Chapter 2.2: Arcadia

As the battle for Arcadia raged violently as the Knights of the Sky Raiders fought the possessed remains of the Silver Hammer.

Khorn and many other knight companies fought fiercely against their ancient enemy as they slowly pushed forward.

With each step they took many knights fell to the demon's trickery and their vile blood magics.

"STAND WITH ME BROTHERS WE FIGHT IN THE NAME OF THE DREAMERS AND FOR REQUIEM, CHARGE!" Khorn roared.

Khorn led the charge against the demon as he tore them asunder with his battle axes sparing no one in front of him. Each berserker held the rage of those who fell in battle during the 2nd Great War and the only people who would ever love the bloodthirsty, battle-crazed, black sheep of the Iron wolves.

Though many knights were born and molded after the fall of Requiem, those who survived the countless conflicts throughout the eons bear a deep-seated hatred towards the demons, especially for the old berserker.

Khorn pushed forward without rest as his fellow knights could barely keep up with the Venerable knight.

The Sky Raiders watched as Khorn single-handedly tore through the demon lines by himself as his eyes turned bloody and his words were nothing more than growls and snarls.

Many of the Apocrypha knights knew that Khorn and many of his clans suffer from the curse of the blood rage and the blood price.

Though the effects of the Blood rage were minimal as the fell fang can tap into the Realm of rage where the Demon was presumably born to give them unrivaled strength and durability.

Though the Fell fangs could control this power only grazing the surface of what the blood rage can do for them.

When Requiem died the psychic scream she unleashed amplified the effects of the blood rage unleashing its full power upon the Fell fang but at the cost of their own body's rapid aging and humanity.

The blood price would weigh heavily upon the clan, many who suffered the effects of the blood price shall relive the torment of their worst nightmare a thousandfold while their bodies suffer unspeakable torment for the price of power.

Though few survived and the clan rebuilt, Khorn is the last true Requiem-born knight who did not succumb to the effects of the blood price.

Despite Khorn's condition he still fights with the memories of his clan and family in his heart yearning for the day of duty’s end.

Khorn charged into the abomination like a mountain to a thatched house the berserker tore through the abomination with sheer brute force as he pushed forward without rest or restraint. 

One of the possessed tried to tackle him but the demon barely grazed the venerable berserker as he grabbed the possessed, took out a grenade and shoved it deep down its throat, and threw it into a group of demons killing them instantly.

Even the other venerable knights respected the old berserker for his dedication and unwavering loyalty to Kent Redridge even after he fell in the Hell’s Gate while the rest of them doubted their lord who gave them everything he had and asked nothing in return.

“Push forward, do not give any quarter, No MERCY FOR THE ENEMY OF THE GODDESS!”  Khorn shouted.

Despite each step they took the demons took two from Khorn’s ranks but they made sure that the demons paid a hefty price for taking the lives of the warriors. 

On the western front, Kent and his men were beginning their approach as the NightHawk began its bombing run leveling the entire western square into a flat plateau. 

“Bombing run complete, commence combat drop all ships will provide fire support to ground all ground assets when able!” Winter ordered.

“Roger that Ice Queen, All gunships begin drop!” Rex ordered.

"You heard the Lady, everyone board the Scorgon tank Clay you drive." Kent asked.

"Aw, YEAH BOI!" 

As the gunships began their dropoff operation the NightHawk dropped the Scorgon tank clearing the path for the rest of its smaller allies.

Though the massive 421-ton scorpion-shaped tank can easily decimate the silver hammer’s defensive emplacements with its massive High-frequency pincers and shock cannon destroying any heavy fortifications that could pose a threat to the iron mammoth tanks.

Despite its hulking size and bulking armor it could easily move at speeds of 418 miles per hour and fire off several microlasers mounted on the legs for additional protection. 

The New Kingdom forces fired several boulders and massive bolt harpoons at the Scorgon tank as it covered its face hunkering down retracting its legs into the body.

The boulders easily bounced off its thick Chimeric plating and the bolts were ripped apart by the microlasers on the arms and forehead. 

As the bombardment ended the Scorgon tank unpacked itself as it raised its tail firing several salvos of type 26 High heat desolator rounds, a smaller version of the same shell type that the NightHawk uses but will not destroy the Scorgon's exoframe in the process.

“Bossman this is Stinger 69, I am pushing forward and nothing bigger than an abomination is gonna stop us now… HA, How do these ass hats like me now in my tank!” Clayton boasted.

“Really? The Scorgon tank belongs to the General and it has free will so you might wanna watch what you're going to say before it tries to remove you from the pilot seat!” Willow scoffed.

“I'm in a tank and your argument is invalid!” Clayton shouted.

