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Heaven has been invaded. Worse, the heavenly kingdom is breaking apart inside. In the chaos, the first need of the moment is to put some order in the thoughts and worries and plans, and plot the next move.

*Chapter 58 - Taking charge of the Future *

Killer and Alexis spent the whole night away, enjoying the delight of being back together after so long and so torturing time, but late in the successive morning, they finally teleported back to Eaglenest. They moved back to the fortress with worry in their heart, as they had no idea of how Anubis and Sobek had managed to bring them away from the monastery. The two gods feared to find Eaglenest lying in ruins, or anyway seriously damaged, perhaps with its garrison torn apart. They worried for the fate of Vesta, Ira, Adrasthea, Gaia and all the others... and they felt guilty for not going back immediately after breaking free of Anubis and Sobek's assault.

On the other hand, the two lovers had badly needed some time together, after well over a thousand years of forced separation... and they had been encouraged by the fact that, for all the time they had spent away, they had been able to sense, in the distance, the living energies of their friends. That meant they were alive and stable, and that helped a lot in tuning down their worries.

Nonetheless, they both were nervous and anxious when they teleported back to the fortress. Their worst fear was that they would reappear in the middle of a slaughter for which they would have been, albeit indirectly, responsible. Anubis and Sobek, after all, had been after them, not after the rest of the garrison of Eaglenest.

When they appeared in the large courtyard of the solid fortress guarding the access to the suspended bridge leading to the fortified monastery, they were relieved to see Eaglenest still standing, proud and undamaged... but it was a short lived relief, because there was anyway a slaughter to face.

They were left to stare at the full extent of the painfully aftermath of the battle of the Wall.

Killer and Alexis had fallen asleep, exhausted, moments after returning to the castle at the end of the battle, and they had been unconscious ever since, only awakening when they were brought to Sobek's planet. In consequence, they had no idea of what they would find in Eaglenest. Finding out the full extent of the tragedy was hard.

The courtyard, once vast and clear of obstacles to allow the guards to practice and exercise, was now covered by countless small tents erected in a hurry to give some shelter to the tremendous number of casualties. Wounded, agonizing angels rested on makeshift camp beds, the air filled with their laments, with groans and racking coughs, as the smell of blood and sickness and infection afflicted the whole area. Killer and Alexis had slowly walked through the courtyard, looking over it all with horror and shock,as exhausted healing priestesses, doctors, soldiers and volunteers dragged, carried, and hauled wounded people into the small tents, many of them senseless, many others crying and whimpering for aid. The Healers looked sicker than the wounded, all of them showing the fatigue of several days and nights of endless horror and constant work as they tried to tend to the incredible number of angels needing assistance.

From the top of the thick walls enclosing the courtyard, the guards of Eaglenest looked down at the scene with shock in their eyes, more often than not freezing and staring in terrified disbelief and denial. In a corner, piled up against the wall, Killer saw the colors and signs of the destroyed divisions and regiments of Heaven's army, and just beyond that, countless swords and spears and rifles and bows had been thrown to the side, forming a mountain of bloodied steel.

It was a fearsome sight, and one the male had to see for himself, thinking bitterly that the lesson of the generals of Kesteven's glorious past was absolutely, completely true: there is only one thing worse than a battle won, and it is a battle lost.

Killer had never before experienced a battle lost. He had seen bloody victories paid for with ungodly destruction and slaughter, and thought there could be nothing worse... but now he tasted a strong, bitter taste in his mouth as he looked over the full horror of such tremendous defeat.

Alexis, walking at his side, was silent, her gaze hard and cold... and yet, it betrayed all the sadness and sympathy that her stony expression tried to hide.

They walked through the courtyard in silence. Their usual antics and banter forgotten, they barely raised their hands in answer to the cheers that rose from the few angels who were conscious and in conditions good enough to allow them to thank their saviors.

Killer and Alexis were embarrassed by those salutes, though, as they hadn't been able to prevent the slaughter, despite having stopped the Cetus monsters, the land battleships and then even Sikanjal... the cheers only made the two ligers more bitter as the two lovers thought back to what had happened.

The injured angels were cheering on them also, and perhaps mostly because Killer had ignored Typhon's absurd ordered and teleported all the survivors away from the battlefield.

Without Killer's intervention, all the angels in that courtyard would have been slaughtered uselessly in the Meadows... and the fault would have been of their commander, of the highest delegate of God, Typhon. The Heavenly Council, Heaven's senate, had condemned them all to death, effectively, issuing insane orders which perhaps saved the overinflated ego of Paradise, but condemned all the rest to a painful end.

Killer and Alexis didn't speak even as they walked out of the first series of thick doors and shutters, stepping onto the long, suspended wooden bridge leading towards the main body of the fortress, which loomed over them in the icy, sharp air of the day. The wind was, as always, ferocious, but that was normal, considering that they were walking several miles higher than the clouds, climbing up the bridge. The air was freezing cold, even as the sun, shined high above, looking a lot closer than on Earth, but the two gods were unfazed by the extreme climatic conditions. They only breathed in relief, leaving behind their backs the stench of death and suffering.

It was only a brief relief, though, as they found the strong smell again as soon as they walked into the fortified monastery. Even the inner courtyards were incredibly busy and crowded, and makeshift beds were amassed on both sides of each room and corridor, lined one after the other and all occupied by suffering, agonizing soldiers.

The confusion within the castle was unbelievable, since the enormous number of casualties and healers was further expanded by thick groups of soldiers who had the worst of their wounds healed and were recovering. In addition, the garrison of the fortress had very evidently been expanded, with many more soldiers patrolling the battlements and many more training in the little space available as Seraphims and Arkangels tried to rebuild some combat-ready regiments by merging together the remains of the destroyed divisions. None of the angels seemed to have come out unscathed by the terrifying battle: everyone wore scars and many often sported some still pulsing wounds, but if they could just stand up and move around, they were immediately drafted into the new combat units, such was the gravity of the situation.

Finally, adding even more to the chaos, was the fact that Restford's population was still living in the Monastery, ever since Killer had teleported them all away from the danger of the murderous Reapers. Eaglenest was a vast, mighty fortress and an immense monastery, but cramming into it the remains of Heaven's army as well as all the civilians coming from the capital city of the First Sky had meant filling every room, corridor and courtyard, exploiting every little spot of precious space. Comfort was unheard off, and people struggled to move in the crowded corridors and past the endless rows of hospital beds... but Killer was amazed and relieved in seeing that morale was still surprisingly high. Heaven's people was showing more determination, strength and courage than he had expected... and he was moved almost to tears as people leapt to their feet whenever he passed by, the crowd cheering him and Alexis on.

He had to repress a shiver when he passed by a large blue tent decorated with a rampant golden lion drawn over three golden X, and the tigers of the 30thLegion slammed their fists on their chests and roared their cheer for their general.

He had nothing but affection and infinite admiration for his warriors: the 30th Legion was made up almost exclusively by soldiers that, already when they had been young mortals on Earth, had served under Killer in Kesteven's army, as Predators, the best soldiers in the world. In Heaven, they had continued to be warriors of incredible value, proving themselves as the very best elements of Paradise's army, and in the battle in the Meadows they had been absolutely spectacular, holding the front line to the very end. The tigers of the 30th Legion had paid a cruel price for their heroic conduct on the battlefield, but they were proud in the awareness that their sacrifice had saved countless lives across the army, and kept Heaven afloat.

The tigers of the 30th Legion had followed Killer everywhere, even in the most desperate of battles, and their loyalty had never wavered. Even now, even after the tremendous experience in the Meadows, their dedication was total, their pride intact and their mastery of combat simply unmatched.

Killer and Alexis saluted the tigers back, but continued to move across the monastery. They had only a vague idea of where they had been sleeping and recovering from their wounds before Anubis and Sobek had somehow kidnapped them, so they asked a passing Healer Priestess, who gave them the indications they needed... and finally, they walked up a ramp of marble stairs, reaching a large double door of chiseled dark wood.

Killer and Alexis traded a quiet gaze before the huge male gently pushed one door open, trying to move as silently as possible as he walked inside... before Vesta seized his wrist forcefully and pulled him inside, the male stumbling into the room before the muscular female pushed her lips over his and kissed him hungrily, greedily, invading his mouth with her tongue and seeking his, until he fought her back decisively, snorting in amusement as he looked down into her grinning eyes.

The kiss broke only a few long moments later, the female licking her lips eagerly and grinning as she looked up at him, sizing him up. "Welcome back, world-breaker. I see you are all healed and in perfect shape." She smiled lovingly, and then punched him hard in the shoulder, making him grunt as she cheerfully exclaimed: "You bastard!"

The muscular female was mostly healed herself, already wearing her armor and carrying her sickleswords at the hips, even as a large, bulky pump machine was latched around her left forearm. From this, a couple of small, transparent tubes went up to IV bags hanging from a wheel-base pole she dragged behind herself. A healer priestess was chasing the queen of Seraphims down, saying to Vesta that she should lay down on a bed and rest, that she wasn't healed yet, but the muscular female completely ignored the poor girl, who rolled her eyes to the sky before rubbing a hand over her forehead, looking frustrated.

Instead, the white tigress waved her hand to Alexis, grinning widely, before she caught Killer's look on the machine at her arm and she held this up, explaining quickly: "That Sikanjal bitch poisoned everyone with Unworld residue with her blows. This machine is literally tearing the sick stuff out of my blood and energies... hurts like hell, but nothing too worrisome. I'll soon be back to my full, usual awesome badassery."

Killer nodded slightly, silently looking down at the large machine. Ira had told him enough about the Unworld to know that poisoning with the black, energy-eating stuff was a major problem. The residue would bind deeply within the body, mixing with the very energies of the victims, consuming them from the inside and eventually turning them into Unworld ghosts, mindless creatures of destruction which would eventually dissolve, but only after warping, destroying and absorbing a lot of external energy, either from things or from other living beings. The Unworld poisoning, in other world, could not be ignored, and had to be cured urgently, with a lengthy, painful procedure that filtered and cleaned the very energies of a person, through their blood.

"Were we... cleaned, as well...?" Killer asked, turning to gaze softly over Alexis as the goddess walked up to his side, pushing the door closed behind herself.

"Actually, no." Vesta said, looking at him and Alexis with curiosity in her eyes. "We were all hooked up to the filtering machines, but you two were already clear. Somehow, your bodies broke the Unworld essence down into energy and absorbed it all. Instead of damaging you and draining you, the Unworld residue helped your bodies heal all the faster."

"But... that is impossible, isn't it...?" Killer asked, arching an eyebrow and looking confused. "The Unworld essence is supposed to break everything down, no...?"

"Definitely, it is." Vesta replied firmly, as she took Killer's hand in hers and guided him towards three large, empty beds, Alexis following silently, but looking with attention over the queen of Seraphims. Vesta sat down on the third bed, snorting in frustration as the trolley of the IV bags caught in a crevice of the marble floor and nearly toppled over. "Fuck this shit!" She exclaimed bad-temperedly, as she easily caught the pole and guided it in position, before she pushed one hand up in her golden locks, sighing a bit as she searched the right words. "That is the problem, Killer. The Unworld residue should have eaten your energies away, gods or not. Instead, you were not only unharmed, but even able to absorb the essence and turn it into new energy to fuel your powers."

Killer did not reply, looking at her hesitatingly and trying to understand what exactly that could mean, before he looked over the vast room instead: there were other beds, lined down the walls on both sides. Ira smiled at him from one bed ahead, from behind Vesta's back. She had bandages wrapped over her chest and across her abdomen, and she was hooked up to a IV machine herself, but nonetheless she looked in good shape, and she was holding one muscular, strong arm steady as an angel wearing light leather armor worked to tattoo something on her shoulder.

Killer looked curiously at this, and she smiled amusedly at him, encouraging him to come closer... and he walked down the ward to reach her bed, holding up one hand to ask Vesta for patience. The queen smiled and nodded, gazing after him quietly as he reached Ira and bent over her, kissing her lips lovingly.

"How are you, Ira...?" He quietly asked, when their kiss finally broke, the huge male pulling back slowly as she gazed up at him with affection.

"I'm fine, don't worry... I'll be back in full shape very soon. It's mostly a matter of completing the clean up from the goddamn Unworld poisoning." The cobra replied, before she pushed up one hand to touch his powerful, bare chest, stroking her fingers down the hard, massive musculature of the male as she added: "We were worried for you... we believed this room was safe, and yet, somehow, Anubis and Sobek managed to steal you away from us." The muscular female looked up at the ceiling of the room, and Killer gazed upwards as well, seeing the many circles of complex runes drawn upon it in concentric drawings. "Those are all additional security measures meant to make this room impenetrable. And they are in addition to all the defences this fortress has, including the barriers and Seals erected long ago by the Metatrons. Yet, it wasn't enough." The cobra bitterly said, gritting her fangs as she looked over the runes with rage, before Vesta looked up and said clearly: "The defences of this fortress are actually one of the problems we will have to deal with. They no longer play in our favor, now..."

"One thing at a time." Alexis intervened, holding up a finger as she crossed her powerful arms on her chest. "There's quite a lot of things about which we need updates."

Vesta nodded in agreement, and Killer urgently asked: "What happened, then? Was someone hurt when we were... brought away?"

Ira shook her head slowly, smiling slightly as she answered: "No, fortunately you shouldn't be worrying for that. Somehow, Anubis and Sobek managed to teleport you out of the fortress... You were in that bed over there, sleeping... and one moment later, you were there no longer. We immediately knew what had happened. We have been fearing it ever since you arrived in Heaven. But knowing what it was did not help us finding a valid defence. We wanted to come and help you, but we had no way to locate you... and soon afterwards, Alexis vanished from her bed as well."

"How long did we sleep, by the way...?" Alexis calmly asked, and Vesta held up four fingers, easily replying: "Four days. In addition, you took all the last night for yourself."

"How do you know...?" Killer asked, turning towards her with curiosity, as Vesta grinned widely.

"We couldn't feel you, nor locate you, as long as you were prisoner within Sobek's world... but we felt you very clearly when you shattered his pocket Dimension. We felt it all from then onwards..."

"I think most of the universe felt it, loud and clear." Adrasthea said, pushing up on one elbow in one of the other beds, looking at Killer with an amused grin. "It was quite a spectacular display of power... your energies rippled through space and reached us clearly. We clearly felt it when Sobek was destroyed, and we had no difficulties sensing the end of his planet. And as you two fucked on the Moon... well. You sent off such immense waves of force, that we all felt it... very clearly." The goddess went silent at that, her cheeks blushing slightly, and it made Killer wonder how much of an effect he had had over them, even from the Moon. It half scared and half aroused him... but he decided not to investigate further, at least for the moment.

He looked down at Ira's shoulder instead, gazing curiously at the almost finished tattoo drawn in golden pain over her lucid, smooth black scales. His expression changed from one of surprise to one of affection and surprise as he saw Ira's cheeks reddening, the muscular female looking down at the lion head tattooed on her shoulder. It was a tribal drawing of the head of a roaring feral lion, masterfully drawn with sharp, swirling blades of gold paint which resembled flames... and, also thanks to her blushing, there was no doubt who the tattoo represented.

"Do you... like it...?" Ira hesitatingly asked, and Killer only smiled widely, leaning over her again and wrapping his lips over hers, kissing her hungrily, one strong hand stroking down the side of her neck, while the other seized one large, firm breast, squeezing it firmly across the sheets of the bed. The cobra's eyes slid closed as his tongue pushed into her mouth, wrestling her own back with gentle but firm force, his hot breath washing over her features as she lovingly wrapped her arms around his neck, as the angel who was putting the finishing touches on the drawing moved back slightly, looking over the scene with a smile... and with a fair amount of envy glowing in his eyes.

She groaned hotly as he fondled her huge breast in his strong hand, only pulling him closer as she engaged his tongue with hers, hungrily seeking contact with him... before they slowly pulled back, staring in each other's eyes as Killer whispered: "I love it. And I love you."

"I love you. And... the tattoo is to tell the whole world. I love you, I'll follow you, I'll serve you, even, whenever you will want to go." Ira replied softly, smiling at him with affection... before she grinned as she added in a louder, clear voice: "But I will also continue to teach you. And wallop you when you deserve it. I'm still your mentor... and there's still stuff you have to learn."

"Of course." Killer easily agreed, smiling amusedly and nodding at her with a laugh, before he leaned closer to her once more, and growled in a low, teasing voice: "Did you feel it too, all we did up in space...?"

Ira blushed furiously at that, nodding imperceptibly, and Killer grinned, straightening with a wink down at her.

Adrasthea was looking at him from the following bed, and Alcana was in the other, the goddess of love looking at him with affection, but shyly. She was still having some difficulties around him, as she dealt with the sheer awkwardness of loving him so much, but fearing him too, since she was guilty of causing him much trouble and pain. Her jealousy had been ultimately responsible for Killer and Alexis's separation in Heaven, and the goddess knew all too well that Killer would never be able to forget it. As for Alexis, Alcana did her best to avoid the ligeress gaze, because she was likely to be even less accommodating than Killer.

On the other side of the room, Manticora smiled at him from another hospital bed, the muscular zebra pushing up one hand in a welcoming salute to him, her eyes darting to the healing priestess bent over her scarred chest, to tell him with a gaze to go to the others first, as she was being treated. In the bed near hers lay William, sleeping deeply still, the little of his body not covered by sheets still showing several bandaged wounds and many fresh scars. Lemuel occupied the next bed, the lion also sleeping deeply, hooked to his own IV machine and currently being surveyed by a healer priest.

