Chapter 52: Freedom Cry
Previously:
"…. So what I think I'm trying to say is… don't be too harsh on Rito-dono. The worry is always going to be there, I understand that. But," Zastin paused. "You have to learn to accept it, and stand strong for him."
"…" And for a long time, the girl remained silent, merely hugging her knees a she gazed up the sky. 'How does Kaa-san do it… to deal with the constant worry for your significant other…an assassin…' She pondered with a long look. Zastin accepted the silence as a message delivered as he gave himself a smiling nod, gazing up to the stars like Mikan.
'It's scary how much Mikan-dono reminds me of her… Sephie-sama…' Zastin thought inwardly.
Chapter 52: Freedom Cry
*Planet Yrden… three week ago…*
(Music for Mood: La Grange by ZZ Top)
Four levitating vehicles of green and white stripes raced down the forestry, its propelling engines cutting the forest, leaving behind separated smoky trails on the red soil. The vehicles growled with menace as they sped down, swerving left and right to avoid the large and thick blue trees, with the low and weak branches meeting their ends with a snap.
"YEEEEHAAA!" The wolf-like figures holding onto the vehicles howled and hollered, their rifles and guns raised.
"I wonder how many we're gonna grab today eh boys?!" the werewolf cheered, firing a couple rounds into the air above.
"We just have to fill the weekly quota that Toro-sama orders right?"
"Of course!"
"WOOOOHOOO!" Howls and cheers echoed through the forest as the party of vehicles delved deeper and deeper into the untamed lands of red and blue.
*Jungle depths…*
Deep in the jungle, there exists a clearing of flattened forestry and soil. Blue and brown huts littered across the clearing, surrounding the centre of the small field. The walls of the small wattle and daub cottages vibrated with every breath. The dry mud of the walls begun to crack and crumble. And their inhabitants no different.
"The werewolves are coming!"
"Everyone! Hide!"
"Wh-What's going on…"
"Quick! Into the huts…!"
"Come with me!"
"Oh no! Here they come!"
"By order of your benevolent and generous Toro-sama of the mines, five of you younglings are given the gracious opportunity to come and aid Toro-sama in his quest for the prosperity of everyone on this planet. All we require are five younglings who are brave enough to make things better for all of us!" A werewolf in brown clad body armor hollered out, whilst supported by the giggles of the other werewolves. "All brave volunteers will step forward now!" The werewolf seemingly in charge yelled, turning around him as he spoke. There he met the crowd of frightened tribal people, elders and children alike. The tribe of people surrounded the werewolves, tribesmen dressed in different brown skin and fur, covering themselves from hat to boot. But one thing common to everyone were the strange animal-like ears that say by either the top or the side of the head, and equally animalistic tails.
"DOWN WITH THE TYRANT MINER!" One from the crowd yelled out.
"THE PEOPLE OF THE YEN TRIBE WILL NOT OBEY SUCH BLASPHEMY!" Another cried.
"GIVE US OUR YOUNGLINGS BACK!"
"Where did you take our children?!"
And as a single drop of water tricked, so too did floods from the river of the people's shouts and rallies. It wasn't long until small pellets of stones were picked up from the ground and hauled at the intruders, much to their annoyance.
'These jungle mutts have grown confident, knowing that we have orders to not kill anyone…' The head werewolf thought as he turned to his comrades in armor. The pack of wolves collectively growled and howled as they unhooked their whips from their waist belts.
Fearing for their younglings and people, the group of onlookers gasped in fear, all now scrambling for their dear lives.
"Pack! Do not come back without a youngling!" The head werewolf hollered as the wolves' bore their teeth, seething and growling.
"HYA!" Amongst the confusion, the pack of five wolves dashed in their separate directions, swinging their whips wildly. With each crackle a small hut had met their end as clumps of mud and wood crumbled. They trampled over the debris, destroying cloth lines and hammocks.
"Found you~" One wolf sung, peering into destroyed hut with his slitted eyes. He reached and grabbed the youngling by the furry pelt coat.
"Ma!" The youngling screamed with tearful eyes, his dog-like ears now dropped with fear.
"You're coming with me now!" Another wolf yelled, with a child around his broad forearms.
And one by one, the wolf collected their 'quota' of the week, snatching their younglings from the crowd and tearing them from their mothers' arms. Desperate and hopeless screams fell on deaf's ears and faded into the confusion.
