In the grand throne room of the beautiful Massadah palace lies its rightful heir, Loc Hezekiah Ben Massadah, faced down paralyzed, and in a pool of his own blood. Rivna, Aldrog, and Smoke gaze at him in shock. His assailant, Queen Bethel, leers at Rivna, who is next in line on her rampage.

Queen Bethel: Don’t worry, he’s alive, for now. However, your time has come to an end Witch Tier!

Queen Bethel swings her hammer. Rivna bends over backwards, narrowly dodging the attack. Aldrog charges at Bethel with an ugly yell full of indignation. Recognizing the cry, Loc instinctively finds the strength to look up at the action. Queen Bethel snaps and turns to Aldrog with otherworldly agility and drives her arm through Aldrog’s shield, and his body, stunning the room. Bethel quickly follows up by removing her arm and bashing Aldrog with her hammer. He’s sent crashing into a wall, and rendered unconscious.

Loc: Aldrog!

Rivna: Aldrog!

Queen Bethel swings the blood off her arm and turns to Loc, who is now shedding angry tears.

Queen Bethel: What did you expect, boy? I haven’t even displayed a fraction of a queen’s true strength yet.

Out of pure rage Rivna swings her Steam Sword at Bethel. Bethel easily sidesteps and strikes Rivna with the pommel of her hammer, stunning her. She then swings her hammer at Rivna. Rivna blocks with her arm, which takes the blunt of the blow. Rivna is knocked a few yards back but lands on her feet. She drops her sword, kneels down, and grabs her broken arm grunting in pain.

Queen Bethel: Hmm, you’re a little more resilient than I initially gave you credit for Witch Tier.

Bethel raises her hammer in preparation to strike again.

Queen Bethel: But you won’t survive this next blow, you little demon!

A bullet bounces of the back of Bethel’s head. Unharmed, she halts and turns to the one who shot it. Smoke grunts in frustration.

Smoke: I’ll be damned if I’m gonna let you hurt a pretty little thing like that on my watch.

Smoke readies another shot, but before he can fire Queen Bethel knees him in the stomach, sending him crashing into the wall. He appears to be out of commission. Queen Bethel chuckles and sets her gigantic hammer down upright, allowing its massive weight to rattle the entire room upon impact.

Queen Bethel: What’s the matter? I haven’t even started using my steam and yet you fools seem to be all out of it. Is this all the mighty hero of Irikihl can muster? The so called end of the Queen of Queens? I expected far more from the one supposedly chosen by The Will.

Loc grimaces.

Loc: (I can’t move. I can barely breathe… My ribs, my back… they all must be broken. And I can’t reach Rivna’s thoughts…)

Rivna: (Loc! Why can’t I hear his thoughts?)

Steam spews from open vents on Bethel’s hammer and it forms into black vines. Rivna quickly reaches and grabs her sword before being ensnared by them. Bethel picks up her hammer and approaches Rivna.

Queen Bethel: I believe it’s time I end your pathetic life now. I’m sorry my foolish nephew awoke you, only for you to meet your end this way.

Rivna frantically attempts to free herself.

Queen Bethel: Oh I know all about your little steam spewing ability. Those vines have your chest wrapped tightly so no miracles will be taking place today.

Rivna: You’re an even bigger fool than you look.

Bethel readies her hammer to swing. A massive amount of steam quickly emits from Rivna’s Steam Sword. A massive fiery explosion engulfs Queen Bethel and frees Rivna from the vines. Rivna staggers to her feet. The smoke clears and Bethel’s attire appears to be slightly tarnished. She looks upset but pauses in shock as she notices Loc on his feet.

Loc is a bloody mess, but he’s on his own two feet with his hands clasped together. Black mist swiftly circles around his limbs and his eyes are constantly glowing black. Rivna looks concerned.

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Rivna: Loc!

Queen Bethel: How are you still standing right now?

Loc: (If I lose focus for even a second the Yhol-Oiudyn technique will fail and my heart will stop. I loath the fact that I must resort to my trump card so soon but it’s the only way I can even be standing right now, let alone do battle.)

Loc: How are you Rivna? She may not look it but she’s in great pain from that sudden attack--

Loc coughs up blood. Rivna grimaces.

Loc: (Damn. I only have a few minutes at best.)

Rivna: Please Loc, that technique is going to kill you if you use it in your current condition--

To everyone’s surprise Smoke casually gets up and dusts himself off.

Smoke: You’ve done it now, fool.

Smoke removes his hat and goggles, revealing his fierce green eyes.

Smoke: Nobody kicks me to the side like that. I don’t care who you are.

