AN: For those that have a significant other, Happy Valentine's Day; for people who struggle like me, Happy Single's Awareness Day! Sob.

New Chapter, and we now get see all the fronts of this war begin to wind down, and that means MORE BRUTAL FIGHTS!

Song title comes from Foreigner song of the same name.

Have a CRAZY LAZY DAY y'all! And please, ENJOY!

Arc Five: The World War

Chapter 27: Moment of Truth

Emilia was sitting upon her throne, watching the individuals entering the room which housed that ever fateful meeting, which swung the pendulum of destiny.

"Ovidius, Beatrice, welcome."

Ovidius and Beatrice entered with their bodyguards, two Lewes Clones.

Beatrice waved as mesmerizingly as she could. Some of the guards would've taken offense with their refusal to bow, but knowing their strength and the relationship with the KIng they brushed it aside.

"King Emilia, we've arrived, I suppose."

"Emilia is just fine, at least among those close to me."

"Very well, I suppose. As you know, we're here to inform you of the current situations on all the fronts."

"And?"

"With regards with Kararagi, the capital of theirs, Jinsei No Tochi, is hidden near two mountain ranges, making it hard for the Zeppelins to fly over, I suppose."

"So it's a full scale invasion then?"

"From the front, I suppose."

"And Gusteko?"

Ovidius chimed in.

"Of that, we can say it's smooth sailing."

"Really, and the resistance?"

"Sporadic at best, luckily the economic structure of their nation and uneven prosperity between rich and poor, has become our advantage."

"The deserters, I'm thinking?"

"Yes my king, as of right now, we've acquired over 12,000 mutineers who have given us valuable information and weaponry. Not to mention, apparently, the northern provinces have started a Coup, and they've been really distracting the Gusteko army...and get this, ahahaha, the soldiers they send over there? They immediately join them and provide them with weapons and the like! Ohohohoho-ahahahaha! What a conundrum!"

Slapping his knees in sheer laughter, Beatrice put on a sour expression as she brushed her long white hair.

"And Beatrice, what about our own situation with, that?"

"Oh, that small rebellion in the south territory, I suppose?"

"Correct, the ones started by some of the survivors of the Priestella War."

"...Already taken care of, we've successfully captured their bases and now they're being sent to the very same prison camps near the Sanctuary."

"Phew, the Rebellion in Piocatte is over then. And the casualties?"

"Minimal, we lost 15 men, while they lost 94, which included two of their three leaders."

"...I heard the rumors that-"

Both ladies made those, oh so, despondent expressions.

"-The three leaders were mothers who lost their families in the war, I suppose."

"...Well, p-pushing that aside. And the Vollachian problem?"

"As we informed you last week, I suppose. We've begun bombarding the Capital of Rupgana, and haven't stopped, I concur."

"Then, when will the invasion begin?"

Puck nodded as well with her, both hoping for more good news, so Beatrice could inform them, bluntly.

"We're giving it another week, I suppose."

"Another week?! What for?!"

"Even if the city is being completely destroyed, the Castle is another matter, I suppose."

"The castle?"

Ovidius sat on the ground and used his ring to make as accurate a construct of the Castle as possible.

"Our prisoner Chisha Gold informed us that the Crystal Palace has high amounts of mana stones, formed into the supports when it was being constructed. That has led to an issue, one with immense prevalence."

"Magic."

"Yes Emilia, a barrier, surrounding the castle with a radius of six miles. It's protected it from any of our attacks thus far, even Starlight Flames have been unable to get through."

"Does the barrier hold up against physical attacks?"

"No, it seems to block out magical attacks, so a mounted invasion through the barrier is our only chance."

"Why not have Zeppelins drop out our soldiers?"

"We did, but Flying Dragon units attacked, and we lost two Zeppelins."

"Then we have no choice but…?"

"...We have to storm the city and attack the Palace directly."

"Then so be it."

Right as that happened, two other members of the new Royal committee entered.

Anastasia, the Financial Advisor.

Felt, the Labor Advisor; approaching behind her was Felix, smoking a cigarette.

Everyone stood firm as they all looked out the window, Emilia could now speak up.

"We have to pray that those in Vollachia, can make a miracle happen."

Putting her hands in a praying motion, even the Royal Guards stared out the window, hoping this costly war would begin to end...at least, for now.

Because a week would indeed pass, in the beat of a heart.

VOLLACHIA THEATRE

"Grrrr, there it is."

Jolokia stood there up on grassy hill, standing next to Callaloo, who now wore navy blue skin tight leggings, like yoga pants, with a simple black sports bra.

It was the best they could make for her.

Yet it was the only beautiful thing Jolokia could see, for in front of him...hideous.

The entire capital, covered in smoke, pure grey, black and white smoke, miles and miles wide. From the distance, arching through the sky, were beams and strikes still pounding the city.

The towns surrounding the city? Burnt to the ground.

The rivers leading to the city? Blocked off by barricades made by them.

All the wheat, the grains and animals? All taken or destroyed.

All of this, to bring their enemies to the brink of collapse, destroy their morale and lose Lugnican lives at a lower rate.

Jolokia scratched his head, as Callaloo hugged his leg.

"What is it, grrrr?"

"Nothin' I like hugging you."

"Um, uh, alright."

Giving the man a bright smile, he tried to shrug it off.

They moved away.

"The God General" Jolokia Etla Vertumnus.

"The Feral" Callaloo.

In a tent, Bertha was organizing documents, paperwork and everything in between. That was when DuPont entered the room, now wearing a white scarf over his mouth. It was probably due to the embarrassment of losing some teeth in the previous battles.

"You don't have to wear that with me."

"I feel like it's more appropriate to wear it in front of you."

"Well, don't."

She walked over and slowly rolled it down, smiling upon seeing a wry smile from him.

"Nothing you can hide from me, will bother me whatsoever, but I want to see you all."

"Really? Even looking like this?"

"Even like this."

Touching his cheek, they got more intimate...but stopped right there as Bertha tip toed her way to the entrance of her tent.

"We'll save it for later."

"For sure, I can't wait to spoil you with an extravagant dinner, once we get home."

"And what if I say no to dinner?"

"Y-You would?"

She merely winked at his confused face, making the both of them smile.

"A night out it is."

"I accept."

'The Violet Rose" Bertha Giles.

"The Dashing Blade" DuPont Saison.

Both were hoping for the future.

Juel skipped along waving hello to Sagittarius and Pisces, who bowed to her. Smiling more she made it over and sat next to him.

"Hey."

"Hello Juel-san."

Noticing Runther, his trusty Wolgarm partner resting next to him, she nodded and spoke with him.

"Are you, okay?"

"Good enough you know. It's been a hard couple a months, but hopefully with this...I can finally go home with big bro."

"And me?"

"Y-You?"

Face turning a bit bright red, Moussaka was fumbling his words, before she pinched his cheek, calming him down.

"What about Juel-san?"

"I was wondering...if we, can hang out, for awhile."

"Well, I mean, won't the country be busy for a good long while? We have to make territory changes, and there's um, policies, and...and…"

Watching her pout, was the one thing that shut him up, and he scratched his nose. Looking away bashfully, he nodded.

While not an outright answer, it was the best she would get, and sure enough…

"Chu."

"HUH?!"

She gave him a kiss on the cheek, finishing him off, as he fainted.

