Midus walked forward through the velvet hall laid before him, he examined the walls with a frown as he moved.

  Lust was ahead of him leading the way, “I don’t often come here you know,” Lust declared suddenly causing Midus to tear his attention from the walls and focus on her, “Too stuffy for me, hate this place with every fiber of my being… So take that information as you will.” Lust said with a wave of her hand as she reached out and put a hand on the door ahead of her pausing, she took in a breath and pushed that door forward.

  As it opened, Midus was greeted by the sight of a large walkway surrounded by endlessly cushioned chairs, most of which were empty.

  What really caught his gaze was the sight at the far back of the room, a projection of a girl with pink hair and a blade to her neck.

  “A girl?” Midus arched a brow at the sight.

  “Hm, Shadewalker most likely.” Lust commented looking at the screen with an arched brow, “She was silvered haired wasn’t she? Must of gotten her hands on some hair dye at some point… if nothing else this information alone will prove my journey won’t be a complete waste of time.” she stated looking over her shoulder narrowing her gaze at Midus, before turning back to the area ahead of her, “Oi! Old man, I’ve got you a candidate.”

  “One for your own agenda no doubt… What do you even intend to do with this conquest of your’s girl?” Origin questioned, he was at the front as always staring up at the screen, “your schemes don’t go unnoticed, even if you like to think they do.” he spoke his gaze never leaving that screen.

  Lust shrugged walking forward each step was calm and undeterred by his words, “Heh, my schemes are my own business, besides we need a replacement for Greed anyways do we not?” Lust questioned as she reached the theater, “As such I bring you one of my own men, Midus, I’m sure his greed will make him the perfect candidate.”

  Midus then stepped up looking to Origin, “I-”

  “Kneel.” Origin commanded, and the air around Lust and Midus shifted.

  It felt as though a crushing force came from above forcing the duo onto the knees, “Less you forget your place, Lust. You are among the weakest of us, Greed being just below you… The fact that you speak to me as an equal is an insult to us all.” Origin states tearing his gaze from the screen to glare at Lust.

  Midus lacked the strength to even lift his head, he managed to move his gaze to see Lust, she was gritting her teeth in anger.

  But she did not stand.

  Origin then closed his eyes turning his gaze back to the screen, “You came for nothing. Greed’s soul has yet to return.”

  The air became lighter, and Lust blinked, “Wha- But that’s impossible, every time one of us Eternals die our souls always-” Her eyes widened as she turned her gaze to the screen, “...A girl who has silver hair… A girl who can absorb magic from gods… No… No fucking way.” She grits her teeth.

  “A girl who can consume souls.” Origin smirked, “a similarity I share with her.”

  “And you're okay with this!?!” Lust shouted standing up Midus stared surprised at the sight, this was the first time he’d ever seen Lust seeming like she’d lost control, “That girl is a threat to us! The fact that we haven’t launched an assault with all of us is a move that only a complete fool would do.”

  “You would speak of me as a fool?” Origin resumed his glare at Lust, “Just like you, I have my schemes… If there is nothing else, get out of my sight.”

  Lust grits her teeth looking to the screen above, Midus shares her gaze and both of them stare at Skylar now in the cell.

  Lust then closed her eyes turning away from the screen, “I’m going to kill her, you won’t stop me will you?” Lust questioned as she opened her eyes glaring at Origin.

  Origin simply smirked, “So long as you make it an entertaining show… Do as you will.”

  Lust let out a ‘hmph’ as she walked passed Midus up the stairs, “Midus, come on. We’re leaving… There are other ways to obtain this strength you seek.” Lust declares.

  Midus spares one last glance at the screen above, “...Skylar Shadewalker… What is it your scheming?” He muttered to himself before turning around and he followed Lust.

  Origin let out a hum, “This girl… She grows stronger by the second, though she does not realize it… I wonder? Will she be the one to part the seas? Is that what you have planned for her Draco?” Origin asked the question.

  But received no response.

  After all…

  Draco was not here.

  Lust walked to the hallway opening a black portal up to her castle, she looked over her shoulder and saw Midus following close behind.

  Once she was sure, he was still there. She walked through the portal, there on the other end.

  Was Byakko, he had his arms up behind his head, “Didn’t go well?”

  Lust glared at him, “...Greed’s soul has been taken.”

