AN: Well, someone had to die, and even though it's a day late, here's to the folks down in Orlando. Hopefully they can get back on their feet after such a mess, and leave the death bit to the Dark Fantasy novelists like myself. :D

As always, thank you all for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to voice them.

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"Um, Ageless?" spoke up a Lamia who had coiled up on herself in order to relax better during the story. Now, however, she had stretched herself higher above the others, with her right, pink scaled arm raised higher. Indeed, and these scales traced themselves lightly across her forearms, spine, and sides. Along with a few stripes leading up her neck and across her cheeks, have caused many a male to desire after her.

"Yes, Lilly?" inquired the God upon the golden throne, "Is there something you wished to ask of my person?"

These caused all other eyes to turn towards the Lamia, who then shrank in on herself until such courage could bubble forth in order to speak her mind. This would take, but a few moments before she straightened and asked, "I don't mean to be rude, but why is your story... boring?" The tip of her tail snaked upwards, where she did grasp hold of the appendage to lightly brush and play with it. All the while, her eyes had strayed away from the other, whose ears had flicked themselves forward.

"Hmm," he hummed softly, "So, you are of those who prefer simple action, adventure, or romance, yes?" At her small nod, his own head bobbed in an echo of such a gesture, "Yes, and I believe you would prefer to simply listen to what my Undying and non-Human servants had performed upon the various worlds. As opposed to the 'boring' events I had taken part in upon Terra?"

"No," she returned, "I just...," and simply fell into her coils, believing she had angered the other somehow.

"Peace," spoke the calm voice of the Ageless, as a light mist of silver enveloped her body, "Peace. I am not angry with you, for you are with the younglings who are of likened minds. In that you and they prefer to read and listen to just the actions, adventures, and romances of simple stories. Whereas my own tends to be lost or dumb down to the point that my messages become non-existent. For you see, I am with the philosophers of our world. In that we prefer to expand upon our vocabulary, and not simply say, 'I like that'.

"Instead, I would prefer to begin with, 'I find this enjoyable', then go on to explain why it is thusly. Whereas all others would repeat the same three words over and over, again and again. Hence the reason why many find my works to be boring, save for the darkness, the romance, and a few snippets of comedy. Although, with a few exceptions, others preferred the added fluff. Such as the instances where I am calmed around little bundles of joy, also known as children."

"Oh," muttered the Lamia, whose face was now a bright scarlet after such an explanation.

"Do not worry, as I shall be giving you more instances of those which you have come to enjoy within each story," this caused the snake-woman to light up somewhat, which turned to a slight frown as he continued with, "However, in return for such a scenario, you must endure my long words as I continue with the story at hand. For I have much to say in this regard."

*****

Now where was- ah yes. The aftermath of "fighting" with the half-Ogre.

"Ah," I sighed openly, as my silvered hair fell over my own eyes whilst my red furred ears laid themselves against the top of my head, "I've used too much." Light trails of steam soon arose around my shoulders, giving off the illusion that my body was far hotter than usual as I calmed down from my wolf state.

"What are you?" asked the Elder, of whom I gave a single glance towards.

"I believe I've already answered that question. For I am what I am, and what I am is me. Therefore, I simply am."

"Simply am what?"

"Exactly," my voice chuckled softly as my body turned towards Jenny, who was backing away from my person whilst Robby slowly stood up and looked around for his odd hat. By the by, at this point in time, my eyes held the colours of violet and crimson, as I slowly stalked towards the Halfling who dared to rise above my person. "Jenny," I sang softly, "You should not have done that."

"I didn't do anything, though," her eyes scanned behind my person, viewing the aftermath of the destruction caused by her supposed underlings, "You're the ones who-"

It was at this point that I had clamped my right hand over her small maw, gripping tightly to the joints in her jaw, and hoisting her body aloft. "You are right when you said you did nothing, for it appeared to my own eyes that you could have stopped the pair of idiots before they advanced upon my person. Of which would have stalled their bodies with enough time for us to simply discuss what it is that you desired of us. Instead, you simply stayed quiet, which gave way to the aftermath seen here."

