Not a word was said as the two combatants stared each other down. Not a thought behind their eyes other than the downfall of the one opposite to them. A conflict an eternity in the making; the day the Dreaming City was put to the blade. A war once thought impossible, now made a reality through deceit. Deception. 

Lubaeron had anticipated this. Ever since he tried to subjugate the Archfiend of the Depths to his will and failed, he knew this day was coming. 

It was inevitable. It was already written. The day the first Ruler of the Depths died at his hands, this moment within the weave of all realities has long since been in the making. 

Yet to be here now, staring down the beautiful but hated form of his foe, was a feeling he had not experienced in his unfathomably long life. To see the ivory trees of the Dreaming City burn. To watch as countless planets above burned away in this ultimate of battles. There was no doubt as to what was felt here and now. 

Fear. 

For the first time in an untold number of eons. Unfamiliar and unwelcome, it could not be shaken no matter how hard of an effort was made. Lubaeron kept the emotion hidden behind a cold, emotionless expression but he could not fool his ancient enemy. The one who had turned creation against both him and his kingdom as well as orchestrated these very events until none would dare offer aid. 

Not the Void, not the Heavens, not the Hellish kingdoms of Inferno. No one to arrive at the city in its darkest hours save for the Depths itself, and only then was that to tear at the flesh of those who called the dreaming kingdom their home. 

To be outplayed in such a manner was terrifying, and even now the Archfiend Cathay could see all that shook the First Dreamer to his crimson core. 

The twitch of one of their eight eyes. The minor shaking of his four fingered hands. The ever so subtle hesitation in his breathing. Wondrous sights all. Beyond the fire which burnt away at the Dreaming City below, past the cries and roars of Depthborn who tore into the silver robed Guardians that rose and fell in their domains’ defense, it was all Cathay wished to look upon. Even after having torn free two of the Ruler’s eyes from their sockets all she wanted to see was the terror locked behind his gaze. 

Oh, how delicious such a sight would be, but the Archfiend needed to practice restraint. Nothing would be gained for her were she to rush this extravagant meal. She’s been steady thus far, exercising caution in her schemes. To act too early now would be to jeopardize a millennia of planning.

How long has Cathay waited for this moment? How long had she planned to have her nemesis on their knees, broken and bleeding while the rest of creation watched on in fear? She couldn't say, but it felt like an eternity. A hundred eternities in fact. Each passing eon extended further than the previous, until the death of her Ruler was but a distant memory. But the promise made was not forgotten. The desire for this one moment never faded. It was her goal. Her purpose. 

By now the rest of the warring kingdoms must have realized their errors and become privy to the Primordial's ploy, but it was far too late to act. Nothing could stop this now. 

Suspended in the air the two forces of totality stared directly into each other's souls. Cathay wondered if, in this moment of silence, her old foe was trying to will her away again. Just as he attempted to do so mere moments before her claws pierced his eyes. With a thought the could end this invasion before regret settled in. Of course such an action would prove fruitless, as the two had already seen. Cathay’s tablets of defiance had shown to be the perfect countermeasure to those who relied too heavily on their granted power. 

A cancer within creation, one that would likely send a ripple across all corners of the weave. With them any lesser creature could harm, even kill, a Ruler. A feat once thought impossible, now so close it could practically be tasted. 

Hidden on Cathay’s person in the form of tattoos across her sickly green skin, three in total, these tablets kept any who possessed them safe from outside influence as well as those who wished to impose their will upon another. A shield as well as a form of dampener, nothing across any reality carried the means or power to overcome the nature of these ruinous slabs of stone. Already, several ‘supreme beings’ had fallen to their influence alongside Cathay's own magic. Flesh peeled clean off of bone, marrow sucked clean from what remained, it was a true terror to behold such horrible synchronization. 

No life taken so far however was that of a Ruler's. 

That property of the sinister slabs had yet to be tested up until now. Suffice to say Cathay was incredibly pleased with the results. 

Cathay wanted Lubaeron to flaunt his once unstoppable might. His all-power. She wished to see him fail at amounting to anything more than flicker of sovereignty time and time again before falling into the pits of despair. She wanted him to grovel, to kneel, just as he had tried to force her to do. 

To have them fall after believing themselves invincible for so long. It was the ultimate dream within the city where such thoughts were made manifest. 

In actuality, however, there was no such meaning behind the First Dreamer's silence. Though they knew not how Cathay resisted the unassailable might of a Ruler such as himself he supposed it didn't matter. They could not afford to think about what blasphemous magics she had used to bring forth the impossible. His city was under siege, his people were being devoured by the mouth full. There was no time to ponder as even a moment's hesitation and all Lubaeron had worked towards since time immemorial would amount to nothing. Their contributions to every dimension, erased. Lost without so much as a whimper. 

This needed to end. 

A tear in the sky had signaled doom upon all who called the domain their home. Guardians and army alike fell to the ferocity of the Depths yet not once was the influence of its Queen felt. A seer of the Deep, Alsanna of the Severed Sight; they were not present or even aware of the slaughter taking place. 

This attack was unsanctioned. In fact, no one knew it was Cathay who led this assault. They only knew it had been her hands that made all this possible. A schemer who many believed would not do her own dirty work, now proven quite wrong. 

If Lubaeron could survive this encounter, warn the rest of creation of the threat the Archfiend posed, then there might just be something worth salvaging of his domain. Even more, he might finally bring about an end to the Deep Wastes. 

All outcomes of this battle were weighed by both opponents. They needed to be. For this conflict to hold any meaning they must be aware of what comes after. 

The First Dreamer’s body blackened as his form grew more defined. Robust. Built for combat despite never having taken part in it before. Lubaeron was outmatched without his authority, this much he understood. Like a lamb before a dragon, he knew Cathay to be the fiercer combatant. She was older, and naturally more powerful as a result. 

