Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 9

Chapter 49: Reiko Rising, Part 1

(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language)

Abaddon was in her throne room as she was getting reports on the Maladendrum threatening to get out of its prison. Like other demons, she was afraid of the monster in the Box of Solomon in which she also bore witness to what happened to Asmodeun ages ago. As for her other problem, she wanted to grill Apollyon as she saw him standing in front of her with a smile on his face. She was aware that he overstepped his boundaries this time as she was ready to let him have it, for she was ready to tear him a new one right now.

"You still don't get it, do you?" he said as he smirked.

"You're still waiting to let out the Maladendrum, even when I told you not to," said Abaddon as she was getting irritated. "Remember what happened last time when Asmodeun let out the Maladendrum just to spite Lucifer? He got scratched up so badly in which it left a mark on his face!"

"You can't fight the inevitable, Abaddon. Besides, there's been rumors about Sam about to be sacrificed to the Maladendrum while the true instrument just got let out not too long ago."

"Damn you! You're playing with fire and every single one of us is afraid of the Maladendrum! For far too long, you've bet on the wrong horse and lost the race, but you're also letting out a threat to all of us, not to us demons! In the end of this mess, I hope that Little Miss Pointy-Ears pulls her weight and finishes off that menace before it consumes everything, including us!"

It wasn't long until Abaddon kicked Apollyon in the crotch as she was angry at him for letting out Sylvana not too long ago. Still, she had to put her subordinate in her place as he was still determine to open up the Box of Solomon, for this was just the beginning of what was yet to come. When she left the throne room, she went towards the dungeon as she noticed that her "model prisoner" fled in which she flew into a rage the moment she shook the infrastructure around her. She wanted to kill Sylvana for having the way and mean to escape as she also wanted to tear Apollyon a new one for aiding and abetting for it. When she saw Apollyon walking towards the dungeon with his hand on his crotch where she kicked him, he was reeling from the pain, but smiling as he was happy to do the bidding of letting out the worst thing that Lucifer feared the most, for the Maladendrum was waiting to be set free from the Box of Solomon.

"You're too late, Abaddon," he said as he winced in pain. "Sylvana is the true sacrifice in which she doesn't know what's in store for her."

"Really?" she said. "You may had a hand in letting her out, but there's a little something that's in store for you!"

"You can't fight off the inevitable forever! Sooner or later, the Maladendrum will do what Michael and Lucifer failed to do in the Elder Days!"

Abaddon used her powers to lift Apollyon up and placed him in a cell the moment she locked the door. She was no stranger in exterminating her foes, but having someone like Apollyon conspiring to let out the Maladendrum ended up crossing the line in which he was now given a taste of his own medicine, for he was at the mercy of the Queen of Hell herself...

Florian was in his office in the Palace of the Imperium as he was looking at the reports about the lingering threat of the blood moon. He never expected to see this omen occur as his ancestor was no stranger into dealing with the Maladendrum nine hundred years ago. The Dark Awakening was a reminder of what was there as it destroyed Skalvarg and sank part of it into the ocean. By the time he left his office, he saw several members of his court rushing towards him as they were concerned about what was going on. The blood moon was no joke as everyone was on edge in which there were also the presence of increased monster attacks as of late, for there was no rest for the weary or the wicked.

"I know that you're scared, but please remain calm," he said as he was trying his best to quell the public fear. "This isn't the first time that the blood moon became malignant as it was the same that occurred nine hundred years ago."

"There's been an increase in monster attacks and they won't stop as if they were high on something," said one of the people. "Some of us can't even get out of our homes because of it."

"The threat of the blood moon is in the Skalvarg Archipelago," said another person. "Even the vampires in their squalid abandoned farmhouses and their booze and classic rock hunt all over the place as if they were acting like Walter White all hopped up on meth."

