******* approached - - - - -, who stood frozen at the sight of her mother’s fallen body. There was no blood. But her body looked more frail than ever. All her daughter could think of was why it was happening again but during Sheryl’s final second, she thought of her daughter in the image of her husband.

“Now, little girl, goodbye,” just as ******* was about to run her hand through - - - - -’s neck, a creature with immense speed took the Witch away. It stood tall and looked youthful. “Wow, it’s been a while, Niacin, what business might you have here?”

“*******, you did this?” The creature - Niacin wore a black robe and gray trousers. It seemed too hot an outfit to engage in battle in but it is surprisingly the most comfortable fighting gear for them.

“Well, who else could have such an awesome ability to be capable of this destruction? I know you’re getting old now but you couldn’t have forgotten how powerful I am?” ******* mocked Niacin. “Or maybe, I should remind you that during our last encounter, I almost killed you.”

“You dare use my creatures against me during that time. You are a disgrace and I’m here to dispatch you. I’ll return you to wherever you came from!” Niacin shouted and rushed at ******* and punched her as she dodged. ******* punched back but she was dodged. She followed it up with a sweep and Niacin simply landed on one foot with immense balance.

“Oh, right,” ******* said as if realizing something.

I have to find a way to neutralize her but how? What memories should I use up? I’m not even sure anymore. Mother, father, what am I going to do? Why did you two have to go? Why am I alone? - - - - - thought to herself as Niacin and ******* was engaging in combat.

“I am an Elite Meoon, *******. No matter how many cheap tricks you have, you’ll never best me in hand-to-hand combat,” Niacin claimed.

“And you? You don’t have any cheap tricks? That’s not even your real form. Don’t think I’ll fight you seriously when you yourself ain’t even serious about this. Come on, now, this is our fourth time battling, quit the warm-up,” ******* said. “I know you’re more than capable of tearing me apart, it’s just that it can only happen under one tiny condition; If I let you.”

Niacin clicked her tongue. She looked at the moonlight and took a deep breath. And in a matter of seconds, she shone bright casting shadows upon those around her. The fading of light revealed a grayish cheetah with yellow spots. ******* smiled at the sight of the cheetah.

“Now, we’re getting serious! You understood the assignment, I applaud you for that!” Niacin jumps in a flash and manages to graze *******’s shoulder. “Looks like you got me. I’m bleeding now.”

The cheetah just gave a cold gaze and continued to pursue *******. “Catch me if you can!” ******* took a sudden stop and kicked Niacin but Niacin braced her feline body and absorbed the kick. “You’ve really toughened up over the last decade, Niacin. Why do you think that is?”

Niacin ignored the question and attempted to bite ******* but got dodged. “I’ve got someone to protect.”

“Ah, I see, so you’re in love, huh? Or perhaps it is a child? If it’s a child, you should just give up.” Niacin raised an eyebrow and roared before delivering a barrage of slashes. ******* was able to dodge all of them. She seemed to do it with less and less effort as the battle went on. She was even able to catch herself every time it looked like she was going out of balance. She finally intercepts Niacin’s slash with the back of her forearm. It bled profusely but ******* just looked amuse. “Look around this village, Niacin, I’ve murdered all the children here and it’s all your fault. You arrived late, you know. You should really tell your Guardian to hasten his decision-making. If you can’t even protect the creatures of this village, how can you expect to protect your child?”

Niacin snapped and leaped towards *******. But ******* dodged and Niacin’s front paws were bleeding. She looked around and ******* was enveloped by a whirlpool of blood. It looked like a mini tornado surrounded her.

What is that? - - - - - asked in her mind. What kind of monster is capable of that? - - - - - clenched her fist. The sight of *******’s blood tornado ignited a newly-found fire of vengeance within her. I stood here for too long. If I can’t protect my father and mother, then I’ll be protecting what’s left. She focused on a dense amount of information about the lives of the Meoons she met. Sorry, guys, I’ll be using your stories, I promise to read them again when I get back home. Particles of light came out of - - - - -’s staff and directed it at *******.

As the beams of light approached *******, she tried to intercept them but Niacin also attacked despite the blood that surrounded her. ******* was genuinely caught off guard. She retracted her blood and examined the situation for a bit. Niacin was quick on her feet and almost gave on time for ******* to think but ******* noticed that it was - - - - -’s doing. The Witch was breathing quite heavily after that attempt. Almost got her! - - - - - thought. As Niacin was about to pounce on ******* yet again, ******* blasts Niacin away with a blood-infused forearm strike. Niacin let out a cry. The cheetah landed beside - - - - -.

“That was a long ride, huh?” - - - - - said.

“Yeah. Listen, kid, this girl is not a normal being. She’s no Witch, and she’s no Meoon. The power that she possesses is far greater than most. She’s not going to be easy to deal with so we need to cooperate,” Niacin said. - - - - - gulped. “Don’t be nervous, you got me. I’ve fought with her a few times now and even if I lost all those fights, I have valuable information regarding her capabilities.”

“That’s not very nice of you to expose my secrets, Niacin. I thought Meoons were supposed to be a race of virtue? Spilling someone else’s personal life is not something someone of virtue will do now, won’t they?” ******* charged towards Niacin, or so it seemed. Niacin dodged but *******’s real target was - - - - -. The cheetah and the Witch were surprised but - - - - - managed to block *******’s blood-scythe with her staff. “You know, - - - - -, I’ve always wondered what that staff is made of. It just seemed too sturdy.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

The little chatter gave Niacin enough time to get ******* away from - - - - -. “Witch, I assume that you are a Warden since I’m very familiar with Witches. I would suggest that you try and find the memories you’re most attached to, don’t hold back-” Niacin was interrupted again by a “swoosh” sound made by *******’s swing.

