Chapter 67:

All elves knew that Riveria was the most powerful mage in the world. Raw power, skill, chanting speed, and even at a fundamental level of understanding, Riveria was the pinnacle of Orario. But many quibbled and argued that her lead was slipping. Many said Hedin Selland, the Hildrsleif, former King of the White Elves, was already nipping at her heels. That eventually, he would overtake her. After all, he was a member of Freya Familia, and they were the strongest, especially after the Lover's Quarrel when Freya had taken control of the city. When Loki Familia did nothing, many claimed that this meant that they knew they were falling behind. And that the Nine Hells was not the overwhelming mage, many claimed her to be.

However, Ryuu understood the truth. She saw it with her own eyes. On the lawn of Folkvangr, the Faeries Princess saw what so many had missed. Riveria Ljos Alf was in a league of her own.

"My name is Alf! Van Alheim!"

There was a flash of green, and all of Ryuu's wounds were gone. The air returned to her lungs, and she suddenly felt she could fight to the deep floors alone. Thankfully, the elves across from her could not say the same. Hedin and Hegni were both still suffering from multiple wounds and lacerations. The trade-off was that Riveria needed more energy to draw on.

"Faeries Princess," began Riveria. "I need you to buy me time."

Ryuu kept her eyes on her opponents. "Time for what, milady?"

"Time for a spell to wipe this filth from the mortal plane."

Ryuu's eyes widened. Her weapon shook involuntarily. She gave a moment to glance at her ally to see the steely resolve in her gaze. Across the lawn, with their enhanced senses, she knew that Hedin and Hegni had heard the same. And all three of them had to be trembling.

With the Tricksters:

Before Riveria left on her expedition, Loki gave her a letter.

"Yo, Mama Bear! A special message from the Guild!" the Goddess had said.

Riveria, who was just about to check on Ais and the others, stopped. She turned back toward her Goddess. Loki wore her usual smile, but her eyes had crimson glints.

"And what does the Guild ask of us now? Some new plot concocted by Freya to keep us in the Dungeon?" she asked.

Loki shook her head. "Read it for yourself."

And Riveria did. As she did so, the High Elf was filled with an overwhelming sense of dread and anticipation. Her arms shook from excitement; her brain felt like it would explode.

"Ouranos himself has officially given you permission," said Loki.

"Vas Windheim is legal for the next forty-eight hours aboveground." The Trickster Goddess walked off, waving a hand as she went. "Make sure it's worth it!"

With the Mage:

Back in the present, Riveria shifted her feet. Just like her father had raised her, she stood proud and tall. This was a spell in its most primal form. It was magic power incarnate and required a will to match. Usually, the Nine Hells cared little for her bloodline and peerage. She saw it as an unnecessary inconvenience. But now, she drew upon that history. On her legacy. With one foot in front of the other, Riveria pulled her back straight. One hand came up in front of her face as if in prayer. The other raised her staff. She breathed in, eyes closed. Hedin, Hegni, and Ryuu couldn't move. For in that moment, as she gathered herself, Riveria was Celdia reborn.

Her eyes opened, and all became chaos.

With the King:

The only reason Ottar hadn't put this insufferable buffoon into the ground right now was because of the distraction in his mind. It wasn't enough that Bell Cranel appeared to have a twin sister, but this drunken fool meant one thing and one thing only.

Poseidon Familia was on its way back to the city. Which meant Ottar had to make a decision. He could try to fight off this fool as quickly as possible, crush Hestia Familia in one blow, and thus end the war before Poseidon's Monsters got here. Or Ottar could pull back and regather his strength to face the Captain alone.

Before he could decide, he felt the Goddess's eyes upon him. She wanted Bell, and she wanted him now. And the King's choice was made for him.

As Calico Jack continued to try to duck and weave, Ottar stepped back. While the drunken fool was largely unpredictable in this state, the boaz tracked his movements. Then, the second the legendary level six adventurer launched an attack, Ottar was responding. He let the pirate's blade catch itself in his armour before grabbing his skull with his good hand. Ottar plunged the man into the cobblestones with all his might, and Jack was unconscious in an instant.

