NationStates Jolt Archive

It was a bustling city - full of heart, full of thoughts and love and hate and all the feelings that made us and broke us. It was a city like none other; a city of love that drenched its civilians in a throbbing woe of intent, with no other goal than to live, to prosper, to feel all the things it should feel. It was a stone city, a colony of flesh and a colony of steel. It stood out in a wreath of metal, amongst a long, stretching silver lake, rivers cutting into its heart.

From here, armies of people walked and went about their business, talking and enjoying themselves as the noon sun lit up in sky. But it was no sun; it grew larger, and larger, and larger, until the ember that burnt its flame flashed in an instant, a roaring, rushing noise filled their ears. In a split second, flames engulfed the city, as the rushing rivers and the soaring lakes were no more. An inferno circled the metal frames, steaming smoke rising as the hot sheaths of steel still singed with temperature. Bodies were strewn as blackened shadows made their mark.

Nobody was standing, just the upright corpses of skeletons, their teeth like smiles and their hands will arched around each others, their laughter still heard with silent whispers of the eerie quiet. Rubble was the ground, and the sky filled with flames, as gaseous light filtered through the darkening night, the growing black clouds.

There was a flame that burns in the heart of the city, lit up and fed by grease from the blood of civilians, gunfire raging through the streets as men attacked men, brother fought brothers, and Jenrakians fought against native Sandurians, the bloodthirsty Rithman-naar and the unforgiving Krejei. Slaves crushed masters, and the triple armies were building against none. Temsplaces were gone, Sadicistra disbanded and arrested, and everything within the notion of peace was breaking down.

A civil war was brewing, on all three sides of the Jenrakian triumvirate empire. From the news reports, it was a horrid slab of information. "In later news today, Sandurian forces had cut through the Upper Echelons, as 100,000 troops pushed from the mountains into the cities of the Vira. Casualties are estimated at 1.2 million already, and another 350,000 troops are being deployed, yet they are stretched extremely thin."

"In Rithman-naar, Christian Pseuronaders are pushing up against the cities, using civilian masses as shields. Tsellian temples are being burnt and the priests inside are being killed. Rapes against Jenrakian women are at an all-time high. In a strikingly swift retaliation, Jenrak launched a series of tactical nuclear warheads against the cities of Abhujizarad, Horsingra and Eckelminimus. More cities have been missing, and it is likely the Jenrakian government retaliated properly against those."

"However, despite the move by the Jenrakian forces, Sandurian, Krejei and Rithman-naar forces are pushing up the rivers towards Haasdra."

Within Raunin, Jenrak, the Dominionites in their military bases watched as the slaves attack their master because they gave up their armies for peace. That would down in history as the worst thing that happened in Jenrak, that is if they come out of this alive. Without the holy Temsplaces, without the killing machines that are the Sadicistra, without the Sirens, without the Lancers, the Jenrakian triumvirate empire had no way to fight this war and win this civil war.

Well…they did have a way in their ally, the Dominion. This was the time for the Dominion to act in the defect of their close ally. Orders were giving out through out of the Dominion fortress in Raunin. Their orders were to attack Sandurian, Krejei and Rithman-naar forces until they surrender.

Dominionite soldiers ready their weapons of war and themselves for the battle. On the runways of these bases, fighters and fighter-bombers began to armed and fueled for combat. It started out with small numbers until the number grew more and more. As the fighting passed by, the number of Dominionite planes had grew into hundreds and more planes were being ready to launch.

The Dominion had thousands of planes within their nation’s military bases in Jenrak. At the sign, the Dominionite fighters and fighter-bombers began to enter the air. As the hundreds of MIG-29 Fulcrum high performance combat aircrafts, armed with a mix of anti-air missiles and anti-ground misisles, and MiG-27K Flogger fighter bomber aircrafts, armed bomb to destroy armored units and napalm bombs, the Dominion was showing their true colors as allies. They heading towards the large group of enemy forces, heading towards Haasdra.

The Dominion forces in Habrigberg, the Dominion’s area of Sanduras, and Wolfsburg, the Dominion’s area of Rith-naar, were ordered to stay and watch over those two colonies. The Dominion had been nice to the people in Habrigberg, hiring them to build thing and not forcing them to do it, and there wasn’t nobody in Wolfsburg, but Dominionites. So those two colonies should be unharmed in this civil war.

Annirak Castle, the home of Princess Selene and her children, was where Saerus (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/CountJWolf/SaerusDarkholme-Annirak.jpg) had gone after he was order to leave the Lancers. He took his armor to remind him of his military past, but left his bike and other weapons at his former base. From the looks of it, the Sandurian, Krejei and Rithman-naar forces were heading toward the heart of Jenrak, Haasdra. So, the castle looked like it was safe, but the former Jenrakian King want to kill somebody.

The boy was smart and knew that his father’s old lancer bike was in the underground garage. He was down in that garage with his black and gold armor and whatever weapons his mother had in the castle’s armory. He was in work clothes, getting the bike into working order. Which wouldn’t be that much work as the bike was well taken care of.

“So…this is where you are at.” came a voice from behind him, near the entrance form the castle.

He looked back to see his mother (http://www.freewebs.com/thetransylvania/Selene%20Darkholme.JPG) standing in the entrance wearing a black cloak. “Yes, mother, that fool caused what is happening. I’m going to go out and fight for my nation.” he said. He then turned back to work on the golden colored bike.

“You’re like your father. He would be happy,” said Selene, “They are heading towards Haasdra. Go fight them like your father would have done.” She turned and heads back up to the castle.

A few hours later, Saerus had the bike running and was in his armor. A rocket launcher over his back and two pistol in hip hostlers, and an assault rifle in the bike’s hostler. Extra ammo for those weapons in the packs on the back of the long Lancer bike. His helmet’s visor down, he fired the bike up and let the engine roar a few second before flying out of the underground garage. A man on a mission to save his nation, the nation he was born in.

He flew out of the castle’s gates and onto the road at high speed. He was going to find his squad mates, his men, to get his Lancers back together. Jenrak needed an army and Saerus was going to try to get it. He hoped he would find his cousin, Farkas Darkholme, on his way. Farkas was a High Lord Templace and could be good to have on his side. Nobody has heard from him after he was ordered to disband.

The Pseuronaders learned well from their Temsplace overlords. Draped in thickened armor, they held no rocket launchers by their side. No, they held machine guns and sentries, able to deploy and tear apart infantry without mercy, a spinning thread of guns on their chests as a makeshift and crude sash. They were firing with hoarse accuracy on the outskirts of the city of Ergos, the blisteringly bright city now a smoking ruin, Rith artillery fire blasting off chasms of flame and smoke into the deepest recesses of the city. People swarmed and cried about, yet they kept themselves armed, protected, intent on waiting for the enemy to come into the borders where revenge was to be taken.

On the trench like battlefields, police officers, the only line of defence, squared off against the war hardened Pseuronaders, with no success, as line after line was crushed and moved, retreating fire ordered as artillery kicked up smoke that wafted with the wind. Grey patches were slightly visible, as the news was still frantic.

"Today Sandurian forces have crossed the Kalaxus River and are making camp there. Jenrakian militias have recaptured the ruined Ouridna, as Suriga is under siege by Krejei forces. so far the enemies are converging onto the plains, but no notice is known yet."

The Dominion fighters and fighter-bombers were nearing their enemy’s radar system near the Kalaxus River, if they had one. The aircrafts began to divide into a groups of four fighters and six fighter bombers. The groups would move out and get 500 yard apart from another group. There were many groups within the hundreds of aircraft. These pilots were flying into the unknown as nobody had an idea what the enemy had with them. They could be doing their first strike and last strike in this civil war.

As Saerus searched for his Lancers in Archios, in Scion there was another group of Jenrakian really to kill those threat want to their home. A group of Templaces that didn’t follow the disband order, they followed their leader into hiding in the mountains in Scion. They stay in the massive cave networks within the mountain. They keep their armor and weapons. They are maybe seen as renegades, but they will be seen as savior after they stomp the slaves back down.

Their leader was a High Lord and the son of a foreign prince, he was Farkas Darkholme (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/CountJWolf/FarkasDarkholme.jpg).

He sat with a white cloak over his armored form looking into the fire in the middle of what he call home. The disband order was too much for him, he was raised as Jenrakian and fought hard to become a Templace. He wasn’t going to just disband after the hard work he had done to get to his position.

“Milord,” came a voice from behind him, “It’s mayhem out there. Sandurian, Krejei and Rithman-naar forces are attacking us.”

Farkas looked back his second-in-command and smiled. “Get the men together. I will see, if I can get some transportation from my father. Jenrak will not fall.” he said, standing to his feet.

“Yes, milord.” said his second-in-command, who turned and left the small hole that Farkas called home.

Farkas picked up his anti-armor missile launcher and a bag before heading towards the cave exit. It would take him fifteen minutes to make to the exit. A long walk for the man to think about what will come form this all.

"Perhaps, perhaps there is some right in the Therax system. At least we were never weak." Authaulus said calmly, his teal armor shining in the breaking moonlight, the candles on the walls dancing in the flames as wax glimmered and the sands drifted and etched deftly onto the marble floor, the pillars long and tall with velvet curtains flowing about. Snakelike city hearts were shining with bloodied fire, lights flickering and prancing about in enjoyment through the carnage, the teal figure still standing calmly as he looked and nodded. There was a small sleuth of men left, against the oncoming horde, but they were enough to fight against the deadly slaves. The children were rebelling, they were breaking their bondage.

From the desolate graveyards, the quiet tombstones were cold and quiet, unforgiving and chillingly eerie. The moon was thickened with foggy clouds as shining mountains were brazen in deft swabs of azure shades. The grass was tall and lanky, blades of green now black amongst the night, a navy sky adorning as twinkling lights were watching from below. The headstones - they were ever so horrid, so creepy, each with a leer of a smile from their throes, their tongues licking out in debris and cackling in quietness as the lone figure stood, stanceless as he hunched over the levied grave. Dirt was everywhere, as the long cloak fell.

Revealed, a small gasp of a man stood at the foot of a grave with a tall headstone, as a body rose from the dusty shadows, the shades linger as a thin hand was knelt beside the tired face. From the foot of the grave stood the figure, small and thin, his face a cackling skeleton as he smiled with a contorting grimace, his skin patched and his fingers laced around a thin spike driven into his back. His arm was thin and wiry, his wry face was carrying a pair of evil green eyes as his head was a patch of flail-like spikes as he was dressed peculiarly. He pertained a series of draping clothes that were raveled at the bottom, a sash-like object placed smartly around his waist and a silver sabre shining on his belt.

Blades were grass were folding around his location, like a blanket of frost, the dew moistening on the thin green objects. From the grave a faint hand rose, its skin pale and cold from the darkness of death yet the shadows were still whole full of life. "Let me get you up." The skeletal man said, lifting the body up onto his back, slinging him gracelessly onto his shoulders, a hooked corpse-like figure flailing around as white bandages covered his wounds. "You seem heavier." He said with surprise, as the figure groaned deeply. From the tombstone at the foot of the grave, it read:

"Johnathan Mekkreick. Loving father."

"There is a benefit when you sell your soul to Enkur, you know." Tezekilth said.

The Sandurians were adept at fighting in the air, proven many times against countless foes, no less the dominionites. Flying gracefully in groups, hundreds upon hundreds of Sandurian interceptors slashed through the night air in their banners; makeshift and crudely painted insignias painted over the Jenrakian flag with little skill in its design. Still, the design had no representation over the skill of the pilots, as they flashed and ravaged against the dominionites, the terrain below like mud as the mountains were tiny shapes and the fields were specks of greenish squares amidst thin azure lines that were splashing with beauty. Gusts of flames were falling slowly amongst leaves of metal sheets, dove-like movements of the fighters graceful as a ballet of destruction occurred in the air.

From the Krejei, they were crawling everywhere, intent on simply independence, as they fired but with no advancement. Pseuronaders were a different story, however, as city by city fell against the never ending Christian horde, the Diamond Cross ravaging and destroying lands it deemed unholy. Lakes and rivers of bullets were erected, people used to build railroads and centers that stretched from one fallen ruin to another, smoke as signals of their victory as rubble filled the landscape. It an oh so terrible sight, the gray dawn flowing as the darkness of the night falling down, the forces of the Pseuronaders pressing against the dunes towards the fallen ruins of Horsingra, their prize city and the once indestructible capital of Rithman-naar.

However, fate would have it differently. As the Horsingra's walls came into the statute view, the the lands burst in flames as the sands cackled with size, a wall of dirt creating a barrier as rocket fire lanced back. There was a small emergency squad, with an azure temsplace leading the defense, the trenches deep as rocket and artillery fire, no matter how meager, kept them safe. The Pseuronaders fell back to the safety of their encampments, their machine gun fire set up as a torrential rain of lead filled the skies and burst down upon the tiny group of Temsplace. Authaulus laughed.

"When there is no resistance, they are heroes." Authaulus reasoned, his rocket fire a finger of flame lining through the area as it smashed upon the ground and buckled up another wall of dirt and shrapnel, the machine fire relentless. "But when they fight real men!" He fired off another sleuth, ducking down to reload as a bullet slashed apart his ear, blood spraying on the dryness of the desert.

From the Pseuronaders, they were harking and yelling, their hands smashing around and flailing and crying with loudness.

Aulocos found the disbanding idea beneficial, but overall unstable. Hence, he was wise to have kept a reserve force in secret, a force that consisted of his niece who played upon the use of the stealth soldiers well. They were breathing loudly, coarsely, rasping their breaths as their skin-tight, paper-thin suits could only afford. Their rifles high, they stood before a wave of instantaneous invisibility let them loose, and she amongst them, joined their comrades to battle.

The Dominion and her pilots knew that the Sandurians could fight in the air, the only thing they were ready good at. The pilots knew they were in for a real fight against the Sandurians, but they were going to die fighting for their ally. If they die, they will be called heroes to the Dominion and maybe the Jenrakian Empire.

At the sight of the enemy interceptors, the fighters readied themselves for the dog fight as the fighter-bombers moved back behind their brothers and sisters. The pilots focused as they moved close to the enemy, arming their missiles as they flew. Without warning, missiles were locked and fired by the Dominion fighters. It looked like close to a thousand missiles danced across the sky.

This wasn’t going to be a sight to watch, many would die during this dog fight on both sides.

The anti-air rounds began to fire from the surface, but the fighters shot forwards into the mist of battle. The pilots were fearless through this move as flak round blew up around them. The fighters dodged to the left, to the right, moving through the anti-air fire.

These pilots were like gods as they dodged the fire, but nothing can last forever. A fighters was hit by the flak fire, another one was hit. The fighter-bomber shot upwards trying to get out of the range of the anti-air guns.

Another fighter was hit and started going down. This was looking bad for the Dominion as fighters began to shot upward to get out of the range of the guns.

Scion, the armored Templace touched the ground at the exit. He looked out to see the world that he was hiding from. The renegade Templace, he was. He would be loved by his people again? Or punished because he and his men didn’t follow their order to disband?

He looked to his right to see a few of his men set up a small satellite dish to be used for the direct link to his father. He need transports for his men and his father would be the only he could trust.

Walking over, the phone-like object was handed to Farkas and it was already dial in to his father’s number.

“Father,” said the High Lord, “I need your help.”

Within ten minutes, Edward has ordered a large number of transport helicopters to get fueled and to fly to Scion. Jenrak has a group of renegade Templace to fight for them and they need to be picked up.

In Haasdra, it was a broken throne. It was a shattered throne, it was a crushed throne. It was a throne of bone and spine and broken shots and shattered parts. But something sat on this throne, something cracked and scarred and without mercy. Upon this throne, upon the cleaved throne, upon the cleaved and shattered doctrine of the obsidian helm, the golden skull cackling with half power as the rising steps were drenched in blood. Sitting upon the throne sat a well rounded man, his face a grimace of victory, his skin laced in a torrential sheet of bloodied wraps. He was smiling, a draping armor upon his body, a drenching sheet torn down like a shattered cloak. Yet nothing hid beneath this hide.

At the corpses of the Temsplace, the last golden guards of the Vizith'Jurian, this man sat, his face covered yet his sliver of flesh like a snicker, as his cackling laugh turned to hellfire, the sky outside burning as the people cried and screamed, the soldiers from the sanctuary of doom screeching and his fingers still held upon the balls of wrath, his sword latched with a silver wrap to his waist, three other blades shining with a long length splattered in blood.

From his throne, at his foot, three more people stood at his side, their swords stained in blood, their eyes twinkling as their smiles were subtle, yet not boastful; merely intent on victory with style. Yet there was no style in this form, no point of elegance that graced their slaughter. The creeks of blood filled the velvet floors as the stone pillars cried red tears, the orange and pale light shining as the hall was quiet. He sat there, his hands grappling the globe of the world, his fingers twitching in anticipation. When he spoke, it was a hoarse laughter that wrung, icy and unforgiving with a touch of malice.

"Gengur, tell the Sandurians to make no more war. Tell the Pseuronaders to make no more war. Tell the Krejei to make no more war. There is to be no more bloodshed, for this is the only way possible." He said, a hoarse shrivel as his tongue slashed around the air.

A thin man, a very young boy, his face still full of innocence and his glance slightly eerie, smiled faintly and daintily. "Of course, Mister Suriga. I will do what I can." He said, as he walked off, his shadows once more with the others.

To all who make war.
Desist, for Haasdra is ours. Should either the Dominion or the Jenrakians or anybody else cause death, there shall be the breaking of the Tsellian Heart. Come to Haasdra, to the Necromarnen, where we will settle this dispute like men. Come immediately.

Suriga Kataask

From the hellhole of Krejei, the soldiers stopped, like robots, their arms down, their hands unclenched, their triggers loose as they quietened down, the corpse-filled fields of blood under the shady gray sky a sight of gloom, yet from the battered trenches Authualus nodded. "Order a copter to pick up the rest of the field Lords, and bring us to the Necromarnen."

From Sanduras, the fighters dodged what they could delicately, and fled off, quiet into the sunset, their numbers fading into clouds as from below the soldiers felled their weapons. The Pseuronaders were unwary, yet they made certain to make peace. Something was wrong.

All the while, Tezekilth nodded while Saerus Annirak sat by, his back burning with pain, his frame thinner yet still muscular, his fingers slightly scarred yet his handsome face stayed still. He no longer bore the tattoos of bondage, but his smooth skin was burning under the scorching heat, a luxury he had forgotten.

The Dominion fighters and fighter bombers all got the same order to fall back and head home. An ceasefire has been called for both sides. The pilots were a little unhappy that they couldn’t revenge their fallen brothers and sister. The fighters shot towards their bases.

Farkas and his Templace were in the air as the ceasefire was called. He ordered the Dominionite pilots to take the rest of the helicopter to take them to the Dominion military bases. They had nowhere to go because their temple wasn’t there anymore after the disband order.

As the helicopters turned towards Raunin, Farkas helicopter flew towards Haasdra. He was going to see what was up in the capital. To see who called the ceasefire order.

Saerus, on the other hand, got the call from his mother after meeting up with a good part of his Lancer unit. All he said was rated R material. He took his men to find another hiding place and one of his men to take his bike. He was going to see what was up as an helicopter lands near by, which as sent by his mother.

As he boarded the bird, he looked back to see his men head back into the shadows.

Prince Edward was even on a helicopter to Haasdra, he has seen Jenrak through a few civil war and he wasn’t going to quit now. He sat in the back of a helicopter in an Eskimo type coat with his hood on. He had this weird feeling that something was up.

There was a small group of leaders there, soldiers forced to wait outside, as sitting upon the throne the face cackled loudly, his face none either had ever seen. A veil was draped over his mouth, and his lips were invisible, yet he still was laughing behind his wraps, his armor clattered around his body like art. He was grimacing, he fingers slippery and sliding, yet his eyes never moved past the throne onto their stare, wondering what would become of their encounter. He had a look of calculation, and while the Jenrakians adorned helms to cover their faces completely, his eyes were visible, and it was in his eyes that everything was revealed. So much hate. So much anger. He was demon of torment, yet who was he?

"I am Suriga Kataask, and I am here, at the throne of the Five Skulls. I assume you are familiar with me, and more importantly, my cousin, Viraranaar." He said, eying the black dressed priest, smiling behind his veil.

"Suriga, I see you are not dead yet." Viraranaar spoke with a cold, menacing voice, his fingers gripping his robes tightly as his fingers were even then lining amongst his blade. "Why haven't you perished amongst the others?"

"Notice the threatening tone in his voice." Suriga said, his icy breath staring at the others; Authaulus, Denise, Gelectriax, and newly joined, Saerus. They were all wearing battle scars, tired, broken, yet they were not swayed nor shattered. Merely an eternal struggle not yet undone. "I have been waiting for this day for a long time, my friends, and I hoped that with the Tsellian Heart in my hands I would make you see what futility war is."

Standing up beside him, Gengur looked on, humble, yet not menacing.

The Prince of Ice stood there looking at the man on the throne, the face of the prince hidden behind his hood. His ice blue eyes locking onto this man. His body like a statue, unmoving as he looked at this man. Whom does this man think he is to sit on the throne?

The white Templace stood far away from his father, looking at the body of his fallen brothers. His face was like stone as he looked at his fallen brother killed by the man on the throne or one of his minions.

The Lancer leader was silence, too, until the shock of his life walked into the throne room. His eyes widen as he saw his father in the flesh again. “Father?” came out of his mouth without him wanting it to. His face was a mix between shocked and quizzed look. Why until his mother hear about this news.

Edward looked back to see what his nephew was talking about. His eyes locked onto Saerus’ face as he walked into the room. “Wow! Didn’t see that coming!” he said without thinking where he was.

"Understand that you have no legitimate claim to the throne of the five skulls." Saerus said, not looking at Suriga, who sneered behind his veil, flame crackled flesh visible barely beneath his rag-like cloths. "The Jenrakian empire will wrong."

"Wrong!" Suriga yelled, with a twisted smile. "There is something that you fail to understand about even your own empire, Saerus Annirak. You believe that Jenrak will fall under my rule, but you forget one basic thing about the Jenrakian empire. It is indestructible."

"Lies." Authaulus said with impunity and merciless defiance. "It can break like any other empire, if its heart is shattered."

"That is incorrect, Authaulus." Viraranaar spoke up. "Suriga is correct. The empire is impossible to kill, because it is not built on bloodshed or strength, but belief. The Jenrakian empire exists in belief, that faith of the Tsellian is what keeps it beating all these decades through strife and civil death." He nodded, before looking back. "But that philosophy was denied long ago."

"Long ago, when Jenrak was a free nation! Now it is a slave to the Tsellian, the fingers of the Therax dynasty. Do you understand what kind of warfare we are talking about? We are not talking about foolish warfare. When your enemy's forces are gathered in their cities, aim for their capital. Haasdra is in my hands, my friends."

"You will surrender through force." Authaulus said, raising his massive blade, before a small chuckle from Gengur had him swing it dangerously at the man. "Do not make me cut down your advisor."

"My advisor?" Suriga said, cackling once more, saliva flying from his throat. "Gengur is much more important than my advisor. As a gift of my goodwill, I will have you see what he truly is. Gengur." He yelled, as the thin young man walked forwards, his face turning into a determined stare, as he unsheathed a longsword from his waist, holding it diagonally from his waist at his left hand.

Left handed? Authaulus thought, as he prepared himself, his blade held upright, jumping up into the air before a thick smash of rubble flew up into torrents. From the smoke, it seemed as if Authaulus had won, but the result proved off. Suriga still had his sadistic smile. Standing beside where Authaulus' massive blade stood, the young man stood, smiling naught of ego, or victory, but of amusement. He stood there, as the thick blade was shattered and sliced in half, the other end flung onto the ground.

"How is he able to cut through the blade like that?" Viraranaar asked, surprised as the others showed equal confusion, especially Authaulus. He had faced countless foes, but why had it not affected this boy?

"It's simple." Suriga explained. "Authaulus relies not only the strength of his arms to landing a blow, but the weight in it to produce greater force to attack. However, it also creates a shock wave as an ambient attack, but fails to hold up against Gengur for a reason; Gengur's counterattack against the swipe did not involved stopping the immense power behind the downward strike, but directing it to the side, then slicing it using the force you yourself created."

Gengur sheathed his sword. "Mr. Annirak, please get a new weapon. You cannot defeat me with half an Akh'raaz."

Perhaps Suriga was a threat after all. An entirely different one.

“Well played,” came a female voice walking from behind Denise, Gelectriax, and Saerus, a black cloaked figure with a bow in her hands. An arrow between her fingers. “You outsmarted my uncle.”

Edward smiled as he hear her voice, he looked over at his brother-in-law that was kicking the bucket the last he hear. He walked him die in battle. “A father should know his daughter’s voice.” he said, moving his hands into his coat.

Cassandra (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/CountJWolf/CassandraDarkholme-Annirak.jpg), lowed her hood and smiled at her father. “Welcome back to the living, father.” she said, stilled walking pass her father and the others. She eyed her brother, almost telling him to do something without talking.

Saerus, the son, knew what she was planning. He stepped closer to the body of a fallen Templace, the holy warrior’s massive blade across his chest. His right foot under the hilt of the blade.

Cassandra at Gengur as he stood in front of her uncle, “Can you save your master from a half blood?” she asked before moving fast to fire an arrow at Suriga. She moved faster then an human as he was part vampire, her mother’s side, and human, her father’s side. Plus, it didn’t help Gengur that the bow was already to be fire.

The arrow flew from her bow as Saerus did his part, he kicked the blade from the hands of it’s owner and threw towards Authaulus. “Uncle, catch it!”

Edward even was ready to play, his hands came back out, as everything was happen, with a pistol in each hand. Custom 9mm pistols with laser sights and etc. He waited for somebody to try something.

The arrow pierced the thin rags covering Suriga's head, yet it flicked off harmlessly, a small dent in in his apparent skull. "Perhaps I did not iterate myself. I did not bring you people here to assassinate me. And besides," he said, unwinding a small length of rags to reveal an adamant headband. "Do you expect me to leave myself vulnerable in such hostility?" He did not laugh, yet his eyes, they were ever so horrid; shining green vessels of hatred and torment, trapped within his body as his cut scarred hands were covered once more by black leather-like gloves. "I see that you've returned from the grave, Saerus. Is death really that horrible? Tell me," He said, leaning slightly, "What's Nahk like? Has my apprentice learned some humility?"

"Death is blackness, nothing more." Saerus said without a schism in his voice. "And you will experience it very soon."

Gengur, on the other hand, tapped his feet oddly, as if he was doing some kind of ritualistic dance, yet he smiled with embarrassment as he did so. Authaulus looked at him with the Temsplace blade, cautious of the young man. "I'm sorry, Mr. Annirak, and madam. I am just trying to warm up." Authaulus looked on.

"What's Authaulus doing, just standing there?" Denise asked Gelectriax, who stood calmly and without worry. "Why isn't he taking advantage of it?"

"Take a look at the boy's hand, Denise." Gelectriax said. From the tapping feet, the hands were situated parallel from his right shoulder, his smile unnerving. "Gengur's left handed. If Authaulus swings again then Gengur is capable of redirecting his attack. Yet if Authaulus stabs then he is open to attack if he is unable to connect. This is a standstill, as the boy's reach is much shorter than Authaulus' reach. The boy cannot attack until Authaulus does." But Authaulus made his blade straight out, aimed at the boy's stomach, before he pushed.

The Temsplace was a fast for his size, incredible running speeds that seemed to be a short victory, were it not for Gengur who had placed his sword carefully before flipping his blade, his round hilt touching the tip of the massive blade, before shifting only slightly. Authaulus' blade swung violently to the left, and Gengur made his move. In a blink of an eye, he ran towards Authaulus, and swiped against shoulder, slashing down into a deep crevasse upon his flesh. Blood spewed out from the large man's mouth, as he dropped the giant blade, yet he grabbed his waist and a sword flew out.

In an instant reaction, Gengur flew out his dagger, blocking with his right arm. "He blocked it. Impressive." Gelectriax said in a matter-of-factly voice. "It seems this boy is smarter than stronger. But how is he able to move so fast?"

Suriga once more chimed up in his deep, yet chilling voice. "Remember that Authaulus relies on powerful sweeps to cover all his attacks. However, you cannot counter against something that moves your attack, not blocks it. The speed of an object if it displaces more than 30 times per second would make it unregistered to the naked eye. Authaulus is capable of pulling off that speed due to his muscle power and weight. With the force applied from Authaulus and against the direction of Gengur, it is a simple matter of redirecting his attack. Authaulus was wide open after the failed strike. But I am impressed, Authaulus." Suriga said, as the others looked at Gengur's bleeding right hand, his knuckles slashed as blood poured out.

"Authaulus is much stronger than Gengur. To be able to block Authaulus' short sword attack with only a dagger required Gengur to block at the hilt immediately, before the force has time to reach throughly to the end of the blade. However, the length of the blade would cut him in the meantime, yet a cut on his knuckle is better than an arm lost." Gelectriax added on, as Denise sighed.

"Well, this looks like a draw, Mr. Annirak. But you really do not enjoy keeping weapons, do you?" Gengur asked politely, as he looked at Authaulus' borrowed blade. It was cracked and shattered, smashed into the ground, metal shards pulverized upon its surface as little splinters of stone were stuck in its handle. Authaulus rasped heavily, blood slowly seeping out of his mouth, as he fell down onto his knees, trying to get back up.

"Edward, Cassandra, help Authaulus get his armor off! The weight is not going to help him deal with the scar on his shoulder!" Saerus said. "We need a doctor, immediately!" He said, as Gengur backed off.

"He'll be fine, Mr. Annirak. The wound I gave your brother is certainly not fatal. I merely displaced some blood." He smiled with an innocent charm.

Saerus growled at Gengur, there was fire in the boy’s eyes. This Gengur was fast, but the blade of the Lancer would end his life in the future. This boy was to cocky to survive any longer not that he has been tagged as the enemy.

Cassandra, after putting her bow on her back and Edward, after holstering his pistols, moved to Authaulus‘ side. The white Templace even came to his aid.

“Uncle,” said Cassandra unhooking the armor, “are you okay?’

Edward and Farkas moved to get the armor off of the shoulder of the mighty Templace.

Saerus continued looking at Gengur…

"Please do not look at me like that, sir." Gengur said humbly, bowing his head slightly as he turned around to Suriga. "Understand that the choice to fight was not mine. I am merely defending myself." He sheathed his blade, before sitting down on the steps to the throne.

