As the messiah was charging, Ceila thought little of him. Instead, she remained attentive to Murai.

“Listen,” she said, “This is a vastly different situation than you've met so far in this little life. To go through this, I beg you to swallow some pride and think of what you should do, rather than what your ruling soul does. So, with that said, what were the grade, difficulty, and things around this Encounter that Will of the Battleworld sent you? Tell me. Us!”

“Tell... This was a long and messed up message.” Murai complained, turning his eyesight from Lia to her. “Though, it seems the undeniable reasons are gods and they little ploy. The Centralis Kingdom is also there, but it is rather vague. Is this what you wanted? Desired? Is this how it went according to Vermillion?”

“A little. Probably.” Ceila agreed. “To me, it seems the Centralis Kingdom already has a plethora of information about their desires, and it involves quite a lot of their hopes. Their side must have more information or forced reasons than normal. Just who started this at all, and what went behind the godly decisions?”

“Who or what? This dogshit-eating Battleworld did it all because of the gods! It is out of its mind. That's the thing that started it all and that's what this shitty Encounter is.” Murai complained again, feeling wronged. “So, what does this mean in any terms of sense? It sounds like the same mistakes and messes as encountering a Pouncing Devil of level 54 when I was a freaking level 0 duckling. What sort of mistake is this and what sense should be there? It says to go against these messiahs, or whatnot at level 60!” He sent her, feeling that the world was against him more than ever.

Going through the message again, he was sure of it. The voice stated a lot of undeniable information, and the majority were effective at conveying enough information, but the context was just another case of playing some parts in gods games. That, or it was a mistake, and someone was getting rid of him?

“What is everything then? Don't tell me...this is also a Punishment for you? This Encounter... Have you angered the core element of the Battleworld so it makes it like that?” Ceila asked as if understanding what was going on, but Murai was yet to tell her the information she wanted to hear.

“So what if I did that or not? I was injured and grievous for my fate. I do what I can. Always. No matter the cosenquances.”

“Then you reap what you sow,” Ceila said seriously. “That's how Battleworld is and always will be. Sometimes, there are no reasons or Order to it.” she sent him, glaring at him unhappily, yet with a hidden sneer on her face. She was less than aware of what this may be about, but she knew her actions went according to Vermillion and no one else.

Forcing Murai to do what she wanted was an easy task, considering the unavailability of Murai's life companion was a good thing. If Lisa was here, helping him, it could become bothersome. That was why she wanted to finish getting Murai to agree to her demands fast, and also push him over the edge. That was what Vermillion demanded and desired.

As for what that was, Murai was yet to know the reason for anything.

Accomplishing something with this Encounter seemed to be something he had to do, rather than want to do. That or Helpers were her hidden intentions with special tasks or rewards they will get out of their helper status? It shouldn't be that simple. It never was.

Murai hesitated. In his view, Ceila was toying with the reasons and didn't tell him Vermillion's desires. He was becoming a toy, or a reason for Vermillion Church to grow alongside him, using this Encounter and his person like a variable to push some things behind the scenes. That wasn't something he wanted to take part in, but did he have a choice in this matter?

He didn't, yet he wasn't even aware of it.

Murai wanted to get out of this situation fast, disregarding his morality to pay for what was owed, or what he should do.

At this point, messiah crossed his arms in his charge, Conjuring the mana around his hands with black strands, resembling chains.

It was a Black Death. A spell in the appearance of dark flaming chains with the core of his fists. These flames will not stop burning for up to 15 minutes out of his own influence, burning the enemy to the ground. But direct clutch? It was a powerful spell that disregarded a lot of Physicality, and defenses, making it possible to damage high-level beings than the wielder's level.

The disadvantage of this spell was terrible. Black Death will leave burned marks and painful hands and fingers for the rest of his life. It was a forbidden kind of magic and an overbearing part of Chaos. It had undeniable power that was useful for certain groups of people that didn't fear Chaos or pain.

Murai understood it right away. What was before him was a lunatic. A complete moron and a madman who didn't cherish his life, normal reasons, or decency.

“I will burn your pretty faces! Chechechecheeee.” messiah laughed wildly, pouncing right at Murai, but his eyes were upon the 2 Suns.

Ceila ignored Murai for a moment, turning to Lia.

“A Helper's case is due with this. Encounter has started, so I am not sure how many per encounter, but you can do this, right?” Ceila quickly stated the fact to Lia, even though Murai was yet to tell answers to her questions.

“Unknown, is it? 1 per this opening act is minimum, so I will take the reign.” Lia said, glaring at Ceila, but she didn't tell anything back. In fact, she realized something nasty. “What is up with this... That's too much against this child Anatidae, but then, what isn't? It is all strange. What sort of ploy is God of Battle thinking about, I wonder.” Lia wondered, but not like she cared about reasons, unlike Ceila or other Suns.

