"Lady Tamamo has been defeated...? I-Impossible..."
"It is the truth," Ilias said. "You should be rejoicing. With her gone, you are all free to do as you wish. You have no reason to fear her anymore."
"Don't you get it!? Of course, we hated having her as our leader. She was strict, tyrannical, even, but she was the only thing between us and the angels! Do you think we can stop the Daystar when she shows up here?" The kitsune pointed out.
"..."
Yano dropped to the ground, lightly sobbing into her hands. Multiple times during Tamamo No Mae's reign, a coup was proposed. But every time it was shot down for the exact reason. They needed her strength. Besides, every kitsune alive would have to work together to take her down, and such unity would be overly optimistic, to say the least.
"Look... It's not hopeless." The angel said, trying to comfort the monster. "Hmm... Why don't you all just go back to Hellgondo? It's the safest place you could be right now."
"As if. Saja would be outraged by Tamamo's death. I'm sure she would blame us for not defending her. Much less letting us live with her, I doubt she'd let us live at all." The seven-tailed kitsune said.
She's probably exaggerating. I doubt Saja would actually kill every kitsune... I think. Also, Tamamo isn't dead, but I don't see any reason to correct her.
"Then... what about Vrimor?"
"Vrimor... I guess we could go there. Saja would probably be too busy with the war to look for us..."
Haah... Here goes. Why did you have to give this job to me, Luka?
"And, if you want, some of you can come with us back to Gelon."
"Gelon...? Wasn't that the human city we destroyed only a month or two ago?"
"The very same," Ilias said. "Anyone of your kind that wouldn't mind living with humans can go there. But be warned: we won't accept troublemakers. If you seek refuge there, you will be following the rules."
Yano remained silent. Tamamo No Mae had been grooming her for leadership for a while now, but she wasn't quite prepared for the task just yet.
There have been very few eight-tailed kitsune in the past, and there are none still left alive. There are one or two seven-tailed kitsunes other than me, but I'm the only one who was being trained personally by Lady Tamamo.
So then, I'm more or less the new queen… It's all up to me.
…Then I'll let them choose. They can stay here and try to rebuild Yamatai yet again, or they can leave for either Vrimor or Gelon.
"It seems you've come to a decision," Ilias commented.
"I have... Now, tell me, little angel, what are you doing here? Why is someone of your race following a hero? He is not baptised, I'm sure of that. And earlier, when I was attempting to save my lord, you fought alongside that kitsune..."
Speaking of, she looked just like Natsumi No Mae. I've heard tales of her before, but she supposedly died a long time ago now. Is that really her?
Lady Tamamo said that Hero from earlier, Luka I think his name was, came from another world. Then, did that kitsune do the same? Is that Natsumi from another world?
...Or could it be Tamamo No Mae herself?
No. That would be ridiculous. Lady Tamamo would never be so weak, even if those traps she set were surprisingly effective. Still, she would never rely on that when she could use her own power!
"I have no reason to explain myself to you." The angel said haughtily. "And for the record, I'm not 'following' them; they're following me! They are my servants."
Yano sighed. "Typical angel..." She muttered. "Well. I suppose I'll have to ask around. The others can come to their own decisions."
"And you? What will you do now?" Ilias asked, a cold breeze racing over her, making her hair blow in the wind. She shivered. It was still night. Only a few hours had passed since they took care of the Golden Kitsune, and now only her underlings remained. Tamamo and the others were already dealing with the weaker ones, so it was up to Ilias to find the black-haired one who brought them to Tamamo in the first place.
"I will stay here. If Saja wants to have a word with me, I'll be waiting. I will answer for my crimes." The kitsune declared with a brave expression. Ilias knew that this was a façade. On the inside, the monster was terrified. Still, she had to give her props for not turning tails and running.
"Very well. Then, we'll be on our way." The small goddess said, leaving to return to her companions. Yano watched as she walked away, stepping over the wooden, slightly charred rubble.
They show up, kill our leader, and then just leave? Who do they think they are!?
Still, there's no point in fighting back and dying for it. Lady Tamamo is dead and there is nothing to be done about it. I just have to pray for mercy when Alipheese sees my failure.
Usually, it would be up to Hiruko or Kanon to punish me, but seeing as both of them were killed in Gelon...
Yano began to shiver, both from the cold and the idea of her potential future.
What will they do to me once they learn of my failure? They know all kinds of spells... I can't even imagine it...
No... I cannot be scared now. Dying at the hands of the Lord herself would be the most incredible honour there is!
"That's Tamamo No Mae?" Rinoa asked, looking at the kitsune with disdain.
"It is," Promestein said. "I found her in one of the fields. Those ropes were around her beforehand."
"And why is she still alive?" The Doppel kneeled down to the ancestor. Tamamo No Mae stared at her with eyes full of hate.
Hmph. She should be begging for her life right now... For all those people she killed... For Luna's parents...
Promestein grabbed Rinoa's wrist, holding it in place. The Doppel looked at her, as if asking her what she thought she was doing. The handle of the Sword of Heaven was halfway out of its sheath.
"We can't kill her," Promestein said. "Along with those words on her face, there were more on her hand. Look."
