lm;mp

That's the next hint you all get.

_________________

Look back. I did a thing.

_________________

The final chapter of Jungalore has begun in preparation of the release of its sequel; The Lorian Chronicles!

The following posts from here (and any before) are considered CANONICAL.

... I do realize some people are probably like, super upset with me, and that I've made some VERY iffy decisions in the RP previously. However, no more falling rocks, no more deus ex machina, from here on, there are no rules until TLC releases. I am going to make right what was wrong, and I feel there is no better way to do so than to let my friends -- you, the players -- decide the fate of the world following Baphomatt's defeat. After all, there are still many loose ends, and many stories yet to be completed.

All currently and future registered players will be able to play in this final chapter. I will have a most excellent reward for those who participate. Bear in mind that how everyone plays will determine how the world of Lorias is shaped in the next system.

That said, I feel comfortable sharing some (but not all) details of the new system, as it's now at about 60% completion.

Lorias, though it is the given default name of the world, is a completely open system. You can design worlds of your own, and not necessarily follow the given defaults of the game. There is plenty of leeway to modify characters with special traits, and appearance options. But the biggest change by far is that the game is less math, more story. There are still stats and skills, certainly, but what is most important is the philosophy section of your character sheet. It is this that will shape how the game plays out. There is also a better focus on the GM. Instead of players wandering through files aimlessly, the GM acts as a guide and fellow story writer alongside the players, and not as an antagonist or a rules lawyer.

This is what I will share for now. Maybe later I will share some more, but for now, I hope to see more players join this segment on Jungalore. As stated before, I am looking for artists to contribute racial art and more for the coming rulebook, and will even negotiate payment, so feel free to hit me up.

And remember, even if you don't think you have an imagination, or even if you fear judgement, and even if the whole world would turn against you, you have a natural ability to create any reality, and to thrive off the will you are innately born with. Do not give in, instead, let your will shape your world.

~SBE

_________________

Mikkael rubbed his head with his fingers as he groaned, and Karliah helped him up. They had run from Cyndar, and now they had somehow taken shelter from the masses of undead being slaughtered by the seething energies that now engulfed the region.

"... you alright?" she finally mumbled.

Mikkael didn't answer. He stared out back, like something was at the very tip of his tongue, yet he was unable to say what came to him.

"...If you're wondering how we got here, Mikkael." Karliah continued. "We had to clear out when your friend there went ballistic on Baphomatt..."

"BAPHOMATT!" Mikkael almost yelled, then his voice lowering into a growl. "My body... it... tenses with rage at that name... name..."

"... you can't remember?"

"I... I think my name is Mikkael, as you said." Mikkael shook his head. "... that's right, right?"

"... Amnesia." Karliah shook her head. "Yes, your name is Mikkael Altans."

"... what about my friend you mentioned? What happened?"

Karliah didn't answer, but motioned her head to the window of the small guard post they were hiding in.

A frightful sight met his eyes as he pulled the curtains back - a vast tower of writhing shadows emerging from Cyndar in the distance, cutting a path across the sky, cleaving the clouds in two here and there. From random places, red eyes opened and shut, and massive jaws danced this way and that, almost seeming to ooze with laughter.

"Is... is that?"

"Your traveling companion. Or, what he's become, I'm afraid. Do you remember him?" Karliah asked.

Mikkael didn't respond, desperately searching through the fragments of memory that remained.

"I thought not." she sighed.

Footsteps from outside, and Karliah quickly signaled for quiet as they took cover. Mikkael, after a moment of hesitation, followed her behind a collapsed table.

"H-hello?" a voice called in. "Mikkael? Paladin Karliah? Are nyou in here?"

Mikkael winced. That voice was so familiar that he could almost give it a name; yet words eluded him. Karliah's eyes widened in definite recognition as the footsteps came closer.

A diminutive figure entered the guard post, dressed in the garb of a ninja. The cat ears on her head twitched as she sensed Mikkael shift uncomfortably in his position.

"Kazeko!" Karliah gasped. "What are you doing here?"

"Nyaa? I'd ask the same of you two" Kazeko beamed, as she removed her face-mask. "I was ordered to scout out what was happening in Cyndar when that monster appeared and I saw you two high-tailin' it outta there..."

Mikkael didn't say anything.

"Oro~? Did I interrupt something?" a teasing tone entered Kazeko's voice.

"N-no!" Mikkael's face turned red at the implication. "I-it's not like that."

"Mikkael is suffering from amnesia." Karliah responded. "He doesn't remember you, me or even Yemhelch at all."

The playful smirk fell from her face. "Oh. That's a damned shame... especially after how you two joined forces to beat the crud out of her in court."

A flicker of memory, and Mikkael shook his head while Karliah shifted uncomfortably in her armor.

"S-so, what are Velian forces doing here?"

"Usually, I'd have to kill nya for tryin' to get at secret information, but I figure you'd wanna know." Kazeko sighed. "One of the last seers in our care died a week back, but not before delivering a final vision; the rite to summon Manorach El will be carried out in Cyndar, by Baphomatt."

"Manorach El... the dragon?" Karliah asked.

"Nyup! But in this case, Baphomatt summoning it obviously reeks of some sort of dirty trick." Kazeko answered. "We were gonna nyassassinate Baph... but yeah, the hordes of undead were a little too much... So, nyou two... can you tell me what the heck is that thing that's emerged from Cyndar? Did Baphomatt summon it?"

"That thing is... Yemhelch." Karliah nodded. "Surprised? So was I..."

"Nyo Way!" Kazeko gasped. "That zany older guy who was Mikkael's traveling buddy?"

Mikkael sat there, his mind drawing a blank aside from bits and pieces of memory - he was certain he knew, but the words eluded him.

"No doubt." Karliah answered. "Though, I know he's still himself. He shielded us from a blast meant to demolish the city itself. We wouldn't have escaped either, if it wasn't for him managing to clear a path through the undead and the demons..."

"I see, that explains why he was going after Bapho up there... hey Mikkael!" Kazeko continued. "You sure you can't remember? The two of you are considered local heroes back home in Vel Da Ir for saving Hiroko from the gallows, nya know..."

Mikkael shook his head.

"I guess we should return to Vel Da Ir, and let Hiroko know what's been happening..." Kazeko nodded. "Though I wonder how she'll react when she finds out Yemhelch is a massive monster capable of crossing blades with a demigod. Should we tell her, or do we just mention that the summoning rite was a failure? Either way, a bunch of us got injured and we're gonna have to do a tactical retreat while the going's good."

-

"WHAT ARE YOU?!" Baphomatt gasped. "IT WAS I WHO SLEW LUMBRA AND UMBRARIA. WHY ARE YOU NOT DEAD?!"

"The term, 'lower life form' suits you, worm." the thing below chuckled. "Yet, here - even now, you carry the all-too-human trait of being too curious for your own good."

"SHUT UP!"

"Tell you what, why don't you stop flying around like a frightened parrot and come down here so we can talk this over like adults? Or, are you just gonna run like a chicken? Run and run, but you cannot escape from me..."

_________________

Back in Selk, Philena listened to Eiryk's plea.

"... Yes, I see why he entrusted you with the sacred sword." She responded, "Only one with a courageous heart will lead Jungalore to peace. One who has a strong will to get things done."

"Then-!" Eiryk exclaimed, but the queen raised a hand.

"Even so, I know of no way to cross the desert. It is the only place which remains untouched by the cataclysm, save for the red waters which now run through it." She continued. Eiryk looked to the ground, and on hearing this, he couldn't help but grit his teeth.

"Yet even if this is the case I still have to! Otherwise, the Goddess Demeter who protects the Elvine will..."

