The fading traces of hundreds of cartoonish and large eyes swirled around the new man on the battlefield.

John struggled against the pressure bearing down on him and stood with surprising ease considering the power emanating from the man in front of him. With his orb-eye he saw Hubaba doing the same. Behind him, the battlefield was littered with the spirits and bodies of all the dead soldiers and demons. Very few mundane humans survived. Petar and his squad were hurting but alive. He hoped Amber was okay. She went invisible at some point.

The man that stood a distance in front of John, in front of the last portal, felt to be higher than Diamond Garioch. He assumed the man was a Salt, but he wasn’t sure. He was only certain the man was of a higher tier than Diamond.

Then, anger filled John’s heart as he recognized the man.

What was his name? I just saw him in my returned memories. Yan. My old master’s new disciple. Kin. They both had lain with my former wife, and I only killed the one of them for it. I’ll fix that mistake today, thought John.

Now John understood the comment Sunshine made when he had written. He also understood the reason Muzaran asked Ton-Oi so many questions regarding the tier of those from Earth.

Sunshine also stated Ton-Oi had returned and was in some sort of trouble for bringing the Butcher out of quarantine. Even if Ton-Oi was watching this battle, despite Yan’s tier, since the vampire was from Earth, John knew there would be no interference.

Yan wore plain robes. The top was white with a short hem and brown bottoms. He sported a conical-shaped hat made from what looked like thick reeds, and large ram-horns poked through the hat in a way that seemed to help secure it.

One of Yan’s legs was missing below the knee. The man balanced in a strange pose with a staff in his right hand and his left arm curved in front of his chest. His hands had long claws and his skin was a sickly grey, showing he was heavily marked by the Nether. His eyes lit up in the dark like those of a cat.

From behind John and towards his right, a thick, red beam of destructive essence shot forth from an empty area that was quickly filled with Amber in her demon form. Yan’s staff glowed brown and with a slight flick of his wrist the powerful beam attack absorbed harmlessly into the staff.

John tried to rush forward and give battle. His attempt to merely feel into Yan was violently rejected. The vampire yelled out, “Halt! Stop! I only wish to speak!”

Yan then veiled his soul and the pressure disappeared. While balancing on one foot with staff in hand, the man bowed deeply at the waist. “Please, let us have peace and speak for a moment.”

The portal behind Yan closed and he stood erect while again balancing on his one foot and his no longer glowing staff, his eyes gleaming eerily in the darkness.

John looked around. Amber shrugged. Hubaba only walked forward to join John, Amber following the demon a moment after.

John’s orb-eye looked far behind himself and noticed Lilly was alive and well in her protective bubble. Seeing her filled him with shame and rage. He struggled for a moment to suppress those feelings as he looked again at a man that knew his former wife in a way no other man should have.

John began to advance with his companions, walking around the smoking corpses of dead demons. Yan said, “So, it really is you, Gepi.”

“Call me that again and our temporary peace is over,” replied John, angrily.

“Apologies. I didn’t mean it as an insult. That’s the name my…our old master called you by.”

“Well, Yan, he never told me what it meant, but I’m sure it was insulting,” spit out John.

“I believe it meant death,” said Yan. “He said you were death and one day you’d kill him. I think he wanted you to kill him too. I think it wasn’t an insult as much as a prophecy. If I had to guess, I’d say he wanted to die but was too scared to take the leap. He had no joy.

“Still, I will call you by any name you prefer. And I’d also like to apologize for the events of the day we met. I had no desire to…I had no desire for any of it. Any of it. I did as I was told. You didn’t say no to our old master.”

John grunted and stopped some ten paces or so from Yan. “I told him no plenty. I don’t want to talk about that day. Three of my kind betrayed me and I only avenged myself on one. You ran like a coward.”

“I did. And I feel no shame for it. You were strong enough to kill our master. I would not go to the cold-dark, and never for a master I hated. My shame comes from my actions before I ran. After, I hid in the east, knowing you’d never go there. Cowardly, and I have no shame for that either.”

Hearing that tickled something in John’s mind. “Why’d you think that? That I’d never go east to find you?”

“Master Quy said he…excuse me, if I am remembering correctly, you called him Anh?”

“Yes, Ahn.”

“Aaahhhn.” Yan pronounced it strangely either way. John had no care at all how the name was said and waited for the explanation.

“Master Anh said he put strong compulsions on you never to travel past the swamp area after the kingdoms of Bharat, and north of that area. Same with south of Arabia. In the continent of the dark-skinned past the great deserts. He didn’t want you looking for him.”

Hearing that tickled more memories in John’s mind. He went south looking for Ahn multiple times and turned back before going nearly as far as he planned. He often wanted to travel further than the kingdoms of Burata, as did Lilly, but he always turned back before getting anywhere close to the strange and mighty kingdoms he heard were far east of it.

“I met a…someone you gave the power to, I met the man he gave the power to,” stated John. “Munashi. I forget his master’s name.”

