Whilst this occurred, I happened to glance towards the insufferable Human. Of whom was performing something which was not tolerable. He had found a cot of some sort, laid in it, and had the Goblins fan his person whilst others set up a refreshment stand for himself and they. Once this was noted, I called the attention of everyone else, who then groaned as they witnessed such an event.

Of course, after hearing such noises, the Mage cracked an eyes to look upon us with some boredom, "It's nap time for me, so go away," and even waved his right hand in a lazy fashion at us.

Whereupon our Lord strode over to his person and inquired, "Melephas, did you not wish to participate?"

"Nope," yawned the other, "Besides, I have to log off for work. So if you don't mind?" Again, he waved his hand before settling in and snoring softly.

"What an insufferable, despicable Human," growled Sia, who appeared ready to smite the one before our Lord, but was halted by Himself.

"It's fine, Sia."

"But, my Lord-"

"Sia," He turned towards her person, his eyes holding a glimmer of tiredness within them before shunting it away, "the only reason why he hasn't perished along with the others is due to his competency. If he had contained none, then I would never have agreed to bring him along. Therefore, just let him be."

"Yes, my Lord God," she bowed her head low, but still held the desire to slay the annoyance who called Him his brother.

*****

"And now with such shenanigans out of the way," grumbled Brutus as he stored away his own Story and brought the yellowed book to bare. Whereas the children themselves perked their ears and widened their eyes with great curiosity at such a sight. "Hmm?" he hummed softly as the lights within his sockets flickered in their direction.

Of which caused Nox to voice, "What's wrong, Uncle Brutus?"

"Oh nothing," he waved his primary right clawed hand at them, which did not quell their minds in the slightest. To which he did sigh as his lesser clawed hands quickly flitted through the pages until they reached the approximate area where his Story left off, "Well, I figured you three would rather listen to the action from firsthand accounts of what had occurred."

Of which led to the children's throats making a shrill, but curious sound as they cocked their heads to the side. Thus leading to the other to sigh once against as he explained his thoughts, "The Ageless, my self, and the rest of the Undying did not participate in the initial attack. Instead, we stood tall atop the battlements whilst the rest of the world fought my legion of spectral Skeletons."

"Why didn't you join them?" piped in Maya, who sat forward a little more than her sister.

"It was due to our desire to allow those lesser than ourselves to weaken or destroy those who are insignificant to our eyes. In other words, dear children, the army of Humans and Beastfolk were not worth our time." The foreclaw of his right primary tapped the pages softly, his eyes slowly changing colour from a sharp blue and into a baleful crimson as his mind recalled an unfortunate event. Whereupon he did release a hiss of, "That is, until they destroyed something of mine."

*****

"Form ranks," howled a Wolf Beastman with silver-grey fur and wore dark leathers about his frame. Within his left clawed hand was an animal horn which was used to direct troops into various formations. In his right, however, was a pike that was held vertically, and tide to the base of the point two metres above his head was a flag. Upon which depicted a great wall of blue and gold upon a background of shadowed greys.

The meaning of such a banner was of the last bastion against the Devil King. For many moons did he terrorise their world, until they found out he had halted in the blatant massacres depicted throughout the continents. Whereupon they did come together with great haste, desiring to end it all with one final battle, as opposed to awaiting their deaths.

When it became apparent that the monster they had come to fear did not move himself, nor his forces, when it became apparent they had all gathered, each suspected a trap. For although such a being never deployed such tactics, as he always destroyed the towns, cities, and settlements they came across in a swift manner, they still could not be any less cautious. More so when they approached the ruined castle town of O'Mar, which was named after a great Tiger Beastman who founded the town, and found only a few carts and Goblins awaiting them beside a lone Human in an endarkened robe. Of whom was the only Human known to be working with the Devil King, and was reported as the brother of such a creature.

Yes. They did try to capture such a being in order to use him against the other, but was always thwarted. Even when they tried to bribe the Human into switching sides, they would be denied and slaughtered.

In any case, the one in the robes, along with the Goblins, then piled something outside the carts. Of which confused and confounded many who noted such a thing, but once the "show" began, many found themselves barking or yipping from the sudden noises and bright lights. Many who were not affected as much would report it as some sort of great advertisement for a city to the north and west of their position. This was the reason why many Beastfolk and Humans left, but none understood why.