Having assumed his mantle unopposed there was never a reason for Lubaeron to exert himself too far. Power came naturally, and not once in his life did he think he’d be without it. Now, as he came to learn the definition of fear, he regretted his own laxity of the past. Still this was not a battle he could walk away from, wounded though he already was. Raising a hand into the air, the First Dreamer brought forth the fire which burnt away at his city, draining it of its light and turning it dark. The energy grew chaotic before smoothing out, refining like steel within a smelter. A melody was heard, the very same which had turned many a free-will into a subjugated soul, and forced the growing dark into a defined shape of many manical angles. Its points and edges stretched outward across the sky as it continued to expand without end. The surface of the ever growing object constantly shifted, as though the form it was trying to take could never be settled. Unstable in a sense, it blackened what remained of the cosmos above the Dreaming City, blocking the destruction to many worlds unfortunately caught in the crossfire. Yet none who fought thought to look towards the display of power; a fear accomplished without the need of a crown. Only Cathay gave the sight any worthwhile notice, and even then it was little more than a brow raise. 

The First Dreamer rested his arms behind his back as the shape above settled. "Terror of the Deep. Agent of Chaos. Devil of the Dreaming City. Archfiend…" Lubaeron seemed to chuckle as he thought of all the titles his old foe had acquired over the ages. The Depths was not one for vanity and yet Cathay took to it quite well. "You rose from the Depths when you were meant to drown. Impressive. Faulty. I will have much work to do once you and your kind are gone." Without so much as a motion on his part Lubaeron forced the shifting shape above to jut forward, extending within it a forest of obsidian shrouded rods. Spears meant to pierce all within his domain, friends and foes alike. “Only a devil such as yourself would force my hand in such measures. Because of you I must begin again in my kingdom. Wipe it all clean before I may save it. I will take great satisfaction in knowing its second iteration will not need to deal with you damnable Depthborn further."

Cathay wasn’t certain if Lubaeron was talking to distract himself from the possibility of his own death or if he was trying to goad her into attacking by placing himself in a situation of vulnerability.  Perhaps an attempt to acquire an advantage over her. 

Whatever the case was, the Archfiend remained quiet, observing her enemy with molten eyes. Her whole body seemed to glow with terrible power befitting all of those she has consumed over her long life. Robes of silver and steel adorned her lovely body, grown and taken from the very guardians who had tried to impede her path this fateful day. Upon the Archfiend's back rested a darkened cloak that rested comfortably around her shoulders, still stained with the star-filled blood of those she slaughtered. Despite the ferocity she displayed against those who have crossed her, there was an air of regality one could not deny when viewing her form. Greater than that of her mortal foe’s, Cathay seemed a more fitting Ruler than the very one before her. 

Only a few cuts and tears were seen across her skin, results of Lubaeron’s own previous attacks against her. None life threatening, and not nearly as grievous as anything he’s sustained. She knew she could end this fight quickly, especially were she to ascend to her true size. A form large enough to grind the first Dreamer and his army underheel. Instead, the Archfiend lowered herself to her opponent’s level. Deprived of their ‘crutch’, she wanted to experience them losing their grip on the control they believed they had. 

To that end she allowed the First Dreamer his moments of hesitation, his speeches and monologues. She wanted him to calm his mind before she shattered their whole world view again. 

Lubaeron’s eyes narrowed as he continued to look on towards his hated enemy. His darkened armor turned white, flooded with the light of countless stars. A Void taken power, the manipulation of the laws of physics to strengthen himself further. “Will you say nothing, Beast? Has your wit and cunning left you?” Reaching a hand into the undulating darkness above, the First Dreamer pulled free a glaive; a chaotic construct of the resonating power which overshadowed the city. A weapon capable of cutting through every dimension, ensuring the death of those foolish enough to challenge its wielder. “Will you be still as I cut you down, or must I suffer these one-sided conversations further?”

The Archfiend's upper lip curved upward into a wicked grin as her gaze grew cold. "By the Thrones, you must love hearing your own voice…" 

The very first words Cathay had spoken in the entire expanse of her life. An insult to the Lord of lords no less.  

In an instant Lubaeron appeared behind Cathay, stepping beyond the boundaries of space and time for only a moment to move faster than what one may normally perceive. The Ruler brought his glaive down as it crackled with eldritch energy, intent on severing his foe's head from their shoulders in one swift motion. Instead, all the First Dreamer was met with was the sudden clanging of void forged steel against Cathay’s cloak; now split in two to form a pair of wings. Taken, mutated, and evolved from those of draconic or demonic origins, it had taken far too long to finally acquire them. So the moment they came to be Cathay was certain she had acquired herself a respectable weapon held within her own biology. A result of constant trial and error on her part; finally bearing fruit after so long. 

But regardless of the strength of her bones or flesh, Lubaeron’s void forged glaive should be more than enough to cleave her in two. That is, until he noticed a dark, malignant energy form around not just Cathay’s wings but her body as a whole as well. 

"The power you used to craft your trinket is something I've already seen in hundreds of Voidborn. Right before I made meals of them all, of course." Lubaeron tried to pull back from Cathay’s defense only to feel a sharp pain suddenly invade his abdomen. Glancing down, he watched in terror as three serrated prongs pierced his stomach and into internal organs. Pulling her newly formed tail free, the Archfiend used her wings to push the Dreamer’s glaive aside. 

Cathay turned her back towards him, unbothered by the opening she was openly offering. “The void encapsulates time and space. The Depths grow stronger from what it consumes. It's a simple logic to grasp, O' mighty Ruler. Of course I've learned how to harness such power already.”  

Clutching their side, Lubaeron could only hear every tenth of the words Cathay spoke. His senses were failing him, his divine blood pouring out of the wound he sustained. Even then he did not back down and plead for his life. With Cathay’s attention fully focused on her taunts the First Dreamer raised his weapon hand forward, using his glaive to manipulate the spikes within the darkness above. He unleashed them, but only enough to cover the areas surrounding himself and his nemesis. The archfiend only realized what had happened after it was too late. Using her wings, she shielded what she could of the attack, but acting too slowly meant that few got past her defenses. Rods of materialized oblivion pierced his skin and limbs, nearly finding their way into her heart more than a few times. Fortunately for her the attack was fast, and just as quickly as Lubaeron unleashed it did it also end. 

