Timeline - September 19th | (3 Days Later)

The warriors had appeared in one of the cities far south into the high Cayan Mountains, the Snow poured around them, and the burnt-out old, decayed academy had sat in the distance, still abandoned from an attack years ago.

It was not the night that either of them had imagined; Jesse formed a large enough power ball together, swinging it towards the creatures they had found causing havoc in the town that had nearly been exterminated because of their enemy.

"They're just coming out of nowhere- it's a joke!" Jesse screamed, irritated, firing countless more energy hits at the critters that continued to come after them.

She turned; briefly, her magic swirled in the tips of her fingers, ready to take on whatever was next. Watching as Toni and Richie had been slaying the larger monsters, their Commander took on a larger scaly beast that was, it seemed, ordering the rest of the minions to attack.

"What is taking you so long!?" then it was Snow's voice that snapped, annoyed, driving her sword into one of the beast's hind legs, and Matthew's consciousness immediately knew who it was; he almost clenched at the sound.

"And you're doing what here? Being a nuisance as per usual?" his tone dripped with acidity as his blade cleanly severed the monster's head and it thudded to the ground. The enigmatic mercenary clad in black armor and an aura of death lingered, her attention fixating on the man who had blood pouring at his feet. 

If Snow's gaze could penetrate her headgear, it would radiate contempt. Suppressing the urge to retaliate with violence, she skillfully combined her swords, transforming them into an elongated steel staff.

"You're really fucken annoying me tonight," she hissed, causing Matthew to step over the monster, making his way towards her with a lethal grace.

Their masked faces were now inches apart, both identities concealed by headgear. The air crackled with the intensity of their close proximity, and tempers flared.

He burned with the desire to violently strip that mask from her face, unveiling her after years of concealment.  The ultimate goal was to track her down, confront her and smack the hell out of her mouth for all the nuisance she had ever caused him.

"The same could be said about you," he retorted, matching her bitterness with a tone of his own.

"Mark me; I would let you suffer if a monster got a hold of you. I wouldn't even bat an eyelid if it was trying to kill you!" Snow towered over him, her words dripping with disdain, hoping the world would swallow him whole.

"And I would gladly make sure I put you before a monster to save even a dirty parasite. Their life is more salvageable than yours!"

"A parasite!" she hissed, shocked.

"Actually! I wouldn't save your life even if I had to save my own," he gritted his teeth. "I fucken despise you!"

"You're a disgusting waste of space!"

Matthew clasped his hands together, bringing them pray-like to his lips almost, contemplating his words. "I am trying my absolute hardest to see things from your perspective, Snow, I really am, but I just can't get my head that far up my fucken ass!"

"And if you don't shut your mouth right at this very moment, then the next thing to come out of it will be your fucken teeth!"

"Well, how 'bout you go fuck—"

"Guys, enough. Can you both wait until we're done!" Toni's scream echoed across the field as he swiftly severed the body of a critter that lunged at him unexpectedly.

With anger coursing through her, Snow snapped her head towards the warrior before her, fully aware he was on the verge of throttling her.

"I will smack the shit out of you!" he threatened in a low, menacing tone.

"Try it! I'll put you on your ass!" She hissed before vanishing. Bouncing through the field, Matthew quickly pursued, leaving a trail of decaying monster parts in their wake.

Jesse and Richie deftly dodged another attack, unaware of the fireball hurtling towards them. The burning flames grazed them, leaving searing marks on their skin as they narrowly avoided the full force of the assault.

Toni appeared seemingly out of nowhere, catching Jesse's attention just enough for her to witness him swiftly demolish the monster attacking them. Yet, the warriors on the field were brought to a sudden pause by the sinister laughter of a familiar figure.

A crackling sensation swept through the air, commanding the attention of both monsters and warriors alike as a new woman made her presence known. Snow halted beside Matthew, who, without missing a beat, beheaded another creature. Brief eye contact passed between the frenemies, and together, they shifted their focus to the mysterious newcomer.

