Chapter Text
Sometimes, Karma felt like a sin only Mira had access to. Or maybe it was just inverted luck. More likely it was a bit of both, who knew?
Her gaze fell upon the holographic display with a glare, outlining a surprisingly accurate outline of the Legions respective to Gwi-Ma’s own Faceless hordes. The crystal ball was a godsend, and Mira made sure to set a reminder to give Bobby something as thanks for acquiring it. The display showcased the 4th Legion, or rather, what remained. They were but obliterated by now, having arrived a day earlier than the 12th and 13th to essentially stall for time as the main force arrived. Time that cost them dearly. For three full days, Gwi-Ma's hordes crashed against them, and by the time the 12th and 13th reached them, less than a hundred members remained standing.
Personally, Mira wasn't impacted by it. Not emotionally, at least. Her role was command and control. As long as their lives are spent with meaning, their deaths spent carrying with it a purpose few could match, Mira found herself was quite content with that. They were expendable and they knew it. Maybe that was one of the reasons why Rumi insisted on ensuring their rations were “appropriately adequate”. Mira thought it was a minor waste of food, but she wouldn’t question Rumi’s orders. Not now after they’ve come so far.
Logistically speaking; however, they were winning. Hard. Gwi-Wa’s Faceless, while numerous, required constant micromanagement without an Anchor Faceless to help guide them, and the only ones strong enough to actually lead the local Faceless were preoccupied with Jinu’s reinforcing Legions. So now, for Gwi-Wa, it was like having to focus on each finger to move, rather than just moving the whole hand altogether. Not impossible, but it certainly required more focus to work.
With most of the 4th Legion all but gone, whittled down to a still-strong 100 members exactly, Mira had to make their sacrifice count. They’d bought her time. Enough time for Zoey to set up the teleportation gems, enough time for Rumi to prepare herself for what would hopefully be the final battle. Enough time that Mira fully intended to make the most out of their lives. Anything less would have all but tarnished the memory of her soldiers’ final moments.
“The Faceless are looking to push through the leftmost Legion, reinforce their flanks.” Her mind barked, clipped yet calm. A flurry of acknowledgements buzzed in the back of her head, before she shifted her attention elsewhere. Just as she said, a large wave of Faceless surged forth in an attempt to envelop the isolated Legion. The surrounding Legions arrived just in time, the fury of hardened shields and blunt force weaponry decimating the tide of mindless minions. Mira didn’t even notice, too preoccupied with the overall battlefield situation.
8 years. She thought absently, even as her mind instinctively began repositioning the 13th and 14th to fill in the gap the 4th left behind. 8 years of fighting one guy and his armies of faceless fucks. It was stupid, really. Incredibly so. Was it worth it? All deaths, the sacrifices. The costly victories they were forced to make? Was it worth it?
Yes. The answer was always yes. Would always be yes. Thousands of demons had died for their success. Their needs. Their victory. And hundreds more would likely follow. It was the way of things.
Survival, after all, was never ever pretty.
Gwi-Wa’s Faceless were, in truth, little more than powerful manifestations of his own essence. That was it. Anything beyond that, what few demons were strong enough to resist his charismatic influence, were too far and few between to make note of. In the end, it never really mattered. No matter how hard they resisted, how much they never wanted it, becoming Faceless was almost inevitable. The fate of all caught under his thrall for too long. He sunk under the mind like a whisper, beneath the skin, under your eyes, seeping into your very pours like a secret acid. Melting what made demons pure, but only when you let him in fully.
Another reason she was thankful for Rumi’s existence. Her aura wasn’t just grounding, it was domineering. Protective, claiming without smothering. Not in the possessive cruel way she'd come to expect. No, hers was like that of a heated blanket wreathed in hellfire. Like something burning and all encompassing. Welcomed, never forced. Without her… Mira shook her head of the thought. She wouldn’t think on it now. Not until after they'd won.
