Leblanc looked around a bit as she was led to a sewer entrance by Raigh, the man showing them the easiest way into the city without being detected. Alucard smirked a little to himself as Raigh worked on the grate in front of the entrance, trying to work it off in a timely manner to avoid any guards that would make their way around during patrol. “We have to be quick. Draga and Draco should be on patrol and we can’t let them catch you. He doesn’t seem like much but Draco can rip an army to shreds alone if given the reason.” Raigh informed them as he grunted with a hefty twist, the grate breaking in his hands as he set it aside, Leblanc surprised by the man's strength, but it explained how he was a member of the kings council. He stepped aside and rubbed his wrist a bit, that was a pain to do with his hands restrained still, due to his status as a prisoner. Alucard nodded and used a spell that shot a ball of light down the sewer, lighting their path, thankfully strong enough to remain lit as it escaped them. Alucard walked in with Leblanc as she readied her axes, the rest following suit with their weapons pulled and ready for the battle. Once in the city, they were going to fight back and fight hard. Sazh looked at Melody for a second as the woman gathered her thoughts and nodded as she pulled on her gloves to adjust them some, not wielding any weapons due to her magic affinity, so she had no reason to hold up her hands with something else. “You ready? If you can’t fight after that whole breakdown, I won’t judge you if you walk away. This fight is going to be intense so if you aren’t suited for battle, please retreat.” Sazh said, concerned for his friend and wanting to make sure she was safe, as she just smiled and chuckled faintly, almost fake. She wasn’t fully prepared but she also couldn’t run, so she had to fake her feelings for the time being. “Thank you Sazh. But I am okay. I swore to Lady Leblanc I would fight with her to the very end, and that means now. I will not stop until our goal is achieved.” She said simply, smiling a fake smile as she walked alongside her friend and closest ally, who just sighed but nodded. He has known Melody for years and knew when she was lying, and this was that time. He still couldn’t tell who the person in her doubts was, and he wanted to find out soon. “Besides, if I express all my worries every time I have them, we would constantly be in a state of having to stop and listen. You can’t let emotion and fear tie you down. That is something you taught me.” She said to her carefree and outgoing partner, who could only laugh due to how true her words were, even if he didn’t want to admit it. Leblanc was listening to them but decided to not push the matter due to what her mindset was right now. For now she turned her attention to Alucard “When we get in, I want you to run and hide back until I give the signal, with your magic you can easily do some heavy damage once the castle is less guarded and when that happens, it will make burning down that wretched building that much easier.” She instructed with authority and firmness, one that Alucard was not fully anticipating but he just nodded as it would benefit him anyways to stay hidden as that would keep him out of the line of sight. The group continued making their way through the sewers, the light from the spell still illuminating the walls as they progressed through the horrid sewage. “To think this is the underground of such a beautiful city. Just goes to show that even beauty can be deceptive.” Melody said to herself as she looked around, but she was in a sewer and she realized just how odd it was for her to note this. While the group progressed, Draga approached and entrance and noticed someone had tampered with it and ripped it open, as a bit of unease went over him as he had a bad feeling over this, as he gently picked up the moved grate and set it aside as he peered in, seeing a group in the distance thanks to the light. He grunted in surprise and backed up quickly as Maxwell approached, finishing his part of the patrol. “Someone break in or out?” He asked, Draga pointing silently. Maxwell peered in and saw the group and shook his head, pulling his sword out from its sheath and motionion Draga to follow him. “Alright, lets go alert the king.” He said as he headed off, he seemed calm despite the fact they had a suspected invasion on their hands. Draga shrugged it off and followed him quickly as he figured it better than leaving himself alone there. - Drax paced back and forth as he had a weird feeling about today. He wasn’t sure why but he has been hearing a weird sound for the last few minutes and it was giving him some amount of anxiety that something just wasn’t right. He held his sword, still held in its sheath, in his hand as he paced, unsure if he should draw his blade and go start investigating, but feared that it would lead to people growing suspicious and starting to get uneasy. He did not want to alert his