"Wake up!"

A sharp pain in my side woke me. I couldn't stop myself from cursing.

"What the fuck?" I shot up to face my attacker. Joe.

"Both of you, get the hell up. I don't have time for this. We don't have time. The World Tree is under attack!"

That got me up. "Oh crap. Crap. By who?" I looked around. Seer was rubbing his eyes next to me, still half asleep.

"Oh the tooth fairy. Who the fuck do you think? I know you know, because Amora told us everything."

Anger flared up in his eyes. Saying nothing, I just went up the stairs out of the room. Amora was waiting on the steps, and so was Rage.

"Armor." She said tossing me my Genesis Mail. I suited up as we walked. "You told them?" I hissed at Amora.

"You told them I knew? Now they think I fucking betrayed them. That I knew and didn't tell them."

"They..they needed to know." She lowered her eyes. Her red hair wasn't up as usual, it was at her shoulders. She looked beyond exhausted. "Bane, calm down. Amora has been helping us fight all morning. Your team, and everyone in the guild is waiting for you and Seer to help too."

I sighed. "Whatever." I had bigger problems. My head hurt like hell as I stepped into the main hallway. The guild, as well as my team were waiting.

Each member were bruised and tired. It made me feel terrible.

"Hey Bane." Flora greeted me. Everyone else just nodded her acknowledgements. "The entire World Tree is under attack. The guilds have been forced to fight together, however, were outnumbered. The battle is spreading to the Elf Village, we need to stop it. Joe came up with this plan.." As she filled me in, I felt all my guildmates stare at me. As she finished speaking, Joe and Seer marched up the steps. "Joe filled me in on everything, I made a few plan adjustments. Maybe we should split. Have half of us help Starlight and Bloodfall in the South, and everyone else help Night Legion and Fallout in the North." He put a golden helmet on top of his head and picked the team. Joe, Vere, Me, and Rage were team A, Flora, Mirage, Seer, and Smite (who joined last night) were team B in the North.

I was blinded by the sunlight, as I stepped out of the portal.

When it faded, the sight infront of me almost made me faint. Fire raged around me, dust and debris covered the air, while blood stained the ground. Tents, and houses were in ruins, or on fire. The bodies of monsters, undead, and fallen people covered the ground.

Heros and Angels I've never seen before fought around us. Flora managed to lead us through the battle. Seer's team went North, while we continued south. Seer didn't even look at me as his team disappeared into the smoke.

Rage grabbed my hand. "I'll be brave if you'll be brave."

"Be brave Rage," I smiled. "I'd follow you anywhere, I'm glad I got to be your best friend."

She laughed. "I get lost a lot, I wouldn't follow me, if I were you."

The smoke and dust was so heavy I didn't see anyone until I was 3 feet away from them.

Lorelei sat, bandaging up Ruby's arm. Her once golden hair, had lost it's shine and was stained. Her face looked..older, and her once bright eyes, were dull and tired. Lorelei's pink and white armor was ragged and cracked. Her staff was laying against a tree.

She held Ruby's arm, wrapping a bandage around the bleeding gash. "Lore!" I called to her.

"Oh Bane..." She greeted me.

"Amora can take over, I know you're tired Lore, but I need you to come with me. Ruby, are you able to fight?"

My Blood Baroness looked me straight in the eye. Once white hair, was now dirty and tangled. Her Dress armor was cracked, and falling apart. Under her red eyes, were horrible bags, and dark circles. A large gash came from her temple to her chin. Ruby's once pale, clear skin was bruised and battered. "No..however, I- I have somethi..something for you." She handed me a black heart with a small glow. It had a red outline, and felt cold.

"The Dark Paladin's icon...how did you...?" I stuttered.

"One was here..here. He handed it to me, so I could give-give it to you..Quartz...Quartz went with him, Themis...she's changed sides..they need help. Towards the east." She panted, clearly exhausted.

Flora looked at me. "Go." She ordered. "We'll be there soon.

I nodded and took off. Lorelei behind me, lighting the way through the dust with her staff.

"Over here!" A voice cried in the distance, guiding me into a clearing.

It was a warzone. Blood was everywhere. Angels, heroes, anti-heroes, monsters, and undead were everywhere.

I spotted Quartz in battle with Themis, Bloodheart by his side. Themis sent Blood tumbling to the ground, she was wearing black, chaotic armor. Her hair was half white, and half black. Black war-paint covered her face. She wielded a giant, black blade. Themis was supposed to be the Angel of balance..the balance between light and dark.

Themis brought her blade down. Quartz deflected it, but lost his footing. "No!" I cried flinging myself into battle.

Kicking the angel in the stomach, I swung my blade towards her head. She stumbled, but recovered. Lorelei was next to me, shrouding me in her halo, getting ready to strike. Themis pushed me back, sending me to the ground, then, she hit Lorelei, right in the face.

"This is what you get for defying your true ruler!" She hissed at me. I waited for her blade to strike, but it never did. Quartz was up,, deflecting the blade. His gold hair flowed in the wind, white armor broken in some places, and gold cape in shreds.

Quartz wasn't strong enough. The Dark and light angel hit him in the head, and stabbed him, going through his armor. "No!" I screamed.

Blood managed to get her to the ground. He tried to strike, however, she rolled out of the way, and managed to escape. "Retreat!" she yelled, disappearing. The other enemies followed suit.

