The plan was simple. As simple as an ambush could be anyway. Aurelius had laid the details out for the hunter pack as clearly as he could. "Kaguya, once we engage the target I want you to hang back and create a pocket of time that is separate from the rest of the world. It should keep the fight in one area until it's done."

The ravenette nodded and offered a soft smile. "I'll do what I can, just don't take too long. You know how Time can be."

The Legate nodded firmly. "Agreed, Shin."

He turned his gaze towards the young Kitsune. "You'll be our first contact, see if you can't get through to her and break whatever this spell is over her mind through familial bond."

The young man nodded softly and gave a thumbs up. "I'll do my best, but what if it doesn't work."

Aurelius pointed to Kaga and gave a grin. "That's where Kaga comes in, I want you to circle around behind the target and be ready to incapacitate them if it looks like they are going to attack."

The Ookami crossed her arms and huffed in annoyance. "Since when are you the one in charge?"

Kaguya and Shin both facepalmed audibly as Aurelius simply held out both hands in an exaggerated expression. "Well if you have a better plan I would love to hear it, I was unaware that you were some sort of tactical prodigy. Do enlighten us as to what we should do, oh exalted leader."

The man crossed his arms and waited for her response. But was inwardly enjoying the look of frustration and annoyance on the young woman's face. Evidently she wasn't used to people talking back to her, and so wasn't quite sure how to handle it.

"F-fine! What will you be doing then?"

Aurelius simply went back to his explanation like nothing happened, no point in aggravating her further. "I will get to a high vantage point, preferably off to the side where I can get a clear shot. When you engage the target, I will strike from a distance. I'll attempt to hit her legs and slow her down so we can better contain her and prevent her from fleeing."

Kaga's wolfish ears twitched in annoyance before muttering her reply. "It's a good plan… let's just hope your aim is as good as you think it is."

Kaguya stood and folded her arms loosely across her chest. "Shall we continue then? The sooner we find them the better. We don't want to be out here on the hunt when the bigger threat attacks the House of Moon's domicile."

The group each gave their agreement as they started moving once again. A dozen meters away, hidden from view but easily within ear shot. General GinKiba stood in a tree. Keeping vigil over the pack of hunters. And allowed himself a small smirk at how Aurelius handled Kaga.

The group continued their trek for several hours before they picked up the scent of their target, confirmed to be his sister by Shin. And as the sun rose high above them it was clear to see the woman was seated near a dead human and rummaging through their belongings in a small clearing. With few words spoken the group split up as planned. Kaga deftly and quietly springing off trees to get around the female Kitsune. Kaguya began to channel her power and all around them time slowed to a standstill, the trees no longer moved with the now non existent wind, no animals ran by and a few birds even floated above her, trapped in eternity

Shin slowly but surely moved closer as Aurelius leapt into a tree and rose to the upper branches without breaking any and readied his rifle. It's familiar weight rested against his shoulder as he pushed the sudden sounds of machine gun fire and explosions out of his head. His vision blurred momentarily and replaced the idyllic scene before him with a barren no man's land full of mud and craters before he blinked it away and shook his head firmly. "Now isn't the time damnit…."

He focused on the barrel of his gun, and set his sights on the left leg of their target as Shin approached, hand outstretched.

"Nima?"

The woman jolted upright immediately and whirled around, fangs bared and claws out as she stared at the younger Kitsune with dark crimson eyes and a powerful aura of killing intent radiating from her.

"Don't you recognize me? Your own brother?"

Nima, huffed in annoyance as she stalked closer to Shin. Her dull red hair cascading down her shoulders to her lower back and a pair of blue scarlike markings adorned her cheeks.

"Your scent is weak boy, if you thought your presence alone could save the girl then you have only come to die."

Shin growled in anger and green fire erupted from his outstretched hand to strike at the thing that was his sister. "What did you do to her!?"

Aurelius raised an eyebrow as he watched Nima deftly dodge the fireball, despite the short distance between the two siblings.

"She came to eliminate me, so I defended myself and took control of her. She put up a decent fight. I'll give her that." The woman chuckled menacingly as she leapt to close the distance between them and attempted to strike the Kitsune male.

