Nuke rained down blows with his fey wood club, releasing its energy. Caligula laughed madly, red bolts of lightning pulsing from his fingers and coursing over Nuke's body. Luckily, magic had only a small effect on the Atomic 26 bots; still, the smell of burning circuits was heavy in the air.

With one heavy blow, Caligula’s mask shattered in two, revealing the demonic horned phantasm's true form: a red, gnarled face, burning eyes, and razor-sharp teeth. The laughter stopped, and Nuke seized the moment. His vice-like hand reached out, strangling Caligula’s neck and heaving. The head separated from the body, and the phantasm's form slumped to the ground.

Nuke stood still, savoring the silence. The lights in Caligula’s eyes dimmed, and slowly, his head crumbled to ash along with the body. A gentle breeze carried away any lingering remnants of his form.

Only his red Athenaeum ring, the Ring of Souls, remained half-hidden on the ground, charred and dull.

Four seasons passed. Only a broken spear protruding from tall grass or a weapon left behind glinting in the sun hinted at the battle that had occurred here. Still, villagers picked over what remained, making a few silvers or even gold from a good find.

On this day, a teen from one of the nearby farms eyed a reflection glistening in the grass. Rain and wind had, over time, removed the charring, allowing the red gem and gold band to once more shine.

As he approached, the lad could not believe his luck. At his feet, a beautiful gold ring set with a large red stone called to him. His father would be pleased.

Reaching down, he picked the ring up, eyed it in the sun, felt its weight, and gazed into the stone. A ruby, maybe? Images seemed to dance on its surface; it even seemed to pulse.

Instinctively, he slipped it onto his finger.

Entered by: 0x712b…E85C