LILITH'S REQUIEM. GOD'S CHERUBIM.

Wanting to save his galaxy, Tucana II from being tidally disrupted, Tengen hatches a plan to kidnap Earthian student Lilith Neith, and absorb her world capabilities. However, things do not quite go as planned.

Chapter Outline:

Part One. “Serpent's Kiss, Seraphim's Scorn.”

Part Two. “Epiphanies, Symphonies, and Pfaueninsel.”

Part Three. “False Messiah and the Northern Stone.”

Part Four. “The Angel of Light.”

Part One. “Serpent's Kiss, Seraphim's Scorn.”

Top left- Zenia. Top Right- Olly. Bottom left- Lilith. Bottom Right- Kazan.

“Thus, the unthinkable becomes the thinkable.”

A white dove flew above, in the bright open air, and brought to Lilith an olive branch. Lilith held out her hand and took the olive branch from the dove. The Garden of Eden then crumbled and turned into dust.

A gasp left her lips. And suddenly, her eyes opened from a second-long trancelike state.

“Jesus Christ! Is my girlfriend daydreaming again?” A voice, soothing to her teenage ears rang like a deep rich, honey through her psyche.

Kazan Ratna walked to Lilith Neith who was far behind the rest of her class due to another one of the random premonitions that her brain usually gave her.

“What were you dreaming about this time? Me, right? You were dreaming about using your shadow sorcery technique on me later? Hmm?” He placed his strong arm on her waist and bent down to kiss the smooth brown skin on her round cheek.

He had grown taller over the summer, now standing at six feet eight inches, approximately one hundred and ninety-eight centimetres. Lilith, still at four feet eleven, looked incredibly tiny next to her athletic boyfriend Kazan.

“I wasn’t dreaming Kazan, I zoned out again.” She said.

“Aww did my little cutie pie forget to take her medication?” Kazan teased Lilith as he peppered kisses all over her cheek.

The dreamy hues of Santorini accentuated the beauty of the clear blue sky above them. The second-year students at the Intergalactic Kaizen School had taken a field trip to the island to study ancient alchemical techniques that Minoans used to beat deadly centaurs during the first civilization. The white hues of the buildings reflected the bright sunlight above. Most of the students wore casual clothing. However, Lilith,  Zenia and Olly, as usual, wore matching semi-formal black outfits.

“Hey! You two.” Olly called from ahead of them, interrupting Kazan’s onslaught of kisses on Lilith.

“Huh?” Kazan adjusted his sunglasses. “Hey, man! I told you now to interrupt me when I’m rizzing Lilith up.” Kazan protested.

Kazan’s smile, as usual, never left his lips as he towered over his girlfriend at six feet eight inches. He was conveniently acting as a shade for her from the bright sun of the humid island. His all-black shirt clung to his chest and muscles as he walked. The button was slightly open at the neck, showcasing his collarbone and the top of his defined chest. Just like his best friend, Olly, his long hair was tied in a ponytail. His sharp and defined features were accentuated by the olive glow in his eyes.

“Whatever Kazan, just hurry up.” Olly waved his pale hands in the air dismissively at his best friend’s antics.

The four of them caught up with the rest of their class. Zenia and Lilith walked ahead of Olly and Kazan.

Kazan, eyes the colour of sun-kissed olives, trailed behind Lilith, her laughter a wind chime tinkling in the caldera's breeze. Her thick hair was tied into two puffy pigtails. He adored her, a secret melody locked in his heart, each stolen glance a stolen note.

His cheeks were red with the blush of a Santorini sun as he trailed behind Lilith. Her smile, a constellation of joy, outshone the holographic yachts skimming the sapphire waves. Kazan, forever the artist, saw her beauty in the brushstrokes of light dancing on her skin, the whispered secrets of the sea echoing in her laughter.

As they meandered through the maze of alleyways, history intertwined with hyper-reality. Bougainvillea, a fuchsia flame, danced around ancient doorways, while holographic butterflies, wings shimmered with data streams, flitted through the air. Children, their laughter a chorus above the drone of hovercars, chased glowing orbs, remnants of forgotten video games, through sun-dappled squares.

Kazan tripped over his tongue, fumbling for words to impress Lilith. They had been dating for a year, but he still did all sorts of crazy things to get her to look at him constantly. He didn’t want her eyes on anyone else. He wanted her all to himself. She, catching his flustered blush, stopped, and turned, her gaze a warm Aegean breeze.

“Kazan, my grandma used to say,” Lilith spoke as she reached behind to hold Kazan’s hand, her voice a whisper laced with honey. "The most beautiful words are unspoken, held safe in the language of eyes and stolen smiles."

He understood. Words paled before the sunrise in her eyes, the poem only his heart could hear.

Kazan, emboldened by Lilith's infectious laughter, finally spoke. "You know," he said, his voice hesitant, "you remind me of the myths whispered in the sea caves. A siren, luring me with beauty into uncharted waters."

Lilith tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Then let me be your siren," she said, her voice a siren song of summer rain. "But just promise you'll bring your paints. I long to see the world through your eyes."

The sun painted their faces with hues of rose and gold. At that moment, time stood still, a crystal-clear eternity woven from stolen glances, unspoken words, and the laughter of two best friends. Under the Santorini sky, amidst the echoes of ancient myths and whispers of a future yet unwritten, they learned the sweetest lessons of life. Teenage love whispered in stolen glances, friendship nurtured in shared laughter, and family found in the warmth of belonging.

Zenia was quiet. The fact that she had not yet mastered how to turn off her super hearing capabilities meant she could hear every bit of Kazan and Lilith flirting with each other.

“I wish they’d shut up.” Zenia said under her breath as her fists clenched.

“Do they remind you of a love you couldn’t have?” Olly asked.

“Yes,” Zenia replied.

“They remind me of a love I couldn’t have too,” Olly said.

Zenia walked on sternly.

“I could help you forget about him, you know,” Olly spoke after a long pause.

“You deserve better than to be a rebound. Love yourself, Olly.” Zenia replied, catching Olly off guard, causing him to stop in his tracks.

She walked ahead emotionless, while Olly stood there, watching her long platinum hair swaying from side to side, in contrast to her body which was stiff.

Olly concealed his look of disappointment with a carefree smile as Lilith and Kazan absentmindedly bumped into him. Olly spread his arms wide. His left arm went around Kazan’s shoulder and his right arm went around Lilith’s shoulder, causing her to laugh in delight.

“Hey, you two, save some of that love for me, okay?” He joked.

“Okay!” Lilith replied giddily.

“I love you, bro. You’re my best friend!” Kazan shouted as he kissed Olly’s cheek.

“Are you guys high?” Olly asked as he laughed.

“We’re high on love!” Lilith said excitedly.

“You got that right. Hey, race you to the front, bro.” Kazan said as he ran ahead of them. Olly ran behind him. Lilith followed right after screaming, “Kazan, wait for me!”

A slice of life etched forever in the memories of all the teenagers that day. Regardless of their personalities or moods, they had to agree, that Santorini was beautiful.

As they walked, random insects kept on flying to Lilith and biting her.

“Luckily, I always carry an extra tube of insect repellent,” Lilith said with a bright smile as she took out a tube from her bag and rubbed the repellent over both her arms.

As they walked, they approached a stand selling boba.

“Lilith, you want one?” Kazan asked as he took out his wallet.

“Of course!” Lilith said as she ran to the boba stand.

“Hi!” She said to the man selling the drinks. Kazan smiled at how happy she was.

“I’ll have a strawberry flavour to go.” She said to the man.

“Extra-large, with two straws,” Kazan added as he paid the man.

“One extra-large strawberry boba with two straws to go, coming up.” The man said with a wide smile as he got to prepare the cup.

When he handed it to Lilith, she said thank you and walked ahead.

“That’s one pretty girlfriend you’ve got there, young man. Keep her, don’t fumble.” The man said to Kazan.

“Oh, don’t worry, I’m not a fumbler. I’m a winner. I always win. See you when I see you.” Kazan said and walked off, happily jogging to reach Lilith. He took the second straw and gleefully sipped the strawberry richness.

“What are you thinking about?” Lilith asked Kazan.

“Just missing the feeling of my mouth being somewhere better and tastier than this strawberry boba,” Kazan said.

Lilith’s breath hitched at his phrase.

“Kazan.” She whispered self-consciously. “I know your MBTI is extroverted and expressive. But what if somebody heard that?” Lilith shook as she looked around to see if anyone was listening to their conversation.

“Huh? Oh, come on. And what if I’m expressive with my love for my girlfriend? What’s the worst that could happen?” Kazan spoke in a carefree manner.

Just then, a book flew to him and hit his head. Dr. Ironside,  their patron for the day had used an aerial necromancy technique to fling a book at Kazan.

“Ouch! Hey!” Kazan protested.

Dr. Ironside kept on walking as though nothing had happened. Though, he had a satisfied smile on his face.

As they walked, Lilith suddenly shivered. She stopped in her tracks. The atmospheric energy around them suddenly shifted. Zenia felt it too. She turned around to look at Lilith. None of their other classmates felt it. Kazan kept blabbering on to Olly about that one time he went to Cyber Planet XYZ with his mom and almost got killed, while Celeste was trying to convince Dr. Ironside to let their class’ trip last more than one day since Santorini was so beautiful. It was only Zenia and Lilith that had the ability to feel the dark matter at the very point where the class stood.

“Something’s off.” Zenia thought to herself. “I suddenly feel an ominous wave of malicious intent energy at this particular point in space-time. Is this a reversed black hole? But no, only Lilith has the ability to manipulate matter to that level. By the look on her face, she’s clearly shocked as well. So, what the hell is going on here?”

“Zenia.” Lilith telepathically communicated through intercepting Zenia’s thoughts with shadow phoenix technique. “Do you sense that too? That overwhelming flow of malicious intent energy?”

“I sense it.” Zenia replied in her own thoughts.

“It’s the deepest level of Necromancy. I sense that something drastic is about to happen.” Lilith concluded.  

Lilith’s eyes widened. A plethora of images flooded through her mind. Images showcasing the beginning of the cosmos, the period before the Big Bang. In her vision, Lilith saw the inflation matter that existed before the formation of the cosmos.

“Inflation matter. It hasn’t existed as an entity ever since the Big Bang.” She thought. “But why am I seeing this now? Why here?”

She continued to see the visions at a rapid pace. She saw the Big Bang happen,  the formation of the first atomic particles and the formation of the first planets. However, she saw something strange that caught her curiosity. A drop of inflation matter sipped from nothingness into the new universe that was forming and settled on a young planet Earth.

The inflation matter then turned into a tarot card she had never seen before. Two animals howled at a shining full moon. One had red fur. It was hunched over with large claws and teeth. The other had no fur. Its skin was platinum, and it stood upright. It looked unlike any animal in their universe. Both creatures were gigantic. At the top of the tarot, formed in black smoke, letters began to appear. The letters formed three words, ‘Dark Moon Lilith’.

Suddenly, Lilith’s vision ended. The sky was bright again. The dark energy force disappeared. Tourists and locals walked by, carefree, happy, and jolly. The white dove that had brought Lilith and olive branch soured high in the air above her. She looked at the white dove and took a deep breath. Reaching into her pocket, she took out a sachet of medication that helped with the anxiety her premonitions caused. She popped out two pills and swallowed them, instantly feel better and less anxious.

“Hmm?” Kazan gestured when he noticed that Zenia and Lilith had trailed behind and were looking at the sky. He tapped Olly’s hand. Olly looked at him. He pointed behind at Zenia and Lilith.

The two boys walked to the two girls.

“Are you guys alright?” Olly asked.

"We're okay." Zenia replied. "We just got caught up in something."

Kazan sipped the strawberry boba in Lilith’s hand as they continued to walk.

“Lilith. Are you alright?” Kazan asked, noticing that Lilith had gone quiet.

“I’m alright, Zenia. Thanks for asking. My spine just hurts a little bit since yesterday.” Lilith replied.

“Kazan.” Zenia spoke in a warning tone.  

“Hey, it’s not my doing!” He waved his hands in the air in defence. “I don’t even understand how her spine could hurt when she’s with me. I’m a gentle boyfriend, aren’t I, cutie?” Kazan lowered to kiss her cheek.

Just then the white dove flew to Lilith, but Kazan swatted it, causing it to fly away in shock. His protective instinct was so etched in his muscle memory, that his body always either shielded or protected her. Speaking of protective instinct, Kazan’s olive eyes darted to the side when his senses told him that someone was monitoring Lilith. He was correct.

Aethelraed Erwin, one of the boys in their class, was watching Lilith from behind, as he walked next to Declan Fillan, Zev Freki and Finley Farkas. Kazan knew that Aethelraed Erwin had feelings for Lilith. He had overheard him confessing his feelings about her to Declan while they were in the boy’s bathroom and Kazan was in one of the stalls.

As the class continued to walk on, Celeste Warrenheimer, the class president, called Lilith as she asked about a physics project that they had been grouped to work on together. The other two members of their physics team were Elizabeth Maryellen, and conveniently, Aethelraed Erwin. When Aethelraed saw Lilith walking to Celeste and Elizabeth, he decided to take the chance and join in as an excuse to be close to Lilith. The four talked about their physics project, with Celeste as the obvious leader.

“Aren’t you jealous?” Olly asked.

“Why would I be?” Kazan asked. “Lilith has eyes for me and only me. That scrony Gruffydian can’t compete. Let him talk to her. He can have his little fantasy moment. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“I don’t know man. Chicks really dig guys with blonde hair and blue eyes.” Olly said in an ironic tone and walked ahead of Kazan.

Kazan’s breath hitched. His eyes widened in a brief moment of insecurity. His face became stern. However, he quickly returned to his carefree manner. His signature ‘I don’t care’ smile spread across his face once again.

“Lilith.” He called out to his girl as he held out his hand to her.

“Yes?” Lilith replied, barely looking up from her phone.

