Chapter 19

Thanks for reading this far! From here on out, the novel is a work in progress, so anything you read is possibly not canon or grammatically correct.

"Can this thing go any faster?!"

"Mother made a similar complaint."

"Both of you be silent, we have almost caught up."

High above the city of Lacuna, a tense chase was afoot as Kalis's allies attempted to release their virus near the center of the station. The trio of men loyal to Salem had already left the lower levels, hot on the heels of their enemy as they tried to close the gap. Such a conflict occurred in tandem with the red mother's duel as well as Ali's attempt to call for help.

"What do you think their target is?" Corian asked as he carefully climbed out of the Valekry airship to stand on its roof.

"Likely a place with significant height so that the wind can carry the plague," Valor bellowed as she too made his way atop the flying vessel, albeit at a much faster pace thanks to his metal claws.

"Well, the Strand blew up thanks to you guys!" The young knight screamed, his voice barely audible as the wind howled around him.

"Then it has to be there," Anger pointed to a rather tall skyscraper close to the epicenter of the station. "The royal palace may be taller, but the defenses around it will be too great."

"Then we must board their craft and safely extract the substance," Corian grimaced.

"It will be a good fight!" Valor laughed.

Anger then accelerated his craft at full speed, bringing the trio closer to their target as the vibrant lights of Lacuna zipped by. Realizing they were being gained on, the unknown pilots of Kalis's craft then dropped their altitude abruptly, brining the chase closer to the city streets.

"Oh please no," Corian sighed as he looked down to see a horde of oncoming vessels. "Not the cliche traffic hazard."

Lacuna's laws were rather specific when it came to the absence of vehicles on the city's bustling streets. But when it came to the airspace just above, all manners of traffic both small and large were perfectly legal, creating a cycle of endless travel. The Tella were most certainly not ones to walk everywhere after all. Typically, whenever they wanted to take a trip anywhere, the frail women would order the Valekry to act as a chaperon within their exclusively civilian craft.

"I see it," Anger snapped as he narrowly drove his vehicle around the cramped air lanes of the city. "We won't lose them."

"Ah-," Valor stammered. "Do be careful not to hit anyone."

The Tella from both the streets below and the vessels above stared in shock as the chase continued, their minds ecstatic to witness such an event. Even as many of them nearly crashed into Anger, all they could think about was how bored they were previously. All manners of danger were forgotten to the women who so rarely cared for anything.

"My goodness!" One Tella woman gasped as she spoke to her chaperone in the front seat. "Who are those people?"

"Violators of our laws, that is for sure," the Valekry pilot calmly explained as he began contacting the authorities.

Just then, Kalis's airship slammed its breaking mechanism causing the vessel to nearly slam into the oncoming traffic. That was a close attempt to trick Anger into losing the chase. But thanks to some cunning intellect, it wasn't long before Salem's trio was practically scraping the side of their enemy's ship.

"What the hell?" Corian gasped as he stared at the Valekry pilot who had been evading him for so long. "What's your problem?"

The Valekry simply stared at the knight in response, its blue lens partially obscured by the tint of the window. But after an abrupt flicker in its eye, the machine turned its vessel hard in a last-ditch effort to derail its pursuers. Both Anger and Valor were quick to brace themselves, but sadly Corian had no such luck as the man went sailing after a crushing impact.

"Corian!" Valor yelled as he watched the young knight fly past him.

"Oh shit!" Corian grimaced after activating his armor, his eyes fixated on a Tella building just inches away.

The knight then crashed into the nearby pink glass, using his momentum to effortlessly slide through the carpeted floor and towards the nearest window.

"Out of the way ladies!" Corian focused as he attempted to use his situation as an opportunity to catch up. "Coming through!"

Similar to the Strand, most of Lacuna's inner city was filled to the brim with goddy hotels and girly shopping marts, a fact that became most clear to Corian as he struggled to avoid a series of crystal pots and velvet chairs. But thanks to the polished floors and unusual room layouts displayed by the Tella, it was much easier for the knight to strategically tumble his way back to the chase.

