"Owww." I muttered, rubbing my head and groaning. "Where am I?"

"Welcome back Leader." Cassian said, appearing in my spherical vision. "We're in the Western Branch, under the care of Gabriel and the Reverse Cross."

"Eh?" I tilted my head, still slightly confused. "The Eastern Branch? Reverse Cross? Why am I here?"

"We flew here after Paris." Cassian patiently explained. "After I shot you with elephant tranquilizer."

Upon hearing 'elephant tranquilizer' my eyes widened. "Oh! Now I re-Shit!" I swore suddenly, remembering what had happened that night. "Crap. I lost control didn't I."

Cassian nodded. I groaned.

"Fuck. Did I kill anyone?" Cassian shook his head. Relief flooded through my body.

"You almost killed Aphrodite, but we managed to tranquilize you before that." I winced at the memory.

"Fifteen shots? Was that really necessary?" Cassian shrugged, a small smile on his face.

"Better safe then sorry." I laughed.

"That's true! Anyways, good work. Save for my little episode, I'm guessing it was a success?" Cassian nodded.

"The Goddess is currently being prepared. Would you like to see her?" I shook my head. "How about breakfast?" As if on cue, my stomach rumbled. Cassian and I looked at each other, before bursting out laughing.

"Well I guess that answers your question!" I said, between laughs. Cassian nodded, a large smile on his face.

"I'll-" Cassian snorted. "-get you breakfast. Please, rest a while." I nodded. Cassian stood up and gave a small bow, before leaving the room.

"…Voice are you there?" The moment Cassian left the room, my smile had disappeared, to be replaced with a grimace.

Sup? You feeling ok? The Voice asked, genuine concern in its tone. Fifteen elephant tranquillizers are a bit much; specially considering you hadn't even fully awakened yet.

"Yeah don't remind me. I still have a bleeding headache." I muttered. There was something I hadn't mentioned to Cassian. Something very important.

During my fight with Aphrodite, I had temporarily regained my original powers and personality. While the tranquilizers had forced him back down, the fact he had awakened could not be changed. Before, his presence had buried deep inside my psych, far below the fog.

Now, I could feel him standing behind the fog, waiting for his moment to take over.

"The path to dominion is clear. All that remains is the guardian." I muttered.

Indeed. The voice agreed. Though, I wonder why you don't just accept him.

"Because it's too dangerous. If he gains control, no one would be safe. Even Michael wouldn't be able to stop him." I reached for the pills on the table. "I'll need to take quadruple the dosage now. And even that may not be enough to keep him at bay."

I fall silent, my mind contemplating my possible options. Eventually, only one comes to mind.

"I need to fight him again. Voice, can you prepare the Warground?"

Are you sure? You just recovered.

"I don't have a choice. Please prepare it."

The Voice is silent for a dozen heartbeats.

I don't envy you. The Voice finally said, pity evident in its tone. You walk a bloody and thankless path Samae- no Daemon.

I smiled, a tight smile completely devoid of mirth. Lying down on the bed, I closed my eyes. As I felt myself drift to sleep, I managed to mumble a reply.

"I know Voice. I know."

I know I'm dreaming because I recognise the place. It is both day and night here, for when I look to the sky I see both the sun and the moon, sharing a sky that is one half black and one half white. Around me, a plain stretches as far as the eye can see. Hundreds of swords are stabbed into the ground. As I watched, a battle seemed to materialize before me. Warriors ran at each other, their swords flashing. Blood spilled from their wounds, dying the ground red. And in an instant, they were gone. An illusion created by this wretched place.

I know this place very well.

"The Eternal Warground." A familiar voice speaks from behind me. "It's been a long time since we last met here Daemon."

"Not long enough." I replied, turning around. A man stands before me. Grayish-silver hair, angular features, a smile on his face and two eyes of very different colors. "Hello Samael."

Samael grinned and motioned for me to come closer. "Walk with me Daemon."

"No thank you." I replied, looking around. "Let's get this over with." Samael shrugged.

"Suit yourself." Samael looked at me for a moment, as if waiting for me to make a move. After about a minute of silence, he spoke again. "Shall we begin then?"

I nodded in response.

In the space between us, a figure emerged. He was dressed in white, with the appearance of a twenty-year-old man. In each hand, he held a flag. The one on Samael's side was Black. The one on mine was white.

The Voice looked at the two of us, before raising the flags. "I hereby announce the beginning of the Fourth Succession Battle. Daemon and Samael, do you agree to fight with all your strength?"

"I agree." Samael said, pulling one of the many swords out from the ground. "In my name, I will wage this battle."

"I agree." I replied, echoing Samael's movements and drawing one of the countless swords. "In my name, I will wage this battle."

The Voice nodded. "The Lord has blessed this battle. May the Strongest one win!" With that, the Voice swung his flags down, signaling the start of the contest.

Samael and I leap forward. In an instant, we are less then a meter from each other. Samael's blade cuts downwards, while mine slashes upwards.

The moment our blades connect, the very sky splits open.

"Ah!' I screamed, shooting upwards. My body is slick with sweat, my breathing erratic and heavy. "I-I'm alive." I gasped, looking at my hands. My head feels feverish. "I'm alive!"

You won by a hairbreadth. The Voice said. He's gotten stronger. Had you been any slower, he would have skewered you.

When I closed my eyes, I could see flashes of the epic battle that I had just participated in. My blade and his, clashing and breaking apart, cutting each other's flesh and drawing blood. The plain beneath us, stained crimson. And the final exchange, when I slashed him across the chest a moment before he-

I placed my hand over my chest, checking to make sure there was no wound. I remembered the sensation of the blade plunging into my chest, the blood flowing out, and the pain of-

Don't dwell on it. The Voice said gently. You won. He's been defeated. Rest in peace, knowing that he is not a threat.

"For now." I muttered darkly. "I didn't kill him. I only forced him deeper into my mind. He'll be back."

And you'll face him again when the time comes. The Voice was soothing. Now Daemon, rest your body and mind. You've had a long day-

Whatever the Voice said at the end, I didn't hear it, as I'd already fallen asleep.

Seems like our little "hero" Daemon/Samael is a bit more messed up in the head then we thought, eh? Wonder what's his problem. :D

Review and fave if you enjoyed it.

Daemon