4th Day of the 1st Fire Cycle[1], 2000 g.c.
An hour after the Illuminati escaped to the Northwest, the two figures emerged out of a shimmering puddle of warped space and water—one cloaked in her lime and hunter-green leather mini skirt, the other in a yellow-black nobleman shirt still smeared from battle. The Blood Witch had returned, and with her, the ever-smirking leader of the Illuminati, Beau Soleil. The Telepuddle had deposited them safely into the heart of the Sycamore Tree: a towering fortress grown from enchanted wood, nestled deep in the Country of Endora.
The chamber she landed in was cloaked in a dim, violet haze, the tri-moons casting their light through a massive stained-glass window high above. The colored beams mixed with the floating incense smoke, painting slow-moving illusions that danced like spirits over the dark velvet floor. It smelled of musk and spice, of red wine spilled and left to ferment in silk. The crackle of soft hearths mixed with the distant beat of drums and plucks of bardic string instruments filtering up from the lower floors.
This was the 69th Floor—the coven's lair, the Panty Raiders' sanctuary. Plush, indigo velvet sofas sat in crescent formations around blackwood tables etched with arcane runes. Glass goblets rested half-full of glittering tequila. Somewhere down the winding hall, the rhythmic creaking of beds could be heard—VIP prisoners being drained of their magick and vitality, pleasure laced with punishment. The ambiance of the Sycamore Tree was dark, decadent, and humming with illicit energy.
But it was her missing glasses that snatched the air from her lungs and boiled it into rage.
The Blood Witch stood in the center of the chamber, her left eye twitching beneath her veil of tangled, obsidian curls. Her voice cracked the air like a whip.
"He took them," she hissed, teeth clenched. "That quick monkey... the thief took my goddamn glasses."
Behind her, Beau Soleil didn't seem concerned. He walked with the leisure of a man who sipped champagne in a burning ballroom. His black loafers padded softly over the carpeted wood as he approached her, wiping a streak of blood from his cheek with a laced handkerchief. His voice, slow and sultry, carried the syrupy drawl of his clan.
"Mon cœur, must you let such small losses ruin your mood?" Beau said, sliding beside her and resting a hand on her shoulder. "Zhey are only glasses, non? A little style, nothing more."
She turned sharply, swatting his hand away with a flick of a wrist that sparked with blood-red mana.
"Those weren't just glasses, Beau. That fool now has access to mana traces of my Arcane Thread, my entire trail. If he has a skilled analyst or worse—a tracer—he could locate us in weeks, if not days."
Beau didn't stop smiling, but his eyes glinted with a sharper hue.
"Then zhey will come... and zhey will die," he purred, walking past her, letting his fingers brush a red candle resting on the table. Its flame shimmered, catching a passing draft of magic in the air. "Let zhem chase shadows while we perfect our next movement. Zhis little skirmish at Talasi was never meant to be zhe final fight. It was... comment dit-on... reconnaissance."
She breathed in deep, her nails digging into her palms. The Sycamore Tree pulsed beneath her boots with the heartbeat of life—the stolen mana, the carnal energy, the seductive cruelty. The raiders in the chambers beyond whispered, cackled, and chanted. Everything was as it should be. Except it wasn't. Not to her.
The once confident and cocky Blood Witch was now licking her wounds as she returned home early.
Kiranna grumbled internally. "That vial they gave me was awesome, though. It may not be instantaneous, but it was damn faster than a carriage."
Behind her, Beau Soleil rubbed the tender spot on his jaw, still visibly annoyed by the headbutt he'd taken. Never before had anyone hit him that hard—Steez had moved too fast for his clear-blue eyes to track.
Kiranna snapped her head toward him. "I still can't believe that dickhead took my glasses. And who the hell was he anyway?"
"That was Steez Mikazuki," he finally said, breaking the silence. His accent made his voice both soothing and condescending. "Ze youngest brother of ze Devil of Velonica. Truly... another pain in my ass."
"He has access to Temporal Mana," Beau replied, stepping toward a velvet divan. "Zhat is why you could not see him move. He is just as dangerous as ze Devil."
Kiranna's face twisted. "Wait a damn minute. You mean to tell me they had people who could control time on their side, and you're just now telling me this?!"
Beau shrugged, unfazed. "It was not important at ze time. Ze Devil and his brothers had been missing for month-cycles. It was by cursed luck zat one of them showed up before we could land ze final blow. Right when we had Lady Vericka on her deathbed."
Their voices carried just enough to disturb the magitons in the chamber. It drew the attention of someone else.