But Kaga was quick to react and hurled a fist sized rock at Nima with great speed. Nearly hitting her in the head. But with the same previous agility the rock was dodged and she set her eyes towards the new foe.

"So you didn't come alone. Smarter than you look boy, but it won't save you. And you can't save her." Nima leapt back and unleashed what appeared to be her own foxfire attack at her brother. But the fire was different, the entire pack could feel a sudden chill in their hearts and souls as the black flames flew towards Shin.

Fortunately for the boy. He had already been on the move and had created an illusion of his own form to distract his attacker, letting him fall back to Kaga's side where they prepared to rush the shadow user. But before they had the chance a pair of sound breaking cracks rang out and Nima cried out in pain while dropping to the ground in pain. Blood pooling around her from two wounds in her knees, preventing her from walking or standing.

"Arrgh! What was that!? Show yourself coward!" Nima looked around and tried to find the source of what had caused her such wounds but saw nothing. Shin took this chance to run forward with Kaga and started to pin his sister down.

"Release her!"

The corrupting influence laughed again at the boy. "As you wish… I'll be seeing you all again very soon." In a dark pulse of energy Nima's body went limp and a shadow-like mist dissipated from her body.

Kaga and Shin looked at one another with worry. The two wounds continued to bleed even as the crimson in Nima's eyes faded back to their natural white and gold irises. Though she was unconscious moments later.

Kaguya released her hold on time and rushed over to the three of them as Aurelius leapt from the tree and landed a few feet from them. "Kaguya, lift her legs above her chest to slow the bleeding. Shin, lay her flat on her back. Kaga, go and find the General and have him bring some medical supplies. Don't argue with me and just do it or Nima could very well die."

The Ookami didn't say a thing and simply turned and ran back the way they had come.

While he was rapidly firing his orders off. Aurelius had been tearing off large portions of his own clothing to use as a makeshift tourniquet. Firmly tying the cloth just above the knees where the bullets had entered. He noted the exit wounds on both legs and allowed himself a small sigh of relief. If the bullet had stayed in the wounds the process would be much more complicated.

Shin hovered over Aurelius' shoulder with worry. His voice was a strained whisper as he asked a question he wasn't sure he wanted the answer to. "...Will she make it?"

Aurelius finished tying the tourniquets up but didn't hear the young man's question. Though neither Shin nor Kaguya were aware of the problem Aurelius was now dealing with. Kaguya looked to Shin and nodded to assure the young man. "She will be alright. With the bleeding slowed and the rapid healing of Daiyōkai. She will be up and about in maybe a day or two. But she will need proper medical attention to avoid infection."

Shin sighed shakily and let himself fall to his knees as the adrenaline rushed from his body. The fight was short, barely thirty seconds. But it felt like an eternity. "Thank the gods…"

He looked at Aurelius and smiled slightly.

"Thank you, for not killing my sister. I don't know what I'd do if it had come to that." He wasn't expecting the silence that followed.

"Umm. Aurelius?" The Kitsune pushed himself up and moved to look into the Legate's eyes and realized that the man was staring out into the forest seemingly at nothing.

"K-kaguya!? I think something is wrong with Aurelius. He's not responding to anything I've done to get his attention."

The raven haired woman looked up from her thoughts and hurried to get up and moved to Aurelius' side.

"Aurelius?" She went to shake the man to get his attention but the moment her hand grasped his shoulder her vision was filled with a very different scene around them.

Shin was still there though he seemed confused and unaware of the change. But Kaguya knew where the scene around them was from. She knew everything about the history of this time period. "Oh dear…."

The world around them was nothing but mud and fire and smoke. The sky was red and black from the fires burning all around and a yellowish brown mist flowed over the land. She could hardly even hear her own thoughts over the machine gun fire nearby. Though she was able to see that Aurelius was no longer beside her, having suddenly disappeared as if he hadn't been there at all.

"What is this? Some sort of… vision?"