Philena smiled, and she nodded, "Yes, I understand what you are saying... And I may have a solution."

The queen stood and sent out a command, "Soldiers of the Meridian Army! We make way for the ruins of Arcane Well!"

A murmur went over the crowd in her court, and everyone was distraught with uncertainty. Since the raid, the Vexus Fields were off limits to the people, as great snowstorms battered the area. Yet even with this, it made no sense for Philena to plan an excursion into the snowfields.

"Queen Philena!" Scorpio interjected, "Why would we go there?"

"The scholars of Avalon have been in contact with me, and they noted passageways that linked Vex Vinas and Arcane Well together. As you all know, Arcane Well is the only point of access in the Vexus Isles now, and we need to get into the Vex Vinas ruins if we are to get what he needs to save the goddess of earth."

"Even so, it leaves Selk defenseless."

"We will remain safe. I just... I have this feeling things will be safe here."

"Very well..." Scorpio answered, "But you are not going."

With just those words, the assassin had two swords pointed at his neck by two Meridian foot soldiers.

"Lower your blades, he meant no harm in it. Besides, I am the queen, and it is my choice where I go and when I want to go." The queen commanded. The foot soldiers complied and nodded, glaring at Scorpio.

"Scorpio, I do not mind your concern, but this is something Eiryk must do. Already, the Reptal have spoken of clean waters, and do you know what that could mean for us? For my people? For everyone?"

Scorpio remained silent, "Do as you please."

"Thank you." She stated in earnest, "Now, about how to get there..."

_________________

The landing was smooth. Afalans nuzzled Philena as she dismounted and she pet the beast's face, handing the reins to one of the attending guards.

"Will it be easy?" Eiryk asked earnestly.

"Honestly, no. But it will be easier than the events to follow..." The queen answered. She showed concern on her face as she has stated so, but for the time being, Eiryk put it to the back of his mind, instead shifting his focus to the task at hand. The group was set outside Arcane Well, the ruins which Mikkael and Philena once visited. The location which held a close memory to her heart.

Philena recalled the expedition to the ruins. All was still similar to her, save for the red oceans and the red of the rivers and constant blizzard now bestowing ruination to the Vexus Snowfields.

Yet, unlike before, the ruins were crawling with ARKs. Clearly, someone had predicted their arrival. Yet, unlike before, Eiryk was now, for all intents and purposes, invincible to their assault, save for the lasers. He motioned for everyone to keep low as one approached closeby, passing them and glancing around. He leapt onto the back of it and began to tear his way inside, making a mess of the mechanized units inside.

Inside, he found his way to what appeared to be a seat, as if he could pilot it. With the corruption now done away with, he sat down inside, and the ARK reconfigured itself into its proper form, with three eyes and silvery armor. The group followed him around as he carefully maneuvered it beyond the corrupt ARKs.

They had made it to the west side of Arcane Well, a school with the ancient markings of the mages was in front of them, and Eiryk hopped out of the makeshift vehicle.

"Certainly interesting in there." He mentioned, "Technology unlike anything you'd imagine."

"Just remember, Eiryk, we are here for a singular purpose." Philena mentioned, "I'm walking through here blind, so we must make haste if we are to make our way towards Vex Vinas..."

With a nod, the group found themselves walking through the abandoned hallways of an ancient magic lab. Philena moved with three guards, and Eiryk moved with another three. Eiryk recalled exactly what Philena had mentioned about it earlier in the skies...

"A Banishing Spell?"

"Precisely, ancient magics exist in ruins. If we can find the magics for dispelling evil forces, you can enter the Chaos Desert. For the desert is an accursed land."

Still, with only a scholar and two guards... This would be dangerous. Should they find anything in Arcane Well, it would save them the trouble of having to enter the Vex Vinas Ruins. Yet without any guidelines, they would need to trust the word of the Avalonian scholars and make their way to Vex Vinas.

Unfortunately, the two groups found nothing. They left the school ruins empty handed and made their way to the cathedral. On their way, lasers shot out of the eyes of an ARK, stopping the group.

"Damn! And here we thought it'd be a cakewalk..." Eiryk spoke out. "Everyone! Keep light on your feet!"

Eiryk let out his demonic arm and the flames of darkness surrounded him as he ran up and clawed at the ARK. Yet unlike the smaller one which he was just operating not too long ago, this one had shields capable of blocking his attacks. Philena echoed out enchantments to increase the group's speed, and yet they would still take severe damage from its attacks.

Leaping into the air, Eiryk kept putting pressure on the ARK's shielding, and even so, it continued to remain untouched. The second he got even close, he would be repelled and would slide twenty feet from the ARK itself, which maintained its use of lasers and clawing attacks.

Then, without warning, a dragon flew over the group, letting out a terrible roar, stunning everyone in place for a moment. The ARK attempted to shoot it out of the sky, but it swooped out of the way, picking up the machine with its claws. The dragon had pure white scales, shining as if a mirror, and a breath of the coldest frost. Unlike most of dragon-kind, it had no forearms, but wings, classifying it more appropriately as a wyvern. Unlike those creatures which the Meridians were used to, it was unseen before.

"By the heavens..." A male guard uttered, "You three, get the scholars and our lady to safety! Eiryk, on me!"

The dragon slammed the massive ARK into the school's ruins, then turning its gaze to the male guard and Eiryk. He was a nimble Meridian soldier, opting to use a large hammer over typical Meridian blades used against dragons. Eiryk himself stared down the dragon as Philena made her way with the scholars and other soldiers towards the cathedral.

"Eiryk! Izraf! We will make haste to Vex Vinas!" Philena shouted back. The Assassin and the Guard nodded.

"Izraf, then? You ever see anything like it?" Eiryk asked. The Meridian shook his head.

"Never. This is something entirely new to me."

The dragon roared once more as the ARK tried to jump it, yet with a single tail swipe, the ARK was cut in two, motionless, and broken.

"Well then, I guess the first thing to do is the tail sever, huh?" Eiryk noted, his claw growing extra sharp as he fueled it with his will.

"Can you get to it?" Izraf questioned. Yet before the question could be answered, Eiryk had already latched his way onto one of the beast's six horns. He chuckled to himself and rushed forwards. However, the dragon slammed the side Eiryk was on into the hammer-wielding meridian, sending moth of them flying into a wall.

Eiryk coughed some blood and uttered, "Okay... scratch that plan..."

"Any distraction tactics you got?"

"I can sense some undead. Can you be a distraction?"

"I'm not going to be this damn wyvern's chew toy!"

A blast of ice swooped too close for comfort as they moved in separate directions. Even though they had just barely dodged it, the frost of the wyvern's breath sent a clear chill over them, freezing the water in the air around them.

Izraf made his way up the wall and Eiryk had used his keen dodging tactics to keep clear of the tail attacks and somersault attacks the wyvern had made. Izraf jumped from the wall, slamming his massive hammer on the beast's head, stunning it for a moment. Eiryk used the opportunity to call upon the bones buried beneath the snow, summoning an undead dragon which held the silvery wyvern in place. Eiryk rushed over to the tail of the massive beast, chewing, biting, and clawing his way through the tough scales, now apparent to him that they were of pure silver with a polish like none other. Nonetheless, he tore off scale after scale as Izraf hammered over the beast's head, and the undead dragon tore at its wings.

Finally, with the tail torn off, Eiryk ate his way inside, tearing the dragon apart from the inside out as Izraf dealt the final blow over the dragon's skull, crushing it in a bloody mess.

Looking at one another after the battle, Izraf asked, "Was that a good enough distraction?"

Eiryk laughed and answered, "I suppose... Come on, let's meet up with her highness."

