Thud.

  The sound of flesh hitting the stone floors tore through the air, the snow deep as it was, it was naught but cold powder, it did little to soften the blow the young girl had just received,

  She lay there in the snow breathing out misty air as she winced, above her an older man with black hair seeming to be in his early thirties scowls, "We're all hungry lass, but you best not go and try and take my food, or else it'll be more than your face that gets bruised."

  All she did was look, spare a look through this man's window, at the fire roasting a piece of meat, she was hungry.

  But she'd never thought about taking that meat, her eyes glanced upwards, an icicle was within her gaze, it was large and thick.

  The man above her turned around and started to walk to the door, that was until he heard the sound of the girl getting up behind him.

  He turned around seeing her knelt over, he paused for a moment staring at her blonde hair, and her tattered clothes.

  He was the cautious type, worried about any thief that may take what is his, so he wanted to wait for the girl to leave.

  He frowned though as the girl began to turn around walking towards him, her arms straight down, her hair covering her face, she limped forward, the man hadn't noticed before but the girl was barefoot.

  Even in this cold weather.

  But the man had his own concerns, he narrowed his gaze and unfolded his arms raising his right hand, "Didn't learn your lesson eh?" he then swung down ready to strike at the girl, only for his eyes to widen as the girl nimbly dodged to the side, and lifted her arms gripping the icicle in her hands and thrust it into the man's gut, a smile broke out on her face as life sparked into her eyes, the man looked down with terrified, "W-Wha-"

  His eyes widened as his flesh began to tear, the icicle remained in place however, no it was wind, a sharp burst of wind tearing the small hole wider, he let out a scream in agony, but it was too late, the life in his eyes vanished his blood shot out as he tumbled lifelessly to the ground.

  The girl stared down at the man with a dazed expression. She dropped her weapon and slowly, she reached up to her face cupping her hands around her cheeks, she was covered in the blood of this man.

  It was crude.

  It was sticky, it tasted like iron.

  But

  It was warm. It was so warm.

  And so that smile once more formed on her lips, as she reached down into the open gut of the man and bit down on his organs.

  Her name was Lux, and on the snowy fields of this mountain.

  She was reborn.

  Chapter 4: Who God's Pray To.

  "My love for you shall begin after I kill you Skylar Shadewalker." Lux made her declaration as she smiled before launching forward with her own right fist pulled back, green energy swirled around it, green energy that Skylar was more than familiar with, she raised her blade taking a defensive stance, and Lux's fist smashed into that blade with enough force to cause it to shatter instantly, Skylar grits her teeth her eyes glowed with power as the shards suddenly spun around in the air cutting up Lux's wrist, she winced before leaping backward, she paused surprise on her face, she looked down to her wrist seeing the blood dripping down onto the grass even through the wind she smirked for a moment before lifting her wrist to her mouth, she stuck out her tongue and lapped up some of the blood, keeping one eye fixed on Skylar as the shards of her blade continued to spiral, Skylar kept the hilt of her sword to her side, glancing to Striga, "A little help would be nice..." she commented.

  Striga however stood there with her arms folded as she responded, "In case you've forgotten I'm still borrowing your powers, Skylar... As such I too am at a disadvantage here. And unlike you, I won't fight a losing battle." Striga spoke.

  Skylar frowned at that before turning her full attention back to Lux, "In that case leave, I'm not going to protect someone who'd leave a threat like this to roam."

  Striga paused at that, before glancing to the ground, "Never said I'd leave them... I'm putting my faith in you to keep her busy, that's all." with those words Striga turned to the city and started sprinting to the center.

  Lux watched the sight with intrigued eyes, a part of her thought of chasing after Striga, but she found her curiosity regarding Skylar was too much to ignore, so slowly she lowered her wrist, "I'm impressed!" Lux suddenly shouted her smile wide, she started to walk forward the blood dripped from her wrist onto the ground with every step, "Behind all that angst and sass there's a real fighter in there!" Lux declared, raising her fists once more.

  Skylar growled as her blade began to reconnect itself, "And behind all that insufferable smarm is a dead man!" she blasted forward the ground beneath her feet, shattering as she approached.

  Lux never lost that smile however, "Skylar." she spoke the name of her foe as she raised her left hand grabbing Skylar's blade on the edge as it descended, "You couldn't fathom the number of dead men behind me." she then pulled on Skylar's blade, Skylar, however, refused to let go of her only weapon being pulled with it, her eyes widened in pain as spit flew from her mouth as Lux slammed her leg into Skylar's gut before letting go of that blade, Lux reached out grabbing Skylar by the cloth of her jacket and throwing her into the storm.

  Lux then leaped into the storm herself with a manic smile.

  Skylar flipped around immediately taking note of the flow of the wind, it was twisting southwest as she was carried along with it, she grits her teeth gripping the hilt of her blade with both hands as she flew backward, as much bark as she was putting out, she still was in a very bad situation.

  She was confident she could defeat Lux with Striga's help, but now that Striga refused...

  "Shit!" Skylar shouted looking up, Lux descended from above with that manic glee of her's throwing her fist down into Skylar's blade, Skylar moved quickly trying to get her blade out of the way, but a part of it was chipped off, and cast aside into the storm, Skylar spun around in the air slamming her boot into Lux's face, causing Lux to spiral backward only to disappear in the darkness of the storm once more.

  Bad.

  That was very bad, Skylar glanced at her blade, taking note of the shard missing, she tried to call it back but it was already out of range.

  It'd likely float back around given time, but did she even have that time?

  No, that blow was intentional, a message directed right at Skylar.

  "I've figured you out." That is what the message was.

  Skylar frowned at the thought before she raised her blade once more, Lux could come in for another strike at any moment, but currently what Skylar deemed the most important was getting out of the storm.

  The wind shifted in her favor and she began inching to the edge,

  "Slowly now girl, if she catches on she won't go easy on you."

  So Alma said and Skylar agreed, every movement she made had to serve two purposes, to give her an offensive advantage, and to get her closer to escape, any wrong movement here would result in a devastating blow or worse.

  Every direction was a potential threat, her eyes were already struggling to see in the dark, her ears? Couldn't hear much over the harsh wind, smell covered up by the dust in the air, and taste wasn't going to do much here either...

  Touch.

  That was the only one of her basic senses she could rely on here, touch and touch alone.

  The wind on her skin, slight changes in the vibrations around her, her body tensed as she closed her eyes, and the hairs on her neck stood on edge waiting in anticipation.

  In the darkness, Skylar saw a light and felt it radiating thrusting toward her soul, her eyes snapped open and she flipped in the air barely avoiding a strike aimed at her back when she finished her flip she planted her boots firmly on Lux's back, she had overshot her target by a fair bit, Skylar's eyes flashed with strength as she launched herself upwards, and with a gust of wind pulled herself out of the storms grips landed back onto the docks of the island once more.

