It was a strenuous journey, but the adventurers had managed to reach the level of "Horror."

"We finally did it." called out their leader, who carried a Ragnarok and a Save the Queen with his hands,

"We're here."

"What do we do now?" asked the white mage beside him.

"We just wait, I guess." the leader said with a smile.

"Hey," spoke a ninja from behind them, "Wasn't there a nasty wizard beyond here?"

"I heard rumors that he was recently killed by some people." a summoner answered the ninja, "And I also heard he could teach a really cool spell... I knew I should've gotten us here earlier."

"Hey!" called out a lancer, "I think I see someone ahead!"

"Who's there?" called out their leader as he stood alert with his blades ready.

A figure stood out in front of the group. It was cloaked in mantle and hood. Its features couldn't be made out, but it gave off an ominous feel.

"Who am I?" the figure spoke, "I am nothing and everything humankind is. Call me Overlord Mercans."

"Whatever." the leader responded, "What's your purpose?"

"My purpose?" Mercans inquired putting a hand to his chin, "Well, it's to offer you a job."

"What job?" the leader questioned with interest.

"I would like you to kill a group of travelers coming through here." suggested Mercans with a laugh, "They have weapons you would only dream of in your position. I'll reward you if you can accomplish this task."

Without letting the group voice a response, Mercans slid back into the darkness.

The leader was enchanted by the offer, weapons they could only dream of. It was too good an offer to him to refuse.

"What now?" the white mage asked her leader.

"We'll do what the overlord wants." he responded with his eyes filled with fire. The white mage backed away as she could sense the aura of greed that surrounded her leader.

"Is it here?" asked Alma in a frustrated voice.

"I don't think so." Carmen sighed as she looked farther herself.

"Well where is it?" Ramza breathed to Carmen.

"I forgot," she answered, "It's been awhile."

"Well let's find it soon before some bandits come our way." Ramza spoke while wiping his brow.

Meliadoul had wished someone would attack so that she could have a little fun. Fun, that was what she called violence. Fun. She knew she had some problems, ever since as a kid. She was taught to fight, and that was about all she lived for now. The carnage of warfare had left the land and she felt a little more depressed than usual. But this new threat to the land made her feel excited and alive again. Meliadoul knew something was wrong, just that she wasn't exactly sure why...

As she thought, a scream pierced her daydream as she swung to see Alma flat on her back in terror of a figure leaping toward her. Meliadoul quickly jumped to her aid and blade grasped the weapon her assailant was using. It was a ninja.

The ninja jumped back and said, "You're pretty good, but not good enough to block my Deadly Fists!!!"

He then proceeded to throw a fist and used an Earth Slash to smash both Meliadoul and Alma, Meliadoul taking more punishment.

"Meliadoul!" cried out Alma, "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, but he isn't." Meliadoul answered as she readied her Chaos Blade and struck the ninja with a Hellcry Punch. His scream delighted Meliadoul's ears.

"Trent!" cried out a summoner, "I'll kill you for you've done to him!!!"

She never had the chance as Meliadoul tore through the Summoner's clothing with a Shellbust Stab.

"Are these the adventurers Overlord told us about?" spoke the young man and leader of the band.

"Corlan, Please!" the white mage pleaded, "Don't do this! It's a deathtrap!"

"Quiet, Gwen!" Corlan shouted to the white mage, "She'll pay for what she's done!"

"You'll have to go through me first." Ramza spoke as he appeared in front of the knight, "But I'd rather you didn't. This is not necessary."

Corlan leaped at Ramza in a fury as Ramza easily grasped both blades

and head butted Corlan in the face, causing him to bleed from the nose.

"STOP IT!!!" Gwen screamed, "STOP IT BOTH OF YOU!!!"

The white mage calmed down slightly and then continued, "I'm sick of all this fighting, Corlan! There's no point to it anymore! You're throwing your life away for something that doesn't matter anymore. Please, I don't want to lose you."

Corlan looked into Gwen's tear streaked face, "Gwen, I didn't know."

As the two got closer to one another, they could feel something there they didn't feel before. A warm sensation in both their chests, it tingled. They were about to hug, but then a splatter of blood splashed onto Corlan's face as Gwen went limp into his arms. Horrified, he looked up to see Overlord.

"Why?" was all he could ask the cruel figure.

"Because you are weak, boy." the figure answered, "You deserve no rewards."

The players now stood in the presence of a dark and ominous figure. His aura felt more horrible than that of Altima's to Ramza. It felt cold, and dark. There, in the dungeon, they stood, waiting.