***Somewhere in Cherflammen***
The sands of the deserts of Cherflammen lay nearly undisturbed for many years now, having covered what remained of the ruins of the demon cities evacuated during the chaos of the Seductress' arrival. However, if ever those sands had eyes, they would about to witness light once again, as Kuro created the 'sun' that illuminated the entire realm, using his god-powers.
"There we go!" the future god took a break once he brought back the light. "I guess it's time for Cherflammen's 'sun' to make a comeback."
Of course, the people that came with him were astonished. Never in their life did they witness such spectacle; a god making the 'skylight' before their very eyes. A resounding applause tore through the silence of the desert when they fully realized what the Lord Kuro did. It made their navigation easier.
The demons were especially grateful, having remembered their old home once again. The demon lord-president, Princess Noir, was in tears and was being hugged by her chamberlain, Shevaun. "That is the most beautiful thing I've witnessed in my whole life, Sir," she said in-between her sobs. "I'm really thankful you are a friend to my people."
"Well, it's just the beginning," Kuro told her, looking towards the army marching to a nearby ruin to make it their base of operations. "We have to find the Overseer Saint, and the Seductress, so we can put an end to this."
"You'll have no doubt in our armies," the Lord Tenguri declared, along with the Lady Baraquiel. "The Goblin Legion and the Orcish Knights will fight for you, milord!"
"And we also send our gratitude to the humans, beastmen, elves and dwarves who stood with us," the orc lady gestured towards Maddie, Ruro, the Lady Hinwe and the Lady Helgath. "As long as our descendants are alive, we renounce making war against any of the races present here."
Kuro couldn't help but smile. That surely ended generations of enmity and hate between the demons and the other races, a fitting end to the Human-Demon conflicts. But, he must never lose focus right now…
"Any case," he pulled out a map of old Cherflammen, and placed it before the demon leaders. "I'd like to get our bearings right. Do you even recognize that ruin before us?"
It was the Lord Sargdhenerri's turn to show his expertise. He looked to the skies, and tried to remember the landmarks, especially the mountains that was near the place. Then, he looked at the reports of the undead dragon, Rosita, and her pilot, Gerard. After that, the Biorno vassal turned his eyes on the map once again. "If I can still remember right, this should be the city of Orcdwelt."
"Oh?" the Lady Baraquiel exclaimed. "How can you be sure, Lord Castrio?"
"My memories are still hazy like yours, milady," the Lord Sargdhenerri added. "But I can still recall that Orcdwelt is the only demon city built near mountains, and on the wide sandy plain. The Saint's Tower was surrounded by mountains and hills. Helfan was in a valley, and the Westshore to its north. Fangborough is also in a valley of hills to its west, and mountain ranges to the east. The port city of Darkmoor should be…well, near the shore. And Goblinhom must have hills to its outskirts. I also figured it would be so if the scout report said there would be a body of water to the west, which it did. In any case, it's best that you—as an orc—should confirm it with your eyes."
"Well, it doesn't matter for now," the Lady Baraquiel replied. "We can always research later; we have to do the Lord Kuro's bidding first."
"Indeed."
"Ah, about that," it was the head of the Red Feathers, the Owl-lady Chief Malu, revealed. "We have sent reconnaissance flights in all directions, looking for hordes of shadow children and striking those when the opportunity presents itself."
"And what did you learn, milady?" the goblin lord asked.
"Our scouts report that there are several concentrations of shadow children retreating to the east, towards the darker parts of Cherflammen. However, a huge column of these monsters heading this direction," the Owl-lady marked the southern part of the map, north of what supposed to be the city of Goblinhom.
Kuro told them, "It must be that this column is trying to stop us from following the retreating shadow children by counterattacking. If so, then we must pursue the other group; the Seductress must be there."
"Then leave this place to us!" the Lady Baraquiel volunteered. "This is our home, and we will surely defend it. Go and get that monster, milord!"
"Yes, and we'll also leave the tanks with you. It can't traverse the desert sands without changing the tracks, after all," the Lady Helgath then added, "You will also be reinforced by the Army of Stone. By all means, never let this place fall; this is where we will retreat should things get worse out there."
