Matilda breathed deep of the fresh morning air. She sighed happily, "Ah. It's such a beautiful day outside. The kind where you make plans to go out on a picnic with your loved ones. Don't you agree, Good Hunter?"

She leaned back into the Huntress' lap, the horse's gentle gait rocking her to sleep. She adjusted herself until she was laying straight across the taller woman's legs, eyes focused on the blue sky above. The Huntress looked down at the Doll in her lap. Her hands held the horse's reins while she gently used her thighs to guide the beast on the right path. One of Selina's eyebrows rose as she stared at Matilda, "And what has you so relaxed, Matilda? Especially when one considers our destination."

Matilda waved a dismissive hand through the air, "Oh, Good Hunter. There's no need to be so serious. Lescatie is at least a few days away by horse. Even if we went through the night, we wouldn't be anywhere near our destination. So, what's wrong with relaxing a bit before we get there?"

"That there will still be Mamono between us and our ultimate destination."

Matilda flinched, "R-Right. But my point still stands. Why worry about something that won't be the case for a long time to come?"

Selina frowned down at Matilda but saw the Doll's point. She lifted her gaze from her passenger and focused it on the vast grasslands in front of them. Ahead of them was more green grass bending with the morning breeze, and beyond that a dense treeline that marked the end of Pran's territory. To her left and right, she could see various squat dwellings surrounded by flat plains.

She turned around, seeing the town getting smaller as she and Matilda got further and further away. She smiled beneath her bandana, "It was fortunate for us that the Guard Captain had a horse he could loan us."

"On the condition that we send it back when we reach the border," Matilda pointed out, turning around until she was lying on her stomach. She reached down and patted the spotted brown horse's side. It whinnied while hanging its head low and shaking its mane out. Matilda giggled while her hand continued to rub the horse's side, "Though it's expected. We wouldn't want our noble steed here to get corrupted by the Demon Realm's mana."

Selina frowned before looking down at Matilda, "Mamono mana can infect horses?"

"Oh yes. It infects everything," Matilda said as if she were informing a toddler about why the sky was blue. She continued to stare at the ground below them as she spoke, "It's very prolific. If it can gain a foothold anywhere the land doesn't have corrupted mana, it can spread far and wide. To anything and everything. From the ground you walk on, to the air you breathe."

She turned back around to look up at the Huntress. She opened her hands up and stretched her arms toward the open sky, "It's what makes invading Demon Realms so difficult. Men are fine as long as they don't ingest any of the fauna or fluids in the environment. But Women? They draw in mana from the surrounding environment. Just being in a Demon Realm without sufficient protection or willpower will result in instantaneous corruption."

"Thus why we will be sending our horse back to Pran on its own," Selina stated. Matilda simply nodded while she began to process what the Doll said. She looked back down at Matilda, "You say it infects the land itself. Does that mean any nations neighboring a Demon Realm are in danger of corrupting?"

Matilda nods her head, "Indeed. Though the process can be slowed or accelerated based on certain factors."

"Such as?"

"How much a nation welcomes Mamono for example. Not all Mamono come into a land planning to corrupt it, but some do so simply by existing. Holstaurs are relatively safe, as long as you purify their milk. The various Mamono created and blessed by the Goddesses are fine. But Mamono like Werewolves or Living Dolls, such as myself, will start causing corrupting mana to spread easier."

Matilda stretched her arms above her head while letting out a yawn. Her ball-jointed limbs creaked with her movements, as she laid her hands on her stomach and continues, "That's for those that are obvious. Then there are the more subtle ones, such as the Ratatoskrs."

"And they are?"

"Cute squirrel girls who have a wide-spanning news organization in Demons Realms and some human nations. If there's any information that needs to be spread amongst a populace, they're the first ones to do so."

"They run the News?" Selina didn't try to hide her surprise.

Matilda tilts her head up at Selina, "You know of it?"

