Day and night cycles passed in the blink of an eye. Phase 2 continued to rampage across Imbushko's borders, Infinus prepared their beasts, and the Light Legion geared their attention to home.
Now with Infinus proving to be daunting enough to challenge them head on, Dire and Alise agreed it was time to focus their efforts where it mattered the most.
A blanket of darkness swept over Imbushko, night rose to the skies. The moon - this side of Koroth's moon - sat in the middle of a shower of stars.
It was clear outside. No clouds, no lights, only the vast beauty of a world above their own.
Dire's eyes faintly glowed in the dark, making him seem like a starving predator looking for his next meal. But he was not alone. Alise and Kas stood beside him as he looked up.
"Beautiful outside, isn't it?" Alise broke the trance.
Twin wild-yellow eyes turned to look at her. "Reminds me of my time as an Eldigo member. Sometimes I miss running around the separate sections of this region without a care in the world."
Kas ignored their conversation. He wasn't interested in hearing backstories or memories, all he cared about was making sure his daughter was safe asleep.
He smiled in the dark, proud to see his second child hold onto him with such force. She was destined to achieve heights where the Ornavi lineage has never been to.
"...I'm afraid we might have lost all forces in Yarno," Dire finished reporting.
Kas looked up from his daughter, he caught the Feral in the center of his vision before forcing himself to calm down.
"There are survivors out there, I know it. Felisis' members don't bow so easily. They will come back, and Kas will be reunited with his first daughter again," Alise whispered to Dire.
But that whisper only helped Kas feel a strong sense of anger. It tried to hijack his mind. In response, he fought back. Trying his hardest to keep his mouth shut and arms wrapped around his sleeping daughter.
Dire noticed this. He silently watched the one that beat him down so many times struggle with himself internally. He didn't feel sympathy, only pleasure.
Having him as an ally for so long meant little to him. Dire was just like his father, unforgiving. It was up to chance and time before he struck Kas down.
"Y - you will hold your tongue when you speak about my family. You hear?" Kas' voice thundered at Alise.
She turned her head to the right. Her eyes glared at Kas with intensions of showing him she was not afraid if a fight was to break out. But it was dark out. Only reflective metals and luminescent eyes stood out on the ground.
"Family is crucial for a Variant, I understand. But our joined power is even more important, Kas. Do not threaten me," Alise snapped back.
Dire noticed the situation could escalate further, and for personal reasons, he didn't want it to. He emitted a faint growl to show is disproval.
"Stop fighting, you two. Conflict within ourselves will not librate us from the Infinus forces," he growled.
Kas forced himself to drop it. He closed his eyes, trying his hardest to not lash out and seriously injure Alise.
She scoffed, downplaying the frightful warrior that stood beside her. "To change topics. What is of the Infinus Legion?"
"We hold stronger forces, foreign creatures, and one of Yarno's glaciers. Dominate is our best option," Kas replied without a second thought.
Alise could imagine Glykers raining down from above, while the new Thawed caught everyone by surprise. It was plan that could work. But there was an issue with it. That being Infinus' willingness to bite back.
They knew from experience the entire Coros lineage was never too fond of being pushed around and forcefully manipulated. If anything, they would strike back with twice the strength.
"Strategy is our greatest strength in this battle, Alise. If you believe yourself to be 'of the people,' then guide our men to victory," Kas ordered.
It was times of war and combat - times where Kas was the undisputed leader of the Legion. No one could top his position or power.
Dire grinned. He thought of an idea, something that would help lift the barricade Infinus placed. They were aware of the coast's condition and the stronghold being heavily guarded.
"Calling shots or guiding our people isn't what I'm known for. But if we could claim the stronghold and push through the coast, we could begin lifting our prison," Dire suggested.
Alise turned to look at the sky once again. Right as she connected with the world above, her eyes caught a streak of light dashing through the skies.
She didn't understand what it was, other than it was beautiful. Gorgeous displays of energy from a realm unexplored, vast and empty. Knowledge for her to obtain and maybe even new Variants for her to command.
"They are busy rampaging through the border, it would - "
"I heard of a tale," Alise interrupted Kas.
He turned to look at her and realized she wasn't looking at them. Her eyes were fixed on the beauty above them.
"Excuse me, Alise. But we are trying to - "
"In a world far away from us. A place called Delhelocra. A region fabled for the Variant's vast differences between themselves and us," Alise continued.
Dire lowered his body, slightly bowing his head as he did so.
"Do you know what made them so special?"
No one answered. Kas and Dire were confused but interested. Alise reminded Kas of Detta, the Light Legion's first leader. She was secretive and often viewed as a legend because of her cunning plots.
"What made them special was Ferals that could scale mountains, Thawed that could bring down entire redwood trees, Zegi that evolved to exist between Zegus and Ferals, and Threshers that fly," Alise concluded.
Dire lifted himself up. "Fancy story. Now - "
"Send in Yarno Thawed mounted on Sarorin. They will stand tall and break their defenses," Alise shifted her gaze down to Dire. "Then bring in Ferals mounted on Glykers to kill out the fleeing forces."
"In which case, I will lead a fine army to counter the rampaging Infinus forces. They may break our stronghold's walls, but they won't break me," Kas added.
Realizing he was the only one to not have a position in their strike, Dire looked down at himself. Moonlit muscles faintly whispered their untold tales behind every scar and bruise.
The awkward moment of silence notified the two leaders it was time to go, their little meeting was over. Alise was the first to turn around.
Her finely woven dress flowed behind her like water. Each step echoed across the platform as she stepped inside the War Room to prepare for her long walk downstairs.
Kas followed close behind her. He delicately carried his young daughter in his arms while firm footsteps warned any hidden Variants a true warmonger was coming through.
"Wait!" Dire called out to them.
In unison, the leaders turned around to see him. Kas glared while Alise wondered.
"As Alpha of Alphas, Etek Dur will be ours by the start of summer. I promise that much," Dire's rough voice said.
Kas took a step forward. That was harder than the ones before, nearly waking up his daughter from her slumber.
"That's a big promise, even for someone like you. That Kellenas guy... he's a tough one. We crossed paths several times in the past. It was only recently that we decided to ally with each other," Kas paused.
Alise smirked. "Does that mean you're afraid of him? Is that your bane? A Feral with a big mouth?"
"Listen to me you failed child, banes made for me don't make themselves. I make them. And I will collapse on my own terms, you hear?" Kas sharply responded.
"Is that so? Perhaps that's the reason why you're so afraid of Ether. I know you well enough to acknowledge your own threat before it even shows itself. And that little thing is your fear," Alise's spicy's tongue spat back.
Kas gently placed down his daughter beside a pillar. Then he turned his attention to Alise. His shoulders loosened up while approaching her.
In response, Alise smiled. Her teeth reflected the moon's blue glow, taunting Kas even more.
"If you two start fighting now, I will start taking lives, too. Don't tempt me, there is plenty of my Eldigo side left," Dire threatened.
"Talk about me one more time and watch just how easily I can break your jaw," Kas warned.
Alise scoffed. "Then don't bring up my childhood."
In no time, Kas picked up his daughter and marched away from the scene. Rage built up inside his heart. Alise poked him one too many times that night and Dire's jaws opened more than it should have.
While he was walking away, Alise turned to look at Dire.
"Thank you, my Feral friend. And sorry for the trouble, I will make it up to you in due time," her soft voice concluded.
Dire chuckled. "You're a bad woman! Always teasing me in the worst ways possible. Can't believe you!"
She ignored his comment. Lighter footsteps went down the stairs and into the main part of the War Room, leaving Dire alone with the stars.