The Emperor has declared war against the northern dwarves, as they have refused to submit to his Imperial Might and join him in his quest of unification of the continent. Such selfishness must be severely punished, and as such, His Bravery and Wisdom General Scar has been sent to execute their punishment. We are sure that with his guidance, the Imperial Army will easily be able to break through the dwarven defenses and conquer them, as the Emperor commands. With their resources at our disposal the western undead menace shall be no more. For honor, glory and blood.

Report of a high ranked Imperial Officer

"General Scar, news from the capital"

"Tell me they want us to go back Fulio"

"Regrettably not sir"

"Uuuuuuuugh......... What?"

In the northern border of the Empire, two figures were speaking in the coziness of a red and humbly decorated tent: General Scar and his new assistant Fulio Stalzer, the latter beginning a discussion that his superior already knew would either annoy him or stress him even further. The General took a glass of some kind of alcoholic beverage in his hand from his wooden desk, just waiting for the moment he would drown his negativity and quench his thirst with it. His tough and lightly scarred hands grabbed it tightly, as his deep, serious and melancholic brown eyes looked straight at his assistant, who was quite a sight to behold. A tall, muscular barely thirty years old man with middy long, curly hair, which was neatly combed in the front but left untouched near the neck. His eyes were of a deep blue, and a stubble adorned his tough jawline. His silver colored chest armor, along with its aiguillettes, red pants and sleeves and a short cape on his shoulder gave him a very respectable appearance.

But the man he served had none of his charm. General Scar's was named after his completely scorched and scarred head, a memento of one of his first battles, after which he chose to adopt the nickname as his official name, even refusing healing treatments that could have completely restored his previous appearance. This unsettled many of the people he met, some even creating rumors of him being a reincarnation of a vengeful demon that was born from fire. Of course such rumors were simply ridiculous and some even made him laugh with their absurdity.

He wore a similar attire to his assistant, only his armor was of golden, bright and rare Valdram, the most rare and tough metal in the Empire's territory, even surpassing Visrum, the main resource for imperial weaponry and armor, in endurance and malleability. His clothes showed the clean and mostly undamaged neck and hands of the General, which visually clashed with the burn signs of his visage.

The tent they were in was of fine red cloth and all of its four sides were decorated with the insignia of a golden eagle, the symbol of the Empire. Its interior was filled with various carpets, tables and shelves, most of them filled with papers and bottles, the majority of which were half-empty. In its silence, a distant battle could barely be heard.

"The fall of the Kieris Kingdom is nigh"

"What? Is that a joke?"

General Scar was clearly surprised, despite his lack of some facial features due to his wounds.

"No. An army of 50,000 Kradlaits and 10,000 unknown soldiers managed to conquer the capital, forcing their royal family to seek shelter from the Emperor, who of course accepted. They had to escape, as their army has no chance against a back attack of such a force, along with the Savage Blood Alliance onslaught. The evacuation of all their cities has already begun, but anyone that finds himself to the east of the capital is most likely doomed"

His superior drank the whole glass, before cleaning his mouth with the back of his hand.

"How did they even get in?"

"It seems they came from below the city itself"

"An ambush siege? Siege ambush? Anyway, that's new..... So, we're stuck here at Steel Pikes while all hell is breaking loose at the south-east? This mountain chain sounds a lot safer all of a sudden"

"The dwarves of Klaine's Gate beg to differ General"

".... Yes, they do..... yes they do...... Anyway, who's guiding this horde?"

"We did not receive information yet, but it seems the Arch-Cardinal of Kieris knows"

"The Pope's sister? Oh my sword, don't they hate each other?"

"It's one sided, actually. The Arch-Cardinal hates the Pope"

"Not much better. Anyway, she'll tell us, I suppose....... Any news about the escapees? Particularly Warhound?"

"After they crossed the border we did not get any wind of them, but I'd guess they'll ask the leader of the horde to aid them"

"Fan-fucking-tastic...... ugh, where's my bottle?"

Scar grabbed a bottle and tried to pour more alcoholic blessing in his glass, but he disappointedly discovered it was empty. He simply put it on a shelf, grabbing another, and deciding to drink that instead. Fulio demonstrated quite the worry at the scene of a general drinking so shamelessly. He had heard that Scar was quite nonrecommendable, personally speaking, but this concerned him greatly. How could a proud representative of the Empire act like that?