Both still suspended in the air, more aptly walking upon the nothingness above the Dreaming City, Lubaeron rose to his full height. With a hand still clutched to his side he summoned a hellish flame to cauterize the wound Cathay had left him. The pain was plain to see in his eyes yet not once did he scream. Instead, had the Ruler had a visible mouth to see, it was almost a certainty that he’d be smiling. He caught his breath… and laughed. "You will find I am not so easily KILLED, Wretch!"

Lubaeron crouched, the light across his armor shining like he were some knight of valor. He flourished his glaive with surprising skill, imploring the Archfiend to make good with her goals here. “The first words you’ve spoken and you use them to waste my time? If you wish to kill me then get on with it. I will not indulge your prattle.” 

Once more Lubaeron unleashed another volley of spikes from his summoned darkness, only now in a much larger quantity. Nearly the whole expanse of the vast nothingness he forced into being. They rained down into his own city, tearing apart all that got caught in the disastrous downpour; rending friend and foe alike. None could withstand the assault, and the bodies of those unfortunate many who fell victim to Lubaeron’s assault were ground into a mess unrecognizable from what they once were. All save for Cathay of course. 

Knowing well the attack was coming she prepared herself just before the first rod of the second volley pierced her crimson eyes and skull. When at last the attack had died down, the Archfiend remained decently unharmed. Her wings would not be the shield to cut it this time around, and in desperation she summoned something of the past. A body of work she had not taken the form of since her earliest days. Obsidian bones, skeletal, and bearing a draconic visage; the frame of a Drake of the Deep. Coiled around her body like a coat of armor, keeping her safe from what might have otherwise been fatal. 

Cathay’s eyes twitched. She had hoped to have Lubaeron pleading by now. Instead, it seemed the crutch bound King was more valiant than she originally thought. Enough that, even were he outclassed, he still refused to back down. 

Calming herself, Cathay deemed it was no reason to lose her head. “You wish to struggle then? Fine.” 

Pinching her thumb and middle finger together Cathay brought her hand up to her face. She looked through the gap between her fingers, eyeing down the tenacious lord. “Then struggle. Anything else would be boring.” 

The destroyed land below began to rumble as, before the King of the Dreaming City could react, a skeletal maw tore through the domain’s crust. In the same shape as the skull of a drake, only now covered in patches of skin and muscle, it devoured everything in its rise. The brutalized bodies of Depthborn and Dreamers alike, swallowed in the undead beast’s advance. Lubaeron readied his glaive as the summoned skull rushed forward, large enough to devour not just him whole but the darkness beyond as well. Even as it jutted outward in all directions to escape, the veil of oblivion couldn’t move far beyond the maw closing in around it. A truly monstrous form of Cathay’s past, forced into this battle by her will alone. Mindless, serving only its master. 

And yet even that was pierced by the same spikes which nearly ended the Terror of the Deep. Skewered from within as they tore through bone once strong enough to withstand collapsing stars. 

Still the beast did not relent, enveloping the Lord of the City in its kingdom encompassing jaws, snapping them shut before unceremoniously swallowing. A temporary breather as already Cathay could see a radiant dawning taking shape within the body of her ancient reflection. Normal beings would have gotten crushed by teeth and throat, yet here all Cathay could feel was the heat of the rising power within her own flesh forged throat. Though not connected physically to her it was still of her mind, her past, and thus was an unpleasant feeling. 

Pulsating, growing hotter with each and every passing second. Faster than anything had any right to be, in another minute it would have reached a point where it shunned even the pits of the hellish kingdom's of Inferno. It wouldn’t be long before Lubaeron broke free of his temporary confinement in a shower of fire and dead flesh. 

Credit would be given where it was due. Cathay had underestimated the Ruler. Enough that now she was wondering if this battle would be something worthy of her time. When she had come here she expected a spoiled, weak, arrogant little godling who thought himself invincible because of their throne. A being who had grown fat and complacent from the power gifted to them by a crown. 

She didn’t see that anymore. 

How wrong Cathay was to now see Lubaeron demonstrate a tenacity far exceeding what was originally expected. If time allowed he might have even been a decent warrior. A future the Archfiend would deny with her last breath if able. 

They were ruining this for her. The Crimson Bastard shouldn’t be capable of producing even an ounce of determination in the face of their inevitable demise, and yet here he was doing just that. It was infuriating. 

Annoying. 

But ultimately pointless. This day would be his death, that much was already decided. Lubaeron could not overcome Cathay’s own evolved power with his own and in time he would fall. 

So much planning had gone into turning the whole of the Manifold against him. Cathay's ruinous tablets had been created for just this purpose. She could still make this work. Have it all be worthwhile. To turn back now would be pointless. 

She was skilled in destruction. Annihilation. And while the First Dreamer's death wouldn't be rife with the humiliation she had hoped, Cathay was flexible enough to make this enjoyable. She could work with this. 

To kill something was easy. 

And life was much more reasonable when such simplicity was your sole focus. 

Less tiring for her when the slaughter was said and done.

***

Cathay yawned as the tree sized finger of her girlfriend gently stroked her blond hair, calming the Ruler of recent headaches. In between planning mankind’s cultivation, ensuring the Depths remained hidden from the wider view of Earth, and keeping the hands of rival domains away from her business, Cathay was well and truly numb of mind. Not physically exhausted, she had not been as such in thousands of years, but mentally she needed a deserved break. Provided with much needed aspirin, a human medication that mostly tricked this weaker body of hers into improving rather than actually fix anything, she just wanted to wait out any inconveniences now. 

How many weeks had Cathay been planning alongside Ordegash now, carefully plotting out every step mankind might take to ensure their eventual evolution? How often has she frozen time only to allow the two of them a chance to speak?

She’s lost count by this point. To make matters more complicated, the Pale God was in search of the Ruler’s artifacts. Her Tablets of Ruin, made to challenge those like herself. The irony was not lost upon her. They were a needed instrument. Humanity of any form would not survive long without them.

Unfortunately, Cathay was in no position to retrieve them herself. Complications in the cosmos prevented that, and so she needed others to complete such drudgery for her. Tedious, and that in itself was a further burden on her tired mind. 