“Come here.” He said.

Lilith passively walked away from Aethelraed and into Kazan’s arm. However, before she knew it, he had pulled her close, picked her up and pulled her lower lip in between his lips. Lilith shivered at the sensation. Strong arms holding her tightly and her lip being sucked. She held on tightly onto Kazan’s muscular arm. She trembled, feeling herself growing weak at the knees.

“Please,” she pleaded with her hard-headed boyfriend. “Not here, Kazan.”

He listened and he placed her back down.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” He said.

That was a bloody lie. For he knew damn well what came over him. In an instant, his demeanour changed from apologetic to threatening and domineering as he shot a glance at Aethelraed who had become flustered at watching Kazan pick up Lilith and literally suck her face. Embarrassed, Aethelraed looked down and continued walking.

Just then, a book came flying to Kazan and hit his head.

“What was that for?” Kazan protested.

“If you wish to ease your animalistic teenage hormones then please do it at a later time and not at a class field trip that I was coerced into supervising.” Dr. Ironside said in condemnation as he wore the most disgusted sneer on his face that the teenagers had ever seen.

Kazan tried to hold back laughter. However, Zenia did not. She burst out laughing so hard, that she had to clench her belly. Dr. Ironside shot her a strict and stern look until she finished laughing.

“Detention. All four of you. On Saturday.” Dr. Ironside said.

“What did I do?” Olly asked.

“Guilty for being part of such a spoiled, entitled and obnoxious friend  group.” Dr. Ironside spat at Olly.

“You can’t give us detention.” Zenia said with a bright smile. “My mother won’t allow it. Neither will my father.” She finished her sentence with an elated laugh as she ran her hands through her hair.

Dr. Ironside stiffened. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He stuck up his nose, turned around and continued to walk. As he walked, he muttered the words, “I hate nepotism babies.”

“Guys, let’s try not to piss off the teacher.” Lilith said to her friends.

“Can’t make any promises, Princess.” Kazan said as he wrapped his arm around Lilith.

The trek continued quietly, with Dr. Ironside walking way ahead of the class.

“Woah, what is this malicious intent I sense?” Kazan asked in a carefree manner.

“It’s all over the island,” Lilith replied. “I sensed a great ounce of it earlier. I also sensed something else. Something that shouldn’t even exist.”

“Why would Rector Euneyyh send us here if there’s so much cursed energy flowing around the place?” Lilith wondered.

“I heard it was an instruction from Supreme Leader Ptolemy.” Celeste appeared out of nowhere, behind Kazan and Lilith.

Lilith’s face became serious. Suddenly, she was deep in thought. Kazan noticed that. In a comforting gesture, he took her hand into his. He bent down and kissed her hand to calm her down.

“I love you, Lilith. You know that?” He whispered into her ear.

“I know. I love you too, Kazan.” Lilith replied.

“Tell me, what’s wrong?” Kazan asked.

“I’m having all sorts of strange premonitions.” Lilith spoke. “There’s an unusual amount of cursed energy in this place.”

Kazan squeezed Lilith’s tiny hand, to ease her anxiety.

“I’m here.” He soothingly said to her as his thumb grazed her palm. “Don’t worry.”

“Thanks Kazan,” Lilith said to him as he circled his arms around her waist and walked beside her.

The class left the town and walked into a canopy of trees. The trees were fresh and beautiful. Fallen leaves and branches lay in their path, making the scenery even more enchanting.

Suddenly, Celeste screamed. Dr. Ironside rolled his eyes. He didn’t even bother looking behind to see what had happened. He just kept on walking. Kazan, Lilith, Zenia, and Elizabeth ran to Celeste to see what she was screaming about.

“Have no fear! Kazan is here!” Kazan dramatically said in his 'voice.

“Celeste.” Lilith spoke. “Are you alright?”

“There’s an incapacitated dwarf over there in the leaves!” Celeste said as she shook and pointed to the bush on her left.

“Cool.” Zenia said as she walked towards the dwarf’s body. “I think he’s dead. Let’s investigate.”

“I’ll use my gravity technique to get him out of the bush.” Kazan said as he lifted his arm up in the air. Using his gravity manipulation technique, he rose the dwarf’s body high up in the air and brought it closer to them.

“That’s not from Earth.” He muttered to himself.

His expression then went back to its light-hearted manner.

“It’s just a dead-winged dwarf. What’s the worst that could”- Lilith used her fingers to shut Kazan’s mouth before he could complete his sentence, because whenever he said, ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’, something worse always happened.

“Olly’s a walking encyclopaedia. Let’s ask him what this is!” Celeste suggested. “Yoohoo, Olly, come over here,” Celeste called as she waved.

“Hmm?” Olly gestured as he looked behind at her. His long jet-black hair was now tied into a ponytail. He had taken off his black coat and was only in a black shirt that was pulled back at the sleeve and unbuttoned at the top.

Zenia tried not to look at his strong arms and chest as he walked to them.

“You called?” Olly said to Celeste.

“Did you get more handsome over the summer break?” Celeste trailed off, distracted as she looked up at Olly who towered over her at the same height as Kazan.

“I might have to renew that contract we had last year.” Celeste went full on flirt mode as she trailed her fingers over the veins on Olly’s arm.

Zenia felt the heat rising in her cheeks. She felt a pang deep in her belly.

“Is this jealousy I feel?” Zenia thought to herself.

“What do you want, Celeste?” Olly asked, unconcerned.

“There’s a dwarf over there in the bushes. We were wondering if you could tell if he’s still alive.” Celeste said.

Olly walked to the front of the group and looked at the dwarf. He took out a pair of gloves and turned it around to examine the dwarf’s back. There were two marks on the back, on either side of the spine. The same marks that would appear if a bird’s wings were cut off. He could tell that the dwarf had wings, but they had been cut. He didn’t bother telling his classmates, because they’d just blabber on and on with endless questions. He simply just covered the face with a branch of leaves.

“The one who left it all behind,” Olly spoke as he paid his respects.

“Huh? Come on man, now is not the time for one of your proverbs!” Kazan said as he nudged Olly’s shoulders.

“All of you, get back here.” Dr. Ironside ordered.

The teenagers, having the low attention span that they did, forgot about the anomaly and quickly got back onto trail. Zenia, however, did not forget about it. She had seen paintings of winged dwarfs in her father’s palace on Imperium. When she asked her father what they were, he explained that they were creatures that existed long before mankind. And that they were experiments of the universe’s architect. When Zenia asked who the universe’s architect was, King Norman did not reply.

“Olly.” Zenia called.

“Yeah?” Olly replied.

“That was a seraphim, wasn’t it?” Zenia asked.

Olly gave her a side-eye. “How do you know what a seraphim is?” He asked her.

“Let’s just say I got curious and ended up in the school library one night,” Zenia replied.

“Most people don’t believe in angels, Zenia. And you don’t look like the religious type.” Olly pocketed and spoke in a carefree manner.

“I’m not religious. But just do believe in angels.” Zenia replied.

Olly remained silent and continued walking, leaving Zenia to her thoughts.

“Something’s off.” Zenia thought to herself. Her hunch was correct. Her fists clenched when, from the corner of her eye, she spotted a masked Cosmic Knight on the roof of a building, looking right at them. She could see him due to her super sight abilities. He wore all black and held two laser swords.

“What’s Anakin Romanov doing here? Did my father send him to watch over me?” Zenia thought to herself.

Within no time, the other side of the sea came into view under the bright yellow sun. The students ran out to the water, splashing around and laughing. Kazan grabbed a sea cucumber from the water and began to chase Lilith with it. Screaming, she ran away from him. However, she threw it to her head and burst out laughing when she fell backwards into the sand. However, his laughter halted when he realised that Lilith was pouting, on the verge of tears. Kazan panicked.

“Lilith, I’m sorry. I was only playing around,  I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He apologised in urgency when he felt her shaking as she looked down.

However, there were no tears.

“Huh? Lilith?”

It turned out that she was not crying, she was laughing. She looked up at him with wide eyes and a delighted smile. Delighted at how much Kazan cared about her.

“Sike!” She yelled, as she picked up the sea cucumber and squirted its juices all over Kazan’s face, his shock causing him to stumble backwards and fall onto the sand.

Lilith giggled in a giddy manner as she ran to Zenia to amuse her with what had happened.

“Hey man. Are you planning on staying down there with squirt all over your face, or do you plan on paying attention and stop playing around with your little girlfriend?” Olly asked as he walked to Kazan and held his hand out.

Kazan’s signature carefree smile returned as he took Olly’s hand. He stood up, and the two walked forward to join the rest of the class.

“Easy for you to say, man. Your girlfriend’s a literal Titan shifter.” Kazan playfully and as they walked side by side.

“We’re not together anymore,” Olly said. “She’s still in love with her ex.”

“What?” Kazan’s voice deepened in seriousness. “When did that happen?”

“During the summer when she broke him out of the Intergalactic Alcatraz,” Olly said.

“Huh? That was her?” Kazan asked.

“Yeah. Her and a bunch of crazy space pirates.” Olly replied.

“Well, sorry about that bro.” Kazan said, trying to sound empathetic.

“I don’t care.” Olly replied bluntly and nonchalantly as he scratched the back of his head and smiled in a carefree manner. “I don’t have that kind of emotional depth anyway.”

“That’s great man. To be honest, she scares the life out of me.” Kazan fondly tapped Olly’s back.

Olly grinned. “She is scary, isn’t she? She takes after her father.” He spoke as he subtly looked at Zenia.

“Scary’s an understatement. She’s terrifying.” Kazan said dramatically.

Suddenly, Zenia turned to them and said, “you know I can hear you, right?”

Kazan, startled, jumped in fright, and hid behind Olly. Lilith ran to Kazan, took his hand into hers and kissed his cheek.

“Listen up, idiots.” Dr. Ironside said. “We’re here. Feel free to enjoy yourselves and don’t concern me with any problems. I’ll be seated on that chair, relaxing. Anyone who interrupts my relaxation gets detention for a whole month.”

“But sir, I thought this was an alchemical trip to study the ways of the ancient Minoans. Shouldn’t we go to an ancient site or a museum?” Lilith asked.

Dr. Ironside, feeling stressed out, let out a sigh and facepalmed.

“Listen to me here missy, I’m the Iron Necromancer. I don’t know how to teach alchemy.” He replied.

“Then, why did they make you our patron for the trip?” Lilith genuinely asked in curiosity.

Dr. Ironside was visibly annoyed.

“Have you ever tried, maybe, you know…shutting up?” He asked Lilith.

“Hey dude! Don’t talk to my girlfriend like that!” Kazan chimed in furiously and got into a hot-headed argument with Dr. Ironside.

“This is gonna be one long trip.” Celeste said.

After their water training combat session, Kazan, Lilith, Zenia, Olly, Celeste, Elizabeth, and Zev Freki decided to take a walk through the forest, in need of some adventure as their classmates relaxed along the beach. Olly took off his shirt to tie it around his head as an attempt to protect his porcelain skin from the sun. Kazan walked carefree as he finished the last drops of strawberry boba. His hand, as usual, was around Lilith. His other hand shielded her from falling leaves.

Zenia was quiet. Lilith glanced over at her and could tell that something was on her best friend’s mind.

“What is going on on this island today? I’m sensing both Anakin Romanov and Gael Faolan's presence. Did Zenia’s father send them?” Lilith thought to herself.

“I would rather be back at my lab, working on my mecha. I hate islands.” Olly said.

“I could make you like islands!” Celeste said as she took Olly’s arm into hers.

Olly’s breath hitched at first, a hint of defensiveness brewing up within him. However, he softened up and smiled at Celeste.

“Of course, Celeste, you can make anyone like anything.” He said to her. “Hey, do you maybe wanna, go check out that tree over there?” Olly asked Celeste as he pointed to the far right.

“Of course,  let’s go!” Celeste said, as her and Olly walked away from the rest of the group.

“Yeah, they’re definitely going to make out.” Kazan leisurely said.

Zenia’s jaw clenched. She went silent.

“Jealous, Zenia?” Kazan asked, playing devil’s advocate. Lilith lightly slapped Kazan’s arm to tell him to be quiet. Zenia eased up and smiled.

“Why would I be jealous?” I’m Zenia.” She spoke confidently.

Elizabeth sipped the remainder of her juice box with the most ironic expression on her face, making sure to make a sound to accompany the shade that was being thrown. Zenia walked ahead of them.

“Zenia, where are you going?” Lilith asked, concerned.

“To get some air.” Zenia replied dryly.

“But we’re outside already.” Elizabeth said, not wanting Zenia to wander off all alone.

“I don’t want your air.” Zenia replied and vanished amongst the trees.

“What’s wrong with my air?” Elizabeth asked, visibly concerned.

Zev patted Elizabeth's head to comfort her.

“I say we all relax until Olly and Celeste get back,” Kazan said as he took off his coat and laid it down for Lilith. Lilith sat on his coat. He sat next to her and held her close. Zev did the same for Elizabeth.

Meanwhile, Celeste and Olly had found their little sweet spot in the middle bougainvillea flowers. Olly gently braided Celeste’s blonde hair. Her slim body and long legs lay on the grass below her. She made shapes with her fingers, as though she was trying to remember something.

“You’re unusually quiet. You usually talk too much.” Olly said to Celeste.

“I know you like silent girls like Zenia.” Celeste replied, a hint of insecurity in her voice.

Olly was shocked. He had never seen that side of her before.

“Does Zenia make you feel self conscious?” Olly asked Celeste, his voice was soft with kindness.

“She makes every girl feel self conscious. She’s strong, she’s perfect, she’s smart, and she’s the daughter of a King.” Celeste replied. “I’m just normal.”

“What’s wrong with normal?” Olly asked.

“Normal’s boring.” Celeste said as she played with a flower. “Guys don’t like normal, bland girls like me.”

