3rd Autumn Moon, 908 – Morning After…

With the death of Commander Manlius, his forces were left to carry on his will and finish the battle to their own demises. However, in face of the overwhelming powerhouse that was the black knight, the soldiers realized the west's insane determination and maddening display of willpower. As such, though a difficult statement to make, they surrendered themselves in order to spare further causalities.

Through the night until the beginnings of sunrise, the western alliance rounded up every last soldier and held them prisoner on the ruined battlefield. Supplies were collected from what remained of their campsite. The Verde knights were assigned to keep watch of the soldiers while the rest went about collecting bodies of both foe and friend.

It was a harrowing night for both sides, but many could breathe easy that the worst was over.

The alliance's camp was moved closer to the battlefield to tend to the wounded easier. Some were lucky to get off with minor scrapes while others were likely in dire need of on-field surgery. Fortunately, once he recovered from his migraine, Fulbertus would offer to work with long-distance teleporters to bring the wounded back to the Wick Kingdom for proper examination.

Aside from that, the frontline fighters who faced Commander Manlius were recovering apace despite their injuries. Among them, Nathaniel and Rikmai were the luckiest, the former barely sustaining direct injury and the latter getting by thanks to her malleable form reducing the worst of the damage. She did have to wear a bandage around the right side of her face to hide the bruising.

Jakke got roughed up bad in the Earthquakes, and Linota nursed her face with an icepack. She looked more bruised up than Rikmai. Lionel got out of it with a broken hindleg after being tossed around.

Jael's remains were eventually discovered amongst the rubble and recovered. Everything was prepared to be returned to his family for a proper burial, as well as all the other knights who died in battle.

Matthias, Noel, and Darby were lucky to be alive with how much abuse they took, especially Matthias. He was covered in scorch marks produced by his own flames, which irritated his skin. His muscles were nearly torn from how much he overexerted himself, and he was nearly dehydrated from evaporating what little sweat he was producing during the entire exchange. He had to be bandaged up head-to-toe, almost mummified.

Despite the medical officer's orders, Matthias hobbled out of his campsite and gazed upon the captured soldiers seated and tied down with knights training their rifles on anyone who made any sudden movements. It was almost too good to be true, seeing how much closer they've gotten to ending the war.

Though, perhaps that was just optimism talking. The war will never truly be over until the west collapses New Chariot, otherwise this will all happen again.

Matthias inspected his bandaged arm, gently caressing it and feeling the self-inflicted burns done to him. His skin felt as if his individual hairs were made of needles, pricking and prodding at his sensitive skin. He had never pushed his flames so hard before. His father always told him that the true extent of their clan's power was drawn out only by the worthiest of foes. The power to achieve flames that could burn a false god to ash. That was their duty as executioners of the night.

How much further could he push those flames?

"I almost feel…relieved." Matthias looked up to see Nathaniel joining his side. He chuckled softly. "I know we shouldn't be letting our guard down, but I never expected to get this far. Seems the east underestimated us."

"…" Matthias sighed. "Don't get cocky. We've made our push, but the damage is done. What we've been warned about remains true: New Chariot vastly outnumbers us, and their main objective was to weaken our forces. For now, our only victory was removing their troublesome commander from the fight and securing his remaining forces."

Nathaniel glanced ahead at the captured party. "So, what do we do with them? Hold them hostage?"

"I doubt the emperor didn't expect an outcome, especially if his men are willing to die in battle."

"Well, you've certainly put the fear of Arceus back into them."

"Calling me a champion of Arceus seems like an insult." Matthias shook his head. "We can't let them know the extent of my injuries. Let them continue to believe I could incinerate all of them with as much ease as last night's brawl."

"So, that's why you're refusing to stay in bed."

"Hmm." Matthias stood up, nearly staggering under his weak knees, and sighed. "You've done well last night, Nathaniel. You made sure to keep everyone alive during our battle."

Nathaniel frowned. "I couldn't save Jael, and I could've saved a lot more had I been fighting alongside the others."

"Taking out their commander took priority. We would've lost our heavy hitters had it not been for you." Matthias closed his eyes and sighed contently. "You're still young. Full of spirit. The truest essence of a knight."

Nathaniel clanged his fist over his heart. "It's an honor to fight for the Verde Kingdom, Sir Matthias!"

"Hmm. Perhaps you even have a future as the head captain of the Verde Knighthood."

Nathaniel's eyes widened. "R-Really?"

"That awaits to be seen."

"Th-Thank you, Sir Matthias! I promise to live up to your expectations!"

Matthias closed his eyes and smirked softly. "Don't get a big head over it, Nathaniel. I haven't said anything official."

With Darby recovering apace from last night's battle, he made his way to the prisoners and gazed upon them with the usual darkness that seemed to follow him these days. He pulled aside a soldier and had him seated before him under the supervision of a couple Wick knights. They seemed exhausted from last night, but managed to keep a steady aim with their rifles.

Darby sneered at the Noctowl soldier, the one who heralded for their surrender. "We can do this the easy way, or my way. The choice you make decides whether or not the rest of New Chariot doesn't burn in our counterattack."

"…" The soldier kept his head down.

"You're going to tell us everything you know, starting with the best possible way to invade the capital. Play your cards right, and the only casualty that follows will be your emperor."

"Fool," the soldier whispered.

Darby raised his brow. "I'm sorry, I don't think I heard you correctly." He reached for his sword. "Care to repeat?"

"You stood no chance against Commander Manlius. It was the black knight who vanquished him, not you." The Noctowl lifted his gaze and scoffed. "What Emperor Nero lacks in Manlius' mighty endurance, he makes up for with impeccable battle prowess. You wouldn't get the chance to land a hit before he ends your sorry existence."

"My, my, what bold words from someone on the chopping block." Darby grabbed the owl's plumage and pulled him to eye level. "We could do so much worse to your precious empire if you don't comply. All we're asking for is a way to invade the capital with the least casualties possible. Consider this our one and only act of mercy after everything you've done to the west."

"I do not fear you, First Son of Tetrarch."

Darby smirked. "You have no idea the power that awaits me. You're standing before the king of Virdis, and I shall correct the blight upon this region with my own two wings."

"…"

"Perhaps you'll be more cooperative if we start executing your brothers-in-arms one-by-one."

