Skylar's eyes snapped open and she gasped for air, she sat up taking in a long breath, alive.

She was alive.

That was good. It was good, right?

She blinked rolling onto her back, she glanced to her right, her sword was lying just to her side, she was so tired even now. Tetra was still out cold.

Shina was ahead barely breathing.

But they won, somehow they won.

Skylar took in a breath, closing her eyes for an all too brief moment, but when she opened those eyes back up she found another pair of eyes staring down at her Jenna was smirking down at her, "Hiya." she spoke her greeting as if nothing had happened.

Skylar said nothing in response, simply looking up with disdain, yet there was also a sense of dread.

After all, she was too weak to move at the moment.

Jenna knew this of course, she had the advantage in every regard, she stood up fully before speaking, "Relax, I'm not here to hurt anyone today, I've already had my meals. In fact, I'm here to do you a favor and answer a certain burning question." Jenna declared. As she walked over to Skylar's sword, picked up that blade, and looked it over, "When you awoke on your birthday, you and your people pulled a Crystal Tower, from The Cloud Sea. Shortly after, you were escorted off the island, and the rest of your people were eradicated by a god soon after." Jenna proclaimed, listing well-known facts, "Surely you must have asked yourself who the god that slaughtered all the people of your island was." Jenna stated before glancing down at Skylar.

Slowly Skylar's eyes widened and she began turning to face Jenna, in response, Jenna frowned and stabbed Skylar's sword into the ground, but she did not remove her hand from the hilt, her hair fell forward covering her eyes as she continued, "Seems you're getting the picture... For the record, I took no joy in the harvest, and what I did is not something you would ever see another god do, to sink an island in a few short hours... It was a new experience for my whole race."

So much, so much Skylar wanted to say to this girl, but in this single moment all she could muster was one question, "Why... now...?"

Jenna closed her eyes and then removed her hand from the hilt slowly, "The winds of change have been blowing for some time now, yet we know not what change they shall bring. So I chose to speak with you now."

Skylar was so tired, so so tired but even so, she got to her feet shakily, "I'll kill you." she declared a vengeful glint in her gaze as she took a shaky step forward.

Jenna tilted her head to the side, "What you've shown here Skylar is the height of your power, and I can say with the utmost confidence... You are incapable of putting a dent in me."

Skylar suddenly rushed forward, overtaking her as she plucked her sword from the ground slashing it Jenna's neck, Jenna easily ducked under the blow putting her hands behind her back and smirking confidently, "Come now, is this really the best use of your time?"

"SHUT UP!" Skylar shouted leaping up into the air and swinging down, Jenna frowned at the movement raising only a single finger, her pinky to be precise,

The nail of that finger clashed with the blade that Skylar held, Skylar's eyes widened in surprise, and Jenna continued to speak, "This is what happens with I put forth just a bit of magical energy into my body... are you beginning to understand just how out of your league you are, little girl?"

Skylar grit her teeth applying more pressure to the hilt of her blade desperate to do any sort of damage, this however only prompted a look of disappointment from Jenna.

She closed her eyes and uttered her next words, "We're done here." pink liquid shot up from Jenna's feet forming a large fist that was the same size as Skylar, that fist slammed into Skylar's face sending her flying back into the ground.

Skylar coughed out blood and her vision began to blur, Jenna looked on from the distance before starting to walk to the right the pink liquid moved in front of Jenna forming what appeared to be some sort of makeshift portal, Skylar looked up gritting her teeth, "We're not done here... you monster."

Jenna stopped just short of the portal, "I don't recall giving you permission to speak mongrel, I've allowed you your anger but that's over now." Jenna smirked, "But if you truly wish to keep up this farce, then you can find me in the battle against The Titan that soon will rise, perhaps you’ll prove to be an entertaining distraction.."

With that Jenna turned her gaze to the portal walking through it without a second thought, the portal closed behind her.

And so Skylar found herself on the stone floor once more in a puddle of her blood ready to pass out from exhaustion, that was until another set of footsteps came into the area, she felt someone grab her by the stomach, her ears were ringing and her vision was blurry, was this what it was like to die?

"Come on brat, it's not time for you to leave this realm yet."

A woman's voice spoke to her, and she felt something wrap around her jaw forcing it open followed by a cold liquid flowing down her throat.

After that her head was slowly set upon the ground Skylar blinked her vision returning, and she found energy flowing into her body once more.

She let out a groan slowly standing up, when she heard that woman's voice again, "Careful, you nearly died. Might still be a bit dizzy over there so I'd take it slow." This woman had black raven hair, and crimson eyes, and she wore a gray cloak that was torn at the edges with a black undershirt.

She was pouring a bottle of red liquid into Tetra's throat, Skylar frowned, "W-Who are you!?" she shouted her question, the woman smirked standing up she seemed to be at least 17 in terms of age.

She looked right at Skylar before responding, "An interested third party I suppose you could call me Passer." she spoke the name as she set the now empty bottle into a bag that she had on her hip, she had about 4 bags in total, she then walked over to Shina, "I won't be sticking around however, it was the request of their kind that I do not interact with most of these humans." Passer explained.

"’Humans’... so you're a god...?" Skylar questioned as she began to walk towards her sword which lay on the ground.

Passer chuckled a bit, "Not quite, but also not inaccurate." she then glanced over her shoulder, smirking as Skylar reached for her sword Passer then asked, "Are you sure it's a good idea to slay one of your own kin?" she suddenly questioned Skylar.

This caused Skylar to freeze in place if only for a moment, "What...?" Tetra suddenly began to let out a groan as Passer pulled out another bottle from her third pouch and began to pour it down Shina's throat, Passer frowned bitterly, "It's a shame you know, I've been wanting to meet you for a bit now, but I'm busy... so if you ever wish to speak, then you'll have to find me on the land where no life grows." Passer explained as she emptied the bottle.

