"Marik, what have you been doing that you are so late?" Sebastian raced towards me to greet me near Mesoa's capital. His blood-stained face told me that he had already fought Xishun without me. "The other army is looking for you. Our brothers are currently staring at them after fighting for half a day."

"They will not start the real battle without me? Those fools must have come for my head. Well, I will let them try killing me." I scrape the dried blood of my friend's cheeks. Did I see Zoticus glare at us from the corner of my eye?

The tanned man sneered. "Well, they're not going to be able to kill you. I'm going to guard you until I know that I can kill you myself! I'm going to be the one to end your life!"

"I do invite you to the party." I start to follow my friend into the city, asking general questions about our progress. "What are the Mesoans doing? Does Xishun rely heavily on fire devices?"

"The Mesoans are staying neutral, locking themselves in their homes. You can walk through Mesoa and not encounter a soul. Even their king is stowing away in his castle!" Sebastian waved an arm to bring our attention to the deserted streets.

We could not see a single dog and green flags hung listlessly from golden poles.

"As for the Xishun army, they only use fire and exploding devices. We will easily win against them because we have powerful gods of water and rivers." My friend nodded at Zoticus. Humbling himself, he stops walking to place a hand to his armoured chest and bowed. "Slave Boy, I apologize for dismissing your analysis of the battle."

"I don't need apologies from dumb people. Marik believed me and that is enough for me." Zoticus fired back at Sebastian. He must feel annoyed by my friend.

"Zoticus, Sebastian is a prideful man. We don't know how much it took him to humble himself by bowing to a slave and apologizing." I hesitantly reached for his broad shoulders.

Zoticus pulled away from me as fast as lightning. His arms tightened around Lorica as we walked on through empty streets. "If you're telling me that so I will forgive him, keep dreaming. My purpose is to help you until I kill you, not make your friends comfortable."

"You're helping me?" I ran up to Zoticus, gripped his right shoulder and turned him around. Sweat dripped off my nose. I move my eyebrows. "What did you say?"

Zoticus glared at me, fierce as a lion. "We're not here for idle talk. Interpret whatever I said however you wish, I will not deny or admit. I loathe being belittled by others whom I do not know."

Sebastian fit the description perfectly and now, I understood where his fury originates. My friend walked before us, oblivious to Zoticus' words.

If I were someone like Zoticus, I too would be annoyed by people assuming I'm weak. When I was younger I experienced the same thing as Zoticus. Being made out to be lesser than my true self had been insulting. It gets worse when I was judged based on my age and appearance.

Zoticus may be younger than us, but he understands war enough to warn us about wasting our efforts on Xishun. He knew more about the relationships between kingdoms, stating that Mesoa feels threatened by its neighbour. We see that he is correct as all Mesoans are holed up in their homes.

If he had taught me anything during our brief days together, it was the faces will not tell my eyes everything there is to see. I had originally thought Zoticus looked too young and fragile, I did not know he could be wise. I did not expect him to think about life as much as he does.

Sebastian had been very wrong to snap at Zoticus, telling the latter he knew nothing.

I saw the fury in those golden eyes when he was told his experience was not enough to give him a say. I can cut the tension between the men using a dagger. I felt uncomfortable, caught in the middle of their rivalry. I see that pride is a dangerous thing.

"General!" My men rushed to their feet, faking looks of excitement after sitting on dirt for so long. It had taken an eternity to reach the battlefield where a battle is not raging. My brothers huddle around me, informing me of the situation.

Xishun refused to keep fighting after realizing I was not present and as I already know, they only use fire. Xishun's ruler had met with Mesoa's king earlier today, asking for an alliance. The latter rejected the offer and Xishun immediately declared war on Mesoa.

"Is their leader sick? No level of confidence would make a strategic man declare war on a potential ally!" I shook my head in disappointment, having expected some fun from this expedition. Xishun's ruler ruined the war. "Furthermore, Mesoa will react to the war although they planned to stay neutral."

"Xishun must be possessed or stupid," Sebastian muttered to my right.

"From what I've heard and seen about them, it's the latter. There's one thing we can agree on," Zoticus said to my left. Zoticus chuckled, sounding very sly. No one ever knows what he is thinking.

