Interdimensional RED-Coded Contract

Interlude: Kindred Spirits

Once she healed and restocked on the Healing Grass, Falcom reentered the depths of LAN Castle and found it much cleaner than it was before. The state of the area slightly surprised the adventurer, but not too much. After all, Angela's staff repaired and fixed the entire place.

She marched on with confidence, fueled by wanting to already be done with this. The lit torches illuminated her path, it was enough for her to walk through the hallways.

They encountered a Wraith Manifestation, some sort of regrouping with a speech before a final battle, but Falcom just skipped that and walked away. Eyelander felt a little surprised when she did so. "Not curious what this is about?"

"Nah, not really." Falcom retorted. "I just want to take the Gehaburn and go back to the Basilicom, this whole fight with Angela just ruined my mood. Plus, the readers are getting as tired of this adventure as me."

"..." Eyelander stayed silent, caught off-guard by Falcom's answer. The ghost 'stared' (as he doesn't have any physical eyes) at the woman and pondered whether or not he should ask… Which he eventually did, his voice confused.

"...Did you just break the 4th wall?"

The adventurer stopped for a moment, thinking about what she did. "...Yeah, I guess." She said flatly and resumed walking. "Anyway, if I had to guess, that Manifestation was just a leader's speech before a final battle. It's a pretty common thing to do among adventurers and it's usually the same speeches anyway."

"Uh, huh."

And silence again fell upon them. Falcom walked through the blue-painted hallway in search of the cursed blade that wished to meet them. Nothing impeded her progress through the castle, the monster inhabitants were strangely avoiding her, the black and blue spiders straight up retreated when they spotted the nearing Falcom.

It was like the Gehaburn itself was controlling them.

And deep in their territory, inside a big spacious room, was their goal. A sword embedded into the floor.

"Well, that doesn't scream 'Ambush' at all." Eyelander sarcastically commented, observing the room from behind the doorway. It was big and completely empty, barring the sole sword right in the middle. It was illuminated by a mysterious light coming out of the ceiling, out of nothing. The walls and floor were the same as the hallway itself, but the doors were pretty unique.

Unlike the rest, much thicker and more solid than the rest, you could even call those blast doors.

They were also seriously damaged, someone tried to force their way through them. Was it Angela? Or perhaps someone else in the past?

One thing was for sure: Falcom really didn't want to go in there. Her danger senses were ringing, like the bells of a church. Someone or something hidden behind was dangerous, very dangerous.

"Do I really need to walk in there?" Falcom asked, everything about this room screamed danger. Her mind was screaming at her to turn back and run, this fear she felt was much greater than anything she faced before. It was greater than when her fought the Viral Ancient Dragon, greater than her fight with Angela, greater than being stripped away of her senses.

And the source was this ugly, shabby blade.

It had seen better days, the wide, purple blade was rusting and the edge was destroyed. Much like the Eyelander, barring the dried blood on it. The Gehaburn's handle was rotting and covered in cobwebs as well, so was the blade itself. It's gave an impression that this weapon simply fall apart if touched.

But it holds an ancient spirit inside, and that makes it a perfect weapon no matter how horrible it looks.

"Yes." The Eyelander answered, taking a moment to consider his next words. "Because, if not the ASIC then at least Angela will come back to take it. And then we'll be in trouble. Be careful though, I don't like the vibe it's giving." It was ironic, a cursed blade giving warnings about another cursed blade.

His warning was unnecessary, however. Because Falcom already knew what could be waiting for her on the other side of this doorway.

"Yeah, me neither." She took a deep breath, steeling herself to cross, and took a deliberate step forward, then another, and she was inside. She was tense all over, expecting a trap, ambush, or anything else that is bad news for her.

But nothing happened.

Falcom was just heavily breathing in a dead, tomb-like silence. Nothing was moving, and nothing was happening.

And then a Wraith Manifestation occured.

It was different than the other ones, the silhouettes here were light blue instead of green, but barring that it was all the same. There were only 2 characters here and both of them were unfamiliar to Falcom.

One of them was a woman with a long ponytail, wearing armor. She was wielding a sword that resembled the one that was in front of Falcom, just much better looking. So the adventurer speculated that this person was the Gehaburn herself, just while she was still alive…

Her opponent was obviously a monster, maybe even a Valkyrie. They had a humanoid shape but their head was similar to a rabbit's, and there were four wings hovering behind them. She was armed with a long spear with blades on both sides.