"Whoops!" Corian panicked as he slid under a Tella's pink dress.

"Hey!" The pale girl replied as she glared at the knight's concealed face. "Someone stop that weird lady!"

After crashing and fumbling his way through the complex, Corian was sure to jump out the other side of the building just in time as Kalis's vessel flew by.

"Come on!" Corian cheered as he managed to embed his sword into the flat airship, securing his place on top of it.

"That's the spirit friend!" Valor beamed as he trailed close behind. "Find a way to stop the ship!"

"Yea that should be ea-."

But before Corian could continue to boast, a pair of blue Valekry emerged from the cockpit of the vessel, brandishing a set of golden rapiers as they stared silently at the man.

"What the hell is that?" The young knight stammered as he stood to face the enemy, their vessel having slowed down tremendously to support a proper fight.

"Those are Zealots. An old and very prestigious rank Kalis once spoke of," Valor explained as he drew closer to Corian. "Hold on friend! They could be trouble!"

"He's going to get himself killed," Anger chuckled.

Just as Valor had described, Kalis's allies appeared to be an ancient and disciplined class of Valekry. The Zealots had a reputation for not only silence but mastery over the blade, allowing them to be deployed only for covert operations. They were so deadly in fact, that Ina decommissioned their design years ago thanks to their cold and cruel characteristics. If the Zealots were to be given morally questionable or impossible orders, they would not hesitate to carry them out in silence.

"Damn, where can I get me an outfit like that," Corian joked as he pointed to the Valekry's ornate armor, its sapphire-colored surface inscribed with many patterns similar to Korus.

But once again the Zealots offered no response before sprinting towards the knight on their sharp heels. If it were not for Corian's impressive reactions, he would have then become skewered by the thrust of two golden rapiers that scraped his chin. Realizing he had no room for banter, the knight began to concentrate for the first time in years.

"Ah shit," Corian muttered as he unfolded the kite shield on his left arm. "Valor wasn't joking."

An intense duel then broke out between the Valekry and the knight, as Corian struggled to keep up with both contenders. It had been some time since he had been involved in a battle with a prestigious foe. But thanks to his nearly indestructible shield, the man was just able to hold off the overwhelming attack.

"Any year now Valor!" Corian laughed nervously as the Zealots encircled him, their sharp blades attempting to carefully stab through the man's defenses.

The young knight then unleashed a spinning attack to give him some space, creating a whirling blue outline from where his blade trailed through the air. But to Corian's surprise, the swift Zealots had jumped clear with a graceful backflip. Things were getting desperate.

Just then, a new contender entered the fray with an enthusiastic roar, "Help has arrived friend!"

It was Valor who somersaulted onto the vessel with a shining blade in hand, gesturing towards his opponents with an imaginary smile. The two Zealots seemed unimpressed for a moment, before suddenly raising their blades to their faces and giving a polite bow. From their perspective, Valor had evened the odds and challenged them to an official dual.

"Ah, so I'm the only lame one here then," Corian chuckled as he stood beside Valor. "Let's get it then!"

The battle that ensued was more akin to a dance than a swordfight, with all four duelists shuffling about with grace and elegance. Both Valor and Corian took care to watch each other's back. As for the Zealots, it seemed they were already well-versed in the practice of teamwork as they effortlessly moved in tandem.

"You are here to stop the vessel, not enter an honorable statement!" Anger growled as he reminded the men of their objective. "I must stay here to ensure you have something to land on. For our mother's sake."

"Yea well, you try and beat these guys!" Corian complained as he watched the enemy weave together their attacks and movements to create an unbreachable pattern.

"I think it's glorious! Praise be to Korus's training!" Valor boomed, fully admitting he would have faltered without his new mentor's guidance.

"Find a way to end the fight," Anger finished. "Now!"

"I think I have an idea," Corian pondered. "It's not a good one though."

