Chapter 40: Ajal; Shauran 46th, 344SR; 2:10

The blue rippled skin of the abyssal being glowed as she pushed her body off the ground. The lower mass of torn flesh writhed from burns, split hands oozed viscous green liquids that splattered onto the floor. Smoke raised up from the tips of popping boils, her blood was evaporating in seconds. As the blue hair of the giant being moved out of the way, she coughed up blood. The ragged croaks turned into a twisted wheeze as Terra laughed.

"What powerful friends I have now!" Terra grinned at Ajal.

"You...!" Vala seethed, a beastial grumble spilled from her mouth. "Gotoh!" The white lance appeared in her hand, the guard began to glow, a horizontal line appeared under each of her eyes. "Die!" Vala dashed forward at a lightning fast speeds.

"Huh- AH!" Terra yelped as Vala slammed the lance through the bottom of her jaw and out the other side, ripping her tongue out in the process. "Ah!" Terra cried out in pain, however her voice was a chortled gargle. "Ow ae ouu!" the abyssal being screamed despite the previous attack.

"Look out-" Ajal shouted, but as he did he coughed up blood.

"Don't shout!" Rolo scolded him, "You're still bleeding out right now!"

The queen was completely caught off guard as the possessed Banhu jumped straight up towards her. The abyssal beings tendrils had pierced into his head through the eyes and mouth, and into his ears. The tendrils wrapped around his arm and tightly held Jor's spine. His mouth was roaring with spit flying from his out of it, barbarically.

"Rah!" Banhu stupidly roared with a heroic tone in his voice.

"Tempa!" the queen roared as she grasped the katana. "Shura's array, fourth form!"

Vala vanished, leaving behind blue flames the possessed Banhu struck with the bell. She reappeared a short distance from Tera, Vala lifted her blade and readied to strike. However Banhu glided through the air once more and had already been readying to toll the bell once more. He swung the bell and released a toll of force the moment the queen tried to slash Tera.

"Agh!" Vala grunted as she flew past her target and hit the ground.

Oberon charged forward and raised his palm, dragging her to him and catching her. Spikes sprouted from where she landed, had Oberon not pulled her, she too would've been possessed.

"My queen!" Oberon shouted.

"Oberon?" Vala opened her eyes with tears falling from her eyes.

"Stay strong my queen..." Oberon advised as his teeth rattled in anger.

"Aie!" Terra screamed weakly,.

Spikes shot out of the ground, towards Vala and Oberon. Green lightning crackled across the battle field, before a green javelin was speared from a distance to precisely strike Tera between the eyes.

"Ah!" Terra yelped again.

The spikes came to a stop. 'She's directly controlling the tentacles... Where is she-Where else...' Ajal noticed the back end of the creatures torso had been embedded into the ground. Tendrils floated around the rear end though, defending it from being attacked from above and around. 'It's covering all of it's angles... but I think the queen managed to stop its damn screaming...'

"Banhu!" Iris and Blaize both cried, Blaize's legs shook for a moment. "Let him go!" Blaize screamed as he dragged his blade through the fur on his shoulder and lit the blade on fire.

Blaize raised the blade above his head, Shina's blue hair whipped to the left as her head shot towards Blaize, he was aiming for Banhu and didn't notice. The tendrils around her arm tightened as she bent the knee. Shina and Banhu's body weren't connected by a single tendril, but rather a mass of tendrils coiled together like a cable. 'Did it... Adapt?!'

"Huh-!" Blaize panicked as Shina's possessed body closed the distance.

Iris ran forward and blocked Shina's strike, Blaize stepped past her with his swords raised. Iris pushed her blade against Shina and knocked her back, but to both of their surprise the royal guards arm twisted and swung the sword, dragging the body behind it lifelessly.

"Eh!", "Huh!" Iris and Blaize both hesitated.

Shina whispered something quickly and suddenly jumped with a flip, slashing all around her.

"Rgh!" Blaize grunted after getting slashed once through the shoulder, and dodging a stab to the face.

Iris dodged each slash, but wasn't prepared for Banhu to soar forward from the left and strike with his bell. "Ah!" Iris yelped as she was launched off her feet.

Shina's right arm and the right side of her face glowed, blue symbols formed as she activated Ginpa's fang. The queen was grimacing with wide eyes at the sight of Shina, her teeth rattled as she seethed with a hatred. Avery was frozen in place, unsure of what to do as her friend walked towards her lifelessly. Rolo stopped and set Ajal down, they we're a decent distance from the battlefield. 'Dammit, I underestimated this thing... But it's on the ropes! We can-'

"Ack!" Ajal spat up even more blood, the fatigue dragged him back to one knee, his leg was still healing on the inside, however he lost a lot of blood when he had been stabbed earlier. "Ah!" Ajal struggled to focus his spirit, or breath. "My liver... it got ripped open- Ahagh!" Ajal coughed up blood.

"Huh... Ajal?!" A familiar voice shouted, Ajal glanced over his shoulder and saw Sarah. "Oh my god, you're bleed- Holy-" Sarah shivered.

"Hey! This guy's messed up!" Rolo shouted, "I have to go help, I can't look after him!" Rolo pulled his greatsword off his back and charged back on to the field.

Sarah's black clothes we're torn up and covered in dust, her sleeves ripped off. Her hair was a mess as her wide eyes observed the three wounds dripping blood across Ajal's body. Her mouth quivered as her hands hovered over his body.

"Oh my... What do I- Will you heal?" Sarah asked with a worried expression.

"Yeah, I just... Need a minute- Ah!" Ajal winced again, "you shouldn't be here..." Ajal advised.

"Yeah, I see that! But... There's something I need to tell-"

"Aa- a uuwea-" Terra tried to form words with the missing mouth as if she wasn't missing a mouth.

Spikes shot out of the ground towards, Ajal and Sarah. 'Shit! I can't-' Zeus landed in front of Ajal, the flowing cape around his back stretched and extended. It formed into spikes of its own and pierced the ground in the path of the approaching spikes.

"Aa!" Terra gurgled on blood, a fury in her eyes was locked on Ajal.

"Hah! I saved you this time idiot!" Zeus shouted.

"You..." Ajal stuttered, "thank you..."

"When am I supposed to strike that thing! I thought you said something about me landing the finishing blow!"

"Abyssal beings have a core... We need to find it, it's most likely in that massive body..." Ajal pointed to the abyssal beings torso, a plump mass of arms and tendrils.

Banhu conjured his weapon in hand. The tentacle in his arm spread to his hands and reinforced his grip. The tendrils in his back and legs lifted him up.

"Oh no... Run!" Ajal panic'd as he noticed Banhu soared forward at them.

Banhu flew towards them and smashed the ground. The toll echoed out, launching rubble in all directions.

"Aie!" Terra screamed at Ajal.

Ajal pushed himself up, his muscles burned. 'I can't keep this up... but it's not like I have a choice here...' The bell's toll came closer as Banhu's rabid yelling approached, the bell dragged through the ground behind him. Wherever Banhu was lifelessly dragged, destruction was left in his wake.

"She-" Ajal felt a rage build within him, "She's using his body like a weapon!"

