"Hey, hey, hey!" Kizer said, shocked to hear Alba's words. "Are you really thinking that? I mean, you did so much to get someone like that on our side, and now you're thinking he's nothing special."
Her stomach sank when Kizer had said those words out loud, but after seeing what she had seen today, she couldn't help but think that way.
"Everything we knew about the Dark Magus, the strange powers he had, his ability to open portals, and his ability to craft special items, these were the things that made him special," Alba explained.
"There was no one like that in the world of Pagna that could do it. Now that I think about it more, it would make sense. These dimensions are linked to other worlds in the first place.
"Just because we have never heard reports of people being found in these other dimensions doesn't mean they didn't exist. More so than likely, the reason why Raze can do different things to us is because he is from these other dimensions and is like them."
"The powers that we have seen these guys do are the same as the Dark Magus'. He helped us defeat the Light Faction Elder, but if it was just him on his own, he would have failed as well."
"Then we meet the Dark Faction Academy Vice-principal, who is an incredibly strong Hybrid. And the Dark Magus even fell to the Lethal Bite Clan head."
"I can't help but think, what if someone who was extraordinary to us might just be someone ordinary from the other world, someone who we happened to come across."
With these thoughts, she was doubting her decision-making. She had agreed to all of the favors of Raze because she thought he was special and worth keeping.
"I understand how you're feeling," Reno replied. "It's normal to have doubts, especially when we've been pushed into a situation like this, but we aren't ones to break our promises, so for now, let's keep it."
Shaking her head, she knew that they had to get out of the current situation they were in. It was only a matter of time until the mages started to search the area they were in as well.
There were seven of them, and eleven doing the search. They could take them out one by one, surprise attack them.
Or they could try to sneak out of the area. If they did, they might run into others as well. Similarly, if they fought back, then they could end up going against around fifty of them.
"There looks to be nothing in this area. Honestly, I think a village used to be here, and it just got completely destroyed," the mage said. "All we're doing is moving rocks from one area to the next."
The leader with the pointed hood moved towards the center and placed his hand on the ground.
"If a village really was here, then sometimes artifacts are underground. Tombs that might even have lingering beasts protecting them. Let me see if I can catch any movement," the man stated.
The sand gently moved around him as his eyes were closed.
Seeing this, the Crimson Crane members were wondering what their best move was.
"I think we should get out of here and hide, unless we want to face an army of those guys, hide as long as possible until Raze is awake," Alba ordered.
Right then, all of them felt something strange, a slight shifting underneath their feet. It was subtle. Not a large amount of movement and was only for a few seconds.
All of them looked at each other at that moment. To which immediately Alba started to gather the Qi around her swords.
"There are people here, quickly send the signal!" The squad leader ordered.
"Ignite, twirl of fire!" He shouted. Immediately, from the palm of his hands, a large flame erupted and was spinning out like a vortex going straight for where the others were.
It was large in size and crashed into the debris and sandstone, causing an explosion.
The Crimson Crane members covered themselves as they jumped to the side, and the debris went off in all different directions.
When the dust settled, they finally could see the mages, having turned around and looked at them, and all of them in plain view as well.
Right then, before they could stop anything, one of the mages had shot into the sky a large light beam. It continued going up, and then when it reached the sky, it exploded looking like fireworks.
"This isn't good, this isn't good at all!" Alba said.
She had turned around, thinking of running, but the moment she did, a large wall had interrupted in front of her.
Meanwhile, several beams of energy were shot the group's way. She swung her swords, hitting the beams of energy which exploded on impact.
The attacks were strong, like powerful shots of energy, but they didn't quite harm the Crimson Crane members.
The shots of energy went to each of the members, but Reno somewhat had his hands full holding onto the sword, and with Raze on his back. Coming in the way and blocking the attacks that were sent was none other than Tilon.
"Don't worry, I've got your back," Tilon mentioned.
"They're warriors, and they seem to be strong ones, be careful!" The squad leader ordered.
Ice started to form from the side, as one mage had his hands on the floor. It had encased Elvlin's feet, holding her still.
But Kizer, slamming his foot on top of the ice with Qi, managed to shatter it.
"Thanks for that one."
Lilly with her spear, she had tried to make an exit for the group, stabbing the large wall behind them. She had obliterated and shattered it, but the moment she had destroyed it, it started to rise again blocking their way.
The Crimson Crane were still under fire by a large number of different spells. They weren't powerful like that of when fighting a middle stage warrior; it was more difficult for them.
They had no idea what these spells could do. How much they would hurt, or the nature of them. It was tricky for them to deal with.
It was like fighting against the Light Faction Elder, different versions of them, and although they were all weaker than the Light Elder even in terms of magic, it was annoying.
"What do we do!" Tilon asked.
Alba stood in front of them, all the beams of energy coming towards her. She swung her blade, hitting them one after the other, and then jumped from where she was.
They continued to attack her in the air, as she pounded all of the beams away with her Qi-infused swords. She landed right on top of a mage, swinging her blade.
The strange clothing almost rebounded her swords, but she pushed forward with even more Qi, stabbing right through the chest of the mage.
It was bloody; the mage's mouth was filled with blood before he passed out moments later.
Without hesitation though, the other mages nearby continued to use spells attacking them.
Alba spun her body with her blades, creating a tornado of Qi of her own. It deflected the spells used against her, as she had rushed back with her group.
"If they want to keep us here, then there is only one thing we can do; we have to fight back. Let's show them the strength of us warriors!"
