Memphis Felicity stared in awe as he watched the black dragon-like creature sway to the voice of whom he assumed to be Kul, the goddess of light and mana. She was mana but the light seemed to make up her skin. She sang a peaceful melody. The being resembled Kariah-Belle if she suddenly had a growth spurt.

The Darkness Tamer looked around for Eliyah's daughter. He had wounded the child. Memphis had been told to slaughter the Nadire branch. He wasn't told why and he wasn't getting paid to ask questions. Still, he had made sure that the girl wouldn't die. He wouldn't murder both of his best friends' children.

At least not yet.

Seeing as how she wasn't anywhere to he found, he assumed Eliyah had done it.

Memphis' body ached from fighting. Blood caked his snow-white hair. The red liquid would've gotten into his eye if it wasn't swollen shut.

"So it's true," said Memphis while chaos and blood continued to decorate the village that surrounded them like a paintbrush decorates a canvas. Hired thugs we're slaughtering everyone within. Such a thing wouldn't be possible against the famed Nadire branch without the anti-mana toxin. The toxic gas could block the ability to form mana. "You've given the gods to mere children."

Eliyah Stoneheart looked at his childhood friend shocked. He was just as beaten up as Memphis. His lip was busted and his jaw had a big lump. Blood ran down the brown skin of his left shoulder. He too was bleeding from the head. "You know the mole?"

Memphis observed the single star that moved about in his rival's sleek black armor design. Before, there were three.

Eliyah Stoneheart held the dark god within. From what his client told him, he had given up that power to his son, Kaden.

The Mad Traitor once loved the boy. He was his best friend's kid after all. However, after becoming a Darkness Tamer, his obsession with acquiring a life force for his daughter was what replaced that love.

The information was correct. He's gotten weaker. Now's my chance. Thought Memphis.

He moved to where the midnight black creature stood still entranced by Kul's voice. He was cut short when Eliyah intercepted him. Memphis could see the determination and excitement in his former best friend's eyes.

As his own heart raced, a mad grin spread across Memphis's face.

Their swords would've clashed and blown away anything not protected by mana but suddenly the two were in stasis. They were frozen in time.

"Be quiet!" Shouted Kul, annoyed and almost childlike. As she spoke the soft melody of her voice could still be heard singing. "I am singing to my beloved!"

For the first time since facing Primordials, the man was terrified as that radiant being stared at him with eyes of pure light. It was as if she was reading his very soul. Her expression softened when she looked deep into his eyes.

"Hatred for fear or love is still hatred. You should know that Memphis." The goddess knew that his journey down this dark path was to one day give his accumulated life force to his daughter. She then turned to Eliyah and nodded. "I leave him to you then."

"Kul!" Shouted Lilith trapped under debris. "Please save my darlings!"

The goddess nodded. She walked over and touched the dragon's forehead. The black scales slowly crumbled until Kaden was completely revealed. The child's wound had already closed but a scar would remain where Memphis had struck him. Memphis could've killed the child but hesitated. A mistake that he regretted. He should've just gotten it over with and given the child a swift death.

"Sorry, my love. I don't have much time in this form." She told Kaden and Memphis was sure she was talking to that dark god. She suddenly vanished taking Kaden along with her.

His sword clashed with his rival's. The impact destroyed nearby buildings. Memphis tried a follow up the attack but hit the air when Eliyah vanished and reappeared next to a barrier made of black matter that protected Lilith.

A bounty hunter jumped from behind the rubble. He poised to attack Eliyah.

Memphis' rival turned and parried then kicked the bounty hunter away.

Memphis blitzed his associate and jammed his ice sword through his body. He fell to his knees as the ice started to freeze him over.

The man looked at Memphis wide-eyed.

Memphis felt his life force leave him as he conjured an ax made of ice. "I told you, didn't I? I said if anyone of you gets in the way of my bout with Eliyah, I'd kill you myself."

The Darkness Tamer's eyes were cold when he buried the ax in his head.

Memphis wouldn't have had such an easy time killing this bounty hunter but thanks to his one-star transcendence, a black mana skill, he was light work.

Memphis conjoured a pole ax made of ice in one hand as he picked up his ice sword. He turned to see Eliyah watching him.

"We don't have to do this Memphis," Eliyah said calmly.

"I'm getting paid to wipe out your wife's clan! If I don't I die and so does my Aya. She can't die until we face each other! Admit it! You want this too old friend!"

He heard Eliyah curse at the sight of black ice shards hurtling toward him at faster-than-sound speeds. He deflected everything with his black matter sword saying, "It doesn't have to be this way! We wanted to be heroes! We're brothers!"

"Were! We were brothers!" Memphis said already within striking range, his sword poised to attack. "I won't let you impose your will on me this time Eliyaaaah!"

The clash of attacks caused an explosion that would kill anyone not protected by mana.