Killer looked further down the line, and his heart grew heavy, a knot forming in his throat as he gazed over Vicky, the young, delicate doe sleeping quietly, the empty eye sockets covered by bandages by still leaking dark, contaminated blood which was swiftly, regularly removed my a machine that suckled it away from her features, before the Unworld residue could scar her beautiful, kind face any further. Healers came and went from her bed, checking over her regularly and making sure to manually remove any residue that the machine would miss. It made Killer swallow tightly, the huge male feeling guilty and incredibly sad, as he wondered for a few long moments if he should go towards her first... before deciding, hesitatingly, to let her sleep quietly for a little more at least.

He looked over the last bed, and was surprised to find it empty, an IV machine abandoned on a wheeled carriage, unused, and his heart missed a beat as he turned back towards Vesta and asked urgently, looking horrified: "Where is Diana? What happened to her?"

"Please, don't worry, she is okay. Her wounds were serious, but nothing that cannot be treated and healed." The queen of Seraphims said, before dropping her head as she added: "That was her bed, I've been told. But while we were all knock out, Diana was brought away. Orders of Typhon... Michael came here with a large escort of Paladins, and they carried her away."

Killer's lip twitched, his fangs gritting as his hands clenched into fists, his rage mounting... but he did his best to repress it, knowing that, when it all happened, he, Alexis, Vesta and the others were all unconscious. "But she needed to be treated and healed and she had to have the Unworld residue removed from her energies!"

"She is being cured in Avalon, the Monastery of the order of the Healers. They brought her away in a mobile hospital unit... there's no need to worry for her safety and health." The healer priestess that had been checking over Manticora straightened and looked towards Killer with a blush, which only got worse as the huge male turned towards her.

She was a slim, short otter, with a cute face with intelligent brown eyes. She was quite nice, with two shapely breasts hidden under her flowing white and red robes, and with long black hair going down her back, all the way to her waist. Her cheeks burned red as the huge male looked down at her petite, less than six feet form, and she bowed her head with a small shiver of fear as she added: "I'm sorry, Lord Killer... I was the one looking over you all when they came. I knew you wouldn't want her to be brought away, and I told Michael again and again, but it only seemed to make him happier as he sent the Paladins in to take Diana."

"That asshole!" Alexis snarled, her enormous biceps flexing as if eager to smash the Arkangel into pulp, immediately. Killer only let out an incandescent breath of fury, gritting his fangs almost painfully as he tried to keep calm. He didn't hold it again the priestess: she clearly wasn't a fighter, and he couldn't blame her for bowing to the orders coming from above, especially as they were delivered by massive, fully-armored behemoths carrying enormous axes. She could do nothing to oppose them, and she had no fault in the whole matter... but his hate for Typhon, Michael and the whole Heavenly Senate grew even further, along with his desire to just crush them all into paste.

"Their orders included carrying away Lady Alexis as well..." The otter hesitatingly added, looking briefly up to the muscular goddess but lowering her gaze fearfully immediately after. "But they seemed terrified of walking up to her, so they were relatively easily convinced to skip over that part of the order."

"That maggot. That disgusting coward." Killer muttered, as Alexis and Vesta both snarled in hate and distaste, before the huge male coldly, firmly said: "This must be clear: I'm going to Avalon. I don't care what they say, I'm going to go there, take Diana, and bring her back here. I didn't trust them before, and I damn do not trust them now, after Typhon tried to condemn everyone to death out in the Meadows. I'm going to crush the goddamn monastery into dust, if it proves necessary."

No one dared opposing him. Even Vesta and Ira, despite being aware of the serious risks and consequences of going once more against the Heavenly Council's law, nodded resolutely, fully agreeing with their loved master. The surreal experience in the Meadows had confirmed, had it ever been necessary, that Typhon and the Council only cared for themselves, for their childish concept of honor and for their beliefs. Everything else was, for them, completely expendable. Leaving Diana in their hands, as a consequence, was simply unacceptable.

"I'm so sorry, Lord Killer..." The otter priestess said, dropping her head forwards in shame and regret, rubbing her hands in anxious discomfort. "It is my fault, I should have repealed them. I'm immensely sorry, I didn't want to betray your trust, or go against you and your loved ones at all. I... I'm sorry. I should..."

"You should not worry." Killer quietly said, interrupting her sincere apologizes, surprising the priestess, who immediately looked up, with tears in her eyes. "You did what you could, I'm sure... you had no chances to resist them, and even less possibilities to fight them back in any way. You did all you could, and I thank you, really." He paused, slamming a huge fist into the palm of his hand, making the whole room, and perhaps the whole building tremble as he snarled angrily. "The fault lies on someone else... but I'll make sure they do pay their dues. Soon."

The priestess looked at him quietly, smiling softly before bowing to him, whispering a thank you for his understanding, before she excused herself and left, followed by the other healers as Vesta tilted her head in a silent order to them all.

"She is a good girl. A disciple of Diana, and one of the best healers we have... but fighting isn't her thing, clearly. And she couldn't do much to change the events." Vesta said, after waiting for a couple moments after the last of the Healers had walked out and closed the heavy door.

"I know. I don't blame her... I'm just... so tired of the Council's games. They only make things worse." Killer muttered, making a grimace and growling under his breath as he shook his head slowly... before he looked back up, feeling like his body had suddenly frozen over, as Vesta gently took a large, heavy object wrapped in a purple veil of silk from her bedside table, almost hugging the package against her chest as she gazed at him sadly.

"You don't even know how much worse..." Vesta sighed, and Killer stared at the purple veil with horror as a suspect ran through his mind, before he closed his eyes with desperate, disbelieving resignation as the queen of Seraphims removed the veil, revealing a dented, blooding helm that Killer immediately recognized, as even Alexis gaped in horror.

"We lost Gabriel." Vesta said simply, her voice suddenly empty and almost stripped bare of soul and emotion, her hand stroking slowly over the thick metal. "He... he didn't allow himself to leave the battlefield against the Council's orders." The Seraphim added, her voice broken as she looked up into Killer's eyes as he listened with disbelief, feeling like something extremely heavy had fallen down in the middle of his mind, sending painful echoes roaring through his head.

"He knew... he knew all too well that it was useless. That it was hopeless, that he was just going to die uselessly. He knew." Vesta said, fighting back tears as she looked down at the scarred, bloodied helmet, half-sobbing and half-snarling. "He knew. Yet, he couldn't ignore the orders. He was too perfect, too faithful to do so. Elelyon, our God and Father, left on his mission telling us that the Council would rule Heaven in his absence, guided by Typhon. And Gabriel stuck to that order to the very end. Typhon ordered to stay and fight... and he did. He made sure to see the army teleported away to safety... and then, he went back into the fight, alone."

Vesta fell silent, biting her lower lip hard as she fought back both her desperation and her fury, and Ira hesitated for a few moments, looking at her with sympathy and affection, before gazing up at Killer, adding: "I lost consciousness as soon as I was teleported to Eaglenest. I did not see personally what happened... But I've been told afterwards. Vesta did her best to dissuade Gabriel. To tell him that it was just foolish."

"He knew!" Vesta exclaimed, repressing a sob as tears streaked down her cheeks. "But knowing it still wasn't enough for him to ignore a direct order. I was unable to stop him. We have been friends for all our lives... we have fought together, suffered together, cheered together... We bantered and teased each other about who of us was better than the other. And in the end, I quit the battle, and he didn't. He made the last stand. Even if the order was crazy, he served Heaven to the very end. He stuck to the promise we made to Elelyon... and I did not."

Killer swallowed thickly, looking at her with affection and sympathy, feeling his own pain swelling in his chest, as he thought of Gabriel, of the time they spent together on Orion and on the monorail train... it just felt impossible to think that he was gone. The silent, faceless Arkangel, the leader of Heaven's army, the faithful general that God could always trust, had fought to the very end, obeying to the orders at the cost of his life.

Killer admired the courage, the unyielding determination and faith, the unbreakable honor of the Arkangel... and his pain was increased and made even bitterer by the awareness that it had been a completely useless sacrifice. Horribly, he also felt something like a sort of angry hate for the Arkangel, though, because he had knowingly sacrificed himself to obey to instructions that were wrong, foolish, and absurd. Why had he done so? He would have better served Heaven by staying alive...

At the same time, Killer admired and envied Gabriel for his courageous, unbending loyalty, cried for the loss, and hated the Arkangel for not refusing that absurd, useless fate. It was a powerful, uncontrollable mix of emotions... and as he met Vesta's eyes, he saw the same desperate conflict in her own eyes.

He walked towards her with tears in his eyes, sitting on her bed slowly and hugging her tightly, squeezing her close to his chest as she sobbed quietly, her eyes shut and her voice almost a growl as she asked, to no one in particular: "Why? Why had he to be so perfect...? Have I betrayed Elelyon by ignoring the orders...?"

"No." Killer firmly replied, squeezing her tightly around the shoulders, almost painfully. Her eyes opened and looked up into his as he shook his head slowly, saying quietly: "Yours is not a betrayal. The Heaven of the Council is not the Heaven that Elelyon wanted, and you know it. It's the Council that betrayed. Not you. Never you. Never."

"Never." Ira added, and Vesta smiled slightly towards her, with gratitude in her eyes even as she squeezed Gabriel's helmet in her hands.

"It's the Council that is running down the wrong path. Their orders have brought Heaven on the edge of destruction... and their decisions over time have changed Heaven so much, for the worse, that Elelyon will likely not recognize this place as his anymore when he comes back..." Alcana added, looking ahead of herself with a thoughtful expression, clearly thinking back to past decisions that still horrified her. Adrasthea nodded with a sigh, before closing her eyes as she added: "Disobeying was the best thing to do. And sincerely, we should have started disobeying long ago. Things wouldn't have gone so wrong, had we acted earlier."

Vesta nodded firmly, wiping her eyes dry with the back of one fist. She agreed with the two goddesses entirely. It was what she had been thinking for a long time... but it didn't bring her any comfort, because it meant that they had failed. Obeying and disobeying, they were both doomed to failure. Ever since Elelyon had left Heaven to fight his own mysterious battle for the safety of the world he had created, Heaven had been falling apart. Slowly at first, but picking up speed more and more as Typhoon consolidated his control over the Council, until he turned the vast majority of the senators into puppets he totally controlled.

Killer did not dare telling anything, but his bitter thought over the matter was simple: Elelyon had tragically screwed up in trusting Typhon for such a position of power. God had showed too much trust in that ancient god that had earlier been an enemy... had Elelyon took the easy choice, putting Heaven directly in the hands of Gabriel and Vesta, Killer was sure that things would have worked out smoothly.

He looked down at Vesta with love, kissing the queen of Seraphims gently on her lips, pushing his tongue briefly into her mouth as he lovingly, reassuringly tackled her own... before he pulled back, gazing softly down in her eyes.

Somehow, he knew for sure that she was well aware herself of Elelyon's errors. God had been too kind. He had given second and third chances to too many persons who had turned out unworthy of such trust. Typhon, above all, clearly had never really changed. Being chosen as ruling prince, being put at the head of the Council, had just given him the chance to spread his influence over the whole of Heaven. A chance he had not missed.

For sure, Killer thought, Vesta did not need to go through that, too. Not in that moment. With Elelyon away from so many years, with Gabriel dead, with the chaos spreading all over Heaven alongside the rampaging horde of demons advancing from the Meadows, she had too much on her mind already. She just needed his closeness, his support, his love.

"As soon as we can, in the coming days, we'll organize a little ceremony, to say goodbye to all the friends we have lost. We will properly lay Gabriel to rest... we will honor him, the memory of the man he has been to the very end, and we'll make sure that his sacrifice was not for nothing." Killer said, squeezing Vesta gently against his side. "He stood to the very end, but he wanted to see all of us safe, in exchange. He trusted us... he believed we would save Heaven. He believed we would keep his world and his soldiers safe. And we will."

"We will." All the others reaffirmed, Vesta herself nodding firmly and looking up proudly as she put all of her energy into the promise, as Killer's hand leaned on the bloodied helmet, his fingers wrapping gently over hers.

She looked at him with love and gratitude in her eyes, leaning forwards to kiss his lips lovingly... and then she silently guided the helmet back to the bedside table, she and Killer delicately, respectfully putting the heavy piece of armor down over a silk cushion.

"His last wish... was to see us continuing to live. He saved Heaven's honor, trusting that we'd save all the rest." Vesta said firmly after a long moment of silence, straightening as she sat up in her bed, and she squeezed Killer's hand lovingly into hers. "And when I look at you, lord and Master Killer, I know his faith was well placed. With you, we will save the world, no matter how fucked up things are right now."

"We will." Killer promised, smiling at her with affection, before Alexis added quietly: "Perhaps we should discuss the situation right now. In four days, with Heaven's defences crumbled and breached, the demons have probably swarmed deep into Paradise. And there's Sikanjal, and even Gaia to consider..."

"Yeah, Gaia. We have to find a way to help her. Quickly." Killer agreed, nodding wisely, before tilting his head to the side in surprise as Vesta held up a finger and objected: "We can talk of all this in detail later. The situation is not quite as terrible as you'd think... I've been briefed last night, when I awakened. Before... before I went back to the Meadows and found Gabriel's helmet." Vesta said, her voice dying down as she gazed sadly over the bloodied helm, before she sighed and turned back towards Killer, explaining: "The First Sky is gone and the demons are flooding into the Second, but even so we still have some strongholds of resistance: the town of Restford is now a camp for the demon army, but the fortress on top of the hill is still in our hands. Stargazer is a formidable castle, and even the tiny garrison holding it can resist successfully against immensely greater numbers of enemies. The enemy also completely failed to take over the Hall of Heroes: the barrier created Eons ago by the goddess Azura burns into ashes every demon stupid enough to wander too close."

"I've seen that barrier, and I have no difficulties believing to that." Killer replied agreeably, nodding a bit, before he listened with even greater attention as Vesta added: "There has been no sign at all of Sikanjal in the last few days. You roughed her up very nastily, and she's probably been recovering herself... If I've understood the character as well as I think I have, she'll be furiously pummeling some scientist's head asking to be further empowered, after seeing just how strong you are. She is a mortal threat to us all and there are many ways in which she could cause fearsome damage to us, but... We'll cover that later. As for Gaia, she's also been mostly quiet. She went into hiding, and she must be having some success in resisting to Shi, because there's been no major cataclysm yet." She paused, then made a grimace and nodded a bit as she added: "If we exclude a few dozen new, angry volcanoes ripping open throughout Heaven, and a tempest of meteors which destroyed and burned a good share of the jungle of the Fourth Sky, of course. With the power she possesses, she could do far, far worse... this is children play, and she's been quiet for the past fifty-two hours. In other words, it can all wait a few minutes, the time you need to check over the others." Vesta said, hugging him tightly and jerking her head towards Adrasthea, Alcana and the others, smirking amusedly. "I know you want to, and they do deserve the luck of getting some of your attention. So long as you keep in mind that I'm better than all of them and thus deserve a lot more attention."

Killer snorted amusedly at that, shoving her off him with a soft laugh, the female flopping down on her cushion with a grin and a teasing wink up at him. He smiled at her with affection and gratitude, saying a soft thank you before he walked forwards, reaching Adrasthea's side as the goddess sat up in the bed, smiling at him widely and pushing her arms up as he came close, hugging him tightly as the liger wrapped his strong arms around her waist, kissing her lips gently.

"Welcome back, Lord Killer. I was terribly worried when you vanished... but I should have known that you would just smash your way out of trouble." The goddess of strategy said, grinning amusedly as she tilted her head to the side slightly, one of her hands sliding up the back of his neck to delve gently into his mane. "Did you squish Anubis, too?"

Killer shook his head slightly, even as he grinned a bit, saying calmly: "I did beat him into pulp... but he ran away before I could get rid of him once and for all. So, if he is very, very stupid, he might pop up again sometime in the future."

"Not anytime soon, though." Alexis observed, grinning widely as she looked at him with dark amusement and lust burning in her eyes. "Killer cock-slapped him around like the bitch he is. And I mean it in a literal way."

Vesta looked at her in surprise, and then bit her lower lip, snorting as she tried to suffocate her laughter, but she ultimately failed, cackling and hugging herself as she dropped back into the bed. "Oh, heavens, now that is something I'd love to see...!"

"Yeah, well..." Killer cut short, coughing a bit as even Ira looked towards him with a grin, licking her lips as Adrasthea gazed up at him with a new light of cruel amusement burning in her eyes. "That taught him what his place is... and anyway, Alexis only arrived after it happened. She only saw it digging in my memory." Killer said, looking over his shoulder towards the goddess, who huffed a bit, shrugging, before Vesta nodded seriously and cheerfully said: "That's one excellent idea!"

Killer winced at that, unsurprised to feel Vesta's mental fingers poking at his memory, making him feel awkward as he sensed her reading into his mind... but he didn't even bother trying to stop her from doing it, knowing that she wouldn't be easily deterred anyway. He only looked at her from over his shoulder, grinning slightly in amusement as the queen of Seraphims crossed her arms and looked ahead of herself dreamily, not staring at the wall, but at the memories she found in the huge male's mind.

"Yeah, that's likely to keep Anubis far away from you for a while, at least... but he is desperate and insane enough that he might return, if he manages to get some help or a boost in power." Adrasthea wisely observed, before making a bit of a grimace as she added: "He might even try and get Sikanjal's help... she would no doubt happily use him for her own aims, and that dumb dog wouldn't even notice."

Killer made a grimace of distaste and nodded, muttering: "Fucking hell, seeing Anubis in this state was quite shocking. Embarrassing, really... I even named my son after him." The huge male snorted, and then sighed as he concluded: "I guess it'll be down to my son to bring back some honor and glory to the name."