From her left she spotted a trench with several men hunkered down she ran over and hopped into the trench where she realized that she was unperceived by the men around her. "Memory perhaps?"

She heard more gunfire to her right from a man desperately shooting his sidearm at the now closing enemy. She was forced to watch as the entrenched men let loose their weapons and felled dozens of the approaching foes. But one man stood out as the enemy overwhelmed the gunfire and entered their trenches to fight in melee.

A man she recognized only barely as she had last seen him millennia ago. The grim determined look on the man was visible even through the mask he wore to protect from the gas around them. Kaguya watched as he sidestepped a bayonet and shot the offender in the chest before pulling a bottle from the mud and smashing it into the head of another enemy who had just impaled one of the defenders.

"Aurelius…"

The man stopped dead in his tracks as if he had heard her voice and spun to face her. But she realized it was not her he was facing as he was thrown from his feet by an explosion. Shrapnel sent several gashes into his face and chest before he landed with a heavy thud. The mask on his face was damaged and compromised as he gasped for air.

But he wasn't dead, though she knew he wished he was at the time. Kaguya watched as the man she would eventually come to know as War struggled to his feet and grasped blindly for a weapon as one of the invaders came upon his fallen form and went in for the kill.

But the wounded soldier was not so easily brought down as he rolled to his side and grabbed the rifle as it impaled the dirt he was once laying in. Bringing his knee up into the back of his attacker's own to force him down to a kneeling position. War pulled himself to his feet and began to use his own helmet to beat his enemy to death. Stopping only when the body stopped moving in response to the hits.

Kaguya was mortified. She knew that war was brutal, gruesome even. But she had never actually seen just what kind of conflict had led to the man before her becoming the god of war. But now she was witnessing it for herself. And quickly realized that Aurelius was suffering mentally. Guilt, fear, anger, and a hundred other emotions ran through his mind daily and he persevered. But Kaguya realized that this must not have been the first incident like this. And from her research with War she realized that he must have some form of post traumatic stress disorder. "Shell shock" he had called it.

"An apt description." She muttered to herself as the scene continued to unfold. To her surprise the world around her began to revert back to normal just as the mortal form of War hastily put on the mask of another fallen soldier and began to breathe deeply of mostly clean air.. She could faintly hear Shin calling her and Aurelius' names and suddenly found herself back in the forest clearing they had been before.

Kaguya looked around quickly and saw that Kaga and GinKiba had just returned and had begun to tend to Nima's injuries. Shin was still beside her and Aurelius and she noticed that the legate himself seemed to have been brought back to normal as well and was looking at her with shame in his eyes before looking away and to Shin. "We're okay, kid. You should go help them. Your sister will want to see you when she wakes up."

The General looked up at Aurelius when he started to speak. "The Lord of the house will not approve of this, you know."

Aurelius shrugged and rolled his eyes. "Not my problem. Our task was to eliminate the threat. The girl is no longer the threat. Though it would seem that something bigger is going on. And I have a feeling it may be tied to the coming attack."

The General tilted his head slightly in question. "How can you be sure?"

The Legate shrugged slightly and crossed his arms. "I'm not, but the vague warning it gave us leads me to believe it may be involved somehow."

"That isn't much to go on."

"I am aware, and it doesn't really matter. We know the attack is going to happen one way or another. Let's just get back to the compound and prepare to defend it."

The other three pack members nodded in agreement but were halted by a raise of GinKiba's hand. "Not so fast, there is one more matter to attend to. You are correct that killing the girl was not the objective of this mission. And seeing as you have completed it there is the matter of awarding the four of you your marks of adulthood. The four looked at one another before standing in a line to receive the markings, a scar across each cheek that was left by the General's poison claw. The poison was non lethal and left the scar a faint purple color.

"Now, the final task. Between the four of you, you must decide who deserves the title of Alpha." The man stepped back a few feet to allow the pack to deliberate amongst themselves.

