Behind Reinhard, the others rushed forward. Marie reached him first, her hands finding his arms to help him up while Joseph positioned himself defensively. Scáth, Roana, Gran, and Niki spread out, creating a loose formation.

"I'm surprised people would come down here," the Director said, her voice carrying clearly across the massive room. "But alas, I guess that crazy fool was right."

Reinhard frowned, his mind working, one part of him cataloged the information that she'd been expecting them.

Another part wondered where she'd come from, he'd used Drasil Step and moved through slow time. And right as it ended, she appeared behind him before hurling him away.

Was she in this room, hiding or did she teleport right behind me? Reinhard thought.

"Phineas told you about us?" Reinhard asked.

The Director sighed, the sound carrying through her mask. "More like he wouldn't shut up about you all. Saying the main actors would be coming soon. I thought he was joking, but I guess he was right about this." A pause. "Oh well."

Scáth laughed, the sound sharp with dark amusement. "That man really does treat this crap as a play."

The Director nodded, acknowledging the observation. "Sometimes I wonder what he doesn't treat as theater. But then I recall there's no point in asking a question he himself doesn't know the answer to."

Marie tilted her head, her expression showing confusion. "What are your plans? Why do you need Anasha? Why would you create such havoc up in the city?"

The Director hummed thoughtfully, considering. "I'll tell you what. Retrieve the little one, and then I'll let you know."

Reinhard's frown deepened, but before he could formulate a response, he heard a sound from the platform.

A soft groan echoed across the room.

Reinhard's gaze shifted up toward Anasha, who was gradually waking up.

Anasha's small body shifted, arms moving to push herself upright from where she'd been slumped. Her eyes blinked a couple of times as she tried to focus before she began looking around and taking in the room.

Then her gaze found Reinhard and the others.

She froze completely, her blue eyes widened impossibly, and reflecting light that made them seem to glow. She stared at them in a daze, her mouth opening slightly but no sound emerging while her eyes blinked rapidly.

Then Anasha's small hand rose, pinching her cheek hard enough to make her cry out in pain.

"It… it hurts?" Anasha says softly as she stares at them in a daze.

Joseph's eyes widened as he quickly said. "Anasha! Y-You don't need to pinch yourself. We really are here! I promise!"

Anasha trembled, her small hands clenching the fabric of her dress, and she looked down, unable to meet their eyes directly. "I-I've been having dreams of you guys coming... That me being taken was just a bad dream. But every time you held out your hands, it would always turn out to be fake, and I would wake up..."

Reinhard's fist clenched at his side, hard enough that his nails bit into his palm. Marie trembled, her entire body shaking with emotion as she grimaced. Joseph bowed his head, unable to maintain eye contact while his shoulders hunched inward.

Anasha trembled even harder with tears leaking from her eyes, tracking down her cheeks in twin streams. When she looked up again, her face was a mask of desperate hope fighting against learned disappointment.

"A-Are you guys real?"

Silence descended for two seconds.

Then Reinhard smiled faintly at her. "Of course we're real, and we're here for you." He gestured behind himself. "Look, Anasha."

A shadow spear rose up from Reinhard's shadow, rising up from the floor like a dark flower blooming. The black construct reached perhaps six feet in height, clearly visible in the lamplight.

Anasha's eyes widened even further, tears flowing faster. "V-Ven!"

Reinhard nodded, his smile growing. "He's with me, and all the others from Mensis are. We're here to save you and help you go forward."

Anasha trembled even more violently, and then she screamed with a massive grin. "Reinhard! Marie! Joseph! You guys are really here!"

Reinhard smiled wider, nodding firmly as he saw the joy in her eyes. "Yes. We're really here."

Marie smiled as she began waving enthusiastically. "Of course we're here, Anasha! How could we let those fiends keep you? We still have to help you with your dreams!"

Joseph nodded, his expression showing determination. "We made a promise that we have to keep. But first, we want to apologize for not finding you sooner."

Anasha shakes her head before smiling down at them as she says softly. "No... As long as you guys are here, then everything is fine."

Reinhard nodded once. "Sit down. We're coming."

The Director hummed, drawing attention back to her. "Good. With such words, you really seem like the main actors of that fool's play." She began walking towards them. "If it were for anything else, I would let you pass. But alas, she is needed."

Roana frowned, her golden eyes narrowing. "What could Anasha possibly be needed for?"

The Director reached the floor level, her boots clicking against the floor. "That little girl has made a connection with one of the peaks of the Throne of Myth. In simple terms, she most likely has an SSS-class Beast Spirit."

Reinhard and the others' eyes widened simultaneously in shock.

SSS-class.

The highest classification for Beast Spirits that exists at the top of the Throne of Myth. Reinhard furrowed his brow as he didn't think Anasha's spirit was a SSS spirit like his, but then he recalled Mensis Town. How was she able to transform the entire town into her fantasy and transform the Phantasm Beasts into people?

No wonder she could do that, her Beast Spirit was at the peak. But then what kind of Beast Spirit does she have to do all of that? Reinhard thought in curiosity.

Regardless, if there was any proof needed about how absurd a SSS-class Beast Spirit was, then look no further.

"Her being sacrificed will fully help it come into existence." The Director continued, her voice carrying no emotion despite the horror of her words. "And then, with its help, my only wish can be fulfilled."

The Director held out her hand.

Then, blue light began to shine with glittering fragments expanded from her palm, taking up massive space in the air. It was swirling before the fragments condensed rapidly, compressing into solid form, and then a massive spear materialized.

It was easily eight feet long, spiral-shaped, with decorative gold wings and sword symbols running along its length. The weapon crackled with blue light, and brushstroke-like shadows seemed to trail off it as if reality itself couldn't quite contain its presence.

The Director grabbed it with ease, the spear settling into her grip like it had always been there.

Then she rushed toward them.

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