Breaking the Cycle

by Lord Misiek

Alex was your typical ordinary college history student who never expected much from life. He never expected to wake up in one of the most lascivious settings in all of fiction. Or to win the affections of a particularly hedonistic Succubus Princess. And he certainly never expected to be the one to determine the outcome of a millenia-long war and go up against the Gods themselves.

18. Chapter 16

"Hmm, so Phokas has escaped." Druella said in a commanding voice as she floated atop her dark mana ball. "That is truly concerning news. Did Emperor Andron say anything else besides this message?"

Hmmph, such an unpleasant turn of events. I cannot believe there is a chance I might reencounter that evil little human.

The Throne Room of Castle Lescatie was rather packed today, with monsters and even some incubi standing on both sides of the hall. Many of the monsters were adorned with her eye-symbol on their clothing and armor, indicating they were members of Druella's "Radical Faction", as many liked to call it. In Druella's eyes, however, they were simply "her Faction".

To her left stood her prized warriors and officers of the military arm of her faction. These monsters were distinguished through their physical prowess and/or martial abilities, and included mamono such as Dullahans, Amazons, Ocelomeh, Orcs, Ogres, Hellhounds, Manticores, Minotaurs, Salamanders, Lizardmen, more martially-oriented Succubi, and any monster hoping to earn a husband through battle. There were also some Incubi within her forces, Fallen Heroes who managed to convince their wives to allow them to see combat again. These monsters answered only to Druella and the Mamono Lord herself, and their deployment in battle was sure to turn the tide in any engagement.

Behind them stood the Faction's agents and spies, monsters known for their ability to disguise themselves within humanity. These included Kobolds, Apsaras, and Holstaurs in the human kingdoms that still tolerated them, Ratatoskrs and other monsters skilled in the procurement and transmission of intelligence, and finally Succubi, Doppelgangers, and any other monster capable of passing as human or strong enough to perform an effective glamor spell. The primary tasks of these monsters included gathering intelligence on The Order's plans and ambitions, making contact with isolated monster groups along with potential human sympathizers, infiltrating human courts and governments, "neutralizing" threats through seduction, and making preparations for invasion if the time came for it. Their service was indispensable; while Druella did enjoy personally infiltrating human realms, she could not be everywhere at once. The espionage-oriented monsters of the Radical Faction therefore allowed her to maintain a firm grasp on events occuring in human-controlled territory.

To her right stood the Faction's diplomats, monsters skilled in their abilities to converse and negotiate with leaders both human and mamono. These monsters included Demons, Devils, Lamia, Elves, Dark Elves, more conversationally-oriented Succubi, and any monster capable of more speech than just erotic sighs and moans. Whether it be Mamono Realms, Mamono-aligned human kingdoms, or even some Neutral Nations, these monsters ensured that friendly relations were maintained and that the interests of Druella were represented. Like the spies, these monsters were also very talented in bringing human males over to their side.

Finally, behind them stood the Radical Faction's magic-users, monsters with a strong knowledge in magic and the many properties of mamono mana. These included Dark Mages, Witches, independent Baphomets, more magically-oriented Succubi, various Elementals, Fairies, Leanan Sidhe, and Vampires. While this portion of the Radical Faction frequently collaborated with the local Black Goat Sabbath, Kuroferuru refused all suggestions of a merger, claiming that they were all "too curvy" to qualify. Thus, while Kuroferuru was personally loyal to Druella, the Black Goat Sabbath functioned independently from the rest of the Radical Faction.

But while all these monsters had their own assignments and tasks, they were all united under their shared loyalty and love for Druella, their esteemed leader. They also shared her goals to free all of humanity from the tyranny of The Order of the Chief God, to give every man and woman the pleasurable liberation that only mamono can provide, and to spread the Mamono Realm to every corner of the world. The unmarried members of the Radical Faction also had their own personal goal that took precedence over all these goals- finding a human male to claim and love as their own.

Besides the Radical Faction, Queen Franscisca was also in attendance today, but she merely observed the day's events atop her throne. Druella did intend to eventually give Francisca full control of Mamono Realm Lescatie once she finally moved on to a fresh conquest, but for now the Roper Queen was content to leave the politics of the Realm to her.

To Druella's immediate right stood Alex, for her husband always desired to watch how she governed Lescatie and the monsters sworn to her. While Druella was disappointed that Alex refused her offer to sit on her lap, she was still happy that he was here. Not only did it fill her with glee that her husband was so interested in her role as a leader, his presence was a source of warmth and comfort that she could no longer go without. The monsters of the Radical Faction never had any issue with Alex's presence, and most of them would simply look at the two of them and either blush, giggle, or just smile contentedly. Some of them even suggested giving Alex an honorary title, but her husband shot down all attempts at turning him into "the Radical Faction's mascot". A few of the more jealous mamono, meanwhile, had sworn to follow Druella's example and hunt for human mates twice as hard.

Druella briefly glanced over at her husband, whose cute face was now twisted into a grimace. No doubt he also did not relish having to potentially deal with Phokas again, and Druella shared his misgivings.

In front of her kneeled a blue-skinned Demon, her most recent ambassador to Steylia. Druella had kept sending different monsters to Steylia on diplomatic missions in the hopes that Emperor Andron might fancy one in particular. So far, her little scheme had yet to bear fruit, but there was now a steady trickle of young Steylian men moving to Lescatie.

"Other than that he acknowledges your request to make peace with the Tazchek, no." The Demon kneeling before her replied. "He seemed…rather agitated when he told me the news."

"That is understandable." Druella replied. "Phokas was a traitor who sold his country out to The Order and nearly put the humans and monsters of Steylia at each other's throats. For his own ambitions he was even willing to mutilate his own brother! He is a danger that cannot be allowed to roam free."

"What an unpleasant-sounding man." Francisca spoke up, the Roper Queen's face twisted in disgust. "Hmm, Phokas reminds me of some of the courtiers in my father's court before Lescatie was transformed. Men and women unbound by any ties of loyalty or kinship, willing to perform the most nefarious of deeds to achieve their dark schemes. While those sycophants mostly ignored me, my father unfortunately fell for their plots time and time again. And even humiliating failure is never enough to deter their ambitions- Lady Druella, though Phokas may be fleeing Steylia for now, he will surely have designs on his homeland in the future!"

