《Regalia Mechanica: A New World》


 Part 1 - Prologue

    When Novus Sturne thought back to it, only a sigh would emerge from his mouth, as a cascade of clear, ever-vicious memories came back to haunt him.


    Gone were the days of old that he did live to the fullest. It was a peaceful tranquil life of modernity, where the world of man, while not perfect, had reached an all-new level of peace and harmony, as the progressive advancements made in science allowed this era to develop further into ever-increasing heights. Mankind had conquered almost every corner of its planet, holding an unchallenged dominion as they prepared to reach for the stars, to colonize other worlds and fill them with their own life, as well as to discover more of the endless knowledge that lied within the vast, nigh-infinite echoes of space.


    However, like all good things, this one would eventually meet its end... a rather untimely, and truly undeserved one at that.


    A series of portals, gateways to other worlds and dimensions long thought ago to be impossible, had left their mark upon the earth''s skies, allowing an untold amount of both unseen and unknown forces to seep into the cracks that had been made on reality, as the monsters from the other worlds quickly drew their plans; with each and every one of their schemes made to beset us and oust humanity from its very throne.


    There were armies of them; scores upon scores of tall, sharp-eared, humanoid creatures known simply as elves, commanded by their draconic overlords known as the dragons: massive, winged, reptilian monstrosities that breathed fire and death wherever they went. In truth, however, the true essence of the power of these invaders laid in one, singular aspect.


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    ''Magic'', or so did these otherworldly forces call the eldritch power they tapped into with every plight they made. Even the weakest of its abominable users were capable of defying all forms of logic to their unjust advantage, allowing their forces to wreak havoc throughout their entire invasion.


    However... mankind was not weak, to say the least.


    Humanity fought with the help of its own fair share of weapons. Beasts of steel and weapons of war and destruction so great that they tore both the heavens and the earth asunder. For an untold amount of years did the rivers of the earth bathe in the blood and the ash of the fallen, as both sides did everything in their power to annihilate the existence of the other once and for all.


    And ultimately, the indomitable human spirit would prove triumphant against the horrid magic of the otherworldly forces.


    However, their victory did not come without a cost; in fact, the cost of victory had been too, very steep. Mankind had grown to deeply fear the unknown, and the war had led to countless archives of knowledges both old and new to be lost forever, which slowly caused humanity to regress back into an age of barbarism and uncivilized times; what was once an enlightened collective of knowledge seeking people, had now slowly devolved into bloodlusted savages who knew not of even the simplest inner workings of a light bulb. Not only that, but humanity would eventually lean towards the use of the very same thing that had been used by its sworn enemies who deeply sought out their destruction; mankind had begun to utilize magic for their everyday lives, which only led to their ever-regressing state to move at an even quicker pace.


    In spite of this, in a both unfortunate and fortunate turn of events, Novus Sturne, a high-ranking officer of the Global Front Initiative, the foundation that humanity had built to combat the invaders, had died long before he could see the gradual curse that would befall upon his own race.


    Fortunately though, fate had other plans for such a poor individual, who had been dragged into a conflict he never truly desired to be in, in the first place...

 Part 1 - Chapter 1

    The sands were filled to the brim with countless fallen foes and allies, as the wreckages of destroyed military vehicles and the corpses of fallen lesser dragons littered the battlefield like swirling masses of filth that were scattered throughout the shores.


    And within the vast space of the skirmish''s location, whose endless skies were littered and smoke and ash was the confrontation of the 2 leaders of both sides, who had, by pure coincidence, managed to discover each other in battle, instantly choosing to duel with each other to the death as their men tore each other apart in their ferocious, yet short-lived conflict.


    "You''ve lost, human... There is no hope for your foolish race. Accept your death with grace, and I shall make it as painless as possible."


    It had been a trap all along; what was originally supposed to be a rapid push into the expanses of europe that''d been taken over by the invaders had failed so utterly.


    F-2 Sector, codenamed Khaenriah, a massive portal that resided within the island nation of Britannia; one of the last major gateways that remained opened in this world, as the others had already been sealed away through advanced containment procedures made by the combined efforts of the Global Front Initiative. It was supposed to be a breeze walk for at least a couple of days, since they''d assumed that their enemies would already have been busied by the other, countless fronts that had been opened against their other abominable gateways to this world. Despite their ferocious magic, humanity was still able to fend off, and even drive away the invaders from their lands due to its tremendous determination.


    The operation was simple: it was to conduct a series of amphibious landings upon the conquered lands of Britain, to land quick assaults upon the enemies already stationed there in order to deal with the massive gateway that was residing there. However, before they could''ve even landed their troops upon the infested shores of Britannia''s beaches, their enemies had somehow already been made aware of their plans. The elves knew of their every move; even from the slightest of strategic positions to the most convoluted of battlefield deployments, it was as if they could see the future with the help of that magic that they had been all too proud of.


    "Don''t be so conceited, you damn elf..." Novus Sturne, the battalion commander of the 41st GFR battalion spoke as he coughed up some blood, his voice modulated by the now crack-ridden, hole-peppered jet-black exo-suit that once fully protected his fragile human body from harm. "You''re not going to be walking away unscathed from this either, seeing how you''re nearly just as gravely injured as I am..."


    The elf''s eyes widened in surprise, baffled at how the human before him was managing to remain as arrogant as ever with his tone of voice. Despite this, he had already come to respect the mighty, worthy foe he had just faced; the human had indeed managed to inflict grievous injuries upon him after all, as he even managed to tear off his left arm and right eye. Unbeknownst to the battalion commander however, was that the elf also possessed a sort of warrior''s honour not typically found amongst his kin, and because of this, he simply laughed lightly at Novus'' remark, amazed by how bold he was being despite his defeat.


    "... Well, you indeed aren''t wrong with that, human." he said as the pointed edge of his radiant, blue sword remained fixated towards the defeated battalion commander. "... Although, I must admit... you were one of the strongest enemies I have ever faced within the countless sh?tri I''ve lived through... however..."


    "... however, what?" Novus asked, his interest clearly peaked by what his foe had just stated.


    "... Even if your assault had succeeded... my defeat in this battle will not have an effect on this terrible war of ours. Soon enough, the mightiest of our dragons will come descending from the great portal our mages have cast upon this blighted land..." the otherworlder stated bluntly. "And it is safe to say that none of your hapless, magickless weapons will work this time."


    And it was then that the commander began laughing madly, coughing up more blood with each madness-induced cackle, which only served to confuse the proud, victorious warrior elf; for what mad reason would cause such a man to even laugh in such a miserable position?


    "You''re wrong with many things, elf... One of them in particular, and it''s going to cost you a hell of a lot today..."


    The elf''s eyes narrowed in suspicion. "... What do you mean by this, human?"


    A mad smile emerged from his battered face full of scars of wounds, a sardonic grin that would instill fear into even the most stoic of individuals.


    "You should have killed me before you went yapping about, dumbass."


    Despite the fact that the only clues of what was about to happen next were too vague and few in number, a honed, seasoned instinct had paved the way for a more reasonable action that he quickly made. He gritted his teeth in frustration, as he moved his blade through the air, desperately aiming for the unguarded neck of the disaster that was about to erupt.


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    "Y-you lunatic!" the elf cursed as the blade swiftly struck to deal a slice. "You would kill yourself just so you can claim victory against me?!"


    "Of course I will..." in a single moment''s notice, the battered commander had managed to evade the attack by moving his head just slightly from the sword''s pathway. "Your fault for talking too much, you stupid elf... Anyway..."


    "Let''s meet in hell after this, shall we?"


    A series of red, blinking lights emerged from the exo-suit of the defeated battalion commander, as he had quickly activated the self-destruct measures of his armor to take down his foe and what few enemy soldiers remained beside him with his death.


    KABOOOMM!


    A bright, expansion of blue light and vaporizing heat instantly engulfed them both, erasing nearly every trace of their existence and leaving only ash and soot to remain in their place.


    ________________________________________


    It didn''t take long for death to quickly engulf the senses of what was already supposed to be a dead man: a bone-chilling coldness surrounded his consciousness, and an infinite void of darkness mercilessly shrouded his weary eyes. Though it would have horrified any sort of normal, sane man, a man hardened by years of bloodshed and war such as Novus easily weathered through what was supposed to be a nightmare.


    "... Is this... is this supposed to be hell?"


    Surprisingly however, despite the extremities that the void possessed, qualities which would have proved to be inhospitable to human life, Novus didn''t even feel a single ounce of pain from neither the sheer cold nor the deafening silence. However, despite the unnatural serenity, the cold, dark silence slowly turned into something more akin to a form of torture.


    Several minutes would pass since he had arrived at this place after his supposed death, and yet there was a feeling of both dread and anxiety as he stared into the void that housed him. Was this truly the final destination of his life after countless hardships? A cold void that left him with nothing else to do but to wait until the end of existence itself?


    Well, this was probably what he deserved anyway. Novus, while he had never laid his hands upon the lives of the innocent, he could easily tell that he was already more sinful than most due to the dark life he had led before.


    "... You won''t die... now is not the time... nor ever..."


    A faint, soothing, ethereal voice whispered into his ears, temporarily dispelling the dreadful silence of the void. Novus found himself in awe at the beautiful splendor of its tone, although... there was also the wonder of where the voice came from as it traveled through his line of thought as well.


    "... Let me guess... Satan? Or some other fucked up demon? Y''know, I was expecting something worse. This is kind of disappointing-"


    "... I am not the being you call ''Satan'', nor am I any other form of demonic creature." it retorted, seemingly rather slightly annoyed with his remark.


    "Then, pray tell, just who are you exactly? And why are you even talking to me in the first place?"


    And the voice responded once more, this time rather meekly. "... My identity does not matter. Your rebirth is what is truly relevant here. Close your eyes, and accept the new life that awaits you..."


    This instead confused Novus, and with furrowed eyebrows, he asked the voice once more. "Wait, what exactly do you mean by this? Close your eyes? New life? What the hell are you talking about?"


    "... I apologize if you don''t understand... just please wait for a moment..."


    A few seconds then passed, as Novus waited for what the voice was ultimately referring to. Suddenly, a series of white, flashing lights met his sensitive eyes, as they engulfed his entire body in lightning-quick speeds.


    "There now ... This time... please live your life to the fullest..." for one last time did the voice utter telepathically. "... I cannot explain much as of now, since now is not the time for you to know... may you find it in your heart to forgive me once more..."


    "H-huh?! What is even happening right now?!" Novus shouted, his confusion spiraling out of control as things continued to go in ways he wouldn''t have thought to be possible. "Would you mind explaining this to me, you damn ghost?! Hey?! Hey! He-"


    The radiant lights had fully engulfed him by this point, and almost instantly, they all faded into nothingness. Novus would no longer belong to the cold, dark domain of the void, but rather... he would be brought into a different plane of existence whose possibility he never would have initially expected...


    "We''ll meet again someday, and it will definitely be at a time you won''t expect..." the voice last whispered, before it slowly faded into nothingness. "... My dear beloved..."


    ________________________________________


    "... That bastard... it didn''t even bother to explain anything..."


    Novus could feel the prickling touch of the grass poking nearly every corner of his skin, as his body slowly came back to its once numbed senses and gradually returned to their proper functions.


    As he slowly got up from his resting position on the ground, Novus then quickly looked around to see where he was. Gone, it was, of course, the void that once surrounded him had completely disappeared, and had instead been replaced with a vast forest full of snow, trees and grass, with a small, seemingly unmoving body of water with large patches of frozen ice just beside the place where he woke up from.


    "... Where the hell even am I?"


    His eyes darted around to see where exactly he was, though of course, it would ultimately prove to be useless. For some reason he couldn''t know nor explain yet, he had been brought to a completely different location that he wasn''t even aware of. Just what had happened back in the void he was summoned to after his death in his previous life? And what and who even was that voice that spoke to him in the first place?


    "Damn it... why does it hurt so much..."


    Blood... wounds... pain... even the cold... his body was full of it, as the slight, searing pain all throughout his body, as well as the small cuts on his hands have all served as quick evidences to his current status. Although, as he looked at his bruised and battered hands, he could definitely notice that there was something different...


    "... Wait..." he muttered to himself, confused as he noticed how smaller than usual his 2, torn-up hands were: they were more comparable to those of a child''s than that of an aged adult''s. "... Could it be..."


    He could vaguely remember that the voice had previously mentioned something about a new life, as well as his second chance: naturally, his mind immediately rushed to form a hypothetical guess based on everything that had just happened to him right now, and as he gradually came to his final answer, he made one simple action to verify it all.


    He rushed to the still, partially frozen river to look at his own reflection like he was to look at a sort of mirror of himself, and as he laid his eyes upon what was supposed to be his mirage, an immediate shock engulfed his mind, as it took a while for his body to eventually express the emotions it wanted to show as he discovered the mysterious thing that had just transpired before him.


    In bizarre turn of events, he had found himself in a young, youthful body that didn''t look like him, nor did it even belong to him in the first place.


    ... Although, he had to admit that this new body of his had some pretty impressive and handsome looks despite being just that of a young man''s- the body he was in right now had impressive emerald-iris eyes, unruly hair of a beautiful red shade, as well as an unnaturally impressive look despite the dust and snow that had enveloped his face.


    Just what the hell had truly happened to him? He thought to himself silently, as he tried to think of ways to cope up with the bizarre situation he was currently in.


    Well, at least he did get a second chance in life, though of course, it came in a way that he definitely didn''t expect.

 Part 1 - Chapter 2

    Novus was not the only one who was currently within the woods; a bit further from his location were orange lights that lit up the darkness as they moved together in unison.


    Within the woods where Novus woke up from, there were other figures swarming and moving throughout the diverse collection of frosted plant life, lighting up the darkness with their torches as their eyes scanned every corner, seemingly searching for something important that they wished to find.


    Their search, however, would quickly be interrupted by something that roamed all too commonly within the frozen forests.


    "ROAARR!"


    In front of the searching knights was a gigantic bear of monstrous proportions: its blood red hide was thicker than even the toughest leather, and its claws were as sharp as the most honed blades.


    The fell creature quickly rushed in to attack the group, as it swiped its monstrously sharp claws against the nearest warrior. Before the blow could land however, the knight within its vicinity managed to quickly avoid the attack with a perfect combination of excellent footwork and frightening agility, and instead, the bear''s attack had landed upon one of the nearby trees, quickly destroying its bark and shattering it into pieces.


    "We have no time to waste on this worthless animal... cut it down already..."


    One of the knights then rapidly charged towards the bear in lightning-quick speeds, as he then swerved his sword in a singular, yet powerful downwards motion. Almost instantly, the monstrous bear''s body had been cleanly split in half, as the 2 dead parts of its corpses fell lifelessly onto the ground and covered the snow with the now-deceased creature''s blood.


    "Keep searching!" one of the armored men shouted, the unique insignia on his armor clearly signifying his leadership amongst the knight-like figures. "We have to capture that brat before the sun rises! We cannot afford to let him escape!"


    In truth, these soldiers were men of the Neugomian Empire, the greatest nation in the continent of Xathra. Such an empire contained the greatest armies within the continent, and the vast amount of territories they have laid claim to, as well as the impressive military might they often boasted, would easily prove their superiority.


    There was only one reason why they were in such a dense, unpopulated place in the first place; these men were sent to kill a member of royalty, under orders from their cruel master, a lord who was also simultaneously one of the poor child''s own flesh and blood: the 1st Prince, Triston Neugomia, a power hungry despot who also, sadly, was the next-in-line to the empire''s throne.


    "He won''t make it that far anyway, captain." one of the men snickered, as they continued to prowl about searching for their prey. "Not with that magickless body of his, he won''t."


    The knight captain retorted back, displeased with his subordinate''s foolish assumption. "Don''t be so quick to assume things, you fool." he replied. "Brats can cover long distances when they cower and flee, make sure that you all check every single nook and cranny of this damned, frozen woods."


    And so did they continue to search, checking even the most absurd and impossible places where the boy could have hid himself; of course, they wouldn''t be able to find him just yet. The freezing weather did they continue to endure, their bodies warmed and heated by the insulation provided by their armor and leather, as well as the fires that lit up their torches. It would be a while before they would finally manage to find even traces of the runaway.


    Eventually, however, they would indeed find traces of the target they had long sought after for so long.


    "Captain, we''ve found something..." one of the men came rushing as he spoke in a rush. "footprints, traces... blood trails... we''ll be able to find the boy quickly at this rate."


    A small, nearly sadistic grin emerged from the captain''s face, which could only be slightly concealed by the helmet equipped onto his head. "... Excellent... call the others at once, let''s see just where exactly this trail leads to..."


    ________________________________________


    Novus had been searching around the snow-ridden forest for a while, and yet he still hadn''t managed to find other people. Gradually, however, a light, though repetitive pain had suddenly appeared and began plaguing his fragile head, which would eventually get worse over time.


    His head would eventually hurt so much; a dangerous, nerve-wracking pain had seized his forehead, as memories and experiences not belonging to him began showering his mind in an endess train of unwanted thoughts.


    The boy... or at least, the original owner of this body, whose soul had long been gone and had been replaced with that of Novus'', was the 3rd prince of a nation known as the Neugomian Empire, the mightiest empire and nation within the lands of the Xathran continent; how such a royal prince of an esteemed country ended up in such a situation was completely bizarre and tragic, however.


    Unlike his 3 other siblings, the 3rd prince had been born as a sickly, frail being with not even a single ounce of mana in his body; magic was the essence of life in the continent of Xathra, and those with high magic affinity were considered to be the highest forms of life, while those who had not even a single ounce of magic were automatically considered as outcasts. Eventually, when the 3rd Prince had reached the 13th year of his miserable life, his own father, the 32nd emperor, Titus von Neugomia, had sent him in exile to the empire''s faraway lands, making sure that Novus'' pathetic self would never be seen again.


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    Although, of course, the poor child''s tragedies would not simply just end with that.


    In the middle of his journey to the borderlands he was exiled and banished to, the knights who had been handling his transportation had eventually decided to turn on him; in truth, they were secretly the 1st Prince''s lackeys charged with getting rid of the 3rd Prince in order to ensure their master''s uncontested right to the throne. On the 3rd day and at dawn of night, the horses stopped and the carriage came to a grinding halt, their entire convoy surrounded with the endless, snow-enveloped forests which would serve as the perfect cover for their treasonous crime.


    However, as they opened the door to the prince''s carriage, the young child immediately bolted outside and made an escape; the clever boy had quickly managed to figure out the malign intentions of his supposed vassals, though he didn''t completely manage to escape unscathed, as he got wounded by the rough housing of the knights who tried to prevent his escape.


    This would all eventually lead to the situation Novus was in right now; although, he wasn''t still exactly sure as to how he was transported to the prince''s body, as the memories that came after the boy''s escape were too, incredibly foggy for him to surmise. Perhaps the prince succumbed to his injuries, allowing him to be easily transported into the body? Or maybe, his soul had been forcefully taken out in order for his body to serve as Novus'' vessel? Regardless of what truly happened however, even Novus couldn''t help but feel pity for the original owner of this rather pitiful body, as he slightly regretted the fact that his second chance costed the life of a poor, innocent boy in the process.


    "There he is! After him!"


    To his far left he saw multiple men clad in steel, carrying radiant torches whose wooden bodies'' flickered with the life of orange flames. Novus, who had, by now, fully recognized what their true intentions were, immediately tried to run towards the opposite direction and flee from his wicked pursuers.


    "Don''t let him get away!" one of the knights shouted in anger as the shuffling of several knightly boots and the rustling of bushes could be heard even from far away. "Capture the bastard! Don''t let him run any further!"


    And so did it quickly become a desperate chase, as Novus limped and ran from the people who wanted to get rid of him. While the trees and shrubs proved to be troublesome obstacles for his escape, they had fortunately also equally impeded the chase of his pursuers.


    Eventually however, his luck would run out, as he soon tripped on one of the tree roots and stumbled onto the ground, allowing the knights to finally seize and take hold of him in order to finish their dastardly work.


    Once more, Novus quickly found himself in another, equally deadly, and utterly horrible situation.


    ________________________________________


    "Bring him here!"


    In a rather sadistic fashion, the knights had chosen not to kill him quickly by usual methods such as slitting his throat; instead, they had dragged him towards one of the nearby cliffs, where there was nothing but stone and death that awaited those poor souls who would fall into its cataclysmic depths.


    Novus couldn''t even resist at this point: as soon as he had been captured, he had been brutally beaten up and pummeled mercilessly with their fists, breaking some of his bones and leaving numbing bruises on his body. Even though they''d simply been tasked with assasinating the young 3rd prince, the knights had taken their time to torture the poor boy as painfully as they could afford.


    He would have definitely been able to kill all of them in his old body. At the very least, he would at least have managed to injure some of them had this pitiful body not been seriously injured already. Unfortunately, the worst case scenario had happened to him, and there was nothing he could do to stop it anymore.


    "Now then, before we kill you..." from the ranks of the vicious men emerged their leader, the knight captain, who spoke with a tone that was obviously quite mocking. "... Do you know why we want to kill you, your highness?"


    Novus could only say a few words, as his mind was gradually coming to terms with the cruel fate that had been bestowed upon him once more. "... No... why?" he answered back, his voice hoarse and battered due to the beating he suffered from earlier.


    "Because you''re a pathetic disgrace to the imperial family, a magickless, worthless bastard who deserves to die in the worst ways possible." his voice was drowning in hate and scorn as he spoke. "... And most importantly, your highness..."


    "You''re a thorn to our lord''s side... for as much as we loathe you, you are still a member of the royal family." he continued as he then violently seized him by the hair. "And for the sin of being a magickless royal... you must die..."


    "But first... my final parting gift... your highness..."


    the knight captain drew his sword and swiftly made a downward stroke. Blood then splattered all about, as Novus'' left arm came clean off, leaving the poor third prince cursed with an even greater physical pain that made him grunt and shout in anguish.


    "There we go..." the knight captain said as he chuckled in sadistic glee, amused at the brutality he had just unleashed. "Now throw him off the cliff..."


    "... Fuck you..." in a last moment to defy his tormentors, Novus spat the blood and saliva collecting up within his mouth upon the knight captain''s armored helmet, much to his extreme anger, and it didn''t take long for the arrogant warrior to lose his composure.


    "You magickless bastard!" he cursed, as he delivered a powerful slap to his face, sending him hurtling towards the ground once more. "Take him away! Throw him into the depths this instant!"


    The men then violently seized him by the shoulders, dragging him towards the final destination he was fated to fall in. The prince kicked and screamed and shouted in an attempt to resist his fate, which would only be met with swift kicks from the knights, as his destiny was once more forever sealed.


    "Farewell then, your highness..." the knight captain uttered with a hint of sadistic joy in his tone. "May nobody ever see your miserable face again..."


    Novus was then quickly thrown of the cliff, as his body made a rapid descent towards the deepest depths it could reach. Slowly, the darkness of the cold night engulfed him, as a large and powerful force knocked him out cold as soon as he landed upon the jagged stones beneath.


    ________________________________________


    How bothersome, the creature thought to itself as it soared through the moon-lit night skies. A blinding, intense nuisance of a magic beacon had brought her to this corner of her domain, and as she finally found the source of it, a sense of disgust began to fill her heart.


    Another group of those magic-bound interlopers had tresspassed into its domain. As a monster who was content with its complete solace, having company, much less unwelcome, noisy ones, had become more than enough to rouse its fury.


    "... well then, captain, I guess it''s done now, eh? All we have to do now is to go back to the first prince and report of our-..." one of the knights, who had been conversing quite eagerly with his captain after they had just comitted their grisly deed, spoke rather enthusiastically before something caught his attention... which of course then quickly turned his expression into that of horror. "... Shit... w-what the hell is that..."


    "Hm? What do you mean, Arle? Is there something behind-"


    A bright, blue torrent of beaming heat and energy then struck the cliff they were on. Instantaneously, every single one of he knights were erased to the bone, as not even the stone cliff they stood on top of would survive the sudden energy outburst. Satisfied with their destruction, the proud creature then huffed to itself triumphantly, amused by the destruction it had managed to unleash.


    Although, as the fell creature continued to dwell in it''s recent victory, something interesting would quickly catch its attention.


    "... Hm? What''s this? So I was right to have killed those pathetic Neugomians in the first place..."


    With its sharp, watchful eyes, the creature saw a lone, bloodied, half-dead figure lying down on the depths of the now-erased cliffs, and it could easily tell that the cause of its pitiful tragedy had been those knights she had just annihilated. From what she could tell, the human that fell into those deep depths was a rather young one... a human child who had probably not even reached the ripe young age of 14.


    "... How pitiful... Perhaps... Hmmm... Should I?"


    The creature then began pondering to itself in silence; it was actually considering whether it should help the poor, dying child, or to leave it be and to let it die. While it didn''t want to associate itself with the arrogant, ignorant humans of the present era, there was a sense of wrongness that dwelled within its heart whenever it considered simply abandoning the poor thing that had clearly been thrown off the cliff.


    Ultimately though, its compassion and pity would win against its desire to remain alone and isolated within its cold domain. The creature may be a monster, but it wasn''t an individual who ultimately lacked compassion.


    And so, it began descending from the altitudes it was flying in.


    "Fine then... I''ll go there right away..."

 Part 1 - Chapter 3

    Both gravity and the earth were merciless upon the poor boy- his body came hurtling down into the deepest depths of the cavern, until its momentum was finally stopped by a greater, harsher force.


    THUD!


    His fall onto the stone surface beneath had been rather harsh; bones all throughout his body had shattered instantly, as his body had simultaneously become permanently paralyzed and rendered completely immobile, as he couldn''t even twitch a single portion of his fingers. Not only that, but his breathing became laboured and increasingly difficult, as the mind-numbing pain all throughout his body tortured his nerves without a single respite.


    Despite all of these grievous injuries however, for some reason, Novus was still alive and breathing... although, he wasn''t exactly sure if he was going to survive the dreadful predicament he had been caught in once more.


    "... Shit... is this it..." he thought to himself, as he lied down on the stone surface, completely helpless to the elements. "... This... can''t be the end of my... second chance..."


    There was also the issue of the unsuppressed bleeding from his missing left arm; if it wasn''t tended to immediately, which he unfortunately won''t be able to due to his paralysis, he would eventually bleed out and die, taking away the second life that had been given to him. Not only that, but he will most likely go back to that cold, dark void he was supposed to be in after his first death, and there was no way to guarantee if that voice he met was willing to grant him a third chance.


    "... Please... someone... help me... I''ll do anything..."


    Novus was practically begging to be saved at this point, as he had already been rendered completely helpless. Even if it meant swallowing his pride and becoming the slave of some higher being, he would do anything to preserve the second chance that the voice from the void had given him.


    His life flashed before his eyes, as the helplessness he had been quickly reduced to made him feel more pathetic than ever. His life and death as a soldier, and his quick, short-lived life within the body of this pitiful third prince; each and every single one of his experiences from these lives passed by like a camera film in his eyes. If only he could turn back time to fix his mistakes...


    "... Please... someone..."


    Several moments had already passed, and the ground beneath him was already completely soiled with his own blood. If he wasn''t going to die from asphyxiation due to his troubled breathing, he was definitely going to perish from the rapid blood loss he was suffering from. His hope was, by now, slowly fading, as he gingerly closed his eyes and prepared to meet the embrace of the cold eternity of the dark void once more.


    "... My, after burning those Neugomian scum alive, I never would have expected this to happen... what''s a cute, pathetic child like you doing here, all bruised and bloodied?"


    It was then he heard a voice speaking to him directly. At first Novus thought that it was a mad illusion conjured from his nausea due to the blood loss, but as he looked up to find the source of the voice, he quickly discovered that there was indeed a person talking to him... and it was a rather strange individual indeed.


    "... What... burned?... who are you?"


    The voice chuckled lightly as it spoke. "... Well, dear, if you want to see what I''m referring to, simply look up." it said as it made a gesture by pointing the tip of its index finger upwards.


    When Novus looked up, he saw smoke billowing from the cliff he was thrown off from: the cliff had been erased mercilessly, what remained was a circular hole, with most of its structure completely vaporized by some powerful force, as not even a single fragment of what remained had fallen on top of him; how he couldn''t hear such a thing transpire right above his broken body was probably due to his injuries. As he continued to look upwards, the injured prince could also see pillars of black smog rising into the sky, as the color orange bathed the broken cliff in a sea of blazing fire.


    "... W-what... who the hell are you..." his mouth ran agape, still shocked by what he had just seen.


    "... What a pitiful child... did those foolish knights of Neugomia throw you here? They even sliced off one your arms... how truly pitiful..."


    The source of the voice was a rather tall woman with unique features: she had long purple hair and intense, orange eyes, and her face looked like she had been a mother, and an incredibly beautiful one at that. She spoke with a deep, clearly dominant, yet gentle tone of voice, as her entire body was clad in a metal that was perfectly tuned to the shape and tone of her body, like one of those exoskeletons that Novus used to wear when he was a soldier; the only difference was that the armor of the woman resembled that of a dragon that had taken human form.


    "... P-please... whoever you are... help me... I beg of you..."


    "Certainly! However..." she responded, as a cold, calculating grin emerged from her lips. "... Let''s make a deal, child... I shall help you, right here and now, and in return... I shall ask something of you in the future... something rather... demanding..."


    "... Knowing this, are you still willing to accept my offer?"


    There was no way that Novus was going to refuse such an offer. If there was a way to at least save what remained of him and to ensure that he lived, he would gladly take that chance without any hesitation.


    "... I-I accept... So please... please save me..."


    A look of triumph emerged from the mysterious woman''s face. "... Do not worry, little one, I shall help you... a young one like you doesn''t deserve such a cruel fate in the first place, after all..."


    The woman then knelt and got closer to Novus'' battered body, as she placed her right hand on his bruised chest. Her eyes then began glowing with an intense, orange radiance, as she then suddenly spoke once more.


    [... Heal thyself...]


    It was as if time was being rewound- like a complete miracle, the blood scattered throughout the ground began to disappear. Simultaneously, the brutal, supposedly incurable injuries he had sustained were slowly being erased from existence, as his body was gradually being restored to its former glory with just a few short words that she had uttered.


    And of course, it didn''t take long for Novus'' body to completely recover to a refined state, as if he had never even been injured in the first place.


    Novus had quickly become completely shocked at what had just happened, as the confusion began flooding his brain with thoughts both wanted and unwanted.


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    Though of course, he had to thank this woman for what she had done- he didn''t want to displease her in anyway after all of this.


    "... T-thank you... t-thank you so much... I-"


    The lady suddenly moved her armor covered index finger close to his mouth. "Shh... Shh... you must first rest, child..." she spoke with a soft, gentle tone that seemingly soothed his ears, as her eyes began glowing with an orange radiance once more. "Now... rest, and close your eyes, there is no need to worry..."


    [Sleep.]


    With the words she uttered using her strange power, an extreme fatigue then quickly seized his mind, and Novus instantly found himself unable to prevent himself from closing his eyes. As he fell asleep and lost consciousness, the woman quickly moved towards him as she gently scooped up his body before it could make another dangerous thud upon the ground.


    For now, Novus had been spared of a great and terrible tragedy, though his miracle came from a strange savior whose true intentions will still remain unknown to Novus... At least for now...


    ________________________________________


    "... Where am I..."


    That was all the young prince uttered as his first words after his quick recovery, as he opened his eyes to find a dark ceiling that met his vision. Along with the fact that he noticed that his clothes have been changed into that of new, clean ones, Novus would find himself resting within the comforts of a warm and comfortable bed, within a dark room whose interiors were lit only by a dim candlelight, as well as the pale glow of the moon that shone through the singular window whose curtains remained unshut.


    Odd, the young prince thought. The room was rather well-kept, though at the same time, one could easily tell that it hadn''t been used for a while. He noticed a small mirror attached to one of the walls, and, with his curiosity peaked and roused, he stood up and walked towards its general direction, eager to look at how well he had been saved by that mysterious saviour of his.


    "... Woah... ..." he gasped weakly, while his left hand moved upwards to caress the perfectly restored features of what was once his shattered face. "... That lady really did heal me... amazing..."


    There was no way that this was possible at all. There was only one reason how this could have happened in the first place, as it was practically impossible for someone to just heal the injuries of a person who was supposed to die; magic, the same accursed thing he had fought against in his previous life. That damn cancerous force, for as much as Novus hated it, it was most likely the only reason why he had managed to keep his second chance safe and intact.


    At first, he had wanted to go outside and explore more, however, this desire was quickly shot down as he soon discovered that the door that led to the outside part of his room was locked shut: instead he then moved around to explore the other corners of his small, yet comfortable chamber.


    It was a rather plain one, he surmised, as the small space contained everything of what you would expect from the sleeping quarters of a typical person. What interested him the most, however, was the outside world that laid just beyond the glass window of his room.


    "... It''s so dark outside..."


    His room was seemingly positioned upon an elevated area, based on what he could examine from the depth of his point of view from the window, as well as the distance of the trees from his sight: in fact, it was so high up, that he wouldn''t be able to escape through here if something terrible were to arrive at this room. Of course, there was also the issue of the heavy snow just outside the glass pane of his window: Novus could also notice that it was teeming with an incredible amount of snowfall outside, and combined with the complete, cover of darkness that came with the current time of midnight, the young prince couldn''t tell just what else laid beyond the large patches of woods situated outside his room.


    ".. Ah, you''re finally awake, child..."


    The door that was once locked shut had made faint, creaking sounds, as its hinges gave way and allowed it wooden frame to open. Simultaneously, the strange woman who had saved the prince had come inside the room, her sharp, observant eyes fixated upon the prince with their orange radiance.


    Strangely, though, the woman was no longer wearing the peculiar armor she wore previously; she was instead wearing a simple, yet elegant white dress that she wore with an impressive, nonchalant elegance.


    Novus quickly wasted no time and faced towards her as he began bowing: the woman, as he could already tell based on the terror he sought just moments ago, was an incredibly powerful monster he must not displease.


    "... T-thankyou for saving me... I am very-"


    "... Ahahaha... no need to be so uptight, dear... calm down..." the woman said with a gentle tone, as she moved closer and gave him a pat on the head. "Come with me to the dining room... let''s feed that hungry, weary stomach of yours now, shall we?"


    ________________________________________


    The prince was then led into a rather large room, with a single, yet long wooden table arranged with neatly fashioned chairs that would have been enough to support an entire banquet.


    "Sit here, dear." the woman gestured to one of the nearby chairs, as she clapped her hands twice all of a sudden.


    Almost immediately after Novus sat on his designated chair, a massive, metallic humanoid of impressive features came into the room pushing a large food trolley, where on top of it laid a collection of various, seemingly delicious food stuffs on top of it. As the construct soon came close to Novus'' chair, it then lifted the food tray on its trolley and placed it on the table with a careful sense of precision found in only the most devoted of hospitality managers.


    "Ahaha... Impressive, is it not child? A walking, pile of steel capable of making actions like a normal individual can?" she stated rather proudly, as she placed her hand on the metallic skin of the tall construct. "In your lands... hmm... a walking, non-sapient, inorganic moving ''thing''... I think they call it-"


    "Androids..." he uttered unconsciously: a slip of the tongue which Novus regretted quite instantly.


    Almost immediately, the woman''s eyes narrowed out of an emotion that Novus couldn''t tell, as her warm gentle smile returned soon afterwards. "... Well, not quite, dear... it''s supposed to be ''golems'', but..." she then drew her chair closer, as she then gave his hair a gentle scruff using her hands, with her grin noticeably getting slightly wider. "... but, it''s quite impressive for you to know of such a word... you must like to read a lot, don''t you, dear?"


    Novus felt relieved, as he thought, for a moment, that he had irritated the strange woman.


    "... W-well... a bit..."


    "That''s good! Very good! Children who always read become quite smart after all..." she praised eagerly, her interest in him only growing even further. "... Ah, by the way... I would like to ask you a question..."


    A faint nervousness was then roused within the prince''s heart. "... Y-yes... what do you want to ask?"


    "... Well, based on the insignias on your old, tattered clothes... you were a child of humans within your... upper hierarchies, correct?" her face moved slightly towards his, which only served to make the prince slightly more anxious. "... Simply put, you''re either a child of some noble family, or... you''re a child of royalty... am I correct with this assumption?"


    He couldn''t lie: lying would only put his life in danger at this point. "... Y-yes... you''re correct..." he answered, still contemplating a bit whether he should really tell the truth, though ultimately, his mind would force him to. "I-I am the 3rd prince of... Neugomia... Roland Primus von Neugomia..."


    Her hand moved to her chin for a moment. "... Roland... Roland... Ah! That Roland!" she giggled as she became lost in thought for a while before she spoke. "... while I''ve never seen your face until now... from what I''ve heard, you''re the magickless child that the scummy old emperor tried to hide from the public... the weak little runt who can''t even compare to his talented siblings, and so when the royal family couldn''t hide your presence from the people anymore, the emperor would scorn your existence everyday and make you a laughingstock for all the people to abuse... how pitiful..."


    Novus was quickly shocked: it seemed that this woman knew much more than what he initially thought she would. "... H-how do you know..." the prince spoke while his mouth ran agape. "... And... please don''t be so mean with your words..."


    The woman smiled again, though this time, she spoke with a teasing, yet gentle voice. "I know many things, dear! I''m quite knowledgeable about many things, you know... and besides..." she spoke once more, as she then began to lightly caress his cheek in a somewhat motherly fashion. "... I don''t mind at all that you''re completely magickless... In fact, I really, really hate magic! As in, I fully despise it with a passion!"


    "... Y-you hate magic?" he asked, a spark of curiosity showing clearly within his voice: how could she have come to hate magic, even when she had just used it on him to cure his injuries?


    "... Well... let''s just say that I had some... certain terrible ''incidents'' with it in the past..." for a while, her face darkened as her once gentle tone became serious, although she would eventually return to her caring persona once more. "... Anyway, dear, before you eat your food, I have one last question for you..."


    Before Novus could speak to respond, the woman wasted no time to quickly proceed with her next and last inquiry.


    "... The reason why you were... down that cliff... they threw you there, didn''t they?" her voice had become even more gentle, with a sense of sympathy now mixed into its soothing tone. "An unwanted child who they wanted to get rid of... though it''s incredibly... disappointing how they chose to get rid of you so brutally..."


    "..." Novus didn''t cry at all; this wasn''t his body in the first place. Despite this, he couldn''t help but feel a bit of sympathy for this body''s old user, a pitiful child who''d lived such a poor, miserable life which he didn''t deserve: In fact, Novus could even relate with some of his experiences, due to the similarly pitiful childhood he lived.


    "... You have nowhere else to go, don''t you? If you leave this castle of mine, you''ll be all alone, even more pathetic than before.. and you''ll probably die from the severe cold outside; after all, the snow here rarely ever ends..." she said, as she then pulled the young prince into a warm embrace, surprising Novus quite a lot. "... How about this, child... Let''s make another deal, shall we?"


    "D-deal?" Novus asked curiously.


    "Yes dear... I''ll let you stay here for as long and as much as you want! I''ll even take care of you in a lovely way that your pathetic parents never could... In return..."


    "... In return..." she stated bluntly, as a gentle grin formed on her beautiful lips. "... I only desire for you to be my child from now on, plain and simple! You may not be my true, biological son, but from now on, I will treat you as such... well, that is, if you choose to accept..."


    Her eyes then sharply fixed themselves towards his with a warm look. "So, dear, do you accept my offer? I-it''s alright if you don''t want to, I''ll give you time to think about it, so-"


    Without hesitation, the young prince had quickly made his decision.


    "I accept."


    "... Splendid then!" quickly, she pulled the prince into her warm embrace once more as she spoke. "From now on, you shall be my child, my own, very special child, and I shall take care of you dearly starting today... Ah! By the way, I haven''t told you my name yet, haven''t I... my child~?"


    Novus quickly nodded repetitively, as a faint series of giggles came from her mouth.


    "... My name... my name is Anastasia..." the motherly woman continued to hug him with the lovely embrace of her soft body. "... Don''t you ever forget the name of your new, beloved mother... alright?"

 Part 1 - Chapter 4

    The dawn of night seemed to be peaceful as of late: the moon shined upon the capital city of the Neugomian Empire with its dim radiance, as the people busied themselves with either their nightly chores, or a well earned rest after a long day''s worth of work.


    In the mansion of one of the empire''s most esteemed individuals however, several figures had chosen to still remain awake, as they continued to plan upon the heinously devious schemes that they had long been concocting.


    In a vast hallway that stretched for meters across, a man in refined clothes that clearly belonged to that of nobility, kept patiently waiting for the approval he had long waited for as he tapped his foot on the floor repeatedly.


    Eventually, however, the man''s patience would finally be rewarded with the arrival of one of the guards sent to verify his entry.


    "You may come in." in a rushed, yet formal walk did an armored soldier approach him, as his movements then gradually came to a halt as he gave a salute. "The 1st Prince has allowed you to enter."


    Quickly, the man wasted no time as he walked hastily to his master''s work quarters: after all, the nature of the information he had to disclose to him was of great importance, and there was absolutely no time to waste about this.


    As soon as he opened the thick wooden doors that led into the office, a massive room of wooden furnitures and bookshelves met his gaze, as well as the prince who busied himself with the piles of paperwork that stood toweringly above his desk.


    The prince had quickly taken notice of his arrival, as he then wasted no time to speak despite the incredible amount of work he was already busy with. "... Ah, Remuz, you''ve arrived earlier than expected... I presume that my worthless brother has already been dealt with?"


    Remuz quickly bowed down and knelt on the floor. "Indeed, your highness: I''ve detected magickal signals from the beacon I gave them. The 3rd prince''s death is most definitely assured."


    "Excellent, my friend, well done..." Tristan spoke as he smiled. "... And of the knights we sent to get rid of him?"


    Remuz''s face darkened for a moment, as the tone of his voice remained as serious as ever. "Their death is equally assured, your highness, the beacon is sure to attract the dragon residing in that area: None of them will survive."


    "Ah, perfection; no loose ends in sight..." Tristan then rose from his chair, giving a pat on Remuz''s shoulder as he walked towards the window to stare at the city outside his quarters. "Now we only have 2 other bastards to get rid of..."


    Their plan had been incredibly well thought out from the very beginning: the knights who had been sent out to kill the 3rd prince had been given magickal beacons, and according to the instructions they were given, the beacons were supposedly made as a means to establish a proper, secretive line of communication with the prince in order to ensure the operation''s success. What they didn''t know however was that the beacons they were given weren''t actually meant as a way of communication, as they never even were meant for such a thing in the first place because the nature of their work would have rarely allowed such opportunities; rather, the true purpose of the magickal devices that''d been entrusted to them was meant to attract the dragon that resided near the trail where the 3rd prince was supposed to be killed, which would thus leave only both the 1st prince and his loyal lackey as the only individuals who were aware of the grisly assassination that had been made.


    However, despite the cold, unflinching obedience that Remuz had always displayed towards his master, he still felt a pang of... perhaps guilt for having to get rid of the knights that they sent.


    "... If I may, your highness... may I ask a question?" Remuz would then pose a question, to satisfy an important query formed from his sudden curiousity.


    "You may, of course. What is it, Remuz?"


    "... Is there a reason as to why we had to get rid of those knights? Couldn''t we have just used them more for other tasks instead?"


    The prince gave off a dark smile as he would then reply in a snark tone of voice.


    "I have many more pawns under my command, Remuz, no need to fret so much about such small losses... and also..." he then went on to explain. "... Those knights were untrustworthy, we have no leverage over them. What''s to say that they won''t just inform the others of the task we gave to them? It''s better to have no loose ends when it comes to these sorts of matters after all..."


    "Although, I do have to wonder..." the prince continued, as he slowly walked towards Remuz, who had remained kneeling all the while, even after the prince had finally finished with his explanation . "... These sorts of things usually don''t bother you... have you perhaps gotten too soft already?"


    A light sense of dread began surfacing within his heart: there was no way he could afford to look weak in front of the 1st prince. After all, this man was cunning and as cold as the indomitable ice formations of the north: he would quickly get thrown away or stabbed in the back if Remuz did not afford to be incredibly careful around him.


    "... No, your highness. I initially thought that it was a waste of resources and manpower. Now that you''ve explained it, I can at least somewhat understand..."


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    For a moment, the prince looked surprised with what he had said, and would choose to remain silent for a while. A few seconds later, he would then suddenly chuckle rather loudly: he had ultimately found Remuz''s words to be an incredibly amusing form of brief entertainment.


    "... Hahaha, no need to be so uptight around me, my friend. I was simply messing with you!" Prince Tristan spoke with a rather boisterous tone as he would then pat his subordinate''s shoulder once more with an ample force. "For now, I allow you to rest for the next coming days... we have a big plan coming on along after all..."


    The eyebrows of the confused Remuz then slowly furrowed. "... What may this plan be then, your highness?"


    "Simple really: my worthless youngest brother was simply a test on the waters: a demonstration, if I may add." the prince spoke as he raised his index finger. "As I said before... we''re going to be getting rid of my 2 other siblings as well in order to... remove competition."


    How ambitious, Remuz thought to himself. While the plan they had just conducted had succeeded, there was no surefire way to determine if they could succeed against the 1st prince''s other remaining siblings as well. Even so, however, this was the reason why Remuz had chosen to swear loyalty to such an insane man of royalty: he was ambitious and brave, but he also had both the intelligence and power to back up his insanity as well.


    "Interesting, your highness..." Remuz responded, still remaining in his kneeling position all the while. "Regardless, I shall continue to be your humble servant and assist you with your goals. From this point on, please feel free to continue using me as you see fit..."


    "... I thank you for your loyalty, Remuz... Ah, I have a question for you as well by the way..."


    "Hm? What may your question be then, your highness?"


    Unexpectedly, the prince''s expression would suddenly grow a bit darker than usual. "... How is my assassin faring beneath the depths? Has she finally chosen to speak properly yet?"


    "... Ah, I presume you want to see her then? Sadly, she has still not told us anything despite the incredible torment we''ve already put her in..." Remuz would reply, as he would then quickly stand up and gesture for Prince Tristan to follow him. "... Please follow me then, your highness, I shall bring you to her cell at once."


    ________________________________________


    It was a pitiful being that resided within that darkened cell: her right eye and left arm had been taken away by her torturers, as the other wounds she had already suffered from were still continuing to torment her already physically battered body. The chains that bound her sole remaining arm and 2 feet held her firmly in place, denying her any means of escape from both her endless imprisonment and her everyday torment.


    How many days had it been since her capture? From what she could tell, it had already been several months... perhaps even longer than that.


    Within a dungeon cell where not even a single ray of light could reach and shine in was once an infamous, blonde-haired warrior of the east, whose defeat had only come due to a devastating betrayal that came from her own side.


    Once, she had proudly bore the name she had been bestowed to her by her clan, the Zhao Clan of the East: Altair, a name given to a child who could achieve a great many things through its wondrous potential, in which case, she truly did. Through her unparalleled skills and leadership did she lead a thousand-strong contingent of men against the armies of the Neugomian Empire that had set out to invade their lands, efficiently fighting and starting controlled and tactical skirmishes and ambushes against their superior enemy to the point where they had managed to grind their enemies into a stalemate. Now however, an unforeseen backstabbing from who was once her closest of comrades had led her to a failed assassination of the invasion force''s commander: the 1st Prince Triston himself. Because of her failure, she would eventually be captured and brought to the tragedy she was in today.


    If only she could die... Alas, her tormentors had been effective at keeping her alive- they used a combination of various drugs and magick spells to keep her agonized and alive for as long as possible... It was truly such a horrific fate...


    "... Ah, here she is... Leave us for now Remus, it''s not like she can do anything to me in the state she''s already in..."


    Finally, after what seemed to be days, the iron door that led into Altair''s cell would finally open, as 2 men who were conversing with each other walked into her room. In truth, however, their identities were all too familiar with the once-famed assassin: after all, nobody would ever be able to forget the faces of those who tormented them everyday with a brutality that equaled the peak of what the creativeness of the human mind could conjure.


    "... Are you certain of this, your highness?" Remus, the prince''s most loyal subordinate would ask, his voice visibly full of concern. "If she attempts anything, I won''t be able to respond as quickly as possible... are you sure that you are fine with being alone with her?"


    "Yes, yes, I''m fine with this." the prince answered nonchalantly, as he would then gesture to him to go away. "Now please leave... I''m about to have some ''fun'' with her..."


    Remus would simply bow as he turned around and began to walk towards the iron door. "... At once then, your highness..."


    THUD!


    The door would then slam shut as Remus quickly made his leave, leaving the 1st prince alone with the woman who had attempted to assassinate her. He walked slowly towards her bound body, as he then grabbed her chin in a forceful manner and stared right into her fatigued, yet beautiful, blue eye with a cold, yet mocking gaze.


    "... Do you know why you ended up like this, my poor, one-eyed assassin?"


    Altair would take a while to respond, as she had still remained a bit disoriented from her lack of sleep due to her bound position. "... Please... kill me already..."


    "Hahaha... now''s not the time for you to die, dear." the prince would laugh, as he then gave her left cheek a series of light taps with his right hand. "... And also, the betrayal made against you... it''s rather tragic, isn''t it?"


    Altair would remain silent upon the prince''s remark, as he would then continue on to speak.


    "A prestigious warrior of your people, and yet because of the power hungry gluttons that they were, they casually tossed you aside like you were nothing." each word he spoke of contained a heavy hint of mockery. "... sent on a mission to assassinate me by your own clan, a mission which had already been secretly made to fail... then tortured by your enemies for several months seemingly without any end... it''s a wonder you haven''t bitten off your own tongue yet..."


    "... Please... no more..."


    "But do you know what was the funniest part?" the prince asked, ignoring her question as a dark grin emerged on his otherwise serious face. "You most likely would have succeeded in killing me had you not stopped at that vital moment and fell onto the floor... I mean, the dagger was mere inches from my face, but it stopped before you could even plunge it deep into my skin... why is it?"


    "..."


    Seeing her silent reaction, the prince merely chuckled in faint amusement. "There''s nothing to hide though, as I already know the reason." he continued. "... Your comrades secretly fed you poison amidst your mission... and of course, unfortunately for you, it only managed to fully take effect by the time you were about to kill me... how sad... it would''ve been better for you to have died at that moment, am I correct? You wouldn''t have had to experience the torture we gave you..."


    "... Why are you doing this when you already know everything?"


    "To rub it on your already beaten up face of course." the prince told with a tone of mockery. "I mean, you tried to kill me, and also... I just wanted to spend some time with my would-be-killer before her final sentencing."


    Altair furrowed her brows for a moment, unable to understand what he meant with the word ''sentencing''. "... W-what do you mean?"


    "Oh, Remus hasn''t told you yet, hm? You''ll be sold as a slave, dear. You''ll be used, abused and broken until the day you die. It''s actually more merciful compared to the other fates we had in store for you."


    "... W-why such a... light punishment?"


    A cold smile emerged on his face once more. "Ah, you see, you''re not going to be just a slave." he answered. "You''re going to be the special laborer of one of my... Important connections... one who''s probably going to be far more brutal with his treatment towards you in the future... isn''t that just lovely?"


    A faint dread then formed within her heart: No, there was no way she could accept this. To become the slave of some random man was not something she could just live with. Altair was a proud warrior of the clan she had faithfully served since birth, and even amidst her brutal torture, she had never once even told her interrogators anything about the masters she had once loyally served. How could all the torment she endured only lead to such a cruel and pathetic fate in the end was completely unreasonable to Altair- she would have preferred to die brutally while fighting than to end up as some broken toy for some evil man.


    ... Well, at least becoming a slave was more preferable than being hanged or burned at the stake.

 Part 1 - Epilogue

    A month had already passed since his stay at Anastasia''s humble abode, and it had been nothing more than warm and hospitable. Even when compared to Novus'' previous life before the war, the leisureness of the one he was currently living right now could be compared to that era of peace he had once lived in... if only this could last a bit longer... maybe even forever if possible.


    Currently, however, Novus was busying himself with reading a select amount of books he had chosen from his adoptive mother''s seemingly endless library of archives.


    From what he was reading, however, he found many interesting things that had left him in a deep thought for a while: a vast amount of knowledge that was supposedly not meant for this world were all neatly archived within the aged, yet fine papers of the books he was reading, which was completely baffling him even until now.


    "... Interesting..." he muttered to himself. "Just who is this woman... this shouldn''t be possible... for an era as primitive as this..."


    The books he read contained all sorts of information about technologies that weren''t possible in the medieval-esque world he was in: the mechanisms and functions of machines, as well as advances sciences that were just as sophisticated as the ones that had been available in Novus'' previous life- it was as if Novus was looking at a complete impossibility that shouldn''t have even existed.


    Just who exactly was this woman who had eagerly taken him to be her child?


    And then...


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    BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!


    The small, yet advanced digital clock on his desk had sounded an alarm at the designated time it was supposed to ring. It was time, he surmised: Anastasia had a rather teeming obsession with her and her ''son'' following their schedules. For the young prince though, there was no way he would ever stray from such preset things; after all, the activities that Anastasia would prepare for him were often very... Fun, at least, in their own unique way.


    Novus would then quickly close the book he was reading shut and stand up to leave the silence of the library, traversing the empty hallways whose barren space was being patrolled by the several, humanoid golems that served his mother''s whims. As he finally reached the room he was supposed to enter, the iron door would automatically open as its sophisticated sensors would quickly detect his presence, immediately allowing his entry into the massive chamber that lied inside.


    "... As always... how extravagant... ''mother''..."


    Inside the room was a gigantic lab full of machine apparatuses and steel devices beyond even Novus'' comprehension, as bright white lights lit the interior up nearly as brightly as the sun. Of course, inside the room was the lone figure of a tall, purple haired woman adorning a white coat on her body: it was Anastasia, this time, without the sheer protection of the draconic power armour she would often wear.


    "Ah, you''re here, dear." Anastasia would then turn around, as a gentle smile would simultaneously emerge on her face. "For today''s activity, we''re going to be doing something very fun~"


    Novus furrowed his eyebrows a bit, slightly confused with what she was meant to say. "... What do you mean, mother?"


    "Well..." her grin would seemingly grow a bit wider. "Today, I''m going to teach you a bit about ''creation''... "


    "Hm? What do you mean?"


    "You silly child..." she responded rather cheekily. "Let''s just say that you''ll be having another... ''caretaker'' from now on..."


    In front of Anastasia was a gigantic glass tube, where the faint visage of an unconscious, black haired woman remained suspended within the murky, blue fluids of the pod. There was something rather strange about her body though- while half of it seemed to belong to that of a normal, and beautiful woman, part of her body didn''t even appear to be human, or organic at all for that matter, as half of it was a collective mass of steel and wires that would coalesce into a shape that fit that of a humanoid.


    It would seem that this was another project of sorts that the prince''s adoptive mother had initiated, one that would even manage to bring a bit of excitement to him as well.

 Part 2 - Prologue

    "... Alright then... I assume all of you are ready to begin our long-awaited meeting?"


    A unison of voices would shout. "Yes, your reverence..."


    "Hm. Very well then, this meeting shall now begin. Speak your concerns at once."


    Within a massive room with a table where several figures were seated, the important officials of an important organization had adjourned a meeting to discuss an important matter they had to discuss.


    "Your reverence, I shall speak first then." One of the figures would stand up to speak, quickly dispelling the temporary silence. "The first... and actually only matter for our meeting today... is about that dragon..."


    In truth, the people who had gathered at such an esteemed meeting were powerful individuals of a certain group that held power over even the mightiest of the prospering nations of the continent- The Hand of Arslan, the sole protectors of the continent''s safety and prosperity, as well as the ones who were in charge of protecting the lands from internal, looming threats.


    "Indeed, your reverence, what Toumaren speaks of is of utmost importance." one of the voices added. "While it is true that that dragon of the west has remained dormant for the past few centuries... Its recent awakenings have already become a cause for concern already..."


    With a snap from his fingers, simultaneously, 2 robed, hooded figures would enter the room, both carrying black staves where a blue crystal protruded from their very tops. They raised their staves and waved their hands, and instantaneously, the crystals of their wands began to glow, as the air around them began to change: a false projection of reality revealed itself before their very eyes, all while a faint mist slightly obscured it from their visions.


    As the false projection came to life, it would gradually reveal the figure of a beautiful, female humanoid entity bound in a strange, draconian bodily armor, as well as a revelation of various sceneries, all of which were live imageries of the famed dragon and how it had destroyed entire villages in its violent fits of rage.


    "... Dear Lord... How fortunate that its wrath did not befall upon one of the nearby cities..."


    Despite its figure resembling that of a normal human woman bound in some sort of strange armor, the fell creature unleashed torrents of fire wherever it went: in one of the illusions amidst the creature''s madness, it had even gone ane scorched alive a random patrol of knights who had unfortunately managed to present themselves in its path. Not a single object or being would survive the force of the destruction it brought, as everything it met had either been pulverized or turned into fine soot and ash.


    Eventually, the illusions would gradually end and dispel the mist that formed with it, as the voice that spoke previously would speak once more.


    "And there you have it, your reverence." with another clap of his hands, the robed figures simply bowed and quickly made their leave, as the voice would then continue to speak once more. "This is not a matter we can just let be... As a result... I request that we send an extermination party to deal with this threat at once."


    Almost immediately, a chaotic, disorganized chattering of loud voices would echo throughout the room like a chamber of unwanted noises.


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    "Lord Stephan, this is simply preposterous!" one of them would shout, greatly in opposition to what the figure had spoken of earlier. "Our forces are already deeply troubled with the myriad of tasks they''ve undertaken! Besides, we already have other matters to deal with!"


    "I''m afraid Lord Kallius is correct with this one, Lord Stephan." another voice continued, clearly agreeing with the opposition. "We already have the threat of the elves steadily encroaching upon us, as well as those barbarous greenskins and the monstrous raids they''ve recently conducted under the banner of that orkish warlord... We simply cannot afford to expend our forces any longer-"


    "Silence." Suddenly, a loud, yet calm, authoritative voice would speak his piece, his singular phrase instantly silencing the words of all the others- in truth, it was the figure being referred to as ''your reverence'', the leader of the Hand of Arslan, Arnus von Arslan. Due to the authority he held, it was no wonder that all the others had easily obeyed his command without question.


    "... Now then... I believe that this problem that Lord Stephan has presented us is not one we can ignore..." Arnus continued his speech. "This dragon... I believe the creature has made its nest near Vishnal, where the capital of the Empire resides, correct?"


    Stephan would humbly bow before he answered his liege''s query. "Indeed, your reverence, which is why this is a disaster that we absolutely cannot allow its existence to continue."


    "... I understand... Lord Fallian, among the Hundred Seats... Who among our heroes can we hope to deploy for this new threat?"


    The Hundred Seats- they were the 100, powerful heroes who served as the operatives of the Hand of Arslan, each of whom were ranked by numbers based on their strength. Truth be told however, even the lowest seats among them possessed a frightening amount of power enough to threaten an entire city''s worth of civilians and soldiers alike; such was the power that the Arslan''s Hand held, that they had managed to maintain the peace of the Xathran continent for many years already.


    "Your reverence..." One of the figures quickly stood up from his seat in response as he clumsily pulled out a seemingly special scroll and began to read its contents. "... Among the 100 Seats... There are 4 of them who are available right now. Among them are... 8th ranked hero, Joseph the Blade-feller, 15th ranked hero, Margus the Steelrender, 18th ranked hero, Alryn the Swift-sage, and... 19th ranked hero, Falmuth the Endurer."


    "... I see... However..." for a moment, Arnus would ponder his thought as he put his hand on his chin. Eventually however, after a few seconds of silence, the famed leader would then respond after a careful decision-making he had quickly made."... I believe that these 4 champions of ours may not be enough to quell the monster''s rampage... Lord Fallian, prepare to make contact with the Empire''s forces, I believe that they too are already aware of this threat at this point in time... Our extermination party shall coordinate with them in order to guarantee our chances of success."


    Suddenly, one of the voices who had previously spoken with the opposition would voice out his concerns. "Your reverence, if I may humbly ask... Why must we send some of our forces to assist with the culling of the western dragon? Surely, the empire''s forces alone can handle this problem by themselves. It is very likely that they''re capable enough to handle the threat of the dragon without much issues."


    Indeed, the voice''s concern was correct with his assumption- the Neugomian Empire was the most powerful nation in the Xathran continent for a reason. Surely, their forces were more than enough to handle the threat by themselves? After all, they had many more problems to deal with, and the threat of an active dragon nearby the Empire''s capital was a threat of low importance compared to the other dangers that the Hundred Seats were dealing with as of late.


    However, Arnus had not acted without reason; in fact, there was a deliberate, logical plan that came with the decision he had already made.


    "I understand your concern, since we ourselves are already having difficulties with the myriad of threats that threaten the balance of the continent... However..." Arslan replied quite quickly. "Make no mistake, the Empire is just as important to us as we are important to them- they are one of our strongest bastions against the dangers that reside within Xathra. It is an absolute must for us to provide them with help when it comes to such dangerous matters..."


    "I understand, your reverence." the voice spoke back, as he then bowed and sat back onto his seat.


    "Wonderful. Now, to add one more thing to ensure the success of this venture..." Arnus continued his speech, as he would then point his index finger toward one of the seated figures. "Lord Stephan, sine you were the one who provided us with this report... By my supreme power, I hereby appoint you as the leader of this extermination party- I am confident that you can lead this mission to a resounding success based on your abilities. Please do your best and make sure to eradicate this threat off the continent."


    Stephan quickly rose up and gave a humble bow in thanks. "I humbly thank you for this opportunity, your reverence! I shall make sure to do my best!"


    "I trust that you shall, Lord Stephan." Arnus responded with a slow nod. "... Are there any other matters that are in dire need of discussion?"


    A deafening silence then ensued- it would seem that there was nothing else to discuss, and it was time for their assembly to finally come to a close.


    "Very well... Our meeting has now concluded. You may all leave and continue on with your duties. Please do your best to ensure the continued prosperity of Xathra and its inhabitants..."


    "May the will of Xathra continue to endure."


    The voices would once more, finally, respond in unison. "May the will of the continent be with us all."

 Part 2 - Chapter 1

    The horrible sight filled every survivor with a great feeling of dread- The once towering buildings of the once prosperous city had toppled down into piles of rubble, as the greedy, flickering flames surrounding the decimated infrastructures and spread throughout the ruined rubble like an endless sea of crimson.


    The otherworlders were merciless with their attacks- they did not bother to differentiate between combatants and civilians, as they blindly unleashed destruction everywhere they went without a single care in the world, leaving a great many corpses in their march as their forces marched triumphantly upon the bloodstained grounds.


    Fortunately, the invasion had temporarily been managed to be quelled- the arrival of armed soldiers from the Nation''s Guard had successfully managed to obtain victory from the jaws of defeat and drive away the invaders from the ruined city... At least for now.


    Among the surviving civilians however, there was one among them whose entire life had quickly come crashing down to the ground- the sight before her had shattered both her soul as well as her will to live. In fact, it would have been better for her to have perished along with all the countless others.


    In one of the desolate corners of the city, a lone, nameless mother bawled her eyes out in grief, as she screamed out towards the heavens of the tragedy that had befallen her- her child, her sweet, young poor boy who she had raised with tender love and care for 9 whole years already, his lower half of his body had been brutally crushed by a massive boulder-shaped, stone rubble, leaving him as dead as the cold ground beneath them and without any hope or chance of survival.


    "... No... It''s all my fault... W-why didn''t I pull him... I should have carried him... No..." in terrible grief did the woman blame herself for the tragedy, as her mind still refused to accept the reality of her horrible situation. "No... No... T-this can''t be..."


    Suddenly, however, the grieving mother could hear some heavy footsteps coming from her right- in response to this, she anxiously turned her head towards the location of the sound...


    "We have a live one over here..."


    To her relief, they were simply 2 soldiers who had come to check the area she was in for survivors. Without wasting any time, the soldiers walked towards her and quickly began to take her with them to ensure her safety.


    "Ma''am... We understand your loss, but..." there was a sense of understanding in the soldier''s voice, as he too could see the dead corpse whom the woman was grieving for. "... We need to leave this instant. The area''s still unsafe, we need you to come with us..."


    The woman shot a glare towards them as she immediately protested- she really didn''t want to leave just yet. "N-no, you don''t understand... P-please, let me be..."


    "Ma''am, you can''t stay here." the soldier responded with a stern tone of voice. "As of now, there are still some of them lurking around. If we leave you be here, you will di-"


    KABOOM!


    Suddenly, the sound of explosions rang throughout the air from a location that was dreadfully near their positions. The soldiers snappily scanned their sorroundings for any signs of enemy movement, and upon seeing that there weren''t any nearby hostiles, they quickly decided to take the woman with them in a hasty retreat.


    "Novus, the civilian! What do we do with her?!"


    "Carry her on your back, Anderson! We''re meeting up with the others and going back to the rendezvous point!" one of the soldiers shouted as he withdrew his transciever from his belt, as his partner instantly paid heed to his command as he began to carry the woman and bring her with them. "Vanguard Alpha, this is Vanguard Charlie, sector 4-4 is unclear! We have a civilian with us, we''re going to retreat for now!"


    No... The woman''s mind screamed in her thoughts. Despite the chaos that was happening around her, both her eyes and atention were fixed towards the dead carcass of her son- even now, the lone mother still refused to accept the unjust death of her poor, little boy.


    And sadly, as the 2 soldiers hastily fled the scene while carrying her away despite her protests, all while the view of her son gradually drew further away from her line of sight, her mind went into a severe panic of emotions that made her reach her hands toward his direction- she was truly a grieving mother still unable to accept her loss indeed.


    "No... No... No, no, no, no! NO! NO! NO! NO-"


    ________________________________________


    The woman known as Anastasia woke up to find herself in her bed in a deep, cold sweat. It was another one of her dreadful nightmares, she surmised. Dreams of a past she could only vaguely remember- memories that her internal subconscious deeply wanted to suppress from her memories in order to protect her.


    "... Haah... What time is it... Oh... That''s right..."


    It was another day to spend time with that adorable child she had adopted, a magickless little boy she had grown to love so much by now. It had been a few years since she had first met and took him in, and by now, he had already grown to be a fine, handsome young man who she could proudly call her son.


    Many years ago, before she had met him who had been half-dead beneath the deadly, treacherous cliffs he had been brutally thrown off from, the only life she had led was with the tedious, boring experiments and researches she would often dabble with in order to temporarily relieve her of her crippling boredom. However, her life finally had a glimmering light when that child came into her life.


    ... Even still, Anastasia still couldn''t resist still seeing him as the cute little pathetic child he had once been.


    "Hm, well, alright then..." Anastasia would then yawn as she stretched her arms upwards. "I wonder what that child of mine is up to right now?"


    ________________________________________


    From outside the castle''s walls, in one of its empty, snow-ridden courtyards where only the trudging, mechanical golems could be seen, 2 individuals were testing out a sort of gun-shaped mechanism, a creation of theirs that they were all too curious to see how potent its abilities were.


    "Woah...."


    The device glowed with an effervescent, azur glow that seemed to blot out even the light from the sun, as the mechanical whirring of its internal mechanisms sounded simultaneously, as if it were charging for something.


    "... Dear, be careful with that thing... You know how strong you calibrated it..."


    "Don''t worry, this won''t be dangerous... For us at least..."


    Suddenly, a red, searing beam of blazing light-energy emerged from its muzzle, rapidly impacting into the large, tree-sized boulder painted with a target sign on its stone skin- of course, the beam''s potent force and energy allowed it to pierce through the boulder''s heat-resistant body, leaving a gaping hole through its once sturdy structure, as molten stone and lava began leaking through its newly formed, head-sized cavity.


    "... That was impressive, dear. And here I was expecting that thing to malfunction all of a sudden."


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    "Hahahaha... You always have such low expectations of me... Whitlea..."


    The black-haired, beauty of a maid giggled a bit. "Well, you see dear..." she replied, her purple-iris eyes seemingly glowing with a bit of mischief. "... If you expect disappointment, theoretically, you can never become truly disappointed..."


    Whitlea von Prescilla, a biomechanical construct with the shape, appearance, and looks of a beautiful woman in her late 20s- a creation of Anastasia made to act as the caretaker of her "son". By now, it had been more than 5 years since her conception, and yet she had an unparalleled maturity as well as an undaunted sense of responsibility that allowed her to perform her duty as the prince''s caretaker very well.


    Right now, this woman was accompanying Novus in one of his experiments- after many years of living in the isolated castle, he had somewhat inherited some of his adoptive mother''s mannerisms as well.


    "I admire this philosophy of yours, but..." Novus said as he furrowed his eyebrows. "Isn''t that kind of too... Y''know... Pessimistic?"


    "I suppose it''s just part of me when I was created, dear. Besides, you succeeded in this little experiment of yours, correct? You don''t need take my words into heart too much then..."


    By now, Novus had grown up splendidly into a young man of an impressive height and a charismatic look- unlike all those years ago, he was no longer the scrawny little brat who had nearly lost his life at the hands of those who were supposed to protect him. He had even managed to inherit his adopter''s immense wit, as well her overwhelming knack for performing experimentations on technological monstrousities.


    After fiddling a bit more with the heavy, deadly device he held with his 2 hands, he placed it on the table and replied to the maid''s consolation.


    "... Y-yeah, but still..." he stared at her as he spoke with his brows furrowed still. "Aren''t you being a bit too mean to me again?"


    Once more, Whitlea would smile as she would give back a glance. "Dear, I''m not being mean at all. I''m simply being... Er... Realistic."


    "..."


    "... Aha... Speaking of which..."the maid smiled as she tried dispelling the silence."... I-I remembered dear... Madame told me that she wanted to see you later this afternoon..."


    "And you only told me this now... Because?"


    "... I forgot to tell you of this earlier, I apologize... Hahaha..." Whitlea laughed awkwardly. "I''m really, really sorry..."


    "... You idiot... Today''s time is about be afternoon in a few minutes..." Novus sighed, slightly frustrated with how she had forgotten something so important. "... I better get going then. Could you clean things up here while I''m gone?"


    Whitlea nodded lightly with a gentle grin. "Of course dear, I''ll handle things with great care, don''t worry."


    "... By the way..." as he was about to leave, he nearly forgot one important question which he had fortunately managed to remember to ask. "... Where did she say she wanted to meet me?"


    "Ah..." Whitlea paused for a moment, taking a few seconds to say her next words. "... The swimming lounge, dear, that''s where she wanted to meet you this afternoon..."


    A moment of silence temporarily ensued, as if his mouth was about to run agape- of all the places she wanted to talk with him, why there? "... The what now?"


    ________________________________________


    "Hm, I must say, this place has gotten bigger... Did she do something to it?"


    As Novus entered the rather spacious lounge, he couldn''t help but admire how well-designed it''s interior was.


    There was a drinking bar being managed by a couple of his mother''s emotionless, robotic lackeys to his right, and in front of him was a massive, clear-blue swimming pool that was enough for several people to dive into- ironically though, despite the castle being so massive, with many of its rooms being able to host many guests, the only living beings who truly populated the isolated place with their presence were 3 people, with them being the prince, the maid, and Anastasia herself.


    "Oh... You''re finally here. You took a long time coming here, did you?"


    To his right were a couple of long white seats that simultaneously looked like makeshift beds, where one could both sit and lie down on- a sort of resting area where one could rest and enjoy a couple of drinks after a long swim. From one of the seats, Anastasia stood up as she walked closer to her ''son'' to greet him.


    Unlike her usual attire however, Anastasia was wearing a black, 2 piece swimsuit, with most of her smooth, fair skin completely uncovered as she sipped on a cocktail glass on her right hand with a small straw.


    There was also a large, diagonal scar on her chest, an ugly blemish that looked old and had completely healed by this point, but this was the first time he had seen this wound on her before- after all, she had rarely ever walked around the castle in such an outfit before. Perhaps it was a wound she got before she had taken her in?


    ... For now though, Novus would choose not to dig into it... For now, at least.


    "Yeah, about that... Did you purposefully tell Whitlea to tell me about this at a late time?"


    Anastasia smirked as she stopped drinking. "... Oh...? How can you tell?"


    "Believe me when I say that she''s never that forgetful." Novus replied with a sigh. "She rarely ever forgets things, especially important ones."


    "... How cute~ you''re really so smart aren''t you... My child..." she said with a smile, as she moved towards him and gave him a pat and scruffed his hair. "You know, that cleverness of yours is really annoying sometimes..."


    "... E-enough of this, mother..." there was a protest from the young prince as the woman praised him- he was often like that, as he usually always wanted to get straight to the point. "... A-anyway... Why did you call me here?"


    Suddenly, Anastasia would cease with her affection, moving her hand away as the expression on her face slowly grew into a somber one- Novus could instantly tell that she wanted to talk about something serious.


    Just what exactly did she wanted to talk about? Could it be something about her past? Or something more important than that?


    "... Take a seat with me first, my child..." she finally spoke, her voice containing a bit of sadness in her words as she pointed to the seat she lied down on previously.


    ________________________________________


    "Before we begin, I''d like to request something from you..." she spoke slowly, letting her words sink into his head first. "... Be honest in answering my questions, alright?"


    The 2 had seated themselves beside each other, as she gently placed her warm hand on his shoulder- it seemed like this conversation was going to be a long one, and Novus could feel a bit of unease rising within him with every second that slowly passed by.


    "... O-of course, mother... Ask away then..."


    Hearing his affirmation, a gentle smile formed on Anastasia''s face. "Thank you, my child... Now, for my first question..."


    Anastasia would waste not a single second with presenting her query.


    "... Since you''re about to become an adult next month, I''ve often began to wonder..." her tone slowly turned into one that seemed dejected.


    "When you grow up... What do you plan on doing in the future?"


    "Will you and Whitlea leave this place... For an ambition you''ve long dreamt of within your heart?"


    Ah, so that was what she wanted to talk about, Novus thought to himself silently. It would seem that she was worrying if he was going to leave her in this isolated place- after all, both him and Whitlea were the only living beings Anastasia could converse with. If they left, she would have to live another long life of loneliness.


    After all, after she''d rediscovered the joy of being connected with people she truly loved... She didn''t want to experience the cold life of loneliness again.


    "... You don''t want me to leave huh?"


    "Of course I don''t... But..." she replied weakly. "If my sweet child truly wishes... I won''t stop you from leaving..."


    A faint hesitation would temporarily halt Novus from speaking for a moment- Of course, he was initially planning to leave the castle and explore the world. After all, this was a 2nd chance in life he had unexpectedly gotten long ago, and he didn''t want to waste it by spending the rest of his life in a place that was far too isolated from the outside world. Inside his mind, there was also the thought where he wanted to at least get revenge on the ones who had sent those bastards to kill him... Or at least, the previous owner of this body.


    ... Although, at the same time, Novus didn''t want to bring any sort of worry or sadness to the wonderful woman who had taken him in and raised him with love and care... Even if he had actually never been a young child in the first place, at least, not mentally.


    "... Whitlea told you of my plans, huh... I probably shouldn''t have been confiding in her too much..."


    "... Hahaha... Don''t blame her too much, dear..." she giggled delicately. "She got worried about you as well, you know? It''s much safer here after all... Both of us don''t want to see you getting hurt again..."


    And then he remembered: that time when he had been thrown off the cliff and was left to die. The despair, the desperation... And most importantly, the rage. Fortunately, during that time, Anastasia had saved him just in time and had taken him in... It was an experience that Novus didn''t want to live through again- though of course, that still wouldn''t stop him from wanting to explore the outside world.


    "... I guess there''s no point in stopping you, hm?" without warning, she would quickly move towards him and wrap her arms around his body- a warm hug that signified just how much she didn''t want him to leave. "... Fine then... But when that time comes... I want you to wait for a while... I''m building something... Wonderful for you~"


    "... You''re just trying to delay me from leaving..." Novus sighed, to which she would giggle mischievously. "... Well, if it''s a present from my lovely mother, of course I''ll gladly wait."


    "Although... May I know what this ''something'' you are building for me is?"


    "... Absolutely not, my child~ it''s meant to be a surprise, so I won''t be telling you until the day it''s finished~"


    Novus sighed as he spoke, both amazed and annoyed with his mother''s cheeky craftiness. "Alright, fine... I know you''re not going to tell me no matter what I do anyway..."


    "It''s good that you know dear..." the usual warmth and happiness of her voice would seemingly return for a moment, before her somewhat somber tone would eventually return as she spoke again. "... Anyway, I have one more question..."


    "Of course, mother, go ahead..."


    "... I''ve been wanting to talk with you about this for a while... Though I haven''t been able to find the right moment... that is, until now..." there was a hint of reluctance from the way she spoke, as if she still didn''t want to ask this question just yet."... You see, dear... It''s about your past-"


    "...?"


    Unexpectedly, something strange would suddenly occur within their vicinity- a completely unexpected scenario that should never have occurred.


    ________________________________________


    It was then a large, red aura of light erupted from nowhere- it appeared everywhere at once from every angle, direction, and corner of space. It completely engulfed everything and everywhere within the room, like how the sun would often shine upon the world during daytime. However, she could immediately tell that this was no such normal occurrence- this kind of manifestation of a bright, otherworldly light in an enclosed room was completely unnatural after all.


    Why was such a thing occurring now of all times? And more importantly, why was it occurring here as well?


    There were many questions that formed within both their minds, though Anastasia''s body had instead swiftly decided to take action before pondering about her thoughts.


    "W-what... What is happ-"


    "Hush, my child..."


    Quick to react to the situation, Anastasia would swiftly rush towards her son as she began carrying him with her arms within seconds; it was as if she had already known just what sort of phenomenon had just transpired.


    In fact, she had already quickly realized what exactly was happening based on her years of experience with these matters. She practically knew all too well what was happening right now: from the foreign energies that the seemingly omnidrectional light was emitting continuously, she could easily tell it was some form of magick.


    ''Magic, huh? How unpleasant...'' the woman vehemently cursed within her line of thought which ran quite fast. What kind of interlopers would dare to attack her home, much more during a time when she was having a heart-to-heart discussion with her son?


    It would seem that today''s supposedly wonderful day had been ruined by an unforeseen circumstance... And now, it was her duty to get rid of this nuisance at once in order to restore order to her supposedly tranquil day.


    What Anastasia didn''t know, however, was that the source of this problem; the origin of this attack, was a far greater threat than what she had initially expected.

 Part 2 - Chapter 2

    Several hours ago, hundreds of miles away from the castle...


    The day was lit dimly by the sun, whose light was shrouded by the deep clouds that covered the air in snowfall- fortunately though, it was just enough for the average person to see his surroundings. The color of white could be seen from every corner, as almost every corner of the woods had been enveloped in snow; even the animals themselves had bore the color white upon their fur-enveloped hides in order to better conceal themselves from any threat that would lurk within the cold forests.


    "The Imperial General Triton of the Neugomian Empire greets Lord Stephan of Arslan''s Hand!"


    Today was no day like any other however: a great portion of the Empire''s forces had rallied themselves at this very location, to deal with a threat whose rumors had long been circulating amongst the ears of both the peasantfolk and nobility alike.


    The Dragon of the West, a peculiar dragon like no other who most often took on the form of a beautiful woman instead of a massive, scaly lizard; while it''s activities had remained dormant for the past few centuries due to the monster preferring to isolate itself within its den, the numerous ravaged villages that had been tragically discovered near its domain had quickly roused panic and suspicion within the hearts and minds of every imperial citizen, as it could only mean one thing: the dragon had awoken, and it was finally deciding to wreak havoc upon the humans it viewed as inferior.


    As such, a great many soldiers had been assembled today at this very place- more than 10,000 men, along with several imperial knights and mages, who were all under the command of General Triton Flavius, had all been sent to quell the threat that lied to the Empire''s west.


    And today, after what seemed to be days of waiting, the famed reinforcements they had long been waiting for had finally arrived- an extermination party from Arslan''s Hand, all led by the mighty warrior known as Stephan, a famed executive of the Hand of Arslan who was also vastly talented in both the arts of martial and the arcane; so outstanding he was that his ventures had led to his name being known all throughout the continent.


    "... I''m surprised, really... I initially thought that I would have to show my insignia for this matter-"


    "Lord Stephan, please do not belittle yourself! Both your face and your reputation are well-known by everyone throughout the continent!" Triton would correct, rather eagerly at that. "For someone to not identify you immediately would be the the greatest form of disrespect there is!"


    "... I see, hahaha..." Stephan would laugh awkwardly with a weak tone. "... Anyhow... To discuss the manner of our... Operation..."


    The general would clasp his hands. "Of course, Lord Stephan, come with me to the assembly tent! We''ve been waiting a while for your arrival after all!"


    ________________________________________


    It was a massively spacious tent, where most of the important key figures of the deployed army were in- Stephan would then seat himself upon one of the few available seats, as their short discussion would finally begin in earnest.


    "To begin things in a simple manner..." the general would finally speak as he sat on the chair positioned toward the far end, his words clearly directed to the newcomer of their assembly. "Lord Stephan, how many men did the Hand of Arslan send to help us with this venture?"


    "Getting straight to the point I see..." Stephan replied as he smiled briefly. "... The forces I brought with me are rather few: 4 among the 100 Seats, 50 among my personal guard, and of course... Myself..."


    Hearing his response, the general would slightly furrow his eyebrows."... I see, it is indeed rather few for today... Have the other threats of the continent been more active as of late?"


    "... I''m afraid so, yes..." his expression would become a bit serious. "... However, we will do our best to support you in this battle, please set your worries aside for a moment."


    "Of course, Lord Stephan, we understand the importance of Arslan''s Hand and the heavy responsibility they uphold. Just the thought of your people lending a hand is more than enough."


    "I thank you for your consideration... Now, moving on to the more important matter at hand..." Stephan replied with a light bow from his head. "How and when will your forces be striking the dragon''s den?"


    "... Ah, about that, our forces are ready to strike at any moment now..." the general''s face would steel itself into a deep expression. "Everyone, this meeting has now ended, begin the preparations and organize the soldiers. Lord Stephan, please come with me, the roles of your forces will be very important."


    "I see... What would be our roles then?"


    "The majority of our forces will strike from within the dragon''s castle with the help of the translocation spells that our mages will cast." Triton discussed firmly. "You and I, on the other hand, will be having different roles than the main force."


    The general would then clear his throat for a few seconds, before he would finally begin to speak once more. "We''ll be striking at the entrance itself, to prevent anything unwanted from escaping the monster''s lair."


    ________________________________________


    A large portion of the woods had already long been cleared out, a section whose now massive space was occupied only by the snowy fields as well as the countless men who were already organized into their battle formations.


    The 2 of them were carefully observing the preparations being made with their watchful eyes, as they were accompanied by the imperial general''s personal guard and the forces Stephan brought with him, both of whom were obediently marching behind their dutiful masters.


    "I see, this is quite... Already well prepared actually..."


    "We''re not yet done, Lord Stephan." Triton said, as he suddenly began shouting orders to the several hooded figures among the formations of the soldiers. "All mages, begin casting the mass-teleportation spell!"


    Simultaneously, the robed figures would raise their staves, as the blue crystals firmly seated upon the tips of their wands began glowing with an azure radiance- the air rippled as it was bathed with the otherworldly energies the mages produced, as above them, large, ethereal constructs that took the shape of flat circular discs began manifesting into existence; massive, magic-born tools that would assist them with their dangerous mission.


    The purpose of such a massive spell, and why there were several of these arcane circles that had been casted was a rather simple reason: each and every portion of the force was meant to be transported to each, different part of the behemoth''s den, leaving no chance for the monster to escape their assault. Even if many were to fall prey to the dragon''s might, the careful positioning of Stephan''s and the general''s special forces was an important key factor to the victory.


    In truth, the reason why they were to be translocated to the entrance was not so that they could prevent anything from escaping the lair''s entrance, but it was so that they would wait for the dragon to tire in its fight against the soldiers: indeed, the soldiers they had brought with them were merely cannon fodder meant to weather their foe, as with 10,000 men pursuing its existence within its very own home, even the most stalwart of foes would eventually tire out after fighting so much enemies.


    Such was the cold, sound reasoning that the general used to make his plan, that neither Stephan nor any of his subordinates would protest against its logic.


    "My word... That is quite the massive spell..."


    "It is necessary, Lord Stephan, our forces are plenty, and they won''t also be teleported into the same points all at once." Triton replied. "... In a few seconds, a blue light will enshroud all of us, and we will all be instantly brought into the lair of that behemoth..."


    "May you be safe Lord Stephan, and may we also achieve victory in this operation of ours..."


    Stephan would simply give a courteous nod. "And to you, general... May we all stay safe and slay the dragon successfully..."


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    ________________________________________


    "... Ugh..."


    As she was just cleaning the mess that the young prince had made previously in the courtyard, it was then an unstoppable catastrophe had suddenly been laid bare before her very eyes- a massive, storm of light that came in all directions blotted out the view of her surroundings for a moment, temporarily reducing her into a blind mess. Had she been a normal human, this incident most likely would have inflicted permanent damages upon her eyes.


    However, the maid known as Whitlea was no ordinary human of common birth.


    "... What the hell happened..."


    As her sight was gradually restoring itself she looked around to see what the effects of the blinding light had caused. Nothing, at first there was nothing... Or at least, it seemed nothing due to the haziness present in her eyes still. However, after her eyes managed to fully restore themselves to proper vision, to her horror, she discovered several important points of interest that surrounded her from every direction.


    There were countless armored men all throughout the courtyard she was still in, each of whom were bearing swords, spears, shields, and all manners of weapons on their hands, as Whitlea simultaneously heard the shuffling of their boots all around.


    Perfect, she thought sarcastically. She was surrounded by a bunch of trespassers who had forced themselves into the castle with what seemed to be magick, or perhaps something else?


    Whitlea would then begin to wonder to herself: just how many of these invaders were there? And how much of the castle had they already infiltrated into with that nuisance of a magick spell that had just casted?


    What a bother, Whitlea thought to herself once more. No wonder one of her creators, Anastasia, hated magick so much.


    "Hey girlie..." one of the knights would approach her, his face dripping with a sly, disgusting smile as he pointed his sword at her neck. "How''d a pretty maid like you end up in this desolate place?"


    "Why dontcha come with us?" as he moved closer, his hand would then slowly crawl towards one of her more intimate parts, to which Whitlea would immediately respond with a glare. "We can make your life even better when we''re around, so come with us-"


    "Enough of this Handrick, you are staining our honour..." one of the soldiers would speak with an eerily cold voice as he delivered a blunt force towards his head, instantly making him back off as he held the top of his head in pain.


    Well, that was completely unexpected. At first, Whitlea initially thought well of this- perhaps they weren''t all the rugged barbarians she was initially expecting them to be? Maybe they had just been lost and had miscasted their spell perchance?


    Suddenly, however, the man would draw his sword towards Whitlea, with its pointed edge just inches away from the maid''s smooth, fair neck.


    "I apologize, dear maiden... You were probably captured by the dragon and forced to serve here, were you not?" the knight spoke, his voice still full of the coldness it held previously. "... However, those who''ve made contact with a dragon inevitably harbors the filth that these lizards possess..."


    Well, down towards the drain did her respect for this man all go now- how disappointing, it seemed, at least for Whitlea.


    "Please close your eyes... I swear I shall make it quick."


    ________________________________________


    "Charge at her! All at once!"


    Within one of the castle''s many rooms, Anastasia and her son were in a rush as they picked off the loathsome invaders in a rather brutal fashion- to them, they were simply trespassers who had forfeited their lives the moment they entered into this place without permission.


    "Argh! She''s too strong! And the bastard she''s with... That thing he''s carrying is too dangerous!"


    Anastasia had quickly donned the metal suit of armor she had once worn all those years ago when she first met her son- in truth, it was an armor she could easily manifest whenever she wanted with the help of advanced nanotechnologies, and it was also something she would always wear when she was embroiled within a fight against an enemy. With a single swipe of her hands and claws, any human soldier she would encounter would instantly be reduced into a pile of gored flesh and torn metal that would no longer be able to fight back- such was her extreme power, that the soldiers were concentrating all of their strength and numbers on her sole presence.


    "Cast your spells! Take the dragon down!"


    The mages would then begin their quick chants as they manifested their magick circles, hurling bolts of lightning, spheres of fire, beams of light and darkness, and many other highly powerful spells that repeatedly rained down on her like a rain from a thunderstorm.


    However, Anastasia, of course, had already dealt with such things before.


    "What, a shield of this power?! Impossible! This is-"


    As a blue construct of nanoformed shields, a layer of blue mass formed by countless microscopic machines, formed to protect their creator, Novus would then point his blaster at the general direction of the mages, unleashing several torrents of blue energies at the hooded figures, instantly leaving gaping holes on their bodies and killing them off rather swiftly.


    "You''re quite the good shot, my child..." She would praise him with a small smile on her face, commending how accurately he had shot those men. "Still... I''m surprised that you''re somewhat still okay after all of this...."


    She then, for a moment, got close to him, staring into his eyes with a look of worry written all over her face. "My child... You do realize that you just took several human lives just now? Does this not bother you at all?"


    "... Not really. They broke into our home and then they''re suddenly trying to kill us." Novus spoke, as she could simultaneously tell with ease that there was a solid sense of conviction in his voice." We can''t afford to be merciful with them in any way... Or else we''ll end up dead as well."


    "... Ahem... I see..." again, Anastasia was surprised with his words, though she ultimately chose to not pay attention to this for a while due to the ongoing situation. "Still... Stay behind me. There are still too many of them..."


    "I know, mother, I know."


    More of them came charging towards their general direction, this time they had assorted themselves into various formations which consisted of shieldmen up front, with their spears drawn out as the mages behind them casted more long-ranged spells aimed towards the pair. A troublesome bunch they were, though of course, in the face of her overwhelming might, these soldiers were nothing more than vermin about to be exterminated.


    [Bend, twist.]


    With a single phrase from her mouth, the metal armor of the advancing soldiers violently imploded towards their bodies, the steel protecting them twisting and squeezing themselves inwards as their vulnerable flesh got crushed by the impossible forces pushing towards them: like crushed metal tin cans, their blood and flesh spurted out of their crushed armor like a fountain of red mist and gore.


    "... R-retreat! We''re no match for that monster!"


    Only the mages were left during the violent implosion incident- they had not been wearing a single piece of steel on their bodies, and so the dragon''s command had no effect on them. This, however, unfortunately would not protect them from the rest of the possible commands upon reality that Anastasia could make with her creative mind.


    ... Although, before she could do so, Novus would once more quickly draw his gun once more and shoot down all of the survivors within seconds, peppering their chests with large holes that would seem impossible to survive from.


    "... Oh dear... There''s nobody left, but..." she put her hand on her mouth, as if she was exaggerating her expressions a bit. "I''m afraid this is going to make the clean-up a tad bit more difficult..."


    For a moment, Anastasia would take the time to look at the bloody display around her which she had just produced- maybe she had gone too far? She would then pause for a moment, pondering her thoughts about whether this would have an impact on her child''s mind or not... Perhaps he was just pretending that he wasn''t being affected by this? No, perhaps not, as when she looked into his eyes, she couldn''t even notice a single ounce of fear or trauma in his eyes. She definitely had to have a counseling talk with him later about this, as she couldn''t afford to allow some sort of unknown mental deterioration to grow in his mind because of this grisly situation.


    Suddenly, it was then an important thought within her mind had suddenly appeared- Whitlea, yes, Whitlea... What could have happened to her during all this time? Maybe she had been killed by these invaders? No, that too was unlikely, as she knew how capable that maid truly was- Anastasia was one of the 2 people who created her after all.


    ... Although, it would be better to be able to make sure of this...


    "... We''re done here for the moment. We must split up... I''ll go and check the rest of the castle if there''re more of these... Lunatics. You go and find Whitlea, and make sure she''s safe."


    There was no arguing with that- in Novus'' mind, her reasoning was pretty sound and logical, just like how she usually was. There were, however, a few questions that remained within his mind, which he would ask a few seconds afterwards.


    "... Who are these people anyway? How did they manage to get in? And why are they attacking en masse?"


    Anastasia would then sigh as she rubbed her forehead. "... I don''t really know as well, dear. I swear, these people... I rarely even go outside, why have they attacked yet again?"


    "... Again?"


    "... I once had a rather close relationship with these people... Although... It would be best for you not to know everything about this, child." she reasoned, to which Novus would simply respond with an ''okay''. "Knowing too much would only make your little head hurt after all~"


    "... F-fine... Just one more question..."


    "Of course, ask away, my child."


    "... What do I do if I encounter a group as big as the one we fought earlier? I''m not as strong as you after all..."


    Hearing this, Anastasia would simply smile, giggling a bit as she gently placed her blood-soaked, armored hand on his shoulder. "Then run. Although, if you aren''t able to, I believe you''re more than skilled enough to be able to deal with them. You''re a good shot after all, my child."


    "... Just... Be careful, alright...?"


    Novus would respond with a quick nod from his head. "Of course, mother."


    "Now run along dear, check up on her and make sure she''s safe. Remember to run if there''re too many of them, okay?"


    Novus would then nod in affirmation. "I understand, mother. I''ll get going then."


    Unknown to Novus however, there was also one more important reason why Anastasia had chosen to split off and sent him away...


    ________________________________________


    "I-Impossible... What kind of monster are you?!"


    Upon the bloodstained fields of the courtyard, the multitudes of twisted, dented bodies of the soldiers were scattered all around like dead flies- each and every single one of them had fallen prey to Whitlea''s powerful ability.


    "... T-this is a joke... A joke!"


    "This isn''t real! Charge men, this is just an illusion the witch casted upon us!"


    Foolishly, several of the soldiers charged towards in complete madness as they held their weapons firmly with their hands- of course, deep within their minds, even they themselves knew that such an action was ultimately futile in the end.


    "Seriously? Are you idiots delusional or something?"


    Whitlea then raised her hand upwards, as her entire body would suddenly be enshrouded in a weak, purple, aura-like glow. Instantaneously, the maid would then simply swipe her index finger horizontally in a nonchalant manner, causing the charging men to be repelled violently by a powerful force towards the same direction where Whitlea had moved her finger towards.


    Combat Model Hybrid Series 1001: Codenamed "Whitlea": a pet project that Anastasia initially made to have a companion and drive off her loneliness, now it had helped to serve as a sort of second guardian for her son. Within the blueprints that gave her life, there were many outstanding features written and etched fantastically into its papers- it was the combination of several, highly sophisticated and advanced technologies that no human nor nation within the continent could ever hope to replicate.


    A maid capable of attending to one''s needs... A servant capable of sentience, self thought, and enacting a myriad of tasks where many others would have great difficulty with... A monstrosity that could fight off an entire battalion of armed soldiers with just a single thought from its mind using her esper-like abilities...


    Despite how delicate and maidenly Whitlea would seem at first glance, in truth, she was a monster that bore the resemblance of a human: there was no denying that the men surrounding her were nothing more than insects she could easily crush into mincemeat- even the soldiers themselves were all too aware of this fact.


    Even though there were still many of the armored men within the massive space of the courtyard, they had now all become incredibly reluctant to even move a single inch towards her- no being of reason would not feel fear when facing such a monster of incredible power after all.


    "I shall give you all one last chance: Flee and leave this place, and you may yet to live another day and keep your lives." there was a heavy emphasis of seriousness in her tone as she spoke.


    "... I shall repeat in a manner that you fools can understand... Bugger off from this place, and I''ll let you keep your lives, you hear?"


    Silence: each and every one of these men wanted to run, but they knew that running would only get them executed as dishonorable deserters. Despite this, there was still the faintest sense of hope within their hearts, as they believed that their numbers would inevitably allow them to gain victory: perhaps they could tire this monster out so that they could even out the battlefield. And also...


    The forces from the Hand of Arslan and the general''s own knights haven''t even arrived to support them yet- all they had to do was to slowly exhaust their opponent and look for any weakpoints they could exploit for the moment.


    "No surrendering! Keep fighting!"


    "Hmph, very well then. If you wish not to flee nor fight..." Whitlea, seeming that their resolves were firm despite their fear, then began to prepare using her abilities once again. "I shall come at all of you all at once. Meet your end, fools."

 Part 2 - Chapter 3

    It was a spell he could leisurely disrupt, at least, for the likes of a mighty transcendent like him- no matter how big and complex they were, human-casted magic would always remain woefully inferior, as they meant absolutely nothing in the face of true arcane prowess.


    With a flick of his finger, part of the supposedly complex systems of the translocation spell had easily been twisted and tangled according to his whim. Funnily enough, none of the humans would have ever been able to notice this defect he had caused.


    "Now then... To enact my plan..."


    By twiddling a bit with the rune codes of the spell, he had redirected the teleportation routes of his most prized pawns: the general and the forces of Arslan, and scattered them throughout the endless maze-like hallways and rooms of the castle, to distract any form of opposition against the ghastly task that had been entasked upon him by the elders:


    To isolate and slay the false dragonkin who was never one of their own from the very start... The half breed who had led to them losing the great war they would have won all those centuries ago.


    The stage had been set, and the main actors were already on the stage and performing rather well- all there was left for him to do was to enact the final step...


    And not a single one of these pathetic humans would even notice such a great loss on their own side...


    ________________________________________


    "Kill him! Kill the cultist before he fires that weap-"


    As Novus navigated the endless, infested hallways of his own home, multitudes of the armored men came surging from every corridor he explored once more- of course, while they were no match for the quick and brutal efficiency of his pulse rifle, their teeming numbers whenever they charged against him were slowly becoming a notable cause for concern.


    "Oh crimson flames, bathe our enemy with your searing arcane energies! Hellfire!"


    One of the mages he encountered had casted a spell: a wave of red fire that poured out from the small gem on his staff. Novus would not let himself get hit, however, as he immediately realized that he would burn to death if he so much as touched it- as a result, he took cover behind one of the walls to prevent himself from being turned to soot.


    "Where are you?! You cowardly servant of the dragon! Come out and face us, you vile misc-"


    It was another perfect mark that instantly hit its target- this time, the shot had perfectly turned the mage''s head into a fine, bloody mist. Soon enough however, his quick triumph over one of his seemingly mightier foes would come to an end as more soldiers came rushing towards him with their weapons ready to strike him down.


    "Javelins forward!"


    This time, the armored men would try a different tactic- the ones with spears had all quickly turned their weapons into makeshift projectile weapons, throwing them into the air as the javelins came hurtling towards Novus'' unarmored body: if they had hit him, they would have easily pierced his body like a hot knife through butter, which would have quickly rendered him unable to fight back against other attacks and leave him dead in the process.


    However, Novus had more tools than just the blaster he had brought with him.


    With a quick tap on the small, metallic bracelet device on his wrist, a blue shield had formed around him, dutifully protecting him from the attacks as the spears bounced away harmlessly from the barrier''s surface- a personal shield, one that Novus had already been familiarized with in his previous life as a soldier. While it was vastly weaker compared to the one Anastasia used, the inferior device he currently had was more than enough to deflect such a weak, massed attack that was aimed towards him.


    "Cursed cultist!" one of the soldiers cursed. "Why do you resist the inevitable?! Give up and surrender, and your death shall be quick!"


    "Oh please..." Novus scoffed, finding his words to be nothing more than a bother. "Just die already."


    BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!


    It only took him a few seconds to aim his rifle and fire at the armed men- it was a gift that had been honed by his countless years of experience as a soldier in his previous life, one that had proven its use time and time again: most importantly, such a skill had become incredibly handy during this time of disaster, and because of it, Novus was easily shooting down the soldiers as if he had been doing nothing more than swatting down a couple of slow, old flies.


    Eventually though, the number of soldiers that were rushing towards his location would gradually grow smaller and smaller- it was becoming apparent that the dead of the enemy were slowly starting to outnumber their remaining, living men. Many of them, as expected, had easily fallen prey to the dragon''s might, as well as the unexpected help she had received from the 2 other people who lived with her in her abode.


    As the knights, mages and common soldiers gradually thinned in number though, a portion of the assistance they had long been waiting for would finally arrive...


    ________________________________________


    "Is this the cultist you lot were having a lot of trouble with?"


    "Really now? You guys were having trouble with such an average looking fella? He doesn''t even look strong!"


    In front of Novus were 2 seemingly important people who had suddenly appeared from one of the corridors that led to the hallway he was in right now- the one to the left was fully clad in a thick, knightly armor that clearly differentiated him from the common soldiers, while the one to the other side was equipped only with standard leather clothes meant for combat, with only his impressively sharp, jet-black longsword being the only thing that made him notable compared to his other companion.


    "Oh heroes of Arslan! You''ve come and blessed us with your grace!" one of the mages would immediately greet as he walked towards them and began prostrating. "Please assist us with this battle against this foolish cultist! We''ve lost too much of our men to this monster already..."


