Chapter 28: Ajal; Shauran 45th, 344SR; 16:45

The crowd of people moved through the strangely wide streets of Cabac, 'They've turned off most of the lights in this city. Thankfully the people from Baltin are as tall as me so I sort of pass off as one of them... But I will absolutely not wear their clothing... I can't believe Marina recommended that...' Ajal shivered at the thought of the revealing clothes the descendants of Morne wore. Reinhardt and Adam walked in front, George was close behind. Ajal looked up at the sky, a green square of light shone against the blanket of clouds. The source of light was towards the center of Andurill in Anka.

"I wonder what the queen is wearing today!" A masked woman said to someone else.

"She always wears something new and looks amazing," the other masked woman replied.

"The weather is nice, not too cold, not too hot" a masked man said behind Ajal.

'It is cold...Why do they all wear these masks?' Ajal could feel his breath against the mask, the limited visibility and the sweat against his face continued to bother him. They were approaching an overpass that connected two of the large buildings in the city together, just beyond that was where the majority of the district's lights shone. Reinhardt and Adam looked down as they started to descend a flight of stairs, Ajal got a better look at the center of Cabac.

Down the flight of stairs, a concrete walkway surrounded a large field of green grass, it stretched for as far as Ajal could see in both directions towards the center of Andurill and away from it.

In the middle of the large divide which split Cabac, was a large hollow building with lots of openings. It was three stories high, the first and third floors we're open and had no walls. A massive statue stood on the roof, it depicted a woman holding a large katana in a crouched down position with her blade raised in the air. 'Looks like she's swinging her sword... in that direction, it makes her look like the one who split the city. What the?' Ajal took notice of some strange jagged rocks behind the statue. 'Those look like... feet? Was there another statue?'

On the grass we're endless mats with various colorful patterns set up for people to dine together. Along the concrete walkway people set up stands where people prepared food, several masked folk even volunteered to help with the preparation.

"George, I swear you better not try to eat-"

Ajal turned to see George with a strange green drink in his handy was green, in a plastic cup, he even had a straw 'I- how... I didn't say drink... ugh, I bet Korra helped him get it... I lost track of where Marina and her family was in the crowd...' Ajal just shook his head as he looked around again, 'If everyone has a mask, it'll be annoying to keep track of... But, Raum doesn't have a mask, he'll be easy to spot.'

Adam nudged Ajal with his elbow, he looked up to see him pointing at someone. A brown haired woman with a pretty face he recognized. She wore red pants and a red vest with golden sashes hanging off her shoulder rather than more red. 'Gold?' She walked through the field with a spring in her step, the jewelry around her neck jingled each time. She walked towards the building with the statue on it. 'It's her... I- can't remember her name... but I fought her in Logos... the one with the green thunder' She walked in front of two people who wore masks, one of them a man the other a women with similar clothing, rather than gold sashes they had bright white, with silver edges to go with their red outfits.

"I'm going to follow them... keep an eye on our exits," Ajal whispered.

"Got it... are you sure you want to go alone? You should at least go with Reinhardt..." Adam asked.

"Even with spirit arts a clan leader would mop the floor with all of you single handedly. No offense, teaching you all spirit arts would be a waste if you died. As soon as I send the signal, go help the others, I'll try to join you as soon as I can."

"No offense taken, we remember what happened in Logos."

"We'll try and keep an eye out for the resistance," Reinhardt whispered.

Ajal walked forward, following the clan leader from Welis. He stepped passed the various mats set by people in vertical lines across the field. Young hybrids looked up at him as he walked by, wearing masks which made them look quite intimidating. On both sides of the field food was being served, passed several families of hybrids who sat on the mats. The aroma of spices filled the air, multiple drum beats could be heard close to where the two clan leaders walked.

They approached a muscular man who was the same height as Ajal. The large man wore dark green pants and a golden belt with his upper body completely exposed. His body and muscles well almost ripped through his skin from how big they we're. His veins clearly defined along his rugged forearms, every muscle would move with him. 'He must be the clan leader from Baltin if he's wearing that... it probably is better to go shirtless when their tops are that tight...' Ajal nitpicked. He had a brown scruffy beard with the rest of his hair slicked back, 'Descendants of Wilo have a golden arm, that can't be Raum... that guy is probably a clan leader though, he's huge...' Ajal continued to follow them, he glanced back and saw multiple masked hybrids seated on the grass or mats, Reinhardt followed not too far behind, Adam stood with George near the stairs. 'Come on... where could he be...?'

Ajal stood a short distance away from the two clan leaders as they greeted each other casually. The two men behind the clan leader from Welis bowed before the large muscular man. Young hybrids peered up at them with eyes full of sparkle and awe. Ajal waited for them to keep moving, however he felt a finger poke his shoulder twice, he turned quickly.

"Uh- Hi?" Ajal looked down at the woman who poked his shoulder.

A six foot tall woman with a sleek black and gold dress looked up at Ajal with a glare, she had rich brown hair tied back, a single blade of hair ran down the right side of her head. She pushed her glasses up as she seemed to squint even harder at Ajal. 'She has no mask... is she supposed to be a clan leader as well?' She looked up at Ajal with an annoyed glare, 'What's her deal- does she know how I-'

"Move," the woman rudely demanded.

Ajal looked at her for a moment and then took a step to the side and she walked by, 'Pretty sure you have enough room to walk around...' She stopped right next to him and squinted. Her thin eyebrow twitched, she sighed and moved a blade of brown hair to the side of her head. A purple scarf was loosely coiled around her slim neck. The edges of her sleeves and collar, were all fashioned with gold. Above her chest was a golden insignia of a winged horse.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm... looking for a place to sit?"

"I'm talking about your clothes..."

'What is wrong with this person...' Ajal looked down at his loose white coat and black dress shirt. 'What?' He lifted one leg and observed his small shoe and brown pants, his ankle exposed between the two. He looked back up at her and tilted his head in confusion.

"Ugh, idiot," she said under her breath, she pointed at his pants with crossed arms. "You're wearing the wrong pants, and the wrong outfit in general. Someone from Baltin shouldn't wear clothes from Andurill, that coats too small for you. Are you a soldier? Must be... considering you can't even dress properly," she lectured.

'What... Huh... I look fine? What's her problem?' Ajal just looked down at her silently. She turned and continued to walk, there was a tall man walking behind her, he wore a similar outfit. However, the gold details we're now silver, and he wore a mask with a horizontal line under each eye, and a dot on the forehead.

"Oberon! Where's your shirt! You're setting a bad example..." the woman shouted towards the clan leaders.

"Carala, it's good to see you too," Oberon, the large man with the gold belt and green pants greeted her.

Oberon noticed Ajal, he squinted for a moment before he turned his head. 'Do I stand out that much... crap...' Ajal turned his head and looked around, every time his eyes would meet someone else's they looked away. 'Maybe I do...' The hybrid clan leaders turned and continued towards the structure in the center of the long grassy plane between the towers of the city. Ajal gave it a moment before he continued to follow.

The food they ate smelled strange, not bad, but certainly different. A bold, earthy scent rose from the variety of foods eaten on long tensile leaves. Ajal didn't see or smell any meat, just legumes and vegetables, and lots and lots of fruit.

Ajal looked up and noticed the clan leaders we're a good distance away and nearing the building, he continued forward. 'How will the resistance strike... they're most likely hiding within the crowd, then they should strike before the masks come off... right?'