Adrasthea smiled softly at that, taking his hand in hers and pushing his palm against her cheek as she nodded. "With a father like you and a mother like lady Alexis, he can only be destined to great accomplishments, I'm sure."

"I hope so." Killer replied, smiling as he bent forwards to kiss the goddess's cheek, before he pulled back slowly, looking over her with concern: "Are you okay? Anything I can do to help you?"

"I'm fine, lord Killer. My recovery has been smooth, I'll soon be back in full shape." The goddess answered, looking touched by his concern, as she smiled softly, before she winced in surprise as Vesta laughed loudly and shouted: "Hey, get me some fucking pop corn, these memories rock! I want to look over all of them!"

Adrasthea looked disapprovingly towards Vesta, shaking her head a bit but looking amused nonetheless, and relieved in seeing that the queen of Seraphims was proving able to hide away her deep sorrow for the death of Gabriel, not allowing it to stop her, to depress her into being moody and useless. Not all of her cheerfulness was true, at the moment... Vesta was putting up a façade to hide how deeply hurt and saddened and shocked she was, but that was far better than any alternative.

The dragoness looked back up at him with a soft smile, nodding as Killer slowly pulled back and walked towards the following bed, where Alcana was resting, gazing at him with happiness and eagerness, but with a shadow of fear in her expression.

She gazed at him humbly as he came close, before she shrunk a bit in her shoulders, creasing the sheets nervously in her hands even as she smiled, before she let out a groan of relief and pleasure as Killer kissed her, hungrily, her body shivering with delight as his tongue easily invaded her mouth, wrestling hers backwards as he effortlessly took over, dominating her as he seized both of her large breasts, squeezing them roughly and rolling the firm swells slowly under his palms. She stared up into his eyes, as helpless as if she had been hypnotized, only murring in delight as he leaned down over her, crushing her into the cushion as he slid a hand down the front of her body, under the sheets, to seize her crotch, squeezing on it dominatingly as he rubbed two thick fingers over her bare sex.

"You are soaked. Happy to see me coming back, are you...?" Killer teasingly whispered when their kiss broke, the goddess letting out a breathless groan of delight, nodding swiftly as her cheeks burned red.

Adrasthea and Alexis looked at this silently, but both females grinned at the ease with which the huge male dominated the goddess, taking his bit of revenge for the troubles she had caused, more or less consciously.

"Very, very happy to have you back, my lord and Master." Alcana softly breathed, and Killer pushed his wet fingers, soaked with her own need and desire, against her lips, the goddess obediently lapping at them and taking them into her mouth, suckling on them lightly. The huge male nodded silently, then pushed his hand back down towards her sex, sinking one finger inside her and roughly shoving it deep, making the goddess's back arch as she grunted hungrily, but tried to hide the way every little action of his nearly broke her down with overloads of ecstasy.

"I felt... it all, Master..." She eagerly breathed, looking up at him adoringly. "All your spectacular power... your infinite strength. Your force which continues to grow..." She gaped, moaning breathlessly as he looked down at her with a grin, twisting his finger inside of her, rubbing it against her inner walls and making her squirm as she closed her eyes, blushing furiously under the gaze of the other girls in the room. Killer was merciless, only smirking a bit as he expertly began to rapidly fuck his finger in and out, hooking it inside her to tease all of her sweet spots as he slapped it up and down, sending jolts of pure bliss ripping up her spine from her clit... before she bit her lower lip and tried to muffle her scream as much as she could as he easily brought her to a powerful orgasm, the goddess arching her back and trembling in ecstasy as her hot, sweet juices rushed down her passage, squirting out in thick sprays that soaked the sheets.

Alexis stared at this with a hungry, pleased grin, while Vesta gaped a bit, ogling the scene with lust burning in her eyes, as Adrasthea and Ira looked on with small pants of her own while Killer easily rode Alcana's orgasm, milking every drop of her ecstasy out of her, leaving her panting, her breast heaving as she looked up at him with need. He slowly pulled his finger out, making her groan hotly, before he brought it calmly up to his lips, looking down at her firmly as he licked his finger clean, tasting her desperate need, her desire, her ecstasy, drinking of it all and greedily enjoying the hunger in her eyes.

"Did... did I do well... out on the battlefield...?" The goddess hesitatingly asked, and Killer softened a bit at that, smiling and nodding before he bent forwards and kissed her forehead gently.

"You did fantastically, to say the least." He quietly said, smiling warmly down at her as he looked over her body, relieved to see that, like the others, she was healing and recovering well. "And I think you behaved so well, lately, that your punishment will soon finish."

"Oh, Master, you are so kind to me..." She exclaimed, smiling brightly, before she silenced immediately as he softly pushed a finger against her lips, asking quietly: "I want to know how you feel. Is everything ok? Can I help you somehow?"

"Thanks, Master, for your concern... but I'm fine, really. My wounds are mostly healed." She smiled warmly, straightening and sitting up a bit in the bed, letting him look over her body as she hugged herself a bit, his gaze making her both ecstatic and anxious. He smiled back to her with sincere affection, though, and it made her heart lighten up and warm up as she understood that he did not hold any hate for her. Sure, he had been badly hurt by what she had done... but he wouldn't hold it against her forever. And certainly he was not going to hold it against her in that particular moment.

He leaned forwards instead, kissing her lips lightly, his eyes smiling gently down into hers as he pushed his tongue over her lips and slightly into her mouth in sign of affection... before he pulled slowly back, and took her cheek in his strong hand. "You did all you could, out on the battlefield. You gave it all, you put your own safety on the line to protect me and those I love... and I owe much to you, as I owe much to every single one of you in this room. Thank you."

"We owe so much more to you and your selfless efforts, Master." Alcana replied, smiling softly as she bowed her head forwards... before she blushed harder as Killer took her hand in his, lifting it slowly up in front of his face.

He looked quietly down at the large, chiseled golden ring. He had seen it already several times, but he had never really stopped to think about it and its true meaning. The huge ruby topping the ring was held in place by claws finely chiseled in the gold, and the thick body of the jewel was covered in small, wonderful figures of warriors locked in a huge hand to hand battle... He was sure those particular figures weren't casual at all, and her deep blush told him that he was right. He remembered some of the legends and myths he was told of when he was a kid, and he couldn't help but think back to how the god of war in every story seemed to be married, or in love, with the Goddess of love and beauty.

He looked quietly up in her eyes for a few moments, and he then smiled amusedly as he shook his head slowly. "You are Taranis's wife, aren't you...?"

Alcana stiffened a bit at that, smiling nervously as her cheeks took on a deeper shade of crimson, before she nodded and murmured: "Yes, I am. We married, secretly, a long, long time ago."

"Well, now we know another good reason why he hates you so much." Alexis exclaimed, grinning amusedly as she sat down on her bed and crossed her long, splendid legs.

"True." Killer replied easily, grinning slightly himself, even as he gazed down into Alcana's eyes. "You don't love him... at least not anymore, do you...?"

"It has not been a happy marriage. Taranis is too concerned for battle, battle, battle... he does not really understand love. He wanted..." She paused, sighing and closing her eyes for a moment before she continued: "He wanted me because I was a goddess, because I was strong, because I was beautiful. And he wanted me mostly just to... breed sons and daughters. And I'll tell you, the sons of the God of War are not persons, but monsters. War machines, nothing more, nothing less. Terribly powerful and devastating super weapons, with little to no soul and mind and with no mercy, no heart. Not the sons and daughters a mother would want to have."

Adrasthea made a grimace at that, as Killer listened carefully and nodded slightly, hugging the goddess gently against his chest as she repressed a shiver of horror, before she gazed down at the sheets and gathered her courage to continue telling her painful story. "We had three sons together... and the first one was a shock for me. He was a monster, which rapidly developed and grew into a mindless, ferocious dragon, with immense power and gigantic sizes. I never got to be called mom, I never got to have affection from him. Never. But Taranis said it had to be an unfortunate case, an incident... and soon enough, I was pregnant again. The result was only slightly less scary... but the hope that he would be a boy, that he would be a person worth having feelings for, was quickly shattered. He was another monster... he was a plague which infected the whole universe as soon as it born. He was Fear."

"Deimos...?" Vesta asked, arching her eyebrow in surprise as she leaned forwards with interest and shock. "Deimos is your son? The God of Fear, the personification of panic?"

Alcana sighed, and then nodded gravely, trembling a bit in Killer's arms. "Deimos is the name that Taranis gave him. Not at all what I had hoped..."

"Do I know him...?" Killer quietly asked, his eyes narrowing as he thought back to the strange, dark creature who had suddenly appeared during the battle against Sikanjal. The dark, unknown monstrosities had leapt unseen on the demonic goddess, and Sikanjal had immediately fallen prey to complete, irrational panic, which had turned her into an easy, almost defenseless target, almost breaking her down in front of the liger's eyes. "Because... someone..." He was about to say something, but he thought it would be gentler to give Alcana's son at least the attributes of a living being. "... leapt on Sikanjal during the fight, and she suddenly began to panic."

"Yes, that was Deimos." Adrasthea easily answered, before Alcana shock her head and firmly corrected: "That thing. That horrible thing. Deimos is not a person. It never was one. It is Fear personified. An unkillable entity that goes whenever Taranis rides into battle. A monstrosity which changed the universe forever, and caused infinite suffering." She snarled, closing her hands into fists as she shut her eyes and leaned back against Killer's solid, powerful chest.

"That leads us to a very good question: what are you thinking about Taranis, Lord Killer...?" Vesta asked, looking towards the huge male with worry in her eyes, as she leaned down on her abdomen, crossing her arms under her chin, lying down across her bed.

Killer turned to look at her with surprise, arching an eyebrow at her question and thinking for a brief moment before he dumbly said: "I was thinking that I want those great fire horses for myself. They make for great mounts."

The queen of Seraphims snorted and looked at him flatly, and he glared back at her with a snort. "What?"

"The challenge, Lord Killer. We are on the fifth day out of just seven before Taranis calls you out for the duel you have agreed to fight." Vesta reminded him, before she huffed: "It was truly stupid to accept, without a second thought, charging headfirst in such a battle, letting Taranis free to choose the where, the when and the who. I can't believe you even let him free to bring his pals! Taranis will have no hesitation, he will bring his best warriors along!"

"That's what I expect, and what I hope. I'd be offended if he didn't." Killer replied seriously, nodding easily at her.

"You can expect him to bring Deimos and Seth along for sure. And he will choose one of his planets. One of his worlds, where all of his powers will be massively amplified." Manticora wisely said, straightening up in her bed and looking at him with concern. "All, or at least some of us should escort you. If Taranis accepts to fight one on one, we will stand back. But going alone is just too dangerous."

"Going alone is exactly what I will do." Killer replied gently, looking down at her with a smile. "I appreciate your concerns and your willingness to help. But I don't want to put any of you in danger. And this is a vulgar personal feud. I would never want any of you to lose a drop of blood over it."

"Lord Killer, I fear you might be underestimating the extent of the challenge." Vesta cautioned, looking at him lovingly, a shadow of concern well visible in her eyes. "Personal feud or not, we care for you enough that no sacrifice is too great. Where you go, we come. We want you safe, not dishonored. We will let you fight on your own if it is a one on one. We know your strength, we have no doubts that you will win, if the fight is fair."

"I will win even if it is not fair." Killer replied calmly, looking amused. "You do not really know my strength. Sincerely, I do not know it myself. I only know a relatively tiny part of it. I just took on two gods, in the home of one of them, and wiped the floor with their asses. I know that Taranis is a whole different story... but I'm not scared at all. I only look forwards to the fight, to the chance to put me to the test once more. And I hope it'll be a workout... not a piece of cake like Sobek turned out to be."

Silence followed his words, as Alexis grinned and nodded, looking at him with love and utmost confidence, her eyes burning with her own battlelust as well as with her love for him. Vesta bit her lower lip a bit, gazing over him with concern and admiration at the same time... before Adrasthea smiled and nodded, her voice serene as she declared: "I trust you. I totally trust you, and I will not go doubting of your strength, of all things...! I can only try and imagine the full extent of your power... but what I have seen is already spectacular. And I'm sure you'll triumph."

"Perhaps if you gave us a little demonstration, all doubts would go away..." Vesta teased, looking up at him hungrily and grinning widely, her tongue slowly rolling over her lips as lust burned in her expression.

"You bitch, that's what you wanted all along...!" Killer amusedly snorted, picking up a cushion from Alcana's bed and throwing it against the Seraphim.

Vesta easily slapped the cushion out of the air as she smirked and shrugged a bit, replying easily: "Sounds like a great idea to me... and I'm sure none of the girls here would be against that."

"Not at all." Manticora said, grinning widely herself and nodding a bit as she added: "Seeing you lifting Orion, beating up Sikanjal and taming the horses of Taranis's war chariot was quite a show... but you didn't give us our money shot yet."

"You know, if you actually let us see more of what you are really capable of, we'd better be able to prepare you for the fight. I wish we had more time... two days are a damn short time to achieve anything meaningful." Ira added, looking at him seriously... before he turned slowly to look her flatly in the eye, and she blinked, a blush rising to her cheeks as she whispered: "Ok, ok. It's true, I'd love to see you show off some." She paused, and then cleared her throat as she closed her eyes and added firmly: "But I'm your mentor, and what I said is true. It is my job to prepare you."

"I know, I know... And you did a fantastic job preparing me." Killer gently replied, gazing at her with affection before adding: "But we won't really be preparing this challenge. There is too little time, and there are more urgent things I need to take care off in the precious time I have. Starting from saving Gaia and bringing Diana back from Avalon."

"Oh, yeah, right. Battling Shi and basically declaring war on Heaven seem the right way to arrive to the day of the duel fresh and rested." Ira sighed, dropping her head forwards and rubbing a hand slowly over her eyes, before she looked up with a sly little smile, shaking her head slowly. "It's dumb, it's reckless, it's insane... and yet, it is the right thing to do, isn't it? I expected nothing less, from you."

"I'll be ready nonetheless. I don't like losing... and I'm not going to let Taranis win, no matter how many friends he brings along." Killer replied calmly, looking over his girls with affection, before he turned his attention back to Ira, adding simply: "After I get these things out of the way, me and you have an important appointment in the Fourth Sky. You'll like it."

Ira tilted her head to the side slightly, looking at him with curiosity, but she only nodded after a moment, not making questions, as Alcana looked invertedly up at Killer's face, saying quietly: "Taranis might bring along our third son, as well... Erra, the personification of pestilence and sickness. Another monstrosity which is incredibly dangerous." She paused, sighing painfully as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, snarling a bit. "I don't even know how I could be so stupid... even after Deimos was born, Taranis was able to once more convince me, to try again. And... I really wanted a family, a real one. I really wanted it. I've always dreamed of a happy family..." The goddess smiled a bit, a smile that carried the serenity of her dream, and all the sadness of the rough, unforgiving reality. It made Killer swallow, the huge male repressing a shiver of horror as he hugged her tightly, holding her close, and feeling infinite sympathy for her, as he looked towards Alexis. He was lucky: he had found his soul mate, the love of his life, and he had a vast family, with so many friends and lovers that he so deeply cared for. Alcana, instead, for a cruel twist of Fate, had been mercilessly scarred by disappointments and tragedies. In the past, when he had heard of the "curse of Alcana", he hadn't quite imagined the full extent of it. It was life's cruel, bitter irony at its worst: the goddess of Love had gotten nothing but pain and despair from her own love affairs.

"Erra was the final, death blow to my hopes and illusions. Taranis only used me to give birth to monsters, weapons and atrocities. Since then, we have... pretty much broken our marriage. Taranis has tried to get me in his bed many more times, but I've always resisted. He did not suffer much because of it, anyway." Alcana snorted, making a grimace of distaste as she looked down at her thick, heavy ring, muttering: "He's never really loved me. He craves me, sure. But not because of love... to him, I'm little more than a trophy and breeding machine. And he's never had any problem or hesitation when it came to looking for breeding machines elsewhere. I don't even know how many more monsters he's given birth to, using other women for his own pleasure and aims."

Killer kissed her cheek softly, whispering gentle words of comfort in her ear and hugging her tightly as the others, even Alexis, looked on with sympathy, in respectful silence. Alcana's tragedy was a true nightmare... and her curse continued even now, because, yeah, Killer loved her... but not as much, not as totally as she loved him. He was Alexis's soul mate, and there was no changing that. Alexis would always come first, she would always be the only real queen of his heart. Alcana had not wanted to accept it, at first. She had wanted and planned to take Alexis's place... and that, instead of bringing her closer to Killer, had distanced them.

"Now I understand, Master Killer... now I fully understand." Alcana whispered, taking his hands with hers and guiding them to her chest, pushing his palms against her beating heart, so that he could clearly feel it. "When you came to Heaven, my love for you was egoistic. Sincere and total, but egoistic. I wanted you all for myself... I wanted to take Alexis's place. I... I wanted to be the center of your universe. I've never experienced the wonder of being loved back. I've been locked for so long in a marriage that has only been a torture that I thought that being the center of your universe was the only way to really be loved by you. Anything less, would have been false, I thought." She paused, closing her eyes and dropping her head back to kiss his throat, squeezing his hands in hers. "But then, in all this time... I got to fully know you. And you've shown me that your love is never false. When you say I love you, you mean it. For each of us, you are ready to make any and every sacrifice. You're ready to fight to the end to protect us... and you give us all the respect and affection that we can dream of. I know, now... that all I need, I already have. If you'll just say it for me..."

