Moyo sat atop a mountain range in Ibere, watching the setting sun in silence. In front of him was the whole of the continent of Ibere, the one with his palace, unnamed as far as he was aware. Usually a bustling place, filled with ships that soared above as well as ascenders of all types of paths, right now, it was nothing but whispering silence. Even with the presence of hundreds of worlds now crowding the system and large vessels ferrying supplies and ascenders up and down, none came near where he was.

The mountain had been made by him, created from nothing, one of his abilities now it seemed, to create from nothing, and yet, he couldn’t bring her back. He stared at the crystal in his hand, rolling its smooth edges in his hand in silence, his mind trying to piece together the chaos running rampant within him. He knew he was needed, knew his people needed him, even now, he could hear their whispers, saying his name as he tried his best to ignore the calls. The masters had things under control, even with Martha gone, the thought choking him again, even with the spider gone, the house had begun to fall back on existing protocols the spider had put in place.

The hands of Anansi had retreated to their planet, the first hand dead as well, all he knew, was a message sent through his Hud by someone known as the representative of the spiders. They would remain on Arachna till he summoned them, self-imposed exile it seemed, he had merely acknowledged the message when he saw it, brushing it aside. He laid back on the mountain top, staring up at the twinkling stars in the sky, Oro at his side, his blade silent for once, sensing the mood of the titan.

Somewhere in the depths of space, Azael pushed towards the last citadel, his mission straightforward, the total eradication of the system that was the Archailect. With the powers that stood sentinel at the citadel, Moyo knew they stood a fighting chance, but then again, so had he, and he dared say he had more of a fighting chance than they did, his aspect being the direct anathema to chaos itself. He sat up, sensing the presence of a power below his mountain, waving his hand as the air rippled, revealing Ajax, the ascender with one hand staring at him from below, despite the height.

Moyo said nothing, considering if he should either silently exit or call him up. He rubbed his face with a sigh, waving his hand again as Ajax nodded and floated up, sitting beside him as the former master and disciple watched the dusk become night. Moyo glanced at the stump of Ajax’s shoulder, sensing the lingering aspect of chaos, it was being broken down by Ajax’s aspect, an amalgamation of the cosmic aspect of Eses and chaos itself. If Moyo wasn’t wrong, and with his aether-blessed title, he wasn’t, Ajax was slowly becoming something of an anti-virus to the aspect of chaos itself.

It seemed like the Archailect itself was slowly adapting to the forces invading it, the same way it adapted to the abyss. Given enough time, probably a decade or so, it would have the capacity to stop any long-term debilitating effect of chaos it seemed, except it didn’t have that time. Ajax sighed.

“It looks peaceful, like the calm before a storm,” he said.

Moyo gave no reply, merely staring at the stars.

“It’s a mess down there besides what it looks like from here” Ajax continued.

“The Shieldborne are awaiting your command, despite Annikas’ effort to get them to help, the hammers of Ogun are going on a forging spree, building large enough ships with such deadly weapons that I shudder at the sort of destruction they’d wreak,” Ajax said.

“Your other clans are simply gearing for battle; you’ve built a true powerhouse here Moyo,” Ajax said.

“She did” Moyo replied.

“What?” Ajax asked, surprised at his talking.

Moyo waved his hand.

“All these, she did, from scratch, from when we were nothing but a single stronghold on Gaia, all these was Marthas’ handwork,” Moyo said.

Ajax stared at him for a few seconds before sighing again.

“You don’t have time for this,” he said, his voice hard as Moyo glanced at him.

“Oh, and thank you, for protecting my child,” Ajax said, a soft smile on his face.

Moyo raised an eyebrow, wondering if this was a test.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about” he replied.

Ajax chuckled.

“Fiona told me,” Ajax said.

“who’s Fiona?” Moyo asked, turning away.

Ajax chuckled, dropping the issue, the both of them relapsing back into their comfortable silence. Moyo tucked the crystal back into the folds of his cloth, turning back to Ajax who stared at him solemnly.

“you’re behaving like a child,” Ajax said bluntly.

“What?” Moyo asked, caught off guard.

“a child with power, and I understand, believe me, I do,” Ajax said, slowly watching as Moyos' face began to cloud with anger.

“What is the first rule of the Archailect Moyo?” Ajax asked, still calm.

“Eat or be eaten,” Moyo said slowly, reigning in his anger.

Ajax nodded.

“Not the exact words, but I believe it’s get strong or die” Ajax replied.

“What is your point Ajax?” Moyo asked, close to his breaking point.

“That in your sense of invincibility, you thought you were the pinnacle of the Archailect, and in truth, you were, just not those around you,” Ajax said.

He continued.

“You are still thinking in the same way that caused this, and to be honest, that was what she was trying to teach you, you’re just too blind to that fact,” Ajax said with a shrug.