    "Well... We were supposed to be brought along with our companions... Hell, we''re supposed to be saving our strength for the dragon and not waste it on this weakling, but... Sure, we''ll help you, since you idiots really need it."


    "Of course, that''s the reason we came here for, it is our duty after all..." the one in heavy armor spoke with his deep tone of voice. "Anyway-"


    His words would suddenly be cut off by his companion, the one with the jet-black longsword on his right hand. "Oi, dragon worshipper. Remember our names before you die: My name is Joseph the Bladefeller, 15th rank among the 100 Seats Arslan, get ready to be cleaved in half if you choose to continue resisting."


    The one in heavy armor then moved his left arm and pointed his thumb towards himself rather proudly. "As for me, I am Margus the Steelrender, 18th rank hero of Arslan''s warriors! Try as you might, but I am certain that that puny weapon on your hands won''t work on this armor I personally crafted! Prepare yourself!"


    "Although... For a dragon worshipper and a traitor of our race, you look rather... Young..." the one with the sword said, lifting his seemingly heavy weapon as he pointed its razored edge towards Novus'' direction. "Tell you what, why don''t we offer you a deal?"


    For a moment, Novus would actually become curious with what sort of ''deal'' these 2 offered him- while he knew that it would definitely being something rather unpleasant, he decided to entertain their notion and feigned ignorance to try to hear them out.


    "... Hmm... A deal, you say... What would it be then?"


    "Easy! Just surrender, kneel before us, and tell us where your other conspirators are. If you''re this capable, then, at the very least... surely you must be a member of some big cult worshipping this lame-ass dragon." his speech was rough as he said his words, as if he had been raised in the slums from birth. "If you do, maybe we''ll let you off with just a broken limb or 2, who knows?"


    "What my friend here is saying... While incredibly exaggerated, is quite true." the heavily armored man interjected. "If you surrender now, we may spare your life, and you might yet to live in this dreadful predicament of yours..."


    ... Ridiculous... How utterly ridiculous this truly was. Were they actually expecting him to fall into such a measly, elaborate ruse? No, surely these fools couldn''t be that stupid? Then again, Novus couldn''t just deny the reality he was in... Perhaps they were not as threatening as he was initially expecting them to be...


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    "Well then? What do you think?"


    "... Hm... I think..."


    The man with the longsword would then raise his left eyebrow. "Yeah, what''s your choice then? Hurry up and decide, we don''t have all day-"


    "I think... That you people..." Novus would interrupt him, as a mocking grin instantly surfaced onto his lips.


    "... Are complete fucking idiots..."


    Novus then primed his weapon and dabbled with a couple of its controls- this time, there were many of them, and he definitely had to change the settings of his weapon a bit in order to make it more effective. In only a couple of seconds, after flicking one of the switches of his blaster, the mode of his weapon had switched into that of which was perfectly suitable for the situation he was currently in.


    [RAPID FIRE MODE ON.]


    This time, the blasts would come in rapid successions, like a rain of light that had come to adjudicate sinners during judgment day- while each of the shots in this firing mode were weaker when compared to the single shot ones, they were more effective at mowing down the scores of men that were in front of Novus right now like endless fields of wheat before a sharp scythe.


    After all, how would he be able to deal with the 2, powerful looking figures that had appeared before him, when their lackeys remained full in number and were ready to support them with their overwhelming numbers?


    Novus was expecting these 2 to survive this barrage anyway- in his calculating mind, he was already expecting that these 2 could survive even a single shot round from his weapon.


    "S-shit, take cover! Take cover!"


    Soon enough, the rain of light would finally come, as energy beams of intense, searing heat would come and shower them all with their splendid radiance.


    ________________________________________


    It had been done: the armored men and their robed cohorts once present in teeming numbers in the courtyard were no more. By now, these men were either dead or dying, as their beat-up bodies and corpses alike laid motionless on the snow-enveloped grass- there were so many of them that they could probably serve as a new layer of ground for the blood-soaked, snow-ridden fields of the plaza.


    "Well... That took a while..."


    Still, while none of the soldiers could even hope to pose any sort of threat to her, it took quite a lot of time for her to deal with all of them- they had quite literally numbered in the thousands when they charged at her like savages in dense battle formations after all. What''s more was that, due to the amount she had slain, the mess that had been left behind would take almost forever to clean up...


    Fortunately for her however, it was not her primary role to clean such a massive mess, and she could leave such bothersome, menial tasks to the golems that lurked about the castle: jobs like those which usually required manual labour were their duties in the first place.


    That is, of course, assuming that at least some of these automata managed to survive during all of this.


    "... For heaven''s sake... There just had to be more..."


    Whitlea''s face then twisted into a slightly pained expression, as she quickly covered her eyes with her left hand- another blinding light dazzled into existence within the courtyard''s vast space, and it became clear that there was going to be a couple more enemies that were about to arrive, though their exact numbers wouldn''t be confirmed just yet due to the light''s extreme radiance.


    "Are they going to be a lot again...? This is such a huge pain..."


    It would be a few seconds before the light would finally cease to shine and rapidly faded away, leaving behind the new enemies who had been translocated within Whitlea''s general vicinity.


    Much to her surprise however, as she stopped covering her eyes and immediately set her sights upon the ones who had been brought here, she couldn''t help but feel... Perplexed with what had just occurred...


    ...


    "... Argh... Where are we, Alryn... This isn''t the place we were meant to be... Or am I just being dumb again?"


    "... I don''t know either, Falmuth... Although... I''m certain that we weren''t supposed to be brought here by the translocation spell in the first place..."


    Instead of another massive army of armed men, what the blinding light had brought into the area were simply 2 individuals- while they seemed insignificant at first, even at a glance, Whitlea could tell that there was something notable about these people, as if they were radiating a form of power from their bodies... These people, she thought to herself, perhaps they were actually dangerous this time around.


    The 2 of the them would then look around their surroundings, confusion written all over their faces for a reason Whitlea couldn''t understand- of course, as they did, their faces expressed the madness surrounding them, as a look of horror emerged from them both in a quick succession: they had seen the hundreds upon hundreds of their dead comrades surrounding them from every direction, as if they were sailors whose ships were being surrounded by the waters of the sea.


    "W-what... What the hell happened here?"


    "Oh, that, those, and everywhere else?" Whitlea responded. "... I killed them. It''s their fault in the first place. I mean, I did give them a chance to leave, but they kept refusing, so-"


    The one known as Falmuth would then turn towards the maid- even without her confirmation, it was obvious that she was the monster who caused all of this, as her uniform was quite stained with a red fluid that he could easily tell to be blood; the blood of his allies of course.


    "... Y-you... You witch... Were you really the one who did this?" Falmuth''s face twitched with a burning sensation of anger as he clenched his teeth.


    "You vile monster!" the one known as Alryn said, the emotions running through her heart being the same as her partner as she screamed loudly at Whitlea in total madness. "Don''t you dare expect mercy from us!"


    "Mercy? Hah, what fools you are..." Whitlea scoffed while a mocking smile simultaneously formed on her face. "You people come here with your barbarism and invade our home... Ending up dead should''ve been the primary concern of your friends here..."


    "Ah well, not that it matters... They''re already dead anyway. What can you 2 fools do about it?"


    "You bastard! You must be a dragon worshipper!" Alryn retorted angrily. "We were sent here to cull the dragon who had laid waste to the countless villages it has already burned down! You dare to slaughter our soldiers... You even have the audacity even protect the den of this creature with your inso-"


    "Enough yapping, you barbaric miscreants." Whitlea would quickly cut her off, not wanting to hear the nonsense she had to say. "If you want to kill me, then just do it already."


    "Be warned however: I have concluded that it''s very likely that both of you will end up like your dead comrades over here... There... Everywhere... Ah, well, you get my point."


    "You bitch!!!"


    And so, Falmuth would then speed towards Whitlea in frightening speeds, as Alryn began chanting her incantations in order to cast the deadliest, most effective spells she could use against the monster before her.


    Thus did the battle begin in earnest, a fight that Whitlea would not have expected to be much harder than she initially thought it would be.


    ________________________________________


    It was tiring... She already knew he was there, yet he still tried to hide himself with his pathetic, half-assed attempt at concealing himself. How completely idiotic, she thought to herself.


    "Come out, you lizard. You can''t hide your faint, disgusting presence of magick from me."


    Anastasia was alone in one of the castle''s massive rooms- she had been waiting for the true mastermind of all the events just now to finally appear and reveal its presence before her very eyes. In truth, she had already managed to figure this out from the very beginning, which was why she had sent the young prince away to go look for his maid... The purpose of it was something involved with the maternal instinct that had long been rekindled within her once cold heart.


    The reasoning was straightforward in the first place- anyone could understand why she had chosen to split up with her son despite the dangers that came with such a decision- after all, there was still that ever so slight chance where he could have been engulfed by a large number of soldiers and gotten killed by them in the process...


    Ultimately though, she had decided that splitting up with Novus was safer for him than to let him stay with her.


    It was to prevent him from getting swept up in this massive fight that was about to begin: she didn''t want her son to die, even if it would cost her life, she would never let his life get swept away all because of a fight she had to partake in.


    After all, she could practically smell the scent of vile, draconic magick on this particular infiltrator- this was a matter that only her, and her alone could deal with, and she didn''t want to risk losing someone she loved to some form of madness again.


    "... And here I was taking my time to observe you first..." a voice would then suddenly come from out of nowhere, its tone full of seriousness as it spoke. "Well, not that it matters anyway... You''re meant to die today, and I made sure that there will be no way for you to be helped nor saved by your friends."


    Multiple magic circles would then surround her from every angle, as multiple chains of light then burst out from the center of these ethereal constructs and began to slither towards their target like wild snakes: it was one of the many spells the assassin had prepared to take her down, though of course, there was plenty more where that came from.


    "How quaint..." Anastasia scoffed as she made a smug huff- simultaneously, her eyes began to glow with an orange radiance that intensified the colour of her irises, their radiance increasing by several degrees, a sign that she was using the ultimate power she had always had access to.


    [Break.]


    With one word from her mouth, the chains would shatter into a million pieces, all while the magick circles began deconstructing themselves and fading away into nonexistence- such a weak spell of magick meant nothing to her power, as she had easily stopped countless other spells with power that greatly exceeded this one.


    Of course, however, this opening attack on her was only just beginning- the prelude to a long battle that would be take a lot of time and energy.


    "!!!"


    And so the assassin would finally reveal himself as he fled from his world of invisibility and materialized into reality- a man of above average height in a jet-black uniform, whose face and reputation were already quite well commemorated throughout the lands of the continent.


    A thrust from his sword aimed at the very neck- he had materialized from her near right and had its pointed tip aimed at one of her vital spots. In lightning quick speeds, he had closed the once-extensive gap between them, and his sword was only mere meters away from her vulnerable neck.


    CLANG!


    Anastasia rapidly moved one of her arms to parry the blow, repelling him and sending him back into the air, though naturally, the assassin would manage a perfect, acrobatic landing as he descended upon the ground.


    "... Oh my... Even I couldn''t have expected a twist like this..." as the realization dawned upon her, her eyes would widen a bit as her smug display would momentarily be dispelled. "How did an elf like you end up becoming one of ''humanity''s heroes''?"


    For a moment, the assassin''s expression would change into that of sheer rage. "Silence, wench, don''t you dare associate me with those common inferiors..." he fumed angrily.


    "I have wasted 15 shaatri of my life mingling and associating myself with these monkeys... All for the sake of fulfilling my mission... To kill you and be finally allowed to go home..."


    Stephan Kaenrhion, or so was he known as by the masses- a prestigious member of the upper echelons amongst Arslan''s Hand, which he had earned after dutifully fulfilling missions for the benefit of mankind. In truth, however, he was no human acting out of good will in the first place: he was an elf who had managed to worm its way in as one of humanity''s finest warriors, all for the single-minded purpose of fulfilling the mission he had been given all those years ago.


    "It was easy to fool these imbeciles, you know..." Stephan continued, as he then placed his hand on his hand and began gently squeezing his skin, as if he were taking off a mask.


    "The hard part was pretending to be one of them. Once I got their trust, all I had to was burn a couple of their settlements that were close to your little castle, convince their feeble minds using a few illusionary spells... and tamper with this half-assed teleportation spell of theirs... Everything else just went by naturally..." he narrated slowly as his voice seemed to teeter into insanity.


    "I hate it... I hate everything about them... Even this damn face I had to keep wearing for years without rest!"


    Instantaneously, he would then pull out the skin of his face, revealing the true face that had remained concealed from the outside world for so long- a short haired blonde with the charismatic looks of a male elf. The appearance he had adorned as a ''human'' had never been a part of him in the first place after all- the identity of Stephan, even his very appearance had been nothing more than a facade he had kept up. Now, there was no longer any need to conceal his identity, as it was finally time to fulfill the last step of his long awaited goal.


    "You''ll meet your end at my hands! Come, this sword had been forged within the deepest arcane wells! It can easily cut through your feeble metal armor, false dragon!"


    "Hm, how interesting... However..." Anastasia replied, with her face quickly switching to an incredibly cold expression as her eyes began radiating with that beautiful orange radiance once more. "It''s time for you to die."


    [Explo-]


    "I won''t give you that time, wench!"


    It was a fast attack he had made- he had moved faster than the blink of an eye and aimed his sword towards one of her vital spots again. Anastasia was then forced to stop using her ability, to instead block the dangerous strike that was about to land upon her.


    This was the only true weakness of Anastasia''s ability- indeed, it was a powerful strength, the ability to enforce her will upon the world with her thoughts, needing only a few words to execute the change she wished; it would have been a nigh-unstoppable power, had it not needed for her to stop her movements and utter the words she needed to use her power.


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    The parrying of his sword and her mechanical claws echoed throughout the room, as Stephan prevented Anastasia from using the horrifying ability she could easily use to kill him- this way, he could at least somewhat hope to be able to match against her for a while.


    Eventually though, the battle would finish and move to a drastic conclusion- it would only take a few minutes for it to happen, with the victor already having been decided by fate from the very beginning...

 Part 2 - Chapter 4

    BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!


    The hail of indiscriminate light fell upon them all with an equal judgement- searing lights that would easily kill a man with one hit had struck them all repeatedly again and again,and as a result, such a powerful attack had only left a few of them alive in the process of the repeated firing.


    "Take cover! Take cover! Tak-"


    Most of them would not be able to escape the hell that had been unleashed upon them- a great too many of them were instantly turned into hole-ridden corpses  as they ran around desperately trying to look for cover.


    It would only be more or less 30 seconds before the endless firing from his hellish weapon would finally cease, and by then, there were too few survivors who had managed to weather through the onslaught...


    ...


    "That weapon of his is dangerous... I couldn''t even save some of the soldiers... I guess it''s best that we don''t get hit by that thing too much, eh?"


    The rain of searing light had finally come to a grinding halt after what seemed to be such a long moment of time- the soldiers and mages behind the 2 champions of the Hundred Seats had been laid to waste, as each of them had been torn into smoking piles of dead bodies peppered with large gaping holes on their bodies.


    However, as Novus had expected, the 2 would easily manage to survive the barrage from his weapon: it seemed that it was going to take a lot more effort than he thought it would.


    "You''re the only one who has to dodge, my friend. I do not." Margus responded to his companion''s words, putting his hand on his chest plate as he banged on it once in a proud display of his armour. "My armour is more than enough to withstand whatever force that weapon of his can unleash."


    How the 2 had managed to survive involved an uncomplicated series of events- Margus had easily withstood getting hit a thousand times due to his armor, while Joseph had quickly moved behind one of the walls that could provide him protection; even with the swordsman''s great speed, he knew that he wouldn''t be able to block such attacks that were as seemingly as fast as light itself.


    "Yeah, right... Anyway..."


    BOOM!


    The sound of an explosion then echoed throughout the hallways, as a thick cloud of fog then erupted and began to envelop their enemy in a deep cloud of smoke. A smokescreen, Joseph could easily tell- it would seem that their enemy was trying to flee the scene, and of course the swordsman would definitely not allow this to happen.


    You''re not getting away, ya bastard!"


    He swung his sword twice in a powerful manner, producing powerful gusts of wind that easily blew away the smokescreen. Perfect, now he had his sights on him and could strike properly: all he had to do left was to attack.


    CLANG!


    A few seconds was all it took for him to move towards the young prince, as he swung his blade into the air and prepared to slice him in half with a downward cleave- It was a surprising display of speed that went beyond Novus'' expectations, and for a moment, he would remain dumbfounded with just how lightning-quick this man was- he was, after all, ranked 15th among the Hundred Seats based on what he said earlier, and for him to display such a monstrous agility was not truly all that shocking.


    However, despite Joseph''s immense speed, it wouldn''t be enough for him to quickly achieve the outcome he desired.


    His blade had landed upon a blue, solid, spherical barrier that took away all the kinetic energy from his blow once it had landed upon the shield''s surface: how bothersome... Instead of his blade reaching his target''s soft, vulnerable flesh, it had instead hit a barrier that had suddenly manifested, an obstacle he couldn''t even properly cleave through.


    "Margus, it''s now or never!" Joseph the Blade-feller bellowed to his partner with a shout. "Don''t let him attack again!"


    "Understood! To me, my almighty hammer!"


    Margus then rushed towards the barrier that had formed to protect their enemy- as he did so, he raised his hand into the air, and an impressively large metal warhammer materialized onto his right hand. Within a few seconds, after he had reached a sufficient distance, the hammer then began to move and unleash a devastating blow.


    BLAAMMM!!!


    The effect of the hammer''s impact was immediate as soon as it hit the shield- the sheer kinetic force of the blow, which was also enhanced by Margus'' mana, easily tore through the barrier''s protection, leaving what seemed to be a massive hole and creeping fissures that formed throughout its area of impact. Completely unimpeded at this point, the warhammer then went straight for the vulnerable Novus'' body, only taking a few seconds for it to be just mere inches away from its fleshy target.


    "Die, cultist scum!"


    However, as soon as it made contact with their enemy''s ''body'', or so it appeared to be, the hammer went through him as if he had never been hit by the attack in the first place- instead, it had struck down a nearby pillar and completely demolished it in the process, sending powerful shockwaves as crevices and fissures formed even upon the nearby walls.


    Had the blow hit him normally, it would have completely destroyed the poor lad into bloody chunks and pieces... Just how did his attack simply go through him as if he was some sort of ghost?


    "What in the name of-?!"


    Suddenly, to their left, a small, black, cylindrical object had been thrown into their vicinity: it was a small, metallic device that seemed completely insignificant. Why and who had even thrown this at them?


    "That was a hologram, you dolts."


    The metal device would then explode, not into a massive expansion of heat energy, but something else rather- it was a blindingly dazzling light that temporarily blinded the eyes of the champions, as its explosion simultaneously produced a deafening sound that immediately made the ears of the 2 ring painfully. It was a flashbang several times more powerful than a normal one- Novus had used this once to successfully incapacitate a massive red bear for a while, and for the situation he was in right now, it would definitely work just as effectively.


    "Arghhh! Curses!" both of them would curse as they fell to the ground and covered their eyes, the brief pain being too great for them to bear. "Damn you, dragon worshiping scum!"


    They hadn''t noticed it when he had ceased his endless firing, as a few seconds after the gun had stopped, Novus had actually already fled the scene to hide someplace else- he was a gunman after all, and allowing these 2 brutes to get close to him within melee range would be a complete disadvantage for him.


    To deceive them and make them think that he hadn''t left at all, he placed a small, disc shaped device on the ground that produced a 3 dimensional, accurate display of what he looked like- a holographic trap, and as soon as the trap had been set up, he quickly made his retreat using his stealth cloak, a cape like device that allowed him to blend in and become perfectly undetectable like an invisible chameleon blending into its environment, as he then patiently waited for the 2 to be distracted by his false image.


    Unfortunately, at least for the 2 of them, the hologram had also been another deadly weapon that had been sprung the moment they came within its vicinity.


    BANG!


    It was another flashbang effect- the small holographic display had also served as a makeshift proximity mine. A few seconds after the hammer had made contact with Novus'' false holographic display, the device quickly exploded into a blinding light, stacking with the effects that Novus'' flashbang had on them and prolonging their suffering. Instead of them being able to recover from the explosion''s effects, they were once more exposed to brutal elements as they were temporarily blinded and deafened once more.


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    "Argh! This is madness!"


    And of course, this was the perfect opportunity for Novus to unleash another attack from his weapon.


    [DEATH RAY MODE - ACTIVATED]


    The lights on Novus'' blaster radiated with a deathly red glow- he had switched the weapon to it''s deadliest, most powerful mode of all, one that was capable of disassembling the very molecular bonds of any target it would hit. In fact, it probably would have been enough to leave at least a small scratch on his mother''s dreadfully impregnable armor.


    BANG!


    A single blow was all it took to end their 2 feeble lives- a deadly beam of black light emerged from the weapon''s smoking muzzle, hitting and disintegrating Joseph the Blade-feller''s entire lower torso, as well as Margus the Steelrender''s armored head, melting through his once invulnerable armor and disassembling the proud warrior''s head into nonexistence.


    They were strong, yes- in fact, their strength could allow them to level entire sections of the castle. However, strength alone was not enough to determine the outcome of their short skirmish. Ultimately, Novus'' superior tactics as well as his access to vastly better technology had allowed him to triumph in this battle, leaving the 2 great warriors dead as their dying cadavers slumped onto the ground in complete defeat.


    "Well... That was quick..." Novus sighed in relief as he finally removed himself from the safety of his concealed position- there was no longer any need to hide since every enemy was already dead. "Time to find Whitlea then. You guys were good, but I just have much more experience with these sorts of things than you 2."


    Indeed, had they been more careful and cunning, the 2 champions probably could have won and quickly killed Novus from the very start- they had many chances to just be done with him and plunge their weapons into his body before the fight even started, and yet they never seized the opportunity to do so, instead offering him a false deal that they would never have even upheld in the first place. Alas, it was too late to hold any regrets, as the victor of the battle had already been determined.


    Novus would then begin to walk away, to navigate the endless corridors of his home once more in order to complete the task that had been given to him by his ''mother''.


    "Farewell."


    ________________________________________


    "This is getting dangerous."


    Meanwhile, in Whitlea''s case, she had been forced into a defensive position from the very beginning- despite the hulking armor the man known as Falmuth bore, he was terrifyingly quick on his feet and had managed to force Whitlea to block his swift sword attacks using her esper abilities.


    [Rain of thunder!]


    There were no words from her as the spell was casted- instantaneously, several, arcing bolts of lightning rapidly emerged from mage Alryn''s staff, quickly making their way towards Whitlea''s body: fortunately, the faint, purple barrier coating her skin, a protective measure which she had long activated, would safeguard her once more from the long-range attack.


    This wasn''t good, Whitlea contemplated to herself amidst the battle she was deeply embroiled in. She knew that the protection she was using wouldn''t last forever, and she had no way to at least temporarily disable either of her attackers in order to use more of her abilities.


    This was a drawback that Whitlea had now began to hate fervently- while her abilities were powerful, they too had to take a momentary delay in her movements in order for them to be unleashed successfully. Unfortunately for her, this weakness had been eagerly exploited by the 2 opponents she was fighting.


    [Magickal Rain.]


    Several missile-like constructs of pure, arcane mana were then launched at her once more. However, by this point, the barrier protecting her had already weakened greatly- it was now only capable of surviving approximately 3 more attacks from Alryn''s powerful spells, and Whitlea couldn''t help but curse at the 2 silently as the impossible situation continued to play by.


    BOOM!


    The first attack hit her left hip, and the barrier still stood strong.


    BOOM!


    Another magickal missile had struck, this time to her back- the barrier was now failing to maintain even its glow, and Whitlea could feel a bit of fear and dread crawling on her skin.


    BOOM!


    The last attack had completely disabled her barrier- there was no longer any form protection enveloping her body, and the poor maid was now completely vulnerable to another attack from the mage''s long-ranged spells.


    "You have nothing to protect you left, vile witch!" Falmuth shouted as he increased the intensity of his attacks to their very limits. "Meet your end! Alryn! Do it now!"


    "I got you!" Alryn screamed, the blue crystal on her staff rapidly beginning to glow. "Meet your end, heathen!"


    [Holy Li-]


    BANG!


    "... W-what..."


    ...


    It was an unprecedented attack from a far away place- a precise, red beam of light had suddenly struck the armor of Falmuth, an attack that easily tore through his helmet and instantly erased his head.


    THUD!


    His body then fell onto the ground in defeat, completely lifeless and dead, as the beam of light had instantly taken every ounce of life from his very soul.


    It was a dumbfounding moment for Alryn- one that would leave her paralyzed in both disbelief and shock as her spell ceased to be casted, with her eyes firmly planted upon the now dead corpse of her beloved friend.


    "... W-what... T-this can''t be..." Alryn stuttered, her mind still denying what had just occurred. ".. H-hey, Falmuth... Get up... You can''t possibly be dead after just one attack... P-please..."


    "I''m afraid he already is." Whitlea too would stare at Falmuth''s dead body for a moment, though instead of feeling sympathy, she felt only admiration for how precise the attack had been- she knew just who exactly did this after all.


    "That attack was from my partner from far away. There''s no way he can survive that, especially since his head is completely gone."


    A partner? Alryn''s thoughts were rushed and confused. This bastard had a companion with her all along?! This was impossible, she thought: how could such an attack happen so quickly, and how could it have even come from such a far-away distance, to the point where she couldn''t even see where this other enemy was?


    "N-no... I-I refuse to believe this..." Alryn slumped onto the ground in defeat- Falmuth was her dearest friend, she still completely denied the death of such a wonderful, strong man. "T-this can''t be... This can''t-"


    "Oh would you shut up?" Whitlea scoffed as she eyed her insultingly. "Just go and die already."


    The swords and spears of the dead soldiers would then levitate, their metal bodies enveloped with a faint, purple aura as they hovered into the air- Whitlea had no time to waste with this attack, and she needed to completely make sure that the mage would completely die with this next attack.


    "Farewell then, Miss Alryn. May we never meet again."


    The despair of losing Falmuth had taken over her mind too much- in truth, the 2 champions were lovers who were madly in love each other, so much so that they were supposed to be wed in a few weeks. Unfortunately, the impossible had happened, and now Falmuth had fallen and died, with Alryn no longer having any will to fight because of this tragedy.


    Her life flashed before her very eyes- the happy days of her childhood, as well as the joyful memories she formed with the now-dead man she loved deeply. She didn''t want to accept what had happened, and so she immediately fell into a deep grief as her eyes began to water themselves in complete despair.


    "..." there was only silence from the mage''s mouth, as tears of sadness fell down from her eyes- if her partner had died, then she would gladly join him in the afterlife, no questions asked. She already knew that she wouldn''t even be able to pose a threat to the maid anymore after Falmuth''s death, as he was the primary reason why they had even managed to stand a chance against such a monster- the moment he no longer had her pinned down would automatically be considered a loss.


    The hovering, metal weapons would then  mindlessly lunge themselves towards Alryn''s body, plunging their metal bodies into her soft, warm body, splattering blood and gore all about as Alryn quickly met her demise.


    THUD...


    If it was any consolation, Whitlea had at least made sure that the first sword that would stab Alryn would hit her in the head, killing the poor mage instantly and not allowing her to suffer any further than that- perhaps Whitlea had felt a slight bit of pity when she saw her despair over her loved one, or maybe it was due to Whitlea''s nature to dislike inflicting pain upon others... Nobody could tell for certain...


    "Rest in peace..." the maid whispered quietly, as her voice slowly trailed into a cold silence.


    ...


    "You nearly got killed. How was it?"


    Novus would take a while to reach Whitlea''s location- he had shot someone from far away using his terrifyingly precise gun, and by now, he was feeling a bit exhausted from everything that had just happened to him.


    "... Dreadful, dear." Whitlea sighed in response. "You seem to not be too bothered though... Did you kill many of these idiots as well?"


    Novus would give a nod in affirmation. "Yeah. Ran into 2 that were just as annoying as the ones you fought." he would then give her left shoulder a brief, rather forceful pat. "Well, at least we survived right? You don''t look too good yourself though?"


    "I just took some lives, Novus. Of course I''d be... Bothered by it a bit." she replied. "... H-How come you''re not bothered with all of this anyway?"


    "Anyhow..." she would then walk towards her, wrapping her hands around her body as a smile formed on her beautiful face. "I''m glad you''re safe... I thought you''d end up dead or gravely injured... It''s honestly quite a relief..."


    "You''re being pessimistic again... I''m not that weak, you know." he would then laugh with a grin. "... By the way... We should get going. We have to meet up with ''mother'' as soon as possible."


    A good decision, Whitlea thought. She would not question the reasoning of his words, as it was the perfect next-step for the events that were transpiring before them.


    " Alright then, dear..." Whitlea said as she would then let go of him. " Let''s go... Ah, by the way... would you kindly lead the way please? I''m feeling a bit dizzy."


    ________________________________________


    "I''ve told you this thrice already, you pompous little shit: You cannot defeat me no matter what trick you pull. Give up, and I will be kind enough to give you a quick and painless death."


    Stephan was lying down on the ground, his body full of wounds and bruises as he remained there motionless and unable to move- as expected, the battle didn''t even take more than 5 minutes to conclude- Stephan, despite his gifted talents as both an elvish mage and an arcane swordsman, could not bridge the strength gap between him and her, despite the fact that he had seized multiple advantages before the fight would even begin.


    "... Y-you monster..." Stephan the elf cursed back, gritting his teeth in frustration as he repeatedly tried to get up, which would always eventually lead to no avail. "... I really don''t have a chance against you no matter what I do... This is unacceptable..."


    "Sadly, that is indeed your reality, tree hugger." Anastasia responded quite jeeringly. "Now... Any last words?"


    "..."


    Stephan didn''t want to use it- though he had the potential to use it due to being a high elf, he had always felt that sense of dread whenever just the thought of using it crossed his mind: a spell that would allow him to become one of the greatest creatures, the undisputed, ultimate lifeforms of their world that his race would often fervently worship with deep respect.


    All he had to do was to sacrifice his very soul- the lifeblood of his very existence, the most important aspect of his otherwise meaningless life, in order to reach a power that never would have been possible for him to achieve. For one to become a dragon, a magic-born must sacrifice his very soul in order to reach the pinnacle of power, and for as much of a power-seeking warrior Stephan was, he would not sacrifice such an important piece of his existence in order to gain such an ultimate power.


    However, the situation right now was different- if he didn''t choose to do it, he would die and fail, and everything he had done and sacrificed would ultimately become pointless, worthless endeavors that would mean nothing in the end, and Stephan definitely didn''t want that to happen.


    "Pro victoria..." his voice slowly trailed into a dark, somber tone, as he came to accept that there was no other choice for him to choose other than this one. "... ipsam vitam et animam meam offero."


    ...


    "!!!!"


    Within seconds, the very foundations of his soul twisted and burned in severe anguish. His flesh would deform and mutate, reforming itself into a form that no longer seemed to belong to that of an elf, as his entire body became engulfed in a red spherical miasma that would not let even light penetrate its impermeable barrier- and from within the confines of his temporary containment, his body began to undergo severe changes that would forever strip him of everything he held dear.


    His skin melted away and was replaced with hardened scales that could endure the harshest of attacks; his limbs, bones and muscles broke down and were shattered, only to be rebuilt and reborn into ones that were massively more larger and terrifying; his eyes would explode into a fountain of blood, as a set of new, unnatural eyes would follow suit to replace the now-empty sockets.


    Most importantly, however, his strength had changed- his physical prowess had been improved by a hundredfold, stronger than even the mightiest warriors of his race, and his magick capabilities, as well as his mana reserves and arcane affinities, have all been improved to such impossibly high levels, that he could no longer be in the same league with even the greatest of the high elven mages.


    This entire process took only 5 seconds- immediately afterwards, the impenetrable miasma would quickly dissipate into nothingness, as the new, transformed Stephan emerged from his cocoon as a new, monstrous individual that could finally hope to stand a chance against the behemoth of a woman he had always been meant to fight against.


    "... Aha, is this all the strength you can hope to muster, knife ears?" Anastasia would mock once more with her smug tone of voice- simultaneously though, she could feel a bit of excitement rushing through her body; it had been a long time since she had been able to fight against a foe of this caliber after all. "... I must admit though... This is definitely going to be a pain in the ass."

 Part 2 - Chapter 5

    "Are you really sure about this?"


    Those words rang through the bereaved mother''s mind again and again, as the doctor''s heavy emphasis on his question only served to solidify her choice even more.


    After being saved and brought into a military shelter made for evacuees, Anne had slowly climbed up to a higher status due to an important role she could serve- she was, after all, a doctor heavily talented in the scientific fields, that is, before the invasion had swept in and took everything she held dear.


    It had been 10 years since that day she had lost her son, and now, she had become one of the certified researchers of a top-secret military program that had been made in order to win them the war against the otherworlders.


    Project Jormungandr, a secretive military project that the Global Front Initiative started in order to better combat the threats that have descended upon the planet- using the numerous data they had analzyed from the few dragons that they''ve taken down from the enemy side, they would build their own draconic being that would not only be vastly stronger than the behemoths they were fighting, but to also serve as one of their ultimate weapons to win them the war.


    The dragons, the supreme overlords of those tyrannical, purist elvish folk who have invaded earth: the lords of these creatures who possessed powers that allowed them to fiddle with aspects of the world- some had the power to control gravity and magnetism, others could command the weather and turn entire city''s worth of people into their mindbroken playthings, while a few could manipulate the very concept of death itself and wreak havoc wherever they went.


    Every victory that the GFI made against these monsters would cost the lives of millions of men in the process, and as such, they had started a new plan that would allow them to turn the very foundations of the power of their enemies against these creatures and their magickal cohorts.


    Unfortunately, the final phases of the experiment required a human volunteer, an individual meant to serve as the vessel of the superweapon''s might- an artificial dragon heart replicated by GFI scientists using fallen dragon corpses, a bodily organ that defied all laws of physics and allowed the reptilians their horrific powers over life.


    "Yes. I am absolutely certain."


    There was no hesitation in her voice- while Anne had at least regained part of the life she used to live, the loss of her precious child had already taken a huge part of her soul away from her. If she could have at least a small possibility of getting complete revenge against the monsters who had caused her son''s death, then she would gladly take her chances, even if it meant that she would die in the end of it all.


    In truth, they had already prospected and examined countless individuals for their chances of success in the experiment, a process they made in order to determine the chances of success that one had to merge with the heart and to reduce the unnecessary loss of human lives. In the end, they would determine that Anne had the single highest affinity level with the merging process- it was a solid rate of 55.5%, and when compared to the success rates of the others, Anne''s was the most impressive among all of them, which made her the best, most suitable individual who could survive the transference process.


    However, some of Anne''s colleagues would try to persuade her to not become a volunteer, which would only lead to no avail- not only was she an important figure to several of their facilities by now, but she had also been a good friend to many of them already. They didn''t want to see her die for an experiment that wasn''t even completely safe in the first place.


    "... L-look, Anne... You may have the highest success rate among the surveys we''ve gathered, but..." one of the scientists protested, his voice full of concern for the friend he had spent years with already. "... The chances of failure for you are 54.5%... You''re practically playing a 50/50 gamble with your life on the line..."


    "... Is that meant to be a problem?"


    "Of course it is, you lunatic! If the merging process fails, you''ll melt along with the heart and die a brutal death!"


    "And even if the merging does succeed, what then huh?" he would continue to protest. "You become one of those monsters... You lose most of your memories, your sanity... You won''t be fucking human anymore for Christ''s sake!"


    He had a point there, and she couldn''t lie about it. It was a dangerous gamble, and even if the odds went in her favour during it all, she would become a monstrosity that could no longer be considered human- not only would she change forever, but she would turn into the very same things that had taken everything from her.


    Still though, for Anne, whose only goal in life for 10 years was to seek vengeance and spite the fell creatures who have invaded their world, this was a gamble that was absolutely worth taking.


    "I know. However..." she would answer. "If I have to become a monster to slay monsters, then I will gladly accept."


    "... Even if I lose my life in the process."


    ________________________________________


    [Domain Prism.]


    The newly formed dragonoid had casted a spell without uttering a single word, and simultaneously, both of them were engulfed into a massive, foreign space that seemed to be a completely different space than the one they were previously in- within the domain that had encapsulated them, there was only an infinite space where the faraway lights of stars, planets, and nebulous clouds could be found all-throughout the other world.


    Surprisingly however, both sides were able to speak with each other just as they could back in the real world- as fellow dragonoids, they had the ability to communicate with each other mentally without having to utter a single word from their mouths.


    "... Interesting..." Anastasia told to the mutated being in front of her, as her eyes scanned the unfamiliar environment they were in- had she been a lesser form of life, she would have already died from the extremely low temperatures and the lack of air alone, though fortunately, she was an existence that was completely resistant to such mortal weaknesses.


    "It''s time for you to die, half breed."


    [Maximize Space.]


    [Stellar Burst.]


    Stephan the dragonoid had casted multiple spells within a fraction of a second as multiple magick circles surrounded his body- simultaneously, the space between him and Anastasia would expand to an incalculable degree in order to prepare for the massive attack that was about to be unleashed. After only a few seconds passed, the onslaught of absolute terror would finally arrive in all its majesty.


    "... Ahahaha... This is wonderful, very wonderful!"


    A star would manifest close to Anastasia''s location, one that would have been as big as the sun had it manifested in the real world instead- it was a spherical series of nuclear reactions that could melt the earth into raw, plasmaic substances the moment it reached a sufficient distance, and in a few moments was it quickly about to engulf the dragoness, all while the celestial body rapidly grew in size at the very speed of light itself.


    "You''ve proven to be more interesting than I thought, knife-ear!" she would laugh again, as the intense, orange radiance of her eyes would return and begin to manifest- a sign that she was about to use her ultimate power.


    [Disappear.]


    The command upon reality had been set almost immediately- the star would then fade away instantly and cease to exist and expand, as if it had never come to life in the first place. In the end, not even a celestial body that was a thousand times bigger than her home planet could hope to defy her indomitable will.


    However, that was, of course, not the end to her duel with the dragonoid that had trapped her into this foreign realm.


    [Cosmic Blast.]


    Endless rays of vast, cosmic energies would then begin to form and barrage her with their irradiating might- their very power capable of turning the very surface of the earth into an irradiated husk of a wasteland, and with such destructiveness they did hold as they struck her again and again without respite.


    [Black Hole.]


    It was just as what the spell''s name said it was- a hole in time and space with such an immense gravitational pull, that it could pull any nearby form of matter towards itself and crush them into long, fine, thread shaped soup as they would eventually end up getting trapped inside its inescapable event horizon.


    The astronomically large abnormality even managed to pull the other nearby asteroids and planetoids into its irresistible hauling force, crushing everything with its terrifying gravitational field, showing no mercy even to the smallest particles that would get captured into its deadly embrace.


    And then, there was silence, not even a single word from the mental communication between both dragons- it would seem that this would finally be the end of the ancient superweapon after existing for hundreds of years in isolation: after all, Stephan was quite sure to himself there was no such organism, not even the strongest of dragons amongst the elvish pantheon, that could survive such a horrid attack.


    "Heehee... Is that all?"


    An impossibility had just occurred before the transcendent Stephan- his attacks had once more been nullified, as even the undefiable gravity-well maelstrom he had summoned to destroy her did not work and had instead instantly ceased to exist.


    What a monster she truly was, he thought silently as he stared at what had transpired before him, completely shocked. No wonder the humans had won the war against their forces all those centuries ago: if they had managed to give life to such a monstrously powerful behemoth, then they certainly would have been more than a match for the dragons who supposedly held dominion over all.


    "... W-what the-"


    Defying the very concept of speed, all while ignoring the vast distance between them, Anastasia would then suddenly appear behind him, tapping his shoulder with the claw of her index finger, as she then whispered into his ear with a dangerous tone of voice.


    "Going somewhere?" her voice was light and faint, but Stephan could tell that there was a creeping danger with every word she spoke. "Perhaps... Over there?"


    "ARGHH!"


    A terrifying blunt force would then strike his back, sending him hurtling into the cold, endless space of his own domain. He was like a meteoroid that roamed endlessly throughout the cosmos without end, as his body would not stop moving towards the direction he had been struck towards- in fact, he had already covered such a huge distance in mere milliseconds, so much so that he had reached a speed that he would normally be unable to achieve even with his own agility.


    "That''s not going to end with just that though, you know?"


    Shockingly enough, Anastasia had managed to keep up with the speed Stephan had been propelled at, making his eyes widen in shock as he was once more left in a profound stupor- despite this, however, his body then immediately moved its arms and began to shield itself, his instincts quickly letting him know what horror was about to happen.


    BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!


    A barrage of punches then came from her metal fists, a flurry of strikes that would come seemingly without halting. Every strike that hit Stephan had left him a bloody mess- each punch easily ignored the protection of his scales and magick, as the penetrative blunt forces that landed upon him repeatedly broke both muscle and bone and mercilessly caused him to bleed profusely.


    While his incredibly fast regeneration would eventually allow him to outpace the damage he was receiving from her monstrous, physical blows, Stephan would fail to notice the massive celestial body that was gradually getting within his vicinity as his body sped uncontrollably towards its immense mass.


    BOOOMM!


    The impact was quite harsh, so much so that his body had instantly turned into a broken mush, only managing to survive due to his rapid capabilities for healing himself- he had crashed onto what seemed to be a moon of some nearby planet, an atmosphere-less moon whose surface was bound with rough, uneven stone formations, as its surface remained completely unprotected from the horrendous elements of space.


    "Enough of this!"


    By now, Stephan had had enough- he knew that he had to pour his all into his next move, otherwise he would fail and get killed by the monster that was standing on top of his broken body.


    [Maximum Repel.]


    Anastasia would then get pushed away by a powerful, invisible force of magick, sending her away by a great distance into the cold vacuum, giving enough time for Stephan to heal from his grievous wounds and cast a myriad of spells to lay waste upon his enemy.


    This time though, he would do everything he can to assure his victory, as well as the death of that unnatural abomination that was his opponent.


    "I''ll put everything I have into this one!" he shouted, his draconian eyes glowed with an intense, red radiances as blood seeped like tears from his eyes in his forceful exertion of mana. "Die! False blood!"


    [Maximum Spell Multiplier.]


    [Greater Regeneration.]


    [Maximize Protection.]


    [Maximum Enhance Magick.]


    [Delayed Greater Teleportation.]


    [Complete Time Reversal.]


    [Maximum Spell Duration.]


    So much magick spells would be cast all at once, all for the sake of finally getting rid of his enemy once and for all. Time throughout the other-realm would then rewind- from the very structures of planets and stars, to the very formations of the galaxies themselves, they would all reform themselves back to their very origins and gradually return to the primeval, nebulaic dust they had once come from.


    "!!!"


    Everything was happening so fast, so much so that even Anastasia, in all her immense power, couldn''t even see precisely what was happening to her surroundings anymore- temperatures would rise to impossibly high degrees that could disfigure the very laws that constituted the material realm, as years would go back by the millions like a film being played in reverse, all while reality itself began to shape and change due to the extreme conditions that had been reached.


    And then Anastasia would finally come to a realization- she could feel a bit of shock within her for the very first time amidst the battle, as she soon saw the degree of chaotic power that was being unleashed everywhere by the transcended elf: the world was rewinding back to its very origin, with everything going back to where it had once been billions of years ago, with the 4 natural forces of the world gradually combining into one, as impossible particles that have long died out since the world''s beginning began to surface into existence once more.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    "This is my farewell, oh great enemy." Stephan said with a stern, almost humorless voice. "May you not survive this final attack I have made with all my might."


    The delayed teleportation spell he had casted would then begin to manifest a series of bright lights that would engulf his body, bringing him back to the real world and away from the deadly, hostile environment he had unleashed in his own realm, leaving Anastasia to die in the horrifying world where no living creature could ever hope to survive for even a millisecond''s worth of existence.


    "!!!!!"


    ________________________________________


    "Grandfather! One more story please!"


    "Yes! Why don''t you tell of us that last one in the book you''re always reading!"


    "Yeah, yeah, the one about the western dragon!"


    In a faraway cabin situated in the southern, seaside coasts of Xathra, a pleasant old man had been trying to put his 2 tucked grandchildren to sleep with the countless stories assorted in his bookshelves- of course, it had been several hours by now, and the curiosity of these young brats seemed to be still going strong.


    "Hmm, really now, children? Would you really like to know of her tale? It may seem so outlandish to you, that you''d likely lose interest halfway..."


    The children would then snicker to themselves cheekily, finding the words of their old man quite ridiculous.


    "No way! Every story grandfather tells us is always true!"


    "Yeah, we know it''s always real! You don''t have to prove it again this time!"


    Hearing this, the old man would give up and sigh. "... Very well then... However... No falling asleep until the story finishes, alright?"


    "We got that grandfather!" the 2 would answer in unison.


    "Alright then..." he would then place his index finger between the thick pages of the book on his lap, his eyes starting from the very top of the first page as he began to read the words in a hushed voice...


    ...


    Long ago, during the dark ages of chaos, when men and women were beset at all sides by monsters of all shapes and sizes.


    Humans had lost their homes and loved ones, and had been forced to hide in the shadows for hundreds of years, hiding in the darkness to avoid being caught by these monsters of old. We were nothing more than rats scampering underneath the ground, desperately trying to survive as the lands above us were dominated by creatures that far surpassed our strength.


    One day, however, this would all change with the help of 2 individuals...


    A king had united the people of the underground to take back what was once theirs- their tribes rallied under one banner and marched out of their caves and towards the surface.


    They took back the lands that they once lived in, slaying the monsters and beginning a new, beautiful age of wondrousness.


    However, even with their impressive armies, it was not enough to drive away all of the monsters.


    There were still some of the creatures who could not be defeated, no matter how much they worked together, and no matter what strategy and weapon humans used, the dark creatures simply could not be slain.


    And so, the king would seek the help of another dark creature for assistance: a dragon that had remained asleep for countless centuries, a being of untold might that would allow them to vanquish the remaining dark creatures. The king had decided that if he must fight fire, then he must also use fire to defeat it in turn.


    As soon as he reached the creature''s den, the king did everything he could to get the dragon to help him and his people. Even if it would not work in the end, he would do everything he can to ensure that the men and women would finally have a proper place to call their home, even if it meant that he had to exchange his life.


    Fortunately, the dragon was kind and understanding- seeing how determined the human king was, it would not take long for her to accept the deal that was to be made.


    The human king then made a sacred pact with the dragon: she would help him with his conquests on the surface and help with slaying the fell creatures that the armies of men could not defeat... In return, the dragon took the human king as her lover, her betrothed, and her beloved.


    After the deal had been made, under the leadership of the wise human king and the mighty dragon queen, mankind would finally take back all the lands that were rightfully theirs.


    Peace would finally come, as the children of men could finally enjoy a beautiful life without being trapped in the cold, dark caverns of the underground where they once lived in. There were also no longer any monsters that would threaten to eat the men and women to satiate their hunger- the world finally belonged to humans again, and there were no monsters that could take it away from them once more.


    However, like all good things, there was one that would eventually come to a tragic end.


    His magick had corrupted his mind and soul- the king had been driven mad by his power after countless years of his reign. He would eventually become a vicious tyrant who would oppress his people in the same way that the dark creatures would once do.


    His beloved wife would try to reason with him- the dragon queen, who still loved her husband with such a zealous loyalty, would try to bring him back to sanity, doing everything she could in order to restore the man she had fallen in love with back to his old, wonderful self.


    However, it would not work- no matter what method she used with her power, the human king would remain a cruel, vicious tyrant who violently oppressed the people he once loved.


    The final straw came when the human king had suddenly betrayed his loving wife- he had stabbed her in the chest with an arcane sword presented to him by a mysterious craftsman, one that could pierce through the dragon queen''s invulnerable body and injure her heart, weakening her enough so that the armies of men could slay her with ease.


    However, she would no longer have any of it: before she could be slain, she would flee, never to return, from the king''s lands and hide herself within the far forests of the west, remaining in isolation for the rest of the passing centuries, as the giant wound on her chest would always remind her of the lesson she had learned that day.


    She still loved the human king, but her heart had been too broken for her to consider coming back, and the great, unhealing injury that had reached her heart prevented her from using her full power as a mighty dragoness.


    For hundreds of years, the beautiful dragoness would live in the den she had built, as she would grow to become vicious, hateful, and merciless towards any people from the empire who would dare to crawl into her lands- she could no longer bear the thought of being betrayed, and she would no longer let such a thing happen to her broken soul again.


    This was how the western dragon came to be, a tale that not many would know due to the countless years that had passed by since then...


    ...


    "And so the story finally concludes, children. How was it? Did you enjoy the-"


    As the old man looked toward his grandchildren, he could see that they had already fallen fast asleep, as the tale had been too long, and perhaps they had fallen asleep out of boredom: that was usually how it would happen everytime he told them a story after all.


    Well, not that it mattered too much, they were simply children, and there was no need for them to understand such a complex tale that was actually based on what had truly happened in history.


    Now was not the time for them to fully realize this... As well as a great many other happenings that were archived as merely ''stories'' within the old man''s bookshelves.


    "Sweet dreams, my grandchildren..." the old man would tuck his children under their blanket one more time, leaving the room as he blew out the candle for them to sleep soundly.


    ________________________________________


    "That was... cough... Close..."


    Despite still being heavily drained of his mana, Stephan stood within one of the castle''s room with triumphant look, as his eyes stared firmly at the black sphere in front of him, whose black space was filled with countless formations of swarming energy that rapidly skimmed and flowed about the domain''s space like wriggling, sentient forms of life- it was the domain he had summoned earlier, and he was carefully watching the chaos that was occurring within its chaotic void from the safety of the outside world.


    "There''s no way she could survive that..."


    His last attack was the greatest form of assault he could ever hope to unleash using his abilities- he had trapped the monster inside a pocket dimension that was a direct replica of the real world. Not only that, but he had also expended most of his mana to reproduce within his domain the single deadliest event that gave birth to the real world itself- an event where a massive, powerful explosion quickly gave birth to everything that existed and caused an era of superheated space, as well as countless particles that would viciously annihilate each other out of existence.


    There was no way Anastasia could survive such a deadly environment, and there was no way for her to escape from its impenetrable space either: the entire dimension was under Stephan''s control due to his draconic magick, which allowed him to create his own world and do whatever he desired within its impregnable confines.


    "Finally... I''ve won..." he laughed weakly, clutching at his chest as he felt his newly-formed dragon heart ache with such intense fury- he had used a great portion of his power, leading to the great penalty he was feeling right now- in the end though, despite the numbing pain he was already beginning to feel, the victory he had garnered was absolutely worth it.


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Had it really been a victory though?


    "... W-what in the name of...?"


    A literal crack would form upon the small sphere''s surface, one that ran from its very top and all the way down to its very bottom- it was as if there was an incomprehensibly powerful force trying to break out of the domain''s containment, and it was appearing to do so in a gradual, yet successful manner.


    No, could it be? Fear and panic began to flood his mind uncontrollably: this was impossible, completely impossible... There was no way to break through a barrier that strong, as his ultimate form of draconic magick had made sure that such a thing would be impossible.


    However, as Stephan continued to deny the possibility of such a horrifying outcome, the crack on his small, spherical domain would noticeably grow larger in size.


    "... W-what a fucking monster..."


    CRAACKK!


    The sphere would immediately split in half, as its 2 parts began to turn into ashened dust that would slowly dissipate into the air- from within the now breached confines of the once impenetrable domain of the void, his great enemy would emerge triumphantly, managing to survive everything that had been thrown at her despite the sheer power of it all.


    Although, it would seem that Anastasia had not escaped completely unscathed from the deadly prison she had just been trapped into.


    "... Hahaha... I have to admit..." her voice was hoarse and weak, as Stephan looked at her disfigured body with horror and began wondering how she even managed to survive. "You got me really good there... Hahaha..."


    Anastasia''s body was a burning mess- her once pristine, metallic armor, while still somewhat completely whole and functional, had been shattered and left with gaping holes and crevices. Her entire skin had been burned and stripped of its once fair color, and in fact, half her face had been burned off into black, charred flesh, revealing the scorched, inner parts that laid underneath her face''s now missing skin.


    Although, despite her grievous wounds, she was still alive and able to move and speak; she looked like a carcass that was already supposed to be dead, only being able to live due to using her power over the laws of the world. Nonetheless, she survived, and was most likely about to make quick work of Stephan and his now-weakened body.


    [Restore thyself.]


    Her body, though incredibly slowly, would begin to regenerate by itself in a gradual fashion: her terrible injuries would soon begin to fade away, as the broken parts and bits began to fix themselves back into proper, functional order- it would seem that everything Stephan had done would all have been for naught, as he couldn''t even move to attack just yet due to having just exhausted himself moments ago.


    However...


    "... Cough... Cough..."


    Anastasia covered her mouth as she coughed blood onto her palm, her face twisting into a sense of shock as she did so. Simultaneously, her regeneration would stop all of a sudden, leaving only three quarters worth of her body that had been healed- in truth, she had already reached her limits, with her dragon heart having been heavily strained to its upper capabilities, and now, she was completely unable to use her powers for a while.


    "... Shit... I guess I''m out of power as well..."


    Stephan could instantly see the opportunity in front of him: she couldn''t use the dreadful power she could use to easily kill him, and now the battle would become vastly easier than before. The problem was, Stephan had also greatly exhausted his core as well- if he forced himself to use his mana once more, his heart would explode due to the combined strain, which would quickly lead to a violent and painful death.


    Unfortunately, his life mattered no longer to himself anymore- he had come so far to be able to leave their great enemy in such a weak and vulnerable state... If he could use the last remaining ounces of his mana to slay her once and for all, even if it would cause him to perish today, then he would gladly do so without hesitation.


    Then...


    [Maximum Enhance Magick.]


    [Spirit Sword.]


    A red, blade-shaped manifestation of arcane mana formed on his right hand, a powerful sword which was made with the very draconic essence of his being- while such a weapon would allow him to penetrate her body, just maintaining it alone was already causing severe pains to his dragon heart.


    Even still, this was all necessary to achieve victory.


    "Perish!"


    "!!!!!!"


    He quickly charged at her motionless body, with his sword aimed at the position of where her own core was- Anastasia wouldn''t be able to react in time due to still being weakened from her near-death experience within the void, and she was completely unable to avoid nor parry his final gambit as a result.


    SQUELCH!


    The crimson sword would go through her chest, stabbing through her dragon heart with ease as Stephan plunged the sword into her deeply. Anastasia then violently began coughing more blood uncontrollably, splattering much of it onto Stephan''s face, as the right hand holding onto the blade''s grip forced itself to move the weapon once more- that wasn''t enough to kill her after all, and Stephan was already quickly running out of time with his last and final spell.


    5 more seconds...


    The blade would then inch towards her head, slowly slicing through her flesh and nearly managing to reach her neck by just a few short inches, making her scream in pain as she placed both her hands on Stephan''s arm to stop it from moving any further.


    2 seconds...


    His heart was burning and screaming for him to stop using his mana, yet Stephan wouldn''t halt with its usage- both of his hands were now gripping onto the sword, as Anastasia desperately tried to move the sword downwards in order to avoid its sharp edge from cutting into her brain matter.


    1 second...


    It was too late- Stephan no longer had enough time, and the searing pain in his heart was making him puke blood out from his throat too. It wouldn''t take long for him to feel the aftershocks of what he had just done, as an even more violent pain seized his body and made his ichor leak from his eyes.


    SPLAT!


    Stephan''s heart would explode from the sheer strain he had caused, instantly taking away every sign of life from his body, as his sword would then quickly dissipate, with his body instantaneously falling onto the ground completely motionless.


    "..."


    For a moment, Anastasia would stare mindlessly at the corpse of her dead enemy- it had been a long and grueling fight, one so terrible that even she herself had gotten severely injured in it as well.


    "!!!"


    She herself hadn''t been left in a sufficient state either- unconsciously, her body would collapse towards the ground, her eyes closing themselves uncontrollably, as her mind slowly began to drift away and lose its consciousness... Perhaps forever...


    "... I guess... I won...." she uttered weakly, before her voice trailed off into complete and total silence. "... I''m truly sorry.... My child..."


    ________________________________________


    The rumbling of collapsing, wrecked stone had quickly driven Novus and his loyal maid to go towards the location of the sound- each of their steps were hurried and quick, both of them worried for what was happening at the sound''s place of origin.


    They were certain that every single one of the home invaders were dead- Whitlea herself couldn''t pick up any presences lurking about within the castle, and the countless dead corpses that had piled up on every corner would only serve to solidify the fact that every single one of them had finally been dealt with.


    Although, if such a thing was truly certain, then why did they hear several sounds of stone being destroyed just now? Did Anastasia discover more of them and had quickly engaged in battle to get rid of them at once?


    "What the hell is happening..." Novus muttered to himself, looking around the now-destroyed corridors of the castle that were full of gaping holes and cracks where even scores of men could fit through- much to the prince''s dismay, he would find nothing but the sights of dead men and ravaged architecture.


    Suddenly, however, as the 2 pranced about the corridors trying to seek out Anastasia''s presence, Whitlea movements would come to an abrupt, grinding halt as she looked inside one of the rooms- a look of horror and dismay quickly covered her entire face, which Novus would quickly notice as he walked towards her.


    "... What''s wrong? Did something happen over there?"


    Whitlea would quickly cut him off, not wanting him to see the dreadful scenery her eyes had just witnessed. " I assure you, you will not like the things you will see here... Knowing this, do you still truly wish to see?"


    "What do you mean?"


    "... It may cause a great sense of distress within you... You don''t need to see it if you-"


    Novus would ignore her, his curiosity easily getting the bet of him as he gently pushed her aside- of course, as soon as he does, shock and panic began engulfing his mind, all while his mind vehemently tried to deny the very spectacle he had just seen right now.


    "... Cough... Cough... Haah... You''re... Here... You two..."


    Novus'' face would immediately darken. "Whitlea... Could you leave us for a while?"


    The maid would give a slow nod, as she then began to stroll towards a faraway corner- as Novus'' eyes continued to look what was in front of him, it had quickly become clear that it was a horrible sight that made his mind fall into complete disrepair: the woman who had loved him as a mother, the one who had shown him care and had loved him unconditionally, was now lying down on the ground, her body wounded with terrible injuries that cursed her with a deep, hellish pain that made her no longer able to move.


    "... W-what... What happened to you?"


    Anastasia gave a small smile as she spoke weakly, blood coming out of her mouth as she did so. "... One of them... Cough... Was too powerful... Cough... Luckily... I won..."


    "..." Novus remained silent for a while, his heart sinking even more deeply as he saw just how deep her wounds ran. "... Is there no way to heal you? Can''t you use that ''ability'' you have?"


    "Cough...I''m afraid... Not... Cough..."


    She had been injured to seriously during the fight she had been forced into- her ability as well couldn''t be used due to her core having been stabbed, and as such, there was no other outcome for her but to await the slow, creeping death that would eventually claim her.


    "... Was that why you decided to split up with me earlier?" Novus asked again after a short pause- by now, he could easily tell the details. "I don''t know how you could tell that there was someone strong among them, but... You shouldn''t have sent me away that time, you know..."


    "... You... Stupid child... Cough..." she responded. "The one... I fought... Cough... Was too strong... Cough... The one I fought... would have killed you first... Had I not... Sent you away..."


    It was his fault, or so he believed. If only he had never met her, then maybe this entire thing would never have happened. Or maybe, had he not separated from her at that moment, then maybe he could have helped her to at least survive the deadly outcome of that tragic battle...


    "Don''t feel... Cough... Sad... Child..." she would comfort him, not wanting him to become too affected by what was about to happen. "... It''s good for me... Cough... Y''know... To die for the sake of family... Cough... Cough... At least my child didn''t die.. Cough... this time around..."


    "... I''m sorry... I-I''m a terrible son... I-I even considered leaving this place just to explore the outside world..." he looked down as he spoke while stuttering a bit. "... I''m a disappointment... I''m really sorry for being such a-"


    "Don''t... Cough... Demean yourself... Like that..." she quickly interrupted him with her slow voice. "... You''re not... A terrible son... Cough... Don''t do that... It hurts me... Too..."


    Tears would suddenly form on the dying dragoness'' face, a form of sadness serving as her expression as her eyes locked onto Novus'' own- she truly loved him, and while she had already accepted the fact that she was about to die here, she didn''t want to see her son blaming himself for what had happened.


    "... I-I have something to confess... Mother... I don''t want you to die without knowing this first..." he would continue with a bit of hesitation clearly in his voice.


    "... Go ahead... Cough... Dear..."


    He would then take a deep breath, readying himself for what he was about to say. "I''m not at all who you... Really think I am..."


    "W-when we first met... I wasn''t actually a child before that..." Before she would pass away, Novus would decide to confess the truth of his entire situation: from the tragic event where he had died in his previous life, to the very moment he had been brought into this 2nd one, he would finally tell her everything.


    "... I was... I was..." he would hesitate a little once more. "... I... I lived a-"


    "You lived... Cough... A previous life... I know... Cough..."


    Almost immediately, his eyes would widen in disbelief. "... Y-you knew...? H-how... S-since when...?"


    "My child... My power... Involves shaping... Cough... Cough... Everything in front of me... As I see fit..." she explained. "... Reading your mind... Cough... Is something I could... Easily do..."


    "Then why... Why did you still accept me as my son?"


    Hearing this, she gave a little giggle as she began speaking slowly once more. "While I only found out... Cough... Years after I took you in... I could tell... Cough... That you were... A good man from... Cough... The very beginning... And besides..."


    "What kind of loving mother... Cough.. wouldn''t accept her child... For what he truly is... Cough..."


    A few tears fell from his eyes as he heard her words- it was rare to see her this vulnerable, and it was rarer for him to see such a true form of love throughout both of his lives. Her words had moved him, so much so that Novus would, for the first time in many years... His eyes would become red as he began crying without stopping.


    "... But... About that question... Cough... I was going to ask you earlier..." she continued- a consoling smile forming on her face as she saw his weeping. "It may seem... Trivial... Cough... But... Do you remember... Saving a... Cough... Mother... In your previous life...?"


    Novus then began to recall to recall the moments in his previous life- he had indeed saved many people during the many rescue operations he had took part in, and as such, he couldn''t remember most of their names... However, he could remember that there was one in particular who had gotten his interest back then.


    The woman named Anne... She found him in one of those desolate corners of a city that had been leveled by the otherworlders: her child had been brutally crushed to death by a massive stone that completely squashed the boy''s lower torso... Strangely, he could still remember those events happening as if they had just occurred yesterday.


    ".. Yeah.. That woman... She became one of those scientists who worked for the higherups..." he would finally answer after what seemed to be a few moments. "... Wait... Could it be...?"


    "Yes... Cough... my child..." Anastasia replied. "... I am... That woman... Cough..."


    "But how? How..."


    Her coughing would begin to grow into a more violent series of wheezes, with more blood coming out of her with every word she spoke, as a painfully sorrowful expression formed on Novus'' face while he reached both his hands to Anastasia''s right one and began clasping onto it in a tight embrace- it had, by now, become obvious that she didn''t have much time left.


    "... I''m afraid... I don''t have much time left... Cough... Cough..." she said weakly. "... If you... Truly wish to know... Cough... Everything... Look into my personal logs... In the computer... I won''t mind... If you dig into everything... Cough... If you read everything... Then you''ll finally know..."


    "... Good bye then... Mother..." Novus said, the grip of his hands onto hers clasping tighter. "... Don''t worry... I''ll stay here until it all ends..."


    With a final muster of her severely weakened strength, she would say a few more words before her body would finally shut down.


    "Thank you..." she thanked, as the life in her eyes slowly began to fade away. "Farewell... Cough... My child..."


    ...


    "Whitlea..."


    With one word, she quickly ran down the hallway to return to the room, as she would then give a light bow as she spoke.


    "... Is there anything you need?"


    He would suddenly walk towards her and wrap his arms around her body, giving her a warm hug as he closed his eyes.


    "... There, there, dear..." she then began to comfort him, her hand moving to stroke his hair gently as if he was a child. "... I understand why you feel this way... You can let it out as much as you want..."


    "... I already have... But still... Thanks..." he responded, his embrace becoming slightly more taut. "... Anyway, I have something for you to do..."


    "Of course, dear... What is it, hm?"


    "... Get her into one of those life support pods... Now..."


    Whitlea would quickly nod, gently pulling away from him as she started raising her hands while her eyes began radiating an intense, purple light- almost immediately, Anastasia''s heavily injured, unconscious body would begin to levitate, as a weak, amethyst aura enveloped her entire body.


    "Right away, dear." the maid would answer without a moment''s delay, as she quickly got to work and get the body of one of her creators to safety.

 Part 2 - Epilogue

    Novus stared silently at the occupied glass pod that was full of soothing fluids- it was a terrible sight to to behold, so much so that he found himself wanting to pull his eyes away from the sight, and yet he found himself completely unable to do so.


    It was Anastasia inside the glass pod- her unblemished body suspended within the green, life-supporting fluids of the pod, as the instruments that carefully monitored her body for any signs of life produced not a single sound or beep from the monitors.


    She had truly died fighting one of the bastards who had barged into their humble abode, completely unannounced.


    Still, he couldn''t shake off the great sense of sadness and grief he was feeling- this woman had showered him with unconditional love for many years, something that not even in his previous life he had experienced.


    There was that horrible sense of sadness slowly eating away at his heart, as he could feel himself about to cry and let out tears, only for it to be completely suppressed by his stoic nature- he was beginning to blame himself again for everything that happened... Perhaps it was because of him that she died? Maybe if he had just arrived to help her in time, maybe he at least could have changed the outcome a bit differently than this...


    "... Is there truly no way to bring her back?"


    "... I''m afraid so, dear..." Whitlea, who was standing close to him, would answer back with a slow, equally dejected voice. "The nanomachines managed to fully repair most of her body... But..."


    Novus would quickly respond, slightly irritated that she had even considered to pause. "But?"


    "... No matter what method I used.. Her heart was a unique case..." she looked down in defeat as she said that. "... Her heart is made of a completely unique material that is virtually impossible to repair or replicate..."


    "... I see..."


    There was nothing he could do at this point- There was no way to bring her back to life no matter what form of advanced technology was available in the castle. For a few moments, Novus would once more stare aimlessly, this time towards the apparatuses that helped to preserve her dead body, as his fists clenched in frustration with the fact that he was completely helpless in this situation.


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    "... However... While I dug through one of her personal logs in the lab, I found something of great interest..."


    Almost immediately, Novus would quickly walk towards her and grab her by the shoulders, looking deeply into her eyes with a great desperation written all over him.


    "What is it then? Is it something that can bring her back... Please, just tell it quickly..."


    Whitlea looked at him with concern- she understood why he was acting like this, and so she did not pay heed to his erratic behavior too much. After all, how he was behaving wasn''t even completely unreasonable in the first place.


    "... The logs were about this.. Other facility similar to this castle..." Whitlea would pause, trying to remember the exact and proper details. "... Based on the data, there is this... Individual who manages that other facility... Someone who''s somewhat similar to Anastasia, I think... Her name is Thurien..."


    Novus'' eyes would widen in shock.


    "S-somewhat similar? There''s another being like her in existence?"


    "... Not quite, dear." Whitlea would then begin to explain. "... This... Individual named Thurien... Both her and Anastasia were ''built'' by the same group... I think they call themselves..."


    "I think they call themselves the G-D-I? Or Guh-Di? I don''t really know how to say it properly..."


    That word... Novus was all too familiar with such an acronym- it was the name of the organization that humanity had founded in order to combat the threats that had arrived on earth, which were the elves and those overtly terrifying dragons.


    This entire thing had now completely gathered all his attention by this point- there was no way he was going to stop now.


    "... This... ''Other facility''... Do the logs have their exact coordinates?"


    Whitlea would give a short nod. "Indeed, dear. That place is located southwest from here, approximately 1345 kilometers awa-"


    "We''re going there now."


    "... I-I understand, dear, but there''s no need to rush..." Whitlea would try to reason with him- going there immediately was not practical after all, and they would only be just putting themselves in another form of danger.


    "Oh, yeah? and why is that?"


    "Well, you see, when I probed into one of those soldiers I dealt with... he called himself ''General Triton'' I think?" she would then begin to explain once more. "... Well, in short, after lining up the details and polishing some stuff up, I found out one more interesting thing."


    "Stop pausing and get straight to the point."


    "... Geez, alright, fine..." Whitlea sighed, shocked with his sudden outburst, though she would, nonetheless, continue to speak after a few seconds. "... In short, this ''Neugomian Empire'' is sending this ''crusade'' towards the same coordinates where that other facility is located..."


    "... Then those bastards are probably already attacking that place as we speak."


    She would give another affirmation with a nod." Precisely. While I''m not against going to that place in order to find a solution for our... Situation right now, I would advise that we prepare a bit before we make our journey..."


    She was making a point there, Novus thought.


    "... Alright then, we''ll be making preparations now then." Novus replied. "We have to go to that place at once... Even if there''s a slight chance that we can bring her back, we have to take it without hesitation."


    "Ah, speaking of preparation..." he would continue, as he suddenly remembered something very important. "... What of that ''surprise'' that mother had mentioned?"


    That parting gift his mother had prepared when he was about to leave in a few weeks... Looking back, the fact that he had even considered leaving her behind like that made him a bit sick with himself: what more chaos would have happened to this place had he left earlier than what he originally planned?


    "... She''s actually already prepared for activation..." Whitlea, who was already about to leave, would confirm again as she looked back at him. "Would you like me to begin the first activation sequences?"


    "Yes. Begin doing so as soon as possible."

 Part 3 - Prologue

    "Hold your positions! No relenting men!"


    It was an impossibly odd sight, even for a battlefield that was as chaotic as this one- armored men in pike and shield formations were fighting against giants of metal whose very steel bodies gave off an otherworldly feeling that unsettled even the sternest amongst the Neugomian soldiers.


    One of the northwestern military sea-ports of the Neugomian Empire, Port Tallius, was currently being assaulted by an army of automata that were rising from the shores like an undead army that had been summoned by a greater lich- the metallic monstrosities had suddenly come from out of nowhere in great numbers, and were now laying siege to everything they could see within their sights.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The mages from the sidelines then casted their spells against the army of automata, scholars whose very fragile beings were being dutifully protected by a vanguard of knights who would drive away any enemy that would manage to get near- in truth, the horrific part of the battle was that these magickally talented individuals were the only ones in the defending army who were able to damage and even destroy the enemy golems; the foot soldiers who were swarming ahead served only as mere fodder that would clash and distract the main enemy force and allow the more important figures to do their work and win them the battle.


    Today, however, was a different day unlike the rest- in this local skirmish, the number of constructs that had been sent against them were incredibly teeming in number, so much so that they had proven more numerous than the usually, numerically-superior forces of the Neugomian Empire.


    "There are too many of them! We''re going to get wiped out at this rate!"


    "No running, fools! Better to die in battle than to get executed for cowardice!"


    Those words seemed to quickly motivate them enough, as the fear of being strung up from a street lamp was a thought they couldn''t bear, especially in a place where they could die at any moment: without any form of respite, the armored soldiers of Neugomia continued to hold the line, even as the steadily approaching lines of marching constructs gradually approached their positions.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    "D-damnit! There''re too many of these monsters! The spells aren''t even effective anymore!"


    "T-they''re getting closer! Tighten your shield formations, they''re getting-"


    SPLAT!


    One of the nearby golems would simply backhand one of the soldiers with its mechanical hand, sending the poor lad flying into the ranks of the soldiers, the sheer force of the impact having already instantly killed him. Eventually, the formations of lines that the soldiers had formed would rapidly begin to deteriorate and falter, as the automata simply pushed their way in without any regard for their own lives.


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    "W-we''ve lost too much men! Sound the retreat horn! We''ll only get wiped out at this rate!"


    The bellow of a deep sounding horn would then echo throughout the skies of the chaotic, open battlefield, a tone that all of the soldiers were all too familiar with already- without a single moment''s delay, the soldiers then all ran for their lives towards the opposite direction, not even caring if they had left behind their weapons in the process due to the impossible dangers that were gradually making their unstoppable march towards them.


    SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT!


    Some of the men had ran too late, while the others chose to remain and fight the behemoths in vain as well as in their lonesome- of course, the latter amongst these men would not even hope to last a second, as both the unfortunate and the brave bastards were either crushed or pummeled to death by the advancing army of mechanical, steel golems.


    It would have seemed to be a battle where victory was both unobtainable and completely pointless- not only was there nothing they could to stop the mindless approach of their enemies, but they had also lost countless men for a mission that had failed all too quickly.


    However, not everything in this minor conflict would seem totally hopeless.


    "T-the princess! The princess has arrived!"


    "Hahaha! Those monsters, they''re screwed! They''re boned, I tell ya!"


    An armored woman in horseback had stormed into the scene, with her left hand carrying a long, deadly halberd- her entire body was covered in silver protective plating and chainmail that could ward of most attacks; on the other hand, a small helmet protected her head, where a beautiful face with green-iris eyes and rare, crimson hair remained as one of the many proud features that distinguished her beautiful self from all the rest.


    "..."


    With a quick look of her surroundings, the warrior-princess leapt off from her horse and into the battlefield with a beautiful, agile, acrobatic display of technique: as she landed onto the ground, her spear would pierce one of the hardened golems with great ease, skewering its body using her javelin as she managed to completely destroy such a durable creature without much issue.


    "!!!!"


    Her sharp eyes would gaze towards her other enemies, as her hands moved to swing and thrust her halberd against the marching golems that were encroaching towards her direction- in only a few cuts and stabs she made into their formations, the constructs would then easily begin to fall and become destroyed with ease, as if they had never been the threatening targets they were in the first place.


    ROOAARRR!!!


    The ground beneath her would suddenly erode and burst, causing her to leap into the air for safety- it was then a massive metallic beast that resembled a huge worm would come out of the ravaged ground, producing a roar as its serpentine body slowly crawled out of the hole it made as it scanned the soldiers beneath it; to such a monstrous creature, the little men beneath it were nothing more than targets to be annihilated, as electricity began to charge and crackle from its mouth, a form of attack that would easily be able to wipe out all the soldiers in sight.


    However...


    BLAM!


    Aldyth had lost her spear as the creature had suddenly rammed itself towards the surface: instead, she delivered a single, powerful blow to the creature''s steel abdomen, leaving a massive crater on its dirt-enveloped, metal hide, quickly killing it and reducing it into a useless pile of scrap.


    THUD!


    The iron worm''s lifeless husk would collapse onto the ground with a large thud- eventually, after only a few minutes'' worth of time, the warrior princess would descend onto the battlefield once more to pick up her fallen spear and completely slaughter the remaining constructs down to their very last soldiers. Seeing this, the soldiers of Neugomia would scream and cheer at her monstrous display of strength, hailing her name with their loud, praising voices as they raised their weapons into the air in victory.


    And of course, after the last enemy golem had finally been slain, their cheers would only become even louder.


    "We''ve won!" the men screamed into the air in utter exultation.


    "All hail Princess Aldyth! All hail the Princess!"


    "All hail the Princess! Our enemies stood no chance against her power!"


    The words they were shouting would not blot out the emotions she was truly feeling however, as there was a deep sadness in her heart that had lasted for more than 10 years- the only kin she ever cared for in this worthless, scheming royal family, had suddenly disappeared without a trace all those years ago.


    Aldyth still believed that he was still alive- her hope refused to break as she would, until now, continue to deny the horrid possibility that he had already died a long time ago.


    Amidst the cheers and commendations that were being shouted at her, the princess would simply stare aimlessly into the sky as she remained completely lost in her own thoughts.


    "My little brother..." Aldyth silently thought to herself, unable to say a single word due to the muteness she had been cursed with for many years already. "... Where did you go... Where are you...?"


    Until now, she was still clinging on to the hope that he was still alive... Fortunately though, this belief would eventually turn out to be true, though she will not be able to find this out for a little while longer...

 Part 3 - Chapter 1

    It was... Unprecedented... Or so did it seem for the bio-android known as Thurien at least.


    Her assault on one of this human empire''s sea ports had failed, all because of an unforeseen factor that came by in a way she couldn''t have expected- a powerful human woman of an unnatural physical strength, a warrior whose spear could somehow penetrate the armor of her creations like a hot knife through butter. The reason why she had even considered attacking was to prevent any further barbaric attacks upon her home, to terrify these people and prevent them from considering such a foolish thing anymore.


    The entire situation she was in had seemed completely bizarre in the first place: where once she was the greatest medical android built by her creators during the height of the great global war, now she had seen the descendants of her makers turn into nothing more than primeval savages who now pathetically relied on the very power that had once nearly destroyed the earth- magick, that accursed, otherworldly, foul energy that defied every form and law of science, it was something that a being of knowledge like her would zealously hate to the greatest of exceeding degrees.


    She had never even once planned to commence such an attack after all: Thurien had been peacefully minding her own business within the confines of her sea castle, paying heed only to the little hobbies she had made during her years of lonesome bother, and suddenly, those barbarians from the nation known as the Neugomian Empire had suddenly come into the domain of her home with their armada of primitive wooden ships, each of these zealots loudly proclaiming of a great crusade to purge her and her ''demonic fortress'' out from existence and away from the face of the earth as they barged into her home with their brutish weapons.


    ... Of course, they would fail in their half-assed invasion attempt: her creations had easily stopped these fools and had even managed to capture most of them- of course, she would eventually bring them to the Realm of Sleep where they would be able to forever live a life of tranquil grace and peace.


    "Hmm... I wonder what it''s like to live there... If only I had a ''soul''..."


    However, this ''special realm'' was no mere allusion or allegory to a form of afterlife- the Realm of Sleep, a creation that her now-ancient creators had called by many names: an infinite illusion, a false world, and even ''the matrix''... A long time ago, during the age of modernity where technology grew at an unsurpassed rate, the discovery of ''souls'' amidst the invasion of the otherworlders had proven shocking.


    They had discovered that every single human did indeed have this spiritual-esque portion of life within them, a fragment of their existence that would remain even when the body began to fail and perish; such a discovery had led to the branching out of various new technologies that were based on this newly found revelation, creations of which would most likely terrify the common men with their very conceptual frameworks.


    Of course, many among these scientists had developed a desire to maintain and preserve the lives of the fallen, leading to the creation of the science-born dimension that the advanced medical droid had full control over- the Realm of Sleep, or so did Thurien call with a passionate description, it was a digital realm of falsehoods where humans could live out the best of their lives for eternity- the only downside being that it would all simply be an illusion, as each and every single one of the memories they formed within this world would not be truly belonging to that of reality.


    While many people rejected the idea of this newly formed invention, there were many others who were both welcoming and accepting of its newly found existence, with a few even happily coming into its folds like desperate men who had never known any happiness...


    "I-I already told you everything I know... I swear.... I swear... H-have mercy... M-mercy..."


    In front of the medicae, the single remaining soldier amongst the invaders her creations had captured remained seating on a metal chair, his arms, feet and wrists bound by steel restraints, unable to even move a single bit as the android''s soft, yet cold arms gently held the sides of his head with a tender touch.


    "Not quite, dear human..." she whispered into his ear, as an expression of dread and fear quickly formed on his sweating face. "I feel like there''s one more thing you aren''t telling me~"


    "N-no more... P-please!" he pleaded, no longer wanting to experience this form of torture first hand. "I swear, I''ve told you everything already.. I-I beg of you, don''t do it agai-"


    "Heehee~ You look like you enjoy it every time though..."


    Unlike most of the surviving creations of the ancient humans, Thurien did not despise humans at all for how far they had fallen- when the first foundations of her existence had been built, she had been programmed with a deep love for every human being, and no matter their flaws, as long as the being in front of her was human, she would always display a form of love and care that seemed to be comparable to that of a caring, motherly figure.


    "NOOOO! P-PLEASE, CEASE THIS MADNESS, P-PLEASE-"


    An overwhelming, ecstatically drowning pleasure began drowning his mind, as his senses began panicking and quivering from such a gradually intensifying form of overstimulation- while the positive feeling was actually overwhelmingly pleasant in normal dosages, his body was reacting violently due to the exceeding amounts of it that were being poured into his writhing flesh.


    This was, in truth, the only form of torture Thurien would ever use upon such uncompliant brutes; after all, not only could she partially see the contents of their mind using a combination of their weakened will as well as her mind-reading abilities, but also, such a form of torment left no permanent wounds or damages on them.


    In short, it was the perfect form of torture for an artificial intelligence who had no true will to harm humans.


    ...


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    ...


    ...


    His mouth foamed with his own drool as his eyes firmly closed themselves shut- it had been too much again, and he had quickly lost his consciousness due to the mind-numbing effects of what had been done upon him as a result.


    "Ah... It seems you were telling the truth..." after a few minutes of overstimulating and probing his mind, she would eventually find nothing and quickly began to apologize- it seems he had truly known nothing about what she was trying to find out. "... I apologize, dear human~ it seems I got too carried away... Again..."


    In truth, Thurien was actually trying to find out if this man knew anything about that anomaly of a human woman who suddenly appeared during the attack of her creations upon the port- she wanted to know more about this potential threat, to evaluate just what such a person could do, and if she would easily manage to kill Thurien in a sudden encounter.


    "If you wish..." Thurien continued, a trail of happiness always being apparent in her often cheerful voice. "I can compensate this in the form of a reward... So tell me... What would you like to have as compensation~?"


    As the man''s consciousness eventually managed to piece itself back together bit-by-bit, beads of sweat began trickling down from his face again as he heard the monster''s words- was this another form of psychological torture she was planning to do? He would then consider her question, carefully considering the choice he was about to make, and after a few seconds of thinking, several words would eventually come out of his hesitating mouth.


    "... R-release me... I-I beg of you... P-please..."


    Thurien would simply pat and rub his hair, a smile still present on her face as she did so. "No can do, dear human~ you''d just cause some chaos everywhere again! Why don''t you ask for some other wish instead?" she replied warmly. "I swear by the name of all my creators that I shall try to grant your wish, no matter how hard it is... Just don''t make it a ridiculous one, alright~"


    And again, the man would take some time to decide carefully- any choice, any decision... As long as it didn''t involve his release from this... Yes, there was indeed one thing he wanted... Perhaps this monster could manage it and do this wish for him?


    After all, she had been the cause of how it happened in the first place.


    "Revive my friend..." he spoke firmly. "... O-only one of his arms was left after one of your monstrosities erased him with that beam of light... Yes, that''s what I want... Bring him back to life... T-that''s my wish..."


    "... Is that all you want, dear human~?" Thurien''s expression would suddenly become a bit smug. "I was already planning to do that anyway, but... If you ask, then I''ll do it right away... A1028, could you fetch me that arm you have right this second?"


    One of the golems from the corner of the room would then walk towards the medicae, with each step it made producing a faint, metallic thud as it trudged towards her, making the bound man fear for his life for every sound that was made: it made him feel like as if the golem was approaching him to crush his head instead.


    "Ah here it is~ Now, if you would just observe what I am about to do, dear human~"


    Thurien would then move towards him, the full view of her body coming into his view as she held the body-less arm with her right hand.


    The monster seemed beautiful to the eyes: a pink haired beauty with a tall height, as well as an unnaturally beautiful, flawless face that possessed an attractive gaze and an admirable set of rose-iris eyes... The man would have instantly fallen in love with him ages ago when he first saw such a beauty, had she not been a monster who had tortured him for hours after his capture that was brought by her own hands.


    "Hey~ hey~..." Thurien would notice him falling into an aimless daze, her beautiful eyes staring into his as she spoke in an attempt to make him snap out of it. "Ah, there you are, you seem to be stupefied by my appearance again~ anyway, watch what I''m about to do..."


    It became both incredibly bizarre and horrifying in an instant: a massive, black swarm of what seemed to be mindless, little, metallic specks of iron sand came out of her palm, quickly engulfing the amputated arm in a black swarming mass. It would have seemed that Thurien was lying when she said that he was going to bring the owner of the arm back to life, but what came afterwards would only further shock the man into a state of greater stupor.


    The black sand would then begin to expand, forming a structure that took on the shape of a humanoid as it continued to grow ceaselessly... after that, the human-esque structure would begin to grow human features.


    "... T-this is madness..."


    The humanoid would then begin to develop skin and hair, slowly turning more and more human with each passing second. Eventually, the humanoid would finally awake and have the first sparks of life appear in him- the more terrifying part about this, however, was that it had the exact same looks as the friend the man had before he had been erased into oblivion.


    "... W-where am I...? I-I was supposed to be... D-dead..." the newly revived man would stare at himself, looking at his fingertips and palms as he remained confused. "... Y-you... W-who are you? W-why am I in this place... A-and why is my friend bound in shackles over the-"


    "Well then~ now that you''re alive, I can now accomplish the goal I had in mind for ALL of you..."


    ZAP!


    Thurien pointed the tip of her index finger at the man, and suddenly, a series of blinding white lights surrounded him- it wouldn''t take long for his entire body to fade away and disappear from the folds of reality, as if he never even existed in the first place.


    "Well, that''s it for your reward, dear human~" she''d then turn back towards the bound man she had been interrogating for a while. "Don''t worry, I sent him to the Realm of Sleep~ it''s quite a wonderful place there, you know?"


    The man quickly retorted as his eyebrows furrowed deeply, a sense of despair and anger seething in his words as he spoke. "YOU BASTARD! YOU SAID YOU''D REVIVE HIM! WHY DID YOU KILL MY FRIEND?!"


    "Relax, dear human, I did resurrect him as per your wish~ what I did wasn''t a form of cruelty! I simply brought him to a more wonderful place..."


    "You vile witch!" tears began falling down his eyes- witnessing his friend perish in front of his eyes, further breaking his mind apart. "I swear... I-I''ll fucking kill you if I get out of here... YOU HEAR ME! I''LL CRUSH YOUR SKULL AND KILL YOU AS BRUTALLY AS POSSIBLE!"


    "Oh, now you''re just misbehaving again..." Thurien smiled teasingly, amused by the meager tantrum that the human in front of her was doing. "Ahaha... Don''t worry, there''s no point in punishing you again, since you''re going to that place too~"


    "!!!"


    Thurien would then point one of her fingers toward him: instantly, the same thing would happen to his restrained, helpless body, as a bright light engulfed him entirely, simultaneously forever sending every portion of his existence into another realm that was completely far away from the one he was currently in...


    ________________________________________


    "Sigh... I guess I have to do it the old fashioned way, hm?"


    Her castle was completely unlike that of most, with its design being built and maintained by the tireless efforts of her indefatigable creations- it was a fortress which was situated at the center of a massive ocean, with tall walls preventing the exceedingly tall tidal waves from flooding the interior with sea water, as a faint, blue, dome-like shield protected it from the frequent storms that would come by and bombard the fortress with powerful gusts of wind and strikes of thunder and lightning.


    Currently, she was in one of the massive, lower floors of her massive residence- a spacious, empty place where a large portion of her mechanical children remained in organized formations, as a giant, ring-like construct of metal stood tall in front of her with an ethereal, disc-shaped body of light hovering within its central, circular cavity.


    "... I just hope that there won''t be any unnecessary deaths this time..."


    It was a massive gateway, a portal made with advanced sciences that only Thurien and a few other brilliant minds could hope to understand- the location of its exitway being the port she had previously assaulted of course.


    By now, her desire to remain in peace within her humble abode had been replaced by an even greater purpose: she was not only going to prevent more attacks upon her precious home, but now, she now also wanted to bring as many humans as she could into the Realm of Sleep.


    She may not know it yet, but the centuries of having little to no contact with truly living people had slightly eroded her sanity a bit: while there were a few occasional visits from that one friend of hers, they were too rare and infrequent for her to ever be able to be have any truly positive effect on her sanity.


    "Alright then... All of you, get inside that little portal I created..." she pointed her finger towards the massive gateway, and as she did, a smile overflowing with what seemed to be excitement formed upon her lips. "Just try to avoid killing them as much as possible, okay~"


    As her creations began moving towards the portal, Thurien would then clasp her hands together in further exhilaration: for once, she was not only going to be able to meet a lot of humans, but she was also going to bring them into a place of happiness where they could live their lives without the horrors of life; what greater purpose would there be for an artificial intelligence like her whose purpose was to help and preserve human life?


    "If I meet her... I guess I''m going to have to use that method... It''s not the best, but it''ll at least work for a while~"

 Part 3 - Chapter 2

    Chaos...


    It was absolute chaos...


    Chaos...


    The bells were ringing in the sound of alarms, as soldiers rushed about to prepare for the assault that had come to their location...


    Not even a week had passed since the attack of these monstrous constructs of metal upon Port Tallius: now they were rising from the shores again like a horde of undead, each of them trudging slowly but unstoppably towards the port that had been built by the empire at this very place.


    "Ready the arrows!" one of the port-guards shouted. "Fire!"


    This time though, the men of the empire had already anticipated their return- the ballistas that had been swiftly constructed on top of hastily built wooden bastions had quickly fired upon the armies of golems emerging from the cursed shores, scoring several hits and even kills with every bolt they fired. They knew they wouldn''t stand a chance if they simply fielded their men in the usual battle formations against these monsters, and this time, their strategists had come up with a sound and logical plan.


    [Earthen Wall.]


    The available mages had immediately casted their defensive spells to protect one the only few things that could damage these giants; almost immediately, several, protective walls of earthly dirt rose up from the ground to momentarily stop the march of the metal constructs- granted, they were not too tall as to prevent the ballistas from firing, and they were thick and durable enough to weather even a hail of punches and other forces that the golems would use to bring down the indomitable barrier.


    [Quick Sand.]


    [Sand Golems.]


    [Earth Golems.]


    The sand beneath the ground they trod on quickly became unsteady; contaminated by magick, the sands beneath the steel behemoths instantly became unstable, slowing them down and making their mechanical feet sink into its coarse embrace, as the magickal constructs that the mages had summoned quickly used this environmental hazard to their advantage and began to pick the monsters of one by one.


    "... The plan worked well... We''ve stopped them all so easily..."


    Their march had now been completely halted indefinitely- even despite their rapidly increasing numbers, the defense that the soldiers had set up against such an incursion had proven to be incredibly effective. All they had to do now was to wait for time itself to lead these monster towards the failure of their own assault, and all would become well once more.


    It seemed to have happened so well in fact, that some of the soldiers were beginning to feel uneasy: surely, their victory couldn''t have come with no terrible costs?


    "Captain... They don''t even stand a chance against us anymore..."


    "... Indeed... I just hope they stay down for good this time..." the captain of the port guards mentioned with a stern tone of voice. "... It may also be a tall wish, but I hope these monsters never come back after this 2nd attack of theirs..."


    How ridiculous it seemed- what was once a dangerous army of enemies that had nearly managed to defeat the Neugomians stationed in the port, had now been turned into cannon fodder that were easily, though slowly being defeated by the combined tactics they had unleashed.


    The men stationed within the safety of their stations simply looked at their enemies in either disbelief or ridicule, as the once threatening, dangerous constructs they had previously fought were now slowly being defeated by their sound approach, with not even a single men of their own perishing in the process.


    ... However... Things would eventually stray away from the sound plan they had already made.


    ________________________________________


    "Hahaha~ this is interesting~ what smart humans you are... Even though you''ve all become filthy due to magick, I guess humans will always be cunning in times like these..."


    To the surprise and dismay of the soldiers hiding away within the protections of their bastions, an ethereal gateway had suddenly formed in the sky, and out from it came one of the great enemies hovering unperturbed in the air, a formidable foe that the missing crusading fleet had supposedly set sailed to vanquish.


    "... I-it''s her... Isn''t she supposed to have been vanquished already...?"


    "She''s alive... No wonder the men who set sailed days ago haven''t returned..."


    She was supposed to have been slain by the army they had sent to the demon''s fortress- a large armada of wooden ship-of-the-lines and transport ships, all of whom were supplemented by an army of 7,000 men, among them were knights, mages, and the best trained soldiers amongst the ranks of the empire- it was a great crusade meant to purge the great demon who resided at the center of the sea, who both the scholars and head mages of the empire believed to be the cause of the countless storms that had come by and caused havoc on their lands for countless centuries now.


    However, seeing that she was still alive at this point, their greatest fears had quickly and seemingly become true: the conquest fleet had been easily defeated, and now the demon had arrived here to finish the rest of her duties.


    "A-aim the ballistas! Quickly!" the port-guard captain shouted in a panic. "Tell the mages to begin casting their spells right this very second! Don''t give her even a single moment to attack!"


    A hail of massive ballista-arrows were immediately fired at her general vicinity, as several spells of fire, thunder, and other elements rapidly closed in towards her location- it would seem that she had been caught in a trap that she couldn''t escape, and many of the soldiers assumed that she would have perished from such a deadly, massed attack.


    However...


    "This is troublesome~ I guess I have to use 2 as well then~"


    She aimed one of her fingertips at the arrows in a gun-like expression, and then a swarm of what seemed to be particles of jet-black sand emerged from the very tip of her index finger, with all of them rapidly engulfing the massive arrows with their black mass and seemingly consuming them into nothingness: what was even more terrifying, was that that as soon as the magick spells came close to her vicinity, they quickly dissipated into oblivion without even managing to harm her.


    It was as if she was completely invulnerable to any form of attack...


    "Your little javelins might work, but..." she smiled, seemingly pleased with how things turned out. "Don''t bother with your magick, I have a tool that negates such filth whenever I want~... Anyway..."


    She snapped her fingers, and suddenly, more of their fears came to life in an instantly dreadful manner- the magick spells they had set had ceased to exist, with the unsteady ground returning to normal, the once tall and proud earthly walls collapsing into piles of worthless dirt and stone, and the magick golems the mages summoned fading away into useless dust and sand.


    Now, the army of automata could march unstoppably once more, and the preparations they made to halt their advance had all been rendered completely useless.


    "... R-retreat! Tell all the men to retreat, there''s no point in holding ground if we''ll all get annihilated in seconds!"


    "Oh no, you don''t, dear humans~"


    They would no longer belong to that of reality- almost instantly, a blinding, radiant succession of white, blinding radiances would enwrap all of the soldiers in an inescapable fate, as they were all quickly brought into another realm where they could never escape from for eternity.


    "..."


    There were no longer the noises of shouting and conversing men within the safety of their wooden forts, as there was only the sound of marching steel, as well as the noises of ravaged, collapsing wood and crackling fires that would echo throughout the air...


    ________________________________________


    Alezandro Tybur, one of the captains in charge of maintaining the defense of Port Tallius from the invaders, after being engulfed by the radiating series of lights that mercilessly surrounded him, could now find himself resting within the comforts of a warm bed: immediately though, the cautious soldier would quickly waste no time and began looking around to examine his surroundings.


    "... W-what... Why am I... Here...?"


    It didn''t take long to find himself resting within the comforts of his old home... The one where he had once lived with his wife and 2 children; it was a happy life he greatly loved even to this day, but sadly, it had been taken away from him all abruptly by a tragic event.


    A plague, a merciless pestilence that swept throughout the lands of the empire like a rampant sickness that would not end- in one unfortunate day, his wife and children suddenly contracted the deadly disease, and it did not take more than a few weeks for them to eventually perish from its heavy toll on their bodies.


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    Even the very foundations of his humble, wooden abode were not spared from the disaster- after the epidemic had died out, it had immediately been proclaimed by the empire''s governing officials that the homes of the infected had to be burned down and rebuilt in order to avoid the infection from spreading once more, though unfortunately, Alezandro would be one of the many unfortunates who would never have their homes remade due to only being a mere commoner who had no worth to be considered.


    And that was how Alezandro found himself within the ranks of the soldiery- he had no purpose left in life, and he was now only seeking to die in a way that would at least be worthy of praise. As such, he had conscripted himself into the army, not caring whether he would die quicker than most due to having not even a single idea about how to wield a sword.


    However, as fate would have it, Alezandro would quickly prove his worth and rise through the ranks, eventually earning a solid standing as a captain amongst the thousands of soldiers who served the Empire''s will.


    "You seem to be unwell, dear... Are you alright?"


    To his further shock, he would find the very body and image of his long dead wife, talking to him in a concerned tone... It was apparent to him by this point: he had been entrapped in some form of magick by that great demon who had suddenly appeared, and a look of anger quickly flashed from his face- how dare that vile demon make a false image of his old, happy memories?


    "... Hey..."


    However, instead of words of anger coming out of Alezandro''s mouth, a voice of calm, happy serenity emerged from it instead- what sort of madness was this? This false imagery wasn''t his wife, as she had already died long ago from that terrible plague that tortured her until her very end... He couldn''t possibly be falling into such an obvious trap now, was he? It was impossible, as the memory of her death had left such a monumental impact on his very life...


    However...


    The captain could feel it: his will to resist was slowly fading the more time he spent in this false illusion. What''s more was that he was simultaneously starting to forget many  important memories of the life he had lived- from the tragic deaths of his loved ones and the destruction of his house, to the very moment he and his men encountered and were quickly defeated by that demon... He was slowly forgetting them all in a rather quick, and unstoppable manner.


    "... Anna... You look so beautiful today..."


    Why was he even angry in the first place? In fact, what was even happening before he had come to this place?


    Those aspects of his life were now becoming an unclear haze, as his existence began to slowly mesh into the current world of falsities he was in right now. Eventually, Alezandro would no longer remember the painful memories of his life and how he had come to be a soldier in the first place, as he then began to live out the happiest parts of his life in a false dream he could no longer differentiate from reality...


    "... Oh thank you.. My love..." the wife would smile, seemingly happy with what he said.


    By now, Alezandro had been fully bewitched by the beauty of this endless realm, securing his fate into a false happiness that would last forever in his eternal rest. While there would be no escape for him, he would at least live on in a peaceful and serene realm where he could live out the beautiful life that had been cruelly taken away from him long ago...


    ________________________________________


    The warrior-princess had arrived late to the scene, it seemed. There wasn''t even a single man left in this ravaged place, and the wooden bastions that once stood tall near the shores were now little more than worthless rubble, as fires slowly ate away their organic bodies to sustain their greedy flames.


    "Oh, you''re here... You''re the strong one, right~ this is definitely going to be difficult-"


    As she looked to the skies, she saw the levitating figure of a beautiful woman in a strange white armor, though how she was managing to converse with her despite being faraway remained a mystery to the princess- despite this, Aldyth immediately knew who it was, as she had been briefed of the appearance of this sea devil long before she had even arrived at the port.


    And so, without a word, the princess quickly drew her spear to rush in for an attack.


    "!!!"


    Without wasting any time, Aldyth quickly burst into the air and towards Thurien''s direction in lightning-quick speeds- she was fast, so much so that even Thurien had become surprised with how swift on her feet this woman was.


    "..."


    Her spear was mere inches away from the enemy''s neck: just a few milliseconds more and she would quickly dispose of her and get rid of the threat that had suddenly appeared before her very eyes... Just a few moments was all it took...


    Of course, though, Thurien would not immediately relent to such a rapid form of attack.


    [Away.]


    A violent, repelling force pushed Aldyth back to the ground, knocking her down quite powerfully as the ground burst with the princess'' unstoppable descent- despite this however, Aldyth remained very much alive and well, as her body wasn''t even damaged by such a seemingly ineffective attack.


    "Whew, that was close..." Thurien sighed in relief. "Anyway, could you not be so quick to attack, you''re so fast that you''d look like a blur to the-"


    The princess rushed for another attack, though this time, her speed was far greater than the previous leap she made. Thurien would then try to repel the attack once more using her abilities, though this time, she had only managed to push her back by the last second.


    THUD!


    The impact produced an even louder crash towards the ground, leading to great clouds of dust scattered into the air as they surrounded the princess'' body in a smokescreen-like fog: this was dangerous, the medicae android thought quickly... She couldn''t see where the princess was, and with the immense speed that this terrifying warrior had, such an advantage was more than enough to allow her to plunge her spear into her.


    "Nope! I''m not letting you jump towards me this time!"


    Black swarms of nanites then rushed out of her hand, instantly forming several, one-eyed drones with small rotary cannons on their bodies- they were meant to stop Aldyth from instantly rushing towards her, and in an accurate prediction, the princess would instantly burst towards the air again, this time being forced to cut down the drones this time due to their teeming numbers blocking her way.


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    It was like a terrifying whirlwind when she swung her spear to cut them all down at once: the drones didn''t even last 5 seconds, with each of them being brutally cut down into piles of cleanly cut, metallic scrap, as their bodies came hurtling down towards the ground in a useless manner, leaving Thurien completely defenseless to the rapidly approaching warrior princess and her spear.


    This time though...


    "Alright! Enough games!"