Shin looked at Kaga with a look that seemed to indicate what the Ookami was thinking because she sighed heavily and nodded. They then looked to Aurelius and nodded at him. Shin smiled as he enlightened them about their decision. "You led us through this task. And came up with a plan that saved my sister's life where anyone else I've ever met would have just killed her out of simplicity. And despite Kaga wanting the title herself, she knows that without you this wouldn't have been nearly as successful."

Kaga simply grumbled something but nodded in agreement. "It was a good plan. For someone taking their right of passage it seems almost too good."

Kaguya smiled softly. "That is because he has been in command of military forces for decades. My vote was always going to be him."

Aurelius sighed and smiled slightly. "Your faith and trust in my abilities is appreciated. But we worked as a team."

Shin laughed slightly. "Yes, but only one of us can become Alpha."

The three members suddenly grabbed the Legate and shoved him towards GinKiba. Kaga being the roughest as she declared the outcome. "We have made our choice General."

Said General smirked in amusement before stepping forward and added a second set of scars to Aurelius' face. Just above the first set.

"Congratulations, Alpha Taishou. Your mother would be proud."

Aurelius nodded firmly and offered the General a salute out of habit somewhat. "Thank you sir. Now, we should get going. Nima will need medical attention to properly heal."

Kaguya knelt down to pick the unconscious Kitsune up off the ground. "I'll carry her, we should move quickly."

With a firm nod the General turned on a dime and began to move swiftly back towards the compound. "Agreed, let us make haste."

(Several hours later)

It was near sundown when the group returned to the compound. Kaguya and Aurelius broke off to regroup with the three Legionaries while the General, Shin and Kaga brought Nima to the compound for medical aid.

The three humans were still partially on alert, after nearly fifteen hours, even their discipline began to falter. Decimus and Dilis were sparring while Maximus watched their surroundings while seated against a tree. But the moment they heard the sound of movement they were swiftly on their feet and had their weapons drawn. Though they soon lowered them when they realized it was Aurelius and Kaguya who were approaching.

Decimus marched forwards to greet them with a smile. "Took you long enough boss, we were going to have to go looking for you soon."

Aurelius smirked and shook his head. "Apologies, the distance was further than expected. But the mission has been completed."

Decimus nodded and squinted slightly and looked over the Legate. "That why you got a pair of purple cuts on your face?"

The other two men moved closer for a better look as Aurelius nodded and sighed. "Indeed, they represent my status as an Alpha. Something of great honor amongst the Daiyōkai."

Dilis crossed his arms and frowned slightly. "Are we going to speak to your grandfather again then?"

Aurelius nodded and gestured for them to follow him as he turned to head for the compound. "We are. One way or another we're going to have our safe haven."

With a nod the man moved to grab his gear and got ready to move out. "Alright, ready when you are."

Before they were able to begin moving however, Kaga dropped in from above them with a look of slight panic and worry. "Aurelius! You need to get back to the compound quickly! The attack is already happening! Shin and the General had just taken Nima to a healer when it began."

The Legate turned on a dime with surprise. "Already? Dammit! Alright. Men move out, we're going to need to be fast. Kaga, you and Kaguya make your way back ahead of us. We'll attack the enemy from behind and cut a path to the front gate!"

The Ookami nodded and Kaguya charged after her without hesitation. The three humans swiftly grabbed their shields and were soon running behind Aurelius towards the battle. And when they broke the treeline they saw how one sided the battle seemed to be. Panthers encircled the entire compound while what few defenders had actually been posted on the wall were either dead or dying with few actually managing to slay their foes and continue to fight. Kaguya and Kaga were both carving their way through the animals while fending off Yōkai and Daiyōkai as they made their way through to the walls.

Maximus frowned slightly and turned to face Aurelius. "Sir, are you certain about this? This seems a bit out of our league."

The Legate nodded firmly and drew his gladius. "I know, we just need to get through their line and into the compound. Trust your training and stick together. We've managed this far. We won't fall now."

The three men nodded firmly and as one the three of them charged into the field. Catching the panthers and their few Daiyōkai leaders off-guard. "Humans!? Kill them! Their flesh will feed the welps!"

