XXIX

"It would be unwise to kill her without consulting the Bringer." Aviree landed on the shoulder of the golem and glared at the Knight of Mirath in the distance.

Cleera was irritated. The woman from the Death Faction seemed to enjoy her torture. With a snap of her fingers, the golem stretched its fingers and let Serta slid down to the ground.

"I'm not in the mood to confront a being from the other planes!" Cleera closed her eyes and the chaos golem slowly dissipated into red particles. She and Aviree then floated down.

"But I'm not done killing!" A sinister smile formed on Cleera's face as she extended a hand and the red particles from the chaos golem transformed into countless bat-like creatures, "Chaos Swarm!"

Cleera then turned to the Death Cultist and sneered, "Send your creatures, will you?"

The woman who's called Serta bowed, "Without the Light faction, the Order will have a problem with my Death Spells!"

"Rise!" Corpses on the ground opened their eyes devoid from any glint of life. Bones started to grow from their missing limbs.

With both women's permission, undead and chaos bats advanced, carrying the air of the slaughter that's about to commence. The bats were the first to reach their target and dived to the first rider that their sight set upon. Instead of claws and fangs, the bats exploded, turning flesh and bones to ashes--leaving only the metal armors intact.

Screams of agony could be heard. The Knight of Merath did not choose to go to the offensive but decided to protect the servants of its lord. It jumped into the center of the formation, careful enough not to trample any mortals below. With its body as the center, a golden dome enveloped all the livings around it.

The old man who was obviously the leader of the riders, turned with hateful gaze after witnessing the death of dozens of his men.

"You'll pay for this!" Saliva dripped down the old man's lips, his eyes bloodshot. He had succumbed to the chaos in his heart.

This was the cue for the women to retreat as the undeads slammed into the golden dome. Cleera finally revealed her ability of flight just like Aviree.

"Wait for me!" Serta sprinted on the ground before she summoned a huge bug with spiked carapace. She then hopped on top, expertly avoiding the spikes. Holding one of the bug's horns, it took flight and kept up with the chaos women.

Kzel took a more lax position as he watched the three figures coming his way. After a moment, Aviree and Cleera landed on his side. The third one, a woman with foul aura on the head of a huge bug landed infront of him.

"This is our Chaos Bringer." Aviree introduced with discerning eyes.

"Greetings," The woman hopped down and bowed with a brow raised. She could see that the Chaos Bringer was only level 1, "As I've told your followers, The Third Circle of Death wants an alliance with your Chaos Faction."

A sinister smile appeared on the woman's face as she continued, "After all, Death comes to all. Even for your Chaos god!"

Murderous intent seeped out from both women on Kzel's side. He chuckled and retorted, "Death and life  are just a product of Chaos and Order. You don't threaten one that is above life and death."

Serta only smiled and bowed once again, "Of course!"

"What made your faction presume that Chaos will entertain your terms?" Kzel's eyes turned cold.

Serta felt a shiver down her spine from the pressure but immediately escaped its grasps.

"The Light and Order have unlimited allies, whereas Chaos have none. We are both loathed. My Circle believes that with Chaos, we will finally be able to rise in equal footing with the Life Faction." Serta waved a hand and a scroll emanating black mists appeared on her hand and handed it over to the Chaos Bringer.

Kzel inspected its content and his eyes started to widen the longer he read.

"A gift for a long lasting friendship!" Serta's spouted the words that seemed to have another meaning.

Kzel tossed the scroll to Cleera and finally revealed a smile, "When...and where?"

Serta jumped on her bug and answered before taking off, "Three days. Temple of Korbe."

"A long lasting friendship." Kzel repeated, watching the figure disappear into the horizon.

"An Underworld Contract?" Aviree and Cleera shouted at the same time. They further searched its content that transformed into their form of writing.

"Well... Should we visit the underworld?" Kzel asked the two girls who started bickering.

"Do yo have anything to trade with the lords of the underworld?" Cleera revealed a sly smile.

"I know you two collected a lot of souls!" Kzel smiled back with the same expression.

"I'm not sharing." Aviree said, crossing her arms on her chest while Cleera nodded in agreement.

"If that's the case," Kzel approached them and extended a hand, "I'm not sharing the contract too."

"WAAAIT!" Both women pulled the scroll out of Kzel's reach. "Alright we will share."

"Go on then. Chant the arcane words." Kzel stepped back and observed. He didn't know magic and could only rely on them.

Aviree traced her finger on the scroll until she found what she was looking for.

"Re'as ter gafir...." Cleera joined in the chanting. When they finished, a green portal appeared spilling green liquids that corrupted the earth upon contact.

"I'm off," Kzel immediately jumped in and the two women hurriedly followed, afraid that the portal would close.

Kzel covered his nose from the stench the moment he appeared on the other side. He could see a floating lantern that gave off a green light. What it illuminated, was the countless piles of bones that extended as far as the eyes can see.

As soon as Aviree and Cleera appeared on his back, a figure floated towards them. It wore a tattered black robe with a hood that covered its immaterial face, unrevealed even with light. The trio warily stared at the gatekeeper as it extended its bony hand.

When Kzel understood what it's asking for, he instructed Aviree to hand over the contract. The gatekeeper grabbed the scroll and unfurled it. After a second of inspection, it looked at the trio and summoned its scythe before it said with its ghastly voice.

"The contract must be signed!"