EPISODE 2

From afar, near Commador’s border, Betagir troops advanced with buggies and several aircraft overhead. Inside one buggy with metallic armor plating on its frame sat Chanel, proud but with an expressionless face. Redo, who had managed to come along and sit beside her, looked at Chanel with both admiration and confusion.

Redo: “Did you just test a small-range missile on the Commador troops?”
Chanel: “Good idea, right? Consider it a greeting for that Show-off.”

Chanel then accelerated her buggy, followed by the aircraft above, to continue the pursuit of the retreating Devilor forces.

It didn’t take long before the Betagir troops—equipped with modern rifles and robot-controlled aircraft—caught up to the remaining Devilors.

The flying Devilor troops were forced to fight and hold their ground in the barren wasteland of the Centraxis border, the place where the four races often clashed. The soil around this area was no longer brown but a dark, blood-red, littered with corpses from all four races, left to rot and decay into skeletons. The stench was so foul that, according to rumor, some soldiers died not from being stabbed, shot, or burned, but merely from inhaling the air of the wasteland.

Several remote-controlled robots managed to shoot down Devilors one by one as they attacked. However, some Devilors also succeeded in burning Betagir aircraft with their fireballs. Among the large rocks set some distance away from the battlefield, Chanel had already parked her buggy. With quick hands, she controlled the robots and aircraft through her monitor, wide-range visor, earpiece communicator, and holographic keyboard. She shot down Devilors as if playing a game, each kill marked with bonus points flashing on her monitor.

Chanel: “20… 21… 22… 23…” [counting each kill]

Even so, many Betagir aircraft were also brought down by the Devilors, leaving only a few. The buggy units, piloted by both young and senior Betagir, managed to hold out for only a short while before half of them were burned and torn apart by the Devilor.

Chanel: “Tch, useless troops.” [whispering to herself]

At that moment, the remaining Devilors suddenly flew into formation above the Betagir forces. By repeatedly flapping their wings, they created powerful gusts of wind that battered the buggies and aircraft, sending many spinning out of control. Several buggies flipped over, and Betagir aircraft crashed into the ground.

Chanel, still concealed with the help of her research division head, Redo, tried to maneuver the remaining aircraft to evade. Though her expression stayed blank, frustration welled within her. Just then, as the winds from the Devilors subsided, a rumbling echoed—a sharp screeching sound accompanied by the flapping of black wings. From Chanel’s vantage point, she could see an additional horde of Devilor reinforcements arriving from the north. Quickly, she accessed her long-range camera through her visor and counted the Devilors swarming the skies toward the battlefield.

Chanel: “200… 300… tch, damn it. So they were prepared all along.”
Redo: “W-what should we do, Your Highness?”

As Chanel considered her limited options, suddenly a trumpet blast rang out from the east. Her violet eyes turned toward the mass of cavalry riding in formation, led by generals carrying green banners adorned with the emblem of a shield and a lion—the honor flag of the Commador. At the front, Benzo, still in blood-stained garments dried from head to toe, urged his horse forward, emerging from the ranks.

Benzo: “Commador!”
Commador Troops: “HUOOOO!”
Benzo: “You’ve all seen what these uncivilized creatures have done! Your fathers and mothers were slain by them! Your infants, your kin, your families were murdered by them! Our comrades-in-arms were taken by them! Whatever the race—Angelir, Devilor, or Betagir—they must all be annihilated!”
Commador Troops: “HUUOOO!!”

The Commador soldiers roared with fervor, raising their swords, bows, and shields high. Watching from afar through her camera, Chanel scoffed, mocking him.

Chanel: “Such a show-off. Look at his clothes—why hasn’t he cleaned them yet?”

Meanwhile, Benzo drew the sword from the scabbard at his waist and raised it toward the sky, where the Devilor reinforcements were now visible flying into the battlefield. Then he pointed the tip of his sword toward the Betagir forces still engaged in combat.

Benzo: “For Justice and the Goddess of Time!”
Commador Troops: “HUOOOO!”
Benzo: “CHARGE!!”

Benzo spurred his horse forward, followed by 500 mounted Commador knights thundering behind him. Another 100, led by Izzy, split off toward higher ground to focus on archery support. The Devilor reinforcements, reaching the battlefield first with the speed of their wings, immediately unleashed their fireball magic. Some even spewed flames directly from their mouths. The flapping of their wings fanned the flames, stretching them wider and hotter, scorching both Betagir and Commador forces beneath their flight paths.

Benzo, however, remained untouched, still mounted on his horse as he fired arrows at Devilors and the blind spots of the robot-controlled aircraft. Some Betagir soldiers attempted to attack him directly with their modern rifles, but he swiftly pulled his reins, making his horse rear up on its hind legs and lash out, scattering them. With practiced ease, he switched from bow to sword, swinging it with precision to stab Betagir soldiers and disable their controlling robots.

Meanwhile, back in Nirvania, inside the Silver Palace, Dear, Cherry, and the Divengers had just finished discussing and planning their counterattack against the Devilor. At that moment, a tall Angelir with long sky-blue hair and gray eyes hurried into the chamber. It was Raphael Mestrados, the messenger of the Silver Palace. Raphael bowed, placing his right palm atop the back of his left hand, giving the traditional Angelir salute. Dear signaled with a slight tilt of her head and eyes, permitting him to speak.