While he was formidable, Jack was level six. Ottar was above him now, which was a statement to that fact. There were only three people that Ottar thought could beat him. One was already defeated, the Braver. And the Knight of Knights, Leon, was still with the floating ship of the Education District. All that was left was the Captain of Poseidon Familia. And Ottar would be ready for him.

"I feel your gaze, Lady Freya," mumbled Ottar. "Please, worry not. I will not disappoint you. I swear this upon my blade."

The boaz rumbled forward, one arm hanging limply. He still bore the wounds of his battle with Finn, but that would not stop him. He continued on, putting one foot in front of the other. As he cast his senses out, he knew that he was alone. There were no more enemies in his path to the Hearthfire Mansion. The end was near.

With the Goddesses:

Freya looked on dispassionately at her current champion. She could feel Loki's judgemental gaze.

"Do you ever think about the members of your Familia?" asked the Trickster Goddess. "Do they ever mean more to you than weapons that do your bidding?"

"What would you know?" replied Freya. "You debase yourself every day with those clumsy children of yours. You take so much pride in them, but they're nothing. None of you are anything, really. Just toys playing at a game. At least my children understand that. At least mine know their place and have stopped struggling against it."

Loki's mouth twisted in disgust.

"You know, I really am curious about what goes on in that head of yours. What happened to you that twisted you so much? What kind of sick, perverted thoughts flit through your head?" Loki sighed. "But mostly, I wonder how much of that little serving girl was really an act."

Freya forced a smile. "Oh, I can assure you, none of it was real. Just another passing fancy."

Loki blinked. After all, deities always knew when someone was lying.

With the Princess:

In the fields of Folkvangr, the elves continued to dance. Ryuu was the shield, holding back the barrage of Hegni and Hedin. The Faerie Princess pushed herself past her limits with Riveria at her back. And it was the only thing keeping them alive.

Hegni was a demon whose skill rivalled anyone on the mortal plane. His blades moved with masterful purpose, not a celch out of place. It took everything Ryuu had to keep him at bay. And then there was Hedin. The former King, while not constantly in the throes of war anymore, had not stopped training once. His spell craft was as formidable as always. But the White Elf was not a storm or a raging fire. He was precise and cutthroat in battle.

Still, though, the one formerly known as Gale Wind struggled on.

"It is quite impressive," commented Hedin. "Your skill is well-known, but even more impressive is your overwhelming will. It is like the great trees of our people, unmovable and everlasting. I can see now why you caught the eye of our Goddess."

Hegni jumped forward, and Ryuu twisted on the grass. She took a glancing cut on her side and gasped for air.

"Surely you must know that this is pointless, right?" continued the White Elf, pushing up his spectacles. "Our Goddess demands it, and so it shall be. That is the destiny of this world."

In the background, Riveria continued to chant. She had moved positions many times, but a life of training and practice meant that her chant continued. Soon, she would pass the first stage of her attack magic.

"I know only one destiny," replied Ryuu. "And that is the one I will shape with my bare hands." She held Storm and Shadow in both hands, bringing the blades together. "My fate had been sealed, once upon a time, but not anymore."

For the sacrifices of her friends, Ryuu Leon would step forward. For a Familia lost, she would never give in to darkness. For the kindness of outcasts, she would always come home. For the Goddesses that took her in, their blessing would not be in vain. For a Familia found, she would protect them with her life. She would lift her blade one last time for the apprentice she saw as a sister. And for the boy…for the boy she would live. She would love.

Every part of her body ached. Her muscles burned, and she could feel blood frothing in her mouth. But the elf would smile for the boy who had reminded her what it meant to be alive. She saw it then, as bright as the day around her. Bell Cranel, running forward once again. And Ryuu felt joy in her heart.

"My name is Alf."

The first stage was complete.

With the Lovers:

Lefiya had no idea where she was going. Around her was a constant melee, with Freya and her allies locked in deadly combat with the rest of the city. And in her arms was her fiancée, unconscious from blood loss.

