The Fortress City of Cróga is in absolute disarray. Though Merchant carriages and trucks continually go back and forth through its multiple layers of walls. The main city had multiple arches of fire. Smoke stacks everywhere as screams and fighting could be heard in certain areas of the city. Though the majority of the settlement was still at peace, the breaking of the chain has started as a train arrives into its Grand Station. The newly built station was already littered with destroyed objects and thrown water paint over its intricate walls and the classical interior that had no cent spared in spending for the design.

On Top of the inner city walls, an armored train decked with cannons aimed down on the Downtown area circles around like an Eagle waiting for a chance to strike. With its armored plated steamer with the huge seal of the Royal Crown on it slowly rolls its way as it switches into a siding that enters into the inner city’s tramway. Inside its first car, Elizabeth and Alana are preparing with their Knights to exit out. The Tram’s Warehouse then rumbles as its unused set of tracks are suddenly shaken with intensity as the several thousand tons of cannons and rail cars slide into the busy garage. The workers, a mixture of Humans and Elves, look in awe of the stylish Royal locomotive. Its exhaust nearly hit the dangling ceiling lights of the workshop as it slowed down.

Operating the Trams warehouse doors, a human man rushes to press the button. Sliding it open as it reveals the chaos inside the walled off city. People were rioting in the open morning as everyone looted freely and openly as the Lords soldiers and police officers tried to control the scene with the local militia. But due to their small numbers, they are only able to control certain sections of the junctions while the Royal Armored Train rumbles its way through the inner city. Pushing away cars and carriages as gun ports opened fire on people throwing bottles of alcohol with lit rugs on them. Attempting to burn the train down.

“Captain sir. We’re nearing the Cathedral grounds.”

“Alright. Prepare the cannons, load High Explosives. Autocannons, armor piercing. I do not want this train to derail here. Lady Minuit.”

The well dressed officer with a huge hat and a white feather on it faces the Vampire with her own Knights inside the cramped interior of the car behind the Tender. Though it was pleasantly decorated with extensive detailing on its walls. The small size didn’t help with the two bulky Knights of the Minuits.

“It will work. We must wait for the Air Corps and the High Elves.”

“I don’t know about the Elves, Marquise… I’ve never seen those pointy eared idiots care about anything but themselves.”

“Not this time. Things are changing and even the High Elves aren’t immune to this Captain. I look forward to seeing this thing at work.”

“If you can even see us! Ahahahah! We shall be shelling these pissants a kilometer away. I do hope the outer city guards control the scene there so that we may be able to aid you in battle.”

Blowing its whistle, the Royal Armored Train punches through the barricades and obstacles left by rioting people. Many of them Commoners fight each other as those in groups pile books and statues of the Church of Bahamut on the rails. Burning them and letting the locomotive finish the job. Soon after, the Battle Train, having nineteen cars with the last four ones being an armored passenger car for the gigantic railway cannon it has for the last car and multiple plated boxcars for ammo and maintenance. Zooming past the cobblestone streets of the city, the view of the Church of Bahamut’s Holy Cathedral’s Gothic towers came into sight. With smokestacks of black fire surrounding it.

The nearer they got to it, the more intense the fighting got. With people now in chainmail and wielding shortswords slashing each other in the alleyways and sidewalks as seemingly more organized groups are staying silent in the shadows, watching over the fighting.

“The Tram’s rail will reach the Park that surrounds the Holy Church. We will be in the right middle of it and as you can hear-” explosions are then heard with a unified scream of hundreds of people. On the open grounds in front of the massive Cathedral, thousands of people rush into the wall of Black Knights adorned with extreme Gothic influence. Their armor didn’t spark hope nor love, but instead Death and Brutalism.

“KNIGHTS OF BAHAMUT! ALTOGETHER NOW! SHIELDS UP FOR OUR GODDESS! DEFEND OUR BELOVED PATRON AND SAVIOR!”

The line of Knights surrounded the entire Church as soldiers wielding rifles pointed their guns at the people. Inside the main lobby of the holy place, the High Pope goes into the Altar and kneels down to the giant statue of Bahamut, with her hands out as if to hug everyone sitting on the pews. Many of them being innocents, civilians trying not to get dragged into the brutal civil war outside of the walls of the blessed place. “I am blessed to be of service to you for the last four hundred years. If I shall meet my end here, or defame my name as a member of the Senatorium of the Primal Dragon King’s Congress and have my head roll at the execution table of the God Queen and King of our land. Then let it be!” he violently flips the altar. Making the people jump at the sudden action and within it, he takes a shiny purple Longsword as the stained glass behind him breaks and intruders crash into the lobby.

As they were midair, shortswords and combat knives out, the High Pope was already turning around to face them. Wearing black uniforms and their Wolf like feet covered in plating. They landed around the man and tried to grab him, but the intruder cried out in a dog-like whimper as the holy man tangled with six people at once. His sword skills go far beyond them as fire appears from their surroundings. Burning a deep purple color changing Lizardmen’s very shape to mere ashes and crisp. Even before the people got the moment to process the event happening before them, the Pope was the last man standing. His arms out in full as if he was taking in the hug of the statue of Bahamut right before him. Knights arrive and what laid before the Pope was only a blooded floor with burnt limbs of the intruders scattered about.

“Those fools have even recruited the Werewolves. Knowing they have a bone to pick with Bahamut for she has sided with the Vampires a thousand years ago. It seems that their initial plan has been foiled. What comes next I wonder?”

“Pope, are you fine?!”

“Leave me! Defend the grounds! Leave the interior to me and the Servants of the Church! They tried infiltration and it failed! They are sure to become more and more aggressive with this plan not working out!”

He then runs to the back, to the barracks of the Cathedral and gestures for the resting Knights to follow him. Climbing to the third floor of the massive Gothic church. He kicks down the locked doors to the attic. The wooden barrier was useless against the Great Wyvern as he led the soldiers to the very end of it and opened some dusty crates. Inside were M4A1s and M249 SAWs.

“Pope… could this be…”

“Yes, weapons of the Outworlders a millenia ago. Her Goddess was given her own army on the final days and their weapons were given to us in emergency cases.”

“But I do not know how to use any of these. Sir Harbin, do you know?”

The young teenage noble man just shrugged. “What about you Lord Gotheim?” the older Nobleman just walks over to the crate and picks up the hefty M249 machine gun. “I’ve read enough books from that time, pull the trigger and let it do the job right?”

“Indeed. Even a child can do it.”

The Knights then open more crates and they find even an Mk153 SMAW with rockets for it kept underneath some hay to M203 40mm grenade launchers and piles and piles of ammo for the weapons and even Fragmentation grenades for them to throw.

“Be sure to close the crates properly. They were enchanted to preserve and I do not want to go through the trouble of hiring a Magician knowing how hard they are to find nowadays.”

Looking around, the Pope opens a locker and inside are a set of Barrett M107s and he takes one of them. With a deep sigh, the man grabs it and some mags. “May the Goddess give them mercy, but I shall not.” he then nonchalantly walks out of the attic, holding the huge semi automatic rifle up and a Longsword on his other hand. “Bring me more ammo when you boys are done! I’ll protect this Church till my last breath!” The Knights, left alone, took some of the Manuals inside the crates and to their dismay, it was written in English but the photos with arrows were more than enough to convey to them what to do. Soon, they started playing around with the fire selectors and pulling the trigger.

On the neat tiles that’s now splattered with blood and gore on the outside of the Church walls. The ground shakes violently, momentarily stopping the clash between the Knights and the people as the Royal Armored Train comes barreling in through like a bat out of hell. Crushing some people in the process as an ear shattering screech comes with the axles of the heavy locomotive stopping it. Leaving only the chugging and puffing of the plated boiler to be heard through the chaos.

Suddenly, doors swing open and more Knights in Crimson and Red, the ones in Crimson looking more primeval and ancient while also carrying with them an air of immense cardinal brutality unfounded for thousands of years. This makes the people run just at the sight of the heavily armed warriors exit the armored cars. On the other side, two beautiful women can be seen exiting the train. The Black Knights open them a path to the interior. Standing at ease as the two Vampires were invited in without question. The Captain of the Royal Armored Train peeks out of the first car and removes his hat, waving it as the whistle blows twice and the train starts chugging once again. “We’ll be back my friends! To unload more of your men! The situation outside the city has gotten worse! Explosions are heard and seen everywhere! Be safe!” Slowly, the locomotive starts moving once again.

