Moyo tore through the forces of chaos, letting Oro reap a bloody toll among their numbers as he pushed onwards, his aspect cocooning him from the attacks. Not that it was necessary, his mantle and body was enough to repel any attacks and his aspect lit them on fire if they strayed too close to his form. He could hear the explosions behind him, the cannons above the first defensive walls blasting down at the forces of chaos within the second defensive wall, his Shieldborne wreaking havoc among their numbers.

They would have wanted nothing more than to be at his side, but they couldn’t fight or even participate in the battle he was about to engage in. how the forces of chaos had split themselves within the two defenses was nothing short of worrying, keeping the cannons on the walls busy with the shafts that harried them outside of the wall itself. Azael had used that chance to throw the bulk of his forces against the second wall, one where Moyo saw a giant humanoid construct battering at the hordes that came for it.

Azael wasn’t taking this fight serious, tying down the forces of the harbinger and primordial while he himself had waltzed into their domain, no doubt knowing they couldn’t stop him, not on their own. He felt the distortion of reality the closer he got to the wall, feeling an aspect that made his skin sizzle attempting to hold back the tides of chaotic aspect. It was like a leaking basket, it could attempt to hold it, but it would leak from a hundred points at once, and that was what was playing out right then.

Moyo layered his aspect around those of the harbinger and primordial, feeling it settle in place like a second skin, sealing back the chaos creatures who shrieked in pain as they lit on fire with the merest touch of his aspect. It allowed the giant construct to get breathing space, dwindling the number of creatures that assaulted it all at once. They turned to him, all those abominations, shifting in between shapes as they finally settled into something of a concrete shape,

One of mechanical parts.

Moyo stretched his hand out, Oro flying into it, they surrounded him, snapping and shrieking, cursing him in grotesque grunts that were meaningless but somehow passed the words across. He eyed them all, watching as they lumbered in their forms, some half constructed, from their waist down was nothing but oily black liquid. Few among them had been able to replicate the form they desired, but they were all as lethal to an average ascender, evident in how they had brought down an entire domain vessel. They moved with blitzing speed, and to a diamond ranker, it would have been blurry, but not to Moyo, not when he had felt the moment they reacted.

One swing of Oro, lit them up like they were doused in gasoline, his arm a blur, his body twisting among them as he blew past them, crashing into the creatures that fought the giant mechanical construct, relieving it of its pressure. It smoked, its joints creaking as it turned its gaze to him.

“Unknown existence, state your purpose” it asked in a mechanized voice.

Moyo flicked his eyes towards the point where he felt the battle happening, aware of the dimming powers of both harbinger and primordial. He tapped the construct.

“HEAL” he commanded as a pulse of power went through its form, its eyes glowing back to full brightness.

The move caught it offguard, its knees buckling as it crashed to the ground.

“SLEEP” he commanded it.

Its systems shutdown completely, its molten hot body cooling down to a state of much needed rest. Moyo patted it, Iteq had created a creature worthy of his name, it had stood and performed its duty, holding back the bulk of the forces of Azael, and it deserved it. The reaper could had killed it, could had ensured his campaign went smoothly, overwhelming the forces of both Ernesh and Iteq. Perhaps Moyo should be grateful to him, he touched the great gate of the inner kingdom, pitting his authority against that of Iteq.

“OPEN” he commanded.

The door opened without resistance, Moyo pushing through and stopping at what he saw in front of him. He stilled the rage within himself, staring at the destruction that filled as far as his eyes could see, he saw it all, the shattered corpses of masters and diamonds, ascenders that had sought to hold back the reaper from reaching their masters. He saw dead ancients, their aspects fizzling away in a way only that of an ancient could, black and red fluids filled the ground, and that wasn’t even the end.

He saw the messenger of Liakya, one powerful than the previous one he met before, a rank above, he was sure, held on a wall by solid pikes of black energy, missing its head. He paused, watching the dark being who stood in front of half beaten primordial and harbinger, the thought was almost ludicrous to even say. A skeletal silver figure wrapped up in a tattered cloak and holding a scythe as large as his frame, eyes that burned with black and grey light turned to him, regarding Moyo.

Azael, creature of Apophis, abomination and father to his former master stared him down, scythe raised to end either one of the two powers that were struggling to stand on their feet. Iteq, the omnidroid was missing one hand, his body badly scorched and his aspect doing its best to hold him together. Ernesh was missing one complete half of his body, Moyo had no idea how he was even still alive, but he saw the eye on the part of him still alive flick to him with relief in its gaze. He ignored the harbinger, keeping his attention on Azael, the man, being, whatever he was speaking,

“Well, this is awkward, wouldn’t you say?” he said.

Moyo willed himself closer, Oro moving in a deadly arc to clash with the scythe of Azael.

The reaper blasted backwards with the force of a bullet, crashing into a wall of mithril and denting it inside. Moyo opened his vault, pouring out a bunch of legendary ranked elixirs as he spoke.

“Get out of here” he said tersely.

Iteq nodded, grabbing Ernesh who groaned, pointing to the messenger. Moyo glanced at the creature, standing in its front in a blink before touching the pikes as he felt a slight pain from his contact. The pikes blew away like ashes, the messenger falling into his hand as he handed it over to Iteq.