This short reprieve of hers was needed, and as Cathay rested upon the toned stomach of her beloved Valerie she knew she would cherish this temporary serenity. Even if it was only just for a moment

For once, the human was away from her self-imposed work, and though she would have preferred in the weekly continuation of their enjoyed foreplay this time of peace wasn’t frowned upon. Returning from a quick jog, it was pleasant to feel the relatively cool body of Cathay’s shrunken down form resting on the skin below her crop top. Like an ice cube upon her skin, the Depthborn’s body was shockingly cold. To the point of shaming cubes of ice. Still, there was a sense of pleasure in the sensation. 

The Ruler cared little for the sweat upon her back, and though Valerie’s fingers were placed on her body, lightly massaging the cosmic entity into her taut abs, she seemed to even welcome the source of perspiration. Strange though it may sound, it was something which took her mind off of recent events. A distraction. One enjoyed slightly more than should be. But it was greatly needed. 

Has planning out universal events always been this complicated? How hard could it be to uplift a weak species such as humanity? Constant questions these days, and at times Cathay wished to share such inquiries with the one closest to her. 

But Valerie wouldn’t understand. Not in the ways a Depthborn, let alone a Primordial, would. She was human. Finite. Simple… no creature of man could understand the machination of a Primal as old as her. None could grasp the reasoning behind certain motives. The conflicts fated to come would sit poorly with her no doubt, but it was a necessity that could not be avoided. Calamitous early on but salubrious in the long-term. They were right and good. Already, Cathay has set Ordegash to cull the damage of certain forces, concocting ways for Earth to remain ‘relatively’ sane. 

At least until it was ready for the Ruler’s plans. She couldn’t have events happening sooner than she wished, nor could she have prying eyes and ears turn her way. There were too many forces in the infinite expanse of the cosmos who’d try to take the Earth for themselves despite Cathay’s presence upon it, and though being rid of such threats would take little more than a thought… it wasn’t a sort of power the Archfiend was always allowed to exercise. 

Until their safety could be assured Mankind would need to grow for itself. In whatever way was deemed best suiting for them. While unlikely to be the kindest of methods towards evolution, what Valerie did not know would not hurt her. And what did not hurt her would not impede these times of coveted relaxation and ‘love’. 

A strange word still when spoken by Cathay… but it was growing on her. 

The Ruler of the Depths had much work to do if she was to make the Earth a strong and suitable home for herself and her beloved. While tedious, it wasn’t all bad. Cathay may have instructed the Pale Primordial Ordegash to work on the finer details of their plans, their foresight working as an incredible method of planning, she still preferred the old days where she could actually get her hands dirty. Spread out an influence so strong it shook the firmament of all. Coerce creation with little more than words and gestures. It was heavenly. Now, because of her throne, Cathay was limited to using forces she commanded rather than engage in areas that needed her finer touch. She was sidelined, there was no simpler way of saying it. A fall from a certain point of grace but there was no use sulking over it. No point in growing consumed by such old thoughts of hers. 

And yet consumed she was. It was so much to think about. Too much in fact, and soon Cathay proved to be so lost in her thoughts that she hadn’t even noticed Valerie's oversized finger beginning to move away from her head and torso, making their way between her legs. Despite having her eyes closed and remaining at a relative doll-size, Cathay easily stopped the human’s hand in its tracks. An invisible force kept their fingers at bay, and no amount of strength they exerted could move their hand closer or further away. Surprisingly, this wasn’t taken as poorly as one might have expected. More often than not Valerie preferred to be in control during their little ‘games’. This time however, Cathay had earned a soft chuckle from her Goddess. 

“I knew that’d get your attention.” The red headed woman admitted with a soft smile. The very same which always seemed to melt Cathay’s cold heart no matter how foul of a mood she was in. “You’re thinking again, aren’t you?” 

“I’m always thinking.” The Ruler admitted. Moving her lover’s hand away with the same force that kept it in place, Cathay positioned herself so that she was laying flat on her stomach atop Valerie’s abs. A remarkably soft surface despite the care the human goes through to ensure her physical appeal. She was fit, firm of body, and though never able to measure against even the weakest of cosmic beings, Cathay imagined it was still an impressive sight among humans. Alluring. No doubt the apple of many eyes. 

And she was all hers. Captivating. There were few treasures in any universe that could come close to the beauty Cathay saw in her beloved. 

“Is this an issue?” she asked. 

Valerie tilted her head, her expression one of radiance and joy. Though not the foreplay she had in mind there was just no way she could not enjoy this position of hers. Being large for the normally all-powerful Goddess upon her stomach… Well, there was a sense of irony in that. There was no doubt in either of their minds that these positions could change as quickly and as silently as the wind, but there was no worry towards that. Their relationship was one that was enjoyed and loved. With her free hand she massaged her cosmic queen’s back, working into the points she knew would offer the most pleasure. “Not at all. I like to watch you think. Did you know you get a little scowl when you’re really deep in thought?” 

The Ruler chuckled at the idea. “Do I now? I never noticed.” 

Valerie had to stifle a snort to keep herself from laughing, and by extension to keep Cathay still and comfortable. Just as quickly, her joyous smile returned once the laughter had subsided. “Really, you look so intense when you scowl. But… you’re sweet. At least when you want to be.”

“Well, I'm glad you think so. There are many who’d think otherwise.” 

Cathay saw as Valerie’s eye twitched in response. A subtle yet evident reminder for the human that her girlfriend was not a well liked being. “I could imagine… Was that what you were thinking about? All those enemies of yours?” 

A question she’s heard all too often these past few days. One born of worry. Fear That the Ruler's ancient grudges would come to lay waste to the world. Only a fleeting fear as none would dare directly invoke Cathay's ire. 

Still, it was a sweet display to see.

Valerie was a kind soul. Caring. But this came at the expense of often troublesome inquisitiveness. She knew of Cathay’s role in the destruction of more than just a few civilizations, in much the same way as how Jason knew of his own mate's past crimes. Still, Valerie stood by the Ruler’s side. When something was wrong or overbearing, the bold human even offered a shoulder to lean on, or an ear to ramble to. Lovely qualities to have, but at times such a kind nature could prove troublesome when trying to keep your nose out of another’s business.

