***Cherflammen***
In the middle of that dead world stood the Overseer Saint, Seirna Stephanie, surrounded by a huge throng of the 'shadow children,' the creatures born from the Void miasma. Yet, for all their history of animosity towards one another, they made no effort to attack her, for within that body was their mistress, the 'Seductress' herself. As the powerful winds tossed and upturned the desert sands, a cold, silvery voice spoke,
"Sister…"
The monster from the Void opened her eyes. The voice took it as its cue that it was allowed to continue.
"The heavens stirred, and the gods are restless," it whispered through the gale.
"Yes," the Seductress answered, though she never moved from her place. "They started to move against us."
"The Black God…" the disembodied voice hissed. "Gathering an army…"
The monster from the Void said nothing, and soon, the chaotic winds died out. Then, a smile appeared on her lips, beckoned upon her shadow children, and spoke to the other consciousness inside her. "Are you seeing this, Seirna Stephanie? You playing the 'hero' has already backfired. You did sacrifice your life and body to imprison me, and yet, because of your power and the Black God I consumed, not only I created these children; they are more powerful than before!"
"No matter how you strengthen them, they will imperfect," Seirna countered, speaking from the darkness inside her mind. "You are the embodiment of everything that is flawed in this world, and of the others. Your defeat will be inevitable and thorough."
"Hmm…I know," the creature from the Void laughed. "But to think I'm doing this just to satisfy my eternal cravings for souls is naïve, Seirna. You clearly haven't learned from all the battles we fought throughout our lives. It is not only 'me,' we are the children of the Void…and the Void, can you and your gods even kill it? Yes, I may 'die,' yet a hundred others will rise to take my place. And you, the heavens, and the mortals are fighting a losing battle. You know it! The mortals are horribly flawed, and we will just return to prey on you and your worlds. It's just a matter of who holds out the longest."
The Overseer Saint, however, replied nothing to the taunts. Instead, Seirna returned the Seductress' mocking with her own laugh. And the Seductress, who could see and distinguish her thoughts, didn't like what she saw. "Arame, Arame," the holy lady clapped her hands. "You must be thinking that your corruption has taken a hold on everyone. Yes, it may be the case…at least, for us who are in Chersea and the Other Realms. But, that otherworlder, he's different. Kuro may be naïve and boring, but he's leagues away from that Black God you fought before."
"What? Just because that tick accepted his flaws in the past doesn't make him immune to my influence. Aren't you a fool for hoping on something that is non-sensible for both of us? What's even worse is that, you know it…deep inside you, you know that flea who captured you and my daughter's heart is a weak mortal."
"…"
"Give it up, Seirna Stephanie," the Seductress had a triumphant smile on her lips. "Do you think that I—an entity that has been feared by gods and fooled someone like Gaius Julius Ceasar—will be defeated by a mere 'nobody'? I already devoured the Black God, his most powerful self…the one that stood and killed many of us Void-born! And yet, here you are, placing your hopes on the weakest 'Kuro,' thinking that the flea can do something different this time."
Seirna said nothing. She lost track of the days she was held prisoner in her own body, in her attempt to 'imprison' the Seductress within her and weaken the Void monster in the eventuality of facing-off with Kuro. It was a tough battle, but somehow, she was holding on. In her heart, there was no other choice but to place her trust in the otherworlder. After all, this was how the Seductress works: the death of her hope would be her demise. And she couldn't let herself die there, not until Kuro was victorious over her. Seirna was taking her last stand, and the moment she lets her guard down, it would all be over for her friends on the other side of Cherflammen.
Friends…
"…"
The Overseer Saint couldn't believe that in the end, she was just as weak as those mortals she protected. She realized that she couldn't move nowadays without the 'help' of her friends, no, the people she trusted. Still, Seirna never regretted her decision to die…and take the Seductress with her.
"Give up the thought, Seirna," the Seductress reminded her. "This isn't fiction; this is reality. Your reality. You and the gods may struggle; hell, bring along your beloved mortals, too! It's fine. It makes our meals even more appetizing; to watch the horror in your eyes as you realize you're about to die…forgotten by everyone. Not even a trace will remain. Struggle more! Scream! Yet, you will never escape your fate."
The mockeries began to waver the Overseer Saint's spirit, yet she held defiantly. Seirna never opened her lips, and bore the taunts, even though she was starting to wish she could bolt there and save what remained in Chersea.