"I will." Killer amusedly replied, smiling warmly as he nuzzled her and pushed his lips over hers, kissing her lovingly, reassuringly, wrestling her tongue back down in her mouth, establishing calm, affectionate domination, looking down into her eyes as she slowly slid the ring off her finger and dropped it on top of the bedside table, groaning blissfully as his strong arms squeezed tightly around her waist, holding her close. It was only after a few long moments that the huge male slowly pulled back, smiling softly as he said: "I love you, Alcana. And I'm glad you finally understood it."

"It was solely my fault, Master, that it took so long to get to this point." The goddess replied, hugging him adoringly and smiling warmly even as she turned towards Alexis, whispering shyly: "And sorry, my Mistress and Queen, for all the trouble I've caused. And sorry for daring to try and take your place."

"I told you long ago, it would not work." Alexis replied easily, grinning slightly as she walked up to Killer and bent down to kiss the huge male's cheek. "I knew he would be more than capable to defeat your attempts, and show you the right way, too... So, yeah. Let's say I pardon you." The muscular goddess nodded, then straightened and balled one mighty, gloved hand into a powerful fist, caressing it with her other hand as she added, calmly but nonetheless wording a clear command: "But you'll better not do it again."

"Never." Alcana easily promised, before she grinned a bit as Killer picked up her abandoned ring, looking at it with a smirk of dark amusement.

"Are you surprised to hear that this ring adds spice to the savor of your desire...?" Killer amusedly asked, holding the ring that his enemy had put on Alcana's finger so many years earlier. Yes, he would show the jewel to Taranis before their fight, to fully enjoy the humiliation and rage on the God of War's face.

"No, I'm not." Alcana easily replied, grinning teasingly as she turned around and wrapped her arms loosely around his neck, leaning forwards sensually and pushing her firm, massive breasts against his muzzle as she murmured: "I'd be surprised if you didn't want to claim me and take me fully before you go to show my infamous hubby who has got the power."

"We'd all be surprised." Vera amusedly commented, grinning at him teasingly as he smiled and nodded, squeezing Alcana's breasts in his strong hands as he leaned forwards with a smirk and said: "That'll be the only specific preparation I'll make before the battle."

The goddess shivered in delight, letting out a low murr of eagerness and anticipation, gazing at him with need and craving in her eyes, while the other powerful females in the room grinned widely, trading knowing looks, lust burning in their irises.

Killer stood up calmly, stroking Alcana's cheek one last time before he walked over to Manticora's bed, the muscular female smiling widely as she leaned forwards and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer as she exclaimed: "It was about time...!"

They kissed for a few long moments, the huge male tackling her down into the bed, half-climbing over her with a teasing growl, crushing her into her cushions as he seized one large, firm breast and squeezed and rolled it in his hand.

"Thank you, for all you did out there." Killer quietly said when he finally pulled back, smiling amusedly as the zebra took his strong hand in hers and pulled it up to his muzzle, kissing his fingers gently.

"I wish I could have done more... but Sikanjal... well. She is quite scary." The female said, leaning back into the cushion and making a bit of a grimace as she thought back to the fight. The huge male nodded silently, all too aware of how dangerous Sikanjal was. She was pretty much indestructible, and terribly powerful... but he thought that was a subject better left to another time.

"How are you, Manticora...?" Killed asked, and the female shrugged a bit, replying calmly: "I'm pretty fine, actually. My wounds have all been healed already... but the Healers found a significant amount of Unworld Residue which mixed in my energies, and they are filtering it all out of my blood. It takes time... and patience."

"Yeah, and it hurts like hell." Vesta muttered, before she looked to Alexis and Killer, scanning them from head to toe as she added: "But you two have been exposed to the biggest amount of Unworld essence, yet have needed no blood cleaning process. Somehow, your bodies got rid on their own of the poisoning, and all but turned it into an advantage, boosting your energies. I'm sure Ira told you that this is supposed to be impossible."

"Yeah, she did... But what do you want me to say...? You are the genius here, not me." Killer replied tiredly, dropping his head forwards slightly and rubbing a hand slowly over his eyes, making a grimace as Alcana added quietly: "Unfortunately, Sikanjal has noticed this incredible ability that you have... and she now craves it herself. She will do all she can, in order to conquer the secret and gain the same ability."

"Why is it so important for her...?" Killer muttered irritably, but almost immediately, he looked up with a grimace as he realized, horribly, what was the idea that Sikanjal undoubtedly had had. He turned towards Ira, looking urgently into her eyes, a question clearly painted on his features as he mumbled: "The Unworld... is the one place where you can have easy access to the universe's energies, isn't it...? All of the universe's energies."

The muscular cobra female nodded silently, closing her eyes for a brief moment as she calmly replied: "Yes. And I can see you have realized already what the full implications are. The ability to not only survive the Unworld's destructive environment, but to absorb its very essence, with all the energy that can be found there... well, it is the key to full, real omnipotence. In theory, the full power of the universe could be absorbed from the Unworld, with a power like yours. And that would mean having all kind of abilities, powers, wisdom and infinite, incalculable strength."

Killer stared at her in shock, sitting heavily down into Manticora's bed and swallowing thickly at the shiver that ran down his spine, giving him the chills, before he gazed up towards Vesta, Gaia, Adrasthea and Alcana, his eyes going from one to the other as he asked: "Do you think I could do something like that...?"

The powerful females hesitated, trading thoughtful looks for a brief moment, before Vesta began to slowly explain her thinking, looking at him with all the seriousness she was capable of. "Lord Killer, we've been together for quite some time now, and I've learned to appreciate how incredibly capable and powerful you are. You most clearly are unlikely anything the universe has seen in its history: you have a vast variety of powers. You are a unique mix of Light and Darkness, the two primary elements, the father and mother of all others. You've amazed all of us, and clearly showed that you go far beyond the normal concept of divinity. More importantly still, you are far from having shown us what you are really capable of. We've seen only a sliver of you, so far, even if you broke four out of seven Seals. Even the power you have technically unlocked, you've not really dared using and displaying." The queen paused, sighing a bit as she looked at him with a smile that was loaded with contrasting emotions: she clearly feared how he would react to the news, as he already found so hard to control his urges. Telling him that he had so much more at his disposal was both delightful and torturing, for him. And she was fully aware of it. "As a matter of fact, Lord Killer, it is hard to guess where your limits stand... if there are limits at all. So, I really wouldn't exclude the idea. I do think that, right now, if you were to enter the Unworld to try and absorb it you'd be quickly destroyed. But tomorrow...?" She shook her head slowly, and Killer saw her shivering in lustful amazement.

"Some time ago, you didn't really show this amazing, unprecedented ability. When Michael used the punishment whip imbued of Unworld energy, your body was unable to resist so well... true, Gaia intervened very quickly to remove the poisoning, and perhaps waiting a while we would have seen your body absorbing at least part of the residue. But I think this new, astonishing capability is part of all the power you've released breaking the latest Seals. So, while today you might not yet be able to attempt such a monumental, impossible enterprise, tomorrow I can't say. You are the essence of Creation and Destruction, fused together in one incredibly powerful force. I cannot rule out the possibility that, one day, absorbing the Unworld will be as difficult for you as eating a chocolate bar."

Killer closed his eyes with a shiver, feeling small pearls of icy sweat running down his back as he repressed a shiver of both fear and lust, clearly visualizing in his mind the grin on Alexis's lips, as he clearly felt her excitement and her own thrill of amazement and eagerness. He had no need to open his eyes to clearly perceive it all, and he just as easily felt the vibrations of the other girl's fearful but eager desire.

Amazingly, Black Killer did not voice his opinion, and Killer was left staring at the darkness in his mind, listening to the silence, only broken by the noise of his breathing, as he looked out for his cruel, power-hungry alter-ego but found no sign at all of him.

The bastard has understood one thing... I'm just as power-hungry as him, if not more. And he's understood that urging him on will only work against his plans: if he urges me on, I'll get worried and angry and push back against him and his suggestions. If he shuts the hell up, instead, my own hungers and lusts will eventually do the job.

I know you hear me, asshole.

_You came up with a great plan. Even knowing it, I won't be able to avoid the trap forever. _

Several long moments of silence followed, before Killer sighed tiredly and shook his head, muttering: "Let's keep this issue for later. To get the secret out of me, Sikanjal has to kill me, and believe me, I really won't let that happen." He paused, then he looked up and to Vesta, saying quietly: "What I actually want to know is if I can help you with this ability of mine. Do you think I could absorb the Unworld poisoning out of other organisms, as well...?"

"Most likely, yes, but at a cost." Vesta answered, looking towards Vicky with sadness in her eyes. "You are probably able to 'hook', so to speak, into Unworld poisoning and tear it out of other people... but doing it would most likely cause lethal damage to the person you were trying to help. Unworld residue is tremendously dangerous, Lord Killer... it basically is the substance that truly puts an end to an existence. Far more definitive than death, the Unworld is the final stage. If when you die you normally end up going to Heaven or Hell, or into a Limbo or some other sort of otherworldly Dimension, when your final end comes and you end up in the Unworld, you are progressively, ultimately destroyed and brought back to the state of simple, pure energy devoid of any conscience and personal trait. Energy that then flows into the Cycle once more, eventually condensing together to form anything from a pebble to a God or a star. Not even the strongest gods of the past were ever immune to the Unworld's effects. You, somehow, are. But whoever you were to help would not be as resistant as you, and the Unworld residue would destroy large parts of their bodies as you dragged the poison up into your own form."

"I guess that means I can't cut short your convalescence, Manticora." Killer muttered, looking down at the powerful female with regret. The zebra, however, smiled and shook her head slowly, thanking him nonetheless and telling him not to worry. The special IV machine worked, even if it took a lot of time and pain to achieve results, and she was just going to follow the normal procedure.

Killer, though, was struck by a painful realization as he looked up towards Vicky, still sleeping in her own bed, her empty eye-sockets leaking corrupt blood infested by thick amounts of residue. "What does that mean for Vicky...? Is it... possible at all to give her back her eyes? Can the Healers do it...?"

Vesta hesitated, looking at him with sorrow on her face, before she slowly shook her head, sighing painfully: "I'm afraid not. Sikanjal's claws pierced into her eyes and leaked a massive amount of Unworld essence into her. It is a miracle that she is still alive at all... The Healers say it will be impossible to clean her infected wounds. They are doing their best to remove as much residue as possible... but ultimately... No, restoring her eyes is impossible, and there's a very real risk that the remaining residue will slowly consume her, until she dies."

Killer turned to stare at her in horror, shaking his head weakly as he urgently, desperately asked: "Is there anything at all that can be done...? I mean... I'm a God, no...? Doesn't it make me able to do something for her? Am I only good to destroy things, never to fix them?"

"There is only one thing that you could do, Lord Killer." Adrasthea calmly answered, gazing at him hesitatingly, uncertain about how he would react. "You'd have to clean her from the infection... and use your energies to regenerate her body, to give her new eyes and to heal the damage that the Unworld residue will cause as you rip it out of her. Effectively, this means passing on to her a lot of your energy, blessing her with your life and reality-changing power. It means making Vicky a Disciple of you."

Killer listened with attention, biting his lower lip lightly as he dropped his head forwards, frowning and thinking of what he should do. He wanted to save Vicky, he wanted to give back to her all she had lost... but he hesitated, hearing what the cost was. Making her his Disciple had serious consequences. First of all, it would anger even further both Typhon and the Heavenly Council and gods like Taranis and Thanathos, who had ordered him never to have a circle of Disciples. But that didn't really worry him, especially at the stage they had reached, in which the events in the Meadows had pretty much destroyed the last hopes of being able to work constructively with the Council. What worried him the most was the fact that making of Vicky a Disciple would have stolen at least part of her freedom away. He could transform her and then let her free not to serve him, sure, but once he put his energies and power into her, she'd be tied to him, wanting it or not. He would have gained a huge control over her mind and body, and he would have created a strong bond between their destinies.

"I can't turn her into a Disciple, unless she wants to become one. I don't want to put chains around her... I don't want to steal away her freedom, unless she asks it herself." Killer said, shaking his head slowly as he looked with affection over the sleeping doe.

"Lord Killer..." Vesta said, looking amusedly exasperated as she gazed at him with a smile. "She's been known to campaign, with great enthusiasm, in your favor from long before you actually were called into Heaven. She adores you, and she is going to be delighted by the idea of becoming your Disciple."

"I know she did support me..." Killer replied calmly, smiling amusedly as he looked up to the roof, thinking back to their first encounter. "I first met her in Orion, in a bar. She was putting up hand-made posters presenting me and Alexis as the saviors of the universe. But... drawing and putting up posters is one thing, offering body and soul to someone is a whole different matter."

"Lord Killer, I think I speak for all of us when I say that we'd all love to be your Disciples. We crave to become disciples to you. There's nothing we want as much as we want to serve you and protect you." Adrasthea firmly said, smiling warmly at him as he turned towards her in surprise, before he looked on in awe as Vesta grinned and nodded, Alexis smirking and doing the same, while Alcana and Manticora also showed their complete agreement.

"And Vicky threw herself against Sikanjal, a monster stronger than gods, to protect you. Vicky knew she had no hopes at all, yet she did not hesitate. Isn't it enough of a demonstration for you...?" Adrasthea added, looking him into the eyes as she tilted her head slightly to the side, arching an eyebrow.

"It... it was a great demonstration of how much she cares for me. And I was immensely touched by it... But no, it is not enough. I want her to be fully aware of the cost of becoming a Disciple. And I want her to decide autonomously and without pressure. I don't even want her to know that it could give her back her eyes and health. That might tempt her and make her overlook the unpleasant implications." The huge male replied, shifting a bit on the spot, feeling torn between contrasting feelings and bogged down by uncertainty about what was right and what would be an arrogant invasion of someone else's life. "And sincerely, I don't know if I'm ready to turn someone into a Disciple... what if I lose control and let my lusts and unconscious desires take over, and change and warp her to fit my wishes?"

"It is part of making a Disciple, lord and master Killer." Alcana replied quietly, looking at him lovingly and smiling with amusement as she added: "It is cute to see you so worried for us all... but the truth is that we know well all the consequences, but are absolutely undeterred. I, for sure, would never have anything to complain if you were to change me, my body, my soul or mind in order to please yourself better. I want to do any and every thing I can to make you happy and to give you greater pleasure."

"We all look forwards to the day in which we get to really call you Master, as Disciples. We all crave the day in which you turn us into your warriors, your lovers, your slaves. And we crave any and every change you'll want us to undergo." Ira explained, her cheeks burning crimson but her voice sincere and firm, as she stroked a hand over her large, bulging bicep, her fingers brushing up to the tattoo on her shoulder, the golden lion head clearly indicating her loyalty to him.

"I'm sure Vicky does feel exactly the same need and desire, Lord and Master Killer." Vesta added, smiling softly towards him as he looked over them all silently, listening to their promises, feeling overwhelmed by the total love and trust they were putting in him.

"Besides, you do need and deserve to build up a divine family, building circles of Disciples around you. You are too powerful not to have your servants... and you have too many enemies not to have an army of warriors ready to do everything it takes to obey your command." Manticora wisely said, looking at him with a smile as she rubbed a hand slowly down her muscular abdominals, a slight blush on her cheeks as she longingly thought about the honor and pleasure of being a Disciple to him.

"I completely agree." Vesta confirmed, nodding with a soft smile. "For a god, being as powerful as you are, is both a blessing a curse. Even just because of your strength, you'll be envied, hated and feared. Taranis is a clear example of this... you'll never be short of enemies, and you won't be able to face them all on your own. A circle of Disciples will help you bear the burden. And it'll make your life a hell of a lot sweeter." The muscular female grinned, leaning forwards with a wink as she licked her lips slowly, openly teasing him, playfully seducing him as he snorted amusedly and shook his head slowly.

"Seriously. I don't think you'll be able to avoid the argument forever." Ira wisely added, looking at him with seriousness, back to being his mentor. "I'm sure you feel the urge already... and it'll get even stronger with time. A god like you will inexorably hear the call at some point, and even more so since there's a massive component of Lust in you. Trying to ignore your desires might end up making the call too strong to be resisted, and then you'd truly end up imposing yourself on someone to satiate your needs."

"Better to take us girls as Disciples, you see...? Also because we really want to, and we won't let you forget and ignore our wishes." Vesta cheerfully concluded, grabbing the edge of her bed and leaning forwards over her arms, grinning at him widely as her eyes asked him to go right ahead and make them happy.

Killer looked at her with a frown, then moved his gaze slowly over the other powerful females, looking into their eyes to see if they really wanted it, if they were sincere... and he sighed a bit when it became evident that they were not faking any of their enthusiasm, the huge male rubbing a hand slowly in his mane as Alexis gazed at him with an amused grin.

"Fine, fine... just... Let me prepare for it for a little while still. I have total confidence in you all... but I don't trust myself very much. Especially for such a step, which will have such an impact on your bodies, souls and minds." Killer sighed, but smiling slightly despite himself as the strong females traded victorious, delighted gazes before turning to him with affection.

"If you trust us that much, you should appreciate the fact that we have utmost, total faith in you, and stop being so tough on yourself." Vesta teased, smirking a bit as she pointed at him with a finger, and the huge male frowned thoughtfully for a moment, before he grumbled: "Fuck you, don't use the reverse technique on me."

Vesta snickered, but didn't add anything, letting Ira pointing quietly out: "It is true, Lord Killer... you are way too tough on yourself. We appreciate how you worry for us, how you want for us only the very best and we admire how you struggle to control yourself, all the time. But at the same time, we are saddened by how hard you are on yourself. You worry too much, you are far greater and far better than you give yourself credit for."

