Cake calls to Cole while taking a turret stance ejecting a third leg for stability, “Hold him there!” His laser cannons glow red hot, firing a continuous beam. Two more compartments open from his head firing a barrage of hundreds of mini missiles. Cole has to jump a few paces back from the heat but maintains his concentrated attack. Cake’s lasers don’t stop until they’ve melted, completely disabling them.

The surrounding sub battles with the ogres and other Ultras pause in awe of this attack. Everyone wonders if the battle has already ended. Though there’s no need to wait for the dust to settle to see. With the wind wiping everything clean it’s obvious, Death is unscathed. His force field still in place, and his skin has turned to stone. Death smiles while breaking off a ring from his finger to examine it, then discards it to the ground. He chuckles then calls, “You see!? Nobody can stop me! I’m too powerful now! You’ve already lost!”

Without a second breath Death fires laser beams from his eyes. Cake is too immobile to dodge, and his metal glows beginning to melt from the heat. Then as if an intense gravity emerged his metal body becomes crushed to the ground, flat as a pancake.

Cole cries, “No! Cake!”

Arch touches Cole’s shoulder, “It’s ok don’t worry about him. That wasn’t his body. His mind and soul is in the base remember? Now keep it up I have to go.”

“Where are you going?!”

Arch replies before running off, “I have something to take care of in the forest. Stick to the plan, and remember to focus on the crystals!”

Time for the sword then.

Cole stops his wind calling to Death, “Stop fighting! You think stealing powers makes you powerful?! You’re nothing! You’re just a leach! You’re going to lose this battle and I’ll prove it!”

The words have a visible effect on him. He staggers back as if he just got a blow to the chest. His rock skin falls to the ground. Cole commands before quickly picking up a rock tossing it to Death, “Tell me the complete history of this object.” He catches it easily, and becomes stunned trying to absorb the overwhelming history of it.

“See! I know what you’re thinking right now. Learning the whole history of a rock took a toll on you right? Maybe the powers you cherish aren’t such a blessing after all? Well guess what, that’s not your only weakness.”

Cole calls to Kid, “Aim for his scepter!”

Kid fires a shot shattering one of the larger black crystals. The scepter explodes causing a massive black energy explosion. Litteral black fear and tortured screams erupt from out of the energy blast. Death is left standing but completely torn to shreds both mentally and physically. The ogres collectively move in to rescue Death but are pushed back by Rush, Kid, and especially Justice as they are terrified of touching her. With the opening created, Shado materializes up out of Death’s shadow, stabbing him in the heart with his poisoned blade.

Shado steps back speaking, “I wish I didn’t have to do a sneak attack like this. Did we get him, or is this another one of his illusions?”

Murmured whispers flow in from the distant wind, Don’t listen to him, you are powerful… Keep fighting… Rip off your ears!

I know this voice! Cole thinks to himself.

Death’s dazed expression quickly disappears. He tosses his scepter then pulls the blade from his chest. His wounds instantly heal over.

“Oh yes you got me… But I’m all powerful! I have no need for illusions anymore!”

Death reaches up and rips off both of his ears before cauterizing them with flames from his hands. Instead of shouts of pain, he laughs maniacally with blood covering his face.