She then set that bottle into the same bag it came from before standing up, she wore brown shorts and she smirked at Skylar, the smirk was almost beastlike, and there was a glint in her eyes that could be described as feral, but she spoke with the cadence of any other human,

"We'll meet again, of that much I'm certain." but she did pause looking at Skylar, "...That said, it is our first meeting, and I'll admit I'm already rather fond of you, so here." Passer reached into one of her many bags, before throwing a bracelet to Skylar, Skylar quickly reached up and caught it, but before she could ask what it was Passer gave an answer, "It's a gift, so that you may remember this meeting for all time..." with those final words Passer gave a two-fingered wave and began to walk towards the exit.

Skylar didn't follow her, despite her curiosity, she was more worried about the people who she would call her friends. But... even so, she put that bracelet on, right around her right hand, there was something... odd about it, it was old? Almost ancient but there was something about it that compelled Skylar to keep it on.

Perhaps she could ask Draco or Jenna about her later? After all, they had to see her enter, so they must have known something about Passer... otherwise, they wouldn't let her this far in.

Tetra groaned putting a hand to his head, "I feel like I'm having the worst hangover... of my entire life..." he muttered before taking in a breath he began to stand albeit shakily, as soon as he began to move Skylar ran over to his side making sure he was steady.

Tetra blinked looking over to Skylar, his eyes then widened when he looked at Alma's corpse. "It's dead...?" he then glanced at Skylar, "Did you... absorb its power?"

Skylar blinked before looking at her hands, "I... don't think so? Maybe its magic was the same as the first dragon we fought?"

Tetra took a moment to process that before responding, "That is legitimately the most terrifying revelation I've had in all my life."

He then walked over to Shina kneeling to check up on her before arching a brow at the red liquid that drizzled down her lip, "That's not blood..." Tetra muttered before narrowing his gaze and glancing over his shoulder, "Passer was here wasn't she."

Skylar then frowned, "You know her?"

Tetra nodded standing up, "She's well known to a good portion of The Executioners, as well as the gods. Passer is a true neutral when it comes to our conflict. The only time she gets involved is when someone she deems important is at risk."

Skylar arched her brow hearing that, "That's... rather arrogant isn't it?"

Tetra shrugged, "Arrogance comes to two kinds of people, the greatest fools, and the strongest. Passer falls under the latter category in case that wasn't clear." Tetra then closed his eyes, "We should be glad that she considered us important in the first place otherwise we may have died here."

Skylar nodded slowly before looking at her sword once more, "What... even was that strength."

Tetra frowned at that blade before speaking, "Overdrive. When all three gems on that sword become active, you enter a state-enhanced magic... I think?"

"You... think...?" Skylar arched a brow and Tetra shrugged once again.

"I had that sword before you, but I could never get more than one gem to work, you're the first person I've seen it within that state. As such everything I'm saying is really only speculation."

Skylar folded her arms, "But Overdrive? Really? That's the name?"

"Skylar you summoned enough flames to melt through Dragon scales with ease, that's not normal... You literally would have to be a fire mage at their peak to do something like that, most fire mages would be at the end of their lifespan before achieving something like that, yet here you are twelve years old throwing attacks like that as if it were nothing." Tetra stated there was a sense of pride in his voice as he continued, "Overdrive is only fitting, but..." he looked to the ground pondering his next words, "...How are you feeling?" he suddenly questioned.

Skylar blinked before checking her clothes, patting herself down to ensure that all her wounds were nothing major, sure enough, she only had a few bruises, "I feel fine."

Tetra narrowed his gaze unconvinced, he walked forward and put a hand on Skylar's head, "Your burning up." he commented with that gaze of his. It was as if he was ready to let a lecture run loose at any given moment.

But... the lecture never came, instead, he let out a sigh and took in a breath removing his hand from Skylar's head, Skylar glanced to the ground before speaking, "That just happens when I use too much magic sometimes I just get random fevers, I'm not entirely sure why... I've just always been like that."

Tetra arched his brow to that before ultimately accepting the answer as fact for the moment, "Either way, we should grab Shina and head back to the camp... Oh, you didn't kill Draco did you?"

Skylar shook her head, "Believe it or not he let me proceed, maybe he likes me?"

Tetra's face scrunched up for a moment before speaking, "Somehow I doubt that's the reason." With that, he walked over to Shina and picked her up piggyback style before heading back in the direction of the camp.

Skylar stopped for a second, turning back around, frowning as she looked at Alma's corpse, "I'm sorry that there wasn't anything more I could do for you." she spoke paying her respects before turning back around.

And with that, she began her trek back to the campsite, where more irritation and confusion were to come.

***

"AND YOU JUST LET THEM GO IN!?" Julieta shouted at Draco who was taking a sip from his coffee, he arched a brow setting the mug down.

"Weren't you the one who claimed that S ranks were a myth some time ago?" Draco questioned with a smug smirk.

Julieta responded with a scowl, "Yeah. I was." her tone was littered with suppressed rage, "but that was before this supposed myth appeared within YOUR GOD DAMN PRISON!" She shouted slamming her hands on the table with enough force to knock Draco's cup over.

Draco glanced at his cup disappointment showing on his face for a moment, ". . . Do you wish to know the reason?" he finally asked the question.

Julieta responded by narrowing her gaze, "There is no reason that can justify sending those three to a battle like that one."

"I disagree." Draco responded with confidence overtaking his mood, but before he could state his reasoning Tetra entered through the entrance of the tent holding Shina, Skylar followed just behind him, she walked up to Jullieta, and then asked, "Where can I find some crystals that do healing magic?"