"We do not fear death. Your tactics are wasted."

Darby groaned. "We'll see about that—"

"Do not tempt fate, Darby. You are slipping from formality." Darby glanced over his shoulder as Erasmus sauntered up behind him, an air of coolness present as ever around the Glameow prince. "Carry yourself with decorum."

He chuckled and let go of the prisoner. "My sincerest apologies, my friend. I have acted most rudely." He sheathed his partially exposed sword and approached his friend. "But I naturally have someone like you by my side to reel in my inadequate behaviors."

"…" Erasmus looked around. "I have noticed your knights have taken a bigger hit last night. They appear more sluggish than the Senbo and Verde."

Darby sighed. "A troubling web of fate, it would seem. Indeed, they found themselves in the throes of combat, valiantly defending the frontlines while being aided by our esteemed allies. Still, do not fear our condition, my friend. We will bounce back in time."

"Indeed. And what of you?"

"Still aching from the battle, but it will take more than that to fell me. I am always prepared for the enemy."

"Indeed. You certainly are." Erasmus closed his eyes. "Naturally, you always have me to watch your back."

"That is why you are my friend, Erasmus. I can always rely on you for support. We are stronger together. We could achieve so much. It is natural that two astounding geniuses like us aspire for greatness. Perhaps the subjugation of the New Chariot Empire would be a fresh start." Darby hooked his wing around the cat. "Picture this: how does the Dark Kingdom sound to you?"

"Are you trying to sound like an evil dictator from a storybook?"

"It is a work in progress." Darby grinned. "But my dear friend, we could do so much good for the heathens of the east. They dare trample upon our land for gain and glory, but we will retaliate with kindness. We show them a proper demonstration of leadership. Why, with our combined charismatic charms, we will have them eating out of our wings…or paws, in your case."

Erasmus narrowed his eyes. "I do not seek to obtain power for the sake of glory, Darby." His gaze turned up, spotting Serell fluttering above them with his halberd in hand. He sighed. "Even so, some good will be done to remove the problematic elements of Virdis. You have my support in that."

"Aha, excellent!" Darby pointed toward the distant plains of New Chariot. "Soon, we will quell this foolish war and bring about peace to the land. How exciting!"

"Yes. Exciting." Erasmus unsheathed his claws and gently scratched under his chin. "You truly are an ambitious comrade, Darby. You bring…so many surprises with your endeavors."

"Heh. Do I? I am glad you appreciate my contributions."

"Yes. In fact, with our precious friendship growing even stronger, there is something I have been meaning to tell you as of late. Something of a secret I have been keeping to myself."

Darby grinned. "You are free to tell me anything, my friend. What good word do you bring of our unbreakable bond?"

"I hate you."

"…" The Prinplup blinked twice, then laughed with an uneasy uncertainty. "Uh, terribly sorry, it seems I am not as lively as I thought. Could you repeat…that?" His eyes widened as the lone Wick knight watching over the interrogation suddenly collapsed, his helmet hissing with smoke. Darby gasped and spun around. "Erasmus, what hap—"

SHING!

"I said…"

Darby's gaze trembled down the length of Erasmus' foreleg, his empowered claws extending from his paw and digging through the left side of his chest.

Straight through the heart.

"I hate you."

Matthias and Nathaniel jolted up as a fireball suddenly screeched through the sky and exploded, alerting all knights to its presence. Matthias glared. "What the—"

"Matthias, look!"

At Nathaniel's alarm, Matthias spun around and saw the Senbo knights suddenly jumping and pinning the Wick knights to the ground. Too startled and injured to react, the Wick Kingdom's half of the army found themselves being ganged up on and forced into shackles.

"What the—" Sir Solon of the Wick Kingdom attempted to fight back, but Sir Trapper blasted the Crawdaunt with a glob of webbing, taking him and another chunk of the Wick knights to the ground. "Hey!"

Matthias growled and reached for his sword. "What the hell's going on—" Before he could lunge in, an axe struck down and blocked him. He gasped as Noel stood in his way, her dark glare fixed on the betrayal. "Lady Freia!"

"I advise you not intervene, Sir Matthias. None of them will be harmed. Prince Talbot just needs to make sure no one interferes with this."

"Interfere with…what?!"

"HEY!" Matthias looked ahead as commotion sounded from one of the medical tents. "Get your hands off—HAH!" Fulbertus teleported above the medical tent, massaging his bandaged head. "What is going on here?! Are you all mad?!"

Lionel burst out from another tent, shaking off a handful of knights trying to shackle his legs. "Unhand me, you treacherous scum!" He used Extreme Speed and rushed off before more knights could group up on him.

Nathaniel's eyes flickered around the revolt in distress before finally turning toward Noel. "What is going on here?! Why is Senbo attacking the Wick Knighthood?"

"…" Noel hid her scowl. "I don't even know where to begin with that—"

"PRINCE DARBY!" Their eyes widened to Fulbertus' horrified scream. They saw the Beheeyem floating above their heads, gazing upon something in the distance. "NO!" He teleported away.

"Crap!" Noel picked up her axe and ran off into the scorched field.

Matthias shared a worried grimace with Nathaniel before saying, "Grab Jakke and Ivone and tell them to meet with me." He rushed after Noel while Nathaniel raced off to find his two comrades.

Darby trembled in place, holding onto Erasmus' foreleg as he stared into his eyes in disbelief. "E…Eras…"

Erasmus' stare was cold and emotionless. Despite the deed done, he showed no malice or pride in his attack. He did it with the simplicity of piercing a potato with a fork.

"Did you know, my dear friend, that most creatures can survive with their heart stopped for about…five to eight minutes? Roughly that much time before irreversible damage is done to the brain. Though, saying you have a chance of survival now is…pitiful given the narrow window of success for heart surgery on the battlefield. Almost ironic with the many hearts you've stolen and twisted."

Erasmus pulled his blood-dripping claws from Darby's chest. The Prinplup stumbled back on his heels and collapsed onto his back, blood soaking into his tunic. His breaths turned shallow and weak, desperately reaching for a precious drop of oxygen to keep him going.

Erasmus paced around the fallen prince, wagging his curly tail. "Dimitri played you for a fool. He never forgot anything that happened on that day. He told me everything. And I do mean everything. What you did to Vanessa, what you did to Harlow, and especially what you did to him!"