Killer did not reply, but he smiled warmly at her, before he looked once more over Vicky as the doe slept quietly, her body relaxed, her features peaceful. She was clearly having a quiet sleep without nightmares, and he did not want to disturb it, knowing how much she needed some quality rest.

"I appreciate all you say and do for me... it honors me that you all see so much good in me. But I want her to make her own decision. I owe her that much, at least. Is... she is stable, right? We can let her rest without fears...?"

Ira looked at him softly, touched by his sincere affection and concern, the cobra smiling quietly as she nodded and answered: "She is stable. Her life is not at risk, for the moment... and resting will do her a lot of good. We can wait until she wakes up, and ask her."

"I'm so glad to hear it." Killer murmured, looking relieved as he walked towards the doe and delicately pushed a long bang of her hair off her face, bending down over her to lightly, lovingly kiss her forehead. She shifted imperceptibly, and her lips seemed to crest in a little smile... but she continued to sleep deeply, and Killer smiled down at her with affection.

He protectively gazed over the doe for several long moments, standing at her side and guarding her from the whole world, seeming ready to fight back even the nightmares, as he listened to her regular, relaxed breathing... before he turned back towards Adrasthea as the goddess cleared her throat quietly and wisely said: "It is important to say that it is not just a matter of Disciples... it is important to have at least one safe, secure base and home. You'll need a Sanctuary, a place to truly call your own, a place where nor Heaven nor Hell can come and harm and annoy you."

"Yeah, and sincerely, a Sanctuary is needed even more urgently than Disciples." Vesta said, getting back to full seriousness and looking at the huge male. "If you used your powers and energy to build a Sanctuary, it would solve a very serious problem for us all, because Eaglenest, and all other monasteries and fortress in which we have friends, are no longer safe places. For at least two reasons: first of all, Eaglenest and the other castles are protected by the magic of the Metatrons, but they work for the Heavenly Council. With our relationship with the Council on the edge of full-out war, the magic and circle of runes and barriers around us are no longer shields protecting us, but the walls of a prison.

Second, the Metatrons's protections are far from being strong enough to be effective against a foe as formidable as Sikanjal: the way you and Alexis were effortlessly brought away by Anubis and Sobek was a rough wake-up call."

"This is indeed a serious issue." Killer agreed, frowning a bit and taking a deep breath, looking down at the floor for a moment to think and evaluate the options, as he walked back to Manticora's bed, to leave Vicky free to rest as they continued the important discussion. "I think I shouldn't have trouble building a Sanctuary..." The huge male said after a moment of silence, resisting the urge to arrogantly grin as he realized how much of an understatement that was. Thinking back to what he and Alexis had done in space a few hours earlier, there was no doubt at all that he had more than enough power to build a whole new world, if he wanted. "But, at least for now, let's keep things on a relatively small scale. I could... take over Eaglenest, turn it into a fortress of mine. That would keep the Metatrons out for sure... and realistically, even Sikanjal wouldn't dare coming close."

"That would be great." Manticora observed, nodding a bit, before Ira wisely observed: "We should put the plan on hold for a little while more, though, if we want to make a last try to fix things with the Council. At least a bit."

"I don't think there are any hopes of ever getting them to reason." Alexis muttered, making a grimace, and Vesta snorted in agreement. Adrasthea, however, wisely suggested: "It's true, it is probably a hopeless attempt. But we should still make a last try nonetheless. If we let things go as they are going now, we are going to get to full-out civil war raging through Heaven, and that would add even more trouble."

"I agree... much as I loathe the idea, we must make a last try." Killer agreed, and Vesta sighed tiredly but nodded nonetheless.

"You are right, of course... but there is only one way to make this last attempt meaningful at all: we need to speak directly to the senate, reunited in plenary session. If we continue to tangle with Typhon and Michael, we stand no chance. We must talk to the senators... if they have a bit of brain left and if they do listen to us, perhaps we can get them on our side." The queen of Seraphims said, slamming a fist down in the open palm of her other hand.

"Can we do it...?" Killer asked, arching one eyebrow curiously. Vesta nodded, making a bit of a grimace as she specified: "Sort of. In normal times, as Queen of the Seraphims, I would have every right to make a call and obtain a hearing. But Typhon has long taken up control of all these aspects, so my request would end up on his desk... and he would just ignore it. But if we go to the Senate unannounced, we can get in somehow."

"You can always smash down the doors, if necessary." Alexis said, grinning slyly to Killer, but deadly serious nonetheless.

"Indeed." Vesta agreed, nodding a bit as she looked into Killer's eyes. "When the Wall was breached, the Council was evacuated from the Senate building in Caernarvon, which was judged to be too exposed and vulnerable. They have moved into the deep bunkers in the Valley of the Kings, always in the Sixth Sky. They feel safe, behind the massive shutters and blast-doors... who knows, it might even be helpful to scare them off by showing how you can tear those doors apart like they were made of paper. It would bring them back to reality, perhaps. They think that Heaven is invincible, is pure, is superior, is God's precious, favorite creation... all bullshit. And they also love to believe that their bunker is safe, that it can protect them from any and everything. Showing them how wrong they are could be very helpful."

"We have a lot of stuff to do in the coming days." Killer observed calmly, nodding slightly as he gave Vesta a smirk: "But smashing doors down has never been a problem for me. We will make a try, we owe it to everyone, including Elelyon himself. But first of all, we have to get Diana back, and save Gaia as well." His expression returned cold and focused, deadly serious as he calmly asked: "What do we know about Shi?"

"Unfortunately, we don't know that much." Alcana easily replied, and Adrasthea nodded in agreement as the goddess of love continued: "Shi is basically a super-parasite. We don't know its exact nature... he might be some sort of ancient divinity, or just an incredibly dangerous mutant, parasitic organism that thrives occupying someone else's body."

"Differently from parasites as we tend to imagine them, Shi is very powerful on his own. His powers easily rival those of a major deity, with the advantage that, as you've seen, he seems to be pretty much unkillable. Hitting him is not a problem, and he breaks down into pieces all the time... the problem is that it is like punching water. Eventually, if you beat him hard enough, he retreats in hiding for a while, suggesting that he is not without his own endurance limits... but Gaia and Elelyon together where never able to destroy him, nor to defeat him in a definitive way." Adrasthea explained, making a grimace as she recalled her memories of a past that even she had only known thanks to tales and books. "Shi has been around in forever. And a parasite which is so strong and independent on its own, as you can imagine, only assaults special people he can use as host. He only attacks divinities which can offer him greater power. He takes over their bodies and minds, and uses them as long as they make for valid weapons. In the past, he was observed as being pretty vain, too: he always seemed to choose his hosts accurately. His preferred targets were male divinities which could give him not only a greater power, but a more impressive and virile look."

"I suppose, modesty aside for a moment, that he might be looking out for me, then." Killer snorted, looking somewhat amused despite the seriousness that remained on his face as he thought of the risks to Gaia's safety.

"That's for sure. Shi ultimately wants to take over your body, I'm sure. It's what I'd want to do if I was in him." Vesta easily replied. "Anyway. Shi was one of the main problems that Elelyon and Gaia had to face in the very first years of life of this world. Elelyon and Gaia worked together to create Earth, Hell and Heaven, and for years afterwards they were forced to fight daily to try and preserve the future of the new world as Shi constantly assaulted it. Even in years of fighting, killing him for good proved impossible, and in the end the only long-term solution that proved effective was imprisoning him... I don't even know how he was done, it was so long ago, and the story was never entirely told. Unfortunately, we can't ask the heroes, either." The queen of Seraphims made a grimace, shrugging a bit and rubbing a hand in her long, beautiful golden hair, snorting and cursing under her breath as she once more forgot the tubes of the IV machine and dragged forwards the pole with the bags, catching it with a huff as it began to fall over.

"Anyway, he spent Eons imprisoned on the bottom of a Pit of Despair, down in Hell, and it was like he was gone. He would have never been able to break out on his own, and Hell had to make sure no one would help him from the outside. To be fair, we thought no one would ever even think about pulling him out."

"Sikanjal thought it would be useful to pull him out, though." Killer completed, making a grimace. "And I bet Shi is only one of many dangerous guys tucked out somewhere."

"Exactly. Which is another of the urgent problems we'll have to deal with. There's no telling which other Pit she might decide to tear open. There are tremendous monstrosities locked away that she could well free." Vesta replied, before turning to the side as Ira intervened and cautioned: "It is not just about the Pits of Hell, either. Heaven has its own maximum-security prison... it is well defended and supposedly unassailable, but if Sikanjal managed to rip the Pits open, she could just as easily attack Retribution and raze it to the ground, freeing all the monsters it contains. It would send some of the most evil and destructive forces the world has ever known out on the loose, rampaging through Heaven. And after the beating it took, the army won't be able to do much about it, especially as the demons already take up all the attention."

"That is one nasty issue." Vesta agreed, sitting back in her bed and looking down at the ground, biting her lips nervously before snorting: "We will be trying to warn the Council about the danger... but I already know what they will answer: Retribution is the most well protected and secure fortress Heaven has ever built, so of course they think it is nothing short of unassailable and invulnerable."

"Like the Wall...?" Manticora snorted, making a grimace of distaste. Vesta only smiled slightly, a knowing expression on her face as she shrugged a bit and mumbled: "It is not to me that you should say that. Had they listened, they would have known the obvious: their plan to spread troops all over the Wall, without reserves in the rear echelons to move forwards to plug the breaches, made no fucking sense. We told them. They ignored the advice. And they'll do it again, blinded by their stupid, ridiculous pride."

"Retribution is as armored and well defended as the Senate's bunkers in the Valley of the Kings. That's another good reason for a little show of your strength in there, if words prove insufficient to bring the senators back to reason." Ira added calmly, looking at Killer with a slight nod.

"Even the show of strength is unlikely to work. Most of the senators are so full of themselves that they'll deny even the reality seen by their own eyes. We need a serious contingency plan, like the one we prepared for the urgent evacuation of the Seraphim's families. Because sadly, I'm convinced that the point is not "'if' a civil war starts: it is merely a matter of 'when' it happens. When even the last hope of getting the Council to act is gone, we must act on our own. Swiftly and decisively. Or Heaven will pay a terrible price." Vesta wisely said, rubbing a hand nervously over the sheets, looking thoughtful. Killer observed her for a few long moments, and then she snapped her fingers with a wide grin.

"I've got it!" She cheerfully exclaimed. "Before Sikanjal breaks Retribution apart, we will do it ourselves. We will bring the prisoners away, and hide them somewhere truly safe."

Adrasthea looked at her with a frown, looking unconvinced at best, but Alexis's eyes narrowed with dark amusement and she grinned slightly, looking sideways down to the queen of Seraphims. It made Killer frown with a mix of anticipation and worry, as he realized that Vesta's plan had much to do with him and Alexis... and then Alcana shook her head slowly and muttered: "Inside Retribution there are some of the most dangerous and disgusting persons ever to exist. Monsters who, given a chance to redeem themselves, only committed even worse horrors. How do we get them out of there in good order? And where the fuck should we hide them, in our pockets?"

"Inside Killer's basement." Vesta easily replied, grinning widely as her eyes burned with lust, looked into the huge male's one, as he recoiled slightly, eyes opening wide in surprise as he understood how much she really knew about him.

"So... you know."

"Yes, I do." Vesta replied, her smirk softening into a smile as she added quickly: "And I've nothing bad to say about it. I've nothing against it. In a way, you act like Hell does... you punish the incurable evil."

"What exactly are we talking about, if I can ask...?" Adrasthea asked, frowning curiously as she looked from Vesta to Killer, studying their expressions, before Alexis looked at the huge male with a silent question in her eyes, and he nodded slightly.

The muscular goddess grinned slightly and turned to look down at Adrasthea, explaining easily: "Back home, we have a secret dungeon under the royal palace. The first level, nearer to the surface, is a prison where we keep the worst criminals of the empire. Rapists, murderers, violent offenders... the worst kind of them. The prison is very unpleasant, but not entirely merciless: you can still get out of it, if you show you really are going to change. Killer grants some mercy to those that show genuine regret and that really do try to become different persons. In the rare cases when this happens, we send the prisoner back to the normal prisons. Those who really are hopeless, instead, are carried deeper down into the dungeon, where they cease to have any right, any value, any hope. They lose their name, their identity, their everything. They become toys. Their bodies and souls become Killer's pastime. That's how Killer and I maintain control over our destructive urges: whenever we feel the need to, we delve into the dungeon and torture and destroy some of the prisoners."

Adrasthea looked impressed, gaping a bit at the explanation and looking thoughtful, probably trying to imagine and visualize in her mind how things worked in the deep dungeon... but Killer was relieved to see no horror in her expression. Ira was smirking a bit, looking amused and intrigued by the idea, even if her cheeks were fairly crimson as she looked at him... and Manticora only gently stroked a hand up and down along his muscular thigh, unperturbed.

The most surprising reaction, though, was Vesta's: she was grinning widely, and in her eyes burned flames that Killer would normally see only in Alexis's own eyes. The queen of Seraphim, most clearly, more than approved the dungeon's horrors. She seemed eager to assist to the slaughter, to the monstrous fest of dark lusts. She most clearly desired to take part in the bloodbath... and her expression sent a thrill of delight down Killer's spine, along with some mild amazement. He was surprised... and yet, at the same time, he wasn't.

Vesta had already showed how powerful her own lusts and passions were, and while such levels of violence and bloodshed had never been implied before, the huge male had already had the feeling that they wouldn't deter her at all.

"I'm sure you are always short on fresh meat, aren't you...?" Vesta wondered, leaning forwards with a grin. "And now, as a god, with your new power, your hungers are far greater. You'll need a much greater dungeon, far more servants, and far more toys and victims. You have all the power you need to crush Retribution like a bug... and there is plenty of fresh meant inside the fortress, monsters that you could shove in the deepest level of your dungeons, without any regret, such are the horrors they committed. That way, they'll be hidden away from Sikanjal's reach... and they will serve one noble purpose in their lives, for once, serving to amuse and please you, Master."

"You should sell stuff. You are good at convincing people." Killer amusedly commented, shaking his head slowly... but at the same time, he couldn't deny the thrill of delight running down his spine as he thought of such a chance of hitting out, without worries, without having to restrain himself. Destroying the pride of Heaven, crumbling the fortress that Heaven had always considered simply invincible and untouchable. It was a delightful challenge... Heaven's ancient powers and magic, pitted against his godlike, fearsome strength. And the prize was great, too. New victims, fresh meat that he could toss in cages in the deep darkness of the dungeon, to use for his own personal delight...

"You know..." Adrasthea mused quietly, looking thoughtful. "It is unconventional, to say the least. In normal days, I'd say that thinking about assaulting Retribution is foolish at best. And it sounds pretty much unconceivable that anyone would ever want to hold such criminals and monsters in 'the basement' of his house. But with Killer here..." The goddess looked at the huge male with a slight grin, her eyes narrowing as she looked over his powerful, huge body, as if studying him and trying to read into his true potential. "It is an idea so reckless, insane and dangerous that it might actually work excellently."

"You would actually consider bringing those murderers at home...?" Ira asked curiously, looking at the huge male calmly, and Killer nodded firmly, replying easily: "Yes. I don't have reservations about that. I'm confident Alexis and I could force into powerless submission all of those criminals. Of course, with supernatural entities, the cages we usually use would never be enough..." He turned towards Alexis with a hungry grin, flames of dark lust glowing in his eyes as she looked back at him with a smirk. "But we have new powers now... and we can build a new, far greater dungeon, which will be more than capable to hold even the worst monsters at bay."

"You bet!" Alexis easily replied, licking her lips slowly, her fangs gritted in a sharkish grin.

"They just raped a god into pieces and crushed his planet and pocket dimension into dust." Manticora observed, smiling in dark amusement herself. "That's pretty indicative of what they can do."

"Will you do it...? If you transform Eaglenest into your Sanctuary, we could create a dungeon deep inside the mountain, and seal your new playthings down there. Once they are in your own territory, not even Sikanjal will dare trying to set them free." Vesta finally asked, straightening and looking at the two gods with seriousness, and yet with a burning flame of lust of her own dancing in her eyes. "If you could do it, it would remove a huge source of worry from the list."

"We will do it." Killer ensured, before grinning amusedly as he smoothly said: "Let it be our battle plan: after we talk to the Council, if we fail to get it on our side, I will turn Eaglenest into my Sanctuary. As soon as I'm done rebuilding this place and giving it the adequate protection, the plan for the evacuation of all families and relatives of the Seraphims has to begin: I'll make sure there is space for everyone in the new Eaglenest. We will have to be swift, or the Paladins will get to them before we do... and they might as well kill everyone, if Typhon gives the order." The huge male paused, looking into Vesta's eyes and grinning widely as he added: "Turning this fortress into my Sanctuary will be a good occasion to give you that little show of strength you wanted. Taking over Retribution and taking prisoners all the monsters it contains will be another good demonstration. And we could think about Disciples too, at that point."

"Sounds great to me!" Vesta cheerfully agreed, grinning widely as she gave an eager nod. The huge male, however, reminded: "But first of all, we have to beat Shi out of Gaia, and I have to get Diana back. I'm not abandoning any of them in the moment of need."

"We know you never would." Ira softly said, before she looked up towards Alexis. "Lady Alexis, you are the key, here. We believe you should be able to project Killer into Gaia's mind, allowing him to force Shi out of her... but we don't really know how that could work. If it proves impossible, if we can't find a way to make it work, the only option left will be to physically attack Gaia's body, until Shi escapes it. And that is almost certainly going to be a death sentence for the goddess of Nature."

