I looked at Opal, my disbelief barely contained. She had been watching us, hadn't she? It should have been obvious to her.

"Of course not," I replied with sincerity.

Opal smiled subtly. "Good, I would have known if you were lying. But that doesn't mean you've told the whole truth either."

"Meaning?"

"You're too kind for your own good. Despite trying to keep them all at arm's length, you can't help but care for them. It may not resemble the love you knew before coming to this world, but to say you feel nothing would be a lie."

I shrugged dismissively. "Assuming that's the case, why does it matter?"

"Because the gods aren't going to let you be revived."

Jessy is amazed at how well this is going, as everyone in the room is laughing. Sharing stories about Alex and how much he means to them. However, it certainly became a bit more intimate than she was expecting once Princess began talking about everything she'd like to do. It was strange for Jessy because, for the first time, she felt threatened in a way she never would've expected from the demons.

Knowing how much Princess loves Alex, and while Lilith hasn't said anything directly, it was obvious from her reactions how she felt about him too. In this moment, Jessy truly sees something pure and exactly what Alex is fighting for. Both humans and demons sitting together, sharing stories, laughs, love, and even rivalry. Since this entire war started, Jessy felt there was hope for the future.

"I just want another chance to spar with him," declared Lilith, her eyes wandering to the ceiling. "I need him to see how much I've improved." Laughing, she rubbed the back of her neck, slightly embarrassed. "Not sure why, but it feels like I owe him that."

Lacey nudged her. "You're also hoping to impress him."

Lilith's muzzle darkens. "S-So? What if I am?"

"It's not a tease," Lacey smirked dismissively. "Speaking your heart might actually get you further."

Princess chuckles. "Fortunate that you're with the canine clan, isn't it? We're not too proud to share. So long as you know I'm the alpha, I'm not against letting you into our pack."

"What are you two talking about?!" Lilith is overwhelmed with embarrassment as she buries her head into her hands.

Jessy looks from the group and down at Alex... It's strange; despite the emotion being at its highest, she hasn't noticed a single flicker of his embers starting to glow.

My gaze narrows on her. "How would you know?"

"I can catch their whispers, if faintly," she smirked. "You know perfectly well why, Alex."

To an extent, I do. One part is likely due to her magic being closely related to what is typically gifted by gods to their creations. However, I've known only two worlds that gods didn't inhabit. Earth and the demon realm. Since gods didn't govern them, I learned that the creatures living there exist outside these deities' view and this allows them to catch some of their thoughts, so long as they weren't alive.

For these things to line up perfectly, without divine intervention, is truly equal to winning the lottery. But when it comes to winning a cosmic impossibility, I know how that ends up all too well.

"Speaking to me then, you understand they'll eventually come for you," I pointed out.

"That's fine by me because we'll be done here before you know it."

"What are you talking-"

"I need to tell you a story. Once you hear it, everything will make sense."

"But um… What else should we talk about?" Bane asks, breaking the uneasy silence that had fallen over the group.

They all exchange glances before turning their attention to Jessy, who remains deep in thought, trying to understand why Alex hasn't responded. Even her soul hadn't stirred in a way that would suggest he was close enough for her to guide him back. It's as if something else is preventing him from returning.

"This isn't right," Jessy states, her brow furrowed with concern. "I can't explain it, but it's like something is blocking him."

"Is our emotion not strong enough?" Shadow asks, his voice tinged with doubt.

Jessy shakes her head. "That's not it. It's different, something more powerful."

"Everyone," Princess calls out, drawing their attention. They notice her fur standing on edge, a sign of imminent danger. "Azure is coming."

Before they can respond, Azure appears before them, her face grave and her demeanor stern as she surveys the room.

"Well, isn't this a surprise?" she remarks, her tone laced with sarcasm. "But not really. This is about in line with what I expect from the Hero." She looks around, her eyes searching. "So, where is he? I'm tired of this little cat-and-mouse game. We're going to settle things here and now."

