The three legacy fighters who introduced me to the rules of the arena when I first entered Valor City float before me now, unmoving while dark orange soul energy courses through their bodies. Maria points at them and speaks up. "Hey, it's them! We had dinner with them together that one night. The legacy fighters at the arena... They were underground the first time we ran from the 5th ranked Dark Guard! Is this where they were taken? What's... going on here...?" Abby, Monk, and Lith stare at the pod with surprised expressions as they are very familiar with these three individuals as well. My Soul Energy expands to start filling the room and trapping away more of the Soul Energy that lingers and pours out of the pods. I continue to step forward until I'm faced right up against the glass of the middle tank of liquid with Ace, the swordsman, floating with his eyes closed wearing the exact same gear as he did on the day of their capture. However, all of the magic power has been drained from them, and it seems as if it is just a plain metal sword by his side and clothing and armor with no enchantments at all. "They're alive... but not for long..." I can feel that their vitality is directly linked with the remaining Soul Energy in the room. I nod, allowing the red energy to creep up over the tops of the tanks and down into the water. "That's exactly my plan. I'll give them the same choice." The red energy fills the entire room now, devouring the surrounding orange energy that is inside the tubs now, creeping closer to the three bodies inside. I let a wave of telepathy hit the fighters while the dark red flames ignite underwater and surround their bodies entirely. The same statement that echoed throughout the heads of all of the Dark One's troops echoes through their minds. "Pledge your loyalty, or burn to ash." My Soul Energy seeps into their bodies and dense red flames fill the entire room as the highest amount of Soul Energy that needs to be dispersed is directly attacked. Everyone here attached to my link is unaffected by my flames. It takes a full 10 seconds for my fire to die down, and all of the water and glass from the tubs to shatter and disintegrate as well. Every drop of orange Soul Energy that infected these fighters' vitals, bones, and inner parts of their soul are burned away. I feel three brand new links of loyalty connect with me, and when the red Soul energy flames dissipate, the only thing left behind is the three fighters looking up at all of us in awe, like they just woke up from a long slumber. Max, the shield, makes eye contact with me and smiles with light lips before collapsing onto the ground. Sia, the earth user who now has had this power stripped away from her manages to let out a faint whisper. "It's you... The Flame Emperor..." Then collapses as well. Ace falls to one knee, keeping himself awake longer than any of the others. "You saved us. Whoever you people really are... We are indebted to you." If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. His eyes scan the room, recognizing Monk, Maria, and Abby after me, then bows his head. He falls forward and passes out onto the floor after this too and the room falls silent once again. I nod with a satisfied look on my face. Lith speaks up, staring at the sight before him in awe. "W-What worked? What did you just do? I definitely recognize those three..." "I need you to get some rooms ready. Whether that's in the Galeheart tower or in the Gold district of Valor City. I don't have enough infrastructure for this many new people back in Sector 2 just yet..." I think to myself while nodding, and Lith agrees to sort out the arrangements. As he says this, my focus is swayed quite a bit, but the faint pure white Qi reading that comes from down below us captures most of my attention. "Well- There's no use in ruining a good thing. Make sure that control box stays safe. We'll keep the midnight tax ongoing and continue blocking off areas of the city to monetary tiered restrictions. It may even be safer to bring this device into the GaleHeart Tower for more protection. Leaving it out in the open here could be risky." My gaze turns back to the enormous hole in the ground. Everyone else on my team senses there is something down in the darkness as well. Fisher and Lydia even peer over the edge. "I think I know exactly what is down there... We have one beneath the monastery, but it isn't nearly as massive." Everyone is mesmerized by the faint waves of Qi flowing up from the darkness and very curious about Monk and Ember's words. I jump into the small square hole and begin floating down, deep underground to see for myself what exactly is below this final tower.