"I knew of something similar. Back in my home before...before Yharnam," Selina explained, face contorting into a frown. She was under the impression that this world was far behind her own in terms of technological and cultural advancements. But if there existed an analog to Press Coverage, then perhaps that wasn't the case. Did they have a printing press? Was mass production possible in this world?

Matilda shrugged, "While I don't know much about how such a thing works in your world, Good Hunter, I am knowledgeable of the version the Ratatoskrs use. And, let me just say, that it isn't as great as you may think."

"How so?"

"The Ratatoskrs usually just spread news of major events. But if they manage to set up a branch of their office within a neutral or Order aligned city, they will begin to spread Pro-Monster Propaganda. This wouldn't be a problem...save for the fact that they usually cover or fill such information with corrupting mana. Meaning those who read it develop a tendency toward favoring Mamono. And...you can see where that goes," Matilda's voice never rose above a neutral tone. Her expression remained passive as she stared up at the Huntress and spoke her piece.

Selina's eyes furrowed, "I see. Is there anything the Mamono can't corrupt with their abilities?"

"Outside of yourself and possibly my Progenitor? Not that I am aware of."

Selina looked down at the grassy plains below the horse's hooves. Her bandana hid her frown, but her displeasure could be heard in her tone of voice, "Then I suppose we will be able to tell when we reach Mamono territory. We simply must look for devastated lands and blighted plant life?"

"Oh no. The general land will look healthier than this."

Selina was silent for a few moments as she processed what she just heard.

Then she turned back to Matilda, "Come again?"

Matilda nodded as she spoke, "It is true. The natural life of Demon Realms looks far healthier and becomes more prolific when corrupted by Mamono mana. It is within lands filled with such mana that you are more likely to find rare plants and ores due to the presence of Mamono mana."

"How is that possible?" Selina asked while she adjusted her grip on the reins. By this point, they couldn't even see Pran anymore, and the sun had traveled a small distance across the sky. It sat above and to the left of the small traveling party, making their shadows lengthen to their right. Selina continued, "Taking into account what happens when a human is corrupted, it is hard to believe that something like that could be good for the environment."

Matilda pushed herself into a sitting position. She raised her right index finger as she began to explain, "As stated, mana sustains everything in this world. Mana, in general, is a net benefit for everything in the world. Thus, the more mana something has, the more beneficial effects it will receive. Plants will be livelier, metal ores more abundant, and living beings bigger and heartier. This is true of mana in general, but demonic mana seems to have some special...properties to it."

"Such as?"

"A higher propensity for mutation. In Lescatie, there is this particularly sturdy metal called Druelite. Named after the White Lilim herself, this metal was made from crystals the former king found in a mine one day. While the crystals were beautiful, they could only hold a small amount of mana within them. If someone with mana ever touched one, it would shatter and become useless. But infusing the crystals with a large amount of demonic mana strengthened them and removed their limits. Now, they are one cornerstone of Lescatie's Demon Realm. You can find it in almost everything they make. All because some random crystal absorbed the mana of the White Lilim."

Selina slowly nodded her head, "That...is interesting. And this is a common occurrence?"

"Common enough that it applies to everything that gets corrupted. All limits that were placed on them are removed, allowing complete changes from top to bottom."

"Hmm...and are there any side effects?"

Matilda's expression fell as she nodded, "Yes. All things that are corrupted will, inevitably, turn to a Mamono's way of thinking and operating."

Selina frowned, "Because Mamono mana comes from the Demon Lord?"

"And the current Demon Lord is a succubus. Thus, any corruptive mana will make things become sexual or connect back to sex. Crops grown in corrupted soil will cause those who eat them to either monsterize or become unbearably horny with a single bite. Flora have a chance to mutate into new types of Mamono, or might even absorb enough mana to give off clouds of corrupting air. Not even the animals are safe. They become Demon Beasts."

"Beasts?" Selina's head jerked to Matilda, tightening her grip on the reins.