Altruism had its merits but also its flaws. One need only look upon the First Ruler of the Depths, Zathas, to understand that. 

Cathay was not quite set on telling her human anything they didn’t need to know. At least not yet. In time, perhaps, but for now the Ruler wasn’t certain if Valerie would follow along with her plans towards mankind’s cultivation. Morality was a troublesome concept that too many humans clung to, even one as glorious as the eldest of the Armitages. What she didn’t know would allow her a much more quiet and comfortable life. Far more than anything the Deep could offer her. 

Allowing Valerie to continue with the much needed massage, Cathay stretched out her arms and legs, getting comfortable as she rested her head upon her mortal girlfriend’s skin. Dressed in nothing more than comfort clothes, not having joined her beloved in their aforementioned jog, the comfort currently felt would have been an oddity a hundred thousand years ago. “I have far fewer enemies now than I did a million years ago. Any that remain now know better than to cross me. No, my mind is elsewhere. Managing the Depths and what invades planets is much more important than having to deal with entitled divinity and royals.” 

For a moment, Cathay felt Valerie’s hands tense up. Placing just a smidge too much pressure onto the Ruler's back elicited a sharp pop. An unintentional act which loosened some stress produced knots that had been bothering her. 

“Invasions? Did something come out of the Deep again?” Valerie asked, the concern very clear in her voice.  “Did something happen to Gilah? Or that friend of hers? Are they okay?”

The human’s concerns were not unfounded. Already, Earth has found itself invaded by bloodthirsty trespassers. Denizens of Cathay’s kingdom, the whelps which have breached the faulty line between this reality and the Depths have thankfully been kept away from wider civilization. Had they not then there was no telling as to the potential death toll mankind might have faced were even a single of these young blood beasts to reach land. Thankfully the planet had more than a few defenders now, though Cathay couldn’t be considered one despite her undeniable strength. 

“Gilah is fine, a single whelp isn’t going to be the end of her.” Cathay explained, recalling the most recent incident well. A brief skirmish within the Mediterranean sea, far beneath the ocean’s surface and away from watchful eyes. The former Butcher performed well despite being out of practice. Her returned bloodlust served her wonderfully in ripping the invader's head from their body, though the young Depthborn suffered her fair share of cuts in the end. 

“Not to mention her ‘friend’. Ira… I think her name was. Natural born of Eden, a leviathan, they settled a territorial dispute that had emerged from the Arctic ocean and made its way into the pacific. Thankfully it passed into her territory before it could reach civilization, so she just picked off the victor of the bout before things went awry.” 

Another breach of the dimensional membrane between Earth and the Depths. Though a few human lives were lost they were little more than sailors belonging to fishing boats. Nothing of real value. And in the end none remained who could spread the truth of the whelps existence. “Though I suppose calling those two friends is a bit on the nose for now. There’s some one-sided bad blood between them if I do recall correctly. Nothing to overlook any real threats though, and I'm certain Gilah will worm her way into that axolotl’s heart in time.” 

The former butcher had that effect on even the hardest of spirits. 

While not the answer Valerie wished to hear it was at least something resembling good news. At least enough to put her mind at ease. “Thank God they’re safe...” Though not brought up often for the sake of her own heart, the bold human was aware of the strange occurrences outside of her home city of Ravencroft. The way to the Depths has been opened and unleashed its horrors upon the world of man. How Cathay, despite her authority, would do nothing to close any existing breaches. She knew all this and understood the reasons as to why. Still, that didn’t mean she had to enjoy it. There was just no fighting the nature of the Deep. “I still wish you could just stop all of it, ya know? You certainly have the power to do so with ease. But you said there were… complications? Things even you can’t alter.” 

Valerie cocked her head as she tried to recall how Cathay phrased. “Wait no, not complications. You said… chains? Or something like that?” 

"Restrictions, if you want me to simplify the terminology." 

"I am allowed certain actions, despite the power my throne and crown grant me," Cathay explained. "I'm free to annihilate a galaxy, plummet a planet into madness, but I am never to impede on the Depths’ purpose; evolution and growth through carnage and slaughter. To do so would be to deny all we stand for." 

Cathay looked back onto her long life, noting all her struggles within and how she had grown stronger as a result of so much suffering. Both her own and her victims. She recalled how she used to view poorly the Rulers who claimed infinity, believing their rise to power was anything but the strife she thought was needed to grow mighty. Now here she was, among the numbers of those she looked down upon, greater than she’s ever been before but less than anything she could have grown to be. 

Moving her Beloved's fingers away from her back, Cathay repositioned herself again so that she may look up at the ceiling of the apartment. 

Beyond it a quiet universe waited, filled with stars she once bled with fervor. Back when she was free to do so without restrictions. 

She didn't possess that now. Such privilege of freedom and glory was lost to her. Instead, all she had were her duties. The last thing she wanted in the past. "It's ironic actually. The greater a Ruler’s domain is the further their influence reaches, and there's hardly a domain as extensive as the Deep. There’s hardly anyone stronger than myself. I made sure of that. With a thought there’s rarely a law of reality I can’t freely alter. But my crown prevents me from doing that, despite giving me the means to do so in the first place.” 

“A Ruler cannot interfere in the business of another kingdom, nor can they deny their domains' nature. That is what it means to be chained. Restricted."

Cathay had far more power at her disposal as just the Archfiend of the Depths than she does now as the Tyrant of the Deep Wastes. Her influence could not be denied but the loss of her personal freedom was a crippling blow to her otherwise horrifying reputation. It was one of the greatest reasons as to why Cathay never coveted the position. Not her nor the other Primals. 

Unfortunately, because of their extreme, sometimes even the strongest must bend the knee for necessities sake. 

The position fell upon Cathay and thus was her duty. This was plain and simple. A fact that wouldn’t be ignored. That didn’t mean she didn’t long for the chance to exercise some old habits though. 

Valerie fell quiet. She always did when Cathay went on one of her ‘cosmic ramblings’. They were always a lot to take in. Never mind that the Ruler openly admitted to eradicating whole solar systems, a point they will definitely come back to later no doubt, it almost seemed as though they were… unhappy with their position.

