God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

All battles are filled with countless variables, each one possessing the power to tilt the scales of victory either way.

This was the reason not just knowing, but also understanding one's enemy was such a big deal. And when it came to understanding an opponent, Evangeline could confidently say there were few who could say they were better than she was.

After all, she did possess an ability that allowed her to see the weaknesses of any being with a glance.

These days, Evangeline was quite content, although she didn't show it. Although progress was slow, it was happening. She had decides to cast all her lots in with Cain, even stopping to the depths of being treated as a mere eye in the shadows.

Someone once as exalted as she, reduced to being just a spy, wasting her potential away.

Not that she was upset about that...

While she had thrown in her lot with Cain, that didn't mean she had fully submitted. To her...

Everyone was a piece on the board.

Including Cain...

'They should be duking it out right now.'

The true winner, the one who held victory, was the one who was able to control most, or preferably, all variables on the board, moving them to fot their agenda.

A wisp of deceptive darkness floated in Evangeline's eyes as she blocked a rapid thrust from Lukas. The edge of his blade was sharp and quick enough to bore several holes in her in a split second.

"To think even the heiress would fall from grace as well. It seems this terrible world spares no one." Lukas said as he withdrew. A second later, he waves his sword, and a bullet, split in two, fell to the ground.

Cocking back on the hammer of her rifle, A smoking bullet cartridge exited the chamber of the gun. Jenny quickly turned and hid behind the Light Guardian summoned by Susan.

"What are you saying? Everyone is equal before misfortune after all. I'm no exception." Evangeline said, her voice dripping with indifference.

Lukas shook his head. Things had truly changed. Before the apocalypse, he had a fairly high status, his father being an associate of a politician in the city.

As such, he had rubbed shoulders constantly with the offspring of high profile individuals. Most of them were brats who knew nothing but to spend Daddy's money.

However, there were those who he was naturally wary of.

One of those people...

Was the heiress to the Bryne family, a group of individuals involved with incredibly shady business according to his father. However, the Bryne family were untouchable.

He had no idea why...

But all that wasn't important right now. Because things had changed.

'Indeed... Things have truly changed.' Staring at the girl he had once thought unattainable, a hint of possessiveness appeared in his gaze.

"You've come a long way, Eva. It would be a shame to kill you today. Why don't you join me?"

Evangeline smiled softly, "We aren't that close, so don't call me that."

Hearing her words, he shook his head. He wasn't a man of many words. Now that he had power, he would take the things he wanted, no questions asked.

He wasn't covetous by nature, but the allure of conquering this heiress was simply too irresistible. Staring into her eyes, one might lose themselves forever.

With those thoughts in mind, Lukas suddenly picked up speed. Countless swords of light materialized around him and shot off in every direction. Some struck the barrier, but it held, while the others shot at the three girls.

Since she was keeping the barrier up, Susan was unable to actively participate in the fight.

With a wave of her hand, a semi-transparent barrier appeared before her and Evangeline, while the ones aimed at Jenny were tanked by the Light Guardian.

With a old face, she began chanting. Soft light fell on Evangeline, further increasing her capabilities. Threading lightly on the water, Evangeline stabbed forward with her dagger.

Lukas blocked deftly with his sword and cut back at her. Her shortsword blocked and she took the moment to close in, jabbing her elbow at his solar plexus.

Sensing the danger, Lukas grabbed the incoming elbow lightly and applied force to his feet, flipping over head.

Jenny took the opportunity to harass him with a high caliber round.

Attempting to dodge mid air was going to be incredibly difficult, so instead, Lukas summoned a kite shield from his inventory. The shield was a dull silver colour, with a turquoise gen embedded at its center. There was also a set of runes inscribed around the gem.

Placing the shield in the way, the bullet struck, leaving absolutely no damage behind.

Jenny clicked her tongue.

Lukas spun, attempting to land, but Evangeline was one step ahead. Using the power of water manipulation, she sunk the area his leg was going to land, momentarily offsetting his balance.

She took that moment to drive the sharp end of her blade forward.

'What skill... Taking advantage of every single opportunity, and if none present themselves. Making them for herself! Magnificent!'

Lukas was beyond impressed. The sword skills he was proud of seemed like child's play before Evangeline.

Still, he wasn't weak. In fact, he was strong. Strong enough to desire a fruit as forbidden as she was.

A stream of displaced air rippled away from his body as he charged forward, swinging his blade as well. The blade thrummed with power, its surface shimmering with light.

His shield was also brought up, properly guarding his vitals. The current him was incredibly guarded. There was no way-

Lukas' eyes shrunk to the size of pin heads when he noticed Evangeline was nomlinger before him. He suddenly felt a sharp pain coming from his side.