"Thank you, Your Holiness!" the orc lady bowed in gratitude.
----------
Kuro and a column of the combined human, demon, beastmen, elf and dwarf armies, along with the saints, departed the ruins of Orcdwelt just as the counterattacking force of shadow children appeared at the horizon. The enemy consisted of the shadow children themselves, plus 'giants' and 'flying monsters' made of miasma, whose big bodies didn't stop them from moving fast. The defending side was prepared to meet them though, and the combined air squadrons of Red Feathers, human flyers, and dwarf pilots harassed their foes even before the first groups arrived in the area.
"…" Leading the defensive effort was the Lady Baraquiel and the Lord Tenguri, watching from the highest point in the ruins. As the Lord Kuro's column slowly disappeared to the west, Ruro sent a foul weather tearing through the shadow children's ranks, further reducing their numbers. Still, the surviving creatures were formidable, and the Army of Stone rushed between them and the first defensive lines of Orcdwelt.
With their steam-powered battle axes and war hammers, the dwarves requested to be the first to battle, eschewing the use of guns and cover like the other races. Under their captain, Lahg Ahri, they aimed to kill those giants and flying creatures, as those presented the biggest challenges to their armies. Upon her signal, the dwarves leaped into battle by switching their steam weapons down the ground, and hurtling them towards their enemies.
"!!!"
As they were up against the shadow children, the dwarves cut through the Void monsters like butter, 'killing' and destroying rank after rank of their foes at every turn. With their steam weapons, they could down a shadow giant in one 'shot,' or tear the shadow flyers to pieces. The shadow children were no match for the bearded 'killing machines,' for even their punch was powerful enough to dissipate the former into a cloud of dark miasma.
The soldiers from Orcdwelt could only watch in awe as the dwarves showed their skills in battle; something they weren't able to do much in the earlier battles because the other armies acquainted themselves well, too. Nevertheless, the Void column that attacked their positions was near-endless, and soon, the dwarves of the Army of Stone were hard-pressed to keep up the fight. Lady Ahri sent a signal that they intend to withdraw.
"First corps, get in line! Companies, advance!" The orders of the officers gone around, and the soldiers hurried to form lines, ready to relieve the Army of Stone. The bugles were sounded and trumpets blown, and the combined army marched to meet their unearthly enemy on the sandy plains of Orcdwelt.
----------
For Kuro and his column, they rushed to pursue the retreating shadow children. His guts told him that at the end of those monster lines, he'd find the Seductress, and thus, he'd have a clue to Seirna's whereabouts. His forces were relatively small compared to the army he left in Orcdwelt, with only two regiments of soldiers and warriors from each race to accompany him, and the saints, who insisted on coming along. To prevent any possibility of ambush, he had some of the Red Feathers patrol and reconnoiter along their route.
Of course, the shadow children tried to impede their progress, often leaving delaying forces to attack them.
"Gah! Move away!" Kuro's frustration at the repeated 'blocking actions' were showing. As such, he would recklessly attack every Void monster that came his way, much to the awe and fear of those who watched him. The shadow giants who tried to pounce on him didn't have a chance; a couple of well-placed shot at its feet, and a powerful thrust of his sword to its head would destroy the monster immediately. The shadow children were like grass being mowed by the future god, and his forces just followed him to pick up on the remnants.
'Kuro!' it was Gaius. 'Calm down! We have to defeat the Seductress, not push into Cherflammen in a flash!'
"It can't be helped," Kuro replied. "Time's closing in on Seirna. The longer we delay, the more dangerous it will be for her."
'I can't say I don't understand you. But calm down; in your rage, don't cloud your judgment!'
"Kuro!" it was Maddie. "You might want to take a rest?"
"Hmm?" he was brought back to his senses. "What for?"
"Master," Ruro tapped him on the shoulder. "I know you're worried about Seirna, but you're pushing yourself! And everyone's concerned that the stresses of the battle are affecting you."
Then, the future god was silent. Deep inside, he realized that he was slowly letting the Seductress influence him. The angrier he got, the greater the risk he would open himself to her. And that couldn't happen, not when they already had the upper hand.
