The next battle arrived as quickly as the first. The humiliation of the previous clash remained fresh for the nations who gathered to attack the Underground City. As if to illustrate their anger, the bodies of the group sent to sabotage the dwarven machines were hoisted up on spikes and left exposed to the sun.

When the Dark Elf Army witnessed such a sight they became enraged, even more so for the Lycanthropes who could smell the blood of their comrades.

“What do you think?” Ira sought Avery’s opinion.

“It’s their response to the attack from last night I assume. Sending a message maybe? Either way, it doesn’t matter. If we were provoked that easily we would’ve suffered far more.” Avery raised her sword and gave it a few light swings.

Ira took a moment to admire her form before speaking. “They’ve been too focused on me to think about you or your divinity.”

“Wonderful,” Avery smirked beneath her helm. There was truly nothing better than surprising someone who had underestimated their opponent. That was the case considering none of the Angels paid much attention to a Valkyrie who could manipulate fire when Ira was present. They couldn’t be blamed though, Ira was a walking disaster by all accounts.

As Avery and Ira continued to speak, a man riding a horse moved forward with a bloody burlap sack tied to his saddle. A contingent of high-ranked Angels followed closely behind him enhancing his image.

“Ira!” He shouted.

The Dark Elf Army stirred and Ira raised his eyebrow questioningly.

“Ira!” The young man removed his helmet to reveal himself as Randolph.

The armies grew quiet as Randolph arrived in the center of the battlefield. He opened the burlap sack and flung out several decapitated heads that hit the ground with a subdued thump.

“Ira!” Randolph yelled once more.

“Don’t want to keep them waiting.” Ira smiled at Avery before vanishing.

As soon as Ira appeared, the Angels summoned their divine energy and shaped it into weapons.

“Where’s Juliana?!” Randolph barked.

Ira looked up at him and then narrowed his eyes at Randolph’s steed causing it to foam at the mouth and collapse to the ground, bringing Randolph with it.

The Angels reacted sharply, pointing their weapons at Ira but showed no intention of attacking.

“Why are you this close to me, you know how easy it would be to kill you?” Ira asked while watching Randolph climb to his feet with an amused expression.

“If you wanted to you would’ve already done it by now.” Randolph dusted himself while staring at Ira hatefully. “Now where is Juliana?”

“You know…” Ira started while checking his fingernails for dirt. “She’s actually had a change of heart and decided that the Dark Elf Empire is the place for her.”

“Liar!” Randolph growled.

“You don’t have to believe me.” Ira wore a light grin.

“If you surrender yourself your people can avoid death.” An Angel next to Randolph spoke.

“Lord Harith,” Randolph mumbled by the Angel ignored him.

“You want me to believe you?” Ira laughed.

“Will you treat this as a game, Avarus?” Harith’s words drew a pause from Ira.

Even Randolph looked confused as Harith never spoke of Ira’s race until that moment.

“And why shouldn’t I, Angel? Do you want to know the reason I haven’t killed any of you yet? I just want to see the Gods get angry as they watch their little scheme fall apart in front of them. It’ll make it better when I kill them.” Ira’s smile was completely tranquil even as Harith’s face warped with anger.

“Arrogance has taken the lives of many beings who were better than you, Avarus. I’d caution you to be more aware of your own circumstances or your ruination may arrive swifter than you expect.” Harith spoke coldly.

Ira chuckled before turning his attention to Randolph. “They haven’t told you yet, have they?”

“What?” Randolph begrudgingly asked. An ominous feeling overcame him for some reason as Ira’s smile grew deeper.

“You’re a puppet, Randolph.” Ira laughed loudly. “Isn’t that funny? A puppet surrounded by puppets. Angels created to serve the Gods and you, the one chosen by Gods to serve them.”

“I chose to act on my own, Ira!” Randolph gripped his sword tightly while imagining himself cutting Ira to pieces.

“Yeah, whatever. I just wonder which God will possess you.” Ira stretched lazily.

“Enough!” Harith interrupted with rage. “Don’t listen to his lies. You are the Champion of the Gods, Randolph.”

Harith’s assurance only caused doubts to surface in Randolph’s mind but he hid it well.

“We will no longer speak with this filthy mutt.” Harith gestured toward the Angels and then began to guide Randolph away.

Harith was truly surprised by Ira’s knowledge of things that could only be known by those of the Divine Realm. It wasn’t forbidden knowledge that would enact that Trumpets of Punishment, but it was hardly something someone in the Mortal Realm should’ve been aware of.

“See you soon.” Ira waved at the retreating backs of the Angels before collecting the heads of the dead soldiers with a simple swipe.

During the entire conversation, Ira had the urge to consume everyone in front of him and looking for the Tartarus but remembered he didn’t need to. He had a very special card person assisting him with the search.

Ira vanished once again and the two armies began to move toward each other shortly after.

Away from the fight which was only moments away from starting. Ira met with two veiled women wearing long black dresses.

One was Zella who was easily identified by the black glass orb in her chest. The other was Juliana Fairfax. The latter was silently crying, fresh black tears trailing along her face like spilled ink. Her expression remained stoic and she showed no sign of weeping, but the tears continued.

“What’s your problem?” Ira asked.

“So many people will die,” Juliana said in a whisper. “All of them, without knowing the truth.”

“You two and that fucking truth nonsense. Truth this and truth that, but you can’t tell me the truth because it’ll be bad for everyone, huh?” Ira rolled his eyes. “Where is the Tartarus?”

Juliana went quiet and then spoke after a few seconds. “Close. Very close. They are...hiding it. If you cause too much destruction they will use it, but for now...”

“They are cautious of you.” Zella took over as she was much better with seeing emotions. “The Angels who can think for themselves, a few of them are fearful of you. Most of the races gathered to fight you respect your strength but-”

“Oh, that’s nice,” Ira chimed in.

“But nearly all of them hate you.”

“Oh...Not so nice.” Ira dropped his shoulders as if he was sad.

“You don't care for those who stand against you, Ira.” Zella’s brows began to furrow, though the veil obviously hid it. “Whether they see you as a monster or hero makes no difference to you.”

She began to wonder why he masked it his clear indifference with strange actions such as laughing or by pretending to be affected by it.

“You got me there.” Ira shrugged without caring if she tried to decipher his thoughts at the current moment. “They won’t be using the Tartarus, right?”

“You are correct,” Juliana answered.

It was strange to see her so cooperative but Juliana’s obedience didn’t come from mind magic, hypnotism, or any other underhanded means. The black crystal eyes had given her an enlightenment of sorts. Ira couldn’t even guess what the eyes did to those who received them but she no longer showed any resistance. And the only reason he didn’t think Juliana was acting was Zella who could see emotions, truth, and fate as clear as day.

Of course, Ira did try to find out how the crystal eyes worked but Zella’s explanation was, “The darkness allows me to see.”

It was an explanation that didn’t give him a single clue and he gave up all hope of actually understanding it.

“It’s about time.” Ira turned to face the battlefield in the distance. “Hey, since you both can see what supposed to happen, how does this battle end?”

“With death, Ira,” Juliana answered.

“And loss.” Zella agreed.

“Wow, did those eyes make you a bother to be around too?” Ira shook his head.

“Anyway, I’ll send you home before the fighting starts.” He then clapped his hands together and the two young women disappeared.

“Now, let’s see Avery’s grand plan.” Ira moved toward the battlefield, eager to see his wife’s work firsthand.