Credit where credit was due, Gwi-Ma was no slouch when it came to the finer side of strategic thinking. One did not simply maintain an infernal, lasting grip over the minds of billions for an era spanning well over several millennia without learning a thing or two. By all accounts, he should have been their rightful King. But he wasn't. So here they were. Fighting a former King desperate to hold his throne. By themselves, Faceless were ultimately something of a genius invention, though Mira would never admit it. Strong enough to be a genuine challenge, numerous enough to be an overwhelming force, and commanded in such a way that Gwi-Ma managed to make them into an actual, cohesive threat. In a way, it was impressive. Very impressive.
For all that Mira hated Gwi-ma, for all that her essence burned at the memory of what he did to her, she had a profound and complicated respect for Demon King's tactical brilliance. The ease of which he'd mastered the intricacies of emotional manipulation was second only to his uncanny ability to command his seemingly endless hordes of constructs singlehandedly. I wonder if this is what the humans were expecting to face, Mira thought to herself. Just an unending horde of scrambling faces bearing down on you, hungry for more.
Mira didn't know. And it didn't matter.
Thankfully, for all their power, the Faceless had limits. Mira was watching them play out in real-time. Through her Mindlink ability, or just The Link as everyone called it, she subconsciously monitored each section of the battlefield. Fighting a determined, sufficiently motivated Dokkaebi force wasn’t as complicated as fighting other creatures, sure. But it was harder. For all that Zoey religiously blasted their apparent superiority for any and everything with ears that listened, she wasn’t entirely wrong either. In the speedsters’ own words, “it’s not even racist! It's literally true!” Mira had a complicated feeling on that too. Technically, Zoey really wasn't drawing comparisons to any other species, so it naturally couldn't be racist. Probably. Best not to think too hard on it.
The average Dokkaebi was a menace on legs. From what few books she'd acquired over the years, the human depictions of her people were... pathetic. Barely longer than an adult male, slim, fat and somehow skinny at the same time. It'd be insulting if the books weren't directed towards children. Exaggerated for the sake of comfort. On a basic level, Mira understood why humans did this. But that didn’t mean she had to like it.
Rumi suggested it was naively adorable. Zoey claimed it was cute. Mira wouldn't fall for the propaganda so easily.
Dokkaedo, real Dokkaedo, were 8ft tall monsters of muscle, claws and attitude bound by an array of primal instincts hellbent on fighting and killing. Powerful, diverse. Sloppy. Successful. The more they fought, the stronger they became. The smarter they became. By themselves, they were brutes with big guns and powerful weapons. Under the Triumvirate, they became something more.
Rumi was the Body. The source of which the Triumvirate applied its methods, and the supporting functions that kept them together. She helped supply the raw materials; the ores, minerals, demonic metals, magic-infused crystals, the works. Bobby was a big in that regard too, being one of the few humans to join their cause. When Rumi took to the field, her very presence empowered the Dokkaedo around her. Emboldened them towards the fight even harder. Mira suspected it had to do with her vaguely human origins, but again, Mira didn’t question.
Zoey was the Limbs. The amplification of their will, the fist in the face of their enemies, the legs of which to outmaneuver them. Her sheer speed was second to none, outpacing and outrunning anything Gwi-Ma's intellect could conjure. She planted the means of which they could strike, and applied pressure where others could not. Her spirit kept the often rowdy Dokkaedo in line with an ease that Mira used to envy.
Mira herself was the Head. The thoughts and direction that knew when and where to direct their combined strengths. The logistics of food and armament, the positioning of the Legions, the tactics they employed. Her mind was a weapon she was all too happy to wield.
Individually, they were powerful, yes. But together? They were unstoppable.
Mira signed, then chuckled. She was getting tired, despite having barely lifted a finger. Fatigue tugged at her eyelids, begging for rest. Her brain was fried. The constant usage of the Link was starting to take its toll. Already a cool, purple presence pressed along the outer edges of her mindscape. Mira knew she'd have to wrap up her tactical overview soon, less she risks Rumi taking a more direct approach in getting her to rest.