  Byakko blinked at that, “Really now? Hm, how interesting… Ah, but I have a message for you regarding Delish.” Byakko lowered his arms bowing, “Production is proceeding apace, the problem being the amount of souls being funneled our way…”

  Lust frowned at that, “Of course, we are at war… but the air is practically charged with magic.” She sighed, “The souls are drifting lost, and confused, even your senses are likely to be muddled in the chaos…” She frowned turning to look at Midus, “...You seeked power is that correct? How desperately?”

  Midus blinked at that, “More than anything else in the world my liege.” he declared putting a hand over his heart.

  Lust let out a hum at that, turning her gaze upwards, “...Then I suppose we shall see if your body can take it.” she thrust a hand forward slamming it into Midus’s gut, “Bend.” He let out a cry of pain as he was thrust into the air by pink strings, they glowed and sent energy into his body.

  Lust said nothing at the sight, turning her attention back to Byakko, “...Head over to Genbu’s position, there is a battle about to take place. You are not to interfere, I simply wish to know the results.”

  Byakko smirked at that, “Of course, consider it done.” With that, he stood up and began to walk toward the exit.

  Lust then grit her teeth, “Suzuku! Get out here right now.”

  A girl leaped down from a set of strings, above her hair was yellow, and large ears adorned her head, along with a long bushy tail on her back, she was clad in a white dress, “Bah, can’t this wait? I’m busy examining the markets.” she groaned looking to Lust, her eyes narrowing in irritation.

  Lust blinked at the sight, “...You changed your get-up? No, nevermind that. I want you to go to Seriyu’s location and start your work there, with any luck he hasn’t screwed everything up.” She growled.

  Suzuku let out a hum putting a finger to her chin, “Sure, easy as pie.” with that she spun around on her heel and walked forward.

  Leaving Lust to grit her teeth alone, “I’ll kill her.” She muttered, “I’ll kill her and then I’ll kill Origin.”

  Chapter 10: Wicked Fruit.

  -Where is he?

  Skylar frowned as she stared at the bars ahead of her.

  It had already been a few hours at this point and there was no sign of Vita.

  -He didn’t run off, did he?

  Skylar sighed closing her eyes, this wasn’t good.

  If Vita wasn’t around to help, that meant she needed to break herself out and get these two to safety.

  She was confident she could keep herself safe… but two others?

  That could get tricky.

  She’d rather not take those chances at the moment.

  “Your a strange one lass.” The old man in the cell spoke up, causing Skylar to blink turning her gaze toward him, “Most people would scream or cry, and do everything they could to break the bars… yet you sit there content. Why is that?”

  The soldier scoffed outside the cell, “Probably because she isn’t a fool like the both of you.” he then raised a hand, “The cuffs she has on seal’s her magic anyways… She couldn’t break out even if she wanted to.”

  Skylar let out a sigh closing her eyes, “I’m not content, I’m just at ease… after all, I won’t be staying here long.” Skylar proclaimed suddenly causing the old man’s eyes to widen to the soldier to look at her in surprise.

  “Ha!” He let out a laugh, “I take it back, you are a fool.” he declared looking at her with a wicked smirk, “Genbu here is already the best soldier in the nation. Without contest, he’d destroy you if you even got out.”

  “Strong maybe, but he’s not that bright.” Skylar retorted, “Much like yourself.” Skylar said with a smile as she began to stand up, the old man blinked reaching out with a whisper.

  “H-Hey what are you doing? Are you daft he’ll kill you if you speak up to him.” He hissed.

  But the damage was already done, the Soldier blinked standing up, “Eh? What was that you little brat?” he asked unsheathing his blade.

  Shiva let out a whimper closing her eyes.

  “...I’ve seen all I need to see.” Skylar said closing her eyes, “and I think I’ve had my fill of this place.”

  The Soldier stood up holding his blade to the side, “Hey. Brat, you gonna apologize? Or am I going to have to take your arm.”

  Skylar opened her eyes they flashed emerald before shifting to a reptilian shape, “You want it?” she pulled back her right fist, dragon scales formed around it and she threw her fist forward shattering the iron bars with the dragon arm that manifested, shattering her bindings in the same movement, “Come and take it.” The man’s eyes widened and he raised his blade, “W-what!?”

  Skylar’s arm returned to normal as she started to walk forward.

