Riya sighed. "Who knew guard duty could be so boring." She muttered as she hung off one of the watchtowers, using her talons to keep her grip on it. She'd been keeping watch for five hours now, and she had another minute or two to go before being swapped out.

Well, at least Alipheese delivered on her promise. Our queen will finally be avenged! But really, that was two queens ago now, wasn't it? They keep dying out faster and faster...

The harpy knight had always wanted revenge for her favourite queen, one who brought the harpy race prosperity like none had before her, and she was strong to boot, but not strong enough to defeat Lucifina herself in battle. Riya has always wanted to fight on the frontlines ever since, so she could avenge her queen. After her untimely death, another harpy replaced her. That one wanted revenge too and tried to order Alipheese to march on San Ilia, so Hiruko ate her alive in front of Riya and some other harpys, to show what would happen to those who stepped out of line.

I can still remember her begging for her life...

Still, that queen was an idiot. Who in their right mind would go around trying to order the lord like that? We really need a new ruler, and one with at least half a brain this time. Strength alone doesn't determine who should lead, or at least, it shouldn't.

"Hey, bird brain! Your shift is over!" A monster shouted. Riya turned to the newcomer and saw a typical, boring minotaurus girl, one you might see just about anywhere. The harpy ignored her rude comments and simply flew off. As she flew higher and higher, she got a good look at the army camps. There were four of them in total, all of them currently occupying the northmost region of Noah, and her one was close to Yamatai. They had only begun their invasion now, but it shouldn't be long before all of Noah was theirs.

Hmm... I've never seen so many monsters in one place. So this really is the entire monster army, all united against Ilias. With this much power, that pseudo-goddess doesn't stand a chance!

I mean, just look! There's the legendary Sun Wukong! And even Yamata No Orochi! And Azi Dahaka! Incredible! I've only heard about them in tales! People say they're just as strong, no, even stronger than our queens! They'll keep us safe!

And not only them. Rumour says there's even an ancestor in our camp, though nobody dares says who.

I wonder... could it be Hiruko..? That damned Scylla, even if our last queen was an idiot, she was still our queen. She didn't deserve death...

But that's life. And besides, what can I do? It's not like I'd be able to beat her one-on-one. Hell, I'm not even strong enough to run for queen.

Riya slowed down and landed on the ground. She looked around, taking in the still unfamiliar surroundings. The presence of so many powerful monsters unnerved the young monster, and the news of an ancestor did nothing to calm her unease. She opened the door to the barracks, and her eyes were greeted with the sight of two dozen monsters, all lying around. All of them were harpies, as this was their barrack.

"Riya! How'd the shift go?" One of them asked, greeting her friend with a wide smile.

"Oh, fine." She said. "A pretty quiet night."

"Hey, did you hear the rumours about the ancestor!" She asked.

"Yeah, why?" Riya asked.

"So you've heard that Saja is here! It's so cool! I hope we get to meet her." She said, a wide smile crossing her face as she informed her friend of the news.

"Really!? Saja? I didn't know that! We might get to fight beside her! That's amazing!" Riya said, ecstatic at the possibility. Saja was well-liked among her races, even loved. Both Lamia and Harpy adored the ancestor, as she did a lot for them. She had never taken the position of queen, but she help both races to prosper and would protect them from other races.

"Oh, Riya. Congrats on the promotion." Another harpy said. Riya turned to her.

"Thanks. But it was just luck. I didn't really do anything to deserve it." The harpy knight said.

"Oh, don't be so modest. You survived an encounter with the Hero Luka!" the harpy replied. Riya blushed at the praise, but also had a small smile from her friend's words. She thanked her again and quickly moved on. Right now, all she wanted was a good night's sleep. Once she had shaken off the other Harpys, each of whom had a hundred questions about her encounter with the hero, she snuggled up in her nest, having first removed her armour, of course.

Hmm... So, we start to march forward tomorrow. At our current pace, we'll have taken all of Noah within a week, if there is no resistance... But there almost definitely will be. I've heard rumours of Gelon being an obstacle. And here I thought the city was destroyed...

Ugh... Leading is going to be hard, isn't it? I have what, twenty harpies in my squadron? I hope I can keep them all safe. I'll just have to do my best to remember the lessons.

"Urgh... So cold..." Luka grunted. He opened his eyes and was greeted with nothing but white.

What is that..? A feather?

The hero sat up, allowing him to get a better look at what was beside him. It only took him a few seconds to recognize the intruder.

"Ilias..?" He muttered, yawning as he did. "What are you doing in here?" He asked. The Goddess made no reaction, signalling to the hero that she was still asleep. The boy put his hands on the girls back and started to shake her.

"Ilias. Wake up." He said. After enough shaking, the angel made some odd sounds before rolling over. A few seconds later, she sat up.