Luvina Puff peeked her head around the curved doorframe, her platinum hair catching the moonlight like strands of silver thread. The ashen brown-skinned spokesmodel for the lewd and the lascivious entered with hips swaying like waves in a potion bottle.
"Kiranna-boo, I didn't expect you back so soon," she purred. "And by Telepuddle? That was for emergencies."
Kiranna rolled her eyes. "Hunnie, it was an emergency. The Demon Lord was stronger than expected, so we were forced to use the pills and all."
Luvina narrowed her eyes. "If you used the pills, why the emergency escape?"
"Because two siblings of the Devil of Velonica showed up to interfere. Then a squadron of human Sword Singers popped up, lookin' to start a war."
The mention of me snapped Luvina's attention into focus. Her feline-like gaze sharpened. "The Devil of Velonica? Was he there too?"
"Girl, no. Or maybe. I don't know. He could've been coming right after the others. If we had stayed longer, we'd be corpses under some divine sword."
Beau stepped closer to both women, his tone growing colder. "If I am to take ze Demon Lord title, I will need ze participation of all ze witches."
Luvina burst into laughter. "Why do I care if you succeed, little man? You think placing you in power is the only way we can harvest men in Velonica? Your ego knows no bounds."
"You think, with ze return of ze Devil and his siblings, zat you'll keep raiding villages unchecked?"
Luvina crossed her arms. "You don't even know if the Devil is alive. For all you know, the humans may have done your job for you."
Outside the window, a bright flash of divine energy streaked upward into the heavens, even from an entire country away. The aftershock of me punching away Jojo's Divinity Mana whale reached them in the form of visible, luminous ripples.
Luvina's lips parted slightly. "What in the world was that?"
Beau's eyes narrowed. "It's coming from ze direction of Velonica. I'd bet my last coin zat stupid Oni was behind it."
Luvina tilted her head. "Now that I think about it... where are the other two Celestials who went with you?"
Kiranna scoffed. "Girl, I left them. They were too scattered to make it out. Probably dead."
Beau's voice turned venomous. "You watch your mouth, woman. Xiro Mikazuki may be strong, but he is not stupid. Killing either of them would spark civil war with ze Haru and Vega Clans."
Luvina's tone darkened. "From what I've heard, none of your clans are strong enough to challenge him. Not even together. A shame, too. You attacked his clan. Now he'll be hunting you."
Beau growled. "And you think he will spare any of ze Panty Raiders after ze Blood Witch killed one of his family members?"
Luvina turned toward Kiranna. "Shit, Kiranna..."
Kiranna threw her arms up. "Girl, fuck a Devil of Velonica. Everyone gets all scary when his name comes up. A couple more of those pills, and he can be dealt with."
She kept her voice loud so the shaking in her hands wouldn't show.
Luvina didn't respond aloud. "If only she knew that even Taurus couldn't kill him..." she thought. "He's coming. And if he's chasing them here... this may be my only chance to steal his mana."
Luvina smiled sweetly. "Well, I hope you're right. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must prepare for the midnight party in fourteen hours."
Kiranna lit up. "Oh damn, we made it back at the right time! I could use some liquor and bad bitches after this mess."
Beau stepped forward. "But what about my position as Demon Lord?"
Luvina's expression didn't change. "You asked for help. We sent you someone. You still failed. That's not our fault. Our business is concluded."
Beau's temper snapped. "What?! You conniving bitches! Do you have any idea who I am?!"
"You're too loud, too sloppy, and you've drawn the Devil's attention. That makes you a liability," Luvina said flatly. "You were just leaving. Superior Spatial, Water Mixed Arts: Telepuddle."
A flash of teal energy appeared in her palm and surged out into a swirling vortex of liquid mana. Her sapphire-toned staff shimmered as the spell completed with a soft chime.
"What ze hell, Primal Witch!" Beau shouted.
In seconds, the shimmering liquid wrapped around him, pulling his body into a cocoon of iridescent mana. With a pop and splash, it collapsed in on itself—Beau Soleil was gone.
Kiranna blinked. "Luvina... where did you send him?"
"Wherever he calls home. The spell was set to default return. Even I don't know."
"Good riddance. He was so fucking annoying."
Luvina chuckled, turning on her heel. "Now get some rest. I'm positive we'll have some big names at tonight's masquerade."
Kiranna grinned. "I hope it's some cute girls. I've had my fill of weak men."
Luvina looked over her shoulder. "Let's just say I doubt any of us will be disappointed."
Nighthalf was only just beginning.
But while the Sycamore Tree hummed with decadence, the Church's lab thrived in silence.
Moments after the Saint Disciples' successful retreat...
