“Yes, I’ll have everything prepared. The deal has gone through, no worries about it. Hm, thank you.”

As soon as the young white haired teenage kid stops the call, the space time calms. “Ehhh, to use your powers like that. Interesting though, I can use the cell towers to transmit telepathic power like that… hmmmm… but that was some weak traps and magical detectors for someone as important as this. Oh! Can I smell churros?!” She then runs up the vent even more, reaching the part right below as she encounters a slit that leads to the CEOs office where she could see a Statue of Bahamut with two black candles near it and a golden plate with a bunch of churros on it as a serving. Following closely to the instructions on how to pray to the Dragon God and receive its blessings.

The slim man then walks to it and puts his hand together and kneels. Praying in silence. He then lifts his head up and combs his messy white hair and kisses the feet of the statue of Bahamut. Wearing a less revealing gown, more so looking like a normal peasant woman in a dress and a veil that only covers her hair. A far cry from her more brutal gothic attire and look, with less warmth and more intimidation and fear.

He then takes a notepad, with it written a prayer to the Dragon God specially.

“Oh Goddess of the Void, the Darkness that encroaches the farthest parts of space, to the art of war, and the everlasting absolution of Death, I give you my prayers and hope for your guidance. Most of all in the recent enemy I’ve met at the bus station. A daring woman to say the least. Eyu Te Volguah Dus Dre Freaya ‘ft Dre Rah, Bahamut”

Bahamut on the other hand shakes her head on the statue, and her eyes squint at the sight of her marble version. But her armored ears lowered as the man spoke in her language and she nodded. The man spoke louder at the end of his prayer and then made a deep sigh of relief. The Dragon then crawls up the vent and to the outside, where it took flight. Looking around the city for the next hour. The Dragon encounters nothing but a quiet and solemn night on the cold modern metropolis. With the most active at night being the skeleton soldiers and their bright red glowing eyes, imposingly marching endlessly on their predetermined patrol routes and military vehicles mixed and intermingling with the civilian ones on the large main street that cuts through the middle of the city as the metro train’s noise echoed through the city blocks.

The occasional helicopter would pass but apart from that, most of the streets were empty except for the red light district tucked deep within the Downtown area. Where its bright lights shine at the dark and brooding cold night. Following it, the Dragon slithers on top of the buildings and reaches the well lit part of the city apart from the Government buildings.

Down below, her nose gets a flurry of all sorts of smell that makes the Dragon bury its snout on the gravel on top of the building and snuff its nose from it. Soon, Bahamut lifts up its head once again to peek over the debauchery happening below and rests its head on the concrete roof. Peeking over like a dog looking for something interesting to waste its time on.

Bahamut once again takes flight, watching over the nightlife of the people of the city. The small Dragon swerving and turning to avoid the giant buildings and skyscrapers, going over the commercial area with only the 24/7 restaurants left with their lights on. Having found nothing, the black flying armored lizard lands once again. Now sniffing the sidewalk for anything interesting as what few players were present, avoided the small black dragon. She then picks up the scent of another Dragon and starts crawling through the city streets and reaches the National Park and passes the museum near it and without her even realizing, the Dragon has reached Downtown and there. It was of little defense and the curfew set by the Martial Law not being followed as even police presence was there. Constantly loitering around the well lit section of the city.

She then stops at the sight of pinkish lit shops and walks up to one of the windows and sees strange phallic objects and carries on. Sniffing the ground as more and more smells that disturbs her starts seeping in but also is the scent of one of her kin. She then stops and looks around the place, unlike the Commercial district full of tall buildings and paved roads with little to no litter in the area. The Downtown was far more rugged and dirty with not only the colors far more dulled, but the ground full of paper and wasted items. With dilapidated buildings and badly maintained roads, the pretty lights were all there was to hide the grime underneath. Stopping, Bahamut looks around and she goes back into the more civilized part of town and transforms back into her human form.

Looking around, she spots a telephone booth and inspects it. Having no money, she punches the bottom of it lightly and the phone sparks to life. She then closes her eyes and starts pressing the number keys to the hotel room. Immediately someone picks up and music can be heard. “Hello, this is the Bach residence. Guest speaking.'' In the background, Bahamut could hear Alana’s mature teenage voice going over the peak. “AAAANNNNDDD AIIIYYYYEEE WILL ALWAYS LOOVVEE YOUUUU!” not only did she hit the note, but surpassed it and made the Dragon push the phone a few inches from her right ear.

“Master, can I borrow some of your money?”

“Bahamut?! Where have you been? Goodness me. What time are you planning on going back home? We’re doing karaoke with Bach. Alana is absolutely killing it!”

“Later Master. I wanna explore the city a bit more. I smelled one of my kin from here.”

“Really? J-just don’t fight it! Please! I’m already in my shorts and shirt. I don’t wanna don my uniform again and talk to cops in the middle of the night of all things.”

“Hahahahah! Don’t worry Master! I do not intend to do such things tonight as I wanna eat also!”

“Well…” as Alana could be heard giving it all and Bach reminding Elizabeth something as she could be heard making a loud “PWAAAHH! MORE BEER MORTAL!” the General replies. “I don’t really mind you spending my money. Technically, it's our money so just don’t waste too much.”

“Really Master?! I don’t really know how to use currency but I shall do my best to use it responsibly!”

“Why do I feel like I made a mistake?”

She then returns the phone and with a smile under her veil. Walks out and looks around the shops. She sees one of them with a display of a suit and looking around and having no one to see her. She flicks her finger and she dons the gray curvy striped suit meant for lanky females with a nice body shape with a thick winter jacket. Complete with a fedora, the woman flicked her finger again, making three balls of purple to bluish of fire to surround her and looked at herself on the well cleaned glass. The matching fedora covered her eyes nicely and the large padded coat that was over her jacket hid her thin build except her bountiful chest. She then looks up, revealing her pale face and the hime cut she proudly displays and her long untethered hair.

With a nod, she returns to the Downtown area with her hair now down to only the back of her neck. Though still keeping her hime cut, she looked like a CEO or Executive looking for a fight with how she looked. With her usual Dragonic stoic face and the posture of someone prepared to fight anyone. As she enters back into the darker part of town, she’s met with two police cars and a Humvee zooming past her on the main road. Disappearing into the two to three storey brick buildings with flickering road lights on the curbs.

Walking deeper and deeper into the despotic part of town. The more there were people, many wearing office suits, medieval dresses and industrial fire proof outfits. Players of all species were present on the dirty streets. Looking at dancers, with many of the inappropriate clubs putting up ads for buff Orc women to Vampires and Dark Elves while female eccentric ones were putting up signs and even dancers who were visibly extremely well toned Greenskins and Redskin Demons and Incubuses who looked to be in there teenage forms with more feminine features. In one of the clubs she passed by, the Dragon in a pinstripe suit had to cover her nose as it was displaying adverts that it was exclusive Succubuses.

She soon reaches the location where she could smell one of her own. The establishment on it had a crowd in front as a dancer on the window was visibly exposing her Dragonic horn and tail. Provocatively in a micro bikini as she exposed her wonderful humanoid form to the world. Bahamut’s eyes almost popped out of her skull from the sight. “Bahamut, remember. We live in a big world. Not everyone is the same as you. Moreso with people from my world.” Hearing her Master’s words. The woman just shrugs and walks away. Wandering about on the dark cold night as drunk people start to appear. With her arms crossed inside her padded coat, the woman sees a black SUV is limousine windows stop and an Elven player with wine and packed meat can be seen walking into the shaded alleyway.

Stopping. She quickly puts her hand up her chin. Her black woolen gloves were still there as her black high heels clacked the concrete sidewalk as she tapped her feet incessantly. A hand then tries to reach for her but she just slaps it away and continues thinking as a loud ouch comes from behind her. She then walks into the alley and notices a neon lit sign on the wall “Sovngarde” it says in full colors and a large arrow that leads to a basement. Looking left and right, the woman shrugs and walks down to it. Entering the establishment.

She was instantly hit with not only a mouthful of sorrow accompanied by a Diva on a small stage. Seamlessly singing a slow song, but also the stench of peer, piss, and vomit as a light smoke clouded the atmosphere of the place. On the bar counter, a lone man with an apron and on the stool were men in suits. With some of them keeping their coats and fedoras. Hiding their faces and identities. No one took notice of her, even with her good looks. Little bothered to entertain the woman as she walked around the uncleaned tiles of the place.

One of the men on the stools then pays and leaves. After a quick look around, she takes his place and sits down on the bar counter.