She calmed down when Matilda shook her head, "Not the kind that you know of, Good Hunter. Demon Beasts are animals that exposure to Demonic Mana has mutated. They are much larger, stronger, and more docile than normal animals. At least, the majority of them are. I've heard that some get more aggressive, but they tend to be rare. However, they all have two characteristics in common; They spread corrupting mana wherever they go, and they get closer to riders who have sex with their partners near them."

Selina stared blankly at Matilda, "Seriously?"

"Seriously. That is the primary way most mounted soldiers bond with their steeds. Some have even been known to fuck right on the backs of their mounts. How they're able to keep their balance is either a mystery or a testament to how calm the Demon Beasts can be. The fact that they mainly stay in Demon Realms instead of traveling across the world."

"Such a thing would be a problem if it were the case," Selina stated, eyes furrowing as she took in what she had just learned. She had no reason to doubt what Matilda was saying. And as she considered the general power of Mamono mana, she kept coming back to the same line of thinking. If Mamono mana was indeed this powerful and beneficial toward those who were affected by it, why did it have the effect of making everything more sexual?

Matilda had said that it came from a succubus, but was that really all there was to it? If this Demon Lord is truly as strong as she's been led to believe, why didn't she change how corruptive mana worked? She had to have the ability to do so. If she does not, then why? Why wouldn't she have full control over something that originates from her? The Huntress knew that there were beings who caused supernatural phenomena just by existing in a general area. But this Demon Lord seemed rather active. Or at least her monsters were. And taking into account how Teresa had said that the Mamono all want "love", she doubts that the Demon Lord is completely unaware of what her mana does to those it infects.

If she can change the way it works, then why does she not? She doubted there would be as many problems with her corrupting the world if she did. Who would deny something that could make you stronger, made nature healthier, and allows for the overcoming of typical limits with no ill side effects? Why must they be turned into a monster or have their faculties overcome by never-ending lust to obtain those boons?

Because if that was the only way to the good, then the Demon Lord's corrupting mana was little better than the Blood. Both caused suffering to others. It's just that one was more carnal in nature.

Selina was driven from her thoughts when she felt a weight on her back. She looked over her shoulder to see Matilda holding onto her cape. The doll's lips were curled into a wide smile as she rested her chin on Selina's shoulder. Eyebrow raising, Selina asks the doll, "Is there something you find amusing about me, Matilda?"

"Not you specifically. I just thought I'd ask you something that's been on my mind. I've told you so much already, after all," the doll rested her head in her hands, innocently batting her eyelashes.

"Hmm, what did you want to ask?"

"What's your favorite color?"

For a moment, Selina was completely speechless. She stared at Matilda with the expectation that the doll would say she was joking. When Matilda continued to stare at her without blinking, she realized the doll was serious. The Huntress was silent as her mind tried to process the doll's words. She...couldn't remember the last time anyone asked her what her favorite color was. Not even Eve had ever asked her that. Though, she supposed there was little time for telling anyone such things when looking at the bigger picture. But still...

Matilda hummed as she waited for Selina's answer. Starting to feel awkward, Selina finally answered, "Um...uh...I...I'm not sure if I have one."

"Come now, Good Hunter. Everyone has a favorite color. Mine's purple!" she pulled at the sleeves of her dress for emphasis. Then she turned back to the Huntress, "You must have some idea."

"Well, um," the Huntress cleared her throat, thankful that her bandana was covering the blush on her face. After a few moments, she spoke again, "I...I have always been partial to a pure white coloration."

"Really? What for?"

"I just...like the way it looks when combined with other colors. It matches so well no matter what outfit it's included with," she brought up one of her gloved hands to emphasize.

Matilda's smile grew wider as she started clapping, "See? I knew you had one."