"Wait, let's take these scales. We could make some stuff out of them. On top of that, the researchers will need to identify this beast." Izraf explained as Eiryk nodded. He took a few scales for himself and some meat as they rushed for the cathedral.

The two of them did well sneaking around on their own. Philena was still in the main cathedral room when they arrived, as were the guards and scholars. Eiryk had offered a hand up to Philena, but quickly realized he was covered in the blood and flesh of a dragon, so transitioned to a wave instead.

"I gathered the required materials." Izraf spoke up. Philena nodded in response."

"Then the assassins will be pleased. Good." Philena answered. Eiryk looked at the two of them and Philena let out a nervous laugh. "I must apologize, Eiryk, but there were reports of an undocumented beast flying over here... I didn't want you to decline such a trip to Vex Vinas, as Scorpio had noted you to be quite capable..."

Eiryk waved a hand and responded, "Hey, I don't care. I just know that I have to save these deities if we want our world back to normal."

"Please, forgive my secrecy." Philena continued, "I am truly sorr-"

Eiryk shook his head, "It's nothing. That said, the thing is dangerous. We were lucky we were on top of a dragon skeleton."

"You can summon the dead?" Philena questioned.

"I don't know how, but after saving the goddess of water, I just... Knew how."

"I see..." Philena voiced, thinking to herself. "Well, that will be useful to have."

She looked around the area, remembering the golem battle. One of the soldiers even sat upon the rubble of the golem, and she recalled how Mikkael broke through its stone shell with the massive blade he would swing about.

"... I do hope... I hope he will remember me, when I next see him."

Izraf smiled, "I'm sure he will."

Everyone took a short rest in that chamber, and when they were set, the soldiers laid down the explosives exactly where the scholars prescribed. The explosions shook the ground well, and the sealed passageway was revealed to them.

"So, this will take us to Vex Vinas?"

"As far as we know..." Izraf spoke up.

"Just who are you, anyways?" Eiryk asked.

"Izraf, Researcher and Dark Knight of the Meridian Empire." He answered, "Of course, I already know who you are, Eiryk Advento, Undead Assassin of the Church of Lumbra."

"But I'm not even..." Eiryk began to speak, but Izraf interrupted as they began to proceed.

"I know, but I am not with the Umbraria Dark Knights. I merely take on the power a Dark Knight uses as a scholarly body. I had heard of you once, before the cataclysm. You're an interesting subject, to say the least."

"Subject?"

"Just know that the Dark Knights will lead you down a path you will not be able to save yourself from. Resist the temptation. Use your powers carefully, and you will be just fine..."

The group continued down into the catacombs and followed the pathway, using small sticks of dynamite when rubble blocked the path, and ice magic to freeze the flooded portions over, that they may walk across the waters.

Finally, after three hours of walking through the dark passages, the scent of sewage permeated the area. Upon using the ladder, the group found themselves in a snow-covered ruin.

Philena was the first to speak as she walked through the deep snow and gazed at the ruins of the tower.

"We're back... Vex Vinas."

_________________

Dodging and weaving through the barrage of barbed spikes, mocking faces and devastating energy blasts from the vast creature below was taking out a lot of him, but Baphomatt had a plan. Slowly gaining altitude with each gritted flap of his now massive wings, he had now reached the base of the massive clouds of darkness that blotted out the sky.

His magic had no effect, the blades of undead did not harm this monstrous behemoth. He had racked his memories and remembered something of this alien intruder that may have been lost to eternity with the genocide he had unleashed upon Cyndar.

"S-stay away from me!" he screamed back at the maelstrom below. "I know what you fear!"

"Oho?"

He closed his remaining battered eye, focusing on dodging the attacks from below as he willed more of the Dragon's magic into his arms. The alien creatures from Frenga Farms would vanish as the sun rose, he remembered from the idle chatter of one of his thralls who had once been planted there. And now, that pawn's information would serve as his final trump-card.

"NOW, FALL BEFORE THE GOD OF DEATH!" he roard as he raised, holding back the devastating shockwave until his fingers began to bleed - then tore into the dark energy clouds, blasting them apart and letting the first rays of the dawn sun fall upon the vast monstrosity below.

"GHHNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The psychic roar nearly deafened him, but he managed to right his balance despite the fact he was severely wounded - his former expression of desperation giving way to a smug laugh as he saw the tendrils recoil back against the sunlight, some bursting into crimson liquid and others simply evaporating as the behemoth began to spiral - like water being drained into the center.

How ironic that a god of death had to resort to using the power of Light to defeat his foe, he thought - but that didn't matter. Methods, procedures... all burn! He would have his glory!

The throne room - the beast was retreating back into the body of that upstart! A sudden flash of inspiration struck him; if he could get a killing blow on that man - Yemhelch, perhaps he could absorb this vast beast's power... the world would not be enough; new horizons, new ambitions opened to him. He could tear apart the universe with this power!

Folding his wings, he dived like an eagle towards the central mass which was now vanishing into the body of the man who had dared to defy him. As he plowed through the clouds, he formed his arm-stump again from shield, to blade, intent on killing Yemhelch in one hit. He could not take chances with this alien monster.

Suddenly, the anguished howls of pain in his head stopped. As his momentum carried him ever closer to the blasted throne room, he saw his quarry look up at him; and a single word escaped Yemhelch's mouth - and even at this distance, he could clearly read it.

"Psyche."

He tried to change his angle of attack, or even slow down - but his partially transformed state was still bound to the laws of physics; and he was skewered on several massive tentacles erupting from Yemhelch's body. It was his turn to scream in agony as the throne room collapsed, revealing a massive jawed mouth that opened up as the tentacles pulled him down and slammed shut on him.

-

"The battle is over." the ninja sighed as he climbed back down. "... now, all that remains is that monster."

Karliah didn't say a word. Despite the distance, she and her traveling companions had seen what had transpired.

"Baphomatt is dead..." Kazeko nodded. "Dragon or not, I don't think anyone'd have survived that. Anyway, what do you think, Mikkael? Remember anyuthing yet?"

Mikkael shook his head, and Kazeko backed off. One of the ninjas broke the uncomfortable silence.

"What do we do about that monster, Taichou?"

"Hm, nyow that we've reached a possible safe distance..." she mused. "We should watch what it's next myove is. Karliah says it's one of our people... but if she's wrong, then the whole world is in danger."

"But it did help us clear the undead when we escaped, taichou..."

"So it did... let's just hope Karliah's right this time..."

_________________

Without time to rest, the group was immediately surrounded by malformations of flesh. Remains of those lost in Vex Vinas during the raid, reconfigured in the worst of poses and positions. Bodies only half or three quarters present, and others being formations of numerous bodies melded together.

"Gods, what in Jungalore happened here!?" Izraf exclaimed, readying his hammer as everyone else followed suit with their weapons. Without warning, the flesh beasts leapt forward and pushed down both the scholars, biting into their bodies and infecting them. Their eyes rolled back and they began to vomit up their innards and more malformations of flesh took shape, latching onto the nearby soldiers. Yet they would not have it, they sliced the demons in two, and Eiryk himself feasted upon them.

Philena echoed an enchantment of fire onto the weapons of those who still stood, and Eiryk clawed each beast that got to close down, setting them ablaze.

"Queen Philena," The female guard nearby began, "What could have caused this?"

Philena finished her spell and answered, "Perhaps all the will left over here caused the mutations of the dead..."

"If that's the case..." Eiryk began his gaze into those flesh malformations with eyes, and yet they only leapt at him, leading to his retaliation with swinging claws, "Guess not... They're not undead, and I can't even resurrect them..."

"Anomalies of will, then... For now, we need to reach the ruined tower!" Philena directed the group, as Eiryk took to the front.

