Ajax was going through an epiphany, one that was a long time coming, with each swing of his blade, entire ships blasting at the forces of the abyss, he delved deeper and deeper into his realization. Araman was akin to a pure force of reality, one so steeped in the powers that he commanded that Ajax barely knew where one attack stopped and the other picked up.

Voidborn danced within his hands, bending his entire willpower and authority into every attack, he could feel and see the hosts of ascenders in his peripheral gaze as they clashed with the forces of Araman's army, spotting the glow of a certain ruler who wielded a similar aspect as he did.

Ahib, the ruler Runebearer pulled out all his stops, his runes and weapons all consecrated in the same aspect of Eses as he wielded also. Except, slowly, Ajax was beginning to see that particular aspect become tinged with the chaotic aspect within him, and it terrified him.

At first, he had been scared, terrified really, that he was falling back towards the same pit he had slimly managed to escape from. It was then he felt his core resonate within him at the thought of going against his father, or what remained of his father, and it made him wonder, was that really what he wanted?.

Araman rained down attacks seeking to cause him unbearable pain, the stars in the void glowing as he sought to take control of them, but Ajax defied him, standing firm even as he felt his body reverberate with every attack he defended against, preventing the aspect of destruction that ringed Aramans' head like a crown from slowly eating away at his form. Of course, to say he was on par with the abyssal prime would be an exaggeration, but Ajax had been holding his own for countless centuries, he had slain too many foes with superior power over him, and this was no different.

Although, he had to admit, none had been on the level of a lord of the abyss with access to four aspects fused into one. A cut to his skin boiled his flesh and bones, and Ajax could have very well curled up and screamed in agony, he couldn’t, he wouldn’t, this was but a taste of his penance and he would see it through. Araman growled, eyes flicking over to the far distance where reality screamed and something passed through.

“I’ve got to admit, seeing you scared shitless about another being looks hilarious,” Ajax said slowly.

He felt his body fighting the combined aspect, fending off the attack of one of the apostles, a horse-riding creature fused to the headless abomination coming for him as Ajax twisted his blade sideways and with a deft handling of his intent and aspect fused into one, cleanly eradicated the creature from existence, its dying screams echoing through the space around them. Araman attacked again, and this time, with the full force of his might.

“Ajax omega blade,” he said.

“Please don’t call me that, it was an embarrassing period in my life” Ajax replied.

“You had it all, chaos, the Archailect at your feet, and yet, you threw it away for something as trivial as the love of a father” Araman taunted.

Perhaps, had it been a few days or even weeks ago, Ajax might have felt insulted. He barely twitched, focusing on the attacks of the prime as he deflected and counter-attacked, his mantle taking the brunt of every attack. He pushed on.

“you’re right,” Ajax said, blitzing around the prime.

Narrowly avoiding being decapitated by a ring of abyssal energies screaming with the agony of some unfortunate beings, Ajax brought his blade up.

“I gave it all, at least I’m not the one being chased by my sadistic father in an attempt to absorb their entire existence” he replied.

“Then we’re at an agreement, we do not want the reaper to lay his hands on me,” Araman said, shifting backward.

Loud explosions came from the distance where Ahib and a set of diamonds, Gaia’s factions if Ajax was correct, were harrying the forces of Araman from launching attacks at the orbital station that ringed the planet. One half, the half facing the other side of the planet had been sheared off cleanly, no doubt, as a result of the forces of Azael.

Ajax hoped and prayed to the supreme beings that Moyo was able to hold the reaper in check, but he almost snorted, he was the last person whose prayers would be answered by the beings themselves.

“Speak for yourself” Ajax replied.

“I very much want to end you” he finished attacking again.

His senses warned him too late about the attack, and even as he twisted away from the worst of it, his chest still tasted the bite of the prime’s blade as his entire being screamed with agony. He gripped Voidbringer tighter, groaning as Araman laughed.

“a confused existence, and you dare think you can end me?” Araman boomed as he raised his blade higher.

Ajax felt something singing within him, feeling his body absorb the bite and essence of the attack as he couldn’t move a single limb, only watching in rage as Araman raised his blade higher.

“Over and over, you have been tossed, the plaything of countless beings, to be discarded when your use has been completed. And now, without even a defining aspect, tossed between two masters, you dare think you will be my end?” Araman taunted.

“Reaping katana, omega blade, Chaosborne, and now, nothing, what are you, Ajax?” Araman asked.

Ajax stilled his heart, a smile dancing on his lips, when had he lost his way?, the core tenet of his existence?, joy in battle. He was supposed to enjoy every encounter, to seek the pinnacle of his path, but what path?, what was he now?. Even as he watched the weapon descend with all the wrath of a demi supreme being, Ajax decided to let loose, he would enjoy every moment till the moment he died. His core shivered but didn’t move, didn’t give that final budge to push him to whatever his new existence was supposed to be, and he accepted that, he was still Ajax, mentor, warrior, swordsman.