"We're all terrified," said Florian. "I hope to the gods and the Matriarch that everyone is alright… As for now, we need to take to the shelters if the Maladendrum is ever released. My ancestor sealed the threat of the Maladendrum nine hundred years ago, but we can't delay the order for everyone to head for every single bunker, rotgut room, and slug roe home we can find. The places have been heavily warded against any possible monster threats, but we need to prepare for the worst."

Florian made his word clear as he later heard the sound of a warg bellowing in the distance the moment he ran outside to see Castiel arriving the moment he got off of Barca's back. He had to deliver a message as it was mainly urgent in which the omen of the blood moon was more than just a coincidence, but a nightmare plaguing the rest of Valinor. Everyone here on this planet was terrified of the lingering threat of the blood moon as it was waiting for the right moment to release the Maladendrum from its prison, for it was a grim warning in a nutshell.

"Your Majesty," he said. "You must send your troops to the Skalvarg Archipelago immediately."

"It's the threat of the Maladendrum, isn't it?" said Florian.

"It's more than we all know. There's also the presence of the Zenith Vectors being called here to go to where the Maladendrum is in which they knew of what was told to them."

"Damn it…" Florian was shocked to hear of the Zenith Vectors coming to Valinor. "Who told them to go there?"

"It was an enemy that once aided and abetted Sawney Masbath in order to kill Sylvanus Thrippe in which she is still giving them the means to take what they want and cause widespread terror."

"Sylvana Thrippe… I've heard of her before in which she is proven to be a threat to everyone. From what I heard, she went mad after losing her brother, but she's still the target of Abaddon and her explosive temper. As for what happened in the Dark Awakening nine hundred years ago, it wasn't just the monster attacking the university in Skalvarg on that day, but everything around it became pulled asunder, including a Va'Kihri ship that became one of many casualties in the aftermath of the Maladendrum's ongoing wrath. Nothing was safe from the monster's fury until my ancestor was gifted a spear to cause it to be sealed away in its prison in the Box of Solomon. Still, from what was read in the annals of the further lore leading up to the time of the Elder Days, the Maladendrum was the worst of the shedim in which even Lucifer and the other demons feared it the most. The only ones who were unafraid were Apollyon and the Royalists who yearned to let out the shedim. One of them in particular was Asmodeus the First in which he took the full brunt of disobeying his master in which he was scratched in the face for it. As for the further information of the Maladendrum, we can't fall in the face of danger right now. I can't abandon my people in this time of crisis, for my ancestor was doing the same. We have to prepare for the worst, for this omen is the type that won't be taken lightly."

Florian made his point clear as he stared at the blood moon outside. He had to act quickly with the other family members and those in his court as he couldn't delay the order to watch over his people. The sight of the blood moon was something that couldn't go away quietly as it was also the signal to set free the Maladendrum, for it was yearning to break out of the Box of Solomon soon enough. The talk of having members of the Order dispatched from other planets here was a step in the right direction as the time to protect Valinor's citizens came first in which everyone was terrified of what the blood moon presented. Still, Florian had to pull his weight as his concerns for his people was more important than anything else, for he had an obligation to protect them, even at the cost of his own life...

I was in my room as I looked out the window of the lingering blood moon that still didn't go away quietly. With the threat of the Maladendrum still looming over us, we had to prepare for the worst as I had a gut feeling that there would be a there would be a trap set for Reiko. I was mainly assuming the worst as I worried about Reiko's safety in which I wanted to do my part in protecting her from what was in store for her. Minute after minute, I continued to worry until I saw Dean burst into the room the moment he was there to collect me. I noticed the desperation in his eyes as he had to get me to safety and away to the mainland as soon as possible, for there was a time of dread coming here to my island sanctuary.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"We have to get the hell out of here," said Dean.

"Is there something wrong?"

"I hate to burst your bubble, but there's gonna be some really heavy shit hitting the fan right now."