"General Scar, I suggest you stop drinking like this. How can you win the war if you're drunk?"

The General stopped drinking and turned around to look at his assistant straight in the eyes, surprising him. He quietly put the bottle and the glass down and sat on his comfy armchair. Fulio was unnerved by the atmosphere.

"So, Fulio..... where do you come from?"

"Uhm... the Capital, General"

"I see..... that explains your demeanor.... how many years of experience?"

".... I studied for five years at the Imperial Academy of War and for another five I fought at the western border against the undead"

"Against the Vampire Counts, uh? Well, in my opinion, dead people ain't much on a soldier resume. If you were a grave digger, eh, then everyone would hire you. Would have also helped me with burying poor Charv, your predecessor. He really knew how to hide my booze, almost became teetotaler cause of him. Too bad stray bullets love to get the best ones. But apart from the jokes, what do you think of war?"

".... It is a necessary mean to bring the people to greater heights by acquiring more resources and to defend our homeland"

"...... My..... My divine beer...... you're more full of shit that a goddamn pig barn"

"Excuse me?!?"

Fulio jumped back at such a rude and vulgar remark. Was this man really an envoy of the Emperor's forces?

"Listen here, you noble sack of fake glory. First rule of war: You don't fucking win it! You survive it! You don't win fucking anything! If you "win", that just means you lost less, and that your enemy lost too much. That's how it freaking works. And don't come out with some fancy ass words to preach of the Emperor's might and to aid the people to get a better life. The people are the ones in the worst fucking situation: their husbands and sons get sent to fight kilometers away from home just because someone said they would receive glory and money, only to get slaughtered. Can you imagine the face of a woman waiting for a husband that will never come back? I fucking dare you. I saw it, but I bet you didn't! Also, you know that professional army we got? Half of the poor suckers don't even know what's coming to them, the rest knows there's a good chance they're all fucked. You think war helps raise life quality? I'll tell you what it raises: taxes, funerals, widows, orphans, disability, madness, sometimes plagues, destruction, crows, lots of damn crows, lack of food, lack of resources and last but not least, the fucking disgusting corruption that sinks in every goddamn hyena that gets the chance to make money out of the fucking situation.

Also, about defending the homeland..... No one actually fights for the homeland. No one. The only ones who do are retards, the rest are drunk with patriotism. The only reason one really fights is for family, the so called homeland has no qualms about sacrificing them after all. And I assure you, no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making some other dumb bastard die for his country, I fucking dare you to tell me otherwise!"

Fulio did not even blink, nor move. He just stood there, petrified and stunned. Never would he have imagined to receive such a speech from a General, the highest rank of the military, an envoy of the Emperor himself, a symbol of both might and wisdom. For such a man to talk like that about what made the Empire as great as it was, it was simply...... unforgettable. He wasn't disgusted, nor disappointed. Fulio simply wanted to know how could a man think so harshly of anything. But he decided to let it go for the moment.

"...... I'll show myself out then"

The assistant walked out of the tent, still trembling from the encounter. Scar was left alone with his bottle, and after calming down, he looked at it intensely.

"..... Nah, I don't need ya. Blown off enough steam for now...... Goddamit, I've been here so long I'm picking out dwarfish sayings....... Next time I realize, I'll probably be using a rifle or something...... ahahah.... that's not funny...... Ugh......"

He stared at the map on his desk mindlessly for about then minutes, before awakening from his trance. His forces had been laying siege to the mountain fortress of Klaine's gates, a powerful commercial city state populated by dwarves that based its economy on selling and trading weapons, ores, tools and anything metal related. And for some reason the Emperor wanted to conquer it. Scar had no idea why, but if the Conqueror said so, he would have to send his men against the rain of "artillery", as the dwarves called it, till they got tired of using their house-sized guns.

"Those things have the range of a motherfucker ....... I hope this ends soon....."

He once again looked at his bottle, but before he could grab it, Fulio's voice interrupted him.

"SIR! YOU ARE NEEDED ON THE BATTLEFIELD!"

