What followed Ambrosia's words were a few seconds of silence. Glances at each other, here and there, and every troupe member turned towards the Tributal, who kept pointing toward the darkened hallways they had just passed.

Anna-Pom stepped off her horse and started treading, sniffing something out of the dense cave air surrounding them, while Morio looked up, all towards the sharp rocks sticking out of the ground, barely reaching the ceiling.

Anna furrowed her brows, averting her gaze to the ginger-haired. The Tributal slowly nodded, readying their Guardian Demon.

And through the dimmed hush, sounds could be made out in the distance, either screaming, yelling or shouting words that no one could make out. Then, the sounds of various footsteps, light and heavy echoed in, chased by the characteristic sounds of the twisting horns some demons made.

Bancho's eyes widened. "Off your horses, NOW!" he yelled, signalling with his hand, jumping off Pearl and tapping near her nape.

In a loud neigh, the stallion ran forward, while the old Wise's weapon landed in his hands. He gritted his teeth, ready for combat, and the others followed in his step, a bit unsure, but still ready to take on the existing challenge.

The horses followed a path down the slope while the troupe stayed behind. Elton, the only one without an actual Guardian Demon, carefully started climbing up the boulder behind, trembling a little.

The light finally shone in from the corner behind the hallway, its warm orange bouncing into the massive cavern, and the first shadows of demons revealed themselves. A few seconds passed, and then they were there, in their full, unfortunate glory.

Some had fangs sticking out from their mouth, some horns scratched against the stone ceilings, and some wings extending at the mere sight of the Demonears. Trying to squeeze through the middle were a few, uncharacteristic ones, either missing their heads, eyes or mouths, with horns that went down the side of their bodies and freezing the blood pumping through the troupe's veins.

The first devils waited for a moment, as the grins on their faces widened, and Bancho was the first to initiate action, running into the horde with his weapon, in a scream.

The creatures shouted, raising their fists or rusty weapons. Saxyo made immediate contact, slashing through the first shoulder, then towards the second hand and the third back, while Bancho skillfully jumped around.

He threw his weapon up, creating a massive waterfall, which forced the demons to move along the path and towards the other Demonears.

But, instead of falling back, Bancho started climbing up the wall, to reach his weapon, even though he could easily force it back into his hands. Morio looked up, trying to figure out his intentions, but was quickly distracted by the incoming horde.

The moving waters forced Atomu to jump up on the same boulder Elton was on, and the others struggled, barely moving their legs towards the creatures, yet, they weren't going to give up the fight.

Anna-Pom was first in line, jumping up, both legs on the two boulders which created a path they were supposed to take, and then bounced off further into the air, soaring above a group of demons and spinning, holding two ends of her rope, slaloming through and squeezing the necks of the creatures.

With one final swing and a massive press, a bunch of ground-like materials appeared where the heads of the demons once were, and she continued forward, striking at the big clumps.

Morio zapped through the air, towards one lone Demon who tried attacking from the side. Quickly standing up, five more demons appeared, and he kept slashing blindly, before unconsciously grabbing onto Victis, and using it to block an incoming attack.

Unlike the others, Morio still hasn't unlocked or discovered any new elemental attack, yet, his speed and thought greatly improved. Still, quick reflexes weren't enough to stop multiple demons. Right when the creature's face inched closer to Morio's, something launched itself into the sky.

"MOOORIN!" Chyuuichi yelled out, oddly joyous, and struck through the demon, splitting it in half. He quickly grabbed Morio's hand, and looked up, seeing swarms raiding in from the open holes near the ceiling and finding themselves on the boulders, climbing towards the Paladians. "We have to keep going!" Chyuuichi informed, smirking, running forward, and Morio followed, determined.

The Mirillian spun the scythe in his hands, as small little ice crystals appeared near the edge of the blade, extending to the ground for a second. Then, he ran forward, striking into the horde, and when one demon grabbed his hands, the crystals quickly found their purpose.