“Vodka? Or something light?”

“Water. Alcohol may make me react.”

“Hm.” The bartender didn’t even give her a look. He quickly gave her a nice glass of water with ice and went back to what he was doing. Cleaning a pitcher with a towel. Next to her was a man of burly build. Even though she herself was quite tall, even taller than your average Vampire. The suited man to the right of her in a long trench coat could simply crush her if he was to try. His hand with a patch of hair on his knuckles was thrice the size of her thin and boney hands. He merely stayed silent and smoked a cigar as his wide brimmed fedora hid his face completely except for his jaw with a stubby on it.

“So. What’s a dame like you doing here?”

He spoke with a deep manly voice. Far deeper and without the hint of kindness and openness she usually hears from her Master.

“Just looking around and enjoying the sights of the city.”

Her mature womanly voice also stood out, clashing with the more authoritative tone was her Motherly one. The man merely flicked his finger and the bartender poured him another one.

“You're quite a tourist if you think going into the darker part of town is a sight. Unless you were bought here for a reason.”

Bahamut couldn’t feel his gaze as she placed her arms on the counter. Letting her breast get pushed up as her chest leans forward into the wood.

“I was. Quite an observer aren’t we?”

“What is it then? Looking for a lover for the night? Someone to pay? If you're looking to get a hit on someone. You're in the wrong place. Only lonely, tired people go here. No one is willing to do the dirty work of the rich and powerful.”

The man next to him on the edge of the bar then leaves. The trench coated man quickly stops him and takes the twenty he put on the counter into his pocket. The drunken man just saluted and carried on to the exit with a messy walk. The bartender then takes the money and scoffs at the man.

“Ah no. I’m just really here to see the city for what it is. My Ma- ...n told me it’d always be a priority to see a place for all it is and make a conclusion if its a good place or a bad place afterwards.”

Inhaling his cigar, the man then faces Bahamut. “And what do you think?” Having a view of his chest, the Dragon could see he had a holster on his shirt and a pair of extra magazines on the jacket and trench coat. “Is this city good? Or bad?”

“I… don’t have an opinion yet.”

“Zavalda was once a thriving village. It wasn’t like this. On a crossroads that was known to be a shortcut for traders… to think a few years later it’d become like this.”

The door then opens and clacking could be heard approaching them. The two ignored it and continued their conversation.

“But you have quite the population. I’ve never seen this high concentration of species in a single city.”

“That’s what you get when you have a working industry. Orcs, Vampires, Elves, Slimes, Lizards, Dragons, Dwarves… Humans. They all have a place here. But that doesn’t mean they all can keep that place.”

He then places his cigar on the ashtray in front of them as the stool next to him gets taken by someone in a suit and wears a stylish white sun hat. The person then sets down a purple purse and flicks a lanky gloved finger. The bartender slid a glass with liquid already on it on top of the counter and to the person. Who quickly catches it.

“The dirt you can find under this place…”

“And what do you think about the Government?”

“The usual. Corrupt pricks playing with power. You’d think we’d be free from that in a virtual world. But when you have magic, it becomes so easy.”

He then drinks his liquor and quickly downs half the glass in one go.

“The Mayor, the Governor, the City Council. They’ll sell this entire city out if it wasn’t for the League of Modern Guilds keeping them under tabs with their StateSec goons. This place would have already been burning before the Teleportation.”

“I’ve actually met the Mayor. What is wrong with him?”

“Pfft. Don’t even get me started on that…” he makes a long tired sigh. “Man.”

“Excuse me.”

A more modest womanly voice then comes from his right. Placed on where the man who left his money was. “Would you perhaps be Detective Clint?”

“Whose talkin’?”

She then looks up and reveals a quite wonderful face. With a curved V shaped jawline and light make up, even Bahamut had to nod in her looks. Wearing a formal business dress with a jacket on top, she was fashionably there to make a statement and her sun hat made her stand out in the entire place. “I’m Sarah. Can I hire you for a few days, Detective?” The man stayed silent. Downing the rest of his glass and before putting it down, faces the woman directly before looking back at the bar.

Bahamut on the other hand just sat there, taking in the atmosphere between the two. She was also thin and curved like an hourglass like her. The Detective’s size alone would make her only reach his chin if the two were to ever stand face to face.

“Ahhhhhh… should I leave?”

Both stayed silent and then the Detective scoffs.

“What is it?”

“I need a man hunted down.”

“Lover? Hater? One night stand?”

“No. He is a hired killer and I fear that he’s going to come after me.”

“Hmph.” he taps the wooden bar counter and the Bartender quickly arrives and pours his glass full. “You don’t seem poor. You seem powerful yourself. Someone like you has access to the good magic. The True Magic that everyone is afraid of. Why hire a tired dog like me.”

“Because this man is unkillable.” She removes her sun hat. Fully revealing her pretty face and long untied silky black hair. She had red lipstick on and a little mascara and foundation on her face. But even without it, Bahamut knew she’d look just as good or even better.

“I don’t buy it. You want me to find a man who is unkillable. My rates aren’t going to be small if it's a job this big.”

“A hired detective?”

The man then looks at Bahamut and lightly nods.

“Wow. I guess with a city like this, business is… good?”

He then lightly nods again.

“Interesting.” Bahamut then starts sipping her water as the man returns to facing the bar while the modest woman talking to him had her entire body facing him. “I don’t care about money. Please, just help me with this. I have the files in my apartment. You can take a look and see if you're up to it.” The Dragon then stops drinking her already empty glass and leans in more into the counter. Her head turned to face the woman. Met with the gaze of the unseemingly boss-like aura of Bahamut, the woman turns to face her.

“How may I help you?”

“Not… nothing.”

The Detective then turns his face to his left a bit and returns looking forward. “Bill, give me your list. I need to update my number.” The bartender then hands him a clipboard and he pulls out a white card with his information and name on it and how to contact him. After finishing writing down his new number, he slips his card back to his jacket and pushes the clipboard into the bar.

“Give me his name.”

“He… he has no real known name. Just his player name.”

“And that is?”

“Bond Fifteen.”

“Hmph.” The Detective then takes his cigar from the ashtray and with his hands alone, relights it. “Yeah, I know that name.”

“Will you do it then?!”

Seeing the tense tone of the woman and her visibly disturbed face. The Detective lowers his head and looks down on his glass.

“Let me see the files.’

“Thank you… please. Follow me.”

Just as the man left, he slipped a small objective into the coat of Bahamut who quickly felt it. As the two left, she checked what was given to her and it was the Detective’s information card with a written sentence of “Stalk me.” Seeing it, the woman quickly runs out into the alley and sniffs the air. She quickly could smell his smoking alcoholic scent and sees the two get inside a black Classic 4-door Caprice with special plates. Bahamut then turns into a Dragon and stalks the two as they ride to another section of the Downtown area, into a rundown motel. She then implants herself into the 3rd floor exterior wall, right next to their window.

Using magic, the Dragon completely goes invisible and peeks in at her armored ears perk up and she could audibly hear inside the room.

Sarah immediately removes all of her articles of clothing. Revealing her spotless and sparkly skin with large breasts that could make any man jump at first sight. Neatly folding her clothes and placing them on the edge of a queen sized bed with a red blanket over it. “I’ll go and shower. You can take a look at the files there.” She points at the nightstand next to the bed. Still wearing his trenchcoat and fedora, the Detective quickly takes it and looks into the folder. Just by reading the first few sentences, he puts his hand up his chin and rubs it slowly. His head then tilts after shuffling into the next page as pouring water could be heard inside the half closed shower door.

He then starts looking around, lifting pillows, opening drawers, and cabinets. Having found nothing, he returns to looking at the files and takes one with a photo of the player. Sarah with her wet skin then comes out of the bathroom with only a towel covering her. “Detective, May we?” after an hour of intense copulation which Bahamut watched. Having yawned multiple times over the course of the two having an intense time together. The Dragon then detects offensive magic as Sarah gets on top of the Detective. With her natural divinity, she deflects and disables it before it could be used. But the woman just kept riding the man as if she didn’t attempt anything. Clint with his hulking hairy chest exposed can be seen with his teeth gritting from the pleasure he is receiving as the hairless shiny body of Sarah whose deep in sweat and lust makes loud noises that could be heard outside.

