Mona leaped out of the side of the carriage and channeled her chi instantly. 

"Seems there's atleast three of them." Mona heard Samor say. "I wonder what kingdom their under." 

"Probably Namunda." Mona replied. "But, I cannot say at the moment." 

Three men wearing dark cloaks that concealed any identifying features emerged from the cluster of trees. 

"Their clothing doesn't resemble the Kingdom of Namunda." Samor stated. "Maybe these three aren't reporting under anyone." 

"It's never that simple." Mona replied. 

The three men all channeled their chi at the same time. 

"The chi I sense from these three is almost identical." Mona thought. 

"Perhaps they are all brothers." Samor suggested. 

"No, it doesn't seem that way. There would be a difference even if it's slight." 

The three men all rushed forwards at the same time. 

Mona scattered her chi into the ground below them, as big chunks of the earth flew up. Then, she disappeared as she rushed through the chunks. On the other side, two of the three men leaped around the debris from both sides, looking to attack Mona. But as soon as they passed by, she flew out of the debris towards the man that was now seperated from the others. 

"Hardening Style, Stone Splitter!" 

                                   *SWOOSH* 

Mona rushed forwards and unleashed a chop from her chi-channeled hand to the man's chest. Upon impact, a hole that resembled a crater formed in the center of his chest. His body began to fade after it hit the ground. 

"Like I suspected, it's afterimage projection." 

Another skill that those who were enlightened to the mending stage learned, was to create afterimages from their chi and project them into the area around them. The effectiveness of this skill varied between users, with those with the lowest prowess with this skill being able to ridicule people who had low stage enlightenment and those with the highest prowess with this skill could create afterimages that appeared to be identical clones that were very difficult to tell apart from the original person. To Mona, the afterimages were very easy to read. 

"You're enlightenment is atleast at stage three, isn't it?" Mona heard a male voice say. 

The three afterimages' chi began to flow together and formed one real man. He was a muscular, six foot man with short black hair and a scar that looked like it came from a bladed weapon across his face. 

"What is it that you wish to gain from doing this?" Mona asked." 

The man didn't respond. 

"Did someone send you or are you acting off your own accord?" she asked. 

"The only question that actually matters, is if that kid is actually the Black Dahlia." the man replied.

"What will such information do for you?" Mona asked. 

 "He must be if someone of your skill level is guarding him." the man suggested. "Hand him over. Such power is only safe in the hands of King Leonidas." 

"King Leonidas?" Mona said in shock. "He's never been any enemy to Neserus or King Musa." 

"There's no way King Leonidas sent this guy here to take Yasuke." Mona heard Samor say. "Such actions would violate his noble warrior spirit, something he prides himself on." 

King Leonidas was the only King amongst the four kingdoms that was known to fight alongside the knights and bishops in his Order. Anytime the Kingdom of Spartania engaged in conflict, he was there putting his life on the line as well. It's because of this that he's also considered to be the best warrior amongst the Five Kings. 

"The actions I take are to stop a war from transpiring, not to begin one. If Namunda truly has obtaining the Black Dahlia as there objective, they'll stop at nothing to get it. Don't you know that the Prince Nobunaga has gained the throne? That kid has a better reputation for ruthlessness than anyone in Neserus and Spartania." 

"There's a new king? Already?" Mona thought. 

"This kid is right, the Prince Nobunaga is not a saint. If he wants Yasuke, he's going to try anything to get him." Samor added. "We must report King Leonidas' intentions to King Musa." 

"No" Mona replied. "If there's one thing that's clear, it's that this kid is acting on his own accord. King Leonidas did not order this." 

"This is why my King should have The Black Dahlia. He's the only one that won't use it's power for his own personal gain." The man explained. 

"The same could be said about King Agasga. The Black Dahlia should be given to the Kingdom of Objibwe if that's what the decision is being based on." 

The Kingdom of Objibwe is known as the most peaceful civilization in the land of Aros. Under King Agasga's leadership, the Kingdom is the only one that has never engaged in any conflict in history. It's rumored that this Kingdom doesn't have any weapons or knights in their Order. However, the Kingdom of Objibwe is known for having the highest enlightenment stage. King Agasga is one of the few confirmed to be enlightened to stage five. 

"Actually, you're acting for your own personal beliefs in the name of King Leonidas. So, if you do not receive any punishment by him, what you said earlier is false." Mona declared. 

"King Agasga's peaceful nature cannot last much longer. Everyone knows how detrimental it could be if the wrong person gets the power of the Black Dahlia. That's why it's crucial that King Leonidas is the one to receive this power. He will only use it's power if absolutely necessary for everyone, not just his village."

The man equipped a long sword and a shield. 

"When I became a knight, I vowed to do only what's best for the Kingdom of Spartania. I will take Yasuke, even if by force." 

"You can try" Mona replied as she channeled her chi. "But I'm actually acting according to my King's wishes, and that's for Yasuke to stay in Neserus." 

The man and Mona both rushed forwards at the same time. But once Mona came into his striking distance, she disappeared. 

"You fool, she's behind you!" The man heard in his head. 

Upon hearing this, he quickly turned around. But, when he did he saw no one behind him. 

"Samor's skill never fails" Mona thought with a smirk as she rushed towards him with a punch. 

                                   *SWOOSH* 

He quickly spun around and blocked her punch with his shield. Then, he used his shield to push her back as he channeled his Chi. Upon impact, Mona flew backwards. 

"He's pretty quick" Mona thought as she landed on her feet. "It seems your psychic-transmission skill is useless against him." 

"Yeah, it won't. I suppose I should have expected great mental fortitude from those who train under King Leonidas." Samor stated. "I was able to retrieve his name however, it's Mephistopheles." 