"Marik, who is he?" Dade pointed a pale finger at the tan man carrying a baby. The diabolic elf cringed, feeling warmth and light radiating from Zoticus. "I do not like him around you."

"You're only speaking for yourself, Marik loves having me around him." Zoticus stuffed words into my mouth and if I had to comment, I wouldn't. What he said during a moment of rage was partly true.

I do like having someone occupy a space in my house. I do appreciate his caring for me although I knew it was all part of his cunning plans to break me. I also don't think I can touch food unless he cooked it for me. Compared to everything I've eaten in life, it seems his hands are magical.

Zoticus is full of magic, but I should not be thinking about these things on a battlefield.

"Alright boys, you know the plan, right?" I shout with our dragons lumbering over to us. I grin, not having to see Xishun's army to see an easy victory. "There is no plan! Men who find big fish will be handsomely rewarded."

"For Vales!" My brothers slip on their heavy helmets and adjusted their armour before sprinting towards the enemy army. A few thousand men rushing towards them without a formation seemed to catch them off guard.

"Zoticus, I do not know why Xishun declared war on us, but you should stay away. Before you know it, the battle will be over." My body hummed with energy as the hot blood running through my veins form my best armour. I did not have time to pack my normal armoury so I had to resort to this bloody outfit.

Zoticus watched the battle unfold, his eyes darting around as his mind analyzed both sides. "That diabolic elf should use his shadow abilities to dismantle bombs in the air. Why are water wielders aiming for soldiers, not the fire weapons?"

Xishun's general struggled to fend off my boys attacking his stallion. The man's beard is graying which is the normal look for generals of armies. When his mount collapsed, he jumped off and from his back sprouted fiery wings. He barely escaped a ring of metal spikes.

My boys' hairs have been singed by the flaming wings. I snicker when the man called out my name. I have been busy watching my subordinates sink their blades that I forgot someone was looking for my head.

I stretched my right hand to the side, grinning when cool metal nested itself in my palms. My fingers curled around my black sword's handle. I brought my left hand to join my right and once I adjusted my grip, I jumped off the ground to meet the general serenading me with his gruff voice.

"Stop calling out my name, misunderstandings will come from it. Do you recognize my blood armour? I don't wish to spend time introducing myself." I smiled, quickly receiving his first set of blows. I grin, "Nice sword you have there. It would be a shame if I can summon it."

Right after I said those words, I am now the one holding his sword. I use both swords to deflect a few flame balls. I twist his sword in my hands, admiring the golden blade. Light reflected into my face. "It's fireproof, I like it."

"No wonder they say Vales' Elite Army always wins because of Marik Valerius! How did you summon the sword that is bound to me by blood?" The general grunted as a huge ball blasted from his hands. He gasped when I dodged to let the fireball crash like a meteor.

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He had just finished off three of his own men who were fighting Dade. The general saw his mistake and resorted to using a crossbow tied to his arm. Each arrowhead was flammable.

I look down to see Dade stared at the ashes of three soldiers from the enemy army. I shouted at him, telling him to ignore them and continue. I tilt my head, hearing a fiery arrow whizz past my ears.

I waved the two swords in the air to taunt the old geezer. "You almost got me! I thought Xishun is strong, was I wrong?"

"You brat! I admit your strength is beyond compare, but I will have your head today. Our master demands it!" The ambitious man continued popping out arrows from the crossbow.

My happiness peaked when I glanced down at the battlefield stained red. Suddenly, my blood armour shattered and my body reabsorbed the blood. I did not expect this until a loud unfolding sound boomed through the air. Dark red feathers drifted before my eyes. "Seriously, of all moments?"

"You-" the older man stuttered. "You have wings?"

"Yes?" I shrugged nonchalantly. Many magic wielders are born with wings or horns, I don't see the surprise. "I almost forgot I had these bloody babies."

"They're huge!" My opponent forced himself to keep still, his arms shaking as he reloaded the crossbow. Fear should never be shown during wars, this man should know this basic rule!

The flaring projectile pierced through my forehead and I raised a hand to pull it back out. I felt a stinging sensation, but I knew that I won't die. Blood rushed forth to fall through the middle of my face, like a waterfall.