A white flash lit up the sky, and in a single moment a figure flew towards Banhu. Angela raised her sword, aiming for the tendrils connecting Banhu to the abyssal being. She cleaved through the mass of tendrils.

"Huh?!" Angela gasped as her blade was lodged into the cable made from tendrils.

Banhu roared and swung his arm right around, smacking the noble across the face and knocking her away. Her blade ripped out of the cable, a decent chunk of her mask smashed off, revealing the icy blonde woman's jagged grit teeth. She slammed on foot into the ground in order to keep her upright. She stepped forward with blood leaking down her head. Another swing of the sword cleaved through flesh, but it was too thick. Banhu rose the bell above his head.

"Yycan! Save her!" Zeus ordered desperately.

The cape quickly shot forward towards Angela and wrapped around her arm. As the bell came down she held one ear with the blade she held her sword. A toll echoed outwards. The cape whipped Angela towards Zeus, she tumbled against the ground as the bell's force drove her into the ground.

Zeus caught Angela, his feet dragged back. Banhu's arm squirted blood from the sides as the possessed commander spun the spine with one hand.

"Look out!" Ajal shouted.

Zeus looked up to see Banhu jump forward with the bell once more. Zeus turned around and shielded Angela. However the bells toll launched the boy off his feet, the noble and her lieutenant tumbled over the ground. Banhu continued forward, his arm gushing blood as he continued to spin the spine with one hand.

"Shit! Dodge-" Ajal shouted but was cut off as blood filled his mouth.

Banhu aimed for Angela. Zeus quickly got up and ran at Banhu, he raised his arms to defend the noble. 'No!' Banhu readied his swing, the bell soared above his head. A flapping cape above Ajal and Sarah caused them both to look up as a man in white with a blonde ponytail lunged forward with a strange sword. He got between Zeus and Banhu, and held his blade up to block, Ajal squinted at its shape. The guard was a large oval parallel to the six foot blade, it almost resembled a greatsword, 'What the hell is that?!'

"Rah!" Banhu struck the strange weapon.

The bell tolled, however it sounded strange, even stranger was Banhu being blasted away by it. 'He reflected the attack?!' Banhu's arm and leg we're ripped off by the force which ricocheted back towards him. The spine landed a short distance away, even without a weapon the tendrils pushed Banhu's body forward.

"Fire Magic, Great Fireball!" an unknown voice shouted.

A massive ball of flame flew over Ajal, striking Banhu. Ajal looked to his left and saw a five foot tall girl, her red hair reached past her shoulders. She wore a grey robe and looked considerably young, her white pants was reminiscent of what the angels wore. She held two wooden scepters, currently pointing one of them that had a large red orb towards Banhu. She lowered that scepter and raised the other.

"Disparity Addition!" the little girl yelled once more with both hands on her wooden scepter with a T shaped end.

'Disparity what?' The ball of flame burst into a bright light in front of Banhu, he jumped backwards. As the flame fell a tall blonde man with a pony tail and strange white clothes jumped up with a massive sword. The already split tendrils burned off, and Banhu's body fell lifelessly.

"Woah..." Sarah stuttered.

Ajal looked at the young female angel with a surprised expression, 'I've only seen Aria and Kadyr use magic like that... That was extremely good...' The blonde swordsmen who deflected Banhu sighed as he turned around, the insignia on his chest was that of a sword with an eye on the guard. The red haired girls grey robe also had the insignia, 'They're... both Lightbringers?'

"Zeus!" the girl ran forward with a worried expression.

"Nova?" Zeus replied with a surprised, almost hopeful tone.

Nova hugged Zeus and sighed a breath of relief. "Are you alright!"

"Zeus!", "Captain!" three more voices spoke up and ran towards the two angels of house Rover.

The three who ran forward we're angels, their outfits had blue edges. One of them was a woman with light brown hair, light skin and big eyes. She was the tallest of the three. Another had a shaggy mess of blonde hair, and was considerably skinny. The third had chocolate colored skin and short black hair, he was well built and just under the woman's height.

"Kiril... Leo..." Zeus groaned at the woman and the man with a combover. "Oh, Ando!" however he smiled to greet the third.

"What's with that tone..." Leo asked with an annoyed face.

"Zeus... You idiot..." Angela seethed.

"Huh?" Zeus turned to her.

"What'd this moron do now..." Kiril knelt down next to Angela and observed her wounds.

"You idiot you almost died! Don't try to save me just run!" Angela scolded him.

"Huh?" Leo and Kiril both looked at Zeus.

"What do you mean?! You would've done the same!" Zeus shouted back.

Ando sighed, "Well, at least we're all still alive..." Ando placed a hand on Zeus's shoulder.

"Hey... What the hell..." Ajal was at a loss for words observing Nova's aura. "You're also an ethereal," Ajal weakly stood.

"What do you mean, what is an ethereal?" Nova asked. "Who are you?"

"That's the off worlder..." Angela answered.

"Him?" Nova looked surprised for a moment.

"Then arrest him after this Angela, thanks," the blonde haired swordsmen ordered.

"Hey... Who do you think you're giving orders too Lawrence..."

"What the situation here... What is that thing?" Lawrence asked lazily.

Angela sighed, "classic Lightbringers..." Angela muttered as she shook her head.

"That's an abyssal being... If we don't kill it, it's gonna keep growing and kill everything..." Ajal answered.

"Abyssal being?" Lawrence repeated with a puzzled tone.

"It's a creature born after the fall of a celestial..."

Lawrence eyebrow raised as he glanced at Ajal over his shoulder, he turned back to Tera. 'Huh?' The Lightbringers spirit barely reacted to the notion that a celestial had fallen. Lawrence didn't reply, he looked up as another green bolt struck Tera. Avery was delivering heavy fire with each green bolt, they exploded on impact and caused lasting damage. Tera's eyes glowed behind the smoke, she was tracking Avery's movement. Avery landed and took a stance, spinning the green bolt around and holding it above her shoulder.

"Die!" Avery cried as she was about to throw the bolt, however Shina's body flew towards her.

The green bolt of lightning left her hand as Avery whipped it. Shina's katana glowed blue as she slashed with the blunt end, creating a blue line in the air which expanded vertically.

"Dammit!" Avery grunted as she formed another bolt in hand.

Shina's mouth chanted something silently as she raised her blade overhand and took a stance. Avery froze. Shina dashed forward with her sword ready to thrust. Avery jumped out of the way as Shina flew past her and struck the rubble, a blast of force from her stab launched the rubble away.

"You bitch!" Avery cried as she aimed for the cable of tendrils. "Let her go!"

However the cable moved like a massive tendril itself and dragged across the ground, smashing into Avery and slamming her body through even more rubble.

"Agh!" the brown haired women grunted.

Shina jumped high into the air, raised the blade overhead as she soared for Avery once more. Oberon defended Avery, the axe and Shina's blade struck each other, their steel grinded. The possessed swordswomen pulled her blade back and swung hard. Oberon backed up, swinging his axe around and trying to strike the tendrils around her. However Shina continued to swing wildly, her arm twisted and cracked as it bent to swing again. Terra pulled Shina back as the queen approached. Vala jumped from above and tried to slash through the tendrils. But Shina's body was dragged away. Vala missed and grit her teeth as she hit the ground and charged for Terra.