people but knew that no matter what, he had a hard choice to make. Before he could continue his thoughts, he looked over when he heard his chamber doors open, Maxwell walking in as he made his way over to his father. “Father, I have some bad news, Draga and I have discovered a manhole grate outside of the city had been ripped open and someone is inside the sewers as we speak. I am unsure what their objective is but I wish to get your input first before I start sending troops to wipe out our little infestation issue.” Maxwell said as he walked to him, Drax grunting in surprise with worry as he was right, his concern and anxiety was not unwarranted. Drax sighed softly as he pulled out his sword and began walking out. “Son, gather the troops, and anyone capable of fighting, I think I know who this rebellion is led by and if I am right then I am sorry in advance.” Drax said and before Maxwell could speak, his father was gone. Maxwell breathed softly, but a bit shaky, trying to keep his nerves calmed before he nodded and walked out of the room and rushed down to the knights chambers, where Draco was already one step ahead of his husband, standing with Lyle getting everyone in the knights quarters ready for the incoming battle. “Maxwell, get your gun, we heard from Draga, we are getting the entire city covered by guards, and we need you in a spot that can handle things from hiding.” Lyle instructed, despite Maxwell being a prince, Lyle showed some respect but still took charge when he felt it necessary, something Maxwell didn’t seem to protest, as he trusted Lyle, since he did prove himself since he was a good and caring guardian for his brother after all. Maxwell gave a nod and quickly went to where his gear was stored, opening the cabinet and pulled out the rifle, loading it swiftly and looked at Draco, the duo smiling at one another before he left, heading down into town. Upon reaching the town, Maxwell noticed smoke rising near the marketplace, and gasped, the husky quickly getting into a position for combat and ran towards the signal. He didn’t like what was being seen but he had to save his judgement until they were in sight, because for all he knew this was just the civilians calling out for an SOS of some sort. Maxwell rushed down some steps and looked around as he checked around some of the marketplace stalls and noticed the smoke was rising from a manhole, Maxwell glaring a bit as he got ready and aimed his weapon, looking to see what was causing it. Without warning, as soon as he saw the manhole open, he fired a bullet, the sound heard from around the entire market, as the bullet flew through the air and made its way to its target, the manhole cover fell to the side and Maxwell watched, seeing blood fly from his target, and a body sliding back into the manhole, followed by a growl as a horde of people started filing out with speed and swiftness. Maxwell grunted a bit, knowing he only killed one of the invaders. While he was distracted, Alucard silently made his way out of the sewers and got low, close to the ground and quickly went into hiding, grabbing a cloak from a stall, and wrapping it around himself so his face and physique were hidden from view, and he started running with the now panicking crowd, blending in quite well that the knights that ran by and were helping everyone didn’t realize who he was, or that he was raised from the dead. Leblanc exited the sewer and smirked as she looked around, her axes in hand as she watched Alucard make his planned departure until she needed him. She then turned her attention to her team and gave a few motions, sending troops to different areas, as the fire slowly escaped the manhole. She smirked as she sliced her axe against a piece of metal, a stand being set ablaze, and Maxwell watching in horror as a woman and her child struggled to get out. “This’ll be a great message to those horrid upper class bastards, the nobles and royals who have done such horrible things. Suffer for their crimes, and in the afterlife judge them for what they let happen to you!” She said as the two ran and finally managed to escape, Maxwell shooting another bullet towards Leblanc, his blind rage making his aim degrade as the bullet went past her hip, the armor making a spark as it bounced away. She blinked softly and looked down, noticing the faint dent on her armor as she turned around with her axe raised in the combat position, seeing Maxwell standing there, wearing armor with the royal insignia, one she remembered so well. It pissed her off. She growled “So the pathetic royals are actually making an attempt to stop me. Too bad you pathetic excuses of living beings are too late. You caused this, your father let such horrible things happen to my kind, you don’t care about the lower class. You just piss me off, all you nobles are a shitstain on the world, and I am going to cleanse it, by removing you from this very existence!” She said and charged at Maxwell, the man's eyes widen