A/N: It's quite surprising for the soldier girl, isn't it? To run across some children players who are the niece and nephew of her Lieutenant. Sometimes it's always nice to be with some familiar people...familiar in a way that is. Anyways, The questline continues as Lightning and her new friends come across a powerful NPC.


JULY 24TH, 2023. FLOOR 23, DRAKEREST TEMPLE

Not long ago, I come across Zane and Wendy, who is the niece and nephew of my commanding officer, Lieutenant Amodar. We all faced a dangerous quest, barely at the edge of our life's when we completed it.

To top it off, we are meeting some strange beings in human form. Alexistrasza the Life-Binder.

She may appear as human, but I can sense a powerful presence within her. Just one look and feeling and I know she's powerful enough to demolish an entire elite Guardian Corps army.

"So, I am to understand you have my son's emblem?" Alexistrasza says.

Wendy and Zane both nod. "You mentioned that he's still alive?" I ask, remembering what she said after hearing we, or Wendy and Zane, have spoken with this Calen.

"Indeed. I thought he was killed when we were having our battle against Dreadwing thousands of years ago." Alexistrasza.

"We came across him over a couple of days ago. He wants us to destroy Silvermaw." Wendy says.

"You destroyed the frozen beast?" Alexistrasza asks.

I'm a bit confused. "Is it really that terrifying?"

"Silvermaw protects the skies at the Wrath Gates, which leads towards Frostcrown," Alexistrasza says. "The Humans and Orcs are about to prepare their assaults upon the gates, but it's too well protected by Silvermaw and Thánatos's army. We were about to invade Thánatos's lair to cut off their resources and reinforcements, but Silvermaw and its undead Dragonflight attacked our dragons."

"But with Silvermaw gone, you can invade the lair and take out this Thánatos," I ask.

"That is right, mortal," Alexistrasza says with a nod. "But it will take some time for us to ready our forces. In the meantime, head for the Wrathgate and inform Bolvar of the news. My Ambassador will escort you to him."

Alexistrasza turns and walks away. Some high elf stands in her place. "I will take you three to the Wrathgate. Let me know when you are ready."

After everything we've been through taking down that monster, we decided to rest up a bit before we continue on with the quest. Wendy and Zane are both hungry, so we decided to get something to eat. After eating, we get an hour of sleep. Wendy and Zane were the only ones who get to sleep.

I just lay in bed not even being able to turn off my mind.

Normally I think about Serah and Hope. But now I'm wondering about Amodar. The whole time I've been in this death game, I ever thought about him once.

I am now teaming up with his niece and nephew. What is he doing right now? Even since I resigned from the Guardian Corps just to come here.

I just hope he's doing well.

After twenty minutes, I get up from my walk and take a walk down the hallway. I was about to get something to drink, but once I pass Wendy and Zane's room, I can hear them talking.

Normally you couldn't hear anything from behind a door unless you knock. But my hearing skill is pretty high I am able to eavesdrop on conversations. I've decided to do that once I have learned that there are secret members of murder guilds, green players, hiding out in towns.

I lean my ear on the door and listen in.

"I don't know what to do, Zane." The voice that belongs to Wendy. "We've lost our guild. We were ambushed by a dark guild, almost got killed by monsters."

"I know how you feel. But we can't escape from this world. We have to keep moving." Zane says.

There's nothing but silence for a while. I'm not sure what's going on inside, but the way Wendy speaks next makes it sound like she's holding back the tears or letting them flow.

"I'm scared." She says.

Hearing that had me shocked. It's not surprising she would feel that way. She's just a little girl. "I know. I am too. But we have to be brave. For mom and dad. For uncle Amodar...for Lightning."

'For Lightning'. Are they really trying to be brave? For me?

I can't say it's all that surprising. Normally if I'm ever in some situation where I'm fighting for my life, I wouldn't want some scared little kid following me around like a lost puppy.

Even scared and after everything that's happened to them, they still fight for their freedom from this death game. It's the same for everyone else. Even Hope. Even me.


FLOOR 23, THÁNATOS'S REST

Once we are well-rested and ready to continue, we speak with the ambassador to take us to Thánatos's Rest, which is located in the Northwest of the temple.

A ride upon a dragon's back, which Zane and Wendy are both excited about it, flying through the air mounted on giant winged beings. Wendy feels like she's flying with her own wings, I personally don't see why but I guess it's just a kid thing.

We arrive at Thánatos's Rest. The place is quite similar to the Dragons Graveyard where I met Zane and Wendy. Only it's crawling with Undead, everywhere. If the Wrathgate wasn't a major war field of humans, orcs, and undead, this arena would be the most horrifying place on the 23rd-floor.

