The last wave was going to happen in 5 hours. The 5 Crimson Reavers put their helmets aside, then lighting up a cigarette. Then sharing the flames, then enjoying the smoke. They did not seem to be tired, nor did they seem to be bothered. The people were evacuated, where the 5 Crimson Reavers looked at the ice trolls, ice orcs, dark elves and gryphons that had surrendered. Staying still like statues, afraid to utter any words.

Puffing the smoke out casually, not a joke or anything said to each other. Just standing by each other's side with silence looming over them like a cloud. It was odd for the others, their fearsome power was enough to cause the other enemies to submit. After their cigarette break, the civilians that were left were at 10 thousand.

"Ted, do we have any change in enemy forces?"

"The ice trolls have changed to ice giants, seems like there's a couple of them. The gryphons are not in the fight, we'll be facing Great Gryphons. They're larger than normal gryphons. Now we're seeing the azure orcs. They're the highest form of ice orcs... You sure you guys are okay with this?" Ted asked as he healed another Venerator from their injuries.

"Load up on demolition rounds. Charge 5 before each shot. Set for hybrid. Ready to swap sword and rifle mode at any time." Ace's teammates nodded as they readied their magazines. They swapped the magazines on their chest and belts for the new ones.

"What about our revolver?"

"Shock rounds. Instant Charge types. Need something to stop the enemies as we fight. Set to swappable chambers. It'll make our fights easier." The others nodded as they reloaded the chambers revolvers. Swapping a chamber with an inbuilt energy canister would mean that the shock rounds will be prepped the moment the chamber swap happens. That and trying to reload the revolvers with speed loaders would be troublesome when facing large enemies. Then they looked at another shipping container, where they found that it contained MREs.

"Oh those? They were brought by Commander 151. What do you need them for?"

"Pass these to the civilians. We have enough MRes for all of them. They should be hungry by now, right?" Ace turned to the girl who was holding his teddy bear keychain. He made the first move, passing the MREs to the civilians.

"There should be two bottles of water inside. There's pretzels with cranberry mix. We've got a few more hours before this ends and when this ends. You all go home. Hold out a little longer." Ace said to them, his glowing blue eyes were unsettling but the longer they looked at it. They could see the tiredness that was lurking beneath them.

Another 30 minutes were left, where the remaining people ate the MREs, relieved to have eaten properly. Then looking at the Crimson Reavers who put on their helmet as the clock struck zero. When the creatures descended, that was when they heard the 5 Crimson Reavers roared at the oncoming enemies.

Meanwhile, Joshua was sitting in his room. When he got a notification.

Familiar Evolution.

Crimson Reavers have reached their evolution.

Will you allow it?

Crimson Reavers will reach a new stage of combat potential.

White and Red Rose has given consent to change them.

Evolution classes.

Crimson Reapers

The next step evolution of the Crimson Reavers, now becoming their namesake as Crimson Reapers. Their strength and powers are tripled.

Gains the skill 'Reaper's Radiance' Replaces Dominator.

Reaper's Radiance

Description

Reaper and Dominator skill combined, with additional boost to combat potential. Increases the Crimson Reaper's pressence on the battlefield, their war cry breaks enemy morale and leaves enemy in a staggered status for 1 minute. 30 second cool down.

New skill acquired.

White and Red rose of Slaughter.

This grants the Crimson Reapers enhanced combat techniques of the White and Red Rose.

Crimson Reapers have been granted '2nd White and Red Rose of Slaughter' The more enemies they kill during a Spire, the greater their stats increase. Weapon sharpness is at Thorn.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Skill acquired.

Assault Breaker.

Attacks can only be used at the earliest stage before a fight.

Assault Breaker disrupts enemy formations, and communications for the first 10 minutes.

Dragon's High.

Dragons have been said to be the apex of many beasts, and now the Crimson Reapers have gotten this ability. A roar of a dragon. Appearance will change as a result.

Rose of Slaughter.

They've been granted the abilities of the White and Red Rose of Slaughter. Granting them mana and spells to use.

Unique Skill (Exclusive to Crimson Reapers)

Crimson Reaver's Oath

To destroy their enemies for their lord, their loyalty and tenacity has reached another level. When the Lord of Thorns commands a death of a target, the Crimson Reapers will fight with the strength of their fallen comrades.

Azterian Valor has transfigured to Azterian Glare

Their glowing eyes now leave streaks, enemies that are faced before them will have a 10% chance to panic. Panic spreads like a plague.

"Approved."

Returning to the battlefield, the 5 Crimson Reavers fell to their knees. Where their armor shattered as they let out a cry. The shattered armor left them wearing red tailcoats with white highlights and their helmets transfigured into dragon skulls, that had a more mechanical shape. The dragon's jaws broke as its lower jaw rests by the chin level and inside. The Crimson Reavers face was covered by a skin tight material that formed as a layer of armor and the visor was black.

