed memory, and from there, I saw you, vaguely, staring at me and talk about something. Don't deny it, Rhynsa. I never saw your face before today but I dreamt of it. Everything is true. I want you to believe me that...we must unite)."

Rhynsa kept quiet since then. The only time the silence was broken was when Eshdar made a yelp. A hellhound's sword grazed his arm and it caused his arrow to miss his attacker. If it wasn't for Albreich's shield he would be cleaved. Rhynsa kept staring at Ifrit without answer. The silence came again, this time because all of the hellhounds ambushing them were either dead or retreating.

After a while, Rhynsa stood up, took his rifle, and started to walk in a different direction. Ifrit tried to stop him, but he realized that the injuries and the pain of his back started to overwhelm him, and he couldn't even feel anything at all.

"I wish everything doesn't work like this, kid," said Rhynsa loud enough for the others to hear. "You talk like a true leader, and I can't sense any lies in your words. Risking your life just to talk me out really is a remarkable thing to do for a prince, Ifrit Schelkz. Maybe we'll meet again, in different circumstances."

"Are you leaving already? I have only met you for a little time."

"I need time to think about what you've said to me. You changed my heart, I give you that. But then, you made me lost my purpose of life. One day, when we meet again, I may be a new hound or stay the same, but then, you have given me something that stirred the feeling inside me. You're important, and we have a mutual goal."

Ifrit didn't reply. As Rhynsa walked into the forest, he took a last stare back before disappearing into the woods. The black hellhound just smiled, knowing that his moves were correct. And then, it was Albreich's part.

"(I guess I need answers on whom to trust and not to trust. I don't really think my life on the surface is coincidence. Maybe meeting Lilac is something, but...why can't I trust a good friend anymore?)"