"Goodness, what are we all going to do with you?"

Yet again, he made her smile, even as Runther awoke in shock seeing him knocked out.

Juel Thanh.

Moussaka Tzatziki.

Runther.

They sat there, as if they were the only ones, at that ever so special spot.

Lisette was leaning on a wall, when Bougatsa showed up.

"Hey, you."

"Uh, oh, hi!"

"Jeez, really jumpy, huh?"

"Oh, well, yeah. I mean, we'll be attacking at some point in time. And I haven't well…"

She played with her thumbs and looked down sadly.

"I haven't done a very good job out there."

"Whatcha talking about? You've helped heal a lot of people."

"Only if someone watches over me."

"C'mon, have some confidence, you're reminding me of my little bro."

"But at least he's doing his job, I haven't done squat."

"Jeez, you are a handful."

He patted her head, making the watery eyed girl stare up at him.

"Look, just do what you can and keep yourself safe, surviving is another part of this mission."

"But I have help protect others, that's my real job. I've messed up so many times, so many years, I have to prove myself."

"Then do it, if you save one life, then you did your job well."

"Really, just one?"

"Sometimes, just one life, can mean so much."

Her watery eyes brightened and her cheeks became flushed.

And as Bougatsa put his hand away...Lisette reached out and grabbed his face, pulling him in for a quick kiss.

"Wha? What the-?!"

"-Uh, I'm sorry, I'll just-"

He hugged her, keeping her from running, and instead stroked the back of her head.

"Easy, I'm not mad or anything, I don't mind being kissed by a cute girl like you."

"C-C-C-Cute?!"

"Yeah, so, let me, just slow things down. See if this is what you want, or is a spur of the moment kind of thing."

"Uh, okay."

He let her go, nodded romantically, and began to walk away...only for Lisette to catch up to him, holding his left hand.

"I guess this is a start."

"Y-yeah, thanks."

Hand in hand, they walked off.

Lisette Monterrey.

Bougatsa Tzatziki.

A hopeful, blossoming relationship, may have very well begun.

A night of drinks shared, glasses toasted, and some liquor poured onto the ground, to the friends taken from them.

"We'll win this for sure, Midge-dono."

Bougatsa made that declaration, as Lisette sat on his lap...and the others toasted with him.

Just a night, a ring passed to Bertha; Juel being given a flower; Lisette a white ribbon for her pink hair...and Callaloo...well, there are some things that are to remain personal between two consenting adults.

Now, the day had come.

It was the night, the entire city, still covered in smoke, bombarded still.

Some of the soldiers thought it was completely unnecessary, but the commanders of these units, knew well that it was for the best.

There were at least 1 million people waiting in that walled city, and all of them, had every intention in defending their last home in this world.

Anyone would.

Then, it stopped.

The eerie echoes of the explosions, the moon high up, orange, from all the smoke and flames below.

It was the signal.

"Make them count, grrrrrr, forward."

They marched carefully, Jolokia, Bertha and DuPont led one of six regiments to the south of the south, at one of the main roads. There would three on the east, then the west, and the north; meanwhile another four teams took on to marching in between each of these others; entrapping them, making sure no one could escape.

With the Conquistador tanks and the two Red Lanterns following around...each regiment was followed by 1-2 Zeppelins flying over head.

As they made their way through the large towns, they found desolation. Homes burned to the ground, craters everywhere, carriages over turn with food inside rotten...bodies of those too slow to escape.

An entire family huddled together, burned to a black scorch.

The soldiers remained quiet, even by the sight of horrors around them.

Eventually, after an hour or so, they were at the first wall, one of three that protected the main city.

Simply, they walked over the rubble.

Then, they went through the completely destroyed gates of the second wall, seeing blood etched from the top of it, smoke billowing as well.

Then the same happened with the third, but everyone was on their toes, ready for anything to happen.

Finally, passing the fourth wall, which had a giant hole in it, they saw the city.

What should have looked like a splendorous, dazzling city reminiscent of glamorous medieval Barcelona, or that of an Italian city of architectural beauty...they were seeing it for the first time.

Horrendous.

The entire city, looked more a graveyard.

Buildings, mere rubble.

Bodies littered about.

Smoke everywhere, with fire still spreading.

A true example of bombardment.

Jolokia growled, Juel looked away in disgust, the Tzantiki brothers stared in a serious stupor, Bertha and DuPont glared at the destroyed city, Lisette got teary eyed, and the rest of the men simply stared in awe.

"Grrrr, let's move."

So they did, and moved up a few miles, nothing to encounter or see. In the corner of their eyes, they could see the other armies following up, this made them nervous.

They had encountered no resistance, not a single-

"OH SHIT!"

Arrows, arching in the sky, falling to destroy all in the way.

"INTO THE RUBBLE NOW!"

They did so, and everyone began to fall back, using the rubble and debris as cover to protect themselves. The tips of these, exploded, and some men were not so lucky, getting blown to bits, others injured.

They began firing back, resulting in an old fashioned firefight. Each shot, was meant to be reloaded after one shot, thus a man behind or next to them, would fire their shot and the process would repeat.

DuPont crawled over to Jolokia.

"We can't stay here!"

"I know, grrrr! We have to keep moving, keep up the pace!"

"Right! I'm going to move some guys forward, to that house up ahead, once we get there, we'll cover you and you head up too!"

"Grrr! Hey, hang on-!"

DuPont got his men and they ran forward, away from their hiding posts.

Jolokia looked up and saw that the Zeppelins were being harrassed by Flying Dragon Riders, who were doing everything in their power to stop their advance.

"DAMN!"

DuPont and his fifteen men made it to the house that was a few yards away...only for the remains to explode and sent him flying back, his men were obliterated.

"DuPont, get back here!"

While Jolokia was screaming, Bertha bit her lips, watching DuPont begin sprinting back.

An arrow hit his side and exploded.

"AUGGHHHH!"

"DUPONT!"

Bertha teared up, spitting blood as she watched him hold onto his grisly wound.

He spun around, launching a windblade, hearing the screams of several Vollachians from the launched attack. He mercilessly fired again and again his wind attacks...until one windslice came from the flames and sliced open his chest.

"GROOOAR! DuPont! GET OUT OF THERE!"

He launched another wind attack, actually seeing it slice off a man's neck. Then two more arrows hit his chest.

In one moment, he tried turning around, he wanted to see her-

BOOM! BOOM!

They exploded, and he fell on his back.

Everyone stopped their firing, and went dead silent, staring in sheer shock, agony and despair at his body.

Then, Bertha, charged.

"COME ON MEN!"

"BERTHA-DONO, WAIT!"



Moussaka's pleas went unheard as she charged, grabbing a nearby sword and tossing it forward, impaling a hiding archer. She was followed by a few others, and she swatted away a arrow with her pata sword. Then she kicked a dagger and got a Vollachian in the eye, killing him.

Only for two arrows to hit her chest, and explode.

"Guaahhh! Aghhh, aghhhhhh...Pont…"

She fell to her knees, dragging him closer and hugging his head.

"Pont...Du...Nnnntnntntntntn…"

She stayed like that, unmoving.

Juel, screamed.

"KYAGHHHHHHHHH!"

And immediately after, Jolokia got up from his hiding spot, tears showering out of his eyes and raised his battleaxe, Callaloo followed closely, clearly enraged.

