Skylar found herself deep in thought as she continued walking forward through the stone paths, she took in a breath before looking at her right hand.

Afraid. That was the word that came into her mind when she thought about herself. She stopped suddenly, her eyes flashing before turning a bright crimson, a voice then spoke to her as the area around her vanished from her sight. She stood in darkness, a complete blackness, all-consuming in nature, "Mortal... How is it that you find yourself connected to our consciousness?" A voice called out booming and powerful, it was enough to make Skylar tremble.

In the darkness, crimson reptilian eyes stared downward, "SPEAK!" Skylar took a fearful step backward, this thing... it wasn't like anything she's ever seen before.

"W-What... are you...?" she questioned trying to regain control over her thoughts.

"You would answer my question with one of your own...? You forget your place in this world insect." Fire burst to life around Skylar illuminating the area, straight ahead she saw the face of this beast. A dragon with pure red scales, towering over her. "Hm? A human... but that is impossible..." The beast spoke out loud musing on its thoughts, before speaking once more "Your name. Speak it." Fear consumed Skylar. Complete and overwhelming fear, this dragon was strong. Skylar could tell that much, with one strike it could end her life.

And so seeing no other options she spoke, "Skylar... Shadewalker." The dragon's eyes lit up then, slowly it rose its head staring down at Skylar, "...Shadewalker...?" He growled, "You are unlike him, yet you would claim to be his kin? Arrogance befits you, naught human." "Arrogance? ...But all I did was tell you my name." Skylar muttered before taking a step forward she took in a breath, "M-More importantly, you said I was connected to your consciousness? What exactly does that mean?!"

The dragon let out a huff slowly standing tall on all fours, "You speak as if you are deserving of answers, perhaps you think there is common ground with us? No. There is no such thing between us, kinslayer." Skylar suddenly grits her teeth slamming her foot into the dark ground, "I would nev-"

"YOU ARE BORN FROM THE FLESH OF MAN, WITH THE STRENGTH OF GODS! YOU STAND BEFORE ME AS AN EXECUTIONER DO YOU NOT!?" Skylar flinched at those words glancing to the ground, "I- I don't know... what I am..." she responded. For a moment this beast's gaze softened, and it huffed, turning around, "If you don't know even that much, then you will die in this place."

The area began to grow brighter and Skylar had to lift her arm to shield her eyes.

"Skylar! Skylar stay with me!"

She blinked then and though she was still disoriented, she recognized the cave hallway nearly instantly, she was clutching the sides of her head she wasn't even sure when she started doing that, and Tetra was in front of her grasping her shoulders a look of concern riddled his face.

Slowly Skylar removed her hands from her head taking in a shaky breath, "That... was horrifying."

Tetra frowned, letting go of Skylar's shoulder, and extending his right hand, "Can you stand?" Skylar blinked looking at that hand before grabbing it, in that instant, Tetra helped her up without so much as a single complaint.

Tetra then let out a small sigh, "Care to explain what happened?"

Skylar blinked, looking down to her knees frowning for a moment before opening her mouth to speak, but when she did so the words failed to reach her lips.

"It's... hard to describe..." she finally stated.

Tetra folded his arms, "Well... I suppose I don't need to know the details at the moment, just process the words and we'll get back to it." Tetra then turned around and began walking once more.

A lie.

That's what escaped Skylar's lips, she knew exactly how to describe what happened, and yet she found herself keeping it to her lonesome.

Why? Because she feared what that beast may do.

Of course, she did... why wouldn't she? After what it did in that dreamlike world?

She was scared shitless.

But even so, she kept walking forward, for she knew it was far too late to stop.

***

Jenna found herself sitting at her large table preparing to take a bite out of her new meal, her fork was just in front of her mouth, but it loomed there for a moment... This was due to an intruder, a man in a black coat now sat on the other end of her table.

She knew the names of these creatures. 'Eternals' they called themselves.

She hardly liked the name, nor these creatures in general.

Slowly she lowered her fork frowning as she set it on her plate, "And to what do I owe this distinct pleasure?" she questioned feigning kindness to those who would dare intrude upon her sanctuary.

"You have spoken with Skylar Shadewalker, have you not? I wish to know what she had to say... We have a trade offer if that is what it takes to get the information you have." The Eternal spoke.

Straight to business not wasting any time with formalities.

Jenna sat there for a moment pondering on what she should do next before speaking up, "I think I shall refuse that trade, the information I have shall remain my own."

The Eternal blinked frowning beneath his hood, "May I ask why?"

Jenna smirked cockily, "Oh? I don't think you need to, you're already well aware of why I act the way I do."

The Eternal arched a brow, "I fear I don't follow your logic."

Jenna grasped the fork from her plate once more lifting it once more, the eyeball attached to her fork stopping just short of her jaw for a moment, as she glanced at the man ahead before she bit down on that eyeball eating it whole.

"You fear her, don't you? This Shadewalker?"

The Eternal scoffed folding his arms, "As should you. Her abilities have only just begun to surface and yet she grows stronger; so much stronger, by every passing second. If she keeps growing as rapidly as she has been now, then she may very well surpass every being in this realm."

Jenna leaned forward resting her face in the open palm of her right hand smirking slightly, "Leaving no place for us? That is what you're getting at right?" she questioned with a chuckle, "Or more accurately no place for your already dwindling existence."

The Eternal countered with a snarl, "You act as though this doesn't concern you."

"Oh it does, I make no move to deny that... but I also won't be caught dead working with a species who'd help the Executioners push my species onto the brink through their genocidal whims." Jenna quickly retorted with her narrowed gaze, she then closed her eyes letting out an irritated sigh, "I think I'll take my chances with the Shadewalker, though I thank you for your concern."

The Eternal frowned beneath his hood, "Do I take this as you saying you are the enemy of The Eternal's?" This man asked beneath his hood.

Slowly Jenna opened her eyes, her gaze was steeled with determination, no malice. No anger, just... determination. Pure and raw as she gave her response, "I am what this world made me. A monster... Not a tool." she responded simply raising her head, "If you wish to challenge me with your puppet's then I shall be waiting to face you head on." she smirked, confident in her own strength.

The Eternal sat there for a moment before standing from his chair a sigh of disappointment leaving his lips, "And to think I thought we could coexist." he shook his head turning around a black portal appeared in front of him, "...When next we meet, I pray you are more open to reason." with that he walked through the Portal without hesitation.

