Mythra snapped her fingers, and Malos and Ahkos' approach began to appear in frames, slowed down so Corryn could see each movement and it's predicted direction and follow-up action.

"I know you're hurting... so use this to your advantage." Mythra said with a cold stare.

Corryn paid it no mind, watching carefully at the holographic frames weave around, Malos attack from above, and Ahkos from his left, Sever switching to attack his right, and Obrona sneaking around his back.

"Got it?" Mythra asked. "Yeah." Corryn nodded.

With a sudden warp, Corryn flipped over Ahkos, slashing down at Sever's back, before flipping up and meeting Malos in the air, and clashing with him, spinning the two around and making him take a kick from Obrona.

Corryn slid away with the Aegis reeled back, impressing his friends.

"H... How did he dodge all that...?" Ahkos mumbled, still shocked that he persisted. "Who cares?! Just get them!" Malos yelled.

"Mythra." Corryn whispered, motioning to the sky. "Understood." She replied with a hum.

With another warp, a rain of light began to crash down on the colosseum. Obrona and Sever rose their ether shields, blocking the flurry of light.

Corryn swiftly ran through it, rushing at Ahkos and Obrona. Feinting a slash at the two, he flipped over them in a blur, before attacking the blind spot, slashing their backs and dashing past them.

"Agh! There's no way to break their link...! There's no way we're going to beat them!" Ahkos said with a wince, fearing the worst as Corryn's condition only seemed to get better.

"This is it... the true Power of the Aegis." Malos commented, watching as Corryn slowly treaded back to Mythra. "Takes me back. I've waited so long to see it again. Mythra! Welcome back!" Malos greeted with a smirk.

"Unfortunately, this is—"

Corryn paused, disappearing as he stabbed Sever in the chest, spinning around him and cleaving straight through him, making him return to his core crystal.

"Goodbye," Corryn said swinging his hand down from behind Ahkos, making Obrona crash down, so he could stab her chest as well, twisting the Aegis and tearing it out with a vengeful stare, making her also return to her core crystal.

Their weapons began to disappear, and Corryn paced back to Mythra's side,
making quick work of them with another speed increase.

"OBRONA!" Ahkos yelled in disbelief, starting to cry seeing his Blade rendered to it's natural state, a dark ore.

"We've gotta retreat! Ahkos!" Malos shouted, backing up with caution.

Ahkos slowly reached for Obrona's core crystal, but Malos slammed his fist down against the ground, making a pillar of ether erupt around them.

Left in their place after the pillar died down, was nothing... they fled, and seemingly with their Blades' cores.

Nia, Dromarch, Tora, and Poppi began walking towards Corryn, who was still lurched over in exhaustion, blood dripping all down his legs from the wound on his chest.

Corryn stared down at Vandham's corpse, his eyes slowly welling up with tears, that began to blend into the blood down his head, making for splatters of a pale red on the stone floor.

Letting out a shaky exhale, Corryn looked up, and nodded at the sky, turning away with a sniff.

Mythra suddenly switched back to Pyra, who fell unconscious immediately, falling to her knees, only for Nia to catch her.

Corryn's eyes only grew brighter, as the darkness around his eyes increased as he glared into space.

~•~

Corryn stood at the grave constructed exactly where Vandham fell, awhile after the burial and funeral, staring at the tombstone with a blank stare.

'I didn't know you long... but from what I do know... you didn't deserve this. I'm sorry.' Corryn said with a frown.

His clothes were clean, alongside the headband, and he began to brush them off.

"Rest easy... I'll get her there for sure." Corryn whispered, turning away to leave.

Corryn didn't move though, because behind him, Mythra was there waiting for him to finish.

"Why... Why the hell did you wake me up?" Mythra asked.

Corryn looked up at her in silence, not bothering to answer. She looked at him in disbelief, grabbing him by the collar.

"Answer me, you worthless bastard! I didn't want to wake back up! Use this power again! If you weren't so goddamn wea—"

"Who are you again...?" Corryn asked, starting to glare at her.

Mythra's eyes widened, before she punched him in the face. Corryn fell back, but caught himself with his powers so he didn't touch Vandham's grave.

"You disrespectful bitch. You didn't listen to a word anyone said. You really aren't fit for us..." Mythra said with a scoff.

Corryn landed carefully behind the grave, ignoring Mythra as he began to walk back to the capital.

"You think you're off the hook?" Mythra asked, grabbing his face and glaring at him.

"I don't know you. Get the hell off of me." Corryn said quietly. Mythra grew more and more angry, shoving him aside and balling her fists.

"Before you run away," Corryn began, making her glare with hatred. "Tell me... who am I really speaking to... who is my Blade?" Corryn asked.

"Mythra. And we both are. Deal with it, you prick." Mythra spat.

"Okay... can I tell you something?" He requested, still unnaturally calm.

Mythra crossed her arms, gesturing him go hurry up.

"Actually... never mind. I'll see you later." Corryn said with a fake smile, walking away and shaking his head.

Mythra grit her teeth and stomped after him, uninterested in what he had to say, but mad enough to keep after him.

Corryn was similar. He was uninterested in Mythra herself but was angry enough to find answers. He had already learned of her and Malos' origin as Aegises, but was unaware of why they truly existed.

Everything has its origin.

