The next morning, Night received a surprise he wasn't really expecting. Mere and her man, Novik, had arrived at his home. Novik was carrying Mere in a covert fashion to avoid detection by others.

Since the servants had already invited them into the house, Night directed them to the study to sit down and discuss whatever it was that they came to discuss.

After the three had sat down, Mere began the conversation right away, "Night, I understand that your conditions must be met in order to perform the procedure, but I don't know enough about you to trust that you won't abuse me or make me do despicable things to others. I don't want to die, but I also don't want to live a life as someone's slave."

Night looked at the woman. He understood. He didn't like being someone's slave either. So, despite his still lingering bad mood, he decided to explain himself. He briefly explained his history, his family's murder, his torture, his time as a slave and even his forced relationship with Lili. He even told a bit of the Keres stories. The Countess and her mate had already been given the general rundown of his situation, so he really didn't hold back out of fear that his secrets would be spread.....when he had told those two leaders....he already figured word would get out somehow.

However, Mere didn't really show much reaction until Night began to review his goals. Actually, he hadn't really discussed his own personal objectives to anyone else at this point.....and he felt a little relief in sharing his aspirations out in the open.

"I intend to work with everyone to destroy this plague called the Diego Family. But even if they are defeated, I still can not go back to my home planet. The portals on Earth have restrictions in place that prevent anyone higher than a Foundation Stage cultivator from returning. Since I broke through to a Demigod, I have no way to fight the restrictions placed by the human Gods on the portals. So...since I can't use the portal, I think it should be destroyed...so many problems have come about because of those damn portals between worlds....I actually think they all should be destroyed. What purposed do they serve other than giving the people of Nibiru and Earth a reason to fight," Night said with a bit of anger flashing in his voice.

"So once the Diego Family is dealt with, I'll probably attempt the travel across this world. Humans have 9 settlements on this planet....no one has ever blazed a trail between them...so I figure why not give it a shot....heaven knows....If I manage to make it to another human city and find out that the others are just as bad as this Diego Family...I may end up trying to destroy all the portals.....or I may get strong enough to go around the portal restrictions and go back to Earth....I really don't know.....but it sounds like a good plan for a start."

Mere Pazuza was breathing heavily by the time Night finished his narration of his life and goals. It wasn't that his words were that wonderful. She was dying, so when she got a bit excited...she would breath heavily.

"I agree," she said suddenly, "I agree to become your warrior. But my only request...I would request that you allow me to act as myself until we have retaken the City of Southern Wind....and make sure the survivors of my clan regain their home. After that I have no issue traveling with you to fight to destroy the portals between worlds."

Night was startled by the sudden progression, so he had to ask, "Why the sudden agreement?"

"My dad always wanted to destroy the Diego Family's portal. He said that the portal was the source of all our problems, but no one ever wanted to risk moving against the Diego Family. Most Gods are selfish....the chance of death when fighting another God can be high.....no one wanted to be that one God that dies in a confrontation to eliminate the Diego Family. My dad always called them cowards for not acting.....he said when my brothers became Gods he would go himself," Mere said with some heavy emotion in her raspy voice, "Once you mentioned the destruction of the portals, I was sold on the concept...also the repeated referral to the Keres as your sisters helped.

"Alright then...I guess we need to get started then," Night said as he stood, "We need to head down to the basement...that would be an appropriate place to setup the ritual.

When Novik picked up Mere, Night just had to ask, "Hey man, what is your place in all of this? You always stand so stoically patient off to the side.....I forgot you were in here when I was narrating my whole life's story. What's your story man?"

"I'm Mere's guard," the man said without seeming like he was going to give Night anymore information than that.

"Not a boyfriend?...I thought you were her boyfriend," Night quipped with a little aggravation in his voice. The short response displeased him.

"No.....just her guard," Novik said showing some irritation himself.

"Please stop," Mere said, "Novik has been my palace guard since I was a kid. We both lost loved ones in the battle at the City of Southern Wind. He doesn't speak much."

The rest of the walk was filled with silence.

When the three made it to the basement, Night asked, "Are you sure that this is something you agree to? Once I begin, there is no turning back."

Night then turned to Novik and said, "Since you are her guard, I will let you guard us during this process. I have no doubt in my abilities, so if it fails....it is because of your failure to protect us."

The situation wasn't really that in need of a guard, but he was still disgruntled and the guy gave him a bullshit response to his previous question.