  Embers dancing at her fingertips, “What’s the matter? I thought you were gonna take my arm.” Skylar taunted before putting her hand on her hip smirking as her eyes shined with anger, “Oh don’t tell me… You thought this-” She slammed her boot onto the iron bars that were now on the ground, “was going to be enough to protect you from me?”

  The Soldier took a fearful step backward keeping his blade raised, “W-Who the hell are you!?”

  Skylar smirked at that opening her mouth to speak her name, “Who me? Ah, just a girl who hates unjust bastards like you… but if you really need a name to utter to your boss about why you're shitting your pants. Skylar. Skylar Shadewalker.”

  As soon as Skylar uttered her true name, the man in front of her felt his heart sink and he spun around bolting out the door and shouting, “COMMANDER!!!!”

  Skylar narrowed her gaze for a moment turning around, “Hey you, old geezer. Keep the little one safe alright. And you, Shiva, was it?” Skylar smirked, “Your mother sent me for you, if nothing else I promise to get you out of here.”

  Shiva’s eyes widened at that, “M-Mom? She’s… okay?”

  The old man stared at Skylar, “But… why are you here!? I thought Shadewalker was the enemy of the Empire!?”

  Skylar let out a hum at that, turning to face the door she started to walk forward, “Lust is my enemy. I’m not here to spill your blood.” she answered simply, “nor the blood of any innocent.”

  ***

  Genbu sat upon a chair within the largest cabin, his eyes fixed on the flickering flame of the candle before him.

  His was an existence brought on by someone else’s will, to carry out her will as he saw fit…

  And yet, he knew that given time he would be snuffed out. Just like the flame of this candle, his gaze shifted to his right, and the two weapons he had taken from that girl caught his eye.

  He reached his hand out to the smaller of the two and lifted it from its sheath, “Hm?” he muttered eyeing the blade, it looked sleek. It was well crafted, but there were lines across it.

  Small lines that kept it barely held together.

  “The Segmented Blade?” Genbu uttered in realization, “But the only one who wields such a weapon is.”

  “SHADEWALKER!” a soldier burst through the door, “She’s! She’s here! Shadewalker is here!” the soldier spoke.

  And Genbu said nothing to that setting the blade down on his desk, “...It would seem I have a guest to greet.” he uttered calmly as he straightened out his outfit with a chuckle.

  Turning to face the soldier, “Gather the man, and spread them out across the perimeter, I want any escapes cut down… as for The Shadewalker. Leave her to me.”

  The soldier blinked at that before saluting, “S-Sir! Consider it done!”

  With that, the soldier turned around and ran off.

  Genbu frowned walking forward towards the door,

  -How? How did I let such a thing slip my notice? Have I gone blind? Or perhaps…

  He stood outside his cabin, there straight ahead in the dirt Skylar stood her eyes narrowed in disgust.

  Her pink hair flowed faintly with the wind.

  “...So that would make you Skylar Shadewalker?” Genbu spoke first a disappointed frown on his face, “To think a girl as fragile as you would earn the nickname Fairy Of Blood. It’s almost disappointing.” he made his declaration as he reached up grabbing his blade and unsheathing it slowly, pointing it forward.

  Skylar stared at the sight undeterred by the sight of steel being pointed her way, instead she only spoke up to ask one question, “Why?”

  Genbu blinked at that, “Why?” he heard the question though he had yet to understand it.

  “Why do this? Why subjugate these people? Why send them into this senseless slaughter?” Skylar questioned shaking her hand anger clear on her face.

  Genbu remained silent for a moment before a smirk tugged on his lips, “Because that is what gives life meaning. The slaughter raises the value of the strong. And those who cannot withstand it are weak.” He declared as though it was the most obvious thing in the world, “To deny such a thing, is to deny human nature.”

  Genbu declared thrusting the blade he held forward pointing it at Skylar, Skylar said nothing as a small gust of wind blew forth.

  She instead let out a small sigh closing her eyes, before raising up her fists, she had no weapon to speak of at the moment but that wasn’t going to stop her.

  Her eyes snapped open a crimson glow appearing, as flames burst to life over her fists, she then darted forward throwing her right fist forward and slamming it into Genbu’s blade, “Slow.” he commented, as he slammed his knee into Skylar’s gut, he then swung his blade aiming for Skylar’s neck, she ducked under Genbu’s blade as he uttered his next words, “Sloppy!” he lifted his boot slamming it into Skylar’s now lowered head sending her tumbling across the dirt.

