With his true form revealed, Ardam looked upon the remains of his “Body”, Which soon began to disperse, as his feet landed upon the solid ground. Though at first, his face was expressionless, it soon began to warp, into a grin. It had become even clearer than it had before. This being… Despite their efforts, he had been toying with them this entire time! They may have been phased, had it not been for their past experiences. They were used to facing unequal odds. Arctaius, Jirou, and Alarick were the first to try their hand at an attack, bursting forward. As Arctaius got into his melee range, he threw a punch, only for him to dodge, as if effortlessly. Jirou attempts to follow up, sending a fist directly toward the man’s face. But, he was quicker, ducking under, and shoving his fist into Jirou’s stomach. The force of which made a visible crack, as crimson liquid poured from Jirou’s mouth. Alarick took notice of the two’s failed assault and decidedly bounded in the other direction, stopping as he landed behind Ardam, and making his way back over. But, Ardam took notice and threw him at Alarick. He was caught by surprise, the two collided, and both went barreling away. As arctaius took notice, he jumped back, landing some feet away from him.

“Tch”

Liang soon reached into his pocket, pulling out shurikens. Each held to a hair-thin wire, wrapped around his fingers. He soon began to swing his arms, the blades flew at Ardam… However, as the Shiruken swung around him, he simply dove out of the way, weaving around the blades that came at him from all directions. Eventually, he decided to attack the source itself. He appeared in front of Liang in the blink of an eye, to the latter’s surprise. He soon launched a kick into his side, sending him flying away. However, Liang would soon stop himself, as he looked up at his opponent.

“He’s fast…”

Kazimir was the next to jump into action, As he thrust his hand forward, a red glow lined Ardam’s body. For a moment, he struggled, unable to move, just as Kazimir planned. This was enough for Kazimir to jump in, launching a fist at Ardam’s cheek… With little effect. The red light soon dissipated, as Ardam began to batter Kazimir, hitting him across his torso with strike after strike, all of which shook his body as they made impact. Arctaius took notice of this and made his way back to them. Throwing yet another strike at Ardam, aimed at his neck. However, Ardam’s fist shot out, catching the comparatively sluggish fist.

“Pathetic!!!”

Elsewhere, Hyperion tightened his grip on his blade as he watched the battle take place.

“Looks like I’ll need to jump in!!!”

Hyperion soon ascended into the air, before flying down, in Ardam’s direction, his sword held in front of him. Something which the being took notice of. His glance shot over to the coming suit of armor, he soon twisted his body to the left, flinging Arctaius away, and to the left, throwing Kazimir away. Ardam soon put his arm in front of him, in his defense. Hyperion continued his charge regardless, as his blade clashed with the limb, and though the ground behind him was cut, Ardam himself was not.

“So, you let the cutting force continue outside of the swing... That’s some pretty good abilities for someone who isn’t a proto-human. Some very strange armor as well… Perhaps you’re Qun’Mi under that?”

“Don’t know what a Qun’Mi… But I can assure you I ain’t one of them. But that’s beside the point… Let’s end this.”

“Indeed… Midnight Torrent.”

As he invoked his words, a dark glow swirled around him. And black rods flew outward once more. However, this time, they were not able to dodge, the rods impacted their bodies, shaking them with the force. But it only got worse from there, the swarms of rods came in the hundreds, much faster than any of the waves beforehand… Alarick began to plant his feet onto the ground, to avoid getting carried away in the swarm.

“It’s like we’re being hit with Gauss rounds... More potent, but, the same thing…. Given that, there’s only one way we’re getting out of this.”

“Rhuskov, We need shields, Layered!!”

Kazimir nodded, Hives of red combs still formed around his allies, and, though the fields had a few of the projectiles make it through at first, three more soon layered around them as well, with a few feet between them. And though the attacks smashed through the outermost fields, they slowed down, the same happened with the second, and the third, until they fell uselessly after the fourth. However, their chances of victory seemed to be swiped away, as the speed increased! And just like that, with the sound of shattering glass, the barriers were gone, and they were soon hit by the storm of rods once again. Ardam’s face contorted into a smirk, as he began to laugh, loudly at that. It was only when the laughing subsided that he would speak,

“Foolish mortals… Did you truly believe you had a chance? If so, you are sorely mistaken. You may rejoice at the fact that you’ve managed to push me to this form… But you’ve changed nothing…”

Just then, Valerie leaped out of a pile of debris, likely from the buildings that formerly stood proud. Spheres of light surrounded her once again, as a storm of beams flew at Ardam. However, his gaze shot over as he did, so, and he began to weave around her beams. As he did, more soon appeared, as the volume of fire increased, however, even with this, he continued to dance around the beams, as his wings began flapping. To her, it seemed as if he’d appeared in front of Valerie, as her senses just barely recognized that he’d moved.