"You really need to stop doing this to me," proclaimed Lefiya to the unmoving body.

Thankfully, her level-five strength meant that his weight wasn't a problem. The unwieldiness of his body was another issue, though. And it was about to be made much more complicated.

"Look, it's a member of Loki Familia, the Thousand Elf!" screamed one adventurer. "And she's got that boy with her, Galileo from Hestia Familia!"

"Freya will surely reward us for their bodies!" screamed another.

Usually, even these adventurers wouldn't be an issue. Lefiya would just beat them off with her staff until she could cast a spell. After all, they couldn't have been higher than level three, and even that was a stretch. But she knew that if she put Elwin's body down for even a second, it would be gone. So, the elf kept running, hoping for the best.

Eventually, though, she was cornered. At the end of an alleyway, adventurers piled in after her. Lefiya cursed under her breath. She put Elwin's body down, resolving herself to fight. But as the adventurers continued to clamour towards her, something strange happened. Elwin's body shifted. It jolted upright, and soon, the half-elf was back on his feet. The only problem was that something seemed off to Lefiya. Elwin wasn't holding himself the way he usually did. Something was wrong in his stance. It was almost like he was….

"Miss Filvis?" asked Lefiya.

'Elwin' looked back, and Lefiya saw it then. The difference in how they looked at each other.

"Miss Filvis!" shouted Lefiya, heart full of joy.

"Hello, Lefiya," replied Filvis. She turned back towards the adventurers, flexing the different parts of her body. "It seems that when Elwin's mind falls unconscious, I can exercise my will and take over." She grimaced. "But I fear that I cannot push it too hard. Otherwise, I risk permanent damage."

Lefiya grinned. "Leave it to me! All I need you to do is keep Elwin safe! And this time, I will save you, Miss Filvis!"

With the relief of her treasured partner, Lefiya could finally start fighting back. While she was not terribly well-trained, she did have some moves of her own. Ais, Alicia, the twins, and others had ensured proper training, at least in the basics of self-defence. With many thwacks from her magic staff, Lefiya cleared a path out of the alleyway. Filvis followed behind with a dagger they had picked up from the ground. The duo carved their way out before starting to run down the avenues of Orario.

"Any idea where we're going?" asked Filvis.

"Miss Ryuu said we should return to the Hearthfire Mansion," replied Lefiya. "But it's pretty far from here, isn't it?"

Filvis stabbed an adventurer who got too close. "It is. We must cut our way through the park, try to lose some of these Freya Fanatics." As they tried to perform a follow-up action, their legs gave way. "Damn it, Elwin! Could you take care of your body better next time?"

"Miss Filvis! Please don't be too mean; it's been a very trying time!" replied Lefiya, punching an adventurer.

"I'll be as mean as I like," responded Filvis. "This imbecile is much too cavalier about fighting! What would we do if something happened to him?"

Lefiya smiled, happy to hear the kind and caring moments between them.

The duo continued fighting towards the Hearthfire Mansion, quick to take a moment to start cutting towards the park. When they did, though, something peculiar happened. A small band of adventurers they had never seen smiled and waved at them.

"Elwin, is that really you? Over here!"

Similar calls rang out to the two of them. Before the elves could process what was happening, the group had started running at them, weapons down. Lefiya was confused, but no one was more put off than Filvis. It was only when they got close to her, wrapping Elwin's body in their arms, that she started to put the pieces together.

This must have been the rest of Hecate Familia. And the dead elf didn't have the heart to try and explain the situation to them. So, she smiled and did her best Elwin impression. Thankfully, the others bought it for the moment. But then she heard something that made her heart drop.

"Your mother's waiting for you in the middle of the park! Come on, we'll take you to her!"

The two elves got dragged off by the others, who started slinging spells left and right in defence.

With the Family:

Meanwhile, finally finding their way out of the Daedalus District, Bell, Iris, and Ais find they are almost on a straight shot back to the mansion. Hestia rode on Bell's shoulders, shouting directions and warnings as they went.