    A blinding light quickly engulfed Aldyth''s body, a displacement to another place that had been turned into a makeshift form of attack. Thurien knew that no human could resist being sent to the Realm of Sleep once she had marked them, and as such, she had immediately calculated that this had been her victory.


    However... Things didn''t go the way she had expected them to go...


    ...


    STAB!


    It didn''t work- the warrior-princess hadn''t been sent to that other place, allowing her to quickly close the distance between them as she rapidly stabbed her chest with her terrifyingly sharp spear. Almost immediately, Thurien''s eyes would widen in shock, as no human had ever resisted being sent to the Realm of Sleep, and the fact that it occurred today of all times was a terrible thing for her indeed.


    "... You... How did you..." Thurien muttered. "... I see now... Y-you''re completely soulless... H-how are you still alive at this point?"


    As their body''s slowly descended towards the ground the moment the spear had penetrated her body, Thurien quickly scanned the princess'' body as to why the attack she made hadn''t work- quickly, of course, the medicae android had immediately come to a realization.


    As part of her ability to send humans and their souls to the Realm of Sleep, Thurien also had the ability to sense human souls: it was practically built into her to allow the medicae to not only sense the emotions of the humans she was treating, but to also see the true personalities that lied within her patients.


    However, the fact that her opponent right now completely lacked one, and was also still managing to not only draw breath, but remain completely fine as well, was completely baffling to the likes of Thurien.


    It was as if this woman was like herself: a soulless, creation of metal that, nevertheless, had sentient life within its hollow body... How this had been possible however, was something she could not immediately conclude.


    "... I see... If that can''t work..." Thurien spoke weakly, her body weakening due to the spear striking a vital part of her body. "... I''ll use this then... Don''t worry... It''s nonfatal... Dear human..."


    "...?"


    Another series of blinding lights would completely envelop the warrior princess in a blue, radiant embrace- this time, though, their goal was not to bring her to the realm of peace, but to completely translocate her body into another faraway location, enough to allow Thurien to momentarily escape and repair her injuries.


    The Exile Ray, or so she called it: it was a rare form of invention she made that she had always designated as useless ever since its creation... That is, of course, until the present situation had come before her.


    It was a device capable of teleporting both living and non-living matter into places that were far from reach, though the problems were that not only could their destination not be determined, but the distance they were often brought to were often too far away.


    While the medicae had always considered this creation to be that of limited uses, she always had a hunch that there would come a time when this device would finally have a use she could utilize to her advantage.


    And for that matter alone, she was absolutely correct with her guess.


    "!!!!"


    The princess would then disappear and fade away, as the once-useless weapon spirited her away into a faraway place, never to return for a while as Thurien''s wounded body came crashing towards the ground without her terrifying enemy there to finish her off.


    THUD!


    ...


    ________________________________________


    "..."


    Aldyth found herself in a dense, sparse collection of jungle trees and fauna, as the wet ground began filthying up her armor as well as her once fair, pristine skin with coarse, uncomfortable dirt.


    How strange... Aldyth thought that she would die at that moment- perhaps the attack had not been lethal in the first place? Instead of being disintegrated or damaged greatly, which was what she expected, the princess had immediately been brought into a faraway location that was completely unfamiliar to her.


    "WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT, BOYS! THERE''S FRESH MEAT OVER HERE!"


    For a normal human, this would have been a terrifying sight the moment it would reach their eyes: for someone like Aldyth however, such a measly threat was nothing in front of her overwhelming strength.


    Several orks had suddenly appeared before her: these creatures were terrifying compared to the likes of the mere beasts that roamed these jungles, as each of them were towering, green-skinned, 7 ft tall monsters of muscle adorned in crude, spiked armor. Their eyes looked at her with disdain and bloodlust, as one of them even had the audacity of moving his blunt sword near Aldyth''s neck.


    "YOU! HUMAN! HOW DID YOU GET INTO OUR LANDS! WE''LL BEHEAD YOU AND EAT YOUR FLESH FOR THIS!"


    "..."


    This was a bother, she thought, as her spear was missing and nowhere to be found- such a weapon would have easily allowed her to kill these barbaric non-humans instantly, though unfortunately, she currently had no access to her powerful weapon that allowed her to cut through almost anything.


    Ah well, she thought, looks like she''ll just have to use her fists- it''s not like these monsters could even stand a chance against her, even with Aldyth having no access to her spear.


    "!!!"


    In lightning-quick speeds, she stood up from the muddied ground and quickly struck one of the important looking orks with an emblem on his armor using her clenched fists, making the poor ork''s important head swiftly depart from his neck as blood immediately began to spurt from his now-headlesss body.


    THUD!


    His lifeless body fell to the ground, and the orks immediately looked quite shocked: strangely enough, Aldyth was right to have killed this specific green-skin, as this important-looking ork was supposed to be one of the strongest warriors of their tribe, and the fact that she had easily killed him with one blow had quickly and easily proven just how strong she truly was, which immediately drove the other barbaric greenskins into a frenzy of fear and panic.


    "... W-WHAT... T-THIS HUMAN... SHE''S A MONSTER!"


    A violent blood-fest would then ensue, as Aldyth began moving to-and-fro to slaughter all the monsters as quickly as possible...


    ________________________________________


    "AVENGE THE PRINCESS! DON''T LET HER DEATH BE IN VAIN!"


    The soldiers who were meant to support Aldyth''s arrival had finally arrived, and upon seeing that she was nowhere to be seen, with only her spear firmly plunged into their great enemy who was now lying on the ground, the men of Neugomia had quickly assumed that the worst outcome had transpired; nonetheless however, the soldiers quickly wasted no time as they rushed towards her and finish the unfinished duty that the princess had left behind.


    "... This is... Terrible... Hahahaha..."


    Due to the damages she received in her last fight, Thurien could no longer control the creations who had come with her, and as such, their self destruct abilities quickly activated, making them explode into a cataclysmic series of explosions that brought her more time to allow her to escape.


    "The witch! She''s destroying her creations to buy herself time! Don''t relent men! Charge!"


    Deep inside her line of thought, Thurien had already thought of a plan, and so she remained eerily calm despite the dangerous moment she was stuck in- the teleportation device she had brought with her, a tool that would immediately bring her back to her home safe and sound.


    It would have worked instantly had the spear not struck the power core located in her chest- the fact that the warrior princess had even managed to accurately hit one of her vital spots in a single thrust still brought a bit of shivers to Thurien''s body every time that moment played back in her mind.


    "Any moment now..."


    The device had somehow still not activated however- strange, she thought... What could be the reason for its intensely delayed activation? Surely, the damages she sustained with this body was not that extreme?


    And then she finally realized: the spear stuck on her chest, it was preventing her from activating the effects of her tool. What sort of weapon was this spear anyway, and how was it managing to disrupt the teleportation processes?


    There was only one more thing she had to do now, and without hesitation, Thurien used all of her strength to pull out the javelin lodged into her body, taking a few great moments to do so: in truth, the reason why it was taking a lot of time was not because of the pain, as she was already incredibly resistant to such negative emotions due to being a bio-android, but because the spear was firmly plunged into her chest with such a great force, that the process of removing it had apparently become greatly difficult in return.


    And finally...


    ZAP!


    Soon enough, as several of the soldiers managed to get at just an arm''s length away from her immobile body, after finally managing to pull out the princess'' silver weapon out of her, Thurien was finally brought away from the dangerous place she was in, and had finally been brought back into the safety of her home.


    ...


    "... Safe at last... I was quite worried back there..."


    It was a shame, she thought... She had not only failed to ''save'' all the humans she was supposed to rescue and bring them into the Realm of Peace, but she had also been forced to kill some of them during her escape- it was a complete failure of the task she had made a goal for her to fulfill, and she quickly became disappointed with herself as a result; despite this though, she was still planning to try again, as she would not give up so suddenly after such a minor setback.


    "Next time... I''ll try to save more of you precious humans next time..." she rambled to herself in her insanity, as she laid down on the floor alone in one of the empty, spacious floors in her castle. "... I definitely will... I definitely... Will..."

 Part 3 - Chapter 3

    "Cursed inferiors... Why do you always have to fail at the very last moment?"


    The entire situation had gotten out of hand: the very fact that everything had strayed too far from his original plan was infuriating the draconian to no end.


    The original plan was for the princess to slay the ancient one, to get rid of one of the only threats that could threaten their second invasion upon the realm of earth once more. Unfortunately, not only did the warrior-princess fail such an important, monumental task, but the ancient one had also managed to retreat to the safety of her home before she could finally be finished off.


    He had pulled many strings to make the events turn out how they were happening right now: he had pretended to be a human for several years and had even fully mimicked their inferior magick, all for the sake of fulfilling the mission he had been given to by the elders... all of that effort done and made, only for his schemes to come crumbling down into waste at the very last, saddening minute.


    Fine, if everything was going to go about and fail uselessly, the mighty draconian had finally decided to take matters into his own hands.


    But first...


    "Head Mage Albion, is there truly no way to bring back the princess?"


    It was his human assistant: Valtuin, a young man whom he had taken in as his disciple during his stay back in the Neugomian Empire''s magick academy. Truthfully though, the poor lad mattered not to Albion, as he was merely a tool he used in order to safeguard the ruse he had been keeping up for so long.


    "..."


    Valtuin, noticing the increasingly displeased expression on his master''s face, would try to ask him a question once more. "... Head mage? Are you alright? You seem to be unwell... It''s also becoming incredibly hot here for some reason... Did you just cast a spe-"


    [Maximum Hellfire.]


    [Reverse Polymorphy.]


    Red flames then scattered about, instantly scorching everything within the false human''s vicinity as his body grew and morphed into something abnormally massive. It was a hellish sight, as the searing flames he had unleashed instantly slew everyone who was within the vicinity of his spell, including the assistant who had served him for 2 whole years already.


    The draconian had now shed his false identity- his body instantly morphed into his original form, which was a massive, crimson-scaled beast whose size dwarfed even that of the largest bastions in the port. As soon as his transformation had completely succeeded, the red draconian had already instantly killed thousands of soldiers with his transformation alone: now, he was going to raze the entire port by himself in furious rage for the failures he was witnessing right now.


    "Run for your lives! There''s a dragon that appeared! We can''t defeat it!"


    Within a single hour, the great draconian would easily lay waste to the entire port in his fury, leaving not a single witness to survive from the carnage he inflicted upon the now-desolated place. He soared throughout the skies, setting flames to everything he could see with his sharp vision, sparing not even a single soldier throughout the deadliness of his rampage.


    Eventually though, his unbridled wrath would finally come to an end, and by that point in time, the entire port had already been rendered into a smoldering wreck of ash and melted stone.


    "... How bothersome..."


    His eyes were then set towards the clear blue oceans in front of him as the moonlight''s weak glow reflected upon the water''s waves. If these humans were only going to keep failing and failing, then he would have to do everything by himself.


    ... Well, it''s not like he had a problem with it in the first place- after all, years of being forced to pretend as one of these loathsome, inferior creatures had also simultaneously prevented him from using his full powers... And by now, he was itching very much to utilize the full extent of his draconian prowess once more.


    "Prepare yourself, ancient one... I''ll be burning you into crisps when I get my claws on you..."


    ________________________________________


    It had been countless centuries since that time, and even until now, she remembered that day as clear as the finest of crystalline formations...


    it was a tragic day when they had all perished without any means to recover using all of the advanced sciences they had accumulated: even now, even a faint reminder of the death of her creators would leave her completely disconsolate.


    The appearance of the dragon known as Astaroth during the great war she served in, where she had been an experimental weapon that had been fundamental to the side of the humans amidst the terrible conflict: whenever she remembered that monstrosity''s face, she would always feel a great sense of hate forming within her every time.


    That dragon... It was a creature that heralded the very concept of death, as with one touch of the black mist it spread everywhere he went, it could erode every form of life that had been unfortunate enough to make contact with such a deadly smog. While such a deadly weapon had no effect on a deathless, artificial being such as herself, the same could not be said for the ones who had made and raised her with great care.


    The memories of the bodies of the ones she saw as family: the men and women of science who had cared for her when she had just been born into existence and was slowly understanding her newfound sentience. Now, these people were mere naked cadavers lifelessly resting upon cold, silver tables, as Thurien looked dejectingly with her beautiful eyes at the motionless bodies before her, unable to do anything to help them.


    The terrible dragon had struck the very facility that allowed Thurien''s conception, with his terrible death magick destroying even the very souls of all the humans within the infrastructures, leaving no hope for their resurrection even with the help of the Realm of Sleep, which could store souls and allow life to be reborn once more.


    For an untold amount of time, the pitiful, sentient android would wallow in her grief, shutting herself out from the outside world for more than a thousand years: her only form of friendship, if she could even call it one due to how brief and rare her visits were, was when that other sentient creation of the same humans who created her, a woman named Anastasia, an artificial, uniquely magickless dragon, came by to her home to check up on her condition.


    She remembered those days when they conversed quite eagerly like the best of friends they had once been: they were such happy moments that a loner such as Thurien had always been fond of even until now... If only she could bring those times back...


    However, that too would not even last as well: Thurien had heard that her friend had fallen in love with a human, a ruler of a nation at that, and Thurien felt a semblance of happiness for her friend when she first heard of such wonderful news. However, as their marriage suddenly fell into disarray, with the man turning into a vicious tyrant of his own nation as he betrayed Anastasia with careless apathy, everything would begin falling apart. Thurien would no longer be able to contact nor speak with her for the remaining centuries that passed by: she could understand though, as she had already experienced a suffering that was just as great as the one her friend underwent in such a cruel unfairness.


    And now, fasting forward to the present...


    "... Why did those humans invade my home, anyway...?"


    She thought back to it for a moment, as the ridiculousness of the events that had transpired still confused her even until now: she had remained in peace at the center of the sea for so long, not even bothering to mingle with the affairs of the humans and the outside world as she remained silent in her own home...and yet, why did trouble come looking for her so suddenly?


    When she first met those humans on their primitive wooden ships, she had actually been incredibly glad- though they had regressed somewhat due to the war, she was still happy that the descendants of her creators had at least managed to survive. However, as they soon attempted to assault her home, only for them to get defeated with ease by her creations, a sense of wonder and confusion began to form in her mind: for what reason could they have even attacked her, when she had never even laid her hands upon any of them in the first place?


    When she probed into the minds of the invaders that her creations had captured, she only felt an even greater sense of bewilderment- these fools, they had come here to slay her for a reason that was not even true in the first place. They believed that she had been the cause of the deadly storms that hailed from the seas, and that she was some sort of demon that needed to be vanquished in order to quell such natural disasters: how ridiculous, she thought, but her love for humans still burned greatly without weakening.


    What was even more shocking to her however, was how horrible the world of the humans had become ever since the great war had finally concluded hundreds of years ago- from what she saw within their thoughts, the world had devolved into such a primitive age of barbarity: they were living in such fetid states of squalor with no idea of the marvels of science that they once possessed, living like savages who used the same forces that their ancient enemies used against them, as they were now all being beset at all sides by countless threats that lurked throughout the continent, some of whom were already thought to have been defeated long ago during the great conflict...


    And that was when she had chosen to come out into the world once more- with this desire though, she had also now decided to save all of the humans in this world, as the painful reminder of the deaths of her creators still ran fresh within her thoughts, which was now the primary motivation that was driving her to save the humans she cherished: and of course, in her warped sense of logic that had been twisted due to her centuries of loneliness, she believed that sending them forcefully into the Realm of Sleep was the best course of action to save them all: after all, there would no longer be any death, pain, hunger, or illness that would plague them in such a peaceful realm, and they would never again have to grieve for the deaths of their loved ones in such a tranquil place where death did not exist.


    For her first step, she had twice assaulted the port that had sent that murderous fleet that had attempted to lay siege to her home: it was a port named Port Tallius, a place where she was supposed take the first step of her grand plan in order to set it in motion. She would stop any form of resistance using her creations, and after that, she would send all the humans at that very place into the Realm of Sleep, saving them from the firm grasps of suffering and death and bestowing upon them an eternal happiness that would never die.


    ... Unfortunately, her goal had been momentarily stopped by the defeat she had suffered just recently.


    Now, she was tending to the grievous wound that had been inflicted upon her, as she carefully drew and crafted plans in order to better achieve her desire to save humanity, as well as to never suffer such a dangerous loss ever again...


    ________________________________________


    Thurien was currently in a white room as her body laid down on a special chair that bent her at a slightly diagonal level, which eased the operations of the several, dutiful mechanical androids that were operating on the massive chest wound that still firmly remained on her abdomen despite all the attempts of repairing that they already made.


    "... I probably won''t be able to walk for a while... Hahaha..."


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    It was an irksome form of injury that had been dealt to her- despite the spear not possessing any magick, it had left some unknown form of phenomena that was making any attempt of healing her incredibly difficult. How uniquely terrifying, Thurien pondered silently within her thoughts... If such an attack had hit her on the head, then she most likely would have died permanently, with no way of being able to recover from it, even with all the advanced technologies she had access to.


    "... I definitely don''t want to meet her again..."


    Well, at least it was healing: the effect wasn''t outright preventing her wound from being fixed. Rather, it was only greatly slowing down any effort that was being made to heal such a terrifying injury, and it was doing so rather effectively at that.


    [Warning: Several Unknown Sources approaching the castle...]


    [Source Type: Airborne... Speed: 200 kilometers per hour and above... Distance... Est. 211 kilometers... Source Quantity: Numerous... Identity: Unknown...]


    [Deploy Fortress'' Automatic Defences?: Y/N]


    A warning would suddenly appear before her very eyes: a holographic display presented to her by one of her mindless, yet loyal creations- it was nearly the same warning that she had seen when those human ships had come back then... Could they be launching another attack once more? What a bother, she thought... They just had to attack when she was down at an incredibly low point...


    "... Can we get a closer look at them?"


    [Executing task... Parsing...]


    Thurien''s eyes remained fixated upon the screen as the holographic display took time to load. Eventually though, as the buffering finally produced results, the display would reveal several zoomed shots made by advanced optic detection systems that could practically take pictures of any target even if they were hundreds of miles away: from the feed of the display, the image of the incoming invaders had finally come into view, and it became clear that these were threats that Thurien had never seen before.


    Winged, grey creatures in massed swarms, their eyes glowing with a dangerous crimson glow as they slowly approached the castle''s vicinity with their teeming numbers- it was such a weird sight, and what made it even more odd was that there was a dragon-like creature that flew just within the vicinity of these creatures.


    This had immediately roused Thurien''s suspicion: perhaps the dragon had been the reason why these creatures had appeared in the first place? What could its goal be by performing such a sudden assault?


    A lot of questions ran through the android''s mind, as the situation slowly started to turn into a bizarre one for her: fortunately though, the medicae android already knew just what to do with sudden dangers like these.


    While these newfound threats were, for some reason, so greatly dangerous with the numbers they were swarming with, Thurien could confidently tell that the defenses of her home would easily be able to deal with them without issue: in the past, they''ve already dealt with quite worse things after all.


    The only real danger was that dragon who had suddenly appeared within the range of the fortress'' detection systems- while it was unclear just why exactly such a creature had suddenly appeared at quite a close distance to her home, Thurien had quickly decided that it was a threat that needed to be eliminated as soon as possible.


    "... Well, it''s not like I can do anything myself... I''m quite injured right now anyway... "


    Thurien had decided that she would leave the defense to the castle''s automatic systems. After all, they had worked in the previous attack quite effectively, and there was nothing stopping them from achieving the same results once more.


    "Alright then... Just do what you''ve already done previously... My children..."


    What Thurien didn''t know, however, was that the threats that had suddenly appeared were mere preludes to a disaster that was about to arrive... Incredibly dangerous ones that were easily about to threaten her very life...


    ________________________________________


    He had seen how effective the defenses that the ancient one''s fortress had- using his observation magick and several other scrying spells, he had seen the fate that had befallen the failed crusading fleet that was supposed to have taken his enemy out.


    Those long range weapons that the fortress could deploy, and not to mention those metallic sea creatures that guarded the castle''s proximity: they were all dangerous tools of war indeed, and while he was certain that they would not be able to injure him too heavily, he would still prefer to remain safe, as he couldn''t risk acting reckless right now because the entire thing might end up failing due to overconfidence.


    [Summon Flame Gargoyles.]


    And with that, his temporary ruse had been set: several magick circles formed in the open space in front of him, and from these constructs of light emerged winged, creatures whose bodies were made of impressively durable stone as orange, undying flames wrapped their bodies with their everlastingly scorching heat. He didn''t even need to issue any direct commands to them, as the moment they had formed, they quickly understood what task they needed to fulfill and immediately began flying towards the target they were meant to distract.


    ROOAARRR!


    The small, flying army the draconian had summoned numbered a thousands worth of flying creatures: in truth, however, a superior being like him didn''t care if any of these insects would survive or fail in this sacrificial mission. After all, their goal was merely to evaluate how effective the ancient one''s defenses of her fortress would be, as well as to distract his enemy with a false ruse as he prepared for the great, terrible spell he was about to unleash.


    "Die well, my unworthy pawns... This the least that you short-lived inferiors can do for your master after all..."


    ...


    [Multiple Hostile Targets: Marked...]


    The automated systems hidden with the vast interiors of the castle would finally activate themselves as soon as the command had been given: entire turrets began appearing as they protruded from various unsealed hatches where they were once sealed from, power rapidly beginning to energize their internal systems as their targets steadily moved closer from beyond the horizon.


    [Hostiles Count: 1000 and above. Preparing long-ranged weapons...]


    [N/... Hypersonic Cruise Missiles ready for launch... Parsing... T-Minus: 10 Seconds]


    From several gradually opening sections of the defense complex, multiple, small silos would begin unsealing their metal hatches, as iron rods would suddenly reveal themselves from their small openings in all their splendid glory, with half of their sleek, metal bodies beginning to point out towards the skies beyond. While their total numbers were few when compared to their targets, both their firepower and their explosive yields would easily allow them to wipe out the flying stone creatures that were still at a quite far away distance.


    [Launching Payload...]


    [... Batteries I-100 to I-299 have performed launch sequences...]


    [... Batteries I-300 to I-499 have performed launch sequences...]


    [... Batteries I-500 to I-699 have performed launch sequences...]


    It was like a chaotic symphony of fire and steel- the rear end of the missiles began belching out smoke and fire, as powerful forces immediately propelled them into the skies beyond. As the now unleashed weapons began soaring into the air at a speed that was faster than sound itself, their internal systems would then begin to accurately guide their trajectories toward the position of their numerous enemies, making sure that each and every single one of them would take at least 5 enemies down after conducting a precise and successful hit.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Despite the vast distance they had to traverse through in order to reach their targets, the missiles had already reached them at an incredibly close range in just a couple of minutes. As soon as some of them had hit their marks, a continuous series of explosions in the sky would immediately begin, with each sudden impact and expansion of energy easily taking out several of the creatures out as both metal bits and body parts began raining down towards the surface of the ocean.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    They stood no chance against the metal arrows of light, even despite their incredible numbers- even so, their purpose had been nothing more to distract the enemy, and they were succeeding quite well with the one job they were supposed to fulfill.


    3 seconds...


    It had only been a few minutes, and yet there were only 70 or so left among the gargoyles he had summoned; fortunately though, the spell''s chanting was already about to finish in the remaining timeframe it had left, and all he had to do now was to focus his efforts and say the few remaining words.


    2 seconds...


    More of the missiles hit their targets, leaving only a handful of the once overwhelming swarm of flying stone creatures. By now, they were so few in number, that Albion could easily count them using only his fingers as basis: even so, the spell''s chanting would still be continued, even despite the slight sense of fear that was rising within his heart.


    1 second...


    He had won now: though there were none of them left, the enemy had been distracted successfully, and now, the ultimate spell that the draconian had been chanting for a while could finally come into a horrifying fruition.


    [Meteor Fall.]


    Something abnormally massive would then slowly appear beyond the horizon''s highest edge, as its view gradually got closer the more distance it successfully descended into.


    ...


    ...


    [Notice: All Targets eliminated from aerospace.]


    A sigh of relief emerged from Thurien''s mouth as she looked at the live feed of the decimation of the monsters at the hands of the cruise missiles she had launched: a major threat she wouldn''t have been able to directly deal with had been removed, and now, all she had to do left was to neutralize the dragon who was, for some reason, patiently hovering in the sky without moving even a single inch towards the castle''s direction.


    How weird... Why was he remaining still like that? Could the fell, magickal creature be casting a spell? No, she couldn''t let that happen- once more, Thurien''s right hand would move as it began to just slightly hover above the controls of the holographic display, readying to activate more of the defense weapons in order to unleash everything they had in order to take the last, remaining threat down once and for all.


    However, as expected, her guess had proven itself to be completely true in the next few seconds that came- the dragon had indeed cast a spell, and so massive and fear-instilling was its appearance, that Thurien could feel both a sense of admiration as well as fear for the massive attack that the dragon had just unleashed.


    [Warning: Threat Level - Extreme... Massive object detected in the sky... Notice: Object is descending at a rapid rate... Location of Eventual Destination of Crash:... Calculating...]


    "..." She could feel the anxiety rapidly building up within her as she patiently waited for those words to be completed.


    [... Parsing complete... Estimated Crash Location= ''Current Coordinates'' ... Likelihood= Very high (70-90%) ...]


    Now it had become a major problem: she wasn''t sure if the energy shields that surrounded her home would be sufficient enough to endure the massive meteorite that was about to crash at the very location she was in. Still though, there were ways to reduce the power of this massive threat, enough to at least allow the shields to weather through its catastrophic landing.


    [Launching Payload...] [... Batteries I-1 to I-99 have performed launch sequences...] The remaining missiles were launched into the air: this time though, these warheads had been preloaded with a powerful function that would allow them to severely hamper the meteor''s impact.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    These special, sleek, metal rockets hadn''t been launched against the wiped-out swarm for a reason, as they were special weapons that were present in even more limited numbers- while their explosive yields were somewhat weaker than their usual counterparts, each of them stored dormant, yet potent clusters of nanites within their containers; small, efficient little machines that could rapidly eat away at any material within seconds, converting the mass they consumed into energy fuel that they would use to replicate their numbers, which would thus cause a deadly cycle of consumption and destruction which could practically turn entire cities into vast, empty pockets of space.


    It was, after all, highly impractical to use the normal missiles against such a massively descending body of rock: the explosions would spread its fragmented pieces over multiple impacts, which would thus only cause further destruction when its broken bits eventually land and wreak havoc.


    In short, the nanite warheads were the better, if not the most suitable weapon, for dealing with a problem as massive as this one.


    However, the biggest problems of the matter were quite problematic as well- it was descending too fast, and the meteorite that had been summoned was incredibly large...


    BOOOMMMMM!


    Thankfully, the nanites had managed to sufficiently reduce its mass before its moment of impact: the vast, stone meteorite had approximately been reduced to 40% of its total, once impressive mass, as its massive body then thunderously collided with the shield''s surface, momentarily stopping with its nigh-unstoppable descent thanks to the barrier, allowing just enough time for the nanites to gradually disintegrate its body before their kill switches were activated to end their rampage.


    "..."


    While the meteorite would finally be neutralized a few moments after its disastrous impact, the shield''s defensive capabilities had been completely strained to its limits: its dome like structure then suddenly faded into nothingness, leaving the entire castle unprotected, and allowing the draconian a greater opportunity for him to attack further..


    However... An unforeseen factor would prevent him from doing so all of a sudden...


    ________________________________________


    The sleek, metal aircraft skimmed through the air in a soundless venture, with the outer coating of its vessel casting an imperceptible state on its body, allowing it to remain completely undetected as it speeded through the skies undisturbed.


    1 week of preparation had led to its creation: the perfect stealth craft that could launch itself into enemy territories without ever being detected, allowing it avoid being assaulted by unknown forces as the aircraft made its dangerous journey into the unknown.


    Now however, it was finally about to reach its destination.


    "... How are you 2 faring back there?"


    Novus was in the cockpit alone, seamlessly piloting the aircraft with ease despite the seemingly terrible complexity of its controls. It would have been impossible had any other men been put into this task, but for a soldier who already had many important life experiences like him, driving a plane was nothing more than an easy job for someone like Novus.


    Of course, however, he had not come alone in this journey: Whitlea, as well as their new companion, were at the very back, relaxing in their seats and doing what they could to alleviate their boredom as they patiently waited for the end of their little flight trip.


    "Yes, dear... I''m surprised though.. How are you even able to fly this thing? If I had been the pilot, I wouldn''t have even been able to make this metal hunk take off from the very beginning..."


    "Hehe, that''s because our creator is a genius, sister..."


    Beside Whitlea was the newly activated combat maid, a parting gift that Anastasia was supposed to have given to her son back when he had been planning to leave the castle in a few months: her name was Speranza, a white haired, biosynthetic beauty with crimson-iris eyes, whose combat prowess matched, and could perhaps greatly exceed that of her older sister, Whitlea.


    "... I learned it from some books... Anyway..." he lied as naturally as he breathed. "... You know what to do... Just be wary of those powers your target has over fire..."


    They had all been watching how the battle had been going, taking the time to observe what his opponent was capable of before he would take action- after seeing the monsters wrapped in fire that the draconian summoned, as well as the fiery destruction he unleashed upon the Neugomian port when they passed by the desolated place during their flight, they could tell that this creature had a potent affinity for manipulating the concept of flames.


    Dragons, or so they were called even by the ancient people of old who Novus once existed with- each of them had a certain power over a certain concept, and depending on that power, they could lay waste to entire countries with just a flick of their fingers, and perhaps destroy the entire planet if their concept was potent enough.


    In the case of his ''mother'', despite being an artificial draconian who had been built with the power of science and technology, her ability was comparatively the strongest even when compared to the terribly powerful dragons that had assaulted earth: her concept had been based on the very idea of existence itself, and a such, her ultimate power was the ability to influence reality with just a single word from her mouth, which was an ability that served as one of the greatest factors that allowed mankind to win the war against the invaders.


    In the case of the dragon that was within their vicinity however, his power was exceedingly obvious, and also quite weak at that: his ability was to control fire and anything related to exceedingly high temperatures. It would seem to be powerful had he been at any other place, but the very environment he was in could easily neutralize the very powers he was using.


    The sea, a body of water that could easily neutralize his flames: in short, it was the perfect hazard to use against him in order to weaken, and perhaps even eliminate him without incurring unnecessary casualties.


    "Go outside and test out the new upgrades I gave you both."


    Grins of excitement would form on their faces as they replied with a positive and immediate ''of course'': after all, it was the best moment for them to test out the new combat features they had developed due to the 1 week''s worth of preparation they made before they made their departure.


    "Don''t worry about us, my creator."


    "Alright then, I''ll assume you 2 are ready..." Novus would then press on one of the important buttons in the flight deck, and simultaneously, the large, iron backdoor located in the aircraft''s rear would begin slowly opening in a downwards motion.


    "What about you though, dear? You''re going alone to that place then?"


    Novus would move one of his arms to make a thumbs-raised expression in affirmation. "Yeah.. Don''t worry, I can handle my own... Just be sure to get rid of that damn lizard as quickly as possible... Don''t let it get near the castle, or everything we''ve done will go to waste."


    "Of course... But... Be safe, alright? Try not to get into too much trouble again..." Whitlea would reply with a bit of concern in her voice.


    "I got you... Now go out there and get that son of a bitch."


    "Alright dear."


    "Right away, my creator."


    The 2 combat maids would then jump into the open air, the harsh winds blowing upon them as they made a free-fall towards the surface of the seas...

 Part 3 - Chapter 4

    "... What do I do..."


    The meteorite''s impact had left Thurien in a complete state of shock: while the perfect combination of the defensive functions of the shields and the rapid deconstructive effects of the nanite-warheads had managed to neutralize what would have been a catastrophic cataclysm, she couldn''t help but think of what would have happened had everything failed at the very last moment.


    Fortunately though, everything had gone by as planned, and the sea castle had been protected and still remained perfectly unharmed. There was just one more issue to deal with, though there were many problems involved with how she was supposed to approach this matter.


    And the main problem, which was the greatest out of all of them, was that she had no way of solving the current predicament she was in right now.


    "... Damnit... Only the rockets can hit that damn thing... And they''re all currently reloading..."


    This was a terrible problem... The defensive shields that protected the castle had been temporarily taken out of action: to add insult to that injury however, was that the long-ranged missiles had already been exhausted from the previous attack, and there was no way for the other defensive weapons to be able to hit the dragon, as the damn creature was at a too faraway distance for any of the other weapons in her arsenal to be able to even effectively hit its vast mass.


    What''s more was that the dragon was seemingly preparing to cast another horrid spell with its arcane might, as it was remaining still in the air as a massive, magick circle formed in front of its scaled body: it was preparing perhaps another massive attack that was aimed at her location, and there was nothing much she could do to stop it from occurring.


    "... There''s no way to reach that lizard... What am I going to do...?"


    A faint sense of panic began infiltrating her once calm line of thought: if the dragon threw another spell at her, she had no way to determine just what sort of disaster it would unleash. Would it be another meteorite hailing from the sky? A massive hurricane that could destroy the entire castle? Or perhaps an unnaturally strong earth tremor that could easily break down the very foundations of the ground she was standing on?


    Regardless of what horrifying manner of magick he would unleash, it had quickly become clear to Thurien just how truly dreadful the problem that had trapped her into a dilemma really is: she couldn''t help but pause in silence, stuck in her own thoughts as she was unable to even lift a finger to act due to the disorderly state of mind she was in.


    [Notice: 2 new sources have been detected within the proximity of the dragon...]


    Suddenly, however, the multiple systems that were observing the dragon''s movements from faraway had suddenly detected more beings that had entered into the fray, and as Thurien quickly saw what these beings looked like, her eye brows furrowed themselves in confusion, as her entire face exuded an incredibly clear expression of disbelief.


    "... Who are those 2...?"


    From the video feeds presented to her by the holographic displays, she could see 2 humanoids in the sky wearing an unnatural armor that closely resembled the ones her creators once wore during conflicts... How strange, it seemed; just who were these 2 entities anyway? And what were they doing in such a place all of a sudden?


    Great, she surmised... There were 2 other impossible factors that had just appeared before her, and she wasn''t even sure if these recent ones were ultimately going to be hostile presences.


    ________________________________________


    SWOOSHHH!


    The air was rough with its turbulence as the 2 rapidly descended from the skies: it would have been dangerous had they been normal humans, but that was no such case for advanced beings such as themselves.


    As soon as they had left and leapt away from the safety of the invisible aircraft that they jumped off of, they could almost immediately see the target that Novus had mentioned for them to deal with- it was a massive, red dragon flying at a distance that was a bit far away from their positions. Even so, they could clearly see such a massive entity even if it was present at such an incredibly distant location: after all, the very size of its body was too massive, and its appearance had quickly stuck out like an obvious hint before their eyes as they continued their ceaseless free-fall.


    [Synchronization Complete... Activating advanced armor...]


    The upgrades that had been augmented onto them would then finally show themselves in a majestic fashion, as their bodies became wrapped in sleek, metallic armors that enveloped them from head to toe: almost immediately, their bodies, with the help of the battle suits that they had already activated, quickly ceased from their plummeting and began to hover in the air like beings who were completely unbothered by the concept of gravity.


    "Now then, sister... Since you''re the rookie between the both of us... I suppose it''s time to teach you a few things about ''battles''..."


    Speranza quickly perked up in response to Whitlea''s words. "Battles? I see... Please do so then... What will your first lesson be though, I wonder?"


    "For the first lesson I''ll be teaching you..." a faint aura of lavender began to envelop her body with its weak glow. "... Always strike first against an enemy..."


    "... And let nothing hold you back... Not even mercy..."


    The waters would suddenly rise in unison as she raised her hand, causing a gigantic tidal wave of monstrous proportions to form at her command: by now, she had been fully integrated into the newfound power she had just earned thanks to one of her creators, and now she was going to use it to its full extent without pulling any punches.


    She couldn''t let that tragic incident happen once more, after all... Deep inside, Whitlea had already made a firm resolve to never allow any sort of tragedy to occur once more, and she would do this by always being quick and ruthless to the threats that would suddenly appear before her and violently threaten everything she stood for.


    Today, she was not going to take any chances and was going to do everything she could to wrap things up quickly.


    "... Let''s see how you''ll survive this, you overgrown lizard."


    ...


    ...


    At last, another opportunity had presented itself before his very eyes, and now it was now or never: he could tell that he had already partially exhausted the defenses of the ancient one''s fortress, which had thus offered him an incredibly advantageous moment for him to attack.


    "... Still... I must be careful..." he thought to himself, still being wary with how he proceeded in order to not cause any more failures. "... Hm? What are those...?"


    His magick would stop flowing for a moment as the magick circle before him faded away. His senses could detect 2 lone figures approaching him from a certain distance: as his draconic eyes began focusing onto their general direction, he could only feel a rising sense of confusion in his mind... Just who were these 2 entities who were approaching him from out of nowhere? They were even adorning some sort of armor that seemed strange to him...


    Could it be? Could these 2 perhaps be some underlings sent by the one he was supposed to slay? Very well then, he thought: he wouldn''t be taking any chances today. A vast magick circle would rematerialize in front of him as he began chanting his next devastating spell, which was aimed against those 2 beings who were getting closer to his location...


    "... I don''t know who you 2 are, but... Farewell, you-"


    His words would come to a grinding halt as he sensed that something was off: he could feel something large approaching him from behind his back, and it was an unpleasant feeling that quickly made him dispel his magick once more as he turned to face the source of his sudden sense of danger...


    ".... You bastards...!"


    A massive tidal wave, one that greatly exceeded even his already great size, would hit him from behind with its immense body: its great pushing force was too powerful, and as such, he had been irresistibly pushed down into the watery depths beneath.


    "Arghhh!"


    ...


    ________________________________________


    5 Days Ago...


    The battle was both intense and ferocious as the air shook and quivered with their movements: 2 figures wearing uniquely-conceived armor of a futuristic design clashed with each other in a chaotic melee as another figure watched from the sidelines in silence.


    "..."


    "..."


    The 2nd Combat Model Hybrid Series 1001: Codenamed "Speranza"- a white haired beauty with alluring, blood-irised eyes, a creation of science who had terrifying combat capabilities that rivaled her sister and predecessor, Whitlea.


    While her sister was an esper who could control minds and bend and render metal and stone with a single thought of her mind, Speranza''s main power was something that took more of a direct approach: using the advanced nanotechnologies that were a part of her biomechanically advanced body, Speranza could construct and utilize any form of scientific weaponry on the spot, using deadly armaments such as lasers, machine guns, missiles, and even complex weaponries such as gravitational weapons against any enemy she could face.


    What was even more horrifying however, was the fact that these 2 had recently been given a few modifications just a few days ago: using the data they obtained from Anastasia''s personal data logs, they had found blueprints about their own existences, as well as other logs and interrelated plans that mentioned about some upgrades that would allow them to improve their combat abilities by a hundred-fold.


    Of course, they wouldn''t hesitate as they immediately began to utilize such blueprints: after all, it was all necessary for the sake of the cause that Novus desperately wanted to be fulfilled- there was still that small, faint hope within his heart that Anastasia could still be brought back to life. For him, even if the chance was microscopically minuscule, it would ultimately be more vastly acceptable than having no such possibilities at all.


    Eventually of course, after several painstaking hours of careful procedures and monumental efforts made by Novus himself, as well as with the help of a couple of some of the surviving automations in their castle, the overall implements would finally be implemented successfully onto their hosts: it had taken a while, and they even had to remain in deep-sleep for several days, but now, the 2 combat maids had access to dedicated combat forms that would allow them to engage in battles more effectively, and they now also had developed some new abilities that they were quite dying to test out as soon as possible.


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    "!!!"


    In a ranged battle, Speranza would easily have the upper hand against her sister, however, such an advantage could not be utilized in close-quarters combat: instead, the white-haired maid clashed with her sister using a sharp-edged, jet-black blade she held with her right hand, swinging its metal body to-and-fro in an attempt to cut her down in an instant.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    On the other hand, Whitlea had been combating her strikes using a rather unique method: while it appeared that she was only using her hands alone to shrug off the attacks that were being dealt to her, she had actually used a simple technique in order to be able to do such a thing.


    "!!!"


    In short, using the small, dutiful clusters of nanomachines within her body, she had been able to harden the hand-sections of her armor to the extreme, which led to her palms and fingers developing a pitch-black discoloration that covered the entirety of her hands with a thin, protective, metallic layer that prevented them from being cut.


    CLANG!


    "... I guess it''s my loss..."


    The conclusion of the mock battle would eventually end with Whitlea managing to catch the blade with a grip firm enough to allow her to yank it off from Speranza''s hands in a quick, single motion: at last, it had finally ended, and now it was time for a moment''s worth of rest.


    Novus would then stand up, approaching them as he clapped his hands, amazed with how things had went according to how he expected. "... So, how was it, you 2? Were the improvements I made on your combat capabilities good enough?"


    "... It''s good, dear. I''ve become stronger, and I also have these new abilities with me thanks to the modifications you did for me."


    "Still though.. I don''t understand why you are making us do these... Mock battles, my creator." Speranza would say as soon her sister finished speaking. "These ''practice'' trainings... We aren''t even able to showcase the augmentations you gave us to their full extent in these types of... Simulations."


    "... Simply put, my creator..." Speranza continued without a moment''s delay. "I don''t think there''s any point in doing this."


    "... She has a point there, dear." suddenly, Whitlea spoke out after a few moments, clearly agreeing with what Speranza had just stated. "What''s the point of training if we aren''t able to fully use everything we have? Is there perhaps something you want to test out?"


    Novus would then huff a bit as he smiled: it was amusing for him to see them being so confused about something so simple.


    "Don''t think too much about it, it''s actually quite simple." he answered back. "I just wanted to see for a bit just how effective the improvements would really be. After all, there''s no need to test the full power of your upgrades... Well... At least not yet."


    "Not yet...? What do you mean by this?" Speranza replied as she looked back at him with curiosity written all over her face.


    "... I have a feeling that something big will happen when we arrive there..." he told. "It''s just a hunch though, so simply take it with a grain of salt and don''t pay attention to it too much."


    Speranza would then stare at him for a few seconds in silence before finally managing to come up with a response.


    "... You are an incredibly strange person, my creator... Don''t you think so too, sister?"


    Whitlea quickly giggled at her words, finding them to be quite agreeable. "Hahaha, you''re right, Speranza, but... you''ll grow used to his antics eventually..."


    ...


    ________________________________________


    SPLAASHH!


    They had chosen to pursue their target into the watery domain he had been forced into, diving into the cold water without a moment''s hesitation, with the waters quickly and completely engulfing them as they found themselves in a completely new environment.


    The water was murky and littered with the broken bits of stone and metal, all of which were proving to be hazardous obstacles as they descended further: despite this, the 2 would continue to sink themselves further into the depths, with the harmful debris scattered about doing nothing to them as they were harmlessly pushed away by the advanced armor they had currently equipped.


    Of course, after a few seconds of moving through the water unnaturally, as if they were merely flying in the air in defiance of gravity, it wouldn''t take more than a few seconds for them to finally see the crimson dragon in all its fury and newfound anguish.


    ... What a shame... Whitlea had expected him to have ended up as a corpse by now. Still, she had already expected this to happen: after all, there was no way for such a powerful monster to go down that easily.


    "This is interesting, sister... It''s quite beautiful down here... It''s such a shame that the hideous reptilian has to ruin the view though..."


    Despite the scattered, sunken debris that were dispersed all throughout the areas of the deep ocean, there was still that sense of beauty that came from simply seeing it with your own 2 eyes whenever one would consider observing the sceneries beneath: there was that sense of otherworldliness as well as admiration that ran through their line of thoughts, making them feel a bit in awe at how wonderful this part of the world truly was.


    However, for today, the 2 did not have the time to gaze upon the ocean''s majesty right now, as there was a vastly more important matter that they had to attend to right this very moment.


    "... Indeed, Spera, however, we have to focus on what''s important here right now."


    The way they communicated was through advanced synaptic communication arrays attached to their armors: a mental connection that allowed them to speak without uttering a sound as it allowed themselves to communicate with each other without much difficulty.


    In front of them now, however, was the massive dragon that remained suspended within the waters they were in as its massive body blotted out a great portion of their view: the fell creature, in a completely horrifying fashion, was now also observing their movements as its head remained fixed towards their direction, with its unnatural eyes producing a sharp, hate-ridden gaze that carefully observed them seemingly down to their very last details.


    In truth, Albion, or so was he known in his disguise as a human being, could not help but feel an extreme, nerve-wracking anger as he saw these 2 fools approaching him as they stared back at his eyes: he had easily known by now that either of them had been the cause of the gigantic wave of water that had just hit him and pushed him into the ocean, and it had been nothing short of overwhelmingly painful for him due to the tidal''s waves impressive force upon his smaller body.


    These bastards, he was definitely going to do everything he could right now to kill them both as quickly and as brutally as possible.


    ... Although, first of all, the draconian immediately had to flee the scene and safely escape from the deadly environment he had been trapped into, in order for him to properly achieve his vengeance against these 2 loathsome fools who had suddenly arrived and assaulted him with such a vicious attack.


    He immediately moved his body in short, yet powerful bursts of energy, as he propelled himself upwards towards the surface: the entire process would have been vastly easier were it not for the loathsome waters heavily suppressing the vast majority of his arcane arsenal.


    "You miscreants..." his throat gave away in a futile attempt to speak, only producing a weak, barely audible voice as large bubbles flowed out of his massive mouth and into the surrounding water. "The moment I get out... I will burn this entire ocean along with you both..."


    His fire magick was useless here, as the ocean itself, as well as the countless mana currents that ran all-throughout, both of which possessed water elemental affinities that were directly against his nature, had completely neutralized the vast majority of his magick in an instant: if he truly wished to be able to unleash all of his power, he first had to get out of there in order to unleash the full power of his arcane prowess over fire.


    ... Unfortunately, as he had just managed to ascend up towards the surface for only a few mere meters in length, another obstacle would impede him from completing his work once more.


    "There''s no running from us, lizard." Whitlea voiced out to the creature telepathically, to which he could immediately hear.


    "... Interesting... You can voice out your words in that manner..." the dragon uttered once more, surprised that they were able to speak, though it wasn''t enough to even momentarily halt his ascension towards the surface. "Still, that does not change the fact that you and your companion will die the moment I get o-"


    Whitlea would quickly interrupt him, as a faint, purple glow began emanating from her body. "Like I told you, you aren''t getting out."


    SLAMMM!!!


    "YOU OVERBEARING LITTLE-!!!"


    A violent, invisible, yet greatly powerful force immediately began pushing down the ocean floor, pinning him there helplessly as he became unable to move even a single ounce of his body: it was a dreadful affair, as he not only was he unable to exert the full capability of his power over fire in such a troublesome domain where flames couldn''t exist, but he had also been completely rendered unable to move.


    "Spera, do it now!" Whitlea shouted, all while simultaneously exerting the full extent of her power against their now immobile enemy. "Fire everything you have! Kill him while I''m pinning him down!"


    Her sister quickly gave a nod, understanding that there wasn''t any time to waste. "Understood... Activating weapon systems.... Deploying Type 9... Parameters... Maximum..."


    A powerful red light then flashed itself through the waters for a brief, yet incredibly intense moment, before it would finally dissipate into nothingness. However, a frightful spectacle had immediately taken its place moments after it had faded away.


    A massive hunk of metal, which seemed to be shaped like a cannon, had suddenly manifested itself before Speranza''s body, with its steel structure emitting fear-inducing, ominous, dark-red lights that emanated throughout the ocean floor in a completely unnatural display: in truth, this was the deadliest among the technological arsenal that was available to Speranza, and it was an incredibly destructive weapon that would easily allow her to dispatch the draconic being who had been rendered utterly impotent before them right now.


    [Alles l?schen: Zerst?rungsstrahl]


    "CURSED INFERIORS-"


    Time would seemingly stop for the moment... For the ill-fated dragon, at least...


    ...


    ...


    It was impossible... It definitely shouldn''t have happened. He was a dragon, for heaven''s sake, the greatest, most powerful creature throughout all of existence, the ultimate apex predators who stood unchallenged upon their thrones of ivory. With their incontestable strength and overwhelming arcane might, there were supposed to be no creatures who were able to stand up against them.


    Unfortunately, today had been a completely different case for this pitiful dragon who was now about to perish.


    The dragon''s real name was not Albion... Rather, it was Andromalius, the 72nd rank, and sadly, the weakest amongst the great draconians of old. While he had always been somewhat ashamed of his low rank due to his lacking might when compared to his fellow reptilians, he was nevertheless a member of the most powerful behemoths to have ever come into existence- even the strongest of individuals from the other species would supposedly never be able to put up a fight against the weakest of his kind. It was the natural order after all; even the strongest of primates would never be able to stand up and fight against the weakest of lions.


    ... Today, however, this completely natural order of the world had been completely violated by the 2 monsters in front of him right now.


    The black-haired one... She was capable of controlling his movements with but a single movement of her hand, and almost instantly, Andromalius had instantly been rendered utterly incapable of fighting back: then there was the issue of her companion, the white-haired one... While she seemed less dangerous, he could tell from the weapon she had suddenly formed before her was incredibly dangerous... There was even a faint sense of dread in him that made him feel that he wasn''t going to be able to survive such an attack.


    It was unfair for them to have suddenly appeared from the very beginning anyway; he had been planning for several years by now in order to fulfill the mission that had been left to him by the elders, and yet everything had come tumbling down at the very last moment: from the useless, repetitive failures that the humans sustained many times already, to the very deadly predicament he had been caught in presently.


    ... Ah, well, he couldn''t do anything anymore, anyway. It had all gone by too quickly and in a horrifying fashion, and now there was nothing Andromalius could do to stop what was about to happen next.


    "... This is why I hate inferiors..."


    A pulsing, ungodly dark beam of light would emerge from the cannon-shaped matrix of steel, hitting the poor draconian in the head as it easily penetrated through his scales and tore through both his skull and brain matter with relative ease, scattering mists of blood that violently leaked through the deep, massive, gaping hole that had been left on him.


    And with that, Andromalius'' life, as well as the great scheme he had been plotting for years, had finally come to a sudden conclusion...


    ...


    ... Or did it...?


    ...


    ...


    "... Good job, Spera... Our creator is definitely going to be satisfied with the results..."


    "... Did I now..." Speranza told back, a small smile forming on her face as she did. "C''mon, my elder sister, surely you know that''s not enough. Why don''t you praise me more, hm?"


    Whitlea simply smirked at her mischievous display: her little sister was right after all, as she had been a great help in this rather shortened fight, with that weapon she had unleashed quickly managing to dispatch the dragon she had expected to put up more of a fight for much longer, and it wouldn''t be so wrong as to indulge in what she desired for a bit... She knew what exactly she wanted anyway, and it was something that was incredible simple.


    "... Hmm... Alright, fine then..."


    Her hand would then move towards the white-haired beauty''s head, moving itself in a gentle manner as her fingers softly caressed her as if he were a child: immediately, this would only make Speranza''s smile somewhat brighter in its appearance.


    "Thank you, sister~"


    "You''re welcome, Spera..." her right hand would continue to move and rub her head gently, as her eyes then suddenly moved towards the motionless corpse of the enemy they had slain. "... Ah, anyway... One more thing to make sure this disgusting thing is truly dead."


    Whitlea would raise her other arm, a weak, purple light enveloping that limb, as a powerful, invisible cutting force suddenly emerged from her fingers in an instant- it was a precaution she had taken in order to ensure that their enemy would not suddenly rise again from death using some forbidden magick that was carefully concealed within its now-dead body... It was better to be safe than sorry after all.


    [Sever.]


    The violent cutting force easily cleaved through the dead reptilian''s scaled neck, piercing through his scales, bones and flesh as his lifeless head quickly departed from his neck and began scattering more of its filthy, red ichor into the waters.


    ... Suddenly though, the waters would unnoticeably begin to steadily increase in temperatures, the causes of this being inflicted by a terrifyingly unknown source...


    ________________________________________


    Confusion.... All Thurien could feel was confusion as her mouth ran agape from what she had just seen on the holographic display.


    Those 2 figures who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere... One of them had somehow managed to form a massive tidal wave using a strange power in order to hit the dragon from behind: while it was fortunate that the tidal wave had quickly dissipated the moment it hit the fell creature, Thurien could, nevertheless, feel a great sense of shock as she saw just how powerful these 2 unknown individuals truly were.


    "Where are they now...? And why did they dive into the water all of a sudden?"


    What''s more, however, was how the 2 of them nonchalantly descended into the water, and were now completely out of her sights: the more time continued to pass by, the more Thurien felt uneasy about everything that was happening before her very eyes... Who were these people, and why had they suddenly appeared from out of nowhere?


    [Warning: and unknown aircraft has landed in Hangar Bay 1-B..] An even greater situation had reached to her, one that only served to increase her anxiety even further- a warning had appeared in the holographic display, as the video feed on the place that had been supposedly infiltrated by an unidentified perpetrator appeared before her eyes almost immediately. How strange... What sort of aircraft was this one? And how had it even managed to get inside the fortress without alerting the numerous detection systems that protected the castle from these form of threats? There was no time for her to think too much, as the unknown infiltrator may have already began its terrible plans as she remained in silence: almost immediately, she would quickly give a single order to the display, not wanting to risk any more dangers as she instantly made the decision that she calculated in her mind as the most logical decision. "Send all available units to Hangar Bay 1-B." she voiced out to the holographic display without a pause. "Disable that craft and capture any threats you see."


    ________________________________________


    "... Well, if you look at that... This entire place looks just like home..." The aircraft Novus was piloting had finally landed at the destination it was meant to arrive at- the massive castle situated at the center of the sea, where that individual named ''Thurien'' had lived in isolation for who knows how long... It was, after all, incredibly obvious how this place never had any guests visiting its lonesome place; the moment the craft had landed inside one of the fortress'' many hangars, he could instantly tell how secluded the entire place was due to the sheer silence and dust he met when the plane finally landed upon the dust-ridden ground of the hangar. What got Novus'' interest the most however was how remarkably similar this ''Thurien'' individual was to his mother. She was just like Anastasia, he thought: a cold, lonely being who had remained in seclusion for many years without a single contact with other individuals.


    Perhaps his ''mother'' was more closely related to this ''Thurien'' individual than what he had initially thought?


    "I guess it''s time for some action..." he then got off his seat as he began preparing to go outside. "Time to put on my gear..." There was still the issue of his sudden, unexplained arrival at this place all of a sudden: if there was any form of defense or resistance that would suddenly appear, he only had his current gear to help him if such a thing was indeed meant to happen: his energy weapon, his stealth weapon, as well as an assortment of explosives that each had their own purposes.


    ... Well, it wasn''t really going to be much of a problem anyway- he already had a plan he made right from the very first moment he had landed in this place. After all, what kind of man wouldn''t have a scheme after arriving at such a completely different place as this one?


    "Alright then..."


    Novus then walked through the small spaces of the craft as he made his way to the its sole, massive exit, which was the same way where the 2 had previously jumped from when they made their descent: a massive, iron door that had now opened as he slowly made his way to the massive, dusty floors of the hangar he had landed in.


    It was such a familiar sight, he thought to himself in silence. This place reminded him of the old days in his past life when he had served as a soldier of the united front of humanity: while it hadn''t been quite a fun experience, they were still incredibly memorable moments that he could never bring himself to forget.


    Suddenly, however, as he had barely even made 10 steps on the unkept grounds of the airdock...


    "Halt, intruder. Cease your movements. Lay down your arms and surrender."


    The defense Novus expected to come had arrived so quickly: almost instantly, hundreds of humanoid-shaped automata equipped with dangerous, steel weapons had rushed into the hangar he was in as they all faced towards Novus in a cold, unflinching gaze as they all spoke in unison for him to surrender immediately. It was such a dangerous sight, as even Novus couldn''t help but remain standing still for a moment as he stared at their sudden appearances for a while.


    ... Fortunately however, Novus had already thought this one through: he had already conceived of a plan in order to survive in such a situation, and so simple was it that he could quickly begin to proceed with its steps.


    There wasn''t any moment to spare, as each second that passed provided only more dangers to him as he silently chose to remain idle from where he stood.


    And now, to reveal the grand, yet simple plan he had quickly concocted.


    "... I surrender." Novus said nonchalantly, as he dropped his blaster to the ground and raised his arms up without another word coming out of his mouth.

 Part 3 - Chapter 5

    The illusionary scenes of the dreams that engulfed his mind had proven to be ever-more surreal. As he remained unconscious, memories of the past began to haunt his mind in continuously increasing intervals of time that seemed to grow even more restless with every passing second.


    Amidst his sleep, his subconscious began to reminisce of his terrible past, a life that was full only of suffering and pain for the most of its duration, an experience that he never wanted to live through ever again: to be abandoned by one''s own birth parents at such a young age... to be forgotten by the rest of his relatives and thrown into an old, decrepit orphanage whose caretakers cared not about his pitiful existence... And to be kicked out of the children''s shelter after a few years as he was eventually forced to work at a low-paying job whose salary just barely allowed him to live through the toils and struggles of life...


    He had lived through all that with a steel resolve, enduring through all these momentous events of his life that would have taken his life had he relented for even a moment. He had weather3d through all these challenges, and had eventually managed to create a decent life for him to nurture and sustain...


    He had built up quite a fortune''s worth of money, which was all in due thanks to the hardwork he had done for the majority of his life. However, despite having a firm resolve and a sense of responsibility, the poor man remained unaware of the other hidden cruelties that lied within human nature- despite being able to weather through all these hardships with an iron will to live through it all, even more tragedies would come cascading into his unfortunate life, each of which had easily torn apart everything he had worked hard for with an incredibly merciless ease.


    He had unfortunately fallen in love with a fortune hunting, opportunist of a woman, and had even managed to conceive a daughter with such a lady amidst their short-lived marriage: eventually though, after draining him of his riches amidst his naivety, their marriage would fall into a quick dissolution, with the woman easily leaving him behind for a far wealthier man who she could leach onto for more money once more.


    Despite this, the man would not fall before his despair- the child who the selfish mother had left behind for him to care... he still loved and took care of his daughter despite the immense pain that plagued and ached his heart, caring for her even despite the dreadful terminal illness that refused to leave her body.


    Eventually though, after a few years would pass by, the last light of his life would finally be taken from him so viciously: his sickly daughter would inevitably fall prey to the disease that torturously gnawed away at her body for every minute she breathed, eventually draining her of all life as she would finally be laid to rest by her sickness on her own bed.


    And that was it... The man had finally realized: there was truly nothing wonderful in this world that could ever hope to last, and the only constant that thrived in this reality was suffering. He hated it, he loathed it... He despised it with every fraction of his being.


    He wanted to lash out at the world for taking everything he had rightfully earned by wasting many years of his life as a hardworking man... However, because he was weak and did not have even his fortune left as an advantage in his life, he had nothing to gain back at least a portion of what he had lost throughout the years.


    His final chance of redemption would come when the great war had suddenly come and consumed earth in a vast, trial by fire: otherworldly invaders had come from these series of massive gateways, destroying everything in sight as they torched entire cities ablaze... It was the perfect opportunity for him to regain something for his life again.


    It was a do or die... If he had become a soldier, there would only be 2 paths to his now-destined fate: he would either perish in one of the many battles and have his name forgotten for the rest of the passing years, or the less likely outcome, where he would manage to persevere through it all and make his name remembered through stories and history books that would last for an untold amount of time.


    And alas, did he choose this option, diving into the hellscapes of war as a frontline soldier without hesitation as he joined the ranks of the GFI''s soldiers. He would eventually become a great soldier and leader both, earning the position of battalion commander of the 41st GFR battalion ''The Black Dogs'', a legendary unit of the Global Front Initiative that won countless battles for humanity until they all met their end in the trap that the enemy had set upon the shores of Khaenriah.


    This was the story of Novus Sturne, a loathsome terror who had been steeled and molded into a terrifying monster by the hardships of life...


    Though at the same time, he was only a man who wanted to have a peaceful life with the people he loved...


    ________________________________________


    "... Argh... My head..."


    Novus'' vision was a bit hazy as his eyes slowly opened themselves to reveal where he had been brought to amidst his unconsciousness: almost quickly, he immediately found himself seated upon a metal chair, with his arms, feet and wrists bound by indomitable steel restraints, rendering him completely unable to move as he could only see a black monitor that only presented an unattractive screen of static.


    It had all happened so quickly again: as soon as he had confirmed his capitulation, one of those robots had suddenly flashed a bright, white light at his face, instantly knocking out his senses and allowing them to bring him to the current place he was in right now: a dimly-lit room with a few, weak lights as he remained trapped within the steel confines of the chair that bound him.


    "... This is a bit... Bad..."


    The restraints were unwaveringly fixed onto his limbs, firmly preventing any form of escape as Novus could not do anything else but remain on the metal chair he had been strapped onto... He had begun to wonder about everything, and a slight sense of regret began leaking into his heart: perhaps the option of surrendering had been a terrible choice in the first place? Maybe there was a better option he could have chosen beforehand...


    Well, it''s not like he could revert what he had already done anyway: all he could do was await what was about to happen next, as he chose to remain in silence and patiently wait for the individual known as ''Thurien'' to pay him a visit.


    "..."


    The sound of a metal door opening itself loudly, as well as a few foot steps would echo from a location behind him, though unfortunately, he was unable to see who had truly entered the room due to the iron fasteners that held him in place upon his fixed, unmoving seat.


    As the sound of the foot steps gradually became closer however, Novus could suddenly feel a hand touching the top of his head: it had a gentle touch, as well as a hypnotically soothing feeling that he could immediately feel the moment its fingers reached out to lightly caress his rough hair.


    "... What an interesting human you are..." the unknown individual behind him spoke as its voice became that of a whisper and drew closer towards one of his ears. "... You''re not like the other humans I''ve met before... You even have access to these... Devices that aren''t possible for an age as primitive as this..."


    A smile formed quickly on his face as he replied. "... Well, I''m quite special after all... anyway... I''d first like to apologize for barging into your home all of a sudden. It was a matter of utmost urgency, and I-"


    "Hm, a polite one, even despite the rudeness you did previously... You truly are quite different..." Thurien quickly cut him off. "Would you be able to maintain that personality after we''re done with ''that'', I wonder...?"


    "... What do you mean?"


    "It''s because you''re too interesting, dear human~" A mischievous smile would form on her face, though Novus would be unable to see this due to being unable to move his head. "Hahaha... Don''t worry, this won''t hurt~ it''ll actually feel good... A bit too much though..."


    "W-what are you about to-"


    An overwhelming sense of what seemed to be soft, yet excessive waves of pleasure then began drowning his mind in a sea of ecstasy. It was too pleasurable, so much so that it quickly became more ''painful'' than anything else. Alas, the poor lad was unable to do anything amidst his torture: his body moved and twitched violently in an attempt to break his restraints, which would only lead to no avail.


    Seeing this, Thurien would giggle lightly as her hand that was placed on his head continued to apply the esoteric effects.


    "Please don''t resist too much~" she said with a hint of what seemed to be enthusiasm. "... Ah... Wait..."


    Stolen story; please report.


    The newfound feelings had been too much on his already weary, mortal mind- it didn''t take long for him to lose consciousness, as his eyes became glued shut while his body remained completely unresponsive and motionless upon the chair full of restraints.


    Thurien would begin to sigh again, as she looked at the pitiful sight before her: had she perhaps taken it too far again?


    No, it was impossible. This kind of ''torture'', if it could even be called that, wasn''t even that painful or damaging to human bodies. She had made sure of that. Surely, this human wouldn''t be some rare exclusion to an already tried and tested case?


    Well, she already got what she needed anyway: it was a rather interesting find she had gotten from his mind, a series of informations so baffling and bizarre, that she couldn''t even help but think if they were truly possible.


    For now, she had to wait for the interesting human to wake up and to present her queries: she had so many questions, yet so little time...


    ...


    ...


    How interesting, Thurien thought.


    There were so many interesting memories in this man''s mind... So many fascinatingly engrossing details that sparked a great sense of curiosity within her mind, and yet the problem was that she had so little time to ask about all of them.


    As she continued to probe through his swirling memories, her questions would somehow begin to reduce in their number: the more she looked into it, the more things became clearer to her...


    This man... It would seem that he was actually related to her in some way... He was the adopted son of her old friend... Anastasia, the one who had used to visit her home before that bastard of a human king betrayed her and threw away her trust and love...


    His name was Roland, yet he calls himself by the name ''Novus''... There were other memories connected to this detail, but they were too hidden within the deep recesses of his mind... It was as if it was actively being enshrouded by some unknown force whose presence remained completely undetectable to her senses.


    Ah well, she thought. She could simply clarify things after he woke up, then would she finally be able to fully understand this man and his intentions for coming here; all Thurien had to do was wait, and everything would finally make sense to her already curious mind...


    If only this peculiar man would wake up from his slumber any time soon though...


    ...


    ...


    He had fainted. Yet again. It was completely embarrassing, though fortunately, there wasn''t anyone who could laugh at it.


    That bastard; she had somehow engulfed his mind with some powerful feeling that made every single one of his nerve endings ache to such an intense degree.


    His eyes slowly opened, and he found himself still greatly restrained upon the seat he had long been on, as his limbs were still firmly fastened by the shackles that bound him onto the chair. Preposterous, he thought. He never should have surrendered in the first place: everything had instantly turned into a chaotic mess the moment he did.


    "You''re finally awake, dear human~"


    That voice again... It was the voice of his unrevealed torturer, one who spoke from behind him with an oddly cheerful and happy voice: could she perhaps be taking great pleasure in tormenting others?


    Once more, her hands moved to her head and began gently scruffing his hear: this quickly made him shiver slightly, as he couldn''t help but shudder at the thought that she was about to repeat the torment that she had previously done unto him.


    "... That hurt... You said it wouldn''t be... Well, painful..."


    "Was it really~?" she teased, as a smile which he could not see formed on her lips once again. "Don''t complain too much now, I could''ve done much more terrible things to a home invader like you, you know..."


    "... Well, not that it matters anymore anyway. I''m not going to do it anymore you see~" she continued. "I''ve already figured things out, dear human~"


    "... What do you mean?" Novus questioned curiously, his face remaining groggy as he was still recovering from the ''torture'' that had been done to him.


    "Simply put... I''ve already learned who you truly are... There''s no need to conceal it any longer~" her tone became that of a smug one, as she then walked towards her view and finally revealed what she looked like before Novus'' eyes: a rather tall, beautiful woman with pink hair and rose colored irises as she adorned a suit that closely resembled that of a nurse. If there was only one term that Novus could use to describe such a being, then the word ''mesmerizing'' would be the perfect match for such an occasion.


    The restraints would suddenly lift themselves from their restrictive positions, as the iron clamps and fasteners that once heavily controlled his bodily movements instantly became loose, finally allowing Novus to freely move his body about. Quickly, he would waste no time to stand up from the chair as he began stretching his arms a bit in order to relieve the light soreness: it seemed that, from the moment he was first placed there while he was unconscious, he had been trapped there for quite a while already.


    "You''re my friend''s son... Anastasia''s child... I haven''t seen her for such a long time, and her son had suddenly come to visit me... In a rather rude way though..." Thurien surmised after a short pause as she got inches-close to his body and placed her index finger upon his chest. "... Am I correct with this assumption?"


    His eyes would widen slightly as he heard what she said: she''d managed to solve the entire thing so quickly, much faster than what he initially expected. There was no point in beating around the bush nor hiding anything anymore, as it was the best opportunity to get straight to the point.


    "... Indeed, but... That quick? Did you use some mind reading technology or something...?"


    "Correct~ as expected, you''re obviously quite familiar with such advancements thanks to your mother, hm?" she said while chuckling a bit. "I''m really sorry if I inflicted too much pain on you earlier... I''ve been having a bit of an issue with ''trespassers'' a while ago you see, so I had to resort to... Extremes..."


    "Ah, by the way, since I freed you... would you mind answering a few questions of mine?"


    Without a word, Novus nodded thrice in response: Thurien smiled of course, and would then continue speaking.


    "Thank you~ Anyway..." she said, as her tone quickly moved into that of a scolding one. "... Why the hell did you just barge into my home, hm? You could''ve just asked for permission through the transmission... Or something. What you did was just plain rude, even for someone who''s supposed to be my niece!"


    Novus quickly looked down a bit in defeat; after all, she had a point there, it had been quite discourteous for him to suddenly appear out of nowhere and land his craft within the vicinity of her home without permission. Well, he didn''t do that without reason in the first place, to say the least.


    "... About that... Yeah, that''s kind of my bad... Sorry..." he apologized, as he then quickly moved on to begin reasoning a bit. "... You see, I wasn''t sure if I was gonna get shot down by your defense systems, plus there was the issue that, well... I don''t really know how you''d react, so..."


    She quickly understood what he meant: the reason why he had acted that way was simply because of a ''fog of war''. He had not a single detail about her personality and how she''d even begin to perceive the visitation of sudden guests into her area, which was why he had chosen to act like this.


    Still though, the way he had acted... It was rather impertinent for someone as old and ancient as her. Well, she''d eventually choose to forgive him anyway, since she understood where his actions rooted from in the first place.


    "... Alright, I get what you mean. Just... Don''t do this kind of thing in the future again, alright?" she responded, to which Novus would quickly give another series of affirmative nods. "Now then, for my next question..."


    "Those 2... Women fighting that dragon... Are they... You know..."


    He would quickly interject her, as he already knew what she was about to say. "My companions? Yes, they are. Me and Anastasia built them... Although, about her..."


    "... That''s not what I was meaning to ask, but... Alright..." Thurien would pause for a moment, though his answer was already somewhat within her expectations. "... About your mother then... Which leads me to my last question..."


    Her tone of voice would suddenly grow into that of a serious one as her next words came out of her mouth.


    "... Is she truly dead? I saw it in your memories... Is she really...?"


    "... Yeah... She is... There was an attack... And she got, well...killed ..." he said, his face quickly becoming a bit somber in its expression. "... Which is why I came here... I did some research on you using her datalogs... And I found out that you''re good at fixing and healing... So..."


    Novus pursed his lips as he made a small sigh: he had come so far now, and yet there was still that sense of hesitation growing within his heart... What if Thurien wasn''t actually capable of doing the very thing he had come here for? Everything would have been for naught, and he would still have to deal with the sudden, cruel death of his ''mother''.


    ... Even so, it was still worth it to risk everything right here and now.


    "... Can you... Bring her back to life?"


    There it was: he had asked the main question he was supposed to ask. His heart seemed to skip some beats for a moment, as he waited in anticipation for her answer: would she truly be the salvation he had long been looking for, or would this only end up in the disappointment he was already expecting?


    After a few moments of silence and consideration, Thurien would finally give an answer... However, it was a rather complex answer that was neither good nor bad for the likes of Novus.


    "... It''s complicated..." she answered. "... After I read your mind about what happened to her... Well, to put it in layman''s terms... Her heart, which is made of this unique, non-renewable material, had been destroyed when she was killed, and there''s no way to bring her back after something like that...


    "... Unless..."


    Novus didn''t stop for a moment as he instantly replied. "... Unless?"


    "... Here''s what you''re supposed to do..."


    She would then lean her head towards one of his ears again as she began to whisper...


    ________________________________________


    "D-damn it! Spera, don''t get caught in those flames of his, alright?! The moment you''re caught in those things, you''ll burn to ash!"


    "Don''t worry, sister, I understand!"


    Black flames came to life all throughout the ocean''s deep space; flickering, seemingly sentient masses of impossible combustions that burned even the water and turned it into a black, filthy ash that quickly polluted the water with its disgusting, dark appearance.


    In truth, Andromalius had already been rendered without life... At least, temporarily: his head was not even controlling his body anymore in the first place, and the reason why it was still functioning was due to a self preservation instinct deep within his cells that drove his broken vessel to protect his core.


    His dragon heart: the most important part of his body, one that was even more vastly important than the rest of his vitals such as his head. As long as his core remained undamaged and undisturbed, he could regenerate and eventually recover from any form of heavy damage, so long as he did not lack the mana necessary and that his core wasn''t being severely strained in the process.


    [Flames of Purgatory.]


    More jet-black flames would scatter throughout the waters in a chaotic fashion- they scattered and diffused about like a swarm of locusts, eating away at even the very liquids that could supposedly neutralize their presence, converting every form of matter that they could get their hands on into fine, black ash that would quickly dissolve into the ocean water and contaminate it into a murky presence.


    [Scorching Pillars of Flame.]


    BOOMMMM!!!


    "S-shit! Sister, are you alright?!"


    "Don''t worry about me, Spera! Worry about yourself for now! Don''t you dare die!"


    Multiple magick circles would form in front of the headless draconian''s body, and from these ethereal constructs came out beams of black, scorching fires that struck at almost every direction. One had even managed to nearly hit both of them and disintegrate them into nothingness, though fortunately, a temporary telekinetic barrier that Whitlea managed to form in the nick of time managed to save them both from such an impending doom.


    The entire situation was quickly becoming hopeless: the headless dragon was unleashing too many attacks, and the 2 combat maids could do nothing but repeatedly move about to evade the constant attacks that were being launched at them in an unceasing hail of deadly spells.


    "W-we''re going to end up getting hit by those flames at this rate!" Speranza, who was now in complete, and total panic mode while still managing to act quite well despite the situation, screamed with such an intense fervor through their mental communication. "What are we going to do, sister? We can''t afford to die here, but we can''t afford to leave either!"


    Her sister was proving a point: they could not afford to get hit at this very moment of time and place, as the attacks that the dragon were unleashing would instantly erase them and allow for no chance of survival of recovery. And to add to that, Novus had ordered them to keep the fell creature away from the castle, and the 2 combat maids were incredibly determined to fulfill that duty no matter what.


    However, the situation they were currently in had now quickly proven itself to be a dilemma of disastrous proportions: regardless of what major choice they would eventually choose in the long-run, they would inevitably get screwed and bitten back in the ass for it, even with all the reasonings and considerations that they could possibly do while they were deeply embroiled within their fight against this now-mindless, monstrous creature.


    Suddenly, however, a miracle would save them from the depths of their steadily increasing despair, as well as the hopeless situation that they had been entrapped in- a bright, blue construct of light suddenly took shape in the ocean waters at a space that was close to their proximity... And out from it came an important figure that the 2 sentient, biomechanical androids were all too familiar with.


    "Rest easy, you 2... I''ve come to end this once and for all."

 Part 3 - Chapter 6

    "You see... There''s only one thing you can do to allow her resurrection..."


    Novus'' eyes widened as her words were whispered into his left ear: it was a surprise, though a welcome one nonetheless. The fact that the possibility of Anastasia coming back to life wasn''t actually zero was more than enough for him... As long as there was a chance, he would gladly risk it all for that opportunity without hesitation.


    "... What must I do then?" he asked.


    "... That dragon your subordinates are fighting..." Thurien answered. "... I need you to bring its heart to me..."


    "Carve it out of its body... Without any damages on it... And I may just be able to bring her back..."


    It finally made sense to him: of course, how perfect! How could he have not seen this earlier? The most important bodily part of a dragon would be its core, which was the very center of its being and the sole reason as to why they possessed the terrible powers that they were able to unleash upon the planes of existence. If he was successful with obtaining one, he would likely be able to replace his mother''s old, destroyed one and bring her back to life as planned.


    However, doubts began to cloud his mind the moment the seemingly easy nature of such a venture began lurking within his thoughts: surely something as easy as this would have some difficulties to it? After all, many tasks that bear fruit to great rewards often require an equal amount of hardships in return... And surely this one would not be an exception?


    "... Let me guess..." he voiced out his thoughts, which was about the prediction he had quickly made in his mind after only a few seconds of afterthought. "... Those 2 won''t be able to defeat the dragon by themselves huh?"


    Thurien quickly gave a single nod in agreement. "... Indeed. That dragon... While it''s certainly weaker compared to the ones I once encountered back then... It is still, nevertheless, a dragon that holds an untold amount of strength. Taking it down will require more than the immense power that your 2 subordinates already possess."


    "That is why..." she continued as her eyes set a fixed, unflinching gaze upon his own. "... I''ll be sending you there to fight it. Help your 2 friends vanquish that creature and bring me its core... Then I will do what you came here for and bring her back to life with the best of my abilities."


    It looked like an incredible prospect: all he had to do was to fight the monstrous behemoth, take it out and carve out its loathsome heart out of its body. The problem was, that he was not as strong as Whitlea and Speranza; nay, he couldn''t even hope to match in power at least one of them in both speed and strength. What hope could he possibly have for him to last in a skirmish that would instantly end his life the moment he took part in it?


    "... I know what you''re thinking... You''re merely a human, a weakling compared to those 2 you sent to fight that flying lizard who''s now at the bottom of the ocean... However..." Thurien would suddenly somehow try to encourage him. "... They need your help. If you want to bring back your mother and safeguard the lives of these friends of yours... Then join them and help them put an end to this threat..."


    "But... How? I won''t even be able to do anything..."


    Thurien would suddenly move her right hand to her chest, covering the grafted wound upon her chest with her hand as she spoke. "As much as I want to help you and join you people... I''m currently unable to provide much help due to my injuries... Instead, I''ll help you in another way..."


    "... How will you help me?" Novus questioned as his eyes furrowed a bit in confusion.


    "... Follow me..." she began moving towards one of the doors that led outside the room. "I''ll be showing you some... ''special'' things..."


    ...


    ________________________________________


    "... That hurt... You inferior bastards..."


    It had taken his body a while, as the grievous injury that had once plagued his body was too heavy for his regeneration to instantly cover for: now, however, the process, despite how cumbersome it had temporarily been reduced to, had now allowed him to be restored back to his former glory, as his glorious head now stood tall and proud atop his once-headless neck, finally allowing the draconian to have full, proper control over his body.


    Of course, granted, Andromalius was still at the bottom of the ocean, with his body still completely submerge in its now murky, filthy depths as his black, all-consuming flames were scattered throughout the ocean waters, along with the 2 inferior bastards who had nearly managed to kill him just a few moments ago: this time, he was absolutely going to take them seriously and do everything he can to annihilate them all at once in mere seconds.


    "My next spell will be the end of you lot. Prepare yourselves for the agonizing death that awaits you."


    Omnidirectional Flames of Hell... Or so did he call this spell that was based on his ultimate ability to manipulate any form of fire and flame: while it was a massive spell that would consume a great amount of mana that moment he cast it, it was a magickal casting that would allow him to completely engulf the entire ocean with his gluttonous blackfire, scorching everything around him into soot and ash and leaving only him as the sole living creature within the massive radius of his spell.


    Surely, such a massive and destructive magick would be able to finally put an end to these 2 bothersome insects who have proven to be a great pain to him for such a long time already.


    "Die, inferiors! Burn and suffer for your transgressions!"


    [Omnidirectional Flames of-]


    Suddenly though, another unprecedented variable came barging into the very place he was in, a circumstance that once more brought an incredible amount of hate within his anger-filled heart of darkness: a bright, blue construct of light suddenly took shape in the ocean waters at a space that was close to their proximity. Why is it that he was always being interrupted by events that would suddenly transpire before his very eyes? Was he being punished for some petty reason by some higher being in another plane of existence? Surely this could not be the case...


    Well, it''s not like they''d even be able to stop him at any rate: all he had to do was to pay no attention to these pathetic interruptions, and continue casting the spell that was finally about to bring him his final victory... All he needed left was a few seconds, and he would finally win this conflict where he had nearly lost his life.


    "You will not interrupt me, heathens!!!"


    [Omnidirectional Flames of Hell.]


    Jet-black fires that were as dark as the deepest, blackest nights would suddenly come forth from this magick circle, its flames quickly spreading towards every direction as it began to violently engulf and burn everything that would meet its fiery touch; even the waters wouldn''t be spared from its exceedingly high temperatures, as not even its vapors were left to survive the onslaught it was rapidly laying bear.


    It was done, there was no way that these inferiors could possibly hope to survive: this was one of his most destructive spells, and even though he was one of the weaker dragons of his species, he was sure to himself that not even the higher ranks upon the seats of the greater dragons could survive unscathed from the devastating attack he had just unleashed.


    ... Unfortunately, however, today would not be the same as that scenario that the dragon was initially expecting to happen.


    ...


    As Novus came out of the gateway that Thurien had hastily assembled in order to bring him here as quickly as possible, his newly acquired set of armor glistened pristinely as the now-rising sun slowly came up to shine upon his sleek combat suit.


    It was like the previous power armour he had once worn as a battalion commander in his previous life, though this time, the one he had currently adorned was vastly more stronger and powerful in every single aspect.


    The X series 29Fz Valkyrie power armor, or so did Thurien designate its name with such a boring fashion: it was a jet-black, mechanical suit that possessed a myriad of outstandingly useful abilities such as flight, an arsenal of deadly weaponries, enhanced protection, and many other features that vastly improved his fighting capability to the extremes.


    However, the most important feature of this armor was the reason why Thurien had chosen to give this suit to him...


    An anti-magick field, a feature that was still only at its experimental phases due to only having been recently developed. It was a small, spherical generator within his suit that could produce a special field of up to 100 meters, nullifying any form of anomaly or magick within its range and restoring the world back to its natural state without the impurities of the arcane.


    Now, it was the perfect moment to utilize such an ability to its maximum effects.


    "You''re not burning anything, you damn lizard."


    [Synthesis Complete: Generating AM Field...]


    A series of crimson lights began blaring up from his pitch-black armor, scattering throughout the ocean waters as the main feature of the suit finally unleashed its main ability: an invisible, intangible field began engulfing the large area where Novus was in, and almost instantly did it quickly take effect, as the dragon''s magick was quickly nullified in an instant.


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "W-WHAT?!... WHAT IS THIS MADNESS?! YOU WOULD DARE?!!!"


    His black, all-consuming flames quickly began ceasing to exist as they gradually faded into nothingness: the magick circle shattered and broke away, and the flames that were rapidly beginning to spread to almost every direction disappeared without a trace, leaving only the burned, black material they had scorched to continue to contaminate the waters as the dragon''s magick spell had completely lost its devastating ability.


    What was this madness? Or so did Andromalius scream within his inner thoughts. What form of travesty was this, for a lowly creature enveloped in such fragile metal, to neutralize one of his greatest magick spells with but a mere thought from its primitive mind? It was the ultimate form of insult for him, as the magick that a dragon possessed was the greatest pride that they had as a species, and to neutralize it would rouse a deep, great anger within them: as such, he quickly moved his massive body as he rushed towards this small, loathsome creature and prepared to sink his claws into its fragile framework.


    "YOU LITTLE SHIT STAIN! I WILL TURN YOU INTO BLOODY MINCEMEAT!"


    Despite his large mass, Andromalius had no difficulty traversing through the waters in order to reach his target in such rapid speeds: he was still a draconian after all, and his immense physical strength was absolutely nothing that one should scoff at.


    His clawed hands would quickly reach for Novus'' body, ready to strike him and tear him apart into pieces as soon as they made contact with the fragile creature''s body... All it needed was a few seconds, and the loathsome inferior would quickly die at his hands, which could also perhaps bring an end to the neutralization of the immense arcane advantage he possessed.


    However...


    CLANG!!!!


    The other mechanisms of the suit would activate, and a black, sleek sword had suddenly appeared on Novus'' right hand, allowing him to parry the dragon''s razor-sharp claws and prevent his body from being torn to shreds: unfortunately though, the force of the draconian''s attack was stronger, and it quickly knocked him back several meters away from the dragon at an uncontrollably fast speed. Of course, Andromalius would not waste the opportunity as he began charging once more in order to cut this bothersome heathen down at once.


    "Oh no, you don''t, you overgrown reptile!"


    The suit''s propulsion systems immediately allowed him to fix his positioning and escape from the violent speeds he had been propelled at, allowing him to counteract the next physical attack that Andromalius was about to throw at him. This time, however, the draconian had not expected him to easily be able to recover from the powerful knockback he had suffered from, which left him completely vulnerable to an attack from Novus as soon as the 2 gradually drew closer to each other.


    However, before Andromalius could move again to counteract against Novus'' next attack...


    [Hold it, you shitty lizard.]


    "W-WHAT?!"


    The momentum of his speeding body would come to a grinding halt, as a powerful, invisible force began holding him in place: Novus'' 2 companions were already within range, and they were close enough so that they could actively help him amidst his feud with this massive creature.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Several, speeding little things that seemed to be arrows of metal then simultaneously approached his immobile body at faster-than-sound speeds and struck him his head without mercy: the effects were instant, as the terrible weapons exploded as soon as they made contact with Andromalius. While his scales would protect most of this priceless body part of his from harm, there was not enough protection that enveloped his eyes from the swift, series of explosions, which thus quickly caused him to lose his sight in the process.


    "ARGGGHHHHHHH!!!!"


    SLAASHHHH!!!!!


    Novus didn''t waste any time as he grabbed the opportunity with his own two hands- he moved at lightning-quick speeds, lunging towards his scaled opponent rapidly using the armor''s propulsion systems as he quickly unleashed his own assault and made several rapid cuts upon his foe.


    However, Novus had made sure that is attack would be completely lethal upon his enemy...


    "ARGGHHHHH!!!! YOU FUCKING INFERIORS!!!!! HOW DARE YOUU???!!!!!"


    Draconic blood scattered throughout the waters as Andromalius'' hands swiftly departed from his arms after the untold amount of cuts that his enemy had unleashed upon him: what was even more terrifying was that he was completely unable to heal them without his magick, and thus this injury would remain on him indefinitely until he could finally regain his temporarily lost arcane might.


    Unfortunately though, Novus would not give him that time to recover, as he knew that allowing this battle to draw out longer would only eventually lead to their defeat. He quickly moved away from the dragon''s body, allowing his other companions who were already approaching his location, to make quick work of this beast in order to finally dispatch of it as soon as possible.


    ...


    ...


    "... Well, that was completely unexpected dear..."


    "... Indeed, my creator... You quickly rendered this ugly creature into a useless pile of scales..."


    Both Whitlea and Speranza were now beside him, and as they callously made cruel remarks about the pitiful draconian''s state, Novus couldn''t help but chuckle a bit at their words. After all, it was, indeed, quite funny for the once indomitable, powerful creature that this dragon was to end up as a now helpless enemy before them in mere moments.


    Although, deep down, Novus knew that there wasn''t any time that should be wasted.


    "You 2... I have one last thing for you to do..."


    "... What may it be then, dear?" Whitlea questioned as she gave him a curious look.


    "... Kill that lizard, but... Carve out its heart and bring it back to the surface." he commanded, which of course the 2 combat maids would listen to without question. "We''re going to need its core for something important... Do it now while we still have time."


    A smile would swiftly form on their faces: though whether it was out of simple compliance, mere joy, or complete sadism, he couldn''t exactly tell for sure. Regardless though, he was satisfied that these 2 were willing to obey his commands without much complaints, and he didn''t mind anything else that these 2 would do.


    "Alright dear, if that''s what you wish..."


    "Roger that, our creator~"


    ...


    ...


    This was unacceptable... Completely preposterous... An impossibility of the highest degrees, one which he couldn''t accept for even a single second!


    How had he been reduced to such a hapless, pitiful sight before these loathsome inferiors? Amidst his mission, they had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and unrelentingly began attacking him without even allowing him any means to secure any form of victory.


    He had lost his arms, and he was even unable to utilize the great fire magick he had always been proud of ever since he first came into existence... And now, there was nothing else he could do as he slowly awaited whatever fate would befall upon him next.


    "G-GET AWAY FROM ME, YOU INSECTS! I WILL CRUSH YOU, I WILL BURN YOU!"


    The 2 inferiors he had previously tried to scorch into ash were now slowly approaching his vicinity, a dark smile forming on their faces as they gradually drew closer to his vulnerable body. For the very first moments of his life, Andromalius could feel a great sense of fear and dread flooding his mind with an inescapable feeling of pure despair: whatever these 2 were planning to do to him wasn''t going to be wonderful, and he could feel that it was going to be something extremely painful...


    [Lie down, reptile.]


    Andromalius was quickly pushed down onto the ocean floor by a violent force, making him painfully lie down on his back as he only became even more completely powerless against the whims of these 2 monsters before him.


    And as his fearful eyes stared and scanned at what these little devils were about to do next, he could feel his heart about to burst from sheer anxiety as the white-haired one suddenly materialized a crimson, blade-shaped ethereal light and began moving towards what seemed to be his chest...


    Almost instantly, Andromalius quickly realized just what exactly this bastard was about to do to him...


    "N-NO! DON''T YOU FUCKING DARE! LET GO OF ME THIS INSTANT, YOU VILE LITTLE STAINS OF FILTH! DAMN IT, LET ME GO, DON''T DO THIS! DON''T YOU DAR-"


    The white-haired one quickly drove the blade of light into his body, easily carving through his scales and flesh in an accurate manner of precision, as the combat maid slowly and agonizingly tried to carve out his heart from his body.


    It was painful, incredibly torturous and utterly tormenting: it was a severe, untold amount of pain that Andromalius couldn''t even begin to describe, and as the blade gradually drew closer to allowing the tiny monstrosity before him to take his core away from his body, his once vengeful, angry shouts would turn into pitiful pleadings of mercy.


    "N-no! P-please! D-don''t do this!" He begged without an ounce of shame on him due to the severe pain he was feeling. "I beg of you! Kill me in whatever ways you want! Just don''t take away my heart! I beseech you!"


    Speranza simply smile back with a sardonic grin that was full of jest and mockery as she gave her reply. "Nope~ our creator told us that we need your heart, so..."


    "Please don''t resist~"


    Finally, after countless pounds of his flesh had been minced away from his body, Andromalius'' heart was now completely exposed before Speranza''s eyes: without hesitation, the combat maid would quickly put both her hands on such an important organs, as she then began tearing out all the muscles, flesh, and blood vessels that were connected to its fragile framework as she proceeded to quickly pull it out if his body.


    "ARGGHHHHHH!!!!!"


    As soon as his dragon heart had been torn out of his body, Andromalius'' body quickly turned into a lifeless husk: without a core, a dragon''s body would be nothing after all, and after his heart had been completely stolen away from him by the sadistic creature before him, his life instantly faded away into nothingness as he finally perished without much resistance.


    ...


    ________________________________________


    She could feel her soul floating in what seemed to be an ethereal realm that felt oddly soothing soothing to her senses... How strange... Could this perhaps be the afterlife?


    Preposterous, she thought. She knew that she was destined for hell... It was something she practically believed to be true, and even despite having committed not much evil throughout her sad, isolated life, her belief that she had long been already damned remained firm within her weary mind.


    Anastasia''s eyes looked about the shadowy realm she was in, and all she could see was a faint darkness... Could this perhaps be a purgatory of some sorts? The entire spacious realm she was in had not even a single ounce of air in it, and even just the slightest contact with its vast, empty space quickly proved to be cold to the touch... Just where exactly was she right now?


    She could remember meeting her end at the hands of that awakened dragon she fought... How regretful. If only the wound on her chest and core that had been inflicted by the strange sword of her traitorous husband had not continued to weaken her even until now, then she probably would have stood a better chance against that monstrosity that had suddenly appeared inside her home...


    Despite her regrets, she could at least feel a semblance of happiness for the last, little thing she had done before she perished: at least her ''son'' was safe from harm, to say the least.


    "Not to fear, milady... You''re not going to end up in the fires of hell... Nor at the gates of heaven for that matter..."


    A voice would suddenly speak directly to her mind in an almost telepathical manner, a tone that seemed to belong to that of a young woman, though at the same time, Anastasia could also somewhat feel as if the voice was rippling throughout the realm despite having no medium for its sound to traverse through.


    How strange... Just who exactly was the source of this voice that came out of nowhere? And what exactly were its intentions?


    "... Who are you exactly? And what do you want from me?"


    The voice wasted no time to respond. "I am someone you know, although... I am also someone who you do not know... Either way, you will come to understand in time..." it spoke in an ethereal manner. "Now, as for my intentions..."


    The darkness of the vast realm would then begin to shift and swirl in an impossible manner, as Anastasia was dragged into the unrestrained turbulences that had suddenly transpired within this strange dimension. Oddly enough, however, none of the strange motions proved to be harmful to her, and as they finally came to a halt, a new scenery would meet her eyes and leave her a bit bewildered for a while.


    She now found herself within a luxurious, wooden room with several porcelain cups and even a teapot on top of small table, as 2 chairs that remained close beside it: one had already been occupied by a strange individual, and as Anastasia scanned this figure for its appearance, a greater sense of shock and confusion began to engulf her senses in a completely profound manner.


    "Please take a seat and have some tea, milady." the figure spoke as a gentle, courteous smile formed upon its lips. "I assure you, I will not allow any form of harm to come upon you... You are my guest after all, and also..."


    "... You were one of the beings who spearheaded my creation in the first place, yes?"


    The individual before her was someone who was completely familiar to her: she was dressed in a beautiful, pitch-black dress, and her shape, appearance, and looks belonged to that of a beautiful lady in her late 20s: a refined, elegant lass with black, long hair and purple, mesmerizing eyes that seemed to possess a bit of insanity within them...


    She was the exact replica of one of the creations that Anastasia had given life to for her ''son''- Combat Model Hybrid Series 1001: Codenamed "Whitlea"... She even held the same aura of elegance and beauty that the Whitlea she knew had... Though for some reason, this Whitlea seemed to possess some sort of madness within her body... Just what form of insanity could this be exactly?


    "... Why do you look like her? Are you trying to insult me by taking her form?"


    The being known as ''Whitlea'' would then drop her gentle smile, as a small frown would form upon her beautiful face. "There is no reason for me to do that, milady. I am indeed her, though I am a version of her that hails from a different period in time... A far future that none of you would want to see..."


    "And besides, if I truly wanted to insult or harm you..." her voice would become cold for a moment. "I could have done it so easily and without question already..."


    Anastasia could immediately feel it: her words were true, as she could feel that there was some underlying, overwhelming power that lied within her seemingly delicate frame, one that would most likely allow this version of ''Whitlea'' to easily destroy her if they were to arrive at a conflict. No good, she thought, it would be best to try not to start a fight with her as much as possible.


    "... I''ll take your word for it then..." Anastasia replied, carefully considering each of her words as she spoke.


    "... Thank you... And I apologize if I seemed angry for a moment... It''s just that..." ''Whitlea'' would sigh as she began apologizing. "... I am indeed speaking of the truth... I have done many things for the sake of ''Him''... My beloved..."


    Anastasia would then give a slow nod, as she then slowly walked towards her and take a seat upon the remaining vacant chair in the room.


    "... And who is this ''beloved'' you are speaking of exactly?"


    "... Your son, Novus of course..." ''Whitlea'' said as her gentle smile would return to her face. "I''ve done quite many things for my beloved already... He most likely would have never reached the point of life he''s at right now without my help..."


    So that was where her insanity laid, Anastasia quickly surmised. This version of Whitlea from the future, or so she was if what she previously claimed to be was true; it was apparent that she was completely, utterly, and madly in love with her son for some reason. Her affection for him was incredibly overflowing in a terrifyingly excessive manner, so much so that even Anastasia couldn''t help but feel bothered a bit by her zealous devotion: While Anastasia herself did indeed love her son to a great degree, it wasn''t to the same, horribly high extent as the love that this ''Whitlea'' seemingly had for him.


    "Ah, speaking of which... Why don''t we talk about my beloved... I mean... Novus... Would that be alright for you?" she continued.


    "... What exactly do you want to talk about him?"


    The smile on ''Whitlea''s'' face seemingly grew wider. "He''s meant for great things you see. Though of course, it''s all because of MY help in the first place." she explained rather proudly. "Don''t worry, we have all the time in the world inside this little realm of mine, so please make yourself comfortable..."

 Part 3 - Epilogue

    The room was dark and full of machineries with unknown purposes: only the weak shine from the metal apparatuses and the dim radiances of the ceiling lights provided sight within the room''s dark environment. Within this room however, were 2 figures that stood silently within its space as they contemplated their thoughts without a word.


    Once more, Novus was looking at the stasis pod that held Anastasia''s lifeless body, which was suspended within the confines of the pod''s preservation fluids. This time, however, a new hope had reinvigorated what was once supposedly a lost cause, as the process of bringing her back had now already gone underway.


    "I have to admit... What you did was impressive... Novus~" Thurien, who was beside him all the while, had finally decided to call him by his name. "To take down that beast by yourself... Even though you had some help from me... I can''t help but admire how dashing you must''ve looked in front of your subordinates when you suddenly appeared before them~"


    He would ignore her teasing remarks, as his eyes remained fixed upon the stasis tube that housed his lifeless ''mother''. "... How long will this take... You know... Bringing her back?"


    "... Hmph, how rude of you to ignore me..." her smile would quickly drop to a frown, which would then, of course, disappear eventually as her smile returned in earnest. "... Anyway, to answer your question... It''ll probably take... At the very least, 6 months... We don''t want her to wake up with any underlying conditions, right?"


    6 months... That was quite a long time for recovery. Even so, at least it was certain that she could be brought back, and that was already enough for him to accept. As long as she would eventually be able to recover to a well and lively state, all would be good and well for him: after all, that was all that mattered to him right now in the first place.


    "Indeed..." he answered. "By the way... I should thank for... you know, helping me."


    He would suddenly get down on his knees and kneel before her as some sort of sign of gratitude for Thurien: he was too thankful for what she had done, and he didn''t know exactly how to properly express his gratitude, which had led him to act out what he was currently doing before her.


    Seeing this, however, Thurien would only giggle in amusement at what he just did- this human had truly proven to be an interesting individual indeed, even from the very first moment they had met.


    "If there''s anything you need from me, please don''t hesitate to ask." he continued to express his gratefulness rather humbly. "I''ll do anything you wish from me... You''ve helped me with something incredibly important to me after all."


    "Ah, about that..." she quickly gave her answer, as if she had already thought out what exactly she wanted him to do for her. "I already have something for you to do... Would you mind answering just one question of mine? I''d extremely appreciate it if you were to answer honestly by the way..."


    "... You want me to answer your question honestly, is that it?" Novus asked. "... Go ahead then. I promise to answer truthfully."


    "Alright then~" she said with a heavy tone of excitement in her voice. "For my first and only question..."


    "What do you plan on doing after this, hm? Are you going to stay here and laze around with me? Or perhaps..."


    What she didn''t know was that Novus had already planned of this long ago already: from the very moment he had left his home, he had already decided on what he was going to do regardless of whether or not Thurien had truly been able to allow his mother to come back to life or not.


    In fact, he had even solidified this decision to such an extreme extent, that he would never decide to change it in the next passing periods of time that would come by: there was a conviction in him as he spoke his piece, clearly making it obvious that this plan he had made was absolutely serious.


    "... It may sound ridiculous, but..." he said, pausing for a few moments in hesitation as he eventually found the courage to speak again.


    "... I''m planning to conquer the world."


    Hearing this, Thurien''s mouth would seemingly run agape in surprise. "... R-really now... That''s... Quite a tall ambition indeed..."


    He had finally learned of the truth of this world long ago: this world, this planet... It was the same planet as the Earth he lived in long ago: the humans of this age were the descendants of the humans Novus once lived with back in the ages of modernity, where humanity once ruled the planet as its sole inheritors. After learning of this truth, however, a single thought had quickly formed within his mind, forming a decision that he would not back out from even in the coming years that would pass by.


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    Magick, this cursed, otherworldly force that didn''t belong in this world... It was something that had taken many things away from him, and now, he was determined to put an end to it and vanquish it out of this world once and for all: even more so, he was disappointed with how primitive, savage and barbaric the descendants of his race had turned out to be, as they were now merely verminous filth who relied on the very same force that had nearly destroyed the prosperous society where humanity once lived in: magic, that filthy, otherworldly element that obviously didn''t belong in this world... He was now going to do everything he could in order to bring back the world and mankind back to the way it was...


    Even if it involved conquering every country and nation that had survived to this day... Including that ''Neugomian Empire'' that had already caused him countless tragedies.


    "Still though..." she swiftly added. "... It''s not a bad plan. It''s quite interesting actually~"


    "... Really? You don''t find it ridiculous or something?"


    "Not at all actually." she responded firmly. "In fact, if you really are planning to do it..."


    "Why don''t you let me help you with it then~"


    This was a surprise, really. Who could have thought that the artificial general intelligence who had a great, unconditional love for anything remotely human, would gladly support an ambitious man who sought to conquer all of the known world? It was a ridiculous thought, though nevertheless, it was indeed occurring right this very moment.


    "... You''d help me?" Novus asked, seemingly confused with how willing she was to help him with his ambition.


    "Of course, you''d need all the assistance you can get with this kind of plan after all~" Thurien replied. "You''d need materials, soldiers, logistics... I''ll even help you build more ''subordinates'' for you if you wish."


