text: [Themes: grimdark fantasy, grimdark, war, female protagonist]
  
  Days later...
  
  Drunni stares up at you with absolute hatred in his eyes. He hasn't spoken once since he was stripped naked and marched out of his cell to be strapped to this table before you. You look down at him with a knife in your hand knowing that this is how it should be.
  
  "Oh come on Drunni, you knew eventually it had to end this way. Well perhaps not in this exact manner, but given the tension between us, it was going to either be me or you and that was no contest at all." You say.
  
  Drunni just continues to stare.
  
  "No snippy response? No pithy come back? No final insult?"
  "Suck my dick bitch." Drunni says.
  
  You look over at his unimpressive display of manhood and then back to his face.
  
  "Oh if only we had the time." You say with a smirk and then shove the knife into his chest.
  
  Drunni gasps and struggles a moment as his body goes into its final death throes. You then make a few chants and soon see a wisp rise from his body and enter the crystal nearby. Drunni stops moving completely.
  
  You then motion to your nearby lackeys to quickly remove the body and throw it into the nearby fire before it starts reanimating.
  
  "Well that's one. Bring in the next." You say.
  
  Two months later...
  
  You're fucking exhausted.
  
  Trapping the souls is more tiring than it should be. You're guessing the increase in necromantic magic in the "air" is making it more difficult for you as you're literally fighting against the natural order of them being collected for their proper place.
  
  Undead of all types have been popping up all over Dokkrus and the rate is increasing. You don't know if it's because of what you're doing or if it's just getting closer to the end. Probably both.
  
  Svelk civilization (such as it was) has broken down completely. After Gikil "collected" the first few settlements it didn't take long before a few escapees from these purges managed to spread the word to other svelk communities. Almost ALL of them declared themselves independent and hostile towards you.
  
  A couple of the smaller communities in an effort to hedge their bets and at least save some of their lives have remained "loyal" and offered some of their people as sacrifices while the rest pledged to join Gikil's band of marauders (While he might like to still think of himself as a general head of a glorious army, you're realistic enough to see it as it really is).
  
  Gikil's efforts while generally successful are resulting in more dead than captured. He of course makes excuses for this, and he may even be doing the best he can under the circumstances, but it doesn't really help you.
  
  In at least one instance, an entire community committed mass suicide as a final "fuck you" and rising as undead horrors, along with depriving you of souls.
  
  Any remaining dero allies you had on the surface have died in battle with undead. You haven't had any contact with the dero community since going with your current plan but then you haven't really bothered. You might have to soon however given that you're nearly out of crystals.
  
  And the worst thing about it is you've only managed nearly three hundred souls so far and more than half of your crystals are already gone. You really thought you'd be able to shove more souls into them, but it looks like you're going to meet with the dero or have to start making soul jars and all the time consuming process that entails.
  
  While you didn't think this plan was going to go smoothly, you didn't expect it to be the cluster fuck it's become.
  
  You collapse on your bed wishing that Francis was beside you.
  
  "That could be arranged you know." You hear a voice say.
  
  You look over and once again see Big Red in the form of Francis.
  
  "While the illusion might be a fun diversion, I'm hesitant to allow one of your kind's seed anywhere near me. Last thing I need is demonic spawn ripping its way out of the source of all my power."
  
  Your remark causes a laugh from Big Red who instantly transforms back into his true form (Or at least the one closer to his true origins).
  
  "Is there any reason for your clumsy attempts at trying to seduce me?" you ask.
  "Oh trust me, if that was my intent, I would have taken your father's form. No, I'm just here to check up on your progress as it were. Nearly three hundred so far. Part of me is impressed that you've managed so many under the circumstances and within such a short time. However, time really isn't on your side. This world's death is growing very close." Big Red says.
  "Ah, so you haven't come to check on my progress so much as you've come to gloat and try to convince me to take the lesser deal."
  "I mean I'd LOVE for you to just hand me a thousand souls, but I don't see you making that quota in time. You've got more than enough for the other deal though. If you were concerned about your soul, I wouldn't even get you until you died anyway and you've been clever enough to avoid that for centuries. You're doing it right now. And trust me, it's better off with me than anyone else given your history."
  "I find that difficult to believe."
  "Believe it. In fact, I'll even sweeten the deal and throw in the promise that I wouldn't trade your soul to anyone else, your soul would only belong to me for all eternity."
  "That's a really piss poor attempt at trying to convince me. However since you're in a helpful mood, will dero souls be acceptable in place of svelk? I get that they're going to be of lower quality, but compared to humans surely..."
  "The dero...ugh." Big Red remarks interrupting you.
  