Druella nodded, for she remembered all too well the corrupt state of Lescatie's previous administration. She then turned to the left towards one of her lieutenants, a dullahan with black and red adorned armor. "Prepare some search parties- they will be sent to Steylia to assist with the hunt. Be sure to include some harpy scouts."

"Understood, Lady Druella." the Dullahan replied as she bowed in front of her before leaving the room.

"We will also need to contact the monsters in the Southern Sand Dunes. Tell them that any monster who captures Phokas is free to keep him….if they want to, that is. Otherwise, he should be sent back to Steylia."

"I'll make sure that the message gets to them quickly!" yelled a Ratatoskr with a squeaky voice.

"Splendid!" Druella replied while smiling at the eager Ratatoskr. Then she turned back towards the Demon.

"Fufu, I can sense that there's someone you want to get back to! It's alright, you are free to leave now."

The Demon stood up, her eyes glowing with excitement, and performed one last bow before striding out of the Throne Room. Just before the exit, she took a waiting Steylian man by the hand and motioned him to follow her, her blue cheeks now flushed red.

"Now, what is the next piece of business?" Druella addressed the room. "Let us not tarry too long, I can already sense how impatient all of you are to return to more delightful tasks."

Druella then glanced over at her husband with a wicked smile on her face. "And I am not an exception." she said bashfully as Alex's face turned a bright shade of crimson.

Fufu, I hope I am not embarrassing you too much Alex, Druella thought to herself. But I want all the monsters under my command to know how much I treasure you!

Two monsters stepped out from the Faction's group of spellcasters and strode forward. The first was Astara, loyal Dark Mage to Druella and her husband's personal trainer. Next to her hovered Kuroferuru, head baphomet of the Black Goat Sabbath. Druella straightened herself on her dark mana ball; she had assigned the baphomet to a special task and was eager to learn the results of her investigation.

"Ah, Astara! Kuroferuru!" Druella greeted the pair with glee. "I do hope you have some important breakthroughs to share with me!"

The two suddenly froze in place- clearly they hadn't expected Druella to go right into business. Astara looked rather uncomfortable, almost as if she were about to cover her face with her witch's hat. Kuroferuru, meanwhile, landed on the marbled floor and tried her best to give Druella a confident smile, but failed.

"Oh, well, Lady Druella, you see…we…um…" Astara attempted to speak, but was too nervous to do so.

"While we were able to make a major breakthrough on the true nature of the ring you gave us, we had to put an end to our study." Kuruferuru responded on behalf of her nervous companion. "I deeply apologize, Lady Druella, but we had our reasons."

Druella raised an eyebrow. "Reasons? Then share them with me. But remember," Druella said sternly, "uncovering the true nature of Turgal Khan's 'gift' from The Order is imperative if we are to ensure the safety of the Mamono Realm. There is no time for unnecessary delays."

Kuroferuru's face became more serious, for even the baphomet had heard about Druella's battle on the Tazchekian Steppe. "We are both aware of the seriousness of the situation, Lady Druella. But this little ring is proving to be more of a challenge than even I expected."

"From what we did find, the ring has a few interesting little properties." Astara chimed in. "First, the ring itself is not cursed. There are no enchantments contained within the gold itself- it's a normal alloy used for jewelry without any hidden additions."

"No curses?" Druella replied with disbelief. "Astara, I peered into the Khan's mind and found it hijacked by thoughts and impulses that weren't his. If the ring wasn't cursed, then how could it influence him?"

"That goes right into the theory we currently have!" Kuroferuru spoke up. "It wasn't the ring that twisted the Khan's mind, but the mana contained within its golden gem!"

The baphomet's theory had some precedence- mana of all varieties could produce interesting effects within a human's body and mind. Mamono mana, after all, slowly transformed men into incubi, women into monsters, and could influence their minds to better accept the pleasure offered by mamono. So it was entirely possible that the Khan's mind was twisted through exposure to the ring's unknown mana.

"Hmm, you may be onto something, my dear Kuroferuru!" Druella replied.

"Hehe, I always am!" The baphomet giggled. "In its inert state, the ring poured in just a little bit of its mana into him, influencing his mind just enough to alter his ambitions while keeping him rational. But when he tried to remove it, the floodgates were thrown right open! The Khan's body was flooded with mana it could barely even handle, and his mind was completely lost in the deluge!"

"Unfortunately, that's almost all we could find." Astara interjected. "The yellow gemstone doesn't have any mana left inside of it, and it doesn't appear to be your typical magic gem. To learn more about it, we'd have to find the ring's crafter."

"But before we go into that, I'll tell you our main reason for not studying the ring any further!" Kuroferuru continued. "Lady Druella, there is a strong possibility that the ring is not deactivated, but simply inert. If an unclaimed human were to wear it, it might reactivate. But while that would give us a grand opportunity to study its effects, I would never condemn any poor human to that fate!"

The ring is inert? And a human could still reactivate it?! Kuroferuru, Astara you made the right call in canceling any further investigation. Druella also noticed how the baphomet emphasized that the human had to be unclaimed. Whatever mana was in that ring, it reacted poorly to the touch of a mamono. And they could not rule out the possibility that humans exposed to mamono mana could be hurt as well.

"Hmm, a shame we could not investigate it any further. But you were right in not putting any human in harm's way."

"Oh, but Lady Druella!" Astara interjected. We haven't gotten to our breakthrough yet! While we couldn't find much on the true nature of the ring, we did discover a lead to its creator!"

"While examining the inside surface of the ring, we found these two letters." Kuroferuru added as she handed Druella a piece of paper. The lilim examined the paper- it was a sketch of what appeared to be an elaborately carved pair of initials.

"Many human craftsmen like to sneak their name or their guild crest onto their creations!" Kuroferuru replied. "And fortunately, Astara knows who it might be!"

"P.M." Druella whispered. "Was this the creator of the ring?"

""P.M. can only stand for Pierre Morgant, one of the greatest human jewelsmiths currently alive!" Astara replied. "He currently runs his business in the City-State of Tyrene!"

Druella's ears perked up at the mention of Tyrene. The City-State of Tyrene was a human nation she was quite interested in; As a matter of fact, it was high on her list of Order-aligned nations to monsterize when she finally moved on from Lescatie. Tyrene had once been a wealthy city known for its many artisans, but the city had fallen on hard times ever since its reigning Prince invited a greater Order presence following the Fall of Lescatie. Like any city under the Order's thumb, it was rife with resentment and political instability, and the Prince could do little to stop it. Druella looked over at her spies; she had deployed one of her best agents into the city to keep an eye on its political situation and to build the groundwork for an eventual takeover.