"You're not affected?" Xishun's general looked like he was about to pass out in the air. He waited for a while until he shot another arrow. this one lodged itself in my chest.

Automatically, my heart forced the sizzling arrow out. I grin happily. I can see the remainder of his confidence disintegrate into thin air. "That is right, I can't die."

Then, I appear behind him to thrust his sword through his right wing and mine sliced his left wing right off his back. The wings dimmed, becoming ash.

Their former owner shrieked, bringing joy to my eyes. Having wings cut or harmed is the equivalent of damaging one's identity. The poor soul reached behind his back to touch his empty back.

I hastily remove both swords for a moment before plunging them through his back. Blood ran through my sword to inform me I hit the heart. "Bull's-eye! Whatever we are fighting for, we win."

"Xishun still has hope!" The General clutched the edge of the blades. His voice was shaky, which was understandable. "We have a secret weapon that will critically injure you if you can't die! You, Marik Valerius, must perish for the world to be peaceful."

"No, world rulers need to stop having wars for world peace. I'm only a chess piece working for Emperor Utar of Vales. If I am a soldier and there are no wars, I won't work." I still don't understand the reason for this battle. Was it for me?

I shrugged, suddenly excited to try a sword move that came to mind. I pushed both handles downward, preparing to slice up when the man suddenly dropped. I rushed after him to retrieve the swords.

The general fell into a pool of blood with a great thud. His fingers twitched until Sebastian stepped on them. Was he dead already? I didn't get the chance to torture him.

My deputy squats, reached out with two fingers and searched the man's large neck for a pulse. To check, he placed the fingers near the man's nose. Sebastian dug out a seal from the pockets of Xishun's general's robes. "You found their general quickly. The robes and armour do not look good together."

"He is dead," Zoticus said from behind me. "Another brave man who thought he had a chance to kill the immortal general."

"How tragic," Sebastian said sarcastically. As soon as he came, he jumped back into the fray. Unlike his men using swords and magic, he only needs to dance provocatively to win.

"Marik, where did you get such a formidable fighter? The one over there, holding a baby?" Collis dusted the hem of his robe while walking towards us. An amber ring wrapped around his head as if its goal is to squeeze his head. He can manipulate the earth and his specialty is creating hills. At least, I think it is. I do know he is a Nature Elf.

"Are you talking about Zoticus? He was fighting?" I whipped around to see Zoticus had already run off with Lorica, blasting dozens of electric lines at once. His face was scary, full of determination and rage yet it was expressionless.

Each string of lightning wove around the battlefield, following a soldier of Xishun until he is hit. Once the man is struck down, he is zapped many times until his heart stopped. I would not like to experience this first-hand.

Zoticus is very strong even with a fragile baby in his arms acting as a handicap. He must be overpowered with the usage of both arms. His lip twitched into a menacing grin.

"I told him to stay out of the battle, but he is good at fighting. As expected of a former warrior priest." I see Bertramus nod cryptically. I continue to fight, feeling as if my precious sword had become an extension of my body.

On many occasions, I almost trip over spilled guts, decapitated heads and shattered armour. The strong smell of blood brought tears to my eyes. I step away from the field to watch Zoticus fight alongside my men.

Somehow, he is currently fighting back to back with Dade. It was odd to witness darkness and light work together, but their already potent magic fused to become deadly. Suddenly, Zoticus stopped radiating light.

"Dade, fight off the remaining men, I need to tell Marik something I sense." Zoticus tapped the diabolic elf on the shoulder, grinning sheepishly when he accidentally zapped the dark elf. With Lorica in his arms, he ran towards me. Gracefully, he crossed the river of blood.

"Zoticus, I told you not to participate!" I grabbed his upper arms and shielded us with my wings. I looked up to see fiery arrows rained down from the sky, aiming for one area only. The arrows were aimed at me.

Zoticus grins, "How could I watch Xishun last longer than it should have? Look, Marik, we need to get Vales'men out of here. Xishun's general had set a trap that could injure them if they stay."

"What type of trap could harm all my brothers? My boys can defend themselves from fire." I grunt as hundreds of flaming arrows seared through my wings. "They are aiming for me. You should run out before I can no longer use my wings."