I slowly got up from my bed as I walked towards the wheelchair near the table. With Dean wheeling me out of the room, we were in the hallway as we noticed several members of the Medical Corps ushering patients away from the chaos outside. To my shock, I saw a ship coming towards the harbor as it landed in the clearing in which our worst nightmare was about to come true. We saw the Zenith Vectors coming out of the ship as they meant business in which Dean knew of them very well. He remembered Magda's demise as he wanted to go out there and take them out, but he had to get me to safety first. By the time we reached the downstairs, we went towards the basement as we made our way towards the bottom where the Adam West was embedded in. Dean ended up using his diamond projectiles to craft a barricade as he didn't want the Zenith Vectors to find us. When we went towards the exterior of the ship, we were welcomed by Yorvanar and the children as they were kept safe from harm. I was also grateful that some of the servants were here as they were concerned about what was going on outside, for this arrival of the Zenith Vectors was the start of a long nightmare.

"It's been hectic topside," said Yorvanar.

"We saw what landed here," said Dean. "All I'm worried about is that the vulnerable would end up dead in the crosshairs if we don't do something about it.'

"I've heard and kept tabs on the Zenith Vectors. From what I know is that they are in league with Sylvana Thrippe in which she has now made her way to the island in the center of this archipelago. As for this ship, it was spared from the wrath of the Maladendrum, but our Va'Kihri friends weren't so lucky on that day. The Dark Awakening was a catalyst to pull Skalvarg asunder and the one who is yearning to let out the Maladendrum is still lingering in the shadows while defying Abaddon. As for the threat topside, there's rumors that the one destined to kill the Maladendrum happens to be someone who is more kind and gentle than aggressive, but it's been said that she did away with a tyrant on Baratheon nearly a year ago."

I thought about Reiko as I was worried about her safety. Earlier, she was still doing errands as she had to get some ingredients for a stew for tonight's dinner, but I had a terrible feeling that she would be in danger. The presence of the Zenith Vectors coming here was frightening as they would do their damnedest to search for Draaza technology, but to no avail. At that moment, I had to do my part in protecting the one I loved as I slowly got up from my wheelchair and was ready to fight, but was dashed by Dean who didn't want me to go anywhere. He knew of the Zenith Vectors very well as he also had a beef against them the moment he was ready to rescue whoever was caught in the crossfire, for he didn't want another death on their hands right now.

"I'll handle this," he said to me.

"Reiko is still out there," I said. "I can't just sit by and do nothing. She's walking into a trap and I can't just sit there and do nothing while she's in harm's way! The children are here, but I also worry about Reiko's safety in general. I can't just let her go it alone while she's in the town square doing errands without knowing the—"

"—Stop…" Dean prevents me from going anywhere as he was eager to go topside and face the Zenith Vectors. "I'll go and find her. As for the rest of my unit and those who live near the citadel, they've found hiding places after we got word from Emperor Florian to hunker down and lay low."

"Dean!"

It wasn't long until we saw Ravenna coming towards us as she was glad that he was safe. I was also grateful that some of the vulnerable in Dean's unit were safe in the underground bunker complete with the Adam West embedded underneath the castle as they were also in hiding as well. Still, I wanted to go and find Reiko, but I was also putting my faith in my older brother as he didn't stop until everyone was safe from the wrath of the Zenith Vectors.

"It's a godsend that you're here unharmed," he said.

"Reiko ushered us here," said Ravenna. "She's also looking for others while being armed with the weapons she has."

"And the asshats who rained on our parade are looking for something here that doesn't belong to them…" Dean notices me still shaking nervously as he stopped me at the last minute. "Don't… I'll go and find Reiko. Besides, you're not in good condition to be walking around right now…"

I saw Dean getting ready to set out as he was more than likely to be going topside to fight the threat that lingered here on Skald Island. Even though he had a grudge against the Zenith Vectors, he had to put his personal rage against them on hold as his main priority was to protect everyone here. Still, he had to keep his cool as he would soon be on the battlefield against the Zenith Vectors, for it was something that he couldn't shake at this time…

Reiko was hiding in the distance as she saw the Zenith Vectors touching down further after they entered into the harbor earlier. She was concerned about me as she was noticing several people dressed in their impenetrable suits searching for possible bystanders. She couldn't reach us at this time as she also saw one of them combing through the town square and looking for possible—and yet gullible—humans to recruit to their side, but to no avail. When she got away, she was running for her life, but the bracelet that I made for her caught on a nail and broke into pieces, sending the beads onto the ground. Picking them up, she counted them all, but the big one was missing the moment she saw it on the concrete. Just as she was about to pick it up, she saw Ruby grab it as she swallowed it the moment she was wanting to do more than just to stick it to the Zenith Vectors, for she also knew about the raw power that I had.