"Have we heard anything back from Mimi or any of our other spies in Tyrene?" Druella asked.

The espionage-oriented monsters of the Radical Faction suddenly all looked very uncomfortable, with no one being brave enough to speak. Eventually, one nervous un-transformed Doppelganger broke the silence.

"Um, Lady Druella, we have some unpleasant news." the Doppelganger said in a quiet voice. "Ever since The Order escalated its presence in Tyrene, our spy network has taken a heavy blow."

Druella's eyes narrowed. "A heavy blow?"

"The Order officially outlawed the keeping of Kobolds as pets in Tyrene, so they all had to flee the city!" the Doppelganger replied. "And according to Mimi, they're practically going door-by-door to root out any monsters! Nearly all of our spies had to escape Tyrene or else risk capture!"

Druella was now very concerned, and very annoyed as well. "Why," she asked sternly, "was I not told about this severe setback to our operations in Tyrene?"

The Doppelganger now looked even more nervous, and many of her companions were doing their best to hide their blushing. "Well…we wanted to tell you Lady Druella…but you've spent so much time with your husband recently that we could never find the opportunity!" the dark-haired girl exclaimed. "You warned us to never interrupt you, after all!"

Druella's eyes widened, and now she was blushing too. Oh, so this debacle is partially my fault for failing to keep a close eye on things. But it is true- I have been spending far less time managing the affairs of Lescatie and my forces ever since I claimed Alex. And we have been having sex almost non-stop ever since he finally confessed his love to me! These last few nights have been absolutely wonderful, but I am starting to neglect my responsibilities. Hmm, should I cut back on- NO. Unthinkable. I'll simply have to learn to allocate my time better.

Druella glanced over at her husband, whose face was now so red Druella worried that he might faint. A few bold monsters of the Radical Faction snickered at the sight of the clearly-embarrassed human, but one stern glare from Druella silenced them. While she did enjoy teasing her husband now and again, she did not tolerate any mockery at his expense.

"Hmm, what about Mimi?" Druella asked, trying to restart the conversation. "Is she safe?"

"Mimi is still providing updates!" The Doppelganger replied. "Since she managed to infiltrate deep into Prince Julien's court, she was able to steer clear of The Order's investigations! From her last report, she's practically running all of our operations in Tyrene by herself!"

Druella did a double-take, and she then felt a lot more guilty about not keeping up with events. "By herself?! By the Mamono Lord, I cannot allow her to overexert herself like that! I've made my decision; I'll visit Tyrene to personally check up on Mimi!"

She then turned towards Astara and Kuroferuru. "And I'll find out how 'Pierre Morgant' is involved with The Order, and how he constructed this ring. You are all dismissed."

Kuroferuru bowed to Druella before hovering back into the air while Astara curtsied. Then the two followed the departing members of the Radical Faction out the door. Soon, only Francisca, Druella, and Alex remained.

"You look rather glum, Francisca," Druella addressed the Roper Queen.

"That's because I'm bored, Druella." the monarch replied with a sigh. "Since Wilmarina left for Dragonia with Elt, I have nothing to do! The nerve of that Dark Hero… she intentionally never tells us when she's going on vacation with him!"

"I'll be sure to ask Wilmarina to avoid monopolizing Elt too much when she returns." Druella replied. "In the meantime, that brave little Doppelganger did have a point- I have been neglecting my duties recently. If you are comfortable with it, would you like to take a greater role in managing Lescatie?"

Francisca's eyes widened for a moment, then she smiled widely as her tentacles quivered with glee. "Why I'd love to, Lady Druella! You saved Lescatie from its dismal condition, saved me from my old life, teached me all about running a kingdom…I'll demonstrate my gratitude by turning Lescatie into the shining jewel of the Mamono Realm! Father and mother will be so proud- at least when they finally leave their room!"

Druella smiled- she had succeeded in both cheering Francisca up and delegating some of her neglected duties.

"Fufu, I do look forward to seeing what you accomplish!" she said as she dissipated her dark mana ball and landed on the marble floor. After giving Francisca one final farewell, she herself departed the Throne Room with Alex in tow.

"Before you ask," Druella said when she realized Alex wanted to ask her something. "The answer is yes. You will be coming along with me to Tyrene, Alex."

"Oh, really? Um, thank you Druella!" Alex replied, flustered by her preemptive answer. "I wasn't sure you wanted me to since it sounds like The Order is firmly entrenched in Tyrene."

"Yes, I am concerned about them." Druella replied. "But I trust that you will keep yourself from getting into trouble. Now, go pack your things, we will be leaving within an hour."

Alex nodded before running off to collect his things. As Druella watched him depart, she could not help but ponder about the outcome of today's meeting.

If our Tyrenese spy network really has taken such a massive hit, Mimi could be in extreme danger! I'll send her a message to meet with us- hopefully everything will be alright.

[]

When the glow of the Teleportation Spell faded away, Alex and Druella found themselves in the sitting room of a decently furnished residential home. There were several ornate small tables surrounded by seats and couches, with an unlit candle chandelier hanging above them all. Towards the wall was a large cabinet full of various fancy plates and cups. It would normally be a room fit for a minor noble family, but its image of wealth was ruined by the fact that the cushions were misplaced, someone had forgotten to take some used plates from the tables, and everything had a small coating of dust on it.

"Mimi my dear, are you home?" Druella called out to the empty house, but no response came.

"Hmm, so is Mimi posing as some sort of noblewoman to keep tabs on the Prince of Tyrene?" Alex asked as he looked around the room.

"No, not as a noble." Druella replied. "But as a maid within the Prince's Palace. When nobles and courtiers discuss politics, they rarely pay attention to the maid cleaning the room around them. That is why they make such perfect spies!"

Alex stared at the rather shabby condition of the sitting-room. "Well, it looks like she's not a very good maid."

Druella nodded. "I had this home purchased to serve as a safehouse for any monsters residing in Tyrene. Perhaps she simply hasn't had the time to clean it up?"

Or she could already be captured by our enemy. I sincerely hope I am not too late.

Just then, they heard the house's front door rapidly open and close as someone rushed inside. After a few moments, a woman in a maid's uniform burst into the room, breathing heavily as she held onto her skirts.

"I'm here Lady Druella! I'm here! Please forgive me for my tardiness!" the woman shouted in between panting breaths as she kneeled before the lilim.