These words were spoken aloud, so as to fuel the hatred and anger many were feeling at this time. As well as to shift the blame away from my person and Robby, and onto the Halfling female named Jenny. Of whom struggled greatly against my grip, but could do nothing beyond watching with a glance of horror and tears. For those of whom were still able to stand were slowly making their way towards our persons, with a few of them reaching for their weapons to do one of us harm.

Yes. They could have been moving against my person, but as I had displayed a unique skill that many have never seen before, they became wary of my person.

In any case, I continued to speak aloud to the growing crowd, "You have all seen what her supposed underlings were. Had she spoken aloud, little Jenny here could have helped to prevent the deaths of your friends. However, she simply stood there with a smile as the brute rampaged throughout our group. Therefore," before anyone was able to voice a contradiction, or anything of a sort, I raised the body of the Halfling female, and sank two fingers into her jaw.

Whereupon I did release a few droplets of my acidic poisons into her body, which caused many to cry out in alarm as she struggled greatly, and cried out into my hand. For the poisons quickly devoured her backside, slowly stripping away fat, flesh, and muscle whilst her eyes pleaded with my own to stop. However, I would not, and all others were too horrified to do anything beyond watching, which allowed my magicks to slow the poison so that she would endure far longer than necessary. For I did not enjoy the thought of having someone as suspicious as she snooping around behind my person as I continued on with my journey.

As to what occurred? Well, those before my person witnessed various pieces of flesh falling off in chunks, and rapidly pooling beneath her body above. This then led to a reveal of her insides, for I had removed her clothing with a few, expert swipes of her front. For although her chest and that which was betwixt her legs was visible to my eyes, her backside was slowly peeling away to reveal bone and organ meat.

No. Her organs had yet to become infected, as my magicks held the poison at bay whilst it ravaged her backside in anger at the denial. In any case, many of those before my person heaved their stomach contents, as the poisons continued to liquefy her skin and muscles. All the while, Jenny was kept alive and awake as the process continued unabated.

"My dear, little Jenny," my voice was barely a whisper, as her legs slowly fell to the ground, splashing into the puddle which had formed from the flesh of her back, "I cannot have you interfering with my person any longer. Therefore, you shall die a painful death. Perhaps next time you will refrain from sticking your nose in that which it did not belong." No. She did not bother my person up to this point, however, who was I to say if she would not later on? In my own mind, it was best to do away with her presence now, than later down the line when I had to reveal much of my strength to quell those of whom would have proven useful.

This was not paranoia, by the by, as I had little issues with dealing with others in my way, but of preparation for that which was to come. As I would prefer to have a straight path without disparities along the way. In any case, this one would serve as a warning to all others, and the rumours which would give birth after today would cause others to either come seeking my person for this or that, or they would stray far from my sight so that they would not become my next victim.

For now, though, the female in my grasp now gasped as her right hand slowly exposed the bone and sinew, as the poisons found purchase within her small digits. Of which led to them falling off bit by bit, as the sinew stretched towards the ground below. Yes. This would continue until she was nothing more than a torso and head with an exposed front, along with a window into her organs from her backside.

Once this was so, did I toss her body towards those who were still standing. Of which caused their persons to retreat so as to not catch whatever disease caused her body to become as she was currently. However, this did not stop Jenny from screaming bloody murder, as my grip was no longer muffling her voice.

Unfortunately for her, all others were slowly backing away, for I was approaching the Halfling who was begging for someone to save her, then grew silent as she noted my person simply glaring down upon her body with ill contempt. "This is what happens to those who disrupt the fragile order of the group with a desire to be on top, Jenny." These words were spoken aloud so as to serve as a greater warning for those all around us, "You should not have placed your own welfare above all others, especially when we do not have a safe refuge.

"In any case," her screaming entered new heights, as I released my magicks from her body. Of which allowed the poisons to rampage throughout her body with abandon, "we should get moving. If there was anyone around the area, I believe they may be coming our way soon enough."