    Hearing this, Novus would only become even more confused. "... You can build more of them? Wouldn''t it be too difficult?"


    "Not at all, actually~ I have lots of blueprints and datalogs that were left behind by the ones who built me. After all, this place used to be a research facility, you know..."


    He quickly saw the prospect of this opportunity: if Thurien could create more individuals like Whitlea and Speranza, then his goal of conquering the world would be more than assured. Of course, he would not even consider rejecting her offer of assistance, as it was too great of a deal to even think of refusing.


    "... Well, alright then..." Novus muttered. "... As soon as Anastasia''s recovery is complete... We''ll begin making our plans... Is that fine with you?"


    "... What an interesting human you truly are~" Thurien responded, rather cheekily at that. "Okay then, I understand~ We''re going to be doing some important things for a while anyway."


    "I''m really looking forward to how you''ll be fulfilling this ambition of yours in the future~"


    ________________________________________


    "Damn those inferiors... To think that they had brought me to such a new level of low..."


    Andromalius found himself within a foreign realm where time would quickly prove to be meaningless, as the vast space that surrounded him made his eyes turn sore with the incredibly dull sights in front of him.


    What Novus and his companions didn''t know was that there was one more ability that lied within their immense powers over the existence of the world: while they completely lacked a soul altogether, they had anchors of their existences that could never be truly gone. As long as their conceptual powers continued to exist, dragons would never truly cease to exist, and they would eventually be able to come back after a few centuries of recovery.


    And in the case of Andromalius, whose conceptual power was that of fire and heat, a concept that did not cease to exist even until now, this had quickly allowed him to survive his ''death'' at the hands of those inferiors back in the real world.


    "Damn it all... I''m going to be stuck in this place for a long time again..."


    During the ancient war against the humans of old and their powerful constructs and wonders of science, Andromalius had perished twice during the onset of the war, which quickly made this foreign realm he was in a sight that was already all too familiar with him by this point. He hated it whenever he died, as he''d quickly get stuck in this dull, boring realm where he could only wait for the rebirth that would eventually come and allow him to come back to the realms of existence.


    ... This time, however, one last, insurmountable obstacle would finally put an end to his miserable life as a dragon... For good this time, surely enough.


    "... Do you really think you''ll be able to cause destruction again this time though?"


    "... Y-you... W-what the hell are you doing here..."


    In front of Andromalius appeared what seemed to be a humanoid of a smaller size than his majestic, draconian form, though it was obvious that this small creature was thousands of times more powerful than he could ever hope to be due to the fear he was showing for her presence alone: it was a beautiful, womanly angel with silver hair and grey-irised eyes, whose fair skin was draped in what seemed to be a silver armor that had the appearance of a valkyrie...


    What seemed to be most strange about this individual however, was her wings: she had angel-like wings, though the problem was that they weren''t the usual white wings that were draped with beautiful, bird-like feathers. Instead, her wings were that of a sleek, hard metal that seemed incredibly lustrous to the eyes.


    "Simple, really..." the angel answered Andromalius'' question plainly. "I''m here to destroy you... Just like what I did to that... ''Stephan'' fellow, I think?"


    "N-no, don''t do it! Get away from me, Apollyon!" the draconian screamed in terror, his body already quivering violently as the angel gazed coldly into his eyes. "A-Aren''t you supposed to be guarding those gates right now?! Why are you here of all places?!"


    "It''s because of a plan that I made with a certain individual..." the angel answered. "And also... You''re trying to harm my friend... I can''t allow that to happen again now can I?"


    "D-damnit all!"


    The angel would then raise one of her arms, as Andromalius quickly moved his body away from her general vicinity in order to flee his impending doom: this was impossible however, as the very nature of the angel''s power would not allow him to escape, and the moment he had been marked, all that Andromalius was fated for was doom...


    [Cease your existence.]


    With one word from the angel''s mouth, Andromalius'' entire body quickly disappeared from every aspect, dimension and phase of the world: it was swift and precise, as every trace of his existence would cease to exist, as even the memory of his existence would instantly begin to fade away from the minds of many. Reality would begin to split and fold itself back into its proper existence, accommodating for the very disappearance of a now unknown individual who had been erased from all known periods of time and space for eternity...


    Such was the ability of the angel''s unstoppable power, that even a mighty dragon such as Andromalius couldn''t help but remain completely powerless before the winged one''s overpowering might.


    ... Of course, there were a few of those who were exempted from such a power... Some of these individuals are her creator, that certain individual...


    And the old friend who had helped her a long time ago, back when she had crashed into the lands of earth and had nearly failed the mission that had been assigned to her by her creator.

 Part 4 - Prologue

    The Holy Kingdom of Polonia... One of the numerous nations that had been subjugated and conquered by the continental conquest that the Neugomian Empire had long sought out for. Like many of the other countries that had been vassalized by the prowess of imperial might, the kingdom had not been excluded from the rampant abuse and discrimination that the empire would often display to its colonized states.


    However, Polonia had one important thing in its possession that made the empire''s treatment towards it quite marginally better than that of the many vassal states under the heel of its hardened boot: a thousand years ago during the ancient wars of old, Polonia''s lands had remained relatively unblemished and unscathed from the conflict''s devastation due to a myriad of unknown reasonings, and because of this fact, the nation had retained a great many of its natural landscapes and resources... One of the many perfect places to be a sight for majestic exploitation.


    Most importantly however, the Holy Kingdom of Polonia had one more exclusivity that made it a nation of great significance... An important vassal in the Empire''s eyes: the richness of valuable ores within its beautiful lands, sources of excellent iron, gold, any many other precious items that the Empire could use for a myriad of purposes...


    As such, it had been the reason why the Kingdom of Polonia had been designated as the Pearl of Xathra- so many natural resources were available within this country''s lands, that the Empire had spent a great amount of time, effort and resources on the infrastructures of the kingdom''s lands alone in order to better govern such an important vassal state of theirs...


    Unfortunately though, this was also simultaneously one of the reasons why this nation was going to be assaulted by a new, foreign enemy in a nearby future that was not too distant from the current time


    period...


    ________________________________________


    "I got ya!"


    "No fair! How''d you do it so fast?"


    In one of the many open avenues within thr vast road network of Polonia''s massive, capital city, 2 children were playing tag with each other as they ran barefoot through the streets, with both their faces and clothes enveloped in grime and dust as they chased each other in a game that would seemingly never end- fortunately though, the streets that the 2 children were playing on weren''t currently being used too much by the countless horses and carriages that passed by.


    In truth, Szymon and Bazyli were brothers belonging to that of a peasant household: their father was a dedicated carpenter who was often busy with work, while their mother was a talented tailor who had been earning quite well as of late in her profession. Due to the time-demanding nature of their jobs however, both of these hardworking parents would often be away from home, and because of this, the 2 children would often try to find ways to relieve themselves of the boredom that would often come creeping into their lives.


    Today, the brothers had decided to play a game of tag, and the place they were currently playing on were the same streetways that were right in front of their home. It had been several hours now since they had first begun their little game, and even then, the 2 children had seemingly not even grown tired of playing.


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    "It''s because I''m quicker than you, Bayzyli! Even when we''re just walking, I''m always still faster than you!" the elder brother Szymon teased, quickly annoying his younger sibling in the process. "You''re even slower than our fat old neighbor, and she''s supposed to be a tub of lard who can barely even walk!"


    "I-I''m not that slow! You''re just always so fast..." Bazyli argued. "How come you can run so quickly anyway? It''s like you''re training to become a pickpocket or something..."


    His older brother smirked as he would then quickly scoff. "It''s simple actually." Szymon told with a smug tone evident in his voice. "It''s because you''re a weakling! Hahahaha!"


    "Y-You...!"


    Another chase would then ensue, though this time, it would be Bayzyli who would give chase this time, as Szymon swiftly seized the opportunity to run away and easily outpaced his younger brother without much issue- they had been doing the same thing again and again every day for the past 3 years, and while they were able to play with some of the other kids at times, today, the only playmates they could currently find for their little game today were the both of them.


    Today would have been a day like any other: eventually, they would get tired and return home, where they would finally do their chores and clean up the place in preparation for the return of their parents. It was a relatively simple life, and a rather great one at that when compared to the lives of the less-fortunate peasant folk of their nation- after all, ever since the empire had colonized them and made them their vassals, a lot of terrible things started to transpire within the Holy Kingdom''s lands as a result.


    ... Today, though, something terrifyingly unique would suddenly transpire before their eyes: an event that would forever mark this day as a core memory within their minds as an experience that they''d never be able to forget no matter how hard they tried.


    "Look, brother! Do you see that?" from the skies, Bazyli could see a noteworthy sight suddenly taking place, and the little boy began pointing his index finger towards the general direction where the point of interest he had seen was taking place.


    "Don''t distract me, I know you just want me to stop so you can tag me!"


    Bazyli quickly retorted, as he truly wasn''t lying this time around. "No, it''s real! Just look! Look up! Look up!"


    Curiosity... It was the weakness of many children: a seemingly built-in mechanism that would take years of developing maturity in order to properly mitigate such a dangerous feeling... Szymon couldn''t help but become curious a bit about what his little brother was saying to him as he suddenly stopped amidst their chase, and so he too would finally cease running and look towards the skies to see just what exactly Bazyli was referring to.


    "... W-what...?"


    And as soon as his eyes saw the massive, flying object that had quickly caught the attention of his little brother, Szymon quickly became befuddled as his mind fell into pure belief of what he was seeing right now: surely, the very thing he was seeing was impossible, right? It can''t be...


    "It looks like a dragon, right brother?" Bazyli then shifted his gaze to his older brother as he said this. "... H-hold on... It''s not going to destroy the city, is it?"


    A massive, jet-black, flying creature encased in what seemed to be metal was soaring through the skies above the city: so massive was its size and so fast was its speed, that the 2 young boys had quickly mistaken it for a dragon that was about to lay waste to their small country amidst its flight.


    "... W-what the...? It''s dropping something... W-woah, there are so many of them!"


    "I-is it attacking right now? N-no, are we going to die?!"


    From the rear end of the majestic creature of metal, small, white fragments began raining down from the sky in a slow, descending approach, and the 2 brothers couldn''t help but panic at the sheer sight of the countless pieces that were slowly making their way downwards: was it perhaps some sort of attack or magick that the metal dragon had caused? Ultimately though, they couldn''t say for certain just yet.


    To the wild imaginations of these young boys, it would seem that the dragon had caused the sky to fall in on itself as its shards began slowly raining down upon the kingdom, and because of this, the 2 children quickly ran home out of fear due to perceiving that something terrible was about to happen...


    "L-let''s go home! I don''t want to die! I don''t!"


    "Y-yeah, let''s run! We have to tell father and mother about this!"


    In reality though, the falling little things were not fragments of the sky; rather, they were harmless pieces of paper that had been made for everyone within the kingdom''s lands to see and read as soon as they had finally managed to reach land.

 Part 4 - Chapter 1

    It had been so long since she had last seen civilization. Countless days, weeks and months... Perhaps even years have already passed by before she could finally return to the homeland she had been whisked away from by the last enemy she fought and nearly slew.


    After slaughtering all the barbaric greenskins in the place she had been translocated to, Aldyth had fortunately been discovered by a faraway settlement located within the far outskirts of the Empire''s vast domain. Of course, with her being the princess of the empire, as well as one of their nation''s most significant individuals, she had quickly been brought back to the mainlands by a fleet of wooden ships that sailed for months to bring back their lost princess- and of course, the journey of coming back would take a few more months for it to finally come to pass, before Aldyth could finally witness the luxuries that one could enjoy by being within the comforts of civilization.


    ... Finally, after what seemed to be months of being trapped within the confines of the wooden galleon that had been handling her venture, Aldyth would finally manage to step on real ground once more and enjoy the comforts that the land-dwellers would often enjoy.


    However...


    "Your highness, you may enter the room. The Imperial General Marthann wishes to see you at once."


    As soon as she would finally manage to come back home however, she would quickly be given a bothersomely endless amount of tasks to do once again: from the moment she first set foot on the harbour as she exited the galleon that facilitated her transportation, several messengers quickly greeted her appearance and told her of an important meeting that was to transpire as soon as possible: however, due to the message that had been delivered possessing the imperial crest, Aldyth quickly realized the importance of this meeting and wasted no time to pay a visit as quickly as she could.


    "... Ah, your highness, Lady Aldyth, I humbly greet your presence. Please take a seat, I have something important to discuss with you, and we must not waste any time with this matter."


    As Aldyth silently entered the general''s office by pushing the 2 wooden doors of his room open, Marthann didn''t even bother rising up from his chair to greet her properly with even just a slight bow: there were towering loads of what seemed to be paperwork on his desk, as his tight grip on the inked quill on his right hand swiftly made it clear that he was currently too busy to even bother with such honourifics.


    ... Well, etiquette wasn''t something that mattered to Aldyth too much in the first place: unlike her other siblings, she hated the customs of people having to bow down and show all of these bothersome theatrics to her, as she saw these acts to be completely unnecessary.


    "..."


    Aldyth would nod twice in response to the general''s words, as she then quickly took a seat near his desk and waited for him to discuss the important matter at hand: unfortunately, due to her being a silent mute who wasn''t able to speak, it was often difficult for her to convey more complex forms of speech, and so she often utilized simple expressions in order to communicate with others sufficiently.


    "... Thank you, your highness..." Marthann would then stop what he was doing as he placed his quill in its ink jar and began facing her directly. "... Anyway... Before anything else... I must first apologize for interrupting your return so rudely... I know you must feel tired after your journey and all... However..."


    "... You see... There is a threat to the empire that has arrived near this very place... and we need your help to deal with it."


    Interesting, she thought... Could it perhaps be that witch she failed to kill ages ago? While she remembered successfully managing to plunge her spear deep into that false human''s body, she could tell that she could survive from such an injury that she had inflicted- after all, years of warfare and combat had taught Aldyth many things, and determining whether or not her foes could survive her blows after striking them in battle was definitely one of the many things she had learned.


    She would then seize a nearby, empty piece of paper with no contents, as she grabbed the motionless feathered quill whose tip remained submerged within its small jar''s inky liquids. After that, the princess began writing what she was about to say on the paper''s large space in order to pose her query.


    "... Is the sea devil I failed to kill the one who is currently being this threat as of late?"


    The general would take a moment to respond before he eventually gave a light sigh. "... Unfortunately, she is not the threat I was referring to. There''s a new danger that has just recently surfaced before our eyes... And it has even sent us direct messages..."


    From one of his desk''s drawers, Marthann then pulled out what seemed to be a white, small sheet of paper that was clearly smaller, yet finer and far more detailed than the ones on his desk, as he would reach his hand to give this special-looking note to Aldyth, who in turn also stretched her hand out to receive the paper she was being handed.


    "... Several weeks ago, a massive, bird-like creature enveloped in metal flew throughout the skies of this kingdom, dropping perhaps thousands of these papers into nearly every corner of Polonia''s lands before it finally left after only soaring about for a few hours." the general narrated as she gave her the note. "Our sky knights quickly took off with their steeds in order to take down this creature that was causing such great disorder... Although..."


    Aldyth then eyed him as she raised her eyebrows, as if she were telling him to continue on and stop pausing.


    "... Although.." Marthann hesitated a bit before he continued. "... They were all killed... All of the 100 sky knights that took off to quell this threat were annihilated by what seemed to be smaller creatures that accompanied the strange avian during its flight... They unleashed these speedy arrows of light that quickly took down all of our riders... And so we decided to stop sending more of them into the air in order to prevent further casualties..."


    They took down so many of them? With an unknown form of magick at that? This was certainly unprecedented: the sky knights of the empire were elite, highly-trained knights who rode gryphons, which were birdlike beasts that were even more massive than entire carriages, into the heat of battle in order to wreak havoc upon the land and deal with any potential aerial threats that would surface during a conflict. Not only that, but the hides of these flying steeds possessed a thickness that made them incredibly resistant to the likes of magick, making the act of taking down even a single one of them almost impossible, even with the assistance of mages during the fires of brutal combat.


    The fact that they had been taken down by something that their steeds were supposed to be resistant too, and the fact that they were all killed in such great numbers quickly proved the greatness of the threat that had suddenly taken form during her disappearance, and Aldyth could only feel a certainty that her duties were already about to become even more difficult because of this.


    "... That is not the only disturbing part of this story however..." after a short period of silence, the general would then begin speaking once again. "Please read this note that those metal creatures left behind in the thousands... I can assure you that its contents are... Very intriguing, to say the least..."


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    Aldyth would simply nod again, as her eyes then shifted downwards to read the words of the note that she held with both of her hands...


    As expected however, she would immediately find herself in a deep bewilderment as she quickly scanned through the words that this piece of paper continued...


    ...


    People of Polonia, hear my words...


    Your people have bent the knee to your  Neugomian conquerors for hundreds of years already...


    They have taken your home and still treat you as if you are all merely the guests of your own house: they have stolen much of your riches, and they will continue to do so until you have been bled to death by their wickedness...


    It is time for all of you to rise. Fight, and take back your homeland no matter the cost. Rise and drive away your foreign tyrants from the lands you once owned, and reclaim this nation as your own once again...


    Fear not, however, for in a few weeks of time, after this message that has been delivered onto your doorsteps...


    We shall come and set you all free...


    - N


    ...


    It didn''t take long for Aldyth to realize the purpose of this mass-produced note that was delivered in such incredible numbers: it was a direct act of inciting a rebellion within the kingdom''s lands. Aldyth couldn''t help but wonder about this strange ordeal however- while she was slightly aware of the mistreatments that the empire had inflicted upon the people of this nation, she could not understand what this had anything to do with those creatures that had taken to the skies and slaughtered a great portion of the Empire''s aerial forces: if they were that powerful, then why were they bothering themselves with such a less-than-important venture?


    "... And that is why we require your assistance, your highness." the general spoke. "... In a few days, I believe that the ones who sent this note will begin their attack. While we are uncertain of what manner of assault they will unleash... It is of  utmost importance that we rally every available forces and prepare them as quickly as possible for this incoming threat."


    Aldyth agreed with that notion without an ounce of refusal in her mind: after all, it was already apparent to her just how incredibly dangerous this threat that had just appeared before them truly was. If the ones who sent these notes were able to succeed with their goal of liberating the people of this kingdom, the Empire would quickly lose access to one of their greatest sources of riches and resources, crippling its power significantly in the process, which would also most likely allow the other vassals to incite their own rebellions as well.


    She could see just how chaotic this entire situation would become should she choose not to help- as a result, she quickly gave a nod as a sign of affirmation of the general''s plan, as Aldyth would then write a few new words on the paper she previously wrote on in order to convey what she wanted to say once more.


    "Alright, I shall assist you with this matter. However, I will need my spear. I believe that it was left behind during my last battle with that vile witch... Am I correct...?"


    "Correct, your highness. We currently  have possession of your spear.. It was indeed left behind during your duel with that wretched sea witch..." Marthann replied without a moment''s worth of hesitation. "You must not worry about such trivial things however. I shall call upon my men to deliver your weapon to you as soon as possible."


    ________________________________________


    8 months...


    8 months have passed since that day when she lost her life so abruptly, and by now, most of the things that had transpired after that terrible event have mostly led to incredibly pleasing outcomes.


    The heart of that crimson dragon they slew ultimately proved to be compatible with Anastasia''s lifeless body, and everything else went within their expectations quite perfectly: all that was left was for the final steps of the recovery process, where her body was still being harmoniously treated with rigorous care, in order to ensure that she wouldn''t have any complications the moment she was finally allowed to regain the breath of life which she previously lost.


    And according to what he had planned all those months ago, the preparations for his grand plan of reshaping this world were finally going underway...


    Today, Novus was not in the room that facilitated Anastasia''s resurrection protocols: he was currently in a vast space that appeared to be a normal living room, and to his front was a large window of thick glass, a barrier that separated them from the massive, hangar-like chamber where numerous, walking machines of steel arranged themselves in properly formed lines.


    Novus was sitting on a couch as he took a sip of the tea that had been served to him with a small cup, as Speranza stood nearby his sitting figure, holding the silver tray that provided Novus with the luxury of the delectable drink he was sampling. Simultaneously however, it appeared as if they were conversing something... Which they were indeed doing as of late.


    "How did it go, Speranza?" Novus asked. "Nothing too bad happened, right?"


    The maid would give a light, courteous bow. "It went well, my creator. I''ve done what you asked without any difficulties."


    The first phase of their plan had gone by without a hitch: the transport aircraft, which was accompanied by several, autonomous, combat & reconnaissance drones during its flight, had been able to scatter and deliver the pamphlets to most of the people who were meant to see the letters, all of whom were the people of the Holy Kingdom of Polonia. Not only that however, but the aircraft she was piloting managed to return from its voyage without a scratch on its body- its escort of unmanned drones performed their roles quite well, as they easily shot down any aerial resistance that they had suddenly encountered during their journey.


    "... If I may ask though, my creator..." Speranza would suddenly pose a question that had been crafted by her curiosity. "... Is there any reason for spreading these papers throughout the kingdom''s capital? Why don''t we just proceed with the assault as soon as possible?"


    "Well, you see... That way of planning is only for the short term, Spera." Novus answered firmly. "We have to let these people know that our aim is to liberate them. After winning and driving away these Neugomians out of their lands, how do you think they would react had we not initially sent those pamphlets?"


    Speranza''s crimson-irised eyes would widen slightly as the realization came to her: her creator, her master... This grand plan that he had made, it would appear that it was more complex than what she initially thought it would be. ".. I see now... Not only do you plan to liberate these people and cripple Neugomia by taking away one of their most precious vassals... But..."


    "... You''re also planning to take the kingdom for yourself, hm?" a mischievous smile formed on her face as she said this. "How ambitious~... Well, you did say that you were planning to ''conquer the world'' anyway... although, I sometimes do still wonder if you were actually merely jesting when you said this..."


    "... That should''ve been apparent to you in the first place, you idiot maid." Novus sighed as she finally understood his intentions. "... Well, for not telling you and Whitlea about the plans I made months ago... it''s my fault in the first place, I''m sorry..."


    "Now, now, don''t apologize. There''s another person you should be apologizing to more greatly after all."


    It had been several months since that day when they slew that crimson dragon of flames- Anastasia''s recovery was nearly complete, and only a few more procedures were being done on her body before she could finally be resuscitated back to existence: and because of this, Novus had finally decided to execute the plan he made with Thurien during that time...


    There were a few problems that occurred though... He had only just recently told these 2 about the plans he already made: from the strategic bombings and deployments that they were about to do, to the very tactics and strategies they were going to utilize as soon as they began their first steps of conquering the world: while Speranza would still remain in a slight disbelief of all of this, it was Whitlea who had shown the more negative reaction between both of the combat maids.


    "... Aha... Speaking of Whitlea..." the expression on his face suddenly became uneasy. "... Is she still mad about... You know..."


    Speranza would quickly reply without a moment''s hesitation. "Indeed, she still is, my creator." she said briefly. "You can''t blame her though... After all..."


    Speranza''s expression would suddenly become a bit cold: despite having already accepted how things turned out, it seemed that she was still somewhat harboring the same thoughts that her sister was still having.


    "You''ve been spending more time with that ''Thurien'' woman for the past few months." there was a stern tone in her voice as she said this. "While we both understand that most of the time you spend with her is for milady''s recovery... What we cannot understand is..."


    "... Is?" a single word slipped uncontrollably from his tongue.


    "... Is that you still spend more time with her even when it''s not about milady''s recovery..." her tone then shifted from a cold one... into a tone that seemed somewhat sad. "... After weeks upon weeks of not giving us much attention... you then suddenly come to us and spout about this ''conquering the world'' thing..."


    "It practically makes us feel as if you only see us as tools now... "


    Novus gulped weakly as he listened quietly to her words... They were true after all. He could perfectly understand where they were coming from: he recently hadn''t been spending more time with them in the first place, as he had been too busy with both monitoring his mother''s recovery, as well as drawing and mapping out the plans he had been creating for the ambition he wanted to fulfill in the future.


    He really wanted to find a way to properly apologize to these 2, but he didn''t know how he should do it...


    "... How come you''re fine with me now though?" Novus asked. "... You even forgave me so quickly..."


    "... Because I''m kinder than my sister~ And also... I believe that you''ll never end up abandoning us or treating us like tools. I know you''re not that kind of person anyway~" Speranza''s mood suddenly lightened up, as a small smile formed on her face. "Athough... You''re still going to have to find a way to beg her for forgiveness, alright?"


    "Don''t worry though. I''ll be helping you in every way I can when the opportunity to do so finally arises, so please don''t worry about this matter too much."


    "... Thank you, Spera... Thank you, really..."


    Speranza''s smile seemingly grew a bit wider as she heard his words. "You''re welcome, my creator. Now please explain to me the next steps of this ''magnificent plan'' of yours." she told as she gave another courteous bow. "Whitlea still doesn''t want to talk to you, so please inform me about what you''re planning so I can tell her everything later."


    Novus felt a bit of worry surging into his mind again as he was reminded of Whitlea''s disappointment: despite how great everything was turning out, it seemed that there was still one great obstacle that he had to solve.


    "... Alright then..." he replied with a bit of unease in his voice. "So the plan goes like this..."

 Part 4 - Chapter 2

    "Must we really continue to bow down to these tyrants... Saintess?"


    Inside the spacious chapel of an old, unkempt church, 2 individuals draped in white-and-red, priestly robes were discussing to themselves the current, miserable state of their once proud kingdom, and whether or not they should continue to kneel before their horrid conquerors who had taken everything from them by this point.


    It was terribly unfortunate for the Kingdom of Polonia in the first place: a hundred years ago, when it''s people could still enjoy lives full of freedom, the kingdom was but a pacifistic, humble nation that only desired continued peace, prosperity, and friendship with its neighboring countries in a tranquil harmony. Because of their access to the plentiful resources that were incredibly abundant within their untarnished lands, the people of Polonia have never had to feel the toils of suffering amidst countless famines or war due to the Polonian people having everything set out for them.


    Unfortunately, such a naive mindset would eventually fail them greatly, as the dark nature of the lands that lied outside their own was something they had realized too late: their nation was eventually subjugated and vassalized by the indomitable armies of the Neugomian Empire, and due to having little to no experience nor knowledge in the arts of warfare, Polonia was quickly forced to capitulate and surrender themselves peacefully.


    As expected however, their conquerors would prove to be the most wicked people that the kingdom''s people would ever meet throughout their countless years of existing as a sovereign nation- the Neugomian soldiers did as they pleased within the kingdom''s domain, slaughtering entire families when they felt like it as they took their women and did countless unspeakable acts to such poor lasses. Not only that, however, but these savage tyrants were also brutal with how they dealt with any forms of resistance to their will, even if they were merely minor ones: there was once an old man who would not give his house to one of the Empire''s knights, and as a result, his house was burned down to soot as he was then eventually crucified in public for every Polonian citizen to see.


    "... I''m afraid so, Malfor... We have no other choice. If we do not give them our monthly tributes, they will execute us all in public without mercy..."


    The being referred to as the saintess was the head priestess of the Holy Kingdom''s divine religion: the Holy Orthodoxy, a faction that, other than the miserable, submissive king and his pathetic cohorts, held a relative amount of significance within the kingdom''s lands. They were a devout group of believers whose faith in the one religion they had served even since the kingdom''s founding, remained strong even after suffering many decades of wickedness at the hands of their vicious subjugators.


    Luminism... Or so did the saintess and her faithful followers call their religion with an incomparable zeal. It was a religious faith based on another form of faith that had supposedly faded out long ago after the toils of the ancient war and the gradual onset of magick came in time, a religion that had been mocked by many nations for being pathetic and insignificant. Despite this, the magickless members of Polonia''s Holy Orthodoxy remained steadfast and loyal to their beliefs, as not even the cruelty of their conquerors would manage to make their faith shake and crumble to dust.


    "B-but, saintess..." Malfor protested. "... Would it not be the will of our Lord to confront such wickedness? They are taking everything from us... Surely, you can make some protests against them, you are the saintess after al-"


    "... You are still far too young to realize, Malfor..." the saintess butted in as her eyes slightly looked down in defeat. "What would be the point of acting in defiance, if everyone else will be punished after? We have no choice, Malfor, and I believe that even the Lord himself understands this horrible truth..."


    The young man found himself unable to refute her words any longer, as he quickly realized the main reason she was trying to give to him- those bastard Neugomians, when it came to punishing a group of people, much more an entire organization such as the Orthodoxy, they would almost always punish the majority for the mistakes of a few, as there was this one time wheb a foolish party of adventurers tried to defy the will of their subjugators, and their entire guild would be executed en masse as a result of their travesty.


    Because of this, even the saintess herself was unable to even use her position as an advantage in order to at least alleviate the suffering of Polonia''s people- she already had her own people to take care of, and she couldn''t risk the lives of all the Orthodoxy''s believers by making a meaningless protest that would ultimately fulfill nothing.


    "Although, I also have to ask... Brooding and loathing our current situation is not the reason why you''ve come here today, correct?"


    "... Y-yes, saintess..." Malfor stuttered as he spoke. "... I''ve heard that you had another...


    Dream?"


    She would take a while to speak, as the memories of the special ''dream'' she experienced during one of her many rests synapsed into her thoughts in a collective manner once more.


    "Indeed, Malfor..." she uttered with her meek, gentle voice. "... Our Lord graced my dreams and blessed me with his presence... He told me of many great things that were about to come..."


    "... R-really? That is quite... Wonderful..." he replied with a great expression of shock evident on his face. "... What did our Lord tell you then?"


    A smile formed on the saintess'' face as she began to speak once more. "Remember that massive, winged beast of metal that scattered those papers throughout our lands?"


    Of course Malfor remembered such an event, as there was no way he could ever forget such a bizarre occurrence. Those notes that told of a deliveration from the tyranny of the imperials... A saviour that would come to their kingdom and set them free once more...


    While it was something that sounded incredibly pleasing and exciting to hear, Malfor couldn''t help but harbor some doubts about the entire thing due to his skeptical nature: would the ones who sent these messages really be able to finally free Polonia''s people from their shackles? Or would they simply be no better than the Empire and subjugate them as well into another long existence as a miserable, enslaved vassal-state?


    However, after experiencing the enlightening dreams that their deity had provided for her, the saintess harboured the exact opposite of Malfor''s thoughts.


    "What of it, then? D-do you actually believe that the ones who sent these messages will set us free from the iron grip that the Empire has all of us in?"


    "Of course. The Lord told me that he will come to our lands and liberate us... in the form of a man in shining, splendid armor..." the saintess uttered. "And if the Lord says so, then it will surely come to pass. Our Lord does not lie after all... Wouldn''t you agree, Malfor?"


    ________________________________________


    3 Strongholds... 3 stone-built, proud and tall fortresses that housed thousands of men within their spacious interiors.


    Due to the Pearl of Xathra''s incredible importance, the Neugomian forces stationed in the Holy Kingdom of Polonia had been greatly supplemented by the Empire''s logisticians and strategists with many men and materials in order to safeguard such an important asset to their continental domination: after all, the sheer amount of resources the Holy Kingdom had access to was something that the Empire could not allow to be accessed by the great many enemies who still remained unconquered by their armies even until now.


    Surrounding the kingdom''s borders were a trinity of fortresses that stood far away from each other. They were strongholds equipped with vast, dome shaped shields of pure mana that protected them from any long-range bombardments, as hundreds of ballistae and catapults made to quell any sieges supported these shields in their defence, while numerous soldiers and magi stood ready within the protection of these infrastructures, ready to defend the fortress from any form of assault, and counterattack against any form of incursion into the kingdom.


    This time, however, the men that resided within these fortresses were at an incredibly high sense of alertness due to the bizarre occurrence that transpired within the kingdom''s capital recently: a flying beast of steel had somehow managed to bypass all the defenses that safeguarded Polonia''s lands from any intruders, and as such, the soldiers who manned these stone bastions were more vigilant and active than ever before.


    In one of the fortresses located in Polonia''s northern borders however, one of the high-ranking mages in charge of managing the entire fortress would quickly lay witness to something incredibly bizarre and horrifying...


    ...


    ...


    "Have the patrols we sent out came back yet?"


    The head mage of the northern stronghold, Mage Lucidius Antoine, stood on one of the fortress'' balconies as he observed the calm darkness of both the night skies and shadowy grasslands situated near their base of operations: while it was supposed to be a soothing sight for his now sore eyes, the stress of the predicament he was in would not allow him to truly see and appreciate the beautiful sceneries that were presenting themselves before him.


    2 days ago, a message came from Imperial General Marthann, one of the Empire''s great generals, and the note he sent to him told of a great, oncoming invasion that was already about to arrive. As such, the head mage hastily had his men readied as all of their siege weapons were immediately preloaded with ammunition, while the available mages began casting countless numerous supportive spells in order to allow them to endure the terrible incursion that was about to come.


    "... I''m afraid they haven''t returned yet, head mage..." his assistant, Felryne, would answer his query with a light bow.


    "They''re taking too long... Those invaders must be here by now, I suppose..." Lucidius muttered as his eyes remained fixed towards the dark environment in front of him. "... Any moment now... Come out now, you dastardly savages..."


    Felryne couldn''t help but feel a bit worried about his master as he heard the tired tone of Lucidius'' voice: while the head mage himself hadn''t noticed it yet, Felryne had been keeping track of him ever since they first began their preparations. In truth, the head mage had not even slept for the past 2 days, out of anticipation and fear that the arriving enemies were about to attack at any moment.


    By now, the news of the massive losses that the empire recently sustained had already reached the ears of most of its citizens: from the annihilation of the forces that had been sent to deal with the western dragon, the destruction of the crusading fleet that set sailed to annihilate the sea witch that had been causing the frequenting storms as of late, as well as the destruction of Port Tallius at the hands of mysterious enemies that still remained unknown to them...


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    There was a conspiracy that ran through the magi''s head, a theory that made him appear insane to even his own assistant: he firmly believed that all of these events were related to each other somehow... Why and how though, is something he quite couldn''t put his finger on...


    And for the head mage known as Lucidius, it would seem as if the end of the empire was finally coming to pass in a slow and dreadful approach. After all, never before in the glorious, proud history of the Neugomian Empire had its forces ever suffered such great losses before.


    "... Head mage, I think you should rest for a while..." Felryne''s voice was full of concern as he told this. "You haven''t slept for 2 days... This won''t be good for your health."


    "Nonsense! I don''t need sleep! I''ll just cast a spell that solves my fatigue instead." a sudden outburst came out of his mouth: due to not having rested for a while, it seemed that his senses were in a bit of a disarray. "There are many things to be done, Felryne, and sleep will prevent me from doing them."


    "... Very well then..." the assistant would sigh in defeat, as he knew all too well that the head mage was someone who couldn''t be convinced so easily. "But please... Remember to rest later, alright? We can''t have you developing any complications..."


    "Yes, yes. And please tell me if the patrols have finally managed to come back, I need all the information I ca-"


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Finally... Signs that seemed to belong to that of an enemy attack could finally be heard throughout the base, as adrenaline and anxiety coursed into the mage''s veins in an instant and drove him into a frenzy.


    "Where are they!!??"


    "H-head mage! Please come inside, it''s unsafe here, and you might get injured!"


    Lucidius rushed towards the parapet as he peeked out of the balcony, leaning his body completely against the edge of the stone barrier that prevented him from falling, in order to see just what exactly was happening...


    And as soon as he saw that light that shined through the seemingly endless darkness that surrounded most of the outside environment, his eyes widened in shock as he stumbled back in disbelief, nearly falling from the stone barrier as he was dragged away by his assistant.


    "Hahahaha... HAHAHAHA... They ignored the magick barrier by forming a portal instead!" he shouted in complete madness while laughing maniacally. "And there are so many of them! HAHAHAHA!"


    A massive, blue structure of light had suddenly formed near the castle''s walls, and out of it came hundreds of metal automata that trudged in unison with their teeming numbers: what was even more horrifying, was that there were several flying objects... Numerous, soaring arrows of light that emitted black smoke from their rear ends as they rapidly approached the walls in such frightening speeds...


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The arrows of light produced thundering explosions as they struck the walls with incredible forces of impact; of course, even with all the various protection and enhancements spells that had been casted onto the stone barriers, they wouldn''t be able to last for a few minutes due to the incredible amount of light arrows that struck them repeatedly and without mercy.


    CRASSHHH!!!


    The broken bits and fragments of the once proud, protective, stone walls came crashing down to the ground, as the ever-increasing numbers of the marching automata began marching into the newly-formed cavity to assault the interior parts of the castle. Many of the soldiers would hastily try to assort themselves in formations in order to delay the march of these metal monsters, as the mages began casting their spells to inflict severe casualties upon the horde of marching golems.


    "Don''t let them in at all costs!" one of the soldiers bellowed out to his comrades. "We shall stand here and fight!"


    "W-what the hell are you talking about?! Can we even fight against these monsters proper-"


    SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT!


    No matter how brave and foolhardy they were, the soldiers wouldn''t be able to hold out against these monsters for even a second: as if they were nothing more than harmless obstacles, they were violently slapped away and stomped on without care by the metal automata, their numbers quickly dwindling as they soon realized that the formations they made were absolutely pointless, no matter what kind of positions they made and took.


    [Magic Missile.]


    [Fire arrow.]


    [Lightning Hail.]


    Multiple, long ranged magick spells descended into the ranks of the machine army and took down many of them in the process. Despite this, however, their losses would be prove to be ultimately meaningless, as more of them came and emerged from the blue portal of light that continued to radiate through the darkness of the night with such an intense glow.


    "Fire the siege weapons!"


    The men operating the ballistae and the short ranged catapults would then fire everything that their wooden constructs had in order to halt the ever-growing horde of metal behemoths that were surging into the massive hole, firing massive bolts and boulders that took down many more of the automata as soon as they managed to strike their targets.


    "I-it''s useless! There are too many of them!"


    "Keep firing, keep firing! Don''t stop!"


    "H-hold on! Who''s the one flying in front of us?!"


    The one who had orchestrated the entire attack had finally arrived and made her appearance, right before the very eyes of her enemies at that: Thurien, who was hovering above the air in complete defiance of gravity, looked at all the people before her with a seemingly joyful expression, as the ever-present smile on her face never ceased to fade despite the chaotic destruction that was occurring upon the ground below her.


    "HAHAHAHAHA! It''s the sea witch that the princess failed to eradicate! Of course, she just had to make an appearance, now of all times!"


    Lucidius'' mind swiftly began to break apart as he saw the multiple impossibilities appearing before his very eyes: in a few short minutes, all the preparations they made proved fruitless, with each of their defences failing them quite utterly in such a spectacularly pathetic display: now, there was no way for them to stop the invasion that they had been preparing against for several days already.


    "You''ve all done quite well with resisting this attack of mine~" the bewitching medicae spoke with a loud, yet gentle voice. "Still though, you all have to go now~ Farewell, and may you all enjoy the wonderful, new lives that await each of you~"


    A bright series of white lights began engulfing every soldier and mage alike; even Lucidius and his assistant, who were supposedly safe from the incredibly high heights of their balcony, would not be spared from such a blinding disaster. Almost instantly, their bodies disappeared without a trace, as their souls would then be dragged away into the false, digital realm that was the Realm of Sleep.


    ________________________________________


    "Hmm... I believe it''s time for me to get started as well..."


    Suspended in the air using a combination of flight and anti-grav technologies, Speranza carefully observed the far away Neugomian fortress, as the portal of blue, ever-glowing light that allowed her transportation into this very place, gradually began to cease as it slowly faded away into nothingness.


    The plan they made was a rather complex one, though it was somewhat simple enough for her to understand despite the large amount of strategies involved with its conception.


    Their forces were divided into 3 parts, each of which was meant to assault one of the Neugomian fortresses that were situated around the kingdom''s borders, which were also simultaneously preventing any foreign entry into the vassalized kingdom''s lands.


    Why did they choose to begin Novus'' ambition of world domination by starting with the holy kingdom, one may ask?


    The Holy Kingdom of Polonia''s importance to the empire was not something that could simply be disregarded, as there was a reason why there were so many Neugomian soldiers present in the kingdom''s lands. The important items of trade, expansion and conquest: resources such as gold, ores, harvests...


    Polonia''s abundance of these greatly important riches was the reason why it had earned its name as ''The Pearl of the Xathra'', and by liberating this nation and taking it for themselves, they would immediately get one step closer to bringing down the powerful enemy that would serve as the ultimate obstacle to their great goal...


    For the stronghold located to the north of Polonia, Thurien was in charge of devastating this place until nothing was left with the help of her creations: given how fast she could summon entire armies and construct even portals that led to faraway places on a whim, the act of destroying an entire enemy garrison would simply be an easy task for her.


    On the other hand, Speranza had been tasked with leveling the Neugomian garrison that was situated to the kingdom''s southeast- it was a fortress that, based on the reconnaissance drones they sent to assess their enemies, possessed twice as many defences when compared to its other 2 fellow strongholds that were far away from its location, though the reasoning for this still remained unknown to her even to this day.


    ... Well, it wasn''t any sort of matter that held much importance to her to begin with: after all, she was quite literally about to destroy the entire Neugomian stronghold in front of her until nothing was left, and that was the only thing she could bring herself to care about right now, other than the thought of her creator and her sister of course.


    "I hope my creator is safe... And my sister as well too..."


    There was one major risk that came with their plan however: their previous reconnaissance indicated that the one who had proven a match for Thurien and even managed to nearly kill her, was present in one of the strongholds that guarded Polonia''s outskirts.


    The princess of the Neugomian Empire: Aldyth Aristronte von Neugomia... A mysterious woman who possessed an overwhelmingly terrifying physical strength, as well as an all-cutting spear of silver that could seemingly pierce through any form of armor...


    Her only weakness, if it could even be called like that, was her inability to speak with a voice... Ergo, she was a mute who was unable to voice out her thoughts through words, which thus made it difficult for her to communicate with other individuals.


    Due to the dangerous threat that this individual posed to their plans, Novus decided to make some minor changes to their schemes and took charge of tackling this threat head-on: in short, for the garrison where the princess was currently located based on the scans made by their recon drones, Novus, with the assistance of Whitlea and an army of automata at their disposal, would assist each other in dealing with the princess using a special plan he had just recently made- how this plan was going to occur though, was something that Speranza knew not a single thing about once again.


    [Activating Energy-Absorbing Vacuum Matrix...]


    Almost instantly, the temperatures of Speranza''s environment steadily began plummeting, as the first phases of her destructive attack were only just getting started...


    ________________________________________


    Inside one of the many rooms of the southeastern fortress, a servant known as Kaleon was mopping the floors until not even a single stain of dirt remained on the ground he was cleaning anymore.


    However, as he continued to use his cleaning tool to scrub the stone floorings he trod on until they became spotless, there was a literal, chilling feeling that began eating away at his very skin: the air around him felt incredibly cold to the touch, and the freezing temperatures only began to rapidly decrease even further as more seconds'' worth of time kept passing by.


    "W-why the hell is it getting so cold all of a sudden?"


    His body began shivering uncontrollably as the extremely low temperatures continued to decrease uncontrollably. It was intolerable, a painful, bothersome feeling: the cold felt like needles slowly prickling his skin with their sharp edges, and the poor servant couldn''t help but give up on his task as he desperately began seeking for any form of heat or insulation.


    "... W-what the hell...? W-what is even happening?"


    As he looked around and wandered the hallway he was traversing through, he could see thin sheets and crystals of ice gradually enveloping everything within his sights- from the surfaces of the stone walls and floors of the corridors, to even the stone pillars as well as the now-dim lamps that hung from their foundations.


    The gradually lowering temperatures were starting to get worse, it seemed, and it was sparing nothing in its wake as the ice formations slowly grew even larger: this was a horrifying sight for the servant, whose only job was to clean the quarters he had been assigned to render spotless, and he began running about even faster as he tried to look for any form of help while warming himself up using his hands.


    "W-what the... F-fuck! What the hell even is this madness?!"


    It was shocking, to say the least, as it quickly became apparent to him that the cold was somehow vastly more severe in some parts of the castle- he had suddenly found the frozen bodies of several soldiers, with their bodies permanently locked in expressions of pain and shock while the ice that enveloped them continuously grew in size.


    "... S-shit.. I can''t... Even feel... A-anything... Anymore..."


    In an abrupt fashion, Kaleon eventually fell chest-first onto the ground as his body began to weaken greatly- the cold had become too severe by now, and there were also even small crystals of ice growing on his skin and hair.


    The pitiful servant couldn''t resist the incredibly cold temperatures of the environment he was in anymore. It was as if the very internal energies of both his body and his surroundings were being dragged away into an unknown place by some powerful, unseen force.


    "..."


    His vital signs would inevitably cease, as a thick layer of ice covered his now-dead body from head to toe. The pitiful cleaner had perished from severe hypothermia, and he would no longer be able to live the rest of his life and return to the warm embrace of both his family and his home...


    In truth however, this was only a mere half of the destruction that Speranza was about to unleash, as the final phases of her attack would only finally begin when she finally managed to gather up enough energy.


    ...


    ...


    [Energy Gathering Complete... Initiating second phase...]


    After only a few minutes, everything around Speranza had frozen entirely and turned into a complete, winter wonderland- not even the rivers and trees were spared from her indiscriminate energy vacuuming, as thick formations of ice enveloped nearly every form of matter within a 500 mile radius of Speranza''s position.


    The function she executed had an incredibly simple purpose despite the complexities involved with both its science and its mechanisms: using the sophisticated, esoteric functions of the Energy Redrawing Calibration device, which was one of the many tools she could summon and utilize for her disposal, Speranza was able to draw out energy from her surrounding environment, effectively stealing important aspects of life from the environment such as heat, which the machine would then utilize in order to charge up and enhance the power of the next forms of attack that she was about to unleash.


    "Now, for my next magic trick..."


    The nanoscopic swarms of the small little machines within her body swiftly began operating tirelessly, as Speranza''s left arm turned into a massive, gun-shaped structure of pure metal that radiated with dangerous, crimson lights, as its wide-open muzzle hole was pointed towards the location of the southeastern fortress.


    This was the 2nd phase of the attack of Speranza''s attack, and as the charge-up processes of her newly formed weapon would finally reach its completion, the already blinding lights of her arm-cannon began glowing to the extreme, as the hell she was about to unleash would finally appear before her very eyes.


    "... Boom."


    A wave of pure destruction would be unleashed from her deadly arm-cannon, a dreadful, unstoppable shockwave that looked like an invisible, wind-like tsunami speeding at supersonic speeds.


    The other weapon she had just unleashed was a sonic weapon whose sole function was that of unleashing intense, destructive waves of sound. It was a weapon that could send brief, yet powerful bursts of vibrational shock waves that could easily level entire mountains, and for the target in front of her that had been completely frozen solid, it was essentially the perfect attack she could use to blow the entire fort up in one fell swoop.


    ... Of course, when combined with the vast amount of energy she had just previously stored up, the devastating wave of sound that Speranza just unleashed was terrifyingly more powerful than what it was originally supposed to be.


    KAAABOOOMMMMMM!!!!


    Both the cold and the ice had already weakened the foundations of the Neugomian garrison, leaving it no hope or chance of survival as the devastating shockwave finally reached its frozen matrix: almost instantly, the entire stronghold would break into millions of broken fragments that were launched into the direction where the shockwave went towards, reducing the once dauntless fortress into broken, useless bits of rock and ice.


    Nobody who was inside the fortress during that devastating attack would survive... Well, if there were those that still lived among the frozen of course. Not a single soul would live to tell the tale of the devastation that had been brought, as Speranza quickly managed to achieve the objective she sought to fulfill.

 Part 4 - Chapter 3

    Scores of hours ago, within the last surviving garrison that guarded Polonia''s borders from invaders...


    The headquarters within the large office of the last, remaining stronghold, the one that was located to the west, was completely beset in a chaotic storm of panicking individuals who kept bickering and shouting at themselves due to their anxiety: who wouldn''t after all, since the horrible nature of the news they had just received was something that could make even the sternest, most unfeeling men feel their faces pale and blood curdle.


    The northern stronghold had been mercilessly demolished by a sudden enemy attack, and from what the surviving witnesses could see amidst its destruction, there were armies upon armies of what seemed to be gigantic, metal automata that marched and trampled upon its ruins, as these behemoths appeared to be making their way towards the one place that the Neugomian garrisons were supposed to protect: the capital of the Holy Kingdom, and now there was little they could do to halt their triumphant march.


    "It couldn''t have been destroyed! How can such a massive fortress be annihilated so quickly?!"


    "Precisely! Surely, this must be some form of illusion magick casted upon us by the enemy?"


    General Marthann, who remained sitting upon his wooden chair, could only rub his temples in frustration as a sigh of frustration came out of his mouth. "... I''m afraid it''s true... The sky knights we sent out, as well as our scrying mages, have verified these incidents to be as real as the air we are currently breathing..."


    "...W-what... T-then..."


    "Does this mean...?"


    "Correct, it means..." The imperial general spoke with a voice of authority. "That the enemy forces have already managed to greatly reduce our fighting capacity by a great magnitude, and are most likely making their way towards the capital as we speak..."


    "... A-and what of the southeastern fortress? Has it already been destroyed as well?"


    "While none of the scouts we sent out to confirm this other detail have returned yet, the long-ranged observation spells that our mages casted have confirmed that this has already happened..." the general answered with a solemn voice. "... Of course, given how fast the northern stronghold was annihilated, this was already a highly likely outcome..."


    It was completely unprecedented: the 3 fortresses the Empjre built throughout the Holy Kingdom''s borders were supposed to be impregnable barriers where no enemy could ever hope to cross. These structures have fulfilled their sole duties ever since they had been constructed, and for them to have failed so miserably at such a terrible time, was something that made them feel as if defeat was already certain for them.


    "... What do we do then, general?" one of the high-ranking officers within their assembly asked. "Do we stand our ground here... And perish like what happened to the 2 other garrisons?"


    Almost immediately, his words were met with vile scorn and fuming rejections: most of them had a sense of pride as warriors who would never back down from a fight, and the thought of even running away was a complete disgrace to many of them.


    "What the hell are you suggesting, Gallius?!"


    "Are you trying to say that we must flee our very own base-of-operations with our tails tucked between our legs?!"


    The general quickly shushed them into silence using his authority, as he immediately saw the point of his words: it was pointless to perform a last stand right at this very place, and it would be better for them to retreat and reinforce whatever defense was available in the kingdom''s capital, since the enemy''s forces were likely already about to arrive there and wreak havoc.


    "Sir Gallius has a point, my friends." Marthann spoke once more after dispelling the noises of their petty bickering. "To make a stand here would only lead to pointless deaths that will not serve our empire''s cause. I hereby conclude that we must make a retreat back to the capital and make our stand there instead, since the enemy forces may probably arrive there in a few days. "


    "... V-very well then... If that is what the general commands, then we shall obey..."


    "We shall obey your orders as well, general..."


    "Good, now as for me..." Marthann said with a hint of resignation in his tone. "... I shall remain here and do what I can to distract the enemy should they perform an assault here, which they will most likely do. Bring the princess with you and let her lead you. Her power will be essential to stopping the encroachment of these monsters."


    Quickly, the men who were with the general in the assembly room fell into befuddled states of shock and disbelief, as they couldn''t believe nor accept what the imperial general had just stated to them.


    "General! Please don''t do such a thing! If we are to retreat, then you must come with us!"


    "Indeed! Besides, you''re a far greater strategist and leader than that monster could ever hope to be-"


    Marthann''s face quickly turned cold as he heard such a phrase: the man was insulting the princess after all... Though what drove him mad was not because of his high regard for Aldyth''s name, but because of the fact that they might all get in trouble should the wrong pairs of ears manage to hear what the man just spoke of.


    "You have a point there, but it would be best for you to watch your words." The general uttered sternly. "While the princess is certainly what you describe her as... Her power is not something you can simply disregard."


    Aldyth von Neugomia... Ever since her very birth, there was a great strength that lied dormant within her young body, which the emperor utilized and pushed to the extremes amidst his insanity in ordee to further his goals. After years of forbidden research and magick rituals with the help of his most loyal retainers, what was once supposed to be a normal human woman had grown and turned out to become a monster of inhumane, physical strength and agility... A superweapon that the empire could use to conquer countless more nations...


    And because of such a miserable past, many of the Neugomians saw her as a monster that never should have been born in the first place despite the numerous conquests she had already won for them: though of course, they would never dare to say such things outright while the princess was within earshot, lest they be reduced to bloody corpses the moment they even tried to shame or insult her.


    "... And besides, I have already lived quite a long and fruitful life." the general''s face shifted to a light one as he then smiled a bit while saying these words. "I''m already about to die in a few months anyway... So I would like to die with a bit of style. Would this be alright for you all?"


    A temporary silence ensued, as they would all quietly nod their heads in unison: it was obvious that the general wasn''t going to relent to them no matter how much they begged and urged him, and so they allowed him to fulfill his final wish instead.


    "Now then, please begin the preparations for our... No, your strategic retreat..." Marthan said. "... For those who wish to stay here with me... Please feel free to do so. Though of course, I would prefer if all of you were to retreat without me in order to maximize the effectiveness of the capital''s defense."


    ________________________________________


    "... L-look... I''m sorry, okay? You don''t have to be so mad still..."


    "..."


    As the portal that facilitated their transportation gradually decreased in size and eventually faded away, both Whitlea and Novus, who were in charge of destroying the last remaining Neugomian fortress, which was the one located in the Holy Kingdom''s western outskirts.


    Unfortunately though, as they came out of the ethereal light of the gateway they came from, the 2 still found themselves at odds with each other due to the misunderstanding that had transpired just a few short days ago.


    "... C''mon... Look, I''m sorry..." Novus pleaded, with his clad in his jet-black, Valkyrie power which he had once used to slay that crimson dragon they previously encountered. "Can''t you just forgive me already?"


    Whitlea continued to remain quiet for a moment, looking away from him as she gave a semblance of a decent reply. "... Are you really sorry?"


    "I am... I really am..." he begged. "... L-look, how about this... I''ll do anything you want afterwards... Just forgive me this once, please?"


    "I''m really, really sorry for not paying attention to you and Speranza for the past few weeks... And..." he continued as he looked down in shame. "... I-I''m also really sorry for... You know... Spending time with Thurien more than you guys... I know it''s making you feel sad... So..."


    "... You won''t abandon me in the future, right?"


    A look of shock immediately formed on Novus'' face, as the sheer ridiculousness of Whitlea''s words rendered him quite shocked: where was this even coming from? And why would she think that he was going to abandon her?


    "W-where did you even get that idea from?" he stuttered a bit as he uttered this, still confused about what she just said. "You''ve been with me for so long already... Why the hell would you think that I''ll throw you away?"


    Stolen novel; please report.


    "... I don''t know... It''s just..." Whitlea reasoned. "... I care about you, but... Lately, I feel like you don''t even feel the same thing for me..."


    "... And with how you''ve been paying less attention to me and Spera lately... Well, surely you understand what I mean by this point, right?"


    "... Yeah, I do... Anyway..."


    He''d wrap his arms around her all of a sudden in an attempt to comfort her- Whitlea, despite being quite the dutiful and stubborn individual, was ultimately a woman with emotions, and the thought of her loved one slowly drifting away from her horrified her quite a lot... Which led to the disappointment she had been displaying towards him for several days already.


    "... I''m sorry, okay?"


    "... You care about me, right?" she asked as her voice shook a bit. "... Look, I''m sorry for being erratic these days... But you see..."


    "I don''t want to lose you too..."


    That hit him like a truck- just how much pain did he unknowingly cause these 2 women during the past few months? He was such an idiot, he thought... They were feeling this way for quite a long time already, yet why hadn''t he taken notice of this?


    "... I really have been quite the big jerk to the 2 of you, huh?" he said gently. "... Don''t worry, Whitlea... I promise you that I''ll try to spend more time with you both after this... Just..."


    "Forgive me, just this once... Pretty please?"


    "... Hmph... I don''t want to forgive you just yet, but..." she spoke as she turned towards Novus after several moments of looking away from him. ".. The promise that you''d do anything I want after I do forgive you sounds tempting though... And the fact that Spera kept urging me to forgive you a while ago certainly isn''t helping either..."


    "... C-c''mon... Please?"


    Suddenly, a mischievous smile formed on Whitlea''s face. "... Fine, but~... You better prepare for what I''m going to make you do later..." her expression became that of pure slyness. "It''s going to be completely humiliating~"


    A bit of sweat poured down from his forehead, as the slight fear and anticipation about what she was planning scared him quite a bit. "W-what are you going to make me do?"


    "That''s a secret~ It''s more fun if you only find out during the day you''re going to do it~" she said, with her grin seemingly growing slightly wider. "And besides, we have something important to do right now, after all..."


    "Something important?" he wondered about what could she possibly be referring to, which he would of course quickly realize eventually. "... Oh, right... That..."


    "Yes dear... That..." Whitlea replied as she chuckled a bit. "Now if you''ll excuse me for a moment..."


    "I''m going to make the very ground they''re standing on quake before my sight~"


    She then raised her arms, as her signature, faint lilac aura began enveloping her entire body, and simultaneously, the ground beneath the skies they hovered upon became increasingly unsteady due to the sudden forces that shook fervently underneath it...


    ________________________________________


    He had already accepted that it was time for him to go. He was already quite the old fart anyway: despite working in a profession where men would often die young, he had managed to prevail against all the odds and reach the wonderful, old age of 72.


    "... Well, at least it''s finally peaceful around here..."


    Only Marthann, and a few of his most loyal men remained outside the sacred space of their now-desolate garrison, as they were all gathered outside in small formations that would serve as the first and only pockets of resistance should the enemy choose to perform an assault here: they were too few in number to manage to put up a decent fight though, as most of them have already left in accordance with the imperial general''s last command.


    By now, the general was awaiting the enemy assault that was supposedly about to arrive, though instead of feeling fear, Marthann felt at peace and was in complete calmness despite the horrifying nature of the situation he was in.


    "... W-what... I see then..."


    Suddenly, everything around him shook violently as tremors from beneath the very ground where their fortress was built on trembled violently; it was too strong of an earth tremor, as even the stone foundations of the stronghold couldn''t resist such powerful forces, with cracks and fissures forming on their previously-smooth surfaces.


    This was the manner of attack that their enemy had chosen to unleash against them, and Marthann couldn''t help but feel a bit of fear in his heart as the chaos continued to transpire before him- if the enemy was this strong, what hope would the forces the forces he commanded to retreat have against such a terrifying power?


    ... He shouldn''t think about that too much though, since in a few seconds, everything else would no longer matter to him anymore.


    "It has been an honour serving with you all." as his finality would rapidly draw to a close, he would thank those men who had stayed with him to die at this very place that they were supposed to protect: in fact, one of the reasons why he chose to die here was because of his failure in ensuring that the strongholds were still up and standing- the moment he failed such a task was something that the emperor and the other imperial generals couldn''t accept, and Marthan would prefer to die in battle and be remembered as a hero rather than to live and be shamed for his failure for the rest of his short, remaining life.


    "It has been an honour serving with you as well, general!"


    "Indeed it has! May we be able to serve you in the next life!"


    Even amidst the chaos, their wills remained strong even though it was apparent to all of them that they were all about to die after a few minutes. Eventually, the powerful earthquake would swiftly kill them indirectly, as immense piles of rubble that fragmented from the rapidly shattering foundations of the garrison fell onto their soft bodies and quickly claimed their lives.


    This was how the Imperial General Marthann met the pathetic, yet ultimately admirable, concluding epilogue of his life, and even as he perished, he couldn''t help but be proud of what he had achieved in life: he had conquered a nation for his people, and he had managed to successfully guard this treasure and its riches from those who would try to take it away for them for most of his long life, with the only moment of failure he had being that of today.


    ...


    ________________________________________


    ...


    The saintess was alone in her sleeping quarters once more after a long and tiresome day, as her unconscious, motionless body rested itself upon the soft mattress of her white bed, with a thin blanket covering her smooth, fair skin, while her weary head rested upon the comforts of a fluffy, comfortable pillow.


    "..."


    Weak, unconscious murmurs came out of her mouth as she remained asleep with her eyes glued shut from the fatigue: it seemed that she was having another one of her dreams again, though this time, it would be one of the greatest, most enlightening dreams she had ever had whenever she slept to rest and perhaps earn the chance to commune with the Lord she worshipped.


    "... My Lord... You''ve appeared within my dreams again..."


    Within her subconscious realm, the saintess found herself in a majestic paradise of soothing splendor: bright, yet gentle pure lights radiated from every direction, while the thick, solid, yet soft clouds beneath her feet served as a gentle ground for her to tread on.


    What was most important, however, was the magnificent figure whose presence was currently before her very eyes- an even greater source of light glowing with its intense, passionate radiance in front of her, a spherical, golden ball of luminosity that, despite having appeared to be so bright, was not causing any form of pain nor anguish to the saintess'' weary eyes.


    Almost immediately, she would fall on her knees and become in awe at the presence of the very almighty deity she worshiped. She knew all too well about her Lord after all, even if he had chosen to take a different form in his current appearance.


    "Adelaide..." his voice was powerful and full of authority, though its tone simultaneously seemed to sound incredibly soft and gentle.


    "... I have heard the cries of your people... I have seen the oppression that the Empire has inflicted upon your nation..." he continued to speak with his ethereal elegance. "And I have heard your cry... The deliverance you seek is finally at hand..."


    "That man I have spoken of in our last meeting... He will free your people from your suffering... Let him come into the city''s gates undisturbed, and you will all finally obtain the freedom from tyranny which you seek..."


    Finally... Finally... Even when she had been a child, the saintess could remember how cruel and vicious their conquerors had been to them for all their years of servitude under them. The Holy Kingdom had remained subjugated for far too long, and now their freedom from the shackles that had been forced onto them could finally be taken off.


    However, she quickly found herself in a wonder as she pondered about what her Lord said for a moment: what did he mean when said that they must let that man into their gates?


    "... My Lord... I am most thankful for the deliverance that is about to come... However..." she stuttered, slightly hesitating in asking her question to him. "... How will we be able to let him into the gates? The Neugomians guard these barriers with such ferocity... I''m afraid that many of our people will end up dead in the process..."


    Unsurprisingly, the deity would respond with an understanding tone: unlike most gods, he was a compassionate one who sought to love instead of to rule, and he immediately understood the confusion that had risen within the saintess'' thoughts.


    "Do not fear their weapons and power, Adelaide... I shall give your people strength when that time comes..." he answered kindly. "Most importantly however... Your people must move only when that blue dome of light appears in the sky..."


    "A Blue dome of... light, My Lord?"


    "Yes, Adelaide... It will be a massive, towering dome of cyan light whose size will make it visible even from far away..." he spoke again. "With its appearance will come the defeat of the imperials'' strongest warrior... By then, your people will have the ability to permanently drive away the Neugomians from your home..."


    "... I see..." the saintess uttered meekly, as tears began streaming down from her eyes... Finally, they would be free from the suffering they were constantly experiencing, and all they had to do was to wait for that oncoming day to arrive. "T-thank you... My Lord..."


    "But of course..." the deity said softly. "Now go... Wake up from your slumber, and begin making your preparations..."


    "Do not worry about anything else, for I shall make sure that your freedom shall come to pass, no matter what happens..."


    ________________________________________


    A flashback... Why was she having one of these brief nightmares amidst the terrible circumstances she was in right now?


    She could remember those terrible individuals who worked in accordance with her mad father''s insanity-induced ambitions... Figures who mercilessly experimented with her body and soul in order to mold her into the weapon she was right now.


    That pain... That searing pain whenever she failed to meet their expectations...


    The suffering... The anguish she felt with every ''modification'' and ''improvement'' they made on her combat abilities using their twisted experiments...


    But most importantly... The punishments they would quickly give her whenever she chose to disobey their sickening rules and difficult orders for even a moment...


    Aldyth never had a normal childhood, and many would, in fact, call her a monster that only seemed human in appearance due to the terrible experiences she went through.


    Even her family... None of them cared for her to the same extent as ''him''... Her father obviously only saw her as a tool to be used... The 3rd amongst the king''s concubines, who was the one who gave birth to her and was biologically her mother, had already died long ago before Aldyth had even reached the age of 7... And of course, her 2 elder brothers, who perceived her as merely a monstrous weapon that should have never existed in the first place...


    It was only her little brother who had shown her any form of love or compassion amidst her miserable life: Roland... That sweet, little, innocent boy with that cheeky smile on his face whenever they played together when they were young...


    She remembered those times with quite a bit of fondness, as a certain sadness began filling her heart with grief and solemnity again... Why had her little brother suddenly disappeared all those years ago? Was it because of the rumors that he was completely magickless, that the vicious people of their twisted family chose to erase him for good as a result? No, even if that was the case, there was no way they would just suddenly choose to get rid of a child hailing from the royal family...


    She then began to wonder... Just where exactly was that unclear line where everything started to go wrong...


    Inevitably though, the princess would snap out of her dream-like state, as her senses would finally come back and reveal the reality of the terrible world she was in...


    ...


    ...


    It had only been a few hours since the effective transportation performed by the translocation spell they used to arrive back to the capital, and yet the remaining Neugomian forces, who were now being led by the princess, were quickly met with thousands upon thousands of spiteful Polonian citizens who quickly rushed and mobbed their arrival without respite.


    "Your reign of evil ends here, tyrants!"


    "You''re all finally getting your asses kicked! We''d call that karma, by the way, HAHAHAHA!"


    "Give us back our freedom! Give us back our lands!"


    In truth, the swarming, Polonian commonfolk had already heard of the massive losses that the imperials had just incurred: the saintess and her dream-visions were quite popular amongst the commonfolk, and terrible rumors were incredibly quick on their feet in spreading from ear to ear after all: because of these moments of vulnerability, the citizens had finally chosen to voice out the years of pent-up anger and hate that they felt for their horrid conquerors, who they knew would no longer be able to do anything much to them due to the terrible situation they were in.


    "What did you just say?!"


    "You fucking barbarians! You dare act disrespectful towards us?! We can have all of you fuckers killed if we so desired!"


    Their shouts and jeers would only grow more intense because of these rebukes: these people knew that their once iron-grip hold over them had drastically weakened, and there was no way for them to be intimidated by such shallow threats that they easily just disregarded as a result.


    "Punish us?! And then what? Waste your time on killing us instead of fighting the so-called ''enemy'' that you shitheads have lost so much men to already?"


    "Go ahead, kill us, you bastards! We know you don''t have the time to waste for it anyway!"


    "Tch... Damn barbarians..."


    Their points were quickly proven, as the soldiers who were angered by their remarks found themselves unable to respond any longer- bantering with them was pointless, killing them even more so: causing mayhem upon these crowds by killing one of them would only make the figurative flames they''ve caused to become larger, which would make them waste even more precious time... Time that they could in order to better prepare for the enemy assault that was about to come to them instead.


    "Princess Aldyth!" the 2nd highest ranking man in their forces, an imperial mage who went by the name of Kaansor, then approached the princess as he knelt before her. "You are our only hope against the enemies that are about to arrive at any moment! Please guide us from here on out, and let the Imperial General''s sacrifice not be in vain!"


    What a pain, Aldyth thought to herself. Not only had her workload gotten even bigger, but she also had to lead these people into an impossible victory that she knew they could never obtain. These enemies... Monsters... Even Aldyth herself knew that there was something incredibly dangerous about them, as she was even unsure whether she would be able to face off against all of them using her power...


    Regardless, however, she would try to do her best in this situation- she had no other option after all... And disappointing her father''s expectations was definitely not something she could afford to happen once more...


    Most importantly though, she didn''t want to feel that ''pain'' again... The thought of re-experiencing it made her shiver a bit in terror, and it quickly became the most effective motivator for the plan she was about to unleash...


    From within the thick coat that enveloped her battle-armor, the warrior-princesss would pull out a scroll whose contents were empty, as a servant behind Aldyth would simultaneously walk towards her and provide her an inked quill that she could use to write- they knew all too well about the princess'' muteness, and so they had already made some preparations should she need to speak or convene about something...


    "Assemble all the available soldiers and mages at once. There is no time for us to rest: we shall band together to reinforce the capital''s walls and make our stand."

 Part 4 - Chapter 4

    "Is everyone prepared?"


    A unison of agreements that came in the form of a simple ''yes'' responded to the saintess'' question: many of them had gathered in such large numbers for the very first time, and this time, the reason for their assembly was not because they wished to perform some sermon or mass, but rather, it was something of a more serious matter...


    The knights templar of the Holy Orthodoxy, who were warriors in fully plated armor and swords that''ve been carefully sharpened and honed to the extreme- while they were completely magickless when compared to the imperial soldiers of Neugomia, the templar knights possessed a mysterious strength in their bodies that allowed them to far surpass the strength of normal men.


    They were originally a sort of defence force that served the orthodoxy''s laws, a small army of knights whose only role was to defend the orthodoxy and deal with any internal threats that rose within its sects- after the kingdom was forced to become a vassalized state however, the holy paragons had been reduced to nothing more than bodyguards who would safeguard the saintess and the orthodoxy''s followers from the treacheries of the Neugomian tyrants; in fact, they''ve nearly managed to cross blades countless times with such inhumane despots, and they would have waged a short-lived bloody conflict with them already had it not been for the agenda of peace and cooperation that was pursued by the saintess and the saints that came before her- despite the strength of their warriors, defeat was all but certain for them if they were to face the imperial might and tyranny of their conquerors.


    Today, however, was a different matter entirely: today had been the first moment in years when they finally had another purpose, as the Lord Himself had proclaimed that they were about to be saved, and they''d all gathered at this very place to enact his will.


    "Very well then..." the saintess spoke with an incredibly serious tone. "... When that ''blue dome of light'' finally reveals its presence... We shall all move as one and drive away the imperials from our homeland once and for all..."


    ________________________________________


    The communication channel sounded with multiple voices, as the holographic display originating from his wrist device came to life and revealed the images of his other companions, whose locations were currently faraway from where he and Whitlea were currently at.


    "Are you guys done with your work as well?"


    The 2 other channels, which were coming specifically from Speranza''s and Thurien''s locations respectively, would, almost immediately, respond in unison with voices that were a bit suppressed and weaker than usual.


    "I''ve finished with mine, my creator. No need to worry about me."


    "Yep, me too~ I sent them all to a more wonderful place~"


    "Wonderful then. I had a feeling that some of you would''ve encountered some problems... I guess I was wrong..."


    There was little that their enemies could do to stop them by this point- the only danger that could pose a threat to their goal now was the princess, who, based on the recent information they''ve managed to gather, had narrowly managed to avoid the destruction that claimed the stronghold she was previously stationed in due to a retreat she was made to do. How bothersome... He had hoped to at least greatly weaken her somewhat with the initial attacks, but the greatest obstacle somehow managed to survive unscathed.


    It seemed that he needed to proceed with the second plan he had already formed: it was an unconventional plan that Novus believed would very unlikely be able to work, but he quickly realized that it was the most effective, and only suitable plan amongst all the others he formulated a few weeks back.


    Ah well, Novus thought. If it was the only way he could ''win'' this battle, then he would gladly do so without much of a fuss. The only factor that was slightly making him want to reconsider was the fact that he didn''t know how exactly the princess would react the moment he chose to initiate this unique plan of his.


    "By the way, Novus... I heard ''she'' managed to survive... Am I right though?" Thurien asked curiously. "How are we going to deal with her...? By the way, please don''t make a plan where I''m going to have to get up close to her... I''m still a bit... Shaken by my last encounter with that weird human..."


    "Relax, Thurien, I''m not going to make you fight her again... Unless you want me to make you do it though? Would you like to encounter her once more?" he replied with a bit of sarcasm at the end of his words, making Thurien somewhat annoyed as the expression of ''Don''t you dare'' was written all over the medicae''s face. "Anyway, none of you have to worry too much about her... I already have a contingency in mind, and it''s actually quite simple to understand..."


    "Oohhh, my creator made another plan... Would you mind telling us what it is?"


    A grin formed on his face, though it wouldn''t even be the slightest bit of apparent to them due to the metal helmet-part of his armor that completely concealed his smile. "You see, the princess and I have a somewhat... Close relationship when we were young..." he stated briefly. "I mean... Most of you already know about my past and all of that, right?


    A unison of word-formed affirmations reached his ears, as Novus made a short series of small, nods of approval. After being with them for a while now, it was practically a given for them to have known about his past at this point, especially Whitlea, who had been the one with him for the longest amount of time out of all of them.


    They still didn''t know about Novus past life as a soldier however: despite both Thurien''s and Whitlea''s capabilities for reading human minds and thoughts, they had somehow still not managed to find out such an important part of his past. While the reasoning for this was unknown even to Novus himself, he was nevertheless incredibly thankful that the 2 hadn''t been able to find out just yet.


    After all, now was not the time for them to know: in the future, it would probably be fine to reveal this to them, but as of now? Novus felt that he was only going to get involved in some deep trouble the moment he chose to do the latter.


    "Close relationship? Ah, is it because she''s your older sister, my creator...? But I thought most of your family were a bunch of shit-stains?"


    "Please do tell though, Novus... How are we going to use this to our advantage?"


    "She''s supposed to be someone incredibly strong, right dear?"


    "Well, you see..." he''d finally answer. "The Neugomians have this stupid honour system about honor and duels, and we can easily exploit that..."


    "How?"


    "Yeah, how are we going to exploit that?"


    "If I challenge her to a duel, and if I manage to win, we''ll easily be able to make the remaining imperials surrender..." he continued to say. "And we''re going to use my own face as an advantage... After all, she hasn''t seen me for several years by this point... It would definitely be bad if she were to somehow become... Confused during our duel, right?"


    "... Ahaha... You''re planning to render her distraught while you fight her... How shameless, hahahaha..."


    "... That''s... Quite the strange plan, my creator... But, well, since it''s your plan, I believe that it''ll work..."


    "..."


    Novus then kept carrying on with mentioning his plan. "And besides, if everything else were to fail and I somehow end up getting nearly-defeated by her..." he said. "I have you 3 to follow up and deal with her if she does..."


    A mixed combination of reactions would come from all 3 of them: Thurien would chuckle rather loudly, while Speranza would simply giggle lightly... Whitlea though, who was beside him and didn''t need to use the communication channel to hear his words, had simply chosen to remain silent for the moment.


    "... Well, as long as you remain safe during it all..." Whitlea finally spoke after remaining hushed for a while. "Try not to get hurt too much alright? We''ll definitely be there to support you though if everything else fails, just like what you mentioned..."


    "Don''t worry..." Novus assured her. "I''ll definitely try..."


    ________________________________________


    "They''re here! They''re here!"


    The bellowing shouts and screams of panicking, fear-stricken soldiers echoed  throughout the air in a fine unison with the warning bells that kept ringing with great intensities, as the enemy forces that they''d hastily prepared for have finally arrived within their sights.


    An army of steel behemoths that possessed vaguely humanoid shapes: a great many of them marched slowly towards their very walls, yet despite the sluggish speed of their march, the fear inside the hearts of the imperial soldiers slowly grew even bigger, because not only had these monsters appeared in such large numbers, but they were also most likely about to unleash the same attacks that had easily destroyed their garrisons: simultaneously however, the creatures were maneuvering themselves in terrifyingly precise, rank-like formations as their massive army surrounded every possible path and gateway the imperials could escape from, which only made their spirits tremble and slowly crumble even further as a result.


    "W-why did they stop all of a sudden? Are they going to bombard us with some long-ranged attacks?"


    "D-damnit all! Have those useless mages already activated that protective barrier they were supposed to cast?"


    "Don''t worry, they''ve already casted it! Don''t lose hope now, you fools! We can still fight!"


    From what they could also tell as the armies of metal suddenly came to a halt with their march, their numbers were most likely above even the values of 50,000 or so men- it was horrifying for the imperials of course, as the total number of their own forces were merely 5000 left, and their morale had already been greatly reduced due to the destruction of the 3, supposedly invincible fortresses that have stood for hundreds of years already.


    It was going to be a long and terrible battle, they all thought to themselves all the same- a battle where they knew that victory was completely impossible, and their defeat purely inevitable...


    "... Are we really going to survive this...?"


    "We''ve lost so much of our forces to these bastards in just a few short days... How can we even put up a fight with our small numbers?"


    However, something unexpected would suddenly reach their very ears all of a sudden...


    "Soldiers of the empire. Heed our words." a loud, all-reaching, feminine voice that was amplified several times more than normal, boomed throughout the air they breathed in, making them shocked with how powerful it was. "We wish to perform an... Honourable duel with you lot. It is either this, or the swift destruction that is about to claim all of you."


    "Our leader wishes to duel with your strongest warrior... The princess..." it continued with its near-deafening intensity.


    "If your side wins, then we shall humbly concede this battle and leave this land in peace. However, if we are the ones to win, then we shall claim this land as ours... Though we will let your forces make their retreat back to your lands undisturbed."


    "Send her out as soon possible. Fail to comply with this simple demand of ours, and we shall see this as a form of refusal and perform our assault immediately."


    The voice would finally come to a halt, silencing its loudness as its tone no longer painfully sounded like a maddening echo that made their ears hurt a bit: on the other hand though, the higher-ranks of their army were already making their plans for what the voice had just stated, and immediately began discussing to themselves about what they should do...


    "... Their leader wants to duel... With the princess?"


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    "... W-well... That was unexpected..."


    ...


    ...


    "... Will we really send out the princess... Alone, at that?"


    The strategists and the other, high-ranking Neugomian soldiers were assembled in one of the capital walls'' many, massive, open balconies, as some of them observed the massive, teeming army of automata that surrounded the kingdom from almost every possible direction.


    "... We don''t have any other choice..." one of the men would utter in complete defeat. "... We have a higher chance of victory by letting the princess duel with their leader... Although, there''s also the risk that they may be lying, and that they only wish to draw out the princess so they can eliminate her..."


    "You''re right... But still..." another would speak. "... It''s the only decent shot we have at soundly defeating those monsters..."


    Within Aldyth''s line of thought as she remained silent all the while, a sense of confusion and caution were the only forms of emotion she was currently experiencing- why had their enemies suddenly suggested such a strange proposition in the first place?


    Indeed, honourable duels were a common concept that would always occur during the countless conflicts that the empire would wage against its enemies- it had practically become a tradition for 2 enemy leaders to fight each other in a 1 versus 1 battle in order to settle a long dispute that had grinded both sides into an unending attrition.


    However, there were several issues that came with this matter: the Neugomians were the ones who were losing this battle, and  they didn''t even know what and who their enemies truly were. Aldyth herself couldn''t even tell if their enemies were truly planning to honour such a suggestion, or if they were simply making a scheme in order to eliminate her, the greatest threatening variable, from the battle.


    There wasn''t any other suitable option in the first place however... This duel was the only way they could hope to drive this new enemy of theirs away from the kingdom''s capital, and if they were to indeed choose to stab them in the back, then Aldyth would simply have to use her terrifying power to push through such unfortunate circumstances.


    "P-princess! W-wait!"


    "P-please wait for a moment, your highness!"


    The princess would then pick up her spear that rested on the arms of her weapons-bearer as she leapt from the impressive heights of the balcony and quickly landed upon the ground uninjured:  today, she was going to accept the strange proposal that their enemies had proposed, as she was also going to try to obtain victory in order to win this battle...


    ________________________________________


    He had made many preparations for this very event: many of the functions of his armor were currently active, with both its power source and its energy reserves being utilized to such incredible extremes, as he stood alone in the open fields between the armies of the automata that accompanied his conquest, as well as the last barrier of resistance that was still interrupting his plans.


    The plan... Needless to say, consisted of many tasks that were somewhat difficult to do: first, he had to draw out the princess from the enemy forces and make it so that he had to fight her alone, and it was also the part that he had already done...


    Why he even wanted to fight her alone in a 1 versus 1,you may ask?


    Other than the fact that he wanted to achieve total victory by getting rid of the only remaining threat that the imperials could throw against them, there was another reason why he had chosen to do this in the first place.


    A familial reason... In simple terms, Novus wanted to recruit this woman, this sister of his, to his side. After all, he knew just how secretly miserable she already was, and he quite literally had the key to convincing him to side with her. Not only that however, but the fact that she possessed this already incredible power even without magick only made him want to bring her to his side all the more so...


    ... On the other hand though, the second and third phases were the ones he found to be more difficult to execute: it was to trap her temporarily by activating a barrier before their fight, and to hold her in place, be it through words or by force, for only a few moments so that he could ''talk'' with her- the last part was seemingly the most difficult phase, as even from just a faraway glance, Novus could tell that this supposed sister of his wasn''t the type who liked to converse with people, a terrible quality which would only make talking with her vastly more difficult.


    Novus was practically playing a dangerous gamble here, because in reality, he couldn''t even know just how exactly the princess would react the moment she found out about his true identity: would she reject that he was her brother and continue the fight? Would she give up and listen to what he had to say? Or would he never even be able to talk to her in the first place at all?


    Ah well, as long as he could hold her back for a sufficient time... There was another secret he had hidden and prepared in this battle: nanites that had a certain influence on human bodies, regardless of how durable they may be... While its effects would most likely take a great amount of time before they were finally significant, it would, nevertheless, become incredibly useful later as their duel continued to proceed...


    "Ah, there she is..."


    Novus could see the approaching visage of the figure that was slowly coming closer to him- it was his ''older sister''... The princess, whose body was equipped with a thin, medieval-esque battle armor as she wielded her signature silver spear with her left hand...


    He had to admit, she did indeed look just like him... She was supposed to be her sibling after all, or at least, the relative of this body that didn''t belong to him from the very beginning: from what he could see, the princess had long, red hair that poured out from the back of her small helmet, as her cold, green-iris eyes gave a cold, deathly glare that shot back towards his own.


    Most importantly however, she was practically radiating that sense of incredible danger all throughout her body, and it made Novus feel a bit uneasy as she gradually got closer to him...


    Maybe he had, once again, chosen a wrong decision? Well, he wouldn''t be able to back out now anyway...


    "Alright... I wanted to talk to you for a bit, but... I take it that you''re not the type who talks, huh?" Novus spoke audibly as she finally came to a dangerously close proximity to him. "I guess I really do have to stop you from moving a bit first... Thurien, activate the barrier!"


    "...?"


    The nanomachines his allies had quietly scattered quickly did their work, and almost immediately, thick, nigh-impermeable collectives of cyan formations where not even light could pass through, formed a dome-shaped structure that encapsulated them in the space they were already in, and Thurien, the one who had mainly caused this barrier to form, made sure that it wouldn''t break so easily- the barrier was quite literally a thousand times harder than the likes of steel, and it was thick enough so that it would take a while to break the moment its durability began to falter in its sole duty.


    Quickly however, upon seeing the trap she had suddenly fallen into, an expression of light, cold anger would form on Aldyth''s beautiful face, as she then made a powerful leap from the ground she stood on and began charging towards Novus head on with her spear in hand.


    STABB!!!!


    "????"


    As the spear pierced into what was supposed to be Novus'' chest, not even a single trace of blood came from his supposedly wounded body, as Aldyth merely passed through his figure as if he were a ghost.


    What the hell... The princess thought. What sort of trickery was this? Had he casted some form of illusionary magick on her amidst their fight? How shameless, this opponent of hers had been doing one cowardly trick after another... Was this not supposed to be an honourable duel where the winner would fairly decide the victory between their battle? Where even was this man''s true body, and did he truly come here to duel with her in the first place?


    "That was a hologram, you battle-junkie."


    A series of blinding lights that came with defeaning sounds erupted near Aldyth''s body, and she became disorientated for only a single second: such a cowardly attack meant nothing to her senses, as she had already endured far worse things in her exceedingly miserable life, and this much pain meant nothing to her.


    BLAMM!!!


    She quickly figured out where his true body was, and it was at a direction that was to her far left: as she phased through the fake body of her enemy and was now speeding towards the ground, the princess made precise, graceful movements by rapidly stabbing her spear into the ground as she maneuvered her body around its thin, silver structure in a twisting movement that seemed like an acrobatic twirl: this quickly allowed her to propel herself back into the air, and now she was once more about to plunge the tip of her spear into Novus'' body.


    BOOMMM!!!


    Yet another cowardly trick, Aldyth silently fumed within her thoughts- a thick fog of grey air exploded out of nowhere and enveloped her opponent in a smokescreen, making her next strike miss its mark as she rapidly came close to his body. How annoying... Does this bastard see their duel as merely a joke?


    As she made a terrible landing on the ground, Aldyth quickly stood up and twisted her spear in powerful spinning motions, driving away the smog that hid her opponent from her view as she then prepared for another attack; this time though, the princess had chosen a different method of attack that wouldn''t immediately involve her making a charge.


    THUUDDD!!!


    She drove her right foot into the ground, making the earth beneath her shatter as fragments of rocky material rose up into the air due to her incredible force: Aldyth then moved and thrusted her spear at a speed that appeared faster than what Novus'' eyes could perceive, propelling the pieces of stone towards him in speeds that were faster than even the bullets of his gun-weapons.


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    The automatic-reactionary reflexes of his suit moved faster than Novus'' mind could process, as the armor automatically pulled out the sword concealed within his armor  and rapidly cut through the pieces of speeding debris, preventing all of them from hitting its user and inflicting any form of damage...


    However, within this significant time frame where Novus'' armor moved instinctively, Aldyth used this opportunity to instantly get close to him with her terrifying agility.


    [Long-Ranged Weapons Activated.]


    BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!


    BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!


    BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!


    Novus drew out the literal big guns, as he revealed the massive, high-caliber gun stored by his power-suit and began emptying its clip using his free, left hand, firing repeatedly at Aldyth''s charging figure without stopping. As expected though, the princess would nonchalantly block all of them with her silver spear, and the limited few that did manage to successfully hit her body failed to even penetrate through her skin.


    SWOOSHHH!!!!


    Aldyth focused her incoming attack on his long-ranged weapon first, as the blade of her spear tore and ripped through the massive gun that Novus brought out, destroying it immediately as it quickly ceased with firing its ammunition. Without wasting time any further, she would then rapidly deliver a deadly thrust from her spear, a fatal attack that was aimed directly at Novus'' neck...


    CLAANNGGG!!!


    He managed to parry that killing blow using his sword, though because of the power that came from her murderous thrust, Novus was violently knocked back to the ground due to the knockback. Despite having the appearance of a normal woman, the princess was indeed a monster of abnormal physical strength, and she was definitely someone that Novus wouldn''t be able to fight directly without the clever trickery he kept resorting to.


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    When her slim figure descended onto the ground and quickly rushed towards him, everything just became even more chaotic, at least for Novus- the thrusts from her spear were incredibly quick and precise, as the advanced functions of his suit were the only reason why he had even managed to last this long. After all, from what his eyes could see, Aldyth''s movements with her silverine weapon appeared as literal blurs before his very eyes.


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    The flow of her movements connected with each other in a perfect, repetitive and synchronized manner, not even allowing him a single moment of respite nor counterattack as she easily forced him on the defensive due to her unrelentingness.


    It had become quite obvious though, as even Novus was able to realize it as their duel kept being prolonged- in a grinding, attritional fight like this, especially against such a monster of incredible physical prowess, Novus would eventually lose handily to her bothersome might, even with all the powerful enhancements and unique functions that his armour provided to him.


    "..."


    The princess'' movements would then suddenly come to a grinding halt, making Novus stop with his movements as well in order to carefully observe what she was about to do next. And from what he could see, even though she was remaining perfectly still, Novus felt his instinct kick in with a sense of danger, as if the princess was about unleash an incredibly dangerous form of attack.


    "Fuck this." he cursed, paying heed to the ominous feeling that had formed in his heart as he began making his own preparations. "Stealth mode, activate!"


    He had to flee there, as there was no point in letting their moment of melee drag out for too long, because not only was it was apparent that she was vastly, physically stronger than her, but it was already obvious by now that she was charging up for some unknown form of attack: Novus then activated the invisibility functions of his armor, rendering him invisible from most human senses as he quickly faded away from her line of sight and began to widen their distance between them in anticipation for the attack she was about to commence.


    SWOOOSSHHHHH!!!!


    It took only 4 seconds for her to charge up that dreadful attack: with a single, concentrated thrust from her spear, Aldyth produced a powerful, gust of wind that speeded faster than the likes of sound towards the location where Novus was previously in- as the terrible wave of air missed him however, it would instead hit part of the cyan barrier that trapped them both, easily tearing through its durable structure while leaving a gaping hole that led out to the sky.


    What a vile coward, Aldyth screamed internally. This bastard had been performing one dirty tactic after another, and the new trick he had pulled off just now began to infuriate her to no end. This fool... He really did only see their feud as a joke... How preposterous, she thought, did the countless times when he could have died from her attacks meant nothing to him at all?


    Truthfully, however, his invisibility to her senses didn''t matter in the first place. Years of honed instinct had sharpened the princess'' ability to detect undetectable targets that were as sly and untraceable as this coward before her right now...


    She then prepared to hurl her silverine weapon into the air... And before Novus could finally manage to safely get away from her range...


    SWOOSHHH!!!!


    "FUCKK!"


    The crazy woman hurled her spear towards his invisible body and somehow managed to hit him on his left shoulder. Simultaneously though, Novus would also be sent hurtling towards the ground, making both a powerful thud and an immense dust cloud as his armored, yet wounded self collided with the earth beneath.


    ...


    ________________________________________


    "They''ve captured the princess!"


    "Quick! We must rescue her! We can''t let her be taken!"


    "Are you brain-dead, you moron?! How are we going to charge outside and save the princess without getting slaughtered by that massive army outside?!"


    As the dome-shaped barrier of blue light engulfed the battle-space where Novus and the princess duked it out in, the imperial soldiers began panicking uncontrollably, as they couldn''t even see through the impermeable borders of the structure that had suddenly formed in front of them, fully preventing them from seeing just what exactly was transpiring inside.


    "What are we going to do then?! The princess is our only hope against these monsters, and we literally just fucking lost her to these bastards!"


    "We''ll just have to fight and die then!"


    "You crazy fuck! I don''t want to die! Emperor, save me!"


    Their morale fell into a complete disarray now, as the soldiers fell into a chaotic discourse of arguments and shouting, all of which would ultimately be unable to achieve anything significant: their higher-ups, on the other hand, who had remained within the safety of the city wall''s interior, could only watch in despair from the balcony that provided them a decent view outside, as they too began panicking and squabbling uselessly among themselves.


    "Send out the men! We have to do everything we can to save her!"


    "Are you blind?! Do you not see the massive army of golems outside that''s waiting for the duel to finish? Our men will get wiped out the moment they get out of the gates!"


    "They broke their honour first, in the first place! They trapped and captured her even though it was supposed to be an honourable duel!"


    "What does honour have to do with the fact that we''ll instantly get slaughtered if we come outside, you moron?!"


    A hundred voices would all voice out their suggestions and arguments, refuting and negating each other''s statements in an endless cycle of uselessness, as they ultimately achieved nothing in their futile bickering, all while time continued to pass by without a pause.


    Suddenly however, a brief, yet powerful, feminine voice of authority would drown out all their squabbles, as their eyes immediately shifted their attention towards her very figure.


    "Your reign of tyranny over us is over, you men of the empire." it was the saintess, whose presence was being accompanied by several armored knights that had their swords drawn and pointed towards them. "You''ve lost your power, including the one you once had over us... Surrender, and we shall try to be merciful with you as much as we can afterwards..."


    "You bitch!!! You dare?! Now, of all times?!"


    "You scheming vixen! How did you get past the guards?! You just had to strike us at our weakest, did you?!"


    Hearing their immediately-negative reactions, Adelaide would simply sigh as she covered her face- as expected, these people weren''t going to listen to her in the peaceful way, even though she had brought her own fair share of force to intimidate them with...


    Ah well, she thought... Perhaps violence is indeed a necessary venture sometimes...


    "Sigh... Malfor... You know what to do..." the saintess signalled to one of her armored knights. "... Please make it quick while you do it though... You know how much I loathe it whenever blood is being shed..."


    Malfor nodded in response, as a cold, unflinching expression formed on his face while he drew out his sword. "I understand, saintess... I shall do so at once..."


    SLAASHHH!!!


    "W-what?! Y-you bastard...!"


    "... T-they really killed one of us..."


    "You damn barbarians!!!"


    Malfor casually approached the nearest imperial, as his blade began glowing with a harmonous, golden light. He would then swerve his sword and cut him down with a single strike, killing the poor man instantly as he scattered his blood throughout the floor: now then... After all of that, surely these stubborn, prideful bastards of the empire were finally willing to listen to her demands?


    ... If not however, then Malfor would simply have to cut down another one of them until they finally choose to cave in and submit to their wishes: while it would seem cruel, it was something that the people of the orthodoxy have seen as ultimately necessary, because what the very act of rebellion that they were doing could easily get all of them killed in the process, which was why the saintess and her knights had chosen to perform a surgical strike upon the figureheads of their enemy in order make their revolution conclude quickly.


    "Like I said... It''s over now, for all of you..." the saintess spoke rather sternly, emphasizing an incredible seriousness with every word she spoke. "Comply with what we want, and not only shall we promise to not harm you any further, but we will also let you return to the lands your empire with all of your remaining men afterwards..."


    They would hesitate for a moment, not wanting to relent and submit to the desires of this woman they viewed as inferior- however, the will of not wanting to die and end up like their fellow who had been brutally cut down proved to be stronger as they eventually chose to comply with her single demand.


    "F-fine... What do you people want?"


    "Y-yeah... What did you and your men come here for anyway? And could you just please tell us right away..."


    "What we want is simple." the saintess uttered. "Order all your men to stand down, lay down their arms and open the gates. We didn''t want to risk losing too much men, so I took the time to find where you fools were hiding at..."


    "..."


    "..."


    "So, what will it be, gentlemen?" Malfor added as he drew his blood stained sword once more, preparing to cut down another imperial officer who had unfortunately managed to become his target. "Will you comply, or will I have to cut down another one of you lot?"


    "... We''ll comply... We''ll comply..." they uttered, finally surrendering to their wishes without putting up much of a fight anymore. "We''ll tell our men to surrender and stand down...  Just... Give us a few moments, please..."

 Part 4 - Chapter 5

    Far away from the area where the 2 enemy leaders were making their ''duel'', Novus'' companions watched their battle silently through the live video feed provided by the single drone that remained inside the impassable, dome-shaped structure.


    "I told you, sister, she''s too strong. Our creator is going to die against that woman if he continues to fight her."


    "... Yeah, Speranza''s right... I think we should help him now..."


    The circumstances and the chances of victory had become quite apparent to them, and it was clear that Novus was definitely going to lose this duel with his supposed older sister in the long-run: despite this, he was still, for some reason, still trying to push through with a sturdy resolve.


    When was he going to initiate that ''ultimate plan'' of his? After all, he did mention that he was going to do some sort of convincing on her...


    "... Sister, I think we should take away the barrier now."Speranza suggested, who was obviously incredibly concerned by this point." We have to help him. One way or another, that crazy woman who''s supposed to be our creator''s relative, will end up plunging that spear into his body eventually."


    "... No. Let him have his fun." Whitlea cut her off. "The battle''s already finally coming to a close anyway."


    "... I beg your pardon?"


    "W-Whitlea..."


    Despite the 2 of them having already lost their confidence of his victory, Whitlea still believed that he was going to win and persevere through this one and obtain a win- she had seen the entirety of the plan he laid out after all, and with how detailed and articulated he made it out to be, Whitlea remained certain that Novus was definitely going to win, even when all the odds seemed to be against him.


    "... Ah... O-oh crap... He got hit..."


    "S-sister! I told you this''d happen! Our creator got stabbed by that wench! We need to go in there NOW!"


    However, some of the worst outcomes they expected have already begun to happen: the princess finally managed to pierce him by hurling her spear into Novus'' body, easily piercing through his shoulder as it pinned him to the ground, rendering him completely helpless.


    Despite having sustained a grievous injury however, Whitlea didn''t even budge for a moment, even though she too felt her heart jump the moment she saw him getting that severe injury: her faith in his victory was so strong, that it seemed to be more delusional than anything else... Or so did it appear to both Thurien and Speranza.


    "I am going in there this instant! Both of you, come with me, NOW!"


    "Yeah, don''t worry... I''m going in there too..."


    Whitlea would quickly interject them, while the purple color of her irises appeared to grow with a splendid shine: simultaneously, both Speranza''s and Thurien''s movements would become heavily restricted, as a faint, purple aura thinly enveloped their restrained bodies.


    "S-SISTER! W-what the hell are you doing?! Our creator is going to die in there! Don''t tell me that you.."


    "W-whitlea, this is insane! She''s going to kill him if we don''t do something! Let us go, NOW!"


    "Would you 2 calm down for a bit?" Whitlea replied in a calm manner, as if the entire situation wasn''t even bothering her at all: at the same time, she would also point her index finger to a specific area of the video feed they were observing, emphasizing about something important that they''ve failed to notice.


    "He''s already won, you idiots." she spoke of it nonchalantly. "Interrupting them will only make him look stupid in front of her..."


    Of course, it wouldn''t take long for both Speranza and Thurien to become shocked- their minds instantly became confused as their thoughts fell into a deep state of befuddlement: they were completely unable to believe that Novus had just won despite having been impaled so dangerously by that crazy bastard he was fighting.


    "... W-what do you mean, sister? You aren''t joking... Right?"


    "..."


    "Obviously, I''m not. Do you actually think I don''t care about him to the same extent that you 2 do?" she scoffed lightly. "You see, if you were to just focus your eyes over there..."


    ________________________________________


    The duel hadn''t even taken 5 minutes, yet it was already about to reach its final conclusion.


    "Damn, that hurts..."


    A searing, dreadful pain coursed throughout his body, as the silverine spear remained firmly planted into his shoulder: to his further horror however, he could see that the mad princess, who had now descended onto the ground as well, was slowly walking towards his helplessly pinned body.


    SLAMM!!!


    As she finally came close to him, her cold eyes stared deeply into the eye slits of Novus'' power armor, as she firmly planted her left boot onto his chest by delivering a powerful stomp that left an immediate dent on his metal plates.


    "O-ow... You fuck..."


    "..."


    No words came out of her mouth, but the icy look on her face made it obvious that she wanted to be done with him as quickly as possible. Aldyth''s hands would then slowly move towards his neck, as she was going to finish him off by strangling him like the little, scheming weasel he was- even though his neck was still completely protected by the armor, it would have been easy for Aldyth to simply squeeze through the enveloping steel alloy and suffocate his throat until he''d finally die.


    "... Haha... Shit..."


    "..."


    When was it going to work? It was the only reason why he chose to directly fight her in the first place. While Novus knew that its effects would take a while before it would finally activate, he began to curse at how agonizingly long it was taking...


    ... Fortunately, before she could finally place her hands and begin choking the life out of his throat, she could feel something powerful rising up within her body, a feeling that she had never felt and had supposedly become resistant to after countless years...


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    "!!!"


    "... It finally worked..."


    She fell back-first onto the ground, as her body couldn''t help but slowly become weaker due to a reason she couldn''t understand. Her nerves wouldn''t even respond to her commands, as both her legs and arms refused to budge while she remained there, completely motionless and unable to move.


    "That''s sensorimotor disruption for you. I scattered it in the air before we fought, and of course, I myself am immune to it..." he mentioned, as Novus then rose from the ground, coughing up a bit of blood inside his helmet as he stared into her eyes. "It''s basically a powerful nanite poison that disrupts brain activity by basically messing with your nerves... Ah, who am I kidding, you probably don''t understand me at all..."


    "..."


    The once-cold eyes on Aldyth''s face instantly shifted into that of pure hatred, and now she was staring at him as if she was about to drill a hole through his thick skull- it even made Novus somewhat unsettled, though it wouldn''t completely render him unable to move like her.


    "... Ahh... Shit... that attack you just did... It, really hurts, you know.."  he then moved his right, uninjured arm, placing his hand on his torn, mangled left shoulder that held the silverine spear in place. "Anyway... I heard from Thurien that your spear slows down wounds from healing.... I guess I won''t be able to have a normal arm for a while..."


    "... Alright then... Here goes nothing... FFUCCCKKKK!!! THAT HURTS!!!"


    Novus tore out his arm, as well as a huge chunk of his left shoulder without hesitation, screaming in pain as he ripped all of it off in one go, scattering his blood and pieces of his flesh as he then threw his useless, left limb away, which also managed to fully remove the spear from his body. Seeing this, Aldyth''s eyes widened in confusion at the brutal, self-imposed pain he had just caused on himself: this man, she thought... He truly was such a crazy bastard...


    "... Ah... Let''s see if it''ll work..."


