The battle was chaos and Guts was living. He'd forgotten the thrill of having your life, and only your life on the line, of being charged with 'kill all of those in front of you.' His rage was there too of course, it always was now, but after so long worrying that it would get loose without him meaning it too, to let it free like a hound on the scent of blood was exhilarating.

The demons were disoriented from the spell, so it wasn't even like he had to exert himself more than usual. He shoved his sword down one of the many mouths of a monster, and swung it upward to cut it in two. A bat like demon dive bombed him and he swatted it into a building.

Yes, more! The Beast of Darkness growled. For once Guts indulged his inner demon. He may need its strength.

He cut through another monster and let its blood shower him. He didn't even have to go looking for a fight, as the demons were drawn to his brand like moths to a flame.

Unlike Casca who was given extra enchantments over her brand, Guts was given no such thing. He wanted the demons to be drawn to him. He could take it. Just like a flame he'd burn those who came too close.

He looked up after dispatching untold numbers of apostles. It was like Eclipse all over again, except this time he was ready. This time he was the monster to be afraid of. The sun was on the other side of the sky. Hours had passed.

He felt nothing. Not the pain he should, nor the tiredness that was surely gripping his limbs. He felt rage and a desire for revenge. The thirst for blood, but those were exceptions to the numbing of the armor. They were the symptoms of wearing it.

He dove back into the fight. He still had to reach that castle, even if he had to use these monsters' bodies as a stairway.

Guts was up the first staircase when a roar pulled his attention. A furred demon with wings and two horns, one truncated, careened in. Its wings created a wind that forced Guts to lean into it or else be toppled.

"I was told to kill you," Zodd the Immortal bellowed, and then crashed into Guts.

Guts didn't even try to respond verbally, just met the challenge and started to fight.

He brought his sword and stabbed it into the stone floor, becoming immovable. Zodd smashed into the sword, his claws swiping at Guts. Guts swung around to kick the demon in the head, just enough to disorient him. Zodd swept at him with his lone horn, but Guts was quicker and dislodged his sword just in time to get a spinning slash into his cheek. Zodd unfurled his wings to get out of the way before Guts could get more than another slice. Only a flesh wound though.

"You've changed," Zodd said, making distance. Guts had managed to injure the immortal once again. It was strange to meet this monster and know he was almost evenly matched. Still, this was wasting time. "You're different from before," the apostle continued, "You have something to lose now."

Guts roared in response, but was back handed into the side of a building. He definitely broke a bone or two. The fight drew on until Guts knew if he waited much longer he wouldn't be able to fight Griffith. His heart would probably explode if exerted much more.

Before Zodd could bring down another bone breaking hit, a portal opened.

Skull Knight burst from the extra dimension and blocked Zodd. He picked up Guts who thrashed, not quite knowing what was going on. For some reason Zodd didn't give chase and started to laugh. Like he knew something they didn't.

AT THE WORLD TREE

The wasp-like demons and their incessant buzzing were causing Farnese to lose her focus, and as such, her astral form. Serpico was doing his best, but his best wasn't good enough. There was too much to be done, their spell not even halfway done and the day was nearing its close. She knew the longer they took, they less likely their success. Serpico was only human, his endurance was waning.

She saw him falter as he zipped around; one of those devils had stung him. Another one nearly got him as he recovered. Her worry increased. If they couldn't take down the world tree, then it didn't matter what the others did in Falconia as the demons would just keep manifesting. What they were doing would also be pointless if they failed in Falconia, but Farnese knew they wouldn't. They had Casca, Guts, and Schierke even! Farnese was at a loss as to how she was left with such a large responsibility.

Serpico faltered again and her heart leapt into her chest, pulling her even further from the spell. She needed to end this. She needed to end this now.

From deep within her, she searched for a spell to destroy the tree, one better than the one she and the other mages labored for. One she knew well.

Fires could take down whole forests.

From hell itself she drew fire, a true hellfire that would burn its target until nothing was left. Until it was pure of evil. Until it was ash.

Her heart grew hot, and she felt like her astral body was on fire. Like she'd been plunged from ice water into a hot bath. Sparks flew from her fingers as her physical body unconsciously reached towards the tree.

A flame! A flame caught on a leaf of a lower branch. It refused to go out, not like her spirit, or her faith. Because, she realized, it was faith.

But it wasn't enough, or rather, it wasn't fast enough. Just her alone would take a lifetime to burn down this tree. She strove further into the fire, letting it take more of her. It could take all of her if it could just destroy this tree!

The wind picked it up, and instead of blowing it out like a candle, it spread the fire, just how a breeze could spread spark into an inferno. She felt the wind, blow around her, and give her more room for a sense of self. It was Serpcio.

He was harder to see with her normal eyes, more transparent, less tangible. She could see him better with her wizard eyes. Together they worked until the fire engulfed the whole tree. And then more, increasing the heat, ramping up the heat!

