Long time no see! I would have sworn I uploaded this chapter before, but it is not appearing. How weird. Maybe I'm going crazy? I dunno. Enjoy!

Haan and Illipia had reached the peak. They watched the two beasts from the shadows of a cave. They were speaking, perhaps saying their final farewells.

"What is that creature? That fox?" Illipia asked. She had never beheld monsters conversing before, beyond the angry noises they would make when their kin would wander too close to their food.

"That is Eun, The Nine-Tailed Fox. She is a beast of incredible power and wit. And Drabaki's lover."

Illipia looked stunned. "Lover? The monsters can love?" She had never heard of something so preposterous. Love was a human emotion. Such feelings should not be present in a monster's heart.

"Those two are no mere monsters, Illipia. Drabaki and Eun both possess power far greater than that of any beast. It grants them the mind and souls closer to us humans than their beastly kin." Haan explained.

Illipia frowned, recalling tales heard on her prior travels. "I have heard of monsters like this. Across the sea, it is said that a monstrous dragon of hungry flames decimated an entire city and slew one of its brethren. Another resides in the deserts to the south, a tortoise as large as a mountain that can conjure storms at will. All of these monsters are supposedly capable of human speech."

Haan looked at her, surprised. "Such creatures exist? Have you seen them, Lady Illipia?"

She shook her head. "No, I have not personally laid eyes on them. But stories are told all across the world of such beasts - beasts of divine power. It would seem Drabaki at least is among them."

"Eun is not?"

"I can sense great power emanating from her, but it is no greater than what I feel from the serpent." She clasped her pendant tightly. She could feel the El from Drabki pulse like a great drum. Was this monster like the greedy dragon? The hungry tortoise? She shivered at the thought. "That serpent… That is no longer a mere beast of great power. It is… so much more…"

Haan swallowed and looked outside to the monsters. "Can we defeat it on our own?"

"We will not be alone, Sir Haan. My Goddess will watch over us and bless us with the power needed to bring it down."

Haan looked unmoved. "... It may still be best that we wait for Eun to leave before we attack."

Illipia nodded. "If you believe it wise, Sir Haan, we shall wait. But we must strike quickly before the serpent ascends." Haan silently nodded and waited. It did not take Eun long to nuzzle Drabaki one last time before descending down the mountain. Now, only the serpent remained.

Haan drew his blade and readied his spear, and Illipia began chanting a prayer quietly. It was time.

They quietly left the cave and moved from cover to cover, easing their way behind the massive creature. Rain began to fall and thunder rumbled in the clouds above, Raul's way of saying she too was prepared. The serpent looked to the stormy skies above, then down to the valley.

Perhaps it was taking a moment to remember its final moments as a mortal being. Perhaps it was silently mocking the people of Xin for granting it the power to destroy them. Perhaps it was something else. All Illipia knew was that her Goddess' wish was about to be fulfilled.

She reached out to the El and recited a prayer in her mind. May this steel cut through steel. May it cut through the very darkness that threatens the light! Haan's weapons began to glow with the El's power; power great enough to fell a great beast.

She had already demonstrated the sliver of her power she would allow mortals to see on their journey. Feats of healing, warmth, and empowerment. Haan knew the extent of her abilities that he needed to know.

And he hesitated. He stared at the back of the great serpent, knuckles whitening and still as a stone. Was it fear that stayed his hand? Fear of Drabaki's power? Fear of what was to come if he succeeded? Or failed?

It mattered not. His pause was long enough that the serpent stretched its small wings and, with a forceful roar, took off into the sky. Though they were small, those wings were powerful enough to push the great beast skyward.

It had begun its ascent. The sky rumbled with fury and flashes of lightning lit the clouds. Raul was going to get the fight she wanted, Illipia thought. But Haan had to be the one to fell Drabaki, not Raul.

So she shouted, "Sir Haan, we must pursue the beast before it ascends!"

"How, Lady Illipia? We do not have wings to take us into the sky as Drabaki does."