"Damn fiend! You bring disgrace to the body and mind of our comrades!" Oberon roared in a rage.

'There's too much going on... This all stops once we kill that thing!' Ajal pushed himself up, his wounds we're still healing, they we're still in pain. Terra's body raised upright once more, her broken jaw bone spread as she readied to scream.

"Ah shit! Cover your ears!" Ajal warned.

"Azure Rain! Grand Fall!" A loud voice echoed through the abyss.

Terra's eyes widened as she looked up. Everyone including Ajal looked up to the black sky, he noticed a robed figure holding a golden scepter. 'Who is...' Flying right past the figure, a blue orb with a trail of ethereal energy behind it dropped through the sky. It struck Terra's barrier. Another figure in mid air spread their bright blue wings.

"Azur Rain!" Pellets of blue energy showered over the abyssal being.

"Another?!" Ajal shouted as the third ethereal flew through the darkness.

"Yami!" Zeus and Nova both shouted with glee.

Yami separated from the pair of wings sprouting off his back. A blue eagle continued to fly over whilst raining the blue pellets of energy over the battlefield. Yami landed in front of Zeus and Nova, he wore a black shirt and baggy blue pants. Terra was forced to defend from the continuous attack. Ajal observed the aura of the three angels. 'No way... Is this fate?!' Ajal thought as he looked at Yami's aura.

"Alexander's recruit?!" Angela whispered to herself. "What are you doing here?! What happened to Alexander?"

"He's not here? Not even Vivian or Bruno?!" Yami asked.

"Where did you just come from?" Lawrence asked.

"I went to Dorad to warn the hybrids of the resistance, Alexander stayed behind to save Vivian and Bruno from..." Yami turned to the sky, he looked left and right in confusion for a moment. "Huh? Where did he go?"

Ajal looked back up to the sky, the figure holding the golden scepter was gone. 'Huh?'

"He's gone..." said Yami, "that guy's gone... Whatever he's not important... " Yami shook his head. "Dorad was attacked by the resistance! I had to help them, but then we all saw the pillar of light above Andurill... What the hell happened?!"

"Nevermind that, we need to slay that thing!" Angela pointed her claymore to the abyssal being.

"This works for us..." Ajal weakly stood and limped forward, he used a black staff made from the shadow to support his weight.

"Should you really be standing..." Lawrence asked.

"Yeah! Ajal you need to stay down!" Sarah advised.

"I have no choice... Spirit Manipulation..." Ajal ignited his spirit at his heart, his blood started to pump faster.

"What was that? Spirit Manipulation?" Nova asked.

"I have no time to explain either... You three. When I expose the core, you have to land the final blow..."

Oberon was on the defensive, he blocked Shina's wild swings using the flat end of his axe. The possessed Shina ran parallel to him as he tried to make some distance. Shina's face remained ghoulish, Oberon seethed the more he looked at the royal guard. The moment one leapt forward so did the other.

"Roku's Array! Fourth form!" Blaize roared with blood spilling from his mouth, "Wild Frenzy!" he swung his blades wildly, sending flaming slashes for the tendrils holding Shina.

The tendrils shifted and bent to perfectly dodge. 'It's adapting to how we fight!' Vala slid under the tendril and ran straight forward for Terra. The abyssal being saw her coming, 'It's adapting and recognizes whose the biggest threat... But... It's not trying to kill the ethereals... It doesn't know it's own weakness!' Tendrils shot after her, Vala showed no hesitation, running forward with the wavy edged blade.

"Boros!" Vala called as she jumped.

A bright green light flashed as Vala landed on Boros's head, the snake slithered quickly. Terra raised her arm and tried to slam her severed wrist into the snake which continued to dodge the tendrils at lightning fast speeds. The snake suddenly pulled it's head back as Terra's other forearm slammed in front of it, then lunged and wrapped around the arm.

The tentacles we're about to reach the snake as hundreds reached for Vala in an attempt to stop her assault.

"Regal!" Vala roared as the bolt shaped greatsword appeared in her hands.

The queen grasped the bolt shaped greatsword with both hands and a vicious glare, red lightning crackled off the blade as she made a wide swing. Dragging the massive sword through the abyssal beings arm, and slashing up through her face.

"Ah!" the abyssal being cried.

Ajal let go of Sarah as he looked down at Oberon who continued to hold Shina back. Zeus approached Ajal from behind.

"What's your plan, dumb?" Zeus asked calmly.

"The abyssal being needs to die, the only people who can deal the finishing strike is an ethereal. However," Ajal pointed up towards Vala.

A torrent of green blood sprayed across the battlefield. Vala jumped off the back of Terra's shoulder, as she descended upside down, the tentacles shot after her.

"Gotoh! Shura's Array!" Vala let out a cry of rage as the lance appeared in her hand. "Rending Thrust!"

Vala roared as a white glint shot straight through the back of Terra's neck, beheading the abyssal being. The white glint shot across the battlefield. Vala landed a short distance from Ajal and the angels. Terra's head spun in the air before crashing into a building.

"Holy shit..." Angela uttered in shock.

Blood spilled from the creatures chest, it's headless body attempted to close the wound despite having no hands. Vala cracked her neck.

"Tempa..." she seethed, before charging back in once more.

"The queen and the hybrids are doing well keeping it busy... Hey... You're an ethereal, and you can use magic. What are your affinities?" Ajal asked Nova.

"Affinities?" Zeus asked with a confused tone.

"Soul Magic, Light and Fire is easy for me as well..." Nova answered.

'Huh... Seriously... A triple affinity?! An ethereal at her age? ' Ajal was surprised to hear that. "So you can use fire and light as well then... And this idiot can make weapons with his gift..."

"Which idiot?" Zeus asked, unaware that Ajal referred to him.

"That'd be you..." Lawrence quietly answered as he stood by with his arms crossed. "So these three have to land the final blow?" He glanced at Nova.

"Yeah, that blade of yours can help us get close. How strong is your strongest spell?" Ajal turned to Nova.

"Rah!" Shina shouted with drool spilling from her lips.

"Come to your senses Shina! Fight it! You're-" Oberon deflected another slash. "You lead the royal guard! You-"

Shina took a stance, holding her blade with one hand, the other was bent out of place after being broken earlier. Her mouth moved as if she said something. 'What the-'

"You-" Oberon stood still in shock. "That's... Shura's..."

'That stance-' Ajal had seen the clan leaders use Shura's Array many times, but to see the possessed body take a stance horrified him. 'Her memories are assimilating with the abyssal being!' She flew forward like a puppet on strings and slashed Oberon's chest. Chunks of his armor fell off as he quickly reached into the air for the battle axe in a desperate attempt to survive.

"Rah!" Rolo screamed as he went for the cable of tendril attached to Shina.

Rolo wasn't ready for the entire tendril to move around him and coil around his body tightly. It tightened around him and his expression turned from rage to panic.

"Guh!" Rolo struggled, the tendril tightened even more. He let go of his greatsword, "Ah!" Rolo cried.

Shina's body rose in the air like the head of a snake looking down at Rolo. The katana rose above her head.

"Rolo no!" Oberon shouted.

