The mood of Cryofloe was harsh and unwelcoming. The skies felt darker, the snow covered roads were quieter, and the air was thinner.

There was a general sense of fatigue in the air among the soldiers, a lack of motivation, a dwindling of numbers among their army.

And this mood left the women suffering the most. The needs they thought they needed to fulfill were left unattended, their bodies suffered from bruising, and mental scars filled their waking nights.

The only bit of sunshine that seemed to reach these lands was brought in by an outsider, Nimus.

He walked through the streets, hands in his pockets, whistling a merry tune. At his hip was a magic sealed bag with a playful trinket shaking like the cold to break free.

The women swooned at his dashing young looks but he gave them a solemn look and nothing more.

They were used and abused and he was not someone who was ready to shed tears for them out in the open. That wasn't cool.

And it wouldn't save them anyways.

It was a straight line from the village entrance to the palace, and then a straight walk up top. The guards knew better than to try, heck, they likely stopped giving a shit around the same time as most of the soldiers.

Nimus knocked on the front door and was beaten back by a woman's panicked wail.

He then opened the door just in time for said woman to scurry out, covering herself in nothing but a bed sheet.

He could sense open cuts down her arms and briefly held her on the shoulder, giving her some of his aura so she could heal faster.

But then she was let loose to go running into the hostile lands below.

It was hard to hold his smile after that ugly display, but it would only get uglier once he went inside.

The room was dimly lit on one side and the chandelier was half-broken on the other.

Nimus slid to the left coolly to dodge a wine bottle and then stayed as he became the unintended target of drunken babbling, "G-Go on, run…! You…hic! Will never know pleasure like mine…!"

Colrez was half-naked on his mattress, wine dribbling off his chin and onto his flabby chest. Signs of muscles were still there but years of gluttony on wine and age was starting to take its toll.

His right eye was twitchy, struggling to get into focus. But when he recognized Nimus, his expression began to sour worse than the liquid spoiling in his gut.

"Oh it's you…!" He scoffed.

Nimus walked up to the edge of the bed and chuckled, "Got wine to spare or did your last bottle just leave the building?"

"What do you want?" Muttered Colrez as he reached for his weapons fallen at the side of the bed.

When this caused him to tumble off the side and groan in pain, Nimus leaned in with a cocky smile and told him, "Looks like you're the one who wants something, Old Man Frost."

Colrez was stubborn, too intoxicated by pride to let himself go down so easily. He stood, coughing up wine in Nimus' face before holding himself together, still little more than a bastard in shambles.

"F-From…you? Ha…you're a jester, boy. I was promised conquest and victory unrivaled, and what do I have to show for it…?"

Colrez spar louder, "Mockery! Insubordination! You so-called 'Sages' have made a fool out of ME!"

Nimus began to scowl but held back. With a light raise of his shoulders he continued to joke his way through this conversation, "Hey hey, it ain't that bad."

Colrez started to laugh in turn, "Y-Yes, of course…! Look at my bedside, lavish women tending to my every need, lands…bitten forevermore in frost, and the heads of those earthen barbarians adorning my walls!"

He lashed his arm out and his eyes were widening out of madness, "You see it, don't you?"

Nimus turned and said with a smile, "Yeah, looks nice!"

Colrez drew a sword to his neck, using his shoulder to keep it up. Panting like a starving beast, the ruler of frost glared at him with bloodshot eyes and growled.

"I d-demand compensation for this humiliation. Shall it be your head? Or…"

Nimus raised his hands and talked to him in a slow, mocking tone, "And compensation you will have! Cause I brought a gift that'll put you right back up on top!"

He then pointed at his hip and was allowed to step back and grab the box from his side. He opened it up and from it, pulled out a black ice crown with liquid nitrogen filled crystals adorning the uneven spikes.

Colrez lost control and he fell on his butt and gasped.

Nimus smiled as he held the crown closer, it's intoxicating glow reflecting in his eyes as he buttered up the man's feeble pride, "I don't think I need to tell you what this is…"

"B-Black Bifrost's Coronet…! Said to have brought winter days for a thousand years…!" Colrez' pupils shrink as he gets on his knees and fiddles his fingers in the air at it, "It-It was a myth…"

"And now you can make it your legend. So how about it?" Nimus extended it out, "A conquest to end all conquests."

From the outside, Carolina's relaxation on the mountainside was disrupted by a chilling, deep violet glow gushing out of the palace.

Her heart ached, as she gripped her knives with resolve…

Chapter -25: Ring the Last Bell of War

Cecilia made her way through Oreore to check on the state of things in her husband's absence.

