Meanwhile, on Mercules, Aliys and her second eldest little sister, Misha, were in the middle of a playful game, though the atmosphere was tense. The two were often caught between their youthful moments of innocence and the brutal reality of their world.
Aliys, who had a sharp edge even in moments of leisure, frowned as she tossed a piece of rubble aside. "Misha, these weaklings are boring. I don't want to be out here killing these monsters," she muttered, clearly unimpressed.
Misha, ever the obedient younger sibling, sighed and looked up at her sister. "Yes, sister. It's boring, but we have to. You know the rules."
"Those damn lesser vampires," Aliys grumbled, though she didn't seem to be afraid of them at all. Her mind was somewhere else.
Misha shot her a disapproving glance. "Sister, mind your manners. You know better than to speak like that."
Aliys rolled her eyes but didn't argue. The matter was much bigger than just the monsters they had to fight.
She looked out over the desolate landscape—the city around them was in ruins, the aftermath of the destruction caused by the very forces they were now hunting. Most of their planet had been reduced to nothing more than ashes, and the few that remained took refuge in specialized bunkers. The "Vertan Circle," a powerful governing group, held sway over what little remained of civilization.
The Chrono Valkyries, though an elite class with immense power, were still servants within the Vertan Circle. Their influence in the larger scheme of things was significant, but it was clear they were not in charge.
As Aliys and Misha continued their trek through the wreckage, a figure dressed in purple and with a face obscured by a veil approached them. The woman's presence was commanding, her voice sharp as she addressed the sisters.
"It's time for the group monster-killing. You two should join in," the lady said, her tone leaving little room for argument.
Aliys, still visibly annoyed, scoffed. "I don't want to deal with this weak stuff. It's just a waste of time."
Misha nodded reluctantly but said nothing more. She followed her sister's lead, knowing the duties they had to fulfill were non-negotiable.
Aliys huffed, turning to Misha. "I'll fly through the ruined city. Let's get this over with."
As she soared through the skies above, Aliys reflected on the chaos that had consumed their world. A large portion of the planet had been reduced to apocalyptic wastelands, all because of the heat of Pandora—a devastating power that had been used by the mysterious man in red to warp their reality. He had created cursed caves filled with endless monsters that perpetually respawned, fueling the cycle of conflict.
The Chrono Valkyries, the powerful and respected warriors, were reduced to doing the bidding of the Vertan Circle, despite their immense capabilities. Aliys couldn't help but feel frustrated with her station. Even though they had power beyond measure, they were still servants.
She could only wonder: How long would it be before she could finally break free from this cycle and take her place as a leader in her own right?