“Also! We received a message that your Air Corps will be arriving soon! The Wyverns are now in their armor!” and he then peeks back inside as the armored train then disappears into the maze of the city.

A hundred of miles away, a little girl wearing an oversized white shirt with extremely long hair is standing on top of the head of a giant black dragon with shiny armored metallic scales. Flying inside the wide mountain ravine. Heading straight to the border. The Dragon then materializes its two Conceptual swords. One of them, Darkarth. A blade made out of the seed of Prehistory itself only appears with its pommel. The head of the Dragon then looks around as it passes through ethereal statues of High Elves built on top of the smaller mountains inside the huge gap, guarding the Ravine while far away, one could see statues of Human Knights facing the ravine also. With their swords out as if to greet anyone entering the land of the humans.

But the Dragon veers from the path and turns into the right. “Gao!” screamed the little girl on top of her. “Patience young one, my sword. Darkarth needs its blade. I can feel magma nearby. Let us stop there for a bit. The battle won’t be going anywhere.” Soon, the massive Dragon descends down the clouds and a merchant convoy below gets spooked as the huge flying ancient lizard flys by them and disappears through the turn into another ravine. Soon, the Dragon goes into a different region where a lone railway cuts through the natural barriers and she lands in front of a wide metallic wall. Turning back into a human, she catches the falling girl without effort and starts patting her head as she follows the railway into the gates of the mountainside complex.

Checking around, the artificial metal wall on the mountainside had no opening and only a closed metal gate on the railway tracks which had no buttons or handles. Just a smooth panel. “Gao!” The little girl points upwards and Bahamut spreads her wings out and spooks a Dwarven man enjoying a cigar on a natural balcony.

“Oy blimey mate!”

“Bring me to Magma. Right now.”

“Gao gao!”

With a little girl piggyback riding the tall woman, the Dwarf with his big bushy beard is left with a dropped jaw as he processes what is happening. Taking his pickaxe, he slowly walks back to the camouflaged door and Bahamut lands on the balcony and looks down on him. His height barely reached her breasts. The manly Dwarven man could only stare upwards as the towering posture of the blackened lady perched over to him.

“Lead me to your Magma.”

“Ye… ah, Righto’.”

Opening the door, Bahamut had to cradle the little girl and slouch down a bit as her crown was scratching the ceiling ever so often from how low the roof was. The man would occasionally look at her as he continued to walk with his silvery pickaxe with a composite handle resting over his shoulder. He then leads her to a huge lobby where molten steel was being transported via large cauldrons on a suspended belt. Moving it from one part of the Mountain’s interior to another. Dwarves were everywhere, some wearing traditional Viking-like outfits while others were in jumpsuits and had goggles and hard hats on.

Though everyone was busy, they never shy away from saying greetings to each other. Taking their time to complement each other's work and help those in need with whatever they are carrying or doing.

“Now, Lady?”

“Bahamut.”

“Lady Bahamut, if ya’ wanna’ get magma. It’ll be yer yonder inside.”

“Then so be it. I have no time to waste, people need me.”

“Uhm… mighta’ need to meet our Chief, ye.”

“Haaaaaa… does he at least have food?”

As she is led inside the tunnel. They stop as a withered Iron Golem carrying huge cauldrons slowly walk over their metal footbridge. The bridge folded on itself as it lumbered its way through the intersection. Groaning and limping a bit.

“Aye, ole gals are gonna be retired soon. Sure to look at them now Lady. These ‘ere are leftovers from a bygone era.”

“What will replace these?”

“Trains. We ‘ready have some of ‘em operatin’ in the lower floors.”

The huge golem carried two cauldrons on its backpack and one in front. Moving slowly as Dwarves nonchalantly walks past it as the golem growls and roars a bit and soon, passes the bridge and it deploys once again. Walking over it, she is then led to a finer and more refined corridor. With carpeted floors and wood on the wall with pretty lights. The Dragon's eyes squinted a bit and then widened as she breathed out. The little girl puts her hand up her cheek and touches it lightly. “Gao?”

“Ai’ght, we bossman should be ‘ere.”

Leading her to a fancy waiting area. The woman sat down on a wooden chair that’s meant for humans. She rests her back on it and lets the little girl loose. Being the same height as the Dwarf, she plays around with him. “Gao! Gaaaooo! Rawr! Ahahahah!”

“Oy laddie! Aren’tcha’ an energized one?”

The Dwarf smiles and starts chasing her around. Waddling around as he puts his pickaxe on top of a shelf. As the two played, Bahamut peeks over the window to the office and sees a young teenage kid with short messy black hair talking to a graying haired Dwarf in a vintage suit. The two seemingly have a deep conversation as the hardened Dwarf leans into his desk. Looking at the teenager straight in the eyes with a piercing stare.

“Do you know what this is about? Your Chief is seemingly very angry.”

“Oh, the young one walked in ‘ere askin’ for a large discount for our steel. Ya’know, we came from Dragovh originally. Anyone ‘ere can speak Dragonian but witha’ an accent.”

“And?”

“Most of our steel goes there. If he askin’ fer discount, then he is gonna get booted. We dun’ do discounts. Not with the prices of shipping and wyvern transport to Dragovh.”

“I’m surprised you are all very lax. Does no one ever visit the Dwarves?”

“Aye. No one. Oof!” he gets tackled by the little girl. But with care, he picks her up and places her on her feet. Dusting her off and continuing to chase her. “We Dwarves are allies of none, enemies of nuthin’. We sell steel and mine till we die, aye. That’s the way of the Dwarves.”

“I see, and those Automatrons you’ve been using are peculiar as even the hordes of Hell use them.”

“Ah, that I do not know Lady. History ain’t mah’ strong suit. Aahahahaha! But I think it has to do with sumthin’ bout the cores having souls in them.”

A thud is heard and the two look at the office and see their Chief going ham on the boy who is sitting with his arms and legs crossed. Visibly enjoying the anger of the olden Dwarf. In his spite, the small bushy bearded man goes over to his small shelf and takes his Iron helmet adorned with square shaped horns and opens his hand. Summoning the massive Sledgehammer on the wall with the front of its head having a decal of a Lion.

He points his ringed finger at the teenager who then visibly scoffs and the man steams on like a train but soon, hears something and it calms him down.

“What a peculiar human…”

“Hm? What’cha mean?”

“I smell him to be normal… but the surroundings say otherwise.”

“Surroundin’?”

“There’s ten intruders right now within the vicinity. I put my guard up a tiny bit and I detected four of them to be hiding within plain sight and the other six mingling within your vents.”

“Hah? Oy, our vents are protected by magic traps and Ventrons! How?”

“Well, they seem to be just watching. I do not even think these women are beyond the age of seventeen… hmmmm… what a human indeed.”

“Uhhm… what me to take the child?”

“Please do. Young one, follow our Dwarven friend.”

“Gao?” The Dwarf takes the little girl's hand and she starts crying. “GAAAAAOOOO! GAAAOO!!!” Bahamut then stands up and kneels before her. Giving her a kiss on the forehead as she smiles at the little girl. “Worry not, I won’t be far.”

“When the youngster is done heatin’ up our Chief. Just request to go to the Core aye.”

“Hm. Please give her some food.”

“I was plannin’ on givin’ yer the ones of the Chief’s desk but there should be some left over on the canteen.”

“Wait there please. Little one, follow our Dwarven friend alright.”

“Gaoo….”

She wipes her tears and removes her crown. Putting her forehead on hers and hugging her. “Dwarf, what is your name?”

“Rogrud. Rogrud the Minenester!”

“Minenester?”

“Aye, I’m a bitta’ of a joker you see.”

“Ah. Well, be sure to entertain her more. Though food should be enough, we Dragons are easily pleased with meat of any sorts.”

“Gotcha’. Alright laddie, let that yer outta here.”

“Bye-bye.”

Bahamut’s eyes spark when hearing the little girl speak her first words to her but she returns it with a warm smile as she holds her crown. She then looks at the office and sees that the Chief was more than pleased with what he was hearing and soon, the two exchange hands and the door swings open. The Dragon God was silently sitting down on the side, looking at her crown as the teenage man of normal build, height, and posture exited the office with the Chief.

“Be sure to fulfill that aye. Ahahahah.”

“Of course Chief Tethrud, your steel will be known far and wide with this.”

“Hm, hm, hm. I like the sound of that.”