"Sir Haan, my Goddess will see to that." She clasped her hands together and reached out to the El. Grant us the power to soar. To reach the heavens! Her pendant glowed and their bodies became engulfed in dim light. And then they began to float into the air.

Haan seemed uncomfortable, but a reassuring hand from Illipia calmed him. He looked into the priestess' eyes, his gaze full of awe and questions. Illipia knew she would be hard-pressed to explain this feat later, but the urgency of the present would give her time to craft her explanation.

She urged him. "Sir Haan, I know this is strange to you, but I promise to explain all later. We must fly to stop Drabaki's ascent. Let us finish this!"

He glanced at the ground falling further away and performed a brief series of ascents, descents and acrobatics in the air. He nodded in satisfaction before looking to Illipia. "Yes, Lady Illipia. Let us finish this!"

And with that, the duo rocketed into the sky in hot pursuit of their quarry.

The rain and clouds rushed by Haan and Illipia as they gave chase. Illipia explained to Haan that there existed a boundary high in the sky of the world; a boundary that separated god from man. Should Drabaki reach high enough, it would be able to challenge its status as a mortal creature and ascend to godhood. They had to defeat it before then. To their fortune, their speed combined with the storm's seemingly deliberate attempts to slow the beast's ascent allowed them to quickly catch up to the serpent in the rumbling clouds.

Haan dared a glance down and saw nothing but flashes of lightning, streaks of rain, and dark clouds. The ground was probably far from them now. He turned his head to the sky and focused on the slithering shadow above him. Drabaki swerved this way and that as it avoided bolts of lightning that seemed eager to send it back below. He tightened his grip on his weapons.

This was it. He kicked off the air below him and soared above the serpent. Illipia followed him at a distance, chanting more of her blessed prayers. He felt a power envelop his body, shielding him from the wind and, hopefully, any counterattack the serpent may utilize against him when he made his attack. His muscles felt more powerful than they ever had and he could feel the power of the El coursing through his weapons.

Perhaps, with this power, he could bring down this serpent. For so long he had worshipped it, loved it. And now it fell to him to bring it down. For his Emperor. For his people. For Xin. He, a man with no name of his own, may yet be remembered for what happened today.

He prepared his weapons and turned down. Flashes of lightning cast the serpent's outline below him, and soon it breached the clouds. He had never beheld Drabaki this close before and never had he even seen it after it took to the peak to gather its strength. It was… spectacular, terrifying, and inspiring all at once.

And it was surprised. He saw its eyes widen when it saw him, glowing weapons in hand floating above it. Perhaps it meant to speak, as its mouth opened but no sound escaped its maw. Perhaps it was snarling at the tiny human to scare him away.

It did not matter to the warrior, he raised his weapons above his head and dived at the beast. It hesitated and he thrust his empowered spear at its eye. It jerked away. "Who are you, child of man?! How did you come to be here?! Why do you attack me?!" It finally found its words.

Haan gave no reply. Not in words at least. He answered in steel. Another thrust, a slash, and another thrust aimed at its eye. Still, it managed to evade, but his blade made a shallow cut across its head. "You… You possess the power to end me, do you not, child of man? If you mean to end me, I have no choice but to defend myself. Prepare yourself, child of man!"

The battle began in earnest. Haan would dart around the serpent's fangs and body and strike quickly at any flesh he could find. The serpent struck quickly with its fangs, whipped at the warrior with its tail, and employed a breath empowered with the El it had accumulated. Haan avoided what he could, but there were occasional blows he could not avoid. The barrier Illipia granted him took the brunt of the damage, but the serpent's attacks were powerful, leaving him to seek Illipia's aid.

She would heal his wounds and repair the barrier from afar, unseen behind a cluster of storm clouds. He danced in the air and the serpent's blood began to drip from its wounds, mixing with the falling rain. Bolts of lightning would at times cut through the battlefield, forcing both Drabaki and Haan to evade.

But still, Drabaki climbed. Slowly, deliberately. But it climbed. Haan had hoped he alone would be enough to fell the beast, but it seemed he overestimated himself. He needed more power still to bring down the great serpent. The power Illipia was granting him was not sufficient. He needed more.