Bethel lifts her hammer and rushes to Smoke at a blinding speed. Smoke materializes two rapid fire shotguns. He quickly flips over her strike at an impressive speed and fires a barrage of bullets from his steam spewing guns. Bethel flinches from the fire and takes a cut to her face. She appears to be surprised by the sudden intake of damage.

Queen Bethel: (Where the hell did a Tahlyan with such strength come from? )

Bethel follows up with another swing. Smoke ducks in an incredibly smooth fashion and fires at her abdomen, which pierces her stomach but doesn’t mortally wound her. Bethel grunts in pain and frustration. She kicks but Smoke dodges by leaping away. Bethel pauses upon studying Smoke’s face.

Queen Bethel: (Wait. This one looks familiar. Don’t tell me he’s…)

Queen Bethel: Aren’t you the bounty hunter that killed my Donny Don?

Smoke: Now what makes you think I’m simple enough to answer that question?

Queen Bethel: You are the one aren’t you? You’re the one who killed my Donny! Just admit it, so that I can know in full that his death will be avenged tonight.

Smoke: Well if it would piss you off more, then yes. I’m the one who iced him. Just like I’m getting ready to ice you now.

Rage festers on Bethel’s face. Steam spews from her hammer and she swings out a wave of fire from it like a madwoman. Smoke smirks and dodges her attacks with ease while whittling her down with gunfire.

Loc: (This is it. She’s vulnerable now.)

Loc looks over at Rivna who is looking back at Loc. Loc nods. Rivna runs to Queen Bethel and bear hugs her.

Rivna: Now Loc!

Queen Bethel is caught off guard. Steam quickly spews from Rivna’s chest. Loc directs his arms at Bethel and a massive fiery explosion that rattles the whole palace engulfs her. Rivna leaps out of the explosion unharmed and lands next to Loc.

Loc: (Thank The Will my vyrkra can’t harm Rivna. Otherwise that little attack wouldn’t be possible.)

Smoke: Good teamwork you two. But she’s still standing.

The smoke clears and Loc and Rivna look at an injured Queen Bethel in dismay.

Loc: (Damn it! That was my strongest attack! What’s it going to take to take her down?!)

Queen Bethel: Don’t think for a minute that pathetic excuse for an attack is going to slow me down--

Kenjiro, in his full Ogre State with the Ogre Blade in hand, bursts through the window with Kiki and slices off Bethel’s arm from behind. Everyone looks amazed. Kenjiro lands before Loc and the others and smirks.

Kenjiro: It looks like y’all could use a hand.

Smoke: Apparently not as much as the queen right now.

Loc notices Seth approach him from behind with his daggers in hand. He looks over and sees Phoebe treating the unconscious Aldrog in the corner.

Seth: Sorry Loc. I know you gave us strict orders to guard the door but we just couldn’t standby after hearing all of the commotion. And judging by your appearance I think we made the right call.

Loc: You’re just in time. This fight is as good as over now.

Bethel stares furiously at her arm on the floor. She lifts up her hammer.

Kenjiro: Oh no you don’t--

Kenjiro swings out a wave of mist from his blade. It makes a loud demonic howl whenever it is swung. Queen Bethel’s other arm is lobbed off from the attack, causing her hammer to rattle the room upon hitting the floor. Loc steps forward.

Loc: It appears The Will has decided a clear victor here, Bethel.

Queen Bethel laughs manically.

Seth: I think her loss has just driven her mad.

Kenjiro raises his sword.

Kenjiro: Then I’ll end her mania.

Kenjiro halts upon noticing her laughter sounding more and more demonic. It begins to have an ominous ghostly echo to it.

The silhouette of the Queen of Queens watches the action through a crystal ball with a merry smile on her face.

Queen of Queens: Checkmate.

Dark rainbow-colored mist emits from Bethel. The silhouette of a red phantom loosely resembling the Queen of Queens appears floating above Bethel. The phantom places a sparkling red tiara on Queen Bethel’s head. The room rattles and to everyone’s horror Bethel quickly morphs into a gigantic black dragon with massive wings. The dragon has on beautiful black and gold armor and a red tiara to match the size of its massive head. Bethel opens her mouth to speak.

Queen Bethel: Behold fools! Now you will witness the true terror of a queen!

Phoebe barely manages to fight enough fear to pull down her goggles from her head.

-------------------------

Queen Bethel

Combat Rank: 189

Combat Tier: Witch Tier

Class: ???

Elemental Affinity: N/A

Vyrkra Reserves: 9999999

Might: 999999

Fortitude: 999999

Agility: 999999

Growth Potential: N/A

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Chapter End