The air suddenly became heavy, the skies above going purple for as far as the eyes could see, golden lightning tore through the skies. The aspect of the titan rampaged, Ajax turning his gaze to the sky silently before turning back to Moyo, one eyebrow raised. It pissed the titan how calm Ajax was, even within his body, he could see it, the unperturbed nature of his former master, the Ajax he knew would have one blade in hand, as deadly as the edge of his blade. This new Ajax seemed at peace with himself, he shut his eyes, calming himself as he breathed softly.

“you’ve grown soft,” Moyo said.

“When you have a child, you suddenly find yourself questioning your every move” Ajax replied quietly.

He opened his eyes, looking away from Ajax to shield his teary eyes.

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“I did everything to protect them,” Moyo said softly.

“And there lies the fault Moyo” Ajax replied.

“In your quest to protect everyone, you forgot the fundamental law of reality, while the weak may protect the strong, the weak would sooner or later be eaten,” Ajax said.

“She wasn’t weak, she was a master, they were masters, they could bring entire worlds to their knees” Moyo growled.

“And yet, even with the protection of your emissary, they fell, what did that teach you?” Ajax asked, ignoring Moyos' lash with a cold calm voice.

“That it was my fault for not being there,” Moyo said.

“Even I’m not as delusional as you’re trying to force yourself to be” Ajax bit out harshly, Moyo turning to him.

“Annika was right you idiot of my disciple, you caused this, admit it,” Ajax said, rage in his eyes for the first time.

Moyo said nothing, staring at Ajax's back, both locked in a deadlock. He relented first, looking away.

“They weren’t built for this kind of war,” Moyo said softly.

“Neither were you built to face a level 50 dungeon, and yet, where did I meet you?” Ajax asked.

“That was different,” Moyo said.

“bullshit” Ajax replied.

Moyo turned to him.

“Picking up pieces of your curse words, you Gaians have a lot of it,” Ajax said with a shrug.

“she’s a strategist,” Moyo said.

“And yet, she knew enough to delay Azael for a while, I fail to believe she thought she could sacrifice herself in some misguided effort to literally kill the reaper of chaos,” Ajax said.

Moyo sighed.

“Is there a point to this lecture?” Moyo asked, tired.

“That you’re being an idiot, a selfish brat who can’t see what Martha was trying to teach you with her death,” Ajax said.

“Oh?, then please enlighten me o great genius” Moyo growled.

He held himself back from the words he had been about to say, feeling them bubble within his chest, Ajax eyed him.

“Spill it out,” he said.

“What?” Moyo asked.

“I can see it in your eyes, what you want to say, spill it out,” Ajax said again.

Moyo said nothing, looking away, Ajax getting to his feet softly.

“The primordials are meeting soon, they are seeking a way to get to the last citadel, but they have no way,” Ajax said.

Moyo said nothing, Ajax continuing.

“They are hoping, perhaps, that you have a way,” Ajax said.

“I don’t” Moyo bluntly replied.

“You haven’t even tried yet,” Ajax said, irritated.

Moyo shrugged.

“Ahib’s dead from what you said, killed when Azael fought you, the Runebearer was the only link to the citadel we had,” Moyo said.

He didn’t expect the blow that crashed into his face, not that it hurt much, but the shock was there, staring at Ajax in surprise who stared back at him with rage.

“I have done unspeakable things, that much is true,” Ajax said.

“But I’m doing my best to atone for it, and believe me when I’ve said I’ve lost a lot in return” he continued.

“Look around you, you self-entitled brat, millions have lost millions in turn, more than half the cosmos, gone!. And yet, they look to you, they see light when you move past, and even as they tremble, fear in their eyes, they still whisper your name, praying you’d save them” Ajax growled.

“I have a child, a child Moyo, and I would die fighting before I watch Azael deprive my child of a future. Do you think you’re the only one who lost? did you even think of the pain others are feeling?, Idris was there!, do you know what he’s going through?” Ajax shouted, breathing harshly.

“I grieve with you, I do, I swear on my soul, but you were right, we would grieve later, if we can stop Azael, if we can save the cosmos to have the chance to grieve later!” Ajax finished.

Eyes wide, he wiped his eyes, taking a deep breath.

“They need you, we all need you,” Ajax said before free-falling off the mountain, moving away from the mountain in a flash.

Moyo was left on the mountain, watching as a small plant broke its way through where he sat, his aspect nurturing it. He felt Josh appear at the base of the mountain and just sit there, what was left of his Shieldborne sitting along with him in silence, eyes closed. His hiding spot had been revealed, he knew his vassals, Ashira, and whoever else felt the need to comfort him would come soon enough. He took a deep breath, bringing out the crystal and infusing a bit of his aspect, watching it light up, shimmering before a holographic image of Martha formed, smiling down at him.

