The Sleepless Night

Flowing powerlessly in the streams of Loegress canals, Avernus remained half-awake, staring skyward into the stars. The Scarlet Moon persisted, like an ample light. Its crimson gaze warned people of the impending calamity. In that coldness, Velvet's memory and their twins were like a kiss of the sun's rays amidst the chilling winter. The water felt like a field of snow, freezing his bones but at the same time guiding him to safety.

Avernus's mind battled the hopelessness and malevolence for the control of his body. Pride, anger, determination, and desire to see his family was burning the poison away from his psyche. His body refused to succumb to the soft songs of death. Images of Velvet's beaming face passed his vision. He raised his hand and imagined the smoothness of her silky hair between his fingers. In his memory, their children giggled in Velvet's embrace, and as soon as he extended his hand at them, their illusion faded into the night, and the scarlet moon remained in their place.

The dimmed lights of his eyes glittered slowly at the sight of stars passing him above. As his body floated, a hidden call reached him, not by any voice but by signs of nature and cosmos. In his semi-conscious state, his eyes caught a cluster of stars glimmering brightly as if they were calling Avernus. The shimmer of starlights connected them all through bright lines and turned into an animated wolf, howling into the night sky. The Lupus constellation formed in the night sky and with it, a surge of emotions awakened within him, cleansing his soul from darkness. Avernus yearned to get back to his family, and his desire burned bright.

Then a wise voice reached out to him deep from his soul. His nerves flared up with hope as he recognized it as his father; Claudin Asgard.

"Your rage is like a wolf… Feed it."

Avernus's body suddenly came into a small dry land. A pair of not-so-strong arms began to pull out of water. Avernus's body dragged through the mud and stopped as he heard a man's groan who struggled to remove him from the river. Through his hazy peripheral vision, he saw him: a young man, with an orange bard's hat, was checking him with his dark blue eyes. He seemed so young and mature at the same time with a delicate face for a man.

Avernus's hand clutched his wrist, and the man gasped in fright. His face wrinkled from pain. "Ouch! You're a little bit too strong for an aristocrat!"

Avernus growled and released his wrist, and the man stepped back, stroking his wrist.

"...And more violent."

The pain in his chest flared up, and he looked down. There was no arrow, and the wound was closed, but the hole in his bloodied shirt was still there. Then, he sensed a dark presence in his soul, but it retreated far behind the deepest parts of his core. Worried for his family's safety, Avernus pulled himself up and stood up, holding on to the side of the wall.

The young man cautiously stepped closer, watching his painful expression. "You are welcome?"

Avernus gazed over the man, "A bard?"

The young man placed a hand on his chest and extended his hand at the sky, smiling with a pleasant expression. "That's right! Maximilian Taliesin! Soon-to-be the king's bard." Max's eyes glittered with recognition as he remembered Avernus's identity. "You must be that Hyland delegate that's been helping Percival's army! What was your name… aha! Yes! Avernus Diphda!"

Avernus seemed to ignore him, taking off his cloak and torn shirt, leaving only his vest and exposing his arms, stomach, and chest.

Max raised his brow as he checked Avernus's stout muscles, gazing with envy and approval at the same time. "Well, you have a surprisingly strong body for an aristocrat too. I guess rumours of ladies desiring you weren't lies. "

Avernus leaned on the wall and peeked around the corner, checking the street for guards. "It's too dangerous. I suggest you escape, bard."

Max cleared his throat and strode to him, having his hand lock behind his back. "Ehem, it seems you already had a taste of this coup and definitely need my help."

"I don't need-" Avernus suddenly clutched his chest in pain and moaned, stopping him from finishing his sentence. Simultaneously, a group of three soldiers marched into the road, walking in a tight formation. Knowing that they would be found, Max went to the side of the wall and picked up his lute without a second thought. "They're probably looking for you. I'll distract them, and you can slip away from the back."

Before Avernus could react, Max walked out of their hiding spot and began to play his instrument. The soldiers quickly turned to him. "Hey! What the hell are you doing?!" One of the soldiers barked, pointing his sword at Max.

