Bastard Homunculus: Reborn in the Corpse Pit

"Okay, here goes...," Muttered Raven, taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling as he began transforming, before he jumped as he suddenly felt a firm hand on his shoulder, startling him.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Huh? Oh, it's just you, Tacitus, you scared me," Raven let out a sigh of relief, relaxing as he thought to himself, "Damn it, I stopped focusing on my sensory abilities for a moment there, I didn't even notice him...that could've been really bad if an enemy had shown up instead, gotta make sure I don't make the same mistake again."

"Yeah, you came out of nowhere...we still have almost an hour before we're supposed to meet up, are you done already?" Chimed in Celia in surprise.

"I guess you could say that, yes. More importantly, what were you trying to do here? I thought I told you to lay low," He frowned in exasperation.

"And you also told us to attract the attention of the Inquisitors, which kinda contradicts telling us to lay low," Pointed out Raven dryly.

"Either way, that was way too reckless. It's a good thing I found you two in time, that could've turned out badly."

"How did you find us, by the way? We're a good distance away from the alley where we were supposed to meet back up," Remarked Celia curiously.

"After I left the church, I decided to head back to that spot through the alleys, I figured I'd have the best chance of running into you two that way, and it looks like I was right. Now then, let's get to what I learned at the church...for starters, it's been more or less fully rebuilt, with a new Priest in charge. I spoke to him, and made sure to make it clear that I was a Commoner...and based on what I could glean from his reactions, I don't think he's prejudiced against Commoners, so we don't need to target him.

It also became clear that he doesn't know anything about what happened here, when I asked about Raven and his sister, he simply responded that he's new to this village so he doesn't know. And I didn't sense any deceit in his words, so that's that. But that was when I got the feeling that I was being watched, there were likely Inquisitors in the church, so I decided to say something that would make them suspicious.

Specifically, I mentioned coming across a strange Monster that could speak in Pearl Forest, and added that I heard rumors of a creature emerging from the church when it burned down, a creature that matched the description of the Monster I saw in the forest. And it looks like they took the bait and followed me," Tacitus lowered his voice, as he noticed Raven tense up slightly.

"Yeah, I'm detecting five Mana signatures creeping this way, I didn't notice at first because there are a lot of people in the buildings around us, but there's no doubt about it...the way they're steadily moving in unison, they're definitely stalking us," Muttered Raven with a subtle nod, right as several figures shot into sight, two zipping in from either end of the alley, and three dropping down from above, surrounding the trio.

"Like I said, they took the bait," Nodded Tacitus, as he glanced around at the hooded figures surrounding them.

"Please, it was obvious that you were trying to lure us out, we simply decided to take the bait, that's all. Hm? That girl, I recognize her...hey, you're one of The Irregulars, aren't you?"

"That means the redhead is probably one of them too."

"Based on our intel, there's supposed to be only five of them...we've already accounted for four, the redhead makes five. You, wearing the hooded cloak...are you a new addition? Or are you one of the other three we've already identified?" Inquired one of the Inquisitors, as he turned his attention to Raven.

"You assholes sure are cocky...you really think a bunch of crude sketches count as having identified us?" Scoffed Celia, cracking her knuckles with a cold glare in her eyes.

"Well, we did just recognize you, so..."

"Strange...where have I heard that voice before? There's something familiar about it...," Raven thought to himself, before his eyes widened in recognition as the Inquisitor stepped forward and raised his hand towards them, charging up a ball of flames...but that wasn't what caught Raven's attention.

It was the scar on the man's hand, a familiar sight that had been burned into his memory...

"Let's surround and eliminate them, we have them outnumbered, so-..."

"You...!" Growled Raven, a burst of heat erupting from him as he grabbed his cloak and pulled it off, fully transforming as he seethed with rage, "I-I remember you...you were there! I-I'll...I'll kill you. I'll fucking kill you!"

Tacitus and Celia had seen Raven transform countless times while training him, and that's why the both of them could tell immediately that something was different this time.

A vicious, feral roar rang out, echoing through the alley as Raven's Aura unleashed, stunning both his allies and enemies alike at the immense intensity of its pressure, far greater than he'd ever displayed during training...

"Wh-what the hell!?"

"The fuck is that thing!?"

"Shit, you've gotta be kidding me...," Muttered the Inquisitor with the scar on his hand, warily backing away.

"We, uh...we should probably get some space," Muttered Tacitus, grabbing Celia's arm and leaping up to the top of the building to the left of the alley, as the air around Raven shimmered violently.

"What's going on?" Uttered Celia in bewilderment.

"I'm not sure, but looks like it's safe to say that he's lost control. I think we're about to see the power than burnt this village's church to the ground," Responded Tacitus, as Raven snarled maliciously and murderously charged at the Inquisitors with immense speed...

Meanwhile, the other three members of The Irregulars, in Garnet City, were about to enter into a battle of their own...

"Hey, I recognize their faces, they're from the wanted posters, aren't they? I believe they're called The Irregulars," Spoke up one of the First-Class Knights, as the trio stepped out of the bushes.

"Ah, the group of Commoner scum who've been terrorizing the Church of Persona, yes?"