"Azure, you can't be here," Princess says firmly, standing up to block her view. "I swear, I'll explain everything when I return."

"What's there to hide?" Azure laughs. "Is the Hero planning a party?"

She easily brushes past Princess, walking forward with her head held high until her foot hits something. Confused, she looks down and finds the Hero lying there, motionless. The room falls silent, everyone holding their breath as they watch the scene unfold.

Azure rolled her eyes. "The old playing dead trick. Like I haven't seen that one before."

She reaches down, but the moment her hand touches him, she freezes, the smirk vanishing from her face. Everyone in the room remains still, anxiously awaiting what will happen next.

Slowly, Azure rests her palm on his cheek, her voice softening. "I know you're one to play jokes, but even you must admit this one is rather cruel." She pauses, waiting for a response that never comes. "You got me. Wake up." But he remains silent and unmoving. Azure pushes him gently, her voice growing more insistent. "Wake up." Princess can see the haunted look in Azure's eyes, a mixture of disbelief and growing fear. "Wake up!" Despite her increasingly desperate attempts to rouse him, the Hero doesn't stir.

Azure stands up, her gaze fixed on the Hero as if trying to comprehend the reality before her.

"You lied to me," she whispers, her voice barely audible. "What was the point of all this? Didn't you want peace? Weren't we supposed to get married?" Azure lets out a long, heavy sigh that seems to drain the warmth from the room. "I'm tired of all this."

But as her gaze moved to the ceiling, Azure's gaze fell on something she felt was familiar in ways she didn't understand. A ball of light lazily drifted toward her; before she even realized it, it touched her. No one around understood what was happening, but a shiver ran down Princess' spine as a sound echoed, like a shell beginning to crack. Without hesitation, she rushes to Azure, grabbing her before turning to Lacey.

"Teleport us back now!" Princess commands, her voice urgent and filled with dread.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Lacey casts her spell without a second thought, and everyone vanishes from the room.

"All clans have their own stories of their ancestors," Opal begins, her voice rich with ancient knowledge. "But very few would have any glimpse of what the truth was. You're familiar with the tales told by the Canine, and it's one of the few that even contains the prospect of a higher being taking care of them. The Feline and Equine clans have only vague stories of being kept, with no further detail on what that truly meant."

"So it's true, we're from the same world?" I question.

"Indeed," Opal confirms, a slight smile playing on her lips. "However, only one story refers to these beings as humans, and that is our story. One that we've not uttered since entering this world. We've known about you humans for quite a long time, and our stories spanned many things, from battles to the death to unlikely romances. But it all ended when the first were pulled from your world."

I take a moment to absorb this revelation, trying to understand it all. It's one thing for a single species to be transported, but it's almost unthinkable for multiple creatures to share the same fate.

"Was it due to the gods?" I question, my mind grasping for an explanation. "It's one thing to transport one species, but it's something else entirely to do it to other creatures too."

"I sadly can't say for certain if it was or wasn't due to a god," Opal admits, her expression pensive. "Perhaps it was, but like most things, we may have slipped their mind. But I'm telling you this because of one moment and why I can't die until I see things made right."

I lean in, my full attention focused on her words. "I'm listening."

Opal's features shift, a deep-seated hatred etched into her face. "The reason I'm here, why I can't die, is for one simple thing…" She pauses, her voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "My daughter isn't the one who killed me that day. It was the gods."

Everyone lands in the blackened remains of the dragon clan, quickly rising to their feet. They look over to Princess, who is still holding Azure close, trying to comfort her.

"It's okay, sweetheart. Alex isn't gone. We can bring him back!" Princess reassures her, her voice filled with determination.

Azure remains motionless, but Alex's party and the Generals can see something that chills their blood. Half of Azure's face has fallen away, revealing her feral side beneath. Azure glances up at the sky for a moment, and in the next instant, a massive explosion erupts. The force of the blast knocked everyone off their feet, but Princess reacted quickly, grabbing Alex's party and pulling them close, shielding them until the dust settled. As they looked up, they were met with a terrifying sight—Azure, now towering before them in her full dragon form, a creature of immense power and raw fury.