Julieta paused letting her anger wash over, before replying, "The blue tent is the one that holds all of our medical supplies."

Draco was about to speak to Skylar only for Skylar to glare in his direction, and say these words, "I won't hesitate to kill you if you let something like this happen again." her tone was littered with malice, and she suddenly threw a right hook slamming it into Draco's face with enough force to knock him off his chair, and then she turned on her heel and exited the tent.

Tetra glanced in her direction uttering the words, "Fair response, but she should still show some tact."

Julieta ran up to Tetra looking at Shina concern on her face, "Is she ok!?"

Tetra glanced at Julieta nodding, "She's fine, just exhausted, that battle took a lot out of all of us." Tetra then looked over to Draco as he handed Shina over to Julieta.

Draco let out a sigh slowly standing back up and sitting on his stool rubbing his right cheek which had already started to bruise, "That girl has a hell of a punch." he hissed, but he made no move to retaliate at the moment.

Tetra folded his arms narrowing his gaze, "Enough with the nice guy act Draco, spill it, why'd you send her my way?"

Draco looked over his shoulder, "So that'd you owe me. You're not the kind of man to leave debts unpaid." Draco explained.

Tetra scowled, walking forward, "Then get it over with, state your request."

Draco paused looking back to the counter before speaking once more, "News hasn't reached you yet has it? Another Titan will be surfacing soon."

He dropped that fact as if it was nothing, but there was also something in his tone, a sense of dread.

Tetra paused hearing those words, "You're kidding me. It's way too soon for another one to be that close to surfacing..."

Draco nodded, "That's what I said, so I checked myself... the signs are all there, we probably only have a day to prepare."

Tetra folded his arms, "And you want me to help with this fight?"

Draco closed his eyes, "Actually, I want you to fight The Kingdom's soldiers."

Julieta was the one who spoke next her confusion was plain as she laid Shina down on one of the benches that littered the room, "Wait... but isn't The Kingdom going to be fighting the Titan as well?"

Draco frowned bitterly, "That's what they'll be claiming, but the truth of the matter is The King intends to use the Titan to help wipe out the Gods... and you know how unlikely we are to survive another Titan attack if we kill all of the gods." Tetra nodded slowly in understanding, taking in a breath as he did so.

"That's part of the reason why I slack off so much in this job..." he explained with a frown Tetra then scowled, "But that doesn't solve the problem of actually, slaying the Titan, if the gods are too busy trying to hold off The Kingdom, and The Kingdom is too busy trying to kill The Gods, then we have a stalemate that will end in mutual destruction." Tetra scowled, "This is bad."

Draco sighed leaning back, "It would be if we didn't have Skylar."

Tetra immediately narrowed his gaze, "Absolutely not."

"The girl essentially is a walking S-ranked god if only in might alone, not to mention the potential she has for magic, you know how valuable she will be in this fight Tetra," Draco explained.

Tetra folded his arms keeping his eyes narrowed dangerously at Draco, "I'm not saying I don't understand, but what I am saying is that this isn't some battle between two forces. This is a full-scale world war, I can't in good faith send Skylar into that. If she were to join something like that it would have to be of her own volition."

Draco growled looking at the counter as he spoke, "Even if her saying no could mean the end of us all?"

"Even then I would have her make a choice. She still has so much life in her, she shouldn't have to spend it fighting." Tetra exclaimed confidently, turning around he began walking to the exit.

"So much life you say..." Draco chuckled ominously for a moment, "You're really ignorant of her situation aren't you?"

Tetra stopped looking over his shoulder, "What?"

Draco spun around on his chair smirking all the while, "That girl is a hybrid of god and mankind, to achieve such a feat isn't entirely infeasible, but there is a reason that we've never done it."

Tetra frowned, turning around fully, "You're referring to the only time your experiments have been turned down aren't you."

Draco nodded confidently as he continued, "That was the only day that I breached our admittedly flimsy code of ethics, for I found the technology of the ancients and endeavored to recreate it." Draco then sighed, "But The Kingdom rejected my project, for two reasons first, fear of what would happen if these creations turned against them. The second reason was their lifespan, the best of our creations could live up to the age of thirty, ripe and healthy but the weakest couldn't live past the age of sixteen." Draco then frowned, locking his gaze on Tetra, "Skylar is one of our weakest."

Tetra found himself standing there mouth agape and eyes wide for a moment, if it was anyone else he would have doubted those words, but not Draco, Draco wasn't the kind of person to lie to him.

"...But I heard you destroyed the experiments." Tetra slowly spoke.

Draco folded his arms, "I did as I was ordered, yes, I assume you read my report?"

"It... said you killed all of them."

"That was a lie." Draco stated simply, "I killed most of them, yes, but one escaped with the mother that gave birth to all 40 of these children... If I had known she retreated to some backwater Island I would have gone and slain her myself." Draco sighed, closing his eyes.

Tetra took a few steps forward gritting his teeth, he grabbed Draco by his shirt, and then Tetra pulled back his right fist.

"What...?" A voice suddenly resounded; it was soft, delicate.

Skylar.

Skylar had just heard every word of their conversation.

She stood there now in the opening of the tent eyes wide, a green crystal in her right hand.

"Sixteen...? That's only four years... I only have..." Skylar dropped the crystal in her hand onto the ground before turning around and running out the exit.

"SKYLAR WAIT!" Tetra shouted, letting go of Draco's shirt and running after her.

Draco let out a sigh looking at Julieta, "Well... That shitshow went about as well as I expected."

Julieta looked to the ground gritting her own teeth, "How can you act like nothing here is wrong! Everything about this situation is-"

"Fucked up. I know." Draco glanced at Julieta from the corner of his eye and continued, "But that poor girl would have found out about her fate sooner or later." Draco closed his eyes, "You were aware of my sins when you took this job, are you going to leave me now?"

