Bolt proudly stands over Hrist’s seemingly lifeless body while panting. Everyone on the Flying Broom looks surprised, especially Loc and Hannah. The onlookers of Tep-Tep City rejoice. Smoke is the only one who doesn’t appear to be shocked. Loc slides on his Syrrna Goggles and examines Bolt.

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

????

Combat Rank: 80

Combat Tier: Palyth Tier

Class: Yhol-Yin

Elemental Affinity: Electric/Iarlan

Vyrkra Reserves: 4111

Might: 490

Fortitude: 379

Agility: 1224

Growth Potential: High

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

Loc: (I can’t believe a mere Veguhl managed to inflict this kind of damage to a princess. This has to be unprecedented.)

Hannah: No! Big Sis! This can’t be real! Big Sis is supposed to be invincible.

Lightning laughs.

Lightning: Apparently she wasn’t invincible to her own hubris.

On the Rose Hornet the entire crew gawks at Hrist’s body in disbelief.

Rose Palyth: Captain! Her Majesty is…

Captain Eldrich raises his hand for them to hold their positions.

Captain Eldrich: Have you all forgotten who you serve? If you all were truly wise you would hide yourselves from the wrath that is soon to come.

Back on the island, Bolt kneels down to catch his breath. The mist spiraling around his body ceases. A loud hiss is heard and the sky suddenly turns blood red. The entire region rumbles, causing everyone to brace themselves in panic.

Hrist slowly opens her charred mouth to speak, uttering a haunting whisper.

Hrist: You filthy bird. You have kindled my anger for the last time…

Bolt, and everyone else watches Hrist rise to her feet in horror. She lets out a piercing, ghostly scream. Everyone covers their ears in pain. Hannah looks especially horrified.

Red arms of a woman appear from a purple void and place a ruby tiara on Hrist’s head. Dark rainbow-colored mist swells around Hrist’s body and hides it from view. The silhouette of a four winged, humanoid demon is visible within the mist.

Hannah: What’s happening to her?!

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

Princess Helga is typing away within her steampunk chamber that resembles a birdcage. She’s surrounded by windows that give view to the red sky. The room begins to rattle and Helga stops typing to look out the window.

Helga: That’s odd. Who could have provoked Big Sis so much? She’s supposed to be the most level-headed among us. I hope Mother won’t have to step in.

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

Pyrron’s Dwelling is a beautiful tall temple that resides on the volcanic peaks of the Xiphyx Mountain range. The vast red temple is located near the southern edge of the floating continent of Avalith, and its architecture appears to be Greek in design. Several large Avalian dragons and Egondri, large fiends that appear to be a cross between an eagle and a wyvern, roam the dangerous region.

Princess Helda, a very voluptuous and beautiful Avalian woman, is nude and taking a relaxing bath in one of the temple’s many lava pools with her eyes closed. In the pool with her are several Avalian Myrrindis, fiends that resemble mermaids with hideous shark-like teeth when they are not on dry land, and beautiful women with legs while on dry land. Several well built half naked Avalian men are present, feeding Helda fruit and fanning her with a giant leaf. None of them are in the lava.

The skies are red and the area begins to rattle. Everyone but Helda looks fearful. Helda briefly opens one eye with a perturbed look. She sighs.

Helda: I wager none of this would have happened if we had just castrated him like I proposed. I sure hope Mother doesn’t ask me to try and soothe Big Sister right now. I haven’t relaxed this well in decades.

Helda casually points to a male servant who is standing by idly. She looks at him coyly.

Helda: You there. Would you like to have a good time with me?

The Avalian servant looks excited but hesitant.

Helda: Don’t be shy, just answer honestly.

The servant blushes.

Avalian Servant: Why yes, Your Eminence!

Helda giggles.

Helda: Then leap in and join me. Let us relish in our lust.

The servant anxiously looks at the lava.

Helda: Come in.

Consumed with lust, the servant jumps in. His body burst into flames and he wails in agony. Helda and the Myrrindis laugh hysterically. The male servants watch in dismay.

Helda: My, isn’t that hysterical?!

Helda continues to laugh. She notices the men next to her aren’t laughing. She leers at them.

Helda: Isn’t that just hysterical?

The men nod apprehensively in agreement and force themselves to laugh.

Helda: Only a man who can withstand this heat is worthy of my perfect, divine body.

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

Deep below the ocean’s surface is a gorgeous steampunk city called Tetcha Metropolis. The city resides on the ocean’s floor and at the center of it lies Tetcha’s Palace, a giant blue wonder. The city’s population is mostly Quatan. In the distance is a large figure of a huge sea monster with two glowing blue eyes. Just one of its eyes is the size of the entire gigantic metropolis.