"Five second rule, right?" she said.

"I bear no ill will towards you, but that bead contains the raw power that came from Sammy," said Reiko as she placed the rest of the beads in her pocket. "Still, you should be aware of what's yet to come when the real threat is unsealed from its prison."

"I know, but I'm here to put a damper on both the Zenith Vectors and to her."

"Whoever you're referring to, it's not Abaddon, is it?"

"Sylvana's gone mad and she's waiting for Sam to go there and be a sacrifice for the Maladendrum. As for the Zenith Vectors coming here, they want what is hidden away since time immemorial."

"Then I will fight for my family and friends. We all have to fight for something, right? We protect the vulnerable in which they are the most precious of all."

Ruby was moved by Reiko's words as she ended up sensing a vision the moment she found herself in a white wedding dress in a snowy background. What she didn't expect was that she was about to be wed to someone that looked like my past self as he looked similar to Epsilon, who took the full brunt of the torture from his former captors. By the time she returned to reality, she saw Reiko looking further as there was a man dressed in the same armor that was derived from a Va'Kihri polymer on patrol with his unit. The man himself looked more like one of those typical "British gents" due to his crooked face and bad teeth while he sported a mole on his face. Reiko and Ruby observed him carefully as he was looking to hunt down "the other white meat" in which he believed in racial purity in the human race, for he wasn't about to disappoint his superior.

"Damn it…," said Ruby as she saw the man standing still in the distance. "It had to be him of all people…"

"You know of him, don't you?" said Reiko.

"His name is Zbigniew Przybiczak and he's one of the worst in Jacob Doran's group. I went up against him when he threatened to burn an entire village on Claudius. He was also responsible for destroying the federal building in New Capua as well all for wanting to find what was hidden below."

"He's looking for old Draaza technology just like his masters." Reiko starts to worry as she sensed their next motive. "They're going to find the Adam West! It's underneath the castle and everyone is in there! We're going over there, Sammy and the others are in danger!"

It wasn't long until Reiko and Ruby were discovered by the man they were observing as he displayed a grin that was mainly a dead ringer to the Joker despite his appearance with a mole on his face. His short brown hair and steely blue eyes were also a mess, but he didn't care about his appearance as he was eager to trap and kill his targets, for he was looking for something else in particular. To Ruby, he was basically without morals as she also remembered him due to her being in captivity in Helgaard Citadel on Efrafa, for she had a loathing towards him for a long time.

"Hello…, Ruby…," he said as he grinned.

"Zbigniew…," she said as she slightly trembled with the spear in her hands. "You had the gall to join those terrorists just to bolster your ego!"

"Oh, how I missed you in which I even had the gall to—you know-…, lick your pussy?" Zbigniew displays his tongue erotically as Ruby looked at him with a hint of disgust. "Oh, you enjoyed it when you were put in straps on your bed in which I even made you come! Oh, how you kept rejecting my advances is just a turn-on in which I decided not to take no for an answer."

"If you come near me or Lady Reiko, I'll do more than just bust your balls! I'll rip them between your legs!"

"Really? You don't have the guts to do so, for your fear of me is strong and oh, I get off on it!"

Ruby was ready to tear Zbigniew with her spear as she was ready to attack him. What he didn't expect was that a laser blast cut through his ego like a knife through butter as he noticed his suit being slightly torn the moment he looked up on the rooftop from afar. Anger flooded him as he left to find out who was shooting at him in which it was none other than Nibori who was armed with her plasma rifle and her witching tools. She had to create a diversion for Reiko and Ruby to get to the castle as she was aware of the Zenith Vectors coming here to Skald Island, for it was their chance to go over there to where the harbor is.