Raphael: “Forgive me for interrupting, My Queen. I have just received word from the Surveillance Division that a battle has broken out among the Betagir, Commador, and Devilor on the Centraxis border.”

Dear widened her eyes slightly, but a small smile curved at the corner of her lips.

Dear: “Is that so? How many are there?”
Raphael: “Around two hundred Betagir troops, six hundred Commador troops, and four hundred Devilor troops. And, as usual, the Commador leader himself is present in the battle, My Queen.”
Dear: “Heh, that creature is far too diligent. What about the Devilor leader? Is he there?”
Raphael: “According to the information I received, no, My Queen.”

Dear: “Hmm, sounds entertaining. In that case, why don’t we just send eight hundred people there right away?”
Cherry: “But… what about the planned assault on Black Castle? Should we cancel it, my Queen?”

Dear only smiled while gazing at the scenery outside the large window, where some Angelir could still be seen busy clearing away rubble from the buildings destroyed in the previous Devilor attack.

Dear: “Why not both at once? That way, he’ll be forced out of his lair.”

Meanwhile, in the barren plains of Centraxis, many soldiers of Betagir, Commador, and Devilor had already fallen. Corpses lay among those still fighting. The stench of burnt flesh, blood, and sweat mixed together. Parts of the ground were still scorched with fire from Devilor sorcery. From behind the large rocks, Chanel had just shared her idea with Redo while gripping the controls of the large machine in front of her.

Redo: “Y-Your Highness, don’t you think it’s dangerous to carry out this long-range missile plan? You did test the controls earlier with small missiles, but—…”
Chanel: “You doubt me?”
Redo: “N-no, Your Highness. It’s just that—…”
Chanel: “Then shut up and watch.”
Redo: “V-very well.”

On the opposite side, Benzo, drenched in sweat after dismounting his horse, tirelessly used both sword and bow to cut down the enemies around him. From the higher ground, Izzy could be seen charging toward Benzo on horseback, trampling and striking down Devilor and Betagir still lingering there.

Benzo: “Damn it! At this rate, when will it end? They just keep coming!” [while stabbing an enemy in front of him]
Izzy: “It’s because the Devilor attacked first! Half of our archers are already out of arrows. What’s the next plan?” [kicking an enemy]
Benzo: “What else? Support us from behind! Use your swords!”
Izzy: “Understood, Chief!”

Just as Benzo’s blade pierced the chest of a Devilor lunging at him, suddenly four red dots locked onto his body from afar. Both Benzo and Izzy immediately noticed.

Izzy: “Chief! What are those red dots?!”
Benzo: “Tch!”

Chanel, who was controlling four aircraft from a distance, pressed a specific button on the massive control console before her. Instantly, four missiles launched from beneath the aircraft above and streaked toward where Benzo stood. Benzo, Izzy, and some Commador soldiers froze at the sight of the familiar cylindrical objects flying their way, before several began scattering in panic.

Izzy: “Chief! Watch out!”

Benzo and Izzy bolted in different directions. Unlike before, the four cylindrical tubes didn’t soar upward but pursued Benzo from all four sides. Realizing their speed was far greater than the previous ones, he discarded his heavy bow and sword, letting his eyes and mind race within mere seconds. At two o’clock, he spotted an unattended horse and, behind it, a Devilor aiding its comrade in forming a massive fireball by beating its wings to generate strong winds.

Devilor: “You’re finished! Finished! Hahaha!” [excitedly flapping its wings]

Benzo swiftly leapt onto the horse, then sprang higher still, grabbing onto the shoulders of the Devilor he’d spotted. He twisted its mighty wingbeats toward the two missiles closing in behind him. BOOM! Before they could get too close, the missiles were blown backward, detonating the horse and numerous Betagir, Commador, and Devilor nearby, erasing them all.

Devilor: “Eh? What the hell was that?! And who are you?! Damn Commador! Get off me!” [while elbowing Benzo and twisting in the air]

Yet Benzo’s grip—honed since childhood in barehanded combat—was firm and unyielding. The Devilor couldn’t shake him off. But within seconds, the other two missiles closed in, still streaking straight toward Benzo. The Devilor beneath him froze, horrified by the same cylindrical weapons that had obliterated so many before.

Devilor: “Waaa!!”
Benzo: “Fly! Fly now!”

Benzo barked, his voice nearly breaking, commanding the Devilor to ascend and escape the missiles. Panicked, the creature beat its wings frantically skyward.

Devilor: “Aaaaah! Why me?! I’m nobody! And why should I listen to this damn Commador?!”
Benzo: “You’ll thank me later, friend!”

No matter how high the Devilor climbed, the missiles didn’t stop pursuing.

Devilor: “What do we do?! Why won’t those things quit?!” [screaming in panic]
Benzo: “We need to make those tubes collide with something else!”
Devilor: “With what?! There’s nothing here but clouds!”

Benzo then grinned when he spotted a Betagir aircraft flying past.