  Big Red gets off the bed and nearly looks a bit revolted.
  
  "I have observed these dero and they aren't suitable. Those stunted little freaks are barely alive. They have no souls."
  "What?"
  "I can detect no soul within them. I can't even detect their blood or life force. It's almost as if their entire race is already dead and it's not due to the necromantic energy in the air or anything like that. Whatever was done to them or whatever they've done to themselves has rendered them soulless and totally useless to me."
  "Hm. That's interesting. I suppose that explains a lot of their race's certain views on life and death."
  "In any case the deal is still on when you decide. I've left the contract for the hundred soul deal on a table nearby. Just sign it when you want me to arrive to get your out of this mess."
  
  Big Red disappears and you just lay in bed trying to figure out a way you can survive all this body AND soul intact.
  
  Three days later...
  
  "A good haul this time Mistress." Gikil remarks.
  "Hm, I suppose. One hundred and twenty seven captives is better than you usually do. How did you manage it?"
  "Oddly this community had largely been spared undead attacks, but were suffering from famine due the land dying nearby. All we had to do was offer food, the fools let us in and we easily overpowered them due to a lack of strength. Some of them had obviously been resorting to cannibalism by eating the dead though. Those were the ones that put up the most resistance and had to be killed."
  "Hm. Community was probably on its way to becoming ghouls at that point, good thing you got to them when you did."
  "Mistress I have another matter to discuss with you...it's about the deal with the souls."
  "Oh?"
  
  Gikil looks a bit hesitant. Even scared.
  
  "Out with it! I'm not likely to kill you whatever you tell me considering you're the only useful person I have right now."
  "Well, um... the demon you said you had the deal with Big Red. He came to me."
  
  Your eyebrow raises. Obviously Big Red is trying to create some dissension in the ranks to get your soul.
  
  "This should be interesting."
  "He said there was another deal he offered you which didn't require as many souls."
  "I see. And even as a male of your lesser intelligence, you do realize that selling my soul is not an option?"
  "Yes, I understand that Mistress."
  "Then why are we even discussing it? If Big Red thought you could convince me, he's even worse at this than I thought. I will die before that happens. And if YOU are thinking about rebelling unless I capitulate, you're sadly mistaken as well. I'll throw YOU on that table and add another soul to the total."
  "Mistress, no! I would never betray you! I've followed you this far, believe in your goals and if I may be so bold, I have come to...feel a greater affection for you."
  
  Not completely unexpected, though you're wondering where he's going to go with this sudden courageous burst of feelings for you.
  
  "Yeah I already know you want to fuck me Gikil, most people do, no surprise there." You say dismissively.
  "No! It's more than that!" Gikil exclaims and boldly wraps his arms around you. He looks into your eyes and before he can continue, you speak.
  
  "Okay. That's ONE. Better make this REALLY good Gikil and you will release me NOW."
  
  Gikil obeys and backs off. He paces a bit and rubs his hands over his face and hair.
  
  "Stupid. I shouldn't have done that. I beg forgiveness for my..."
  "Gikil you are wasting time. Calm yourself and say what you fucking mean and stop being a cowering male." You demand.
  "You're right. I don't care if you kill me afterwards for my forwardness, I should speak. I've grown not just in awe of your handling of this situation we're in, but attraction to you. Your confidence, your dedication, your leadership, all of it, is just so magnetic that I can't contain it any longer, but I also mention this because I have a proposal."
  "Proposal? Are you seriously asking that we be joined?"
  "Well I would hope so one day, but no, nothing so formal. I was going to suggest that we have a child."
  
  Now you don't know whether to laugh or kill him. Or laugh while you're killing him.
  
  "And WHY the fuck would I want to do that? Let alone with you?"
  "To trick Big Red out of the lesser deal! He said he needed your blood as a confirmation of the deal right? A baby from your loins would qualify! We just drain the baby of its blood after it's born, and sign whatever contract with its blood. By the time Big Red figures it out, he won't be able to do shit!"
  
  Now that is an interesting plan you hadn't considered. In fact you're surprised it even came from Gikil. You suppose even the mundane have a moment of brilliance.
  
