Kelberg had a total of four gates that surrounded the city. Each gate had an outpost that was stationed just outside the gate. These outposts were usually heavily guarded just in case of an attack on the city. They also did things such as inspection of equipment and taking the prisoners to the dungeon below.

  The knight found on the pathway to Kelberg had told them that currently the West outpost and Gate had been completely taken over and was being controlled by beasts and members of the Shadow plague. But that was all the information he could give before he quickly passed away.

  When the group finally exited from the forest, they could see the city in sight. Just outside the west gate, an army had gathered. There were hundreds of soldiers, archers and catapults stood there ready for battle. There were even some adventures mixed in with the City's men.

  The group hurried to the West gate where the army had gathered, that's when Lilly approached the man in charge.

  "Oh Miss Lilly." The man bowed. "We are happy to see you have returned safely."

  The man's name was Cordis and he was one of two generals of the Kelberg army. He wore heavy armour and had a thick moustache.

  "What is going on here!" Lilly demanded. "Why is half of Kelberg's army gathered here."

  "We have been betrayed," Cordis said. "It was Fallen angel, they were being led by Mark the guild leader and working with the shadow plague. They took out the guards and knights form the inside of the west tower and then let in Beasts and some men inside."

  "I knew we should have killed him!" Gary shouted.

  "I can't believe it," Ark said, "He really was working for the shadow plague after all."

  "Our men aren't strong." Cordis continued, "But the Boro Boro Guild managed to hold them off inside, not allowing them to proceed further into the city. That's when we came out here."

  "I warned you all about this, I told you he was a puppet of the shadow plague, that damned Mark." Lenny said.

  "But what does Mark want?" Lilly asked, "have they made any demands?"

  Cordis then looked at Ray.

  "I don't know if this is the same boy but he said he demands to see the boy with Red hair."

  "Do they want another duel?" Gary asked.

  "No," Cordis replied. "He simply said that he had a message he wanted to give to the boy."

  "We can't trust them again," Gary said, "Let's just take the tower back we have us the whole army with us."

  Cordis then hesitated before giving an answer and when he did his voice was shaking.

  "I'm sorry miss Lilly, if we storm the tower, they have threatened to kill their hostage."

  "Who's the hostage?" Lilly asked.

  "They have captured the mayor and have him held up in the Tower. Fallen Angel had called a meeting with your father to discuss matters with him, it was only a short while ago that we found out he had gone missing and he was currently held hostage in the tower. That is why we have done nothing so far to attack."

  "Well then, of course, Ray will go meet him," Lilly said.

  "You do not answer for our boss." Jack said, "we have no connection to this town, the only reason we came here in the first place is to get the hammer from the demon man. Mission succeeded."

  Lilly had assumed Ray would be willing to help her in this situation, but what Lilly didn't realise was Ray was not the righteous person she thought he was. He agreed with Jack's words there was no reason for him to risk his life for strangers.

  But there was one thing Ray was curious about, he was curious about what the Shadow plague wanted to say to him. When he touched the demon man for the first time an image was shown to him. It was a dragon formed with shadows.

  Ray then thought of one way to enter the tower without being harmed. Ray then cast his Doppelganger skill making an identical clone of himself.

  "He stays out here, and I will go in alone," Ray said pointing at his clone. "Whatever happens you make sure he stays alive, no matter what!"

  Ray decided he would go meet with Mark in the tower to see what he had to say. If it was an ambush or Ray was in too much trouble, then Ray would use his swap skill to swap positions with his close. He would then instantly be outside safe and sound.

  After casting the clone skill Ray had a total of a 150 mana points remaining. He wasn't at full strength but still 3 quarters as strong as he usually would be.

  As long as he didn't face anything as strong as the demon man, he should be fine. Ray slowly walked up to the tower gate. The gate was heavy and would usually require two large men on the other side who would turn a wheel to lift the gate.

  But Ray placed his hand on the bars and simply lifted the gate with his hands and once he was on the other side placed the gate back down again.

  As Ray entered the tower he arrived at the hall. It was filled with beasts and men from Fallen angel, each one of the beasts had been infected by the Shadow plague in some way but most of them were only at the intermediate level. Even if they were more powerful thanks to the shadow plague, Ray would still be able to deal with them.

  Many of the paintings and tables had been ruined in the hall. As the beasts continued the rampage and devoured whatever food they could find.

  Standing by the staircase were two True infected covered in shadows. Ray was unsure whether they were the same ones they had seen at the shrine.

  "You shall go up to the fifth floor." The True infected said. "Mark waits for you in his chamber there."

  ****

  Special thanks to Fenrir2040, suckerforanimes, Seth_Thomas, and Andy28 for the gifts all of these really help me continue writing stories for you