The monster's tusks struck the glass once more... And it didn't take long for it to be clear the answer to the announcer's question. Caius' eyes widened as the tusk-bearing monster would back up one more time... Before Caius cried out at the top of his lungs.

"MU!"

It had been involuntary, a cry of panic to try and alert the shinobi to the severity of the situation Caius was predicting was about to occur. He had brandished his blade and charged forward... But it was too late. There was a sickening cracking sound as the crack in the magical barrier began to get bigger... And then it shattered.

What followed was a series of ungodly sounds of screaming as the spectators were overwhelmed with the realization that their lives were in grave danger. Now freed from the constraints of the closed in area, the creature let out a loud roar before charging forward into the more populated areas of the city. These tusks were strong, incredibly strong, and they were shown in full fury as the thing collided with buildings that made them shake, shattered windows... And of course anything that was below it was quickly stamped on.

"S**t..."

Caius was taken aback by the chaos, stopping dead in his tracks. But he composed himself quickly, looking to Mu to indicate the obvious that thing thing took top priority. "We need to kill this thing as quickly as possible" Caius remarked as he began to load something into the chamber of his sword's gun end. He summoned one of his daggers and fired a series of shots first at the creature, hoping to compliment Mu's attack and maybe draw attention toward them...

And then finally, Caius aimed his gunblade into the air and fired. A colored flare shot high into the air. And soon enough, a loud roar filled the skies...

He didn't want to do this. Not in the middle of Torensten. It was risky. But he had been left with no choice. It was his own comfort against the safety of the people of Torensten. It was now or never here.

"I'll catch up" Caius spoke curtly when Mu brought up that they needed to move and catch up to it. He looked around, as the roar sounded up above... He hoped that enough people had fled that this wouldn't be too much of an issue. What came next hopefully wouldn't distract Mu too much. For soon after Caius had launched the flare, a large winged beast came down into the square, landing next to Caius. With diamond-colored scales, with claws and wings, and standing larger than the most sizable of horses, the magnificent beast couldn't be anything else but the small fire-breathing lizard that Mu had met previously. Except much larger this time. The fully grown dragon wasn't on land for very long before Caius had climbed onto his back and Vordun had taken back off into the air. It was clear that Caius had gained a great deal of experience in learning how to ride on dragonback since the two of them had met last. He had Yuna to thank for helping him get a foothold in that training, and then experience lended itself to the rest after that. As this was an emergency call, Vordun was lacking in a saddle. But while it would make staying onboard Vordun harder, hopefully if they could end this quickly then it wouldn't be necessary. Caius had gained far more experience in riding atop Vordun now compared to when he had constantly fallen off while learning.

Mu had managed to damage the beast a bit before it had thrown him off, before the corrupted earth he summoned kept the beast from moving. It didn't stop it from angrily slashing at Mu though, and with its long claws, it wouldn't be difficult for it to reach him. But this did buy enough time for Vordun to reach them, as the dragon slammed itself into the larger beast. Cassius had drawn his blade once more, and when Vordun had rammed into it, he leaped off Vordun and slashed at one of the tusks, lopping it off the beast. It let out a great cry, and with the damage done there, perhaps they could had the thing on the ropes...

They could do this! With the beast weakened after the loss of its horn, Mu had begun the process of enacting the finishing touches on this fight. Casting some sort of shinobi magic, Mu had breathed ice that struck the creature's legs. Ice began to form over its legs and whiled it flailed furiously, the ice wasn't stopping. But the ice wouldn't hold for long. With the creature's furious movements in its rampage, the ice had already begun to crack. It held for now... But they would need to follow up quickly. Caius sensed the urgency of the situation right away, and he knew that they needed to finish this here and now.

He took a deep breath as he stood to his feet atop Vordun's saddle, showcasing excellent balance honed from training with the dragon many times before. He could still fall, his size was a disadvantage in cases such as these and gravity was sure to catch up to him eventually. But he was too stubborn to fall just yet. "This is the end!" Caius growled as he leaped off Vordun and brought his blade down on the enemy while they were frozen, one slash after another striking the enemy one after the other with quick precision, using air control to dart through the air and strike another part of the body with each slash in order to keep him in the air. His speed began to increase rapidly as he began employing his warp technique, warping from one place to another and slashing all across the monster's body at blinding speeds as he picked up the pace. As he felt his magic beginning to wear thin, Caius warped backwards, re-appearing atop Vordun's back before leaping back into the air. "Do it!" Caius called to Vordun as the dragon began to charge up a powerful fireball, planning to go as big as possible. The ice was starting to shatter... They were running out of time...

