A/N: Sorry for the delay. I've been occupied with writing my thesis and a new series of Gundam 00/Transformers stories. Don't fear for this story – I never leave a fanfic unfinished. ;)

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To Fight For a Nemesis

Western China

He was an unusually diminutive Awakened Being – a humanoid with the head and fur of a filthy rodent, clad in the armour of human bones from the Continent. His eyes were beady, but sparkled with an unusual worldliness that bespoke of a somewhat more freethinking soul than that of his more mindless, obedient comrades. "This is it?" he asked, his hoarse, rasping voice a screech to the ear, a piercing whine that confused the high pitch of a complaining child with the sarcastic giggle of a court jester of the Continent.

"This is it, Farrow," came a deep, rumbling reply. It was curt, short and to the point, as if eager to dismiss unessential questions and dispense with pleasant conversation. Standing beside the rodent aberration stood a gargantuan titan with grey, ashen skin and the head of a wild, tusked boar. Twenty feet tall, his silver eyes were all that remained of his past life generations into the past, when he found his identity fighting against Yoma. But that was many centuries ago, in a time so ancient that he had forgotten how had ever joined the Organization… or how he Awakened.

Now, he didn't merely fight alongside them – he commanded them. A hundred thousand of them – Yoma, Continental Bloodstock, Scuta, Warlocks – they united to form a bestiary of horrific, hungry creatures that thirsted for warm-blooded sustenance. At eight feet tall, the Yoma towered over their human foes and wielded giant maces of indestructible steel, similar to the metal forged to construct Claymore swords. They possessed slightly reptilian faces, although their faces were more of the ogre taxonomy than anything else. As if their thickened, ashen skin was not enough, they were armoured with pauldrons on their right shoulders, gauntlets and pleated faulds. Supporting the basic Awakened infantry were the Warlocks: the wizards of the Thrones, Warlocks were power-hungry wizards and outcasts of societies from the distant medieval Isles. Some were once even former agents of the Organization, lured into service to the Thrones by promises of riches and decadence. Their greed and thirst for knowledge was at once their strength and their weakness.

"Humans are a most interesting breed of mammalian. I almost remember when we lived amongst them, before the primal pleasure of Awakening became simply irresistible." Farrow turned to his comrade. "Do you miss wielding the phallic killing tool known as a Claymore, Blacktail?"

"No," said the boar-man. He looked down at his massive, twenty-foot long barbarian club. "I believe this suits my taste more than a sword ever did." He gazed out at the floundering human armies, their formations growing ever more disorderly as the Awakened Beings and Yoma swarmed over them, annihilating their vanguard and demolishing their few remaining fortifications. "We have wasted enough time, General Farrow. Let us mop up these allied troops and be done with it." He loomed over the dying humans mockingly, roaring for the Bloodstock to move in for the final kill. Four-armed and four-hoofed horrors with beak-like, eyeless faces, Bloodstock were in fact Yoma fused together by the Warlocks, created to serve as mindless heavy shock troops that felt no pain and stopped for nothing until all eight limbs were severed. Their skin was of a wrinkly texture, their colour, of a deathly grey and bleeding pink. Leading the charge were the elite Scuta, humanoid, thirteen-foot tall monstrosities with curved blades attached at the ends of their clawed hands. Their faces were strikingly terrifying: their mouths were covered by a facemask, whilst their glowing, beady green eyes were sunk into a wide, throbbing head with their oily brain exposed. Their bodies were lean in flesh but encased in tight, rusting silver armour. As such, no mortal force could withstand the collective horror of these hellish legions.

"Still, I admire these inferior creatures for their determination," commented Farrow, adjusting the faulds around his waist. "It's something that's worth learning from, even though we are the generals of the Throne Army."

"Idiocy," observed Blacktail coldly. "Humans have nothing to teach us. We have experienced all they can only dream of in one day. Even their precious emotions… we feel them far stronger than they can ever conceive of. Perhaps we are even more human than humans themselves."