"All of this..." Gehaburn panted, using her own sword to support herself. She and the monster were exhausted, Falcom could see that by the way they're standing. "All of those sacrifices… and you're still standing!?"

"I can't… let you… pass." The beast answered, their voice was feminine but it felt like a rasp, like 2 rough surfaces grinding together. "Have to… protect %&%#$!" They tried to stand up, but their wounded legs buckled under their weight. Both of them were too injured and tired to stand on their own legs.

The Gehaburn laughed mockingly at the monster in front of her, her mature voice filling the entire room. "Look at you, Arfoire. You can't even hold a proper conversation now." She shifted her weight in order to appear more composed. "A woman who sinned by making a deal with the devil, a Deity of Sin itself." The familiar title sparked an interest inside Falcom. So this Arfoire really was the deity that the ASIC is trying to reive. She needed to tell all of this to Histoire, but could wait until later. "Was it worth it? Was it worth sacrificing your humanity to protect the one who slaughtered her own subjects? Tell me, Deity of Sin! Was it all worth it!?" Gehaburn roared and pointed her blade at the beast in front of her.

Her legs were shaking, unable to bear the weight of her body. The blade felt heavy in her injured arm, but Hilda Gehaburn grit her teeth and bore with it.

More Wraiths appeared around Falcom, bodies of men and women, all of them lying on the ground and unmoving. Were they dead? Unconscious? Falcom couldn't be sure.

But unlike the infernal blaze that Gehaburn felt, Arfoire felt no emotion. She was a monster incapable of feeling, of having any personality. Her duty was all that mattered to her. "Have to… protect %&%#$..." The beast tried to stand up again, but her injuries were too severe and she fell down once more.

Hearing again this cursed name sent Gehaburn over the edge, the anger she felt was enough to make her blood boil. She tightened her grip on the sword and moved forward, like a drunken man coming back home from the pub, Gehaburn put one leg in front of another. She was determined to end this.

The Deity of Sin noticed her opponent's advance and also straightened up, using her hand as a support. The rabbit-headed monster thrusted her spear, while Gehaburn swung her sword.

Who was victorious? Who was defeated?

Falcom didn't know, because the Wraith Manifestation ended right then.

The Wraiths collapsed into dust and disappeared, leaving tense Falcom alone in the room. Her hand fell onto Eyelander's reassuring handle and her gaze searched around. Okay, she has seen the Wraith Manifestation, so what will happen now?

And well… something did happen.

The rusted blade of Gehaburn caught on fire. But those flames weren't normal, they were black, like the void where Falcom lost her senses. The flames grew and grew while Falcom took a step back and glanced behind; fortunately the escape path was open.

The flames now were taking form, proving that this was actually an intelligent thing, or a spirit. Once that was done, a featureless humanoid was 'staring' at the spooked Falcom with 2 jade-colored embers instead of eyes.

The adventurer suddenly felt very, very exposed.

"Hmph. That I did not expect." Eyelander sighed, growing increasingly wary. Not even he can make a body on a whim out of freakin flames, and he's a few centuries old. If Falcom tries to wield this thing as she is… "Woman. You must be very. Very. Careful… Actually screw that, just run."

Falcom nodded and made a run for it, running towards the fortunately open doors. She didn't look back and there wasn't any need to, deep down she knew this thing won't allow her to leave. It's always like that with ghosts, they can be very persistent.

And she was right, this thing won't let her leave so easily.

The mass of flames was first to arrive at the doorway, and blocked Falcom's path. The adventurer had to suddenly stop and raise her weapon, as the dark figure swung the battered blade of Gehaburn at her. A loud clang echoed across the room as 2 blades collided together, and the adventurer withdrew away from the ghost.

That thing didn't put too much force behind that blow, but Falcom can't get a good read on it. It's either toying with her or being careful to not hurt her, anything goes really.

"Don't run, we have so much to talk about."

Their voice was similar to Gehaburn from the Wraith Manifestation, just… calmer, deeper, sinister. Falcom swallowed a heavy load and braced herself for anything that may happen.

"Like?"

