The god beasts then attacked without hesitation, breaking on the line that had prepared for it, but causing several defenders to be sent flying. Just as Laz was prepared to engage, several more jumped forward and he could no longer watch his people.

After a fierce day of fighting, they slammed the doors on the gate as the defenders could only drag their beaten selves off somewhere to rest.

They had lost, and lost badly. Six had been killed in the battle and Seventeen was currently sitting with his body which had been recovered, drinking over his friend’s corpse and reminiscing about the time they had spent together, the women they had met and all the trouble they had caused before being sent on a forced march by the Empire’s army to die, just to get into a fortified castle where they would then be sent into another group, just to die again.

Laz was laid, sprawled out on the ground and unable to move. He had killed fourteen god beasts today while his men had killed another two and so many beasts under them. The beasts were pounding on the doors, but no one cared at the moment. While nervous, Laz had assured them the seal would hold for at least tonight and they could worry about it tomorrow.

"For real?" Two asked, blood dripping from the head wound he had received while driving a sword trough a god beast’s paw, pinning it to the ground for just long enough that others could remove it’s head.

"Least it should be, unless I was lied to... What’s that noise?" Laz asked as he heard a commotion from somewhere around him but was too beat to get up.

Two, who had been propped up on a saddle, turned his head enough to see several women coming their way, the two at the front made him go pale almost immediately and he tried to stand.

Seeing this, Laz moved his hand enough to lay it down on his second in commands wrist and prevented him from getting up.

"But it’s...."

"I know. I used my sense after seeing your reaction, let them come to us." Laz said and let his friend go.

"This Empress has never come to any man before and would not, especially not one as crude and disrespectful as you," Hera said, walking up to him along with Pooja and Persephone. Many others were rushing around the camp, treating the injured, bringing food and drink to the many disheartened troops.

Seeing Laz the way he was, her anger from earlier had dissipated completely. After all, their ’relationship’ wasn’t a secret from the higher ups so now that normal people knew, what did it matter?

"You’re here with support. Does that mean what I think it does?" Laz asked, his eyes still closed.

"Yes. The southern gate was overrun and the armies there had to retreat back to the final gate. Tamesis and her people used... something... and activated what she called a forbidden rune, causing the seal on the gate to self-destruct. The gate, the road... everything disappeared. There is nothing but a hole there now and mountains. Anything there is now gone, including the road. From now on.... there is only one way up and down this mountain."

"What of Athena, her sisters and her troops?" Laz asked.

Hera didn’t respond right away, but Laz could sense the tears she was holding back.

Pooja responded in her place.

"Only Athena, Clio and Erato survived along with a handful of the armies she had gathered there."

There was a strong silence as the words took their way to wrap into Laz’s head. He had known the other five sisters along with Athena. To hear that three of them were now dead... Laz didn’t know what he felt about it, other than a supreme sadness. They weren’t close lovers, but once lovers would always be past lovers and even in death, that remained true.

Laz slammed his hand against the ground, three times. Then he began to rise from his spot, but could barely get up.

"You must rest. We need to treat your wounds," Pooja said, trying to get Laz to lay back down.

Laz didn’t let her though.

His power, weak as it was, coursed through him and recalled the Asura armor back into Kat’s space.

"Help me up,": Laz said, looking Pooja right in the eyes with a fire that seemed to burn her soul. Two started to get up himself.

"Might as well help him as he won’t let it rest until he does this, Two said, standing straight for a moment before swaying, causing two of the serving women to run to his side and grab his arms to steady him.

Hera and Pooja then reached down and brought Laz back to his feet.

"Bring the wood," Laz ordered out as several of the previously unmoving bundles of humans began to rise, throwing whatever wood was around them into a massive pile.

"Bring the fallen," Laz then ordered. Seventeen walked up with Six still in his arms as other bodies, parts of bodies and remains of clothing were all brought forward and thrown on the wooden pyre.

Everyone then took a step back as Laz brough his hand up and summoned a black flame. Flicking his hand, the small flame flew to the bottom of the stack and burst out, like a flame meeting oil as the pyre was ignited.

"HAIL THE GLORIOUS DEAD!" Laz shouted.

Those gathered then opened their mouths and responded, including Hera, Pooja and Persephone.

"HAIL THE GLORIOUS DEAD!"

"Their battle is done, there deeds recorded in the book of the dead, to grant them the karma of a peaceful afterlife. We, however, are not yet dead. Although many of us seem pretty close," Laz then said, getting a small chuckle from many.

"The southern gate has fallen, it’s warriors also passing into the ethereal. But worry not, for now... there is no south road either. Right now, this gate, this road, this is the only focus for both us and them. It means we will get reinforcements but so will they. We killed 16 god level beasts today. Tomorrow, we will kill 20. And for the day after, and after that. As many come will be as many as we’ll kill until the day we can march down this mountain. For tonight, the seals and gate shall hold. So drink, eat, morn and wake up as late as you wish tomorrow. Tonight, we shall feast for the dead as we hope that other’s will do for us one day. Dismissed!" Laz said, the cheers of the remains of his army letting their voices out in yells to the night.

Getting Laz’s point, wagons upon wagons of food and drink were delivered along with several musicians and some very attractive servants who took care of all needs.

Laz took a look at both Two and Seventeen and they walked off to the side.

"Where’s Blake?"

"He went to find himself some company for the night," Two said as they gathered.

"You both should do the same. There is nothing to dear tonight, so let lose. Who knows what tomorrow might bring," Laz said with a laugh laying a tired hand on both their shoulders. They nodded and went off to do what they wished. Both were skilled and experienced enough to know that morning was one thing, but they needed to keep living for their own sakes as well as for the fallen Six.

Once they were gone, Laz felt his legs give way and he fell back, hitting the ground hard and sending Pooja, Hera and Persephone running for him. Persephone took his head and brought it on to her lap while Pooja and Hera began injecting energy into him, bringing it around to refresh his body. Once he had regained enough to open his eyes, they then stripped him of his clothing while servants brought water, soap, clothing, food and drinks to the three women who washed, dried and dressed him before serving him his dinner. A small fire was lit close by while several soft rugs and pillows were brough, allowing Laz a soft place to rest as he was served. A musician off in the distance played a somewhat mournful but relaxing song as people ate and drank.

"To think I would one day have goddesses to tend to my every need," Laz said at one point while eating some of the roasted turkey Pooja had offered him.

"You truly had no idea how lucky you are. After all, there were many great men who, back in the day, wished to take both myself and Hera here to bed at the same time. But they never succeeded for a number of reasons," Pooja said with a laugh, thinking back to their youth.

"One of those reasons being that his hag here is a few thousand years older than I am," Hera said with a laugh.

"And your daughter is nine thousand years younger than you, but do you think he cares?" Pooja shot back, involving Persephone in the ’fight.’

"Of course he doesn’t. My master is a gift to all women, young and old alike," Persephone said, looking at both her mom and Pooja at the same time.

"Those sound like fighting words," Pooja said, looking at Hera who smile back.

"So it seems. My daughter seems to have forgotten her place..." Hera then smirked at her daughter who had gotten a bad feeling.

"I didn’t mean it that way..." Persephone said, seeing them smile with wicked intent.

"Well. His body is briming with those beasts god energy and I’m sure he will need some release soon. I think it’s time we gave this little girl a real lesson in pleasing a man, wouldn’t you say?" Pooja then asked Hera.

"It’s far past time, yes."

"What? Wait? Uh... Mother...?"