slightly as he leapt back and fired another bullet at her, her armored hand raising as the bullet crashed into it, the bullet crumbling on itself as she smirked at him, continuing to charge as Maxwell gasped, quickly rushed away from her and making his way towards the castle, knowing he could at least get some backup there. Leblanc smirked more to herself as she looked at the surrounding scene, seeing her troops holding their own against the castle guard, some guards killed on the spot, and some of her own but knew she was fine to leave them alone. She followed Maxwell towards the castle and threw one of her axes, the man jumping aside as the axe struck his leg, making him grunt in pain as the armor was pierced, the blade striking his leg and leaving itself planted there as he knelt down in pain, grabbing the axe and ripping it out of his leg, the man screaming in pain as blood spurt out into a puddle between him and Leblanc, the woman laughing as she took her other axe and raised it. “Now burn in hell, and suffer in eternal torment and punishment for the crimes against people you have commited!” She shouted and swung down, Maxwell closing his eyes tight, preparing to watch his life end. He was surprised that he didn’t feel anything attack him, as he slowly opened his eyes, seeing Lyle and Draco with him, Draco crossing blades with Leblanc and pushing her back, knocking her into a tree before swinging the blade swiftly, the blade barely grazing her neck as she ducked to the side, no blood being drawn like with Maxwell. “So, what’s this about burning in hell? Seems you’re already preparing yourself for where you are heading.” Draco said and got ready to fight her, Lyle aiming his own gun at her while holding his sword to the side incase he needed to get in close to fight her. Leblanc stood up in anger as she readied her axe, glaring at Draco and the other two as she smirked, throwing the axe to the side and watching as it pierced the earth around her. “Fine, if you wish to fight me this way, allow me to… even the playing field.” She laughed as she started casting a spell, she wasn’t an expert in magic but she knew enough to teach Sazh and Melody how to raise the dead, so she had a few tricks up her sleeve. They all watched skeptical as Draco got ready to attack, the axe slowly glowing a bright blue, as a shroud of magic started to circle around her, the rebellion leader slowly being embraced by the spell. “Shit! It’s almost like when we fought Drazernon!” Maxwell said loudly to make sure Draco would hear, the dragon growling angrily. Unlike Drazeron however, she didn’t transform, she was just in a magic casing, one that protected her from even the most powerful of attacks. “You can compare me to that failure of a leader, but I am not like him. My spell doesn’t get rid of my humanity, or my sanity. I know what happened in that castle when you bastards killed Drazernon and I won’t make the same mistake, I won’t let this power overwhelm me. I will just kill you now, so that people can be free and we never have to repeat that incident.” She smirked and charged at Draco, the man swinging his blade to attack her, but she smirked wickedly and grabbed the blade, her hand covered in the same magic as she tightened her hold on the blade and with ease, snapped it into tiny pieces, before sure made a fist with her other hand and swung at Draco, hitting him in the gut, knocking him back as he landed against Lyle, forcing the wolf to fall back in pain. Maxwell grunted as he tried standing but fell to his knee as he couldn’t stand on the bleeding foot, his armor filling with his blood as it made him sick and uneased, he wasn’t sure what to do as he tried firing at her, but it just bounced off. “You really want to use such cheap tactics in a fight?” rang a voice. “Especially when you already have my son in his weakest state? You’re the pathetic one. And what’s all this nonsense about us hating the lower class?” Drax walked up, holding his wife’s spell book as he slowly casted a silent spell, all while he talked. “You hurt my son, you hurt my knights. You try to burn down my castle? You are the pathetic stain on the world. Someone like you leading a rebellion all for your selfish desire to hurt any nobles all because one person wronged you?” Drax glared, the stern king not showing any anger, he was a caring and understanding man, and this was proving it. As he casted, Melody walked up and saw everything that was around her, she couldn’t believe that this is what Leblanc wanted to do. Leblanc looked over at her and smirked, her eyes showing malicious intent, not like what they used to show. “Good timing. Melody, kill them.” She ordered, the woman gasping as she was instructed to kill the people who were wounded. “What? You can’t be serious. I thought you only wanted the leader, why would we kill all of them, they can’t even fight back?” Melody asked her, her mind growing cloudy as she backed up, a voice filling her head as she