Vale was left alone to think on his plans while Salome and Awilix found themselves in the now fairly spacious ex-dungeon within a dungeon, repurposed as a training room.

The frightened cat, who wasn't doing her best to hide her nerves, braced for a battle, but Salome just sat on the ground and motioned for Awilix to do the same.

Awkwardly, Awilix followed, and the two sat in lotus-like positions across from each other.

Salome smiled, then recited the description Vale had told her since Awilix probably didn't know how to read her soul scripture.

"To those blinded by the brilliant path ahead, you are a stalwart shield that allows their eyes a moment of respite. What they see in the darkness you provide, whether death or life, is the beauty of an eclipse — Tell me, kitty, what does that mean?"

Awilix just narrowed her eyes, and then, after taking a few seconds, screamed her response:

"The hell are you talking about, woman?!"

Salome held back a sigh as she thought about the deadline she'd imposed on herself…

"An eclipse is the obscuration of light between a target and the source of illumination… does that help?"

Awilix narrowed her eyes, then asked:

"Help what?"

"With your interpretation."

Awilix craned her neck to the side.

"Interpretation of what?"

'By the gods!'

Salome sighed:

"The description of your Trait… to draw out its true power, you have to try your best to understand it."

Awilix licked her lips and stretched.

"Alright, I think I get what you mean…"

Awilix clenched her eyes shut and fell into a momentary meditation. Then, her eyes snapped open, and she spoke with a shit eating grin plastered on her face:

"Never mind, I ain't understand nothin'."

Salome sighed, then repeated the passage, but only after explaining an eclipse in even simpler terms. When she was finished, the cat stared stupefied at her. Then, after half a minute of silence, the cat responded:

"So… like… I block light?"

Salome smirked, finally getting somewhere.

"You tell me."

Awilix clicked her tongue and then gave Salome a hearty purr.

"Just tell me, asshole."

Salome studied Awilix's golden irises and paid close attention to the flickering aura dancing within them.

"I'm afraid that's not how this works, as you should know more than me. It's your Trait, a Trait I don't possess, and Traits are not random."

Awilix just rolled her eyes as she began to impatiently rock back and forth, having been sitting in one spot for too long — two minutes.

"Whateva."

Salome stared at the golden, yet vacant eyes of Awilix.

"Do you know why I wanted you to have that orb — an orb that emits light?"

Awilix dug in between her breasts and brought out the tiny sphere and held it in her palm.

"Oh… so that's what this thing does… but are you sure? It seems pret-ty dull to me. Ooh! Is my body blocking its light!"

Salome sighed and tried her best to contain her dismay.

'Three days…'

"It's dull because Aether has to be used to activate it… As for whether your power is blocking light, absorbing light… that's what we're trying to figure out — Your Traits' purpose and ability."

Awilix ignored Salome, instead opting to hold the orb high above her head and activate it, causing the small ball to glow radiantly.

"Whoa!"

'Yeah…'

'It is going to be a long three days…'

***

Vale sat, surrounded only by the workers who had tirelessly taken out their frustrations on the wall of the somber core room. Their screams had quieted more than usual, and their efforts doubled as if taking out their dismay on the stone wall.

By now, two days had passed, and all the imps had learned of their fallen kindred. And they all showed a level of emotional intelligence Vale wished they hadn't…

After all, that was just a sliver of the price to pay on their bloody path of passion in the marketplace of hell — and the little imps were going to be the hottest commodity.

Little beings who'd be recycled or thrown out when needed on account of their cheap worth.

Their having emotions was both a good and a bad thing for Vale. It'd help him retain his humanity, but at the same time, it would make what had to be done that much harder. Actually…

'Is my humanity something I'm allowed to call into question anymore?'

Or had it already been lost…

The order had been given — that gruesome, damning, despicable order.

Vale tried, he really did. But as much as he thought and wracked his brain, no better plan popped into his head; it seemed there was no ethical solution to be had in this war, no…

It was time to commit a cruel and merciless execution.

Awilix had just, finally, made a major breakthrough in her Trait, Eclipse. With that prerequisite accomplished, the only thing left to do was for Vale to give the order…

The order for Salome to exit and kidnap some of the chameleon warriors.

It was still going to be a risky endeavor, but as long as Salome was careful and only nabbed the ones who dared to get too close to the entrance, then it would be okay…

Then, after they captured five or so… they'd…

'Tch.'

In any case, when Vale realized his hands were tied and choices had been narrowed and made before they'd even popped into his mind, he turned his focus on deciding where to position his troops in the maze.

In the end, after much deliberation with Salome, he'd reach an assignment for everyone…

Ximena would be positioned at the first crossroads where the straight path ended, and the maze began, so she could influence her surroundings as much as possible and limit her main vulnerability — ranged attacks — by minimizing the space ahead of her.

Salome, after baiting them in, would draw them far into the dungeon and keep them occupied while trying to limit potential injuries.

Awilix would be hiding in the fake ceiling and drop in the middle of the enemies and unleash her Eclipse ability. When she did, Salome would stop baiting the group in and go back to the start to help Awilix.

Stacy's squad was positioned in the maze behind Ximena's position; their job was to kill anyone who managed to slip by the ice witch.

Toy and Alpha's squad were positioned in the hallway to the core room.

As for the workers, most were gathered at the end of the final hallway to help with a last-ditch defense; however, the truth was that if they saw fighting, it was most likely already lost.

However, not all of the workers were hidden in the back.

There was a group that was going to be hidden with Awilix and support her once she dropped. Obviously, with the false ceiling now exposed, such a role was almost certain death for the little guys and gals, so Vale had let them volunteer for the task… not having the heart to assign it himself.

Surprisingly, or maybe not surprisingly, Larry had been the first to step up and volunteer, followed by Aster, Sizzy, and a few nameless workers. Vale was a little hesitant to let both of his prized artisans march toward their death, but he wasn't going to deny them…

Not when they had that defiant look in their eyes.

Finally, Vale…

He would stand alone at the final twist of the maze, sitting on a stone chair he'd had Larry make for him. He would take care of any who managed to get by Ximena and Stacy's group. He would have loved to position himself further up, in a more active role; however, he'd already made his choice to give up his power for Awilix. Not to mention, if he died… everyone died.

In that regard, they were all probably relieved he'd been put out of harm's way, for the most part.

Or at least…

'Hopefully put out of harm's way.'

If Vale were actually put in a sticky situation, then that would mean something terrible happened up ahead.

Then, while Vale didn't want to get cocky, he'd made a plan in the case of victory.

If they were in a good state, Salome, and whoever else were able would venture out and invade the chameleons' dungeon and take them out for good. If they were in a bad state, they'd wait until healthy enough to decide a proper course of action.

While Vale knew it was risky to launch a counterattack right after being invaded, sending some of his strongest forces away, after much internal deliberation, he was now unequivocal that this was the chameleon's main force. He didn't want to give them any time to recover their losses.

No, Vale wouldn't let those fuckers breathe another day.

Vale let his breath drain out as he drew a long sigh and sat up off the throne, then made his way past the slew of workers, picking up Larry, who grasped his stone spear on his walk.

Larry, sitting on Vale's shoulder, screamed:

"Badduhhhh!"

Vale smiled as he looked at his tiny friend.

"Yeah… baduh."

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