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  She let out a gasp as her vision recovered, she looked ahead only to see Genbu wasn’t there, quickly she shifted her gaze upwards, seeing Genbu above her with his blade raised high.

  Her eyes widened and she rolled to the side as Genbu slashed down at her, barely missing her.

  She quickly got back to her feet, staring ahead with a worried expression, “Wrong…” Genbu uttered after a moment, annoyance in his gaze, “This is all wrong, you're supposed to be strong. Your supposed to be one of the best… and yet this is oh so disappointing!” Genbu shouted turning to face Skylar.

  Skylar winced at that taking a step backward, in truth she was making this up as she went, she wasn’t all that skilled at hand-to-hand combat outside of blades.

  …

  Right?

  No… There was that one time.

  Skylar’s memories flashed of the first time she met Striga, she listened to the wind for that fight.

  But… Against Genbu? That wasn’t going to work. He’d catch on too fast.

  Skylar then closed her eyes letting the magic flow through her, when she opened them her eyes were a bright green.

  -So I’ll use that to my advantage.

  She shot forward then much to Genbu’s annoyance, he turned his blade toward her once more thrusting forward only for his eyes to widen slightly as Skylar leaped over the blade lifting her leg and slamming it into the side of Genbu’s cheek, “Wha-” He cried out as he stumbled backward.

  -Again.

  She landed shooting forward as Genbu clutched the side of his face eyes wide as he felt the wind blow past him.

  Genbu grits his teeth slashing vertically at Skylar, she pivoted to the side in a slight spin, and strands of her pink hair got cut by Genbu’s blade as she did so.

  Her eyes shined with that emerald glow.

  “Still disappointed?” Skylar questioned her voice laced with venom as she threw her right fist into Genbu’s chin, a burst of wind flowing through it sending Genbu flying through the far back building.

  Genbu hit the table in his room with a grunt, an angry gaze clear on his face as he started to stand up.

  “Damn brat…” he stood up as Skylar walked through the door.

  Letting the wind blow in behind her, she blasted forward clenching her right fist and throwing it forward.

  Genbu however had caught on he slashed forward with his blade, Skylar however smirked at the sight.

  -Checkmate

  From behind, Skylar’s segmented blade removed itself from Genbu’s sheath, flying forward and slashing through his arm as it went to Skylar’s hand, blood flew into the air as Genbu’s eyes widened.

  His gaze locked onto the blood in the air. As Skylar’s other blade flew to her back, still in its sheath as it attached itself.

  Skylar’s eyes flashed crimson as flames covered her blade she lowered herself to the ground letting out a roar as she slashed horizontally through Genbu’s torso a beam of fire shot out consuming the wood in this place, the roof began to fall as Genbu stared forward eyes wide in shock.

  Skylar blinked realizing she had done more damage than she intended, she couldn’t even see Genbu in the rubble, so she quickly spun around making her exit as quickly as she could.

  Not before the building started to fall into rubble, bits of fire and wood fell around her, and one piece hit the side of her head causing her to wince.

  Her vision blurred as she escaped the collapse albeit barely, Skylar’s breathing came out heavy and ragged, and beads of sweat formed around her face as she reached up sheathing her blade, “It’s… Over…” She muttered the words as she turned around and started to limp away from the rubble.

  “Got to… find that kid, and get her to her mother.” Skylar hissed out as she focused her gaze ahead.

  Her eyes widened suddenly, and she felt something. Like the feeling of blood leaving her body, slowly she looked down, and saw something, “Huh…?” she uttered the word confusion on her face as her eyes were wide.

  A sword.

  A sword had pierced through her chest.

  “You are strong I give you that much.” Genbu growled from behind holding his blade tight, “But you are nothing in comparison to us.” with those words he removed his blade and let Skylar fall forward.

  Cold.

  Why is it so cold?

  Skylar’s breathing began to fade her eyes trembling as she tried to reach for her blade, but her hand fell to the ground uselessly.

  Something appeared to fall at the edge of her vision, a dice.

  A twenty-sided dice.

  --Am… Am I dying?

  No…

  Nononononononono!

  I don’t…

  I don’t want to.

  I can’t die.

  The dice settled, hitting the ground landing on a number of their choice, the dice of fate… landed on a 1.

  Skylar’s eyes stared forward, empty.

  Dead.