Denise was looking at Suriga with hatred, as Gelectriax stopped her. "Understand the strength of this man's influence. He right now has the Haasdra capital in his hands. If he falls, then we fall. We cannot take a risk with anything." Gelectriax said, his sword unsheathed as he looked at Suriga, chains flying from his arms before the shriveled flesh of Suriga's hands grappled them skillfully, pulling Gelectriax down like a rag doll. Gelectriax groaned, before pulling hard, blood splattering from his armor as the chains were loose.

"Interesting. Counterweights on your body to give a boost and direction for your chains. I must admit Gelectriax, you are unpredictable." Suriga rose, turning around. "But enough of this. I have an empire to rebuild. If you are so persistent to destroy me, then my friend will tell you." He slashed the curtains behind him, the velvet drapes stained in blood drooping over him and Gengur, before it flocked down into a mess, and they both disappeared.

In a shock of power, a man smashed through the wall, his frame thick and powerful, his arms throbbing with muscle as a large blade was held so firmly on his body, a fan-shaped shield of blades on his back as he looked at everyone there, his grimace a deadly smile, his teeth too white and fang-like. His head was bald, and his arms covered in steel plates, yet they did not look like armor of any kind. Upon his chest, tattooed in black, were the words 'The Divine'. When he spoke, he had a deep, horrid, splashing voice, as if mucus was trapped in his throat.

"Lord Suriga said that I had a job to do. Who is most unfortunate to be facing me?" He said boldly, his sword raised as his hand was dabbled in steel.

Edward and Farkas didn’t really watch as Suriga and Gengur did their disappearing act. It was cool, but all they had to do was just walk away for the area. Father and son both wanted this men to be killed for different reason, but that would happen in a later date.

Saerus checked on his uncle then walked over to his father. “You do know mother's going to freak…” he said, but was rudely cut off by the wall being smashed down.

This massive man just crash into the wrong place and said the wrong thing ‘Lord Suriga’.

Saerus eyed this man as Edward and Farkas stood up from Authaulus‘ side. Cassandra looked at the muscled up freak on a knee at her uncle’s side. The same thing ran through the minds of these four people, this was a bloody trap to bring the leaders together to kill them all.

“Looks like I’m a little late for the party.” came an Cajun voice from behind everybody.

“Damn good thing to see you, nephew.” said Edward looking back at the Cuban Playboy.

Lord Remy Barrilleaux-Saint Clair (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/CountJWolf/RemyBarrilleaux.jpg), master theft and rocker, stood there in an all white long cot with a hood, on the back was a black Chinese dragon. He wore white gloves and boots, his hood cover his face. And the Cajun Playboy wasn’t unarmed…in his hand was a minigun and it‘s one thousand round backpack.

Looking at his brother-in-law, Edward says “Help me with your brother.” Cassandra helped lift her uncle up and moved to Gelectriax’s side. “Can you walk?”

Remy moved up to his wife and kissed her, then moved up to Farkas’ side. The minigun aimed at the massive man’s chest. “I'll take your challenge, big boy.” he said as he pulled the trigger on his gun. Bullets flew out of the barrels of his gun…only fools bring swords to gun fights.

At that time, Farkas and Saerus drew their weapons to attack anything else that came, a rocket launcher in Farkas‘s hands and an assault rifle in Saerus‘ hands.

From the limousine Suriga sat with Gengur across from him, the quiet disturbing, yet the silence soon broke as Gengur chimed up. "Lord Suriga, I have a question." Gengur queried, as Suriga nodded. "Would it be wise to bring Daaskra against them all?" Suriga chuckled.

"Daaskra is merely a diversion. I expect nothing from someone as pathetic and weak as him. His arrogance blinds his strength, and his egotism brings no power." Suriga said confidently, before pausing slightly. "However."

"However, my Lord?" Gengur prodded on.

The man fell into a bloodied heap, before rising up slowly, the colorful steel metal around his arms and back loosening, as he rose and lunged with his blades outwards towards Remy, his cry loud as his roar was grimacing with anger.

"The illusion he places is significant upon those underestimate his endurance." Suriga explained.

"His endurance?" Gengur asked, as Suriga nodded.

"I am assuming that the enemy is so dishonorable that they would not resort to a fair fight, so the first target they would aim for is his heart. That itself is an incorrect tactic, as it would not hit his heart at all."

"Why not?"

The man rushed forward, torrents of blood still spilling, before Gelectriax lunged and swung, but was smashed in the face the moment he went forward, his helmet still pristine and glossy, the man rising up against the odd foe.

"The metal colorful stripes on his arm create an illusion of stretched skin, and with the reflecting steel onto his chest it makes him larger than he's made out to be. Daaskra is capable of taking advantage of this illusion, and he's willing to do what is possible to exploit it. A fancy little trick from Alaik, I must admit." Suriga chuckled, as Gengur nodded.

Daaskra charged on, rushing at Remy. "Son of a bitch." Denise said. She knew that if she shot him in the head, he would have been killed instantly, without telling them where Suriga would have gone, but it seemed this man either had a heart of steel, or something else was at work.

“Holy shit!” said Remy as his foe stood back up from taking rounds in the chest. The theft thought would have stopped him, but what was this man made of. Remy moved back at fast rate then he should have because of the minigun, but he’s a vampire after all, that weight is nothing to him.

Remy watched as Gelectriax tried to attack, but fail in that attack. “Shit!”

This is where strength in numbers comes in play, Saerus hoped to the side and fired at the man’s knees as Daaskra charged Remy. His rifle was loaded with armor piercing rounds, he tried to make every shot count to slow this monster.

Farkas dove out of the way of the charging monster, he could fire on him unless he wanted to kill him. They need him alive.

His father on the other hand could fire, Edward with his pistols in his hands started firing the monster’s knees and legs. Trying to take the legs away from him.

Still moving back, Remy pointed at Daaskra and squeezed the trigger. More bullet flew out of his gun as an arrow flew pass his head. He feel the arrow as it passed inches form his head, but the arrow really didn‘t have target on the monster. It would land in the chest.

“Damn it, girl. That was too close.” yelled Remy over the roar of the minigun.

Daaskra crashed down into the ground, crying in pain as his knees spurted blood, his chest torrential and his body cut and scarred. Gelectriax rose, and ina feat of strength, smashed in retaliation against the man's massive shoulders, bruising it delicately. Saerus shook his head in disapproval. "Gelectriax, you have issues." He complained, dissatisfied. Gelectriax merely cackled, like he always does.

The small pool of blood lay before him, as the magenta shade turned to velvet, the night falling as the man clenched his teeth in pain. His hands gripped the floor with malice, as Denise began to kneel down slightly to his face, looking at him with piercing eyes. She gave up not on the stare, quiet, intent, unforgiving and without mercy, her fingers ticking slowly on her knees, her right hand behind her back as her gun's sleek, cold trigger was held firmly.

"Tell me everything." She said, quietly, mercilessly, yet gently. "Tell me it all."

"I have a message from Lord Suriga to all of you." He said, groaning. "Talk to Illuminaatrix for directions to my home."

“Is that all?” asked Edward, placing two fresh clips into his pistols. Saerus did the same thing, he emptied his rifle to take the monster down.

Remy just smiled and said “I love Jenrakians, but this man is a fool to bring a sword to gun fight. Welcome to the modern age.”

"Illuminaatrix's grave. No such place exists." Gelectriax said without a worry. "Illuminaatrix was killed in the Ina Temple due to your sloppy fire." He looked at Saerus, whom glared back.

"Don't blame me for your incompetences, Gelectriax." Saerus said coarsely, as Gelectriax growled fiercely.

"Do not mistake that I was the one who kept you alive, Saerus, after your rebellious little epiphany to fight Ashili and Nahk. Do not think that overturning your power from me makes you indestructible." He raised his gauntlet, as Saerus raised his blade, forcing Viraranaar to ejected his, blocking them both.

"Stop." Viraranaar said softly, his voice deep and strong yet his tone was soft and merciful. "We must stop this internal bickering. Remember our true enemy is Suriga. If he is to take control of Jenrak and the Tsellian Empire then we are in deep trouble. The political schism would make us weak and fragile from external enemies, and Therax would be powerless to help. As for the grave, I know where to go."

As Gelectriax rose his gauntlet, he would find that Saerus’ blade wasn’t the only thing he would have to deal with. Cassandra had her bow ready to fire into Gelectriax as did her brother with his assault rifle. If he moves at their father, Gelectriax wouldn’t like the out come.

Then Viraranaar broke up the two hot heads, Edward moved in front of Daaskra. He looked in the broken man in the face. “Let me help you.” he said with a sadist smile. He place a pistol under Daaskra’s chin and squeezed the trigger…

Perhaps a spray of blood was a shower they had not needed, yet the Jenrakians were never ones too modest in terms of sadism. There was nothing special about a rain of blood; only disturbing, but it mattered little at a situation like this. Viraranaar was sitting quietly, as Gelectriax and Saerus eyed each other with fierce hatred. "Don't bark too loudly, Saerus." Gelectriax quipped, as Saerus looked back with hatred.

"Nothing barks louder than you, Gelectriax." he replied angrily. Viraranaar sighed, as Denise followed suite. "Vira, where is the grave of Illuminaatrix, if it does not exist?"

"Oh, but it does." Viraranaar said. "In the waning days of the Illuminaatrix reign there was little administration that could keep itself from his eyes. He was a very adamant person, and one of the few people who had knowledge of this was Aulocos the Leper. Aulocos was fond of Illuminaatrix, and so he had two people carry out the design of his mausoleum; myself and my cousin, Suriga. The location is fairly easy to understand given the directions."

"Where is it?" Denise asked.

"Under this floor." Viraranaar chided. "The tiles are the pattern to the staircase of Illuminaatrix the Deceiver and the skull of Arcarum the Serpent."

“So we standing on the grave, nice.” said Remy, his face wasn’t really happy looking because he was standing on the grave. He is a vampire, but being on a gave wasn’t his style. It was creeping him a little bit.

Edward after cleaning his pistol and holstering it, he walked over to Viraranaar. “Let’s do this then. The faster we do it, the faster we can get to .” he said. The last time he saw Illuminaatrix, he shot him in the head for his treason against Jenrak. This would be strange for him to see the body of Illuminaatrix again, that is if it is still there. He knew what happens in Jenrak like his brother-in-law coming back to life.

"It'll take an excavation team to break this apart. We'll leave it apart for now." Viraranaar said, leaving the hall, the bloodied husk of the smelly blood prominent as they looked on at each other. "We have to prepare for the information when it comes, not when it is coming."

"Alright." Saerus confided, sighing greatly before following him, as Gelectriax stayed here, Denise sitting down beside him and Authaulus was carried off, breathing hoarsely under his breath. Denise did not look amused, as Gelectriax nodded behind his helm.

"What's under that helmet, Gelectriax?" She asked, as the quiet fiendish fighter sighed at her, his finger tapping his knee.

"Not a man, I assure you. I have been broken long ago." Gelectriax said sadly, remorsefully, without a cackle of amusement or distraction laden in his voice. "It is an ancient scar, and it involves the enemy we make today."

"I want to hear it." She urged, but the man shook his head. "I want to know about the man who made empires fall to their knees, who made politicians quiver in the night, the one man who could have defeated Aulocos in his prime."

"I make an assurance. I am not a man." He said firmly once more. "If you want to know, then ask your uncle. Perhaps he could entice your mind with what I truly am. However, Edward!" He said, yelling to the Dominionite.

Edward looked at the floor, not saying a single thing. He just focused on the floor, at the place where they would find out where Suriga is at. He ended the life of one of his minions, he would end many more to hunt Suriga down. He was died to the world until his name was heard through his ear.

He looked over at Gelectriax with a quizzed look and said “Huh?”

"I need you to gather together a couple people for me. A few people who would know where this shadowy man might be. A few of them might be difficult to track down, but that should not be a difficulty for such a resourceful man as yourself, I hope not?" Gelectriax asked, his breath barely pausing to stop. "There's Ferruga, Thaurausk, and Kelehradrith. Can you do that? I know two of them are difficult to find."

“I will get my men on it. I’m the most powerful person in Jenrak because of my ‘eyes’ within the lands.” said Edward. What he said was mostly the truth in it all. “If they are there, I will find them.”

He pulled out what looked like a black PDA and typed a few things in it. After he was done, he looked up at Gelectriax and said “They're on the hunt, now.”

And they were on the hunt, Edward’s Crimson Fists began looking for the three people. Ferruga, Thaurausk, and Kelehradrith will be found and delivered a message to them from Gelectriax.

"Really, interesting." Gelectriax said, standing up. "Do not let your ego cloud your judgment Edward. There are many things within the sands you still do not know of, secrets that are secrets forever. And they are the greatest weapons of men." He said with a tiny shatter of evil cackle, before walking off into the blazing light of the opened sunlit door.

From quiet black halls of Suriga, he sat down as he watched his men work about, his fingers tapping on his knees as he nodded to a steady rhythm, Gengur sitting down while he was watching television. "I have a question, Mr. Suriga." He said respectfully. "Why do you want to take over Jenrak?"

"There is a woman." He said, quiet, dutifully, "like every tale, I am captivated by her, and her not by me. A broken past leaves scars, and my scars will never heal. That's all I can say, but the conquered nation will allow me the power to gain her heart." He spoke with an odd passion, a quiet passion, a passion that was creepy and distasteful, yet chillingly powerful.

"With the power you control now, why isn't it simply a matter to gain her attention?" Gengur asked, yet Suriga shook his head.

"I have demons to confront before I can bring my angel to me." Suriga said with a strength. However, I'm going to ask for you to do something, Gengur, if you're not too busy."

"What is that, Mr. Suriga?" Gengur asked, smiling and laughing as his eyes were still glued to the television. Silence encircled the room. "Mr. Suriga?"

Suriga's eyes were a thin blank of white dusk, his fingers gripping his knees firmly as a soft foam fell slowly from his frothing veil, his robes draped down. It was a slight moment before he regained his senses. "What is it?" He asked.

"Your favor?"

"Ah. Yes, I need you to gather to me the Calaak Iduun." He said, short and simple, as Gengur nodded and stood up, walking off from the room as the large wooden doors swung opened, and closed within the shutters.

Viraranaar sighed, looking at the dense desert dunes sway and froth back and forth, but he had no care for what was happening since his eyes scanned upon the searingly hot horizon. His hands were clasped together into a fist, and his body was aching from the running and the walking, but he was quiet, calculating, Saerus standing at the ledge as the misty landscape was enveloped at his front. Purple sunsets shaded the hurricane of sands, the sky an inky indigo before dipping to a soft fuchsia fire.

"I hear you are the leader of the northern Sandurians, an odd choice of politics, Viraranaar." Saerus said, looking at the priest, whom only groaned and muttered inaudible words. "You know, you ought to try and not be so invasive into the economic powers." Saerus glanced once more.

"I enjoy your little talk, Saerus, but I haven't seen you in years at the very least. The last time we talked was during the Battle of Sikria, correct? Six years, Saerus. Six long years. And now Gelectriax is intent on regathering them all." He replied.

"Regathering?" Saerus asked, as Viraranaar chuckled.

"The old ones. The last living members of the First Revolution. They're coming back, though it seems he's having Edward doing it himself."

"I find that logical, seeing how many of them are after Gelectriax's head. I doubt no matter how skilled Gelectriax may be even he cannot defeat Ferruga in his prime. And Ferruga is never out of his prime." Saerus said, sighing.

In eastern Aulok, Ferruga sat down as he sipped his tea plainly, reading his newspaper as his officer uniform was draped amongst the floor, his cap laden on his desk and the swift breeze of the balcony was shining. He sipped another fill, and then another, sighing, an apathetic action compared to Thaurausk and Kelehradrith, both of whom were busy trying to forget whom they were; a man and a women with a new life. The once cunning and maniacal Thaurausk has become simple and mindless, her charm and wit still present and her beauty non-faded, but her quips and fast talks of interest gone in her new sea of solitude.

Kelehradrith, on the other hand, was a school teacher, teaching primary and kindergarten, enjoying his life amongst the destitute children of the destitute people. He was a thick frame of a man, though not built powerfully like most Jenrakian men, he was well rounded and kept a thin and muscle-filled frame. He kept it hidden under velvet robes and a small suit that glimmered with gloss, and his fingers no longer touched the trigger, but flicked at the redness of the bloodless pen.

All three had lived their new lives with caution, knowing that they would feel the scars of the past one day, for they all shared something in common - they were the part of the First Revolution, the civil war led by Arborgard the Twelfth and the founding figures to the Tsellian Empire. Now they wanted to have nothing more than to do nothing with the monstrosities they've created.

“I was born cocky, I was born cocky.” said Edward, looking at the floor then looked to see Gelectriax walking to the sunlight. His ice blue eyes traveled back to the floor, knowing the answer was behind his feet

The Crimson Fists were still working on their three targets, their prey. It would be really soon and those three people will be found.

The search had pin pointed that Ferruga and Kelehradrith were in eastern Aulok and Thaurausk is in Haasdra, so the hunter teams moved in for the kill. Ferruga, Thaurausk, and Kelehradrith would get to see some black suit wearing people showing up somewhere around them. Each one would be walked up to and given their message that ‘Gelectriax was looking for them.’

"Where?" The three of them asked.

From the quiet forests of the last remaining foliage within the sands, in dusty Raunin, waterfalls blistering all over the gorgeous land, Gengur stood behind a tall, muscled man as he nodded to him, smiling. "Mr. Andra, now is the time to prepare yourself for the stage." He said, calmly, yet boldly and with excitement. "Mr. Suriga is ordering that the Calaak Iduun are to gather at the Ishkramungo. Please don't forget to be there."

"Hello Gengur. How has life been treating you, kid?" The tall man said warmly, smiling back, as Gengur shrugged.

"Life's been treating me as it always has; well." He said, before walking off into the dense foliage.

The three would get the same message, “You are needed at the Necromarnen.” said the Crimson Fist. Then like they appeared, they disappeared with the same speed as they arrived at.

Edward looked up and smiled. “Something good will come form this all. Jenrak has always came back from these types of things.” he said out loud.

Farkas, on the other hand, was talking with his second-in-command at a Dominion base in Raunin. He was making sure his holy warriors were safe at the base.

Saerus was doing the same thing, his Lancers were still looking for each other.

"Hmm, the Necromarnen?" Ferruga wondered. "Alright, let's see what Gelectriax needs." With that, he rose and prepared himself, putting his uniform on.

From the doors of the Necromarnen, a door flung open, the rays shining in, as the three of them finally arrived, Gelectriax looking up, his fingers jovial in amusement, still sitting down as he watched Ferruga, Kelehradrith and Thaurausk enter, their heads low and their bodies strung straight. "I see you have decided to rip yourself away from war." Gelectriax said, standing up, as Saerus followed suit, with Denise alongside him.

"Edward, I would like you and your brethren to join us for this, since this concerns your people in these lands are well." Gelectriax said, sitting down upon the pedestal, sighing as he stared with his knuckle graced across his helmeted chin.

"Gelectriax, this council has not been done in a long time. What are you planning with this?" Ferruga asked. His voice was cold, yet deep, an odd sound for a man of his tall and lanky formation. "What is going on?"

"You're aware of the uprisings? The chaos?" Gelectriax said. "Thankfully, our brethren in the Dominion have been able to keep the enemy at bay while we mobilize our army once more. There is another problem, however. This has become a multi-fronted war, and on another scale. Suriga Kataask is alive."

The news of this shocked the three to no end. Kelehradrith sighed. "I see, so we failed in our task. He is a ghost of vengeance, it seems. It seems the bullets did not stop a fiendish creature such as him. What happened?"

"Suriga has been working underground and in secret against us, and he's intent on claiming the empire to himself."

"And we can simply assassinate him, can we not?" Ferruga asked.

"That's not so easy." Viraranaar said. "The man has a secret team called the Calaak Iduun. They serve as his fist against us, and they are a dangerous group. There are eight of them in all, each deadlier than the last. Then there's his army."

"What about his army?"

"It's an army built for guerrilla warfare. We cannot hope to destroy his forces if he keeps on fighting this way. The only way is to appeal to his pride. Where is Rashkta and Ashili? And Egos and Therax and Aulocos?"

"Egos and Therax are dead." Thaurausk said sadly. "Therax was killed by Suriga, and Egos was killed in the Battle of Kerrokuza. However, before we can rebuild the political body of the Church, we must remember that we need to instill strength and unity."

"Which cannot be done, I'm afraid." A young voice said from behind, as Gengur stood there, smiling as he looked at them from the hallway.

"Gengur?" Saerus said, in disbelief. "How did you get in here without detection?"

"Don't worry, I merely wanted to drop off these two." He said, throwing two heads on the floor - one still adorning his green crown and another in a pale white visage; Egos and Therax. "Have a nice day!" He said, walking off.

"That bastard." Saerus said, raising his gun, before Gelectriax lifted his hand to block it.

"The boy has something up his sleeve. Do not put yourself in danger." He said, before turning to Edward. "I'm going to need you to mobilize your men for the search of this city for nuclear bombs. I will bring what Vizicistra I can to help your men, but the military is just rebuilding. Can you do that?"

"Edward, I would like you and your brethren to join us for this, since this concerns your people in these lands are well." Gelectriax said, sitting down upon the pedestal, sighing as he stared with his knuckle graced across his helmeted chin.

Edward looked up at as he sat on stone looking thing in the room, his ice blue eyes looked at Gelectriax. Darkness and coldness was in them. “You’re smarter then that, Gelectriax, you shouldn’t have to ask that question. Jenrak is as much my home as the Dominion is. My children have been born here. We’re going to stay up and aid out brothers in arms.” he said, in almost a heroic tone.

He sat there, listening to the others talk like his son, his niece, and nephews were doing. They listened to the words of their Jenrakian brothers and sisters. Even Gelectriax call them their brothers. The Dominion has seen Jenrak go through many things, but has never let them down and they would start today.

That when the unwanted guest showed his face, Gelectriax stopped Saerus from doing something dumb. And his son watched Gengur walking away. “Father, that fucker will get what is coming to him. One way or another, he is not going to see the end of this year.” said the son, his voice cold and his face of pure evil. His Lancers were getting back together every minutes that passed.

That when Edward got up and walked into the middle of the room. “Jenrakians, Dominionites, we come here to today to do one thing. That’s is kill the enemy and bring Jenrak out of the chaos. This will not be an easy fight as each of you can tell. I’m a prince of the Dominion, but I call Jenrak my home, too. If Suriganeeds to be killed to keep her safe, then I be there to kill him.” he said, in that heroic tone.

“This is what I need for a few of you,” he said, then looked over at Cassandra. “Go get your aunt and Akila. And pick up your mother, too. She will freak out because of your father is alive again, but we will need her. Go now.”

“Yes, Uncle.” said Cassandra, whom ran up to her father and hugged him. “Keep yourself safe.” She kissed him on the cheek then heads out to a waiting helicopter. The helicopter entered the air.

Edward looked over at his son and said “Go to Raunin, get your Templace together and wait for my call.”

“Yes, sir.” said Farkas. With that, the white Templace walked out to his waiting helicopter. The helicopter entered into the air, heading toward the Dominion Base.

Edward looked over at young Saerus, and said “Go to your Lancers, they will need your leadership. You take after your father in that area.”

Young Saerus walked over to his father and shook his hand. “It good to have you in the world of the living. See you when the time comes.” he said, the heads out to his helicopter and took off to meet his Lancer.

That left Edward and Remy in the room with the rest of the Jenrakian. “Somebody needs to find Rashkta and Aulocos. We will need them and we need to know that they happen been killed already.” said Edward.

Then Edward looked over at Gelectriax, “I have my men on it in less thena minute.” he said. At that time, he took his PDA and pushed a few buttons then send them to somebody. “The word’s out there. If there are nuclear bombs in this city, then they will find it.”

The last person Edward looked at was the brother of their enemy, Viraranaar. “Your team ready to find the location of your brother? Find his home and he will be ours.” he asked.

"Strictly speaking Suriga is my cousin. I have no siblings." Viraranaar stated with a matter-of-factly tone in his voice. "Though, I must admit to this curiosity. What attracted you to Ashili? I do not find any qualities of her to be...pleasant. Are we seeing the same woman?"

Saerus sat down, thinking before Ferruga sat down beside him. "So, Saerus. I hear you died and came back. You always were a surprising young man." He chuckled, and Saerus chuckled as well. "What is hell like? And is Nahk still as condescending as he ever was?"

Saerus smiled - a white, shining, toothy smile. "He's bitter. Bitter that he was killed so honourlessly."

"Oh? I thought a smash from Enkur's fist was an honorable death enough."

"No, he suffocated from the stones and the lack of air, not the throw."

"Ah, that is honorless." Ferruga said, smiling. "How have you been keeping yourself? Have you kept your sword strong?"

"Enough to beat you, my old friend. The last battle we fought was," Saerus checked his watch, "Fifteen years, it seems. How is your Mahkrekki?" He asked, standing up, gripping his blade, holding it high up along the arch of his back. Ferruga smiled.

"And the end of the consciousness of peace begins." He said poetically, unsheathing his saber, holding it perpendicular to his shoulder, his knees bent slightly forward, his stare cold and merciless. In an instant, Saerus swung his blade down like a whip, but Ferruga merely twisted his body, sword still frozen, and smashed his friend in the chin, sending him reeling back a few steps on the thin marble floor. Saerus groaned at his bruised chin. "You weren't at the first revolution in the battle of Haasdra, Saerus. You would have seen the bloodshed." Ferruga said, a blackened fire glinting in his eyes.

“Well you two are still blood.” said Edward in a matter-of-factly tone, too. “I don’t think you will understand the reasons me and Ashili have made it this long. I don’t think you will understand the reason I love her, too.”

He smiled and said “How long we wait until we get to enter into Illuminaatrix's grave? We'll need the location of your cousin's home.”

Edward looked back at Saerus and smiled, “Don’t get yourself killed, okay?”

"I can make no promise." Saerus said, walking out into the frosty cold night. As the construction men worked, the small, thin tiles began to crumble, stony dust flying out as they gobbled and gabbled and talked about, looking with excitement as a rusted blood-stained staircase unfolded before them, the railings lined with a reddish tint and the dripping stench of flesh a rotten smell. It was a pungent, fresh smell, wet and smooth as the dewy mahogany patches were visible, carvings in the walls as the echoes of the butcher's knife clanged like a shallow echo of ghosts.

"Well, let's go." Gelectriax said, as Viraranaar followed.

Edward and Remy, the only Dominionites in the area, got really to walk onto the staircase. The smell didn’t really mess with their noses, as the smell of death didn’t do a thing to people that have been around a lot of dead people. They both keep an eye out for anything and everything.

After walking in, they both lowered their hoods. Edward’s right hand was close to his pistol in the right hostler.

"My memory serves me correct, this tomb was built long before the death of Illuminaatrix." Viraranaar said cautiously, a cold tone in his voice apparent. "It was built for somebody else, but I don't know who."

"Rashkta Nirandu." Gelectriax said staunchly, his tone clear not phased. "It was intended to be her tomb, but the power balance shifted a long time ago. So, Illuminaatrix was buried in the gift of Rashkta Nirandu."

Saerus had an odd look on his face. "Rashkta? You were going to assassinate Rashkta?"

Gelectriax chuckled. "A feat impossible. Nothing so hard. I was going to send the army against her. She was a dangerous political powerhouse during that era, and she controlled enormous eastern reserves of biological weapons, as well as she was the leader of the Elegance project. If that project was in the control of one woman alone, do you know how dangerous she would be to the world? What kind of danger we would face?"

"The Elegance project?" Ferruga asked, as Gelectriax nodded. "What is that?"

"It's the peak of biological and chemical research, the most advanced biological agent in the world. A squad of our best scientists as well as from other parts in the world, all together to create the deadliest of superweapons. It's a form of extremely active Androgenic Hypertrichosis that functions as an acid. It's basically the stepping stone to supersoldiers, but the catch was that it was easily fielded and could be mass produced for the soldiers to have three times the strength and vision power of the Kraven Capital Police, and expensive army to field already. It would certainly give us a distinct advantage." Gelectriax sighed.

"What?" Ferruga asked. "Surely you destroyed it?"

"No. Rashkta is now controlling the Revenant Project now, a military study that would rebuild our Fists of Stone, this time without consequences. Progress is going well, but there have already been examples of the Elegance Project in effect and with fruition. Edward, have you ever heard of the Vizicistra? The Guards of the White Queen?"

“Yes, I know about them. The most dangerous and elite of the Jenrakian military forces,” started Edward as they walked, “They are children sired from countries torn and raped apart by the Sadicistra legions.”

“I know more, but I don’t really think you want me to bore you about them.” adds Edward.

"The Vizicistra are the most advanced warriors we have. They are a dangerous legion to use, to control, but the frightening thing is that Rashkta's control over them is strong, unbreakable. Now here's the question," Gelectriax paused, "how does a woman, especially one of that immense beauty, control one the most twisted legions on the face of the earth? And how is she capable of keeping her dignity?"

"Nobody knows how Rashkta operates, Gelectriax." Ferruga said, lighting up a cigarette, the thin pale flame dangling and dancing as it ignited upon the end of the vermilion butt of the thin stick, his nostrils slowly pouring out a small, tense smoke of euphoria. "Rashkta is much more cunning beast than anything, she's even avoided relationships her whole life. Nothing is that healthy. I'm fairly sure she's still a virgin, no?" He asked.

"Yes." Saerus said confidently. "But that is beside the case; we need to get to the -" Bottom. That was where they were, and that was where the body of Illuminaatrix was supposed to be. Yet it was wasn't there; just an empty, shallow tombstone, opened and slashed apart, the images of a knife visible as from the stone the carvings were clear.

I see you still remember, Viraranaar. If you and your friends wish to fight me, then come to the fated land tomorrow.. To the ruins of the temple of Ciranaar, where heresy broke faith. I await you, my old friend.

Suriga

“Well, looks like we got us a grave robber.” said Remy out of nowhere. Edward hit him in the back of the head, before walking closer to the empty grave. His eyes looked at the emptiness of the grave and he let out a growl, one that was too low for anybody to hear it.

He looked up at the writing and said “I’m not going there until we’re in force. We don’t know what Suriga has there.” He looked around at the others.

"Then it is settled." Gelectriax agreed.

"We will need a tactical force that won't draw attention, but also a defensive link to make sure we won't get attacked." Ferruga said. "Saerus, please mobilize what you have of the Lancer Army left in your name, get your son to assist you. Gelectriax, bring together the Revenant, and Viraranaar, let knowledge that the Jenrakian Hierarchy is revived. It will be a cold day in hell before we allow the classes to merge. I will tell Denise to bring our old friends together. Let's look lively."

With that, they all prepared.

Edward knew what he would do, make sure his men were part of the defensive link with the Jenrakian army. He could do that with a few calls to the commanders at his bases. He would make sure that the Dominion was part of the defensive link.

