"A human and a Kitsune?" Asked Vanilla. "As in...a Hybrid?"
"Yeah, pretty much." Said Florencia. "Some who are familiar with both tends to dub Youko, Blue Hybrids."
"I'm impressed, fairy. You really know your stuff." Said Tenkai. "But that aside, I do have a favor I wanna ask you, Johnnathan."
"You do know pirates don't take "favors" that easily do you?"
"Sure. But it appears our objectives is in a way linked. You are all after the Keys, right?"
"Pretty much."
"I have a way for you to get the Spirit Key. It's the best chance for you."
"The Spirit Key, you say? Is it true that the Ninetails has it?"
"Absolutely."
"So our next step is to steal from a Dark Lord itself?" Asked Edward. "I mean, we would have to attempt that one day, but are you sure Johnnathan is enough?"
"I came here because I heard special people tend to appear from time to time. Also, I believe you are under the infamous Black Demon, right?"
"We are quite capable despite the low number, yes." Said Johnnathan. "And perhaps if we count Drake and Aladdin, we have quite the asset to face a Dark Lord, I guess. Also, I still need to know you full capacity as well."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Asked Vanilla.
"He was just testing us back there." Said West. "So he wasn't at his full power."
"Really? Well, he was pretty strong." Said Edward. "Are Youkos strong like Hybrids?"
"Not exactly. In fact it's the opposite." Said Florencia. "Just like Vampires, Hybrids wield Dark Magic, but unlike them who uses most of it for enhance their physical strenght, Hybrids can use it at their most pure essence, using it as actual magic. The Kitsunes and Youkos all have the Foxfire. A powerful flame unique to them. While Kitsunes can wield their flames like spells, a Youko has limited use, but their physical strenght far surpasses it."
"He was pretty strong alright." Said Nikolai. "Stoped a boulder with one hand as if it was nothing."
"Izumo is currently at a civil war." Said Tenkai. "The city of Amaterasu led by mankind and the city of Tsukuyomi led by the Kitsunes. If you allow it, I can make Amaterasu our allies in your objective."
"Well that's reassuring." Said Johnnathan. "Though I'm kinda dubious of how a Youko is gonna do that. You see, I heard Youkos aren't very popular with neither humans or Kitsunes."
"And yet you, a Youko and a Ronin at that, has the capacity for asking aid to the very own capital of Izumo?" Said Nikolai.
"...I have some connections." Said Tenkai.
"...Heh. Everyone has connections these days, so it might be worthy a try."
"Well, it settled then." Said Johnnathan. "We have a checkpoint on the way to Izumo. You wouldn't mind boarding a Pirate Ship, do you?"
"It wouldn't be the first time." Said Tenkai.
"Johnnnathaaaaaan!" Schneider appeared delivering a lariat at Johnnathan from behind.
"Blooody! What the hell?!" Johnnathan complained.
"S-Sorry about that." Dafadel arrived as well. "She was very enthusiasmatic to see you again."
"Oh. It's two other Hybrids." Said Tenkai. "Schneider and Dafadel, right?"
"Dafadel...Now I remember!" Shouted Edward. "Dafadel Orlain! You are Dafadel Orlain, right?!"
"Wh-Where did you-Ah! I mean...Orlain? Who's that?" Dafadel was in panic.
"You can't fool me. You are Dafadel Orlain, the Fencing Prodigy!"
"Fencing Prodigy...Now that name rings a bell." Said Johnnathan. "There were some stories about a boy in Drakland who started to compete in Junior Fencing Tournaments at a young age of eleven."
"Yeah! I saw it once! I would recognize that messed up hair anywhere."
"But...I don't remember him being a Hybrid."
"Yeah...Yeah! Totally. See? Different guy." Said Dafadel.
"Now that you mention it, I did heard about a influential house called Orlain in Blightown, south of Damaon." Said West. "Isn't there a ring that can disguise a Hybrid into a human that costs quite a lot?"
"Very well thought." Said Nikolai. "In fact, why does it there a ring mark on your index finger, boy?"
"Ah! T-This...Okay, I give. I am Dafadel Orlain."
"Wow! I was your fan! It might be think that a chump noble like could be like...you...a Hybrid...unlike me...Ooooh..." Edward turned depressed.
"I just don't get it how did a Hybrid like you came from a Noble HUMAN House." Said Nikolai.
"My mother was a Hybrid who worked as a maid in that house. It was one of those rare ocassions that happened from time to time."
"And how did you get to live on the Sub-Artic Federation?" Asked Johnnathan.
"Well...One time Rogues appeared in Blightown and kinda killed all of my family there...Better that way, never liked there."
"Ooh. So you were a bigshot, huh?" Said Schneider. "Oh! How careless. We came here because Kane wants to talk with you, Johnnathan!"