  Of course there's a few hiccups with this potential plan.
  
  First, you're wondering if this "loophole" would even work. You imagine Big Red has probably taken something like into consideration, then again given his recent bad attempts to trying to convince you to give up your soul, he might not be as competent as he tries to appear and it's escaped his attention.
  
  Second, you'd have to be pregnant. Getting pregnant wouldn't be an issue; you can always mix up a fertility potion for such a thing to increase the odds. It's the actual being pregnant bit that isn't exactly desirable. You didn't care for it the last two times you were and it makes you much more vulnerable. Not to mention you'd have to endure at least nine more months of this undead onslaught before you could even kill the spawn. Who knows if you'd have nine months.
  
  Third, well you'll ask Gikil again.
  
  "If I were to carry out this cunning plan, I repeat, WHY would I do it with you?" you ask.
  "I have no answer Mistress. Indeed you could have your way with any lucky man. I can only say that with all confidence I am currently the most desirable mate that while not equal to you, is at least as you pointed out, the most useful and will continue to be while in your service. And as I have somewhat already said in so many bumbling words, I have genuine feelings for you and can only hope that even after all this is behind us, our relationship can grow even deeper." Gikil replies.
  
  Well it's enough reverence for you to hold off on killing him and he does make a strong case. There's still a part of you though that isn't quite ready to jump on Gikil's dick just yet though even if he's eager for it. After all, you're the one taking the risk of carrying a child even if it's to ultimately save your soul.
  
  Speaking of souls, the logistics of making even one soul jar to shove further souls into is already giving you a headache on top of everything else you're thinking about.
  
  You think back to Gikil's suggestion awhile back of raiding the dero for their crystals, and believe that now might the time to do such a thing. It isn't like you're exactly following the dero plan anymore and they might be a little weaker now since you know they were suffering from undead attacks as well the last time you were there.
  
  The question is if you're going to send Gikil to do it or just do it yourself. You're confident victory is assured either way, though it's a question of personal risk versus getting the job done efficiently.
  
  > do it yourself
  If you do it, you won't need as many soldiers to help you thus cutting down the potential loss of manpower. Gikil's skills are better suited to what he's already doing.
  
  Gikil seems disappointed that you're not giving the garden of eternal delights to him, but is also concerned about your safety.
  
  "Mistress, I really believe I should wipe out the dero. There is no reason to put yourself at more risk than you need to." Gikil remarks.
  "Gikil, I don't doubt you wouldn't be successful, but let's just say I'm better than you. Even with their magic nullifying rocks I'll manage just fine. Stop worrying, I'll come back in one piece and you can continue fantasizing over my perfect form as usual." You reply.
  
  Gikil knows it'll be pointless to talk you out of anything, so he just nods at your other orders to continue gathering sacrifices and takes his leave. As for you, you gather your own forces and make your way to the dero enclave.
  
  When you get within sight of the gates, you find them predictably closed. Though apparently you were expected.
  
  "So you've finally come to finish us off then? I suppose I'm glad you decided to at least do it in person." You hear a voice shout from the battlements. It's Marzost.
  "I'm actually only here for your crystals, but if you don't want to put up resistance for them, I'm more than willing to spare your rock eater lives." You say.
  "You've already killed us, with your new deal, but we can discuss that when you get inside if you wish. Hold on I'll open the gate."
  
  You're a little surprised at how this is going. Some of your men say it could be a trap, and you've already taken that into consideration, but you're not getting the impression it is. Marzost has always been fairly straightforward with you.
  
  The gates open and your forces march in. When you step inside you're only greeted by Marzost who is now wearing traditional dero armor minus the helmet. The community looks desolate.
  
  "Hello Mistress. Even with death draining all the life out of this world, your beauty is not tarnished. I consider it a blessing that your image will be one of the last things I see before I die."
  
  Well Marzost hasn't changed. You clearly won't have to fight at all, but now you're curious of what's going on here.
  
  "Things have changed here Marzost."
  "Indeed they have, I can explain if you're interested. But you said you needed our crystals did you not? You can gather as many as you need over by the archway. We don't need them anymore after all."
  
  You tell your people to go fill up their bags with the crystals. You mention you'll be fine and soon it's just you and Marzost. He stands silently admiring you.
  