"There is no need to apologize, Mimi." Druella replied. "I am simply glad to see that you're safe."

Mimi looked up from the floor at her leader. The disguised spy of the Radical Faction was a beautiful young lady with long brown hair styled into curls. She had elegant brown eyes beneath her fluttering eyelashes, and her pretty face was almost free of any blemishes. But it appeared that Mimi had not caught enough sleep recently, as there were dark circles underneath her eyes.

Oh dear, Mimi. Just how much have I neglected you?!

"Thank you, Lady Druella." The tired-looking maid replied. "Is it okay if I finally shed my glamor?"

Druella nodded in assent. Mimi then shouted a quick spell, and within a second the maid had gained a few new features. She now had two small black horns atop her head, two batlike wings jutting from her hips, and a spaded tail flickering behind her. Her maid uniform now clung to her body far more tightly, allowing her curvy form to be far more visible. But even in her true succubus form, Mimi still looked tired.

"Alex, this is Mimi, my head spy within Tyrene." Druella said as she introduced the maid. "And Mimi, this Alex, my newly claimed husband."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Alex, husband of Druella!" Mimi replied as she smiled and gave Alex a quick curtsy. "I've heard reports about you, but I'm glad to finally see you in person!"

"It's nice to meet you too, Mimi!" Alex replied while giving her a friendly smile. "I've heard a lot about Druella's spies, but you're the first one I get to meet on the job!"

Mimi blushed a little at his statement. "Well then, I hope I'm giving you a positive first impression!" She then looked around and frowned at the dirty state of the sitting room. "Oh! Oh dear, I do not make for a believable maid, do I?"

"Relax, Mimi." Druella reassured her. "I can tell that you've been busy. Please, just take a deep breath and tell me about everything that has been happening in Tyrene."

Mimi sat down on one of the chairs and heaved a big sigh. "I'm sorry Lady Druella, but I really don't have any good news to share. For a while, everything was going fine- I had spies placed in every district, a consistent line of communication with the monsters living in the city's sewers and catacombs, a list of potential sympathizers, and I was even able to become the Prince's personal maid!"

"It sounds like you were doing well." Druella said. "Tell me, how is Prince Julien?"

Mimi's expression became even sadder. "I pity him greatly. Ever since he had to divorce his wife for having an affair with a noble, he looks so lonely all the time! And The Order doesn't let him have any say in running Tyrene anymore! All I want to do is give him a warm hug, but that would be improper for a maid to do!"

Hmm, I can sense your desires Mimi- you want to do far more than just hug him. Druella did her best to suppress a giggle. Don't worry Mimi, he's yours to claim when I take over Tyrene.

"Excellent work, Mimi, and be sure to keep a close watch on him." Druella said. "Now, how did things all fall apart?"

Mimi's sad expression turned to anger, and any pretexts of relaxation vanished. "It's all because of the new garrison commander!" Mimi exclaimed with frustration. "The Order called him in to deal with the instability within Tyrene, and now he's been terrorizing the population and executing anyone who complains!"

"Who is this new garrison commander?" Druella asked.

"Some brute of a human named Tyrax." Mimi grumbled. "From the little intel I managed to get about him, he's apparently very bitter about some defeat he faced against you, and now he's taking it out on everyone else!"

Tyrax? Where have I heard that name before?

Then Druella remembered- while she had only seen the man from a distance, General Tyrax commanded The Order's campaign that ended in disaster at the fields of Steylia. Clearly, he had been demoted as a result of his defeat, and now he was lashing out against any perceived threats.

But bitter against me? I was only an observer- it was the Steylian Emperor who crushed him in battle. Perhaps The Order's accounts of the battle skewed my involvement? Nonetheless, he is an obstacle who will need to be dealt with.

"Under his tyrannical leadership," Mimi continued to speak, her voice full of anger and frustration, "nearly all of my spies have been uprooted one by one! The lucky ones fled the city before they could be exposed. The unlucky ones…"

Mimi looked up at Druella, her eyes now watering with tears as she gazed at the lilim with a reproachful look. "Why didn't you send any help, Druella? There was only so much I could do on my own, and now good monsters were lost under my watch. Why didn't you come sooner?!"

Druella knelt before the distressed maid and took one of her hands into her own, feeling more guilty than ever about neglecting her spy networks. Alex stood to the side, his expression somber.

"I'm deeply sorry, Mimi. This terrible outcome was my fault for not coming sooner, not yours. I promise you that I'll help repair things here in Tyrene. And we'll avenge every monster we've lost when we finally incorporate Tyrene into the Mamono Realm."

Mimi gave her a weak nod, and she did her best to compose herself. "Th-thank you, Lady Druella. I'll do my best to support you in any way I can."

Druella smiled at her. "You've already done so much for me, how could I ask any more from you?"

Then she remembered the second purpose for coming to Tyrene. "But if there is one thing I must trouble you for an answer, it is this- have you ever heard of a jewelsmith named Pierre Morgant?"

Mimi nodded. "I've never visited his shop personally, but he's in the East End of Tyrene. I could lead you there if you'd like."

"Thank you, but that will be unnecessary." Druella replied. I will not send you out after everything you've been through. You deserve a break, Mimi. Now, I suppose I could go there myself, but I also need to begin repairing our operations here. Hmm…

"Now, is there anything else I should know about the current state of Tyrene, Mimi?

The succubus-maid straightened herself up, her confidence returning as she began her report. "The Order has implemented rationing within the city- even the nobility are being forced to cut back a little. They've also deployed their own troops to patrol the streets alongside the Tyrenese Guardsmen, though from what I've seen the Guardsmen hate working under them. Large portions of the city's male population have been conscripted into The Order's army, enough to leave its economy on the brink. The monsters living in the city's underground are still safe- even The Order is unwilling to risk sending men to root them out. Lastly, The Order has been sending large amounts of prisoners to the White Bastion, a prison-fortress in the center of the city. It's massive, you won't miss it."

"Oh wait, and one more thing!" Mimi chimed in as a new thought entered her head. "Apparently there's been a band of human saboteurs within the city who've been causing trouble for The Order. The last I heard of them, though, they seem to be in pretty dire straits. Tyrax has them mostly in hiding."

"Nonetheless, that is an interesting piece of information." Druella responded. "Human resistance groups are very useful to us. We should not overlook them entirely."

Druella now made up her mind of what to do next. "Mimi, you've done more than your fair share of work. Please, go and rest now."