"I'm sure Little Miss Supporter is doing her best, but there are a lot of enemies between here and there!" shouted Hestia. She looked towards Oario's newest arrival. "How long did you say it would be until Little Bro Poseidon got here?"

Iris looked up to the sky. "I'd say probably a couple more hours. It will be a while, no matter how you slice it, though."

"Do we have any idea who's been taken out and who's still standing?" asked the Goddess.

Bell shook his head. "We just have to hope that Mister Finn's plan is working and that all the executives are being occupied." He frowned. "Except for Ottar, that is. We know that he's not going to be far behind."

Hestia took a deep breath, in and out, through her nose. She remembered the letter that Loki had left for her. An in case of an emergency, last-ditch effort plan that might not do anything to help. But still, it could be just the push they needed to put them over the top.

"Alright, well, step one is still to get back home. Better to get back to Lili and reassess with her," replied Hestia. "Besides…somethings not sitting right with me. I don't know what it is, but I feel like something terrible has happened."

Bell felt himself unconsciously pick up the pace. He knew in his bones that Hestia was right. Something happened to his family, and he would get to the bottom of it.

With the Foreigners:

Tione and Tiona tried to gather their bearings in the ruins of the dragon's battlefield. In front of them stood three high-level fighters from the Far East, surrounded by a pile of bodies. While these fighters were nowhere close to the level of First-Class Adventurers, there was still something distinctly unsettling about how they held themselves. Each and every one of them was a killer with an instinct as deadly as anyone from Telskyura.

"What did you say your names were?" asked Tione for what felt like the hundredth time. "I can't help but feel like this is all a little suspect. I mean…I get it; these are your kids here." She gestured to the bodies of Urashima and Otohime. "But that's still an awfully long way to travel just for that."

The woman, Otohime's mother, held her sleeves up to her mouth as she giggled.

"I must apologize for the mystery, but my reasoning is only for me, my patron, Lady Amaterasu, and the leader of this city, Ouranos. When this awful fighting is over, and I have spoken with him, I will come and tell you personally." Tsuchiyaka tilted her head. "Does that work for you?"

Sasaki Kojiro was busy caring for Otohime, applying magic potions and other remedies to care for the young woman. Meanwhile, Kokina Taro held her son's head in her lap, stroking his hair. To Tione's eyes, there was a deep melancholy in the woman's gaze. She hadn't been there for her son in time, and now she wouldn't get to be there for a while yet. Whatever was wrong with him was beyond the knowledge of Kokina and possibly everyone else in the city.

"Any idea what's wrong with him?" asked Tiona, kneeling at her side.

Kokina shook her head.

Tsuchiyaka spoke for her instead. "I have to imagine that his mind is broken in two. After all, he broke through the direct charm of a Goddess. That was always going to do things to a person's psyche." She tapped her head in thought. "I've heard of similar cases but never of solutions."

Sasaki stroked his chin. "Well, it seems that his body is in no major danger. His wounds were superficial, and Kokina took care of them the moment she laid hands on him. Is it safe to say that no one here can do anything for him?"

Everyone nodded.

"Then, as unfortunate as it might be, we must put Urashima aside. I am more worried about Princess Otohime. Her wounds are substantial, and she is still suffering from Mind Down in case the rest of you hadn't noticed," said the swordsman.

"She's my daughter! Of course, I noticed!" replied Tsuchiyaka. "We'll have to get something together to transport her with." She looked at Tiona and Tione. "Do you two know the way back to the Hearthstone Mansion?"

The Amazon Twins nodded.

"Alright, you lead the way then."

Kokina gently cradled her son in her arms. Meanwhile, Sasaki and Tsuchiyaka did their best to create a stretcher for Otohime. The group set off soon after and was met with an almost eerie silence in their journey. The fighting throughout the city had concentrated itself now. It was all building to a fateful climax.

With the Dark Elf:

Hegni felt himself smiling, despite everything else he had witnessed. This was battle in its purest form, and for once, he was happy to see the fight. The Faerie Princess, who was once the Gale Wind, was a brilliant blade woman, easily in the top ten sword wielders. And then there was the Nine Hell's. Seeing her toss aside any façade of composure, going all out in battle, was a treat not likely to be seen again. Everything in this battle, moment to moment, it was something that they would write a song about.