Caius clamped his teeth on his sword to hold it in place, exhibiting great strength as he summoned the duel-sided blade, pulling it apart to reveal the twin gun-daggers. Aiming them both at the monster and pulling both triggers, the weapons opening fire in rapid-fire fashion as small bullets riddled the beast, aimed at the weak point that Caius had made for them. Vordun then fired, launching the fireball and hitting it dead on, creating a smokescreen with which Caius could strike from. With an opening made, and a good bead on where he could warp next, Caius disappeared, promptly re-appearing in front of the place he had cut off the horn and spun forwards for momentum before bringing his sword down with a heavy strike. The creature let out one last warring cry, the ice shattering just as the creature unleashed its final throes... A long, vengeful cry before it finally died down.

The creature went down, and Caius felt his stamina eb past its limit as he began to fall. Vordun caught him on his back, carrying the mercenary out of sight as the sound of the creature's thud appeared to stop the fleeing civilians, frozen in horror and confusion at the sound. From atop the nearest guard tower though, a man watched the battle with a pair of binoculars in hand.

It was the man who had played announcer for the contest before. The people may not have seen much of it, but he had seen it all. The battle, the dragon, the end of the beast.

When Vordun landed, Caius rolled off his back and hit the ground with a thud. He'd gone into Stasis when his magic hit its limits. Vordun let out a concerned little growl, and Caius managed a small laugh as he reached up to pat him on the head.

"Good job..." he spoke softly. "Go... Meet you back..."

Seeming to understand the command, Vordun let out a growl in affirmative before promptly taking off into the skies. The MC watched the dragon leave with a smile on his face. Holding up a Magic Crystal boosted with the power of voice projection, he called out to the people of Torensten.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! THE RAMPAGING BEAST HAS BEEN SLAIN, AND THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL OF THE HUNT HAS COME TO AN END! TEAM B KILLED THE BEAST, AND THUS HAS BEEN AWARDED 100 POINTS... THUS YOUR WINNERS... AND THIS SEASON'S CHAMPIONS OF THE HUNT... THE MYSTERIOUS MU, AND THE DRAGONGLAIVE CAIUS DRAGELION!"

The proclamation the beast was dead and the contest at its end loosed cheers amongst the townsfolk. While the battle had been like a blur to many, and the buildings obscured much of it, many had been able to see the two fighters zipping about the monster. Some claimed they saw a dragon... Others thought they were just crazy.

Caius let out a low groan as he picked himself off the ground. He was sore, he was drained, and he walked with a fatigued hobble for a bit as he slowly made his way back to Mu. By the time the podium in Legend Square had been repaired though, Caius was properly back on his feet again.

The people had gathered, and Caius and Mu stood atop the podium. Their third member had long disappeared, and it was as though he had never existed at all. None whispered about the party's third team member, seeming to think that the duo had been given a bad hand in the team draw and had still persevered despite it.

Caius looked around a moment. Where was the MC? He had been so enthusiastic about the battles, surely he was the one who was meant to be awarding them their prizes? He had such energy and passion for the whole thing, it only seemed right. But the MC was nowhere to be found. So what happened now, then? The actual runners of the competition preferred to watch from a distance, and Caius could see them on one of the guard towers... So who was meant to finish the ceremonies with them?

That was when the people of Torensten began to kneel. Down on one knee, they went as others made way in the crowds. A group of men came walking through, each finely dressed and looking quite important. But at the end of the line was a man dressed in the finest robes, with a crown on his head.

This was the Seven. The Torensten Dukedom's Ruling Council. And the man who trailed them in the crown must be...

"Hey! You two, head down! That's King Hremit!" one of the nearby onlookers psst'd to Caius and Mu. King Hremit, the descendant of the great hero who's statue stood just behind their platform. Smack dab in the center of Legend Square. Right in the center of Torensten itself. That Hremit? Caius was vaguely aware of his existence, but was in and out of Torensten so much that the culture of the city was still a bit of a mystery to him. But if the Seven were important, Hremit especially... He slowly nodded his head as he knelled, as a Knight would for a King.

King Hremit took the lead of the group, a hop and a bounce in his step as he climbed the platform. When he came close enough, Caius squinted as a he stared him down a moment.

He looked... Familiar. Didn't he know him from somewhere? Something about his face was familiar, but his expression was completely different. And who he had been thinking of actually had hair.

It didn't matter at the moment, though. Hremit motioned for them to rise, before he cleared his throat. And then cleared it again. Did he have a frog in his throat? Either way, the croaking eventually stopped as he finally spoke.