Max sang like a drunk, stumbling all around the alley. He narrowed his eyes at the guards and burst into laughter, waving his hand. "Ohohohoho… come to join the party, gentlemen? I beg your pardon, but I'm all out of wine for tonight."

One of the guards sized him up. He recognized him and turned to his friends. "Isn't he that annoying bard we were supposed to take care of?"

Max's face paled in fear.

The leader chuckled. "Yeah. I guess we're in luck." He readied his sword, walking at Max with intent to kill. "Easy prey."

Max backed up slowly with his hands waving in surrender. "Let's not be hasty! We can discuss-"

Suddenly, Max witnessed the other two guards' heads bashed against one another, their helmets breaking from the sheer force of impact, and their bodies slurped down senselessly. The leader whirled towards them and saw Avernus dashing from the shadows in a blink of an eye. The guard recoiled in terror, watching him pouncing with his fist aimed at his face. Avernus slammed his heavy punch into his helmet in a blink of an eye. The sound of metal clinking and bones breaking echoed in the alley as the leader's body crashed into the pavement, digging into ground tiles.

Max panted as he collected himself, glancing favourably and captivatingly at Avernus. "Oh, my-"

Avernus glared at Max. "That was a stupid move. Always consider that if you're a wanting fugitive yourself before offering your help."

Max shook his head and let out a sigh of relief. "Y-You're correct. I was carried away trying to help you."

Avernus left the scene and ran towards the street without uttering another word. Max promptly followed him. To Max, Avernus was definitely on the hunt and was fearless for a noble.

"Leave the city, bard, before you get into more troubles," Avernus warned him.

"That's the logical situation for me, but…" Max acknowledged, but before he could continue his sentence, Avernus ran down the empty street towards the royal inn. Max hesitated but then followed him but kept his distance.

Soon, Avernus reached the inn, but it was heavily guarded with soldiers standing guard at the entrance. Avernus rotated around the building and moved into a dark alley behind it. Max stalked him from the shadows, watching him. As soon as Max peeked cautiously to see what Avernus was up to, he jumped and grabbed the second floor's balcony. Max raised his brows as Avernus climbed the walls, traversing around the windows, small grabs and ledges like a professional climber. "He is definitely no ordinary aristocrat," Max mumbled.

After a minute of climbing, Avernus reached their room's back balcony and pulled himself up. He surveyed the room, but there was no one there. His heart skipped after seeing broken furniture and signs of violence. Their belongings were scattered around the floor. Suddenly, his eyes caught Velvet's red scarf tied around the chair, swaying around with the wind. Avernus pulled it, and the smell of Velvet healed his scrambled thoughts. Avernus smiled to himself slightly, understanding Velvet's message. "They got away, but to where?" After a moment of guessing, he concluded Velvet had escaped to Tabatha's hideout.

Avernus tied the red shawl around his waist as he heard guards marching down the hallway. He raced and jumped from the balcony, grabbing a long Imperial flag that drooped toward the street and slid down smoothly.

Max startled and stumbled backward as Avernus landed beside him.

"My god! You gave me a heart attack!"

Avernus glared skeptically at Max. "Stop following me."

Max swallowed and breathed heavily, levelling a pleading gaze. "I can't. I need your help."

"I don't have time for this."

Max stepped forward before Avernus took off at Tabatha's inn. "Listen, I lost everything." Max blurted before coming to his senses, shaking his head afterward. "Just let me tag along. I know you're going to escape the city, and I can't do it on my own with all these coup forces patrolling the streets."

Avernus paused as he stared at the bard, starting to feel the same annoyance when Magilou tagged along two years ago. "I can't guarantee your safety. If anything happens, it's on you. And I'm not leaving the city before finding my family."

Max's beamed. "Sure! I mean, I doubt you'll get us into trouble."

Avernus titled his head at the main street, signalling him to follow. Max nodded, and they both melted into the darkness of the scarlet moon, moving swiftly through shadows toward Bloodwings' inn.