Having no authoritative voice and nothing actually peculiar with the teenager, the Dragon’s curiosity explodes but nonetheless she just sighs as she could feel the gaze of the young man. Looking up, she tilts her head and her expression drastically changes from calm to more confused than before.

“Ah, who could you be Miss?”

“I wish to talk to you, Chief.”

“I… Want… You…”

Hearing this, the Dragon smiles, standing up. She squints at the man, staring him up and down. “Ah, a Chosen One. I knew there was something odd about you. I haven’t heard Vitz for so long. The Common in Tur is far more of my style than Dragonian anyways. Good to hear it once again.” standing up, the woman towered over the teenage boy. But the young man only had a smirk on his face that didn’t wipe as the Dragon God stared down on his very soul and being. Not shaken by her intense aura.

“Leave now. I have no business with your kind nor am I interested in whatever insanity you Chosen Ones usually come up with as your distorted sense of justice or love brings you all but peril.”

“Ah ah ah, I know you. Bahamut. The Dragon God of the Void.”

“Ehhhhhh… I am still that famous huh? Tell me. How did you reach this place both far and near Tur?”

“Let’s just say I slipped and got run over.”

“Pfft… that’s it?”

“Yes. And I want you to join me.”

Bahamut just sighs as if she’s far too tired to even walk. “Disappear. I have no interest in the shenanigans of Chosen Ones. I’d rather fight the God of War again than to be spurred up with whatever you want to accomplish.”

“You see…” the teenager then puts his hand up his face, in between his fingers were his eyes that lit up a purple color. “I am a Black Swordsman and an Assassin-” before he could even finish his introduction. Bahamut was already gone and sitting down on the Chief’s guest chair. Partaking of his Beef jerky with green jelly as topping.

The Chief just shrugs and walks in. Back to his office. As he sat down and looked up to face Bahamut, she was somehow gone. The two were suddenly located outside of the Administrative section, on the large intersection where Golems carrying empty cauldrons used to walk through.

“Come, I know how you Dragons work. I shall quickly defeat you and have you mine.”

“I only belong to one man and that man isn’t you. I will not engage in any combat with a fool that isn’t worth my time… and I already know how this’ll end.”

The teenager then swipes his hand outward and a normal shortsword materializes as he stylishly throws back his hair in a bold move to look dashing to the Goddess.

“If you already know how this’ll end, then I will make this fast.”

Bahamut’s eyes then widened and sparked a pint of gold and before he even knew it, his sword was gone. “Can you stop it now? I have urgent matters to deal with. I can’t believe even after a thousand years, Chosen Ones still bother me to no end." She wears her crown and positions it evenly as her hand blocks the teenager’s punch which causes a light earthquake. The Dragon disappears and appears back on the walkway on top.

“Ehhhhhhh… I felt that power. Divinity… true Divinity. The Gods have blessed you with a lot. More than enough.” she then looks at her arm, though there was no damage, she smirks. “And a perfect punch too. Hmph. That shall be enough, I know what you want to do. For me to return and you’ll slowly decipher my moves. With so much hardwork that you’ve put into perfecting your skills, coupled with the blessings of multiple Gods. It will only end one way. Begone peon.”

“And what way is that?”

“Me destroying this world to kill you.”

“Ooooo scary.”

“Haaaaaaaa… I get it now why Master has nothing good to say about your world.”

“Hah, you're truly a Goddess. The real deal as they say, having you in my organization will help bring so much to this world. Join me! I shall bring justice to everyone!”

“Last warning. If you don’t, I will make sure the pretty girls that’re inside this complex spying for you will combust and turn to ash.”

“Do it.”

Bahamut looks down on the teenager down below, his annoying smile not leaving his face as he stares at the Dragon with a gleeful eye. “I will not bother then. Good bye.” She then teleports back to the Chief’s office who was in the middle of polishing his sledgehammer.

“Uhm… who are ya’?”

“Bahamut. I wish to get access to your Core.”

“Oh! Wow! A’ight but first, lemme get some papers. What language ya’ write?”

“Dragonian will do.”

She suddenly gets an annoying presence coming from behind her as the Chief was shuffling through his drawers.

“Haaaaaaa…. How long will you continue to bother me?”

“Join me. I will make sure you will not only be fulfilled, but justice will be given!”

“I do not care. Repeat that justice thing again and I will curse you to only say justice till your death… And before you say you can nullify it. A Dragon God’s curse is just as potent as the ones Gods use to bring peril to their enemies.”

“Don’t you want to put an end to the Royal Nobles who used their hands to move the Church of Godefroy to brand Dragons and those who follow your Church as heretics?”

“... … And?”

“And, we will save millions. Potentially even prevent a war from stopping. I also have a plan set up to end the civil war in Gareth immediately. The Nobles, all of them are in it and I can bring swift justice if you are with me. I have a perfect plan and if you were to join, I’ll be able to execute it with absolutely Zero margins for error.”

Bahamut just yawns. “Such a boring plan. I miss my Master and his chaotic on the nose leadership. I prefer that over this perfectionism.”

“Perfection guarantees success. A Goddess like you should know, being perfect yourself.”

“It’s boring. Maybe for you it does, but for normal humans. Perfection doesn’t guarantee anything but a higher percent of accomplishment. I get it that someone of your type will have Plan A to Z ready, but I can easily topple whatever you have in mind. Now get out, I might fall asleep if you continue talking.”

The Chief with a paper and a pen for an access request form just sat in his seat with the booster on so that he could be at eye level of Bahamut. “Are ya’ two done?”

“Yes. Hand it over.”

“Oh, what pretty handwriting.”

“Tsk.” Bahamut then continues writing. Shrugging at the teenager as she gives him scary stares occasionally. Filling out the paper form and the seal on the bottom lighting up. “Good. Seal got’cha now. Don’t do anything bad. Yer pretty face will be cursed.” he then opens a drawer and starts picking through a collection of stamps. The Dragon God on the other hand gives the teenager another devious stare, this one having concentrated on his body.

“You tried to burn me there. You should know better. Someone like me would put up resistance to that when I’m about to fight a Dragon.”

“Tsk. The Gods must be crazy.”

FInishing it, the Chief stamps it. “Ai’ght. Off you go on then. Be sure to put a hard hat on.”

“Thank you. Also, where is the canteen?”

Back at the Canteen, the little girl smiles at the sight of Bahamut back again with the stamped paper. With a filthy mouth from eating so much meat with gravy, the Dragon God cradles her, wiping her mouth as she goes and takes her seat with Rogrud.

“Uhm… the youngster is following you.”

“Leave him be. We can’t do anything against him. Treat him like the Hero or Saint. The world favors him and he knows it.”

“Eh? Aren’tcha’ some Goddess or sorts?”

“I can kill him but that will take me a few years of planning and doing the actual killing itself will take a hundred or even a thousand years… if the world is still standing after that.”

“He has luck though aye.”

“More like the Gods led us both here to meet. But I will defy it, he is the most boring thing in this world.”

“Ouch, give me a bit of a credit. I will also save your Church.”

“Thank you, now get away. I will save my Church in my own way.”

He then tries to touch her but the Dragon just elegantly dodges his hand. “If you want to peek into my memory, then you are pushing it. Do that and I swear, I will personally have you gutted by my summons for a thousand times over. Rogrud, lead me to the Core.”

“Aye, elevator should be near.”

They quickly reached the elevator which was only a few meters from the door to the Chief’s own section. Unlike the outside world, the Dwarves already had a very modern lift that takes them down below to floor -50. There, the temperature cylinder goes from 20 to 40 Kasuous and the Dwarf unhitches his helmet from his belt and dons it. The two walk into the red palette of the room as the small muscly man got his strapped all prepped for the trip. Behind them, the teenager was in tow of Bahamut. Not letting her get out of his sight but his presence was like a ghost to them. Not even bothering them with his breathing.

With a heavy atmosphere, the Dwarf opens the blast door and it reveals a huge room that’s populated with Dwarves wearing silvery plates incorporated into their outfits while others working closer to the Core itself that's dipped underneath the Magma and with the aid of Iron Golems are wearing ones that look like tin foil.

Bahamut opens her palm and Darkarth appears. Without its blade.

“That’s an impressive sword there aye.”

“Thank you. The blade of this sword is made from a Meteorite that I personally destroyed. Metal from a land far before even the light existed, it's one of a kind.”