Inside the throne room of the palace is the pretty queen, Ervyka. She is dressed in long beautiful robes and a nifty blue tiara with gears and nobs ever turning on it. The throne room has a mosaic of streams running through it and mostly Quatan Yzzarrian servants populate it. Grand statues of sea serpents that resemble one of Daagons’ heads line the walls of the room. Queen Ervyka is sitting on her throne viewing a floating sphere of water that is showcasing the events taking place near the Flying Broom. Queen Ervyka is in her late teens and exudes too much naivety and humility to be a queen.

The palace rattles, ushering in complete panic throughout it.

Queen Ervyka: Oh Milady. Please be alright.

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

Oizarga Hangar is a floating open hangar that resides in the continent of Lyrkru. The hangar is massive and houses many great vessels, but the most wondrous of them is the nearly complete steamboat, Titania. The boat is massive, nearly two miles in length and the hull is made entirely out of gold. It is majestic as it is large, and loosely resembles the Titanic. Thousands of Lyrkrian Krahmlyns slave away to build it. They’re completely stressed as they rush to complete the project. Several Krahmlyns drop dead every minute from exhaustion, and floating steampunk Assist Droids(robots) grab their bodies and throw them into a burning incinerator the moment they do. Like clockwork another poor Krahmlyn leaps in and picks up where the deceased left off.

Stoically standing on the scaffolding is the ship’s namesake, Queen Titania. Queen Titania is vibrant, vile, and appears to be not a day over thirty. She’s wearing a gorgeous gold Victorian-esque dress with a large hat. Both of her hands rest on a golden closed parasol. Beside her are several Lyrkrian Veguhl Palyths. Panic ensues as the sky turns red and rattling overtakes the hangar. Hundreds of Krahmlyns fall from the hangar and into the open sky below from the rattling.

Queen Titania looks perturbed. Kahm, a scruffy looking Krahmlyn races to Queen Titania with a clipboard in his hand.

Kahm: Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I’m afraid we’ve lost too many hands to the sudden quake! Our production has dropped considerably!

Queen Titania: And?

Kahm looks shaken by her response. He’s lost for words.

Queen Titania: If my precious baby doesn’t meet her deadline then you and the rest of the workers will share their fate.

Kahm: Y-Yes, Your Highness!

He scurries off in pure terror and tears.

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

Queen Clockwork is resting on her throne in Clockwork Palace. Beside her is Behlgos. The palace rattles and Queen Clockwork chuckles. Behlgos appears to be unfazed by the violent rattling.

Queen Clockwork: My, someone has lost their temper.

Behlgos: But why over a mere Veguhl?

Queen Clockwork: The Veguhl may have fanned the flames but her ire burns for another soul.

Behlgos: Has this soul escaped your eternal clairvoyance?

Queen Clockwork pauses and sighs.

Queen Clockwork: I’m afraid not my loyal servant.

Behlgos looks displeased.

Queen Clockwork: Be joyful Behlgos. Your queen’s long awaited desires will soon be fulfilled.

Behlgos: Yes, Your Highness.

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

Back on the island near Tep-Tep City, the mist quickly dissipates, revealing a fully restores Hrist, except the sclera of her eyes are a rainbow of dark colors. Dark rainbow-colored streaks of lightning periodically surge around her body. Hrist’s speech continues to have a haunting ghostly echo to it.

Hrist: So you believe you’ve claimed some sort of victory over true royalty, have you?

Bolt pauses, then smiles.

Bolt: I have already soared to the heights of the gods. Strip all you want from me, but you will never rob me of this day.

Hrist: Oh, that’s where you err you hideous creature.

Hrist stretches out her hand, showing Bolt her palm. Dark abyssal sparks crackle around it.

Hrist: Five percent. You have incurred that much of my true power. This is five times higher than what you were dealing with before.

Loc examines Hrist through his Syrrna Goggles. He grimaces upon witnessing her strength values.

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

?????

Combat Rank: 340

Combat Tier: Witch Tier

Class: Scarlet Caster

Elemental Affinity: Heat/Avalian

Vyrkra Reserves: 49000000

Might: 6200000

Fortitude: 3600000

Agility: 5800000

Growth Potential: N/A

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

Black electricity sparks from Rivna’s Soul Crystal. She grabs it reeling in pain. Everyone near her notices.

Loc: Rivna! Are you okay?

Rivna: This wicked power she exudes. Something calls to me…

Loc: What calls to you?