On the other side, Toni, Richie, and Jesse observed the unfolding scene as a man in dark robes materialized beside the woman clad in billowing, dark purple attire.

"Pesky, li'l warriors of the krystal," she hissed, her intense accent demanding the warriors' full attention. The petite pixie-haired blonde woman with black lips smiled sadistically.

"And you are?" Snow raised her staff, pointing it directly at the woman who spoke, genuinely trying to grasp their purpose.

"Does it fucken matter?" Matthew leered, ready for a fight. He was prepared to dismantle them without bothering to answer the woman's question.

"Lara and Kian," they bowed courteously, wicked smiles on their faces.

"Followers, I presume, of Ezra?" Jesse cocked her head.

They nodded, and Kian, the taller and more imposing of the two, pulled back his robes, revealing a disfigured, scarred pale face. "You are wanted dead. We are here to provide that service."

Matthew exhaled, muttering, "fucken Ezra," prompting a disapproving shake of the head from the female.

"You'd think she would just get it over and done with and get her fat ass out here!"

Matthew smirked, and the two nodded in amusement.

"She requires your boydays decaying in the land and your krystals with her," Lara explained disinterestedly.

Snow burst into laughter as though it were some kind of joke, doubling over and gripping her stomach in hysterics. The sound echoed across the field, leaving the two enemies staring at her in confusion.

"God, stop, please!" she pleaded, holding up her hand, though tears filled her eyes. "Wait, wait, wait... you're telling us... you're going to take our crystals?"

Even Matthew couldn't contain his laughter as he looked at Snow, who had been cackling at the absurd notion that these two were a match for them.

Jesse, Toni, and Richie folded their arms, shaking their heads. It seemed they were destined to shift from glorious enemies to joking buddies in the blink of an eye.

Yet when their enemies disappear, they'll return to hating one another. The trio sighed, exhaling in unison as they observed the spectacle of the two warriors exchanging jokes, their laughter echoing. 

It was a familiar scene, one they had witnessed repeatedly in the past few years with these two. Both Snow and Matthew were sadistic and ruthless in the way they dispatched their enemies. Despite their mutual animosity and the meticulous tally they kept of dead monsters and instances when they had saved each other, there was an undeniable connection that occasionally surfaced, reminiscent of how they used to be before the bitter enmity took hold.

"She actually thinks they're going to take our crystals?" Snow mocked Matthew, mimicking the stance and tone of the female.

"Our crystals? Fuck, this pathetic lot? They're as delusional as your old mate Kryton was!" Matthew found the situation amusing, just like the numerous others who had attempted to either kill them, kidnap them, or torture them. All such attempts had ended in failure.

All of them had said the same damn thing, and each met their demise at the hands of their blades. "They're as ridiculous as the other two were," Matthew mimicked, wiping imaginary tears from his eyes. "What was his name—Kadence as well."

"Oh! Fuck me, Kadence." Snow howled in laughter, shaking her head at the memory, and then burst into a raucous laugh. "Kadence, what a putz! Remember his attack? And plans for capturing us!"

"Then he fell for the trap!" Matthew howled, "crying like a baby." Their laughter echoed across the field, temporarily drowning out the fact that their enemies were present with real intent.

"What is so kunny!" Lara screamed at the laughing duo.

"You both," Matthew pointed his sword towards their two bodies.

"Taking our crystals?" Snow continued from his words. "Fuck, that's the funniest thing all week! Where have you guys been hiding? I needed this! Bless your hearts."

"We will kill you both!" Kian snapped angrily, stepping forward as Lara's face fell furiously.

"You two knuckleheads think you have a chance against us?" Snow was now amused, and then her fighting stance returned. Her words were met with Lara and Kian, who suddenly pounced from their positions, flying towards the two warriors.

Matthew stepped back as his sword clashed with Kian, planting his feet firmly on the ground to withstand the attack. As they vanished from the field, Lara confronted Snow, engaging in a fierce exchange of blows.

Jesse, Toni, and Richie found themselves suddenly overwhelmed by monsters without warning. The field transformed into another battleground, and they unleashed a barrage of attacks on the creatures before them.

