[A name?] Maranam raised a brow as she sat by Haki’s side on the seat of the Supreme Dragon.

  Before the two stood Herald, Kutsunga, Dhreen and the Crescent King, ruler of the Moon Beetles. Unlike the majority of his kin, his exoskeleton was a pale grey but not because he was [Death Touched].

  “Yes! Our city must have a name! Any suggestions?” Haki eyed everyone intently.

  “The City of Massacre!” Dhreen yelled, an echo of his previous demeanour.

  “Mmm… visceral. Anyone else?”

  “How about The City of Death?” Herald suggested.

  “Grim,” Haki noted aloud only for the Crescent King to loudly screech while bobbing from side to side.

  “I don’t speak beetle, my friend.” Haki chuckled.

  [He said that he likes the first one.] Maranam yawned before resting her head on Haki’s shoulder.

  “Oh? That’s two for Massacre, as frightful as the name is. Any objections or other suggestions?”

  No one spoke.

  “Massacre it is! This will be our capital, our headquarters, our home. With the Kudamen occupying the South and the Beetles taking on the role of both carriage and wagon. Herald’s men should have the ice wall up soon but in the meantime, everyone should focus on clearing some of the trees to the south so that we may attempt farming. If the soil rejects our attempts, then the domination of Qaya cannot come soon enough.” Kutsunga clicked his tongue at Haki’s words but his son ignored him.

  “That is all for now, you may all return to your duties.”

  Everyone turned to leave the grand chamber as Maranam draped the platform she and Haki were on in a curtain of white smoke that obscured all but them.

  Haki then laid back, allowing her to rest her head on his chest properly.

  He had washed the blood and mud from his body, meaning Maranam could comfortably press her face on the softness of his gown.

  The two lay in silence for a while, and Maranam broke it by asking.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Mmm… now that some of the rush from all the fighting has worn off, all I can think about is those moments where I almost died. They rebound clearly, like… like impacts on my mind. Like someone is striking it with a mallet.” Haki sighed prompting Maranam to rest her hand on his chest.

  [Acknowledging that feeling is a step most avoid. So thank you for seeing your own pain and fear.]

  “Don’t see why I need thanking but alright.” He chuckled.

  [Because the champions we choose tend to be a stubborn lot. They deny scars they obviously have both within and without, leaving us to watch as they slowly die.] She pinched Haki’s cheek a little.

  “Hehe, alright. I get it. I’ll be as transparent as glass.”

  [That is not the first time someone has told me that but I, as the foolish Sprite that I am, will choose to believe you.]

  Haki smiled as Maranam deflated with a sigh.

  He genuinely couldn’t believe how much Maranam cared for him and it was that, among many other things, that drew him to her.

  He eventually closed his eyes and slept in her embrace again.

  Now that he had someone to keep him company, the time seemed to rush by as if it too was excited to see what would follow.

  .

  ..

  The next day arrived peacefully with Haki’s head firmly lodged in Maranam’s bosom.

  The two were about the same height but her presence far eclipsed his and her hold around his neck wasn’t anything to make light of.

  He tried pulling himself free but that didn’t work so he tried something bolder.

  He firmly cupped Maranam’s breasts, wrinkling her gown of night, and squeezed them prompting the Goddess to immediately open her eyes which glared at the young man who grinned in greeting.

  [I could kill you in an instant, you know.] She threatened as Haki released her breasts.

  “That may be true but it’s morning and we’ve got work to do so let me go!”

  [Fine but, as punishment for your insolence, I will not be assisting you with anything today.] She huffed while letting Haki go.

  “Phew. Finally. Oh- and I’ll make it up to ya, don’t fret.” He winked as he stood up but this just made Maranam huff again.

  [You and that reckless mouth…]

  Haki chuckled cheerily as he stepped off the platform and exited the chamber that was the seat of the Supreme Dragon.

  The city of Massacre was abuzz with life and activity.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  The Undead Knights could be seen erecting the ice wall in the distance while under the protection of five of the six Dragon Warriors.

  The Sixth one was standing guard by Haki’s door.

  “Your armaments are of magnificent make, great warrior. Where may I find more of their kind in this city?”

  The Dragon Warrior creaked into motion before leading Haki into a walled-off section of the city wherein they stood before the Great doorway of a barracks which was lined with the same gigantic swords the Dragons used but these were too big for the Kudamen and other beings to use.

  Haki needed them to be smaller but no simple blacksmith would be able to break and reshape the ancient swords.

  He could break them himself but too much material would be lost and in the game of war, every Shard counted.

  *Mara.* Haki called but the Goddess didn’t respond.

  *Mara!*

  Silence.

  *I’m sorry for what I did and I just really wanted you to let me go.* Haki sighed.

  *Sorry, Maranam.*

  A plume of white smoke rose from beside him and from it, she emerged, although she looked like she was still half asleep.

  [What do you want?]

  “We are on the verge of war and our men need arms. Do you know any blacksmiths who could repurpose these slabs into smaller swords and armour?”

  [I can do it but what will I get in return?] Maranam yawned making Haki clench his jaws a little.

  “What do you want?”

  [You have had me at your beck and call to a larger extent than any other mortal and I am not used to being this present in the Physical world. I’d like some rest, especially since you want me to bring back the five hundred goats you killed.]

  “Why does a Goddess need rest?”

  [Because death is an intangible, metaphysical construct. It takes quite a lot for me to Coalesce and stand by you as I do. A privilege almost none have had. So, after I forge the weapons and armour of your army, I’m going to take a three-month-long slumber.]

  “Three months?!”

  [That will be halfway through winter so try not to die until I wake up.] Maranam winked while rolling up her sleeves.

  “And how is it that you know how to work with stones and metal?” An exasperated Haki asked as Maranam stepped into the barracks proper.