After a while, the two finished and the Detective was so tired that he left to sleep almost instantly after coming in her. But the woman didn’t simply just stay next to him as she stood up like nothing had happened and went into the corner of the room, not even wiping in between her legs as she pulled the rug slowly. Little to her knowledge was the fact that the Dragon was inside their room and with her talons. Bahamut presses into Clint’s face and he awakens. Without wasting time, the man rolls into the side of the bed as silenced shots are fired into the bed. He then looked for his shirt and it was in front of the TV with his pistol still in its leather holster.

“You live up to your name Detective. Both in bed and in combat.”

“Who sent you? Was it the Syndicate?”

“No. They just have a pretty penny on your head, thought I’d go for two and end you first before I go after Bond Fifteen. My bullets will permanently put you to sleep.”

“Hah. So he also messed with them huh? Sorry lady. But I’d like to keep my ability to respawn.”

His Colt M1911 then gets thrown to his face as he lies prone hugging the bed frame as much as he could. He looked up to the TV and could see a black figure disappearing and outside, Bahamut could hear one shot as she waited on the concrete sidewalk. The Detective appears and stands on the entrance to the motel next to his Black Caprice. He takes out a pack of cigarettes from his jacket as he approaches Bahamut, still in her gray pinstripe suit and short hair.

“Thank you.”

“No problem. You are something, human.”

“Hmph. I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“I do wonder. If you are that great of a Detective. Do you know who I am? Or have a vague idea?”

“You? No. But I felt you're an inherently good person. That’s enough for me than to know your name and what you are.”

“Huh. You live an interesting life. My Man would probably be too busy looking at the big picture to deal with a job like this.”

“You’ve only mentioned this man twice, but seeing your tone. You love him don’t you?”

“I do. He is my man after all… well not mine per say but I know I’ll win in the end.”

“Ah, love triangles. You know… I prefer that more than this stuff. Give me a call if you want him investigated.”

“Heh.” Bahamut scoffs and crosses her arms. “I’m the only one who will investigate that Man. Well, Good night to you Detective. I think this is enough Downtown for me.”

“Hm. Take care ma’am.”

As Bahamut was to leave, she stopped.

“Do you know if the Religion of Bahamut is big with the people here?”

“Here? No. It’s a new religion. It’s mostly the new buzz with the Natives. Since the Dragon Kingdom here disallows worship of their Dragon Gods.”

“I see… and is there a native in here?”

“There’s a few. One is a CEO, another is part of the Police force.”

“Interesting. Thank you, Detective.”

Bahamut then returns the clothes to the shop she found them on and goes back to her usual look. Walking back to the Grand hotel they're staying in, Dragon picks up another strange scent, the same one the Dragon Knights had when she met them in Geraldia. Having no care at all to the world, and like a dog that found its favorite smell. She starts following it to where it may go, transforming back to her Dragon form and crawling on all fours and walking around littered cups and boxes as it leads the black ancient lizard to a part of the city that has its buildings dwarfed by the bigger skyscrapers and commercial buildings next to its sector.

She crosses the street as a car swerved to avoid the Dragon, nearly hitting the curb as Bahamut continued to follow the scent which leads her to a seaside road where couples are having a nightly stroll by themselves, enjoying the night sky and the full Moon and its little satellite orbiting it, its blueish gaze giving light to the open sea and its ever so boundless size and length. Behind the couples, a lone singular black dragon is on the opposite street. Sniffing the sidewalk as it leads it to a sudden right turn and in front of a Church. With a low and slow heaven-like hymn playing inside. Hidden due to the apartments that surround it being bigger and taller than it is.

Tilting her head, Bahamut’s absolute night vision gave her a clear view of the building. It was a Church for the Religion of Bahamut, “The living Dragon Goddess” as it was written on the door frame. Two statues of her in Dragon form guarded the front door. She changes into a human and under the shadow of the dark cold night, walks inside. Opening the two heavy wooden doors without effort. She was then hit with a quiet and solemn Church, devoid of much light other than the stained glass on the roof and few black candles beneath her statue, one where she’s wearing her iconic gothic funeral gown.

On its base, is a golden shiny bowl where offerings of anything shiny, from jewelry and mundane items like a polished spoon that just gave off a shine to it are given out as a tribute to the Goddess. On the TV screen where verses are supposed to be read out are the current song being played. “Bahamut Labyrinth OST Collection Vol 1 - The Hymn of Inanis” which is an a cappella choral from the excerpt of the Dragon Bible’s section about Bahamut, the God of the Void, as shown in the screen. Occasionally giving fun facts and tidbits about the Goddess’ history and the many achievements the Dragon had done. “Did you know Bahamut is the last Dragon God to meet Albion before his death?” to “Bahamut is confirmed to wear a black lingerie under her gown.” and “Though only a rumor. It is said that Bahamut has attained new powers over Darkness, Death, and War as Adventurers from Schon sent out letters about the Kingdom of Vitas looking for the bones of their Goddess and their suspect, a woman wearing a funeral gown.”

There is no Priest present and only a woman on her own in a white funeral gown, praying as on the altar. A pale corpse of a young boy is offered below her statue. Curious of the entire structure, the Goddess walks forward as she looks around the place, from the intricately carved pillars and to the stained glasses on the sharp windows that depict her life and battles. Her silent steps didn’t even bother a singular microbe as she took a gander at the structure built for the worship of her. Everything is about the iconography of the things she has done and some she’s already long forgotten, surprised to see a reminder in such a place.

Ignoring the praying lady and the body of the young pale boy. Bahamut takes a look at the offerings, though few. One thing caught her attention out of the Rubies and Emeralds offered. A shiny zippo lighter with the engravings on it. “Semper Fidelis”. She could feel the emotion and heroism oozing from it and kept it. Teleporting it away to the Void. The woman continued to rustle through what little offerings were given and finds one jewelry with a lot of feelings attached to it and keeps it alongside some other shiny nicknacks and even the button meant for a military uniform.

With that done, the woman stands up and faces the praying person with the body of a preteen boy who had his head caved inwards. Bahamut evidently knew he suffered a cranium fracture and died on the spot.

“Tell me… human.”

Bahamut’s soft and motherly voice seemed that of Mother Nature’s warmth embracing the grieving woman as she looked up, putting down her hands to reveal her red eyes from crying so much and so long.

“Are you… willing to offer your soul and life to me?”

“Wh-who’re you?”

Suddenly, the boney pale woman with her long messy black hair looks at the statue and compares the two. Her jaws dropped upon the realization as to who it was present before her.

“PLEASE GODDESS! BRING MY SON BACK! PLEEEAAASSSEEE!”

“And why should I? The dead must rest, no matter what. Your offspring's life is long over, though taken early. It is but how nature works. Even the cutest animals born are not free from the fangs of the predators. What makes your son special?”

“Because I LOVE HIM! Please! He’s the only thing my husband left! The fool went off to war and returned in a coffin! The world cannot take this away from me, please! I cannot fathom living without my boys, I love them so much. Take my soul, take my heart, just let him breathe and enjoy the life that his father that went to war wanted him to have! His father protected our nation so that he may enjoy the fruits of living! He doesn’t deserve this! Please Goddess!”

“How human… to go and die and protect the ones you love while it's the same for those you deem as enemies. It is all the same with all of you, regardless of what you're fighting for. Tell me, of all the Gods, why me?”

“Goddess, of all the Gods that litter this world, from the past and present, only you are here with us. Walking amongst us and talking with us, I chose your Church after the Holy See had failed to answer my call and for my son to be healed at the capital… I watched my son live in such agony from the fracture in his head… please…”

“Is that so? Because of all the Gods here, I took the time to be with you… hmmm…”

Bahamut tilts her head and sees that the woman is wearing a shiny necklace and points her finger at it. “That, offer me that and I shall bring the boy back to life.” without question, the mother gives her the necklace and the Dragon Goddess inspects the accessory, nodding in approval.

“Yes, this heroic feeling. Did your husband give this to you?”

“He did… he was always working so hard in the field and the markets. He gave me that as a gift for the next ten years…”

“Good. This will do. You are lucky that the soul I ate contained Dominion over Death and Darkness. Do you know the story of my fight against Mars?”

“I am still new to your Church, Goddess. But as to what the Knight Priest told me. It is where you won over the Red Dragon, Mars. The Dragon God that had ruled over four things and you took rule of her power of War.”

“And you know why I did? Why didn't I ask for all of her Dominions? Such concepts such as Victory, Conquest, and Fighting will serve me well. But why War?”

“Because you wanted to fight the war against the Lizardfolk? As they destroyed the Dragons flying cities and laid waste to your civilizations?”