The towering human shifted uncomfortably, making sure to be careful so as not to disrupt her doll-sized lover. When looking down towards her stomach though, Valerie saw she hadn't even disturbed the eldritch queen. They just looked up, no doubt watching the infinite void of space beyond their shared apartment, wishing to be a part of its eternal wheel of change once more. 

Either that, or again they were just lost in their own mind. 

Now that she thought about it, Valerie was fairly certain Cathay never talked about how long she's maintained her throne. Certainly long enough to have grown tired of her position in the Deep. "It's kinda clear you never wanted your role, so why take it? I mean… if it's something you dislike there should be no point in keeping it right?" 

Valerie's eyes went wide the moment she realized what she had said. "Not that I'm complaining!" She backtracked, after having basically told her Girlfriend to quit her 'job'. "Ultimate power looks good on you!"

Cathay sighed softly. Though they did not understand the hierarchy of the Deep, Valerie’s clear recovery and attempt at humor was appreciated. "Circumstances," she said simply. "I was in a position where I was deemed best fit to lead. I am the Depths' strongest even without my crown. It only made sense that I take the mantle. We are a society that values power after all, and who in the cosmos possesses more power than I?"

"It didn't matter if I wanted to take it or not. I needed to take it."

Cathay turned to see the worry in Valerie's eyes. She knew that expression of theirs very well. Though they've only been dating for a few short months, that one particular look had become one of substantial recognition. The Ruler stood up, planting her bare feet into the soft skin of Valerie's abs, not even thinking of returning to her human size. Making her way to one of the human's hands she raised their index finger to their cheek. 

Valerie’s worry would not do, nor would it sit well with the Ruler of the Deep. In a cosmos as vast as theirs, after eons of tormenting others, it was Valerie’s worry that Cathay wished to quell. 

"Before you ask, no, I do not regret taking my throne." Lightening the mood, Cathay kissed the tip of the finger she was caressing. Despite possessing quite an impressive size in comparison to herself there was hardly any issue. "I have very few regrets in my life as is. Had I never adorned my crown, and had Gilah never come to the surface of Earth, I would have never met someone as extraordinary as you." 

It was actually rather likely the Earth would have died out decades ago were such events to never have passed. That was something better left unsaid though. "I am glad I won't have to live with such regrets as ‘what-if’."

Whatever worries were alive within Valerie were immediately washed away in this display of affection. Despite normally being the one 'in charge' of this relationship, the human could not deny that when the situation demanded it Cathay could be a very smooth talker. 

Of course such bravado never lasted long, and though her face was flushed red from Cathay's declaration that did not stop Valerie from coiling her fingers around her girlfriend's waist rather suddenly.

"God… DAMN you are too much!" 

Without warning, Valerie's lips met the side of the Ruler's face. Their width alone was enough to take up much of Cathay's sight,  and once the human's tongue snaked out from her maw she knew what was coming next. 

Cathay could feel every single one of her neurons flare the moment Valerie's tongue made its way between her thighs and worked their way up to her chest. Passing an impressive pair of breasts and running against the rest of the Ruler's head, there was nothing that went untouched. Valerie would have her fill after such smooth talking, and there was hardly anything the mighty Tyrant of the Deep could say that would stop her.

As if she wanted them to stop. 

Every cell was rife with pleasure and it was all Cathay could do to keep herself under control. It was already evident however that one of them had lost their cool. The clear larger of the two, but at this rate the lust might be shared. 

With a huff, Valerie pulled back; a string of saliva keeping her lower lip connected to her lover's body. "You know that's not fair! I'm here acting worried for you and you just go say something so… suave! It's like you're trying to get me worked up!"

While not her intention Cathay saw nothing wrong in this sudden development. Though the original intention was to simply relax, at times it was just better to go with the flow. 

"Maybe I was, maybe I wasn't." The Ruler taunted as she remained in her girlfriend's gentle grasp. "There's only one way for you to find out, my Star~." 

The look in Valerie's eyes had changed from worried to wanting; a wonderful development for Cathay as it helped to take the human's mind away from further inquiries. There was only so much the Archfiend could keep from her before ultimately caving and divulging her eventual plans for humanity. The longer things remained hidden from their eyes the better. 

And there was also the added bonus of a lover’s pleasure for one who had gone too many eternities without such a sensation. 

"Bold today aren't we?" Cathay's body was lifted higher as Valerie positioned herself down below, until her mouth was just inches away from her lover's legs. "I like that. Usually all I get is your face buried in a pillow while I get to work in the back~.” 

“Of course I imagine that’s something you enjoy, seeing as you’re always dripping from anticipation.” Cathay’s face flushed a red even deeper than Valerie’s as the human talked on, bringing with her images of past conquests in the bedroom. “How do you think all your rivals and enemies would think of you once they learned you just love to get your shit rocked? They’d probably be disgusted, wouldn’t you agree?~” 

Cathay couldn’t say anything. Things had moved faster than anticipated. Already she could feel her heart beating as though it would leap out of her chest. Her lips quivered as her whole body shook, but all the while she felt a queer smile form. 

“But fuck them if they think that.” Valerie continued once she saw her girlfriend’s quivering form. Normally so powerful and threatening, now reduced to shaking and meek. It was adorable to watch. “Those pigs can keep their thoughts to themselves. You though… you get a first hand look at how well I can rock a Ruler's world~." 

Biting the fabric of Cathay's pants, Valerie slowly began to work them off with such a level of skill that she didn't need to worry over ruining them. They’ve had their runs of practice already; these antics were second nature by now. 

It was… fun. Despite her mortality, the Eldest Armitage was terrifyingly skilled in making others bend to her will. She had no great power, nor a mind shattering aura. No magic to use or abuse. All her traits of domination came through repetition, practice, and just an ounce of natural skill.  

It made Cathay wonder what sort of title they’d hold were they to ascend to divinity. An impossibility considering Valerie’s refusal of such an idea, but it was still a pleasant thought to be had. That said, they needed no divine spark to even be considered a goddess. 

They already were. Cathay’s Goddess to be precise. 