“Celeste.” Olly turned her cheek so she could look up, directly into his eyes. “Normal’s not boring. Don’t you ever say that again. Any guy would be lucky to have you.”

“Would you be lucky to have me?” Celeste asked.

Olly’s eyes widened. He took his hands out of her hair.

“Celeste.” Olly said, speechless. An unfamiliar emotion brewed within him, one that he had never felt before. It was a strong feeling of care. As though he wanted to protect Celeste and show her that she was indeed lovable.

Celeste sat up and looked into his eyes. He softened up once again. He got closer to her, and kissed her cheek.

“Keep on being the awesome person that you are, okay?” Olly said to her endearingly.

However, their moment was interrupted when a portal opened next to them.

“Yes, I am. I’m presuming he’s with Lilith.” She replied.

“Head right there. She’s on the trail with Kazan.” Olly said as he pointed to the direction of the trail.  

“Thanks, Olly. You two should hurry up and get back to your classmates. It’s not safe out here. Our systems have detected many threats on this island.” Ramona said as she walked towards the trail. Olly and Celeste got up and followed her.

“What’s in that box you’ve got there?” Olly asked, referring to a box of desserts that Ramona was carrying.

“Basboussa cakes. Kazan loves them.” Ramona replied as she handed the box to Olly.

Olly picked one cake and took a bite of it. He then fed the cake to Celeste, who gladly took a bite. Celeste smiled and relished the taste of the perfectly baked cake. She then held Olly’s free hand and leaned on his shoulder. Olly smiled, easing up at the feeling.

“Mom?” Kazan asked when he saw Ramona. He was both shocked and pleased to see her.

“I thought you were on Cyber Planet XYZ.” He said as he got up to kiss both Ramona’s cheeks.

“I was, but then an emergency happened. So, I had to come here.” Ramona said.

“Let me guess, you came for Lilith,” Kazan said.

“You guessed correctly,” Ramona replied as she turned to Lilith. “Lilith you’re in grave danger here. You need to come with me.” She said.

“What’s going on?” Kazan asked.

“Are you all familiar with the cult of Gilgamesh?” Ramona asked.

“The cult that keeps on evading the Intergalactic Military?” Kazan asked.

“Yes, them.” Ramona replied in a serious tone. “Well, today, the Intergalactic Military managed to intercept a message sent to the cult by their leader. What they found was shocking. The messages instruct the cult members to kidnap a student at the Intergalactic Kaizen School. Specifically,  a brown-skinned Kaizen student named Lilith Neith.”

Kazan, Lilith, Celeste, and Olly paused, trying to process what Ramona had just told them. Kazan wrapped his arms around Lilith. His heart raced at the thought that his girlfriend was in trouble.

“What do we do?” He asked.

“We need to get her to someplace safe. A place where she cannot be found.” Ramona replied.

“Why me?” Lilith asked. “They must have me confused with Zenia or something.”

“All I know is that they’re after you. As for the reason, I’m not quite sure yet. However, the Intergalactic Military is currently trying to track the sources of the messages.”

“What?” Lilith whispered, bewildered. “Kidnap for what?”

Just then another portal appeared. Out walked a tall, slim, brown-skinned lady. Her short her was accentuated by her dark sunglasses. Her broad shoulders and long limbs were emphasized by the formal suit she wore.

“Who’s Lilith?” She asked as she looked around, eyes finally landing on the bewildered girl holding Kazan’s arm. “Is it you?” She asked.

“No, it’s me!” Celeste yelled spontaneously, trying to be a hero.

The tall, suited lady gave Celeste a side eye and then looked back at Lilith. “You’re coming with me.” She spoke, jaw clenched and face stern. Lilith analyzed the lady. She did not appear to be a kidnapper.

“Excuse me, who are you?” Lilith asked.

“I’m Agent N. From the African Central Intelligence.” The tall, slim lady replied.

“Something’s off. The gravitational field of the island just went off its scale. That can only mean one thing. We’re probably gonna have to fight somebody.” Zenia said as she emerged from the bushes. From the serious look on her face, one could tell that her animal instincts had set off a trigger within her system. Her jaw clenched as she tied her long platinum hair into a ponytail. Something she usually did before a battle.

“What do you want with me?” Lilith asked again.

“We’ve been after a certain cult for months.” Agent N spoke. “They own a dangerous genetic modifying machine. They’re carrying out shady experiments at a large scale and they need to be stopped. We recently landed on Intel which they plan to capture you for a vital scientific experiment. One that will be the hallmark of all their work. Come with me.” She held out her hand to Lilith.

Before Lilith took Agent N's hand, she looked at Ramona. Ramona looked at Agent N.

“Promise to keep her safe.” She said.

“You can count on me.” Agent N replied.

Lilith reached out to hold Agent N’s hand. However, just before they made contact, a third portal opened behind Zenia. Hardly had she noticed the situation, that she was stabbed from the back to her chest by a sharp katana sword. The speed of the action shocked everyone. Zenia stared at the sword that had passed through her heart and lungs. Blood dripped from the tip of the blade. She slowly looked behind her to find a mercenary in a seraphim mask.

“E-Excuse me, do I know you?” Zenia asked.

“No.” The masked man said. “But don’t worry, I’m not here for you.”

Lilith reached out to hold Agent N’s hand. However, just before they made contact, a  shock wave emanated out of the blue that pushed everyone back with a strong anti-gravitational force. The anti-gravitational force engulfed and froze them in mid-air. Except for Zenia. As she fell back, a miscellaneous wormhole opened behind her. Hardly had she noticed the situation, than she was stabbed from the back to her chest by a sharp katana sword.

Everyone watched in shock as the blade protruded from Zenia’s chest. Olly’s face flinched. He wanted to run to her, but he could not. Zenia stared at the sword that had passed through her heart and lungs. Blood dripped from the tip of the blade. She slowly looked behind her to find a tall muscular bounty hunter in a seraphim mask.

“E-Excuse me, do I know you?” Zenia asked.  

“No.” The bounty hunter said. “But don’t worry, I’m not here for you.”

The bounty hunter then twisted the blade within Zenia’s body. And with a swift merciless action, he cut upwards from her heart and lungs, all the way to her shoulder, causing blood to gush everywhere. He then stabbed her lower in her kidney. She coughed up blood. and ripping her larynx out. She fell to the ground, failing to breathe and choking on her own blood. The shock on everyone’s face echoed the dread they felt inside. He then teleported to Lilith at light speed and grabbed her by the neck. He vanished in less than a second, along with her.

The anti-gravitational force wore off. Kazan, Olly, Celeste, and Ramona ran to Zenia who lay on the ground bleeding.

“She’ll be fine.” Olly said as he checked Zenia’s pulse.

“Lilith!” Kazan said in urgency. “We’ve got to save her. Who the hell was that? And where did he take her?” He asked, voice filled with determination and cruciality.

“That was Toji Zen. He’s the most ruthless bounty hunter in the Milky Way galaxy. Luckily, the Intergalactic Military has a tag on him, though he doesn’t know so. I’ll contact Commander Divus immediately and ask him to track Toji.” Ramona spoke as she dialled Commander Divus’s number.

Agent N fell to the ground, her hands shook. Her eyes were wide open with disbelief.

She hadn't been fast enough. Her fist pounded the sterile rocky ground floor, each impact a futile scream against the silence of her own inadequacy. Too late. Always too late. She squeezed her eyes shut, but the image burned behind her lids - Lilith's face, drained of colour, etched with fear as the portal snapped shut. She had been given a simple mission. And yet, once again, she found herself one step behind.

But a deeper terror lurked beneath the raw ache of loss, a cold tendril of dread snaking up her spine. The portal. Quantum energy. An impossible feat pulled off with surgical precision. It meant only one thing – the Quantum Transcender was in play. A weapon she’d spent years trying to find, a device capable of twisting reality itself, was at use.

Her breaths came in ragged gasps, each one a tiny rebellion against the panic threatening to consume her. No. Agent N wouldn't be swallowed by the abyss. She gritted her teeth, clawing her way back from the precipice of hysteria. Breathe. Slow, deep breaths.

With trembling hands, she found the pressure point at the base of her skull, tapping lightly in a rhythmic pattern. The somatic trick, a relic from her early training, sent a soothing wave down her frenzied nervous system. The storm inside began to quiet.

Finally, her voice emerged, a rough rasp against the sterile air. "You won’t find him through Commander Divus. Whoever hired him has a much more advance power. A power that alters time and can bend the physiology of an individual. Chances are, that power has already altered the tracker on Toji Zen.” She said, each word a deliberate step on the tightrope of her resolve. "Olly, use your watch to track the energy signature of the portal. He couldn't have left Earth yet. We need to stop him before... before..."

“Before what?” Kazan asked.

The words caught in her throat, the abyss momentarily peeking through the cracks in her armor. “Before it's too late. Before reality becomes a plaything in the hands of the devious cult of Gilgamesh. Before Lilith becomes collateral damage in a cosmic game of power.”

With a steely glint in her eyes, Agent N straightened her rumpled suit. It wouldn't be easy. It would be a dance on the edge of the unknown, a waltz with oblivion. But Lilith, the world, demanded a warrior, not a mourner. And Agent N, she would play her part. The hunt was on.

“To travel that fast through teleportation needs one to possess a powerful tool that utilises quantum energy. That could only mean, that whoever’s behind this has the Quantum Transcender.” Agent N said.

“I thought the existence of a Quantum Transcender was only speculation,” Olly said. “A weapon that great should only exist in theory.”

“Oh no, young man. The Quantum Transcender is very real. And if the cult of Gilgamesh is in possession of it, that means the whole of Earth is in grave danger.” Agent N spoke with a serious and wary tone.

“Then let’s go get it and save Lilith. I don’t see why we should be standing here having soliloquies and monologues like some annoying novel or dramatic movie, yet my girlfriend’s in actual danger. Let’s get it packing and let’s get moving.” Kazan said as he stretched his limbs in a battle preparation manner.

Olly tapped the holographic dial of his wristwatch, a mesmerizing blue nebula of swirling energy dancing just above his skin. "Alright, guys, prepare to have your minds blown."

Kazan, ever the restless one, crossed his arms. "Spit it out, Olly. Where's Lilith?"

Ignoring Kazan's impatience, Olly grinned, his eyes sparkling with inventor's glee. "This isn't just any watch, Kazan. This is the culmination of months of late nights and burnt brain cells - my Energy Compass."

Zenia, stood up. "Energy Compass? How does it work?"

“Jesus, Mary and Joseph!” Agent N shouted in fright. “A minute ago you were in a coma.”

“Yeah, it’s no big deal, my body’s got regenerative bio-hacking abilities.” Zenia replied as she patted her bloody chest. “I’m as good as it gets.” She smiled as she wiped blood away from her nose. “So, Olly, how do we find Lilith?”

Olly puffed out his chest, enjoying the spotlight. "Well, you see, Toji Zen and Lilith emit unique energy signatures, faint echoes of their very souls. My creation amplifies and triangulates those signals, pinpointing their location like a celestial cartographer."

Kazan rolled his eyes. "Olly, I love your tech-speak, but could you just-"

Suddenly, the nebula on Olly's wrist crackled with intensity, a burst of emerald light momentarily blinding him. "Whoa there, girl, easy." He said, adjusting the dial.

When his vision cleared, a digital map materialized, its grid lines tattooed across the hologram. Two blips pulsed furiously, one crimson, one sapphire, dancing across the digital landscape.

"Look!" Olly pointed excitedly. "Lilith's signal is... on Pfaueninsel?"

His voice trailed off, the name of the island hanging heavy in the air. Pfaueninsel, a secluded Eden nestled within the heart of New Berlin, home to whispers of ancient secrets and rumoured to be a haven for clandestine activity.

Kazan's impatience finally exploded. "Pfaueninsel? Why there? What kind of game is this cult playing?"

“Knowing this cult, they’re planning to use her for an Necronomic ritual of transmutation.” Agent N said.

“Yo, let’s go.” Kazan spoke as a battleship descended from the sky.

Olly had summoned his battleship- The Night Owl, using the AI app that connected his watch to the battleship.

The door opened. Kazan, Olly, Zenia, Agent N, and Ramona entered. Celeste hesitated, taking a step back.

“Celeste, are you coming?” Olly asked her.

“I’d rather stay here. You know, intergalactic battle is not really my thing. You guys just go do your thing. I’ll be waiting right her for ya!” She spoke.

Olly smiled at her cuteness. “Well alright then.” He said as the battleship door closed.

“Secure the coordinates. Lift off in five, four, three, two, one.” Olly said as he took the controls of the ship.

Neon veins throbbed along the sleek black carapace of the battleship, Olly’s pride, and joy, christened 'Night Owl'. Inside, bathed in the pulsing rhythm of synthwave music, Kazan and Olly danced their hands across the prismatic pilot console. Holographic displays flickered, a kaleidoscope of tactical readouts and projected flight paths swirling around them.

With a roar of colliding metal, the rear of the ship cracked open, revealing a yawning maw of swirling energy. The portal, a celestial canvas splattered with vibrant streaks of hyperspace, beckoned hungrily. Music swelled, a bass-heavy pulse thrumming through their seats, the Night Owl pulsing in time.

Olly slammed his fist down on the launch button, a ruby spark erupting from the console. Engines screamed, thrusters spitting cerulean fire. The Night Owl lunged forward, an astral spear piercing the fabric of reality. G-forces pinned them to their seats, their vision warping into a tunnel of swirling colors. Stars spun and smeared. Galaxies morphed into streaks of celestial paint.

Kazan, Olly, and Zenia, seasoned adrenaline junkies, revelled in the chaos. Outside, the portal collapsed behind them, the universe stitched back together in their wake.

“What in God’s name is this?” Zenia commented at the fact that they had blasted into space, and not Pfaueninsel island.

“I’m sorry, did I miss something? Why are we in space?” Kazan asked.

“It appears the machine got the wrong coordinates.” Olly replied.