"GRRRROOOOOAR! CHAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGEEEE!"

Everyone madly charged, screaming and howling in a insane craze.

Even with all their arrows, the attacks coming in and the sheer courage brought into them, made these soldiers ignore the danger. The Vollachians, began to lose.

The zeppelins, now freed from the distractions of the Dragon Riders, began firing on their positions. Even when armed civilians entered the fray, they were quickly overwhelmed by the newfound anger flooding into these peoples minds.

Slaughtered down to the last one, even the injured were impaled by the flag bearers, using the end of the flag poles to do them in. Jolokia noticed an abandoned Magic cannon, it's wheels ruptured. He used his superior strength to lift it, and a person behind him used his mana to charge it.

Running around a corner he used his arms to aim it, like a bazooka, firing it into a inn, which killed all twenty men inside, the then flung it, crushing six more men.

Mousakka sicked Runther on a man, giving him a chance to shoot him blankly in the face. The two ran forward, Juel firing among other sharpshooters including Sagittarius. Meanwhile Pisces, another Lewes Clone, ran along an avenue and used her finely sharpened wires to slice apart some men, before Bougatsa used a barrel as cover firing a shot, which killed a pitchfork wielding woman in the neck. Reloading, men kept charging, the madness literally fueling flames which made things harder to see around them.

Jolokia ran through the flames catching an entire contingency of men off guard and began to use his signature battleaxe,hacking them to pieces. He then pointed forward, seeing a large force of 200 men charging at them.

"LINE UP! LINE UP!"

Fifty men lined up into two columns, then another hundred behind them.

"AIM!"

They aimed their Metia Rods, the ones up front took a knee to aim better and give the men behind a clear firing shot.

"FIRE!"

And they did, killing almost half of the men charging, bust still leaving the rest….to get blown up.

A conquistador tank, with it's huge unnatural metal-like spider appendages, smashed through a already burning house and fired it's main cannon at them, then turned and fired into a house, killing the men hiding in there.

"MOVE! BEHIND THEM!"

They followed closely behind the tanks, using them as protection, as they continued forward.

Hours passed...

Juel fired again, and used her now empty Metia Rod as a blunt weapon to whack a soldier across the head. He was then finished off by a fox demi-human and his long spear. She grabbed a spare rod on the floor, and rushed forward.

When she looked up, she nodded eagerly, as she could see two streaks of red light, swimming across the sky and taking out the intrusive Dragon Riders.

Wilhelm sliced off one man's head, before using his ring to levitate the dragon and slam it at another rider, causing them to fall to their deaths. Mimi used her napalm blood to fly across the sky and burn a few more to death.

The people stationed inside the zeppelins used their personal Metia Rods and fired out to help defend themselves.

Once the female captain, whose brown hair lightened up in the flames below, noticed they had more leeway, she gave the order.

"Commence attacking!"

So they did, the cannons mounted there, began raining down on enemy positions, giving their fellow Lugnicans a path to further move.

Another two hours...

Jolokia saw a man using a lance while riding a Ground Dragon, killing six men, before charging at him.

He obliged, and shoulder tackled the Ground Dragon, causing his own flesh to rip open, but caused the two to collapse onto the ground. Jolokia kicked away his weapon and kicked in his neck. He then grabbed a nearby flag pole, carrying the flag of Vollachia, and stabbed him in his swollen neck.

The Ground Dragon tried biting Jolokia, but he backhanded it, before it was shot in the face by Bougatsa.

"Keep moving! GO! GO!"

The female mage, used fire magic and began burning a whole row of houses, hearing the screams of the people inside, young and old.

A man fully decked in armor tried to attack her, but a Lizardman, carrying a Panther Gun, rained shots all over him, ending his foolhardy charge.

Though it was clearly burning his hands, he held onto it, as if it melted into his muscles.

The men behind him, covered in flags of Vollachian design, keepsakes, reloaded and charged up the mana needed.

He kept moving and they followed along.

At one point, at the western front, a single Lugnican man, Butch Bull, whose son was killed during the initial months of this war, went mad and began attacking mercilessly. His knuckles ripped through his flesh, an eyeball dangling, teeth crumbled, and half his face burned.

Yet he kept using a machete and shield to kill, and kill, kill, and kill.

He would not stop, no matter how many times he was stabbed, or what magic was flung at him, he continued to attack. Even when his abdomen was sliced open by a icicle shot, his organs spilling out, he let out a grunt and attacked him, chucking his face in half.

Even when his shielded arm was cut off by a sudden attack, he stabbed the man in the neck and headbutted him.

But it was finally when six arrows blew off his leg...HE STILL WOULDN'T STOP!

He leaped off his one leg and impaled his machete into a young man, who instinctively thrusted his spear, stabbing him through the neck.

Now his twenty man killing spree came to an end, another legend that would be passed on through generations.

Two more hours passed, but exhaustion was flung out of their minds.

Moussaka ran through the rubble of a house and ran into a spear charging Vollachian, so he slid to the ground and used his legs to clamp his leg and trip him. The Vollachian sprang up and elbowed him in the nose, breaking it.

But Moussaka fired a shot form his Rod, which got him in the elbow, making him drop his spear. So the two got in a wrestling match...Moussaka grabbed a piece of glass, cutting his own fingers and stabbed him in the neck, blood splashed all over his face, almost blinding him. Shoving the dying man away...he was stabbed in the back by another spear wielding man.

"AGGGHHHH!"

Yanking the spear out, the man went for another impaling strike...until he was killed by a strike to the back of the head, from a small pickaxe.

The man slowly turned...to see a shocked and trembling Lisette, he tried saying something, but blood seeped out of his mouth and he fell forward. Moussaka tried getting up, but the pain was too much, so Lisette tossed away the temporary weapon and rushed to him.

"Moussaka! Moussaka!"

"Aghh! Ouuuhggghhh!"

"Hang on! Please!"

Runther dragged a dead Vollachian, but dropped him and rushed to his master, licking profusely.

"Lisette! NO! Get out of here! Take Runther! Get out of here, leave me!"

"NO! I WAS TOLD I CAN SAVE ONE LIFE IN MY ENTIRE LIFETIME! AND I AM GOING TO SAVE YOU!"

"...!"

Shocked by her outburst, he saw her teary eyed resolve, and had her help him up, leaning on a shoulder. Runther took the lead, intending to protect the two.

One more hour later...

Finally seeing the palace and the retreating forces, Jolokia and the other commanders began their slow, but steady buildup of men as they stomped their way to it.

Bougatsa fired a single shot, and they saw first hand the barrier that protected it from magic. Then they heard an explosion in the sky, it appeared a surviving Dragon Rider, carrying explosives rammed himself into a suicide attack, crippling a zeppelin.

It bursted into flames, but the crew inside made no attempt to escape, no, they had an idea.

They gave their nods of condolences, and with a deep breath.

Their woman commander, Heather Nadia, gave her pledge.

"FOR THE KINGDOM!"

She forced the zeppelin, to begin a sudden descent, towards the palace...and sure enough the barrier did nothing, and even when the men at the palace began firing at it, desperate to stop their obvious plan, it failed.

She closed her eyes, as the zeppelin crashed into the palace, levelling entire sections of it and spreading flames all over the place.

All of Lugnicas forces raised their swords, their flags, their fists; roaring in absolute pride, and charged.

