Sairori opens the front door as they return from their first encounter with the Baronia King. As the others make their way to gather at the table, Sairori takes a brief pause for a moment before showing any signs of movement.

"Something the matter, Sairori?" Questioned Alistor.

     Everyone sat to discuss the latest threat at the table as Sairori checked the shelves for something.

"Just who and where did they come from?" Wondered Maigashi.

"Well, it doesn't matter as long as you're safe…for now," Tannen said.

     Maigashi gazed back with an unmotivated expression.

"Oh well, that's a nice motivational uplift. So…we're basically screwed."

     Tannen nodded back in a yes with his arms crossed.

"Well, thank you so much for the terrible motivation. So much for our team morale." He sighs as Tannen continues to nod back in agreement.

"Baronia? Hmm, I heard of them somewhere but quite can't recall." Sairori intensely thought.

     They both continue to debate with each other while Katty covers his ears. Sairori continues to look for something on the shelves. Auroa sat there quietly, watching the rest.

“Do you think we have a chance?” Alistor asked.

     Auroa was laid back in thought.

 “What do you mean by that?” Auroa wondered.

      Alistor elaborated his question again.

"Do we stand a chance against this new enemy? We hardly had any time to train together since the Labyrinth."

     Auroa was thoughtless for a moment until he came up with something.

"Well…You just have to believe. Don't hesitate to take the first step in the heat of a good battle. Either you win or lose. In the end, nothing really matters. Anyone can see."

     Alistor looked back, weirded out.

“What do you mean nothing really matters? How can you be so calm? You’re weird!

     Auroa’s mood changed with a more motivational tone. “

"If you believe they're stronger, you must take things to the next level. Remember what Axe said?"

     They begin recalling their times with Axe. The musician is seen rocking out on his guitar. The scene then transitions to the battle back at the Kabuki Coliseum.

"Dude! We can do this! Specters, Let's Rock!"

     Axe and his band were seen performing his song against Vilevelious Amp Master. Auroa begins to narrate.

"When hope seemed bleak, Axe never gave up. He gave everything because he believed something was worth fighting for."

     Amp Master is seen short-circuiting with the battery attached to it. Axe dramatically tosses his searing guitar into the monster finishing it off.

“Of course! How can I ever forget?” Alistor slapped.

"Just remember. Remove all sense of doubt. When the time comes, you'll know." Auroa concluded.

      The other two continued on with their arguing while Katty placed his head down on the table. Sairori pulls out an old textbook from the shelf.

"Found it! Everybody quiet down and listen."  

     The table started to quiet down as he headed back to the table. He takes a glance at them all before speaking.

 "The time has come for us to get familiar with our new foes. I have an old, outdated history book about Mathias's history."

 Sairori started opening up the textbook and looking at the table of contents.

      "I will tell you the entire tale about Mathias's history and affiliation with Baronia. Now listen up."

     They were all ready to listen as he began the tale.

The Tale of Baronia

    "It was cold and stormy. A rainy night perhaps, but hopefully, they'll never make their return. You must know if you are reading this if I have lived to tell the tale. I will never forget the many comrades that had fallen beside me as it will burn inside. It was an adversary for me to tell the story, but I hope future generations won't forget it.

     The day started tranquil. What could go wrong? The news of some mad fool escaping Mathias ceased to worry everyone. Somehow we shouldn't have let him off. A month later, rain has been falling more frequently over Mathias.

     Why is that? Perhaps it was a coincidence, but it was not natural as the thunders roared above the heavens. It was like a curse. As I prayed for it to subside, my prayers were eventually answered. But somehow, I regretted the day the storm stopped.

     That day when the sky cleared, a huge massive object eclipsed us. We had no idea what it was. When I came to check, we were immediately attacked. Many explosives shatter our walls. It was inevitable for us to meet our enemy, but we did. They were interested in us because we were what stood in the way of their conquest.

     They were different from what we've ever faced. Resembling chess pieces, they seemed advanced in technological weapons. Each of them bears the same checker pattern on the part of their body.