He would be part of the tactical force along with Remy and the rest of his family. Or that is what he hoped for. It was up to them where they wanted to be, on the tactical force or on the defensive link.

“Remy, go with your wife. Give her as much help as you can.” said Edward.

“Very well.” said Remy, running over to his wife. “Looks like I’m your tag along. Where to first?”

Edward walked over to his brother-in-law before he leave. “Saerus, your son is in Archios. His Lancers are there and I thing they are the only Lancer left after the disband of the Jenrakian Army. Long story…” he said. “Good luck, brother.”

With that, he heads out to prepare his men and to prepare himself for the coming battle.

"I need no such thing." Saerus said confidently, as he prepared his belongings flipping out his cellphone and the lights from the screen flickering on to reveal a thin wispy pattern, before dialing in a small sleuth of numbers with his speedy thumb. In an instant, it began to flash and grew large and loud, before the white screen turned green. "I'm heading towards Archios on the next flight out." He said, leaving the temple.

Denise was wrapping thin plastic gloves around her hands, looking down at the floor as Ferruga did the same thing, his cigarette thin and fragile still on the thin lines of his flesh-less lips, his long face and piercing eyes behind a vermilion shade unnerving. He stood there, his blade on his hilt, three of them dangling on his waist, each identical to Suriga's blades, though they were a faint silver shade. Denise was curious.

"Ferruga, why is your set the same as Suriga's?" Denise asked in suspicion. Ferruga had no hesitation.

"Suriga and I were part of the first revolution. We were the initial instigators of the Methronn War of Independence, alongside Arborgard. Suriga and I were the oldest of friends." Ferruga said passionately, a glimmer in his eyes. Denise shuddered.

"You're friends with the enemy." She said indignantly, as Ferruga chuckled.

"Of course. Does that put my allegiance into question? Of course it does." Ferruga said, smiling, as Denise pulled out her gun, and fired the trigger. When the smoke from the dust that burst up cleared, Ferruga held the bullet firmly in the hilt of his blade, cleanly and without miss amongst his head. Denise looked. "How can you dodge that?"

"The speed of a bullet is much faster than me, though I am much faster than you. In the time it takes for you to draw your gun and aim at me takes a fraction of a second, but there is a slight hesitation in the firing of a gun and your muscles to allow the trigger to be pulled. In that slight fraction, I am able to see where the angle of your eye is and where the trigger is being fired. By moving quicker than your finger, I am able to stop your attack before it ever hitting." Ferruga explained, as Denise moved her barrel, taking out another gun. "You're going to shoot an ally?"

"You're not ally when you're sympathizing with the enemy!" Denise burst out, her trigger held, but the blade of Ferruga was perched down back into his sheath. She sighed, and he shook his head seriously.

"Don't try to understand our friendship. Suriga and I are friends, regardless of political views - we do not let our occupations and careers get in the way of our bond. Do you understand? You preach friendship, love, companionship, all these things, but when something like this happens, you show your true priorities. I know exactly where my priorities lay, in my friend. Make no mistake, I will not harm your mission to stop him, but I will not hurt him." Ferruga said boldly, walking away. Denise sighed.

"Let's go." Denise said to Remy.

“Okay.” said Remy, following his wife. Edward was gone, meaning Remy was the last Dominionite to go and help in this matter. The rest were off doing their thing and helping get together a force of soldiers. This would be truly a fight for the future of Jenrak.

Quiet, that was what emanated over the hilly, rolling plains. Soft, that was what transpired with condescending hatred upon the green dunes. It was a last bastion of paradise, the last green edge built upon the sandy mountains that carved and etched it along the ridges of the dry mountains. The sands were harsh, but this place was not. It was an Eden of safety, a land of free knowledge and purpose that was a beacon of hope and a ray of power within the lands of the powerless. Or at least, that was what went on through the messages spewed by the slithering tongues of the politicians who sat there, their fingers ringed in gold, their necks thick with jewelry. Yet they were different forms of corrupt.

From here, the last warrior kingdom stood, the Azhuj’Kazath, the final bastion of defense against the oncoming enemy horde. It was four days and three nights, and the sun had barely risen when the soldiers marched over the hills, the tanks rolling and the sword would meet its last end at the bloody sunrise. Standing here, his face scarred and broken, his skin behind a thin veil of steel, his shoulders brazen in bronze, was a tall man. His arms rippled and his blood steaming and visible, his voice nothing less of a small growl of a man, his tone commanding and powerful and without mercy. In his hands, a gargantuan blade stood by his side, and beside him men adorned in the same armor stood by their master.

However, atop his head, brazen in bones, was a crown of cleaving white, a snowy blade of a crown, a helm that rose above all others against enemies without mercy. He stood there, looking at the thin glass windows, the medium sized mansion that glimmered on the edge of the jungle end. From here, a thin man stood, his smile creepy, his luring chuckle nothing more than a nuisance, his legs stretched out slowly in a slight arc as he held his blade in his left hand, his right hand gripping the top of the hilt with the utmost ferocity. The hilt clattered slightly, and his long yet thin blade seemed like a wooden stick compared to the massive sword held in his enemy’s hands.

He chuckled, nothing more. Nothing more than a thin, wiry line crossing his mouth, his fleshy knife of a smile that were nothing more than white lips. “Hello, my dear friend.” The tall, armored man spoke with a chillingly cold demeanor. “What are you doing here?” He asked, as the thin man chuckled.

“There’s very little importance in knowing a man’s name. Once I have said your death is assured, it is assured. So, by the power granted to me, I will take your life.” The thin man spoke, as the armored man laughed loudly, maniacally, almost with a confidence that was unshaken and unbroken. He swung quickly, his blade pushing a swift gust into the air, the wind-like maelstrom from his giant cleaver loud and booming as the dirt flew up into a sea of green plains. The tall man stood, smiling with ego and without a break in his confidence, until the dust settled down and the thin blanket of fog fell apart to reveal the thin man untouched, still in his stance.

The thin man smiled. “My turn.” He said, his left foot pushing slightly off his footing and his right foot blasting forwards, his sword held straight and forwards, in a flash aimed diagonally at the tall man, who swung, knocking the long blade out of the way, but the centrifugal force immediately swung him around and his blade flipped and slashed right into the arm of the large man underneath his armor. The flesh seared with pain and his arm was bursting with blood, yet the thickening flesh stopped it from breaking bone. The thin man smiled, walking back a few steps, looking at the bloodied, gruesome arm that was shimmering with vacuous magenta liquid . “I see you are a student of the Agzhieru style. However, I did not expect you to be so arrogant that the Agzhieru not work.” The tall man groaned.

“And I heard of a man who was labeled to be one of the greatest of the First Revolution, a man whose skills have no rival with the blade. Ferruga Kelriumn, captain of the elite patrol squad, the Kezuvizith. I am honored to cross blades against you, Ferruga.” He said maliciously, licking his tongue, before bending his knees slightly, his large weapon held out to his side, the blade flipped against Ferruga. “Your skull will be my crown.”

Ferruga nodded with interest. “Ah, now you are taking me seriously. That is good. By the stance I see that is the Ackrun’aghiaz, I’m certain? The Agzhieru’s ultimate attack, the three rings, am I correct?”

“Correct.” The large man spoke, as Ferruga nodded in appreciation.

“Well, I will show you that it is breakable.” Ferruga said, resuming his regular stance, his legs bent and his arms grappling his hilt tightly, his eyes aimed at the man’s left shoulder.

“I see.” The giant Temsplace said, pushing off his feet into the ground, lunging him high into the air for a man his size, “I will have your head!” He cried, before Ferruga lunged, and he cackled with confidence. “You cannot perform your attack going up! You have not the mass to throw!” He cried, before he swung, and a dull thud smacked his blade, and from far above his head, Ferruga was seen, resuming his stance in midair, aiming at the man once more.

“Impressive.” Ferruga said, thrusting with unbelievable speed, slashing into the man’s left shoulder, the blade gurgling out viciously as the thin red margin of death became apparent, the red blood flowing like a rosy creek in the ditches of the thin mansion. Ferruga twisted his hilt, the man’s shoulder torn apart as his fur-covered plate slashed into pieces as string was ripped and steel wires ravaged his ribs. Blood and bones ejected itself from his stomach and his left arm was nothing more than a lump of scarred and torn flesh clean off the pearl bone that was visible.

On the ground, in delirious pain, trying to regain himself, the Temsplace rebel leader groaned. “What was that? The technique you always use? What is its name?” He asked, a stroke of sorrow in his voice.

“It’s my own style of fighting from all my experience during the First Revolution. It’s a sword style that is made to fight guns and sword alike with victory. If you wish to know the name, then I will tell you it. It is called the Kazzak, and what you have seen was its ultimate attack, the Eimunnkazzak. I haven’t used it in nearly fifteen years. You should feel honored.” Ferruga said mildly.

Ferruga sat down, his mind dwindling as he touched his small vein on his arm, the slight touch of blood dribbling from his temple as he sighed softly, groaning as the thick and chortled blood burst down in fragments as brownish patches of moulding skin crackled from his head as a small, steady stream slowly slipped down his skin. He sighed again before the door creaked open in his room. From the knob, the fingers of a thin, yet strong hand emerged, a thin golden band on its slender form and pale thin hands that led to a draping robe, golden hair that flew down in throbs like patches of vermilion.

Ashili smiled, but Ferruga’s face was quiet, closed, his eyes shut and his lips pursed, his fingers grappling his thighs hoarsely, his voice groaning and sloshing with saliva as he finally sighed again. He swallowed his throat, and then opened his eyes. They were brilliant – a beautiful amber shade that glimmered with a slight, hazing goldenrod tint, a slight furbished fuchsia blade of colour upon the end. They were like jewels, and they etched towards to the woman who stood at the doorway, for she, like his eyes, was as magnificent and beautiful as she ever was. Ashili bowed her head slightly to acknowledge this man who sat so calmly and quiet inside this tiny room.

She was dressed in a dazzling porcelain coloured dress, her scars and war wounds invisible amongst her long laces of shining gold, her slender arms hidden behind her back as her breasts carried a long silver necklace drooping upon their surfaces, a small circlet of silver tapered upon her fresh, golden hair. She smiled slightly, her lips slightly pursed yet glazed with a ruby lipstick, her skin like mirror water – smooth and without flaw. Her hair was down and slightly straight, a bit wavy as her ears were tucked neatly amongst her more fierce features.

“Aeray.” Ferruga said softly, smiling as he placed his leg down onto the floor, stretched apart and looking at her as he sat down comfortably. “What brings you – “

“Do you still love me?” Ashili asked, getting down on her knees, her hands cupped on her lap, looking up at Ferruga who sat upon his bed. Ferruga’s eyes widened slightly, his eyebrows crunched up and his fingers tightly grasping his knees, his lips a bone white as he thinned them into knives of soft pink flesh. Ashili could not wait for an answer. “Do you, Ferruga?” She asked, looking down on the ground, her head bowed and her face invisible amongst the shadowed veils of her flowing hair.

Ferruga paused. “No.” He said roughly, standing up, walking over to the window as the bending sunlight awoken the first of the morning dew.

Ashili sighed softly, tears welling in her eyes, slowly falling down her cheeks as they fell upon her bosom. “I understand.” She said, nodding, but without standing up to get out. She had taken great lengths to look as magnificent as she ever had, but it had been for naught. “I am sorry for bothering, Ferruga.” She wiped the water from her cheek, and opened her mouth to extinguish the thin taste of salt that had slipped into the backs of her jaw.

“However, how is my brother?” Ferruga asked her, as she sighed, her breathing erratic and at tempos. Ferruga did not move nor budge, he merely kept himself silent and like stone. “You talked to him during the Enkur incident, so please, how is he?”

“Zavuun died shortly thereafter.” Ashili said, her voice eminent with heartbreak as her pearl gloved hands were clutched softly around her heart. “I’m sorry Ferruga, it was foolish of me to ask something from you, to ask for something I do not deserve.” She began to get up, before her foot slipped on the slight puddle of tears from her eyes, and she fell, her hand cut by the harsh surface of the stone floor. Ferruga did not turn his face to meet her.

“I made a promise.” He said sternly, without a break in emotion. “I promised myself that what you did broke my heart. I promised that I would never associate myself with your kind again. Now you come here, attempting to blind me from my promise, but once again, Ashili, you underestimated me. I’m sorry, but I can’t accept your apology – you are a black shadow to me.” Ferruga sighed, before Ashili cried, her coughing slight yet her repulsions from her tears sniffed back and she grasped the tiny rocks on the floor with sadness.

Naharank Castle, the home of Edward and Ashili…Cassandra’s helicopter just took down and she exited it as it was powering down. She was on a mission to find her aunt, Ashili, and nothing would stop her. Unless it was her blonde haired cousin, Akila (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/CountJWolf/AkilaDarkholme.jpg), was in the way.

Cassandra came flying around one corner and had to jump to the side to stop herself from hitting Akila.

“Cass! Where’s the fire?” asked Akila with a surprised look on her young and beautiful face.

“We need to get your mother, Uncle Edward took me to.” said Cassanadra.

“Okay, let’s good.” The two girls, both in the line to the throne of the United Dominion, ran off to find Ashili.

Meanwhile, the young Saerus was meeting back with a few of his lancers. They were about to head to their former Lancer base, which didn‘t really have any armed guard in it. Saerus and his lancer shot through the main gates, hoping that their underground garage hasn’t been messed with.

The young commander knew his garage was safe as it would only open for him. As the pack run to the entrance, the rest of Searus’ Lancers rode into the base. They drove around, looking for unwelcome guests.

At the entrance, Saerus killed his father’s golden bike and got off. He heads over to an old looking sign that said ‘Danger’ in Jenrakian on the wall next to the steel door. With a little move of his hand, the sign was pushed out of the way to show what was hidden behind it. There was state of the art handprint keypad behind it and the Green Viper as his men called him placed his hand in it.

“Welcome, Green Viper.” said a robotic sounding voice as the pad became green.

The large door began to open and Saerus smiled. “Boys, we have our toys.” he said out loud.

With that, the men began to get their bikes and other thing ready for war.

“The council – “ Gelectriax said, before a call came from a secured line towards him, the speakers loud and ringing as he touched the base to open communications. “What is it?” He asked, before Suriga’s daunting voice rang aloud on the subwoofers.

“Mr. Suriga wants you to bring 6 men with you to fight him in the art of swords. Will you accept?” Gengur said politely and happily on the speaker, as Gelectriax nodded.

“This is our opportunity to assassinate Suriga.” Gelectriax said.

It was a cold Tuesday morning, the rain was pattering and the freezing temperatures made it one of the coldest winters in Jenrakian history – yet there still was no snow. Amongst the small huts, Ashili breathed coldly from her warm breath, rubbing her throat slightly as the two small puncture wounds were fresh and blood still poured from them. For now, gauze bandages were the only things that slowed down the seemingly insane blood rate. She shifted her jaw around and pursed her lips, standing there, under the wooden shaft as the rain poured down, waiting for something, before a small cackle came from behind her.

“Ashili, move in.” The voice came over the radio, as she nodded to the machine. “Nahk has taken the eastern provinces, now you must take the charge into your hands on their last stronghold.” Arborgard spoke on the radio, before Ashili smiled. There was a dense green blanket of trees around her location, but it was not longer before her soldiers emerged, the elite. Amongst them, the many new Sadicistra were gearing for war, their tongues lashing out as their teeth were like knives and their fangs bared. Swords readied, the Sirens carrying their guns, the troops crawling through the dense foliage as Ashili commanded them to get around.

There were insects, there were predators, and there were patrol groups, but that was what the sword was for – silent, brutal and effective killing from behind. It was always what they had to do, the rain still pouring as they trekked on, the mud thickening as their boots were caught slowly and slipping away. “Quiet.” Ashili said, creeping slowly along the sharp leaves of the trees, the rustling of the leaves making even the loudest of noises as lights were visible from the near distance. Tanks rolled along the sandy pits and buggies roared loudly, the enemy patrols marching as the soldiers kept quiet, their truncheons and their swords only centimetres away. Yet they kept themselves away.

Slowly, they kept going, Ashili pushing up through the north with silence as her men followed suit, the lights of the large fortress slightly becoming visible as enemies were swarming around its exterior. She smiled. “Prepare the cannon.” She said into the communicator, as explosions lit up the lightning ravaged sky with fire. Petals of flames danced in the night sky, and the soldiers hurried towards the oncoming Sadicistra horde that slowly filled out of the forest. From here, only a few remained, as Ashili nodded to her men. Snipers on the ready, their marks prepared, their guns fired as bullets sleeted through the air, pouncing upon flesh with a loud thud.

“Continue.” Ashili ordered, enemy soldiers looking around as she fired her gun, her riddling lead smashing into their soft skulls, the blood spraying out in a path of red victory amongst her men. They slowly clambered up the thin yet tall walls, using steel gloves to use the barbed wire as a means of getting around. Finally, they were in the walls, in the castle, the stone hearth was supposedly unbreakable was now breached.

Inside was an odd sight – gardens and greenish lights were prancing amongst artificial skies, twisting corridors and thin tunnels of wooden walls were plastered in white sheets as the tiled floors were a marble glaze, the lights every few centimetres giving a thin feeling of constant surveillance. It was obvious guns could not be used effectively – enemy auto turrets could easily detect the barrel signatures and in such a thin set of hallways, they would all be killed. The only was through the blade of the sword. Ashili placed her gun back into its holder, and drew her blade, her men following suit.

“This is a nice place.” She said, looking around with amazement, the tiny comment triggering a series of alarms as guards came to investigate.

Sanduras was a cold place, but it was here that her hands were frozen and nearly drenched in frostbite, her fingers holding her sword as she charged at the tall, thin man before her kicked her sword from her, shaking his head. “Keep your grip strong. The first one has to connect before it can be passed onto the second one.” The man said strongly, as Ashili, her face young and her hair tied back in a ponytail, charged, swinging her sword with a strong downward strike before the man kicked her in the chest, sending her flying back onto the ground, her hands bleeding from the force of the burning friction on the harsh dirt and her clothes dirtied with mud.

“Connect your first attack!” He yelled strongly, as Ashili tried again, achieving the same results. “If you can connect, then I will let you go.” He said, yelling loudly as Ashili lifted her blade, turning around, her arm clutched as her ponytail was loosened, her long flowing hair falling upon her shoulders. She was defiantly turning around, limping away into the forest, hearing only the loud pummelling of the artillery and the loud cries of her teacher angrily yelling at her. “Goodbye, Ferruga, you fucker.” She said quietly.

In the night, wintry blossoms of the stars made it wondrous, and in the day, the pouring rain made fire seem like heaven. Puddles as large as men were visible amongst the wavy muddied grounds, and the castle’s tunnels did not make it any easier. “Cover the areas we take.” Ashili said as her men nodded. “I will deal with guards.” She said, as a few of them followed her, their steps as quiet as hers, not even a creak audible as thunder raged outside. From the small tunnels that were the hallways, a thin moaning sound could be heard, and with the slash of the fragile door, Ashili and her squad entered.

Inside a man and a woman were committing intercourse, and without hesitation, she slashed them to ribbons, their skin and flesh falling down onto the ground softly in splattering thuds, the floor slippery with their blood. “Keep going.” She said, pushing through the hallways, her sword held as she finally reared to the higher echelons of the castle, where the guards rushed in their obsidian armour. “Offensive!” She yelled, adorning her stance – her left leg out and her right leg tucked away, her eye parallel to the blade as she held her sword on her right shoulder, her left hand touching the scabbard and her right hand on the tip of the end of the hilt.

She waited as they charged, before she nodded, and with incredible speed, lunged and slashed in a double motion against them, carving out a bloody swath through the thinning enemy ranks, blood spewing everywhere as they cried in pain. She cried once more, as they fell back a bit, before taking their stance again, charging and then slashing at the perfect intervals, untouched as the enemy fell over and over again.

“My son is in the war.” Ferruga said proudly, as Ashili sat there, looking out at the rain in the small house of Ferruga amongst the woods, the lake the dwelling overlooking beautiful with the blanket of ripples that edged out on the beaches. “He is assisting the Methronn forces in their defence against the Jenrakian rebels. It’s been two years since Haasdra was taken, yet this country still feels the scar of the war.” Ferruga said, rolling up his sleeve, revealing a long line of purplish bruise-like disfigurements on his arms, decorated in red lines that bled with the tightened grip of his fist. “I was leader of the Keruvizith, and it paid a terrible price. I will never forget Haasdra, heh. Though I try.” He said, looking at the rainfall, as Ashili leaned on his shoulder, her hair dangling softly upon his chest.

“War, so many people die in it, and yet it always repeats.” Ashili said quietly, her voice like a whisper.

“Never become corrupted by the grips of men in power, Aeray.” Ferruga said, looking at the lake before smiled. “I think its time for bed, Aeray.” He said, as she groaned.

“One more hour!” She said, her face scrunched up and her eyes like onyx stones. Ferruga chuckled, smiling broadly before he shook his head.

“You need your sleep.” Ferruga said, picking her up as she playfully struggled, her chuckling screams of resistance barely effective against him, before he placed her on her bed, and walked towards the door. “Good night, Aeray.” He said.

“I love you.” She said quietly.

“Love you too.” Ferruga replied, turning off the light and closing the door shut behind him.

Ashili looked on the tall and long hallways, quiet and without enemies, the door at the end the only obstacle, turning around as the knob on its edge creaked open. From here, in this room, a few children cowered in the corner, as the main target revealed himself – a fat, blustering man with a series of large scars on his hands, his head bald and his smile wide and engrossing. “You must be Ashili Evergone, commander of the southern flanks of the Jenrakian Rebels. I must say, I was expecting a man.” He said coyly, before his bodyguard stepped out from the shadows, his sword held tightly as Ashili’s men prepared themselves. Ashili looked on with disgust. “Kill the senator.” She ordered, as they skilfully rushed, but it was only a small time before the bodyguard’s blade slashed up against them, cutting them apart without effort.

He drew himself from the front, his face thin and wiry, his eyes slightly large and his cheekbones fairly prominent. He had a long flocked of hair, though it was wrapped in a thin ponytail and he nodded respectfully. Lunging forwards, he slashed against Ashili, the weight of the attack so powerful it caught her off guard. She groaned before pushing back, slashing against him, but it was quickly blocked.

He did not make any expressions, save for his remorseless frown, stabbing against Ashili, yet she blocked it, turned into the blade and kicked him in the stomach, sending him reeling back. She prepared herself again, smiling, but it was immediately broken as he placed his right foot out, hunched his left foot back in, and held his sword parallel to his eyesight, aimed diagonally towards her shoulder. Ashili was shocked. “A Kazzak?” She said, gasping, as the fat man chuckled and clapped.

“Good, good, Escher. The famous Kazzak stance that’s become legend around these parts. I can see that she’s already shaken up, let’s see her fight this.” He said, sneering with an eerie, evil sneer before Ashili followed suit with her own stance.

“I don’t know how you know the Kazzak stance, but I will show you that knowing stances won’t help you commit them.” She said fiercely, charging as he charged, their blades meeting at their tips, before sliding along, with Escher’s blade sliding in and slashing Ashili on her right shoulder, the blood seeping out as Ashili backed off a bit. She groaned, as Escher resumed the stance once more. She looked worried, and she had to be with blood seeping down upon her.

She was slightly fazing out, yet she continued her stance, attempting it again, only this time to be parried back and kicked against the wall, standing up and resuming her attack. She began to hallucinate, her eyes shifting and gazing as she aimed for the fat man, charging at him before a soft fleshy barrier got in her way, as she mercilessly torn it apart, a scream heard as she nearly blanked out from the blood loss. On her regaining consciousness, she looked at the result of her charge – Escher and the senator, both gone in a flurry of strokes, behind only the huddled children, protected by the two men she had just killed.

Ashili sighed, crying slightly before she looked one of them, her face in tears. “What’s your name?” She asked, as the little girl looked back with diamond sparkling within her eyes.

Two days later, the Methronn overran the area, and killed all the children within the castle as retribution for the death of the senator. It proved to have no tactical reinforcement for the rebellion at all.

“Darkness.” Gelectriax said quietly, his hair flowing as his mind was wracking with wonder, his fingers tapping on his leg as he chuckled in his armour. He was drenched in water, soaking wet and a towel wrapped around his neck like a makeshift scarf, and he smiling as he sat inside the room, the soft plush chairs making little noise as clambering from afar was heard. “That’s what we will strike in. Arborgard has given us the signal to begin our final assault on the eastern provinces, and in this second revolution Haasdra’s influence will stretch all over the Jenrakian coastline. The last obstacle is Ergos.”

“Ergos?” His men asked, looking at each other as Gelectriax nodded. “Why Ergos, Lord Gelectriax?”

Gelectriax pushed his bangs from his forehead, his silvery hair shining as his well sculpted cheeks were thinning amongst a small, yet sharp nose and his eyes were fierce and delicate with an amber touch. He clutched his helmet, his simply painted war helm and was about to put it on his head when a needle scratched his cheek, his blood splashing out in drivel. “Hmm.” He said, wiping his face as the red smear was a thin stench of sweet nectar in the air. “Somebody’s here.” He said, opening the door as a group of men were standing, looking at him with evil intents.

“Hello, Gelectriax.” Suriga said from the back of the group, his face a smile and his eyes a blue set of sapphires as veils were drenched over his features. “It’s a dark night, and I presume that you’ve been told of the plan to take the Ergos coastline, correct?” Suriga asked, as Gelectriax nodded confidently. “That’s no longer planned.”

Gelectriax sighed. “Then what are we doing?” He asked, looking at the small company of swordsmen with him, before chuckling. He had realised – Arborgard had no more need for him, that as his promise to serve the heir of the Enkur dynasty that he finally was being thrown away. “You know,” Gelectriax said, his hand gripping his sword firmly. “It will happen to you.”

Suriga chuckled. “When my time comes, I will have Arborgard’s head. But for now, I must play this game to get to the end.” He said, nodding as his men charged against Gelectriax’s council, the spray of blood raining down within the room as both sides spattered in red volleys that drizzled on their armours. “You cannot win Gelectriax. You cannot win, not even with the Revenant on your side.” Suriga said, charging as Gelectriax followed suite.

“This is the end of our alliance then.” Gelectriax replied, slashing at Suriga as Suriga blocked, a kick landing against his jaw but without effect as the veiled assassin turned and twisted to elbow Gelectriax in the tempo, sending him reeling back as the man cackled in laughter. “You need to do more than that!” He said, laughing with a hellish snicker that was as loud and terrifying as the screams of the men that issued blood. He was drenched in blood.

“So, you’ve gone insane now.” Suriga said. “As my act of pity, I will rid you of your life.” He said, grasping his sword with his right hand, his left hand on the end of the hilt. “Come so you may die.” He said, his right leg bend forward a little bit, as Gelectriax chuckled.

“So, this is the famous Kataask stance, the one that was said to be invincible?” Gelectriax sneered, as he placed his helmet on, placing his sword parallel to his shoulder, looking on with a smirk behind the blackness of his helmet. “Let us begin.” He said ironically, rushing forwards as Suriga stayed quiet, waiting for a split second before he swung, blocked by Gelectriax as the man twisted from the force to strike him in his right shoulder, only to have Suriga twist his wrists down to block, swinging it up with force behind Gelectriax lunged again.

Resuming stance, Suriga blocked again, save this time he pushed with his wrists against the hilt of his blade and sloshed his sword against Gelectriax’s helmet, slicing off his right cheek and slashing off his left eye, blood spewing everywhere as Gelectriax smiled, cackling in madness. Despite the cackling however, he fell into a bloodied heap. Suriga chuckled. “One day, I will be betrayed, but until then, my oath is to the king.”

Six weeks, and four cities have already fallen. The sheer speed of Arborgard’s merciless tactics have pushed the Jenrakian civil war dry, men on both sides exhausted after the massive wave of offensive power that shackled the rambling political body that corrupted the land. Ashili was walking along the quietness of the city’s streets, the darkness imminent as the final phase of the attack was being carried out. She walked the alleys, the darkness with her sword, looking left and right as she roamed the streets with her men. Guns were not effective in this blackness of a city, this maze-like wretchedness of corridors. It was too cramped of a city.

As she walked quietly, awaiting for the checkpoints, a scream pierced the night, a bloodied scream that forced her to turn around, with inside the pale moonlight the dark dusk that was a pale figure, standing there motionless as it held its stance, quiet and malicious as its massive blade was careful and slight in hand. “Show yourself.” Ashili said quietly, before turning on her lights, preparing her stance, before in a swift slash its blade crashed against hers, knocking her men as the rain of blood fell upon them both, forcing her back. She gasped.

“A Temsplace?” She asked herself, trying to regain as her strength was marginal compared to his, pushing her backwards onto the wall, before slashing up, sending her flying through towards the ceiling. She grappled the bar at the buttress, her sword dangling at her feet as she twisted around it, launching herself blade first at the giant man, only to be dodged by and smashed against the ground, then kicked towards the wall in a bloodied heap. Her nose was bleeding and her shoulder was covered in splinters, yet she continued and persisted. Taking up her stance, she looked intently at the man with hatred.

He took his stance, and charged, lunging down before she could thrust, then pushing to the left as she tried to block, smashing her against the wall. She breathed carefully, before dispelling herself and freed herself from the grasp, choking slightly on the strong grapple of the enemy before resuming her stance once more. It resumed its stance once more. The Temsplace rely on the martial style of the Hekkroz. If I can break the Hekkroz, then I can connect with the Kazzak. She thought, resuming her stance, waiting for the perfect moment, as the man charged and she looked on, intent and waiting for the small fraction of a second that she could. In that fraction, she lifted her blade, used the force of the enemy to propel herself diagonally upwards, and resumed her stance in midair, lunging and thrusting into the helmet of sword as a ghastly chuckle was heard, and the blood sprayed into her eyes.

She smiled, red tears running down her eyes.

“I did not know back then, Ferruga.” Ashili said solemnly, sitting down as Ferruga sighed. “I didn’t know.” She said, looking down.

“I told you the danger of this, the danger of impatience and arrogance. You let yourself be taken into the frenzy of war and now this is what happens. You are a murderer, Aeray, nothing more.” Ferruga said disappointed. “And you cannot do anything about it if you try. The past is impossible to change.” Ferruga stood up. “However, what’s done is done, and what you have done is a transpired event that cannot be changed. If you are here to seek my last, then do so.”

Ashili’s eyes filled with excitement. “You mean it?”

“Yes. Get your sword, and meet me outside on the grounds.”

Gelectriax looked at the others. “We can only bring six men. Who wants to come?” He asked.

Edward looked across at Gelectriax. “You have my blade and pistols.” said the Prince of Ice. His trademark cocky smile across his lips. “Plus, the women I love is going.”