A few of the panthers and one of the Yōkai panthers turned and rushed them. Aurelius moved between his men and the Yōkai as they dealt with the animals. Letting them get close before side stepping their attack and driving his gladius through their ribs before continuing his movement without breaking stride towards the compound gate. With his men close behind him having dealt with the panthers. An arrow was loosed towards the Legate's head but the timely intervention of Maximus' shield ensured it never reached the target.

The four men fought their way through the encroaching foes and after a few minutes managed to make it to the entrance of the compound. Having been closed and braced closed to prevent the enemy from entering. Aurelius frowned and turned to his men who were standing with their backs to him and the door with their shields linked together as a wall. "We have to hold here until Kaguya and Kaga can get this door open for us!"

Sheathing his sword he slung his rifle over his shoulder and took up position just behind his men. As the panthers rushed towards them several dropped dead as their heads snapped backwards from the force of the bullets hitting them. A few got close but expected the humans to falter and cower instead of the coordination and skill they displayed. Cutting several Yōkai and regular panthers down.

The sound of a whip cracking drew their attention as acid carved through the panthers rushing the gate before a figure in light armor

Dropped down from above to stand before them. They looked back and the white hair cascading down their back, coupled with the blue crescent moon on their forehead made it obvious to Aurelius who they were.

"Uncle, you have my thanks."

Toga nodded and made a sharp whistle which prompted the door to the compound opening for them. "Get inside! We must get to the throne room and assist my father. We can go through introductions afterwards."

The legate nodded firmly. "Agreed, men! Fall back!"

The five men backed into the compound as the door slammed closed and was braced shut once more before Toga and Aurelius turned to run for the throne room. "You three meet up with Kaguya. When you finish up out here, meet us inside!"

The three Legionaries nodded and ran into the fray towards where Kaguya and Kaga were busy fending off against more Yōkai panthers. Decimus actually leaping over one of the panthers and landing between a Yōkai and Kaga, blocking a strike meant for her back. "I got your back!"

The Ookami whirled around in momentary surprise as Decimus lopped the offending Daemon's head off with his gladius. "Name's Decimus, one of Aurelius' men."

Kaga scowled slightly at the young man. "I didn't-" she sighed. "Thank you. I am Kaga, I wasn't expecting you humans to be worth anything."

The Legionnaire laughed and shrugged. "We're full of surprises." With that, the two rejoined the fight.

As they fended off the assault, Toga and Aurelius rushed through the main door to the compound just in time to see General GinKiba completely outclass a trio of Daiyōkai alone. Dodging and weaving between their attacks and causing them to hit one another in the process before eliminating all three in a single swing from his blade.

"Lord Toga, you've returned. This is good, the Panther King is already in the throne room. Your father had two other Generals with him for a meeting at the time but I fear the worst."

Toga nodded and the three warriors made their way to the room in question. "Prepare yourselves."

Toga kicked the door open and the trip rushed into a horrific sight. The Generals had been torn to shreds by the Panther King and were being strung back together by a shadow-like mist identical to that which had controlled Nima. While this happened the Panther King and Lord Taishou were locked in a heated exchange of blades and abilities. Sharp shadow shards erupted from the King's blade and Aurelius could feel the same darkness emanating from it that filled the now reanimated Generals.

"This isn't good." Aurelius could feel the souls of the two dead Daiyōkai screaming in agony as they were forced back into their bodies against their will and driven to attack the trio.

"This… is… we cannot allow this to continue. We must eliminate them and then purge this crime against the gods!"

Aurelius' eyes flashed a crimson red for a moment as he swiftly swapped the firing mechanism of his rifle to that of the semi-automatic system he had acquired and charged ahead. Ducking under a sword meant to decapitate him and sliding behind the offending wielder before putting a trio of bullets into their skull. Temporarily eliminating them as a threat. But the shadows began to fill the wounds and stitch them together soon after.

"Toga, General! Hold these things off! I will purge the source of this corruption!"

He turned on a dime and took aim at the Panther King as it served the Lord's left arm from his body with a swift strike. And just as the King was about to land the final blow a barrage of bullets tore into his arm and struck the sword, causing it to fly from his grasp and embed itself into the floor near the throne.