felt some weird darkness embrace her. “Don’t you see now? This is what your leader had become, all because of the influence of that horrid traitor.” Came a familiar, surreal voice. The voice from her dream was back, as the figure appeared to her in the darkness, holding out his hand. “Your mind is clouded because you are under similar power of influence, but you didn’t interact with him the whole time like she did. Now! Force your way out of the darkness and back into the light, fight for what you believe and make sure you remind your leader of just what you know is good. Bring forth the fight and show her who she really should be fighting!” The voice echoed. Melody was in shock, she stared at the figure realizing that she was now in her own heart, one clouded by anger, and the influence of the traitor, a image slowly came into focus right before her, she saw the traitors face clear as day. She slowly reached out and grabbed the man's hand. “The traitor that has harmed your leaders heart, and the one who lead her down this path was Alucard! The top general of Drazernon, the man you were forced to bring back to life. Don’t let your mind be clouded any longer, cast away the influence and wipe away your regret. Fight for the right side and put an end to Alucard once and for all!” The voice yelled as he held her hand and everything around her became clear, as she opened her eyes and was standing back in the arena that Leblanc had made. “Yes. I must cast away the influence. I won’t kill them!” Melody said firmly as her hands started to spark, a spell being cast as she turned to Leblanc and shot a bolt of electricity her way. “I am going to free your mind even if it marks me a traitor in your eyes. Alucard had turned you against your belief, all so he could use you to his advantage. Come back to me Leblanc!” she said as the bolt hit Leblanc and made her fly back a bit but she landed on her feet and charged at Melody, swinging her axe at her as the feline swiftly jumped into the air and kicked off the axe, flying over Leblanc and landing next to the king, Melody looking him in the eyes. “I am sorry to have been a part of this invasion, but now my mind is made up. Allow me to help you beat her, but please! Don’t kill her!” Melody asked him, the man looked in surprise, but nodded and got ready, pulling out his sword and holding the book, before thinking and handing it to the woman. Melody was confused but noticed it was spells she had never even seen before. She looked at him in surprise, as he just smiled softly and nodded. “I trust you. Melody, was it? Please, lend me your power, I will not kill her if you wish to save her.” Drax smiled gently at her, and aimed his weapon to Leblanc, he planned to be fully defensive now so Melody could do her work. The two clashed against one another as their weapons collided, the king grunting as he made sure not to swing, his strength was unmatched and so he knew he had to hold himself back to not hurt Leblanc. Melody quickly flipped through the book and started casting a spell. Her paw glows red and she threw it at Leblanc, the spell hitting her arm and wrapping around it, as a magical chain quickly shooting out of her arm and sealing itself to the ground. Leblanc grunted as she stumbled back and realized what had happened, before she took her axe and smashed the chain, Melody shocked that she was able to break even a magic chain. “You won’t hold me with such pathetic powers. Remember who taught you Melody!” She said angrily and leapt at her instead, before having the wind knocked out of her as Drax swung his sword and smacked the flat side into her stomach, launching her back against the castle wall, the woman nearly breaking through from the man's energy. Melody then approached her friend, another spell being cast. “I do remember. It wasn’t you, you aren’t the same Leblanc I once knew.” Melody said and shot another blast of energy, Leblanc growling as she pulled herself from the wall and kicked off it, screaming in anger as she swung and broke through the incoming spell, tearing right through it before Drax’s very eyes. He grunted and got ready, unaware that nearby, Alucard was watching silently, a smirk across his face as he turned away and started walking away, heading towards the castle. “Such a wasted effort. She was such a good ally too, too bad that once that bastard is done with her, she won’t even be allied to me anymore. On the bright side, I can thank her for bringing me back and training my body to be able to fight once more. She deserves that much. For now, I must carry on and continue with my plan, she was just a casualty in my end goal. My ideals will be absolute!” He said disappearing into the castle. Leblanc grunted at the harsh words spouted by her friend as she just angrily turned away, he hands glowing once more as she changed colors around her. Her armoring became red, and it was giving off even more energy. Drax panted softly as he was growing tired. The