"Of course I am..... *sigh*"

He slowly got up from his armchair and walked out of the tent along with Fulio. The camp was enormous, filled with thousands of tents, all of them covered in the white snow of the cold and barren north. All of the soldiers were running around with heavy coats along with their armors, which the General and his assistant did not need, as their armors were enchanted so as to keep them warm

"So, what's the deal?"

"They've been bombarding us with Dreadnoughts"

"Dwarves..... the only people who can shoot iron golems from afar....."

"Sir, as I said, they're not gol-"

"Magic, gears.... what's the difference? It's still a golem. The points is, it's big, it's armed like an entire fortress, and there's a very mad dwarf inside. Also, you said there's more than one"

"Indeed, sir. Just today we had to face ten of them"

"Ten? I thought they were expensive as hell!"

"They are..... but it seems Ord Ironbeard has been gaining more support from his allies"

"Well, that's just fucking great. Fantastic. If he can pump out so many of those things, they must be some good ass allies"

"Sir, do you perhaps not know their allies?"

"No, and I don't care. It won't change anything, no matter what we do, we'll still be fighting dwarves and machines, along with fucktons of bullets, bombs and very hard hammers"

"..... Indeed sir..... Oh, we finally arrived"

"Finally my ass......."

The General and his assistant reached the edge of the camp, which was fortified by sturdy and enchanted stone walls, almost twenty meters high.

"At least we got mages....." Muttered Scar as Fulio began climbing a stair to the top of the wall.

Scar soon followed him and gazed in annoyance and disgust at the battlefield that extended before him, as a few stray artillery bullets bounced off the magic barrier that protected the camp, which was seven kilometers away from the battlefield. From there they could clearly see the clash of swords, shields and hammers, as their brave knights tried to break through the rock-hard defense of the dwarven armies and the rain of bullets that shredded them to pieces, some times slaughtering foe and ally alike in the chaos. And the Steel Pikes covered the horizon, their walls filled with gold and bronze colored fortresses, from which metal lances seemed to rise to the sky, only to reveal themselves as bringers of the metal rain of death that the Imperials feared so much. Inside those same fortresses laid patiently many more dwarves, just waiting for their time to face the battlefield and replace their fallen comrades, hammers in their hands and iron in their hearts.

Scar gazed absent-mindedly at the peaks of the north, so mighty in their greatness and yet so oblivious in their state of simple part of nature, the war battled before them simply another petty quarrel of many that will come and that already ended in their ancient and almost infinite existence. As Fulio ended a quick discussion with some other officers, he awakened the General from his trance.

"General! What are your orders?"

Scar returned from his thoughts and gave another look at the battle, before sighing.

"...... It just never ends..."

"Ugh..... Where am I?"

"Finally, you're awake Lady Edresia"

Lanius greeted the Arch-Cardinal, who had just woken up in a comfortable and luxurious bed in a white room she did not recognize. She looked around half-asleep for a minute, before getting rid of the drowsiness.

"Lanius, where am I?"

The Lord Inquisitor, who seemed to have been sitting beside her the whole time, waited a few seconds before answering.

".... We're in the Church Of Saints, my lady"

Edresia flinched in shock and surprise, before she started panicking and speaking loudly as she tightly grabbed her bedsheets.

"BU-BUT, WHAT ABOUT KIERIS?!? WHAT ABOUT THE TEMPLARS?!?"

Lanius clenched his fists and looked at the floor before answering.

"..... They are with the Goddess now"

Edresia stopped speaking, her surprise turning into regret, sadness and shame. Tears fell from her eyes, silently soaking both the bed and the sleeping dress she was wearing.

"So.... they're all dead....? But why...? Lanius... why did you make me unconscious? Why did we leave them to die.....? Even Andrew...... if he's left alone with those demons.... he'll lose himself for good.... I can't let that happen.... WHY LANIUS?!? WHY DIDN'T YOU LET ME HELP EVERYONE?"