The King spun to face the source of the attack and glared at Aurelius. "Ah! So you are the one who took out my legs before. I will make you pay for that, welp! And once I finish gutting you I will kill the old man and secure my place as ruler of this territory!"

Aurelius didn't even wait for the King to finish his rant and began sending more bullets down range at him. But the panther was ready, and fast, rolling to the side to avoid the barrage. Aurelius had to stop shooting momentarily to reload the rifle. And in the half second it took to do so the Panther King had already closed the distance and swung his clawed hands towards the Legate's chest. Though Aurelius was able to roll backwards to avoid the strike he was kicked in the face as he got up. Sending him sprawling on his back and dropping the rifle.

"Hahaha, you're weak boy! I expected more of a fight."

Aurelius shook his head to clear his eyes of the stars and rolled over to push himself up. Leaving his rifle where it lay he drew his gladius and turned to face the Panther King once more. "You have defiled the souls of others, and therefore drawn the ire of the gods! I shall ensure you face their wrath!"

Aurelius charged back at the King and feigned a strike with his blade to force the King to dodge, which he did. Allowing the Legate to use his Yōki to wrap an acidic whip around the King's left arm and pull them in. The King tried to use this and strike Aurelius. But the warrior avoided the swing and drove his blade through the Panther King's sternum. Causing a flood of shadow mist to burst from the wound and dissipate into the air. The King grabbed at Aurelis' arm weakly and tried to keep the sword where it was in a desperate act of defiance. But the Legate showed no mercy as he twisted the blade violently and tore it from the Panther's chest, letting the now lifeless body drop to the floor in a pool of blood.

His attention was drawn to the wounded Lord and he rushed over to them. "Grandfather…"

The Lord coughed up blood as he looked into Aurelius' eyes. "Ack… I.. I see you.. Alpha…"

Aurelius quickly looked over the Lord's wounds and shook his head softly. He wasn't going to make it. "You're bleeding out, but the King is dead. His forces will not take this land."

The Lord nodded softly and shakily raised his hand to grasp Aurelius' shoulder and GinKiba and Toga approached.

"Tell your mother… I'm sorry. For everything."

Aurelius nodded as the Lord looked to his son. "Toga… you will lead the house… to greatness. I know this…"

Toga bowed slightly to his dying father. "It will be done, father… rest now, and may the gods watch over your soul."

With a last breath, the Lord's grasp on Aurelius slackened and his head fell limp. The Legate slowly lowered the lifeless body to the ground and looked to Toga and GinKiba.

"The Panther tribe was not fully at fault for this. They were puppets for another master."

The two older men looked at one another and then back to Aurelius. "What do you mean?"

The Legate gestured to the still embedded sword. Emanating darkness even now. "That blade corrupted the King, and caused all this. It allowed the King to reanimate the fallen like those two Generals by trapping their souls in the bodies while controlling them."

Toga frowned and looked at the weapon. "Then what do you suggest we do with it?"

GinKiba folded his arms across his chest in thought. "I recommend we destroy it, such a weapon is an affront to the balance of natural order."

Aurelius shook his head softly. "Destroying it will be difficult. Something like that would need divine intervention to accomplish. We could seal it away. But there is no guarantee it won't fall into the wrong hands someday. I may however be able to purge its malicious intent…. And make a deal with Death himself on the matter."

Toga raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? Death? The god of Death? A mere mortal such as us is incapable of such."

"Most of the time, yes. But this weapon directly defies his domain. He may be willing to assist us with it."

GinKiba frowned. "You know more than you are telling us."

Aurelius nodded. "Indeed, but I cannot divulge it to you, not yet. Not until the battle outside is concluded."

Toga hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Very well, General GinKiba and I will assist with pushing the remaining enemies outside back. And you will attempt to deal with this blade."

The Legate nodded and turned to the sword as the two men rushed back outside to coordinate the final defense.

Aurelius sheathed his gladius and grabbed his rifle. Slinging it over his shoulder and standing before the sword, he closed his eyes. "Audi me: Dominus autem mors. Et respondendum meae!"