Erasmus whipped his tail across Darby's stunned expression as he struggled to keep himself awake.

"There was a myriad of different ways I could have resolved this, but I chose for the less flashy approach. As much as it pains me to say this, you and I are alike, Darby. Cunning, manipulative, prideful in our abilities. The difference is our objectives. It was no accident the Wick Kingdom fell behind during last night's battle. While she was supporting our comrades, I ordered Rikmai to subtly wither down your knights. Little things here and there. Frozen soles slowing down their movements, a few strikes to the ankles, a bit of steam to exhaust them. You should be grateful I did not order their execution, and I am deeply sorry for any knights I had to sacrifice in our scheme. Well, except for Jael. An unexpected outcome, but not unwarranted seeing as he played into your vile behavior."

Tears welled up in Darby's eyes and dripped down his face.

"And another thing we shared in common: logical tunnel vision. It is funny. I was blinded by helping my father obtain peace with the Wick Kingdom that I failed to see the monster in front of me. Likewise, you were so enamored by our friendship that you did not notice me scheming for your demise. But I guess I played the better game in the end. I would say have fun in Hell, but where you are going is a far worse fate than whatever demonic hellscape awaits you in the afterlife."

Serell fluttered down. "Your Highness, Wick's knights have been apprehended."

"Good. We will have to call for back up and have them sent to Senbo—"

"YOUR HIGHNESS!" The duo jolted as Fulbertus teleported down, grabbed Darby, and teleported him several meters away from Erasmus. He looked over the dying prince in distress. "Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no!"

Erasmus glared, then took notice of the small party running up on him. Matthias, his former squires, Noel, Rikmai, and Linota all ran up on the events transpiring, and only the Verde-born knights looked on in distress.

"Prince Talbot!" Matthias yelled. "Have you taken leave of your senses?! What is the meaning of this—"

"I advise approaching cautiously, Sir Matthias," Erasmus calmly interrupted. "If the Verde Kingdom interferes, I will consider it a declaration of war against the Senbo Kingdom."

Matthias recoiled. "What…?"

He met the black knight's gaze with a cold, calculating stare. "What you see before you is an act of retribution."

"Retribution?! You just attacked the prince of your allied kingdom!" he snapped. "Do you have any idea the fallout that this will bring?!"

"A fallout that will be immediately stamped out. Wick poses no threat to the Senbo Kingdom thanks to our military applications. However, I advise you to listen, Sir Matthias. These actions do not occur without their roots."

"…" The Infernape snarled at Noel. "And you've known about this the entire time?"

She crossed her arms and huffed. "Pained me to fight alongside the bratty prince since he was slated for death today, but yes. The prince cobbled together this whole scheme just so Prince Darby can let his guard down."

Erasmus shot a glare at the Verde knights holding the New Chariot prisoners captive, his threat stunning them from acting on behalf of their allies. He then looked toward Fulbertus, who was tirelessly using Psychic on and around Darby. He was manually circulating Darby's blood and breathing, making up for the lack of a working heart.

"Do not waste your energy, Sir Fulbertus," Erasmus said. "Even you know he has no chance of survival. There is not a surgeon of any kind who can readily save Darby. Even if there was, you do not have the energy to perform instant teleportation. It is taking all your concentration just to prolong his life, is it not?"

Fulbertus growled, straining in his focus. He mustered just enough to place his hand to his temple and psychically yell, "Princess Evangelina, what is the meaning of this?! Were you aware of this arrangement?!"

He got nothing but silence for a moment, wondering if the princess was even active now. However, a chilling laugh echoed through his mind.

"Well, it does make less competition for me~."

Fulbertus felt the psychic link fizzle out. "Evangelina, you devil woman!"

Matthias felt the hairs on his nape standing with fury. His flame crown blazed wildly as he dared another step forward. "Prince Talbot, I demand an explanation for this!"

"…" Erasmus glanced over his shoulder. "Prince Darby Tetrarch has been accused of the attempted murder of Prince Dimitri Talbot, my younger brother."

Matthias and his former squires gasped. "M-Murder?"

"That's…That's a rather serious accusation, Prince Talbot," Ivone said. "Do you possess proof of this?"

"Not on paw, naturally. I would not want Darby getting his slimy wings on it by mistake. However, that is hardly the extent of his crimes, and of the Wick Kingdom's." Erasmus glared at the Verde knights. "The Wick Kingdom has been secretly conspiring with the infamous criminal syndicate long since thought to have expired over thirty years ago. None other…than Last Autumn."

A deathly chill shot up their backs, the name dredging up long forgotten fears of a darker time in Virdis history. A time where an extremist group proposing visions of a supposed better future for their region brought about devastation through violent acts of retaliation and civil wars across the many kingdoms. Matthias was only a child during those days. To hear of them again, their return…

Erasmus sensed their hesitance to believe such a wild story, but he continued nonetheless. "Prince Darby Tetrarch orchestrated the events leading to my brother's near murder and declining health problems. However, thanks to some unseen allies we have acquired, I speak with no uncertainty that the Wick Kingdom has been plotting the eventual overturning of Virdis' monarchies. It is a lot to take in, I understand, but I wish not to drag Verde into these conflicts. This is a matter strictly between the Senbo and Wick Kingdoms."

Nathaniel stepped forward. "H-Hold on a minute, this is kind of crazy, don't you think? We're at war now. Why now—"

"Prolonging his execution would've given him ample opportunity to intercept or expect." Erasmus glowered at the dying Prinplup as Fulbertus fruitlessly kept him alive. "Besides, the horrors I have heard up until now cannot go unpunished. To hell with the fallout between our kingdoms! He is a monster that needed to be slain!"

Matthias snarled. "I'm not listening to this. Nathaniel, use Heal Pulse on Darby. We're getting this sorted out."

Before Nathaniel could act, Erasmus' guards stepped in front of the downed prince. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," Linota growled, smashing her bucklers together.

Rikmai snarled. "Whatever nonsense you think this is, we stand by our prince's claims as nothing but truth."

"Sir Gaufroi would've attested to his claims," Serell added.

"Gaufroi knew about this, too?" Matthias muttered.

Jakke covered his head and cried. "Can we take a minute to calm down?! This is stressing me out!"