The Arch-Cardinal shouted in a fit of ashamed rage, as she looked into the almost hidden eyes of her bodyguard, whose pain was even bigger than hers. He had to hurt the only person he truly cared about if he wanted to protect her, and he also had to leave so many defenders of the Church to be slaughtered. His powerlessness brought taint to his honor, his beliefs and his master. A taint he would be never be able to clean. The only thing he could do was to ease the pain on his lady, who had no faults, apart from being so unlucky to have affection for a monster. For that was what Andrew had become, he saw it with his own eyes and felt it with his very skin. His soul was doomed, unrecoverable. Forever corrupted, after all, nobody could accept such a horrifying power into his own body and remain the same. But maybe he was wrong, maybe the boy could still be saved. But monster or not, he would pay and repent for his crimes and he knew that his lady would have been the only hint of salvation for the boy. But that was a matter for another day.

".... I am sorry my lady. So very sorry.... but you were my absolute priority... I could not sacrifice you for an impossible victory. And, even if I wanted to, I could not. Lord Inquisitor Bismarck arrived to the Church through a portal and asked for you to escape..... Orders of... the Pope"

Edresia, who was still enraged with herself, completely lost her self control, as she screamed wildly at her bodyguard.

"WHAT?!? WHY?!? HOW DID SHE EVEN KNOW?!? I TOLD HER I DON'T NEED HER HELP!"

"Well...... one of my men actually worked for her and informed her with a communication device.... There was nothing I could do, even if I wanted to"

"SHE WAS WATCHING ME?!?"

".... Yes.... she was"

The girl wanted to keep complaining, but she realized how much she inconvenienced Lanius, so she stopped. She calmed down, and for a while there was silence, before she suddenly flinched, surprising the Lord Inquisitor.

"Lanius, what about my family?!? Are they ok?!?"

She was worried for Dles, Trask, and Leind, who she hadn't seen for a while, particularly the last two, who were outside the capital, thankfully.

"Indeed they are, my lady. We secured them the moment we realized that we were being attacked. They're currently in a nearby building, right besides this church. Do not worry, they're safe and under protection"

"Thank Lux...... what about Andrew? How was he?"

"....Well.... He w-"

"Edresia, how can you still worry of someone that took advantage of you?"

A woman suddenly entered the room accompanied by a few white hooded people, shocking Lanius and enraging Edresia.

"Sister, this has nothing to do with you"

"It has all to do with me, my dear Edresia. You're my little sister and I only wish to protect you"

She looked at her sister sternly, and raised her right hand, signaling her guards to exit the room. She tried to said something but stopped herself and gazed at Lanius with a bit of annoyance. Only then Lanius realized that the hand counted for him too.

"I shall take my leave then. Have a good day my lady"

Instead of using the door like normal people, he disappeared from a window of the wall to the left of the bed, mildly confusing the Pope, who quickly passed it off as a quirk of his. As Edresia looked at her with hostility she sat besides her, worried. The Arch-Cardinal reduced her hostility a bit and gave a good look at her sister, who she hadn't seen in a long time. Her hair wasn't golden like hers but of a bright silver, it was also very long and slightly wavy. It looked almost as it was made of real silver threads. Her eyes were of a pure white, and just like her little sister, her pupils were shaped like a greek cross. Her nose and lips were both petite and cute, but the charm she released was that of a mature woman, for which one couldn't help to fall for, as her body was even more alluring than Edresia's. While the Arch-Cardinal would sometimes be confused for an elf due to her beauty, her elder sister would be confused for an angel. All of that was complemented by her richly decorated vest, along with her huge but graceful mater. But at that moment her allure and looks were ruined by a worried expression.

"Edresia..... How do you feel?"

"Good. Thank you" Her voice was clearly one of annoyance and anger.

".... So you still disapprove of my methods"

"OF COURSE I DO!"

"Edry, you have to understand. What I do is for the good of everyone?"

"Don't call me Edry! Also, for the good everyone?!? You blackmail, trick, torture, falsely accuse and persecute anyone you deem even mildly annoying! What makes you different from those corrupted sinners we constantly try to stop?!?"

"...... I do it for the greater good"

"The greater good?!? Is it for the greater good you hunt down every person who has anything to say against the Church, instead of proving them wrong and teaching them of its true greatness?!?"

"Edresia, if we want to spread the word of Lux to all Light Dwellers of the world we have to eliminate any threat to our authority. We can't take risks"

"Risks? Is our Church so weak that the words of a few people threaten to damage its authority and righteousness?!?"

"It seems you still don't understand...... You're far too innocent, and look where it got you.... You were betrayed.... And so many people died"

"WHA-.... You think I wanted them to die.....?"