Vala and each of the clan leaders froze as they looked to where they heard the cry. The sound of whirling flame approached, as two bright wheel's of flame spun towards Shina.

"Roku's Array! Fifth Form!" Blaize shouted while twirling both his flaming katanas. "Beasts bane!" he jumped forward and sliced Shina's hand and the tendrils binding her arm off.

"Gah!" Shina's possessed body screamed as both of it's hands were sliced off with a searing hot slash.

Blaize stopped in his tracks and turned, he lunged forward, stabbing his blade in Shina's heart, pinning her body to the cable of tendrils. The tentacles burned, Shina struggled and writhed violently.

"Iris!" Blaize called at the top of his lungs.

"Roku's Array, Sixth Form!" Iris shouted as she jumped from the top of a building.

Iris spun through the air for a downward swing towards the tendril. Her horns glowed a bright red.

"Grelt's Rain!" Iris roared as she pierced halfway through the cable of tendrils. "Raaah!" Iris screamed as she pushed the blade once more with a spirit ignition, cleaving the cable of tendrils completely.

"They did it!" Ajal gasped, "Huh..." Ajal touched his hand to his side, the wound had closed.

Blaize pulled his swords out of Shina's corpse. Ajal watched wisps of smoke rise from her body, collecting into a ball above her. As it increased in size, it glowed with a bright yellow light, almost white. Ajal clenched his fist hard enough to draw blood. Rolo and Oberon walked towards her body, but they both fell to their knees hopelessly as they watched her lay lifeless.

"Why did you help me..." Iris grit her teeth as she looked down at the captain of the royal guard.

Ajal inhaled through his nose for several seconds before he let out a deep breath. The struggling monster in the background had created a wall using its tendrils in order to heal.

"We have to end this... We're doing it now!" Ajal declared as he walked forward and drew two scythes.

Lawrence pulled the large blade off his back. The cape around Zeus began to shift and twist into a large blade. Nova grasped her white wooden staff and a red fox appeared on her shoulder, it's eyes glowed a bright red, a crimson aura surrounded her staff and spiraled to the end. Zeus raised his hand in the air. The white cape took the form of a wolf's head around his arm, with a large blade coming out of its mouth. Nova held her staff tightly, her hair rose. Yami conjured a burgundy colored staff and spun it, a blue blade formed at the end and turned the weapon from a staff into a glaive.

"Solid Light Magic - Sword of Yycan," Nova's red energy surrounded the staff and collected at the end.

The red aura formed a long red blade at the end of the staff, converting her magic channeling scepter into a spear. The bottom of the spear was fixed a short distance from the end of the staff, two flat wings were fixed as well in between that gap. Zeus's eyes danced between his own weapon and Nova's.

"Did you copy mine?" Zeus asked.

"Yeah, I tried to make it look like yours so I named it after Yycan..."

'She made the ability on the spot? This'll work... We can do it!' Ajal felt hopeful, "Okay, let's go... Dark Passage," the black and white aura engulfed Ajal's scythes.

He stabbed one on the ground as he crouched forward, the pain still ached across his body, and the internal wounds in his abdomen still healed. Ajal started forward with a sprint before he spun around, his feet dragged against the ground as he whipped the scythe, throwing it a spin. It twirled through the air above Terra. Lawrence tilted his head.

"What are you aiming at?" the Lightbringer asked.

"Zeus, Nova, and Yami we're your names, right?" Ajal asked. "You can fly," Ajal pointed at Yami.

"Yeah, and?" Yami asked.

"Don't. I'll get you three closer, wait here... and stay ready," Ajal ordered.

Lawrence raised an eyebrow as Ajal conjured another scythe. The scythe spun through the air to the right of the abyssal being, curving slightly to the left as it spun upwards. Terra glanced up as she saw it fly over the wall of tendrils.

"Get ready... I'm going to find it's core..." Ajal warned as he held the scythe with his teeth.

Yami turned to Zeus and Nova, "Who is this guy?"

'Dark Passage!' Ajal teleported to the scythe above Terra.

Ajal grasped the other scythe, he put his arms to the side as he dived through the sky quickly. Ajal focused his spirit to his feet. Terra was on her side still, the abyssal being's headless body turned towards Ajal. 'It still senses me...' Ajal spun as he approached the ground, spinning his scythes in both hands. The tendrils defending the rear all shot for him.

"Imperial Execution Arts! Guillotine!" Ajal roared as he ignited his spirit to spin faster, fast enough to create rhythm in the air.

Terra's entire body shivered as Ajal sliced through each tentacle. Ajal's feet slammed into the ground, he took a deep breath as he lunged forward. The pain in his arm and leg could still be felt, and his kidney wasn't even fully healed. Blood dripped down the side of Ajal's mouth as he continued to collect his breath.

"Rah!" Ajal roared.

'I have to depend on them, and-' Ajal dashed forward and cleaved through the flash, Terra continued to writhe. 'They're depending on me!' Ajal switched his grip with both hands and cut vertically through the flesh. One blade got stuck, Ajal let go and immediately started slicing even more. The hands from Terra's torso reached down and grasped Ajal.

"Ach- Aaaah!" Ajal roared as his third eye glowed a bright purple. "Dark Blast!" he fired the purple beam directly at the open flesh.

The beam burned through the hands holding Ajal, he felt his body weaken as he lost his breath.

"Dark Assault!" Ajal roared even louder as six scythes appeared around him.

Ajal grasped the scythes one by one and swung, ripping and tearing flesh, tendrils, bone, anything which got in his way. 'Keep going!' Ajal commanded his body to keep going, his eyes felt like they we're splitting horizontally from the middle. Each joint where his bones connected ached in pain. Ajal grabbed the last two scythes and swung down, Terra's blood sprayed out of the cuts. The green liquid hit Ajal's face, it was hot, it burned his skin as it evaporated into a gas almost immediately after being spilled.

"Get back off worlder!" Vala shouted as she landed behind him.

"Huh-" Ajal turned and saw the queens eyes flash blue.

"Shura's Array! Fourth Form!" Vala chanted as she dashed forward. "Prism Slash!"

Ajal watched as Vala began tearing through the flesh, he breathed in deeply as he ran forward and joined her. The two cleaved through the flesh of the being, Terra's body writhed and struggled, but suddenly it lifted. As the abyssal being lifted above them, chunks of hanging red flesh fell along with ample amounts of green blood. As it lifted, Ajal witnessed Rolo at the left, he was looking towards the beings body. Ajal gulped as he saw Oberon underneath lifting it by the severed neck.

"Rah!" Oberon roared as he threw the being into the air with his bare hands.

Ajal ran forward, flaming slashes struck the Terra's torso from the right. The slashes split straight through her and ruptured even more of the flesh.

"Die you damn fiend!" Blaize cursed as he swung his swords repeatedly.

A green bolt of lightning struck Tera from behind, an explosion rippled in the air, green electricity crackled in the sky. Avery created another bolt as Ajal glanced towards her.

"How dare you do that to Shina!" Avery cried as she released another bolt.

"Elrin!" Vala sprinted forward until she was underneath the creature. "Shura's Array! Sixth Form!"

Ajal looked up in awe as the massive brown furred moose was standing on two legs. The behemoth towered above Terra as it stomped it's front feet down. The abyssal beings body was driven straight back down into the ground. 'Now!' Ajal conjured six scythes around him.