All at once, different aspects coalesced together into an attack that disrupted his supposed death that it shot him sideways, Ajax blinking rapidly. In front of him were forms he didn’t expect to ever see again, and he had to admit, their ascendance was a sight to behold.

Killian Thousandblades, on the path of the lunar lightning blade stood directly in front of him, along with Duval of the solstice inferno blade and Skatha of the storm's hush blade were standing along with him, facing the prime. A burning presence at his side drew his gaze to the gaze of a furious but calm-looking woman staring down at him, Ajax would have found it hilarious were he to describe the figure as having a cold lethal look while literally burning with flames.

As his body slowly began to loosen, he spoke.

“Fiona” he croaked.

“Not a word from you,” she said softly, and Ajax slammed his lips shut.

“Did you hear that brother” Killian spoke.

“Indeed, the traitor lives, a pity” Duval replied.

Ajax felt those words stab through his chest in a way that the blade of Araman couldn’t and he had to admit, it hurt like crazy. Skatha glanced at him, wordlessly staring at him with those cold eyes that were judgemental before turning away, Ajax filled with shame. His limbs loosened as he pushed himself away from Fionas’ hold floating upwards.

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“I do not deserve your help,” he said.

“You don’t” Killian interjected.

“Neither do I deserve your forgiveness” Ajax continued.

“Not given” Duval added.

“But this once, I beg of you, lend me your strength, if I die, then so be it, may my death wash clean the shame of once being allies with me” Ajax added.

Araman chuckled.

“Really touching, but what do a bunch of newly ascended rulers along with one broken pseudo-ancient intend to do to me?” he asked.

“I have lost my purpose, true” Ajax started.

“So let me remake myself, I Ajax, will hunt you to the corners of the Archailect, cleansing your filth and all those of the abyss and chaos” he swore.

His core hummed, realization dawning on him as a weak smile came to his face,

“Damned primordial,” he thought, thinking of Eses.

This was her plan after all, and he had to admit, he was fine with it, more than fine even, his entire being resonated with it. He continued.

“I will be a wandering terror to both forces of the abyss and chaos, where the titan brings new life and wards off your pitiful existence, I will be the other side of his coin, the true end to your existence,” he said.

His core cracked, exploded, and washed his body in a perfect fusion of cosmic and chaotic energies. It purified his entire body, burning through his channels, cleansing him of all doubt and fears, empowering him as his Hud blinked to life, Araman watching in confusion.

“My path is to end you wherever you rear your head, to ensure that your kind no longer poses any major threat to the existence of the Archailect” he completed.

A new core formed, and Ajax felt a new, singular aspect flood his body, his Hud blinking as he silenced it. From his body came a tar-like substance, coagulating and floating to the side, his body burning with grey energy. He no longer felt the touch of either Eses or chaos, it felt different, it felt new, and his entire being resonated with it. He gripped Voidborn, the blade shattering and reforming again into a grey weapon of absolute menace, he smiled as he felt aether flood his body once more, his once black eyes now grey with white irises.

Araman chuckled and then laughed.

“I see it’s a thing with you all, whoever comes in contact with the titan, seemingly evolving, like he somehow hands out paths,” he said.

“These changes nothing between us” Killian muttered.

“I suppose not” Ajax replied as they attacked.

Their coordination was as fluid as the days they fought together, Fiona behind, bathing them in the flames of the phoenix, empowering them as they pushed Araman into a corner.

“ENOUGH!” the abyssal prime echoed.

A wave of power shot through the space around them, locking their limbs as Ajax felt his aspect begin to burn the command from his body. Araman expending more power, drawing more from his aspect.

“On and on, I am delayed by gnats, would you rather Azael gets the runes than I?” he growled.

“I only seek a better existence for the creatures of the abyss, you would rather let us all burn, never again, not this time, not now, not ever” he finished as he swung his blade.

Ajax clashed with him, weathering the attack with somewhat ease as he pushed back.

“you’re a blight against reality, a taint to the order of things” Ajax replied.

The two traded blows continually, Ajax’s aspect clashing with that of the abyss, crashing down on each other like two titans. Ajax’s blade grazed the skin of Araman, burning him as the prime hissed in shock, Duval, Killian, and Skatha struck together as well, moving in synchronicity.

They were in a world of their own, each complementing the other strikes resonating as lightning, flames, and thunder stuck in perfect harmony, eating away at Aramans' form with the aid of the help of Ajax. Whatever abyssal creature that had the gall to come close to the battle was instantly vaporized Araman unleashing the wrath of his realm on them, Ajax taking the brunt of it and allowing the others to strike at him continually.

They were pushed to their limits, even as the battle raged around them, ascenders and abyssal creatures perishing alike, they fought on, barely holding the prime at bay. Ajax had no time to look at his Hud, not with him preoccupied with Araman who finally unleashed his full strength, no doubt, keeping it at bay in the eventuality of him facing Moyo.

Forcefully gaining complete control of the realm around him, Ajax was next to Fiona in a blink, bending his aspect to protect her, his entire will stretching across the area as the blistering cosmic aspect of the Runebearer manifested as well.