Farkas, in his white armor and white cloak, his massive blade on his back. “Count me in.”[/I] came out of his lips.

In a black leather tight cat suit, Selene walked into the room. “My, my, looks like my girl was right.” she said looking across at her husband and son, standing in a part of the room. She walked over and grabbed her husband’s head. Her lips locked with his and she said “Don’t die this time.”

“Looks like my sis is in, too.” said Edward, looking at the two swords (http://www.toledosword.com/im/GRHK33TS_s.jpg) on her back. “I know Remy will be part of the defensive army. Same with Akila and Cassandra. There are whatever number of Lancers and Templaces that Farkas and Saerus could get together. Add in the Dominion soldiers and their vehicles. We have fighters on stand by, too.”

Edward looked across at his nephew, Saerus, and asked “Are you coming with us?’

“No, I be part of the defensive link.” said the young man, the Green Viper.

Edward looked back at Gelectriax, “We’ll got three for your force.” he said.

Gelectriax looked around. "I will be going. Him and I go back a long way." He chuckled maniacally, looking around at every one else, as Thaurausk nodded to them.

"I'll be going." Thaurausk volunteered, to Gelectriax's surprise. "I have a feeling something wrong is going to happen, and I've seen it all."

"Thaurausk, you're too weak." Gelectriax said harshly, as she laughed back.

"I was in the First Revolution, remember? Anyone who lived through that bloodshed is not weak." She said strongly, as Gelectriax nodded in agreement. "And that leaves Ashili. So, where is she?" Thaurausk asked, looking around, as the thin sound of a smack was heard in the courtyard.

Outside, Ashili stood her own, or at least tried against Ferruga's odd attacks, her skills with the blade untarnished yet his still growing. Ferruga raised his sword to resume stance, looking at her with fierce eyes, preparing his stick as she prepared hers. In the quiet settling dust, they squared off stares, before in a mist of furious action, they struck.

Ashili aimed for the right shoulder as she had always done, and Ferruga did too, though in an instant he crossed his blade and swung down, smashing the wood into Ashili's shoulder, her muscles convulsing and her arm burning in pain and blood. She fell, only to rise battered and nearly broken. "The third stance?" She said with surprise, as Ferruga nodded, turning around and walking back to gain distance.

"The culmination of an attack is the final step, not in between. You rely too much on your knowledge of different sword styles. If you rely on sword styles and their theoretical weaknesses and strengths, then you fail to understand the basic principle of the last attack." Ferruga replied, resuming stance. "You must rely on your instincts, and never attempt to get yourself cornered."

"I understand." Ashili said, resuming her own stance as she prepared, waiting for a signal as the small prick of dust fell onto her long hair, and with that, she flung herself with full thrust, as Ferruga followed suite. She lunged and then did her stroke, before dodging the blade of her teacher by going low, switching to the striking stance only to be smashed in the stomach by Ferruga's knee. She reeled back, blood dripping from her fangs, as she breathed heavily, attempting to stand up tall and proud.

"The Kazzak stance is a style without weakness. This is something I have never taught you, because you left so early in your training. The Kazzak style has a martial style that coincides with it, and now you've seen why I am alive today during the First Revolution. If you go high, you will be hit by my blade - if you go low, you will be hit by my knee. If you attempt to embrace the attack then you would be stabbed to death. Sidesteps are ineffective against sweeps, and I can resume my stance without pause at any single moment." Ferruga said, resuming stance.

Ashili sighed. "So I cannot break the Kazzak stance?" She said, looking down, dark shadows falling over her eyes, as Ferruga chuckled.

"The only way to kill a man who would shoot you is to shoot him first. That is the rule behind the last variation of the Kazzak stance. Hold your blade in your stance." Ferruga said, resuming the Kazzak once more, as Ashili did the same. "Now turn your blade up, and place your less dominant hand on the back of the hilt. When my blade's tip is parallel to yours, touch my tip with yours, then pull to the center and push up your end. Then hold the end and slash." Ferruga said, showing the stance as Ashili followed her own. "I will show you. Hit me." He ordered.

Ashili came full force, as Ferruga struck with the final variation, snapping her blade in two, the blade swinging against her face, the sharp steel a hair's length away from her cheek. She shook in awe of the sheer speed of the attack, as Ferruga nodded. "Remember that technique. It is impossible to block or dodge, as it retains the property of the Kazzak while still being able to break another one. I would teach you the Kazzak martial art, but we're pressed for time." He said, turning around as he walked away.

"Thank you, Ferruga." Ashili whispered.

“Outside.” said Edward, mentally preparing himself. He was a former commander of the United Dominion Foreign Legion and have seen war many times. This mission would need him on his best, if it was going to happen in the favor of his side. In the favor of the Jenrakians.

OOC: Sorry, it took so long to post. I forgot about this.

"Perhaps its best we get going." Gelectriax urged. "So it's me, Ashili, Edward, Farkas, Thaurausk and Selene." He nodded. "Then let's go immediately, before night-time settles. Saerus, you and Kelahradrith stay here and keep the place quiet and safe, while I will send word to Rashkta and Denise." He said, heading to the hanger, as Thaurausk nodded to the others.

"Let's get going." She said, looking at Edward.

Edward, his sister and his son followed behind the Jenrakian tactical force. They were all quiet knowing if they failed, Jenrak would not be the same anymore. All armed with their weapons, ready to kill to save Jenrak.

A prince and a princess of another nation going to place their lives on the line to save a nation that they weren’t born in. But they call these land home and if their lives are need to save Jenrak, then they are needed.

Darkness fell over the thin horizon as the red sun shimmered and the faint bellowing clouds were adrift with white pockets that twinkled in an amber hue. Desolate, quiet, the dust flowing about as the silent trees were still, unseated by the strong winds, the tall, erect rocks high and mighty as a grotesque monument towards the horrors of war. Here was Ciranaar’s castle, the great monument of the Vizith’Jag’haar, the once thought invincible cathedral that stood atop the hill of skulls and bones upon the broken cleaved throne of tongues. Circlets of stone stood like a giant sundial as the sun’s rays made long shadows upon the rocks, the smell of the brisk air tantalizing and fresh. In such a hot land, a scorching sea of dunes, this rocky chasm felt chilling, cold, malign. Darkness, it was falling fast, and the flapping choppers could not hide their presence as the sounds were heard, men marching and they stood there, quiet. Ashili contracted her eyes, her fingers pressed hard against the cold steel in her hands, her rifle held upon a thin sash as she looked at the tall monument.

Fingers of stone were tall and towering, looming amongst the darkness as a green light amidst the quickly dying red sunset, her sharpened edge glowing orange with excitement. “This is the place we’re supposed to meet him?” She asked, looking at Gelectriax as the man nodded persistently. “I suppose we should have a satellite feedback, try and get ourselves around and find out where this man is. Suriga most likely will pull something on us, so let’s try something.” She said, as they nodded.

“However.” Gelectriax spoke confidently. “There is a problem. With the current situation as it is, we cannot take any precautions, as they only delay time. We need to take the fortress with ease, without any form of stopping in our attack. We need to take them by surprise, hold them and wipe them out. However, there is a dark feeling I get when Suriga invites us. Knowing him, he is a fair and honorable man, yet he will most likely deploy something treacherous. We must be on our guard.” Gelectriax said, preparing his radio for an artillery barrage, before a small figure rose from the cavernous caves amongst the wreckage.

He had a thin face, a long smile and wide, gaping eyes as his ears were tucked neatly beneath his hair, his hands held clasped together as he looked at them with a wily look. Nodding, the others looked at him, preparing themselves as he chuckled. “My name is Sennun. I am not a fighter.” He said, as he walked towards them, their blades drawn as Sennun shrugged. “I am sorry, but you are not allowed to bring firearms in here. It’s for your own safety.” He replied, his voice fairly deep and strong for such a thin and young looking man.

“Our own safety? Is that a threat?” Gelectriax said, taking out his pistol as the boy smiled, autoturrets flailing up through the sands as they targeted Gelectriax, his body ridden in reddish burgundy dots that were littered throughout. Thaurausk gasped. “I see.” He said, withdrawing his gun, yet the turrets unmoving. “Let’s see how far the rabbit hole goes.” He said blankly, as Thaurausk and Ashili both took their guns off, placing them back down into their holsters, looking at each other as blades were drawn.

“That’s good.” Sennun said. “I am aware that you are here for only one purpose, and that is to get the head of my master, but he says that you must earn your victory before you can go anywhere.” He smiled, as the doors from below cracked open with the large buzz of noise that so rarely followed. “Now, shall we go?” He asked, as the others nodded.

It was cold and chilly, dark and ominous, a distant tunnel of stone and walls, the end a bright warmth of light flickering as the door was hot to touch. In an instant, Sennun turned around, looking at the six of them. “You will be fighting one versus one, no assistance by anyone. Should you be defeated, then you may bring another person to take your place, assuming you live. Behind these doors are the elite fighters of the Handravizith’Kaazajizith. Are you prepared?” He asked, as Gelectriax nodded in confidence.

Ashili sighed, remembering Ferruga’s words. Don’t ever forget what you represent. You are a member of the Kazzak style, and I will not tolerate defeat. Should you lose, not only do you lose your life, but the lives of those around you and everyone you meet. Do you understand? “I understand.” She whispered, as Sennun nodded and smiled, opening the doors to reveal a bathing, warm light.

From here, a lanky, yet moderately built man stood inside, his arms crossed and his back arched forwards, his face covered by a thin white veil, two long swords crossed at his back as he leaned forwards slightly, looking at them with thin, slashing and piercing eyes. His hands were draped in a thin silky pair of gloves, clanging heard beneath them, his shoulders slumped as his long silver turban was draped amongst his forehead, a thin and fine red scar running down his neck, his face covered by silk. He looked at Gelectriax, and his smile widened. “Gelectriax the Wicked, they call you.” He said, his voice a sneer and a chuckle, his laughter thin and wry. “I’ve seen that you’ve grown soft on me, Gelectriax.”

No firearms. Not good. said Edward to himself, wearing his long black coat with black gloves and a black faceless mask. His sword’s hilt was black, there was no color on his body other then the color of death. Unwilling wanting to do it, Edward placed both of his pistols on the ground.

Selene, dressed small as her brother, did the same thing. She didn’t ready want to leave her assault rifle. Placing next to her feet.

Farkas, without his white cloak and only in his stone colored armor, didn’t have a firearm. He didn’t even carry his rocket launcher. He only had his massive sword on his back.

With their hands near their blades, the three nodded saying they were prepared to fight. They were trained to use their blades by a legendry swordsman by the name of the Count. They would fight to the death to finish this mission.

"Heh, Vijun." Gelectriax said with a laughter. "So you've betrayed our code after all. I knew that eventually you would do this." Gelectriax said, chains flying from his fingers, holding it up high as he stood his stance, his leg bent out and his arms awaiting, as Vijun bent forwards slightly, his hands tied around his back blade handles, his eyes on the chains Gelectriax held firmly. "I'm surprised."

"I should be surprised." Vijun said, bending forwards a little. "You betrayed us all, Gelectriax, joining with the likes of these men. You had grown soft, grown weak. Have you remembered our code of honor? Our pride? Krasieenn Vizith Huirzannuran Kazamuun. Our Lord of Justice be our right hand." Vijun said meekly, bending forwards even more slightly, his neck craning almost at 90 degrees, as Gelectriax chuckled.

"We'll see how well you fare." Gelectriax said, his chains flying out, as Ashili nodded, and Thaurausk was surprised. Gelectriax flung up into the air, his body sprung by the hooked springs that propelled him into the air from the ceiling, his body wrung up as his sword was drawn into his right hand, Thaurausk and Ashili amazed at Gelectriax's speed and flexible agility.

"Wow, Gelectriax is amazing, isn't he?" Thaurausk asked Ashili, who nodded. "He's a capable fighter, I've never seen anyone so fast and agile." She said.

"Do you think yourself victorious, Gelectriax?" Vijun said, before placing his foot up slightly on the left, his arm flung up in chains as he flew up into the air, to Gelectriax's surprise, and stabbed him, yet the torrential blood only fell for a small second. At the ceiling, Gelectriax's right hand was impaled, his left hand still holding on the blade, blood dripping down as he kicked down and fell onto the ground with a gasp of pain. Vijun contracted his eyes. "Here I come!" He said without repentance, charging in a flash as Gelectriax dodged and blocked his whiplash of a sword, but the other slashed him mercilessly, hot blood falling out as Gelectriax swung back, pushing him back.

"Nakriemm." Gelectriax said quietly, as Ashili had thoughts of interest.

"Nakriemm?" She asked.

"So, Vijun is using the Nakriemm." Suriga said to himself, watching the fight from his private chamber on the television. "Gelectriax cannot win against his old comrade if he plans on using the Hanhu stance. This fight is already determined if Gelectriax cannot figure out the weakness of the Nakriemm. However, Ashili, you seem to be thinking of a way, or is it you've found one?" Suriga smiled, chuckling as the fight continued.

From the room, Gelectriax groaned as he stood up, his blade held in his hands, his right hand spewing out splashes of blood, taking up his stance as he charged forwards, blade parallel before Vijun blocked it, allowing Gelectriax to kick him, but a scream ejected from his leg, as in midair, Vijun's second blade was deep into Gelectriax's shin, his armor snapped as the Wicked Lord fell, spewing out more blood. "Pitiful, Gelectriax." Vijun. "If you cannot defeat me, i shudder to think how anyone can defeat Gengur, let alone Mr. Suriga." He prepared the final strike, aiming down as Gelectriax flung up, but it was blocked as the Wicked man flung his chains, grasping around Vijun's neck.

Vijun dropped his swords, using his hands to try and loosen his grip on the chains, yet Gelectriax held firm. "I see." He said. "So you were buying time." Vijun coughed up blood as Gelectriax laughed maniacally, getting up as he limped face to face against Vijun.

"When I nearly died, I was given a gift." He said, his face close to Vijun - both of them were killers, Lords, masked in the darkness of the First Revolution, both of them straying from honor, yet both had become the dangers of the government they worked so hard to build. Now, as the conflict between the two of ancient men resided, there was a darkness of a bond connecting them, a quiet shadow that made them understand each other. "Understand?" He said, as Vijun chuckled.

"I see." Vijun said, before he was ripped through by chains. Gelectriax collapsed in pain, yet he rose once more, coughing up and vomiting blood from behind his mask.

"Go on ahead." He said to the others. "We need to stop this man."

“Very well.” said Edward with a smile, hidden behind his mask. His black blade in his hand, he started leading the way into the tunnel. His eyes watching for anything to jump out and attack them. Can’t get a thing pass a vampire.

His son followed behind him.

Selene looked over at Gelectriax, “See you later, I hope.” she said. With that, she followed the rest.

"The second match will be against Mr. Emeron, of the Kuzuum." Sennun said, opening the door to the next match, as a tall and muscular man stood, his hands carrying a gargantuan halberd, its blade rotting with blood as glassy handles were shimmering in the red light. "Please choose someone." Sennun said, as Thaurausk looked at Edward.

"Deal with this man." Thaurausk spoke.

Edward eyed the tall and muscular man with his oversized halberd. Edward could carry it, but he would look like a little child with it in his hands. He would use his black blade over anything else.

“Okay.” said the Prince of Ice.

He stepped forwards a step and asked “Ready?” Before Mr. Emeron could answer, Edward was charging across the room. His blade ready to block any attack and counter any attack. What he was doing was about to shown to the rest of the tactical force. His sister and son saw it coming and Ashili should too.

As he neared the range of the halberd, Edward placed weight on his right foot, acting like he was going that way. But in one quick move, shot to the left and into the air. He would lock blades with the halberd and flip in the air. As he did that, two blades would pop out of his boots to impaled themselves in the head of Emeron.

But that if Emeron was fast enough to stop an vampire before Edward did his attack.

Emeron was quicker than most people expected. Dodging down low, he parried against Edward's attack before it had any force against him, yet the man had already flipped into the air and a small glint had appeared at his feet, forcing Emeron to take the knife in his left arm, nodding as his thick armor was pierced and blood was dripping, yet he showed no concern. Taking up his own stance, Emeron placed the halberd up above his head, parallel to his shoulders, his right arm weak in grip as blood dripped from his left. He still ignored it, his right foot erect.

"The Temsplace Kazen style." Ashili said looking with interest, as Emeron stayed quiet, still and frozen. "However, there's a little problem." Thaurausk looked at Ashili with interest as well.

"Problem?" Thaurausk asked, as Ashili nodded.

"Emeron knows the limitations of the Kazen stance, meaning that the left under armpit is a vital point when he switches from the defensive to the offensive. He knows that due to Edward's speed, he would have to carry out the attack only when Edward moves. However," She continued, looking at Edward, "I'm guessing that Edward knows that ranged weapons won't be as effective as we thought against Emeron, and because of the long range of the halberd, he can't get close enough to take down Emeron until Emeron breaks the stance."

Landing on the ground and backing flip away, Edward looked at Emeron. The blood in the air filled in his nose, he smiled under his black mask. His ice blue eyes locked on his tall man, on his target to get closer to Suriga.

His hilt in his right hand, the tip of the blade pointing at the floor. Almost like he was waiting to be attacked by his prey.

“Well played, gefallener Mann.” said Edward. His smile still on his face, unseen by everybody.

“A stalemate.” whispered Selene, looking at the two fighters.

"What would you know of fallen? Who are you to judge the broken and the damned? The curse of the ancient blood flowing amongst the new, the last of the survivors of the ancient revolutions gone." Emeron said, his voice deep yet elegant, soft and smooth and warm. He did not sound like a man who enjoyed killing, and a small glimmer of tears were falling from the tiny sliver in his helmet to the ground. Diamond shimmering tears were beautifully flying off his face, as Emeron turned his halberd up and held it parallel to his head.

Ashili panicked. "Edward, move fast! The Kazennak stance will be hard to deal with if you don't move. Unlike before this one is incredibly offensive!" She said, before Emeron ducked low and charged forwards, his body swift and fast for a man that large.

Ashili looked on. Emeron is a survivor of the first revolution?

“Ashili! Thanks, but hush please.” said Edward, his right hand still pointing his blade at the ground. Still unmoving at the massive man charged at him, the black figure standing his ground. Unmoving at the bull charged him. Playing into Edward’s hand with his charge.

Bring his left hand in one smooth and fast move to touch it on his right shoulders, he made it fly back point at the bull charging him. Doing that released four hidden throwing knives, all around five inches long and flying like they were shot out of a gun. All flying straight out the bull.

As the four blades flew towards their target, Edward moved into attack mode. His left foot moving back, his right foot standing its place, his blade parallel with his shoulders. Then he moved, knowing his knives would give Emeron two choices; deal with them and change the way his weapon or allow them to impale him.

If he goes with the first choice, Edward would have an opening to attack. And the same with the second choice, too. Plus, the knives were dipped in poison that targets the muscles in a person's body. Meaning Emeron would be easy to kill, if he was hit by one or two knives.

Emeron twisted the side of his halberd and swung at the empty air before the knives, twisting back as the last knife clattered against the empty mass of his armor, yet none of it touched his skin as he resumed his stance. This time, he was in range, slashing down to the side as he swung it back up to his shoulder, slashing down again.

"Huh." Thaurausk said, as Ashili looked on.

"What was that?" Ashili asked.

"Wind pressure. Now we know why he uses the halberd instead of the Temsplace blade. The displaced air by the centrifugal force generated by the large scythe creates a powerful immediate wind strong enough to move the knives only a fraction off, giving him a hair's width of distance, yet it was enough to avoid getting cut or stabbed." Thaurausk said.

"But how is the resulting pressure strong enough to move the knives?" Ashili asked skeptically.

"Throwing knives are generally made to be lightweight and many of them contain weights at certain extreme intervals to make the throwing incredibly accurate. However, a slight shift in the pattern from the resulting pressure could easily displace the weights and make them move somewhere else." Thaurausk replied. "If Emeron had tried to do that stunt with a Temsplace blade, the sheer weight and size of the blade would have torn his arm off - it looks like that halberd wasn't just a random choice."

"It seems Emeron's avoided the attack. Good." Suriga said to himself. "The difference in strength is obvious, but I doubt Emeron could win in his state. He might be an effective fighter, but he does not have the mental capacity to kill a man. Like a game of chess, it's only a matter of time before the three other members are ready. Only a few minutes more."

Emeron’s attack would miss as Edward wasn’t in the same place anymore. Like what Edward thought, Emeron changed the way he was charging to block the knives. It was cool, but it would cost him his life.

As the halberd’s blade impacted with the ground, Edward was in the air before coming right back down on the non-sharp part of the halberd. That would just put in the ground move.

Standing on the halberd, his left foot point forward and his right foot point to the side, Edward’s blade come down from the right side, heading towards the neck of Emeron.

Emeron did not panic, he did not make any sudden moves save one - as Edward rushed against him, he moved his hand back on the handle and lifted its end up like a lever, barring it to the left and flipping the giant halberd over as he grappled the handle once more, ringing it out as he lifted it up and resumed his stance, charging once more as Ashili contracted her eyes.

"Emeron's weakening." Ashili said, her eyes serious as throughout the fight, Emeron's movements left a bloody trail throughout the battle, a giant insignia of blood etched upon the fighting area as Emeron slowed down, swinging wildly as he tried to regain his stance, his head slowly fading out. "It's happening." She said, as the giant behemoth tried to stance up, yet his blood loss was breaking his concentration.

By doing what he did, Edward was thrown off of the handle like a rag doll. Or that’s what it looked like at the start. He hit the ground, his left leg on a knee and his right leg out to the side. Flying off of the halberd made his head cloud up for a few second, but to the others, it looked he waiting for Emeron to come to him.

At the last second, Edward’s eyes focused and he saw what was coming. He acted fast, pushing himself into the air and landing on his feet. He blocked the first few attacks as they were wild attack. Even in his dazed state, Edward could tell that his prey was slowing down.

All because his first attack, the boot blade hit a target. Edward would back step, blocking the wild swing until he got an opening. His head would be hurting and hands as his blade took the hits.

Then it got worst really fast the blade was hit directly by the halberd and was cut in half. Edward had to act fast as the halberd came back at him on his left side. He moved forwards and his left hand moved to catch the handle of the halberd, almost getting cut in half by the halberd‘s blade. Using the time in catching the handle, Edward moved the broken blade upwards at the head of Emeron.

If that didn’t work, Edward wouldn’t have a head after his arm gives out.

The blade was broken, so a swift pummel created a marauding blast of attacks against Emeron as he fell down in a bloody heap. Sennun smiled. "Well, it looks like the winner is Mr. Darkholme. Shall we go to the next fighter?"

Once more, they walked along the cavernous tunnels, before they found themselves at the opened door of a large room once more like before, his time the fighter was a woman with a massive Temsplace blade, nearly twice the size of the incredibly enormous halberd that Emeron carried, and a handle that stretched her length. She smiled, her face baby smooth and her skin tone beautiful and radiant. She had a pair of lovely emerald eyes and a small pair of lips, her appearance very young as she was dressed in silken robes that shimmered in color. Her hair was a reddish color that slightly fanned out at the ends, her bangs curling upon her face as the strands delicately flung itself upon her eyes.

She looked like an angel, but the enormous sword at her side was in contrast to her figure. "My name is Nelinia, and I am your next obstacle." She said, smiling. "Who is my prey?"

"We need to watch out for the blade she's holding on her right hand. The smaller, longer one." Ashili warned. "Who wants to fight her?"

Edward won, but lost at the same time. He didn’t have his blade anymore, he didn’t have his pistols as he had to leave those outside. His head was hurting, but that would go away. He looked down at the body of Emeron still holding the handle of the halberd and his broken blade.

He threw his blade to the side and took the enormous halberd with him. He looked really funny carrying it.

Arriving at the next room, Edward looked at this woman with her massive blade. His head still hurt and hand were hurting. He didn’t know whom was going to step up to the plate. He didn’t think it would be…

“I don’t really like taking on women, but every day is a day for changes.” said the white Temsplace, stepping forwards with his massive blade ready to attack.

She playfully blew him a kiss. "Alright, kiddo. Before I start, tell me what school you went to for Temsplace training." She said, smiling.

“Why would I tell you that? I can’t help it that your on the wrong side.” said the white one with a smile. His moved his sword parallel with his head. “I’m not going to allow you to know anything about me unless I want you to.”

"Then I'll find out myself." She said, as a long whip-like wire lashed out at the white temsplace, edging its way closer and closer towards him with incredible speed.

"Nelinia's azumantu will be an interesting fight. Let's see how long this man can last against the Unbreakable Blade. Heh, she might be a bit loopy, but I'm confident that Nelinia is strong enough to fight this man." Suriga said to himself, watching the feed.

The White Temsplace wasn’t a young temsplace that just came out of his sixth year in training, he did that some time ago, a few years have passed from that. He had lead temsplaces into many campaigns that Jenrak was part of. During his training in Aslydon, Scion, he was one of the best students throughout the whole church. Known for the way he dueled, used two or more styles in one duel. He did it to keep his opponent on their toes.

Farkas was a Vizi-Kuurun and didn’t worry about the whip-like wire lashed out at him, he stood there like stone statue with his sword ready. He moved at the last second, the wire flying pass his chest only a few inches away and he acted.

His sword came down and the wire wrapped around it. In one move, he pulled by on his sword like he catching a large fish and used his strength to pull the wire whip hard. Maybe that would knock Nelinia on her face or make her loss one weapon.

"Hadrahk. You learned from Sly'lioth, didn't you?" She said, a wide smile adorning her face. "It looks like I will be fighting one of my brother's pupils." She sneered, her blade held out parallel as she placed herself strong and proud, standing still as she awaited a move from the white temsplace. "My worthless big brother is nothing compared to me. I was taught personally by Lord Suriga."

"But Suriga isn't a temsplace. You can't just pick up their blade and learn their style without special conditioning training from the temsplace academies." Ashili argued, as Nelinia snarled back.

"I have no need for those pointless training exercises. The temsplace are an obsolete force." She said, taunting the white temsplace.

“Yes, I was trained by Lord Sly'lioth. I’m his best student.” said Farkas, lowering his sword as the wire fell out in front of his feet. With one kick, the whip flew behind him and out of the fight. She wouldn't be using that whip anymore. “But Lord Sly'lioth wasn’t the only person whom I’ve learned under.”

There was a smile that came across his lips, his moved his sword to the side and angled it, holding it without any movement. “I was trained by two other Temsplace lords after I finished my sixth year. I am a Vizi-Kuurun, Lord Farkas, the White Temsplace. A true holy warrior.”

His eyes flashed, “We’ll will see how temsplace training is pointless,” he said with a smile, “Come to your death.”

"Heh." She said, her blade pointed down, her foot dashing slightly as she twisted her wrists and brought the giant behemoth of a blade down, the crashing sound roaring as dust and wooden blew it up into the air, the sounds raging as Ashili nodded.

"I expected nothing less from an Ascheran light infantry." She said.

The White Temsplace smiled at her, his blade still in its place, waiting to strike at this woman. As the dust and wood flew into the air, the White Temspalce stood his ground. Unmoving with his eyes locked on this woman and watching her actions.

“Any fool can hit a sword on the ground, only a swordsmen can attack with one. Are you going to waste my time with dumb things or attack me?” asked the White Temsplace. His eyes still on her, waiting for her to attack him.

"Let's begin." She said, placing the blade on her back, leaning forwards as she looked intently, her foot tapping before she dashed, a swift lightning-fast attack that was odd considering the immense weight on her back, her clothes and her fragile appearance, as she charged at the white temsplace.

"Counter weights." Ashili said. "So she's using counter weights to offset the weight of the sword to make it even. and much easier to use."

The White Temsplace smiled as she charged, playing right into what he wanted her to do. He always allowed his enemy to make the first move before he moved. He did it to study his enemy before he thought of acting against them.

As she neared him, he moved toward the left and back to the right. His blade changing styles in every move until she close to him. His blade was pointed down, so he swung upwards, ready to counter the movement, if he needed to.

She never slashed nor stabbed. She merely charged through, her stance in stone as her was erect against the wall, debris flying everywhere in a wall of fog and smoke, the giant blade reaching meters in length as she placed it above her head, and held it firmly before she unleashed a series of throwing knives against him.

After spinning as she flew pass him, she would see what she wasn’t dealing with a normal Temsplace with Farkas. As he faced her, his sword in low defensive stance. Looking like he was open to her throwing knives attack. As the flying blades towards him, a finger on his left hand hit a small unseen button oh his right glove.

The White Temsplace just active a shield in his right lower arm armor, one made to pop out and from itself at anytime. The gun metal colored shield come out to from a three feet by two feet shield of countless numbers of layered metal sheet.

Using his speed, he started knocking the knives out of the air with the shield.

"I've got you." She said, placing her giant blade on her shoulder, bending forwards as she rushed with incredible speed with its tip perfectly horizontal.

"Hiratsuki. The horizontal thrust. It's said to be able to tear through shields and swords like nothing. However, if it misses, the person is left with incredibly weak disadvantages. I don't think Farkas is slow to lose against it." Ashili said, as Nelinia charged, pulling out a thin blade from behind.

"Renba Hiratsuki." Thaurausk corrected Ashili. "We're not just dealing with a pretty face here. She's serious."

The White Temsplace just smiled at the incoming woman with her massive blade, she looked like a little girl with it. He spun to the side, his blade in his right hand, his left hand under his right lower arm.

He moved his hand back fast and his shield was freed from his armor. In less then two moves, Farkas send the shield flying at her after he hit with an open palm. She would have to deal with a flying shield and the White Temsplace moving behind it.

His Temsplace blade ready to cut her in half…

"Heh, you're no match for Lord Suriga." She said, placing her right leg on the back end of her blade's scabbard, pushing it slightly as her left hand slashed with extra momentum from her left leg. The force from her swing kept her steady as a stone, unmoving against the massive force from the Temsplace as she kicked up her right leg high and held the stance once more. A perfect parry.

"W-What was that?" Ashili said, surprised. "So she knows martial arts as well."

"This is the style that Lord Suriga taught me, the style that made me the third most powerful member of his elite. The Rengozk Fighting style." She said, discarding her blade as she placed her hand over Farkas' shield and swung up into the air, her sword erected.

The White Temsplace got kicked in the head and chest as his prey dodged him with her martial arts moves. He shook his head as he spun to a stop, looking back at her. “Well played,” he said, spitting blood out of his mouth, “Lucky hit because I got to ahead of my self.”

His eyes flashed because of his own blood in his mouth, his vampire side was taking over. His hands moved across his armor before it was all unhooked and fell to the ground. The White Temsplace was in his chain mail suit under his stone armor.