Rivna: …the drive to destroy it…

Hrist: Hannah!

Hannah jolts, startled. She hides behind Loc and peaks around him.

Hrist: Dear little sister. Pay me great heed now, because you too will possess this power once you come of age. Behold! The power to sway destiny, and rule with eternal rigor!

Hannah looks completely frightened of Hrist. Hrist aims her palm at Tep-Tep City. Bolt gasps upon realizing what she’s about to do.

Bolt: No! No, don’t--

Bolt halts. He kneels and grabs his chest in pain.

Bolt: (Damn, I overdid that technique! I can’t move!)

Horror pierces everyone as a gigantic stream of abyssal mist bursts out from Hrist’s hand. Tep-Tep City, along with everything beyond it for hundreds of miles, is completely eviscerated.

Hrist: Don’t worry, I know the artifact wasn’t in the city, so I’m sure it’s quite safe wherever you’ve hidden it.

Bolt looks alerted. Fueled with rage, Zephyr, Squall, and Gust dart at Hrist yelling like mad barbarians.

Bolt: No you fools!

Hrist’s eyes flash, and the three noble warriors are instantly stripped of everything but their skeletons, and crash into the snow beside Hrist. A train whistle is heard.

Hrist: Before I send you to your destiny you are going to reveal the location of the Witch Slayer to me.

Bolt hesitates.

Bolt: I don’t know what you’re babbling about. The Witch Slayer is just a myth. Don’t tell me the supposed gods of this world chase folktales and legends now.

Hrist chuckles.

Hrist: Don’t act like this isn’t why you opposed me in the first place. I know your kind is privy to the whereabouts of that artifact. Your noble little diversion is short lived. I will find it. Whether I obtain that knowledge from you, or your sister…

Hrist gestures to Lightning by glancing at her. Enraged, Bolt tries to rise with an angry shout, but he falls back to his knees. Lightning flies to Bolt’s side with angry tears. She produces two long, curved daggers.

Lightning: You despicable woman! How could you kill them?! There were innocent children of your human ilk dwelling within that city! Even ones devoted to your filthy eminence! How could you slaughter them like so?!

Hrist’s eyes flash, Lightning’s left leg is blasted off. She falls onto her bleeding nub and shrieks in agony.

Bolt: Lightning!

Hrist: They should be honored that they fell to the whim of a god. I have given them a shred of glory to their otherwise depraved existences.

Hrist points an electrically imbued finger at them. Her aim wavers back and forth between them.

Hrist: Now, which one of you two is going to sacrifice their life for the other? I do love these games. The first to reveal the location of the artifact gets to live.

Smoke produces a steampunk cigar and puffs out steam.

Smoke: Well, this went to hell rather quickly.

Loc: This is outrageous. All this mayhem was over the artifact we came here for?

Bolt chuckles. Lightning forces a cocky smile through her pain.

Bolt: I told you you strumpet, you’re not as powerful as you think you are. We both came here prepared to die today. The Yhol Clan has sworn to do everything in its power to see to it that the Vu-Zyrr is handed to its rightful heir. You’ve failed you royal hag! The artifact is long away from here and safely awaits its master. So proceed. Do what you will! Because your efforts to rob me of this day will forever be in vain!

There is a pause as rage festers on Hrist’s face. Instead of aiming her finger she aims her palm, and a small stream of abyssal colored mist is fired from it. An explosion occurs on Bolt and Lightning’s position. Everyone watching gasps.

The debris clears and Hrist looks surprised to see a giant wall of ice and a furious Rivna standing behind. She is standing in front of Bolt and Lightning with her Steam Sword drawn. The Veguhl siblings look at Rivna in astonishment and wonder.

Loc: Rivna! What are you doing?!

Rivna: I’ve witnessed enough evil for one day.

Lightning: You, you don’t have to do this for us.

Bolt: Please, flee while you still can. We have fulfilled our purpose in this life.

Rivna: Nonsense. Your souls are too pure to end with this single purpose. Allow me to help you live on to fulfill a new one.

Hrist: I may not acquire the Massadan artifact I sought today, but I will not end the day empty handed of their treasures. Today is the day your death quenches my ire, Witch Tier!

The entire region rattles violently as Hrist begins to draw her Ruby Sword from its sheathe. Rivna appears nervous but stands firm.

Loc and everyone else looks concerned.

Smoke: We better get the hell out of here, kid. This is getting too rocky for us.

In a near instant, the sky turns to night and a divine feminine voice can be heard as a titanic sized transparent ruby hand hovers over Hrist’s head.

