Act 3 - Chapter 5, Part 1

Chapter 30: Ajal; Shauran 45th, 344SR; 17:50

Ajal pulled his collar and shook the sleeveless coat he wore, cold air relieved the skin uncomfortably stuck to his clothes. The humid fog around the cave was almost unbearable, sweat made the skin around his neck crawl. 'Ugh... I hate the heat...' He stood outside a small cave carved out of a boulder, several blue seals and runes were written on the surface. One word stood out, it was written in chalk along the stone's surface.

"Heretic, huh..." Ajal read as he glanced around.

"What is a city rat like you doing here?" A voice uttered from within a dark cave.

"City rat? That's cold..."

There was an earthy scent in the moist air, the thick fog was hard to see through. Ajal walked forward and tried to reach into the cave only to feel a wet surface, rippling like a liquid as he pulled his finger away. A child cried in the distance from somewhere in the fog, he looked around to spot the source, but the crying stopped as he turned. 'What was that?' Ajal turned back to the cave.

"This technique... It's from Nava... How long have you been here? Who did this?" Ajal asked.

"Answer my question first, god of death," the man replied.

"There's a rumor from the village at the base of the mountain, a single wolf who went to Nava in search of a solution to the droughts destroying Junipus, when he returned he was sealed away for heresy," Ajal explained.

"Well? Did you confirm your rumor, tyrant?"

Ajal sighed, "I'm not their pawn, not anymore."

"Yet here you are."

"I don't take orders from them."

"Wrath, dances in the palm of their hand. It's funny, you possess a mastery of dark magic, but you underestimate the darkness within man."

"Why were you sealed here?"

"They blamed the droughts on me, a Mist Wolf. The last of a small race of people descended directly from Hima. Apparently, as I left, so did the droughts. As I returned, so did the droughts. They came to the conclusion I was responsible."

"Why haven't you undone the seal? A sorcerer like you shouldn't have a problem with a barrier this weak..."

"I'm sick of this world... I'd much rather wither away in this cave than be forsaken by the very people I try to help, their minds are warped by the traditions shoved forward by... Those fickle fools..."

"The one who caused the droughts was Anor Ranad, one of the archbishops."

Ajal noticed movement in the darkness. The person within the cave leaned forward. The sound of a child crying had returned, Ajal looked around once more to find the source but it disappeared as he turned his head. 'What the hell?' He glanced between the gaps in the obscure trees. 'What was-'

"What would knowing that change? I already knew they had manipulated me..."

"It won't change anything, but we can," said Ajal.

"Whose we? Me and you?" the man laughed with a low growl.

"There's more of us devoted to this cause, people from all across Imperion willing to get their hands dirty to make a difference, I think you'd like them to be honest."

"You seek to solve death with more death?"

"Yeah," Ajal stated confidently.

"Hm, mad men like you belong in prison... But it's mad men like you that we need."

"Says the guy locked in a rock... Listen, we kill the archbishops, problem solved."

"Killing the archbishops won't be easy... That's clear if you haven't done it already on your own..."

"I have a plan, but I can't do it alone, and I need faithful followers."

"What makes you think I'm faithful?"

"I heard you were a gifted illusionist, you aren't completely faithful to the archbishops, you know Junipus much better than me, you studied directly under Gaia so in my opinion, you're as powerful as an ancient, and-"

"So I'm a means to an end..."

"It's up to you really if you want to keep hanging around, also... I heard you respect history."

'Dark Abyss.' The black and white wave covered the stone, dispelling the seal that locked the Mist Wolf away. Ajal pulled a bag off his shoulder and crouched down, reaching into it until he felt the smooth plate. He pulled a silver mask out of the bag and set it down in front of the cave. The mask resembled the upper skull of a wolf, but slightly larger, the material was a silver ethore.