Trusting her assigned Legate’s to lead their assigned Legions, she instead focused on expanding her a little bit Link further. Her mind briefly brushed against Rumi’s, requesting permission. It was granted almost automatically, the request accepted before she even finished asking. But the pressure had increased, ever so slightly. A warning. A reminder for her to be aware of her remaining time.
Mira let out another sigh as power flooded through her, the hair on her neck standing with the sudden surge of strength. Rumi’s Empower ability was unlike anything she’d ever felt, and it took a decent effort to refocus herself. Knitting her brows, Mira felt the link reach out further than her mana reserves would normally allow, linking with the remaining member of their trio.
“Zoey.” She spoke sharply, cutting off any chance for an extended greeting. “What is your status?”
“About three minutes out...!” Zoey’s voice boomed like lightning, causing Mira to wince at the raw, unfiltered volume of it. We really need to work on your mind voice Zo, because what the fuck, Zoey? Mira shook her head, just barely managing to crank the volume down to something manageable as Zoey resumed her report.
No Faceless was good. Very good. It meant Gwi-Wa’s focus was either entirely too preoccupied with their advancing Legions, or he had something else planned out. Something big, possibly. Mira was always one to venture alongside the outer edge of caution, so she assumed the latter. Either way, the former all but ensured he wouldn’t notice Zoey’s movements. Or if he did, he couldn’t do anything about it. Not with such the Legions posing such direct threat to his capital city, slowly closing in around him. Knowing it would be a short while for Zoey to finish planting the gemstones, Mira’s attention instead shifted back to the main battle, her eyes scanning the field. She extended her link toward the 14th Legion, using the legate as an anchor. She then focused on Jinu’s hulking, duel-wielding form, pinging his mind with a careful firmness during a lull in the fighting, not to interrupt his concentration.
It only took a few seconds before the Link was re-established.
“Mira.” Jinu grunted, his mind a sea of anger and focus.
“Jinu.” She replied curtly. “How many Anchors to do believe Gwi-Wa has left? Estimate if you don't know.”
“Three.” He snapped immediately, voice tight with something primal. “Mystery and Baby are the other two.”
Ah, of course. Jinu’s own friends turned mindless. Slaves in all but name, shackled to a will not their own. Savable, and useful if rescued, but not important to justify the war effort. Still, Mira could understand his anguish. Assets such as his were exceedingly rare and powerful treasures. Likely one of the reasons Gwi-Wa allowed them to maintain their forms.
“Who's the third?” Mira questioned.
“I do not know. He’s hurt and bleeding bad. Abby and Romance are finishing him off now.”
“Safely?”
“Yes.” Jinu added. “He wasn’t under Gwi-Wa’s thrall for long. He asked for it during a brief lapse in Gwi-Wa’s control.”
Mira hummed. The lapse in control suggested strain, which, again, was good. Exceptionally so. Another particular weakness of Gwi-Wa’s Faceless was their relative semi-consumability. Most Demons couldn’t just devour them outright, on the risk of falling to Gwi-Wa’s own charismatic corruption. But strong demons, demons like Jinu’s own retinue, could.
It was something partway between an act of cannibalism and an attempt at honoring the defeated. Under normal circumstances, to waste the meat, which carried a considerable amount of essence in of itself, was seen as a waste of resources. She recalled Rumi was particularly… disturbed by the revelation. Actually, in Zoey's own words, freaked-the-fuck-out was a bit more accurate. Eventually she calmed down a little once Zoey managed to convince her it was an act of genuine respect, and that demons weren't going to eat her corpse like an ice cream sandwich. Zoey's words, not hers. At least, not without Rumi's express permission first.
“Can you kill them?” Mira asked, blunt as a hammer. “If the situation called for it, can you do that?”