Breaking through the disoriented defense, they came to face their first wall, only for their tanks of sorts, to smash through them, and they flooded in.

Even these hardened veterans, these trained symbols of strength, these men and women of Vollachia, could only stare out in terror.

"Oh shit."

Thousands of Lugnicans, hundreds of metal beasts, several zeppelins in the sky, and their tamed Ma-Beast; stormed furiously at them.

The Third and Second God General decided to enter the fray.

The Second General, a skull mask wearing woman, her pink hair fluttering behind her, wielding a large pink colored scythe skipped along and began carving through the storm of men.

She was "The Reaper", Lengua Pamutol.

With her, was a super buff woman with a green half mask and two shields on her arm, punhing and slamming through these men. She fired beams from his eyes and kicked the ground apart, sending divisions flying. Her simmering purple eyes, pitied her foolish opponents. The Third General, Khutulun, and her buzzed green painted hair, matched her armors color.

Wilhelm and Mimi flew down to clash with them.

Yet Jolokia actually landed a surprise superman punch against Khutulun, giving Wilhelm a chance to fire a beam from his ring, which collided with her own eye beams. The crater created, also caused a 4.0 earthquake.

This did not stop the fighting.

Jolokia and Wilhelm began assaulting her from different directions, yet she was well adept in her fighting, and blocked them all.

Yet the side of her neck, was shot. Angered, she spun around and saw Moussaka, still leaning on Lisette's shoulder, having been the one who fired the shot.

She tried to attack, but her arm was sliced off by Wilhelm, and then had her eyes gouged out by Jolokia's natural claws in a sweeping motion. Screaming angrily, she was unaware of Carolus Rex breathing his fire all over her body. Taking advantage Jolokia leaped onto her still burning flames and bit off a chunk of her neck, furthering her damage. He kneed her in the stomach, before leaping back, Letting Wilhelm fire a beam onto her face, showing the muscles and bones underneath her skin. She still tried to attack, but Carolus Rex slammed on top of her back, making her fall face first, and used his fangs to completely decapitate her.

Jolokia, smoldering a tad, from his crazy attack, ordered the men.

"INTO THE PALACE!"

Wilhelm nodded but began to fight against some men, and made some room for the soldiers to charge.

"Keep going we shall hold these men off!"

"Thank you! Grrrr! Come on guys!"

Mimi dodged and spun around the Reaper's projectile pink slices, which carved large sections of the army and city apart. Mimi flew around the sky, and the Reaper obliged, jumping into the sky and releasing a dazzling storm of her pink neon colored slices all over the already ruined capital. It was like a bombardment in of itself.

Yet she had to block shots from some Zeppelins, giving Mimi a chance to rache her back, puking out napalm blood, melting her flesh to the point her spine was shown. The Repaper landed a kick on her but Mimi hugged her leg, creating a construct of Ricardo which punched her in the face, smashing her mask apart. Not before Mimi let go of her leg and created claw constructs around her hand, using them carve up her beautiful slender body. The Reaper and Mimi were in a free-fall, but Mimi kicked her to a unbroken section of the wall.

Getting up from the newly collapsed wall, her beautiful supermodel-class face was shown, now ruined by a black eye.

She couldn't sense Mimi, only for a meteor to drop right at her, but she sliced it in half, seding the halves to destroy the capital further...and giving Mimi to get behind her, her usual light eyes, darkening in the shadows. She kicked a diamond shaped construct through her neck, before using her staff to break open her skull. Unable to function properly, Mimi took the chance and spat her blood onto her open wound, flames and smoke scorching through the woman's eyes, nose and mouth. Mimi drop kicked her and continued fighting the defending men.

They charged through the halls, smacking, punching, impaling and shooting any resistance. They were so close, the throne room was almost there.

All the lives lost, all the strife was almost at an end.

And when they reached it.

"Hey, took you awhile huh?"

Jolokia.

Callaloo.

Moussaka.

Bougatsa.

Lisette.

Runther.

Juel.

The men and women with them, stared at the man, letting his drawn katana sword rest on his shoulder, winking at them.

"Since you are the first bunch here, I'll show ya a bit of fun, okay?"

Jolokia...became exhausted and sighed.

"Damn."

They all lowered their weapons, it was futile.

Cecilus smiled as he dashed at them. Like bolts in a storm, it was unavoidable. The moment of truth formed in that strike of lightning.

As the echoes of thunder muted the blaring of war, The Vollachian Theatre, was about to end.

GUSTEKO THEATRE

Attero, the Guiltylowe created by Ovidius and sent to these snow blanketed lands, sniffed around the ground. He stood his lion head proudly, and strutted along with his many legs. He jumped on one boulder, then a few more before he reached Reinhard. The Sword Saint was busy sipping on some really awful tea, when he noticed Attero.

"Hello, anything new?"

Attero shook its head, but used a paw to point forward, Reinhard sighed in response.

"We have to."

He gazed down, at what the lion-like beast was pointing to.

"We have to make sure we conscript the right men."

"Grrrrrrr."

There, an army of 6,000 Gusteko men and women, who have betrayed their own kingdom to join the Lugnicans in their effort to topple the hierarchy which ruled this nation, for far too long.

It was up to a few commanders and Genau to walk through the lines, weeding out those who needed more training, or just outright be given different positions.

So if anyone finished or backed away from Genau, was immediately booted from front line duties and given express duties to give support instead.

After twenty minutes of this, the positions were given and everyone went about their business. Genau hopped into the air and landed between the two of them.

"How do they look to you Genau?"

"Mossssst of them are just sssshabby farmerssss and the like, but some sssshow promisssse."

"Though farming here, seems out of the ordinary."

"Well they do indoor farming of ssssorts, like the Greenhousesssss we have at home."

"I see, Ovidius will be curious to see this."

"Exactly."

He scratched the back of his head as he sniffed the air. Then he noted something, a bright light descending from the sky.

"OH CR-"

It landed on the ground and exploded, sending a huge section of their army flying away. Genau decided to take the initiative, and he zipped through the sky and landed near a carriage.

"You made a big misssstake assssshole!"

"No, it's you who has, cretenace abomination."

Stepping out, with jet black hair, and grey eyes, wearing a uniform akin to the mythical Bogatyr of East Slavic legends, yet his was all white and he required no helmet. In fact, the only color on his entire armor was the crest on his left chest.

It was the flag of Gusteko, a blue palm with a white rose and two knives sticking out of it.

Though handsome, one would be mistaken if they thought he was the sibling of Elsa Grainhiert...maybe it was the case, but no one would be sure. He had that air of death along with his good looks.

"They call you a Red Lantern, correct?"

"YEAH! I'm Genau! The Beasssst of A Hundred Graveyardssss! And you?!"

"To mention my name to a mere beast like you, is simply beneath me. Yet, I have pride and courtesy to show. I am honored to declare it then, I am Makarista Perkin, I am the Kingdom's Acolyte Knight."

"...Mac-O-Cheesssse Knight? What do you feed the needy?"

"Brutish imbecile, Acolyte! I am a Acolyte! Meaning I have the Divine Protection of Acolyte, which in base terms, means, you cannot defeat me!"

"Whatever you do in your own time, issss clearly none of my busssssiness. Just sssshut it and fight!"

He wagged his tail, getting into a pouncing position, when he saw a small orb of white light float around the knight's open palm.