She then walks down the stairs and to the floor below. The pale little girl didn’t even feel the heat but the Dwarf was already taking slower steps. He waves at the Dwarves working there and one of them with a horned helmet walks to Bahamut and she shows her paper and he gives the thumbs up. Walking to the vat of Magma, the woman looks at her pommel and to the extremely hot liquid rock. “Little one, come to me.” The little girl then looks up to Bahamut. “Wanna perform one of a True Dragons favorite past time?”

“Gao?”

“Turn into a Dragon.”

Bahamut turns into a smaller sized version of herself and the little girl with a bit of effort forces herself to return to her original Dragon form. Unlike Bahamut, the young dragon has yet to fully develop her horns and the claws are not as sharp or dangerous but already, her scales were gleaming a bright red and her tail, developing well enough to already have a spine protruding from it, leading to her back. The two then jump to the side of the vat of magma. Bahamut uses her wing to check the molten rock, splashing it into the grid floor below.

“Be careful now laddies. The Magma chamber is not yet mapped out.”

“Hm.”

The two then dips into the hot pool of liquefied rock. At first, the baby dragon was unable to swim. But Bahamut nonchalantly waved her body and tail, creating a forward movement on the magma. Seeing this, she also copied the Goddess. Soon, the baby dragon was able to swim around without much problems.

Bahamut then pokes her head into the magma and soon, her entire body sinks into it. Disappearing into the sea of melted rock and minerals, leaving Rogrud and the teenager to just stand in silence as everyone continued doing their work. Checking the status of the Core while others open valves that lead Lava to the top of the Mountain to be used for weapons and armor.

Deep inside the magma chamber. Bahamut and the little girl dance, like two birds free of their cage. They swam around with their eyes closed and fully dependent on their hearing as the Dragon God taught the young one how to swim and move while finding ancient seeds and metals. Soon, the two finish their swimming and reappear at the Core Room. Bahamut then returns back into her human form and with Darkarth in hand, she dips its pommel into the vat and slowly pulls it out with the blade fully intact and even shiny as if it was just recently cleaned and polished.

“Now… we are truly back in business. Rogrud, show me back to the balcony. I have a war to prevent. I hope it won’t come to me using my swords.”

The Dwarves all just stared in awe of the primordial blade that stood before them, still with hot magma dipping down its blade. “Gao!” The little girl dragged the heavy Dwarf to the stairs as everyone stared at the weapon of the Dragon God and soon, they were already back to the elevator.

“Also, do not follow me.”

“Alright, alright. I do think this won’t be our last time meeting.”

“Don’t you even dare. If we do meet, have your soul or the woman who follows you ready for I will be reaping when that day comes.”

“Ohhhh scary.”

The Dwarf on the other hand kneeled before the woman. “G-Goddess, I hope you have a safe journey.”

“Hm. Now, got any jokes?”

“Jokes, Goddess?”

“You said your title was named after the fact that you are a joker correct?”

“Tell me a joke and if the little one laughs, I’ll gift you something your future offspring will treasure.”

“U-Uhmmm… what’s the difference between a Dwarf and an Elf?”

“Gao?”

“Unlike them, we make swords that are actually useful! Bwahahahaha!”

The mocking laugh of the Dwarf didn’t hit the nail and the two Dragons just watched him in silence.

“Aye… that is a very Dwarven joke… hmm…”

Dinging, the elevator doors swing open and as they exited. Rogrud slips and hits the railing face head. The little girl laughed incessantly, rubbing her tummy. “Good work.” She then opens her palm and gives him the stone. Which he takes as he massages his face. “You Dwarves can be a bit messy too huh?”

“Ah, well. Ya’ can’t do much with this body’s profile. But we lads do our best.”

Before they knew it, the teenager was already long gone and Bahamut couldn’t detect anyone else but the Dwarves and the three of them. Soon, the bearded man leads her back to the balcony and she cradles the little girl and flies away into the horizon. Him on the other hand looks at the stone he was given and sees it's oddly smooth. Far too smooth to be natural.

Back at the Cathedral, the fighting has gone from bad to worse, with the Knights outside having to now wield their swords out in the open. Clashing with the civilians that are now throwing furniture and whatever sharp object they can get their hands on. The Crimson Knights of the Moon on the other hand didn’t even have their shields up like the Dragon Knights and merely stood menacingly. Taking in whatever object was thrown at them and scoffing off at it like it was nothing.

Inside the main lobby, the civilians in the pews are praying while Alana and Elizabeth constantly talked to there Knight Commanders, the Dragon Knights now armed with modern Earthling weaponry set up tripods on the windows of the 2nd floor while the Pope used the Barrett M107 like a cane and used its immense size to support himself as he leaned nonchalantly.

“The buffoons will soon launch an attack. I suggest you do something about this Your Holiness.”

“No need, ancient one. If I were to do so. It would only prove the Church of Godefroy’s point about us.”

“Then what do you wish to use these weapons for? Intimidation? They're already throwing things to my Crimson Knights. They aren’t afraid of anything. If your words speak true, then there is a bigger plan at work here and these so-called civilians are merely creating obstacles and barriers for what’s to come.”

“Hah. I believe wholeheartedly in our Goddess. I believe she’ll be arriving to prove to the majority that our God is not only amongst the living, but also one that can do just as many miracles as the other Gods. She will bring food, healing, and most of all, hope to the masses from this devastating civil war.”

“And what if they start killing? They are getting more and more violent. They're also getting more organized, the placement of those makeshift barriers aren’t random, they're strategically placed.”

“Then so be it. They started it, I will pray for their souls to be sent to Paradise without much qualms. Whatever they may throw at us, I know we will be able to survive.”

As Alana listens to the two converse, her Knight Commander Marbot leans into her ear and whispers something. She then leaves immediately while Elizabeth stays with the Pope. The two are immersed in their conversation as one tries to escalate and the other one, nonchalantly believing in his faith.

“I see… to think the Royal Knights would do something this dastardly.”

“What shall we do, Lady Minuit?”

“I’ll personally take two Knights with me. Where were they last spotted?”

“On the Brewery not far from here. It seems that they are using the upper floors to scout out our units and the composition of our fortifications.”

“Return to your duties. Continue defending. Set up the defenses as planned, have the Crimson Knights help you if needed. We have far more than enough Knights to cover every inch of this massive Cathedral.”

Alana then walks to the back and fetches her Longsword and immediately turns into a bat. She and two more shapeshifted Vampires take flight into the city. Using her nose, she immediately could take out the cologne of the Noblemen hiding amongst the fire and chaos. Soon she spots a rooftop with a well dressed Grunt standing on top of it with a monoscope. Looking down on the park surrounding the Cathedral. Turning into her normal form but keeping her bat wings, the woman threw her sword like a Javelin at the man, instantly ending him.

Landing on the roof, the woman slices the wooden door, destroying the obstacle and cleaning her sword of the blood. Walking to the 2nd floor where the shiny Knights of Gareth gets spooked by the beautiful woman with two large bulky Knights in red armor behind her.

The Holy Knights of Gareth in their white armor with blue and gold secondary colors stood in the way of Alana. Their armor bursting in divine sparks as they buffed themselves to fight the Vampires head on.

She pointed her finger at the two, prompting the two Vampire Knights in their more Victorian Knight Armor to spring into action. The two swords of one great purity, loyalty, and holiness against the ones of eternity, death, and beauty clanged and windows burst. More Knights down below stormed up but faced with the Purebred, her speed alone was far too much and she came in behind and slashed the achilles of the two.

Like a ballerina, she majestically spins around with her sword in hand and decapitates the two. Before their body could plop into the ground. With the use of magic, the woman uses magic to turn their blood into a floating ball. It swiftly flew to the floor above her and heard some screams. Walking back to the 2nd floor, the two of her Knights have overwhelmed the humans and have damaged their armor to the point the enchantments no longer stopped their magic.

One of the Knights opened his palm and a small fire was created. He slaps it into his red blade, the longsword burning and he drives it straight into the bloodied holy Knight's damaged frontal chestplate while the other one teleports behind the Knight, not being detected. He merely drove his sword up the man's spine. Cutting through his cape and into the front. Only for the tip of his weapon to be stopped by the chestplate. The battle didn’t even last for three minutes and the Vampires had successfully taken the staircases.

Without care, the Marquise kicks the door down and she’s only left with an open window. “Spread out and check for clues. Those were low level Nobles guarding them. Whomever was here must’ve been someone high in the tree.” rummaging around, they only find an expensive Tea set that’s broken in the ground. One of the Vampire Knights even used gravity magic to lift up whatever was on the floor and nothing of importance came up. “Hmph. At least we know the Nobles are also behind this. Question is… who?”