Silence. A void where he should be speaking. Mira bit down a flash of irritation at the delay. She tried again.
“Jinu… I need to know if you have it in you to kill them. If we can save them, we will. But if we can’t… if it becomes necessary, can you do it?” She paused. “Will you do it?"
“...”
“Jinu.”
“... Yes.”
The response was curt, sharpened by something Mira didn’t quite know how to name. She didn’t push. Jinu wasn’t much for words, but he never lied. Ever. It’d probably hurt, he’d likely grieve over it. But he would do it. That was enough.
“Okay.” Mira said simply. “What is the status of the 13th and 14th?”
“They remain strong and are holding well. What was left of the 4th has been added to their own. We only await Lord Rumi’s command to advance.”
“Good. I’ll update you when it is time. Order the Legates to push the Legions into containment formation. This will soon be over, Jinu.”
“Understood.” He said plainly. She disconnected the Link then and there, quickly reorienting her mental space to the other task at hand.
Zoey had reported in again. An update. The gems were in place and active. It was… good to banter with her, even though it was a bit crude. But maybe that was the point. A breath of fresh air amidst the chaos, hiding within all the death they’d wrought. It was… nice. Needed. I’ll get her back for that little jab too, she promised herself. Something to look forward to when this was all over.
In better news, Gwi-Wa was almost certainly staring down defeat now. If he was already losing, it was now evident. As inevitable as the sunrise. The Legions had his forces fully encircled, the landmass between his primary castle and the surrounding Faceless forces being pressed back with relentless ferocity. His Faceless simply lacked the power their numbers afforded them, just as they lacked the advantage of space to envelope their forces. Mira barked her commands with a casual disdain, as if her words carried with them all the hate she couldn't express. Acting without hesitation, Mira’s orders were like gospel. The Legions began spreading out to maintain enough pressure to all sides, pushing in deeper, leaving the smaller Legions as counterforces should Gwi-Wa attempt to probe for weakness. Mira’s eyes narrowed. It was easy. This was easy. Too easy, too simple. Gwi-Wa was neither.
What are you planning? Mira asked herself, zooming in the hologram to focus on Gwi-Ma’s castle. It was massive, easily the size of a small city and brimming with powerful Faceless. Still, the shells of artillery and bombardments would ruin him in time. Time a Demon King of his stature would know he didn't have.
Unless he did...?
It didn't make sense. It was simply unfeasible that he would allow himself to get surrounded in such a manner without some kind of plan, and a good one at that. He was still a Demon King in his own right, after all, and one in possession of the unknown.
Of Mana.
The questions still remained. How did he use mana? How much does he have left? And what, exactly, could he use it for still? Mira didn’t know. She hated that. And until she did know, she would assume the worst: Human sympathizers, traitors, manipulated Dokkaebi. The list went on and on. Maybe from within their own ranks. Worse, if they were knights belonging to a Holy Order that joined them. Most likely lured by Gwi-Ma's honey poison. But would Gwi-Wa be willing to accept human aid? Yes, her mind helpfully supplied. He would happily use someone else if it meant he would survive. Regardless of the source.
Still, she could at least endeavor to force his hand. Force him to reveal his plans. The less surprises Rumi had to look forward to, the better. Likely at the cost of plenty of Dokkaebi warriors, but that was a price she was willing to pay. Victory demanded nothing less.
But first things first. She had her own Demon King to speak with. One whose patience had finally run out, if the mounting pressure was anything to go by.
The night wasn't over just yet.
It wouldn't be long now. They all knew it.
For all of Gwi-Ma's might, all his power, for he was strong, he suffered from the exact trait he lauded humanity for.
Fragility.