Terra's speechless body was struck by the hoof, her entire body angled downwards.

"Grelt's Steel!" Vala roared as she jumped and made an upward swing with the wide short sword.

Terra's body hit the ground once again.

"Dark Assault!" Ajal sent the six scythes forward, each rending straight through the remaining flesh.

The sound of the scythe hitting a hard object caused everyone's expression to light up. As the smoke and dripping blood fell, a green light could be seen glowing behind what flesh remained.

"Dark passage!"

Ajal teleported back to where the ethereals we're standing by. He appeared at the scythe he left. His breath was ragged and uneven, he felt even more pain in his abdomen.

"Agh!" Ajal grunted.

"Hey... How did you do that?" Nova asked with a puzzled expression. "You have a gift which allows you to teleport?"

"I'll tell you later!" Ajal took a deep breath as he picked up the scythe he left behind.

'Dark Passage!' Once more, Ajal started forward and spun, swinging the scythe towards Terra.

"Okay... You're target... Is the glowing green thing in the center of it's body..." Ajal slowly turned around, he felt like falling.

Ajal knelt down and placed his palms on the shadow. Zeus held his blade up with both hands. Yami's grip on his staff tightened. Nova took a deep breath. 'It's almost over... Dark Passage!' Ajal felt a hint of excitement at the thought of finally being able to rest. The shadows moved around them, surrounding Yami, Zeus, Nova and Lawrence.

"What the..." Lawrence looked around at the wall of shadows.

Nova, Yami, and Zeus held their weapons ready. The black sphere bursted as they all found themselves directly above the abyssal being.

"What!" Zeus shouted as his feet dangled..

"He-" Nova shrieked as she started to fall.

Lawrence straightened his arms and accelerated through the air. Ajal grasped his scythe, 'Spirit Ignition!' he kicked the air and started to soar down as well. Terra raised her arms up in a pathetic attempt to stop the incoming attack.

Multiple hands from the abyssal beings torso started to extend upwards. Ajal spun and sliced them, he severed each limb, any he missed Lawrence cleaved with his greatsword. Green blood splattered across Ajal's face as the sickening sound of flesh being rend echoed through his eardrums. Terra's body writhed inhumanly, it desperately struggled. Zeus's blade was at least fifteen feet in length, Nova had modelled hers with a similar length. Yami's wings sprouted from his back as he flew in front, raising his pole arm forward and jabbing it straight into the core. A crackle could be heard.

"Keep going!" Ajal shouted.

Nova and Zeus swung their massive blades down towards her, their blades cleaved straight through her arms. They didn't reach the core.

"Shit!" Zeus cursed.

The scent of rotting apples filled their noses, like a concentrated cider, the blood on his face made his head throb. 'Just die!' He opened his third eye, and it started to glow.

"Yami get back! Dark Blast!" Ajal roared.

Yami quickly flew out of the way, as Ajal's blast engulfed himself and the abyssal being. Smoke launched in all directions as the battlefield was lit purple. Tendrils that grew back we're flying straight for Nova and Zeus who we're blown back by the force of the blast. 'Shit- It realized the Ethereals are a threat!' Lawrence landed and swung his blade he dragged his blade through a heap of tendrils.

"Pierce the heart!" Ajal screamed as he continued to burn Terra in an inferno of plasma.

"Rah!" Zeus stood up and ran ahead.

'If I activate the dark abyss, their abilities will vanish as well...' Tendrils pierced Ajal's back. 'Agh- Keep- Going!'

Nova stood up slowly, she wasn't as physically capable as everyone else. But she grit her teeth and charged forward with her weapon pointed forward.

"Keep her there!" Iris shouted as she charged forward.

Lawrence noticed Iris' approach, he ran for the other side of the being.

"Roku's Array! Third Form!" Iris announced as she jumped into the air.

"Seven Wings!" Lawrence announced an attack as well.

Lawrence took a stance with his greatsword held low, ready to swing upwards with all his might. Iris her blade directly at Terra's shoulder. The horns glowed red with a similar colored smoke flowing off of it.

"Pinpoint Devastation!" Iris roared as she stabbed her blade perfectly through Terra's shoulder blade and pinned one arm to the ground.

"Icarus Rising!" Lawrence roared as he swung upwards and cut even more tendrils off.

"Ah!" Zeus roared as he jumped forward and stabbed his blade into the core.

Tendrils immediately flew for him, Lawrence dashed in between them and held the greatsword ready to block. Each tendril struck the blade, then ricocheted off into the opposite direction.

Yami flew back in and tried slashing the core with the edge of his glaive. Another crack rippled through the air as Nova jumped and slashed the core as well.

"Go!" Ajal screamed at the top of his lungs.

Nova, Yami and Zeus screamed with all their might as they each tried to push the blades further through the dense core. A satisfying crack echoed through the abyss. The ethereals stumbled as the resistance vanished. Terra's core broke into multiple distinct pieces. An echoing shriek filled the abyss. Ajal recognized the hollow cry, it was similar to the abyssal being he had destroyed on Imperion. Terra's arms fell lifelessly onto the floor.

"Hah... We did it... We did it!" Zeus cheered.

Ajal turned around, he still stood on it's corpse. But as he did he was surprised to notice a golden figure rise from the remains of the abyssal being. 'The soul... But...' Ajal had never seen the soul of a being take the form a person, they usually resembled a ball of light. A bright figure of a little girl and a smaller child holding hands. The woman resembled Terra, but the little boy next to her was new. Ajal squinted as he noticed the two of them smiling, they squinted before they began to fade into the air. Ajal felt all of the fatigue at once, he fell off the abyssal beings torso and rolled onto the ground. 'The abyss will take some time to fade... Especially one of this size...'

"Thanks idiot," Zeus thanked Ajal.

"Stop calling me an idiot... I have a name," Ajal sighed as he looked up and breathed in and out.

"You... Why did you help me? I tried to cut off your leg earlier."

"I punched you for that already" Ajal reminded him.

"It was a lucky hit..."

"What does that have to do with this?" Ajal asked Zeus.

The hybrids who had been controlled by Terra began to writhe, the giant skeletons started to scream. Now that Terra was dead, their control was broken, however they would not survive. Hybrid and resistance soldiers tried to tend to anyone they could, however a sudden cursing drew his attention.

"Kill the hybrids! Now! While they are weakened!" A descendant of Tyra shouted.

"Slay the queen!" several more roared.

Vala glared at Iris who had simply walked away towards the building Banhu crashed through earlier.

"Shut your mouths you dishonorable fools!" Blaize cursed. "You dare call yourselves descendants of Tyra! Then tend to our injured brothers, I refuse to allow the dead to rest here!"

"Nice... I wouldn't be able to stop them any more..." Ajal sighed, he tried to stand but his whole body ached.

Oberon approached Vala who was sitting down. The queen was out of breath as well.

"How many of our people we're lost?" Vala asked.

Oberon looked down, he pulled off his helmet and sat next to her.

"I lost count a while ago..." Oberon answered.

Vala shook her head. "Arken was right... He was always right..."

"My queen..."

