God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

The battle raged on ferociously...

Bullets, arrows, spells, and curses whizzed past Cain's ears everywhere second, so much so he had gotten a bit numb to it all.

He drew {Maelstrom} back to a full crescent for what felt like the thousandth time.

His aim was true as the compressed water arrow cut through the air with a shrill wheezing sound, smashing and burrowing right through the torse of a Devil, killing it in a single blow.

Although his aim was true, the same conditions not be said about everyone else.

Because of the distance, accuracy tended to fall off for the most part. So they could not rely on it too much. The same was true on the Devil's side as well.

And so, they could only rely on quantity instead of quality.

With ever hour, the amount of magic projectiles exchanged only seemed to grow as casualties grew proportionally.

Still, the casualties were kept to a minimum as both sides knew how to erect shields.

"The mana of the mages won't last forever." Steve muttered as he fired a bolt of magic into the sky.

It arched across the chasm and struck the ground harmlessly, creating a small crater.

However, in the next second, thousand of black veiny vines shot out of the ground, tangling many Devils and tearing them to shreds, greedily sucking up their blood as well.

This nightmarish growth was very quickly destroyed by the Devils just moments later before it could wreck serious havoc.

He clicked his tongue and turned to Cain.

"Hey... Aren't you going to say something?!"

BOOM!

The stone spire shook violently.

A bolt of fire had struck it, sending boulder hurling down on the humans below.

Steadying his footing, Cain clicked his tongue in annoyance,

"Shut it, would you?! I'm trying to concentrate."

They had been fighting nonstop for what felt like days now.

His arms had gone sore and were on the verge of being numb.

His mood had long since turned sour.

He crouched down as another explosion rocked the world around him.

"Damn it!" He cursed as he was thrown right off his feet.

His eyes widened and he quickly reached his arm down to Steve before he slipped off the edge and fell to his potential death.

"Thanks." Steve said with a tired sigh.

Suddenly he let out a frustrated groan.

Cain grimaced, thinking ot was a pained groan instead,

"What's wrong?"

Steve turned to him, a difficult expression on his face.

"This... Vince and Calio need your help."

Cain's expression faltered,

"An Aether Beast attack?"

With Steve handling the logistics, he had been the one to suggest the special items that would help them in their fight against the Devils. As such, plans had been in the making.

It was a supposed to go over smoothly, save for a potential attack from Aether Creatures or Mutant Beasts that has somehow managed to sneak past Valestorm and the horde of Devils that filled the broken city streets.

Steve shook his head,

"Worse."

Cain's lips trembled,

"Worse than an Aether Beast attack?"

"Its the Soulfiend Parasytes again. They've somehow managed to spread through the convoy. Vince is buying us some time. From what he said, the victims have progressed even beyond the final stage and are almost indistinguishable from normal humans..."

Cain went silent for a moment, processing the words he had just heard.

"I see. Tell him to stay that way. I'll be there soon."

Steve exhaled in frustration,

"That's not all."

"There's even more? Can this day get any better?"

Steve mirthfully shook his head,

"Unfortunately, no. Lukas and the others on that front are under heavy siege and are getting pushed back. It won't be long before they are overrun."

"Shit!" Cain cursed as he slammed his fist into the ground.

He could do many things, but being in three places at once was not one of them.

"Hold on..." Steve suddenly said, his brows furrowed,

"Hunter just told me Eva has made an appearance and his helping on that end. They might be able to hold out." Steve said with a heavy sigh of relief.

"Then that just leaves two places to be at once."

"We could probably hold out while you handle those nasty buggers, but the rate of casualties might spike..." Steve trailed off.

Cain fell silent, his mind churning with thoughts..

Then he nodded.

"I have a plan..."

He space behind him became volatile then split open.

A hand of golden steel stretched out of the rift.

The body of the {Golden Steel Herald} was revealed to the world.

"What is your request, Master?"

Cain couldn't deny he was a bit proud of this strange metallic creature.

During the earlier battle, it had quickly proven to be the most dangerous of all his contracted creatures.