  "That was too close..." she muttered, she wasn't out of the woods yet.

  No, if she got thrown into that storm again she would be doomed for sure, a trick like that won't work twice.

  Then there was the other problem.

  Getting Lux to come out of the storm, Skylar's eyes widened as small tornado's shot out of the storm trying to drag her back in.

  Three in total, Skylar leaped back dodging the first one, she threw her right hand forward sending out a pulse of green energy to disperse the second, but the third one caught her.

  She wasn't going to be dragged in easily though, a burst of wind gathered at her feet, and she sent herself flying out of that tornado.

  "Must you wriggle about!? This would be so much easier if you'd sit still and die!" Lux's voice echoed out from the storm.

  Skylar put up an exasperated smile, this girl seemed to be switching from one mood setting to the next on rapid fire, it was making it so much harder to get a grasp on what she'd do.

  She paused and glanced to the left Striga was watching with hollow eyes.

  No, that wasn't right.

  They were cold and calculating.

  Why?

  What reason would she have to watch like that? Especially with a threat like this one?

  There was something missing here, a clue, a piece to the puzzle that had only just begun to assemble.

  Skylar however quickly returned her attention back to the storm, Striga's words echoed into Skylar's mind.

  "It matters not how strong you are.

  A human will never reach the strength of a god."

  ...

  She's not wrong.

  But

  Skylar took in a sharp breath, the air around her began to condense and her eyes glowed with strength, something burned within her, a familiar energy yet all new.

  Words fumbled into her mind, words were never spoken by her, yet hers all the same.

  The ground beneath her feet began to tremble and a magic circle burst to life around Skylar's feet, and the winds sang her song.

  "The storm heeds the call of the righteous, the cries of the wicked are heard upon their lips...

  Let all who see these storms know its name." Tornados shot forward, all of them enclosing on Skylar who brandished an insane smile, her eyes glinting with bloodlust, "Cyclone."

  She thrust her blade forward, and the tornados were immediately overcome by Skylar's own winds, what's more, it punched a hole into the storm itself and pulled Lux out of it onto the ground.

  Lux tumbled with surprise clear on her face, she quickly flipped onto her feet and locked her gaze onto Skylar once more as her storm began to reform, "A 7th tier wind spell... And so young at that." Lux muttered the words, she frowned, putting a hand on her hip, "You're a talented mage and a warrior to be reckoned with, but it's because of that fact that something irks me." Lux narrowed her gaze dangerously, "Why does Jenna want you alive?"

  The question caused Skylar to pause, dropping her stance out of surprise, "What?"

  Lux kept her gaze on Skylar and slowly she started walking forward, "You are a threat of catastrophic scale, anyone with eyes can see that... and Yet, Jenna would have me spare your life...?" Lux clenched her right hand into a fist, "Fuck that."

  Lux held out her arms and the storm grew in intensity, and it was at this moment when the land started to tear up from below.

  Skylar realized a horrific truth.

  Lux was holding back.

  And yet through it all, Skylar still found herself pointing her chipped blade forward, "...Never asked her to do that, and I certainly don't know why. I made my intentions clear from the moment you stood against me." Skylar gave her response through gritted teeth, "I told you. I'm going to kill you."

  Lux responded with a deranged smile, "You'll die trying." with the wave of her hand the storm grew in power and it began to tear apart at the edges of the land, it was then that Striga tore her eyes away from the fight if only for a moment, to look down at the lands below, she arched a brow at the sight of people being funneled into the center of the town, right into the royal chambers.

  An odd sight to be sure, each house is protected from the wrath of the storms, so for them to evacuate because of it... It was not normal.

  Unless there was something else to be hiding from...

  Striga paused at the thought before turning her gaze back to Skylar's fight once more.

  Lux blasted forward once more tearing the ground beneath her feet as the surrounding area tore its way into the storm, Skylar narrowed her gaze, dodging to the side before leaping into the air with a gust of wind below her barely avoiding the next set of Lux's blows.

  They were fast, both of them were fast, but when it came to moving in the air?

  Lux shot up on the wind and spun around slamming her leg into Skylar's neck and sending her spiraling downward, she let out a gasp of pain as she tumbled to the ground her blade tumbling to the side, Lux refused to let up shooting downwards with her right fist pulled back, Skylar grit her teeth rolling to the side, and onto her knees, she quickly got back up to her feet and reached out for her blade with her left hand, the blade witch flew to her with the wind.

  Lux, feeling the movement of the wind, smiled and threw her fist to her right, shattering the blade in the air, "Is that all you have to offer!? I thought you'd be stronger than this Shadewalker!" Lux roared over the turbulent winds.

  Skylar's hair whipped back and forth and she stood there, her eyes glowing as she kept her hand extended, she smiled suddenly, that same wicked smile she wore when she slew Greed.

  Striga watched with greater interest, after all, when that smile appeared on Skylar's face, it spelled doom for her opponent.

  And then, in that same moment, Skylar clenched that hand into a fist.

  Lux prepared to fly forward, only for her eyes to widen as something flew past her cheek cutting it open, she blinked as she glanced down to the ground, there on the ground stabbed right into it, was a shard of Skylar's blade, not just any shard, the first shard that was cut off by Lux.

  Lux stared at it with surprise, and then she glanced to her right noticing the shards spiraling, she quickly leaped backward from the storm of shards covering her body in green energy to shield herself.

  "I might not be much in your eyes." Skylar spoke as she blasted forward with her hilt in hand, the shard on the ground shot up and reconnected with the hilt, "But I'm not going to sit by and let you take this land! I'm going to live for what I deem right! Not for humanity! Not for gods! Not for Eternal's! I'LL SAVE EVERYONE I DEEM WORTHY OF IT!" Skylar shouted these words as Lux leaped into the air, the blade shards came to a halt returning back to Skylar's blade, Lux flew higher until she was above the storm itself.

  She folded her arms and looked down, "...I underestimated her tenacity it would seem." she raised her right hand, her palm outstretched, "It seems like a waste but..." she smiled wickedly as the icy chill of the night wind met her skin, "Let's show them the full force of a storm."

  The storm began to spiral upwards, its winds growing as it did so.

  Skylar stood there looking up at the ground, she hissed as she looked upward, "You've been backed into a corner, a wall stands ahead of you... So how will you handle such a problem?" Alma asked the question and Skylar responded with a smile as she shot upwards, "BREAK THROUGH IT!"

  She let out a roar blasting upward, her irises changed shape into a reptilian shape, and in an instant, her blade was covered in a spiral of flames, the storm burst to life with those flames around her, yet Skylar herself remained unharmed.

  Lux stared down with wide eyes before she could even react Skylar was upon her, in that single instant Skylar drove her blade through Lux's chest.

  And... The storm stopped flowing, Lux stared down at Skylar.

  An image of an older man came into her mind, and she uttered the last words that would ever leave her lips, "So... Warm..." She leaned forward, her body falling limp and Skylar said nothing in response.