"Let me have a look at it." Agent N said.

The Night Owl's cockpit contorted, unfamiliar constellations blinking around them. Olly’s fingers flew across the prismatic console, tracing the errant energy flow he'd somehow missed before. The holographic displays, once a symphony of neon data, now resembled a tangled ball of yarn, the hyperspace portal coordinates mangled beyond recognition.

The Night Owl's cockpit contorted, unfamiliar constellations blinking around them. Olly’s fingers flew across the prismatic console, tracing the errant energy flow he'd somehow missed before. The holographic displays, once a symphony of neon data, now resembled a tangled ball of yarn, the hyperspace portal coordinates mangled beyond recognition. Zenia, sensing Olly's distress, walked over to the pilot navigation area to analyse the ship’s coordinates.

Olly gazed at the swirling data streams. "Something’s off," he managed, his voice tight with dread. "The energy compass... it misinterpreted the signature. We're somewhere lost in the damn milky way." The Synthwave music faded into a mournful drone, mirroring the hollowness in Olly's stomach.

“If we waste any more time, we might be too late to save Lilith.” Kazan said in alarm.

With a fierce determination, Olly began recalibrating the portal generators, fingers dancing across the recalibrated holographic dials, weaving a new escape route back to Earth. The stakes had just skyrocketed, and the Night Owl, caught in the riptide of hyperspace, had to become their compass, their beacon for home.

The Night Owl wobbled like a tipsy flamingo on ice, cockpit alarms shrieking their metallic symphony of despair.

Kazan wrestled with the malfunctioning controls. "Olly, the engines are hiccuping like an octogenarian after a triple tequila slam!"

Olly, eyes glued to the holographic displays, his hair standing on end in static electricity, cried out, "I'm trying, man! But the ship thinks we're extras in a space disco rave!"

“What... are they talking about?” Agent N, bewildered, tried to figure out what Olly and Kazan were talking about.

Just as they were about to resign themselves to becoming constellations in a bad acid trip, Zenia, slammed her fist onto the holographic map. The ship lurched, a collective yelp rising from the Olly and Kazan.

"Zenia, are you trying to kill us?!" Kazan spluttered, grabbing for the console to steady it.

“Relax, I’m Zenia. There’s a method to my madness.” She said as she crossed her arms.

The swirling constellations outside stabilized, resolving into the familiar, comforting curves of their solar system. Zenia, a triumphant grin splitting her face, dusted off her knuckles. Olly gaped at the holographic map, blinking disbelief. "It... it worked?"

Kazan threw his head back and laughed, the tension finally breaking. "Only you, Zenia, only you," he wheezed, clutching his sides.

Olly, still awestruck, shook his head. "Maybe the ship just needed a taste of girl power to get its act together."

As the Earth, a jewel of blue and green, filled the cockpit window, a nauseating suspense. Kazan gulped. Olly ran his hands through his long dark hair.

“Kids. The battle we’re getting into might be one of the deadliest you’ve ever faced. I need to give you just one instruction. Stay alive at all costs. Even if it means fleeing the scene.” Agent N spoke sternly.

They had stumbled back from the brink, thanks to a combination of ingenuity, desperation, and maybe, just maybe, a well-placed punch. Their mission was far from over, but for now, they savoured the feeling of solid ground beneath their feet, the comforting hum of the ship's engines, and the knowledge that even in the face of cosmic chaos, their friendship could weather any storm, even one fuelled by celestial tequila.

And so, with a wink to the now-stable holographic map, Kazan cracked his knuckles. "Alright, team, let’s go get Lilith. Pfaueninsel is still on the menu, and this time, we're bringing the thunder."

“Bro, are  you not in the least bit worried that your girlfriend has been taken by a cult?” Olly asked.

“I would be worried. But Lilith’s not some damsel in distress. Even if she went up against the orcs on the Ceres Asteroid, she would win?” Kazan said.

“What makes you so sure?” Olly asked again.

“Because she’s Lilith.” Kazan replied.

The hum of the engines reverberated through the metal walls as the ship began its descent towards Earth. The air pressure inside the cockpit gradually increased, causing the crew members to adjust their ear pressure. The bright, fiery sun appeared more intense, casting a golden glow on the spaceship's exterior, a contrast between the dark expanse of space and the vibrant Earth became evident. The crew members felt the vibrations and heard the crackling sound as the ship's heat shields protected it from the intense heat.

As the spaceship continued its descent, Zenia, momentarily dazed by the ethereal view, gazed out of the window. She recalled the epiphany she had had on Planet Imperium whilst flying in the air with King Norman. She recalled the sound of a trumpet, the whole Earth burning as a dancing star flew into the atmosphere, and she, untouched, danced over the flames as the one and only Honoured One. Zenia smiled silently at her own personal irony. At a time when she should have been thinking of saving her best friend from the cult of Gilgamesh, there she was, imagining the whole world in flames.

“I am indeed, my father’s daughter.” She said to herself. “I’ll finish what he started. After all I am Zenia, I am limitless.”

“You’re talking to yourself again.” Olly said to Zenia, knocking her out of her thoughts.

“Hmm?” Zenia snapped out of her daze and looked at Olly.

"Zenia, are you alright?" Olly asked keenly.

"I'm okay. Thank you." Zenia replied.

“Enough angst.” Kazan said as he quickly got up and grabbed a gadget from one of the ship’s shelves. “Let’s go save my girlfriend.”

Kazan stood at the airlock threshold, the frigid vacuum a mere breath away. Below, the landscape sprawled, a tapestry of emerald jungles and sapphire rivers, all bathed in the golden glow of a twin sun sunset. He tightened the straps of the AetherWing, the device a marvel of Ixani engineering. It wasn't a mere glider; it was a symphony of whispered nanotech and biomimetic alloys.

At a thought, the AetherWing unfolded from its compact form, morphing into a sleek, skeletal structure reminiscent of a dragonfly's wings. Translucent membranes, woven from stardust-thin fibers, shimmered with internal energy fields, pulsating with an otherworldly luminescence. Runes inscribed on the frame, glowing sapphire, flickered to life, the language of the stars whispering commands.

With a deep breath, Kazan launched himself into the void. The rush of the atmosphere against his cheek was a physical caress compared to the emptiness of space. The AetherWing hummed to life, the energy fields adjusting to his weight and desired descent. He felt weightless, yet grounded, an extension of the very air itself.

He swooped, carving graceful arcs through the sky. The twin suns painted his metallic shell in molten gold, then fiery amethyst as he dipped into the valleys. Below, bioluminescent flora pulsed like living lanterns, illuminating the verdant jungle floor. Strange creatures, avian and reptilian, glided alongside him, their iridescent scales catching the fading light.

He navigated with the ease of a predator, his mind linked to the AetherWing’s intricate systems. The nanotech membranes shifted dynamically, responding to thermal updrafts and air currents. He felt the wind whisper secrets through the biomimetic alloys, guiding him towards his destination – a hidden temple shrouded in emerald mist.

As he descended, the runes on the frame flared, bathing him in a soft azure light. It wasn’t just illumination; it was a shield, repelling the alien atmosphere’s harsh radiation. He felt invincible, a celestial being gliding on borrowed wings.

He landed with a whisper on a moss-covered platform overlooking the temple’s entrance. The AetherWing folded back into its compact form, leaving him standing tall, silhouetted against the alien sunset. This was just the beginning. The mission, shrouded in danger and mystery, began with a breathtaking descent, and Kazan, armed with technology that defied imagination, was ready to face whatever awaited him in the depths of the unknown.

“Woohoo! I’ve got to hand it to you, Olly. You’re one hell of an engineer.” Kazan shouted as Olly and Zenia prepared to jump out of the spaceship too.

Olly chuckled, lightly closing his eyes and blushing momentarily at his bestfriend’s compliment.

Zenia and Olly wore their AetherWings as well. He held out his hand to her. She took it. The two jumped out of the spaceship, out into the atmosphere. Lightning crackled around them as Zenia's muscles bulged, preparing to make contact with the ground. Olly, serious and stern, was caught off guard when Zenia's muscular arm wrapped around his waist. His eyes widened as he and Zenia collided with the ground in a loud thud.

"Hey! What are you guys doing? This ain't no time to do roleplay." Kazan said dramatically to Olly and Zenia as he took off his AetherWing.

Zenia put Olly down. Olly, flustered and blushing, dusted his outfit, shaking his head momentarily to get over the shock of being carried by Zenia. Zenia patted her shoulder in approval of herself.

“Bro. No.” Olly said sternly to Zenia.

Zenia ignored him and walked forward,  clenching her hand in fists. A tall mansion stood tall ahead of them. Suddenly, they went silent.

Pfaueninsel Island shimmered beneath Earth’s artificial sun, and Earth’s real sun, a jewel of emerald nestled in the obsidian expanse of the void. Yet, its beauty was marred by a discordant symphony of whirring rotors and screeching metal. Myriad drones, their insectoid forms glinting like malevolent fireflies, swarmed the sky, their purpose as inscrutable as the glyphs etched on their chitinous shells.

Amidst this mechanical ballet, stood a solitary mansion, its once grand silhouette now a skeletal husk etched against the cosmic backdrop. An aura of oppressive energy clung to it, tendrils of darkness swirling around its shattered windows like spectral moths. Olly, his usually carefree demeanour replaced by a chilling seriousness, stopped abruptly. His eyes, wide as neutron stars, scanned the scene with laser focus.

"Olly, what's wrong?" Zenia's voice, usually lilting like wind chimes, held a tremor of unease.

He closed one hand, forming a circle with his thumb and forefinger, mimicking the activation sequence of his deadliest combat protocol. But before he could initiate it, a vision flickered across his mind's eye: King Norman, his grizzled face etched with concern, mouthing silently, "Not now."

Olly's hand relaxed, the phantom gun dissipating. With a sigh that echoed the groan of the decaying mansion, he materialized a more conventional weapon – a sleek plasma pistol that hummed with restrained power. Without a word, he strode towards the looming structure, his steps heavy with dread. Zenia and Kazan exchanged a worried glance before following close behind, their own weapons drawn, ready to face whatever lurked within the cursed abode.

As they ventured deeper into the island's heart, the drone activity intensified. The mechanical insects buzzed ominously around them, their multifaceted eyes glinting with an intelligence as cold and alien as the void itself. The air grew thick with the tang of ozone and fear, a palpable reminder of the danger that awaited them within the mansion's crumbling walls.

But Olly pressed on, driven by a purpose etched deeper than fear. He had a feeling, a gnawing certainty, that the answers they sought – and the battle they were destined to fight – lay hidden within the shadows of the cursed mansion. And whatever awaited them there, they would face it together, weapons primed and hearts resolute.

He swooped, carving graceful arcs through the sky. The twin suns painted his metallic shell in molten gold, then fiery amethyst as he dipped into the valleys. Below, bioluminescent flora pulsed like living lanterns, illuminating the verdant jungle floor. Strange creatures, avian and reptilian, glided alongside him, their iridescent scales catching the fading light.

“I haven’t told you guys this, but I have the alchemic power to control iron molecules within Earthian creatures. Thus, controlling them.” Olly said to Zenia and Kazan.

“Ahh man! And you’re just telling me this now? I totally could’ve used your help in the necromancy exam. But no, Mr. Cunobellinus gotta keep everything secret to himself and only reveal it in battle. What a chump.” Kazan scoffed and waved his hands around dramatically.

“Look man, do you wanna save your girlfriend or not? Cause I could just leave. I’ve got mecha robots to create back at the Intergalactic Kaizen School.” Olly retaliated.

“Look man, if you leave, you’ll have deserted someone in trouble, and that’s points off your cosmic knight training.” Kazan said cheerfully with a smirk.

Olly looked at his best friend with an incredulous expression. He sighed, weary of Kazan’s foolishness.

“Fine.” Olly said. “I’ll teach you this iron necromancy technique when we get back.”

“Yay!” Kazan jumped around playfully and placed his arm around Olly. “I knew you wouldn’t let me down!” He said as he pinched Olly’s cheeks.

“Kazan, Lilith might be dead as we speak. Let’s get serious.” Zenia said as she walked ahead of Kazan and Olly, preparing her fists for battle.

“Right!” Kazan said as he straightened himself.

He, Kazan and Zenia braced themselves. Zenia’s muscles bulged and doubled in size. Olly, with a swift swing of his arm, controlled a string of insects, swirling them high up in the air, sending them in a swarm to the mansion.

“My avatars tell me that Lilith is in the Chapel next to the mansion.” Olly said as he grinned. “Touché. Tengen.”

“Who’s Tengen?” Zenia asked as sparks began to emanate from her bulging muscles.

“He’s the person behind all this.” Olly replied. “Contrary to what we thought, the cult of Gilgamesh was only a cover up. My avatars tell me that Tengen Toppa, senator of Tucana II is at the top floor of the mansion.” Olly said as he held his hand out, a light sword flying to him from the night owl.

“What’s his aim?” Kazan asked.

Suddenly, Zenia held her chest. She let out a gasp. Her eyes widened as her animal instincts took over. One beat. Her heart, a singular thunderclap in the stillness, sent a tremor through her body, a potent elixir of adrenaline. Premonition bloomed, tendrils of insight snaking through her mind. An image materialized – the Nephilim 1.0, its colossal form dwarfing the sterile confines of the Evolution Research Laboratory. It wasn't the hulking mass that held her attention, but the right eye, slowly creaking open. An intense red, vast and animalistic, met hers.

An odd sensation engulfed her. Gravity seemed to loosen its grip. Her limbs became weightless. She was adrift, an observer rather than a participant. Then, time unravelled, condensed into a whirlwind of visions.

The Cambrian seas pulsed with strange lifeforms, the Hallucigenia’s bizarre form walked at the depths of Earth’s early oceans, eventually, attaching itself to the spines of early lifeforms, turning them into dinosaurs and other long-forgotten creatures. Dinosaurs roared, their guttural cries echoing through prehistoric jungles. The first tentative steps of upright apes filled Zenia’s vision, their eyes brimming with nascent curiosity as they walked, hunched and hairy.

