Pain

Dean sat under the tent along with his surbodinates, the candles fixed at the edges of the tent brightened the place in the middle of this cold night in the western part of the Ariaol desert. The council members sat around in a circular manner, at the middle top of the table was a single florescent light which brightened the table where several items were placed on; a geographical survey of the planet Rex, minature figurines of both armies whuch were opposite to each other, a long thin stick with a triangular end was placed on the table, this was the night prior to the invasion on planet Rex

"Alright people, let's get planning shall we?" Dean said, handing over the stick to Arnold, his minister of War affairs.

"We'll be heading for planet Rex, a whole planet and not a kingdom" Arnold stood up from his seat, the figurines were all packed togat=ether and divided into three componets (Left, right and the middle) this figurines represented the Manari army. And opposite them were many figurines which obviously the Rex army, minature castles and kingdoms. Arnold took the stick and used it to push forward the Manaris packed army forward crossing the red line which represented the gate/boarder.

"So we can't rush using all our warriors, that's why I suggest we clone our first batch army which would be the first to raid into planet Rex." Arnold heaved sigh, looking at the council members faces to get a sign of approval to which he got.

"Great strategy Arnold." Dean complimented as he nodded his head in approval.

"By that we gain attention of their troops, but we wouldn't be winning so what use is it us?" Lien the Prime minister asked. For a moment there was silence until Shaggy one of the council members spoke.

"We use that to delay and take time, meanwhile..." Shaggy moved some amount of to the back of the minature castles and houses.

"...We send a mere amount of cloned army to attack from behind, this would not only weaken their defense and would not only weaken their defense but would also make them it easier to eliminate most of them"

"That might help weaken them, but we still don't stand a chance we're going up against a whole planet..I say we withdraw from this madness and let them be." Lien protested, this caused an uproar of arguments between the members, They were all silenced by their leader's cry: "Silence"

"This war is for only the brave and for every individuals beliefs and each view of how they see their aspect in life. Every Manari has his or her own beliefs, born to only serve themselves and I won't stop you from following your belief, if you belive that this quest is a total nonsense then leave for I won't stand in your way!!" Dean yelled pointing out at the opening which led out of the tent.

"I'm not speaking of cowering, I'm just worried about the safety of the troops." Lien countered while shifting his gaze to Arnold.

"Don't worry about their safety at all Lien, don't worry about them, they shall fight till the end, we must leave a scar on Lazarus's planet at all cost." Dean said, he seemed to be calm abit. Silence overtook the air, before Arnold managed to disrupt it.

"Now, since we would be a bit short-handed, we shall send in troops from all cardinal points, but all this troops shall be mixed with some set of clones, which would cofuse them after witnessing multiple fake attacks, they shall weaken themselves and this would help us land a fatal strike." Every member nodded their heads in agreement, while Argon kept on demonstrating with the figurines. A sound awakened the troops, from the tent which the council members were, they could here loud cries and clanging of swords on each other. Dean immediately rushed out of the tent along with the council members, A brawl had already begun between the throngs of troops and an unknown entity. Dean levitated into the air as time abrubtly stopped, he levitated forwad and beheld the attacker who was the Misfortuned Knight Jhonson!! Dean had a surprised look on his face, he twirled his fngers as the army who were about to take their strikes on him vansished and so did the other ones behind them, as time resumed once again. Dean landed on the ground with a thud, sending some particles of sands away, the other council members soon joined in and so did most of the soldiers who were a bit surprised at what happened while the majority were asleep in their respective tents.

"What do you seek here Misfortuned one." Dean advanced forward with stealth. Jhonson, a brown skinned man with a curly undercut and wearing an armor coated in blue and black, with his sword firmly on his left hand which he had already spreaded out like wings.

"I seek to get to The castle of Halikton" Jhonson said with confidence in his word. Dean almost laughed but refrained himself, an idea came to his mind, a smirk formed on his lips.

