The castle itself was of black stone. the halls were decorated with almost nothing but barely lit torches of green flames lighting the hall in sinister tones.

"I'm scared." Thimble muttered.

"And if you keep talking, you'll be dead." I shushed as we carefully maneuvered the halls.I gripped the CurseBlay hard as I heard footsteps. Thimble walked ahead and from the corner a monster that had giant wings, and sharp fangs bull dozed him down the hall.

"Thimble!" I yelled. Before I could run after thimble a pale hand reached out and touched my shoulder. I turned around to face a black hooded man with holding a scythe. I glared. I rose the CurseBlay.

"You!" I yelled. I swiped my blade toward him. He blocked my sword with the head of his scythe. The power of the CursBlay pushed the reaper away. He groaned as he hit a wall. He stood up.

"Listen..!" He yelled. I glared.

"You will not claim me!" I yelled as i rushed over. Purple wings sprouted from the reaper as he shot up into the air. He hovered there as i glared at him. I began to pull out a gun.

"Stop! Remember!" He shouted. He pulled out a small music box I instantly recognized. It was the one I had given my son as he had died.

"What..How?" I stammered. Before the reaper could speak once more, an explosion from the ceiling occurred and the ground from the ground fell away. I fell to the ground and In the chaos as monsters poured in of many forms, The reaper had vanished. A giant spied about the size fell on me. It's hairy legs began to wrap me in it's webs. I yelled as the spider got a bullet in it's head.

To my side view was thimble, It looked like there was flames around his hand at first.

"Commander Z!" he yelled. A giant bat flew at my face and he shot it again with the gun. the bat had tried to fly away. It almost looked as if the bullet had curved to hit the bat's new location as the bat flew down.

I laid there in deep thought about the reaper's music box. Thimble lifted me to my feet.

"Come on! I found Kirem's throne room, It's right down the hall!" Thimble yelled. I stood up quite shaken.

"R-right. Let's go!" I shouted.

We ran down the halls, my mind raced as I thought of the reaper and the music box. I followed Thimble through the darkness. I was off my game as we stormed down the halls. I was nowhere ready to face a monster king with this in my mind.

"Z? You alright?" Thimble asked as he saw me sweating. I glared.

"Shut up! just lead me to the monster king." I yelled. He nodded, looking a bit hurt. We traveled down the halls as we listened to the sounds of war around the castle. Armies were clashing, a feeling I recognized. I absently wondered who was attacking Kirem, before my mind returned to the sight of my sons final possession.

We entered a throne room. It was surprisingly quaint. There was a red carpet that led up to mildly big silver chair. A short man in a dark hood sat on it. Blonde hair hung over blood red shades over the short man's eyes. Covering his hands were fake metal claws, painted red. Whether with paint or blood is up to interpretation. Thimble held his gun as he sweated a bit. I glared at this man.

"So...Your Kirem? King of monsters? Shouldn't you look more monstrous?" I asked. Kirem smirked.

He stood up.

"Ah, monsters come in all shapes and sizes, now, what shall I be referring you intruders as?" Kirem asked.

"I'm Thimble!" Thimble shouted as he waved. I glared.

"You don't get the honor of knowing my name, You will know me as Z." I replied. Kirem laughed.

"You two amuse me, I suppose your here to kill me and end this war? Well, Your not the first humans to oppose me. And you won't be the first to slay me." Kirem repeated. I readied the CurseBlay. Kirem's smirk dissipated. He teleported behind me and slashed his claws against my back. i cried out as I stepped forward. Kirem back flipped and readied his stance. He laughed right before Thimble shot him in the arm. Kirem glared through his glasses. His arm bled as he held it with his claw. He seemed to muster up energy as fireballs launched toward Thimble.

I dashed forward and aimed to strike him with my blade. He held his claw out and held the blade, he grunted from it's weight. The CurseBlay shined a bright light as Kirem launched back.

Thimble expertly back flipped out of the way as the fireballs erupted the ground before him. Kirem grunted as he flew to the back of the wall. Kirem yelled as from under his cloak a dark purple tentacle shot forward and jabbed me in the face. I held my face in pain. The tentacle reached for a couple meters before shrinking back under the cloak. Kirem dashed forward toward me, his one claw looking sharp as it neared my face. I readied the CurseBlay, but a gunshot echoed through the throne room. Kirem's other arm was shot. Kirem fell to the ground.

Like a helicopter five tentacles spiraled out and whipped against us both. We both flew back.

Kirem froze.

"Wait...there's a monster I face." Kirem pondered.I cocked my eyebrow, winching at the pain of the bloodied wound inflicted on my back. Kirem grunted as he rose his hand. Lightning struck down on Thimble. I turned shocked, but found he had countered it with a red glowing sword.