"I...What exactly am I?" Zenia spoke to herself as she fell to her knees. "What is this? I alone can't be in charge of mankind's evolution. It...It's too much to bare."

Zenia squinted at the opulent mansion basking in the midday sun. Its pristine white facade gleamed mockingly, a stark contrast to the storm brewing within her. A white dove soared overhead, its innocence a cruel juxtaposition to the darkness gnawing at her heart.

"My cells do not reach senescence," she whispered, the words tinged with a bitter amusement. "I am a God." Godhood, however, couldn't quite bury the animalistic blood lust clawing at her.

Her gaze flickered to the ornate iron gates, a single tear tracing a path down her bronze cheek. "Am I stronger than you, Dad?" she questioned the invisible sky, her voice trembling. "Am I the actual chosen one?"

A humourless chuckle escaped her lips. No. Chosen ones had destinies and purpose. They didn't exist in this purgatory of endless power and aching emptiness. They weren't burdened with memories of laboratories, cold tubes, and the agonizing whispers of forbidden knowledge.

"No," she repeated, her voice firming. "I'm too strong to be the chosen one. I've got too much plot armour, remember?" The last words were laced with a sardonic bite. The universe wouldn't allow an anomaly like her to be the hero. Her strength was her curse, her flaw.

Her eyes hardened, meeting the dove's fleeting silhouette. "She is the chosen one," she declared, a challenge echoing in the air. "But that doesn't mean I can't have some fun along the way."

“Let’s get it, boys. Let’s wreak some havoc!.” Zenia said as she leaped into the air, a wide grin stretching across her face. "Fuck you Tengen!" She yelled ecstatically as she flew high in the air.

The midday sun beat down on Pfaueninsel Island, transforming the peacock sanctuary into a shimmering emerald jewel. High above, a shiny spec of platinum darted through the cerulean expanse, casting a fleeting shadow over the sun-dappled foliage. Zenia, her bronze skin a stark contrast against the azure canvas, narrowed her emerald eyes at the ornate tower that pierced the horizon like a defiant finger. On that day, its gothic splendour held no charm, only the promise of reckoning.

With a guttural cry that echoed through the tranquil island, Zenia dove. The mansion grew larger, revealing intricate brickwork adorned with gargoyles frozen in grotesque grimaces.

Balconies overflowed with vibrant flowers, a stark contrast to the foreboding tower she neared. Finally, she reached the pinnacle, the sun momentarily obscured by the imposing structure. Atop the peak, a circular chamber shimmered under the sun's scrutiny. Its ceiling, crafted from stained glass, depicted a vibrant peacock spreading its tail feathers, each vibrant plume forming the petals of a crimson rose cross. For a heartbeat, Zenia admired the artistry, then the simmering anger within her reignited. This was the heart of the beast, the font of darkness plaguing the island.

With a roar that shattered the midday tranquility, Zenia unleashed a torrent of emerald energy. It slammed into the glass ceiling in a blinding explosion, shards raining down like glittering tears. The rose cross shattered in a web of cracks, sunlight fracturing through the broken symbol. Zenia plummeted through the shattered opening, her descent mirroring the fractured symbol.

Kazan pressed a button on his watch, and his outfit transformed into an all-black battle suit. Olly chuckled, adjusted his glasses, and held his light sword tightly.

“I think I’m in love with her.” Olly said.

“No, you’re not. You’re infatuated with her. You’re in love with Celeste.” Kazan said as he blasted into the air, his battle suit facilitating his blast towards the mansion.

“Well, okay then. Mister clarify the love interest of the warhammer so we can continue with the plotline.” Olly waved his hands in sarcasm before he materialised a bolus, swung it intently and used it’s force to propel himself to the mansion.

Meanwhile, the world spun as Zenia fell, the wind whistling in her ears like a mournful melody. The opulent chamber became a kaleidoscope of swirling colours, the air thick with dust motes dancing in the sunbeams. Time seemed to stretch and contort, each second an eternity. Finally, with a bone-jarring impact, she landed.

Disoriented and bruised, Zenia pushed herself up, taking in her surroundings. Gone was the opulent chamber; instead, she stood in a vast, sun-drenched space. Stone arches soared overhead. Their points lost in the distant gloom. The air was heavy with the scent of incense and damp earth, the silence broken only by the chirping of unseen birds. In the centre of the chamber, bathed in a mosaic of coloured light filtering through stained glass windows depicting sorrowful figures, stood a chapel. Its intricately carved pews lay empty, the altar devoid of any religious iconography, save for a single, chilling detail, a replica of the shattered rose cross, etched onto the cold stone floor.

Zenia's heart hammered against her ribs, a primal fear gnawing at the edges of her resolve. This was no ordinary mansion; it was a place steeped in secrets and shadows, a gateway to something far more sinister than she could have imagined. But fear could not deter her. She had come too far, sacrificed too much, to turn back now. With a deep breath, Zenia bent down and touched the rose cross, its cold surface sending shivers down her spine.

“Dad, what have you been up to for the past seven thousand years?” She whispered as her brows twitched, strange sensations taking over her.

The scene faded to black, leaving Zenia standing resolute in the sun-dappled chapel, the weight of her impending battle settling heavily upon her shoulders. What horrors awaited her in the shadowed corners of this forgotten place? Only time would tell.

Clap. Clap. Clap. A figure in all white emerged from the shadows.

“Behold, God’s daughter herself has paid us a visit. What a wonderful surprise! The ritual is done.” The scene faded to black, leaving Zenia standing resolute in the sun-dappled chapel, the weight of her impending battle settling heavily upon her shoulders. What horrors awaited her in the shadowed corners of this forgotten place? Only time would tell.

Clap. Clap. Clap. A figure on all white emerged from the shadows.

Zenia crossed the threshold of the chapel, her hand resting on the hilt of a silver blade she had materialised. The air hung heavy with the scent of incense and something old, a hint of ozone tingling at the back of her throat. In the center stood a figure cloaked in white robes, the fabric seeming to shimmer with an inner light.

But it was the figure’s head that truly arrested her attention. Where a face should have been, stretched out impossibly high and wide, was a smooth, obsidian dome dotted with glowing runes. They swirled and pulsated with an alien light, glyphs Zenia recognized as belonging to the distant galaxy of Tucana II. Yet, they bore a stark dissonance, their flow erratic, like a song sung off-key.

The man beneath the volcanic head wore a bizarre expression. His lips were pulled into a wide, stretched grin that seemed painted on, devoid of genuine mirth. His eyes, large and dark, swam with a curious mix of bewilderment and amusement, like a child playing dress-up in a world he didn’t understand.

He turned towards Zenia, his movements jerky and uncoordinated. His voice when he spoke, was a raspy whisper, laced with an otherworldly echo.

“Huh? Hey! What’s with that stupid face, you freaking wierdo?” Zenia yelled.

The volcano headed man shook his head and got back to his thoughts, adjusting his facial expression.

“Nothing.” He said. “You just look like the red-head, is all.”

“Ah, a visitor from the spiral arm. Tell me, little one, have you come to marvel at the folly of a misplaced traveller?” He added.

“I don’t do well with small talk. So, why don’t you just shut your face in?!” Zenia shouted as she leaped high in the air and descended upon him with a punch.

The force of the punch was so great, that it knocked him into a flashback. A flashback of a conversation he had with the senator of his own galaxy- Tucana II. A senator named Tengen. Undoubtedly one of the most powerful senators in the cosmos.

Tengen, the Evolved, was as much a part of the dying Tucana II galaxy as the very stars themselves. He sat upon the Malevolent Shrine, a jagged obsidian monolith that mirrored the jagged edges of his own glory. Around him, Tucana II shimmered, its once vibrant tapestry of nebulae and stellar nurseries fading like watercolour under a relentless rain. At the heart of this celestial decay, a monstrous maw gaped open – a black hole, its event horizon a swirling vortex of violet and indigo, hungrily devouring the galaxy whole.

He was the embodiment of entropy, the inevitable march of time towards oblivion. He saw the grand design, the cosmic ballet where creation birthed destruction, and destruction birthed anew. Tucana II, with its vibrant life, was a beautiful anomaly in the cold, indifferent vastness of the universe. But anomalies, by their very nature, were temporary.

And yet, even Tengen, the Evolved, wasn’t entirely devoid of emotion. As he watched the last tendrils of the galaxy swirl into the abyss, a flicker of… regret? Perhaps. Not for the galaxy itself, for galaxies were mere dust motes in the grand scheme. But for the potential, the stories untold, the lives unlived. A single tear, a molten bead of starlight, escaped his eye and traced a fiery path down his cheek. It hit the obsidian throne, sizzling, and was gone.

Azure eyes with a glazed expression accompanied azure hair and pale skin. Two dragons flew around him, both crystal in colour, with bright blue eyes.

“Man, have I screwed up or what?” Tengen said to himself, a relaxed smile carving upon his lips. “Going up against King Norman is something I wouldn’t recommend. Anyway. It’ll all work out somehow. I have faith, in everyone.” Tengen laid back and relaxed against his chair.

 “Master Tengen. What happened?” Volcano head asked as he looked up at the throne of his galaxy’s supreme leader.

“Well, King Norman dealt a number on us with this one.” Tengen replied.

 “There’s still hope, right?” Volcano head asked.

“You shamans are always so full of hope.” Tengen said as he crossed his legs, spread his arms wide on his throne, and relaxed. “Our Galaxy is going to die.”

Behind him a burst of blue exploded, painting the space in beautiful turquoise hues.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Tengen asked. “The death of our galaxy. More spectacular than I could have ever imagined.”

As if in response, a distant star, a pinprick of light years away, flared into a blinding supernova. The shockwave, rippling through the fabric of space, painted the chamber with a luminous azure, the colour of his hair, his eyes, his very being. For a fleeting moment, King Tengen was one with the dying star, his sorrow and its fiery demise intertwined. Then, just as abruptly, the light receded, leaving behind an aching silence.

His azure hair shimmering like spun starlight against his impossibly pale skin. An ethereal glow, as vibrant as the nebulae his people called home, pulsed around him, painting the vast obsidian chamber with an otherworldly light. Even his eyes, like faceted diamonds glinting with captured suns, seemed to hum with power. He was, by any conventional measure, breathtakingly handsome.

A soft chuckle, rich and resonant as a starquake, rumbled from his chest. His lips, sculpted from the finest moonlight, curved into a captivating smile.

Tengen rose, his celestial aura shimmering brighter than ever, a defiant counterpoint to the fading echoes of the explosion. He walked towards the vast obsidian window, his diamond eyes fixed on the star's fading embers. Even in death, he would face it with his head held high, a king to the very end. His smile, though tinged with sadness, held the unyielding spirit of a star, burning bright even in the face of oblivion. He may have been dying, but he would die on his own terms, a king bathed in the light of his own demise.

“I know the identity of one of the Pleiades incarnations of this era.” Volcano Head said.

“Hmm? One of the Pleiades incarnations?” Tengen asked in a nonchalant manner. “What’s your plan, volcano head?”

“The girl. She is special.” Volcano head said as he blew from a shamanic smoke pipe.

“How special? What’s your plan, Volcano Head?” Senator Tengen asked.

“She was born with the ability to reweave worlds.” Volcano Head replied.

Senator Tengen looked at him momentarily, before letting out a sigh.

“So, you want me to absorb her life force then?” Senator Tengen asked.

“If you do that, you will have the power to save our galaxy.” Volcano head said.

“Are you sure she has no allies?” Senator Tengen asked.

“She’s on her own.” Volcano Head replied.

“What’s your plan, Volcano Head?” Senator Tengen asked once again.

“She’s already been captured under the guise of Gilgamesh’s cult on Earth. Currently, she is on an island called Pfaueninsel. In a chamber that absolutely no one can reach.” Volcano head said before he knelt, bowing his head as a sign of respect. “The decision is yours, Master Tengen.”

“Hmm? What is that?” Senator Tengen asked as something caught his attention amongst the dying stars.

“It appears to be an Orphanim, sir. They are drawn to dying galaxies.” Volcano head said.

“There hasn’t been a sight of an Orphanim since the creation of the cosmos 13.8 billion years ago. Why would one show up now? Right here?”

A large entity, a celestial machine of impossible grace, navigated the tempestuous sea of supernovas. Each exploding star, a cosmic brushstroke of azure fire, painted the swirling nebulae in shades of breath-taking brilliance. Quantum storms crackled around it, tendrils of raw energy licking at its shimmering hull. Yet, the entity, a being of pure thought and will, pressed onward, its colossal wheels, each the size of a small moon, turning with an unearthly serenity.

Rings of eyes looked dazed. Though open, looked distant, enchanted, and otherworldly. The entities wheels revolved as it moved forward, a trail of quantum storms in it’s wake.

Its passage was a symphony of the sublime. Sapphire shockwaves pulsed outward from detonating stars, rippling the fabric of space-time itself. Blue hues, the colour of nascent creation, danced and swirled, a mesmerizing ballet of light and energy. The very essence of stardust shimmered on its metallic skin, infused with the echoes of a billion suns. It was a sight both intoxicating and majestic, a testament to the raw power and fragile beauty of the cosmos.

As it flew, the creature left a trail of shimmering azure particles in its wake, a celestial signature etched upon the canvas of space. It was a reminder, a whisper on the cosmic wind, that even amidst the chaos of creation and destruction, there existed a force of unwavering purpose, a being unfazed by the grand spectacles of the universe.

“Why does it look so dazed?” Senator Tengen asked. 

“I don’t think it’s fully conscious. Its mind must be operating from the fourth dimension, while its body is here eating up the star matter. This one is strong.” Volcano head replied.