In a sudden shot of adrenaline, they started connecting with white light, creating a sort of icicle prison, before reaching the tip of Morgana. The light exploded in the face of the demons, further pushing them away and killing others, leaving Morio awestruck.

The two quickly climbed the other boulder, with an idea to cross to the other section of the cave, and further away from the group of demons.

The only person remaining on the affected side of the corridor the mass attack went through was Ambrosia, who, without much of a second thought, kept handling the situation with the same smile that didn't seem to fade away. There was also Bancho, at the top of the cliff, barely hanging on.

"Ambrosia!" Jyuzou stuck his hand out, standing atop yet another rock, analysing the situation, holding onto his spear. "Come on! Ambrosia, M-Mr Bancho!"

Bancho finally jumped off, taking Saxyo into his hands and swinging like on a rope. He kicked off many heads, as a large group colliding into themselves and down on the rocks opened a passage further into the caves, where the streams finally connected.

"Wow!" Chyuuichi pointed. "Cool!"

...and when all the other demons started retreating or falling to their demise, some latched onto the massive rocks, with their claws and distorted faces, a quick one making their way towards Atomu, who graced the tip of the Knrhum's Blade on the ground beneath him, erecting a big wall, which the demon immediately tried wrecking apart.

With one more strike, the Guardian Demon created a hole, but instead of splitting the rock in two, a shockwave was sent through, and the demon that desperately tried getting its hands on the Paladian hit its head against the ceiling, falling into the water.

Atomu breathed out, tired, before spotting the other Paladian, struggling with the situation. Another devil latched itself onto him, and with the bats and tools he had, he kept trying to unsuccessfully push it away.

"Elto-"

"I got it," Anna yelled unenthusiastically, as she ran up the rock and hurled the rope below the demon, causing Elton to tumble down the boulder in a panic.

"Into the caves below, everyone!" Bancho screamed, as his silhouette flashed before the other's eyes, skipping through the boulders and further down the slope, where fewer demons appeared. Chyuuichi immediately followed his step, playfully jumping down without much of a struggle, and Morgana shone in his hands, while the others, in a hunch of stress, tried to figure out the ways they had to take to tread carefully.

"Ambrosia, c-come on!" Jyuzou yelled, desperately reaching his hand out to the Tributal, anxious about everyone leaving. But, alas, he was not to leave someone behind.

Gritting his teeth, he threw the Great Kowitzer into the horde. The spear went through two heads as its tip created a big wind that pushed the demons further away and into the water streams. The Tributal finally backed out, without glancing at the Morian, jumping onto the rock.

"There's too many, Vit Jyuzou," they informed, blinking.

"Why did you keep fighting, then?" Jyuzou finally asked, groaning.

They shrugged their shoulders, and Bancho's yells towards the two echoed. Jyuzou immediately slid and fell face-first into the dirt, landing near the rest of the troupe.

"Ambrosia!" Bancho shouted for the Tributal, while they stood on the boulder, spinning their weapon as if they were getting ready to strike, with a much more powerful blow than before. The cave above shook, and before anyone could realize what was about to happen, the ceiling fell, and rocks crashed down on the boulders.

"AMBROSIA!" Atomu stuck his hand out, terrified, as the dust of the falling formation surrounded the entire area. The demons that crawled in from above looked even creepier than before, and his eyes shrunk.

"I'm fine," Ambrosia informed, giving them a thumbs up, with the crushed stones perfectly surrounding them, leaving the Tributal completely unharmed.

Ambrosia finally stepped away, though, running towards the others, and soon everyone passed through the tight corridor, with Bancho being the last one to make it, waiting for everyone else.

The horses waited on the other side, and Bancho finally stepped away, breathing out, either in relief or from exhaustion.

"Shin." the old Morian mouthed, taking a look at the others. "To think that we already look like this after one encounter. But I guess that's what we were asking for." he brushed some blood off his cheek and wiped it into the rock behind.

Then, he coughed, loudly, a few times, before his glance landed on the other members of the troupe, who kept staring at the Wise, unsure.

