Meanwhile at Gessen Academy…

Opening Song: None

Blue light beams down from the starlit sky and gives off a tall shadow standing triumphantly atop Gessen Academy's highest tower. In his right hand is a blood-spattered spear that drips on the white rooftop. He lifts his left hand high into the air with no regrets or remorse for the events that have occurred. In the clutches of his left hand is the blood and bone that was weaved into an object of power.

"Hey Pallyboy! It's done!" Shokudo shouts as him and Fubuki casually approach.

"The Academy Council?"

"All the blame is on Ursania." Shokudo answers.

"The excuse for us taking the girl's scroll?"

"The council want to see a real demonstration tomorrow morning, but they aren't too out of line about it since Fubuki transformed and Yumi's power doubled. I told them the more shinobi that transform, the stronger she gets." Shokudo states.

"The intruders?"

"Dealt with." Fubuki states.

"What of the thief with the abyss scroll?"

"She got away, but she can't hide." Shokudo replies.

"Anything I should be aware of?"

"That blonde named Shiki ran off with that Octavian boy, and the two runts." Shokudo adds.

"Noted and is your claims about the scroll bearer named Miyabi correct?" Paladin asks.

"They have similar wings, and I'm pretty sure Alan would come running if you strung her up." Fubuki states.

"That's not a bad idea. As for now though, we must focus on the task at hand." Paladin flips his spear around and wipes the blood off on his fabric pants. "You two have done well. Rest up and enjoy the night while it is still young."

"What about you?" Fubuki asks.

"I've got some things to discuss with my brothers. Those two girls that were helping us in the past."

"Gekko and Senko?"

"Yes. I planned their deaths back in Tenalbrum. However, they are still alive."

"I thought Alan was going to kill them both. With as much grief they caused him, I figure two bullets wouldn't be much to ask for." Fubuki states with a heavy heart.

"Perhaps those rumors of Alan being that warmonger were just lies all to begin with." Shokudo adds.

"I believe what happened to Hanzo Academy will break him. Regardless, do not underestimate my father or his ploys. As for Gekko and Senko? Kill them when you get the chance."

"Consider it done." Shokudo states despite Fubuki's silent protest.

The rooftop access door opens. Shokudo and Fubuki step out of the way as Knight and Cavalier approach Paladin. Excitement and joy well up in their eyes at the very sight of Yumi's scroll resting within Paladin's moon-stained hands. Cavalier and Knight slam their gauntlets together in unison and give a round of metallic applause.

"Is it done?" Paladin asks.

"Plundered, razed, turned to ash. The trophies are now hanging with mother." Cavalier replies.

"I went the extra mile and made sure father's harbinger would suffer for standing against us." Knight adds.

"I'd expect nothing less of you all. Excellent work. Shokudo? Take Fubuki somewhere nice tomorrow night." Paladin tosses him a leather sack. Shokudo pulls the draw string and chuckles as the sight of gold coins sates his unending greed. Shokudo grabs Fubuki by the hand and rushes towards the exit. "Thanks Pallyboy!"

"You're welcome."

Paladin hands the scroll to Knight. His hands tremble with fearful satisfaction as he smiles and hoists the flesh and bone of his step sister, niece and nephews into the sky. Knight hands the scroll to Cavalier.

"It's been so long that I forgot what Cataphract's family even looked like. Damn shame. Isn't it?" Cavalier says.

"He may have been the most foolish, but it hurts the most seeing our youngest brother go first." Knight states.

"Since you're the war expert Knight, who all have we fought for these scrolls?" Paladin asks.

"The Shinobi, the Byzantines, the Romans, the Etruscans, the Phoenicians, the Assyrians. Shall I go on?"

"That won't be necessary. My point is; how long has it been since we actually held one of these scrolls?" Paladin asks.

Cavalier hands the scroll back to Paladin, "Not since our battles with the Etruscans."

"Do you think this time is it?" Knight asks.

"It's too early to tell, but it is possible. Knight? Out of everyone we've fought, who were the most difficult?"

"The Romans. Why?"

"Well, I was thinking in light of our victory tonight, why don't you head to Rome tomorrow? Don't get too wild though. We're not in Armageddon. Yet."

