It was time. They had a few hours before dawn.


    Before the sun would be showing its light, Kamala had to find the plan that would lead her to victory.


    Orion stated that neither him nor the girls would help her. She was on her own.


    "Orion, I would like to request your help."


    They weren''t sat for long before Kamala asked Orion.


    "You already thought of a plan didn''t you?"


    He smiled at her, while she nodded to confirm his words.


    "Only the beginning of it though. I plan to use the next hours to fully prepare."


    She was in Lord mode, but compared the day before (in Triazils), she wasn''t forcing herself to act anymore.


    "Alright. What do you want from me?"


    Orion crossed his arms and waited for her order.


    "This might be an absurd demand, but are you able to move long distances with you portal AND the ''Spatial Shift''?"


    Amelia and Karteira stared at him as he thought. They didn''t really know either what was the capabilities of the void magic, since he trained this element alone.


    As if this element was useless in fighting.


    ''He said that it was to inefficient to use in fights.''


    They remembered clearly his words.


    "If it''s a long distance, it might take me an hour. I''ll have to rest multiple times on the way. Are we talking about Hocride-Kaios distance here?"


    Kamala nodded.


    "Yes. I would like you to move alone, toward Kaios. I would need a portal at the entrance of Hocride, that would link to one near Kaios. If that is possible."


    To say that he wasn''t surprised was an understatement.


    ''She knows how to use her own cards. Good!''


    He smirked.


    ''Ivan doesn''t know what''s coming to him.''


    His smile returned to normal and he look right in her eyes.


    "I''ll do my part. You will have to tell me the rest of the plan when I return then. Girls, I repeat myself, but be sure to follow her orders carefully."


    He said, standing up from the couch.


    "We don''t want to hinder something so interesting."


    They both nodded once again.


    ''He''s having fun.''


    Karteira thought that it was just like him.


    ''For him to follow someone else''s orders. If you asked me in the past if I could imagine that, I would shudder in fear.''


    Amelia was slightly scared. Orion''s power in someone else''s hand could lead to disastrous situations.


    ''If Kamala wasn''t a person we could trust, I''m pretty sure he would already...''


    She shook her head.


    "Amelia? You have a something to say?"


    Orion saw her in the corner of his eye.


    "No, I was thinking."


    "I see. If you need something, ask. Same for you Karteira."


    His eyes and face began to darken, as he looked at them.


    "Your safety is the most important things. If I see one of you badly hurt, be sure that this mission will be finished with more casualties than expected."


    Kamala and the girls shuddered.


    For Kamala, it was fear. She knew he was serious. Without chains, this man would destroyed Kaios, kill every citizens in the city, and even Kamala''s guards if something happened to his friends.


    For the girls, the way Orion was possessive of them made them happy, and scared at the same time.


    "Don''t worry, we haven''t forgotten. But the same goes for you."


    Amelia''s smile wasn''t pretty. Karteira finished Amelia''s train of thought.


    "You better restrain yourself if you see that Apostle. I don''t want another underground situation happening."


    He wasn''t the only one to be possessive. These girls were with him from morning to night, they knew him better than anyone could.


    Obviously, there was a difference between how much Amelia and Karteira knew about him. There was more than twenty years of difference.


    Orion opened his eyes wide, stunned by the way they read him.


    "..."


    "I''ll try my best."


    "You better try more than your best. Don''t hinder the plan."


    ''She got me there.''


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Orion laughed out loud and moved toward the door.


    "I don''t need an escort, I remember the map. I''ll find my way to Kaios, and come back after creating the portal over there."


    Kamala nodded, relieved of the previous chaotic emotions she felt.


    "See you later."


    Orion waved, opened the door, and found himself outside.


    ''Let''s move.''


    His expression became serious, as he ran uphill toward the gate.


    Ten minutes later, Orion was outside the gate of Hocride.


    The guards posted there looked at him strangely through their helmets.


    He placed a portal in the middle of the entrance.


    "You guys better be ready, today is going to be a rough day."


    Orion said to them before he vanished after taking a step forward.


    "Wha- What happened?!"


    The guards were shocked like never before in their life.


    "Did he just disappear?!"


    "I think so?!"


    They stared at the empty spot for a few minutes, before returning to their duty.


    ~


    ''It''s been a while since I''ve been completely alone.''


    Orion was breathing roughly after using the Space Shift ability for an hour.


    It was his fourth break so far.


    ''This really his exhausting though. I haven''t had a clue on how draining this new element could be.''


    He sat on the cold white sand, looking at the disappearing stars in the sky.


    ''It looks so similar to the sky in that place.''


    ''That place... it is bothersome not to have a name for it.''


    Orion looked in front of him. There was only sand wherever his eyes stopped at.


    ''The horizon. Horizon.''


    He instantly grabbed this fleeting idea before forgetting.


    ''I''ll tell the girls later. That other space will be called ''Horizon'' from now on.''


    He stood up, and returned to walk across the desert, appearing and disappearing toward Kaios.


    ~


    ''I''m here.''


    Orion was looking at a city that looked perfectly normal, except the small castle in the middle.


    He was far away, were no one would be able to see him.


    ''I don''t want to, but let''s see what''s happening in there.''


    He used ''Eagle Eye''.


    Instantly, what he expected was happening. He closed his eyes and looked away.


    *sigh*


    ''Even I cannot tolerate such atrocities.''


    He turned away and opened a portal, linking it to the one he created at the gate.


    After entering the gate, he made sure to hide it.


    "Orion!"


    Amelia threw herself at him with a lot of strength.


    "Woah there!"


    He always fell over from the sudden impact, but managed to catch his balance.


    "What happened?"


    Karteira walked toward them.


    "She was worried because it''s the first time you''ve gone away from us."


    "Oh."