She liked adventure and it was always like that. Battle, blood, and glory. That was her Path, and she wasn't all that bad following it.

Messiah pounced with undeniable speed forward, coming closer yet he forgot something. He didn't come even close to them with his fists, before bumping into the barrier that he couldn't stop. It led to his strange stop in mid-air and shocked face.

He almost pushed his fist to his face, which would be unsightly, since he would burn himself to death.

“C-cowards... Get out of your tiny corner to reap this Encounter!” messiah shouted, getting back to his feet after falling to the ground. He was eyeing them 4 meters away, while the Black Death didn't seem to do much against this extremely strong barrier.

Behind him, coming from the forest, many figures emerged. Each looked similar to this messiah, but there were some differences among them.

20 people dressed the same as this one messiah, with cloaks, and crazy eyes. They walked forward, brandishing weapons, spells on their own, or nothing yet. They didn't care about the knights, who were out of the picture already because their forces were much stronger than some parts of 2nd Sun's Battalion.

“Does this looks to your liking now? I think you should move, or I will do so sooner.” Ceila said to Lia.

“Shouldn't I do something else? They seem too weak, but not like it's just them.” She waved her hands, tossing Murai to Ceila's hands. “I forgot something, but not like it matters. The rewards or potential also matters little, Murai, if that's your name...”

“Lia...” Ceila said again, gazing into her eyes with pressuring look.

“I know, but I deserve to know a bit about him too.” Lia stomped the ground, cracking it dozens of meters around. Then, she pointed her finger at Murai and spoke meaningfully and loudly.

“I am a helper for the sake of the Encounter! By the call of the Battleworld! I choose the ride of this Anatidae, so let the ride be a joyful one.” Lia shouted, forming a formal pledge that connected Murai and Lia into a strange power dynamic.

Murai couldn't even disregard this, nor did he disagree with anything. She simply stated her desire to become a Helper, appearing to be Murai's official cause while fleeting pressure was upon him. He accepted it and agreed with her pledge. He had no choice. Letting Lia be a helper was up to him, and he could refuse her but why would he do that?

Since the Encounter was this sort of mess, and before him were enemies he couldn't even touch, he will use others, or others will use him.

“Level around 60. Some messiahs are around 50, or lower. That is nothing in my eyes and there is something else... Is this Encounter formed around Helpers in mind since it involves Centralis Kingdom and Murai's incredibly low level?” Lia asked, feeling the tingling messages that immediately descended into her mind, forming a task and rewards alike.

She wasn't Blessed, and her case of getting powerful wasn't some messaging pattern that they had. Glancing at Murai in Ceila's grasp, she smiled, satisfied with the situation, rewards, or reasons Battleworld mentioned to her.

“It appears to be the case.” Ceila nodded. “But I think it's the beginning of the true deal, or situation that our Lady predicted and desires. We will make a lot of enemies along with this, but it is her Will. Vermillion Church will establish certain dominance over the current worldly efforts. Isn't that what is this about?”

Lia smiled, cracking her knuckles with a wide smile upon hearing her words.

“I don't give a shit. My Lady disregards this me, and I am a simple tool. My blood is boiling just imagining our Lady walking through the world. Fine. Let, the party started.”

As she said so, she walked forward, stepping out of the barrier, while something strange started to happen along the way. A lot of foggy steam gushed out through her skin, washing or changing her body. It was coming off of her veins, making her figure indistinct and hazy.

Messiah hesitated, even though she was a handful of reach away from her. He felt the temperate rising, making him sweat, and realized that someone crazier than him was before his eyes.

Lia turned redder and redder, while her muscles began to twitch, mold, and clutter together. Her arms turned longer, and her fingers turned to the sharp claws of a dragon.

“Come on, little man. Will you die and quench the thirst, and desires that gods love? You will like it, I fear.” Lia talked behind the fog, smiling not one bit crazier than the man 2 meters before her.

He appeared to face the reality, but he couldn't change it. No, his mind was too devoted to even consider fleeing or considering something else. He moved, pushing his body to its limits. He pulled his right fist to face Lia, while the Black Death should eat her Physicality without any problems.

Swoosh!

He didn't notice how the fog swayed, and the draconian figure moved fast like a shadow. A strange scene of turning upside down turned his vision along a hazy figure of Lia's current changed form. Into the blackness, his mind went, as his body lost something important.

A head, to be exact.

Lia's simple swing of her single finger ceased the filthy blood away. She stood a meter behind collapsed messiah, while his headless body rolled around the ground.

Her body changed to a Dragonic Brawler: 3rd form, Class A of Path of a Dragoneer. It was a Path of quite a rarity and strength.

