In another part of the city of Ravenkeep, not so far away from this electrifying display, lay the titanic body of a serpent. It had pure white scales, as if it was carved from pure jade, and when laying down its body was three stories high. As for its length, it seemed to be somewhere close to one hundred metres long.

While this serpent lay still across the ground, countless buildings crushed beneath a body that seemed both utterly horrific and sinful yet simultaneously beautiful and almost divine in nature, two figures timidly approached it from the streets below.

Compared to this towering serpent, they were like ants at the foot of a god, which was difficult considering this particular 'god' had no feet to speak of.

Eventually, as the two insignificant figures approached the titanic serpent, they stopped in their paths simultaneously, as if they had reached an invisible line that they simply couldn't cross. They stood in silence for a few moments, before one of the figures leaned close to the other and softly whispered,

"Is... Is it dead?"

The other grit his teeth, before replying back in an equally hushed tone, as if he was afraid to wake the beast. An understandable fear.

"I think so... You should go check!"

With that, the other pushed the first forward, across the invisible, and non-existent, boundary that had halted them mere moments before. The first quickly scrambled back across the line, wrestling with his companion who was trying to stop his retreat.

"What?! Why me?"

"You're the one with the fancy mutation, so you should go!"

"Fancy mutation?? Fancy my ass! I have gills you idiot, I'm not snake proof. You should go, you're the one without which means I'm your superior."

"Superior? Shut it gill-boy, it just means I have more potential than you."

The pair squabbled like school children, simply shoving and grappling with each other as their argument devolved into petty insults. Their previous caution was completely absent, their once hushed tones turned into nothing but angered yelling.

They were so absorbed into their petty argument that they never noticed when the flesh of the divine serpent began to wriggle and bulge. Not until a crimson blade erupted from the writhing flesh.

The squabbling pair let out synchronous yelps of fear. They tried to stumble back, yet they had completely forgotten that they were tangled up with each other, and so only succeeded in tripping each other over and collapsing to the ground in a mess of flailing limbs.

They watched in horror as the crimson blade carved its way down the belly of the beast, cutting through its flesh without a hint of resistance, before the blade disappeared entirely. A heavy stillness hung in the air for a few moments, before a pair of hands gripped the edges of the freshly cut flesh and peeled it apart.

From within the belly of this divine serpent, a figure strolled out without a care in the world.

He seemed completely unconcerned with his previous situation, strolling confidently from the hole in its flesh. The figure wore a set of resplendent black armour, which seemed to drink in the light surrounding him and a cloak weaved of tangible shadows billowed from his shoulders like an onyx waterfall, cascading across the ground behind him before the smokey wisps became one with the true shadows.

Strangely enough, despite having just strolled out of the freshly killed body of the serpent, not a single drop of blood stained his armour. As if the blood itself was too afraid to adorn his glorious body and stain his divine body with its filth.

His face was covered by a veil of similar shadows, with a simple cloth hood pulled up and over his head. Yet even without seeing his face, they could feel his steely gaze and awe inspiring presence that made his identity clear as day. Although even without such a feeling, how could any citizen not recognise this figure on sight alone?

This was their Lord. Ruler of death itself, commander of an undying legion. Their Lord Crow.

The pair trembled with utter glee and reverence, the terror that had once filled their hearts being replaced by a warm comfort and devotion just by gazing upon him strolling from the belly of this fearsome beast as if it was nothing.

He spared them an emotionless glance, something that they knew despite not being able to see his eyes simply because his gaze caused them to feel shivers down their spine, before he spoke in a deep, rumbling voice that overflowed with confidence and a domineering nature that simply compelled you to listen to every word.

"You two should be in the shelters. Leave, now."

With that, the wisps of shadows billowing from his shoulders wrapped around his entire body before he launched himself into the air, soaring like a raven on wings of shadows.

The pair did exactly what they were told, rushing towards the nearest shelter, with a story on their lips that was eager to be shared. And share it they did. On that day, a new tale of their enigmatic, magnamenous Lord was born.