     Their leader arrives down to stand before us. He introduced himself as the Baronia King and the Empire that he ruled. We were intimidated at first by his power when he came down, but we didn't let the thought go through our heads. Eventually, we fought one wave after another of the Baronia King's forces. With the help from Mathias Kingdom, we could fend off our enemy for a while. Still, the challenges got hard as the casualties increased. We've lost many comrades on our journey, but we persevered and continued the fight until one fateful day.

     Baronia began to close in with their main ship descending down to land. It was our chance to end it all, so we infiltrated the Baronia main base. Before entering, we knew our chances of returning alive were nearly impossible, but a miracle came.

     A strange rose was given to us by a mysterious dark man. One who's claimed to craft one-of-a-kind items. It was the key to saving Mathias. If Baronia was ever to wake, our spirits would live again. My comrades would sign a pact with Baronia by using the Rose. When we eventually reached the throne room, we fooled the King into signing the deal, believing it was a surrender agreement. When he realized he was tricked,  our souls became infused with Baronia.

     The final battle with the King was difficult as I couldn't bear leaving my comrades behind to fight. As I ventured deep within Baronia, I was shocked. That very man who escaped was before me as I clashed away.

     He was as different from before as I wondered how it was possible to become one of them. I was lucky to prevail over this man as he wasn’t complete.

     I arrived at a vast room that was the Empire's primary power source. Unfortunately, I was quickly surrounded as the King caught up to me. I knew my comrades were gone while I tried to bear the pain myself. The King laughs at all my efforts and agrees to spare my life upon pity. That was a huge mistake.

     The very day that I was thrown out of the fortress. I couldn't bear my comrades' loss and didn't want to bother or even have the will to fight on. Nothing really mattered anymore. Only this extraordinary Rose was all I had left.

      I lied down, not caring anymore. I was discovered by the royal guards and taken in to be recovered. Everybody was dying to know what I saw and how much I went through with my comrades. I told them my story, and they suddenly took an interest in the room I mentioned being the key to Baronia's power source. Days later, we devised a plan, this time to bring an end to Baronia hopefully.

      A week later, Baronia was at our doorstep as the King came to check if we surrendered. We refused to surrender and began to fight back. Once again, I was able to infiltrate their fortress again but with additional help this time. Many have sacrificed themselves as the battle rages on.  

     Only my messenger and I were the only ones who made our way to the engine room. The others were fending against most of the Baronia forces below Mathias outside. We closed in on the primary massive power source. I took a closer look to sift through it. With not enough time, I was caught again as we got surrounded. The Baronia King came in from a farther distance taking his sweet time. Within viewing distance, the man that I fought before walked aside from the King. The King stares down at the two of us for a moment. They all laughed at us for our efforts and made me tense. I knew they won't give any mercy this time, and the moment of fate was staring at me.

     My eyes closed as I dropped myself to the ground again. The King laughed as he approached closer until he started lifting his staff. He touched my shoulder with the weapon like any royalty would do with a sword. My messenger was backed to the walls, scared. The Baronia King congratulates me for all my efforts gone to waste.

"Any last words, hahaha." The King evilly laughed.

     All I could think of was life flashing before my eyes. My life was in the hands of King Baronia. Was this fate inevitable? I don't know. The King readies the final blow as I no longer cared.

      Then suddenly, I lost my conscience before the King could strike. My messenger came to my side to stall out the King. Was this finally it? To have it end this way is such a pity. In my darkest hour, a vision came to me. Ghostly images of my fallen comrades looked upon me. Was I really dead? They all smiled back and nodded. It wasn't time for me.

     They told me to fight till my last breath, but I kept telling them it was hopeless and that I'd given up already. The Rose was the answer I had in possession, they told me. I wasn't sure what they meant till they raised my hopes back. One of my comrades suddenly spoke out.

 "Stop blaming yourself. We may be gone, but our soul lives on within that Rose.

     They then all smacked me to my senses as I woke up staring at the King above me. The King gets ready to finish me this time, as nothing really matters comes to my mind now. My friends, comrades. They were here with me the whole time.

