Chapter 431 - Scifer Rethem and Miira

The memories of Miira took Staxius to another world. Her mind dropped to a state of remembrance, a retelling of what happened before and after the activation of the World break spell.

"Scifer and I started at odds end. We were teleported into the first dimension, a place built by humans, they called it the virtual realm. There, he and I worked to solve the mysteries of reality. A world within a world, details of what happened do not directly affect us. Tis so thee have an idea of where we met and started. As you've guessed, Scifer's name comes from Lucifer, the fallen angel, lord of the devils, thee name it, he has many variations. The one unknown to most, God-Slayer. Our job was to hunt down the ghost and steal their abilities. The quest is given by the Supreme God Kronos. He told us of a time where his own son imprisoned and trapped him into a realm beyond the norm. There, he could but wait and pounder as time flowed. I was at his side, waiting for millenniums for the day the heir awoke. After said day came, I became his assistant and we remained friends with differing interests. On the last day of our stay in said dimension, a certain entity made himself known. No gender, we named it, him and gave the name Devourer for the simple reason he ate everything we knew. The world, everything - all gone in an instant. It was then that things grew though. The Gods and Demons came to know of his awakening. The Titan's too, they were very much pleased by the God-Slayer. Tis was a chance at retribution. If not for Zeus' involvement, my companion would not have taken the path of destruction. Yes, the son of Kronos came with an army of hundreds of thousands, unprovoked at that, to take claim over the Dominion of time. He had been waiting for the day the symbol of power could be transferred. The supreme god Zeus wanted nothing more than power, and hungry he was to the point of killing his own father for the second time. Luck had it the Lord Death was present to handle the forces. It had the son in a foul mood – Kronos ended up dead as a result. We returned to witness his final moment being dragged on the cold floor. No mercy, no care, he wanted power, and not getting what he wanted – slain in cold blood. On that day, Scifer broke the restrain of mortality and borrowed powers from Goddess Gophy – Quietus. In his wake, many died, and Zeus retreated. The amount of strength he gathered from slaying the elite angels allowed the leveling from mortal to higher-god. Needless to say, the son retreated having done his job. What remained was the dawdling life-essence of Kronos. The only way to save was to gather mana from different worlds, a large amount was needed. The highest concentrated and closest to Origin – this dimension, he conjured World Break, a curse to allow monsters and other beings to be born and multiply. Their sole purpose is to live and kill, gather mana, and send it to Kronos's dominion. The place thee knows as Totrya in Hidros is now an impregnable province ruled by Scifer. Even the Tower of Aria is nothing more than another gateway for people to give their mana. Following that, we headed off to other worlds in the search for ancient weapons – warriors, and anyone who could join in the war against the Son. We were close to that goal, fighting off the countless assassins sent after us, until a few… I don't know how time quantifies into the present, but we were ambushed. Zeus had been gathering an army of his own – the coming battle happened at the dominion of Time. Fighting, killing, it kept on and on, days into the night, waves after waves, we fought and fought and fought until he broke. Scifer's spirit after becoming a god forced his way into walking up the stairs of the Death Reaper. He tried to steal power from Death himself and ended up breaking. For a few minutes, the power he wielded was of utmost fear, even the mid-tiered gods were taken aback not wanting to engage. Sadly, after a strike to the heart by Zeus, he conjured a barrier to save what remained of our forces. Tis there I lost my comrade; I granted him a chance at life, a normal life inside his dimension, a life of peace and quiet."

"Scifer Rethem," said he thinking, "-I wished to have known the man who stole my power more than once. I hope he's doing well. Now," fingers touching one another, "-Lady Miira, what was the quest given by Kronos?"

"To find the truth behind Origin. Those of the divine nature know Creation is the birth point of all – an entity who not many gods speak nor know about. Some call it Great-mother."

"And, what's the relation with Origin?"

"Well, Qhildir, God of Philosophy said there is another higher being – an event, a person, a figure, who knows, the name given is Origin. Kronos suspected time to have been born from a certain point. All begin at the point where time exists, and the god of time is no different; he came into being after time was created. There's a certain point even the God of time can't go back against, the very few hours at the exact moment of start called Provenance. That's the task we were given."

"It does make sense," said he carefully reflecting on the ideas brought forth, "-the time before time, makes one wonder does it not? Humans view us as gods and us gods view Creation or Origin as our creators, what a troublesome logic," walked over to the blinding outside, "-I heard you said something about Tower of Aria and Totrya, are the domains still under Scifer's rule?"

"No, we had Kanad and Kylsha be the ultimate rulers of each area."

"What about the monsters, the drop coins and valuables upon their death and revival after a certain time; care to explain?"

"It's a system the God-Slayer brought over from his world. The coins are the essence the monsters carried given a physical form. An incentive of some sort." 

"And where do they get the energy to revive?"

"The dimension is closest to Origin, he made sure the energy was drawn from Provenance. As long as the planes live, the monsters will keep on regenerating infinitely." 

"Kanad and Kylsha," said he, "-I remember those names from somewhere."