  Genbu stares down even as the rain starts to fall, “Such is the folly of a child. Told you I was immortal but you had to go and tempt fate anyways.” he shakes his head, turning around her starts to walk away, “Nothing but an ignorant child who thinks she can take on the world.” he made his last declaration as he flicked the blood off his blade sheathing it.

  ***

  Shina.

  That was her name, and her job was to ensure this place was taken care of while those she cared for were off saving others.

  An easy thing with her magic, “Jonathan do me a favor and double-check our supplies, I won’t have our workers going hungry again because somebody did a misscount.” Shina declared as she walked by the man.

  He had black hair and tired eyes, but he smiled nevertheless, “Of course. I’ll see it done.”

  She let out a hum, closing her eyes for a moment.

  She felt the vibration of every footstep, of every voice echoing off the walls, “That’s good… seems everything is still in containment.” She then stretched, “Just means I’ve got to do the checkups, then I can turn in for the night.” She sighed, “Watching over this place is a pain… maybe one cup of coffee wouldn’t hurt?”

  She muttered to herself as she started to walk over to the tent that provided her poison of choice.

  A cheery expression on her face as she walked in, but that demeanor dropped as she saw who was inside.

  There drinking from one of those cups, sat Draco.

  “Wha-” she instantly threw up her right hand only for her eyes to widen as her arm was covered in chains.

  “...Julieta let you watch the place is that correct?” Draco commented, as he looked over his shoulder setting his cup down, “Hm, not the worst choice I suppose… but you are more a nuisance than she is.”

  Draco then stood up turning his gaze to face Shina.

  Shina however growled, “What do you want?” She wasn’t in the mood for this, it was the worst-case scenario for her.

  This man, she never ever liked him.

  Draco hummed, “That is the question that has been on everyone’s mind as of late hasn’t it?” he smirked, “But it’s still too soon to raise the curtain on that particular question…” he then cracked his neck.

  Walking forward he knelt down so that he’d be at eye level with Shina, “...All I need from you is to relay this message to Skylar Shadewalker when next you see her.” He leaned forward and whispered a set of words into Shina’s ear.

  Causing her eyes to widen, “What…? What does that even…?” she muttered as the chains removed themselves and allowed her free movement.

  “She will understand once she hears them.” Draco declared as he started to walk forward a black portal appeared in front of him, and Shina gritted her teeth turning around.

  “Just what are you!? Are you on our side? Or the side of the bad guy’s!” She shouted her question and Draco stopped just in front of the portal.

  “...I’m on the side that will save the world.” he declared at last as he moved through the portal it closed behind him.

  Shina looked down, “Skylar… please. Please be safe.”

  ***

  A woman walked forward, wearing a blue dress, it was long and frilly, but it did its duty to protect her skin from the climate around her.

  Her eyes were a dark purple as she knocked on the door before her she had a white scarf around her.

  Her hair was a shade of purple as well, it was short and the back of it was tied up in a bow shape.

  She let out a sigh slamming her heel into the door and shoving it open, a staircase led downwards.

  She could hear the sounds of mechanical tools whirring, it wasn’t surprising considering this place was a workshop, but she had come here on business, and since Striga wasn’t around… I fell to her.

  So she walked down the stairs with a light sigh, she hated this place, the machines, and most rules to be honest.

  But the rules allow her to do as she pleases, and the machines allow her to see so many things that she’d be unable to otherwise.

  Such was the way of the world.

  There at the bottom of the stairs, Jack sat with his tools he wore a face of irritation, and his goggles were upon his head, “If I don’t answer the door, that usually means I’m busy Beatrice.” Jack spoke up setting his tool down, in front of him was a piece of metal.

  A sword?

  There was a hole in the hilt though, a rather large hole at that.

  To the right of the blade was what seemed to be a large round cylinder.

  Beatrice however simply shrugged, “Need I remind you that it was Striga who left you in charge of her position, your privacy is practically null while you have it.” she declared with a chuckle.

  She then looked over his shoulder, “What are you working on there? Your not the type to work on weapons, machines are always your preferred subject.”

  Jack blinked looking at the sword, “The blade itself isn’t my work, Gerelt brought it to me, along with these transcripts.” Jack explained reaching to the far right of his desk, and lifting up a stack of papers, “take a look.” He held out the stack with a frown.