Even when compared to her magnum opus, it might not be long before Valerie's love overshadows even that too. Regardless of feelings and sensations however, there was still work which needed to be done

Come morning, once Valerie was satisfied, it'd be back to the old, chained duties. Yet contrary to what she had said prior, Cathay's chains didn't feel so tight anymore. At least not today. Through these little acts it felt as though her old freedom had been attained again. Lovely and desirable, it was rather addicting. 

What a pleasure it was to experience such forms of privilege again, even in some small measure. 

It almost felt similar to that day. 

The very one where the universe fell silent and ceased in motion. When the destruction of a grand city felt almost as good as getting tasted by a beautiful Numen. 

***

Lubaeron proved worthier than Cathay had originally expected. Far more than someone she originally considered as weak and spoiled should be. She thought them to be over reliant on their power granted through status, and while that may have been the case before, the First Dreamer proved terrifyingly adept at evolving themselves. 

Not in the same sense as the Depths, their evolution was more spiritual. Personal. In only a few centuries of continued combat against the Archfiend they had grown as both warrior and as a god. 

Clutching her own side to keep her blackened blood within her own body, any healing impeded through whatever wounds had been sustained, Cathay wasn't above admitting when she was wrong. 

She had misjudged Lubaeron. 

Their battle was lengthy and fierce, and the Lord of the Dreaming City clung to life with all the strength they could muster despite having never needed to fight a day in his life prior. Desperation inspired many a mighty warrior, even in their last minutes; the fallen lord was no exception. They persevered for centuries where others would have fallen in mere moments. That alone was praise worthy.

Even having grown to her true size at the climax of the battle, a form so large that a single footstep could be felt across the Dreaming City's infinite expanse, proved not nearly as effective as Cathay had originally thought. She just gave Lubaeron a larger target to skewer in their end. 

One void spawned lance managed to find itself piercing the Primordial's side, thus her need to keep her innards inside. A grievous wound that she could thankfully mend in time, but it only served as a reminder of how hard the King of Dreams had fought. 

Regardless of how much they struggled though, Lubaeron fell in the end. Despite being more powerful and stubborn than originally anticipated Cathay still proved mightier in the end. She would have ripped her nemesis in half were she of a smaller size, but in the end she allowed the Tyrant to overcharge his own powers. Despite being quite adept at evolving they could not keep the pace with their own growing power.

It turned on Lubaeron. Flooded throughout their body, turned against them. Cathay needed only to wait for the right moment to finish the job. But even when it came the First Dreamer didn't scream. He laughed instead, somehow satisfied over how well he managed to push back against inevitability. 

Prideful Bastard…

Using the remains of the city as a space in which she could rest upon, the Archfiend cared little for the corpses of those who had fallen, or those who continued to fight. While titans in their own right, Depthborn and Guardians were flattened with mercy beneath Cathay's form. Even the once sturdy structures of the city crumbled underneath the very same beauty who had begun this invasion, only now magnified by an untold amount. 

She looked down at the corpse of her once hated foe, frozen like some statue and rippling with untapped power. There was no telling how far Lubaeron might have grown had they learned to acclimate to their rising potential. Had they done so then the battle might have ended in their favor. As much as Cathay loathed to say it, their growth had moved her. Even if it was in some small measure. 

It was so very Depth-like.

Not many would fight as furiously as Lubaeron did despite having no chance at victory. Doubly so seeing as the Crimson Bastard never fought with his natural power prior to this day. It is as Cathay said before, had they focused on their defining strength rather than their regal crutch they may have grown to become a formidable warrior. 

It was… respectable.

Like venom on her tongue, Cathay could barely stomach such words despite the truth behind them. Lubaeron's refusal to die without a roar rather than a whimper had earned himself the begrudging respect of his ancient foe. 

Even when they knew what was to come in their loss they did not show weakness. 

They met their death with more bravery than some deities, and even then that did little justice to the bravery Lubaeron expressed. Though Cathay wished it as such, she had the feeling the First Dreamer would not be forgotten easily. 

That is, unless she were to wipe the board clean. Give the cosmos a reason to never utter the Crimson King's name ever again. 

A horribly terrifying idea, and something which brought a small smile to the Archfiend's lips. 

Clenching her titanic hand tight, the feeble form of Lubaeron's petrified body could not withstand the mountains of Depthborn flesh that enclosed around him. Despite the respect which had been developed, the corpse of the dead Dreamer proved far too intriguing a tool to not take advantage of. All that untapped potential Cathay had seen, along with their power witnessed. She could feel it all along with the shuddering of the Domain's authority, felt through the properties of her tablets turned tattoos. 

Not even a crack was heard as Lubaeron's body gave out. Extreme care needed to be taken. Though the Dreaming City was without a suitable soul to ascend the throne there was still the chance that someone, somewhere could inherit the power left behind. A pseudo-tyrant; a being born out of universal necessity. There must always be a Ruler… or at least that was what was believed. The Heavens alone disproved this one belief, and all Cathay had to do was remind the whole of totality that not even the almighty should be free of the fear of death. 

Through the use of her ruinous tablets she could feel it. Lurking beneath the surface that was her dead foe's broken form; golden and pulsating with impalpable power. The very makings to turn the intangible solid. To make the unfathomable coherent. The strength to make all that is impossible realized. 

A gilded crown. A throne which demands subservience from all. The very chains of a Monarch. 

Cathay tore them free from their ontological bindings forcing a form and structure which she could freely manipulate. Turn them into a star even brighter than the first she had ever seen. 

Undulating, unstable, the energy cried out as she ripped it free of the vessel that would contain it. It's king, it's master, now nothing more than a voice silenced. 

The physically formed supremacy would not last long, even if it was held and contained through power meant to defy it. Its existence was greater, its nature an anathema to Cathay's own crafted repellant. The two rivaling powers clashed and it was clear which would win out in a persisted battle. 

But whereas the Authority could not be given purpose without a wielder, Cathay's metaphysical abomination already possessed the hands which may guide it. It held that one advantage that would cement its victory. 