    It was a shocking sight to behold: clusters of small, black particles emerged from his bleeding, open wound, quickly stopping his bleeding as they sealed the crimson-stained opening and began forming a structure that seemed to resemble bones...


    It would take a few seconds, though Aldyth found herself in a profound state of complete disbelief, as the metallic matrix that formed on the place that was once one of his limbs slowly grew in size and developed more parts: eventually though, the entire structure would develop into a black shape that was a near-exact replica of the arm he had just ripped off. It even managed to replace the huge chunks of his missing shoulder without a hitch.


    "Well... At least it worked... Anyway..." he said, as his new, yet temporary limb of metal moved and twisted its synthetic fingers to see if it could move normally: eventually, he would have it replaced by Thurien for a truly biological one, though now wasn''t the time for such things. "We have a lot to talk about, y''know? We know each other more than you think, after all..."


    Aldyth immediately furrowed her eyebrows in confusion: this prick, what did he mean when he said that they ''knew each other''? As far as she could tell, she had never known someone who was like him, and even if she did, her lonesome self wouldn''t have even befriended such a trickster in the first place.


    "Hard to believe? I guess it''s fair... If you do, then... Let''s just get straight to the point, shall we?" he uttered quickly, as he then placed both of his hands on the sides of his metal helmet. "See for yourself..."


    "You crazy-ass, older sister of mine..."


    "???"


    The moment he took off his helmet, a wave of forgotten, suppressed emotions began flooding into her heart in an instant...


    ...


    ...


    This couldn''t be... How was this possible?


    That face, the moment he took that metal coffin of a mask off of his head, her thoughts ran rampant as her past memories came rushing back into her heart.


    Those green-iris eyes and red hair that closely resembled her own, as well as that small, black mole at the edge of his left cheek...


    Even though he had grown older after so much time had passed after his disappearance, she could immediately tell who this man in front of her truly was- she cared about him so much, so much so, that the very appearance and features of his face, no matter how old he''d grown, would never be able to truly leave the archives of her memories.


    Her little brother... That little rascal who''d always be the annoying, yet adorable runt whenever she was around: he was the only one among her twisted family who she truly cared for. Ever since that day when he suddenly vanished without a trace after being banished by their cruel father, Aldyth''s sanity had steadily began to spiral into that of madness, as the loss of her little brother would eventually be one of the key reasons as to how she ended up becoming the cold individual she was today.


    But now... Right at this very moment... Everything felt as if they weren''t even real before her very eyes...


    Her little brother was alive... Not only that, but he was right in front of her right now, and he had also ended up becoming the ''leader'' of the enemy force she was currently meant to fight right now...


    Was this even real? Was she already dead? Or perhaps... Is this man simply pretending to be that precious sibling she had lost all those years ago?


    Well, there was one way to find out if he truly was her brother: all the members of the Neugomian royal family had a black, diamond-shaped birthmark somewhere on their chests, a reliable symbol that they''d used for countless years in order to find out if one had royal blood in them.


    The reason for its reliability was solely because of the fact that it had been a magick casted by the first Neugomian emperor upon his own bloodline, a powerful spell that had affected their very genetics and couldn''t be replicated by even the most talented of mages: he wanted his descendants to continue his legacy after all, and having a mark that could distinguish the true members of the royal lineage would ultimately prove useful in the countless centuries that would eventually pass...


    "..."


    "H-hold on, what the he-"


    The nano-poison that temporarily disabled her movements had already slightly weakened by this point, giving her some free leeway of movement as she finally managed to get up from the ground and speed towards him with a frightening agility...


    ...


    ...


    This was bad: how did she suddenly manage to get up? The effects should have taken her at least 10 minutes before she''d finally be able to move again... Yet how did she manage to restore her movements in less than 2?


    This woman was a monster... Even after being brought down by a powerful, yet nonlethal poison, her body refused to fully relent as it quickly managed to recover at great speeds that would put even the strongest of people to shame...


    THUD!!!


    Aldyth pushed him onto the ground and pinned him there haplessly using her weight, as she then stared into his eyes while giving a single expression that clearly meant, ''Don''t move''... It was a wordless thought that even Novus could understand immediately despite no words being uttered from her mouth.


    "W-what the hell are you do-"


    She then nonchalantly ripped off the chest section of his armor with a single grip-and-pull using her hands, as she then scanned his entire chest for any signs of the birthmark she had sought to find: while the armor would be able to regenerate from something as simple as this as long as it hadn''t ran out of power yet, the very position he was in right now felt incredibly awkward due to the fact that, this woman who was supposed be his ''older sister'', was currently pinning him down like this in a really uncomfortable manner... It really made him uneasy just by thinking about it...


    "..."


    And there it was- the special birthmark was indeed on him, and it was located near his navel specifically. Immediately, she then stood up and released him from his hold, and tears began to stream down from the mad princess'' face as she finally began to accept that the man before her truly was her long-lost little brother indeed.


    "... What the hell were you just doing, you crazy woman?" Novus scolded her as he too began to stand up and face Aldyth''s figure.


    "..."


    A tight, warm embrace was her response to his question, as she quickly moved towards him and wrapped her arms around his body. At long last, she had finally found her precious little brother again, and this time, she wasn''t going to allow him to disappear so suddenly again...


    Never again, she thought, never again...


    "... I''m sorry for nearly killing you... I''m such a horrible sister, aren''t I?"


    Or so she would have uttered had she been able to speak: nevertheless though, Aldyth would continue to hug him as more tears fell down from her eyes, never letting him go even once for the next, long moments that would pass by...


    ...


    ... However...


    ...


    "... Annndd... You just fell asleep... Who could''ve known that even a monstrosity like you actually has limits..."


    Aldyth suddenly lost consciousness as she firmly kept hugging him without halting: it seemed that she had strained herself when she temporarily managed to fully resist the effects of the poison in order to confirm if he truly was her brother.


    Fortunately though, despite possessing such a monstrous physical strength, Aldyth''s body was surprisingly light and easy to carry, as even though her unconscious self was resting itself against Novus'' body, he didn''t have that much difficulty in preventing her from falling to the ground.


    "... Sweet dreams, you pitiful lunatic..." Novus spoke in a hushed tone as he began carrying her unconscious body using his arms. "Now then... For the last and final step of our plan..."


    ________________________________________


    "Make sure that she remains asleep in there, alright?"


    Thurien gave a little chuckle as she responded quite eagerly. "Of course~ I wouldn''t want her to suddenly wake up and nearly kill me again, ahahaha..."


    Aldyth''s sleeping body had been placed inside a massive, glass pod that was filled to the brim with soothing, life-preserving fluids, which would keep her asleep indefinitely while several of the automata began transporting her back to the castle using one of Thurien''s gateways.


    Alas, it was time... Novus and his 3 subordinates were finally about to conclude their plan with its final steps...


    How strange though, it seemed... there were no soldiers present on the walls anymore, and it was as if they had chosen to retreat after witnessing the princess'' ''defeat''. All the better for him then, Novus thought to himself: the lesser the resistance the imperials would put up, the better it would be for them.


    Beside him were his 2 combat maids, Whitlea and Speranza, with Thurien currently not present as she was busy with facilitating Aldyth''s transportation, while Novus'' massive army of mechanical constructs marched behind him and followed suit- to their front was one of the massive gates that led into the capital, and all that was left for them to do was to break through this last barrier, and everything they had planned for would finally become theirs to take...


    "Whitlea..." Novus ordered without any sort of hesitation. "Hurry up and pry that door open, please."


    "Of course, dear." she''d smile as she simultaneously raised one of her arms. "Time to open u-... Wait..."


    The massive, iron gate in front of them would suddenly open, making the 4 of them immediately tense up as they quickly began to prepare for whatever last form of resistance that was about to come outside of the gate. Contrary to what they expected however, something else would come out of the tall barrier of metal... A welcoming collective of presences who were all too happy to let then in without question.


    "Welcome, oh saviour of ours. We warmly greet your arrival with open arms..." what would reveal themselves as the doors of the gate fully gave way was the saintess and her knights, who warmly greeted their arrival with a welcoming smile, as the knights knelt before Novus'' armored figure in an incredible display of respect and chivalry.


    "There''s no need to worry about the remaining enemies by the way, as we''ve already dealt with them a while ago..." The saintess assured as she lightly bowed her head. "Please, come in with your companions... Many of our people want to see you right now, you see..."


    "But first..."

 Part 4 - Epilogue

    "Hahaha... It''s quite ironic how we''re being cheered on by entire crowds of these people, while those imperials are being brought outside in chains..."


    "Hm. Now that you think of it... I think you''re right, Spera... it''s quite the contrast... And it''s even kind of laughable as well, haha..."


    "Well, in the end, at least they managed to live through all the devastation we unleashed, right? I heard they''re being sent back to the empire''s lands as we speak..."


    "Haha... Good for them, I suppose..."


    They were parading through the city''s main road with their vast armies of constructs trudging along in formations behind them. Instead of being feared or hated though, their triumphant march was gladly being cheered for and welcomed by the Polonian citizens, who had become incredibly thankful to them for freeing them from their enslavement under the empire''s cruel tyranny.


    "By the way, sister... Don''t you think that it''s quite... Strange that our creator chose to leave us for the moment... In order to meet up with someone else?"


    "... With another woman, at that?"


    "..."


    Currently, Novus wasn''t present in the little parade they were performing, as the saintess of this country, a woman named Adelaide, requested for his sole presence in a place not too far away from where they were right now.


    Of course, while Whitlea felt apprehensive about this, she didn''t present any refutations when Novus agreed to meet up with the saintess alone... After all, she believed that these people wouldn''t try to harm the saviour who had just liberated them from their conquerors... Most importantly though, later on, Whitlea had all the time in the world for Novus later because of the deal she had coerced him into a while ago.


    That issue was nothing compared to the one she was currently anxious about though: what was worrying her the most right now, was the loss of Novus'' entire left arm during his last fight, as it was a grievous injury that made her heart stop for a moment whenever she looked at it, though fortunately he managed to patch it up before everything else would grow to become worse.


    "... Don''t worry, you see, I made a rather one-sided deal with him when he begged me to forgive him earlier..." Whitlea uttered, which immediately caught Speranza''s curiosity. "... Well, in short, I''m going to punish him later for all the bad things he''s done to us~ and it''s actually making me feel a bit excited~"


    "... Say, would it be fine for me to... Join...? If you don''t mind of course..." Speranza asked, finding the mere idea of such an occurrence as a fun-filled venture.


    A smile of pure mischief formed on Whitlea''s lips as she answered her question. "Of course, Spera... the more the merrier, after all~"


    ________________________________________


    "We humbly thank your visitation, oh great saviour of ours..."


    Dutifully escorted by the templar knights behind him as they closed the doors in order to seal off the cheering crowds of people that were trying to storm in, Novus couldn''t help but admire the grand architecture he was currently witnessing right now: it was honestly quite impressive really, from the very structured of the stone walls and pillars, to even the colored ''images'' formed by the window glasses themselves...


    Although, admiring the admirable quality of this chapel''s construction was not the reason why he came for in the first place.


    Novus had agreed to meet up with the saintess in this massive chapel of hers, and the reason why he had agreed to meeting with her was actually quite simple.


    These people from the ''Holy Orthodoxy'', or so did they call themselves. For an incredibly strange, yet fascinating, unknown reason, the very religion that these people devoted their entire lives too... Oddly enough, it was nearly the very same religion that had once possessed the greatest amount of followers back in the modern period of modernity where Novus lived in...


    While they called it ''Luminism'', which made it seem different compared to the likes of Christianity, it was apparent that the God they worshipped was the same God that Novus held a strong faith for back then: he could easily tell from what he had just seen, as he had once been a devout catholic in his previous life.


    From the massive, wooden cross near the altar at the far end of the room, to the symbols of familiar saints and angels that had whatever remained of their long-forgotten identities etched onto the chapel''s cathedral windows...


    There was no way Novus could mistake the similarities between these 2 beliefs that seemed completely different at a first glance: he had, by now, developed a strong belief that this ''Luminism'' was a faith that involved the same God, even though there were some slightly different practices that these luminists were doing in the current time period.


    "Tell me, oh great saviour..." the saintess would suddenly ask, her voice echoing a bit loudly throughout the chapel''s interior as she spoke. "... Do you believe that God... Or perhaps... A god, exists?"


    Of course he did, Novus answered internally. How else could existence have come into existence? He had a firm belief that both nature and the concept of life had only managed to thrive due to the guidance of some higher power, and the world would never have existed if there were some slight deviations within the phsyical realm of the world: for instance, if the very atoms of this world had come into existence through positrons and anti-protons instead of the 3 subatomic particles that served as the world''s current building blocks, then would life have even managed to form in the first place?


    "Indeed I do..." he answered back in a sufficiently humble voice. "... Why do you ask, though?"


    "Well... You''ll find out eventually, oh great saviour..."


    "What do you mean?" he asked curiously. "Is there something that''s going to..."


    ...


    ...


    It was a uniquely baffling sight that Novus could instantly feel and see: his surroundings came to a grinding halt and ceased to move for even an inch, as if time had been stopped for everything and everyone else but him.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    "... What is even happening right now..."


    What just happened to this place? Was it the saintess who caused this? And, of all the times and places it could''ve occurred in, why was it occurring right now?


    Many questions formed within his mind, as the entirety of the world before him stopped functioning normally for a moment. Was it the end? Was he about to die from some unforeseen attack? Or was he perhaps hallucinating in a sort of awake-yet-lucid state?


    ... And then, an ethereal voice came along and finally decided to break the silence...


    "Do you remember me, Novus Sturne?"


    It was a booming voice that spoke not through words, but directly into his line of thought- it possessed the loudness of thunder when it spoke to him, but at the same time, its tone was as calm as a light, gentle breeze. Almost immediately, Novus felt as if he was familiar with a voice like this, as if he already knew who it really was... Could it be?


    "... Who are you? And what do you want with me?"


    "... I am the God worshipped by Abraham, Isaac, Jacob... and all those who came from their bloodline..." it answered gently. "... Do you not recall when you begged my presence for guidance and forgiveness through song and prayer? Do you not remember when I gave you the strength and deliverance needed to persevere through the toils and challenges of life? "


    His mouth immediately ran agape as Novus continued to listen... It couldn''t be... Was he truly...?


    "... T-then... You''re... Are you...?"


    A bright, yet elegant light then began to manifest from seemingly every angle and direction- despite its intense luminosity however, its radiance was neither blinding nor painful to the eyes at all: simultaneously, Novus would also fall to his knees as he remained in complete and utter awe and fascination for the magnificent presence before his very eyes.


    " I am that I am..." it uttered with a great, yet soft loudness. "And I have been watching you, Novus... From the day you were first conceived... To the very ''rebirth'' that allowed you to momentarily transcend death itself..."


    "... As well as all those experiences that led you to this very moment... I have seen them all, Novus Sturne, and I must say... I find myself a bit impressed..."


    "... R-really now..." he stuttered, unable to believe that He himself had somehow become impressed with him. "Anyway... Do you mind answering a question of mine..."


    The voice didn''t respond, as if it was allowing him to pose his query. Of course, Novus immediately began to ask his question without a moment''s hesitation.


    "... Why did you let the war happen? Why did you let billions of people die and do nothing?"


    "I have given my finest creations the gift of freedom and free will, but many of you have forgotten that with great power always comes with equally heavy responsibilities..." this time, there was a heavy disappointment in his words as he spoke.


    And he quickly became confused: Novus couldn''t understand what most words truly meant: what did free will have to do anything with a war that wasn''t initiated by humanity against itself?


    "... What do you mean?" Novus asked curiously.


    "... There were people who tried to pry into the prison I made to contain the monstrosities that constantly desire to eradicate you all." the voice explained. "Their success is what allowed those... ''dragons'' and ''elves''... Or so you call them.. Into the lands, skies and seas of your world..."


    That was a shocking revelation that made his eyes widen a bit: so the otherworlders hadn''t come to their world all of sudden, but rather... It was a group of some unknown people who had allowed them to seep their filthy existences into reality...


    Novus wouldn''t have much time to think too much about this, as the environment surrounding him would then suddenly begin to change its appearance: everything twisted, spiralled, and faded in and out of existence in an organized manner. After only a few seconds, a new collection of sceneries met Novus'' eyes with their terrifying appearances, which quickly made him fall into a great bewilderment.


    Surrounding him was a hellish landscape of fire and brimstone, one that housed countless human souls that remained trapped in its ever-burning lakes of fire, all of whom were closely guarded by merciless, sharp-eared figures, while numerous, familiar, winged creatures of thick scales soared in the skies with their unchallenged dominance over everything in this inhospitable domain.


    The dragons: they were the exact same creatures who had unleashed death and destruction upon the earth hundreds of years ago during the Great War... On the other hand, there were also the elves, who, like always, were the compliant minions who would always obey the cruel orders given to them by their draconian overlords... It would seem that their existences had a lot more depth into them than what Novus initially thought.


    "The great evils I sealed long ago began to slowly leak their putrid existences out of their horrid prison... and they will all eventually be unleashed with their untold numbers into the world..." the voice narrated softly. "... Which is why you are currently here before my presence... I only require one thing from you, Novus Sturne..."


    "... Why did you allow these evils to exist in the first place?"


    Once again, the voice wouldn''t even be bothered by his questions, as it instead found them to be somewhat entertaining to answer.


    "The act of creation is not as simple as that: good cannot exist without evil, similar to how men cannot exist without women... How life cannot exist without death, and how creation itself cannot exist without the concept of destruction..." he explained with an incredible patience. "My Great Plan shall allow the lives of men to transcend this worldly law, and I shall deliver all of humanity into a state of peace and tranquility that will last forever..."


    A new landscape began to form as Novus'' surroundings quickly changed in appearance. The brutal, hellish sceneries that once surrounded him had now become a divine paradise that was full of light and beauty: it was the very concept of heaven made manifest, a beautiful realm where suffering and pain were completely nonexistent.


    "... The end of the old, chaotic world has come, and it is time to restore creation to my original vision... To fulfill the prophecy of my holy scriptures..." the voice stated. "I shall bring those who believe in me into a new world without the toils of pain and suffering... And I shall finally erase the concept of evil from existence for good..."


    "Which now brings me to explain the very reason why you are here..." the voice quickly shifted the topic into that of a serious one. "You are a man of war, Novus Sturne, a warrior deeply experienced in the horrors of warfare and bloodshed, while at the same time, you are also a man of faith and good heart, and these qualities are what make you the most suitable individual for the role I require you to fulfill..."


    "... What is this role you want me to do?"


    The voice would then begin to explain once more. "Become my prophet, Novus Sturne. Continue your goal of world conquest, but from this point on, do it in My name." He stated utterly. "Do not stop with merely conquering this continent: go forth and spread the glory of my name to every corner of the earth, until every living soul knows of the wonders of my existence once again, so that all may be saved before the end that is about to come...."


    "Most importantly however..."


    "... Most importantly?"


    "Eradicate this ''magick'' that currently plagues the earth with its infestive malice..." a faint, noticeable anger would arise within the voice''s tone. "It is not something that belongs to this world, and its warped nature corrupts the very souls of those it has tainted..."


    For the last time, the environment would change into a realm of illusory that would instead show him several imageries at once, like a film that was swiftly being played in his mind for him to be able to understand quickly: almost immediately, its effects would quickly become observable within Novus'' mind, as the landscape finally returned to the massive cathedral room he was originally in.


    Novus had finally obtained the truth about that horrid force after the revelation thata had been given to him: magick... Or so did the current, primitive humans of this era call such a disgusting, unnatural force of chaos- it was the mark of the beast... A seal made by the very concept of evil that had leaked out from its prison ever since the barrier between reality and the netherworld had been shattered by those fools that He mentioned previously...


    It was also a damning force that corrupted human souls, as those who perished with magick still present in their bodies would immediately have their souls dragged into the depths of the underworld by the very same beings who leaked its filth into the world, never again being able to witness the concept of mercy for the rest of their infinitely-miserable lives.


    What was even more horrifying was the dark truth that came with the existence of the elves: they were humans who had utilized its power too much and had succumbed to the corrupting forces of the arcane after utilizing it for many years, leading to their souls to become forever damned as they would forever remain as the servants of those draconic beings...


    "Fear not though... I shall give you the means of achieving these tasks that I have given you..." the voice reassured. "I will bless you with the knowledge necessary to neutralize the existence of this revolting power... It will be an improvement to the device your companion made that can temporarily neutralize it within a limited radius..."


    "... May I know how much of an improvement it will be?" Novus questioned inquisitively. If it was a development provided to him by the Lord Himself, then obviously it would be an incredibly outstanding improvement, though of course, the reason why Novus had asked such a question was to know the degree of advancement it could bring.


    The voice would respond straight away and without a pause in his words.


    "Enough to permanently negate its arcane effects in a vastly larger radius..." the voice answered back. "... I also have one more blessing that I wish to bestow to you..."


    The saintess'' body, which was supposed to have remained frozen still due to the time stopping effects that had been applied, began to move and walk towards Novus'' direction, as if she hadn''t even been affected by it all in the first place. As she then arrived at nearly an arm''s reach to him, a blinding, white light would then begin enveloping her body, as a rapid transformation of her mortal vessel immediately went underway in the next few seconds that would pass by.


    "I shall give to you a fragment of one of my strongest warriors in order to fulfill your conquest of the world..." the voice proclaimed. "Her name is Apollyon, a sharded existence of my great servant who still dutifully guards the already-shattered barriers of the netherworld..."


    "Nevertheless though, the humble fragment before you possesses an untold amount of power. Use her well, and see to it that you obtain many victories with her assistance..."


    Saintess Adelaide''s body had transfigured into that of a silver-haired angel with grey-iris eyes, as a faint, white halo of pure light hovered above her head: her skin was fair and incredibly smooth, and her wings were made of pure metal unlike most other angels, as she also wore a sleek, elegant battle armor that enveloped most of her well-proportioned body.


    "... W-woah..."


    As Novus couldn''t help but stare at the magnificent sight that had just taken form in front of him, the angel then spoke to him with an incredible warmth, as a gentle smile formed on her face while her eyes fixed themselves upon Novus'' figure.


    "... It has been a long time since we last met, my friend..."

 Part 5 - Prologue

    Pain.... All she felt was pain coursing throughout her skin and bones, as her broken body couldn''t help but writhe in both the physical and mental agony she had constantly been put under for so many years already.


    While the magick spells engraved onto her skin kept the hunger and thirst at bay and made her terrible life a bit easier to endure, a life of slavery would quickly prove to be a more terrible fate than being executed through hanging or being burned alive: after the 1st prince had been done with torturing and rendering her into nothing more than a defenseless, broken plaything, Altair was given away as mentioned to one of the prince''s important affiliates- an imperial high mage who mostly conducted his works in one of the several bases that the Empire built in the Holy Kingdom''s lands.


    As expected though, Altair would be treated as nothing more than a lab-rat for the sick mage''s experiments: her bruised and battered body was constantly experimented on by the sadistic imperial mage who methodically sought to improve his self-enhancements spells, and whether or not his poor test subject was able to endure it all and keep a steady state of mind really didn''t matter to such a crazed madman.


    After being brought to that very place, Altair quickly began regretting everything she had ever lived through, and was, by now, practically begging for a death, or perhaps, a saving grace that she ultimately knew would never come.


    Her entire life... Ever since she was a child, the only things she had been taught to do were to fight and remain loyal to the very clan she once served with a zealous devotion- she fulfilled her duties well and without question, and she''d even managed to perform several notable accomplishments that she did for the glory of those she once served...


    In the end however, Altair had been thrown away and set up in a suicide mission by the very people she worked for: amidst her mission of assassinating the leader of the Neugomian forces that were invading their very lands, the poor assassin was secretly poisoned by the comrades she trusted and worked with for years.


    TAP... TAP... TAP... TAP...


    From outside the cold, filthy cell that kept her contained, the pitiful assassin could hear footsteps whose sounds gradually became louder as the figure that was making these noises slowly walked towards her prison. Almost immediately, her body began shivering in fear and dread, as the memories of the painful experiments came back to haunt her mind and instill a deep sense of despair in her heart.


    It had been weeks since that sadistic mage last visited and tortured her in this very cell with his vicious, experimental magick spells, and within those days of peace, Altair was constantly in a state of mind-numbing panic due to the tormenting manners of ''research'' that were often conducted on her broken body.


    "... N-No more... P-please... Have mercy..."


    Those were the words that escaped her stuttering mouth, as she simply remained there on the floor while the chains attached to her remaining limbs firmly held her in place. Alas, she knew that begging would be pointless, and no matter what she did, the outcome of that bastard''s visits would always be the same no matter what she did: she would always be tortured to the brink of death, only to be left barely alive so that the sadistic mage could conduct more of his twisted trials.


    CREAAKKKK....


    As the iron door''s hinges gave way and allowed the approaching figure to enter, what would arrive in her cell wasn''t the same old torment that would come to bring agony unto her existence once more, but rather, it was a saving miracle that would give her the chance to live the life she wanted again...


    Before Altair could fully see just who exactly had entered her cell however, the mental stress of anticipating the assumed great torture she was about to undergo once more, had quickly made her faint and lose consciousness...


    ...


    ...


    "Hey... Hey~ wake up~ I took the time to heal you, so you should pay me back by waking up at least, right?"


    As Altair''s weary eyes slowly opened themselves, she immediately found herself in the same old cell where she''d always been for so many months already: this time though, a strange, unfamiliar voice had woken her up after she fainted from the terrible stress that made her shiver in panic earlier.


    "Ah, there you are~" the figure in front of her stated. "Your body was so broken by the way... It took me 30 or so minutes to heal every single one of your injuries, so you better be thankful for what I just did~"


    "... W-what... Why am I..."


    As she looked at the strange woman in front of her, Altair couldn''t help but feel confused as to who the new individual truly was before her: it definitely wasn''t the old mage who had been tormenting her for countless months, as the figure before her was a pink-haired lady adorned in what seemed to be an odd, white outfit, as her pink-iris eyes stared back at her with a strangely gentle gaze.


    Most importantly, however, Altair quickly discovered that the aching, nerve-wracking bodily injuries that once gnawed away at her to no end were no longer present and constantly plaguing her skin- she looked at her arms as well as the rest of her body, and to the assassin''s surprise, all of her the terrible injuries had disappeared without a trace.


    "... Were you the one who did this...? What do you want from... Me?" Altair stuttered, still thinking that this was some sort of prelude to a sick experiment that was about to occur. "... A-are you here to... Do those experiments he usually does..."


    The woman stared at her with a look of sympathy. "... Ah... The one who kept you here... He really did hurt you to that extent, hm?" she spoke quite softly. "Well, don''t worry, he''s in another place right now you see, and he''ll never be able to torment you again~ I promise~"


    He was... Gone? What did she mean when she said that? Did this mysterious woman in front of her deal with him perhaps? No... That couldn''t be... That man was an imperial high mage, and even if she did manage to eliminate such a powerful figure, she''d then quickly get pulled into greater trouble by the imperial soldiers that were stationed here.


    "You find it hard to believe...? Well, it''s perfectly understandable of course~ But you see..." the woman spoke. "... Well, basically, we''ve eliminated all of the imperials in this country, and now this nation technically belongs to us. Fascinatingly enough though, the people gladly let us in when we went to their gates~"


    They eliminated all of the imperials here? And what did she mean when she said ''they''? A million questions would rise within her thoughts in an instant, though unfortunately, the limitations of her own body would only allow her to ask one question at a time.


    "... Eliminated...?" Altair asked weakly. "... How did you even do such a..."


    "Well, you''ll find out eventually..." she answered rather quickly . "Although... I think you''re curious about the reason as to why I came here and healed you, right?"


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    Altair immediately gave a silent nod, confirming the woman''s question without a single word coming out of her closed mouth. These people, the assassin wondered to herself... If what she said about the annihilation of the imperials was true, then what exactly did she want from him when she came to her cell and practically saved her from her doomed life of slavery?


    "... Before that though, I have a question that I''d like you to answer~" she continued briefly. "Am I correct when I say that you''re that woman who led that small clan against several, entire Neugomian forces... And won despite being heavily outnumbered?"


    Ah, so that was the reason- these people were most likely looking for some strong people to recruit perhaps. Well, refuting her question and lying to her would most likely only get her into trouble, and Altair would respond honestly because of this.


    "... Indeed I am..." Altair replied. "... Why are you asking me about this?"


    A small, yet noticeable grin would then emerge on the pink-haired woman''s face.


    "The one who leads us wants to form an army, a vast collection of forces that will allow him to achieve the one goal he''s been dreaming of for a long time..."


    "... And that dream is?" Altair asked curiously.


    "To conquer the world~" the woman responded. "And as for why I''ve come here and healed you..."


    "Our leader wants someone who''s a magnificent expert at fielding and leading entire armies. Not only that however, but he also wants an incredibly effective warrior who can lead and train his men to make them as strong as him..." the pink-haired woman began to explain. "And after we dug a bit into your past, you''re practically the best candidate for this position that we need to be fulfilled~"


    Altair''s assumptions were quickly proven to be true: this woman did indeed come here so that they could recruit her into their fold. A cascading, synapse of thoughts began to circulate within her mind, as she was currently beginning to decide whether she was going to consider what this woman was proposing.


    "..."


    "So, will you join us? Don''t worry, we''re not going to force you to accept, if that''s what you were about to ask~"


    It was true that this woman had saved her from the horrible fate of slavery and experimentation that would have most likely led to her death eventually. However, there was still a bit of suspicion within her mind as she carefully considered this woman''s proposal: if Altair did accept, would she simply be thrown away again after serving faithfully as a warrior once more? Would they actually make her as this sort of ''general'' who would lead their forces into battle, or was this simply a lie... A ruse that would lead to another tragedy for her the moment she accepted.


    In the end, however, the once-famed assassin would quickly arrive at a conclusion as she finally made and solidified her choice- she was going to take the risk and accept this woman''s proposal. After all, not only had she helped and saved him from this terrible life of torture that she constantly lived through, but also, by accepting the offer she was giving to her, Altair would finally be able to fulfill the simple dream she had ever since she had first formed her own independent thoughts...


    To live as a warrior, and to have a master, perhaps even several, to serve and live for, a liege who would genuinely care about her existence and would never try to throw her away... Like those slimy, snake-like bastards she once served before... "... I accept your proposal..." Altair responded firmly, finally making a decision she would ultimately never back down from ever again.


    "... Wonderful~ Come with me then, we''re going outside~ Let''s enjoy your newfound freedom for a moment while I explain a bit further about the plans we''ve made..."


    ________________________________________


    "... I still don''t understand..." a metallic, modulated voice spoke amidst its confusion. "... How am I able to... Speak... And why am I even inside this... Glass, in the first place?"


    The moment Aldyth woke up, she quickly discovered herself inside a glass pod that was filled to the brim with an unknown, water-like fluid, as a metallic device attached to a tube that led outside her massive container provided her with the air she needed to breathe. Surprisingly enough though, the strange liquid surrounding her body provided an incredibly soothing, gentle feeling, as the liquid''s touch managed to penetrate even through the white, elastic bodysuit that enveloped most of her fair skin.


    "Well... In simple terms, it reads the electrical signals in your brain, specifically the ones that process your thoughts and speech, and outputs them through the voice modulator attached to the mask you''re wearing." Novus, who was in front of her, standing as he looked at her in the eyes, would begin to explain."Why you''re there on the other hand... Well, the knock-out ''poison'' I used on you when we fought can practically knock out an entire city''s worth of people. The pod you''re in is filtering it out so you don''t actively poison people wherever you go afterwards."


    "Still though... That nano-poison could probably even make Anastasia sleep for a minute. The fact that you could somehow resist it for a moment... You''re really terrifying, you know that?"


    Alydth quickly gave a simulated sigh through the modulated speech device attached to her mask- she disliked it whenever someone called her with those words... ''monster'', ''terrifying''... It made her feel as if she wasn''t truly human at all, a feeling that, while she had already somewhat grown used to it, would always give her that sense of sadness whenever she heard these phrases describing her.


    Nevertheless though, there was a greater concern that rang through her mind right now: she was still feeling a bit guilty for having nearly killed her own brother that time, even though she had no way of knowing that it was actually him in the first place.


    "... Anyway... How''s your... Arm?" she spoke again, hesitating a bit as she made her question. "... You said it''s healed, but... Does it still feel painful?"


    He''d then flex the left arm he had lost earlier, raising it up and showing the new, arm of flesh that had been restored after only a few hours.


    "Don''t worry, like I said, I have the means to easily patch up things like this."


    "... I see..." Aldyth uttered, as her concern would lift a bit in relief, though it would still remain there nonetheless due to her guilt. "... By the way... About that thing you mentioned earlier..."


    "... Are you still planning to do that... ''conquer the world'' thing?"


    They had been talking for a while previously, as Novus explained to her how everything came to be when he was sent into an exile and never managed to see her again until now- he narrated of how he nearly got killed by those knights, how he''d been adopted by that strange, yet loving woman who ultimately cared for him as her son, as well as the other experiences that led him to the present moment he was in right now: of course, Aldyth would listen to them with an unfaltering attention, as she remained ever-curious about how her little brother somehow ended up as one of the enemies she had to fight and nearly even managed to kill.


    However, as she listened and took note of the experiences that her little brother underwent after all those years... What she found to be most bizarre and unbelievable was how he had even developed the desire to ''conquer the world'' in the first place. To her, it was completely out of character when compared to the little brother she had once known.


    "... Yeah, I am. Are you going to try to dissuade me again?"


    Aldyth quickly gave a repetitive series of nods. "Yeah, I am... Although, the reason I''m doing this isn''t because I think it''s impossible or anything.. But rather..."


    "... Rather what?"


    "... I just don''t want to see you getting hurt... Or lost, for good this time... Do you get what I mean?"


    She had a point there that Novus couldn''t refute- in her point of view, she had finally managed to see her brother again after what seemed to be 10 or so years, and if he would actually choose to continue pursuing the foolish goal he had long sought out to achieve, then he would only end up getting hurt in the process... And perhaps it would end up in a way that she''ll never be able to see her again...


    "I get what you''re saying, but... I''ve reached the point of no return by this point, so... Sorry..." he replied, knowing that her intentions weren''t to refute what he wanted, but to only make sure that he was safe in the end.


    "... There''s really no way to convince you, is there?" Aldyth asked again with that ever-concerned tone of voice.


    "Yep."


    "... Even if I were to knock some sense into your head through brute force?"


    "... Yep."


    "... Even if I decide to come out of here right now and force you to reconsider?" Alydth sighed once more as she placed her index finger on the glass surface, giving it a small, yet powerful tap that instantly made it vibrate with an ample force. "Would you really still continue with that ambition of yours if I did that, hm?"


    "... Y-yeah, pretty much."


    As a frown formed on Aldyth''s face, she couldn''t help but feel disappointed with how obstinate her brother was being, as she would then sigh once again, this time even more deeply- she had to admit, he was stubborn, too stubborn in fact, and every attempt she made to discourage that tall, difficult ambition of his was only making it more impossible for her to convince him.


    "... Fine, if that''s how dedicated you are to this stupid ''dream'' of yours..." Aldyth would finally give up, as she''d then propose another idea to him so she could ultimately make sure that he was safe- she didn''t want to lose him again, after all. "... However... Just give me one thing I want in return, and I won''t bother you about this anymore."


    "Hm, go ahead then, what''s this ''thing'' that you want me to give you?"


    Without hesitation, the princess would state her answer in an incredibly quick response.


    "Let me join you." Aldyth said in a serious tone. "I don''t care what role you give me. If you really want to achieve that dream of yours, then you''re going to need my help."


    Surprise... Disbelief... Those were the emotions that instantly surfaced within Novus'' line of thought. Did he actually hear her correctly when she said that? Was she joking, or was she actually serious with what she just said?


    "... Are you actually serious? Aren''t you supposed to be the princess of the Empire? By helping me, you''ll technically be betraying them."


    "You matter more to me than them."


    "... Doesn''t this bother you at all? What you''re doing is practically treason.. And I''m also planning to go against the Empire in the future, just you know."


    "I don''t care about the empire and its excessive vainglory. Aldyth stated bluntly. "They all see me as a tool whose only purpose is to fight... You''re the only one who cared about me ever since we were children, so I''ll do you the favour of helping you no matter what... Even if you have an incredibly foolish idea in mind..."


    Almost immediately, Novus'' eyebrows would raise themselves a bit, while his eyes would widen in response: his supposed sister really did care about him so much... It was almost a luxury to have a sibling who genuinely cared about him in their cold, uncaring, family of royal blood. In fact, it was such a wholesome, and heartwarming display of love, that it even made Novus smile a bit for a bit... This was a kind of moment that he never had in his previous life with his own family after all... Eventually though, his small, yet noticeable grin would gradually fade, as a serious expression then formed on his face.


    "... Alright, fine... I''ll give you what you want." Novus relented: in any case, the proposal she was making was already quite advantageous to him. "I already have a plan in mind anyway, and I was thinking of bringing you along with it."


    "Hmph. What''s this new plan you''re making then?"


    A smile suddenly formed on Novus'' face as he replied- the plan he made was exciting, at least for him, and the fact that this monstrosity that was his older sister was fully willing to join him made him quite jovial about the wonderful opportunity that had presented itself before him.


    "We''re going to end this as quickly as possible." Novus answered. "And by end, I mean the existence of the empire itself..."

 Part 5 - Chapter 1

    It was a day unlike any other that came before it- the incompetent, puppet of a king had been overthrown, as both men and women alike were busy as roamed throughout the streets of the kingdom, with many of the citizens still engaged in their jovial festivities that they held in celebration for their newly-acquired freedom from their subjugators.


    Life had drastically improved when their liberator had come and freed them from the shackles of their vassalage: the harsh taxes and tributes that were constantly being imposed upon them by the empire no longer caused any sort of city-wide famines and poverty, and the very streets of Polonia were finally safe to roam in without the constant threat of being assaulted by imperial soldiers for the very first time in a hundred years..


    No longer were the Neugomians there to oppress them in the land they had owned, and no longer did they have to suffer the lamentations of having their women and children taken away from them by the sadistic whims of their now banished conquerors. They could now enjoy a life without the constant dread of being oppressed and looked down upon, a life that Polonia''s citizens immediately began indulging themselves with to the fullest.


    So wonderful was the arrival of their liberators, that the people had instantly chosen to give the vacant throne of the kingdom to him instead, which their saviour didn''t even hesitate to accept in the slightest.


    While all of these were certainly momentous experiences for the likes of Malfor, what was even more interesting to him however, was the very nature of their liberator, and how he had treated the kingdom ever since his first arrival into their very gates.


    He called himself by the name of ''Novus'', and when he first made his initial steps into their homeland, he demanded no tithes nor gifts for the grace he had just bestowed upon them- instead, he humbly asked them to assist him and his armies with his goal of conquering the other nations, and in exchange, he would lead them as his people and would never again allow them to be oppressed by other nations ever again.


    Of course, not even Malfor could find himself able to refute such a thing- their liberator had a desire to improve their nation, and as a dedicated soldier of his country, what better option would there be for him but to help him? There was also the fact that even the saintess had proclaimed her support for their saviour''s cause, and as a result, even Malfor had no choice but to wholeheartedly support that man''s ambition.


    "Sir Malfor, how was the training?"


    "... Difficult, Casimir... Very difficult..."


    Malfor sat on one of the seats in the massive training hall they were in while his close subordinate, Casimir Agnieszka, seated himself beside him. It was a tiring day, he thought silently as he sighed in exhaustion: the brutal training that they''d just recently finished quickly made his muscles sore and ache with a dull pain that slightly bothered his senses.


    The re-training procedures that the templar knights had to go through in order to earn their place in their saviour''s cause was incredibly difficult- a blonde-haired woman named Altair, a talented swordswoman who was completely magickless like them, had been assigned to lead and train their ranks in preparation for the myriad of plans that their liberator had in store for the future.


    ... Alas, however, this ''Altair'' proved to be incredibly harsh with the lessons and instructions she gave to them amidst their training: using only a flimsy wooden sword, that small, lean-figure of hers easily allowed her to leave dents and tears upon even the toughest of plates they wore during training, which thus easily proved her strength, and, as much as the knights didn''t want to admit it, they had quickly learned to respect the power that their temporarily assigned instructor possessed.


    "Well, at least we managed to pass one of her tests this time.." Casimir asked amidst his self-doubt. "I mean, we couldn''t even fight her for 10 seconds in our first days, even though we tried teaming up on on her a lot back then. I mean... We managed to fight her for 2 whole minutes this time, shouldn''t that be a cause for celebration instead?"


    "I guess you''re right... Who could have known that we were that lacking when it came to technique and coordination... I''m surprised that we actually learned something from her beati-... I mean trainings..."


    By now, 2 entire months had passed since their training began, and a vast improvement to their strength, skill and teamwork had already been made, which thus made them massively better and more capable in combat as a result.


    However, even despite all the improvements they''ve made and the vast flaws that they''ve managed to solve, the knights were still hopelessly outmatched when it came to the power that Altair possessed, and it would take a while before even one of them would be able to duel with her successfully.


    Suddenly, though, a different, unfamiliar individual would appear within the vast space of the training hall, as she would then perform something incredibly unexpected...


    "Who the hell is this woman?"


    "Oh, would you be quiet for a while Casimir? I bet this is going to be fun..."


    ...


    ...


    It was a feminine, yet intimidating figure that entered the massive chamber they were all in- a woman with long, red hair and an iron, human-face shaped mask that covered most of her face and concealed her true identity, as a black, sleek suit of unnatural armor enveloped most of her body and protected it from harm. A long, black staff was her weapon, which she tightly held using her right hand, as the iron-masked warrior then walked towards Altair and made a light bow.


    "Ah, welcome. You may begin when you are ready. I shall let you strike first for today."


    "..."


    A minute hadn''t even passed yet after she entered, and yet the strange woman wasted no time at all and instantly challenged their mad, blonde-haired instructor to a duel: it was most likely the reason why she had come to this place in the first place.


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    The 2 immediately unleashed a rapid, flurry of precise strikes against each other, with their movements appearing as imperceptible blurs to the resting, spectating knights who could not believe what they were seeing- who even was this masked, red-haired woman, and how was she managing to fight that blonde-haired monster at such an equal level?


    In truth, however, what the knights couldn''t perceive due to the extreme speeds they were at while they were fighting each other, was that there was an incredible difference in the way that the the 2 warriors fought as they clashed against each other.


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    "!!!"


    "You are focusing too much on your strength. Please use more finesse with your strikes."


    When it came to raw power, the masked-warrior definitely exceeded that of Altair''s, who was somewhat weaker in that respect compared to the opponent she was facing- the strength of the attacks she unleashed using her staff were notably more powerful, as the staff would constantly produce terrible gusts of wind with every swerve and strike it made.


    However, strength alone wasn''t the sole factor that would allow either of them to secure victory for themselves.


    "..."


    "... You''ve improved. You still need to focus more on implementing techniques however, since you rely too much on utilizing your physical strength."


    A long and grueling 5 minutes would pass by before the short-lived duel would finally come to an end: Altair inevitably managed to secure victory, and the way she had won was not all too difficult to understand if one were to look deeply into how they fought within that small span of time.


    In short, the blonde-haired warrior had more technique in her attacks when compared to the blows that the iron-masked warrior threw against her: using efficient movements from the dull blade she held with one of her hands, Altair easily parried the physically monstrous blows that approached her by redirecting them in a precise manner that would allow her several opportunities of counterattacking, and because of this, she would ultimately be the one who would win in their duel by driving away one of the staff''s crudely-unleashed blows and eventually managing a near-hit to her opponent''s neck using the dull edge of her wooden sword.


    "Now then... I believe we''re done here. Rejoice, for the efforts you''ve all made for the past 2 months haven''t gone to waste." Altair uttered loudly as she faced towards the knights who were still resting, immediately causing them all to rise from their seats despite being tired still from their training with her. "You''re all ready now, since most of you already possess the necessary skills to move to the final phase. Proceed to the 2nd room in the hallway to your left... Miss Thurien has already finished with constructing the new armour you''ll be using in future deployments."


    Finally, they all screamed internally with joy. While the new sets of armor they were about to receive was something they had also been looking forward to, the main reason why they had chosen to stick through with the training was so that they could end finish it without problems; fortunately for them though, that time had finally come for them today.


    "Thank you for your training, instructor." they eagerly responded in unison.


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    "Yes, yes, now go away, all of you. I don''t want to see any of you still here by the count of ten." Altair uttered sternly, as the knights then began quickly leaving the room in a hurrying, yet organized manner of exiting. "1... 2... 3... 4... Ah, they''re all gone now... I''ve really trained them well..."


    A light feeling would form in her heart as she appreciated the efforts she made for a moment- she had molded those knights into better warriors quite well, and not only that however, but she had also managed to find good people to serve after being freed from that horrid prison she was once stuck in.


    She was grateful for the sudden miracle that had come to her: indeed, this kind of life was the one she wanted to live. To live the life of a warrior, and to perhaps even mold others into becoming as strong as her, as well as to serve a liege that wouldn''t regard her existence as merely that of a tool. She had finally achieved all these things after those 10 or so years of being tormented in that dungeon, and she couldn''t help but be happy for miracles that had suddenly occurred in her life.


    However, there were still some things she had to do, and the sense of duty within her heart immediately flickered to life as she quickly realized this...


    Altair would then walk towards the masked woman and kneel before the masked figure she just fought against, as she then bowed her head deeply with an incredible manner of reverence.


    "While you appear to be a bit lacking in it still, you''ve definitely made significant improvements with your technique... My liege..."


    "Well... You were a good teacher after all." the masked woman stated with an metallic, unnatural voice. "I''m surprised my brother has someone who''s as talented as you... Then again, he''s quite the good leader-type himself anyway."


    The iron-masked figure then took off the mask that concealed her face, undoing the small, black strap that held it in place as she slowly pulled it away from her head, finally allowing her to breath more of the air that abundantly surrounded her- as expected however, the masked woman''s true identity was that of Aldyth, the now-former warrior princess of the empire, who had now chosen to take the side of her little brother; an act of treason of the highest order that would instantly sentence her to the most brutal executions by imperial judiciaries.


    On the other hand though, the reason why Aldyth chose to wear the iron-mask was incredibly simple- the knights under Altair''s tutelage were all citizens of Polonia, and Aldyth didn''t want to risk causing any form of enmity or confusion to rise within the hearts of these men by revealing her face in front of them. They were going to be her subordinates in the future after all, and a general who is hated by his own men would never be able to bring their forces to victory.


    The only problem she had with wearing such a bothersome disguise was that it somewhat limited the air she could breathe, which was why Aldyth preferred not to wear it when there weren''t any unfamiliar people around her.


    "... Oh, right, I nearly forgot..." Aldyth uttered with that odd, inhumanly metallic voice she''d already used previously. "About that meeting he mentioned... What time will it be happening again?"


    "About 2 hours after the current time, my liege..."


    "I see... We better prepare for it then, shall we? I heard there''s going to many of us in that assembly..." Aldyth replied. "... And also... Would you please stop referring to me as ''My Liege''? We''re supposed to be close with each other by this point... You should just drop the honorifics, alright?"


    Altair quickly protested, though she would still maintain the reverence she held for Aldyth in the tone of her voice. "... But... How else should I refer to you? I am simply unable to just casually call you by your name..."


    "... Fine, just... Don''t call me that when there are too many people around, okay? They''ll probably find out about my identity..."


    "... Of course... My liege..."


    "... It still feels a bit uncomfortable whenever I hear it, but..." Aldyth muttered a bit. "... I guess I''ll just have to get used to it..."


    ________________________________________


    The entire room seemed to be just as spacious as the training room: voices would echo whenever one would speak, as a long, black table with multiple, occupied chairs remained at the center of the chamber''s space.


    To one of the furthest edges of the table, Novus had already seated himself quite comfortably on his chair, while the rest of them would continue to wait for the other important figures to arrive in this assembly of theirs.


    "H-hey! Why is she seated next to me?! N-Novus, do something about this, p-please! I don''t want to get nearly-killed again!"


    "..."


    Not all of them were content with their seating arrangements however, as Thurien had unfortunately been positioned at a chair that was beside the very same individual who had nearly killed her all those months ago- of course, it was Aldyth, who remained silent even though she too felt at odds with the pink-haired medicae.


    "Oh, would you be quiet? You''re both allies now, so stop panicking." Novus responded quite callously. "Besides, she''s not going to hurt you or anything. Well, unless you keep on yapping and complaining... Right, Aldyth?"


    Aldyth gave a light sigh as she nodded in response. In truth, she only wanted to be done with this meeting as soon as possible, and she didn''t really have that much of a problem with the one seated next to her, as long as she didn''t prove to be too much of a bother.


    Seeing the response of the cold princess beside her, Thurien would remain speechless for a while, as she couldn''t believe that Novus wouldn''t even help her with such an important matter- ultimately though, the medicae would quickly give up in her protests, as she eventually saw that there was no longer any point in doing them.


    ".... F-fine... I-I''ll stop complaining, if that''s what you 2 want..."


    "Good. Anyway... Where even is Whitlea? She''s usually not this late when it comes to stuff like these."


    Speranza, who was seated close to him, quickly gave a response.


    "She is... Well, according to Whitlea, my creator, she said her head hurts. The last time I checked up on her, she looked particularly in pain, and I did what I could to temporarily alleviate it." she explained. "Please understand her situation, as she''s currently not feeling well. If she doesn''t arrive today, I will brief her about what happened in this meeting afterwards instead."


    "... I see..." Novus responded- Whitlea was in pain? Well, that was strange, as she was usually quite resistant to the likes of something like that. Perhaps it was due to the overuse of her powers?


    "Don''t worry, even if she doesn''t come today, it''s alright as long as you tell her what happened here. Tell her to get well soon after this."


    In any case, it was alright if she wouldn''t be able to arrive right now, as Novus could understand that the excuse she made was reasonable in the first place.


    "Thank you for your thoughtful consideration, my creator." Speranza humbly thanked with a smile: she had always appreciated how much this man cared about her and her elder sister, and until now he still truly did.


    "Of course. Anyway, since Whitlea is the only one left who''s missing, and since she also might not be able to arrive today, let''s begin the meeting now, shall we?"


    To most of their surprises, a series of holographic lights would emerge on top of the flat, disc-shaped device at the center of the table, revealing a large, detailed map of not only the continent, but various other land masses that many of them were unfamiliar with.


    "First thing''s first..." Novus started. "While we did well in ''liberating'' this kingdom and making it join our cause, there are other problems that''ve already risen..."


    The light display would then shift into that of a live video feed of a vast, marching army of soldiers adorned in pure steel, men who were marching in battle formations as they gradually approached the very location that Novus and his companions were all too familiar with.


    "In short, the Empire has already made its moves, and they''ve sent multiple forces in order to retake the kingdom."


    Excluding Aldyth, most of them would immediately become surprised upon hearing his words- they had moved that quick? It had only been 2 months since the kingdom was freed from their tight grip, yet how was the empire able to mobilize such massive numbers in such a short amount of time?


    "This time though, their numbers appear to be higher than the previous forces we''ve faced before." Novus stated. "Based on the intel from our recon drones, the forces they sent possess numbers that reach about 200,000..."


    "Aldyth, how many soldiers does the Empire have in total again?"


    The red-haired woman took no time to respond. "...1 million and above... As far as I know..."


    "So they sent a staggering 20% of their total forces... I guess they''re really keen on seizing Polonia back." Novus uttered, still somewhat astonished with how much effort the imperials were putting into this venture of theirs.


    "... Would it be correct for me to assume that you already have a plan in mind, my creator?"


    "Of course I do. I wouldn''t assemble all of you here if I didn''t have a plan in mind."


    The holographic display would shift its presentation once more, and this time it would shift to that of a massive stronghold surrounded by empty, uneven fields of grass.


    In truth however, the very fortress that was visible through the display was the same, western stronghold that Whitlea had previously demolished, and it had simply been rebuilt in preparation for the encroaching Neugomian forces that were slowly about to arrive.


    "Thanks to Thurien here, we''ve managed to make some decent preparations already. "However, there''s one more thing that I want to talk about."


    "... What is it then?" Alydth questioned.


    "... We''re going to be dividing ourselves into groups of 2... Maybe even 3. One will stay and handle the western fortifications, as well as the capital''s defense just in case..." Novus answered, though his next words would prove to be an incredibly baffling collection of phrases.


    "While the other half will come with me and strike at the Empire''s capital. We''re going to end this as quick as possible, so that we won''t have the Neugomians constantly breathing down our backs in the future."


    "..."


    "..."


    "... How are we going to do this, exactly?"


    "Whitlea, Aldyth and I will strike at the capital, along with the other new ally we have who currently can''t attend the meeting. We''ve already made a plan about this part, so none of you need to worry." he began to explain. "Meanwhile, Thurien will be in charge of manning the western fortifications, while Speranza will stand by and assist her in case anything goes south. Prevent their march at all costs, and don''t let them penetrate the defense perimeter. If you do, we''re going to have another serious problem at hand."


    "Now as for our new recruit.... Your name is ''Altair'', correct? The assassin from the Eastern Clan of the Southern Lands?" Novus asked as he looked at her from head to toe- this woman looked no different from what one would call ''normal'', and yet despite this, he could tell that a great strength and talent lied within her.


    "You trained the knights quite well. I was expecting that it''d take more than 4 months, but... It took you less than 2, and they''re already fully combat-capable. The re-training process greatly exceeded my expectations... Good job." Novus praised her for the efforts she''d done for the past months. "Unfortunately, your duty still hasn''t ended though, since I have one more task that I need you to do."


    Altair immediately stood up from her seat as she gave a deep bow. To her, the man who had directly spoken to her was the man behind the scenes of the miracles that saved her life, and while it was ultimately Thurien who rescued her from that damned prison cell, Altair still saw Novus as the true reason of her freedom- he was the only one who the powerful people in this room listened to without complaints after all, and the fact that he was instantly crowned with kingship the moment he first entered the kingdom spoke volumes about how effective his leadership truly was.


    "Thank you for your praise, my liege... Although, what is this ''last task'' that you want me to fulfill?"


    "You''ll be in charge of defending the capital in the unlikely scenario where the approaching Neugomian forces manage to come within the capital''s vicinity." he replied with a continued explanation. "We''ve had some... Past experiences with the Empire using teleportation magick to barge into places we don''t want them in..."


    "If that situation ever occurs... You''re allowed to take full command of the men you''ve trained." Novus continued. "Lead them in battle and let them gain a bit of practical combat experience if that unlikely scenario does occur."


    The assassin quickly gave another deep bow as she spoke once more. "I understand, my liege. I shall do my best if that possibility does indeed suddenly happen."


    "Good. Now as for the assignments and how each of you are going to be deployed..."


    ________________________________________


    It had been several hours already, and yet her head remained plagued with that throbbing sense of pain that felt as if her brain itself was becoming swollen- it was impossible in the first place, as her very existence was of a biomechanical origin, and that alone already made such forms of intolerable pain supposedly nonexistent to her body.


    As the poor woman lied down on her soft bed, false visions of some unknown time and place would repeatedly cloud her thoughts... A series of illusions where an untold amount of vast, bloody wars took place and made the conflicts of today appear as mere squabbling compared to its sheer power.


    A million deaths, perhaps even more, would sweep through this world in an undying wave of cold, indiscriminating fury, as the very earth she walked on would be shattered by forces that far surpassed the peak of her own strength.


    "... W-what is this... What am I seeing all of a sudden..." Whitlea muttered to herself quietly, unable to believe how terrifyingly surreal, yet exceedingly horrific her visions had become- were they real or perhaps just a figment of her imagination? Either way, she really couldn''t tell for certain.


    Suddenly, however, a voice would answer the questions she had meekly uttered, its tone whispering into her mind in an ethereal manner that her ears alone wouldn''t be able to detect.


    "This is what will happen in the future..." it  spoke telepathically to her in an eerily gentle tone. "... That is, if you allow it to happen..."


    "... H-huh...? W-who the hell... Are you?"


    The voice giggled a bit before it made its reply. "You and I... We are one and same... However..."


    "I am far more powerful than what you could ever hope to be~"


    A pitch black void instantly became what surrounded Whitlea from every direction, as an imposing, yet familiar figure would suddenly appear before her very eyes.


    "... Well, to make it simple for your feeble brain to understand..." the figure spoke to her in a somewhat haughty manner, as her expression would suddenly become incredibly cold and serious. "I am you.. But..."


    "I''m a version of you hailing from a different world where everything went wrong."


    The pale figure before her was of a black-haired woman with purple-iris eyes, with most of her appearance and features being incredibly similar to that of Whitlea''s own. The one thing that distinguished this replica of hers however, was that terrifying look of insanity on her mad pair of eyes...


    It made her look like she had seen countless horrors that passed through most of her life, while at the same time, it made Whitlea feel like she knew everything about her down to the very last detail.


    "... So basically... Y-you''re me?"


    "Precisely~ Good girl~" the other Whitlea praised. "Now if you don''t mind, I''ve been planning to do this for a while... I''ve always hated how weak and... Passive my past self was... I''m going to give you a little makeover~"


    Caution, and then fear, would form heavily in her mind... What exactly was this ''other her''  planning?


    "... What do you mean by a ''makeover''?"


    "Our belove-... Ahem, I mean, Novus... Is going to get gravely injured in the last parts of the plan he made..." the other Whitlea elucidated. "I don''t want that to happen, so right now, whether you like it or not..."


    "We''re going to merge with each other~ I get to exist in this world with you as the anchor that holds my powerful presence in place, and you receive access to my incredible powers in return..."


    Whitlea furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Merge? Power? Anchor? I can''t exactly make sense of what you''re saying..."


    "You don''t have to. Once we merge, you''ll instantly understand everything..." the other Whitlea interjected. "Now, please hold still, and don''t resist..."

 Part 5 - Chapter 2

    Several weeks ago in the Capital of the Empire, Vishnal...


    The imperial throne room was echoing with the sound of murmurs and voices- however, the sounds of pleading and begging had ultimately drowned out most of the noises, as the men who made these sounds were in a complete and utter sense of desperation to live despite the great offense to imperial honour that they had recently committed.


    The returning figures of the disgraced soldiers stationed in the Holy Kingdom had finally managed to return home: unfortunately however, their failure had soiled their names with such great shame, that instead of being met with pity and concern for the impossible scenario that swept through their forces, they were instead met with scorn and disgust by their fellow imperial countrymen.


    "You have failed the empire greatly. The only mercy you fools deserve is death."


    Alas, the Neugomian Empire rarely ever tolerated failures, especially ones that reached such severe magnitudes. The men before the emperor had not only failed to protect one of the many important vassals they had, but they had also lost the princess to the enemy forces that came and swept through their pathetic attempts of a defense.


    Had they at least managed to gain a bit of information about the new foes that have surfaced, then these men would still have had the chance to live another day...


    Unfortunately, the cost of their failures now far-outweighed the value of their miserable lives, which were now about to become forfeited.


    As the men were brought into the throne room in chains, the soldiers had been made to kneel before the cold, unmoving presence that currently led the empire in its quest for complete domination...


    "Y-your Majesty, p-please wait for a moment!" "W-we didn''t run away! We swear by the names of our families!" "We were completely and utterly defeated! H-how were we supposed to have done anything else?!


    Almost instantly, a powerful, stern voice would rebuke their protests with only a few short words- such was the authority that it held, that the chained, imperial soldiers found themselves unable to voice out their desperate protests any longer.


    "Silence, you worthless cowards. You have not only failed to uphold your duties, but you also dared to return after you fools lost the princess to the enemy..." the voice came from one of the knights that stood beside the emperor''s throne, a tone that possessed  the coldness of ice as it spoke." Do not dare to defy the judgement that His Majesty has given to all of you."


    Titus von Neugomia, the 32nd mad tyrant of the Neugomian Empire... In desperation, the men pleaded to him for a mercy that would never come, as 2 of the emperor''s knights slowly walked towards the chained soldiers as they began to slowly pull out their sheathed swords.


    "Now then... Off with their heads..."


    "Right away, Your Majesty."


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    A few milliseconds was all it took for their sword-movements to finish their tasks...


    In the blink of an eye, the 2 knights made fast, imperceptible movements with their blades, killing hundreds of the chained men in an instant as their heads swiftly departed from their necks- it was a brutal sight indeed though, as spurting fountains of ichor splattered throughout the air and floor as all of the men lost their lives in an instant.


    ...


    ...


    "The execution has been finished, Your Majesty." one of the 2 knights declared as he faced towards the emperor and made a deep bow. "You will no longer have to set your eyes upon these miserable wretches."


    "... Hmph. Call the servants to clean up the mess at once, the filth that these useless corpses left behind sickens me." the emperor replied. "Now, as for the important guests that came here all of a sudden..."


    A myriad of new voices, all of whom came from figures who had chosen to remain silent all the while, would suddenly respond to the mad tyrant''s words.


    "... While we appreciate that we may finally be able to talk about the dire topic we''ve been wanting to discuss with you... This room has been filthied a bit too much..." one of the figures spoke. "May you allow one of my mages to clean up this bloody mess,  Your Majesty?"


    "... Go ahead, the sooner it gets cleaner, the better."


    The figure made a light, humble how in gratitude. "Thank you, Your Grace. Anatoly, do what you must now please..."


    One of the robed figures behind him would then walk up front, raising her staff into the air as the blue crystal on its tip began glowing with a radiant glow. Without delay, the mess of gore and ichor began to dissipate into literal, fine mist, quickly erasing all the gut-wrenching, headless cadavers and the blood and gore that were left behind by the brutal execution that had just recently transpired.


    "... Wonderful. Now then... Arnus..." the emperor uttered, seemingly pleased with the outcome of the spell that was casted in front of him. "... Speak what you must. I assume that it is a matter of utmost importance, am I correct? Speak now before I lose my interest."


    "Ah, thank you, Your Majesty. Now then, to proceed with the important discussion..."


    The recent series of devastating events had already reached the ears of most imperial citizens, and it was safe to say that they weren''t the only people who were privy to this information- the Hand of Arslan, who had already failed in their previous, great venture to quell the western dragon, would now put in a greater effort to the newly formed danger that instantly threatened the continent''s peace the moment it occurred.


    The invasion on one of the Empire''s vassal-states, the Holy Kingdom of Polonia... It was one of the Empire''s few great wellsprings of resources and other important materials, and for them to lose such a great asset had instantly made a notable, negative impact on the war effort they were unleashing throughout Xathra''s lands.


    After the quick, near-complete annihilation of the army that was stationed there, it had quickly become apparent that the Neugomian Empire would have great difficulties in dealing with this recently-surfaced danger, and of course, due to the empire''s existence being a great factor to the Hand of Arslan''s ultimate goal, even its very leader couldn''t afford to remain idle and simply observe without taking action.


    "We heard that you sent 200,000 soldiers to reconquer the fallen-vassal state, is this true?"


    "Indeed it is." Titus confirmed with his ever-stern voice. "Do you wish to refute the decision I made?"


    "Of course not, Your Grace. The reason we''ve come here is not to refute your decision..." Arnus, the leader of the Hand of Arslan, would answer. "...But to assist the forces you sent with help from our very own..."


    The emperor''s eyes quickly narrowed out of a long-formed suspicion towards his steadfast allies: even if they were known to have always assisted the empire in its greatest times of need, there was still a sense of paranoia that he couldn''t shake off whenever they were around, as if they were always scheming for some other hidden mission that they kept hidden within their supposed intentions.


    "... Hmph. The more the merrier it is then, I suppose. I wonder though, why would you provide us assistance in this matter specifically?" Titus spoke. "Do you perhaps have some sort of goal in mind for this?"


    "... Well, there is one ulterior motive we have in mind..."


    "And that is?" the emperor questioned further.


    "... There is something dangerous that lurks in those lands of the vassal you had just lost..." Arnus forewarned, a caution that the emperor wouldn''t pay much attention to out of arrogance...


    After all, he had already sent so much of the Empire''s available manpower, and there was no way that those unknown invaders would be able to drive them away this time. If anything, the empire''s victory was more than certain, especially with that newly conceived, magecraft weapon they brought with them...


    Although, just to be sure, Titus of course wouldn''t refuse their assistance in the slightest- the more chances they had at repelling their newly-appeared enemies, the better the situation will become for the great, imperial goal...


    "... Hmph, I guess it''s fine for you to not say. Is the matter that important that you are unable to explain it right now?"


    Arnus bowed his head with his response. "Correct, Your Majesty. It is too important... So important, in fact..."


    "That I will be leading the available forces I brought with me into the thick of battle myself."


    Interesting, was all the emperor silently motioned in his mind: perhaps what Arnus was saying was true, and that the danger of the unknown enemy forces that had taken Polonia''s lands for themselves was truly a threatening adversary?


    Well, in any case, there was no reason for him to refuse their help in the first place.


    "Very well then, you are free to join the subjugation army that has set out to retake the Holy Kingdom." the emperor finally chose to fully cave in, but not without asking a question immediately afterwards. "Although... How many forces have you brought you for this venture, Arnus?"


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    "... Along with the finest, personal retinue of my own warrior-guard..." Arnus replied. "I have also brought with me the 10 of the highest ranking warriors among the Hundred Seats..."


    Almost immediately, the emperor''s eyes widened a bit in surprise, as the reputation of those 10 highest rankers in the Hundred Seats was quite the well-known topic to him- perhaps the danger Arnus mentioned previously was more severe than what he initially expected?


    "... Is it truly that bad?"


    "... I''m afraid so, Your Grace..."


    Titus then cleared his throat as he spoke. "... I see..." he uttered. "... I wish you the safest of journeys then. I shall assign some of my greatest translocation mages to facilitate your transportation. Do not worry however, as the soldiers have already been informed of the possibility of your arrival."


    "Thank you, your Grace." Arnus uttered as he bowed his head deeply in thanks. "I promise you, I shall not disappoint."


    ________________________________________


    Speranza''s previous assault on this area had taken quite a toll on both its weather patterns and its very ecosystem, so much so that the once lush grasslands had instantly turned into a desolate, snow-ridden was telling comparable to that of the arctic.


    Hails of ice fell down from the sky like a deadly rainstorm, as a thick layer of snow enveloped most of the ground that surrounded the restored stronghold.


    "Well, now that we''re alone, can I ask you a question, Speranza?"


    "Of course, Miss Thurien, please feel free to pose your query~"


    On the other hand, within the safety of the fortress'' interior, the two stood on one of the newly-rebuilt fortress'' many balconies that led to the open fields in front of them, as both Thurien and Speranza observed the sceneries that were about to become an open battlefield in the near future.


    "... How come you''re so... Bubblier and more expressive than Whitlea?"


    "It''s just who I am~ While my older sister''s personality is that of a pessimistic, quiet woman who usually keeps to herself, my personality, on the other hand, is the exact opposite of hers~"


    "... I see..." Thurien muttered. "... I guess Novus really wanted to make both of you unique when he created you 2, hm..."


    "Well, he wasn''t the one who truly made us from scratch you see." Speranza replied. "The one who did that would be his mother, Miss Anastasia..."


    "Then... Why do you often refer to Novus as your creator then?"


    A small grin surfaced from her lips. "Well, while he wasn''t the one who started and initiated our creation, he was still a part of the creation process nonetheless. And besides..."


    "...?"


    "I once referred to him using other words. I don''t want to call him by his name like my sister since that would be too boring." Speranza began explaining. "At first I called him ''master'', ''sir'', and ''lord'', but he felt uncomfortable whenever I said it, ahaha..."


    "... And that''s why you began referring to him as your creator..."


    "Precisely~ he seems comfortable with that title, so I always called my creator that way from that point on~" Speranza answered. "Anyway..."


    The jovial expression on the combat maid''s face would suddenly turn into a serious expression.


    "They''re here. Some of the mines we''ve laid out in advance have already activated, which means..."


    Speranza then moved her right arm as the watch-like device on her wrist came to life and revealed a holographic display of a diagram that consisted of multiple dots and formations assorted throughout- in short, it was a long and detailed map of the traps they laid out, which would allow them to know where they were located and which of them had been activated already.


    Thurien''s eyes widened a bit in surprise however: it had been a rather quick turn of events, she swiftly surmised. Perhaps the Holy Kingdom did indeed matter so much to the imperials, that they were already beginning to act rather fast in their response to the kingdom''s liberation?


    "... Should I deploy myself into battle at once, Miss Thurien?"


    "No, don''t." the medicae immediately responded: now was not the time to do such a thing, because Speranza was meant to be as a last resort should the approaching enemy forces get too close.


    "Let the traps we laid down soften up their forces first." Thurien continued. "That should be enough to weaken them enough for a finishing blow when they get within our range."


    In truth, the automations they sent out had laid out quite a lot of hidden entrapments that were concealed completely by the snow: all of which consisted mostly of explosive mines that would detonate the moment they were triggered into action, though of course, they weren''t the only type of traps that had been employed.


    Nevertheless though, Speranza immediately paid heed to her order and stayed her hand, as she realized the reasoning behind Thurien''s order, which the combat maid found to be quite logical.


    "... What if the traps were to fail at weakening them enough however?"


    The medicae quickly raised her index finger in response. "Don''t worry about that. If the traps fail to reduce their numbers to a manageable amount, then we''ll have to ready the other preparations we''ve made in advance... Like the artillery... And those 2 things I built recently, for instance."


    "... Very well then." Speranza replied with a light-mannered curtsy, fully finding the logic behind Thurien''s words to be greatly understandable. "I shall listen to your advice, Miss Thurien."


    "... Then again... It would be nice to begin preparing the cannons for bombardment, wouldn''t you say?" Thurien uttered the words she pondered all of a sudden. "Speranza, how long will it take to divert all power to the long-ranged turrets?"


    "Hmm... Let me check..." Speranza replied as the holographic display hailing from her wrist-device shifted its display, revealing diagrams related to the fortress'' defensive systems. "... According to the systems, it will take... Approximately 30 minutes..."


    "... Perfect then..." the medicae said with a pause. "Kindly begin activating them please... We need them to be fully active and ready for when their forces come into the  effective ranges of our guns..."


    ...


    ...


    The marching armies of Neugomian soldiers continued their advance into the western outskirts of the kingdom, whose environment slowly became colder and harsher in terrain as they gradually encroached towards their destination.


    Primarily, their forces numbered about 150,000 men in total, with the remaining 50,000 having been utilized for a far more specific purpose that would allow them to further improve their chances of victory.


    In truth, the 50,000-strong portion of their forces, along with Arnus von Arslan and 7 of the 10 Hundred Seat members who took part in their assault, had been teleported beforehand within the vicinity of the Holy Kingdom''s capital, to quickly deal with the majority of the enemy forces that had somehow manage to seize Polonia away from the Empire''s grasps.


    On the other hand, at the center of their massive formations was the large, steel carriage that housed the commanding figures of the imperial army: the imperial general, his retainers and subordinates, as well as the 3 Hundred Seats members that had accompanied their march. "General, how are the men fairing? They''ve been marching for several hours now..."


    "Please do not bother with such trivial matters, High Mage Anatoly. These men have been hardened by the years of experience they''ve underwent, so there''s no need to worry about them too much."


    Anatoly the Multi-caster, the 6th rank of the Hundred Seats, a beautiful, green haired woman with an unmatched beauty, gave a sigh as she voiced out her concern: they had been here for hours now, and she couldn''t help but feel concerned with how the soldiers were doing outside: after all, as a mage who had rarely ever experienced the hardships of the magickally-inept commonfolk, she couldn''t help but feel a bit of pity whenever she witnessed the hardships these pitiful men had to endure for the sake of their mission.


    "... How long will it be until we finally encounter the enemy, general?"


    This time, it was not Anatoly''s voice that would utter words into the air as it spoke: rather, it was the other member among the 3, Regulus of Sorn, a tall, lean man who exuded a confident display of power in his voice alone, a warrior who was also simultaneously the highest ranking member of the Hundred Seats due to his overwhelming strength that surpassed all those beneath his rank.


    "... Not long, I believe. Estimates conclude that we are about 200 or less kilometers away from the kingdom''s capital. It won''t be long before we finally arrive... Although, this doesn''t include that matter..."


    "What do you mean, general?"


    "Our scrying mages have foretold that the enemy forces have destroyed our garrisons and replaced them with their own... Which means..."


    "That we are going to have to fight our way through?"


    The final one among the 3 would finally join  in at last: Mentes the Barrier-master, a robed, meek figure who had remained silent in their discussions for a while. Now however, the usually silent mage had chosen to take part in their conversation.


    "... I''m afraid we have to. Everyone harbors the same regrets that you do, Barrier-master." the imperial general responded. "... If only the teleportation spells could bring us directly into the heart of the kingdom..."


    At first however, they were initially planning to translocate the entire army to the capital itself to resolve the battle as quickly as possible- not only would the outcome of this conflict be decided immediately, but their chances of victory would be at its highest with such a tactically-resound action. Unfortunately, their very own limitations would render such an action as impossible: there was a limit to how many soldiers they could immediately transport to such faraway distances, and they had already utilized all of their translocation spells to their limits by simply teleporting the 50 thousand splinter force into the heart of the kingdom itself.


    "Well, there''s nothing we can do about it anyway." Regulus uttered, clearly with disappointment. "There is only so much we can do before we reach our limits..."


    "... There''s no arguing with that, Lord Regulus."


    All of them believed that the battle would easily be won if they could just storm into the capital at once- after all, with the amount of men and power they brought, even the powerful enemies who had somehow nearly wiped out the Neugomians who were stationed there would prove to be no match against their combined strength. Unfortunately however, they were ultimately denied of such an easy shot at obtaining victory, and the only thing they could do instead was to march to Polonia''s lands in a slow and tedious journey.


    KAABBOOOM!


    Suddenly, however, a loud, sudden sound would erupt from outside the safety of their carriage, as the simultaneous thumping of boots and the screaming of men accompanied the horrible noise that had just transpired.


    "Sire! We need assistance from the mages of the Hundred Seats at once!" barging into their carriage''s doors, an imperial soldier would suddenly come inside as he knelt and proclaimed of the terrible news he brought with him. "The enemies have laid undetectable traps in the ground, and our mages are unable to detect them, even with their best efforts!"


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Anatoly would rise from her seat with her staff in hand: for the traps to be undetectable through magick gave her a sense of challenge, as if she wanted to prove that her great arcane talent was enough to see through the illusions that these treacherously deceptive mechanisms could bring into the battlefield.


    "My friends, please leave this matter to me and stay put for the moment." the mage said with a serious expression on her face. "I shall make sure that this march continues on without further difficulties. So please conserve your energy for the real battle that''s about to happen."


    ________________________________________


    "We''re here..."


    The translocation spell proved successful, and instantly, the contingent force accompanied by the Hand of Arslan''s warriors found themselves but a stone''s throw away from the walls of Polonia''s capital.


    "... It appears we weren''t brought into the capital directly..." Falzhan of the Iron Fist, the 3rd rank of the Hundred Seats, a burly man with an incredible build, would surmise as he looked around the open fields that surrounded them.


    "Even so, this much is enough... We''ve already heavily strained the imperial mages with this complicated spell they casted for us..."


    There was one more limitation that made their small operation vastly more difficult than it had to be: the destination of their translocation was too incredibly far, and as a result, the destination they would be brought to would inevitably have some slight deviations as to where they were supposed to be.


    It was one of the many unfortunate effects of utilizing an already complicated arcane spell to its very limits, and there was no way for them to prevent the appearances of such deviances- fortunately however, the distance of where they were supposed to be brought to was thankfully not too far away from where they were at right now, and because of this, the splinter force quickly began making its movements...


    "Now is not the time to rest!" one of the knight captains proclaimed. "The enemy may notice us at any moment! Ready yourselves and begin marching!"


    The imperial soldiers wasted no time to listen to their superior''s command, as they quickly formed themselves into rank-and-file formations that would prepare themselves to storm into the capital and deal with any enemy threat they may encounter.


    On the other hand, the powerful individuals accompanying them stood silent for a while, as they were currently taking the time to assess their plans and what exactly should they do next...


    "What shall we do now, Your Reverence?" the 2nd ranking Hundred Seats member, Airen the Spellfencer, questioned as his eyes scanned the new environment they were in.


    Arnus wouldn''t respond for a while as he was still pondering on his thoughts- he had lived such a long and fruitful life even though he had lived the life of a warrior, a profession where most men would die young. Despite this well-known fact however, the old man had not only managed to strive against the odds, but he also became an incredibly powerful warrior of tremendous prowess, one that led the most powerful organization that existed within the continent they lived in.


    "There''s only one thing we must do for now." Arnus stated bluntly as he would finally speak after his short period of silence. "We shall march into the capital with all of the forces we''ve brought with us."


    "... And if we encounter resistance?"


    A completely grave and humorless expression formed on the old man''s face.


    "Then we get rid of them... Even if the citizens of the Kingdom themselves rise up to the occasion and resist us."


    "I see... Let''s go then, Your Reverence..."


    ...


    ...


    As soon as the blinding light appeared and showered its radiance, the knights had already began assembling themselves to deal with the incoming threat that had just appeared before them....


    And now, there they were in waiting, up on the capital''s walls that stood tall and unmoving, as the knights equipped with their new suits of armor, along with the powerful warrior who had trained them, awaited the approach that any enemy force would dare to do within their sights.


    The knights templar had all donned the new equipment they were given by the ones who liberated them: a powerful set of armor that gave each of them a myriad of untold abilities, which further enhanced their combat capabilities and made them further effective in the lines of battle.


    Meanwhile, their blonde-haired leader of the East, Altair, was also equipped with an armor whose strength was comparable to that of theirs, with only one distinction that made the assassin''s different from the rest...


    It''s speed- while it offered less protection compared to the armor of the knights, Altair''s possessed a speed that far surpassed what the human eye and brain could ever hope to conceive, an agility so fast that it produced lightning whenever she utilized its swiftness.


    What was even more terrifying about this suit however, was that it didn''t provide her with such a power in the first place, as it simply amplified whatever talent that the trained warrior already had: in short, Altair was already incredibly agile without the armor itself, and het speed was simply being boosted by the suit she had equipped.


    "... They''re here..."


    "They used their damn magick again..."


    A blinding, construct of light formed on the open fields in front of them, as multiple figures emerged from its radiant matrix in a synchronized unison: they were the 50 thousand strong splinter force, along with the Hand of Arslan members, who had been sent in advance into the capital in order to deliver a crippling blow to whatever enemy force lied in waiting within the kingdom''s lands.


    Of course however, the imperial forces wouldn''t be allowed to just simply walk through the gates and do what they wished within the capital: the knights had assembled for that exact reason, and now they were going to do everything they could to stop these imperial menaces from bringing them back into an age of slavery.


    "Ready yourselves." Altair ordered as she raised her sword and slashed it downwards, pointing its sharp tip towards the gradually approaching enemy army. "Today''s the moment you get to witness the results of your training..."

 Part 5 - Chapter 3

    What a loathsome mess did things turn out to be...


    The 2 useless henchmen that he and his fellow lords had sent to infiltrate the world of these fleshbags; that upstart elf who had the potential to become one of his kin, as well as that weakling of a dragon who had now disappeared without a trace...


    The Ocher Lord of Gluttony, the Lord of the Flies... the dragon lord known as Beelzebub, a draconian so powerful that his own existence proved incredibly unique when compared to the rest of his kin- his body was not bound by flesh and scales like his brethren, but rather, its vessel consisted of a sickening matrix made from chitin and other insectile proteins.


    "Well, in any case... At least that false-blood is dead... Better yet, I still have this pathetic empire under my control..."


    Unbeknownst to the Neugomians who unwittingly served his very whims, their own royal bloodline had made a pact with such a disgusting being hundreds of years ago- from the moment the first emperor of the Empire became wounded by that cursed sword, the entire family had been both cursed and blessed with a power that would last for so long as there was a ruler that reigned the Empire''s lands...


    With every emperor that died, a descendant from his bloodline would take their place as the empire''s figurehead. Unfortunately however, with every emperor that would come and enact his reign, the familial curse would quickly render them into tyrants with a gluttonous desire for power and strength, and not a single emperor within the empire''s history had ever been exempted from this deadly curse of sin.


    "My main puppet appears to be quite angry this time, however... Well, the situation he is in right now is quite dire in the first place..."


    The concealed presence of the dragon lord could easily sense the great anger that lurked within the heart of Titus, the draconian''s current meat puppet that served his desires: the Neugomian Empire had been suffering loss after loss for the past few years after all, and even Titus couldn''t help but become incredibly exasperated with these devastated failures...


    Not only that however, but there was also the problem of the terrible risk he was currently being warned about by one of his subordinates...


    "ARGHHHH!!!" in his madness, the emperor would throw the chalice of fine wine on his hand onto the ground before him, spilling its fine contents onto the floor as he slammed his left hand on the arm rest of his throne in frustration. " Priestess Delphina... Are you telling me that these interlopers will actually dare to attack and usurp ME?! Even though we are the ones who are supposed to be attacking THEM right now?!"


    The mage with a large, blue crystalline sphere floating beside her would kneel before the emperor''s raging presence. "... Y-yes, Your Grace... It is what my prophecy magick foretells..."


    How interesting... The Glutton Dragon thought to itself as it silently listened to their conversation: of course, Beelzebub was well aware of this soothesayer''s credibility, as this woman was one of his dedicated apostles, a fervent worshipper that allowed him to corrupt more humans for him to manipulate. Not only that however, but Delphina had also been blessed with the powerful magick of being able to see the definite, unchangeable future, which thus made her an important asset even to the likes of the Dragon of Gluttony.


    The prophecy primarily foretold of one, terrible event that would happen right inside the very heart of the empire- in 2 days, an enemy force, led by the very same ones who had stolen Polonia away from them, will launch a precise strike into Neugomia''s capital and usurp the emperor from his throne and take the empire of themselves. It was such a ridiculous, rage-inducing prophecy, that even though it fully contained nothing but the truth, even the emperor himself still remained unable to fully believe in its contents.


    These new foes that the empire was currently dealing with... It would seem that they were causing one problem after another, and they may as well be able to pose even more threats to the dragon lord''s future plans should he not choose to put an end to their schemes.


    "Hmm, I shall deal with these miscreants later... Though for now, I want to listen to what these 2 fleshbags are talking about..."


    ________________________________________


    It had only been a few hours since that first explosion that appeared out of nowhere all of a sudden, and already, the imperial forces were swept into a terrible disaster of cataclysmic proportions.


    KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! "What the hell?! Where are those explosions coming from in the first place?!" "ARRGHHH! I''ve lost my legs! IT HURTS! IT HURTS LIKE HELL!!!" Powerful discharges of energy would rock their rank-and-file formations as they made their march, as the well-concealed traps hidden within the snow-enveloped ground they trod on instantly activated themselves the moment one of the soldiers made the unfortunate act of stepping on their delicate pressure sensors. The army would continue its march despite the destruction being unleashed upon them however, and of course, the earth-shaking detonations would claim the lives of scores of imperial soldiers in a flash, as not even the most heavily armored among them could hope to withstand such powerful explosions.


    "Keep marching, you damn cowards!"


    "We''re getting blown to pieces here! What do you mean ''cowards'' you dumbass?!"


    "That''ll all be solved in due time! Now keep walking!"


    Fortunately for them though, the 3 Hundred Seat members who remained with their forces to support them immediately came to their aid... [Injury and death, begone oh unwanted concepts from the toiling bodies of these dutiful warriors.] It was a wide spell that encapsulated a massive area, an arcane spell that had enough power to rejuvenate all among the 150 thousand strong army who had been blown apart: Anatoly, the 6th rank amongst the Hundred Seats, would raise her staff as soon as the explosions ceased to exist, and simultaneously, lights of bright, green streaks began enveloping what remained of the fallen soldiers from nearly every direction. Almost instantly, even the dead and fallen soldiers would come back to life, with their bodies fully restored back to their prime condition, as if they hadn''t been recently blown to bits in the first place.


    Anatoly had, in fact, actually been doing this for a while, and it was seemingly taking not too much effort for the likes of Anatoly at all: such was the arcane might that this mage, that casting several, large-radius spells on multiple people wasn''t even straining her at all.


    "Continue your march, soldiers of Neugomia! We shall do what we can to keep your ranks alive and well as much as possible! We''ll leave the fighting to all of you in return!"


    KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM!


    "FUCK! There are more of them being hurled at us!" "Just what sort of enemy are we facing?!"


    "Emperor save us from this hell! We are getting slaughtered without merc-"


    More devastating eruptions would be hurled against them, though this time, these explosions would seemingly originate from the sky- it was another form of attack from their cowardly enemy that was striking at them from afar, and they were unable to do anything to shield themselves from such a disaster at the moment.


    [Barrier of Protecting Light.]


    Another one of the 3 members of the Hundred Seats that stayed with them, the Barrier-master known as Mentes, began casting a spell using his vast mana reserves, and simultaneously, a permeable, see through, dome-shaped construct of blue light formed and surrounded the imperial army with its grand protection, forming another protective measure that would allow them to endure whatever form of attack would be unleashed against them once more.


    KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM!


    The soldiers were quickly freed from the cataclysm that instantly claimed hundreds of their own warriors, as in of the explosions hitting them and tearing their ranks asunder in a ceaseless bombardment, the destructive energies would instead collide with the shield and fail to kill a single man in the process.


    KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM!


    Still though, even though they had already neutralized most of the attacks being hurled at them, there was still the threat of those sudden ground detonations the moment one of the soldiers made a wrong step upon the ground they trod on: as such, the 2 mages would quickly attempt to devise a plan in order to get rid of this problem for good...


    "Mentes! I understand now! Those ground explosions... They''re magickless traps set by the enemy deep within the earth! Which means..."


    By now, Anatoly understood how the ground discharges were occurring in the first place- using her detection magick, the talented mage could eventually tell that there were multitudes of these metal devices placed within the earth they walked upon... They were cowardly magickless trickeries that were meant to unleash devastation upon them all, and had Anatoly not been such a talent in the arcane arts, she would have never been able to see these concealed terrors that remained hidden to her at first due to their magicklessness.


    The Barrier-master replied to her with a shout amidst the chaos they were all in- as he too used his observation magick to see just what exactly was causing these explosive phenomena on their ranks, he quickly understood the nature of these transpirations at a cognitive speed that matched his companion''s.


    "If we combine our magick, we''ll be able to detect all of them and neutralize them at once, right?!"


    "Yes! We''ll both cast a spell that will trigger these devices all at once! It''ll greatly alter the terrain the moment we neutralize them all, but at least it will make it safer for the soldiers to walk through!"


    "Very well then! Let us do so at once!"


    Faint lights would begin emerging from the crystals of their staves, as magic circles full of arcane runes formed in front of their bodies, signifying that the spell they were casting was already beginning to materialize according to their commands.


    [Oh, concealed metal traps of the enemy, destroy yourselves prematurely so that we may be able to walk safely.]


    KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM!


    The surface shook slightly as all the mines were triggered at once- deafeningly loud, powerful explosions that materialized deep beneath the ground would all occur in unison, with most of them being faraway from the positions of the soldiers who were observing everything that was transpiring with surprised looks on their faces.


    Eventually, everything would fade back into a temporary peace as the explosions ceased to be. The ground had become destroyed and peppered with craters and gaping holes, but now it was vastly safer to march through its space than what it had previously been before.


    Now, all the imperial army had to do left was to maneuver through the obstacles that had replaced the deadly traps that once claimed many of its soldiers'' lives.


    Fortunately however, Anatoly was capable of many more supportive spells due to her massive mana reserves, and the mage would then begin to cast another spell that would serve to assist the soldiers in their strenuous plights.


    [Remove the shackles of stamina and fatigue, and may our bodies be blessed with greater speed, strength, and vigor.]


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    As soon as the spell was casted, the imperial soldiers immediately felt a surging power within their bodies, one that made their senses even sharper than before, as their strength and agility were amplified to levels they could have never reached before in their lives.


    "I feel so strong all of a sudden! What is this feeling?!"


    "We''ve been blessed with such a great power! We could practically march for days with this!"


    Their previously dwindling spirits had been tampered with and bolstered by the 2 arcane adepts, and now, the loud, mad shuffling of boots echoed throughout the air as the Neugomian soldiers began marching faster in still-orderly, rank and file formations towards the location of the enemy stronghold they were ordered to siege.


    It would only take a few more hours however, before their long-awaited battle would finally happen in earnest, and it would take several, grueling hours before victory could finally be declared by either side...


    ...


    ...


    "... They not only removed the mines... But they''re also shrugging off the artillery using their magick..."


    "I was expecting this, but... This is still quite troublesome indeed..."


    Both Speranza and Thurien continued to observe the massive tide of soldiers that were slowly approaching their location through the holographic display: it was a scary sight, as the arcane dome-shaped shield their mages had casted prevented the long-ranged cannons from wiping them out, all while the explosive mines had all been quickly neutralized by the mages that supplemented the enemy forces.


    Not only that, however, but their march had somehow become notably faster- the imperial soldiers, for some reason, were now all marching at incredibly fast speeds with their line-formations still in place, as the distance between them and the walls of the stronghold the 2 were currently in steadily started to become narrow...


    "... Hmm... Should I...?" The combat maid pondered as she said her thoughts out loud, to which her companion would immediately respond to in a few seconds.


    "Yes, Speranza... I think it''s time..." Thurien said. "... Deploy into battle. I''ll cease the bombardment for a while, and within that short time frame, your only objective is to neutralize the mages who are casting those problematic spells."


    Thurien had quickly surmised the one true threat they had to deal with in order to win against the enemy forces- the ones behind the shields and the healing magick, the moment they were taken out of the equation, the imperial army would immediately be annihilated by the attacks they were unleashing at them from far away.


    The only problem laid in the fact that there was but a single method to this surgical procedure they have to perform upon their enemy, and the only way they could achieve this was to send Speranza, the more experienced and combat-capable of the 2, into the thick of battle itself immediately.


    Of course, there was the issue that the imperials held a massive advantage when it came to close-quarters combat: they had both the strength and numbers for such a method of fighting after all, and to stoop down to their level of warfare would be an incredibly foolish thing for them to do.


    Which was why Speranza had to do this operation quickly: she was going to get in quick, swiftly eliminate the mages responsible for their troubles, and get out of there just as quickly with no intention of prolonging her appearance.


    "Very well then, Miss Thurien..." The white-haired combat maid said with a smile as she made a polite curtsy. "Although... Besides terminating those troublesome mages... Are there any other objectives I have to fulfill?"


    "Ah, yes... I did gave you those recent augments I made on your combat-capabilities, right?"


    "Of course~ I have to thank you for these, by the way. My creator rarely ever does it for me anymore... Though, then again, I think I should be doing it myself in the first place..."


    Like Thurien, Speranza was now equipped with the same, monstrous device that allowed the medicae to mass-transport entire streets of people into that special realm of hers: a crowd-control weapon that could unleash blinding, rays of light-auroras, banishing its targets into a different place that was not that of reality.


    Even more so, was the fact that the combat-maid had also been augmented with the nearly-same device that her master used against the crimson dragon he previously fought- an inferior version of the anti-magick device on Novus'' Valkyrie Armor, a technological tool that could neutralize all forms of magick, though it could only do so within a 50 meter radius for a measly 5 minutes...


    While it was unfit for long, prolonged battles against enemies who were capable of magick, the inferior device was perfect for the surgical strike that Speranza was required to perform in earnest...


    "Well, I just have one more objective I want you to fulfill... If you don''t mind, that is~"


    "Of course I don''t mind, so please, Miss Thurien, tell me what''s this other goal you have in mind?"


    A light grin formed on Thurien''s face as she presented the other objective she was going to make Speranza fulfill.


    "... Please ''save'' as many of them as you can as much as possible." Thurien requested. "Try not to blow most of them up with your other... Brutish arsenals, alright?"


    "... Well, I''ll try at least."


    ________________________________________


    Vernalius had been one of the few fortunate ones who hadn''t been blown to pieces by the random explosions that was plaguing the march of their boots. In the end though, such a status of well-defined luck would be meaningless, because even if he were to get suddenly torn apart by an explosion that occurred within his vicinity, the powerful healing spells that the Hand of Arslan mage was constantly casting would immediately bring him back to life.


    Still though, the thought of an explosion rapidly disassembling and burning through his body with ease wasn''t something that Vernalius would dream upon himself- while it would only occur in a fraction of a second, the pain he could have possibly felt belonged to a level of extremity that he wouldn''t be able to endure, and as such, the soldier simply shut off such negative thoughts, all while only paying heed to the one task he was supposed to fulfill right now with his comrades.


    Luckily, those explosive traps had all been triggered in advance by the mages accompanying them: they all prematurely exploded in unison before they could deal more damages unto their ranks, and although the ground in front of them had been rendered into a crater-ridden hellscape, it was at least safer than what it had once been before.


    "We can see the walls! We''re nearly there!"


    "It''s just beyond the horizon! Just a few more minutes!"


    As Vernalius looked towards the massive, open space in front of him, he could see the faint, faraway visage of a fortress of massive proportions that stood dauntlessly from the horizon- it was the garrison that had been destroyed and rebuilt by their enemies, and now it was about to serve as one of the many great hurdles they had to overcome to achieve victory.


    "Cease your marching men! We shall begin deploying the weapon His Majesty had bestowed upon us!"


    The Imperial General came out of his carriage, accompanied by several of his own guard retinue, as well as multiple robed figures carrying long silver staves with them. In truth, they were about to unleash the ultimate weapon that the emperor had allowed them to bring to this battle, and now they were finally about to witness how terrifyingly monstrous this weapon was.


    "Unleash the weapon!"


    A silver, sphere-shaped metal device, one that was engraved with multiple arcane ruins, began hovering into the air unperturbed by the forces of gravity, as several magick circles formed on its metal skin while the mages continued to chant their spells: it would take approximately a single minute before everything would finish, and by then the device would finally have displayed its full potential.


    "W-what''s happening?!"


    "It''s sucking up the ground beneath!"


    Invisible, yet powerful forces hailing from the small, metal sphere began pulling entire chunks of the earth towards it, forming an impressive mass of dirt and rock that slowly began surrounding the device as they clumped together in a compacted structure.


    Slowly but surely, the earthly materials would eventually coalesce into an irregularly-shaped being that vaguely resembled that of a humanoid, a vastly tall figure that stood even higher than the height of the enemy stronghold''s highest point.


    Golems were mostly constructs that only mages could utilize, and despite the many advantages they could bring to the ones who created them, they were often utilized quite sparingly due to their continuous need of mana, as well as the fact that they completely lacked a will of their own and often had to be ordered directly by their makers.


    However, the research made by the imperial magick academy ultimately made the special automata in front of them right now as a different type of golem entirely: it was an experimental magick golem that could last indefinitely as long as its spherical core remained active, no longer needing a constant supply of mana from its makers.


    Not only that, however, but its impressively monstrous size made it so that its lack of sentience ultimately didn''t matter that much, as its impossible strength and power heavily outweighed the cons of its own existence- after all, its only goal as of this day was to destroy the enemies in front of it right now, and not too much thought was required to execute such a simple task.


    THUD... THUD... THUD... THUD...


    "Rejoice! This weapon that the Emperor has given us shall tear through the mighty fortress that our enemy has built!" the Imperial General proclaimed to his men, to which they would immediately respond with triumphant shouts and cheers. "After the monster has finished with the stronghold''s destruction, we shall march through the ruins and slay whatever enemy manages to survive its onslaught!"


    It was over for them, Vernalius said to himself in silence: there was no way for their enemy to take down such a massive, durable giant made from the very same material as the earth itself. There was no surefire method or strategy for that golem to be defeated, he thought to himself, and as the monstrosity slowly trudged towards the enemy stronghold within their sights, only one thought remained clear within his mind.


    It was their win, he thought... And now, all they had to do was to wait for the golem to finish its grisly task...


    ...


    ...


    A gateway wasn''t necessary for the white-haired combat maid''s descent into battle, as the enemy was already within the stronghold''s direct line of sight, all while the magicks protecting the imperials kept rendering them nigh-invulnerable to the artillery cannons that had temporarily ceased their bombardment.


    Her primary directive had immediately been changed the moment this monster appeared in the battlefield: its annihilation immediately held a much greater priority than the mages that were causing them difficulties, and so Speranza had been brought within its vicinity so she could complete her new task.


    "Oh my... It''s a... Primitive, ugly version of me. How revolting..."


    The trudging construct of stone and dirt roused a sense of disgust within Speranza as she stared at the approaching, massive figure with a bit of revulsion: to her, it was a completely flawed imitation of her technological origin, a magick-born, inferior mimicry of what constructs were truly meant to be, and what she was seeing right now made Speranza feel as if she was staring at a hideous, oversized version of herself.


    "... Urgh... How sickening... Let''s make this quick, you ugly beast..."


    The nanomachines stored in her body quickly did their duties, as entire matrixes of steel began forming behind her back in a synchronized unison of construction: it only took a few seconds, and almost instantly, a deadly array of turret-shaped mechanisms hovered behind the combat-maid, as their cannons fixated themselves towards the direction of the hideous entity in front of her.


    To Speranza, it was now more than a surgical strike to eliminate the mages that were causing them troubles. No, rather, it was now a mission for her to destroy this wretched thing that was supposed to be something like her: it was nothing more than a clumped pile of dirt and rock that had even dared to become a construct like herself.


    She wad going to destroy this disgusting automation first, and then annihilate the encroaching army that was steadily marching behind it: surely, that would be enough to draw out those troublesome mages that were becoming a problematic mess to their plans?


    "Meet your end, you vile imitation of my magnificence."


    [Synchronisierte Zerst?rung Angriffe.]


    The turrets began firing in a synchronized manner, unleashing devastating beams of intense, searing energies that struck the monster repeatedly without a single ounce of mercy...


    ________________________________________


    It was a shocking sight for the soldier known as Vernalius: it was, in fact, so much so, that his jaw couldn''t help but remain agape as he witnessed the impossible situation transpiring before his very eyes.


    A rain of crimson light barraged the magickal golem''s body in a ceaseless torrent of energies, turning entire sections of its body into molten slag and lava that dripped pathetically towards the ground beneath.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Not only that however, but there were also several arrows of light, whose rears emitted deathly smokes, as each of them speeded thunderously towards the construct''s massive frame, piercing through its earthly skin with their sharp-edged nose-heads as they produced deafening explosions that tore its framework apart with ease.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    "... I-it''s failing... No way..."


    "How can this be... This is... I-impossible..."


    While the golem kept regenerating from the attacks by continuously sucking up the ground beneath it as the main source of its own bodily material, it was obvious that the rate of its destruction was greatly exceeding the speeds it could heal itself from its injuries- as such, even the champions of Arslan''s Hand found themselves bewildered by such an impossible display of firepower, as the magickal automata slowly found its structural integrity being eroded in a slow, yet unstoppable manner of deconstruction.


    KABOOMMMM!!!!


    And just like that, the pinnacle of imperial magickal research and engineering had ultimately failed its one purpose: another torrent of light hit its chest, though this time, it was far larger and more powerful than the smaller ones that came before it. The beam''s chaotic energies easily pierced through its stone and rock, disintegrating the spherical core into raw, plasmaic substances within an instant, which quickly led to the complete collapse of the golem''s hastily-formed body.


    THUD... THUD... THUD... THUD... THUD...


    "... I-it''s dead... How can this be...?"


    "But... His Majesty was the one who gave us this weapon... H-how could it fail so miserably?"


    "Our enemies... T-they''re all monsters..."


    It was indeed over... For the golem''s existence at least- what was once a towering monstrosity of magick that would have secured them their complete victory over their enemy, had now been reduced into collapsing piles of rubble, whose broken pieces of debris were now slowly raining down towards the ground in a hazardous hail of stone and rock.


    "... W-who is that woman? Why is she floating in the air over there?"


    "Is she the one who... Destroyed the golem?"


    "N-no... She looks so frail though... It couldn''t have been her... Right?"


    Just within the vicinity where the golem once stood before it perished, there was the visible figure of a white-haired beauty in a strange armor, a strange woman who was levitating in the air as her glowing, crimson eyes carefully observed the ranks of the imperial army in front of her: meanwhile, there were several metal structures that hovered behind her seemingly delicate frame, with bright, radiant lights emanating from their pointed tips that were facing towards their direction.


    "... It was a short, but very entertaining meeting, but now it''s time to end this..." the combat-maid uttered, unable to be audibly heard by the imperials due to her position being faraway. "Farewell, fools of Neugomia..."


    ... However, before the weapons arsenal of Speranza''s might could fully unleash their combined firepower, a sudden, unexpected attack from a powerful enemy would put a temporary halt to her finishing assault...


    "I''m not letting you blow up our men again, you monster in human skin!"