Mimi's smile was the widest it had been all day. "Thank you, Druella." she said as she stood up and walked over to one of the sitting room couches. After plopping face-down on top of its cushions, the succubus-maid was snoring within seconds.

Druella then turned to her husband. "Alex, have you been paying attention to our conversation?"

Alex nodded. "Yes! It sounds like The Order's presence here is more like an occupying force than a protective one. And this Tyrax prick sounds like he has a real chip on his shoulder for what happened in Steylia. After hearing about what happened to the spy network, we'll have to be careful if we're going to find Pierre Morgant." Alex's eyes widened. "Maybe there's a connection? If Pierre's creating dangerous magical objects for The Order, obviously they wouldn't want monsters getting in the way."

"Excellent observation, Alex!" Druella replied. "You have a good sense of the bigger picture. Hmm, now I know I made the right choice for this mission."

Druella walked over to her husband and took one of his hands into her own. "Good, you've brought along the alarm ring. Now, listen closely- I am going to give you a mission, Alex. If you are not comfortable doing it, that is perfectly fine-"

"I'll do it!' Alex exclaimed with excitement.

Druella smiled even wider. "Fufu, such eagerness! You truly are my little hero! But please at least let me tell you the mission first!"

Alex gave her a firm nod.

"Alex, I want you to go to the business of this Pierre Morgant and see what you can find. Be careful to not ask too many questions, and do not get yourself in trouble. And, if possible, try to learn more about this group of saboteurs. They could become a useful asset in driving The Order out of Tyrene!"

"Alright, I'll find Pierre, and learn more about the saboteurs. My answer remains the same!" Alex replied with an eager grin.

Druella chuckled. "In that case, you should head off now. Just remember- do not get yourself into trouble, okay?"

Alex barely heard her- he was already heading out the door to complete his assigned mission. Druella sighed- she had a bad feeling that trouble would find its way to Alex one way or the other.

Now, it's about time I begin planning out the restoration of our operations in Tyrene. As she looked around the filthy sitting room with Mimi still asleep on one of the couches, she knew where she could start.

Let's first get this safe house cleaned up. Druella thought to herself as she began conjuring up some spells. Fortunately, I am not undercover as a human maid.

[]

As Alex made his way down the rather sparsely populated streets of Tyrene, he could not help but feel elated at what had just happened.

Druella trusts me enough to perform missions for her! Even if this is a simple quest for information, it's one step closer to becoming her true partner! Now all I need to do is find Pierre Morgant and see what he's been up to. And learn more about the Anti-Order saboteurs.

The weather in Tyrene was rather chilly, but Alex's Lilim Cloth cloak kept him nice and snug. His Dark Knight's Sword hung in its scabbard, though Alex had made sure to wrap its pommel with cloth. After all, It would be a rather terrible idea to have Druella's personal symbol displayed in an Order-occupied city.

And occupation was certainly the right word for it, for it was obvious that Tyrene was suffering under The Order's boot. The streets were filled with debris, as if no one had swept them in years. Many of the shops and businesses were boarded up, and the ones that weren't looked like they soon would be anyway. Occasionally a rat would squeak as it ran across the street with some morsel, but the cityfolk paid them no mind.

As for the populace, they appeared to be in a similarly dismal condition. The streets were predominately full of women, and the men that remained appeared to be in a constant state of paranoia. All of them looked haggard, with gaunt faces and faded clothing that looked like it had once been brightly colored. The Tyrenese paid little attention to Alex aside from the occasional curious glance, but they all moved out of the way whenever some soldiers of The Order came by.

And they did come by often, reflecting the hold The Order had over the city. Squads of men in distinctive white armor adorned with crosses patrolled the streets at a constant rate. Sometimes they were also accompanied by soldiers in blue armor, but those soldiers did not look like they wanted to be there. Alex tried his best to keep out of their way, but fortunately they ignored him. Perhaps they thought he was simply a visiting Hero on the road to his next adventure?

Is this really how The Order treats his own people? Alex thought to himself as he looked around at Tyrene with concern and horror. It's just like that town I passed through on my very first day in this world. All this misery, all this poverty, how do they still have any form of support? Fear and totalitarian rule can only work for so long- sooner or later something's got to give way. Just ask the Qin Dynasty.

…Druella did say she has plans to monsterize Tyrene. Normally I'd find some way to keep her from doing so, but can I even find an alternative for Tyrene? This city might already be too far gone.

"Make way to the White Bastion Square!" A loud voice suddenly echoed behind him. Turning around, Alex could see a line of Order soldiers herding the Tyrenese pedestrians towards his direction. Some sort of event was going on up ahead, and attendance appeared to be mandatory.

Not wanting to draw any attention to himself, Alex decided to follow the crowd. After a few minutes of walking, he found himself in a large city square full of people milling about. Behind the Square loomed a massive keep constructed out of white stone, likely the White Bastion that gave the square its name. At the center of the square stood a large wooden platform guarded by heavily-armored Order Knights. On top of this platform knelt six people in ragged clothing and chains- four women and two men. Behind them all were men with black hoods over their faces, each one holding a massive axe.

Alex gulped- he had a good idea of what the platform was for.

"Silence for Commander Tyrax!" An Order Captain yelled from the platform. After a few moments, the crowd obliged. A large, heavyset man dressed in white plate armor then made his way up the wooden steps of the platform, the wood creaking beneath his every step. As he turned to face the crowd, Alex finally got a good look at the face of the man who suffered defeat in the Disaster of Steylia- small black beard, a furrowed bald head, and a red face that appeared to be trapped in a constant state of anger.

"Esteemed citizens of Tyrene! Loyal followers of the Chief God!" Tyrax bellowed, his voice echoing throughout the square. "Last night, an illustrious Captain of the The Order of the Chief God was found dead in his barracks, murdered in his sleep by the cowardly members of the Tyrene Resistance Committee! Such a vile crime against a holy warrior of our God cannot go unanswered!"

The Tyrene Resistance Committee? Is that the band of saboteurs Mimi was referring to?

"Through their barbarous actions, the Committee puts Tyrene and all of its people one step closer to falling under the Mamono Lord's shadow!" Tyrax roared with fury. "Such sabotage cannot be tolerated- the future of humanity is at stake!"

Some members of the crowd actually yelled in agreement to Tyrax's words. "Traitors! Saboteurs!" one man yelled. "These criminals will throw the gates open to monsters and doom us all!"