"Ha! I agree. That is the scheme of things." Farrow twirled his extendable flail, cutting through another throng of charging infantry soldiers. They were the final guard of Shu troops that stayed behind to hinder the Yoma from chasing down the fleeing peasants and commoners that took flight from the cities in their hundreds of thousands. The rest of the allied military forces had either crumpled or fled to the north. He raised his shoulders, lowering his arms. "Chengdu has fallen, yet they still struggle on. They no longer hold their own land, yet they hold onto hope. It is the same for Jianye. Rigardo wiped out the remnants of Sun Quan's forces weeks ago, but it has not stopped," he said thoughtfully. "What do you think?"

"It is pitiful," snarled Blacktail. "Resistance is a tragic mistake, born out of deluded desperation… the illusion that a feeble resistance will somehow earn our sympathy and prompt our sparing their lives. We are servants of the Thrones of Darkness, of Lord Isley, Lady Priscilla and Lord Rigardo. The eminent Thrones will not tolerate disobedience. The way of things is quite simple."

The very first Number One in history, Isley was an ancient Awakened Being that had survived multiple wars, cataclysms, and rivalries. Among these was the Abyssal War that left only three Dwellers of the Deep as the dominant powers of the Continent, epic duels with the Awakened Beings Rigardo and Priscilla, and the complete conquest of the Continent. He set foot in the Middle Kingdom long ago, deceiving an entire nation and even the Hero of Chaos by disguising himself as a fugitive from another nation. But his true objective was to retrieve a sample of the legendary Lu Bu's flesh. His insidious presence had remained undetected even by the Emperor's agents. After his preliminary schemes to deceive the Chinese, he now began the second stage of his plan: war. Crushing Miria's initial foray into Dunhuang, he moved onto Wu Zhang Plains rapidly and effortlessly defeated Galatea and her newfound allies, seizing the Central Plains and plunging all three Kingdoms into utter panic and mayhem. With the portal his minions constructed at Mogao, and at Sutafu on the Continent, there was no limit to the extent of his strength.

The full consequences of his conquest of the Continent would now be revealed. "I too, remember the age when I was once a Claymore," laughed Farrow, chattering his rodent teeth whilst his whip-like weapon beheaded a screaming trooper. "In a way, I must thank the Organization. It is they that opened my eyes, to a world that knows nought but pain and the survival of the strongest."

The Bloodstock began to feast on the Shu bodies whilst the Scuta charged, overwhelming the last line of defence. Farrow looked out into the crimson moon, sniffing the air. "The realm is heavy with the stench of its people's own blood. Clearly, they aren't fit for survival. On behalf of Isley, what do you say we clean up the rest of this human rabble?"

They had razed the Kingdom of Shu to the ground. Now, they would push north.

"The strong will fall. For they are no contenders to the might of Lord Isley, overseer of the Thrones." Blacktail grinned, his hand stroking his tusk. "Let us put an end to this pathetic and futile resistance, once and for all."

*

The tears wouldn't stop. They wouldn't cease, not even after she had rubbed her eyes until they were sore from the abrasion her knuckles inflicted. Even the blankets could not stope the flow of longing and desire that poured from her silver pools. Flora gazed up into Cao Pi's cold eyes. They reflected her tearful countenance, although they did not return with any empathetic shine. She turned away. "You enjoy my listlessness, do you not?"

"Not particularly."

"What do you enjoy, then?" She waited for his reply, but he merely grinned. She closed her eyes in hurt. "But you don't love me. I miss the man that loved me. I wish to return his affection, his comfort. I miss my Zilong, Cao Pi."

He wrapped his arms around her, and she struggled briefly. "Sometimes the loveliest things are the most painful. Let the emotion seep into you, Flora. Let your sense of abandonment bring strength to your hatred and lust for revenge. Only then will you experience the most exquisite empowerment." His tongue found her cheek, her barely dried tears. "Believe me, flower. It is your salty grief that tastes the best to me. Eventually, even you must overcome yourself if you are to match me."