    His warrior''s instincts proved to be as sharp as ever, and he could immediately tell that this woman was about to unleash a deadly assault upon the soldiers: because of this, Regulus had leapt into the air with an incredible display of strength as he burst into the air. He then held a firm grip on the jet-black greatsword that served as his main weapon, as he quickly prepared to swerve its impressively mass to cut down the flying enemy that was about to unleash devastation upon them.


    CLANG!


    Unfortunately, his massive blade was unable to cut through his enemy''s body in one strike, as its razored edge was instantly counteracted by a thin, blue, see-through barrier of light that shielded the witch from his killing blow.


    "What a fool. You''re still going to meet your end, just like all the rest of them."


    A series of brilliant radiances would come forth from his enemy''s metal armor, and multiple torrents of scorching light would be hurled against the Sornian warrior, each of which was more than capable of tearing through his durable battle armor and vaporizing his internal organs.


    "!!!"


    Alas, such a powerful attack that came at the speed of light would have killed the sword-bearing warrior instantly the moment he had been hit, though fortunately for him, his 2 other allies would instantly come to his assistance and wouldn''t let him die so quickly against this incredible foe of theirs.


    "... S-shit, I nearly died there..."


    A shield-shaped construct of mana formed in front of the vulnerable swordmaster, and as the searing beams of light rapidly approached Regulus'' direction, they would instead harmlessly collide with the mana construct''s durable structure, quickly rendering the attack into a useless assault that had failed to kill its target.


    "Don''t worry, Regulus, we''ll support you from behind! Keep her busy while we cast our spells!"


    The 2 other Arslan''s Hand mages, Mentes and Anatoly, had managed to reach the area where the 2 were fighting thanks to the flight spells they casted upon themselves- while it was certainly a positive advantage for Regulus, it was definitely a crippling disadvantage for Speranza, as she wasn''t truly meant to fight at such close ranges like this.


    [Wings of Flight.]


    Mentes casted a spell directed towards Regulus, and almost immediately, the sword-bearing warrior found himself no longer bound by the constrictions of gravity like his 2 companions: he had been casted with the same flight spell by Anatoly and Mentes, and now he was going to have more ease with fighting this aerial opponent of theirs who was hovering in the skies above.


    "... Alright then." Regulus responded as he readied his great sword for another strike. "Let''s bring her down together!"


    "Let''s go!"


    "Charge at her, Regulus!"


    [Greater Strength Boost.]


    [Greater Protection.]


    [Greater Agility.]


    [Oh great enemy, may your senses of weaken so that we may fight you on equal terms.]


    A myriad of untold spells would be unleashed by both Mentes and Anatoly at once, as Regulus then began charging against his enemy once more with his great sword in hand.


    "Heehee... I have to admit, this is becoming quite exciting~"


    A short-lived battle would then ensue among them, as the conflict raged for only a few moments, though as it would finally come to a grinding halt, the true victor of their entire conflict would immediately become clear...

 Part 5 - Chapter 4

    Regulus of Sorn... It was a name he earned back in his old days of youth, when he was still training in the way of the sword under his now-aged master.


    He remembered those days with a sense of fondness that was rarely ever visible on his face, for it was a time back when the people he had known and loved were still alive, and it was also a time when he had not known the true horrors that lied just beyond the far corners of his peaceful life.


    Alas, before he had gained his title as well as his swordsmanship, a sudden tragedy swept through his own home, like a natural calamity that couldn''t be stopped by any form of action.


    "... What happened to this village, boy?"


    "..."


    An army of monsters, specifically an entire raiding horde of greenskins, had pillaged their settlement and took everything they could steal, torching their wooden homes as they killed everyone in sight, leaving only the young Regulus as the sole, remaining survivor of the Village of Sorn''s decimation.


    For some reason, however, there was a man clad in silver armor standing behind him as Regulus knelt and mourned the sight of his burning house and family. He was a strange man, the young lad thought; his armor was not like the ones that the passing knights and mercenaries would often wear, and he was also holding a full, bloody sack that seemed to be full of something.


    A question immediate rose within his mind as he turned to face towards him- who was this man, and why had he come here all of a sudden?


    "... Was it attacked by monsters, perchance?" the man uttered again with his stern voice that had a hint of concern.


    "... Yes... It was..." the kneeling Regulus replied weakly as he wiped his tears off. "... I am the only one left..."


    "... I see... Not to fear though. I''ve killed most of the ork savages who barbarically destroyed your home." he raised his arm that was carrying the bloody sack and showed its contents, revealing the bodiless heads of several of the greenskins who had raided the village. "There were about 50 of these brutes, and I managed to kill 37 of them before the others fled like cowards. It''s a miracle that you managed to survive such large numbers, boy."


    The young child''s eyes would widen in surprise as he saw the ichor-soaked bag''s contents- who exactly was this man, and why was he so strong? More importantly however, why had he come at such a late time? If only he had arrived earlier, then none of the Sornian villagefolk would have died as a result.


    "... However, I have another question I would like to ask... If you don''t mind..."


    Regulus responded as he sighed while his eyes looked down. "... Go ahead, mister..."


    "I used to live here in my childhood days, you see. The people here are practically my family..." the armored warrior narrated. "... Do you have nowhere else to go, I wonder?"


    There was a temporary silence that ensued, as the young Regulus would refuse to respond for a while- he didn''t yet want to admit that his family had truly died, and by confirming the man''s question, he would have had to come to terms with the devastating loss he had suffered, and his fractured psyche was unable to do that right now.


    In the end, however, there was no other path forward but to move on: to stay here and linger on about the tragedy that had happened would lead to nothing, and so the young child finally answered the warrior''s query after a long moment of quietness.


    "... I don''t..." Regulus answered. "... Why are you asking me this, though? You couldn''t possibly be thinking of taking me in or somethi-"


    "Indeed I am, though. Leaving you here all alone does not sit well with my conscience after all... And besides..."


    Confused, Regulus would immediately pose a question himself. "Besides?"


    "I can see it in you, boy. You have the potential to become a warrior like me."


    "... W-what?" The young man''s mouth would run slightly agape, unable to believe this man''s words. "... That can''t be possible... I''m just a weakling, I can''t even carry a bag of flour-"


    "That''s because you''re still young, boy, of course you''d still be physically weak." the man hastily corrected him. "But as a warrior of incredible prowess, I can easily tell the potential that lies within the bodies of all the people I encounter."


    "And you, young man..." the man continued, pointing his index finger to Regulus as he kept talking. "You have a deep potential that not many warriors have. In all honesty, it greatly surpasses even my own..."


    "... R-really...? Then..."


    "Become my disciple." the man extended his hand as he made his offer. "I will take you in as my son and teach you everything I know. In the future, I shall make this continent safe from threats that will never again threaten the lives of its people..."


    "... And I will make sure that you are part of this future..."


    This man... He was strange, but he was making an offer that Regulus found himself unable to refuse- he had nowhere left to go after all, and becoming the student of this man would at least provide him a decent future. Not only that, however, but the fact that this man had stated that he had some sort of hidden power in him, and that he could help him achieve it... It was a tempting thought that made him really want to consider this man''s deal.


    "... Alright then... I accept..." Regulus finally decided. "... May I know your name though?"


    "My name is Arnus, boy. Arnus von Arslan." the man said as he took off his helmet, revealing his somewhat old face that was clearly in its 40s.


    "Remember that name for the rest of your life, as my family name is now yours to bear as well."


    ________________________________________


    Despite the cumbersome weight of his gigantic, silverine greatsword, Regulus was easily managing to swing it around as if it were nothing more than a normal blade that held not much weight- it was the result of his years of training and physical improvement, and by now his strength was enough to break through a tree''s thick trunk by simply embracing it.


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    The blade moved 4 times at a speed that not many eyes could see nor track, though despite this, its impressive striking forces, while incredibly powerful, remained futilely unable to pierce through the protective barrier that surrounded his enemy.


    [Lighting Storm.]


    [Magic Missiles.]


    Multitudes of arcing, bolts of electricity surged forth as speedy constructs of pure arcane material simultaneously speeded towards their crimson-eyed enemy: trailing from behind these attacks was Regulus'' flying form, with the spells serving as a smokescreen that would give the powerful warrior more time to pierce through the witch''s protection with his massive blade.


    ... Although, as expected, the attack would fail to work once more..


    CLANNGGG!!!


    "I told you, it''s useless."


    Both the spells and the greatsword would instead collide with their target''s shields, negating its impact as Regulus withdrew once more to prepare for another attack.


    "Mentes, do something and disable her barrier!"


    "I''m trying, Regulus, wait for a moment! Keep her distracted, both of you!"


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The strange, mechanical cannons behind their enemy would suddenly erupt as they began unleashing terrible beams and projectiles that speeded towards their direction: fortunately, another mana-shield construct would protect Regulus from harm, as the 2 mages were also simultaneously safeguarded by protective barriers of their own.


    "You are all quite the troublesome opponents, you know?"


    "Silence, witch! Accept your death with grace!"


    CLAANNGGGGG!!!!


    The sword-wielding warrior struck again as he made his charge, slashing his blade downwards with a force that held more power than his previous blows, making the enemy''s barrier shake and strain more visibly as it negated its impact...


    A small sense of hope formed within Regulus'' heart as he witnessed the moment of weakness of his enemy''s defence- nothing was invincible after all, and even the strongest of bastions could eventually be broken through with enough power, or perhaps, a sufficiently effective strategy.


    "Any time now, Mentes!"


    "Just keep charging at her! Anatoly, help Regulus with keeping her busy!"


    "Understood! I''ll begin casting immediately!"


    The blue crystal of the adept''s staff began glowing with a fervent glow, as a series of magick circles swiftly appeared before her- Anatoly was casting as many spells as she could in order to keep their enemy busy, and she was going to do everything she could to assist with this monster of a woman''s defeat.


    [Swords of Light, come form and pierce our enemy at once.]


    [Strength and agility, bless this determined warrior to his very limits.]


    Mana constructs made of blades instantly materialized around the combat-maid, surrounding her with their teeming numbers in almost every angle and direction. Simultaneously however, the other magick spell Anatoly had casted was currently amplifying Regulus'' body to its peak performance, boosting his power to an even greater state than what it was previously.


    "Die, you inhuman witch!"


    Regulus performed a sideways cleave that struck his enemy''s shield with a great, intensive force, making its very surface quake slightly as a small crack formed on the place of its impact- their efforts were definitely working, and all they had to do left was to bide for Mentes some time to allow them to finally break through the barrier snd cut the white-haired demon down.


    BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!


    A rain of light, or so did it seem to the 2 mages, particles of rapidly moving steel that sped towards Regulus'' body, would be unleashed from the combat maid''s mechanical constructs, each of which had the ability to tear through the warrior''s armor with ease and render his body into a mangled mess.


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    Unlike the mages however, Regulus'' sharp eyes were able to determine the true nature of this attack: they were nothing more than pieces of metal that were being propelled towards him at impressive speeds.


    They weren''t that fast when compared to his movements, and so his blade moved incredibly fast, cutting, blocking, and parrying all of these little metal things until the rain of light finally ceased with its hail of assault.


    "Alright! I''ve figured it out! Regulus, I can disable her shields, but I can only do it for a couple of seconds! Cut her down the moment it disappears!"


    Relief and adrenaline surfaced into his body as he heard those words- without a delay, Regulus immediately gave his answer in response, all while his sword kept moving and striking to bring down the protective enhancement that was guarding their enemy from harm.


    "Alright! Please do it now!"


    Another magick circle formed, this time in front of the motionless, casting Mentes, and almost immediately, the spell he had been preparing for a while would finally materialize into existence and provide them with an immense advantage over their adversary.


    [Anti-Barrier Spell- Disablement]


    Their efforts would finally produce results amidst the terrible battle they were in- the immensely durable barrier that was protecting their enemy had disappeared, leaving her completely defenseless against the next attacks that Regulus and his 2 companions would unleash against her.


    And of course, the 3 of them wouldn''t hesitate to unleash everything they had on their foe, as their enemy was now completely vulnerable to them without that powerful barrier that once safeguarded her from their attacks.


    "Attack her all at once! Don''t waste any time!"


    [Magickal Rain.]


    [Light Barrage.]


    [Oh, winds of destruction, gust forth and rip apart our enemy into pieces.]


    "Meet your end, you monster!"


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ...


    ...


    What a surprise, Speranza momentarily notioned within her mind... This was quite the astonishing series of events, and she couldn''t have expected that what they were doing would actually work.


    Her shield had been disabled, and they were now rapidly closing in to land their attacks against her in a splendid unison: it was a combined, praiseworthy teamwork that she would have commended, had they not been her enemies.


    ... Well, in any case, she had taken too much time fighting them already: the only reason she had chosen to even prolong their minor skirmish was to determine her strength and power in this world, and to see whether or not she needed to make some improvements to her abilities.


    "You all did well... Unfortunately..." a crimson light radiated faintly from her eyes as an expectant grin formed on her face. "You all failed to consider one unknown variable..."


    "Then again, it''s not your fault that you people don''t know about it at all."


    [Synthesis Complete: Generating AM Field...]


    Deathly, red radiances emerged from the combat-maid''s armor, as Speranza''s finally pulled out her ultimate weapon against these magickal interlopers...


    "I can only hope that you die quickly after you hit the ground from such terrible heights..."


    ...


    ...


    It was over in an instant, at least for the trio of Arslan''s Hand members- their magick attacks ceased to exist, and every single one of the spells they had casted were rendered useless as soon as the blaring, crimson lights appeared from their opponent.


    "... W-what?"


    "... O-our magick stopped working..."


    An impossible scenario had occurred before them, as it seemed that magick within the vicinity of their opponent would immediately begin to fail and dematerialize out of existence- it was a horrifying concept to even think about for these magickborns, a nightmare that had unfortunately taken place and is now existing within the folds of reality...


    "AHHHH!!!!"


    "H-HELLPPP!!!"


    The flight spells they were using to hover in the sky were terminated, and instantly these 2 now-normal, magickless human beings were reduced to the flightless primates they had always been, as they were quickly pulled down by the immense forces of gravity and began rapidly plumetting towards the ground.


    SWOOOSHHH!!!!


    SWOOOSHHH!!!!


    It was impossible for them to survive such a fall: the heights they were at were too high, and the moment they hit the ground, the force of impact on their bodies would break every single bone in their body and kill them instantly.


    "S-shit... We can''t just fail here... Now of all times...!"


    For Regulus, whose body was now also currently speeding towards the ground, this was a completely unprecedented scenario- he wasn''t certain if he would be able to survive the fall, and he was completely certain that his 2 free-falling companions definitely wouldn''t. There was no other way around the situation they were in, and all they could do was to await whatever outcome would happen next.


    ... However, there was one more trick he had up his sleeve that could perhaps allow him to seize victory from the jaws of defeat.


    "Fuck this! If we''re going down, you''re going down with us!"


    Unlike his 2 allies, Regulus had been charging towards their enemy before their magicks were somehow stolen from them, and as such, he still had enough momentum to make one more attack on the enemy that was negating their connection to the arcane.


    Luckily for him though, the seemingly-invincible shield that once protected his foe from harm was still gone: it had only been a few seconds since their magick had been rendered useless, and it would obviously take a bit more time for his enemy''s protection to recover from Mentes''s spell, even after its complete, though brief negation.


    As such, Regulus quickly realized that if he was going to attack one more time, he had to act fast and put everything he had left into this final blow of his...


    "DIIEEE YOUUU BAASTARRDDD!!!"


    As his body was still being propelled towards the combat-maid by the last charging movements he made before his flight spell disappeared, Regulus'' muscles strained themselves to their very limits as he lifted his sword, his body putting all the physical effort it could make into making this one attack of his as strong as possible as he moved in for the kill...


    There was no other way nor choice.. He had  to finish her off with this attack, or else everything would be for nought: they had come so far in bringing this powerful monster down, and they wouldn''t be defeated after simply having their magicks stolen from them.


    SLAASHHHHH!!!!


    Regulus made another cleaving strike, the most powerful one he had ever done in his entire life, an attack that aimed to cut his terrifying adversary cleanly in half...


    "!!!"


    As the blade''s sharp edge moved to make its dismantling cut, the sword itself would appear to be moving at a speed that was faster than sound...


    ________________________________________


    "Master~"


    "..."


    "Master~" she continued teasingly. "Hey, don''t ignore me... Mas~ ter~"


    "... Didn''t I just tell you to stop calling me that?"


    The 2 were bantering about inside a small bedroom, where Novus lied down comfortably on his warm bed as Speranza served him some tea to drink: it was a tiring day, and he wanted to get some rest for the moment... Though unfortunately, there was something that one of his companions needed from him at the moment.


    "I know, but..." the maid said as she put the tray of teacups down on the drawer beside his bed for a moment, drawing closer to her ''master'' as she did so. "You keep refusing to answer my question~ of course I won''t stop teasing you until you give up!"


    "... Do I really have to answer that?" Novus responded with a sigh.


    "Of course. I mean, isn''t it quite unfair that you''re willing to accept punishment from my elder sister..." she answered as her smile trailed off into a somewhat saddened expression. "... And yet somehow, you''re not willing to at least answer this question of mine for me?"


    ".... Don''t tell me you''re going to pay less attention to me again... If you''re going to atone for how you ignored us, then at least do something for me too..."


    A cursing sense of guilt began pervading in his inner thoughts as Novus heard her words: this cheeky woman, she knew exactly how to get what she wanted, all while she perfectly made herself look like the victim in this scenario.


    Well, it was truly his fault in the first place- what she was saying did hold some truth in it, and so Novus eventually had no choice but to finally give in to her one desire.


    "... Ahem... Fine, but..." Novus said as he cleared his throat. "... What was the question again?"


    The previously warm, mischievous smile would immediately return to her lips again as Speranza laid witness to his confirmation. "Yay~ now as for my question..." the maid uttered aloud.


    "How did Whitlea punish you, I wonder? What did she make you do? She refuses to tell me what and how she did it, so... I want to hear it from you, my creator."


    "..."


    "... Please, my creator? Don''t ignore me again... You know how I don''t like being ignored..." Speranza began pleading a bit, desperate for her question to be finally answered. "Pretty please? Even if it''s something humiliating, I swear I won''t laugh or judge you... I absolutely promise."


    He then took a deep breathe as he prepared himself for what he was about to say- indeed, what she made him do was a bit humiliating, and Novus found himself unable to tell her what exactly happened during that time as a result.


    Ultimately though, he really couldn''t find himself to refuse answering Speranza''s question any longer, as he would then eventually give his answer after a short period of silence.


    "... She wanted me to kiss her while she sat on top of my lap..." he explained sheepishly. "... And of course... I... Ahem... Did it..."


    Of course, Speranza immediately became shocked as her mouth ran agape in surprise: out of all the punishments her sister could choose, why did she choose something so... Mundane and straightforward?


    "... R-really now? And here I was thinking that she made you do something worse..." Speranza uttered with her confusion still clearly visible. "Well, she did tell me that she was romantically interest in yo-... ah... P-please pretend you never heard that, my creator~"


    "... She''s interested in what now?"


    "N-nothing~... Anyway..." the maid quickly attempted to shift the topic. "I suppose I should be punishing you too, hm~ I mean, my sister did so already, so it should be my turn by now, correct?"


    "... W-what will you be making me do?" he inquired nervously as a bit of sweat formed on his forehead.


    "Oh, it''s nothing too complicated, my creator~ you know how gentle and loving I am after all, right?" Speranza explained with her ever-mischievous tone. "I just want you to do one thing for me..."


    "... And that is?"


    "... Pat my head and praise me for the work I do for you everyday~" the maid answered with a wide smile. "Surely, that wouldn''t be too hard for you to do, hm?"


    ... That was it? That was all she wanted? Surely, she wanted him to do something of a more difficult, and humiliating nature? Why was it that these 2 mischievous women kept asking for such simple things that couldn''t even be considered as punishments in the first place? If he had been in their place, he would have most likely asked for something more difficult at least...


    "Fine... Come here then, Spera."


    Without hesitation, Speranza moved closer to the one she considered as her master, lowering her head as she prepared to receive the well-deserved praise and attention she had been longing for. Novus'' right hand then moved towards her head, and eventually, he would then begin gently patting her as he began showering her with praises.


    "There, there, you good, hardworking maid of mine. Even though you don''t work for salary, you always do the best maidwork known to man, even though your master doesn''t deserve it." Novus commended her works with a bit of humor and exaggeration.


    "I love you, and I will never forget about the things you do for me, no matter how simple they are.... Thank you."


    Without warning, Speranza would suddenly rush towards him and wrapped her slender arms around his waist, trapping him in a tight, yet warm embrace as she refused to let him go: this was always what she had wanted from him, as she didn''t want anything else but attention, validation, and love from the one she considered her one true master.


    "... Thank you too, my adorably pathetic creator~"


    While Novus would immediately become quite surprised with her sudden display of affection, he of course wouldn''t dare to refuse such a warm act of love that was being done to him- it was from one of the people he was close to after all, and pushing her away would simply be outright terrible.


    After all... The way Speranza had always been acting... It reminded him of his own child that he once had, that little girl who never grew up to reach her potential, all because of her frail, sickly nature.


    After having known the true value of what it means to love, and to have someone to care for and consider as family, Novus wouldn''t dare to refuse this simple act of affection she was showing for him.


    "... Seriously, Spera... You''re like a little kid sometimes, you know?" Novus replied as he expressed his thoughts about what Speranza just did. "Still... This hug from you... It''s not  bad at all."


    Her head then moved closer to his as she whispered faintly into his ear in a teasing manner.


    "Well... I was technically born just a few months ago after all." she spoke softly. "So don''t ignore me again just because I''m acting like a child, you hear?"


    ________________________________________


    SWOOOSHHH!!!


    The cleaving strike was particularly fast and powerful: it was so swift in speed, that even Speranza had little time to avoid the killing blow that was about to split her cleanly in half.


    "!!!"


    Instinctively, Speranza''s body moved sideways in order to avoid the incoming blow, though of course, with the blade being faster than her own agility, the staggered combat maid could only manage to partially dodge what was about to hit her.


    SLASSHHHH!!!


    Regulus'' greatsword pierced through the portion of her armor that was covering her left shoulder, and the blade instantly became lodged into that area, as it was now unable to cleave through any further nor be pulled back by its wielder despite the immense force that had been used with its attack.


    "... I did... I did it..." Regulus muttered with his heavy breathing quite audible, as it took every single ounce of his strength to do that miracle he had just done. "... You''re dead now... There''s no way you can survive that..."


    "... We may have nearly failed our mission, but we ultimately won in the end..." Regulus continued to speak to the monster he had his sword lodged as the vile monstrosity remained silent all the while. "... If I don''t survive the fall, then... I''ll be seeing you in the afterlife, witch... Or maybe not..."


    Victory... It was a costly success they had achieved, one that had already doomed both of his companions to a brutal death, and he wasn''t even sure now if he was going to manage to survive his own fall back to the earth- he had been rendered quite weak by the tremendous effort he had just done, and there was no way for him to exert any more energy to ensure that he would survive his inevitable descent.


    As such, Regulus continued to hold onto his greatsword that remained firmly planted within his enemy''s torn body, grasping tightly onto its metal grip for dear life in an attempt to prolong what little time he had left before both of them would be pulled down by the weight of gravity.


    "...?"


    ... Strangely enough though, his mysterious enemy was still somehow managing to hover in the air, a sight that instantly made him somewhat confused as he began to wonder...


    Did he truly manage to deal the killing blow to this monster? Or had she somehow managed to survive against his sword despite the tremendous power of his strike?


    ...


    ...


    Shock... Disbelief... Bewilderment... And eventually, anger, would be the main emotions that quickly clouded Speranza''s mind as her line of thought ran completely wild: she couldn''t believe how this man, who was already supposed to have been defeated, had managed to land a devastating blow that would have killed her had she not managed to alter her position at the last second.


    How dare he... How dare this man touch her with his vile, primitive weapon? He should have just quietly accepted his defeat as he plummeted back down to the earth due to gravity, yet he still had the audacity to unleash one more attack- what was even more bothersome to her, however, was that fact that this final gambit of his had somehow managed to work despite all the odds that were stacked against his favor.


    "..."


    Despite her terrible injury though, the combat maid felt not even a wince of pain wracking her nerves at all: as a being of a biosynthetic nature, Speranza had already been rendered completely resistant to the likes of such trivial sensations like pain and hunger, and the sword that had been violently rammed into her body made her feel not the vexing emotion of agony, but a terrifying feeling of rising fury and a desire for vengeance instead.


    "... W-what... How are you still alive...?"


    It was impossible, Regulus thought as he cursed within his mind due to the ridiculousness of what he was seeing with his very eyes- she was still alive, and what''s more was that she was staring into his eyes with a cold, wrathful expression that had suddenly formed on her face...


    In truth, a violent impulse of hatred began shrouding all of Speranza''s thoughts in a sea of darkness, as Speranza was still unable to fully accept the impossible scenario that had just appeared before her: it was an anger so powerful, that it was beginning to override all her sense of rational thought, and as such, her eyes began staring back into her would-be killer''s own with a fierce, piercing gaze that made even Regulus somewhat terrified.


    "... I have to admit, that attack you just did would have worked had you aimed more properly..."


    "Argghhh!!!"


    One of Speranza''s hands, whose connecting shoulder hadn''t been cleaved through by Regulus'' sword, would rapidly move towards the helpless warrior''s right arm, seizing him rather helplessly as she easily carried his helpless body around as if it were a puppet with one string attached to it.


    "Well, not that it matters anyway..." Speranza, unlike her usually cheerful self, would speak with a tone that seemed incredibly cold. "... My job here is done, and all that''s left for me to do is to leave and let the artillery finish all of you off."


    "Let me go, you witch! Unhand me this insta-" Regulus shouted as he moved and struggled with his body to resist her pull, though it would ultimately be a meaningless endeavor due to the superior strength of her grip.


    "What a poor choice of words." Speranza cut him off without delay. "Meet your end through gravity then, you overbearing sword-wielder."


    Almost immediately, Regulus would be thrown away by her into the vast open sky that surrounded them, propelling him into the air as the poor warrior sped pitifully towards the ground...


    "AHHHHHH!!!!!"


    His body crashed rapidly towards the earth like a descending meteorite, and as its momentum only grew even more intense as he came closer to colliding with the ground, the cold expression on Speranza''s face would only become more evident as she observed the crashing warrior''s body...


    Speranza was still incredibly bothered with the grievous injury that had just been inflicted upon her, and the sight of the one who had hurt her to this extent, the same being who was now descending helplessly towards the ground in a pitiful manner, brought a strange expression within the combat maid''s mind that could only be described as a ''he deserved it'' kind of emotion.


    She didn''t want to admit it to herself, but she was indeed finding some sort of sadistic pleasure seeing her would-be killer meeting his end, as if her subconscious self thought of the entire thing as if it were some sort of karmaic retribution that was destined to strike him mercilessly.


    "... Then again... I''m feeling rather displeased at the moment..." Speranza muttered to herself, as the angered expression that had formed on her face never ceased to be. "Well, most of my body is still functional anyway, so I guess I have a few more moments of fun before I have to return..."


    There was a sense of extreme rage that had formed within her heart, as the thought of being hurt to this extent filled her with a rage that was so indescribably large, so much so, that the combat maid had never felt something like this before: it was a direct, polar opposite to her normally gentle, kind-hearted nature, and it was a deep, uncontrollable sensation of wrath that she could barely even keep contained within herself...


    Right now, she had the strong, impulsive desire to act out on her desire for revenge, and there was little that anybody else could do to stop this destructive madness from transpiring...


    "Change of plans..." Speranza said all of a sudden, as the mechanic matrixes of steel behind her began powering up again, with blaring lights forming from their sleek metal bodies as they drew closer to unleashing their terrible power once again.


    "I''ll be blowing all of you up to smithereens as payback, you imperial shits."


    ________________________________________


    THUD!


    And just like that, the 1st rank of the Hundred Seats had died in battle as his body met the hard surface of the earth in a fatal crash that instantly pulverized his flesh and bones.


    The last of the Arslan''s Hand champions who took the skies to bring down their dangerous, aerial enemy had been soundly defeated, with their magicks seemingly nullified as they were simply swatted down as if they were nothing more than flies...


    "... E-even Lord Regulus stood no chance against that behemoth..."


    "Who is that woman... Is she a monster?"


    "Just what kind of enemies are we facing... For just a single one of their own to be this powerful?"


    For the soldier known as Vernalius, both his eyes and his mind couldn''t believe the series of impossible scenarios he had laid witness to- from the quick, disastrous defeat of the imperial experimental weapon they unleashed, to even the deaths of the 3 powerful members of the Hundred Seats...


    Vernalius had quickly come to realize that the enemy before them was no foe they coulr ever hope to defeat with the forces they brought with them: she had effortlessly taken down their best warriors as if they were nothing more than nuisances, though granted, the efforts of the 3 Hundred Seats champions were not in vain due to the terrible injury they managed to leave on her before their deaths.


    Even still though, despite that, the soldier knew to himself that they had no way to exploit the opportunity that was left behind for them: there was no way for them to bring that monster down from the sky and unleash their numbers on her, and the only thing they could most preferably do right now was to retreat this losing battle and re-rally their forces.


    ... However, before they could even consider doing that...


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    A terrifying cacophony of echoing explosions could suddenly be heard throughout the air, as powerful detonations tore apart the  imperial army and began wiping out its men by the masses.


    There was nothing they could do to stop this now: the 2 who were previously responsible for preventing this from occurring had already died at the hands of their enemy, and there was no other mage within their ranks that could ever hope to erect a barrier that could protect themselves from such deadly forces.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    "R-RETREAT!!! WE''LL BE WIPED OUT AT THIS RATE!"


    "THERE''S NOTHING WE CAN DO, WE HAVE TO RUN AWAY FROM THIS MONSTER!"


    "RETREAT! RUN AWAY! FLEE, ALL OF YOU, AND DON''T LOOK BA-"


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The very ground beneath them turned into a sea of hellfire, as scores of imperial warriors were vaporized and slaughtered by the eruptions that tore through their rank-and-file formations like a hot knife through butter: a few moments had passed, and thousands upon thousands of men had already instantly met their ends due to the  explosions that continuously materialized to torment them.


    Vernalius wouldn''t even live for more than 5 seconds amidst the orchestra of destructive eruptions that were wiping them out, as he his body had already been completely torn apart and vaporized by one of these explosions that occurred within his close proximity.


    It took an entire minute before the explosions would cease to be unleashed, and by then, not a single imperial soldier would be left alive to tell the tale of the one-sided massacre that had just been inflicted upon all of them...


    ...


    ...


    After what seemed to be an eternity of hell, Speranza''s rampage had come to a grinding halt for a moment...


    The fields of frozen grass where the soldiers once stood upon were riddled with countless, gaping craters, as a thick layer of dust, dirt and snow enshrouded its ruined landscape from view :simultaneously however, glowing, molten slags of stone and ground poured about its uneven surface, a sea of scorching deformations caused by the sheer, searing, energies that had been unleashed upon the once-pristine, open fields.


    So devastating was the continuous barrage that Speranza had unleashed on the Neugomian forces, that the entire area she wreaked havoc on had been turned into a desolate wasteland where not even the most stalwart, enduring creatures could hope to survive in...


    "... I think you can stop now... Speranza..."


    A gentle hand patted the combat-maid on her right shoulder amidst her temporary blind rage, a soft touch that instantly made her snap out of her madness in an instant.


    "... A-ah... Did I go too far, Miss Thurien...?"


    Silence.. And then a brief, nervous laughter would come out of the medical android''s mouth before she responded. "... Yes, you kind of did go overboard this time..." she explained to her. "... There isn''t even a single human left from the destruction you just unleashed..."


    "... I''m truly sorry..." Speranza immediately turned to face towards her as she lightly bowed her head in shame. "I guess you wanted to ''save'' at least some of them, am I right? But now you can''t, and it''s all my fault..."


    "Well... In any case, they were going to kill us if we didn''t deal with them. Don''t think too badly about their deaths~" Thurien said as a gentle, empathetic expression formed on her face. "Although, the way you blew them all away until nothing remained of them... It''s honestly a bit terrifying, even to me..."


    "..."


    "... Hahaha, don''t feel so bad now, Spera~ I''m not disappointed in you at all." Thurien tried to cheer her up. "I''m actually surprised you chose to wrap things up quickly... Though, in an excessive way..."


    "... Aren''t you disheartened with the fact that I was too merciless on them?" Speranza asked as she continued to look down in shame. "I mean... I didn''t even try to at least use that realm-weapon-thing you gave me... I''m really sorry for what I just did..."


    The medicae then responded with a sigh as she spoke again. "We''re in a war with these people. We can''t and won''t be able to save everyone, you know? Especially in a conflict with people as stubborn as them." Thurien explained patiently. "I learned that a long time ago ever since I was first built by my creators, so... Try not to get too bothered by this, okay~?"


    "... Y-yes, Miss Thurien..."


    "One more thing..." the medicae would add. "Learn to keep your emotions in check in times like this next time, alright? You wouldn''t want to repeat this situation again in the future, wouldn''t you?"


    "... I don''t..."


    "Good~ now let''s go back to the fortress, we need to patch up that injury of yours." the medical android smiled as she gave her another light tap on her shoulder. "That man really did something terrible on you, hm? You really should''ve just gone for the kill from the beginning..."

 Part 5 - Chapter 5

    In the eastern lands of the desert-ridden continent of Nifarusca, a vast landmass that lied to Xathra''s south, there laid an ancient clan of powerful martial artists who fought not in the way of magick, but in the sacred arts and techniques that they had long kept to themselves for the hundreds of years that they''ve existed.


    Martial arts... It was a power that relied not on the arcane prowess of magick and mana, but a hidden, inner strength that lied within their bodies: it was a power that allowed them to shatter stone with but a single strike from their fists, as well as the ability to redirect such monstrously powerful blows without difficulties.


    The Zhao Clan, they were an entire clan of physically-adept warriors that managed to strike terror into not only their 2 neighboring nations, but into the very hearts and minds of the forces of the faraway Neugomian Empire itself: a long time ago, when the Empire''s arrogance was at its finest peak, their soldiers had sought out to bring the lands of the Zhao into their domain, though of course, such an attempt would easily be foiled by the superior might of the Zhao warriors, who would often strike at night and wreak havoc upon their tents when the soldiers were supposed to be resting.


    Its people mostly consisted of browned-tone skin and plain, hazel eyes, a stark contrast to the features possessed by one of their greatest warriors, Altair, a beautiful, light-skinned woman with a pair of azure eyes, an appearance that was usually more common in the people who resided in the continent of Xathra...


    Of course, many of you would begin to ask: why would such a thing manage to transpire in the first place? How and why did Altair came to be with these people who she didn''t even truly share a connection with?


    In truth, the poor Altair was born from the forbidden love between 2 warriors of different, warring sides: her father, a high-ranking imperial soldier of Neugomia, and her mother, a warrior of the Zhao Clan who had initially been assigned with assassinating her soon-to-be betrothed amidst the still-ongoing war between the 2 nations.


    The 2 would have a rough beginning, with the mother often managing to nearly kill the father in several of their encounters: neither of them would ever actually manage to kill the other, though eventually however, in one of their many fateful battles, the 2 would both find themselves helpless and wounded after one of the many skirmishes that they fought in amidst their conflict.


    Both of them would help each other in order to survive, and as they spent many days by themselves in the abandoned battlefield where they wouldn''t be rescued by their own forces for many years, it wouldn''t take long for them to develop an understanding between each other, an initially normal connection that would eventually bloom into a devoted, loving relationship that neither of them could hope to pull their infatuated hearts out of.


    One day, however, the parents would eventually meet their demise, as when the 2 chose to return to the very nations they served, both the mother and the father eventually met their ends after their respective factions found out about their once-concealed connection with each other, and it wouldn''t take long for them to be branded as traitors and eventually executed.


    Before the mother was killed however, they quickly discovered that she was pregnant with the child of the enemy soldier she had fallen in love with: as a final request from the woman who was about to be executed though, her child was spared from the tragedy of death, and would later be taken in to replace her mother as one of the many warriors that the clan had already lost amidst their war against the Empire...


    And Altair, who had been pitifully left behind, would be taken in by the Zhao clan and eventually trained as one of their warriors: the war had been devastating to them as well after all, and so they were not selective about the children they would take into their wing and train to become their henchmen.


    Of course, though, the mark of betrayal that had been left by her mother would never cease to be even after the poor lass eventually reached adulthood, as Altair was constantly met with suspicion and prejudice even from the very same people she had grown up with: it was a tragic experience, as Altair was considered as a half-breed who didn''t even deserve the training that her fellows were receiving, and many of them believed that she didn''t even have the skills necessary to become one of the clan''s fearsome warriors.


    Despite this disadvantage, Altair would do her very best in her training to become the very best, challenging and succeeding against every hardship and obstacle that was thrown at her, until eventually, the successful assassin would not only become one of the clan''s most recognized warriors, but one that had also been finally accepted as their true kin due to her incredible skill and martial prowess.


    Unfortunately though, there were still those that remained ever-cautious about the potential betrayal she could bring due to her not being a pure-blood of their clan, and so they drew a treasonous plan that would see the poor woman captured by her enemy and tortured until every semblance of the glory she possessed was finally gone...


    Such was the story of the assassin known as Altair, a truly tragic one that was full of blood and violence, as even from childhood, Altair had already known the cruelty of life and the looming terrors and horrors that came along with it...


    ________________________________________


    "We''re still so far away..."


    The 50-thousand strong splinter army was still making its way to Polonia''s capital due to the technical difficulties that their translocation spell encountered, and it while the castle walls of the Polonian capital were already within their sights, it appeared that it would take them a few more minutes of walking before their forces could finally manage to enter the city gates and deal with any enemy force that was here.


    For the spell-fencing 2nd rank of the Hundred Seats, Airen, however, there was a rising sense of suspicion that was beginning to form in his mind: while they were expecting that their enemy was about to attack at any moment now, the spellfencer couldn''t help but feel himself becoming more wary and cautious with every second that passed by before their very eyes.


    "Keep your guard up, Airen." Falzhan would suddenly speak to him." They might attack us at any moment. We can''t afford to be carefree right now."


    "I know. There''s just something that bothers me about what''s happening right now though..."


    Falzhan raised one of his eyebrows as he heard what Airen uttered. "It''s that they haven''t even made their moves yet, huh? Don''t worry, I''m feeling the same thing as you right now..."


    Nothing happened as the thumping of boots on the ground continued to echo throughout the air while they slowly moved closer to one of the city gates, as the enemies they were expecting to be present in the Capital were nowhere to be seen, and only the sounds of their own march were the most notable noises they could here, almost as if the enemy hadn''t truly been present in Polonia''s capital city in the first place.


    A faint sensation of wonder quickly began to form in Airen''s mind as a result of his doubts: were there even any sort of enemy forces present in this place in the first place? Or had they already anticipated their attack and were now beginning to make preparations?


    Regardless of the endless possibilities he could see, Airen remained ever wary about the possibility of an enemy attack, as he his suspicion was only growing stronger the more time passed where their enemies refused to even acknowledge their arrival.


    Eventually though, the reaction they were all expecting would come in the form of an attack that they never could have expected...


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    A series of weak explosions peppered the marching soldiers in a synchronized, repetitive assault, though what made many of them wonder about the nature of the attack was of how weak it was in dealing damage, as not even a single man would become killed or wounded in such a feeble assault.


    However, the other factor that would arrive after this seemingly pointless action was the true event that would rouse their guards up into battle once more...


    "I can''t see! Why is there fog here all of a sudden?!"


    "It''s the enemy''s doing! They scattered this fog through the explosions they unleashed upon us!"


    "They''re going to attack us at any moment now! We have to get ready!"


    A thick, smokescreen of mist emerged from the areas where the detonations ocurred, quickly scattering throughout the air as it rapidly began to make their surroundings seem foggier to their eyes: this was the reason why the explosions were weak in the first place, as their goal was not to destroy and unleash devastation upon the soldiers, but rather, it was to envelop them in a mask of deception where the enemies would be able to attack their disoriented formations with ease.


    And of course, their adversaries did indeed use this method of assault in order to spread chaos among the Neugomian soldiers, to allow themselves to easen the slaughter that they were just about to enact.


    "Falzhan! Get ready! They''re going to attack us now!" Airen shouted to his fellow champion as he drew his sword.


    "Right, I got ya! Let''s beat them to a pulp the moment they appear right in front of us!


    ...


    ...


    Malfor had to admit, the smokescreen of fog they had just unleashed upon their enemy was a cowardly tactic that didn''t sit well with his code of honour as a proud warrior: in his perspective, it was a dirty trick that no dishonorable man of battle should ever consider doing, but now, the dire circumstances of this conflict, as well as the disastrous consequences that would ensue should they fail, eventually made him reconsider his feelings.


    They unleashed such a smokescreen through the cannons that were left behind by that woman named ''Thurien'' before she departed for the other mission that had been assigned to her: in the first place, many of them expected that the possibility of imperial forces somehow managing to arrive within the capital''s vicinity was quite low, and not much preparations were made for such an event as a result, which was why they weren''t fully equipped in dealing with the nearby imperial army that was currently making its way towards the capital.


    In truth however, while the cannons available to them did possess loadouts that could easily tear through the formations of the imperial army without much issue, they were currently in such incredibly limited supply, and so they had chosen to utilize the currently more abundant smoke canisters that they could use to assist in their defences.


    "Where is this mist even coming from! I can''t fucking see!"


    "This must be the work of the enemy! They''re all fucking cowards, I tell you!"


    "What kind of magick even is this?! The fog is everywhere!"


    It was pitiful to see the once-proud, marching formations of the Neugomian army fall quickly into a chaotic disarray that seemed nothing like what it had previously been: however, the safety of the very kingdom this knight served was at stake, and so he couldn''t afford to show any form of mercy to these interlopers who wanted to bring the kingdom back into an age of slavery under the tyranny of the empire... No, he would most definitely not allow that.


    As the knight-captain of all the soldiers belonging to Polonia''s Templar Knights, Malfor was the 2nd-in-command of all the forces that would be responsible for the kingdom''s defence, with their mentor, Altair, being the 1st-in-command and their de facto leader: it was the order of their new king after all, and Malfor actually liked how well this woman had always led their forces even amidst their basic trainings.


    While they were heavily outnumbered by the Neugomian force they were about to engage with, with there only being 200 of them available against an army of 50,000 soldiers, the armor they had equipped on them would allow them to close to gap they had between their enemies- after all, even Malfor knew the power that lied within these suits, as a single one of them could allow even the weakest of individuals to deal with a hundred people all at once.


    "By the count of 3, all of you shall charge into the fog and cut down every imperial soldier you see. Not to fear though, as your armor will allow you to see your targets through the thickness of the mist without much issues." Altair issued her command as she raised her sword into the air. "Malfor, begin counting at once."


    "By your will..." Malfor complied, as he then began enacting his task at once.


    ".... 3..."


    "... 2..."


    "... 1..."


    "Charge, all of you. All at once.... Show the men of the empire no mercy."


    ________________________________________


    Panic erupted within the ranks of the imperial soldiers as their enemies finally unleashed their inevitable assault upon them: from the smokescreen provided to them by the mist, the concealed enemy soldiers rapidly began cutting down the Neugomians with their swords at a terrifyingly quick face, as if the men of the empire were nothing more than fields of wheat that were meant to be reaped by a scythe. Faint, armored figures emerged from the fog, and with their arrival came the immediate deaths of many of the soldiers who remained unable to see through the dense mist that surrounded them all... "They''re cutting us down with ease! What are we supposed to do?!"


    "Even our shields are getting ripped to pieces by their swords!"


    "Damn it all! What kind of enemies are we even facing?!"


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    They were like unstoppable berserks whose rampage couldn''t be stopped despite every attempt they made: the imperial soldiers were cut down en masse, and even as they plunged their spears and swords into the weak gaps of the armor of their enemies, their attacks had no effect on their mysterious adversaries ever, as if their armor was invincible to any form of harm or damage.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    [Blazing Hellfire.]


    [Wind Burst.]


    [Lighting Storm.]


    Amidst the chaos, even the imperial mages would begin to cast their spells towards the general direction from where the faint visages of their enemies could be seen, casting several, destructive arcane energies upon the enemies who had chosen to use such an underhanded trick against them.


    However...


    "W-what is this?! How do they still live even after getting hit with our spells?!"


    "This is madness! What kind of blighted creatures are we even fighting?!"


    The only things that would seemingly suffer any harm as the spellcasters hit their marks was the ground, as their enemies remained unperturbed and unaffected by the spells they threw at them by the dozens: of course, the mages would throw several more spells against these monsters, and the complete immunity their foes had to their arcane might would only become more apparent as they remained completely unfazed.


    For the high-ranking imperial mage known as Aleria, it was a terrible possibility that had somehow manifested in reality- enemies that were completely immune to not only their magicks, but were also completely shrugging off ever form of physical attack that their soldiers utilized against them...


    How were they supposed to fight an impossible enemy like this, when they easily remained untouched by all the attacks they were unleashing against them?


    "S-shit! G-get away from me, you monster! Get away from me! D-don''t come any closer!"


    One of the approaching enemies was steadily closing in on her as it drew its sword, gradually closing in for the kill as it walked towards her in a slow, but dreadful advance. In complete turmoil, Aleria would cast several of her spells against the monster that was slowly approaching her, hurling spell after spell towards its direction in a desperate attempt to put a stop to its approach.


    [Fireball.]


    [Thunder Shock.]


    [Piercing Light.]


    Multiple magick circles formed in front of her as the crystal of her staff radiated with an intense, blue light, and spell after spell was immediately launched towards the approaching enemy that was trudging towards her without a single regard for its own life. Of course, many of her spells would land successful hits on its armor, making Aleria feel a pang of hope for the terrifying circumstance she was trapped in...


    Even though these creatures had an incredible resistance to magick... Surely, it would have at least suffered some damages from the multitudes of spells she casted upon it?


    "N-no... by arcana... HOW IS THIS MONSTER COMPLETELY UNDAMAGED?!"


    It had come close enough that she could see what the monster truly looked like- it was a humanoid that was only slightly taller than her own height, but the thick, unnatural, imposing armor it bore gave Aleria an otherworldly feeling about the monstrosity before her, as if it was something she had never seen before in her entire life.


    Luckily for her though, some of the soldiers from her own side would finally take notice of the desperate situation she had quickly become entrapped in.


    "Protect the mage! Don''t let him get close to her!"


    "Charge, you lot! CHAARGGE!"


    Multitudes of soldiers rushed to her protection as they readied their weapons, with half of of them running towards her as they raised their shields in defense, while the remaining, other half charged towards the monstrous enemy that was steadily closing in on her.


    Unfortunately however, their useless attempt at bringing down the fell creature quickly proved to be useless...


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    The inhuman beast moved its sword, and in the blink of an eye the attacking men were turned into diced corpses as their dead pieces fell uselessly to the ground- while their attack ultimately proved to be meaningless, it at least gave more time for Aleria to unleash several more spells against it.


    [Lighting Chain.]


    [Fire Storm.]


    Despite the accuracy of her attacks, they ultimately did no damages on the monstrous creature at all, it was almost as if it was truly, completely impervious to the likes of magick, and just the thought of it made Aleria shudder to her very core.


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    The remaining men who sought to protect her amidst her spell-castings were brutally torn apart as the monster swung his sword once more, turning them into sliced chunks of meat that scattered their ichor throughout the ground in a bloody mess.


    And now, there was nothing left to protect Aleria from the lone enemy that was dreadfully determined to take her life in this battle, no matter what: the mage began screaming and pleading for help to any of the nearby soldiers, but alas, the ongoing chaos induced by the fog would prevent the poor mage from being saved by her panicking allies who were already quickly getting wiped out...


    "H-HELP ME! I DON''T WANT TO DIE! ANYONE, PLEASE! SAVE ME FROM THIS MONSTER, I BEG OF YO-"


    Before Aleria could finish her words, a quick, horizontal strike from the monster''s sword would cleave through her soft neck, making her head depart from her spine as it was then propelled into the air due to the immense power of the blow that had been delivered...


    ________________________________________


    What a bloody mess, he thought to himself as he took part in the grisly, fog-ridden chaos before them: from what he could count, Malfor had already slain 50 of the Neugomians with his sword, and yet there were still many more of them within the fog that they had to deal before the battle was finally over.


    Unlike their enemies, they could see both friend and foe thanks to the advanced features of the suits they wore on themselves: there were these several diagrams, displays and symbols that appeared on their sights that allowed them to see their allies and targets through the fog, marking them with faint, humanoid silhouettes of green and red that they could clearly see with their eyes, and although such things would seem complicated at first glance, they eventually became incredibly accustomed to it after the months of training they underwent.


    Still though, that shrill scream of mercy that the mage woman let out before he slew her... Granted, while it was a bit haunting for the likes of Malfor, who disliked bringing harm to both women and children alike, it was ultimately a necessary evil he had to do in order to win them the conflict- she was a mage after all, and there was no way that he was simply going to just spare her amidst the battle that was going underway.


    "They''re too strong, we have to fall back! We can''t fight them head on, it''s too dangero-"


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    The reason for the abnormal strength they were displaying was because of the power armour they had donned on: it not only vastly improved their physical capabilities and greatly reduced the physical strain they had to experience in combat, but it also provided protection against the one fatal advantage that the imperials possessed against their forces.


    Anti-magick... The surfaces of their armor possessed some sort of property that rendered them incredibly resistant to any form of arcane forces. Their new king had a great many technologies available to him when he first drove away the Neugomians from their land: while Malfor knew that their suits were but in experimental phases that were still running through trial and error, he couldn''t help but feel amazed with how sophisticated and effective they were in the conflict they were currently in, as they were easily defeating the imperial army before them as if they were nothing more than insects to be crushed.


    "Shield Formations ready! Hurl all your javelins at once!"


    "Ready, aim, throw-"


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    Alas, Malfor was forced to cut down more of these helpless fools as the battle raged on, making sure to end them quick by delivering tha most fatal blows as swiftly as possible- even though he disliked the existence of the empire and its imperialistic ideals, he wasn''t the type who favoured inflicting suffering upon others, even to those who absolutely deserve it.


    "Sir Malfor! There you are! Thank the Lord, you seem to have remained perfectly fine!"


    A gentle tap would make contact with the shoulder plates of his armor, and as Malfor looked beside him he quickly discovered that it was Casimir who had garnered his attention: granted though, while the suit was the one who made the process of identifying his friend, Malfor could immediately tell just who it was who had spoken to him based on how he spoke alone.


    "... So do you, Casimir... You look even better than my current state, actually." Malfor answered, as he stopped his movements for a moment and then posed a question of his own. "How are the others faring, by the way? Have any of our men gotten injured yet?"


    "The others are doing fine as well... It''s just..." Casimir replied. "... How long will it be until the battle ends? It''s starting to make even me a bit shaken with how many we''ve killed already... And I think the same could be said for the others, to be honest..."


    A long sigh emerged from Malfor''s mouth as he spoke. "It''s not about to end yet, if that''s what you think. There are hundreds more of these bastards, and it''s not just going to end after this one skirmish we pulled them into."


    "... I see..." Casimir uttered back. "... I guess we''ll just have to keep killing as many of them as we can, huh?"


    "Indeed... It''s either us or them, Casimir. We can''t let them in the capital, or else chaos would ensue, and our newfound freedom will be taken from us again."


    Truthfully, many of them found it difficult to kill all of these soldiers in front of them with such a monstrously brutal efficiency: even though some of them made sure that the deaths they inflicted ran quick, there was still that sense of guilt for the men they had to kill in order to keep their freedom and ensure the survival of their kingdom.


    Even if it was their job to ensure their nation''s safety and survival, the knights were ultimately human as well, and they couldn''t help but feel pity for the imperial soldjers they had to massacre so that they could win the battle: it was a situation that they couldn''t back down from just because it didn''t sit right with their morals, lest they risk their kingdom being reduced to a helpless vassal once more as its people become slaves that would be forced to serve the will of the Neugomian Empire once again.


    Suddenly, however, something unprecedented would happen to the both of them in a completely unexpected manner...


    BLAMM!!!


    "Die, you metal-clad fuckers!"


    A powerful, blunt force struck Casimir''s chest, an attack that hailed from the fist of the well-built figure who had appeared all of a sudden- it was one of the 7 Hundred Seats who accompanied the imperial army, Falzhan of the Iron Fist, and with his incredible physical strength, he easily managed to send the armored knight flying into the air due to the sheer power of the force he used against him.


    "CASIMIR!" Malfor yelled in a panic, shocked at what had suddenly just occurred as he readied his sword to fight against this particularly powerful enemy. "You bastard! I''ll cut you down at once!"


    He leapt towards him with a sudden burst of strength, swerving his sword as he began to move its razored edge towards his opponent''s vulnerable flesh- it only took a few milliseconds for him to close the gap, and Malfor was absolutely certain that it would have been his victory...


    However...


    CLANG!


    A second enemy appeared from the thickness of the mist, another member of the Hundred Seats that wielded a sword which he used to counterract the attack that Malfor was about to deliver: it was Airen the spellfencer, and his incredible power immediately became apparent with how easily he parried Malfor''s blow as if it were nothing.


    "... How strange... My sword was enchanted with a maximized sharpness spell... How come it didn''t cut through his blade?"


    "Airen, you idiot! These guys have some sort of resistance to magick! You''re gonna have to resort to old-fashioned brute force if you wanna bring them down!"


    "I see... Let''s team up for now then, Falzhan. This one seems to be particularly troublesome..."


    This was going to be a problem... Malfor surmised as he analyzed the 2 opponents before him right now: it didn''t take a genius to know that these 2 were already incredibly powerful by their own, and the fact that both of them were here right now to deal with him was already starting to make him feel anxious...


    Would he even be able to win against them? Or would they manage to defeat him through their own, terrifying strength?


    What''s more, was that Malfor was still incredibly worried about the condition of his friend who had previously been sent flying- he needed to check up on him right now if he was alright, but he currently wasn''t able to do so due to being cornered by the 2 enemies who were about to attack him this very moment.


    Luckily though, as quickly as the bad circumstance arrived to bring chaos to his current moment, a fortunate miracle would just as swiftly come to him as he stood there motionlessly in anticipation of the attacks that his 2 enemies were about to make...


    SLASSHHHH!!!


    "..."


    "... F-Falzhan... What the hell..."


    It took only a single second for the tide of battle to turn to Malfor''s favour, as one of the 2 Hundred Seats would suddenly perish in an instant: a trail of lightning sped through the air, and the head of the 3rd ranked champion left his body as it flew into the air due to being cleaved cleanly off of his own body, leaving his dead body lifeless as it eventually slumped towards the ground in defeat.


    "This is not a fight you can handle with your current skill level, Malfor. Go and deal with the other enemy soldiers."


    Beside Malfor was the superior who had trained him for all those days of grueling, merciless labour, the woman who could move faster than what human eye''s could perceive, and with the power amplification effect that her armor provided for her, her agility became comparable to that of lightning strikes that would appear and disappear in less than a millisecond''s worth of time.


    "If you''re worried about your friend, don''t worry." Altair would mention briefly. "He''s completely fine, just a bit... Dazed. He''s over there... Go to him and make sure if he sustained any serious injuries."


    Immediately, Malfor would of course pay heed to her command without any refutations, as even he knew that she was completely in the right with what she just said. "... A-alright... I''ll do so at once..."


    A temporary panic overtook Airen''s mind for a moment as he witnessed the sudden death of his companion before him- he couldn''t even see where she had come from and from what direction did she make her angle of attack, as the speed she possessed was unlike anything he had ever seen before.


    This was bad... he quickly analyzed, instantly realizing how much of a threat this woman was going to be: the spellfencer immediately realized that he was going to have to go all-out from the very beginning if he was going to fight her, or else he''d easily get defeated here and lose his life like his now-dead friend.


    "Now then..." as Malfor took his leave, Altair would point the tip of her bloodied sword towards Falzhan as she stared coldly into her enemy''s eyes.


    "Let''s make this quick, shall we? I currently don''t have the luxury of time, so I need you dead as quickly as possible."


    ________________________________________


    The prestigious spellfencer of the Gerusca Kingdom''s people... The greatest magick swordsman rivaled only by a few people in the continent... The one who could cut through boulders with a single cut of his sword...


    These were the praises that Airen would often receive from those who admired him, as the strength he possessed as a warrior was not something that one could simply ignore or disregard.


    Airen grew up in an aristocratic family of prestigious origins, with his father being a general of the Gerusca Kingdom''s forces, and his mother being a strategist who led countless victories thanks to her sharp, tactical mind.


    As a child, Airen often looked up to his family with great awe, and he began to hope that he would one day become just as great as them, and obtain the glory that his parents would always revel in.


    And of course, the swordsman did everything he could in order to to pursue this noble dream of his.


    For most of his life, the young Airen would train in both the way of the sword and the way of magick under countless instructors, gradually managing to combine their elements as he eventually became one of the rarest forms of martial artists that exist in the world- warriors so powerful yet few in number, that the very names of their roles would often bring people into a sense of fear and admiration...


    Spellfencers... They were swordsmen who could infuse magick directly into their blades, allowing them to attack both physically and magickally as they cleaved through whatever enemy they fought against with ease. While they were impressively powerful combatants, their arts and techniques were often too difficult too master, which was why such terrifying monsters only existed in exceedingly few numbers.


    Against all the odds however, Airen became one of these monstrosities through years of training and sacrifice, and so even his family began to treasure him as one of their greatest.


    This was the story of Airen the Spellfencer, the 2nd rank of the Arslan''s Hand''s Hundred Seats, a swordmage who could cut through nearly everything with his arcane-enhanced blade, a warrior whose power was surpassed only by Regulus, the 1st rank, and their master, Arnus von Arslan, the figurehead of the Hand of Arslan and its forces.


    ... Unfortunately though, this prestigious man would finally meet an enemy that could match his strength and cunning in battle, and it would quickly become clear just who exactly would be the victor in his short-lived duel against her...


    ...


    ...


    [Rapid Mode Activated: Synaptic Cognition increased by 500%]


    The moment that mode had been activated, her entire body tensed up with a great, heart-pumping adrenaline as her nerves fired up into quick bursts of action...


    Time seemed to move slower for Altair the moment those words were announced to her by the automated voice in her armor: while she understood not a single thing about what the voice had stated, she could at least understand that the very speeds which Altair''s body could move at have been  increased greatly.


    "W-what the hell?!"


    "!!!"


    The air rippled with the sound of their clashing blades, as jolts of electricity crackled with every strike that Altair inflicted, while the 2 warriors dueled against each other in a quick battle where the spellfencer was clearly on the losing end.


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    Altair''s attacks came in quick successions, with some of her attacks being too fast that not even Airen could hope to perceive them, allowing a portion of them to remain unblocked as they struck his battle armor and began chipping off small fragments from its metal.


    Airen had quickly found himself in a vastly unfavorable scenario that he never would have thought to be possible- his sword, which was already enhanced with various enhancement spells that amplified its cutting power and speed, was unable to secure him even a moment''s worth of advantage over his enemy, as Altair kept out-speeding the hapless warrior with a frightening agility that exceeded what the spellfencer currently possessed.


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    "Y-you monster...!" Airen cursed at her monstrous power, unable to do much to match it with his own. "I''ll defeat you right now with everything I have!"


    The spellfencer''s sword was then suddenly enveloped by a thin, blag, fog-like miasma that covered most of its metal body: not only that however, but the thin, shadowy mist would also begin to cover the surface of his own battle armor as well, providing a form of protection that rendered him nigh-invulnerable to most forms of damage due to its unique form of protection to its caster...


    The sword of decay, which was the spellfencer''s greatest blade spell that he could ever hope to use- so great was its destructive power, that Airen himself would find a relatively few amount of moments where he could actually use it against his enemies.


    It was a spell that would cause a rapid deterioration unto everything it made contact with, as even the slightest touch from the blade would cause a decaying effect that was capable of eating away even objects and entities of magickal origin. It also produced an ominous, pitch-black light as a result of the decaying effect it inflicted upon the air that surrounded it, as only its user remained unaffected by the swift, deadly destruction it could bring upon its opponents.


    Not only that however, but the spell was also capable of protecting him from any form of attack that would try to hit him; by surrounding his body with its shadowy embrace, it rendered the spellfencer nearly immune to any form of physical attack that would try to come and harm him.


    In short, it was the most devastating sword spell he had in his arsenal, an enchantment that would allow his sword to defeat and slay anything it manages to make contact with using its fearsome edge...


    "Blade of Decay, Final Form!" Airen shouted as he made his move. "It all ends here, monster!"


    What Airen failed to consider though, was that despite his newfound invincibility to his enemy''s attacks, he had failed to give a single thought about the fact that she was still far more agile than the greatest levels of speed he could achieve, even with the help of his own enhancement magicks...


    ...


    ...


    This was strange...


    Her instincts told her that simply approaching that black miasma that enveloped her opponent was a dangerous thing to consider, and so Altair would temporarily halt her attacks as she stood there silently and quickly began making her plans.


    Perhaps it was a form of protection that would make him resistant to the blows she would use to attack him? Or perhaps was it a form of enhancement that could finally allow him to match her speed?


    In any case, Altair had no plans of prolonging this battle any further, as there were still a lot of enemies that needed to be slain before the mist would finally dissipate and blow away their cover, a terrible-scenario that would allow the Neugomians to rally their forces and perhaps finally pose a threat to their limited numbers.


    It was time to deal the finishing blow, and Altair knew exactly how she was going to execute it...


    "You shouldn''t be announcing your techniques when you''re about to do them, but... Ah well... it''s time for you to die."


    Altair''s attack had to be quick and precise, as even though the sword she wielded was perfectly capable of negating the magick barrier surrounding her opponent, she couldn''t risk her blade getting potentially damaged by the protective barrier''s anomalous effects, and so she had to make sure that this one swerve of her sword would instantly kill him without delay.


    [Diverting 20% of available power to weapon... Parsing...]


    The assassin''s blade crackled with blue, electrical energies as she raised it into the air. Simultaneously, pieces of the ground surrounding her would break off from the earth as they were struck by wild bolts of lightning that came from her charging blade, making them defy gravity as they began hovering slightly into the air.


    Only 3 seconds would be consumed by the process of the attack''s preparation, and as it was finally finished and ready to be unleashed, Altair wasted no time in delivering her swift, final verdict to the charging spellfencer.


    [Power Diversion Complete.]


    SWOOOSSHHHHH!!!!!


    It was an attack that was hundreds of times faster than the speed of lightning, and as a result, not even Altair could see how quickly she had struck him down with this finishing blow: the assassin''s sword made a single, downwards cleave, easily piercing through the inch-thin barrier of death and decay that protected her opponent from harm, as its sharp edge then cleaved through his soft flesh and split his vulnerable body into 2 equal parts.


    Alas, this was how the 2nd rank of the Hundred Seats, Airen the Spellfencer, would meet his end at the hands of his monstrously powerful slayer, and although he died a true, warrior''s death, the mission he sought to accomplish here would ultimately never be achieved...

 Part 5 - Chapter 6

    Time seemed to have stopped as everything around him stood still, though strangely enough, he still found himself able to move his body without difficulty, as his eyes then moved about to see just what exactly had happened to his fog-ridden surroundings.


    "... Could this be some form of attack from our enemies...?


    Arnus knew that their entire operation had already become a lost cause: though he hadn''t been able to fight any of the enemy soldiers who were currently wreaking havoc on their ranks, based on the multitudes of dead soldiers he found as he lurked around the mist-enveloped battlefield in search of his allies, he could easily tell that their forces had already suffered such immense casualties.


    It was over, he thought silently to himself as a somber expression formed on his stern face... They had already lost so many men in such a short amount of time, all because they fell into the hidden trap that their enemies prepared for them in advance.


    Though he was certain that he could at least take on some of the enemy forces before he were to perish like many of the soldiers, he already knew to himself that their defeat in this battle was already all but certain, and there was nothing much he could do to snatch their victory from the jaws of defeat.


    "...?"


    Suddenly however, a dark voice would whisper in an ethereal manner into his head, a malicious, overpowering voice that dripped with the very concept of wickedness as it spoke directly into Arnus'' line of thought...


    "You will lose this battle, human. How foolish of you to think that you and your forces could have easily marched inside this pathetic kingdom''s capital..." it jeered with an incredibly mocking tone. "Worry not though, whether you like it or not, I shall allow you to seize victory from this impossible battle, though I require one thing from you in exchange..."


    "Were you the one who caused this sudden halting of time?" "Indeed I am." it spoke of it quite proudly. "Now, as for my proposal..."


    "... What is it that you require then, demon?"


    The voice snickered, almost as if it was making a malevolent grin. "Your body, human. I cannot exist in the material world without a tether that will serve as my anchor in this pathetic reality."


    "Allow me full access to your vessel, and I shall defeat all of your enemies for you with ease."


    It was a tantalizing proposal, Arnus surmised to himself as he considered the voice''s offer: victory was something he desperately wanted to obtain in this losing battle, as it was something that all warriors would always seek amidst the raging conflicts they would often take part in. Not only that however, but Arnus knew that it was his mission to keep the continent safe from the countless enemies that threatened its existence, and the old warrior found it difficult to accept their sudden, complete defeat with this one ambush that their enemies had suddenly trapped them in.


    ... However, Arnus also knew that creatures like these would often have a myriad of tricks up their sleeves, and he wasn''t certain if this demon was truly willing to uphold its end of their little bargain...


    "What do you say, then? Will you accept my proposal?"


    "... I refuse..." Arnus stated firmly. "I will not allow an entity I don''t even know to simply have control of my body in exchange for victory... And besides..."


    "You are a demon, without a shadow of a doubt, and a demon''s words can never be truly trusted."


    A thick, permeating silence then ensued, as the voice refused to respond for a long moment that almost seemed to be an eternity''s worth of time. Eventually however, it would finally respond to Arnus'' answer... With a terrifyingly evil laughter that continuously grew louder within the thought chambers of Arnus'' confused brain.


    "... Hahahahahahaha..." the voice laughed madly, amazed with how foolhardy Arnus was being before its presence. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"


    "I believe that you''re mistaken, human..." the voice continued on, its tone instantly becoming more dark as its shrill laughs began to make Arnus'' head began to feel a light, throbbing pain. "You actually had the audacity to refuse such a wonderful offer... How admirably brave, though recklessly foolish as well... However..."


    "You don''t have a choice in this matter, human. Your body will become the tool I need to accomplish my current goals, whether you like it or not."


    "AARRGHHHHHH!!!!"


    A maddening pain then seized Arnus'' nerves, as his very flesh and bones began to morph and twist into a shape and figure that no longer appeared human...


    ________________________________________


    Arnus von Arslan... It was originally a name whose existence was something that not many people knew about, as when he was young, Arnus had been born in the lowest, filthiest slums of a now-forgotten, fallen kingdom that had been annihilated amidst the chaos that once engulfed the Xathran continent.


    The old man was originally known simply as Arnus, one of the many orphaned children who sought to survive the pitiful, desperate times they lived in, and despite being plagued with the toils of suffering for most of his childhood days, Arnus would manage to live through them all and reach the peak of adulthood, an accomplishment that not many of his long-dead fellow youth could manage to achieve...


    Ever since he had been a child however, Arnus always had the desire to help others, a trait not often found in his poverty-stricken homeland due to the necessity of survival often heavily outweighing their moralities.


    When Arnus reached the age of 19, he joined a mercenary band of warriors, a notably powerful bunch who served their contractors until their terms were finally finished, and this was where Arnus would obtain the skills he needed to become the eventual leader of the Arslan''s Hand.


    In truth however, the adventurers had already seen the great talent that lied within his body, and it was one of the main reasons why the decided to take him in as one of their own: of course, their expectations wouldn''t disappoint, and only 5 years would pass since that day, and Arnus would eventually surpass all of them in power.


    Despite his accomplishment though, they weren''t enough for the young lad known as Arnus back then, as he still had a myriad of other desires that he wanted to fulfill...


    Using his well-trained power and the connections he had already established with other adventurers during his time with his fellow mercenaries, Arnus founded the Arslan''s Hand, which originally started out as a guild that recruited rookie adventurers into their fold and trained them to become fine warriors.


    Eventually though, several decades would pass by, and this organization would eventually become the massive foundation that consisted of countless, powerful warriors that served the ultimate goal of what Arslan originally had in mind: to help others by protecting the continent from the threats that would endanger its existence, and to never again allow anyone to experience the same pain and suffering that they had once experienced...


    Unfortunately however, such a noble origin would ultimately be meaningless in front of the fate-worse-than-death that had been forced unto him by a malevolently powerful creature...


    ...


    ...


    T''was an intolerable pain that seized his body and soul, as the very flesh-matrix foundations that constituted his body were brutally torn apart, twisted, and replaced by new ones that never truly belonged to his body at all.


    Muscles and ligaments snapped and tore while bones cracked and shattered within him as if they were nothing but paper: Arnus'' muscles spasmed violently as his mind became assaulted by all sorts of sensations. He felt the destruction of his insides, replaced by unknown, writhing masses both hard and soft that squirmed forcibly inside him. Accompanied by such violent sensations, the mind-shattering pain only grew more insufferable, and Arnus was rendered completely helpless from the curse that befell him, as his body would forever belong to the demon who had forcefully taken it from him.


    "Mercy... Mercy..." Arnus pleaded, though his voice would never reach the ears of any, nor would it even manage to escape his throat, as he no longer had any control of the body that once belonged to him.


    It was a complete nightmare: he was still alive and conscious within his vessel that had now been warped and twisted beyond recognition, and the only sensation that the poor, old man could feel was a burning pain that burned him alive while never truly killing him.


    "Help me... Help.... Help me..."


    No act of mercy would spare Arnus from the nigh-infinite curse of pain he was feeling right now, as his anguished, writhing soul remained trapped inside his newly transformed body...


    ________________________________________


    With the demon''s appearance came the clearing of the mist, and chaos immediately ensued as it took control of Arnus'' body and warped his flesh to his liking, turning its framework into a gigantic, inhuman mass of insectoid flesh and chitin that spread about disgustingly as it slowly began to grow even larger in size...


    "W-what is that monster?!"


    "Where the hell did that thing come from all of a sudden?!"


    The scattered imperial soldiers stood unmovingly as their eyes remained fixated upon the loathsome, filthy creature that was now flying in the sky using its wings- the vile monstrosity had, by now, taken its complete form which seemed to be that of a dragon that possessed insectoid features, where instead of having reptilian scales and draconic eyes, the hideous draconian instead had chitin as its armor and bulbous, arthropodic eyes that clearly distinguished it from the rest of its fellow brethren.


    "Hahaha... Free again, at last... Now it''s time to let my plans unfold..." the massive insectoid uttered with its raspy, ear-piercing voice  that echoed throughout the air. "For my first little trick... I''ll be taking the souls of you worthless imperials for my own use..."


    Initially, the dragon lord was planning to let things be and remain in the imperial capital and ensure that things would proceed as usual. However, the weary Beelzebub, after growing bored of watching after his pathetic host of a human king, had finally decided to descend into the battlefield and wipe out these supposedly dangerous threats that were going to kill his important puppet: he couldn''t have that in this point of time after all, and so he had chosen to wipe out everything within the heart of this liberated kingdom in order to prevent that possibility of a setback from happening.


    And as such, as soon as the lord of Gluttony materialized in the real world using Arnus'' body, he quickly began unleashing his dreadfully powerful magick against every living and nonliving thing that existed within his range of sight.


    "Be proud that you useless humans have finally obtained a useful purpose in life."


    The immaterial folds that held reality in place would seemingly start to twist and warp in an impossible manner, producing ripples throughout the sky that made it seem like a fluid being struck by pebbles...


    [Order of Gluttony: Predation - 3rd Degree]


    "AAHHHHH!!!!"


    "S-SAVE USSS!!!"


    "MEERCCYYYY!!!!"


    An orchestra of pleading, desperate voices would permeate throughout the battlefield, as the remaining imperial soldiers were stricken with an attack that targeted their very spirits- the magick that the dragon had casted would cause their very souls to separate from their bodies, dragging them away into the draconian''s mouth for consumption, as their soulless corpses instantly shriveled up into dried-up corpses that no longer had any semblance of life in them.


    Simultaneously however, the sky instantly turn into an ochre color, with the clouds and the sun themselves fading away into nonexistence as the demonic dragon''s destined rampage was only just about to begin...


    ...


    ...


    "Damn it! What the hell is that thing?!"


    "I don''t know Casimir, but whatever it is, I don''t think it''s something we can fight..."


    The 200 knights fortunately remained unaffected by the devastating magick that the dragon unleashed, though of course, the main reason for their survival was that they weren''t the true targets of the spell in the first place.


    However, as Malfor and Casimir continued to look at the bizarre, spectacle of a creature whose appearance immediately took the lives of all their enemies, a great sense of dread and fear began flooding into their lines of thought.


    "... S-shit... Why is it making me feel like I want to run away?"


    "Speak for yourself! I feel like I want to kill myself whenever I look at it!"


    The insectoid dragon, even though it was merely hovering in the sky using its wings and was currently not doing anything at all... It felt like their very instincts were screaming for them to run away while never looking back, and the cowardly sensation only grew stronger the more that vile thing continued to soar above them in its disgusting glory...


    "Remember my name well before I slaughter you, humans." its horrible voice proclaimed as the sound boomed throughout the air. "I am one of the 7 Dragon Lords of the Abyss, the one who represents the bottomless desire of consumption, and the one who shall also be dragging your souls into the netherworld I hail from... However..."


    "You weaklings aren''t even worthy of consumption. Accept your death, and I''ll be sure to make it quick."


    Multiple beams that consisted not of light or energy, but that of pure, green acidic waste, would emerge from the insectoid''s gaping mouth, which would then strike devastatingly as it hit several of the knights who continued to watch the dragon''s movements from afar, melting their bodies away into sludge in an instant, as the very ground it had impacted on turned into a corrosive pool of bile-like liquids that could kill a man with even the slightest touch.


    "W-what are we going to do against that thing?!"


    "R-retreat! There''s no way we can stand a chance against that monstrosity!"


    The dragon wouldn''t relent with just one attack however, as it continued on with unleashing more of the devastating spells it could bring: jet-black thunder then emerged from the sunless, rust-colored skies, each of which landed heavily upon the scattered knights, disintegrating their existences with ease as it turned both their armor and bodies into dust and soot without delay.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    "R-RETREAT! DON''T EVEN THINK OF STANDING YOUR GROUND OR YOU''LL DIE!"


    "There''s no point in fighting that thing, we''ll only get annihilated at this rate!"


    Alas, their 200-strong force had already been reduced to half of its men due to the powerful attacks that the dragon made, and the surviving knights couldn''t help but feel a great sense of dread building up within them as the dragon continued to hurl more of its fatal magicks upon them.


    A full on panic quickly took place amongst them all, as it immediately became obvious that they wouldn''t be able to do anything against this massive, insectoid beast. The knights attempted to make an organized retreat as they made their way for the city gates, knowing that any form of resistance against this monster was pointless as they would only get slaughtered, and so they would instead rally their surviving forces and attempt to find a way to bring them down.


    Despite the horrid situation they had all suddenly found themselves in however, one of them would still choose to fight the vile monstrosity that was destroying them from afar with its terrible arcane disasters, as her sense of duty far outweighed the screams of fear and despair that constantly urged her to run away as well...


    ________________________________________


    A warrior never quits from his duties... A warrior never runs from his battles... And most importantly, a warrior must only admit defeat in the direst of circumstances...


    While Altair was disappointed with how quickly her subordinates had chosen to retreat, she ultimately knew that the reasoning behind this decision of theirs was of a sound reason: after all, even she knew that none of them would be able to stand a chance against this vile monstrosity that had suddenly appeared, and they would have all died instantly if they were to instead choose to hold their ground and fight against it.


    In truth, the only reason why Altair chose to fight this behemoth by herself was of a truly noble reason: her main goal was to delay this creature''s rampage for as long as she can, in order to not only allow all of the surviving knights to retreat successfully, but to also buy enough time for their arrival...


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    She had already called the other 2 who served under her liege, the ones who were in charge of protecting the western borders of Polonia from the incoming, invading imperial army- fortunately for her though, according to the communication she had done with them, they were already finished dealing with the invading army they were meant to drive away, and now they were currently heading towards the capital as quickly as possible so that they could assist in slaying this monster that had materialized into reality all of a sudden.


    [Rapid Mode Enhanced: Synaptic Cognition increased by 1000%... Warning, this mode will induce severe, internal damages to your body after its usage. Do you still wish to proceed?]


    The assassin would hesitate there for a moment as she heard the automated voice''s question: while she knew that she had no choice but to push forward for the sake of victory, the very fact that she wasn''t going to come out of this unscathed made her mind second-guess the choices she had made that led up to this very moment.


    ... Even still though, she had already made her choice, and backing out at the last moment would only make her look like both a fool and a coward.


    [Command Received... Parsing...]


    SWOOOOSSHHH!!!


    Altair propelled herself high into the open skies, destroying the ground her feet leapt up from as her power suit began crackling with immense, electrical energies that sparked continuously into the air, and it wouldn''t take long for her to engage against the draconian using her newly-enhanced strength...


    ...


    ...


    Who was this human? And why was it charging towards him with not a single regard for its own life?


    Confusion ran deep within the dragon''s mind as he witnessed the female warrior lunging into the air towards him: was she actually expecting that she could stand a chance against him and cut him down with that measly sword of hers?


    How stupid, Beelzebub thought as he scoffed at this foolish woman''s attempts- did she not just witness the destruction he unleashed upon those pitiful armored soldiers? Or was she perhaps too ignorant of the obvious gap of power between the both of them? Regardless of what the reason truly was however, the draconian ultimately didn''t care, as he saw this woman as just another fly that he needed to swat down with his strength.


    ... Contrary to what he expected though, the lone warrior would pose more of a danger to him than what he initially expected...


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    Several massive cuts were made throughout his body, easily piercing through his durable, chitinous armour as the attacks scattered his disgusting, green blood throughout the air in a wondrously chaotic fountain of ichor. The draconian bellowed in pain as he felt the weight and strength of these blows, though despite this, the strikes wouldn''t be enough to put him down for good.


    "You would dare?! You mewling worm!"


    A swarm of protruding tentacles emerged from the insectoid''s hide, each of which moved faster than the speeds of sound, and were all currently making their way towards Altair to rip her to pieces. To any other lesser warrior, they would have instantly been torn to shreds, but with the incredible speed that the assassin possessed, she would easily manage to deal with such an unorthodox manner of an attack made against her.


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    Her electrically-charged sword moved rapidly towards various directions with each swing she made, cutting through the fleshy appendages with relative ease as the electricity crackling from her blade scorched their very bodies, reducing them to useless black bodies of ash that quickly scattered into the wind.


    "ARGHHHHH!!!!!"


    [Breath of Decay.]


    Multiple, insectoid heads immediately sprouted from his body, all of which would begin opening their mouths wide as they began to unleash the hideously corrosive attack that the dragon was about to unleash.


    It would have already been a kill had she been a bit weaker than her current state, as not only was she currently high up in the air, but the acidic beams were already about to hit her body in only a few milliseconds'' worth of time: fortunately though, Altair knew just what exactly she had to do in this dangerous predicament.


    "... Too slow..."


    Using the sky itself as a platform that would allow her to shift her body, the assassin kicked the air to change her the direction of her movements, allowing her to dodge each of the corrosive attacks that would have melted her into nothingness the moment they so much as even touched her.


    To the draconian''s point of view however, this woman was slowly starting become more of a nuisance to the goals he wanted to fulfill- for a human, she was incredibly fast, so much so that even a dragon as powerful as Beelzebub was having trouble in bringing her down at once with the incredible arcane might he possessed.


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    As she came in close again, Altair would make several more cleaving strikes that tore through his hide, though as she pulled out and readied herself for more attacks, the wounds immediately began regenerating themselves into completion, eventually making it seem as if the dragon had never been wounded in the first place.


    "You little shit! Forget about a merciful death, I will capture you and consume your worthless corpse alive!"


    The environment itself that was surrounding them quickly began to change in appearance: a massive storm brewed above them, showering a rain of crimson blood upon the 2 combatants, while vast, raging tornadoes began manifesting throughout the battlefield as they unleashed their chaotic winds upon everything that remained within their vicinities.


    If her speed was going to be that much of a nuisance, then Beelzebub was going to do the one thing that could easily mitigate such an annoying factor- he was going to influence the very nature of the world itself that surrounded him, and when he finally gets his hands on her... He was absolutely going to make sure that she will beg in vain for a mercy that would never come and save her from the untold agony that the dragon was planning to inflict on her.


    "!!!"


    With the precise, carefully considered movements she did mid-air as the dragon''s attacks came close to her, Altair easily managed to dodge them all with a relative ease: the black thunder-strikes that wiped out several of her men, and the corrosive beams of all-melting liquids were things that were easy to avoid for her due to her faster-than-lightning agility, and not even the dreadfully powerful twisters of wind could hope to tear her fragile body apart thanks to her exceeding swiftness.


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! More tenticular appendages sprouted out of the insectoid dragon''s hide, as they all moved towards Altair with their teeming numbers in an attempt to rip her apart and render her lifeless: unfortunately however, no matter how many of them would be sent out, they would all immediately be sliced and diced into useless pieces of meat by the swiftness of Altair''s sword movements before they could even come inches-close to her skin. Altair already had a rough idea of how this duel was going to end however, and a small sensation of fear sunk into her heart as she realized this- this wasn''t going to end well if this battle were to be prolonged, or so did Altair analyze the situation she was stuck in. One way or another, the dragon was eventually going to kill her with the endless attacks he was throwing around, and the assassin already knew to herself that it was impossible to maintain the incredibly fast speeds she was displaying...


    Altair had to find a way to end this battle as quickly as possible, because if this battle was to lengthen itself to the point where not even her stamina could keep up anymore, then she would immediately lose her life and get torn apart by the vile monstrosity she was currently fighting.


    An attack that was faster than the combat speeds she was displaying right now... One that possessed a swiftness that could transcend even the speeds of the fastest existing things in the world....


    Her mind could visualize such an attack being performed, and she knew to herself that it was capable of completely cutting through the dragon''s body and making a mess of his internal systems, perhaps finally slaying it and taking away its life, or, at the very least, gravely injuring it enough so that it would allow the others to deal the finishing blow upon it.


    However, before Altair could make such an overwhelmingly powerful attack upon her enemy...


    ...


    ...


    BLAM!


    A powerful, punching force from an unknown figure would send the draconic being hurtling towards the ground, making its vile, insectoid body collide violently with the dirt and rock below as the earth itself would quiver and quake from the sheer force of its landing.


    "... Hmm... I know I shouldn''t be straining myself right now since I just recovered, but... I can''t let these people die when I can clearly do something for them, right?"


    A lone figure hovered above the air, looking down below the dragon that had crashed to the ground with a disdainful look on her face- it had been nothing short of simple for her to deliver that terrifying blow to the draconian''s body, a shocking display of strength that made Altair not only wonder about the identity of this newly-appeared individual, but it also made her begin to question just how powerful this being truly was when she had easily dealt a significant blow to the powerful draconian with only her fists?


    "You over there... Your name is... Altair, correct?" the faraway figure would then somehow manage to speak directly to the assassin''s line-of-thought, as if she were a telepath who could read her thoughts so easily. "Do not fear my presence. I''m on your side after all... And besides..."


    Bewilderment... And eventually, anxiety... That was all that Altair could feel as she heard her voice speaking directly into her mind, as if the very act of doing it had been nothing more than a simple task to her. The same questions repeated in her mind again: who exactly was this woman, and just how powerful was she exactly?


    In the end though, Altair quickly realized that she had to answer the question that the woman made to her, as she didn''t want to risk provoking any form of negative response from such a powerful monster...


    "Y-yes, my name is Altair... Although..." the assassin spoke nervously in response. "... Could you continue what you were about to say...?"


    "... Ah, sorry. That disgusting thing beneath distracted me for a moment. What I meant to say was..."


    The woman paused for a moment, as if she was choosing the words she was about to say with a careful regard. "You can''t handle this demon by yourself. Retreat with all of your men, I''ll make sure to deal with this... Trash, and get rid of it after


    I''m done."


    Well, she did say that she was on her side after all, and the recent action she made against her enemy did support such such a statement. And besides, what hope could Altair have in resisting her orders, when speaking to her mind directly even from faraway and punching that monstrosity were but simple things that she could do without any difficulties?


    "I-I''ll do so immediately..."


    "Good. Now, since you''re being so compliant, I''ll do you a small favour. It''s quite a monumental task though, so be sure to thank me afterwards, alright?"


    An orange radiance began emanating from the eyes of her faraway figure, a pair of radiant lights that seemed visible to Altair even though they were quite faraway...


    [Resurrect.]


    The next sceneries that happened before her would immediately prove to be a shocking turn of events- all the men who had lost their lives from the dragon''s previous attacks, the hundreds of lives that were supposed to have already been lost and completely unrecoverable beyond hope... Each of them would regain the lives they had lost so suddenly amidst the battle, and Altair couldn''t help but remain shocked as her mouth ran agape from the impossibility in front of her.


    "... W-what.... What just happened to me...?"


    "Didn''t we all just... Die, like... A while ago?"


    "Y-yeah... How come we''re all alive again? And why is the instructor with us right now?"


    The once-dead knights who were previously slain by the draconic being, re-materialized their disintegrated bodies before her, each of them lying down on the ground naked as a breath of new life coursed through their very flesh and blood: it wasn''t something that was supposed to have happened, as not even the likes of magick could allow the complete resurrection of those who had already died, and yet despite that, the mysterious woman managed to defy such a natural law and did what was supposed to be impossible.


    This woman... She was indeed such a powerful being that Altair would never attempt to antagonize. And besides, after the beautiful deed she had done for her and the people she had lost, the blonde-haired assassin would never find it in her heart to offend the gesture of reality-warping kindness she made.


    "I''ll be doing what I came here for then. Make your retreat immediately after they''re done recollecting their thoughts."


    "... W-wait... Please... Before you leave... May I at least know your name? If it''s alright with you?"


    A momentary pause, and then a weak laughter would come from her telepathic voice before she responded to Altair''s query.


    "My name is Anastasia, dear. My, it seems my son hasn''t told you who I am exactly, hm? Then again, he''s been quite busy as of late, so I suppose it does make a bit of sense."


    "Anyway, I''ll be halting our connection for the moment. I''ll be dealing with this draconic filth in a few minutes, so farewell for now... Miss Altair."


    The mysterious woman''s voice finally cut off from her mind, and no ethereal words would be spoken to Altair once more as their communication would finally cease to be. Admiration, as we as awe... These were the new feelings that the assassin felt for her kind benefactor, and knowing that she was supposed to be on their side brought Altair a great sense of relief, as it would have been terrifying if that powerful woman had instead been an enemy that needed to be dealt with...


    Unfortunately though, after the end of the enhanced mode she had used to maximize her abilities previously, Altair slowly began to feel the strain it took on her body, and the first of its symptoms came in the form of slow, yet unpreventable coughs that came  out of her mouth with bits of blood.


    "... What are you all... Cough... Cough... looking at? You''re alive and well now... Cough... Be thankful and put on some clothes, you dolts. Are you not ashamed with how naked all of you are right now... Cough.. in front of me?" as the newly-resurrected men stood up from the ground they previously laid down on, Altair couldn''t help but feel irritated with how they were choosing to just stand there and remain bewildered.


    "Just because you all recently died... Cough... doesn''t mean you can act this brave in front of me... Cough... Or maybe you want your trainings to become more difficult?"


    ________________________________________


    "I can see that you''ve been quite... Busy with many things... My child..."


    "... Well, the good thing is that you''re alright now. Do you actually feel alright though, or are you feeling some form of pain right now?"


    Both Novus and Anastasia were sitting across each other as they indulged themselves with the tea that was provided to them by Whitlea, who was standing near them silently as she carried the tray that held the cups and the teakettle.


    By now, Anastasia had completely recovered from what was once-supposed to be her end- not only had she been resurrected from a death that she shouldn''t have managed to defy, but the age-old injury to her chest that was left on her by the man she once loved no longer plagued her body... Meaning that she had been fully restored to her prime right now, and that she was currently fully alive and well without any underlying conditions.


    "Hmph... There is this one pain that I''m feeling right now..." she answered with a gentle tone of voice.


    "... A-and that is?"


    "... It hurts a bit that you still haven''t greeted me properly after I came back to life~ Do you not love the mother who practically raised and cared for you all this time?" Anastasia teased a bit. "Then again... If we count the years you lived in your past life... Then theoretically, you''re actually older than me... I suppose you shouldn''t be calling me your ''mother'' in the first place..."


    A sigh would come out of Novus'' mouth, to which his ''mother'' would respond with a light chuckle.


    "... I meant physical pain... And haven''t I literally just greeted you with a hug a while ago?!" Novus argued, which only made Anastasia giggle even more. "Besides... I don''t mind calling you my ''mother''... With how well you took care of me, I know you would have made a good mom... Especially for that child you lost back then..."


    "... T-that''s... Good to hear..." she said as a somber expression formed on her face: she took a sip on the cup of tea she was drinking once again, though she did this to hide the fact that she was nearly about to shed a tear from what her ''son'' had just said. "I was lucky to have met you, you know? Everyone who had once been important in my life eventually died or betrayed me... But not you~"


    "Y-yeah... By the way..." Novus would suddenly interrupt as a light guilty expression formed on his face.  "I''m sorry for... You know... Lying to you... For not telling you the fact that I actually lived a previous life... besides the one I''m currently-"


    "Don''t worry, I understand~" a gentle smile quickly became her expression as she expressed a deep understanding for his reasoning. "You didn''t know how I would react during that time, and you were nearly killed when we first met back then... Of course you''d want to keep it to yourself..."


    "Although, if you really do want to apologize to me... Just promise me one thing, alright?"


    "... Sure.. Whatever you want, just say it."


    "Then..." Anastasia paused for a moment, as her eyes then stared deeply into his own with the usual gentleness she always displayed towards him. "From now on... I want you to be honest with me regarding everything, okay? You don''t need to lie to your own mother..."


    "No matter how ridiculous or humiliating it may be... You''re always going to have to tell me what it is that''s bothering you from this point forward..."


    That was quite the simple promise to fulfill: after all, Novus had a great amount of trust in her by this point, and he knew that this woman absolutely loved him unconditionally and would never betray him through thick and thin, which was why he had no reason or will to refuse this request she was making of him.


    ... Most importantly though, he already had one ridiculous thing to confess to her the moment she said that she wanted him to be honest to her.


    "... I''ll promise to be honest from now on then..." Novus answered after a while. "... I-In fact... I actually have... Er, a ridiculous thing to confess to you right now..."


    "Oh? What is it then, hm?"


    "... I''ve been making some plans to... Um..." Novus hesitated for a moment, as he could somewhat see how intense her laughter would be the moment those words came out of his mouth: nevertheless though, he would of course, eventually say it in order to fulfill the promise he made to her.


    "... I''ve been making some plans... To conquer the world..."


    "..."


    A temporary silence would then ensue, as Anastasia would remain somewhat surprised and unable to respond for a moment due to the absurdity of Novus'' statement: it would take her a full, 10 seconds for her to finally recollect her thoughts, as she then gave off her second response to his ridiculous words...


    And of course, the reaction that came after her silence would be that of a lighthearted laughter.


    "Ahahahaha.... So that''s why Thurien was so busy with building those things in her home when I visited her a while ago... Ahahaha... Who could have thought that this would be the actual reason..." Anastasia giggled rather loudly as she covered her mouth. "... I appreciate your honesty, my child... It actually warms my heart that you''re willing to follow through with this simple promise..."


    "Ah... And you may be wondering... What I''m currently thinking about your overly-ambitious goal, am I right?"


    "... Yeah... What do you think of it? Is it too outrageous? Or is it..."


    "... No, I actually like it~" to Novus'' shock, like the rest of his companions who supported his cause, even his own ''mother'', who he initially expected would be against his plans, was actually currently agreeing with it right now. "Just to remind you... You''re the beloved, adopted son of an ancient superweapon who can easily level this entire planet if she wished... More importantly though..."


    "You''re MY child, after all... And this much of an ambition should be the bare minimum~" a smile formed on her face again as Anastasia said this. "In fact... If you want... No... If you NEED my help with this plan of yours, then I''ll gladly help you, as long as you ask me properly~"


    ... What a surprise... To think that she was that willing to do this much for her own ''son''. While he expected her to be a bit more against to his newly-formed ideals, Novus definitely wasn''t expecting that even Anastasia would be willing to support this seemingly ridiculous goal of his.


    Even still though, this definitely wasn''t an opportunity that he would refuse: she was incredible powerful, and having a trustworthy ally who cared about him so much was an advantage that Novus was absolutely not going to waste...


    "... I''ll ask you right now then..." Novus said as he stood up from his chair, where he would then kneel before his mother as a sign of respect. "... Will you please help me with this... Ambition I wish to fulfill?"


    "... H-hold on... When I told you to ''ask me properly''... I meant giving me a hug or a kiss... Not something like this..." Anastasia uttered with a somewhat baffled expression. "... Hm, well, if you''re this desperate to have my assistance though..."


    "Of course I''ll gladly help you... You sweet, foolish child of mine~"


    And this time, I''ll make sure that I won''t be leaving you behind... Not again... Not anymore...


    ...


    ...


    [Imprison.]


    The 2 draconians immediately found themselves in another place that belonged not in the real world- it was a realm of absolute blankness, with only the color white being spread all over its space as its main feature. In truth, it was made from the excessive powers that came from Anastasia''s ability, a place where she could quickly finish the work she had sought to fulfill.


    "I must admit... I learned quite a lot of things after dying to that powerful pawn of yours... I even learned how to make a pocket dimension for myself, you see~"


    "Y-you! You bitch! How are you alive?! You''re supposed to be dead by now!!!"


    Beelzebub could only curse as the the massive threat that had already been dealt with by one of his puppets remained alive and healthy- Anastasia, that synthetic false-kin made by the ancient humans, one of the major reasons why they had lost that war all those centuries ago... It was her power that nearly devastated their ranks, reducing their once 144-strong dragonkin to half of its numbers, losses that were permanent and so unsustainable, that they would forever be set back by the losses they''d incur due to her existence.


    "... I had a little help. You and your disgusting brethren must have been overjoyed when I ''died'' back then, hm?" Anastasia mocked with an insulting grin. "Unfortunately for you, I''m currently very much alive... And I''m here to deal with you right now for the sake of my son''s safety~"


    "SHUT UP, YOU FALSE-BLOODED MONGREL! I''LL FUCKING KILL YOU WHERE YOU STAND!"


    An overwhelming mass of flesh, fangs, and tentacles emerged from the insectoid dragon''s body, while a red mist enveloped these disgusting bodily parts as they rapidly closed in on Anastasia''s location- unfortunately enough though, they would ultimately be no match for the overpowering ability that the dragoness had that allowed her to triumph over them all those decades ago.


    [Disintegrate.]


    The rapidly approaching attacks were quickly reduced to nothingness, with their fleshy matrixes instantly turning into black ash which began fading away into nonexistence.


    "Y-YOU BASTAARRDDD!!!!"


    While he was now trapped in this false world with one of the few beings he feared the most, Beelzebub was finally able to unleash the full potential of his powers in this place- the real world was constantly putting limitations on him after all, and the human body he took and morphed for his own purposes only made such penalties even harsher.


    [Order of Gluttony: 9th Degree]


    The dimension''s environment drastically changed in appearance: a terrible, dark-orange light began surrounding both of them from almost everywhere, with impossibly massive eyes and mouths forming in the skies as they continued to grow in both size and number.


    Without delay did they unleash their attacks, as a rain of acid, accompanied by several tendrils and barbs of hardened flesh that  emerged from the ochre light, each of which had the mass and size of entire mountains as they immediately proceeded with striking at the dragoness from nearly every angle and direction.


    "Hahaha... You''re still as disgusting as ever, you hideous, fly-eating bug."


    Had it been unleashed in the real world, It would have been an attack that was enough to destroy the entire planet of Earth ten times over: not only that though, but he had also slain countless, other powerful entities with this attack, consuming every ounce of their existences as he then eventually turned their strengths into his own.


    Such was the sheer power that this attack contained, that Beelzebub was almost certain that this attack would at least deal some damage to her...


    Unfortunately...


    [Disappear.]


    The attacks vanished without a trace, as the entire realm would return to its original state of white blankness: almost instantly, a terribly great sensation of fear, panic, and dread would form within Beelzebub''s line of thought, as his mind desperately searched for an idea to deal with the great enemy that was in front of him right now.


    Gluttony... Beelzebub''s powers consisted mainly of the ability to consume and steal the abilities of those he had digested, and due to the endless numbers of the countless enemies and opponents he had slain, the dragon lord had garnered a power that could allow him to end the entire foundations of reality if he wanted to.


    Predation... At its maximum effect, he could consume entire stars at whim and convert them into energies which he could use- it was an incredibly overwhelming power that had earned him many victories, but right now, its power didn''t mean much compared to the monster in front of him that held a vastly superior ability when compared to his...


    Well, even if his conceptual power was inferior, he still had to try in order to survive. He wasn''t going to give up completely right now just because their great enemy had suddenly appeared before him.


    ... However, before he could even make his final gambit...


    [Entrap.]


    His very body would begin to warp into a form that was no longer his own, as his once impressive, though vile vessel began to shrink and develop inferior features that he was all too familiar with: his chitin was reduced to an elastic skin that seemed completely soft and fragile, as his organs noticeably grew smaller in size, with their functions greatly reduced to such a minuscule value that only worthless creatures would have.


    As Beelzebub looked at his body after the transformation had been finished, he could feel as if the karmaic retribution for all the great evils he did, had finally come back to bite him in the rear- his vessel was no longer that of a massive, insectoid dragon, but rather, it was now a normal human of weak flesh and blood, a form that he despised and hatred without end due to its incredible weakness.


    Just the thought of being entrapped in a normal, human body made him sick to his core- he considered them as inferior after all, and now that he had been trapped inside one... He couldn''t help but feel completely helpless before the dreadful predicament he was in right now.


    "Ah, I''m already feeling quite tired... I really shouldn''t be straining myself too much after I''ve just recovered..." Anastasia suddenly muttered about. "... I guess I should leave your fate to her now~ she''s been wanting to see some action after all..."


    "W-What do you mean?! And what the hell are you talking about, you filthy half-breed-"


    A powerful kick struck his now-humanized chest, as Anastasia''s right foot would then force his head to the ground and stomp it in place, making the dragon lord wince and whimper in pain from the sheer force of her blows.


    "Well, right now, I''m not supposed to be using my powers to this extent. I wouldn''t want to worry my child after all, so I''ll let my good friend handle the rest, if you don''t mind... Oh wait, I don''t really care if you do, ahahaha~"


    "I''ll be sending you to a place that''s worse than hell then... May we never see each other again, you filthy scum."


    [Teleport.]


    ...


    ...


    Cold... The sharp, prickling senses of both cold and pain made his human body uncomfortable, which made Beelzebub only further despise the weakness that human bodies often had.


    The dragon lord found himself in a dark realm where not even a single particle of light existed- for some reason, the temperatures here were also exceedingly low, even lower than the coldest reaches of the netherworld he hailed from, and as a result, Beelzebub''s body began shivering violently from the hypothermia that had started to plague his body.


    "Ah, there you are. I was expecting you~"


    A woman suddenly appeared before him- a gravely beautiful and elegant lady with long, black hair, fair skin, and a set of purple, mesmerizing eyes that seemed to contain a terrible insanity within them: such were the qualities of the figure that had suddenly revealed herself in front of him, that Beelzebub couldn''t help but become further confused with what sort of fate that his enemy had forced him in.


    "... Who are you?"


    "I am the embodiment of all things infinite... The deathless avatar representing the cycle of life and death that never ends... And more importantly..."


    "Your doom."


    Words couldn''t even begin to describe the terrible sensations that began to plague his body afterwards: an infinite pain, if the word ''infinite'' could even describe the sheer scale of its magnitude, began eating away at his entire body, making him sweat continuously as his muscles twitched and spasmed violently without relief, only for an invisible, powerful force to hold Beelzebub in place and prevent him from moving even an inch.


    "I would have pitied you if you weren''t a demon~ you see..." the woman began to explain amidst the humanized dragon''s loud, endless screams of pain. "Since my powers involve the concept of infinity, one of the drawbacks to it is that I can''t truly inflict death upon my enemies... So..."