"Let's go boys! We're done for the day." The head werewolf ordered, each setting off on the vehicles, with the struggling younglings in their unaccommodating arms. The five wolves howled and cheered as they made their way from the tribe lands, the heat trail from the engines leaving small kindlings and burns to the crushed and trampled grassy forest bed.
"MAMA!..." The screams faded with the engine noises.
"NO!"
"OUR CHILDREN!..."
…
*Now… three week later…*
"Calculations complete, telemetry stabilised. Currently ejecting from geosynchronous orbit. All occupants please prepare for landing." The digital projection of Luna reported aloud.
Aboard the Lunatique, five assassins had finally recovered themselves after the near death experience in space just a few days ago (relative to Earth), physically and mentally. The small black cargo spacecraft blinked into view, amidst the darkness of space. Compared to the celestial bodies, the spaceship is but a tiny spec of sand, in an ocean of stars spanning across the infinity and the boundless. The Lunatique found itself drifting ever steadily, carried by the unchanging force of space.
"Woah…. …" Rito's face unfolded into one of all, not unlike that of a small child with his first toy. The stood up from the metal bench and approached the rounded glass pane wall at the helm of the ship. He was met with a clear view of the planet, its radiance gracing the boy's skin with its gentle warmth. "So this is planet Yrden…" The boy trailed off quietly, speechless and in awe of the predominantly red and blue planet.
"Planet Yrden, thrice the size of Earth. It native soil contains high amount of iron oxide among other elements, provides the planet with an abundant supply of red soil, sprouting glowing blue trees. 50% forest, 50% desert. It's a half depleted resource planet and has underwent minimal colonization, aside from factories and mining centers, the planet is littered with small tribal societies, the most prominent being the Tribe of Yen."
"Blue plants?" Rito wondered curiously, taken aback by his earthly notion of plants with the absence of green and brown.
"Hai." Luna responded.
"Heeeh…" The earthling assassin trailed off, eyes mesmerized by the celestial body.
"Is this how the king-to-be of Deviluke will react every time he visits another planet…?~" Mea teased, sneaking up behind the boy.
"…Ah!" The boy stuttered as he jolted slightly, before realizing his reaction to the new planet as he blushed in slight embarrassment. "I'm just a human… you know. It's a-a bit of first for me." Rito grumpily stuttered, much to the candy loving Trans weapon's giggles.
Yami emerged from the corridor and out into the deck, glanced curiously at the boy and her sister, silently taken aback by the development and interaction between the two assassins, who previously, have been consistently arguing every time they talked.
*Half an hour later…*
With several minutes of rumbling and clumsy chattering of the ship, the Lunatique had descended from outer space delved into the air space under the atmosphere. There the ship was greeted with the untamed forests of blue below, outlining a large section of the planet. The spacecraft landed on a grassy hilltop clearing, surrounded by thick blue trees.
"Atmospheric pressure stable. Doors opening." Luna alerted everyone. "With the current fuel capacity, I will power down and conserve energy. But until you find a source of fuel, I cannot power the engines. Please be careful out there, Master." With the last warning, the doors to the rear of the black ship steamily opened, a metal platform extending to the grassy ground outside. Soon the footsteps striking metal could be heard as the figures headed out into the wilderness in an orderly file.
Yami led on, critically analyzing her surroundings with every step she took.
Mea followed behind, her red braid swinging naturally against the warm breeze. She flipped her black hood over her head, and walked down the aisle with one hand by her back, and the other holding her lollipop in place.
The black clad hitman loosely followed, hands in pockets, a sniper rifle strapped behind his back.
"Woah-hoo!~" the kimono wearing Nemesis shouted in glee, rolling in the grass a short distance to the assassins. "These grasses are softer than I'd imagine!~"
"They smell like chocolate…and the trees! They're like marshmallows!" Rito shouted in excitement, eyes widened in pleasant shock. Seemingly entered a state of euphoria, Nemesis and Rito rolled and crawled on the ground, completely entranced by the new world around them. Rito above all.
"Stop acting like kids…" Black grumbled at the two, leaning next to a blue trunk. The trans weapon sisters onlooked the two children with dry eyes, both wondering if their companions were assassins or little children.
'Master…' Mea sweatdropped.
'Yuuki Rito…' Yami sweatdropped.