His eyes were drawn to the lightning, the fury of the heavens given form. Perhaps with that, he could bring down Drabaki. So he waited; waited for that flash that could annihilate him in the blink of an eye.

The sky flashed, Drabaki evaded, but Haan did not. He held his sword and spear above his head and the bolt struck his empowered weapons. Electricity coursed through his body, racking it with pain unimaginable. But he grit his teeth and dove at Drabaki, his weapons crackling with the power of lightning.

Drabaki was stunned at his boldness, and its pause led to its defeat. Haan's empowered weapons found its wings and, with an explosive display of lightning and thunder, severed them. Drabaki's ascent slowed and slowed and then stopped. Then it fell, roaring back to the surface far below.

Eun had nearly arrived at the village when she smelled it. The scent of blood.

The scent of her lover's blood.

She looked to the sky and saw red droplets falling from the sky. Drabaki was in danger. She raced to the nearest perch and scanned the stormy sky for any sign of her beloved.

And she saw it. She saw it fall. And fall. And fall.

The sound of her scream was drowned by the thunderous impact of the storm above and Drabaki's body being broken on the rocks below.

Haan dove after the falling beast and witnessed its landing. Drabaki laid across a canyon at the foot of his mountain on its back, broken. He had done it. He felled a god.

He felt Illipia's magic begin to fade, so he made haste to touch down. He scanned for his companion after landing but saw no sign of her. Perhaps she was held up in the storm that was now curiously abating. The rain still fell and thunder still rumbled through the clouds, but the bolts of lightning that cut the sky before flashed less and the wind dropped from a howl to a mere breeze.

He turned his attention to the fallen beast before him. The once great Drabaki now lay broken and bloodied. What was once their savior, their god, was now a pile of flesh and bone. A wave of emotion overcame him. Pride, anguish, and joy all swirled together into a storm much like the one above him.

He had accomplished the impossible. He had defeated their great protector. He had deprived his people of their god. He would be forever remembered. He would be-

"Why…? What was all this… for…?" A voice asked, hoarse and pained. Drabaki lived still, if only just. "Why would you do this…?" The rain made it difficult to tell if the serpent wept.

Haan stuttered. "I… You… You intended to bring ruin upon us with your godhood. I could not stand by and allow that. The Emperor bade me to slay you and bring your blood to him so that he may protect us with your power."

The serpent coughed. "No… No… No… Never… ruin…" It looked surprised at this accusation. Hurt. "I wished to protect all of you. The ones in the valley, the ones in the mountains, the ones we have yet to meet… Eun… I wanted to protect all. Not bring ruin… Never…"

Haan shook his head and pointed his spear at the serpent. "Lies. The Emperor was granted a vision of what was to come. And in it, you threatened life itself. In it, he would stand with your blood and be eternally our defender."

"Emperor… Di Yi Ke Xin… Why would he…" The serpent was now crying, its tears mixing with its blood and the rain. "Oh… You fool… You were to be their symbol of hope and strength. To think you… saw it that way…"

"What do you mean? What do you mean he saw it that way?" Haan was shaking. Not from the rain, but from a realization he felt was ready to dawn on him. One that may betray everything he believed.

The serpent looked to him, pity in its gaze. "He asked me before I left for the mountain… 'How can I be loved as you are?' The people would love him, whether he was man or god. He was your symbol of hope and strength. Why would he need my blood, or any divine power? Love… that is not how you gain love…"

Its words stuck in Haan's heart like a knife. It was right. Chunhua did not love him for his skill or for any of his feats. She loved him for being who he was. The people loved Drabaki for who it was; kind, compassionate. He was so blinded by what he was told that he failed to remember this simple truth.

Love was not taken. Nor was it demanded. It was freely given.

He fell to his knees and wept.

"What have I done…? What have I done…?"

Illipia watched from above. She saw that Haan was hesitating before the serpent, and then he fell to his knees, crying. She couldn't imagine what was going through the man's mind now. Even if he believed her lie, he still brought down the beloved protector of this land.