"What about Constantinople?"

"I think they call it Istanbul now." Paladin states.

"Then I'll be back in three days."

Knight steps over the edge of the building and falls onto the back of his beastly horse. He digs his heels into the creature's side and rides out through the back gate of Gessen Academy.

"Do you have any special plans?"

"Other than attending to the artifacts." Cavalier replies.

"Just don't get too rough with them."

Cavalier leaves the rooftop and exits out the front door of the building. He grabs his horse by the reins and leads it out of Gessen academy. Cavalier pulls out a seed from an old fruit tree and tosses it on the ground. A patch of worm ridden black apples sprout from the seed and burst into flames as the ash from the burning fruit forms a portal.

The snowy landscape full of life transforms into a smoldering ruined castle that rests in the middle of a dry riverbed. Broken food carts thick with char litter the main courtyard of the castle grounds. Dried sheets of dead wheat, fish that have deteriorated to bone and skeletal remains of various life stock form a path that leads to a massive tree that sits in the very middle of the castle. The only living thing that can be seen for miles.

Cavalier hitches his horse and approaches a bubbling cyst jutting out of the tree's side. A pair of feet poke out the bottom. Outstretched arms are secured to the bark as a large deposit of amber covers the body of an unconscious goddess. Cavalier kneels before the diamond eyed woman and folds his hands.

"Oh Mother. How mercy blinds you. If only you could see through the faults. Only then could you truly see what they have to my family, and our home. I hope one day you and father realize that their sins cannot be forgiven. Not only for what they did to our families, but what they do to one another. With one of the scrolls now in our possession, let that time be now."

Cavalier finishes his prayer and stands back up. Strung all around Kagura are several of her followers. The handle of several scythe-like objects dangle down and restrict the prisoner's wrists. Resin slowly bleeds out onto the scythe and drizzles onto the victims.

"Let's see; Naraku, Renka, Kafuru, Hanabi, Ayame, Hibari, Yagyu…"

The sudden movement of one struggling to escape from the golden sap catches Cavalier's attention, "And yes, the one reborn."

"Get me down from here!" Ikaruga screams as she thrashes around and violently kicks. The scythe blade wiggles and drips more amber onto her body. Her ability to struggle dwindles as sap drizzles down onto her head and glues her neck to the bark of the tree.

"Ikaruga! I'm so glad your awake! It gets kind of boring down here with nobody to talk to!"

"Why me!?"

"Because you carry the same blood as my father. In a way, it makes us family now."

"What are you talking about!?"

"The one you call Alan is our father's harbinger. Whether he shared his blood with you out of free will or not, his blood now runs through your veins. I figured since you are a part of the family, you would like to know where you are."

Cavalier throws his arms out and spins around, "This is my domain, and this is where you, our mother and her followers will remain for the rest of eternity. Free from our eldest brother's wrath. You should be grateful."

"GRATEFUL!? You torched my home! You hurt my teacher! You pit me against…against my friends…" Ikaruga chokes on a mouthful of sorrow as the memory of Mr. K taking a ballista bolt to the stomach rips through her mind. She looks over at the cocoon of golden sap that has Yagyu completely encased. Ikaruga's head dangles down as tears roll down her defeated face.

"Don't be so hard on yourself. After all, this is all Alan's fault."

"No…"

"Yes."

"NO!"

"Yes. He's the only one capable of doing anything. The only one with the ability to stop us and despite the great power our father gave him, he couldn't. Or should I say, wouldn't. That's why all of you are here now."

"Shut up…" Ikaruga sobs behind grinding teeth.

Cavalier spins his cat of nine tails around his body, "But look on the bright side! If he decides to show up, you'll get to witness Alan forsake you, your friends and all of humanity to save himself after I'm done with him."

"No…Alan will win…I'm sure of it." Ikaruga spits a wad of sap out of her mouth.

"Oh, how you women are so emotional! So hopeful! What do you expect at the end of all of this? Salvation? Redemption? No. There is only one guaranteed promise from Armageddon, Damnation." Cavalier laughs...

Ending song: "Valor is Dead" by Greg Dombrowski

End of the Renounced Requiem Arc…