Kent sighed, rubbing his eyes in frustration as he said in the intercom. “Everyone please keep this channel clear of any rambling we are in a battle at the moment so stay sharp. And for the record Clay, the tank has a name… Her name is Raza so please be respectful of her or she will throw you out like last time.” 

“Yes, sir/ gotcha Bossman… Meh.” Everyone and Clayton saluted.

With the comms cleared of the excess chatter, Kent sighed asking himself “I will never understand why they are like this." 

"They are mortal and mostly human in a way and you chose them Kent. Despite their eccentric behavior, they can get the job done when they are pushed into the fire." The Demon smirked.

"Either way, they are my only friends so I am okay with it." 

Kent smiled at his teammates and friends despite belonging in many groups they are bound by honor and comradery.

Yuuno smiled looking upon the being they love as the knight and Demon found peace. 

She sat down next to him wrapping her hand upon his with a simple peck on his cheek. Kent's eyes widened, astonished by his lady's very forward approach despite being in the middle of a battle.

Romance can still somehow bloom despite their dangerous situation.

"My Lady I thank you for the kiss but might I ask why? Forgive me for asking but this may not be the perfect time or place for such."

"It is fine I merely wished to reward you after so long that we could not see each other. It made my heart skip a beat when I saw you and him again though I apologize for my very bashful behavior Kent." 

Kent chuckled for a moment gently caressing her head thanking his lady's affection. 

Aisha puffed her cheeks, jealous of her sister's advancements towards her knight. 

"SIS, I THOUGHT YOU PROMISED NO FLIRTING UNTIL AFTER THE WAR IS OVER!" Aisha shouted.

Yuuno was startled by her sister's remark "Oh dear, forgive me, my sister. It slipped my mind for a moment but I thank you for reminding me." She giggled.

"And you Kent, YOUR SUPPOSED TO BE MINE BEFORE MY SISTER'S… Take responsibility for what happened… Hm!" Aisha scoffed.

"Of course my Lady, forgive this knight of yours for forgetting his duty." Kent bowed.

Aisha's face turned red as she tried to resist his calming charms. All she could do was puff her cheeks and sit down next to him asking merely for a hug as a way to compensate for his actions.

While the three had a moment to live, the rest of the squad was watching from a distance while talking through a private intercom channel.

"Well, at least the boss is finally getting some action, and damn he got 2 of them… I'm like damn… Hey author, give me something similar to the boss would you?" Clayton mumbled while breaking the 4th wall.

"At least the general is finally finding someone to love again. And they seem to love him with mutual respect so I give them my seal of approval. I mean he deserves it after the hell he'd been put through" Rex smiled.

"No doubt about that captain, but still how will commander Charlotte and Grand Archon Victor accept this anyhow, and does anyone have any context on this situation?" Marky asked.

While the team was rambling about 

how Kent was able to find 2 girls to love and their plans after the war.

As they enjoyed what time they could Clayton suddenly pulled the breaks on the scorgon pulling everyone off their seats.

Kent managed to catch his ladies by the waist before they hit the floor though the two were okay. Clayton was scratching his head to his dismay.

“Clay, you may want to give a heads up before you suddenly hit the breaks.” 

“Sorry Bossman, I think you need to see this, like right now!” Clayton shouted.

Kent went up to the viewing deck to his shock “By Faith’s will… The Temple, Clayton you’re on sentry, Everyone out now!”

As they got off the Scorgon tank’s rear hatch, Kent and his men ran out first before the two ladies followed them into battle.

The temple of the three gods was now in ruins, the priestesses and what remained of the loyal silver hammer fought to their last breath as their corpses were hung upon the walls of the temple.

Yuuno’s heart sank as she fell to her knees crying out in pain as her sisters lay dead before her, the marines were careful with removing the fallen priestesses as they were brought upon the gunships back to Haizol.

“Kent, I’ll take care of sis please search the temple if there are any survivors.” Aisha asked.

Yuuno shook her head wiping the tears from her eyes asking “No my sister, I wish to see with my own eyes if there are any survivors. I must go to the center hall if any of my sisters survived “they may be held up inside the main halls or the ancient catacomb.” 

Kent ordered his men to search the catacombs below the temple while his team searched the entire temple for survivors. 

The team divided themselves into three units of three with Kent leading the first team to the center hall, Rex and his team heading to the ancient library, while Willow went to the dormitory to find any survivors. 

Almost one hour had passed since they arrived at the temple but no survivors were found as they went deeper into the temple. The first team eventually came upon the central hall. Yuuno saw the door was sealed shut. When a marine touched the door he pulled his hand back as if he was electrocuted.

Yuuno walked towards the door as she felt her sisters touch upon the door’s seal.

