"I will kill Loki if it's the last thing I do!" Edward yelled as the black steel pierced through the heart of the creature standing before him.

He retracted the blade, glancing at the brown sludge that the demons had for blood.

They were large, humanoid beings, their skin like a reptile, however. Hardened against the likes of steel and were practically invincible, if not for the blessed blade, 'Orizo', that had been bestowed to Edward by the renowned Blacksmith of Upper Kingdom. Their teeth were pointed, all one hundred, mirroring the shape of sharpened knives, and their claws curled inwards, prepared to rip human flesh apart.

"Are you sure Loki killed your father Edward?" a soft voice called from behind him.

Edward turned his attention towards the teenaged boy behind him and his face contorted to represent that of confusion. He then straightened his posture and shook his head slowly.

"I have no doubts Ifran."

"Must you exact revenge Edward? You are up against a god after all my friend." Ifran cautioned, stepping closer as he slid his sword back into the scabbard on his side.

"What kind of son simply allows his father to be killed and do nothing? I must avenge him, even if the price calls for my life."

Edward, in a fluent and swift motion, slashed the air horizontally, cleansing the sword of the demon's impurities. Afterward, the black blade disappeared into the leathery scabbard.

"I'll follow you to the end. What kind of best friend would I be if I allowed you to take this journey alone."

Edward and Ifran stood in front of the large wooden doors, engraved with golden runes and wards. A feeling of unease swirled around in Edward's stomach as he drew his sword once more. Special runic symbols illuminated the edges of Orizo in an azure blue and Edward closed his eyes.

He could sense the blade's immense aura and the power it held inside. He lured the essence into the center of his heart and his eyes snapped open to the sight of the door slashed and his hand outstretched.

"According to legend, Loki is more powerful inside his castle. Are you sure we should continue?" Irfan questioned, his grip tight around Edward's shoulders and his bright green eyes staring into the ocean blue of his best friend.

Edward smiled, placing his right hand onto Ifran's shoulder to return the gesture. He watched as the wind coursed through the golden strands of hair that fell below Irfan's neck. He exhaled deeply and shook his head from left to right before he parted his pale, pink lips.

"Do not worry about me. Even though I do not know her, my mother is a Goddess and my father was the greatest among all warriors." He said, his smile growing wider when he paused. He looked to the sky and inhaled the freshness of the air before he continued. "As long as I draw breath, they are with me and I shall not falter."

Ifran smirked, his eyes sparkling with motivation. He nodded his head twice before removing his hand from Edward.

"Then let us proceed."

As soon as they stepped foot into the gray cobblestoned castle, their entire world warped. Their vision meandered around reality, bending, and conforming to the will of the castle's illusions.

Edward looked down at the sword that he clenched tightly in his fist, only to watch as the black color shifted to a dark green. The steel then bent towards him and its smooth texture became scaly. Where a sword once stood, a vicious viper had now replaced and it wasted no time in wrapping itself around his arm, constricting his blood flow before latching its venomous fangs deep into Edward's neck.

Edward fell to the floor as the excruciating pain overwhelmed his body. His vision began to fade as the silhouette of his best friend morphed in front of his eyes. His world went black and a deafening silence overtook his ears.

"Edward!" a voice pierced through the silence.

"Put it down!" Ifran shouted, a desperation seeping from his voice. "Edward put it down! You're going to kill me!"

Light returned at once and Edward found himself standing over Ifran, his sword slightly penetrating the skin of his best friend's neck. He stumbled backward, dropping his sword to the floor. The metallic blade flapped on the stone floor faster and faster until it came to a halt, the clanking sound reverberating around the walls.

Edward fell to the floor and his hands pulled at the black rows of curls on his head as he rocked back and forth.

"I'm so sorry!" He chanted. "Please forgive me, I'm so sorry!"

"You were going to kill me! You'd let revenge drive you to kill your only friend?!" Ifran snapped, pulling himself to his feet as the trail of red raced down his neck.

"No! No! I'm sorry!"

"Edward I'm sorry too. I don't know why I said that. It must be Loki's magic. We should hurry and get to the top floor before we kill each other in the process."

Ifran reached for Orizo but pulled his hand back immediately when it burned his flesh at the slightest touch.

"A thousand curses, you foolish blade!" He muttered as he frantically shook his right hand and massaged it.

Ifran stepped forward and outstretched his arm to Edward, offering him assistance to his feet.

"It seems I can't hand you the sword. It must only accept you." Ifran joked, pointing towards the fallen blade. "Let's keep going."

Edward liberated the blade from the stone floor's bed and sheathed it. He nodded his head and the two continued.

The stairs were long and tiresome, seeming to swirl around like a giant serpent for all eternity. With each step they took, it felt as though three new steps formed.

It took them three hours before they reached the top.

In front of them stood a giant wolf, its fur silver and gold. Its fangs were diamonds that glistened even amid darkness. Behind it, seated on a throne and garbed in a green robe, sat Loki with his golden staff in hand.

"Welcome Edward," Loki greeted and then laid his dark green eyes on Edward's companion, "and you Ifran. I've been expecting you two for quite some time. Meet my, pet. I call him, Sparky. Isn't he just the cutest?"

Edward and Ifran exchanged looks of confusion as they armed themselves with their swords and adapted into a fighting stance.

"You killed my father!"

Edward lunged forward, scraping his sword against the metallic fur of the wolf. Sparks illuminated the room as Edward broke into a frenzy of slashes. Ifran held his sword out in front of him and closed his eyes, channeling his magical energy and imbuing it with all his magical power before joining Edward in his desperate attempt to break through the beast's fur.

"Oh, come on, Sparky isn't even fighting back. You, mortals, are so cruel towards animals. Sigh. Oh, how I sigh at such cruelty." Loki mocked, covering his eyes. His tone changed with his next words, a coldness behind them. "Sparky, show them what you're made of."

The wolf released a terrifying bellow before slapping Ifran away with his tail. Edward's neck rotated to assure Ifran's safety but before his eyes could land on his best friend, he felt the golden tail collide with his stomach, sending him flying into a nearby wall.

The cobblestone crumbled, creating a cave around Edward's body. Blood spurted from his mouth as his eyes opened slowly.

Edward tightened his grip around the sword, allowing its magical aura to heal him. After he was healed, his eyes locked onto Ifran's body, laying against the rubble unconscious.

His blood bubbled and he rushed over to the wolf. He now stood firm in front of it, his rage only fueling the magical power inside Orizo. Loki sat it, his head slanting slightly as the magical power seeped from Edward's body.

"You're se—"

"Shut up Loki!" Edward screeched. "All the killing, everything you took from me, I exact revenge right now! My father, my best friend! No one dies in vain!"

Edward foot scraped against the floor as he was about to move when suddenly he couldn't.

His eyes quivered and a lump formed in his throat, blocking his breath. He looked down, to see a golden blade protruding from his chest. His neck rotated slowly.

"I-Ifran..?"

"Narfi." The voice corrected.

His body shivered when the coldness of the voice lashed against his ears.

"What kind of son simply allows his father to be killed and do nothing?"