  She pulled to remove her blade only for her eyes to widen in surprise as Lux's hands shot up wrapping around Skylar's blade, "Not enough. I need more... More warmth, warmth to soothe the cold, warmth to halt the blizzard!" her eyes shined with a yellow glow and Skylar grit her teeth letting go of her blade as she flew backward.

  Skylar then turned looking down to the island below, "MOVE!" she shouted to Striga who listened close to those words.

  But refused to heed them standing in place as the storm converged on the duo, a burst of light came from Lux consuming the area in its all-encompassing glow.

  ***

  Skylar blinked as she found herself standing in a field of white flowers, "What the...?" the field itself stood on a set of platforms, Lux was nowhere in sight.

  So with few other options, Skylar started to walk around, straight to the edge of the platform in question, when she looked over the edge, she saw the night sky surrounding herself, and another set of platforms lower down.

  Striga stood on one of those platforms with a flower in her hand.

  Skylar narrowed her gaze for a moment before glancing upward, there at the peak of this dome of night sky stood the largest platform of them all, a circular arena where rain fell.

  It didn't seem like Lux would make the first move here, but Skylar kept her guard up all the same.

  She then leaped downwards onto the platform that Striga stood on, "Okay, what the hell is going on with you? You've been acting strange ever since Lux appeared!" Skylar shouted walking up to Striga.

  Striga said nothing to that, tossing the flower over the edge it burnt into smoke as soon as she did, she then looked over to Skylar, "Don't you have a god to slay?" Striga questioned with an arched brow.

  Skylar folds her arms with a scowl, "This takes precedence. Seriously... Just... talk to me, did I do something wrong here?" Skylar's gaze softened as she unfolded those arms of hers and looked at Striga with a confused gaze.

  Striga stared forward with empty eyes before looking at the sight of the night sky dome and opening her mouth to speak, "It's not out of hatred, I can tell you that much... But there is something else going on here, something bigger than both of us, until I can figure that out I have to conserve my strength and plan my movements carefully." Striga explained she then clenched her right hand into a fist, "though I am loath to do so."

  Skylar frowned at the answer, "...Fine, stay here then." she turned around and a gust of wind blew around her, "I'll handle this myself." with that a gust of wind took over and she launched herself into the sky.

  Striga kept her gaze fixated on the night sky ahead, and slowly she reached out her right hand, it cracked and shifted, her fingers extending in size if only for a moment.

  A wound.

  Her hand was sliced open by the darkness of the night sky, she pulled back and stared down at that hand, an inky black substance came from the stub reforming flesh, bone, and matter.

  Good as new.

  ***

  --Once.

  Once in a land of dreams.

  A fairy tail made its way across the lands.

  It spoke of a young boy and his trusty band of heroes 4.

  The boy bore a blade, his courage was unshakeable and his deeds renowned throughout the land.

  The first of the band held a spear in his grip, his resolve to protect his allies kept the group afloat even in the darkest of times. And his skill with machinery brought the world to a new age.

  The second of the band was a young girl wielding a scythe, though her bloodlust was great her love for the boy brought her from death's grip to the realm of the living all in service to the one she'd call the hero.

  The third of the band was a girl with golden locks, her skills in healing were unmatched, and it was for that reason that she held the kindness of a thousand souls, her love for the boy was unmatched and she would go on to bear his child.

  And then there was the last of the band.

  A warrior with blighted steel, a berserker that was known throughout the lands as the only one free, free to live his own life, and yet he would always find himself living for others.

  This man was the only one that had his name remembered, for he was the one that shepherded us to a new world.

  His name was...

  "Why?" Lux asked the question as she looked down at the blade stabbed through her, her platform was filled to the brim with these white flowers that made up the rest of the platforms, and her blood leaked from her lips, "Why did it have to be her? Why does the one bearing that name have to be the one to undo us...? Is this what you wanted when you sent us here? Is this the fate the Shepherd gave us...? Why? Why Anarchy?" Lux begged the question as she looked up, reaching out to the night sky.

  Her ear twitched when she heard the sound of footsteps landing behind her, the girl bearing his name arrived.

  And Lux found herself slowly lowering her hand, "...Do you ever look into the sky like this?"

  Skylar started to walk forward, "I do. But it's never clear enough for this kind of sight." Skylar stated as she looked up, stopping for only a moment.

  Lux chuckled a little at that though it hurt to do so, "Strange... in this place, I feel strength flowing in me like never before, like with the wave of my hand I could create and destroy... yet the life in my body still wavers. It won't be long now I don't think."

  Skylar lowered her head as Lux began to stand up slowly but surely, as she did so her blood dropped onto the flowers and she grit her teeth, "So with what little I have left... I will make one final effort, to strike you down..." lighting danced along her fingertips as she slowly turned to face Skylar.

  Skylar stared forward pity in her gaze as she did so, it was like watching a dying animal let out its last gasp.

  But...

  Skylar clenched her hands into fists and got into a battle stance, "...Farewell. Lux."

  "Heh. 'Lux'... Yes, that is my name." Lux repeated the words as she arched her back looking up to the sky, "In the Latin tongue... that name means... Light."

  As if on command lighting began to pour down from above, striking down at Skylar's position she grits her teeth as the electricity flowed through her body, and she fell to her knees instantly.

  Lux hadn't even used lighting up till this point, so Skylar had nearly forgotten about that particular skill set.

  And now.

  Lux smiled at the sight, knowing that Skylar was at her mercy, that smile faded as she saw Skylar slowly getting up, despite the burns appearing on her body, Skylar took a step forward, "This... This is nothing..." she growled, another step, "No more pain..." another, and another, "No more than what needs to be suffered, to save as many... as I can." Yet another step she was right in front of Lux, and slowly she reached out her right hand, "That is my oath as a Shadewalker." and grabbed the hilt of her blade pulling on it and slashing it through Lux's torso.

  Lux remained wide-eyed as she began to fall to the ground, she uttered only one word, "Shepard...?"

  Skylar stared at the corpse for a moment even as Lux's magic flowed into her Skylar scowled, after all...

  Something about this fight left a bitter taste in her mouth.

  She found herself looking to the night sky of this place once more and then to the white flowers there was now a large stain of red upon some of them.

  The field began to shake then, and Skylar slowly reached up sheathing her blade, the battle was done.

  And soon only the memory would remain.

  Skylar looked down at the flowers once more, and a memory popped into her head.

  "White rain lilies?" Skylar questioned as she looked at a bed of flowers with an arched brow.

  Icon nodded as she watered a nearby set of plants, "Tetra told you about them I assume?" Icon questioned.

  Skylar stood up and put a hand to her chin, "He mentioned it in passing, on one of our travels. Though, I'm still not really knowledgeable about the flower itself."