Zoey had a connection with the Dokkaebi. It came in layers, like an onion that forgot exactly how much onion was underneath the surface. Mira always tried to make her remember the basic principles of it all. Useful, loyal, and oh-so slightly less expendable that the Faceless. Zoey never quite agreed with that line of thinking, but she did understand the logic a little. To Mira, the Dokkaebi were just the dokkaebi. An army of grunts that served as a shield, a wall. A hill. They stood against the tide, against the venerable waves of soulless Faceless time and time and time again. A sea of stubbornness that clashed against Gwi-Ma's living tide of emotionless husks. They held; they defended. They served. For Mira, it was all rather simple.
But to Zoey, they were more than that.
They were the keepers, the gunners, the friends she played with in her youth. They were the forgotten, the hated, the desperate. The beaten. The broken. The damned.
And today, finally, finally, they we're making progress to ending this stand still for good.
Zoey's patterns flared as she speed through the tall, dark red grasslands, bleeding a secret joy her body couldn't contain any longer. Home, her mind said softly. Existence blurred, light bend over backwards in her wake. The rushing winds crashed and broke against her, a form a hazy afterimage of violent and green. In this, she was invincible, a living embodiment of fast and speed and more all in one. Zoey bit back the need to scream, teeth clenched tight, her smile as wide as the earth itself. Knowing her scream wouldn't even be heard until long after she passed the moment it let loose didn't even register. But she wasn't just speed, she was the momentum itself. The full moon hung high in the night sky, the Honmoon's shimmer gleamed, barely visible, but ever-present. A reminder of what could've been. What could be still.
"Zoey." Mira's voice cut through her thoughts like a blade, causing the speed demon to refocus. "What is your status?"
"About three minutes out!" Zoey relayed, her mind refocusing on the task she'd been given. She'd long come used to Mira's voice in her head by now, the Mind Link they shared thrumming with Rumi's own energy. Zoey didn't know how, but she knew that when together, Mira could extend her link to every demon under her command. Nothing quite as all consuming as Gwi-Ma's Dominion, of course. It didn't read minds or shackle souls. It connected. And it was certainly felt, grounding them. Often it was just simple, subtle acknowledgement that said I see you. Zoey wondered if that feeling made the Dokkaebi fight just a bit harder, just a bit more ferociously. She hoped. That would have to be enough. "Making my way through the Burbank Plains now! No sign of any Faceless!"
"Good." Mira said simply. "Inform when you've planted the Teleportation Gems."
"Right." Zoey nodded, eyeing the hilltop landmark. She paced herself to slow down ever so slightly as her neared her destination, wary of overshooting. "How's the frontline looking? Are we uh, winning?"
There was a pause before Mira spoke again, a faint drop of amusement coloring her tone. "Jinu and the remaining Saja Boys have just arrived and are reinforcing the 12th, 13th and what remains of the 4th. Gwi-Ma's desperation is evident in the amount of Faceless he's throwing at us. Baby and Mystery are reported to be amidst their numbers."
Zoey cringed inwardly at the news. Everyone knew Gwi-Ma's charisma and high magic affected more than just the mind, and it showed. Alone, no entity, human or demon, could withstand his Dominion ability. Rumi was the exception, but the rest of them weren't so lucky. Especially those who were once under his sway.
"I have to go." Mira stated, once more bringing Zoey back to the present. She was practically at the crest of the hill now, slowing to a crawl in mere moments. Even from here, she could see the tiny specks in the distance. Silhouettes of demons fighting for their home. "Alert me if you notice anything off."
"Got it!" Zoey whispered, out loud this time, pulling off the backpack from her shoulder.
"And Zoey?" Mira said abruptly, as if just remembering something important.
"Hmm?" Zoey hummed, half listening.
"You don't need to yell through the Link. I can hear your thoughts just fine."
Zoey felt her face heat up, her patterns flaring slightly. "R-right uh, I'll def keep that in mind. Sorry Mimi."
"It's fine." Mira replied, a chuckle hidden in her inflection. "Talk again soon."