"You're a sssspirit guy?"

"Spirit User, and yes I am. With my ally Bylina by my side, I will eradicate you and allow the blessing snow to bury you, never to be found."

"Huh…..nah, I am jusssst going to eat you alive."

Genau growled, drool and mist escaping from his fangs, the Acolyte unsheathed a sword and glared at him.

And a spark erupted, the two clashing as snow and dirt broke apart around them, for most, they appeared as if though the destruction was being caused by streaks and blurs.

Genau bit off his hand and kicked his face in, the spirit fired a beam, which Genau countered by using his napalm projectile blood to hurl it at the beam, breaking it apart.

Genau backed away, only to get sliced twice and knocked into a boulder, breaking it apart. He then noticed the hand fell out of his mouth. Perkin quickly grabbed it and latched it back into his hand...and steam began escaping from the wound, as the hand was reattached.

In fact any wounds he had, steam would escape, and the cuts, skin lesions and more, were closed shut.

"Behold the power of my Divine Protection, you simple minded mutt."

"Bwahahahaha! Ssssso you can heal?! BIG DEAL! We Red Lanternsssss can heal too, jusssst focussssing our rage after a fight doesssss that, you big ol ssssstupid fuck!"

"Then a test of endurance, is it?"

"YEAH, I can't wait to edge you out Mac-o-cheesssse Knight."

And with the sun shining behind him, he stuck his tongue out, oh what a sight. Blood and saliva dripping down, his fangs brimming in the beauty of watery delight. The smile he was giving, the folds extenuating in his fur and the pure joy his hellish burning red eyes, what a hideous sight. If one could describe meeting the devil, and that infernal being smiling at you, this was the closest the human mind could comprehend.

The evil, malicious, joy Genau expressed, would make even the Sword Saint flinch for just a second.

"YOU CAN BECOME APART OF ME, AFTER I EAT YOU DOWN TO YOUR FUCKING BALLSSSSSACK!"

"DISGUSTING TO THE END, I WILL ENJOY SENDING YOU TO HELL."

The disgusted knight and the sadistically excited Ma-Beast were reaching their second round...and there would be no other after.

Charged, both did, with every intent to end the life of the other.

Speed slowed down, snow melted at the touch of their bodies.

Perkin would preserve humanity by obliterating Genau.

Genau would honor this powerful knight, by eating him as painfully as possible.

A sword construct and a glowing white sword, collided, cracking the air itself.

Genau had spiked ball constructs strike at Perkin, who sliced them apart, but had to guard himself against ram horn constructs, just for Genau to use the snow to slide down and spring behind him.

Biting off a chunk of flesh from his back, Perkin did retaliate, making his spirit release a barrage of beams, which rocked Genau back to the ground. Genau had an earth spike shoot out of the ground, to which Perkin sliced it apart, only to begin a rapid pace trading of blows against Genau, swords and spear constructs aplenty.

Genau was covered in cuts and slices, but so was the Acolyte Knight.

Perkin sneered at the Ma-Beast, as Genau smiled at him, deviously as before.

Genau puked his blood, of which Perkin masterfully ducked under, pressed his foot forward and stabbed at Genau's belly….only to see a chest piece construct there. He then used his tail to smack him across the face, and bite off his cheek, before spinning in the air, and using his two back legs to kick him in the back of the head.

Genau landed back on his feet, but was hit by a massive sword swing which cut open his shoulder and sent him scraping across the snowy floor.

Perkin got into a defensive swordsmanship stance, as Genau, covered in grisly wounds, grinned in downward position, like a snarling dog would.

Both prepared to do their best again.

His Divine Protection healed him back to prime health, and Genau spat out some blood, like any veteran brawler would.

They proceeded their vicious fight yet again. Yellow and red beams collided in a scene of complete destruction. Genau had many cuts on his body, but intended to keep up the pace of his attacks.

"REVENGA ART 2! SSSSLIPKNOT!"

The red spikes fired out and destroyed yards worth of hills and rocks, but it also blew holes through Perkin's stomach and took out his right leg. He followed with a sword slice that cut open Genau's neck, but the Wolgarm followed this crucial hit, by using stitching constructs to help close up the wound. He then made triceratop horn constructs which gored perkins guarding forearm.

Dissipating the constructs into Mathrafal's double sword and other assorted weapons of past foes, he allowed them strike at him along with his paws nails.

Faster and faster, they kept attacking each other, blood drenching the snow ground, like roses seeping under their feet.

His eyes white in exhaustion, and Genau's eyes turning pitch black from the easily identified bloodlust. Genau landed a sharp paw strike into Perkin's jugular, before he quickly kicked the sword before he could swing it.

Now, he used hard orb constructs to strike all over the Acolyte's body.

Pancreas.

Liver.

Gallbladder.

Kidneys.

All of them ruptured from the strikes being taken, but Genau would still not yield, he continued, before Perkin had his spirit fire a beam, which shot through his already split open shoulder and burned through at least a distance worth of three mountain ranges.

Genau hurled out some blood, staring face first with his agonizingly exhausted opponent. Both eyes watery, bloodshot and covered in blood and cold sweat, these two were at their wits end.

He swung forty times in rapid succession, his sword shining yellow as his spirit fired like a machine gun at Genau.

Hollow holes and cuts littered Genau, but he was not the one to give up. He braved through the last three swings and bit off the flesh from his lower jaw.

Then he had his tail wing over covering it in jagged spike and talon constructs, completely caving in Perkin's temple. Unable to focus, Genau smiled, veins on his face pulsating, his teeth bared in a hideous smile that made blood sprinkle out of his lips. Genau had three spider like appendages stab rapidly against him, before jumping down dodging a few sword strikes, and then, the knight fumed angrily, pointing his sword at him.

Perkin's eyes shined yellow as Genau went wide eyed.

A massive explosion occurred, much like a atomic bomb, sending ice upward and making a nearby mountain collapse from the pressure. Running raggedly from the massive cloud of snow, he huffed and groaned, the Acolyte emerged vic-

"DIE!"

He spun around and was struck by Genau's first Revenga Art, making both of his legs split in half, Genau kicked off the ground and sliced his entire body open.

He fell on his back, as his organs spilled out, and his lungs were rocking back and forth quickly.

Genau stomped on his face, before drooling on him.

The spirit tried to fire, but Genau noticed a shining blue dagger hit it and destroy the spirit, as it let out a hissing cry.

He grinned, as Reinhard nodded, far off in the distance.

Genau smiled, grinned, became elated as he stared at his completely beaten foe.

Even as he had steam escape his wounds, showing the process of healing trying to begin...Genau growled monstrously.

"I have the opportunity to fulfill at least one promise. Markiatsa Perkin, I will enjoy it."

"Beastly, bastard…"

With the sun shining on his back, his entire wolgarm body was darkened by the shadows, leaving only his red painted fangs and teeth, to glisten along with his pulsating, glowing red eyes.

"I WILL ENJOY EATING YOU. THANK YOU, FOR DYING."

"MO-"

Genau continued his promise, tearing out his organs bit by bit and biting off his face, leaving him to gargle in agony, what with only half his tongue left. He chewed and teared at the unresponsive foe, leaving no chance for him to escape this agonizing fate.

