Kariah-Belle Nadire sat on the back of a dragon that flew through the sky as she helped Akio tend to Mae Lu and Jet. The dragon belonged to none other than Star Titannia.

To own a dragon was an amazing feat. Even the Drakon race had trouble taming them, and they were basically kin.

Kariah-Belle would be marveling at the mighty creature if not for her concern for her two friends. Tonight had been a frightening night for her. She had watched a friend lose an arm and was almost kidnapped by a terrifying creature. She didn't want to imagine what that thing might have done to her if Aya hadn't been there.

After they wrapped bandages around Jet's stub, he looked at her with great appreciation and respect. "You were willing to risk your life for us," he said. "Thank you."

She grinned. "Do go on." she said jokingly in an attempt to brighten the tense atmosphere. He chuckled and winced in pain, Akio shook her head side to side. She was amused. "No seriously though, you would've done the same for me."

Mae Lu hugged her tightly, sobbing hard. "Thank you so much. I'll never forget this."

Kariah-Belle smiled as she thought of how proud her mother and father would've been. She hugged her back tightly. She didn't have many memories of them but she knew they greatly valued camaraderie "You're welcome Mae. It's what comrades do."

Once they separated, Kariah-Belle noticed the fresh scars on the young woman's face again and anger burned within her. She rubbed them lightly and said, "next time we see that bastard we'll make him pay."

"Count me in." Lax-Rim interjected. He had been quiet for some time and could tell he was upset with his uselessness.

"So, it's settled. We're rearranging that guy's face," Kariah-Belle added.

Oh how Kariah-Belle loved her teammates.

"Look alive, greenhorns," Iris called as the dragon started to slow. "We're approaching the capital."

Kariah-Belle made her way near the head of the dragon and sat crossed leg. "Thanks again for saving me," she told Aya. "I owe you one."

Without breaking form or opening her eyes Aya responded. "Don't mention it. It would've been a shame to let such potential and courage go to waste."

Kariah-Belle blinked in surprise. "You think I have potential?" She asked, a bit enthusiastic. The young woman was thrilled to receive a compliment from one of her idols. She grinned from ear to ear. "Thank you."

"Overconfidence can be a dangerous thing. Do not let it get to your head." Aya warned.

"Yeah!" Chimed Lax-Rim. "It's big enough as is."

"Uuhh. This is an A and B conversation so C your way out of it." Kariah-Belle said giving him a rude gesture.

Finally, the dragon descended, landing on a tall building. They could already see the havoc. Buildings lay in ruins, bodies scattered about. Vympiri, Kariah-Belle noted a number of evilarers running around looking for something to kill.

"This can't be real can it?" Mae Lu asked as she dismounted. Her voice was soft with anguish from the sight of seeing her home capital in shambles.

"Dammit! This is that Bentil's fault!" Lax-Rim spoke angrily.

"Calm yourself, Mr. Col." Professor Mar-Gin told him placing a hand on his shoulder. "Anger will do you no good here. Your focus should lie with getting Jet and Mae Lu to safety. They've had too much Lifeforce drained from them and Jet needs to reattach his ar-"

Mar-Gin was interrupted by a loud explosion coming from the school, followed by a blood churning roar. Everyone turned their attention towards the direction of the university to see a black dragon-like creature doing battle with a Darkling on the school's rooftops.

No, not a Darkling. Even from here, the two stars that decorated its midnight skin shone bright enough to see. It was a Darkness Tamer.

The miniature dragon roared again, then moved so fast that Kariah-Belle's eyes couldn't track it. It used its tail to strike, but the Darkness Tamer used a sword to block. Still, the force was enough to send him through the roof to the school grounds below.

"What the hell?" Asked Lax-Rim, confused as the rest of them. Even professor Mar-Gin looked baffled. That thing resembled a Drakon member... If that member had given in to the darkness in his heart and became a Darkness Tamer. Kariah-Belle knew that wasn't the case, or she would've seen a star shine on it.

"Kaden," Aya whispered.

She started to move towards the school but Iris stopped her. "Don't be foolish. The greenhorns come first." She told the master knight.