As he did so Jenna narrowed her gaze, "...That was quite possibly the most stressful few minutes of my life..." she muttered to herself, she was confident in her strength.

Her ability to think ahead of her enemies was second to none, but The Eternals had been her a lot longer than she had, as such it was very possible that these things had tricks that could easily obliterate Jenna.

That was her concern, but she couldn't just sit back anymore.

"Skylar Shadewalker... I wonder how you'll continue to grow. Will you be the hero who saves this doomed world? Or the demon that puts an end to its suffering?" As she asked the question she looked up at the chandelier in the middle of her room, a smile appearing on her face letting her fangs become bare for the world to see, "Oh I can't wait to see it."

She then closed her eyes for a brief moment, "...Then again, perhaps the time has come. To rip the band-aid off and show that girl what it is like to be overcome with the need for vengeance?" Jenna chuckled at the sheer thought of it, "Why not? After all, there isn't a soul in this world that could stop me."

***

The long corridor that both Skylar and Tetra had been walking down opened up to a larger room at last, they expected to find yet another horrific beast, yet instead they found this large room to be filled with a total of four tents.

And a campfire in the middle of it all, sitting in front of the fire were two women, one with red hair that was long by nature, she seemed to be the older one of the two, and she wore a set of plain white pants and a red shirt. A black jacket was upon her torso, she stopped her conversation as she glanced at the entrance to this place, "Ah, Tetra! Took you long enough."

"Julieta." Tetra smirked, giving his greeting, "Been a while hasn't it... And she is..." Tetra glanced at the other person in the room, she was young about Skylar's age.

But she had short gray hair and blue eyes. She wore a small blue sailor uniform.

She hid right behind Julieta.

Julieta chuckled a little at that, "This is Shina... she was picked out to be an apprentice to Draco."

Tetra immediately grimaced upon hearing that, "To Draco? Poor kid." Shina frowned hearing those words, which didn't escape Tetra's notice but instead of speaking up about it Shina remained hidden behind Julieta's legs, Skylar was the next to speak up, "U-um, a pleasure to meet you I'm Skylar." She introduced herself to the child, as well as Julieta.

Julieta blinked looking down at Skylar blinking she uttered one word ominously, "Small."

Skylar blinked, arching a brow, "Eh?"

Julieta then knelt on one knee grabbing Skylar by the hips, followed by Julieta squealing as she raised Skylar into the air, "SHE'S SO SMALL!!"

Skylar sat there as Juileta then held her close to her chest, swinging her back and forth all the while.

Skylar glanced over to Tetra with a pleading gaze as if to say, 'Help me'

Tetra only responded with a smirk filled with pity, Shina then looked to the ground twiddling her thumbs before finally emerging from behind Julieta's leg.

"U-Um, why did you become an Executioner?" Shina suddenly let the question leave her lips without much thought to it.

Tetra blinked looking at Shina with a bit of surprise before frowning, "Well..." he folded his arms before glancing over to Julieta, "I suppose you could say I was trying to catch up with some of the best of us."

Julieta set Skylar onto the ground, as soon as she did so Shina came out from behind Julieta's legs looking right at Skylar, "Oh hush, you outpaced me by miles soon after you started and you know it."

Tetra leaned forward keeping his arms folded as he smirked, "Only because you let me."

Julieta blinked then whispered under her breath, "You knew?"

Tetra responded by unfolding his arms frowning, "I had a feeling for a while."

Skylar blinked looking over to Shina, "I-Is this normal?"

Shina glanced at Skylar tilting her head to the side, "I think it's a lover's quarrel?"

"WE'RE NOT LOVERS!" Both Tetra and Julieta shouted at the same time looking at the children.

Both then blinked looking at each other, Julieta then narrowed her gaze, "That... does beg the question though what are you two doing here?"

Tetra blinked glancing to the side guiltily, "Er, you want the long or short version?"

Julieta immediately cringed upon hearing that question, "The fact that there even is a long version scares me."

Tetra raised his hand grabbing the back of his neck and glancing at Skylar, seeming to contemplate his words before speaking up once more as he returned his attention to Julieta, "The short version is things have gone to crap in The Kingdom."

Julieta folded her arms tilting her head up ever so slightly, "Right..." she then let a smirk tug at her lips, "so how long is the long version?"

There was a silence that came after that before Tetra glanced back at Skylar, "...You got anywhere to sit?"

Julieta chuckled, unfolding her arms, "Come along."

With that, they made their way further into the circle of tents.

They were color-coded.

The first tent was black, the second was blue, the third was the one the group was currently heading towards it was brown, and the last one was gold.

Julieta pulled back the opening to this tent, much to Skylar's surprise this place almost seemed to be a full cafe, complete with stools and two tables.

Tetra frowned looking at how empty this place is, "Seems like there should be more people around here."

Julieta let out a hum as she went behind the counter starting up one of the many machines in the back, "You would be right about that, but as you have already seen we've had a rather large breach of dragons as of late." she explained though the urgency of the situation was clear to everyone in the room Skylar included.

Julieta seemed to be undisturbed by the concept of such a breach.

Since no one else did speak up about it Skylar took a step into the tent and spoke her mind, "Er, why are you so... calm about that?"

Shina smirked, pride flashing in her gaze as she put a fist to her chest, "Because everyone in the facility is trained for situations like this! Ergo we have nothing to worry about... I thought someone who made it this far would know about that, are you actually an idiot Skylar?" Shina let the question leave her lips without thinking.

Skylar immediately slumped forward an unamused look on her face, "Wow... You don't mince words when you open up huh..."

Julieta let out a small sigh, "You'll have to forgive her... while she is skilled in many regards she's never cared much for people's feelings. It is something we're working on.'' She then set a cup of coffee on the table.

"So then, shall we begin?" she smirked looking at Tetra.

Tetra walked forward unflinching as he sat upon a stool taking that black coffee, with a few gulps and setting it back on the table, "Right..." he then looked from that cup and then to Julieta, "Let's start with the orphanage shall we?"

***

Draco blinked as soon as he set foot on his own island frowning as he did so, "A breach? ...On level four? No. Level five." he muttered to himself as he turned around looking at the men behind him getting ready to dock the airship in place; they had assembled a whole force to capture Skylar and Tetra.

They had insisted on coming with, not that Draco required their help he had also had little issue accepting the help of The Kingdom.

But...