  "So Marzost, where is everyone?" you ask.
  "Mostly dead. A large group of wraiths attacked us last month and did significant damage before we were able to destroy them. A lot harder to fight the incorporeal undead rather than the walking corpses. Some of us still live, but they're all mostly guarding the nursery and spending what little time remains with the last children of our race. I suppose it would all just be easier for us to do what most of the dero did and just surrender to death, but the last of us have decided to not make it easy."
  
  You nod.
  
  "I can respect that I suppose." You say.
  "I am glad to have earned some of your respect." Marzost replies.
  "So when did you figure out that our deal was no longer in effect? One of your fellows from the surface find out to tell you somehow?"
  "Not at all. The demon Big Red, the one you made a new deal with, told me."
  
  Part of you is slightly surprised, but given that Gikil told you Big Red approached him as well, you suppose it isn't too shocking.
  
  "He actually appeared to you? When he said he was going to observe you, I figured he meant from a distance."
  "He did a little more than that. He offered us a deal too, well he tried anyway."
  "He offered a way to escape, I'm guessing."
  "Something like that, though apparently our mere existence offended him so much he didn't stick around too long. I know we're not most aesthetically pleasing of races, but come on. We managed to disgust a demon? Our race really must be cursed by the gods."
  "Given what Big Red said about you lot, he practically claimed you were. Mentioned you lot didn't have souls. He said he couldn't even detect your blood or life force."
  "Hm. Interesting, I what that means when we die, do we truly just go to oblivion rather than an afterlife?"
  "Probably."
  "Well I suppose rotting in the ground isn't as bad as whatever eternal tortures await in a hellish realm or wherever the morally lacking go. Good thing for the dero too, our race has not been a kind one. Still, I'm wondering..."
  "Wondering what?"
  "We can't ALL be soulless. During Big Red's visit, he pointed to one of our buildings and said he'd make a deal for all the people he detected in it. He said he could give us safe passage through his realm."
  "What was the building?"
  "The nursery. Though we'd never mentioned that to him."
  "You had svelk breeders though in it didn't you? Maybe that's what he was detecting."
  "Couldn't be. They were all dead by the time Big Red showed up. The only ones in there were our young and the dero nursemaids.
  "Hmm, must be because they had svelk blood. You did tell me that mixing with our race was having an unexpected affect on yours."
  "Perhaps. In any case we have a lot of faults, but not protecting our children isn't one of them. We declined and he was about to propose another deal, but stopped mid sentence, turned up his nose and soon left. Guess he realized it was useless to try to bargain."
  "So how many babies do you have?"
  "Why do you want to know?"
  "Because that red bastard told me I need to hand over a thousand svelk souls to him and mentioned yours weren't suitable since you didn't have any. Apparently he's lied to give me more work than necessary."
  "So... you were planning on wiping us out eventually."
  "It was always a possibility."
  "Well I guarantee we don't have nearly that many young to supply you with, though I hope it won't be necessary to defend them against you."
  "You're going to have to defend them against the undead eventually."
  "True, but...and this is foolish idealism I suppose, I was at least hoping our last encounter with each other wasn't going to end in bloodshed."
  "And what were you hoping for Marzost? That I'd profess my undying love for you and we'd skip off happily into the sunset together like in some sickening human children's story?"
  
  Marzost chuckles.
  
  "No Mistress, nothing so optimistic. I'm well aware of how you think of me. However, despite my obvious feelings for you, I have to say I'm a little disappointed in your recent actions."
  "Oh? By what exactly? That wiping your community out was always on the table? Taking your crystals by force?"
  "That? No. I'm not disappointed by your ruthlessness. Indeed its one of your attractive traits. I'm not even disappointed that you broke the deal you had with us, your people and you in particular have a certain reputation. I'm just a little more disappointed by who you broke our deal with. I mean to throw away our plan on a demon's offer? I would have thought you to be more savvy than to trust what Big Red told you."
  
  You believe this is one of the rare times Marzost has displayed a negative view of you. In fact it may even be the first.
  
  "What deal I made or didn't make with Big Red is of no concern to you. I'm not here to fit whatever odd pedestal you've put me on."
  "Well you're correct about the second part. But not about the first. While I know you haven't exactly done any binding agreement yet, I am aware that he's set you up to fail. There is no way you're going to make the quota for a thousand souls before death takes this world. He's betting you'll get desperate enough to give him the hundred plus yours. He wants yours soul very much, he told me himself about how yours is one of the darkest he's encountered in awhile and getting yours would be quite the prize and worth the time to linger on this world a bit longer. This does concern me since I know that YOU are determined to not fall into such a trap which means being desperate for souls. The dero children by the svelk have souls and they will NOT be sacrificed to a demon for any reason."
  