Max was surprised that the reddish gloomy, dark and frightening streets of Loegres that night didn't faze Avernus. Avernus navigated the city's dark corners like a pathfinder as if he was born in this city.

Max decided to break the ice and open himself a little bit to get Avernus's trust. "I used to run a good business. It was called Delphi theatre."

Avernus stopped behind a wall and peeked to check their surroundings. "Never heard of it before."

Max immediately stopped and raised a brow, taking it as an insult. "You didn't-." He growled. "If it were not for that woman, everyone would've heard it!"

"Who?"

Max spotted a poster on the wall and tore it off. His face twisted in anger as he turned the page toward Avernus, his fingers crumping the poster's side in a fury. "This con artist!"

Avernus immediately recognized her.

Magilou and her new Menagerie, with her posing proudly and her fresh, colourful coat and magician hat, winking at the audience.

"You've lost your job to her?"

"She and I were supposed to perform together. But she lied and instead registered her own Menagerie, removing Delphi's name and tainting my reputation by spreading rumours of me trying to incur unprofessional ethics upon her!"

"Did she hit on you?" Avernus asked.

Max sighed, shaking his head. "She did. Listen, I will not mix personal pleasure with professional work. That's not who I'm."

"Tough luck. You can't expect everyone to play by your rules, and that's what you get for trusting people before you know them." Avernus blatantly said.

Max raised his arm and placed a hand on his chest, straightening his shoulders. His frown didn't match his cheering personality and seemed awfully out of character. "I'm a gentleman! My ancestors served the royal family for hundreds of years! My grandfather was king Claudin's favourite personal bard and close friend." Max raised his head proudly, letting go of scowling and smiling delicately. "My place is at king Percival's side, a true blood descendant of king Claudin Asgard. I shall continue the tradition and take my rightful place!"

Avernus gazed at him from the corner of his eyes ironically. Max unknowingly found his way to last of Claudin's child, but he still didn't know it. However, letting Max accompany him was temporary. Avernus had to find his family.

"Hey, Mr. Diphda, can I ask, what were you doing at the royal inn?"

"Looking for my wife and my children."

"I see. I reckon Lancelot coup forces hit that place hard."

"It seemed they tried. But my wife took the children and escaped."

"Escaped? You mean she managed to evade Dragonia's soldiers? How? For a woman with kids, it seems impossible to get away." Max waved his hands in an apologetic gesture. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean any disrespect."

"None was taken. My wife is resourceful. A mere platoon of soldiers can't stop her. Not even daemons and gods had a chance."

Max raised a brow in interest as he felt Avernus's faith in his words about his wife. "Is your wife a soldier?"

"She is a warrior, one of the best I've ever encountered in my life. She commands her own ship too. She fought Artorius's exorcist forces as well as daemon hordes that plagued the land before the Age of Maotelus begun."

"You speak as if your wife is a goddess of war," Max said.

Avernus slightly smiled. "She is."

Then, they arrived at Baskerville's Inn. Avernus scanned the building and noticed the door had been heaved inward and slightly ajar as if it was forcefully opened. He gently pushed the door and moved into the Inn cautiously. Avernus heaved a breath in concern, watching the broken tables and chairs littered all over the main hall. The Dragonia vanguard had already stormed the place. He saw bodies of soldiers and some of the Bloodwing members among the debris. Max's face hazed with sadness and pity as he entered the tavern, feeling dread in his stomach getting thicker.

Concerned, Avernus made his way toward the basement, where their safe rooms were located. His heartbeat paced as he saw the broken hatch on the kitchen floor and pounded down the steps in a rush. His eyes fell on the body of the main chef that was beside the stairs. Max cautiously stepped down the wooden steps. In that moment of hopelessness, Avernus heard faint breathing in the dark and rushed to the end of the hallway.

At the end of the corridor, Avernus noticed someone sitting and leaning against the wall, coughing loudly.

"Tabatha!" He scrambled at her.