"A gallant stand, I see. But it won't be for long. Your will is shaking; your heart, despairing," the Void monster smirked. "It will be a beautiful sight, seeing you cry and beg for your life to end. However, you shall find no relief until the last of everything and everyone you fought for is devoured by me! So, let's even the playing field!"
"!!!"
At that point, Seirna's worries worsened tenfold. She couldn't believe her eyes as some of the shadow children changed into 'live' bodies of humans, complete with flesh and bones. Their eyes remained emotionless, but it didn't matter. What the Overseer Saint was concerned about were the armor and equipment worn by those ignoble creatures. She knew of those; bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets, and powerful modern assault rifles. Given the technology that Chersea, Cherwind, Cherwoods and Cherhom had, it was clear that Kuro's forces were outgunned, and outnumbered.
"Do you see now how hopeless your situation is, Seirna Stephanie?" the Seductress gleefully mocked her again. "With my power returning and augmented by your body, I can always arm my children with these kinds of weaponry. Yet, it seems I still don't convince you. Very well, watch this…"
"!!!" With a flick of a finger, a horrified Seirna watched a squadron of modern fighter jets that passed overhead. It was followed by the rumbling of an army of modern battle tanks.
"Since you are so confident in that man, why don't we test his mettle? I've been lingering and festering in this dead world for too long; imprisoned by my stupid god-husband and his stooge. I guess it's time for us to touch Chersean grass, what do you say?"
"You can't do it!" the Overseer Saint shouted. "The Black God sacrificed himself so you can't go back!"
"Oh, trust me, I will return!" Thick and powerful miasma appeared on her hands. "Or, at least, my children will!"
"Stop! Stop it!" was Seirna's desperate screams as the Seductress tore open the reality that separated Cherflammen and the Other Realms. While defiant until the end, the Overseer Saint watched helplessly as the Void monster's influence—represented by her miasma tentacles—crossed into portals the latter had opened. Losing all hope, she made her retreat into the darkness, closing her consciousness to the tragedy that was about to happen.
----------
***The border of the Kingdom of Nerfes and the Federal Demon Republic…***
The lands immediately to the north of the known areas of Chersea was called the 'Desolate Wastelands,' which was a testimony to the deaths and destruction the 11th Human-Demon War caused in that region in the ancient past. It had long been past such name, yet the moniker stuck. Nowadays, even though it was a 'wilderness,' the land was famous for its golden grasses—a plant that grew only in places where the soil was rich. And it was said to be rich because of the multitudes of demon and human lives lost in its forgotten battlefields.
Also, the Desolate Wastelands transformed from its formerly 'uninhabited' state to one that served as a 'bridge' of the two races, humans and demons. This was because the Federal Demon Republic and her cities were built on the arctic deserts that was on the far north of Chersea. Hence, many trade routes and railroads ply its entirety, and because of its semi-isolated location, many unscrupulous individuals and groups based their illegal operations here.
As such, the kingdoms of Nerfes, Halveth, and the Federal Demon Republic assigned joint patrols to prevent the crimes from proliferating in the area. Armed with light weapons such as swords, bolt-heater rifles and revolvers, these border guards would scour the golden fields, looking for anyone who might've been violating their laws. Aside from such incidents, the border patrol work was often mundane. Petty criminals, or organized syndicates, putting a stop on their operations required only skill, speed and a few infantry weapons…
…until one day, the border guards discovered something.
"Is my sight deceiving me? Or am I really looking at a floating black circle?" asked a human soldier, who led the patrol column of both demon and humans.
"Your eyes are fine, human," a demon officer answered him, confirming the former's observation through his spyglass. "There really is a floating dark circle in the middle of that field."
"Shall we check it, Sir?"
The demon officer was about to give order, when his human counterpart stopped them. "Wait. Something is telling me that there's something sinister about that circle. Let's send in for some backup, just in case."
"Agreed." At once, the human-demon patrol sent their respective messengers back to their camps for reinforcements. And, until those additional personnel arrive, their group would just watch the circle from afar. Their officers determined it was too risky to get closer.
Still, the dark circle slowly and steadily grew in size, much to the alarm of everyone on the patrol.
"I get what you mean," the demon officer confided to the humans. "There's something sinister about that floating circle. And look, it's bigger now…as if there's something about to come out from it. Shall we retreat for a few paces, and deploy some breastworks, just in case?"
"Yes, let's—"
"!!!" The relative silence of the Desolate Wastelands was torn apart by one loud bang, and—much to his companions' horror—the human officer's head exploded into bloody bits. No one was able to move or say anything, as the decapitated body fell on the grass. The demon officer, nevertheless, was quick to regain his senses, and he ordered everyone to defensive cover.