In light of recent events it felt more important now more than ever to ensure that everything was secured and out of harm's way.

The other miners greeted her warmly, and she waved back. Taking time out to lift boulders with ease on her back became as simple to her as breathing.

She was an inspiration to the young men and women, a champion of the people.

Nothing about her attitude had really changed in her mind, she had that same proud warrior mentality that helped her survive all these years.

But maybe…it did feel nice to smile at these children once in a while.

After making the rounds she returned home to find Lianne working on sharpening her old claw mitts.

"Everything looks good today." Cecilia remarked before sitting down all sprawled out on the stone couch.

Lianne leaned over her shoulder with a smirk, "Gonna nap?"

"Just for a second, then I'll go train."

"Heh, no rest for my daughter-in-law eh?"

She put her gloves aside and kneeled next to the couch to rub her calves, "Least let me give ya a massage."

"You spoil me, Lianne." Cecilia said in a soothed tone.

"Heh, someone's gotta. My boy ain't got the fingers for this."

"His fingers are rough, yes, but they feel good in other ways." Cecilia let slip.

Lianne paused for a while and then whispered with some mild scorn, "I'll just pretend I didn't hear that."

Cecilia did feel some shame over saying that.

After some relaxation she performed some stretches and push-ups to start her routine and walked outside in a mild sweat.

Right as she walked out though a strange shadow passed by overhead, light passing through the inner part of it.

She felt the temperature dropping and before she knew it, Carolina hovered down into view, spreading a fine icy mist from below her feet.

Cecilia reached for her back but grabbed at air. Before aggressions could escalate, Carolina shook her dainty head and strained through her mouth, "H-Help…"

Cecilia's pupils shrunk and she watched some of the miners jumping at the chance to get involved.

"Hold it!" Cecilia ordered, slowly panning her narrowed gaze over to the Sage, whose puckered lips expressed great distress.

Locking her arms against her chest, she raised a brow and said, "So…now you need my help. Why should I…?"

Carolina pointed her fingers above her lips and pulled them out, using snow to create a familiar jagged mustache.

Cecilia's heart thawed with a growing rage. The source of this feeling, that horrible, wretched leader of Cryofloe…her "father". She had almost been allowed to forget his disdainful face, a peace of mind she would have loathed forever.

Carolina dropped onto the steps with the weight of a feather and laid her hands before her waist to take a bow, "Please…"

After all this time the Sage has spent toying around with her about "Not being ready", Cecilia wasn't exactly leaping with joy to help her.

But something grim was astir in Cryofloe if it warranted her leaving her territory in this state…

"I will need you to be cooperative. And none of your little tricks either."

Carolina was rather agreeable today, and nodded.

Cecilia became a little less tense and then waved for the house, "We will discuss this inside."

"But…?" Carolina fanned her hands down from her shoulders to create a frosty poncho.

Cecilia's expression became indignant, "We don't need him."

Carolina shook her head, "Bigger…than…Colrez."

"Ghhh…" Cecilia threw her head down to let out a big sigh and then glared at her with a disgruntled expression, "Fine. But I don't know how to call him. You will have to wait."

"I could expedite the process." Said Atrax, appearing from Cecilia's shadow. Carolina jumped back to levitate mid-air and drew her knives.

Cecilia looked back at him and remarked in a dry tone, "You always pick weird times to care."

Atrax bowed to apologize, "I have been busy tending to my 'duties' as a Sage, but this…sounds urgent."

He then looked at Carolina and remarked, "Easy, Carolina. I won't report this to Lord Borealis. Right now, we're after the same goal."

Carolina continued to hold her knives towards him and hum uncomfortably.

"Haaa…I'll send Sarajin here in a moment." Atrax then sunk into the shadows.

Cecilia and Carolina waited inside the house and a little while later Ezekiel came home from delivering metals to Pulsa Minoria.

And a few minutes after that, Sarajin arrived at the front door, bringing with him his son and Auris.

Cecilia was both surprised and happy to see her, "Auris, why…?"

Auris smiled and murmured, "I sensed my help would be required."

Sarajin then said, "Soooo…"

The Gaia kitchen table was transformed into a fancy little rectangle dotted with icy tea cups, filled courtesy of Carolina.

Sarajin rubbed the back of his head and wondered, "I…thought this was an emergency?"

Nobody seemed to want to comment on the scene, so everyone just sort of awkwardly slid into the table save for Zeno, who walked around impatiently.