Julieta found herself conflicted. She looked to where Shina lay before walking forward and going behind the counter. She began brewing a fresh pot of coffee, "Two sugars right?"

Draco blinked, leaning forward, "Of course."

It took a moment to prepare but once it was done, she passed the cup over to Draco, "I want to know. What happened on that day? What happened when you three found that place?" Julieta suddenly spoke, and Draco looked at his cup grabbing hold of the handle. He lifted it to his mouth but he didn't drink it just yet.

"Are you certain? The knowledge of that place is classified for a reason." Draco stated as he began to drink from his cup.

Julieta nodded confidently, "Sitting around in ignorance isn't going to help anyone anymore, tell me what happened on that day, right after the war you, Tetra, and Icon went on an expedition to a newly discovered island isn't that right?"

Draco lowered his cup, setting it on the table frowning all the while, "We found the map that would lead us to that place was in the hands of Yami, the god that was slain in that war... As for the area itself? It was named on the map, 'Hic Svnt Leones.' we later found out that the name itself... translated roughly to this, Here Are Lions."

Julieta's eyes widened, "Wait a moment... That's the name of..." she quickly ducked under the counter, and pulled a map out laying it out on the table, she glanced over to the Island that Skylar came from, sure enough, there the island had its name.

Hic Svnt Leones.

"What's... going on here..." Julieta looked up from the map noticing Draco eyeing her curiously.

He then continued, "That island is home to many secrets that we remain ignorant of, and now that it's under the cloud sea we'll never know what was within its crust."

He then took another sip from his mug before continuing, "To be blunt, what I found was knowledge beyond my wildest dreams... But Icon and Tetra...? They witnessed a battle that would put them through hell." Draco explained, "Caused such an issue that we couldn't get that island to agree to the checkups that we do for safety, took us a total of twenty years to get them to agree. Perhaps it's fate that the Titan will be appearing where that island once stood..."

Julieta looked at the map frowning bitterly, "What could have traumatized those two...?"

Draco closed his eyes, "There used to be a Crystal Tower attached to that island, it was home to a god... she called herself Jenna." Draco began to explain he then opened his eyes, "Her magic is... Ink. Pink ink, she can create anything her heart's desire and channel energy through it, she can even store corpses in that ink."

Draco grits his teeth as he sets that mug on the table, it is empty now, "She was a devil, a devil that took the form of a young girl, it was everything we could do to send her beneath the cloud sea."

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Draco then closed his eyes frowning bitterly, "Skylar along with all of those other children were created for the single purpose of defeating that girl."

Julieta said nothing in response, simply staring forward for a moment before speaking up, "There were other reasons weren't there?" she suddenly accused him, "I may not know what they are, but they had to have existed... otherwise this project wouldn't have been shut down."

Draco opened his eyes slowly, "There are." he confirmed, "but I will not discuss those details with anyone."

Julieta frowned before walking out from behind the counter and towards the exit, "Tetra will not speak of it either."

Julieta froze at the exit and looked over her shoulder, "Maybe not for you. But I'll get my answers soon enough, I swear it on my pride as an Executioner." with that Julieta walked out of the exit leaving Draco alone.

He frowned standing up, "This coming from the one that refuses to rejoin that same group... her words are as hollow as ever."

He stopped for a moment glancing at the still-sleeping Shina before frowning, "It is the duty of the strong to lead the weak... no matter the suffering that may come from such a rule. We will survive."

He spoke the words yet they fell hollow in his voice so much so that Draco couldn't help but laugh bitterly, "I can't even speak his majesty's creed without bile rising in my own throat..." he spoke, "Perhaps I've gone soft?"

***

Skylar ran as far as her legs would carry her, but... soon she did find a place to rest, a small pond right outside the building that led into Pandæmonium.

She was staring right at the pond that held small creatures within it, "Four years." Skylar spoke, her voice trembling, "That's... all I have...?"

She looked at her own reflection in the pond, "That's... so little." she spoke in realization.

When the door to the building opened and closed behind her, Skylar said nothing instead she continued staring down at the pond.

Even as Tetra reached her side and sat down beside her.

"Am I a monster Tetra?" Skylar questioned, suddenly grabbing her pant leg as she continued to stare forward.

Tetra said nothing for a moment, before looking at the pond himself, he found he could say nothing in response to those words.

Skylar closed her eyes, "How... how am I supposed to just... move on with this information...?"

Tetra closed his eyes, saying, "Do you know what monsters lack Skylar?"

Skylar blinked, turning her gaze slowly to face Tetra, she said nothing but showed she was listening, so Tetra continued, "They lack an understanding of the value of life, they lack the courage to face a truth that is right in front of them... That is the difference between mankind and monsters."

"Courage...?" Skylar repeated the word looking to the pond once more. "So because I ran... I became a monster?" she muttered moreso to herself.

Tetra opened his eyes, "running away doesn't make you a monster Skylar, it's when you refuse to face the unexpected. That's when you become something less than human... just a machine wearing the gyze of a human."

Skylar said nothing to that, looking to the pond she took in a breath, "I..." she blinked, grabbing the fabric on her sleeve before closing her eyes, "Can I have... some time alone?"

Tetra nodded slowly standing up, "I'll be by the airship when you're ready." with that he began walking off leaving Skylar alone with her thoughts.

Skylar frowned, she took a moment to reminisce on everything leading up to this moment.

Her escape from the castle.

The orphanage where Leon was slain.

The day she became an Executioner.

And the day her island vanished.

"It was all so simple... why does it have to get so complicated now?" Skylar questioned with a shaky breath.

The pond offered no response.

Four years, four short years, and then supposedly her life will come to an end...