Blaize noticed Vala say this, but he didn't say anything. He pulled his blades out of the ground and sheathed them. Vala stood up as the resistance commander approached.

"Let's agree to a cease fire?" Blaize offered. "Geral would probably be upset about this... Even if he had seen what happened here... I don't care... That guy didn't even show up..." Blaize replied.

"I am willing to spare who's here, but I am only willing to tend to our own. We are not allies in any way, don't forget, however if you were to tell me what Geral's plan was, I might reconsider..." Vala gave Blaize an intense glare.

"Geral? Geral attacked Dorad... He was there, I saw him..." Yami mentioned.

"What?!" Oberon and Vala both whipped their heads towards Yami.

"Dorad? We didn't plan to attack Dorad?" Blaize replied.

"What?" Vala tilted her head.

"We specifically targeted Andurill, Geral told us to wait for all of our forces but we waited for an hour and he didn't show up. Then that kid showed up, Jack... Wasn't he on Geral's orders?"

"What..." Ajal quickly shot up, then scrambled to his feet and ran towards Blaize and Vala. "Jack?! You saw Jack?"

Blaize and Vala both squinted in confusion, so did Oberon.

"Why do you know Jack? You're not even from this planet..." said Blaize.

"Is he alive-"

"Ajal!" Sarah ran out of the building. "I tried to tell you earlier but I forgot! Jack is- Jack..." Sarah froze, unsure of how to say the next part.

"Jack is what? What happened to Jack-"

The black edge of the abyss disintegrated and revealed the surrounding chasm. The abyss was no longer obscuring the ruins of the city they battled on. Massive temples and strangely shaped buildings made of green withered stone stood tall all around them. The sun shone down into the chasm. Above the surface, the tops of buildings peaked over the edge of the rubble.

An encore of skeletal roars filled the air and everyone's spine had leapt out of their backs. Ajal turned immediately to see massive skeletons and small skeletons as far as the eye could see. 'Huh...' A giant platform was carried by four giants, with heads clad in gold armor, they were significantly bigger than the tallest skeletons and lacked any visible bone. Logorite grew from their chests.

"Shit..." Vala muttered under her breath.

"What the hell!?" Ajal asked.

"The Damned!" said Vala.

There were multiple figures on the platform being carried on the shoulders of giants we're all too far away to see. 'Those giants are at least fifteen feet tall... and they aren't skeletons... Their limbs almost look like wood... Just like...' Ajal remembered the skin on the body of the abyssal being.

"All forces! Retreat, we are in no condition for a battle like this!" Vala cried.

The giants walked forward bringing the gondola towards them, as they got closer Ajal focused on the person sitting on the throne. 'Is that their leader?' She stood up and walked forward. A large number of thuds echoed through the air, all of the skeletons had knelt down at once.

"All hail Queen Xenia!" each of the surrounding forces shouted,

"She's still alive..." Vala whispered.

The gondola lowered as the giants knelt down, the ground shook as their knees touched the floor, Ajal's eyes widened. 'Jack...?' Ajal's friend, the non-unified he tried to help stood on the gondola, along with multiple other people that wore strange clothing or armor.

Jack was shirtless, he only wore black pants, his hands stained red with blood and he had a few wounds. His hair was a mess and his face was dirty, he looked down at Ajal and Sarah with wide eyes.

"Jack..." Sarah uttered in shock.

Ajal glanced at Sarah, 'What the hell happened...'

"Magnificent, truly magnificent!" Xenia congratulated with raised arms and a voice that projected over a great distance.

"Oberon... Gather the troops and retreat," Vala ordered as she struggled to stay standing.

"Don't you dare try to leave! Not after the queen has blessed you with such praise!" A bald man with a mask which resembled teeth sat on the steps of the gondola suddenly stood.

"In truth, we came here to battle against the abyssal being as well. It appears that wasn't necessary, despite our hatred for you hybrids and the sin of your shameful betrayal, you've done us a great favor. I'll let you live today. However..." Xenia tilted her head towards the ethereals. "The angels will not receive such mercy, those amongst you will all die here and now. We will march across the surface, and take our rightful kingdom back!" Xenia declared with a tone that meant it.

The skeletons all started to roar and charge forward. Two figures jumped off of the gondola and landed on the ground, the bald man who snapped earlier, and another who wore a dark black trench coat. The one in the black trench coat looked directly at Ajal, and then drew a black scythe. 'What the... That looks like mine?!' He turned to Nova and Zeus who had confused and concerned expressions on their faces.

"Agh-" Ajal tried to move but his body still ached.

He spun the scythe around similar to how Ajal would. As he got closer his eyes were easier to see, green pupils, the outer layer wasn't white, but black. His black hair was curling, and had a greasy shimmer to it. He ran towards Zeus.

"Zeus!" Yami and Nova both shouted.

Ajal noticed Vincent's spirit to focus to his feet, and build up. Ajal focused his spirit in an instant, the bald man seemed to notice, 'Spirit Ignition!' Vincent kicked off the ground and dashed at Zeus, however Ajal got between them and blocked the strike with his own strike.

"Oh!" said Vincent.

"None of them are dying, not while i'm here!" Ajal declared.

Vincent glanced at Oberon and then the scythe in his hand disappeared, 'Huh-' Ajal stumbled forward as a black axe materialized into his hand. 'He can copy weapons!' Vincent swung the axe down diagonally with one hand, Ajal leaned back and it soared past him, piercing into the ground. As he did he noticed the bald one running for Nova and Lawrence. A smile creeped out from under Vincent's collar as he lifted the axe and swung horizontally at Ajal. 'Dark Abyss!' The black and white wave released from Ajal's third eye, the axe disappeared, Ajal spun and brought his leg up for a kick to the head. Vincent quickly raised his arms, 'Spirit Ignition!' Ajal's back foot struck Vincent and broke right through his guard, launching him towards the army of skeletons. The other turned with wide eyes as he saw that.

"Ah!" Ajal winced in pain, he knelt down.

Ajal flipped his scythe around and crouched down. 'Double Ignition!' He dashed forward and swung his scythe down at the other, however in a single moment, a knight in black armor stopped Ajal.

'Huh!' The knight had a black skull helmet, his armor was large and jagged. Green flames spilled from his collar and engulfed his head in a ghoulish inferno. Ajal pushed the scythe forward, but the knight didn't budge. 'What the-' He held a green greatsword with one hand, a green blade which oozed heat.

"That greatsword-"

The knight pushed his blade, Ajal felt his feet lift the floor.

"Huh?!" Ajal grit his teeth.

"Spirit Ignition..." the knight chanted as he swung his blade upwards and launched Ajal.

'Huh!' Ajal flew back towards a building, crashing through the wall. Ajal struggled to get up, the pain was unbearable, he was on the verge of passing out.

"Alexander... Rael..." Vala uttered with a worried shock as she looked up at the knight with the green greatsword.

"What?" Nova and Lawrence both turned to her.

Ajal's eyes widened. The black skull helmet vanished and revealed a pale face which resembled that of Alexander Rael. However his skin was much more pale, the white in his eyes now black and and green flames rose from his skin.

"Alexander Rael is dead... Oaraun has returned," the bald man with dark skin stated.