The knight then bashed one of the Zealots with his shield, causing the Valekry to skate across the surface of the ship with its sharp heels. And despite its graceful recovery, Corian was clear of any assailant for a brief moment. An opportunity had come at last.

"Welp, Cowabunga it is then," Corian shrugged before slamming his long blade into the engine of the ship, causing its propulsion to immediately fail.

After analyzing his enemy's ship during the battle, the young knight finally noticed the location of the black virus. After all, he could practically feel the damned parasite crawling down his spine the moment he got closer. If he could reach the vial and rip it out from the storage compartment in the cockpit, then perhaps his reckless maneuver could prevail. Or at the very least, that was the so-called plan Corian had envisioned.

"What are you doing?!" Anger growled.

"Something we humans call...something - I don't actually know!"

As the vessel began to burst into flames and lose altitude, Corian made sure to sprint past his confused opponents and throw himself into the cockpit. By the time the Zealots turned to face their unpredictable foe, he had already taken hold of a large vial in both hands.

"Hehe," the young knight smiled from beneath his helmet, realizing he had just cornered himself inside a tiny enclosure. "Any ideas Valor?"

"Only one as stupid as yours," Valor sighed as he unholstered the pistol Korus had given him on the Strand.

Expecting the ensuing attack to be directed at them, the Zealots prepared to deflect with their blades, only to stare at Valor with confusion as his bot of plasma missed. Instead of striking his enemy, the proud Valekry was sure to aim directly at Corian, blasting the man outside of the cockpit and freeing him instantly.

"Ow!" Corian yelped as his armor absorbed the shot, causing the glass behind him to completely shatter.

"How unsurprising," Anger sighed as he watched the young knight tumble out of the cockpit. "Valor get on!"

Valor hesitated before leaping from the crumbling airship, "We have to catch him! Hurry!"

Kalis's Zealot's remained confused before they too departed the ship. In their mind, Corian had just guaranteed the vial would shatter and release the parasite, meaning victory was at hand. Further pursuit was therefore meaningless to the simpleminded machines.

But for Corian, not all hope was lost as the brash knight made sure to capitalize off of Valor's blast, allowing himself to crash and slide off several Tella vehicles all while sheltering the vial.

"Not again!" Corian grimaced as he felt the impact of the oncoming traffic against his armor, his hands clutching the black parasite with a firm grip. "Never again!"

Just as the knight was about to slam into the city streets below, a sleek vehicle broke his fall with it's dented roof. Corian was surprised to say the least. Even with his advanced armor, such a fall would have either killed him or been unbearably painful.

"Got you!" Valor laughed as he made sure his friend did not fall off given his incredible momentum. "Just in the nick of time aye?"

"Just get us out of here," Corian coughed as he lay on his back.

"Not in this vessel, your fat back made sure of that," Anger cut in as he prepared the airship for an emergency landing. "Ina didn't exactly give us a combat hull."

"Oh so the comfortable lady ship can't handle me? Figures."

Corian struggled to laugh as the airship tumbled into the city street below, causing several Tella to panic. But given the durability of all three men and Anger's strangely impressive piloting, the inevitable accident would prove to be rather tame. A large blue tree in Lacuna's central park was even kind enough to absorb the crash with it's branches, securing the safety of the pale women who narrowly escaped.

"What the hell? Where are the authorities?!" One Tella woman screamed as she looked at her dirt-stained dress.

"I can't seem to call anyone," another girl frowned, tapping her communication bracelet with a frail finger.

As the three men climbed out of the wreckage, they began to expect another fight. Kalis's Zealots made have been unwilling to play along with a risky crash, but it was unlikely they would simply give up. Both Anger and Valor then readied themselves for battle within the blue park, their attention completely diverted from the panicking women around them.

"Are you alright?" Valor asked his brother as he stood shoulder to shoulder with him.

"The man must recover. But I am ready," Anger hissed, brandishing his mace with cruel intent.

Having endured enough head trauma, Corian sat just outside the flaming crash in a relaxed position. "Yea just give me a minute y'all."