Ajal approached the central structure, the pillars on the side represented swords on the outside. He walked between the pillars and entered the structure, on the other side he noticed that behind each pillar was a woman with large blue robes, each of them with a katana sheathed at their side. There we're many hybrids wearing pristine clothing. Ajal was interested to see hybrids with golden arms, they wore white robes which covered even their feet. Each of them seemed somewhat overweight, their round stomachs hung over the sashes at their waist. Some of the people in white robes we're skinny.

'They remind me of the archbishops... huh?'

The descendants of Wilo in white robes greeted people in very different suits. They weren't uniform in appearance like the hybrids were. One of them caught Ajal's attention, a short, black haired man with a red shirt underneath. 'Thats... an angel?! The noble from Logos who didn't fight me along with Alexander and the clan leaders... I almost forgot, angels are going to be attending this event as well... That may make things complicated...' They walked up a set of stairs which encircled the edge of the building, following the descendants of Wilo in white robes. Ajal took one step forward, and was immediately met with two katanas jutting forward in front of him and blocking his path. He glanced left and right, a blue haired woman at the handle of each blade, wearing a loose blue coat with thin fabric over a dark blue garment. Ajal backed up slightly, but stopped as he felt the light poke of a blade behind him.

"Not another step," one of the swordswomen behind him ordered.

"Civilians aren't allowed here," the woman to his right informed him.

'Royal guard... four of them, there's more around the room as well...' Ajal observed his surroundings, the other female guards around the room stood still.

"I didn't think you'd be dumb enough to walk right in," said a familiar voice from behind.

Ajal looked down and noticed a short man with a full head of spiky black hair walk in front of him, as well as woman wearing similar clothes to the guards, but with wave gold patterns along the coat. The two of them didn't have masks, 'Clan leaders... this guy was also in Logos...' He wore a similar outfit to the one Ajal wore, but with golden decals on it. His curved greatsword rested on his back as he turned and looked Ajal in the eyes.

"I remember you two, from Logos right, what was your names again?" Ajal turned his head to the one with the katana, he stopped as he realized he didn't know this person.

"So you we're the one who made my best student and friends look like a pushover, an admirable feat," the one with the katana praised. "The name's Shina, leader of Dorad's royal guard."

"You forgot my name? That's cold... It's Rolo, but, you've gone and joined the resistance though so I don't mind, we'd never be friends," Rolo tightened his grip.

"I'm not here to fight, and i'm not with the resistance. I wish to speak with the queen of the hybrids," Ajal nonchalantly revealed.

The angels and other clan leaders hadn't noticed as the encounter as they went up the stairs. Rolo and Shina looked at each other for a moment when they heard that.

"My cousin almost died when she said she encountered you and the resistance in Rea," Rolo reminded him with a fist clenched around the greatsword handle.

"I didn't know that would happen, nor did I want that to happen. The resistance wanted me to join them in some plan they have tonight, but I turned them down. I'm sorry your family member got hurt. I did the best I could to save her," Ajal apologized, Rolo squinted as he looked up at him.

"Why do you want to speak with the queen, and what details did they reveal about that plan?" Shina asked as she tilted her head.

"I don't know much about the plan, just that it was meant to happen tonight and it involves taking all of Andurill," Ajal raised his hand up to his face.

Shina raised her own hand to the long katana sheathed at her waist. Ajal looked at her for a moment before he continued to raise his hand to his face. He pulled the mask off over his head and revealed his face.

"I was getting tired of wearing that... I'm going to free the non-unified people from slavery," Ajal stated outright.

"Huh?" Rolo uttered.

"Why would you- an off worlder, want to free the non-unified, or better yet even meddle in this worlds affairs?" Shina asked.

Ajal thought back to his days on Imperion, back when he didn't hesitate to kill, back to when they called him the reaper. Back to when he was seen as nothing but a weapon. He shook his head.

"I won't get into my personal reasons, they are irrelevant. I don't believe the non-unified deserve the lives they live, and I'm someone with the strength to change that," Ajal mentioned. "But, I think people are born pure, even all of you," Ajal glanced outside to where some children played with their newborn sibling. "They are always corrupted by sin, maybe it's inevitable. I'm willing to give the hybrids and the angels a chance to explain themselves before I must release my wrath."

"Your wrath? The strength to change that? Don't you think you're underestimating us a bit-"

"Zilu, wait," Shina raised her arm and interrupted her.

"Huh?"

"Don't underestimate him, he defeated Avery easily... And don't forget our duty... the resistance can still attack... This, this may be a favorable option for us, let him through," the clan leader of the guard explained. "Alright, offworlder-"

"It's Ajal..."

"Ajal... I'll grant your request, however, if you take advantage of our courtesy, I will kill you."

"I don't wish to ruin this event for any of the people here."

Rolo continued to glare at Ajal.

"You sure about this..." Rolo asked.

"Don't worry, the queen was interested in the off worlder as well, and if he tries anything, I can stop him," Shina stated confidently with a lax expression.

Shina turned and made her way for the stairs, the guards sheathed their katanas. The sword's they held were half the length of the clan leaders. Ajal followed her. They walked up the stairs and ended up in a hallway which didn't have open walls. Candles with blue flames lit the hallway, 'This is going well so far on this end... but, I still haven't found Raum... How are the others doing... Not having communication makes this a lot more complicated...'

"By the way," Shina suddenly broke the silence.

"Hm?"

"Who dressed you?" Shina snickered.

"Oh not again... it doesn't look bad..." Ajal replied with an annoyed tone.

"I mean, you look good- but... you're outfit is all over the place, so it was-" Shina held back a giggle. "You looked so odd, you stood out."

"Beats wearing that green outfit from Baltin..."

"What? You'd probably look great in that... Tafi couldn't even take her eyes off of you once she saw your face."

"Tafi? Who's that?"

"The guard who was to your left earlier. Truth is, all my girls have been curious to see who defeated Riva in Logos."

"Riva?" Ajal remembered a women at the battle in Logos who wielded a sword the same length as Shina's. "Oh, her... she didn't like small talk as much as you seem to," Ajal laughed.

"Haha, yeah that's Riva alright..."

The two we're approaching another set of stairs leading upward. Light spilled into the hallway from the top of the steps.

"Come to think of it, all of the royal guard I've seen so far have been women. Why is that?" Ajal asked.

"Only women can inherit Ginpa's fang. The celestial beast itself despises men," said Shina.

"So that's why it burned me when I touched it..."

The two walked up the steps. Ajal looked to the right, the walls of the building were open once again. Ajal glanced to the left and stopped, he took a deep breath as everyones sight fell upon him. The circular floor had a strange design. A black and white circle, it wasn't split down the middle, the black appeared to engulf the white. But on the other side, the white flooded towards the black and consumed the color as it itself was consumed. At the wide end of both colors, standing opposite from each other. On the black side was a statue of a woman, on the other was the statue of a man.

'Well... I knew this would be awkward...'

The noble angels stood at the sides of the room. The black haired boy with a red shirt looked at Ajal and his eyes went wide. A woman with short blonde hair next to him was wearing a blue shirt and white pants, she nearly choked on her drink as she noticed Ajal. 'Two nobles... are those the Lightbringers? No... they have the insignia of a dragon, and a mask... I don't see Alexander Rael... that's good.'