She needs to stall for time. Just like it went with Angela, the longer the conversation the better. While the Gehaburn is distracted, she and Eyelander can plan out their escape route. Or maybe even she'll get lucky and actually avoid fighting altogether.

Ha! Fat chance.

But how does this mass of flames even fight on its own? How can it even hold the sword? Ghosts are pretty weird…

The mass of flames turned around and closed the doors behind them, cutting off Falcom's sole escape route. Only then, the spirit bothered to continue the conversation.

"You're a friend of a CPU Candidate, yes?"

The adventurer paused to think of an answer. It already knows about her friendship with Nepgear, so lying about that would do more harm than good. "Yes, I am." Falcom answered with a nod, keeping her eyes and the sword pointed at the humanoid flames. "You're a spirit of Hilda Gehaburn, right?"

"Yes, I am. And even when your 'friend' murdered her own people, you're still going to protect her?"

"Nepgear didn't kill anyone."

This came more like an automatic response than a thoughtful answer, although she wasn't actually lying when she said this. Through this single week that Falcom knew Nepgear, she didn't kill anybody. Even when her opponents were trying to kill her instead, the CPU Candidate was satisfied by simply disarming and knocking her opponents out. She saw that on the mission right before Nisa left.

"I must agree, actually. I never saw that kid ever shed the blood of someone else. Unless we count monsters as 'someone else'." And Eyelander backed her up too, which made Falcom smile.

But Gehaburn shook her head in disagreement. "Both of you are wrong, friends of the Devil. Yet again the CPUs' actions, even if they were involuntarily and by someone else, still brought death to the masses of her own people. Even if it's indirect, your friend is still at fault here."

Falcom wanted to argue with what it said, she wanted to ask where was the logic in this, that it's not true that Nepgear is not at fault here. And the reason why she didn't take this chance for rebuttal?

Because Eyelander did it faster.

"First of all. What you just explained is involuntary manslaughter, not murder." He said matter of factly.

"Which is still punished like murder."

"No. The punishment for manslaughter is usually less than murder. I am quite certain the laws of this land are the same." Eyelander deadpanned. "Second. How is she at fault? This kid is no clairvoyant. The decision of hiring mercs was made by the Oracle and not her, and she has basically no say in how her nation is ruled. Right now, it's the Oracle that is calling all shots here, while the kid is just blindly following what the others are saying."

"If she just blindly follows others, then she isn't fit to be a CPU at all."

"Of course she isn't fit to be a CPU now, you dumb twit! She is a Candidate, not yet ready to rule. What? Should a prince rule the kingdom while the king is still alive, and the prince is just a child?!"

Like in the tennis match, the two ghosts countered each other's arguments so naturally like they were a pair of lovers, or perhaps a pair of rivals would be the term more suited here. Gehaburn was feeling more and more annoyed by getting her arguments constantly challenged while Eyelander was also annoyed but for a completely different reason.

However something bothered Falcom, and she couldn't help but wonder what did Gehaburn mean by that. "Excuse me, you said 'yet again?' Why?"

"The Devil Candidate isn't the first one to murder her own subjects. Her predecessor did so as well."

Falcom hmm'ed as she processed the info. A Devil Candidate's predecessor. The Devil is probably Nepgear as much as she hates to admit it, and the predecessor... was that the landlord? "You're talking about the landlord of this castle, right? The girl with twintails."

The mass of flames stared at her silently, her gaze narrowed. Falcom frowned at this strange reaction, did she say anything wrong? Before she could ask, the Gehaburn slowly nodded as she scratched her face. "Yes. Although why her name, and the memories of her, are forbidden is something I don't understand."

Falcom raised her eyebrows in confusion, but it was Eyelander who asked the question. "Her name and memories are forbidden? What?"

"You saw that in those visions. Her name couldn't be heard and any proof of her existence was erased."

Yes, Falcom remembers it clearly. Each time someone tried to say Twintail's name, it was just bunch of incoherent sounds. But they always sound the same no matter when and who said it. "What happened to her? We never found the Wraith Manifestation explaining how she ended up…"

"I… don't know. The fate of the devil, the outcome of my battle with the Deity of Sin… are something I don't remember."