"What happened?" Ace turned to his ally where the other four looked at their bodies and outfits.

"You've reached an evolution. It seems that you have been given the powers of the Red and White Rose. The Rose of Slaughter. You are the 2nd Rose of Slaughter. Welcome to the fold as a member of the Rose Knights." Ace then watched as red and white roses appeared by their hands, Tyrant Trickster chuckled at the sight of the 5 Crimson Reavers who had changed.

"You've become the Roses of Slaughter, taking the title as White and Red Rose Knights for the Lord of Thorns. And bestowed upon the name as Crimson Reapers." The 5 Crimson Reapers threw the roses to their enemies. Where the petals exploded, then the 5 of them saw a lone figure standing before them.

Wielding the same type of rifle as they did, and the 5 of them smiled to the sight. Realizing that the lone woman they saw was known as 001. The first Crimson Reaver. Their very master, the one who disappeared years ago.

"Take care of your Lord of Thorns, as I have done. Become the Roses of Slaughter. Become the Crimson Reapers." The words of their mentor earned a nod as the vision faded, where the ice giants walked to their position. Ace held his rifle in sword mode, where its blade began to heat up as the gears inside began spinning. Going into overdrive, as the 5 Crimson Reapers went after their targets. Ace leaping to the ice giant that unleashed its ice breath on him.

The mist blanketed Ace, only for the others to watch the red blade cut the ice giant in half in one strike. The phoenixes that began their ascent to dive into the barrier. Ace braced himself as flaming wings appeared by his back, then leaping upwards. Swinging his weapon to cut through a phoenix in half. Where the phoenix breathed flames to Ace, where he felt something moving beside him. Turning to see the eyes of a dragon resting in a cage.

"You will meet me, very soon." The dragon said as Ace watched the flames hit him. No pain from such intense flames? Ace continued with his strike, the wings gave him speed that he was struggling to control. Fumbling in the air, as he crashed into a phoenix. Then crashing to the ground, where Ace got up. He felt like he had a concussion, shaking it off and then stomping on the phoenix's head.

Tyrant Trickster was just sitting on his blade, humming to himself as a dark elf's arrow flew to his neck. Stopping mid flight.

"Ah ah ah... Naughty naughty elf." The arrow then turned and pierced the head of the dark elf ranger.

"Cute. It seems that the Crimson Reapers have now awoken the Ancient of Slaughter. Now that will be an interesting sight." Tyrant Trickster thought to himself. The powers of the Ancient of Slaughter was now with them, which turned the battle field into another massacre of sorts. Where the power of the Reapers Radiance granted them a stun ability with their war cry. Their azure eyes haunted the battlefield as the streaks from the glow beneath their newly formed helmets was the last thing the horde saw.

The stun gave the Crimson Reapers time to tear the horde apart, swinging their weapons as Crimson Reaver's Oath activated. As the Lord of Thorns had given them the mission through Commander 151, they would be tearing through them. The Venerators stood guard, watching the chaos unfold before them.

There was beauty in the violence, there was a form of harmony in the discord before their eyes. The peace within the chaos, the sight of the bloody white petals mixed in with the stained red petals were a sight for them to see. When the battle was done, the Crimson Reapers placed their weapons down and knelt one on knee. A prayer? Or was it out of respect? None would know the answer, but the 5 newly formed Crimson Reapers.

The Spire was cleared, where they stepped outside. The hostage ice orcs, dark elves and trolls were set free by the Crimson Reapers, leaving them behind in the spire. Mercy or was it to leave the survivors with the guilt and fear? They stepped out of the Spire, seeing Joshua standing before them. Where they knelt before the Lord.

"Welcome back, Crimson Reapers. "

"Lord. I hope we performed well."

"You could never dissappoint me. Not once and not ever. Your devotion to your duty is something I'm always glad to have by my side."

"Thank you, Lord." The 5 Crimson Reapers stood before Joshua, taller than their own Lord.

"Good work. Rest up first." Tyrant Trickster floated out, sitting on his large blade without much care in the world.

"How were they?"

"Perfect and to see their ascension as servants to the Ancient of Slaughter. You've gotten yourself quite the strong fighters, Lord." The girl who held Ace's teddy bear walked up to him.

"Excuse me." She showed the teddy bear, where Ace took it back.

"Thank you for saving us."

"Thank our Lord for giving the job to us." Ace said as they held roses in their hands, throwing it upwards as they exploded into bouquets of the white and red roses, then vanishing from sight.

"So that was the Lord of Thorns? Man that dude's cryptic. I heard he was a bit different."Ted said.

"That's just how he is. Those 5 guys. I just found out that they're his Familiars. If they're just his familiars, he must be stronger than them to have them by his side like that." The cigar smoking man said with a chuckle.