“Munashi?”

“Yes.”

“That’s not a name. It translates to something like empty in Japanese. The Japanese I know, but I was impaled in a sarcophagus for five centuries before the Tree of Life. How old was he?”

“He said about nine centuries.”

Yan shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know him. I turned two kin myself. The last was a woman and that was much longer ago than nine centuries. I’ve met no others besides our master, you, and your wife.”

Hearing Yan mention his former wife caused anger to stir again in John’s heart. “What did you want to speak of,” he asked, harshly.

“First and foremost, I wanted to apologize for our first meeting. It has weighed on me for ages. So many times have I thought of you. If things had gone differently, I would’ve had a friend and companion to endure time with. I despised Quy. Anh.

“My spirits soared high when you killed him. I wanted nothing more than to be free of that animal. I did not want you as an enemy. I did not want what happened before. I had all the women I could ever want. I did not need the wife of one so much stronger than myself. One that seemed far more honorable than our master. We had fate without destiny.”

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For some reason, hearing a man he needed to take his vengeance out on apologize, and apologize in a sincere manner, made John feel angrier. And made his heart hurt even more. He thought on the last line Yan said. Fate without destiny. He didn’t know what it meant, but how he interpreted it seemed to sum up their situation.

Yan continued. “I hope you see the truth in those words. There’s still a chance for us, elder kindred of mine. There’s no need for us to be enemies. You were much more powerful than me before. Now I am peak Empty. It’s much harder for those not demon to ascend to the next Tree while in the Nether. Now, finally back on my own world, I’m sure I could ascend.

“At my current tier, nothing on this world can harm me. I have no wish for any more injury to befall my world, my race, or you. John, correct? The demons say you are called John now.”

“Correct. And you go by Yan still?”

“Close enough. I’d rather you call me younger brother. The…the Forsaken and Favored, it’s not part of the duality. They aren’t opposites. It’s not as simple as that. The demons I’ve dealt with have kept their word and treated me honorably as a full member of Circle Xakariz. The War Academy’s dealings with us have been honorable and truthful.”

A message flashed in John’s eyes.

Contract received.

“I just sent your NCS a contract,” explained Yan. “I was trapped in that damned sarcophagus for many days after the Tree of Life healed me. The only relief I had was the NCS, so I know it well. This is a basic NCS contract.

“The language and terms are simple and clear. There are no tricks. The War Academy wants you as a willing and loyal student of your own free will. I can vouch for them. Your training will be much better than my own. I envy you. I was rushed through the tiers out of necessity.”

John thought about it for a moment. Before he could ask the question he wanted to, Amber asked, “What about Earth? What about me and Hubaba?”

Yan looked at Amber and nodded his head. “You won’t be harmed. It’s in the contract. And no humans will either. This world will join the Forsaken faction under Circle Xakariz. No tricks. Things will be peaceful. Terra will be used as a staging point to invade other worlds in this sector. Humans will be safe.”

Yan shifted on his one leg as he continued addressing Amber. “In fact, there’s been talk about you. A sapient Natural. We…I haven’t heard a final answer but some of the higher masters think there hasn’t been a sapient Natural due to the Favored. They want you protected from them, safe in the Nether, to see what happens when you ascend. What will become of you. If it’s something the Favored actively prevent, it’s something we Forsaken want. You could join my circle. I’m sure the War Academy would welcome you as a student too.”

Hubaba asked, “And me? What would become of me?”

Yan looked at the scab and nodded his head after a moment. “I’m a member of Circle Xakariz but not a demon. I was told nothing about a scab on Earth. You are not in the contract. I can guess at what your fate would be, but you’d know better than I would.”

Hubaba said, “Death. They can’t allow a traitorous scab to live.”

Yan bowed his head again towards Hubaba.

John said, “You slaughtered this army of humans. That doesn’t give me much faith in how seriously your new masters would take any bargain made.”

“That was not purposeful, and I apologize for it,” answered Yan, humbly. “No demon would’ve died. So many terrans have yet to open a single dantian. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a demon without their lower opened. My goal wasn’t to kill, only to incapacitate. Same with you three, I applied just enough pressure. I’m not our old master. I’m not a monster.

“I don’t want to sound accusatory, and I hold no ill will, but a Silver approached you under a banner of peace and truce and was killed. That’s considered a war crime by both Forsaken and Favored. Many more demon dead litter this field than terran. That demon held a portal stone leading to a nice and peaceful area I set up to negotiate within. If things had gone as they should’ve, my soul would’ve never been unveiled. No one would’ve died. There was no reason for anyone on either side to have died today.”

John didn’t feel guilty at all for what he had done to any of the demons earlier. He didn’t know what counted as a war crime, but he would probably commit many more of them against demons in the future. The demons murdered and tortured innocent women and children without compunction. He saw no need to care what the powerful decided he couldn’t do to combatants if they allowed the worst of crimes against the most innocent and peaceful of noncombatants.