The hybrid clan leaders sat behind a long table, slightly elevated off the floor. 'That Rolo guy isn't here, he's waiting for the resistance to make a move... Raum isn't here yet...' Behind all of them, was a single throne that was at least twelve feet tall. It was large, even Ajal would have had to jump or climb up just to sit on it.

On that throne sat a woman who leaned forward to get a better view, she wore a silver tiara with an array of colored jewels embedded in it.

Around the back of the room, behind the queen we're several old hybrids. Each of them wore robes which covered their wrinkled skinny bodies. 'Purple, blue, green, two people with grey, brown... the colors of their robes, they're each from different clans... who are they?'

The two in the grey robes seemed like opposites of each other. One bloated and breathing heavily as he wiped sweat off of his head plastered with his curled golden hair. His golden arm rattled as he watched Ajal carefully. 'I haven't done anything and he already looks like he's shaking...' The other in grey seemed to be around the same age as Marina's grandfather, he was a descendant of Ophi. A short, slim man with a white beard covering his mouth, but a stern gaze which looked down on Ajal.

At the right end of the table, seated slightly far from the others, was the man in glossy purple robes. He picked at his nails, unaware of everyone else's concern. Each of his fingers decorated with a different golden ring.

The one with a brown robe was looking at Ajal with a spark in his eye. His dark skin was speckled with dark spots underneath his eyes. His head of hair and beard we're full of silver strands which shone in the light. The old woman in the green robe was very slim, her skin was well taken care of but her age could not be hidden, nor did it look like she wanted to. She looked at Ajal with a stern, focused gaze, 'She seems smarter than the rest... but...'

Ajal's eyes lingered to the last in a blue robe, he had been in a state of meditation with his eyes closed. He had straight blue hair, a long face, and considerably smoother skin than the rest. His clothing was adorned by red strings, and wooden items with strange symbols carved on them. Shina said something quietly to the queen before she took a seat next to Oberon, Carala and Avery sat at the other end.

"My queen, my elders, I bring the off worlder before you. We expected he'd be here following the events of Shauran 25th. However he claims to not be working with the resistance, and he wishes to speak with us."

"What is the meaning of this?" the female angel with a shiny blue dress shirt glared at Ajal.

"You..." Carala tilted her head in confusion.

Oberon leaned back while he watched Ajal. "I had a feeling there was something strange about you... So you're the one who defeated Alexander Rael..."

Ajal looked up at the queen, Vala looked down at him with vivid blue eyes. She had smooth skin, a tall woman with black hair, braided into a ponytail that rested on her right shoulder and reached down to her knee. Her clothing was different than the rest of the hybrids. Robes hung loosely from her body, she wore a tight black dress under the robes that revealed her slim yet defined abdomen, long legs, as well as her arms up to the shoulders. She rested her cheek against a finger with a blue painted nail, her fair skin and entire appearance in general made her seem harmless. 'Never underestimate the uncertainty of the celestial...' Ajal reminded himself.

"I assume you're the Queen of the Hybrids?" said Ajal.

"Please, call me Vala," she said with a smile and a soft voice.

She was beautiful, her eyes brimming with confidence and strength as they locked with Ajal's. A firework shot into the sky, lighting up the field of hybrids who looked up in wonder at the display of colors. The queen and the divine being exchanged intense glares as the light faded. 'She has the gift of a harbinger... and those clan leaders aren't pushovers either...'

"My name is Ajal, I am the divine being of the planet Imperion."

The elders at the back of the room, even the ones who weren't originally interested we're now focused on Ajal upon hearing the title.

"Divine Being? Impossible..." the bloated man with the grey robe breathed even heavier.

"I've heard, you're quite the topic, and the rumors of you being quite handsome are true," Vala praised. "How long have you been in Andurill? Is our world to your liking? Does it compare to your own?"

"It's been a few weeks. It's nice, quite the change in sights for me. I like Imperion more, but both have problems I can't ignore."

"Problems you can't ignore? Is that why have you come here," Vala asked.

"It wasn't by choice," Ajal answered as his eyes wandered to the two statues in the room. "I was forced to flee from my home world."

"Forced?" Oberon repeated with a puzzled tone.

"I accomplished my goal on that planet, but I was betrayed, and I ended up here, in Logos. I've lost the means to return, so I've decided to stay on Grelt until I can figure something out."

"Stay on Grelt?!" The elder in a purple robe scoffed.

"Why? What do you seek to accomplish on Grelt?" The elder in green leaned forward.

"The non-unified do not deserve the lives they live, you and the angels will release them from slavery," Ajal demanded.

"Haha, fool! You don't understand the amount of progress we've made with the non-unified! They who had nothing to offer we're given the means to support this world!" The elder in a purple robe suddenly snapped.

"Why do you force them all into slavery? You wouldn't do the same to your own people-"

"Vala do not humor this heathen any longer!" the large blonde elder with the grey robe spat.

"They deserve to live their lives by their own choices!" Ajal argued back.

"Without them, the resistance will-"

"The resistance, the demons, I don't care... There hasn't been an attack from the demons for years... You're blatantly in the wrong here. Especially them!" Ajal pointed to the angels.

"You heretic! Shina! Kill-"

The queen raised her hand and everyone stopped talking, Ajal gulped. The angels looked ready to engage at a moments notice. Ajal had focused his spirit to his core the moment he arrived, ready to counter at any time. A drop of sweat rolled down his forehead. 'Where is Raum?'

"Ajal, you say we wouldn't do the same to our own, right," Vala asked, she wasn't smiling anymore.

"Yeah, I don't imagine you would-"

"What about a sworn enemy?"

"Huh... Sworn enemy?"

"Sworn enemy? How could they even manage to do that when they don't receive gifts from the celestial?" Ajal tilted his head.

"There was a point in time when the hybrids we're forced into slavery by them, it was several eras ago, they do deserve the lives they live, every single one of them," Vala revealed.

'What?' Oberon didn't flinch at those words, but Shina and Carala both looked surprised as she mentioned that.

"My queen, please, this is forbidden to speak of," the elder in a blue robe calmly stated.

"The angels helped end that age of despair for the hybrids, freeing the non-unified will both bring about the inevitable return of that era as well as the end of my people," Vala.

"Vala, do not speak further of this-"

"No, an era didn't end. You pushed the cycle forward... and now the ones you've oppressed seek the same justice you do. It's going to continue like that unless it's stopped!" Ajal cut one of the elders off.

The elder in purple sighed, "You think we can trust you? Humor me more, clown. No wonder you we're betrayed... are you sure it was a betrayal or did they just kill an idiot with no idea what he spoke of."

"I don't trust him, how can we be sure his outrageous story is even true? What if this... other world simply sent him to take our own?" the elder in green raised the question.

Ajal tilted his head, 'This isn't going how I thought it would... Was she telling the truth about that? The non-unified once ruled? How... I don't buy it at all... but this planet has been strange as is...' Multiple footsteps walked up the stairs, and to Ajal's surprise, a man with spiky black hair and a golden arm entered. 'Another clan leader?'

"What the... what's going on here?" the man who entered uttered.

"Hi Raum!" Avery waved, seemingly unaware of the tension in the room.

