Valgius examined the area surrounding area too. "Okay... something's off here..." he muttered. Then, he heard a familiar screech. "Oh, no.... nononononono." Valgius said. However, a shadowy tentacle bursting from the floor brought Valgius' dismay into reality. "Damn... that's a Tentaceles!" he said. The creature lunged at him, but he pushed Sophie out of the way. However, he was sent flying back a few feet, tumbling to a stop.

Sophie turned to see Valgius being sent backwards.
"No! Leave him alone!" She yelled, picking her knife up from the floor. However, she froze when she felt a hand grab her by the shoulder.
"You're not going anywhere..." The dark figure growled into her ear. It hit her hand and she screamed in pain, dropping the knife.
"Valgius!" She screamed, before her mouth was covered by the figure.

Valgius got up, seeing Sophie being held. He shook his head, rushing in. He incinerated the Tentaceles with a well-aimed burst of flames, but the figure sent another old foe toward him... a Cla-Wing. The creature looked like a giant rat, except it had six legs, like an insect. It was all black, save for its yellow glowing eyes and white fangs. Sprouting from its back were two wings. The tips ended in claws. When the Cla-Wing flapped its wings in challenge, short-lived cuts in the air itself were seen. Valgius readied his blade. "I remember... this was the first Darkeling I ever encountered." Valgius muttered, as the creature shot at him, flying through the air at a great speed. Valgius ducked under the creature, shooting it with flames. The resilient Darkeling shot lightning out of its mouth at Valgius, who dodged. Valgius looked back briefly to see Sophie and the figure were gone. Valgius sighed, turning to face the Cla-Wing. "Damn... gonna have to find her..." he muttered, as the Cla-Wing rushed at him again.

Sophie struggled against the figure as he forced her into a dark room. He pushed her to the ground and she screamed. The figure raised his hand, which clearly had a blade in it. Sophie screamed at the sight and got up to run away.

Valgius panted, thrusting the blade into the Cla-Wing. The creature shrieked in pain and rage before disappearing. Valgius then looked around, examining the surrounding area. He saw no traces of where they two had gone. Valgius then made his way forward, fighting off Imps and Tentaceles as he went. When he entered a room with gusting winds, he saw something that signified he was in luck. Stuck in the wall was a green hexagonal stone with a tornado on it. Valgius managed to fight his way to the stone, and absorbed it into his body. He smiled, feeling the Wind swirl around him. What he didn't know was that the winds also blew Sophie's attacker into the wall.

Sophie leapt out of the way of the blade, crashing to the ground. The figure grabbed her and pulled her up, grabbing her by the neck. She struggled, unsuccessfully.
"You need to learn to keep still!" He growled at her, pushing her into a wall. She screamed as she hit it with full force. The figure pushed her arms upwards and she looked up to see him chaining her there.
"Be a good girl now, I'll be right back," He told her, leaving the room.

Valgius nodded, leaving the room. He made his way to a fork in the cave. He went right, but saw a giant boulder in his way. Shaking his head, he went back and took the left path. He had to use his Wind Focus to blow a few giant spiderwebs out of the way, but he made his way to a room that looked like it was falling apart. Valgius managed to tread carefully past the room. In the next room, he saw more Imps and Tentaceles, which were easily taken care of with a burst of Fire Focus enhanced with Wind Focus. Valgius nodded in satisfaction, seeing a bunch of leaves hiding a spot in the wall. Valgius blew the leaves away, and saw a brown hexagonal stone with a boulder on it. Valgius grinned, absorbing the stone into himself. He now had his Earth Focus back... just two more...

Sophie cried, trying to free herself. Blood poured from her wrist from the chains cutting deep into her skin as she struggled. She felt it drip onto her face, almost in tears now.

Valgius made his way quickly back to the fork in the path, using Wind Focus to leap over obstacles. Now that he had Earth Focus, he was able to merge the boulder into the wall. He only saw a white hexagonal stone with a burst on it. Valgius absorbed it, and then made his way back to the entrance. He saw that the struggle signs appeared to disappear into the wall. Valgius used his Earth Focus to reveal a hidden passageway. Valgius followed it, bursting into the room where Sophie was. "Sophie! Are you okay?" Valgius asked, approaching her. However, something made him stop he turned around, preparing himself...