Meanwhile, happening at that very moment as well, the final flicker of a [Retreat] skill activated beneath a set of dirtied white boots. Januelle Peter and the remaining two Saint Disciples—Decima Thomas and Novara Matthew—were pulled across the vast continent of Arcadia in a distorted rush of Spatial Mana, vanishing from the battlefield near Talasi and reappearing outside of the capital city of the Kingdom of Madness—In a town called Magnolia, some 8,350 miles away.
The Kingdom of Madness, ruled by Queen Pope Angelica Serafina II, was both beautiful and cruel. The country was matriarchal to its bones, located past the mountains of East Velonica and the Eastern Janell Forest. It was where men walked softly, with heads low, and Sociovores were hunted for the crime of simply existing. It was no wonder the Church of Holy Madness found its home here.
The countryside of Magnolia looked like something out of a dream. But beneath the perfect homes and serene moonlit air stood the cathedral's basement—a place of veiled atrocities. The Church called it the Sanctum of Sacraments. But to those who worked within, it was simply the Lab.
Here, Sister Mary Magdala walked with graceful steps upon cold stone tiles, each one laced with hex seals and purifying glyphs. She looked nothing like the nightmares spoken about in hushed whispers. Pumpkin-colored curls framed a youthful face, with high cheekbones, turquoise eyes, and lips painted in angelic pink. Her divine white dress, split along the thigh, revealed white boots trimmed in Aegean blue. But despite her beauty, her presence emitted no warmth. Only something sterile. Something dead.
One of the Blessed Bound—a lobotomized male with blank eyes and rune-burned skin—stepped forward with a glowing pearl-like pill cradled between metal forceps.
"Sister Magdala," the scientist said in a flat tone, "the reproduction batch has been successful. We can now create Cultivation Pills from demihuman blood."
Mary folded her arms, eyes fixed on the celestial-laced pill. "Excellent, Dr. Johnson. I knew bringing in the assistance of this Elf would be beneficial."
Stepping out of the shadows of the room's corner was a man I hadn't seen since my very first day on Gaia: Dr. Kai. Still with that silver-streaked, walnut hair and an unnerving calm, he observed the lab around him with the focus of a collector admiring his trophies.
Dr. Kai gave a gracious bow. "Oh, Saint Sister, you honor me with those words. To be praised by someone of your reputation is a great achievement for a silly old Elf like me."
"If only you were just a silly old Elf."
He chuckled. "Hehehehe. But enough about me. Did you still need assistance with the Robotnics?"
"Thanks to your last visit, our creation of the Artificial Souls has moved into its final stage. With the use of Watcher brains, our prototypes now have a crude form of consciousness."
Dr. Kai's eyes lit up. "Exciting news. I look forward to the completion of Project King Solomon."
"With your notes on the Devil of Velonica's birth stats and projected growth rate, King Solomon will be designed specifically to counter and kill him. Once he is dead, there will be no opposition left in Velonica to prevent the Mad Queen's expansion."
The smile faded slightly from Dr. Kai's face. "The child of the Mikazuki Clan is destined for great things. You would surprise me if you produced a warrior strong enough to defeat him. Xiro Mikazuki is not an average Sociovore. The Mad Queen would do well to remember that."
"You speak with reverence in your voice, Dr. Kai."
"When you stand against him on the battlefield, you'll understand why."
At that moment, the sounds of spatial distortion cracked through the adjacent chamber. Mana ruptured the air like a blade cutting through silk. Three battered women landed roughly atop a stone table, its surface cracking beneath their weight.
The journey was nauseating, like being folded through dimensions, and the result left them sprawled across the marble floor of a quiet chamber buried beneath the same alabaster cathedral. Surrounded by moaning pipes, humming runes, and cold stone, the scent of sanctified incense tried in vain to mask the clinical emptiness of science and suffering. Even in a cathedral, there was no holiness in this space—only a cold void of love.
"Argh... Damn," Januelle hissed, pushing herself upright. "Did we make it?"
Novara groaned, steadying herself. "We appear to be in the church's basement, Captain."
"Marzia..." Decima whispered, clutching the severed head of her fallen sister. Tears streamed silently down her cheeks.
Januelle's thoughts raced as she subconsciously ran her hand down her long ponytail. "That was close... And why does it feel like something tugged my hair?"
Mary and Dr. Kai entered through a silver-inlaid door just as the last glow of teleportation faded from the room.
"Captain Peter?" Mary asked, her tone sharper than usual. "What is the meaning of this?"
Dr. Kai stepped forward with casual menace. "From the bloody head in their arms, I would say they ran into the Devil of Velonica."