The elves were fighting, and it might just risk ripping the city apart. Hegni felt his smile grow even more as the battle raged. Every time he deflected a strike from the faerie and every time that the high elf danced out of his range, he did not feel frustration. All he felt was joy. They were attacking with full strength, and he would answer in kind.

"Unleash, King of the magic sword. Compensation of reason, offering of fresh blood. Until the end of the banquet – slaughter. Dainsleif."

He revelled in their moment of fear. But when their eyes turned back to resolve, he was euphoric. These were enemies he could fight.

"Lady Riveria, watch out!" screamed Ryuu.

But it was too late; Hegni had already shot forward into the high elf's guard. His blade would pierce her flesh, and her royal blood would stain the grass. Her beautiful chant, which continued even now, would soon end. The battle would be cut short.

But then it happened. The elf's body shifted, her staff moved, and Hegni's stab was deflected. What should have been a debilitating, piercing blow that would have taken her out of the fight for good was instead a passing slash. It's still damaging but nowhere nearly as deadly.

The dark elf looked up at her, his blade already turning, and then he felt the disdain. The utter disgust that the high elf felt for him. It made his skin crawl, even with his old personality shed. The look in her eyes said it all. Who was he to attack an elf like her?

And then the high elf shouted, and her magic circle shifted to white.

"MY NAME IS ALF!"

The second level of the chant was finished, and the final act of this battle was about to begin.

With the Brother and Sister:

Bell shifted Hestia on his back. While shouting directions to get home, the little Goddess felt her eyes turning back to where Iris rang alongside her. The Goddess of the Hearth had spent much time shifting her gaze back and forth between the two of them. Bell noticed it but was still waiting to see what his Goddess would say in response.

"Iris…what do you know about…everything?" she eventually asked. "And I know this next question might seem harsh…but what do you want with my Bell?"

The party didn't stop moving; they couldn't afford to, but they all hesitated momentarily. Really, there was no harm to the question. But there was a veiled threat underneath. Maybe Hestia shouldn't have asked, but she knew she had to. Bell was too trusting, and the only proof they had that Iris was who she said she was was that she looked exactly like Bell. Lili and Syr were both examples of how looks didn't exactly matter.

"Well…I just wanted to meet him," replied Iris. "Ever since I saw that video from Mama and Papa…I don't know…I just wanted to find my family."

Bell looked over. "You saw the message, too? What did they say?"

"They told me to be myself," replied Iris. She looked at the ground. "That I shouldn't let other people push me around. And Mama told me about her illness. Gave me signs and symptoms to watch out for."

Again, Bell was almost brought up short.

"What do you mean her illness? Mama was sick?" he asked.

Iris vaulted over a cart in the road. The battle had already passed through this part of the city, but the signs of it were everywhere. And it only seemed to get more chaotic closer to the Hearthfire Mansion.

"Yeah… didn't you know about it? She was really sick. Poseidon told me that it was the thing that eventually…she didn't have enough strength," said Iris.

The running did not stop, but Ais felt herself drift towards Bell. She reached out to take Bell's hand, gently squeezing it. Hestia did her best to hug him in comfort. But Bell kept running forward. He understood that processing would have to come later. For now, he would have to compartmentalize these emotions.

"Do you still have the message Mama and Papa gave you?" he asked his sister.

Iris nodded. "Yeah, I bring it everywhere with me. Do you have yours?"

Bell smiled. "When this is all over, we're going to trade."

"Bet on it!"

The twins continued running, their footsteps moving in tandem through the street. Ais smiled at Bell, happy to see his strength and resolve.

"Oi! Wallenstein! Keep your eyes forward!" responded Hestia. "We need you to stay focused to fight Ottar!"

Hestia jumped midair, hopping onto Ais Wallenstein's shoulders.