“IT,” he said, his eyes redder then normal, “IS ON!”

He spun his massive sword around like it was dagger, the weight was nothing as his vampire side was taking over.

"Heh, such foolish pride." Nelinia chuckled, taking her sword and stepping off its handle to jettison herself high into the air, taking her sword's handle once more and preparing to hold her hiratsuki.

"Although she's experienced, I have to admit that something is wrong with her." Ashili said sadly. "Something's going on."

"What do you mean?" Thaurausk asked carefully, eying Ashili.

"Something's on her mind, something that's breaking her concentration."

Nelinia sighed, her face serious. I guess it can't be helped, can it? If I can't beat this guy, then there's no way of me getting Mr. Suriga's love. For a man such as he, all he loves is strength, and Gengur far surpasses me in that. I don't think I can beat this kid, let alone be better than Gengur. "If you leave now, I won't hurt you." She said, her face serious. "You should leave."

“Ah, how foolish.” taunted the White Temspalce as used his sword to force him into the air. In mid-air, he began to spin like flying top, his blade looking like helicopter blades as he flew in the air. He spun fast, creating a blur of his body and the blade. If he hit her, it wouldn’t feel that good. If she gets lucky, he wouldn’t feel good. But trying to hit a spinning target will be hard for her to do in mid-air.

"I see you won't listen to reason." She said, taking her blade and placing it backwards and parallel to her shoulder, tilting it slightly down as she glared with intense and fiery passion against him. "I will make you understand what I am trying to do here!" She cried, tears dripping from her eyes as the salty water fell smoothly into her mouth, her smooth skin prickling with feeling as she slightly shook. "You will understand!" She held her blade up, her arms held tightly on the end of the handle, the blade high above her head.

"Batto-jutsu Jigen." Ashili said. "If it connects, it's all over for Farkas. If it misses even by the tiniest breadth of a hair, she is left completely open. She truly must have everything to throw away to do this, doesn't she?"

The White Temsplace hit the ground, but was still spinning like a top of war towards her. Hitting the ground over created a mini sand storm around him, making it hard for him to be seen. As he moved along, more dist entered into the vortex that was the White Temsplace. It would soon be large enough to hide him and his sword.

The Jigen was a suicidal attack. She had hoped to take down the Temsplace in a single fell swoop, but alas, she had underestimated him once more. Getting up, her legs broken and her arms in pain, Nelinia was gasping coarsely for air, trying to get herself together. "Well, kiddo. Looks like you beat me." She said, chuckling as she tried to keep herself up as long as possible. "Go on, do it. Kill me." She said, looking at him with fiery eyes.

The White Temsplace stopped after his blade landed on his prey, he looked down at her. His head dizzy from all of the spinning that he did. He looked at her with his red tinted eyes and smiled.

“I’ll do that for you.” he said, walking behind her to give her a warrior‘s death. bring his sword straight into the back of her neck and upper back.

It was like a sprinkler splashing it everywhere. That was what could be describing Nelinia Ashaakun's death. The floor was soaked in her blood, her corpse fallen down as her back had shown a giant cleaving scar down her spine, yet for a second, they all could have sworn they heard her cough, her chuckle, and then, in the last instance, words spring from her mouth. "Thanks, kiddo."

Sennun had a serious look on his face. "Well, that was unexpected. Let's continue." He said, taking them to the next room.

“I’m surprised she lost.” Suriga said, looking at the screen as Gengur sat nearby, listening to his music as he was fading out in the deafness of the harsh world, smiling as his fingers were grasping slightly on his sword. “However, I’m certain that Alaik isn’t so vulnerable to fail against them.”

As they ran through the tunnels, the darkening surroundings lighting up, they reached another end as the doors once more opened, once more the same type of room, standing in the middle a man of medium height, his face thin and smooth and his build moderate. His fists were large for this man, steel gauntlets hidden in the deepest recesses of his fists, his hair falling down as his bangs were flocking slightly on his froth of a forehead, his sweat drenching his shirt. He was draped in a thin azure frame of a shirt and his pants were a thick burgundy brown, yet the crunching noise from his pants were slightly noisy. He smiled, as Thaurausk looked on.

“Alaik, here you are.” She said, taking up her sword as he nodded onwards. “Might I ask what are you doing in league with Suriga?” She was intent, a fiery blazing strike in her voice as she assumed her stance, Ashili looking on.

“Thaurausk, do not let it get to your head.” Ashili warned, as Thaurausk merely chuckled it off. “He is here and I know about your history, but remember that you have to fight and deal without getting distracted by him. Do not let yourself be distract.” Ashili warned again.

Suriga watched once more. “Thaurausk’s mind is breaking, and she hasn’t gotten a chance against him. She’s too fragile mentally to deal with fighting someone who’s like this, and Alaik knows where his limitations are. If he is going to fight, then it looks like the advantage is on the shoulders of the leader of the rebels. However.” he continued.

Thaurausk bent her left leg back and her right leg forwards out straight, her back curving slightly as her right hand was gripping the very end of the handle tightly, her left hand holding it at the handle, her face evident and serious. “Alaik, I will stop you from this unholy alliance.” She spoke with a strong tense, her voice terse and powerful, not a single wavier in her tone. Ashili sighed.

“The Hiratsuki. I see.” Ashili said, looking on at the blade that shimmered with the light that flung down upon with rays. “The horizontal thrust, but can she perform it when the chances between life and death are nothing more than the thickness of paper? What is she hoping to get from this man’s death?” Ashili asked, as she looked on, chuckling. I need to have trust in Thaurausk. She was like me, a member of the second revolution, and I have no regrets against her or her style.

“Alaik, by defeating you I will forgive your betrayal.” Thaurausk said, as Alaik frowned. In a flash, she sprung and charged with incredible speeds at Alaik, who blocked the blade with his fist and flung it aside as he backhanded her, sending her reeling back slightly as she resumed her stance.

“Is that your Horizontal Thrust?” Alaik said, frowning in disgust. “Let me show you a real hiratsuki.” Alaik got into the stance identical to Thaurausk’s, yet he held the blade up above his head, waiting for a fraction of a second before he charged, the pounding his feet loud and throbbing as Thaurausk tried to block, yet he placed his blade under hers and lifted her up into the air with incredible strength and control. Slicing inwards, he nearly had sliced her jugular, yet she blocked at the last second.

“The difference between a master and a student is a wide range. Alaik’s strength and skill with the horizontal thrust is much greater than Thaurausk’s. When she has been fighting people weaker than her, she had experience and strength on her side. But now, against someone who is not only stronger but much more experienced with knowledge of her style’s weaknesses and strengths, her chance of winning is nonexistent.” Suriga spoke.

“Thaurausk, continue.” Alaik ordered, as Tharausk spat our blood, charging once more as Alaik charged once more, the sheer speed of their attacks nearly crashing each other, their blades smashing against each other, Thaurausk’s sword pulled back against Alaik’s blade, as she tried to keep herself alive and strong. Alaik’s brutal slashes against her blade began to knock her back, the inhuman bashing strength he possessed incredible and unbelievable. Thaurausk edged back, resuming her stance as she tilted her back slightly up, aiming at Alaik’s right shoulder, as she stood still and quiet. Alaik noticed.

“The Menko.” He spoke harshly, resuming his stance, quiet and prepared as he placed the blade lower and his hand above the blade. Thaurausk resumed the stance.

“The Makayo!” Ashili said, a tone of worry in her voice. “Watch out for that, Thaurausk. The continuous Kazen.”

As they carefully prepared, Alaik charged with incredible speeds, debris and wood itself from the floorboards bashing up in his incredible force, Thaurausk following along yet nowhere near as fast. In an instant, at the last fraction of a second, Alaik dropped his blade, and with full force, was hit by the onslaught of Thaurausk’s attack. It was a shower of blood and blows, as the man fell onto ground, his hands cut and broken, Thaurausk rushing to his side as she knelt down beside him, tears flying from her face.

“Alaik, you asshole.” She said, smiling slightly as Alaik looked back up, smiling back with bloodied lips.

“I’ve never given up on you, Heillesk. My dear.” He said, weakly pushing back the bangs on her forehead as the blood from his fingers accidentally smeared on her face, the dripping of the blood heard throughout the echoing room. The light was a thin shade of goldenrod that shimmered amongst the thin fragrance of Thaurausk’s perfume, the slightly pungent smell of Purple Roses dancing in sorrow amongst the two.

Tears fell from her face, falling gently on Alaik as it shifted the blood softly from his eyes. “Alaik, you asshole.” She said stronger, as he smiled.

“I am so sorry for what I have done.” He said, and with the last of his strength, took out a small roll of bandages, and weakly patched up her wounds before he collapsed, the puddle of blood seeping everywhere. In a crushing blow of tears, Thaurausk grasped his collar one last time, before the blade was drawn, and through her throat, her sword had traveled.

The end of the tragic couple of the idealistic man and his pragmatic soulmate.

Farkas, after placing his armor and everything back up, ran after the others to the next. The three members of the House of Wolf watched quiet at the battle and were shocked at the end.

“Holy shit!” came out of Edward’s mouth, not really believing his own eyes.

"Well, that was a bit overly dramatic." Sennun said, chuckling, as he walked to the door at the end, Ashili fuming.

"This guy has got to have no feelings at all." She said, glaring as she followed slowly. "Who do you think the next one is going to be like?" She asked Edward.

“Don’t know, but Gengur will be the last one to defeat.” said Edward, his hands still hurt from the attacks early. He knew his wife or his sister would face the next person.

At the front doors, the opening slates trickled in a thin ray of light as the largest room revealed itself, sitting down in the center was the familiar boyish face of a young and pristine man, smiling as he shifted his bangs back a bit, bowing respectfully to the people who entered. "Welcome duelists to the sparring room of me. Allow me to introduce myself; I am Gengur the Young, and I hope to learn from masters such as yourselves very soon."

As he got up, he had a surprised look on his face. "I see Mr. Authaulus isn't here. That's a shame. If I lose, then he can't have his revenge, right?" He smiled, never breaking his delightful attitude.

Edward eyed Gengur, knowing he couldn’t take him on. He didn’t really want to take on whom he had killed. He didn’t want Farkas to take on whom he killed. It was up to Ashili or Selene to make it pass Gengur.

“Ashili or Selene, whom is it going to be?” asked Edward to his wife and his sister.

"Selene, do you want to go?" Ashili asked, holding her blade tightly. Suriga has cameras all over the place. If he learns of the Kazzak Kazen then our shot of killing him will be decreased significantly.

“Sure! I’ll take my brother-in-law’s place.” she said with a smile, hidden under her black mask. She drew her blades and stepped forward. She looked at Gengur and waited.

"I look forward to learning what style you prefer." He smiled politely, bowing lowly as he took out a long sword, much longer than anything they have seen before, connected by an abnormally long handle.

"Interesting sword. I've never seen that design before." Ashili said, squinting as if trying to get more details from her mind.

"I haven't used this sword in a long time, so please be understanding if I do not measure up to your standards madam." He bowed, standing still. "Please, ladies first."

“Ah, a gentlemen I see.” said Selene, with a smile still on her face. She moved forwards a few steps. “Love your sword. I want to know why you need one so big. Something not big enough in that department.”

Edward let out a small laugh at that. Farkas just shook his head.

Selene pointed the tips of her swords at the ground then backed her right foot behind her. Moving her left sword parallel with her waist, she charged towards Gengur, ready to block with her right sword or even her left.

"Wow, you are amazing, madam." He said, smiling still as he slid back slightly, his sword held back like a whip as he slung it down with tremendous force down in the center. If Selene attempted to dodge it, she would be faced with an equally painful side-sweep, yet if she blocked it she would need incredible strength to keep it from hitting her.

Dodge the move, how about no. Bring her swords upwards, he blocked the attack. Catching Gengur’s long blade between her two blades. And incredible strength, she did have. So, she was hit by it and Gengur was in world of hard.

She twisted her blades before the long blade escaped her hold and make it harder for it to escape. Then she twist move to spin the long blade around, hoping to break Gengur’s hold and throwing the sword out of the fight.

"You are very impressive, madam." He said, punching the end of his sword's handle down, flinging it up as he punched it again with his gauntlet, digging his blade swiftly into the ground, pushing back on the handle as he gained considerable distance. Suriga smiled.

"Gengur cannot be defeated so easily. The rest may have had their weaknesses, but once he prepares his legwork, we'll see if she can keep up with him. Not to mention that without taking a stance, she can't read his next movements." Suriga said in his chamber.

“You’re faster then my brother-in-law, but you’re not dealing with him anymore.” said Selene, moving back to her stance that she used early. She smiled, hidden behind her black mask. “Your move!”

She waited for him to do something.

"I see. In return for showing me that move, I will show you one of my moves." He said, smiling, as he took a rather elegant stance - his right leg was bent out and his left was folded in diligently, his left hand holding the blade strongly and his right arm stretched out to barely touch the tip of the middle blade. "If you would like to attack me, then please do so. If not, then I will do so. Please tell me."

"This boy..." Ashili said, "...why is he so happy?"

“Please attack me, Mr. Gentleman.” said Selene. She waited for the boy to attack her, she was getting bored.

“Maybe life is fun for him.” said Edward to his wife.

"Perhaps. But it feels like there's more to him than it looks." She said, as Gengur smiled, breaking his stance as he stood up straight.

"Very well, Madam. I'm sorry," he chuckled politely, "my offensive is a bit more different than my defensive, so please forgive me if I look suspicious. I will try not to pull anything odd off." He began to take place weights on his legs, lifting and lowering them down slowly as he gasped slightly in pain, then in relief as his tapping increased.

"I just need them to do this properly." He said, smiling, as he tapped his legs faster and faster on the spot, eventually powerful enough that his legs were making holes in the ground, as he tapped slightly more, pummeling where he stood into a fine dust before charging to the left of Selene, disappearing as random spots of him appeared all over the room. At random locations, a thick pummeling sound was heard, like a machine, flashes of him all over the large room, followed by thick holes in the ground.

"What the hell is this?!" Ashili said, surprised. "Is this magic of some sorts?!"

Gengur lunged at the right of Selene with incredible speed, his blade pushing up towards her shoulder as his fist was strongly pushing on the back of the blade to give it force.

Even with his speed, Selene had an eye on him. Ready an ear on his him. He could outsmart an vampire with his speeds. She was locked on his heart, keeping his location known to her. She stood unmoving as he charged until he launched his attack from the right.

She pushed to the right and sliding out of his blade’s path. She left a black figure in her wave. Moving as fast or faster as the young man she was fighting. If his eyes watched the black wave, he would see it going around him.

Then she strikes, driving her swords towards the back of his neck to impale him.

Kicking the blade with his leg, he smiled evilly as he jumped back slightly, resuming his incredible speed. For most of the time, he was completely invisible save his random flickers around the room, once more waiting for an opening. "How is he doing it?" Ashili asked herself, looking at Edward. "Can Selene fight against someone she would find hard to see?"

However, in an instant, Gengur pulled back, flipping and crashing into the wall with tremendous force as he got up, gasping before smiling. "I understand what is happening." He said. "You are a very smart and perceptive person, Madam, and I see that perhaps I have underestimated your abilities. Please forgive me. I will push myself a bit more to adjust to your needs." He smiled, walking to the room as he took out a few obsidian plates, attaching them to his leg as he smiled once more and tapped his feet, disappearing once more. However, this time he was completely invisible save for the pummeling noises that followed him everywhere.

"Speed." Ashili said. "He's not running that fast, it's that he's incredible leg power to accelerate at unbelievable speeds before decelerating. But it must be bad for his legs."

Gengur appeared in front of Selene, his blade swinging out at her as his fist was once more backing up the force.

Selene laughed as he appeared in front of her again, this time she didn’t move like before. Using the sword in her right hand, she can up and blocked the incoming blade. Pushing to the side, she moved forwards fast with her other sword point straight at Gengur.

The boy was fast, but not stronger then a vampire. He would have to drop his sword to blocking the blade aimed at his gut. If he dodged, the blade would land on the left hip or right hip. And maybe get his legs taken from him.

In a flash, Gengur's right hand lifted up a wakizashi from his waist, blocking it gracefully as he kicked his long sword's end harder and harder, mercilessly against Selene's blocking blade as he still smiled, unchanging in his expression. "Huh, a foreign weapon. He doesn't have trust in his Jenrakian heritage?" Ashili said.

As Gengur kicked his long sword, Selene moved to disarm him of it. Even as she was messing with the wakizashi, she moved her other sword down the long sword. She a was really, really close to both of Gengur. At the end of the long blade, near the hilt, Selene turned her sword fast and pulled back fast after locking with it.

It should knock it out of his hand then she would bring her blade back at his throat.

"I am aware of the possibility of being disarmed, and frankly I cannot allow myself to fight without a sword. So please, Madam, I would appreciate it if you didn't do that." He said politely, pulling and twisting his wrist slightly as the chain connected to his hilt retracted and the sword flung back into his hands, Gengur jumping back as he pummeled his feet again, too fast for the naked eye once more.

Selene was tried of this fight, the boy was going to driving her nuts. She would have to become her evil side and use everything she could to slow this boy down. As he ran around, she listened his heart and withdrew a small black bag.

In one move, she send thousands of tiny marbles into the air and on the ground. To add salt to that wound, she withdrew another bag with roofing nails and did the same thing.

“Sorry, I’m not the Crime Mistress for being nice and playing fair.” she said, with her swords ready to move in to finish the boy.

"You're right." Gengur said, smiling as he stampeded on the ground, dust flying up as it created a makeshift barrier, disappearing back a few meters. "It was your husband who had the knowledge to manage it." He smiled.

Ashili frowned. "Wait a minute, unless I'm mistaken what you did there was a tachi wind pressure, wasn't it?" She asked, as Gengur smiled. "So, I'm guessing that you've so far done no Jenrakian styles, used no Jenrakian swords or any form of Jenrakian objects. Do you have no pride in your people?" She asked angrily, as Gengur smiled again.

"Actually, Lady Aeray, I am not Jenrakian." Gengur said, as Ashili gasped.

"Then you're -"

"Nope. I'm not Sandurian, Ssessloth, Archian, Krejei, Rithos, Balackondos, or Nakrian. Those are people under the constitution of Jenranakrum, correct?" He smiled again, unnerving. "I'm a Jagite."

"A Jagadian?" Asihli asked, as Gengur frowned.

"A Jagite." Gengur said sternly, still smiling. "You Jenrakians think that because you've fought against us you have the right to label us as you want, correct? Well, fighting is the be all and end all, you know." He replied.

"So you want to destroy the Jenrakian government. You can't win." Ashili said, as Gengur smiled again. "Why are you smiling so much, you freak!" She yelled.

"I'm sorry. I'm just trying to be polite. After all, I've already won." Gengur said, as Ashili looked at Selene. "I've been watching your tactics, Madam, and I know that you're getting desperate. However, even if you killed me, you would know that your people have already been defeated by me."

"W-What?" Ashili said, surprised. "You're lying. You've lost five, and we - "

"Qualitative over Quantitative, Lady Aeray. I distinctly recall the casualties for your side to be Gelectriax the Wicked and Thaurausk the Infinite. The plan has already begun." He said, placing his sword on his shoulder. "You see, the assassination of Therax and Egos showed something. The destruction of the Jenrakian race will be because of their inferiority in terms of adapting to cultural advancements." He frowned for the first time, his face emanating an aura of pure hatred. "You are an inferior people, insignificant to the false idolatry that you call Nuir Enkur. For such a blasphemous figure to exist you are nothing more than a dirty, primitive, unintelligent people who too longly developed little in the ways of war."

"What?" Asihli asked, glaring.

"The only reason why you are one of the most dangerous are not because of you, but the Krejei, the Rithos, the Sandurians, the Ssessloths; all of them whom you have fought against and stole from. You are an insignificant people whom know nothing short of barbarianism." Gengur said, his eyes contracting to thin slits that shimmered with disgust. "I was in the middle of the Kraven extermination, and I saw the atrocities of both evils in the war." He sighed. "It was not the Jenrakians nor the Kraven whom saved me, but Mr. Suriga."

"Suriga was in Jagada?" Ashili asked him. He nodded.

"He was hoping to seek some form of safety or amnesty in the Kraven world, where he knew that he could keep himself under the guise of a normal man. However, he showed me something during that war." Gengur closed his eyes, frowning in concentration. "That the one who's wrong is you!" Gengur yelled, as Ashili gasped.

"What has twisted your mind so badly?!" Ashili exclaimed, as Gengur glared back.

"In the end, the greatest human emotion is spite. And as much as I would love to kill you, Lady Aeray, I was given orders to not harm you. Perhaps I shouldn't hold back." Gengur said, yelling and roaring as he pummeled with incredible speed upon the ground, disappearing as holes appeared everywhere - including the ceiling, the walls and he was nowhere to be found, with only a screeching noise heard about.

"My ears!" Ashili said, dropping to the ground, blood pouring from her lobes. It was all clear now - Gengur was intent on ridding every single person here of their senses through a series of tiny sonic booms alongside his unbelievable speed.

"The batto-jutsu, combined with the defensive of the Tennen Rishin Ryuu. Heh" Suriga said. "My prodigy doesn't have any confidence in the Jenrakians at all."

“I did turn the Annirak Mafia into the one crime entity. My husband didn’t do that.” And I can manage it.” said Selene, a little pissed off because he was still standing. Talking about whom he was would only piss her off. She was bored anymore, she would fight smarter and better then to kill this boy.

She didn’t give damn about where the boy came from as long as he killed by her blades.

As the boy did his thing and releasing small a sonic booms, he would see only Ashili and Farkas on the ground holding their ears. Selene and Edward still standing up, defining the boy of their pain because eof his attack.

“Kill him now!” yelled Edward.

Then Selene was off, using her speed to the fullest and heading after the boy’s heart. Tracking him in every move to attack him. Selene could goes many hours doing this and never loss speed or anything. She was vampire after all.

"In the end, the strongest emotion is spite." Gengur's mind wracked, splashing around the room, smiling maniacally. He was aware of Selene's attempts at tracking him through his heart, but when a heart was so cold, frozen in hatred, in so many places in the room at one time, one could only figure out where it truly was. Placing his blade between his fingers, he ignited a dazzling flame that lit onto his blade, his long nihon crackling in fire as it swung around gracefully. Gengur did nothing but smile the whole time, his face unnerving and eerie. By then, Sennun had disappeared, but it mattered little.

"Lord Suriga, do you think Gengur has a chance in winning?" Sennun said, watching the screen. Suriga chuckled before roaring into laughter.

"I have utmost confidence in Gengur. By studying these people, I've come to the conclusion that none of them understand the basics of simple swordsmanship nor the real philosophy behind combat. This battle is already a lost battle for them." Suriga replied.

"Why is that?" Sennun asked.

"In six months, the Jenrakian political body will be dealt a blow never seen before. Therax's death and Gelectriax's disappearance would mean that the western navy would rebel against both the northern and the eastern, and it would be chaos incarnate. From there," Suriga smiled, squeezing the bone crown until it smashed into pieces. "the great battle begins."

"What if it doesn't happen?" Sennun asked.

"Then I will do it myself." Suriga smiled, cackling loudly in amusement. "She hasn't gotten a chance in fighting Gengur and winning because she relies too much on detecting her opponent. Look closely, and you will see that Gengur's abilities are slowly blinding her, upon which I believe Gengur's own little technique will finish her." Suriga smiled.

"But, is Gengur using magic to become invisible?" Sennun asked suspiciously. "It's like the work of a god."

"No." Suriga replied blankly. "Gengur is a prodigy in terms of physical proportion. He is the perfect specimen for a swordsman, as evident by not only his exceptional leg-power, but also bone strength."

"I don't understand." Sennun said.

"For one to become invisible, it is not a matter of moving faster than the naked eye can register, but accelerate and decelerate nearly instantaneously. Notice how the larger the weight count placed on his legs the more difficult it becomes to defect him until it becomes truly invisible. That's where the weight comes in." Suriga explained, as Sennun still wondered. "For that kind of velocity and change in velocity, nearly 2 tons of force must be placed onto a figure to cope with it. That's eighteen thousand newtons to be put into each step and again to stop nearly instantly. However, since the normal human being can only exert a few hundred and sprinters can only exert a few thousand, Gengur's speed comes from his leg's exceptional design."

"So he's exerting a force that's so great the normal resisting force from the objects around him propel him to incredible speeds?" Sennun asked. "How fast is his top speed?"

"134 mph in a fraction of a second." Suriga replied calmly, as Sennun gasped.

"That's impossible beyond all logic." Sennun said abruptly.

"Heh, it's far from impossible. You merely need the leg strong enough to withstand the resistance force from the weights. With the troubled training he's had in the past years, he has turned into quite a fighter." Suriga said.

"I can't believe it." Sennun said, surprised.

"Don't thank me. Thank Alaik, but he's in no condition to talk right now. Nevertheless, the chance of Selene defeating Gengur is zero. But - what?!?" Suriga said, looking at the screen.

Gengur crashed into the side wall, coughing violently as he tried to get up, blood spewing from his mouth as he clutched his stomach strongly, frowning and groaning in extreme pain before smiling. Looking at his hand stained in blood, Gengur coughed again. "Ah, it looks like this fight is favoring you, Madam." He smiled politely, attempting to bow as he took off his weights from his legs, revealing a series of throbbing veins and pulsing muscles that moved around and squirmed as if they were worms. He quickly shuffled them back under his pants, smiling still.

"Did Selene hit him?" Ashili wondered, but seeing no wounds on Gengur, she had to think differently. "What is -"

Gengur coughed violently again, more blood spewing out. "Heh, I'm sorry for interrupting this fight." He said. "I will be there soon." He replied, trying to get up before falling back down, before sweating profusely, scratching himself violently and coughing blood once more.

"An extreme case of Pulmonary Tuberculosis..." Ashili said, before Gengur interrupted her.

"And nervous, heh." He smiled, trying to get up. "I was hoping that I would finish this fight before it settled in, but it seems that I guess fate just doesn't want you dead." He smiled.

"He fought with that disease in him this whole time?" Sennun asked, as Suriga smiled. "Gengur truly is incredible."

"Let's leave him be and get onto the next room. We don't have time to waste!" Ashili hurried.

As Gengur hit the wall, Selene stopped her chase about six feet from him. She looked at him as he take to get up, but only falling back down to chough up some more blood. She didn’t feel sorry for him or anything because she did want him to killed.

“Your body would have gave up on you anyways. Your body wouldn’t have keep up with your running. You would have been forced to stop and rest.” she said.

“Fate is on your side, too.” she said, before chasing after her family.

"In the end, I guess I lost, didn't I?" Gengur wondered, still smiling as blood dripped from his mouth. "I just didn't have - "

"Don't get soft." A familiar voice spoke from the door, as Vijun appeared. "You lost nothing. You've made her desperate to break the rules on a fight." Vijun said confidently. "Besides, you've fought longer before, haven't you?" He asked, as Gengur smiled.

"Once." He said, remembering the man he clashed blades against. "Mr. Ferruga was a strong man, and while I hate to admit it, but because of him and Mr. Suriga do I tolerate being a servant to Jenrakians." Gengur chuckled. "Well, Mr. Vijun, what are you going to do?" He asked.

"I'm going to settle down with Nehomosk." He said, nodding, as Gengur smiled again.

"She is a very - " he coughed slightly this time, before resuming, " - proper woman. She is kind and supportive, and strong too. I love her cooking too. When can I come to your house for some pitas?" Gengur asked eagerly, as Vijun chuckled.

"You can come now, if you wish. I've given Emeron and Nelinia a proper grave, and I decided to leave the couple alone in their rooms." Vijun said, referring to Thaurausk and Alaik. "Heh, I'll help you up."

Gengur strained himself up, holding onto his sword like a cane. "I look forward to having dinner tonight, thank you for having me over." Gengur smiled, as Vijun smiled back, patting him on the head.

"No sweat kid, Nehomosk enjoys your company too. You're not that half bad of a cook yourself, you know." Vijun complimented, as Gengur smiled.

Suriga frowned, standing up as he turned around and walked out of the room, standing in the middle of the room as he waited for the door to open, upon which Ashili finally clambered through. "I see you've managed to survive." He said, a frown on his face. "Good."

“Don’t be surprised. I have a feeling you were watching the fights. You knew whom would make to you.” said Edward, looking at him, as he walked through the door. Selene and Farkas walked in behind him. Four out of the six fighters that started this mission were in front their target. Swordsmen in their own ways. “Am I correct?”

"It seems logical to drop the act now." Suriga said, his face expressionless behind his mask, the only thing visible were his eyes - his left a thin azure hue and his right shaded in a beautiful emerald green. "It looks like the promised time has come, and in the end, the only one who can fight is me. I'm impressed; you've even held out against Gengur, the one fighter I've trained myself. Heh, don't expect me to say I've underestimated you. Anyone who affiliates themselves with the Aeray is most likely very skilled indeed."

"Suriga, the chaos of the First Revolution is over. As someone -"

"Who fought in the Second Revolution, you will never understand why I came to this realization." He pointed his finger at Edward. "Tell me, what motivates you to fight for this country?"

“You ask me why I fight for this nation, but I even you know that answer, too.” said Edward, his voice as cold as ice. His ice blues locked on Suriga, but if looks could only kill, Edward would be looking at a dead man. “I fight for this country because this is the home of my wife and our children. My children were raised here, not in the Dominion.”

“Now, are you going to stand there and talk or get down to what everybody came here for? We fought our ways through your minions, leaving a blood trail in our wave to make to you. Both sides have loss people for this moment.” said Edward.

"And the constitution of a home is the place where you feel the safest, the most loved and the most attachment, correct?" Suriga said, smiling. "However, in the end, this country is nothing more than the corruption of a few pressing upon the many, and I intend to take all I have earned and give it to the righteous people to whom it is to be."

"You're a socialist?" Ashili asked, as Suriga cackled.

"Heavens, no, Ashili. I'm a much more different person. You can't connect my ideology for that. I believe that only the worthy can survive to be rewarded, which I why I plan to plunge this country back into chaos." He said, closing his eyes in contemplation. "It would be too simple."

"You're underestimating the system." Ashili snapped back, as Suriga chuckled behind his veil.

"You haven't done your homework. You see, my brother is a bit tedious, and he was with me in the First Revolution. He was a field commander who later rose through the ranks because of his alleged divinity, but he decided to get rid of me because I would be too unstable to trust. Such a pity, and I had faith in him." Suriga said, as Ashili gasped.

"Y-You're..."