“Danm!!!”

Valerie soon began to move away, in her attempt to get out of melee range, firing at him once again, all the while. And though the beams collided with him, they had little effect. Ardam thrust his fist forward, into her stomach… Though it did not stop there. It went right through. Coming out of the other side, caked with blood... Drawing looks of surprise from all of those there. And...In what seemed to be out of character for the calm and collected… Well, usually calm and collected youth.

“Valerie!!!”

Valerie began to look up at Ardam, through her blurry vision, she took notice of the fact that Ardam’s expression remained unchanged as he removed his fist, and threw her to the others. Miyamoto jumped into action, catching her. Arctaius soon rushed to join her, and, her gaze moved between them

“So this is how it ends… pretty pathetic on my part. I suppose it wasn’t too good of an idea… To attack by myself… Looks like I will be getting some sleep, although-I won’t be waking up.”

As she fixed her gaze on Arctaius, she thought back to their childhood in Roanoke... A younger Arctaius walked down the streets of the skyscraper-filled city. Beside him, was Valerie. And, as the two spoke, several kids walked with them, joining in. In addition to two boys who bore a resemblance.

“It's a shame… to go out like this... We never even got the chance to really talk to each other… Did we, Corde. For all that talk of keeping you alive so it would be like it was when we were children… Miyamoto looks like we won't see each other again.”

Miyamoto began to shed some tears as she looked down at her friend, for a moment, she was silent, the weight of what took place, even seeming to crush her... Despite how much death she’d seen in the past, it was another story when the one who was dying was close to you.

“Valerie… Dammit…”

A raspy, slow voice came from Valerie, as she attempted to speak.

“Sorry… Junko, Taius… It looks like I'll be joining Gihren and the rest… Please do one last thing for me...D- defeat him…”

As Valerie began to close her eyes, She recalled her times with Gihren and Miyamoto, whether they be in battle, hanging out with one another. The memories continued to flash through. A small smile soon found its way onto her face, as her eyes closed. Valerie Wilson had met her end… As Arctaius looked down at the body, he was silent. Though it was clear that he was affected by her death, his body language as a whole had changed, his arms draped by his side… The others didn't know her well, but the mood had changed. Arctaius’ muscles twitched, as he punched the ground, breaking it apart as he made an impact.

“You fool… What were you thinking?!”

Part B

The group soon clustered around the two, looking down upon the body as well. Arctaius began to move his gaze away from the woman, and back toward his opponent.

“To think that our few interactions after all these years would be as enemies… You may have still been alive right now If I drew his attention away… Even then, there was still a chance it would've failed.”

Arctaius’ hands balled into fists, as he put them up in front of him.

“We need to move… we can’t spend time grieving, not with that one there…”

This caught Miyamoto’s attention, as she looked up at him. She frowned at his statement, furrowing her brows.

“You were her friend in childhood… And that’s all you have to say? We’re just gonna leave her body here?! Keep fighting, despite the fact that she died?”

His gaze shot over to her at her statement. Was she insinuating that he didn’t care about her? All because he wanted to stay focused? There was no way he was going to just let a comment like that passed.

“We don’t have time for this… Do what you must, but I'm focusing on him, so we don’t all end up like Wilson did. If you can’t realize that, there’s nothing for me to say to you!”

The calmer among them, Zhao Lei, caught onto what was about to happen. And he wouldn’t let it go on. Soon, he stepped between the two.

“Hold… We will gain nothing from arguing, he will take advantage of that, and we’re already at a disadvantage in the first place. The last thing we need is more of that taking place.”

Alarick stepped forward, hoping to support him in defusing the situation.

“Not only that, but we all knew what to expect when we came to fight them… This is a war-and I would expect some deaths along the way, and I’m sure that you understand that as well… And although it isn’t my place to say so, as I did not know her very well, would she like for us to be wasting time with this squabble?”

The combined wisdom of both the two seemed to silence them, at the least, for a moment. The bruised Miyamoto stood on her feet as she put her gaze back on Ardam.

“Alright, fine… I'll grant you your last wish, Valerie.”

“As will I.”

Soon, they all began to charge at Ardam Once again. Arctaius reached him first, throwing a flurry of strikes at his opponent. However, Ardam still bobbed and weaved around the strikes, before hitting Arctaius with a right hook, staving him off. But Liang soon flew at him as well, blue light around him coiled into a Draconic shape once again.

“Azure Dragon- Fang Strike!!”