Pain, no, agony, seared through their entire forms as they weathered the very presence of the prime, Ajax griping his newly forged blade as he raised it up, staring into the almost phantom gaze of Araman. He gathered his fledgling but honed authority within his blade, throwing everything that he had into it as Ahib, the Runebearer was suddenly at his side, the both of them joining their powers together in a blaze so bright, it burned with a myriad of aspects, scorching the creatures of the abyss, pushing them farther back.

At that moment, Ajax smiled, for the first time in as long as he could remember, he finally felt a part of something bigger than his desires, and he compressed all those feelings into the edge of his blade, pushing forward with pure rage in his eyes as he brought the blade down on Araman, the abyssal prime roaring as he sucked all light from his surroundings, preparing to strike. Then they all felt it together, the chill, the doom that all of a sudden manifested within their surroundings.

Ajax felt dread, no, terror within his heart, not for himself, but for those he called family. He swung his blade in the direction of the chill, Araman following suit, both knowing that whatever rivalry they had between themselves was completely useless at that point, not if they died before the presence of the reaper. Releasing his blade, he grabbed Fiona, throwing her with the entirety of his strength toward the distance, tearing open a pathway straight to his vessel. He threw her in, and right at the same moment, he felt the presence grab him, his aspect flaring as the presence recoiled.

The reaper stepped through a pathway, it was the gaze of Rohan that met his, Ajax recoiling in shock. Confusion before understanding settling within him, Ajax summoned his blade back into his hands as he attacked the same moment the others did, all attacks diverted to the presence of the reaper without a word spoken. The primordial fear of oblivion superseded all battles, all rational thinking, all rivalries, and as Ajax dropped everything he had into that attack, he knew it was too late. The reaper moved and Ajax switched his attack to defense, his core emptying of his aspect as he bent it around his three friends, a word he hadn’t imagined himself ever using.

They stared at him, wide-eyed as the attack of the reaper landed on him, cleanly slicing off one of his arms, his sword arm. Azael gripped him by the throat, his other hand with a chaos-forged blade driven deep into the body of Araman who trashed as the power of chaos seeped into him.

The prime separated into four entities, all burning with the power of a different aspect, Ajax gripped the hand of his father holding his throat, staring into his eyes as he stretched his hand to Azaels’ head, coughing blood.

“ERADICATE” he commanded.

His body was wracked with pain as Azael clamped down on him with all the authority of chaos.

“You could have gotten everything, perhaps, in a better life, I should have trained out your humanity,” Azael said.

“See how well that served Rohan” Ajax croaked.

For once, he watched the smile wipe off the face of the reaper who tossed him away before facing the prime with his full attention, leaving Ajax to bleed off in space. He felt a pathway open up beneath him, his body dropping through and slamming into the metal floor of some ship as he nearly blanked out from the pain. His sight bleary, he could only breathe slowly, feeling his body shut down to heal itself, the last sight he saw, was of the reaper trading blows with the prime of the abyss.

***********************************

Araman clashed with Azael, and the prime knew it was a losing battle, whatever he threw at the reaper was simply absorbed, that, and the terrifying fact that he knew the reaper had gotten his hands on the rune of mutation. He felt the reaper wrestling his control of the abyss from him, felt his creatures, or what remained of them slowly succumb to the call of the progenitor itself and he cursed the titan. He had one job, to end the reaper, and yet, here was his worst nightmare, staring him down as Araman threw everything he had at the true personification of the end. He saw the scythe of the reaper move as he lost his connection to the rune of defilement.

Swallowed by Azael, Araman summoned everything he had, all weapons entrenched in the power of what remained. A true blade of destruction, an axe of pure carnage, and an arrow of affliction, all enough to single-handedly wipe life from an entire planet. He had been saving them for Azael, to combine and finally destroy this incarnation of the chaotic being, and when he released it, even reality screamed in pure agony. Azael laughed, swinging his scythe,

“COME” he commanded.

Araman tore open a pathway as his crown of destruction shattered and he felt his body being leeched of all his accumulated power. He transformed, one minute a dragon, the next some sort of abyssal abomination, he threw everything he had at the reaper, all was for naught, all was useless, for he was of chaos, and the progenitor had come to collect. He enacted his last plan, putting a sliver of his consciousness into an aether crystal as he sent it through a pathway, even as the light in his eyes died out and he felt his consciousness settle into the gem.

He was nothing if patient, he would exist, and he would persevere, eternity was a long time, and someday, some unfortunate ascender, if the Archailect still existed in some form or another would pick it up, thinking he had access to pure power.

Araman would rise again, or at least, that was what he thought till he felt the cold grasp of oblivion grip the crystal as pure terror settled in him. Agony, not of the physical one, but of his entire being settled on him, he couldn’t scream, he couldn’t beg for help, or mercy for that matter, and as he felt himself being attached to some weapon, Araman caught himself wishing he had died at the hands of the titan.