Joshua was now making his way to the Bahamut Empire, skating through the forest that had been encased in ice. Then stepping out to the green fields that were open and as far as the eye can see. Noticing a small town ahead of him, Joshua could see the sign above it. A flag of a cross, that was definitely not something he would want to step closer to. Because these were countries that were hostile to Bahamut.

Staying in a hostile town will make the residents be more suspicious and force Venerators alligned with Bahamut to pay more money. That was a big no, no but Joshua could see that if he was going to reach Bahamut by foot at a normal person's speed it will be taking quite a few days. Though if he was a normal person, sadly. He isn't. Joshua took a single step, then covering the distance. He was skating on top of a lake, just watching how vast the ocean was. Watching serpents swim all around him, large winged wyverns jump out of the water. Playing happily with the others, a large beautiful naga jumped out of the water, Joshua was smiling as he skates across the ocean.

Joshua picked up the pace, then arriving at the Bahamut Empire. Where Joshua was seeing knights of the Aren Hide were attackiing the gates of the Bahamut Empire with a few Venerators.

"Ice Reaper." Joshua called as Ice Reaper froze the Aren Hide Knights with their Venerators from moving, they turned to Joshua who watched Ice Reaper reap the lives of the many knights with a single swing, their bodies shattered into icicles that struck the other knights. The other Venerators went to engage Joshua. Joshua readied Zduhac, firing the pistol to the limbs. Though the damage was low, the point of the weapon was to throw all of their attacks and concentrations off course.

The Venerators with spears were losing their momentum. A few shots to the limbs was the first part, then Ice ran to Joshua's side. Placing himself in Joshua's hands as Joshua slashed the Venerators. Watching them turn to ice and shatter.

Defeated Venerators get kicked out of the dungeon and have to wait for a timer to end before they can enter.

The Rule : Dead Men Tell No Tales is in effect.

Ice Reaper was not slow, it was fast and because of his intuitive nature as a Living Weapon. Ice Reaper's attacks were always going for a lethal swing. Joshua could see how the heavily armored Venerators went down within a few swings because of how dangerous Ice Reaper was. The lethality was superb, because no matter how off course or unorthodox the movement. The scythe will always reap a limb or two, letting the screams be part of the terror he caused.

Ice Reaper raised a barrier of ice to stop an arrow from reaching Joshua, what was with this weapon's reaction time? It could sense attacks faster than Joshua could react to it. Even creating icicles to strike into the archer that launched the arrow. Joshua continued onward, fighting his way through the army. Ice Reaper was on defensive creating barriers to protect Joshua from certain attacks, even guiding Joshua by the blade to dispatch his enemies with ease.

"I was the Avatar of Destruction's Partner, fighting offensively is what my Avatar was good at. I just handled the defense. I will do the same." Ice Reaper said to Joshua as myriad of arrows made their way to Joshua. Stopped by the barrier of ice made by Ice Reaper, followed by knights coming from the left and right.

Joshua let go of Ice Reaper, creating a dome that covered Joshua and himself. Joshua readied the Unknown Soldier's Vow. Loading the 458 Winchester Magnum in a block of 8 rounds.Pushing the block in until he heard the click. Letting his finger go and the dome fell. Joshua fired a shot, watching a column of 20 knights fell before him,then swinging the bayonet of the Vow against his enemies.

Fighting with the tenacity was one thing but killing these humans was another. The Mask of Thorns responded to this massacre, with Bloody Rose taking effect.The Knights of Aren Hide watched the blood stains on Joshua's mask. A sword was going to hit Joshua, only to phase through him. Attack Negation had activated. It was a large number but that was not going to stop Joshua from fighting. Firing the remaining 7 rounds that blew through the bodies and limbs of their knights. Joshua then drew Cass's Regret, loading it with buckshot.

Ice Reaper created openings for Joshua according to where the enemies were at their most. They were knights in armor but the thing is, they can't deal with a shotgun like this. Not because it is loaded with buckshot, it's because of the power in the shotgun itself. Ice Reaper created openings which Joshua took advantage of firing shells into them. Ice Reaper was an expert, even though Joshua did not use all of his weapons but he adapted to Joshua's movements clearly. This time Joshua readied Cherry Blossoms.

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"Lugasa!" Lugasa leaped up into the air, landing on his hind legs. Then looking at the numerous soldiers of Aren Hide. Lugasa Howled to the sky which had caused the ground to rumble.

"Ready when you are master!" Lugasa said as the knights tried attacking Lugasa, watching their blades melt upon making contact with his fur.

"Oh. I'm sorry... Do you want your sword back?" Lugasa asked as he punched the melting pieces into the soldiers, creating long spears that pierce through their armor and flesh. Skewering them all together made it harder for them to move but Lugasa stared at Ice Reaper.

"Hey, Icey boy. Let's have a little competition. Who gets more kills, wins."Lugasa said as he slapped a soldier's head, causing their face to bury itself into the ground.