"Oh she's fine. For now..." The figure appeared next to Sophie, holding her neck. He took a knife and shoved it into her side. She screamed in agony, tears falling down her face.
"Valgius..." She managed to choke out, barely able to breathe.
The figure let go of her neck and pulled the blood covered knife out of her, turning to Valgius.

Valgius shook in rage, thrusting his hand out, attempting to knock the man back with Wind Focus. Valgius then pulled the knife out. He gave her his hand. "Here. Bite." he said. "Don't worry about the pain I'll feel, bite as hard as you need to." Valgius said. His hand was covered in flames, and he cauterized Sophie's wound. Once he was done, he turned back to the figure. "Mister... you're dead meat." he said. Valgius used Earth Focus to shatter the chains. He nodded, turning to the man, flames covering his sword. "Now... who are you?" he asked.

The figure laughed at Valgius.
"You don't need to know," He muttered before picking Sophie up off the ground. "Now say goodbye to the girl," He said as he grabbed her by the neck. She choked, struggling against him. "Remember the Focus, Valgius? I have the Dark one!" He laughed. Sophie screamed in agony as a wave of his dark power shot through her, killing her almost. Her wrist burned during this and the symbol glowed orange. Her blood hit the symbol, forcing power out of it. The room lit up, flames sending the figure backwards, destroying the room completely.

The figure laughed at Valgius.
"You don't need to know," He muttered before picking Sophie up off the ground. "Now say goodbye to the girl," He said as he grabbed her by the neck. She choked, struggling against him. "Remember the Focus, Valgius? I have the Dark one!" He laughed. Sophie screamed in agony as a wave of his dark power shot through her, killing her almost. Her wrist burned during this and the symbol glowed orange. Her blood hit the symbol, forcing power out of it. The room lit up, flames sending the figure backwards, destroying the room completely.

Valgius covered himself with an Earth Shield. When he felt the heat disperse, he stared at the figure, not seeing Sophie anywhere. Valgius' hands flared, and white energy burst at the man. "You may have Dark Focus, but I have Light!" Valgius said. He advanced. "Now... were you sent here from Hetra? Or do you have any affiliation with Barracador?" he asked, blasting the man again with Light Focus.

The figure backed away.
"Damn you, Child of Destiny..." He muttered before disappearing into the shadows.

Sophie lay in the flames, barely breathing, barely alive, her eyes closed.

Valgius ran over, seeing flames still burning. He quickly extinguished them with some water. He shook his head. "Damn him..." Valgius said. He watched the figure disappear into shadows. Valgius then had an idea. He let Light Focus emanate from his entire body, revealing a shadow in the shape of the figure, who was now unable to move. "Now that you have no shadows to run to..." Valgius growled. "Answer my questions." he said. "Are you from Hetra, or have any affiliation with Barracador?" Valgius asked. He'd moved his sword, position it so it was pointed at the figure's head. If the figure tried to get out of the shadow, then he'd impale himself on Valgius' blade.

The figure simply stated, "No." Before teleporting away.

Sophie struggled to breathe, her wrist burning. She lay there, barely alive, dark energy consuming her.

Valgius turned around, and sent Light Energy at Sophie. The Light Focus cancelled out the Dark Focus. Valgius then moved in. "Are you alright?" he asked. He summoned some water, using it to soothe some of her burns. "Damn... I knew I should've come alone..." Valgius muttered. He saw her bracelet glowing. "Uh... what's that thing doing?" he asked, pointing at the bracelet. He honestly didn't expect an answer.

Sophie stirred slightly at the relief of the Dark energy. She breathed slightly easier, but still not quite right. Her wrist glowed brightly, burning her skin.

Valgius sighed, trying to remove the bracelet, but he was flung backwards. Immediately, the area was covered in the normal shadows as Valgius' Light Focus flared out due to him having lost concentration. Valgius managed to stop himself from blacking out, but was dazed and hardly able to move.