'Raum?!That's him?!' Ajal turned and looked at him carefully. He wore a bright white coat, but he never had anything on underneath, his lean upper body was exposed, he looked similar to Oberon. He had baggy black pants and spiky black hair with a stern face. Ajal eyed him up and down several times, there was no key in sight. 'I have to let the others know with dark abyss... but... I don't think it'd be wise to do something sudden right now... what the?'

Ajal squinted as he watched Raum pull a chain up the stairs, a slim man with torn, ragged black pants at the end of the tether.

He had long, light blue hair, his bangs covered his face, Ajal could only see the scruff of his beard. The man looked up at Ajal with a glare, followed by a squint of confusion. His arms we're bound by a coil of green lightning.

Two more people walked up the stairs, angels, one wore a white skirt with a sleeveless red dress on top that covered up to her neck, the other a sleek white suit. They both had yellow insignia's of a sword with an eye embedded in the guard. The girl in the white skirt had red hair past her shoulders. She looked considerably young, but had a stern look as she tried to piece together what was going on.

The other was a blonde man with visible bags under his eyes, some of his hair was tied back, a lot of it flowed around his head like a helmet. His white suit however seemed like the most extravagant outfit in the room. 'Lightbringers... are they nobles? It doesn't seem so...' Raum circled around the room towards his seat, the entire time he had kept his eye on Ajal.

"I'm afraid you cannot simply leave as you intended, Ajal," Vala said coldly.

Ajal sighed as he looked down.

"Oh yeah?" Ajal replied.

"While we can't prove if the story about your homeworld is true. Instead, you can prove it to us, prove you are not a member of the resistance," the queen raised her arm to the man in tattered robes.

"Huh? I'm not a part of the resistance-" Ajal looked down at the light blue haired man staring up at him. "Who even is this?"

"Jericho Ilyian, one of the last descendant of Tilill. He fought for the resistance, ruthlessly slaying hybrids using his skill with a sword, even besting many of the royal guard. With Geral Murdok's escape, he escaped as well, only to be captured again on the outskirts of Dorad with a vengeance. He is responsible for killing seventy four of our soldiers, twelve of our rangers, and two members of the royal guard, and that was since his escape. He now has the opportunity to atone," Vala explained.

"Why are you telling me all this..." Ajal tilted his head.

"Because I want you to be my executioner. He is a valued member of the resistance, take his head, and I will know you aren't one of them."

"I don't care about this- i'm here for the non-"

"The non-unified are out of the question, they cannot be set free," Vala shut his request down.

'She isn't going to budge on this... and those old people won't let her tell me the full truth...' He turned to the man with light blue hair on his knees.

"Do it, I'd rather die by your hand than any of the frauds of this alliance," said Jericho.

Ajal looked down at him with a blank expression, "You seem ready to die?"

"Yeah... the events of the last few weeks have shown me something important. I disgraced Tilill's gift by committing to such blood shed."

"Why'd you do it?" Ajal asked.

"Heh, I never thought I'd speak with a stranger before dying... At first, I believed I was right to follow in his footsteps... but, years in that prison gave me a lot of time to think... I was a young and naïve fool..." Jericho looked up at the queen and the clan leaders, and then to the two statues in the room, a grin spread across his face. "None of us could have ever lived up to the great hybrids of the past, no one except Arken. Master Shura and Master Roku would scoff at the sight of this pathetic council!"

The queen grit her teeth as she looked down on the broken man, her fingers gripped the arm rest of the throne. Ajal looked up, he sighed as his third eye open. 'Looks like we're doing this the hard way... Dark abyss.' The black and white wave extended out of Ajal's forehead and engulfed all of Cabac. The green coil of crackling electricity vanished, Jericho looked at his palms in shock and then back up to Ajal.

"So, you reveal your true nature at last," Vala scoffed at him.

"Who- who are you?!" Jericho asked in surprise.

"You want to atone right? That won't happen when you're dead. You people are all broken... This world won't change with bloodshed," Ajal said coldly as he turned to the queen.

"Then? You seek to change this world without sacrifice?" Vala laughed. "Perhaps I overestimated you, your ideals are that of a foolish child, willfully ignorant to the truth of this world."

Ajal looked down, unsure of what he could say to try and convince them peacefully anymore. Many lanterns fell from the sky, people in the crowds outside the building we're suddenly startled as the black and white wave retreaded into his forehead. Ajal crouched down and grabbed Jericho's shoulders, in the next motion he focused his spirit into his foot and dashed with him towards the window.

"Oberon!" Vala called.

Ajal glanced behind him to see a black ethore battle axe swinging towards him, he dodged to the right and turned to face the large man. Oberon raised his palm, 'Two horns on his palm?' Jericho was suddenly pulled forward, Ajal breathed in as he ran towards the clan leader from Baltin. 'Without his axe-' Oberon closed his fist, pointed it to Ajal, and opened his palm once more. 'What is he-' Ajal immediately rolled as the battle axe flew over him, back into Oberon's hand. He tumbled onto two hands and pivoted, swinging his right leg at Oberon's ankle to try and sweep him from below. Oberon winced but stood his ground as Ajal's foot slammed into his ankle, the large hybrid raised his axe into the air and swung down. Ajal rolled to the right as the axe pierced into the wooden floor, he focused his spirit into his leg this time.

"You'd dare fight me without a weapon?!" Oberon shouted as she started swinging his giant axe with one hand, with a surprising amount of control.

Ajal got to his feet as Oberon made a horizontal swing, he leaned back out of reach, the blade sliced some of his hair. Oberon swung and made a vertical swing from below. Ajal flipped backwards and landed on his feet once more out of his range. He crouched down as his spirit overflowed.

"I don't need one," Ajal lunged forward and planted his fist into Oberon's stomach, 'Spirit Ignition!'

"Guh!" Oberon grit his teeth.

Ajal's fist planted into Oberon's exposed abdomen, the large man stepped back as he coughed. Oberon dropped the heavy axe and raised both his hands into the air with clenched fists. Ajal ducked quickly and went for another sweep, 'Spirit Ignition!' Oberon's feet left the floor as Ajal pushed off the ground with his arms. Flipping over in mid air and bringing his foot down, 'Double Ignition!' Oberon blocked the kick, but was smashed through the building, down to the first floor. Ajal stood up straight, then turned back to the hybrids.

"Let's not continue this," Ajal said nonchalantly.

Carala's jaw dropped. Shina had a look of shock on her face, Avery shivered in her seat. The queen sighed as she came to terms with what just happened. Raum stood up, and jumped over the podium he sat behind.

"You! How dare you use Arken's Chambers!" the elder in the blue robe stood up and slammed his hands into the table.

"Arken's Chambers?" said Ajal.

"What- are you... are you Arken?!" Jericho uttered in shock.

"Huh? No? What?" Ajal stammered.

"Avery I thought you said this guy wasn't that much stronger than you..." Shina asked.

"Yeah... well..." Avery stuttered.

"I was stiff that day, I woke up from my coma a few hours before we fought. This time, i'm at full power, you don't want to fight me, not here, and not when the resistance is afoot," Ajal tried to convince them.

"The resistance?" Jericho repeated in surprise.

"Stiff...?" Avery repeated as she stood up and cracked her knuckles.

"Welp, Carala I assume you'll be taking the lead on this one," Shina smiled as she stood up and reached for her blade.

"Heh, funny..." Carala replied as she looked at the hole, sweat rolled down her head.

"No, stand down," Vala ordered.