"This is the Thánatos's Rest where the Scourge is building their Resources and Reinforcements. Terrifying, isn't it?" The Ambassador says. He's not wrong. Even Zane and Wendy are frightened by the very vision of death itself.

"Thánatos is very powerful, so we must ask swiftly and with caution. While the main forces hold off the undead at the entrance, we will sneak in from behind and take out the Scourgelord." The Ambassador says.

We fly right over the massive fight between the Dragon Warriors and the undead Scourge. The Ambassador flies over the battlefield and lands in the one end of the trench. On the opposite said of the battlefield.

The path is long, but it's clear of the undead. It looks so easy, but I have a feeling it's a trick.

The Ambassador transforms into his human form. "Let us make haste. Alexistrasza's forces cannot hold off the Undead for much long."

I agree with him. Plus I want to get out of this area as soon as I can. It's sending a chill running down my spine.

We start walking down the path. I take the lead along with the Ambassador while Wendy and Zane are following us from behind. As we wonder, undead hordes appear before us. Ghouls and reanimated brings rising right out of the ground.

I knew it. "Ambush!" I shout. I draw my Gunblade out, Zane and Wendy both ready themselves for battle as well. The Ambassador and I fight off against the Undead while Wendy and Zane use their offensive magic on them. The undead warriors hit harm, after one strike with him, I lost 20% of my HP, so I focus on defense, parrying, and dodging their attacks.

Zane uses his healing magic to keep me alive, it's not strong since he's only an Avatar, but it's enough to handle these small fries. After a minute, the undead army is defeated.

"Damn it. Thánatos must have known we were here. We must hurry." The Ambassador says.

Now we are running down the path. Even in a hurry, we still don't get unnoticed. "Intruders have entered the domain! Stop them! My work must not be interrupted."

Necromancers appear on the cliff sides in the trench. They channel their dark magic to reanimate more minions of the undead.

"Those Necromancers are summoning reinforcements!" The Ambassador attacks them with his fire magic. "Don't bother with the ghouls. Destroy the Necromancers!"

I focus on the ghouls. My only range attack is my Gunblade in gun mode, but it doesn't deal as much damage as a Wavemaster and an Avatar. So I focus and hold off the minions that are being summoned while Wendy and Zane attack the Necromancers.

The ghouls have little attack and HP, so it was easy for me to kill and tank. But their numbers become greater the longer the fight lasts. The spawning of the ghouls becomes less effective with each Necromancer slain.

As soon as all the enemies are defeated, we continue to run. Thánatos comes within sight of our range. He's some sort of undead human. What is surprising is that he appears to be mounted on some colossal abomination. As big as a ten-story building.

"There he is! Just up the hill." The Ambassador says.

Thánatos looks down at us. "Well! If it isn't one of the Dragon Queen's pawns! You run bravely to your death, young dragon! Annihilate them! And collect their corpses for the master!"

Abominations appear out of every single path connected to this area, Gargoyles rain down from the sky, and ghouls rise out of the ground. We are completely surrounded. Wendy and Zane are both scared. I hold my weapon out as I stand in front of them like a barrier.

"Stay behind me!" I say.

The Ambassador stands strong against the Undead. "I will handle these creatures! Deal with the Scourgelord!" He transforms into his dragon form and then throws himself into the undead.

With no hesitation, we hurry up the hill to face the Scourgelord. "You must have one hell of a death wish if you are coming this far just to face me. I am the Scourgelord! I commend the dead! Sylvanas is even afraid to face me because she knows I can once again make her a puppet slave to the Scourge! No matter! I will end you champions here and now! Thaddius! Crush them!"

The giant colossal, Thaddius, comes at us. Wendy and Zane are both screaming, they sound pretty horrified. It's understandable, they're just kids facing against a monster that could stomp on them like ants.

I attack the monster by its legs, mostly in hope that breaking them would cause it to fall and be vulnerable to an attack. Honestly, I doubt it'll work that way in this world of virtual reality.

"I'll deal with the legs! You two aim for the head!" I say.

Wendy and Zane both respond with a 'Roger'.

I attack the monster, but since it moves slow I use my agility speed to focus on dodging attacks. And it's working, I'm facing the monster without much of my HP dropping. A fight like this could make Zane be able to heal this so easily.

As I cut down the monster's legs, it collapses and falls. Looks like my method is right, attacking the legs makes it easier to fight.

With the giant vulnerable, we all throw everything we have, spells and sword skills, at the monster. Thaddius is destroyed, and Thánatos is not happy about it.

"MY PET! You living fleshlings! It seems I must take matters into my own hands!" Thánatos shouts in anger.

Thánatos draws out his scythe. I brace myself for anything. Whatever this mini-boss is capable of, it's not going to be as easy or smooth as Thaddius.