"..." Neither Falcom nor Eyelander offered any rebuttal. They still haven't processed the information about the landlord's name being "forbidden". This was the first time Falcom and even Eyelander met with something so strange as that.

However their thought process was interrupted as Gehaburn continued, unaware or uncaring towards the confusion of others. "But I don't like how history repeats itself. People are dying left and right, a revolt against the Devil is all but official. Action must be taken before history fully repeats."

"Action? What action?" Falcom frowned, that didn't sound too optimistic.

Instead of answering verbally, the mass of flames dived into the ground, becoming a tiny patch of flames with 2 eyes. Then, like a snake slithering on the ground, the Gehaburn zig-zagged towards Falcom, leaving a dark trail on flames in her wake. When the flames were only a few centimeters away, Gehaburn returned to her humanoid form, only much taller than before. She was basically towering above the adventurer.

And when the ghost raised her purple, god-slaying blade, Falcon realized what the 'action' Gehaburn was talking about was.

"I'm sorry. I'll have to start with you."

With a full intent to finish this quickly, Gehaburn brought her sword down, aiming its tip at the adventurer's torso. This would be an immediate end for Falcom if she didn't backpedal to avoid the attack.

The redhead retaliated, aiming for the neck, but her opponent ducked underneath. Falcom tried again but Gehaburn blocked the next blow and pushed her back.

The redhead stumbled backwards, but kept her balance. This moment of hesitation was enough for Gehaburn to switch onto offense and thrust her sword again at the adventurer. Falcom sidestepped the incoming blade and slashed the ghost horizontally.

The blade of Eyelander passed through the mass of flames' neck with no resistance, like it was cutting the air. Its upper body was dispersed but they mended back together, completely unharmed. Falcom was shocked, but that surprise was short-lived when a fist connected with her gut. A black, burning limb hit her defenseless body so hard that it sent the victim flying. "Do not resist, this is for humanity's good."

She crashed against the green walls and doubled over, coughing. The sucker punch forced air out of her lungs that Falcom desperately tried to recover, it also left a stinging burn mark as a parting gift. "Good deed my arse! Get up woman!" Eyelander ordered, numbing the injury.

Gehaburn slowly approached her with slow, deliberate steps. The adventurer took a deep breath and stood up, using her sword as a crutch. The slight burn made Falcom wince but she endured it. She was taken off-guard, but this isn't the worst she's suffered.

Gehaburn was already in range, the sword already drawn back to impale the redhead. Both cursed blades went forward, and met in the middle. "Once you're done, the Devil is next." Said Gehaburn, pushing her sword harder. This woman was a monster when it came to strength, she could give Heavy a run for his money.

Falcom grit her teeth and moved Gehaburn's edge away from her. The blade pierced through Falcom's guard but only hit the wall, while the redhead sailed past it and cut the ghost into pieces. 1 slash, 2, 3, 5. Falcom mercilessly attacked the body of flames, but she did no real damage to it, which confirmed her fears.

She was fighting air.

There just wasn't anything for her to strike, direct confrontation is not possible. Meanwhile, her opponent can freely hit her with whatever she has.

Falcom cut the ghost into 2 diagonal pieces, from crotch to head. Like previously the body of flames offered no resistance, but that didn't mean Eyelander did any damage to it.

"It's futile."

Gehaburn said out loud what Falcom was thinking. The adventurer turned around, only for another fist to connect with her face. Her head snapped backwards and Falcom staggered from the sheer strength behind that punch. Her cheek felt like it was going to cave in.

Gehaburn didn't stop to enjoy her suffering, as she kicked Falcom in the back as she was turned around. The adventurer yelped from the flames tickling her back, and fell onto the floor. But this time Falcom was on her feet much quicker than before, she trained her eyes and sword on the spirit but didn't charge ahead, even when the spirit crouched down to pick up the fallen sword. Attacking it was useless after all.

Instead, Falcom used this opportunity to glance to the side. What she saw made her click her tongue. She was thinking about running away, but the doors were welded into the doorframe. And that was her sole escape route…

Will she die here?

Dark thought appeared in her mind. It was just one, but that was enough for her morale.

She is locked here with a beast too strong for her, there is nothing she could use to turn the tides.

The dark spirit grew bored and approached the adventurer. Falcom pressed her back against the wall in an attempt to get away from her, but she couldn't pass through the walls no matter how old they were, and so Gehaburn got close enough to attack.