Ajal looked to the queen. 'I doubt that changed her mind...' Ajal focused his spirit to his arms. She sighed and raised her arms up and stretched. She stood from the throne and took a step off into the air. Ajal turned to Jericho, who looked to be shivering as his eyes we're locked on the queen preparing to fight.

"Get out of here," Ajal told him once and he didn't hesitate to take off in a hurry.

"Boros," Vala called.

Ajal watched a green flower light up on her pupils. A long wavy sword appeared in her hand, a jade color on edge of the silver blade. Several marks appeared on her face, a wavy line appeared at either side of her mouth, as well as over her eyes. Ajal's eyes widened as she stepped onto a a surface materializing out of thin air. The surface resembled a layer of scales, it materialized quickly and formed into a massive snake which took up most of the room. Vala pointed her sword towards Ajal and the snake lunged at him. 'What the-' He conjured his staff to block, however the snake swerved to the left and coiled around Ajal, trapping him in a circle.

"Well, I expected as much from the gift of a harbinger..." Ajal muttered.

He looked up at the snake peering down at him, he jumped up as the snake constricted its body and tried to crush him. To his surprise the snake opened its maw, and a wavy sword shot out of its mouth instead of a tongue. Ajal quickly conjured his staff and parried the strike and landed on the beast's green scales. It was uneven to stand on, but it was smooth like glass, he looked back up at the snake. The snake started to move with Ajal standing on it, its body slithered out of the window and then stretched upwards to the roof of the building, then wrapping around the statue of the woman with the sword as it reached higher and higher.

The scales shift as the snake towered over the people and continued into the sky. Vala ran up the body of the snake with the wavy sword in hand. Ajal conjured his staff and the two clashed, she slipped past him after the strike and turned, before making several quick stabs at his head. Ajal parried a strike, spun the staff and countered. However she parried as well and jumped backwards.

"We can still stop this right now..." Ajal huffed, but managed to crack a smile.

"Yeah, I will," Vala replied.

She threw the blade straight at Ajal, 'Why would she disarm herself?' he thought as he knocked the blade away and ran up the body of the snake towards her. She raised her hand and a purple light appeared in her eyes.

"Zetsu!" Vala called.

This time the marks on her face changed to a single line under her eyes and over her nose. Ajal sprinted forward but stepped on nothing but air as the snakes body turned to dust. 'What the-' She conjured a black blade with a jagged edge as this time a hawk with a large purple beak appeared. She landed on the back of the hawk. It flapped its wings and dived towards Ajal.

'Shit! Marina said she uses six swords! She didn't say anything about giant animals!'

Ajal raised his arms and focused his spirit to block an incoming attack, but was surprised to see the bird fly right past him just like the snake. He glanced at Vala on the beast's back and noticed her swing that new blade at him from a long distance. Ajal was shocked to see the blade extend outwards, each individual piece connected by a wire which connected it to the last piece. The blade extended around Ajal and coiled around him, parts of the blade hooked into his skin, and dug deeper as the tether tightened. Ajal winced in pain as he was pulled upwards through the sky away from the civilians. They flew up, and a good distance away from the crowd of people.

'She's trying to take this fight elsewhere... I need to stick to the plan and get back to the-' Ajal's head slammed into a building, he crashed against the wall of a building. He felt dizzy, Ajal grit his teeth as he opened his third eye.

'Dark abyss!'

The sword and the hawk disappeared, Ajal felt blood slip out of his cuts as they started to heal, he fell through the sky along with the chunks of the building. Vala dived through the sky, she had her eyes locked on him.

"Regal!" Vala shouted.

'Oh god, what's next...' Two massive muscular arms covered with red fur and golden bracelets stretched out from behind her. The markings on her face change once more, this time to red circles that covered her eyes. A massive red gorilla had appeared out of the light and caught Vala, it twisted it's body in mid air and tried to grasp the side of the building with it's enormous hand, it slowed it's descent but kicked off towards Ajal.

"Oh shit-" Ajal raised his arm to block.

The gorilla roared as it swung it's massive fist towards Ajal. He tried to block with his spirit, but there was so much force behind the punch he couldn't mitigate the damage. He was sent soaring out of Cabac and over the river, crashing through a green roof and landing outside of the library in Ketova.

"Fuck that hurt..." Ajal groaned, then rolled onto his front, red electricity crackled off his body. "Damn... she launched me pretty far..."

His body ached but his arms crackled with red electricity, he felt the bones in his forearms shift as they healed. 'Focus... spirit ignitions won't be enough... six swords... so there's three more I haven't seen...' He looked around, there were several hybrids still in Ketova who we're startled by the sudden crash. A massive thud rumbled the ground, he looked up and saw the red ape in the distance still falling, however it looked like it was about to swing again.

"What the..."

The gorilla swung it's arm and threw something towards the center of Ketova. 'Here she comes...' Ajal conjured two scythes and raised them as Vala flew towards him, she swung a greatsword with a large zig zagged blade and clashed with Ajal. The two of their blades grated against each other, red lightning danced around the small street as the two exchanged a flurry of strikes. Ajal winded up a large swing, however she jumped backwards and dodged.

"Regal!" Vala shouted and the gorilla materialized out behind her and. The gorilla roared as it swung its fist down at Ajal. 'It's too hard dealing with both of you at once!' Ajal focused his spirit into his own and punched the gorilla's incoming fist 'Spirit Ignition!' The force rippled through the air Vala was shocked to see the massive monster that towered over Ajal suddenly step backwards. The gorilla clutched its hand in pain as it fell on its back and rumbled the ground and the glass of the buildings. Red lightning crackled through Ajal, but he shook the pain off as he walked forward.

"Got any more oversized animals..." Ajal shook his fist.

Vala breathed in as she swung the blade around and reengaged. 'Dark Assault!' Six scythes appeared around Ajal, four started to spin and flew towards Vala. She blocked the first, and elegantly dodged the others. Ajal grasped the other two. 'Manipulate the shadows...' the two handles and the blade shortened in length, he spun the smaller sickles as Vala swung the greatsword down. He took an underhand grip and caught the large sword with both sickles. Vala grunted as she tried to pull back, Ajal raised the blade up, leaving her body open for attack. Ajal raised his foot. 'Spirit Ignition!' Ajal kicked forward, however Vala did the same, blocking the ignition, with her own spirit.

"Huh?! You-" Ajal looked down in shock as he realized what just happened.

Vala jumped back as the greatsword disappeared from her hand, Ajal pursued. 'She used spirit arts! I know I saw that... Arken's chambers... are they the same?' Ajal ran forward, she jumped upwards. 'Huh?' Ajal jumped and swung his leg at her, however she blocked it with her own foot, and then kicked off Ajal. Landing on the roof of the building.

"Gotoh!" Vala called.

'This one's new... The red gorilla had that red electricity imbued in each hit... the bird and the snake haven't done anything else yet...' A large lance appeared in her hand, she pointed it directly at Ajal and she aimed with her other hand, a white light started to crackle behind her. The mark on her face had changed to two lines under her eyes, and a circle on her forehead. The queens eyes glowed white, Ajal could see it from a distance.