Alex then began to realize why The Order could still hold so much sway over such an abused populace- they feared monsters even more than they hated The Order. So they were willing to endure oppression if it meant protection.

"These prisoners are members of the Committee!" Tyrax yelled as he pointed at the chained men and women. "Though they did not perform the foul deed themselves, the blood is on all their hands! Look closely, citizens of Tyrene- this is the fate of those who commit treason against the Chief God!"

The black-hooded men hoisted their axes into the air and took aim over the prisoner's heads. The members of the Committee showed no fear at their impending demise, instead staring resolutely forward.

Alex turned away just as the axes swung down and the sickening sound of something hitting the wooden platform echoed through the square. There were a few gasps and cries within the crowd, but in general everyone appeared to be too apathetic to be frightened.

"You may all return to your homes now!" Commander Tyrax yelled as he prepared to leave. "May the Chief God have mercy on all your souls."

The crowd dispersed in every direction, and within a few minutes it was as if this morbid interruption to their day hadn't even happened. Everyone simply moved on and went back to their daily business.

Except for Alex, who felt nauseous as he stared at the now-empty platform. He had been living in Lescatie for far too long- he had forgotten just how cruel the world could be.

I- I've made my decision. If there really is no way to save Tyrene, I will help Druella in any way I can to monsterize the city. Sure, it'll put the world a little more at risk, but incorporation into the Mamono Realm is a far better fate than…whatever this is. These people are suffering, and I can't just sit back and let it continue.

…in the meantime, it's time I get back to finding Pierre Morgant.

[]

After walking for what felt like hours, Alex finally found himself in the East End of Tyrene. There were several shops and businesses in varying stages of operation lining the streets, but eventually Alex found his destination- a large shop front with large windows flanking the entrance and a sign hanging above the door that read "Morgant Jewel-Smithing and Enchantments". There was also a sign on the door that only had one word on it- "Closed".

So this is the place! But they're closed, what am I supposed to do now? I can't exactly look up their hours of operation! And what am I supposed to do if Pierre's not even home?

Before Alex could worry about returning to Druella empty-handed, the door to Morgant Jewel-Smithing swung open and a young woman bounded out of the entrance.

"I'll be sure to talk to you later, Marina! And this time it'll be good news!" She yelled behind her as she shut the door.

Alex took a good look at her as she left the shop front. She had blue eyes and short red hair that stopped just above her neck, and she wore a white blouse, black riding pants, and a pair of tall brown boots. A sheathed rapier hung from her belt, and she paid no mind to Alex as she quickly moved past him and down the street. Before Alex could turn around and ask her if she knew the whereabouts of Pierre Morgant, she was gone.

Damn it, why didn't I say anything? I guess I was too distracted by her appearance, she looks like she jumped right out of an Alexander Dumas novel. But it looks like the shop is currently occupied, maybe they'll know something?

After taking a deep breath, Alex walked over to the shop entrance and knocked on the door. After a few moments, the door swung open and a rather annoyed-looking woman glared at him from the entrance.

"Hey, can't you read the sign? We're closed!" the woman exclaimed. She appeared to be in her late-thirties or early-forties, with curly black hair and dark eyes. Her face was attractive, but it was marred by stress-lines and the dark circles beneath her eyes. Like her recent visitor, she wore a white blouse, but instead of riding pants she wore a skirt.

Wow, she looks even more tired than Mimi. Alex thought to himself. But then again, nearly everyone in this town looks utterly defeated.

"Sorry to bother you, but I'm looking for Pierre Morgant. Is there a better time I can visit?"

"When I said closed, I didn't mean just for today. I meant indefinitely!" the woman angrily replied.

"Really? Why?" Alex asked. "Pierre is one of the best jewelsmiths alive. Why would he suddenly close up shop?"

The woman narrowed her eyes at him. "You ask a lot of questions, young man. What business do you have with my husband?"

"Oh, you're his wife? I'm sorry to be bothering you like this, Mrs. Morgant, but I really need to speak with your husband. I just want to ask him a few questions. I promise that I have no ulterior motives."

"Well you can't! He's been arrested and held at the White Bastion. Now please leave me alone!" she yelled as she began to shut the door.

"Wait a minute!" Alex yelled as he put his foot in the doorframe to keep it from closing. "At least tell me why he was arrested!" Then, he added in a quieter voice, "Don't worry, I'm no ally of The Order."

Mrs. Morgant stared at him for a moment as if she were reappraising him. "What, are you some sort of rogue Hero?" she asked while glancing at his sword.

"...Yeah, sort of." Alex replied.

"Fine, I'll tell you why he was arrested. But if you blab this to anyone, I'll ensure that you regret it! Understood?"

"Oh, um…yeah! I promise not to say a word!" Alex quickly replied as he followed her inside the shop. Jeez, that sounded like a legitimate threat!

The interior of the shop was full of display stands packed with an assortment of rings, necklaces, pendants, chokers, armbands, earrings, and every other piece of jewelry imaginable. There were various gems on display in glass containers- emeralds, rubies, sapphires, diamonds, and ones even Alex didn't recognize. He was a history student after all, not a geologist. Some of the gems also glowed with unnatural light, or even shifted in color and pattern the longer he looked at them.

"I suppose I should introduce myself. I am Marina Morgant, and Pierre is my husband." the woman said.

"And my name is Alex!" he replied.

"So, Alex, what business do you have with my husband?" Marina asked, her eyes still staring at him with suspicion.

"I know that he's been creating jewelry for The Order, and I want to find out why. Along with how he's been creating them." he replied.

Marina sighed, and she now seemed more tired than ever. "Yes, he has. It started a few months ago when some high-ranking Commanders and Bishops arrived with a special commission request. They offered a lot of money, so Pierre eagerly accepted and created whatever they asked for. But they never did tell him the true purpose for the jewelry."

Marina's face twisted into a grimace. "But then, The Order started being late with their payments. Then they began offering less and less. My sweet husband was always a bit of a pushover, so he didn't complain at first. But eventually he got fed up with their stingy rates and threatened to stop doing business with them."

"So they arrested him!" she exclaimed with anger. "They arrested him just because he wouldn't work for free! What did those hypocritical bastards say when they dragged him off? Oh yeah, "A true follower of the Chief God serves her freely, without any demand for recompense!" So he's forced to continue working for them from his cell in the White Bastion, and I'm not even allowed to visit!".