Sarajin had to start things off with an apology, "Sorry. We didn't have time to drop him off. Is that ok?"

Lianne chuckled, "S'long he don't touch my claws, it's fine by me."

Cecilia then jumped right onto the important matter at hand, "So about the state of affairs in Cryofloe…"

Carolina sat down and shook her head, "One…more…"

Cecilia raised her voice, "What do you mean 'One more?!'"

"Valflame…" Carolina murmured.

Sarajin was surprised "Really?" before it hit him what this meant, "Oh, this can only mean…"

Auris bridged her fingers under her chin, "Canofloe is in danger too."

Saeajin clicked his tongue against gritted teeth and then sighed, "Well, someone needs to go and vouch for him at the gates."

Lianne volunteered, feeling she had little involvement otherwise.

Fortunately their timing couldn't have been better, since Valflame was riding up to the gates on his mare by the time she arrived.

After guiding him to her house, Valflame entered with a short bow to greet a plethora of new and familiar faces. He was an upstanding gentleman, choosing to come not in his armor, but a comfortable hanfu.

Zeno stopped pacing and gazed in awe at this man, "Wooooooow…"

Valflame then took a seat at the meeting table next to Auris and let out a couple coughs, "Sorry for delaying things."

Cecilia quickly remarked, "Just tell us what's going on. Both of you."

Valflame saw how Carolina was hesitating and with an easy smile he volunteered, "I'll start…"

He closed his eyes and sighed in distress, "The one-eyed demon has made Canoflie her home once more."

The table was hardly surprised, especially Ezekiel, "So that's why we ain't heard from her in a while…"

Valflame's eyes squirmed, "I cannot imagine what she's plotting, only that it's terrible. She already has reawakened my men's fear and demanded they march to war against Cryofloe. However…"

He looked at Carolina, "I'm sorry, this is as far as I can stall, my fair lady."

Carolina nodded, and then graced the top of her head with an imitation crown, "Colrez has…a black crown."

Cecilia lost all sense of calm from her expression and began muttering in disbelief, "Black Bifrost's Coronet…?"

Carolina nodded, causing Cecilia to immediately slam her fist down and turn away.

After seeing how her uncharacteristic display shook the others, she looked back and regained some semblance of calm, "...The Coronet is said to call upon a power of ice even greater than black frost. It spews liquid and can freeze anything it touches instantly, even condensed magma."

Valflame interjected, "It is their equivalent to our Spectral Azure Torch."

Ezekiel remarked with some understanding of what was going on, "Ain't that the same kind of flame that demon woman has?"

Valflame cupped his hands together and raised both thumbs, "Blue, tight as the devil's snare…It's raw strength is frightening, yes, but not as terrifying as the grip it has on your soul."

"Legends speak that the torch is a funnel that draws upon the fire of the afterlife. To feast upon it means to subjugate your soul to endless torment that would drive any person insane."

Ezekiel flicked his wrist out and said in a mildly humored tone, "Well if that demon's anything, it ain't sane."

Sarajin then abridged the information they had so far, "So we got two dangerous individuals in the possession of volatile powers."

Auris only had a grim thought to bring to the table, "The next time a war between the two Tribes breaks out, it's going to be a slaughter. There could very well be no survivors on either side."

Sarajin clicked his tongue and growled, "That's crazy, even Magmankey wouldn't let that happen!"

"He…would." Carolina muttered, her wings wilting below her waist.

A few cracking sounds came out of the back of her throat as she tried to speak more clearly to the others, "I…tried to talk…one more time. He…said…"

She had to take a breather and wound up etching out what he said with snow.

"An all-out brawl to the death? Hoo hoo hoo, haven't had a big wipeout like this since the early days of the war! It's gonna reset them both to zero!"

Sarajin could envision the big cheeky smile the Titan wore while enjoying himself, and this made his fists begin to tighten as his thoughts strayed towards outrage at his callous attitude.

Valflame's voice began to crack as he turned to Sarajin to plead for help, "What are we supposed to do? I can't send my people out to be slaughtered, but I fear that she'll hunt us all down if we don't get in line with her."

"Mmm…" Sarajin crossed his arms up and as he was about to get his wife's opinion, Cecilia spoke out against him.

"Why don't we just try to reach out to them, make them see reason?"

Sarajin looked at her as she lashed at him with a mocking tone. Her brows slanted and she propped her elbows on the table to lean out and give him the biggest glare he's ever seen yet, "Oh, wait, it's that mentality that gave that bastard enough time to acquire that crown in the first place!"

