The Soul Labyrinth

(Last reply of the night for me)

Along the way back to Karat’s hallway and as soon as Hinata got outside, sounds of horses can be heard racing through the winds of the deserted place. In the faint distance, a chariot can be seen chasing down… someone.

[Continue heading back to the hallway]
[Go see what’s going on from a closer distance]

(Okay, good night!)
Hinata froze for a moment when she spotted the chariot. Crap. Hinata followed the pursuit with her eyes for a moment.
"Not him again," she murmured. Torn for a moment, she decided to see exactly was going on and started making her way over. If things got too heated, though, she would be out of there before anything could happen to her or the alchemist, because she really didn't want to fight right then.

Walking closer, it was quite clear who the Chariot Master was chasing; Jackal and Alan. They didn’t seem to be in too much trouble trying to dodge the barrage of swords that came their way though.

Hinata watched for a moment.
"It looks like they can handle themselves, right?" She asked.

Looking closer, Jackal was holding something in his hand; The Aquarius Inscription.
He turned left and right as he was running and spotted Hinata. He then summoned a small pumpkin, stored the inscription in it and threw it to Hinata while also mouthing Run, now.

Hinata caught the pumpkin and nodded, not hesitating as she turned and ran, praying that the Chariot Master hadn't spotted them.

The Chariot Master was way too distracted by Alan’s fatal form that he didn’t see what Jackal succeeded in doing.
The Alchemist looked at the inscription and turned to Hinata.
“All the twelve inscriptions… have been united?” He asked, genuinely surprised as he ran after her.

[Where are we running to?]
(The Celestial Hall)
(Karat’s Hallway)
(The Central Building)

"Yeah," she said, steering towards Karat's hallway, "Is it that weird?"

“Very, no one’s done it in my time and there’s only one other person before you who managed to do that and right now he’s a Viscount of the Labyrinth” he explained, following her every step.

"Oh wow," Hinata said.
"Still, I couldn't have done it without a lot of help."

“Huh… makes sense I guess” he commented. As they arrived in Karat’s hallway, the alchemist turned left and right.
“Weird… I don’t sense anyone here…”

"teleport. Asuramaru will guide you Alex just think of where you want to go" Loki spoke in a calm voice to her brother even if they were running down hallways

"Okay then, so I have no idea where my allies are now." She put her hands in her pockets, slightly concerned.

Alex nodded and started to think of… The Research Building where someone was in particular.

The alchemist closed his eyes for a bit. He then walked forward slightly before kneeling down and touching the floor. He then raised the finger to his nose…
“Gunpowder…”

Loki softly grabbed Alex's hand before they teleported and let her spirit be guided by his while they flew through time and space until they arrived where Alex had thought of then she looked up and saw the research building looming in front of them "Why here Alex?"

"That's not good," Hinata said, very concerned by now.
"That's really really not good."

“Because there’s someone here who can take us ho—“ as Alex opened the doors of the Laboratory inside the building, he’s to be met with Chris’ pinned body; no breathing, no movement, nothing.
“Alright… plan B…”

Out of presumably nowhere, the alchemist got shot by his shoulder.
“Hello again dear…” the gunner smiled from in front of Hinata as he shot the alchemist one more time on his other shoulder.

Hinata drew her sword, about to strike.
"I really don't like you," she said.

“What did I do wrong? I’m just trying to reset the Labyrinth, that’s all” the gunner replied casually as he raised his pistol at Hinata as he summoned his spear.
“You know, I hate to say this, but if you are truly the one worthy of calling the Ancient Warriors back into the Labyrinth, come and prove yourself” a smoke bomb fell out of the man’s sleeve and created an extremely thick layer of smoke around him and Hinata.

Hinata dropped her sword, add it took on human form. Tatsuo drew his sword as Hinata drew her second; together, they kept and eye on eachother's blind spots, wary of anything that would give away the gunner's location. Tatsuo himself had a bone to pick; he hadn't forgiven the gunner for what he had done.

Within the smoke, there was only silence. The gunner showed himself again having the pistol barrel right by the back of Hinata’s neck while having his energy spear straight through Tatsuo’s body, just momentarily paralyzing himself.
“Ever wondered why I was never chosen as a Knight here?” he asked calmly while having his finger on the trigger.

"Not really," Hinata said, tensing at the barrel pointed at her.

“A personality in which no one can work with or as better known as anti-socialism is one of those things that made me an invalid contestant decades ago…” he started calmly as the smoke around him still moved.
“…have you ever found it weird that the so called ‘Knights’ are very friendly towards visitors after sometime?” he asked, wanting her to answer honestly, the tapping of the trigger highlighted this point.

"Sometimes, yes," Hinata said, putting the thumb of her empty hand in her pocket.

“Why do you think they have to be friendly to be a ‘Knight’? Come on, I want your opinion…” he asked again, still stressing Hinata with the barrel while keeping an extremely close eye on Tatsuo.

"I figured cause it's easier to deal with people when you're friendly." Hinata, despite the 'relaxed' position she was in, was very much on edge, just waiting until she was shot.

“You know, you’re probably expecting me to shoot you by now or something… thing is, there’s no reason for me to do that anymore” he lowered his pistol and kept it in his coat. He was starting to take off his mask.

[Let him take off his mask]
[Attack him]

Hinata tightened her grip on her sword, but she didn't interfere with the gunner.
"Why's that?" She asked with a slightly strained voice.

When the gunner’s mask was completely off, his eyes showed angel halo symbols.
“Because somewhere else accepted me as their hired assassin” he explained with a soft smile rather than a sociopathic one Hinata would be familiar with. In ways, this man’s appearance mimics that of Cassius’ the only difference being what symbol was in their eyes.
“There’s no reason for me to be messing around with your lives anymor— well, until I’ve been given a mission that is”

"Good for you," Hinata said, actually meaning it. As long as he didn't have to try to kill her, she was perfectly fine with just not messing with this anymore. Tatsuo was still upset, but he would accept Hinata's decisions.