"It seems there is nobody here anymore... Strange..."

"The same happened in the north."

"None of us have any memory..."

"Ah shut it you old fools."

All four of them were tall knights wearing black bluish armors, their necks and hands were long and the hands had sharp claws, they called themselves wardens, yet what prison they used to look after is long forgotten."

"It seems the age begins to play with your memories."

"It might be so indeed."

"Yes... much likely."

"Then why can you remember?"

"I do not remember much either, but I do know that our prison is long gone, the inmates dead and everything that we were supposed to protect is never coming back."

"So what will we do?"

"Why do you ask me?"

"Because you are the only one that can think straight at this very moment."

"Hmm... Let's find the wardens of the south, the northern ones aren't in any better shape."

"Do you think we might find answers?"

"I hope brother, I hope."

|11:00 AM | Tufts University | Gaia City | Supervised by the 10 Despots |

The room was silent, every despots was waiting for the first to talk. Beside him was a courier which brought important reports. It was a serious matter and everyone was waiting for some answers.

After a couple of minutes Nimue begins to be pretty unsettled.

"So what does the report say?"

The first got up on his feet and walked to a window.He was looking outside and told them how beautiful the weather is.

"I wish... things... could stay the same...."

"Is it that bad that you won't even tell us?"

He makes a gesture with his right hand to Kim, and so she began explaining.

"It seems the northern base fell and the Norwegians got a strong forward outpost, there are also some signs of strange movement inside the city, we believe they are part of the exodus and some of those mechanical abominations..."

The fourth was intrigued by these affirmations and asked her about the situation in the city.

"Tell me, what are these 'mechanical abominations' you talk about, we faced many foes, but I never heard of these ones in particular, it is rather intriguing."

"They are people in a way, but they give away parts of the body for mechanical ones. They don't even try to mask it and most of the time, they work for exodus, they believe flesh is weak and the machine is stronger, pure stupidity."

"What do you mean with most of the time?"

"They are a mercenary group and work for many people, but they prefer the exodus as they can give them better... upgrades."

"I see, tell me did any of us contact them at any given point in time?"

"Only the seventh."

Everyone started looking at him with disdain.

"Say seventh, why did you contact them?"

"Ah I finally get some attention, really now it started worrying me that you forgot I was here. Indeed I contacted them, I had some problems they could resolve, yet I never did meet them in person. Say do you think that I would do something to put any of us in peril?"

The third looked at him and then at the fourth.

"Stop this nonsense, remember we still have the tournament, we are going to talk about this after everything here is done. I believe we call a council meeting , the others will come as well if we do this."

The first turned to them and looked at the seventh especially.

"We shall talk... more... at the council... "

The fourth nodded in agreement.

"Then let's get back to our places and see how the second round is going to proceed."

|11:30AM | Tufts University | Gaia City | Supervised by the 10 Despots |

Everyone began going to their places. It was silent, yet you could hear someone speak here and there. It is a strange feeling, waiting for the second stage to begin and the despots simply standing and talking with whoever was beside them.

Ten minutes passed and the contestants started entering the arena. Compared to the others you could see all kind of people this time, even non-humans. The first group where Akari and Keira were as well had mostly humans and a few harpies while in the other group were less humans and you could see a variety of non-humans.

Akari and Keira were standing next to each other and were waiting for the instructions.

There was tension in the air, but everything calmed down when the second despot started talking.

"Due to the small number of contestants this year this is the last battle, it was a pleasure to meet you all, and we all look forward to working with you, that is as much as you show respect. Now the third will tell you the new rules for this battle."

The tension returned, there was something that made everyone feel uncomfortable. So the third rose up and started to talk.

"When you hear the ring, it's free for all."

Those words made everyone simply jump in all directions, everyone they saw was now an enemy, but the sound of a ring was nowhere to be heard.

"Now, now, hold up and wait, you can fight as long as you want after we give the start."

While the third was talking others began speaking about alliances so that they might have a chance, of course the two girls heard them and simply continued with the initial plan, to cover each other.

