A/N: Wait, what? A chapter? A chapter has been uploaded. Well about time. Yes, this is a new long-awaited chapter. Another one is on the way as well and a stable upload schedule accompanies it since school has winded down. I only have twelve more credits to go for my degree. This means more time to write what I enjoy.

A big thanks to everyone for the support on the story so far and I hope you are enjoying it. It's been quite a project so far.


"It is not enough to just cut off the head? Good. Now I have an excuse to demolish the body." -Siegfried

Chapter 18: Warriors

The Virtual World

Pirugan Continent, Teril Outskirts

In-Game Timer: Day 20

4:27 PM

Siegfried deflected another spear of caricthmian metal that launched from the floating ring behind the Divine Queen's back. The battle against Hera had felt one-sided since the beginning. The dark ring bent to Hera's will and overwhelmed from all sides. Whenever the sword and lance wielders attempted to move in to strike their enemy, a lime-green barrier would suddenly manifest itself to absorb their attacks. It was now clear that the barrier sucked in the force of their damage and redirected them straight back.

But perhaps soon the fight would turn in their favor. Siegfried was aware of the effects of the event known as the Reversion upon the god monsters. Luckily, Siegfried and Cu Chulain were not considered god types. They still retained their power with the arrival of the Players. The barrier's strength also seemed to be waning. The barrier was not emitting nearly as much force after their strikes.

Siegfried was damn sure that his attacks weren't getting any weaker. His blood boiled and adrenaline pumped as he received the privilege of entering a fight for his life. There was no better feeling than life being held in the hands of skill and force.

Cu Chulain landed beside him as he redirected another spear of metal that retreated back to the circle behind the grinning Hera.

Cu Chulain beckoned for Siegfried to withdraw back a few steps. Siegfried reluctantly complied.

"Her barrier is weakening." Cu Chulain pointed at a section of the barrier that remained visible. The swirls on the surface of the shield were muffled by a dark green plume as if the protective shell had sprung a leak.

"Good. Now maybe we can actually have a real fight."

Hera extended a hand in their direction and all of the spikes surrounding the metal circle launched forward. They bent in random directions to confuse the two knights.

"What do you take me for?" Siegfried shouted.

He twisted his broadsword at a perfect angle to intercept three of the metal spears simultaneously. He batted aside a fourth with an armored wrist while burying another under a metal foot. Cu Chulain matched his precision and allowed more of the spears to scrape along the pole of his weapon, forcing the projectiles to change their destination and puncture harmlessly in the ground. He tilted his head to the side to avoid the final attack that buried deep into a tree to the rear.

Siegfried batted aside the lengths of metal and charged straight for Hera with his broadsword leveled at shoulder height. Hera's circle of spears seemed disoriented since they shared a direct mind link with her.

"Wide open!"

Siegfried drove his sword into the barrier. It emerged with a brilliant green light that soon pulsed crimson as a portion of the shielding shattered like glass. The energy absorbed by the barrier could no longer be maintained and shot out in a multitude of directions. A pulsing beam grazed along Siegfried's shoulder as the rest sailed into the sky or exploded into the dirt, creating an erupting volcano of earth and rock.

Siegfried pushed forward unfazed as he cleared the spewing dust with his broadsword. Hera stood before him with arms crossed in a defensive stance and her armored tail embedded in the rock. The circle of metal surrounding her did not stir.

He would cut through her like a knife through rice paper. He knew she was nothing special in an up-close encounter, and all of her defenses were down.

At least, that's what he thought.

"Initiate active skill Ultra Gravity!" Hera shouted.

An invisible weight overcame Siegfried's limbs and he soon found himself collapsing hard to the ground flat on his face. He gasped as his face collided with the inside of his helmet. With all of the remaining strength in his limbs he brought his hands underneath him and slowly rose through the invisible weight that piled on him. He could feel his health and strength draining away at a steady pace.

"Gah! What a cheap skill." He curled his fingers around the handle of his sword and plunged the blade into the ground for assistance.

He lifted his head and saw Hera with her arms extended forward, brow furrowed in deep concentration as she fought to keep him down. Off to Siegfried's side was Cu Chulain dragging himself forward as he moved to retrieve his own weapon.