"No. You're a great Arch-Cardinal, and you can read through any single one of the sinful pigs that corrupt this world. But when it's someone you begin to trust.... You become naive"

"Naive? If you're talking about Andrew-"

"Yes, Andrew. That boy..... What made you trust such an horrible person? Someone that would slaughter tens of thousands for his objectives?"

"He's not bad! He just..... was tricked, he's being led astray.... But it doesn't matter, I will save him from whatever demon wants to corrupt him"

"Edresia! There's a limit to how naive you can be! You don't und-"

"NO! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! DO YOU THINK I'M NAIVE ABOUT PEOPLE?!? WELL, YOU'RE WRONG?!? HOW LONG DID YOU THINK I HAD TO CAREFULLY PINPOINT WHO I COULD TRUST OR NOT?!? SINCE I WAS A CHILD! SINCE MY CHILDHOOD I COULDN'T TRUST ANYONE BEFORE MAKING A CAREFUL ANALYSIS! SO I FUCKING KNOW WHO THE HELL I CAN TRUST! HECK, YOU DO TOO! AND I TELL YOU, I TALKED WITH HIM, I LOOKED AT HIM STRAIGHT IN THE EYES, AND HE'S NOT. A MONSTER!"

Silence fell on the room, as the elder sister backed off, shocked and surprised at her sister's reaction. She could not believe she had such an angry outburst. And hearing her swear felt as if a holy commandment was just broken, so unnatural and horrifying as it was. But she quickly calmed down and returned to her previous position, her face showing calm and a sisterly smile.

".... You love him, don't you?"

"Yes, I love him. And nothing you do will make me change idea"

"You shouldn't be worried about what I do, but what he does.... ahahahaha.... You... grew up too fast.... I still remember when I was six years old, and I held you in my hands as you kept crying. You were a troublesome baby, you know?....... Anyway, you would never fall in love with a scumbag. You can see those kilometers away after all. He truly must be a lost soul as you say......... You'll save him, don't worry, but he'll still have to be punished for his crimes"

"..... I know"

"I will help you. He's far too strong for you as you are now. If you would accept the help of this malevolent sister, that is?"

"Uh?"

"Don't make that face. I know very well that some of the things I do are questionable to say the least. But everything I do, every single sin I commit..... Is necessary to protect the faithful. Even if you see me as a monster, I do everything I do for the sake of everyone...... and yours. Do you believe me?"

"..... That's why I hate you so much"

"I know, but it's for the good of every-"

"You don't do it for everyone. You don't care about the faithful. You only do it for you own satisfaction, and then you hide under the pretense of the greater good"

"Edry, what are you talking about? How could you say something so hurtful to your sister?"

The elder sister made a shocked expression, but Edresia could feel a dark aura rising within her. To the Arch-Cardinal her face looked more like a mask during that moment, and as the aura kept growing, she just stared at her for a few seconds before answering.

"Do you think I didn't notice it when we were together? Every time you hurt or killed those you called "sinners" there was always a smile on your face. No regret whatsoever. So stop faking you don't like it"

The dark aura grew exponentially, before fading, as the elder sister's face of shock turned into a warm smile. She stood up and looked at her little sister.

"Oh my, how smart you have grown! But now's not the time to talk about these things, so kept resting. Have a good day, Edry"

"You too, sister"

"Uhuh, not sister. It's too formal!"

She shook her right index finger as her dark aura slightly returned back.

"...... Have a good day Leria"

"That's good Edry! Bye!"

After saying goodbye, Leria walked out, not before smiling gently at Edresia as she closed the door. The moment she was alone in the long window filled hallway of the enormous church she resided in, she approached one of hooded men that acted as her bodyguards. She lowered her guardian's hood, revealing an incredibly cute girl with short curly pink hair, pink eyes with heart pupils and small lips, nose and ears.

"What is it Leria?"

"Yulia, my dear Saint of Hearts, could you do me a big favor?"

"Of course sis Leria, what is it?"

"I need you to find a certain man for me, can you do it?"

"Uuuuhm..... it depends, where is he?"

"He's in the capital of Kieris"

"Waaaaaait..... is he lil sis Edresia's crush?"

