The holy sword stood on a stone plinth at the top of the ziggurat, silent and untouched by time. Despite its age and the time it had waited to be pulled from the stone on which it rested, it appeared as keen and brilliant as the day it had been pulled from the holy fires that forged it. Mau approached the sword without so much as a single word, while Suvdaa, Andy, and Penne hung back a slight distance out of respect and awe. The sword itself was... Remarkably plain in design, with a simple black leather-wrapped hilt and silver crossguard and pommel. But to the keen eye, the pommel and guard were both inlaid in a faint golden-hued series of etched runes in ancient dwarvish, etched by the hand of Thuvros himself. The blade was a simple steel hue, polished to a mirror's edge that reflected a myriad of rippling rainbow light and colors from it in a faint corona of light.

  Mau stopped at the plinth and drew a slow breath.

  "Been a hot minute." She muttered as she ran her fingers over the circular pommel. "I remember feeling like you were the only thing I could trust in all these crazy lives." She said, curling her fingers around the hilt slowly, almost reverently. This was the blade she had killed ninety-nine Demon Lords with, and touching it again felt like she was being reunited with an old, staunch friend that had never left her side.

  Slowly, Mau pulled the sword from the stone with a smooth tug...

  Meanwhile... Elsewhere...

  Vile Darque, the Demon Lord, sat in his throne room, brooding and moody. It was a sour, sullen mood that his minions and underlings understood not to bother him when he was in such a state. He sat leaning to one side, elbow propped on the armrest of his super edgy throne made of human bones and skulls, cheek planted firmly in the palm of his hand. His red eyes blazed angrily.

  He felt, even at a great distance, the death of another member of his Four Heavenly Kings. The demons and monsters he had taken as his generals were supposed to be multiple tiers above the rest, but what happened to them? Thanatos failed his plan and was permanently killed, unable to regenerate from his shattered phylactery. Enma was dead in a swamp; his body was left to rot and be a feast for the insects and gnats. And now Osiris was made double-dead for keepsies, leaving him with just...

  The throne room doors slammed open, and a blonde woman in spiked armor stepped inside. Her hair fell in ringlets and curls down past her shoulders, while her horns swept up from the crown of her head, smoldering scarlet eyes met the Demon Lord's.

  "Ohohohoho~. It looks like it's down to me, isn't it?" The last of the Demon Lord Generals gloated. "I told you," Ereshkigal said, "You should have left dealing with the hero to me; I would have handled him in no time at all, master~."

  Vile Darque sighed. Her voice was as annoying as her arrogance. He eyed her with a level and flat gaze; he was not in the mood for this.

  "Ereshkigal..." He began. "There is a reason I have had you biding your time. I am already displeased enough by Thanatos' failure, Enma's pointless death, and even more so by the fact that Osiris had been sitting upon the holy sword this entire time and hadn't bothered to tell me for centuries. But... I have already told you that your duty is special. I need you to amass my armies for the final push to wipe this world clean. Only once the non-demon races are eradicated from this realm will our great master, Dommon, be pleased. As my finest general, I cannot risk losing you to this hero at any point."

  Ereshkigal's haughty expression fluttered with displeasure, but she knew not to interrupt when Vile Darque was in a foul mood.

  "As it stands, the hero has slain the other three members of my Four Heavenly Kings. Therefore, it falls to you to remain alive and keep our forces in your reins until I give the word to release them on the world." The Demon Lord pointed out to her without shifting in his lazy position.

  Ereshkigal gritted her teeth at first but then smiled pleasantly at her lord and master.

  "Of course, darling master~." She replied with a bow. "I will see to it." She said, waiting for further instruction. The Demon Lord pondered for a beat, drumming his fingers on the armrest of his mighty throne.

  "That said..." He mused. "I think with the other generals dead, it is time we pushed up the timetable... Have our forces ready within the year. I want to start wiping their towns and cities off the map and show them that we do not take losing our generals lightly. No mercy, no survivors."

  Ereshkigal's smile was more genuine, this time as she bowed again.