Benzo: “Let’s return the package to its sender.” [pointing at the passing Betagir plane]

The Devilor clicked its tongue in awe, then followed Benzo’s command. With a surge of wingbeats, it darted toward the Betagir craft. Just before the missiles struck its tail, the Devilor maneuvered behind the aircraft, causing both missiles to slam directly into it. BOOM! Shards of aluminum scattered as another fiery explosion ripped through the skies. Soldiers below stared upward, stunned.

On the ground, the Devilor that had carried Benzo—and Benzo himself—finally landed among the corpses of the fallen from all sides.

Devilor: “You know, I guess I really should thank you…”

The Devilor secretly prepared its mouth to open wide while Benzo walked casually toward the corpses lying around.

Devilor: “Because of you, I—… Huekh!”

Before the Devilor could spew fire from its mouth at Benzo, Benzo swiftly stabbed its neck with a sword he had quietly taken from one of the scattered corpses. He drove the blade in until the hilt pressed against its throat. The Devilor’s black blood immediately seeped out, splattering across Benzo’s arm before the creature collapsed to the ground, its body twitching as its breathing turned into guttural gasps. Benzo shook his arm violently, flinging off the remaining black blood from his skin, then cast the Devilor a cold, mocking glance.

Benzo: “You’re welcome.”

Chanel, still hidden in her outpost, didn’t realize her hands were trembling—not from fear, but from an overwhelming, undeniable hunger for victory. Through her aircraft’s cameras, she watched Benzo still alive, standing amidst rising smoke, cutting down enemies one after another. Suddenly, every aircraft in the battlefield turned its sights toward Benzo. Refusing to lose, Chanel now planned to unleash her entire aerial fleet to strike him down once and for all. Realizing the planes were converging on him from above, Benzo only scoffed, stabbing with the sword he had picked up, kicking and striking nearby foes, before his eyes locked onto one of the aircraft equipped with a camera.

Benzo: “Looks like someone’s pissed off!” [he shouted mockingly before continuing his assault]

Chanel clenched her fists and decided to direct all her forces toward Benzo and the area around him. But before any more missiles could be launched from the aircraft, with the speed and varied magic of the Angelir elite, every target—including Devilor still in flight—was struck down by the resonance spells of the Angelir. Just as Queen Venos had planned, eight hundred Angelir troops had arrived at the Centraxis border.

Benzo: “So, the Angelir too now? Good! All the better! Urgh!!” [pulling his sword free from an enemy’s body]

Meanwhile, still focused on her monitors, Chanel saw through her recorder cameras that the Angelir forces had just arrived and were striking her kind.

Chanel: “Busybody old hag. Just you wait—I’ll get my payback later.”

At the same time, within Black Castle, Tenebrius, Axeluz was seething at the sight of the city outside his great castle gates. Large sections had been destroyed by the Angelir counterattack. They burned nearly every settlement along the outskirts, and as if to repay the Devilor in kind, the Angelir had deployed special units to burn Devilor's flags they spotted with their light sorcery. The flag symbolized with maple leaves surrounded by roots inside a circle. They burnt together with a lot of Devilor's life in the area.

Axeluz: “That bitch…”

Axeluz’s eyes suddenly turned gold. Horns and a demonic tail emerged on his body, tattoos shaped like roots and vines snaked across his arms and neck. For a moment, he still stood inside the royal chamber—before flames burst from both his palms, propelling his body straight through the castle window, shattering it. Within less than five minutes, a massive orb of red and black fire swept across the city under attack, incinerating the Angelirs before they even had the chance to flee. The Devilor present at the scene could only stand frozen in shock. They could hardly believe their King’s power: in an instant, three hundred Angelir had been slaughtered and obliterated.

Not long after, inside the royal chamber of Black Castle, the generals and military leaders of the Devilor army had gathered as commanded by their king. The atmosphere was silent and heavy.

Axeluz: “Relax. I won’t ask much. I just want to know… who’s the pig responsible for holding back the Angelir at the front line earlier?”

All the commanders before him lowered their heads in silence. No one spoke, no one moved.

Axeluz: “Who, damn it?!”

Hearing Axeluz’s voice grow harsher and louder, one of them finally stepped forward. It was Alexis, the military commander.

Axeluz: “Oh, you.”
Alexis: “Forgive me, my King. I had alre—…”

ZRASS! In an instant, Axeluz struck past Alexis, black blood spraying from his mouth. With his sharp claws and blinding speed, Axeluz pierced Alexis’ flesh, ripping out his heart and half a lung from within his body. His abdomen gaped open, exposing his intestines. Alexis didn’t even have time to scream before collapsing lifeless. Axeluz calmly placed the heart and half-lung on the table, then took a wet cloth prepared in advance by a palace servant in a black bowl, as if this occurrence was expected and routine.

Axeluz: “Now, it’s time for retribution against that creature.”

From behind the castle pillars, it seemed as though an entity began to form the shape of a tall, imposing woman. Yet her presence went unnoticed, unrecognized.

???: “How pitiful. Their hearts are as dark as a chamber untouched by sunlight. Perhaps a little lesson will make them awaken.”