"Shoot at that cir—" However, the demon officer's words were cut-off when their spot exploded, tearing both human and demon flesh to pieces. The remaining soldiers—out of leadership—were paralyzed at the sight of humans in strange clothes and weapons hopping out of the dark circle. As soon as those otherworldly men saw the soldiers from Nerfes, Halveth and Demon Republic, they trained their guns on them and opened fire, killing a few more from the already decimated group.
"Run for your lives!"
"Take cover!"
"Lower your damn head!"
As the survivors desperately crawled away, they felt the ground shake. Some of them were part of the groups that assisted in the training of the elvish expeditionary forces before, so—even though they wished they were mistaken—they knew that 'familiar' sound of iron gears and wheels churning. Turning around, the poor soldiers realized that their escape attempts were pointless; tanks were rolling behind the 'humans,' firing with deadly precision, and moving with unearthly speed. It was a different war machine compared to the ones used by the army of the Lord Kuro seen in Cherwoods.
But it isn't the end of their nightmares.
"Aaaah!!!"
The survivors broke out into a run, dropping their weapons and other supplies so they could get away faster. However, as they got shot, strange triangular flying machines burst forth and thundered above them, dropping weird, cigar-shaped things over them.
It is the last thing they saw before they got obliterated by its blast when it hit the ground.
----------
**Kuro**
It was midday when a bloodied and injured Princess Noir teleported into the Holy Palatial Gardens, right in the middle of the Saint's Cathedral, just as Maddie was conducting the Saint's Mass in front of many nobles and soldiers. There was a chorus of horrified gasps and screams, as the demon lord-president fell on the floor, and I rushed to catch her. With the Usarved princess was the Demon Saint, Natasha Bellingsen, and from her clothes, everyone could tell they were severely beaten up.
"Sir G!" Her Dark Holiness forgot that they were standing in front of everyone and dropped any sign of formalities as they approached me, who came out from the hidden side of the temple dais. Maddie, Lily and the Grand Mother Templar Superior were also shocked by their sudden appearance, and were frozen for quite a moment. Nevertheless, even when she could barely stand, Natasha told me, "W-We're sorry for coming here all of a sudden, but you see, there's a big problem in the borders of Nerfes and the Demon Republic."
"Problem?" Upon hearing that word, many of the military leaders present left their seats and joined us.
Maddie, seeing that Princess Noir was badly wounded, immediately dropped her 'official' self and immediately healed the demon lord-president and the Demon Saint. When they were finally out of the danger, the demon lord-president explained, "Sir, there was a strange human army attacking us right now."
"What? A human army?" was the chorus of the members of the nobility present, along with Maddie, Lily, and me. I don't know if they noticed it, but at that moment, all of our faces went pale. Everyone thought that a new Human-Demon War had broken out, and we just stood there in our spots, paralyzed by the news. As many of us had befriended demons, we were simply unprepared to fight a new conflict against them.
"Wh-What country?" I asked, dreading the news.
"Sir G," Natasha took over from the visibly disturbed and shaken Noir. "I believe this human army isn't something that came from this world."
"What do you mean?" the Human Saint asked, throwing a bewildered glance at me.
"I saw these humans. Yes, they are your race, but still different. They wear military uniforms much like in our own world, Sir G!" the Demon Saint never bothered to 'mask' her words, even as many of the people around us couldn't understand what she was saying. "And I saw jets! And tanks, fighting alongside their ranks!"
Natasha's words confused the other individuals present, which I found fortunate. Honestly, I couldn't imagine what would happen if these humans knew jet fighters and tanks rolling through Chersea with impunity. Still, I tried to hide my alarm. "Jet fighters?" even I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "H-How?"
'Kuro!' it was Gaius. 'It must be the Seductress' doing! I can feel and smell her involvement in that incident!'
Huh? But she was imprisoned in Cherflammen, right? Are you saying that she transported an entire army of modern soldiers from my world?
'After we came back, the veil that separated Cherflammen and Chersea is only covered, not severed. That's also why the saints recalled their efforts in the battle against the Seductress before! I don't know exactly what's going on, that's why we have to check out on the border areas.'
Shit. The army isn't prepared!
'We've all been there, Kuro. What's important is that we minimize the impact of this event.'
"We went there, Sir! A joint demon-human patrol was annihilated by this army," the Demon Saint continued, her panicked voice bringing me back to my senses. "They also destroyed forces sent to reinforce the first patrol. From the looks of it, we're being invaded this time, so Princess Noir rushed there with the federal forces, but they were bombed."