The other mages realized what she was doing and tried to help, but they couldn't help as much. What she was doing was dangerous, and not conscious. Eventually they had to retreat or risk burning alive. They left her body though, as when they tried to move her they were rewarded with burned hands.

That was okay though, they could leave her. She felt peace. Like swimming with a current instead of against one. This magic was becoming effortless. The tree was burning up at an exponential rate. She could do it! She could take it down!

Serpico approached her astral form. She couldn't tell where his physical body was.

"Do you know what you're doing?" he shouted over the din. She hadn't realised it but there was a deafening roaring of fire and wind as it whipped up the perfect storm. He grabbed her hand to avoid being tossed away by the wind.

Farnese shook her head. No, she had no idea, but yet, she did. She felt power in a way she couldn't explain, and gripped his hand.

He suddenly became much clearer, much more solid. She was burning him. He winced in pain, but didn't let go.

"What you're doing is stupid!" he said, the chaos had become background noise, quieter, "But I think you're saving the world."

She smiled and felt tears pool in her eyes even as they evaporated. "I love you Serpico. I love you so much." The flame drew even higher. "I don't deserve you. I don't deserve any of you."

"We aren't born into life with what we deserve," he answered cryptically. "Farnese… You're my sister."

She locked eyes with him, wondering what brought this on. Why would he say such a thing at a time like this? He wasn't joking though, and what he said made sense. It would've made her embarrassed if she could feel such things.

However, she only smiled and embraced him. To not be alone at the end of the world. She laughed, "It's so obvious when I think about it, why didn't you ever tell me?"

He seemed surprised she took it so well. He opened his mouth to answer, but his answer was lost to a gust of wind. And his form flickering.

"I don't know how long I have left," he said.

It was then that the weight of the situation hit her. He didn't know magic, he was getting caught in the flow, just like she had, just like she was doing!

"The tree is coming down, nothing anyone can do to stop it," he continued, glancing at the tree. "I feel free, Farnese. There's nothing holding me here, no oaths, no duty, just love. But I don't–" His form flickered again. "Even that, I want to see what the world has to offer."

"Serpico!" she exclaimed, holding him tighter. "You should stay a man to do that!"

"If I could–" he drifted out again, for longer this time.

"I'll find you! If you leave me, I'll find you, even if I have to track down every breeze in the world!" she declared. Because if she could burn down a tree that merged worlds, she could find her brother again.

"Believe me… I'm… counting… on it."

She only had time to watch his face fade into air, a peaceful smile on his face despite it all, before her consciousness faded away. She fell back into her physical body and felt a strong wind, almost like arms, carry her away from the hellfire she had conjured.

HOLD THE GATE

Schierke felt her magic dwindling. She had used a huge amount to activate the seals, along with Daiba, to destroy the war demons. The spell they had invented was ingenious, possible, but taxing. She was relying on her golems to defend her position, but the demons that were left were still formidable. Isidro had just returned to her side to help defend the portal, back from helping the stragglers to the portals.

"You remember the weird girl?" he asked.

"You care–" She smacked a tendril of something getting too close for her liking with her staff. "To be more specific?"

Isidro finished off the plant like monster she had been dealing with. "The one who called you an owl. With that boy knight."

Oh, yes, Schierke remembered now. She didn't mention that the 'boy' knight was probably older than Isidro. "What about them?" she asked. With the plant monster dealt with, they had a little bit of breathing room. It was later in the day and the demons were slowing down to a trickle.

"I ran into them not long ago. They come this way?"

She shook her head. "Maybe three years changed them so I couldn't recognize them, but no one has come this way in a while. Not a young girl at least."

Isidro frowned, looking ready to run back into the wilds of the city. He was tired though, they all were, she knew he wouldn't be able to keep it up much longer to protect others. "No, you can't go back out there."

He looked like he wanted to argue. "I can't just leave them out there! I thought I had cleared a path, but what if they got picked off, it'd be all my fault."

"They probably found another portal," Scheirke said. It was probably a lie. But it was a lie that might keep Isidro from dying. He wasn't convinced though and Schierke swallowed some pride to say, "And besides, I need you here. I can't defend this portal by myself."

He almost said something she would get him for later, but in a rare form of maturity simply nodded. "You're right."

A roar sounded down the street, and they both steeled themselves. The fight wasn't over yet.

HOLD THE GATE (II)

Casca sliced down yet another beastie that was trying to eat the people of Falconia. She wasn't on the offensive, for a few reasons, but that didn't mean she wasn't in the action! Even with the many wards on her brand, she could still feel the slight pain from being close to so many evil creatures, and they too could feel the pull. Chyasor was a Godsend, and had she only a regular sword she would've been overwhelmed. The demons just didn't stop coming. She'd thought sending Guts ahead would draw them away from the tunnels, but even a branded sacrifice all by himself didn't make the amount any easier on her end.