Aya's face looked as she wanted to protest.

Lady Iris's demeanor changed. Before she had been laid back but now she was serious. Worried even. "You know it's your duty, Aya. Aside from that, he won't hesitate to attack you if you're in the way. Let me concentrate on containing him first. You meet me when these young ones are safe."

Turning to her dragon, she petted its snout. "Thanks, Shasha. I have one more task for you, girl. Kill anything trying to get over the walls. Vympiri, Darklings, kill them all and feast on them till your heart's content."

The red dragon rumbled softly as it nuzzled against Iris's gently before taking to the sky with a mighty roar.

Iris was even more of a badass than the stories Kariah-Belle had heard. When it came to the big names in The Order, the young woman was something of a nerd. She even kept up with Master knights that were gaining the most buzz. Well tried to at least.

However, when it came to the current situation Kariah-Belle was so lost. That thing was Kaden? He didn't seem like the type to attack comrades. Then it dawned on her.

"He's entered the Fallen Place," Kariah whispered. The Fallen place was where one's consciousness went when one becomes a darkling or Evilbarer.

"I'll back you up Titannia," Professor Mar-Gin told Iris.

"Sorry old friend, but you'd only be in the way," a purple mana skeleton flared around her before she leapt into the air. "Protect your students."

With that, Iris descended into the chaos below.

Mar-Gin nodded. "Understood." He then turned to his students. "Let's move."

Everyone followed professor Mar-Gin. Everyone except Aya who was staring in the direction her mentor ran off in. She had sadness and hurt written all over her face. Kariah-Belle knew she wanted to help her friend, and her heart went out to her.

Kariah-Belle stood beside Aya. "I'm down for going against orders if you are."

The Frozen Gun looked to Kariah-Belle, her head tilted slightly. "You'd disobey orders from Iris Eloclipes? Now I don't know whether you're courageous or foolish."

"Honestly, maybe a little bit of both," Kariah-Belle responded, rubbing the back of her neck with a light chuckle.

Kariah-Belle watched as Aya turned her attention back to where Kaden had been moments ago. Her cool demeanor was replaced with worry. Kariah-Belle noticed her slender fingers kept twitching. The girl could see Kaden held a special place in her heart and Kariah-Belle wondered the kind of bond they had.

Aya took a deep breath. "We'll stick to the assignment we were given," she said. "After that, then I'll go back her up."

Kariah-Belle nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Let's catch up to everyone."

With that, the two hopped over the side of the building. Activating their mana skeleton before landing on the ground. Kariah-Belle could see Lax-Rim had Jet on his back. Mae Lu kept pace at his side while professor Mar-Gin led from the front, leaving Akio to guard the rear. Kariah-Belle caught up with her friend. Her face lit with awe.

"Mar-Gin went to work I see," The girl said. Vympiri corpses lay dead on the street. Some looked as though they'd been flattened, while others had iron poles impaling them all over. The mana emitting from the iron was intense. Leave it to a divine knight to fight off so many enemies while protecting others.

"His title isn't just for show," Akio said remaining vigilant. "He is impressive indeed."

Aya leaped into a building. "I'll keep watch from above." She called to them.

Kariah-Belle couldn't help but admire the dedication to her assignment. If that had been one of her squad-mates back there, she'd have disobeyed orders for sure. Kariah-Belle had to figure the other woman was more worried about getting Jet and Mae Lu to safety. The brown-haired young woman felt her admiration for Aya grow even deeper.

After about a minute of cutting through back allies, Aya spotted a squad of knights. Six officer knights wearing mana-powered suits and sporting mana-powered gadgets. Three master knights lead by a divine knight. The usual formation of a squad, except there was a divine knight, who like Aya, also who scouted from the rooftops.

"Iron Fist Mar-Gin," said the divine knight, leading from below. Kariah-Belle could tell from his attire he was from Lavirian. Like Aya, his armor was made of diamond-like material. The black and gold diamond-like material was shaped to resemble medieval knight attire.