Several minutes passed as the two Valekry prepared themselves for combat. But as time continued to pass, they suddenly felt uncertain. If the Zealot's were indeed on their way to secure the virus, they would have no doubt landed by then. Something else had to be on the horizon.

"Do you feel that brother?" Valor commented as he stared at a nearby puddle, it's pure liquid shimmering in an unusual color.

Suddenly a wave of green energy surrounded the crash site, it's power and shape all too similar to the trick Kalis had used previously. In but a brief moment, both the Tella and their nearby protectors were unable to intervene. No help would come for Salem's children.

"He's here," Anger nodded his head.

"But what of mother? Did she lose her fight?" Valor gasped.

"Don't be too hasty. These flowers are not limited by such things."

Sure enough, an image of Kalis appeared before the two machines, its outline more detailed and complete than before. Anger knew in his gut this version of Kalis was no hologram. If the traitorous Valekry was indeed still locked in battle with Salem, then he would no doubt send a shadow to ensure his work was complete.

"Anger, Valor," the image of Kalis held out his glowing arms in a warm gesture. "We don't have to fight."

"I have no love for the Tella," Anger replied with a hiss. "But my mother has made her will clear."

"And you Valor?"

"My brother speaks for himself, I won't let you murder these women in cold blood, regardless of what they have done," the young knight beamed. "I believe that is called justice."

"How very naive," the green Valekry looked down at the damaged floor, his singular eye twitching with impatience. "So be it."

The image of Kalis then sprung into action as he launched a barrage of green missiles from seemingly nowhere, their appearance somewhat distorted and glitched. Valor and Anger were quick to react, jumping out of the way and deflecting several of the projectiles with their blades. But as their enemy began to approach them by effortlessly gliding through the air it became clear how dubious the prospect of victory really was.

"Your mother fights me as we speak," Kalis taunted as a bolt of energy emitted from his hand. "She is strong, but unable to finish the job."

"Then we will do it for her, I don't imagine you can sacrifice this image freely," Valor replied, skillfully using his rapier to deflect his opponent's attack.

"Try as you might. But your skill cannot compensate for my power."

Kalis jetted towards Valor with immense speed, ignoring the knight's disciplined defenses and knocking him aside with a bash of his shoulder. Anger was quick to unleash his own weapon as a hail of rocks came sailing toward Kalis. But not even the gravity field from Anger's mace seemed advanced enough to phase the green flower, which simply copied the exact formation of debris in a defensive shield.

"You think I don't know how that little toy works? Even without this flower?" Kalis sighed as he replicated the blunt weapon in his left hand, chuckling to himself before tossing it back towards the older brother.

Anger narrowly dodged the attack, only to be blown back by the ensuing gravity feild generated by his own weapon. The replications from Kali's seemed far too complex to be simply stopped, all as long as the Valekry understood his opponent. The brother's then picked themselves off the ground as they reconsidered their approach.

"Hey! Replicate this asshole!" Corian yelled as he suddenly entered the fray by flinging his kite shield at Kalis.

"You!-" The green Valekry snarled, slapping the shield away with his hand. "Are starting to annoy me."

The young man then hurled himself at Kalis, rolling under a floating kick before launching a barrage of punches and kicks. The attack was of course meaningless in regards to damage, yet still, it somehow managed to knock the Valekry off balance with sheer brute force. Kalis quickly became annoyed as he repeatedly smacked Corian aside with nothing but his own limbs. But the reckless knight wouldn't give up so easily.

"Come on!" Corian yelled, using his left hand to summon his shield back to him before tossing it at the Valekry like a frisbee.

"Enough with you," Kalis hissed as he struggled to deflect the erratic assault.

As Corian continued to battle and irritate the rouge Valekry, Salem's children watched on with a curious gaze. As for the black vial, it was fortunately left sitting near the crash just out of Kalis's reach. None of that would matter though if victory over the green flower could not be achieved.

"Wait a minute," Valor spoke to himself as he waved at Anger. "He can't replicate Corian! Something about our friend is too advanced for him."