He could see the silver strands in her hair, the wise look in her eyes that held untold secrets, the motherly smile on her lips, and the warm look she always reserved for him. Moyo was strong, he was the titan blade, the aether blessed, chosen of the Archailect, and the supreme beings.

“Hello Moyo,” the image said.

The titan wept atop the mountain as he listened to her voice.

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

Eses, Lucirion, the harbingers, prime messengers, and elder jades sat in a room, dimly lit as the floating orb of liquid Lucirion controlled fizzled to mist, the silence reigning in the room. Eses sighing.

“He lost,” she said

“But not dead, perhaps if he holds long enough,” Lucirion said.

“Do they even know the way to the citadel?” Xander asked.

“My Runebearer with them is dead, perhaps, had he been alive, then,” Eses said with a sigh.

“Any communication with them would certainly draw the attention of the reaper, seeing as he’s complete now,” Xandros said.

Ishum, the prime of Lotes sat ramrod straight as a presence settled in the room. Xander and the rest went to their knees, save Lucirion and Eses. Flames burned to life above Ishum, forming itself into the image of a dragon, golden eyes glowing in the darkness.

“Lady Lotes,” Eses said, bowing at the waist.

“We draw closer to the end” the voice of the supreme of aether echoed like the searing heat into the room.

“Indeed, and have the supreme beings decided to finally step into battle?” Lucirion asked.

“Perhaps, but to do so is to unshackle the final restraints holding the great devourer,” Eses said.

Eses narrowed her eyes.

“Azael has already completed the powers of the devourer, he comes to us with the full strength of chaos, it makes no difference” Eses growled.

Lucirion glanced sharply at her, eyes warning her, but Eses had grown past that stage.

“Does it not?” Lotes said, a chuckle in her voice.

Eses ignored the look of Lucirion, narrowing her eyes at Lotes.

“You know something we don’t,” she said.

“Indeed, all you need to know, is that the forces of the titan blade have managed to do something no one has been able to accomplish. All I can say is that it would buy you enough time to prepare for the end” Lotes said.

“As always, you play different angles,” Eses said.

“And different cards, ascenders, our ways are not that of mortals straining to reach the rank of a true supreme being” Lotes bit back.

The head looked around the chamber.

“Stand strong, hope still exists as long as the flame within the titan burns, even now, its effect echoes across the fabric of reality, reinforcing it and holding back the devourer, making him fight for every inch of space he attempts to rip through to reach us,” she said.

The image fizzled away, the pressure releasing as everyone stood in awe for a second.

“Well, guess that means we keep shoring up our defenses,” Xandros said.

“we’ve done our bests, and if we go by what the dragon said” Eses started as Ishum choked at what the prime would no doubt perceive to be blasphemy.

“Then we can only hope that one way or another, the titan and the rest of his forces reach the citadel in time for the battle,” Eses said.

“Whatever could the titan have done to somewhat delay the devourer?” Lucirion asked.

Xander snorted.

“His mere presence is enough deterrent,” he said as Eses smacked his head from where he sat beside her.

“I have my suspicions,” Eses said with a smile.

She glanced down at the coin in her hand, staring at the carved eyes on it, the exact replica of the one that had been in the possession of the oracle known as the spider.

“Well done Martha” Eses said with a smile, Xander and Xandros shooting her suspicious looks she ignored.

“Well done and farewell,” she thought, closing her hand, the coin turning to ash.

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

Azael was delirious with rage, seated on the throne within his world that fought its way through the Nethervoid, destroying it as he went towards his destination. He watched the rune in his hand, its crystallized form shatter into dust as he gave an infuriated laugh. He had been duped, duped so smoothly that he was impressed, of course, Apophis wasn’t, the manifestation of chaos roiled on the planet, its rage rippling through the oily skin of the planet. Somehow, she had duplicated the crystal, somehow that insignificant ant that was proving itself significant had managed to fool his senses.

Was she even dead?, no, she had to be, Azael remembered the light dying from her eyes, but with the trick she played, even that was not contestable. Nevertheless, he had four complete aspects of the abyss, now slowly being fused to his existence, he was more than enough for the forces waiting for him at the citadel, all he had to do was get there. Even now, far from the suffocating system that was the domain of the titan blade, the reach of his aspect sought to slow him down.

It worked, with the complete aspect of the abyss fused to him, he could rip through the Nethervoid like it was nothing. Instead, he was forced to bend his authority and willpower into tunneling through the Nethervoid, watching as reality seemed to infinitely stretch in an attempt to delay him from reaching his goal. It was only a matter of time, that much was certain, he would tear down the blocks of the citadel, Apophis, the true supreme being would strike down the false supreme beings, this he swore.