And so the ring was heard and everyone started fighting. You could hear how they trample the earth under their feet. The sound of blades clashing, people being beaten, thrown away, smashed to the ground. Large spells which could shatter the earth, spears of lighting flying all over the battlefield and Akari with Keira trying to keep up with everything.

There were few people who were standing out across this mess, one of them was Max, but nobody could recognize him as he was wearing a full plated armor with a helmet shaped as a dragon. With a great axe he was smashing everyone coming to close and then he saw the girls.

"AKARI!"

She was scared when he called her name.

"It's me Max!"

When he came close enough Akari calmed down a bit, but Keira was still on her guard, they were hiding behind a large rock which was thrown there by some spell.

"What are you doing here Akari? This is not for someone as frail as you!"

"You know I wonder myself the same thing, but Keira is my friend and I wouldn't really let her alone here!"

"Are you a friend of hers Max?"

"Yes, nice to meet you!"

When they finished greeting another plated knight jumped on the boulder smashing it. He was much bigger than max and wielding two claymores. He startled them.

"HAHAHA! PUNY MAGGOTS BE CRUSHED UNDER MY FEET!"

Not a second after he spoke a spear flew in him and made the 'knight' fly in the wall.

"This is madness, Akari, Keira you need to find a hiding spot I can't let two girls like you go through this."

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After he said this he got a great shield from his back and started covering the girls.

"It seems you can take care of things Max, take Akari to a safe place!"

"You don't seem in any shape to fight!"

"Just do as I say moron!"

While spells, arrows and spears were flying randomly across the battlefield many landed in the shield which Max was now holding.

"Do you see what is in my shield? It's too dangerous!"

"GET OUT NOW!"

As she yelled at him a black sword started to manifest in her right hand. The blade was separated in two and red energy surrounded it.

"I AM WAR!"

And so Keira jumped in the middle of the fight and started crushing away everyone who was unlucky to get in her way.

"That girl is impressive."

"Never knew she had such power... let's go Max!"

"Understood,but do you think it's alright to let her behind?!"

"I think she will be fine."

After they run through quite a few opponents they nearly reached a safe spot, but then a golden mech jumped in front of them knocking Max back and Akari sideways. After that he got her with a hand and looked at her.

"My , my, what do we have here, quite a doll aren't you?"

"Leave me alone!"

Akari used a phase ability to get through the hand of the mech.

"You are pretty slippery, I wonder how much can you keep up?!"

He thrust in her and nearly smashes Akari in the wall with a hand, but then a strange thing happened, the time stopped. You could see everything in place, arrows stuck in the air and people mid-air.

"What... Is... This...?"

After the first uttered this words a giant translucid person appeard before him.

"Who... Are... You...?"

The ghost was wearing ragged clothes, the mask and hat of a Jester. He looked a the first and put a hand on his head.

"Dear child, I don't have much time left, It sure was a good time being an eternal, yet it has finally ended and now I have to tell you, to say who you truly are... Lyall..."

"What... are... you...?"

"Oh, come out from that relic you can barely speak."

With the hand he put on his head, he pulled Lyall out of the armor.

"Now listen to me little child, this is the tale of a father, a mother and a tale of incompetence..."

"I don't understand!"

"Then listen... It was about five millennia ago that I came to be an eternal. I loved to mess around with my powers, I made people laugh, I did a lot of mischief and I went too far many, many times. Later I came to earth, it is a beautiful planet you know, it has truly beautiful flowers, especially Tacca chantrieri. When I arrived there were these beings which proclaimed themselves gods, and so I took the title as well and proclaimed myself the god of laughter."

"What does this have to do with me, don't tell me you are my father?"

"It is correct, here I met your mother Tenechra, she came from quite a poor family and the gods messed with her, far worse than anything I ever did to someone... One day I went to look at her in these very clothes. The first thing she did wasn't to laugh at my strange clothes, wasn't a sigh, she didn't ignore me either, she simply asked who I was and I introduced myself."

"The god of laughter at your service!"