Can she use that time to get revenge? It's starting to seem... so insignificant.

But there was something inside, something that wouldn't let her stop...

The drive to find answers.

So slowly Skylar stood up, her legs were shaky but her eyes shined with resolve, she then spun around on her heel and walked to the airship that she arrived upon with Tetra, she blinked seeing several soldiers on the ground knocked out, not dead when she looked straight ahead she sawTetra stood on the entrance to his airship waiting, Skylar stopped just short of the dock before speaking, "I want to go back to where my island was."

Tetra blinked hearing those words, "Are you certain?"

Skylar nodded without hesitation, "Even if nothing of it remains, I need to see it. I need to see what happened with my own eyes."

In response, Tetra closed his eyes, "Very well, but before we depart there is something I would ask of you."

Skylar said nothing while waiting to hear Tetra continue, and he did, for there was no other option for him, "So long as you bear that sword upon your back, you must swear to fight for what you hold most dear, kicking and screaming until your last breath is spent."

Skylar opened her mouth to respond only for Tetra to glare at her, cutting her off, "Do not make promises you can't keep, a promise is the ultimate form of trust, once it's broken there is nothing tying us together... so think hard before swearing anything."

Skylar closed her mouth and for a moment she simply stared forward at Tetra before speaking out, "I swear. I swear on everything that has led me to this place." she declared boldly stepping forward.

Tetra said nothing, closing his eyes, "Your life is a short one... so you best spend every moment to the fullest understood?" Tetra asked a slight smile on his face as Skylar smirked in response.

"Of course." She then moved to get onto the airship.

Tetra moved to the left letting her board without issue, Skylar immediately went to one of the many doors walking through it.

Tetra was about to follow behind her when he heard a faint noise behind him.

There on the docks, Julieta stood she said nothing at first simply taking a moment to stare at Tetra, "You can't take her back to her island Tetra." she stated firmly.

In response Tetra arched a brow, "It was her request, are you saying I should deny her?" he questioned.

Julieta grits her teeth taking a firm step forward, "The next Titan is going to appear there Tetra, if you take her there it will be the same as forcing her to fight! Isn't that what you're trying to avoid?!"

For a moment silence followed and Tetra closed his eyes smiling lightly, "Perhaps, but this is the path she would choose to walk... no matter where it leads us."

Tetra then turned around and began to walk away, Julieta looked to the ground uttering her next words with pity, "She's not Sara. You know that, don't you Tetra?"

Tetra stopped dead in his tracks, "Excuse me?" he didn't turn around, didn't need to; the tone in his voice made the malice he held clear.

But of course, Julieta didn't back down, "They're similar in nature I know, but you have to understand... she's-"

"I'm using Skylar to replace her if that's the implication you're going for Julieta." Tetra interjected, he then looked to the ground frowning, and although Julieta didn't see it his right hand balled into a fist, "...I know better than anyone that she's gone."

For a moment silence overtook the area once again.

And Julieta closed her eyes letting out a sigh, "Very well... but you better not die out there, got it?"

In response, Tetra raised his right hand and gave a wave as he made his way to the inside of his ship.

Julieta stepped away from the dock taking in a breath, and slowly she began walking back to the building, but she stopped for a moment turning around as the airship that Tetra was on began to pull away from the island ever so slowly, she then opened her mouth to speak the next words, "I hope that girl can help you come to terms with what happened."

"It's unlikely that Tetra would ever come to terms with such events." Draco's voice suddenly came from behind Julieta causing her to spin around eyes semi-wide as she did so.

"When did yo-"

"You were lost in thought, figured I'd break you out of it... Shina woke just a few moments ago, you should go and greet her... she seemed worried about you." Draco declared.

And Julieta frowned for a moment, "And you? What will you do?"

Draco shrugged, walking forward, "I only stopped by the island to ensure that the breach was handled, I have to make ready to encounter the Titan to the best of my abilities at least..."

He said as he walked towards his own airship he then stopped for a second looking over his shoulder once more, "You can feel what you wish for that girl... Skylar, but don't let it distract you from your duties. Understood."

Julieta nodded slowly, "Of course."

With that, Draco turned away and after waking up the unconscious man and berating them for their incompetence he began to set off.

Julieta looked to her right hand for a moment, "This world is changing... isn't it? The new generation can't protect the children of the next from the hells that await anymore." she spoke clenching her hand into the shape of a fist she bit down on her lip with enough force to draw blood.

The fact that she was so powerless made her more upset than anything else.

But she held her piece, she had something important to do here and she would not forsake her spot for something that she ultimately couldn't control, so she turned around and began walking back into the belly of the beast, yet even so she found herself wavering if only for a moment.

Before she closed her eyes and uttered only two words, "I'm sorry."

***

(Six hours after Skylar departed from Pandæmonium.)

Icon stood at the front of her airship a scowl plastered upon her face as she stared ahead, "Hic Svnt Leones? We are certain that's where it will appear, yes?" She turned to look over her shoulder, and just behind her was Nena, who stood there with a frown on her face, she responded to Icon's question regardless.

"According to the priest, yes, and if he has said so I'd suggest you take his advice to heart, he is rarely wrong on these matters." Nena declared though she seemed irritated at the fact.

Icon let out a hum turning her gaze back to the cloud sea, "...This will be a bloodbath, I'm certain you're aware of this much at least?"

Nena paused before folding her arms; she then looked to the skies above and responded, "It's my duty as the overseer to see this battle through to its conclusion; that is the single reason I've chosen to join you." Nena stated, "Regardless of the events that occur, I will be there to see them unfold as it's witness."

Icon paused hearing those words, "I see... tell me... what do you know of Skylar Shadewalker?" Icon put the question out there but she wasn't expecting much of an answer.