He turned his head glancing over his shoulder, "You will stay here." he spoke authority seeping into his voice.

Some of the men on that airship thought about interjecting and joining in anyways but none of them dared speak up, all of them knew it was foolish to go against Draco's wishes.

So instead they just watched as Draco began to walk forward to the single building straight ahead, the animals moved back as he walked forward.

For these creatures, this man was something beyond any of them.

His gaze glossed over to the Axolotls sitting in the pond of water and a slight smirk appeared on his face as he saw them, "...Getting along fine then?"

The creatures didn't respond, choosing instead to stare Draco in the face.

He didn't mind, he was rather fond of these creatures.

He then took in a breath, closing his eyes and the wind blew around him, "Wind mages should be a relative threat at this moment... I suppose I may have to put forth some effort this time around... how irritating." Draco commented as he continued his walk forward.

He then grabbed the handle of the entrance to his 'experiment' as he liked to call it, swinging it open in the hole ahead, he heard the roar of dragons.

It seems they already sensed his presence, a smirk adorned his face suddenly and the rattling of chains could be heard, "Eager to be escorted back to your cells are we?"

***

Julieta took in a breath setting a mug down, "That's... a lot to take in."

Tetra looked to his own cup which had been filled a few times now, "Mhm." he felt the sound was enough to get his feelings on the matter across.

He then closed his eyes for a moment rolling his own words around in his head, "Forgive me... I think I need to step out for a moment or two." he said as he began to stand up.

"Of course." Julieta nodded in understanding watching as Tetra exited the tent.

Leaving Skylar along on the far right stool, Julieta then glanced at Skylar, "Want something to eat? We don't have anything all that filling but we do have some bread."

Skylar blinked before smiling, "Yes please."

Julieta smiled, reaching under the counter before pulling out three slices of bread she set them on a plate, "Hard to believe that you and Tetra are working together... that man would never consider bringing a child into battle when I knew him, maybe he sees something special in you." she commented.

This prompted a raised brow from Skylar, "What was he like back then?" Skylar asked as she bit into a piece of bread, arching a brow as she did so.

Julieta blinked looking at the ground, "He was... kind. Still to this day, but he lost a lot during the war." she explained, sighing while looking down at her own food, "But it's different now, back then he was kind to help those around him doing whatever he could to keep everyone happy, but now? Now I think he does it to keep himself from sinking further into the shadows."

Skylar tilted her head to the side, confusion settling upon her face, "I... Don't think I understand."

Julieta smiled softly, taking a swig from her cup before setting it down, "And I hope you never do... for your own sake." she stated before getting up, "Well then, that's enough of a break don't you think?"

Skylar watched as Julieta exited the small tent, she then looked down at her own food frowning, "War... sounds scary." she muttered before standing up and removing her sword from her back looking at the steel for a moment. Nero's face flashed in it.

And she could feel her stomach churn at the thought of taking another life.

She grits her teeth sheathing her blade, "People die. That's just a fact of life." She repeated Tetra's words to herself.

She then walked forward stealing her resolve but she spoke a set of words as she did so, "So why is it so sad?"

Julieta sighed, "That tired old phrase?" she tapped her fingers along the counter impatiently, "Tetra says that one all the time... Sometimes I think he forgets the most important part about death." She then raised a finger glancing at Skylar, "The pain helps us remember so that they never are truly lost in the afterworld."

Skylar blinked her mouth stopping just short of her food, she then slowly set the bread down, "I... never considered that."

Suddenly Shina leaped onto the stand beside Skylar, "Yeah yeah enough about that! You seriously fought an A-ranked god and won!? That's some impressive stuff, tell me more about that!" Shina's face was ecstatic as she spoke,

Skylar tilted her head to the side letting confusion wash over her face once more, "A... rank...?"

As soon as Julieta heard the confusion she frowned, "...That's it. I'm going to have a stern chat with Tetra once he returns."

All the while Shina was laughing so hard that she had to prop herself on the counter just to keep herself from falling.

While she wasn't sure why, Skylar was certain that she had said something dumb.

And that of course caused embarrassment to wash over her.

Julieta sighed tracing her finger along the rim of the mug before her, before speaking, "...The rankings go in order like this. D, C, B, A, and S. Each ranking is used to quickly determine the strength of the god before you, D's, and C's tend to be among the weakest but they always travel in pairs making them tricky to take out on the best of days... whereas, B's and A's are among the strongest. To my knowledge, before you, Tetra was the only one capable of slaying those rankings."

Shina then pointed forward, "And then there are the S ranks! Those are-"

"Myths." Julieta interjected sternly, "God’s ranking B, and A. They can create their own realities, think of it as… a small cave, when you enter the exit seals and your enemy grows stronger. An S rank would be able to do this and force that power onto the whole world. As such… They don’t exist.”

Shina then frowned sternly, "You don't know that... I could find one and fight it myself!" Shina stated confidently.

Julieta rolled her eyes, "If a god like that did exist, I'd run in the other direction..."

Skylar then had a realization, "Oh yeah, come think of it I've never asked. Shina, what is your magic anyway?"

Shina chuckled confidently, leaping down from the soot before putting both hands on her hips and speaking, "Cannons."

There was a soft blow of wind then "C-Cannons... Are you kidding me?"

Julieta put a hand over her face suppressing a sigh, "She can manipulate earth mana flow, to the point where she can reconstruct certain materials... she just always happens to make cannons..."

Shina smirked confidently, "Mhm! In a place like this cave, I'm practically invincible!"

"What have I told you about that arrogance? And you know better than to call this place a simple cave." Julieta scolded, and Shina flinched, losing her confidence for only a moment.

Skylar smiled faintly for a moment, "You two really care about each other huh..."

Julieta and Shina both looked over to Skylar when she said that, Shina smiled for a moment, "Of course I do, Julieta is like a mother to me!"

Julieta blinked when hearing those words she then began to mutter the same phrase under her breath over and over, "It's a trap, It's a trap."

Shina chuckled then before looking back to Skylar, "Are... you and Tetra not close?"

Skylar frowned, pondering upon those words, "He's a good teacher... but I sometimes think he doesn't trust me." she then looked to her own hands, "Maybe because it's what I... am..."

Julieta took a moment to remain silent, "It's not anything to do with you Skylar." she suddenly spoke, "Tetra closed his heart off to others long ago, he hardly opens it up to anyone now."