The angelic scientist presented the hand, showing the scribbles that could be seen. They were written hastily, but Tamamo's handwriting was recognizable.
'PS: Don't hurt her. She'll make for an excellent hostage.'
…
Damn. That's actually a good idea... If we can use her as a hostage against Alipheese, who is likely desperate after losing so many of her children, then we could have a lot of leverage on her. We would have to actually form a plan from there, but we can discuss that as soon as Luka and the others get back.
"I see," Rinoa said, putting the Sword of Heaven back. "Find somewhere dark and damp to throw her in; the worse, the better."
"..." Promestein remained silent, not liking this side of the Doppel. Rinoa sighed as she left the room.
She's really upset. Did she really want to kill her that badly? Well, at least she saw sense in the end.
The angel shrugged. She was never great with emotions, and the Doppel definitely did not want to talk to her right now.
She probably still holds a grudge against me, even if she said she dropped it. And I wouldn't know what to say anyway.
Promestein picked up the kitsune like she was a bag of potatoes, and a light one at that.
She's stuck in a child-like form with only three tails to her name. I bet she's seething right now.
Heh. Good.
Eventually, she made her way to the makeshift prison they were using in one of the villages. It was surprisingly empty, with only some petty thieves in the cells.
At a time like this, you would expect crime to increase by a large margin. Perhaps the presence of Rinoa and the King has calmed people down and let them see reason?
Probably not. Optimistic thinking like that is foolish. There are probably only fewer criminals because there's nothing left to steal.
And once we start running out of food entirely...
Well, we can only hope it lasts. Sabasa is confident, but I'm not so sure.
The red-haired girl walked past a few cells, with the guards letting her through. Some of them were monsters, a variety of different species, elves, kitsunes, and even some succubi. After the events of Gelon and the deaths of two ancestors, a non-insignificant number deserted the army. This, combined with the higher level of trust placed in them after the bravery they showed in Gelon, let them get more important roles.
This one should do. She's way too weak to break out now. All we have to worry about is her seducing one of the guards...
Well, I'll tell the King to make sure it's only women who guard her. Though, I suppose that wouldn't stop her from still trying. But it will probably be fine. And Rinoa will be sure to keep an eye on her regardless.
"Mmm!"
Tamamo No Mae struggled against her bindings, trying to escape. Promestein wasn't having any of it, but she did at least remove the gag first.
"Puh... Who are you, girl? Red hair, young... Are you a friend of that Hero?" She asked, looking up towards the kitsune.
The angel remained silent as she led the fox in, undoing her ropes carefully. A pair of guards was waiting by the door in case the kitsune tried to run away, and Promestein had enough power to fight her off on her own anyway.
Now, time to get back to work. Makina can be used for so many amazing things, and I've barely scratched the surface.
Tamamo No Mae began to panic as she looked at her surroundings. The cell was dark and small. The only light came from a torch too far down the hallway to see. Was this it? Would she never escape this prison, forced into confinement for the remainder of her life?
"W-wait, I do know you!" She shouted, suddenly realising who the angel was. Promestein turned towards her, now on the other side of the bars. The door shut with a loud bang, but Tamamo wasn't giving up just yet. "You're that angel! The one who gave humanity fire!"
"No way... You know about that?"
"Of course I do; every monster from that era knows that story. You're the one who turned against Ilias—the first angel to ever do it! You're Promestein, the giver of fire!" The Kitsune explained.
"Hmm... Well, it's nice to be recognised." Promestein commented.
"Tell me, why are you on his side now?" Tamamo asked, approaching the bars. "Really? The great Promestein, the one who turned against the Goddess of Creation herself, is now just playing assistant for some child?"
"That same child defeated you, did he not? And for the record, I follow him out of my own free will. He freed me from that cave, and he let me do as I wished here as long as it did not hurt others. Why would I go against him?"
"Is that all you care about? Your research? What about taking down Ilias? If you help me out of here, I can convince Alipheese to let you live after we eliminate all the other angels. You can research as much as you want. All you need to do is help me now. Hell, you can watch as we kill Ilias if you want. Why follow the Hero? You know as well as I that he is doomed. No matter how much power he obtains, his body cannot handle it. I've seen it for myself. He is weak, and he will die before this war is over."
"You are wrong. He is far stronger than you ever were. I'd rather die by his side than join a group filled with mass murderers like you. You do realize you're lucky to even be alive right now? Everyone here would be overjoyed to see your head on a spike. You're only alive thanks to your usefulness."
"That's..." Tamamo went silent. She tried to speak, but the words would not come to her.
"You truly are pathetic, Tamamo No Mae," Promestein said. "I hope you enjoy wallowing in misery here. I did that long ago. Over three thousand years I spent in that cave, if not more. I lost track of time after a while... I hope you will experience it too. Perhaps then you will finally learn a little humility."
Without another word, the angel left, leaving Tamamo alone. The two guards soon left as well, as they were due to be replaced by stronger monsters instead.
Now, to escape!
Using her mastery of earth, Tamamo punched the stone wall.
...What the hell?
But instead of collapsing as she expected, it stood strong, not even a dent appearing on it.
I just have to try again!