  Beatrice arched a brow taking the papers and she began to examine them with a lazy gaze, that was until she saw a word that caught her interest, ‘Anarchy.’

  She blinked and started to read with renewed interest, “This is… A description of the weapons wielded by the three heroes of eld? The ones who sent us skyward?”

  Jack nodded, “Anarchy’s weapon was a simple crowbar infused with the void, no point trying to recreate that thing. After all the only people who could wield something like that would be a Dark Knight in Babylon. The second hero, The Hacker had no weapon to speak of. He simply used his fists, and as for the last one… sadly the transcripts along with most other texts have lost his name. The Warrior Of Light… had a weapon unlike any I’ve ever heard of. A blade that could slash through nearly anything, topple that with the fact that he seemed to be able to imbue the blade with near explosive power, and…” He then turned his gaze back to the sword, “A blade like that… should have been impossible for anyone to wield.”

  He then frowns, “And yet The Warrior Of Light used it all the same, he must have been quite the man.”

  Beatrice blinked handing the papers back to Jack, he took the papers setting them back down and Beatrice spoke up, “So your attempting to recreate that weapon alongside Garelt? I’ve got to say, I’m a bit surprised.”

  “It serves as a decent break from my usual work, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about the matter myself.” Jack explained as he examined the cylinder he was working upon before frowning, “But I digress, you didn’t come here to listen to me ramble on did you? What did you want?”

  Beatrice blinked before looking to Jack with her own smirk, “There have been reports of a God with earth magic going rampant at the docks… I simply wished to ask for your permission to deal with it personally.”

  Jack blinked taking in her words, “Of course there is…” he sighed running a hand through his hair, “I figured this would be an issue when the storm was removed… Fine, go and take care of it. Just don’t leave the job unfinished okay?” he glared over his shoulder.

  Beatrice smiled clasping her hands together, “Oh I’d never dream of such a thing!” with that she spun around and began to skip up the stairs.

  Jack kept his gaze on her as she left, “...A god that wants to slaughter other gods… I’m glad she’s on our side.” Jack muttered shaking his head as he turned his gaze back to his work, “But enough of that… Back to work, I have to wonder who designed this thing originally, it’s so complex. A ‘gunblade’ huh?” Jack frowned running a hand through his hair as he squinted at his work.

  “...This is going to require a few all-nighters…” He sighed picking his tools back up and getting to work.

  Beatrice hummed a tune as she opened the door, she paused turning to her right.

  There, a girl stood half asleep trying to keep her head up.

  She wore a red dress, with white cuffs on her sleeves, and black spots in the shapes of diamonds on her stomach leading up to her chest, it was adorable really, her hair was a dark brown, and she had a similar hair style to Beatrice.

  Beatrice walked up to her and cupped her chin lifting her face slightly, “Liz sweetie, wake up. We’ve got the go-ahead to do as we please with this God.”

  Liz’s eyes opened slowly and she tilted her head slightly, “Eh? Does that mean I can beat him up? Show him my power? For real?” she questioned with an innocent smile.

  And Beatrice chuckled, “Yes, that is correct Liz. Now come along, let’s go and entertain our guest.”

  With those words, they started to make their way to the docks.

  When they reached the docks, they were greeted with a grisly sight, about 20 corpses of their own men.

  And in the center of it all, was the god bathed in their blood, “Ah, it’s so wonderful to be able to taste new blood… I had figured that Jubilee’s soldiers would be better… but I suppose for a nation that refuses to see combat. This was about the best I could hope for… And now they send more cattle to the slaughter.”

  The man declared looking at Liz and Beatrice.

  “Liz…” Beatrice muttered the name before walking forward. Liz kept her eyes narrowed at the god ahead of her, this god had amber eyes and a bow in his right hand. He raised that bow high, but Liz smirked, not even bothering to look at Beatrice’s direction. Her scarlet dress shone in the night, her eyes a golden yellow as she reached up, tightening the ribbon around her neck a sly smirk appearing on her face.

  “I’ll kill them, with my power it’ll be a cinch, just watch.” Liz declared though the beads of sweat trickling down her face told another story entirely.

  Fear clouded her face…

  Until.

  Liz’s eyes widened when arrows landed on her right kidney, another shot landed, arrows flew past her raining from above, and another arrow hit its mark, landing into her right arm and hitting an artery.

  The next shot once more landed in her throat blood trickled down her lip and life began to leave her eyes.

