In an instant, the world around me disappeared, and I reappeared directly behind the tiny form of Kril hovering in the air. He was battered and bruised, bleeding profusely from a cut on his forehead and breathing heavily. Surrounding me was the southern swamp environment I had remembered; however, directly in front of me was a massive fortress with flames jutting out from its walls, as well as a tribe of lizardmen milling about within.

  Did they find them?

  “Lucivar, be careful. This guy is strong,” Kril warned in between heavy gasps.

  “What guy?”

  An explosion answered my question, throwing both Kril and me back several feet as I landed in the mud with a heavy squelch.

  I won’t be able to summon Joshua or Finnlen… this might be dangerous.

  I momentarily thought about trying to use Shadow Mark to bring Joshua and the glaive to me, but it was possible for him to cancel the skill on his end, and even if he accepted, there would only be a minute or two left on the duration.

  “What happened?” I questioned, whirling around as I slowly sat up from the heavy blow. “Where are the others?”

  “They’re back there,” Kril said, gesturing with his pointer finger towards a clearing a few feet away where I spotted Lioren, Atea, and two insect-like beings lying still on the floor.

  “Who the hell are those guys?”

  “No time to explain!” Kril replied. At that exact moment, he activated Assault Mode, growing larger in an instant and deflecting a blow from the lizardmen dressed in white.

  “Interesting trick,” the lizard spat.

  “And this is…?” I asked hesitantly.

  “Sovekar or something. The bugs called him the ‘warrior general’.”

  “You were supposed to make friends, not fight them!” I exclaimed in exasperation.

  The Imp strained as he pushed against Sovekar’s glaive, then pushed him off, and I watched the lizard land with grace a few feet in the distance. “Yeah, sorry about that,” Kril apologized.

  A flash of bright blue flames exploded from beside me, shaking the trees and evaporating the layer of moisture along the muddy ground beneath me. Signeir appeared from the destruction in a plume of steam, along with his two golden glowing arms attached to his back.

  “Who is our foe this time?” He inquired.

  I pointed a finger at the lizard, and Signeir wasted no time.

  [Hellfire Draw]

  Blue flames encapsulated my vision, and an explosion rang out as Sovekar’s blade met the four flaming swords of the fire spirit.

  “A worthy opponent!” Signeir proclaimed excitedly.

  That lizard has some kind of explosion skill… does it apply every time he attacks?

  [Hey there. What’s going on?]

  I recoiled slightly as Joshua’s voice reentered my consciousness.

  [I won’t be able to fight this guy for you, sadly. Don’t get us killed.]

  Like I need you.

  I formed five blood lances above my head, then sent them screeching forward like a squad of fighter jets. Sovekar leaped into the air, batting each one back and destroying them with five separate explosions, releasing fragments of hardened blood across the battlefield.

  Right where I want you.

  Signeir spun his runes, firing off a barrage of flaming blue spheres, catching the lizard off guard and sending him flying backwards. Kril had already caught on, appearing behind the lizard and slamming his massive pitchfork down on the warrior general while the Imp’s powerful wings flapped in the air, somehow providing enough lift to suspend the enormous demon.

  With a sickening crunch, Sovekar was sent flying into the mud, landing with a heavy thud, kicking up mud and water as he slowly sat up.

  “I don’t think so,” I muttered, running forward with terrifying speed and bringing a clawed hand up to the lizard’s neck. He stared back with determined eyes, not showing even a hint of fear. “I don’t want to hurt you,” I said cautiously.

  “Then why are you stomping around in my territory?” Sovekar spat back.

  “This is all just a misunderstanding.”

  “There is no misunderstanding,” the lizard replied angrily. “You demons are in league with the insects, our sworn enemies!”

  “Sworn enemies?” I repeated in confusion.

  “Yeah, about that,” Kril began. “I may have told the insects that I was the Primordial Crimson in order to gain their trust, and apparently that castle over there is The Hollow Flame.”

  My jaw dropped in shock.

  [I’m not sure if I should be impressed or irritated by his idiocy.] Joshua commented.

  I looked back down at the lizard below me, who was slowly inching a hand toward his glaive in the mud, but Signeir caught on, stepping forward and kicking the weapon away.

  Sovekar let out a grunt of frustration, then stared me dead in the eye. “Just kill me already, bastard.”

  “No,” I replied casually, letting my claws shrink back into normal nails, then I held a hand out to the lizard. Sovekar regarded the gesture warily, letting his eyes wander between me, the fire spirit, and the massive Imp to my side. Finally, he took it, allowing me to lift him to his feet.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  “What game are you playing, demon?” Sovekar asked cautiously, still eyeing his weapon out of the corner of his eye, but Signeir moved to block his view.

  “I just want to talk,” I answered honestly, holding up two hands in apology. “I believe my companions may have made a mistake.”

  “Then speak.”

  “How do you feel about elves?”

  “Indifferent.”

  “OK, fair enough. What exactly is your history here with the insects, then?”

  “Why should I tell you?” Sovekar challenged. Signeir and Kril both simultaneously moved closer, and I could sense a hint of fear in the eyes of the proud lizardman. I raised a hand, staring pointedly at each of my companions, and they backed off without protest.

  Sovekar sighed, then began to answer. “For generations, we have battled the insects for control over the swamp. After taking over the Hollow Flame, their attacks only grew more and more violent. Even I do not understand the extent of our history with the insects, but I know that the conflict is out of my hands.”

  “What do you mean?” I inquired.

  “The elders urge us towards war, and I have no say in the matter besides being the general of our armies,” Sovekar grunted in response.

  “If you control the armies, then why do you have to listen to them?”