"I suppose. But why-"

The Huntress cut herself off as she felt her instincts scream at her. She pulled up on the horse's reigns, making it neigh as it came to a halt in the middle of their path. A second later, something fell from the sky and landed right in front of the party of two. Selina readied herself while Matilda leaned over the Huntress' shoulder to get a good look at what had appeared before them.

That was when they both noticed the two pure white wings reaching toward the sky.

"Greetings, Visitor From Beyond. The Chief God requests a word with you."

----------------------------------------

"I am sorry, Nobu," Koga said as his hand ran along his steed's neck. The horse was breathing heavily while laying on the ground. It kept shaking its head while drinking heartily from the water skin Koga held to its lips. Koga continued to admonish himself, "I pushed you too hard. I should've realized you were at your limits."

The horse snorted and flicked its tail to the right.

Koga grimaced and shook his head, "No, my friend. You are not too weak or slow. I let my desperation blind me to your pain. Please. rest for now."

His horse whinnied but just kept drinking from the waterskin. While Nobu drank, Koga gave their surroundings a quick once over. He squinted his eyes as he tried to spot anything of note. A thick canopy of healthy leaves hung above them, only allowing rays of sunlight through small openings above. The grass was a healthy dark green, reaching up to his ankles in height. The trunks of trees look sturdy and hard enough to survive even the harshest of winds.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

After his head did three circuits around their current area, he sighed with frustration and a shake of his head. He couldn't find a single familiar thing in the area. It all looked the same as before. Save for the healthier-looking plant life. He knew that they were heading in a northeastern direction. He could tell that much by the placement of the sun in the sky. But after galloping back into greener pastures, Nobu's fatigue had begun to catch up with him. Koga had ignored his horse's pain, hoping beyond hope that his steed could push through. But when it almost tumbled to the ground from leaping over a fallen log, he knew that he had to stop. If he didn't, then Nobu might have suffered an injury he wouldn't have been able to recover from. Koga had brought the horse to a stop and now they were here.

He let out a sigh and continued to rub Nobu's neck. When Nobu moved his head away from the now empty, waterskin, Koga placed the object on his hip. He didn't say anything while Nobu started to eat the grass beneath them. The horse's chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm as it rested with Koga by its side. Koga took his hand away from Nobu and stood to walk to his steed's side. He sat down before leaning back into the expanse of Nobu's middle. Nobu whinnied but didn't seem to mind his rider's presence. Koga turned his head toward the canopy above as he spoke, "I'm not going anywhere until you get back on your hooves, Nobu. Just graze and rest. When you're ready to move, let me know."

There was no reply, but Koga didn't mind. He took his scabbard and set it across his lap with his sword still in it. The feeling of his weapon within easy reach gave him a measure of comfort in the strange land he found himself in. He set aside feelings of desperation and shame at not continuing to move for the moment. Even if he wanted to get moving, he wouldn't be able to cover nearly as much ground without Nobu. Hooves tended to be faster than feet when it came to traversing long distances.

He frowned as his thoughts turned to the Good Hunter. The woman who had given him this second chance at life. Where was she right now? Was she safe? No, of course she was. He may have only fought against her once as Kogero, but he knew she was not to be trifled with. Even if her opponent was a powerful monster, her powers would insulate her from any vile magic they use on her. That would be enough to give her good odds against a variety of foes. He may not have seen how she does in battle, yet, but he knew she would be just as deadly without her powers.

Despite this fact, his frown deepened. But it wasn't out of worry for the Good Hunter. It was because he didn't know what her plan was. She had explained how she planned to go to Lescatie and meet with Druella before he left. It had happened when the two were heading back with the harpies he had defeated over their shoulders. He hadn't said anything at the time, choosing to trust in the Huntress and what she was doing. But he knew that it wouldn't be as simple as walking into Lescatie and talking the White Lilim down. While he had never met the daughter of the Demon Lord, he had known of her as Kogero. And from what his former mistress had said, the conqueror of Lescatie hadn't remained idle. She was watching both him and the Good Hunter using her powers. No doubt she was prepared for the Huntress' arrival. He wanted to say that the Lilim didn't have a single thing that could hurt the Huntress in any way that mattered.