Tabatha struggled to raise her head. Her darkened eyes glimmered with hope as she laid eyes on Avernus kneeling beside her. "You're still alive..."

Tabatha's voice barely came out, and suddenly, blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

Avernus noticed a severe wound on her stomach, bleeding profusely. He instinctively held his hand over it. But then, he remembered that his pact with every Empyrean was cut off. Avernus had no more power over his magic. Not even his blood was responding to it. Whatever that domain was over the city, it had silenced his powers, as if someone made this arteseal against him.

Tabatha smiled at his face and noticed his eyes welled up in tears. "It's okay." She whispered. "Your wife and children are not here. Velvet has already escaped the city." Tabatha struggled to smile. "She made a good choice by not coming here."

"Who did this, Tabatha?"

"We have failed in discovering Lancelot's plan, and we were compromised. He made his visit, looking for your family."

Avernus's lips twitched with anger. Tabatha saw regret in his eyes and placed her hand on his cheek. "I have seen what you can do. You brought back the lord of calamity from despair, gave her a family and a second chance… you helped the people to keep their free will. No one could do what you did for this land." Her weakened voice shook, but it was filled with hope and admiration, like a mother glancing proudly at her son.

Avernus embraced her desperately. "Hey, hey! It's going to be alright. I'm going to get you out of here."

As Avernus tried to help her stand up, Tabatha resisted his help and with a bit of energy she had left, managed to smile for him again. "I'm glad that I was able to see you and her with a family. I've seen what miracles are, and Velvet's smile is one of them."

Avernus stroked her gray hair, trying not to break down. "I didn't do it alone."

Tabatha chuckled as the light in her eyes began to fade. "Modest as always. You have a delicate heart behind that serious face. I have faith that you'll make it right… just like the last time." She gasped momentarily and stared at the ceiling, her pale face cheering. "After so long, I will see my Baskerville again."

Then, her eyes drooped shut, and her head fell to the side.

"No, no, no. Stay with me, stay with-" Avernus's words finally died within his throat as he sensed Tabatha's passing and embraced her body one last time.

Tabatha was gone, and with her death, the Bloodwings were no more.

Max stood a few meters away, witnessing the scene in silence.

After a minute, Avernus gently put her body on the ground and crossed her arms above her chest. "Fly to the eternity, Tabatha."

As Avernus turned, Max's eyes widened momentarily in surprise, watching a determined gaze that he never saw before, a look that would shatter any walls and grind the stone into dust.

"I need to get my weapon," Avernus declared.

Max pointed to a sword on the ground. "I guess you can use-"

"I need my sword." Avernus declared and marched toward the exit, eyes focusing on the front.

Max followed him and moved to his side. "What? Are we not going to escape the city? What about your wife and children?"

"My wife is safely out of Loegres, and I need to finish this before this coup escalates."

Avernus walked out of the inn and ran straight for the chapel in the center of Loegres. Max desperately tried to keep up, looking baffled as their plans had changed abruptly from escaping the city to kill Lancelot. "Tell me you are not going to fight who I think."

Avernus stayed quiet until they reached the old Abbey's chapel. The former Abbe's headquarter was in the process of extensive renovation. All of the exorcist symbols, alongside Innominat's sigils, were taken down, and windows were decorated with a silhouette of a silver dragon. Avernus spotted an opened window and jumped inside. Max struggled to vault across the window's edge and stayed close behind Avernus.

"What are you looking here for? There is nothing but scrolls and religious tablets." Max wondered.

Without answering, Avernus marched through the middle, passing the old chairs and entered the inner chamber, where it housed a massive and secure case. The golden symbol of the Asgardian seal glittered as Avernus bruised a hand on it. Max immediately recognized it and stepped back.

"Oh, no, I'm not stealing a high-value Asgardian treasure!"

Avernus ignored his pleas and pickled up an iron bar from the back. He shoved it between the gap and began to break the locks forcefully.