With these words he grasped the sword and was assaulted in his mind by a presence he was not expecting. "You're stronger than I had predicted… but I suppose that would make sense…. War."

The Legate gritted his teeth and pushed back against the intruding presence. "Your actions are unforgivable, beast. And I will not tolerate them. Interfering with Souls is the domain of Life and Death. Not you."

"So you say, and yet… Here I am. I can help you War. With my power you could achieve your goal far quicker than you can without it."

"Fuck you, I am not so weak willed as to be swayed by your words. My duty is to the gods, my family. And I will not overstep my bounds into their territory without their permission."

"You cannot hope to resist my presence forever. Not alone."

It was then that a far more powerful and ancient presence entered War's mind. "He is far from alone, usurper…"

The sharply dressed visage of Death appeared in his mind's eye and stood beside War. The overbearing power emanating from the ancient God caused the invading presence to recoil back and almost rocked Aurelius himself to his knees. But the firm grip of Death on his shoulder kept him standing.

"War… you summoned me to assist you in relinquishing this usurper of his hold over my power. However I suspect you have another suggestion."

War nodded and turned to face his old friend. "A proposal… reclaim your power from this bastard… but allow me to call upon the souls of soldiers who have fallen in battle that willingly wish to temporarily fight at my side."

Death considered the proposal for a moment and nodded softly. "I can agree to this. As you have control over the domain of War the souls of your fallen brothers in arms are close to your own. And as you will do so with my blessing there will not be a breach of territory. I however ask of you one thing."

War nodded, expecting to have to provide something in return. "Of course."

Death smiled slightly and patted him on the shoulder firmly. "Continue to alert myself or Shadow of any further incidents of people tampering with souls. I am grateful for you doing so this time since it's difficult to keep track of them all."

War nodded and smiled back at Death. "Absolutely, you have my word. I shall inform Knowledge as well."

Death nodded and released his hold on War. "Excellent, you two are a good pair. It will be good to see what the two of you accomplish in the future."

Death then turned to face the invasive presence and reached out with his power to violently wrenched the control over his domain away from it. Utterly destroying the soul responsible in the process. Turning back to face War, he brought his hand up for him to take. War grasped it with his own and a surge of dark power flowed between them before dissipating. "You have my blessing, War. You may summon those souls that are willing to take up arms once more. It will take time to master, but I imagine you will not have any difficulty."

War nodded firmly and saluted Death. "Thank you. I shall use this power wisely."

"I know, good luck."

With that Aurelius was back in control of his mind and body and after gathering his bearings he wrenched the blade from the ground and turned to the body of the Panther King to take the sheath for it. Tying it to his hip next to his gladius. He knew what the sword was originally called. Sō'unga. But it had a new purpose now and a new wielder. So it deserved a new name. "Legio Aeterna. A fitting name for the power I now hold."

Aurelius rolled his shoulders and jogged back outside to see how the battle was fairing. He was pleasantly surprised to see that the majority of the Panthers had either been eliminated or forced to retreat from the walls. His three Legionaries stood with Kaguya and Kaga atop the wall watching to ensure the Panthers did not circle back for another attack.

Toga and GinKiba were interrogating prisoners while many others were running around the battlefield to assist the wounded and put out fires that had been lit in the fighting.

Aurelius allowed himself to relax slightly and strode over to his men. Dilis was the first to spot him and nodded firmly. "Legate, the enemy is in full retreat. We would have regrouped with you as ordered but when the General returned outside we expected that we were of more use out here."

Aurelius nodded and looked out over the field. "It's alright, the battle is won. Sadly my grandfather did not survive his battle with the Panther King. Leaving my uncle as the new Lord of the House."

Kaga frowned slightly at that and crossed her arms. "How did they defeat the Lord? What happened to his guards?"

The Legate sighed softly and rested his hand on the hilt of his new sword. "The Panther King was manipulated and controlled by a Daemonic weapon that drove his people to attack. The blade was capable of manipulating souls and reanimating the dead, even after fatal wounds. His guards were the first to fall and then rose up once more to attack him."