*Minutes after…*
Deciding that it was time to finally get to work, the five made their way up the giant trees, leaping from branch to branch for those that couldn't fly. The ones who could ascended to the top of the canopy, standing atop of the leaves and branches. Black have a yawn as he sat and leaned onto the trunk atop a sturdy branch, while the earthling and the Trans weapons crouched and stood attentively, surveying the area around them.
"We need to locate the Mining Complex that this Toro lives in." Rito told everyone.
"Well… it's not exactly hiding…" Black said as everyone focused to the hitman, seeing the lazy assassin pointing a finger off to the distance behind them. And true to his word, in the distance, there sat the large building, surrounded seemingly by a forest of cranes and colossal digging machines, towering over the forest in the foggy distance.
"It's on the other side of all this…" Yami pointed.
"…Meaning we'll have to cut through the forest to get there." Mea finished, folding her arms. "I'm estimating at least three days of travel on foot, with the Lunatique out of fuel." The red head bemoaned. Sure, being able to fly was a big plus. But past experiences have taught her to not rely solely on her Trans abilities, in the event that they're disabled, or hindering with the mission.
"Field trip then!~" Nemesis smiled cheekily, already hopping onto a branch, dark matter threatening to leaking off her figure.
"It's better this way, we can sneak up unnoticed under the forests." Rito finished as he looked at himself over. Since the incident in space, the boy had now yet another change in apparel. On him was a long shroud of brown, at his body's length, the furry hood behind him slumped down, unworn. This dirty covering of cshroud draped over his dark green hoodie jacket hidden underneath, with its green and orange collars slightly popping out. The shroud was semi-buttoned, showing a glimpse of the red sash around his waist, and almost completely hiding the brown utility pouch strapped behind his lower back. Simple blue pants and dirty travel boots finishing off his ordinary figure. For the sake of the mission, the had intentionally dusted up his semi-spiky orange hair with dirty, toning the colour down to further avoid detection in this strange, strange wilderness.
And so the Wild Hunt moved out. The five took to the trees, leaping onto the branches with minimal effort and sound given off. And every time they pushed off their sturdy branches high up in the trees, it was followed by the rustling of leaves, the blues leaves threatening to drop. The Hunt travelled at high speeds, occasionally slowing down to observe the all to strange environment around them. The forest around them were all too dense, but occasionally, through the trees and the hues of light from above, hints of the vast red desert and beyond could be observed. The boy looked up to the skies, seeing what little sunlight slowly but surely dim.
'We might have to find shelter soon.' Rito told himself.
*Same time…Planet Earth…*
The sounds of blades clashing reverberated through the brown and desolate landscape.
"One more time please!" A tired voice growled in frustration.
"We've been at it for an hour already. Maybe we should take a short br-" A steady voice reasoned. 'Well the girl is persistent, I'll give her that…' he bemoaned inwardly.
"Here I come!" The voice from Kujou Rin shouted. In an instant, the girl pushed off the earth beneath her, the ground cratering where she used to stand. But anticipated this, the tall opponent sidestep and separated himself from the girl with a huge green blade. The Kujou's katana stabbed air as it was deflected by the other sword, sparks spewing from the contact. The tall figure capitalised on the redirection and spun around, his cape flowing after his rotating figure. Alas the man pushed off with a silent lunge, both hands gripped firmly onto his green broadsword, stabbing forward.
Not anticipating the speed and ferocity of the attack, Rin turned around clumsily, her katana panickingly raised vertically by the side of her face on instinct as it narrowly deflected the man's massive blade. Her ears rung from the screeches of the sword clash and she felt the hot sparks on her face, her pony tail whipped uncontrollably behind her as she tried to maintain sense and control of herself.
The shearing passed and the attack subsided, the girl had managed to survive the overbearing strike from the man. Not taking any more chances, the girl recovered as her body gave off chills, which came to the man as a surprise. The Kujou sped forward, a palm strike to the man's chest armour, sending him several steps back. Now well within range, the girl rushed forward with a swing, striking the piece of armour that she had touched.
To the armored man's shock, the scorpion styled chest plate suffered a small split as a crack was heard.
'I did it!' The girl cheered inwardly, knowing she had chipped the plate of semi-frozen armor.
Deciding to finish things up, the built figure pressed the side of his body against his blade face, and he moved forward, shoulder bashing the earthling, knocking back and into the ground.
