High up on the north side of the Dragon's Spine Mountain range, three hundred miles from the nearest city, was a convoy.

Tanks, Armored Personnel Carriers and Humvees made up the majority of the numbers. While scattered all around were riders on horseback.

If seen from a bird's eye view, the convoy would look like a trail of black ants. Since, everything, the vehicles, equipment and even the horses themselves were all colored in black.

It was pretty clear that they had already thrown away any throughts of using camouflage, or being discreet. Much less trying to move undetected.

Add the fact, that the ground on which they tread was cracked and barren; with dead, withered trees, brown blades of grass and jagged rock formations all around them. Missing their approach was impossible unless you tried to.

Also, while there isn't any snow, it didn't mean that it was not cold. The average temperature was easily 15 degrees below zero. God help anyone travelling down here unprepared.

Fortunately, this convoy was anything but.

All of the troops wore insulated kevlars and robes enchanted with heat magic. The horses too. All of them had rifles, sidearms, knives and shovels.

In addition, each of the vehicles had at least, one .50 caliber MG or Type 88 Anti-aircraft gun. All of which were manned and ready to fire.

If this wasn't a detachment of the army heading to a war - what else would it be.

That's what people would normally think at first... but, such an assessment is only half-correct.

While it really was a detachment of the army, they were not heading to a war. Rather, they were acting as escorts.

In the middle of the convoy, was an out-of-place, black SUV. Having been modified for off-road use, it had steel treads instead of tires. The treads in the rear were twice as long, as those in the front.

The vehicle's length was almost four times it's width, making it look almost like a limousine.

It's plain black paint job was accentuated with lines of geniuine gold, giving it an air of regality and arrogance.

It's only passenger, a young man, was seated on a dark red sofa. Around the age of 15 or 16. He was quite tall and well-built for his age, almost making him seem three years older. His silky, black hair was combed back, his red eyes and his light frown held contempt, yet also a dash of anticipation. With a sigh, he leaned back on the linen backrest, lightly ruffling his tuxedo in the process. As he did, he reached for the sheathed sword lying to his left.

*ga clack*

The moment his hand gripped the hilt, a voice invaded his mind.

[You called?] The voice that most likely came from the sword with a somewhat frightening aura, was that of a young girl's. Around the same age as the boy.

"Yeah." The boy, was not shocked in the least as he answered. "I wanted to ask... Do we really have to go this far for just a girl?"

[Are you crazy!?] The scream came immediately. [This girl isn't the same as all those other girls that desperately try to swarm you! Do you have any idea how many strings I had to pull, just to give you the chance to meet her face to face!? The least you could do, is be enthusiastic about it!]

"I get that. And, I AM enthusiastic about it. But, couldn't we have just made her come to us? And with 100 Elites in tow, no less?"

[For your second question, the answer would be 'deterrance'. Just in case any 'brave fools' decide to come around. For the first, and more important question... If you were asked to travel more than a thousand miles to meet some kid you didn't know, just because they wanted you to - would you?]

"No."

[See?] The voice sighed. [...Look, if even this one, doesn't work out, just place my hilt on her chest. Even a split-second would do. She won't be able to resist you then.]

"No. I'll never do that. No matter how many times you tell me too. Such a despicable thing. I'd rather die."

[But if you don't, you really will die!!]

"Then that just means, I wasn't good enough."

For a few seconds, there was silence.

"Hey, don't sulk. I don't plan on dying anytime soon. Especially not, when you've helped until this far."

[So-!]

"But, I still won't use you."

[Mu!]

The 'pair' continued to converse as the convoy continued down the barely trodden mountain road.

If things went smoothly, they'd reach their destination, and hopefully be headed back within a day or two.

But there was obviously no way the trip would go as planned.

As they were halfway down a stretch of road that cuts between a sheer cliffside and a deep ravine...

*BOOM!*

Like ash that would sometimes escape a bonfire, one of the Humvees leading the group, rose to the sky in a tower of burning flames.

This display was then mirrored by the tank at the end of the line.

Another moment later, two horsemen and a fully-loaded APC; were reduced to a rain of blood, guts and shrapnel.

It didn't take long, before a pattern was found.

They were being boxed in. The onslaught was slowly creating an airtight kill zone.

And, as if it was waiting for them to descend into chaos, before bringing them to despair...

*Fwwwwwwwwssssssssshhhh!!!* The fear-inducing hisses of an HE payload, followed by dozens of mortar shells; slowly got louder and louder as they shrunk the distance to the center of the convoy... it didn't take a detective to figure out who the target was.