man wasn’t as limber as he used to be, and he quickly was growing to exhausted. Melody sighed softly as she gently rubbed the man's shoulder. “Please, rest. Your sons need you, and I can’t risk you dying for me. I would never live with myself if I ripped a good father away from his kids. I will handle this.” She said, Drax growing concerned before he heard someone else nearby. “Don’t worry dad. I got this, with some help.” A voice rang out as someone was seen walking out of the castle. He looked and was shocked, but smiled seeing Inferno walking out with Draga and Nomad. “Turns out I'm in fighting shape. I’ll explain what was holding me up when it's over, but you can return to the castle father. We got this.” Inferno said, as Nomad smiled softly nodding in turn telling her husband to escape. Drax chuckled softly and shook his head but tossed his sword to Inferno, who caught it with a smirk as he turned to Leblanc, Drax rushing into the castle to go rest. Leblanc growled angrily as she got ready. “Lady nomad?! Oh goodness, I shouldn’t be the one holding this if you are here. Please, take your spellbook!” Melody said and tried to return it, but Nomad just smiled as she pushed the book back to her softly. Nomad placed a hand on her back and nodded. “Keep it, I have dozens. Besides, you won’t be able to help if you give it back now, isn’t that right? And besides, I’m old, I have memorized my spells inside and out.” Nomad smiled as she got ready, a magic lance forming in her hands, she casted the spell with such grace and without hesitation that it made Melody gasp in awe, but shook it off as they turned to Leblanc. The real battle was about to begin, Draga gripped his swords, the two telling him they were ready through his subconscious mind, The four fighters charged at Leblanc, who quickly got her bearings and punched the ground, shooting up a pillar of fire that caught Nomad, who growled a bit and used it to her advantage, using a spell to move the flames around and used it to shoot from the top, flying into the air before spinning a bit and flying down, swinging the lance right at Leblanc, striking her across her temple, knocking her to the side, where Draga was waiting, and swung his sword. He didn’t puncture the magic armor, but it was enough to give him the momentum to allow the sword to swing her, throwing her into a tree, shattering it into a few pieces that flew around, Inferno rushing to his downed allies and putting up a barrier that stopped it from hitting Maxwell, Lyle and Draco. Lyle saw and was surprised but smiled and nodded as he carefully stood up, ready to fight again as he stood beside Inferno. “You’re a reckless kid, you should be resting.” He told him as he rubbed his back before grabbing his gun and fired a couple rounds at the tiger woman, Leblanc rushing around and avoiding them as she snarled in anger. Inferno smiled a bit as he looked at Lyle, putting down the shield “I’m fine Lyle, thank you for worrying though. In reality the reason I wasn’t okay was because my body is still negatively affected by Drazernon’s ritual, I’ll explain later.” He said before charging at Leblanc and swung his sword overhead, swinging down in an arc to try and hit her, but she grabbed an axe off the ground and swung it around, catching the blade under the axe and forcing it out of Inferno’s hands, pulling him close and punching his gut, making him stumble back and grunt, spitting up a bit. He smirked and stood up, wiping whatever was spat up away from his mouth and shooting a fireball from his hand. “Gotta try harder than that just to get rid of me.” He said and charged her again, this time without a weapon. Melody watched and gasped realizing how dangerous he was acting as she flipped the pages and landed on a page that might help, as she started casting a spell, and before she knew it, a pillar of light erupted from the book and crashed into Leblanc, throwing her back as he claws slid against the ground, Inferno speeding up and sending a swift kick to her feet, throwing her into the air and swinging a leg up, slamming it down, Leblanc going with it as she landed between the ground and his heel, grunting as it landed against her stomach, knocking the wind out of her. Draga nodded and went to his aid, Leblanc grabbing his foot and twisting it, flipping Inferno off of her as he landed face first against the hard floor, making him groan as Lyle gasped and ran to his side, helping him stand. Inferno’s face was bloodied and there was blood streaming down from varying places from the impact, but he wasn’t giving up, as he gently pushed Lyle aside to give him room and he wiped the blood, some covering one of his eyes as he growled, the man's face bled slowly after the initial cover was removed, and he grabbed Lyle’s sword, rushing towards Leblanc once more, but this time before he even got to her, he used his wings to propel himself to the left and swung the sword with the momentum, the sword slashing against