Again, no damage. She continued this, using all the power she had left to break the wall. But still, nothing happened.
H-how can this be... Even with only three tails, I should be able to break a measly little wall easily...
Unless... It's reinforced by magic...
Damn it... They are smarter than I thought.
The kitsune's heart sank as she realised just how desperate her situation truly was. She was now deep behind enemy territory, surrounded by well-trained opponents for miles around. Her cell was reinforced specifically for her, and she couldn't seem to access her pocket storage, possibly due to a seal. On top of all of that, she couldn't contact her sisters either.
This...
I'm alone here. Saja won't come; she probably doesn't even know I've been captured yet. Minagi is away crying in Remina, and the others are all either dead or too weak to help.
…
Lord Alipheese, my faith remains strong. I will not give in to despair, even now. I know that you will prevail over Ilias and that damn hero.
Otherwise, I'll be stuck in this cell forever, won't I? Just like what that angel went through.
Lord Alipheese, protect me...
"I've never seen anything like it," Morrigan said, her voice a low hush. "She's normally always smiling... but now..."
"I know." Astaroth agreed. "Ever since she heard the news of Micaela's death, she's done nothing but sulk in her room. Lilith, what do you think we should do?"
The eldest of the Lilith Sisters turned away from the others, her expression solemn. "I don't know. What can we do? She hasn't even taken any men while she's been here, and it's been two days already. This is clearly serious, but we can't even help her."
"There must be something we can do," Morrigan whispered, trying not to awaken her mother. They were currently just outside her room, all three of them waiting for her to leave. She ordered them not to disturb her, an order that they begrudgingly followed.
"I don't know. Perhaps it is best if we just wait." Lilith suggested. "For now, we must help Saja on the frontlines. If Ilias were to attack now, she would easily push our armies back. We must be there to stop that from happening. Speaking of, Kanade should be ready to fight again."
"Yeah... Tamamo should be back from Yamatai soon too. With three of our aunts and us on the front lines, we should be able to take San Ilia. From there, we can take over the rest of Sentora and then the Ilias continent. Then all that is left between us and Ilias is heaven." Astaroth explained.
"I agree. We should move out soon... But it would be a shame not to show the pleasure we can bring to the people here. Some extra energy for fighting would be nice too..." Lilith said, already licking her lips in anticipation.
"Heh, I wholeheartedly agree," Astaroth said. Morrigan also eagerly nodded, following her sisters as they walked down the hallway.
And there they go...
Minagi sighed, lying back in her bed. It was an absurdly large one, clearly not intended for only one person. Back in her glory days, she would have thirty, forty, even fifty men at once, and that was per hour... But now, for the first time since the hour of her creation, she did not want to have sex.
Micaela...
The seraph's death was not the reason. She did not miss Micaela herself, but rather the opportunity that was wasted. It could've been here that did it, not Tamamo. In truth, she was jealous.
But that's not really true, is it? I had feelings for her beyond just lust...
And now she is gone forever. I will never be able to taste her...
The Great Whore of Babylon wiped the tears from her face. She had already done enough crying. But even so, she couldn't move. She had no reason to. Not anymore.
Lord Alipheese... What should I do now? I'm lost...
…
Tamamo, that damn fox... I can still kill her... Perhaps that's what I should do from now on. I'll just have to be even more cunning and sly than she is. I'm sure I can take her down, little by little. And then, just when she is at her weakest, a freak accident will befall her... How unfortunate.
...But if anyone found out, they would report it straight to Lord Alipheese. She would take my head for such treachery.
Ugh! What do I do? Mother, help me...
Minagi rolled around in her extraordinarily comfortable bed. She had never felt like this before. Sadness was not a foreign concept to her, but this was far more than she had ever experienced.
I still have Morrigan, Astaroth, and Lilith to look out for... I can't just wallow in here forever, can I?
I'll join them tomorrow. It's dark... Some rest would be nice.
The succubus ancestor got comfy in her bed, trying to forget about everything for a while. She hoped her dreams would provide her some respite, but somehow she knew they would be of Micaela. It was like the world itself wanted to torture her.
Hah! What was that?
Minagi jumped in her bed when she felt something touch her foot. It was a slimy feeling.
W-What the hell is that!?
In the corner of her room, a pair of glowing red eyes stared at her. A wicked smile could be seen in the darkness. The ancestor caught a glimpse of the girl's hair, a vivid shade of blonde.
"Who are you!?" Minagi asked, standing up in her bed. "How dare you enter this room without permission!"
"Fufu... Relax, Minagi." The figure said. "Calm yourself. You wouldn't want to make any mistakes now, would you?"
The smiling figure walked out of the dark corner, revealing her full body through the candlelight. She was a young girl, though still a fair bit older than her voice suggested. She wore a long white dress, which covered her generously gifted chest. Two wings were protruding from her back, one angelic and one demonic.
What the hell...? What is a little girl doing in my room? And what's with that holy-dark theme she's got going on?
"Tell me who you are!" The ancestor demanded.
"My name is Alipheese the Eight, but most people know me as Black Alice." She explained, her smile still as radiant as ever. "And now that you know my name, I must deal with you."
