Author's note: So, first of all, in response to the comments to the first two chapters - I will divulge what I already offered in the tags on Ao3: I promise Frankenstein will be okay and this will have a happy ending. Yeah. I am as surprised as everyone else, hah!
Updates are planned to be posted weekly, the entire plot is planned out down to every single individual scene so I am actually likely to complete this one, for a change! Looking forward to the ride with y'all! 3

Muzaka II – Werewolf Island, 24th October 2012, 22:59

Deep down inside, Muzaka knew that he might be making the mistake of his life when choosing to join Rai instead of dealing with the monster who dared to call himself Lord. No. Such a choice could never be the wrong one. To protect a friend was never the wrong choice. Raizel had almost given his life because of him – he would not leave him lying in the mud, literally, when Raizel would probably give the last of his blood to help him.

He bolted past a blond noble who tried to keep Maduke's chimeric monster at bay with his arrows. "Hey, you there. Help your mate over there!" The redhead noble facing off against the twin women – he did not have more than a glance to spare. Luckily, the archer was on his way to help them instead.

Muzaka narrowly dodged a wing of the chimera, and landed on the ground near Raizel. His eyes were wide open. "Rai! What the fuck?! This is no place to take a nap!" Muzaka's voice cracked under the weight of his attempted joke. The emptiness in Raizel's eyes scared him.
"Frankenstein..." Raizel stared right past him as Muzaka pulled up his torso into a sitting position. Frankenstein? No way. There was no way they could have grown that powerful. He grit his teeth. Maduke would pay for this. For Garda, for the werewolves he killed for experiments, for Frankenstein, too. He pulled away and got back up. The battlefield around them was a chaos. In the distance, a woman screamed in terror.
He turned his attention to where the twins had fought just before and felt incredibly old and tired all of a sudden. Now there was only one left. The blonde man and the redhead had made short work of the other. How many more would have to die because of Maduke's madness today?
He must stop it. "I will help your Lord put an end to this," he muttered, pulling away from Raizel. These wounds... were deeper than his words could ever reach. The only thing he could do now... was put all of his strength into making sure not even more people died tonight.

"You are the new Lord, are you not?" He joined the woman with the sword that could only be Ragnarok. "Happy to finally meet you in person. If only it were under better circumstances."
Raskreia cast a glance to the side and merely spared a nod for him. They had a monster to stop.

How many innocents had died for the creation of this abomination? The mere thought filled him with a red hot flaming anger. He would avenge every single one of them. In the past, he had let Maduke and his accomplices get away with their schemes – no one could undo the damage he'd allowed them to cause. It could not be undone. But they could be avenged.
In a flash of intense, white light, he gathered his spiritual energy to release his phantom wolf at the chimera.

"Lord!", he called out towards Raskreia. She must be holding back. For the sake of the people around them, she probably held back. Ragnarok could sink the whole island with ease, he knew that the Lord wielded this kind of power. There was only one reason why she would hold back like that: to protect all those around her.
Dodging a beam of intense lightning emitted by the titan, he joined her. "We must focus our attacks and fell him in one decisive strike!"

Under all the damage this monster had sustained, it seemed to start rampaging – its attacks were unfocused, imprecise. Just a little bit more.

"Muzaka!"
His attention was drawn, once more, by Maduke, who had approached the battle site by now. Titan was the biggest threat at the moment and Muzaka had half a mind to ignore him altogether – but Garda was with him. She had regained consciousness. "I am sorry Lord. I must -" His voice broke off and Raskreia answered with an understanding nod.
He could not fight. Not while Garda was still in the claws of his monster.
"I was afraid you might have killed her already," Maduke remarked with a smug grin. Zaiga and the Noble used their auras to shield them from the forces unleashed all around.
"Shut your bloody mouth, Maduke!"
"Don't talk to the Lord like that, you traitor!", Garda spat and Maduke did not hold her back from charging at Muzaka. He barely evaded her attack, starting to feel worn.
"Garda! He is not the Lord! He is -"
"More of a Lord than you," Maduke finished with a cool that made Muzaka's blood boil. "Which one of us murdered all of his supporters? Which one of us abandoned his people? Which one of us betrayed everyone who put their trust in them?"
Thrown off, Muzaka failed to dodge Garda's attack. The force of the impact of her fist against his chest slammed his body into the ground. What... What did he say?!
"I've never done such a thing!" He rolled over to the side – one split second later, Garda's foot would have crushed his skull. Breathlessly, Muzaka got back to his feet.
"Because of you, they all died! We all believed in you!" Tears ran down Garda's cheeks and it broke his heart. The ground trembled under the force of the Noble Lord facing the chimera. They were running out of time.
"That's right. All because of you." Maduke's chuckle made him nauseous. "And you know what's most delicious? Garda believed in you until the end. For centuries, she insisted you would come and save her. Insisted that you would never betray her... or your followers... or your people. What do you feel, Garda? Do you believe him?"
"... No, Lord." She was shaking. "I do not believe this traitor anymore."