Corryn could care less about their past, though. He couldn't change it, so what did it matter. The only time you truly have is the present.

Corryn walked down the trail to the capital, feeling Mythra's glare on the back of his head.

"Can Pyra hear us?" Corryn suddenly asked. "Yeah, what's it to you?" Mythra asked back.

"...Nothing. Never mind." Corryn mumbled. "Quit doing that! The hell are you being so reserved for? I'm still your Blade." Mythra said speeding up to his side.

"So? I know virtually nothing about you. Why wouldn't I be reserved?" Corryn shrugged.

"So you here we destroyed continents and all of sudden you don't trust us?" Mythra said with a glare.

"You."

"Huh?"

"I don't trust you. I trust Pyra with my life. You haven't earned my trust nor respect." Corryn said with a glare back.

"Just who the hell do you think you are...?" Mythra whispered, unable to comprehend his attitude.

"Corryn. Driver of the Aegis. I'm taking you to Elysium. Nice to meet you." Corryn said with a subtle nod.

"Real funny..." Mythra said punching his shoulder.

•

"...Why are you in the guys' room?" Corryn asked, looking back at Mythra, who was leant against the door frame of the guys' bedroom.

"For you. We're gonna keep talking til we understand each other, you brat." Mythra said walking over. "What are you guys doing anyway?"

"Rin-Rin help Tora repair Poppi." Tora said with his goggles down.

"R... Rin-Rin?" Mythra asked with a snort.

"You can't call me that." Corryn said with a glare, connecting two wires with his psychic abilities. Poppi sudden elbowed him in the chin, making him groan and roll away.

"Rin-Rin!" Tora cried, Poppi only moving her eyes to glance at his pained face.

Mythra clamped her hands over her mouth as to not laugh, and Corryn took a deep breath.

Suddenly, Mythra was hit with a pillow, making her stagger backward.

"Who the—?!" Mythra was hit with another as soon as she lowered her hands, making her catch the next, and glare at Corryn who was calmly handing Tora a small wrench.

"You think you're slic—"

All the pillows in the room began to slam into her sides and face, making feathers fly.

Mythra threw up her ether shield, before grabbing a blocked pillow and throwing it at Corryn.

"Woah. What's the big idea?" Corryn said stopping it with a flick of his wrist.

"Pyra I'm losing my patience with hi—"

Pyra switched places, appearing with a nervous smile.

"Sorry about her. We won't disturb you. See me when you're done, Corryn!" Pyra said with a wave.

"Rin-Rin, can you connect next wires?" Tora asked. "Ugh... Yup." Corryn said knowing Poppi was bound to strike him in the face again.

~•~

Corryn flipped a two-pronged dagger in his hand, waving at Cole, or, rather known as Minoto, during his time in the Aegis War.

Corryn and friends were now on their way to Indol, searching for Cole's previous Driver in hopes of finding the way to the World Tree through this individual.

Corryn, being the unwavering soul he was, also learned about Flesh Eaters. Blades that had been infused with human cells, and given a few of their properties. This was often against their will.

Corryn and the group were back at Garfont, Vandham's previous village of occupancy.

"The quickest route seems to be back to Argentum, then take a ship to Mor Ardain, then... on to the Praetorium." Corryn explained.

"If we're lucky, there may be a guild ship at the port." Azurda butt in.

"Nice. It's free for salvagers, so I'll negotiate what I can to get you guys on." Corryn said with a nod. Everyone nodded as well, and a plan was in motion.

"Here we go..." Corryn mumbled.

~•~

Corryn once again, was back at the Argentum Trade Guild, ignoring the cheers and praise from passerby. Most were gawking at his friends, and the Blades around him.

Corryn meant business after Vandham's sacrifice. His eyes were far more calculative than before, constantly on high alert.

"Someone's quite the celebrity..." Nia commented, watching as Corryn kept walking without breaking stride.

"Rin-Rin has not been cheerful like normal lately." Tora sighed. "He looks depression." Poppi said with a frown.

"Don't worry about me. You can go ahead to the inn. I'll find a ship." Corryn exclaimed, quickening his pace to a speed-walk.

Mythra matched his pace, not giving up on earning his trust and respect.

Everyone else shook their heads at the two.

"I hope he'll return to his usual self." Dromarch sighed. "Eh. I'd give it a day or two. A good night's rest should do the trick." Nia replied with a nod.

"Estimated time of recovery... one week." Poppi stated, a finger in the air. "Physical Recovery." She added.

"Oh, yeah. He carries himself so well I forgot he hasn't been properly tended to." Nia said with worry.

~•~

After a day's rest, and a flight across the Cloud Sea, the simple trek to Mor Ardain was finished, and handled without issue.

The Empire of steel, with pipes and buildings of metal littered over the land, made for a strange sight.

Walking through the streets of the massive terrain, Dromarch and Corryn suddenly glanced back, feeling a presence, only to spot nothing.

The two looked at each other, but kept walking.

"The imperial capital..." Pyra said in awe.

"Such a big city! Maybe there places selling rare junk parts for upgrading Poppi!" Tora hoped. "Masterpon, Poppi would rather use new parts if possible..." Poppi stated.

"Is that you there, Tora?!" A Nopon asked from behind the group.

They all looked back and saw a light blue Nopon in a lab coat and spectacles.