  Icon set the canister of water she was using down and turned to Skylar, "The flower itself can't handle cold weather that well, it wilts and dies during that, so it has to be removed from the soil and taken inside during those times...

  And then replanted in the spring." Icon then glanced to the side, "Tetra once mentioned that the meaning of the flower's existence was, 'I love you back, I must atone for my sins, and I'll never forget you."

  Skylar stood up, "Hm, he might have been projecting a bit there... I mean it's a white flower, right? So wouldn't it be more accurate to say it represents purity? Or maybe hope?" Skylar questioned as she turned around with a slight smile.

  Icon shrugged at the thought, "At the end of a day a flower is a flower, an object like any other... it's up to you to decide what meaning you derive from it."

  Hope.

  That is what Skylar settled upon back then.

  And here she was taking another life, it was so irritating, the situation of this world.

  A world where no matter how much she wanted otherwise, both species couldn't exist in harmony.

  She shook her head, taking herself out of her thoughts.

  The field continued to shake as Skylar walked to the edge leaping off, with a slight burst of wind she sent herself flying down to Striga's position once more.

  And a burst of light surrounded them.

  ***

  Striga blinked as she glanced around the area, she arched a brow to Skylar behind her, "You're more wounded than I thought you'd be." Striga commented.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Skylar blinked and then looked down at her skin. There were quite a few burn marks on her, she smiled sheepishly, "Er, I got a little cocky, ended up paying for that... still managed to win though."

  Striga sighed and walked up to Skylar a blue glow surrounded her hands and she touched Skylar's arms that glow then washed over Skylar her wounds began to heal albeit slowly.

  "Healing magic?" Skylar questioned with an arched brow.

  "Ice magic healing seems to be paired with ice... as for why? Your guess is as good as mine, but it's not perfect, it only speeds up the natural healing process, if anything you'll feel a little sluggish after this." Striga explained with narrowed eyes, "We should be worrying about what comes next though."

  Skylar arched a brow to that, "What comes next?"

  The storm had already begun to cease behind them, Striga removed her hand and looked to that storm, "That was our only real protection from the outside, sure we have defenses internally, but the storm was always our greatest... And with the threat of invasion so close at hand, we now have little time to res-" Striga's eyes suddenly widened.

  There just behind the faint fog of the storm, airships.

  Not just two.

  No more than that.

  Thousands.

  Thousands upon thousands of airships all surrounding Jubilee.

  The Imperial fleet.

  ***

  Jenna sat upon her chair looking out her window with a wicked smirk, "It would seem Lux has fallen, of course she did, for that is all she was ever good for." Jenna then tapped her impatient fingers on the table, "And so the curtain rises on the show, this is the grand stage I would provide for you Midus, as such... you better make good on your end of the deal." Jenna stated as she looked over to the other end of the table, Midus said nothing to that.

  Simply stood up from his chair and walked over to the pink portal opened for him.

  He stopped just short of it, turning to look at Jenna, "The Empire has agreed to your demands, but that does not make you safe... I suggest you start looking into more secure methods of transportation."

  "Worried about me?" Jenna questioned with a smirk as she picked up an eyeball from her plate and glanced over to Midus, "I'd be more worried about yourself."

  "Heh." Midus smirked beneath his helmet, "You should know better than most I'm undefeatable."

  "I do wonder about that." Jenna questioned popping the eyeball into her mouth, "I suppose we shall soon see if the undefeatable is a match for the girl who is no stranger to defeat's bitter sting." Jenna smiled wickedly.

  Midus frowned at that, "You think this Skylar Shadewalker will slay me?"

  "No, not that." Jenna quickly confirmed, "But she out of everyone may be the first to show you defeat."

  Midus stared forward for a moment, before turning back to the pink portal he walked forward, and uttered only two words in response, "How interesting." with that, he vanished through the portal.

  Jenna leaned forward with a smirk, "Jubilee has long been a nation of interest... and now we shall see what its forces are capable of. I do hope they put up more of a fight than The Kingdom."

  ***

  Skylar stared at the large feet ahead, worry appeared in her gaze.

  "Confidence Skylar." Striga hissed, "Even in the face of such a threat show confidence, never let your enemy get into your head."

  Skylar blinked but took in a breath and adorned a smile. There was still a bead of sweat on the back of her neck.

  But she wore the mask of confidence well enough.

  That was until a man clad in armor crashed into the ground behind the duo.

  Skylar and Striga quickly spun around, there in the dirt rose Midus.

  "...This is what I would face? Children?" Slowly he began to walk forward, Striga took a step forward and scowled.

  "Hold it, in your letter you said you'd attack in a week. It has hardly been two days, is the Empire a nation of lies?" Striga questioned.

  Midus paused at that before folding his arms, "The precise words of my letter were, "The Empire will attack in a week." today this Empire of mine stands as spectators of this grand event." Midus then extended his hand forward, "An offer, one that will suit you well, I would duel the both of you here and now. If you succeed, our Empire will call off the assault, but should you fail? The assault will proceed as it once was."

  Skylar narrowed her gaze at Midus, there was something... wrong.

  Terribly wrong about him, this man clad in armor, the way he carried himself was unlike anything Skylar had seen before.

  Striga narrowed her gaze dangerously, before speaking, "In that case, I'll be first up." Striga walked just ahead of Skylar.

  Much to the surprise of the Shadewalker.

  "You... sure you wanna do that?" Skylar questioned tilting her head to the side.

  Striga looked over her shoulder, "You need to rest, as such..." She held out her right hand and a blade of ice manifested itself, "I shall hold the line."

  Midus arched a brow beneath his helmet, "Really now? And here I thought you'd take me on the same time... but if you wish to prolong your deaths. That's fine with me." Midus then started to walk forward, "Gives me more time to savor your screams."

  Striga scowled before blasting forward, the ground beneath her feet sunk as she closed the distance and slashed down at Midus, only for Midus to raise his right fist and shatter the blade on his knuckles, he then opened his palm and grabbed Striga by the head lifting her up and slamming her into the ground, he let go and raised his boot, only for his eyes to widen as spikes of earth shot up forcing Midus to leap backward a fair distance.

  Striga pushed herself back up to her knees, a brown glow coming from her eyes as she spits out blood, "His physical defenses alone are problematic... But beyond that..." Striga slowly got up retracting the ice spikes, Midus stood there unmoving, staring at Striga, Striga took note of the blade upon Midus's back, "He's holding back... just what kind of monster am I dealing with here?" Striga questioned as her hands clenched into fists.

  She couldn't shake this feeling, no matter hard she fought back, she couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom.

  Yet even so, she shot forward once more covering her fists in an icy haze.

  Midus tilted his head to the side, "You would forgo weapons and in their place use brute strength?" Striga threw her hand forward only for Midus to easily duck under the first blow, he dodged to the side of the second and slammed his own fist into the third shattering the ice that covered Striga's right fist, and a sickening cracking noise could be heard from Striga's fist as the bones in her fingers shattered her flesh being torn open just from Midus's movements.