Erasmus waved his paw. "If it is evidence you seek, I am happy to display. I shall have one of my guards teleported back to Senbo to obtain this evidence. It will detail everything Darby and the Wick Kingdom has done. Witness accounts, hidden ledgers from King Wilkin himself—"

Fulbertus' eyes widened. "Ledgers? Wait, how could you have gotten your hands on—" He caught his voice, but nearly lost his concentration at Matthias' glare. Crap.

"…" Matthias nodded slowly. "I'll allow it. I wish to see exactly what this is about, and if any of these claims are true."

Erasmus bowed. "Thank you, Sir Matthias." He nodded at Serell. "Acquire a swift teleportation back to Senbo. Obtain the hidden records and have them brought back to—"

~Hear their call. Feel their wrath.~

~Blood and iron across the path.~

~Despair. Rejoice. Grieve.~

~A time to believe.~

Everyone, ally and foe alike, froze as a haunting melody whispered across the airspace. Heads turned all around to discern the location of the ominous song, but it felt as if it was surrounding them. Hairs stood on end, goosebumps etched across the skin, and feet shifted anxiously against the ground.

"What the…?" Matthias gasped.

"What is this song?" Erasmus whispered.

Noel raised his axe, feeling a bit on edge as well. "I don't see anything."

Jakke seemed to stop shivering for a moment, more confused than scared by the song surprisingly. "Wait, this sounds like…?"

~Flames shall rise. Towns will burn.~

~The past dies as they return.~

~Hope. Malice. Glory.~

~The beginning of their story.~

As the song played on, the Noctowl soldier suddenly felt a dreadful chill around him. His eyes sank back as a daunting realization befell him. "Oh…Oh no. That can't be…"

Ivone glared at the owl. "What can't be? What's going on?"

"We…We got a report about something like this before. There was only one survivor. A messenger who died from their injuries, all in a desperate bid to send us his allies' final warning. It spoke of a song that echoed across the battlefield like an old nursery rhyme. It was a call to arms. A warning before death."

"Stop speaking about nothing and just spit it out already!" Linota yelled, trying to hide her terror.

The Noctowl could only look at the ground, laughing weakly. "There's no point. We're already dead."

Matthias glared. "Wha…?"

~The Soldiers of Hell come marching home.~

~The Soldiers of Hell come marching home.~

~The Soldiers of Hell come marching home.~

~The Soldiers of Hell come marching home.~

~The Soldiers of Hell come marching home.~

~Wel. Come. Home.~

All they did was blink. A sudden burst of air scraped across the land, and they blinked.

Every single New Chariot soldier in their captivity.

A mist of red erupted from them and sprayed over the western alliance.

Everyone recoiled as the captured soldiers suddenly erupted in a mist of blood that sprayed over the air. Jagged slashes cut across each individual soldier, tearing open their chests, necks, and the like as if they just magically appeared upon their bodies.

Bodies fell one by one, and all the Verde and Senbo knights could do was stare at their former prisoners in utter horror. Not a single one was left alive. No time to react or evade. It all happened. It all happened instantly.

The terror had not passed for the group felt a foreboding presence behind them. Turning around, with blood dripping off their serrated trident, was a Toxtricity dressed in a short black vest with a high collar adorned in white fur and dusty black pants held up by a chain belt.

He glanced back at the stunned knights and warriors, his gaze holding an emotionless cold behind his eyes.

Ivone backed away, his metal feathers scraping together as he trembled. "H-Hey. W-What the…?"

The Toxtricity raised his hand, then snapped his fingers.

As the snap passed over their ears, they froze, feeling the mysterious warrior's presence behind them yet again. They spun around and found him standing over Fulbertus and Darby's weakened form. He plucked a note from inside his vest and handed it to the Beheeyem.

"Coordinates. Use them," he said. "The doctor will be waiting."

Fulbertus grabbed the note, quickly reading it over, before disintegrating it with a small Dark Pulse. He picked Darby up, still concentrating on preserving his body, and focused on using his Teleport. "H-Hang on, Your Highness."

Erasmus hissed. "Hey!" He lunged their way, his claws fully extended. "What do you think you are up to—"

"Radio Howl."

Erasmus was suddenly repelled by a golden shockwave wreathed in crackles of purple lighting. The energy coursing through his claws fizzled out, and he slammed into the arms of Noel, who promptly caught him.

"Prince Talbot!" she gasped.

Erasmus held his head and groaned. "What's…this weird…static I'm feeling?"

The Toxtricity lowered his arm, then raised his trident. "I thank you for weakening New Chariot's forces. For that, I shall give you the chance to defend your fleeting lives."

Matthias growled. "What am I looking at?"

Serell flapped his wings nervously. "That can't be who I think it is. Of all the places to run into him…!"

Erasmus shook his head and stared at the Toxtricity in horror. Darby was telling the truth. That is really…!

Fulbertus focused his Teleport until he eventually locked onto the coordinates given to him. He grimaced. "This is going to put me out of commission for weeks. Sorry Lionel. You're on your own."

As they prepared to vanish, Darby craned his neck and looked straight at Erasmus. The cat felt his stare and met his eyes. The tears that fell down his face ceased, and a new expression crawled over: a furious, vengeful scowl reserved only for him and him alone.

"Er…as…mus…" He weakly lifted his wing as psychic energy flickered around him and Fulbertus. "You…will…regret…this…" A crack of energy surged over the ground, and the two vanished from the battlefield.

The threat rang vaguely through Erasmus' ears, but put it aside in favor of the current threat standing before the group. He made no sudden movements against them, not like what he did to the soldiers. He merely stared at them, awaiting how they would respond to his presence.

Matthias grabbed his sheathed sword. "Don't tell that's really…"

Noel grimaced. "That's him. The most wanted creature in all of Virdis. The Roar of the Wastes. The Howl of Thunder. Bane of All Silence. Alban Kyllyngworth."

"Are you actually kidding me right now?!" Rikmai screeched.

"Why here? Why us?!" Jakke screamed.

"This is bad. Really bad!" Nathaniel gasped.

Noel pointed towards the shocked Verde knights and yelled, "Retreat back to camp immediately! Do not engage unless signaled to!" The knights obeyed and fled back to camp to alert their allies.

Alban made no attempt to stop the retreating party. Instead, he raised his hand and beckoned to the group. "Hey. Come on. You all don't want to die, right? I'm being generous today. I did say I'd give you a chance, right?"