Ezekiel tried to reach out and say softly, "Cecilia…"

Cecilia jumped right to standing up and slamming her hands down on the table, "I told ALL OF YOU that we needed to kill him from the start…"

Her venting soon turned towards herself, embittered in tone as she bit her lower lip and mumbled, "But like a fool I let myself lose track of what was important…"

She curled her fists and then pulled away, heading straight for her weapons laid up against the side of the door. She then walked out of the door, Ezekiel's call trailing out after her, "Hey! What are you doin'?!"

He was about to get up when Sarajin had already beaten him to it, calmly telling him, "Let me handle her."

Ezekiel sat down and nodded. Sarajin then sped out the door like a bolt of lightning and stood beside the path Cecilia marched.

With the sincere but firm reach of his voice he told her, "We need to think of a plan, this isn't the way."

"Back OFF Sarajin, your way is no longer going to cut it." She said, taking a moment to shove him in the gut with her elbow.

Sarajin continued to walk alongside her, picking up the pace when she wasn't stopping so he could stand directly in front of her with hand outstretched towards her face, "And getting killed is better?"

She grit her teeth and began to shake, "I will make sure he goes down with me…!"

"What the heck…" Sarajin dropped his hand and looked at her, making her feel like she was being seen as less than she was.

She then drew one sword towards his face and shouted, "I will not be judged by you! I…am my own person, and killing him will be my justice!"

"Justice…" Sarajin grabbed her sword and forced it down to his chest, "Or revenge?"

She bit her teeth down and muttered, "What difference does it make…?"

Sarajin closed his eyes and took a deep breath in and out, "I…don't know you very well, you've always kept a far distance from anyone outside of your family. Maybe I'll never understand why you hate Colrez so much, but I do know one thing…"

He opened his eyes and with intense sincerity he whispered to her, "You ARE better than this."

"I'm NOT," She said, no deception in her voice, "My heart has been sharpened into a blade to be pointed at my enemies. Killing is second nature to me."

"And just how many humans have you killed, Cecilia?" Sarajin's tone began to weigh on her heart like guilt, easing the tension with which she gripped her sword.

Sarajin looked deep into her eyes and his demeanor became sturdy, his eyes reflecting grief and pain as he could barely keep his voice together, "It seems so easy…until you do it."

"Guilty. Innocent. It doesn't matter. They will haunt you, you'll never escape."

"You think you're stronger than the blood on your hands? You're NOT."

"Look at what you've made for yourself, Cecilia. You have the respect of everyone in this ravine, and mine as well. You built a place for yourself, found love in an unexpected way, and even have a son who loves you just as much as you love him."

"The way I see it you've already gotten your revenge on Colrez. Killing him will only satisfy a part of you that isn't YOU."

"I can't convince you to stay your blade if it comes down to it…" Sarajin jerked the blade away from him and made one last remark on the subject, calming down to his more sunny, supportive self, "But you're crafty. I bet you can figure out a better way to punish him."

"..." Cecilia put the blade onto her back and crossed her arms, her heart rate slowing back down.

She then sighed and with a tired, wandering gaze she wondered, "The fighting is never going to end. Even if we stop Colrez and Vermilion."

"No," Sarajin shook his head and when he raised it up with his smile included, it was sharp, full of determination and edging a little on insane, "I'm ending this NOW."

He then started walking past the awestruck Cecilia, waving at her to follow along, "Come on, we've got some plans to make."

"Hmph." She said with a slight smile edging her face.

Once back at the house it was like that scene had never unfolded. Both parties returned to their respective seats, but Sarajin had to deal with Auris eyeing him in a mildly worrying way.

She let out an expected sigh and then crossed her fingers under her chin, letting Sarajin get away with his ideas for the time being.

He stood and planted his hands on the table, addressing everyone gathered here as equals, "This is going to be our toughest fight yet…and this time, I can't guarantee we're all going to make it out alive."

"We're going to need to deal with Colrez and Vermilion at the same time. Cecilia is going to be fighting Colrez, and I don't want to hear any arguments over it."

Sarajin then turned to Valflame and said, "Sir Valflame, I'm asking a lot of you here but…I need you and your men to fight Vermilion."

Valflame was taken aback but bolstered his aged expression with some courage born from the conviction with which this young man spoke, "You're right. It's time to let that demon know that our home, my people, are not here for her amusement."

Sarajin nodded, "I'm not going to send you into that fight alone. Ezekiel can help you out, maybe I could talk about getting Brine or my dad to help…"

"I don't think Ezekiel should participate." Cecilia spoke up, leaving her husband baffled so hard he nearly recoiled out of his seat.