" It is exactly as you say... She smiled a bit, and that was the sweetest smile I ever saw, I just wanted to see more of it and so I took her as my wife, oh I went through a lot to do that and I'm afraid I don't have the time to say our entire story..."

"Alright, I dig it, say what happened next?"

"Five hundred years later, we decided to have a child, the other gods were against it and in the end betrayed us... They killed your mother and banished me, they made sure you had the worst things happen to you. I was always with you dear Lyall, I gave you all my power, I stood there incapable of doing anything and just looked how they tested you, how they made so many horrible things to you, but this, this is my ending, my final destination, if there is a god I hope he forgives me and that will let me meet Tenechra again, forgive me little one, that I wasn't there, that I could only watch and please forgive me, the last bit of power I have, I will give it to that girl, may she guide you on the right path and release you from all the guilt and pain you keep inside and as a fare well, I will say the same words your mother said to me with her last breath... Mayst thou thy peace discov'r."

There was a beacon of light, and the ghost began to fade away, Lyall was back in his armor thinking about the story and looked again at the ghost.

"My boy, you can forget about me, but please, never forget your mother..."

Suddenly memories began to flow into his brain, memories of the past and of a woman. She was sad and found happiness, she was poor and she became rich, she was never loved and she became loved by a man who was very gentle. This woman had green eyes and black hair, a long and beautiful long hair with bangs. Her name was Tenechra, she was a mother...she was his mother...

Tears began to flow from his eyes.

"Mother... Father... DON'T LEAVE ME PLEASE!"

"Goodbye son, it is time you came to be awaken."

The ghost started laughing and crying at the same time and tried to get back to Lyall, but it was too late, by the time his hand reached Lyall, he disappeared.

The first was now on his knees looking at the sky, the time started to move again and then everyone could hear the scream, a ghostly scream, full of pain. Kim was looking at Lyall and kept asking what happened, but he was just standing there, crying and screaming.

"What happened, answer me, please, Lyall answer me!"

In the arena the man inside the mech stopped and started looking in the direction of that scream, he didn't realize untill it was too late what happened with Akari.

Her skin turned white, her eyes green and was surrounded by a white aura,she seemed to look as one of the ancient elves. In the right hand she was holding a scythe which seemed to be made of light, the blade was polished and engraved with many strange symbols, a polished and strong blade which could cut reality itself.

With a swift strike she cut the mech in two, and started walking forward.

Lyall saw what was happening, but he simply couldn't get a hold of himself. He remembered, what his father gave to Akari, it was beautiful and it was a horror at the same time, the strength and the grace, a monster and a fairy.

She wasn't herself anymore, it was like the power started to control Akari, and so Lyall made an effort and jumped with the relic armor in the middle of the fight. He had a scythe as well, but the one he was holding was dark, it had a dull blade with holes through it, this was a hideous weapon if you would compare the two of them, yet it was much stronger for his scythe... it tasted more blood than any other weapon and not only by his hand, for this was a relic of old as well.

He used the handle to strike the girl in the belly and then knocked her out before she lost control completely, then he got the girl up in his arms.

Nobody understood anything anymore.

The ghostly voice then shouted.

"THIS TOURNAMENT IS OVER!"

While he was walking to the exit with Akari on his shoulder, Keira and Max started running towards him.

"Where are you taking her?"

"Hey mate I can't let you take a girl like that even if you are the first despot!"

He looked back at them, they were on guard and ready to attack even him.

"Come with me... and you will see... and you Keira... what do you choose... your new friends or your so called duty?"

Keira dropped her guard and stopped her act. She looked at him and seemed rather happy.

"It seems you knew, tell me is it alright if I join you...? As if I would say that, all I want is to kill you, for all you did, for what you did to my sister. This girl, she was just a means to an end... Who needs friends when you have revenge?"

She was lying to herself, indeed they didn't knew for a long time,yet there was some kind of atachment, even so she discareded all of it.

"I see... Then begone... And forgive me, forgive me that I could only take care of you for so long..."