Quartz collapsed. I caught him before he reached the ground. His skin was pale, and his blue eyes, which once shone like the sea, were dull. "Help me!" I cried to Lorelei. "No." The pink armored angel shook her head in despair

"What do you mean no?! HELP ME. You're MY angel. DO AS I SAY!" I screamed, tears of anger rolled down my cheeks. I was losing it.

"There's nothing I can do." She replied calmly, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"There's always something you can do." I sobbed.

Quartz turned his head to look at me, placing a hand on my cheek. "She's right. I'm okay. It doesn't hurt. Besides, it's perfect. I'm in the arms of my leader, and the one I love."

That killed me. He..he loved me. I was to blind to see how much he cared for me, just as Seer did. "I'm so sorry."Apologizing was all I could do.

"I know you're sorry. It's okay...just do the right thing, let me go." A tear rolled down his cheek.

"I love you..I love you! Don't go. Don't go!" I couldn't lose him.

"Don't cry..It'll be alright. Just know that I love you." He leaned up with the last of his strength and kissed me.

His lips were warm and soft. It was short, but amazing. He fell into my arms, and dropped his sword, eyes a million miles away.

"No! No!" I lost it. I clinged to his body, waiting for him to wake up. Lorelei was beside me. Holding me.

I fought against her. "It's your fault!" Screaming and crying, was all that I wanted to do.

I eventually collapsed into a weeping mess.

Blood kneeled before me, a large gash from his left eyebrow, down to his chin marked his face.

"You'll be okay." He patted my head, trying to comfort me.

"He...he was my friend." Was all I could muster.

"I know, kid. I know."

Branches snapping made me turn my head. A knight, dressed in black armor made his way into the clearing. His eyes glowed red, and a red cape was wrapped around his neck. The knight wielded a black and red blade.

"Where's Quar-" he stopped when he saw the body.

"Dear gods no." He dropped his blade and fell to his knees, his covered head, hung low.

The knight suddenly flung his head back and shouted "Themis, Angel of balance. Angel of darkness and light, I will kill you, in revenge of my friend. He will not die in vain! You have taken the life of an innocent. And for that, I will have yours!"

Sniffling I got up. I limped over to the knight, who was still on his knees. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a heart. I leaned forward and said: "Is this yours?"

He looked at me, straight in the eye. He didn't say anything for several seconds. Finally, he spoke. "Bane, bravest hero, kindest, and most beautiful, I offer my services and loyalty. May I join you on your quest to purify the land, and save our world?"

"Dark Paladin, without a name, I accept your offer and welcome you to my team."

He stood up, and bowed. "Thank you."

I nodded. Suddenly, I had an idea. Turning to Bloodheart, I said "Bloodheart, is it possible to still inherit Quartz skills?" I asked him.

"Well...I don't think it's ever been done, so I don't really know. However, there's nothing saying you can't."

Nodding once more I turned back to the Dark Paladin. "Follow me."

I limped back to my angel and Quartz's body. "Lore, can you..?"

She understood. "Of course."

She stood 3 feet off the ground, and begun to chant in a unknown language, waving her staff over Quartz's body. The Dark paladin was across from her, and I stood next to him. "By the gods, I give you the skills, and blessings of the Rose Knight, Quartz! May the gods approve of my choice." I spoke.

A large blast of light came from Quartz's body. His body began to crystalize, something I'd never seen happen. Once crystallized, it shattered into millions of floating pieces. They had a gold tint to them, and glowed brightly.

Suddenly they shot forward into the Dark Paladin, who winced as all of Quartz's former power entered him. Lorelei stopped chanting as all the pieces entered the Dark Paladin.

The Dark Paladin was breathing heavily. "That was..intense." He said, catching his breathe. "I didn't know he was so powerful."

Bloodheart, who was standing behind me stepped forward. "You now carry not only his power, but, a bit of his soul too. You are a part of him, and he's a part of you."

I sighed...Still hurting from the loss of my friend. "I will never forget your bravery and heroism." I whispered.

"Bane!" The voice of Flora broke my thoughts. She came running to us, the rest of the guild, including Joe and his team behind her. "They retreated! All of them, they entered a shadow portal. Joe almost got split in half trying to follow them through it." She informed me.

All of them stopped when they saw me. My eyes were puffy from crying, a large wound on my leg was causing a puddle of blood to form around me, and Blood Hearts hand was placed on my shoulder.

"I should probably go back and help my guild." He patted my head. "Good bye Bane, hope we meet again." He said, walking away, leaving me and my guildmates to have an awkward silence.

After a minute of silence, I told them what happened.

"I'm sorry." Joe stepped up. "We all are." Said Smite.

"We will grieve with you. Now, we must return to the village, and face the aftermath. The angels and all our teams have gone back to the palace. The other guilds are there as well. It's not safe anywhere anymore. Cloud Palace, Sunset Peak, Ruby Castle, and The Ether Palace, are the only safe places. People are being evacuated from all the realms and being placed in the houses. Angels from The Heavens have come down to fight with us. This war has just begun." Seer came forward. Blood poured from his chest and arm. His hair was singed and skin was stained with ash.

I nodded and we walked back to the village. Water Faeries were around us, putting out the fire. Astrid, a nature faerie, went around, regrowing plants and clearing the smoke.

Seer took my hand as we walked. I squeezed it, leaning against him for balance. My leg stung horribly, and I was afraid I'd pass out.

We walked through a smoking village. A broken, crumbling, statue in honor of the Goddess Angel Athena was in ruins in what was once, a town square.

Joe opened the portal back to the guild house, and together, we went through.