"Impressive," Hera mused as the two warriors managed to plant their feet beneath them.

Siegfried and Cu Chulain felt a relief from their trembling legs as the weight on their shoulders began to dissipate. Even though the devastating active skill had drained a portion of their health, they felt a sense of invigoration in their bodies as the air around them returned to normal gravity. It was like swinging a weapon that was far too heavy in order for another to feel lighter.

The metal ring began to retract its spears as Hera broke her concentration away from the fading active skill.

"Both sides!" Cu Chulain shouted.

Siegfried rushed off to the right while Cu Chulain made his way to the left. A few of the caricthmian spears had returned to the circle behind Hera and shot outwards to slow the enemy advance, but the two warriors dodged them with ease since the spears' focus was on two targets. There also weren't as many to deal with at the moment. A brief, yet sufficient, moment.

Siegfried reached Hera first and brought his sword high over his head.

"Checkmate bi-"

He was interrupted by Hera's extended hand. "Initiate active skill Jupiter Genesis!"

"What?" A burst of powdery essence emerged in the space around Hera's hand and enveloped the blue knight.

Siegfried swung wildly with his sword to clear the particles that threatened to suffocate him.

Cu Chulain halted his attack on Hera in favor of tackling his partner out of the cloud of poison. The two warriors hit the ground and were up on their feet as they tucked into a shoulder roll. They stayed low with one knee to the ground and a foot planted in a solid stance.

Once again Hera had thrown them a curve ball. Just when it seemed like she was out of tricks, a new one emerged from her unseen arsenal to impede their progress.

A wicked grin was splayed on Hera's face, full of a malicious intent that hadn't been there previous. It seemed unnaturally vicious.

Her expression wasn't all that had changed. Her once red and brown hair had now shifted tone and took on a green hue much like the barrier that had once surrounded her. Her grin wavered only for an instant as the circle of metal behind her began to shift and break down. The metal crumpled inwards and bent like aluminum foil. The ring was soon replaced by glorious blue butterfly wings that exploded from her back. She had undergone a dramatic transformation. Her dark circlet was replaced with jagged horns. A verdant tale replaced the black armored caricthmian. Even her skin tone had changed to a light cerulean.

Cu Chulain was the first to act as the new Hera beat her wings and assaulted them in a powerful gust of wind. He pushed Siegfried aside as the ground erupted beneath them to make way for massive roots that whipped wildly side to side.

Siegfried was up and already bringing his sword back to cut through the roots that attempted to knock him to the ground. His eyes widened as the incredible broadsword dug only a few inches into one of the roots.

Impossible. Siegfried was left for only time to think that one word before another root struck him from his blind side. A second one was there to intercept his flung body. It lashed upwards and brought itself down on Siegfried's exposed back, driving him into the ground hard. Siegfried gasped as his chestplate cracked from the force of the blow. The pain in his chest was enough to let him know that wasn't all that had broken.

Cu Chulain was next to him in an instant to slice through a pair of roots that slithered along the ground to deal further damage to the other wounded knight. The violent roots backed away as they became aware that they were vulnerable to this enemy's weapon.

Cu Chulain helped Siegfried to his feet. "She has shifted attribute," he observed. "She is no longer dark but wood."

"Well that's new," Siegfried said through gritted teeth. He hunched over for a split-second as the pain in his chest intensified.

Their attention shifted as the new Hera laughed hysterically. It was a maddening laugh.

"Aw hell yeah!" she shouted. "Beorc is free!"

The other Hera cocked her head to the side and licked her lips. "Been a while since I've seen action. Make it last a little while alright?"

She frowned for a moment as she prepared to order her loyal roots forward. Siegfried and Cu Chulain shared a curious glance as she stood there. She looked at the sky for a short while and sagged her shoulders.

"Seriously?" she said to what seemed like no one in particular.

Another silence followed.

Siegfried glanced at Cu Chulain who shrugged at a loss. Was it some kind of ruse? Likely not. Nevertheless, the two warriors found themselves frozen in place as they observed Hera having what appeared to be an exchange with herself.