  "It will be so, master. In Dommon's name." She said before stepping back, turning, and leaving the throne room.

  Vile Darque sighed as the great doors slammed shut behind her.

  "Fucking hell." He grunted. "Did he seriously speedrun THREE of my generals in one year? This guy's gotten way too good since our first battle..." He muttered to himself, rubbing his temples. "It used to take him at least a few years between battles; now he's got to be like what... Sixteen? And three high-tier generals in under a few months from each other." He snorted with a scowl. But then he smiled.

  "It's fine..." He chuckled. "It's fiiiine... I'm more than ready for him. Soon, our little game will come to an end, and I'll wipe that smug look off his face for good when he's on his knees begging for his life. Right now... He exists because I allow it. And he will end because I demand it."

  Eight years passed in almost the blink of an eye. Though three of the Demon Lord's generals had fallen in admitted record time for her, Mau couldn't quite dispatch the fourth.

  Throughout several encounters with Ereshkigal, she proved to be as slippery and elusive as an eel, always throwing her soldiers at Mau and fleeing before they could have a proper showdown. It was pretty irksome, honestly. Mau was fully used to the members of the Four Heavenly Kings fighting to the bitter end in each lifetime. So having one be a complete coward was just ass-backward from the norm and irritating.

  "Criiiiipes." Mau groaned as the party waited for their audience with King Nethermere. The capital city of the nation of Erlendale was as massive as... Well, Mau had seen bigger in prior lifetimes, but there was no denying it was definitely a nation's capital city.

  Mau hadn't slept well, and she still had that haughty laughing bitch of a Demon General on her mind when Suvdaa nudged her with an elbow.

  "Mau, we are meeting with your king. Try to stop yawning and be more respectful." She said, which earned a blink from the catgirl.

  "Since when did you care about kings?" Mau blinked as Suvdaa tugged playfully on the catgirl's now quite long hair. "Gah!"

  "Kings are like clan chiefs, yes?" Suvdaa pointed out. "But on a much bigger scale." She added rather sagaciously. "It would do well to show them respect.

  "She's right, you know." Andy pointed out, leaning over from where he now towered over both girls. Andy had grown the most in the group in terms of height and width, considering he had suddenly bulked up considerably in the muscle department. Though he still considered himself a puppy, he sure looked like he wasn't missing a day in the gym. "I heard that if you disrespect a king, you could be thrown into the dungeons." He noted as light glinted off the holy symbol of Galatea dangling around the young priest's neck.

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  Penne, who looked much the same as ever, impossible to tell if they were a boy or a girl and as thin as a reed, simply shrugged their shoulders. "I've never met a king before, I wouldn't know."

  Mau glanced side-eye at Suvdaa. The raider had also grown into a fine, if stern and harsh woman, tempered by years of adventure and keeping Mau's dumb ass in check. Though she kept her hair somewhat short, she kept it mostly hidden in the hood of her bearskin cloak; she had to get much of her armor resized... For reasons.

  Mau rubbed her eyes. She had grown a lot, though not as much as Suvdaa in specific departments. Mau remained petite and lithe mostly, but there was now a wolffish quality to her, lean and muscular, and Suvdaa had taken note of the almost predatory way Mau moved in near silence all the time, even when she didn't have to.

  "Can't help it," Mau grunted in reply to her friends. "I didn't sleep well last night." She said. "And you all know how much-"

  "Yes, yes, lazybones cat, we know. Cats sleep a lot." Suvdaa ribbed her.

  "It's just... I had a dream about my mother." Mau said after a beat. Suvdaa stopped ribbing Mau.

  "It has been twelve years since you saw her last, yes?" The raider said gently.

  Mau nodded.

  "Yeah," Mau replied as the throne room doors opened.

  The court crier announced the party.

  "Mau of Middleston, The Destined Hero, and her companions!" The man said.

  Mau fucking cringed.

  "Guh, I fucking hate that." She muttered under her breath, earning quizzical looks from her companions, but they stepped into the throne room.

  Mau couldn't help but think about her dream again...