“Wrong. She simply gave me a good fight. In her dying breath, I let her keep what she deserves. If it weren’t for the war, I would’ve only taken a portion of her divinity and let her be in the Void. Learn this lesson from me. Death isn’t the final destination to any living creature. It’s merely the start of another cycle.”

The Goddess then walks to the body and touches it. The damage was quickly repaired and out of nowhere, the teenage boy breathed, sending a massive shock to the Mother who quickly hugged her son. “THANK YOU GODDESS! THANK YOU! I shall make it my duty to spread your religion! I cannot even thank you enough!”

“I do wonder… Why do some humans not want to live?”

“E-Eh Goddess?” The Son soon fully regains consciousness and smiles at the sight of his mother right by him. “MOMMA!” The woman then hugs her Son tightly as a man appears from the shadows. Wearing a Knight's Dress uniform with a black cape.

“Well well well, if it ain’t Bahamut, in the flesh.”

“Are you the Priest?”

“I am. Pleased to meet you Goddess.”

“Hmph. I have a question about a certain statue in private.”

“Really? Of course, I’d be willing to hear you out. Miss Henniette. Now that your son is back and alive, may you please leave? The Goddess wishes to speak with me. Please, take the coupon I have with me and have a good dinner.”

The Knight Priest hands them a free lunch coupon at one of the 24/7 restaurants. But before heading off, the Mother kneeled and groveled before Bahamut and once again, thanked her with all she’s got and the Goddess just nodded and the kid, shaking hands with her.

“Good to see her happy, she went out of her way to travel to this city and smuggled herself into it just to have her Son returned alive. Now, what statue would this be?”

“One in an office. Where I was wearing Commoner clothing. It is own by a teen with white hair and a seemingly malnourished face.”

“Oh, that must be the young man. No one could forget the face of that young upper. He bought it about three months ago, had it made specially, Goddess.”

“I do not remember wearing something like that. How was its production approved?”

“Hm…? But you did.”

“.... Eh?”

“Yes, you did wear a more conservative dress back then. Do you not remember?”

“I did…? I have no recollection at all. I do not fancy myself wearing human outfits as much till now.”

“Goddess, that was molded after a mural from a fallen Dragon Castle in Tur. It showed you wearing a human dress when you first appeared in your current form.”

“Oh! I did indeed wear one! Now I remember. Goodness me, that must’ve been so long ago that even I have forgotten it.”

“Problems of living for so long.”

“Indeed, hah. I must write this down or record it. That Bloodsucker was correct, someone needs to say the story of this adventure and have it told and remembered. Most of all for myself. I fear that in a millennium from now, I will forget about this wonderful adventure.”

“I have some leftover fast food from dinner. If you want, I can write down everything. So far, we only have whatever exploits’ you’ve had on the Fortress City and what text and murals and statues we could find from fallen Dragon Cities, but not on the smaller scale of things. If we wish to get more followers, we’ll need more accounts of your miracles and of your humanity.”

“That’s a problem. I’ve never been one to do miracles. Only by fighting and winning am I able to show my divinity. I took hail of the Void, the souls that wander there are the only ones to notice my miracles. I am afraid I cannot say much about accounts of me doing healings or making food out of thin air like the other Gods.”

“Fighting is also just as good, you already have a reputation to be a Warrior Goddess of sorts after that spectacle you did with the Vampire and the Holy See Knight.”

“To think people of this place haven’t had enough of religion. Does the Cult of Bahamut even have a place here? Sandwiched between two major religions?”

“It does have a place, Goddess. The Dragon Kingdom prohibits the worship of their Dragon God as the power would be far too much for even their Senators and Council members to control. But the humans, they wish to find a true Dragon God to worship. Not someone like Deus Vrax who was a half human dragon hybrid.”

“I see… then I only expect my powers to grow exponentially then?”

“I think it should, though we never truly understood how this whole system works. But just like what you did, with that lady. You just made a true follower and she is sure to spread the word far and wide.”

“Keep it up then. Though I do not want any involvement with this unless Master specifically runs into you. Got it?”

“As you wish.”

“How many members does the Cult have?”

“We are no longer a Cult, Goddess. It’s now a full blown religion with over a hundred thousand believers with the scent of the Dragon. Mostly human but the Elves are cutting close too. Most of your believers are centered around the border between Gareth and the Empire.”

“And those who just worship?”

“Almost a million, or probably already within that number.”

“Hahahahahaha, good. Good. Then, you want me to tell you of my exploits then?”

“I have a recorder in my room. Let us begin then.”

“Also, does that chicken have gravy?”

“Uhm… I could order if you want but that’d be twenty minutes of waiting since it's around two in the morning.”

“And buy me more chickens. It’s going to be a long and exhausting night for the both of us.”

“I’ll mentally prepare myself, Goddess.”

Bahamut then was led inside the inner sanctums of the Church where she sat by the stone fireplace, with the quaint calming room made out of heavy oak wood and a rug made from the pelt of a great beast under them as the Priest interviewed her for the next three hours. In the midst of a good conversation between the two, it was stopped as a pair of native Nobles arrived at the Church. Barging in with their heads down, and sitting on the farthest pew.

The Priest stood up, and stopped the recorder as he walked to the main hall and greeted the two.

“I am Knight Priest Longbow, Level One hundred Dragon Knight. A follower of the Dragon God Bahamut, how may I help you fine luxurious couple tonight.”

The bearded noble stands up, all ten fingers fully ringed by expensive jewelry as his necklaces and expensive accessories rattle as he kneeled before the Knight.

“I’m Baron Bluth Von Weber from the Kingdom of Avraria. I’ve come to have my wife healed by the Goddess. I helped smuggle the woman whose child was dead… who is now alive and walking. It’s truly a miracle that a bankrupted Noble was given such a privilege. Please, do the same with my wife.”

“If you are willing, may you tell me what your wife’s illness is?”

The Noble just steps aside and the Knight Priest looks at her, the pretty brunette who even at her age looked fine was thin and pale like a corpse. Though her ears were normal and her scent didn’t exude danger like a Vampire or a Zombie. She still had a beating heart and some heat in her body but it's apparent that whatever illness has stricken the woman. It’s eating up all of her.

Malnourished and sickly, but somehow retaining her ethereal beauty, the husband looked like he was about to die first before her. His eyes squinting and on the verge of tears as he stared at her wife whose hands were merely bones with little skin.

“The people in your modern Domus called it the Chronic Curse, that eats upon the flesh and fat of a person.”

“What the… how did she get that?! That’s a high level curse used by Necromancers!”

The woman stands up, though it is obvious that she’s having a hard time and her high heels weren’t helping. The husband sees this and lifts her up to her protest. “Oh my! Honey! You don’t have to!” He didn't care, ignoring the woman and brought her to the Knight Priest who uses magic to check her stats and confirm.

“How though… to get this curse, it’s only through physical contact. Tsk.”

“Is this a curse natural to Threa?”

“No, Threa doesn’t have curses that’s this devilish. Only a bored thirty year old man wasting away in a Full Dive VR set can make the time to think up something this sick. What offerings do you have?”

“Everything. Land, some of my regions, anything you wish!”

Appearing from the shadows behind the pew. Bahamut appears from nowhere, spooking even the Knight. Without care, she touches the woman.

“The only tribute I request is for all of your jewelry.”

The Noble notices the divine presence of the pale woman before him, with her face covered by a veil, her pale white hands stretching out to as if engulf the both of them “A-And who’re you?!” becoming defensive, the man took a few steps back and Bahamut just raised her finger at the Priest. Preventing him from explaining.

“You do not need to know who I am, as you already know. Believe in your feelings. Be fatal and make a mistake now and you shall miss an opportunity many do not get.”

He slowly turned his head with his wife to the big statue behind the Altar and instantly, his eyes perked up as he thought of who was before him. He drops to his knees, the wife shocked by the saddened and pitiful face of his husband. Looking up to the tall woman in a funeral gown. His light blue eyes begging for help. “Th-then… your the Goddess…” without even a thought, tears fall from his eyes. One by one till he was bawling, unable to speak. “M-my be-beautiful wife… please…”

“Tribute first.”

Gently lowering his wife, the man removes everything. From his earrings, to the ten rings on his fingers to the necklaces and expensive arm cuffs that have gold and diamonds embroidered into it. He then goes into his pockets, unloading all the gold coins he could muster and even a piece of paper. “Bring me a pen! I will make a request for my servants to bring all of my wealth here!” The Priest was about to do it but Bahamut stopped him.