This brutal, almost unnecessary display of violence, ended only after five minutes, and afterwards, Genau had the forces burn his healing body...ending the life of this era's Acolyte Knight.

Genau laid on the snow as healers began using magic to patch him up quickly, though they were impressed by his survival, given the severity of his wounds.

Reinhard sat down next to them.

"Well that was, quite the spectacle."

"Pleasssse, I know the quiet tonessss in your voice...you were dissssgusted by the fight."

"Truthfully? Yes, I found it a horrible farce of a duel."

"Chivalry? Really? Oh sssshove it. That time isss done, the moment the Red Ringsss got to thisss world, your moralssss and the like died."

"I want to believe that isn't the case."

"Look around you Ssssword Ssssaint, it'ssss goddamn obviousss."

"...Then where do I go? Where do I belong in this new world?"

He looked down, sadly, as if he was now truly questioning his existence.

Genau groaned.

"You have your purpossse, mean of me to ssssay, but you were nothing more than...um, what was it Brother Ovidiussss called you? Ummmm, oh, a deterrent. Yeah, bassssically, you and every other Ssssword Sssaint, has been a walking weapon…"

"No, that's…"

"It'ssss the damn truth, sssso keep fulfilling your duty and be the walking gun you were meant to be. Then have some kidsss and continue the processsss, ssssad fate, but damn issss it effective."

Looking lost and distraught from the easy understanding of his cruel existence….Reinhard nodded creepily.

"So that is the fate of the Astrea Family?"

"Yup, be our weapon, eat, drink and try to get ssssome. But never forget that, much like me and Attero, we're are the onessss who will do the killing, do the vanisssshing of otherssss, and sssstrike fear into any dissenterssss."

"I'm an instrument...not of honor or chivalry...but-"

"-Fear, a killing and desssstroying tool for our new world."

He stared at him, with no emotion, but the Sword Saint quickly got up and walked away. Genau yawned….not noticing the complete depression plastered on Reinhard's face. Just for the Knight to gaze out over the final mountain ranges...and at the castle, which was their final stop in this all consuming war.

But as of now, it was his only purpose. To win, destroy...for a country, a kingdom, he was understanding less and less….

KARARAGI THEATRE

Orlena rolled across the dirt road, trying at the best effort to avoid birds made of thunder.

These very birds were decimating them, with two whole platoons wiped out. She fired flame based metia, which helped prematurely explode some birds, but sent her fumbling away. She hit her head on a rock, making blood drip into her eye, closing it shut.

Gazing up, she saw her, the woman jumping off of clouds at an expert rate.

This was because of her "Divine Protection of Clouds", not only that but it seemed she had another one as well.

The Divine Protection of Telepathy.

Broadcasting her voice, she was using worded curses to cloud minds all over battlefield. Anyone trying to raise opposition, would be given a brutal mind attack.

So it was left to her, to deal with it.

Racing across the burnt grass, Nijino decided to take her on.

She flew up, as the voice invaded her mind.

"Useless, you can't defeat a warrior like me."

Nijino kicked at her, but she bounced off a cloud and launched several shining shurikens at her, to which she rapidly kicked them apart. Which in turn, resulted in them exploding, making the warrior jump off the cloud and create a giant paper bird, which she stood on.

Nijino slowly floated out of the smoke and glared down at her.

"Incomprehensible, to think you can muster the fortitude to stand against me, Scheibe?! You believe you can best 'The Silent of the Warriors Elite'?!"



Nijino...gave a wicked smile, as blood dripped down her nose.

Scheibe grunted, her voice still telepathic in nature. On her, were talismans wrapping all around her petite body, with a blue short yukata. Her messy black hair and red eyes, made her cute, but the situation was inappropriate for such praise.

"Very well...you must-"

Before anything, Nijino flew down and broke the paper bird, Scheibe made strange hand motions and with puffs of smoke, electric infused ninja stars flung towards her.

Nijino flew through them and ended up surprising Scheibe, what with her sudden acceleration. She put up a solid defensive stance, only for Nijino to spin and land a devastating kick on her face...just for Scheibe to disappear into smoke. Nijino spun back and landed a powerful knee drop, on the real Scheibe, which cracked open her skull. She retaliated by making her fist shine bright blue, with two talismans wrapping around her arm.

The punch resulting from it, smashed in Nijino's right eye, making her socket bulge and become dark purple. Nijino snickered at this, and landed a brutal knee strike on her, breaking three ribs. Scheibe quickly hopped back and created another paper bird, which saved her from slamming into the ground.

But Nijino bear hugged her from behind suplexing her through a large oak tree, they both got to their feet...right as Nijino...well, bitchslapped Scheibe across the face. Scheibe, in a brand new instinct even to her, slapped her back, but when she used her talismans to enhance her strength again, something happened.

Nijino jumped face first onto the ground, using her legs to kick across the ground and…

"CHOMP!"

"GUAAAAAHHHHYAHAAAAAAA!"

Nijino bit into her thigh, even using her fingernails to dig into the new wound.

Nijino did her utmost not to cry, but tears rolled down her angered eyes and she used the empowered fist to try and punch her head clean off.

But Nijino grinned, with her biting, as flexed her legs up, locking them onto her arm. Letting her bite go and pushing off the ground, she spun and made the punch redirected to the ground, destroying three miles worth of dirt. She let the lock go and jumped into a flying knee, which hit her in the temple, making her eyes shake from the impact.

For a split second, she was useless. And with Nijino's one good eye, beaming red, in accordance to her demonic smile, she uttered.

"Let me help you up."

With torque and brutality behind it, she used two fingers to jam it into her left eye, lifting the screaming girl up. They went so far in, they brushed against her brain, making her vomit. Nijino stuck out her fingers, using both hands to grab her head, and kneeing her once normally, then again with a studded knee pad construct.

Pulling her hair she slammed her down.

Picking herself up, Scheibe's face was a hideous mess, teeth sticking out of her cheek and more.

Scheibe made those electric birds, but Nijino had them stabbed with spear constructs, making them explode...driving the despair deeper into her.

Scheibe was a nobody, who was given a new life. New life by being helped as an abandoned orphan, by Delirante and Halibel. Training her, housing her, feeding her. She was indebted to them, and thus wanted to aid her country which housed them, and became a Warrior Elite.

She had good memories, of her making her outfit, of her drinking with Halibel and of seeing the cherry blossoms of spring.

She had bad memories, of her failing many trials against Delirante, of her support in the battle and capture of Garavito, and of all the people she couldn't save during this war.

Yet, she did not want to die.

Not here, not now.

So with new effort, she stepped forward and used a harsh grab, of which Nijino tried to swat away. Only for her hand to be caught in a classic fingerlock, making Scheibe take advantage of and land a massive kick to her temple, aided by some more Talismans.

This did nothing, but make Nijino fume with anger, and she hurled out a massive amount of blood. This burned the girl's entire attire and talismans off, including her skin.

She freed the fingerlock and backflipped away, and began making quick hand motions, ninjutsu style. Scheibe tried using her telepathy to get into Nijino's head, buy herself time as she finished the spell...but she could see the hysterical bloodthirst in her cackling smile, it wasn't going to work.

But as she continued, the spell she was casting was working, an ancient summoning spell passed down to her, the last known user. With it, she was to summon it, a large two horned tiger, larger than an elephant, which could control lightning and fire. It's strength rivaling a Great Spirit, though it could only be summoned for 10 minutes, it should be more than enough.