  [I am Death. I know all. Pasts and presents with nothing but the future being barred from all to see. Now, do me a kindness and shatter every sword in here as you did before.] Maranam instructed while dusting off a nearby forge, one that was far too big for anyone other than a dragon but she simply increased her size while tying her hair into a ponytail.

  Haki, in turn, stepped forward and, with that act alone, sent forth a wave that shattered all of the slabs of Stone Draconic Skin.

  [Good. Now gather them in a pile for me over here.]

  Haki let out an annoyed grunt before making his way to the far corner of the barracks where he cast [Gentle Water Stream] (-1W, 0DMG) multiple times, creating a torrent that washed all the chunks of dragon skin to Maranam while also cleaning all the dust Haki had created.

  Maranam picked up some of the splinters and began making swords that resembled Haki’s by carving them into shape using only the steel and iron tools at hand.

  That said, Haki could see that she was imbuing her tools with Death which made him scoff lightly.

  Maranam went on to make two thousand complete sets of gear which consisted of [Dragon Skin Armor] (+ 70%), an [Ancient Stone Sword] (100DMG) and [Stone Slab Shield] (1000HP (Shield Health)).

  “Excellent work, Mara!” Haki clapped his hands as the Dragon Warrior by his side nodded its head.

  Maranam wiped the sweat from her brow as she stood up, now towering above both Haki and the warrior.

  “Your godly armaments will be reserved for the most elite among our units but I plan on outfitting at least two five hundred of the eight hundred Kudamen adults. The rest will remain as general workers across multiple fields. The Undead Knights will also get some and the rest will go to whatever additional units we acquire.” Haki listed as Maranam yawned. Her form also flickered which made Haki’s eyes narrow a little.

  “Still got enough energy to reanimate the dead?” He asked and Maranam nodded.

  Haki nodded back before leading her out of the city, past the rising ice wall and back into the forest of Briars.

  The two, accompanied by the Dragon Warrior, stood in the centre still saturated blood pond Haki had made.

  Maranam looked at the field of corpses with droopy eyes and raised her left hand.

  She has since shrunken back to her original size allowing her to lean on Haki.

  [This is my act of defiance. Just as she did, I will carve a path for myself… and accept the pain that comes with it all.]

  White smoke rose from all over the old den of the Kudamen and as it fell onto the corpses, their bones and whatever remaining flesh pulled itself together as they rose.

  Their eyes were hollow and their maws were without flesh, revealing their terribly jagged teeth.

  Five hundred Undead Kudamen rose from death meaning that Haki had a total of a thousand Kudamen under his command.

  They would be his general infantry with the Dragon Warriors being defensive units for the city and the Undead Knights being a special forces unit of sorts.

  [Name: Kudaman Warrior

  Race: Undead Kudaman

  Coalescence Level: 45

  Available Cycle Shards: 0

  Health Points (HP): 540/540

  Willpower (W): 110/110

  DPH (Damage Per Hit): 50

  Defence Rating: 2%

  Equipment: [Leather Loincloth] (+2% DR)

  Skills and Abilities: [Bestial Vigour] (+100HP), [Death Throe Call] (if HP<100, 3x DMG), [Healing Touch] (1W-, +10HP), [Vineal Snare] (-5W), [Vitality Surge] (15W-, +50HP), [Renewal Blossom] (-50%W, +50%HP), [Breath of the World] (-MAXW, +MAXHP), [Ember Burst] (-1W, 10DMG), [Flame Whip] (-5W, 30DMG), [Infernal Arrow] (-15W, 55DMG), [Reignition] (-40W, +80HP)

  Artifacts: None]

  “Huh… looks like those who return do so with half their Willpower,” Haki noted aloud before glancing at Maranam to find that she was dozing off on his shoulder.

  He smiled warmly before guiding her back to Massacre where he commanded that Dhreen accommodate the newly Undead.

  Haki then led Maranam into the chamber that was now there where he laid her down.

  “Goodnight. See you in three months.” He softly kisses her forehead before sliding off of the stone bed.

  However, just as his feet touched the floor, the air grew significantly colder.

  Haki immediately squeezed his fists and was about to activate all of his buffs when a figure urged that he stop from within the shadows on the edge of the chamber.

  “I ask that you ease your wrath Champion of Death. I simply wish to speak with you. On behalf of the Moon.” Sasa whispered but Haki still kept his guard up.

  “What do you want?”

  Sasa walked up to Haki and crossed his arms.

  “I can see that you are preparing for the coming war and simply wish to inform you that more valuable than the number troops, is knowledge. I want you to know that Goddess Vā?kkai will not be participating in the war.”

  Haki’s eyes narrowed.

  “As proof of the truth of my words, I give my arm to you. Although I’d like it back when we ascend the highest mount.” Sasa summoned a glossy black Sickle which he used to cleanly cut off his left arm which fell at Haki’s feet.

  “She heard Goddess Maranam’s wishes and while she disagrees, insisting that this world is for the mortals to do with as they please, Goddess Vā?kkai thinks that there should be no issue with the gods claiming the moon for themselves. So, should the warpath prove futile, feel free to visit the land of Tsuki no Mura with my arm in hand. We will do our best to resolve the conflict between the Sun and Death while also pursuing a path where the Goddess can be themselves, not beholden to the Cycle or ancient promises.” Sasa offered as he froze his arm and wound, stopping them both from bleeding.

  “Please consider each of my words carefully.” The ninja whispered before disappearing again leaving Haki alone in a silence which allowed him to reflect on everything that had happened and everything that was to follow.

  Sasa’s offer was definitely intriguing but it also relied on the possibility that ā??al would forgive Haki and, based purely on the hatred and grief he heard in her voice when he killed Kalokaíri, that wasn’t possible.

  War was an inevitability.