  Midus then lowered his fists staring as Striga leaped backward, Midus frowned and asked, "Is that the best you have to offer? You're beginning to bore me."

  Slowly he started to walk forward with a growl, "Perhaps I should end this now..." slowly he began to raise his hand only for him to spin around and close that hand onto a sword, a sword that was thrown through the air, his eyes widened as a fist suddenly collides with the top of his helmet sending him onto his knee and forcing him to drop the sword onto the ground.

  A burst of wind came around him, and when he looked up he saw the sword fly back into Skylar's sheath who was currently standing in front of Striga with a scowl of her own, "Enough's enough. I'm already sick of you and your games!" Skylar shouted sparks of lighting dancing between her fingertips.

  Midus arched a brow at the sight, "Oh? How interesting... I was under the impression that you were a wind mage... a multi-element perhaps? Quite rare indeed..." he spoke yet made no move to attack yet, instead he simply watched.

  "Leave this place. Now." Skylar growled, reaching up and putting a hand onto her sword, "I won't ask again."

  "...I propose an alteration to our deal." Midus suddenly declared thrusting his right hand forward, Midus looked to Skylar with an expression of intrigue, "It is that power of yours that gives me interest, the power to slay gods and take what is there's..." his right hand never wavered, "I would bid you join me, join me and seek salvation for all realms..." he declared without hesitation.

  Skylar frowned at that, "You don't want salvation, nobody with an army the size of yours would."

  "Salvation is something that must be fought for girl, all men of power bear weapons, the stronger those weapons the stronger the man. You are no different, your blade is fragile and weak as such you are fragile and weak." Midus declared this with confidence.

  Skylar tilted her head to the side, "Is that so?" a smirk danced on her lips, "thanks for the offer, but I'll pass, I'm fine with being weak." she declared without much hesitation as she drew her blade once more, "Though if you ask me, a weak blade is perfect for me."

  Her voice then dropped to a whisper, "Striga, I'm not going to last long against him... So do me a favor and make sure anyone who hasn't already been evacuated gets to safety."

  Striga growled at that, she desperately wanted to assist... but she wasn't a fool, she knew she'd only be in the way.

  "...You'd better not die on me, Skylar," Striga stated before she turned and started to run towards the city.

  Midus noticed this but made no move to stop her, "Hm. You'd put your life on the line for this place? Despite having little to no connection to it?"

  Skylar nodded, "I would, I've got business here, and you're an obstacle to that business, frankly beating you will make my goal that much easier to obtain." she declared with a smile.

  Midus hummed in thought at that before he let out an 'aha.'

  "I figured it out." he declared at last, Midus folded his arms, "You doubt my strength." he then slowly lowered those arms, he turned his helmet to look at Skylar before smirking beneath the helmet, "Then I shall show you a glimpse, for fear to sow its way into the hearts of man, it must first be planted by one of power." He gripped the hilt of his blade and began to slowly unsheath it, Skylar leaped backward raising her own blade quickly.

  Midus's blade was drawn, its crimson shine reflected in the moonlight, he slowly raised it skyward and a blood-red glow washed over his sword, "Bear witness to the glory of the empire!" he roared slashing forward, that single slash shot out a beam that covered the island washing over the land and engulfing the edges of the village that Skylar stood in front of in pure blue flames, her eyes widened as she slowly turned around her jaw agape at the sight.

  The attack only hit a horizontal area, but it was clear that if this was any other island...

  That attack would have wiped the city off the map.

  Midus however seemed unamused, "Hm? You still stand... How interesting." He pointed his blade forward, "Come, let us see the might of this land's champion."

  Without saying a word Skylar shot forward slashing right at Midus's head, only for Midus to move quickly, his own sword clashing with Skylar's.

  She growled as she stared into his helmet's eyes, the man said nothing at first before uttering one phrase as he began to push Skylar backward, "Weak."

  He lunged forward grabbing Skylar by the neck with his left hand and hoisted her into the air, "Is this all you have to offer?" Midus questioned a red glint escaping the eyes of his armor, Skylar gasped for air desperately clawing at Midus's armor, she grit her teeth her eyes filled with rage as she held out her right hand a right glow came from it.

  Midus stared at the glow without saying a word, flames poured out and he was engulfed in an explosion that was large enough to send Skylar flying out his hand, she winced at the pain of being seared by her own flames, but...

  That was it.

  She won.

  She exhaled a breath falling onto her back, relishing in the victory.

  "Is that all?" Her eyes widened at the voice, slowly she looked up from where she was laying, and those eyes became filled with despair, Midus walked forward through the fire there wasn't even a scratch on her radiant armor, his voice boomed over the land, "I was given to understand that you were the protectors of these lands, so I ask you again... Is. That. All?"

  Skylar stood there dumbfounded for a moment but slowly she began to get to her feet, her legs trembling in agony as she did so, "I'm... not... done!" she growled slamming her foot into the ground, the ground cracked beneath her strength and she shot forward with glowing eyes.

  "You strike with conviction, but you lack the strength to see it through." Midus retorted, slashing upwards and connecting with Skylar's blade, her sword shattered in an instant and she leaped backward sending a gust of wind magic towards Midus.

  His eyes widened slightly as the shards of the blade danced towards him, lighting connecting them.

  But Midus would not be defeated so easily, he leaped backward hefting his blade upward with speed, with expertly placed slashes he knocked the shards from the air one by one impaling them into the ground.

  He then blasted forward, before they had time to reenter the air, closing the distance between himself and Skylar.

  Lighting burst to life around Skylar's fists as she dodged to the left of Midus she threw her hand forward slamming it into Midus's chest with enough force to cause him to wince even in his armor.

  A pulse of red energy surrounded Midus's right fist he threw it forward right at Skylar's head; she leaped upward, a burst of wind gathering at her feet.

  Only for her eyes to widen as Midus's left hand shot upward wrapping around Skylar's left leg, "KNOW WHEN YOUR BEATEN!" Midus roared as he pulled her down from the air and slammed her back first into the ground with enough force to send blood flying from Skylar's mouth.

  The ground shattered and dirt flew into the air, as Skylar lay there gasping for breath, her lips covered in her own blood.

  Her vision blurred and she tried to get to her feet.

  Midus stared down with a look of disappointment, "That's it? That is all you can bring to bear?" Midus then raised his blade skyward, "What a disappointment you turned out to be..." Instead of bringing that blade down upon Skylar's head, he instead sheathed it, clouds darkened above and rain began to pour down.

  Skylar grit her teeth, anger seeping into her gaze as she moved to get up.

  Her back hurt.

  -Is my spine broken?

  She let the thought hang as she moved to stand.

  But her body refused to heed the command.