"Agh!-" The katana wielding girl didn't even know what had hit her, as she laid on the ground, dazed. Stars and ducklings clouded her mind as she laid on the ground.
"…Ahh crap…" The Devilukean said out loud.
Two figures stepped out from the portal. In seconds, they've crossed dimensions, from a universe of desolate rocks to the lush backyard of the Yuuki Household.
"Lala-san's pocket dimensions sure come in handy don't they, Zastin-san?…~" the female Kujou sighed, rubbing her temple with one hand, her sheathed katana over her shoulders.
"That said…" The Devilukean bodyguard replied. "You did a little bit better than I had expected." The man said, noting his slightly cracked breastplate and chipped photon blade. "Rito-dono has taught you well I see."
"H-How did you know?" The Earthling inquired. The two had now reached the side of the yard, where the bundle of flowers and plants laid.
"Your style, timing, rhythm, mannerism with a sword. Smells like him." The grey haired man reported, holding his photon sword up high. "Well, that and your persona had managed to chip my equipment. Best guess… you've supercooled my breastplate with your palm and my blade with yours, making their atomic lattice brittle." With a small huff, he stabbed the blade deep into the earth, by the side of two blooming flowers. This had confused the girl greatly, stabbing a sword into the earth? What's he going to do next, water it like a plant?
…
"Now where's the watering can?" The man asked aloud. Rin crashed onto ground comically as the man looked around for the canister. "Ah there!" Zastin picked up the canister and walked over to the blade, and began… watering the hilt protruding out of the soil, like… a plant.
"Ano… Zastin-san…?" Rin asked, dumbfounded by the man's actions. 'Why are you watering your blade…?'
"My photon blade… is not of metallic descent, such trivial ways of sharpening the blade against stone will not work. I have watched and cared for the blade from just a tiny shiv… grown up with it." The swordsman explained, watching the soil dampen around the now pulsating green hilt. "This is how I've always been taking care of it, ever since I received it from…" He trailed off, only to snap back into reality moments later.
"But!...That's a story for another time."
"You're the second earthling to have ever caught a Devilukean royal guard…well…off guard. So cheer up, you know?!" The man laughed boisterously, slapping the girl hard on the back. The two bladesmen now sat by the wooden deck of the backyard, simply enjoying the sun basking their faces.
"Still not enough power… not enough strength…" The girl mumbled to herself, turning her head away from the alien. 'At this rate… I'll never catch up to…- be able to protect Saki-sama.'
"Well you're in luck haha!" The man cheered rowdily, catching the young girl's attention. "You just happened to be talking to the best swordsman in the known universe!" He exclaimed joyfully, downing his recovery drink shortly after. He set his drink down after as he relaxed, looking up at the clear blue sky. "Rito-dono might be highly skilled in the more… underhanded arts of war, like espionage or assassination. But when it comes to pure swordplay in the open battlefield, I doubt even Gid-sama can match me." He boasted, but then quickly retracted. "B-But that is not to say that Gid-sama is at all inferior… no!… his omnipotent persona can make entire planets kneel before him and…ahh-" The tailed bodyguard stuttered and trailed off in defeat, trying his best to correct his statements, in fear of slandering his King's reputation.
Zastin's outburst had somewhat made the stoic ponytailed girl smiling. Seeing the idiotic rambling and stuttering had somehow reminded her of Rito. "Rest assured, Zastin-san. I know you're great." She smiled gently.
"So what say you, Kujou Rin-san? Would you accept the generous offer of tutorage from the one and only Zastin of the House of Deviluke?" He asked formally and grandly standing up.
'How can it hurt?... The more strength I acquire, the more protected Saki-sama will be.' Rin reasoned inwardly. 'Besides, my exposure to Zastin-san will most benefit Saki-sama's pursuit for his love.'
"…I accept." Rin answered formally, also standing up, looking up at the man. 'I only hope that… Yuuki-kun would understand…'
"Great!" He cheered. "If you're wondering about Rito-dono, he has already given his permission for me to tutor you in my art of war before he left." Zastin smiled.
"Yuuki Rito might not admit it out loud, but he knows that I'm a better swordsman than he. Ever wonder why he doesn't use a sword?" The heterochromic eyed man winked, much to Rin's shock.