She kneels down, the seemingly celestial and empyrean woman checking each and everyone of the offering as the wife coughed a bit. Mixed with the saliva was blood and bits of flesh.

“Hm. This will do.” Of all of the offerings, she picks the diamond necklace and teleports it away. With a single touch of the wife, her corpse's pale skin returns to its normal white and her facial expression seemingly more alive and normal once again. She then immediately stood up and with her hands together. Grovels before the Goddess. “I thank you, Dragon Goddess Bahamut! All I request on my behalf is for the safety of my husband! I fear the Kingdom will once again call upon its Nobility to fight another war.” Bahamut ignores the woman as he lets the Priest collect the rest of the offerings. “Use the rest to fund this Church, make sure the towers get taller than the buildings around this place.” Bahamut then lets the Priest collect the rest of the offerings as she turns to the Noble couple.

“Your husband… he is a strong man. Even if he dies, his soul will be given a good rest. If he does survive, bring him to a Church and offer that Ruby red brooch of yours. He will be healed. Longbow, let us continue.”

“Of course Goddess!”

“Wait!” The man stands up and grovels next to his wife. “Please baptize us! We wish to become a member of your Church, we shall teach our Son and Daughter the history of your religion and have them spread it alongside us! We shall fund Churches, what land I do not have use of, I shall put murals and statues of you!”

“Hmmmm… Knight Priest. This shall be my test for you. You are the Dragon Knight after all, you’ve been blessed with our power. Tell me, what do you smell?”

He sniffs in the direction of the two and shakes. “It might be just their perfume… but it’s like… This gentle scent. Nothing too much like the Vampires or Werewolves but it's sudden.”

“They are already baptized then. You two, stand up. Your faith in me has given you the scent of a Dragon. Be on your way and spread the name of the Goddess Bahamut.”

“Wait, so I passed? I can actually smell a hint of your scent from them.”

“You can bestow yourself the title of Knight of Bahamut. Only those who were truly Loyal to me and my cause get such a scent that is like mine.”

The Priest puts up his biggest and sincere smile and bows, thanking the Goddess as the two stood and bowed alongside him. They then left after the wife offered her tiara as a tribute to the Goddess and the two continued for the next hour where once again, people visited. This time, a young teenage boy with blonde hair. Fuming and angry. Stomping his feet on the holy ground and sitting on the frontmost pew.

Still burning hot from anger like a steam train. He removes his cape and crosses his arms. Tapping his feet with great intensity. His angry expression devoids his handsome and pretty face from any sort of likeability, being more of an immature child that’s not been given its share of the pie.

“Uhm… hello Noble sir. I am Knight of Bahamut, Sir Longbow. How may I help you?”

“A Knight? Tsk. I wish for a Priest.”

“The Church of Bahamut does not have dedicated Priests. We are all Knights, proven through battle and combat.”

“Do not even call yourself a Knight. Does being a servant of a God give you such a Noble title? Tsk.”

“The Holy See does also do it.”

“Haaah? Are you insane? The Holy See has had hundreds of years of combat experience. What is this flimsy religion that’s not even a year old would hold a candle to them? Do all of you Outworlders think you're all privileged enough? Even your peasant woman reeks of self entitlement and self absorbed personalities.”

“Uhm… exactly what is it your here for? If you want to pray, we have pamphlets on the door to give you a basic introduction to our entire religion.”

“No, I came to wish for the demise of an Outworlder woman. One who had the gall to reject me.”

“Oh, interesting wish.”

“WAH!” The man gets spooked by Bahamut’s sudden appearance. As if the shadow behind the pew was a door for her to exit from and appear without notice. “You have a good soul. A fighting soul ripe with emotion. I’ll have you give a piece of your soul to me and rest assured that the demise of this Elf will occur in due time.”

“What?! What kind of Goddess are you? What’s the point then of asking for a miracle if in the end, you’ll be asking for my soul!? I had here with me my family heirloom to give, I thought your Church only wanted jewelry?!”

“Not specifically human. I request for shiny objects, one doesn’t need to equate it with jewelry, though it is a good addition. But it can be anything from the mundane to the exotic.”

“Grrrrrr…”

“Now, will you have a soul contract with me? I do not like to waste time. Also, my eyes are up here.”

“How can I look into your eyes when you have two big personalities on your chest?!”

“Haaaah… you humans are truly something. So, are we sealing the deal?”

“Dammit! I’ll go to the Diocese! The God of Anger is surely to come to my rescue. Heh… heheheheheh…”

“Uhm sir, the Diocese of the Twelve Gods doesn’t have a Temple here. Only Earthling religions like Catholicism, Islam, and Buddhism are allowed.”

“What bollocks is that? Then how come the Church of Bahamut has a place here?!”

“Goddess Bahamut technically is an Earthling religion and thus, is allowed. I won’t explain the hour long mambo jumbo I gave to the city council to have this built but rest assured, its legal.”

“I hate you Outworlders. You… you and your technology and that arrogant feeling you all have to us barbaric plebs! I’ll have you know your people reek of more corruption and disparity than we are!”

The man storms out, leaving the two heavy wooden doors open. Letting the cold winter air seep into the interior of the Church. The Knight sighs as he patiently closes the doors gently and once again and the Hymn of Inanis echoes within its doors without the hampering sound of the blowing winter wind.

Soon, the two continue to go into their conversation with the rest of the night not having many people inferring with their business. Many of the visitors just come to offer something and drop a quick prayer. With Longbow writing down specific details while letting the recorder take the rest. They ended everything at 7 o'clock in the morning with him cooking the Goddess Bacon and Eggs while also naming the interview “A Talk with God” which he soon copies into multiple USBs and sends them out to packages to be sent on other Dragon Knight HQs.

In the living room, the stand there showed the new armor of the Dragon Knights. Shiny jet black with its color, and reminiscences of Bahamut’s mighty scales. She sees that it's just made out of Wyvern hide and scale, the woman stands up and takes a pitcher of water and imbues it with True Magic while the man cooks her breakfast in the kitchen. He sneezes and his feet wiggles. “Phew, I felt a bit weak there. How long have I been awake?” He then flips the Bacon and Egg. Perfectly creating a breakfast meal.

“Also, have you heard Goddess? Our Leader, PieceOfHeart plans on building you a Cathedral. Deep inside Gareth. Do you have any specific wishes or anything to add? We have the funding of the UN, so if you want anything. We should be able to build it with the help of the Architecture Guilds.”

He then hears water tapping the wooden floor and looks over the living room. His Dragon Scale Armor has completely evolved its scales into that of an Elder Dragons. The same ones the ghostly Knights that used to defend Bahamut’s labyrinth wore. His helmet, gone from its more heroic appeal and is now an intimidating metallic mask with two large horns, the same as Bahamuts.

“There. That should do it.”

“Wo-woah…”

“This is my standard issue for all of my Knights. Be sure to wear it properly. I do not take anything less. Those who I consider as my Knights are not only bound to my eternal army, but also to my name.”

“O-of course.” He then finishes cooking and gives Bahamut a plate overwhelming with Bacons and Eggs that looks like it's about to spill out with one wrong move. The Goddess didn’t care and devoured everything in sight while the Knight admired his new piece of attire. “Stat Check.” using his merchant magic, the man is able to see the stats of his armor and it's all been boosted to super late game levels.

With it having a special new property, the purple text with a golden shining outline on it called “Blessing of the Void”, giving it immunity to space time magic which is one of the many banes of Astrologer players going into labyrinths that was once owned by the Cult of Bahamut. On Top of it were many other minor buffs, focusing on extra resistance to death and afflictions. His helmet most of all has a new enchantment to it called “Toxin Resistance - Absolute Resistance to Toxic chemicals and Toxin magic. But the wearer permanently suffers 25% extra damage against lightning”.

“Also, how come you're the only one here?”

“Oh, I’m level One hundred. I can basically maintain this Church with nothing but my magic and strength. I’m also a Merchant, so I have skills when stuff needs to be purchased and bought.”

“If only Master had that. He focused everything into fighting and buffing. But he absolutely sucks at getting discounts.”

“Ah, General Jackson correct? The News really went ham after your appearance in Fortress City. Even the UN had to spill the beans about you and your involvement. He is a very lucky man to have you.”

“Master is indeed very lucky! But it seems that it also backfires… I do wonder why the world is so… what is the human term for it…”

“Weird?”

“No, it's at the tip of my tongue.”

“Uhhhh… belonging?”

“No, no… it's uhm… what word was it…”

“Mend?”

