"If I know Cocytus, he will challenge Carl to a one-on-one. We haven't really discussed it but Carl's ability to create is unprecedented, so it won't take much convincing for Carl to get permission to use it, that means we should have dragons ready to intervene."

Tiamutael nodded and summoned his sister, Equinox and Aldra, laughing as Omedra picked him up and span him around in the air.

Sis appeared with Aegis not long after and Aegis insisted on going when the time came, whilst Sis just took the time to talk to Klaire about everything, Aegis was pestering Tiamutael for a second-by-second recount.

"Aegis, I know you want to keep Dad safe, but if you don't stop I'm sending you to Archyon."

After that, Aegis sat quietly after that until an hour later when Sis suddenly groaned. "He's doing that kid-vid, protag thing where he calls out his skills again..."

"Sis, what.s a kid-vid protag? I think that was super-cool..." Tiamutael asked, shortly before watching what appeared as slow motion activation to produce several beasts at once. "What!? Mum, Dad is super cool! He just said "Activate neo div creator", then made lots of pets all at once!"

Ki-ko quickly ran over and put her hand on his shoulder.

"Yes, Dad is very cool, sweetie don't distract your brother."

"Shhh! I'm watching Dad..." Ki-ko's casual reveal that she can use her brother to see into far off places was not comforting.

"Ki-ko, stop, if too many eyes watch them, it may draw unwanted attention. Myself, Faylorna, Kyubi and Tiamutael only. Also I'm sure your mother's and father don't want you watching the fighting Kitsunoko."

Kitsunoko slumped in defeat. "Yes, Grandma... Tiamutael while they're watching as well, check this out..." She then quickly ran over to hug Klaire and ask about a good kid-vid and then ran back.

She held up Klaires recently pickpocketed slate and showed him a clip from one of the kid-vids that Sis had told her about when she had asked before.

The dragons and Aegis all shuffled around to watch curiously as everyone else just shook their heads disapprovingly at the distraction, or chuckled at their easy to forget naivety.

The vid showed an animated show featuring five people transforming into different coloured suits that posed as a group before a random explosion went off behind them.

When Klaire saw Tiamutael's expression of total adoration, she muttered to herself that he was exactly like his dad, then retrieved the slate and asked him to focus for now. For the first time, Tiamutael actually tried bargaining rather than just saying "yes" without question, but Klaire was just happy to see him express interest in something so deeply.

"Sweetie, when he's safe I promise you can watch all the kid-vids you want when you are free."

"Deal! Auntie Sis, can you give Ki-ko a list of good ones please!"

As those permitted watched, they saw Cocytus crush the layered-chimera, only for it to be unscathed as it shifted into an ice-form and then back again to attack, shortly before all of the new pets jumped onto Cocytus.

Then they saw Cocytus laugh and admit that with enough time, they might actually pose a threat, then shake them all off with one quick jerking twist of his body. The pets collided with pillars and the cavern walls, floor and ceiling, reduced to bloody smears from the sheer force of their impacts.

It was clear that Carl hadn't realised that they had almost all been killed and Sis admitted she was blocking the automatic notifications she should be sending to notify him/

Then the time came and Carl requested the help of the dragons and Aegis, making them all wonder if he was actually aware of what they had planned, but they found themselves distracted by the unusual excitement Tiamutael was displaying.

"I have an idea! When we get there everyone, no one move for a few seconds."

It was then he transported them all over, making them all appear in the same group pose as the people in the kid vid.

As they all disappeared, everyone left behind looked a bit nervous, until they heard Lillim and Faylorna sigh and shake their heads disapprovingly whilst Kyubi laughed and explained that he had made them appear in pose.

Everyone then listened tensely to Kyubi's narration, especially Klaire who didn't like the idea of her babies being against a monster who just decimated the creatures Tiamutael had already described.

What they didn't know was Equinox's strength, he was usually a pacifist and refrained from displaying his strength unnecessarily. As Kyubi narrated his attack and the utter devastation it resulted in, the shock at hearing he stepped forward first turned to awe at the display.

Tiamat however was seething. "I can't believe that snake actually held back that first time we met... Was he really letting us see what he wanted us to?"

"Most likely..." Lillim shrugged. "... As you can see, he is a very mysterious member of the family, no one here knows his full power. I certainly hope to never find out though, being brought low by the fox and a mortal was enough shame for one millenium."

Not long later, they all returned and Omedra had a talk with her little brother about embarrassing her and Tiamat demanded an earnest duel against Equinox.

Equinox refused, apologised, then excused himself before leaving.

After that, it seemed like Carl's victory had become all but a certainty one way or another, so Klaire suggested that everyone get back to their own business.

"Klaire's right, Tiamutael will be enough, we can't forget that where he is lays a dormant being with incredible power. He might even be able to follow time back to find where we are watching from and he'll recognise everyone but the little one."

Klaire sat anxiously now that she had nothing to do, in fact it was too quiet for Klaire's liking given the amount she had to think about.

She ended up just going to bed and managed to drift off much more easily and slept through until morning her alarm went off and she went down to make breakfast.

When she got downstairs, Leanna and almost everyone present was on their last nerve as the kids were binge watching the kid-vids, Lillim had apparently taken over the watch several hours ago when she got a bad feeling.

"Time in the realm slowed down, I was made aware of the hero's discovery..." Lillim went to explain what few details she had been drip-fed by her daughters.

Thanks to time slowing down even further, they hadn't left Cocytus and to make matters worse, Samael had apparently ordered everyone to refrain from trying to observe the realm unless it somehow aided the hero.

The state of unknowing aggravated everyone, but Klaire was wondering why no one had told her.

'Are they keeping me in the dark?'

'Is everyone actually upset with me?'

Just two of the countless questions that ran through her mind, people could tell something was going on with her, but assumed that she was just concerned about the silence. "Klaire, don't worry about it, I'm sure you're imagining some awful things bu-"

"I'm going out!" Klaire threw the spatula she was using to cook omelets and stormed out. The simple break in communication bringing the situation to a boiling point ans Klaire found herself on Lunelia.

She didn't do anything, just laid down next to Majesty. "Tell me if anything changes please. I don't want to cause trouble, but I need to shoot something."

'Mistress... If you wish I can call back some royal guards for you to use as targets.'

"I'm not offended, but do I really seem that heatless? Am I a bad person Majesty?"

'Mis-... Mistress, a powerful presence is emerging."

A brief moment later, Nergal emerged from a portal.

"Hello Klaire, Kyubi asked me to repay a favour and talk to you, though she didn't tell me what about... Sorry, I have no idea if I'll be able to help."

Klaire was about to rant, but silenced herself before she started.

"Nergal... I think you might actually be the only one who can right now... I'm sick of everyone being so supportive and not knowing if they're just being agreeable. I think getting the opinion of someone who admitted they regret not killing me might be perfect."

"I suppose I shouldn't say this, but how do you know I won't lie or give bad advice on purpose."

"It's because we aren't friends and owe each other nothing that I think I can trust what you have to say about certain things." Klaire mused.

"Ha! I know what you mean, whenever my sister and I needed an honest opinion we sought each other through proxy. She once asked for my ex-wife to visit her and proceeded to ask me, with her as medium, what I thought of a certain situation..."

"You mean the game?"

"I wish..."

---Message from the author---

Seriously thanks for all the support to those reading, it really does mean a lot and I hate to ask for more, but please please please leave a review,.

Not asking for five stars, just honest thoughts and feedback to help me grow and the story to draw in more readers.

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