Skylar found herself taking another bite out of her bread, "I... still want to help him however I can."

Julieta let out a hum before going under the counter, "It should be around here somewhere..." she muttered to herself, "AHA!" she shouted, bumping her head on the counter as she tried to shoot up too fast, but when she stood all the way up, she set a longsword on the table.

The hilt was golden, with three holes all in the shape of crystal and the blade itself was a glorious silver, "This sword used to be Tetra's... the holes here are meant to take the power of Crystals and imbue their magic into the sword, Tetra was never able to handle more than one crystal but you? You might be able to handle all three."

Skylar looked at that sword before nodding. She reached up unsheathing her old sword and setting it on the table, before reaching out to the new one, her hand stopped short of that golden hilt before she grabbed hold of it putting it into her holster.

"But... where am I even supposed to get those Crystals?" Skylar questioned.

Julieta closed her eyes, "The sword manifests them by itself, the first one will always be forged out of your power, and the remaining crystals will be forged of the bonds you have with others." Julieta explained, "Those are Tetra's words by the way, not mine." with that last sentence she cut off any chance Skylar had to ask more questions

So instead she uttered something else, "Thank you." she let the phrase leave her mouth without any worry.

Julieta nodded in response, "...Tetra's been gone for a bit now hasn't he?"

Skylar frowned looking down at another piece of her bread before taking the final bite and leaping from her stool, "I'm going to find him" she spoke before bolting out of the tent.

Leaving Shina and Julieta alone for a moment.

Shina sat back upon her stool arching a brow, "She really is stupid huh..."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Julieta folded her arms, "Innocent is the word I'd use, it's impressive all things considered." Julieta then frowned bitterly, "I just hope she doesn't lose that innocence in the battles to come."

In response, Shina glanced at Julieta, "Seriously? Innocent? In the battles, Tetra described he almost made Skylar sound like some sort of monster."

Julieta nodded, "It's not her fault though... I assume that's just the god in her."

Shina then tilted her head to the side, "Huh?"

Julieta frowned thinking of the best way to explain the subject, "It's a less studied subject, so the information I do have is not well known... but It's theorized that when a god enters a battle their entire demeanor changes... A happy-go-lucky person easily makes the transition into a battle-hardened warrior. As for the why? ...I'm unsure."

Shina blinked, looking to the exit of the tent before responding, "So it's not entirely impossible for someone like that to become a monster in the blink of an eye..." That was the conclusion she had reached in this conversation.

Yet instead of fear, Shina felt curiosity peek its ugly head into her mind. Shina then let out a hum before leaping for her chair, "I'm going to follow them." she declared suddenly before running out the exit.

"H-Huh! Wait for a second!" Julieta reached out only to sigh, lowering her hand, "That girl... seriously what a brat." she folded her arms only to flinch as she took in a breath reaching into her pocket she pulled out a white crystal that was glowing faintly.

Julieta closed her eyes for a moment before reopening them, "Draco."

***

Skylar found herself walking around the camp all in an effort to find Tetra, she blinked looking ahead to the distance, beyond all the tents there was a second cave entrance, "Maybe he went that way?"

She stopped just short of the cave entrance gripping the side of her head in pain falling to one knee, that familiar sensation began to enter her head once more.

She found herself in that black void once more with that Dragon staring down at her.

"Once again you find yourself connected... You are a strange one, mortal."

Skylar said nothing, deciding instead to look up, locking her gaze on the dragon.

Instead of being insulted the Dragon almost seemed impressed as it locked its own gaze unto Skylar's, "Hm. Your resolve has been found once more... Then I would ask this of you mortal, join our cause."

Skylar folded her arms before speaking boldly, "And that is?"

"The end of this world, we would wipe the human stain from the realm and I'd have you join us."

Skylar immediately narrowed her gaze bitterly before speaking up, "Absolutely not. The fact that you even try to ask that of me shows me your arrogance."

The Dragon smirked, baring its fangs for the world to see, "It amuses me that you think you have a choice in the matter."

Strings suddenly shot out of The Dragon's claws Skylar tried to step back to avoid them only for them to move in an unnatural way and wrap around Skylar's neck, she stood there for a moment.

Until her right arm began to raise towards her sword, but the movement wasn't her own.

No.

"LET GO!"

She shouted and flames sparked to life on those strings, The Dragon's eyes were wide as it vanished along with the dark space it inhabited.

Skylar sat there on one knee for a moment, the world was a blur around her, and her ears were ringing.

But she could hear two voices calling out to her faintly.

Tetra was grabbing her shoulders and Shina was next to him, a worried look on her face, Tetra frowned bitterly, "Are you back with us?"

Skylar nodded slowly, "Yeah... sorry."

Shina let out a small sigh before speaking up, "So... what the hell was that anyways?"

Silence followed as Skylar looked to the ground and she opened her mouth to speak, "I, don't know."

A lie.

Tetra was about to speak up when he stopped slowly standing up and glanced at the exit to this room.

"...The floor changed," he commented.

This caused Shina to blink and turn around looking ahead, "What the hell...?" Skylar blinked, arching a brow as she began to stand up.

That was until she felt a chill run up her spine slowly she began to turn around as a male's voice came forth, "An S rank god that was resigned to the deepest pits of this prison has made its way to this floor, we called it Alma." so spoke Draco standing a fair distance away from the trio, "Shina, I see you have taken to harboring fugitives in our domain."

Shina flinched before glancing to the ground, "T-They are not bad people I know they aren't."

Draco huffed hearing those words, "I care not for your opinion on the matter."

Tetra frowned bitterly, "Oh great he's in 'business mode' I hate it when he gets like this." Tetra then narrowed his gaze taking two steps towards Draco, "The S rank. What is it?"

Draco turned his full attention to Tetra frowning bitterly, "Alma. That is its name, its pride knows no bounds, and it calls itself the king of dragons. I am here to detain it once more."

Tetra scowled at that, "Detain it? Are you kidding me, it already broke out once! Not to mention the people it could kill! Do you require more proof of the threat that thing poses!?" Tetra shouted.

Draco folded his arms, his gaze narrowing dangerously, "I don't need a lecture from you Tetra, but the reward of this endeavor far outweighs the risks." Draco proclaimed proudly.

Tetra then let a frown cover his face and he spoke in a harsh whisper, "Skylar, Shina, go on ahead. I need you two to scout ahead so we know exactly what we are dealing with there... Whatever you do, do not engage Alma. Do I make myself clear?" Tetra glanced over his shoulder for one instant.

