Dante's team found themselves somehow separated in the maze of the Paris Underground - aka the catacombs.

It should have been easy enough: find the tomb of Pluto's head priest and retrieve the amulet for Demonic, Legendary Titan of Shadows.

Perhaps the Organization and the Blood Spiral were gone, but there were still evil seekers out there that would just love to get their hands on Demonic, which is why Dante's team was tasked with retrieving the amulet and bringing it to a Foundation safe house.

Everything had run smoothly as they entered the tunnels and mapped them out, heading for an area blocked by a powerful magic barrier.

It started getting weird when they turned a corner and came face to face with a cloaked figure…

"Hello, Dante Vale. We've been expecting you."

"Who are you?" Dante demanded, stepping between his team and the figure.

"Me? My name doesn't matter. I am just here to warn you."

"Warn us?" Dante said. "Warn us against what?"

"Against entering the Grand Priest's tomb." The cloaked figure said. "Demonic may not appear dangerous, but it is extremely so."

"We know what we're up against." Dante said.

"Do you?"

And the figure was gone - gone like smoke in the wind.

More than a little unsettled, the team carried on until they reached the edge of the magical barrier, where they found yet another warning inscribed into the floor.

It read:

He whom enters should fear, for the sons and daughters of evil make home here. He whom enters beware, for the demon he meets be the wizard's heir.

The team had exchanged looks, but did not falter to continue onwards with their mission.

Just when they were beginning to think that maybe the warnings were just to scare people away, the whole mission crashed down in less than one minute.

The ground around trembled, and the walls of bones shifted, forming…

"Titans!" Dante shouted, hand going to Caliban's amulet. "Come out and play, Caliban!"

"Fight for your lady, Kilthane!"

"Take them down, Ironsquire!"

"Join us, Sabriel!"

"Even the odds, Vigilante!"

Bones scattered with each swipe of a sword, but the enemy titans kept reforming…

Dante and Zhalia fought back to back - as did Caliban and Kilthane.

Lok was knocked back by one bone-titan. He hit the wall and slid the the floor, cringing as Ironsquire was hit only second after and returned to his amulet.

Caliban went down. Zhalia was flung from her feet. Sabriel flew back to Sophie's palm. Den was pinned, Vigilante's shaking arms the only thing holding the opposing titan from digging its teeth into his face.

"Touchram!" Dante shouted, knocking the titan off of Den.

The bone-titans were only multiplying, and not a one would be defeated.

Dante took in the state of his overwhelmed team in less than a second. "Run!"

It wasn't an easy order to follow.

Kilthane defended his lady best he could as she sprinted after Dante, but he was outnumbered.

Lok found himself running side by side with Sophie, farther into the magical barrier, and farther away from the bone-titans.

Speaking of which, why weren't the bone-titans following them?

Lok skidded to a halt and watched as Sophie ran on. Dante and Zhalia had been ahead of them. Sophie was next to him. Where was… Den!

"Den!" Lok ran back, jerking an amulet from his pouch as he went. "Fight with me, Lindorm!"

In the next moment the beast was spinning next to him, back into the room, where the bone-titans were swarming something on the ground. Something screaming.

"Lindorm, save Den!" Lok cried.

With a grunt the grey beast spun through the mass of bones, flinging skulls and ribcages.

"Bladecall!" Lok slashed his way to his friend, pulling Den's arm over his shoulders and dragging him out of the room as fast as he could.

"Lindorm!" Lok cried over his shoulder. "Don't let them follow!"

The larger titan barked in agreement and spun, guarding the exit to the room.

Sophie and the others were nowhere in sight. Lok kept moving, draggin half-conscious Den along with him, until he felt like he was about to collapse himself.

Glancing back, the entrance to the room of bone-titans was not in sight. The tunnels had twisted and turned too many times for that to be possible.

Lok might have been prompted to take a rest, expect for the fact that Lindorm had returned to his amulet four minutes prior, and Lok didn't know if the bone-titans would follow him this far or not.

He kept moving - until he came to an intersection with six hallways to choose from. Without a holotome, there was no telling which way the other had gone.

If they had even all gone the same way…

Lok lowered Den to lean against the wall and sat next to him, gripping the Willblade and watching the tunnel they had come from, waiting for the bone-titans to come through it.

None came.

"Maybe…" Den coughed. "Maybe they can't leave that section of the catacombs?"

Lok looked to his friend, who was slumped, eyes half open, bruises already blooming on the exposed skin of his face neck and arms.

"Oh, Den, you don't look so good!" Lok said.

"You… you think?" Den laughed weakly, then coughed some more. "They'll… come back for us… right?"

"Yeah." Lok looked up at the different tunnels looming around. "Yeah, they'll come back for us. Should be here any minute now."

But they weren't. Not after two and a half hours.

Den had nodded off, his head lolling on Lok's shoulder.

Lok was getting worried about him - he couldn't see any blood, but the bruises were starting to swirl with color, and he kept making whining sounds in his sleep.

Lok took his cantene off from around his shoulder and gently shook his friend awake.

"Are-are they here?" Den murmured.

"No, not yet." Lok sighed. "They'll be here soon though. Drink some water."

"I'm not thirsty." Den said.

"Please?"

Den slowly took the water and trickled a few droplets into his mouth. "My head hurts." He decided.

"Can you show me where?" Lok asked.

Den lifted his arm to gingerly brush the hair on the very back of his head.

Lok looked the area over, and could tell there was swelling, but still no blood. "Can you use Everfight?"

"I…" Den leaned his head back on Lok's shoulder. "I can't… I'm… sorry…"

"Don't be sorry." Lok bit his lip. "It's not your fault. Don't worry - Dante and the others will find us soon enough."

"You should have listened."

Lok's head jerked up, and he saw the cloaked figure standing in the center of the intersection, looking down at them.

"You!" He cried. "Who are you?"

"You should have turned back." The figure continued. "This place is not safe."

"If you're so concerned for our safety why didn't you tell us about the bone-titans?"

"The secrets of this tomb are not mine to tell." The figure said. "Only mine to keep safe. I have done this for hundreds of years - do you think yourself so special as to break those centuries of my succession?"

Lok looked to Den, who hadn't opened his eyes despite the (rather loud on Lok's end) conversation.

"Look," Lok said. "I don't know you who you are, but my friend is hurt. Bad. If you're so eager to help us than could you tell our friends to come here for us?"

"Eager to help?" The figure's head tilted. "I suppose I am, in a way. I will do as you ask, but on one condition."

Lok chanced another look at the colors spreading on Den's pale skin. "Anything."

"When your friends arrive, you will all leave." The figure said. "And you will not disturb the tomb again."

"What about the bone-titans?"

"They will not hinder your exit." The figure assured. "Their enchantment is merciful - they will only attack those whom are trying to enter. So… if I bring you your friends, you will leave?"

Lok knew they had to come back. To finish the mission.

We can deal with that later. He decided. Den needs help. And besides, this tomb seems well enough protected. No one should be able to break before we can come back…

"We will." Lok said. "Please, just get our friends."

The figure nodded, and vanished in a blink.