"What!?" She shouted, annoyed at being woken up. She rubbed her eyes and got a better look at the hero. It was clear to her that he too had just woken up, thanks to his messy hair.

"It's morning... And, why are you in my tent?" He asked. "I thought you wanted to stay outside." Once Ilias realised her blunder, she shot up and started shouting at the hero.

"Shut up!" She roared, trying to sound as commanding as possible, but failed thanks to her blushing cheeks, and small stature. Luka found it difficult to take her seriously. "Don't get any ideas from this. It was just freezing outside, so I decided to stay in here. Sleeping beside someone like you was slightly better than freezing to death."

"Right..." Luka said, not entirely believing the angel. "Well, I guess it is pretty cold. We should check on Tamamo."

"Go look for yourself. And light a fire while you're at it!" She said, her cheeks still flushed with red.

"It's not my fault you barely wearing anything. Really, you put a coat on or something." The hero suggested.

"I don't have a coat! How would I get one when you two won't even let me leave!" Ilias pointed out.

Luka scratched the back of his head awkwardly as he realised his mistake. "Oh, right. Well, I'll get you one in the next town." Ilias did not answer, instead deciding to wrap herself back up in the blanket on the ground. The hero could not lie to himself. The little Goddess looked adorable right now. She reminded him of his daughter, strangely enough. Neris too would sometimes act like this, when she was in a bad mood, at least.

Neris... I wonder what she's doing right now? I hope she's okay...

"Haah... Let's just get going." She said, holding the blanket tight. Luka nodded. He left the tent and was greeted by a breeze of cold air. He shivered. The morning sun did nothing to heat up the camp. Snow covered the trees and the tent, and the campfire was extinguished.

Ilias wasn't lying, it is freezing out here. I wonder where Tamamo went? I'm pretty sure she was lying against that log.

Luka looked around for the Kitsune. Surely, she wouldn't have just run off somewhere, or even worse, been caught by an angel? The hero's fear rose when the Kitsune did not answer his calls.

"Ow!" The hero looked down in confusion. There was a lump of snow on the ground, a ball really, and he had accidentally kicked into it as he was walking. The sound that emanated from it sounded oddly familiar. It was quite a large clump, and the hero was surprised that he didn't notice it earlier.

"Tamamo..?" The ball of snow exploded as the Kitsune made herself visible. She stretched her tails out, along with her arms and legs.

"Ahh, good morning, Luka. Hey, what's with all the snow?" She asked, not even noticing the snow still all over her. She started to shake, like a dog would, and the snow flew off of her, leaving her nice and clean. Luka was impressed by the display.

"Looks like it got pretty cold last night." He said. "Winter has really started to set in."

"Oh. Well, my tails kept me nice and warm, even if I did only have three of them... And how's Ilias? I don't see her." Tamamo asked as she cleaned up the remaining snow off her tails that hadn't been removed by the shaking.

"I'm right here, you dumb fox," Ilias pointed out, her voice slightly muffled by the cloth covering her mouth. Tamamo turned to her and failed to suppress her laughter at the sight. Ilias was wrapped up in a blanket, shivering from the cold. Her skin was paler than usual, and that was saying something. The only colour left on her body was her blonde hair and blue eyes, while the rest of it was white. Everything except for her cheeks, of course.

"Don't be so cruel..." Luka said. Tamamo kept on laughing regardless. "It's just...you look so adorable all bundled up like that," Tamamo managed to say between fits of laughter. Ilias pouted and crossed her arms, clearly not amused by the situation.

"Haha, some Goddess you are... " Tamamo said before finally calming down. "Anyways, we should get going." She suggested. Luka noticed Ilias's scowl, even if the blanket was covering most of her face. The hero packed everything in the camp up and got on the road once more, now with two young girls who made for his companions, both far older than their appearance would suggest.

Huh, what a strange coincidence. That's the second time now, isn't it?

"Hmm... How much for three coats?" Luka asked. "One for a man, and two for children."

"That'd be around 1200 gold." The shopkeep said. "Depends on what quality you'd like."

"I don't know... Whatever's enough to keep us warm."

"I've got just the thing!" The man said. "Wait here." The shopkeeper disappeared into the back of the store, returning moments later with three coats in hand. "These are made with a special insulated lining that will definitely keep you warm," he said, presenting the coats to Luka. "They're a bit pricier, but worth every coin."

"Well, alright," Luka said as he handed the man a bag of coins. He took the coats, two of which were small enough to fit both Ilias and Tamamo, and one which was just his size, or at least, that's what he liked to believe. The hero left the shop and returned to the street. He and Ilias walked down the street.

"You really are an idiot, you know that? You could've gotten the same thing for half the price at one of the other stores!" Ilias reprimanded.