"Oh heck no, finally puttin' that demon in her place is gonna be the highlight of my year, heck, maybe even my life!"

"And what about our son?" Cecilia remarked, leaving him to choke on his bravado.

He then settled down into a more relaxed state of mind, feeling that there was something…worrying about her choosing to bring that up.

With no other words from her lips, he looked at her and whispered, "Someone's gotta be 'ere for him…"

"And our home." Cecilia added on.

Ezekiel closed his eyes part way and reached across the table to hold her hands gently, "Yer comin' home. And we're gonna celebrate through seven moon falls…on the finest wine I can squeeze from the land."

Cecilia looked into his eyes and felt her heart twist, such was the might of love conquering a vengeful spirit…

Carolina's wings fluttered at this lovely sight and she raised her voice to the crowd, "I will…aid Valflame."

Sarajin flinched in her direction, "I thought Sages weren't supposed to fight each other?"

Carolina stood tall and her slender frame radiated the courage of a lion, "I…have been silent to her…pain…long enough."

"Well…that will help shift the balance of power in our favor, but I don't know…Vermilion is tough."

As Sarajin crossed his arms to weigh his options, his son threw himself in front of the table and shouted, "I can help too!"

Sarajin immediately turned and reprimanded him, "Absolutely not!"

But Valflame also shouting the same thing really threw Zeno for a loop.

"W-Why not…? Isn't this what I've been training for, dad?"

Sarajin told him softly, "I wanted you to get this training so you could protect yourself and others."

"Yeah, like right now!" Zeno proclaimed.

"This is a Sage we're talking about. You're not ready to face someone that dangerous."

"Yeah I am! Right, mom?" Zeno gestured to Auris sitting there pensively.

Sarajin looked at her in silent anticipation for her answer.

She unfolded her fingers and remarked, "Morally, I'm strongly against the idea of putting my son on the front lines…"

"But…" She gave him a quick smile and wink, "I have a hunch that he may prove useful in the coming fight."

Sarajin folded his arms and remarked with suspicion, "A hunch, or…?"

She glanced at him from the side and he folded up instantly, "Alright…maybe you are ready then. But you have to promise me that you'll let Sir Valflame and Carolina do most of the fighting."

Zeno was too full of joy to really respond, "Heh heh, I'm going to fight alongside my dad, this is great!"

Valflame was a little choked up talking afterwards, "S-So myself, the boy and Carolina will deal with Vermilion, and Cecilia will fight Colrez alone…?"

Cecilia confirmed why she was confident in this, "I know that man too well. He may have once had a keen eye for fighting, but that power is going to have made him drunk. I should be able to edge the advantage out by fighting smarter."

Valflame then had this to add, "So…where does that leave you, Sarajin?"

Sarajin gripped his fist and pumped it before his chest, "I'm taking the fight straight to the Titan."

"Good lord…!" Valflame said, nearly having a heart attack.

"Ya sure that's a wise idea, brother?" Ezekiel sputtered, "I-I mean…yer talkin' a Titan here, one of the lords of our world!"

"Magmankey lost faith in this world because of all the violence and distrust people have towards one another," Sarajin drew his sword and looked at his reflection in this blade, "But look at us now, people from five separate Tribes have come together to fight for a better world."

He then put the sword back in the sheath and kept his grip on the hilt, "I'm going to fight him, and through it…get him to see the light again."

This marked the end of the planning stage but not necessarily of the conversation. They still had at least a day before the two Tribes marched to their final battle.

And now that the talking was spread out amongst the others, Auris took this opportunity to pull Sarajin outside for a little private chat.

She closed her eyes and smiled, "That was an admirable job, Sarajin."

Sarajin rubbed the back of his head and looked the other way, "I don't know, feels like I messed up somewhere…"

"You did," She said, pulling back on the bluntness by giving him the answer right away, "You forgot about Solaris."

Sarajin gasped and then bit his teeth, "Riiiiight, he's loyal to Vermilion right now, which means he might be there on the battlefield…"

Before he started panicking and rethinking his plans, Auris waved her hand up beside her face and remarked, "That's my role in this gambit. I'll intercept him and keep him occupied until the battle's over."

Sarajin's face turned pale for a bit and she immediately told him, "I know. You were confident in facing the Titan because you thought I'd be by your side."

She laid her arms under her chest and her smile was beaming like the sun, "But this isn't my fight. You alone have to be the one to convince him about the strength humanity has regained to face the adversity of this world."