“If it dies, our connection to Liakya goes with it, Ernesh can hardly channel it” the omnidroid struggled to say.

Moyo wanted to point out the messenger had lost its head but turned his attention to where Azael was, feeling the aspect of chaos surge back to life again.

Azael stood on his feet again, Moyo summoned his realm, the domain ship buckling as another realm imposed itself upon it, Iteq sucking in a breath.

“transcendent” he whispered.

Moyo wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but he spoke again, watching as Azael struggling under his realm as his cloak began to burn at the edges, the reaper hissing in pain.

“Leave, get out, now” he said hastily again.

The primordial tore open a pathway, multiple pathways as well opening up below the bodies of certain dead androids as well.

“End him” Iteq said before passing through, the bodies going along with him,

Moyo released a breath, watching as Azael’s form began to coat itself with the aspect of chaos and with a snap of his bony fingers, pushed Moyo’s aspect away from his surroundings, with great effort though. It wasn’t a surprise to him, the creature was literally channeling an entire half of chaos, it should at least be capable of that. The both of them regarded each other, Azael cocking his head at him.

“you’ve grown stronger” he said.

“You never knew me” Moyo replied.

“of course, apologies, grand disciple” Azael said with a chuckle.

Moyo itched to rip his head from his shoulders, he could feel it within him, his transformed aspect burning at the edges to do so. He stilled himself, ensuring his mantle and body were ready, for a clash that was sure to tear this vessel asunder. With a thought, he sent a pulse of urgency to his Shieldborne, more like a feeling as opening his Hud would distract him. It came with a single emotion.

Haste.

Run, flee, get the hell out of the area, he could only hope Ashira heeded their warnings, but he knew her too well, she’d make her way over. He pointed his blade at Azael.

“I’m no disciple of you nor your abominable son” he replied again.

“Pity, and Ajax thought highly of you” Azael said.

Moyo shook his head.

“Was that before or after he released you to tear the Archailect apart?, where’s he anyways?, off to end another galaxy?” Moyo asked.

Azel chuckled.

“You have no idea do you?” he asked.

Moyo didn’t rise to the bait, merely staring at him.

“Oh, far be it from me to spoil the reunion, but suffice to say that bastard failed to live up to my expectations, we’ll see about his brother” Azael said with a shrug.

“Brother?” Moyo asked.

Ajax had no brother, that, he was sure of, did this bony figure somehow managed to have another child?.

“I can only pity the creature that decided to carry your child, how did you even do it?” Moyo asked, eyeing the creature.

“ouch” Azael said as he moved.

Moyo was there, the both of them clashing in a blink, blinking in and out of existence with light speed, weapons moving as each blow was enough to easily eradicate an entire mountain without issue. Moyo moving and parrying, Anshara guiding and leading his steps as he traded mind boggling blows with the reaper. They separated as the entire ship groaned, Azael’s cloak burning, the reaper growling.

“What are you?, what have you become?” he asked.

“Why don’t you ask your boss?” Moyo replied as he struck again.

The scythe of the reaper clashed with his, chaotic and titan aspect rippling at each other, reality fracturing and healing back at impossible speeds, space wobbling around them. Moyo called on aether itself, called on his aspect that blossomed to life around him, his spiritual form, a now purple and golden smaller form of himself. He felt the presence bear down on Azael, the reaper grunting under the pressure,.

“Do you feel it, Garda?” Moyo said softly.

Azael’s eyes flared in anger at the name, rage in his skeletal form as he trembled, Moyo could feel his aspect push back that of chaos, watching as it began to burn it Rapidly at its edges, his aspect beginning to pit its full strength against its eternal adversary. The scythe began to tremble, its metal releasing an almost human scream of pain, Oro biting deeper into its form.

“I can hear it, the song of chaos” Moyo growled, his form glowing brighter with every second,

“And I hate it!” he roared.

The scythe shattered, Oro shattering the blade as Azael dived out of the way just in time for Oro to cleave through where he had once stood with a tectonic blast. The reaper rolled to a stop, cradling a hand, its bleached bone form cracked, he stood eerily as Moyo took a stance again.

“You revel in your power because you know, don’t you?’ Azael asked.

“Know what?” Moyo growled softly.

“That I am incomplete, you flaunt your power because you think you can easily vanquish chaos, but chaos is eternal” Azael said as his form began to ripple.

“Tell me, can you be everywhere all at once?” the reaper continued.

“Ibere, your precious Gaia, Tartarus, what about Altair?, can you get there in time to prevent their destruction?” Azael said with a chuckle.

“Wherever light goes, it will realize darkness was already there” Azael said as he pointed at Moyo.

“Your masters and lords of the Archailect huddle at the last citadel, that fortress that powers the Archailect and think themselves safe, you and I know better” he said.

“And I will end you before you get there” Moyo promised.

Azael chuckled.

“You could most definitely try, I know you will, but we’ll see” Azael said.

“Meaning?” Moyo asked.