Slash after slash, blow after blow. Two women, alive and dead, danced the familiar dance of battle. Gehaburn tries to stab with her blade, and Falcom leans back to avoid it. Then Falcom counterattacked with a vertical slash and Gehaburn took the attack head on. The flames of the ghost's sword arm dispersed and the blade fell onto the floor with clatter.

A sudden idea gnawed inside Falcom, and she kicked the Gehaburn across the room. Immediately, the flames retreated where the sword landed and a bulb lit up above Falcom's head.

She can make the ghost fall back pretty easily.

But what would that change, really?

She's just buying herself some time, but that doesn't really change the fact that she's going to die here. Sooner or later she'll get tired or this ghost will get a lucky strike on her. What's the point really.

Falcom shook her head and lightly hit herself. "Idiot. Don't think that way."

She can't lose hope, if she does. It's game over.

Gehaburn finished reconstructing herself and picked up her sword.

What she needs to do, is to think of how to get out of here. The doors are locked, and they look solid, but they're still damaged. Maybe she can force them open.

But with what? Swords aren't exactly the best battering rams.

She would have to put her thoughts on hold, because the Gehaburn was approaching. Calmly as always.

The ghost tried to cut her waist, but Falcom jumped out of range. Then Gehaburn tried to stab her, but Falcom sidestepped. An opportunity! The adventurer tightened her grip and slashed the arm of the mass of flames, only for Gehaburn to retract her arm at the last second.

Now Gehaburn was in position to swiftly decapitate Falcom, but for some reason she didn't take the opportunity. Instead, the ghost tried to stab her which Falcom avoided and retreated to a safe distance.

Falcom just noticed it, Gehaburn really wanted to specifically stab the adventurer with her sword instead of just killing her… why? She had no idea, but that worked to her advantage. It makes severing her hand easier.

"Hey woman."

Suddenly, Eyelander called out to Falcom. The adventurer slightly raised the blade to have a better view on it. "Did you forget about your SP Skills? You know: The Photon Blade, Tear, Magic Sword Sorcarian, use them."

"Ahh!"

Yeah, she did forget. Falcom felt an urge to facepalm at this revelation, she didn't use her skills for just 1 week and she already forgot about them. Goddess... She is such an airhead.

"Wait a second. Wasn't magic effective against ghosts?" Falcom mouthed to herself. In all books she read, video games she played. Whenever a ghost appeared, you used magic to counter it.

Her Magic Sword Sorcarian deals neutral magical damage, that could be a key to defeat Gehaburn. However, she could also use her skills to blast the doors apart, and open herself an escape route.

Gehaburn reached out with her free hand, and flames burst forth towards Falcom, like out of Pyro's flamethrower. The adventurer jerked backwards, but the flames still scorched her face. Eyelander had to admit he chuckled at the sight of the eyebrow-less Falcom.

In anger, the redhead tapped into her SP and retaliated with icy cones. Each icicle passed through the flames and spread the blazing body apart, and a satisfying explosion completely destroyed the mass of flames.

But seconds after the attack was finished, Gehaburn rematerialized and ripped her sword out of the wall, as if Falcom just didn't nuke her with an SP Skill. The adventurer nodded understandingly at this. Yeah, she can't beat her, better to just blast the doors open.

But before Falcom could execute another SP Skill, Gehaburn attacked with a vertical slash. Falcom parried the oncoming blade and moved out of it's way. The mass of flames tried again, this time going upwards and scoring a cut across Falcom's face.

The adventurer immediately recoiled, her free hand clutched the wound as Gehaburn followed up with a thrust, only for the Eyelander to move his vessel out of the way and to a safe distance. "You alright there?" The ghost asked while Falcom blinked. Her eyes were fine, but Eyelander could see a bleeding gash on her cheek and eyebrow.

"Yeah. I just panicked, sorry." Falcom answered, taking a few steps away from the approaching spirit. For now it's easy to put some distance between themselves, Gehaburn always moved with no sense of urgency. Her calm, deliberate steps, predictable behavior and glaring weakness made it easy for Falcom to survive for so long.

Was Gehaburn just going easy on her? Was she even taking this fight seriously? Is she planning something?