    She was right. He even commented on it himself on the way to Kaios.


    ''I was too, but how can I say that?''


    Karteira was refraining from speaking her mind. She was relieved to see him as much as Amelia.


    "Well, I''m back. I haven''t attacked the city yet, just so you know."


    Someone laughed, catching his attention.


    "I sure hope so."


    Kamala, in her battle dress, approached the group.


    She was wearing the white and gold dress Orion saw when he saved her.


    "Yes, but the city, or should I say the citizens, are in a really bad situation."


    "I feared as much."


    Kamala made a painful expression.


    "We''ll have to move fast, but is everything ready?"


    Amelia removed herself from Orion and returned next to Karteira.


    The three ladies nodded in unison.


    "Orion, you don''t have to do much. I want you to do two things."


    Kamala brought two fingers up.


    "I want you to shoot your strongest arrow on Kaios, and I want you to help me fight Ivan."


    Orion made a difficult expression.


    "I know. Let me explain."


    "I suspect the city to be surrounded by a barrier of lightning. Most likely made by Ivan or his ancestors."


    "I want to blast it away."


    Her expression was serious. She knew how treacherous the enemy was, and there was definitely something going on.


    "The second part is only helping me. I remember clearly, I have to kill him myself. But you never said that I couldn''t ask for help. Am I wrong?"


    His expression changed multiple times, to questioning, remembering, agreeing, and finally accepting.


    "No you''re not wrong. I''ll play support this time. Sending you alone against him would be suicidal anyway."


    "Thank you."


    She showed a warm smile. Her life was once again in his hands.


    ''I don''t want to waste his goodwill toward me.''


    This was her main reason for doing all of this now. She wanted to help him achieve his goal, and if by aiding him, she could get revenge on Ivan too, then where was the problem?


    She made a circle with her right thumb and her index. She took a deep breath and whistled.


    Orion was surprised at first, but then he saw the greatest show of power coming from the woman in front of her.


    From inside the city, on the sides of the gate, guards came out in waves.


    Two minutes later, a thousand men and women were arranged behind Kamala.


    He looked at her with surprise during those two minutes, and when it was done, he smiled.


    "That''s one display I wasn''t expecting."


    "It''s to show how serious I- no, we are."


    The guards were all proud of being behind their Lord. Especially since they would finally be of help.


    "I tasked Amelia and Karteira in helping the guards whenever they would be in a tough spot."


    The girls at her side both nodded with determination.


    "Sounds good. Don''t go too far though."


    "Same to you."


    They laughed together.


    ''It''s time.''


    Orion and Kamala looked at each other and nodded, thinking the same thing.


    "Time to invade Kaios.


    Orion opened the portal behind the soldiers and walked between them, Amelia, Karteira, and Kamala by his side.


    "Everyone! Follow me!"


    Orion shouted for everyone behind him.


    "We''re saving the poor souls of Kaios from being unjustly killed. Save your brethren and return alive and well."


    Kamala added.


    "YES!"


    The well-mannered army responded, and followed closely behind them. The portal grew in size to let the guards cross.


    Before long, an army was formed right in front of Kaios.


    ~


    "MY LORD!"


    Ivan''s aid, a black haired man named Paul, ran to him and immediately bowed.


    "What is it?!"


    Ivan growled from anger.


    "The Apostle Kamala is at our doorstep with an army!"


    The right handle of his throne broke in pieces.


    "Repeat that again."


    Paul lifted his head in surprise.


    ''Why is he so calm?! I thought he would be shouting at me?''


    He was questioning what was happening.


    "I am waiting."


    "My apologies. The Apostle Kamala is invading Kaios with an army of her own."


    Ivan''s eyes glowed brighter with an intense crimson red.


    "How could she have made it in two days?"


    ''Did his sanity came back?''


    Paul was lost for words. Ivan was acting like himself again. Originally, Ivan was a cold and calculating person, not a savage beast.


    For some reason, now, his previous personality returned to challenge the threat.


    "What do we do?"


    Paul asked, waiting for his orders.


    "Nothing. The shield will take care of th-"


    *BZZZZZT*/*DRIIIIIIIL*


    "What was that?!"


    The sound of spark and drilling was heard from inside the throne room.


    ~


    Outside, Orion had shot his strongest arrow, enhanced by the Arm Overdrive.


    The arrow flew straight toward the castle, and like Kamala expected, there was a shield protecting the city.


    Powerful shockwaves created by the arrow hitting the shield were released at regular intervals, until both of them began to crack.


    Both broke at the same time. The magic used to create the shield vanished as particles fell in the city.


    "You made it."


    Kamala and her army were impressed by his power capable of breaking such a strong shield.


    "I''m really glad you are an ally and not an enemy. Hocride would have been flattened already if not."


    Orion shook his head.


    "I only killed the corrupted. Not the civilians."


    The moment he understood that the Corruption was behind the Apostles actions, his goal shifted.


    Yes, to begin with, these people were bad. Their greed for power led them to drink the corrupted sludge. But without it, all they could do was become aggressive.


    They would have become like that soldier that attacked Lavira and infected Crystal.


    Crystal was a good person at heart, so she couldn''t be corrupted. Because of that, she suffered greatly.


    "I know."


    Kamala just said that because he could if he wanted to. Having principles was how you placed limits on your own strength.


    That made Orion more incredible than a man like Ivan that went to attack his own citizens in her eyes.


    Focusing on the task at hand, Kamala turned to her army.


    "Everyone, save as much lives as you can!"


    She brought her hand high and the sky.


    "ATTACK!"


    She shouted with all of her being, and dropped her arm, pointing at Kaios.


    Ivan, the cautious Apostle against Kamala, the strategic Kamala.


    The bloody battle of Kaios was about to begin.