Soon, he sent a kick at Ardam’s neck, an attempt to hit a vital point, However, Ardam stopped his strike, and, as he took notice of the rest of the group flying at him, he scoffed, with a wave of light flying outward, all of those around him were soon thrown away. Watching this battle from the cavern within the canyon’s walls, was the blade of Babylon.

“He’ll need more… Take it, Young man, it’s all I have left!”

Arctaius rushed at Ardam once again, much faster than he had before, given the expression on their faces... As Arctaius’ punch landed on his face, the being’s body gave way, though, it was only about an inch. Ardam returned the favor with a punch to Arctaius’ chest, which sent him barreling backward… His wings began to flap once again, as he began to float over the ground.

“Now then… I’d say it's’ about time for the main course… A subpar appetizer, but one nonetheless… Enjoy your last moments in this world, mortals!!!”

With a loud boom, Ardam soon began his quick ascent, with his wings wrapped around his torso. He went from layer to layer of the Atmosphere, until he looked to have made his way into orbit. He looked out upon the cold void of space, dotted with ships, Cargo, and military alike and the trails that followed them, a direct result of their engines. His gaze now fell upon the large, clearly man-made structures on the moon’s surface, which was swarmed by ships as well. The moon cities which held millions…. A black light radiated around him, at first, only covering his body. But, that changed soon after, as it grew to encompass a large area surrounding him. The group watched this take place in silence, until Something set off Zhao’s precog once again, as all three of his eyes widened, and the man fell to his knees.

“No-- NO, NO!! Dammit!!”

Alarick glanced over at him

“It’s quite unusual for you to lose your composure... What is it?”

“What my future sight is telling me isn’t good… If we allow him to launch that attack, it’s game over. Earth will be destroyed, within seconds…”

This put looks of surprise on all members of the group.

“It doesn't get any better…. Does it. What do we do against that?!”

That much, nobody had the answer to… While they technically could survive up there, it wouldn’t be for long enough to the point where they could fight against him... Nobody took action, or, at the least, until Arctaius hopped into the air.

“I’m going to stop that attack, at any cost!!!”

“You’re going to go out of orbit?! You may have the heat taken care of, but the air is a different story. You will die, Arctaius Corde”

“We’re very likely to die either way!!! Even if the chance of success remains unchanged, I WILL Carry this plan out.”

Jirou glanced up at the man as he made his statement.

“If that’s the case, you’d better win!”

“Of course I will-- By going into orbit, he’s killed himself- I can absorb energy from the sun directly… Him being as arrogant as he is, he didn’t calculate for this!!!”

Arctaius soon flew up as well, moving to follow his opponent... However, Ardam continued his attack, the fact of Arctaius’ approach unknown to him. His wings soon uncoiled from his body and began to flap behind him once again, as a dark sphere formed behind Ardam. All the while, Arctaius homed in on him… Not only light, but a storm of plasma began to flow around him... The reactor that was his body began to let out more and more protomis. Ardam smirked, none the wiser.

“Now then- It is time to end this. Divine Art- Ebon Veil!!”

Soon, the sphere grew, as bursts of black light began to barrel toward the earth… But, Arctaius soon arrived, something Ardam took notice of. The light around him soon stopped the attacks in their attacks, before they dissipated.

“What?!”

Though the attacks were stopped, Arctaius was not without damage... As patches of his skin began to blacken, a direct result of the heat that radiated around him. Ardam would soon begin a counterattack, sending waves of sharpened constructs at Arctaius. Who would only charge directly at him. Many of which hit Arctaius, even leaving gashes... Ardam would soon stop firing his attacks, rushing forward as well. He reeled his fist back, before throwing a punch at Arctaius as he got closer. However, he dodged his opponent’s strike, and moved behind him, throwing a strike at his back. However, as Ardam turned, he shoved his arm in the fist’s path, stopping it there.

Soon, they began bounding across the cosmos as they knocked each other back and forth, throwing strike after strike at one another. Locked in combat, paying no mind to what happened around them. Eventually drifting into the Lunar debris field, filled with the debris of military ships from the previous war. Though, as they raged through it, destroying much of what was left, they soon moved around once again, now moving between a field of asteroids, ripping the debris apart as they continued their battle. Eventually, Ardam would kick Arctaius away, sending him bounding back to earth. However, he stopped himself mid-air, as the being crashed into him yet again, the shockwave that was sent outward, sent them both flying away from one another. But, neither was willing to let the other win, the two charged at one another again and caught each other's hands. As hard as they tried, their opponent would not budge, they were trapped in a deadlock... Arctaius frowned, as he furrowed his brows. It was only then, that his face began to express the purge rage he felt at the being. As for Ardam, it was Confusion.