“M’Lady, I suggest we head back now. There’s no point in finding whoever was here. I can only presume this person was swiftly taken by the wind.”

“Hmmmm… a fourth party is involved?”

“Could be, M’Lady.”

“Tsk. This is getting a bit more complicated than I wish it to be.”

Returning to the Cathedral, the Moon and its satellite was slowly rising from the horizon as the rioting died down and the civilians slowly dispersed with the foreign Sun closing down for the day. Only fires from the riots remained. Lighting the surrounding park and courtyard of the Cathedral as the city’s lights in the area were all but destroyed. Leaving only what fire they could make. As the bright ball of fire giving illumination to the morning finally disappears into the horizon, small balls of fire appear and all of the lamps and candles inside the holy place are lit up at once.

“Handy.”

“Of course. My servants could also do the same but I’d rather have their energy into helping the wounded and preparing just in case the Cathedral shield will need to be activated.”

“Oh. Alana. You’ve arrived. I suppose you don’t have good news with that face of yours?”

“I got caught up in the fighting. The Noble who was watching us from afar was gone the moment we stormed the room.”

“May I ask a question, Lady Minuit.”

“Of course, Your Holiness.”

“Were the Knights foreign? Or of Gareth?”

“Gareth, Your Holiness.”

“Ah, he or she might be part of the ones against this Church. The people of Godefroy didn’t waste any opportunity to change the minds of those on top.”

“Huh, I haven’t been up to date in terms of the political affairs of the land. But I am guessing this is due to an already pre existing problem?”

“Y-yes. Sadly. Lady Minuit knows all of it. I’ve been sending her letters, it is good to know that she finally got tangible evidence with this.”

“Ehhhhhhhh… I suggest preparing thyselves. I sense a storm cometh.”

The Pope’s human ears twitch and he hears the marching of people. “Salve Bahamut…” the Cathedral doors swing open and the Dragon Knight Commander with his horned helmet walks to his Holiness and kneels. “Great Pope, recon has returned with information that multiple Platoons of unknown grunts wearing brown leather armor and lowly weapons are coming from all sides!”

“What?!”

On the surrounding blocks of the Church, soldiers from an unknown group are slowly marching their way to the Cathedral. The more well organized and disciplined men were a far cry from the rioters earlier. Walking in tight formation, they approached the holy place with murderous intent.

“I get it that this isn’t good?”

“Of course it isn’t! Many of the men from Gareth are all hardened warriors from the countless wars the Nobles fight!”

“Finally, I shall be able to slaughter something. It has been long and Wolves haven’t really been fun to kill over and over again.”

“Knights! Spread out immediately! Lady Minuit, what has happened to the Air Support?”

“I sadly do not know. The Armored Train hasn’t come around yet with mail from the Air Corps.”

“Tsk, then I shall be the air support! Please, do your best to defend this holy site.”

Running to the outside, the Pope could now hear the echo of the marching feet from all directions. “This is madness! Make way!” The Dragon Knights all spread out as he turns into his Dragon form. A majestic Purple Wyvern with sleek horns pointing backwards. He takes off and could see that it wasn’t only a platoon, but Battalions of them and many are hiding in the buildings full of innocents and inside the surrounding alleyways. An explosion then rattles the Wyvern. Looking to the intersection right of him, an anti air cannon was hastily set up. Breathing in, the Dragon fires his breath. The long trail of the purple flames lighting up the darkening sky as it melts the 23mm autocannon and the crew.

Arrows of all types and rifle fire then started coming his way, overwhelming the Wyvern. Though his scales were not damaged, the shock from being struck by so many projectiles forced him to land on the left side of the Cathedral. The Crimson Knights of the Blood Moon quickly changed their formation to surround the Pope as the concrete railings from the streets surrounding the Cathedral Park got populated by people armed with swords and rifles.

Elizabeth walks out of the Church, he hands on her hip as she nods for her Knight Commander to follow her. “Erase them for me will you?” the Knight Commander merely nods. “Squad One! With me!” The eight Knights in ancient Vampire Armor run to the street and a bloodbath parts. The grunts weren’t even prepared as they were dragging crates of cannon rounds, arrows, and bullets as far up as they could. “AHHHHHHH! HELP! HELP!” the blood curdling screams of the men ring to them as slashing could be heard. Like a Butcher happily chopping away at hundreds of pigs. The eight Knights soon returned, gore and blood covering them from head to toe as they kneeled before Elizabeth.

“It is done, Your Highness. Though, more will come. As we sliced our way through their lines. Many eyes were upon us from the inner city streets and junctions.”

“Return to your posts. You’ve given us time.”

“As you order, Your Highness.”

The large Purple Dragon then roars and soon sits down. Its head is constantly patrolling the left side of the Church while the Queen walks back inside where Alana was with a map of the city. Talking to the Crimson Knight Commander whose armor was already cleaned and once again, sparkling of its intimidating ornaments and accessories.

“Yes Lady Minuit. There’s also two more here.”

“Well, well, well. What is this?”

“Your Highness!” The Crimson Knight salutes at her and stays doing so as she slowly lowers her fingers at the map. Her hand floated just above it as she walked slowly, reading everything that was written. Soon, Alana breaks the silence and speaks.

“It seems that my intrusion to their lines sparked them to attack more aggressively. Your Majesty.”

“Good. They played right before my hand. They were more unprepared than I foresee though. The Pope’s concerns were all correct. We are against an organized army hiding within this city’s nooks and cranny.”

“You were truly a brutal commander, Your Majesty. That was some display that I am sure the people here shouldn’t have heard.”

“Of course, and this was my favorite pastime back then…”

“...?”

“Slaughtering commoners that dare question my authority. My Knight Commander Sir Marbot alone could stand on a mountain of body from how many he had killed.”

“Thank you, Your Highness. I do not regret a single day I’ve served under you.”

“Now, do tell. Who could this mystery Noble be? The Holiness said he had been giving you letters? I do not think a singular Noble can pull off what is happening right now amidst a civil war that’s after them.”

“Your Majesty, it could be half the entire country if we take into account the Nobles that might be involved. We might be talking about thirty million people.”

“Hmmmm… I could think of multiple ways to get rid of that many undesirables. Would a Plague or two do?”

“Your Majesty…”

“I jest, I jest. But this is quite indeed a problem. No wonder they could field an army like this. The Nobles of the Cróga must also be in it to allow such a thing to occur within their own land.”

“For now, we must wait for Bahamut to arrive as the Pope said. Till then, we must only defend. If only the Wyverns were here, we could’ve mounted so many counter offensives by now.”

“Back to the slaughter then.”

Three hours into the night, there was little movement. Apart from a squad or two. There wasn’t any large movement like before and the Fortress City was seemingly silent for a bit. Soon, the Royal Armored Train returns using the Tramway Track and unloads boxes of food and medicine. Those who wanted to leave were also allowed, and most of the women and children were loaded into the armored boxcars. One crate was also delivered for Elizabeth.

The Captain was then seen talking to a Commoner who was then given military boxes with a group of men that seemingly is under him. They carried it inside the Church and soon after, it was letters and Alana was the only one. Presented with a white envelope with a red logo of the Minuit stamped on its seal, she quickly opens it.

“This is… indeed a problem.” Reading through the report from her Air Corps Commander, the woman's pretty face dims as she continues on.

“What is it? Spit it out.”

“The Air Corps was heavily wounded, Your Majesty.”

She then walks to the left side of the Cathedral to the Pope and she holds up the mail she was given. The Dragon merely had to take a single second to peek and read the entire thing and she could hear the man breathing out as the stress increased tenfold.

“How… the Noble in charge of that place owes my company greatly. Grrrrrrr… I’ll have his entire wealth and power.”

“That won’t matter when your power means nothing anymore. Marquise, I suggest you wait. I am also now placing my bets on the High Elves.”

“Haaaaaa…. Did the General actually pull through I wonder?”

“No matter. But first, what lies have the people been fed that they’d go this far?”

“It wasn’t long till the Kingdom of Vitas found out the bones of Mors Letum were gone and the lynchpin to the teleporters of their Labyrinths no longer worked after a hundred years as her Mana was no longer there to support such a complex system… They sent out letters of appeals trying to find it. It was only then after a long convoluted investigation did they find out…”

“The Goddess of Death, Destruction, and Unmaking lives… under the skin of Bahamut…”

“Exactly, Your Majesty.”