Taking the power into herself, a painful but necessary action, Cathay looked to the shattered stars above and came to a single conclusion. Extinction. Not a single life remained in who knows how many nascent dimensions. So many souls lost in the battles between the Deep and the Dreamers and still it was but a small portion of the whole. It had all become a graveyard, one that would serve as a reminder to those who thought there were no higher powers than Tyrants. A ludicrous notion that has gone uncontested for too long. Soon to be a memory, one that would make many a pretender royal wary of inheriting the ultimate of positions.  

Raising a hand towards the dead sky though, Cathay fell silent as a pain shot throughout her body. Sudden and sharp, it had barely registered beyond just a minute twitch of her brow, and yet she knew she had changed exponentially. She could feel it, all of it, the whole of everything flowing through her in a manner similar to the almighty sovereignty. Structures. Origins. Rules of reality. 

Reasons and solutions; questions to which she always seemed to have an answer to. 

It felt as though all things ambiguous and strange had been made clear in but an infinitesimal unit of time.  

Time? What is time? An artificial construct. A faulty structure based on the idea that events occur in a linear direction at all times for the sake of order in a disorderly system. Always forward, never back. Ever running closer to finality and rebirth. 

Evolution in motion. 

Cathay's thoughts didn't even seem like her own anymore… she could feel the heartbeat of every single life within her domain, her home, gnawing and fighting to live another day just as she had. But her reach didn't just stop there. It extended far beyond the confines of the Deep Wastes into the Heavens, the Void, Inferno; everywhere. 

Everywhen. 

Her mind expanded to the point where at a moment she could quantify the number of denizens within any given kingdom, any universe, were she to just step within their respective borders. An assertion of dominance through grace. 

So this… was the weight of Rulership. A transcendental power that defied logic. It was impossible to think any singular being could be worthy of such power, and yet a whole caste of kings and queens existed for the sole purpose of maintaining structure across the manifold. Some greater, some lesser, all indescribably more powerful than even the greatest god. 

And to think this was little more than a revelation rather than the power of Lubaeron, chief among Tyrants. Just a small taste into what was needed to govern totality. Without it, without those who ruled, there was no telling of what may happen to the whole of existence. 

It was grand beyond the ability to be put into words, and yet despite all that was seen and felt there wasn't a single indicator of satisfaction from the Archfiend. 

"Disgusting…"

The longer Cathay possessed the power the more disdain she held for those who sat on top of their glittering seats of power. She saw only a crutch born out of necessity and quick to be replaced when the next iteration of kings and queens came to be. It was the Dreaming City after all where such power came to be, and thus it would be within the City where it would die out when the time was right. Or at least that was the original intention. To have those who led continue to do so until the next hierarchy was ready; to be governed by Lubaeron himself of course. Self appointed king once again. 

That would not be allowed.

Such plans were gone now. Ruined. All that remained was Cathay and her own intentions. 

She would need to work fast otherwise she'd throw the First Dreamer's authority away too soon out of disgust, preventing herself from doing what she deemed as necessary. But even just using the stolen supremacy of a king was something which didn't sit right with the Archfiend. Even for one as terrible as her it still made her feel foul. 

Tracing a finger across the vast abyss of space, a thin line took shape, overlapping the very breach which had allowed an invasion from the Deep Wastes. It was empty yet still young and ripe with energy. The very type the Depthborn used to invade all corners of the creation. The passage into the Depths quickly gained the same golden hue as the power which coursed through the Archfiend's body, whatever malignant, indescribable color present before taking on a tone of wondrous luster. But beauty did not denote what was occurring as a terrible silence overtook the city. 

The breach above seemed to shudder at the touch of the thin line of gold as reality caved inward into itself. Slow and subtle, like a sheet of cloth in a gentle breeze that would soon turn violent at a moment’s notice. The two overlapping carves against the tapestry of all molded together, the violent and calm energies creating both becoming as one. The once golden hue of the tear across the Dreaming City turned crimson red as the wound into the Deep Wastes consumed into it, becoming as one singular structure. An apocalyptic marking to signal the end of something once invincible . 

The energies produced by the coupling afflictions shattered the very concepts which governed creation itself as all around the falling city mountain sized shards of crystallized reality fell in universally destructive clumps before shattering like glass. Everything was undone as all colors drained away from the ruins of the desolate kingom. All around chaotic tendrils spring forth from the newly formed breach, blanketing the fallen kingdom in a miasma reminiscent of the maddening primordial chaos which had existed before the conception of space and time, life and death. 

Before the shapes of countless marvels became what was known to all. It was all being set back to a point of greater influence; to a time when shapes and structure were a thing of illusion. 

Cathay split the domain in two and kept the damage contained only to the Dreaming City. While it would be a wonder to have every universe return to the original design of disorder it was not something that was within Lubaeron’s power to bring about. And in truth it was not desired. There was pleasure to be had in physical form; actuality.

Instead, through the tablets which had brought doom to the dead Tyrant, along with the power of his own crown, the Archfiend created a system within an enclosed space that allowed the earliest form of existence to persist, free of the order imposed everywhere else. The ultimate passage into that which brought anarchy to the senses, chaos to order, and lies to the truth of the weave of creation. The Domain of Dreams was altered, allowing perception into all realities yet only ever accessible to the Depths. Closed off and kept hidden away. 

Forgotten. 

Cathay snuffed out the embers of what remained of Lubaeron's rule, preventing any from undoing her work here as well as denying any the chance that another of bold spirit might try to claim the ancient authority.  

If the hierarchy of the Rulers was born within the Dreaming City then let its destruction ensure their eternal rule. Cathay had already killed the strongest of their numbers, and it was always ideal to live alongside prey you knew you could end.  

If any wished to challenge her then they need only turn to he who once thought himself chief of the omnipotent. The unassailable. Weak words, born for weaker minds, believed only by those who saw even a small glimpse of divine power and thought that was the epoch. Useless to one of the Depths. A crutch to a Primordial. 

Might and action, not words and threats; these were the powers of the Deep. That which can be destroyed, must be destroyed. That which can be devoured, must be. If there is a flaw to exploit then it must be exploited. There is no measure too great to ensure your continued survival.

Let all who possess a mind and soul hear these words and despair in understanding life’s true calling. There is only finality in the Deep. Infinity in tooth and claw. 

Rend, destroy , devour, until only you remain unchallenged.