"Get going!" she yelled. "You have to get to the center island in the ocean! That's where the Maladendrum is!"

Reiko and Ruby obeyed as they left the town square and made their way towards the harbor. The presence of the blood moon over the rising island was a time of dread as they had to hurry and prevent another Dark Awakening. This was Reiko's destiny that she couldn't get out of as she had to hurry in order to protect everyone, for she had to do so before it was too late…

Sylvana was in the island in the center as she was in the ruins of the university. The place itself was a derelict as it was a reminder of what happened nine hundred years ago in which the Maladendrum was waiting to be let out from the Box of Solomon. It also harbored a lingering hatred for the Mahoney Clan as he despised Emperor Clark for sealing it away in the first place. In Sylvana's case, it was a way and mean to cause madness since she came here while escaping from Abaddon's clutches once again. Even though Apollyon aided in her escape, she was there to do what Beryl Beauchamp failed to do in which she was mainly taking matters into her own hands the moment she went towards what was left of the administration building. The Box of Solomon was still holding strong after Dean and Ravenna's intervention to strengthen the seal, but it wasn't enough for the Maladendrum to be aching to break free from its prison. Still, she succeeded in what Beryl failed to do as the blood moon was still going strong, even in the daytime, for she would soon unleash what was meant to be a threat in the making.

"Apollyon was right," she said as she was starting to twitch. "You really do want out of your cramped cage." She sees the Box of Solomon starting to grow weaker as it was starting to crack on the edges. "Hear me, Sam Winchester! You'll be the first sacrifice to feed the Maladendrum, for it demands nourishment!"

Sylvana saw the box beginning to crack further as she was ready to bring back the chaos that nearly destroyed Valinor nine hundred years ago. Her exuberance was overwhelming as she would also know the consequences of her actions, for she never expected to see the error of what she was causing. What she didn't know was that a familiar Father of Murder was watching in the distance as he was also aware of the presence of the Maladendrum, for he had to put a stop to it before it was too late.

"What have you done…, Apollyon?" he said to himself as he was holding the First Blade in his hands. "Is history repeating itself just to add fuel to the fire?"

Cain was disappointed at what the outcome would be as he had to put an end to the Maladendrum once and for all in which he also had to protect the denizens of Hell. Even though he put the battle against Ailnoth on hold, he had to do his part in stuffing the worst of the shedim back into the Box of Solomon, for it would soon break free from its prison…

Reiko made her way to the harbor as she noticed several Zenith Vectors patrolling the shore with Ruby following her. Both of them were looking for a decent boat to sail towards the island in the center, but to no avail. The boats that were on the shore were broken and unsailable as Ruby noticed that a group of Zenith Vectors that were near the shore dashing any efforts of escape in which they made their point clearly, for they were eager to kill anyone on sight if necessary. What Reiko and Ruby didn't expect was that a familiar face was with the Zenith Vectors as he saw her directly, for he knew of her when she came to find me in that restaurant in Raithwall on Westeros.

"It's that earmarker and the bitch who slew Jerome with that pigsticker!" he yelled.

"You really have everyone trapped on this island, don't you, Gunther?" said Ruby as she was pointing her spear at him. "I bet that you got tipped off from Sylvana in which she's leading you to death and destruction."

"Sylvana's business is none of your concern. As for that pathetic earmarker, she'll make a splendid stuffed animal once I take her body to a taxidermist to do so."

"You really know how to get off on killing others that don't look like you, but you're treading on hot coals by banking on an uncontrollable entity like the Maladendrum."

"And you and that earmarker are trying to hightail it, only to be having the boats destroyed. For the record, you can't leave this island; I won't let you!"