"Hell no!" she yelled out of nowhere. "Do not let her out!"

More silence.

"I know that! I can handle this myself!"

"Fine! I get it. Whatever."

Siegfried and Cu Chulain flinched as Hera extended her hand in their direction again. "Initiate active skill Kiss of Demonic Fire Queen!"

Hera furrowed her brow. Nothing happened. She shook her hand a few times as if the spell was stuck on her palm like molasses.

Siegfried looked to Cu Chulain as she let out a stream of curses.

"Is she out of magic?"

Cu Chulain shook his head. "Doubtful. I have no idea what's going on, but we should take full advantage of it."

"Let's."

The two knights rushed at the bewildered Hera who was now having another conversation with herself.

"Hell no! I am not using that active skill. It's stupid...Quit it! They're attacking us!...You stay out of this Sowilo. You're useless anyway!...Fine, I'll say it!"

Hera straightened her arm once again with palm outward. "Initiate active skill..." she paused for a moment and took a deep breath as she dreaded what she was about to say next. "Ur Fever!"

The two enemies standing in front of her were forced to break to either side as a blast of fire erupted from her hand. It started out in a wide stream and soon broke off into multiple balls of fire that exploded as they made contact with anything in their path. One of these directed itself at Cu Chulain who did not expect it to have a second method of attack. The ball of fire barely grazed his shoulder, but it was enough contact for it to detonate and consume his form. He screamed in pain as the fire sought out the creases in his armor and burned through. Being a wood attribute, Cu Chulain received the full force of the attack due to it being his weakness. The fire made contact with his skin and burst outward, tearing some of his armor asunder to expose his burnt flesh underneath. He rolled on the ground until he collapsed next to a tree stunted by one of Hera's previous attacks.

He lay there motionless as Siegfried stared on helpless. The roots had resumed their crazed attack on the water attribute knight. Two roots wrapped around one of his ankles while a third immobilized his weapon-hand. The roots grew smaller tendrils that began to encroach upon him. Siegfried could feel his strength draining as they pulled at the openings of his armor.

Not good. Siegfried swung his broadsword at a root that latched onto his ankle. The root finally split after a few expert cuts in the same exposed wound.

Using pure strength, Siegfried freed himself of the roots and retreated to where Cu Chulain lay still as stone.

Siegfried readied himself in front of his fallen comrade and analyzed Hera.

Once again, she had undergone another physical transformation. Half of her hair had now turned into a fiery orange. Behind her was a new circle of caricthmian metal that accompanied her blue butterfly wings. This ring of metal was not dark but more akin to the brightened color of her hair.

Hera twirled about on one foot with a hand lifted in the air enthusiastically. She turned and brought her foot down and formed a horizontal peace sign over one eye as she smiled wide.

"Aw yeah! Hera-Ur is in dah house!"

Her joyous expression changed as quickly as it had arrived to be replaced by an abrupt scowl. She crossed her arms and spat on the ground.

"Ur, piss off! This is my fight. Just give me your fire and stay out of this."

Her expression switched back once again to that cheerful grin. "Oh I don't think so. I've been cooped up as much as you. I deserve a chance to fight! Yay!"

"You're just getting in the way!"

"No I'm not!"

"You're a headache!"

Siegfried stared at Hera in disbelief as he watched her argue with herself. Did she have a dual personality? No. It seemed like she had three. Neither of these two were like the original Hera. They even had a different attribute to accompany their personality. Which meant that they had the ability to exploit any attribute weakness at will. However, judging by their arguing, it was apparent that these multiple personalities didn't get along.

Siegfried lifted one of Cu Chulain's arms over his shoulders and began to make his retreat to the forest. He couldn't believe his luck as the two Heras continued their argument.


Seattle, Washington

United States

May 26, 2020

Real World Time- 9:00 AM

Thomas Malkin was in a hurry. It wasn't just the news he had received was disheartening, but that it was fascinating as well. It also came from the most reputable source in the whole facility, Christopher Alsheimer, head of World Virtual Visions.

He almost bumped into a female supervisor as he hastily rounded a corner. All he took note of was her title on the nametag stuck to her gray suit. Supervisors of the Players. It was best not to get in their way since they ensured the safe logout of Players from the virtual world.