  The lizard glared at me with deadly eyes. “To betray my elders would be to betray myself and my people. I have more honor than that.”

  “Fair enough,” I replied. “Well, I may not be able to solve the war between you and the insects, but my original goal was to establish friendly relations with your people,” I held out a hand. “My name is Lucivar.”

  Sovekar narrowed his eyes, but hesitantly took my hand in his massive, muscled green one. “I am Sovekar, warrior general of the lizardmen and head of the Blasttooth clan.”

  “How many clans are there?” I asked earnestly. The warrior general looked me up and down, likely weighing in his mind whether or not to trust me, then finally answered. “Seven.”

  “I see. Well, Sovekar, my companions and I have work to do for now, but I will likely pay you a visit sometime in the future. I hope that we can be friends.”

  “We will see,” Sovekar muttered in response, letting go of my hand and reclaiming his weapon and shield before stalking away towards his home.

  “Should we really allow the lizard to escape so easily? Perhaps it would’ve been wiser to kill the warrior,” Signeir paused. “He is powerful.”

  “It’s possible, but having allies is just as important as not having enemies.”

  “Wise words from my first friend!” Kril exclaimed.

  [Those were not wise words.] Joshua complained.

  I turned to face Kril, and the large Imp suddenly transformed back into his puny form. “You have some explaining to do, mister.”

  I slapped my face in disappointment as Kril recounted his tale. Atea rode along Lioren’s back, both of whom were similarly disappointed in how their mission ended up. We had elected to leave the pair of insects behind, hoping that they would feel no ill will towards us.

  “So let me get this right, you gaslighted those bug guys into thinking you were a primordial coming to fulfill some kind of insect prophecy, then immediately had them lead you to their sworn enemies?” I recounted in disbelief.

  [Let’s kill him again. He’s fucking useless.]

  “I can see how that may seem shocking to you, brother, however!” Kril buzzed forward, turning to face me and my companions while flying backward. “I would say it was a generally successful mission, considering that we found the location of one of the primordial relics while also creating relations with not just one, but two neighboring races!”

  “Maybe we leave him behind next time,” Lioren grunted quietly. Atea ever so slightly nodded in agreement.

  “Well. Good work?” I commended in confusion.

  “Lucivar!” A familiar voice suddenly called out as we crested the hill leading back towards Mount Boom. It was Azazel, flying towards me in his dragon form. “Are you alright? What happened?”

  “I’ll let him explain,” I said calmly, pointing a thumb towards the Imp Duke of Hell.

  It took a few moments for the story to make its way between my companions, who each reacted in their own way. Zorrack was particularly enthusiastic about the lie, slapping the tiny Imp on the back, while Cedric and Viressa were both slightly horrified, Viressa more so.

  “Are you stupid? You could have started a second war when we are already dealing with the elves!” She reprimanded, although Kril seemed to only be partially listening to the raging mayor of Mount Boom.

  We can probably shelve that whole thing for now, let’s focus on the real issue.

  [Agreed, dumbass.]

  What was that for?

  [I feel like it's been a while since I last insulted you.]

  I don’t think it has…

  Everyone was gathered around a smoldering fire, as we often did whenever I had important information to share. It was deep into the night, and even though I felt much less drowsy than I normally would’ve had I still been a human, the aching tiredness from the day's events still weighed heavily on me.

  “Ok, everyone. I have important information from our last expedition into elven territory,” I began, and my gathered friends all quieted instantly. “The elves are either working with, or for, the Aspect of Chaos, Isarion, whom Atea and I both met in the Celestial Realm.”

  You could’ve heard a pin drop in the ensuing silence.

  “You mean… they aren’t working for Luminarch?” Lioren began, his normal, calm demeanor suddenly shocked into confusion.

  “It is still possible, although I doubt an angel and a demon are working together,” I answered.

  “We’re working together,” Atea commented.

  [She’s not wrong.]

  “What the heck does this mean, then?” Azazel began. “Are we fighting an Aspect? Why the hell would he want to use the elves anyway? Shouldn’t he be strong enough on his own?”

  Those in attendance stewed in mystery, silently contemplating the information.

  Then, a voice interrupted our collective thoughts.

  It was the wraith. “Perhaps I can shine some insight on the situation.”

  Our heads all turned, and we waited for the mysterious being to continue.

  Eztara floated forward, then began to speak. “Eons ago, when the angels and demons still walked the Mortal Realm side by side, it was Isarion who began the devastating conflict.”

  I mean, he didn’t exactly seem all sunshine and rainbows to be fair.

  “How?” Cedric asked.

  “By killing the fifth primordial.”

  Silence.

  Finally, I spoke up. “I thought they were immortal. And aren’t there only four?”

  “The Primordials, Aspects, and True Dragons are all immortal beings, yes,” Eztara paused, stamping his scythe deep into the ground. “However, it is possible to kill one, permanently. Only Orion, the God-King, is known to be capable of such a feat, however.”

  “Then was it actually this Orion fellow who killed the primordial?” Kril asked.

  Eztara shook his ghostly head. “Isarion concocted a weapon, in combination with his sister, Ossariel, and…” a long pause as the wraith stared heavily at Azazel. “The dragons.”

  “I thought they were impartial?” Viressa challenged, and I mentally agreed. Kyr had seemed rather uninterested in the whole ordeal between Luminarch, Zerethiel, and Seraphael.

  “They were believed to be so. Even Lunarius isn’t sure of the reasons behind their involvement, and my own memories are foggy as is.”

  “Then, where is this god killing weapon now?” I questioned.

  The wraith shrugged, but even the information he had given us already was enough to plant seeds of thought within my mind.

  I really don’t know anything about this world.

  [You could say that again.] Joshua taunted evilly.