It wasn't long until Reiko and Ruby noticed Femto running to their aid as they saw Gunther and his men step back. Even though their suits protected them from further projectiles and melee weapons, they didn't want to mess with a warg as they fled from Femto directly. The old warg was there to aid them as he was no stranger to hunting near the shore, for he wanted to lead them there in order to stop the Maladendrum directly.

"Good boy," said Ruby as she noticed Femto sitting down on his haunches.

"He won't hurt us, but he knows how to swim," said Reiko.

"It's a start, but we have to hurry."

"I know…" Reiko briefly turns around as she looks at the castle in the distance. "Don't worry, Sammy… I'll be fine…" She looks at the bow and quiver of arrows that she has as she was now ready to face the danger ahead. "There's no turning back once we leave the island and to where the Maladendrum is. Everyone is afraid of it, but the blood moon is beckoning it to be taken out of its prison… I'm ready to face the danger, for the Maladendrum must be stopped…"

Reiko made her point clear as she and Ruby got onto Femto's back. When they reached the water, they noticed Femto used to swimming in deeper territory in which he was there to go to the island in the center. She had to protect everyone as she also didn't want anything terrible to happen to our family and friends. She was also concerned for my safety as I was mainly the key of the mess I was in, for she had to do her part just as I did mine…

Dean was in the town square as he saw some of the Zenith Vectors combing parts of the district by causing panic in the streets. He saw Zbigniew and his unit smashing windows as they were looking for possible "enemies" just to toy with for amusement. The presence of the intruders made Dean uneasy as he wanted to go forward with guns blazing, but refrained due to the fact that he couldn't risk it. All he wanted was to have the Zenith Vectors get a taste of their own medicine as he noticed Talulah coming with her rocket launcher, for she was wanting to blow something up on this island.

"I'm bored," she said as she was loading her rocket launcher.

"Jacob wanted us to patrol this island and make sure that Sylvana fulfills her purpose," said Zbigniew. "If you have a problem, then take it up with him on Lannister. Gunther and his unit did a good job by destroying the lifeboats so that no one will flee the island."

"The presence of Abaddon getting pissy unnerves me. She's still pissed off 'cause her 'prized pet' just flew the coop. As soon as she gets what she came for, we'll soon get what we came for, right?"

"There's a Draaza ship hidden here and we won't rest until we find it. We'll also find a certain fool with raw power in which he's the key to opening up the codexes that Epsilon failed to do so."

Dean wanted to slug Zbigniew until he spotted Nibori rushing to his aid. She ended up ushering him to a hiding spot as she also didn't want him to fly off the handle. Still, she knew of what happened at the base on Shiganshina as she also didn't want Dean to lose focus, for she had a loathing for the Zenith Vectors just like he did. The place they were in was one of the condemned buildings as it was a cover for now, for they had to get rid of their enemies before they caused more damage here to Skald Island.

"Those sons-of-bitches are everywhere like bedbugs," he said as he was getting irritated.

"I had to keep the prick with the mole on his face off the trail so that Reiko and Ruby could get to the central island," said Nibori as she fished out a crystal from her holster. "From what was heard and seen due to my witching methods, Jacob Doran isn't here, but his underlings are here calling the shots by busting everything up."

"And the bastards are immune to the attacks with those suits they wear."

"Really? Just because our enemies are impervious to outside attacks, doesn't mean that they're invincible inside of them."

"What are you talking about?"

"Watch and learn…"

Nibori began to cast an incantation on the crystal as Dean looked out the window to see two soldiers combing the condemned areas. What he didn't expect was that the two soldiers felt an intense itching in their crotches the moment they also felt a burning sensation as well. When he saw them strip off their clothes in a panic, they fled as he was glad that the patrol failed in which he was grateful that Nibori used the incantation to hit them where they hurt and that was in the family jewels as well.

"I never expected them to do a strip tease until now," he said.

"The incantation is a combo of itching powder and liquid heat," said Nibori as she put away her crystal. "It's a start, but we can't play possum forever."