*Roughly the same time… Mikado's clinic…*
"Lala would you come here for a second?" Mikado asked, her eyes never once leaving the microscope.
"Hai hai!~" The cheery voice of the Devilukean sung as she appeared by the doctor's side.
"I need you to analyses this batch of Ioxinite for me. See if the crystal lattice of the atomic structure behaves abnormally under severe vacuum conditions. Also please run some tests for possible superconductivity and programmability." The elf-eared alien ordered.
"Leave it to me!~" Lala beam ubeatedly, taking over the woman's seat excitingly, already peering her emerald eyes into the microscope. 'She sure is resourceful… and a handful…' Mikado gave an exasperated smile as she exited her lab. She walked down the clean white corridor, down to the reception lobby, where all ill patients sat.
"How are we going, Haruna-san?" The Universal Doctor asked the blue haired receptionist.
"Ev-Everything's fine, S-Sensei!" The girl frantically replied, trying her best to look productive. Since the boy's departure, Mikado has had more time to focus more on her medical profession, and that commanded longer hours and an expanded office. And soon she realized that having Oshizu was not enough, she needed someone to oversee her patients. And the blue haired earthling fit the bill perfectly. Attention to detail, kind and compassionate, a passion for helping others. Sairenji Haruna fit it all.
"Anshin-shite (Don't worry) Haruna-san,you're doing great, keep it up." The buxomous woman hushed, a gentle hand on her shoulders.
"H…Hai…" The girl answered, her confidence restoring as she stood up from her chair over the counter. "N-Next waiting! Shiro-san!"
"Hai!?" A voice from the crowd of seats replied as a frail looking Seal-like alien stood up.
"Doctor Mikado is waiting for you." The Earthling told with a smile.
*Planet Yrden… late dusk…*
The dark shadowy figures moved about on the rocky walls, flickering between life and death as they moved about. The light of the fire blew life to the moving figures on the walls, each mirroring five figures around the fire.
"…It's really gone dark now hasn't it...?~" Rito commented, throwing a small chunk of wood to the yellowy flame.
It has been an entire day since the Wild Hunt had set off on their journey across the jungle, and good progress had been made thus far. Fortunate for the five, whilst the sun was slowly setting, they hard discovered a cave by the side of a cliff. Shelter for the long night. The hunt had swiftly and efficiently gathered the resources they needed, food, water, wood.
"Nobody wake me up." Black warned with a yawn as he rolled away from the fire and into one of the corners of the cave, seemingly already motionless in his sleeping bag, much to the four assassin's sweatdrop.
'I wonder why he sleeps so much…?' Was the collective thought than ran in everyone's minds.
And so the Trans weapons and the Earthling gathered around the campfire, each with fishes on the end of their wooden branches, slowly roasting the food over the warm snapping flames. But there in the cave, silence seemingly drowning the five.
"…"
"I don't understand…" Yami begun softly, staring into the fire, flames reflecting from her burning red eyes.
"'You said something?~" Nemesis half sung, half chewing on her alien fish. "Taste just like earthling fish… who knew!~"
"Why did you come with us?" Yami clarified, now looking directly at the Dark Matter weapon.
"Ya-Yami?" Rito stuttered, and Mea just as surprised by the question directed.
"Stay out of this, Yuuki Rito." Yami blew off succinctly.
"Don't you think it's a bit too late for that question, Konjiki no Yami?~" The kimonoed girl asked cheekily, taking another bite from the fish.
"Wh-What do you mean why, Yami-oneechan?" Mea wondered. 'It seems that Yami doesn't trust us after all… and I had thought that…' The red head thought dejectedly, stealing a glance at the orange head, who sat across next to Yami, looking back at forth between Yami and Nemesis, a cautious look on his face stuffed with fish meat.
"Don't play dumb with me Master." Yami jabbed, setting her branch down. "Of all the years I've stayed with the two of you, I figured out way back, that you never take action without some sort of personal gain or…or acquisition." Golden Darkness added. "So what's your agenda…your true agenda?"
"Would you believe it if I told you that I'm very bored and just want some fun?~" Nemesis asked, a devious smile worn on her face.
