Murmurs broke out at that and there were even a few whimpers of fear.

“Silence!” Ghost demanded and instantly a deathly silence settled over the gathering.

“...As you all know, the Beyond is powerful beyond measure and isn’t something we can defend against. But, for it to personally deal with us is a mockery towards itself. Why should it have to take care of insignificant beings like us, when it has other means?”

Ghost paused once more, but this time somebody actually took that moment to speak up.

“Sire, you can’t mean…” came the voice of a dark haired Fiend Lord.

“It’s exactly what you’re thinking. Envy was sent by the Beyond itself… That abnormal creature is not normal and it never, ever was. It is not a Beast or a Monster that somehow rose to prominence through unnatural means, but instead something much, much more alarming.” Ghost spoke, looking directly at certain individuals as he did so.

“...It is the jealousy of the Beyond incarnated.

All of you here are the best of the Fiend race and have all experienced the horrors of Envy for yourselves. But even if you hadn’t, you should all be very familiar with the feeling that the creature or any of its followers arose in us all whenever it got close. After all, it caused no shortage of rebellions that damaged us from within.

But why is this so? Why is it that a ‘Beast’ could be so powerful that it could directly influence the concept of Envy and Jealousy itself…? It is because it was NEVER a Beast. That creature that calls itself Envy, is quite literally Envy itself! The Envy of the Beyond! And it wanted us DEAD!” Ghost pseudo-roared, and then fell silent.

“...But why are we not dead?” He asked softly. ”We all know that for the past 10 years, Envy has been more than powerful enough to wipe us all out, so why are we not dead? Why did it never appear when we were making our escape? Why did it not appear even when we had slaughtered some of its precious Creatures in Green? It is because…” Ghost clenched his fists.

“The Beyond has lost interest in us... After our countless years of pain, suffering and loss that had finally caused us to scurry out of our own Continent, its anger has finally been appeased. We are free…

Did you hear that? We are free! FREE! NO LONGER WILL WE HELPLESSLY SUFFER THE IRE OF THAT JEALOUS ENTITY ANYMORE, WE ARE UNSHACKLED BEINGS AND HAVE THE FREEDOM TO DO ANYTHING! AND WITH OUR NEWFOUND FREEDOM, GUESS WHAT WE'LL DO?! WE WILL CLAIM BACK ALL OF OUR GLORY! STARTING WITH THIS CONTINENT! LET’S GO!”

Ghost turned around and leaped to the next tree and then the next. “ROAR! ROAR TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT! LET THE PITIFUL DENIZENS OF THIS FOREST KNOW OF OUR ARRIVAL! LET THEM FEAR AND SCURRY AWAY LIKE RATS AS WE ONCE DID! LET US WASH AWAY OUR SHAME!”

“““RAAAAAAAAHH!!!””” “““HISSSSSSSS!!!”””

The Bloods Fiends roared, hissed and screamed with the rage, resentment and excitement that their Progenitor’s words had incited within them, following behind him without hesitation and making their way deeper into the Forest. Tonight, the blood of many would spill.

The leaves of the trees shook furiously as the horde jumped from one tree to another, announcing their presence without hiding and causing flying Beasts to squawk as they evacuated into the sky, the Beasts that could travel underground to burrow as quickly as the could and the ones who’s only option was to run didn’t to stampede with all their might without any hesitation.

They could all feel the threat of the impending menace that was the Blood Fiends, even without the howling. However, before Ghost and the rest of the Fiends could even get very far, a lone voice that relegated every other sound spoke out.

The voice; regal and feminine, was like a pillar of holy light surrounded by demonic spires when compared to the malicious howling of the Blood Fiends, but it didn’t seem to lose out in impact at all.

‘Who?!’ Ghost was completely shocked by the foreign voice. Someone he didn’t know had managed to slip into the midst of him and all of his Fiends and none of them, not even he, had detected it? How was that possible?!

‘Could it b- No! NO! I refuse to accept that I would stumble into another unfathomable enemy. It must be a trick, or some kind of special affinity or technique. But in the end, in front of overwhelming power there is nothing that petty tricks can accomplish.’

He had learnt that lesson himself very well.

Despite his tumultuous thoughts, his facial expression hadn’t experienced a single change. After living such a hard life for nearly 200 years, he had long learnt how to school his mannerisms when under pressure. No, especially when under pressure. He only allowed things like rage or shock to show on his expression when there was either no point in hiding it, or to provoke the people on the receiving end into doing or feeling something else. Only rarely did his mannerisms escape his control these days.

“I was wondering when you were going to come out. Finally had enough of hiding?” He tilted his head up and spoke out loudly so that everybody in the vicinity, including the mysterious interloper, could hear.

Obviously he was lying, but by saying this, he would dispel a portion of the fear and unease that his people were likely feeling, and make the unknown entity wary. With such great hiding skills she must be proud of it, and so by announcing that he had been aware of her presence all this time, it should definitely rattle her.

“Oh?” The voice spoke out again, this time with a slight undertone of amusement. “You knew I was here the entire time?”

‘She doesn’t sound rattled… But she’s probably pretending.’ Ghost thought with suspicion.

“Exactly. But to be honest, I find your ability to hide very impressive. You actually managed to deceive everyone here but me despite the fact that they are all my strongest followers. What a powerful skill.” Ghost spoke with a smile. “And so in light of this, I would like to offer to spare your life if you come here and teach it to me.” The best lies were filled with truths. Ghost had learnt that too.

“…”

The air was filled with silence and he knew he had her.

“I have one question.” All amusement gone.

“What is it?” Ghost asked, ignoring the excitement welling in his soul.

“Why are you looking above… When I am right in front of you?”

‘?!?!?!’ Ghost blanched in shock before hurriedly trying to leap away. But it was too late. Before his feet could leave the ground a sudden very familiar pain struck him heavily.

CSSSSHHHH!!!

Blood sprayed out from the gaping hole in his stomach.