Sarajin gestured his hands out weakly and murmured, "But…am I really ready…alone?"

She reached out to his shoulder and said, "You are. This is what you've been waiting for."

She then laid her hand on his cheek and gave it a couple pats, making him blush and then hold onto her hand, "We're making it through this. All of us."

She then closed her eyes a little more firmly and spoke up, "Yes, but…a little more preparation couldn't hurt. See, there's something else you've forgotten to consider."

Zeno tried to sneak a peek at their conversation but quickly grew bored and disgusted when he saw them looking romantic.

"Bleh…" As he stepped away from the window he was approached by Valflame, who seemed rather flustered and distant in his expression.

"Oh, you're that leader guy from Canofloe!" Zeno said.

"And you're…Zeno, Sarajin's boy," Valflame's smile shone through briefly before he sighed and wondered aloud, "Are you not…the least bit nervous about tomorrow?"

"Over what? That 'Vermilion' whoever the heck is going to face the blade of the world's next great hero!" Zeno drew his sword and pointed it at the air, surprising Valflame with how well he handled it.

"You seem to have a good handle on your swordplay, boy…" Valflame's heart felt relief and instead of relying on his tense nerves to guide the conversation, he chose to reach out to this young soul as a friend, "The day is still young. Would you…honor me with a display of some of the techniques your parents have taught you? Perhaps that would help steel my nerves for the coming battle."

"Sure thing, old man! I've got an extra spicy move lined up to beat that demon!"

Ezekiel and Cecilia enjoyed some time together on the couch, while Lianne was off pounding some meat to be eaten for the pre-battle dinner.

"Can't believe it's gonna finally happen…Sarajin…fighting a Titan. Feels like just yesterday he was pullin' his muscle to lift a small boulder." Ezekiel commented.

Cecilia was deep in thought, "...I wonder."

"Mmm?" Ezekiel perked up.

"Black Bifrost's Coronet…it isn't something you acquire, it's something you have to make. Using black frost as the base, and the extract of a beast with no tangible form to fill the jewels adorning the crown."

"...There's a reason no one in Cryofloe has been able to make more than one. We lack the magic to put it all together, even with an Atelier."

Ezekiel was quick to say, "This smells like another Lilith scheme."

"Vermilion's personal involvement cinches it."

"Lil…ith…?" Carolina had snuck up behind them.

Cecilia leaned over the back of the couch and told her with a little sharpness, "Yes, that's why I was questioning you on your allegiance before. I thought you were saving Colrez's forces under Lilith's orders so they could continue to cause trouble."

Carolina gave a tiny frown and muttered, "Why…would…Lilith…?"

"Beats us, but her lots been undermining yer boss' authority for a long while now, causin' trouble wherever they darn well please," Ezekiel shrugged, "But, it's good to know yer on our side, Carolina. Thanks again for bringin' this conflict to our attention."

Carolina bowed and whispered, "No. Thank…you."

She turned to Cecilia in particular and smiled, "You are…ready."

She then turned around and wandered off, hiding a frown in the shadows.

She thought only of the discordant aura of her best friend Torren, and how her self-worth had slowly been destroyed by something.

But now, it may very well have been someone.

She grit her teeth and muttered bitterly, "Lil…ith…!"

Before any of them knew it, the fated day had dawned.

Tensions were rising on both sides of the mountain.

The army of ice soldiers were shaking at the sight of their lord reborn. Now clad in a black, jagged version of his armor, his eyes were intoxicated by purple with the crown looking like it was rooted into his forehead.

But he rode steady atop his bear steed with a thicker lance in hand, and sharper blades on his back.

Every last soldier was commanded to participate, and with a raise of his lance Colrez shouted in a booming, empirical voice, "March! For today, Canofloe shall huff their last smoke…!"

On the opposite side, Valflame rode atop his trusted steed, forced to walk side-by-side with the terrifying demon.

He glanced at her, finding her grumbling to be off-putting.

He could not realize that in this prelude of great carnage, her thoughts were rather…human.

"Where's that darn brat, he's going to miss out on the slaughter…!"

As fate had ordained to the benefit of this battle, Solaris had slept in a little late and was now rushing across the wastelands to make it on time.

"Shit…! Master's gonna be PISSED!" But what little chance he had to make it was reduced to zero as a familiar figure wandered out through the humid veil, illuminated by a dragoon on her back.

"Hello, Solaris." Uttered Auris, her voice was steel as the blade she twirled in her right hand.