Even if it weren't for the fact all of them were recovering from a harrowing battle mere hours ago, the fear that gripped at their hearts prevented them from acting in haste. This was a creature that defined the expectations of power, thus making him the bane of all armies that dared cross his path. Survival was not guaranteed. A scant few lived to tell the tale of their encounters with such a monster, and they don't speak fondly of their own survival. It wasn't a glorious moment, but a tale of traumatic proportions.

Running wasn't an option, and fighting meant certain death.

But as it stood, what other choice did they have?

Seized with fury, Matthias pushed down his fear and made the first move. He lunged ahead, igniting his sword in black flames. Don't second guess your decision. Hesitance makes the difference between life and death.

"Blackfire Soul Blade!" The flames amped up around his sword. Tightening his weakened muscles, he swung for the Toxtricity's neck.

Alban lifted his hand to his chest and strummed along the electrical protrusions, coating his hand in electricity. "Radio Howl." He extended his hand and fired a blast wave of electrified sound at Matthias.

Matthias recoiled from the irritating noise, then gasped as the flames around his sword extinguished. "Wha—" He caught sight of Alban's trident in the corner of his eye and barely blocked it with his sword.

"Your reflexes. They are good," Alban praised dryly.

Matthias bared his teeth. "Blackfire Impact!" He tried to ignite flames around his fists, but couldn't produce even the littlest spark. "Huh?"

"However…" Alban put more thrust into his trident and sent Matthias flying backwards. "It's nothing but worthless noise."

Matthias dragged his fingers through the ground and caught himself. "His strength…!"

Alban spun his trident in one hand and slowly approached the group. "The eldest son of Tetrarch lacked maturity. He needed to be molded into the rightful heir for my master, thus I took it upon myself to instill the necessary components for rulership."

Matthias growled. "What?"

Erasmus winced. "I believe you are now seeing the merits of my accusation?"

"It's slowing making more sense…" He gazed at his hand and briefly ignited flames off it. That attack nullified my technique. No, not just that. Something about it felt off. It's like it disrupted my energy altogether. Only for a short while, but enough to make a difference in a fight.

Alban narrowed his eyes. "Is this the extent of your resistance? I expect more of a fight, or should I start by slaughtering your allies back at camp until I get a substantial resistance?"

Matthias snarled. "Bastard." He ignited his sword again. "Nathaniel, Ivone! Defense formation! Jakke, range support! The rest of you, don't get in my way!" He lunged forward again with his subordinates taking their posts.

Jakke ran around until he had a clear view of Alban. "Demon Thunder Gatling!" He charged the horns atop his shell and fired a rapid cluster of electrified rock at the reptilian.

Alban spun his trident in their direction and destroyed them the second they made contact. Ivone circled through the sky and divebombed from behind. "Purified Luster!"

"Sound World."

CLICK!

Ivone heard the clicking of Alban's fingers and gasped, feeling the Toxtricity's presence above him. "What the—" He faltered from a swift crack to the back by Alban's trident, blasting him into the ground.

"Sound World." Alban clicked his fingers again, vanishing in a purple flash. The sound echoed around them until he was right up in front of Jakke in an instant.

"GAH!" Jakke screamed.

Alban thrusted his trident, but his aim fell off course and redirected into Nathaniel's Knight's Guard technique. "Got you!" the Lucario exclaimed.

"High-Frequency Spear." Alban spun his trident within his grip. The three prongs spun faster and faster until it resembled a solid drill bit in motion, illuminating in a soft purple glow. Alban drove it against Nathaniel's barrier, pressing cracks across its surface.

Nathaniel gasped. "What the—" He jumped back and immediately dropped the barrier. He thought he got out of the trident's reach, but it suddenly doubled it length. He barely sidestepped out of the way, but the rotating weapon grazed his thigh. It shaved through his armor and across the first layer of skin. "AAAHHH!"

Alban raised his weapon to bring it down on the Lucario, but a flurry of wind blades descended from the sky to dissuade him. He spun his trident and deflected the wind slashes before spotting Serell in flight.

"Laser Style: Shooting Star Beam!" He focused through the tip of his halberd and fired a single blue laser.

Alban pierced directly into the laser, splitting its path around him. As he did, Linota rushed in with flames wrapped around her bucklers. "Wheel of Suffering!" She lunged and curled herself into a ball upon activating Super Fang. If she could hit him and prolong the damage, his stamina would rapidly deplete.

"Sound World."

However, the infamous click of his fingers brought the reptilian directly behind Linota mid-attack. As quickly as he moved, he bashed her across the side, cutting across the skin with the jagged prongs. "AAAAGH!" Linota screamed before flying away.

"Purified Luster!" Alban ducked his head and dodged Ivone's surprise flyby. He took off into the air to make space. "Purified Luster: Shining Force!" He concentrated his prismatic energy in front of his beak and fired it down as a laser.

"Echoing Barrier." Alban raised and spun his trident, emitting a vibrating barrier of electricity that caused the beam's energy to cascade around him. "Radio Howl." He then fired his electrified sound blast from his hand, scoring a direct hit on the Corviknight.

"GAH!" Ivone felt his energy fizzling before falling out of the air.

Rikmai bounced around in her water form, using her slippery movements to confuse the reptilian. "Iron Smashing Current!" She spun on her front paws and swung her flowing tail.

"Sound World."

Rikmai's eyes widened, feeling the rippling of his snap. It carried far more energy than she expected. She immediately sensed Alban's presence behind her and turned to steam right as he blasted her with his Radio Howl. She screamed out as her body forcefully reverted back to normal, sending her sliding across the scorched ground.

"Magma Cleaver!" Noel rushed in the moment Rikmai was attacked and tried to get a swing off on Alban, but he effortlessly parried her axe with a simple flick of his trident. "Gah!"

"High-Frequency Spear." He rotated his trident in hand once again and thrusted it at her.

Noel blocked with her axe and allowed it to throw her back, sparing her axe from an untimely destruction. She skidded off her back, rolling with the momentum until she could flip onto her feet. She checked her axe and saw the smooth hole made into the side.

"What is this?" she mumbled.

Alban rested his trident over his shoulder and scoffed. "You are fighting for your lives. Is this really all you can muster?"