  That was…

  Until she felt something stop her from falling, the scent of lavender filled her nose, she stared with wide eyes when she felt a hand run up her side, “Your power wasn’t made for destruction, that is where I come in.” Beatrice declared her blue dress and violet hair was pressed up against Liz’s back, yet the arrows that went through Liz missed Beatrice by a wide margin.

  Beatrice’s right hand reached forward grasping one of the arrows that pierced through Liz’s body, “I shall be the one who destroys the god… And you, you will be the shield that takes all blows intended for me.”

  Liz smiled in response, “As you wish, my beloved.”

  Beatrice smirked, snapping the arrow in her grasp she then leaned forward, and whispered into Liz’s ear, “Survive this and I’ll give you a nice reward when we get home.”

  The god stood there bow drawn, a red arrow was notched back and his eyes glowed with raw power, the ground cracked around him as electricity flew from his arrow.

  “Only fools would stand this kind of might! I SHALL TEAR YOU TO PIECES!”

  He let loose that arrow and it roared forward tearing the ground to shreds as it soared through the air, the rain that fell on this day was blown aside by the speed of this single arrow.

  It was unlike anything Liz had ever seen; she wasn’t even sure if she would survive.

  . . .

  But she wanted that reward, she wanted to make the one she loved proud, and currently, that loved one stood there with her arms wrapped around her with complete faith.

  In this single moment.

  Liz was invincible.

  Smoke entered the air as the blast landed.

  The God stood there for a moment, a hand still on his bowstring as he stared at the smoke cloud.

  “...And so silence falls on the duo,” he spoke lowering his bow, his ears couldn’t pick up a single sound, so he turned around only for his eyes to widen, Beatrice stood behind him her leg slamming into the ground as she approached smoke trailing off her back as a manic smile pulled at the edges of her face, her right arm was pulled back, an orb of white energy in her hand.

  And she slammed her palm into that god’s chest.

  His eyes widened as he felt something in his body shift, “Wha-” blood flew from his mouth and then his chest.

  One after the other new holes appeared in his body and gushed out blood, he dropped forward at the last.

  Hitting the ground.

  Dead.

  Beatrice, let out a ‘hmph’ at that turning to look at Liz.

  “Oh dear, look at you all beat up…” She declared walking forward, using The God’s corpse as a bridge showing no respect for him as she approached her sister, “all beat up and torn to pieces…” Liz lay on the ground.

  Her eyes were empty, dead.

  “...” Beatrice narrowed her gaze, “Hey. Get up puppet.” a white string shot out connecting to Liz’s neck and her eyes shot up with life, her wounds began to stitch up rapidly.

  And so the dead rose.

  Liz blinked sitting up, “Did… Did I do good sis?”

  Beatrice put on a warm smile, “Oh that you did… now as for your reward, you get the honor of feeding me.” she declared leaning forward and she bit down onto Liz’s neck, tearing off a piece of flesh.

  This was the relationship of these sisters, Beatrice the god.

  And Liz the puppet.

  They were the ace of Jubilee, the ones called when dirty work needed to be done.

  And they’d have it no other way.

  Beatrice then let out a hum.

  Her mouth was covered in the blood of her now healing younger sister, “Now then, let us be off… it was clear that scum was not the one I seek… So shall we?” Beatrice declared.

  She was a god, a god shrouded in mystery, one that for reasons unknown would ally itself with humans yet showed disdain for its own kind.

  And her sister… that ‘puppet’ was the first person she ever killed.

  Now wandering this world, as Beatrice’s own personal meal.

  It was also the source of her strength, the more she allowed Liz to be harmed, the more energy Liz would generate, and Liz could turn that energy into a ball of white power to be thrown back at her enemies.

  That was how the duo had operated for years now.

  But there was one thing that irked her about it…

  “Can we get some cake maybe?” Liz chirped with a wide smile, Beatrice blinked looking over her shoulder, before smiling softly.

  “Of course we can.”

  “Yayyy! I love you, sis!” Liz said with a wide smile, Beatrice flinched, not at the sight of the smile, but the words that Liz uttered.

  ‘I love you’ she was a puppet, trapped within her own body…

  A puppet that was forced into the state of emotion it felt before it first died…

  A state of unconditional love for their sibling.

  “...” Beatrice grimaced, turning away and starting to walk back towards Jubilee, “I loved you too.” she’d reply.