"Ah, geez, why so late at night?" asked a young girl about eight years old, with long blonde hair.
"Because," replied the older girl beside her, who looked to be in her mid-teens, with black, cropped hair, "this is the best time. Most people are fast asleep and unaware."
The two stood atop a skyscraper, gazing down at the city of Capella.
"Besides, I think it's worth it," the older girl continued. "When our sister takes the crown, we'll be royalty too. Don't you want that, Euryale?"
Euryale, the younger girl, pouted. "Of course I do." She sighed. "Alright, Stheno, let's get down to business."
Euryale lifted her finger, summoning a small fireball that floated above its tip. With a swift flick, she sent it soaring. As it flew through the air, the fireball grew larger and larger until it collided with a nearby skyscraper, exploding on impact and engulfing the building in flames.
She repeated this several times, spreading fire, chaos, and destruction across the city.
---
Within minutes, the entire city of Capella was ablaze.
Algol stumbled out of the tavern, slightly tipsy, only to be confronted by a city consumed in flames.
"What... the hell?"
A sudden movement caught his attention as something flew past his face. He turned to see a snake slithering away.
"A snake?"
"Ah, I missed," came a voice beside him.
He spun around to find a woman with long, thick black hair and a slouched posture.
Summoning the last of his strength, Algol conjured flames in his hands and hurled them at her. She raised a hand, dispersing the fire effortlessly.
"Magic nullification?"
"Right on the mark, honey." Her voice was groggy and terrifying.
He felt his energy waning. "Damn it," he cursed to himself. "There's nothing I can do…"
"Die!" she screeched.
Her hair lifted, and from it shot a swarm of snakes. Algol shut his eyes, bracing himself for the worst.
A sharp slash sliced through the air.
He opened his eyes to see a young man with black hair standing before him.
"Ah…" Algol's breath caught.
The young man looked back at him. "You okay?"
"Y-yeah."
"Get home. I'll handle this from here."
"No!" Algol protested, his pride wounded. "I can—"
"No, you can't. I can tell you'll be of no use. Go home!"
Clenching his fists, Algol gritted his teeth, then reluctantly turned and ran toward home.
---
The woman cackled maniacally. "And who might you be?" she sneered.
The young man raised his sword with a smirk. "Consider it a parting gift before you die. The name's Kornephoros, but you can just call me Korn. And yours?"
"Name's Gorgon. Now, please die."
"You first."
Korn lifted his sword, slicing through the air and creating a gust of wind that sent Gorgon flying. He leaped up after her, kicking her back down toward the ground.
"Not done yet!" Korn yelled, diving down to strike her mid-fall, sending her hurling back into the air.
"Draco!" he shouted.
A portal opened in the sky, and out of it emerged a girl around eleven, with bright orange hair tied in twintails, wearing a long orange cape. Her arms and legs were scaly, with a long, scaly tail. She wore a black crop top and matching shorts.
The girl, Draco, took a deep breath and exhaled, sending a powerful jet of flames straight at Gorgon.
"Nice work, Draco!"
"Don't celebrate yet," Draco warned, pointing. "Look."
The smoke cleared, revealing Gorgon, unharmed and standing defiantly in midair.
Korn clicked his tongue. "Damn it, she's too strong."
"I don't have time for these childish pranks," Gorgon scoffed.
Her gaze shifted toward the palace in the distance, and a wicked grin spread across her face as she flew off in that direction.
"Draco, now!" Korn shouted.
Draco's tail extended, striking Gorgon and knocking her back the other way.
"She's after the King and Queen," Korn realized as he sped toward Gorgon.
He raised his sword above his head, its blade igniting with flames. Bringing it down, he sent a blazing trail of fire straight at Gorgon.
"Out of my way!" she screamed, swiping the flames aside with her hand.
Draco darted toward her, slashing across Gorgon's face with her sharp nails.
"Ahhh!" Gorgon shrieked.
"Korn, now!"
Korn charged forward, driving his sword into Gorgon's chest. She stood still, coughing up blood.
Korn and Draco froze, uncertain.
Gorgon lifted her gaze to meet Korn's. Her eyes glowed with a blinding white light, and Korn felt himself stiffen as one side of his face began to turn to stone.
"No!" Draco screamed. She grabbed him and took off into the sky, away from Gorgon.
As they soared away, Korn's flesh returned to normal, the stone fading.
"What... what happened? Draco! My sword—where's my sword?"
"Forget your sword! You almost died!"
"What about Gorgon? Did we kill her?"
"No, she's too strong. There's nothing we can do!"
---
Gorgon flew toward the palace, pulling Korn's sword from her chest and tossing it aside. Her wound began to heal almost instantly.
"Queen Shedir," she called, her voice echoing with malice, "your time is over! It's my turn. Sister!"