And Shina shivered, "Y-Yes sir."

Whereas Skylar stood there for a moment slowly nodding.

Tetra then smirked, turning back to face Draco, "Well it's a shame, but I can't let you get past me." Tetra declared boldly only for his eyes to widen slightly as chains suddenly shot forth from Draco wrapping around both him and Shina, Skylar suddenly took a step in front of Tetra unsheathing her blade, "I'll handle him." she spoke confidently, causing Tetra to look at her in surprise.

"Are you insane? He'll split you in half Skyla-"

"We don't have time to argue! I just need to buy you time... Isn't that right?" Skylar questioned looking over her shoulder, Tetra still seemed conflicted... but soon enough he let out a sigh.

"Don't you dare die, kid." with that he turned around and ran through the cave ahead.

Draco bolted forward in an attempt to stay throwing his right hand forward, silver chains flew through the air wrapping around Tetra and Shina, only for Draco’s eyes to widen as a fireball soared through the air causing him to leap backward and land on one knee, he blinked turning his gaze to Skylar who responded, "Not another step. Your fight is with me!" the chains that bound Tetra and Shina broke then.

Slowly Draco began to stand scoffing as he did so, "You think yourself their protector? Hah! As if a brat like you could protect anything!"

He then blasted forward pulling back his right fist and slamming it into Skylar's chest, her eyes widened as blood flew from her mouth and she was sent spiraling backward, only for the chain around her torso to end in length, Draco pulled on that chain forcing Skylar to come flying back to Draco.

But her eyes flashed that bright crimson as she came back and slammed her blade into that very same fist, her eyes widened in surprise as she struggled to cut through the fabric.

"Is that the best you can do?" Draco questioned tilting his head to the side and smirking mockingly.

Skylar responded by letting out a low growl locking her gaze onto Draco, "Whatever it takes I will end you." she responded bitterly before breaking off from the engagement, Draco swept his leg across the ground only for Skylar to leap over him.

Draco then gave his response, "Hmph, you lie to yourself as you lie to them." so was his response, he cracked his knuckles and once more barreled forward, Skylar responded by coating her blade in flames.

Using her sword to desperately fend off the unyielding succession of blows that came from Draco's fists.

Soon he struck true landing a blow from his right fist into Skylar's face and sending her tumbling to the ground, this time however Draco dismissed his chains, deciding instead to see what this girl would do.

Slowly Skylar took in a breath, she began to get up speaking as she did so, "Lied? I’ve done no such thing. I’m standing here fighting for their sake! I’ll keep them safe and we’ll live our lives together!." she declared as she stood tall once again.

Draco arched a brow to that, "A life of pain? Of ceaseless conflict and despair? That is what you would give them." he responded by gritting his teeth and slamming his fist into the ground. Chains began to scatter around the area sending cracks through the floor.

Skylar blinked quickly looking around the area, the floors and the walls were practically made of these chains now, she arched a brow as she looked straight up the chains made a cage lowering something down.

"Well this is going well..." she responded mostly to herself.

Draco scoffed before uttering a single word, "Foolish."

The chains then fell and a dragon hit the center of the room, as it did so Draco turned around, "Why don't you play with this? I have other matters to attend t-" he was cut off as the dragon's face was slammed into the ground by Skylar, who then proceeded to absorb the life force that came from this dragon, her eyes showed a gaze of malice as she raised her left arm, "...You're not going anywhere."

Draco responded by letting out a faint sigh as he reached up pushing his glasses up with his index finger, "Very well then... Allow me to educate you further as to the hopelessness of your situation."

As soon as he uttered those words the chains began to shift, moving almost like waves, even the very ones that Skylar stood upon she stumbled forward trying not to lose her footing, but Draco was already approaching rapidly as if he had traversed this terrain a thousand times.

Skylar grits her teeth, leaping into the air a green glow came from her shoes as he slowed her descent, deciding it would be best to stay airborne as much as she could.

Draco responded by letting out a sigh, "So predictable." He almost seemed disappointed as he threw his right hand forward, the chains on the ground shot up wrapping around Skylar's ankles before throwing her into the ground.

Skylar let out a gasp, as blood flew from her mouth.

The chains retracted but let a certain chain bracelet upon Skylar's leg and Draco made no move to proceed, deciding instead to sit and wait with his arms folded, "Is that the best you have, Shadewalker?"

Skylar took in a sharp breath before slowly pushing herself up to her feet, she couldn't feel her wind magic flowing through her anymore, "So that's how you do it... you chains seal magic." Skylar realized as her eyes turned a bright azure for an all too brief moment before continuing that dull crimson glow.

She grits her teeth for an all too brief moment and she responds, "I'm just getting started."

She exclaimed, pointing her sword forward, a red glow came from the jewel upon it catching Draco's attention, "Oh?" he then smirked, raising his right fist, "Then come, show me the power born from generations of heroes."

Skylar responded by leaping into the air once more, causing Draco to drop his smirk that look of disappointment shone again in his eyes, the same movement as before sent the chains flying high.

Only for his eyes to widen as Skylar threw her sword down into the chains, flames burst to life across that sword, flames hot enough to instantly melt through them, as Skylar landed she grabbed hold of the hilt of that blade that was sinking into the ground, with a breath she suddenly shot forward with unyielding speeds.

Closing the distance with Draco suddenly, Draco however was unfazed by this speed clashing with Skylar's blade without so much as batting an eye, his gaze locked with Skylar's "What drives you forward? What is it you're searching for?" Draco suddenly questioned pushing against Skylar's blade.

Skylar responded by pushing back flames bursting to life across her blade, "I'm here. To save everyone I can!" She then slammed her boot into Draco's thigh with enough force to knock him down onto his knees, "To make sure no one loses their island to the gods again!" she declared as she slammed her blade into the ground the flames shot out across the chains melting them on contact.

Much to Draco's surprise, he frowned bitterly, locking his gaze on Skylar, "...If that were even possible. Then we Executioners would have never existed in the first place... Your dreams are impossible girl." he stated with confidence as he slowly got to his feet not bothering to bring his chains back into this realm.

Skylar responded with this, "...An impossible dream isn't a bad one."

Draco looked Skylar over frowning as he took in her deshelled state, "You're exhausted... you can hardly go on in this state." he pointed out matter-of-factly refusing to let his gaze leave Skylar.