“Meaning right now, the order has been given, all over the Archailect, my forces are moving, our infinite numbers will wash across the face of the cosmos, every habitable planet, every populated system, ever galaxy that serves as a stronghold of the Archailect” Azael said as a chill went down Moyo’s spine.

“Orbio, planet home of the brigade, the forgotten lands of the jades, the primordials, I will be everywhere and nowhere, tell me then, oh titan blade, how will you stop me?” Azael finished.

Moyo kept quiet for a second and shook his head.

“You never did understand, perhaps that was why Ajax left you, he might be a backstabbing bastard, but he’s not stupid, I’m not stupid enough to let you go” Moyo growled.

He felt his aspect lock down space around him, felt his control of aether cut off the power of chaos as Azael stumbled, falling right into the blade of Moyo as he let out an anguished scream, his bony form lighting on fire. He grabbed Moyo’s shoulder even amidst his burning form, chuckling.

“Oh, you naïve child” he said.

“that’s the beauty of chaos, it’s everywhere, and I” he started.

“I am everywhere, till we meet again, titan blade” he laughed as he exploded.

The force pushed Moyo backwards as he bent his entire willpower into restraining the blast, he had ascenders on this ship, if left uncontrolled, it would wipe out everything already struggling to survive in this galaxy. Like a vice, he held it down, shutting his eyes as he bent his entire concentration, empowering reality and reality empowering him in turn. He had no idea how long he knelt there, Oro stabbed into the metal of the ship, forcing the blast down with invisible aether hands into a pebble shape.

When he opened his eyes, Ashira knelt in front of him, one hand on his shoulder, eyes staring at his with concern. His Shieldborne stood around him in silence, weapons held at the ready, their armor burned and tarnished, but still, his aspect burned around them. To the distance stood Iteq with a barely walking Ernesh whose other half seemed to be reconstructing itself, thousands of little machines, recreating his form. Moyo grabbed the pebble, speaking with his command

“PARE” he commanded.

The blast fizzled away from reality, Moyo breathing heavily for a few seconds as he stood up, nodding gratefully to Ashira and his Shieldborne, the three of them banging the fists to their chests in salute. He turned to Iteq, the primordial bowing to him.

“Lord titan blade” he said, his machine voice trembling from exhaustion.

“Please, Moyo” Moyo softly corrected, turning to Ernesh with a glare.

“Ernesh” he said.

Ernesh raised an eyebrow.

“Please, harbinger” he replied.

Moyo bit back the urge to pummel him into the ground, shaking his head.

“But you aren’t a harbinger again, are you?, traitor” Iteq bit back.

Ernesh shot the primordial with the most irritating glare ever, Moyo scanning the alleged former harbinger, startled to feel nothing but a normal aspect of an ancient, Ernesh glaring at him.

“What happened to you?” Moyo asked.

Iteq waved his hand, a pathway opening and the body of the messenger tumbling out, a keen cry came from behind Moyo, the first messenger he had met, the creature of metal kneeling with a wail. He turned to Iteq.

“That, is Hazara, prime messenger of Liakya, the contract link with our kind” Iteq said softly.

The body of the decapitated messenger rolled to his front, its form already dissipating.

“I don’t understand” Ashira said.

“It means my link with Liakya has been cut off” Ernesh bit out, rage in his eyes.

“It also means her link with the Archailect, the true source of connection, not the puppet Ernesh had become, has faded from the Archailect” Iteq said.

“I did it for our people!” Ernesh roared, power bubbling from him.

Moyo cut it off with a thought, Ernesh stumbling, eyes wide, he paid no attention to him, keeping it on Iteq.

“It also means, that whatever power we have left, is what remains in the Archailect till another prime can be summoned to reality” Iteq said.

Moyo glanced at the messenger who looked catatonic, mumbling to itself, Moyo turning back to Iteq.

“we’ll deal with that later, we need to get out of this place, and back to safety” Moyo said.

Iteq stared around the ship.

“I have lost everything Moyo, it took a thousand years to build, and it fell in the span of a few days” the omnidroid said.

Moyo nodded, placing a hand on the primordial.

“And we’ll hit back, that I promise you, but we can’t do that here” he said.

Iteq nodded reluctantly.

“An entire galaxy reduced to a single system; I suppose that’s what happened to the other galaxies around?” Moyo asked.

“I doubt it, Azael attacked because we singled ourselves out by cutting off other aspects of the Archailect, he sought to pick us off, and his plan was indeed successful, the aspect of constructs had been lost to the Archailect” Iteq said.

“that’s why all the harbingers retreated, isn’t it?, to wherever they went?” Ashira asked.

“The last citadel” Moyo replied with a nod, Ernesh turning to him.

“How did you know that?” he asked.

“Azael is going to hit it” Moyo said.

Ernesh snorted.

“Let him try, every power has gathered or will gather there soon” he replied.

Moyo shook his head.

“You don’t see it, do you?” Moyo asked.

“See what?” Ashira asked.

He turned to her.

“that’s his plan, he wants them all there, all gathered in one spot, with all their strongest forces” he started.

“And then, he’ll raze the Archailect Ashira, he’ll attack the galaxies without protection” Moyo completed, silence reigning around.