"It's a good thing that Her Holiness the Lady Natasha was nearby," the demon lord-president revealed. "If she was elsewhere, I'd be dead now."
"And what happened to the army you brought along, Your Excellency?" Lily asked her.
"Shevaun is leading them, but we are fighting a retreating battle. The tanks these humans brought with them are fast, both in movement and in firing their cannons. Not to mention, they also have flying machines Her Holiness calls 'jets,' those inflict the most painful casualties, so I don't know for how long our forces will hold them off."
I could tell my heart palpitate. As the overall planner and leader of Cherflammen's invasion, I knew the army we were building wasn't ready just yet. If I mustered an attack now, I'd just be throwing good soldiers and warriors to eventual slaughter. But time was important; the longer we delay, the greater the enemy's advance would be. And it won't bode well for Chersea…to think that the Seductress struck us first! I grossly misunderstood our enemy…
----------
Just as various scenarios and possibilities played inside my head, another visitor dropped by the cathedral dais.
"Master!" Ruro's voice echoed amidst the restless crowd. "Master!"
The people went to the sides to make way for the Beastman Saint, who was panting terribly. There were bloodstains on her clothes, yet we could see that she was fine. Her Fluffy Holiness immediately dispelled our concerns for her by saying,
"Nah, these are from other people's injuries."
Still, it was something I didn't want to hear.
"What happened to you?" Maddie asked her.
"The forces of the Kingdom of Cherwind is hard-pressed," the Beastman Saint revealed. "An hour after the long-sleep, the leviathan hordes suddenly went on a rampage; all of them! The beastmen warriors from the neighboring republic was on a fighting retreat, and Her Majesty the Queen was forced to come to their aid. I thought of coming here to ask for help."
"Your Holiness," it was Lily, showing her the condition of the Demon Saint and the demon lord-president. "We're terribly sorry, but we're also having a situation right now."
"Eh? You don't mean to say…"
"An army of humans appeared north of Nerfes, near the border of the Federal Republic," Princess Noir explained it to Ruro. "We tried to defend our territories, but we're overwhelmed by their firepower."
"Oh…" the Beastman Saint's eyes fell on me.
I was about to say something, when we saw another teleportation light appear. And the Lady Hinwe came out from it.
"Kuro, what's going on?" The horrified expression on her face told us that the Elf Saint had just witnessed something bad. "Strange, grey metal ships suddenly appeared off the coast of the Saint's Tree and bombarded us."
"Strange, grey metal ships?"
"Yes," she pulled out a paper and pencil, then drew the things she saw. "This is like the modern battleships in your world, right? I just don't know if those can be called destroyers, or frigates, depending on the size. But that can't be, because it's Cherwood. How will a navy from your place get in mine, unless you permitted?"
"I'm not permitting anything," I replied. "Besides, you know my circumstances. I'm not yet truly divine just yet."
"Well, yes…but still…how did those things appear on our seas? Any case, before anything else, you got an army to spare to help us?"
"Ugh…"
"Milady," Ruro took over from me. "Our apologies, but we're also asking for aid. The monster hordes suddenly began rampaging in Cherwind."
"And we're also under attack," Natasha added.
"Wow…" the Elf Saint exclaimed. "The enemy's simultaneously attacking us? Trying to overstretch our forces?"
"Seems like it," Maddie confirmed. "But Kuro and I will try to ascertain the extent of the advances here first. As someone formerly from the military, it's important that we gather information before we make decisions. Can you guys hold out for a little longer?"
"I think the Royal Army of Cherwind can stand for a while," the Beastman Saint nodded. "And we're not fighting people armed with weapons anyway."
"The ships haven't sent in to land at Saint's Tree," the Lady Hinwe said. "So as long as they don't and would just bomb us from afar, we can hold out."
"Uh…it's a good thing that the Dwarf Saint hasn't come yet to deliver another bad news."
"Stop it, Maddie," Lily rebuked her friend. "Don't jinx us."
"What about me?" We froze again as we heard the voice of the Dwarf Saint, the Lady Helgath. She suddenly appeared at the foot of the cathedral dais, in her 'smaller' form. Filled with bad news and dread, the Lady Hinwe asked her,
"Don't tell us that you came here to ask for help as well?"
"Huh? Should I? I just visited Kuro because it's the Saint's Mass today."
Honestly, it was pretty insignificant, but at the moment, it sounded like it was the best news we heard all our lives. At least, we could take off one world away from our worries.