“Yes, that one! The world always mends itself when it comes to certain humans. Though it also does it to the other races, it has a favoritism when it comes to your species. It might be due to your unhinged personality or something.”

“Hahahahahaha. It might.”

“It's as if, of all the species, the Gods love to play with the humans most.”

As the city comes back to life with morning fast approaching, more and more people start to pour into the Church. Soon, News vans have parked outside with celebrity players and high ranking Government officials present in the area. The Knight quickly had to go to the attic and summon reinforcements. With many Dragon Knights answering the call as the situation got more and more dire with thousands of people littering the street outside. Native Nobles and Players alike. The Priest had to pull a lever hidden under the altar which opens a secret passage that has a magic circle to it. It shines and soon, players have started appearing.

On a limousine driving on the other part of the city, a Bishop in a white suit with the logo of the golden Sun shuffles through a blueprint of a Church. Looking deep into the underground section and the surrounding areas.

“Bishop, All teams are ready for action.”

“Operation is a go. Expose the Devil for what she is, here I was thinking we’d let her be. But she just had to start performing miracles.”

Outside the Church of Bahamut, the Dragon Knights have teleported in a hundred of their players to defend the street and prevent everyone from hoarding into the Church. The powerful and buffed Knights in full armor were only using their enchanted tower shields as makeshift riot shields to prevent the sea of thousands of people from running into the newly built lonesome Church on the street. Inside its doors, Bahamut is surrounded by Knights. All equipped with guns alongside their swords as others planked up the windows with so many people outside wanting to meet and see the Goddess.

“This is a bit of a pickle. Knight Priest sir, what’s the plan?”

“We’ll allow only a hundred people in at a time.”

The doors open and another player runs in.

“Sir! We have journalists here and also politicians!”

“Tell everyone regardless of their rank to file and line up! Do they want to feel Bahamut’s wrath?!”

“Yes sir!”

Being the Knight Priest, the man is given a higher level of command over the rest of the deployed Knights and slowly, the crowd calms down with a few hundred being allowed in to be blessed by Bahamut. Many of the players were merely asking for her buff which adds extra stamina and a bit of a resistance to toxins. Taking advantage of it to drink away without needing to use healing magic and items on themselves.

While other players like professionals and veterans went in already in their armor with an empty enchanted piece of paper. They’d offer expensive jewelry and rubies while also asking for True Magic enchantments which they’re going to use for their adventures in the near future. Maximizing everything and even shocking Bahamut of their deep lore knowledge, having known even the stats of her most obscure magic.

========================================================

A few miles from the Church, the General is the two Vampires. Walking into an abandoned warehouse in the Industrial Sector of the city. There, two players wearing tacky 80s outfits were investigating a scene. One of the officers with them quickly walked to them and quietly whispered something. One of them with a mustache turns to look at their visitors. Behind them was a cornered scene, a dead woman wearing an evening gown and the coroner on the side with his white gloves on writing things on a clipboard as the once beautiful woman was left to rot in a dusty warehouse.

“Sorry General about the sight. Serial Killer’s on the loose.”

“I understand that. But I came here for the documents. My associates here will be taking care of the rest.”

“Huh, did you know StateSec came to us before you? Yesterday to be precise.”

“I am aware of their operation here.”

“Well, just don’t fight each other now. This seems to be way off my paycheck anyways. It's inside my Monaco. Follow me.”

As he walked alongside him, a woman wearing a turtleneck sweater, tan leather jacket and slim fit slacks with heels was leaning her back against the warehouse wall. Her curvy hair violently waves as a cold morning chill flies past them. Opening the passenger side door, he pops the glove box and hands him a bunch of files which he distributes amongst the two Vampires.

“So, in your time investigating. What had you found out so far?”

“Well… nothing to be exact. The tankers run on a random schedule, and only a certain number of people in Longway and Government have access to it. I didn’t go there myself, but the Hazardous Containment Unit on the Port put no abnormalities with their storage of the Vampire Blood Bioweapon.”

“Hmmmmm… this is clean. Far too clean.”

“It wreaks doesn’t it? Well, that’s up to you know. Good luck.”

As the Detective left. The General closes the car door and makes sure its locked. He then faces Alana with his arms crossed as she shuffles through the files about Longway Transport.

“So… what do you think?”

“I’ll go and check the company, M’Lord. They could easily just empty the containers where Her Majesty’s blood is contained.”

“And you Elizabeth?”

“I support the notion that this is far too clean… My Lorrd.”

“I know. I am now seriously considering it. But we need some hard facts, hard evidence before I can pull something of that magnitude. Don’t worry, I can do it now. With all these arrows pointing in a somewhat general direction. We can totally make it happen.”

“M’Lord, can I just present documents and enter Longway's Headquarters?”

“Totally. I’ll get everything arranged. I also have to visit the city council anyway. They won’t let me fortify Downtown.”

“My Lord, I also suggest taking with you some files about them. I’d like to read more about the people leading this city. Its stench can be traced down to one or multiple people easily if I could bypass all the laws and regulations in place.”

“Hahahahha, that is some Evil thinking but not going to lie. That might be the best course of action as everyone here is seemingly underwraps or too busy with something else.”

The General faces the warehouse, as the exhaust stacks of the factories towers behind it and truck and train horns blare in the horizon and the endless sound of machinery working hard were going in their usual paces. There, the two Detectives put their notepads down into their jackets as the Coroner was visibly trying to explain something to them. He then sees that the woman with wavy hair was still there. With her arms crossed and staring down his soul from afar. “Haaaah… stay here.” he then walks up to her and his face goes blank. Giving her an empty stare.

“What is StateSec doing here? I thought we plebs in the military aren’t worth your time.”

“That doesn’t matter, General.” The woman's voice was young but deep and crass, as if she’s been screaming for over the course of the entire year. “I have my worries but you're too involved in this now, I also have to deal with the clean up of your pet going a bit too public.”

“Bahamut isn’t just a pet. She’s a person who I am with. So what? You're gonna restrict a literal Dragon God to housewife status? The UN isn’t the Universe, you won’t be able to control her. Not even I can if she really wants to do something… now, what did she do now?”

“Don’t worry, we’ll get there. But we aren’t up our asses that we’d try to control a God. But we do know she did place an order for a suit but the money used was from the Government. You also have been lying in your reports. You have a personal beef with one of the members of Ugly Duckling.”

“Ugly Duckling? The fuck is that?”

“The name we gave to the organization that’s been an increasingly big tremor in our efforts to stabilize our power in this world. Ugly people that waddle around thinking that they can just manipulate their way to victory.”

“Why does it even matter? Can’t we just stop? We’re nearly home. So why not just put an end to this? Or are you people afraid of losing your grip? I might be following the orders of our superiors. But I am not stupid. If it weren’t for the fact that they're taking it too far, they would not even be a concern to me.”

“Ask that to them. I’m also just doing my job.”

“Tsk, so. What do you want to know?”

“First, Are you sure about using Countess Alana for investigating the companies that might be involved in smuggling the Bioweapons? She is not some woman, that is the daughter of the most expensive winery on this planet.”

“I am sure. Alana knows business, she has a good idea on how to run it better than I can. I have my full faith in her, and that she will give results that I need. It’s nothing complex either, we just wanna know if the Bioweapons are still there. If so, then this was the tanker that was taken by them. What else?”

“And the Queen?” Elizabeth looks back at the StateSec woman with peering eyes, not trusting her at all. “I do not like women like her. Ones who never reveal there true selves.”

“Why not just talk to her? If you have a problem, she's gonna suddenly prop up the idea of conquering the world again. Just ask her directly.”

“Hmph. General, you truly have no idea what we women are capable of. I can simply tell from this range that she is the type to never fully reveal her intentions nor show her true face. She knows she looks good and knows she can get away with things that we might not find so acceptable with her beauty. The worst kind of woman.”

“She knows more about governing than everyone here combined and actually knows what she’s doing. I’ll leave her to the political side of things for a good damn reason. The fact that she even managed to take over the world albeit only for a few years. That’s a pretty good reason to see that she has experience.”

“Haaah… this is going to be a headache.”

“It’s only gonna get worse from her. Just be sure you’ll do what you're supposed to do at StateSec.”

“It’s Kitter, and don’t worry. I’ll do my end of the bargain. It will be clean, fast, and no one will know before its too late.”

“Good. I don’t like Elizabeth’s ways as it decries freedom of the people. But it damn works well and for a situation like this, it might be the best bet.”

“Just be sure to be the one to clean up after her.”

“Before her. What the fuck have Bahamut done now?”