But he knew better than to underestimate an opponent.

Thus why he needed to get to the Huntress. He needed to be there to help her. Even if Druella knew of his existence, even if she had prepared a contingency for him, he wouldn't let the Huntress face this threat alone. What he had said to Silvia Scarlet would mean nothing if he did.

Koga let out a deep sigh as he continued to stare at the sky. His eyes turned toward the ground, watching as the tall grass gets covered by a layer of fog that-

"Wait," Koga stiffened and got to his feet. He put his weapon back in against his hip, one hand on the hilt and the other pressing his thumb against the guard. He widened his stance as the unnatural fog began to snake its way across the ground toward him and Nobu. It flew past his feet, making even his undead flesh shiver from the cold wetness of it. His eyes roamed the area, trying to find the source of the unnatural mist. That was when he heard it.

The sound of hoofbeats and the clattering of armor.

His gaze locked onto the path directly in front of him, making him face the way he and Nobu had come from. He could see a shadow within the trees as it marched toward him. It moved at a leisurely pace, but its stance was anything but. Even from a distance, Koga could tell the creature was prepared for combat. Especially when he saw the outline of a blade hanging from its right side. His feet parted the grass beneath as he got into his Dragon Stance. His eyes blazed with blue fire as the stranger came through the treeline and into view.

Astride atop a black armored warhorse was what he could only describe as a knight. The armor she wore was the same black color as her horse's, save that it was far more revealing. Gauntlets that connected back to her flat shoulder pauldrons covered her arms. Her greaves covered only her feet and lower legs, while her pure white thighs were open to the elements. She wore no other lower garments, leaving her black underwear open for all to see. The armor on her torso only covered the lower part of her chest, making her bust seem much bigger than her armor could contain. Her midriff was completely bare and showed off the slightly muscled skin underneath. She wore no helm, letting Koga see her long light blue hair and stern yet kind expression. Her sharp purple eyes locked onto his and her expression started to soften even more. She bowed her head, the choker around her neck not hindering her movement in the slightest.

But while his adversary drew the eye, the main thing that caught Koga's attention was her weapon.

The blade rested snugly in her right hand, with its tip pointed toward the ground. Rather than the black coloration of its wielder, the broadsword was a deep purple. Its guard was ovular, with spikes protruding upward toward the rest of the blade. In the center of the guard was a dark red crystal that Koga swore looked like the baleful eye of some long-dead creature. The weapon's blade was double-edged, and the tip was a strange spade-like shape with another, smaller crystal within it.

Koga swore he could feel something...off about that weapon. He wasn't sure what exactly made him think that. But he didn't dismiss the feeling outright. Not until he saw what the weapon could do.

The voice of the newcomer drew him from his musings, "Salutations, sinner." She spoke with a deep, eerie tremor that reminded Koga of Hel. And, like Hel, he could see the pity clear in her eyes. She lifted her blade and moved it so it was covering the left side of her face, "Do not fear. I have sensed the hatred within your heart. The burning sin within that brings you and those around you so much pain. No doubt you have experienced much hardship and heartbreak due to it. But it is alright now. For I will bring you Salvation."

Instinctively, Koga took out his sword and held it up to his neck.

The next second, he heard a clang as he barely managed to parry his adversary's attack.

Despite this, he felt his feet leave the ground as the force of the attack sent him flying to the left. He crashed into the ground, the shock of the blow surging through his arms as he hit the grassy earth. Quickly getting to his feet, he turned to face his adversary.

Who was still on her horse.

And had somehow moved faster than his eyes could see.

His opponent hummed, intrigue in her voice, "You blocked it? How surprising."