  Marzost steps forward while looking up at you.
  
  "Mistress, we've had minimal contact and you loathe me, but know that my love for you is genuine. I'd explain it, but you wouldn't understand and wouldn't care anyway. Just know this though; I will defend the last dero children from damnation, no matter how much I love you. If there is ANY part of you that feels compassion or even just mercy. Do not carry out what you're pondering. The number of children wouldn't noticeably help your soul count anyway. You have the crystals, just leave us to die on our own terms."
  
  Marzost then touches your hand.
  
  "That's three." You say, while moving it away.
  
  > collect the dero babies
  At this point, you don't care if the ugly little half-breeds will provide enough souls or not, Marzost's continued improprieties can't go unanswered.
  
  He's in a defensive position though right now; better if you put some distance between you and him first.
  
  "I'm going to go check on my men and see what's keeping them." You say.
  "Of course." Marzost answers and watches you as you walk away.
  
  You go over to your soldiers and find that they've got bags stuffed full of crystals.
  
  "Is this enough Mistress?" one of them asks.
  "Probably, but we're taking it all and putting an end to the miserable existence of the dero. However, there's a nursery with several halfbreeds. We're taking them alive to be sacrificed. So don't kill those." You order.
  "Understood, so are we to attack now?"
  "No time like the present."
  
  You march out with your soldiers from the crystal piles and towards the heart of the dero dwellings. As you get closer, you see Marzost step out of one of the larger structures. It would appear Marzost already anticipated your attack.
  
  "Go home Mistress. This is your last warning." Marzost shouts pointing a rifle at you.
  
  There aren't any other dero to be seen, but you know there have to be more lurking about, probably also aiming weapons at you. It's not going to be easy, but you're confident you can do this.
  
  You take a deep breath and turn your head to nod at your nearest commander telling them all to stay as close to you as possible.
  
  You cast a magical shield around your group which is no small feat given the magic nullifying stone in this place as well as how many people you're trying to protect.
  
  Marzost fires at you and shouts at others to do so as well and just as you suspected, several shots ring out from other structures and probably a few hidden areas. The shots are stopped of course by the shield, though it doesn't stop them from firing. The best you can do is just continue to advance. When the dero realize that they aren't going to just be able to shoot you, several of them come out from their lurking and run to attack. Your magic shield is unable to stop them as they have anti-magic material built into their armor allowing them to bypass the barrier.
  
  There aren't many dero, but there doesn't need to be, their armor, their strength, and sheer determination is more than a match for most of your soldiers which have been run ragged for weeks and are unfortunately lacking in similar traits in comparison.
  
  Still, this would not be enough to take out all your soldiers, let alone yourself even with the struggle of using magic.
  
  It is however, enough to distract you long enough for Marzost and some of the female dero to throw several bombs into the mass of fighting. You notice just a little too late to completely extract yourself from the battle before they go off.
  
  Several explosions occur, killing most of your people and even a few dero despite their armor. Body parts and half charred bodies fly everywhere. The lucky ones are killed instantly; the unlucky ones are still living pieces of burnt flesh crying out in agony.
  
  When you land hard to the ground, you can barely see thanks to your eyes being severely injured along with most of your face. You can only guess you have no legs or at least nothing intact enough to stand on, though it would be difficult to get up anyway given that you're fairly sure your spine has been shattered.
  
  You lift one of your arms and even with the blurriness you see it literally fall apart as flesh just slides off what remains of it before part of it falls over at the elbow hanging uselessly, only connected by a bit of tendon. As for your other arm, who knows, you can't move it and you can't even turn your head in that direction to get a blurry look.
  
  From your position, you can't really inspect your torso, but you're guessing it isn't good since you're struggling to breath. You feel like whatever remains of you is on fire, but you can't even muster up the strength to scream out in pain.
  
  Eventually you notice a figure of some sort standing over you. You're guessing its Marzost. You think he's talking to you, but you can't hear shit mainly because your eardrums have been destroyed from the blast and you're bleeding from what remains of your ears. You attempt to say something, but can only gurgle and choke on your own blood.
  
  Your last sight is the blurry figure of Marzost pointing a pistol at your face.