"Alipheese the Eight...? Impossible. The Second hasn't had any children yet." Minagi said.
"You see, I was content with being only a spectator before. But then I saw you here, wallowing in despair, and I thought, 'You don't know what true misery is like.' You don't know the pain of losing a loved one. It annoyed me greatly to watch you cry about someone you barely knew. So, I decided I would show it to you." Black Alice explained.
"W-what are you talking about? T-this is pointless! You cannot hurt me, imposter! Only a real daughter of Alipheese can have her name. As punishment, I will bring your dried-up corpse to her!"
"I doubt it. Let's see how long you can even last in a battle with me... I can't wait to find out. Come then, oh great ancestor. Let us dance. Once I have beaten you, I'll be bringing you and those daughters of yours back home with me. You'll make for excellent toys... Oh, is that Kanade I detect as well? Only a clone of her... How disappointing. Well, I might as well bring her too!"
"Using Tamamo as a hostage… are you sure Alipheese will go along with it?" Ilias asked.
"I don't know," Luka admitted honestly. "You'd have to ask Tamamo."
"No way! She has all her power back now! What if she does something to me!"
"You're really scared of her, aren't you? Don't worry, Ilias. I said I'd protect you, did I not? And besides, I don't think Tamamo would do something like that."
"I've known her for far longer than you have. You have no idea what she's really like. I have no doubt that after all those years of war, she still holds some resentment for me." The angel explained, crossing her arms. "You're just an idiot who can't tell."
Sometimes, she acts just like Alice… The way she says idiot is so familiar too. Haah... I've gotten too used to hearing that word.
There wasn't a day that went by where Luka didn't think of his wife. He missed her more than he realized. And not just her, but his other friends—Granberia, Alma Elma, Erubetie… he had grown close to all of them over the years.
Nero and Neris too… I hope they're okay. Well, at least I have Tamamo with me.
Luka sighed, sitting down on the wet grass. It had rained in the morning, putting out any fire that had started in the ruins of Yamatai. They were far from Noah now. Getting to the Gold Region was surprisingly easy, even if it did take a full day of travel. They considered teleportation, but it could lead to them being detected by one of the ancestors. The sound of fur brushing against grass could be heard, causing the Hero to turn his head.
Tamamo hopped out of her fluff ball, taking a seat beside Luka on the grass. A flame flickered before them, keeping them warm in the cold winter air. Ilias was sitting across from them. A metal pot was hanging above the campfire, with the Hero already in the middle of cooking something for the group.
"So you think this hostage plan will work?" Luka asked as he stirred the pot, the smell of a rich stew emenating from it.
"Well, it won't end the war right away or anything, but it should give us leverage over Alipheese. Right now, they only have Minagi, Saja, Alipheese the Second and Kanade still able to fight, and I'm not so sure about the last one anymore. Still, they're pretty strong even with such a small number, stronger than Ilias is right now."
The goddess raised an eyebrow, confused by the last part of her statement. Then it hit her.
"No way... You think we should go for Ilias first, not Alipheese?" The angel asked.
"It's a far better plan than storming into the Monster Lord's Castle. With all our powers combined, and once Luka has the last spirit, taking down Ilias and Lucifina will be difficult, sure, but possible. Now, we would still have to deal with most of her army..." Tamamo explained, her hand rubbing her chin as though she were thinking.
"Though, most of them would be out fighting. Lucifina is likely still on the front lines, probably with a large portion of the army with her. The odds are clearly stacked against her. We have to wait until she's pushed back far enough for us to jump her. Then, we simply go for Ilias herself."
"Shush!" Ilias suddenly said. "What if she's listening!?"
"Oh please. Do you even know who you're talking to? I've been hiding conversations like those for millennia. I mean, I can only do it now thanks to my power returning, but still. It will be fine." Tamamo said.
"Hmph. As if a puny little ancestor like you could do something like that." The Goddess grumbled, her pride hurt.
"If Rinoa comes with us, taking down Ilias should be possible. Promestein and the others should probably stay back though." Luka suggested.
"When we head for Ilias, yes… But I'll need Promestein for Lucifna." Tamamo explained. "She is vital to my plan."
"And do you mind sharing this plan of yours?" Ilias asked. "If it's not too much trouble, I mean." She said sarcastically.
"Don't worry about it." The kitsune responded. "If I told you, I know you'd find some way to mess it up. Besides, what if Ilias visits you in a dream and uses magic to force you to tell her what you know? What then?"
And if I told Luka, I know you would pester him about it until her told you, and thats where the problem starts.
Besides, I don't he'll like the plan very much...
"That's… actually a good point." Ilias rescinded. "Still, I think we should all know."
It was always a habit of hers to keep her plans to herself. None of her sisters were privy to her schemes, not even Saja.
Tamamo shrugged. "Like I said, don't worry about it. My plans for the Daystar are flawless; just wait!"
Luka smiled as he saw the kitsune and angel talk to each other. Right now, there was no spite in their voices; none of their former grudges or hatred for each other could be seen. This is what he always wanted, and if people like Ilias and Tamamo could get along, even if they were not acting overly friendly, then anyone could become good, even someone as bad as Lucifna did eventually.