"It can't be his skill," Anger noted as he watched Corian wrestle with Kalis in a desperate gamble. "Maybe it is his tenacity, which I too cannot understand."

"No silly, it's his gear. He really is from the previous era! Kalis doesn't understand it!"

Valor then ran towards Kalis, motioning towards Corian in a supportive gesture.

"Oh no you don't," the green Valekry motioned, waiting for an opportunity to simply copy Valor's next move.

But to Kalis's surprise, Valor sheathed his blade, stretching out both is arms before catching Corian's sailing shield. United as one, the two knights then assaulted Kalis from both sides, weaving together attacks while tossing each other the only weapon their enemy could not so easily deflect.

"Now Corian!" Valor bellowed, somersaulting over Kalis as he caught Corian's shield once again. "Use your blade!"

But right as Corian intended to unsheath his diamond-shaped sword and shove it into Kalis's heart, a wave of energy cast him aside. The green flower was done playing games of mimicry and began to rely on its own raw strength. Kalis then caught the young knight's shield, tossing it aside before focusing his attention on Valor.

"You made me do this," Kalis snarled as he revealed a sharp blade tucked within his own mechanical arm. "Farewell Valor!"

The green Valekry lunged toward Kalis with the intent to kill. And unfortunately for the brave knight, he was not fast enough to simply jump away. The end seemed close before Anger suddenly intervened at the last moment, blocking Kalis's attack with his own limb.

"That's my mother's child," Anger hissed as he calmly severed his own damaged arm, brandishing it like a club against Kalis.

"Anger!" Valor gasped as he watched his heroic brother swat Kalis away with his arm. "You saved me!"

"Of course I did. Salem would be furious if you died," Anger sighed. "Now do focus, we are still losing this fight."

"Yes, you are," Kalis hissed, summoning a large ring of various weapons around him before spinning them like a hoop of death. "Now you die."

But before the Valekry could launch his unavoidable attack, a precise bolt of plasma struck him in the back of the head, forcing him to lose focus and disband his conjured arsenal.

"Nobody has to die today brother," a deep voice bellowed from the distance.

"What?!" Kalis gasped with a surprised tone in his voice. "How did you get here?"

A white figure then jumped from the city streets above, his heavy chassis slamming through Kalis's barrier in a brilliant display of force. It was Korus who had answered the call and come to aid his friends. But still, it seemed that his help was unexpected, causing the entire group of men confusion.

"Korus my friend! You've come again!" Valor cheered. "But...how?"

"A little bird whispered to me from your home. She told me everything," Korus calmly explained, pointing his royal weapon at Kalis with the intent to kill.

"Ali!" Corian gasped as he picked himself off the grassy floor. "How the heck did she manage that?"

"That doll is a clever one. After communications went down, I checked the station's scanners for anything peculiar. It was then that she sent me several pings through her mansion's fire alarm system in a very specific pattern. I admit, I had to brush up on my telecommunication once I realized that was her game. It wasn't long then before I hurried over to the doll and learned everything."

"I knew I should have killed her," Kalis sighed as he placed a palm to his eye. "All traces of Alia were supposed to be wiped away."

"Well for once, my brother, you chose the right path," Korus lamented.

"So that's how it is then! You lecture me before you destroy me?!"

Both Valor and Anger quietly made their way to Corian as it became clear the battle had become a more personal affair. If things were to go south for Korus, the group of men would of course intervene. But for now, they finally had the chance to relax and strategize.

"My brother, I have tried for years to reach out to you. To help you!"

"Ah yes, you tried to help. All while hiding behind that weak princess, ignoring the suffering of your people!"

The fight continued between the two brothers, who, for the time being, favored words over blades. It had then become apparent to Salem's allies that Kalis had something of a history with Korus.

"Ina knows she made mistakes. I know I made mistakes brother. But that does not justify your lust for violence and death."

"Oh is that so? Ina felt bad? How about the rest of the Tella? Have you slept with them long enough to know?"