"I'm sure Seirna is holding out pretty well, wherever she is," Natasha reassured him. "I know her; she won't go down without a great fight."
"Besides, I'm hungry," the Lady Hinwe admitted. "Let's sit down and eat; then we can worry about these monsters later."
Well, it was often said that an army marches on its stomach, and Kuro knew he couldn't afford to give battle when their soldiers were tired and hungry. So, he asked the Lady Helgath to form barriers using her god-power, so the entire force with them could settle down and eat in peace.
The people who were present in this event later referred to this as 'The March of the Black God,' and Kuro's wrath was there for everyone to witness…
----------
With her last hope of returning to Chersea and the Other Realms cut, the Seductress was inconsolable.
"Gaaaaaaaahhh!!!"
As she let out her frustrations, it affected the nearby places. Earthquakes moved the desert sand, causing the hills to shift places and shapes. The dark skies of Cherflammen was painted with flashes of lightning, some of which hit the desert floor. And a foul gale blew that made it impossible for an ordinary mortal to see through.
Inside her mind, an exhausted Seirna stumbled, confident that she and her friends were victorious. At long last, she could finally let go and end the torture she endured.
"Giving up right now, Seirna?"
"Heh, can't I? You're already defeated."
"Really, huh?" the Seductress laughed, showing Seirna the figures of Kuro, Maddie, Ruro, Natasha, the Lady Hinwe and the Lady Helgath, along with the huge army marching with them. "It's a pity, just when your friends have dropped by to visit, you just give up on them! How rude can you be, my stepdaughter?"
The Overseer Saint froze. She couldn't believe they squandered their chance to completely seal off the Seductress and save the worlds from her. No, she told herself, Kuro was smarter than this! He wouldn't waste that chance! The holy lady blurted out, "You lie!"
"Suit yourself! After all, your hatred for me is clouding your judgment," the Void monster caressed her face. "You see, my dear stepdaughter, this is the weakness of mortals. You rely on your allies, you trust in your friends. And if you go alone, you're easy to defeat. I blame the gods for making you that way…it's as if they meant for all of you to be livestock for us to devour. If they only stayed in Chersea and forget about you, they won't suffer my wrath. After all, I want to get back to that man for doing this to me…"
"Ahhh!!!" Summoning her strength, Seirna lunged at the Void monster, trying to subdue the latter. But as the former already spent her strength restraining the Seductress earlier, she was an easy prey. The Void monster just kicked her down.
Nevertheless, the Overseer Saint was determined to defeat her, and she attacked once more, this time, gathering every ounce of mana left in her existence. Then, uttering a small prayer to the heavens, Seirna cast her restraining spell, using her own body to pin the Seductress.
"I…I won't let you harm them!" was the Overseer Saint's declaration.
"Seirna!" the Seductress repeatedly screamed. "Seirna! How can you do this to the person who took care of you?"
"I'm thankful that you let me live, yes…" the Overseer Saint answered with desperate resolve and waning strength. "That's why, I will be merciful, and won't let you die alone. As you possessed my body, so will I come with you to oblivion!"
"You damned ingrate! I should've killed you when I have the chance!"
"Yes, you should. But, it is a mistake that will forever haunt you."
The Seductress began lashing out, trying to break the shackles in a desperate attempt to free herself. However, the Black God's trap wouldn't even budge, though it was anchored in the desert sands. "I'm hungry!" she cried out, howling amid the blowing gale. "Feed me! I want to eat!" She began to let out another wave of her miasma, but those were just sucked by the shackles, causing the Seductress to fall on her knees once again.
"Don't make this hard for both of us," Seirna told her. "In your condition, even a child can kill you. And you'll face the next god of Chersea in that? Hah! You've become pathetically weak."
"Grr…that otherworlder!" the Seductress hissed. "I curse your name, Kuro! I forever curse your name!"
"Ah, so you finally acknowledge the power of that human enough to call him by name. Cassandra David really has a formidable mentor. Not only did he outwit you by passing his powers to his other self, no one really expected him to become what he is now," Seirna mused, though the last part was also meant for herself. For all the wrongs she did to do her duty, she never expected Kuro would still come for her.