"They invaded the birthday of King Blain a few years back."

"I see," smiled he, "- you seem to know everything, don't you."

"I had Kanad give me a yearly report of the happenings." 

"Well, Miira," facing the lady, "-I've inherited what was once Scifer's right?"

"Correct."

"It includes his followers and dominion, the monsters?"

"I'm impressed," said she with an astounded expression, "-did thee piece the information so quickly?"

"Wasn't that hard," said he, "-the monsters are under my command, right?"

"Yes."

"How do I summon them?"

"No idea," shrugged she, "-tis was his doing, not mine – it's all related to the Sickle."

"Let's say for example an adventuring party makes it to the top of Aria and defeats the boss. Will the tower crumble or?"

"No, it will restart; the winning party will have a fortune given to them," said she with pride.

"Incentive for the troubles. I did experience something strange. The monsters, they're becoming self-aware. Until now, I thought of them as nothing more than targets to shoot whenever bored. Their souls seem to grow with each death, their intelligence too."

"Really?"

"Yes," *Souls bound to my soul, companions, servants, those who I've deemed worthy to stand at my side, heed me, heed mine voice, heed mine call. I, Staxius Haggard, Ruler of Death, call upon thy strength, arise: Box of Soul – Release.* 

"Did you call on me, master?" 

"Saniata, come and stand here."

"O-ok…" she obeyed with a little hesitance. 

"Look Miira, this fine lady here is a monster. I killed her so many years ago but her soul, her soul felt alive and well, and thus her presence. She can talk, feel emotions, and has a beating heart."

"I can see that," commented she noticing the flushed face, "-might I ask a question?"

"What is it?" 

"Why does she seem so bashful, is she a concubine of thee?"

"No, god forbid," shaking the head in dismissal, "-I'm married to only one lady, and she's the only one I need. I may have sucked Saniata's blood more than once."

"Why do such a thing?"

"Her blood is tasty and refreshing."

"Master," her long lashes flapped, her fin-like ears moved gently, "-is there something else I might help with?"

"No, you may go." *Snap,* she vanished. 

"There, you see, the monsters are intelligent." 

"I think that's only in her case. I wonder what might have brought such a change."

"Lady Miira, the conversation has been pleasant and long," blank and stern, "-the real question now. Are you friend, or are you foe, what do you want, and what do you expect?"

"Comes down to this," she stood. Her medium-sized silvery-grey hair was tied in a lowered bun. Her nose was pointy, the eyes – oval and rounded, the lips, not big nor too small. A beauty mark underneath the left eye, freckles over her nose, and moderately sized ears. Her figure, slim and battle-ready – she was taller than most of the ladies around, long and generous legs. The chest was of adequate size, out of all her features, the slight melancholic smile was mesmerizing. 

"I don't know," said she, "-I'm the assistant to the God of Time, reason dictates I must become thy assistant."

"Is that so," taking a step back, "-there's always room for someone strong. The dimension magic was impressive, however, I need not another assistant. What else can you do?" 

"I have experience in managing realms – I mean, I ruled over a few worlds in my time."

"Well versed in the matters of state then?"

"Well versed is an understatement," her eyes rolled.

"Good, pledge, and swear thy loyalty to me." 

"Is it necessary?" asked she sulking her cheeks.

"Yes, a blood-oath."

"A blood contract?" 

"No, more than that, a blood contract with thy soul as collateral."

"Very well," she dropped to her knees and lowered her head. "I, Miira Kronicious, swear my life and soul to the current inheritor of time." 

"Good," said he lifted her head, "-take out thy tongue." A droplet of his blood landed to engrave the mark of the Death Reaper. "Thy are now bound to me, you should be able to go back and forth into the world inside my shadow. It's a good place, I mean, every one bound to me is there."

"What now?" asked she back on her feet.

"Do not use my title of god before anyone. Here, I'm known as Staxius Haggard, Blood King of Arda, and one of the leaders of the Argashield Federation. That's for the public. I also go by the name Xenos in the adventuring world and Shadow in the underworld. I'll have you up to speed in a few days."

"Are so many identities needed?"

"I don't know," he reached for the door, "-come on, follow me, you're going to meet a few people who know of my identity of god." The walk across the massive palace felt tiresome, her face kept on going left to right.

"This is a first," said she, "-I've spent most my time in taverns or inns during the travels with Scifer."

"Should be a new experience to be the companion of a king," smiled he reaching the main entrance. "We're actually at a friend's palace, far away from Hidros." The white-stairs against the sun felt as if a flash. 

"Master, we have Lady Cake send over the bike," smiled Gophy sat atop the vehicle.

"Where's Cleopatra and Intherna?" asked he close to the bike.

"Over there," she pointed to the left, "-there were a few spies who snuck into the compound."

"From Patek?" 

"Yeah," smiled Gophy, "-I feel pity for them." 

*Crash,* "-welcome back, majesty," said Intherna casually stepping off a man's face buried into the stone-walk way.

"Where's Cleopatra?" 

"Here," said the lady with three bloodied heads, "-I caught the invaders."