"Give us the krystals, and this all stops! Or..." Lara laughed defiantly in Snow's face, only to be met with a retaliatory surge of power from Snow that momentarily stunned her.

In an instant, Snow's hands closed around Lara's neck, fingers digging in. Snow, refusing to take the threat lightly, swiftly kicked Lara's legs out from under her, sending her crashing to the ground.

"Ki-an!" Lara screamed, the plea gurgling out as the air was cut off from her airways.

Kian was momentarily lost as the scream from his partner broke his concentration, giving Matthew enough time to strike. The hilt of Matthew's sword smashed against Kian's head, and in that moment, an energy ball had already formed, driven into the man's abdomen.

Matthew observed as the fire in Kian's eyes flickered before dimming. Snow cast a glance at the man, reveling in delight as Kian fell to his knees before Ace, and his death came swiftly. She smirked at how easy it had been to kill their enemies that afternoon.

Sensing the sudden silence, Lara forcefully broke free from Snow's hold. She shoved the warrior away from her body and sprang upwards, getting to her knees and then to her feet instantly. Lara had just witnessed the demise of her partner on the field. Her wide sleek feline-type yellow eyes watched as Ace produced a fireball within his palm, releasing it onto Kian's body.

His body went up in literal flames, causing Lara to scream in anger. The warrior swiftly turned to face the woman, with Snow standing behind her, staff anchored into the ground, arms folded, waiting for Lara's next move.

"Gotta double tap you fuckers," Matthew leered as he strolled towards Lara.

Anger-filled eyes death-stared at the man, and Snow watched her every movement like a lion eyeing its prey. She was ready to kill her enemy, just as they had done with Kian and all the others over the years.

They were no match for them, unable to compare to their powers, and that's exactly how it would stay in the ongoing war. Eventually, they would reach Ezra, destroy her, and banish all the pain caused by her wrath.

Inches from Lara, Matthew could see the other warriors finishing off the monsters that she had unleashed to take them down. Her feline yellow eyes were now locked on the man before her, meeting the masked warrior. He was merciless when he grabbed her by the throat, lifting her above the ground.

Snow smirked and stepped forward, positioning herself next to Ace. A dagger materialized in her hand, and Lara's legs kicked profusely as her hands desperately grasped at his wrist, seeking any form of air.

"Do you know what I and my little frenemy do to people like you?"

"It's not pretty," Snow laughed insidiously, her fingertip touching the blade of her dagger, "we don't tolerate threats very well. Do we?"

"We don't," Ace chuckled. 

"Both of you can rot in hell!" Lara spat, disgusted with her remaining air. "Ezra will get what she wants, and then I'll kill you both myself!"

"That'll be a bit hard, considering your life is literally in my hands," He taunted.

"Kill her. I'm literally bored; there will be more to come—there's always more." Snow waved her hand, showing her boredom. "Probably tomorrow with the way its been going."

Ace, however, smirked. "Na-"

"Na?" Snow dropped her arms wide-eyed. "Why?" For fuck's sake, that was something they both agreed on if nothing else.

"What?!" Lara began, confused.

"You run back to Ezra. You tell her we're coming for her."

That suddenly piqued Snow's interest, watching as Ace lowered Lara before them, pushing her backwards.

Stumbling, she immediately gathered herself and stood fiercely against the warriors. Soon, they were joined by the other three warriors who had teamed up with their leader to defeat the monsters they were ambushed with.

Lara raised her head, confident in her following words. "She'll kill you all; you can't win this."

"We'll be the judge of that." Snow laughed, stepping forward slightly, regripping the dagger. "Or you can stay, and I can gut you like a worthless humble bug."

Lara glanced between the warriors, prepared to face their wrath if she stayed, and then back to the female warrior holding the dagger who stepped closer again. 

Without a word, Lara's magic enveloped her, and she disappeared, causing Snow to exhale as her shoulders dropped. "No fun." 

---- Author's Notes -----

VOTEEEEEE if you wanna see more.....or you could just vote without the team asking that of ya!

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