Skylar girt her teeth taking in a shaky breath, "And yet I will, I won't stop moving... I refuse."

Draco locked his gaze on Skylar's before frowning he lowered his combat stance, moving to the side, "Then go forth Skylar Shadewalker..." he smirked, "I shall put my faith in you, as they had done so."

Skylar nodded slowly before she began to walk forward into the caves as soon as she was out of earshot Draco frowned bitterly, "That's the scientist in me I suppose, I simply can't ignore such an interesting specimen."

***

Slowly Skylar walked forward down the pure white stone hallway, her breathing was ragged from the long battle she had just been through, the chain was still on her right leg still sealing away her wind magic, but it wasn't like she could give up now.

"Skylar..." A voice suddenly called out, a voice that sent chills down Skylar's spine, slowly she looked up and fear overtook her heart.

There on the far back wall Tetra, as well and Shina lay unconscious their bodies were bruised and battered, ahead of their sleeping forms stood Alma a large dragon coated in red scales it towered over Skylar with little effort, its reptilian eyes staring down at Skylar with nothing but fury, "Give up."

Skylar stared forward at the sight of her allies on the ground, “...Look at you, walking in here with a handicap.” Alma declared with a low chuckle, “The arrogance of mankind lives strong within you.

Skylar glared up at Alma, “...Your point?” she growled out her eyes flickering with anger.

Alma stood tall locking her eyes on Skylar and a smirk dawned on her face, “Let us assume for a moment that you lost all of your magic abilities, what would you do then? Swing around that useless hunk of metal? It wouldn’t get you very far you know, without magic you're nothing more than a runt.”

Skylar said nothing to that, tightening her grip on her blade, her knuckles turning white as she did so.

“But that is not why I created this place, nor why my hordes rampage as they do now…” Alma declared looking up to the ceiling, “I created this place… because humanity is ugly.” so he said.

“This world of humans running around the fields spreading their disease of malice and hatred wherever they travel. It is your kind that brings about suffering to all others of the world. And you are no exception, Shadewalker.”

Skylar tilted her head listening to Alma’s words, “How so?” she pointed her blade forward, “I work to save those around me. If you’ve got a problem with that, state it now.”

“How kind.” Alma declared with a wicked smirk, “But did that kindness ever once impress anyone besides yourself? You act kind because it is ‘just’ but that doesn't stop the blood that will run through your fingers.” He stood tall looking right down at Skylar, “And now your kindness has brought you to me. A dragon far beyond anything you could ever hope to be.”

Skylar took in a breath, closing her eyes, “...I’m not here for you.” She declared, pointing her blade forward, her eyes shining crimson, “I’m here for them.”

Alma smirked at that, “Then you’ll die for nothing.” he declared roaring as he entered the air darting towards Skylar and swiping his claw at her, flames burst to life coating Skylar’s blade as she slashed into those claws.

Skylar winced as her heels dug into the stone floor before her, sending shards of rock upwards slashing up her skin.

She let out a roar pushing on her blade and parrying Alma’s claw, Alma bore its fangs spinning around and slamming its tale into Skylar’s side causing Skylar’s eyes to widen in pain as she was sent rocketing towards the stone walls smashing through it.

She spun through the air and found herself floating in an abyss of swirling purple lights, “What the…?” she muttered looking around this place felt like an updraft of wind.

She heard a crashing sound and turned her attention back to the dome, Alma had rocketed out of the roof his wings pushed close to his body, as he threw those wings open he sent a shockwave outwards a golden glow escaping his maw as he pointed it towards Skylar.

What’s worse the sky itself shone that same golden glow like a thousand stars above all singing a song of destruction.

A bead of sweat formed on the back of Skylar’s neck, she took in a breath, “It’s all or nothing then…” she muttered.

Closing her eyes she gripped the hilt of her blade, the gem upon it glowing brightly as her eyes snapped open, glowing a bright crimson.

“You fight for these people? The people who tear the lives of others apart? Who fights so valiantly for the world they believe is their own?!” Alma roared, sending the golden beam of light forward right towards Skylar from his maw.

Skylar’s eyes snapped open and she slashed through the golden light pouring towards her. She grits her teeth as her blade clashes with that golden light, red flames bursting to life upon her sword, her eyes glowing crimson, “I don’t know.” She admitted, “I don’t know why… I’m doing this, why I’m fighting so hard.” She locked her eyes on the golden light, “It’s maddening isn’t it? It’s… stupid.” A smile appeared on her face as the flames started to dwindle.

“All I know for sure is this.” Skylar’s eyes closed, “This world. And its people… they’re beautiful.” she pushed forward on her blade, slashing up and sending the golden light upwards.

But Alma stared forward unmoved, closing its maw, and staring at Skylar.

“Beautiful?” he repeated the word contempt licking at his lips, “What part of this world is beautiful? The bloodshed? The torment? The malice that enters every human heart? Or perhaps it’s the lies that you echo?” He spread his wings then, “See?”

The golden lights above shined and fired down past him, past his wings shattering the platform and hitting both Shina and Tetra, causing them to cry out in pain.

Skylar’s eyes widened, “Stop it!” she cried, lunging forward using bits of rubble to get forward.

“You can’t even protect those you claim you came for.” Alma declared, throwing his scaly hand forward.

Golden light fired down at Skylar from above.

From ahead bits of rubble flew toward her, Skylar dodged the golden lights to the best of her abilities.

But the rubble slammed into her one after the other pushing against her and stopping her from breaking free.

Her sword was sent flying into the air just out of her reach.

She gasped trying to reach for any semblance of air as she reached desperately for her sword.

Alma watched the pitiful sight with a narrowed gaze as he spoke, “This is the end. That awaits a human.”

Blackness started to take hold of her vision and she could feel her bones threatening to shatter. And yet she opened up her mouth, “No…” she squeaked out only for the pressure to increase.

Alma spread his wings looking upwards, “Humanity as a whole is worthless. A failure of a creation.” he responded as he ascended.

Below him on a spot of rubble, Tetra groaned looking up, covered in bruises, “Wha…?” his gaze looked upwards, first upon Alma ascending and then to the section of rubble crushing Skylar, his vision was blurry, and stumbled forward, “no… Sara…” he mumbled.

Skylar remained held aloft reaching for her blade aloft in the air, held up by the strange gravity of this place.

“I… won’t surrender.” She spoke through her hand and began to fall.