*BOOOOOOOOOOMMM!!!!* *BOOM!!* *BOOM!!*

[C------!!!]

"Hel----!!!"

The two in the back screamed, as their SUV tumbled down the 400 foot ravine.

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[……ha……harl...…Cha……Charles! Wake up, Charles! Wake up!]

The sword yelled, trying to wake the fainted young man, Charles. But, "...ugh...", while it did succeed in waking him up, the impact of falling a few hundred meters while inside a car - He'd recieved multiple concussions, how about giving the guy a break? Is what most people who have no idea about the situation would think.

But, this was not the time to be sleeping.

Agitated at this turn of events, the sword began to radiate an even more malicious aura. Then, "ARGH!!" Charles screamed in pain, clutching his chest where the heart would be. "ArrrrrGHHhH!!!"

[Good! You're awake. Now, come on!] Feeling the urgency in her words, Charles - though, breathing and sweating heavily - sprang up.

Yet, *thud* he didn't even get halfway up, before his head hit the floor.

Yes, the floor was right above him, his feet were on the car's ceiling, and his footing was tilted by about 30° from the passenger side.

He was already unsteady, and now he suffered another hit to the head. It was no surprise that he fell face first on to the ceiling, kissing it.

[Stop making out with the car and move!!] The yelling voice of a girl, was transmitted from the sword again. Now, the urgency in her voice had become even higher.

That was because, now, she could hear the tens of tank treads slowly coming closer to them. This coupled with the sound of cannons and turrets getting quieter, brought her much unneeded anxiety.

It was questionable how a sword could 'hear', much less converse or feel, but this was the norm of the world.

[COME ON!!!]

"Al... RIGHT!!!"

Yelling, Charles gathered the inky black mana that was oozing from the sword, into his fist.

And he punched the roof - his footing - blowing a whole through the thick steel that blocked the explosive power of a missile.

He crawled out from under the warped, coffin-like carriage, shouting "We're out!" before running towards the nearby boulders for cover.

[They're already here!] His sword yelled, halfway.

"Damn it!”

He couldn't see them, but the tanks were obviously aiming for him.

Not just that, but several machineguns were also about to shoot at him.

"Block them!"

[Magma Rampart Defans!]

The next instant, a shield of dark, glowing magma, came just in time for a tank shell to hit it.

But, while the shield took the brunt of the attack, the shockwaves were still devastating enough, to throw him forward several meters.

He was lucky this time, because he landed on gravel. If he wasn't, he might've been thrown onto the jagged rock formations just a few feet away.

"Argh! Damn it!" Noticing that, he couldn't help but curse at this entire situation.

[We don't have time for cursing! Magma Sagitta!] A Magma spear appeared above the two. Then it flew towards one of the black tanks that shot at them, piercing straight through it.

Sweating bullets, Charles got up and tried to resume running. But he couldn't even get the chance, for another tank shell hits the magma shield. Thus, blasting him away again.

But, now his luck was up.

The shield was fading away, yet even if it were still solid - he instinctively knew. His short-lived escape was now over.

"I must admit, you're quite the tenacious little brother, Charles."

Hearing the somewhat familiar voice, Charles - still prone - turned his sight towards the speaker.

It was a woman, around 5 or 6 years older than him. Her features were just like his, but her chin was sharper and her eyes were softer. In her eyes, was a great deal of contempt and she had a pleased smile on her face. Given the shape of her face, one might mistake her for a slender man in Kevlar and camouflage.

"Reinahardt! You bitch!!" Charles cursed. Immediately, the expression of the androgynous-faced woman, turned several shades darker. The angle of her brows got sharper and her smug smile turned stiff. But that quickly returned to her previous expression. "If you'd just given up on your right to succeed the house, like you were supposed to, none of this would've had to happen." The woman, Reinahardt laughed. She then set her sights on the ominous sword in Charles' hands. "Look at you. The Arch-Devil Blade is wasted on you, Little Brother. If you just gave her to me..."

"Eat shit! You, and your whore of a mother!"

"Why do you have to include mothers into the conversation? I mean, come on, you just got that sword, because your mother - the legal wife, was from a Duke's house."

"While yours was a dirty brothel whore that somehow managed to seduce my father..." Charles, for the nth time today, rose to his feet, despite shaking. His back was slouched and he was using the sword as a cane. But, despite the blood and sweat streaming down his forehead, his contemptuous gaze and mocking smile didn't lose to Reinahardt's own. "...even if you were the most talented person in the Empire, much less the Emperor and High Council, not even the Senate, will support you."