“I did tell her… I did tell her a millenia ago that it was a bad idea.”

“But if it weren’t from her choice, she would’ve never gotten the form of a human that could contain the curse that plagued our Lord…”

“I can never truly blame her, but this rash decision has backfired a thousand years later. How much evidence has been presented? Can sense be given to these soldiers?”

“A lot but… the public never saw any of it, Your Majesty. I was in the process of disproving all of it and proving to people Bahamut can even raise the dead but…”

“The Public doesn’t care whether you show them or not. They are a herd of cows, lead them one way with enough hay and they will do your bidding. Hmph. Then… this is going to be an eventful night. I hope that Dragon is here by the morning.”

Elizabeth merely did some stretches as she walked back to the Cathedral. The train blows its whistle twice and slowly starts to chug once again. Inside the holy structure, the men that stayed are gearing up with rifles and vests. Looking like Colonial soldiers with single shot weapons while the Ancient Vampire Queen goes in the back where the crate she was given is placed. Outside, Alana and the Pope felt an extreme unease from the silence that suddenly overtaken the city. Screams of people and fighting had all but stopped and an eeriness descent upon them and the Knights.

A loud thundering crackle is then heard from the maze of streets and one of the Dragon Knights completely falls flat on his back. Everyone looked at the soldier and on his helmet was a large gazing hole that had completely penetrated the front of his armor and only left brain and skull matter inside it. “ANTI ARMOR RIFLES! TAKE COVER!” The Knights put their shields up as another crackle is heard and a loud ping follows and a huge round hits the front of the Cathedral.

Another shot then followed from an entirely different place and far from the surrounding area and headshots the Pope. But his scales took the large bullet and shattered it, the ringing sounding like an armor piercing round bouncing off tank armor as sparks flew violently from the round being deflected sideways into the Cathedral. Soon, small groups started to appear from the civilian buildings and with arrows and rifles. The grunts started firing once again at the Knights, prompting them to get themselves together and in a heightened posture.

Knights in the back with their own bows started sniping at the attackers and soon, another small group appeared on the complete opposite side, prompting them to get active in that section also. Alana, not wasting time with her own group, leaves the Park and heads to the street. Fighting the grunts head on while Elizabeth walks out of the Cathedral doors wearing her old Crimson Royal gown and her ethereal crown. She stood out like a sore thumb and someone with an Anti Tank Rifle quickly spotted her.

A crackle is heard and with a flick of her hand, the bullet bounced to the ground where it stopped. Leaving only a small crater. “Enchanted tips?” Queen Elizabeth then arrogantly clicks her fingers and Crimson Knights appear around her. “Take that fools head for me.” Knights then disappear and she in turn goes to the right side of the Cathedral where the Knights are slowly moving forward from the large Park. Rounding the benches and makeshift obstacles created by the previous riot. Large caliber rounds ping off their shields as they continue to march forward.

They soon reach the berm and the Archer Knights spot the grunts that planned on storming them from the street above, the mighty magical arrows explode upon contact while others poison and maim. A small group of Knights then pop out to finish them off and return to the slope before sniper rounds could once again hit them.

“I know where!”

“Alright! Ready?”

The Archer Knight nods and they open a line of sight and with a collective breath. Archers fired their arrows far down, two blocks into the city and into a singular window. Arrows penetrate deep into the room and the echo explosion was all they heard and soon, a smoke stack from the building. “Nice!” but then another crackle came and the shielder managed to put his kite shield up just in time to deflect the bullet of a new Anti Tank Sniper.

Infront of the Cathedral, the Crimson Knights once again appear and they present a beheaded woman with long black braided hair. The pretty face was left without a body and the Knights showed their objective to their Ancient Queen.

“Good, join with the Knights of the Minuits.”

“As you wish, Your Highness!”

They then run to the Left side. Covering the wide Cathedral sides. The Crimson Knight Commander then intervenes with Alana who was busy inside the Church itself talking to the human men that remained to defend their Religion.

“Have any of you gotten experience in Commanding?”

One man put his hand up and held a revolver.

“Major Lennox from Gareth’s Royal Third Grenadiers!”

“Good, Commander Marbot, shall you tell them?”

“Of course Marquise. Ahem. Humans, the Cathedral you stand upon is roughly Seven Hundred and Fifty Meters in length and Two Hundred Meters across. I will need anyone who has experience with the current weaponry to go up the windows and shoot from there. Sir Lennox, I believe you know how to set up sandbags?”

“Yes Commander Marbot. I’ve actually served with some of the men here. Cohesion shall not be a problem.”

“Alright. My spare Knights will provide you cover. I want the Atrium itself to be filled with sandbags and the basilica proper to have the statues there-”

Cannon fire could then be heard and the ceiling of the hundreds of years old building rocks. “Those bastards! How could they!”

“Enough Major. I will require you to put sandbags around the statues there. The Pope has deemed them to be far too important and irreplaceable. After that, report back to me or the Marquise.”

“Men! Companies A to B will go to the Basilica proper and put sandbags there while C to D will stay here in the main Church! Do not waste time! The Armored Train will not return till tomorrow! Haste!”

As the Major collects his hat, the Crimson Knight Commander walks up to him. “Tell me, what Noble family did you come from?”

“I am a mere commoner sir.”

“Interesting. Prove me wrong then, I’ve come from a long line to purebred warrior Vampire Lords. Do your job and I shall make sure to put a good note of your family for the Marquise to give money to.”

“No need, Commander Marbot. I am here for my faith. My wife and son have already left for the outskirts. There is no need. If I were to die here, then just notify my beloved that I loved her till my breath and may the Goddess bless her with health and protection from death.”

The ancient Vampire Knight merely nods as he runs back to the outside. Though they had enough Knights, the attack was proving to be a problem. Forcing them to move forward and meet the enemy before they could reach the ground proper. Reserves were also being constantly harassed by sniper fire and cannons didn’t help the situation as they were barraged from multiple angles.

“Commander.”

“Your Highness!”

“Take a team, I want to know how they shoot in the dark. Also, ignore the snipers. I’ve looked into the woman's memories. They move from one random spot to another, with no definite place.”

“As thy ordered, Your Highness!”

He then disappears and reappears in the back of the Cathedral, with the open section that leads in an open battle. Archer Knights and Dragon Knights with modern guns having a firefight against the grunts hundreds of meters away. He walks to some resting Crimson Knights and taps their helmets. “With me now. We have new orders!”

Eight Knights quickly stood up. Standing at ease as debris flew to them and to their armor. The cannon fire on the open back was far more concentrated than in the sides and the front but at the same time, more weapons were also there to equalize the situation.

“Her Highness has ordered us to find their spotters. I want four on the right, and another four on the left. I’ll join the right side. Check the roofs and the windows, ignore the snipers. They are at random and killing one will probably only make another pop up. Questions?”

One Crimson Knight raises his hand.

“My Lord!”

“Speak Knight.”

“What army are we fighting?”

“I do not know. But if I was to speak my mind. I’d say Mercenaries. Her Highness, the Queen did say the Nobles of this city are also against us. Though speculative, I think they are merely active soldiers or veterans under the guise of a Mercenary Army.”

“Thank you, My Lord. That is all.”

“Good. Go!”

As the Moon and its satellite flew over the Cathedral itself, the differing colors of the Three Knight Armies present shone brightly. Black Knights on all sides, Crimson ones on the sides and back, and Red ones in the front with multiple layers to their defensive formations. A white flare is then fired on the right and cannon fire soon bursts into the streets and the clashing of swords and metal follows afterward. Five Knights with bat wings out were fighting the Grunts.

Cutting through them as they looted their bodies. They’d then go to the roof and check for the snipers and spotters leaving only bodies in their wake. Soon, they returned to the Cathedral and in front of it, dropped whatever Scope they got from the men. Soon after, cannon fire from the right returns and this time, more intense and concentrated than before.

“Commander sir. Look at this.”

He hands the Monoscope to the Crimson Knight Commander. Looking at it, Marbot sees that the scope changes from night to morning to the eyes of the user as long as they look through the lenses. “Good. I shall present this to Her Highness. Return to your posts.” the men return to the rear as he heads inside the Cathedral. Already, the sandbags were set up and in a multi layered fashion also. The Queen was there on the left looking down on the map of the place as the Pope outside breathed a purple fire.

“Your Highness.”