Back in the central section of the city, Paul looks down and calls for his Colonel. “Henry, I want you to lock this entire block down. Bring in Main Battle Tanks if you have too and if needed, I want the button ready. Keep the people in bay, I need to talk to Bahamut or maybe get her to go home.”

A UN player then runs in, putting his radio up and blasting it in full volume. “Harbringer to Command, we’ve spotted what seems to be a convoy of white vans exiting a car park a block away from the Church of Bahamut.”

“Hm?”

The professional woman was the first to grab the longwave radio. Her leather gloves were tightening from her clenched fists as she continued to listen. “Could this be an enemy movement sir? Or some sort of a drug ring?”

“Do not open fire, follow the vans and tell me their directions. I’ll get my agents on the ground to intercept them quietly. DO NOT OPEN FIRE.”

“Uhm who is this? Sir, General, are you there?”

“Follow her orders. I do not want a thirty millimeter chain gun being used inside city limits anyways. Kitter, I’ll leave this matter to you. I have to control the crowd. Elizabeth, Alana. On your way now. Use your Government IDs to abuse. Don’t leave a stone unturned. I’ll take care of this here.”

The two Vampires kneeled to their Lord and promptly disappeared before their very eyes. He then goes outside the tent and a column of M1A2 Abrams rolls past them with a mine plows attached to its front. “Henry, give me a sitrep. We might need to up the perimeter security. Tsk. What a fucking mess.” the General looks around the large numbers of players crowding the streets as paparazzi pushed their way through to the front to get their daily scoop of Zavalda’s interesting days. The Colonel with him suddenly turned to look around his surroundings and even peeked around the corners.

“Henry?”

“Ah, yes sir!”

“What is it? Is there anything that caught your eye?”

“The StateSec woman. She’s gone sir.”

Suddenly, Kitter reappears right next to the General. Spooking the officer.

“They're smart though.”

“Who? And can you not appear and disappear like that?”

“The Organization.”

“Those Ugly bastards. Since you're already tapping our room. You know what Elizabeth and Alana told me right?”

“That they are merely distracting everyone for a grand show?”

“Hm. Do you think it's that so?”

“Let’s hope not. If they were, then it's already been set in stone long ago and we’re merely delaying the fact.”

“I like it, it's as if these people are led by a Leader and not by politicians.”

“Good thing they don’t have citizens. General, a military man cannot lead normal people. Only a politician can.”

“I know, I know. But their less restrictive world is giving them a lot of leeway to create havoc in more civilized societies.”

Inside the Church, the singular bowl that was supposed to be offered up to the Goddess has been turned into multiple large overflowing ones with the Dragon Knights now swimming in riches. Many of the players were celebrating and laughing out loud at the massive influence their religion was gaining. Bahamut on the other hand stayed silently, feeling an ominous sense coming to her.

“Everyone! Quickly take cover!”

Hearing this, the Knights dragged the civilians behind the pews as teams of soldiers in all black gear rappel from the sun glass. Going in guns blazing with SCAR-Hs and ACRs, with many of the Knights inside having not worn their armor to be more presentable, the players were quickly shot dead just to respawn on the very same place. In Front of the statue of Bahamut.

The Goddess immediately burns them but the Operators were all wearing fireproof clothing that’s been enchanted. Even in a blaze, they continued to open fire, preventing the Knights from doing anything as their Longswords and Greatswords weren't able to get close enough to damage the soldiers. One wounded an attacker by throwing his weapon like a Javelin but quickly got shot and respawned and restrained. But the Priest was in his armor and alongside Bahamut, the two go into a melee combat. Their bullets are unable to penetrate the Dragon Armor of the Priest. Its helmet's long metallic horn, akin to that of Bahamut's, shone a rainbow iridescence as he slams into two of them and quickly spun his Greatsword around to its pommel and smacks one of the attacks with it.

“FOR GODEFROY!”

One of the Operators pulled the grenade pins on his IOTV kevlar vest, the Priest stared at the pouches where mags were supposed to be kept had red wires leading to them. It explodes, collapsing half of the Church completely and damaging the statue just enough for players to stop respawning there. Outside, a panic quickly ensues with the explosions, the Knights wanted to go in but so did the players. Having no choice but to continue to stem the tide with their Dragon Armor, resisting the varying magics of the players who wanted to get in with more violent methods.

In the midst of the explosion where the piled jewelry was thrown about everywhere inside like shiny expensive bullets, Bahamut quickly sends flying blades of fire from her hands alongside five fireballs on top of her, shooting off arrows of violet fire. Cutting down the Operators with ease. Their training and expertise have no use against such an overwhelming force alone. But the damage had been done and her Church was in ruins. But in the moment of kindness, all of the civilians that were inside were evacuated by her and the only casualties were her Knights.

The calming situation turns instantly into a dire one outside with the people hearing the explosions and gunfire, wanting to go inside even more to get involved.

“Knight, get up.”

Following the Goddess’ orders. A battered Dragon Knight gets up alongside the surviving players. She quickly opens her palm, giving them mana to teleport in their armor. Prepping them for battle.

“A strong one approaches. I’ll have to disable my spatial magic and allow all the Chosen Ones to fly and teleport away with their own personal magic. It will become more chaotic, so be prepared.”

The ground rumbles outside and a violent explosion happens inside the sewer, appearing as a giant angelic creature holding a Holy Lance and Longsword. Adorned with a sparklingly blinding chainmail and leather armor with the shiniest white wings. The Angel points its lance at the Church, sending a massive lightning bolt from the skies to destroy it. But it gets bounced to it, which it dodges.

“Hear me, Hear me! Dragon Goddess Bahamut, my summoner has pronounced thee as Heretic! Lay thy head on a platter and prepare for it to be severed!”

All the while, the players looked in silence and awe of the angelic figure. “Wow, that’s Saint Joseph the Martyr…. How did they summon one?” Before the player could continue looking, a M1 Abrams far behind it fires a shell. The whizz of the 120mm shell caused panic amongst the crowd of players. Many of which are shocked to see they are able to use magic once again and many choose to make their wings appear and fly away while others sped up and ran away. But this caused a headache to the skeleton soldiers who had to make sure everyone got out safely. With so many players of differing abilities and types, they instantly got overwhelmed alongside the forces of the UN and the ZPD.

The gigantic mess of people taking off with their wings and all sorts of flying magic, equipment, and animals. Was all captured on TV, as a player with a large HD camera on his shoulder was filming everything as he planted his right hand and legs on the side of a four storey building. Letting everyone watch the chaos ensue right before their eyes.

The humanoid Angelic creature with its golden eyes looks down on the APFSDS shell that was specially enchanted to go through magic armor, its tip coloured with a red and blue hue. The shot lands, and embeds itself on its clothing. The Angel merely pulls it out of its leather armor like a pinprick and points its finger at the tank. Without even doing anything, the main battle tank seemingly self destructs and combusts. Causing the windows on the building around it to be broken.

Seeing the chaos, Bahamut walks out of the ruined Church and the Angel didn’t waste its time at the chance, quickly pointing his finger at her and then clenching his fist. This crushes her humanoid figure like a tin can. But she merely reappears almost instantaneously without care. “This will be an amazing battle! Come! I shall put you in my roster of defeated creatures!” the angel only on the other hand flies back a few meters. “Tsk. This will be a bothersome one” . It then opens its palm like a jaw mawing on a prey and the entire block rumbles as a giant dragon pierces from the soil and concrete, completely eating up all the golden tribute and the block where Bahamut’s Church lay.

“SIR! SIR! BAHAMUT’S DEAD!”

“Calm down Colonel Henry. She’s not dead. That’s not even her body and true form.”

Another player then storms in.

“SIR! WE LOCATED WHOSE DOING THIS! WE GOT A BAND OF HIGH LEVEL CLERICS ON ONE OF THE BUILDINGS NEARBY!”

“Henry. Get me a Hellfire on that build- Wait. No. Tsk! Take control of this place!”

“Sir! What’re you planning on doing?!”

“Something crazy.”

The General nonchalantly walks to the radio and picks it up. “I’m requesting multiple body bags and an empty Mana Core, there’s a late game boss here. An Angelic one, this is your chance to recharge anything you have. If there’s anything to be told, talk to my Colonel. I’ll be dealing with something personally.”

A man in a white suit looks over at the entire city block as it disappears and the golden dragon with its humanoid arms munches on the debris and Bahamut.

“Your first.”