Briefly she worried about Guts. She knew he should be able to handle it. He'd survived worse... Probably.

This was all looking pretty bad.

She of course worried for Phillup, but that was a constant thing now. Handing him off to princess– Queen Charlotte had been a bit impromptu, but Casca could tell that it was the right decision. Probably.

She twirled out of the way of a slithering demon, slicing across its side like butter. Had she mentioned she was loving her fairy sword? Because she was.

This was her first real fight without Guts present, and she was finally back in shape. She felt more like herself, like she'd won a part of herself back. She was glad Guts was on her side of course, and felt safer with him around, but he also tended to be over protective. Which she also understood, but that didn't make it any easier to be babied.

She dashed up a fallen cart to gain a better view. "Anybody free, go help with that big one over there," she yelled, pointing with her sword to a large demon trying to break the line. The line was thin as it was, but should it be breached the pot would boil over. There were traps and trip wires, but she'd rather they not have to rely on that. She didn't want to have their back to the wall just yet.

She jumped down to help pick up the slack of the men who'd left to take down the big one. There weren't as many people now, as hours had passed since they'd opened the portals. The portals would only be kept open for about 24 hours, and even then only two or three would be open for that time. The first few hours had been the hardest, what with thousands and thousands of people.

Casca had to hand it to whoever had planned the evacuation as it went more smooth than she thought possible. It made her job of defending them easier.

Something flew at her head only to be shot out of the air. It was an extendable limb of somesort, and Casca quickly dispatched the rest of it. She glanced to see Silat. He'd probably thrown the knife that'd saved her from injury. He cared more than he let on.

"You shut down the eastern portal?" she asked.

He was ripping through a demon with his ribbon like sword. It was beautiful, especially when it wasn't being directed at her. If someone had told her when she'd first faced off against Silat they would one day fight side by side, she wouldn't have believed them, but now she was incredibly happy they weren't enemies. They weren't friends by any means, but after working together to make the battle plan they both shared a mutual respect for each other.

"Yeah, we're going to consolidate here. Anybody not here by now…" He didn't need to finish.

She nodded. Reinforcements would be invaluable now, even if they were probably just as tired.

Silat could handle this now.

Casca went back to the others. They'd taken down the big trunked demon, but were now dealing with the smaller ones. She helped a woman up from the ground, dispelling the small demons trying to swarm her. That was a new experience, fighting alongside women. It turned out, in an assassin clan everyone was trained in killing regardless of gender. The testament to that being Erica, who was deadlier than she looked.

Rickert and Erica weren't actually fighting. Erica was among those in the emergency reserve should anything slip past Casca's defences. Which was of course happening, these creatures were slippery. Rickert was more valuable helping keep all of the traps and weapons in working order than actually fighting. Though he was probably fighting despite that.

She would've sighed if she'd had time. Just as they'd put down all of the demons in the vicinity, a new wave found them. Casca dug in and readied her sword. Guts and Farnese needed to hurry up.

DEMONS AREN'T FRIENDS

"Where are we headed?" Mule asked her, his steps growing slower and slower.

"Shush," she said yet again. His questions were annoying. She hadn't told him where they were going because she knew he'd object. He had little faith in Griffith now, his loyalties so fickle, except to her. She knew he was loyal to her. That was why she would save him from the wrath Griffith would surely have for those who'd betrayed him. She just had to find the right war demon to take then to Griffith, one that hadn't lost its mind when that witch cast her spell.

They hobbled along, miraculously avoiding all of the base-er demons until they came across one Sonia knew well.

"Irvine!" she shouted, trying to gain his attention. But it was to no avail. He was fighting Grunbeld. Their fight was flattening buildings and they were both in their apostle forms. Sonia tried to get closer, but Mule finally passed out on her. She groaned, and let him fall softly into a pile of cloth from an overturned cart.

Even Irvine and Gunbeld were caught up in this madness!

"Irvine!" she shouted again, "Grunbeld! I have to get to Griffith!"

They clashed yet again, and Sonia dared move closer. She shouted again, this time catching the attention of Grunbeld. His lapse in attention let Irvine get an arrow in and Grunbeld yelled in anger. He swept aside Sonia like swatting at a fly.

"Stupid girl, distracting me."

Irvine spared a glance at the girl, but continued the fight, not giving an idea to his thoughts. They continued like nothing had happened.

Her body hit a wall, and her bones were broken in a way she knew was fatal. There was little pain, as she was probably in shock. Sonia had landed near where Mule was, and he was crawling over to her. He cradled her in his arms gently as he could and weeped. She couldn't tell if he knew she had a few seconds left, or if he thought she was already dead.

"I love you," he whispered, "I love you Sonia."

So that's why'd he done it, she thought, why he'd followed her all this time. She'd thought it was a misplaced sense of duty, but no, he loved her.

What a foolish reason.