"But my queen, how are we to find the spells?"

"I haven't any idea." She answered, shaking her head, "I just know that we need to."

Eiryk readied himself for more flesh beings, and some came out armored in the bones of other beings and the armor of ARKs. Though more resistance was present, they would fall easily to the weapons of the guard. Izraf himself found this constant onslaught to be enjoyable, and used his health loss to further his swinging speed and power, igniting the beasts.

As they reached the tower, they saw a massive dragon of flesh, wearing the melted armor and ice.

"All sorts of new wildlife here..." Eiryk noted.

"No time to muse on it. Let's beat it down."

Unlike the silver dragon, the beast had no wings, but a large tail of ice and bone and bodies. Its main body a formation of flesh, and a head of ice sharpened into a spear. The flesh beneath its icy plates and arm blades a red, as it dripped blood from beneath the plates. Its eyes glowed an otherworldly white as its three rows of teeth ground together the body of a human. It roared as if it were a feral cat, not as strong as the beast in Arcane Well, but loud enough that it resounded throughout the town. Whatever encroaching beasts were nearing turned and ran into the waters. Better to freeze than to face this beast.

Eiryk neared it and tried to swipe at it. Yet unlike the foes previously, this beast was fast. It moved away and clawed forward. He made a block with his shadowy arm and watched as a portion of the darkness fell below, hardening to stone as blood gushed from the shadows before restoring themselves.

"Careful!" Eiryk shouted, sliding back, "That thing will petrify anything with its attacks!"

Philena focused on summoning a being of great fire, and yet, even it would not answer her call.

"What's wrong!?" Izraf shouted back to her.

"I... I can't summon anything, it's like a mass of white noise whenever I call out to the spirit realm!"

"Damn... Okay! Everyone, watch the patterns of attack!"

Though they tried to observe, the beast was too fast, and it struck down two guards with one claw each, turning them to stone before crushing them beneath its icy grip. Slowly, their party dwindled down to three.

Eiryk took the plunge and bit into the beast, getting under one of the plates, but he had to release his grip as acid began to pour into his mouth, giving him a nasty burn. He cried in agony as he coughed profusely, nearly getting cut in the process.

Philena quickly recited a healing spell on him as Izraf hammered directly onto the ice spear on its head, chipping it ever so slightly, yet the beast rushed him, cutting at him with the ice, but not petrifying him.

"... So it's only the claws that do it..." Eiryk mused. He then looked to the side where he had bit and noticed how the acid had gotten through the ice. The gears turned in his head as he formulated a strategy.

"Philena! Spear it high!"

Philena focused and mass of wood speared it skyward. It pulled itself off the wood and the acid spewed out from its stomach and back, melting most of its ice and metal plating. Now, they saw it for what it was, a mass of flesh kept mostly together by the ice and metal casing, as it slumped down and now moved with four long bone tendrils wrapping around each leg. Eiryk and Izraf combined their next attack, allowing him to slice through its flesh, protected only by the shadows he extended to the blades. Unfortunately, they dulled in the attack, but fortunately, they had cleared the way into the tower...

Though not much was left of books, they never managed to find what they were looking for...

"Damnit!" Eiryk exclaimed, clamming his bandaged fist into the wall, "DAMNIT! DAMNIT!"

"Eiryk..." Philena uttered, "I am sorry. But we will find a way!"

"YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND! I NEED TO..."

He grit his teeth together.

"Let me go downstairs to that accursed lab."

Eiryk proceeded on his own down the stairs. Izraf, the remaining guard, and Philena followed.

"We already looked down here. Nothing in ancient tongues or remotely helpful." Izraf explained. Yet Eiryk was determined. He looked through every cell in the laboratory, even around the cracked tube where Philena was held, much to her dismay. Once more, he slammed his fist down on the control panel, sending a light jolt of electricity through his body. Yet nothing.

"So it's impossible..."

Eiryk shook his head as he sat back in one of the chairs.

"All this... for nothing?" He questioned to himself.

"Well... Look on the bright side!" Philena stated, attempting to cheer him up.

"What bright side!? We lost three people and only found, what, two new species of monsters?"

"... I understand, but please, this is good for us as a whole..." Philena tried to speak.

Then, out of nowhere, they heard something they didn't expect to hear. A voice.

"I'someone there?" The deep voice spoke out, "Any'un? Hallo?"

A dialect like no other was heard from one of the hallways. Eiryk stood up and called out.

"Who's there?"

First a small explosion and rumble, but then a large shadow edged around the corner, growing smaller and smaller until the figure was fully visible. He was about four and a half feet in height, covered in heavy armor, similar to that of the Kemonor.

"Well well..." He spoke in a heavy voice, "Th's's certa'nly intr'resting." He voiced beneath the heavy metal helmet, "Yer'not like ahny race w've seen. Not like th' 'blinkind, nor th' dworfenkind."

Eiryk looked to his traveling companions, "You... You're not human?"

"Nay lad." It responded, "Ah'm wot's called a dworfling'r dworfenkind. We 'ail from th'under. We was minin' out some nyuw tunn'ls and 'eard some voices from b'yond yonder ancient ruin wall."

"I... See..." Eiryk responded.

"Still, t'think such shoddy work was built near'n ancient ruin... Y'all've gotsta be off yer'rock'rs."

"What do you mean ancient ruin?" Eiryk asked. The dwarflinger lead them toward the hole he blasted, and Eiryk saw a familiar scene. Black, smooth walls, with red markings like with the ARKs.

The dwarflinger spoke as him and his mining crew, along with the party, reached the entrance. "Th' ancient dworfling'rs built these'ere citadels as worshippin' places of th'old gods. We've gone a'ead and sealed most of 'em off, as th' things 'ave poured out monsta's as of late..." He pointed to the markings leading down a long hallway and continued, "Th' red marks? Those mean danger. Place's desecrated."

Eiryk gazed down and nodded, "If, say, we cleared out the... intruder, would you all mind if we exchanged cultures?"

"Such kindness!" The dwarflinger exclaimed, "Be m'guest, but only if ya think yerselves capable."

Everyone nodded in agreement, and Eiryk lead them down the hallway...

_________________

The sounds of cheering, booing, trumpets and clapping cut through the silence of eternity and Baphomatt opened his eyes. He had last seen the massive jaws of whatever had eaten him alive smash down on his head; he had felt the serrated teeth cut his flesh apart, the maw ripping off one of his wings...

He stood in an Arena, below a starry night sky. The layout of this Arena was almost similar to the where he was once a Champion. A dream? He looked down upon himself and his stomach turned - his body woven back to mortal form, with both arms intact, now holding a buckler and a blackened skull staff.

"Welcome to hell, Baphomatt Flaggel." Yemhelch's voice, backed with the voices of hundreds spoke in unison. He looked up, and where royalty and other personages would recline, he saw his arch-rival.

"You!" he screamed. "Come down here and fight me if you dare!"

"Gladly." Yemhelch replied. "But you see, others... others you have killed over the years here in the Arena got dibs. I can't possibly jump the cue just to sate your selfish ass."

The Arena's spectators cheered as gratings opened, and several warriors strode into the Arena grounds.

"We will play a game." Yemhelch smiled, his voice booming across the Arena. "For every one of these warriors you slay, you will move one step closer to fighting me. Defeat 5 warriors in single combat and I will grant you the boon you wished for!"

"Hmph, arrogant old man!" Baphomatt yelled back. "You couldn't fight me without that demon summon of yours! Your head hang from this staff!"

"Very well! Let the games begin!"