This battlefield was a nightmare. He almost got caught by the flaming blast fired by the red-headed noble when he evaded Garda's claws.
"Face me, you coward!" He snarled. This was the only way to end this. Just him against his nemesis. Maduke always has been weaker than him – and then, when their Lord fell, the other warriors would stop. They must. "Fight me, one on one, if you dare!"
For a moment, he thought Maduke was actually going to comply and accept the challenge as honour would command it – but he was past the point of caring about honor. A monster like him knew no honour. Instead of adhering to the laws of the land, Maduke merely laughed.
"A traitor has no right to challenge the Lord. But it's alright, Muzaka. There is no need to confess your crimes against your followers. I know the whole truth already."
Garda landed a blow from behind and, coughing up blood, Muzaka stumbled forward. Maduke moved in and caught him by the arm to twist his limb back forcefully – with his other hand, he grabbed Muzaka by the hair to tilt his head back.
"There is no need to confess. I know what happened to them. I eliminated them. One by one." He brought his mouth close to Muzaka's ear. "... and before you die... I want to make sure you die knowing... that I am behind Ashleen's death."

For a split second, the world froze. Ashleen. With a roar, he tore himself free from Maduke's grasp. Ashleen. His claws slashed over Maduke's arm and almost sliced through the bone clean. Ashleen. Garda raised her arm to protect her eyes from the blinding light of Muzaka's energy. Ashleen. The surrounding enemies recoiled at his power. Ashleen. Let them fear his righteous wrath. Ashleen. He'd slaughter them like they'd slaughtered her. Ashleen.

He would make Maduke pay for every single life he'd sacrificed to his own greed a thousandfold.

Raskreia I – Werewolf Island, 24th October 2012, 23:20

Had anger clouded Raskreia's judgement? Had the Noblesse, Frankenstein and the former Lord Muzaka not been here, things could have turned sour with frightening ease. Even now, with his monstrosity rampaging, fear held her heart in a tight crutch. She was the Lord, the wielder of Ragnarok, and she was failing her people here, in foreign lands, against an enemy that would not stop until there was nothing left to destroy. That's why she must not fail – yet even with Ser Raizel, they had struggled... and now... Raskreia did not want to imagine what could have sent him in such a shock, but she could imagine. Was Ignes Kravei really powerful enough to overwhelm Frankenstein? This was the only explanation. Raskreia could not fathom any other reason for Ser Raizel's sudden loss of will to fight. Yet even if he could not fight on... She must stand strong. She was the Lord. She was born for this: to protect her people, both on the lands that were their home and here, far away, before the storm could reach their shores and ravage their people.

Heaving, she took in the situation when the titan turned away from her for a moment. Two of the werewolf warriors have been defeated. With a soft thud, Raskreia landed on the ground. Ser Raizel was with two of the modified humans who were part of his group. They must have joined him while she was preoccupied with the chimera. Raizel had sat up by now, supported by the purple-haired man. The fear and worry in the eyes of these two humans made her stomach turn.
Karias was releasing arrows of spiritual energy from the back while two werewolf warriors tried to stay out of the Titan's way. The more time passed, the more danger they were in. Raizel's strength was fading. Muzaka was right, they must finish this all in one fell swoop.

"M-21," Raizel said softly, turning his head to look at Tao. There was no need to put his question into explicit words. Tao pressed his lips together in response. "We did not find him," Takeo added quietly and Raskreia could make out a slight tremble in his voice. The companion Raizel had meant to find... She did not allow herself to finish her train of thought.
"Raizel." She caught his empty stare and tried to find her own calm. The clan leaders were arriving to assist those who already were here in their fight. They could do it. Together, they could do it. Across the battlefield, she could hear Muzaka's mighty roar. "Now is not the time to be emotional," she stated, feeling awfully blunt for such a comment. Was she not right, though? They both turned around, and Raskreia raised her arm to protect her eyes from the blinding light of Muzaka's spiritual energy, released in a magnitude he had not been able to muster up against titan. Even though she would rather have him by her side against the Titan... This was a personal matter, she could not keep him from settling that score first. Or else, he would not be able to give everything to stop this monstrosity.
Muzaka has been wronged, this was his chance to find justice.

"She's right," Tao said, finally snapping out of his temporary state of shock. "There's a chance M-21 is still alive." Raskreia did not know whether he was merely saying that to comfort his companions, or whether his words were accompanied by true hope.
Takeo placed his hand on Raizel's back while Tao held his arm. Together, they helped him back on his feet.

"We must help Muzaka," Raizel muttered, and Raskreia shook her head.
"The Titan is a threat to every single one of us. Muzaka is powerful."
Even though she had a hard time believing her own words – between Maduke, Ignes Kravei and two warriors, even someone as powerful as Muzaka could get overwhelmed easily. Just like Frankenstein. Raizel shook his head slowly. Even though she hated to admit it – he might be right. One against four, in his current state? With a sigh of exhaustion, she acquiesced. "I will cover your back."

Raizel turned his gaze towards his two human friends. "Be careful."

Raizel II - Werewolf Island, 24th October 2012, 23:24

Frankenstein might have been defeated – but it was not too late to save Muzaka and M-21. Raizel clung to this thought as they crossed the battlefield, past Rael and Miss Seira against a warrior of the werewolves. It was not too late to save his friends. M-21. Muzaka. Tao. Takeo. The clan leaders. He was the Noblesse, and though his duty was bloody, and the price of his power higher than most felt comfortable with... to die protecting those he cared about would be a good death.