“You ruined it!” ******* shouted. “I could’ve gotten your head and displayed it at my house. You could’ve been a great addition to my collection of heads.” ******* sighed. “Your head would’ve been the most valuable of the bunch, you know?”

“Quit playing games, *******,” Niacin said. “Whatever it is that you want has nothing to do with Meoons. Keep killing our kind and the Guardian will intervene himself.”

“You’ve been saying that for how many years and he still hasn't made a move still. Tell me, when’s the last time that old cat did anything to save you? Oh, right, he’s basically useless without his original lion form. It’s such a shame that a new Guardian is born yet your kind can’t find it.”

Niacin was clearly pissed and rushed to *******. But when she got barely an inch closer, she jumped to the side to *******’s surprise. Particles of light are charged to her but she easily casts them away. “Cheap tricks like that won’t work,” ******* said before getting her face smashed with - - - - -’s staff. Niacin quickly followed it up with a speed-enhanced slash to *******’s face. Her sharp claws left a mark on *******’s cheeks. “Now, you’ve gotten me even angrier. Tell me, - - - - -, what good will it do you by joining forces with a being such as Niacin? She’s a Meoon, unlike you. They’re a self-righteous race who only cares about their own little world. They have villages, a society which doesn’t involve your kind. You seem to forget that they were the ones who made your lives miserable. They won the war and took your rights to be a part of them.”

- - - - - stared at *******. “You don’t even know what you’re talking about,” she said. “I’ve been a part of this village for years and they’ve welcomed me and my mother with more dignity and respect than you could ever give. The difference between them and you is they’re nice because that’s in their nature. They don’t have any ulterior motive like attaining a useless book or whatever. They don’t kill creatures for the sake of their own gain. Unlike you, they didn’t kill my friends whom I consider family. Unlike you, they didn’t kill the only parent that I have left!” - - - - - passionately cried. Niacin was taken aback by the Witch’s speech and ******* just laughed.

“You were always so naive, I should’ve known,” ******* declared. “Now, your position is clear, my dear, you have made it known to me that I must, unfortunately, dispose of you, too-” Niacin slashed *******’s other cheek as she was speaking. - - - - - attempted another imprisonment using memories from studying some books. ******* was slightly immobilized but she broke free. What am I supposed to do? - - - - - thought. However, it was already clear to her what she must do but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. ******* brings out a blood-scythe and swings at Niacin. The elite Meoon already saw the pattern in *******’s attack with that particular weapon. She was cleverly dodging the swings and making openings for - - - - - to use imprisonment. Then, she notices the Witch, yet again, frozen in place.

If I forget my memories with my friends, what else is there to cling onto in my life? I could read my diary but I can never feel the experience of it. Why must it come down to this? - - - - - was having a mental breakdown over a decision she had to make. Suddenly, more Meoons came out of nowhere and charged at *******. Jaguars, Tigers, Caracals, Snow Leopards, and Cheetahs. The Meoons collectively tried to corner *******. With Niacin at command, she was able to neutralize *******’s movement causing the latter to be on the defensive.

“Witch! You must do it now! The longer this battle goes, the more chances for her to strike-” Just as Niacin finished her sentence, ******* let out a loud cry and spikes made out of her blood came out of her body, stabbing multiple Meoons at once. The moment she retracted her blood, a horrific scene of dead Meoons falling and lying unconscious unfolded. - - - - - stood frozen still. Niacin tried to regroup the remaining Meoons.

“Meoons, rush now! Her stamina should be low from that. She’s running out of blood to use! Don’t let this opportunity slip away!” The Meoons charged but ******* calmly manipulated her blood to be a little knife and dodged the Meoons like an assassin while slitting their throats subtly.

“You should know better than that, Niacin,” ******* said. “You just led your creatures to their deaths. What makes you think that a bunch of inferior soldiers hold a candle to me. Not even an Elite could handle me, how dare you insult me with that-”

I’M SORRY! - - - - - screamed inside her thoughts and manifested the memories of the years she spent within the Meoon village into imprisonment light. ******* screamed as the light engulfed her. Niacin watched in anticipation. After a few minutes, the light disappeared and so did *******.

“You did well,” Niacin said, returning to her day form. - - - - - was on her knees and staff on the ground. Niacin hugged her. “I’m sure it must’ve hurt but you saved more than you could have ever known, child. Tell me, what’s your name?”

“- - - - -,” the Witch said with barely an ounce of energy.

“I’ll never forget that name,” Niacin said. She stood up and turned around. - - - - - immediately grabbed her staff when she saw yet another unwanted scene. The head of Niacin fell sideways with blood gushing out.

“You think that I can ever be beaten?!” ******* screamed. “Wrong! Not even the other dimension could get me to submit. I will never give up on acquiring the Book of the Nether Gods! No memory of you will ever suffice, not even forgetting the day you were born.”

- - - - - looked down on *******. She noticed that she was not at full power. She was full of energy screaming but she wasn’t letting any blood out.

“You’re weakened?” - - - - - asked.

“No. I’m never weak! I’m always strong! Now, be a good girl and give me the book!”

There’s nothing left for me to use, - - - - - thought. I’ve forgotten all the disposable memories and I feel numb. - - - - - walked slowly and pointed the staff at *******’s head, who was crawling. Not even my birthdays are memories worth saving anymore.

“What are you gonna do?” ******* asked.

“What I should’ve always done,” - - - - - said before thinking thank you, mother, father, for all the memories. Now that I can’t protect either of you, I must use these memories as punishment for my failure. I’ll always love you. ******* disappeared, as if encased by the brightest light. She looked at Niacin’s corpse. “I’ll never forget your name, Niacin.”