Kaguya's eyes flashed a vibrant blue for a moment but only Aurelius seemed to notice as they were all looking at him. "I was able to disarm the King of his weapon before he realized I was there. Without its control his actions were predictable and I was able to kill him."

Decimus tilted his head and looked at the sword now held on Aurelius' hip. "And the blade? What happened to it?"

The Legate patted the sword firmly and looked to Kaguya directly even though Decimus asked the question. "I made a deal with Death himself. As souls of the dead are his domain. I summoned him and with his assistance the sword was purged of the dark influence that usurped his power. And in exchange for informing Death of anyone else who dared to do the same. I was granted the blade with his blessing."

Kaga looked incredulous as Kaguya smiled softly and nodded. "You spoke to Death?! Saw him?!"

Aurelius nodded in affirmation. "Indeed I did, i can explain more specifics to you once we are done clearing the bodies and fixing the damage done here. I am sure my uncle and General GinKiba will also want an explanation for the events that transpired."

The group spoke for a few more minutes before dispersing. Though Kaguya grabbed Aurelius' hand to speak with him alone.

"Are you alright?"

The Legate tilted his head in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Kaguya frowned and poked him in the forehead. "I saw what you did, your memory or flashback. How long have you been having them?"

Aurelius wanted to protest but knew it would be futile and sighed heavily. "Centuries. Usually they aren't as… vivid as that one though."

The ravenette shook her head and glared at him. "Why didn't you say something!? We could have helped you back in the Immortal realm before you came here."

Aurelius gritted his teeth in annoyance. "And do what? Hmm? Have my mind scoured of all the horrible things I've seen? All the things I've done? To pinpoint where it all began?"

Kaguya hesitated slightly and shook her head. "No, but we could have done something to prevent your mind from reliving those events against your will."

The man turned away from her and clenched his fists tightly. "It's what I deserve. Maybe before my protégé turned on us things would be different."

Kaguya looked at him in sadness and reached for his arm. "Why won't you let it go? You don't have to let your past control you, War…."

Aurelius shook his head. "There is nothing that can be done for me."

"That isn't true! We can find Nature's garden… we can cleanse your soul of these shadows in your heart."

Aurelius scoffed at that, unconvinced. "Not even you know where that is. And the rules forbid us from-"

"Fuck the rules War! You're hurting! Suffering from things beyond your control!"

This outburst caught Aurelius off guard, it was rare for Knowledge to swear, even more so for it to be in anger.

Kaguya grabbed Aurelius firmly on the arm and softly spoke. "I'll bring you to the garden, and cleanse your soul. All I have to do is ask Nature for its location."

Aurelius tried to speak but Kaguya placed a finger on his lips to stop him. "I'll free you of this anger that you hold, and make you whole."

Aurelius stared in shock at his fellow god before his expression softened. "Why? Why do this for me?"

Kaguya stared into his eyes with defiant fire that he was unused to seeing in her. "Because I spent forty-five thousand years filled with regret for not being able to help you once. I missed my chance then, I won't sit by and watch you suffer the memories of your past alone now. I refuse to let someone I love slip away from me again if I can do something to help them."

Aurelius nearly stumbled and fell when she said love. "I.. didn't know you cared that much Knowledge…"

She huffed and looked away for a moment with arms crossed. "Of course you didn't. I never made it obvious and due to your stubborn nature you never noticed."

The Legate frowned and wanted to argue but knew she was right. "I.. I'm sorry… had I known… I don't know. Things might have played out differently…"

He stepped up to her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "But we can't change the past… I know that better than most…. All we can do is fight for a better future…."

He hesitated a moment, his confidence faltering. But Kaguya pushed them both over the figurative line and locked her lips with his in a short but loving embrace. Once again surprising the soldier, but he didn't fight it. Merely leaning in closer to her embrace. After a few moments they broke away and Kaguya looked into the Legate's eyes with conviction.

"Then we do so together. From here to eternity."

Aurelius smiled softly and rested his head against her shoulder and held her against him softly. "I can agree to that."