The tentacles rose from the cloak as he smirked.

"You have a sword?" i asked annoyed he had somehow had it without me knowing. Thimble glared.

"Focus!" He shouted angrily. I was caught back by the hostility. A tentacle struck towards me, I yelled and sliced it in half with my blade. Kirem screamed. I raced toward Kirem.

"Today is where you meet your dead end!!!!" I yelled as I jumped in the air. Gravity pulled me down as the Cursblay glowed. I stabbed Kirem through the heart. From his eyes were a dark glow as the sword expelled from him violently. I stepped back as he yelled as a purple essence surrounded him.

"No. I will not falter! You humans! Are disgraceful! You kill us for being hideous and disgusting and you will die!" Kirem yelled. His tentacles wrapped around my neck and began choking me. Thimble took that sword as it glowed red. He sliced the tendril off and dashed toward Kirem as he again striked him through the heart. Kirem gave an inhuman scream as this transpired. He fell to the ground.

"No...." He stammered. I held out my blade as it glowed brightly. A light shun as it blinded all three of our visions. Thimble closed his eyes as the light struck Kirem. He screamed before falling silent. I fell to my knee, the sword having drained my energy.

Kirem laid there dead and lifeless. Thimble chuckled.

"So...Z...we did it!" Thimble replied. I smiled and looked up at him and froze. His cape faced me before he turned around and grinned with malicious intent.

"Boy, what's up with that look?" I asked. Thimble lifted his sword and admired it.

"Oh, I was just thinking "Commander" If we killed the king, one of us would now be king." Thimble muttered. I glared, what the hell was he getting at.

"And well. All Hail, King Thimble" He laughed. He turned to me and grinned.

"Idiot, you would never be a good king. Stop acting aloof." I remarked. He chuckled. I slowly started to stand again. Thimble walked over and lifted his leg high, quickly and swiftly nailing my face with a swift kick. I yelled as i fell back.

"What the hell!?" I yelled as I laid on my back.

"My, you are thick. This is what one calls betrayal." Thimble replied. I looked up, winching in pain. i spat on the ground. This, worthless child, wants to betray me? And the worst part about this was the fact I had actually grown attached to him.

"Your...so stupid!" I replied. Thimble looked at me smugly and chuckled again.

"Really now? Aren't you the person who was manipulated by me in the first place?" Thimble asked. I looked at him pissed and confused.

"What the hell are you rambling about idiot!?" I yelled. I reached for the CurseBlay that had spiraled across the ground. He stomped on my hand.

"I've been wanting to come to Estern for years to obtain legendary treasures I had heard of. I saw you, and used you and your ship to get quick access. Then, you weakened the guardian of the treasure I sought after for old man. That snake guarded a sacred sword named the Surukodo, and you left with it near it's death bed, so I killed it and stole the legendary treasure." Thimble explained. I deepened my brow and looked up at him and glared.

"This...Entire time you planned on betraying me!?" I yelled. He laughed as he brought the sword near my face.

"Looks like your the one who is a peasant. HAHA!" He yelled. I swear I was gonna kill this kid. Suddenly Thimble's eyes glowed dark. In the empty black eyes were his pupils should have been were white dots that pierced the soul. He lifted his foot off my hand and raised his. Suddenly against my will my body floated upward into the air. I gasped.

"What...what is this!?" I exclaimed. He smirked.

"I'm not as weak as you thought old man." Thimble muttered under his breath.

"Does...does mean you could've swam this entire time!?" I exclaimed angrily. He blushed almost as if that part was true before growing angry.

"SHUT UP!!" He yelled. He whipped his hand and my body spiraled into a wall at intense speed. I let out a cry. I fell to the ground. Thimble's hand set on fire. He whipped his hand and a fireball barreled toward me. I got up and jumped out of the way before falling down.

"Ow..." I grunted, not feeling the best, something had to be broken. Suddenly I lifted into the air again. Thimble laughed as he brought up the very gun he had found on the ship.

"Well, any last words man?" He asked. I glared, before breaking down the tough guy act.

"Thimble! I trusted you damn it! I...I treated you...you like my own son!" I shouted. Thimble grew angry.

"I am not your son idiot! And I was not looking for a father either! I am not so petty that I need parents!! Or anyone!!! EVERYONE SAYS I AM A TOOL! THEY ARE WRONG! This...THIS! This Thimble will use you! I will be far greater then all peasants!" He yelled. I looked at him, anger and sorrow welling up. The gun clicked.

"Today begins the reign of the great Thimble." He breathed.

BANG!