A great trumpet delivered a sonorous tone that silenced the cheering for a moment, and it came back stronger as a giant of a man, perhaps a half-Titan? got out a cruel spiked mace from the rack strapped to his back and stepped into the center of the Arena, grinning like a man possessed.

"Volug von Ystunhim, a Champion of the Arena - versus challenger Baphomatt Flaggel." the sharp voice intoned over the cheering. "FIGHT!"

-

He called out, willing the energies of Lumbra and Umbraria bound to him; but only silence answered his summons. Deftly dodging the Titan warrior's powerful mace, Baphomatt somersaulted to the side, letting his staff deliver a bone-crushing blow to the Titan's leg from the side.

*CRACK*

He smiled in grim satisfaction as the monstrous man lurched in pain. An opening! Swinging his staff around, he bought it to bear on the man's back, using the sharp end like a spear, he stabbed it right through where the heart would have been. A howl of pain, and the massive man fell to the floor unmoving. Almost as if on instinct, his minds conjured the ritual to raise the undead... again meeting a sinister silence.

"Stop wasting my time, old man!" Baphomatt roared as he threateningly waved the bloodied staff. "I am an Arena Champion! I can take down all four of these pathetic fools!"

"Very well." Yemhelch smiled. "Arcturus, Vivendis, Slyythe, Hisou, prepare yourself."

The remaining four warriors, two humans, one Reptal and one Meridian, unsheathed their weapons and gingerly approached the Arena center.

"...Arena Champion, huh?" Yemhelch grinned. "But are you watching your back?"

Baphomatt did not have time to even comprehend what was slammed into his jaw with enough force that sent him flying into one of the Arena's walls. Through the clearing cloud, he saw the Titan, desperately staunching the hole in his chest, but quite pleased at his handiwork.

"H-how..."

"Volug von Ystunhim was born with a rare condition." Yemhelch chuckled. "Dextrocardia. His heart is on the opposite side of his body."

The four fighters didn't give Baphomatt much time for a rebuttal. The humans pulled him from the debris, the reptal stabbed him in the arm with a dagger, and the Meridian decapitated him with a sweeping slash of his longsword.

With a voiceless scream, Baphomatt's head rolled across the floor before the sudden loss of blood pressure made his eyeballs crumple up.

Darkness.

The sounds of cheering, booing, trumpets and clapping cut through the silence of eternity once more, drawing breath from the cold air. His corpse, standing a ways from where he was, collapsed a few seconds later as time began to flow again, burning up into ash in moments. He was still alive... and yet his body ached with the pain of the stab wound and his neck itched...

"You lost! Looks like you'll have to defeat 6 more warriors if you want to face me, Flaggel!" Yemhelch's voice echoed in his head. "But, eh... lucky for you, I won't kill you just yet. That honor's reserved for a friend of mine."

The trumpet keened its dire note and the grating opened to reveal a lithe Kemonor sword-dancer, and Baphomatt gasped as the sucking hole in the chest of the Titan folded shut.

"FIGHT!"

_________________

As the group made their way through the red hallways, saturated with ominous light were the beasts that crept within. Unlike the one which appeared beneath the Meridian throne room, the dwarflinger ruins which were beneath Vex Vinas were a massive system of tunnels and hallways, leading this way and that.

Eiryk, taking the lead, would spot enemies and vanquish the robotic fiends, taken over by corruption, and Philena would offer healing to anyone who would fall injured, save for Eiryk of course, who would feast on any which were dead humanoids. As they pressed on, they soon came to a room with a spiraling path down the walls, leading to a smaller center at the bottom-most level.

"Be ready for anything." Eiryk warned, "There's likely something down there."

The remaining guard, Philena, and Izraf remained at the uppermost level, as Eiryk vaulted down the pathways, finally reaching the bottom. It was maybe no more than thirty feet in diameter, and lit by red light. To one wall, Eiryk spotted it -- another monolith. Unlike that one which was back in the Meridian throne, it was red. He attempted to make a strike with Excalibur, but no luck.

Suddenly, a loud wail struck the entire room, deafening all standing within. The remaining guard looked to the source of the sound, perched high upon the ceiling. The door to the room immediately shut, and the brand glowed bright red upon its smooth surface, as well as the bottomost floor. Surrounded entirely by darkness then, save for the glowing brands, a crunch filled the room and Philena and Izraf felt the splatter of warm fluids upon them.

Yet Eiryk saw everything in the pitch black darkness. A beast of mechanized legs, missing its heart and clothed in the robes of a mage. Its arms two massive claws made of machinery, and its lower half made of mechanized spider legs. Upon its neck, a massive set of jaws, lined with four rows of teeth, seething liquid corruption. It was only when Philena cast a spell of sight that she recognized him.

This was once Hohenheim; grandfather of Mikkael.


Link


"By the Gods... He should not be alive!" She uttered as she was pulled down the levels with Izraf. Eiryk joined them and responded easily.

"I don't think if God still lives it would let such monstrosities live."

But without warning, the beast lunged for the group with its massive jaws, and they each rolled out of the way. Its patters began to glow red as from its mouth shot a red-hot beam of light, briefly illuminating the area. Everyone kept moving up and down the individual levels. As they continued to change position, more beams would be shot out.

That was when Izraf realized, "Can this thing even see in the damn dark!?"

Eiryk decided to test this theory. He stood in one place as it shot its beam of light, then took aim with his massive jaws. Sure enough, they aimed straight for where Eiryk was when he just barely moved out of place.

"Izraf is right! Cut all lights if possible!" Eiryk shouted. Philena followed the word, and Izraf made a jumping assault upon the mechanized mage as it made its way to the center of the multi-layered room. It came crashing to the ground level and Eiryk followed tow, grabbing its massive jaws and attempting to rip them in two. However, this proved nearly fatal as they clamped down on his leg. He was swung up, hitting the ceiling and falling again to the ground. Before he could react, Hohenheim launched a massive fire attack, covering the entire ground.

Everyone was promptly burned badly, Eiryk especially so. Yet he would not relent. He launched hisleft arm into action, and focused an immense amount of will into it, letting it cover his whole body, cloaking him in total darkness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As this happened, many thoughts rushed through Eiryk's mind. He was swirling in total darkness, unable to tell himself from that same darkness. Soon, a figure approached him, like a silhouette of himself, but with glowing white eyes.

"What is this?" Eiryk thought to himself.

"Your true power." The figure answered, "Welcome to the world which you created, Eiryk Advento. I, too, am Eiryk Advento."

"You are not me."

"But I am, and I am your truest intention."

"No, you cannot be, and aren't."

Imagery began to rapidly flash through his mind. Blood, death. Many figures began to rush him and feast upon the dead as he cut down each and every one of them. All the while, the blood began to rise higher and higher with each death, until he found himself waist deep in the blood.

The figure duplicated itself multiple times over, exploding in a massive array of blood and drowning Eiryk in it. Bloody figures pulled him beneath the surface as this occured and everything went black...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Eiryk rose from the ground, burned, wounded, and dying, the darkness conformed around his body, filling his wounds, remedying his skin, and then, a beastly roar escaped his mouth.


Link


Hohenheim turned as Eiryk underwent a major transformation. Now his Assassin armor had fused with the shadows into a set of blackened plates and bones. His hood morphed into the head of a black dragon, and his cloak extended in metal plates behind him, his blades now sharp and black. The eyes of the dragon glowed a crimson red as both his arms embodied the inner darkness. So terrifying was his form that all in the room shuddered in absolute fear.

"Queen Philena... Stand back..." Izraf warned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When he came to, he was chained up. The shadows had disappeared beneath his bandages, and Philena was staring at him with worrisome eyes.

"What the in the nine oblivions were you thinking!?" Izraf belted out as he picked Eiryk up by the collar.