"That is enough, Dr. Kai," Mary said curtly. "If you would excuse us, I must tend to my Disciples."
He bowed again, this time more performative than respectful. "Ahh, yes. I shall return to Babylonia. I need to check on someone recently relocated to assist with Babylon's pill development."
Mary gave a ritualistic nod. "May the Goddess guide your every step."
"And yours too, Saint Sister."
And with that, the Light Elf stepped through a hexagonal portal of his own, leaving behind the scent of ozone and the echoes of something far more dangerous brewing in the depths of the Church.
The Saint Disciples gathered themselves as they attempted to wipe away the horror of what they experienced in Velonica. Novara, the naturally quiet one, kept her hands on the shoulder of Decima, attempting to assist her friend through the grief while finding a hurtful common ground they both shared in pain.
Decima didn't even raise her head to look at Sister Mary. Her mind had her vision locked in the flashback of Marzia being struck from behind by the monster of the black flames. The spark for vengeance ignited under her rapid, shallow breathing, as the memory replayed over and over behind her pupils.
Mary studied the expression of each woman, assessing the marks of damage each one of them wore, before finally dropping her eyes to the skull of Marzia. Yet, Mary showed no signs of reaction, just a cold, detached glare that made it difficult to know if she even cared that she lost her Disciple.
"Captain Peter, I would like to hear the report of your mission."
Januelle stood tall, shoulders forward, as she adjusted her breastplate and cloak.
"Yes, Lady Magdala."
She began to recount the assault—the unexpected resistance, the arrival of additional Godwalkers, the twisted anomaly that was the Devil of Velonica. How Vericka had changed, wielding divine magick. They were overpowered at every angle.
"You said one introduced himself as the Star Lion of Braye?" Mary asked.
"Yes, ma'am. His battle power suggested he was the second strongest. Defeating him alone would've taken all of us."
"He must have been Braye's missing prince," Mary mused. "To think he would reappear with the Devil."
"Speaking of him... all of their powers paled in comparison to the Devil. He was able to subdue me without any effort, as well as deflect Lord Jojo King's strongest attack. With abilities like the ones he showcased, we will need to mobilize the entire force of the Church with Cultivation Pills if we're going to take him out."
"Xiro Mikazuki, was it?" Mary thought. "It appears you were correct again, Orion."
"Speaking of Lord Jojo, where is he?"
There was a pause. Januelle shifted her weight slightly before answering.
"Lord Jojo betrayed us. He left Marzia to handle the town's demolition alone, leading to her being blindsided by that monster in black flames. So I chose to leave his death to the Devil as I escaped with the remaining members of my squadron."
Mary's eyes met hers. Cold. Unblinking. A faint smile danced across her lips, painted in pink, outlined in black.
"It was to be expected. Lord Jojo was scheduled to be assassinated if he didn't die on this mission, anyway. If the Devil took care of that honor, then we can move forward with the next steps in making the next Hero of Mankind."
"Lady Magdala, there is one bit of information I must bring to your attention."
"Go on."
"The Devil commanded an Anima... named after the evil Twilight Goddess."
Mary's pupils shrank. "What did you just say?"
"Without any confusion, I'm sure I heard him call her Omnia."
The name echoed in the stone chamber like a gunshot.
The moment the name left her mouth, Januelle's knees buckled. A rush of mana drained violently from her core as if her very soul had been taxed. She grunted in pain.
Novara caught her just in time.
Mary didn't flinch. She simply watched. "So that wicked former Elohim has finally resurfaced as well. I must report this to the other Keys and Orion."
Mary turned to Decima, her voice warm, but her eyes devoid of empathy.
"No need to shed tears, my dear Decima. With you bringing back Marzia's head, we will be able to give her another chance at life. Rejoice at your quick thinking."
Decima blinked, disbelief and desperate hope mingling in her expression. A memory of Marzia shielding her from a rampaging Sky Buffalo sparked more tears.
"Really, Lady Magdala?"
"Why yes, my child. Come, bring her this way. We'll get started right away. We will also discuss our next steps against the Devil of Velonica."
After the bloody meeting at Talasi, the Panty Raiders began the night by preparing to throw a party while the Church was playing with necromancy and fake souls. With a new form of resurrection in the making and information from the heart of enemy lands, the Church of Holy Madness was moving forward with their war against Velonica and me. And honestly, if anyone had to be the Church's number one adversary, I was glad it was I. This generational beef with my bloodline was going to meet its end during my lifetime. By submission or destruction. And a nigga was cool with either one.
[End of Chapter]
[1] April on Earth