His hand roughly tore at her brassiere, with no hint of any tenderness or affection. He forced apart her legs even as her fist struck his jaw. Despite the nasty bruising and the sore bone, he did not relent. Another punch, and then a desperate slap. Again. Again. None of it made a difference. The back of her pressed against the mattress as the prince came down upon her, his cold countenance wild with sadism.

But his will to hurt her, to her astonishment, matched her will to life.

He released her, and flung her back onto her bed roughly. She whimpered. He did not listen. He whipped her and beat, her, again and again, until her screams echoed through the imperial corridors. As she flayed wildly, jerking back from the sting, from the pain, he descended upon her and clutched her to him, possessing her without warning, without care. She fell into a tearful silence as she looked back at him, meeting his unfeeling eyes. Coolly, he began to move within her, and she could only choke and gasp as she felt herself reduced to a piece of attractive meat as he feasted his inhumanity on her soft, pale, vulnerability.

"I will have you, again and again, until you break unto slavery under my authority."

*

It tasted bitter. It tasted of humiliation, of degradation and sensual, decadent indifference. It stripped her of all dignity, of all her pride as a warrior as inescapably as his hands had torn off her garments. After the deed was done, he released his tight grasp on her hair, flinging her back onto her bed. She lay, her eyes half-closed, her drenched face against the satin cushion as he rose, his lean, powerful, naked body reaching for the clasp by the bedside. He did not speak for several moments, savouring the gratification he had attained through subjugating her. He closed his eyes in arrogant triumph. "Clean yourself up. I'm going to take you to a new division of troops you shall command in China's name."

"How can your father look at you and not die of shame?" she mumbled.

Cao Pi shrugged. He took his white cape in his hand as he had dressed himself. "My father is my father. I am me. Perhaps you will someday understand that and save yourself more unexpected surprises."

He made his way towards the door. "I expect you to be ready in fifteen minutes."

Dripping wet and her heart curling in disgrace, Flora looked down at the silken blankets as he strode out of her bedroom.

*

It felt peculiar, sharing a banquet with a lifelong archenemy.

Granted, Cynthia and Zhou Tai had never actually met Cao Cao in person. To them, he had always remained a shadowy, ineffable figure of omnipresence that communicated his will through powerful emissaries such as Rafaela, Miata or Galatea. Upon seeing him for the first time within the dungeon in Stonekeep, the first thought that forced itself into Cynthia's mind was not how demonic his visage seemed, nor how lavish his garments or cape looked. No, it was a slightly less awe-inspired thought.

For such a powerful man… he's not particularly big. I mean, Tai towers over him!

Thankfully, she had not blurted out her comment aloud, for the couple had been cordially invited to attend a banquet, as a gesture of hospitality and respect from their former foe. To her astonishment, Cynthia discovered on Zhang Liao's word that her comrades, like her, had survived the onslaught at Wu Zhang Plains. It was no less astonishing that she had survived her dire injuries, even with the help of Cao Pi and his forces. But why had the Wei forces gone so far as to save them? Had they been reduced to hostages?

Do they plan to force us to fight for them?

What should I say?

"Cynthia. Zhou Tai." Cao Cao's voice broke into her thoughts, and she jumped nervously.

"Do not hold back. Everything on this table is yours to sample and savour. I was informed that you only recently united in wedlock. This banquet is a toast to that." She looked down at her meal, avoiding the Premier's gaze as Zhou Tai politely partook in the food offered. She took up her bowl of mushroom soup and quietly sipped at it. It was admittedly delicious, and even Claymores like her felt famished after spending so much time underground, living on essentially nothing during her coma.

"Is it to your taste?" asked Cao Cao, his voice void of sarcasm. He chewed quietly on a slice of duck, watching her closely from across the table.

"It is… thank you," replied Cynthia nervously. Radiant in her crimson dress and allowing her hair to hang loose (she thought it more mature of her), she glanced at her husband, who sat beside her uneasily. Even his black Han gentleman's suit did not conceal the suspicion and distrust his body language expressed. Their apparent saviour, the Hero of Chaos, had seemed reluctant to explain his reasons for such generosity until they departed from Luoyang's underground city. Nor did he clarify why they had suddenly ceased to be apparent enemies at all.