Yuvia began dancing and putting her hands on her face excitedly, her heart shaped pupils shining brightly. Leria chuckled slightly, putting her hand in front of her mouth trying to hide it. This just excited Yuvia even more.

"Oh, sis, you're soooooooo cute when you hide your chuckling!"

"Am I? Well, can you do my request? I mean, we can't let Edresia date a bad guy, can we?"

"No, we cannot!"

Yuvia raised her fist upwards as she said so, her cuteness embracing Leria in its warmth. And in her warmth the Pope embraced her back, but with her arms.

"For Lux, Yuvia, stop being so adorable! I can't take it!"

"Yeah, sis Leria finds me cute! Anyway, I'll be going now! I have to see if that kid is worthy of lil sis Edresia!"

Without saying anything else Yuvia ran off, her methods to reach Kieris known by no one, not even herself. Though even so, she would have no problems reaching her target. She never had a single difficulty, somehow. And as Leria and her other bodyguards watched her go away, one of the white hoods walked besides the Pope.

"Ehm, Leria?"

"Yes?"

"We accidentally heard the conversation between you and Edresia and..."

"Don't lie to me......"

Her dark aura returned with a vengeance.

"Ok, we got really close to the door and carefully listened to every word"

"That's good. I don't like it when you guys lie to me or each other. So....?"

"Do you think you'll ever be able to reconcile with Edresia? Also, her crush seems pretty dangerous..... you know.... with the whole genocide thing...."

"Well, her crush won't be a problem...... After all we've killed far more people than him, no?"

"..... I guess.... Though you make it sound like we slaughtered innocents left and right..."

"Of course not, as cruel as I am, only sinners will face my wrath, you already know that! Though I guess even then my little sis doesn't approve of my methods..... Such a shame. But she'll learn one day, the despite the fact that I enjoy the horrible things I do to all those evildoers, they are still necessary. But she doesn't think so.... Such a shame indeed"

"What a family......" The hooded guard sighed and backed off to his colleagues.

"You shouldn't say that...."

Leria turned around and her guard expected her whole bloodlust to hit him, so he hid behind his friends, but instead he simply received a lovely smile.

"After all you are all part of this family"

"We gotta run!"

"Faster! Faster!"

"Is the lord ready?!?"

Somewhere near the capital, mayhem and panic were spreading in the Jalos manor. The servants were packing and taking as many objects as they could, preparing the wagons and horses, some of them running away without even waiting for their lord. Not that any of them cared about the lord, since they never saw him and he forced them to work in a dark and depressing environment. The reason why they were still waiting was because of the absence of the young master Jupir, who they deeply respected and admired. They couldn't leave the Hero like that in the city. After all, he was their savior and protector. And so, as they looked at the the burning city and the columns of smoke that rose to the sky, the smell of death brought by the wind piercing their noses and barely audible noises of battle tickled their ears, a familiar silhouette appeared from the road that came from the city.

"Lord Jupir!"

Giean, who was guiding the rest of the servants, didn't lose any time and ran to his master, followed by many others of his colleagues. But as soon as they could look at him well, they stopped immediately, their faces twisted in horror. His once white, glorious and heroic armor was broken and dirtied by blood all over, his right arm, who once wielded the mightiest and holiest swords, was broken and bent backwards, his left leg broken in multiple points and most horrifying thing of all, his handsome face that could make any woman fall in love with him was completely black and scorched, his dark blue eyes barely noticeable. The closer he got, the more the terrified servants backed off, all part from Giean, who didn't wait a single second to assist his master.

"MY LORD, WHAT HAPPENED?!? WHO DID THIS TO YOU?!?"

Jupir, who was absentmindedly walking forward, took a few seconds to notice his attendant. When he realized he was trying to help him he slowly raised his left hand in sign of refusal, confusing him.

"No...... I don't need help..... I'm just going to my father......"

"Your father? Master Jupir, you're gravely injured, I can't allow you to go like this!"

"Thank you Giean, truly. But I must go"

Giean was even more confused. He expected his master to send him away rudely, like he did every time he didn't want to follow his advice. But instead he answered calmly and respectfully, Giean swore he even saw the glimpse of a smile on the Hero's ruined face. But he wouldn't let the stubbornness of his master kill him. He took out a large mana potion from his pocket and forcefully made Jupir drink it, making him fall on his knee. He coughed loudly, before his arms and leg slowly began regenerating. After a few minutes, they were completely recovered, but for some reason his face remained the same. The Hero stood up and looked straight in the eyes of Giean, who expected a shower of insults.