"I know 'cause the one that needs to be stopped is Mole Boy and that girl with the rocket launcher. We may be sitting ducks, but we're not about to surrender yet. All I want is to take out the lynchpin who busted up the base on Shiganshina. He's got blood on his hands in which it'll never be washed away clean: he killed Magda, he nearly did away with Rory, and even caused widespread havoc everywhere he goes. All I want is to seek justice for what that son-of-a-bitch has—"

KA-BOOM!

The sound of an explosion shook the condemned area as Dean and Nibori saw a rocket launcher round blow into some of the abandoned houses near them. When they fled out into the open, they saw Talulah standing there with a smirk on her face. She was ready to blow up things as she targeted Dean and Nibori while they dodged her attacks. Both of them made their way towards the town square as they were almost there to Kwangya in Motion. Just as they were about to hide, they saw launcher round blow towards the restaurant the moment that a hole was blown into it. The sight of it being ravaged by rocket fire was the last straw as Dean changed into his diamond form in which he used his projectiles to attack Talulah's bare legs. Pain engulfed her as she was eager to destroy her target in which she never saw Alma coming, for she was ready to finish the job in killing Dean and Nibori where they stood.

"Oh, what a lovely day," she said as she lifted up her rocket launcher. "Well, Dean; are you ready to see Magda again?"

Dean noticed Alma rushing closer with a large hammer in her hands in which she wasn't thrilled with what happened earlier. Rushing towards Talulah, she was determined to do more than just pin her down in which she would soon draw her final breath, for it was nearly the end for her and her large weapon.

"Get away from my restaurant!" she bellowed as she raised her hammer.

At that moment, Dean and Nibori saw Alma whack Talulah with her hammer as she was no more due to her head exploding like a crushed watermelon. With a hint of relief and sadness, all three looked at what was left of Kwangya in Motion as they also had to flush out the rest of the Zenith Vectors from Skald Island. Even though Alma was no stranger to hardship, she also vowed to rebuild her restaurant once the invaders left. Dean, on the other hand, wanted to get rid of the Zenith Vectors as he also wanted them to pay for their crimes, for this wasn't the last he saw them yet.

"I really hate those sons-of-bitches," he said. "They had no right to do this to the people of Skald Island!"

"Don't get too cocky," said Alma cautiously as she put down her hammer. "There's no need for rage or else it'll consume you to no end. As for my restaurant, I will rebuild it in which I can't and won't succumb to despair."

"You're fond of this place, aren't you?" said Nibori.

"I've resided here for years, raised children, and even grandchildren, but having my restaurant destroyed twice won't deter me. I'll rebuild it again, even if it takes me forever to keep it that way. We may lose friends, family members, homes, and businesses, but there is one thing that could never be taken away and that is our dignity."

"Spoken like a true member of the Farragut Clan…," said Dean. "I'm going back to the castle. Let's hope that my unit is there with caution."

"Those suits that our enemies wear are impervious so we can't make a dent in them, but I have a further way of causing trouble for them," said Nibori as she hears a sound in the distance. "Damn it… We have to get going!" She fishes out her talisman as she notices Gunther's forces making their way into the castle. "I know what they're up to and they want the technology from that Draaza ship that's embedded underneath it."

"Son-of-a-bitch! They're not only after the Draaza tech, but they're also after Sam!"

Dean and Nibori had to hurry as they left the town square and towards the castle. Even though the Zenith Vectors made their way here, the true threat was waiting in the wings as it was aching to be let out of its prison. For centuries, everyone feared the Maladendrum as it was even out of control the moment Lucifer put his foot down and sealed it away like the other shedim before it. Now, after nine hundred years of being sealed away, it was ready to be let out as the blood moon hasn't gone away the moment it was eager to bring chaos here on Valinor. In the end of it all, we had to pray for a solution as the only saving grace was the one who was poised to stop it, for this was the darkest hour that was sealed to begin with…