Ruby had been a barrelling boulder of mass destruction and the {Argent Amphithere} was a wicked scourge that spat blue fire from the skies.

Yet both of these powerful beasts, were unable to create as much death as this silent, sinister murderer.

Its arms could turn into the sharpest of blades and from its body shot an endless stream of golden chains that could bind, constrict, suffocate, and even crush its victims to death, completely disregarding their identity as mighty Devils.

Truly, it was a weapon of slaughter.

And although he was proud of the tinman, he was also a bit frightened by it.

After all, he could clearly sense the soul of the elemental within it growing.

He couldn't help but wonder what it would grow into...

That was definitely something interesting to look forward to.

He closed his eyes and opened the {Mana Vault}.

Some time ago, he had returned to Gwendolyn to enter the Gate of Stars. He had returned with the {Mana Vault} filled to the brim with glowing stars.

Placing his hand on the Steel Elemental's chest, he connected his will to a brightly glowing platinum star within the depths of the {Mana Vault}.

Then he opened his eyes.

The aura surrounding the {Golden Steel Herald} immediately ballooned several times over.

A strange noise came from the body of the Elemental as it swelled in size before shrinking back to its original size.

Steve's lips trembled as he observed the physical changes of the Steel Herald with a wry smile,

"How terrifying."

The body of Enoch had become more streamlined and vicious with ever part of it sharper than a razor.

Its golden flesh had dimmed a bit, the vibrant lustre replaced with a biting cold light.

"With this much power, you should be able to handle my request." Cain said coldly.

Enoch bowed, "Whatever it is you wish, Master."

'He's also quick on the uptake. How nice...'

Cain cleared his throat,

"Then, maintain the {Golden Halos} I have up right now. You can use those spells too. Just don't get carried away."

He could sense a faint excitement coming from the Steel Elemental.

"As you wish." Despite that, because it had no face, he couldn't tell what if was thinking.

Or if it did think at all...

He shook his head and turned to Steve,

"I'll leave this kid in your hands."

Steve chuckled painfully,

"You're joking, right?"

Since when had he, a great mage, become the babysitter of a magical murder machine?!

Cain shook his head seriously,

"No. It's all on you now, great mage. Please, take care of it."

And with that, Cain split the scape before him open and jumped through, leaving the two alone atop the spire.

The wind blew across his face.

With it was the scent of scorched hairs, a faint aroma of blood, and the biting sting of metal and magic.

Completely ignoring Steve, Enoch turned around.

He was a strange, complex creature.

He had no eyes, but he could see.

Had no ears, but could perceive sounds.

Had steel for flesh, but could feel sensations...

He stretched an arm forward.

With knowledge of the {Divine Essence of Metallurgy} programmed into its very mana core, it was more of a second nature than anything else.

The shaky barriers surrounding them suddenly became stable.

The Steel Herald stretched its other arm forward.

The pale golden arm began to morph until it became something that resembled a sword stuck in a strange, twisted battlstave attached as its wrist.

Steve watched, his mouths agape as hundreds of magic circles blossomed around the strange steel-fleshed being.

He had seen this spell far too many times not to know what it was.

He couldn't help but chuckle.

It was indeed rather humorous.

From each magic circle, an enormous star-tipped blade bloomed, each one slowly rotating.

The wind picked up speed.

His long hair whipping around, Steve laughed into the crimson heavens.

He couldn't help but feel the depths of his being boil with a strange vigor at the sight of this challenge.

Unbothered by the maniacal laugh in the background, the strange mind within the body of golden steel flesh became to spin wildly, so much so, its golden body began to heat up. The moisture from the air surrounding the Steel Heral evaporated, forming a layer of steam that rolled off its steel flesh like a cape.

In an instant, thousands of star-tipped blades shot into the sky in a parabolic arc with a loud bang.

Boulders below were shattered by the shockwaves they set off during their hypersonic flight.

They traveled for a while diving into the blood-tinged grey skies before raining down.

The clouds parted.

The blades hummeds violently, producing a discordant symphony like a strange, almost angelic choir.

Then they crashed into the world...