He gave the female an apologetic salute as he entered the elevator that would take him up to the floor designated for Alsheimer's people. Alsheimer had insisted on a section of the facility for just himself and his closest employees so they could analyze the universal code undisturbed. Alsheimer had been adamant about this requirement following their previous conversation with Kurosaki about how the whole PADW project could very likely be a lost cause.

But Malkin knew that if anyone could crack the code, it was Alsheimer, the virtual prodigy.

Malkin pressed his thumb harder than necessary against the scanner and the elevator sounded its approval. The minute it took to reach his destination felt more like an hour and he angled himself out of the elevator before the spreading doors even had time to slide out of place.

He pulled one of many keycards from his wallet and slid it through the scanner and rocked back and forth on his feet as he waited for the green light to allow him entry.

No response.

Frustrated, he banged on the metal door and shouted his name. He looked up at the security camera mounted in a corner facing the door and made an exasperated shrugging gesture at whoever was in the security station watching him.

A mechanical voice sounded from an unseen speaker, "Security clearance denied. Access limited to WVV associates. Please contact a WVV associate with security clearance of rank S in the designated WVV department of real/virtual integration."

Malkin couldn't help but laugh. Typical Alsheimer. He had hacked into the security network for this section of the building and overrode it with his own security measures. It was only possible with someone of his rank and the fact that he was admitted into nearly every sector. But the kid was a genius. No chances were being taken.

Off to the side was a corded phone mounted into the wall with a closed line. He picked up the phone and was met with an automatic ringtone linking him to who he hoped would be Alsheimer. It would be a major pain in the ass if he had to go through a hierarchy of calls.

A familiar voice spoke after a few rings, "Sorry Malkin. I see you now. Door's opening."

"Thank you kindly," Malkin said.

He hung up the phone and a whirring sound reached his ears from the door and then it opened with a metallic hiss.

He was greeted by Alsheimer who urged him inside.

"A little excessive don't you think?" Malkin commented as they made their way through a series of labs.

"You know me. Paranoid." Alsheimer sounded haggard. The bags under his eyes told Malkin enough.

"You could get in trouble for making your own security. Not to mention you forced out the ones that were in place."

"And what are they going to do? Replace me?"

Malkin shrugged. It was a fair point.

They entered a final lab in the back of the workplace that Malkin assumed was Alsheimer's personal area. Over a dozen computers were mounted on the walls running a variety of system inspections and analysis of what appeared to be the universal code. At the center of the room was a holographic projector of a familiar mass of land. It was the virtual world. Pirugan.

The holographic image of Pirugan continued to shift and change in subtle ways that only an inhuman observation like Malkin's could pick up.

Malkin's thoughts were interrupted as Alsheimer slapped a rectangular object on the hologram table. Malkin picked it up and read the label on the other side: SATA 6Gb/s, 5TB...2X DRAM cache...

"Pretty old hard drive," Malkin said. "What for?"

"Using anything bigger would have yielded results much slower."

"Alright. Fill me in."

Alsheimer was about to speak when one of the computer monitors mounted on the wall began flashing until it submitted to a blue screen. The young CEO scowled and opened a command prompt to fix the issue. Thirty seconds later the computer was running again, but Alsheimer bit his lower lip in frustration nonetheless.

"We have bigger problems. This is beyond just the code," Alsheimer said.

Malkin waited patiently for him to continue, but he found his mouth had gone dry.

Alsheimer grabbed a number of documents from his desk. He minimized the hologram of Pirugan on the center table and placed the documents next to each other. Some were black and white photos riddled with handwritten notes while others were packets of complicated information.

"Remember I mentioned digital organisms to Kurosaki?"

Malkin nodded.

"Well, he was right. Digital organisms wouldn't do a damn thing. It isn't because of the code itself but the program that runs it. Not only is the universal code evolving, but the program that harbors it is as well."

"So the program is updating itself?"

