God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

The damned bat had not told him the full story, that much was clear.

Now, he couldn't help but feel like a lamb being led to the slaughter.

For one, much that lay ahead was unknown. And he had no idea just how hostile these creatures were going to be.

What he had just seen at least confirmed that they were quite different from the {Willow Direwolves}.

The {Willow Direwolves} were for the most part, peaceful creatures. And from what he could tell, the God they served, Sentry, was benevolent. In some way or the other.

This on the other hand felt like the exact same opposite.

Even the name, 'Bloodthirsty Night God' was anything but benevolent and kind.

So their current situation could go any way.

Eventually, they arrived in what seemed to be the deepest part of the depths of the earth.

Down here, the cold was even more overwhelming, for some reason.

Cain glanced down at his hands and was surprised to see that he was shivering.

The place they had just entered was the epitome of grandeur. Just as magnificent as the throne room of the Ant Queens he had seen all that time ago.

At the center of this enormous space filled with crimson pillars hanging from the roof and jutting from the ground, was an enormous throne carved directly from the stone.

Shadow shot off towards the throne and stepped to the side before falling to a knee and bowing his head.

Cain turned around.

Steve and Blaze both wore serious expressions on their faces as well.

Cain shrugged. His boots echoed softly against the stone as he stepped forward, his strides cautious. With every breath he took, a cloud of visible white condensation seeped from his lips into the air.

The throne chamber was massive. The roof stretched high into the darkness, veined with the same blood crystals that pulsed faintly, like the cavern itself possessed life.

A rather austere feeling.

There was just a single source of light within the throne chamber.

A strange star in the darkness.

Hanging right above the massive throne.

Cain tilted his gaze up.

For some reason, his {Beholder's Eye} was unable to see what it was that created the light. All he knew, was that the light was there. And it had to have come from something.

He frowned. This was unknown territory.

And on that throne, lounging with one leg slung over the other, was the smallest {lood-Curse Bat}he had ever seen.

Cain slowed to a stop.

She wasn't hulking like the others, not was she the tiniest but the grotesque monstrosity he had expected. Her frame was dainty, sleek, perhaps too graceful for a creature of her kind.

Her wings were folded behind her like a noblewoman's train, and her claws draped lazily over the arms of the carved stone throne. Her skin was darker than the others—almost black, with streaks of glistening crimson. Two curved horns wrapped back around her head like a crown, and her crimson eyes, slitted and cold, locked on Cain the moment he stepped forward.

The silence was killer.

Cain stared at the Empress of the Night.

And the Empress of the Night stared at Cain.

Both exchanged glanced for what felt like forever.

'What is hatred?'

Cain had never felt the need to answer such a question before.

And truly, there was no need to.

Because he had never seen or felt a hatred as visceral and potent as this one. The hatred directed at him from the eyes of the Blood Empress herself.

He was a bit taken aback.

Why?

Why was there so much hatred in those dark crimson eyes?

It was like she wanted the entire world to burn and be drowned in blood.

But mostly, she wanted his blood.

He frowned and quickly made use of the {Eye of General Observation}

***

{Empress of the Blood-Curse, Ambrosia}.

***

The Empress stood up.

Cain just realized that she was rather small. Smaller than he was.

With rather child-like, dainty features.

But she was also stunningly beautiful at the same time.

It was strange and unsettling.

"The scent of dog is still ripe on you." The cold words of the Empress cut through the silence like a sharp knife.

Noticing that the Empress planned to dominate the tempo of the conversation, Cain acted quickly.

He cleared his throat and steadied himself,

"Indeed. However, I believe it is quite rude to call them dogs, seeing that—"

"Huh? What do you mean? Dogs are dogs. What is wrong in calling them dogs?"

Cain choked up a bit.

'This girl...'

Ambrosia took a step forward. The wings behind her unfurled, flapping gently until he feet touched the ground.

"But more than that, humans are always humans too. Treacherous, nefarious, horrid things, you are. Especially you." Her gaze snapped onto Steve..

Feeling the incredible weight behind the stare, the usually composed Steve broke into a sweat.

Cain frowned,

"What exactly have we done to displease you?"

The Empress took another step closer.

"Your existence in this forest plays against my goals. You are a nuisance. Do you understand it now?"

Cain"s expression twisted,

'This girl... is such a brat!'

Maybe it was due to the contrast of temperament and size, but the attitude of the dainty Empress before him really pissed him off.

His eyes twitched as he forced in some self-control.

He put on a shaky smile,

"From what I know, your kin desires complete control over the island—"

"Indeed we do. And when the time comes we will dominate the rest of the world. And the only thing that stands in our way, are those damned dogs, the pests. And you." She said, pointing her finger at Cain's nose.

"An unknown variable. Something unnatural that disturbs the balance of the world. That is what you humans are. A malignant cancer that ruins things." She added with a snappy bite as she took another step forward, now standing right in front of Cain.

This time, Cain was also on the verge of losing what little self-control he had left.

"Listen here, you—"

He caught himself at the last second.

Sucking in a deep breath, he plastered a smile onto his face one last time,

"So, then, what do you suggest we do to move forward?"

The Empress sneered and folded her arms,

"Drop dead. Maybe then I will forgive you. But until you do, we are sworn enemies."