the magic as it managed to puncture it, to everyone’s shock, all but Draga who smirked and nodded at his two weapons, swinging them rapidly and moved his body in the same fashion, twirling in a small circle to give them the needed speed, both swords slashed against different parts, the magic shielding her cracking and shattering just like with Inferno. Melody saw this and started flipping pages again, looking for anything she could use to help them as she ducked for cover, Lyle, and now Draco, covering her. She looked before she let out a gasp finding something and quickly waved her hands in the instructed movements, before standing and swinging her hand at Leblanc, an arrow of darkness leaving her fingertips and flew towards Leblanc, the woman seeing and gasping as she leapt up and tried getting over, but wasn’t fast enough as it slashed right through her, the armor all around her shattering before their eyes. She grunted and fell holding her stomach, looking but noticing there was no blood, nor a wound to be seen. “Okay, that was weird. Your majesties! Take your shots, Knock her out and I will use a spell I know to wipe her of this influence!” Melody called out as Inferno nodded, Nomad rushing to her sons side as she swung the lance down hard, aiming for a leg as she heard a slight snap, she didn’t intend to, but the heat of battle lead her to break Leblanc’s leg, who yelled in pain, while Inferno swung his sword at her and sent out an energy blast, supported by his fire skills, they wrapped around her wrists and flung her back some, the flames wrapped around her wrists now spread to her arms and attached themselves to the castle wall, one of the few still intact. Melody nodded and smiled, glad to see they did that as she stood and ran to stop Inferno. “You guys did it, now please stand back! What I am about to do is dangerous, and even life threatening, but it must be done.” She said, and pushed them back, and before Inferno could say anything, she erected a barrier between them, leaving her and Leblanc alone, Inferno punching it screaming for Melody not to end her own life for this. Melody looked back at him gently, a few tears in her eyes as she had resolved herself, she mouthed a thank you to Inferno, grateful that even a prince she was led to believe was evil had managed to aid her. She knew she had to repent for her crimes as a rebel, and if her life was the price, she was going to pay it. “Thank you, Leblanc, for giving me a chance when no one else would. Sazh, for being my best friend, and for always supporting me when I was alone. And thank you, prince Inferno, you may be the son of Drazernon, the embodiment of evil itself, but you are not an evil being. You are something greater, and I was glad to have at least fought by your side in the end. Forgive them of their sins and crimes, and please, protect them.” She said softly as she gently placed a hand on Leblanc's forehead, the woman thrashing about angrily, trying to break free, unable to speak anymore, she was slowly slipping. Melody shut her eyes and started casting. “Oh holy light, and the powers of the creators of our world, ancestors that granted us such powers and honors. Cast away all darkness, bring about my light and cast it into her, give this lost soul a chance, a renewed lot in life. The light from within my soul, cleanse this vile being of what they have done. And give them the chance to correct what they did, and repay the evil that had put them in this spot.” She said, before she opened her eyes and they were glowing pure white, Inferno gasping and shielding his eyes, it was too bright for him to withstand. Melody looked up and smiled, tears streaming down her face. For once she could cry, she could show emotions and not feel weak. She could save someone. “Restore this lost soul to its original state, reconstruct its good and replace the bad. BRING HER BACK!” She screamed finally, and in an instant, the barrier fell, as did she, the light fading as Leblanc was seen, weak, facing down as she cried softly, tears falling rapidly. “What have I done?” She said weakly, the fire around her arms disappearing as she collapsed, too weak to fight. Inferno looked as he rushed in, seeing Melody lying nearly lifeless next to Leblanc. Nomad saw and told Lyle and Draco to take Leblanc into the medical ward. “Get her help, I don’t care what she has done, she doesn’t need to die yet. And if any of those medical workers have an issue, tell them the queen will gladly have a word with them. Go!” She ordered and the two knights quickly took Leblanc, Lyle helping her stand before motioning Draco to Maxwell, The man understanding and going to retrieve his husband, the duo taking them inside. Inferno gently slid his claw under Melody’s head and faced it to him, her fur was messy and all over, she was exhausted. “Thank you.” He whispered softly, a tear escaping as he didn’t want someone to die for the fight to end, he was tired of watching people