"Oh... Well, it's done now. Besides, this stuff is pretty good. And you've got your coat now, so I don't want to hear any more complaints."

Ilias grumbled something, but Luka didn't quite catch it. The two continued to walk down the streets, with Tamamo eventually joining in once they got far enough. She was out buying some ingredients she'd need for thin-fried tofu.

The town was fairly small, smaller than the hero expected it to be, but it was quaint. There were a few angels flying around, with some either keeping guard of the more important buildings, and others training humans on how to fight. There was a small temple at the back of the town, which was dedicated to Ilias. Luka could see at least a dozen priests outside of it, spreading the word of the Goddess.

The priests were fervently preaching about the virtues of Ilias, attracting a small crowd of curious onlookers. Luka couldn't help but feel a small sense of awe and wonder as he observed the town's strong devotion to their deity. Even if he was no longer one of her followers, he still had feelings of nostalgia as he heard their speeches. Ilias's faith wasn't all bad, or at least, Luka didn't think so.

"So, did you get the coats?" Tamamo asked. Luka nodded.

"Yep. Pretty nice, right?" He said as he put the coat on. Tamamo sniggered as she watched. The clothing was far too big for the hero, making him look ridiculous.

"Let me guess, you got the adult size?" She asked.

"Shut up." He said as he took the coat off and held it in his hands, a slight frown crossing his face.

Damn it. I thought I would've grown into them by now. I suppose I'll just have to wait... I am going to grow taller, right?

"Huh. It's not as bad as I thought it'd be. The people here look pretty happy. It's a lot better than what I saw in Yamatai and Vrimor. It's similar to Remina really." Luka said. At the same time, he handed Tamamo the coat he bought for her. She took it, even though she didn't really need it. But relying solely on her tails to keep her warm would cause their overall fluffiness to take a hit, and that's something she couldn't risk.

"Let's see if you still think that when you see the crosses..." Tamamo muttered as she put it on.

"Crosses? Where?" Luka asked.

"They're normally found on hills. We can ask around for where the ones are here." Tamamo said. The hero did as she said, asking an angel where they could be found. The angel was glad to tell them, as she considered them a good sight for newcomers to see. Once the hero got to the cross, his jaw dropped. His eyes widened as he looked at the people hanging from them, nailed up to the posts.

"This... this is..." he muttered, shocked by the grim sight.

"Those who've broken the law are crucified," Tamamo explained. "I've seen it a few times before. Those who are unfaithful are also either nailed up here or burned at the stake. In exchange for a nice place to live, they have to follow the Goddess. Those who don't..." Tamamo left the answer up in the air, but it was obvious to Luka.

"I see..." He said, still staring at the three people nailed up. Ilias remained silent, not even looking at those who were hanging. She knew that this was the price they paid for their transgressions, a grim reminder of the consequences of disobedience. The sight was unsettling, but it served as a stark reminder of the power and authority the Goddess held over her followers. A reminder that Ilias didn't want.

Is this... really what I do? Do I just kill everyone who disobeys me..? Even my own humans?

This is... horrible. They didn't deserve this. They just didn't want to follow me.

But still... That's the price they have to pay. If I wasn't strict with my followers, they would grow disobedient. Even if I have to do things like this to do them, it's for their own good.

Right?

"Let's move on," Tamamo said. "We've already hung around here too long. We should get back to Gelon."

"...No, we should take them down first." He said.

"They're already dead, Luka. And what if an angel sees us? We'll surely be reported." Tamamo pointed out. Luka ignored her as he started to take the men down. Tamamo sighed and reluctantly joined in, assisting him in taking the nails out of their palms. Ilias continued to watch, her face expressionless. Once they were done, they buried the bodies. Thankfully, with Tamamo and Luka's combined control over the earth, digging the holes was not too difficult.

Ilias is even worse than I ever imagined. This is what her faith used to be like... Thankfully, it must've mellowed out over time, since stuff like this definitely wasn't happening when I followed her. But during a war like this, even the most brutal methods become commonplace...

"Let's go. We have to get to Gelon." Luka said. Tamamo followed him, and Ilias took one last look at the crosses before joining them.

Look at them. Gathering up like ants...

The goddess sighed as she surveyed the world below her. From here, everything looked so small, so insignificant. It's a perspective she'd had for a long time now. She was currently watching Alipheese's forces swarm the Northern regions of Gelon, like moths to a flame. She knew what they were up to. It was clear to her. They were trying to take the region for themselves. Even worse, Yamatai was halfway rebuilt now, and Vrimor was completely restored. Both of them would further reinforce their army and their hold on the region.

What disgusting little things... And those aren't my only enemies.