Just then, the Orphanim let out a sound. The sound was a mix of trumpets, thunder, and a choir. As it swayed through dying Tucana, wheels turning and central eye blinking, it let out the sound once again.

“It’s speaking Enochian. The lost language of angels.” Volcano head said.

“What is it saying?” Senator Tengen asked.

“It’s telling us its name.” Volcano head replied.

“And, what’s its name?” Senator Tengen asked.

“Jarvien.” Volcano head replied. "“It appears that the consciousness behind this Orphanim is currently alive, in this era. And he appears to be a young soul.”

“What is King Norman up to?” Senator Tengen pondered. Suddenly, he sighed. He looked bored, even though all around him, azure explosions were erupting.

“A rogue angel is the least of my worries right now.” He stood up, graciously placing his palms inside the sleeves of his kimono. His smiled, his eyes smiled with him. Even the multitudes of colors given off by the supernovas could not dim his regal handsomeness. 

The ground of the chapel trembled as she unleashed a punch, her fist a battering ram aimed at Volcano Head's molten core. The impact resonated through Pfaueninsel, a shockwave rippling outwards. Flames danced around the point of contact, momentarily obscuring the scene.

“Toji! How wonderful!” Senator Tengen said as he walked to Toji. His smile was wide, his eyes were slightly shut in the signature Tengen eye smile. He playfully put his arm around Toji Zen’s shoulder, a sinister and playful chuckle igniting from his lips. I always knew we could count on out favourite bounty hunter.” He said.

Toji smacked Tengen’s hand away. “Give me my money.” He said.

Tengen snapped his fingers to Volcano head, who instantly materialised three million Earthian dollars.

Toji Zen grabbed it immediately and walked away.

“I’m sick of you freaks.” He said before he walked into a portal.

“I’m sick of you freaks.” He said before he walked into a portal. “I never want to get stuck hijacking some brat again.”

“Well, well, looks like someone didn’t quite learn common courtesy or manners.” Tengen said as Toji walked into the portal.

The portal closed as Tengen walked to Lilith’s body that was floating in the air. However, before he and his subordinate could celebrate, someone barged into the temple from above. Choir hums echoed as the platinum haired girl flew in, like an eagle from the sky. Her glistening hair, bronze skin, and perfect physique made her look ethereal. As the glasses around her flew, they reflected not only her beauty, but also her determined expression. Before she landed, Tengen descended into the basement with Lilith, and sealed the door, leaving Volcano head ready to battle with Zenia.

Now, in the present moment, Volcano head had regained consciousness mid-air. He landed onto the floor stealthily.

Zenia clenched her fists, ready to punch and kick.

“Who are you? And where is Lilith?”

The man chuckled, a dry, hollow sound that sent shivers down her spine. “Who I am?” He tilted his head, the runes on his dome flashing erratically. “That, my dear, is a question even time itself struggles to answer. But you can call me...The wandering shaman. Lost, adrift, but ever curious.” Volcano head clenched his fists and took a step back. His fists developed balls of fire. “Prepare to die, Zenia Bizunesh.”

 Zenia, a whirlwind of fury cloaked in sunlight, danced through the fiery chaos while chuckling, as though someone had told her an amusing joke. Volcano Head, a slouching monstrosity with fists that crackled with molten lava, bellowed in rage, spewing molten rock like an infernal catapult. The air sang with the sizzle of searing stone and the acrid tang of burnt earth.

Each fiery projectile Zenia sidestepped with inhuman agility, her form a blur of rippling muscle and wind-whipped hair. Her power coursed through her, amplifying her every movement, every instinct. Her muscles, already formidable, bulged further, transforming her into a titan carved from living stone.

Volcano Head counterattacked her movements, frustration contorting his fiery visage. He slammed a fist into the ground, igniting a fissure that spewed forth a torrent of molten rock. Zenia didn't hesitate. With a thunderous leap, she cleared the fiery river, landing directly in front of the villain.

“Let me ask you a question, Volcano head. Do you know what difference a robot has from a human?” Zenia asked.

“It’s that humans grow infinitely crazier over time! They evolve over and over, until their cells can no longer keep up!” She said with zeal. “Then finally, they implode! Civilizations grow and then dissolve because of this fact.” Zenia laughed. Her face was elated and filled with zeal.

“You should have listened when I told you, that throughout heaven and Earth, I am the Honoured One. No matter what era, Heian, Cambrian, or Eden, I am, and I will reign supreme. Now, Volcano head, you die.” Zenia rose her gigantic hand in the air and descended onto Volcano head with a crushing blow.

The ground of the chapel trembled as she unleashed a punch, her fist a battering ram aimed at Volcano Head's molten core. The impact resonated through Pfaueninsel, a shockwave rippling outwards. Flames danced around the point of contact, momentarily obscuring the scene.

Zenia stood there, looking at him, breathing heavily as puffs of air entered and left her lungs.

A sensation she had never felt before ran through her. Blood lust. Blood thirst. That was a feeling she had never experienced before. It was exhilarating. Adrenaline flooded through her body.

Then, silence. The flames subsided, revealing Volcano Head crumpled on the ground, his fiery fists extinguished, replaced by smouldering embers. Zenia stood tall, chest heaving, the echo of her power thrumming through her veins. The battle was won, the fiery tyrant subdued.

But in the aftermath, amidst the smouldering ruins and the acrid smoke, Zenia knew this was just the beginning. The fight had ignited a fire within her, a fiercer resolve to face the threats that loomed within the chapel. As she stood bathed in the chapel lights, her silhouette stark against the devastation, one thing was certain: Zenia, the Warhammer titan forged in the crucible of battle, was just getting started.

Crimson light sliced through the stained-glass windows of the chapel, casting shadows on the marble floor. Kazan and Olly, clad in their form-fitting EXO suits, dropped through the broken ceiling, their descent decelerated by the anti-grav pads embedded in their boots. The suits, sleek obsidian masterpieces of nanotech, shimmered with the faint blue glow of their active defense fields.

Kazan, tall and buff, wielded his signature weapon - the Plasma Weaver. Its sleek, segmented staff hummed with restrained energy, ready to unleash torrents of crackling gravitational energy. Olly, calculating and stoic, clutched his Arcforge gauntlet, its metallic surface tracing intricate geometric patterns as it readied its arsenal of holographic blades.

Their eyes landed on the source of the disturbing crimson light - three figures, identical copies of Volcano Head, their molten fists crackling ominously. But these weren't the hulking brutes they were used to. These clones were slender, almost graceful, their flames imbued with an eerie blue hue.

"Shikigami," Kazan muttered, his voice distorted by the EXO suit's built-in modulator. "Volcano Head must have created this with his death matter necromancy technique."

The lead clone, its eyes burning with cold blue fire, spoke in a voice laced with static, "We will avenge master Onmyōji."

Kazan burst out laughing. “What kind of name is that? Man, are you guys creepy or what? Anyway, let’s get this over with so we can save my girlfriend.”

With a chilling synchronicity, the clones lunged. One launched a volley of molten rocks, their trajectory warped by an unseen force. Kazan activated his EXO suit's Phasing Cloak, his form shimmering as he phased through the projectiles, reappearing behind the clone with a swift kick that sent it crashing into a pew.

The second clone, its movements blurring with unnatural speed, aimed a fiery punch at Olly. He activated his Arcforge gauntlet, projecting a holographic shield that shimmered defensively, absorbing the brunt of the attack. He countered with a flurry of holographic blades, their spectral edges tracing intricate patterns through the clone's molten form. It roared in pain, momentarily faltering.

Meanwhile, the remaining clone charged at Kazan, its fist morphing into a swirling vortex of blue flame. Kazan met the attack head-on, Plasma Weaver crackling to life. The resulting clash was a symphony of light and sound - emerald arcs of electricity danced against the azure inferno, momentarily turning the chapel into a blinding vortex.

Kazan's EXO suit shimmered, the nanotech weaving a tapestry of emerald light as he danced away from the molten onslaught of the Volcano Head clone. Its every punch erupted in miniature volcanic infernos, the air thick with the stench of burnt stone and ozone. But Kazan moved with the grace of a panther, his form a blur of obsidian and defiance.

"Enough child's play," he boomed, his voice a distorted echo through the suit's modulator.

"Time to show off. Hey ugly, do you know why the Ratna-Romanov clan is much respected within the world of Kaizen-jutsu?" He paused, letting the silence hang heavy in the smoke-filled air. "It's because we're the only Kaizens to ever master the true science of gravity manipulation."

His words hung heavy, punctuated by the crackle of his Plasma Weaver. But it was his eyes, glinting with an inner fire, that truly held the clone's attention.

"Let me demonstrate," Kazan said, a predatory grin splitting his face. He raised his fist, and the air around him shimmered. It wasn't the usual glow of his suit's energy signature, but something deeper, more fundamental. The very fabric of space seemed to bend around his fist, warping and twisting like taffy.

"This... this is impossible!" the clone sputtered, its molten fists faltering. "You can't control gravity itself!"

Kazan chuckled, a cold, metallic sound. "Oh, but I can, my volcanic friend. This is the Kaizen Technique. Innate Gravitational Mass."

With a swift movement, he unleashed his fist. It wasn't a punch, but a ripple, a wave of invisible force that slammed into the clone. The impact wasn't physical, but something far more primal. The very essence of the clone, its core programming, its very soul, seemed to buckle under the crushing weight of Kazan's manipulated gravity.

The clone screamed, a high-pitched digital shriek that echoed through the ruined chamber. Its molten form flickered and distorted, pixels scrambling like a dying screen. Then, with a sickening crackle, it dissolved into nothingness, leaving behind only the faint scent of ozone and the echo of its dying scream.

Kazan lowered his fist, the air around him returning to normal. He stood tall, a solitary figure bathed in the flickering emergency lights of the abandoned facility. The silence was broken only by the ragged rasp of his breath.

As the energy dissipated, both figures remained locked in a stalemate. Then, with a surge of power, Kazan unleashed a pulsating wave of gravitational energy, overloading the clone's internal systems. It spasmed, its blue flames sputtering out before collapsing, deactivated.

Olly, having dispatched his opponent with precise manoeuvres of his holographic blades, stood beside Kazan. They exchanged an enthusiastic nod, proud of themselves for putting their Cosmic Knight training to use.

At that moment, Zenia ran to them. Just as she was about to hug Olly, they both hesitated.

 “Lilith’s in the basement. I can sense it.” Zenia said as she clenched her fists together.

Just as Zenia was speaking, her eyes widened, and jaw clenched. She received a microsecond long premonition at that moment. Her brow rose, as her platinum hair floated in the air. Angelic sounds were heard all around them, coming from the choir in the basement.

“Heavenly Chain Kaizen Technique. Activate.” Zenia said as she lifted her arm into the air.

In the air, his just above Zenia’s hand, a chain materialised. She grabbed the chain. The chain had a blade at it’s tail end. Zenia swung the chain, hitting the blade against the floor, making the mark of a pentagram, the one that she recalled from Imperium City.

Zenia laughed out loud, she laughed so hysterically and loudly, that it shook the entire island of Pfaueninsel. She then began to skip around gleefully.

“Zenia Bizunesh is going to kill you all. Zenia’s going to kill you. Zenia’s going to end the world!” She sang in a battle induced dazed.

Olly rolled his eyes and walked to Zenia. He grabbed her by the waist and ignited the flight function on his EXO suit.

“Oh man, I really wish Azura was here right now. Kazan. Follow me closely.” Olly said with a serious face. He activated the destroy technique in his suit that he used to destroy the ground beneath them.

An explosion. A spectacular explosion happened beneath then. Debris and rocks flew everywhere. Suddenly, they were in an occult chamber beneath the chapel. Zenia, with a snarky expression, released free of Olly’s grip and brought her palm to her arm. Without hesitation, she bit down onto her finger. Within a second, she had transformed into an indomitable beast. Skin platinum, muscles defined, and strength enhanced. Olly, from the side of his eye, was partly terrified, but largely in awe.

Zenia’s face resembled that of a white dragon. Her eyes glimmered with a platinum shine.

Her jaw became more defined as her snout area elongated to look like an ancient serpentine dragon. That was the first time Zenia’s full physical form completely transformed. Usually, it was only her arms that doubled in size and became stronger. However, as they descended into the chamber, Zenia managed to fully transform. She looked Draconian more than human. Opening her mouth, she let out a blood curdling roar. Her, Olly, and Kazan landed onto the ground in a thud that shook the building.

They looked around them, the chamber was terrifyingly surrounded by sculptures of serpentine dragons throughout history. Each serpent had a different mark. However, there were two sculptures in the middle of the chamber that towered over the others. One was of a sea beast, another was of a scarlet beast. The two sculptures formed a throne. On the throne, Tengen sat. His hair had changed from azure to Hazel. His eyes had changed from azure to brown.

Kazan stepped back and clenched his fists. “He’s already merged with Lilith.” He said. “We’ll have to kill him.”

Tengen, clad in Royal white robes, smirked. A conniving smirk it was, as he chuckled at the naivety of the students. Suddenly, he got up. He stretched his arms wide, as an elated smile spread across his lips. He got off the throne, and drastically swung his Royal robes, as a choir sang in the distance. They sang in harmony to the 1883 hymn ‘Beautiful Dreamer’.

Beautiful Dreamer, wake unto me,

Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee;

Sounds of the rude world heard in the day,

Lull’d by the moonlight have all passed away!

Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song,

List while I woo thee with soft melody;

Gone are the cares of life’s busy throng

Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!

Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!

“Welcome, to the beginning, of the end of the world.” Tengen said with a wide grin as he stood up.

Kazan felt enraged at the fact that Tengen’s eyes were identical to Lilith’s.

“Let go of my girlfriend!” Kazan yelled. “Or I’ll kill you!”

Tengen looked at Kazan with an incredulous expression. “Hmm?” He gestured.

“Tell me, do you know Azura Okkotsu? Do you know why she got suspended from the Intergalactic Kaizen School and had to make an appeal to the Kaizen Space College?” Tengen asked the three students.