  Midus watched with contempt walking up to the girl, he knelt down and grabbed her by the hair, "Still, you'd be a nuisance if you did manage to get back up..." he slammed her head down into the dirt, lifted her up, and slammed her down again.

  He repeated the same movements over and over, soon bones began to break, tears entered Skylar's eyes as she screamed.

  But nobody came.

  Again and again, Midus repeated these movements.

  Until.

  He at last ceased, he paused and tilted his head to get a better look at Skylar's face, it was bloody, bruised, and bones had twisted in her nose, but her eyes were closed.

  Her breathing was barely stable, she had lost consciousness.

  Midus wordlessly dropped her head to the ground.

  And then he started to walk away, slowly but surely.

  Towards the walkways that led into the city, he still had to finish his duel with Striga after all.

  But he paused, something made him wait.

  A sound.

  The sound of dirt being pulled apart, the sound of someone letting out labored breaths, there was only one person around who could make such a sound.

  But such a thing should be impossible.

  "And yet it is..." Midus muttered slowly, turning back around there Skylar stood her blood dripping to the ground before evaporating into a red mist her eyes were still closed and her bones cracked and popped setting back into place, Midus watched with interest at the sight, "A beast stands before me at last... Not some half-broken thing, yet still you wear the body of a child. Far from the most ideal of circumstances, but still..." Midus reached for the blade upon his back, "You'll lose all the same."

  Skylar opened her mouth, Midus half expected some speech to leave her lips, but instead, all that came was a breath, an icy cold breath as though the temperature of her body dropped to near-freezing levels.

  She then leaned forward and blasted forward without her blade, the ground beneath her feet shattered, and she instantly closed the distance, the raindrops that made contact with her flesh shattered upon contact, and before they could even hit the ground Skylar slammed her fist into Midus's helmet with enough force to send him flying backward into the center of the city.

  His eyes widened as he landed on the center platform of wood, he blinked as he looked to the ground noticing shards of metal upon it.

  He knew the material well, it was the same metal as his helmet.

  Midus then looked up seeing the girl looking down from above, Skylar's eyes still remained closed, and the beast was still asleep.

  Not yet to fully awaken, but Midus would fix this.

  His crimson eye shined through the only visible hole in his armor.

  Skylar extended her right hand and her sword flew into her hand, she then leaped forward without fear.

  Diving down upon her prey without hesitation, Midus then slowly began to unsheath his blade, "Okay..." she spoke as he slashed upward, accepting the blow from Skylar's blade sparks flew into the air as they clashed, "Let's dance."

  Skylar leaped backward and just like before Midus quickly reached out and grabbed Skylar by the leg only for his eyes to widen as a pulse of electricity came forth making him let go on instinct, as soon as Skylar landed she threw her blade forward letting the wind carry it, and slash at her foe.

  Midus reacted quickly, knocking the blade to the side, never letting his eyes wander too far from Skylar, and yet...

  He slashed upward colliding with the flying blade and causing it to spin in the air with his free hand he grabbed the hilt of that sword, and threw it back towards Skylar.

  She moved her head to the side, and the sword flew past her but stopped, the blade stopped just in front of her forehead.

  And for the first time, Skylar's eyelids twitched.

  Midus watched the scene before him with great interest, a smile began to form on his face as Skylar's eyes slowly began to open once more.

  The white in her eyes was missing, replaced with an inky black, and then the iris's pure crimson, the eyes of the beast were at last revealed.

  The first instinct the first movement of this beast was to reach out and run her index finger along the bottom edge of the sword before her lacing her blood across it, she then locked her eyes on the opponent before her and smiled, insanity flashed in those eyes a look of pure bloodlust emerged as her fangs were born.

  The blade flew into the air and to the side of the platform, Midus spared it a glance before returning his gaze to Skylar who got down on all fours, she launched forward pouncing on her prey like a tiger.

  "That's it?" Midus let the question everything seem to slow down in his eyes, Skylar was completely open in the air, with no defenses whatsoever, sure she could probably shift her movement a little with the wind, but that was all. A small evasion that wouldn't save her, Midus had hoped to face a worthy beast.

  Instead, he found this broken doll leaping at him overtaken by her own need for blood.

  It was so disappointing that he could barely bring himself to lift his sword.

  That.

  Was his undoing, the ground neath his feet shifted and the platforms below collapsed all at once, the shift was sudden and Midus suddenly found himself falling towards the bottom of the town, defenseless as Skylar approached from above.

  Midus smiled and widened some at that, she had ordered her blade to sever the bindings of the platform, hoping to make him panic so that she could steal the opening blow.

  Bold.

  But ultimately futile, Skylar was still wide open, and in this stage, Midus could still swing at her with ease.

  She approached and Midus swung his blade, only for his eyes to widen in surprise as Skylar's blade came from below and knocked his own sword from his hand.

  Before he could even react Skylar was now upon him, and her first move was to do something dastardly.

  She thrust her nails into Midus's exposed eye socket, and with a sinister glint in her gaze, she squished down, shattering the eyeball in Midus's skull.

  He roared in pain and with his left hand slammed his palm into Skylar's face with enough force to make her retract her hand and send her flying backward, Midus hit the ground and immediately covered his eye with his other hand.

  Skylar however landed on her fours, before smirking, she slowly rose, standing on her own two feet, her right hand covered in Midus's own blood.

  Midus grit his teeth and slowly began to get back up, his own blade was on the ground to his right, "...This... isn't over..." he growled taking a step forward, Skylar tilted her head to the side never losing that smile of hers, she lifted up her right hand and licked some of the blood off it.

  Midus hissed as he reached down grabbing his blade, blood was still flowing from his eye socket, and he was ready to charge forward, that was...

  Until a ladder descended from above, he blinked and looked upwards, one of his many airships had dropped this ladder for him.

  It was a strategy he himself made for his soldiers, one for a quick retreat.

  Retreat?

  Him?

  ...It irked him, the thought was so infuriating to him, but his pride as a leader wouldn't allow him to ignore his own strategy.

  He sheathed his blade and grabbed that ladder, letting it raise him to the skies, "The day is your's Shadewalker... But the war is far from over."

  Skylar said nothing in response, her smile dropping as she watched Midus ascend into the skies above, she almost seemed disappointed at the sight.

  All at once, the airships that once surrounded Jubilee began to fly off, and a wave of exhaustion suddenly overcame Skylar; her blade dropped to the ground and she dropped to her knees clutching her head.

  The black in her eyes returned to white, and the color of her iris returned to emerald. She blinked looking at the ground, "Where...?" she muttered the question, turning to look around, she saw broken wood, and her sword on the ground, "How did I get down here...?" she arched a brow at the blood covering her hand, and she stared at its jaw slack, and she asked one final question.

  "What did I do?"

  ***

  Jenna smirked leaning forward, she had watched the events unfold through one of her many portals, "Hm, well done Shadewalker, not many could force a retreat from a beast as strong as Midus... But I do wonder..." Jenna leaned back in her chair staring at the roof, "How will he proceed? The sting of defeat for someone who has never tasted it can often be the thing that drives one to madness..."