Max shook his head at Avernus's recklessness and paced back and forth nervously. "I may have made a lot of mistakes in the past, but I'm certainly not a thief. If you want to raid the treasury and kill Sir Lancelot on your own, then I'm out of here. I'm still young and have so many things to do, so many performances to do and meet Claudin's descendant. Ciao, your crazy highness."

As Max bowed mockingly and left, Avernus broke each lock one by one until the door popped out and hit the wall behind it with a loud bang. Avernus dropped the iron bar and extended his hand, touching the glowing weapon inside it.

Avernus brushed his fingers slowly along the azure blade toward the golden handle and picked up the Caliburn. Eleanor had hidden it away during the past two years, and when she offered to give it back, Avernus refused. He wanted to lead his own life and made his own legacy. However, fate was always treacherous, and he was eager as before to face it head-on.

His eyes suddenly fell on another weapon beside it, and he scowled, the white and gold ornate longsword of Artorius Collbrande. After the final battle with Innominat, Eleanor recovered Artorius's sword and managed to hide it away. Unlike Caliburn, Artorius's sword had its sheath intact.

Then, a familiar sensation offered Avernus a hidden knowledge, and he instinctively touched it.

With a gasp, buried memories of old times surged through his mind, and his soul sailed through the rainbow waves of the sword's preserved thoughts.

Avernus suddenly felt himself on another plane of existence and beside two figures, standing near a cliff, overlooking a lush landscape. He immediately recognized them; His father, Claudin Asgard and Artorius Collbrande, who looked much younger in his late teens.

"You've come a long way, Arthur." His father said, staring into the horizon.

Arthur, looking humble, innocent and passionate, nodded respectfully at Claudin. "It's all because of your teachings, Sir."

After a few moments of pausing, Claudin turned to Arthur. "You are ready." Avernus noticed his father was holding the white and gold sword and pulled it out of its sheath.

"Kneel," Claudin ordered.

Arthur obeyed and bent on one knee, lowering his head. Claudin placed the blade over his shoulder gently. "Today, I dub thee Sir Knight Artorius Collbrande, my successor."

Suddenly, Avernus was pulled from his dream, and the scene raced faraway. This was the start of a chain of memories, passed on by both swords to him.

Avernus stared at his front, face stoic as he felt the shepherd offered him the weapon.

"I understand, Arthur," Avernus replied and picked it up, accepting what he felt was a step-brother's offer of help to protect his step-sister's family. Avernus' eyes caught an unfinished white and gold outfit underneath the swords. The shirt was similar to Shigure's costume as it would cover his shoulders and the top portion of his back, but it was more decorated and more profound as if it was designed for a leader. Avernus took off his torn vest and began to change into his new look. As his mind was with Velvet and his newborns, sounds of someone elegantly stepping with their high heels came from afar, approaching him. Avernus groaned to himself and took a glance at the door as a familiar dark silhouette of a tall and voluptuous woman stopped between the door frame. Her eyes glowed white, and Avernus recognized Tiamat but chose to ignore her, continuing to wear his new outfit.

"Avernus," She called in her soothing voice. "There is no way to hide her, my dear. Do whatever you can to keep her atrocities hidden from the world. Give her a family, a new life and a reason to live. It changes nothing." Tiamat raised her open palms. "By whom? You, a selfish loner who disregarded people's needs before, thinking now playing father and husband can change you into a better man."

With Tiamat mocking, Avernus whipped his head at Tiamat and glared. Tiamat chuckled and dropped her arms. "My children are awakened and soon, will drag Velvet and her little cubs down to earth."

Avernus locked the red and gold pin that connected the two sides of his shirt and picked up the swords.

Tiamat's eyes brightened up even more. "Velvet showed me that humanity could not change. They are vile and corrupt, poisoning the earth as they live on. There is one truth that you cannot run from it: She will always be a monster."

Avernus placed Caliburn's blade over his shoulder and held Artorius's sword with his left hand. He began to march toward Tiamat, levelling a determined gaze at her. "Tell me, sister; can you mourn? Because I'm going to send your children screaming into the deepest part of hell."