“Shut up you freaking wierdo! Last time I heard, my dad destroyed your galaxy and the very last planet is about to be devoured by a black hole! If I were you, I’d accept defeat already and give Lilith back!” Zenia said.

Tengen chuckled smugly as he walked down the golden flight of stairs beneath the two sculptures.

“You’re so arrogant.” Tengen said. “Tell me, do you think you are the strongest because you are your father’s daughter, or are you your father’s daughter because you are the strongest?”

“Moral arguments? I hate moral arguments.” Zenia said as she swung the chain sword around. “Enough of this, let’s fight.” She gritted her teeth together. A sinister look appeared in her eyes. “You’re dead.” She said, before she began to laugh hysterically.

Tengen developed a layer of mystic energy around him. As soon as Zenia sensed the mystic energy, her eyes widened.

“What?” Zenia thought to herself. “This can’t be. It appears that he can absorb both Lilith’s present powers, past powers, and future powers. That bastard.”

Zenia clenched her fists. The anger within her was unlike no other. Tengen, unbothered, walked down the flight of stairs with a wide grin.

“In their fight against God, the Sea Beast and the False Prophet join forces with the Dragon. They persecute the “saints” and those who do not “worship the image of the beast and influence the kings of the earth through three unclean spirits to gather for the battle of Armageddon. The two beasts are defeated by Christ and are thrown into the lake of fire mentioned in Revelation 19:18–20.” He spoke in an intricate and storytelling manner.

Zenia smiled as she stretched her arms, waist and back, releasing the gnaws of fear that were beginning to etch into her. The smile on her face turned into a wide grin. “I’ll attack him up front.” She said. “You guys should manoeuvre at the sides and try to get his hands tied up. Make sure he is unable to move his arms.”

Kazan and Olly nodded in determination before they leaped into the air.

"If he's absorbed Lilith, that means that he can use her techniques. ALL OF THEM. Including the shadow necromancy technique."

Zenia’s hair began to levitate in the air. Sparks of platinum light emitted from her veins as her muscles bulged and grew bigger. She increased in height, until she stood at nine feet tall. She punched her fists together, releasing a tremendous sound.

Tengen smirked. “Finally, a worthy opponent.” He gestured as he placed his hand on his robe at the point of his chest.

With a dazzling smile, he grabbed the hem of his robe and tore it off, revealing a toned physique and six pack abs. Zenia roared as she looked at the ceiling, her face fully turning into that of a strong platinum dragon. Large stamps echoed through the chapel as she charged towards Tengen. Tengen dodged a punch that she threw. However, she met him with another blow from her left hand. The blow pushed Tengen backwards. However, he regained his balance and wiped blood from his mouth. Without hesitation, he ran towards Zenia. The two stood at the same height and strength as they exchanged punches and kicks.

Zenia took no damage. Her skin had thickened. Tengen, however, had blood dripping from his forehead, when he slid backwards and hit one of the marble statues. Suddenly, Kazan and Olly came flying in. However, before they could bind Tengen’s hands, the two flying serpents that had been rotating around the marble throne flew towards them, hitting both Kazan and Olly with their scaled and hard tails. Kazan and Olly were blasted away. However, they safely landed a distance away. 

Inside the crumbling, moss-cloaked chapel in Pfaueninsel, the air crackled with bioluminescent sparks. Zenia, with her bio-hacking abilities, loomed over Tengen, a whirlwind of crackling energy and razor-sharp claws.

Tengen slapped his hands together. Immediately, a portal opened behind him. “With  the power of Lilith, I now summon from the primordial realm of Eden, Anzu, the divine storm bird.”

Out of the portal, a massive crimson feathered eagle with the head of a lion flew, creating a blood curdling expression for the rest of the people in the chapel.

Anzu the divine storm bird then flew to Zenia. It attacked her with sharp claws that managed to pierce into her arm, causing her skin to bleed. Zenia smirked.

“Is that all you’ve got?” She asked cockily.

The bird lunged at her once again with a fierce attack. She swayed back and forth with ease, dodging all its blows, just as she had been taught during combat and mental precision with Dr. Kentaro in her first year at the Intergalactic Kaizen School. She defeated Anzu with one fatal and powerful blow.

The chapel walls shuddered as Zenia, her body thrumming with overclocked bio-processes, unleashed a sonic boom that sent Tengen crashing into a mausoleum. He emerged, his metallic form sparking, his eyes burning with cold fury. He lunged, his claws extended, aiming for the delicate bio-circuitry Zenia had grafted onto her exposed skull.

Kazan and Olly blinked, shocked at the drastic turn that the fight had taken.

Zenia twisted with battle adrenaline, her reflexes a blur. Her arm, morphing into a writhing mass of muscle, intercepted the blow, leaving Tengen momentarily stunned. With a primal roar, Zenia slammed her fist into his chest. The impact sent Tengen flying, his energy core sputtering.

He crashed against a mausoleum, the stone groaning under the impact. Zenia stalked towards him, her every step shaking the earth. Tengen, his merged form flickering, raised a hand. "You may have won this round, Warhammer Titan," he rasped, his voice distorted, "but the game is far from over."

“Tell me, Zenia. Just how well do you know your friend Lilith?” Tengen asked.

The question made Zenia stop in her tracks. Come to think of it, her and Lilith barely had any time to talk about Lilith’s life. That was partly due to all the craziness that took place in their first year of friendship. Lilith knew all about Zenia, her powers, her heritage, her lineage.

But Zenia knew nothing, absolutely nothing, about Lilith.

“As I suspected. You know nothing of her nor the clan she comes from. Which is why you drastically underestimated this fight. Just as you have done since the beginning of time.”

Just then, Tengen had a flashback. However, it wasn’t from his own memory. He was peeping into Lilith’s memories.

The Chapel at the Intergalactic Kaizen School was numerously beautiful that autumn.

Lilith pushed open the heavy, ornately carved oak doors of the chapel and stepped into a kaleidoscope of history. The afternoon sun, a fiery orange in the autumn sky, streamed through stained glass windows depicting celestial bodies she didn't recognize, casting their vibrant hues onto the ancient stone floor. The air, thick with incense and the scent of old paper, hummed with a quiet reverence.

The chapel’s ceiling was adorned with faded frescoes depicting figures from a long-lost world: the Roman pantheon. Jupiter, with his lightning bolt, and Diana, garbed in the hunt, gazed down from the cracked plaster. Above them, a rose cross, its arms equal in length, sat proudly, a symbol of forbidden knowledge.

Medieval drawings of the sun and the moon, rendered in a style she recognized from forbidden texts, adorned the rough-hewn stone walls. Interwoven with them were ancient runes, their meaning a mystery even to the most learned scholars of the Kaizen Order.

Lilith traced the edge of a worn pew, its wood smooth and cool beneath her fingertips. It felt as though the space held the whispers of countless prayers, both from forgotten gods and from those who sought solace within its walls eons ago. The afternoon sun, filtering through the stained glass, bathed the scene in an ethereal glow, making it feel as though time itself had slowed within the ancient chamber.

This place, a precious relic of the Intergalactic Kaizen School, was a secret she shared with only a handful of others. Here, amidst the fading frescoes and whispered histories, she felt a strange sense of belonging, a connection to something far greater than herself or the rigid traditions of the Kaizen Order. It was a feeling both exhilarating and terrifying, a spark of rebellion flickering within the confines of her regimented life.  

“Lilith, what do you feel at this moment?” Dr. Ptolemy asked.

“I feel…invigorated,” Lilith replied to Dr. Ptolemy.

“Great.” Dr. Ptolemy replied. “You’re going to spar me.”

Dr. Ptolemy spread her arms out wide and materialised twin swords, one platinum, and one red.

The silence of the chapel, once reverent, was shattered by the clang of steel. Dr. Ptolemy, her crimson lab coat billowing behind her, lunged forward, her training saber glinting in the afternoon sun filtering through the stained glass. Lilith, her own blade held low in a defensive stance, met her attack with practiced ease, the tip of her saber tracing a lazy figure eight before deflecting Dr. Ptolemy's blow.

Dr. Ptolemy, a woman of formidable intellect and surprising agility, pressed her attack. Their blades sang a metallic song as they clashed, sparks erupting with each contact. But Lilith, fueled by a quiet defiance that mirrored the rebellious spirit of the chapel, fought with a controlled intensity. Her movements were a blur of grace and precision, years of clandestine training honed to a razor's edge.

Dr. Ptolemy, her initial surprise giving way to grudging respect, fought back with renewed vigor. She feigned a left, then struck right, but Lilith anticipated her move, her blade a silver streak disarming the doctor with a flourish. The clang of Dr. Ptolemy's saber hitting the stone floor echoed through the chapel, a stark counterpoint to the stained glass symphony overhead.

Dr. Ptolemy, winded but uninjured, lowered her hands in defeat. A rueful smile played on her lips. "Well fought, Lilith," she conceded, her voice echoing in the sudden quiet. "You move like the wind itself."

Lilith lowered her own blade, a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes that was quickly replaced by a clueless look that had become the ‘signature Lilith look’. "Thank you, Dr. Ptolemy," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

In that charged silence, amidst the faded frescoes and ancient whispers, they shared a look that transcended words. It was a look of respect, of shared rebellion, and of the unbreakable bond forged in the crucible of forbidden knowledge and the clash of steel. The chapel now held the echo of a different kind of reverence - the respect earned through combat, and the quiet defiance of a student surpassing her master.

“Lilith, do you know why the Alkebulan clan and the Neith clan are on such bad terms?” Dr. Ptolemy asked.

“I didn’t even know they were on bad terms. Sorry, I don’t talk to the people from my clan  that much.” Lilith replied. “Why are they on such bad terms, Dr. Ptolemy?”

“Long after the Eden era, a descendant of Abel rose, expected to be the saviour that would get revenge against Cain’s family. However, the Neith clan took Cain’s side for unknown reasons. The leader of the Neith clan Igziabeher Neith, a powerful sorceror such as yourself wanted to acquire the power of the Leviathan for himself. So, the Neith clan all turned against Shekhina Alkebulan. She had the Behemoth power. She was defeated by Igziabeher Neith instantly.” Dr. Ptolemy explained.

“How did he defeat Shekhina Alkebulan?” Lilith asked.

“He had the exact technique that you had.” Dr. Ptolemy said.

“So, you understand what I’m getting at?” She asked as she lowered her glasses, giving Lilith an intense look.

Tengen smiled wide after the flashback.

“As if this little brat would ever be able to pull off something like that.” He scoffed in distaste. 

Zenia’s eyes widened. She took a step back as her instincts sensed something entirely dangerous. Her fists clenched, body tense as the very essence of her being told her to run. Tengen began to laugh.

“You see, in born talent requires a certain level of wisdom and power to unleash it. Up until now, this brat Lilith has been keeping her power a secret. Walking around like a regular teenager. If only you could see what goes on inside her head. If only you could feel the immense power she holds!” Tengen yelled as he laughed.

 A low hum resonated through the cavernous space, a sound that defied physics, vibrating not just in her ears but in the very marrow of her bones. Then, it began. A subtle glow, emanating from the cracked and dusty floor, bloomed into an ominous purple light. It wasn't the vibrant violet of twilight, but a sickly, bruised hue that seemed to suck the warmth from the air.

Kazan, Olly, Zenia, and the choir that had been singing watched as the light coalesced, swirling, and thickening like spilled ink. It pulsed, a slow, rhythmic beat that mirrored the frantic hammering of her heart. The air grew heavy, thick with an energy she couldn't describe, but could feel all too keenly. It was a heavy, oppressive presence, laced with an unsettling electric tang. It was cold, yet somehow burned with an inner fire.

Olly’s breath hitched as a realization took over him. “Lilium!” He yelled. “Zenia, run!”

This was it. This was Lilium, the ancient energy spoken of in forbidden texts, the primordial soup from which the universe itself had curdled. It was a tangible presence now, filling the hollow chapel with its dark power.

Zenia did not need to be told twice. The very core of her being sensed a dangerous presence exuding from Tengen.

She stepped back as sounds of chains rang through the air. Tengen held his hands forward confidently, forming the shape of a wheel. The oil lamps in the chamber all went off one by one, until only one was left. The one adjacent to Tengen, that flickered as he concentrated on a necronomic ritual that had been passed down within the Neith clan for centuries.

"I imagine the head of the Neith clan used this in much the same way back then. Thus, I see the angel in the marble, hence I carve him out, and set him free." Tengen chanted the Necronomic incantation. “Behold, the ancient power of the Neith clan’s founding father- Ziz Neith, manifest before our very eyes. Behold the heavenly divine general.”

The lights around them brightened once more, as an enchanting shimmer filled the air.

Zenia, still in her giant form, grabbed Olly and Kazan, before leaping upwards and breaking out of the mansion. She landed with a powerful thud outside, in the open field.

She, Kazan, and Olly were safe. The same could not be said for the choir members that had been present in the chapel. Up into the air, a body flew. It had been sliced in half. A bell was heard, followed by the sound of a Persian trumpet. Shadow apparitions of seven wolves appeared high in the air, lining around the moon that had begun to show in the evening sky. The seven wolves howled in unison with the Persian trumpet. Up in the air, a marble sculpture appeared. However, the sculpture seemed to be sealed, encased in aluminium chains. It was bound. Bound by a heavenly pact. One by one, the chains began to unleash, slowly freeing the beast that was sealed for thousands of years. Lightning blasted high up in the sky. The few stars that were beginning to show twinkled with an even brighter shimmer. An unexpected comet shower commenced, bathing the atmospheric hue in enchanting glamour. This was it. This was Lilith’s Requiem.

Divine General Mahoraga was a marvel of alien engineering. Its platinum skin gleamed, reflecting the moonlight in a distorted, rippling way. Where eyes should have been, a pair of iridescent wings fluttered, casting an even more unsettling aura. The most peculiar feature, though, was the colossal wheel that rotated atop its serpentine neck. It spun with an unsettling hum, constantly morphing, seemingly analysing Zenia.

