The City of Empyrean [ON HIATUS]

Chapter 1: The Message

"Good morning!" Chung exclaimed when he went down stairs and saw Eve sitting on the couch beside her drones.

Eve didn't turn to him and said in monotone, "Good morning, Trooper."

For the pass months, she still calls him 'Trooper' instead of his name. It somehow made him upset but, he didn't blame her at all. Ever since she terminated her emotions just to obtain the Battle Seraph Code for the revival of her people. Her people. The Nasods. Chung lowly sighed as he looked around the room.

He thought the others would be there but, no sign of them. He turned back to Eve and asked, "Where are the others?"

"Outside, training." She answered.

Then a door burst open as Chung turned to see Rena at the wide open entrance.

"Bring your gears, now." Rena ordered.

"What's wrong?"

"It's Banthus. Him and his gang just happen to rob Luriel's bank yesterday. So Hoffman sent a message to us this morning." She lowly held up the mail. "Just get your gears now, we're leaving to Elder village."

She left as Eve stood up and followed with Moby and Remy floating alongside.

As they're already gone, Chung took his upgraded cannon, Destroyer, and his grenades "Another job to take care of."

He went outside as he locked the door behind him and began to walk to where his friends are. Looking up at the sky with white clouds passing by as the sun appears almost everytime, Chung sighed, "I hope this day won't get any worse like last time."

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"Any trace of it yet?" A mysterious man asked, sitting in the darkness of the room.

Nearby, another man sat, covered by a black hooded-cloak, beside him is not a man but a woman, wearing a white hooded-cloak. All you could see is their mouths, which the man pursed in stress while the woman shown nothing but calmness.

"Patients, general, and no, we still have not found her yet." The man answered in a husky voice.

The first man put up his elbow on a table as he laid his cheek on to his fist. "Patience, you say?" One of his eyes came into view and it was nothing but a blank golden eye. "The Serasynais is what we needed to complete this task. If you Logan Sirens, the sixth of Telikos- can't find it, you know what happens next?"

The black-hooded man-Logan- was silent for a moment until he pissed off himself.

"He's right, general Aiden." The woman replied calmly.

Aiden's eye turned to the white hooded-cloaked as Logan looked to her as well. "Do you dare to tell me the same word as he did?"

"It's not a dare, general." She answered wisely. "But like what he said, he's right. Patients might be a irritating word but, what's the rush? There are still plenty of time for us."

Aiden listened to her intentively as she continued, "Rushing is a quicker way but, it sometimes wasted our efforts because of not having enough precious time." She explained, "If one rushed too far, he or she will easily fall as his or her chances begin to fade, and you don't want that to happen if I'm correct?"

The two men were silent for a moment until Aiden sighed in defeat, "You may have a point. Anyway, where are Adam and the others?"

"I think they're still outside looking for it." Logan silently snorted.

"They knew that this is a job from you that needs to be done. In other words, the Serasynais is the key after all." The woman said. "Should we call them back?"

"No." Aiden answered. "If they do realize that this is important then we'll have to wait for their return, if they found it."

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"Get them!" Aisha shouted, racing after Elsword as he chased after Banthus and three thieves.

They dodged food and supply stalls, racing down the hilled-road after the thieves. Two paths up ahead as Banthus took the one on the left while the three thieves took the other on the right.

"You go after Banthus, I'll go after those three tugs." Aisha instructed as she stop and raised her staff, "And don't let him escape, Eldork!"

She disappeared in a flash as Elsword go to where Banthus took, "Why would I?!" He exclaimed.

Banthus looked behind him, seeing Elsword tailing on him, he turned back to the road when he suddenly came to a halt. Ara readied her spear as the bandit leader backed away in a few steps, and Elsword came to the scene.

"Hah! Now you're cornered!" Elsword smirked.

The Infinity Sword began to attack while the Sakra Devanam did the same, however, she accidentally tripped her foot causing her to fall, which the bandit leader take his chance to escape.

As Ara fell, Banthus move quickly and successfully run away. Ara use her legs to prevent her from falling, and clumsily turned to chase the bandit leader, her spear, however, after turning, her weapon's pole somehow smacked something following a loud thud.

Hearing the thud, she turned around and gasp when she saw the unconscious Elsword lying on the ground with a red mark on his face.

"Gah! Elsword!" Ara shouted in panic.

Banthus laughed, taking another turn as he raced away, thinking that he gained a victory. But he widened his eyes as he skidded to a stop, surprise spread across his face.

Chung stood there, one hand held on his cannon, and the other grasped one of his grenades. Eve emotionlessly stood beside him with Moby and Remy floating behind her.

"We got you now!" Chung threw his grenade causing it to explode as blue smoke covered the bandit leader's eyes.

As the smoke faded, Banthus nearly yelped when he saw Eve stood in front of him and used Fatal Slap causing him to knocked out unconscious.

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Chung emerged out of the alleyway as he found Ara helping Elsword to get up to his feet.

He approached to them as the two noticed him. Ara called happily, "Chung!"

"Yo, what happen to Banthus?" Elsword asked while rubbing his red marked cheek.

Chung smiled, "We caught him. Eve and I happened taking him to the police while, Rena, Raven and Aisha came along with his three bandits."

Ara felt delight, "That's good!"

Elsword nodded in agreement, "Yeah, good job!"

"Thanks. Well, the others are waiting, I think you should go back."

"What about you?"

"When we arrived to the police, Hoffman gave me a letter. Well, it's from my father." Chung explained. "He wanted me to come back to Hamel." Chung explained.

Elsword raised an eyebrow, "Why?"

Chung shooked his head, "Don't know. He just wanted me to come back that's all."

The Infinity Sword stood up as he approached to the young Tactical Trooper. He stop few meters in front of him, "If you're going," he quickly put both of his hands on his shoulders with force. Surprised by his actions, the red head grinned, "Can we come along, then?"