     I jumped pit of the way quickly and took action, surprising the King. My messenger shriveled to the side weeping. Nothing really mattered now. I shall live on bounded within this Rose whether I live or die. I grabbed my sword making the King think I wanted a duel. But I turned my eyes to the engine. I plunged my sword into the machine, getting electrocuted without care.

     Then after, blood ran through my chest. The King was behind me with his staff penetrating through a part of my chest. I continued to bleed out but noticed the King weakening as well. The man that was with the King became angry as I saw them malfunctioning. My messenger suddenly recalls something about the engine while watching it closely.

     The King only had his eyes focused on me at this point. The messenger tells me if it can be turned on, can't it be turned off? Things became apparent as I figured out what to do with this engine. With very little luck, I found only a standby option which I set for Baronia to sleep.

     The old man became angered at us as he quickly rushed to pull an emergency switch for this whole mechanical fortress to escape to who knows where.

     The entire Baronia fleet fell into a deep sleep as the King collapsed. His staff plunged out of my body as I no longer cared. My journey has now come to an end. To my surprise, I didn't expect the messenger to have the energy to help me escape.

     Together we viewed the fortress from a distance leaving our world. I was brought back to Mathias to recover, but it was no good this time. My wound was deep, and I had only a few days to live. With this rose in my hand, nothing really mattered.

     I spent my last days honored by the Kingdom. I don't know how long Baronia sleeps, but they'll return one day. When they return, I hope the next generation will be more ready than we were.

I have lived to tell the tale; hopefully, it won't be buried and forgotten. The torch has been passed on. We did our best to preserve the peace and future for the next generation.

     Upon my death, my final request was to ensure parts of the Rose were hidden away. Entrusted by my messenger to carry out with a map. We may be gone, but we'll live on within this rose to help you fight. If Baronia returns, please find us.

     I owe my gratitude to the maker of this Rose. This all wouldn't have been possible without you, Mr. Rare."

     The story concludes from there. Alistor was immediately shocked.

“Rare? Mr. Rare! They were involved with him as well.”

“You now know.” Sairori nods.  

     Alistor immediately got up from the table.

"Then we have to find them. These guys know something about Rare, and I must know."

“Whoah…easy there.” Maigashi pestered. “One thing at a time first.”

     The team quickly left outside for a walk.

“What is your opinion on all about this Baronia business Tannen?” Alistor asked.

“When the time comes, we’ll just give it our all.”

     They all continue downtown. Auroa and Maigashi were behind as Katty was in the center and mentioned something.

"So the story told to us said something about seeking the rose hidden away by that messenger?"

     Alistor wasn’t sure where to begin.

 “Seeking them would be hard because we need a map to start.” He sighed.

"Well, I guess your right about that." As Katty seems lost.

They all continued walking till they felt they had enough time to stall. They return to Sairori to see him staring at the package Alistor returned from the errand.

“So what is with the package?” Maigashi wondered.

     Everyone was beginning to get curious about it as he opened it. Sairori pulls out the first layer of tape and then the second. He gets confused about the way it was packaged to try to find an opening.

“Whoever packaged this was pretty stupid.” Yawned Maigashi.

     Sairori attempts to rip it and struggles. He spots a small dent opening and tries getting it opened from there.

“Blasted thing. Open up already. Stupid package!”

     Sairori lost his patience in opening the package and threw it. Maigashi started giggling a bit as Tannen remained jolly and patient. Katty picks up the box.

“I’ll get it open!”

     Sairori steps aside for Katty. He draws out his ninja blade and slices the package open. Katty checks the box to see what is inside.

“What is in there?” Asked Tannen.

Everyone wonders what is in that box as Katty reaches his hand inside it. Katty then screamed in pain. Everybody, including Sairori, became more alert.

"Oh, my Katty, are you hurt? Are you ok?" Roared Sairori while the rest had a little panic tantrum running in circles for a brief moment.

He then slipped a smile.

"Fooled you all, ha," Giggled Katty. "It's a map. An ancient one indeed."

"Well, let's check it."

     To their surprise, they unveiled the map to find it, a blueprint to one of the Rose pieces mentioned in the story.