Later, the two of them brought Johnnathan outside and Kane and Gladius were waiting with a huge bag of money. "Well, well. Here is the rising star!"
"Can I help you two with something?" Said Johnnathan.
"Naaah. We just here to give your part." Kane tosses a the bag at Johnnathan. "There is the equivalent of 100000 Gold Pieces there. Courtesy of the bets. After all, almost no one betted on you anyway. Hehehehe..."
"Woah! That's the equivalent of 100 Diamond Pieces." Said Dafadel.
"Wow! How lucky. I guess it was meant to be you after all." Said Schneider. "Well, it'll be better next time...Whenever that'll be."
"By the way, all that thing with Teresa was all just a mean joke." Said Kane. "You weren't owning her anything since the beggining."
"Well, not that I care..." Said Johnnathan.
"Our job is done. Let's go off Gladius." The two fo them started to leave.
"...Hold it."
"What now?"
"...I wanna buy something from you."
"Oh? What?"
"...Schneider's freedom."
"W-Whaaaat?!" Schneider gets flustered. "N-No! You don't neeed to-"
"Shut up. I'm a pirate. I do what I want." Johnnathan tosses the bag back at Kane. "Do we have a deal?"
"....Fuggedabout it, man." He tosses the back back. "You are the new champion. So it's on the house. Don't waste hard-earned money so easily."
"....Okay then."
"Does that means...I'm free?"
"Yeah, yeah. I mean, better for both of us? It will be a while before I can open the Pit anyway. So...Go. Do whatever you want."
"...T-Thank you very much!" She bows to him while crying a little bit.
"Tch. Whatever." Kane once again leaves.
"....Are you okay with this?" Said Gladius.
"Yeah. I was about to kick her out soon."
"No. Are you gonna tell him about West? Like how you had to turn yourself in and be sold as a slave to protect your gang that day?"
"...It's better if he forgot about me already. He ain't no puppy anymore."
"...Heh. Reminds me of how we first met. When the owners of that place wanted to amuse themselves seeing a Werewolf and a Human working together to survive."
"If anything it made us strong enough to reach the top and topple those bastards...And I feel West is going the same direction."
Later on, Johnnathan, Schneider amd Dafadel were celebrating alongside the rest of the crew on a storehouse.
"Cheeers! To my freedom!" Schneider drinks a large mug of beer, but gets nauseous. "Blergh. Bitter."
"We have soft drinks here as well." Said Dafadel.
"Naaah. She gets used to it." Said Edward.
"So, Nik. Is there any way that tail can being some of those?" Asked Johnnathan.
"Well, sure. Why not?" Nikolai teleports two bottle cointaining a red liquid.
"Oh? What's this?" Asked Dafadel. "Wine?"
"Hybrid Blood." Said Johnnathan. "From a Warlock Type who has a huge level of magic inside it."
"Aladdin's blood then, huh?" Said Florencia.
"Oooh. I never tasted Hybrid Blood before." Said Schneider.
"I always says a Hybrid must taste at least once in their lives." Johnnathan poured two chalices to Schneider and Dafadel. "After this, you can die happy."
"Well...I guess it couldn't be so bad." Said Dafadel. "Well, thanks Aladdin, whonever you are."
Two Minutes Later.
"Ninety-Nine liters of blood on the wall! Ninety-Nine liters of blooooood! Shoopa-de-doopa-de-dooooo!" Schneider and Dafadel started to chant, drunk with the blood.
"Hmm. I guess it was too strong for them." Said Johnnathan.
"You totally knew it was, right?" Said Florencia.
"So Hybrid blood has this effect on Hybrids." Said Vanilla. "Are they gonna be alright?"
"They'll be fine in a minute." Said Johnnathan. "Also, can I get to have all of this loot? After all, I won, right?"
"Your victories are Drake's victories. So until we reunited, that's out of question." Said Nikolai. "He'll let you have half, for sure."
"Bummer."
"But anyway, it's impressive that Johnnathan managed to beat a Royal Rogue." Said Edward. "It's like the first time someone had done it."
"Hybrids are amazing, but Johnny is by far the most amazing!" Vanilla said it, cheerfully.
"Yeah, he might be perhaps the best Hybrid around." Said West.
"Hah! I don't know what he pulled off, but he still no close to either Drake or Aladdin." Said Nikolai.
"Yeah, you're right." Said Johnnathan. "I don't know how to explain, but...It was kind of a lucky shot. I still have ways to go."
"That rogue, Chill...I believe he is the youngest of Raven's siblings right?" Asked Florencia. "They say a Vampire reach their full potential after they reach 20. Anyway, it's better if he is gone before it was too late."
"I've been wondering a bit about Hybrids." Said Tenkai. "Who is the strongest of them all?"
"I don't know? Who's the strongest Youko?" Sarcastically said Johnnathan.
"Besides me, I can only think of another person."
"Wow. And here I thought you were humble."
