X No Sekai

o21; The Key

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“C’mon, we have no time to lose,” Oz said, grabbing the ALICEs up. Once they were up and regained back their own selves, Oz shared his knowledge about the Book of Lore. “So in other words, the Red Queen herself is the key to escape here in Xland!”

“The Queen is?” the 4th ALICE asked in disbelief. “But no offense, have you ever knew where to go after you revive the key?”

Oz became silent. “You don’t know?” the 1st ALICE asked.

Just like an answer, the Book of Lore opened in front of them and flipped its pages, showing a vision. A picture of a very big – almost 10 feet tall – door that is dark red and full of gold linings and carvings. Then, on the page of the book, it appeared; “This is the portal that teleports you to your destined place.”

“So this means…” Oz said softly. They quickly ran towards the straight path. The 2nd ALICE quickly fell on the ground, as well as the 1st and 4th ALICEs. Finally, Oz felt a light string and he fell, too. When he glanced up, it was the Death Slayer, looking down at them menacingly and his pet, Adlet was beside him, cackling as always.

“The Queen’s orders – not to let you pass,” he said, pointing at them. Adlet quickly cackled and came to the front and swiped his scythe in the air, making a very strong whip of air – faster than the 4th ALICE’s wind whip.

The 4th and 1st ALICE was about to attack when the 2nd ALICE held his hand out. Then he stood up and looked calmly at the Death Slayer. “No. You’ll waste time, go ahead. I’ll take care of this.” Then he ran towards the Death Slayer and jumped in mid-air, pointing both of his hands towards the Death Slayer as a bolt of lightning came out and struck him, but he quickly dodged out of the way.

Oz stood up from his place and heard everything the 2nd ALICE said. He was about to run towards them when the 1st and 4th ALICEs held him back. “No! I won’t let another ALICE die just for us!”

The 2nd ALICE looked at Oz and grinned, “Don’t worry. We’ll still see each other in the future. Now, just go ahead! I can take care of this.” Then he dodged when Adlet strike his scythe towards him. “Now go!”

The 1st ALICE grabbed Oz’s wrist and pulled him as they ran, leaving the 2nd ALICE behind. Oz glanced after the 2nd ALICE and the Death Slayer. Oz thought that the 2nd ALICE got a very bad cut on his right arm which suddenly bleeds like a fountain. “Tsk. I shouldn’t play around with you,” the Death Slayer said as he turned around and followed Oz and the rest.

The 2nd ALICE rose up from the ground and said, “No…” then he jumped towards the Death Slayer and Adlet and pinned them to the ground as a bright light wrapped around him. Oz gasped. He’s using 120% of his power and energy – just like the 3rd, 5th and 6th ALICEs. Oz felt tears on his eyes again as there was a very loud and bright bolt of lightning that struck them all three. “No!” Oz cried as he was being pulled deeper and far away from the 2nd ALICE and the Death Slayer.

Oz felt that the 1st ALICE stopped running. He glanced – and saw the Hell Girl standing in front of them. She remained her icy-cold glare at them as she raised her scythe in the air and charcoal-black chains appeared everywhere, looming above them. The 1st ALICE let go of her grasp of Oz’s wrist as she was tied by the chains, as well as the 4th ALICE and Oz, himself.

“From what I’ve noticed, Hell Girl is the only remaining alive knight the Red Queen has. So in short, the Red Queen is all by herself now, and that if we will kill the Hell Girl – it’ll be easy for us to attack the Red Queen,” the 4th ALICE told them when they were tied up with chains.

Oz looked at the Hell Girl, who was sitting on top of the chains. She glared at them one by one and finally picked Oz. She raised her hand and pointed at Oz. The silver cross reacted and glowed, much to everyone’s surprise. Oz felt hot and painful – as if the silver cross was being ripped out of his skin. He was sweating hard now, and his breath came out short and raspy.