If it's the last one, then Falcom is completely screwed, because she has no idea what the spirit could be planning.

But in either case, it was time to break out.

"Photon Blade!"

Channeling her magic powers, Falcom unleashed a violent wave of energy not towards Gehaburn, but towards the doors separating the adventurer from freedom. A satisfying crashed reached Falcom's ears, but the doors held together. Although the was a sizeable dent left from her SP Skill.

The doors would fall off after 1 or 2 attacks, but before Falcom could prepare the assault, Gehaburn was already onto her, spewing flames out of her arms. The redhead jumped back to avoid the dark inferno but Gehaburn charged forward and grappled Falcom's face, burning it up.

Falcom screamed from the searing pain and tried to force the burning limbs out of her face, but all that did was to burn her hand. This time, Eyelander took the controls and cut off Gehaburn's arms, freeing the adventurer from the blazing pain.

Then the former monarch tried to kick the Gehaburn away, but the mass of flames intercepted it with her own foot. Pain spread out across Falcom's right leg and the adventurer retreated to safety, while Gehaburn picked up her fallen sword.

"Fine time to heal, Woman!" Falcom gladly obeyed Eyelander's command, and snapped her fingers while tapping into her SP. "Tear!" The moment she uttered the name of her Skill, a green light engulfed her injured areas, slowly healing them.

In comparison to the medi-gun, this method of healing wasn't even worth considering. It was too slow compared to the miracle of medicine that was Medic's invention. But this was the best Falcom had right now, and she could use something to numb her burns.

The body of flames attacked with a vertical slash, the redhead raised her sword to block it but it was a feint, Gehaburn actually moved her blade horizontally. Falcom intercepted it in the nick of time, but she was too late to put any strength into her guard, Gehaburn pushed her onto the ground.

Falcom rolled out of the way of an incoming thrust and got off the floor, but Gehaburn gave her no time to recover. Both blades collided together and a match of strength initiated, both parties pushed against the other in an attempt to gain even a millimeter of the others' ground.

This was where Falcom realized that Gehaburn got more aggressive, now she didn't wait idly for that long nor did she move with the pace of a snail. That attempt to bust down the doors really pissed off the ghost.

Suddenly, their reverse tug-of-war ended when Falcom stepped to the side, and the surprised ghost came crashing forward. She really didn't expect this move which Falcom took to the full advantage, by severing the ghost's arms and finally kicking the CPU-slaying sword across the room.

Falcom didn't wait for Gehaburn to lose her shape, she immediately unleashed another Photon Blade once her feet landed onto the floor. A loud crash echoed when the energy collided with the doors, but the doors still kept up, even if barely.

Falcom tried again, but a sudden, despair-inducing realization hit her.

I'm out of SP!

She couldn't cast anything anymore.

Her entire survival lied on busting the doors down with her SP-based attacks, but now she was out of this option as well. She could not defeat the being she's locked with, she could only delay it and run away, while a clock ticked down her remaining life.

Because of the Eyelander, she has no idea how tired her body is. But she's been fighting for a while now.

Suddenly Gehaburn collided with Falcom, pressing her blade against the Eyelander and Falcom against the wall. "You will not escape me." The mass of flames said.

"What the hell are you even planning to do!?" Falcom shouted, trying to slip out of Gehaburn's hold. That was proven unnecessary when the ghost herself released her, but only so Gehaburn can impale the adventurer on her sword. Falcom avoided the thrust, but not without a small cut on her side. It didn't even bleed, but the stinging pain was an annoyance to her.

Instead of waiting for Gehaburn to re-engage, Falcom sprinted towards the doors. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her, building up her momentum for this last, desperate move. The dented blast doors inched closer with each step.

And when she was finally close enough, she thrust her shoulder and tackled the steel barrier…

...Yelping, when the doors gave up and fell onto the floor, with Falcom following them.

Falcom could hardly believe it.

She was free.

She was out.

The adventurer blinked, feeling very dumbfounded.

Then her laugh filled the room.

She actually have a chance to survive now! Screw capturing the sword, mercs can handle that on their own. What mattered now is that she survived. Her breath and heartbeat were rapid from the adrenaline, she was burnt and bleeding, but she lived.

And that was more than enough for Falcom.