Koga stared the woman down while he completely unsheathed his sword. He wasted no time placing his palm against its blade and summoning the blue fire that burned with him. It covered the blade as he dragged his hand along it, the blood on the tip igniting within seconds. Its blaze was so bright that the surrounding fog was driven back by a few inches.

His adversary nodded, "Ah, of course. Your blade is magical. It wouldn't have been able to stop me otherwise."

Nobu whinnied while getting to his hooves. He tried to move toward Koga, but the Mamono's horse interposed itself between the two. It turned a baleful eye on Nobu and snorted. Nobu froze in place with its tail between its legs.

"Nobu! Leave him be, beast," Koga shouted, brandishing his weapon at the assailant.

"Hmm? Oh, don't worry about Nelly here. She's as gentle as a newly born filly. Isn't that right?" the Mamono reached down and began to pet the horse's neck. Kelly leaned her head into the Mamono's hand.

With a shout, Koga dashed forward, putting his blade in its scabbard before slashing out at his target. He aimed for the mount's legs to cripple it and slow the Mamono's movements. But, to his shock, the horse jumped out of the way of his blade. Its movements were far too graceful for its size, not to mention how its armor should've been slowing it down. Yet it moved with a dancer's agility as it hopped around to Koga's left, letting its rider strike out with her weapon yet again. Koga moved his blade up to block, only to feel the same force from before sending him flying back yet again. He hit the ground with no time to gather his thoughts, for the enemy was upon him in a moment.

He sheathed his blade and then slashed upward at the approaching rider, sword aiming for her exposed thigh. Her weapon danced through the air as it parried Koga's attack. Koga saw a flash of silver out of the corner of his eye. Next thing he knew, the air was driven from his lungs as a horse's leg buried itself in his chest. He coughed while backing up, a hoof print visible on the center of his torso. Looking up, he gasped as the same numbing feeling from when he was hit by Totha's hammer spread through his body. He willed it away with a growl, sheathing his blade once more as he locked eyes with his opponent.

"You are truly abnormal. Most could not stand after one of Nelly's kicks," the Mamono praised Koga as her blade came down in an arc, aiming for his neck once again. His weapon flashed, sparks and tiny flames exploding out as their weapons clashed. Koga felt his right arm shake as he struggled to hold back the enemy's weapon. The Mamono seemed to have no such difficulty. She continued to speak even as she tried to force Koga back, "Such willpower could only come about through a lifetime of struggle and strife. It shows how much your sin has harmed you."

"Speak sense, monsters!" Koga grabbed his hilt with both hands, holding his ground despite his opponent's power, "What 'sin' have I committed to warrant this?!"

"Your hatred for Mamono," his adversary didn't even change her tone of voice. She spoke as if what she said was the most obvious thing in the world, "I can sense it within you. Even though you try to suppress it, it burns like a wildfire inside your soul. And that hatred stops you from experiencing the greatest happiness in this world. The salvation that comes from partnering with a Mamono. And-"

"Silence, you damn monster!" Koga rolled to the left, his enemy's blade hitting the earth without even leaving a mark. He got to one knee and held his weapon up with its tip pointed toward his opponent. His eyes blazed as he spoke, "I have barely heard you speak, and I have already grown tired of your prattle! If my hatred of being forced to be a husband to one of your kind is a sin, then I carry it with pride! And nothing you say will change that!"

The Mamono didn't look the slightest bit bothered by Koga's voice. Her eyes were filled with pity as she stared at Koga, "Such a violent rejection. Your sin truly runs deep. I give you my apology for not coming to free you of this burden sooner. But everything will be alright. For a few moments, your salvation will come."

Her blade's edge started to glow a bright purple. With a flick of her wrist, a magenta wave of magical energy appeared in front of her. Koga's body tensed as he recognized the technique being used in front of him; The Magic Cut. The most basic technique that any weapon user could learn with enough time and practice. Passing magic through their weapon, they gain the ability to launch their attacks outward in waves of light. He knew that the bigger the Cut, the more magic had been put into the attack. And this Magic Cut was long enough to fit around his neck.