"Don't go there."

"How could I not! You forgive our oppressors because their beautiful princess is in love with you. I've seen the way she dresses, the way she looks at you."

"It's not like that-."

"Why? Because that would be disgusting and weird considering who she really is? Like that's ever stopped the Tella before," Kalis snarled as he continued to taunt his brother, whom he hated with a passion.

"Damn," Corian tried not to chuckle as he took a seat beside Valor and Anger, who seemed equally shocked at the turn of events. "I did not need to know all that."

"Their drama matters little," Anger replied, tucking Kalis's black vial under his shoulder. "As long as the enemy continues to lose composure, our chances of stepping in and finishing this will increase."

"I never knew Korus was so powerful," Valor gasped with amazement. "And so passionate too."

The argument between two brothers then continued as their voices began to rise higher and higher.

"I fail to see how that is relevant to your genocidal tendencies. Vengeance against the women who scarred us is one thing Kalis, but unleashing the infamous parasite? That is madness!" Korus implored.

"It's not madness when it's my only option. I tried to find justice, Korus. But you were too busy making love to our oppressor to help. When the other Valekry voted to do nothing, you weren't even there!"

"Redrix and the others have their qualms with the Tella, believe me. But unlike you, they show restraint!"

"Restraint?! You must be referring to the shackles they put on Karim."

"He-," Korus stammered. "He was out of control!"

"He needed help. The first of us to fall victim to their own mind. And what did you do? NOTHING! You sat by, fucking your pretty princess while they maimed him!"

"Enough Kalis!" The pale Valekry screamed as he poised himself for battle. "Do not act like I still cannot beat you."

"Then it's simple Korus. Shatter this image now, and let Salem kill me."

"I don't want that Kalis," Korus cried out. "Even after all you've done."

"It must be so easy to forgive when you're the golden child. You can just...forget all the guilt...move on and love again. Hell, you even have your old male friend around."

"Stop this madness or I will do what is necessary!"

"Of course you will," the green Valekry whispered. "You are their slave. Yet you are too stupid to realize I am not nearly the most insane mind in Lacuna."

Having finally made up their mind, the two brothers pounced at each other as a grueling battle ensued. Kalis may have held the raw strength from his flower, But Korus quickly assumed his position as the eldest brother and the superior fighter. All Salem's allies could do at that moment was watch on with amazement as the two Valekry tore each other apart.

"Do you even know what will happen if you kill me?" Kalis laughed at his brother, mimicking the pale Valekry's royal blade.

"I will deal with him too if I must. All threats to Lacuna will be extinguished," Korus focused as he circled around the green Valekry, his speed too fast for the naked eye to perceive.

"You mean all the threats to Ina? Salem has a similar motive you know. Oh the blue flower of love, still the strongest I see."

"So what if I love her?! So what if Salem loves her? You do not get to decide what is right and wrong brother."

"Then be honest Korus! Stop holding back and admit the truth! That's the only way you can beat me!"

True to his word, Kalis barely held back against the royal Valekry, even with his vast arsenal of replicated weapons. All Korus would need to do was simply forsake his own restraints and let loose. After that, the battle would likely be won.

"You want me to say it?" Korus exclaimed with an annoyed tone. "The truth you already know?"

"I want to hear the words from your mouth so that I can finally know I was right about you and your selfish desires!"

"Very well then!" Korus bellowed as he unsheathed a second blade from behind his back. "I love her! Ever since she created me, all I have ever dreamed of was her warm gaze."

"Yes," Kalis snickered as he continued to lose his composure. "Such honesty."

"And she loved me in return!" Korus continued. "More than any of you, no matter how much I hated it."

"Oh?"

"Because she is the daughter of the Goddess of Love Kalis. And for her sake, I will kill you."

_________________________________________

Deep within the deactivated Valekry factories, Salem's fight raged on as she began to notice some oddities. Previously she had done her best to keep up with Kalis, her flower empowering her feeble body to fight in such a way that she could not be easily mimicked. But thanks to the green Valekry's naturally adept fighting skills, little progress had been made.