"No Marik, you don't understand! There is a trap that will be released when their last soldier dies. There are about fifty left." Zoticus glanced down at his held arms. "Let go of me. I can defend myself from the arrows."

"What could be so hard to understand about a trap?" I paused my speech to listen carefully. I blocked out all the sounds of screaming men, clashing swords and rustling armour. I heard a sound originating from the centre of the earth. "I hear a screech."

Zoticus pushed me away and pristine white wings blossomed from his back. Like an angel, he lifted into the air and shot upwards with the baby still in his arms. What was he doing?

The ground where we had stood opened to allow a pillar of fire to shoot up. I hold a hand to my chest, forcing myself to look up. My heart stopped. "A phoenix! Two, three of them!"

I quickly scan the battlefield to see only my boys were standing. So the trap came in the form of the trio of fiery birds. They had aimed for me, furious with their failure. I winced as their loud screech shattered my mind.

"Water gods, protect the others from those birds!" I raced through my army, shouting as loudly as possible. I knew the birds would give their all to harm me and I would never want my boys to be injured because of me.

A dozen men and women did whatever they needed to do to set up watery shields. Each water god and goddess had gathered their own group of soldiers to keep under their unique fortifications.

One phoenix landed on the barrier protecting my deputy. It must have been attracted to the phoenix feathers in his red hair. The bird opened its beak to spit fire.

Steam rose as soon as the fire met the barrier.

The other gigantic birds circle above my head, inspecting me before swooping down like falcons. Their screech sent a dead tree to the ground.

The third phoenix gave up on reaching Sebastian, flying to rejoin it's comrades. Then, the three birds fused to become a single titanic creature. Its wingspan could be twenty cows in length. Its height could be six men standing on top of each other!

A streak of light shot from the eyes. The diameter of the gargantuan eyes could not be measured. Those huge eyes zeroed on me. They have been trained to target one person.

"Marik, trust me and lie on the ground." Zoticus muttered beneath his breath. He did not want to alert the bird by shouting at me and he knows I have super hearing. He also read my thoughts. "I don't care if the ground is blood or lava, get down!"

Without thinking any further, I fold my wings to lie on the ground. The huge phoenix rained red feathers on me, covering me like a blanket. I hold my breath as bright light pulsed from Zoticus.

Off in the distance, my men gasp at the sight.

Lorica clapped her hands together, yelling. "Papa! Papa!"

After Zoticus had gathered his energy, rays of light burst from his chest and they start to weave together. Light kept flowing from the angelic man, unending as Dade's unending darkness.

During this moment, I felt Zoticus' true power and this frightened me. Zoticus should have been Cithen's God of War. I lay still under the pile of phoenix feathers. I knew that I would be burned by the bird, but I did not want to return from this battle as a roasted chicken.

A drop of sunshine plopped into Zoticus' light which seemed to catalyze the formation of a flaming bird. The creator of the infinite bird smiles as he watches the bird bow. His lips move for only a second.

The magnificent creature was like nothing I've ever seen before. It's screech sounded melodic and dark, something I cannot describe with words without confusing myself. It had the power to stop the large phoenix that hovered right above my face.

I shrieked when the phoenix disappeared, replaced by a larger face composed of swirling tendrils. I was face to face with Zoticus' light bird and I think I almost wet myself.

"Do not fear, I only eat what my master tells me to. Realize your luck to have him protect you." The bird suddenly burst into billions of sparks.

I was petrified. I held a hand above my face to watch an illuminated figure descend before me. I thought I was going to die when an angel loomed over me with one outstretched hand.

"Mama!" Lorica shouted happily. She was too young to realize she had participated in a war. Not many children under a month old could know war and it should be that way. I pitied the poor girl.

"Did she call you her mother?" Augustus the Healer slowly approached the angel. He held up his hands, "I won't harm the baby. She looks so cute!"

I grip the hand offering to pull me up. I watch as Lorica is transferred from the angel to the healer. Then, the air in my lungs were squeezed out by an aggressive embrace. "Zoticus, you're going to choke me!"

"Is that so bad?" Zoticus whispered into my ear.

At times, he is a god of peace and light. During the battle, he was the god of destruction and war. The man hugging my back frightened me, Vales' God of War!