"You've been always searching for the Castle of Halkiton, but do you know that the castle is actually at planet Rex, where Lazarus totures all your people, you are created to be a noble salvation and to free your people from the shackles of Lazarus." Jhonson wouldn't have believed this, but the fact that he had gotten into a fight with Lazarus before and he escaped, this made him think that there could be a hint of truth in his words.

"And I'm supposed to believe that?" He said this to actually put Dean to a test but Dean wouldn't fall for it, not one bit.

"Of course, and I'm willing to help you cause I'm also an enemy of Lazarus. And rumor has it, he and the people of Rex prosecuted your parents." His words totally flared Jhonson up, his eyes glowed bright red and him body was covered in crimson energy.

"He shall pay! Lead me to planet Rex oh good comrade and you shall be rewarded after I bring Lazarus down!" Jhonson said, tightening his fist.

"We plan to strike tomorrow, so we wait." Dean smirked, his plan was an immdiate success.

"No!! There shall be no delay, lead me there now" Jhonson's anger was at its peak, and Dean couldn't stop him so he had to rally up his troops there and then to head for planet Rex...

______________________________________

The rain poured down heavily as there, the night sky void of any steller object, Gary sat on the comfty bed, the hotel room 204 was really luxury with a kingsize bed which Gary sat on, a crystal UHD tv set up on the wall the walls were coated in plain pink and white designs, on the shelve which was situated beside the bed was a land phone, at the middle of the bed were roses which were formed into a heart shape. He really felt akward staying in Rea's room, but it was not like he could oppose, since he needed to get to the bridge train station through her help. Gary didn't want anything such as intimacy from her, if he tried anything of such, Vincent would revoke him from doing so. Rea walked out of the bathroom, only with a white towel covering her body Gary felt awkward about this but managed to compose himself. She was busy doing her things while Gary just kept on staring at the window. Rea looked at his and smiled before walking seductively towards him.

'Oh sh*t! This better not be what I'm thinking.'

Rea sat right beside him, some amount of dollar note were in between her left hand. Vincent had already created a picture in Gary's head, a picture of he and Rea making love, this annoyed Gary but there was nothing he could do, this was one of the reasons why he wanted Vincent to get his own seperate body.

"Hey Rea, do you know of a device called the bridge train?" Gary's question gave her a puzzeled expression.

"Wait, are you an alien?" Her reply totaly signified that she knew about the bridge train.

"Yes, I'm an alien, and I need to get back to my planet as soon as possible." Gary replied.

"Well.." Rea handed the money which was initially bundled up in her hand to Gary. "...I'm giving you this amount of money for...you know, saving my life, although it wouldn't be able to board you a bridge train since it cost over a million dollars to board, and I'll still need to seek my father's permission before withdrawing such amount of money from my account." Gary felt depressed there and then, but he still managed to ask:

"What do you mean by saved your life?" Gary didn't really understand her statement, can't she just have a birthday party without a boyfriend?

"My ex-boyfriend and I went through a breakup, and it was made public, many haters started trolling me, and on the day of my birthday, I wasn't supposed to go with a bouyfriend this would ruin my reputation and embarass me since I was already cyber bullied by him." Gary shook his head, he tried hiding the dissapointment, but he couldn't pull that move just right.

"Why do you have to care about what others think?" This question was a bit rethorical but Rea answered him.

"Well, when you're a ceebrity like me, you have to.." Gary nodded in agreement, not that he knew how it felt, but in order not to further the conversation. He gazed at Rea's blue eyes, and then caturing her face, such embodiment of beauty. Slowly, both closed the space between them as they prepared to caress each others' lips. Now inches before their lips could touch, the door abruptly opened instantly seperating them from each other. Arsao, the boy who interrupted their session, bowed down his head in shame as he made to go out, Gary called him back. Arsao looked a bit older than Gary although he was also a teen, he had a shot blonde hair, wearing a white long shirt and white pants finalised with white sandals.

"No..no, its fine, how may we help you?" Gary stood up from the bed and walked towards the boy.