Tiamat remained silent as Avernus walked through her illusion, shattering it into nothingness. Now, it was all clear to him, Tiamat had returned, and she planned to use Velvet's past against them all. Tiamat would see their efforts be for naught.

Suddenly, the doors opened widely with him nearing the exit, and Max stormed into the chapel, shutting them in a quick movement behind him. He leaned against the doors and panted, his eyes filling with fear. "They've found us! Soldiers are coming to get me-...eh, us!"

Avernus stopped, giving him an indifferent look. "Move. I'll handle them."

Max hesitated. "What? No, you can't fight them! There are at least ten of them out there. A whole division!"

"It doesn't matter. Move out of my way, bard."

As Avernus said, Max slowly stepped to the side in doubt. Avernus opened the doors and saw the Dragonia guards surrounding the entrance in a tight formation. Avernus scanned the platoon, noticing that even with that number, he had to deal with three to four soldiers at a time as the area wasn't vast for the guards to engage him all at once. Avernus raised Artorius's sword and pointed it at the soldiers.

"I would offer you to stand down and go back to your families, but what you did tonight is unforgivable, and I won't let you harm anyone else. So, make your last mistake and meet your end."

Max retreated into the darkness of the chapel as the random, cruel words came of Avernus's mouth. Max thought Avernus would offer them a way out or to stand down. Not openly invite them to battle.

It was a sure way to suicide.

The guards looked baffled and confused. They were taking his taunt as a great insult.

The guard captain stepped forward. "You are only one man! How do you hope to win against us?!"

Avernus raised his left arm and stabbed Artorius's sword into the ground. He slowly pulled it out of its sheath as Artorius did with only using his left arm. The blade shined under the red hue of the scarlet moon.

The voices of his father conversing with Artorius's filled his mind again as if they were guiding him unintentionally.

"Arthur, let's see what you can do with your new blade."

The seraphim medallion brightened up as it dangled from the sword's handle. "Why don't you come and find out, miserable traitors?"

The leader turned to his followers, and with a battlecry, the front group of three stormed him in a wild rush, screaming from the bottom of their lungs.

Avernus stayed calm and stoic as the first combatant reached him. His eyes tracked the guard's blade as he slashed at Avernus. He twitched his torso, and the sword missed him. Avernus quickly reverse gripped the handle of Artorius's sword and slashed it upward. The blade cut through the guard's armour with ease, and he flipped to his back before hitting the ground. The second guard jousted at him with his pike, but his spear missed Avernus as he sidestepped quickly and brought down the Caliburn on the soldier's back as he passed him. His sword cut the steel and the soldier fell to the ground with his helmet crashing hard against the tiles.

Max raised a brow, coming out of shadows to watch Avernus dispatching the Dragonia soldiers with total calm and ease. He suddenly recognized Caliburn as Claudin's sword and the empire's relic. But to Max, Avernus handled Caliburn as if it was his own weapon for a long time.

The third soldier tried to catch him off guard, jumping high with his mace above his head, ready to bring down on top of Avernus. His green eyes glowed brightly and, with a quick fluid motion of his arm, slashed the soldier's abdomen in mid-air. The swords cut open the armour, and blood followed the arch move of his sword. With a faint moan, the next guard hit the ground senselessly.

Avernus, now fully reverse gripping both swords, jerked his chin at the remaining soldiers. "Is it scary to look at someone who can actually fight back?"

Max suddenly felt a chill in his stomach as Avernus's voice started to get crueller and harsher. That night revealed dark secrets of men, and Avernus was no different.

The rest of the soldiers look bafflingly and cautiously at each other before screaming and rushing at him.

Max narrowed his eyes as Avernus engaged the soldiers head-on. One of the soldiers took a massive swing of his blade. As the guard missed him, Avernus impaled the guard with his left sword as he ran through Caliburn into his chest. The second guard hopelessly threw another wide slash, only to be missed with Avernus evading and hitting the bottom of the soldier's helmet with the handle of Caliburn. The strike connected, and with a bone-crunching sound, the guard went flying.

