On a completely opposite side of Visoleer, a city was currently under seige.
However, this particular region had seen much less damage since the start of the war than others.
And the reason for this was likely all because of one man.
High in the sky above, there was a man flying around on a very large, and very old dragon.
He stood atop the dragon's head as it spewed baleful columns of flame onto the battlefield underneath them.
The heat of the flames was more than enough to reduce the incoming invaders to half melted inconveniences within a few moments.
Once they were melted, the man riding atop the dragon's head would wave his hands and a deluge of icy magic would descend from the skies, encasing the dark creatures in blocks of ice.
"That's enough, Carrea. We've done all we can for the day." The man finally said.
The shining golden dragon dove out of the sky and quickly dropped her altitude.
Once she was at a sufficient height, the man atop her back waived his hands in a circular pattern.
A large dome of ice formed over the entire city in just the span of a few short seconds.
The dark creatures who were still rushing towards the city were stopped dead in their tracks once they reached the barrier.
No matter the desperation of their attempts, they couldn't manage to break through the ice that seemed impenetrable.
With no more obstacles approaching, the dragon carried it's rider towards the steps of what seemed to be a large castle.
When it's massive feet touched the ground, it's rider descended from atop it's head while the dragon reverted to a much smaller, human form.
The great creature soon came to resemble an older visoleeran woman.
She was beautiful, with long flowing white hair and amber-ish red eyes.
In human terms, she looked to be in around her mid to late thirties, or early forties. Her figure was slim and somewhat diminutive, not at all like the form she had just displayed mere moments ago.
With a satisfied giggle, she intertwined her arm with the man who'd previously been standing atop her head.
Somehow, he was significantly more attractive than her.
He was a tall man, reaching nearly seven feet in height without taking into account the short horns coming out of his head.
His face was chiseled, yet sharp. Giving him a model esquire appearance that was only further enhanced by his natural cold demeanor.
He wore a radiant set of pure white armor with a thick fur cloak of the same color billowing from behind his shoulders.
Despite the beauty clinging to his arm, he still looked rather pessimistic and bothered.
"So many have come again today... Yet none of them were that dragon from the projections who declared himself fourth... or the lord he claims to serve for that matter."
Purring like a cat, the dragoness nestled her head against the man's shoulder.
"Perhaps they've yet to show themselves because they are hoping to exhaust your strength before arriving. A coward's tactic, and one that you are far above, my darling."
The man narrowed his eyes as the woman's flattery fell on deaf ears.
"...No. Something about this feels all too different..."
He had felt it from the moment these creatures first arrived several days ago.
The energy within the air was nefariously chilling.
He had never felt anything like it before.
It was almost as if he was being stalked from afar by a creature he could neither perceive nor identify.
Even worse was the fact that he had gradually sensed the presence growing closer with every passing minute.
Almost like it was... taking its time arriving.
It was all horrifically unsettling.
As the man in white and the pale dragoness traveled up the staircase, soldiers lining the opposite walls showered them with praise for their efforts.
"A thousand glad tidings for the almighty Imperial One!"
"With him and the 6th Lady defending us, we will survive this scourge yet!"
If Carrea had something that she wanted to say, she didn't manage to get it out in time.
Helios spat at her very feet, but took no further action.
He ignored the sorry looks he was receiving from the men in the group and found his grandson, who very possibly looked the sorriest of all.
"...Don't look so glum, grandchild. Do I strike you as the sort of man to weep from something of this sort?"
"No, but-"
"No buts, Abaddon." Helios shook his head.
He placed his hand on his grandson's shoulder and looked up at him with a new expression that Abaddon didn't believe he'd ever seen before.
Pride.
"As you say... This old man is a bit weary from our travels. I believe I might like to return home a bit early. I trust you to wrap things up here however you see fit. I've full faith in your judgment, my boy."
Whether Abaddon wanted Helios to leave or not didn't matter, because he never gave him an opportunity to refuse.
Right before the eyes of everyone present, he vanished into the wind like a mirage and left the world he had once called home.
Seconds after he left, Abaddon couldn't describe how exactly what he had done.
From his perspective all he had done was blink and the planet itself began to crack apart.
"I usually have a rule about killing my own kind, but I believe today it is imperative that an exception be made."
-
A series of knocks rang out on a mahogany wooden door.
Helios waited patiently with his hands behind his back, his mind still slightly in a fog and lacking proper clarity.
Eventually, the door clicked open and two women in bathrobes opened the door.
Yara and Imani were both fast asleep when a surprise visitor came by to visit.
Since Helios had returned without Asmodeus in sight, they immediately feared the worst.
"F-Father..? Where is our husband??"
"Oh.. I left him behind on Visoleer."
"I-Is he alright?!"
"I fear that he is still an idiot, but aside from that..."
Yara and Imani sighed in relief in unison.
Yara also playfully punched her father in the stomach.
"And he is not an idiot. I don't know what it will take to convince you that we married a good man."
"...He is indeed not terrible. You both could have done worse."
If Asmodeus were here, Helios would never have admitted such a thing.
And if todays events were ever leaked to his ears, Helios would deny it until he was blue in the face.
"Is everything alright, father..?" Yara finally asked.
Helios, who hadn't even noticed the time of day outside, showed the girls a harmless smile.
"I'm am well, I just wanted to lay eyes on you girls for a moment is all. But if you have the time... I was wondering if you might like to go for a walk with me? Just to get a bit of air."
The women glanced between each other for less than a second; seemingly having some internal debate.
"Do you wish for me to go as well..?" Imani asked shyly.
Helios was a somewhat aloof man when it came to her, but she knew at the very least that she wasn't happy when she suddenly married Asmodeus.
But much to her surprise, he smiled at her just as warmly as he did at Yara.
"Naturally... You are my daughter as well, are you not?"
Imani could have squealed out from joy at right that moment.
"We'll be ready in just a moment!"