"I... Don't understand."

"Eiryk, after the fight, you turned on Izraf and I..."

"I don't remember anything of the sort..."

"Kid, if you think you're safe just by saying-" Izraf began, but Philena placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Izraf... I trust Eiryk personally."

"I'm sorry, it wasn't my intention to harm anyone. The shadows began to beckon me and..."

"Relax..." She uttered to him, "I feel that... Scorpio would be the best to speak with you. For this is akin to what the Assassins use to carry out the most dangerous of tasks..."

"... Right..." Eiryk answered. Izraf shook his head as Philena beckoned to unchain him. Doing so, Eiryk stretched and looked over to Hohenheim. Or, rather, what was left of Hohenheim. Scattered throughout the room were machine pieces, and blood soaked the bottom floor. The body was, however, missing.

"You ate him thereafter." Izraf explained, "Honestly, I don't know what you are, but you need to control whatever that power is..."

"I suppose... I've been using it recklessly."

"Well, what do we do now?" Izraf asked, "The room is yellow now. Does it have to do with the monolith down there?"

"Yes, this way..."

Eiryk, Izraf, and Philena waded down the spiraling ramp and Eiryk pulled out Excalibur, striking the glowing yellow circle. Just as it had happened before, the room changed from yellow to blue lights, and everything faded to white...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once again, the tremors started, this time coming from Vex Vinas. The snowfield began to dissipate into a more quaint northern tundra, as it was when the mages watched over Vex Vinas before the raid. Under the ruined city, a massive white cross rose from the land, and blanketed the sky in the purest white light. The red waters around Vex Vinas, just as in Tal-Ari, had begun to fade back to their pure blue form. Small green crosses raised from the depths of the water, souls being released to the heavens once more.

Yet, half the world was still blanketed in the crimson waters, nonetheless, the cross disappeared, and the Northern Corisca Mainland was once again of pure waters, flowing and teeming with life.

Eiryk, Philena, and Izraf appeared outside Vex Vinas, and meeting them was a man, or rather, a terrifying figure with the voice of a man. He wore the skin of a leopard, fashioned into a the robes of one from Vel Da Ir. A straw hat hid most of his face, save for his sharp teeth protruding from his mouth. His facial skin appeared as red, and his hands appeared as a forest green.

"So... Another rises to take on the responsibility of 'hero' then?" The being spoke in a calm tone.

"You must be... An elemental god?" Eiryk asked, and the being smiled.

"I suppose I owe it to you, after all, my powers had been sealed for some time since the spirit of light cast me out... Yes, I am the God of the Air. You may refer to me as Fuujin."

Save for Eiryk, the group knelt before him, and the deity laughed, giving a brief, more clear look at his face. He tilted up his straw hat, revealing four eyes, two giving a look of anger, and two giving a look of joy, "Please, you needn't treat me with such formalities."

"Great Fuujin," Eiryk spoke up, "I am in need of your power."

"Oh? What is it you seek then, mortal one with the scar of shadows?"

Eiryk explained his situation to the wind god, and the being nodded in contemplation.

"You are absolutely right, cursed mortal, for if she were to pass, then the whole of Jungalore would soon follow." He stated in agreement, but then smiled, "Do you know the whereabouts of the celestial crown?"

"The celestial crown?" Eiryk questioned.

"Has it been so long that the mortals have forgotten what the celestial treasures are?" Fuujin asked rhetorically, "Allow me to enlighten thee."


Link


A great gate opened, and the three of them stepped through. There, they were greeted by one hundred lesser beings of light, kneeling in a bow along the path leading up to a great palace. Each was dressed in white silk, with three sets of feathered wings sprouted from their backs, and two halos floating above their heads. Concealing their faces were hoods and white wraps, and they uttered constant prayers as the group walked by.

"Angels...?" Eiryk asked.

"Correct... Welcome to the Yuunlands... In layman's terms... Heaven. We are approaching but one area of heaven, for its vastness cannot be surmised in words."

The group continued along the path and were completely awestruck by the absolute beauty of heaven. Eiryk, however, was focused on the god, leading them through the temple.

"We are approaching the hall of treasures, emptied from a time long passed..."

They continued walking through a vast series of doors until they reached it, a room with six treasure chests.

"It all happened, not long after the creation of the world we originally called... Lorias."

_________________

Link


He removed his lance from the body of Lumbra as the deity slumped over, holding his burning chest.

"You... Who are you? How did you come by a second lance?"

"My name is Elsaiel, and I am here to put an end to your evils, spirit of light."

"I am no mere spirit, human."

"As I am no mere human, spirit. Know thy place."

Lumbra fell to his knees and Elsaiel walked away from the throne.

"Is it done, then?" Meridia asked. Elsaiel nodded and looked to Fuujin, Demeter, and a god of burning flame.

"He will be displeased with each of you when he awakens."

"Then what are we to do?" Demeter asked.

"For now, let him bleed Will into your world. It is necessary if a saviour is to come. I will take the treasures in your stead to your chosen people."

"What if he awakens before then?" Fuujin asked.

Elsaiel smiled, "My soul has survived previous iterations of your world. Let me handle it in my own way."

"An incarnation?" Meridia asked.

Elsaiel nodded in response to her question, "Something like that. He will be of two halves. One shall be of great strength, and another will be bound to shadow."

"When?" The god of flame asked.

"That, I refuse to say, Zhurong, but I will say this..." He stated with a grin, "Light and darkness, both must exist for this world to not fade away."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Afterwards, three days passed," Fuujin explained, "Lumbra awoke and slew each of us, and yet, he was bereft of the great treasures. For that god which should not exist had delivered them to each chosen people. Surely enough, he knew exactly who to give each treasure to, and yet, there are treasures missing..."

"It must be due to Baphomatt..." Eiryk said while pulling the Chalice of Meridia, "I retrieved this one from New Meridia..."

"What do you intend to do with it?" Fuujin asked. Eiryk looked to Philena, and then to Fuujin.

"These are far too powerful to be in the hands of man. Take this one back." Eiryk reasoned and Fuujin smiled.

"What does the Meridian queen think of this."

Philena nodded, "Mikkael, he was searching for the artifacts before he..."

"Worry not, he lives and he is close to you." Fuujin stated. Philena's eyes widened and she gripped his clothes.

"You know his whereabouts!? Please! Fuujin! Enlighten me!"

"Peace, young queen..." Fuujin continued, straightening his clothes, "There is issue with him..."

"... What is wrong with Mikkael...?"

Before he could answer, a rumble shook heaven.

"... I cannot answer, at least, not immediately... I can grant you this one word, Eiryk, go to Demeter, retrieve the crown. It is tied to my will, and shall grant you safe passage through the Chaos Desert. Hurry back to the gates! Otherwise, you will be trapped in the Yuunlands, for it is not a place for mortals to dwell..."

"W-Wait! What of-!"

Once more, a rumble. Fuujin snapped his fingers and whisked them back to the gates. "No time! Hurry back now!"

Eiryk and Izraf had to pull Philena through as it closed in the mortal world. She slapped Eiryk and Izraf.

"Why didn't you two let me stay!?" The angry Mer Queen bellowed at the two of them. Eiryk shook his head.

"You know Mikkael still lives, that should be enough."

"... Yes... I suppose you are right... Forgive my actions..."

Eiryk and the others reconvened with the group and Afalans back at Arcane Well. The trip back was uneventful.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Yes, we have something akin to what you experienced... But that is not for you..." Scorpio said, shaking his head with concern, "The Shadow Virus can, and will kill you, Eiryk."

"I must have it if it can control the power of whatever else is inside me!"

"It will either make you stronger or kill you! You lack discipline!"