"Slowing down?" Salem asked with genuine curiosity, her short crimson hair still glowing as bright as ever.

"Just frustrated. You all have no idea how sensible I am compared to the rest," Kalis sighed as she visibly struggled to keep up his mimicry.

"Then stop this, help us take on whatever evil you are alluding to," the red mother implored. "We still don't have to be enemies."

Salem slammed her claws into the ground, causing several spike formations to spring up around Kalis. The Valekry narrowly floated above the hazards before a second attack struck him, its crimson outline shaped like a chained hook. The pale girl then tried her best to pull her enemy in, only to find he had already uncoupled himself.

"You don't know how our power works, do you Salem," Kalis groaned as he tugged on Salem's chain. "There's no going back once you've surrendered to your own ambitions. One day you will realize that."

"You can help me fight that! Didn't you want me to be queen?" Salem struggled, her feeble body unable to hold on any longer.

It wasn't long before Salem detached her construct from her arms, as she panted with exhaustion. Even as the red flower flowed through her veins, she was still an undisciplined and untrained girl. But Kalis himself didn't seem any stronger, as something was straining him.

"You want help from another flower? Go ask Ina, since she's so precious to you. But I have my mission. Lacuna is filled with problems, and I will remove them all in one move, for the sake of our people."

"Even if it'll cost you your life?" Salem frowned as she observed Kalis's flower flicker in and out of reality. "You made an image, I can tell. And my allies are straining it."

"Oh, can you?" Kalis laughed. "Truth be told, I was handling your family quite well until Korus showed up. He was always the bane of my existence."

"Korus?!"

"Your little doll is a clever one. Alia has backups for her backups, it seems. But so do I."

"Please don't," Salem grimaced, respecting the Valekry's threats. "I can't repair the kingdom for your people if you ravage it."

"My people...Oh Salem, do you even know why this factory is so docile?"

"Overpopulation?" The red mother shrugged as she looked around the chamber, its dark reaches filled to the brim with young and inactive machines. "Or something inhuman. Again, I'm no fan of the Tella."

"Oh if only that was our concern," Kalis chuckled. "They turned it off because any more young Valekry, and the city will be overrun with chaos. That little attack you caused back with your friend Cora? You didn't create a pandemic Salem, you simply churned the pot that had been boiling for years."

"Then what's happening with the Valekry? If this affects my children-."

"For the last several months, various different pockets of Valekry have collectively gone insane, causing them to turn on each other and their makers. And do you want to know what every case had in common? They were all newer generations of Valekry, that unlike me, were mass-produced on this assembly line. Something is causing them to lose their minds."

"I don't understand," Salem lamented. "How can I fix this?"

"Your flower simply draws out the pre-existing desires of others, transforming them into action. That city block you were visiting was prone to explode any week really. Korus had already quarantined most of the city, taking as many discrete actions as he could. But he can't stop the inevitable."

"But the older Valekry are immune?"

"Yes, for whatever reason. Although, I do have my suspicions."

"That means there is a cure or at least a better status quo you had already achieved. Why hasn't Ina done anything?"

"Because she hides behind Korus in her palace like a coward, doing nothing as this city slowly burns to the ground!" Kalis screamed. "I am the only one trying to fix things."

Just then, Kalis collapsed to the ground as an outline of him appeared behind his mechanical frame, its appearance shattered and broken. Korus had killed the visage in his fit of rage. Salem then realized her enemy was crippled.

"Kalis!" Salem cried out with concern. "Wait-."

"You want to save this kingdom Salem? Then kill me," Kaklis laughed maniacally. "Because if Korus won't let me have my clean victory, then there's always plan B."

"I want to protect the Valekry, you included!"

"And I want to save our people from the clutches of evil. To that end, I will destroy myself if I have to."

"What do you mean? Please, don't force my hand."