  It was the day she was finally leaving the house when she turned twelve.

  Her mother stood in the doorway of their little house at the edge of Middleston, watching her leave with sad eyes. Mau promised to return when the Demon Lord died or if her mother ever needed her... She remembers how she glanced back over her shoulder several times that day and the sting of pain in her chest as she did.

  Mau shook the foggy dream from her head as she strode down the carpeted marble floors towards the throne with her companions. They all bowed in unison, just like they had practiced. Suvdaa knew why, and Penne and Andy had just stopped questioning Mau's wildly varied knowledge of movies and courtly etiquette.

  King Nethermere sat on his throne in regal vestments, and his wife, Queen Ellenia, was on her own royal throne at his side. The king's mustached lips twitched thoughtfully as he regarded the ragtag group of adventurers before him; a Demi-human, a Northern raider, a hagling, and a priest of the goddess of light.

  "Hm." King Nethermere murmured. "So you are the ordained hero of prophecy. I can tell the sword you carry is no replica, but... Tell me, how did you come into possession of it?" He asked with a genuine curiosity.

  Mau struggled to not make a face for a moment, cleared her throat, and answered him honestly.

  "So far, I've managed to not die fighting the Demon Lord's four generals. I just happened to pick this thing up on the way." She said, patting the sheathed blade at her hip. The king nodded and leaned back in his chair.

  "As you know, we've been fighting a losing battle against the Demon Lord and his armies... It falls on you to grant us the decisive victory we seek to end this war and bring peace to the land." He said, lips puckering like he had swallowed something sour. The last person he expected to lay his hopes upon was some scruffy, lazy-looking, demi-human catgirl.

  "You may spend the night in the castle tonight. Tomorrow, delegates and generals from across the lands will arrive, and you will meet with them to decide how the battles will play out from henceforth. One such general has arrived early; the dwarven army's leader a... Master Thrain, I believe his name is." The king went on.

  Mau blinked.

  "I'm sorry, did you say Thrain?" She asked, and the king nodded as the court crier made another announcement.

  "General Thrain Ironbeard, master at arms of the dwarven mountain kingdoms!"

  Slowly, Mau turned as the doors opened, and her eyes shot wide open as a familiar dwarf made his way across the carpeted floor, heavy plate armor clanking with every step.

  "Ye've grown up mighty fine from the scruffy little kitten I remember knocking over beer mugs in my tavern." The dwarven general chuckled.

  "Hah... It's good to see you again, General Ironbeard." Mau chuckled. He waved her off with a hand.

  "Thrain'll do like always. I ain't one ta stand on pomp and circumstance; I'm here to do a job. And that job's to get you in range of the Demon Lord to stick him with the pointy end of yer shiny new holy sword, hero."

  Mau cringed again but rallied with a slight laugh. Her friends remained silent for now but clearly had some questions.

  "It's been a hot minute, old man." She said to the old dwarf. "And it's been twelve years since I've last seen my mom." She pointed out. "I was hoping to visit Middleston before heading to battle to see her again."

  Thrain's expression dropped. The King frowned as the court grew eerily silent.

  "Mau..." Thrain said, voice tight and quiet. "There's something ye should know."

  Mau blinked, bewildered, as she looked around the throne room, from face to face of the dignitaries and court officials. Even the Jester looked sad.

  "... What?" She said when Thrain went quiet. "I feel like I missed something while I was out punching Ereshkigal in the throat."

  "Hero..." King Nethermere interjected, tone grave and serious, knowing someone would eventually have to break the news. Mau was too distracted to make a face this time.

  "Middleston is no more. Your hometown is gone."

  Mau blinked again, this time in disbelief.

  "I'm sorry? Run that by me again?" She said as Thrain rested a hand on her shoulder gently. He had to reach up to do it.

  "The Demon Lord's armies wiped Middleston off the map. ... It's... Our home's gone, Mau." The old dwarf said, struggling to contain his own emotions.