Her dragon claws were sharp like the finest blade. They weren't not overly huge, nor small, forming a strange sensation that her appearance was natural as if she was born like this. Unfortunately, she wasn't of Dragonic Tribe, nor actual Dragon that can shapeshift to human appearance.

The appearance in terms of dragons didn't end in the claws alone. Scales emerged around her forearm, flowing to the elbow where they ended in a sharp spike. Beneath her robe, more scales spread around her back, neck, chest, and a small part of her lower face. Her own mouth twitched, becoming wider, and even her teeth became longer and sharper. Her face or even the crimson hair remained the same.

That was about the changes she underwent from physical aspects, but it wasn't only that. The fundamental density of Lia's muscles changed according to this transformation. Dense, lean, and tight were the 3 words that described her current disposition the best.

She didn't become some big muscular dude, nor she became ugly. She retained a woman's elegance, albeit with quite some savagery. Her red long hair flickered in the wind, making her appear quite wild and ferocious. Her claws clicked, as the last piece of scale went to its place.

“19? No.. 20 to go,” Lia mumbled, looking around herself as the remaining visible messiahs charged at her, wilding all sorts of weapons and spells.

Most were medium-level mages, but some of them were knights, turned messiahs for the sake of Central Church that devoted all of their followers to the sake of Centralis Kingdom. This church had no devotion to no deity in particular so it was a wild and unique church. They had one very special, and intense belief that made them a fearsome and terrifying force in this world.

That was a simple notion of battle. Everything for the sake of the Battleworld mattered the most. Every belief that came afterward, stemmed from Blessed that made the tip of the iceberg of their kingdom and vere epitome to a fundamental status that Will of the Battleworld provided.

“A neutral force such as Vermillion Church turned against our hopes? Is this a will of your God?” a stern, serious voice shouted from a distance. It was coming from an unknown man, hiding nowhere in particular. He emerged from the air since his body was hiding behind the indivisible spell, void, or space crack.

“Your attempt at hiding isn't fitting for old folks, nor people of your caliber, old man,” Lia shouted, ignoring the charging spells or arrows that disintegrated from a couple of her claw swipes.

“And your attempts at eating more than you chew are less than laughable.” The man said coldly, revealing his face hiding behind the hood. He was no old man, unlike Lia's statement. He had a clawed mark around his face, revealing hideous slashes that revealed a section of his teeth, skull, and healed flesh.

“Hello there, Archie.” Lia waved her claw, smiling at him with child-like carefreeness, while Death Shot, in a form of a raging fireball, ended up in her hand. She stopped it with a simple flex, making no harm to her body because of her scales.

“You mad woman. I knew you would be inclined to move once I heard the information about Vermillion Church's involvement... But, I am doubtful. Do you want to involve yourself with the Blessed of our caliber, and carry a notion of undeniable change that is about to happen to this world? This is just the beginning, Lia.”

“Becoming a Gifted was one way to get involved with A LOT of things, so yes. I am already fine with what is about to come, or what should come.” Lia said, half smiling, half laughing as she turned around, slashing the throats of 2 messiahs that teleported behind her. Each held a dagger and each successfully made their way to her body, but they stopped, as their End came sooner than they wished. Not one of them penetrated her scales.

Then, she turned back to the scarred man some distance away. He was a high-level mage under the Centralis Kingdom and had no church influence on him. She knew who he was. Calling them acquaintances wasn't too far-fetched.

Named Arch, for the better lack of terms, or Lia's making nicknames, his level was lower than Lia's but not a lot. Having any level close to 70 was already impressive enough though.

“This is a beginner action of the Encounter, so why make this so vile and turn this into something crazy?” Arch said, dismissing the raging spells and a couple of powerful arrows that traveled to Lia from his temporary underlings.

He talked as if they weren't there, killing her, or injuring her. In fact, he would be glad if they will do either, but he knew it was a doubtful claim to expect any success.

“You already took this to our hands, so blame nothing, but nobody. Killing our knights is already enough for us to seek revenge, while anything else can become an excuse, isn't it like that in the City of Chaos? Wait, not only that. Encounter is always like that. I know more than you know.” Lia argued.

“Oh, I know that. Trust me. I was kidding. I am more than glad to see you. Heh.” Arch's face turned to a wide smile, broadening the scars around his face. “I will obliterate your fucking face as you did mine all those years ago!” He shouted, and an explosion of mana enveloped his hands with many shaking notes and large pillars of dense mana.

The Conjuring of this magnitude was quite common, but what came next was Shaping. In a second, the wavy azure nature of his mana revealed countless little dots the size of water droplets. Each was heavy like an iron ball half a meter in diameter and all of them shot quite fast toward Lia.