"Sounds fun. Try to keep up." Lugasa watched how Ice Reaper had taken 20 heads with just a single swing, grinning as he went to attack the other Aren Hide soldiers. Their morale was breaking. Enchanted weapons were failing, their enchanted armors and blessed weapons? All for naught.

"Where are the Heroes?! We need their assistance!" The Aren Hide knights turned to their allies that began to run. Joshua readied his pair of Cherry Blossoms to give chase.

"Master. It'd be best if you went into the castle. We will handle it here." Ice Reaper advised, standing still as a blade being swung to him. The blade got stuck in Ice Reaper's cheek bones. He elbowed the knight that did that into broken glass pieces on the ground.

"Thanks, Ice Reaper!" Joshua headed to the castle area, seeing an Orc fighting against the Aren Hide knights but it was not hostile.

"Protect the Royal Family! Not a single one of them goes through." Joshua heard the Orc cry out to his troll allies, and the other elves that launched their arrows. Joshua thought of a magic spell.

'Ancient of Winter Support Spell : Ice Pranks' As the name implies it caused the Aren Hide knights to fall down and be encased in ice in weird positions. Joshua could hear Bayran's muffled laughter at the sight. Blunt snowballs struck the bodies of the Aren Hide soldiers to adjust the joints into the position. One of them had placed his hands to his crotch, another was hunching over like a chicken.

Joshua could see why it was called Ice Pranks, the Ancient of Winter is able to use snowballs to forced the Aren Hide soldiers to be in a weird position. The Orc was glaring at Joshua, so did the trolls but they were far too afraid to do anything to him. Though Joshua could not blame them. There was a lot of things that they felt, yet fear was present.

"The Orc and Trolls are hostile to you but because you have chosen to ally yourself with Bahamut. They are willing to put the grudge aside." Bayran whispered to Joshua as Joshua walked into the castle. Seeing skeletal soldiers in armor run out, with elven archers. Dark elven swordsmen and centaurs joining the others.

They let Joshua through, looking at Joshua walking over to the throne room. Joshua sheathed the Cherry Blossoms and looked at the Empress of Bahamut Empire, a winged demon. A Litch, a black dragon, a dark elven sorcerer, an elven mage, a hobgoblin samurai and an orc warlord stood by her side. Her attendant was a woman in a footman's outfit with back straight as a ruler but Joshua could see that she had combat skills far beyond the others. The attendant to her left was a werewolf with a crimson coat, but similar to Lugasa in a way.

"Are you here to kill us?" The Empress asked, Joshua knelt before them.

"I have come to serve the Bahamut Empire. I will be your hero." The advisors were skeptical, until they watched Lugasa and Ice Reaper walking in.

"Eh, master? Why are you kneeling down?" Lugasa asked, clearly he did not read the air of the room.

"Grandpa?!" The werewolf called out to Lugasa, pouncing over to him.

"Oh Esyn! You've grown bigger now! Almost as big as your ol' grandpa." Joshua turned to Lugasa, Lugasa seemed to be less stiff as of late and it was better for Joshua anyway. The first time Joshua met Lugasa, he was way too formal.

"Ah right... This is my grand daughter. Esyn. She's a Crimson Werewolf and also has inherited that skill of mine. Wolf's Pride." Lugasa clarified to them, whereas Ice Reaper hovered by Joshua's side.

"Wait... Esyn, you said your grandfather was Lugasa the Crimson... Is.." The Empress stuttered as the others did the same. Perhaps they were in awe of Lugasa's power?

"Yep, that's my grandpa, Your Majesty!" Esyn said as the other advisors knelt to Lugasa.

"The famed Crimson... We apologize for not showing you proper respect." Lugasa scoffed at the chorus of words by the advisor.

"If you want to show proper respect, show it to him. He's my master. I'm just a familiar." Lugasa said it so easily where Esyn pouted.

"You said you wouldn't lose to anyone!" Esyn shouted, gently hitting Lugasa's chest as he did not seem to be bothered by it.

"I lost cause he was stronger. Simple as that. Oh by the way, the guy floating beside my master is Ice Reaper." That had caused some distress in some of the creatures. Especially the dark elves, they were drawing their weapons.

"I serve my current master as I have done for the Avatar of Destruction. If you are an enemy, then I will destroy you. If you are not an enemy. Then I do not believe we have much to worry about. He is a Hero who has chosen your side. It is as simple as that." Ice Reaper spoke without much hostility but Joshua could see the look their eyes that Ice Reaper was a serious threat. The Lich was preparing a multitude of spells.

Joshua activated Supreme Rule, forcing all of them to their knees with exception of the Empress.

"I just came here to be an ally. Is that so hard to believe?" Joshua asked as he halted the use of Supreme Rule over them.

"Then I, Ariela Burns... Shall welcome you to the Bahamut Empire, o Hero." The Empress gave her word and for Joshua? That was enough for now.