"…Maybe." Yami countered reluctantly, rather honestly. "But I know you. And as far as I'm concerned, you hunting Ougi Tsunaru with us is but a pastime for you. You don't care about… the fate of the universe or the fate of those around you. Ougi Tsunaru is your direct enemy, and the Nemesis I know would't care, so why the change of heart? Why does Ryouko Mikado recommend you to the team after only days of meeting you? And why chase after Ougi Tsunaru after-"
"-Please do not misunderstand, Konjiki no Yami." Nemesis interjected her former servant, her tone now surprisingly serious. Blood red eyes stared into slitted golden-yellow ones. "As much as you think you know me just by being around me, I really am having fun. My involvement in this covert op is simply to retaliate against our possible capture and experimentation, should we fail." A faint black energy then began emanating from her small frame. "There are events that you yet not comprehend-"
"Yami, Nemesis, Mea…" A male voice interjected as the heated discussion between the Trans weapons halted.
"Wh-What is it?" Mea asked, breaking the ice of tension. Yami gave a sigh at Nemesis whilst she had just smiled brightly.
"We have a visitor." Rito warned, looking outside the cave with his superior vision. "One body… of male gender…from the hormones that I'm seeing…He seems…scared…or worried? But violent…red…" Rito analysed, squinting to the distance.
"You know you turn me on every time you do that thing right?" Nemesis teased, making the boy go beet red.
" Aak-hm!"Yami cleared her throat."What do we do with Black?"
"…Ah it'd be a shame to wake him up." Mea joked. "It'd be even better if he never wakes up."
"Now now, be nice." Nemesis scolded, holding back her own laughter.
The four assassins collectively stood up, and backed away from the entrance of the cave in absolute silence, the warmth of the fire behind their backs but a thing in the past.
And true enough, the long anticipated visitor had finally arrived. The mysterious figure stood outside the cave for a few suspenseful moments, before softly stepping into the cave, its footsteps soft, the small rocks that he kicked off made surprise an afterthought.
The new figure then ran through the corridor to the cave, bursting into then den of assassins.
"Move or you die!" The new comer ordered.
The figure's body illuminated by the fire before him.
There stood a short figure, male from the looks of it. Donned with a furry coat and hood, his body was practically covered in fur cloth and pelts. Strapped onto his belt like hunting knives were sharp hunting knives. In the figure's hands, a wooden bow, drawn with three arrows in his right hand. But his most important feature, a pair of dark dog ears and a furry tail.
'This young boy…must be a member of a tribe close by.' Rito deduced. The assassins all stood still, looking at the threat all over. Mea red braid begun to dance behind her, but a subtle hand gesture from the Yuuki signalled her to halt. The human stepped forward slowly.
The assassins were in no danger. Everybody knew that, including Rito. The little boy with the boy was nothing compared to the adversaries they had faced. The little boy was nothing. He was of no threat, and there was no reason to harm him.
"Who might you be?" Rito asked, his golden brown eyes flickering back and forth between the boy and his blue tipped arrows.
"…Descendent of the god of skies, I am…"
"...Th-The Lone Eagle!"
AUTHOR'S NOTES: DUN DUN DUN! AN IMPOSTOR?! WHO WOULD'VE FIGURED!
HEY Y'ALL IM BACK WITH ANOTHER CHAPTER, HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOYED IT. FEEL FREE SEND FEEDBACK IF THERE'S ANYTHING TROUBLING OR SUGGESTIONS :)
SOME ANSWERS FOR THOSE WHO SEND ME MESSAGES ANONYMOUSLY:
- I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT GHOST RIDER IS AM PROBABLY NOT GOING TO WRITE ABOUT IT EVER... SOZ
- GOD OF WAR: I AM THINKING ABOUT WRITING A PREQUEL TO THE LONE EAGLE UNIVERSE AFTER 'BETWEEN KINGS', FEATURING GID, ZASTIN AND SEPHIE ON THEIR CHILDHOOD AND THEIR QUEST TO QUELL ALL WARS IN THE UNIVERSE (JUST A CONCEPT), ITS A PROJECT THAT I MIGHT GET PEOPLE TO HELP ME WITH... (STILL NEW TO FANFICTION, IS COLLABING WITH OTHER WRITERS ON A STORY A THING?)
A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SUPPORT THIS STORY FROM A HUMBLE WRITER!
AND AS ALWAYS, MORE CHAPTERS STILL TO COME!
REVIEWS ARE HIGHLY APPRECIATED AND LOVED!
CRITICISMS ARE ALSO ACCEPTED.