Princess slowly rose to her feet, her eyes locked on Azure, her expression grim, and her voice filled with urgency. "Generals, you're with me. Jessy, you and your party must continue the ritual. Time is not on our side, but we'll do everything we can to buy you as much as possible."

Ben stepped forward, his hand gripping the hilt of his great sword as he drew it from its sheath. "I'm not the type to sit idly by. I may not be able to hurt the Demon Queen, but I'll be damned if I don't at least try."

Alice moved to stand beside Ben, nocking an arrow in his bow. "We've been through thick and thin with Alex. Even if it's just a second longer, we'll fight with everything we've got."

Lilith took her place next to Princess, cracking her neck and knuckles, a wicked grin spreading across her muzzle. "Time to see if all that training with Alex paid off."

"Just don't lose yourself in the heat of battle," Lacey cautioned, her staff at the ready.

"Letting loose is what she does best," Shadow quipped, stepping back to stand with Jessy. "I'll provide support from here." With a snap of his fingers, bony claws erupted from the earth as a small army of skeletons clawed their way to the surface.

Bane let out a heavy sigh, twirling his daggers before melting into Lilith's shadows. "We're probably doomed, but what else is new? Let's get this over with."

A smile tugged at the corners of Princess's mouth. This scene was all too familiar, reminiscent of the old days when the second generations would clash over territory. Despite the bloodshed, those battles forged unbreakable bonds between Princess and the various clans. Their situation was dire, but Princess refused to let any harm come to those she held dear.

"Hold on, Azure. We're coming to save you," Princess whispered, her words carried on the wind.

"The gods?" I asked, my brow furrowed in confusion. "I thought you said they weren't aware of you?"

Opal closed her eyes, her expression somber. "They weren't, but they were very much aware of my daughter." She took a deep breath before continuing, "When I gave birth to Azure, I felt a presence unlike anything I had ever experienced before. While everyone else feared Azure because of her being a feral, I was terrified by what her future might hold." She bit her lip, the memory clearly painful. "I began to have nightmares of Azure being controlled like a puppet, crying out in a dark void, unable to break free. I didn't know when it would happen, but I knew it was only a matter of time."

"So when you told Princess to protect her?" I prompted, beginning to understand the gravity of the situation.

Opal opened her eyes and nodded solemnly. "It was a warning, a plea for help. But when that fateful day arrived, even I couldn't have imagined the cruelty the gods were capable of. Azure was playing outside, lost in her own innocent world, when I saw a ball of light descending from the sky. Before I could even cry out for Azure to run, to get away, it touched her."

A white ball of light. I knew that spell all too well. A divine message, one so powerful that it effectively acted as a command spell, compelling anyone who heard it to obey without question.

"They made Azure go berserk," I said, the realization hit me like a punch to the gut.

Opal's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "They did. The only reason she didn't continue her rampage, the only reason more lives weren't lost, was because Princess killed her, even if it was only for a moment."

Opal was right; it all made sense now. Command spells could only be broken when the objective was met, or the target died. While it was only a theory, I couldn't shake the feeling that the gods had wanted Azure to wipe out all the demons. But gods were known for their fickle nature, quickly losing interest and moving on to other things that caught their fancy. So once Azure had fallen, they had moved on, leaving the demons to pick up the pieces.

"Okay, I believe you," I said, my voice steady despite the weight of the revelation. "So what does this mean for us? For Azure?"

"It's simple," Opal said, scooting closer to me, her eyes locked on mine. "What my daughter needs right now is someone who can save her from this nightmare, someone who can protect her and all of demon kind. Promise me you'll save her, and I swear to you, I will support you with every fiber of my being."