Solaris ground to a halt and gasped, "Auris…?!"

He lashed his arm out and lost a bit of his nerves trying to command her, "G-Get out of my way, I got shit to do!"

Auris pointed her blade at him and smirked, "You're not making it to this battlefield. Today, I am your designated opponent."

"Besides, don't you wish to test your strength, for the sake of your father?" Auris swung her sword aside and her voice commanded the very ground to shake, "Then what better opportunity is there…than to face the Rainbow Valkyrie herself!"

Solaris' mind was a wonderful mix of fear, excitement, and childish submission. With the middle winning out, he drew his ridiculous looking sword in both hands and declared, "Fine…you asked for it!"

Back in Canofloe, Vermilion spat out, "Tsk…something's always gotta spoil my fun."

"Whatever…more for me then…" Her smile stretched her face and Valflame was left only to take a deep breath to prepare himself for the road ahead.

He looked behind him to see his men nodding. They were nervously holding onto their weapons, but that their feet stood still showed resolve he wished he had shown sooner…

And in the crowd of soldiers was the young Zeno, gifted with some Canofloe armor to help him blend in.

Hearts pumped loudly across the land as the silence of the mountain held an ominous grip over their minds.

As Colrez marched into position his movements were halted by a figure shadowed by the icy mist.

"Hold…" He thrust his lance out and smirked as the figure walked closer, revealing herself as Cecilia.

On her back, her swords and lance. Floating behind her, the armor that represented her time here.

"COLREZ!" She announced her presence with a commanding air around her, "I challenge you for the right to rule these lands!"

Colrez' sinister smirk grew ever more wicked as it rubbed up against the bottom of his eye, "Well…if it isn't the she-demon. Come to scar my eyes with your brutality once more?"

"Ha ha…!" He sat tall and poked the crown on his head with his lance, "I have ascended beyond being the ruler of these lands. I have been judged worthy of ruling all lands, nay, the WORLD!"

"A crown can't hide your cowardice, Colrez! It only deepens the darkness in your cold, black heart!" Cecilia drew her swords and pointed one at him, "And the time for your shadow to be cast over these lands is to come to an end today!"

"Pah…!" Colrez spat up, barely flinching, "Your life…ends today, demon. Back to the frozen depths of hades with you…!"

He flicked his lance out from the side and whispered, "Men. Clear the way for my conquest."

Cecilia shouted louder, "Is one mere woman too much for you to handle, mighty King of Frost?!"

She had Colrez's full attention, his ire growing in his glare as she continued to dare pretend she had authority to speak.

"Soldiers of Cryofloe, look at how he drags you along in his shadow to the point of exhaustion! When have you last known a decent night's sleep? When has he ever respected your efforts, or dared to learn your names?!"

"This way of living has left you addicted to splendor and thus easy for him to control! You don't have to take this! You are not his slaves! You are warriors, with all the pride that entails!"

Colrez raised his lance stiff over his head and narrowed his glare, "I want her DEAD by the mountain's burst…"

What he failed to see until it was too late, however, was that half his men were daring to retreat back into the village. The other half only stayed because their nerves were too weak to move their legs.

Colrez aimed his lance at the village and the crown glowed, amplifying the chill of his voice, "DID I SAY YOU COULD RETREAT?!"

From his lance emerged a purple, icy liquid that splashed upon the soldiers legs, causing their lower halves to freeze solid and snap off from the rest of their bodies.

Many screams shook the rest of the retreating soldiers into reconsidering their options, while Colrez looked on, proud of what his new power could accomplish.

He then looked at Cecilia, whose face was rife with disgust, and told her, "Do you understand now? You never stood a chance of beating me…Why? Because I am a man, and not just ANY…man…I am-"

High atop the mountain Magmankey was merrily leaning over his bath with his eyes outstretched, hooting and hollering over what he was seeing, "Ooook oooh ho ho, we got some family dr-aaaaam-a! This is gonna be somethin' I ain't gonna forget for at least one century!"

Chillo Dillo laid close behind him, letting out a sigh and wondering, "I dunno brother, MAYBE this is getting out of hand?"

Magmankey flicked his fingers behind his back a few times and mumbled, "Quiet, yer gonna spoil the mood."

The wind stirred, and Magmankey's expression began to sour, "Speakin' of spoilin' moods…"

He turned around to find Sarajin standing on the opposite end of the bath looking none too pleased to be here.

Magmankey sat with his legs folded, "Whaddya want, can't you see I'm busy?"

