[center][abbr=Ace Cadet][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190924/544c85ab5c75bc61a4bb5ce40dc0caa6.png[/img][/abbr]
[color=salmon]Word Count: 1210 (+2 exp)[/color]
[color=salmon][u]Level[/u]: [b]9[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 358/90
[sub][i]Wednesday Morning.[/i][/sub]
[b]Location:[/b] the Frozen Highlands[/color][/center]
The Ace Cadet had been content to walk alongside the massive metal stagecoach, but after returning with the newly captured Pals and helping Edward make some decent rigging for them to attach to the vehicle, that wouldn't be possible without being left behind. He hopped onto the carriage as it really got going thanks to the Reindrix, hanging around the back where he could look out over the path they tread. Snow flew underfoot, kicked up by the wheels as they moved.

Speaking of the possibility of being left behind, there were still those that had chosen to investigate that mill in more depth out there. They could just follow the path and eventually reunite with the bulk of the Seekers whenever they needed to stop the coach and rest, but the forest combined with the cloud cover meant it was still relatively dark out. Not to mention they were putting more distance between them now by moving faster. In the interest of making sure the missing members found their way, Ace let loose a few scoutflies to act as small, glowing trail markers as the coach proceeded ahead. 

When they cleared the thickest part of the forest, Ace shifted to look out of the carriage's windows as it snaked towards what looked like a small city. As they got closer it was clear whatever structure awaited them wasn't a city, exactly, but a complex of some sort. The function of the abandoned facility eventually became apparent as well, especially when disfigured, cadaver-like animals advanced upon the party. Even down a few members their fire power was enough to wipe out the creatures, though if they'd be traveling through the old zoo there were sure to be more of them. So, when the entourage was stopped by massive iron doors that Roxas' keyblade couldn't unlock (suggesting it was stuck rather than locked) and Sandalphon proposed culling the population of the carcasses, the Cadet tapped the flat of his sword on his shoulder and said, [color=salmon]"you don't have to tell me twice, boss."[/color]

While a few stayed to guard the coach and their supplies, the Cadet was one of those that split up to take a look around. The Hall of Adventure was large enough that the explorers could spread out and have whole wings to themselves, especially since the area wasn't as crowded with monsters as one might have thought... or maybe Ace was just comparing it to the Qliphoth's interior, where they'd been swarmed by all sorts of nasty things. Regardless, the hunter's wandering generally brought him towards upper floors, and he made sure to put down any carcasses he crossed paths with. He'd seen solitary ones so far, but eventually he came upon a small group - a couple of humanoids and a half-plucked raven with wicked hooks in place of feet. 

[color=salmon]"Hmm,"[/color] Ace hummed to himself, considering something. His sword and shield was still in fine shape and ready to tear into any monsters, that wasn't an issue. He glanced down at his hip where the amulet Edward had made for him was tied to the colorful fabric that wrapped around his waist. He was alone up here, facing enemies that he wasn't at all concerned with (even if they weren't as easily dispatched due to their nature, on the flip side Ace doubted they could easily get through his vambraces and other armored points, plus his ever-helpful rigging protected his middle), so it might be a good time to actually try it out when there wouldn't be any distractions, or friendly-magic-fire, or anything else of that sort.

[i]Might as well, right...?[/i] he thought to himself, only a little nervous at the prospect. He took a steadying breath, gathered the amulet and slipped the cord around his neck, then approached the carcasses. Right away they turned on him and shambled forward to lunge. They were easily repelled with his shield, though he didn't knock them away just yet. When the raven swooped in Ace willed the wyvern in the amulet to life. The apparition appeared and grew larger, circling the immediate area once and rushing through all three monsters before darting back into the necklace it'd come from. Even though he'd expected it, Ace couldn't help but stumbled backwards a little as the ghostly bone-wyvern returned to him and he felt its stolen empowerment wash through his body. The carcasses too stumbled with their new weakness applied, though were not as quick to recover as the hunter. He easily cut through one of the pair and felt a dull pulse in his chest as he did. That concerned him for a moment until he realized it probably wasn't something the monsters were doing to him, rather the feel of the Cast that he'd gained weeks ago and had tried to forget about. 

He ducked the bird as it made a second pass, swiping his blade up to catch it and send it crashing to the ground. The remaining carcass clawed at him, though the weakening had definitely taken affect and left it doing little if any damage to the Cadet. Ace pressed his attack in order to make quick work of the monsters, and once they were ashed he stopped to let out a heavy breath he hadn't even known he was holding.

[color=salmon]"Okay... everything's Ya-cool..."[/color] he said to himself, looking himself and his equipment over as if he would find some kind of physical change. The buff wore off by itself after a moment, and the hunter smiled a little. That hadn't been bad. He could work with it. Ace stowed his weapon and continued on.

Of course not being connected to Sandalphon's network meant he missed her call out. Ace ambled around the now empty higher levels of the hall, peeking into wings and rooms but not searching them in depth. If something stood out to him he'd take a look, but mostly all he saw were shadows, broken furniture, and other junk. He wasn't really looking for forgotten treasures left behind by whoever built this place anyway, he was mainly looking for any way outside. Unsurprisingly there weren't any large enough for some of the bigger Seekers to get through, let alone the coach. Maybe their only option really was to break through... though tearing through the walls around the iron gate would probably prove faster and easier than the gate itself. 

He turned back only when the semi-distant sound of combat reached his ears, loud enough that it couldn't have been just the small carcasses that they'd encountered so far. It turned out though that whatever monster had been making the ruckus on the bottom floor had been dealt with by the time Ace got back, and with Blazermate just returning herself from zipping out of the windows to clear up some sort of fungal growths that had held the gate closed, the hunter was just in time to put his strength to use in pushing the metal doors open so the group could continue on. 

And from there it didn't look like they were out of the zoo just yet. There were more cages to be found scattered around, and flare ups from some distant fire, and a long walk still to go.