He looks behind him, with Bahamut walking over to where he was and looks over at the giant dragon whose armored head with a shiny bronze gladiator helmet turns to face her. The Angel descends and sends her to Heaven where her body is subsequently burned by holy fire, the Angel then appears. Seeing her mangled body that’s charred without anything remaining and sends the body down to the Underworld to burn in the blueish fire of damnation and then to Hell, where the body is tattered even more in the red burning fire of hatred and war.

The Angel looks down and grins, seeing that it has won. Reviving its summoner, it turns into the size of a human and kneels before him as the golden dragon sinks into the crater. Disappearing from sight completely.

“It is done My Lord.”

“That was surprising… oh Godefroy, thank you for your luck that I survived. Now that the Evil God is gone, we may carry on with our preachings!”

General Paul on the other hand felt something, and he nodded in agreement as he swallowed his saliva. Back at the neighboring block, on top of a building. He runs to the alleyway where he could see the Angelic creature and its Golden Dragon. “Bahamut! Armor me!” He was then given armor. But it wasn’t his Death Knight one. But instead, the generic world boss Dragon Knight armor of Bahamut. “Ugh. This thing feels heavier.” he then reaches for his back and pulls out the long Two Handed Zweihander from behind the cape. “Ah, it's super light.” He then runs up the emergency staircase up to the roof of the brick building. The heavy set of Dragon Armor loudly clanking as the white suited man turns around and the Angel peering over.

Behind him were three players, a Viking wielding a huge warhammer, a lanky man in a robe with two swords, and an elven woman with a scepter. They all three took three steps back as the loud clunks of the person running up to them became more and more audible.

“Saint Joseph the Martyr! Prepare to eliminate that man!”

The giant angel then gets a Hellfire into its back as an Su-25 coming in low and near fires a barrage of a hundred unguided missiles. “I told them not to use heavy firepower! Goddamit!” The General then arrives at the roof. Facing the three players and ten of the Clerics whose hands are up high on the skies, sending energy to the Heavens. In his black Dragon armor. The giant angel behind them swiping flying jets as its Golden Dragon whose only head is through the large portal is getting distracted by the military. Throwing what they got on the scene.

Without even talking, the white suited man runs behind the Clerics as the three players run towards the Dragon Knight. The General then holds his sword with both hands and charges at them. The robed man was first. With a hooded face and a facemask, his dual sword was rapid fire in its strikes. But the huge blade of the General blocked it. With extreme skill and coordination, the General then dodges the Elven woman's balls of green fire and the warhammer of the Viking. He overpowers the Robed player and goes for the Viking first. Striking its head with the blade which is stopped by the handle of his Warhammer. He then turns around and kicks the robed player back as he runs around the seven foot tall Viking player.

Seeing what the Dragon Knight was planning, the Viking immediately started running away, letting the Elf to hit him in the open roof. General Paul with his long standing experience, uses the Zweihander and slices through the balls of energy coming at him as flying blades come from behind. Making him perform a 180 spin. The robed player, now back on his feet had eleven translucent knives floating above his shoulders and head.

He then turns to see the Viking is now making a U turn to charge at him once again and the Elf repositioning for a better shot at him. With a calm demeanor, the Knight once again puts his sword up and closes his eyes. He then lights up. Three times with each having differing colors. He then runs towards the Viking and uses his Zweihander to stop its Warhammer as he grabs the man's bushy beard to pull his head down and uses his other hand to drop his sword and punch the player in the face. The General now seemingly thrice his strength smashes through the Viking’s helmet and quickly picks up his sword just before the Robed man could use his flying translucent knives to damage him. He quickly destroyed five of it as he parried the two swords of the player.

“Just what the fuck are you?!”

“A Level Two Hundred, Thief.”

The Thief DPS player then makes a few steps back and the General makes a dodge roll as a white magic circle opens and a fiery golden flame appears below where the two used to stand. He turns to see that the white suited man has come out of hiding and is now using his own Holy Magic against the high level player. He then throws his cape up, blocking the sharp waves of fire and green energy coming at him from the Elven woman with a Scepter as the Thief took the time to go far and not get caught in the crossfire. With the knocked out Viking standing up like an unstoppable force, the General is seemingly outnumbered. 4 to 1. With a calm breath, he again performs a dodge roll as a magic circle appears below him. Properly standing up, he dashes at the suited player. The Thief immediately starts running but before he could get to the Dragon Knight.

The middle aged man in a white suit plops down dead. His head rolling down the roof of the brick building, the Angel turns around and looks down. “My Lord?” and subsequently explodes into a red mist before the divine man could touch his summoner. Making the Angel look in shock. “My turn.” The motherly voice carried with it an evil presence as the ethereal creature put its weapons up. A black portal appears on top of it and Bahamut, back in her human form, spotless and undamaged, kicks the elysian man into the middle of the massive crater.

“Tsk! Before I am returned I will do as My Lord orders and kill you!”

Down below, using the confusion. The General kills a few Clerics before the rest ran in panic. Making the Angel’s power down. “Hah! Bahamut! Chosen One Mana is no longer being sent to that thing! Beat it uo a pulp! I have three more morons to deal with here.” He looks at the three players, panting heavily while the Dragon Knight even in his heavy set was undamaged and not even in a lick of tire. “As ordered Master! I shall do it with glee!”

She then pulls out a black oil lamp from thin air, with its blue fire burning brightly. Bahamut swings it once and underneath the angel, a gigantic portal is opened and another underneath the portal that spawned the giant helmeted Golden Dragon.

A more massive and scary six eyed creature with jet black skin and long aerials protruding from its snout takes a bite of the Golden Dragon in one go. Making it disappear alongside its portal in an instant, the haunting image of the Void Creature shocks the heavenly creature that it didn’t merely return but died on the spot.

A huge dark head of a lizard-like snake with six eyes just ate it in one go. Colonel Henry just looked a block away with the rest of the city and its players. The giant Void Creature continues to go up as it turns down to swallow the Angelic creature. Saint Joseph with his Lance fires flying arrows of gold into it. Its skin takes and sinks down into its unworldly body, which is a long crocodile and snake-like oilish hide with more aerials and a sharp spiky spine. All the players could hear was the scream of the Angel as it also eats it whole. It then turns to go up once again, avoiding the building where the General is on and after reaching the clouds, it stops and returns back into the portal.

Soldiers in white combat uniforms and tactical gear then appear behind Bahamut as she landed to look down on the disabled players that were defending the white suited man, her Master nonchalantly leaning on the two handed swords as the soldiers of Godefroy stood in a firing line, looking at them with their hands visibly trembling and shaking as they turn into red mists. As if nothing even happened, Bahamut turns to look to her Master.

“Master, how were my followers?”

“U-Uhm…” even he was afraid of her, shaking a bit from the sight as he almost falls of balance from the sword. Bahamut sighs and gets his hand and puts it on her chest. Calming the man down. “They're alright… they respawned at another Church in the North of the city.”

“Phew, that’s good. I do not want to revive anymore.”

“H-how did you kill the Golden Dragon though…? No one has ever defeated it before. Not even with all of us…”

“Master, I control death now, remember? I merely sent its soul somewhere.” she puts up her lantern and it's a cold fire burning ever so brightly than ever before.

“I-i see, wow… so you just took its soul and put it in there?|

“Yes Master. Now, what’re we going to do?”

“Let’s first visit your followers and have you explain yourself to them alright? Next up, uhm… clean up.”

“Boooo…”

“Boo me later. I also had your coat embroidered and had a nameplate made for you. You’ll be wearing Eldwood’s official uniform from now on.”

“Ohhhh! Do I get the hat you wear, Master?”

“Of course, I’ll have an Officer’s cap made for you. I hope it fits your head, we don’t really have ones that fit a woman.”

“Also Master, yesterday when I was flying around the city at night. I saw a structure that seemed to be submerged on the shoreline.”

Bahamut points straight at an attraction of the city to have tourists visit it.

“Oh that? That’s Zavalda’s Aquarium.”

“Ohhhh! Can we visit it, Master?”

“No. We have no time. I still have to a meeting with the Mayor and City Council.”

“Ehhhhh… please.”

“No.”

“Pweasseeee.”

“No, no. Don’t ever try to speak to me in that cutesy voice. I swear, I’ll unlock some new fetish and I don’t need anymore just from the Vampires alone.”

“Pwease.”

“Ugh. Alright, later. We’ll visit it. BUT only if we have time. I’ll need you anyways. Your presence might give me some more serious answers.”

“YES! Date with Master time!”

“Grrrrr… I hate how easy I am sometimes.”