On The Day That Equus Fell...
"I'd recommend not looking in a mirror for a while..."
Ivy joked, with little humor in her voice as Chase felt her hands pressing harshly into his skewered back.
"Not like I could if I wanted..."
Chase mumbled, reaching up about to grasp his strangely warm face.
Before he could touch it though, Ivy smacked his hand away and grumbled something from behind him.
"What? It cannot possibly be that bad."
Chase said, as what started as a joke had turned into a grim expression casted over his face.
"Someone is coming. May I give some advice to the king of Solis?"
She asked hesitantly as distant footsteps began to enter earshot distance.
"Go ahead."
Chase said darkly.
"Do not return to your kingdom. Become the one felled by Corruption, and bare your mask until the time is right for your cover to be lifted, as you are well aware... The women who you have become so entranced with has a sister. That sister will hunt you down across the entire continent. All you can do is fake your demise and hope that it buys you enough time to get as strong as possible before then..."
Chase nodded slowly, watching as droplets of blood fell from his forehead.
"So Zen doesn't want to take any chances with me?"
Chase asked after a few moments of silence.
She shook her head.
"No, I am afraid that is exactly why Star of House Aries has begun her hunt, she must have gotten into an argument with The Grand Paladin over your existence. Which means that out of rage, she will find you and kill you as quickly as possible over the very feeling of spite."
Chase cracked his knuckle, gazing at the ruins around him.
"How strong is she?"
He eventually asked, sensing dread overtaking his mind.
"Stronger than Rider by far, she had probably reached twelve star output but has not taken the supplement that Zen gives all of the Paladins in order to become such monsters; however, I am sorry to reign on your mighty victory, but Rider had not even taken one of those supplements, and he is- Was by no means a true Paladin."
Her voice trailed off at the end, probably wanting to say more about his powers, but Chase had a vague feeling from the energy that Rider had given off during their battle.
"The corruption raised his output?"
He quickly asked.
Only nodding, she padded him on the crown of his head.
"Do not let that make any disgrace of his defeat at your hands, he was able to slay the lesser god known as Prometheus after all; however, his output was low and chaotic and his mind had been destroyed by the Corruption. If i had to guess, he would have been around six star output with extremely destructive energy that boosted his battle prowess."
Chase sighed.
"I see."
He stood up, walking towards the exit of the ruined building that had formed itself at the center of the crater.
"Let me speak to one of my allies first, and then I will begin forming a party to venture West."
Stepping behind one of the walls, and just as he had spoken it, a figure in dented white armor walked into the ruins.
"Guys-"
Quickly before she could finish yelling, Chase pulled her away from the exit and covered her mouth.
"Shhhh!"
He warned, before letting her go.
In a daze she turned towards him and before yelling, her eyes immediately widened at the sight of what must have been the boy's face.
"What happened?"
She asked in disbelief, but Chase only shook his head and summoned the mask upon his face.
Hearing the sound of flesh peeling and swishing, he minded it very little, but did feel like he would regret not taking the mask off right then and there; however, he didn't have time to worry about blood getting on his mask.
"I need you to tell your father that I have fallen in the war of Equus. Tell him that the explosion killed both me and Rider."
"I- I can't- Why?!"
She stumbled over her words, while tilting her head and frowning.
"I cannot have your sister finding me, I need to buy time. Just do as I ask, tell Zephyr that I have put him under the command of The City of Solis, as well as Phoenix Academy."
He continued, narrowing his vision on the Northern edge of the ruins.
"I need to check something before I depart..."
Just as he started stepping towards the North, she grabbed him by the wrist.
"You aren't making any sense!"
Chase turned his head, letting flames envelop the eye sockets of his mask.
"I will not say it again..."
Letting go quickly, she backed away and nodded.
Chase took the chance and bolted towards where Onyx had been sent to find the true genius behind Rider's rise to power...