Kael was just seeing an extremely tired Joshua from where he was. Poor guy must've destroyed a number of bases right now? Seijuro's training style is just weird and confusing. The injuries on Joshua's body, the way his breathing was ragged and seeing his pupils constantly shrinking and expanding? Yeah, he's nearly at his limit. The tanks, the warwolves and golems? Yeah they're all pretty pretty fucked. Whatever that remained of that base? It's... It's been beaten to its saddest state. The walls that were meant to be a fortress had been slashed to bits, the golems were chopped up like they were spare parts. Despite all that, Joshua's eyes were still ready for a fight.

"That's a good look in his eyes. How does that saying go again? Fire in the eyes?" Kael spoke to himself as he held Ice Reaper in his hand, watching how Seijuro and Joshua's fight began escalating, the number of bases and places that got into trouble because of their bout was stacking up. Maybe more than a dozen but that is just how it was.

Never feeling this drained out from when he had fought the many others as a Lord of Thorns. Most enemies don't phase him, but with Seijuro? It was akin to a beast that was toying with its prey. Joshua fought the Avatar of Destruction, yet even then. There was more to it. It was something like Kael of sorts. A second coming of him but nothing too much. So Kael did the next best thing, appear before Joshua to see what all of this was about.

"Yo." Speak of the devil, as Kael appeared with Ice Reaper in hand. Seijuro knelt towards him.

"My former Summoner. It is good to see you."

"Ah. So you're teaching him the Edge of the Gods. Can't say much but you did rough him up more than me. When I met you it was during my 42nd life. So it makes sense to why you're feeling a bit downed here." Kael said, patting Joshua's shoulders.

"You know each other? Wait, Kael. If you're here what about the Northern Lines?!"

"It's already gone. Besides, they have no idea what hit them." Joshua seemed a little perturbed by those words, perhaps he was trying to figure out how Kael did all of that? Not like Kael was going to say it anyway. He sneezed

"What of the Outsider?"

"If you train with him. You can handle it. Anyway, just came to say hi. Just remember. He's never going to go easy on you. Anyway, have fun." Kael said as he vanished, leaving nothing behind of his presence. Going for another base that was left alone. Fully fortified, tanks and every armament one could think off. Truly it was armed and fortified but a snap of his fingers and the entire base was turned to dust.

"This is a little boring. I wonder where can I go next?" Kael hid in the shadows, just keeping an eye on things. When he saw the Final Judgement and One Winged Seraph, those two were the highest order of angels. The one who had precedent to literally fuck up everything and everyone if needed.Final Judgement Solis and One Winged Seraph Erioth. Just hearing them bicker like idiots with Erioth being casual with Joshua and Seijuro. Seeing Joshua be sent flying from Erioth's flick. Yeah, that one has a personality issue.

He's been like that since I met him. Geez, what an asshole.

"Sounds about right. We'll provide you cover. You just focus on facing the Cold Cage. The battle might be more difficult than ever. Hey, Avatar. You ever gonna stop hiding in the shadows?" Kael appeared before them.

"Astute as ever One Wing. I can't call you by name now can I? Since whenever I do it just becomes ********** or bleeped out to his ears." One Winged Seraph laughed at hearing that. Though after that it was the full on lecture that Joshua had to hear. It bored Kael but he can't complain. But Joshua? He was paying attention to it, taking mental notes as he was trying to figure out what team combinations to counter his enemy. The Cold Cage.

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Cold Cage. Now that's a name I've not heard in a while. I wonder if he'll be alright with this. It's an even fight and their families will be evenly matched. Not like that's going to be the determinant. But this is his fight and I can't do everything for him.

"I can't fight the Outsider though. I will fight with you but I can't stop the Cold Cage because I'm an Outsider too. I can't just kill another Outsider. It is yours. I can only help you but that's about it." Kael said out loud which he could see Joshua being calm, giving a nod. If Kael had to guess, he understood that Kael is an external factor and not originally supposed to be in this fight. He's just here to help clear the way for Joshua. The others went on with their prep as Kael just sat by the fortress's watchtower, watching more of Joshua's familiars come into play. More of them coming over which would be a good sign.

Numbers to match a ridiculous enemy? Not exactly something Kael would do but Joshua had more options than him. Kael only had his living weapons, he's not exactly an army material kind of guy. More like one man nuke someone would launch when shit hits the fan. Watching Joshua check on the soldiers and familiars, a robodog of sorts. Large robots with AI and pilots who were readying themselves. His army was present but, not strong enough for Kael to worry about.

Noticing Joshua standing alone in silence. He must be in a trance as Ashen Phoenix is conversing with him. Not like Kael liked that blade anyway, Ashen Phoenix was so temperamental with him. Joshua had that part easy at least. But can he unlock Ashen Phoenix at its best?

Just as Kael wondered, his answer had come. Seeing the ashen blade turn pure white, with the engravings that show the beauty of the flames of a phoenix. They strike at dawn, and seeing how Joshua seemed to be trembling when he held the blade.

He did it faster than I did. Took me 50 years to get that bastard to open up to me. Pretty stingy but, I guess he mellowed out as well. Good for him.

Kael just sat there with his lit cigarette as dusk turned to dawn, making his way to where they had assembled. 3 million soldiers in total from the opposing side, fortress walls with cannons sticking out. Titanic iron golems that blocked the way.What concerned Kael was the appearance of the soldiers, they seem to be unarmed and no armor. But, he felt everything was off just by seeing them. Pressure must be kicking in for Joshua, he may have faced an army of a million but that was child's play compared to the 3 million in front of him. Those were not ordinary soldiers. Nor were they human. They may look human but it was a false pretense, there's more to it and he had to be careful. He was also down one Rose Knight from what Kael had heard. Vizel, the White Rose. The one who told them about Familiar of Zero.

Then hearing the warcry as the fighting began, Kael just kept an eye on things as he debated if he was needed. The machines fought the golems as the cannons were volleying their payloads right down to their position. Kael felt the air stir violently, it was a brutal war but one that needed to be waged. So he'll just enjoy the sight for now. Kael went closer as the fighting intensified.

Kael was lighting his cigarette beside Joshua and the others. The boy was frozen, perhaps seeing the destructive force of Seijuro, Solis and Erioth was far too much for him.

"Is this what you had to do, Kael?" Joshua inquired, a crack of hesitation was leaving his lips. His breathing was uneven, the anxiety of the unknown was taking its hold over his heart. Kael can't blame him, even when he was first in a fight he was terrified. Becoming Lucius's Avatar was even worse in that regard, Kael had to steel his resolve to get it.

"Yeah. As the Avatar of Destruction, my offerings are the destruction that I see. Well that was my offering." Kael spoke with the emotional capacity of a dead fish. It was just his normal expression on this. The emptiness as he felt the air of destruction linger by his fingertips. The familiars fought to their limits, where Kael could see Joshua being unnerved. Perhaps he thought about how weak he must feel.

When a singular blast tore a hole through the formation, that was enough for them to move in. Perhaps it was time to get things ready up. Not like Kael knew what the plan was, he's just here tagging along for the ride to sort some crap out.