As the electricity making up it's body was being forged-Nijino was already face to face with her.

"NO! I can't make it in time!"

Nijino lurched down, her orange eyes staring up at her opponent, with complete malice. She swung a overhand punch, of which Scheibe hopped back, hoping to finish the spell in time.

Nijino...well...using her ring's power, allowed herself to ball up and spin forward, hitting the very bottom of her chin with the tips of her toes.

Scheibe...her eyes went white, as a small dent formed on her chin, terrified tears rolled down as well.

The beast she was to summon, with a unimpressive spark, disappeared; the spell was null.

With the beaten girl's consciousness waning, Nijino also stood there, also battered up, but ever more the one with the winning edge. As Scheibe looked up, in her hazy vision, envisioned Nijino as some kind of demon, larger than the world around her, the orange sun like eyes glaring down at her. So she panicked, and threw a miniscule, weak slap. It was for sure weak, pitifully weak...but Nijino still flew into a rage.

"YOU BITCH!"

She slapped the already beaten girl, hard across the floor, after having her fall to the ground, Nijino then mounted on her.

And she threw a punch, and then another, another, another, and another!

"YOU FUCKING SLUT! BITCH! BITCH! BITCH! SKANK! FUCKING LITTLE BRAT!"

She pummeled her, even when Scheibe offered no resistance, until finally; Nijino noticed her hands were completely wet.

"Guess that's it then? You looked desperate, but my pissed-offness at Kararagi, trumped your will to live."

There was nothing but her mouth, and all that remained of the rest of her head, was broken flesh and bone, even her eyes were smashed to bits, a completely nauseating scene, from only the worst of nightmares.

And true to her name, The Silent, had never uttered an actual word.

Nijino got off of her, when she noticed amid the destruction they caused...she could not hear any of the soldiers.

"Huh?"

Orlena was sent flying to her, she caught her, and noticed grisly slash marks across her pretty face.

"Orlena-san! Hey! What happened!?"

"S-Someone, augh, attacked us…"

"Who!?"

"HIM."

She weakly pointed, and there he was.

"Poor lil' Schiebe! She was so intent on fighting from a distance, that she wasn't ready! Not ready, for close quarters combat! Oh fuck! That is so sad, am I right?!"

Garavito had emerged from the smoke, his claw gloves covered in blood, some persons flayed skin was being chewed in his mouth.

He readied his finger knives and spat out the flesh in his mouth.

"Come on! Come on! I've been itching to taste the blood of a Red Lantern!"

"Okay, you have some, and I hope it burns you straight to hell, you Kara-scum!"

She laid Orlena down softly, and flew against Garavito. He charged and launched a massive swinging kick, she dogged and threw her own sliding low kick, he balanced on one hand and used his other to try and cut her. Moving fast, she kicked off the ground, and dodged it.

Back on their feet, they traded kicks and punches, until Nijino activated her first Revenga Art, making lovely armor constructs over her legs. Using them to her advantage, she landed a hard foot on his face, then his chest, his liver area and then at his left thigh.

Blood sprayed out of him, as he tried slicing at her with impressive speed, actually nicking her and making a deep cut on her cheek.

Guarding fast, she landed a muay thai style elbow strike, and went to follow up with a flying knee, just for Garavito to land a massive headbutt on her.

The Red Lantern was startled by it. He swung a spinning slice on her stomach, cutting deep, then kicked and elbow struck her in a massive twirl. Using his spiked guards on his elbows and knees to his advantage.

She stomped the ground and- lost her balance.

"HUH?!"

She was unable to block a five finger strike, which made a hole on her forearm.

"What the hell?! I can't focus?!"

She put up a guard and even some armor constructs around herself...but Garavito relentlessly sliced and scraped at her, using even palm strikes and heabutts to rock her.

"Why?! Why?! Why am I...wait, you gotta be kidding me!"

She realized what was causing such a poor performance on her part. That last hit, that final push by her...the slap, the pitiful one from before, it hit her on the chin. The stress, fatigue and slap combined to make her brain shake so slightly, at the worst possible time.

She desperately tried to block his hits, but he was simply too brutal. Garavito kicked her stomach, breaking her guard wide open and tapping his other foot, a small knife poked out of his boot and he used it to kick-cut her collar open.

Unable to focus, she did realize several things.

"Is he? Is he getting stronger? Faster? How? How?"

Now her tired eyes widened, she came to the conclusion of why this beastly, laughing man was getting this way, even when he covered in injuries.

A Divine Protection, one which Reinhard also had, in his multitude of perks.

This was obviously, the Divine Protection of Power Bleeding.

The more blood and injuries he acquires, the stronger he becomes.

"Oh crap!"

She tried to focus as she puked out blood, but Garavito dove under it, and did a masterful front spin kick, his entire foot slamming on her face, sending her flying through several trees, before crashing into the side of a cliffside.

Her eyes tired, and the crater she formed was drenched in blood.

Garavito eagerly jumped, hopped and even skipped to her.

"Ah! I'll be the first one to behead a lovely Red Lantern like you! I love this war! I LOVE IT! I can think of nothing but to completely cut off your head and keep it to myself! You'll be my first girlfriend, since I got outta prison!"

Nijino was unable to move, or even lift a finger, she was too exhausted.

And so, Garavito charged his finger knives at her, diving happily at her.

So close.

So very close.

"That's enough, get away from her."

Something crashed in front of him, making Garavito backflip away. He still smiled, his eyes going completely white in eagerness.

Stroking the unconscious woman, this Red Lantern spoke softly.

"It's okay, you did good Nijino, please, just stay there. I'm going to handle this."

Stepping away and facing the enemy, Garavito smiled at this.

"Oh, will you take that girls place as my lovely head?"

"No, but I will make you pay for doing that to her."

"Ah, my crotch is swelling! Swelling! So lovely! So angry! Come on! Let's have at it!"

Sticking out his large tongue, he snarled as drool leaked from his smile.

"A rabid man, who is more like a crazed beast, I feel pity for you. Let me send you off to be at peace."

Getting into a low jiu-jitsu stance, her eyes flared.

"But not before you die in complete agony, of course."

Frederica was here, and ready to face, "The Bloodthirsty of the Warriors Elite".

A vicious one-on-one fight was about to be unleashed.

Halibel sat on his seat, overlooking a garden...only to slam his sake cup on the ground. He covered his face, keeping his eyes hidden.

"Delirante, Scheibe."

Tears rolled through his fingers, as he curled into a ball.

"Damn it."

Away from his home, the smoke could be seen, far off in the distance, a sign of the ever impending conflict, that would grip the capital.

LUGNICA

Ovidius tapped his scalpels, and had an assistant turn on the lamps. There in a almost dark drenched room, which was hidden in a secret hideout within his Testing Grounds, where Priestella once stood.

He hummed a tune, as the man strapped to a table, moaned and groaned, his mouth taped shut.

"Oh sorry, I actually don't like the sounds of screams, it's just a personal preference."

He stepped closer, and the man tearfully screamed even if it was muffled..

"I bet you're wondering what is the meaning of this? Well, we got a source, from a certain man named Chisha Gold, that informed us of a troublesome fact. That, spies were trying to infiltrate our beloved country, trying to assassinate Emilia-sama. How crude, how despicable right?"