After such a display, however, a ghostly green fog poured off of the battlements of the castle town, and once it touched the earth below, did the whole of the army witness a mass of spectral Skeletons spring forth in rusted arms and armaments. Each then marched with an unsteady gait, as though trying to walk for the first time in a long time.

This led to many to chuckle and laugh at such a pathetic force, but the Humans themselves shook with great fright. For they called them the Undead, and they despised the living with a passion. What is more, the legion gathered before their might, although not numerous in might, had the ability to slay any and all who did not have adequate protection against their master's foul magicks. Of which many guffawed at such a claim, and had those under them to form up and march to slay the monsters that were summoned.

However, each then shivered as a howl of great hunger echoed throughout the plains on which they stood. For it was one all knew well enough, and had released or heard it often from those who were of the more predator species. This came from a hunter who desired food and had found its prey. Namely, themselves.

"Archers," called out another Wolf Beastman, but one who wore dark leathers under a bright green livery, "Draw back your arrows!" This was ordered due to the fact that the spectral Skeletons had entered the area in which such projectiles were able to land the furthest away. Of which was two hundred and fifty metres, by the by.

Once they performed thusly, did the male shout, "Hold," several times for a total of ten slow heartbeats before shouting, "Loose!" Whereupon a series of three hundred arrows soared through the air... and struck the ground.

"What happened?" called out the Beastman carrying the banner. Such an inquiry was directed towards a Hare to his immediate left, who was also carrying a telescope upon its waist, but was placed to its right eyes. Here, the creature did blanch under its white fur, and slowly handed the item to the other. Whereupon he did note that the arrows were ineffective, and the skeletons continued to march forward.

This caused him to fumble the horn to his lips, and blew out two shrill notes along with three long and deep ones. Of which notified the archer-commanders to open fire, as well as to prepare any and all who are on the front lines to prepare for battle.

Away from these two, and towards the front, were five hundred Bear and Tiger Beastmen and women, each of whom wore the heaviest of arms and armaments of shields, halberds, and swords. When the order came down to prepare for battle, they did unsheathe their swords, holding them off to the sides as they swung their heavy shields forwards. Whereas those with spears, pikes, or heavy halberds laid such weapons upon the shoulders of those who stood in front of their persons. Thus, they were ready to skewer and pierce the Skeletons with force, whilst the Beastfolk in front blocked their advancement.

However, just as the first Skeleton appeared before their eyes, it was quickly shoved aside as a creature of snow-white fur appeared before them. Of which seemed to contain two great maws full of sharpened fangs, and an endless void which led to nothingness.

This creature stood at a height of three metres and a width of half a metre, and held the features of a mountaintop Yeti. However, where the head was located was, in fact, a great maw which, when opened wide, could swallow a full grown, male Human with a single bite. Such was the greatness of its maw, and above such a thing were two, small and beady eyes of pooled darkness.

Now, what was most interesting about the creature was its second maw. Of which ran vertically from between its collar bone, down to the area in which a navel should reside. Unlike the first one, this, when open wide, consumed anything and everything which was unlucky enough to find itself drawn inwards. For such a thing stretched outwards and forwards as though it had a mind of its own, but could recognise that which were its supposed allies. Such as the Lich the creature was summoned from, and the master who the Lich kneeled before.

As a demonstration, the Wendigo rush forward, and was impaled on three heavy halberds which punctured through its right shoulder and central maw. Whereupon the creature did pretend to fall dead after releasing a supposed death cry, but when one of their number approached to dislodge the weapons, they found themselves grappled almost immediately.

"What the-?" the Beastman in question, a Tiger, tried to leap backwards. Unfortunately for him, the heavy armour caused his body to become sluggish, and was unable to back away fast enough as a great clawed hand grabbed his right side. Whereupon it did squeeze in a quick and sharp manner, causing the unfortunate one to bleed heavily whilst screaming for assistance.

Unfortunately, the Tiger's companions could only watch with great horror as the second maw opened wide whilst the first performed the same action. This then resulted in the first to clamp down sharply upon the Beastman's armoured head, severing and swallowing it all. Whereas the second quickly chomped down upon the rest of the body, sheering through the heavy iron whilst blood and organ meet decorated the ruined plains below.

All the while, the Skeletons continued to march forward, walking around the chaotic beast and its quickly vanishing meal whilst those who were designated as the enemy promptly shat themselves.