The blonde swordswoman didn't know what to make of it, so she kept running. After all, these were the Deities, and they could act much worse than this.

With the Healer:

Heith could feel it. The palpable sense of dread that came with facing down a monster. That was what she felt, facing down Morgana Le Fay, Captain of Hecate Familia.

Vana Mardoll was an instant healer. There wasn't a wound of her own she couldn't heal. It was what granted her the title of Berserker by some. She could rush foes of any calibre and walk out unscathed. In that way, her healing ability could be considered more remarkable than the Dea Saint's. But now, she has finally met her match.

The glimmering blue continued to surround Morgana's body, and Heith was lucky that a strike even entered past its protection.

"I applaud you for your strength," said Morgana. "But you threaten my comrades, and they will not die under my protection."

Heith glowered. "Who are you to make such a bold claim?"

Morgana looked to the ground. "I am a sister without a brother. And in honour of his final moments, I will protect this world."

Then, the Queen of Barbarians was charging again. Heith barely had time to defend before all ten of Morgana's floating blades descended upon her. It was blow after blow at this moment. Cuts began to add, and as they continued to rain down, Heith came to a startling realization. Morgana would outlast her. Through sheer will and pure pig-headedness, this outsider from Orario was going to win. And that would not do. Heith began to disengage. As a healer, it was her job to stay back. It was her duty to watch the backs of her comrades. Without her, the assault on the Hearthfire Mansion would inevitably fail.

As the healer planned her escape, taking in the details of which alleyways would be best, she felt a sudden coldness in her stomach. She looked down to find a glowing blade jammed through her stomach. Looking up, she recoiled from the face of Morgana Le Fay.

"This was my brother's blade, and I failed him. I am sloth, and my sin will live on infamy," whispered the ebony-haired woman. "Know that you fall to the most honoured blade, Excalibur, the sword of the Pendragon Family."

Heith keeled over, a thousand curses on her lips. For she had failed her Goddess, and that now made her worthless.

With the White Elf:

As Riveria finished the second level of her chant, Hedin could feel a change in the air. He knew what was coming, and it had to be stopped. The danger that it posed was too great to attack with caution. The two kings were about to throw it all away. Anything to stop the Nine Hells.

The magic circle turned piercing white.

"The annihilation of the present times comes."

Ominous words carried on the breeze that drifted over the yard of Folkvangr. Dimly, the building pressure reminded Hedin of Ottar at his most terrible.

"Hegni, we have to attack!"

The dark elf, locked initially in combat with the Faerie Princess, disappeared. His form flickered before the High Elf, and his blade traced a downward arc.

"You cannot ignore me!"

And the Gale Wind was there, blades locked with his.

"The horns of war have blown, and my enemies gather."

Thankfully, that was what the White King wanted. Hildrsleif used the young elf's distraction to his advantage, putting his tremendous speed on the line. It was a basic strategy, but it was effective. And Leon's block had given him the information he needed. A spell like Vas Windheim couldn't be cast so easily. All that magic power required an equal amount of focus. Riveria Ljos Alf was stuck there, rooted to the spot. She couldn't move. She couldn't concurrently chant her most potent attack.

So, Hedin drew his blade as he flew forward. He would pierce her stomach and end this battle here and now. Then, after Hegni disposed of Ryuu Leon, the two would decisively change the tide in favour of Freya Familia. So deemed the Master Strategist.

"The chaos of the battlefield is upon me, a neverending storm."

But just as his body drew close, something pinged his peripheral vision. With a moment to spare, he moved. His body shifted instinctively as Hegni was almost knocked into him. Hedin shared a glance with his compatriot before looking towards the Faerie Princess. Both saw her manic grin.

"Once, when working with Asfi and Lord Hermes, I heard the God of Travellers describe Bell Cranel. The Joker…a card that cannot be calculated for." Ryuu lowered her blades. "Bell, Alise, Ardee…Jokers, the lot of you." She charged. "And I will join you!"

Ryuu Leon's skill transcended in that moment, fuelled by desperation, justice, and love. Her blades became an extension of her will in its purest form.