Daystar… my mother…
If it comes down to it… I'll have to kill her, won't I?
…
Father... What would you do? She was your wife after all... In times like these, I need someone like you to help me... You were a complicated person, and you didn't always do the right thing, but I want to know what you'd do.
...But he's dead, and he's not coming back. I need to move on. And more importantly, I can't end up like him. No matter what, I will get back to Nero and Neris, and Alice and the others. I won't leave them like my father did me. I can't repeat the mistakes of the past.
"Don't look so disheartened, Luka," Tamamo said. "I have faith in this plan. We can end this war soon. All that you've gone through... It will all be worth it now."
"Right..." The Hero muttered. He finished cooking the stew and handed out the portions in wooden bowls. Gnomaren, Undine, and Sylph all materialised, seemingly eager to also taste the food. Thankfully, Luka was prepared for this. Nuruko also appeared at this time; all of them now crowded around the fire.
Some small talk was made among the group. Undine asked about Ilias, as Sylph's explanation was poor at best, along with some questions about the Spirit of Chaos. Luka was glad to explain everything he knew, even if he wasn't much better than Sylph was when it came to explaining things. Ilias and Tamamo both helped to explain it too.
A long time had passed; the fire began to dim as the sky turned darker, and the stars began to appear in the night sky. The group had become smaller as Gnomaren and Nuruko went off to play in the grass. Sylph watched but didn't join in. Undine spoke with the Spirit of Wind for a while but quickly ran out of material.
Tamamo could be seen sitting on a rock, petting her fluffy tails, all nine of them. "You seem really happy to have them back," Luka commented, standing in front of her.
"It's great. Only having three tails was torture, even if I didn't show it. It would be like if you suddenly lost an arm." She explained, offering a tail to the Hero. "Don't you want to admire them as well?"
"I'm good." He said, pushing the tail away. Even that brief contact felt great, but he quickly brushed it off. "Hmm... This reminds me of when we first met, you know? Back in that cave..."
"Oh right. I remember that. You were such an idiot back then. Really, how did it take you that long to find out that Alice was the Monster Lord? I bet she made it obvious for you and you still didn't catch on." The kitsune mused.
"She did..." Luka admitted. "That was so long ago now..."
"It was only what, eight years ago?" Tamamo pointed out. "That's not even a single percent of my life so far."
"Wait, what age are you, Tamamo? I never asked."
"Didn't your mother teach you to never ask a lady her age?" She asked. "Though Lucifina's lessons were probably more on the sword side..."
"I was too young fort that back then. She died before I was old enough for her to teach me anything like that. Anyway, I'm curious now. If I had to guess your age... one thousand years old?"
"Hah! Do you think I was born during the Great Monster Wars? Terrible guess, try again." She said with a smug smile.
Luka was a little annoyed at her comments but did his best to ignore them. "Alright then... Two thousand years old?"
"Closer..." She muttered. "Even if you get it right, I won't tell you. But I will give you this: I am over two thousand years old, but that's all you're getting out of me!"
"Two thousand years... That's a really, really long time." Luka said.
"Are you trying to call me old?" She asked, not amused. "I'll have you know I'm still a young woman at heart! I mean, I'm only a toddler compared to how old your mother was!"
"That's right. Millions of years... I can't even imagine living that long."
"Well, you won't have to." She pointed out. "Even with your diluted blood, you'll at least live for half as long as she did. To be honest, I don't even know if Lucifina had a lifespan. She never really got older... I believe the same will happen with you." Tamamo explained. "At the minimum, even if you only live a single percentage as long as she did, that's still tens of thousands of years."
Luka tilted his head, as though he didn't fully believe it. "Well, I guess we'll just have to see what happens. Besides, even if I did live that long, I promised Alice that we would leave this world together. When she goes, I'll go."
"..." Tamamo remained silent. She admired the Hero for his honour in keeping the promise, but a part of her didn't want it to happen at all. She didn't want him to let himself die just because his wife would eventually.
But that's me just being selfish. This is what he wants. It's not my place to interfere.
...For hundreds of years, I've watched everyone around me die from old age while I didn't even age a little...
I thought Luka would be the one to stick with me, the only one with a lifespan comparable to mine.
Well, I guess it's just me and you then, Micaela. In another thousand years, we might be the only ones left from this era.
I need to stop thinking like that. It makes me too sad.
"Don't worry, Tamamo." The Hero said, noticing her sullen expression. "When I die, I'll just enter the cycle of reincarnation. I'm sure we'll meet again."
"...Thanks, Luka." The Kitsune murmured. "I'm going to go to sleep. Good night."
Luka nodded, watching as the kitsune rolled up in a ball to sleep. He sighed.
Death is the only thing none of us can avoid. We will all die one day. I accepted that long ago. But for someone like Tamamo, death isn't even assured. I can't even imagine how she might feel about all of this.
Am I being selfish? Is it wrong for me to stop living just because Alice is gone? Should I stay alive and continue to protect the world even after she's gone?
I don't know anymore... This is all so complicated.
"What are you doing, just standing around like that?" Ilias asked, walking over to the Hero. At this point, the fire had already been extinguished. It was time for them all to get some well-deserved sleep. Salamander's Volcano was not far now. "Help me put the tent up!"