The Link dimmed not a moment later, the connection there but empty. Zoey crouched low, placing the backpack down on the ground and pulled out three large Amethyst stones. Each was in a black, cushion-like casing, built to withstand the crushing forces they'd be under during her dash through the Burbank Plains. They pulsed faintly, a small, lavender light lighting the darkness around them. This and her light purple patterns made her position fairly evident even from a distance, but that was kind of the point.
Carefully, she placed them in a large triangle-like pattern, shifting enough dirt to plant them fully before covering them. It didn't take long, five minutes at most. But time was fickle, and Zoey's brain was all but screaming at her gogogo you're taking too long, they're DYING, HURRY UP! But she also knew that she needed to take the slow and normal route for this. Mira warned her the gems were ultimately fragile things. Taking a deep breathe, she sighed as she buried the last stone, before retreating back behind the hill.
She closed her eyes and reached out, imagining her essence reaching out to Mira like a tendril. She felt something cold, and then a pull. The connection was instant.
"Zoey." Mira greeted. "Are the gems in place?"
"Yep!" Zoey loosely thought-whispered, as if worried Gwi-Ma could hear her inner thoughts somehow. "And now we wait!"
"Now we wait." Mira confirmed. "I'll order Jinu to press his counterattack. Once Gwi-Ma commits, we'll warp in and strike."
Zoey frowned. "Won't that be a little too easy? Won't he have some, like, super mega Faceless to guard him?"
"He will." Mira conceded. And that was it. Zoey felt her eyelids draw close. "...what are you not telling me?"
The smile in her voice was nothing short of sadistic. "Patience Zo. You will enjoy the surprise. Trust me."
A puff of air escaped her lips, brief and true. Trust. There was very little Zoey didn't trust those two with. Her life, her safety, her very essence. They were her mates. It took time, sure, but what good thing didn't? "Ugh, fiiiiiiiine. I guess I can wait."
"Good girl." Mira quipped. "I'll be sure to tell Rumi how good you were."
Zoey snickered, her tone dipping low. "Okay, first of all, fuck off. Secondly, that's awfully nice of you Mimi. I mean, not as nice as when I caught you in the food storage with Rumi that one time, but still nice. I swear, it looked like her whole tongue was just crammed down your throat, you know? You were drinking her spit like it was water! Did it taste good? I bet it tasted good." Zoey's grin became cheshire, bordering somewhere between teasing and feral. "Just, ya know, clarifyin'. I thought we all had ruled no touching in public. So, tell me again, who's the good girl here?"
"I-I- Y-you saw that?" Mira sputtered, valiantly trying to regain momentum. "That doesn't count. We weren't even Mated yet. Back then, I mean. So... yeah." Mira hit that deep low tone she used when commanding, voice fat with a smugness. Like she just dropped the comeback of the century. Oh my Gods, she's adorable. Zoey could practically feel the nervous twinge, and she definitely feel Mira's mixed own Nervousness twinged with a hint of Irritation. Zoey almost felt bad bursting her bubble. Almost.
"Mimi, this happened last month."
"I-."
"Twice. Really Mira? Twice? Oh my god, please tell me you didn't contaminate our food supply."
"I'm leaving." Mira grounded out, but the Link betrayed her emotions. Flustered. Stubbornness. And the sheer Pout alone was palpable. "Keep me posted. We suspect Gwi-Ma might be desperate enough to try something big. We just don't know what."
"Won't he be suspicious if he doesn't see at least one of us on the front?" Zoey genuinely inquired.
Mira smirked. Zoey didn't know how she knew, but she did. "No. In fact, he won't suspect a thing."
The Link dulled before Zoey could question it, leaving the vaunted speed demon to wonder just what the heck that even meant.
"Guess I'll find out then." She chuffed. Her eyes looked towards the sky, the Honmoon's shine gold and true. The barrier that separated theirs from the Overworld. I hope you're proud, Mom. You too Dad.
The Honmoon shined beautifully in the night sky, a glimmer of gold amidst a sea of black. Waiting.
Watching.