But it didn't fly toward Koga. No, it hung in the air between him and the mounted knight. She swung again, creating a second cut that hung in the air. Then a third. Then a fourth. She kept going until seven cuts all floated before her, aiming directly at Koga.

Then she pointed her weapon's tip toward him.

Instantly, all the purple cuts flew at him at the same time. Some trailed behind the others, but they all had the same target; Koga.

His blade flashed as he parried the first Cut to reach him, his own sword cleaving the attack in two. Its two halves harmlessly hit the surrounding earth. He dashed forward to dodge the second attack...right into a waiting strike from his opponent. His blade came up, but his block was sloppy and rushed. The enemy's weapon hit his guard and sent him backward. The force of the attack knocked him off balance, giving two of the Magic Cuts a clear path to him. They swerved around the back of the knight and surged toward him. With a herculean effort, he managed to cut through one of the Cuts, but the other hit him on his left shoulder.

Koga grit his teeth hard to stop himself from crying out. He tried to grab his hilt with his left arm, but became aware of a horrible fact.

He couldn't feel his left arm.

He looked to his left and saw that his arm was still attached to him. But, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get it to move. It hung limply at his side, completely useless and only slowing him down.

He didn't have time to focus on that, however. Three more Magic Cuts were heading his way, along with another attack from their progenitor. Eyes narrowed, he watched and waited for his enemy and the Magic Cuts to surround him. Then, at the last second, he dodge-rolled forward. The enemy's sword passed over his head while the Cuts all collided in the air. They exploded in a flash of purple light as he rolled past the left side of the knight's horse. Nelly kicked out at the warrior as he rolled by, but her hooves only managed to shave a few hairs off his head.

He got to his feet, grunting while trying to lift his numb arm up with him. The knight turned her horse to face him. The pity remained on her face, "Why do you fight, poor warrior? Present your neck to me, and you will be free of your sin. There is no need to fear when such bliss awaits you."

Koga spat toward the knight. He turned his sword around in his grip, the flames on its blade still burning. Then, with a deep breath, he shoved it into his left arm. Immediately, he felt the numbness abate as his nerves came back to life. A brief cry of pain escaped his lips as he pulled the blade out of his arm. Blue flames covered the hole he made and the nerves in his left arm screamed at him. But he could feel it again. That's all that mattered. Ignoring the burning pain, he placed his left hand on the hilt of his weapon as he spoke, "This 'salvation' you speak of sounds little better than imprisonment. You say my hatred of your kind is a 'sin'. Yet, were I to let you take my head, what would happen to me?"

"You will not die, if that is your fear. Ever since my transformation, my edge no longer sends souls to the afterlife. Instead, it will merely put you into a half-dead slumber. One that can only be broken by another Mamono. And whatever Mamono rescues you from that slumber will doubtlessly become your wife. As your lovemaking will cleanse the hatred from your soul. You will be redeemed and reborn, understanding the wonderful bliss that is being with a compassionate Mamono wife," the knight put a hand on her chest as a happy sigh left her lips. Her eyes were closed as if she were imagining the moment that she spoke of right now.

Koga's response was barking laughter.

Her expression fell while her eyes opened to see the Ochimusha's body shaking with laughter. When he stopped, he shot a baleful glare at his adversary. He took a step forward while keeping his weapon held tight in both hands, "That is the 'salvation' you offer? You act like such a thing is supposed to free me. But all you have to offer is another form of imprisonment. I expected no less from the deluded sort you Mamono prove yourselves to be."

"What cruel words. Your hate must deeply stain your soul."

"That hate is what keeps me fighting against you monsters!"

"The exact reason you need my help."

"Your 'help' is simply you trying to force me to be like you! I would sooner die a third time than allow such a thing to happen to me!"