"Caius. Mu. Torensten owes the both of you a debt of gratitude, one that will not be soon forgotten. You have fought with valor, passion and honor beyond the call of duty. I would gladly swear the both of you to my service in a heartbeat, though neither of you seem the type" Hremit admitted with a curt, good-natured laugh. That was curious for Caius. Was it because he no longer held a knight's bearing? Or was it simply because he knew that he had responsibilities elsewhere? He didn't dwell on it for too long, though. He was right, as tempting as that offer might be, Caius was not in a position to accept it.

Maybe someday. When his task was finished.

The King turned to his people.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I GIVE YOU... YOUR CHAMPIONS OF THE HUNT! CAIUS AND MU!"

Applause rang through the square, as the King himself presented to the both of them a grey medallion with the insignia of a wolf on it. Crowning them both as Champions of the Hunt. Caius lowered his head to accept gratefully as the medallion was slipped over his neck, and Mu would be presented his as well.

"The both of you will be awarded monetary prizes as well for your efforts, they will be prepared for you by morning. A bit extra will be added from the Dukedom's own treasury, as a show of thanks from the Council" Hremit brought up to the two of them once the medallions were presented, before he turned to his subjects once more. "With that... LET THE HUNTING FEAST COMMENCE!"

The feast lasted well into the night. There was partying, dancing, music, even fireworks created using Magic Crystals. Legend Square was lit up in fire, in magic and in mirth. Caius was typically a quiet man and wouldn't be found partying, but he did meet up with the other Dragonblades to talk and tell stories. With their base being held in Torensten, it was a given at least a few of them would have been present and seen the events that had unfolded, though the crowds likely kept them from intervening when things got bad.

If Mu stuck around, Caius would eventually find him, and offer him a glass he had poured.

"Your skills are just as sharp as ever."

The both of them seemed to be of similar minds on that one. While Caius was not exactly a social butterfly -- he was more of a business socializer than anything else, so to speak -- he wasn't going to pass up a plate of Torensten's finest food. Recharging his batteries, and maybe sneaking some helpings for Vordun for later in the cold-isolated pack that he used to store and preserve meat , were perfectly practical things and Caius didn't mind sticking around for the festivities with that in mind. Not to mention that it was polite to stick around, considering he and Mu had won the thing. As far as protecting the people of Torensten went, the adulation and celebration that came with it weren't something he considered much. Protecting people was part of the gig, in his eyes. It was why he had set out as a mercenary and why he had formed the Dragonblades with Celes all that time ago.

Caius nodded his thanks when Mu complimented his capabilities. Though to his surprise, he pulled down his mask. He hadn't expected him to, even if he had offered him a drink. He had never seen him take the thing off, so he had supposed it might have to do with some kind of cultural taboo and he would figure out some magical shinobi voodoo in order to eat and drink. Yet here he was, taking his mask off in full view. Talk about a surprise. Mu then brought up the surprise of Vordun's appearance, and praised his method of signalling for him. "He's too big now to pass off as anything but what he is, which can be a problem in big cities.It's not a perfect method, but... Most times, it makes sure he's here for emergencies" he answered, as he looked to the small creature that was now floating next to Mu. He had brought it out earlier, but... He hadn't had a good chance to look at it until now. It seemed that Mu was able to talk to it, as well. A familiar, of some kind?

"That's an interesting friend you've got there" Caius commented. On the topic of friends... Something came to mind that had been on Caius' mind in particular for a good while now. He didn't like talking business during a time like this, but...

"You know, we really could use someone like you" Caius decided to bring up. "I'm not just talking your capabilities either. Twice now you haven't hesitated to jump to the defense of the people here when things went down, and kept your head on your shoulders while you did it. We've got our hands full with the Original Sin, and things are getting... Interesting, to say the least."

He drank a bit from his glass. "I won't pretend that doing combat jobs for money is for everyone, but it makes sure everyone's fed and equipped and ready for times like these, and can put all the time they need to it. And lately, a lot of dangerous people have been showing up. One of them, Kuja, may even be more powerful than the Lich that was stomping around not too long ago."

Caius had been keeping his ear to the ground for any signs of Mu, believe it or not. Rumors of one who snuck through the shadows and cut a swath through evildoers that crossed his path had reached him many times now. He didn't know Mu's path, but it seemed they were intersecting through the same kinds of people.

"I know you prefer working alone, and if that's your style, so be it" he remarked. "I don't know what your path is, or where you intend for it to take you. But it seems to be taking you through a lot of people that we'd be more than happy to help you take down.If you're ever interested, the Dragonblades would love to have you."