“Hmmmm? And what is this?”

Taking the Monoscope, she looks through it and sees that it changes the night to morning.

“Impressive. Call for the Marquise, I need her here.”

“As you wish your Highness.”

As the Crimson Knight goes outside to where Alana is. Mortar fire starts to fall upon the Cathedral roof. Seeing the damage, Servants of Bahamut use their combined magic to activate the shield. Though taxing, the humans do their best to make it continually strong.

Alana then arrives inside and she makes a quick bow to the Queen.

“You see this?”

Handing her the Monoscope as dust falls from the ceiling with the incessant mortar bombing. Its shockwave sending small bits of damage to the Church.

“Intriguing, I wonder if this is from the High Elves. Only they could sell such things.”

“That doesn’t matter. What matters is this.”

Pointing at the map. The woman draws multiple red exes on blocks a bit far from them.

“Their spotters alternate from the areas here. They have all of our flanks surrounded.”

“What do you plan, your majesty?”

“If… per say that you could open one and keep that part a slaughterhouse, they’ll be forced to relocate right?”

“Hm.”

“If we can, we may be able to move the damage from time to time. Occasionally launch small groups of Knights to create havoc and return them.”

“Ah, I see. It will be done, your majesty.”

“Good. Also, do we have more modern weapons? I am sure my Knights would love to wield those devastating Outworlder guns.”

“The Pope said there should be more underground.”

“Oh how nice.”

As the two got busy, the grunts started to assemble Flak cannons on the roofs and alleyways. Using debris and fallen rubble to cover themselves as Elves quickly use magic to make them assemble themselves. Magicians have also started appearing, using magic to weaken the shield of the Cathedral as small groups of extremely hardened and dangerous Vampire Knights would occasionally poke at their territory. Murdering and slaughtering the people and retreating before they get surrounded.

Though it creates a bit of disarray, the Veteran warriors kept their cohesion and morale from completely faltering. As the Moon and its satellite flies to the left side of the Cathedral, more and more people have started to appear from all around the city. On the rear, enemy Knights have appeared. Their strong armor capable of shrugging off modern rounds like nothing.

“Bring me the Smaw!”

One of the servants of the Church then hands the Dragon Knight a backpack full of shaped rockets to fire at the advancing enemy Knights. Reloading his rocket launcher, the young teenage servant hits the deck as the Knight fires a missile at them. Heavily wounding the bunched up enemies.

“Another!”

On the front, the Mortar fire has multiplied as the Knights now had to point their shields upward too while having to deal with Anti Tank rifles placed blocks away. Though there Archers are able to return the damage, the firepower component was slowly moving towards there attackers and the defenders, left with what technological and magical superiority they have but in limited numbers.

Elizabeth, who has walked outside to check things, personally notices the surrounding buildings have movements in them amongst the sea of chaos and violence. Materializing her AMT AutoMag. She starts blasting at the shadows moving amongst the windows and one by one. She picks off the people trying to get to good high elevated positions that’s right up to the Cathedral park. Far away, she opens her palm and with her hand gesturing as if she’s capturing something with her hands, she makes them rise once again as Vampire Thralls.

Armed with whatever weapon they had in hand. The grunts started firing on their living friends with no remorse. But this only emboldened their enemies more as small to medium groups with Knight support started trickling in from Front, Left and Right sides while the rear got a more and more concentrated amount of gun and cannon fire. Autocannons then started rattling the defending Knights from afar. The Elves operating them had pinpoint accuracy even from such distances and the high explosive rounds in large rapid quantities proved far too much for the special warriors.

Commander Marbot then assembles multiple teams of Knights to go and constantly disable the Autocannons and Mortars. Lessening the defending Crimson Knights while Alana has used her Vampiric powers to make Blood Roses appear, buffing the defending Knights greatly while commanding her own Knights to spread out and continue to make rounds on the surrounding streets and alleys.

The more they got surrounded, the Defenders performed small and localized counter offensives but this also made their enemies more and more dangerous. Having to use larger calibers and weapons. Soon, the grunts were right up the slopes that go down to the Cathedral park and the Knights, having been wounded and mentally exhausted from the barrage of combined arms firepower, made hourly rotation hard to achieve as more and more holes had to be plugged. The only ones that truly stood the test of the battle were the Crimson Knights of the Blood Moon.

Like perfect soldiers. One of them ever weavered or questioned their Queen. All of them having 80% purity of Vampiric blood made their self preservation basically nonexistent and would continually press on even after taking immense amounts of damage that even the Knights of Minuit wouldn’t dare to test with their armor. Elizabeth’s personal army proved to be a worthy testament to her brutality and strength, having used the Knights under her as shock troops and bodies to throw at their enemies. With unrivaled strength, speed, and agility. The Crimson Knights didn’t even flinch as even the Dragon Knights, humans blessed by the strength of the ancient beasts would tremble and shake upon the pressure on their shoulders.

Soon, only the Crimson Knights were still in 100% efficiency while the others had been tired down from the constant barrage of harassing attacks. The enemy grunts preserve themselves by only attacking in groups of 8 to 15 while hundreds and hundreds shoot them from afar with bullets, shells, and magics. Elizabeth herself has gotten to enjoy the fight. Running amok within the surrounding blocks like a Tornado of Massacre. Leaving in her wake dismembered people and destroyed guns as she uses those with bodies intact enough as Thralls to create more disruption from behind enemy lines.

Alana on the other hand has begun to use her Blood Roses even more, to not only buff but also to tend to the mental health of the Knights. The inside of the Atrium and Basilica is basically filled with them. The red glow of the floating roses creates a solemn atmosphere and peace as shells land on the Church. Though the shield has been strong, the Servants keeping it up have grown far too tired and the power Knights had to replace them.

Major Lennox, having accomplished his tasks, takes his companies with him and goes to the Right side while on the Left, the Pope has left large swathes of the once well trimmed grass of the park into blackened ashes.

“Company A and B! Volley formation! Company C and D! Place yourselves next to them!”

The Ex-Grenadiers of Gareth then line up with Lennox holding his revolver up.

“Knights! Rest now! We shall defend the right side!”

A large number of the Dragon and Minuit Knights then retreat, leaving only a handful with the Crimson Knights. Seeing the right side has completely faltered to basically a fraction of its defense. A huge amount of grunts started flowing in. The Grenadiers swiftly opened fire on anyone that dared pop their head out from the main street and the buildings as Crimson Knights with modern guns started rattling those charging at them from afar.

Then the Knights appear and Major Lennox pulls one of the soldiers from the formation and points at his trumpet. Spitting his saliva, the soldier then blows it four times. The Grenadiers then position themselves in a Square. Four columns with the ones in the front in prone and crouch positions.

“VOLLEY ONE! FIRE!”

Firing simultaneously, the first volley slows down the incoming Knights. Giving an opening for the Dragon Knights to cut them down with their Greatswords. They then quickly returned to the line as the enemy grunts started pouring down the slopes and to the Cathedral park proper.

“VOLLEY TWO! FIRE!”

The huge volley then staggers another group of Knights and the Knights of Minuit uses the chance to behead them. The single opening has made it hard for the Front and Rear to keep their flanks secured as they now have multiple axes to protect. Like a gazing wound that needs to be closed, Elizabeth lands in the middle of the right flank. She started massacring enemy soldiers and Knights alike with a combination of her AutoMag and Ancient Vampire Sword. Though it had stemmed most of the enemy flow, the wide right flank was just far too big for her to fully defend and with most of the defenders tired.

The enemy has gotten the upper hand finally just as the Moon falls in the horizon and soon, the sky turns bluer.

Miles on the outskirts of the city, a group of Zeppelins appear from the morning mist and the huge flying machines enter the layers of walls. Merchants stare in fright as they see the huge golden logo of the High Elves on the armored bottom of the airships and suddenly. A wing flaps from above them, a giant wing whose body you can’t even see as it enters the city proper with immense speed.

Inside the largest Zeppelin, General Trenthaus is placed in the Captain's seat with his legs elegantly crossed as he sips some wine.

“Sir, the officials of Gareth have approved of the High Elves help.”

“Hahahahaha! Those High Nobles are on the run knowing that their entire country is against them! To think they’d stoop this low to allow us within their impregnable city! Blast all Demon Hearts into full. Flank speed, unlock the gates and let the guns roam free!”