Vala thrusted the lance forward towards Ajal from on top of the the building and a beam shot forth from it's pointy tip. Ajal jumped backwards to dodge it, but at the exact same time, a horse ran straight through the building Vala stood on. It's coat was a bright white and had similar markings to the queen, the middle of its head had a straight horn at the end which looked similar to the lance. It was like the beast had been thrown at him, Ajal tried to block but the horn went straight through his defense and pierced his stomach, he dropped the sickles and grasped the horn before it go further. The horse continued to charge.

"Agh!" Ajal grunted in pain, he grit his teeth as blood spilt over his lips.

The horse ran forward and crashed through several buildings, each consecutive impact made the horn pierce further into his stomach. Ajal flexed his muscles with all his strength to stop it from going any further, roaring as he used his spirit to block the damage from crashing into the walls. The horn started to glow. A beam blasted forth and sent Ajal flying. An entire building was decimated by the blast. Ajal flew through several trees and branches and then crashed through a building and slamming against a red beam. Ajal grasped the pillar before he could fall anymore, he breathed in and out as he pulled himself up.

"Ack!" Ajal rolled onto the pillar and coughed up blood.

Ajal laid on his back, looking up at the red pillars of Rea glowing in the light of the lanterns. He pushed himself up as blood spilled out of the wound in his stomach that slowly healed. 'It's not too deep... god damnit those things pack a punch as they're summoned... And she can summon them in various positions for optimal attacks... so the horse is fast and can fire beams...'

Ajal heard slithering move closer to where he was. He looked left and right as the slithering noise grew closer, he looked for a sign of movement in the jungle of red pillars all around him, lit only by faint orange lights. 'I should get to higher ground!' Ajal focused his spirit into his foot and jumped up to the next level of pillars, he was two more from the top. Ajal's spirit flowed towards his own heart, 'Spirit Manipulation: Heart!' He controlled a spirit ignition at his heart, causing energy to flow into it rapidly and cause his blood to pump much faster.

'Where' is she?' Ajal looked around, but suddenly noticed a mouth of a snake open up in mid air. 'Huh-' Ajal's expression lit up in surprise as Vala stood on the snake's silver sword for a tongue, with the wavy sword in hand. 'The snake can camouflage!' The queen jumped forward and swung the wavy green edged blade at Ajal in mid air, he parried her strike and launched her back.

"Shura's array..." Vala uttered as she flew back, she raised the sword and pointed it at Ajal. "Piercing Thrust!"

'Shura?' Ajal noticed a silver glint fly at him at an extreme speed, he deflected it just in time and felt his feet drag backwards. 'I didn't expect that much-' The queen stabbed forward two more times and the same silver glint and knocked one away, but he felt something pierce right through his left shoulder.

Ajal grunted as he grasped the wound which started to convulse, it felt hot, burned. 'Poison? I'll heal!' Ajal had no time to think as the queen jumped onto the red beam, dashed forward as the wavy blade disappeared. The light in her eyes changed from green to blue.

"Tempa!" Vala roared.

A katana with a blue blade and no guard appeared in her hand, the handle wrapped in white cloth. Three vertical stripes appeared on her forehead and three horizontal ones under each eye. A cat with a blue and white coat, covered in lapis flames appeared behind her, a three bladed claw stuck out on each of it's hands. Each blade resembled the katana Vala held. She swung the blade at Ajal, before she could make contact he dodged to the right. 'Spirit Manipulation will boost my speed and power, ignition won't be enough for her... I don't think I'll need to use a Spirit Bloom... I should focus on getting back to the others... but I'd rather not do it without accomplishing anything though...'

"Shura?" Ajal repeated as he raised the staff to block. "Who's that?"

"That's your concern right now? How insulting," she lunged forward, with the blade raised above her head.

Ajal watched carefully as he guarded, he raised the scythe to block quickly. Before Vala swung she vanished, leaving wisps of deep blue flame behind. Ajal was surprised as he felt a slash through his back in that same moment. He stumbled forward, and then swung the scythe behind him. Vala dashed backwards out of range, and the sounds of the cat's paws thumping against the red wood grew closer. Ajal quickly jumped up, grasping the beam on the next level as the cat swiped at where he stood. 'This one's dangerous!' The cat and Vala both disappeared this time, Ajal opened up his third eye immediately as he turned.

'Dark Abyss!' the wave caused the markings, weapon and beast to disappear, leaving Vala defenseless as she swung from above without a weapon. Ajal raised his foot and kicked her in the side, she blocked. But winced from the pain of the kick, Ajal pulled his foot back and kicked again in a single second. Vala flew down to a beam two levels down and collided with it.

"Rgh..." Vala winced as her arms we're numb from the kick.

"You can use spirit arts, so then why is it illegal? Why is it called Arken's chambers?" Ajal asked.

"Silence... don't you dare say my brother's name," the queen glared up at Ajal with a ferocity.

"Why?" Ajal nonchalantly asked. "We're not around those elders anymore, they kept interrupting... Please, tell me the truth... If you have a harbingers gift I know you stopped aging."

"The truth?" Vala glared up at Ajal as she stood.

"The non-unified couldn't have done that, not without the celestial, there's no angels here either, tell me the truth," said Ajal.

"I'll tell you the truth on one condition," Vala grinned. "Kill the angels, all of them, bring me Lucifer Lightbringers head, and then we'll talk history."

Ajal squinted as he looked down at her. "That's not fair," he laughed. "So, the angels are the problem?"

"You look around for a problem to solve, assuming we're in need of your help. First you don't take this fight seriously, now you think i'm in need of your help? I am the queen, I've trained my entire life to become a warrior."

"You may be the queen, but you don't give a shit about property damage," Ajal commented as he looked at the building he flew through.

Vala smirked. "We'll build back, we always do. Together, the hybrids are capable of enduring anything fate has in store for us."

"Together? That's idiotic, your race is divided. Even this fight with me is idiotic, the resistance is still here and they will make their move if they haven't already!"

The queen looked down. Ajal raised an eyebrow. 'Did I hit a nerve?'

"Each clan leader was hand picked by me, they'll stop the resistance with or without me. You continue to try and meddle with our affairs and history, typical of off-worlders... If you dare continue to underestimate me," Vala opened her eyes which glowed pink. "I will kill you. Elrin!" Vala called.

A short sword with a wide blade appeared in her hand, the tattoos on her face changed to two black vertical stripes which passed over her eyes. 'Where is the animal?' Vala focused her spirit to her feet, and jumped up the red pillars to Ajal. They clashed once more, Ajal redirected her strike, Vala spun and stepped close to avoid the scythes reach. Ajal conjured a smaller sickle and blocked the second strike coming from above.

"Shura's Array, sixth form!" Vala knocked Ajal back with spirit, she turned her sword to swing it upwards. "Grelt's Steel!" she roared as she swung the blade up.

Ajal blocked the strike, but his feet lifted off the red beam. 'Huh-' Ajal couldn't form words as he was launched through the sky by that single swing. Ajal hit the ground and bounced off of it, rolling onto a bridge made from a yellow wood before crashing through a rail and crashing into a stream. He opened his eyes as he tried to take a breath but he coughed as water flooded into his mouth, the distorted yellow bridge above the water was all he could see. 'Is this... Bellos?! Are you kidding me? That attack had more force than that gorilla's punch? I'm pretty sure that was a spirit ignition...' Ajal pulled himself onto the bridge, his clothes stuck to his skin. Ajal tore his ripped shirt off and threw it aside. In the distance a white light glowed, from the red pillars of Rea. Ajal conjured his scythe and spun it around, taking a stance on the bridge.