Reiko and Ruby got off of Femto's back as they landed into the central island in the ocean. The very reminder of the place was what remained of the Maladendrum's sinking of it as everything was exposed, including the derelict Va'Kihri ship that was plunged into the ocean nine hundred years prior. Reiko never saw anything like it before as she saw what was left of the university the moment she noticed the dead bodies of the demons who became sacrifices. Ruby also knew of it as she sensed the foolish ambitions of what Apollyon presented. For centuries, she was tortured after her resurrection as she remembered how she was also the personal sex toy to her captors in Helgaard Citadel on Efrafa. The very thought of it scared her as she was reminded of the constant struggle to atone for her sins, especially with her long grudge against Apollyon, for he had an agenda to let out the Maladendrum just to spite Abaddon.

"You seem troubled," said Reiko as she saw Ruby shaking.

"This is Apollyon's doing," she said.

"I know of him because he knows how to rile up his victims just to satisfy his whims. He even tried to play a horrible mind game on my sister after her husband's death."

"Never trust Apollyon! He's been the lynchpin and liaison to Lilith and the Royalists in which he views the only way to subjugate people is to entice the fear and dissent just to bolster his ego. For the record, Lady Reiko, if you're eager to protect someone, guard them carefully."

Reiko and Ruby went further into the ruins of the university as they saw the decay of academia strewn all over the place. The infrastructure of old benches and desks were a reminder of how this once pristine pinnacle of learning became awashed in tragedy once the Maladendrum nearly tore Valinor asunder nine hundred years ago. Even Ruby was aware of such knowledge as she also knew about my past self and his short stint at Stanford in the Elder Days. She also knew about how Azazel changed his life in which the deceased Royalist propelled him on a hunt of a lifetime, for his desire to have a normal life was dashed after the death of his girlfriend at the time.

"If the Sam of Old were here, he would've been steeped in all those books before this place was torn asunder nine hundred years ago," she said. "If only he came here once…"

"I'm afraid of this place already, but there's no turning back," said Reiko as she clutched at her bow.

"The Dark Awakening may have ended when Emperor Clark sealed the Maladendrum away in the Box of Solomon, but this university wasn't the only casualty."

"According to what Sammy told me, Ravenna's children found themselves in an old Va'Kihri ship in which there was some old technology."

"And the crew who entered here abandoned it just to live normal lives here on this island…"

"I never knew about this place before, but we can't fail this mission. The Maladendrum must be stopped, for not even the blood moon would strengthen it further."

It wasn't long until an ominous sound was heard as Reiko and Ruby rushed towards the ruins of the administration building. What they didn't expect was that Sylvana was there as she was standing near the Box of Solomon. She was exuberant as she used an incantation to breach the Box of Solomon the moment she saw Reiko and Ruby rush into the room, but it was too late. The blood moon in the sky showed no sign of slowing down as it strengthened the Maladendrum's resolve to scratch out of its prison. By the time that the entity was let out of there, it engulfed the room as it was starting to cover the ruins with its hellish tendrils. Sylvana was cackling wildly as she was more than likely to be using her weapon against those who opposed her, for nothing would stand in her way at present.

"You insolent fools!" she yelled. "You've come too late!"

"You're playing with fire, Sylvana!" yelled Ruby as she was holding her spear in her hands. "You have no idea of what you've let out in which that monster will stop at nothing to consume everything around it and not stopping! It doesn't give a damn about you or the people who live here! It only cares about poisoning the planet! No wonder Lucifer called it an apex predator…"

"Oh, this 'apex predator' will consume any form of sacrifice it'll muster!"

It wasn't long until the Maladendrum quickly began to manifest Sylvana's body in which it found the perfect vessel in her. Reiko and Ruby were concerned about what was going on as they saw Sylvana standing up in which her eyes glowed a crimson red complete with an ominous glow all over. She was yearning for destruction as it was already too late, for the Maladendrum found its vessel to be beneficial just to navigate in.

"This apex predator is just getting started right now…!" it yelled as it displayed its evil aura over its host. "Oh, how I waited for this…; right…, Abaddon?!"

To be continued...