  Jenna then closed her eyes, taking in a breath before standing from her chair, she began to walk up the large staircase, "It is ever the hand of the divine that steers mankind along its fate, yet you act in constant defiance of such a hand... it's rather troublesome."

  ***

  Striga found herself sitting at one of many tables in the round room, it was a rare sight.

  The full group wasn't here, only herself, Frolic, Delish, and Detion, it was in these rare moments that the room was considered something else.

  A war council.

  Though out of all of them, Delish was likely going to be the most silent, he only served to ensure things didn't get too violent in the room.

  ...And yet instead of plans and strategies being thrown around, there was silence.

  Striga frowned and closed her eyes, "Enough of this." that caught the attention of all in the room, after all the Witch spoke, she may have been hated in this room but when she did speak up, all listened.

  "We burn their nation to the ground," Striga spoke confidently.

  This caught the eyes of everyone, "Have you lost your mind? Think of the innocents that will be lost! Doing such a thing will not yield freedom, it will only earn the ire of every other island in this realm!" Frolic slammed his hand down onto the table.

  Striga responded by folding her arms, "That depends fully on how we go about this, there is a way we can defeat their island, cripple their resources and save any innocents in the process." she stated boldly. She then closed her eyes and slowly stood up, "Skylar Shadewalker. She must do battle with Midus and obtain victory."

  Once more silence fell over the room, and Diton spoke up next, "Skylar Shadewalker? You would request the assistance of The Fairy Of Blood? Absurd, she is too far away as is, if we sent out word to The Kingdom now the message would never arrive."

  Striga smirked then, "Oh you're not aware? Shadewalker already walks among us, wearing the name of "Valery." I thought you would have picked up on that fact." murmurs echoed across the room.

  And the door at the back of the room swung open, Skylar walked forward covered in blood a deep scowl on her face, her eyes glowed a bright crimson and her sword was atop her back, "I've got a score to settle with that man, so frankly I don't care what any of you say... I'll be going after Midus's head. With. Or without your help." something about him

  Something about Midus urged Skylar to go after him

  Everyone in that room stood up staring right at the crimson eyes of The Shadewalker.

  Striga folded her arms looking at each individual in the room, "And I would say she deserves our help after everything she has done for our grand city, as such. This is what I propose, the strategy of The Witch Of Jubilee."

  Everyone in that room looked to Striga with shock, it had been years since she had proposed a strategy, and she had only ever given two, but they were always flawless, the tradeoff was they were almost always filled with blood to be paid.

  That is why she had ceased to give strategies.

  Detion however did not react with shock, he leaned on the side of his chair and smirked, catching the attention of Delish, but he remained silent interested in the events that were unfolding before him.

  Striga then walked over to the map and set a red piece in front of the gate, "We shall have our forces launch a frontal assault, it will likely be futile of this I am aware, but their goal isn't to obtain victory it is simply to create a diversion."

  She then grabbed hold of a blue piece and dragged it over to the castle, "Our goal is to start our true siege from within the castle itself."

  Frolic responded with a frown, "And how do you propose we do that, in case you've forgotten Babylon holds the greatest air defenses in the realm, attack from above will lead to naught but blood and rubble."

  Striga looked up from the map, "That is why we will attack from below, Babylon was a mining resource for crystals long ago, though unused now, the tunnels are still in one piece, as such using my own magic I should be able to create a safe passage into the castle itself. Of course, this also means that I shall be joining the force that infiltrates the castle assuming that is alright with my lord."

  Diton then looked at the map, "There is still the issue of Midus, I am aware that the Shadewalker desires to do battle with him once more, but how can we be certain that they will even meet on the battlefield? Hell's we'd need to ensure they meet before our forces arrive at the front gates." Diton declared to Striga, she, however, responded by picking up a third piece, this one was green, she set it on the eastern gate, "We give them an offer they can't refuse, an offer that is so suspicious that even that idiot emperor wouldn't hesitate to send in there most experienced officer." Striga looked up to Diton with eyes that were filled with power, "The Heroes Gauntlet."

  Diton stood up from his throne rage flaring into his eyes, "You would have me offer our greatest relic on a silver platter for the enemy to take, just for a chance to defeat them!?!"

  Striga stood to her full height smirking all the while, "Not at all, in fact, I would suggest you finally put that relic to good use and bequeath a new champion." she then turned to Skylar, "That is of course assuming you are willing to once again be accepted into an Executioner's force?"

  Skylar paused for a moment before looking at the map, "If it's just for the battle ahead I'm fine with that, I've already made it clear to you that I can't remain in Jubilee forever."

  Striga frowned for a moment but that smile returned nevertheless, she turned to face Diton once more, "Surely The Heroes Gauntlets will be safe when held by a girl of Skylar's caliber."

  Diton looked to Skylar frowning bitterly, "You have already failed to slay Midus once, who is to say that will not happen again? And what's more, if it does, how do I know that you'll protect the relic with your life?"

  Skylar paused for a moment before folding her arms, "A fair question." she decided and she closed her eyes, "And one that I can't provide an answer that can be backed up with proof..." She slowly opened her eyes, "All I can offer is my word, I will keep pushing forward to kill Midus, in my legs break, I will crawl, should he take my arms then I'll sink my teeth into his flesh, no matter what occurs I will not leave without Midus's life."

  Diton locked his gaze onto Skylar's for a moment and then he hissed, "Damn it all... there wasn't a single lie in that statement..." he then put a hand over his face and dragged it down sighing as he did so sinking back into his chair with the movement, "Very well, as of this moment you are given a temporary status as a High Executioner of Jubilee, even though your's is a temporary role I still expect you to be in uniform, understood?"

  Skylar visibly cringed at the thought but she only muttered one retort, "I'm keeping my scarf."

  Dition nodded in response before looking over to Striga, "Then you have my permission to see this strategy of yours through." he looked down at the rest of the room, "You shall assist Striga with whatever she desires if she is given any trouble then you shall answer to me, with that said this meeting is finished, DISMISSED!"

  With a wave of his hand, the order was given and everyone in the room moved to leave everyone except Skylar herself, she stayed there for a moment looking up at Dition with a frown.

  He looked back to Skylar and spoke, "The Gauntlet in question was once wielded by one of your ancestors, it is said that he obtained far greater strength through an unknown sort of magic... Many others have tried to wear this said gauntlet but were immediately driven to madness."

  Skylar arched a brow to that, "An unknown magic? …I suppose that’d made sense, if it was unknown then it’d be nearly impossible to find anyone that could even contail it." She recalled her lessons on a particular magic element that was passed down to the Shadewalker's, she never did have the chance to thank Anarchy for that lesson it was something he called 'void', she then smirked, though she had looked into that element herself it would seem it’s been lost to time, for she found no books, no recordings, not even a mention of it, perhaps… this was it? So with that thought she opened her mouth to speak, "It won't be an issue."