Help you? But I'm always left doing it all by myself while you watch.
Luka sighed as he got to work. Just as he predicted, Ilias didn't help at all.
What has become of us? We used to be an unstoppable force, one that could destroy anything in our path. Now look at us.
Saja looked around at the sorry state of her army. The number of her soldiers had dropped by an unbelievable amount—more than half at this point.
We were close. One seraph—that's all we had to kill. Then Alipheese's continued reign would be assured.
Treachery and incompetence. None of my sisters did as they were told. Hiruko got herself killed. Kanon died yet again. Minagi is away, sulking in Remina. Kanade is running on fumes, and Tamamo is still not back from Yamatai yet. We need those reinforcements. What could be taking so long?
Haah... As always, it's all up to me. In the end, everything falls to me. I'm the only one of us who can actually do the jobs we were given...
Saja slithered along the grass, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of strategy. That was one advantage she knew she still held. With Micaela dead and rotting, the angels lost their centrepiece. There was no one to lead the army anymore.
Or that's how it should be. The Daystar has the intelligence of a pebble, so I doubt she's leading the army. Ilias holds all the strings, and Lucifina is little more than a puppet.
...And perhaps I am not so different.
"My lord! I bring news from the front lines!" An elf said, running up to the ancestor, almost out of breath.
"Go on."
"Hundreds of monsters have begun to retreat, meaning that we've lost our hold on the border! The angels are now almost a third of the way through this region!"
"Impossible. We had half a legion down there... How long until they reach us?" Saja asked.
This must be Lucifina's doing. She is insane for attacking us instead of holding the defence in San Ilia.
Well, it is not an issue. Tamamo will be back soon, and then we can push them right back to their city.
...She will be here in time, won't she? It's been a full day now.
"A few minutes at most, my lord." The monster admitted, sweat running down her brow. "They have made staggering progress. They seem to be led by the Daystar, along with most of her army."
A final, desperate push from the angels. Pathetic. We will destroy them here and now, once and for all.
Still, we're not far from Yamatai. They really did get here quickly. As Mother said, the Daystar is not to be underestimated.
And on top of that, we also have to deal with that Hero. The murder of Kanon has yet to be repaid. Speaking of, we never found that Scylla...
Never mind; that is irrelevant now. I must prepare the defences.
"Heal any of our wounded. Bring all those who can still fight to the front line. Give every ranged weapon we have to the succubi and harpies. For anyone who can't fly, tell them to follow me. Today, the Daystar dies."
She has overplayed her hand. I fought her just outside of San Ilia, and that wasn't long ago. She shouldn't have enough energy to do all of this.
The elf nodded, sprinting off to do as the ancestor commanded. Saja left the area, moving towards another group of monsters.
"Alice." She called out calmly. "Be ready to fight. The Daystar approaches."
Alipheese the Second looked up at Saja. "Lucifina..?" She muttered. She had fought the Seraph already, and the fear she felt in the battle still ran through her.
"...It is okay to be scared." The ancestor said, sitting down next to the monster. "In my first battle against the angels, I nearly slithered away in fear. The Daystar was quite the terrifying opponent, especially since it was my first-ever battle."
And my sisters have never forgotten it. Tamamo still loves to bring it up every now and then... Damn fox.
"Being afraid is not something to be ashamed of. But you must have the power to push through it and keep moving. That is all we can do." Saja said, using one of her wings to pull the Lamia close. "Besides, I won't let that angel lay a finger on you."
Suddenly, screams could be heard in the distance. Saja sighed.
"It is time." She murmured. "Come, Alice. Let us fight together." She offered the girl a wing, which she gladly took. The Second followed along closely as they went straight to the centre of the battle. Along the way, monsters could be seen in a panic.
"It's the Daystar!" One shouted. "She's come here to kill us all!"
The Second's heart began to beat faster as she watched the scene unfold. Before her very eyes, a dozen monsters took their own lives in fear. Saja had told her of this before, saying that it was a common occurrence.
This is... horrible. This is normal for her?
"There she is." Saja pointed towards a bright light in the sky. "Let us take flight."
The ancestor used her wings to bring her high into the sky. The Second soon followed, using the wings at her waist to do the same. She followed along closely, soaring in the air beside her mentor.
The Daystar made no attempt to conceal herself. Her location was as clear as day. Her body was stained with the blood of a thousand monsters, though her sword was surprisingly clean. The only thing Saja could see was a small amount of slime sticking to the end of it.
That colour... It must be Kanade's.
She always kept her true body in her spring, deep inside where few would dare to venture. How did Lucifina know she would be there...? Is this Ilias's doing?
It doesn't matter. She still has clones of herself in other places.
"I am surprised," Saja admitted, flying in front of the seraph. "I did not expect you to go on the offence."
"By the end of this war, every single one of your kind will be dead, rotting in the ground. But first, I'll get you to tell me who killed Micaela. Was it you, I wonder?" Lucifina said, brandishing her sword. She pointed it towards the ancestor. "Once I have found it out, I'll cut you in two. Your snake half and human half will be separate at last, as they always should've been."
