"Petracious Oblintus! Orbis terrarum est meus domus mos servo mihi ex vulnero!" Two walls of earth formed infront of William blocking the projectiles heading toward him. Joseph noticed 2 more projectiles coming from above "Vultus of nex ut punctum meus hostilis!" Joseph summoned 2 earth spears and threw them at the incoming projectiles destroying them in the process, "Now's your chance Will!!"

"Alright!!" William smiles as he continues with another incantation. "Flamma ex divum, surculus procul meus hostilis!" William finishes as a cloud forms above the flames consuming her and blast down at her. "Et Molten magma attero ferrum parietis pro nos!" He continues as magma forms around his hand and he leaps into the flames and slams his fist against the shield form of bones, breaking through it and slamming his fist into her stomach sending her flying backwards- knocking her out.

Sighing of relief, there was only one enemy left. Well, an enemy of a big deal. Looking up at him, he smiles as he gets up slowly. William couldn't tell if he was surprised at his allies defeat, sad or even happy for it. In a single second he disappeared and appeared behind Nina aiming to stab her with his sword. The man himself was wearing heavy armour and his sword looked as if it weighed numerous kilograms. That speed should be impossible, even with a shundo. "T-teleporation!?" William questions.

The man teleported behind Nina, which immediately alarmed her. As he aimed to stab her, Nina quickly parried the attack with her spear and tried to back off, but the man already anticipated such a move and swung his sword down vertically. Her serious side easily predicted this was the case, but the massive broadsword easily smashed through her spear. "No...!" Nina shouts as she spins to the side to try and avoid it. Fortunately she did, however the impact as the sword smashed against the ground throwing massive debris all over the place, as well as sending Nina flying.

She was knocked unconscious. "Ngh..." She moves in pain and agony, even whilst not conscious.

"Shit! Nina...!" William quickly initiates a shundo and blasts his way towards the man, aiming a wild hook whilst his arm was set ablaze. "Goooooooo!!" William roars, growling loudly as the man teleports and seemingly avoids it with ease. The leader of the bandits kicks William in the back of the knee, sharp and fast. A snapping sound burst in his leg as William falls to the ground in pain and agony. His leg was completely snapped in half.

Even with the help of the magic that keeps and raises a normal persons defense and vitality immensely, it proved futile against this mans roar power. The man then turns to Joseph. Ready to kill.

Joseph tried to react to what was going on as he saw the leader teleport behind Nina and smash the ground sending Nina flying. Joseph knew William would most likely attack the leader and he could probably hold him off for a little while, so Joseph started walking quickly to Nina in one leg while dragging his injured leg. But he stopped in surprise when he heard the leader break Williams leg, "Will-" Joseph didn't finish his sentence as the leader suddenly appeared in-front of him.

"You can die first" The leader said with a smile on his face as he stabbed Joseph on his left side puncturing his lung. Joseph did not feel the pain in the moment, he was going through shock. He could feel blood flowing out of his chest and his vision began to blur. At that moment Joseph's life flashed before his eyes as he could see the faces of his friends and adventures, and then he saw the image of the man who raised him, Jose, and he spoke one last words to Joseph.

"Remember to protect what is important to you" Joseph knew what was important for him, it was then one thing he had in his adventures, his comrades. And right know he had to protect his comrades William and Nina, even if it cost his life. Waking up from that daze state Joseph could feel the leader was going to retreat the sword from his chest and Joseph quickly grabbed the leaders arm with his right hand, holding the leaders arm and sword to his chest, forcing more pain unto himself.

"You can die second. Vultus of nex ut punctum meus hostilis!" Two small but hard stone spears formed in-front of Joseph and were shot down impaling the leaders foot. Joseph thought that he might not be able to teleport with pain running through his bodies.

WILLIAM!!! NINA!!! GET THE FUCK UP ALREADY AND FINISH THIS BASTARD!!!! YOU WONT GET ANOTHER CHANCE YOU WEAK BASTARDS!!!! This was completely out of character for Joseph but this words might just get Nina and William back on their feet seeing as they thinks they are so strong. Their only chance was to attack the leader and Joseph as-well.

William stared at Joseph being obliterated, yet still not giving in. "Joseph...!" William forces himself up on his single list. Ripping off his leg sleeves, he wraps it around his leg tightly. Whether or not it forced his leg into place was unknown, but he clogged up the blood flowing from the wound. "Here I go..." William limps forward, magic surrounding him. He knew his flames might hit Joseph, but he wasn't sure how much. He didn't want his friend to be hurt by his own magic.

"Omne Flammans Flamma Purgatus, Domine Extinctionis et Signum Regenerationis, in Mea Manu Ens Inimicum Edat! Flagrantia Rubicans Quinculmen!" William chants as flames erupt in front of his hand. Aiming it at the man, he knew the blast would incinerate him and knock him out, at least it highly likely would injure him severely, but the aftermaths would result in Joseph being singed largely, as well. The man took note of what William was doing, throwing his sword forward at William without worry.

"Kokuu Shundou! Nina, get up! I'm counting on you...!!" William shouts as he leaps into the air with his safe leg and blasts forward a massive stream of spiraling fire.

Nina had to intake everything all at once as she regained consciousness. Her body ached so much, pain shot through all areas of her body. "Ack...!" Looking at William, he clearly had a broken leg that needed helping fast. And Joseph? He was oozing blood from his stomach at life threatening amounts. "A-Ah... Right...!" Nina shouts to everyone. Looking at Joseph and William, she quickly got to recognize what was happening.