Muzaka was raging – and Raizel almost stopped, eyes widening in recognition. "Garda... is fighting with them. I cannot let him kill her." Garda, she, who always followed Muzaka, wherever he went. He could not let him kill her. Muzaka would not be able to bear the guilt that her blood on his hands would place on his shoulders.

Conjuring up what little energy he had left, Raizel let a wing of blood sprout from his back – he could no longer summon two. His eyes gleamed red as he raised his hand. "Muzaka."
For a moment, Muzaka slowed, and his glowing eyes returned to their grey. A second of clarity. Raizel's hand trembled as he tried to gain control over Muzaka's raging mind. The only way to force him back into control of his own actions. A whiplash delivered by the traitor clan leader sent Muzaka reeling to the side and, coughing up blood, he landed on his knees. With a sweeping slash, Raskreia kept the white warrior from attacking the wounded former Lord again.

"So you really are here, Lord." Maduke chuckled. "I would have come to greet you, had I known we're expecting such distinguished visitors."
"Save your pleasantries for someone who wants to hear them, Lord Maduke," Raskreia stated bluntly while Raizel, behind her, helped Muzaka back up on his feet. Leave the Lord's to each other, at least for one moment.
"Rai... you... pulled me out of this... in your state?" Muzaka coughed up a few drops of blood, pressing his hand over a wound below his rib cage, inflicted by Garda most likely.
"I could not let you kill Garda," he answered softly. More importantly, he could not let Muzaka rampage like that – against so many enemies, he needed a clear head. While Maduke accused the Lord of declaring war by coming to their lands personally, Muzaka took a moment to recover. Garda was on the ground a couple of feet away from them, unconscious once more. He really would have killed her... he swallowed.

"Raizel... you... the humans did not..." Muzaka was struggling with each word and, softly, Raizel placed a hand against his arm. "I am so sorry," the werewolf spat, turning his head away. "... the injustice I committed against you... your life force..."
"Do not ask for forgiveness," Raizel interrupted him. "There is nothing to forgive."

Despite the raging abomination, despite the taunts of the false Lord, despite the chaos that reigned around them, a part of Raizel felt soothed. At least one of his friends was safe.

Safe. Watch out!. Ignes Kravei's voice reached his ear from far away as he registered the blue fist rushing towards them. The world was too slow and too fast at the same time. He did not resist when Muzaka grabbed his arm – and like a wax doll, the werewolf flung him away. The ground shook under the impact of the titan's attack. The world was slow. With a sweeping motion, Titan turned to the right, towards Maduke and his two companions. For a few moments, scattered dust and dirt clouded Raizel's vision and, struggling to get back on his feet, he staggered towards Muzaka. Nothing could withstand such an attack.

"Raizel..." He could faintly feel traces of Muzaka's energy remaining. Helplessly, Raizel dropped to his knees next to the near-destroyed boy of his friend. His bones were shattered, they must have punctured almost all of his vital organs. "... I am … sorry," he whispered, coughing up blood. It splattered over Raizel's faze.

Again... he failed to save those he cared for.. again... He could feel the last gleam of life leaving the battered body of his oldest friend. Raizel's hands trembled. Again and again he lost them, everyone he cared for, swept up because his love brought nothing but damnation.
Someone screamed, and it took a sharp ache in his throat to realize that it was his own voice cutting through the noise of the battles. Leaving behind the body, he rose to his feet. Frankenstein. Muzaka. M-21. He head failed them all. Because of his weakness, they died. Two wings of blood sprouted from his back as he unleashed the last of his force. The battlefield trembled as the titan's blood gushed from his veins, boiling hot acid that burnt itself into the ground. Blood. Blood. Blood. Let his own blood flow if only it meant that no other blood was spilled. His voice broke as he fell to the ground, where the chimera had stood. This... this must have been the last of his strength.

M-21. He had sworn to protect him. No more harm should come over a soul who endured so much suffering already. Muzaka. They were meant to learn to live again together. He was supposed to heal from the loss and let sunlight flood his soul anew. Frankenstein. He, who endured so many centuries of separation... taken from his undeserving Master just like that. He had failed them all.

All fights had come to a halt and for almost a minute, he heard nothing but his own rattled, laboured breath. Then, finally, laughter tore through the silence of the night. A slow clap. "Is that not absolutely touching? I think I'm going to cry!" Maduke laughed, voice trembling. Raizel forced himself to look up, and his glare met the werewolf Lord's stare. If only he had enough strength left... He felt a hand on his back. Takeo was the first one to join him. Tao knelt down next to Raizel as well. He must have enough life force left to destroy Maduke, and tear out the plant of evil by its roots.

"Lord Maduke!" Raskreia's voice cut through the laughter of the werewolf Lord and silenced him at once. Raizel had no strength left... but she did.

"As the Lord of the Nobles, I, Erga Kenesis di Raskreia, challenge you, the Lord of Werewolves!"