"Hmph. I see... Not in the mood to answer my questions today, are you?"
The fight began with Saja launching a barrage of spells at the seraph. The Second assisted in this, doing just as the ancestor had taught her. Still, Lucifina showed no fear. She took the spells without so much as a whimper.
"I call forth a storm of flames, a whirlpool of fire. Omega Blaze!" Saja shouted. A massive swath of flames came from her hands, all of them crashing into the Seraph. Lucifina did defend herself this time, cutting through them like silk.
"I'm not done yet! Frost Ozma!"
Another spell, another thing for the Daystar to deal with. The ice had little effect on her, not even slowing her down. Saja, seeing this, decided to go for a more physical approach. Using her tail, she attempted to bind the all-too-fast angel.
"Rakshasa..." The seraph muttered. Her mastery of the blade was clear as she cut into Saja's flesh.
"Saja!" The other monster shouted. The ancestor grimaced as the pain coursed through her.
"Alice, it's time! Use the spell your mother showed you!" She shouted, trying to dislodge the sword from her tail.
"R-right!" Alice hastily prepared the spell. This was the first time she would ever try it in actual combat. She was nervous, but this was an emergency. She would just have to do her best.
I have to protect Saja!
"This is the power of a Monster Lord!" She shouted. Darkness began to shoot out of her palms, quickly slicing into the Seraph's skin.
But after a moment, they no longer hurt her. A blue light surrounded her body.
"I am the Star of Morning, the child of dawn." She whispered, her voice lost in the howling wind. "The star thrown to the Earth shall obtain victory..."
Alice!
In a burst of speed, Saja flew in front of the Second, using her own body to take the attack. The comet burned her, grounding the ancestor.
So strong! H-how does she still have so much power left!?
Lucifina did not waste the opportunity. She caught up to the monster, raising her sword high above her head.
"Flash Kill..." She said softly. Her sword flashed so fast that it was invisible to the naked eye. Saja, however, saw it coming. A barrier of darkness appeared to defend her, stopping the attack.
She hasn't wavered at all. At this rate, she might actually beat me. On top of that, she brought so many angels with her...
What do we do? If the Second and I fight together, if we sacrifice all those on the ground, we might just about be able to kill her.
...But the army would be in ruins. Hundreds, no, thousands, would die at my command. Is it worth letting all of those die just to kill the Daystar?
...
Saja dodged an attack from the Seraph, which seemed to only be coming quicker and quicker. She was given little time to think. The Second was firing as many spells as she could at the angel, but she was limited in her power.
Alice, we must retreat. Tell the others. The army will go to Vrimor.
B-but then we'll lose all of Noah! All those deaths will have been for nothing.
No. Micaela and Eden are dead. We must bide our time, rebuild our army, and increase our numbers and strength. Then, we can attack once more. But for now, we must flee.
The Second was confused by the command. Saja was no coward. Fleeing now would be the ultimate disgrace.
But she did as she was told. Lucifina was not content with letting them run, however. She chased the pair down as they flew to the ground. The fight continued for a while. But soon enough, the monsters began teleporting away. Those who were too weak to cast the spell were quickly cleaned up by the angels.
The Daystar looked at the ruins of the battle. All in all, a few hundred of her angels had died. The same could be said for the monsters.
Their deaths mean nothing. Ilias can always make more, after all.
You are a fool if you think I will let you run, Saja. I will chase you to the ends of the Earth to avenge Micaela. Mark my words, the last thing you see will be my blade.
"Ugh... so warm," Ilias complained, wiping the sweat from her brow. As expected of a volcano, the inside was unbearably hot. Tamamo looked like she was about to faint from the heat, her fur only making the issue worse. Thankfully, she had developed spells to cool her down long ago.
Nuruko was on the Hero's back, wrapped around his head. The weight made it hard to walk, but Luka didn't mind. "I know." He muttered.
How does Salamander actually enjoy this? Well, she is the Spirit of Fire I suppose.
Heh, that reminds me of that time she went swimming in the lava here. She invited Undine to join her. Needless to say, she refused.
"Salamander is further inside. Let's get moving." The Hero said, leading the group inside. Pools of lava could be seen inside, with some monsters playing in them. Others could be seen walking around on the rock platforms, and some passed by the group without so much as a word.
"Hey, why aren't they attacking me?" Luka asked. "I mean, I'm not complaining or anything; it's just weird."
"Hmm... Perhaps they think you're already taken." Tamamo suggested. "I mean, you do have a Scylla riding you."
"Don't phrase it like that!" Luka said. Tamamo swore she saw his face turn a deep shade of red, but the sheer heat of the volcano made it hard to tell if it was from embarrassment or warmth.
The kitsune got a small laugh from that. Ilias raised an eyebrow as she saw how well they were getting along. She had never seen Tamamo laugh before—well, not like that, at least. She had certainly seen her laugh when she was in the middle of harvesting energy from unwilling participants.
"So, what else did Micaela teach you?" Ilias asked, trying to focus her attention away from the heat. Luka looked down at the angel, even though she wasn't actually that much shorter than he was. "I mean, that move you used on Tamamo No Mae, did she teach you that too?"