  Dition then slowly stood up and began to descend from his throne, "In our era, there has only been one man who has worn this gauntlet, even if only for a moment it was his strength and courage that saved our land from the Empire's might."

  Skylar found herself interested in the topic so she put a hand on her hip, "Who was it?"

  "A man you are quite familiar with, his name was Tetra." Dition stated as he reached the bottom of the stairs.

  Skylar frowned, of course as soon as she had the thought of ‘void’ it was immediately put to rest by that comment, but with a bitter frown she then looked at the map once more, "It seemed like he was always able to do the impossible... to create victory out of a 0% chance, I wish I had that kind of power, the power to take destiny by its horns and steer its course." she stated as she lowered her left hand onto the map.

  Dition scoffed at that, "You flattered him, the man didn't steer destiny at all... He knew his limits more than anyone else, but he worked within those limits to create hope." Dition stated as he walked to a nearby chimney there were a few loose stones in it, "For example, he fought the Empire until they were forced into a ceasefire, this didn't stop our war. But it put a halt on it, just like every other battle he fought in his objective was never complete victory, he was a customer of Fate, and he was there to buy Time."

  Dition then removed his body from the chimney and a red case was now in his hand, he set upon the map table right in the center of the three colored pieces that still lay on that map and he looked to Skylar, "So then, you now stand there with the earnings of that hero, will you buy more time? Or perhaps you will finally put what was bought to use."

  Skylar turned her attention to the map as well and frowned looking at it, "I've got some blood to pay back, frankly my goal is Midus and Midus alone."

  Detion smirked nodding, "That shall be fine, but I would still advise caution... there is still more to this than we yet understand."

  Skylar nodded, and Detion frowned before walking to his throne he pushed it to the side revealing the Heroes Gauntlet, "Then come. Claim it for yourself."

  Skylar slowly walked forward, staring down at the golden gauntlet before reaching out and sliding it onto her right hand.

  "Blood."

  Skylar blinked and turned around, there at the bottom of the stairs, she saw... herself, younger, but it was still her this version looked up, with her all-consuming black eyes, and spoke once more "WE need more blood."

  . . .

  This was going to be a long week.

  ***

  Stone walls as far as the eye could see, and red carpets that littered the floor, all leading up to a large set of duel doors.

  Midus walked along this carpet, a frown plastered on his face, his helmet was currently off revealing his black hair and crimson eyes.

  He wouldn't normally take this pathway around this time of day, but he had been called.

  So he must heed his orders.

  He stopped just in front of the door with a scowl.

  But he took in a breath before reaching out and pushing the door open, there at the far back of the room were a total of four men and women all sprawled on the ground, half-naked staring up in awe at the throne.

  The Empress sat upon the throne with a slight smirk as she cupped the chin of one of these scantily clad individuals, "Do you know why it is I called you in here Midus?" The Empress questioned as she planted a kiss on this individual's cheek.

  The Empress herself was wearing a white dress, with black shoes, her eyes were crimson and a sickly sweet smile adorned her face.

  "Because of my failure to defeat The Shadewalker." Midus declared.

  "...More words than necessary." The Empress noted she then pushed the individual to the ground and started walking forward towards Midus swaying her hips as she did so, every curve in her body seemed to move to her whims, "It's far simpler to call it what it is. You lost, Midus. That is why I called you here."

  Midus's brow twitched and he bit down on his tongue to keep from lashing out, The Empress stopped just in front of Midus, "Dear sweet commander, whatever are we to do with you?" She reached out and wrapped her arms around Midus's neck and pulled him down, forcing him to rest his head on her chest.

  "Do you know what the truth of this world is Midus?" The Empress questioned with a smile, her gaze softening at her loyal soldier.

  Midus was silent for a moment before speaking up, the lesson his Empress taught him was still engraved into his mind, "The weak and the strong co-exist and prosper."

  The Empress nodded and ran her fingers through Midus's hair, "Indeed, the weak live to serve the strong, for it is the strength that will lead them to victory. It is for this reason that the weak fight for the strong. Fight giving it their all. Fight till their last drop of blood spills."

  She suddenly clenched her hand into a fist grabbing hold of Midus's hair, "And you gave up the fight, returning here in the sting of defeat, like a useless slave." she utter the words with venom. Pulling Midus's hair forcing him to look the Empress in the eyes, "Now I have to entertain the guests that will doubtless arrive..."

  "...Forgive me." Midus muttered his apology, and The Empress frowned before having a smile return to her face, she leaned forward and whispered into Midus's ear a simple question, "From the bottom of your heart? Will you love me?"

  She then opened her mouth wrapping it around Midus's earlobe, sucking on it for a moment before parting leaving a small trail of saliva in the air, before Midus could even question it, The Empress began to walk back to her throne, her other servants all lined all, into pairs two and two.

  "I have no use for tools who can't serve me at their fullest," The Empress declared stopping in front of the first duo, she placed her hands on their heads, "Humans are valued for their utility." she declared as the two men she placed her hands upon exploded into a sea of red, their body's falling onto the ground into useless clumps of flesh there blood, however, spiraled around the Empress creating a red cloak that covered most of her body, she then took another step, the two women kept kneeling downwards.

  Unafraid of the fate that would await them.

  The Empress then put her hand on the first woman's head, "It doesn't matter how they strike, they won't take my Empire from me..." she declared as this woman exploded into a sea of red as well, the red turned white, and began to swirl around in place before forming a mask.

  She then slowly turned to the final woman who was looking right into the Empress's eyes, the Empress put on a soft smile, "And you my soldiers shall do what you do best, fight. Fight. Fight. Fight for what you believe, throwing your lives down in the name of your purgatory goddess, fight fight fight. For that is what humans do best." The Empress then began to reach outward cupping the cheeks of this woman, "Won't you serve me?"

  This woman smiled insanity flashing in her gaze before her body dissolved, leaving nothing but the skin of her face, it fell onto the white mask that The Empress held out fusing itself onto it.

  The Empress put on her own smile putting the mask onto her face, "And with that, I would say I am much more presentable. Wouldn't you?" she questioned turning to look at Midus who offered no words of response, "...Go on then, get to training. If you lose to this Shadewalker again, then I'm afraid I can offer you no more of my love, and wouldn't that be a shame?"

  "...Then I'll be off. Empress Lust." Midus turned away and walked out of the room.

  Lust smiled beneath her mask, "Ah~ The blood will be spilled, humans fighting against humans, and then there's the strength that Skylar Shadewalker possesses... I'm throbbing now~" Lust declared her breathing became ragged just from imagining it, a liquid dripped down her legs and her smile split, her eyes glowing in the darkness as horns began to form at the top of her head.

  "I want it."