Alsheimer slapped the table as Malkin caught on. "Exactly." He flipped through a document and pointed at what appeared to be a timeline. "Here's what I've gathered based on my observations. In 1961, Bell Labs creates a game known as Darwin. The point of the game was for computer programs to compete with each other to prevent the others from executing operations." Alsheimer pointed to another document. "This is taken further when programs were put into a game called Core War."

"I remember that." Malkin picked up the document and scanned over it to refresh his memory. "It was a war for programs to essentially kill each other."

Alsheimer nodded. "In a sense. A man named Rasmussen goes further with it and implements a genetic algorithm to automatically write programs."

"So is that what we are seeing here?"

"Not exactly. Rasmussen ran into issues with mutations in the programs that caused them to self-destruct over time. Others have since improved upon the problem, but there haven't been any real solutions since around 2010."

Malkin began to understand where Alsheimer was going with this. Takamura. What a goddamm genius.

Alsheimer saw the look on Malkin's face and took it as his cue to move on with the explanation. "Watch this."

He walked over to three monitors. He adjusted the full motion mounts they were attached to so that they were beside each other.

He pointed to the two on the outside. "These two." And then he placed his hand on the center one. "Are going to fight this one. The one in the middle has a simulation of Takamura's program while the other two are using separate, and vastly different, independent programs. These two will attempt to sabotage and kill Takamura's program."

"Where are the other two from?"

Alsheimer made a humorless smile. "One is mine and the other is from a colleague within my company. Ready for the simulation?"

Malkin took in a deep breath. He couldn't help but feel anxious. It was one computer against two, but by Alsheimer's tone, he didn't hold out much hope for the one's attempting to enslave Takamura's program. But what happened next went beyond his expectations.

It was immediate. The two computers running Alsheimer's programs shut down and the coding on the central computer began its work at an alarming rate.

So fast?

Malkin gasped as the other two computers whirred back to life and went to work again. But something seemed different.

Then it dawned on Malkin. No way! This isn't possible!

Alsheimer sighed. "Yeah, I think you understand my frustration now."

"This isn't possible," Malkin said as he found his voice. "How can a single program enslave two others in such a short amount of time?"

Alsheimer didn't answer as he shifted four more computers on their mounts and brought them closer to the trio. Alsheimer disabled the enslaved programs and went to work establishing them with their previous ones.

He then looked to Malkin for confirmation. "Ready?"

Malkin stared at him dumbfounded. It was now six against one. He already knew what the result would be, but he still had to see for himself.

Alsheimer didn't wait for his affirmation and initiated the war that would be waged. The same thing happened. All of the computers except for the one harboring Takamura's program went blank. Then they whirred to life just as in the previous experiment and ran familiar processes. Takamura's program had enslaved the other six in the same amount of time as making two subservient.

Malkin stared at Alsheimer mouth agape. "What does this all mean?"

Alsheimer shrugged. "Right now I can only speculate. But I can say with almost absolute certainty that this program is not just a program anymore."

Malkin stared at the documents that were still in his hand. Now that he had skimmed over its contents, he remembered exactly where this was leading.

"Biological properties," he concluded.

"That's right."

"Why would Takamura leave behind nothing? He has a program and a code that evolves at such a rate and has defenses so powerful that nobody could ever hope to match it. And if it is evolving as I'm seeing here." He nodded to the monitors. "Then that means it is consuming more and more space."

Alsheimer tapped the hard drive on the table. "I knew you would see it my way."

The way Malkin saw it there were four possible outcomes to address: 1) Takamura really didn't leave anything behind for anyone to continue the project. Which seemed highly unlikely. Why create something like this with no backups when he knew he was going to soon be defeated by his cancer? 2) He hid it away somewhere for some strange reason without anyone's knowledge. Again, not likely. Why hide something when you have the ability to completely wipe it? One could even dump it to the bottom of the ocean. 3) He had entrusted it to another third-party. This one might be worthy of consideration. All the major corporations kept tabs on each other in this day and age ever since the collapse of major governments. Malkin did have one theory regarding this possibility. And then there was 4...

"I think Kurosaki might be full of shit," Malkin said.

Alsheimer sat on the edge of his desk and planted his hands to either side of him for support. "I'm starting to think so too."

"You don't just dedicate your life to something like this for it to go unfinished."