"Assuming that we'd be able to kill her, of course." Alcana wisely observed. "You have no idea how powerful Gaia is, when she loses control."

"We have, actually." Vesta replied, making a grimace and shuddering visibly, before she said calmly: "It doesn't matter, anyway. We do not want to hurt Gaia, and we won't. We have to eradicate Shi from her body."

"It will be a tough job... the only way I can think of, is to turn Killer into energy, into a living though that I'd then have to carry into Gaia's head. I've never tried doing anything like this." Alexis said, gritting her fangs nervously as she walked up and down the aisle, turning towards Killer as she moved in front of him, looking at the huge male with concern. "We are not going to try such an enterprise without me doing some practice first, end of the question." The goddess added firmly. "A single error could doom you forever, Lover, and that's a risk I won't run. It is enough of a risk already that we do not really know how to destroy Shi once we pry him out of Gaia. We must be careful."

Killer understood her point, but he cursed under his breath nonetheless, knowing that Gaia couldn't hold her nerve forever. She needed help quickly, and he was eager to assist her, in any and every possible way. Alexis sighed and looked up at the ceiling for a moment, looking thoughtful as she tried to make a plan and form an estimate, before she pleaded: "Give me at least the morning to make some trials and learn how to do it. Vesta, Adrasthea, Alcana and Manticora will help me, and we'll try to do it all in the shortest possible timeframe. In the meanwhile, you could bring Ira out to the appointment, and go to Avalon to save Diana."

The mighty females nodded and promised their assistance, as Ira straightened and sat up in her bed, looking ready to go and only waiting for Killer to give her the okay... and the huge male nodded after a brief hesitation, walking forwards and hugging Alexis tightly to his chest, kissing her lips, then her forehead.

"We will do as you say." The huge male announced, and Ira easily stood up, ripping the IV tubes off her arm and quickly picking up her chest armor plate from under the bed, slipping it on with a slight blush as Vesta openly ogled the cobra's huge breasts as they were squeezed into the thick cups of the armor.

"I want her to be safe. I want to help her, just as much as you want it." Alexis ensured, smiling up at him lovingly before they kissed hungrily, their tongues wrestling savagely for a moment... before the two gods pulled back and snarled a bit, looking up at the large double door leading into the room. Vesta frowned, then she felt it as well, and the other mighty females looked at the doors with hate as soon as they perceived the same energies in the air, quickly drawing nearer. In a moment, heavy steps resounded in the corridor outside, along with the tingling of armor plates and sheathed swords, as the Healing Priestess from earlier kept shouting: "Don't go there, they should not be disturbed! Lord Killer ordered to stay away...!"

But Typhon continued to walk forwards nonetheless, and he snorted contemptuously before angrily shouting to the priestess to get out of his way.

Killer and Alexis straightened and turned to face the door, both gods glaring at the massive dark wood and radiating power and fury as they prepared to stand against the god that was responsible for the slaughter of the Wall.

"Leave him to me, please." Killer quietly implored, and Alexis nodded, looking somewhat displeased but raising no objection, making him smile softly as he whispered his thanks. He knew how much it cost her to stay out of it... but he thought it was his task to deliver a little lesson.

Typhon unceremoniously slammed a hand forwards into the door, sending them swinging hard open as they almost burst off their hinges, but Killer caught them easily, his grip cracking the massive, hard wood as it was a biscuit, the liger's eyes burning as he glared up at the ugly, reptilian god and coldly said: "No. Noise. Here."

Typhon looked down at Killer with surprise for a fleeting instant, before the giant reptile snorted angrily and walked a step forwards, his white, soulless eyes narrowing as he muttered angrily: "You are not in the position to make any request, traitor. I'll make plenty of noise, as I punish you all for your betrayal!"

"It wasn't a request. It was an order." Killer calmly replied, his voice soft and yet carrying the most terrible of threats as he let go of the doors only to slam a fist forwards into Typhoon's muscular abdomen, knocking the breath out of the god's lungs as the thirty-foot tall monster was smashed backwards across the wide landing and down a whole ramp of wonderful marble stairs, the Healer Priestess giving a shriek of shock and fear as she threw herself to the side and curled up in the corner.

Killer walked out of the room with a low, terrible growl coming through his gritted fangs, as his irises vanished, turning his eyes into murderous, merciless pits of a sapphire light that was as beautiful as it was deadly, unforgiving like the icy, deep ocean of the north. "There is people here who is resting after a real battle... a fight you took no part in." Killer venomously said, before looking down with a snarl to see Michael, the arrogant Arkangel looking shocked as he watched back and forth, from the liger to Typhon, who had crashed into the thick parapet of the monumental stairs and was now slowly standing up between the rubble and shattered marble.

Killer reached out with a hand to seize the Arkangel, who snarled and drew his sword out, going into a ready position... only to be slapped ferociously to the side by Killer's huge, heavy hand. Michael flew to the side like a fly, but before he could crash into the wall, Killer's other hand shot up and wrapped around his neck, squeezing with savage force as the liger god lifted the prince of the Fourth Sky high into the air, before throwing him hard across the massive hall.

Michael shrieked as he shot through the vast room, before he smashed into a thick, circular column of black lodestone that Killer himself had erected, years before, the angel cracking the hard rock and sinking deep into the pillar, shooting out of the other side to ram painfully into the following one, which was pushed back nearly one foot, tilting backwards dangerously, but did not broke.

The prince flopped down along the column to collapse on the marble floor, as the healers and injured angels crowding the room pulled away from him and from the falling rubble, many of them loudly cheering Killer on.

The huge male liger turned to the side with a snort, to see that two twenty-five-foot tall Paladins of Typhon's personal army and escort were advancing towards him, holding up gigantic axes... but he only grinned in slight amusement as he saw two muscular tigers from the 30th legion following silently behind the fully-armored, mindless beasts.

The tigers were swift and deadly, smoothly stepping forwards as the Paladins charged forth: they sneaked up on the backs of the much larger soldiers of the Council, and leapt up onto their shoulders, forcefully dragging the helmet-covered heads of the Paladins backwards as they stabbed long, sharp commando knives between the junction separating helmet and neck collar of the thick armors. The Paladins had barely enough time to realize what was happening before they went down with choking gurgles, blood bursting out of their throats as the tigers coldly decapitated them, giving Killer a silent nod.

"Insolent fools!" Typhon roared, leaping back to his feet, snarling in fury as he ripped a large, long section of marble railing off the parapet, throwing the heavy chunk of stone against the two tigers. Killer turned his gaze against this for a brief instant, and the marble immediately exploded into fragments which fell down towards the room below... before the pebbles turned into warm droplets of water, doing no damage as they fell over the terrified casualties laying down in makeshift beds down below, many of them wounded too severely to try and run away.

"Amon-Ra, I've beaten you down once already, and I will make sure I will now finish what I started. Gaia is not here to save you, this time!" Typhon hissed, stomping his way back up the stairs, his too-long arms rising as the cruel snakes jutting out of his shoulders slithered forwards, their bodies growing longer as the beasts lunged through the air towards Killer.

The liger fearlessly walked forwards, stepping calmly down the stairs, his eyes barely narrowing as the serpents lunged towards his throat and chest, his hand shooting upwards to seize the first, just behind the head, his fingers clamping down on the snake with enough strength that the beast simply burst apart in a splatter of blood and gore, as Killer shoved the broken corpse away, just as a curved, glowing blade of molten gold ripped out of his elbow. He swung his arm back in a smooth movement, the blade chopping effortlessly through the snake's bodies and sending a dozen heads falling onto the floor, the severed sections of the beasts withering and trashing briefly on the floor before they all died.

"Time has passed, Typhon." Killer coldly hissed, as his own mighty, thick tentacle-beasts ripped out of his back, arching sixty feet into the air, enormous and savage, the bodies muscular and powerful and the heads showing oversized, cruel jaws lined with terrible fangs. "There are two Seals less bogging me down, now... and you no longer look impressive to me."

The black tentacle-beasts lunged forwards, six of them, aiming for Typhon's limbs as the reptilian god snarled and looked up at them in surprise. The snakes pushing out of his shoulders and waist arched up and lunged against the rivals, locking in a ferocious fight... but Killer's tentacles, although fewer, were much larger and far more powerful and deadly: in a moment, they began to snap their terrible jaws closed over the serpents, tearing them apart, chewing them into bloody paste, as Typhon groaned in agony and backstepped, looking shocked even as a giant halberd formed in his hands, made of energies that quickly solidified into dark steel.

Typhon swung the heavy weapon out as a gigantic tentacle-beast shot towards his throat, and the axe blade found its way down into the thick body of the appendage, sending up a fine splatter of dark blood as the beast arched upwards with an agonizing hiss... before it snapped its deadly jaws on the god's wrist, tearing through scales, flesh and muscle and all but digging even into the bone as Typhon let out a growl of shock and agony.

Two other tentacle-beasts literally devoured the snakes coming out of the reptile's body, tearing through the tangle of bodies until they managed to bite into Typhon's legs, tearing them outwards to immobilize him, as the thick appendages wrapped eagerly around his thighs, before thick, cruel blades and bone spikes pushed out of the black bodies and pierced cruelly into the reptile's legs.

Typhon was lifted clear off the ground, the god roaring in fury and surprise as he swung out with the halberd again, chopping one of the six tentacle-beasts before Killer's eyes glowed with power and a blast of tremendous force knocked the weapon out of his hands.

The chopped tentacle writhed and lashed through the air for a moment before retreating into Killer's back, as the huge male calmly walked forwards and used the other tentacles to drag Typhon up through the air, before hurling him hard towards the wall on the other side of the hall.

The reptilian god screamed as he rammed into the thick wall of the monastery, smashing through it and shooting out into the courtyard, crashing through a large fountain, sending stone blocks, pieces of statues and other debris flying all around before he bounced hard onto the gravel, finally finding the strength and the control to go into a roll, screeching to a stop in a crouching position, snarling as Seraphims, healers and wounded angels looked at him with surprise, fear and shock.

Typhon held up his hand, fingers glowing with energy as his enormous halberd burst out of a large pile of debris and flew docilely towards him, a Seraphim dodging out of the way as a Healer priestess jumped back against a wall with a shriek of terror.

"Shut up, all of you!" Typhon roared, glaring over the crowd of injured angels as countless heads turned towards him, eyes open wide and staring at the massive god as murmurs and growls and comments rose from the ranks, as some of the bravest people in the vast courtyard shouted: "Murderer! You wanted us all dead!"

"Shut up, I said!" Typhon shouted, leaping up to his feet even as the maimed serpents pushing out of his waist and shoulders lolled in tatters, many torn apart and leaking dark blood as the remaining ones hissed mendaciously against the closest angels.

"We shall not be silent! You trapped us all in the Meadows, and left us to fight a lost battle you wouldn't even touch with a long stick! Coward! " A seraphim in crimson armor shouted, angrily rising her fist towards the god, who snarled against her with fury as many in the crowd cheered her on and voiced their support. Typhon shoved his hand out towards the female warrior, energy glowing in his palm and crackling down his long, serrated talons, but before he could blast his force against her, Killer walked out of the breach in the wall, and his fury turned immediately against the liger.

"You will all be punished, traitors!" Typhon roared, stomping forwards as one hand seized the pole of the heavy, gigantic halberd as the other sent a massive lightning bolt crashing down from the sky, an immense beam of energy rushing against Killer as the huge liger suddenly charged forwards, leaping over the stretchers and past several makeshift beds as he pulled back his enormous fist, snarling.

The lightning struck Killer almost in the same moment, but the liger only sported a snarling grin as he shoved his fist against the tremendous energy, seeming to claw into it, somehow gripping the bolt in his fist as Typhon snorted in confusion and disbelief, before Killer punched him hard in the face, channeling the discharge of electricity down into him.

Killer roared as blood splattered all the way up against his face, a huge explosion sending Typhon flying backwards through the yard as the liger himself was shoved hard backwards by the shockwave. He planted his feet into the ground, however, and turned the movement into added momentum as he leapt forwards, snarling as he assaulted Typhon again.

The reptile swung his halberd outwards again, but the liger leapt over the slash, slamming one foot hard down on the flat of the massive blade, sending it shooting against the ground as he jumped forwards again, stomping on Typhon's chest and crushing the god down into the ground, shoving one foot on his throat and using him as a surfing board as Typhon's back scraped over the gravel, the reptile bending forwards with a groan of agony, drool and blood bursting out of his mouth.

"You thought you could bring me here to force me to see my friends die?" Killer shouted, stomping hard down on Typhon's throat and then slamming both hands down onto his face, locking his fingers in a tomahawk: the tremendous blow crushed the god into the ground, breaking open a crater in the middle of the yard as the shockwave of the ferocious hit rattled the monastery around them. "You thought you could toss all our lives away for nothing?" The liger snarled, dragging his bloodied hands back and balling both into mountain-shattering fists, before he rammed his punches down hard onto the god's face, the mountain trembling beneath them as he smashed down once, twice, thrice, blood bursting out in thick splatters as Typhon trashed violently under the tempest of blows, letting out growls of agony and rage.

"I'm not here to see my loved ones die to listen to your demented orders, to the voice of your absurd pride!"

Typhon roared in fury, trying to shove himself back up to his feet, even as his face crumpled inwards under Killer's punches, the god spitting out a few broken fangs as his serpents lunged against Killer, wrapping around his arms, biting at his powerful body, sinking their fangs in each bit of flesh and muscle they could reach, making the liger growl in rage and pain.

"I'm the voice of Heaven, the voice of the Council! You will follow my orders!" Typhon howled, shoving hard against Killer's monstrous strength as massive, segmented crab-legs of dark steel ripped out of the reptile's back, their sharp final sections turning into glowing blades of crimson energy. Four of the six appendages rammed into the ground, helping Typhon push up to his feet, while the other two snapped forwards, slashing their twin blades against Killer, who leapt backwards with a snarl, pulling back out of range.

"I didn't imagine you could get even uglier." The liger muttered, looking coldly towards the massive reptilian god as he charged forwards, dragging his halberd behind him and slashing it out savagely in a turning cut at head level. The liger ducked under the slash and threw himself forwards, aiming for the reptile's abdomen, but the long, segmented crab-legs bend forwards, slashing six oversized blades against him, three coming from each side.

"You think you are a fearsome, powerful monster, lord Killer... but you have no idea what a real monster is like!" Typhon snarled, his voice poisonous and low enough that only the liger would hear it. Killer was busy, however, as he ducked the deadly slash of two of the glowing blades, which hissed just above his head, while two more only tore swallow gashes in his back as he went into a slide between the god's legs.

The last two blades stabbed down ferociously, but sunk into the gravel as Killer moved past. Typhon immediately turned on the spot, snarling angrily as the six appendages all snapped backwards before lunging forwards for a new assault, but Killer leapt back to his feet and lashed out his hands in time to seize two of the huge crab-legs as they snapped forwards against him.

"You undervalue me." Killer coldly said, before he pulled outwards with all his ferocious strength, stretching the huge, steely limbs outwards and then twisting his wrists to crumple the metal on itself, snapping the blades off. Typhon let out a howl of rage, swinging his halberd up over his head before slamming it down in a chopping blow that Killer easily avoided, closing the distance and flipping the torn-off blades in his hands, stabbing both hard down into the reptile's chest.

Typhon howled in agony and stumbled, missing a step but snarling furiously as the other four steely, segmented arms shot forwards past his sides, stabbing forth against Killer.

The huge liger grinned and stepped to the side, wrapping his arms around two of the segmented appendages and dragging on them to tear Typhon off his feet, Killer grinning viciously as his muscles bulged explosively as he threw the reptile high into the air and sent him crashing into the base of one of the massive towers of the monastery.

Cheers rose up from the stretchers and makeshift beds, as the angels stared at the sight of the feared head of the Council smashing back-first into one of the huge towers, crashing through the thick wall and ending up crushed under a landslide of collapsing blocks of lodestone and other rubble as one whole flank of the massive bastion collapsed.

Killer turned coldly towards the mountain of ruins, knowing all too well that Typhon was way too hard to be stopped so easily, and he walked calmly forwards, snorting contemptuously as he threw off to the sides several large fragments of dark steel that he had ripped out of the reptile's crab-legs.

"Show him...!" An angel exclaimed, his voice weak as he pushed himself up from a bloody stretcher, his words vanishing into a racking cough as a Healer Priestess shushed him and pushed a hand into his chest, gently shoving him back down... But as Killer walked past, even the priestess looked up at him, her eyes glinting a bit as she encouraged: "Kick some sense in that arrogant bastard!"

The huge liger did not reply, silently stepping past the stretcher, but a tiny smile conquered Killer's lips nonetheless, before his eyes narrowed as he saw more Paladins rushing through the yard to charge at him, the massive warriors forming a wall of shields and spears and advancing quickly, their feet wrapped in thick, heavy steel boots and coming down without mercy over any and everything that did not get out of the way quickly enough.

Killer looked at this with new horror and new fury, as shrieks and shots of shock and distaste and rage came from the crowd of casualties and healers, as those less seriously wounded rushed to the aid of the ones in worse conditions, moving the stretchers out of the way before the massive, fully armored giants could squish the poor angels into paste.

"Monsters...!" Killer roared, his eyes glowing with terrible power as he slashed his arm out towards the paladins, sending a fearsome shockwave of pure force ramming into their large circular shields, the metal ripping apart like cheap paper as the giant warriors were slammed off their feet, sent sprawling like pins and crushed against a wall, squished into the thick, massive blocks of stone.