Alma reached the peak of his ascension; the golden lights began to fly upwards colliding into a single force of energy above.

“You're no one. Nothing. A girl who was granted strength, but can do nothing to keep her word.” Alma declared, “We who were granted strength, who dare to fly upon these skies… I ask you this. Why is it that we are denied what lies below? The sea of clouds… a cage to contain us. What have we done to be punished? The answer? We are failures. Human’s. Dragons. Gods.” Above him, the lights began to form a sun.

“And it is with these flames, that I shall burn this world down to its final ember… this is the only way left to us to break through those clouds.” Alma declared.

Shina was the next to get up looking up at the rubble; she then grits her teeth slamming her hand onto the ground sending pillars of earth flying upwards, “Tetra! Get off your ass and help now!” Shina shouted as the pillars dislodged the rubble.

Tetra blinked being pulled out of his thoughts, nodding as he threw his hand forward sending a gust of wind forward causing Skylar’s blade to fly forward stabbing into the last piece of rubble beside her.

But she floated there, her eyes closed.

Unable to move.

Alma chuckled, lifting his wings as more golden lights appeared, they fired down crashing into both Tetra and Shina once more, sending them onto the ground and knocking them out once more.

“They have fallen. You are the last.” Alma declared, turning his gaze to the unconscious Skylar floating there.

Battered and bruised.

Utterly defeated.

Alma looked at the ball of flames above, “This place draws from the energy of the land, as such I can create another one of these given time… Rejoice, girl.” He held out his right hand thrusting it forward, “You will be the first to die by my flames.”

The ball of fire rocketed forward.

As the ball approached Skylar her right hand twitched.

Slowly her eyes opened, she locked her gaze on the ball of fire ahead reaching out she grabbed her blade.

The gem on the sword glowed with intensity as she did so unsheathing it, slowly she took in a breath.

“...Who are you… to decide that?” She growled, gripping her blade and pressing her boots against the rubble, “This isn’t a fire. It’s hardly even a spark… It’s so dim I can’t even feel it’s heat on my face!” Skylar suddenly roared, staring at the flames, a glint of insanity in her eyes, “I’LL SHOW YOU WHAT A REAL FLAME LOOKS LIKE!”

With those words, she shot forward pulling her blade back and entering the ball of fire much to Alma’s shock.

He stared forward at his ball of flames, waiting for something to occur but nothing. No explosion, no roar, just silence “...All of that talk only for you to end your own life at the end. Humans are truly worthless creatures.” Alma spoke looking up to the ceiling of this purple void once more.

That was…

Until he felt something.

A ripple somewhere in his domain.

He blinked looking down, Shina and Tetra hung on a slab of rubble.

But did not move, so that only left…

Slowly Alma’s gaze turned to his ball of flames, it was still there…

But it was smaller now.

His eyes widened realization overtaking him, “So that’s your game. You would use my own strength to try and gain an edge, Shadewalker?” He watched the flames start to vanish entirely; he spread his wings once more letting motes of golden light appear in the air yet again.

The ball of flames vanished revealing Skylar floating where it once was, her blade burning bright, she took in a breath and pointed that sword forward, the chain around her leg was gone now, “It’s my turn now. Hope you're fine with that.”

She uttered these words before throwing her left hand forward, pulling bits and pieces of rubble towards her pushing on the wind around her, and flying forward, Alma stared at the sight of the approaching Skylar anger in his gaze.

“Why do you keep getting up?” Alma questioned to himself sending the golden lights down once more at Skylar, she jumped through the air going from platform to platform, cutting down any bit of rubble Alma sent at her that came too close, “You cannot change this… no amount of struggle will change the result that this world is heading towards!” he declared this throwing his hands back.

Suddenly the rubble beneath Skylar’s feet shifted and flew away causing her eyes to widen as she lost her footing, she stared up at Alma as three beams of golden light descended.

Only for them to be blasted out of the sky by pillars of earth causing Alma to blink and turn his gaze once more back down to Shina.

She was standing there breathing heavily, and she growled looking up, “Skylar doesn't care about that… because Skylar is… an idiot!”

Alma blinked at that, and Shina smirked, “And an idiot never quits!” Skylar held her blade forward.

A huge concentration of wind began to form on the tip.

Skylar’s eyes however continue to glow that bright crimson color.

“FIRE!” She roared.

Alma threw a single hand down back at her, sending every golden light he had at her, “You can never change. Your ideals can never be realized. Because this world has always been ugly.”

A beam of flames fired upwards clashing with the converging golden lights that Alma sent down as Skylar roared, “You're wrong! …It sure isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There’s tragedy everywhere in this world. But without it, people are smiling. So many people full of life, love, and hope!”

Alma blinked as he felt his light getting pushed back, “How…?”

“And I won’t sit back and let you destroy them!” Skylar roared, sending her flames spiraling upward, Alma recoiling, beating his wings and flying high abandoning his clash as the flames soared just under him.

When he looked down however Skylar was already upon him, he spun around aiming to slam his tail into Skylar’s side, only for her to flip through the air over the tail.

Alma swiped his claws at Skylar, but she slashed through them sending shards of his nails into the air.

Now in a panic, Alma opened his maw ready to fire at point-blank range.

Skylar stared at the sight holding her blade out to the side, “Everyone in this world… just wants to live. It doesn't matter if it’s a cage. It doesn't matter if it’s selfish… that’s all people want.” She then shot into the air as Alma’s breath fired where she once was, Skylar gripped her blade now just above Alma, “They put their hopes on me, and I carry them in this sword… and it’s for that reason… that I’ll slash forward, and find a way through the clouds!” Blue flames suddenly fired up, and faint glows appeared in the remaining slots of the sword.

And in this moment Skylar roared, slashing down into Alma’s skull.

Instantly he felt his scales crack, he tried to push back to do anything.

But this wasn’t a normal blow.

When he looked up, he saw something. Something he can only describe as beautiful, wings made of flames on Skylar’s back, “...The girl who flies… If this is the path you’d choose.”

Skylar let out a primal roar bright and loud as the flames that now consumed her blade with their fury, pushing on her blade and cutting through Alma straight down the middle, the world around them started to turn white as she did so, but even still she heard Alma’s words, “I would like… to walk it with you. Child of love.”

Skylar stood there floating in the sky above. She looked up at the burning corpse of the dragon above as the flames on her blade dwindled.