The sight of that, made Reinahardt's aura turn into one more of disgust, rather than contempt. Like looking at a cockroach that just wouldn't stop twitching.

"You nobles are really, irritating, you know? To you all, bloodlines mean more than talent, that's why the country is declining..." All too soon, that disgust trailed off. Leaving only pity and regret. "I know you understand that fact and I know you sympathize with the people, that's why I let you live this long."

"What...does it matter to you!?"

"Why didn't you pass [Arch-Devil Blade: Heleina Superbia], the 'Right to Succeed', to me?"

"Ha! You're seriously asking me that, 'Big Sister'!? You commoners hold no right to influence the world of those above! The nobilities’' problems, will be will be taken care of by the nobility! Plebeians like you and your mother, should just spread their legs to fellow plebeians until your ultimate demise! Never to glimpse at our prestige."

"You'll hold onto your foolish pride till the end, eh?"

"I'm also holding onto the Arch-Devil Blade, Sister!"

[Magma Sagitta Lance!]

"[Ice Rampart Defans] [Lux Rampart Defans]" Reinahardt muttered.

The burning lance aimed at Reinahardt's chest was stopped dead in its tracks by the overlaying of two magic shields.

"Such a shame. If it was me wielding her and then fought the me now, not even my immense talent in five magic systems would have saved me. But with her in your hands... I don't even have to get serious. Such a pity."

"....ugh...gRAAAAAAHHHHH!!" With an angry yell, Charles slashed at Reinahardt's side. This was followed by a backswing, then a stab to chest and then an upward swing hoping to disembowel her.

But, even with his heightened physical and mental abilities as [Heleina Superbia]'s weilder - not a single one of his attacks managed to connect. Every single one of them, was dodged with a paper-thin difference.

Nevertheless, Charles' attacks did not stop.

"Haaaah..." Reinahardt sighed. Then, *clang* she grabbed the hot, magma-esque blade with her bare hand.

No, that's not quite right.

Wrapped around her hand, was a thin layer of silver light.

"Mana!?"

"You seem surprised. I bet you can't even use Mana Clad..." She sighed again. "Lament your inability to conform to the new world order, in the next life, Little Brother. [Lux Sagitta Lance]." A lance shining in the same kind of white light appeared diagonally above her head.

[Magma Rampart Defans!]

"Die." The magma shield didn't even last a split-second against Reinahardt's lance.

"Gahah!!" Without anything left to stop it, the spear ran straight through his left side.

But the damage didn't stop there. Now lodged into his body, the lance that was already glowing a silvery light, shone even brighter.

The wound caused by the lance, began to heat up, burning Charles from the inside. "ArrrrggGAaaAAAAaaaaHHHH!!!" He screamed. He couldn't bring himself to see it, but he knew his stomach was slowly losing moisture - getting cauterized.

His tears, saliva and other various fluids overflowed. All this was brought by the unimaginable pain that wreaked him, further soiling the young man's anguished expression.

[Charles!...] The last thing the man heard, was his sword calling out his name.

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"...argh...graah."

I groaned with my faint consciousness. As I woke up, I noticed that I was again, lying down on the floor.

How many times has this happened, already?

Soon, memories of before I lost consciousness, came back to me.

"!?" Frightened, I brought my hands to my chest.

The wound was still there.

I felt like vomiting, but barely managed to resist the urge.

With the [Lux Spear] now gone, I was somehow, able to move around and make groaning sounds like earlier.

I then, tried digging a finger into the wound in my chest. I didn't really understand why I did it, but I did so, anyway.

When my finger was completely buried, I followed with my hand.

I was hoping that the wound had already healed partway through. But, that was a mistake. Even when I understood that I didn't want to know what would happen next, I still pushed my hand through.

Soon enough, my hand, exited through the other side. This was strange. This was really strange.

Why am I still alive?

Why didn't I feel any pain, when I pried a hole through my own chest?

Why didn't any blood come out when I did so?

Then, I finally noticed. My hand, the one that didn't enter my chest... it was rotten.

The whites of my bones can be seen peeking through the parts where scavengers and other animals chewed on.

My blood had already solidified, sticking onto my clothes, and stiffening them.

Green areas, large and small, were all around my body, showing where my meat had completely rotten through.

Cold, rotten and without a beating heart.

"Arrrgh..."

I instinctively knew what I had turned into. And, I would've wanted to try and stop myself from following my new instincts.

But... it was too late...

Before I knew it, I was already walking aimlessly.

I think I heard someone calling out to me, but that was probably my imagination.

I also think, that I felt a beating sensation in my chest, but again, I think that was just my imagination.