At the same time, Alexis, Ira and Vesta, who sported the tubes of the IV machine dangling from her arm, rushed out of the monastery, drawing their swords out and giving Killer a nod before turning to face the other Paladins, taking the lead of a thick group of angels among which towered the huge tigers of the 30th Legion.

"We are no longer going to let your absurd decisions seal our Fate!" Someone in the crowd shouted, and there were roars of approval from many others, before the voice of Vesta sounded loud and clear as she roared: "Let's kick the Paladins out of Eaglenest, this is not their place!"

Ira's own voice added in a mighty roar: "For Lord Killer! For the Amon Ra!"

Killer was amazed to hear the many, uncountable voices, both firm and weakened by wounds and sickness, which wholeheartedly joined the collective promise, the massive male feeling the trust of all the people around him entering his body like a rush of new energy as walked right for the pile of ruins, his features stony and his eyes glowing with cold fury and burning power even as dark fire exploded upwards in a massive cyclone from under the rubble.

Killer coldly looked on as some large blocks of lodestone cracked loudly apart, then exploded into pebbles which blasted forwards like shrapnel against him: they were deflected out to the sides by the tremendous force that the liger radiated, and Killer continued to calmly advance, even as Typhon let out a howl of fury and leapt to his feet, his body standing in the middle of a ferocious hurricane of dark, supernatural fire which dragged into the air even the largest and heaviest boulders, the flames cutting and cracking and consuming everything they touched, before Typhon leaned forwards with a roar, shoving his hands out to the sides and bowing his head as his messy black mane lengthened and thickened suddenly, before every single hair solidified into long, thin spikes of glowing darkness which burst forwards in waves.

Killer only snorted contemptuously as a tsunami wave of dark fire and barrages of dark spikes both rushed towards him in a vortex of destruction, before he flexed his huge musculature with a low growl, leaning forwards in a ready position, before his voice rose into a roar of fearless challenge as his own fire erupted from the ground around him, forming into a mighty, vast tornado that wrapped its coils protectively around him, before growing even larger as it swirled against Typhon's unholy fire.

Killer's flames turned golden, blazing with heat and light as they formed a mighty, massive python which lunged over the dark vortex coming from Typhon, twisting around it and trapping it, almost absorbing it as the spikes of glowing darkness were burned away, dissolved into thick black smoke as Killer grinned and mercilessly laughed, shoving his arms out and walking forwards calmly, gaining terrain as his enormous biceps bulged with tremendous power, his body rippling with godlike vigor, feeling full of energy.

Typhon snarled in shock as he was shoved hard backwards, his taloned feet ripping trenches into the ground as he shoved without any success against the tremendous physical power of the liger, before he howled in agony and surprise as Killer's golden flames twisted around his own vortex and around him, squeezing down over his body and crushing him into a vicious vice of incandescent fire.

Typhon staggered backwards with a howl of agony, and his eyes bulged as his feet lost the contact with the ground, Killer's fire snuffing his own flames out of existence and seizing him into a terrible, unbreakable grip, shoving him high up into the air even as the golden fire consumed his scales, burning into his body, incinerating his flesh as he struggled to break free... before his eyes flashed with darkness as he vanished from the spot, reappearing immediately after right in front of Killer, roaring in fury as the remaining serrated steel arms snapped forwards, stabbing their huge blades at the liger...

...but missing as Killer smoothly turned on the spot, letting the blades hiss past his body, shooting in front of his abdominals and behind his back as he leaned sideways against his rival, lashing out with his arm and smashing his elbow into Typhon's face, the three massive bone spikes jutting from his joint piercing right through the reptile's muzzle, sending a thick splatter of blood and gore raining down on Killer's chest.

Typhon stumbled backwards with a broken howl, his face almost completely destroyed and turned into a disgusting mass of gore and bloody flesh, before the liger seized the steel arms and dragged them hard backwards. The reptilian god stumbled forwards, to slam into Killer's foot as the liger slashed one kick hard into Typhon's chest, sending him flying through the courtyard with a gargle of agony, as the massive, segmented crab-legs were torn off his back as Killer held on to them, the liger grinning viciously, looking down at the bleeding, useless artificial limbs, before he charged forwards as Typhon crashed hard into the ground.

"I'll fucking rip you apart!" The reptile howled, clawing into the gravel and pushing himself up in a sitting position, dark energy crackling around his body in lightning bolts as he glared at Killer with indescribable rage.

The liger made a grimace as he felt the horrible, unnerving feeling of time slowing down around him, as he lost control of his movements, Typhon grinning viciously even through a mouth that had turned into a broken, maimed mass of bloody gore. "I'll freeze you in time, and I'll let you enjoy every little moment as I tear you into little strips of flesh!"

Killer only grinned, snorting amusedly before he seemed to vanish from the spot, and Typhon snarled in shock, leaping up to his feet and looking around himself with a shadow of fear in his eyes, which turned to terror for a brief instant as Killer reappeared in front of him, bent in a crouch and grinning up at him teasingly as he stabbed the crab-legs with their huge blades straight through the reptile's chest.

Michael flew against Killer from the side, slashing at the god with a large sword which crackled with lightning, but the liger reacted almost as swiftly and perfectly as Alexis would, swinging up the last of the long steel limbs and using it to knock the sword flying out of the Arkangel's hand, before he stabbed the huge crab-leg through the abdomen of the prince, and hurled it through the courtyard like a spear.

"How...?" Typhon rasped, stumbling backwards and seizing the blades pierced into his chest, as dark blood burst out of the terrible wounds in thick gushes as the god ripped the massive steel segments out of his own flesh, snarling in fury as he howled: "How did you get so strong...? How?"

"Get used to it, I'm only getting started." Killer replied coldly, grinning slyly even as Typhon's eyes glowed with rage, the massive reptile stomping forwards with a snarl, the courtyard seeming to explode upwards as a ripple traveled through the stone and gravel, a large crack shooting towards Killer's feet as the liger stood fearlessly in front of the ancient god, even as massive spikes of dark brimstone ripped up out of the depths, aiming at him.

Killer only stomped his own foot down in answer, his muscular thigh flexing as he sent his enormous strength washing into the ground, and the spikes crumbled, bursting apart into pebbles as magma surged through the crack and sealed it, quickly solidifying into new, dark rock.

Typhon had vanished into thin air in the meanwhile, but Killer only let his eyes slid closed for a brief instant, feeling the energies of the ancient god, faintly, as if they were hiding at a great distance from him... before the liger thrust his strong hands up, and clamped down hard on the wrists of Typhon as he reappeared behind him, two enormous, curved sword blades jutting out of his wrists and ready to slash through Killer's neck to decapitate him.

Typhon had enough time to snort in shock, before Killer roared and pushed hard forwards, dragging Typhon high into the air, above his head, flipping him as if he weighted nothing and slamming him hard down into the ground, the god groaning in pain as his back sunk into the gravel and the rocks beneath, before Killer turned on the spot and dragged the god in the other direction, flipping him over his shoulder again, and ramming him face-first into the ground.

Killer snarled and stomped his bare, heavy foot on the skull of the god, crushing his face hard into the ground, blood splattering upwards in a thick spray, before the liger punted the reptile hard and sent him skidding forwards through the courtyard.

"Listen to my words, Typhon! I don't care about your concept of Heaven. This corrupt abomination has no value to me... I will not sacrifice a single drop of sweat for it. I will destroy it myself, if I must. It is for my friends and my loved ones that I fight: and you wanted to sacrifice them all, just to protect your stupid pride."

The reptile roared in insane fury and outrage, shoving himself back up as his arms, already too long and massive even for his huge, hunched body, grew even larger, impossibly muscular and covered in thick, sharp plates of black stone and rusty metal, a mess of spikes and ragged blades jutting out all over the large hills of muscle, the god drooling like a feral beast as he twisted around and slashed out his enormous tail against the liger, the long, thick appendage completely covered in the same dark steel, jutting in countless cruel blades, as the tip of the tail stabbed right against the liger, sporting a thick harpoon-shaped end.

Killer threw himself to the side as the huge tail shot forth, the colossal harpoon hissing through the air nearby, before it snapped open, breaking down in a long series of smaller blades which jutted outwards in opposite directions, before a blazing light surged among them, and lightning bolts fired off from each spike, spherical blows of terrible energy smashing into Killer's chest and knocking him backwards with a growl of pain.

Typhon twisted back with a roar of delight, drool flying from his devastated face, which was reduced to an unrecognizable pulp, and he arched his mighty back with a snarling laughter, lashing out his massive tail again, using the mass of blades at the end as a deadly mace.

Killer ducked with a growl, even as the lightning bolts crackled all over his body and pinned him against the base of the thick, enormous outer wall surrounding the courtyard. The liger snarled as the mace-tail rammed into the stone just above his head, smashing through the wall with fearsome ease, and then he threw himself forwards, muscles bulging explosively as he used his tremendous physical power to push back against the power of Typhon's lightnings. The bolts sizzled all over his body, burning into his nerves, but the liger roared and only shoved even harder, grinning as he charged forwards and dropped his shoulder, ramming into the beam of energy like he wound against an enemy, sending the lightning bolt bursting apart in motes of force which quickly dissolved.

Typhon's tail swung down again, savagely stabbing against him, but the liger went into a sideways roll, and the huge blade sunk deep into the ground. Electricity pumped down into the rocks, sending ripples of deadly energy exploding outwards in all directions, before the bolts shot out of the depths and fired upwards towards the sky.

Killer leapt backwards between two such massive blasts, snarling as he dropped down to a crouch and smashed his fist down into the ground, his arm sinking into the stone like it would through butter, his hand spreading and gripping into the earth, before he ripped his arm upwards violently, ripping a massive slab of lodestone upwards and sending it flipping over.

Typhon lost his balance as the ground beneath him shifted and suddenly climbed skywards, and his eyes bulged in shock, before he used his power to slow time down to a standstill as he saw the massive slab of heavy dark stone beginning to fall down on top of him.

"Stop doing that, it does nothing but bore me." Killer muttered, appearing in front of the god and grappling with Typhon as the reptile leaned forwards, clawing towards the liger: the two locked their hands together and engaged in a clash of titans, wrestling each other back, as Typhon roared in animal fury. Killer only grinned coldly instead, letting Typhon advance one step, before flexing his strong arms with a roar and shoving hard back, bending the reptile painfully backwards and sending him crashing down in a broken heap as his spine loudly creaked.

"You can't be this powerful! You can't!" Typhon snarled, even as Killer seized the massive slab of stone floating absurdly in midair, frozen in time, before he slammed it down hard on top of the reptile, crushing him under the massive block of stone as he grinned widely.

"Your daughter warned you, Typhon, when we first fought. But of course, you did not listen. You never do."

Michael groaned and spat a thick gout of blood as he came back to his senses, finding himself pinned to a wall by the large, massive limb of rigged, dark steel that had been pierced through his chest and which had sunk deeply into a wall when Killer had hurled it like a spear.

The Arkangel snarled in rage at the memory of how he had been slapped aside like a fly... but as he did, blood surged up his throat and filled his mouth, making him gag in a mix of agony and distaste. His eyes slowly adapted to the environment and to the light, his eyesight returning to him as his attention was caught by two massive shapes in the distance, which turned out to be Killer and Typhon: the liger had cornered the reptile against the base of a massive bastion in the outer wall, and was smashing down punch after punch on the broken heap that Typhon had become.

Michael repressed a shiver and swallowed hard, tasking his own blood and bitter fear, rage and envy as he looked over the massive liger, the huge male's body flexing and bulging with enormous, powerful muscles with each punch that Killer rammed down into Typhon. The Arkangel was astonished by such display of power: he couldn't even begin to imagine what kind of strength Killer now possessed... and the thought made him absolutely furious, yet terrified. If Typhon could nothing against the liger, he most certainly could do even less.

He needed help, urgently... he needed a division, no, whole legions of Paladins. He would take over Eaglenest with their help. The Council's whole army would have been sent against the monastery, he decided, grinning sharkishly even as he painfully seized the ugly blade pierced through his chest and tried to drag it out, slowly, howling soundlessly at the agony that shock his whole body, as all the air washed out of his lungs... before he grunted as he finally managed to rip free, wincing in agony as he tossed the ugly blade away and touched the massive, terrible wound in his chest.

He flapped his wings a couple of times, slowly descending towards the ground and touching down with a groan, even as he murmured healing spells to close the wound in his body... before he finally realized that the angels, even the ones laying down in the stretchers, sporting the worst wounds, were all cheering Killer and his girls on.

Traitors... all this people... all traitors. He glared around himself with fury, stomping towards the nearest stretcher and seizing the angel laying in it by the bandages wrapped all over his chest, dragging him up and then slamming him back down, growling in his face: "Stop it, traitor! You are cheering for a false god, a usurper, an enemy of Heaven's glory!"

"He saved me... he saved us all..." The angel replied, looking shocked at the rough treatment, before he howled in pain as a broken rib punctured his lungs as he was rammed violently down into the stretcher. His scream caught the attention of several other angels nearby, and Michael snorted and pulled back, glaring at those who slowly walked against him... before he snarled as he saw Alexis, the mighty goddess grinning viciously as she seized the head of a Paladin charging at her and crushed the helmet in her grip, before she ripped upwards and tore the skull and spine of the massive warrior right out of the body, blood splattering all over her already crimson-stained chest even as she slapped the axe of another Paladin flying through the air, before taking down the giant soldier with a punch that smashed through the thick armor as it would through wet paper.

He repressed a tremble of fury at the display of such immense power, glaring at the goddess with hate and envy as she elegantly, powerfully cut her path through the ranks of the Paladins, her bare hands stronger than any weapon as she pounded another Paladin into pulp... and Michael finally snapped, holding up his hands and tracing complex runes in midair, growling a series of spells as he took aim at the blond ligeress.

The wounded angels in front of him pulled back with shock, retreating out of the way and flanking him with roars of rage, assaulting the monarch as he took aim to Alexis's back, and laughed deliriously as he shoved forth with all his energies and magic knowledge, sending a beam of sizzling darkness shooting towards the ligeress, before he easily turned to the side and slammed his fist against the wounded chest of a tall horse angel who was trying to seize him by the arm, knocking him falling backwards with a howl of agony.

"Traitors! Traitors, all of you! How dare you assaulting a Monarch of Heaven!" Michael roared, stepping back from the injured angels who, even when crippled, tried to stand up from the stretchers to walk against him, his eyes widening as a Seraphim nearby noticed what had happened and charged forwards immediately, the pantheress' eyes burning with flames of fury... and he stumbled over a stretcher as he backstepped, grunting in surprise as he almost fell over, before the badly-wounded fox in the stretcher grabbed his ankles and tried with all his strength to restrain him, the injured soldier of Heaven coughing up blood as Michael stomped a foot hard on his abdomen, but his eyes full of determination and distaste.

"You... are the... traitor." The fox wheezed, and Michael pulled up his foot again, snarling down at the unfortunate angel and preparing to stomp down on his face, before the ruling prince of the Fourth Sky let out a groan of pain instead as a blushing, terrified healer priestess stepped in, stabbing a scalpel in his thigh and dragging as hard as she could on his leg.

Michael reached back with a roar, shoving the petite female roughly away, his muscular leg flexing in a mix of rage and pain as he stomped down hard, even as blood spurted out from around the scalpel, as the fox in the stretcher covered his face with a howl of terrified impotence... before the Seraphim threw herself against Michael and tackled him down into the gravel, the pantheress punching him hard into the face and snarling down at him furiously, as other angels intervened, as quickly as they could.

Alexis saw in her mind the ghostly image of the beam of energy coming at her back several whole seconds before it arrived, the goddess grinning slightly to herself as she easily counted down, synchronizing her actions with the developing images in her mind, with no need to look back over her shoulder... she easily ducked under the swing of a massive axe, dropping elegantly to the ground as if dancing, one leg stretching outwards and sweeping the legs off from under a massive paladin, which fell over her with a grunt only for her to slam her palm upwards, hitting the armored giant under the chin, blood spraying out between the joints of armor and helmet as a sick, loud crack announced the snapping of his spine, the head lolling backwards, almost torn right off, as the heavy, huge body smashed backwards into the other paladins, sending three more sprawling like pins.

A second massive Paladin leapt past his fallen comrades and swung his heavy, huge axe down against the goddess, who only grinned as she moved forwards with incredible speed and grace, planting a hand into the ground and slashing her legs upwards as she went into a handstand, smashing her boots into the thick armor on the Paladin's chest and sending him flying through the air as the heavy plate crumpled inwards like as much as cheap paper, while Alexis's hand seized the pole of the massive axe and ripped it easily out of his fingers.

It all happened in the space of a couple seconds at most, and Alexis flipped elegantly in midair, swinging the axe out in a deadly cut which caught the legs of another Paladin, chopping them right off from under his body, sending him crashing in a broken heap in the gravel, before the blade caught a second giant in the crotch, the hook of the blade sinking through armor and flesh and almost lifting the 25-feet warrior into the air as he howled in agony... before the axe, on the upwards arm of the swing, cut neatly through his body, tearing him in half vertically, down the middle.

The goddess stomped her feet down as she exited from the perfect flip, crushing into the ground the tip of a massive spear stabbed against him by another Paladin, and she easily charged up the thick pole, chopping the axe down in the chest of a second giant as it turned against her from the side, before she leapt off the spear and seized the helmet of the Paladin handling it, trapping his head between her muscular thighs with a grin, as she swung around his head to ride on his shoulders.