The light flashed and in a single moment Vala flew through the sky, Ajal dodged, she slightly grazed his chest and tore more of his shirt. 'Dark Passage!' Ajal's scythe was engulfed in a black and white aura, he slashed at the queen but she ducked under the blade. Her eyes glowed pink once more. However, Ajal manipulated the blade of shadow, forming another one of equal length on the other side, and pulled the scythe back, cutting Vala's back.

"Agh!" Vala grunted, but breathed in and grit her teeth. "Elrin," she grasped the short sword and stabbed forward.

Ajal stepped on the blade, however she let go and jumped back. The sword did not disappear. A low pitched roar stopped the sound of water violently splashing back and forth. Ajal turned and looked up to see a massive brown furred behemoth on two legs towering over him. It had giant horns which almost resembled dying tree's. It stepped downwards, Ajal jumped back, dodging the hit. As it's hoof hit the ground, the impact caused the water to fly up in an instant. Ajal flew backwards as tree roots broke out of the ground underneath him, skewering his arm, slicing his skin, and another hitting the scar he had on the left side of his torso.

"Gah!" Ajal let out a deep cry of pain, the sound echoed out further than the rumbling roar of the brown elk.

The tree roots extended back into the ground, Ajal fell back to the bridge and landed on his back. His stomach convulsed as he felt short on breath, 'That hurt! That fucking hurt!' Ajal rolled onto his front. The queen dropped to one knee, which surprised him. 'She's been going all out this whole time... she's only getting tired now? She's conjured weapons and massive animals back and forth... that has to be worn out...' Ajal pushed himself up on one knee, as he grasped his side, blood leaked out of the old wound in his stomach. The queen stood as he did.

"Tempa..." Vala huffed. Despite being worn out, she grasped the katana as she walked forward. "Shura's Array, Fourth Form!" Vala ran forward. "Prism Slash!"

Vala grasped the blade with both hands and vanished, leaving behind blue flames once more. Ajal stood, his legs shook and he felt like passing out, but he conjured the small sickle and held it up. She appeared in front of him and swung down, he blocked and she disappeared once more. Ajal felt a slash at leg, he swung the sickle to his right, but hit nothing but blue flame. Ajal raised his other arm and caught the blade with his hand. He pulled Vala over his head and slammed her into the bridge. Ajal grasped her leg and threw her upwards. He opened his third eye which glowed purple. 'Dark Blast!' An extremely large purple beam exited his third eye towards the airborne queen.

"Regal!" Vala quickly grasped the bolt shaped greatsword and held it up to block.

The beam reflected off her blade, but it still sent her soaring through a building. Red lightning crackled at the edge of the beam which melted through buildings. The beam flew through Bellos, and pierced through two towers in Andurill. The beam dissipated slowly, Ajal's pointed his third eye to the wound. He focused his spirit into his wound and braced himself. He fired a small beam towards the wound, burning it closed. Ajal grunted in pain as he breathed in and out. 'The last person I had to try this hard against was Idyr... harbingers are such a damn pain...' Ajal put his hand against the shadow the bridge casted, he breathed in and out as the slight cuts healed. 'Dark Passage.'

Ajal teleported behind Vala and stopped her flight. She turned with wide eyes as he teleported behind her, he clenched his fist. 'Spirit Ignition!' Ajal slammed his leg into her back and sent her to the ground. The red gorilla appeared where she soared too and broke her fall. Ajal landed on the grass and fell to his knees, he looked up and noticed the statue of the woman on top of the building 'I'm back here- in the center of Cabac...?' Ajal felt his legs lose strength. One hand kept him from falling on the ground, the other held his cauterized wound. A rush of blood came up his throat he coughed it up over the green grass. Ajal stood up groggily. Vala limped out of the smoke, breathing heavily as she held the cut on her side.

"Bastard!" Ajal heard a voice behind him. "You'd dare draw our queen's blood!"

Raum Septirion ran at Ajal from behind, Ajal caught his breath as Raum's golden arm shot forward. Ajal raised his hand and a the claw grasped it. 'What the...' Ajal felt himself get pulled forward, he took one step and braced himself. Raum grit his teeth as he failed to pull him with all his strength, Ajal took one step and pulled. Raum's feet left the grass as he soared towards Ajal.

"Ah!" Raum grunted.

The clan leader flew towards Ajal, 'Since i'm using spirit manipulation, I probably won't need an ignition...' The golden claw let go of Ajal's arm, the force of it retracting back to Raum caused him to spin in the air. As Ajal swung his foot, Raum swung his with the momentum and they clashed. Raum fell to the ground in front of Ajal, and then tried to punch Ajal. Ajal blocked the punch, he pulled back and immediately dropped onto his hands and swung his leg up at Ajal's head, but he dodged backwards. 'So he prefers hand to hand combat...' Ajal took a stance and redirected two of Raum's punches, then raised his knee to block a low kick. Raum tried to make another low kick, Ajal tried to counter by stepping on his foot, however it was a feint. Raum threw a punch with golden arm, to Ajal's surprise he launched it at the same time. Ajal tried to deflect it but it was too fast.

"Agh-" Ajal uttered as the golden fist hit him in the nose.

The golden claw then grasped his face, Ajal peered at him through the gaps between his fingers. He was about to kick Raum in the chest, but a hand slammed into his back. Ajal suddenly felt lighter. 'Shit!' Raum jumped back and pulled Ajal with the golden arm, he was dragged through the air and straight towards the ground.

"Shura's Array! Third Form! Rending Thrust!" Shina yelled as she stabbed her blade forward from the top of the building.

Ajal felt something pierce straight through his wrist. He looked to the top of the building to see Shina with her long gleaming katana drawn and pointed straight at him.

'Damnit!' Ajal opened up his third eye. 'Dark Abyss!' The black and white wave hit all of them. The golden arm disappeared, Ajal's weight turned back to normal. As he soared back to the ground, he noticed a white light in the corner of his eye, only to see a white horse with winged grieves tackle right into him.

"What the-" Ajal grunted, 'This is is overwhelming trying to fight all of them!'

"Ajal was your name right? Prepare for a life in prison for drawing blood from our queen!" Carala said from the back of the horse, Avery rode behind her on the same horse.

A swinging noise came towards him, Ajal quickly conjured a staff and parried Oberon's battle axe flying at him. However his attention was drawn back to the two clan leaders on horseback as he heard crackling electricity. Ajal focused his spirit to his back

"Shura's Array, First Form!" Avery yelled. She jumped off the horse, straight towards Ajal, "Thunderclap Smash!"

Her fist pressed into Ajal's back, he grit his teeth as the green electricity coursed through him. The familiar feeling of being cut by multiple small blades. Ajal flew towards the first floor of the building, but before he could land he felt Oberon connect a heavy punch to his stomach. 'Agh! I didn't use spirit there... but- he did?!' Oberon wore a black breast plate over top of the outfit he wore before.

"So you can use spirit arts just like her," Ajal grinned.

"Silence," Oberon threw a punch at Ajal.

He ducked under the fist and focused his spirit into his fist, swinging forward and planting his fist into the breast plate. To Ajal's surprise the armor didn't crack, Oberon raised both arms and swung down on Ajal's head. His head felt numb for a moment as his hearing faded, but he raised his fist again and planted it into Oberon's chest. 'Spirit Ignition!' He punched Oberon's chest again.