"Stop it!" the Void monster howled. "Stop your mockery of me!"
"Ah, let me have my revenge for all the people you killed and tortured," Seirna's lips drew a cold smile, as her renewed will to restrain the Seductress gave her 'adrenaline' strength. "Not only in this timeline, but also in mine. Let me make you realize how pitiful you are right now. Of how, in a few moments, you will be killed without even a fight. An ignoble end for someone as evil as you."
"Gaaaaah! Kuuuurrrrroooooo, I curse youuuu!!! Kuuurrrooooo!!!" the Void monster howled, as the shackles that bound her tightened, inadvertently breaking bones of the body she possessed. Of course, she felt the pain, as well as the dread, of slowly being restrained, so she could be killed. And that she couldn't do anything to avoid it.
Seirna could only close her eyes. Her physical body was contorted to a weird angle, something that ordinary mortals wouldn't survive. And if her consciousness returns, she would die in pain for sure. Not that she wasn't prepared to, but still…
…she wants to live, so she can experience love, even if it's for a short while.
Tears fell from her eyes as she silently uttered a name…
Kuro.
"Are you calling for me?"
"!!!"
At that moment, the Seductress' screams stopped as she heard a familiar voice. With her senses returning to the physical world, the Void monster froze when she saw the person she dreaded standing before her. Behind him were a great host of warriors, led by the five saints of the worlds she was trying to devour. On his hands were a revolver and a sword.
"K-Kuro," her voice reduced to a croak, as her expressions betrayed her true vulnerabilities. "Please…have me-mercy…"
"Yes," the man she feared replied. "I will have mercy on you. But before I do, I demand that you return the body of Seirna Stephanie to its rightful owner."
----------
**Kuro**
I finally found her, the Overseer Saint, Seirna Stephanie. The Seductress had taken possession of her body, yet, I could tell that her consciousness survived. How?
Gaius, are you seeing this?
'Yes, and my daughter's still inside her mind, fighting and restraining the Seductress.'
I can't believe she's stubbornly putting up a resistance. Her courage is something!
'Yeah, it's because she doesn't want to die a virgin.'
What the hell?
'You have no idea how much power virginity can give to someone craving to lose it.'
Seirna isn't an otaku. And she's your daughter, for fuck's sake!
'As her stepfather—even if it's too late for me, I want her to be happy. Don't you know? She's calling for your name even at this moment, that girl. Isn't it cute, Kuro?'
Shut the fuck up and focus on the battle, Gaius.
I only heard the former god laugh, as he retreated to the deep confines of my mind. Nevertheless, well, that was a good sign. At least, we were not too late in saving Seirna…even if her body looked like…uh, honestly, it was too contorted, it reminded me of those deadly motorcycle accidents in my world.
"Can we still heal her?" I asked Maddie.
"Technically, yes," she answered. "If not, you can always petition the High King of the God to allow her to return to the mortal plane."
Well, while I didn't want to come that, I would still do it. I mean, at least, I'd like the Overseer Saint to be happy after this. She did more for Chersea and the Other Realms than me, even willing to become the villain just to get a message across. In her stepfather's name, I'd like to reward her by taking off her worries…just for once. Still, once we all returned to normal, I'd like to have a few words to her. Certainly, her 'sacrifice' helped us limit the power of the Seductress—in addition to the one did by the Black God, but it wouldn't hurt for her to give more value to herself. She was not the only one hurting whenever she does something that jeopardizes her morality.
"Return the body of Seirna Stephanie to its rightful owner, and I'll grant you mercy," was my demand to the Void monster.
"Yes, I will comply," said the Seductress. "But where do I go? You can't kill me without a body, and I am too weak to form one."
"Are you saying that you'll hold Seirna's body hostage?" I asked, having seen through her schemes. "Get out of there."
"Haven't you heard me? Where will I go? If you want to kill me, then you'll definitely have to let me in a physical body. For all the god-powers you possessed, you are still not a god. Not even a saint, or a former deity. Your attacks will be useless against my ethereal form."
"I said, get out!"