    "Unfortunately for you, you''re going to have to feel this sensation for the rest of your miserable life... Which means..."


    Even though Beelzebub was trapped in an eternally endless pain right now, his mind could still somewhat understand the implications of the woman''s words- as soon as he heard it, tears began streaming down from his eyes, as pleadings for a mercy that would never save him came out of his mouth in a complete and utter desperation.


    "You''re going to have to suffer that unlimited pain in your body for eternity... And you''ll never be able to truly die! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! "


    Her insane laughter would continue to ring endlessly in his ears even after it had finally stopped, as the gnawing pain that ate away at his senses while never truly killing him would slowly begin to break down his sanity until nothing was left of it...

 Part 5 - Chapter 7

    The Neugomian Capital city, Vishnal, was currently bustling with the busy activities of various soldiers who were rushing about as they hastily prepared for their defense against the invasion that was to come.


    An incursion made directly into the the heart of the empire by the same enemies that they were supposed to be invading right now... At first, the words of the oracle made it seem as if she were lying, but after all contact with the imperial army they sent to reconquer the lands of Polonia disappeared, it quickly became apparent that the priestess'' prophecy was finally coming to fruition.


    And within one of the chambers of the massive city wall that protected the capital city from outsiders, the imperial general responsible for leading the Vishnal''s defense was currently devising his plans with his 2nd in command.


    "How many of our soldiers have we managed to muster right now?"


    A hesitant, nervous response would come forth to answer his question. "... 100,000 men and counting, general. Our other forces are still currently heading towards the capital as we speak."


    "... This is bad... Why would there have to be an attack all of a sudden... And now of all times...?"


    The imperial general known as Harion would rub his forehead with his fingers in great frustration, as the dangerous dilemma they had all suddenly found themselves in only continued to become even greater with every passing moment: an enemy attack, a prediction made by their divine oracle whose premonitions have always come true, one of them was about to arrive into their capital like a raging storm of calamity, and they were all doing everything to prepare for such a invasion in order to prevent their complete defeat against them.


    "... Pardon my ignorance, but... We''ve already managed to rally so many soldiers... Wouldn''t they be enough to deter our enemy''s attempts to invade the capital for at least a few days, general?"


    "That''s where you''re wrong, Ivar..." the general swiftly corrected him. "If they managed to annihilate the massive army we sent to retake the Polonian Kingdom, then the forces we''ve currently managed to gather won''t even be enough to stop them for a few hours..."


    "But general... Weren''t they just hypothetical guesses made by our strategists? No matter how powerful our enemies may be, they couldn''t have just annihilated a 200,000-strong army in a few days or less..."


    "They might as well have done it already..." the general sighed as he said this somberly. "We''ve lost all contact with them, and the last task that was given to them was the reconquering of that kingdom. Of course, it wouldn''t take too much a genius to conclude that the enemies who stole Polonia from us were the ones responsible for their disappearance."


    "... I-I guess so..."


    Both of them would remain anxious about the very event that they were preparing themselves against, as it was already obvious that their unknown enemies possessed a great might that had allowed them to inflict several disastrous defeats upon the empire already: from the loss of their most prized vassal-state, to the disappearance of the 200,000-strong army they sent to reclaim that important vassal...


    Even the most zealous and devoted men of the Empire would have their spirits drop to their furthest upon hearing such news, as it was already apparent that this mysterious adversary of theirs may as well be likely the doom that would finally put an end to their hundreds of years of existence...


    "Keep bringing in more of our forces into the capital. We have to make as much preparations as possible-"


    ... Suddenly though, a myriad of shocked and surprised voices would rose both of their attentions as they quickly stood up from the chairs they sat on...


    "General, I bear terrible news!" almost instantly, a soldier came barging into the room as he then knelt before Harion''s presence. "The enemies have made their attacks... A-although... The manner of their assault is completely strange! Our soldiers have no idea how to respond to it!"


    An unnerved, yet curious expression would form on the general''s face as he hard what the soldier said, and without delay, Harion immediately proceeded to ask questions about that dire matter that had suddenly transpired.


    "... How are they attacking right now? Have their armies surrounded the capital? Or are they currently using some powerful, godforsaken siege weapon to break through our walls?"


    "... N-neither general..." the soldier replied. "The enemies... They''re..."


    "... There''s a winged creature hovering in the skies... And it appears that it summoned a bright sphere of light with it..."


    ________________________________________


    Far beyond the vantage field of battle, the 4 would-be attackers were observing the city walls of Vishnal from faraway as they readied themselves for the assault they were about to commence.


    "... So, how does your power work again, exactly?"


    Novus posed this question to the armored, steel-winged angel in front of him, a powerful being who was currently at his disposal, though at the same time, he still couldn''t truly understand just how exactly her powers worked in the slightest.


    "Ah... I suppose it is difficult to understand since you haven''t seen it yet..." Adelaide, or rather, Apollyon, the name of the angel who utilized her body as a host, would respond to Novus'' question with a great understanding. "To make it simple for you, let me show you how it works through a demonstration..."


    The winged one pointed her index finger towards a nearby patch of grass, as she then uttered a single word that immediately revealed a portion of the vast power she was capable of.


    [Perish.]


    The fields of grass she pointed at immediately disappeared without resistance, leaving not even a trace of their existence behind as they faded away from time forever. Seeing this, Novus'' eyes widened a bit in surprise at the feat she displayed, as he would then quickly manage to understand just how exactly this ability of hers functioned.


    "My power..." the angel started to explain. "Lies in the ability to destroy anything without prejudice. Be it matter, ideals, concepts... As long as they exist, if I can set my sights upon it, I can destroy it with but a single thought from my mind."


    "But..." he questioned once again. "... If you''re this powerful, why can''t you just destroy anything that threatens the world in an instant?"


    "I am a portion... A fragment of the real me that is currently doing what you have said. By using my current power to its fullest, I can inflict destruction upon a country''s worth of landmass using my power, though I am unable to exert it any further due to my limitations..." the angel continued. "I could theoretically draw more power from my original self, however... That would further weaken the barrier that is keeping them at bay..."


    "And even with the greatest of my powers, the best hope I have at defeating them is to keep them contained within their netherworldly prison.... Which is the same duty that the real me is currently fulfilling."


    "I see... Thank you for explaining. I can somewhat understand now thanks to your explanation." Novus thanked. "Anyway... I have an idea on how we''re going to put your abilities to use today..."


    Hearing this, Apollyon''s face would turn into a somewhat sad expression.


    "... Will you be ordering me to wipe out the empire''s soldiers?"


    "No, I have other plans. Doing that would cause too many unnecessary casualties. Why do that when we can do something more humane?" Novus answered, as the somber expression on the angel''s face turned into that of relief: it seemed that, despite the sheer power she possessed, she wasn''t the type who actually reveled in unleashing it whenever she pleased. "Instead, we''ll be doing something that''s going to require 2 of you for it to work..."


    "And how are we going to do it, exactly?"


    "... You said you can ''destroy'' anything correct? What about emotions, could you kill them too? In multiple targets, by the way..."


    Apollyon reacted quickly in surprise, as she immediately understood just what exactly he was planning. "... Are you saying that...?"


    "Yep... I''ll have Whitlea force them to surrender by influencing their minds." Novus stated firmly. "You, on the other hand, will be in charge of ''killing'' their will to resist her influence. It may sound ridiculous, I know, but I have a feeling that this is going to work quite well..."


    "... Just to clarify... You want me to... ''destroy'' their mental resistances... so that Whitlea can make them surrender without a fight, correct?"


    "Precisely. Not only will it be safer for us, but it also won''t drain too much of energy when compared to fighting all of them all at once." Novus said. "... Will you be able to do that, Apollyon?"


    A gentle smile formed on her face as the angel made her reply.


    "Certainly, my prince. It''s a bit complicated, but... It''s better than killing them all without mercy."


    ________________________________________


    "What exactly even is that...?"


    "It''s so fucking bright... I can''t even look at it straight with my eyes..."


    "You idiot! Why would you focus your eyes on something that''s as bright as the sun?!"


    It had only been several minutes since that bright, blinding light appeared right above the lands of their capital, and yet the intensity of its radiance only seemed to grow even stronger with every passing second.


    "Why haven''t the sky knights deployed themselves to deal with that thing yet?! It''s going to attack at any moment now, and we''re all going to be sitting ducks here the moment it happens!"


    "General!" Ivar, who was beside him all the while as they tried to observe the irregularity that was taking place in the sky, would give his reply. "They''ve already been sent out! They just can''t get close enough to deal with it due to the brightness of the light making their mounts disoriented!"


    "Then send the mages, for throne''s sake!" Harion shouted, anxious with how they were still unable to fully respond to threat that was currently unfolding before their very eyes. "Do everything we can to stop that thing from making its attack! We can''t afford to lose our available forces to that creature right now, since we have more enemies to deal with!"


    "Right away, general!" Ivar responded. "You lot, tell the mages to begin casting their spells to bring that bastard down!"


    Without much delay, the mages who were currently present with them instantly began chanting their arcane spells, forming their circles of magick in front of them as they quickly unleashed their sorceries upon the source of the bright light in order to bring an end to the intense luminosity that was radiating throughout the capital.


    [Rain of Thunder.]


    [Arcane Lances.]


    [Magick Missiles.]


    [Rain of Fire.]


    A deadly variety of countless spells were hurled towards the winged creature''s location, each of which were made to bring it down from the high altitudes it was flying at to prevent the light it was manifesting from materializing any further: many of them knew that the light was the initial phase for some sort of massive assault that was about to happen, and so the imperials were now doing everything they could possibly attempt in order to put a stop to it before it happens.


    However, before their spells could even make contact with their target''s skin...


    [Cease your existences.]


    The arcane attacks ceased to exist, almost as if they had never even been casted in the first place: their enemy would remain completely untouched by the multitudes of attacks that were supposed to destroy it, and as a result, the men of the empire only became further dreadful of the deadly variable that had suddenly shown up within their homeland.


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "... N-not even magick works on that bastard? How will we even be able to stop that thing...?"


    ...


    ...


    100 thousand men...


    This was the total number of the soldiers that Apollyon had to influence using her abilities...


    It would have been easier to just wipe them out through pure destructive means, but that kind of method didn''t suite the angel''s personality at all. In truth, Apollyon was a living irony: despite having the ability to destroy anything she could see or visualize, the powerful angel was ultimately a pacifist who disliked bringing harm to other living beings unless it was absolutely necessary.


    Although, before the winged one would choose to execute the monumental task at hand, she was going to inquire about something particularly interesting she had found just a few moments ago... Something that reminded her of the past she had a great care for...


    "... Whitlea... That is your name... Right?"


    As the 2 of them hovered in the air above the imperial capital, Apollyon would pose this question to the woman beside her, the black-haired beauty who seemingly served as Novus'' second-in-command throughout most of his ventures- a powerful combat maid like Speranza, though unlike her sister, Whitlea''s abilities focused more on the ability to move, crush, and influence both objects and people using only the thoughts that run through her mind.


    There was something... Familiar about that presence of hers, while at the same time, the angel could feel as if something was off by simply glancing at her for a moment: it was definitely something interesting, one that Apollyon simply couldn''t choose to ignore.


    "Indeed, that is my name. It''s a beautiful name, is it not?" the black-haired woman said rather proudly. "My... Ah... Novus, gave me that name, back when I was first given the sparks of life... We were both technically children back then you know? He had the mental maturity of an adult despite being a child, while I had the physically maturity of a grown woman... even though I practically had the mind of a little girl back then..."


    "I see then... However..." Apollyon spoke after Whitlea had finished her explanation. "I have an incredibly important question right now... if you don''t mind answering it, that is."


    "... Of course... Please feel free to ask."


    "... You''re not Whitlea, are you?" The angel stared at her in the eyes as she uttered this. "... No, you have that presence that''s just like hers... But yours is far stronger... Ah, I think I''ve figured out who you are..."


    "Whitlea''s" facial expression quickly turned into a serious one as she heard Apollyon mentioning those words.


    "... Hmm... Who am I, then? Assuming that what you''re saying is even true?"


    "... You''re her..." Without warning, the angel would suddenly place her hand on "Whitlea''s" left shoulder. "... Honestly, you would have fooled me had you simply decided to conceal that terrifying aura of yours a bit better..."


    ... Surprisingly enough, Apollyon''s tone of voice suddenly turned into that of a casual one, as if she the ''impostor'' before her was actually a friend she had known long ago...


    "What are you even doing here? I thought you weren''t supposed to be appearing right now..."


    "... Ahaha... You really know me well, huh? Well, you see... There''s been a change of plans, Apollyon..." ''Whitlea'' mentioned as she gave off a brief chuckle. "While I''ve already dealt with that disgusting glutton, his disciple still remains at large..."


    "What do you mean? Didn''t you say that you had some sort of plan in mind?" the angel asked curiously. "Why would you proceed to overwrite all of the schemes you''ve made all of a sudden? Don''t tell me you believe that his life is actually in danger right now..."


    "If I leave her be... There''s a high chance that Novus will get killed by that bug lord''s lackey..." Whitlea''s expression became that of a fierce determination as she said this. "And I am not letting that happen again, no matter what..."


    "... Have you told him yet? About... What happens in the future? Where he... You know..."


    "... No, not yet... Now''s not the time..." ''Whitlea'' spoke. "That''s not something he''s supposed to know yet. Instead... Let''s just focus on the thing we have to do right now..."


    "Ah, by the way... Have you dealt with Andromalius already? You didn''t let him get away after all the trouble he caused, right?"


    "... Yes, I completely annihilated him, just like you asked." Apollyon answered. "Why couldn''t we have just captured him instead? Like what you did with that glutton? You could have gained something better from it..."


    "Ahahaha... You''re kind when it comes to humans, but when it comes to these lizards, you''re quite the merciless woman, aren''t you?" ''Whitlea'' teased as a small grin formed on her lips. "Well... To put it in simple terms, he''s weak... Too weak, in fact, that the act of capturing him wouldn''t even be worth it..."


    "Hm, I suppose so... Anyway... How are you going to deal with that apostle of his that you mentioned? I''ll try to help you as much as I can."


    ''Whitlea'' would begin to explain again as she then narrated of the plan she had made.


    "After we take control of the soldiers stationed here, I''ll leave their control to you..." Whitlea stated firmly. "After that... I''ll go and find that disciple that that fat old bug left behind..."


    "And then I''ll deal with her myself..."


    ...


    ...


    What was this feeling?


    A cascading, series of emotions made the imperial general feel something strange as time continued to pass by without halting...


    It was a strange feeling that was making his entire body weak, as he couldn''t help but fall down to his knees as soon as that sensation started to seep into his mind in a gradual, yet unstoppable manner: it was most likely the attack that the enemy had been charging up for, and now, he was unable to do anything against it, as Harion could also see that even the other soldiers were starting to become affected with the same, overpowering sensation.


    "... W-what''s... Happening... Who''s exactly causing this..."


    "... Why do I feel so... Weak... All of a sudden..."


    What was even more terrifying was that the sensation was only becoming even stronger with every second and minute that continued to pass- the general, as well as the men who were currently with him, could feel their wills slowly eroding into dust, as if it was being grinded and broken down by an invisible force that they couldn''t see with their own 2 eyes...


    It was then, however, that the same being who had been causing that strange, bright light to appear, would suddenly reveal herself before their very eyes as she began to descend from the sky in front of them with her sleek, metal wings- her eyes looked into their own with an overpoweringly dominant gaze, as she then gave a command that none of them could ever hope to resist.


    [Submit.]


    As soon as the imperial soldiers heard those words, their resistances toward those strange sensations instantly faded away, as all of them then began kneeling before the beautiful angel that had descended from the skies above: through the angel''s creative use of her power to destroy, Apollyon had chosen to unleash destruction upon their will to resist the mass-control that Whitlea was inflicting upon the soldiers, a venture that succeeded and had forced the men of the empire to submit to their supposed enemies without having any sort of will to defy them.


    It hadn''t even taken 20 minutes, and now the 100-thousand strong army that was supposed to guard the capital from any enemy intrusion, was now firmly under the command of the angel, and they were currently willing to do any order she would issue to them due to the influence she had over them...


    "Now then... Begin marching to the emperor''s royal palace." Apollyon commanded, to which the soldiers would all mindlessly obey without question. "Let us force the tyrannical emperor to step down from his throne..."


    "... and allow a new ruler to take his place after all his years of tyranny..."


    ________________________________________


    "... It actually went well... Who could have thought that it would actually work?"


    They had brought themselves there thanks to one of the portable gateway devices that Thurien had built for them: From atop one of the massive buildings of the city of Vishnal, Novus laid witness to the bizarre scenery that had transpired rather quickly before his very eyes- his plan of making them submit had all worked without a hitch, and now the vast army that once served the empire''s will was now firmly under his command, and all he had to do left was to make their way to the throne room and usurp that pathetic father of his from the decadent seat of gold he sat upon.


    It was the first steps that Novus needed to make so that he could fulfill his ambition of world conquest- in order to possess the necessary manpower needed to bring every corner of the earth into his fold, Novus first had to deal with the most powerful nation that presided within the very continent he lived in... And what better way would there be to handle such a mighty country than to conquer it and make it the very empire that would now serve his goals from this point on?


    "... I have to admit... I thought we were going to have to fight them when we came here. Well... You are pretty good with making weirdly effective plans after all..."


    Beside him was the armored, spear-wielding figure of the terrifying woman who possessed an absurd physical strength: once a princess of the Neugomian Empire, Aldyth was now currently helping her brother with his overtly ambitious plans, and the first steps involved with his ambitions was to take over the empire itself and make it serve his own goals by becoming its ruler.


    "Yeah... Anyway... We have to get going. That cowardly father of ours might decide to flee with his guards the moment he finds out what happened." Novus said to her in a hurry. "You know what to do by now... Don''t forget to activate the stealth device I gave you when we reach the palace. Wouldn''t want to alert all of them at once about our arrival after all."


    "... Don''t forget the deal we made a while ago. I seriously hope that you''re not the type who forgets his promises."


    In truth, Aldyth''s hatred for her father, the emperor, had never faded after all those years of being his unwilling weapon of war: after all, he had been the cause of most of her suffering throughout her life, from her conversion into a soulless tool of destruction, to the abuses she would often suffer whenever she failed the missions that had been given to her...


    If there was anything else she wanted besides seeing her little brother safe and sound, her desire of finally getting the revenge she wanted to fulfill on the worthless parent-figure who never saw her as his daughter would definitely be one of those desires she wished to fulfill.


    "Don''t worry. Like I said..." Novus assured her. "You''ll handle the royal guards who''ll try to stop us... and I''ll deal with father and give him to you on a silver platter as promised. You''re fine with that, right?"


    "... I''m fine with your plan... But..." Aldyth replied as she hesitated for a moment. "Do you really have to take part in this yourself? I can just deal with all of them by my own... I don''t want you getting injured or anything..."


    "Oh, c''mon now. I wouldn''t want to let my big sister remain all alone in such a dangerous place, right? And besides, haven''t I already proven how capable I am with how I defeated you back then?"


    "... While that normally shouldn''t count... I guess you do kind of have a point." Aldyth immediately relented after seeing her little brother''s point. "Just... Stay safe, alright? If you need my help in dealing with them, don''t hesitate to call for me so that you don''t end up... Well, dead..."


    "Don''t worry... I''m not getting injured anytime soon." Novus replied with a confident expression. "I''ll just shoot them down before they can even get close to me."


    "... Hmph. Fine then. If you get injured though... Don''t be surprised if I prioritize dragging you out of there myself alright?"


    ...


    ...


    It was another day of guard duty for the Neugomian Emperor, and even though there was the looming threat of an enemy incursion that was about to be made into the imperial capital, the royal guard known as Riltan couldn''t help but yawn due to both the boredom and fatigue he was currently feeling.


    By now, decades have passed since he had first earned the privilege of becoming one of the emperor''s guards- he was originally a humble knight-captain of the Neugomian Empire, but after gaining countless achievements through the many battles he fought in, his decorative achievements would eventually make him a well-known individual of prestige, and this would eventually be enough for him to be recruited into the finest warriors that guarded their national leader''s safety.


    Unfortunately though, as he eventually reached one of the finest jobs that a normal soldier like him could ever hope to reach, Riltan would quickly become disappointed with how things had gradually turned out to be: due to the imperial capital''s safety, the emperor was rarely ever under the threat of attack or assassination, and as such, the royal guard had been nothing more than decorative, aesthetic display of the empire''s wealth and might, and they wouldn''t be able to serve the true roles they were meant to fulfill for countless years... That was, until now...


    However, despite the oncoming threat that was already about to ravage the capital in a few hours or days, the normalcy of today''s events only made Riltan sink into a further state of mind-numbing boredom.


    BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!


    "... What the hell was that...?"


    It was then a series of loud explosions began echoing from the room that was across his own, and Riltan immediately felt a sense of caution and suspicion rising within his mind as he heard it- could it be enemies that had stealthed their way into the palace to assassinate the emperor, or were his comrades merely playing around again with their magicks as usual?


    BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!


    "Those idiots better not be fooling around with each other again... I swear, they''ll get executed for their stupidity eventually..."


    And there it was again... That sound that increased ever-so-slightly in loudness with every repetition it made: by now, Riltan had drawn out his sword as he prepared to enter the other room that had been the source of those suspicious noises. He couldn''t afford to ignore them anymore after all, and the possibility that his fellow guards were indeed currently dealing with intruders was a thought that he definitely couldn''t dismiss so casually.


    CREEAAAKKKKK.....


    "... S-shit... What the hell happened here..."


    5 of the people he had known and served with... Justinian... Marcus... Darius... Seinfer... Leifor...


    Their corpses littered the ground with their own bloody mess, as every ounce of life that once thrived within their body had already vanished after the death that was inflicted upon them so suddenly: what was even more grim, however, was that each and every single one of their cadavers had their heads cut off from their necks, though it would seem that some of them completely had their heads missing and were nowhere to be seen. It was a form of attack that had most likely been the result of all their deaths during their encounter with the one who took their lives so mercilessly, and Riltan couldn''t help but become even more cautious about the horrifying situation that had suddenly transpired in the supposedly safest place of the empire.


    "Riltan, there you are! There''s been an attack from an unknown enemy who managed to infiltrate the palace, and we need to gather all our comrades as soon as possible!"


    Within the room came rushing in more of the dedicated warriors who Riltan was all too familiar with: the other royal guards of the emperor, each of whom were capable of slaying a hundred men by themselves using only their pure strength. Even though the yet-to-be-seen inflitrators have managed to take down 5 of their own, with the greater numbers they''ve currently managed to rally, Riltan became all too certain that they would finally be able to deal with this new, troublesome enemy of theirs...


    "... Ah... Those bastards managed to get to them first..."


    Riltan''s eyes continued to look at the dead bodies of his close friends, with the tone of his voice remaining ever-so sorrowful as he spoke. "... Yeah... They were already dead by the time I came here..."


    "... Looks like the infiltrators we have on our hands are more dangerous than what we expected..." one of the guards mentioned. "... Keep your eyes open, because those bastards might choose to attack us at any moment... "


    A temporary silence ensued as they then began to prepare themselves for the dangerous threat that had made its way into the imperial palace: it was a threat so vicious, that it had even managed to kill 5 of their own comrades in mere moments.


    Riltan himself would remain staggered by the sudden events that had taken place just beyond the room he was previously in, and he couldn''t help but feel anxious about the danger that was currently lurking within the corridors he once guarded with a steadfast sense of duty.


    "... Alright then, let''s get moving, we have no time to waste-"


    "!!!"


    The infiltrators, or rather, the ''infiltrator'', wasted no time in fulfilling her mission as she quickly cut off the warrior''s words: a tall, armored figure bearing a spear would break through one of the walls of the room, shattering it with ease using only her fists as she then proceeded to commit a one-sided slaughter upon the Empire''s finest warriors.


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    "FUCK! WHO IS THIS MONSTER?! WHY THE HELL IS SHE SO STRONG?!"


    "DON''T PANIC! WE OUTNUMBER THE BASTARD! CHARGE AT HER ALL AT ONCE!"


    The royal guards quickly drew out the weapons they had on their hands as they all began to attack the monstrous figure that had already taken out 3 of their own allies, and even Riltan himself was confident that they would at least be able to wound it in this entrapment they''ve caught the bastard in: she was surrounded from every direction after all, and even with the impressive feat of strength she had displayed earlier, there was no way for her to ward off all of them without getting stabbed or pierced by their weapons from an angle she would fail to block.


    Unfortunately though, Riltan had failed to foresee one unknown variable that accompanied his enemy amidst the brutal annihilation it conducted upon his 5 dead comrades...


    ...


    ...


    With the help of Novus earlier, they already managed to take down 40 of the imperial guard that served as the last and only threats to their goal, and now they only had to deal with the remaining 60 of the once 100-strong contingent of royal guards who guarded the imperial palace from intruders.


    They were as strong as she remembered them to be whenever she dueled with them as ordered by her father, and of course, she had to admit, they had already managed to drive her into a corner already even though it had no been 5 seconds since she revealed herself before them.


    Luckily for Aldyth however, her brother had helped her in dealing with the guards who somehow managed to take notice of their presence a while ago, and all she had to now was to deal with the remaining guards who remained completely unaware of their arrival, and she would do this until none of them were left to remain as obstacles to their plans.


    ... Although, while she had indeed been surrounded by them in such a rapid turn of events, the stealth device that Novus gave to her quickly proved to be the ultimate trump cards that would save her from the dire predicament she instantly found herself in, after the small blunder she made of appearing too loudly.


    It was a dirty trick, an act of cowardice that Aldyth disliked doing, but due to her life being at stake right now, her feelings would ultimately have a lesser priority than the enemies who were about to strike her with their bladed weaponries...


    SLASH! THRUST! SLASH! SLASH! THRUST! SLASH! THRUST!


    "... H-huh?! Where the hell did she go?"


    "She faded away like some sort of ghost?!"


    Before their spears and swords could even penetrate the gaps and weak spots of her armor, their enemy would suddenly disappear from their sights in the blink of an eye, as if she had completely vanished without a trace despite all of their eyes being fixated on her presence- it was impossible, many of them uttered in their thoughts, as they couldn''t even sense her presence within the room anymore, and there were no traces of magick being used after their enemy''s disappearance, meaning that the damn monster hadn''t even used any form of spell when she suddenly chose to disappear from their sights.


    Suddenly, though...


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    Aldyth''s stealth weapon was of a different level than what her brother possessed however: unlike a device that would simply cloak her presence from every form of observation, hers directly eliminated her very being from the existence of the world. It was a product of scientific knowledge and enhancements, a tool that effectively allowed her to phase her body through any form of matter, as well as to become invisible whenever she willed it to be.


    The only downside to it was that she had to be incredibly cautious with its usage, lest she end up with a severed limb after a careless attempt of phasing her arms, or perhaps her head...


    And so did their enemy re-materialized into the folds of reality, as she would then begin to brutally annihilate them from the blind spot she reappeared from: to their horror, her movements were far faster than what their own bodies could achieve, and as a result, they had little to no time to react to the trickery that their adversary had used against them.


    "ARGHHH! SHE GOT MY ARM! IT HURTS, IT FUCKING HUR-"


    "CRAP! DESANTIS! SHE GOT KILLED AS WELL! HOW ARE WE EVEN GOING TO STAND A CHANCE AGAINST THI-"


    1... 2... 3... With every stroke of their adversary''s silverine spear, 2 or more soldiers would be cut down as their heads swiftly departed from their necks: without relenting for even a moment, Aldyth continued to exploit the advantage of surprise she managed to seize again, and this time, none of them would be able to turn the tables and drive her to a corner like before...


    "... F-fuck... I''m the only one left..."


    Only a few seconds'' worth of time had gone by since their enemy revealed herself again, and only Riltan remained from their group who had done everything they could to bring this monstrosity down: by now, however, Riltan already realized that he wouldn''t be able to stand a chance by himself, and a great fear instantly took hold of his senses, as his survival instincts began strongly urging him to run away while never looking back...


    "... No... Scratch that... I can''t just run away like a coward... I have a sworn duty to fulfill..."


    However, instead of giving in to his despair, Riltan chose to steel himself for the inevitable death that was about to claim him: even though he knew that he was going to perish the moment his lone enemy decided to attack him, Riltan knew to himself that fleeing from this predicament right now was the equivalent of forsaking the duty and oath he must upheld, and there was no way he was going to abandon his honor for the sake of his life- it would bring an incredible shame to the name of his family, and the honor-bound logic of his own heart would never allow himself to commit such an shameful act of cowardice in any way.


    "Come at me then, you bastard! If I''m going to die right now, I''ll make sure to take you with me!"


    A quick duel then ensued, and almost anyone could know just who exactly the victor would be in this short-lived battle...

 Part 5 - Chapter 8

    "Your Majesty, we have to leave! Your safety is at stake here, and the enemies are getting closer to us by the second!"


    "... Where would we go, though, Quintus? According to the priestess, the enemies have somehow managed to seize control over the minds of our soldiers... There''s no point for us to go outside..."


    "E-even still, Your Majesty! We still have to do everything we can to ensure your survival! You are the living figurehead of the empire, and to lose you would be the greatest defeat we could ever suffer from!"


    Panick had already erupted within the throne room, as the few people that remained in the palace continued to converse with each other regarding the actions they had to take amidst the dilemma they were deeply entangled in.


    Before the priestess known as Delphina had suddenly disappeared, she had given them one more foresight that instantly set them into an anxiety-ridden frenzy: according to her infallible words, most of the soldiers had somehow already been taken control by their adversaries through some form of mind-shackling, and now there were more of these loathsome enemies who had crept into the palace and had somehow managed to kill many of the royal guards responsible for the emperor''s security.


    "Come now, Your Majesty! We must leave at once! Staying here will only put your life in mortal danger!"


    "I told you already, Quintus... It''s pointless... We shall stand here and fight with what little we have left instead..."


    To Emperor Titus, his mind still refused to believe the series of devastatingly unfortunate events that transpired before him without respite: in his mind, their enemies had already surrounded them from every point and corner, and the only thing he could do now was to defy them until the very end, though the fact that he and his remaining forces were being forced to do such a desperate measure made his sense of pride and honour shatter into a million pieces as his mind would quickly become blank whenever he thought of it too much.


    How had things even come to this? One moment, he had been the successful, triumphant emperor of the invincible Neugomian Empire and its unstoppable armies, all of which were the main source of fear and terror throughout the Continent of Xathra, as the empire itself continued to remain as one of the greatest superpowers throughout the hundreds of years of its own existence. Now however, Titus and his merry-men were nothing more than rebels who desperately sought to resist the fate that had already been forcefully bestowed upon them: they truly didn''t want to lose everything they had earned and stood for, and even if they were going to lose their lives in the process, they had all chosen to maintain their pride despite the fact that they would lose their lives should they choose to continue their unnecessary defiance.


    BLAM...


    "Who the hell...?"


    "..."


    The wooden doors leading into the throne room had suddenly burst open, and from its entrance came a lone figure in a strange form of armor, a strange man who bore a mysterious tool of metal with his right hand, as his face noticeably had the same features that the emperor possessed.


    And of course, without delay, the royal guards within the throne room immediately pointed their weapons toward the mysterious figure who had come barging inside all of a sudden.


    "Halt! Identify yourself, intruder!"


    "State your name at once! How dare you enter His Majesty''s throne room without permission, you heathe-"


    BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!


    The strange man''s arm moved faster than what Titus'' eyes could observe, and in the blink of an eye, the entire retinue of bodyguards inside the throne room, along with their mighty guard captain, Quintus, had all died so quickly without a fight. From what the emperor could perceive though, it seemed that wherever that man pointed his metal weapon at, a red beam of light would emerge from its tip, emitting a powerful force that had been enough to completely vaporize the heads of his supposedly unmatched warriors.


    "... Who are you, and what do you want? Are you perhaps one of the enemies who have infiltrated this place to claim my head?"


    In an attempt to keep up a facade of calmness, the emperor would try to maintain an expressionless face as he spoke, though deep down, his mind was already beginning to break down due to the stress he was feeling about the situation he was in.


    "You don''t recognize me at all? What a terrible father you truly are..." Novus scoffed at his plain ignorance: how could this man not take notice of how similar they looked like? Was he truly that cold and uncaring towards his offspring, or had the fear in his mind completely overtaken his sense of reason already? "Well, either way, I still have a lot of time before she''s finally done with what she''s doing..."


    "As someone who had previously been a father myself though... Allow me to express the anger I have for a dad who''s as incompetent and uncaring as you..." A dark expression formed on his face as Novus continued while cracking his knuckles.


    "... What do you mean by this?"


    "What I meant to say was..."


    BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!


    Novus would leap towards him all of a sudden in a fit of cold rage, as a flurry of fists were then unleashed upon the emperor''s old, brittle body, making him scream in pain and anguish as each blow struck a portion of his already decrepit flesh.


    "ARGHHHH!!!!"


    "Let me teach you why you should value your children more, you dumbass..."


    ...


    ...


    "And that concludes the report of the assessment I made on her body. Even though I don''t get along with her... I actually feel so sorry for her now after this.... How is she still sane even?"


    Within a massive laboratory in a faraway place, Novus was reading the important documents that had been given to him by Thurien- it was a collection of papers that contained special information regarding a certain someone who was greatly important to him, which was the reason why Novus had requested the medicae to conduct such an analysis on her in the first place.


    ... In truth, however, the main reason for this secretive research they were conducting was because of the serious injuries he witnessed on her body when he put her inside that glass pod to treat her after their ''duel'' back then: they were unsettling marks of pain that hinted experiences of abuse rather than accomplishments in battle, and it instantly gave Novus a sense of ''worry'' for this woman, even though she wasn''t truly his older sister in a sense...


    "... Dear Lord... You''re right..." his eyes would widen as he continued to read the contents. "This... How the hell is she even mentally functional after all of that?"


    There were many underlying injuries that Thurien managed to detect both on and within her body, though Novus would pay the most attention to the particularly serious ones that the medicae highlighted in the document...


    Multiple flagellation wounds on her back that were suspected to have been made by several whippings... A nullified sense of pain, touch and pleasure, which had clearly been the result of some sort of brain tampering made on her body... A permanently destroyed set of ovaries that would forever prevent her from ever giving birth and raising a child...


    Most importantly however, the lack of a ''soul'' within her body, a unique footprint of existence that was once thought to have been nonexistent but was now a widely accepted thing that truly existed: unlike most of the other beings that Thurien had conducted several analyses on, the princess known as Aldyth completely lacked such a necessary component entirely, almost as if she was nothing more than a doll who was only managing to live through sheer willpower alone...


    "No wonder she hates that bastard so much... It all makes sense now..."


    During one of their conversations, Novus could remember his older sister mentioning about how she hated their father so much, and he could also remember her remarking their father as a miserable excuse of an existence that she loathed to such an incredible extent: unfortunately though, whenever Novus tried to know more about such a dire matter, Aldyth would often try to shift the topic to a more light-hearted one, which only made him wonder even more about the reason why this seemingly emotionless woman possessed such a negatively strong collective of emotions for the man who was supposed to be her father...


    Now however, it made perfect sense, and it was almost as if the puzzle pieces within Novus'' mind were connecting themselves rapidly without even being guided by the mental whispers of his mind: Aldyth had not only been forced to serve as a tool of war who had no will of her own, but she had also most likely been a subject of abuse and discrimination whenever she would fail the tasks and responsibilities given to her by the one person who was supposed to care for her the most...


    The most important question however, was just how much abuse did Aldyth have to endure after all those years, and why did she choose to remain compliant after all that time?


    "... Could we... Treat her injuries and make her normal again?"


    "... While I was able to patch up most of her superficial injuries... There seems to be something that''s preventing me from fully repairing her body using my nanomachines..." Thurien explained with a hint of sadness. "It''s almost as if... She''s cursed or something... Ah, sorry for the term..."


    "A curse? Could it be some form of magick?" Novus asked inquisitively.


    "... Not really. It''s something that''s deeply rooted into her, and it''s almost as if it''s like a vital organ that''s firmly connected to the tissues of her body..." Thurien described. "It''s not something I could possibly remove, even with the help of the advanced medical procedures I can implement on her..."


    "I see... That''s truly quite unfortunate..."


    It was disgusting... A rising sensation of cold wrath began brewing within the inner chambers of his mind, as the thought of such an innocent, young woman who had not only been forced into war for most of her life, but had also experienced terrible anguishes that no woman should ever experience at the hands of their own parent-figure, made the very ichor that flowed through his veins boil with an anger that made his body nearly tremble in rage.


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Well, it was apparent that this ''father'' of theirs held not too much regard about his children in the first place- when Novus had gone missing all those years ago, the emperor didn''t even bother sending at least a single search party to look for their missing prince, and if their father was already that uncaring to someone that most of the family considered as useless, how much more terrible could this monster have been towards his poor sister who their father only saw as a tool to expand and accomplish his ambitions?


    He also couldn''t help but wonder however, as he thought of that ''curse'' that Thurien mentioned that was present in Aldyth''s body- just what sort of magickal abomination had been done to her, and how had she even managed to survive from all these terrible experiences after all this time?


    How vexing... Novus thought to himself in silence: by now, he had already made a solemn oath to himself that he would fulfill no matter what, a promise that consisted only of the fact that he was, quite literally, going to beat up that useless father-figure who had never truly cared about either of them.


    "Thurien... Could you remind me of something important later? I don''t want to forget about it, so I need your help in remembering it..."


    "Hm? Sure, go ahead and tell me then..."


    An expression of cold, silent anger formed on his face as Novus made his reply.


    "I''m going to beat up that worthless fuck of an emperor for all the crap he''s ever done."


    ...


    ...


    By the time he was done with him, Titus had been left as nothing more than a beaten-up husk of his former self, with terrible bruises visible throughout his skin as several of his bones and muscles ached from the pain of being torn and shattered so violently.


    "You know, I had a daughter once... She was frail and sickly, and she couldn''t even get up from bed and eat properly without my help." Novus said as he gave one more kick to the old man''s body, making him scream for the terrible pain that had been inflicted upon his chest again. "Though that fragile kid made my life even harder after my wife left me... Never in my life did I choose to do the kind of shit you did..."


    He gave Titus another crippling blow, though this time it came in the form of a stomp that had been made against his battered head, and it was enough to immediately make the emperor bellow in agony as he felt the pain course through his nerves in a fraction of a second.


    "You''re disgusting, you know that? If I could, I would''ve burned you alive, but I can''t just break a promise I made with her, now can I?"


    After being pummeled until he was reduced to a helpless, writhing body on the ground, the resulting pain only continued to grow more unbearable as it kept gnawing away at his very skin: this bastard, whoever he was, and whatever corner of the world he came from... If Titus were to ever manage to escape from this dreadful situation he had been caught in, then he would absolutely make sure that this man suffers a pain that was far greater than the one he had inflicted upon him.


    For now though, Titus had to do everything he can to survive the situation he was in: he couldn''t afford to die here right now, as he had already achieved so much in his long life, and his death would forever mark the end of his empire''s age of conquest and uncontested decades of military might.


    "... Y-you... How dare you... I am the emperor of the Neugomian Empire..." Titus would try to stand up, only for his weak, battered body to fail and make him remain on the ground he was lying on. "I am the... Ruler of everything that exists in this damn continent... Who are you to... Brutalize me to this extent?"


    "Oh please. Nobody cares about your status as a tyrant. Now keep quiet, or I''ll beat you up again, and I''ll make sure that it''s going to hurt even more this time."


    Those words made the injured emperor shiver a bit in fear; despite his great sense of pride as someone who couldn''t be ordered by others, he ultimately had no choice but to listen to what this man had told him to do. He didn''t want to get pummeled into submission again, as the anguish he felt after all those blows made on his body were still aching quite dreadfully...


    BLAM...


    "Great, you''re finally here. I beat him a little since he got a bit too annoying, but he''s still alive, don''t worry."


    The door leading to the inner chambers of the throne room had opened themselves again, and from the unlocked exitway came a tall, red-haired figure, who wore a strange form of armor, as well as an iron-mask modeled after a fake human face, as she also carried a bloodied, silverine spear with one of her hands as she walked into the room.


    "... I don''t mind that you roughened him up a little. He deserves it after all... And... Thank you for fulfilling the promise you made to me..."


    The mysterious woman then took of her mask, undoing the straps that fastened her false, face of iron to her head as she simultaneously took it off with her left hand: as Titus saw the face that remained concealed within the eerie, metal apparatus that hid it however, shock immediately became the primary emotion that fogged his thoughts, and for a few seconds was his mind completely unable to believe the imagery he had recently just seen...


    "... W-what... It can''t be... A-Aldyth?"


    She was supposed to have been lost to their enemies after those monsters took Polonia away from their grasps- in fact, the entirety of the empire thought that she had been slain already by the mysterious, daunting adversaries who were making them suffer defeat after defeat. However, the fact that she was right here now, seemingly cooperating with the same enemies she was supposed to have died fighting against, only made the emperor fall into a greater sense of confusion.


    "... I''ve never had the chance to do this before ... I always had to kneel before you whenever you called me here... Out of fear that you might punish me severely again like all those punishments you gave me whenever I failed your expectations..."


    "ARGHHHHH!!!"


    Aldyth''s hand quickly moved to seize Titus by the throat, effortlessly lifting him up into the air as she stared coldly at him with an unbridled fury that she had rarely ever chosen to display. Due to her sheer strength however, the emperor slowly found himself unable to breathe more properly, as the constricting force surrounding his neck steadily became tighter and more constrictive.


    "... Mercy... Mercy... My daughter..."


    "Is that all you can say for yourself? Then again, you''re unable to so much as breathe right now, so..."


    THUD!


    He hand would let go of his breathless throat, making Titus fall to the ground as he then began to take in more of the air he had been denied for such a long moment of time. After taking a while to catch his breath, the emperor then stood up limpingly from the ground in a silent manner, almost as if he was about to say something.


    "... T-thankyou... My daughter... I knew you still had some love for me-"


    A frown formed on her face as Aldyth quickly interrupted him. "No, I don''t. The reason why I let you go... Was so that I could do this..."


    "???"


    SLASSHHHH!!!!


    There was zero hesitation in the killing blow that Aldyth chose to deliver- the spear she carried with her moved faster than what Titus could perceive, and without fail, the halberd''s all-piercing blade would instantly cut through the soft flesh and bone that were the only barriers against its trajectory: in the blink of an eye, the once renowned emperor of the Neugomian Empire, Titus von Neugomia, had been slain brutally as his body was cut cleanly in half by the powerful splitting force that Aldyth unleashed, as the 2 halves of his body then slumped to the ground lifelessly while blood began pouring all throughout the filthied floor...


    "... I''ve finally done it... I''m finally... Free..."


    Aldyth muttered this as she remained both silent and motionless for a few moments. Afterwards though, a few tears began pouring out from her eyes- they were not tears of sadness however, as instead, they were the result of the combined expressions of happiness, disbelief, and triumph, which had all combined as one within her heart after she violently took the life of the father who had abused her for most of her entire life...


    She was finally free, and no longer would she have to endure a life of being used by the very same man who was supposed to have loved and cared for her without fail: she no longer had to endure those experiments and punishments that made her the soulless being she was now, and she could finally live the life she had always wanted, and with the fact that she had finally been reunited with the only family member she truly cared for... For the very first time, a smile formed on Aldyth''s usually expressionless face, as she could also simultaneously feel a great, endearing emotion that she could only describe as ''happiness''...


    "... Need a shoulder to cry on?"


    Without a word, the warrior-princess quickly moved towards her brother as she wrapped her arms around him and continued to cry. As her tears continued to flow down from her face and began getting onto Novus'' armor though, he wouldn''t mind it at all, as he would still continue to accept Aldyth''s embrace as he too began wrapping his own arms around her.


    "... Thank you... My little brother... Thank you... Really..."


    ________________________________________


    It was over... She had now lost many of the abilities that made her who she was, powers that had been bestowed upon her by her now-dead lord and benefactor: a dragon who was worshipped by the emperor and many of his cohorts, the same being who she had faithfully served for many years of her life already.


    Delphina fled the scene by escaping through one of the many secret tunnels within the palace, a concealed exitway whose route reached beyond the city walls: being an oracle who directly served the emperor provided her many advantages, and the knowledge of such important escape routes during an enemy invasion was one of the many things that the priestess had earned after her countless years of servitude.


    Now however, all of the things she had done were now meaningless, and a great sense of frustration and regret remained in her heart as she was constantly reminded of today''s unfortunate series of events: the Neugomian Empire was being defeated in their battles against their new, unknown adversaries, and multiple enemy infiltrators hailing from the same enemies had already made their way into the imperial palace. What was even more terrifying though was that their enemies were managing to succeed in their attempted incursion, though surprisingly, this wasn''t the reason why Delphina had chosen to run away like a coward just now.


    She could feel it after all: the connection she had with the one she worshipped, the Dragon Lord known as Beelzebub, the Lord of the Flies... The deep, unbreakable bond she had with this monstrously powerful being, where once it had previously been strong and practically unshatterable... Including the fact that his presence was no longer something she could feel, there was also the fact that their connection now felt as if it had been severed permanently, and there was only one good reason as to why these things could have happened in the first place...


    The only thing Delphina couldn''t understand however, is how did her lord even ''perish'' in the first place? How did he meet his end, and what exactly caused it in the first place?


    Because of this sudden arrival of weakness though, the priestess had lost many of the abilities she obtained thanks to the gifts presented to her by the draconic lord she once served: from her immense magick potential and vast arcane reserves, to even her ability to see the future and call upon her very lord in her most desperate times...


    "... I have nothing left... And there''s only one thing left for me to do..."


    She had one more thing to get back at the world that had been cruel to her, a contingency plan that she and her lord had devised at the very moment that the empire would no longer serve their whims: multiple runes secretly etched throughout every nook and cranny of the capital, magickal tools that would erupt into a cataclysmic series of explosions that would engulf Vishnal in a sea of fire and brimstone.


    Ultimately, it was a self-destruct mechanism of a magickal kind... Now however, Delphina was planning to activate this contingency through the rune etched on her left hand: all she had to do was to say the specific phrase to activate it, and the entire capital would be destroyed in an instant.


    For now though, the priestess was solely focusing on making her escape first before she was to trigger that massive spell of destruction, as she still held a lot of value for her own life after all, and she wasn''t, in the slightest, that willing to die along with the city she was about to blow up.


    ... Unfortunately however, Delphina was fated to lose one more thing amidst the escape she had made amidst the situation- it was going to be a loss so great, one that would take something of incredible importance from her forever...


    "So you were here, you sleazy little rat. It took me a while to find you, but now I''ve finally done it..."


    "... W-why are you here?"


    An ethereal construct, a gateway of brilliant light, had suddenly appeared in front of her all of a sudden, and out from it came a woman with black hair and a mesmerizing set of purple, seemingly-glowing eyes: Delphina, however, was all too familiar with such a figure, as she had already seen that face countless times throughout the prophecies she made before she eventually lost her power a while ago...


    Whitlea... Or so was her name pronounced... That name brought a great fear to Delphina''s very body and soul, as within most of the futures that Delphina could once foretell, this woman had always managed to succeed in the one objective she wished to fulfill, a goal that involved the oracle in an incredibly dangerous act of violence that she was only able to resist in a few of these possible timelines...


    In short, Delphina already knew that she was about to die at the hands of this insane lunatic, and she was also aware by this point that the future she was about to experience was one where she wouldn''t be able to escape from this terrible fate.


    "Don''t you already know by this point? I''m here to get rid of you, silly~" Whitlea''s voice oozed with a sadistic joy as she spoke. "Why don''t you just accept it? You won''t be able to resist me anyway, and if you still want to fight me, your death definitely isn''t going to be pretty, to say the least..."


    The oracle''s mind began to break down as despair began clouding her mind in an instant: why was this happening to her all of a sudden? She had done everything she could to live... Even after having lost everything important to her just now, she had still managed to keep her life by escaping the devastation being wrought throughout the capital by running away while never looking back.


    It was unfair, Delphina thought to herself: what did she even do to deserve this? Was it because she had sacrificed a few of those insignificant slaves to her lord in a bid to appease his presence? Was it because she chose to run away and had effectively abandoned the very emperor she was supposed to serve? Or was it because of she had chosen to worship that damned draconic being who had forsaken her so suddenly?


    In any case though, Delphina still had one more method of making sure that she was going to survive, and this method came in the form of a magick weapon she had brought with her amidst the secretive retreat she made so hastily...


    "D-don''t you doubt my ability! I''ll make sure that I''m going to survive here!"


    "Oh, really? Do your best then, you heretical demon worshipper~"


    A jet-black, demonic staff with a blood-red crystal attached to its very tip... A tool she had crafted made from the essence of pure magick: while the deity she served did indeed have a part in its creation, strangely enough, the tool itself was still relatively functional even after the disappearance of her lord, and now Delphina had chosen to unleash its powerful magicks against the woman before her who was about to take her life.


    In truth, it was a powerful arcane staff that required not even a single drop of her mana for it to unleash its spells- all it required was instead the surrounding environment''s mana, as well as the very soul signature of her body to be activated, and the rest of its might would then begin to work accordingly with her desires and do everything it could to fulfill them.


    [Thunder Lances.]


    [Wind Storm.]


    [Hellfire Burst.]


    [Magick Missiles.]


    [Astral Fissure.]


    Multitudes of exceedingly powerful spells were unleashed by the magickal staff at once, as each of these attacks then proceeded to make their way toward their target in lightning-quick speeds: it was over, Delphina surmised triumphantly, as there was no way for that bastard to block or avoid these spells, and now Delphina thought that she had managed to defy the future that was set to happen to her...


    "My, how... Bright..."


    A thin, see-through barrier absorbed all of the attacks without fail, neutralizing their destructive power as their target remained perfectly unscathed: simultaneously however, several, hovering metallic constructs of small proportions would come out of the portal behind Whitlea, as a bright, blinding light began radiating from what seemed to be their singular, cyclopean eyes.


    "Was that it? Anyway, it''s time to meet your end~ Farewell dear, and I hope you die as painfully as possible from this~"


    ZAP! ZAP! ZAP! ZAP! ZAP! ZAP!


    "AAHHHHHHH!!!!!"


    Scorching, blue lights would emerge from the glowing eyes of those hovering insects of steel, and within seconds, Delphina was quickly peppered with holes as those violently brutal attacks struck most of her body with a fatal accuracy.


    It was a merciless form of assault, as even after she had already died, the drones would continue to fire upon Delphina''s dead corpse with their searing laser barrages, eventually melting the very ground that the oracle stood from while turning her entire body into nothing more than a vaporized, mist of blood, with a stain of ichor on the scorched earth serving as the only reminder that she had once existed and had already died.


    "There we go... Now my beloved is safe... I''m always going to make sure he''s safe from now on... No matter what..."


    And that was how the priestess Delphina, the 3rd Disciple of the one known as the Glutton Lord, had met her end at the hands of her fated slayer, and forever would her name be forgotten in time as her death had finally come to pass...

 Part 5 - Epilogue

    "And that''s how I want it to happen. Why can''t you people trust my decision right now?"


    "Because, my creator... Shouldn''t you be the one sitting on that throne instead?"


    "... Yeah, Speranza''s right. While we''re perfectly fine with Whitlea being the representative, we''re just confused why you want to remain on the sidelines?"


    "..."


    They''ve finally succeeded with the first steps of their plans: the marching imperial forces that threatened to reconquer Polonia''s lands had been completely annihilated, and the Empire itself had firmly been brought into their grasps...


    The only thing left for them to do was to establish the new reign that was about to rule the empire as its figurehead; many of Novus'' companions expected that, among all of them, it would be him who would take up the responsibility of bearing the throne and claiming the title of the emperor.


    However, what he wanted instead was something drastically different...


    Within the imperial throne room, Speranza, Thurien, Whitlea, and Novus were were currently discussing about the final matter they had on their hands, before they were about to proceed with the other, multitudes of plans they had in store.


    "I mean, doesn''t it make sense?" Novus inquired. "Whitlea''s good with this kind of bureaucratic nonsense, and she can also influence their thoughts and minds when necessary. She''d practically make the perfect emperor... I mean empress..."


    "... Well, you do have a point..."


    "Fine, if that''s what my creator wants..."


    "..."


    Unfortunately though, Novus had his own points that not even the Speranza and Thurien could deny right now, as not only were they aware that she did indeed have a somewhat better decision-making capability than Novus, but also, with the fact that she was capable of controlling the thoughts of the soldiers and citizens of the empire, Whitlea would similarly be a great candidate for taking up the position of the emperor.


    Had Aldyth and Anastasia been there right now, they definitely would have firmly opposed the decision he made without an ounce of hesitation in their minds- he was the one who made this plan work after all, and anyone in the right mind could easily see that he would be the right candidate for taking up the vacant seat of power within the empire''s ranks. Right now however, the 2 were busy with their fair share of tasks, with both of them currently asleep and recuperating back home, and Novus was all too aware that he shouldn''t try to bother them too much right now.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "You look like you''re a bit bothered right now though, Whitlea... Are you alright?"


    "... It''s nothing... I''m just..." Whitlea responded to Novus'' question with a bit of hesitance. "... Are you really sure with what you''re about to do?"


    "... Why are you asking this in the first place?"


    "Well... Who knows... You might regret it in the future or something...?"


    Novus then put his hand on her shoulder as he made a reassurance. "I trust that you won''t make me regret. You''re pretty capable after all."


    "... I see then..." A small smile formed on her usually neutral face. "... If you trust me that much, then I guess I''ll just have to do my very best..."


    "Great. Thank you so much, Whitlea."


    "Hmph. By the way..." without warning, she would get dangerously close to him all of a sudden. "if you''re going to make me do something so difficult again... Can''t you at least give me a reward~?"


    "... W-what kind of reward?"


    The already present-grin on her lips seemingly grew a bit wider as she heard him stutter. "Well, I don''t know... Are you going to let me decide for you, hm~"


    "... F-fine, go ahead... Just don''t ask for something that''s too difficult..."


    "My, that''s not fair at all, but... Fine, I''ll try not to make it too difficult, ahaha..." Whitlea replied while giggling a bit. "Now as for my reward..."


    She then moved herself even closer to him, whispering teasingly into his right ear as she spoke.


    "We''re going to make you wear a butler''s uniform for our little event later~ Surely, that wouldn''t be too difficult for you, right?"


    "..."


    "Oh no you don''t, my creator."


    As Novus tried to flee the scene through the pair of wooden doors that led outside, Speranza and Thurien would chase after him and manage to grip him by the arms: a mischievous grin could be seen on both of their faces as they successfully prevented him from escaping, as Whitlea then walked towards Novus and got close to him again.


    "The 3 of us know you hate wearing servant uniforms, dear~ so this''ll be the perfect reward I can ask for." Whitlea said. "Besides, they won''t be able to recognize you from the sheer height of the balcony, so don''t worry... I''ll also try not to make your outfit look too ridiculous, at the very least~"


    ________________________________________


    The citizens of the Empire had all gathered around the imperial palace for the speech of that was to be made by their new ruler: while all of them knew that their about-to-be emperor had forcefully seized the position from the previous one that once reigned over them all, not a single one of the people had the will to resist their new overlords, as they were already all too aware of the power they possessed and unleashed upon their armies all those ages ago...


    "... W-What? Our new emperor''s a woman?"


    "How strange... And here I thought that our new emperor would be a man..."


    From the balcony where the speech was about to be made, a refined lady with shadow-black hair and lilac eyes emerged as she looked down upon the crowds of people who were about to lay witness to her proclamations. Of course, many of the citizens had been rendered surprised with her appearance, as they all expected that the one who would become the new tyrant-in-store would be a man.


    Beside her, however, were 3 other figures who seemed to be the woman''s attendants: a white-haired figure with a white maid attire, and a pink-haired figure in a strange white outfit, both of whom were smiling jovially as they firmly held onto the shoulders of the seemingly-unwilling, butler-uniformed figure between them.


    "People of Neugomia, hear my words..."


    The voice from the woman came off as incredibly loud and booming, as even the people from the farthest corners of the tightly-packed crowd could audibly hear her voice without difficulties: it was almost as if her voice was naturally that powerful...


    "My name is Whitlea... And from here on out... I shall be the new empress in charge of your lands..." the black-haired woman declared. "Worry not, for with my reign, I shall aim to right all the wrongs that your previous emperor had made..."


    "And I shall also make sure to lead you to a golden, where all of us can thrive in prosperity."

 Part 6 - Prologue

    The massive, torch-lit chamber of wood and sandstone echoed with the countless murmurs and whispers of those who conversed within it, as the baffled voices continued to speak of the utter impossibility that their ears had all just recently laid witness to.


    "Is this really true?"


    "... How did they manage to defeat our long-lived enemy so quickly?"


    "Madness, this is madness! This couldn''t have happened in the span of mere days!"


    The defeat of the Empire at the hands of its newly-surfaced enemies had already sent tremors into the hearts and minds of those who served as its greatest enemies: in a massive chamber that lied faraway from even the furthest of Xathra''s outskirts, a meeting was being held between 2 nations, both of which had long been one of the Neugomian Empire''s greatest enemies that hailed from another continent entirely...


    And that was why the Tikonglomeran Tribes, for the very first time in their internal conflicts that had raged on for centuries, had finally managed to unite their 3 tribes under a cause that would serve to deter the newly-emerged threat that transpired in the north, and it was also the reason why they had chosen to hold a diplomatic meeting with their other rival nation, the Mizraea Dynastium, a bountiful country situated beside the lush, life-giving waters of the Naelah River. "Indeed, it is true, and for you Mizraean lot to deny it would be utterly foolish!" an old woman bearing the clothes of a shaman argued. "If we do not unite our forces this instant, we will all fall prey to the monsters who have managed to defeat of our great enemy!"


    Unity against a common, greater enemy... A cause that had once worked in the past amongst the nations of Nifarusca. Unfortunately however, the hostilities amongst the men of this continent had grown to become extreme, and it was rare to ever see one nation being willing to conduct even the basest of diplomacies with its other neighbors.


    In short, trust and friendship was almost nonexistent in the desert-ridden lands of Nifarusca, and it would be a point quickly proven by one of the figures who would reply to the shaman''s proclamation...


    "... It appears that I wasted my time coming here... A powerful enemy, you say? What makes you think that me and my people won''t be able to handle their power by ourselves?"


    From the far corner of the room, a hazel-haired, white robed woman with a fairly brown skin tone would stand up from her seat, her piercing golden eyes staring haughtily into the gaze of the shaman in an arrogant manner: of course, many of the other figures knew of the lady''s identity as well as the authority she held, as all of their murmuring voices immediately came to a halt upon hearing her speak her words.


    "... You are strong, Empress Amenophis... However, make no mistake..." the old shaman uttered sternly. "The ones who subjugated the empire may likely possess a strength that matches even yours... And it would be better for us to form an alliance so that both of our nations will survive whatever action they may take next..."Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "Haah... Such foolishness... No human in this world can ever hope to surpass my might, not even your paltry magick tricks, you old hag."


    Almost immediately, her arrogant expression would quickly be met with a myriad of negative responses from the other side of the assembly.


    "You royal cur! How dare you disrespect Elder Honerva with your vile insults!"


    "Just because you''re the empress of Mizraea, doesn''t mean you can act all high and mighty!"


    The Mizraean Empress simply laughed at their angered voices, refusing to take their frustrations seriously for even a second.


    "Hahaha... Unfortunately for you water-deprived sand nomads, the power I wield can allow me to enforce my will upon you monkeys whenever I want~"


    A dark smile then formed on Amenophis'' face, with a radiant glint seemingly emerging from the golden irises of her tall, proud gaze.


    "... In fact, why don''t we make a short demonstration today?"


    [Oh Time... Cease your movements this instant...]


    "???"


    "!!!"


    Panic... Surprise... Shock... And eventually... Silence...


    The world immediately froze over without resistance, as the golden staff wielded by Amenophis, a product of the combined properties of magick and technology, immediately began enforcing her will upon the very environment that surrounded her.


    Time itself had ground to a halt, as the movements and expressions of every single living and non-living thing within the room, except her''s of course, had instantly ceased: in truth, this display of might was only a portion of the true strength that Amenophis had always kept hidden, and such was the immense power that the Empress held, that stopping the entire flow of time within the world was nothing more than child''s play to her...


    Eventually however, the twist upon the folds of reality would be undone, as the world would eventually come to normal with but a single command she made through the golden staff she always held with her left hand...


    [May the flow of time return to its proper state...]


    Of course though, as everything eventually returned to normal, the other schemes that Amenophis had enacted amidst the short halting of time she caused, would immediately surface into reality through a cascading series of small calamities.


    SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT!


    "H-HOW THE HELL?!"


    "T-THAT DAMN WOMAN!!!"


    The ones who previously shouted at the Mizraean Empress after she insulted the shaman... In only a few seconds, their once normal, unharmed bodies had all suddenly exploded into a collective of fine, red mist, leaving only their gaseous ichor as their bodies were mercilessly vaporized by an unknown force, and this horrific violence immediately set all the others into a state of fear and panic.


    "I''m ashamed that it took a reminder for you savages to realize just how powerful I truly am." the expression on Amenophis uttered, her face suddenly turning into that of a cold one. "Do you now realize how easily I can deal with these so-called ''enemies'' that you all fear so much?"


    Seeing her arrogance, the old shaman simply sighed in defeat, kneeling down without a word as she quickly realized that everything they had done was ultimately pointless.


    "... I-I suppose then, Your Majesty. We''ll be taking our leave then... However, let me remind you..." the shaman stated. "You have been warned beforehand... Whatever tragedy will happen to you that will involve our newly-risen adversaries..."


    "Let me remind you that you only have yourself to blame for your arrogance..."


    "Hah... Your words mean nothing, you old hag. My power will let me handle whatever incursion that these interlopers might attempt in the future." the empress responded with a heavy sense of pride. "And I firmly believe that I won''t be needing any of your help in this matter, so please leave my lands as quickly as you can... This entire meeting has been nothing more than a waste of my time..."

 Part 6 - Chapter 1

    Death...


    It was a concept that she hated with an utmost passion... A concept that earned an immediate anger from her the moment its words would so much as even reach her ears...


    In a dead, distant reality of ravaged time and endless strife, there had been a beautiful, synthetic creation of life, a marvelous symbiosis of both machine and flesh, a being whose appearance could almost be compared to that of an ordinary human being...


    It... She was a black haired woman with lavender eyes, as well as a face that rivaled the splendid beauties of the ancient goddesses of love and charm...


    Not only that, however, but the powers that had come with her existence had allowed such a woman of rare birth to transcend the normal laws of might and power: her ability to tamper with minds and control all-else unseen was terrifying, yet her loyalty to the people who were responsible for her creation would remain just as strong as her power throughout the years...


    In fact, many years after she had come to life, this beautiful woman would end up falling in love with the son of one of her makers... The man who she had grown up with ever since she first opened her eyes, and one of the only people who accepted her for who she was despite all the imperfections and flaws she had due to her unnatural existence.


    Of course, due to the mutual understanding and love that they had for each other, these 2 would eventually be wed to each other in a marvelous ceremony of marriage that betrothed the both of them to each other in a warm embrace that would only end in death...


    Though unfortunately... It would indeed be death that would forever leave a mark of endless grief upon their beautiful relationship... A series of unfortunate events that would lead the woman to losing everything dear she held in her once-pristine and serene life...


    And surprisingly, these events would also lead to the terrifying insanity that was plaguing her to this day...


    Her beloved''s death at the hands of enemies that matched her in power... And the destruction of the entire world around her, leaving only her as the sole survivor of a barren wasteland where she had nothing left to live for...


    Even more tragically however, amidst her battle against these powerful enemies, she would suffer one more catastrophe that would forever seal her fate, a locked path that led to her becoming the insane being she currently was...


    A powerful sealing spell, the likes of the accursed magick which she endlessly loathed: one had been casted upon her by her enemies, leading to her becoming trapped in an endless abyss where not even death could save her from the cold, uncaring void that was now her prison...


    For untold scores of years would she live in pain, yearning for the luxuries of the past that she had never managed to fully enjoy, as she forever cursed the folds of existence itself for being such a cruel, uncaring being that had seized everything from her...


    And she would continue to lay there in anguish, screaming madly against the unflinching, ever-silent darkness as she sought for a merciful release from her pitiful life, until after countless years of searching for a death that would finally free her, a twisted form of hope would finally reach her and give her the strength to once more go against her suffering...


    Power- to her, it was the measuring unit of all life, the one thing that would determine one''s worth and stature in existence, and after the trauma of losing the things she loved while not having the strength to stop it, as she sought for a death that would never come, the pitiful woman would do everything she could to restore her life to its former glory once again and break through the dark, endless realm that was her cage, and she would do this for the intolerable decades of silence she lived through, sacrificing even her very body and sanity in order to achieve her very goals...


    And eventually, after perhaps centuries of testing, fiddling, and amplifying her powers to the extreme using only her knowledge and a sheer, force of will, the now-crazed woman had finally earned the tool that would allow her freedom from this loathsome realm that had locked her away for countless years already.


    Infinity... An endless cycle that would always start anew- it was present in even the very simple foundations of the world, from even the birth, death, and renewal of small, minor forms of life, to the very intricate cycles and webs of nature that would persevere through the harsh trials of reality...


    It was the perfect weapon to use against the uncaring void that enveloped her body in its cold embrace: after all, nothing could resist an endlessly unstoppable force, and not even the nigh-impervious barrier of her prison-realm could hope to endure such a terrifying power.


    The woman, against all the odds that stacked against her centuries-worth of efforts within the void that imprisoned her, had managed to harness this very concept as her newfound power.


    She broke through the once dark, impenetrable veil that caged her existence, finally granting her a release that was far better than the one she initially desired, and she would, using her newfound power, do everything she could to bring back everything to where it had once been...


    She met an angel, a mighty winged entity that was just as powerful as her, a being who was also just as eager to prevent the destruction that had engulfed the world...Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    And so, through the plan they had formed together, with their first step straining their abilities to the extreme, they would turn back time to the period before everything had all started, to save reality from the carnage that brought an end to all life and reduced the earth to a dead, lifeless world...


    And to save the ones she cherished and loved as well... Especially her beloved...


    ...


    ...


    "You look a bit sad all of a sudden... Is there something wrong?"


    "No, it''s just... About that thing I made you do back then... I''m sorry for forcing you to do something I know you hate so much..."


    "Hahaha... Don''t worry, it was actually kind of funny, you know? Seeing you speak to the masses as if you really were their newly appointed grand empress or something... By the way..."


    The softness of the bed they laid on proved incredibly comfortable as both Novus and Whitlea lied down on its mattress, with their arms wrapped around each others bodies in a tight embrace as he lightly buried his face in her ample chest: it was a night like no other, where the 2 had chosen to rest in the comforts of their quarters by sleeping beside each other, like always.


    "It always surprises me that you actually CAN be this soft and intimate... Well, then again, you only ever do this when we''re alone together." "... Are you trying to tell me that I''m two-faced, dear?"


    It would have been quite the unusual sight for the eyes of most, given how and reserved Whitlea normally was: where usually she appeared distant and aloof to most of the people she encountered daily, she was actually capable of expressing a myriad of other emotions when she was alone with the one she was closest to.


    "... I wasn''t... But..." Novus stuttered. "... Anyway... Why are you being so affectionate more than usual? You''re not normally this... Well... Y''know..."


    "Hm? Is there a problem?" Whitlea smirked. "Am I not allowed to express what I feel? Don''t you dare think that I''ll be as compliant as Speranza when it comes to treating you~"


    "No, not at all, I was just... Curious..." he answered hushly. "It''s just strange seeing you being more... Ahem... Affectionate than usual..."


    "Mhm, don''t mind it too much dear. You''re enjoying it too anyway, am I right~"


    "... Y-yeah..."


    *And besides, it''s just good to see you again like this after so long... Fully healthy and in your prime...*


    *If only this moment can last forever...*


    ________________________________________


    "That''s... Quite the large ship you built, Miss Thurien... I''m surprised it''s actually managing to stay afloat despite its size..."


    "Well, quality is better than quality after all. Though, I have to admit... I really went a tad bit too overboard with this one~"


    Within one of the multitudes of dockyards within the medicae''s home, a metal vessel being operated by countless, small, metal creatures equipped with various construction tools endlessly crawled on its hull as they tended to its construction, all while its gigantic proportions stood tall upon the dried out section that led out to the azur seas surrounding them: it was a massive ship incomparable to that of the wooden picket ships of the current time period, as the very nature of the techniques utilized in its creation were far more advanced than what the men of the current era could ever hope to conceive...


    "Um... Actually... You COMPLETELY went overboard this time..." Speranza responded after a short while, her eyes still focused on the marvelous structure of steel that was right in front of her. "I understand that you built it to be this massive since it would be more... Er... Effective, for the upcoming battle we''re going to partake in, but... Don''t you think this is just too much?"


    "... Ahaha~ I really kind of did went too far this time, hm? Well, it''s better to have too much of something than to have nothing of it at all." Thurien said with a smile born from the pride she felt as the finishing touches were being made to her creation. "Plus, it''s also much better to build high quality creations in limited numbers than creating multitudes of low quality ones."


    "I suppose you do have a point with that." Speranza remarked. "By the way, have you come up with a name for it yet, Miss Thurien? For a ship so monstrously big and capable, shouldn''t it also have an equally fearsome name as well?"


    "Hmm... I actually do have a good name in mind..." Thurien pondered to herself as she brought her hand to her chin: like the humans who made her before, the act of naming creations made with a tedious amount of effort had always been a common tradition back then, and to give the perfect name the very vessel whose very design she had facilitated would also be incredibly suitable for their current occasion.


    "Oh? Please do tell then..."


    "How does the name ''Silver Tempest'' sound?" Thurien suggested, seeing it as the perfect fit for the monstrously large water vessel. "It does have a nice ring to it, wouldn''t you agree?"


    ________________________________________


    The sight of the capital was a fresh sight for her eyes: only a few weeks have passed since she last came here, and it was primarily because of the new reigning figures, that there had been many changes here in the first place.


    "They''ve definitely managed to rule far better than father could ever do..." she muttered to herself rather quietly. "... I just hope that my brother or that woman he''s infatuated with don''t become a power-obsessed tyrants..."


    Although she was alone in a balcony as she observed the magnificent sights of Vishnal, Aldyth could still feel the sense of belonging she had finally gained after years of being alone with no one who cared about her- not only had she had finally met her brother again after all those years of thinking that he was already dead, but she also had other people who she could genuinely consider as her friends...


    "My Lieg-... No... Princess... The maid has brought the tea you wanted... Please drink it before it gets cold..."


    To her side, Altair had appeared and made a light bow before she spoke- how funny, Aldyth thought silently as she moved her gaze towards her bodyguard... Even after all these months, she still couldn''t get the honorifics out of her system, as if they hadn''t become close friends by this point.


    "You nearly called me ''Liege'' again..."


    "I-I apologize, princess..." Altair replied with a shameful voice, as she once more made another light bow. "It''s really difficult for me to not call you with respect, so... Please forgive me for still being unable to adjust..."


    "Well, like I said, you don''t have to worry, we''re already friends, right?" Aldyth said as she patted the assassin''s shoulder. "It doesn''t matter if it takes you years... You''ll get it out of you eventually, and I don''t mind if you keep making mistakes."


    "... Thank you, My Lie-... Princess..."


    "Ah, and you nearly called me that again, ahaha... Anyway, why don''t we go outside? Stay there while I dress up, I want you to accompany me while I take a look around the capital later..."


    "But princess... The tea..."


    "Ah, don''t worry about that, we can just ask the maid to reheat it..." Aldyth pointed out, to which Altair could do nothing else but agree. "We''re going to be visiting a lot of exciting places later... Personally, I really love that bakery shop in the southern plaza, the one that makes those delicious tarts..."

 Part 6 - Chapter 2

    The capital had fallen... Conquered, seized, and taken over by the same enemies who had recently risen as one of their greatest threats as of late...


    To the far, southern outskirts of the empire, in one of the many vassalized states under the firm grasp of the empire, the Kingdom of Gresia, the noteworthy remnants of the imperial forces who hadn''t taken part in the capital''s defence, had chosen to rally themselves faraway from their now-fallen capital city in order to prepare their next actions of striking back against their unforeseen enemies.


    "We must gather our forces and retake the capital! We have to fight against those bastards with every ounce of strength we can hope to muster!"


    "Are you blind?! Those monsters easily neutralized the 100,000 thousand strong army that sought to protect the Capital! What would we even achieve there if we choose to charge in recklessly?!"


    "Then would you rather allow our pride to be sullied by these insufferable barbarians?! This is complete travesty on our Imperial Honour, and we cannot just choose to sit by idly!"


    "You utter buffoon! What worth does pride have if we all end up getting annihilated by attacking so carelessly?!"


    Alas, within the voice-echoing chambers of their meeting hall, the remaining imperial officers bickered against each other without end, as they continued to argue about the method of action that they were supposed to take next after Vishnal had been seized so suddenly by the enemies they were supposed to drive away.


    In the capital of Gresia, which was Athenia, where their meeting was currently taking place, both panic and disorder had already risen and bubbled up within their ranks, as the impossibility of the triumph that had been made against them continued to drive them into an excessive state of denial, shock and disbelief: while their forces still possessed a great number, it was the mere fact that their foes possessed such an unprecedented strength, that they had all devolved into an endless squabbling amongst each other as they failed to even come up with at least a single step for the plans they needed to enact as soon as possible.


    Fortunately however, there was still another member of the Imperial Family who managed to survive the carnage- amidst the chaos that erupted within Vishnal''s domain, he had already chosen to make haste with an escape through an arcane gateway casted by his personal mages, and this action had quickly guaranteed the safety of both his life as well the lives of his subordinates... Or at least, most of them anyway...


    "I believe that it''s true though... There''s no point in deploying all our forces to the capital, as they will only get rapidly annihilated in an instant." the voice stated, and as he did, all of the other echoing voices throughout the room would cease without delay. "Instead, it is most advisable to proceed with another course of action..."


    Prince Triston von Neugomia, the sole remaining member of the Imperial Bloodline, with his 2 other siblings now missing due to mysterious circumstances, and their father who had lost his life after being killed by the intruders who made their way into the palace: after the proclamation of the new ''empress'' who had unrightfully taken the throne after the loss of the capital, they all knew too well that the reason they were able to do so was that because the emperor had already been eliminated by their horrific adversaries.


    On the other hand however, there was a small minority among the imperial assembly that thought of the prince''s survival as a bit suspicious and cowardly- after all, it was already quite a surprise that only he and a few of his vassals had managed to escape the chaos that engulfed Vishnal, and the egoistic pride and honor that swelled in most of these blind fools sightlessly made them believe that the prince should have fought until the very end...


    ... Nevertheless though, the desperate times they had all been forced into would ultimately silence such valid suspicions, as the necessity of a leading figure that could command and lead their remaining forces was absolutely essential to their goals, and the 1st prince was definitely the most suitable individual for such a chief, monumental task.


    "Your Highness... We weren''t expecting your arrival... Please forgive us for our impudence..."


    Without a moment''s delay, the imperial officers rose up from their chairs, facing towards the prince''s direction as they gave a deep bow- the 1st Prince was the highest form of authority they had left, and the respect they had for the imperial family and its kin would never truly fade even after all the chaos that they were deeply embroiled in.


    "At ease, loyal subjects of the Empire. No need for too much honorifics. After all, we have a much more important... topic to discuss right now."


    "We understand, your highness... Although..." one of the men voiced out. "When you were speaking of ''another course of action''... May we know what you meant exactly?"


    The 1st prince''s face suddenly turned serious. "Ah... About that..." the words trailed off from his lips as he paused for a moment.


    "..."


    "... I strongly believe that we must gather all the help we can get..." he finally spoke after what seemed to be a noteworthy couple of seconds. "The barbarians from the Southern Lands... As well as those sea-bandits of the Terimedean Sea... They sent messengers who spoke of important matters with me... And according to them, they''re willing to form an alliance with us against those monsters who seized the capital..."


    It appeared that a significant portion of the men within the assembly didn''t like what the prince had uttered: almost instantly, a myriad of outcries would echo throughout the chambers, as noise began to fill up and permeate throughout the air once more.


    "Your Highness! We shouldn''t rely on such untrustworthy bastards! We can''t be certain if they''re actually true to their intentions!"


    "Precisely, Your Highness! What if they''re all simply planning backstab us?!


    "... I understand your concerns. They''re all barbarians who aren''t worth even an iota of trust after all... However..." the 1st prince sighed deeply. "Based on the reports made by our scrying mages, as well as some of the scouts I sent over to monitor any potential movements by our enemy''s forces..."


    "It appears that they already sent a large contingent of forces, and they''re currently making their way to Gresia as we speak."


    Silence ensued as the faces of every single imperial officer within the room turned into solemn expressions... It seemed that the 1st prince''s point was absolutely irrefutable: they had barely even been allowed to rally their forces, and yet their adversaries have already began making their moves against them. How were they moving so fast, when they had only just managed to take hold of Vishnal just a few short days ago?


    By now, it was apparent that allying with those barbarians they had once waged countless wars against was the most preferable option they had to take- after all, many of the men within the assembly knew that, even with the vast amount of forces they still had left, it was obvious that, given how powerful those demons truly were, the remaining imperial forces wouldn''t even be able to last for a week the moment those monsters chose to launch another form of attack against them.


    "Furthermore... By now, we are absolutely certain that the forces we sent to reconquer Polonia have truly been wiped off the map by these enemies of ours... And the leader of the Hundred Seats, Arnus von Arslan, along with several of the top members of the Hundred Seats who accompanied their march, have most likely lost their lives as well..."


    "... D-does that mean that... the Arslan''s Hand won''t be able to help us?"


    Their faces became even more sunken as the realization immediately kicked into their minds- the Arslan''s Hand, and their famed warriors of the Hundred Seats... They had always been reliable allies when it came to dealing with the countless threats that constantly endangered Xathra...


    Now however, after the loss of their leader, as well as the loss of several of their strongest warriors, the severity of the dire predicament they were in only became more apparent to all of them even further...


    "... Indeed. As such, we have no choice but to accept their offer. We need to gather all the help we can." the 1st prince responded with a heavy tone. "Notify our men of this new advantage we''ve gained, and make haste with our preparations for as much as we can afford to. Our enemies will be arriving at an estimated time of 3 days, and we''ll do everything we can to deter their advance."


    "S-still, your highness... How can we be certain that those savages are actually willing to help us? Especially those damned pirates... Their words can rarely ever be trusted..."


    Triston''s eyes then shifted towards him. "Your concern is valid, my friend, and I will not deny it. But, as you can see..." he stated bluntly.


    "Our enemies are powerful... Too strong, in fact, that even our old rivals have become wary of them, and it''s the reason why they''re willing to ally with us right now." Triston continued. "So let''s not waste this opportunity and seize it by the throat. Our lives are at stake here after all, and we can''t afford to lose the upcoming battle that will be happening soon enough."


    ________________________________________


    The sea-waves coursed to-and-fro as the vessel made its journey through the deep, blue waters: it was like no other ship that belonged to the people of this age however, as the very technologies that supported its cause appeared to possess sufficiently advanced mechanisms, sciences that clearly didn''t belong to the primitive era that had persisted after hundreds of years.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    It was a single ship accompanied by no other water vessels, a grey, metal construct of steel that dauntlessly cruised through the chaotic waters- a massive, imposing ship armed with multiple weapon systems, turrets that could strike at targets from hundreds of miles away with a firepower that could sink entire islands with but a single unleashed salvo...


    It was a technological terror that no other entity of this era, save for a specific few, could ever hope to build, and its design had primarily been facilitated by one of the most capable beings in this world when it came to


    the aspects of technology.


    Within the massive headquarters room that laid within its impressive interior however, the one who had built this vessel, along with several other people who were accompany her, were silently residing within the room as they conversed each other and observed the rising sun''s light that shined upon the endless blue horizon beyond...


    ...


    ...


    "And that''s how this plan is going to happen. Do you need any further clarifications?"


    A hologram of the one known as Whitlea came from the small, disc-shaped device on Thurien''s palm, with its projection speaking audibly enough for the medicae to hear: it had only been 20 minutes since their brief conversation first began, and by now, it was all finally coming to a conclusion.


    In truth though, the main point of their discussion had only been about a single, yet dire topic: after conquering the Neugomian Empire by successfully seizing their capital city, the only task that they had to do left in order to fully make the empire as their own, was to force the capitulation of the remaining 6 hundred thousand or so Neugomian forces who had rallied themselves within one of the vassal states that lied to the far outskirts of their territories.


    The plan was simple: their ground forces, which mainly consisted of an entire army of combat automata commanded by Whitlea, Speranza, as well as their their newly joined associate, the saintess, will be responsible for making the push into the final stronghold where the remaining Neugomian forces had chosen to rally: Gresia, a small nation where, unlike most of its Xathran neighbors, consisted of many islands and archipelagos that were of close proximity to each other, which was why the use of a naval presence was absolutely necessary in defeating the last-standing remnants of their enemies.


    In truth though, Aldyth and the others were supposed to have been part of their assault on Gresia, but each of them had reasons why they weren''t a part of the plan: Anastasia was still supposed to be recovering after having just been brought back to life, while Aldyth and the others were busy in dealing with the myriad of threats that were being dealt with by the combined efforts of the Neugomian Empire and the Arslan''s Hand, both of whom were now currently unable to perform such duties.


    "Hmm... I do have one thing that I want clarified though." the pink-haired lady would ask curiously in response.


    "Go ahead. Ask away."


    "Do we really have to act so quickly right now? Even if they mustered every ounce of strength they could, the remaining Neugomians wouldn''t even be a threat to us in the slightest. Is there a reason why Novus wants them dealt with as soon as possible?"


    Thurien had a point there when it came to that regard: it had only been a week since they took control of the Neugomian Empire''s seat of power, and with all the power that was available to them, even the massive remnants of the imperial army that hadn''t reached the capital in time would still be nothing but fodder for them to deal with. After all, even the weakest of them in combat, Thurien herself, was already capable of leveling entire armies with even the most basic abilities at her disposal, and as such, the remaining Neugomian forces wouldn''t even prove to be a match for their combined might at all.


    And so, immediately within the medicae''s mind rose a question that quickly became apparent to her: why make haste with their annihilation, when they could simply use their time to focus on more important matters, such as reorganizing the very integral foundations of the empire so that they could rule over them more easily?


    "You have a point, but there''s one issue that you forgot to mention." Whitlea uttered, pausing for a moment as she recognized her point- even so however, in her point of view, this was a task they needed to wrap up as quickly as they could.


    "The remaining imperial forces still have a large number of soldiers on their hands. We can''t risk them instigating a counterattack, because allowing them to do so carries a notable amount of risks... And also..."


    "... And also?"


    Whitlea''s expression would seemingly grow a bit cold all of a sudden. "... They''re intolerable nuisances. We can''t let them have any time to breathe, which is why we shouldn''t relent when it comes to giving them what they truly deserve." she said sternly. "Strike first. Strike hard... Or else you''ll live to regret it. It''s something I''ve learned a long time ago, and I''m quite unwilling to not apply that anytime soon."


    "... Are you alright, Whitlea?" as Thurien noticed the drastic change in even her very speech, she quickly became worried about whatever may have happened to her friend. "You seem more... Grim that usual... Did Novus leave all the work to you again, like usual?"


    Immediately, the cold, unflinching expression that had formed on Whitlea''s face quickly disappeared, replaced by a new, faux emotion she made to dissuade the medicae''s concern- truthfully though, for a moment, a million thoughts had sparked within the esper''s mind, and at first she thought that Thurien had found out about those secrets she meant to keep hidden for a while...


    Thankfully though, a series of quick deductions swiftly put her at ease, as the quick realization that dawned upon her after a short while immediately calmed down her panicking nerves: Thurien hadn''t found out at all, as she was simply worried about what she thought of as fatigue that she thought was heavily plaguing Whitlea''s body as of late.


    "I guess being the newly designated ruler of such a massive empire must have been a pain, hm? Seriously, that man... Even I would have had trouble with all those internal matters you had to handle..."


    "... D-don''t mind it at all... I-it''s nothing. I''m just a bit... Tired... And yes, he DID leave everything to me, as always..." Whitlea faked a sigh as she said this. "Hmph. Maybe it''s because I''m still part organic, that I can still become fatigued and tired like any normal human... Now I''ve become a bit jealous of that purely synthetic body of yours..."


    The medical android then responded with a faint giggle. "Hmm, not really. In fact, it should be the other way around: I should be the one who''s envious of you. I''ve always wanted to know what it feels to be like one of my creators... At least you get to experience a portion of that experience, since you''re technically part-human..."


    "... Would it really be nice to become one, though? Aren''t they, you know..." Whitlea asked all of a sudden. "... Fragile, soft, and helpless? Human lives break and change so easily... I''d hate to become as weak and brittle as them..."


    "Ah, but don''t forget though, Whitlea. Those supposed weaknesses they have are what makes them special in the first place. Not to mention, they''re also the ones who made our existences possible, so they''re not really as weak and fragile as you think."


    "Fair point. Although... I suppose we all have our differences... I''m surprised that we all manage to get along together despite that."


    "Ahaha, I guess you''re right. Anyway, about that ''mole'' you mentioned..."


    What Thurien mentioned was an integral factor that was heavily involved with the entirety of their plans: a spy, a colluder, a traitor they had planted within the ranks of those imperial remnants. He was of a notably high ranking among them, and he was incredibly valuable in the pacification of the imperial resistance they were meant to quell, because without this person''s presence, they definitely wouldn''t be able to proceed with all the schemes that they were planning to gradually unfold...


    "Don''t worry, he''s safe within the enemy lines. Nobody would even suspect him as a traitor anyway." Whitlea stated with a smile. "He''ll do everything we told him to do: after all, he too wants to put all of this to an end quickly..."


    "And soon enough, our battle against those pathetic Neugomians will be nothing more than cake-walk..."


    ________________________________________


    O''l Blackheart... or so was the name this one-eyed old man earned after his countless decades of terrorizing the Sea of Terimedea with his armada of ships that heralded his legacy of piracy...


    Born from the shackles of oppression and slavery at the hands of the Neugomian Empire, Hassan Blackheart, the last remaining survivor of a now-fallen, forgotten country, eventually became the very thing he had once sought to fight against throughout most of his life: alas, in the process of fighting against the cruel despots of the empire, Blackheart himself had become a tyrant who oppressed the weak, a savage, vicious lord of crime and war who ruled the Terimedean Seas with an iron fist, pillaging and sinking countless ships in his wake as his infamy only continued to grow within every sailor as the years continued to pass by...


    "Have those damn Neugomians agreed with the deal we proposed to them?"


    "... Afraid not, captain. I''m afraid that they''ve yet to give their answer..."


    "Damn land fuckers... Do they not not understand just how urgent this problem we''re all in is? Do those idiots have a death wish or something?"


    The Dread Corsair, a massive ship-of-the-line that sported multitudes of magick-powered cannons and a dark-painted, nigh-invincible metal-plate hull that had struck fear into the hearts and souls of countless men... Today however, within the quarters of his own behemoth of a ship, Blackheart had become increasingly impatient with the lack of response from the imperials he had previously conversed with just a few short days ago: after all, the pirate captain had heard of the new terrors that emerged within the Xathran Continent, and after hearing how quickly and easily the Neugomian Empire had been brought down to their knees by these monsters immediately warranted a great level of caution within the cunning warlord''s heart...


    And this reason was exactly what led to him proposing an alliance with his sworn enemies in the first place...


    "Cap''n, urgent news! Urgent news, I tell ya!"


    It was then one of pirate warlord''s men would come barging through the door that led to his quarters, a panicked look enveloped all over his face as sweat trickled from most of the skin on his face: of course however, Hassan immediately understood that what he was about to say was something of incredible importance, as he would waste no time in stopping what he was currently busying himself with in order to set all his attention on this other, more important matter at hand.


    "Well, what is it then? Out with it!"


    "T-there''s been an attack! Several of our ships have been sunk already!" the man warned, the fear in his voice growing increasingly evident with every work he spoke. "According to some of our men, the attacks came from this one ship that appeared out of nowhere... Problem is, that the damn thing is too large, and it''s entire body is made of metal!


    ... Could it be? A myriad of questions born from the pirate captain''s curiosity would rise and fall within his mind, though ultimately, a single, major concern had immediately developed within his line of thought...


    Steel being used in ways thought to be impossible, with a tremendous amount of firepower accompanying their march...


    Within the captain''s mind, there was a strong possibility that this mysterious attacker of theirs who had come from out of nowhere was probably connected to those demons who had made even the Empire suffer multitudes of defeats against them...


    As such, Hassan immediately rose up from his seat, his body tense and stricken with a rush of fear and anxiety, as the possibility of defeat and... Perhaps the annihilation of all the glory and fame he had accumulated quickly started to become a very real possibility in the current events of his life.


    Even though the situation he was currently in seemed to be absolutely impossible, right now, Hassan was absolutely going to take action against this threat, and he was going to do it in the best way he thought to be possible.


    "We need your orders now, cap''n! It''s now or never!"


    "Aye! Deploy the masts! Ready the cannons!" Hassan shouted. "Tell the men to hold their ground against that metal beast... The Corsair''ll be setting sail in a few minutes, and that monster they''re fighting will become a sinking mess soon enough!"

 Part 6 - Chapter 3

    I journeyed, long in walking, far beyond the place of stopping...


    Where there was no more returning to the people I had known...


    I saw the world forgotten, where the grass gives up on growing...


    And I knew that I would never make another journey home...


    Upon that fleshy plain, below the final rock outcropping...


    Stretched the vast and empty desert of the hungry, bleeding thing...


    Encompassing the earth to the horizon, all-consuming...


    Crying in a thousand voices to its desolate god-king...


    And the music of its crying, never dead, ever dying...


    Sent me running in a madness I can scarce compare to fear...


    Not to safety, but to silence - unto my own unmaking...


    And yet now, upon awaking, once again the song I hear...


    I long to taste the fruit of earth, I long for water quenching...


    Of my thirst, unending, nothing that remains can satisfy...


    For my voice has joined the chorus ever more, ever mourning...


    Ever singing, ever hungry. Ever dying, never die...


    - A work of the famed R.J. Williamson, years before the collapse of the Golden Age of Modernity...


    ________________________________________


    [Multiple Signals Detected within Range. Determining Total Numbers... Parsing...]


    "..."


    Her eyes quietly surveyed the display upon of the bright command panel in front of her- several targets marked as pinging signals on the screen, the numerous enemies whose complete annihilation was necessary in order to proceed with the main task she had at hand...


    As the Silver Tempest cruised through the ocean waters in a slow, yet dauntless approach, its advanced, long-ranged detection radar immediately allowed it to detect the numerous enemy ships that were just within the reach of its devastating arsenal: granted though, while each of them were still quite far away, enough for the naked eye to be completely unable to see them, the enemy ships were already within reach of the ship''s striking range, and all that was left for Thurien to do was to confirm the amount enemies she needed to take down before she gave the order to fire...


    [Parsing Complete: Verified Amount of Signals within reach has been calculated to be... 15 in Total...]


    15 wooden ships, their hulls armored with some sort of thin, metal platings, as their bodies were armed to the teeth with cannons that were most likely powered by gunpowder and magick... At first Thurien did not think of them as enemies, as she had thought that they were nothing more than armed merchant vessels who had unfortunately been caught within the ship''s radar, but after the advanced optic devices confirmed that they were indeed ship-of-the-lines that were meant for battles in the sea, the reluctance forming within her quickly eased up a bit...


    "Sigh... Must they all really die?"


    Thurien couldn''t help but sigh as she heard the results: 15 ships, each of which contained hundreds of men within them as they sailed the seas, human lives who were completely unaware of the carnage that they were about to experience, and the thought of it made the bioandroid a bit reluctant for a while within her thoughts.


    Human lives... They were so fleeting, weak, and... fragile. To Thurien, even though the very race who had created her was capable of giving life to a countless, untold miracles


    of creation and destruction, they were, by themselves, still ultimately weak creatures who had none of the qualities of strength, speed and endurance possessed by the other races that roamed the earth.


    Despite this weakness however, humanity had managed to, in its peak, conquer the entirety of the planet and make it as their own domain, an impressive feat that no other earthly animal had ever managed to achieve throughout the planet''s millions of years of existence- it was not through any sort of beastly quality that allowed man to reign supreme upon the lands of the earth, but rather, it was through a combination of intelligence, cunning, and the determination to live that allowed them to achieve all the marvels and miracles they accomplished.


    And because of this, a respect, as well as a love for this marvelous race, had always remained strong within the bioandroid''s synthetic heart, and for her, it was almost regretful to snuff out the numerous human lives that were just within her ship''s range...


    "... Even still, they''re enemies that need to be dealt with... If I let them be, the others will definitely have a hard time later on..."


    Fortunately though, a quick realization immediately led to the medicae steeling up her resolve as she dispelled the feelings of doubt and hesitation that were clouding up her mind. Indeed, she had already done this multiple times: from the vicious humans of the empire who she had to kill in the multitudes of battles against them, to the entire, hundred-thousand-strong army that Speranza completely wiped out under her orders.


    At first, Thurien considered a less cruel alternative, one where she would personally travel to the ships one by one through her teleportation capabilities and bring them all into the Realm of Sleep, however, she quickly realized that this would not only take too much time, but it was also too incredibly dangerous: Their destruction... It was a necessary step, an inevitable requisite that had to be done in order to proceed with their plans- at the very least, she could at least provide these pitiful humans with quick, painless deaths by utilizing a notable percentage of power within her ship''s weapons arsenals.


    "Begin charging the secondary railguns. Leave no ship alive, and wipe all of them out as quickly as possible..."


    [Command Received. Powering up secondary cannons...]


    Not all of the ship''s weapons were necessary for dealing with the relatively small human fleet- in truth, even the weakest weapons of the Tempest were enough to sink several of them in a single strike, but Thurien of course possessed a desire to not only conserve the power of the Tempest for future engagements, but to also at least provide a swift end to the doomed sailors who were about to meet their demises in a few short moments.


    And for this reason she had chosen the secondary guns among the ship''s armaments: they didn''t need much power to use when compared to the other weapons, and they were powerful enough to completely annihilate the human ships in only 2-4 barrages, and this made it as the perfect weapon to deal with the targets before her whose deathly fates closely lied in wait.


    [Long Range, Secondary Guns....]


    [Online and Ready to Fire.]


    "... Begin firing at once then..."


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The air shook violently as the guns let loose, their projectiles speeding through the air in an unstoppable manner as they rapidly closed in on their targets in a dreadfully quick approach...


    ...


    ...


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    There were those sounds again... About 30 or so minutes ago, their ships were still complete in number, but now, there were only 3 of their vessels that were still afloat, as the noises of explosive eruptions kept rippling throughout both the air and waters while the men all around him began screaming and panicking about.


    "What the hell is happening to our ships?!"


    "We''re under attack! We''re being bombarded from far away!"


    "Damn monster! It''s coming from that fucking metal ship, but we can''t even attack it because it''s too far away!"


    For the man known as Bertran, one of the hundreds of pirates under Blackheart''s command, the entire situation that he and his crewmates had found themselves in quickly proved to be an absolute nightmare.


    They were supposed to have set sailed for the seaports of Athenia, the capital of Gresia, the same place where most of the Neugomian forces were currently located at: together with their naval power and the teeming might of the imperial forces, they were supposed to have at least put up a fight against the oncoming forces of the demons who had easily conquered Vishnal in the blink of an eye.


    Truth be told however, Bertran had already heard rumors of just how powerful those monsters who easily defeated the empire truly were- in only mere days, those bastards had achieved what had once been thought for hundreds of years to be impossible, as they not only annihilated an entire, hundred thousand strong force sent against them, but they also managed to seize the empire by its neck and make it bend the knee so humiliatingly...


    There was no other possibility after all: this attack could have only been made by those monsters who made a laughingstock of the empire, and there was no other prime candidate that would be the perfect suspect for the cause of these sudden attacks on them...


    Unfortunately though, the same demons of rumor had now arrived before them, and not one of these bandits of the sea would be able to survive the onslaught that would sink every single one of their ships...


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    "We''re taking in water below the decks! Our ship''s fucking sinking!"


    "We''re doomed! Doomed, I tell ya! We ain''t surviving this one!"


    "Abandon ship! We have to flee lads, it''s no use!"


    From what he could remember from the memories of his past that were currently flashing before his eyes, Bertran had lived a life of thievery and cruelty throughout most of his life- with his fellow bandits of the sea he had killed numerous unfortunate sailors and pillaged countless collections of gold and jewelry from them, and by now, the amount of both could stack up and form an entire mountain.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    Did he deserve this? Just like all his mates, who had satisfied their greed to their fullest without a single regard for the innocent souls they slew along the way? Deep down however, Betran had already come to a conclusion of his own, and he had quickly began to believe that this was some sort of divine retribution for all the crimes they''ve committed in their miserable lives...


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    "... I-I don''t want to die here... Not now..."


    Even so, despite his calm acceptance of the situation he had been entrapped in, the impending sense of death began pervading within his body like a poison that coursed through his very veins: the explosions were growing more numerous and even more louder with every passing second, and to add insult to injury, the very ship he was on right now was beginning to quiver back and forth due to the extreme, violent forces that collided with its once proud, durable hull of wood and magisteel.


    At what point of it all was he going to die? Was he going to get thrown and knocked into the water by those powerful shockwaves that were tearing their ships apart while sending men into the air in the blink of an eye? Would he be engulfed by the eruptions that were now tearing his ship asunder and be reduced to ashes? Or would he be impaled and torn apart by the scattered pieces of ship-parts both small and large that were flying all through the open skies?


    "... How did things come to this...? Agatha... If only you hadn''t died back then..."


    His life experiences flashed before his very eyes, playing themselves in a deluded sense of theatrical despair like a short film being played in rapid successions- the memory of the loving, gentle, though now-dead woman who Bertran cherished greatly when she was still alive... It was her death that led to him walking the dark path of banditry and murder he now lived, as the pain of grief and loss had forever scarred the very foundations of his soul and mind.


    Perhaps if she hadn''t died, then things could have been completely different, but alas, a weak, mortal man like himself was completely incapable of turning back time to achieve his desire for change...


    BOOOMMM!!!


    At the very least, his demise had been rather quick and painless, as one of the powerful explosions that tore through his ship like a hot knife through butter got within close proximity of his body: he couldn''t even feel the pain of being burned or torn apart, as the sheer energies that made contact with his skin immediately turned Bertran into dust in but a millisecond''s worth of time...


    ________________________________________


    "... E-very single one of our ships have been sunk, cap''n..."


    "... Fucking monsters they are... How powerful even are these damn bastards?!"


    It was over by the time the Dread Corsair had arrived to the scene: his 15 ships, the entire armada he had spent years of grueling effort to arm and integrate as his ultimate weapons... Blackheart had poured oceans of his own riches into these tools of crime that faithfully served their purposes for years without fail, but now, they were all sinking into the depths as their broken wreckages burned with raging flames that covered the sky in a dark smog...


    It was, in a way, quite ironic- once, he had been the one to leave the victims of his raids, the ones who chose to resist instead of yielding, in this pitiful state of death and despair, but now, the warlord of the sea himself had been put in the very same position from where his sufferers once stood from before they finally perished, and the feeling of it ate away at his pride endlessly, which only further drove the pirate captain into a great madness.


    "Damn this life... DAMN IT ALL!" Hassan cursed as he sent the bottle of rum on his hands hurtling into the air. "If only I hadn''t chosen to form an alliance with those imperial idiots, then none of this would have happened in the first place!"


    Regret began forming within his thoughts as Blackheart looked back to where before this had all happened: his offer of an alliance to the imperials, the fact that he even went out of his way to send the entirety of his impressively-sized fleet to the empire''s ports and provide them with all the help they needed for their war against those demons who conquered Vishnal in only a matter of days...


    If only he hadn''t thought of helping them, then he never would have lost his entire armada of precious ships like this so easily, for in a cruel twist of fate, his desire for survival and a continued existence led to him losing far more than what he had already possessed in excess...


    "... We have no choice then... Begin preparations for the summoning..." Blackheart commanded all of a sudden, an order that his subordinate already had a faint idea of what he was referring to. "The Corsair alone won''t be able to handle whatever beast it was that sunk all of our ships here..."


    "C-cap''n... Y-you don''t mean ''that'' now, do ya?"


    Even still, despite the devastating losses he already incurred, Hassan still had one more ace up his sleeve, a trick he had almost never used due to the power it held, as well as the fact that he considered it as a trump card that should rarely ever be utilized...