It spoke of a Serpent that was born to consume the world, that destroyed everything in sight. Yet when it tried to consume their lord, just like it would the world, it was a meal even too large for it to stomach.

It spoke of how he killed the beast without spilling a single drop of blood, and strolled from its stomach as if it was nothing but an inconvenience to him. They knew that the Serpent who would consume the world stood no chance, for to consume their Lord was akin to consuming Death itself.

As the tale spread throughout the shelter, and even further beyond thanks to the multitude of communication devices, it warped and grew. With each telling the serpent grew larger and his feats more ridiculous.

In some tellings, he killed it with no more than a simple touch from his hand. In others, he dove into it's stomach willingly and dragged it's previous victims out from the brink of death.

But no matter the tale or the contents within, they all had one thing in common. In that story, their Lord was Death personified. And Death was absolute.

***

Unaware of yet another mystifying tale being added to the already cult-like beliefs surrounding his alternate persona, Seth flew through the air as Corvus and observed the situation from above. As Astra had been occupying herself taking care of his stalker problem, and in search of relief from the pain of his withering body, Seth had transferred his soul across his threads and into the body of Corvus.

Something he hadn't been able to do in so long. It was like slipping into your favourite, stylish outfit after losing it in the wash for months.

Transferring himself had relieved most of his exhaustion, at least that which was caused by his physical injuries and serious lack of sleep. It was only the spiritual exhaustion that still remained.

The city was in turmoil, that much was clear. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of beasts of all kinds were pouring through the breaches in space. Some breaches persisted, allowing more to pour through, while others closed themselves sometimes even when something was still coming through.

Thus there were a few severed bodies that were ominously missing their other half, although they were no doubt resting somewhere in the endless meadow.

However, despite the turmoil of the city and the hordes of ravenous beasts and cruel creatures that were invading his territory, Seth couldn't help see this as a benefit for his people in the long run.

The situation might have been dire, but it was nothing that the Unkindly Guard could not handle, especially with Seth here once again to help micromanage them and assist in the battles that they weren't properly programmed for.

Even if they were spread thin, it was not just the guards that were fighting against the oncoming storm of monsters and madness. Countless citizens of this proud city were wielding weapons, some Requitals and some mundane, and fighting to protect their home.

Many abilities were being used for defence, offence and support alike. Even some without any abilities were fighting tooth and nail alongside those who did, such as the squires that had yet to gain enough gene points to unlock their true nature.

With every beast that fell, that was more meat that was going to line their pantries. In fact, Seth suspected that even with all they had killed already those pantries would be overflowing with meat, never mind what they were going to acquire from the rest.

He would have to change the daily rations that the civilians got, to account for this massive flood of food. Usually the basic ration did not include enhanced meat, as it was instead used as a reward for those who worked and earned money to buy it with.

But with how much they would be taking in, it would be a shame to let most of it go to waste. A change in the rations might upset some, but he would work to make it fair and meritorious, so that they got through all the meat from this invasion.

Even if it did cause issues with some, more meat distribution meant more powerful people. Some might even transcend, further increasing the power held in their little civilisation and helping relieve the burden of those already transcended.

The biggest boon of all, however, was what had been unfolding within Seth's mind ever since he took control of Corvus. Honestly, it could have been occurring since he stepped through the portal and he was simply too delirious to understand it was happening.

Hundreds upon thousands of creatures invaded, most of whom were repelled by his Unkindly Guards. The puppets that were an extension of his soul. It was just like those days when he was recovering from raven's attacks, only on a much much grander scale.

Thus, this entire invasion meant that Seth's mind was ringing non-stop with a singular phrase being repeated over and over, so much that Angel barely had time to finish one sentence before starting the next.

[Congratulations. You've earned a Requital.]

[Congratulations. You've earned a Requital.]

[Congratulations. You've earned a Requital.]

[Congratulations. You've earned...]