"Suriga Kataask, brother to Arborgard Serptine, the second half of the Enkur bloodlines. If you did your homework on your king, Ashili, you would have noticed that he descended from Enkur, whom Azuuth Kataask was one of the descendants. During Kataask's reign, his blood split into two children - Minusk Kataask and Herran Kataask. However, Minusk was proclaimed dead, and Herran became the only known heir to the Enkur claim. As such, the only known connection for nearly three hundred years was Herran, whom as the line passed down, was a woman. And thus begins the name of Serptine, into the blood of Enkur. But wait!" He said, placing his finger up. "What about Minusk? Well, he lived, that's for sure, and he lived to raise a bloodline of Kataask whom served the church loyally for all these years."

"You're lying. You're not Arborgard's brother." Ashili said. "If you were, Viraranaar would have said something."

"Ah! But let me ask you this, Aeray. If you were the descendant of a semi-God, and in both your hands lay another revolution bloodier than the last, would you have opened your mouth, and allowed so many innocents to die in your stead?" Suriga opened his eyes. "Naive politics. Nothing is ever so simple anymore. Viraranaar didn't want another revolution because he knew that one side would desperately attempt to bring him power, while another side would desperately try to stop him. And it wouldn't be his blood that would be bleeding, but the blood of ordinary people."

"If you're so worried about its people, why are you declaring war?" Ashili asked angrily, as Suriga frowned behind his veil, the wind rushing in fear.

"I didn't. The resistance was not my doing, and if it wasn't for my deployment of nuclear charges in the major cities, there would have been far too many losses in the bleeding campaigns to come. Plus, I'm fighting my own war by duels, which instead of hundreds of thousands are dead, only six at the most, correct?" Suriga said, slowly untying his veil, revealing a burnt and scarred face that still showed familiar markings - silver eyes amongst tiny strands of silky diamond hair, thin lips and a sharp nose that was sitting amongst barely visible and singed eyebrows etched with delicate cheeks. It was an exact copy of Arborgard, a twin. "My brother is only younger by less than a minute." Suriga said.

"So...you're..." Ashili continued.

"I'm the real legitimate king of the Tsellian Empire. But like I told you, taking this country is far too easy for me. I intend to fix things first." Suriga said, taking out his sword, as Ashili did the same. She charged with incredible force and speed, dents in the floor visible as she charged at Suriga, whom easily caught it between his fingers.

"The Kazen?" Suriga said, tying his veil back onto his face with his free hand before sliding his fingers along its flat end, igniting his fingers in a thicket of flames, grabbing Ashili by the neck and throwing her across, Ashili landing perfectly on the ground, a black hand mark around her neck. "Once I've seen an attack, it will not work on me." Suriga replied. "And I've seen enough of the Kazen from you during the Second Revolution."

"So you ignite fire using flints and keep them burning by oil on your body?" Ashili asked, as Suriga nodded. "Alot like Illuminaatrix's flame circles, combining with Gengur's martial arts."

"Correct, save for one thing." He said, as Ashili fell down on her knees, her neck's skin peeling as blood began to pour down from her mouth, getting up painfully. "I taught Gengur his martial arts and Illuminaatrix learned his flame circles from me. The difference between a teacher and his students' abilities is still vast, no matter how close you can try to compare it."

"You bastard." Ashili said, getting as she resumed the Kazen stance. "Draw your sword." She said, as Suriga stood quiet.

"...No." He refused. "I already told you, Aeray. You can't use an attack on me once I've seen it." He said, as Ashili charged, her blade backhanded by Suriga's fist as it moved and smashed her in the face, knocking her out on the ground. Batting the flame out, Suriga looked at the rest.

"Who's next?" He asked.

Edward looked down at the halberd, which wasn’t his weapons. He had have something like this that he trained with, but he dropped it. “You have seen all of us first with our swords, but you haven’t seen us fight hand-to-hand.” he said.

His hands were some what better, so he would be the next on up to bat. He stepping over the halberd, moving forwards and asked “Please take your sword off and any other blades you have, we’ll fight like men over this matter.”

"There are alot of things that constitute men, but alright." Suriga said, placing his gloves on his wrist, revealing flame crackled hands as he tried to stretch the thin layer of skin on his knuckles, looking at his knees as he took them off as well, slowly taking piece by piece off and tying it to his belt. Finally, he took off his swords, tying it with a sash onto his belt. "I am unarmed." He said, lifting his right knee slightly up before arching his back forwards, stretching before raising his fists.

"Come on." Suriga replied.

Edward down into a fighting stance, which looked like a drunken monkey stance. What in the hell is he doing? Well, being in a fighting style that only he knew. That he learned from a drunken master of it, when he was drinking heavily. Well, he is not on the sauce anymore.

“Alright!“ he said, looking like he was a wasted human sized monkey. He moved on all four until he was few feet from Suriga. He popped back in his first stance. Drunken Monkey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drunken_Monkey) wasn’t his own fighting style that he knew. Suriga was in the fight of his life. Wait! He is in the fight for his life!

Edward shot forwards, sending some weird looking punches at him, but the punches did pack a lot of power.

Suriga was curious. Taking the first punch in the chest, he examined his wound before nodding. "I see." He said reeling back slightly, his right arm arching over his head. "If you're planning on using a hybrid of Drunken Fist and Monkey style, then I'll have to use something more adaptive." He looked at the slight bruise on his chest, nodding once again as he dodged Edward's erratic attacks, frowning before taking his hand out to reach out and break his fingers.

Suriga would see that Edward would be changing from punches and kicks to keep him on his toes. Already in a low position, Edward moved in with a few low kick at Suriga’s legs and knees. I don’t think steel toed boots would feel good hitting your legs!

Selene just laughed at her brother as Farkas was checking of his mother.

Suriga walked back a couple steps cautiously, before sighing. "I see." He said, falling into a low stance, adapting to Edward's style. "Let me try this out." He replied, mimicking Edward's style attacks with erratic low swings and twisting punches.

But could Suriga take on a true master of the Drunken Monkey. Well, we wouldn’t know as Edward would change his style on him. He did take a few attacks from Suriga the pain was pushed to the back of his mind. Still in Drunken Monkey, to rolled out of the way and about six or seven feet away.

Edward moved into the tiger stance of Shaolin Black Dragon Kung Fu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaolin_Black_Dragon_Kung_Fu). A Drunken Monkey was now facing a fearless Tiger.

“I think I know your game. You absorb other people’s attacks into your own.” said Edward, before moving in to attack. To smash Suriga with everything the tiger has to offer.

"I will show you my own martial arts." Suriga said, loosening his fists. "When I said the difference between a teacher and his student is vast, I mean it." He said, holding his left fist back and his right fist out.

Slowly, Ashili was regaining consciousness, trying to get up. "S-Suriga." She said, groaning in pain, struggling to get a hold of herself. "It's not over." Blood spurted from her mouth, wiped away hastily. "You are going to have to fight me, and my alone."

Edward didn’t stop his attack, he moved in to unleash the tiger on his prey. Ready to take the hits and block them to deliver his own punches back. Edward would be aggressiveness and assertiveness in his attacks.

“Mother, you’re not in right state to fight him. You’re spitting up blood.” said Farkas, kneeing next to his mother.

“And Edward has it handled, Ash.” said Selene.

Suriga did not bother to block or dodge - he merely unleashed his entire force and weight into a single punch aimed for Edward's chest, with such force that rivaled even the leg power from Gengur's legs. However, he walked back once he saw Ashili's standing form.

"N-No, I have more than my life at stake here." Ashili said, standing up. If I can just get a him with the successive attack, then this fight is over. She said, taking her famous stance, her sword drawn and slightly shaking. She gasped as she breathed heavily. "I-I w-will..."

"Stop." Suriga ordered harshly. "Edward, tend to your wife's wounds, and Farkas, help anybody else." Suriga ordered, turning around as he placed his weapons back on their respective places.

"Suriga..." Ashili said, groaning.

Suriga chuckled. "The world isn't black and white, Aeray. It's gray now." He said softly, a hint of mercy in his eyes. "We all lived through the hell holes that were our independence, and I want the flesh and blood of battle to be fair." He walked off into another room, shouting back as he strolled. "I'll be back in fifteen minutes." He yelled.

"My shirt is soaked in blood." Ashili said, winching as her shoulder was burnt and shattered apart, wincing as a small broken shard of stone was lodged in her back, blood pouring out profusely. She shook in pain, as the lack of blood was taking her quickly, trying to get a hold of herself.

"Ferruga, you demon. You're letting her die for your own sake?" Suriga asked asked. "How twisted."

Edward blocked the hit, but the force did sending back a few feet. His ice blue eyes full of fire. Then Suriga stopped the fight because of Ashili standing. Standing up himself, he ran over to his wife.

Farkas growled as Suriga ordered him around, but Edward looked at his wife. He saw that she had loss a lot of blood. He pulled up his left arm of his coat and “Ash, bite me now. You need blood, if you‘re going to fight him.” His wrist in front of her mouth.

Selene, even moved in to help, ripped part of her coat and wrapped up Ashili’s wound after pulling out the piece of stone and dropping some of her own blood into the wound. Maybe her blood would speed up the healing of the wound.

Ashili shook slightly before plunging her dulled fangs in, her teeth almost down to a set of normal parts as she groaned in pain, her wounds still fresh with blood yet her back feeling much better. She felt better, and knew that she had to try and do something different. Getting up, she coughed out blood slightly, a blackened patch on her fist as she gasped. W-What?! She thought, looking at her hand in utter astonishment. Pulmonary tuberculosis? I'm afflicted the same as Gengur is! She thought, falling on her knees as her strength began to quickly flee, grasping onto her handle as if she was double her weight.

"S-Suriga, you cheater." She cried out, as Suriga emerged.

"I didn't cheat. You picked up that disease from Gengur when you were too close to him." Suriga said harshly. "Pick up your blade, Aeray. You're going to fight, by my order."

"On what authority?" She asked angrily.

"Blood." Suriga replied, as Ashili frowned angrily, slowly getting up.

Meanwhile, at a Macdonalds, Vijun was having trouble trying to fit a small sized lid on a medium sized cup, none the wiser as he furiously sliced it apart into bits, the people around him frightened at his adornment of blades. "Why can't we just hitchhike!" He yelled loudly, his arms raised at the ceilings in utter frustration, Gengur coming out the washrooms as he chuckled.

"Because we have to be safe and not get kidnapped. I don't want to end up in someone's glove compartment, Mr. Vijun." Gengur said, apparently oblivious of his already fantastic skills with his longsword.

“You are a criminal, so die like one!” Suriga said angrily, his voice shining with conviction and furor, his arms held behind his back as he held his blade perpendicular to his back, his bandages flinging slightly as his raw skin was still invisible, his eyes shining. Ashili was shocked.

“Shijugen stance.” She said quietly, frowning as she sighed, taking up her Kazen stance as Suriga charged, swinging with a backhand from his blade against her hilt, smashing her blade against her chest, a giant scar stretching from her stomach to the end of her ribs. Falling down, Suriga seemed to emanate such pure hatred that the stones around him tumbled away in fear, grinding his teeth behind his veil, gripping his sword with incredible strength.

It seemed all hope had faded for Ashili, until she rose up, breathing harshly as she looked at Suriga with equal hatred, her pupils dilated to such a degree that her eye colour became a black circle amongst a white sea. She glared at Suriga, who laughed in excitement. Clapping his hands together, Suriga nodded and smiled behind his veil. “I haven’t seen those eyes in a long time, Aeray. Very few people know the real you, but now it seems that you’ve finally awakened from the hell hole that is named Ashili Evergone. Aeray, are you tasting for blood as you have tasted long ago?” He asked, as Aeray got up and stood straight, taking up her sword over arching over her head, the tip touching the end of her right hand in a vertical Kazen.

“Now, Edward!” Suriga yelled. “Behold your true wife, the one whom you married, the strongest of the sword, the legendary Aeray Evergone!” Suriga said, holding his original stance, charging forwards as Aeray glared, holding out her elbow as it slipped through the blade and her arms, the sword swinging to the side for a side sweep. However, she caught it in the smallest crevice of her hilt, twisting it down before pushing the scabbard into Suriga’s jaw, blood seeping out from behind his veil as he reeled back.

“During the second revolution, I tasted the Shijugen stance’s power from Arborgard. Suriga, the Shijugen is only unbeatable if the person does not understand the margin and specifics of swordsmanship. It’s only a matter of time before I broke it. Get yourself together, murderer, or this would be a poor way to die for a king.” Aeray spoke, her voice black and cold, icy and unforgiving as her jet black eyes made her cold and emotionless.

“To die?” Suriga said, chuckling. “I am glad you returned after all these years, Aeray. Now I can kill you with my full strength.” He replied, his chest rising and falling erratically as he stomped a hole in the ground, his arms stiffening and his muscles rippling as he bent slightly down, before in less than an instant of a second his knee was an inch from Aeray’s face, forcing her to block with her hilt as she was pushed back meters before backhanded with a fist of flames from the side. Suriga lifted his sword and swung, Aeray slashing up as they held their blades locked, neither of them wanting to let go before Suriga smashed his sword against hers, forcing her down. “In comparison of speed, I am greater!” He smashed again. “In comparison of strength, I am greater!” He smashed again, forcing Aeray to fall back even more, as Aeray dodged his second blow, turning around to dodge his knee and slashed him in the back, Suriga turning around as his blood fell onto the ground.

He knelt down, looking at his own blood, his eyes contracting in disbelief before looking at Aeray. “I see.” He said, taking out his sword to his arm, his fist held out at the edge of the back of his sword, his right leg stretched out low and his left leg bent back in, Aeray contracting her eyes in concentration.

“That stance is…” She said coolly.

“…Kuzumenkyiakou.” Suriga replied, confident in his stance. “This fight ends here.”

“I agree.” Aeray replied, taking her own stance from Ferruga, her right hand touching the end of the back of the blade, her sword pointed slightly upwards as she waited, both of them in a stand still. In a flash, she charged, Suriga charging as well, and within a flash of an instant, a body flew high into the air, a look of surprise and shock adorning its face, a giant scar across its body, yet it seems that when the body fell, it moved. It was alive, was in pain, it was defeated, and it was Aeray. Suriga turned around, victorious, as now Ashili was gasping in pain, trying to get herself around. “W-W-Why aren’t I dead?” She asked, gasping for air. “My lungs feel like they’ve been crushed.”

“They are. You’ll die within the hour unless you get medical attention. I held back.” Suriga replied coldly. “In the end, you can’t beat me, Ashili. Aeray. It doesn’t matter who you are, the Kazenak cannot beat the Kuzumenkyiakou. You had best better get her to a hospital immediately.” Suriga told Edward, before walking away, yet the clanking noise of a sword was heard on the floor.

“N-No.” Aeray said, rising up, blood spilling from her mouth as her stomach showed a giant scar that etched through into her right arm, a giant burn mark crawling around like an evil hand. “I-I still haven’t beaten you.” She said, groaning in pain before falling down, her head falling softly onto the ground. “I-I…” She kept groaning, struggling to stay alive.

“You have less than an hour. It seems your body has become fragile, Ashili.” Suriga spoke. “If you treasure her life, you will bring her medical attention. She cannot survive on any of your vampire treatments alone. The Kuzumenkyiakou is infallible unless its user determines it to have a chance.”

“You still couldn’t fight a fair fight, could you?” asked Edward. He saw everything, he saw the truth. The king had poisoned her because she wasn’t even near Gengur close enough for him to touch her. IF they had only be near him, then the rest would have it. But that didn’t have it.

His blue eyes looked at the king. “Your brother was a better man then you are. You forced us to fighting you way, so you could watch us and learn our fighting styles. Couldn’t fight us unless you knew our moves. You’re bloody cheater and coward.”

He looked back at his son. “Get your mother before we all turn into the coward from standing to close.” he said, a smile hidden behind his mask.

Farkas moved over and picked his mother up, her body on his arm. He looked down at her and saw the mayhem caused to her.

“You’re a fool to think anybody will follow you. You‘re un-honorable. ” said Edward.

Suriga did nothing. He merely smiled evilly, his leering sneer hidden behind his veil. "Take a look at your current assessment." Suriga said, before a hoarse cough clambered with the blade towards him, holding it strong and tight. Suriga, in distinct surprise, turned to meet Aeray once more, his eyes blackening as his gaze stared intently, seeing a small glimmer of shattered metal beneath her clothes. "Armor." He said, disappointed. "So, Aeray, you came prepared for the Kuzumenkyiakou."

"I will beat you." She said, her leg bending forwards slightly as she tried to keep herself straight, her hand reaching for her mouth as she vomited blood, Suriga turning around before coughing violently as well. Suriga got up, and with solid interest turned to face her.

"I see. I thought you had rusted, but you're as diligent as ever, Aeray. Too bad you're married to a man who will never understand what you truly are." Suriga replied, flicking his hands as a small trail of blood was evident from beneath his veil, red saliva dangling from his mouth. "Your purpose of the Kazenak was not to attack me with the blade, but to contract the disease that Gengur had to me."

It happened all so slowly. As Suriga smashed his blade through the air, the rumbling quiet and the battle silent, Aeray held up her scabbard to her hilt, pushing Suriga's blade against her scabbard as she swung her teeth into his shoulder, a small prick of blood falling from the barely noticeable and painless wound.

"...Yes." She said, groaning as Suriga eyed her jealously.

"You're the only member of the second revolution who could match the strength of the first." Suriga said, turning around as he sheathed his sword, chuckling at Edward. "Edward, you speak of being un-honourable. In the end," Suriga said, unwrapping a small portion of his hands, taking off his gloves and peeling off the plastic wrap to reveal throbbing and burning hands, the skeletal whiteness visible as the blackened and charcoaled skin was a slight magenta shade. It looked nothing like a human hand - more like unto a hive of worm like veins that slithered visibly in the shining light. "In the end, those who fight with the misconception of honor only do more bad for the world." He said harshly, turning around before walking away.

"Because they create monsters like me. And call me a coward if you want, but know that your wife bows down to a coward, and so does your husband, Selene." He walked away, disappearing into a dust of flames.

A call came from Ashili's cellphone, though the ringing could be heard, she was in no condition to reply.

Farkas couldn‘t believe his own eyes, her mother’s broken body was just in his arms. “What the fuck…” came out of his mouth. Edward looked back at his son. “Huh? Where in the hell is your mother?” he asked.

Farkas pointed at Ashili and Edward spun to see what he couldn’t believe. This was getting weird.

Then Suriga up and disappeared.

“Fighters don’t run from battle. Real men don’t run from a fight. Suriga, you’re not fit to be king.” said Farkas out loud.

“Now what?” asked Edward.

Suriga laughed maniacally, before his face turned into a groaning fuel of hatred. "Don't let your pride cloud your head, kid!" He said harshly, without turning around. "Take a look at Jenrak's current situation now. The current political power lies within the east, within the Ssessloth and Aurokan domains. Ninety percent of its wealth, its strength, its military control, all of it in the east! What is in the east? The corporate heart of the country. Without Jenrak's corporate entities to keep it alive; without the Bengdu Corporation, The Haasdra Confederations and the Tsellian Enterprises, this empire would be nothing more than a washed up backwater third world country not fit to be called a son of Ascherach. You talk as if fighting will dictate everything."

Suriga turned around, his eyes shining with passion, with a gleaming charisma never seen before, a powerful aura in his voice that placed Arborgard to shame. He showed a voice that was truly an inspiring tone, his clear and powerful, yet graceful tongue slithering behind his veil. "You speak and talk and preach of things you don't understand. Let me explain something to you." He roared. "The majority of your wealth and power is from your people! You are nothing more than a corrupt bug, feeding and leeching off the womb of the earth as a virus that shivers at the slightest touch of heat and cold. Go back to your mansion, and wallow in your wealth, for that is the end of you. You speak as if you understand the Jenrakians."

He turned around once more, walking away, yet still talking with his powerful voice. "Tell me this - have you ever talked to the common man? To trust in the heart of the common man, the man whose opinions cannot be summed up in elections or comment boxes? The man who is worried for his family, the man who suffers desperation for his loved ones? Have you considered them? Heh, no." Suriga smiled, his voice softening. "It's a dream that we all shared, a dream that brought Jenrak into creation; the revolution of chaos that would bring all Jenrakians together. I have sacrificed all my land and riches to the common man, and yet for every dollar I give, my former comrades take ten from my people! And so, I will rise to bring destruction of the blindfold, to bring the people together, under unity amongst not my banner, but the banner of Jenrak. If you don't understand, then you don't know anything about my brother, nor have you ever tasted desperation."

"The longer you attempt to taunt me with your feeble arguments, the longer she suffers, my dear barbarian." Suriga spoke to Farkas.

Edward checked his radio and making sure the helicopter was almost there. He called in medical support about fifteen minutes ago during the fight between Ashili and Suriga. He did want Suriga to be killed as Suriga wasn’t the right person to rule Jenrak.

Farkas placed up his mother and placed her over his right shoulder.

“Suriga, we fought your way. Next time, it will be on our terms.” said Edward before the group start back to the front. Each one wanted to destroy Suriga, but there was something human in these vampire. They didn’t want Ashili to die.

It was a hot day, as everyday in Jenrak seemed to be. From the temple of the Necromarnen, Ferruga was standing watch before a thin black shadow pierced the end of his cornered eye. From there, he stood up before a long blade was perched at the back tip of his skull, poking gently as he brushed it away. “Suriga. How dare you kill my student.” He replied, as the evil chuckle hearkened from behind.

“My student died long ago, Ferruga. Besides, I’m a merciful teacher as your student is still alive. Aeray is still part of the Regozk.” He argued, as Ferruga smiled.

“It’s Ashili.”

“She’s forever Aeray to those who have lived through the days of chaos. You remember, don’t you? When the most trustworthy allies were the mere shadows behind your backs, and even then.” Suriga said, pressing slightly as a small nick of blood ran from the back of Ferruga’s head. “I want to see how your skill is, my dear old teacher.” Suriga said, as Ferruga chuckled, turning around as he gripped his handle tightly.

“Alright. I’ll amuse you. I will show you what potency level is that of one who has mastered the Kazen style.” Ferruga said, taking up his stance, the stance that Ashili had always taken to no avail. Suriga prepared his own, his legs low and stretched, his body lengthened. He waited slightly, before nodding his head.

“Come and try to break me, you old man.” Suriga taunted, as Ferruga chuckled, charging with incredible speed, his feet smashing up the marble tiles as he was within distance of Suriga’s blade, his hand reaching out in flames to grasp Ferruga’s neck the same as he had done to Ashili, yet something was wrong. In an instant, Ferruga pushed up, his hilt smashing into Suriga’s palm, the scabbard cutting deep towards his tendons as his blood splashed out, his hands loosening and his fingers throbbing uncontrollably. Ferruga smiled.

“I see. So Ashili showed you the Genkokazen, and you simply blocked it. However, what she, and you, didn’t know is that the Genkokazen consists of three attack stages that can be switched at will. As I have said, the Kazen stance is my accumulated experience against the many foes I have faced. It is infallible.” Ferruga said, throwing his cigarette to the ground as Suriga smiled, gripping his hand tightly as blood sprayed out every time he tightened it, holding it parallel behind his blade, his arms out and his sword perpendicular to his body.

“Hmm? I’ve never seen that before.” Ferruga said, interested, as Suriga smiled evilly. It was the Kuzumenkyiakou, the attack that was now placing Ashili’s life on the line. Ferruga smiled, wanting to meet the challenge as he took up his legendary stance, the succession technique of the Kazen style. Suriga laughed.

“I have already broken your ultimate attack, thanks to Ashili’s haste, Ferruga.” Suriga retorted. “The Kuzumenkyiakou will rip through it like nothing before.” He replied, as Ferruga kept his face cold and still.

“If you truly believe that the Kuzumenkyiakou can break the Kazenak Vizith, then I challenge you to come.” Ferruga replied, holding his blade the same way as Ashili did, pausing slightly before charging with his left leg, pushing forwards as Suriga stayed still like stone, waiting before he smashed his fist against his blade, pushing it forwards with incredible force, aiming towards Ferruga’s chest.

In an instant, Ferruga twisted his wrist and slashed upwards before twisting again, slashing to the left and then slashing to the right with another twist. In an instant, he sheathed his sword, Suriga collapsing as a large ‘Y’ was swathed in blood on his chest, his blade cracked. Ferruga shook his head, disappointed before something happened that shocked him to the core.

Suriga laughed, rising up as smiled with blood from his teeth and his chest, breathing at irregular intervals. Parts of his veil fell, revealing thick and hide-like skin that was wrinkled and burnt, long lines where veins used to be, the three slashes evident as giant red marks. “I can’t feel it at all, Ferruga. Now I’ve seen the real power of the Kazen style, I believe I can beat it.”

“Oh? Amuse me.” Ferruga said.

“You used centrifugal force to have three successive slashes that come from above to have your enemy’s left and right side open. You change left or right accordingly to their hands’ position, and with each slash you gain more force from the tight gravity encircled around it. If the first slash can be blocked, the attack is worthless!” He said, taking up the Kuzumenkyiakou as Ferruga initiated his attack again, having the same result as Suriga fell down in a bloody swath once more, his wounds even deeper.

“Suriga, I understand that because you are Arborgard’s brother that you are the last legitimate heir to the entire Jenrakian throne, but do not let your pride cloud your judgment.” Ferruga said, slinging Suriga’s bloodied and unconscious body over his shoulder as he carried him to the infirmary. “It begins with a thrust, then a slash.”

To Edward, Kelahradrith was calling them.

Edward was at his wife’s side as the call came to him. “What?” he said in a pissed off sounding voice. He wanted Suriga killed for what he did to his wife and the others, he didn’t care that Suriga was legitimate heir to the entire Jenrakian throne. Suriga’s actions have not only made Edward not like him, the old man even was pissed at Suriga. Jenrak was the United Dominion’s longest ally and Suriga didn’t look like an good ally.

"Suriga is calling a conference at the Necromarnen." Kelahradrith spoke, as a small ticking sound could be heard in the background, Jenrakian military mobilizing outside the entrance of Suriga's hideout as they rushed to get Ashili onto a stretcher and onto the field medic's vehicle.

At the Necromarnen, Suriga tied up his wounded chest, breathing rashly as Ferruga smiled, sitting casually at the steps, looking at Suriga with interest. "I'm surprised. You're one of the very rare afflicted with it, aren't you? The perfect warrior." He spoke with a tone of jealousy, as Suriga ignored him. "However, in the end, those who rally and work under my helm are the ones who will benefit today, and like you, those who don't will not, Suriga. I find it ironic that you defeated Aeray. Tell me." Ferruga said, rising up. "Did she use the Hokukunji?" He asked, as Suriga shook his head. "So she's still as kind as ever." He said, smiling, slumping back down.

"In the end, those who believe will win this fight." Suriga said, taking off his veil, smiling as his scarred and burnt skin shimmered with blood and veins. "In a way, I'm thankful for your teachings, Ferruga. I'm thankful for your hatred." He said, as Ferruga raised his eyebrows in wonder. "Heh, if it wasn't for you, I would have never been introduced to the world of conflict and horror."

"Don't sweat it, Arcarum." Ferruga said, as Suriga smiled. "You've learned alot, and in the end, there's nothing left between men like us. We've grown old in a world like this, and from the slightest of events..." He said, drifting off before they both nodded at the same time.

"Ashili." They both whispered, their voices lost in the emptiness of the vastness of the darkness. "Thank you." For even though Ashili laid on the stretcher, nearly on the brink of death, she had achieved what she was to achieve; victory. For on that fateful meeting in that rainy day between two masters of the sword - Ferruga Evergone and Suriga Kataask - two feelings were forever drenched and frozen in the cold recesses of time.

Compassion and Cruelty.

Edward, anger in his blue eyes, placed his pistols in their holsters. “Very well, I’ll be there. Thanks.” he said in the phone. He looked at his son. “Go with your mother.”

With that, Edward and Selene moved to a waiting black Comanche. The helicopter entered the air as Farkas boarded the field medic's vehicle. Edward turned the powerful copter toward the Necromarnen and shot forwards.

After a few hours, the copter touched the ground around the Necromarnen. Both jumped out and moved into the building.

Suriga sat upon the floor, his legs crossed as his blades were at his side, his veil upon his face as nodded as Edward and his clan entered, Ferruga sitting at the fountain ledge, washing his hands in the cold water. Ferruga had no nod, no formalities, merely a quiet stare as from across, a long and thin suited man sat, his hair parted sightly as his thin face was like a skeletal mask, his eyes squinting in concentration.

"Edward, sit down." Suriga said, pointing to the area across from him. "This is Ferruga," he said, pointing to the man sitting by the fountain edge. "And this is Edoqlius." He pointed to the thin skeletal man opposite of Ferruga. "Before you have any suspicions, I will tell you that these men would love to see me die as much as you do, but like you, we are all within the bind of unfortunate circumstances."

"Have some tea." He offered, pointing to the small tray in the center as green tea was wafting slightly pungently from its hearth.

“I know whom those two are, Suriga.” said Edward, taking his black mask off. His young filled faces looked across the room at those men. The fire in his eyes was still there. His sister on the other hand just stood there with her assault rifle on her back.

“No thank you, I’m not a big tea drinker.” said Edward.

“What’s this about? I should be at Ashili’s side and no looking at you.” said Edward.

"She'll be fine." Ferruga chimed up before Suriga could. "As one who has been on the receiving end of the Kuzumenkyiakou before, it's not fatal if the person does not die instantly. If Ashili is still alive after she was hit, then there's no way she'll die from it." Suriga nodded.

"The main focus of this is the restructuring of the partition empire. Once more will Jenrak return into a single governing body, but this time I plan to make big changes. The navy will be largely abolished in favor of an air force for a quick and powerful attacking capability with a strong infantry force. I will also have to have climatic changes to the nation's natural ecosystem. I will be moving the industrial area towards the mountain to soak up all acidic rain shadow for chemical harvesting, and all the people will live within 50km of the Viraigius."

"You're moving nearly 600 million people towards the Viraigius?" Ferruga asked, as Suriga nodded. "How are you going to fund that sort of mass operation?"

"It's already going through as we speak. The Gengdu Corporation is pouring its entire funding into this reconstruction. I have full confidence in Suriga's economic decisions." Edoqlius said confidently as Ferruga raised his eyebrows in skepticism. "Suriga, after all, founded the corporation that helped build this country." It was an interesting fact towards Ferruga, as looked to Suriga.

"Don't dismiss my influence so quickly, Ferruga. I've been helping this country ever since the first revolution by my lonesome without help of any of your aristocratic nepotism. However, back on topic. Edward." Suriga said, looking at Edward. "I'll need you to remove every single piece of military equipment from Raunin immediately."

“What the fuck for? Those bases were allowed by your brother for Jenrak‘s best ally and we'll not leave them.” said Edward, thinking that Suriga wasn‘t trying to force a wedge between the Dominion and Jenrak. Then Selene stepped forwards and placed a hand on his shoulder. “It would take our father to move them all out of Raunin.”