It was hard for John to hold his tongue about Yan saying no one should’ve died on this day. Demons invaded Earth and killed hundreds of millions. They attacked and slaughtered peaceful people, including women and children, giving no opportunity for their victims to talk or parley. But when they wanted to finally talk, they expected to be allowed a courtesy they had never given?

Having a feeling he’d be the only one to see things correctly, and not wanting to argue over it, John kept his mouth shut. What was done, was done, and he enjoyed his slaughter of demons too much to pretend otherwise.

As for the contract, John racked his brain. With Amber in her demon form, her facial gestures were no help.

“Why not just join us instead,” asked John as he shrugged his shoulders. “Join your own kind in making your world free of invasion. Why continue to submit to the demons? You’re back on your own world now. You even closed the portal. Just keep it closed and stay here with us.”

Yan shifted his weight between the staff and his one foot. John wondered why he was missing a leg at all. It seemed strange to him, especially considering the tier Yan was at, unless the vampire had a recent accident that hadn’t healed yet.

“My honor won’t allow it,” said Yan. “Circle Xakariz rescued me from five centuries of being trapped in agony. They welcomed me, treated me kindly, trained me, raised me up high by pouring all their scant resources into me.

“They are close to breaking. I am my circle’s hope. I will not betray them in their hour of need. I despise traitors and those without loyalty. I only closed the portal so you’d feel safe. So we could talk without the threat of it showing behind me.”

John continued to rack his brain. He knew he stood little chance against a Salt, and Yan said he was a peak Salt ready to ascend to the next Tree.

Hubaba would die if John accepted the deal. If the demons kept their word, he doubted humans would be treated any better than scabs. But that wasn’t the full extent of things. If he was right, and he believed he was, signing the contract meant all humans would be killed. If not for that, he’d be more open to a deal, as it would allow him time to grow powerful, and one day he’d go back to the Nether and slaughter every demon he could find, balancing the tally they owed humans.

Amber got right next to John, leaned down, and whispered in his ear the same magical way she did when she was invisible, where he knew others couldn’t hear. “Have them include Baba as being protected like us and sign. We can’t beat a Salt. Empty. Whatever. He took my best attack like it was nothing. If you fight, you’ll definitely die. We’ll all die. Then Terra goes to them anyway. Even if just Baba dies, wouldn’t that still be better than no deal and what they’ll do to Terra after?”

John couldn’t disagree with her, but what Amber said felt every bit as wrong as it sounded reasonable.

Hubaba is my friend. He turned traitor against his own kind for us. How can we betray him now? Maybe Amber is right. Maybe his life means little compared to the fate of Earth and her people.

If I signed the contract, it sounds like I’d be safe and treated well, as would Amber. Lilly too, I’m sure. But if I use Amber’s reasoning, our lives also mean little compared to the fate of Earth and her people.

I swore to protect those I care for. I swore to protect Earth. Or die trying. When things are twisting me up inside, I swore to stay true to the man I want to be. A worthy death.

John told Yan, “Sorry. No deal. You won’t betray your circle. I won’t betray all the people on this planet. You can have this world when I’m dead, but not before.”

Amber yelled out, “John! Be reasonable!” With a lower voice she said, “You’re thinking like an idiot. This is bigger than just you and your pride. You need to think like a leader. Please, please don’t get us all killed.”

“Elder Brother, this is a good deal,” added Yan. “I vouch for the intentions and honor of my circle. If you’d rather fight, it won’t be much of one. We win either way this is settled. We’ve won. You must see that. You have no chance. Listen to the Natural. Be reasonable.”

Hubaba chimed in. “I’ve had it better than I’ve ever thought possible. If your decision is based on my fate, let me die happy, knowing I didn’t condemn my friends and the people of this world to death. I think you should take the deal. But look over the contract first.”

John sighed. He wondered why Amber could never see what he did. “You’re all being tricked. Even you, Yan. No. My answer’s no. It will always be no.”

“Elder…” Yan suddenly ending what he was going to say caused John to look around with his orb-eye. He saw Lilly far off, walking towards them, wiping blood off her face with a cloth.

Yan sniffed. He sniffed again. He turned back towards John and asked, “You turned a child?”

Lilly screamed out, “I’m older than you, Yan. Not by much, but still your elder.”

Yan’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

Lilly screamed out again. “New body, same soul. We met before. Adon’s wife. I mean John’s. You still go by Yan?”

Angrily, John snapped out, “Former wife.”

Brows furrowed even more, Yan turned his head and asked John, “How? That’s your old wife? Lilit?”

“Yes. Lilitu. Lilly now. Recently back from the dead.”

“Huh?” Yan stuttered out some noises then gave up his attempts at talking and questions. They all waited in silence as Lilly walked towards the group.

As Lilly finished approaching, she said, “Hey, guys. I know. Awkward, right?”

“How is this possible,” asked Yan.

“Long story. Anyway, I think I can help settle this contract issue.”