Alex listened to Marina's story with horror. They arrested him just because he wanted his rightful dues? Is there any limit to how low The Order can sink!? And just how many pieces of enchanted jewelry do they have now?!

Alex could still picture Turgal Khan in his head, eyes glowing as he screamed in fury. It only took a single ring to lead the Tazchek astray- how many were now being sent out to unsuspecting monarchs?

…Well, at least I now know that Pierre's creating the jewelry involuntarily. If we can somehow alleviate his situation, then The Order would need to find themselves a new jewelsmith- if they can that is. Astara did mention he was the greatest human jewelsmith alive after all.

"Marina, I am sorry to hear about what happened to your husband. His arrest was an injustice, but don't lose hope! I promise you that very soon things will finally get better here in Tyrene!"

Marina didn't seem too heartened by his words, and she stared at him with tired eyes. "Young man, I've heard that idealistic talk far too often- from Pierre, from my brother, from dozens of people who are now either dead or incarcerated. I used to believe it myself, but you can only keep yourself deluded for so long before you realize that reality cares little for ideals. I thank you for your concern, but just keep yourself out of trouble, okay?"

Alex swallowed. He didn't know what else to say, Marina Morgant had clearly been beaten down by life too much to accept any kind words.

"I'll try." Alex replied. "Thank you for taking some time to talk to me, Mrs. Morgant. I do appreciate it."

Marina gave him something approaching a smile as she held the door for him. Once he was back outside in the streets of Tyrene, Alex was unsure of what to do next.

I guess I'll head back to Druella, we'll have to plan out some way of breaking Pierre out of prison. A shame I couldn't find out anything more about the Tyrene Resistance Committee, but asking the wrong questions to the wrong people might get me in deep trouble.

As he made his way back towards the safehouse, another thought entered his mind.

Something felt off when I was talking with Marina, but now I know why- she's the first normal human woman I've spoken to since I got here- no horns, no snake tails, no wings. Just a normal woman. Jeez, I really have been in Lescatie for too long.

"Don't let her get away!" someone screamed, causing Alex to look up from his thoughts. The very same red-haired young woman he had seen leaving Morgant Jewel-Smithing was now running towards him, rapier in hand. Behind her ran four armed soldiers, two in the white armor and mail of The Order and two in the blue of Tyrene's Guardsmen. All four of them had their swords out as they pursued the woman.

After nearly running into Alex, the redhead turned to the right and darted in the alleyway, the guards cursing in anger as they chased after her.

"Let's deliver this saboteur's head personally to Tyrax when we're done with her!" One of the soldiers of The Order yelled. His companion seemed to agree with his idea, but the Tyrenese Guardsmen seemed more disgusted than motivated.

Saboteur? Then she must be a member of the Tyrene Resistance Committee!

Alex looked down the alleyway and gulped. He could already hear the clanging of blades- if he did nothing, the woman could get captured or worse.

Looks like I'm getting into some trouble after all. Sorry Druella, but I've seen enough death and suffering today. And it's about time I finally use that gift of yours.

Thus, after pulling the hood of his cloak up to give himself a little bit of anonymity, he drew his Dark Knight's Sword out of his sheath and ran into the alleyway.

After a few seconds of running, he caught sight of the redhead and her pursuers. She was skilled with her blade, her rapier repelling all the strikes of the soldiers. But there were four of them and she was already bleeding from one shoulder- sooner or later, she'd get tired and falter.

"Hah, you really think a few acts of sabotage and a couple of murdered officers will make us flee the city?" One of the Order soldiers yelled mockingly. "You worms wouldn't last a second against the Mamono Lord without us!"

"I'd rather perish from monsters out of my own free will than have a single second more of your bloody protection!" the redhead yelled between gritted teeth as she repelled another slash.

"Hmmph, I'm afraid you won't be getting your wish." The soldier replied as he prepared another swing.

He never got to finish his swing as a sharp "Shunk!" could be heard in the alleyway. His three companions looked over in surprise as the soldier stared dumbfoundedly at the purple blade now jutting from his chest. Although the blade had penetrated his mail, there was not even a single drop of blood.

Then, with a loud whimper, he fell to the ground.

"Y-you're going to die for that, you little shit!" the other Order soldier yelled in fury. "You two- finish her off! I'll deal with this rat."

Alex was a little nervous as he kept both eyes on the approaching soldier, his blade in hand. This was the very first time he was using his sword in combat, and his opponent was probably not equipped with Mamono Realm Silver.

"I'm going to gut you like a pig!" The soldier screamed as he swung at Alex. Alex parried his blows, their blades clanging together as they circled around each other in the alleyway. Behind them, the redheaded woman continued to fend off the two Tyrenese Guards, though she was having an easier time of it now that her number of assailants had been cut in half.

Just pretend that you're sparring with Wilmarina again, only this time you have to win. Fortunately for Alex, the soldier did not even have a sliver of the swordfighting talent possessed by Lescatie's finest hero. His strikes lacked coordination, his slashes were uneven. And while the soldier's face was already getting red with exhaustion, Alex had the strength and endurance of a partially transformed incubus.

Then, the soldier lifted his blade up a little too slowly, and Alex found an opening. His silver blade slashed against the man's chest, causing him to drop his blade as his arms fell limply to the side. As the soldier fell to his knees, his face twisted in shock, Alex finished him off with a slash to the throat.

The soldier's eyes rolled into his head as he crumbled to the ground. As he laid there unconscious on the alleyway, Alex could not help but stare at him. He was the first person he had ever defeated in a sword duel, after all.

If I had been using a real blade, he'd be dead for sure. Thank the Mamono Lord for mamono realm silver.

He then quickly got ahold of himself- there were still two more guards to deal with after all. But when he turned to face them, he saw that they were no longer assailing the redheaded woman, instead looking at the unconscious guards and then at her and Alex.

"Well, are you going to keep fighting or not?" the woman asked with annoyance.

"Aw screw this, we hated those bastards anyway!" One of the Tyrenese Guardsmen yelled as he ran out of the alleyway, his companion running right behind him. The redhead chuckled a little at their flight, then she sheathed her blade and turned to face Alex.

"That was some good swordplay stranger!" she said with a cheerful smile. "Thank you for showing up, by the way, I'd be a goner otherwise!"

"There's no need to thank me!" Alex replied, though inwardly he was elated at finally holding his own in a swordfight. "I'd help anyone being accosted by those cross-worshipping bastards!"