"Make no mistake, if I wanted to split relationships with Jenrak and the Dominion, I would have blatantly told you so." Suriga said, pulling out a long green strip of paper that showed the entire feed of Raunin. "Raunin consists of 98% forested areas and wilderness. This provides me with being able to kill two birds with one stone. I plan on clearing Raunin entirely and turning it into a desert. By using the trees I can harness enough biomass that would run Haasdra for nearly 30 years. Not to mention the emissions from all that clearing will produce enough greenhouse gas to put Jenrak's temperature into what I need it to be. Sixty eight degrees celsius during the spring."

"Why is that?" Ferruga asked, as Suriga chuckled. "Why so hot?"

"It will provide a natural routing barrier as well as be a second source of energy. I will use solar energy to power the cities and the towns within Jenrakian control, and cheaply send renewable energy to the farthest reaches of the empire. On top of that, I will be able to harness the greenhouse gases to provide enough plant production on which we can begin to harvest our own crops." Suriga replied, as Edoqlius wondered.

"But the acid rain -"

"Will be harvested for biomass and biological weaponry. I intend to harvest everything that comes at my disposal as long as its renewable."

"What about the coal and fossil reserves?"

"Those will be used for our military, to provide mobile deployment of entire cities that will allow us quick spearheads on invasive campaigns. The sheer heat from our country will guarantee that a defensive army is required at a minimal. On top of that, forcing everyone to stay inside..."

"Will rout crime into monitored intervals." Ferruga said, his face contracting in concentration. "You've got this planned out meticulously, haven't you?"

"When I said that I have a plan for the Jenrakian people to benefit the country, I mean it. I make no empty promises like my brother and his so called patriarchs, since they seemed to make things worse. Perhaps imperialism is fashionable nowadays, but I don't plan on wasting money on idiotic ideals when there are larger problems. Edward." Suriga said, looking at him. "Now that you know that I don't care about ulterior motives, I'll need you to move your men and hardware out before my construction trips over something and destroys the plan. I don't care where you relocate your bases, just don't keep them in the way of the reconstruction."

“I see, if I can have the soldiers and their vehicles and etc. moved to Habrigberg and Wolfsburg. Your plan is still crazy. Raunin is something rare in this desert nation. Anyways, I have a feeling it will take over a week to move that much stuff.” said Edward, still with that not trustful look at Suriga. He was in a fight to kill him early. “And the bases will be cleaned o everybody, but your construction crews can take them down. The soldiers currently at those bases will not fit into the desert landscape.”

“They will either stay in Habrigberg or Wolfsburg or head back to the Dominion.” said Selene.

“So, do I have a over week to move the soldiers and everything? If not, your construction crews will run into some heavy armed men.” said Edward with a smile. Knowing that he could kill the king in a less then a heartbeat with his AP rounds in his pistols.

"Still as pretentious as ever, I see." Suriga said, paying no heed to his furious aura. "As much as you want me dead, it does nothing more than delight me to rob you of your base desire to see me in a puddle of blood. Be glad you're at this still. I don't know why you're in politics, nor why people like you." Suriga replied, looking at the long window situated on the ledge of the mahogany surface. "You have 1 month to move every single object out of Raunin before I glass get rid of every single piece of fauna within the province."

"There's still the matter of our enemies living in Horsingra and Abhujizarad." Ferruga said, looking up at the sky as Edoqlius toyed with his tiny pistol from his miniature holster, placing it back under his sleeve as he looked down at the floor, the shimmering blue light flickering as the map scratched into existence, flashing slightly as Suriga wiped the dust off its surface. "Horsingra is the old Sandurian capital. We can't move against them because I smell something adrift, old royal blood that still pulses in the city's veins. The heir of Sanduras is there, and he is yet unaware of his importance."

"Yes, Menekhom is a naive man, and he could never think himself n any way an heir to the Sandurians. I believe this opportunity is a perfect one to have him by my side." Suriga said, looking back at Abhujizarad. "However, this city is a bit more problematic. Abhujizarad is the Pseuronader capital, and if I play my cards wrong, then they are certainly going to push up through the river faster than I would hope."

"The Temsplace have formed a line around the city save for two crevices that would serve as a routing passage against them. No sign of attack has been seen, and we cannot move in any closer for fear of land mines." Edoqlius replied with a wry attitude. Suriga smiled.

"I have little trust in these religious warriors. They are too fickle, too unstable, unable to keep their trust, only believing in their own church, not the Tsellian at a whole. I will have to have the Sadicistra deployed for this, to show them the carnage a human being is capable of. However, in the meantime, allow negotiations with the Pseuronaders to commence, and let them burn." Suriga spoke. "Keep the crevice open, and block the entrances. Make sure they starve completely, and then, soon, we strike with biological weapons long time has my brother neglected."

"Why?"

"To kill what is then useless. We play no game, but it is a game nonetheless." Suriga said cryptically, as Edoqlius nodded.

“I’ll make sure they are out of there in a month. It is still a weird thing to do by taking out the beauty of Raunin. Anyways, I’ll have to talk my father into it.” said Edward, he ignored the rest of the talking as he didn’t want to hear the crazy person talk about a military forces his son was part of.

“Let’s just unite these people back to how it was, so you can get on with your plan.” he said at the end.

"Indeed. As my first move, I will be replacing the central defenses of Haasdra into strike squads. Out of five, it will be defending the city, and I assure you, these men are more than capable." Suriga replied with a smirk hidden behind his veil. "Correct, Ferruga?"

"You took some of my students?" He asked, his eyebrows raised. "Interesting."

“Very well, I’ll do whatever is need for the future of Jenrak. Know those, even those two can tell you..” said Edward. He pointed at the other Jenrakians. “I don’t like corrupt people in power of a world leader. I’ll be watching you.”

He smiled at that before saying “Later, gentlemen.” Edward and Selene turned to do what they need to do.

"Well, shall we get acquainted?" Suriga said to himself as Edward left, looking at Edoqlius and Ferruga, whom both had expressions of interest. "My captains, the elite. The five best fighters I could gather from around the world, my captains in defense of the city of Haasdra. Karakorun Mengiko, Sekai Hamruun, Ishidun Geriuusk, Hezhoku Genkon and Mekomunos Haruim." He replied.

From outside, a man clad in white robes approached Edward, his eyes a silky green as his fingers were long and wiry. His sword was a long black cane of a weapon on his waist, hidden in an onyx sheath as his feet were draped in simple sandals, a beautiful '3' painted in black on his back, his robes beautiful in white, his veil draped under his arms as his visible face was shown. He had thin yet long eyebrows, a small chin and barely visible jawline, yet his thin slit for eyes showed a harrowing and burning brown shade. His nose was deep and long like a knife, and his lips were thin. It was blatantly obvious he was of oriental descent, and from the markings on his visible fingers most likely from SEA or Jagada. "Excuse, Mr. Darkholme." He asked politely. "Have you seen a short girl around here? She looks like a seven-year-old, blond hair and large eyes. She dresses in clothes similar to mine."

Edward looked at the man, he didn’t looked like an Jenrakian. But even the United Dominion had Asian and others within their lands. Edward even had a mother that was of oriental descent, well really step-mother.

“I don’t think so. I don’t think I have seen you, too. Who are you, if you don’t care?” asked Edward.

The man had a surprised look, before smiling, then chuckling slightly in slight embarrassment. "Ah, okay." He said cheerfully. "I'm Ishidun Geriuusk, 3rd Captain of the new Haasdra defense forces, the Memunkom. I'm looking for my lieutenant, but I don't know where she's gone, heh." He said, scratching the back of his head. "Well, nice to meet you, Mr. Darkholme. If you're not too busy, you can help me look, but if you are, then please tell me."

From the hospital Ashili was at, her door opened to reveal a man with a long, slightly drooping face, his lips perched in an upside-down arch, making it seem as if he was frowning, his eyebrows tilting permanently upwards as if he seemed concerned. His hair was fairly long, yet neat in small bunches that writhed down elegantly from his head. He opened it with slight sensitive touch, and his eyes were already half-covered by the droopy lids. When he walked in, he was tall, with an overwhelming and towering presence, his eyes on Ashili as she looked back. "Mrs. Evergone-Darkholme." He said, his deep, smooth voice a pounding noise.

"Who are you?" Ashili asked, looking at him, "and what are you doing here?"

"Sekai Hamruun." He said. He was dressed in silver robes, the same as Ishidun was, his feet with sandals as an identical sword - a long sword in an onyx sheath - was at his waist. "Please get better." He replied, looking around for Farkas.

“Nice to meet you, too. As you know, my wife is in the hospital. So, I’m busy. Good luck with your search.” said Edward. He walked towards his helicopter with Selene in tow.

At the hospital, Sekai would get to meet with face to face with Farkas. Eye to eye really and a blade near each of Sekai’s sides. “Mr. Hamruun, you better have a damn good reason for messing with my mother.” he said.

There was no change of expression in Sekai's face, no sign of change, simply an eye that slowly moved to Farkas before moving back to Ashili. "You aren't a very good mother, Ashili. You've raced such an impudent son." He said, as Ashili smiled slightly.

"He's a good kid, Sekai." Ashili said, her fingers across her strands of hair, slight tears welling up in her face before they disappeared with a wipe from her face. "Sekai Hamruun, is it? The Hamruun family of Menegoza? A famous family known for their quality blacksmiths." Ashili sighed, before turning to Farkas, her fingers slightly touching his shoulder. "Show a bit more manners, Farkas. Don't make yourself look bad in front of your uncle."

Farkas flipped his daggers and placed them under his white robes. He stopped back a few steps form this new person that his mother just called his uncle. The uncles he knew were the ones within the House of Wolf and Saerus. This was strange.

“Sorry. From what is going on, I’m a little over protected of my mother.” he said to Sekai. He looked at his mother and “What’s up? You never said anything about us having uncles or aunts on your side. Plus, I was only doing what father would have done.”

"Biologically, we're siblings." Ashili said, as Sekai had not changed expression. "I was a member of the Hamruun clan, but I was exiled because of a few tasteless murders." She said carefully, her face scrunched up in concentration.

"I don't think mother or father would enjoy you calling them tasteless, Ashili." Sekai replied. Ashili had a look of interest.

"I'm surprised you're calling me Ashili."

"I will address the proper woman when she has multiple personality disorder. If Aeray comes, then I will address her appropriately." Sekai said, looking at Farkas. "You're taller than I expected."

“Well, you look like nothing I expected because I didn‘t expect you.” said Farkas, without a smile of anything. He was still trying to figure out this man.

"Understandable." Sekai replied, turning to Ashili. "I'm borrowing him for a little while."

Ashili raised her eyebrows in disgust. "You come out of nowhere for the past twelve years, insult my parenting abilities then say that you're taking my son?" She asked incredulously. Sekai nodded without a hint of surprise.

"After watching his performance in the fight against Nelinia, he has potential, but still lacks the proper knowledge to effectively fight against higher class swordsmen." Sekai replied, as Ashili frowned. "I'm sorry, Ashili, but I'm going to make sure he surpasses the old you in a week."

“Borrow me? I’m not a little kid, uncle. So, you want to come out of nowhere and want to train me. I've had four trainers, three of those were Temsplaces. “ said Farkas, eyeing his uncle trying to figure what he was really up to. “I was even holding back against Nelinia, if you could tell. So, Uncle Sekai, what can you do to make the White Temsplace better?”

"Exactly. Impudence." He replied coldly. "There's many things that you'll never grasp, and I intend to teach them to you now. So if you're not understanding of what I'm offering, then perhaps this way of explaining will help." He said, turning around to walk out. "If you want to become more powerful than Suriga, then follow me. If not, then stay with your mother and stay weak."

Farkas growled.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” came Edward’s voice, walking into the room. He looked at Sekai like he was somebody strange. Well, this is the second new person he has meet today after the fight.

“Who are you, sir? he asked.

“Your brother-in-law or something like that.” said Farkas.

“Okay, I’m tried of this strange shit. Farkas, go with him. It’s always good to learn new thing.” said Edward, taking a seat next to his wife. He leaded down and kissed her. “I’m going have to talk with your mother. See if I got anymore brother-in-laws or sister-in-laws.”

“Very well.” said Farkas, following after his uncle.

Ashili chuckled. "Sorry about that, Edward. I didn't tell you because I never thought that he'd come back. There's a reason why my name is Evergone." She sighed. "My brother, a captain."

Sekai walked outside, looking out as the billowing sands shifted upon his face, the sun beating down as he breathed in a waft of delicious air, feeling it dance around in his lungs. He turned around to Farkas, looking at him carefully, yet his expression remained the same. "How confident are you in your abilities?"

“Ah…how are you feeling?” he asked.

As Farkas stepped out, he placed his white hood over his head. He didn’t really need, but the sun did hurt his eyes. “I know what I can do and what I can’t do.” he said, his voice sounded like he wasn’t bullshitting his uncle. His eyes watched his uncle. “Do I call you, Uncle or something else?”

"I'm fine." Ashili said, her fingers running through her hair, her forehead slightly hot, but otherwise fine. "I'm sure I was going to get killed, but I don't know why it was stopped at the end."

"I prefer my proper title. Captain Hamruun, leader of the second squad of the Haasdra defense squads." He replied coldly without a change in emotion. "I'm not fond of family. On another note, if you know what you can and can't do, then can you connect?"

“It was stopped because you would have died in less then an hour, if we didn’t get you help. Suriga ran as we were helping you.” said Edward, moving to the bed. He looked down at her and rubbed his left hand through her hair. “Me and Selene had a strange meeting with me some time ago.”

Outside, Farkas looked over at his uncle. “Okay, Captain, I’ll call you by that then.” he said with a small smile. That smile was because his uncle was lower rank then him within the Jenrakian army. That is if he was part of said army. “And yes, I can connect my blows.”

She slightly touched his hand, her fingers running through his. "A strange meeting? I'm not sure I understand."

"Then your task is simple. Force me to unsheathe my sword." He replied, his hand taking his long onyx rod off his waist, holding it out at arms length, moving the end slightly to reveal a small sliver of a beautiful silver blade, before clicking it closed once more in blackness. "Then I will teach you the secret to strength."

“A strange meeting as I’m allowing to stay on the throne. He is the rightful leader and that will not change, even if we want him killed. And Raunin will become a desert, so I have the soldiers moving to the Dominion two colonies.” said Edward, his blue eyes looking into her eyes. He smiled at her, he was happy she was alive. “And no, I haven’t started drinking again. Ferruga and Edoqlius were there, too.”

Outside, Farkas cocked his head to the side as he rubbed the back if his neck. “My task is to make you unsheathe my sword. Okay, Captain.” he said. He moved both hands over his back and drew his Temsplace blade. Bring it to his side, he stepped forwards at his uncle. What the fuck am I doing? he asked himself in his mind. Getting closer to the range of his sword, he moved the sword parallel with his waist. Then in one quick move, his moved the hilt level with his left shoulder before coming back down, his blade heading to Sekai’s left arm.

The only thing bad is that Farkas leaving himself open with this attack or was he?

"Edoqlius, I don't trust that man." Ashili said with a spit of hate in her voice. "But Ferruga is trustworthy. Suriga won't be able to do anything with Ferruga watching him, so I guess we can rest easy. However, I heard about the captains, and I'm wondering and surprised that there were even stronger men. This is becoming quite incredible."

Sekai kept his glance, standing still before the small fraction of an instant that the blade was a centimeter from his arm, his side bending to the right as he ducked under the sword's heavy swing, his left leg rising up behind the back end of the sword as he kicked it hard, giving more force to Farkas' sword, hoping it to be too much for Farkas to pull back quick enough as he watched. "You have a good grasp of the Temsplace blade, though your sword is much too light at the handle, not to mention it has no counterweight."

“Ferruga's not the only that will be watching him.” said Edward, knowing that she would know what he was meaning. He moved down and kissed her again. “Even the stronger men can be killed by a bullet, Ash.”

Farkas didn’t pull back even had the hard kick. He just let go and allowed the sword to go wherever it wanted. It when flying out of the battle as Farkas.

“Temsplace blades are good for something, but no other things.” he said, his hands moving into his white robe. He smiled as he came out with two swords, each one with a pure white hilt. Both swords had a Middle Eastern look to them. They were scimitars.

“But, Captain, I’m not your normal Temsplace.” he said. The blades resting in his hands.

"That philosophy died out long ago in this hell of a country." Ashili said, closing her eyes. "There little that bullets do in the tunnels of hell I was born in. It's too hot to fight outside, too cramped to fight inside, too dangerous to fight a swordsman with a gun."

"I can see that, when you killed Nelinia, a woman who specialized in hunting down Temsplaces." Sekai said, standing still, waiting for Farkas to come along. "But I wonder, do you have the range to fight? And the power, at least you might have the philosophy right, but maybe not? Come."

“And I’m the fastest gun in the west.” said Edward with a smile.

Farkas looked across at his uncle, he moved his blades to form an X in front of his legs. “You know, Captain…” started Farkas before laughter stopped him. He moved his eyes to the right towards a blonde hair girl in a leather red and orange racing suit.

“You never stay out of trouble, do you brother?’ asked Akila with a made sniper rifle resting on his lap.

“Our uncle wants to teach me some thing.” said Farkas, his eyes turning back to his uncle.

“Uncle?” she asked.

“I’ll tell you later.” said Farkas.

“Want me to handle him, Lord Farkas.” came a male voice coming out of a dark alley. The man was equal to Farkas’ height and body build, but was wearing a black clock over his armor. He has shoulder length jet black wavy hair. The face of male model with eerily blue eyes.

The man was cleaning the dirt from his fingernail with a dagger as he walked out.

“No, Eddy.” said Farkas.

Still eyeing Sekai, Farkas knew how to force him draw his sword. “I have tried to force you unleash your weapon with my attack, but I’ll try something else. Captain, an honorable swordsmen would draw his weapon to fight in a fair fight. So...draw your sword, sir.” He smiled at the last part.

Sekai kept his face. "You're learning very well." He said, grasping his handle. "The basic fundamentals to fighting is so that you may never need to fight again. When possible, fleeing from your enemy constitutes your victory. In a fight between life and death, only two things - life and death - constitute your fates. By avoiding a fight altogether you effectively have won against your opponent. As your reward, I will abide by your request and draw my friend." He said, taking out his hilt, before a small slender grabbed his free right hand, tugging it slightly before he tugged it back slightly, his expression still sombre and unchanging.

Standing as tall as to his chest, a woman with short bronze hair stood, her forehead hidden by her bangs, a small blue ribbon in her hair as it was shoulder's length, her face smooth and unwrinkled, her expression in a smile as she held Sekai's hand. "Captain, come on!" She urged, as Sekai stood still, unchanging. "Kentatsu is being a real jerk, and Captain Haruim doesn't want to change anything!" She complained, her ace scrunching up into a deep frown.

Sekai did not change at all, looking down at her with half closed eyes. He seemed fairly melancholic, though it was no surprise. "Lieutenant Fluuruin, I am busy right now. Go talk to Lieutenant Kentatsu yourself, or wait a bit if you want my assistance." He said, his voice cold and monotonous as always. Fluuruin turned around, looking at Farkas respectively.

She had similar garment to Captain Hamruun, yet she was dressed in grey robes, her sword long and black like her captain, hidden in a rod of onyx obsidian, glossy and beautiful. She had a playful, laid back aura, looking at Farkas closely before jerking back, sighing. "I think he's alright." She said to herself. "Although a lot of things could be improved, I'm not gonna complain. Say, Captain..." She said, turning around to Sekai. "Who is he?"

"My nephew." Sekai said without a single pause or shiver. A cold wind flew across the dunes.

"WHAAAA!?!?" Fluuruin said in surprise. "B-B-B-But..." She said, looking back at Farkas. "I see..." She said, before walking off a bit to the side, sitting down on the sand, looking at them both. "Good luck captain!" She yelled loudly, as Sekai looked with annoyance, freezing her in fear.

"Do not yell so loudly." He said calmly, a small click heard as the shimmering silver blade showed itself from his sheath. Long, straight and deathly beautiful with legendary craftsmanship, the sword sang elegantly as it was taken out, a long, beautiful nihontou. "This is my faithful companion." He said, as Fluuruin frowned.

"I thought I was your faithful companion!" She replied, as Sekai looked at her.

"When I say faithful companion, I mean one who never messes up." He said harshly, as she frowned, Sekai turning back to Farkas. "Come."

Farkas smiled. He spun the blade in his left hand around and keep it at his side. The blade was pointing to his back for some reason. The sword in his right hand was still pointing the right way. He moved forward with his blades ready to strike. With Sekai’s sword ready, this would be a fun duel. Nearing Sekai moved his hands in front of him, one blade pointed at the sky and the other at the ground.

The tall man that was called Eddy walked up beside Lieutenant Fluuruin as she rested in the sand. He smiled as he continued to clean his fingernails. “Hello, I’m Eustakhios Davrogordatos or what Lord Farkas calls me, Eddy. Eddy is easier to say then my full name.” he said.

Akila shouldered her rifle and hopped from the ledge she was on to the ground. She walked over and placed her rifle down before sitting down next to Lieutenant Fluuruin. “I think I’m that Captain’s niece. Akila Darkholme, assassin, are your service.” she said looking at the other girl.

"Hello!" Fluuruin said cheerfully, smiling as her cheeks became a slight magenta shade. "My name is Izmishnu Fluuruin, lieutenant of the 2nd squad! Nice to meet you!" She replied, her spirits high and nothing short of amusement and joy following her blood, an odd combination of opposites compared to the constantly gloomy and pessimistic Sekai.

Sekai stood still, his sword held in his hand, with no stance shown, looking as Farkas came at him. "One blade at the sky, one at the ground. Two sided attack that strikes simultaneously from above and below at extreme lengths, making it impossible to block. Even so." He said, his eyes showing a small glint. "Being able to block them both would allow the user to pull his blades back and stab at the opened stance of the defending opponent in an instant, showing no hesitation. But there is a weakness." Sekai replied, readying himself to block the sword coming down from above.

“It’s not smart to talk during a duel.” said Farkas with a smile as he launched his attack from below and above. Then it is where it will get out of hand, the below attack was going on its way and the above attack wasn’t an attack at all. Farkas turned the sword and stopped in in front of his chest, it was level with his shoulders and ready to strike with the sharp side aimed at Sekai.

If Sekai blocks the below attack, Farkas would unleash his attack with his right hand on his uncle.

“Same here, Izmishnu. So…tell me about my uncle.” said Akila, watching the duel. Eddy’s eyes were watching, too.

"Captain Hamruun is a strong fighter, and a very capable captain. I'm proud to serve under him." She replied with strong admiration. "He's a legendary swordsmen who learned from many people around the world, and high nobility of the Hamruun family from Krejei."

"A real fight does not constitute talking." Sekai said, blocking the parallel thrust from Farkas as he kicked the end of the bottom blade to the side. "However, as I have said, the attack has a weakness. You must have known that during your position that your bottom is greater length when combined with your arm. Therefore, if out at arms' length, it would be too long and dig into the ground, increasing friction and lowering attack power. Hence it's logical that you subconsciously place it slightly up to give it space. However, that does not put your blade at full length. One fraction of a centimeter of a sword longer than another will without doubt become a life or death situation. The centrifugal force generated by such a speed and attack becomes problematic since now you're decelerating it into a large thrust, you've cut the attack power, and thus, the speed, in half. Do not make me think of it a mere nuisance to have me draw my companion, Farkas."

“Ah…sounds like somebody to be proud of. “ said the blonde haired assassin in red and orange. Why would an assassin wear those color is unknown?

“You’re boring me. I told you early, I’m not a little kid anymore.” said Farkas back stepping from his uncle. He had been toying with his uncle, trying to learn his moves and his ways. He spun the sword in his left hand back to normal, the hilt dancing around his hand.

As the sword started, Farkas dropped down in a lower stance. “If you want to see a full blow attack, try to keep up.” he said with a smile as a breeze blew his clock open.

“Shit, he isn’t wearing his armor.” said Akila as the cloak showed his stone armor wasn’t there.

Pushing off of his right foot, Farkas charged forwards with both swords had his sides. As every step of his feet head the ground, his speed was going higher. Farkas wasn’t holding back anymore. As he neared his uncle, he moved both hands together and linking the two sword as one. Or that’s is how it looked. By now, he was going about as fast as the fastest man on the world. About six steps from his uncle, Farkas leaped into the air. Coming down with his ’blade’ in a downwards strike. Sekai did ask for this.

"Captain Hamruun is! He's a good fighter, and I learned everything from him! Even when the other lieutenants tease me, Captain Hamruun always comforts me!" She smiled at them with wide, pretty grins. She just didn't have the gumption to be a swordsman, though she certainly was.

"I never talked about your age. However, you're acting quite immature. The impudence of youth, I suppose." He said harshly, stepping forwards one step, dodging the downwards strikes gracefully. "At that distance, you cannot hope to connect with your opponent going at that speed. Your trajectory is off too much, expecting the opponent to block. One minor step from your enemy and he automatically gains the upper hand." Sekai said, standing behind Farkas with his gloomy disposition.

She’s a freak. said Akila to herself. She looked over at her and said “That’s nice.”

Farkas didn’t say anything, he only moves in with his attacks. Spinning, he started attacks from the left and right at the same time. From the outside looking it, Farkas was attacking like a madman without a clear head. But within Farkas’ head, his attacks were under his control and had a goal.

"I'm not a freak, to let you know!" She said, tears welling up in her eyes as she began to sob silently, turning around from them. "You're just like the others!" She said silently, quietly, a sudden change in mood as a dark and dangerous aura was drifting about her, as Sekai turned to her, his face in a look of sudden shock, sheathing his sword as he ducked both attacks, rushing towards her as he silently wiped the tears from her face, his thumb pressing slightly on her eyelids as the sorrow washed away. She smiled once more, as if she was a vulnerable child, her fingers hugging onto his chest slightly as he placed his hands beneath her back and knees, picking her up.

"My lesson to you for today is this. In a sword fight, your strength is only a third of what it is. The applying pressure makes little difference against an enemy who understands the weak points of a blade and its vertical gravitational pulls. Right now, you are far from defeating me, let alone harming me. Fix the mentality the Temsplace built into you; strength equals nothing compared to experience." Sekai said, turning to Izmishnu, his face still quite melancholic, yet there was a tenderness in his eyes. "Lieutenant, are you alright?" He asked softly, walking away, as slight shivering and quivering came from the adorable gray bundle in his arms.

"Awkward." A voice said, walking up behind Farkas. "What really intrigues me is that the only person who can get to Captain Hamruun is that girl there. Though don't take her fickle and unstable personality as a sign of weakness. Her skills fluctuate depending on who's with her. When she's with Captain Hamruun, she's virtually unstoppable. Oh, but I forgot." He said again, scratching the back of his head.

He held out his hand. "My name's Ishidun Geriuusk of the 3rd squad. I'm Captain Geriuusk of the White Haasdra defense squads. Farkas, am I correct? I'm here to help you finish your training, since it looks like Sekai will be no longer training you with Izmishnu burdening him."

As Sekai moved to Izmishnu’s side, Farkas smiled watching him. “I know I have weaknesses, Captain. Nobody is perfect. Your lieutenant is not. I’m not and you’re not perfect.” he said.

“See you later, Uncle.” said Akila as those two walked away.

As Ishidun arrived on the set, Farkas spun to look him in the face. He sheathed his swords as Eddy picked up Farkas’ temsplace blade.

“Not to sound rude, but why am I so popular right now?” he asked, taking Ishidun’s open hand with his right hand.

"Right now? You've always been popular." Ishidun said, smiling, walking back a few steps to give himself extra space. "I've been watching you for a little while, and you've got alot of potential. But you're already quite capable now, aren't you?" He said, smiling politely. "But it's an honor to meet you, so I'll get started."

Ishidun took out his long cane of a rod, identical to Hamruun's, yet when he unsheathed it, it was nothing more than a fat dagger, half the length of his forearm, yet with multiple layers of blades stacked upon each other like an odd tower. It seemed to have a drill-like appearance, yet it was obviously a dagger, and it was nowhere long enough to be considered a threatening looking weapon. "This is my pride and joy, my sword." He said looking at Farkas with interest. "Come, Farkas. I will show you the power of a sword in an era of guns."

“True, I shouldn’t be that surprised. Even Lord Sly'lioth told me I was one of his best student for ages and that he would get another one like me. Or something like that.” said Farkas, stepping back to get a better look at Ishidun. He looked at the sword with his eyes, scanning every part of it. He looked at Eddy holding his massive blade. “I don’t need that against the Captain’s sword. Too large for what looks like an extra large dagger.”

He unsheathed one of his Middle Eastern white hilt sword and readied himself.

“Before I move, tell me one thing, Captain. Why do you and my uncle want to train me? ” he asked. Farkas would need answers as this was really weird to him. Two Captains wanted to train in one day and that would be wierd for anybody.

Geriuusk looked up at the sky. "The Temsplace are in chaos. With Authaulus in treatment from Gengur's attack and Sly'lioth missing when the Pseuronaders took over his castle, they have very little left to work with. Makaidosk is fighting against the Kraven, Gelleguun is diagnosed with cancer, and Agros is anti-social. So, heh." He said, scratching his head again, smiling. "The Temsplace aren't very well lead right now. It's like they're cursed. However!" He said, pointing his finger up in triumph.

"There is a sixth squad forming, in charge of Temsplace management. While you might be one of the strongest of the Temsplace, you are nowhere influential enough with the church to become a high Vizith. So, if you become a White Captain of the sixth squad of the Haasdra defense forces, you have enough jurisdiction to even open up your own Temsplace academy! Plus, like the other squads, you get your very own cute little lieutenant! Isn't that right, Seleck?" Ishidun asked, as a small girl in grey robes appeared on Ishidun's shoulders, clapping her hands.

"Yep!" She said cutely, smiling - she seemed to be no younger than 5.

"Don't let her appearance fool you. She's alot older than 5, but she's just so adorable!" Geriuusk said, holding her up and flying her around like a teddy bear as she laughed and chuckled around in joy. "But, you have to get recommendations and references first. That's where your uncle and I come in. Your bout with Nelinia has proven to be quite a spectacular show, so now we're going to train you up a bit!" He said, clapping as he smiled, putting his lieutenant down as she cutely ran like a toddler to a nearby rock, sitting down as she cheered Farkas on. "So adorable!" Geriuusk said again, looking at Farkas.

"I hope that answers your questions." He replied. "So can we get started? My blade is getting tired of waiting."