Max felt a sense of pride and hope, feeling himself to come out and cheer for Avernus. But as he stepped out to throw a victory punch, an otherworldly shriek reverberated all around them, and a great shadow loomed over.

"What the-" Max stumbled back as he looked up in fright.

Avernus sensed the imminent danger and stepped back before a prominent figure landed on top of him. As he dashed out of the way, the creature crushed two soldiers under its feet, and the ground shook violently. The remaining guard whirled on his feet before the beast batted him with a swing of his large hand, tossing his broken body over the street.

The scarlet moon illuminated the monster's features with his growl, a draconic creature with colourful scales and a set of four horns. It had a very long dark mane that was unusual for a demonic mutation. The beast stood straight as if it was comfortable in its form, like a daemonborne.

Max quickly stepped back into the chapel. "This is not good! We need to run!"

Avernus looked over his shoulder at Max. "So, you can see the daemons too."

"Eh? T-That's not the case! Look at it! You can't fight that thing!"

"Insignificant creatures." The beast howled. "I have been asleep for thousands of years, only to be awakened to a world filled with the same filth."

Max gestured at the monster, his voice shaking. "T-That thing just talked!"

"Silence, insect." The monster hissed. "I'm an ascended Seraphim, the perfected being."

Avernus sized the creature up. "A corrupted seraphim that have some of its mind untouched."

The humanoid drake leaned slightly as he focused its red eyes on Avernus. "I sense the seraphim blood in you. You must be what the Great Brother told me about." It retreated his head back, chuckling. "You are powerless and useless. Killing you in this state means nothing to me."

Avernus twirled both swords, walking fearlessly toward the beast. "Talking is cheap, seraphim. Has your thousand years of sleep made you incapable of fighting humans?"

The draconic seraphim bared his teeth, and magical symbols began to appear around him. "Very well. I shall grant you a painful death you desire."

The sigils lit up and launched focused beams of destruction at Avernus. He immediately dodged them and the rays impacted the ground, destroying a large portion of the pavement. The shockwave threw Max over into the door with pebbles and debris raining down over him. The beast controlled the beams, and they followed Avernus as he jumped over the walls and ran like the wind, closing his distance. With a broad slash of his swords, he hit the daemon's legs, but his swords bounced off an invisible magical barrier. Avernus noticed the beast threw his claws, but they missed as soon as his backflipped out of the way. Avernus quickly resumed his attack and pounced toward the daemon's face. The creature opened its jaw, and a blinding beam of light shot at Avernus. He immediately raised his swords and put up a firm guard. The ray hit his blades, and Avernus was pushed back. The daemon focused more of his energy into his beam, widening its jaw. Avernus growled as his defences held up against the destructive magic, standing his ground.

Max watched the scene in awe, feeling a hidden admiration for Avernus as he resisted that terrible magic.

The daemon stopped his attack, and Avernus reflected the built-up energy, sending it as an explosive wave around the area.

The draconic seraphim snorted at Avernus. "Your mere swords cannot pierce my true magic. You and your tools are insignificant as are your lives. We will purge your stains of existence from this world and make a new one free of humanity's sin."

Avernus, stoic as ever, raised his hand to his face and glanced at both swords from up-close. "Mere swords, huh? Well, you see, these blades carried a lot from our lives throughout millennia. Our victories, our defeats. Our joy and our sadness. They saved lives, and sometimes, they took them away. These swords carried hearts and souls of people throughout history, mistakes and achievements of idiots that had hopes and dreams." Avernus' eyes suddenly began to shine brightly, and his loose long hair began to float behind him as he remembered Arthur and his father's efforts for a better tomorrow. He squeezed the handles and frowned in anger and defiance. "These swords are the tales of our lives. They are the tales of humanity! And there is just no fucking way I'm going to let you or anyone else steal our chance at living our lives!"

Max covered his eyes as the swords lit up in a brilliant light.

The draconic seraphim growled in anger. "You insolence insect!"

The scales on the daemon's body lit up in response, and its snake-eyes surged with magic as it opened its jaw for a final attack.