The two men shook hands. "Midnight Blade Seth," Professor Mar-Gin said, placing a hand on the other man's shoulder. "Haven't seen you since we aided the Drakon baroness of Semek. I am glad to see you're still alive and kicking."

"Same you you my brother."

Seth gave Kariah-Belle and her friends a once over before giving Mar-Gin an apologetic look. "We'll make the scum pay for what they've done to your home."

Kariah-Belle stayed quiet along with the rest.

"Thank you, old friend," Mar-Gin said. "Your help is much appreciated."

Seth nodded, then barked orders at his squad. The lower ranking knights formed up around Kariah-Belle and the others. The young woman was relieved to have more hands while they were injured and in the middle of a war zone.

Everyone moved out, sticking to alleyways. Even with a larger squad. some of the alleyways were built for transporting groups of people to safe centers in times of crisis. Things were going smoothly. No enemies had managed to sneak up on them or been spotted. The group had been silent, everyone on alert.

"We've got incoming!" Aya shouted from above. "Vympiri and Darkling horde closing in fast. They haven't spotted you lot, yet!"

"Liam, Raiden. Take five of the others and help Mar-Gin get the injured out of here," Seth ordered. "The rest of you, on me. We'll help the two up top."

The two Master Knights and five Officer Knights activated their skeleton and scaled the buildings to help Aya and the other Divine Knight above. Seth looked to Mar-Gin and nodded. Professor Mar-Gin nodded back before Midnight Blade turned to pitch black smoke and flew of into battle.

"Alright, everyone. Let's not waste precious time," Professor Mar-Gin said.

He led the students at a sprint through the alleyway. Lax-Rim didn't look tired from carrying Jet, who had woken up from fainting moments ago from phantom pains. He insisted on using his own two legs.

They all exited the alley to see a large domed building just ahead. A battle was being waged around it. Vympiri, Evilbarers, and Darklings fought against Knights outside the barrier that protected the safe center. The battlefield was filled with a multitude of different crafts from both sides.

Mar-Gin cursed under his breath. "Please do your best to protect my students," the man said to Seth's squad. He then joined the fray.

Kariah-Belle had only seen the man in action twice. The two times he'd intervened when the missions were too much for Kariah-Belle and the others to handle. Whenever their lives were in danger, he would step in to keep them safe.

They watched as their teacher fought once again to protect them. He was a formidable force with his iron gauntlets and greaves to attack, reinforced by mana. He would also forge large iron fist or slabs from the ground, and buildings to attack and crush enemies with. He'd also conjure iron spears to attack and defend.

Suddenly there was a gap. A passageway through the carnage to the safe center. The master knights hurried them through the passage moving around a burning hover-truck. An evilbarer tried to block them but Mar-Gin intercepted it, summoning a giant iron fist to knock it over. Things seemed to be going well, for the most part.

That was until Kaden came hurtling towards them and slammed into the ground.

A man with midnight skin landed on a nearby small building. Two lights that looked like far away stars moved as they shined on his skin. He wore a helmet with frills and horns that resembled the head of a triceratops. The helmet itself looked to be a part of his skin. His jagged teeth showed in a taunting smirk.

Kariah-Belle felt as if her heart began to beat against her rib cage, fear gripping her body. She began to hyperventilation when the eyes of her parents killer locked on her. Her body became unresponsive as she started to shake uncontrollably. Terror seized her when the Darkness Tamer spoke. "We meet again, Little Light."

Everything went black.

********

KILL HIM, BOY! Darqus shouted in Kaden's mind.

The young man could barely understand what was going on. It was as if he was watching his actions through a small window in a void of darkness. His mind was foggy and dazed. He did, however, understand two things:

His name was Kaden and he hated the man in front of him with his entire being but didn't know why.

Who was he? Even now, Kaden fought to kill him.

It felt good. This power that surged through him felt incredible. In his hazy mind, this rage and anger felt justified. To be able to let it out on this man brought even greater joy.

Yet, Kaden knew he shouldn't kill him.

He couldn't pin it down, but there was a reason why he couldn't allow himself to kill the man before him.