Everyone backed away to catch their breaths. Linota kept one arm in front of Erasmus, saying, "Your Highness, it's not safe for you here. Best to leave while you still can."

Erasmus grimaced. "Something tells me that is not an option."

"It isn't," Rikmai mumbled. "I felt the vibrations from that technique of his. It's not anything like teleportation. It's like he's…moving with the flow of the soundwaves. In that brief instance he snaps his fingers, it's like anything within range of that sound is his domain to run freely in."

Serell shrieked. "Are you saying he can move around that quickly?! That's…That's…"

Matthias growled. "On par with Stormbreaker's speed." My flames aren't reacting to any power changes, though. Brief flickers. It's like he's briefly empowering himself, too. That means I can only hit him with my full power during brief windows of opportunity.

Alban reared his trident back. "If you wish not to advance, I shall do the honors." Purple lightning crackled and coated around the weapon. "Serenade of Gloom." He rapidly thrusted his trident forward, and from it came a barrage of translucent energy tridents flying toward the group.

"Crap! Nathaniel!" Matthias yelled.

The Lucario pushed himself to his feet and jumped in front of the group. "Knight's Guard!" He activated his vacuum barrier and absorbed the energy attacks into it. However, to his shock, the tridents exploded off his shield and splashed around it.

"GAH!" Everyone recoiled as a sharp wave of sound blasted against them, cutting the surface of their skin.

"Sound World." Alban snapped his fingers again and sped along the sound wave the moment everyone faltered. He appeared above Matthias midway into falling over and slammed the bottom of his trident down on his stomach.

"GAH!" Matthias screamed.

He then spun his trident around and caught Noel's axe as she tried to strike him from behind. He caught it between the prongs and twisted it out of her hands. "Radio Howl." He slammed his palm into her chest and blasted her away with the disruptive sound blast.

Ivone and Linota rushed in together and tried to pin Alban between their attacks, but he sped away with a click of his fingers. Right as they noticed, he came in from the side and battered them away with a single swing of his weapon.

"Steam Style—" He looked over his shoulder as Serell came into view. "Geyser Burst!" Combining water and fire together, he released a beam of concentrated steam at the reptilian.

But once again, Alban merely sped around the Togetic as fast as the click of his fingers. He grabbed Serell by the head and smashed his face into the ground. Jakke took advantage of this and fired his Demon Thunder Cannon while Alban was seeming distracted, but Alban merely swiped his trident around and oblitered the projectile.

"GAH!" Jakke stumbled back, but stomped his leg down. "Demon Thunder Mountain!" Chains of electrified rock sprung from the earth and tried to spear the reptilian through, but Alban lunged through and carved a path with his spinning trident. Jakke ducked, but screamed in pain as the spinning weapon shredded the top of his shell.

"Pathetic." He battered Jakke away and fired a single blade of Serenade of Gloom.

Jakke recoiled as the energy attack passed through him. He spat up blood, feeling the sound shredding the surface of his body and rattling his insides. He hit the ground like a stone, unable to move.

Alban scanned the battlegrounds again for a new target just as a flash of claws came into view. He casually blocked them with his weapon and met Erasmus' glowing blue eyes.

"Eyes of the King!" Erasmus bounced back from the warrior, then lunged forward again. Try dodging this!

He went for Alban's sides, but the reptilian sidestepped out of the way. Before Erasmus could react, he vomited blood from a swift upward kick to the stomach, bouncing him into the air. Alban caught him by the collar and held him to eye level.

"Cute trick. Messes with vision." Alban's eyes furrowed. "Shame my hearing is too good."

Blood dripped down the prince's chin, staring down in a daze. Th-This guy's…supposed to be on the same level as Stormbreaker?

"I was ordered originally to keep you alive for the sake of my master's plan. However, your attempt at murdering the Wick Prince tells me you will not be joining in our system. For that…" Alban reared his trident back. "I have no use for you."

Right as he went for the kill, a geyser of boiling hot water emerged from the ground and punched Alban in the chin. The water cooled rapidly and snatched Erasmus out of the warrior's grasp. "I got him!" Rikmai cried.

Her attack did little to the warrior even as boiling water dripped down his chin. He massaged his jaw and huffed. "Biding your time until the last second. An excellent move."

Rikmai dropped Erasmus beside Nathaniel before dropping next to the others. The battle from last night took its toll as expected, though that hardly made the difference. They could all tell they were standing before a beast of the battlefields.

"We can barely get a hit in on this guy!" Serell yelled. "What do we do?"

Matthias grimaced. "Only chance we got at this point is sending him somewhere else."

"There's no way we have a teleporter strong enough to do that," Noel said. "And our teleportation team won't be able to do it fast enough."

"So we literally have no other choice but to kill him," Ivone growled.

"I didn't want to die like this!" Jakke screamed.

Matthias ignited his sword once more. "He can't take us all on! Everyone, hit him with everything you've got!" Though hesitant, everyone activated their techniques and rushed forward with all they could muster.

Alban merely raised his hand at them. "Radio Howl: Cold Silence." The sound blast reverberated out from his hand at a greater yield, blanketing the battlefield in its disruptive sound.

The group stopped and recoiled as the blaring noise echoed through their minds. Their techniques fizzled out, and Alban was already on top of them.

One-by-one, he struck the group down, striking them repeatedly with his trident and sending their bodies hurtling across the air. Many tried to defend themselves and fight back, but Alban stayed ahead and countered their pitiful counterattacks one after the other.

Jakke, Nathaniel, Erasmus, Ivone, Linota, Noel, Serell, and Rikmai all fell against Alban's prowess. All that remained was the demon of the Verde Kingdom himself, who tanked a heavy punch to the face. Blood spurted from his nose, but he hardened his stance and pushed back.

"I won't FALL!" Matthias struck back, hammering his fist into Alban with pure muscle. His blow struck true, pushing the reptilian back with only a scuff mark to his arm as proof.

Alban glared. "Impressive. Even with your energy disrupted, you still have this much fight in you? You're pretty cool, Matthias Blackfire."

Matthias rushed him down his sword clutching between both hands. "Don't mock me, Howl of Thunder! I'm taking you back to the hellhole you were born from!"

Though a valiant effort, it was in vain. Alban merely relocated around Matthias with a snap of his fingers, dodging his swing entirely. "You fight so valiantly to protect your allies."