"Carnage will rein for evermore. Plunge the world into a void, puncture a hole into this mortal realm."

And all the while, Riveria's chant continued. Her voice was as steady as always, even as sweat dripped from her brow. With the time the Faerie Princess had given her, the Nine Hells would pay it back in kind. There would be no going halfway, even if it meant she would fall.

Hedin saw it in the eyes of the High Elf, even as he and Hegni duelled the elf before him. Riveria's eyes, once a piercing jade green, only held pity.

"You are the dread bringer and adjudicator of this body."

"We need to stop her fucking song!" shouted Hedin, all pretense of composure gone.

Hegni responded, with Dainsleif's skill in tow. He stepped further, and his sword carved a path. As Hedin watched his back, he smiled. Once, they had been enemies, but now…there was no one the white elf trusted more. The sight of Hegni's back told him what he needed to know.

His friend would not fail.

The dark elf traced a line through the air, and then Ryuu was coughing blood. With dark eyes full of killing intent, he slashed past her. Even as she blocked it, the power of it sent her reeling.

"As the world falls apart, you will pick up the pieces."

Hedin used the moment of distraction. He pushed off with his foot. His hair was unkempt, and his robes were speckled in blood. If he saw himself, he would curl his lip in disgust. But right now, he did not notice. All he could feel was a drive to win.

Hegni finally kicked Ryuu Leon away, sending her crashing through the gates of Folkvangr. The elf had fended them off for as long as she could, and no one could have done better than her. But the Princess's time in this battle was over.

"Cleansing avenger, who is the last to stand, give me your grace."

Both elves felt it then. The song was drawing to a close. It was now or never. With a mirrored roar, they thrust their blades forward. Both exploded out the elf's back as blood poured out her mouth. Her breath hitched, and for a moment, her magic circle dimmed.

"I am the herald."

And her song continued. Riveria looked back up and swallowed down her blood and bile. The chant was almost finished.

Hedin tried to pull his blade back. Hegni did the same. Both knew that with their speed, they could clear the blast range. Or, at the very least, they could split up. Riveria would only take out one of them.

"MY NAME."

Her hands latched onto their wrists.

"IS."

She squeezed hard enough to shatter bones. Both kings screamed in pain, but it was not heard.

"ALF!"

And then, in the moment between her breaths, there was peace. Hedin saw her look to the sky. And she was beautiful. Her hair billowed, and she smiled. He was so caught up in her grandeur that he almost missed the final words.

"Vas Windheim."

The world turned white for the kings.

As the sky lit up with a cleansing white, all looked towards its source. From the highest point of Babel Tower with the Goddesses to the Xenos crawling back into Knossos, all saw the ray of light that pierced the Heavens. Many thought it to be the marking of a deity departing this world. But three people smiled. A Goddess gave a smug grin. A pallum chuckled, sprawled out on the ground and recently conscious. And a dwarf gave a toothy grin while locked in combat.

But the rest of the city…was forced to watch. After all, this was a reminder. There could only be one mage called the strongest. One to rule as Queen in the Dungeon City. And she brooked no challengers.

The light dissipated after what felt like an age, and the world resumed its battle. But the landscape of the city was forever changed. The castle of Orario's strongest Familia no longer stood.

In the crater left behind, Riveria stood on shaky feet. Beneath her, forced to their knees, were the twin kings. Their skin was singed and charred, and their hair had been burnt clean off.

Folkvangr and the yard in which they had trained were no more. There was not a sign of existence. It was like their home had never existed.

"I almost gave up," whispered Riveria between pants. She leaned heavily on her staff, with all nine crystals shattered. "After all, I know many strong people. I have a daughter who would have avenged me and an apprentice who could have taken my place." She smiled. "But this old hag still has a bit of story left, don't you think?" She rubbed the blood from her eyes. "Now…what would that cheeky brother of mine say?"

She pondered momentarily before flashing a thumbs up at the kings, who could not hear her.

"Eat shit assholes! I'm the strongest there is!"

Riveria fell backwards, giving herself to sleep. And she did so with a smile.