"She said it was possible. The moves are compatible, but only with someone who has access to both skills. As for other things she taught me... some holy spells here and there, but I was already really busy elsewhere and didn't have much time to attend her lessons." Luka explained.
"Good grief... I guess I'll have to teach you some actually useful spells then. We can start with the pocket storage spell, then levitation, then... Hmm..." Ilias suddenly stopped talking, thinking to herself. "I mean... You do technically have access to my skills too. Perhaps with time, you could even replicate them..."
"Wait, we're related?" Luka asked. "I thought you made Lucifina and Micaela through magic?"
Does that mean Ilias is my grandmother?
"What, no! Of course not! I'm just saying that you should, in theory, be able to learn some of my skills. You don't need to share my blood to do that, idiot!"
"Geez, sorry..." Luka said.
Good thing I didn't call her grandmother. I can only imagine what she might've done.
"There she is," Tamamo said, pointing to a figure in the distance. Luka and the others quickly approached her. Salamander had already detected them earlier but made no effort to welcome them in. She was sitting on the ground cross-legged by the time they got there.
"What do you want?" She asked calmly. Luka could already tell by the tone of her voice that she was unamused by his presence. Tamamo and Ilias chose to back off, seeing that there was no place for them in this conversation. "Here to beg for me to join you?"
The Hero sighed. "More or less." He admitted.
"No." She said. "I refuse. We begged you, Luka. Begged you to take revenge against Lucifina, to kill that vile angel bitch once and for all, and you did nothing. Hell, you didn't even give it a second thought!"
Luka looked down in shame. "I'm sorry, but–"
"Sorry is going to cut it. I don't care if you've convinced the others to join you; I won't. Gnome is dead, and I blame you." Salamander said sternly. "If you didn't intervene in this world, if you didn't come here and mess things up, then she would still be alive."
T-that's true...
Gnome died, and it was my fault. I caused all of this to happen.
"That's not true," Sylph said, materialising in front of the Hero. She was back in her fairy form, a solemn expression crossing her face. "You did what you thought was right. You didn't choose to be pulled from your life in your world and sent here. How were you supposed to know Ilias would come up with such an insane plan?"
"Hm. So, you're defending him now, are you?" Salamander grumbled. "Do you want Gnome's death to be for nothing?"
"It wasn't for nothing. It led to the deaths of some of the vilest people ever born. Miceala, Hiruko, Kanon..." Undine pointed out, appearing before the Spirit of Fire. "Salamander... It is time for us to take a stand in this war. We cannot be mere spectators forever. Besides, I'm sure you'll get bored sitting around here doing nothing all day."
"As if." The spirit's frown deepened as they spoke. "What is it with you two? Do you not care at all about what she did to us?"
"Of course we do," Undine said, annoyed by the spirit's arrogance. "I want her dead just as much as you do, but I'm able to see the bigger picture. Luka was powerless; Sylph had already explained everything. Maybe if you would stop being so stubborn and just listen for once..."
"..." Salamander was about to retaliate but stopped when she thought about it further.
"The wind told me everything," Sylph said. "Luka had no choice. If he went along with our plan, he would've died."
"T-that can't be true... Can it?"
Undine smiled. "Well, your plan was pretty terrible, if I'm being honest..."
"What was that!?" The Spirit of Fire asked, standing up. "Say that again, I dare you!" Luka had a small smile as he watched the two bicker, as they had always done.
It's nice to see them getting along again, even if it's not in the healthiest way. Though, I guess Salamander and Undine were always like that.
After a few minutes of further explanation, all of Salamander's questions were answered. She just had one thing left to ask.
"If I do join you, Luka, do you promise to rid this world of the Daystar?" She asked seriously.
Luka said nothing. He sighed. But before he could respond, Sylph spoke up. "That's a terrible thing to ask." She said. "You want him to kill his own mother?"
"B-but she killed Gnome!" Salamander pointed out.
"I'm not saying she doesn't deserve to die. But you can't expect him to do it." Sylph explained. "I didn't know you were so insensitive... I mean, just look at Luka."
Salamander turned towards the Hero. He was looking down at the ground with a worried expression on his face. Clearly, this was something he had thought about a lot.
I want Lucifina dead more than anything... But Sylph is right. It's terrible of me to ask him to do it.
"I-I'm sorry." She said, ashamed of herself.
"It's fine." Luka sighed. "Anyway, does that mean you'll come back with us?"
"...I guess."
Sylph's smile grew wide as she heard the words. There was nothing that could stop her now. Salamander knew it was coming but still did nothing to stop it.
The Spirit of Fire was tackled to the ground by the now-larger fairy. The hug lasted for a minute, embarrassing Salamander more than she'd like to admit. She rolled her eyes, eventually returning the embrace.
Undine smiled as she watched the two separate. Though she would never say it out loud, she really did miss the Spirit of Fire.
And now we are all back together.
Except for you, Gnome... But don't worry. Your death had meaning. That's more than I can say for most people...
After some more small talk, Salamander approached Luka. As he had done three times before now, he contracted with the Spirit of Fire. The power flowed through him, and at last, he felt complete. Now, nothing could stop him.