"RAAHH!" Matthias whipped his sword around and went for the shoulders, but Alban caught the blade in his hand. Matthias struggled to free it from the reptilian's grip, even as the blade cut into his skin and spilled blood.

"But it's a foolish effort. The senselessness of war. It makes me sick. That is why I am here: to liberate the blight that brings about this endless despair. To cleave the rot until I find its source. And my master will be the one to change this world for the better."

Alban pushed Matthias back, causing him to stumble. Without warning, Alban revved up his trident and thrusted it at the Infernape.

"High-Frequency Spear!"

Matthias couldn't get out of the way in time. Though swift in his reaction, his movement was sluggish from his injuries. His entire body rocked with an agonizing fury as the spinning trident struck and tore across the right side of his body, shredding through his bandages and flesh.

"GaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

His howls of pain reached the ears of his comrades, watching as the drill-like technique tore across Matthias, no doubt obliterating a chunk of his body. It was a gruesome sight from such a simple motion, done with disturbing ease by the Toxtricity.

Matthias fell on his back, clutching his right side and seething in pain. "Aaaagh…"

Alban loomed over the fallen Infernape with an air of disinterest. "A new era is coming, Matthias Blackfire. Can't you feel in on the wind? The pieces have been set in motion. Before the new year begins, a shift will occur across Virdis. The downfall of the ten kingdoms, and the rise of the new ruler who will bring this troubled land to salvation."

Matthias sneered. "Yooouuu…!"

Alban raised his trident. "A pity you won't be here to witness it. Now kindly die."

"MATTHIAS!" Noel screamed.

"NO!" Erasmus and Jakke screamed.

"Dammit!" Nathaniel scrambled to his feet and tried to rush over.

Matthias did not flinch in face of his impending doom. He stared at the trident with unwavering fury, igniting his fist in black flames and roaring in defiance. "Do you worst, scum!"

Two attacks flew at each other with the intent to kill, and everyone was too afraid to see the outcome.

FLASH!

A burst of teal light flashed between the attacks, and Matthias was the first to stop. His eyes widened to the hulking mass of bloodied fur standing above him.

"…What the?" Alban muttered.

His trident had struck, but not on mark. Instead, it had stabbed into the arm of an irate Ursaring with disheveled fur matted by dried blood. He held back against Alban's strength as he seethed with his own rage, wavering as if on his final moments of consciousness.

"Not. Today," he growled.

Erasmus' eyes widened. "That can't be…!"

"Is that…?" Ivone gasped.

"SIR GAUFROI!" Linota, Serell, and Rikmai cried in joy.

Matthias could hardly believe it, but it was truly the head knight of the Senbo Kingdom himself, having appeared in the nick of time to take the deadly blow for him. He was shocked at the state of the bear's appearance, though. What transpired in his disappearance along the Claydol centurion.

"G-Gaufroi—" Matthias gasped.

"Don't stop," he growled. "Keep…FIGHTING!" Even in his mangled state, he swung his mighty battle axe with the force to split the air around it.

"Sound World." Alban relocated out of the way, pulling his trident free from Gaufroi's arm, and reappeared a few meters away. He pressed his thumb to his cheek, wiping the cut he received. "It seems you were victorious against Chief Centurion Janus. Are you a monster or something, Sir Gaufroi Burchard?"

"RAAAH!" Gaufroi swung again and threw his axe at Alban.

Alban tilted his head and let it fly past him, but noticed the red stone embedded into the weapon. "What the—"

Gaufroi clenched his fist and suddenly teleported to where the axe was, catching it by its hilt and using its momentum to swing it back at Alban's neck. The reptilian caught only a brief glimpse of the blade before relocating out of the way again. The air distorted against the bear's heavy swing.

Upon reappearing, Alban clutched his trident in both hands, taking on a more serious stance. His victory over Chief Centurion Janus came with more unexpected developments than I imagined. With those injuries, he shouldn't even be moving.

Gaufroi staggered, panting heavier and heavier by the second. Even the way he breathed sounded painful. The fury blazing in his eyes, however, did not let up. Though he barely had any idea what was going on, he didn't question it. All he saw was another target to eliminate.

"YOU THREE!" he shouted, snapping his three subordinates into attention. "Imprisoning Stratagem: Plan 5! NOW!"

Their training instincts kicked in immediately. Serell and Linota, despite their fears, rushed ahead while Rikmai melted herself into the ground. Serell took to the air and spun his halberd, creating several orbs of light around himself. Linota ignited her bucklers with fire and electricity and bravely rushed down the reptilian warrior.

"Wheel of Frenzy!" She lunged at Alban and swung wildly with her shields.

Alban made simple motions with his trident, blocking each of her strikes while keeping an eye on Serell. The Togetic finished charging up the light orbs and pointed his halberd at him.

"Laser Style: Shooting Star Storm!" All the light orbs coalesced into the tip of his halberd and fired a myriad of lasers.

"Echoing Barrier." Alban bashed Linota aside and blocked the laser barrage with a sound barrier from his spinning trident. However, upon doing this, Gaufroi teleported behind his exposed back.

"Brilliant Dark Justice!" The edge of his axe blazed in a purple aura, and he swung.

"Sound World." Alban relocated away from Gaufroi's attack and attempted to spear him from behind in return, but Linota bounced back and attacked with her blazing bucklers. He blocked her attacks, but then had to dodge another of Gaufroi's axe swings.

Upon his next relocation, he looked up to find Serell channeling another technique. "Scorch Style: Blazing Knife Storm!" He slashed the air and rained down a barrage of flaming blade projectiles.

"Echoing Barrier." Once again, he blocked Serell's attack with a simple barrier maneuver. However, this left both sides of him exposed to another assault from Gaufroi and Linota. He relocated out of their way, only for another hurtling of lasers from Serell raining on his position.

Over and over, Alban sped around the battlefield as the three Senbo knights continuously attacked without a moment's hesitation. The added wrinkle of Gaufroi's sudden mastery of teleportation left very little option to attack the airborne pest peppering him with ranged techniques.

The Verde knights and Noel watched on in awe. "They're moving in sync with each other," Jakke gasped.

Erasmus smirked wearily. "Why do you think they were put in charge of protecting me?"