The Paladin snarled from under the thick helmet, ripping the spear out of the ground with a hand as he blindly clawed at her with the other, before his rage was snuffed into a gargle as the goddess scissored her mighty, long legs around his neck and his helmet crumpled inwards with a loud crack, blood spraying out of the fissures for the eyes.

Alexis laughed with merciless amusement as she easily took over her mount, riding the giant with easy flexes of her mighty thighs, twisting her grip to force the Paladin to stagger forwards and slightly to the side, right as Michael blasted forth his beam. The Paladin saw it coming, and howled in terror, trying to run out of the way, but Alexis easily squeezed harder on his head, and as his skull creaked, the giant stumbled forwards blindly, swaying on the spot as he almost lost consciousness, before the beam of dark, destructive energy smashed into the front of his golden, thick armor, making him howl in agony, his back arching violently as the fearsome force washed over him and quickly consumed the metallic plates, then his body, as the ray of magic erased the Paladin from existence, turning it into a ghostly image of itself before it vanished in a blurr of unnatural light that hurt the eyes, leaving even Alexis staring for a brief moment as she landed on her feet, rolling her huge shoulders slowly, muscles bulging with power as she walked towards Michael, her eyes narrowing as the Monarch was overrun by a thick group of injured but courageous angels.

Michael howled in terror as he saw, through the tangle of angels tackling him to the ground, Alexis walking towards him, the goddess looking down at him with cold fury and distaste. It was a sight as beautiful and imposing as it was blood chilling and terrifying. He was on Alexis's wrong side, so even her godlike beauty was a threat to not just his life, but to his very existence.

"Get the hell off, traitors!" Michael snarled, slamming punches and kicks into the bodies burdening down on him, before he roared and swung his arms outwards, electricity crackling over his body and then bursting outwards in thick bolts, blasting the angels away and sending them crashing to the ground with shrieks of agony as lightning crackled through their nervous systems, some of the unfortunate angels all but bursting into flames, others gargling painfully as their hearts burst.

"Useless bastard!" Alexis snarled, her eyes flashing with power and rage as she shoved a hand out, a shockwave of tremendous force shooting through the yard and seizing into Michael's neck as he leapt to his feet to flee. He chocked loudly, clawing at the air as he was caught by the invisible lasso and dragged backwards with savage force, the Arkangel shrieking in pain as he was painfully pulled over the gravel, before his shriek turned higher and girlier as Alexis stomped her boot down on his crotch, blood splattering upwards in a thick spray as she spat down on his face, twisting her foot mercilessly over his groin, as if shutting a cigarette. "You disgusting, cowardly garbage..." The goddess hissed, her eyes burning sapphire as she kicked the monarch hard under the chin, his skull cracking loudly as his face nearly exploded into mush as he was slammed backwards forty feet before he arched his back with a howl of agony as an invisible but unbreakable chain wrapped tightly around his throat stopped him violently in his tracks, and dragged him back towards the ligeress.

Alexis hammered more fearsome blows on Michael, crushing him into a broken heap, before Vesta walked up to the goddess, with a grimace of disappointment and regret on her face as she muttered: "Don't kill him, okay...? This battle is already a bad-enough news... if we kill Typhon or Michael, or both, we really won't have any chance to obtain anything by talking to the Council."

Alexis snarled angrily at that, making a grimace of distaste, but she nodded nonetheless, pulling back her strong arm and dragging Michael back towards her once more, pinning him under her boot as she snarled: "You are a lucky vermin. You will survive this day."

Vesta grinned darkly as she looked down at the maimed heap of groaning broken flesh that Michael had become, and she wondered, not without satisfaction, if death was preferable to survival, with how much he resembled mincemeat. But after a brief moment, she concluded that this was exactly what the arrogant, cruel and self-centered cunt deserved, and she stomped her own boot on Michael's broken abdomen, crushing it savagely under her sole and making the prince howl in breathless pain as thick ropes of intestine splattered out of the shattered body.

Alexis glared at her a bit, but Vesta only grinned widely, shrugging a bit. "Hey, let me have at least a little fun, huh...? Don't be a greedy bitch!" The queen of Seraphims said, shifting her weight teasingly onto her boot and making Michael groan miserably in complete agony... before Alexis snorted and shoved her off the side, Vesta huffing a bit even as she gazed on as the goddess picked up Michael's shattered body and turned with a grin towards Killer.

"Hey, lover! Catch!"

Killer turned back to gaze at Alexis from over his shoulder, even as he smashed his fist down through the blown-open chest of an agonizing Typhon... and he grinned mercilessly as he caught Michael by the neck as it flew towards him.

"Don't kill them, Lord Killer! If we are to have a minimum chance of ever obtaining something from the Council, we must let them live... at least a little bit longer." Vesta reminded, and Killer nodded with a snort, even as his eyes burned with dark delight as he looked down into Michael's terrified eyes.

"You again, bitch...? You really never learn your lessons..." Killer softly said, his voice calm and yet more menacing than a whole army aiming its guns at him, and Michael trashed as hard as he could, his broken body barely moving as it hang pathetically from Killer's huge, strong hand.

Typhon snarled and leaned forwards to claw at the liger's huge leg, but Killer only snorted contemptuously as he pulled up his foot and smashed it into the god's face, crushing the reptile back against the base of the massive bastion, with enough strength to make the whole tower tremble violently, the cracks that his pounding had broken open getting visibly larger.

Silence fell over the courtyard as all eyes turned to Killer, even the few remaining Paladins dropping their guard and only staring in shock as the huge liger held Michael by the head, squeezing on the cracked skull with merciless teasing, making the prince groan and squeak in terror like a trapped mouse as the Arkangel feared, with each little squeeze, that his end had finally come..

Somehow, the prince managed to pull one arm up, his shattered hand blindly gripping the liger's massive bicep, but it only made Killer chuckle as the Arkangel groaned in agony, trying to use his broken fingers to squeeze at the enormous, powerful muscle.

Everyone in the courtyard stared at the huge male liger as he stood, triumphant, holding one ruling prince of Heaven in one hand and pinning the ancient, feared God and head of the Heavenly Council by crushing his face under his foot. Killer's huge, muscular body was covered in blood, but it was the blood of his enemies, and it only added to the image of his victory.

The god agonizing under his foot technically was over ten feet taller than him, but none of the onlookers would have said so... and anyway, it did not matter at all: Killer's body was visibly full of barely-restrained vigor, and it radiated such fearsome physical power that everyone knew that, had Killer wanted to, he could have dwarfed Typhon in a second.

He just did not need to.

"You came here to punish us all for not listening to your madness..." Killer calmly said, his strong, deep voice easily booming over the whole courtyard and beyond. "It was a foolish, arrogant error on your part. I'll make sure to punish you for that madness." The huge male smashed Michael hard against the wall, making him shriek in pain, blood and drool flying from his broken face, before the shout became a gargling chocking as a thick, cruel collar of dark steel appeared around his neck and clamped down with savage force on his throat, replacing the equally forceful grip of Killer's hand as the god let him go.

Michael flopped against the rough wall of dark stone, painfully hanging from the collar biting into his throat, a chain connecting this to a ring into the wall of the tower, many feet above. Killer took his time as he effortlessly created a similar leash around Typhon's own neck, the reptile's eyes burning with outrage and fury but only meeting the merciless grin on Killer's features as the liger took his time, slowly twisting his foot over the face of the rival, crushing his head back into the solid stone and, moreover, annihilating under his toes every bit of pride and fight that Typhon had left in him.

The silence on the courtyard became even more total, only broken by excited, amazed pants and rough breaths as everyone stared to the scene with a mix of emotions which ranged from awe to fear to a feeling of delicious, rightful retribution.

Killer made a lazy gesture with a finger, and sinister arms ending in hands with fingers that were nothing but flexible, cruel claws emerged from the blocks of stones of the huge, damaged tower. There was a low gasp of surprise from a part of the crowd, but most of the public was unsurprised by Killer's powers and abilities. He was a god of immense power, a god of creation as well as of destruction... his possibilities were pretty much endless.

The cruel hands gripped the chains of the leashes locked around the necks of the two defeated, arrogant lords of Heaven, and they pulled up without effort, lifting both Typhon and Michael up, leaving them hanging with their feet kicking weakly at the air as they spluttered and chocked, the dark steel biting into their throats and tearing their necks even as both males struggled to try and seize the collars, trying to push themselves up not to be so painfully suffocated and tortured.

Killer only grinned slightly, mercilessly, into the terrified eyes of both lords of Heaven, as he took his time, rolling his massive shoulders slowly, his muscles bulging explosively, full of tremendous, destructive power.

"Careful not to punch them into atoms quite yet, Lord Killer. We need them alive, for now." Vesta reminded, but she was grinning widely, and she couldn't help licking her lips slowly as she looked on, gazing over the huge male's powerful body.

Alexis, at her side, was grinning widely, her arms crossed on her chest as she looked eagerly on, and Ira was right past her, flanked by Alcana, Adrasthea and Manticora, with all the strong females having charged out of the infirmary to battle the large escort of Paladins back. They all looked on in awe and in some sort of savage, merciless delight, the sight of Killer's mighty body in action, dripping blood, sending thrills of hungry delight up their spines. Killer only pushed one finger up, acknowledging the need to pull back his punches... before he grinned viciously as he smashed one huge fist out in an uppercut, ramming it into Michael's abdomen, already torn open. The effect was devastating and sickly spectacular, as the massive fist rammed through the broken front of the armor, then through the body, then through the rear of the armor of the Arkangel, Killer's punch smashing all the way into the tower behind, rattling it with savage force and causing it to crack apart even more, as blood painted a huge splatter on the wall behind Michael.

The shrieks of Michael rose loud above the courtyard, turning into a gargle when Killer ripped his mighty fist back, nearly tearing the Arkangel in half... before Typhon himself howled in agony as Killer's punch rammed through his thick scales and smashed a huge hole in his own stomach.

It did not last long: Killer had to soon stop, or nothing would have been left of the two lords. Certainly nothing even remotely alive. Killer's huge fist came down with savage power, smashing their shoulders, sending their arms falling to the ground as broken, useless pieces of crushed, squashed flesh and torn muscle. His following blows were lighter, more measured, but still tremendous: he began jabbing away at the two Lords, using them like punching-balls, as the crowd of angels laughed and cheered, beating time with their hands, while Michael and Typhon were smashed from side to side and sent slamming again and again into the tower behind their backs.

Each punch boomed like thunder, echoing through the courtyard, and each time the massive fist came down, the tower trembled and cracked even more... until it eventually collapsed, falling down in a pile of rubble that submerged the two devastated bodies of the Lords, as Killer stepped backwards calmly, looking darkly amused, his eyes burning with power as he idly gazed over the collapse of the bastion, looking slowly over the pile of rubble that was left in the end, looking unfazed as he stood silently for a few long moments, allowing the dust to set.

"Time to take out the trash." Killer finally said, holding out his right hand and grinning widely as the dark-steel chains docilely flew up to his palm, the huge male seizing the leashes easily and then dragging on them forcefully, ripping the two agonizing, panting Lords out of the rubble.

They collapsed in front of his feet, barely breathing and crushed into barely-recognizable heaps of bloody flesh, their eyes darting upwards to stare at him with indescribable, delirious terror. Killer thought for a brief moment about pulling out his massive cock to take a piss on the two arrogant bastards... but he thought it would be too much in terms of exhibitionism, in front of such a crowd. He only smirked cruelly, looking down at the two shattered males and whispering calmly, so that only they would hear him: "This is just the beginning, bitches. It is a job I will complete in the future."

Killer looked up at the fallen tower, and he made a lazy, dismissive gesture with his free hand, not even looking as the massive slabs and blocks of stone quickly floated back up through the air as the damaged parts of the fortress quickly rebuilt themselves, all the damage vanishing from the castle as if time was flowing backwards to a few hours earlier. The crowd gaped at this in awe, but Killer only turned towards the gates of the Monastery, ordering coldly: "Crawl, vermin."

Typhon and Michael trembled hard, their eyes widening in shock, but they only hesitated for a brief fraction of an instant, before doing their best to crawl forwards in the gravel, using their broken, shattered legs to push themselves slowly on and on. Without arms, it was a complex, torturing process, and it added new pain as the gravel pushed into the wounds on their devastated forms, the dust sticking on to the sweat and blood and gore, as Killer easily lead them, holding the chain leashes in his hand.

Killer advanced calmly, parading the two Lord of Heaven like they were his new dogs, or better, his new bitches, as he walked towards Alexis and Vesta, who smirked at him with dark delight on their features, the mighty females parting to give him ample room... and the crowd immediately did the same, the angels clearing a corridor for the huge male and looking on in awe as Typhon and Michael crawled forwards on their faces and bellies, their bodies reduced to sick mush.

The two lords. The head of the Heavenly Council, deputy of God himself. And the corrupt, greedy, arrogant Michael, ruling prince of the Fourth Sky, once favorite confidant of God, but from a long time reduced to being only a cruel, self-centered dictator, ready for each and every iniquity in order to climb another step on the ladder of power. Michael, the bastard that acted like he had the right to rule the universe, while actually drawing much of his power by piggybacking on the shoulders of bigger fishes, namely Typhon.

Typhon, the ancient divinity that God had defeated, pardoned, and adopted in his new Creation. The feared Typhon.

Now they meekly crawled in the dirt, thick collars tight on their necks, their leashes held by Killer's bloodied, mighty hand.

"Amon-Ra, Amon-Ra, Amon-Ra!" The angels began to chant and cheer, even as they struggled and shoved and climbed on each other to get to see the humiliation of the two arrogant lords, before laughter came from the crowd as the few remaining Paladins quickly retreated to the Gates, marching orderly but with much faster pace than usual, keeping a good distance away from the huge male liger.

Killer, on his part, only stopped then he reached the gate of the fortress, where he jerked the chains hard backwards, dragging both shattered males up to their feet, making them groan in agony... before the collars and chains vanished, and Killer only seized the back of their skulls and shoved them hard out of the Monastery, sending them crashing sixty feet away onto the rough wooden planks of the suspended bridge.

The Paladins hesitated for a few long moments, then picked up their masters and quickly marched down the bridge, carrying the bloodied, destroyed bodies, as Killer commanded coldly: "Never return to this fortress. Or it'll be here that I complete the job."

The crowd burst into cheering roars, celebrating the historical event, celebrating their revenge for the loss of so many friends and comrades, celebrating the defeat of the arrogant, oppressive, cruel Council that Michael and Typhon had represented for so long, so painful time.

Killer, however, did not really join the joy of the moment, instead turning back and bending slightly forwards to talk to Vesta and Alexis and the other girls, saying simply: "Vesta, Alexis... I leave the fortress in your hands. Keep it safe. And, above everything else, do all you can to experiment, to find a way in which we can attack Shi and force him out of Gaia. I count on you."

"We will find a way. When you come back, we'll be ready." Alexis promised, kissing his lips lovingly and cupping his cheek in one hand as Vesta nodded wisely, a promise well visible in her eyes. Adrasthea, Alcana and Manticora, standing nearby, all promised to assist and provide all the help and knowledge they could. Which was very reassuring, since they were all females of great power and wisdom.

Finally, the huge male turned to Ira, but before he could speak, she implored him with the eyes to wait one moment longer, as she took his hand in hers and pointed with her head at a corner of the courtyard, where Veronika, the huge dragoness that Ira leaded into battle, laid down, rolled up and looking exhausted, her body covered in wounds that were quickly healing, but still looked savage and very serious.

Killer nodded, and squeezed Ira's fingers gently in his, following her as they made their way through the crowd, the huge male only smiling slightly and giving small, kind replies to the countless angels reverently caressing his arms or legs and cheering him on or thanking him or celebrating him as savior.

It took a few long moments to navigate through the crowd, but they finally emerged in an open space as they came close to Veronika: the dragoness was exhausted and was resting, almost sleeping with her massive head leaning upon her front legs, but most angels did not want to get close to her anyway, fearing the massive, powerful creature.

"Thank you, Lord Killer... I last saw her during the battle. She was fighting against a horde of griffons, and then I lost consciousness at the end of the battle and... I had no idea what had happened to her." Ira quietly said, smiling at him with endless gratitude before she went down to her knees, hugging Veronika's huge, thick neck as the dragoness gave a low growl of affection, pushing her huge muzzle against Ira's own features with a gentleness that was unbelievable, even as Killer saw it before his eyes.

"I'm so glad to see you are ok... I was so worried..." Ira whispered, her voice almost breaking as tears of relief pushed up to her eyes and then streaked down her cheeks, and the dragoness closed her own large eyes, letting out a low murr of relief herself, seeming to word the same message of happiness as she rubbed her muzzle down Ira's strong back, a couple of her own hot tears rolling down her cheeks.

Killer smiled warmly at the sight of that reunion, realizing how truly deep the friendship between the dragon and Ira was... and he squatted down himself, gently putting one hand on Ira's shoulder as he leaned his other on the flank of the huge dragoness.

Veronika opened her eye at the unexpected contact, but she did not break it, she did not growl or protest in any way, only gazing at Killer from a brief moment as he calmly looked back into her eyes, his expression promising help and safety.

He carefully let some of his energy flow into the dragoness, smiling slightly as he saw the wounds on the body of the massive beast quickly sealing up and healing, and he thought that it was wonderful to be able to use his power to help his loved ones.

In a few moments, they would leave to go and help Diana. And he was firmly determined to save Gaia, as well. But, for the moment, he smiled warmly as he protected the peaceful, happy reunion of Ira and Veronika, of knight and dragoness.