“No body in the Neith clan has ever been able to summon that beast since the founder in the time of Eden!” Olly yelled. “This is dangerous. Zenia, get back!”

At that moment, Olly had a flashback to a conversation he had overheard between Supreme Leader Ptolemy, when she was still the Rector of the International Kaizen School, and Principal Euneyyh.

“The Seven Dragon Necronomic Ritual passed down within the Neith Clan but only to the strongest in each generation. The Seven Dragon Technique Grants the user manipulation over seven beasts from an interdimensional realm, called the realm of mirrors and shadows, that can only be accessed by the strongest people of the Neith bloodline. Lilith Neith was able to access the realm of mirrors and shadows from the day she was born. Because of this, she was put under tight restriction by Mandurian authorities. It was basically equivalent to putting a baby on house arrest. However, that amount of isolation from a young age only made Lilith’s technique stronger. She had time to concentrate on her Russian Roulette of powers. And by the time she turned ten years old, she was already walking dynamite.”

Zenia smirked. Already towering over most humans, she pushed her gigantism abilities to their limit. Her muscles bunched, her bones creaked in protest, but she grew, surpassing the mansion's treeline. She was a giant amongst giants now, but Mahoraga loomed even larger.

“As if I would back down from a fight. Just who the hell do you think I am?” Zenia asked as she flexed her muscles.

The first strike came from Mahoraga. One of its four clawed arms, impossibly long and tipped with blades that shimmered with an otherworldly light, lashed out. Zenia, despite her newfound size, barely dodged the blow. The force of the wind it generated whipped her hair into a frenzy. She roared, a sound that shook the very foundation of the mansion.

Fueled by a primal rage, Zenia lunged. Her fist, the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, slammed into Mahoraga's chest. The blow connected with a sickening thud, but the alien creature seemed unfazed. The wheel atop its head spun faster, emitting a high-pitched whine. Its metallic skin shimmered, and Zenia watched in horror as the point of impact on its chest morphed, the metal hardening and redistributing the force of the blow.

Zenia rained down punches, each one a seismic event in itself, but Mahoraga adapted with inhuman speed. The wheel spun, its alien technology anticipating her every move. Frustration gnawed at Zenia. Her blows, once world-ending, felt like gnat bites on Mahoraga's ever-evolving hide.

Mahoraga retaliated. Its serpentine neck whipped around with surprising speed, the wings on its face catching the moonlight and slicing through the air like razor blades. Zenia barely managed to duck, the wind from the attack singing past her ear. The mansion behind her wasn't so lucky. A deep gash appeared on its facade, spewing sparks and debris.

Zenia knew she was reaching her limit. Her body screamed in protest, her muscles burning with exertion. She knew brute force wouldn't work. Desperation clawed at her. Then, in a surge of adrenaline, she felt it. A deeper well of strength, one she hadn't known existed.

With a renewed roar, Zenia channeled this newfound power. Her fist engulfed in a crackling corona of pure energy, she slammed it into Mahoraga's chest. This time, the alien creature recoiled. The point of impact glowed cherry red, the metal failing to adapt fast enough.

But the respite was short-lived. The wheel spun with a deafening screech, and Mahoraga lurched forward. Another blow, this time aimed at Zenia's leg. The impact was like a meteor strike. The bone shattered, and Zenia crumpled to the ground.

Mahoraga loomed over her, its iridescent wings casting an ominous shadow. The alien creature stood silent for a moment, the only sound the erratic gasps escaping Zenia's lips as she stood up once again. Then, with a chilling hum, the wheel on its head began to spin again. It walked away from Zenia, making it’s way back to Tengen who had summoned it using Lilith’s power. Tengen smirked as he levitated in the air, enjoying every minute of the chaos. Zenia, not one to be defeated easily, got up, ready to go after Mahoraga. The look of determination on her face could not be mistaken for anything else. This was war. And Zenia, the Warhammer Titan, was out to prove a point. A point that she was the strongest, and no one else was. Her eyes were deranged as she walked to the divine Titan Mahoraga.

“It’s similar to Yamata no Orochi.” Olly said in alarm. “That’s the Mahoraga. The celestial bloodthirsty divine general of the eight Persian ditties that was acquired by the Neith clan thousands of years ago.” Olly said out to Zenia. “Be careful Zenia!”

“I won’t back down.” Zenia said as she walked straight to Mahoraga. “Once again, I will prove that I’m the strongest.”

“Hey, you damn bastard. I’ll be dying first. Give me your best shot.” She said as she clenched her fists.

Zenia’s arm bulged within less than a second. She hurled at the Divine Titan with a deadly punch that pushed it back a few meters from her.

Olly’s eyes widened as he gasped.

“Those two are one in the same.” He said. “Zenia Bisunesh. Just what the hell are you?”

Zenia’s arm bulged within less than a second. She hurled at the Divine Titan with a deadly punch that pushed it back a few meters from her. Mahoraga ran to her and punched her with an even more lethal blow. Zenia, angered, let out a series of blows onto Mahoraga., punching it’s muscles, face and body at a rapid speed. However, the divine general was unwavered.

It simply head butted Zenia, causing her to fly backwards.

Part Three. “False Messiah and the Northern Stone.”

The once pristine lawns of Pfaueninsel were now a cratered wasteland, the grand mansion reduced to a smoldering ruin. In the heart of the devastation stood two titans locked in an epic clash.

Mahoraga, the Divine Titan, towered over the battlefield. Its obsidian skin, etched with cosmic runes, shimmered faintly under the bruised moonlight. Its four clawed arms, each the size of a skyscraper, were a whirlwind of destruction, wielding the Heavenly Sword of Divine Rings - a weapon that pulsed with celestial energy.

With each blow exchanged, Zenia's muscles bulged further, her frame growing larger, fueled by the ancient Titan magic that pulsed within her.

Mahoraga unleashed a sonic boom from its metallic maw, the force of it shattering the remaining windows of the nearby town. Zenia, her ears ringing but unfazed, met the attack head-on. Her fist, the size of a small car, slammed into the Divine Titan's chest, the impact sending tremors through the earth.

But Mahoraga, as if anticipating the blow, twisted its torso just enough to deflect the brunt of the attack. The Heavenly Sword, a weapon ever-shifting and adapting, morphed its tip into a wickedly barbed spear, which Mahoraga thrust towards Zenia's exposed leg.

Zenia roared in defiance, her body glowing with an otherworldly light as she channeled her power. The spear met her hardened skin with a sickening screech of metal on metal, sparks spraying like celestial fireworks. The impact sent a shockwave through both titans, momentarily staggering them.

Mahoraga seized the opportunity. The Heavenly Sword dissolved into countless glowing rings, which encircled Zenia like a celestial snare. As Zenia lunged forward, the rings constricted, their divine energy searing into her flesh. She screamed, a sound that echoed through the devastated landscape, but fought on, her determination fueled by the flickering lights of the town beyond the battlefield.

The rings, however, proved too much. With a final, earth-shattering scream, Zenia fell to her knees, the rings binding her impossibly tight. Mahoraga approached, its obsidian form casting a long shadow over the fallen titan.

Raising the Heavenly Sword, now reformed into its original state, Mahoraga prepared to deliver the final blow. But before it could descend, a surge of power erupted from Zenia. The rings shattered, the celestial energy fueling them coursing back into her.

In a final, defiant act, Zenia unleashed the full extent of her power. Her body grew exponentially, dwarfing even Mahoraga. The ground beneath her groaned in protest, buildings in the distance crumbling under the sheer force of her growth.

Mahoraga, for the first time in the battle, seemed to falter. But only for a moment. The Heavenly Sword pulsed with renewed energy, its rings rearranging themselves once more. This time, they formed a blinding dome of celestial light, encasing Zenia within.

From within the dome, Zenia's enraged screams echoed, her titanic form straining against the energy barrier. But the light held, slowly consuming her, her screams turning into whimpers, then finally, fading into complete silence.

“That could have killed anybody,” Olly said as he and Kazan looked at the beam of light rising into the sky. “However,” Olly smirked. “That's Zenia. She doesn’t go down that easily.”

Thunderous tremors shook the ground. Zenia, steam emitting from her body, began to increase in gigantic form. The sight was phenomenal to watch. There was something ancient about Zenia’s technique. Something otherworldly. All her features disappeared until she was completely a beast.

A primal scream ripped from Zenia’s throat, a sound that shattered windows and sent tremors through the manicured lawns of Pfaueninsel.  The air crackled with raw

energy as her body contorted, muscles bulging and bones groaning in protest.  The mansion, once a symbol of elegance, seemed to shrink with every agonizing inch of her growth.

Then, with a sickening pop, a pair of bone-white spikes erupted from her spinal cord, rapidly extending until they resembled a fearsome draconic crest.  Her skin, once human, began to morph.  It leathery and pale, hardening into thick, reptilian hide that shimmered with a faint platinum sheen under the full moon.

The transformation wasn’t limited to her body.  Her face stretched and contorted, human features melting away to reveal the visage of a magnificent white dragon.  Sharp fangs replaced her once-human teeth, and her jaw split open wider, revealing a maw capable of swallowing a man whole.  Her eyes, the only remnants of her humanity, glowed with an eerie platinum light, burning with an intensity that spoke of raw power and unyielding rage.

Zenia, now a colossal monstrosity, towered over the mansion.  Her draconic head scraped the clouds, her platinum form a stark contrast to the inky night.  She was a creature of myth made real, a terrifying embodiment of power unleashed.  The roar that erupted from her throat this time wasn’t a scream, but a challenge, a declaration of war against the unseen enemy that had dared to threaten her world.

With her gigantic hand, she broke an obelisk away from the mansion’s central point. With vulgar brutality, she ran towards Mahoraga. Mahoraga ran towards Zenia. The two titans collided in a deadly blow that sent a shock wave into the air. Titans had defined muscles that made them look strong beyond compare. The two hit each other with powerful blows that resonated through the atmosphere.

“I see.” Olly said. “Zenia’s technique involves the manipulation of her stem cells. I see why the most powerful scientists in the cosmos took interest in her. With an ability like that, who knows what she can adapt to? However, there’s something else about her. Something I can’t quite put my finger on.”

A bell began to ring within one of the monk monasteries in the distance. Zenia, big and buff, walked to Mahoraga. Mahoraga ran to Zenia, making the Earth tremble and quake.

Their fists met in a concussion that shattered the glasshouses behind them, a glittering rain of flora cascading down. The force of the blow sent Zenia hurtling backward, but she twisted in mid-air, crimson energy coursing through her veins. With a roar that echoed across the Havel River, she slammed her fist into Mahoraga's chest.

The Divine Titan, seemingly unfazed, retaliated with a haymaker that cleaved through the air where Zenia had just been. The impact cratered the manicured lawn, sending a shockwave that rippled through the remaining trees, their branches snapping like twigs.

Zenia, a blur of platinum and vengeance, darted around Mahoraga, her movements a whirlwind against its lumbering form. Each punch, each kick, resonated with a boom that shook the very foundations of the island. Yet, with each blow, Mahoraga seemed to adapt. Its obsidian armor, etched with arcane symbols, pulsed faintly, absorbing the impact, and seemingly growing stronger.

Frustration clawed at Zenia. Mahoraga, a relic of a bygone era, a pawn in Ziz Neith's millennia-long game, was proving more resilient than she'd anticipated. Its connection to the cherubim, a heavenly pact forged in the dawn of time, imbued it with an otherworldly resilience.

Suddenly, Mahoraga swung its massive arm, the blow aimed at the Peacock Palace, the island's crown jewel. Zenia, in a desperate bid to intercept, propelled herself skyward, a crimson comet against the darkening twilight. She met the fist head-on, the impact sending them both hurtling back to the earth.

Zenia crashed through the skeletal remains of a palm tree, the force knocking the air from her lungs. Mahoraga landed with an earth-shaking thud, the ground spiderwebbing around its feet. It raised its head, its crimson eyes boring into Zenia.

Pfaueninsel, once a paradise, was now a wasteland. The air hung thick with the scent of ozone and burning wood. Zenia rose, her body a testament to the brutal battle – torn clothes, crimson energy flickering around numerous wounds. Yet, a defiant fire burned in her eyes.

"This ends now," she rasped, her voice laced with raw power.

Mahoraga roared, the sound a tremor that shook the very foundations of the island. Mahoraga’s arm tripled in size as he grew larger and larger. Finally, his arm transmuted into a saw with an alchemical technique. With a swift swing, Mahoraga cut through Zenia’s neck. She was decapitated. Her head flew into the air, blood gushing everywhere.

Olly and Kazan, frozen in shock watched as Zenia’s decapitated body stood there. Mahoraga turned around and began to walk away. However, before he could gain any distance, a hand pierced through his back into his chest. Zenia stood behind him with a smirk, fully rejuvenated. With a swift move, she grabbed Mahoraga’s heart and tore it out of his body.

Zenia chuckled. She laughed with glee as Mahoraga crumbled to the ground. His body disintegrated into smoke particles as he returned to the realm of mirrors and shadows.

Zenia inhaled and exhaled as she tried to catch her breath. Afterwards, she held her hands out in fists, making jiujitsu battle pose.

Lilith had managed to break free from Tengen’s control after Mahoraga dissipated.

Tengen walked to Zenia with a large smile on his face. His bright blue hair had morphed into a glittering crown of crystals, reflecting the dying embers of the burning houses. Gone was the Tengen she knew; this was a feral creature, muscles rippling beneath taut, exposed skin.

Zenia braced herself on the cobblestone path, the quaint charm of Pfaueninsel a distant memory.

“Come at me.” Zenia rasped, wiping a crimson smear from her lip.

View the next Arc of Lilith's Requiem - Pfaueninsel Battle Arc here.