Queen of Queens: Oh, my beloved daughter Hrist.

Everyone looks up and a feminine regal silhouette the size of the cosmos looks down on everyone from high above. Everyone looks terrified but confused as they are suddenly forced to kneel. Loc appears to be angry, Rivna confused.

Hrist: M-Mother!

Hannah: It’s Mother!

Rivna: (Is this her? The all-powerful tyrant I have sworn to fell? Why does her presence summon nostalgic feelings within me?)

Smoke: (What’s causing me to kneel all of a sudden? Is it who I think it is?)

Loc: (Damn that woman!)

Queen of Queens: Do you not recall my orders, Hrist?

Hrist assumes the demeanor of an ashamed little girl.

Hrist: I’m, I’m sorry Mother.

The giant ruby hand rises and snaps its fingers. Everyone watches in pure wonder and amazement as all the damage and death Hrist caused is suddenly rewinded before their very eyes. Tep-Tep City is restored, Zephyr, Squall, and Gust’s lives are returned, and even Lightning’s leg is restored. However, everyone is forced to kneel at the presence of the Queen of Queens and they all look up at her silhouette in reverence and amazement.

Zephyr: (My body… I’m alive again?)

Squall: (Why can’t I rise?)

Queen of Queens: Don’t expect me to clean up after you next time. For your punishment will be great.

Hrist: Yes, Mother.

Queen of Queens: Dear precious souls, I have brought you all back from the land of eternity because I am your loving mother. Do not dishonor me by living a treacherous, and unfruitful life. Honor me and reverence me in all your ways, and I shall reward you will eternal life in my perfect kingdom here in the heavens.

Most of the citizens of Tep-Tep raise their hands to the sky in reverence. Loc looks completely livid. His eyes glow entirely black and he slowly rises to his feet, fighting the immense urge to kneel. Everyone nearby appears to be shocked by his sudden feat. Hrist looks perturbed.

Smoke: (He can actually stand?)

Hrist: (How is he able to repel Mother’s power? Not even I can stand when she imposes her will upon us.)

Loc leaps onto the island and looks up at the silhouette full of rage.

Loc: You filthy witch! I will have your head! Relish in what little time you have left you menstruous rag! Your days of mocking The Will are numbered!

The Queen of Queens lets out beautiful, feminine laugh.

Queen of Queens: My foolish little boy. I adore your little tantrums, but your ire is unfounded. For why do you turn a blind eye to the beautiful world before you? No soul who acknowledges their benevolent queen ever goes hungry. All nations before you are allowed to govern themselves accordingly. And those who display impeccable character and loyalty are granted eternal life within my kingdom amongst the stars.

Loc: You wicked wench! Only the chosen seed of Massadah may govern this planet! You prance around as a god when you and your creed are lower than the dust! Divine judgement awaits you!

The Queen of Queens chuckles.

Queen of Queens: I am the beginning and the end of all divinity, Little Loc. There are no other gods with me. But how can you make such high claims when you do not even acknowledge your own inheritance?

Loc grunts.

Queen of Queens: Your strength isn’t even a tenth of your baby sister Hannah’s, yet you prance about like the world should bow before your self-proclaimed righteousness. You are but a proud and spoiled little boy. If your supposed god is truly with you, take your precious little Witch Tier and smite Hrist!

Everyone looks astonished.

Queen of Queens: Go on. Prove your might. Try to vanquish my eldest.

Hrist: Mother?

Queen of Queens: Do what you will to them, Hrist. But keep them in one piece. Kill them, and you shall face my wrath. Understood?

Hrist: U-Understood, Mother.

The normal sunny blue skies of the day quickly return as the silhouette of the Queen of Queens disperses, leaving almost everyone to question if the wild recent events really happened. Everyone rises and Loc’s eyes return to normal.

Loc produces a Steam Staff.

Loc: Are you ready Rivna? You know what she’s capable of.

Rivna: You have my sword Loc.

Rivna and Loc face Hrist, ready and posed for a vicious battle. Hrist looks demeaned and completely unfazed by them. She sighs and her eyes return to normal and the abyssal electricity surrounding her ceases.

Hrist: Honestly…

She sheathes her sword and materializes her regal princess gown. Her eyes flash and Rivna is immediately knocked back several yards and lands on her back. She’s out cold. Loc doubles over from an invisible blow to his stomach and loses consciousness.

Hrist: I have been belittled enough for one day. I take my leave.

Hrist leaps away to the Rose Hornet. Bolt and the others quickly race to Loc and Rivna.

Hannah: Big Brother!

Chapter End