The Ballad of Erohim was an old song, and it was sung with the night fires when the Great Storm rages outside. Children learn of it when they begin to talk, and during times of darkness there is no better way to keep your head up and your spirit calm.

It was a song about the darkness that plagued their world for countless lifetimes until Erohim brought the light; Circe was dumbfounded to hear the rest of the convoy take up the song.

Twenty thousand voices all as one, from the mouths of young and old, they stamped their feet and their voices were as one, she could feel their spirit being uplifted. Of all the worlds the Empire controlled, did they really understand their inhabitants?

Behind the convoy, a bright golden light flashed, it must have been far away, yet it was still so bright. Circe was in the air, and she watched the golden light rise like a divine spear and sliced through the atmosphere, nearly hitting the moon, Ga. Somehow, she did not think even the moon could stop its ascent.

The golden light was like a second sun emerging from the earth, and the convoy went mad in adulation, and with no indication given, they all stopped the movements of the vehicles and stepped down, and fell on their knees in worship.

Circe could understand the reason, she also felt the urge but hers was not of adulation but horror. The light she saw was unlike anything she had ever seen before in her life and her experience could point to nothing to explain what it was.

There was a kind of Aura emitted from that light that made her shift her gaze away from it, as her instinct screamed that looking at that light for any longer would bring madness, like a mortal staring into the bright sun, she would burn her soul to ash.

Yet why did the light seem so familiar…

From her vantage point, she saw the red clouds far in the distance began to shake and dissipate as a shockwave was coming from the origin of that flash of light tearing through the expanse. Her eyes widened, there was no way the people worshiping outside would escape the devastation coming. She called upon her Incarnation, it was of a girl holding a flute in her right hand.

The flute was made from ice, and the girl was dressed with wind and her hair held a garland made from lightning.

Due to the nature of her heart Circe rarely called on her Incarnation, for it was too powerful for her heart to bear the strain, and it would explode inside her chest.

The Incarnation smiled and entered Circe’s body and her eyes lit up as mini tornadoes formed around her body, and Circe began weaving runes from the three elements! “My heart… please hold for a little while.”

If Rowan were here he would be astonished, what Circe was doing should be beyond what any Incarnation State Dominator should be doing, but she gathered everything together and with a cry, she unleashed the rune, and they expanded and moved towards the back of the convoy creating a shield five miles in length, just in time to block the incoming shockwave.

Her body shook, and she vomited blood, barely able to keep herself in the air. A soft sound like a flute blowing swept through the convoy, and her Incarnation vanished with a smile. Circe nearly fell from the air while she squeezed her chest, pain covering her face.

The vehicles rocked as they escaped the brunt of the shockwave, and when it swept past, to Circe’s amazement, the shockwave was a voice. It was a roar of victory.

When she returned to her vehicle she found Nana waiting for her, “Circe, do you recognize that voice?”

“Not really, I was concentrating on blocking the sound from harming the people here. So did you find the voice familiar?”

“Maybe… sounds like the mystery man we have here.”

“Erohim? How’s that possible?”

“You still call him by that name?”

“What, do you expect me to know his name? In case you didn’t get the message, that man would never reveal anything he wants to keep hiding.”

“Forgive me, but I thought you were close to him.”

Circe sighed in irritation and turned away, “Let’s just focus on getting through this. I know he would not be upset with us increasing our movement speed, these changes happening should be the result of this beast calamity, and with new variables in play, we needed to move.

“Circe dearest,” Nana said, “Rico wants the convoy to move towards the nearest relay station, he wants to know about this guest we have with us.”

Circe frowned, “Why are you telling me such, you do know the threat he posesin fact, were you not the one who pushed for following his orders.”

“That was before the world began to die! You do know whatever is happening is central to him, my dear, look at the Nemesis board!”

Nana pushed the Data slate towards Circe, one look and her face went white.

Number one : Erohim [5 billion]

Rowan had only counted the people he killed, not the endless amounts of beast that entered his serpents stomach.

©

Dorian, Son of Scarlet stood before the body of a golden wolf at the Second Great Circle, and watched the skies turn red and the world scream in pain, he cracked his neck and returned to butchering the beast, collecting parts from it while keeping choice cuts of flesh for him to devour later.

The flesh of these beasts were rich in energy and consuming it would aid him in his elevation to the third great circle.

Plus the single greatest advantage he had received from this expedition that made Dorian giddy with glee. Burying the bones of these creatures in his Territory led to the growth of his Mayfly Tree.

It boosted the vitality of his Territory and the barrier over his ascension that had plagued him for decades was finally loosened. If he was not mistaken, the bones of these creatures were even increasing his lifespan!

If he devoured that great lizard on the third continent, surely that should be enough to reach the Third Circle. Enough to kill Fury!