Issue 10: Words of Wisdom

Karma Fortress – Meeting Chamber

Tabbris: It seems Seraph has lost as well.

Ariuk: So even our resident tactician with his "elaborate stratagems" was no match for the monkey's brute strength. How...unfortunate.

Naya'il: This cannot go on any further! We should gather our forces and attack him all at once!

Javo: Wait. With our fleet's firepower, we risk causing immeasurable damage to the land.

Naya'il: This is hardly a time to be merciful! He must be dealt with at once!

Ariuk: Now, now. Let's not get hasty. It's in such bad taste. I'm sure Xivicio would be more than happy to take care of our little...problem.

Naya'il: ...Fine. Where is he? What could he be doing at a time like this?

Tabbris: Hmph. Where do you think?

-Virgin Valley Cascades - Outskirts of the Vunada Kingdom-

Zandor awakens in The Virgin Valley Cascades not far in the outskirts of the Vunada Kingdom. Zandor looks around confused.

Zandor: What!?

He turns around, startled by a laugh coming from behind him from Xivicio. Xivicio crosses his arms and lightly taunts Zandor.

Xivicio: Can't even handle a fall from the heavens... You lack training!

Zandor assumes a fighting stance.

Zandor: Xivicio!?

Zandor then looks at his hand and body realizing he is in The Virgin Valley Cascades and how his body has rapidly healed before reassuming a fighting stance. Xivicio walks closer to Zandor and sits down against the wall of the bath.

Xivicio: Relax. Enjoy every moment! You fight, then eat good food. You fight, then drink fine wine. You fight, then sleep with beautiful women. Hell, fight with beautiful women!

Xivicio chuckles.

Xivicio: That is what it means to live.

Zandor sits down on the opposite wall of Xivicio in the bath.

Zandor: I am not like you.

Xivicio: So you think.

Xivicio motions his finger to two women servants'. The two bows and join the two men in the bath bringing refreshments along with them. Zandor not feeling the soft touch of a woman in thousands of years is momentarily distracted by the woman's voluptuous body before quickly snapping out of it. The woman presents him with a shot of liquor. Zandor accepts then she pours another. Zandor then grabs the entire bottle and chugs the drink down as the woman applauds him. Zandor in his soften state of mind tries to embrace the woman servant only to be met with a surprise punch to the face from Xivicio knocking Zandor out. Zandor quickly reawakens and sees Xivicio admiring the moon.

Xivicio: The world has become a boring place. That fool Tabbris, your father claims he'll bring salvation to Gaea... He has this grand plan for it all.

Xivicio takes a shot of the liquor offered to him by the servant then continues.

Xivicio: He actually thinks he's going to save the world. The Great Rebirth. Ridiculous!

He said as he crushed the cup in his hand then continues.

Xivicio: They are all too dependent on Mantra, that is why Roku and Seraph were so weak. The battles I fight for them are disappointing. They are unsatisfying. Things were different before. Yes... We used to fight side by side. Those were the days... Now then.

They both begin to give each other the side eye as the tension builds up. They both stand and face each other with one lightning-fast movement.

Xivicio: Let's settle this!

To be Continued...(in Issue 11: The Final Lesson)