After Novik laid the woman on the ground next to him, Night then took out five blood stones and a few soul stones from his space ring. Two of the blood stones were basic in color, but the other three were a bright red color. He had prepared this method ahead of time so he would be able to create a new Ker without the need for additional resources. The Ker blood body method essentially required a lot of blood, a inscribed blood stone and the Ker's soul. So he three full blood stones ready to supplement the needed blood and two high quality blood stones to prepare for the blood body.

Night looked at Mere and said, "If you are ready, we can begin now. After we finish the process, I am going to directly form your body. Everything is pretty pain free....except the forming of the body....that is pretty rough from what I am told."

"Yes, I am ready," the sickly looking woman said while still laying on the ground.

Almost immediately, Night reached out with his hand and touched her forehead. With a little effort, he removed her soul from her body and placed it into this own soul.

The woman's old body just laid on ground lifeless. Despite being warned beforehand, Novik jerked at the sudden action but quickly regained his composure.

"Ha ha.....don't worry," Night said, "Her soul is safely held within mine. She is enjoying a very nice dream right now. I am about to begin the tricky part. It will weaken me slightly, but there is no cause for concern.....just maintain your guard."

Night focused in on his soul and appeared in the dark space with three women waiting around a glowing soul orb.

"Time to get started," Night said as he got to work.

____________________________________________

After several hours, Night had successfully turned Mere into a Ker and created her own blood body. For the blood body method, Night had supplemented the process slightly to get it done quickly. He had several blood stones full of blood to use as support and even used some soul stones to replenish himself. He even let her use her original body as the basis for the blood body. Despite the poison in her system, the old body converted just fine and even seemed to be slightly stronger at the time of formation than the other Keres.

That day, Night had also spent some time introducing Mere to her new sisters. When Mere had came back from meeting with Misery, Grief and Distress...she informed Night that she would be keeping with the tradition and choosing a name for herself. Apparently, the Pazuza clan were called the Famine of the Battlefield because of their innate ability to absorb the life force of others. While she had lost that ability with the death of her body, she had gained a few Ker abilities that were very similar. So, Mere asked Night to call her Famine...once the other business was squared away.

Novik was pretty much just a guard the entire time and didn't do much. He did seem to be slightly excited when Mere's blood body took shape in front of him though. Night had a steadily growing dislike for the man.....and not for any particular reason either.

After spending the entire day and part of the evening together, the pair of Pazuza Clan members left Night's home to head back to the Countess' Palace.

Then, Night went about recovering from all the work he had done.....and plotting his next move. He needed more information. He needed more power. He kept messing stuff up.... everyone kept shitting on him...and he was really starting to want the power to sort them out.

____________________________________

Three days later, two announcements had come from Countess Asta.

The first announcement was that Mere Pazuza had found a cure to the poison of the Diego Family and was going to live. Mere had issued a call to all survivors from the City of Southern Wind to meet at the City of Setting Sun. The news shocked everyone and was very publicized. Mere showed her face all around the city and held a reception to honor the fallen of the City of Southern Wind. Several messengers were even sent out to notify some of the large mid-sized oasis clans and the two other demon cities.

Night had been aware that this was going to happen and the whole process actually followed a strategic plan. Night had been included in the operation because of his involvement in saving Mere. When they found out that Mere was better, the strategists of the Limim Clan wanted to publicize everything.....they particularly wanted everyone to know that the poison had been cured.....they wanted word to get back to the Diego Family. If the Diego Family doubted the ability of their poison, then the chance of another attack would greatly decrease.....this would buy the demons some much needed time to decide how to proceed.

The second announcement wasn't as publicized and was actually an invitation for a few members of the City of Setting Sun to attend a Meeting of Cities. The meeting was going to be held to discuss the situation with the the City of Southern Wind, the Diego Family and Nazca City. Because of the immediate nature of the meeting, only thirty of the top members of the City of Setting Sun were going to attend. To prevent too much delay, the three remaining cities had agreed to meet in a neutral location in three month's time. Night didn't understand how they could make it through the desert so fast to meet up, but those questions were quickly set aside when he had received an announcement of attendees of this meeting.

One of the members announced to be traveling to the Meeting of Cities was very unexpected. Night had received notice from the Countess that she wanted him to attend the meeting. She didn't particularly give a reason why, but she did say that Night was obligated to go because he had special abilities.

When Night had received the notice.......he had almost lost his mind in anger.......he didn't like being roped into things......but then he realized that at least he would be able to get away from Lili and her crazy bullshit for a while......so he began getting his stuff ready to leave right away.