"Locos Umbrae Regnans Scáthach! In Manum Meum Dedo Iaculum Daemonium Cum Spinis Triginta! Arenae Fulgoris!" She first chants, as she summons her artifact at the same time. Spears of sand form above Joseph and the man and pin them both down to the ground. "Don't worry, Joseph...!" Nina smiles at him. "Sand, laqueus meus inimicus!" She chants once again as her artifact and the huge amount of sand all over the floor quickly begin to form a jail and surrounds Joseph in a perfect defense. It was unlikely that it was going to protect him from William's attack, but she hardens the sand with her magic. "Haaaaaaah!!" She screams as she lets out all her magic she possibly could, draining herself completely to as the sand hardens to extreme amounts. Whether or not it would destroy the barrier was up to whether Will could hold back and create the correct amount of pressure needed to protect Joseph and defeat the bandit leader.

"Thanks, Nina...! Rrrrrrgh...!!" William shouts as he looks at the barrier to see its width and strength. Throwing the massive fireball it explodes and bursts the bandit leader with amazing strength. Smoke rises and fills the room. He prayed for his allies safety, as he notices a dark silhouette. A large one too. It was the bandit leader.

"You brats... I am... the bandit leader... Gorozo..." He falls into a deep coma. He wouldn't be getting up for awhile with his severe burns and injuries. Now for Joseph's status...

Joseph couldn't really tell what has happening around him, all he could hope for was that Will and Nina could pull this off. He did not know how he ended up inside a sand barrier but figured it had to be work of Nina, and he could feel immense heat coming from the outside as for a moment it was getting hard to breath and any oxygen was getting burned up. The moment the fire stopped the sand barrier dropped down as Joseph saw the leader fall to the ground unconscious.

Joseph was now laying on his back smiling as he gripped his mortal wound, he was happy that the two of them could've survived this even though it seemed he wasn't. "Good job... Will... Nina... I guess we made a pretty good team after all... I guess you showed me... who's the strongest out of us two Nina... keep on getting stronger... And Will.... thanks... please tell Kagami and Jess... thank you aswell... for everything..." Joseph started coughing up blood. "Now you two have to escape... and leave me... here...This here... is my casket... So go... I'll take care of the rest... I'll protect the two of you... and the city!" Joseph said as he could barely make out what was infront of him.

William was shocked. Dumbfounded. He didn't know what to do, how to react. He could see Joseph's wound up close. It was definitely fatal - he was succumbing to the lack of blood, the injury and the lack of breath. "N-No...!! Jospeh, man...!" William shouts, wondering if he could burn the wound close. No. It was impossible. Even if Leila, Ashraeh or even Umi were here; none of them could heal the fatal wound. It was a helpless situation. William felt awful. He couldn't protect Joseph. It's the same. He never got stronger. It's just like when he couldn't protect Ashraeh, couldn't protect Jess, couldn't protect himself...

"Nina... say what you need to." William pauses briefly, gulping. It's his last words. "Joseph, you're a great man... I'll let them know. The town in Utopia... that you are their saviour. I-- no, no one will forget you." He grins at him, forcing a strong, firm smile however unable to stop his eyes from getting misty.

(Sorry Nina, I ain't waiting no more)

Joseph gave Nina and William a few minutes to escape as he took in his last breaths, "Rumpere et destruere... omnia praeter... terram concutiat! Repelite... me in terra... inimicorum gluttientes... omnia transeunt!!!" The grounds started to shake as if a strong earthquake was happening, consuming the whole area. It was just like he said, this was meant to be his grave. Outside the room he could hear bandits screaming and running in chaos.

Joseph started remembering his adventures in the magic world as boulders came crashing down burrying everything around him. He remembered meeting Jess for the first time and all of her students he was gonna miss.He remembered all the people he had helped to protect and all the people who protected, from Umi, to William, to Nhieling, to Nina just now. He also remembered when he first met Kagami and wished he could still see her one last time. And finally he remembered all his time he spent with his father. Many tears began to come out, but they were tears of happiness, for Joseph did not regret one thing from his life. "Goodbye... everyone." Those were the final words that came out of Joseph as the roof came crushing down on him. Outside you could see the hideout caving in, as it was being destroyed.

Pushing the rubble off his back, he shakily gets up, holding Nina's arm as he helps her. "Joseph...? Where is he...!?" He mutters slightly. He had made it out in time, albeit hit by a few rocks, but he had no clue where his friend was. "Where are you!?" He forces himself to shout, out of breath and tired.

Tairus was sitting on a moutain top when he heard a loud quaking noise. Tai shot up and faced to direction of the boom and ran toward it.

On the way to the quake there were people running from the site. One of them decided to swipe at Tairus, and Tai evaded the swipe of the blade including a chant to conclude the engagement. "Aoru! Come at me fool!" Of course he didnt, he continued to run. Tai, after a few mins was the only one left and the quaking eased. Tai ran for the site of the quake.

When he arrived, there was massive debris all over the place and there was a man screaming something. He approached the guy and asked, "hey... you alright?" obviously that was a dumb question since he was looking absolutely shitty...

~END~

Rewards:
William: 3 SP, 2 MP and 180,000 Drachma.
Nina: 5 SP, 3 MP and 160,000 Drachma.
Joseph: 6 SP, 4 MP and 190,000 Drachma.
Crypt: 4 SP, 4 MP and 50,000 Drachma.