"Are you Gary? Gary Osamir?" Arsao had these inoccent eyes which moved Gary who replied:

"Yes, that's me." Gary's instinct told him not to believe what Arsao would say, but his innocent eyes were compelling.

"I need your help with an astray ghost, my name's Arsao I was sent by old man." Arsao said looking at Gary with hope. Gary was at first confused why the oldman would send him to seek his help. Should he toss the coin, of course he won't, it would look a bit stupid when he finds out that Oldman actually sent him.

'This guy dosen't look in anyway suspicious, now get off it Gary.' Even Vimcent the apathetic one supported Arsao. Rea had already escused the two to get dressing.

"Okay, sure. How do I help you?"

Lazarus smirked looking down at the battelfield from the top of his airship, he couldn't spot Dean amongst the throngs of Manari troops who were getting killed like ants, Mak who was beside him also formed a devilih grin on his face. Mak noticed something about the soldiers and adressed it to his brother.

"This troops of the Manari aren't giving all they've got or are they weak?" Lazarus only smiled hearing this question from Mak.

"Their leader Dean is a coward as you can see, he isn't even among the troops." Lazarus replied still looking down as his troops massacred their enemies.

"What if they have another plan?" Mak was really worried but his question still didn't remove the smirk on Lazarus' face.

"They would have another plan obviously." Mak was moed by this, his brother wasn't even worried about that. "But this is an entire planet Mak, I have Rex soldiers from different kingdoms informed about the Manari so they're also on guard. And also have an army surrounding the four possible portaling points. So don't worry brother, this war is on our side." Mak bcame a bit releaved by his brothers' word.

The cold wind swayed forth, snow fell down from the sky as the Rexian troops stood as custodians of one of the portaling point which was at the eastren part of the planet in a kingdom known as the ice region which had never experienced any sort of heat. A huge portal opened as throngs if Manari army charged at the Rexian who immediately reacted by fighting back. the Rexians were only dilivering little magical attack which just turned the troops into dust like they weren't living matter.

Lazarus had a smile on his face not until a pegion which later turned into a humanoid brought a message to him,

"Sire, the Manari warriors are nthing but clones." The messenger explained briefly. This explained so much, why all of them were just turning into dusts immediately after an attack. "And they are at the every portaling points." The second message came as a shock to Lazarus who had an expression of worry on his face.

'Why would Dean send Clones to attack me?' Lazarus thought.

The war had ended in the Rexians favour but there was still an unrest, the people didn't really know why their lord, Lazarus hadn't raised a feast to their victory, the Rexian army had surrounded the portaling points, but they had been waiting for hours but nothing happened, the soldiers who had resigned to fate that the Manaris were cowards and weren't coming anytime son. Lazarus doubted this and could barely sleep, he was in the royal room walking back and forth with his head processing series of thoughts. The moon had already gotten to its zenith, the wind of the night was really soft and compelling. Most of the troops had already gone into a deep slumber when of course, the true Manari soldiers invaded, this strategy was new and was introduced by Jhonson.

Roar!!!!

Gary, Rea and Arsao stood in front of a brown door which led to nowhere in particular since the both ends of the door could be seen. The door stood in the middle of a grass lan located at the country side of new york. An arcane symbol was embeded at the middle of the door and the door knob, Arsao walked forward signalling for Gary to follow.

"Behind this door is something way bigger than you think, there are dangerous mystic creatures like soul wraiths and a home of demons." Gary starred at Arsao with fear evident in his eyes. "But don't worry, we aren't going to that compartment, we're going to meet an astray ghost, she holds the key to Azura magic, if she wants, she can end the Azura powers." Gary now believed him. "Use your hand to trace the Arcane symbols." Gary did as said, the arcane symbols started glowing, the door creeked open and beyond it was a black void.

Several hellhounds; large demonic dogs with two having large wings, all growling to feast on somethings, their necks chained and a man, Miash held them captive. He looked down at his fearsome pets before speaking to them:

"You know the haps, get to Earthplica and find Gary Osamir. Off you go boys!" Miash released his grip on them as the dogs ran straight into their respective portals.