A strange ghostly light began to envelop her with a strange and gentle warmth. The Demon took notice ordering the fragment to run towards her before it was too late.

Kent grabbed onto Yuuno as the light slowly pulled her into the gate. 

The Demon intervened trying to pull the two out of the portal. Rex grabbed onto Yuuno's arm as the two vanished into thin air.

"Oh boy, this is not good…" Rex though.

Moments passed as the three were pulled into the gate and the Demon was separated from Kent's body.

The two lay on the green earth unconscious Kent rubbed his head shaking in confusion. 

"Ugh, What is this familiar feeling…" Kent grunted.

"Kent, ugh where in god's good name are we?" Yuuno moaned.

The Demon smirked. "It would seem that you two have returned to my domain… It would seem." 

Yuuno saw the Demon's form for the first time as a mixture of a werewolf and a Dragon.

The Demon stood as 11 foot and 9 inches tall, with jet black scales and fangs of silver. 

His eyes burned a bright drowning in the blood of the guilty, the demon had 7 horns 3 upon the sides of his head and the other upon his forehead shaping it into a crown of thorns.

Claws of shadowed silver that glowed like the moonlight upon the silent lake. 

Each tails bore a crown of three that slithered upon the grown like a snake ready to bury its fangs upon its prey

Though none had lived to see his form in battle and those who bare witness to his form looked upon in horror or worship.

The Demon looked around seeing the thousands upon millions of souls pouring in from all across the realms were all corralled like cattle. He was greatly annoyed by how the ancient kings who governed the dead left the souls to roam free on their own and judged them by random. 

He walked towards the cliff’s edge to see a monstrous being trying to absorb the souls of the dead. 

The Demon sighed rubbing his eyes in frustration “I must tend to some matters of great annoyance. Kent, I leave Yuuno in your care… And my love you have my permission to say goodbye to your family." The Demon smiled.

The Demon jumped off the cliffside as he heard the tormented screams of the monsters below.

Yuuno turned around to see her sisters who were ready to depart for the afterlife. She walked towards the group of priestesses though her heart grieves for her family was now gone but thanks to the Demon's dominion she was able to meet them one last time.

At the center there stood the leader of the priestesses. She had long black hair and black eyes with pinkish fair skin. 

Her beauty stood out beyond her kin with but a single glance none can help but stand in awe before her beauty.

"Mama…" Yuuno cried.

Yuuno ran towards the priestess with open arms and embraced her mother with tears of joy pouring down upon the mother's eyes.

"My little cub." Yuuno's mother cried.

Kent smiled as he knelt before the late high priestess Felucca Fullvrink. 

"Lady Felucca, forgive me for being late. If we had arrived sooner maybe..." Kent grieved.

"It is okay, you did everything you could but I must ask you to care for my cub," Felucca asked.

"You have my word that I will love and protect her no matter what." 

Kent gave the two some time to have peace when Felucca and her priestesses watched from a distance as the Demon one-sidedly massacred the monsters that tried to devour the dead.

"Yuuno, though we are gone from the mortal world, the 12 elders have survived and are now underground waiting to be rescued.

"Mama, there is so much I want to tell you that I never had a chance to say."

"I am sorry my daughter but we do not have much time to talk, know that I love you and will always be proud of you." Felucca cried.

Yuuno embraced her mother, crying her heart out. Kent held her shoulder knowing he will never leave her. 

Felucca was assured her daughter will be taken care of once they depart for the realm of the wolf king.

Despite her desire to be with her daughter, she must fulfill her last duty as the saintess.

Felucca informed the two that some members of the council of 12 had survived and taken refuge beneath the temple's underground catacombs. 

The entrance to the catacombs is protected by an ancient seal that the saintess can open or anyone chosen by the current saintess.

Yuuno bowed before her mother knowing that it was the last gift she would ever receive from her.

"By the last rights of the 3rd god, and the will of the goddess earth and moon. I Felucca Fullvrink grant you the honored title of Saint Adept, may the three gods bestow their blessings upon you and lead our people to a brighter tomorrow." Felucca smiled.

"I Yuunoarrah Fullvrink humbly accept this title with open arms and I will lead both worlds to a brighter future."

Felucca cried, praising her daughter for becoming a greater person than she could ever have imagined.

The Demon watched from a distance smirking at the notion of a painful goodbye. 

As he crushed the skulls of the Demons that entered his realm while he was away. As he absorbed their power and broke their spirit stones assuring they will never be a problem again.

He was about to snap his fingers when the Demon felt a touch upon his shoulder. He looked beside him seeing the goddess Faith herself was teasing him.