Nena lowered her head slowly before speaking in turn, "I've yet to meet her myself... but that last name has always struck me as odd, she bears the same last name as the legendary hero of our world... Yet to our knowledge, he died without having any offspring, yet the king himself has endorsed her into the Executioners." Nena then frowned bitterly, "there is quite a bit of mystery surrounding that girl. And I for one would like to have at least some of those mysteries solved." she declared.

Icon said nothing, turning her gaze back to the endless skies that lay ahead, "On that much, we can agree." she then held a hand out as if to take hold of these endless skies, "The girl grows in strength rapidly, as if guided by an unforeseen wind, but for reasons unknown to me... we have already been made to clash twice now, perhaps... we are fated to fall to each other's hands in battle as well?" Icon pondered this question for a moment.

Nena said nothing in response, it was not her place to speak of matters that went through the heads of Executioners of course.

Icon blinked, lowering her hand, "Well now what do we have here...?"

Straight ahead was a familiar airship sitting in a stationary position, Icon knew it as the one that belonged to Tetra, her gut told her to sound out the order to fire upon it.

But... The winds were fair, and she was not foolish enough to do battle with wind mages in the skies, that alone was a recipe for death.

And on today of all days, that would only add to the issues that continued to pile up.

So instead she turned around and gave a different order, "Prepare to dock with that ship!"

Nena arched a brow at the order, "That's the ship of the deserters of The Kingdom, isn't it? Why not blow them from the skies."

Icon folded her arms, "Perhaps they are, but we are to do battle with a Titan, we shall require every edge we can hope to attain, that is why I shall attempt to reason with them."

And so Nena let out a sigh, "If that is your will then I suppose I shall be there to witness it."

Soon enough Icon's ship arrived side by side with Tetra, to her mild surprise Tetra was waiting for her on the side while Skylar was at the front of Tetra's ship staring longingly at the distance, "...What do you want Icon?" Tetra said he was quick to get the point.

It was one of the few aspects that Icon respected about Tetra, not that she got along with this man; they had long been rivals in both life and in the field of Executioners.

So she took in a breath burying her pride she asked, "I would ask your assistance in the coming battle-"

"No." Tetra immediately shut Icon down, without so much as a second thought. His gaze was steeled and a fire burned in his eyes, "And let me further clarify that point by saying I have no issue slaying a Titan, but I've other things to attend to."

Icon blinked looking at Skylar, "The girl?"

Tetra nodded, "She requires someone to look after her, I can't exactly do that if I die fighting a Titan."

Icon frowned, "You also won't be able to do that if a Titan destroys every island in the skies."

"Touche." Tetra noted, "nevertheless, I will refuse you, after all. You brought. One. Ship. That alone tells me you are ill-prepared for the threat that is coming." Tetra gave his explanation without missing a beat.

Icon immediately responded, "This isn't our full force Tetra, there shall be more airships arriving ere long, I have to be with them to guide them to their proper places."

Tetra folded his arms smirking, "I was referring to the fact that you only brought one ship when I'm here." he then unfolded his arms dropping that smirk, "This is the problem with you Icon, you focus on the opponent in front of you, not the ones that could join in from outside of the current battle."

Icon said nothing, staring at Tetra, a scowl forming on her face.

"That's the reason me and Skylar were able to escape from your grasp in the first place, wouldn't you agree?" Tetra said not giving a damn about the consequences his words could bring.

And yet before Icon could speak back Skylar suddenly shouted, "Something is coming up from the clouds!"

Tetra blinked, turning to face Skylar's direction, his eyes widening for a moment, "You're kidding." he muttered under his breath.

Icon followed Tetra's gaze only for her gaze to harden in response, there in the distance what could only be described as a beast began to rise from the clouds.

Its arms were long, and it was almost humanoid in nature, if not for the metal covering its body it might have even been mistaken for a human body alone.

But if its inhuman nature wasn't obvious yet, then the face alone would be able to tip you off, it had no eyes, and its head was smooth and almost flat, its maw was open but there didn't seem to be any reason for this machine to be able to breathe.

What's more, it towered over the airships, if Icon had to make a guess.

The beast had to be about 1000 meters tall, of course, that was only accounting for what she could see. There was also the portion of the body that hid underneath the cloud sea, that being its legs, but what they could see was enough.

Skylar's eyes widened, "That's-"

She took a step forward as she got ready for battle, it was then that everyone else saw what Skylar saw.

In this beast's right hand, it held Skylar's island in its palm, the island was littered with corpses, and with a single movement, it crushed that island in its hand.

Time itself seemed to move in slow motion, Icon watched with shock as Tetra moved to run after Skylar, whereas the girl let out a scream of rage leaping off the airship and drawing the blade from her back.

Tetra grit his teeth turning around as Skylar flew towards the beast ahead, the gems on her sword glowing bright.

Tetra then shouted at Icon, "I'm going after her, lend your assistance if that's what you want, or retreat!" He then ran towards the controls on his airship pulling away from Icon's and rocketing towards the beast ahead.

Icon frowned, closing her eyes, Nena arched a brow, "What will you do?" Nena questioned.

Icon frowned, speaking without opening her eyes, "It is my duty to ensure that I return with this information and change the strategy for combating this beast accordingly." she explained, "And yet."

A memory flashed through her head.

Icon lay on the ground covered in dirt, blood ran down her head as she struggled to look up.

There Tetra stood sword in hand as he grits his teeth, staring at the ball of fire above him, "I won't give up... we came here together, and we are all living together!" he shouted, gripping the hilt of his blade with both holds.

The memory ended there and Icon opened her eyes slowly, "Prepare for battle! We shall meet that Titan head to head, and I won't hear any complaints about it!" She proclaimed to her soldiers they had served Icon for a long time so at this point they knew better than to question her words.