"I cannot risk killing her or anyone on accident again..." Eiryk mentioned. Scorpio raised an eyebrow and sighed.

"If you so wish to, there is a target at your next destination, in the town of Demeter. A contract on one of the scholars..."

Eiryk looked up, "Whatever it takes, as long as I can control my curse."

Eiryk took the contract from Scorpio and the sketch.

"Do so quietly, and ten thousand Legens are yours."

"And I'll be given the Shadow Virus?"

"We'll see..." Scorpio smiles.

Eiryk decided to grab a ship, heading due south to Demeter. Worried for the state of the world. All in the meanwhile, from the harvesting of Hohenheim's soul, Baphomatt grew in strength...

_________________

"Taisho, the beast... something's happening!" one of the ninjas ran back the group.

"It's nyot coming this way, is it?"

"No, it's... sinking..."

"What?"

"As if its weight opened a hole below and turned to liquid, taisho..."

Kazeko ran up a tree, and gasped as she saw the sight with her very own eyes. Mikkael remained silent as she climbed back down.

"Perhaps he finished the summon and returned that demon back to the Underworld..." Karliah mused. "Should we go back after him?"

Mikkael rubbed his forehead, scrunching his head and trying to remember anything about this man that his new companions called his best friend. "I can't remember, but if what you say is true..."

They made a U-turn around, towards Cyndar's walls. However, it seemed that the demons and their thralls were regrouping back to the walls, and passing through would take more than what their battered and beaten bodies could do.

"Damnable old fool..." Karliah gritted her teeth. "You'd better not die..."

"I dyon't like this either, but..." Kazeko grumbled. "We'll have to fall back for nyow, and hope Yemhelch has the sense to stay hidden from the demons. We'll put together an expeditionary force and attack in full force as soon as we can, though. I'm sure Hiroko-sama would have no object."

Defeated, the small group resumed their trip to Vel Da Ir...

-

Yemhelch lay on his back in the shattered remains of the throne room, looking up at the dawning sky - naked as the day he was born. His armor had sundered when he had allowed his true form to emerge from his body. Silence filled the air - the undead mostly scourged from the city center. No doubt the demons and their thralls who survived would regroup soon enough... but for now, the city proper was silent... the castle a crumbling ruin, and several buildings nearby similarly brushed away from the wall of flesh.

He tried to move an arm, and winced in pain.

"Ow."

He felt the heavens rumble. Earthquake? Maybe the fight here had weakened the roof of an underground cavern or something...

-

"Is it done?"

"Yes. Those who wished to pass on have been released from the curse of the Book of Shadows."

"Ah..."

"Those who would remain behind to deliver their vengeance to the one who killed them, their Will is so strong that it would be wrong to exorcise them from the book."

"I see. It can't be helped then..."

"What will you do?"

"I feel that the world is still a dangerous place. I think I should do my best to help the people of this world in these difficult times."

"A noble goal. Then, the exit is just to your right."

"... but is it alright if I come visit every now and then?"

"Of course. Come anytime!"

"Thank you."

With that, Ahnbein walked into the swirling portal leading back to the outskirts of Fort Frenga.

_________________

Eiryk arrived by boat to find that the Demeter Isles were slowly but surely beginning to bustle with trade between the Mer and Elvine. He would watch as Elvine would struggle with the firearms and cannons of the Mer, but would be quite happy to see that both cultures were coming to good terms. However, he did not ponder this for long, he had a job to do. One scholar of the Meridian Court would need to be assassinated. Scorpio left little details besides treasonous thoughts on the queen, but Eiryk decided such was enough.

He hadn't understood when, but somehow, he had been thinking of the queen more often than not. Perhaps it was the sight of her in her white dress, or the thought of her strength in such dire circumstances. Whatever the case, he found himself eager to protect her from any and all treason.

Waiting on when the Mer went to sleep, he slipped away from the general crowd and into the resident embassy. From his death, as an envoy of darkness, he would blend into the undead and lesser demons alike. From the goddess of water, he would raise the dead. Now, as an envoy of the god of air and winds, he would carry with him plagues and disease which he could spread to his blades.

The scholars all slept carefully about their books, but the target was nowhere to be seen, and so Eiryk made his way to his second task, of seeing if he could take the crown for the time being.

King Ortza welcomed him back warmly, and they discussed matters as the Elvine King sat in his throne.

"I cannot give something of such power away, Eiryk. I would need a favour of my own..."

"Name it." Eiryk instructed, "I'll see to it that it's done. But know that your people are threatened by something far more dangerous, and so terrible that no amount of offering to your goddess will save her."

"Worry not, this concerns something of even dire news. It concerns a rumor..." The king spoke, clearing his throat, "Have you heard of the Orgris?"

"Orgris?" Eiryk questioned. The king spoke in a hushed tone to Eiryk while ensuring none were around.

"You see... The Orgris are a race of first peoples, long forgotten since man has hunted them for the past few generations. They are of two kinds of blood, and live among the Fae, who we believe are similar to us, but blessed by the spirit of light, Lumbra."

"Interesting. What does this have to do with me though?"

"Well, we have some... Business investigating a certain group near Cyndar. We had them test the blood samples provided, and a courier came by with a request for some of our goods for the Orgris. Could you... Perhaps deliver them?"

Eiryk agreed, "Sure, just let me know where to go."

_________________

It had been an arduous and difficult journey, but at last - Kazeko's team finally arrived at the gates of Vel Da Ir. For all the chaos the world had gone through, this place still stood strong; despite the fact that the new-formed monsters were constantly sieging the city.

As they stepped past the gate, Kazeko and Karliah spotted several ninjas leap from the rooftops towards the north end of the city.

"Myost of the mop-ups are done, so the city center should be safe, nyoro-n..." Kazeko sighed. "Come on, Lady Hiroko's waiting."

Karliah looked up at the pagoda. It had been a proper fortress before, but now it positively looked like a real bastion; even now with cranes carrying heavy plate armor and how archers and snipers filled out every balcony.

"I-is it alright for me to be here?" Karliah asked. "Just so you know, I have been asked to leave."

"You're not with 'them' anyomore." Kazeko replied. "I'm sure Lady Hiroko would give you an audience."

"But..."

"Times have chyanged now." Kazeko grinned, giving Karliah an affectionate pat on the back. "Dyont you worry about it!"

Mikkael stood quietly to the side, watching the two.

"Have I been here before?" he finally mumbled.

"Yeah! This is the city where you and old man Yemhelch really beat the crud outta Karliah in court and saved Lady Hiroko from the gallows! Don't tell me you don't remember?!"

Mikkael didn't answer. He knew - but he just couldn't find the words for it.

-

The Daimyo's meeting room was a splendid affair. Several elite ninjas stood at the sidelines, and flanked by two Shoguns, Hiroko Hajima limped in, assisted by a walking staff. Karliah almost gasped as their eyes met. She looked shaken, but otherwise unharmed.

"Kazeko.... Mikkael... This is a difficult time, but I see you've brought some good news and bad news." she sighed as she sat down. "Speak freely. And Karliah?"

"Yes?"

"If you serve the Inquisition even now, then leave."

"I do not."

"Good."

-

"Mikkael Altans, you truly do not remember me?" Hiroko asked. Mikkael shook his head.

"It is as you say. I've read of amnesia in the medical journals of Cyndar's Magus guild..." she sighed "...but to see this happen... then, if you're here, do you know where Yemhelch is?"

Mikkael shook his head. "I... I can't remember these names..."

"Lady Hiroko, Yemhelch may be trapped in Cyndar."

At this, Hiroko snapped straight to attention. "WHAT?!" - before wincing, grabbing at the bandages on her shoulder and sitting down.