Vala looked up at Alexander with shaking eyes.

"What's wrong Vala," Oaraun walked forward. "It's been so long since we last saw each other... You've grown..."

"You're- You're back to normal..."

"The last time you saw me like this, must have been ages ago... The hybrids have become powerful, you're nothing like what you we're in the past. But how did you come to obtain that power," Oaraun asked.

"I..."

Oberon stood between Vala and Oberon. He was visibly shaking. As Oaraun stepped closer, Oberon lunged forward. Oaraun simply dodged, then struck Oberon's side with the back of his hand.

"Agh!" Oberon grunted as he tumbled against the ground.

"Oberon!" Vala cried.

"He's not important," Oaraun grasped her collar and pulled her up off the ground. "You obtained that power by betraying the Ammonian race... Right..."

Vala looked at Oaraun with a frightened expression.

"Right?!" Oaraun shook her. "You envious fools bit the hand that fed you..."

"Unhand her!" Oberon shouted as he lunged forward with his axe raised.

Oaraun through his greatsword with little effort, it soared straight at Oberon.

"Huh!" Oberon raised his axe, however the force of the greatsword knocked him over.

"I..." Vala stuttered.

"Not you, those envious elders, too fattened by the gluttony of power," Oaraun dropped Vala and she fell on her side. "You are simply their herald," Oaraun turned to Lawrence. "Years of my people's suffering has gone unrecognized, the world took my generosity and piled it with their dirt and shit..." Oaraun seethed as he glared at Nova.

"Hey! Stop!" Ajal yelled from a distance.

"After I am done slaying every single angel on this planet, those who allied with them are next. Live out your final days, see the beauty of the sun illuminating the landscapes, spend time with your loved ones, indulge in the various pleasures, experience life's generosity, the experience you stole from us," Oaraun projected his voice, speaking to them all.

"That's... Alexander Rael?" Nova asked Lawrence.

Lawrence's expression was no longer lax, "Yeah... This isn't good..."

Oaraun raised his greatsword into the air and it ignited with green flames. Lawrence got in front of Nova to block the strike. However instead, Yami blocked the strike.

"There's no way that's true! You're not Alexander!" Yami shouted.

"Yami... So you lived..."

"Huh-" Yami's eyes lit up as Oaraun grasped his face.

"You said you wanted to be king, remember," Oaraun reminded him as he dragged him forward.

"Agh!" Yami's head was smashed into the ground, he stumbled into a wall.

"Yami!" Nova cried. "Fire Magic!" she raised her scepter.

"Don't!" Lawrence shouted.

"Great Fireball!" the ethereal roared.

The fire ball struck Oaraun and barely did a thing.

"Disparity addition!" Nova shouted.

The orb didn't explode, but instead was consumed by a larger green flame. "Disparity addition... The seventh natural law of magic, however..." Green flames seeped from Oaraun's skin. "You seem to have forgotten the eighth law?" Oaraun grinned.

Nova's eyes lit up as she realized. Oaraun lifted the massive ball of green flame above his head, it absorbed her attack completely. He stepped forward, Lawrence got in the way to block the fireball, but rather than throwing it directly, Oaraun hit the ground. Lawrence and Nova we're launched off their feet.

"You... Only Alexander would know that..." Yami shivered.

"Vivian and Bruno are alive, I assume that's why you returned here..." Oaraun walked towards Yami. "Rise and fight boy, I still have high hopes for you, don't disappoint me."

"What?!" Yami stuttered, he was losing his will to fight.

Zeus jumped from behind Oaraun, still holding the massive sword.

"Die!" Zeus cursed as he tried to cleave Oaraun's head.

As the blade soared for Oaraun, he simply turned, then caught the blade with his hand.

"Huh?!" Zeus panicked.

A white flash came from the left, Oaraun dropped his greatsword and raised his other hand. Angela flew forward at a high speed and tried to cleave Oaraun as well, only for her blade to be caught.

"The fuck?!" Angela cursed.

"Hello, old friend," Oaraun greeted Angela as he pulled Zeus around by the blade and smashed him into the noble.

"Agh!" Zeus and Angela both grunted.

Oaraun walked towards them as his blade lit up with a green flame, he raised it above his head.

"I said I won't let you!" Ajal roared and caught Oaraun's attention.

'Spirit Ignition!' Ajal's spirit focused into his legs as he leapt off the building. Oaraun turned the moment before Ajal could slash him. The two weapons struck each other, the force of their spirits clashing sent everything around them flying.

"Divine being of Imperion!" Oaraun grinned excitedly.

"Oaraun!" the bald man shouted.

"Stay back Dariel! All of you stay back!" Oaraun stepped forward and pushed Ajal back. "He's far beyond your strength"

'Agh- My wounds from the last battles...' Ajal focused, 'Spirit Manipulation!'

"You focused your spirit into your heart to increase your physical abilities and reaction time, impressive!" Oaraun laughed.

"You don't seem as psychotic as before!" Ajal started to push forward.

"You believe you can change this world without anyone paying for their sins... You're madness goes beyond mine..." Oaraun asked before he swung upwards and sent Ajal flying back once more.

'Shit- He's much stronger than before! What the hell happened to this guy?' Oaraun sprinted forward with all his spirit focused on his right arm. 'He's even using spirit arts perfectly!'

"This is a fine opportunity, is it not?" Oaraun asked with a hint of excitement in his voice as he swung his great sword down again.

Ajal blocked, his feet pressed into the ground hard enough to shift the surrounding buildings.

"Opportunity...?" Ajal asked, then redirected the greatsword and jumped up with a spin.

'Spirit Ignition!' The roundhouse kick struck Oaraun, a massive smack echoed through the chasm. Ajal grimaced with wide eyes as Oaraun blocked the strike with his left wrist, he didn't budge at all. Ajal's eyes widened as Oaraun grasped his foot and dragged him through the air, he pulled down and drove Ajal straight into the ground.

"Agh!" Ajal grunted as his back slammed into the rock and another wave of force rippled through the air.

"Ajal!" Sarah cried.

Oaraun swung Ajal into the air, Ajal opened his eyes as Oaraun took a stance with his blade ready to swing. The green blade started to glow, crackling with lustrous green embers, the air around him started to distort as it heated up.

"Jealous...!" Oaraun raised his greatsword, "Flame!" He swung horizontally.

Ajal opened his third eye, it glowed with a blinding purple light, "Dark Blast!"

The wave of flames flew for Ajals, the purple beam released from his third eye and engulfed the bright green flame. Oaraun jumped as the beam hit the ground, he was launched forward by the momentum. He soared through the air spinning towards Ajal, 'What the-' Oaraun ended his spin with a downward cleave. Ajal tried to raise both scythes to block but the greatsword slammed through his defense and slashed down his chest.

"Rgh!" Ajal grunted as Oaraun stepped forward with his foot raised. 'Shi- Ack!'

His foot pressed into Ajal's stomach.

"Spirit..." Oaraun uttered, Ajal's eyes widened. "Ignition!"