The knight's pitying stare only grew stronger with each word Koga spat her way. She shook her head before bringing her weapon to bear once more, "It is as I feared. Your sin runs far deeper than even I could imagine. You have become blinded by it. Unable to see the truth, even when it is right in front of you. There is only one way to save you from such a fate."

"Try it if you dare, monster," Koga replied, spacing his feet apart and readying his weapon for the next pass. However, when he and the knight charged at each other for another exchange, he soon became aware of a dreadful fact.

She outmatched him.

She had him on the defensive the moment they got close enough. She attacked him three times in quick succession, her sword becoming violet blurs each time her arm moved. He barely managed to parry two of them and was forced to duck away from the third. When he tried to counterattack, either she'd parry his blow with ease or her horse would dodge out of the way for her. If her steed wasn't helping her dodge his attacks, it was attacking him itself. It would regularly launch kicks and stomps his way in an attempt to distract him or throw him off balance. Sometimes it seemed like the two were working in tandem. He would swing at the knight's thigh, but the horse would tilt itself in just the right way to make it blow ding off its armor. Then the knight would counterattack, forcing him to block or dodge. Then the horse would follow up with a kick from its back legs, sending Koga backward with the force of the blow.

And if her sword skills weren't bad enough, she would mix in her Magical Cuts with her attacks. A downward swing would leave behind an energy blade that flew at Koga's neck the moment their weapons clashed. Even when he dodged, her next attack would be coming at him without fail. He tried to use his Dragon Stance to cleave her mount's legs, but it would either jump over the attack, or its rider would interrupt him by sending a Magic Cut his way.

She managed to leave numerous cuts and slashes across his body.

While Koga hadn't even hit her once.

When the two separated again, Koga's clothes were a mess. She had torn his shirt to tatters, revealing his bluish torso underneath. He could feel a throbbing ache coming from his heart, but one blaze of willpower was all it took to dampen it. An errant wind blew through the air as the two warriors stared each other down. The fog beneath them had grown thick enough to cover Koga's ankles, and the Knight's blade seemed to illuminate part of the ground. Neither side spoke as they prepared themselves for another exchange. Koga cursed under his breath. If things kept up like this, he wasn't sure if he could make good on his words. If he could just get her off her horse, then he'd have a better chance of beating her. Or at least put them on a more equal footing. But the beast was as nimble as a cat and kicked with the force of a mule. He could still feel his ribs aching from the numerous hits he took from its hind legs. He needed space to think of a strategy, but he knew he couldn't do that while in the same area as the knight. If only he could-

Then Koga heard a familiar whinny through the fog.

Nelly jumped to the left as Nobu came galloping by her, his hooves thundering toward Koga without care for the armored horse.

"Nobu!" Koga shouted as his horse ran toward him. With no time to waste, he sheathed his weapon and then grabbed onto his horse's reins when it got close. He ignored the whiplash as he swung himself into the saddle, pulling at Nobu's reins to get him under control. He reared up with a loud whinny before stamping its feet and turning to the northeast at Koga's instruction. Koga kicked Nobu's sides, sending the horse galloping into the trees and away from the knight. He needed to make some distance between them. Give himself time to recover and think of a new plan. Even if she followed them, they'd both be on horseback this time. She wouldn't have the same advantage as before.

The knight stared after Koga's retreating back. Then, with a simple pull of her reins, her horse broke into a gallop to chase the Ochimusha down.

----------------------------------------

"The Chief God has a request of me?" Selina's eyebrow rose as she stared at her newest companion.

Valkyia, the Valkyrie who had intercepted Selina and Matilda, gave Selina a stiff nod, "Yes. It is something only you can do. And, should you complete the task, you will gain the favor of the head of the human pantheon."

"And what exactly is this task?" Selina's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

The Valkyrie held out her hand to reveal a bright marble bracelet, "Give this to Sasha Fullmoon. Reveal the truth to her. And bring her back to the Chief God's light."