Alban attempted to blast them away with his Radio Howl, but Gaufroi grabbed Linota and teleported before the sound blast struck. He dodged out of another ambush from behind and deflected more lasers from Serell. As he dodged around, his eyes rapidly flickered over the battlefield and took notice of something peculiar.

Why does it look like they're keeping me restricted to this one area? He glared. Wait a minute, where's the fourth one—

"Rikmai, NOW!" Gaufroi snapped.

"Gelid Prison: Iceberg!"

The ground erupted with ice under Alban. Before he could activate Sound World, the ice exploded out and instantly incased him, restricting all of his movements. From the top of the ice structure, Rikmai appeared in her ice form, funneling more cold through the ice and strengthening the core.

"I got him! Do it now!" she yelled.

Gaufroi waved to the others. "Everyone! Together!"

Seeing the Howl of Thunder trapped in place, everyone steeled themselves and rushed toward the ice structure with weapons and techniques alight. They only had one shot at this, but they couldn't afford to leave such a high-profile criminal alive. Whatever damage they dealt, it had to be lethal.

"Magma Cleaver!"

"Flawless Blade!"

"Gale Style: Thunderbird Blade!"

"Wheel of Suffering!"

"Vanguard's Gambit!"

"Demon Thunder Mortar!"

"Purified Luster!"

"Blackfire Soul Blade!"

"Brilliant Dark Justice!"

They all rushed in at the frozen warrior, their attacks primed to strike through the moment Rikmai released the ice prison. A myriad of techniques like this would surely fell any great beast.

However…

Rikmai trembled as something shook within the confines of the ice prison. She looked down and gasped as Alban's body started to glow and spark with electricity, causing the entire iceberg to shake, including her.

"Oh no…everyone, get back!" she screamed.

Everyone stopped short of striking the ice and gasped as it visibly shook before their eyes. Cracks split across the surface, releasing heaps of pressure building up inside. The ground quake beneath and extended over the battlefield, rattling the alliance members.

Rikmai exhaled cold mist as she focused on sealing the ice again. "I…I think I can hold him!"

"Rikmai, disengage!" Gaufroi yelled.

"N-No! This…oh Arceus, th-this is…agh!" Cracks split over Rikmai's body. "You all need to get away! NOW!" she pleaded, frozen tears dripping down her face.

More and more of the ice split open, blasting the group back with the disorienting sound pressure. A stronger pulse emanated out and pushed the ground back. Gaufroi slammed his axe down and kept himself still, watching in horror as Rikmai's ice prison was starting to crumble.

She desperately tried to hold the prison together. "I won't…let you hurt my friends!" she screamed.

"Rikmai!" Gaufroi growled and picked up his axe. "Screw it! Plan B!" He rushed down the ice structure and channeled psychic energy through the axe head. "Rikmai, disengage! DISENGAGE!"

"I…I…!" She looked ahead at the others through the warped air with tears flooding from her eyes. "G-Guys—"

"Song of Chaos."

A violent explosion of sound ripped apart the ice prison, erupting with so much pressure that it utterly vaporized all the ice around him. Rikmai's screams were drowned out over the intense volume of sound as her body disintegrated in the epicenter of the blast.

"RIK—" Gaufroi screamed before being blasted by the full scope of the sound explosion.

It ripped across the air and shattered the earth under it. The alliance got behind Nathaniel, who shielded them under his Protect. It was a tight fit, but it was just enough to cover them from the explosion. It tore through everything in its path, scattering the corpses of the New Chariot soldiers through the air and no doubt reaching their allies back at camp.

Gaufroi endured the raging sound, glaring through the warped air until he spotted Alban at the epicenter. Fueled with an unbridled, apoplectic fury, he marched through the storm of sound, charging his axe completely in the psychic energy.

Alban noticed his approach and immediately lunged at him, dispelling his sound explosion. "High-Frequency—"

"Go to Hell! Brilliant Crescent Order: Gateway of Janus!" Putting his back into his swing, he fired a psychic slash across the air.

Alban attempted to pierce it, but this was no ordinary attack. He felt his trident sink through the projectile energy surge and realized too late it was a teleportation slash. So caught up in his attack, he couldn't activate Sound World in time, thus resigning himself to being swallowed up in the psionic surge.

Alban Kyllynworth had been removed from the battlefield. To where? Anywhere but here.

A moment of calm washed over the group once the land ceased shaking. Nathaniel dropped the barrier, and the group looked on in horror at the massive crater left behind in Alban's final attack. It dug out the entire of the ground beneath him, scattering all manner of debris across the vast battlefield.

Linota and Serell approached the crater cautiously, tears welling up in their eyes. "Where…Where is she? W-Where's Rikmai?" Linota hiccupped.

"I…I don't see her," Serell whimpered. "Rikmai? RIKMAI!"

"RIKMAAAAAAAI!" Linota cried, collapsing onto her knees. "You idiot! You…dumb, dumb idiot! RIKMAI!" She slammed her face into the ground, her body trembling as she broke down in a fit of sobs.

Noel limped up to the pair and knelt beside them. A motherly instinct overtook her as she held them close. "She…She did it to protect us from the blast. It would've done far more damage had she not absorbed most of it with her ice."

Linota and Serell pressed themselves against the Typhlosion, breaking down into tears against her fur. "Rikmai…" they whimpered.

Matthias was unable to stand due to his injury. That final attack was all he could muster before his wound grew worse. Now it took all his focus to keep himself from bleeding out. "Dammit. To think that monster was…"

Erasmus narrowed his eyes. "Darby had someone like that? Protecting him? That means the Roar of the Wastes is also working for Last Autumn?"

Everyone's attention broke from their thoughts and turned toward Gaufroi as he finally collapsed, his injuries getting hold of him. Though alive, he was barely holding on. After everything he went through, he was in need of serious medical attention.

"…" Jakke looked around at everyone, a look of trepidation hanging from his face. "Wha…What's going to happen now?"

"…" Erasmus closed his eyes, feeling a small speck of doubt clinging to the back of his heart. Darby's final words still rang through his ears like thunder. Though he had no fear of the Wick Kingdom itself, this revelation regarding the Roar of the Wastes suddenly complicated his confidence.

If Darby somehow survives this…

Erasmus just declared war on the Wick Kingdom and Last Autumn.

"I…I don't know."