Green flames engulfed his foot as he pushed forward, launching Ajal with an explosion. His back and head slammed through several buildings. Ajal rolled against the ground as he hit another wall. "If you fall they'll die!' Ajal conjured his scythe, 'Dark Passage!' The black and white aura surrounded the scythe as Ajal dropped it. He turned his head to see where he was soaring, 'Dark Passage!' Ajal phased through the shadow on the wall and reappeared where he dropped the scythe, soaring out of the hole straight at Oaraun who had turned his back.

"Imperial Battle Arts! Buzz Saw!" Ajal shouted while spinning through the air.

Oaraun turned and raised his greatsword with a surprised look on his face as Ajal swung his leg straight for his head. His foot hit the side of the great sword, he continued to spin, delivering a flurry of kicks at Oaraun who stepped back and blocked each. The final kick Ajal feinted, instead of hitting the greatsword once more he swung his leg around and swept Oaraun from under the legs. 'Spirit...' Ajal jumped with his leg raised, 'Ignition!' Then slammed his foot into Oaraun's stomach and drove him into the ground before jumping back and taking a stance.

"Everyone get out of here!" Ajal shouted at the top of his lungs.

"But- Ajal you're-"

"Run!" Ajal cut Sarah off.

"Hah... Hahaha!" Oaraun laughed.

Ajal huffed heavily as he fell to one knee, 'Ah...' he held the wound on his chest.

"Interesting..." Oaraun stood with an enthusiasm in his tone. "This truly is a rare opportunity."

"What're you rambling about..." Ajal huffed as the wound on his chest closed.

"We are both the divine beings of our respective worlds, mine Grelt, yours Imperion..."

"You're... A divine being?" Ajal weakly took a stance. "So I was right to suspect you..."

"Is that so? Well, not everyone can heal from fatal wounds I suppose..."

The two stood at the same height. The surrounding buildings which still stood from the clashes of their short exchange crumbled.

"We are the apex of our people, the absolute strongest among them, however that changed the moment you arrived here..." Oaraun explained.

"Huh?" Ajal tilted his head in confusion.

"There was only one divine being on your planet, was there not?"

"Yeah-" Ajal thought about it for a moment.

"Exactly, that's it. This may be the first event in all of time, where two divine beings battle."

"You still sound insane... That hasn't changed"

"Insane... Remind me, why do you fight? Was it not to return to your world?" Oaraun asked with a dismissive tone.

Ajal squinted at him, "I seek to free the non-unified from the angels, in a way which doesn't require innocent people to die..."

"Hm? No, no..." Oaraun laughed. "I mean why did you fight in the first place? Before you fled your planet?"

"What? Why do you want to know..." Ajal glared at him.

"Because, there's more similarities between us than differences, here, I'll ask a better question since you were so curious last time. Had Jack not destroyed the logorite facility in Andurill, had you won against the hybrids and established your pacifistic order, do you believe you could quell the envy in the hearts of the people?"

"Jack... Did what?" Ajal uttered in disbelief.

"Oh? You don't know... Jack is the reason we're here right now, he was the reason this city had fallen."

'That isn't possible...' Ajal stared at Oaraun for a moment, "You're bluffing..."

"I struggled to believe it as well, but it is true... He targeted the facility which house the logorite his people desperately mined..."

Ajal turned to Jack at the top of the Gondola, he looked down at Ajal with blank eyes. 'He... He...' Blaize and Iris glanced at each other with wide eyes.

"Jack... Hey Jack!" Ajal uttered in shock before shouting. "You-"

Ajal looked at his eyes and felt a sense of dread fill his stomach. Jack looked down at him without a hint of humanity in his eyes that once was. Jack turned around and walked away from the edge of the gondola.

"Jack! Jack, wait, don't go!" Sarah shouted, she hadn't yet run away.

"Wait... Hey Jack, wait! Where are you going! It can't be true!" Ajal cried. "You wouldn't-"

Jack stopped, his head turned slightly and Ajal felt a chill as he noticed the hateful glare. Even from that distance, it was clear Jack glared at Ajal with contempt and disgust. It was a look Ajal had seen before, he recognized it and knew immediately there was no bluff.

"Ajal..." Jack seethed, "Sarah... The angels killed Lydia..."

"What..." Sarah uttered.

Ajal's eyes raised in surprise and shock, 'What...'

"They captured her after we left her in Ulkay... The hybrids and the angels both tortured her to death... For entertainment..." Jack spoke with an unnerving calm. "We left her in Ulkay, and the angels just found her again! Sent her to Andurill without any of us knowing, and had her tortured to death on a stage for people to enjoy! I don't even know what happened to all of the children we saved..."

"They... They did what..." Ajal uttered. 'Tortured... For entertainment?'

"Why are you helping them?" Jack asked. "The very people who killed Lydia, you're trying to save them..." Jack pointed to the angels.

Ajal froze, unsure of what he could even say to get through to him.

"I knew you wouldn't be able to do it..." said Jack. "There is no future for us where the angels are alive..."

Jack turned around, the giants started to push the gondola.

"Wait! Don't! Jack don't-" Ajal stopped as Oaraun's heavy footsteps approached.

Ajal raised his hands as Oaraun slammed his greatsword into him. 'Agh!' He flew off his feet and rolled against the ground. The army of skeletons all started moving west, climbing onto the walls and up to the top of the chasm.

"Draw your weapon..." Oaraun demanded with a serious tone.

Ajal opened his eyes and looked up at the dark blue sky above, his whole body ached, his muscles were sore. Cold air flowed through the wounds on his body, dirt and dust irritated his skin. However it was nothing compared to what he felt right now.

"I've always loved to fight, is it the same for you? I was born to destroy, just like you," Oaraun asked.

Ajal sighed, 'I'm tired...' He rolled onto his front and stood up with his eyes closed, he cracked his neck and knuckles.

"I hate it," Ajal replied with a tired tone.

"Your battle with the hybrids abyssal being has left you weakened... I thank you for slaying her. I feel the utmost shame knowing you must die here."

"Huh?"

"While I disapprove of such shameful conditions for our duel, I am bound by my duty and envy."

"Shut up..." Ajal glanced towards the gondola.

"You still think you can avoid this battle..."

"Where the hell are you people taking Jack!" Ajal questioned.

"He will witness first hand, the slaughter and execution of every angel."

Ajal's head tilted back and his eyes widened as his heart skipped several beats. Ajal's spirit ignited at his foot and he soared at Oaraun, he conjured a small scythe in his hand as he charged forward.

"You bastard!" Ajal roared.

He swung down and clashed with the greatsword, sparks flew from where both blades grinding against each other. Ajal pushed the blade up and let go, Oaraun slammed his blade into the ground as Ajal slipped into the shadow and reappeared behind him. He dragged his elbow through the air and spiked Oaraun right in the side of his head. Oaraun spun back towards Ajal and tried to swing his fist into Ajal, but he ducked under the fist and took a stance.

"Imperial Battle Arts! Driver!" Ajal punched Oaraun in the face, and stepped forward, igniting his spirit as he swung forward and launched him.

Oaraun flew backwards before landing on both feet and looking up at Ajal with a bloody grin.

"Good... Good! Fight! Our battle will be an epic carved into this history of our very land!"

"I'll put a stop to this madness once and for all!" Ajal declared.

"Your wrath, or my envy... Which is stronger!" Oaraun grinned maniacally as the black skull helmet formed over his face.