The Demon smirked, "Though I only serve you by name, know only that you are permitted to walk upon my realm despite your many transgressions against me and your Knight."

"I know and I wish to make amends by sending Yuuno's family and her priestesses to the realm of solace."

"Now this is something interesting, though this is something new this is far from what you must do to truly atone for your crimes against your champion.

The Demon grunted, opening his hand for the goddess as she jumped into his palm.

As they walked towards the gate of the realm Faith sighed knowing the Demon that serves her only by name could easily destroy all the realms with but a thought. Many gods and heroic mortals manipulated by the upper pantheon to kill him failed hundreds of times over.

But he still chose to serve as the protector of the realms despite protecting them by massacring anyone who threatens his favorite playground. 

The Demon boasted how the lesser gods had proven more beneficial for the mortals of the realms than their greater counterparts that only abused their power.

Though he would not have been forced to act if they had left him alone so many eons ago. 

Though he was fine being exiled from the pantheon and finding a good place to rest. 

" If only the gods listened to you Faith long ago she would still be with me."

Faith touched his forehead asking for forgiveness for her kin's crimes against him and the loss of his first love.

"Nothing shall ever bring her back to me… I reset creation thousands of times to find her. But her soul is gone and your kin took her from me and made sure that she will never come back for that, I shall never forgive."

Faith cried out "Forgive me for my weakness. If I was only strong enough then…"  

The Demon roared "ENOUGH, you have no right to say her name. She asked for help from you and the other gods and what did you do… NOTHING!" 

The Demon's rage began to take root upon the realm of dreams as reality itself was ripping itself apart as it is the representation of the Demon's will.

His eyes burned brighter than the fires of hell as his desire to destroy all who opposed him was strong as Faith herself was forced upon her knees. 

She closed her eyes awaiting the executioner's ax to swing upon her neck when the Demon closed his eyes dispelling his rage returning the realm of dreams to its original state.

The Demon put Faith down upon the grasslands as he turned back into his humanoid form.

"I will allow you and the lesser gods to live and fulfill your duties to the mortals. But know this Faith, my patience has its limits and if you or anyone dares to take what is mine again. No one shall be safe from my wrath." The Demon roared.

"I know, I will do my best to make amends." 

The Demon smirked as he vanished into thin air as he returned to his love, his heartbroken for her loss despite wanting to comfort her.

He could only watch from a distance knowing he was far from a being worthy of truly loving her.

Kent stood by her side comforting her as the ferryman carried them to heaven.

The Demon looked upon the ferryman whispering to him from a distance "Take them to the realm of solace if anyone dares to stop you tell them I ordered it." The Demon commanded.

"By your will, great one." The Ferryman replied.

As the boatman carried the priestesses to heaven Kent looked upon the Demon nodding as it was time for them to head back.

"Please let me be with them just for a little longer. I Beg You!" Yuuno cried.

"There will come a time to grieve, there will be a time to cry, the battle for your world is still ahead of you. My love, do not let the sacrifice of your mother and many others be for nothing. I will send you two back to the temple. I promise you will meet them again."

The Demon kissed Yuuno's forehead as he sent them back to the temple. 

At the same time at the temple's center hall Clayton was ready to destroy the doors with 500 pounds of C4. 

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Rex asked.

"To be completely honest with you boss cap, I have no idea if this is going to work. It's either the doors will open, or we all go to kingdom come. But I am leaning on the second part there but meh." Clayton smirked.

"That does not inspire confidence, sergeant!"

"Hey what the heck do you want from me? You want me to blow the doors to save the bossman and his waifu? Or do you want us to sit on our ass all day and watch Interflix on the holo-com while we wait for some plot armor to happen?" Clayton sassed.

"Fine, I will disregard your SAS Clay but for now blow that door!" Rex ordered.

"Okay, EVERYONE COVER YOUR BUTTS IT'S GONNA GET LOUD!!!!!!!" Clayton laughed hysterically.

The team took cover behind several blast shields when the sergeant pulled the trigger. 

Everyone took cover about 100 meters from the door when a loud bang should have happened but never came.

"What the hell? Where's my explosion!" Clayton shouted as he kept pushing the firing trigger.

"Hey ass hat, look over there!" Marky smacked.

Clayton looked up to see Kent and Yuuno were standing right beside the explosives but Kent was holding the signal receiver preventing the explosives from detonating.

Everyone jumped out cover to check if their leader was okay. Though Clayton was happy to see Kent is alive and well though he grunted about not getting to detonate the explosives.

Though they are safe the battle for Arcadia was soon drawing to a close with the armies of the Sky Raiders slowly pushing to the castle. 

Though many questions are still left unanswered now the time of war shall come to its end.

Only to find evil shall never truly die easily.