"You could have just told me Giean. That wasn't pleasant"

"Uh?"

"Anyway, since I'm feeling better, I'm going"

Without giving his servant a chance of answering Jupir quickly walked into his mansion, under the shocked gazes of his servants. After he entered the huge doors of the entrance closed loudly, leaving him in the familiar darkness of the amor. He climbed the stairs that led to the part of the mansion where his family members resided, now only inhabited by him and his father. He walked through the long and obscure hallways while dreamily gazing at the many works of art that decorate them, be it statues, pairings or tapestries, they were all beautiful beyond any imagination for him. And so, after walking for a small blissful eternity, he reached that hateful door that led to his father's room. But he didn't care anymore. He nonchalantly walked in, welcomed by that cold merciless voice, which seemed pettier than usual.

"Ah, are we ready finally? That good for nothing probably died alr-Oh, it's you. Since you survived that mayhem you must have ran quite a lot.... By Lux, you're even more disgusting than before. Be gone!"

Jupir ignored him and sat down besides him on the bed.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing? Have you no respect you little shit?"

The Hero simply stared at him right in the eyes, unsettling and annoying his father.

"Listen, you useless bastard, if you don't leave right now, I'l-"

"You're not scary at all now that I look at you well"

"Uh? What are you talking about? I don't scare you? Please, y-"

"Honestly, I don't understand why I was so scared of you. After you were cursed by that demon, I thought you would never hurt me again, but for some reason, I was still scared of you. I don't understand why, really. You just look so sad...."

"HOW DARE YOU, YOU INSOLENT SON OF A BITCH!?!"

Lord Jalos raised his thin and pallid arm and tried to strike Jupir with his fist, but the Hero grabbed it, before swiftly breaking it. His father gazed bewildered for a moment before realizing what happened.

"AAAAAAAAAAAH! MY ARM! YOU GODDAMN BASTAAAAAARD!"

"You know, when you look at true horror deep into its soulless eyes..... you realize many things...."

"WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!? YOU BROKE MY ARM! IF SOMEONE HADN'T ALREADY DONE IT I WOULD MAKE IT SO TO DESTROY THAT PRETTY FACE OF YOURS! THANKFULLY NOW YOU'RE AS UGLY ON THE OUTSIDE AS YOU ARE ON THE INSIDE!"

"Yes, exactly! Isn't that true beauty? I don't need to hide my true nature anymore, because now everyone can clearly see it. As I was saying, you realize many things....... You realize what the most horrid darkness is like, and when you know that....... true beauty becomes so obvious..... all my life I was obsessed by reaching absolute beauty and perfection, but only now I've realized how petty and useless all of that was.... true beauty is nothing like what the unwashed masses say... it's so much more... so much purer and passionate..... it's not a matter of body..... it's a matter of soul..... a soul that I almost lost.... when that thing tried to take it away... It felt not like I was losing something.... but as if all around me faded into nothingness.... pure silent black....... That was even more terrifying than the images that it showed me in its desire to break me...... but it failed, it failed miserably. It didn't break me.... it fixed me.... it fixed me with its disgusting shape and horror, making me see everything as it truly was..... Telling me what I should truly admire and what I should really fear...... And with all the wisdom I gained thanks to it..... I can finally see you for what you are..... A weak, fragile and sad relic of the past that could never accept what it had become..... someone so pitiful he took out his anger on children and women, with no remorse whatsoever..... What a little man you are...."

"HOW DARE YOU?!? I-I'M THE MASTER OF THIS HOUSE! AND YOU WI- AAAAACK!"

Jupir tightly grabbed his now enraged and sweating father by the neck, impeding him from further speaking. The old man tried to struggle, but for the Hero it was like fighting against a leaf moved by the wind.

"Father....... they say that in death everyone shows their true colors..... I wonder if it's true.... maybe there's something more than a petty old man in you.... or maybe something even more pitiful...."