"That's right, Captain...and evidently, it looks like they've come here to kill the Viscountess."

"The Knights we assigned to guard her have likely already taken her to safety...which means, all that's left to do for us is to take out the trash," Remarked the Captain, as the Knights surrounded the trio.

"Well, this sucks, I was hoping to avoid a clash against a Captain this early...but then, it was always going to be inevitable sooner or later. Alright, you two, take on the lackeys, I'll deal with the big fish," Instructed Aster, as he turned his gaze towards the Knight Captain.

"Huh? Have you lost your mind to fear, Commoner? As if one of your kind could ever hope to-...," The Captain began to scoff, before abruptly trailing off as Aster rapidly shot towards him, drawing out one of his blades with his right hand and unleashing a swift, fluid slash at the Captain's neck, who quickly grabbed the spear on his back and raised it defensively, barely blocking the slash as he blurted out in shock, "What!?"

"Huh, as expected of a Captain, you managed to block it," Mused Aster, before eliciting a sharp gasp from his opponent as he slammed his foot onto the Captain's stomach, knocking the wind out of him as he stumbled back with a grimace.

"Try not to die," Remarked Lexia, as she and Colt then attacked the First-Class Knights, pushing them back and forcibly driving them away from the area.

"Looks like it's just you and me, Captain of the Third Squad, Zilk Plore, first son of Count Ernet Plore. You're a Light Mage and a Lancer, if I remember right. Oh, and also the weakest of the Captains, you only got the position because of daddy's influence, isn't that right?" Smirked Aster tauntingly, as his opponent glared at him with a burning look of hatred in his eyes.

While he'd said all that to provoke the Captain, everything he said was technically true. Zilk Plore was a level below the other Squad Captains and only got the position thanks to the influence of his father, the head of a high-ranked Noble house, but that said, he was still one of the strongest Knights in the kingdom.

He was in his mid-twenties, with medium length, wavy black hair, bright red eyes, a pale complexion, an agile build and he was on the taller side, around the same height as Aster.

"You seem to know a lot about me, Commoner...I don't care whether you possess Irregular Magic or whatever you call it, the simple fact is that Commoners will never measure up to a Noble like me!" Zilk snapped, before raising his left arm and chanting furiously, "[Grand Light Blast]!"

A large sphere of bright, glowing yellow energy manifested in front of his hand, before shooting towards Aster with immense speed, illuminating the surrounding area as it barreled towards him.

"Not too bad, but that's not going to be enough...[Telekinetic Push]," Chanted Aster, unleashing a powerful, pushing telekinetic force, which collided against Zilk's attack, dispersing and canceling out the blast upon impact.

The Knight Captain then shot forward with a grimace as his attack dissipated, swerving his body across as Aster fired off a slashing telekinetic wave at him, evading it before closing in and unleashing a barrage of rapid thrusts at Aster with his spear.

Aster swiftly drew out his second blade, deflecting the incoming thrusts, a few small cuts appearing across his arms and on his right cheek as he failed to fully deflect some of the strikes.

He then quickly crossed his blades in front of his stomach as Zilk drove his spear towards that spot with a rapid, powerful thrust, a loud clang echoing out as the tip of his spear slammed onto Aster's blades, his feet skidding back a couple meters from the force of the thrust, a few cracks spreading out across one of his blades.

"Now, die!" Exclaimed Zilk, as he drove his spear towards Aster's throat.

"[Telekinetic Burst]!" Aster quickly chanted, a small but powerful shockwave erupting from his body and sending Zilk flying back several meters, before he drove his spear into the ground to halt himself and regain his bearings.

"I suppose I can admit that I underestimated you, Commoner...to think that one of your kind would be able to last for so long in a fight against me," Scoffed Zilk, as he swung his spear around.

"My, what an honor. And I'd by lying if I said I didn't underestimate you too...you may be the weakest Captain, but you're still pretty strong. That said, I can definitely beat you...[Telekinetic Pull]!" Chanted Aster, exerting a powerful pulling force onto Zilk, who then found himself zipping through the air towards Aster.

As he closed in, Aster drove his cracked blade towards Zilk's throat, who quickly swung his spear across in alarm, deflecting the thrust of the blade and snapping it in two as the cracks deepened upon impact.

He then slammed his foot onto Aster's stomach, sending him stumbling back before Zilk took aim and charged up a Spell...

"[Light Spear]!"

A long, narrow projectile formed and shot towards Aster's head with immense speed, grazing his left ear as he quickly tilted his head across to the right, as Zilk shot towards him with his spear poised to strike.

"[Telekinetic Push]!"

Zilk swiftly halted and jammed his spear firmly into the ground while planting his feet, gritting his teeth as he resisted the powerful pushing force of Aster's attack.

"How...how the hell is a lowly Commoners actually keeping up with me!? Enough...I won't let this drag out any longer, it's time for you to die! [Blinding Flash]!" Zilk exclaimed furiously, unleashing an immensely bright burst of light from between his fingertips, before he shot forward as the light blinded Aster and declared as he closed in on him and began to drive his spear towards Aster's heart, "I have you now, it ends here, Commoner!"