She wanted to go to his side, assure him that he had done the right thing, that he would be praised. But her role was at an end. She was to disappear from Xin upon Drabaki's defeat. Too many questions would be asked, and she had to make herself scarce before they came.

But more than that, she couldn't go down to him because she wondered if the words she would offer would be true. Was this truly the right thing to do? The people of this land never cursed the serpent. They loved it dearly, and now they had brought it low. Would they praise him? Or would they curse him for what he had done?

She had spoken enough lies. But she could not bring herself to tell the truth, that this was all a means to an end. Tired of lies and bound to be untruthful she laughed. Hollow and mirthful it echoed around her.

When did she change so that she could laugh like this? Laugh at her own contradictions and two-faced nature. Never had she been so unsure, and it was nothing but funny to her now.

Funny how she, a Celestial, cared.

She felt a presence behind her. "Uh… You okay there, sister?" Raul floated to her side with a look of half bafflement and half disgust.

Illipia took deep breaths to calm her laughter. "I am just… relieved that this is all over. I suppose the stress of it all just fell on me at once. Come, let us depart, Raul." She turned to leave, but Raul did not move.

"Yeah yeah. You go on ahead. I'll catch up. Still got a few things to take care of here." She cracked her knuckles and arcs of lightning crackled from her fists.

Illipia spun to face her. "Raul. Our mission is complete. We can leave the rest to Sir Haan and-"

"No. Your mission is complete. Mine is still in progress."

Illipia paled. "What do you mean, Raul? What do you mean your mission is still in progress? We assisted Sir Haan in defeating Drabaki. What more do you have to do?"

Raul looked at her confused. "Seriously, Illipia? How do you not kno- Oh…" She sneered. "Mother didn't tell you, did she?" A chill ran up Illipia's spine.

"What did our Goddess tell you, Raul?" Her voice was shaking.

"Mother warned me that you seemed to be… slipping. I thought it was strange when we met on the mountain that you cared about a single mortal life. I guess Mother's concerns are founded." She laughed.

"Tell me, Raul! What did our Goddess command you to do?!"

Raul shrugged. "No point hiding it now, I guess." She turned to the valley. "The people still need a miracle. With the blood of Drabaki, The Emperor can stave off an impending disaster that threatens their home. Fear will drive them into Mother's waiting arms, just as she planned."

Illipia felt her blood run cold. This… was her Goddess' great plan? To terrorize the people that had just lost their protector to gain their favor? To frighten them with the elements so that they had no choice but to turn to her?

Raul conjured a spear of lightning in her hand and took aim at a hut on the outskirts of the valley. Illipia could see the light of el shards inside. There were people in there; innocent people who may be grieving, cheering.

Living.

"NO!"

Eun had scrambled down the mountain to the canyon where Drabaki lay. She watched from the shadows of the cliffs as the man who brought down her love floated down from the sky to her beloved. She listened to their words and saw the man lament over his actions.

Anger roared in her heart. This human dared to do this to her beloved. To deny it its cherished wish and then weep over it? Despicable! Despicable human!

She heard that The Emperor had bade this man to hunt down Drabaki. Despicable! Despicable humans!

She watched as the man left Drabaki to die, not touching its divine blood. Did he feel ashamed for what he did? He should! He should feel ashamed!

But shame was not enough for The Emperor. Oh no. Nowhere near enough.

She ran to Drabaki when the human left her sight. It was silent now, tears running from its eyes. Was it dead? Did her love, her precious love, die weeping?

The anger burst into fury and she looked to her beloved's blood pooled around its head. "They desired your blood, my love… They desired your blood… So be it…" She leaned forward and lapped down her beloved's blood. One gulp. Two. Three. Four. She stopped when she felt a surge of power pulse through her body. "I shall give it to them…" She did not cry. She was far too furious to cry.

But they would cry. They would all cry.

In fear.

In pain.

They would all die crying...

I hope you enjoyed this. Please Read and Review! Until next time!