"Take care of me? YOU KILLED EVERYONE AND WE WERE LUCKY TO SURVIVE! There was one person who took care of me after you destroyed the entire facility, at that time I thought my sister was dead, the only thing that brought me joy was that you were still alive, so I could repay you... in kind."

"Keira... Ah, War is a good name they gave you... Leave and never show yourself or you will force my hand..."

"I refuse, there won't be any better time to do this."

He saw that unless he fought her, this wasn't going to end. He put Akari in Max' arms and walked in front of Keira.

"You won't leave unless I do this..."

He kicked Keira from the exit tunnel back to the arena. Then he walked inside as well. The other despots were preparing to leave when all of this happened, there were other people as well and contestants at the exits.

"Alright, your 'majesty' let's see how strong you are!"

"Hmmm... you can move, that is good..."

Everyone was looking at the fight taking place, it was quite the a sight. The first despot in action.

Keira summoned her sword and lunged at him, but the despot was standing still. A shockwave was produced by the impact, cracking the earth beneath his feet and the walls behind even through the barrier they used.

"Quite... strong... Now is my turn..."

He raised his left foot and slammed the ground then with the right hand punched Keira with little force. He wanted to scare her and do as less harm as he could.

Keira flew again in the same wall. Then again, and again, and again... She didn't stop, it was like she became stronger the more she fought.

She lunged at him again, this time, the despot fell. Keira standing on him slashing with her sword. She slashed as much as she could, but the armor was too strong. She threw away the sword and started punching him. She punched him until her hands started to bleed...

He was just standing there, accepting every hit.

"Are you... done...?"

"Why won't you attack!?!?"

"All I did my entire miserable life... was to destroy and take lives. When I was small... a priest took care of me, Nimue and Abaddon... he was kind...he gave his life, so we could live... he taught us the importance... of life... and as the fool I am... I ignored it..."

"Should this story make me feel bad for you? You are a wretched fool..."

"Before the priest took me in, I took care of a girl... she was scared... we were homeless... for two years... I stole food... I killed people... all to take care of her... and they took the girl from me... you were like a little sister... even if you wanted to kill me... what brother would truly... kill his sister...at a time like this...?"

"No.. YOU ARE NOT HIM!"

After she yelled at him, the girl rose and started hitting him with her legs... Everyone was watching. She was nearly crying,but would never do something like that in front of an enemy.

"Keira... Leave... our bond... seems to have faded... You are War now... the Exodus made sure of it..."

She stepped down from him and turned her back. After that the girl vanished. He as well got back on his feet and returned to Max.

"Lets... go..."

"Uh, where exactly are we going?"

"To the Plateau, it's time to light the fires war."

The armor started to be engulfed in black and white flames. His every step began shaking the ground.

"It is time, to kill the gods, destroy the exodus and put an end to this stupid war with the world. It's time to turn them all to ashes and bring a new era, an era of peace...through war."

"I don't really get it..."

"You will."

|5:00 PM |North Outpost |Gaia| Supervised by the Norwegian Armed Forces|

The battle here was over after quite some time, it took months to be able to establish an outpost in the enemy territory, especially when it was protected by the first despot.

For the time being the forces could rest. It was a long battle and everyone just wanted to eat, sleep and mourn their dead. Unfortunatley, the first despot wanted war and now he was out for blood.

The guard tower was looking after the enemy and then.. they saw it. A massive force coming straight to them. They sounded the alarm and everyone was going to their posts. Artillery was ready to fire.

In the horizon you started to see large figures and thousands of tank divisions. Only that they were the smalles problem. A large ship was hovering over them it was gigantic and they had no ideea what was going to happen. Soon they started to start embarking to ships and leave. It was clear that they weren't ready to face them, but some remained to give enough time for the escape. The ones on the ship could only watch as the ship started to shoot at the small base and eradicate it with bombs.

There was a faint hope that a shipl like that might be brought down and then, the hope died as many other ships started to be seen, some even larger. Something happened and there were no good news to bring home.

So it begins... A war for freedom...? No... A war for peace...? No... it was a war against the gods... the first to fall will be Odin and his sons... then he shall go to the ones that made all of this happen... the gods of Olympus.