The armored bottom of the huge airship surrounded by smaller ones opens like a bomb bay. Revealing a multi floored platform full of Rifled cannons ranging from 50mm to 75mm and 20mm to 30mm autocannons while at certain points are 150mm howitzer cannons pointed down.

“Deploy the Air Infantry! Have them support the Wyverns of the Kingdom of Rose!”

More parts open and Elven Knights in shiny composite armor with wings take off as fully armored Wyverns from the Kingdom of Rose fly alongside them. With the Vampire Knight riders pointing their swords at the city.

Back at the Cathedral, the fighting has now gotten from bad to worse. With the thousand year old stained glasses all broken to make way for the barrels of guns and the Knights now defending the staircase to the doors of the Holy Church of Bahamut. Elizabeth on the other hand was left to her devices completely, and in her genocide has forgotten to even go back inside and Alana tending to the wounds of both the Humans and Vampires.

The Pope on the other hand has placed himself on the top floor of the Church, back in his human form and firing his M107 Barrett from the hip and completely decimating armored Knights coming at them from afar. Picking off those ones that he sees are far stronger than the other. The enchanted Mk211 rounds completely destroys even the thickest slab of armor but due to the limited number of bullets they have. He has to pick off only those he senses as truly poses a danger.

The Crimson Knights on the other hand reject going inside. Following their Queen outside and joining her massacre as thousands pour from all sides. Even though many of them are overwhelmed, none cared and continued to stab and blast their enemies even with their limbs torn to shreds and their armor nulled to only being weights to slow them down from receiving such a high amount of concentrated damage.

Just as the Churches’ front door itself was about to get overwhelmed. The autocannon fire stops and then starts firing at the sky. Fire rains from above and differently colored Wyverns started doing low passes on the autocannons. Destroying them and their users as ten of them land on the surrounding park. Breathing fire and causing mass casualties in the mere instant. Seeing reinforcements arrive, the tired and mentally exhausted Knights burst out of the windows and in a unified scream, started fighting once again.

Soon, a giant black wing flies above them and the attackers start catching fire and self combusting randomly. Elizabeth in all her beauty now drenched in blood and limbs snaps back to herself as the Ogre she was about to tear apart explodes right before her. “Uhm… what?" The woman then looks up and sees someone in a black gown with a child piggybacking her falling down. “Bahamut?” The landing of the woman creates a shockwave that takes everyone’s attention. Stopping the brutal fighting.

“This shall be my one and only warning. Leave now, those who dare deface my name. I shall tend to your wounded and dead, but those alive. Unless you want to feel my wrath even more, then continue your assault.”

The little girl piggybacking her has her hands up her eyes and makes a cute growl. Seeing the Goddess has arrived, the attacking army backs off slowly. Then one starts running for it and everyone soon follows. High Elves then land around her. The foreign people looked in great disgust of the status of the land around them.

“Collect the wounded and bring them inside. Regardless of whose side they're on.”

Alana and Elizabeth then come to her, hugging the Goddess. “I knew it! My plan worked!”

“That was a gamble Alana. But a good one.”

“Of course. Hah-hah-hah! My intellect is unmatched!”

“Oy, I also helped with my own tactics. That’s how we did it back then!”

“We’ll chat later. For now, I want you all to collect any people you can that need healing or even curing of diseases.”

“Oh, we’re really getting into it now aren’t we?”

“You did say I am allowed to fully utilize myself. Let me do this and I’ll prove everyone wrong now that things have calmed down and the violence settled.”

“Hm.”

Soon, hundreds of thousands of civilians had gathered around the huge Cathedral and Bahamut got very busy healing anyone in need and curing people of ailments. The High Elves have also set up their own Medical tents to tend to those the Goddess cannot get to due to the high volume of people. Though the Elves were more than unwilling to help those they see as below them. General Trenthaus’ reputation and order made them do it otherwise.

After a while it was already afternoon and with her miracles, the Goddess had healed 2/3s of everyone already and many were quick to go inside and offer the Church whatever little they have as tribute for the aid they’ve been given. Others even give their Cattle that they’ve saved from the riots and fighting.

Bahamut watched from the sidelines as people one by one marched into the holy grounds. Each and everyone of them shaking her hand like she’s some super idol on a meet and greet event as Crimson Knights protected her from all sides alongside High Elves and Dragon Knights. Soon after, a reporter comes to her attention. The man taking photos of her and the Vampiric women he soon reaches for his jacket and brings out a notepad as he squirms his way through the crowd rushing inside the battered Cathedral.

“H-e-hello!”

“Hm?”

The Knights quickly step in front of Bahamut and protect her.

“I just wa-wanna talk! Hey! Not the suit! I’m a Reporter from Gareth’s Daily News! Goddess! Please let me interview you!”

“Let him be.”

“Gao!”

The two Knights step aside and let the Reporter get up close and personal with Bahamut. The Dragon Goddess was seemingly sparkling gold upon his eyes but in reality, she was just standing there like a normal woman. The little girl on her shoulder was rowdy and swayed her head left and right as she crossed her hands.

“What? I am surprised you are dedicated to your job. Also, call me whatever you’d like. Goddess is something far too formal for my taste anyways. So, what is this thing you have going on?”

“Of course! This is the future! Free Press as they called it! Be damned if the entire city is in flames! I’ll do my job as the people need to know! I am sure they’ll be writing it in the new constitution when the King and Queen is overthrown!”

“I see… and uhm… what’re you going to ask me?”

“Y-y-yea! Let me uhhhh…” he shuffles through his notes that’re already full of scribbles and bits of information. He then makes a new title on the small pieces of paper. “Alright, Goddess. May I ask, what do you plan to do next?”

“I am planning on helping the city rebuild. It’s my reward for spreading my religion, protecting it, and giving it new members. It all started here after all.”

“I still remember that being taught to us in school. When an ancient Dragon from a foreign world came in and saved the city from an ancient Evil that was buried under it. The stories are true, you are just like everyone else here.”

“Ahahahahaaa… yes.”

“What seems so funny?”

“I just remembered someone. I think he’d be very happy to know his Dragon has won the heart of man.”

“Could this be the Legendary Outworlder General Jackson?”

“Yes.”

“Ah, and the girl that’s currently piggybacking you?”

“Her? I do not know who she is. But she came into my life and now, I am responsible for her.”

“R-really?”

“Hm. I am planning on raising her with the help of the Pope. Nurture her to be a good Dragon one day. She already has shown potential.”

“I-i see. I thought she’s your biological daughter.”

“Master doesn’t have white hair at all.”

“The text has been a thousand years old and recounted so many times. Alright, alright… and what message do you wish to send to the Royal Court of Gareth?”

“Put this down, word by word.”

“Hm.”

“Do. Not. Mess. With. Me.”

“That’s… pretty straightforward.”

“Alana here has told me much about the Monarchy and its attempt to put itself in a good position after the Government has changed. To use my Church as a scapegoat, but I do not worry. A certain teenager will be after them.”

“Teenager?”

“I have this feeling that you’ll meet him soon. He might have a dirt or two to give to you Reporter.”

“Alright, I’ll be sure to keep that in mind then. So, about the people. What would you like to tell them?”

“To carry on. Do not let the burden of the present to dilute your future. Rebuild and rise once again. Do not worry, I will be here for a while as a certain little girl will be needing my supervision.”

“Gao!”

“Hm hm. Thank you, may I ask you to come by once again?”

Alana then steps in. Peeking in from behind. “Please get in line. I’ll be assigning a Manager for the Goddess. If you truly want, to can catch her while she’s outside like this. But official stuff like that needs planning.”

“Oh! Then…” he once again reaches for his jacket and gives the Marquise his Call Card as he bows respectfully to the Vampire Noble. “Field Reporter of Gareth’s Daily News, Andrew Hickerson!”

“Hm. Interesting. Is this some new trend?”

“Yes! With the advent of the telephone. Merchants have started to give out things like that. Call Cards as they name it.”

“Ehhhhhhh… I should get one.” She flipped it around and there was a printed image of their main building and the address. Elizabeth then curiously peeks over Alana’s shoulder and nods.

“Heavens, I truly seem to be a woman out of time.”

“Both of us Elizabeth.”

“But now Bahamut, what do you wish to do after rebuilding the city?”

“I’ll have my people hunt down the Nobles responsible for this mess and then I shall raise this girl and after that…”

“Return to slumber?”

“Hm. I am sure, Master needs someone to look over him.”

“Hmph. Keep an eye out for that man. He is after all, just like the three of us.”

“That’s Master after all.”