Thánatos swings its scythe at me, which is enhanced with dark magic. Even just parrying the attack I can feel the strong power pulsing through it. Hits me hard enough to barely repel the attack. I mainly attack the undead Wizard in between its own attacks, when he is most open for my Sword Skills.

Zane mostly focuses on healing me. The Scourgelord has some powerful magic.

Shadow Bolt Volley shoots a Shadow Bolt at all of us. Curse of Plague, causing overtime plague damage. Defile that turns the very ground we stand on into an unholy ground of decaying life.

He's quite powerful.

Thánatos swings heavily with his Scythe. I black with my Gunblade. Sparks fly as the scythe grins on my weapon. At the end of the attack, he's open and I strike. Normal attacks from the start, then unleash the Divine Rose Sword Skill. My attacks cause the Wizard to stagger, which made him vulnerable to Wendy and Zane's magic.

I draw my weapon back to charge up the final strike of Divine Rose. At the same time as Wendy's Fire Blast and Zane's Chain Lightning, I let out a shout as I unleash the strike, with the two spells fusing with my sword skill.

A massive chain explosion happens upon the impact of sword and magic.

Thánatos wails in agony. Once the explosion clears, the enemy is left frozen in place, then he collapses to the ground. "You may have won...the battle...But the war...will be...ours."

The defeat of the Scourgelord has caused the undead army to retreat. "The Scourgelord is dead! Retreat! RETREAT!"


FLOOR 23, THE WRATHGATE

After defeating Thánatos, the Dragonflight returns to the temple. But we move on to the next objective of the quest. We have to report the Scourgelord's defeat to Bolvar at the Wrathgate.

Bolvar is commander of the Alliance, a Crusader.

After we complete the quest, an event goes on.

Bolvar and his elite soldiers join in on the battlefield against the undead. Alliance soldiers cheer and salutes as their commander walk right past them.

Bolvar rushes right in and hurls himself into the undead army, cutting them down. "Back you mindless wretches!" He shouts. As the undead are dying, the gates open. Massive armies of the Undead, Abominations, Colossals, and Lich's come out and attack the army of the Alliance. "FIGHT ON BROTHERS!"

While they are fighting, Wendy, Zane, and I are all forced to stand by and watch. We can't even leave the area or even teleport. It's like we have to stay and witness the event of the battle.

We watch the alliance fight. But the fight is getting serious. One by one, soldiers fall. They need help. Luckily, the sound of a battle horn blows, and the horde at their encampment charges out and into the battlefield.

"LOK'TAR GAR! FOR THE HORDE!" The commander, known as Saurtooth, shouts. And his army shouts 'FOR THE HORDE!'

The Alliance and the Horde workers together to face off against the Undead. The army of the scourge falls significantly fast.

In no time, the Undead army is defeated. Both the Alliance and the Horde stand together in front of the Wrathgate. Bolvar stands forward.

"ARTHUR! THE BLOOD OF YOUR FATHER! OF YOUR PEOPLE! DEMANDS JUSTICE! COME FORTH, COWARD! AND ANSWER FOR YOUR CRIMES!"

I watch closely at the gate. I'm aware of who Arthur is. The Death King. The one who leads the Scourge. This will be the very first time we see him.

The gates open. All the soldiers tense up As the gates open, the air suddenly gets cold. I even feel a shiver coming down my spine.

A large man in black, death plate, and leather armor walks right out. He's also wearing a helmet that covers his face. "You speak of justice! Of cowardice!" The Death King says. Even his voice is disturbed and booming. "I will show you the justice of the grave!" More undead armies rise out of the ground. "And the true meaning...of FEAR!"

Just looking at him, I can sense how insanely powerful he is. What will happen if we ever face him on the 30th-floor?

"And there is nothing you can-" The Death King is shortly interrupted by a plague explosion happening far off. "What?"

"What is going on?" I wonder.

There's a burst of evil laughter in the air. The army on the battlefield looks up to see the Forgotten. "Did you think we have forgotten? Did you think we have forgiven?" I don't know what's going on but I have a bad feeling about this. Catapults move to the edge of the cliff, and the Forgotten loads them up. "Behold now! The terrible vengeance of the Forgotten!"

Catapults launch barrels of plague and they explode into the armies.

"DEATH TO THE SCOURGE! AND DEATH TO THE LIVING!"

The plague fills the air, poisoning the living. Both Alliance and Horde. But they're not the only ones who suffer. The undead dies from the poisonous air, and the Death King falls on his knees coughing. He growls and retreats to the gates.

"This...Isn't...Over!"

The Death King retreats back to Frostcrown, as the Alliance and Horde die from the Forgotten's attack. And Zane, Wendy, and I are left shocked from witnessing such a horrible event.