Alsheimer then said something that took Malkin off guard, "Unless you fear it."

"Why fear a virtual world?"

Alsheimer rose from the desk and minimized one of the processes on the computer. In its position was a scene taking place in a setting they were both becoming familiar with. Two knights in heavy green and blue armor trudged through a forest. They had sustained some grievous wounds and took refuge behind an outcropping of rock. The volume on the monitor was not on, but they could tell that the two knights were in heated discussion.

"I really don't know," Alsheimer answered.


The Virtual World

Pirugan Continent, Teril Outskirts

In-Game Timer: Day 20

4:40 PM

Siegfried lowered is shoulder and allowed Cu Chulain to support his own weight. The green lance wielder's burns were sever. Siegfried could tell by the scorch marks that traced the creases in his partner's armor. They settled behind an outcropping of rock. They knew their reprieve would be short-lived. Once Hera was finished arguing with herself (or to whoever else it was) she would be able to find them in no time from the trail left behind. It wouldn't take a genius to observe the forest and figure out which direction they went.

Cu Chulain let out a low groan as he removed a section of his armor that connected at the shoulder and bicep. The piece of metal stuck in place for a moment before it lacked the will to resist any longer against his skin. Underneath, the skin glowed a nasty red with splotches of cracks and peels. This was the center of the pain, which came as relief to both of the knights. There were other more vital areas where the fire could have pierced deeper.

"Is your active skill ready?" Cu Chulain asked as he fitted the armor back in place.

Siegfried nodded. "Ready whenever."

"The timing has to be perfect."

"Oh yes. I know."

With that last word, the instincts of the knights kicked in and they jumped to the side just in time as a massive root burst from the ground in an attempt to skewer them. They stuck close to each other so that one could defend the side of the other. Another root attempted to pierce their formation down the center, but the knights angled their weapons together to redirect the projectile out of harm's way.

This same process was carried out for at least another minute until they located the divine queen hunkered down in a concealed copse of trees. They burst from the forest like rampaging beasts. Their minds were cleared of everything save for the movements of the other. They needed perfect synchronization if they wanted to carry out their plan. If one succeeded while the other failed, then it would be the same as getting the flat of a blade to the throat. Hera wasn't stupid. She would figure it out before she launched another attack.

Hera placed both her hands together and a fireball charged forward at the same time as a group of roots spiraled through the air towards their targets.

"Now!" Cu Chulain shouted.

Siegfried was already getting into position before Cu Chulain even announced the opportunity. The two warriors went shoulder to shoulder and extended their weapons forward together. They waited a perfect two seconds together before shouting, "Initiate active skill Vigor of Warfare!"

The weapons disconnected and halted their respective attacks. The roots meant to cut through Siegfried halted in mid-strike. They began to dissolve into particles of data which disappeared inside Siegfried's broadsword. Cu Chulain's weapon mimicked this technique against Hera's fire. The glowing particles soon traveled down their weapons and inserted themselves into the wielder's hands. It didn't stop their. Particles from Hera's attacks proceeded down the arm, then to the main body, and soon throughout the entirety of their armor. Then the particles went even further still and inserted themselves upon the very being of the knights.

When the light faded, a distinct physical conversion had embedded itself on the knights. Siegfried's armor still maintained its dark cerulean color, but now green, swirling and sharp designs roamed along its surface. Cu Chulain's was similar with his green armor, but with deep orange patterns that mimicked Siegfried's.

Hera stared at them in surprise as the particles of data finished the infusion.

Siegfried leveled his weapon. "Thanks for the new attribute."


Hera gritted her teeth as she observed the confidence that had been rekindled in her two enemies. There was more to their active skill than met the eye. They had drained the attribute of her attacks somehow. Cu Chulain now possessed her fire with his own wood attribute while Siegfried was similar and possessed her own wood attribute for himself. But what more was there?

She spoke to the two Heras that now had control of her body, "What do you sense?"

Hera-Ur didn't answer. She just bit her nails. Hera-Beorc had a crazed expression filled with delight at this new development.

"How about you Sowilo?" She decided to inquire about this new issue with one of her personalities that was a little more level-headed.