She then closed her eyes and started to fall downwards, cracks appeared in the purple rift around her.

Before at last… it all shattered like glass.

Shina and Tetra both hit the ground, Skylar landed just beside them clenching her blade tightly.

Behind her the corpse of Alma was currently fading away… turning into yellow lights that all spiraled forward flowing into Skylar.

She stood there taking in a shaky breath and looking up, “If I had gotten to you sooner… maybe I wouldn’t have had to kill you.” she spoke before her vision began to swirl and she found herself falling backward.

Her sword clattered onto the ground as she fell into a slumber.

***

Icon sat in a small office overlooking papers detailing the strategy they would use in the upcoming battle, of course, this was only one strategy of many, as things do tend to go wrong in every battle. To the right of those papers was the shard of glass that Jenna had left her.

It was her duty to ensure that her plans were as bulletproof as possible, the more lives that were lost in The Kingdom the worse the outcome would be.

But she always found the work to be oh so dull, even now the only thing keeping herself going was her own determination.

She blinked for a moment as words played back in her mind.

"The kingdom shall live on."

The look in The King's eyes as he spoke, they were unlike anything she had ever seen. Cold. Ruthless.

Icon set the papers down and glanced to her right a full-length mirror was ahead, and for a moment she felt doubt plague her whole being.

But to converse with a god would lead to nothing but trouble, Draco would be no help in this regard either for his mentality is always changing.

Her options were thin.

Icon leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes for a moment replaying every bit of information she had obtained up to this point.

"Aren't you tired of being nice?"

Icon paused upon hearing those words in her head she looked at the papers once more, every strategy in those papers was bulletproof.

But only in the sense that it would protect The Kingdom, every life on the other islands would suffer from each one.

Icon put a hand to her chin, frowning bitterly as she contemplated her choices.

Soon enough she bit the bullet standing from her chair, and picked up that shard of glass as she did so.

She brought it to the mirror and after a moment's hesitation put that shard of glass up against the mirror, to Icon's surprise the mirror began to feel almost like a liquid, she, however, remained stoic as she shoved the shard all the way in before retracting her hand before long Icon's own reflection changed to Jenna's.

Jenna stood there smirking, "Well now, you took me up on my offer faster than I thought you would."

Icon folded her arms narrowing her gaze bitterly, "I have questions." she spoke plainly.

Jenna let out a hum, "Of course you do, you humans are always the cautious kind, go on then let me alleviate your fears as best as I kind."

Icon scowled at Jenna. She had the charisma this particular god held, but she ignored her hatred for the time being in order to gather information, "Amongst the gods, what are you exactly?"

Jenna blinked, raising her chin slightly, putting her index finger on that chin before letting out an audible hum, "I suppose I'd be considered... their queen." she settled upon the words smirking lightly.

"Queen? I was not aware such a thing existed among your ranks." Icon muttered.

To which Jenna responded, "My strength is supposedly above an 'S' rank that is according to your own who so callously try to slaughter me."

Icon growled, "You killed my men?"

Jenna folded her arms sighing, "Come now what is with that look of hatred? Was it not your kind who sought me out to kill me? I never strike first, I make it a point not to do so."

Icon bit down on her tongue suppressing a retort, speaking with her about this subject would do no good at this point.

"Moving on, what is it you seek?" Icon questioned.

Jenna unfolded her arms, "To survive, something that is impossible with that king of yours around, I surmised that my kind has done something to him, but as for what it is I am yet ignorant."

Icon frowned for a moment sharing information with a god seemed wrong, but there didn't seem to be any tactical advantage to this information so she did.

"During the last great war, The King's wife and child were slain by one of your kind. The same god that was slain by Tetra if I recall." Icon explained bluntly.

Jenna sighed, "And now your king has slain a good number of my kind, hardly balanced wouldn't you say?"

"Your kind seeks to eradicate my mine. There is no balance in this." Icon countered.

Jenna let out a laugh hearing that, "Eradicate? Are you stupid? What would we have to gain by eradicating you people? We'd fucking starve to death if we did that Icon." Jenna pointed out as clearly as she could.

Icon blinked, having a moment of realization, "What are you saying?"

"That your King is lying to you, he's using you as a tool to achieve his agenda." Jenna spat without any form of hesitation.

Icon shook her head laughing. The idea was a laughable one, "And how do I know you're not the one lying to me?"

Jenna shrugged, "Do I really come off as the kind of person who needs to hide behind lies and deceit? Such methods are beneath me, if I want something then I take it for myself."

Icon decided to push on that point, "Then why not kill The King yourself?"

Jenna smirked wickedly, "Oh I certainly could, that would pose no problem for me... But I have no desire to bloody my hands with the filth that is that man, not to mention... it seems like a waste to kill someone with such influence as he has."

Icon frowned bitterly, "That's your reasoning?"

Jenna turned around scoffing, "There are other reasons but I'll keep them to myself for the moment, they'd be lost upon you anyways."

Silence followed for a moment and Jenna spoke up once again, "Are we done here then?"

Icon looked to the ground thinking of the information she had just obtained, there was always the chance that it was all lies, but every word Jenna spoke felt... true.

Somewhere deep in Icon's heart, she knew the words to be true so once more she opened her mouth speaking up, "How... How do we go about this?"

Jenna turned back around arching a brow for a moment before unfolding her arms and facing Icon once more, "Let me start by being blunt, you are going to hate what I suggest, as it borders on being a monster... But I assure you that it is necessary for what is to come in the future. That much I can promise you." Jenna explained.

She then let her gaze hit the floor, "The first step of the plan requires us to defeat the Titan that rises as separate groups, my kind will be taking the worst of the blows, from both your side and the Titan... That is where a fourth force must come in."

Icon arched a brow to that, "A fourth force? Wait... You mean?"

Jenna nodded, "Tetra and his small unit if they are to join the fray then their actions will dictate the future of this world. If I were to weigh a personal theory, I believe that Skylar may be the key to defeating the beast that lays ahead."

Icon found herself frowning, once again it all came down to Skylar.

Why? Why must that poor girl continue to leap headfirst into her suffering?

"...Very well," Icon spoke those words despite the heaviness in her own heart.

Jenna nodded, "Then... we shall speak again after the battle, farewell."

With that, the reflection in the mirror changed back to Icon's and she stood there for a moment closing her eyes as she did so, "Am I making the right choice here...?"

Only time will tell.