It was obvious that this was bothering the Wu admiral with each passing minute.

Finishing his piece of chicken, he set aside his chopsticks and cleared his throat. While he had also suffered from malnourishment, he did not feel at ease, not when his King's nemesis was treating them to an evening feast. "I demand an explanation, Cao Cao. Just why have you brought my wife and I here? And what do you intend to do with us?" he finally asked. His eyes narrowed. "If you intend to use us for ransom, do not hope it will work. I thank you for sparing Cynthia's life, but should you do anything beyond preserving her life, I will fight back."

Cao Cao's face was sombre. "There shall be no need for anything like that. There is no merit in our contest any longer… that is, between your Kingdom and mine."

"What do you mean?"

"The two of you must know that Wu is on the verge of obliteration, if not already destroyed."

Cynthia gasped, and Zhou Tai almost instantaneously stood, rocking the table and flinging his cup of hot tea to the floor.

Wu… defeated?

How could we have slept all this time? Why did he not stir us?

"And you expect us to be feasting away our time whilst my King… whilst Master Sun Quan… falls before the monsters that almost slew my wife?" snarled Zhou Tai, his voice simmering with an extraordinary fire. "Why have you done this to us?"

"Sun Quan is already dead, slain by Rigardo's forces." Cao Cao did not flinch from Zhou Tai's burning eyes. "He died three weeks ago, along with Gan Ning, Cheng Pu, and Ling Tong."

"How dare you," roared the admiral. "I could have fought on if given the chance. Did you capture us so that we would have no chance to return to Jiangdong?"

The other shook his head. "No. Wu's army and navy were defeated many weeks ago. Their remnants are now stationed at He Fei, where they are regaining some measure of fighting capability."

Cynthia found it difficult to believe. "You are giving our troops shelter?"

"My forces have taken up the war in southern China, holding back the Awakened army as they attempt to drive towards the north. So far, efforts have been met with mixed results – "

"I do not believe you. Our defeat at Wu Zhang Plains surely would have warranted a direct assault on Xuchang rather than Jianye," insisted Zhou Tai.

"Isley understands that to launch a three-pronged attack from Chengdu, Hanzhong and Jianye is the most assured way of destroying me. As a result, he set his sights on Shu as well as Wu. It is no more, its capital razed to nothingness by the monster called Priscilla." Cao Cao grimaced. "Do you see now? Prior to your stirring from the dungeons in Stonekeep, the Wei Kingdom was all that stood in the way of Isley's final conquest of China. But with your survival no longer an impossibility, as it would have been if I did not send reinforcements to rescue you at Wu Zhang, we are in a position to crush Isley together."

Zhou Tai's already tense hands clenched into enraged fists. "I care not. I have given my life to protect the people of Jiangdong. I would rather die for Wu than serve the Wei Kingdom. Why should I cravenly join your side simply because it has claimed the dubious honour of victory?"

"Because you are a silver-eyed warrior. And the only hope that China rests on is the unity of all silver-eyed warriors in what is no longer the Kingdom of Wei, but the Jin Alliance. In that sense, there is no Wei faction for you to tussle against in the first place. I could not allow you two – the strongest warriors of Wu – to waste your then-fragile lives fighting for a Kingdom that could not be saved. All that remains of China are the few survivors of Chengdu and Jianye, and our bastion here, in northern and central China."

He nodded. "It is time, my love."

From behind the drapes emerged a tall, willowy blonde, her black, noblewoman's coat brushing her calves as she slowly moved to stand in plain sight of Cynthia and Zhou Tai. She placed two hands affectionately on Cao Cao's shoulders, squeezing them while she positioned herself behind his chair. Cynthia put a hand to her mouth and Zhou Tai resisted the urge to rub his eyes, for it was as if he was repeatedly seeing apparitions… ghosts back from the dead.

"Hello, there," she initiated, breaking into a gentle smile. "I'm glad you two are well. And I mean that."