Looking down, he found a dagger... the same one that had been I'm Evangeline's hand, buried deep 8nto his ribcages.

"What are you thinking about now? Are you sure you want to live through this day?" A voice, as light as a fairy's, yet as wicked as a Devil's raced down his spine.

Evangeline was behind him. He hadn't seen her move at all, or had he? Was he truly that distracted? He didn't think so. No matter how much his emotions rampaged, he was sure he was always aware during high tension situations like battles...

'Dangerous... She almost pierced through my heart.'

Lukas swung backwards, forcing Evangeline away. Clutching his side, he activated a healing spell. However, as the healing spell worked its way into the open wound, more blood leaked out, and the wound tore open even more.

"Shit!" Lukas grimaced as the dull pain bit into his brain.

"Curious?" Evangeline said, standing before Lukas without moving.

Lukas' face was dark, "What the fuck did you do?"

Evangeline shrugged, "Where have you been all this time? It is magic, of course. However, folks like you who rely too much on the system can't understand something like this. Perhaps if this was Cain..." Her voice trailed off at the end as she stared into the distance.

This filled Lukas with rage. Biting back his anger, he poured even more mana into the healing spell, forcibly closing the wound.

"I'll make you regret that."

Evangeline shook her head, "Disgraceful."

Saying that, she took a step forward, and vanished. Lukas' eyes shone with bright light as he plunged his sword into the water, immediately lighting up an entire stretch of ocean.

Evangeline reappeared almost immediately, and Lukas rushed to her side, waving his sword like a lunatic.

Jenny fired another high caliber bullet, but he simply sliced it into two and shot multiple rays of dazzling sword light at her.

"Crap!" Jenny exclaimed as she hid behind the Light Guardian. Suffering from such harassment, the Light Guardian was quickly reaching its limits.

Suffering from Lukas' onslaught, Evangeline remained calm, even as his sword bit into her flesh and drew blood.

Seeing this, a savage grin appeared on Lukas' face,

"Ha... Your words made me think you don't bleed. Turns out if was all just baseless arrogance."

Lukas was truly powerful. While emhe didn't let off any insanely powerful attacks that split the ocean like Guy, each of his strikes were fast, insidious, and filled with murderous intent and skill.

His swordsmanship was truly top tier. Coupled with his magic, he was capable of being down a beast as big as a building down on his own in a few seconds.

Even three against one, the three girls had yet to get the upper hand.

However, as the battle got more aggressive, Lukas realized something. Suddenly, like the strings had been cut from a puppet, he stopped.

Anger filled his face as he spoke with venom,

"Enough with this crap. I can't believe I allowed myself to be played for so long."

Evangeline stared at him with a smile, "Whatever do you mean?"

Lukas stared at her coldly, "Your true target is neither me nor the blood red buffoon. It was the island all along."

Susan snorted, "Took you long enough to realize."

Lukas seemed even more angry. On that island was the culmination of his days of hard work, of shed blood and sweat. If it fell out of his hands now, things would become very complicated.

"You've forced my hand." Lukas said coldly. He was ready to end things here.

Suddenly, his eyes caught sight of something.

A group of individuals racing across a constantly progressing stream of ice across the surface of the water.

Upon looking closer, he could see with utmost clarity who it was.

'Luke and his goons... They are headed to...'

Lukas' eyes caught sight of a cloud of red that seemed to float over the surface of the ocean.

He frowned, 'Don't tell me...'

Evangeline seemed to see through his thoughts as she let out a laugh,

"Looks like you've finally understood. You are of little consequence. Right now, our dear leader couldn't be bothered with you. If he wanted you dead, you would be. However, you are still important for his goals. So don't worry...

We will keep you alive."

Lukas grit his teeth, "Rubbish. I'll kill you all here and then go kill whoever it is fighting the buffoon. Then I'll kill him too, then kill Luke and his goons."

But first...

Lukas was angeyz but he had not lost his rationale. He was being played like a fiddle, but things hadn't bgitten out of hand. He still held a lot of cards in his hand.

Like his Undying Army...

Meanwhile, Evangeline watched this unfold. She was also watching numerous other plays unfolding, like a director observing actors in a play.

Everyone, everything... Was slowly moving towards the desired end.

She turned most of her atten6 to the play that captured her attention the most, and was of the most consequence.

A smile spread across her face, prompting Lukas to take a pause. While her smile was beautiful, it was also incredibly sinister, filling him with a hint of fear.

'Why... Why is she smiling?'

Unaware of his thoughts, Evangeline continued to observe. This was her favorite by far. A piece that had incredible potential. One that was very close to her heart, one she was very fond of and couldn't bare to throw away yet.

One that was strong, smart, and by default, very dangerous...

'Now, Cain... How will you handle all this pressure?'