Ilias turned to the other thorn in her side. The hero Luka was touring the Ilias continent, walking around it as though he owned it. She had let him do as he wished for now. Fighting him would be pointless, and a waste of power. And on top of that, she could still use him in this war. He still had a fair amount of power, even if he was missing most of his spirits.

If he isn't going to join me, fine. Just as long as he doesn't join Alipheese...

And what's with his companions? According to him, there's a whole other world out there, one set a thousand years in the future. One where they defeated me... So that explains why a sealed Tamamo No Mae would be with him but...

Why the hell is there another version of me there!? And why is she sealed!? What is going on lately? Seriously... The world gets more confusing every day...

So what should I do about them? Let them crawl around and do as they wish?

Ilias sighed. She would just have to continue to ignore them. She'd need her seraphs at full power for the upcoming fighting in Noah, and if Lucifina learned of Luka's heritage... Well, she would just have to prevent that at all costs.

But maybe I can get rid of him? There's that other 'Luka' in Gelon. She's supposedly a Doppel version of him, created by Promestein in the future, who made her to serve me. Who better than her to fight in my army?

But... what if I get both of them? I'd sweep the battlefields with ease. I bet I could even get Promestein back on my side, with a few years of 'convincing' that is. Still, how could I get both Luka and his Doppel to join me? Everything I've tried thus far has only led to failure...

I suppose it'll have to wait. Alipheese is the bigger threat right now. Luka and his friends can wait until after I put those damn monsters back in their place.

"My lord." Ilias turned around elegantly. She had sensed Micaela's presence some time ago, but decided to wait until she was called to react.

"Greetings, my child." She said. "For what purpose have you come?"

"It is time for our meeting. Eden and Lucifina are waiting for us, my lord." Micaela explained, still bowing before the Goddess as she did.

"Oh? Time really does fly... Alright, I'll be there in a moment." Ilias said. Micaela bowed and left. The Goddess took one last look at the hero before leaving.

Hmm... I'm sure you are still of use to me. You and your fellow refugees can stay in Gelon for now. But believe me, once Alipheese is dealt with, your next...

Ilias had a faint smile as she teleported to Heaven's war room. Once she arrived, all three seraphs displayed their loyalty by bowing. "My lord." They all said in unison upon seeing her.

"Rise, my children. Let us begin." Ilias said. Her children sat back in their assigned seats, and the Goddess sat in the one at the head of the table.

"What news have you?" She asked.

"Gelon has been occupied by Sabasa's refugees. Their city was destroyed when the Spirit of Earth died, so they moved there. We have reason to believe the Hero Luka is among them. What do you want us to do about it, my lord?" Micaela asked.

"Leave them. They are not in our way, are they? Send some of our priests to convert the populous, but don't send any of our angels. We wouldn't want to be seen as the aggressors, would we?" Ilias pointed out. Micaela nodded.

"It will be done," Micaela said. "Onto more pressing matters, Alipheese's army has mobilised. They have started to invade the Noah region. There are no mountains or other terrain features to slow them down, besides a few rivers here and there. We estimate the entire region will be claimed within a week or so." She explained. Lucifina made no reaction, while Eden on the other hand looked shocked at the news.

"I haven't heard a word about this... We must not let that happen." Eden said. "What would you have us do, my lord?" Ilias hesitated for a moment, surprising the seraphs. She sat there, carefully considering her options.

If they do take Noah, Gelon would be next. Then after that, San Ilia. If San Ilia falls... Well, we'll just have to stop that from happening in the first place, won't we?

"Set up a defensive line at the halfway point. Set our camps up behind one of the rivers. It should give us an advantage against the grounded monsters. Micaela, you will lead our forces. Bring glory to our army. Lucifina, you will follow her. Destroy every monster you see. Eden, you will stay in San Ilia. We cannot afford to lose the city, and you will oversee its restoration." Ilias commanded. The seraphs all nodded, each one determined to bring glory to their Goddess.

The war has come right back to the start again. It all started in Noah, and now it will all end in Noah. Whoever wins the region wins the war. If we achieve victory, we can take Vrimor. If we lose, they can take San Ilia. Once either of those major cities are gone, not much remains.

We cannot afford to lose. Not now. They're still one ancestor down. We are finally on equal ground with them. We cannot squander this opportunity. No matter what, Alipheese must lose this war.

Notes

When I started this story, I promised to finish it before Part 3 of Paradox came out. The end of the story is still a ways away, and I have only been slowing down in my production of new chapters. But... We still haven't had a release date for Part 3. So, can I still finish it before Part 3...?

Maybe. We'll have to see how everything pans out. For now, I'll keep writing as much as I can, while also (hopefully) improving the quality of my writing as each chapter is released. I'm still dead set on finishing the story, so it won't be abandoned or anything, even if Part 3 does come out.