----------
Anyway, learning the gravity of our situation was hard to bear. My chest slowly tightened, and I found it hard to breathe. The feeling of isolation; that one where you wanted to do something right away, but at the same time, you knew you couldn't, or you'd kill everyone. My hands were shaking, and cold sweat formed on my forehead. Look, I always planned my actions, yet, whenever those plans go awry, and the pressure was on me, I get nervous. But, I shouldn't lose my focus here! If my wits gave way, it'd be over for all of us. I should take charge—!!!
"Kuro," it was Maddie, holding and gently squeezing my hand. "Calm down. You did the impossible before; you can do it again."
"T-This is different, Maddie," I whispered, trying to keep my face before the nobility. "I was outwitted."
"It happens, Kuro," Lily was quick to back her friend up. "As a former general, I experienced this, too. Calm down."
"Sir," Noir kneeled before me. "I trust your judgment. I and my people will follow you wherever you lead us."
"The Beastfolk will always have your back, Master!" Ruro gave me a tap on the back. "And you know how loyal we can be."
"As are my people," the Lady Helgath followed. "You are their god, and they will gladly lay their lives for your cause."
"Elves can be fickle," the Lady Hinwe was a bit reluctant. "Though after you solved their issues on desertification, the lords and ladies of my realm are prepared to stand by you, their god."
"Yes, Sir G!" Natasha tried to reassure me with a smile. "Hold your head high, you'll not face the Seductress alone, unlike before in Cherflammen. We will fight with you, and if it becomes worse, we'll go down with you as well!"
"Careful, Natasha!" Maddie rebuked her. "The nobles will hear you and lose heart!"
The Demon Saint was about to say something when she was interrupted by one of the nobles. "Your Holinesses! We beg your pardon. We may be mortals, but don't underestimate our resolve!"
"!!!" Much to our pleasant surprise, the lords and ladies of Chersea pulled their swords, and with grim faces, kneeled before Kuro. "The Lord Kuro has fought for us, even though we did him wrong before. It's time we show him the gratitude of the mortals for all his sacrifices. We will follow you—our god—to victory or to a glorious end. Lead us!"
"Lead us!" repeated the others, including the soldiers—from the Paladins down to the ordinary militiamen. The civilian crowd inside the Saint's Cathedral also joined in their declaration of support, and it was a significant, and encouraging sight; there were elves, dwarves, beastmen and demons—aside from humans—among the faithful. It was a hair-raising sight; the entire church moved in unison. Men and women. Young and old. Warrior or not. The races of Chersea and the Other Realms were united in their desire. And they were willing to fight for their future…
And I won't abandon them.
The final battle for Chersea has begun!
----------
***Cherflammen***
"What's going on?" The Seductress' miasma tentacles had already crossed into the worlds she meant to devour, when she felt something powerful wrap around her body. Then, when she realized it, one of her miasma tentacles had been cleaved cleanly from her body, slowly dissolving on the desert sand. And worse, shackles appeared on her neck, feet, and arms.
"It finally activated, huh?" Seirna's weak and raspy voice echoed from the depths of her mind.
"What?"
"This is what happens when you just keep on eating, never minding what food you partake," the Overseer Saint revealed. "And now, you're trapped. Your influence might've crossed into Chersea and the Other Realms, but you'll be limited in how much you can help your minions."
"What…What are you talking about?"
"It's simple, Lady Arame," the holy lady chuckled, before continuing. "Do you think the Black God—the heaven's executioner of the Void creatures—would let himself be devoured without consequences to you? That's naïve thinking! Now look; those shackles that bind you are his curses, meant to weaken you once you attempt to go back to our worlds…which you already did!"
"I-Impossible!" the Seductress blurted out, bewildered that she was outwitted by one of her victims. "Hah! You may have prevented my influence to reach Cherhom, but I already got my foothold on Chersea, Cherwind and Cherwoods!"
"You're really stupid, aren't you?" Seirna glared at her. "Are you so focused on your insatiable hunger that you forgot about me?"
Then, it dawned on her. "Wait, you being here means…?"
"That's right!" the Overseer Saint triumphantly declared, activating the spells she had cast long before she confronted the Void monster. "You think I purposefully came here so I can defeat you? I failed once, and I'm sure I would, once again. But I'm still here, and this is the reason!" The shackles glowed in deep red, as flames burst forth and melted those unto the Seductress' skin, much to her anguish and pain. "You underestimated us, Lady Arame! The death of the Black God made you a prisoner to him, and I will make sure you will remain here with my power!"