die, even if he never got to know her. Melody groaned silently, Inferno hearing as he looked, the tears he let escape landing on her shirt as she lightly shifted. Nomad saw and smiled in relief. “Thank goodness, the poor dear seems to be alive, but just barely. We should get her to the medical ward also and let her and that Leblanc girl rest. If we get the full story, we might be able to understand better.” she said, relief and a welled up emotional state in her voice as Inferno gently picked Melody up and carried her in, Nomad grabbing the spellbook and smiling as she looked out to the town, watching as the rain began to fall, looking up noticing the clouds had grown dark during their battle. The rain worked its way down and before her very eyes, the town was washed and the fire was stopped. She turned and clutched the book to her chest. “Such power, from such a young woman. I wonder what this means?” she said and with grace and beauty in her movements, she made her way inside, to find her husband, sons and potential allies. As the rain poured, Alucard silently escaped the castle from a hole in the wall and looked around, unhappy that his plan had failed this time, but he held up a gem and smirked, a new plan slowly forming as he thought. Raigh looked over as he walked out of the rubble with the wolf, seeing the rain “so Inferno succeeded, like you had guessed. But now what?” Raigh asked, crossing his arms as he looked at the smaller demon wolf. Alucard just smirked a bit as he laughed, his shoulders shaking some as he was angry, but it was laughable, pathetic at best. “Stay here, be with your wife. I have no place here for now, and must go and start working on a new plan to end that bastard Inferno. I will return for your aid once again in the near future, once I have a few more variables in place, but watch Inferno, and Drax. Don’t let them find out about me, and I will make sure you are rewarded.” Alucard told Raigh, who just faintly smirked and nodded, turning to head back in, weak from the rubble that had collapsed on him, but would use that to his advantage, the king wouldn’t suspect a thing if he was wounded like that from the battle. He headed in as Alucard left the area, walking towards the woods Thanatos had headed for earlier. - Sahïr thought to himself as he paced in his hut while Thanatos watched him, leaning against one of the poles with his arms crossed. “You saw it just like I did, the kingdom was on fire, but I doubt they had lost. What do you think of it?” Thanatos asked, the snow leopard man just grunting in response as he didn’t have much to grace the dragon with in ways of a reply. Thanatos shook his head and watched him walk over to his bookshelf, the chief pulling out a book from the shelf and setting it out in front of Thanatos, who looked at the title and thought curiously. “Rituals of ancient times, as well as dark, forgotten spells? Why would you want to use something like this? What would it accomplish?” Thanatos asked, the Chief smirking at him. “Just goes to show how much you really know. I won’t tell you my plan just yet, but I have a plan in mind, something that will benefit and suit both of our needs. My end goal is something not even those pompous royals could ever hope to comprehend. Just keep doing what you are doing, buddying up to the king and seeing what you can attain information wise. Don’t let me down.” Sahïr said to Thanatos, watching the tall orange dragon mercenary, who stood himself up and uncrossed his arms. “Whatever you say, you’re insane though, there is no way they would ever just sit idly and not grow suspicious when something big happens. Don’t expect me to come to your aid. Your ritual may benefit me in some way but I would rather not lose my life for collaborating with someone like you.” “Don’t you worry, you won’t be acknowledged if they find out too soon, just trust me.” He smirked and extended a paw, in which Thanatos reluctantly shook, but didn’t voice his opinions yet, he wanted to see how this played out, he was a curious mercenary after all, nothing was going to keep him from being a part of something big if it meant a good payout. He turned and walked away, Sahïr smirking as he turned and began reading. “Damn fool, thinking he’s all that clever, he's just an unwitting pawn in my little plan. Once his usefulness runs dry, I won’t hesitate to kill him and toss him aside like the useless pile of garbage he is. All I need is myself, and this book. I will be unstoppable.” He smirked and started to cackle to himself as he read. All the while, outside the village, a cloaked figure was looking in, smirking seeing Thanatos and Sahïr, a twisted look on his face as he pulled his hood back, a purely demonic face seen by anyone nearby. “Just as I said, I just need a few more variables. Continue your little path Sahïr, my claw is waiting for you to fall right into it. Just you wait.” He smirked and turned, walking away from the village for now, marking his map.