"He went off alone to stop the summoning of the Dragon." Karliah explained. "He somehow managed to fight Baphomatt to an impasse... and, I think... it summoned a demon, a monster that consumed Baphomatt."

"A monster that could consume the new god of death...?" Hiroko gasped. "W-where is this demon now?"

"Thankfully, after eating the partially-transformed Dragon, it seeped back to the earth." Kazeko explained. "But it's quite likely that Yemhelch may be..."

"No."

"Hiroko-sama?"

"I won't believe this." she gritted her teeth. "I have a new mission, Priority one for every able man, woman and otherwise in the Clan!"

"My lady..." the samurai, the ninjas and the shoguns bowed before her.

"The man who once saved my life may be in mortal peril..." Hiroko spoke, her voice subtly wavering. "Your objective is to storm Cyndar, and rescue him! And should it be that we're too late... t... the least we can do is give him a proper funeral in the Hill of a Hundred Thousand Flowers..."

"HA!".

With that, most of the guards left her side; almost all the ninjas, ashigaru and samurai had left the upper floors quickly leaping out of the building.

"Do they know..." Karliah asked.

"Yes." Hiroko nodded and closed her eyes.

"And they all consider Mikkael and Yemhelch to be heroes..." she continued, now smiling weakly. "And I had to directly order them not to lop your head off when they spotted you enter the South Gate."

-

"What's the matter?" the thing wearing Yemhelch's skin smiled as he sneered down at Baphomatt. "Is the stwong and inchinsible champion of the arena beginning to falter?"

"Shut up!" Baphomatt yelled back. "You rigged this game so I would die!"

"I know. Ironic hells are funny, don't ya think?!"

Laughter filled the air.

"But your droll deaths bore us. So, everyone! What say you?!"

"INCREASE THE TERROR!" the blood-lust sotted roar made the arena itself rumble.

"Heh heh... well then."

A new opponent slowly walks out of the grated tunnel as the trumpets blared a keening tune. From the darkness, crimson mist seethed out and a majestic figure of a human woman, clothed in tight-fitting crimson wizard robes walked out. Magic energy seethed from her fingertips as she walks towards the center of the arena proper. Some of the other warriors appear to recognize her as she her approaches and respectfully step back. From her forehead down to her neck, a jagged line of scar tissue marks what once was a massive cut.

Baphomatt's eyes bugged in recognition, conflicting with his almost-instinctual male gaze over her beautiful form.

"M-mother?!" he gasped.

"You SELFISH LITTLE WORM!?" Ms. Flaggel roared as she raised a hand and blood-laced lightning blasted out, electrocuting Baphomatt and blasting him into the arena's wall like some kind of deranged home-run. "Not only you've chosen to try and kill everyone in your little temper-tantrum, but your thralls did this to me!"

"Sending the undead to silence someone who spoke against your crimes?" the monster sitting at the throne laughed. "I thought you were pathetic before, but this takes the cake."

"M-mother?! You sold your soul to the demon!?" Baphomatt yelled - his voice now equal parts terror and unease.

"No... I asked him nicely, and he accepted my terms." Ms. Flaggel grinned. "I appealed to him, for a chance to discipline you personally!"

The crowd went wild.

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Eiryk had reached the path that would take him to the Temple of Youth, but rather than travel upwards, he chose to enter the chasm beneath it, which still had the flow of red waters.

As he walked through the forest, finding his way through thanks to the King's instructions, he was halted by a brutish looking man, green of skin, pointed of ears, and thick of accent.

"Wuvr!" The man bellowed, holding out a hand, "Dx xil blid curas nal den ndemitr?"

Eiryk nodded, "But, I am only knowledgeable of the common tongue."

"Ah, ap-logies yung so-l." The man tried pronouncing, "Yu comm this waey."

Eiryk gave a nod and followed the man where he saw for the first time an Orgris village. They came in two sizes of people; tall and average. It seemed that the taller fellows were hardier folk who did all the bossing, as the average folk would focus on crafts or cooking. Their houses were quite primal, but they seemed to have a strong sense of family as well. Yet, as the two of them walked by, Eiryk couldn't help but feel as though others were reeling at the sight of him. Perhaps it was that they knew? But that couldn't be, for his markings were covered, and his skin was still well-maintained due to his feasting in the last few days.

They turned the curvature into a large hut, with a bonfire in the center of the single room, a throne of bones, seating a blind woman who stood at seven feet tall. At least, by Eiryk's assumption.

The orgris warrior and the blind woman exchanged a few words. Though her tongue seemed sharp at the man. Eventually, he was dismissed and the two of them were the only ones able to speak.

"Sit." She commanded, and Eiryk did so, sitting on the floor, "Does Ortza insult me with such a person?"

Eiryk shook his head, "I'm sorry?"

"You! You are a black wizard!" She angrily growled at Eiryk. He now understood everything.

"I know of no magics. I just have... This marking."

"You can't be serious. You are-"

"Undead? Yes. I am well aware. Many who I have met in my travels are aware of this. I don't fully understand what it means yet, but I was unaware that it was so noticeable."

The blind woman glared from beneath her blinder, but then, seeing no ill intent from Eiryk within her mind's eye, she chuckled to herself.

"Well then... That is of interest to me."

"I do come on behalf of Ortza, my name is Eiryk Advento."

"I am Ha-Nabri, Ogreblood Chieftain of this village, slayer of two thousand bears, survivor of thirty winters, and last surviving wife of Chief Ha-Zakkturo." The blind woman introduced herself.

"What do you mean by last surviving wife?"

"I killed all the others with my bare hands. Simple as that." She stated straightforwardly.

"Ah..."

"Does it unnerve you, Lidnid Eiryk?" She asked, "Lidnid is our word for dead. Such as you are."

"I... Will admit, that's plenty frightening..."

She finally stood up, confirming her height to be well over seven feet. Her strong muscles were complemented by her long black braids, both from her head, and twelve more with blood-stains on the ends hanging off a belt.

"This is good. It means you are wise among your kind. Do you know this?"

Eiryk shook his head, "No, I'd say I'm rather foolhardy and impulsive."

"Then you are wise, for I can smell it off your mind's activity." She explained, "But how does a former priest of your kind turn to such a dark path?"

"Priest?"

"Yes, I can see you are a man of the cloth. At least, your strings show you to be such. Yet they have come to a sudden and abrupt change."

Eiryk scratched his cheek as she walked around the fire saying such, "I truly am not sure what you mean."

Uttering something to herself, she began speaking, "No matter, I am sure you will come to understand it all in time, and Ortza will be pleased to know that indeed, 'The fruit does not fall far from the tree.' But I must see your markings."

Eiryk held out his arm and Ha-Nabri pushed it into the flames. They grew to an enormous height, towering through the roof of the hut and shining a deep blue-purple. The room filled with smoke, and upon release, Eiryk checked his hand, finding it undamaged, but the smoke to change colour to a pitch black with blue lights here and there.

"Interesting... Something from another star, and..."

"And?"

Ha-Nabri grew pale at seeing something within her mind's eye, and held Eiryk's hand, tracing out the marking.

"... So, she dwells within you..."

"Who does?"

"Listen, you have an important duty ahead of you. But I know you are preoccupied, so I will not keep you." She tossed him two bags, "Take the brown bag to Ortza, with my detailed knowledge of the blood samples. Take the other to Sun Wukong. He lives deep in the forests of the place you call the Remnvald Kingdom, to the most beautiful mountain featuring two rainbows."

"I will."

"Make haste. Time is of the essence."

Eiryk, thereafter, was escorted out of the village. where he noticed a number of red trees off in the distance. The land was dying.

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