Oh wait, now I'm starting to sound like Sengge.

"Nice, I'm always glad to find another soul tired of The Order's hypocritical bull!" the woman replied as she offered a hand. "I'm Adele, by the way."

"And I'm Alex," he replied while shaking her hand. Then he noticed that Adele was wincing a little.

"Hey, you're wounded! Let me help with that!" Alex said as he reached towards her bleeding shoulder.

"Oh, that's nothing, just a scrape. Don't bother yourself with worrying about me-"

Adele stopped talking and looked in surprise as a green glowed emanated from her shoulder. When it faded away, the wound was gone.

"Oh, you're skilled in magic, too?" Adele asked as she looked back at Alex.

"Only pharmacomancy and some mana shields, but they're all I need." Alex replied. "When it comes to swordplay though, I've been trained by the very best." And I'm not exaggerating.

Adele looked at him with interest, her smile having returned. "A talented hero who hates The Order…say, Alex. Are you tired of seeing the lifeblood of the city get squeezed away by those theocratic pricks? Have you ever wanted to finally strike back and reclaim your freedom with your own two hands?"

"Of course!" Alex replied. "No amount of The Order's so-called "protection" is worth the suffering they're causing to the people of Tyrene. I'd do anything to drive them out."

Adele leaned in a little closer, and she looked absolutely excited. "Tell me Alex, have you heard of the-"

"Tyrene Resistance Committee." Alex interrupted her. "Yes, I heard about all of you. Are you really fighting to free Tyrene from The Order?"

Adele was a little taken aback that he beat her to the punch, but her smile returned. "Yep, we're making life as difficult as possible for them here! Our hope is to win the hearts and minds of the people of Tyrene so we can finally drive Tyrax and his goons out of the city and regain our dignity! Are you interested in joining? I'm willing to take you to one of our main operating cells!"

Alex was about to say yes, but he stopped himself. Remember what Druella told you- stay out of trouble.

This situation was eerily similar to one he found himself in back at Steylia, one where Druella chastised him for being reckless. Only instead of Alia the elf, it was Adele the rapier-wielding rebel.

She seems nice and all, but this time I can't rely on the aversion to killing that all monsters possess. And even if she is being genuine, blindly walking into the homebase of a rebel group could end disastrously, and I'd rather not have to call Druella to bail me out again.

But I don't think I'd have any better opportunity to learn about the Tyrene Resistance Committee than this one. And who knows, if they really do manage to win the hearts and minds of the people, maybe there's a way to save Tyrene after all?

"I'd like to, Adele." Alex cautiously replied. "But how do I know that you're not just leading me into a trap?"

Adele frowned at his statement. "Oh, you're one of those cautious types, aren't you? That's a good instinct to have, but I promise that I'm telling the truth. I could never deceive someone who just saved me after all!"

"You seem to be genuine." Alex replied. "But how can I be sure that your colleagues won't just rob me and leave my corpse in the streets?"

"Hey, my colleagues are good people!" Adele retorted with an annoyed expression. "Well, mostly good people! But still, we don't hurt anyone who doesn't have a cross on their shoulder! And even then, I've left a few soldiers alive after they started crying for their mothers! I swear to you that your safety will be guaranteed!"

"But still, I'd be in a pretty vulnerable spot, being right in your home base." Alex said. "What if I decide that I don't want to be part of the Committee after all? Would I be allowed to leave freely, or will I be killed to keep your home base from being discovered?"

Adele looked like she was about to give another angry retort, but instead she sighed and lost her previous cheerfulness.

"Listen, all of your concerns are valid. I can understand why you'd be careful; our reputation has been in the mud recently. And I won't lie to you, we're not as perfect as I paint us to be- we have our factions, and some of our members have more…extreme methods than others."

When she looked back at Alex, her eyes looked just as tired as everyone else's in Tyrene. "You seem to be a good guy with a good heart. I doubt you'd betray us- after all, you just shanked two soldiers of The Order. So if you really do decide that you don't want to stick with us, I swear on the Chief God I'll allow you to leave unmolested. But we could really use a talented individual like you! We've had far too many losses recently."

Alex decided that his little interrogation session had gone long enough- if Adele was willing to admit her own organization's weaknesses to her, then she was probably telling the truth.

And good thing she didn't notice that those soldiers aren't dead.

"Alright, I'll go with you." Alex said, causing Adele's expression to regain its previous cheerfulness. "But no blindfolds or anything like that!"

"I can agree to that!" Adele replied happily. "If it means getting you to join, I'd even buy you lunch!"

"Okay, you don't have to go that far." Alex grinned. "Now, are we just going to stand in this alleyway all day, or are you going to take me to the rest of your companions?"

"Just a moment!" Adele replied as she quickly rounded an alleyway corner. Once she disappeared out of sight, Alex heard her yell "Finally, a new recruit! Today is a great day!". Then she ran back to Alex with a smile on her face.

"Now, let's get going!" she exclaimed as she led Alex out of the alleyway. As he followed her to the base of the Tyrene Resistance Committee, Alex remembered one more thing he should worry about.

Earlier when Druella talked about the Committee, she referred to them as "assets", just something else to utilize in the monsterization of Tyrene. If they really do turn out to be a way to save this city from the clutches of The Order, I'll have to be really careful on how I present them to her.

And we still have to rescue poor Mr. Morgant as well. But maybe they can help out with that?

[]

Author's Note: And thus begins the next arc of the story, the Tyrene Arc. I hesitate to call it mini because these chapters are only getting longer- I might start breaking them up a little to keep things moving.

On another note, I have to unfortunately say that I probably won't be able to consistently release a chapter every week. Due to changes in employment I have far less free time than I used to, and I'd rather not rush things and release subpar work. So from this point onward, Chapters will be released when they are ready. If I ever have to take a hiatus that's longer than four weeks though, I'll be sure to notify all of you first.

One last thing: the art of Druella I commissioned to serve as a cover image finally arrived! I commissioned it from Wattle Art Creations on Etsy, and they did a fantastic job! What do you all think of it? I decided to go for a more photorealistic look just to get something different and because I always pondered how mamono would look like if they were encountered irl. I've seen a few realistic pics before- some mamono make the transition nicely, others…well let's say it becomes way more understandable why humans would be scared of them at first.

But this website's compression doesn't do it justice, so here's an imgur link to the full pic. Feel free to download and/or share:

/a/Ij9FljT