"It's useless!" Oberon shouted. "The Ethore of Baltin is unbreakable, even for you!"

"Ethore huh?" Ajal replied groggily.

'Magic enhanced armor... if it's black... that's dark magic... black ethore? Where is the concentration of dark magic that is strongly located on this planet?' Ajal focused his spirit into his fist, 'Spirit Ignition...' He punched Oberon in the chest once more, this time with much more force behind this strike. Oberon was pushed off his feet, he stumbled backwards, he raised his fist in response and punched Ajal in the face. His head was going numb, he struggled to stay conscious, but he breathed in as his foot planted onto the ground. 'Double Ignition!' Ajal slammed his fist into Oberon's chest once more, the black armor cracked.

"Gah!" Oberon coughed.

Oberon tried to grab him, but Ajal caught his hand with his left. 'Triple Ignition!' Ajal slammed his right fist into Oberon's chest once more, shards of the armor came off.

"Agh!" Oberon looked up to see Ajal and his eyes went wide as he saw the grin across his face.

'Spirit Ignition!' Ajal punched him in the chest again and let go at the same time, the eight foot man who weighed over two hundred pounds flew out of the building and straight through a pillar. 'Shit... it's been a while since I've felt like this... having fun while fighting...'

"Shura's Array! Fourth Form!" Vala hissed.

Ajal turned and conjured his scythe, he focused his spirit to his arms.

"Prism Slash!" Vala appeared in front of Ajal holding the katana with no guard.

Ajal conjured his staff and blocked the strike from her sword, she vanished, and he turned around to the right and blocked another strike. As she disappeared again Ajal jumped and dodged the low sweep.

"Impossible!" Oberon was speechless. "He avoided the queen's enhanced Prism Slash!"

'Damnit, she's already recovered!' Ajal focused his spirit into his foot, and kicked off the ground, dashing away towards the buildings. 'Dark-'

"Gotoh!" Vala called.

The sound of giant hooves galloping behind him caught his attention.

"You're not going anywhere!" Vala shouted.

Ajal turned to see her eyes glowing white, she charge forward with a lance in hand in front of the horse. 'Dammit! Triple Ignition!' Ajal grinned as he focused his spirit to his feet and crouched down.

"Shura's Array, second form! Heaven's charge!" said Vala.

She stabbed forward at Ajal, closing the distance in an instant. Ajal used the first ignition to dash past her and dodge the thrust. The second ignition was used to to dash upwards to the horse's face. The horse's eyes widened and it was about to panic as Ajal jumped in front of it. The final ignition was focused on his right foot as he slammed his foot into the horse's nose. It stumbled off it's two front feet and fell onto it's side, dragging through the grass as a cloud of dust rose around it. 'Dark Passage!' Ajal conjured a scythe and shrouded it in the white and black flames. He looked to the tallest building where Jack and the others should've been. Ajal focused his spirit into his arm as he swung the scythe towards the building with both his hands as he fell into the smoke.

"Shura's Array! Sixth Form!" Oberon and Shina both spoke at the same time from somewhere in the smoke.

Ajal ran from the source of their voices, blindly dashing through the smoke.

"Grelt's Steel!"

'Dark Passage!' Ajal vanished from the field. Reappearing mid air and grasping the scythe, he manipulated the shadow to turn it into a smaller sickle as he hit the building and jabbed the blade into the side of the wall. Ajal breathed in and out as he pulled himself up to a platform on the building near a window, he looked at the field as he steadied his breathing.

"I need to find Jack, but first..."

Ajal looked back to the field before, he noticed the red gorilla in the field earlier, it seemed to be looking at Ajal. It was crouched down with it's hand open, it looked like it was ready to swing something.

"What the- No- Stop, no way..." Ajal uttered in disbelief.

The monkey whipped something, red eyes flew towards the building at a high speed.

"Ugh..." Ajal groaned.

Ajal put his feet against the building, and kicked off as he pulled the sickle out. Vala flew directly at him and the two clashed in mid air. Sparks flew in all directions. Ajal spun in mid air uncontrollably, unable to control where he was going.

"Zetsu!" Vala called as she landed on the black hawk's back.

Ajal fell through the sky, he put his arms to his side to speed up as he dived straight down. He glanced back, she held the jagged black blade above her head as the hawk soared down faster than Ajal. The jagged sword extended and wrapped around Ajal, pulling him to the ground faster.

"You're so damn persistent!" Ajal grunted as he opened his third eye.

'Dark Abyss!' The black and white wave released and the hawk disappeared, as well as the blade. Ajal and Vala both focused their spirits as they fell to the ground. They landed in the wide street, Vala breathed in and out as she got up, blood trailed from her head onto the ground. Ajal grasped the wound on his stomach as it continued to burn.

"You know, I didn't think you we're really one of them at first. But I am definitely mistaken, you are a divine being. Your strength proves so..." Vala praised Ajal.

Ajal looked up at the sky with his back against the ground. He huffed as he got ready for another round, only to notice something in the sky.

"What is that?" Ajal asked as he pointed up.

Vala's eyebrow raised, she looked up and noticed the figure in the sky and she her expression turn to concern. Ajal turned his head to her, and noticed two children standing in an alleyway close to her. She didn't notice them. One had a spiky hair, the other a mushroom cut. Ajal recognized them quickly.

"No... No! Not like this! I won't let you!" Vala shouted while looking up at the figure in the sky.

'Isn't that... those are those two kids who I met when I got here...' Ajal watched them, cower in the alley. One of them had a shiny object in his hand. 'I can't remember their names...' Ajal's expression lit up as he remembered they were connected with the resistance. At that same moment, Andrei ran forward towards Vala.

"Hey!" Ajal quickly rolled onto his front and tried to push himself up. "Look out!" Ajal shouted at Vala.

"Zets-"

Before the queen could summon the black hawk, Andrei stabbed her in the stomach with a knife. His teeth we're grit as he tried to jab the knife further into her stomach. Ajal had a look of disbelief plastered across his face. Vala shoved him away as she stepped back, the blade had gone all the way in. Vala turned to Ajal, she grit her teeth at him as she fell to her knees. Morin and Andrei charged forward once more.

"Damn you Banhu Uunan... Regal..." Vala called.

The red ape appeared and shielded Andrei and Morin with it's body. Vala looked at Ajal, she noticed the confusion on his face, chuckled slightly, and simply smiled.

"Huh?" Ajal didn't understand why.

"Prepare yourselves heathens! Hahaha!" Ajal heard someone's voice echo through the sky from high up above, it was very loud despite sounding far away.

It came from a man falling from the sky, he would land in just a few seconds. He was bald, wore black baggy pants that flapped in the air, on his ankles and waist we're steel rings. The man was just as big as Oberon, but a lot chubbier. However, Ajal noticed something strange behind him. He held a real spine in his hand, and connected to that spine was a bell.

"A bell?"

Ajal glanced at Vala, then back at the man who descended. He fell towards the next street over, Vala lowered her head in defeat. 'What's happening-' A bell tolled on the other side of the building. Ajal felt his legs leave the ground as the force of sound launched every single building around the man outwards. Ajal shielded his face as he watched the building and the street get launched back. Everything in all directions of where the man struck was blown away by an unstoppable force.