  Mau fell silent for a beat, but her heart hammered in her ears. She could scarcely hear what the king said next, and it didn't register. Only one thing came to the forefront of her mind.

  "... But. Mom is okay, right?" She asked in barely a whisper.

  A dark shadow of pain crept over Thrain's face as he dipped his head solemnly.

  "They took no prisoners, Mau." The old dwarf said. "Not one. If there were any survivors, they were scattered to the winds in our refugee camps. And even then..." He trailed off.

  The room spun. Mau's breath came too quickly; the next moment, she was hyperventilating. But then she stopped. Though she looked as happy as a wet kitten, to her credit, Mau maintained her composure as her eyes turned distant and glassy like those of a corpse.

  A distant memory hit her hard.

  Back when she was Pathetic Baby-Man, she had a moment just like this.

  "Oh..." She said, awkward and strained. "That sucks."

  Wordlessly, Mau turned away, and she staggered for the great set of doors leading into the hall without so much as an ounce of courtly decorum.

  No one stopped her as she shambled off.

  "Are... Are we just going to stand here and let her go?" Andy murmured. "She must be in so much pain..."

  Penne frowned and sighed. "I think she might need some time alone to-"

  "I'll follow her. You two would likely worsen things with your overenthusiasm and under enthusiasm, each." Suvdaa grunted at the pair and stormed out of the throne room after Mau.

  She didn't find Mau until later that night, locked in one of the castle's guest rooms. Suvdaa didn't even knock, pushing open the door to peek her head in.

  "Mau..." she whispered, and she was immediately greeted by a pair of gleaming blue eyes opening in the pitch darkness.

  "... Found you," Suvdaa muttered as she slipped into the room and shut the door behind her. It was dark, but all she had to do was follow the pair of blue eyes until she stopped at the foot of the bed Mau was perched on.

  "Do you want to talk?" Suvdaa asked in a gentle tone.

  "Kinda." Came Mau's reply in a croak.

  Suvdaa slowly sat on the bed's edge with a quiet rustle of sheets and waited.

  "I..." Mau started and trailed off. Silence hung heavily in the air, but Suvdaa did not interrupt. She let Mau choose her words.

  "I'm tired," Mau spoke slowly and deliberately.

  A hand set on Mau's shoulder in the darkness.

  "I know. I know you are... Very old. And have so much responsibility." Suvdaa said. "I had thought that... Maybe your age would blunt some of the pain, but I am apparently very wrong."

  Mau took a slow breath before she replied.

  "There was a time when I just didn't care. Lifetimes ago. I breezed through everything and didn't make the connections I should have. I shrugged off love and ignored things like family and potential friends. All because I thought, 'Why should I bother? These people are just going to die anyway'. I only cared about the world I came from and the people there; for a long time, they were the only ones that were real to me. But in the end, I was the one who was wrong."

  "They were all real," Mau said, breath hitching. "Everyone I ignored, everyone I turned my back on. I never cared. And now- now that I finally fucking do care- I'm afraid of what can be taken from me."

  Those tired, ancient, blue eyes suddenly hardened, steel and fire behind them for a moment, but they were still full of pain as Mau continued.

  "I'm gonna kill him." She said, resolute. "Before he can take anything else from me. I'm going to kill him and send him to the darkest pit of hell he couldn't possibly ever crawl back from. I'll fucking kill everyone that follows him; I'll burn his home to the ground and salt the fucking earth. If... If it'll cause him even the slightest fraction of the pain I'm feeling now, I'll do anything, just to make sure he can't take you from me."

  Suvdaa squeezed the catgirl's shoulder.

  "Then I will be there with you. I will hand you the blade to kill his companions. I will give you the torch to set his home on fire. I will carry all the salt of the seas for you if I have to, and we will grind him into the ground under our heels. Together, Mau. We will end your suffering together."

  With a subtle weight shift, Mau leaned in and gently headbutted Suvdaa's shoulder like a kitten before resting her face there.

  "I'm so tired." She whispered as Suvdaa's fingers ran through her hair.

  "I know," Suvdaa said softly. "Then rest, for now."