"Lady Galatea," murmured Zhou Tai, stupefied.

"You sound disappointed," said the governess, mockingly crestfallen.

"You really are alive," whispered Cynthia. "Senior…"

Galatea nodded. "You look in good health. But eat more. Your body is a treacherous thing, especially after a month of involuntary fasting. I echo Wenyuan's apology – that we were forced to bind you in chains in the event of the… unpleasant neurological accident of Awakening."

Cynthia's face broke into a nervous smile.

"I thank the gods for your survival. But I cannot understand how such a feat could be managed with our situation on the Central Plains," said Zhou Tai.

"Nothing is impossible," replied Galatea coolly, massaging her husband's shoulders with a lazy grace only she could achieve. "I'm dreadfully happy that we are able to meet again here as opposed to a crematorium, but state matters must first be attended to. Let us move on to our main course of business while you enjoy dinner." Her eyes twinkled. "From your slack-jawed faces, I assume the two of you know of this nation's current… predicament? We are indeed in a grave spot. But opportunity may yet arise to counter the threat of Isley and the looming shadow of Lu Bu."

Almost instantly, the stupefied mood of reunion transmuted into a grimmer atmosphere. "How can we stop an Abyssal Dweller with such advantages like the portal at Mogao?" cried Cynthia. "Galatea, you know what happened to us a month before. They were too strong. They tore through us like wet cloth! The risk is just too – "

Galatea nodded in agreement. "That is why you and Master Zhou Tai must join the second phase of my Lord's ambition. We must organize an unprecedented field army, the likes of which has never been seen in China, to march to Kumtag Desert and attack the Mogao Caves directly. Only by seizing the Mogao Caves, Dunhuang and the Kumtag Desert will we stand a chance of stemming the Continental invasion permanently. This is the cornerstone of our offensive against the Yoma. All other endeavours to liberate the cities occupied or destroyed by our enemy are secondary. China's hope lies in the desert; in a Buddhist sanctuary tainted by wickedness."

"What of Lady Huang Yue Ying? If she is safe…" said Zhou Tai warily.

"With her considerable expertise and experience, she will obviously retain the supreme commander's position of Grand General. Furthermore, she is developing a weapon of unmatched strength that shall be of particular use against Awakened Beings. For that reason, she will be departing for the oldest mountain of this world, Mount Imeon, to begin the facility's construction."

"Mount Imeon? That location does not sound Chinese," whispered Cynthia. "Have you decided to take the war beyond even the Middle Kingdom's borders?"

"Girl, you have no idea," said Galatea.

"You are making use of her inventions," accused Zhou Tai in realization.

"You're a sharp one, aren't you? Youping. Indeed, we are… although she has little choice – if we are to save China, we must act together. And the construction of the Abyssal Fusion Missile will play a major part in silencing the horrid screams of Yoma throughout this realm forever." She paused. "Is this not a monumental feat? We need your help in the campaigns we are undertaking to wrest back control of this nation."

Cynthia could only gasp in amazement at the scope of Galatea's plans.

"That is… certainly very ambitious, milady," admitted Zhou Tai quietly. "But my intuition tells me that you have not told me everything."

Galatea smiled and released her husband's shoulders. She moved to make her way beyond the veil, out of the banquet room. "I know this must be rather unsettling for the two of you. Mengde and I will allow you two to mull over the circumstances. Perhaps then you won't be reeling so badly from the inundation of information we've forced onto you."

Cynthia nodded vehemently. "You're right," she mumbled in embarrassment. "I really… I really don't know what to do. Please… all we ask for is some time."

Cao Cao rose from his seat and turned to follow Galatea. "Very well. I shall hear your response in my Throneroom. But know this, if nothing else: the world has changed. There is nothing you can do to reverse that. The only sensible path to walk in light of this change…"

He closed his eyes. "Is to change with it. Good evening to you, Zhou Tai. Rest well, Cynthia."

And with that, he disappeared behind the drapes, leaving Cynthia and Zhou Tai to muse on his words over an unfinished, troubled banquet.