So they ran to their stations, preparing to enter the battle.

***

Jenna sat at her long table staring forward into a small mirror she had placed in the center, what it showed was the ongoing battle with the Titan.

"Hmm." Icon found herself looking at that beast, "An Abominable model? There are very few of those left below the cloud sea." she commented, taking a bite out of the flesh that was upon her plate.

Just behind her mirror, the same Eternal that had visited her earlier sat with an arched brow.

"...How do you even know of the name of that thing? It was my understanding that all mages and gods have yet to see the world that lays below." The Eternal questioned with his arms folded, and so Jenna responded.

"I am something... that will always be beyond your understanding, I fear you yes, but I will always fight tooth and nail against you, that is why I had Skylar move the way she did." Jenna declared boldly, her face showing composure beyond her years.

"You continue to confuse me... for starters why reveal what you did to that island to the Shadewalker in the first place?" he questioned.

Jenna sat there for a moment rolling those words around in her head, pondering how truly important they even were.

Once she settled on an answer she spoke, "To be frank, I wanted to force Skylar into a situation where she would have to clash with a Titan... the girl grows stronger by the second and her strength intrigues me. So then... What will happen when she encounters a foe she has no chance of defeating?"

The Eternal arched a brow, "I'm afraid I don't follow?"

So Jenna let out a sigh, tapping her fingers along the table's edge impatiently, "Skylar has been told many facts about her island... The curiosity was already there. But she needed a push to go and see the carnage for herself." Jenna then looked down at her plate, "so I revealed the truth to her, to light the flames of her wrath and bid her seek the island she loved oh so much."

The Eternal arched a brow before looking to the mirror, "And will you be joining the battle?"

Jenna chuckled at that, "Will I be joining the battle where they intend to kill me where I stand, to the point where some may even go after me over the Titan?" She asked the question but the tone in her voice indicated that she was baffled that The Eternal would even ask such a question, "I believe I will sit this one out, let the mortals take care of it for once." there was venom in her words.

And The Eternal frowned at that, "I see..." he then folded his own arms, "Nevertheless, if they lose it will only be a matter of time before that beast comes for you."

Jenna smirked wickedly at that, raising her fork up, "and if it does," she stabbed down into an eyeball that littered her plate, "I'll make sure it never tries again."

She then raised that fork up looking at the eyeball for a moment. It stared back of course, Jenna didn't mind it that much, though at times she found it to be a bit irritating, "But for now, I shall watch the skirmish from afar... I do enjoy watching mortals struggle."

***

Flames burst to life on Skylar's blade as she slammed it down upon the Titan's head, her eyes widened when it not only didn't do any damage, but it also seemed to irritate the Titan enough to attempt to take a swing at her.

Skylar gritted her teeth, as a burst of wind, came from her feet and she flew over that fist, going right behind the Titan, there she saw dark circles on the beast's back, they were outlined.

Skylar felt a pit form in her stomach as she stared forward this beast began to turn around slowly, its eyes staying locked upon Skylar.

Skylar gritted her teeth as the Titan pulled back its right fist once more ready to throw it forward, only for Skylar's eyes to widen as chains suddenly wrapped around the Titan binding it in place, Skylar whipped her head around seeing Draco standing on his own airship.

His right hand outstretched and a frown permanently plastered upon his face, cannon fire sounded from Icon's ship. Those cannon balls hit the Titan one after the other, but they didn't seem to leave so much as a single dent.

Tetra's airship closed in, he smirked as he walked to the front of his airship walking along the very edge of the front, "Don't believe I've shown you this function just yet have I?" he raised his right hand and snapped his fingers, as soon as he did.

The ports for where the cannons on most ships would be opened, but instead of cannons, blades shot out, blades that were made of red crystals.

As Tetra's ship sped past The Titan the blades cut into the beast explosions ran out as they made contact, causing smoke to enter the air if only for a few moments.

Once Tetra's ship was out of range of the Titan, he glanced ahead frowning as the smoke cleared, only to see that they also left small dents, "Tier 3 magic and below won't do anything then?" he commented a scowl forming on his face, "were in some deep shit."

He then turned his gaze over to Icon who was drawing her blade red lighting crackled around that blade, she gripped the hilt with both hands and raised it skyward.

Dark clouds began to form in the skies and Tetra frowned, looking up, "Skylar get down here now!"

Skylar looked in Tetra's direction before nodding flying down without wasting a second, "What's going on?" she asked, her sword still in hand.

"Those flames you used to strike down Alma, think you can use them again?" Tetra asked the question suddenly as lighting began to spark in the dark clouds above.

Skylar blinked looking at her sword before frowning, "They'd be weaker than before... Shina isn't close enough to help me trigger the final gem, but I think I can manage."

Tetra nodded, "That's fine... as soon as Icon's attack lands, you just need to rush in there and deal a finishing blow."

Icon stood there her eyes flashing with power as she spoke, for her spell required an incantation, "The sun sets, and dark winds embrace a golden moon, the screams of a thousand souls on their knees pleading for pleasure, for pain, down from the mountains of madness and into the heart of the endless storm." she spoke and a spot in the center of the clouds began to open up wide, a red light poured out from it as Icon spoke her next line "Now fall."

As soon as those final words were spoken a thunderbolt descended from the heavens in a flash of brilliant crimson light, completely engulfing the Titan that lay ahead.

As soon as the Titan was engulfed Skylar once more leaped from the airship, her eyes flashing a bright azure as her blade's jewels began to glow once more, and flames burst to life upon it.