"Mfffh!"

"Now, after learning their whereabouts and the like, we're nicely using them in many places here and there. But some have escaped, so I was wondering, if you, a known spy for Kararagi, would be so kind as to inform me? I know you are in contact with them, even without a Metia on hand."

"Mffph!"

"...But I think that's hard to swallow. Instead, I am going to be using you for some quick experiments."

"Hmph?!"

"Yes indeed, can I use human bodies to house weapons? Can I manipulate memories by operating on the brain? Can I create undead soldiers? Oh the possibilities are...ENDLESS."

The man weeped under his holdings, as Ovidius got his scalpel closer and closer, all the while, he...

"AHAhahahaHAhahaahahAhahahaahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

His laughter and the victim's muffled screams, echoing throughout the complex, was ignored by the uncaring guards.

Emilia walked through the empty halls, still in her garb, silently stopped.

"Well, this is something."

Spies emerged, truly the assassins they were made out to be. Creeping from shadows and the like, corners, statues...they readied their specially designed weapons and crept towards her.

Emilia...smiled. She drew her ceremonial sword and charged, clashing blades with one man, she low kicked at his ankle and masterfully spun kicked his head, before decapitating him with the sword.

As the others charged, readied their poisons, activated their spells.

Emilia sighed, as Puck appeared sitting on her shoulder.

"Ready Lia?"

"Yup, do it."

In a flash, the entire hallway was frozen solid, all the men did as well, those that ran, or those that were balanced on the wall...fell over and broke apart. Emilia walked away, exhausted, as the spell she used did use up alot of mana. She walked down stairs and into a room, where the others were.

"Hey guys, did it reach here?"

Felix bundled in a large wool blanket sneezed.

"Yup, see? Some of the ice is on the floor too."

"Damn, I still need to practice that attack."

Emilia made a sour face, but Felt got up from her seat wearing a hoodie.

"Still onee-san, that's mighty impressive."

"Maybe, but I've been told I shouldn't rely on magic so much, or at least create attacks that can finish a fight quickly."

"I think you did."

"I have to practice on the range, depending on the situation."

Emilia walked over and sat on a chair.

"We're lucky Ovidius and his assistants were able to trick the spies to stumble into this trap."

Beatrice sipped on a glass of water, musing as she looked at the ice on the floor, Puck floating onto a coffee table.

"This just proves they have truly grown desperate, I suppose."

"Yeah, but it also means this war is gonna be ending soon, right?"

"Well that'd be the case Nii-chan, however, the capitals are the hardest cities to take over, history has always proven that."

"Hmmmm, I guess. Where is Ovidius anyways?"

"...Gathering data, he'll be here later, I suppose."

Puck swung around his tail playfully, before even he felt a cold chill, no something more troublesome than that, and of course, heartbreaking.

Turning his head, he saw Emilia, peeking her eyes at the shut door.

"You know, it's funny? All this? I never would have thought things would have ever gotten to this point. I wanted a country, that treat everyone as equals, like Subaru would've wanted. But so it goes, people just don't understand. The Witch's Cult, Priscilla, the other nations, they simply never could let things be. No matter how courteous or well mannered I was, they would walk all over me, but not Subaru, no not him. He held my hand, no matter how many times he died, or suffered, he was at my side, no matter what. And he taught me something, in all these years, that neither Geuse or Mother Fortuna, ever did, or maybe they did, when they died."

"..."

"That people will truly never respect the kind and peaceful, no, they only respect the strong and merciless. Yes, that's how it's always been, I've just been blinded too long to realize it. But with my dreams at hand, I can figure it out so well. The truth of it all, really I do. That people can only understand one thing…"

Turning her own head, everyone saw it. The smile, a smile devoid of actual happiness, but a shadowy grin of someone, that had truly gazed into the abyss, for far too long.

"Violence. They will only ever understand violence."

"Lia."

Puck trembled seeing that soulless look in her eyes, while Felt and Anastasia were stunned into silence...Felix continued smoking, as Beatrice continued sipping on her glass.

Emilia, had her face return to it's usual bubbly self as she skipped on over to sit next to Felt and hug her.

"Let's not worry too much about it, Subaru and the others will have this whole fight over and done with soon!"

"Y-Yeah."

Felt gave a nervous smile, but relaxed as Emilia rested her head on her shoulder.

Yet Beatrice still gazed out the window, and for a second, just a second, in the city down below...she swore she would have felt someone glaring at the castle.

"My nerves, I suppose?"

Puck laid by himself on the table and glanced at a relaxed Emilia…

"Where did I go wrong?"

In the city below, in a more grungy part of the back alley, walking among the desolate avenues, 4 unsavory guys were hounding on a cloaked girl...

"Come on babe, let's go have some fun!"

"..."

"Huh?! You ignoring me?! Bitch?!"

"..."

"Okay, let's have me and the bros take to our usual spot and have you making a different face!"``

"..."

He went to grab at her.

"I'll do you good, till you can't live without my dick in ya!"

"Rubbish."

Finally speaking up, she grew bored of their useless words and pulled out a sword, continuously hacking at them, slicing them up, releasing her frustration.

"What the fuck?! Hey! HEY! STO-!"

She cut his head diagonally, making his skull and brain slip out. Seeing one escape, she grabbed one of her shoes and tossed it to the back of his head, making him trip on a stone in response. She rushed him as he pulled out a blade, too slowly. The blade went through his eye socket, and he fell over dead when she pulled it out.

Using his own shirt to wipe clean her sword, the woman walked away from the carnage.

Limping away, keeping a hand close to a wall...Crusch Karsten kept moving, having glared at the castle taken from her earlier, she made her way back to work.

Devoid of a single shred of happiness.

In a room, within the Royal Castle, she laid on her bed, completely naked, refusing to even clothe herself in a good while.

Pink hair, unkempt.

Eyes tired, with large dark circles under them.

"Nee-sama please, please, you mustn't be discouraged like this!"

The jewel sat on the counter, the one housing Rem's soul, begging her for the umpteenth time to get better.

Ram just laid their, unable to even cry anymore.

"What else...is there for me?"

Touching her cheeks, staring at the same ceiling she has always done so...Ram was lost, even as she thought of several people.

Roswaal, her master, her true love...gone.

Garfiel, her friend, a person she trusted...gone.

Rem, her sister, her treasure….a fate worse than death, in her opinion.

And of course…

"Natsuki, Subaru…."

Her red eye's...grew dimmer.

"I hate you."

Lives lost, lives saved, it was the anthem of blood that the world, found itself singing, madly under the promise of an end. And sure enough, to be frank, it would, at a high price.

TO BE CONTINUED…

AN: Garavito is named after one of the Worst serial killers in human history, who is still alive in jail. Look him up, he's a real piece of shit.

Listening to a lot of Sabaton songs while writing the fight scenes, it's just what they do best. Also watching Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee films to get inspired, as well as reading Martial Arts manga like Hajime No Ippo, Dragon Ball, and my favorite, KENGAN ASHURA!

Garavito would have to be voiced Keiji Fujiwara, voice of Ladd Russo from Baccano! and yes, the same voice actor as Al from Re:Zero! A double role; one role which is more laid back, the other much more crazed and violent.

Anyways, enough is enough, have a great rest of the day!

Next time: Chapter 28, "Long, Long Way From Home". Until next time, adios!