The adventurer glanced behind, and her joy died at the sight of Gehaburn charging towards her. The mass of flames slashed diagonally, but Falcom avoided it with a roll and ran towards the exit, never looking back.

Eyelander's powers boosted Falcom's movement speed to inhuman levels, she cut corners and hallways like she was running from death itself, which could actually be the case. On the stairs, she was skipping even 4 steps at the time, doing everything she could to escape the castle as fast as she could.

There were no Wraith Manifestation to take her attention.

There were no monsters to impede her progress.

Falcom didn't look back to see if Gehaburn was chasing her, the adventurer could still feel her overwhelming presence.

In a matter of seconds Falcom reached the Castle's entrance, where she learned about the Landlord for the first time, and met Angela the Dark Practitioner.

And now, these doors were what separated her from the sunlight, and safety.

And behind those doors she saw-

"-Freedom!"

-The purple glint of Gehaburn's sword.

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Okay, just this once I'm gonna make an Author's note mid-chapter. Just to mess with you guys.

My god(dess)... finally. You know I wanted to write this fight, this entire Side-Arc actually, even since "Practicing Medicine" chapter, maybe even earlier than that.

That's more than 12 chapter of waiting... And it's finally over, this is the last chapter of LAN Castle Side-arc. What do you think? I know that some of you were getting bored with this, my views actually dropped during the previous month.

I am aware that this Side-Arc left couple of questions, and those will be either answered later, or just remain a mystery until the end.

And what makes this chapter even better, is that it finally push Interdimensional Red-Coded Contract into +200'000 words! It took me little less than 2 years to do that, but I'm so proud right now.

What's next? Well… we still need to officially introduce the Observer and there's also finally getting into Lowee arc for which I got few pretty interesting ideas.

Responses:

- FourElemental

I don't think you actually can.

- Harmless Orange

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It came too quickly, too suddenly for either of them to react.

"K-Kuh?!"

Falcom's exposed abdomen offered no resistance towards the Gehaburn, it was like the blade cut the air instead flesh.

The purple sword reached so deep that it broke through her back, the tip dripped with Falcom's blood.

The adventurer fell onto her knees, and the clang of Eyelander falling onto the floor followed shortly after. She could hear him scream something, or was it her? She couldn't tell.

But what she can tell, is that she's been stabbed. Impaled. Perforated.

But even so, Falcom felt no pain, and it only made this whole sensation feel even more haunting.

Yes, it was Falcom screaming. It was the type of scream you do not realize you're making. A sound so chilling it will freeze anything in the vicinity.

Being stabbed is an interesting feeling. At first you don't feel anything, but your body goes into shock right away.

Liquid build up in her mouth, which Falcom spat onto the floor, staining the floor with even more crimson.

The dark body of Gehaburn crouched down and whispered into her ear. Gone was her sinister voice, now she was more in line with the Wraith Manifestation… calmer, almost soothing.

"You have fought well, but victory is mine."

Yeah, Falcom was a fool to think she actually had any chances of getting away.

Because it's always like that with ghosts, they can be very persistent.

Her vision blackened and the pain began to kick in, but it was numb, way number than one would expect.

But that's fine, after all she won't be suffering for long. She would be back to the dark void, and she would know peace. Unlike the others, she is just a human with no enchantments. There is no Re;Spawn waiting for her once she dies. Just the afterlife.

She didn't return Eyelander to Demoman.

Would he get angry for that?

She can't even apologize to him...

Would all of them get angry at her death?

Or sad?

Just like Nisa, Falcom will too abandon Nepgear in her time of need.

At least she still has mercs to help her. They…

They're good guys… deep down. Very deep down. Maybe at the bottom.

Gehaburn was doing something, but Falcom didn't know what. All she felt was something hot, very hot being forced down her throat, it made her throat hurt.

She wanted to beg her to stop, but Falcom couldn't force any words out.

But that was fine, just a few more seconds of suffering… and it's all over. She, she can bear with it just for these last seconds.

Falcom could already see the void, it was within her grasp, the nothingness that Angela subjected her to before. No pain, no worries, no suffering. Just peace.

But… something was different.

In her last moments, Falcom felt confused.

Because...

...Why was this void white?

Interdimensional RED-Coded Contract

Interlude: Kindred Spirits