“Dropping Sky? Your care for your spells is low as always.” Lia sneered and lowered her posture. Placing a single palm forward, she punched fast and furious forward with the other.

An incredible pushing force obliterated the whole Dropping Sky that tried to shatter and push against her body. Each drop was truly like a hit of the anvil or worst, yet neither hit her.

Arch wasn't doing anything, but stare, standing on his feet in defeat.

He frowned, “You... Have you improved once again? W-what bloodline is that? Those scales look similar to the past, but they aren't... that?” he pointed forwards.

“You just noticed?” Lia said, crouching down. “You are stuck in an old past, old man.” she sneered, and then, something similar, yet different from before, started. She dropped her boots to leave her legs bare. No scales were there at all, and her skin was soft, with some muscular waves visible from a close distance.

She clutched her fists and turned her face serious. Her claws widened, turning to shield her because of her momentary fixed position. There were a lot of messiahs left, but their power wasn't threatening to her. Not now.

In a moment, a similar change to her hands happened to her feet. They became longer, while muscles transformed much more visibly than with her hands. Scales also spread, but muscles changed first. They turned and curved along the bones, becoming dragon-like with the scales. It was a strange mixture of dragon and some bird's leg with 3 joints.

They weren't that much thicker than before, apart from her thighs, which become thicker, and noticeable because she got at least half a meter boost in height.

Her ankles lengthened, and curved back, turning her legs into other joins apart from thighs and calves. Their shape became a perfect mixture of endurance, and speed, making her reach terrific power. Higher ground provided an advantage, but not always. For Lia, the most important change was the speed.

She swiped her claws around, disintegrating Volcanic Shot, Lighting Great Arror, and many other spells. While she was at it, Arch started reciting some incantations, forming a sea of mana from within him to his aid.

Lia did the simplest thing after being over her 2-way transformation. She pounced forward, and the grounds exploded where she had just stood at. She disappeared in a blink, while the next moment was quite impressive, or terrifying for others.

Her claw penetrated and destroyed the successfully formed barrier that should stop attacks from level 80s to travel through it. It didn't, and the claw traveled further, unbothered by anything, catching, and clutching Arch's head, while his spine couldn't take this stress.

She snapped it so fast, that the head remained in her single-clawed grasp, while Arch's remained standing, even without his head.

Lia traveled forward because her momentum was too heavy, stopping dozens of meters away in the forest. Glancing at the terrified face in her grasp, she no longer smiled. “So much for a combat mage. Thought you could turtle up, huh? Bad move. I wonder what your desires were for coming here when you were barely a level 70. Well, the circumstances of the Encounter are wild and probably involve Extremes at the higher states, so I can't talk about it.” She complained and tossed this useless head behind her shoulder.

Sighting, she walked back to the plain where she looked around to see the rest of the messiahs. Their leader died, so what came next was obvious. A bloody sight, that was nothing but normality for the sake of the Battleworld.

Murai looked at the murders from afar, hiding behind the barrier in Ceila's grasp.

How in the world do I live this down... Taking help from a woman... while I am unable to do shit? he thought, taking this battle as an important piece of context. It was fairly high level, but nowhere near close to balance.

“Oh, you have a problem with that? Should I toss you to the battlefield?” Ceila commented, still having the connection to his Will.

“Screw you...” Murai quacked, turning his beak away in frustration.

“It's fine. Don't worry. I am sure there will be a chance for you to get some kind of fight out of this predicament. My Lady is sure of it like the Centralis Kingdom or the one responsible for this Encounter. Everyone will want more from this. Such as the Gift of that gift of yours, or who knows what else.”

“I have nothing to offer...” Murai helplessly said.

“But you do. A lot of things actually. Any Blessed is special and can provide a lot of things for all kinds of reasons, but you don't know about it... because.. reasons. Funny ones. Heheh.” Ceila giggled, which made Murai uncomfortable.

“Are you making me question my choices? I have none. What is this situation for you anyway? A chance? Hope to see some... war and schemes of gods prevail and turn into something good? It's always the same. The Ego leads to nowhere but to other Ends, and many struggles. Grudges to grudges and murders to other murders.” Murai stated his intent with his Will, saying what he wanted, even in the grasp of someone closer to a god than him. At least, at the moment.

“I know. It's a constant rule of BAttleworld. Encompassing, and never changing, or so you think?” Ceila said, raising her head to see the sky. 5 suns were visible from this place that was open in the middle of the Woodlands. “I think you know what this is about... You always did. Whether you like to imagine, wonder, or know about it.”

“Hmh! S-shut up...” Murai sneered. “I will do what I can. You won't deny my desires, but...”

“You are nothing but a tool...” Ceila pushed Murai above her head, glancing at him with indifference, as her eyes glowed in bright light.