Draco who stood on his airship, narrowed his gaze, "I suppose it's time to make good on my word." he lowered his hand, and suddenly the chains that surrounded the Titan faded with one swift movement the Titan swung its right fist upward, as if it hadn't taken any damage at all slammed it into Skylar, her eyes widened and blood flew from her mouth, her sword escaped her grasp flying backward before stabbing itself into the side of Tetra's ship.

And then...

The Titan suddenly swung with its right arm grabbing Skylar in its open palm before closing its palm around Skylar's chest, Her mouth opened as she gasped for air, instead, blood shot out from her maw, splattering over The Titan's hand.

The Titan almost seemed to grin seeing the sight, before increasing pressure.

Skylar screamed, agony flowing through her body as her bones began to break.

She tried desperately to escape the grasp of the beast before her, but her every struggle was met with the sickening sound of another one of her ribs breaking into pieces.

Soon enough...

The light left her eyes and she slumped over limp.

The Titan smirked at this, letting go of Skylar; she began to fall backward as the beast turned around to walk away, seeing yet another island in its gaze.

Skylar floated in place for a moment, floated.

Not falling, "What will you do?" A Voice spoke, it was distorted... inhuman, but it spoke to her nonetheless, "Your mana is in flux, Your focus has all but waned, and they’re about to die because of that. "

Life flowed back into Skylar's body, she took in a deep breath before her eyes snapped open bright crimson flashed within her gaze as if the embers of a flame were bursting back to life, the beast that stood in the clouds stopped, slowly turning back around to face Skylar.

"Who else needs to die before you learn!? The GODS took your family, The TITANS took your home!! How will you make them pay?! WHAT WILL YOU SACRIFICE FOR YOUR JUSTICE!?"

Skylar took in a breath before locking eyes with this beast, "Everything." She spoke malice entering her voice as the bracelet on her right hand began to glow faintly, a red aura, followed by a green one, and at last a blue one. They layered over one another as Skylar let out a growl, her eyes field with nothing but hatred towards the beast ahead of her.

The beast let out a roar at the sight of that glow, and the mechanical whirring that emanated from this beast began to greatly increase, showing that this monster acknowledged Skylar as a threat, Skylar smirked at this, the air around her felt lighter, she felt as though she was flying.

Her eyes flashed changing colors to a bright azure before blue flames coated her hands.

She leaned forward the wind blowing behind her as she blasted forward suddenly, just as she began closing the distance, the dark spots on this mechanical beast's back opened up, red pillars shot up glowing pure with destructive power, and in an instant beams of red energy fired out from those pillars all homing in on Skylar.

In response she smirked flying forward, to her eyes these blasts were almost moving in slow motion, and with ease, she began dodging in between those blasts closing the distance to this beast's face, Skylar then pulled back her right fist and spoke one word before throwing it forward, "Overdrive." With a single punch, she sent the beast flying backward through the cloud sea. As she did so the lower tips of her hair turned a fiery red signifying the change in her power.

When the beast landed it stumbled backward, the generators on its back glowed supplying strength to this monster.

The beast raised its head only for its eyes to widen in rage as it stared forward, Skylar floated in the distance with her eyes narrowed and her arms folded, a crimson glow came from her gaze.

In response, the beast opened its maw a burning red glow came from it as the generator's on its back began to supply energy.

Skylar took note of this unfolding her arms, and a sly smirk appeared, "Oh? You intend to take me and the whole island behind me down in one fell swoop huh...?" She closed her eyes before slowly raising her right hand. A burst of red energy surrounded that hand, her eyes snapping open as she spoke a look of righteous fury in her gaze, "Try it!"

A blast fired outward from the beast's maw ripping a hole through the cloud sea as it did so, hitting Skylar's open palm.

Small shots of power flew off hitting the cloud sea, and a few of the buildings behind Skylar as well.

Yet she was unfazed by the sheer destructive power of it all, her crimson eyes glowed brightly in defiance.

Soon after realizing its blast wasn't doing anything to Skylar the beast closed its maw and began sprinting forward, it started slowly as if it was trying to run while underwater, but the beast quickly began to speed up letting out a roar as it pulled back its right fist planning to strike Skylar down with one swift blow, in response, Skylar lowered her right hand.

She cracked her neck and her eyes switched to that bright azure once more, "I'm game." She responded as the flames returned to her fist, but this time it covered her whole body acting like the armor as she blasted forward with blinding speed.

Red flames coated the beast's right hand; they met in the center sending a shockwave across the clouds as they clashed.

The beast smiled wickedly thinking it had the upper hand in this contest of strength, after all, how could a human stand to the might of a Titan? That smile quickly turned into fear as a sickening cracking noise began to emerge from the monster's hand.

In an instant, it's fist shattered followed by Skylar flying into the beast's chest ripping a hole through it with one blow.

The beast stood there for a moment eyes wide in pain blue liquid flowed from its chest, before its gaze flashed with rage, quickly it turned around left fist pulled back only for fear to overtake it as it looked upward, Skylar floated there her right hand raised above her head, a ball of blue flames above her head the flames rivaled the sun in size, "Begone." with that she threw her hand down and the ball of flames descended upon her opponent consuming it whole.

Her eyes showed a fury unlike any before even as the beast let out a mechanical roar, Skylar looked over her shoulder eyes narrowing in contempt as the beast began to fall, but she did not speak.

Any words that could leave her mouth would fail to capture the feelings that swarmed in her heart at this moment.

But even so, she heard her voice, "To be trapped in mortal flesh... how truly irritating."

No.

That wasn't her.

Skylar's eyes widened and slowly she turned around, ahead of her, was someone, someone who looked almost exactly like her.

The woman was taller for sure and older by a long shot but if you stripped away those facts then both Skylar and this woman looked the same.

"Who...are you?" Skylar let the question leave her lips though a sense of dread filled her chest as this person narrowed her gaze, she gave her response.

"I am…

Pride."