The other Hera, Hera-Sowilo, answered calmly, "It is clear they have drained their weaknesses and applied them."

"Indeed," another Hera, who had been quiet up until now, concurred. "But it is not merely a weak sub-attribute I am sensing. They have turned their weaknesses into their own primary attribute."

"Two primary attributes. So they have evened the playing field," the original Hera concluded.

So that was the active skill of the two knights. It was not just their own abilities to coordinate that prevented them from being struck by their weaknesses. Their bond had developed so deep that an active skill was born to preserve themselves and their ally. It was a dangerous active skill that rivaled her own. But...

"Let's see if it is just a defense mechanism," Hera suggested to the two Heras that controlled her body.

Hera-Beorc grinned. "Aw hell yeah. Things are getting interesting."

She extended her hand and over a dozen roots burst forth all around her and whipped through the air. "Entertain me some more boys!" The roots launched themselves forward at Hera's command. They had a strange fixation with Siegfried despite his new defense against attribute weakness.

"Who are you calling boy?" Siegfried shouted as he cut through the roots with his broadsword. One clean and precise slice was all he needed to render the attack of the roots useless. He dug his feet into the ground like a runner preparing for a three-hundred meter sprint and pressed forward with his broadsword at the helm.

The other Hera, Hera-Ur, took over briefly. "Ur Fever!"

The fireballs managed to force Siegfried to redirect his course to the side to buy the Heras some more time.

This plan was foiled as Cu Chulain took a position at her blindside. Hera-Ur rekindled another round of fire streaks in his direction which he sliced through as cleanly as Siegfried had with the roots.

"This is bad," the Heras thought in unison.

Hera's main ability was to attack from long-range to stay out of harm's way and to exploit any of the weaknesses of her opponents. Without either she was aware that she stood no chance. But at least one of her goals would be realized with the conclusion of this fight. It wasn't a monster's title that made them powerful. Being a god or devil type was truly a display of power granted to those with uncanny ability. But being of these types meant little in the long run. These two knights had proven that.

"It's time we make preparations for our escape," Hera thought.

"No! Hell no!" Hera-Beorc shouted. "This is just getting fun."

"I am in agreement with the first notion," one of the Heras related to the others. "This battle is lost, even if we did avoid the Reversion."

All of the Heras agreed to a plan of retreat, save for Beorc who still had the adrenaline of the fight pumping to her head. It was a struggle to suppress Beorc, but the original Hera took over her own body once again and regained her initial form. Her dark circle of caricthmain armor and spikes now floated behind her once again. Her hair had returned back to its original hue of darkened red and brunette. The tail of black metal also now trailed behind her as she approached the baffled knights.

She placed a hand on her hip to assume an air of calm as she ran her gaze over the two knights. She could feel their intensity weighing on her.

"Well played," she said to the surprise of the two knights. "You have confirmed my suspicions."

"Mind explaining that to us?" Siegfried added emphasis by bringing his sword forward.

This gesture didn't go unnoticed. "I don't think so."

Her two enemies turned in surprise as a lance exploded from the forest to their rear and drove itself into the ground just a few feet from their previous position. Without a word, Siegfried took up a defensive stance facing the trees while Cu Chulain kept his focus on Hera. Their silent coordination fascinated Hera. To think that two warriors had become so synchronized over time was astounding. It was as if they shared one mind.

Hera diverted her attention back to the edge of the forest where her ally emerged. The monster was humanoid but held the appearance of some sort of black jackal standing on two clawed feet. Egyptian-style armor encircled his neck laced with gold and sapphire. Its armor was sparse and covered its main weak points: thighs, ankles, and wrists, areas of the body where skin was not enough to defend these vitals. Attached to its thigh armor was a pleated, broken skirt of purple linen.

The monster hefted its grand spear of spiked gold and aimed it at Siegfried's throat. It let out a low growl as Siegfried mimicked the gesture.

Hera smiled at the humanoid jackal monster. "You missed the fun."

A pair of black and lavender wings spread behind Anubis as his animal face twisted into what Hera assumed was a sneer.

Siegfried let out a low chuckle. "More surprises. Not that I'm complaining."