Sarajin slowly drew his sword from his sheath and pointed it at the Titan, cracking a knowing smile as he told him, "It's time."

Magmankey's jaw dropped slightly, his brows flickering with the glow of fire as he proceeded to smirk and drop the carefree attitude a little, "Well well…look who's deciding to give up…"

"I mean, what else could ya pointin' that sword at me mean? Cause lemme tell ya kid…" Magmankey slanted his eyes and immense pressure rustled lava out of the volcano top, "That kinda gesture don't stand for 'living' around these parts."

"I can't let you do this any longer, Magmankey. The world's become a better place. You just need to look beyond your walls." Sarajin said, keeping his cool.

"Heh," Magmankey tilted his head ninety degrees to the right and sighed, "So you're gonna force me to stop? Cause I thought I made it clear I ain't backin' down willingly."

"That's the plan." Sarajin said with confidence.

Magmankey fixed his head and then nudged towards his brother, "Give 'em a little roughin' up for me, brother."

Sarajin closed his eyes and sighed, "You were right, Auris."

He then fixated his gaze on the fire Titan alone and with a quick thrust of his sword declared, "Not happening! I invoke the Rite of Singularity on you, Magmankey!"

"Ghhh…!" Magmankey felt a twitch in his chest and upon staring down at it for a while he slowly panned his eyes up and looked severely irked, "One of those bug's techniques…?!"

Sarajin nodded, "That's right. This will lock us into single combat. No outside interference until one of us gives up or dies."

"Well…you know what I…say to that?" Magmankey rose to his feet and flicked his right hand up to snap his fingers.

Suddenly, the water was reduced to a thick cloud of steam that covered them all.

When it was gone, the rock had been expanded until a full blown circular arena held up by a puffy smoke cloud.

Magmankey stood where he was, now chuckling from deep within. His brows were set ablaze and he snapped his fingers wide apart, sending a hot shockwave across the sky as he glared at Sarajin with the gaze of a lunatic.

"Kid…You've really gone and pissed me off this time…!" Faster than a bolt of lightning, he whipped his hands down to the sides of his legs, where the hilts proved to be more than decorations, as he drew full blown swords from his flesh.

One a schmitar, the other a kodachi, both emboldened with red metal blades and black edges designed to invoke the frightful abstract form flames take in nightmares.

Behind them, the effigies the Titans have long used to deceive the lands below rose to prominence against the sun, engaging in conflict to ignite the fires of war again.

Magmankey's eyes bulged as he started laughing like a kook, "Ya better hurry before the first body drops! Will it be theirs, or YOURS? Oooo hoo hoo, better not go cryin' on me before the first sword's swung baby brat, cause yer elder's about to spank the soul outta your ungrateful husk!"

Sarajin gripped his sword tightly and swung it aside, shaking at the power the Titan was forcing him to experience, "This isn't a joke…he's coming with the intent to kill me…!"

"Burn this into yer eyes kid…! Cause what yer about to see is-"

The effigies appearing overhead was the signal Valflame needed. Drawing his sword and marching forward, he shouted to all his men, "MEN! Stand tall, and unafraid…! Today, our final battle…"

He pulled the reins of his horse to turn around and point his sword at Vermilion, "Lies before us!"

Vermilion's surprise was quickly devoured by the grin spreading across both her cheeks. With a nasally tone she started to fire up, "Weeeeeell, look who finally shows some balls…!"

The other soldiers drew their weapons, bows, swords, and spears alike, aiming them at the enemy before them.

But all Vermilion saw around her was fear, and dead men.

"Heh heh heh…! Fine, if that's what you want…!" She was preparing to make her first strike when she found a series of frost covered spikes rising up from the ground to surround her.

"WHAT?!" Fire spat out from her eyepatch as she looked up and grit her teeth at the sight of Carolina descending onto the battlefield like an icy angel.

"No…more, Vermilion." She whispered.

"YOU CAN TALK?!" Vermilion shouted, gritting her teeth with nevertheless a growing sense of excitement at so many pests finally giving her all the justification she needed to let loose.

Her fiery aura violently thrashed out of her body as it surrounded her, with her peering at Valflame between the spikes, letting him be fully aware that this was an inescapable HELL he threw himself into.

"Better make the most of this while you can, you fucking rat king…! Cause when I'm through slaughtering your forces, and all of Cryofloe's…I'm gonna finally take my rightful place as-"

"THE STRONGEST IN ALL THE LAND!" Did these masters of war all shout at the same time…

Next Time: What Melted the Cold Heart