"Die!"

The new beam attack shot at Avernus and connected with his crossed blades. Avernus pushed on against the energy, and it seemed the seraphim magic began to fail against Avernus's advance. Max rose on his feet, feeling hope running through his vein. "That's not possible… how is he doing that?!"

With a shout, Avernus released the built-up energy once more, and it fired back at the daemon. The magical power exploded near its face, and the beast stumbled to its back before howling in fury and jumping at Avernus, raising its sharp claws. The daemon's attack burrowed deep into the empty ground as Avernus dashed to the other side. The beast pounced in a frenzy but Avernus evaded its piercing claws again in a quick movement.

The images of Arthur training early morning with his sword on the top of the mountain passed his mind.

"Nimble like a wolf, quick like the wind..." The whispers began to feed his mind with instructions.

"Feed your rage."

Max watched their dance of death closely; he figured Avernus's shadow to be like a wolf at first and then, it seemed it stretched into a dragon.

The daemon frantically tried to track Avernus's movement but failed to keep up. "Why won't you die?!"

As daemon's claw came raking down with a final attack, Avernus jumped high above them in the sky, and the daemon's attack crushed the empty ground once again. Max raised his head to see Avernus floating under the red moon as it framed around him.

"Ageless Moon! Grant me the power to rend the darkness and cut down my enemies!" Avernus put both swords together, and their illuminated bodies turned into a single radiant blade. Its glow nearly lit up the whole area. With the greatsword skyward, Avernus flew back to the ground, aiming his blade at the daemon.

"Star Beast Strike!"

His shout was louder than any battle cry and came down on top of them like the sound of death flooding them. In a blink of an eye, the new sword connected with the invisible shield and shattered it instantly. Avernus sliced the great sword through the seraphim beast's right shoulder and into its body as he landed back on the ground.

The daemon's eyes stuttered in pain and bafflement, white blood trickling down its teeth. "T-To lose to an inferior being."

Avernus raised his head, glaring face to face with his shining eyes. "Feel the pain of those inferior beings…" He twisted the great sword inside the daemon's gut, turning the blade. "... As you burn in hell!"

Avernus jumped, slicing the sword back up through the beast's left shoulder.

Max glued to his spot. The grave wound on the daemon resembled a 'V'. Rays of light began to shine from the wound and the V shape turned into Avernus's Shepherd symbol covering the daemon.

As Avernus landed back to the ground, the beast's body began to be engulfed by a white flame, each crack in its body flaring up and emitting white light coming from inside the body. Then the seraphim beast burst into an explosion, releasing all its mana. The white flames burned the ground and a pillar of white flame rose to the sky. Max jumped behind the chapel's entrance as the force battered the walls and windows, covering his ears.

A few moments passed before the area fell into total silence, and the explosion became nothing but a distant howling. Max moved out of his hiding spot and saw Avernus standing in the middle with his swords back into their normal forms. There was nothing left of the daemon but a black stain on the ground with vapours emitting from the ashes.

Speechless, Max stroked the back of his head. "That was… marvellous."

Avernus turned to Max. "Get out of here while you have time."

"No, I won't," Max replied, feeling a newfound sense of confidence as he watched Avernus fight. "You are going to kill Lancelot and bring back king Percival. So, I decided to help you with whatever I can. If they kill Percival, then there is no chance for me to continue my family's tradition of serving an Asgardian."

"Your choice, but it's your funeral."

Max walked to his side, looking surprisingly eager. "We live only once." He picked up his lute from the ground and played a soft tone. "Might as well watch you kick some ass."

Avernus nodded before making their way to the Asgard castle to confront Lancelot and put an end to the coup before it truly began.

Next Chapter - The Goddess of War

With the news of coup forces attacking the Empyrean throne, Velvet forces herself to make a hard decision. Instead of going back for Avernus, Velvet, alongside Eizen, joins her friends to defend the place she once swore to burn it to the ground against Dragonia armies and the newly awakened daemon horde led by Tiamat's seraphim beasts.