“Mortal… Why do you still live?!”

“I don’t take to dying so easily!!!”

Soon, the light revolving around Arctaius’ became wilder, spreading out even further, to match that of Ardam’s. As he forcefully pulled his arms away, he removed his hands from Ardam’s grasp. He soon thrust his hands forward, aimed at his chest, before he was able to take action, He uttered two words.

“Solis Finis!!!!”

With this, a burst of golden light came from his palms, as they began to feel the effects almost immediately, scathed by the heat. The one who took the worst of it, however, was his opponent… Though his wings flapped as fast as they could, and he grunted in effort as they attempted to stop himself, his efforts were for naught, as the beam began to carry him through the cosmos, toward the very center of the sol system. On the ground, Jirou shoved his hands into his pocket.

“This heat, I’m sure you all feel that too…”

Alarick chimed in

“It’s as if a second sun just appeared!!!”

Arctaius continued to fire his attack, with much of the front of his body covered in the blackened burned skin as well. Ardam continued his attempts to hold the beam back, until he began feeling another intense source of heat, behind him… Something wasn’t adding up, they were in space, and as he saw it, that mortal was struggling to just keep this attack up, that said, then it must have meant that… He looked over his shoulder, as the intense heat grew closer, and the light blinded him, he had reached the sun…. What followed, was a fit of yelling, as Ardam’s body was swallowed by the sun’s light… Unable to withstand the heat, it was Vaporized. Even so, Arctaius’ firing of the attack continued, as he struggled to make it stop. Though, after 10 seconds or so, the beam dissipated.

“I no longer sense him… Enemy Exterminated-- My job here is don--”

However, Arctaius stopped, clenching his chest.

“That was as much air as my lungs had. I’d best get back to the surface!!”

Arctaius turned, and began his descent into orbit… However, unable to control his landing location, he landed, not in Tsugashuan, instead, bounding off to Yamato… Chounuma was a smaller city, rather bland, and luckily, not of much strategic value, given this, they were ignored during the Kaemerge War... Though the peaceful afternoon was soon interrupted, as a small object, human-sized, in fact, smashed into the ground on the outskirts of the city, Skidding across the ground as he made impact. Something that would draw attention from those in the area, as they came to observe the situation. They only found a bare-chested, unconscious man. However, his allies remained in the initial site of the battle.

“I no longer sense Ardam’s Protomis...I’d assume that means corde succeeded. It looks like whatever he pulled off worked…”

Zhao sheathed his blade as he stood up.

“I sensed Ardam Bounding off somewhere, if I’m correct, right toward the sun itself.”

Kazimir smirked.

“Well, looks like he couldn’t take the heat. It’s a good thing he got out of the kitchen.”

Apparently, the joke was less than amusing, as he drew blank stares, rather than laughter… Liang raised an eyebrow at this.

“That was the best you could come up with?”

Kazimir scratched the back of his head, as he mumbled.

“Sounded better in my head..”

He soon spoke louder once again.

“But, we’re getting off-topic. I was sure I sensed him coming down. But I suppose he may have crashed elsewhere…”

The ground soon began to shake below them, as the loud cracking of rocks began to resound through their ears. As pieces of the rock began to fall. Liang began to look around.

“We can worry about that later, we’d best leave… It seems our battles earlier caused a landslide to start… This city won’t exist for much longer.”

With this, Miyamoto lifted Valerie's remains, looking down at them once more, before she began to fly away, Liang soon did the same, followed by the tides, and Bijan. What remained of the coalition forces soon rushed onto transport ships, as the remains of the coalition fleet, and the Kaemerge fleets that joined them soon began their exit as well. and the group members fly out of the great crag, and what remains of the coalition forces begin to move as well. Though, even with this, as the remaining buildings were crushed under the tons of falling rock, the shelters were no different. Though some of those within were safe… Many were less than lucky. Elsewhere, within Rizian, Sokol and Watanabe were loaded into the SIlver Lions transport. Courtesy of Ashikaga, and Tsumotsu. And, as they were loaded on, the door to the cargo bay closed. Yua, within the cockpit, soon took them up, the ship then cleared the Gorge. All the while, the bodies of the dead that hadn’t been taken from the battlefield. Such as those of the apostles, Myron, And the emperor himself, were left, buried as well. Even the mighty Rizian tower wasn’t left standing. The gigantic spire soon fell off its foundations… Just like that, the Great crag was filled up with stone, and sand that was formerly in the ridges above. Though it was mostly obscured by the dust and sand kicked up by the event, there was no doubt to anyone there, Tsugashuan’s swan song had been sung.

To Be Continued