And we're back. Will Elsword make it to the El Search Party without getting caught by Add or (y/n)? Let's find out.
____________________________________

        Add found that (y/n) was quite amusing when tracking someone down. He'd never actually seen her do it since they never had a reason. He was truly impressed as he followed her. (Y/n) darted through the forest and would stop every now and then to examine a certain area. They would change direction based on what she saw. She was a true tracker without the need for picking up scent. Elsword had made a break for Altera, so he was left out in the open when they finally saw him.

        "I don't see the El Search Party yet," Add said when they were at the edge of the forest.

        "If they are here, they wouldn't want to be seen. We should continue to chase him, but be careful about any possible attacks," (y/n) replied. She was almost a different person when she was on the hunt and Add liked this new side of her.

        "Alright. Lead the way then. Don't get too carried away." Add didn't mind her authoritative demeanor at all.

        "Don't worry. I have to make it look real. No one said it had to actually be real," (y/n) responded. Then she was off. Add watched her for a moment before going after her.

        Even without her dynamas, she was pretty amazing. Add didn't want to tell her but her dynamas were supposed to be right outside the lab. When they weren't there, Add did his best not to panic, knowing that someone had been there. If it was who Add thought it was, they would have to leave Altera immediately and investigative Altera Core some other time.

        Just before (y/n) reached Elsword, an arrow came zooming at her. She avoided it completely while summoning a dagger from one of her tattoos. Add had suggested she upgrade from the pocket knife she'd used last time. (Y/n) had also summoned a satchel that held her nasod based smoke bombs. They were the same kind that she had used when they'd first met. Add got his dynamos ready for attack as the El Search Party came from the outskirts of Altera.

        Elsword just kept running towards them. He stopped as soon as he got close to Elesis. She'd held her sword up to his throat causing him to freeze and some of the El Search Party members gave Elesis a questioning look. Add and (y/n) did not hesitate to continue going after Elsword. If they even seemed as though they were faking their chase, Elesis might just end Elsword's life or take him captive as a traitor. As much as Add hated to admit it, he did actually care whether Elsword lived or not.

        They were now close enough to hear Elesis' words. "What are you doing? I thought you'd switched sides," Elesis spat.

        "Why would I do that? I never wanted to be kidnapped, remember," Elsword managed to say.

        "You were trying to save (y/n). You went with them and helped them retreat," Elesis said.

        "I had no choice. They'd have killed me if I hadn't," Elsword said. He pointed at the nanite device on his neck which Elesis just then noticed. She lowered her sword immediately.

        "So Ciel and Raven were right," she said with a hint of relief as she stepped forward and hugged Elsword. Add and (y/n) came to a stop within a pretty decent distance of the El Search Party. Elesis noticed them and let Elsword go. "You two. What have you done to him?!" she demanded as she let Elsword go. It was (y/n) that answered her.

        "Nothing really. All I did was implant a bomb in his neck. It won't explode literally although it will most certainly fry his insides," (y/n) said. Elesis' eyes widened in shock. "Don't worry though. I have no intention in killing him...yet." Add was impressed with how easily she was able to act so coldly when she really wasn't. It almost startled him actually.

        "What do you want. You must be doing all of this for some reason. Go ahead. Tell us," Elesis spat. She was angry but afraid for her brother's life. Now it was Add's turn to speak.

        "It's simple. All we want is for your team to leave us alone. Let's see...two years should be enough. We'll be able to roam free without you doing a thing about it. Of course you'll be allowed to resume your activity after the time ends, but if you don't stick to the agreement, we won't hesitate to come back for him," Add said. Great, now he was the one sounding coldly.

        "There's no way we're agreeing to that!" Elesis said although she held doubt in her voice. She looked to her teammates.

        "It seems agreeable in some respects," Raven said, being the first to speak.

         "You're kidding right? We can't just let them do whatever they want," Chung argued.

        "They're guaranteeing Elsword's life. He's been held captive by them for almost two years. I don't know about you, but I don't think I want him going back with them. And I most certainly don't want him killed," Raven countered.

        "I agree with Raven. I think their proposal is fair in some respects too. Just because we can't capture them doesn't mean we can't keep an eye on them," Lu said. Ciel and Ara nodded in agreement.

        "I don't like this, but if it will keep Elsword safe, then we should go for it," Aisha said. The mage was failing at hiding her concern for Elsword. Elesis still seemed indecisive.

        "I've got a timer for that bomb. I could start it any time I want to," (y/n) said to put more pressure on Elesis' decision.

        The team nodded to give their consent and so Elesis agreed. "I'll accept your terms," Elesis said.

        "Great! Now all I have to do is take that silly thing off of him. Would you mind?" (y/n) said. She was turning back to her normal non-cold self. Elesis looked at Elsword as he looked to her for an answer. She nodded so he went back to (y/n) with Add watching the El Search Party's every move. Elsword stood still as (y/n) lit her hand in nanite charges. She moved swiftly, swiping the nanite devise with such precision that it didn't leave behind any blood. Of course, Elsword's nervous system didn't react to the sudden removal very well but he was otherwise fine.

        The boy immediately passed out but (y/n) caught him. Add didn't want (y/n) anywhere near the El Search Party at the moment so he carried Elsword back over to Elesis himself while she stared him down the whole time. Her hand was placed firmly on her sword which she seemed very tempted to use. "He should wake up in a few days. Just make sure you keep your end of the deal and he'll stay alive," Add said as Elesis took Elsword from him.

        Elesis gave him no response. "Let's go everyone," she said instead. The El Search Party vanished back to Altera while Add and (y/n) watched. Add was now thinking of what he'd do now that the El Search Party wouldn't be a threat for two years, but his thoughts were interrupted by (y/n)'s sudden yelp. Add quickly turned around to find (y/n) being attacked by missiles. They weren't from the El Search Party's cannon user. No, they were from a source much more surprising.

        The missiles had caught (y/n) off guard and she was barely able to clear them before they hit the ground where she once was and exploded. Add quickly went to her, helping her get back up.

        "Why'd I have to lose my dynamas," she muttered as Add picked her up and got them clear of the still present flames and still launching missiles.

        The attacks suddenly stopped at the command of a man's voice. "That's enough for now!" the voice said. While the smoke cleared, Add saw the thing responsible for attacking them. It was a very large nasod and on its shoulder stood a man that Add was still able to recognize. "Nice seeing you again Add. I see you have another friend. When do you plan on betraying her huh? Or is she someone you planned on keeping around," the man said with an evil grin.

        Add put (y/n) down and stood protectively in front of her. "Damn you," he growled. Add hadn't seen this coming. Perhaps he was so focused on the El Search Party killing (y/n) that he'd ignored his real enemy for far too long.

        "Oh, I see. She must be another one of your partners in crime. We'll see how long she lasts," the man said. This man, the one enemy that Add had failed to keep track of, was none other than Add's former ally Wally.

        Wally was the person that Add wanted to keep (y/n) away from because it was him that Add had betrayed so long ago. In his defense, Wally was going to betray him first but that didn't change the fact that Wally had vowed to murder anyone that Add cared about. Add had not truly cared about anyone during the time, but now he had (y/n) and that was why she was his only true weakness.
____________________________________

Just when they got rid of the El Search Party. Well darn. So much conflict. Until next time you cool readers!