"I'm actually been wondering that as well, Johnny." Said Vanilla. "There isn't many Hybrids around, right? Maybe you have any idea."
"Well...If we are talking about Warlocks, I don't seem to head about anyone on Aladdin's level, but...I can think of TWO that can be considered the strongest."
"Two? As in...Two that are better than Drake and Aladdin?" Said West. "Who are them?"
"Well, one is the Slayer of the North."
"T-The Slayer of the North?" Asked Edward. "Isn't that a pirate from like decades ago? He was a Hybrid?"
"He was know as the most dangerous pirate at his generation." Said Florencia. "He was know for killing more pirates than any other men had. A dog-eating dog they called him. Last time he was heard off was 45 years ago."
"What about the other one?" Asked Tenkai.
"A man from Zhar know as Master Shen."
"Master?"
"He created a fighting style know as the Dark Channeling Fist."
"The Dark Channeling Fist...I heard of this technique once. In fact...that other Hybrid back there...Hian. The way he fought reminded me of how it was described it."
"Does that mean he was this Shen?" Asked Edward.
"No. Both Master Shen and the Slayer of the North are old-timers if they are somehow still alive."
"The tales of the Dark Channeling Fist originates from almost a hundred years ago." Said Tenkai. "It may be possible that he passed the one hundred year mark."
"Hybrids tends to reach this age."
"And Fairies." Said Florencia.
"And Werewolves." Said West.
"...Stupid Demi-Humans." Thought both Edward and Vanilla.
"Anyway, all this was told to me by Aladdin. He is probably right about it." Said Johnnathan.
"Uuuurgh...What were you guys talking about it again?" Dafadel seemed to be in a hangover.
"Know what? I'm just get me an Orange Juice." Schneider served herself a cup of juice.
"Dafadel Orlains!" A feminine voice shouted that trembled the whole room. "Now I found you."
An elegant woman carrying a parasol wearing a light-blue and white dress, spotting a long brown hair, white skin and a huge bosom appears.
"V-Vanessa?!" Dafadel trembled in fear.
"You little!" She pulls Dafadel from the nose. "How dare you just disappear like that?!"
"Woah...Woah!" Edward was impressed by how beautiful Vanessa was. "Just who is this woman, Dafadel? Is she your wife? Because she is so...Woah!"
Vanilla hits Edward in the head with her staff. "Have some respect, Eddie!"
"N-No! She is only my cousin."
"And the one who'll make you swim 200 miles on the cold sub-artic waters! Come on now!" She pulls Dafadel out of the room.
"Y-Youch! N-Nice to meet you fellas!"
"Well, there he goes." Said Edward. "Now that was something."
"....Family, huh?" Schneider watched as she drank her juice. "I already forgot how it is."
"So what are you gonna do now?" Asked Johnnathan.
"That's a good question. Come to think of it, all I am good for is swinging a sword."
"Sellsword is an actual thing nowadays."
"True, but there is more in life than fight...You know, Johnnathan? I realized something."
"What? Tell me while I drink this cup of tea."
"You see...I like you. I mean...I like you a lot! Do you wanna go out with me?"
Johnnathan and everyone else spit their drinks after the revelation.
"What?!" Shouted Vanilla.
"Did she just confessed to him just like that?" Murmured Edward.
"Is that...How it works between Hybrids?" Said Tenkai.
"W-Well...Look no offense and anything, but...No." Said Johnnathan. "You see...I already have someone in mind."
"Oh? Oh. Oh! Hahaha! I see! I see!" Schneider nodded his head repeatedly. "Sorry about that. I mean, it was my first time, but...Oh well. Bummer! Sorry, it might have been very awkward, right? Hahahaha!"
She keeps laughing in high spirits.
"...Huh. She accepted that very well." Said Vanilla. "Maybe she is just being dumb?"
"...No. I think she is being pretty understanding." Said Florencia.
"Alright! I decided!" Said Schneider. "The time is now to begin the Legend of Schneider! Where it'll end up? No one knows!"
Schneider then rushed to leave the room. "Thanks for everything you all! I hope we see each other again!"
"...And there she goes." Said Johnnathan as he gets lost in thoughts.
"...Are you still there, kid?" Said Nikolai. "You know, there is still time. We could use another Hybrid in the crew."
"Go catch coconuts on the bushes, Nik. I just thought of what she just said it."
"What do you mean?"
"How she is enthusiasmatic of not knowing what fate reserves for her. It's kinda like me. Even now...I don't really know what I really want."
"...Well, we're two." Said Edward.
"Just focus on the keys. Then you can think where do you wanna die." Said Nikolai.
"Am I really just an errand boy or something for you?"
"...Yes. That's precisely that." Nikolai leaves drinking a bottle of beer.
"Idiot."
"...So who is this other someone?" Asked Tenkai.
"I prefer to keep that a secret."