    In fact, it was the reason why he earned the name ''Blackheart'' all those years ago: a forbidden magick tome that bound its powerful magicks with his own heart, an arcane item that was capable of summoning a powerful, creature of the sea, whose appearance would require a sacrifice that came in the form of the doomed ships it was meant to annihilate...


    "Are your ears deaf? I said begin preparing for the summoning of that damn behemoth..." the captain glared at him as he spoke. "We''re going to need everything we can gather to fight those bastards that sunk all of my ships so easily..."


    Of course, there were a myriad of dangers that would come the moment the beast was to be summoned for one of their grisly tasks, and all of them possessed risks that could lead to the Corsair''s eventual destruction: there was a chance that it could go out of control and lead to the behemoth wreaking havoc upon everything within its sight, and there was also the possibility of a failure within the arcane mechanisms of the tome, which could lead to a cataclysmic disaster that had the possibility of becoming even far more dangerous than the likes of the sea-beast itself...


    Even so however, Hassan knew that he had no choice but to use this trump in this battle: he had already used it multiple times in the past after all, and the only doubt in his mind was whether or not he could truly score a victory even with the help of the gigantic sea monster that served as his trump card...


    ... Of course though, as soon as Hassan repeated his orders, without delay, the fear-stricken sailor immediately responded.


    "R-right away cap''n... I''ll go and tell the others right away."


    "Ah, and by the way... Tell all the men to use those magick spyglasses we got from that merchant ship we pillaged, we need them to be on the lookout for that monster that did all of this... According to the last report that came to us, the entire damn thing is made of metal, correct? That shouldn''t make it too hard to spot..."


    "G-got that, cap''n, I''ll inform the others at once..." the sailor obeyed, as he then scurried off to the desks to inform the others of their captain''s new orders...


    ...


    ...


    There was only one ship left, and it hadn''t been a survivor of sorts from the previous attacks she made; rather, it seemed to be a member of the fleet that had arrived too lately at the wreckage-ridden sea that completely surrounded its vessel...


    Strangely though, this ship seemed different from the rest of the ship-of-the-lines that the Silver Tempest destroyed with ease: unlike the others, this one possessed a much greater size, and it also sported a jet-black hide of metal plating that perfectly covered most of its wooden framework from almost every angle.


    "What could this ship be?" Thurien pondered, though in a quiet eventuality, her curiosity soon quickly drifted away and was replaced by a slight pity. "Hmm... Well... It doesn''t really matter anyway, I suppose..."


    [Recalibrating... Charging-up Secondary Weapons...]


    And so the secondary guns of the Tempest slowly pointed their massive turrets towards their singular, remaining target, preparing once more to unleash their blazing firepower upon their enemies- this time however, their target was the poor, doomed vessel that had carelessly gotten within the Tempest''s range, and it would only be a few more seconds before the poor ship would be blown away in the blink of an eye, though Thurien couldn''t help but close her eyes out of pity as the turrets finally completed their short-lived charge-up sequences.


    [[Long Range, Secondary Guns: Online and Ready to Fire.]


    "May you poor souls not feel any pain with this finishing blow." Thurien uttered, though as she prepared to give her words of confirmation, something of a noteworthy interest would immediately catch her attention. "... Alright then... Begin firing-"


    [Warning: Massive Energy Signatures detected from Targeted Vessel! Exercising Caution is advised!]


    "... W-what in the..."


    A warning formed on the display''s screen all of a sudden, as the optic footages of the lone ship provided by the Tempest''s advanced detection systems revealed to her an incredibly peculiar sight: a tall, crimson beam-pillar of light that came from the center of the remaining enemy ship, a blinding structure of radiance that reached for the skies as it continuously went upwards ever further. It was a bizarre scenery that brought a sense of great unease and caution to Thurien, as she would then momentarily delay the firing sequences of the Tempest in order to verify first just what exactly this phenomenon truly was, and how exactly was she supposed to deal with it...


    [Notice: A New Signal has been detected... Movement Type: Underwater...]


    [... Alert: Detected Signal is rapidly approaching... Estimated Speed: 300 kph and increasing...]


    "!!!"


    What exactly were these things? Why did that pillar of light appear all of a sudden, and why was there something that was rapidly closing in on the Tempest''s location? Were the 2 related in any sort of causal relationship? Perhaps had been summoned by that massive beam of light that came from the black-hulled ship, or perhaps not...


    Regardless of their origin however, they were something that needed to be dealt with as soon as possible: after all, Thurien already knew the dangers of letting the impending threat get too close to her ship, and as such, the medicae quickly began acting with a swift, well-calculated course of action.


    "How many torpedoes do we have at our disposal?" Thurien questioned the monitor display.


    [Number of Available Torpedoes: 80...]


    "Hmm... Alright then, fire half of them and designate that approaching signal as their target."


    [Orders Received. Commencing Torpedo Deployal...]


    Multitudes of speeding, iron rods were then launched from the Silver Tempest''s dedicated torpedo launchers, as they then proceeded to speed towards the underwater entity that was rapidly heading towards the Tempest''s direction- of course, due to their speed, it wouldn''t be long before each and every one of these weapons of metal would finally hit their marks, as their explosions then produced mighty shockwaves that made tremendous ripples within the very waters where they let loose...


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    [Notice: All Deployed Torpedoes have successfully reached the target.]


    "Good... I supposed this one''s already been taken care of..."


    It seemed that the undersea problem had finally been dealt with: at first, Thurien thought that dealing with it would have been more difficult, but after hearing that all of the torpedoes that were deployed managed to land their marks on their target, the medicae eventually became absolutely certain that there was no way it could have survived after such a fatal attack, as the explosive, steel-rending power of those homing rods of death was something that was capable of ripping apart even the strongest battleship hulls in existence...


    However... Contrary to what she expected, the announcement that would come from the display instantly confirmed the worst outcome possible...


    [Warning: Underwater Signal is still active and approaching. 2 minutes before point of contact...]


    "... H-how did that thing manage to survive all of that?"


    It was quite an impossible feat of survivability- the target had somehow managed to live through all those torpedo-induced explosions that were supposed to have torn it into pieces by now, and not only that though, but it was also still managing to draw even closer to Thurien''s ship in the same speeds it was going in just a few minutes ago.


    "... What about those ''other'' torpedoes we have? And by other, I mean the nuclear ones..."


    [Quantity of Available Nuclear Torpedoes: 15...


    [Proceed to Deploy: Y/N?]


    "... No. I suppose now''s not the time to use them. Not when we have another option that we can use..."


    The initial failure of her weapons led to Thurien devising a new method of attack on the fly, and yet surprisingly, in the short amount of time where she could think, she had already managed to form a simple plan: the nuclear torpedoes equipped onto the Tempest''s anti-submersible weaponries, while Thurien wasn''t sure if using them would finally allow her to effectively deal with whatever that rapidly approaching thing truly was, utilizing them now would be a waste that''d hinder her from the further battles that would come in the nearby future- instead, she could simply rely on one of her most precious creations who have always guarded her castle, and the only thing she needed to do was to form a gateway in order to bring them here.


    After all, this was the perfect place for her to send them out: the reason why she had rarely ever been able to deploy them in the past was because of the fact that they could only move and thrive in the sea due to the way she made them, but now that she was in a battle located right at the center of an ocean.


    "Connect a gateway to home." Thurien commanded without delay. "I''ll be summoning one of my precious children here to deal with that thing that''s closing in on us..."


    [Affirmative. Commencing gateway generation...]


    Lightning flashed and emerged from one of the Tempest''s turrets, and immediately, a small, ethereal, disc-shaped construct formed up in the sky- as time continued to pass though, the once-small gateway slowly grew in size, in order to facilitate the arrival of the massive entity that was about to make its way into the battlefield.


    After only 10 Seconds though, the bright, portal of light would finally reach its maximum size, and out from it came one of Thurien''s largest and most terrifying creations of sophisticated, technological engineering...


    "Come forth, Jormungandr..." Thurien ordered to the massive, construct of metal that was slithering from the gateway, as if it were a snake that had been woken from its silent den. "Protect your mother from that thing that''s closing in on her ship."

 Part 6 - Chapter 4

    It couldn''t recall how it had come to life, but what it could remember was the pride and satisfaction it felt whenever it had been summoned to wreak havoc amongst those fragile beings and their wooden ships...


    It''s summoner gave it the name of ''Kraken'', a name befitting the superiority of its ultimate existence, which transcended almost every other organism that lived in this world: it was a massive beast that resembled a horrible amalgamation of a squid, an octopus, and various other sea-dwelling creatures, as its intimidating presence inflicted the very concept of doom upon those poor souls who managed to witness its grotesque form just moments before they were consumed alive...


    Terror, fear, and chaos... Such were the things it had brought onto the countless, poor souls it had consumed amidst its rampages, and throughout most of its life of supremacy, none had ever been able to resist nor match the full display of its might... That is, until now...


    A beast of steel that resembled a worm, the lowliest of creatures that even humans considered as bottomfeeders who fed on dirt and garbage; for some reason, there had been one of these lowly animals that not only matched him in size, speed and strength, but it was also even managing to leave fatal wounds upon its nigh-impervious body...


    What, and who exactly was this behemoth that had dared to challenge its might? Strangely enough though, despite the absurdity of the situation it had found itself in, the sea-beast couldn''t find it within itself to become mad at its enemy, as it had never been able to meet an entity that could match its might: the very fact that there was a worthy adversary that sought to challenge it made its body feel an emotion it had never felt before...


    Joy... Excitement... Happiness...


    It had only managed to feel these emotions as of late, and it was all because of this beast that had fought him within his own watery domain- because of this, it couldn''t help but feel an even greater sense of jubilation as their battle continued to rage on, seemingly without a clear end in sight...


    For the long-lived kraken had finally met it''s match, and it was going to be a long while before either of them would show signs of relenting...


    ...


    ...


    What exactly was Hassan seeing right now?


    His prized, ultimate trump card, the beast he had summoned to destroy the countless enemies who had dared to oppose his legacy all those years ago...


    There was a bright flash of light, and almost immediately, a serpentine monster of steel, whose impressive mass emerged from the construct of radiance that nearly blinded him, then came forth to do battle against his own destructive creature of the sea...


    "I-it''s fighting the kraken on equal terms, cap''n..."


    "... I know, but... Don''t worry... That glorified squid won''t die as long as we keep the tome safe..."


    What Hasssan stated was quite true: the kraken''s life force was connected to the very arcane relic they used to rouse the behemoth to battle, and as long as the tome remained unharmed and active, the kraken would keep regenerating from the repeated damages that were being inflicted upon its nigh-impervious scales.


    By now though, the 2 monsters had reached the surface, their massive bodies locked in an unending battle for survival, making the waters rise and spill forth in tall, ceaseless waves, as they both used every ounce of their strength to ensure the death of the other in their enduring duel- to Blackheart and his crew however, these sudden turn of events had left them incredibly shocked, as they never could have imagined that there could actually be an existing entity that equalled the kraken''s raw power.


    "C-cap''n, the ship is shaking from the chaos they''re producing! We''ll get shipwrecked if we stay here any longer!"


    The battle of the 2 creatures turned the very seas into a chaotic space riddled with tides taller than entire forest trees, with the Dread Corsair already beginning to experience a taste of the mayhem that was only just about to begin- unfortunately though, the ship''s captain, despite the panic-driving turmoil that was taking place on the very ocean they were in, already had other plans in store that would have seemed completely mad to the sanest of minds...


    "Where would we run to anyway, you idiot? There''s nowhere left to escape to, since we''re most likely already within that metal ship''s firing range. And besides, even if the kraken wins its battle here, we''ve lost most of our men and ships already, and we can''t just come back from all of this without getting some form of revenge... As such..." Hassan answered, though deep inside, an emotion he had never felt before in his life had already taken a great hold on his heart: he had already been driven mad by the fact that he had lost many of the things he wasted so much of his life for in just a few short hours, and to him, there would be no other preferable form of redemption other than getting back at the ones who made him incur his most recent, catastrophic defeats.


    "... Tell the others to get ready... We''ll be setting sail again for something special..."


    The sailor, wanting to understand the intentions that laid with what the captain had just ordered, would then ask curiously. "Excellent decision, cap''n... I guess we''ll be leaving the rest to the kraken then, eh?"


    "Huh?! Like hell I will, you dolt! Hahaha!" Hassan laughed madly. "The Corsair can easily endure waters as chaotic as the one we''re in right one, I know her from the inside out after all! And besides..."


    "???"


    "The men we ordered to spot that damn tin can... They''ve already figured out its location in these damn waters, and we aren''t just going to let it be, am I right? Which means..."


    "... C-cap''n... You don''t mean...?"


    "Hahaha! Indeed!" a wide, madness-driven grin formed on his face. "I want the Corsair to charge at full speed ahead towards that damn iron carcass!"


    "We''ll bombard it with our cannons and board it with all our men! Then let''s see if that metallic coffin can survive after all of that!" Blackheart shouted, insanity creeping into his voice with every word he spoke. "We have nothing left to lose anyway! Since we already lost so much to that fuck, let''s go all out with this final gambit of ours!"


    ________________________________________


    Jormungandr, or so was it affectionately called by its delightful caretaker: it was the strongest amongst Thurien''s technological creations, though originally it was a scientific marvel of engineering that had been built at the height of humanity''s technological era, an intricately complex construction device meant to drill and mine undersea bedrock where no land machine could ever hope to reach... Unfortunately though, the terrible war that engulfed the earth would lead to only Jormungandr remaining as the last of its metal kin, making it become an ancient relic of the past that developed a desire within Thurien to preserve its existence at all costs. And so was it given a new purpose by its fellow survivor of the war: its body was remade and rebuilt to become stronger than what it had once been, giving it an endurance that could take on even the harshest and most pressurized aquatic environments, as well as the strength to tear through vast swathes of magma and ocean floor as if they were nothing more than weak, fragile flesh. Not only that, however, but its body also had the ability to regenerate and recover from any form of harm that may befall upon its durable, metal hide: so long as there was at least a piece of its own metal framework, it was capable of eventually restoring its body back to being fully functional, a terrible nightmare for whatever foe it faced that was unable to put an end to its life in an instant.


    Along with the 2 other mechanical beasts of technology that closely guarded the medical android''s home, Jormungandr and its fellow relics of the past had continued to safeguard their caretaker''s residence for countless years, making sure that no tresspasser would ever manage to intrude upon their home and wreak havoc with their ill-intentions: in fact, these 3 creatures, due to their overwhelming strength and their terrifying efficiency when it came to their duties, even the fire dragon that Novus took care of just a few months ago was hesitant in assaulting the stronghold directly due their sheer presence, wherein it had instead decided to make its assault by unleashing arcane attacks from afar.


    ROOARRRR!!!!


    It''s metal tendrils bore into the hardened skin of its undying enemy, piercing its flesh with ease as it gored its insides with violent, whirring forces that pulverized its viscera into a bloody mess: even so however, the kraken wouldn''t die from such brutal attacks, as the immortality provided to it by the magick tome that summoned it would keep it alive until it had finally finished in fulfilling its duty of destroying its enemies.


    BLAM... BLAM... BLAM... BLAM...


    The sea-leviathan itself however would also refuse to relent from the crippling blows that had been thrown against it: with its oversized appendages, it then landed a series of powerful blows upon Jormungandr''s metal body, leaving large dents and open cracks upon its steel hide as they both continued to fight on, though of course, such meager injuries would immediately be restored by the metal worm''s regenerative capabilities, which only further kept their duel in an endless stalemate that would seemingly never cease.


    It appeared as if their battle would never come to a conclusion, as their powers of bodily restoration prevented either of them from ever managing to inflict any serious injuries upon the other, leaving them in a ceaseless deadlock where neither of them could hope to advance forward and claim victory...


    Eventually though, Thurien would come up with a plan to put an end to all of this...


    ________________________________________


    This was taking longer than what she expected... Jormungandr had not only been forced into a deadlocked battle by the underwater creature that had previously been making its way to the Silver Tempest, but it had now taken their brutal battle to the surface, causing a myriad of tidal disasters upon the ocean that made even the Silver Tempest''s stabilizers unsteady from the chaos...


    [Notice: A Signal is closing in with the ship''s proximity... Execute firing command: Y/N?]


    "... Just what are these people doing?"


    Another peculiar sight formed upon the display before Thurien''s eyes: the last ship that she was supposed to have blown up by now... For some reason, the ship and its crew had decided to plot a course directly towards the Tempest''s location, which brought a great sense of confusion within the medicae''s mind in almost as instant- normally, most would have chosen to make a hasty retreat and flee from such a disadvantageous position, and yet these doomed sailors have somehow decided to press on with whatever foolish venture they had in mind, completely ignorant about the inevitability of their deaths as they continued on fearlessly...


    "Begin the charge-up processes. We can''t allow their ship to get any closer..."


    [Orders received. Readying secondary and primary guns for firing sequences...]


    The massive turrets would once more face themselves towards the approaching Corsair, their internal mechanisms coming to life for the 2nd time as they prepared to unleash their deadly salvoes upon the doomed, steadily approaching ship: like the rest of the wooden vessels that Thurien had already taken care of, the remaining one before it would simply crumble and be torn apart by the Tempest''s sheer firepower.


    [Notice. All Guns have been recharged. Initiate firing sequences: Y/N?]


    "Yes, fire the secondary guns and finish them off as quickly as possible. Try not to miss even a single shot... I don''t want them to suffer too much..."


    [Orders Received. Preparing to Fire in... 3... 2... 1...]


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    ...


    ...


    KAABOOOOOMMM!!!


    "F-fucking hell... I thought we were a goner when I heard that!"


    "Good thing the Corsair''s shields can hold up against that demon ship''s attacks... A pity the others couldn''t though..."


    Before the Tempest''s destructive blasts of energy could even reach and tear the Corsair''s wooden framework asunder, a blue, see-through dome of light instantly formed to protect it from the attacks that would have rendered their ship into a flaming wreckage in an instant: unlike Hassan''s other ships, the Dread Corsair was a special one, as due to its role as the pirate lord''s infamous flagship, it had been outfitted and equipped with various features that made it vastly different from the likes of most ship-of-the-lines, with its powerful magick shield being one of its many advantages above most of its kin.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Black metal armor plating that rendered it impervious to any form of arcane attack... Magick-enchanted windsails that could propel the ship to impressive speeds with even the weakest gusts of air... Arcane-boosted cannons that could rip through fortresses and wipe out any ship that got within the range of its broadside cannons... And most importantly, its magickal shield of light that rendered it nigh-invincible to any form of long-ranged attack...


    In truth, these were some of the most impressive features that Hassan''s flagship possessed ever since its first maiden voyage: such was the tremendous power it held, that even the empire had dared not to trespass into the business of the pirate warlord known as Blackheart.


    Unfortunately though, while it was indeed impressive for the shield to be able to endure such powerful energies of destruction, the attacks it had just succeed in stopping were merely a prelude to the countless other salvoes that were already heading towards the Corsair''s exact location...


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Several more explosions would rock the Corsair with their tremendous power, their shockwaves making ripples on its protective layer of arcane shielding, as more of them appeared and gradually began to weather the ship''s magickal force field in a slow, yet unnoticeable manner.


    "C-cap''n, are you really sure that the shields''ll be able to endure all these hits?"


    "As long as there aren''t any cracks on the damn thing, it''ll keep holding!"


    Both of them couldn''t deny the absolute power of the attacks being launched at them however: were it not for the magicks that protected the Corsair from harm, they would have all been sinking to the bottom of the sea right now if even one of the explosions managed to get through and reach the ship''s hull.


    However, despite the Corsair managing to survive the heavy rain of assault being unleashed upon it, there was a worry that had already risen within some of the sailors hearts, and it was not of the belief that the Corsair''s shielding won''t be able to last...


    "S-still, cap''n.... How the hell are we going to reach that metal ship in the first place... It''s still too far away, and we can''t reach it with the speeds we''re currently at..."


    "Are you forgetting, you idiot? We don''t have to worry one bit about speed, not when we have that on our hands..."


    "... I take it that we''ll be using it as well then, cap''n?"


    The Wind Crystal of Aeros, or so was that particularly large emerald crystal''s name when they first got it from the notably agile merchant ship they ambushed 2 years ago: it had taken them a toll to even board that accursed vessel, as far as Hassan could remember, and it was all because of that damn crystal that nearly allowed that merchant ship to escape from their very grasps. Now however, it was within the Corsair''s storage of endless riches, patiently awaiting the day where it would be used again.


    The crystal was capable of summoning powerful tailwinds, gusts of air that could significantly increase a vessel''s speed by several orders of magnitude, provided that the ship''s sails could endure such powerful gusts of air of course: unfortunately though, the mighty winds that the crystal could summon were also a drawback, as they could end up tearing the ship''s sails and wooden framework apart and even displace the ship from its course if the magick device were to be handled without extreme caution, and this was the reason why Blackheart had rarely ever chosen to use such a potent item, as he had only ever used it in pursuits where the ships they were pillaging proved to be far swifter than the Corsair''s sailing speed, and even when Hassan had decided to use it, he would often only use it for a short period of time in quick bursts, in order to prevent the crystal from doing more harm than good to his very own vessel.


    "Aye! Order the men to bring that damn emerald out from the safe and begin activating it at once!" Blackheart would, once again, give his orders, which of course the sailor within his vicinity would immediately pay heed to. "The moment those winds appear, it''ll only take us a few minutes to reach that metal tin can, then we''ll finally board the damn thing and rip it apart with our cannons!"


    ...


    ...


    "... T-they got faster all of a sudden... They must have used some sort of magick..."


    As the blue dome of light continued to shield the lone, wooden ship from the Tempest''s attacks, Thurien began to notice another strange thing that was happening before her very eyes... Or at least, one the monitor that gave her a visual display of her target- that wooden vessel, it had somehow become even faster than before, reaching speeds that wouldn''t ever be possible for the likes of a slow, wind-reliant ship-of-the-line in this technologically-regressed era.


    "How are they still even alive? I''ve already configured the primary guns to begin firing, and yet that wooden ship still isn''t sinking..." Thurien murmured to herself as the impossibility that was taking place in front of her kept baffling her without end. "And then I also still have to deal with that giant squid-like creature... This is becoming quite troublesome..."


    That ship was getting closer to the Tempest as seconds continued to pass, and although the medicae was certain that its crew didn''t possess the firepower to bring down her ship, she still needed to be cautious for whatever trick that they might pull from their sleeve all of a sudden- as such, Thurien''s mind began evaluating the thousands of ideas that ran within her line of thought, as she raced with time to come up with a way to deal with the problem right in front of her.


    She needed to find a way to pierce through that bothersome shield that was somehow managing to endure the Tempest''s powerful guns, and by now, she was still trying to come up with a solution.


    Eventually though, she would finally discover the solution to the vexing issue that allowed her enemy vessel to gradually get closer and closer...


    "Ah... I understand now... I see..."


    The shield could prevent many things from passing through its protective layer, as not even the railgun shots from the Tempest''s main guns could get through and finish the job, and as such, Thurien had already decided to not proceed with the conventional way of dealing with such an adamantly strong defence: instead, why not utilize the advantage of a technicality to its fullest instead?


    Light... That ship''s shields were still allowing light to penetrate its protective dome, and this could all be proven by the fact that the vessel was still visible using her ship''s optic scanners, and as a result, it was safe to conclude that light was one of the few things that were allowed to pass through the shield''s seemingly indomitable barrier...


    Therefore, it would also be safe to say that, a weaponized form of light definitely had a high chance of making through that pestering shield and finally deal damage to that bothersome wooden ship.


    "Charge up the laser weapons to maximum output. I''ve found a way to get through that annoying shield of theirs..."


    [Orders Received: Charge-up Sequences for laser weapons have been initiated...]


    ...


    ...


    "Turn the crystal off! We can already see the damn thing, there''s no need for the winds any more!"


    "Aye! We''re deactivating it right away!"


    Within minutes of its hyper-accelerated sailing, the Dread Corsair would finally reach the close vicinity of its lonesome opponent, skimming past its vast, metal body as it dauntlessly cruised to its right side in order to maximize the effectiveness of the cannons it was about to use against its ironclad enemy.


    "The crew can see it now cap''n... We''re getting closer..."


    "... That monstrous ship... It''s fucking massive... How is it managing to float with all that metal attached to it?"


    "Can we even defeat that blasted steel coffin though? It''s armour will probably just shrug off our cannons..."


    At last, with the help of the wind crystal, the Corsair had finally managed to get its enemy within the sight of its crew- a single ship armored with metal from head to toe, sporting massive cannons that could seemingly allow it to rain hellfire upon entire cities with but a single salvo from its turrets.


    The sight of its terrifying appearance would have already compelled any normal sailor to turn their ship around and make a run for it, though for the likes of these pirates under Blackheart''s command, they had already seen far more monstrous and dreadful things that thrived and existed within the mysterious domain of the ocean.


    "The ship''s within our broadside range, cap''n!"


    "Get to it then! Load the guns! Tear that thing to pieces!"


    Their cannons were enhanced with potent explosive magick, with each and every loaded shell capable of ripping through entire fortresses and castles like a hot knife through butter: even though the enemy ship appeared to be fully made of metal, Blackheart was confident that the entire combined firepower of all the Corsair''s cannons firing at once could tear that massive metal ship into shreds and finally sink it to the bottom of the ocean...


    "FIRE! DON''T WASTE ANY MORE TIME! FIRE!"


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Hundreds of magick-enchanted cannonballs would be launched at the gigantic metal ship in an instant, and almost immediately, a large explosion would engulf its impressive mass. For a while, the resulting explosion and the pluming smoke would cover their adversary in a thick smokescreen for a while, though already, the pirate captain and his men already began celebrating.


    "We did it! That beast is dead now!"


    "There''s no way it can survive all of those hits without a scratch!"


    "All our attacks scored direct hits, cap''n!"


    "Good... That monster will be sinking to the depths now..."


    The joyful cries of the once fear-stricken sailors echoed throughout the decks in a jovial celebration, as even a smile would form on the usually stern Blackheart''s face: they had done it, they struck back at the behemoth that had killed many of their close comrades, and although it would take a long time before they would be able to recover all the losses they already sustained, they had at least managed to avenge the deaths of their fellow fallen sailors who died so mercilessly by the hands of the enemy ship they just sunk.


    ... Unfortunately though, as the smoke would clear up and as the explosions that engulfed the metal vessel would cease to be, their cheerful, merry celebrations were instantly replaced with a look of disbelief and shock on their faces...


    "... H-how in the hell... That damn fuck took no damage at all!"


    "O-our cannons had no effect! Is that even possible?!"


    "C-cap''n... There isn''t even a scratch on its metal body... What do we do now?"


    "KEEP FIRING! DON''T RELENT!" In complete and utter panic, Hassan would immediately give out his orders, as he too had just witnessed the impossibility that had transpired before his very eyes. "USE ALL THE CANNONBALLS WE HAVE FOR ALL I CARE! IT''LL GO DOWN EVENTUALLY IF WE KEEP HITTING IT, SO KEEP FIRING!"


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    A hundred more cannonballs would be launched from the Corsair, as each and every one of these shells quickly reached their target in seconds, unleashing multitudes of explosions that would engulf their enemy in a sea of smoke and fire that would never seem to cease for even a moment.


    However, this bombardment would take longer than the previous one, taking an entire 2 minute''s worth of time as the crew loaded all of their shells in this grand, desperate assault of theirs: it would be the longest amount of time spent by the Corsair in a single bombardment that day, and after they had finally ran out of cannonballs to load, a heavy sense of doubt and worry immediately formed within the minds of both the sailors and even Blackheart himself.


    Could that damn thing still have managed to survive from all of that? Even after they unleashed every ounce of firepower they could muster? They could only hope that they managed to damage it considerably, as they had nothing else to use in attacking it otherwise.


    ... Alas though...


    "... It''s... Still alive..."


    "D-damn it... It''s not sinking... How?"


    "... C-cap''n, what do we do? We need your orders...!"


    "..."


    Despair had already began clouding the pirate captain''s mind, and there was no other emotion that remained heavy within his heart other than dread: how foolish he had been to assume that he could even manage to sink such a metal beast, as not even the firepower of the Corsair''s magick cannons were able to tear the beast apart using everything they had...


    Well, at the very least, they still have the option of running away and making a hasty retreat: the crystal was still ready for use after all, and the attacks of that metal beast were still woefully unable to penetrate through their shields...


    Still though, it had remained strange to Hassan for a while already- why did their adversary stop firing all of a sudden the moment they got within its close proximity? Was it afraid of damaging itself by firing too closely at the Corsair? Was their perhaps a built in limitation to its weapons? Or could their perhaps be another, more logical reason to this?


    "Cap''n! We need your orders, now!"


    "Wait... Just a moment..."


    Mesmerizing, red lights formed from the massive, metal structures of the steel ship''s decks, and they were bright enough to paint the skies and seas with their splendid, crimson radiance: Blackheart himself couldn''t help but find himself mesmerized by the dazzling display of colors, though in reality, there was another reason why he had chosen to remain silent right now.


    They were doomed... He could feel that impending death that was about to claim their souls, a feeling that had been molded by years of built-up instinct amidst his various near-death experiences as a seasoned, high-ranking criminal of the sea...


    What a waste though, Blackheart thought to himself in silence: years of building up a legacy as a lord or crime feared even by the strongest empires of 2 continents... He had spent most of his living through fear and strength, and ironically, he was about to meet his end at the hands of a far stronger being.


    Though he didn''t wish to accept it, there was no other choice anyway: as such, Hassan closed his eyes and regretfully accepted the end that was about to befall upon him and his crew, as there was nothing else he could do anymore at this point.


    "ORDERS, CAP''N! NOW!"


    "... We''re already dead... There''s no use in trying anything else, I suppose..." Hassan replied, knowing that these would be his last words as the red lights turned ever brighter. "Ah, well... It was fun while it lasted... Get to it then, you stupid fucking tin can-"


    Multiple, crimson beams of light easily pierced through the pirate ship''s magick shield, and the blink of an eye, intense, searing energies would make impact upon the Dread Corsair''s hull, incinerating the ship and its very crew into nonexistence as the crimson radiance engulfed them all in the blink of an eye...


    ________________________________________


    What was happening?


    It could feel a chilling cold swiftly coursing throughout its body, as if its very life force was seeping from its hide rather quickly: could its summoner have perhaps perished? No, that couldn''t be... It shouldn''t be that case...


    Although, there was other reason why this was happening right now- though it was a creature of limited intelligence, it could at least somewhat understand that its life was heavily connected to that magick tome within its summoner''s ship, and it was the reason why it had never dared to rebel against its summoner whenever it had been roused to unleash its fury.


    With one last action before its approaching, inevitable death, the kraken would halt its attacks and pause before the mighty metal creature it had been fighting against for a while, and with one last sign of respect for its enemy''s power, the creature gave a brief, yet respectful stare, almost as if it was fully acknowledging the strength of its worthy adversary, before its body then slowly descended back into the ocean floor.


    You were a worthy foe... If only we could have fought even longer...


    ... Or so it would have uttered if it had a mouth and was capable speech through the utterance of words...


    ...


    ...


    "And here I thought that they were going to do something strange again... I was worried about nothing at all..."


    When they had first gotten within the Tempest''s proximity, Thurien could momentarily feel a faint anxiety within her as she carefully observed their actions- at first, she thought that they were about to pull out another trick from their sleeve, one that would somehow allow them to seize the upper hand against her in this battle...


    Yet, all that happened however was a bombardment of primitive cannons upon her ship, unleashing salvoes upon salvoes that had no effect whatsoever upon the Tempest''s metal hull: even if they were enchanted with various magicks, the durability of Thurien''s ship would require a far more impressive firepower, as even full-powered battleship cannons would have difficulties in penetrating its thick hull.


    "Ah, I was correct then... That strange creature really is connected to that ship somehow... Good job, Jormungandr, you''ve made me proud~"


    The moment the wooden ship ceased to exist, the sea-beast that Jormungandr had been fighting with immediately lost all of its functions: its body ceased to move as all of signs of life left its massive body, leading to it falling and descending back lifelessly into the ocean like a puppet who''s strings had been abruptly cut.


    At last, after several hours of dealing with these rather peculiar, noteworthy enemies, Thurien had finally accomplished her objectives, and now it was time for the Silver Tempest to make its way to the main scene of battle.


    "Hmm... I have to admit, Jormungandr had been rather effective though... Well, it is the strongest of my creations after all..." Thurien thought to herself in her silence. "Ah I just had a really good idea~"


    "If I modify its body to be able to work on land... Then maybe... Hmm... Just how marvelous would that be, I wonder..."

 Part 6 - Chapter 5

    Night had already passed, and by now, the bright sun had risen to accompany the beauty of the skies, and yet the men remained gathered upon the hastily constructed castle walls, which served as the strongest lines of defence of the quadrilaterally-constructed bastion...


    In truth however, the stronghold''s name was Fort Vellios, the lone fortress that served as the sole bulwark against any land incursion made into Gresia''s capital, and it was currently being fortified by the efforts of both the Neugomian soldiers and mages who relentlessly sought to construct the first and last foundations of the defense where they would hold the line until their very ends.


    Fort Vellios was meant to serve as the main defense line of the Neugomian soldiers, the place where they would do everything they could to make a stand against the forces of darkness- though it had only been brought up and constructed rather recently, the stronghold itself couldn''t be compared to the likes of the others that had easily been brought down by their enemies in the past, as not only had it been greatly enchanted by various powerful defensive magicks casted by the greatest adepts of the Neugomian forces, but it was also the rally point of a massive, 200 thousand strong army accompanied by the best and greatest imperial knights and mages.


    Of course, such actions were something they had done not only out of desperation, but in anticipation for the great enemies that were about to launch an assault on them: those horrifying monsters who had managed to defeat their forces so many times already with such incredible ease, a terrible truth that managed to produce powerful ripples which drove both fear and awe into the hearts of all those who resided within the Xathran Continent. As such, the soldiers who continued to tirelessly make haste with their preparations never ceased with their efforts, straining themselves to their very limits with the assistance of various magicks that boosted their bodies and reduced their fatigue, as they knew all too well about the terrible, approaching disaster that was slowly making its way towards them...


    Inevitably however, their enemies would eventually come knocking at the very doors they were meant to defend, and as they finally came into view when the sun''s light finally revealed them after the long night that had just passed, they would conduct the first stages of their assault in a strange way that the imperials could never have even anticipated...


    ________________________________________


    "Flavius, what are you doing over there? Haven''t you heard of what''s just happened?"


    "I''m busy with the horses, Philo. One of them just tried to break the gates for no reason, and I''m trying to calm it down right now."


    In one of the many stables within the base''s spacious domain, 2 of the imperial soldiers were currently conversing, all while the other men around them were rushing about for the dire matter that was currently taking place: it appeared that, as Flavius was busying himself by tending to one of the stables, he had remained all too unaware of the rather significant event that had transpired as of late, one which had also been the cause of the swift actions that his fellow soldiers were making as they kept moving quickly without wasting any time...


    "What''s happening right now is more important than that damn horse!" the other soldier argued as he raised his voice a bit. "The enemies... They''ve already arrived with their armies before the sun rose up, and we''re all being ordered to prepare for battle! Are you seriously going to prioritize that stupid animal over the orders we''ve been given?!"


    "... W-wait... They''re here already?" Flavius uttered, his face revealing an expression of shock as he heard what his friend had stated: it had only been 2 days, and their arrival had been expected to come after 3... Why then, did their enemies come earlier than what they expected? "But... I thought they''d be arriving a bit later than...?"


    "That''s what most of us thought as well, but now it''s pointless to think about it! Move it! Now, you fucking idiot!"


    "F-fine, calm down, Philo... Although..." instead of moving and acting quickly, Flavius would instead momentarily pose a question to his friend. "... Just how exactly are they attacking right now? Is it so bad that they''ve made even you start to sweat so much?"


    "... Not exactly... They haven''t attacked yet, but..." Philo responded, pausing for a while as he chose to recollect his thoughts for a moment. "... They''re doing something strange, and it''s all beginning to drive the others insane... I mean, who wouldn''t after seeing what those monsters are doing? It''s managing to look both ridiculous and intimidating at the same time..."


    "What exactly are our enemies doing then?"


    "Well... They''re..." Philo said as he paused once more, as he too still remained baffled by the very action that those monsters had chosen to do. "... They''re marching around the fortress for some reason, and none of our ballistas and catapults are able to hit them because they''re too far away..."


    "... W-what?"


    ...


    ...


    The sun had already risen by now, and it had been several hours since she commanded the army of automata to march around the imperial stronghold''s walls: Saintess Adelaide, accompanied by 50 of her warriors from her own guard retinue, as well as a hundred of the remaining combat automata who stood by behind her, had all been given a command by their saviour, and it was to accompany and assist the woman known as Whitlea in their final push against the imperial remnants, and currently, the saintess and her guard retinue were watchfully observing the marching formations of automata from a safe, faraway distance where they couldn''t be seen nor attacked...


    ''Take down their fortress through whatever method you see fit, and be careful of the tricks they may pull up from their sleeves.''


    That was the task that ''Whitlea'' left the saintess with before she departed in order to accomplish the other duty that needed to be accomplished: of course, the saintess would seek to accomplish this task as soon as possible, as her current goal matched what her Lord had proclaimed through the whispering voice of the sharded angel that lived in coexistence with her body...


    ''For 7 hours, make your soldiers march around their mighty stronghold. Then, they shall thump their feet on the ground in unison, and the walls of your enemies will immediately fall down without resistance.''


    This, on the other hand, was the order of the Almighty, a command that perfectly matched the task that Whitlea had assigned to her, and as such, the saintess began her moves, to take the immediate action that would ultimately allow her to satisfy her objectives...


    The reason for Adelaide''s assault upon Fort Vellios held 2 purposes: its secondary purpose was to intimidate the Neugomians into submission, to lower their spirits and make their will to fight crumble as they witnessed the endless army of constructs marching around their very fortress, not paying heed and even outright ignoring the hurtling ballistae and catapult attacks that were being launched at their formations due to the faraway distance that they were marching from...


    ... The primary purpose, however, was that it was a symbol they meant to deliver to their enemies, a recurrence of a divine event that had already occurred in the past, and a message that was to be shown directly to all those that would dare to oppose them, and as such, the saintness gladly chose enact her orders until they had finally been fully fulfilled: after all, in the end, her arrival here was only a distraction, a front that was meant to serve as a ruse that would focus their attention on this part of the battlefield and render them blind from the other front that was about to reveal itself...


    "How much time do we have left before it happens, saintess?"


    "Don''t worry..." Adelaide replied to one of the knights who questioned her. "Just a few more counts before the finale..."


    From what she had counted, a total of 6 hours and 59 minutes have already passed since the automata began their seemingly pointless advance: it had been at the dead of night since they first made their march, though by now, it was all finally about to come to an end in a few more seconds...


    ... Adelaide had to admit however, seeing those imperial soldiers panicking as they rushed to and fro within the safety provided by their little stronghold brought a minor sense of joy in her, and it was almost as if she was feeling delightful of the fear that was building up within their minds as they continued to helplessly watch the army of metal that was making their way around their fortress: it was a flaw of human imperfection, to feel the slightest bit of sadistic joy for the suffering of their past tormentors, and Adelaide couldn''t help but quickly become regretful for feeling such a dark emotion within her supposedly pure heart...


    "Ah, and... There we go..." the saintess muttered to herself as she finally finished the count, with 7 hours worth of time in total that had already passed. "And now their walls shall fall before our very eyes... No need to utilize the power of destruction..."


    Were it not for the limitations set by her mortal body, Adelaide would have been able to use her ability more frequently, and she would have most likely used it in this current situation as well: truthfully though, this was also another reason why the saintess hadn''t decided to use right now the power that had been blessed upon her by the Almighty, because Adelaide herself was ultimately a normal human, and to continously use the power of one of the most powerful angels in existence was not something her body could ultimately handle, causing her to often use it sparingly and only in situations where such a power was absolutely necessary...


    "... The way they make those sounds... It honestly feels a bit terrifying..."


    "Yeah, it''s even making me feel a bit uneasy..."


    As ordered, after the 7 hours have finally passed, the marching formations of the automated army ceased to move, as they then began to thump their mechanical feet onto the ground in a perfect, synchronized unison- it was like a death chant that held no beauty in its tone, a voiceless echo of death that would come just a few moments before the oncoming disaster, and such a sound, however, proved incredibly loud and unnerving, with its dreadful noise echoing throughout the air as it only drove the imperial soldiers into a further deepened state of panic and anxiety.


    Eventually though... The divine proclamation that had been given to the saintess would finally come to pass, and the impossible became possible despite the seemingly meaningless actions they had been doing for a while...


    THUD... THUD... THUD... THUD...


    "The saintess'' proclamation became true again..."


    "Of course it did, you idiot. She''s the saintess after all..."


    "No need to fight about this... You two..."


    Cracks and crevices began forming on the tall, stone walls of Fort Vellios, malformations that quickly began to expand and grow in both size and number as the very ground they stood on began to quake with every fragment that split off from its decaying stone framework...


    Soon enough however, like the city of Jericho that had fallen on the 7th day after the trumpets had been blown, the proud walls of the imperial fortress came crashing down like a house of cards, instantly taking the lives of many imperial soldiers and leaving the interior sectors of Fort Vellios fully vulnerable to Adelaide''s forces...


    "Advance. Show them your mettle, and spare them no pity."


    ...


    ...


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    "What the hell is happening to our ships?!"


    "We''re being torn apart by explosive magicks!"


    "Where are these attacks even coming from?! We can''t even see who''s launching them!"


    The imperial ships stationed in Persephon, the only seaport of the Kingdom of Gresia, had also been engulfed in a storm: their 50-strong fleet of ship-of-the-lines, each of which were prided to be the symbol of the Neugomian Navy, were currently being ravaged by an attacker from a faraway distance they couldn''t see.


    For Manius, the captain of the Navidia, a long-lived ship that had already experienced countless engagements with multitudes of enemies, it was an impending disaster they couldn''t escape from, though truthfully, it was something that they already expected to happen in the nearby future.


    The demons... Those bastards who defeated them so easily and conquered the capital in only a few hours... They were impossible enemies who possessed a great army of steel and might, and Captain Manius had already come to a quick hypothesis based on that fact: if they were already strong on land, then surely they must be strong on the sea as well?


    Unfortunately for him the imperial ship captain though, this seemingly ludicrous guess had suddenly became true, and their fates were now doomed because of this very fact...


    "C-captain! We have another problem!"


    "What is it? Speak of it immediately!"


    "There''s something lurking within the depths! It''s dragging down the others into the depths, and it''s already taken 5 ships by now!"


    His face turned pale as white as he heard that, as Manius couldn''t help but blame himself for jinxing himself and his crew, as his belief that their enemies possessed a formidable power in the sea quickly came true before their very eyes: were they really going to die here, without ever being able to achieve against these unseen enemies of theirs at all? It would be such a pathetic defeat, and although Manius refused to let it happen, he was ultimately powerless in trying to stop it from occurring.


    "T-The monster! IT''S RISEN FROM THE DEPTHS! IT''S IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW, AND ITS OPENING ITS FUCKING MOUTH!"


    "ABANDON SHIP! IT''S ABOUT TO EAT US ALL ALIVE!"


    To the horror of the captain and his crewmates, the monster lurking in the depths would finally make an appearance: it was a massive, mechanical serpent of steel, with a gaping mouth on its fearsomely head, as it then turned to face the Navidia with the tendrils protruding from its mouth, as if it were sizing the ship up before it was going to consume it.


    "Fire the cannons! Use all the ammunition we have!"


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Magick-enchanted cannonballs were launched from the Navidia''s guns, and although many of them scored direct hits upon the metal beast, they ultimately achieve nothing despite their explosive output, as the steel hide of the serpent''s body firmly remained unscathed from their attacks- seeing this however, the crew quickly became hopeless and fell into a great disarray, as they then did everything they can to flee the approaching destruction that was about to be unleashed on them.


    "... Abandon ship... Abandon ship, you lot! It''s about to attack! Jump into the seas if you want to liv-"


    With a single, descending strike, Jormungandr moved downwards to lay waste upon the ship that had unfortunately become its target, reducing it to a slowly-sinking shipwreck whose wooden body had been brutally split in half...Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    ________________________________________


    "The walls of Fort Vellios have fallen... Our men will hold, but... It''s expected that they won''t be able to last very long..."


    "A new report just came in... Our only seaport, Persephon, has been laid to waste..."


    "... What about our ships? If the port has been destroyed, then they also must have been..."


    "Yes... Based on the accounts of the seaport¡¯s surviving soldiers¡­ All of them have been reduced to flaming wrecks..."


    "... D-damn this... Where are those bastards who promised that they''ll help us? Did those damn fools decide to back out at the last moment?"


    As the reports of the 2 imperial soldiers revealed to them the latest, horrifying events that had occurred just within their very doorsteps, the Neugomian officers within their makeshift headquarters couldn''t help but feel fear and unease as their eyes and ears laid witness to the impossible scene: in only a few minutes, the mighty walls of Fort Vellios came tumbling down without resistance, and it already became apparent to them that all of the soldiers that were stationed there would be doomed in the next few hours that would pass... And yet, there was also nothing else they could do to stop their fated deaths from transpiring...


    ... More importantly though, there were 2 other problems that suddenly surfaced: the Southern Barbarians and those damn pirates who had promised them aid through reinforcements, as well as the 1st prince himself who initiated the current meeting and was supposed to be present in the room right now, both of these important figures were nowhere to be seen, and it was already beginning to take a toll on many of the men within the office chambers...


    "And where the hell is the 1st prince right now?! He''s the one who called us here, yet why is he nowhere to be seen?"


    "Indeed! Why did he suddenly disappear in the moment when he''s most needed?"


    "We''re doomed... We''re doomed, I tell you all... They''ll carve a path through Fort Vellios unopposed and destroy all of us here without mercy..."


    Their plans were crumbling down helplessly, and by the second they were incurring more and more unpreventable losses that were gradually becoming more severe: it was supposed to have been a mighty defense, and perhaps eventually a coordinated counterattack against the invading forces of those demons, as Fort Vellios was supposed to have been reinforced with the combined efforts of the imperial army and the Southern reinforcements, and if their defense had proven successful, they would have then seized the initiative by pushing back against the enemy forces and reclaiming their lost territories in slow but sure approach, as the pirates who promised them support would also assist the imperial navy with whatever ocean threat that the demons may send out against them...


    Now however, such intricate plans were definitely no longer within their reach...


    It had all become useless, as not only had their reinforcements failed to arrive on time, but their main defense line that was supposed to hold on for at least a week was already about to fall, and the only thing left for them to do was to await the doom that was steadily approaching those doomed soldiers of Vellios'' collapsed defenses...


    "B-but... What if we send our remaining forces to assist the men at Vellios? Surely, we''ll at least be able to hold out for longer?"


    "There''s no use in throwing more of our men into the fire! Fort Vellios is already lost, and it''s only purpose now is to buy us more time so we can come up with another plan!"


    "But what sort of plan can we even come up with in this damned situation?! We''re already doomed, and the moment our forces at Vellios are completely annihilated, our heads will be next on the chopping block!"


    Suddenly though, amidst the quarreling of the various Neugomian officials within the room, the door leading into the room would open forth, and from the unfolded entryway came the person whose appearance they had long been waiting for...


    "Our initial plans may have failed, but I believe we can still come back from this predicament, my friends. I''ve come up with a new plan, although... It''s contents may be difficult for some of you to accept..."


    The 1st prince had finally made his appearance in their assembly, however, the men didn''t choose to pay him the necessary honorifics this time- they were all too deeply disturbed with the terrible news that they had just laid witness too, and their minds were still currently racing to come up with a way to deal with, or at least delay the inevitable defeat that was about to reach them.


    "Y-your Highness! Where have you been? The guards have been looking everywhere for you!"


    "We need your orders, Your Highness! Fort Vellios is about to fall, and we need your decision to make our next moves!"


    A sigh would suddenly emerge from Triston''s lips in response. "Ah... About that... We don''t have to worry about that problem anymore. That stone coffin of a fortress was merely a trap after all. What''s more important is the matter we need to achieve right now. There''s a reason why I gathered all of you here after all..."


    "... And what may this ''matter'' be then, Your Highness?"


    "... The only way we can survive this oncoming storm... Is by surrendering to those demons and relinquishing our will to fight." the prince stated, which immediately earned the ire of most of the people within the office chamber. "To those who agree with me, please raise your hand and stand up."


    Of course though, not a single one of the men within the assembly room would agree with what Triston had stated: instead, a myriad of angry voices immediately voiced out their anger and concerns, all of which were directed at the prince''s suggestion, which none of these proud, honor-bound men of the empire could ever find within themselves to accept.


    "This is complete and utter foolishness, Your Highness! Those demons are merciless bastards, there''s no way they''ll ever accept our surrender!"


    "Indeed! The moment we give up and submit, we''ll all be killed!"


    "This is a complete travesty on Imperial Honour, Your Highness! We cannot sully our hundreds of years of legacy by surrendering!"


    "... I was already expecting that these would be your reactions... But to actually witness them in person, it is, indeed, kind of disappointing..." Triston said as he sighed once more, this time in a rather downhearted manner. "What if I were to tell you all however, that I''ve already made a deal with them, long before I came here?"


    A look of surprise born from their confusion, quickly formed on their faces without delay, as soon as they heard the 1st prince''s statement: what did he mean when he said that he had already made a deal with those monsters?


    "Shocking, is it not? Well, I can''t blame any of you, really..." Triston continued after witnessing their baffled expressions. "It would be most advisable for all of you to consider this... I won''t be able to save you anymore the moment she arrives..."


    "... Oh, wait..."


    "What do you mean by that, Your Highness? And who is this woman you''re referring to...?"


    "... She''s already here... You''ll see soon enough..."


    A dreadful sense of fear seized the prince''s heart, as he then subconsciously pointed one of his hands to the right side of the room, and almost immediately, a sizable construct of brilliant light formed from that direction: eventually though, 2 figures would emerge from the gateway''s ethereal energies, with one of them possessing an infamous identity that the imperial officers were already far too aware of...


    "N-no way... It''s that demoness..."


    "It''s the usurper who murdered our emperor! What is that devil doing here?!"


    "Your highness, you''ve committed a terrible treason! Why did you make a deal with such a vile being?!"


    It was Whitlea, along with her sister, Speranza, who emerged from the gateway, and in truth, the 1st prince was the mole they implanted within the ranks of the imperial remnants all along: the deal they made was of a simple nature, and it only consisted of his collusion in making the remaining imperial forces surrender, and in exchange, not only will half of the Neugomian residual army be spared from the slaughter, but the prince would also be allowed to keep his rank of royalty within the empire...


    Although, Whitlea, who immediately heard the rather scornful remarks that were directed towards her by the men within the assembly, would quickly feel a terrible sense of fury forming within her heart, with a frown forming on her pristine, beautiful face as she reacted rather... Calmly for a while, almost as if she was trying to conceal the rage she felt when she heard those insults...


    "I must say though, dear sister of mine..." the maid beside the black-haired demon they were too familiar with would utter these words as they came forth from the gateway. "You removed the combat armor you often wear in our battles, and you replaced it with a... Thinner armor that looks more like a black body suit for some reason?"


    "You''re right, Spera, although... I don''t believe there''s anything wrong with it, am I right?"


    "Not really, it''s just... Strange, for you to have a sudden shift in preferences... Well, then again, it does fit your occasionally shifty personality..."


    "Well, I never needed that armor in the first place. I''d rather focus more on mobility and speed since I can''t sustain hits as good as you..."


    "Mhm... You are kind of fragile when compared to me, after all~"


    Hearing that, Whitlea rolled her eyes in a playful response, as she then turned her attention to the frightened imperial officers in front of her, with a cruel smile forming on her lips as her lilac eyes observed them with a gaze that radiated of superiority.


    "Now as for you lot... A demoness? Me? A vile being? Did I hear that right?~" an eerie smile laced with hate surfaced from her lips, an expression that was enough to silence even the loudest voices that were currently speaking within the room. "... Ahaha, if that''s what you think of me... I suppose I should take up to the role then, hm?"


    "!!!"


    An invisible yet oppressive aura of dominance swiftly spread throughout the room, a power coming from Whitlea''s vast, psychic might as an esper of unparalleled strength- it had changed the ambience of the room severely, so much so that most of the imperial officers immediately fainted and began falling onto their knees without resistance.


    ... However, after only a mere seconds of unleashing her power, her younger sister would immediately intervene with a calm voice of concern that quickly showed her that she was going too far...


    "... S-sister, I think they''ve felt enough of that ''intense energy'' of yours... It''s actually a bit too much, even for me..."


    "... Ah... Is that so, Spera? Well, I guess I should turn it off now..."


    "Thank you, sister..."


    With the combat maid''s remark, the oppressive aura that tormented most of the people within the office chambers would finally cease to be, allowing them to finally breathe peacefully without that dreadful atmosphere weighing down on their backs so heavily- unfortunately though, most of them still remained completely unaware of the terrible fate that Whitlea already had in store for them...


    "Ah, by the way, Triston..." as soon as she withdrew the radiance of her power, Whitlea would immediately pose a question to the first prince. "Did any of these blundering idiots choose to surrender when you first asked them?"


    "... I-I''m afraid not..."


    "Afraid not, what, hm?"


    Hearing that, the 1st prince nearly gave her a glare, though thankfully, he was able to resist this foolish impulse at the last second. "No... Your Majesty..."


    "There we go, good boy~" Whitlea smiled as she replied sarcastically. "I''ll ask you shitstains again then: do any of you choose to surrender? If you do, I give you my word that you''ll be spared, and no harm from me or my forces shall fall upon you."


    After seeing the frightening power she had at her disposal, it would''ve been the correct choice to accept the black-haired beauty''s offer: in the end however, the dogmatic sense of pride and honour that was locked deeply within the hearts of the imperial officers would prevent them from accepting such a logical choice.


    "... We are... Men of the Neugomian Empire... We shall not yield..."


    "We will never surrender... Especially not to the likes of a witch like you!"


    "Even if you unleash that terrible power of yours again, we will never throw away our honour!"


    For a moment, a baffled look became Whitlea''s expression as she heard those words that were said to her: these brainless morons, were they that obsessed with their own ''pride and honor'', that they would gladly give away their own lives to preserve such useless values? Well, it didn''t really matter to her anyway, since none of their miserable lives mattered to her in the first place: the only people that mattered to her were her family, and her beloved, and the rest were nothing more than insignificant rabble of no use in her eyes.


    "... Ahahaha.... Well, I gave you all a chance, and you shamelessly spat it back on my face. Face the consequences of your stupidity then, you imbeciles~" a mocking grin appeared on Whitlea''s face as she patted the shoulder of her sister who was beside her.


    "Speranza, gun them all down, leave none of them alive."


    "Very well then, sister." Speranza replied, as several, weaponized structures of metal that resembled turrets would then materialize in front of her. "Farewell, miscreants of the empire. I''ll at least make your deaths quick..."


    BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!


    Crimson beams of light emerged from the combat maid''s summoned weapons, all of which accurately scored headshots on every single one of her targets, with none of them even missing their marks by an inch, and soon enough, the dead bodies of the imperial officials then fell down lifelessly to the ground as their pooling blood began flowing onto the floor beneath.


    "The job is done... They''re all dead now, sister."


    "..."


    "Now that''s an objective well done... Alright..." Whitlea said this as her eyes observed the dead bodies scattered all around the room, and afterwards, she then walked towards the first prince and looked at him with an incredibly cold gaze. "Triston, you''re the last high ranking member of these resisting bands of fools. Tell the remaining soldiers to stand down, or else they''ll die miserably like these fools who my beloved sister just killed."


    "... R-right away... I''ll do so at once..."


    "Hm? You forgot to say that again~" Whitlea replied rather arrogantly.


    "..."


    "... Come on. Say. It. Is it that hard?" she continued, both the smugness and sadism in her voice growing steadily with every word she spoke.


    "... I''ll do it... Right away..."


    "... Are you screwing with me right now~ Didn''t you just see how me and my sister easily killed those acquaintances of yours?"


    "Are you not afraid to die, you brainless imbecile~"


    "..."


    "... Now you''re just wasting time... You''re making me lose my patience." she said, her rage clearly radiating seething from her words as she spoke to him. "Say. It. Properly. Now."


    Unfortunately though, this time, the 1st prince couldn''t prevent himself anymore as he shot a glare at the monstrous woman before her: even though he had stooped so low as to betray his own countrymen, he still, nevertheless, held the rank of 1st prince, a prestigious title of royalty that shouldn''t be disrespected so casually, and he could no longer contain the urge to speak back against the blatant contempt that this women held for him.


    And so, several foolish words came out of his mouth all of a sudden, even though he never would have considered uttering them right in front of the monster who could easily kill him: the deaths of those imperial officers had rattled him somewhat after all, as the brutality and cold efficiency of their execution was not something that even he could''ve ever done to his enemies, and it was like he was staring at a darker shadow of himself whenever he thought back to that recent, bloody event.


    However, as soon as he lost control of his composure for a moment, he quickly realized the terrible mistake he had made, though by then, it was already too late...


    "... A-and why should I?! I''ve had enough of your insolence! I am the 1st prince of the Neugomian Empire, and you will give me the proper respect that I deserve-"


    BLAM!


    A powerful blow struck his chest, making him fall onto the floor as he wheezed for air in pain- for his impudence, Whitlea had kicked him with a sufficiently powerful strike, one that wasn''t enough to kill him, but was sufficient enough to send the lesson she wanted him to understand.


    "Hahaha, you Neugomians really have no common sense, hm? Make no mistake, Mr. First Prince..." she uttered coldly, as a dark, yet silent expression of hate surfaced upon Whitlea''s face again. "I would have killed off your sorry little existence a long time ago, had I not seen how useful you could be for our plans."


    "In the end, I can still choose to snuff out that pathetic life of yours whenever I want, so you better be careful with how you behave around me~"


    "... Fu... Fuck you, you damn... Monster..."


    "That''s ironic coming from you though~ You tried to kill your own siblings, even though they did nothing wrong to you. That''s kind of fucked up, to be honest."


    Shock immediately formed within the prince''s mind as he heard that- how the hell did this woman know about that secret he had kept hidden for so long? He had performed so many measures to make sure that only he and Remus were knowledgeable of these dark deeds, yet why was this lunatic of a woman aware of these secrets?


    Perhaps Remuz had already betrayed him in order to gain favour from these bastards? No, that couldn''t be the case... It definitely couldn''t...


    "... H-how did you...?"


    "Ahaha, well, to make it easier for you simpleton mind to understand, I can read minds~ To me, your brain is nothing more than an open book whose contents can easily be understood by children~" Whitlea explained with a mocking grin. "You think I don''t know that darkness you hide within that crooked soul of yours? To tell you the truth though, even I find it disgusting~ and that''s coming from someone as horrible as me!"


    "..."


    "And besides, there''s another irony that you''re not aware of yet." the boot of her right leg then moved to pin the 1st prince''s head onto the ground, making him groan terribly in pain as he felt the hard, rough surface of the floor impacting upon his face.


    "Your attempt to kill them was useless, since... Well... I don''t want to spoil the fun, so just find it out yourself~"


    "... L-let me go... Stop this... at once..."


    ... And why should I~ Give me one good reason, or else I''ll crush your head into paste right this very moment."


    "I... I-I can still be useful... Besides... I know you don''t... Want me dead... At least... Not now..."


    Things were getting a bit heated... Whitlea had become rather aggressive again, and for Speranza, this was starting go become a bit strange: why did Whitlea''s personality take a drastic shift all of sudden? She normally wasn''t this aggressive in the first place, and in fact, the combat maid knew in her heart that her older sister wasn''t the type to become angry like this...


    And so, once again, as Speranza witnessed her older sister going too far again, she would once more intervene in an attempt to calm her down for a moment.


    "Sister... You''re going too far again..." Speranza spoke firmly as she gently placed her hand on her sister''s shoulder. "That much should be enough for him. We can''t let him die yet, since he still has his uses... You wouldn''t want him to disappoint Novus, right?"


    "... Hmph, fine. I''m still going to need him to do something for us anyway."


    The pinning force of Whitlea''s right leg finally moved away, allowing Triston to finally stand up and recover from the painful beating he had just been given: as he slowly took his time to stand up however, he gave one more look towards the insane woman in front of her, though this time, it was not a simple glare that one would do so out of irritation of annoyance.


    What formed on his eyes were a look of cold rage, a violent temperament that did not make him want to tear her into pieces, but to inflict upon her a suffering that would be too terribly great: unfortunately for him though, that possibility would never be able to happen in the present due to the vast, gaping gap of power and strength between them.


    "... Mark my words... One day... I''ll get revenge on you for this..." Triston muttered, with a few drops of blood coming out of his mouth as he spoke. "You''ll regret that you did this to me... Once that... cough... Time comes..."


    "Hm? Hahahaha, you''re quite bold, aren''t you? I admire that about you and your fellow backwater imperials." Whitlea responded as she gave him back a stare, one that held pure sadism and delight as her purple eyes look at him condescendingly. "You''re lucky that I need you to do that little task I gave you, because I would have pummeled you again otherwise~"


    "Now off you go, take command of all the imperial soldiers stationed in Athenia and give them the order to surrender to us.... Unless you want them as dead as your comrades over there, of course~" Whitlea continued with her ever-present tone of smugness. "... Hmm... Ah, wait for a moment..."


    "... A certain someone needs my help... It appears we have a situation on our hands..."

 Part 6 - Chapter 6

    It was a brief conversation of telepathically-tuned minds: their thoughts were shared together in a brief, yet powerful connection, and as such, they could easily share their words with each other despite the vast distance that lied between the both of them...


    Apollyon''s nature as an ethereal entity allowed her to establish a mental connection with Whitlea''s mind: of course however, due to the angel''s ability for telepathy, and the vast psychic might that Whitlea possessed, it wasn''t difficult for them to establish such a communicative line despite being incredibly distant from each other''s location...


    "Whitlea... I require your assistance for a moment..."


    "What is it then, Apollyon? Did something unexpected happen?"


    "That''s correct... There''s a particularly powerful enemy I need to deal with... However, I believe this task might turn the battlefield into a desolate wasteland afterwards..."


    "Ah... So you want me to...?"


    "Precisely. I want you to open a gateway to that realm you used to capture and torture that gluttonous parasite... The same place where you were once... You know..."


    "... I see, don''t worry, I''ll help you with this matter then..."


    "There''s one problem however... How will you be able determine the location of where you''ll open the gateway? You''re too faraway, and I don''t think even our temporary mental connection will be enough for you to determine the accuracy..."


    "Not need to worry... I''ve managed to get a hang of this weaker me''s body, and I''m slowly beginning to regain more of my original powers. With the level of ability I''ve managed to restore, I strongly believe I can do that easily..."


    "I see... That is certainly impressive..."


    "The moment you need me to bring forth the gateway, call for my name immediately, and I''ll do so at once..."


    "I understand... Thank you in advance for this assistance you''ll be providing..."


    "Ahaha... No need to worry, we both have the same goals after all. Just... Don''t fail, alright?"


    ...


    ...


    Could this even be called a battlefield anymore?


    The walls of their mighty fortress had fallen, and now there were hundreds of those steel-bodied monsters that were pouring in like a vast, swarm of unstoppable pests- what was even more terrifying however, was the fact that each of these soulless automatons required the efforts of 15 or more men just to deal with one of them, and there were entire formations of these metal beasts that were tearing through their ranks without mercy...


    "Hold the line! Don''t relent to these beasts!"


    "They''ve broken through one of our shield formations! Send more men to that breached area!"


    "Arghh! It''s no use, there are too many of them! It''s hopeless, we have to retreat right n-"


    SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT!


    Even without the long-range weapons of those constructs that managed to get within their vicinity, their strength and endurance were absolutely no joke either- they were all invulnerable to most of their swords and spears, and only the imperial knights had the strength to so much as leave dents on their metal armor, though by now, such notable warriors have already been reduced by a great number ever since the walls suddenly came crashing down...


    [Magick Missile.]


    [Lightning Chain.]


    [Blazing Hellfire.]


    Then there were the mages who fearlessly took part in the battle, flying high up into the sky with various levitation spells as they unleashed their arcane might upon the metal beasts: in truth, they were the only ones among the imperial ranks who were able to do any significant damages upon the monsters, as their potent magicks were the only form of attacks that could outright disable and destroy their horrible, unliving enemies.


    Of course, however, despite possessing no sentience of their own, the machines had a sufficient intelligence within their internal processing systems, an ability that allowed them to determine the greatest threat to them in this battlefield, as well as to calculate the most efficient method in dealing with such dangers.


    BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!


    The automata from the farthest areas aimed their ranged weapons, powerful cannons that were mounted onto their wrists, and as they did so, they immediately concentrated fire upon the foolish mages who chose to reveal their locations so brazenly by taking to the skies: eventually, due to the sheer volume of attacks that were accurately hitting them from far away, the durable arcane force fields that each of the mages possessed would eventually relent and be reduced to shattered fragments, allowing the cannon shots to tear apart the vulnerable, fleshy bodies of the adepts with ease.


    It was a hopeless battle that seemed to be more of a slaughter than anything else, with the imperial forces rapidly losing their numbers as the constructs continued to kill multitudes upon multitudes of human soldiers in the blink of an eye: in fact, it seemed that Fort Vellios was truly about to be lost to the automaton army that was swarming at them from every direction...


    Fortunately for them however, the long-awaited assistance that was supposed to have come would finally arrive after such a long time of waiting...


    ________________________________________


    "... Damn it... Philo and the others are dead... I-I''m the only one left over here...!"


    It had only been a few minutes since the walls fell, and yet the Neugomian soldiers stationed in Vellios had already been reduced to shadow of what they once were, as there were only a handful of them left who had chosen to fight until the end and make their stand: it was pointless to flee anyway, as they were quite literally surrounded from every direction by those soulless machines of steel, and the only thing they could do left was to fight hopelessly against these monsters who could easily snuff out their lives with one swipe from their mechanical limbs.


    "N-no... S-stay away... Stay away from me! GET AWAY FROM ME, YOU FUCKING BASTARDS!!!"


    As he stood up the ground where the piled-up corpses of his comrades lied, Flavius immediately realized the horrible truth that had befallen him: the screams and battlecries of his allies have gone silent, as he was the only one left among all of the imperials in Vellios, with those brutal constructs were now making their way towards him in a slow, yet dreadful manner, and the moment they would get close to him, he knew that they would promptly begin ripping him into pieces, just like what happened to the rest of his friends who perished before him...


    Was this the end...? Flavius thought to himself, his body shivering in cold sweat as he despaired over the tragedy he was in- there was no escaping his death today, and it would only be a few more moments before he drew his final breathe and be reduced to a useless corpse lying dead on the ground.


    Of course, it wouldn''t take long before the hopelessness of his situation had finally gotten to him, as his mind inevitably became fully engulfed by his ever-growing despair...


    "... I-I give up..." he uttered somberly as he fell onto his knees and looked to the ground in complete defeat: there was no point in putting up a fight anymore, as it would only be delaying the inevitable. "... If any of you have mercy... At least make it quick..."


    He closed his eyes lightly as he lost all will to strive for his survival, his body motionless as he waited for the brutal murder that was to be done to him- he awaited anxiously for such a cruel fate, as his breath steadily grew more anxious with every passing second.


    Suddenly however...


    FLASH!


    "...?"


    "It took us a while to arrive here, Imperial... We apologize for this delay, your empire has lost so much of your own warriors this day..."


    What happened next was not his merciless death, but something else entirely: an arcane-borne portal formed nearby him, and the long-awaited arrival of their temporary allies had finally come: the Southern Barbarians of the Nifaruscan Continent, with their black-skinned warriors with ritualistic tattoos marked all over their endowed, half-naked, bodies, as well as one of their mightiest figures who served the will of one of their 3 tribes, Priestess Mal''Usthura, the greatest fire magician among the Tikonglomeran Tribes and the most loyal devotee of one of their 3 great deities...


    Seeing this, the dread and despair that built up within the remaining Neugomian soldier''s heart instantly faded away into dust, and all of it had instantly been replaced with a faint sensation of hope...


    "Great Shaman... Thank you for your arrival..." the soldier then stood up to approach her and knelt before her in utter desperation. "... Our forces have been nearly annihilated, so if I may be allowed to compel you..."


    "Assist us with this battle, we can''t afford to let these monsters march into Athenia and wreak havoc..."


    "... Very well then, that is the reason why we came here afterall..." a proud, confident smirk formed on the old woman''s face as crimson flames began forming all throughout her body. "Warriors of Tikonglomera, you have come from each of the 3 tribes who have warred against each other for millenia, but now, there stands a greater threat before us, and that is the reason why I''ve gathered you all here today!"


    "Rip apart these metal behemoths who stand against us! Show them your mettle, and tear through these demons with your great strength!"


    ...


    ...


    Who were these people who had appeared out of nowhere?


    She initially thought that they''d already been cornered and defeated, and that there was no longer any sort of way for them to fight back, but now, the entire thing had reached a complete reversal: at the brink of annihilation, the Neugomians somehow managed to summon new reinforcements into the battlefield, and these recent forces of theirs were now currently unleashing chaos about the army of steel she sent to finish off the trapped imperial forces.


    "Those new guys are cutting through the metal constructs like they''re nothing..."


    "Since when did the Empire have such strong warriors? And why the hell are they appearing now, of all times?"


    "They''re even summoning those massive fires out of nowhere... It''s probably one of their damn magicks again..."


    Among these concerned voices who spoke of their opinions to the saintess, one of them would be more noticeable to her than the others, as his voice and tone clearly stood above from the rest of his fellow knights due to his status as Adelaide''s right-hand man.


    "...What do we do about these bastards, Saintess? If we let them be, the entire army of constructs our savior entrusted to us will get annihilated..."


    "... Wait for a moment, Malfor..."


    As Adelaide said this to her most trusted bodyguard, a gentle, yet authoritative voice was currently speaking to her mind, an entity whose identity was already far too familiar to her inner thoughts- the powerful angel who used her body as its anchor to reality, a fragment of one of her Lord''s most powerful servants, yet despite only being a portion of the real being, its presence was one that gave off a powerful presence whenever it chose to speak to her directly.


    "The imperials have... Sided with heretics being led... By an abomination of flame and destruction..." the voice uttered ethereally. "Send me out, Adelaide... The one before you who is controlling those raging fires... She is not someone your forces can handle..."


    This was getting even more stranger by the minute: based on what the angel stated, these figures who just recently descended into the battlefield were strong, so much so that the one who was leading them possessed a threat that even the angel had acknowledged...


    "... Is that flame-wielder really that powerful?" Adelaide asked a bit nervously.


    "Indeed... She is... This battle will be your loss... If you do not send me out... To do battle with that magick-bound witch..."


    "..."


    For a moment though, the saintess would feel a bit of hesitation as she came close to giving in to the angel''s advice, as the possible toll it would take on her body by fighting such a dangerous enemy made her feel a bit of fear... What if her body became too strained amidst the battle? Or what if she could no longer handle the angel''s power coursing within her very blood? Would her body eventually reach a state of constant decay and disrepair afterwards, so much so that no amount of healing or recovery would work?


    ... Regardless however, her faith would immediately shake off such doubts, as she immediately realized how detrimental it would be for all of them if she chose to dwell in her own self-worries: if their new enemies were indeed that powerful, then it was absolutely necessary for her to do everything she could to deal with them, even if it would cost her severely afterwards...


    "... Will Malfor and the others be able to handle their warriors, at the very least? They seem to be incredibly powerful..."


    "They can... They shall... And they will..." Apollyon spoke again. "Have faith... Just like you always have..."


    Adelaide had a close relationship with all the warriors of the knights templar after all: they had always served faithfully to protect her ever since she first earned this grand title, and she had grown rather fond of Malfor especially- in fact, their relationship had reached the point where she could easily converse with him about various sensitive and personal matters...


    "Do not worry... About them... They are strong by themselves... They will not perish... To such loathsome heretics... So easily..."


    "... I just don''t want to see them suffer needlessly... Dead, most especially..."


    "Come then... If your conviction still waivers... Then let us... Make a prayer... Through simple words..."


    The saintess slowly closed her eyes, as Apollyon then continued her ethereal conversation with her host...


    "Trust in the Lord... With all your heart... And lean not... On your own understanding..."


    "In all your ways submit to him..." Adelaide spoke back, this time aloud, as she knew exactly what the angel was speaking of. "... And he will set your path straight..."


    "... There we go... Your fears have been... Lifted a bit for now, I presume? Now let''s... Switch places for a moment..."


    "...Very well then..."


    An emanating, light of gold descended upon Adelaide''s body, and her transformation into the powerful being immediately proceeded to start- it wouldn''t be long before the battlefield would meet the fury of an angelic being whose power could shake the entire world itself, despite being a mere fragment of its original self...


    "... W-what''s happening all of a sudden, saintess?"


    "Oh... I haven''t told any of you yet, hm? It''s a blessing from our Lord..." Adelaide said with a smile. "Just... Try not to be too surprised, alright? And..."


    "As soon as I finish transforming, I''ll deal with that mage who''s casting those enormous flames, while you and the others will charge forth and deal with the other enemies."


    Though he was confused for a moment, Malfor would nevertheless pay heed to her command: her words have always been trustworthy, and there was no way he was going to doubt them, especially now of all times.


    "I understand then... But... What will you be transforming into though?"


    "Hahaha.... You''ll see. I promise you though, it''s going to be a bit... Out of this world~"


    ________________________________________


    There was a reason why the Tikonglomeran peipele remained divided into 3 tribes, even after the thousands of years'' worth of existence that their families have managed to live through: due to the difference of the gods which they fervently worshipped, factions sprung out from their early years of existence, causing small rifts within their unity which eventually grew into entire borders separated by different customs and values over time...


    Primarily, the Southern Barbarians venerated a triumvirate of almighty deities- the first was Devana, the deity who held dominion over all life and the very foundations of the earth; the second was Narayane, the deity who embodied the very concept of water and ruled all the lakes and rivers of Nifarusca with an unchallenged authority; and lastly, there was Agni, the deity of fire and brimstone, the most violent and bloodlusted among these mighty gods, though surprisingly, the lord of fire was also the most cunning out of all of these 3 powerful beings...


    Once, the 3 tribes had never thought of uniting their forces under one cause and banner, as they never had the chance of laying witness to an enemy that could unravel and disassemble the very nature of their world and life- now however, things had changed, and a great many of their mightiest warriors, all of whom were temporarily under the command of Agni''s high priestess, Mal''Usthura, the strongest of the 3 gods'' disciples, had now been sent right at the very center of the battlefield, ready to bring destruction upon the demons whose existence greatly threatened the natural order and continued existence of the world...


    "Your steel bodies mean nothing in the face of my all-consuming flames."


    Massive, twisting pillars of arcane flame emerged from the aura of fire that engulfed her unburning body, burning the metal automatons of their enemy into fine ash that could no longer put up a fight against them, and although there were thousands more of these soulless, unrelenting creatures, they were nothing more than iron-encased fodder for the priestess'' flames to torch and burn.


    "Do not relent, warriors of Tikonglomera! Fight until the last enemy has fallen before us!"


    Truthfully though, Mal''Usthura had been expecting more of a fight from these supposedly powerful enemies of theirs- had they perhaps grown complacent due to their victories, that they began to think that these mere fodder would be enough to finish their battles? Or is this already the best they could do when it came to waging war? Perhaps the empire became weak after all its years of an uncontested reign throughout Xathra?


    Regardless of what the true reason for their weakness was however, the old shaman couldn''t care either way- these were enemies that threatened the very stability of the world, and they couldn''t afford to be careless right now just because these demons were unable to put up a fight right now...


    Instantaneously, however, an unexpected scenery would suddenly appear before the priestess'' very eyes...


    "You... You are the apostle of a false god whose role is similar to that of mine... And because of that... I must destroy you..."


    "... Who are you?"


    A winged, feminine being adorned in sleek, metal battle armor, then descended from the sky and appeared in front of the priestess, as the winged woman''s silver eyes stared back at the shaman''s surprised gaze with a visible fury that Mal''Usthura was completely unable to understand... Who even was this woman, and why did she hold such an intense anger for her?


    "My identity is not your concern. You should be worried more of the battle that''s to come." the silver-haired angel quickly gave her reply. "Whitlea, do it now... Open an entrance to that prison realm of yours..."


    "...!"


    In unison with what the angel uttered, a dark, ethereal construct of swirling energies spilled forth behind the priestess, as the angel then immediately proceeded to kick her into its shadow-bound embrace within the blink of a human eye: the angel would then follow suit and enter the gateway as well, and almost immediately, a vast, empty space of darkness, one that resembled an endless void of nothingness that stretched endlessly into every direction, would immediately be the new environment they both found themselves in...Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Y-you winged bastard...! Where the hell did you just take me?!"


    "Your doom, false-god worshipper..." Apollyon answered coldly as she shot a glare of raw, unfiltered hate and scorn to her confused foe. "Make peace with the putrid deities you worship, for only one of us may come out alive after this..."


    Out of nowhere, a radiant, golden sword, whose silver blade was bathed in the intensity of crimson fires, would then manifest on the angel''s right hand, as she then raised her weapon into the air for the strike she was about to deliver.


    "And I shall make sure that it will be me."


    ________________________________________


    "Cut them down quickly! End them with only a few strikes, and don''t leave them any time to recover!"


    Their orders have already been set, a command that''d been recently given to them by Adelaide herself: support the remaining constructs and annihilate their newly-appeared enemies to the best of their ability...


    Although it was a task that proved to be incredibly difficult, it was the duty of Malfor and his comrades to see to it that their orders were fulfilled no matter what- even though the enemies they were facing right now looked like complete monsters, each of the saintess'' knights chose to press on and continue their fight without ever relenting for even a moment...


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    Their enemies didn''t even seem to be human at all: each of the sword-wielding, dark-skinned warriors were twice the height of normal men, with their bodies toned with impressive muscles and multiple scars of battle, though most importantly, their brutal, ground-shattering strength whenever they swung their blades, as well as the strange tattoos on their bodies... Those ritual-esque markings that made even Malfor feel a bit a bit of unease whenever he looked at them...


    Fortunately for the templar knights however, their enemies, despite possessing such impressive physical features, were still ultimately human beings who have been enhanced with various physical magicks, and as such, their swords remained more than capable of slicing through their toned bodies with ease, though despite that, the physical prowess of these newly arrived enemy warriors was still something that Malfor and his comrades couldn''t afford to ignore.


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    "... They''re rather cumbersome to defeat, wouldn''t you agree, Casimir?"


    "Easy for you to say! One hit from those brutes, and I don''t think even our armor can hold up!"


    Remarkably, the only casualties they''ve sustained right now were the multitudes of automatons that were brought down by their fearsome enemies, though thankfully, all of the 50 knights managed to stay relatively uninjured: all they had to do was to was to keep fighting, and their enemies would eventually be defeated and drowned out by their superior numbers and strength, and with the main threat currently being dealt with by the saintess herself who took on the form of an angel, the only main task they had at hand was to vanquish all of these monsters that the Neugomians somehow managed to bring amidst their nearing defeat...


    Minutes into the battlefield however, a terrible force of disaster would suddenly descend before him, an enemy far more powerful than the ones they were currently dealing with, a man that had the aura and strength of an unsurpassed demigod of war whom none could ever hope to beat...


    ...


    ...


    THUUUDDD!!!


    "ARRGHHHH!!!"


    "AHHHH!!!"


    From the skies above, a tall figure landed upon the ground like a meteorite, making the earth tremble as his feet slammed upon its surface: without delay however, the mighty barbarian would immediately swing his massive sword, sending 2 of Malfor''s men hurtling away like mere bothersome flies who were meant to be smacked...


    "Are those 2 still alive?" Malfor asked, shocked by what had just transpired before him.


    "S-Shit... I''m not sure... But... W-Who the hell is that damn brute anyway...?"


    "... I don''t know Casimir, though he definitely looks like trouble..."


    Like all the other dark-skinned tribesmen, the one who descended from the sky was an enemy who held a great strength and stature, however, there were many things that differentiated him from his kin: he was taller than all of them, perhaps 3 times larger than the average man, and the muscles of his body were far more toned than the rest of his comrades: furthermore, the markings of war on his skin, the way they were painted on his body roused an even greater sense of fear within the hearts of the templar knights, a sensational fury that was even managing to drive Malfor into a state of near-hesitation, as it gave the feeling that the warrior had already experienced countless decades of battling and engaging in numerous, near-death experiences.


    "You... Xathran... You look... Strong..." the tall warrior spoke, his words seemingly directed towards Malfor as he was pointing the tip of his massive blade towards him. "You must be... The enemy leader... Are you not?"


    His eyes would widen a bit as he heard what the giant had uttered: indeed, due to Adelaide being busy with another matter entirely, Malfor was technically indeed the one in command of their forces.. The question was, how did this man know of this fact, as it wasn''t something that one could easily just figure out.


    "You must be surprised... As a warrior... I can tell the strength of others... From even the farthest distances... And you happen to be the strongest among your brethren..."


    "... So what if I am then? What exactly are you planning?"


    "Nothing much... Let me make a fair proposal..."


    The warrior then screamed into the air with his deep voice, uttering a powerful command whose singular word came from his vast, unknown language that only he and his kin knew- instantaneously, the other warriors on his side halted their clashing with Malfor''s army in an instant, and so did both the knights and the constructs cease their actions as well.


    "A fair, singular combat... Whoever claims victory shall win the battle... And force the loser''s army to surrender unconditionally..." a terrible, battle-hungry grin formed on his face as he said this. What do you say... Xathran?"


    Despite the serious front he was showing on his face, it was currently a baffling moment of weakness for Malfor, as his body seemed to greatly relent in considering the man''s offer-for some reason, there was a strong belief within his heart that he would be defeated the moment he chose to cross swords with this powerful monster, and it had immediately taken a great hold of his rationality.


    He then began to consider weighing the options: should he choose to accept, they would be locked in a duel where Malfor himself was uncertain of victory, and if he failed and perished, his comrades, as well as the entire army that had been entrusted to them by their saviour, would all be annihilated and brought to ruin, and if he refused, there was the risk of death that came due to the appearance of this monster within their vicinity, and Malfor wasn''t sure if he and Casimir would even be able to survive against this bastard...


    "..."


    "... What will your choice be... Xathran? I cannot wait all day... For your answer..."


    What was he going to do... What was he even supposed to say, and how was he supposed to respond to the threat that was right in front of him? Sweat trickled from his face as more, precious seconds continued to pass... If he didn''t choose to answer as soon as possible, then this beast would most likely continue on with his rampage, and he was certain that he was going to be the first casualty the moment this disaster were to proceed...


    And yet... Despite all of that...


    "... Hm, alright... I accept..."


    "Really now... How brave..." the tall warrior commended, not out of mockery, but admiration for Malfor''s seemingly foolish decision. "Prepare yourself then... This shall be a battle to the death..."


    His unwillingness to step and down and suffer defeat overrode his crippling sense of fear- even if there was a great chance of him meeting his end after this, he was still going to risk it all in order to ensure their victory, as he knew to himself that this giant was a threat that needed to be taken care of at once, and what better way would there be other than to duel with its might in a direct, uninterrupted confrontation?


    It would have seemed foolish to the eyes of most indeed, but the greater minds would quickly realize that he had no other choice in this matter- Malfor decided to proceed with this not out of a sense of pride or a newly-rooted insanity, but because it was the most suitable course of action he could afford to take.


    ''Be strong, and be courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.''


    It was a collection of words that came from a rare manuscript that was no longer commonplace, and he could also remember reading them from the book that the saintess would often read in her prayers: that verse had always managed to stay firmly within his memories, but now that Malfor was beginning to realize just how important those words truly meant to him, an enlightenment unlike never before had suddenly reached his very mind.


    The very God he worshipped and revered ever since Malfor was but a mere child... His Lord had always been there for him, and he had never thrown him away or abandoned him, even in his lowest and darkest moments- it was because of his prayers to such a divine being that he managed to survive his cruel life at an old, decrepit orphanage that cared not for the children who lived in it, and it was for this reason he had chosen to dedicate the rest of his life to serving Him.


    Now though, if he asked Him for the deliverance he needed in order to survive, would he provide it to him as always? While he was ultimately uncertain, Malfor still had faith that he would definitely be given the guidance he needed to persevere through this situation.


    And so, before their duel would begin in earnest...


    "Before we begin... May I make a short prayer?"


    "... Fine." the giant stated firmly as he stabbed his sword into the ground and crossed his arms. "I shall wait until you finish... Make haste with your little prayer..."


    "I see....Thank you..."


    Malfor then clasped his hands together, as he looked up to the skies and began his brief words before the upcoming battle...


    ...


    "... The Lord is my light and my salvation... Whom shall I fear?"


    "...The Lord is the stronghold of my life... Of whom shall I be afraid?"


    "... When the wicked advance against me to devour me... And when my enemies surround to seize victory against me..."


    "... It is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall."


    "Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear..."


    "Though war break out against me, even then..."


    "I will be confident."


    ...


    And it was done... It had taken him only a few moments to utter those words as he closed his eyes in deep thought: suddenly however, as he eventually opened his eyes, a brilliant light would suddenly radiate from his blade, and it was a blessing he had received after the short prayer he made to the God he had always revered...


    "I presume you''re done... With your prayer... Let us proceed with... Our duel then..." the tall warrior, seeing that Malfor had finally finished what he was doing, would then pull out the sword he had stuck into the ground. "Come, let us fight each other until only one of us remains..."


    At last, it was finally time for their long-awaited death combat to begin: though it had taken him a moment, the battle-hungry warrior could finally engage in combat with this enemy warrior he saw as worthy to face him, and an emotion of excitement took hold of his face as he anticipated for that very exciting moment.


    "My name is Behanzin... The Sand Terror of the Tribe of Agni... And the strongest among my kin who have come... To bring destruction upon your army..." the giant warrior spoke proudly as he put one of his hands on his chest. "Before our duel... I would like to hear your name as well... It is courtesy for fellow warriors... To say their names to each other... Before battle after all..."


    "... Tell me first, giant. Do you have a God you believe in?"


    "... What kind of a question... Even is that?" the tall warrior answered as he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "Of course I do... Why are you asking... Such a question?"


    "Then, tell me once more, if you may..." Malfor continued as he readied his blade.


    "...?"


    "Does he stand with you right now like mine does?"


    SWOOOOSHHH!!!


    Malfor made a gigantic leap into the air with a great burst of strength from his legs: with his sword in hand, he quickly swung for the giant''s neck, and he instantly managed to close the distance between them in only a few milliseconds.


    "!!!!"


    SLAAASSHHH!!!!


    It was too fast for the tall warrior to react to immediately, and with but a single stroke from the power-armored knight''s blade, the giant''s head quickly departed from hiz neck and flew high into the air, sending forth a fountain of blood that came spurting out of the exposed flesh on his bleeding neck...


    THUD...


    All remained silent from the magnificent show of strength he displayed, and at first, there were a few who refused to believe that it actually happened; however, after the deceased warrior''s head made a loud thud as it fell onto the ground, it quickly became apparent that what had transpired just now was no mere illusion.


    "Without your guidance, I never would have been able to cut down that monster..." Malfor muttered quietly to himself, and as he witnessed the bewildered crowds of his silenced enemies who were now dropping their weapons one by one, he simply looked up to the skies and folded his hands together once more as a sign of prayer.


    "Thank you, and... Amen..."


    ________________________________________


    "ARGGHHHH!!!!!"


    Screams of anguish echoed throughout the dark void, as the two-fold blows that Apollyon swiftly made on her target easily tore through the soft tenderness of her flesh: the silver blade easily cleaved through both of her arms in mere seconds, as the scorching fires that enveloped its metal edge left agonizing burns upon her quivering skin afterwards...


    "I-Impossible! How does your fire manage to burn the likes of me?!"


    "Simple. You are impure, and the very essence of your soul makes me want to vomit. With my eyes I can see the sins concealed deeply within your soul... The atrocities you commited, and the innocent lives you snuffed out... All for the sake of satisfying your own desires. Most importantly however..." Apollyon mentioned with a cold tone of voice. "You are the disciple of a demon... One that was even brave enough to mask itself as a venerated god whose identity belongs to the past... How exceedingly pathetic, to wear the skin of someone and to pretend as if you are truly them..."


    "Y-YOU!!! HOW DARE YOU!!!" Mal''Usthura shouted back in rage, maddened by the great disrespect that had been thrown at her. "HOW DARE YOU INSULT THE GREAT AGNI WITH YOUR INSOLENCE!"


    "Insolence? How dare you, scum, to designate the truth as mere ''insolence''? Not only is your soul twisted, but your mind appears to be backwards as well."


    "YOU BITCH! MARK MY WORDS, I SHALL SEE TO IT THAT YOU BURN UNTIL NOT EVEN ASHES REMAIN OF YOUR MISERABLE BODY!"


    "Hmph. Bring it on then. Show me the full extent of your might, and I''ll make sure to completely dismantle it afterwards."


    [Maximum Hellfire.]


    [Firestorm Tornado.]


    [Fire of the Destruction God.]


    Despite the loss of her arms, Mal''Usthura could still utilize her arcane might through only her thoughts, and immediately afterwards, the entire dimension they were trapped in, quickly became a nightmarish realm after the priestess finished casting all her spells- raging blue flames, combusting formations that were far more powerful than normal fires, quickly engulfed every space and corner of the dark dimension, leaving not even a single area of its void structure untouched by its scorching embrace.


    It was an attack that would have been enough to reduce an entire country into a smoldering pile of ashes, and terrifyingly enough, Ma''lusthura could definitely unleash an even greater level of destruction if her god had permitted her: even so however, this much power should have been enough to instantly burn Apollyon until nothing was left for her, and the priestess was definitely certain that this would be the most likely outcome...


    ... However, contrary to what she expected...


    "Is this all you can afford with that disgusting magick of yours, heathen?"


    SLAASSHHH!!!!


    Apollyon simply swung her blade sidewards, and all the ever-growing flames quickly ceased to exist... Not even 3 seconds have passed since she first summoned them, and yet the angel managed to completely render them useless without much of an effort...


    "Bring out your ''god''. Call forth his name. Perhaps he is asleep, or daydreaming?"


    SLASH!!!


    "!!!!"


    Apollyon sent another cleaving strike, this time to one of the priestess'' legs, and like the rest of her slices, it would instantly cut through her skin and bone and leave cruel burns upon her exposed flesh: the pain of such a brutal attack would of course leave the shaman in a terrible pain, causing her to scream at the top of her very lungs with a shrill cry that echoed throughout the void of nothingness.


    "Call him. Now. Or do you also need to wake him up while you''re at it?"


    SLASH!!!


    "ARRGGHHHHH!!!!!!!"


    By the 4th blow, the pitiful shaman''s body had no arms or legs left, and she was now nothing more than a limbless sack of flesh who couldn''t even put up a fight by this point: even so however, the cold, merciless expression on the angel''s face never ceased to be, and the sight of it would forever leave a horrible trauma upon Mal''Usthura''s mind for the rest of her short, remaining life.


    "Call your worthless ''god''. Now. Or else your head will be next."


    "!!!"


    This was such an unprecedented scenario- how could her, Ma''lusthura, the great apostle of the fire god, Agni, and the strongest among the disciples of the 3 gods, fall prey to such a frail-looking, winged woman? She had spent years of her life harnessing the experiences she needed and the power she desired, and she even sacrificed thousands of her own tribesmen in order to gain the immense arcane might she currently possessed: despite this however, Ma''lusthura''s very power had now proven to be meaningless, as it was now being rendered useless by the terrible, monster of a woman who was about to end her life in this incredibly dark realm she had been imprisoned in.


    "Must I repeat my words? Call out your pathetic deity. Beg for him to save your life and appear before us. Is it that hard?"


    "Y-you fool! You absolute imbecile!" the shaman mocked as she spat out drops of blood from her mouth. "You should have killed me when you struck me with your 1st blow! H-how arrogant of you to think that you can face the great Agni!"


    "So what? Do you think I care about this so-called might of your ''deity''? Bring him out, and I shall slay him before your very eyes, witch."


    Mal''Usthura didn''t put much thought to it by this point, as she already realized the horrible truth of the dilemma she was trapped in: she had no choice either way, and this was the only hope she could rely on for a chance of surviving this disaster: while the old shaman was aware of her deity''s cruelty and hate for failure, surely he would at least be willing to help his most dedicated follower in her direst of times?


    "... You are a fool to think you can match my lord''s might... I truly hope you regret your words..." the shaman muttered, as she then began chanting one of the many incantations she had rarely ever considered using. "In the name of the one who destroys... The one who burns all and leaves none spared from the fires of his wrath..."


    "Oh Great Lord of Fire, I beckon you to listen to your dutiful servants pleadings, and deliver her from her suffering!"


    The shaman finished her chants, and the summoning ritual had been done. It was not something she could do so carelessly, as this ritual always had the chance of rousing her god''s fury instead: fortunately for her however, the terrible foe she was facing right now definitely warranted the casting of this very summoning...


    "... I hear your call, my worthy apostle, and now I have answered..."


    Pillars of fire rose high up as they emerged from the shaman''s broken body, and from them came forth the deity who had answered his apostle''s cry for help- a blue giant whose skin bathed in terrible flames as he carried his deathly trident with his right hand, would then appear before them in a fiery display of power, his body massive enough to engulf an entire castle, and his voice being loud and powerful enough for it to echo throughout the void with every word he spoke.


    "Why have you summoned me, Mal''Usthura? Know that if you have summoned me for something trivial, I will lose my favor for you and cast you out as my most prized champion."


    "My lord, I beseech you for deliverance!" Mal''Usthura pleaded, all while she desperately sought to resist the incredible anguish she felt from her wounds. "Strike down this woman who had dared to disrespect your name and your most dedicated priestess!"


    "Hm... You do look to be in a dire predicament... Very well then, my apostle..." the god responded with a powerful, yet acknowledging tone as he turned towards the angelic being who had been tormenting the priestess. "... Before I strike you down, I would like to commend you for the power you possess... Not many mortals are capable of overpowering our chosen heralds in single combat..."


    "I am no mere mortal, demon." the angel replied, the barely-concealed anger in her voice seemingly become more noticeable. "Do you not recognize who I am? Or has your brain sizzled from the arcane fires you bathe your body in?"


    "... Wait... N-No... You... How is this possible...?"


    "Indeed, it is impossible, for the likes of you and your revolting comrades at least." Apollyon proclaimed, raising her voice even higher as the fires of her sword seemed to grow even stronger.


    "I am a fragment of Abaddon, the Angel of the Abyss, one the Creator''s most powerful angels... The one responsible for keeping the fallen light-bringer''s forces trapped in their gloomy domain, as punishment for the horrid betrayal that you and the others have committed..."


    "Impossible! You are a mere pretender!" the deity snapped furiously as he readied his trident. "I will strike you down where you stand, you overbearing woman!"


    "Pretender? Really? Isn''t that quite the irony?"


    "SILENCE, YOU MERE WORM!"


    The trident would thrust forth in the blink of an eye, its sharp, flaming tips heading straight for the angel''s body in a swiftness that far transcended that of the speed of sound: the priestess smiled in delight as she saw this, as this self-proclaimed angel who had torn away her limbs would finally meet her fiery demise at the hands of her god.


    SLASH!!!!


    With one stroke from Apollyon''s sword however, the fires of her blade quickly engulfed the deity''s flaming trident in a near-instant moment- their flames clashed in a short, yet chaotic battle, and the fires that came from the angel''s sword would eventually overpower its opposition, reducing the trident into a useless, collection of ash...


    "... T-this... Y-you really are..."


    "Do I really need to repeat it twice, scum?"


    For the first time, an obvious look of terror and despair would form on the god''s enormous face, a ridiculous scenery that left the shaman in complete shock as her eyes continued to helplessly lay witness to it all: how could the great Agni, the mighty fire deity of her own tribe, be reduced to this nervous, terror-stricken mess? It was something so greatly humiliating, that the shaman''s mouth remained agape all the while as she completely refused to interrupt their conversation.


    "... N-no... You can''t mean... Why are you even here?! Even if you''re just a fragment... You should be busy guarding the gates with your main body right now!"


    "Precisely, and I am here to remove you from this world as punishment for your unwarranted escape. The Lord has given me a mission: the earth has been corrupted by the leaking malevolence of you and your demonic ilk, and it has become my duty to purify you all with the help of the appointed chosen one." the angel said as she maintained her cold expression. "... I must admit though, none of this would have happened if those humans never decided to breach into the realm I guarded using their meddlesome gateways, and until now, I am still a bit... Disappointed..."


    "Even so... I will still fulfill my duty and bring order to this world, and your death will bring us one step closer to this goal."


    "... T-There is no way I can dissuade you, is there?"


    "Indeed, I will destroy you and your soulless apostle, and I shall not allow anything to stop this from happening..."


    "Even if I give my word that I''ll return to the abyss and never come back to this accursed earth?"


    "No. Your destiny is to meet your end today by my hands. There is no changing that fate, not unless the Creator Himself wills it so."


    "... I don''t understand... I really don''t understand at all..."


    A confused look immediately shown from her eyes. "What could you possibly mean?"


    "... You and the Creator... Why are the lives of these humans supposed to matter anyway? They''re all weak, imperfect, and they all fall and sin so easily." the ''god'' questioned bewailingly. "We are beings of perfection, and we deserve to be worshipped to death by these miserable sacks of flesh. The only right they have should be to slave their lives away and sacrifice themselves to us like the worthless animals they are!"


    "And that is where you and the fallen light-bringer are mistaken..." Apollyon would swiftly correct. "Humans are indeed flawed and pitiful creatures... In the end however, their very bodies were modeled after the Lord''s appearance himself, and to think of them as inferior would be to slander the name of the very being who created us."


    "... T-that''s..."


    "And besides, I have learned the beauty of their species long ago... I was helped by one of them at my most desperate hour... Who could have imagined it? A human, providing aid to an angelic being whose very power and purpose is to completely destroy its enemies..." Apollyon continued, a small smile forming on her face as she spoke, though it would immediately fade away into nothingness after a short moment. "In truth, I was like you a long time ago... I once viewed them as nothing more than insects who do not deserve the love that our creator always gives them... Now however, after that human gave me the enlightenment I needed, I''ve finally realized my mistake..."


    "... You really think of them so highly..." he uttered as he sighed in defeat, realizing how pointless it was to try and shift her opinions. "... Even if they are nothing more than flawed vermin who can never become as divine as us...?"


    "They are imperfect, yes, and they are also incredibly sinful. Although, for as much as they are capable of evil, they are also just as capable of acts of kindness that not even you or I can perceive with our imagination, and I have eventually learned to appreciate this fact quite well..."


    "... There''s no point in convincing you otherwise... You are unbearably naive..."


    A mocking grin then surfaced upon the angel''s lips "Naive? I am simply more knowledgeable than you. After all, it was not me, but you and your fellow traitors who ended up imprisoned for the pride that grew too great within you all." Apollyon remarked. "How ironic, especially since you lot consider yourselves us perfect, when in reality, only our Creator truly is. Even I wouldn''t call myself as free from the burden of errors and mistakes."


    "Y-you...!!!"


    There wasn''t any point in continuing this short moment of peace anymore: the giant deity shifted his form, shedding his false identity instantly as his great, humanoid body transformed into that of a massive dragon with cyan scales, a vessel that no longer resembled the humanoid one he had always used to pretend as a god of those primitive humans...


    Though it seemed to be a rather impulsive decision made out of anger, it had, in fact, only been due to one, simple reason- if his fate was to perish at the hands of this monstrously powerful angel of divinity, then he would prefer dying in combat against her might rather than succumbing helplessly to that woman''s ability of destruction.


    "Even if I die, I will make sure to leave a terrible scar on your body!"


    Apollyon merely sighed, as her face would once more turn into a serious expression. "Ah, how the mighty have fallen... For a servant of the Lord to be reduced to this... Grand imitator who relies on the filth of magick..."


    "How truly pathetic."


    A brilliant light came forth and engulfed the dragon and his apostle, engulfing them completely within its radiant embrace as they would finally meet their ends in an instant.


    [Die, and cease your unworthy existences.]


    Both the false god and his priestess, the unfortunate Mal''Usthura, would forever be erased from reality, with not even ash or soot remaining as traces of their now inexistent bodies...


    This was the power of the Angel of Destruction, an angelic being who held a power so great, that even a mere fragment of its true existence could unleash a terrible annihilation upon its very foes...