Jupir tightened his grip, as his father vainly tried to fight back by hitting him with his remaining arm, which only tired him out more, wasting what little air he had left. His face twisted in one of fear.

"Come on, father..... show me! SHOW ME WHAT YOU TRULY ARE!"

The old man's eyes began leaving tears on his pallid face, his gaze of terror turning into one of pity, like a wounded deer that asked for mercy.

"COME ON FATHER! THERE MUST BE MORE! DID I WASTE MY LIFE FOR A WEAKLING?!? DID I TRIED TO REACH PERFECTION FOR A MERE COCKROACH?!? DIDN'T YOU SAY YOU DIDN'T FEAR DEATH?!?"

His lips moved, barely forming a sentence, his voice resembling the whisper of the departed.

".... M..... mer..... cy..... pleas...... sorr.....y"

Jupir's face turned into a demon's, as rage deformed it in its unholy image.

"IS THIS ALL YOU AMOUNT TO?!? YOU PATHETIC BASTARD! YOU DIDN'T EVEN SAVE MOTHER FROM HER DISEASE! YOU PATHETIC LITTLE EXCUSE FOR A MAAAAAN!"

The Hero used all of his strength and suddenly his father's neck exploded from the pressure, blood spurting on his face and the entire room, as the once mighty hero's head flopped to floor, a pitiful expression of fear engraved in it.

".... Not even in death you could respect me......... In the end....... your beauty wasn't even worth mentioning....... comparable to something rotten beyond repair...... at least you did show your true colors.... as boring as they were"

Jupir walked to his father's disembodied head, and casted a small fireball on it, setting it on fire. He launched it on the bed with disgust, then left. He gave one last longing look to the pieces of art he would have to leave behind, then finally returned under the sunlight where his servants awaited him impatiently, particularly Giean.

"Lord Jupir? Where's Lord Jalos?"

"I'm Lord Jalos now. Do you understand?"

"..... Yes, of course..."

All of the workers whispered between themselves, but didn't protest at all and simply escaped from the city destruction with the Hero, as they gazed at the burning manor they once called home. Jupir more than everyone else looked at it with sadness, as Giean assisted them with the few remaining wounds he had.

"What now, master?"

"...... Well, but of course..."

"We shall go to Queldran, the Kingdom Of Heroes!"

HELLO, MY FAITHFUL READERS, I RETURNED WITH A VERY IMPORTANT CHAPTER! FULL OF NEW CHARACTERS, NEW LORE, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT FOR JUPIR AND HYYYYYYYYYYYPE!....... I hope..... Anywaaaaaaay, this chapter was pretty important, so yeah, hope it came out good, yeah....

????: What? You don't have any joke in mind today? Not even one?

No, not really, there's not much to say...... I mean, Jupir went batshit crazy, but apart from that there's not much.... I mean, no. Nothing to say

????: Oh, poor you! You're so cute when you're out of ideas!

Wait, you can see me?

????: Yeah, at first I couldn't, but I used some of my mystery powers and now I can! Cool, no?

No, that is not cool, I disapprove. I do not like the idea of you seeing me.

????: What's the matter? I don't bite! Mainly cause I can't touch you..... yet. Anyway, i'm nice, come on.

I'm feeling sexually harassed just by reading this.

????: (Now, what monster would he look better as? It's quite the choice.....)

Do you do that with everyone you meet?

????: Riiiiight, I'm in your domain right now..... Anyway, yes, I do. And it's definitely some kind of beastman....... By the way Andrew's either a vampire or an incubus.

I didn't ask. Also, mine's incredibly vague.

????: I know.

........... Is this going to drag on forever.....?

????: Most likely, yes.

Bye.

????: No, we could have so much fun together! Like, tell me your favorite monster girl?!?

..... No, why would I tell you?

????:...... Tell me or face inevitable ripercusigoddamit you did it again! I just want to get to know about the big omniscient guy that sees and narrates everything! Communicate with me, man!

????: You shan't stop me! I will know about your fetishes! I already know those of some of your readers! Nothing will stop me from finding comrades! NOOOOOOOTHIIIIIIING!

P.S: My proofreader Dj kindly tells all of you readers to fuck off and do something important in life instead of fucking masturbating to animu chicks with dicks. Also, he said he loves you. Truly a charming fellow, isn't he?