"What?" he quickly asked, and Anna-Pom stepped forwards, towards the opening they squeezed through.

She put both hands on the sides, peeking her head in, sniffing through the air.

"Is something wrong?" Bancho asked, backing out.

Anna sighed, looking back at the old Morian. "They've got a chimera." she rolled her eyes.

Right as her words met the other members of the troupe, the creature destroyed the opening separating the rest of the cave and the place they found themselves in.

Before the dust cleared, Elton screamed in fear, and everyone ran towards their horses, stepping on. Ambrosia started shaking their Guardian Demon around, as it created streaks of light, rays bouncing into the caves, and before they knew it, the chimera chased right after.

Its legs were horse-like, so it quickly matched their speed, its torso, though, was a long meaty and fleshy purple tube, and its head was its end. Liquids and juices dripped out from the crown near its flower-like mouth, and it kept making sporadic and unpredictable movements.

Through the chase, it kept striking at the ground, sending small shockwaves or wrecking entire boulders, with some of its debris hitting the troupe, slowing them down.

"Ghh!" Bancho put Saxyo into both hands, relying on Pearl to take care of everything else, and his horse followed the others. The eye opened near the tip, and Bancho ground his teeth, before the familiar black chains appeared, wrapping around the chimera's slimy body and pushing it into the ground.

Although that struggle created distance, it was barely a distraction, and all the other demons started joining the chase, pushing it forward, freeing it from restraints.

Anna-Pom furrowed her eyebrows, and turned around, looking at the lights which bounced at the top of the formation, spotting a sharp rock that stuck out from the ceiling. When the walls started closing in and the ground reached the dome, she struck, and the rope carefully landed around the sharp edges, wrapping in a slalom-like pattern.

She pulled as hard as she could, and the entire formation shifted down.

The troupe ran forward, with the massive rock finally landing atop the chimera, completely crushing it below with a strange sound. The rock kept rolling forward, though, closing in on the terrified yells of the troupe (Elton and Atomu), and finally, enclosed them in a separate part of the cave.

Anna-Pom let go of the rope, pushing it towards her own body, and the others waited in a moment of collective silence. She turned around, slightly angered.

"Great." Jyuzou folded his arms. "Now we're trapped." Morio punched his shoulder. "What did you do that for?"

"Quick and clever thinking, Anna," Bancho admitted, walking towards her horse. "I've seen you only do that once beforehand."

The woman quickly nodded, stepping forward.

"Woo-hoo! Good job, good job!" Chyuuichi clapped his hands. "Can you teach me how to swing a rope like you do?" he pointed to the small thing which hung off the side of his pants. "Please, please!" he begged, putting his hands together.

Anna-Pom stopped, looking at his poor excuse of a rope, and chuckled, treading forward.

"Huh?" Chyuuichi was a little confused.

"I think that means no." Ambrosia raised a finger.

"We're trapped?" Elton looked up, trembling a little bit. "Oh, jeez louise," he muttered, putting his hands together.

"Don't worry." Atomu stepped in the front, and put on a rather tough face, seeing Elton's worries. "I-I think we can trust Chyuuichi's aid here, and I'm sure there are many ways out of this predicament too."

"I just... man." Elton looked down. "I'm not sure if I'm made for this." he chuckled, nervously.

The two Paladians stayed behind for a few seconds, while the others followed the Mirillian. Morio glanced at them though.

Elton's hands were shaking, and Atomu finally put his fingers on his palms. The two's eyes met, and Elton's terrified expression softened. "For a big ass guy to act like this... You don't see me as a coward, do you, my friend?"

"N-No, of course not," Atomu shook his head, looking away. "I'd say I'm no different in a situation like this. All scared, while the others are tough, but at least I can get used to it."

Eltons smiled lightly, trembling, glancing at Atomu.

"If you're ever worried, though, Elton, I'll be there to p-protect you. One Paladian to the other, right?"

"Yeah." Elton slowly nodded, easing up, and Atomu patted his back, taking the lead. "I'll protect you too!"