Lacey stood her ground, her eyes locked on the colossal dragon before her. "Maximize magic! Greater hold!" she shouted, her voice ringing out across the battlefield. A brilliant light enveloped Azure, attempting to hold the beast in place, but it shattered moments later as the dragon let out a deafening roar. Azure's tail whipped towards Lacey with terrifying speed, but the mage was ready. "Twin cast!" she yelled, summoning a second staff in her left hand. "Vermillion shield!"

The shield materialized just in time, absorbing the brunt of Azure's tail strike. Lacey skidded backward, her feet carving furrows into the ground as she fought to maintain her balance. Lilith, her heart pounding with exhilaration, charged towards one of Azure's massive legs. Pride and determination surged through her veins as she closed the distance, her fists clenched and ready to strike. With a fierce battle cry, Lilith unleashed a devastating punch, her knuckles connecting with Azure's scaly hide. The force of the blow sent shockwaves through the ground, and Azure stumbled, momentarily thrown off balance.

"How do you like that!" Lilith taunted, a wild grin spreading across her face.

But her moment of triumph was short-lived. Azure's other claw swung towards her, striking Lilith with the force of a falling mountain. Pain exploded through her body as she was sent flying, her breath ripped from her lungs. In that instant, Lilith realized that without her mastery of Key, the blow would have been fatal. As she twisted in midair, a surge of appreciation for Alex flooded through her, mitigating a large chunk of the damage. She landed on her feet, bruised but unbroken, and without hesitation, she launched herself back into the fray, her fists poised to strike once more.

Bane emerged from the shadows behind Azure's horn, his heart racing faster than his fight with Alex. He knew that, unlike back then, Azure would kill him if he made a mistake.

"Blindness," he whispered, casting a spell that shrouded Azure's eyes in impenetrable darkness. For a fleeting moment, the dragon seemed disoriented, but her fury would not be contained. She thrashed her head wildly, forcing Bane to retreat into the shadows, narrowly avoiding the sweeping horns that sought to impale him.

Ben charged forward, his great sword held high. "Martial art: Topple!" he roared, swinging his weapon into Azure's side with all his might. But the dragon's scales were like an impenetrable fortress, unyielding and unbreakable. Undeterred, Ben kicked off Azure's body, propelling himself away from the whipping tail that threatened to slice him in two.

Alice watched as a volley of luminous strands arched through the sky, striking Azure's back in a dazzling display of power. He closed his eyes, focusing his energy. "Strike: Conduit," he commanded, and bolts of lightning crashed down upon the dragon, engulfing her in a blinding flash. For a heartbeat, Azure was stunned, her muscles seizing from the overwhelming surge of electricity.

But the dragon's resilience was legendary, and she quickly recovered. With a vengeful roar, Azure hurled a massive rock at Alice, its speed defying belief. Alice stood frozen, knowing there was no way to dodge the incoming projectile. Suddenly, Ben appeared by his side, pulling him out of harm's way just as the rock hurtled past, missing them by a hairsbreadth before slamming into the ground with a deafening explosion.

"This is no time to relax," Ben warned, his voice steady amidst the chaos.

Alice sighed, watching the generals fight with a mix of awe and trepidation. "Do we really stand a chance?" he asked, doubt creeping into his voice.

Ben gazed into the distance, his expression thoughtful. "I can't say, but something about that has me hopeful."

Alice's attention was drawn to Princess and Shadow, the only two not actively engaged in the battle. Something about Princess sent a shiver up his spine as if the very air itself was being drawn towards her, pulled by an unseen force.

"I can only give some of my mana," Shadow said, his voice strained. "Otherwise, my puppets won't be able to protect Jessy."

Princess nodded, her resolve unwavering. "That's all I can ask for. Unlike all those decades ago, I won't be able to draw from the corpses. At most, I'll incapacitate her for a few minutes."

"Then what?" Shadow asked, the weight of their situation hanging heavy in the air.

Princess smiled. "Then I hope for a miracle. Now, keep watch; I must concentrate to draw in more mana from the land. When Azure makes a move for us, call my name."