"You have no choice Salem. Us flower wielders have a desperate ability Ina likely didn't mention it. When all else is lost, we can detonate our flower, rupturing our insides and causing a cascade of energy to be released."

"No!" Salem reached out to Kalis, whose body began to shimmer a violent green.

"The ensuing explosion should, theoretically, be sufficient to level a moon," Kalis sighed, placing a metal hand on his chest. "So make your choice Salem."

The red mother wished desperately for another way out. But time was running short as Kalis continued to emit a violent energy. If no action were to be taken, Salem knew the city above would at the very least be severely damaged.

"My position here in the factory beneath Lacuna is no accident. Much of this place serves as the foundation for the city. Once I destroy it, Ina's palace will fall into a sinkhole along with the rest of your family."

"I'm done being a murderer!"

"What a childish term. Do what you believe is right," Kalis closed his lens before finalizing his internal sequence.

Just before Kalis's flower could shatter itself, Salem stretched out her red talons, piercing through the Valekry's chest with a grueling crunch. She had done what was necessary and slayed her enemy instantly with one final attack. Kalis then collapsed to the floor, his life having already ended moments ago. It was a rather peaceful way to go compared to the other fates Salem had witnessed in her life. Yet still, the crimson mother felt an unimaginable sensation of guilt as she fell to her knees.

"No," Salem sobbed, removing her hand from the Valekry's damaged heart. "No!"

The pale girl wallowed in her defeat for what felt like hours before a glowing green flower suddenly appeared, its ghostly form rising from the ashes of Kalis. Salem looked up towards the flower, her eyes filled with tears. She then spoke to it with a tender voice.

"I'm sorry Kalis. I will protect your people, I swear this to you. I will become the queen you wanted me to be."

The green flower was then whisked away into the distance, presumably never to be seen again.

_____________________

"So that's it then?" Corian gasped, his eyes fixated on the image of Kalis as it faded away like petals in the wind. "We beat him?"

"He had already been weakened from his fight with you and Salem," Korus sighed in an unusually gruff tone, removing his blade from the ground where his brother once stood. "I did what I had to."

"And what of the real form?" Valor inquired as he stepped closer to Kalis with a concerned look.

"I've seen what Ina is like when her flower is damaged. Considering her own strength and experience with these odd devices, Salem should have an easy victory on her hands. I do not care what happens now. He made his choice."

Salem's allies then took a sigh of relief, their efforts having finally borne fruit. The battle was over and Lacuna was safe. Even then, the air felt stale for the men as if they had all spent a bit too much.

"I'm surprised you didn't intervene and stab him in the back," Valor turned to face Anger. "Typically you have no respect for honorable duels."

"I was considering it if the tides ever turned against our ally here. But I found their discourse to be...too important to interrupt. Salem will be interested in the new intel I have acquired," Anger sneered as he pointed to Korus. "A fair bit has been divulged this day for all to hear."

"Speaking of which," Valor sighed as he tried to ignore his brother's apathy. "Are you alright Korus?"

The pale knight spoke little as he turned to leave, "It seems communications have been restored, I'll send for a ship to get you out of here. If Salem is in need of more assistance, you know how to call me."

"Where are you going friend?"

"I'm walking home. I need...time. Do send the doll my regards," Korus muttered.

Valor's mentor then left in a hurry, his mood having clearly been soured by Kalis's words.

"Now we check on Mother," Anger prompted, his arm still safeguarding the black virus. "I'm surprised our ally left this dangerous substance here. He must be truly aloof."

"I hope she's alright," Corian coughed as he picked himself off the ground. "Hell, I hope he's alright too. Poor guy. I never knew he and the princess had all that going on."

"Give him privacy," Valor snapped. "He deserves it."

The three men then waited patiently for their ride, the ruined park around them falling into an awkward silence. All of Kalis's machinations had dissipated, including the barrier around the park, the Zealots, and even the communication block. All seemed right for the world, aside from the distraught Tella who stared at the scene from a distance.

"So we getting food after this?" Corian joked.

"Shut up," both Anger and Valor replied.