"!!!" At that point, my hands glowed in white, and with a flinging gesture, dragged her from Seirna's body. A thick miasma cloud manifested; the ethereal form of the Seductress, which screamed in pain as she was wrenched out of it. "What are you doing?" she hissed. "You cannot let me out like this! I'll only possess another body!"
For someone who was pretty desperate, she surely was trying to play her cards. I was still technically a mortal, and because of that, I couldn't damage her body. The only ones who could do so were the saints, using their holy powers, and the deities of the heavens. However, I deliberately declined to ascend and become a god, waiting for this moment. After all, it was not about the power, it was about sending a message to everyone. "Your subtle threats won't work against me, Lady Arame," I smiled to her, for Gaius had already taught me how to completely defeat her. "Come! I invite you to my mind!"
"Huh?" Upon hearing my words, the saints were bewildered. They asked, "Kuro, you don't mean to say…"
"Yes, I mean it!" I countered, never taking off my eyes from the Seductress. "I invite you to come to my mind. Let us put this fight to an end, once and for all!"
"Kuro!" it was Maddie, pleading. "You can't do this! Not even the gods can't go against her, and you're still a mortal!"
"Trust me in this," I replied. "It's true that I'm still a mortal, but it's because I want to make a statement." I pulled the sword the High King of the Gods gave to me, "This monster from that cursed place called Void may seem to be powerful, however, it is all an act. My student defeated her before, and I—her mentor—will defeat her again."
"Such a beautiful display of arrogance," the Void monster commented. "Nevertheless, I'll take up on your offer."
"Come!" Well, to others, it might seem to be a display of folly and overconfidence. After all, even the gods and goddesses feared fighting these creatures from the Void. However…
"…" There was a smirk on the Seductress' lips, as she realized I was permitting her to enter my body…which was technically, the one given to me by Gaius, and the body of the gods. And yes, I did know that she would use Seirna's physical form as hostage; so she entered my mind in her attempt to possess it. But when the moment the Seductress arrived in my consciousness…
"Welcome to hell, Arame!" was Gaius' energetic greeting to her. "You have no idea of how long I waited for this moment to finally come back to you for fooling me!"
"G-Gaius!" the Void monster was bewildered. She surely didn't expect the former god of Chersea—and her former husband—to be there, waiting for her with a flaming gladius, a set of Roman armor imbued with divine magic, and a reinforced scutum. Likewise, my consciousness stood beside Gaius, armed with the sword meant to kill the Void creatures, and my bolt-heater gun. Between us, however, it was the former Roman dictator that was yearning for another round to get back to his 'wife.'
The Seductress was known to seduce deities and lead them by the nose once they were ensnared by her. But this was because the god had his own desires, instead of just doing the heaven's mandate for him, as in the case of Gaius and my 'other self.' The former was enthralled by Lady Arame's beauty; the latter was so hell-bent on revenge he was blinded by his own corruption. Gaius claimed that for me, I had no lingering regrets anymore, hence, the original Black God passed his will to me.
As for the body I let her possess, this was a physical form of a god, pure by standards, yet still mortal by its needs. The reason I was able to defeat the Seductress before was that she possessed this body, who once belonged to Gaius. When I took the shot with Maddie's god-power, it 'healed' him, and destroyed the Seductress' influence by releasing her. And what's even better was that, this was inside my mind. I could always do anything I wanted here, so I gave the Seductress a mortal body.
Simply put, this is a trap. Gaius planned it with me before; this is where we put our confidence in.
"En Gärde!" the Roman immediately launched an attack towards the Lady Arame, who couldn't even react to him. In one fast swipe, Gaius lopped off her head, sending it flying towards me by bashing it away using his scutum.
Of course, I wouldn't miss it. As the Seductress' disembodied head flew to my direction, I aimed my gun to it, and fired two shots. There was no blood; rather, dark miasma escaped from her wounds. And I never wasted any second to remove it. A swift thrust of my sword, and I impaled her head, causing the miasma to dissipate into thin air. At once, her headless body fell, and similarly disappeared.
For all the sufferings she caused to the god and mortals of Chersea and the Other Realms, Lady Arame's demise is quick and uneventful.