Everyone's attention was taken by the knowing words of Cu Chulain, "I see it now." He spared a glance at Anubis. "His strike. It is not as strong as anything I've seen from Hera, even if it was just a diversion."

Siegfried relaxed his stance as he caught on to his partner's reasoning. "Guess not all of you avoided the Reversion."

"I wonder why." Cu Chulain's intense tone had now transformed into one of curiosity.

Hera couldn't help but smile at the wise knight. "Looks like we've given a bit away as well. No matter. This isn't even a prelude for what is to come." She tilted her head at Anubis. "I think it's time we took our leave."

Siegfried's dismay at her declaration sounded familiar to Beorc's. "Aw hell no!"

"You can choose to stay and fight us if you wish." Hera pointed beyond. "Or you can defend Teril."

Siegfried froze. "Bitch." He thought back to the forces of dark mystic knights he had seen over the past few weeks.

Cu Chulain said what his partner was thinking, "Would you really show your hand so soon?"

Hera frowned. "Your call."

She knew their answer. Even if they weren't sure if her claim was a bluff or not, they couldn't take the chance. Teril had little defenses in place since it sat on the outskirts of the continent. It wasn't considered a major trading town and being so close to Dragon Territory was seen as undesirable to humans. This was one of the reasons why the knights had dedicated themselves to protecting it. It was a sort of permitted kryptonite.

The two knights glanced at each other and gave a silent assent. Without another word, the two knights broke off their engagement and rushed into the forest with Siegfried sparing a reproachful glance behind him. The end of their fight seemed anticlimactic, but much knowledge had been gained. It could have been considered the first official battle of the coming war.


Hera and Anubis exited the forest soon after the end of the battle with Siegfried and Cu Chulain. They were approaching a canyon that Hera recalled from the first war between the Guardian and Legion monsters. The two enemy monsters would discover that her claim on the attack of Teril really was a ruse and would soon make their way back to track them down. They had also been correct about Anubis.

Cu Chulain's words still resonated with her, "Would you really show your hand so soon?"

What did he mean by that? Sure, some of the Legion monsters had avoided the Reversion, but that was really all they had going for them at the moment.

His question weighed on her like all the others. She missed the days before everything was turned upside down. It was a strange notion, but war had once been simple and straightforward, even with the brief disruption of Beelzebub with the attack on Sarkast. The war of monsters was just that, a war between monsters. That had been dealt with unanimously between Satan and the others. He had been banished. But now the crazed devil was involved with them once again because of the appearance of the Abyssal. There were too many unknown factors to consider: The Abyssal, the involvement of the Creators and Players, the Reversion, they just kept stacking up.

Hera was removed from her thoughts as she felt the firm hand of Anubis halt her mid-step.

"What-"

"Be silent," Anubis said in a deep, unnatural voice. His words were devoid of any real command though. He lowered himself into a crouch and Hera followed.

Anubis led her to the edge of a cliff that overlooked the canyon. The ocean of black below was hard to miss.

Dark mystic knights. Hundreds of them poured from a pass to the west and marched in formation to the northeast. Soon there were thousands.

Hera heard a voice inside her head, "What in the world?"

It was the Hera known as Sowilo. The rest of the Heras held a silent exchange with each other.

"Do you know anything about this Anubis?" The scowl on Anubis' face was answer enough.

"Those masked Players," Anubis growled. "I never did trust them."

"You really think it's them?"

"None of these complications started until the arrival of the Players."

Hera shared his suspicions, but she did not quite share the hatred that he felt for Players. It was more of a stilted loathing. He had started hating them when he first learned of their arrival.

"Let's head back," Hera said. "We need to inform the others."

Anubis shook his head. "I must return to my Player. We have more comrades to liberate."

That was another factor. The dungeons were another mystery. The only way a monster could enter a dungeon was to have a Player. What the dungeons held was revealed, but they were still another contribution to an ever-entangling web of confusion.

Hera would return to the Castle of Satan and report these findings to her comrades. Without a doubt Satan would want to confront the masked Players about this. She also hoped Hades would be available to assist them. Maybe they would get some answers. Hopefully enough to put the masked Players and the Abyssal back on their heels.