Though, from what he was watching, it didn't look like the man would go down easily. Even with the essence of Wrath and War controlling his body, Memphis was tanking his blows. Though Kaden's body suddenly had its reflexes, speed and agility drastically boosted once the midnight black dragon scales covered his skin.

The scales were tough and super durable. Still, while this transformation was fast, it lacked the power to deliver any fatal blows.

It was a stalemate.

While Kaden would land occasional strikes, using his hardened scorpion-like tail in combination with punches and kicks, Memphis had only landed three.

I CAN GIVE YOU POWER AND GREED! Darqus boomed in his mind. The god of Darkness and Vice was lurking in the young man's subconscious. Watching.

Waiting for a chance like this to arrive. This was the fourth time his power had been used since being placed in this human filth. The dark god hated all of the sentient beings in the universe. Humans he hated most of all for trapping him for so long.

Now, for the fourth time, he had a chance to be free.

FREE ME AND I WILL GIVE YOU VENGEANCE, BOY! Darqus boomed again, rattling Kaden's thoughts.

He felt the young man slipping into his grasp. Kaden wanted to kill Memphis, yet still, something held him back. He still couldn't figure out what it was.

HE HAS TAKEN EVERYTHING FROM YOU.

A resolve. Kaden thought, still watching his limbs move. Attacking and dodging. He could also see Memphis's mouth move, and his occasional fits of laughter that followed but couldn't hear anything but his own thoughts and Darqus' voices.

A strong resolve that he held firm to wouldn't let him kill this man in front of him, even though the urge to kill the man gnarled inside him. Kaden tried to search his mind for where that resolve came from.

YOUR MOTHER! Darqus shouted as a silhouette of a woman flashed across the canvas that once painted the scenery around him. He vaguely remembered her and though he couldn't recall meeting her, he felt a strong love for this woman.

YOUR FATHER!!! Kaden felt a powerful sense of familiarity towards the tall silhouette that flashes across his vision. Feelings of respect and admiration swelled within him.

YOUR SISTER!!! A clear image of a girl he couldn't recall flashed in front of him. His mind raced to put images together.

Suddenly, he knew her. He'd seen her just a day ago.

Kariah-Belle? He thought.

A scene painted itself before him.

A small child that resembled the image before ran up to Kaden and tackled him in a hug.

"Kaden, you dummy!" She yelled as she cried in his arms.

A deep love overflowed him. Then, an image of her lying on the floor flashed in front of him. Blood pooled out around her...

Kaden lost to rage.

YES, BOY!!! Darqus boomed once more in his mind. Power and vengeance are yours to command!!!

********

"Yes, boy!" Memphis shouted after taking a powerful right hook from Kaden and recovering. This was the first strike that seemed to actually hurt the Darkness Tamer. "Show me the power even Titannia fears! Show me that power so that I may take it for myself!"

"Funny you should mention me!" Iris Eloclipse shouted as she warped next to Memphis to land a kick to the face.

Memphis was taken off his feet and sent flying across the courtyard of the university. She looked to Kaden and he tried to remember her name.

I-Iris? Kaden thought.

NOOOO!!! Darqus shouted in Kaden's mind.

The dragon-like being roared loudly before charging at Iris.

She braced herself as a large sword made out of blue sparkling materials formed in her hand. The sword was bigger than she yet she swung it at Kaden as if it weighed less than a normal-sized sword.

She was fast but, the dragon-like being in front of her was just as much so. It dodged her and her sword was sent hurtling into the ground, creating a crevice and a shock wave that crashed into a nearby pillar.

Kaden kicked, but Iris blocked. His tail would've pierced straight through her chest if she hadn't warped above him.

"Stardust Element: Stardust Prison!"

Blue dust surrounded the dragon creature. It quickly formed a dense sphere that trapped Kaden.

DAMN YOU, IRIS!!! Darqus roared.

The beast roared and pounded against the now super thick layer of Stardust. It only broke pieces of its armor-plated scales, exposing the muscle underneath.

Iris had been on time. She had trapped Kaden before he had become too powerful from fighting Memphis. This was why Kaden was rarely left alone. She felt foolish for making such a mistake.