Samor was trained highly to use the psychic-transmission skill. This allowed to to briefly connect her thoughts to anyone around her. Doing this enabled her to talk telepathically, to spectate other's thoughts, and to gain general information. In this instance, she attempted to use her ability to trick Mephistopheles. By replicating his voice and sending her thoughts to his head, anything she thought would be repeated in his head. But due to these thoughts being in his own voice, to Mephistopheles it sounded like his own consciousness and this is how she could trick her opponents. In the brief moment she connected their thoughts, she was also able to find out his name. 

"I'm assuming whoever was responsible for whatever that was is in that carriage." Mephisto stated. "I suppose I'll also have to fight them next." 

"You shouldn't look past me so soon." Mona stated. 

Mona scattered her chi into the ground below them, as big chunks of the earth flew up. Then, she disappeared as she rushed through the chunks.

"She's going to try the same tactic on me again?" Mephisto thought as he rushed forwards. "I know she's using the Mending Cloak to blend in to these rocks. I'm going to stab right through them!" 

                                  *SWOOSH* 

Mephisto thrusted his sword into the biggest chunk of earth in the debris, but it had no effect. 

"You fool, you think she'd use the same tactic twice?" Mephisto heard in his head. 

He quickly turned around once again. 

"Damn this." he thought as he saw no one. "It must've been a trick." 

When he turned around, all of the chunks in the debris were flowing with chi and were thrown in his direction. 

                     *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* 

The three big chunks of earth smashed into his body, forcing him backwards as they shattered upon impact. 

"Hardening Style, Stone Splitter!" 

Mona rushed up quickly and unleashed a chop to Mephisto's chest. 

                                      *BOOM* 

The force caused him to drop his sword and shield as he fell to the ground. When he looked up, Mona had the sword to his neck. 

"What made you think you would be successful?" Mona ridiculed. "I wasn't sure at first, but now it's clear. You're definitely only at the empowerment stage. But, you being able to use afterimage projection means you have an impromptu enlightenment." 

Mona removed the sword from his neck and turned the handle to him. 

"You should be more careful, you could have atleast brought a friend with you." 

"Shut the hell up" Mephisto snarled as he snatched his sword back. 

"Mephistopheles, that's not how you should act." Another male voice stated. 

Mona and Mephisto looked to the right to see another six foot, muscular man with dark, short hair approaching. He wore a red and silver cuirass and pteruges armor set and also had a beard with the same exact scar as Mephisto. 

"King Leonidas!" Mona heard Samor say. 

"You act with disrespect after being defeated by someone who could have killed you." King Leonidas continued. "That's not how you were taught." 

Mephisto quickly hopped up and bowed to his king. Mona did the same as a sign of respect. 

"My apologies, sir." Mephisto uttered. "I suppose I got upset after being defeated so easily." 

"It's okay, I know." Leonidas stated. "Soon after you stopped their carriage, I arrived. I've been watching this entire time. I wanted to see if you could complete mission you undertook in my name.".

"Sorry for the misunderstanding." Leonidas continued after he turned to Mona. "I'm sure you figured, but this wasn't an order I gave Mephistopheles.".

"Yeah, I know." Mona replied. "You and King Musa have always been pretty good friends." 

"Speaking of Musa, I actually need to speak with him. If you would allow me to, I'd like to tag along with you." 

"It's an honor that you'd ask for my permission, but it's not my decision. I'm under the instruction of my bishop, Samor." 

"Hello, King Leonidas." Leonidas heard Samor say. "I'm sure King Musa wouldn't mind, but I must ask your intentions." 

"After this situation with my young pawn Mephistopheles and the widespread knowledge of Neserus having the Black Dahlia, I figured it would be essential to specify my Kingdom's place in correlation to Namunda and the other Kingdoms." Leonidas thought.

"Yeah, King Musa would respect and appreciate that. You should come along." 

Yasuke, Eradius, Samor, and the two coachmen left the carriage and were standing at the side of the trail, just before the ditch. Mona, Mephisto, and Leonidas all joined them. Eradius and the others quickly bowed once he saw Leonidas, and seeing Eradius do this made Yasuke do it as well. 

"Don't worry, the normal King's formalities do not matter me." Leonidas stated as he walked past them. 

He looked down at the carriage that was in the ditch. 

"Mephisto, I'm actually impressed. I imaged you would've completely trashed it. It's still operable." 

Leonidas held his hand out to the carriage and channeled his Chi. It began to engulf the entire surrounding area, as it's potency is something couldn't be ignored. The carriage then came forth just before his hand. 

"What the hell?" Eradius uttered. 

Upon realizing that he said this out loud, he quickly apologized and covered his mouth. 

"This skill, the matter warp, is learned by those who are on enlightenment stage four. It allows one to use their chi to contract or expand the space around them. I've never seen it performed so easily." Mona thought.

"The horses have ran off." Eradius stated. 

"Yeah, they were trained to run back to Neserus if anything happened." Samor explained. 

"It's fine." Leonidas stated. "Mephisto and I can pull it. Go ahead and get on." 

"To think a king would be the one pulling a carriage." Eradius thought. "I suppose it's true what they say, he's the most humble and selfless King ever." 

As the others boarded the carriage, Mephisto and Leonidas wrapped the straps at the front of the carriage around their shoulders. 

"So, a kid was born with the power of the Black Dahlia." Leonidas stated. "The vision I had is true, but cannot believe it turned out to be. He's seems to be around four or five. I wonder if they've started training him yet." 

"I think King Musa won't have a choice if Namunda is trying to take him." Mephisto replied. 

"Hmph" Leonidas uttered. "Perhaps you are right." 

Leonidas and Mephistopheles began jogging, which caused the carriage to start rolling. 

"If the vision I had about that kid is true, then that means the other one I had is also true." Leonidas thought. "And I cannot allow that to happen."