The Van Eltia fired another salvo of cannon fire. Black soot exploded from barrels, launching pounds of iron. Further and further they flew like arrows at a galleon. By some sorcery, some arte, the cannonballs splattered against the ship's hull, undamaged. It was surreal, seeing the opposing ship not even fire back as the cannon barrage continued.

"FIRE!" Bellowed Benwick.

They tried aiming their cannons at the main deck, but the same occurred. Just before the iron balls hit, they splattered against some unknown arte.

"Damnit!"

-.-.-

Back on shore, a small dingy reached the far end of the beaches. Chucks of rock hailed like raindrops onto the nearby village as Velvet watched. A shiver crawled down her spine. There was no way Eleanor was in that village. For a moment, she saw the icy plains of Hellawes set ablaze for her escape.

No, no. Back to the situation at hand.

Eizen immediately ran off to the village, seeing if there was anybody still left. With Amelia and Lailah in tow, the former Lord of Calamity sprinted up the path above. A dark blessing occurred as the fires destroyed the jungles, leaving a better path to the top.

Faster and faster, they ran. Soon after, loud banging metals echoed. A single woman with a curved-edge sword fought skeletal beings, armed with a variety of weapons. Back and forth, spinning, the woman held them off, slashing back at their bodies. Only the grind and weight of her attacks pushed them. In her opposite arm, another person limped unconscious.

The same redhair, the colors of her uniform.

"Eleanor!" Velvet immediately bolted forth.

Three knights descended upon her as she lunged at them. Blade caught blade. Sparks danced for a moment before she threw her free arm. The daemonic claw expanded and slashed, pulling at their armor.

The warriors dragged each other back. Malevolence circled their chests before disappearing in a blue glow. Hidden smoldering orbs posed as Velvet charged again. Her legs slapping their heads around, yet they stood their ground.

Harder and faster, the therion swung again. The warriors back up, holding their weapons back.

"Cowards!" She bellowed, jumping ahead.

Something flashed before her eyes. Velvet flipped her blade forward and flew backwards.

A lone soldier from the rest. A simple circular shield and short sword. Its armor more human compared to the rest with rivets and a visor helmet. "Move!"

Claw unleashed, she swiped. But found the soldier ducking underneath, shield locking her elbows from collapsing in. A shallow cut to her stomach as she dropkicked him away.

Back and forth, Velvet ran in and this being countered her. She even tried flipping her hair into the warrior's view and still her hits never connected. Frustrated, she never noticed Amelia and Lailah hopping into the fray, armatus in hand as she blasted flames at the being. It didn't seem to deter them.

With those two legates joined, Velvet turned back to her own opponent.

-.-.-

Amelia faced the marching warriors, switching from her zweihänder form to twin broadswords.

"Amelia, you son of bitch, always with the perfect timing!" Alex gasped, pulling herself back up, the light in her eyes glowing against the lava rivers.

"Always the show person, you know me." Readying themselves, more of the warriors pressed forward. Separating them by a divided line, the two legates hacked away. Each of them was a separate sphere, snipping one another by the tips of their swords.

Hurried, the warriors continued. No matter what blows they landed, none of them made a distinguished mark on their armor. Injuries to the less covered areas didn't affect them either. A war of attrition continued as several of the warriors stepped back and launched malak artes. Icicles and fireballs spread into an array of light. Speckles bloomed, growing and splitting like vines.

The brunette skipped over, hopping over and blocking with her sword. Dissipated streams blew off into the red rivers, spurting hot lava about the scorched earth.

Holding her blades at her side, Amelia yelled, "Crown Fire!"

A whirlwind of scarlet grains erupted among the warriors, as they held their ground.

Silver blue sparks radiated from the armor. Immediately, the warriors leapt up, disappearing in a flash of blue light.

"They've got a limit!" She yelled to Alex as the other woman surged forward.

Her sword wove around her body, twisting and spinning as if it floated on its own. The blonde roared, bashing and weaving through them. She gained the upper hand as others fled.

"Fenrir Smasher!"

Glowing azure energy burst from her free hand. The spectral form of a feral wolf howled. A warrior as he flew back and disappeared in the same mote of light.

From their point of few, the only member left the last warrior among them. The Azure Knight with the over-sized blade.

The twisted unicorn turned back to the last warrior, seeing it continue holding the therion at bay.

Yellow flashes signaled from its eyes. Amelia's eyes widened as she lunged forward. "You aren't getting away!"

Callously, the Azure Knight swiped its blade, knocking her back at Alex as she caught her.

For the beast disintegrated, like ash falling from the volcano. And following suit, the warrior fending off Velvet disappeared as well.

The former Lord of Calamity screamed, deprived as malevolence exploded from her body. The swarms of purple musk dotted the earth around her before she settled down. Tears rolling off her cheeks as she ran over to check on Eleanor, completely ignoring the two of them.

Her hand touching her neck. "… Still alive. We need to head back."

Without skipping a beat, she pulled the Shepherd over her back as Amelia got to her other side, armatization worn off. Lailah gasped, falling to her knees as Alex helped her back up. Smoke and soot now covered the area and they couldn't stay for long.

Down the hill and back to the shores, it was barely enough to escape the burning landscape. This place, once a proud and untamed jungle was reduced to ashes and wildfires in a single afternoon.

At the boat, Velvet set Eleanor prone and looked back to the village. Eizen was making his way back as he got on. Amelia kicked the shore, and the dingy sailed back to the Van Eltia.

Already, the enemy galleon was gone. Not even a scrap from their ship peeled off their barrage. And for prideful pirates, the ship never fired back.

"… Was there anybody..?" Amelia turned to Eizen.

The blonde shook his head.

Alex collapsed against the dinghy's frame, looking back to the burning village.

Gone. Nothing.

Just fire and flames, as her premonitions and trials showed her.

And for what? Spite?

Revenge?

All for the old Abbey?

Melchior's final orders?

A purge. A cinder.

"… Oh gods…"

To feel hope dashed away, to be caught in some divine game… To Never Forget all the pointless lives taken...

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