“Okay, I’m following you now. I’m the only one left that is open for this place. And you know what, I’ll do anything to do to get that rank. I have a feeling that the church didn’t like my action by not disbanding like ordered.” said Farkas with a smile. He could hold his sword all day, if need. Lovely gifts he got from his father’s side and his mother’s vampire side.

“Those lieutenants are cute. I want one, too.” said Akila, looking at Seleck.

Farkas laughed at what his sister said and moved forwards at the Captain. His sword at an angled position over being straight upwards.

"Lesson one." Geriuusk said, slashing at the sword with his dagger, leaning quickly forwards before lunging back. "Strength is null. In the end, you only need to cut. You have more chances of winning with a fast slash rather than a strong one." Geriuusk swung his dagger, his speed unbelievable as he was nothing more than a flash of steel as he stabbed and slashed without mercy.

Ashili sighed. "Though I might be a bit of a dunce, heh, I think I might have to come clean about me a bit, Ed." She said, looking up at the blank ceiling.

Farkas moved his blade fast to block the attacks form the dagger. “Lesson learned.” he said with a smile as continued to block each swing. It looked like he could block all day, if he wanted.

“Come clean about what?” asked Edward, looking down at her.

"Lesson two." Geriuusk said. "Reach out for me, Hengadonko." At that moment, as he twisted his wrist, the multiple layers of the dagger flashed out into a massively long sword, twice the length of Geriuusk's arm, a gigantic nihontou birthed from the odd looking dagger - it was apparent that the multiple layers of blades were actually segments of a much larger sword. "Each Captain of the White Defensive forces has their sword built and designed according to their needs. This is my sword, Hengadonko, the 'Stubborn Bloodlust'." Geriuusk swung his blade down, its incredible length all slashing down.

"My origins as Aeray." Ashili said.

“Nice.” said Farkas as he moved back quickly, trying to get out of the range of the long sword. His blade locked with it almost near its end.

“What ever it is, know this. I’ll still love you.” said Edward.

"It's not a matter of love. It's a matter of conscience. I have to atone for my parents' deaths. It's been a very long time, but I can't forget them anymore. I'm not nobility, nor born one. I was a killer, tried and true. Aeray Hamruun, child of the prestigious blacksmiths of Krejei, adopted by Ferruga shortly after." Ashili said, sighing. "Ferruga is a harsh, unforgiving man." She said. "Forgiveness is not easy to get truthfully from him."

"Come back to me, Hengadonko." Geriuusk said softly, as the blade retracted back into a dagger, Geriuusk rushing with insane speeds towards him, his dagger's offensive turning into a shield of swipes against Farkas. "Lesson three. A good offensive is to expand your defensive capabilities."

“Ash, I’m a killer, too. I’m not a good person. Like you, my past is a little fucked up. I used to kill person to drink their blood and do the wishes of my father.” said Edward, holding his wife’s hands. He moved his head into her view to look into her eyes. “Whatever you need to do, I’ll be at your side.”

“Understandable.” said Farkas as his sword blocked attack after attack. He watching the attacks, catching their speed and etc. Looking for a hole within those attack and the Captain’s style. So, he was really watching the Captain as a whole.

"Reach out for me, Hengadonko." He said again, the sword reaching out at full length, swinging it before retracting it once more, resuming his slashes with his dagger, stopping before sighing, sweat pouring down his face. "Phew!" Geriuusk said, smiling as he looked up at the sky. "Farkas, you're a smart fighter, and never break your stance." Geriuusk smiled, before clapping his hands, Seleck running to him as she clamored onto his back, her hands tapping on his head slightly as he turned around.

"As my gift to you, I will pass this knowledge onto you. The Captains have two sword changes. What Hengadonko has shown you is only the first change. My word of advice is this; do not underestimate the power of a sword. In a world of guns, a sword can become the deadliest weapon of all if you just know how to develop a weapon correctly." He said, smiling back at Farkas as he began to walk off.

"Ah, and that reminds me - if you ever want to learn more, just come to the Necromarnen. I'll always be there to talk to you!" He said, waving as he walked away, Seleck on his back as she did so too.

“W-W-W-Would you go…” Kentatsu began to ask, as her eyes were closed, small droplets of sweat running down her head as a man with thin, shining eyes and small thin lips smiled happily, his hair a dull flock yet his face was smooth and well, his irises a glimmering green. His white hair did not make him look old, but rather heavenly, though his was a beauty unique to his own. A thin yet handsome face, a sly yet subjective look, the man chuckled slightly before looking at the girl blankly. She quivered and jerked, trying to restrain herself.

“…go where?” He asked playfully, looking at her. “Lieutenant Kentatsu, is there an emergency?” He asked, as Kentatsu shook her head. She had a lock of short cut vermillion blonde hair, her bangs falling down to her fragile shoulders as her large diamond eyes overlapped a small button of a nose with equally small lips. Her skin was smooth, and she seemed fairly well endowed, adding to her quite pretty features, an odd contrast to the sharp and sly look of the man she was staring at – or at least, trying. Her eyes were sparkling at the floor, and her hands were cupped at back, her fingers tight in anticipation as she awaited to try and have the courage to speak. “If there isn’t, it might be best to – “

“…go out on a date with me?” She asked, as the man raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Please, Captain Genkon, it’s not even a date.”

“Please call me Hezhoku. Captain Genkon is too formal from you.” He said, smiling, as she smiled back. Had he accepted? “However,” he continued, “I cannot do that.”

“What? Why?” She asked, as Genkon looked at her, looking at him, her lips a few instances from his, the warm breath and heat building as heart thumped within her chest. “Do you hate me?” She asked, as Genkon looked with forlorn eyes.

“No. However, policy states that a lieutenant and a captain cannot associate with those outside of military business when in different squads.” He replied with a business-like tone, before turning back to his normal, easy self. “I’m sorry, Kentatsu. I’ll see you at the meeting on Tuesday. Please forget about that.”

Kentatsu leaned against the window-ledge, sighing as she ran her fingers through her hair, frustrated as she punched the wall beside her, a prominent imprint of her knuckles etched deeply into the hearth. “Captain Genkon. I will do whatever I can to become lieutenant of the 4th squad. Even if it means getting rid of Geliosk.” She said, an evil glint in her eye.

“Very well, Captain.” said Farkas as he sheathed his blade. He gave a semi-bow to Ishidun, before turning to face Eddy and his sister. He had a huge smile on his lips. “Maybe as a White Captain, the church will not hold back in making me a high Vizith. They should be happy that I’m on their side.” he said.

His sister only smiled as Eddy looked with open eyes at his lord.

“Eddy, I need you to do something before I travel to the Necromarnen. Get Titan and Lizard and bring them here for me.” said Farkas, sounding like a real leader over a young hot shot kid that he looked like.

“Yes, Lord Farkas.” said Eddy, handing Farkas’ blade to his lord.

“Bring Kyra, too.” said Farkas, as he said her name, his tone changed to one of a lover.

“Very well.” said Eddy. He bowed to Farkas before taking off to get the warrior together. All holy warriors of Lord Farkas’ group within in his current church. All trained by Farkas himself.

Placing his blade on his back, Farkas and Akila walked into the hospital. As they walked to their mother’s room, Farkas smiled a female nurse before winking at her. Like he said early, he wasn’t a normal Temsplace.

Arriving at Ashili’s room, Farkas smiled as he walked in. “I could be the White Captain in charge of Temsplace management, mother. Good news, right?” he said. Edward only looked at him.

"You've got the approval of all the captains?" Ashili asked in surprise, a feat that was likely impossible. "If you could get that position, it would be incredible. What did your uncle teach you?" She asked Farkas.

“I said could be. Only bored me until sis made his lieutenant start crying. Captain Ishidun, on the other hand, was better at teaching. He told he will be at the Necromarnen and that will be always be there to talk to me.” said Farkas, taking a seat on a stool or whatever it was.

Akila placed her sniper rifle in the corner before getting into the other bed in her mother’s room. “It sucks when an assassin can’t get a job, you know.” she said out loud.

"Ishidun..." Ashili said, closing her eyes before sighing. "Ishidun Geriuusk, you've become a Captain now, haven't you?" She asked herself, looking up at the ceiling. She silently sighed, whispering. "Ishi-sensei." She spoke quietly to herself, sighing. "The Fox-Eyed has joined Suriga's army, it seems."

“And he’s a little strange, too. But not as strange as some of my men.” said Farkas with a smile. He looked at her mother as she talked to herself. “I got Eddy get a few of those men before I go to the Necromarnen. We can’t trust Suriga at this time.”

“You’re correct about that.” said Edward, running his right hand through Ashili’s hair.

"To think that time passes in us all, the endless sift of the hourglass, heh. It's nothing more than a shiver when it follows through my mind. Eternity, not my kind of thought." Ashili said, sighing. "In the end, only the legacy is left behind." She began to rant and philosophize. "However, I need to get something."

“I think you were hit in the head to hard. You’re being a little weird.” said Edward, still messing with her hair.

“Do what, mother?” asked Akila as she relaxed on the other bed.

"I need to get my old sword back." Ashili said, looking up. "I need my companion back, my old friend. Can someone go to my house? It's in my closet, at the far end in the long steel case. The combination on the lock is 34-24-76-21-56. It's a long silver blade in a black onyx sheath. It answers to me, so don't think of playing around with my sword." Ashili said.

“Silver. Not touching that.” said Edward, knowing that he would be ash with even a small touch. He looked over at Akila. She smiled. “I’ll get it. I need to pick up a few things anyways.”

She placed her rifle over her shoulder and turned at the door. “Mother, father, brother, see you later.” she said. With that, she leave the room and moved to her transport. It would take some time to get to the castle and back.

"Well, it's in an obsidian case, so it shouldn't be a problem if you touched it, am I correct?" Ashili asked Edward.

“True, but I’m not crazy. Our girl can get as fast as I could. And she’s better with numbers.” said Edward.

"Ah, okay. I can't rely on you, can I?" She asked, chuckling.

“You can, but I’m not as smart as Akila. I‘m not good with numbers.” said Edward with a smile. He kissed her before placing his head down on the pillow with her head.

A few hours have passed, Farkas was resting his head on the wall as his radio beeped. He knew what it was about. Eddy was on his way in the chopper. He got up and looked over at his parents. “Well, I’m off to the Necromarnen and maybe my future as a captain.” he said. He bowed before heading outside to the parking lot.

By then, the sound of a Superhawk transport helicopter could be hear in the air. It was solid black copter with Temsplace markings. Farkas looked up as the massive helicopter touched down in the open parking lot.

He boarded it as soon as the wheels hit the ground. He moved straight for the raven-haired, green eyed women, which looked like model over a holy warrior, and locked his lips with her. He knew his men didn’t care about what he and Kyra did to themselves.

The helicopter lifted back into the air and moved towards the Necromarnen.

Meanwhile, Akila had arrived at the castle and picked her what she need for herself. She heads into her parent’s room to Ashili’s closet. She found the long steel case and entered the combination, 34-24-76-21-56. The look opened and she slowly eased the case’s lid up.

Taking her mother’s sword out, she closed the case back. With the sword in her hands, she heads back to her transport.

Five. There were five captains that adorned the now legendary White robes of the White Captains, their obsidian sheathes long and upon their waists as their blades were shimmering onyx blackness. Along the large central pillars of the inside of the ominous Necromarnen, a young man stood, his eyes shining with interest as he watched the dunes ravage amongst the sands, turning around as a black inky '1' was seen painted beautifully on his back. Captain of the first squad and leader of the administration, Karakorun Mengiko, the prodigy swordsman.

Briefly, he crossed eyes with Farkas, looking at him before turning back to the dunes.

Rephalim was a crumbling mass of steel and brick, the flames flickering up as the long fingers of fire danced around in silence, baring flame crackled teeth as the long edge of the sword was shining amongst the tall hills of flags. Banners waving in the air amongst a pile of corpses, amongst a mountain of skulls, the roar of the proud echoed through the edifices of the darkness with unseen brutality. From here, from the darkness of the Rephalim heart, they marched. The incredible strength of a million man force without any form or shape, a fluid of the never-ending army as it walked along the dunes with a chattering noise, like locusts as the sands nodded and bowed to their presence. Drenched in blood and sweat amongst the unbearable heat, they sat outside of the city, looking at the broken metropolis the shining lights cried tears of grease, the cars shattered and ruined. Amongst the snake-like highway streets, sirens and screams were heard, gunfire ringing like alarms everywhere as chaos was in the wake as silence settled over. Civilians were still there, sleeping in their bodies, praying softly for the daylight to glance away so they could steal to greener pastures.

That was where they waited, the most proud of men, the ones who have been harmed and treated like trash since their birthing days, their fingers showing signs of labor, their arms showing signs of pain as the cuts etched into their skin were stark reminders of their past. They stood here, their hands running along thick black rifles with cleaving blades, shining like angels’ wings amongst the starry night sky. Tanks rolled in the distance, flames blasting up as they set camp. Nigh of helmets they carried, their faces scarred yet visible, held safely behind a thin wall of steel as there red eyes flashed behind. Hungry teeth and lonesome arms crashed together in anticipation, their knees bowing for the surge of excitement.

Along their bodies, they were draped in velvet capes that crawled and wormed from around their stone-like armor, gray and somber amidst the navy sea within the sky. Cirrus clouds drifted overhead, brazen with a finger-like look as they reached out like singing spirits amidst the night. Silence, fell overhead as the sirens still sang throughout the carved city streets, that upon the plains outside within the grassy badlands the men waited, their guns readied, their blades thirsty and hungry. A small cross was found upon their encampment, a large turtle shaped group of men, as the treads upon the outer dunes were still visible within the drying mud. From here, another pair of men walked along the tall palisades that separated them from the others, looking with direct caution before a small dancing noise shuffled into their ears. At first it was a tiny screech of a sound, barely audible, before it turned into a blast of attention as the air was filled with its presence. From above, it clattered and chortled in pain before the source appeared in the sky.

High above, a hawk of metal was carefully prancing from cloud to cloud, the fingers barely well enough to veil the stars, yet well enough to veil this predator of men. High above, it screeched loudly before it came into full view, an inky blackness that shifted from its jet shade to a cerulean shimmer. A bomb.

Necromarnen

The arrive of the Temsplace symbol helicopter, its tires touching down on a open landing place. The engines were being killed as the back hatch was open. Farkas exited first with the raven haired Kyra, which was tall enough to look Farkas in the chest. She was wearing a gray cloak over tan Temsplace armor. She didn’t carry a massive Temsplace type blade, but she did have a large blade on her back. One of Viking origin from the looks of it.

As Farkas and Kyra walked out of the way, Eddy exited behind them, wearing the same thing he was wearing early at the hospital.

Behind him came an equally tall man with a white cloak on, but there was something strange about him. On his right arm, from the tips of his fingers to his shoulder, was dark green armor that looked like the scales of a lizard. Even on his face was a mask that matched his armored arm, the mask covered his forehead to his right side of his face. His black hair covered most of said mask.

Lizard, a name that he got from Farkas, didn't wear this lizard scaled armor for no reason. It was because he was hiding the burn scars in those areas. Farkas saved his life by pulling him out of a burning building during one of the campaign the White Temsplace was on. Lizard was left to die as his Temsplace brother moved on to fight, knowing that he was in the building. He came out a new man from the fire, he didn’t want to use his own name. So, that is why Farkas called him Lizard.

The last one to exit was Titan. Now, he was monster to looked out. He didn’t even stand up all of the way until he was a few feet away from the helicopter. Titan stood almost eight foot tall and looked like a walking tank with his steel plates of armor. His gray eyes looked around as the sun rays danced on top of his bald head, a scar ran down his right side of his face.

Titan was pushed away by his trainer because that trainer though he couldn’t train a boy like Titan. He’s uncontrollable was the reason. So, Farkas came in before Titan was loss to the world. Farkas told up the training of this boy and turned him into a powerhouse of a Temsplace. Titan is Farkas’ first student in some ways. Farkas can control him.

Titan didn’t carry a massive Temsplace blade, but on his back was a quad-barreled rocket launcher on his back.

Farkas and his Temsplaces moved to the nearest person.

“I would like to talk with Captain Ishidun. Tell him that Lord Farkas would like to talk with him.” said the White Temsplace.

Mengiko looked at him with confusion. Turning around, he yelled loudly. "Captain Geriuusk, get over here!" He yelled, as a small clanking noise was heard, the familiar plain faced thin man coming out with his lieutenant, the pair of them carrying large sifting pots dribbled with flour as they held spatulas in their hands.

Ishidun laughed with a tone of embarrassment. "I'm surprised by this visit. Well, uh," He said, looking for a spot to put this down. "Captain Mengiko, could you please hold this for me?" He asked, as Mengiko frowned.

"I'm no servant, Geriuusk." He replied angrily, as Geriuusk nodded.

"Heh, well, sorry. Let me clean up."

Farlas had a quizzed look on his face as Captain Ishidun walked out looking like cook or something. “Were you baking a cake? Wait, I don’t want to know.” he said, Kyra smiled as he said that.

“Anyways, I’m here to do whatever is need to become a White Captain.” said Farkas.

Titan stood in the back, watching everything he could see. The massive monster was even blocking the sun with his body. There was shade where it should be at. All because of this massive beast of man.

"A captain?" The young man from the window said, looking at Farkas. "Interesting. Why are you so ambitious to become one? Is it because of power, strength? Is it because of wealth or fame? Because it brings none of them. Or is it..." He said, looking at Farkas carefully, staring at his clothes, "...that you want to have power that is near to that of Authaulus, the azure temsplace? That you wish to join the captaincy of the white crowns to gain influence and control over your rowdy religious brethren? Because if it is, then I will not allow it." He said distinctly, as Ishidun looked with disappointment.

"Ah, you're being hard to work with, Karakorun." Ishidun said, as Mengiko glared at him.

"It's Captain Mengiko!" He said coarsely, sighing before turning back. "You should turn around and leave, white Temsplace. The role of a white captain is not to be easily taken, and you must have the most serious and most willing of hearts to do so."

Farkas smiled as he looked at Captain Mengiko in the window. As his eyes locked with Mengiko’s eyes, titan moved his looked at the person in the window. Farkas didn’t command him to do or anything. Titan just stared at the man.

“My uncle and Captain Geriuusk came to me and told me about the open position as the White Captain of Temsplace Management, Captain Mengiko. If those two didn’t tell me about it, I wouldn’t know about it.” said Farkas.

“I’m the only one that can take that position as Lord Authaulus and the other top Temsplace Lords aren’t in the state to become the White Captain.” adds Farkas with a smile.

“You want to know my reason for wanting to become the White Captain. They are my reason.” he said as he pointed to Titan, Eddy, and Lizard. He spun back and looked back at Mengiko. “Any more questions, Captain?”

"Yes." Mengiko said. "What is your reason? Pointing to your students make no point whatsoever. Do not think you're being charismatic or impressive by pointing to others. If so," He said pointing to the flour covered Ishidun, who looked back with surprise. "I can do it too. Now, state your reason."

“Damn, you don’t know those men of mine do you. I think a man in your position would know the history of Titan. An uncontrollable beast that know had the time to really train. He was push to the side as his former trainer moved on to other students. I've turned Titan into what his former trainer said nobody could.” said Farkas, his tone of a person that knew what he was talking about.

“Take Lizard, left to be burned alive as his own brothers moved forwards into battle.” he said.

“My reason is for that not to happen again. I don’t want someone like Titan to be pushed to the side as I can’t be there all of the time. Same thing with what happened with Lizard.”

"I could care less about the history of people, as you may have noticed." He said, looking up at the large inner dome, the starry dots clinging around as they shimmered about. "Also, I hear uncouth language coming from your tongue. A White Captain's basic necessities is to restrain his language and pleasantries at all times. If he cannot, then he is not fit for the basic fundamentals. Before you can make me consider of that, work on your languages and etiquette." He replied.

Farkas looked over at Ishidun and smiled at the flour covered man. “What’s up with him? I only said damn because of his sarcastic behavior.” he asked.

He looked back at Mengiko. “I don’t think a captain should have sarcastic behavior like you have. Anyways, I’m here to talk with Captain Geriuusk.” he said with a smile.

He looked back at Ishidun and asked “So, did you bake a cake?”

Ishidun chuckled, scratching his head in amusement. "Well, you could call it get. It's a lemon meringue, to be exact. I'm trying to make exotic pastries for Seleck here," he said, looking down at Seleck who looked up at Farkas with adorably wide, shining eyes, "but we're both stuck like this, heh. You might want to speak with the High Captain for requirements on becoming a White Captain. I can't help much until we know for sure what you need."

“She’s cute.” said Kyra looking down at Seleck.

“Point me to the High Captain then, Captain.” said Farkas.

"My little angel." Ishidun said, patting her on the head as Seleck smiled back at him with glittering eyes, her arms raised up high as she clambered onto Geriuusk's back. "Oh, and the High Captain is there." Ishidun said, pointing to Mengiko.

Farkas bited down his lips to stop him saying a few dirty words. He could have messed up already by talking to the High Captain like that. His mother would kill him, if he didn’t become a White Captain. He spun and looked over at Mengiko.

“High Captain, can you tell me everything I’ll need to do to becoming a White Captain? As in the requirements and etc.” he asked.

Meanwhile, the daughter had arrived with the mother’s sword into Ashili’s room. Edward rolled off the bed and sat on the other bed.

“Your sword, mother.” said Akila, holding the sword out to her.

"Etiquette training is a first." Mengiko said, looking at Farkas. "I suggest that you go to etiquette school, and learn to refrain from profanity. Secondly, learn fighting philosophy. Do you have a philosophy? If you don't, then talk to Captain Geriuusk. And finally, you must be approved by Lord Suriga to become a captain."

Ashili sighed, grasping the cold black sheath in her hands as its sleek surface was slippery and chilly to touch. It was unused, yet the greasy pockets of blood still stained its nicks, hidden in a shining beautiful blackness that encompassed the entirety of the sword. Ashili smiled. "It's been a while, hasn't it? It's been a long time, and we haven't talked in a while. Though, I'm thinking of asking for your help once more. Can you help me, please?" She asked, looking at its sheath, as a small silver blade showed itself. Ashili smiled.

"Thank you." She said, unsheathing her long silver sword, hearing the beautiful singing of the sword dancing about in the room. "Turn, Medekeno." She said, as the sword did nothing. She smiled. "I see. I still have a long way to go before getting your trust back, don't I?"

“Etiquette training, don’t need that. What I said early was because of your sarcastic behavior, captain.” said Farkas with a smile. He eyed Mengiko, watching him looking out the window at himself. “I’ll come up with a philosophy, if I need to. And Lord Suriga likes me already.” Farkas smiled at the last part, still looking at Mengiko. “Thank you for your time.”

Edward only watched his wife and her strange behavior in talking to the sword. Well, it wasn’t that weird. He talks to his cars like they were alive. He talks to his pistols, too.

“You have your sword, now what?” asked Edward.

"I need to get my philosophy back." Ashili said, closing her eyes, breathing softly.

"Oh, do you? That's a fairly weak reason. You're rude to a White Captain, a rank that already outstrips you considerably, and even then, a High Captain as well. You fail to do your own research, and on top of that, being rude to the one person who can determine your whether you are eligible or not going into this occupation. As for philosophy, you can't come up with one on the dot."

"Farkas is a competent person, Captain Mengiko." Ishidun said, as Seleck nodded alongside him.

"We'll see about that. If he can understand the mere basics of the White Captain's duty, then he'll have a chance of being considered into the position." Mengiko replied, walking off into the airy summer lights.

Ishidun sighed. "Captain Mengiko is a very stubborn and adamant person, and he doesn't enjoy informality. Although I understand he may have hurt you, you'll need to stick up with it, seeing he will be your immediate superior. So," Ishidun said, picking Seleck up. "Are you here to learn more?"

“Ah…” said Edward, relaxing on the bed. Trying to think what is going on with Farkas and those five captains.

Farkas smiled as he looked over at Ishidun. “He didn’t hurt me. He didn’t run a blade through my flesh, so he didn’t hurt me. He only make a fool of his own self with his behavior. He only lit the fire behind me to make sure I become a White Captain.” he said in cold tone.

“Anyways, I did come here to learn some more, but what I want to know is more about the White Captains. Can you help me out with that?” he asked.

Ishidun nodded. "There are five currently. Haasdra is split up into eight districts. Therefore, there will be eight captains overall. We aren't looking for new ones right now, though the quicker this group is finished, the better. The requirement for being a White Captain is the patrolling and protection of city streets, the command and leadership of both state and government armies, and most importantly. The topmost position for being a White Captain, the number one duty he is to perform is to defend Lord Suriga, without a single hesitation, above all else. Do you have this kind of loyalty?" Ishidun asked.

“As he is the real heir to the throne, then I’ll be loyal to the throne and the person whom sits on it. Is that what you looking for? An answer like that.” said Farkas, his Temsplaces watched their lord as he talked. They knew the outcome, if Farkas becomes a White Captain.

"Satisfactory. There's never really a perfect answer. We're all misunderstood, I can say." Ishidun with a wide smirk. "We were all harmed by Suriga, yet bound by blood to serve him. I am born up in the Geriuusk family, did you know? A slave family that served the Kataask family for countless generations. It's my duty to serve my Lord."

Seleck chimed up. "Captain Geriuusk travels around the world, but nobody understands or respects his loyalty to Lord Suriga."

"They think the feudal system is a horrid, backward system, but I don't find it bad at all. It keeps us alive, well fed and happy, so what wrong with it? Besides, Suriga is proving to be a more competent leader than Lord Arborgard, seeing as Arborgard harmed more than he built. However." Ishidun said. "The only thing stopping you is philosophy."

"If you get accepted, you will be assigned a lieutenant. You cannot under any circumstances switch your lieutenant without going through the proper channel through Suriga himself. Secondly, you will be receiving a sword from Lord Ferruga. There are no changes to this rule, no deviations. Are you fine with that?"

“If my lieutenant is like Seleck, then I don’t think I’ll have a problem. I’ll need somebody I can get along with. That is, if you understand me. Like my men and I, we are brothers in many ways,” said Farkas, “So, I’m fine with everything that I need to become a White Captain.”

"Very well. Seleck." Ishidun said, as the small girl leaped from her captain's shoulders, landing happily and with jovial bounce upon the floor, taking out her short sword as she held it upright. "Seleck, call."

"Okay!" She said cheerily, holding her sword up. "Come on, Menemari! Let's work together!" She said, as the sword's edge emitted a long line of jagged, hooked teeth, the length of the blade stretching into a large cleaver with running fangs. "This is my sword's true from. Let's fight, sir!" She smiled, holding it up. The blade seemed large compared to her, as tall as she was, with a long row of jagged claws that stretched out hungrily from its onyx surface.

In less then few moves, Farkas kicked off of his Temsplace sword and send it flying at Titan. The massive armed warrior grab the blade out of the air before it was even close to hitting him. Farkas drew his Middle Eastern sword, his gloved hand wraped around the white hilt.

“Very well, my dear. Your move.” he said, looking at the girl with a sword as big as she was.

"Okay!" She said, digging her blade deep into the ground, slashing it up and out as it flung high into the air, the marble shards creating a small fog of dust as she slashed forwards, the jagged teeth rushing hungrily towards Farkas. "Eat, Menemari!" She cried, as the blade extended even longer, the fangs getting bigger and the sword growing in size.

"The Menemari. A lively girl." Ishidun said, as a short figure stood behind him, chuckling, with familiarity. "Ah, it's been a long time since we've had a proper talk, right, Captain Ushuimaru?" Ishidun said, as the captain behind him smiled.

"It has been a long time, Captain Geriuusk." The soft voice said, revealing to have copper bronze hair atop a childish and boyish face, a smiling and polite aura around him as he stared on at Farkas and Seleck. "Your lieutenant is fighting Farkas? Is that a wise decision?" He asked, as Ishidun looked at him.

"Why not? Seleck is more than experienced in fighting." Ishidun replied, as Ushuimaru laughed. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing. I just enjoy that kind of relationship between a boss and his apprentice. Too bad my apprentice is already older than me." He smiled, as Ishidun smiled back. Patting his back, Ushuimaru chuckled.

"Ah, well. Don't worry about it Gengur. Lieutenant Uruuk likes you well enough." Ishidun said, looking back at the fight.

Farkas smiled as jumped back as the sword grew longer and bigger. He hit the ground and show something he could use as launching point. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the huge form of Titan as he watched Seleck moving closer to him.

He jumped to land on Titan’s right shoulder before he entered the air again. He flew at Seleck from above as Titan only looked at his right shoulder.

"Wah!" Seleck said in surprise. "No fair!" She said, running to Ishidun as she jumped onto his face, pushing off from his nose as he fell onto his back, Seleck vaulting up with her blade high as she carefully awaited for the opportune moment, her blade swung at the small fraction of an instant, giving her extra boost.

Meanwhile, Ishidun was stuck down on the ground, clutching his bloodied nose as Gengur stood there, with an inconspicuous group.

Farkas continued flying in the air with a smile on his face, his blade ready to strike at Seleck‘s weapon. “You just hurt your captain to attack me” he said.

"Captain Geriuusk is a strong man, he can handle anything!" She said, swing before she swung down at Farkas, the jagged teeth awaiting. "Nobody can ever handle the breaking attack of Menemari, the blade eater!" She cried, swinging it with full force before a silver blade in an onyx sheath appeared, blocking it effortlessly.

"Blade eater? It seems to be breaker, logically put." The voice spoke, looking up at Seleck as she balanced on the swing. "Lieutenant, how have you been the last few days?" He asked, as Seleck brightened up, her sword reverting back to its short, stubby form, her arms flinging around the man happily.

"Big brother!" She cried out in happiness, as the man smiled, patting her head before putting her down, allowing her to run back to Ishidun. Turning around, the familiar face of Ferruga looked at Farkas, his blade high up to block his swing. "Protect me, Jidentsu." Ferruga spoke, as the blade in his hands tore apart into a massive shield, the rays of the sun sparkling beautifully off its surface in a brilliant, dazzling display of light. "This is enough, Farkas."

“Very well.” said Farkas, he spin his blade around before putting it back in its place. He looked at Ferruga then over at Ishidun. “Captain Geriuusk, are you okay?”

"Heh, I'm fine. I'm fine." Geriuusk said, smiling as Seleck looked at him with wide and open eyes, Ferruga looking up at the dome that shimmered with light, the small dawn of darkness over as the clouds drifted past the brim. "I'm surprised you're here, Lord Ferruga." Ishidun said, as Gengur smiled.

"I'm never one to never show up." Ferruga said, thinking over what he said. "Ignore my last comment." He said, his sword returning to normal as he placed it back in his sheath, the identical sheath that shimmered with equal blackness of the White Captains. "I've been hearing that someone is interested in becoming a White Captain."