"What?! How? Where did you get that!" the man in the cave suddenly shouted, he leaned forward in shock, part of his wolf-like face visible. "That's-"

"You think I came to Junipus for you? Well, I heard about you after I got here, but I know my history well. I found this along the way and knew what Rul used it for, so I thought it'd be a good peace offering."

The man in the cave reached forward with a hand clad with dark blue fur, four fingers wrapped around the top, and one thumb in the eye socket. He pulled it back into the cave, put it on, then stood and walked out into the light drizzle of warm rain. The humanoid wolf in the cave was about six feet tall. As he exited the cave he stopped hunching forward and became even taller, up to Ajal's height. He stepped forward on his toes, the ankle bone was raised. He had a dark blue coat, its color was unique to his tribe. He wore a grey robe around his waist, and his upper body and arms were bony and slim. His long arms just reached past his knees with the length of his uncut nail. On his head was the silver helmet, bright yellow eyes glowing behind it.

"You are an interesting person, where did you find one of the masks of Master Rul..." the man in the cave laughed.

"Stole it from a guy in the town..."

"You- what?! Ha... Hahahah!"

"What?" Ajal snickered.

"Who had it!"

"Some smug guy who tried to rob me."

"Well, I'd prefer someone who knows its meaning to be the one to wield it... What is your name, Divine Being?"

"Don't be so formal, it's Ajal."

"I am Kadyr," the man offered his hand.

Ajal and Kadyr shook hands, and he heard the child crying once more. 'I know I heard that! Where is that coming from!' Ajal looked around, and Kadyr's eyes went black.

"You lost everything Ajal. Did your plan work?" Kadyr asked.

"Yeah... That's- what... What did you just say?" Ajal stepped back, differences between what happened in his memory and what he remembered became known, and he started to realize he was dreaming.

"Ajal, what did you think killing the archbishops would do?" Kadyr asked.

"What... I-"

Kadyr grabbed Ajal's neck. The crying reappeared once again, Ajal looked down to see a blonde-haired girl with a scar, she wore the robes of the church as she cried over a mangled corpse. He felt a sense of guilt wash over him, the world started to darken. Ajal ripped Kadyr's hand off and he stumbled backward, he still felt like he couldn't breathe. The world went dark.

***

Ajal heard the distant crying of a child, his face was in a puddle of rising water, the water reaching his ears. 'What!' He tried to sit upright, but he felt resistance. His shirt was stuck under debris, and there was something on his back. Ajal tried to push himself up, his shirt tore but his head collided with a hard surface. 'Ow!' He felt the bones in his back shifting as they healed, everything was dark and he felt something pinning his legs down. He put his palm against it and felt a rough concrete. Ajal stayed calm as he held his breath, and focused his spirit on his palms. 'Spirit Ignition!' The debris shattered and even more fell over him. He shielded his head with his arms and focused his spirit on his feet next. Ajal jumped upwards out of the rubble and landed on debris.

"Ah..." Ajal's body ached as he crouched down on a chunk of a building, but his attention was quickly drawn to the wide-open clearing that was once a city.

'Un... Unreal... That guy with the bell... Did... All this?'

A field of rubble surrounded a circular clearing of flat pavement, surrounded by some blue skyscrapers that still stood. Ajal was speechless as he turned his head, he saw nothing but dust. 'The entire northwest district... Is gone... What about the citizens-' Ajal turned to the right to see some people in the distance. He focused his spirit on his foot and jumped across the debris, the pieces of buildings were a mix of brown, blue, and grey. However, seeing red stains splattered against the rubble worried Ajal. Explosions echoed from various areas around the northwest district, and massive green pillars of flame smoldered out of the rubble.

Ajal stopped in his tracks when he witnessed where the crying was coming from. Men, women, and even children were desperately trying to save their loved ones from the debris. Many of them were already dead. Ajal paused as he saw a limb without any signs of life sticking out of a piece of a building. It was slender, and their hand was small. Ajal gritted his teeth as he heard a large crash, debris was being moved out of the way by something massive. A gorilla with red fur sprung out of the rubble not too far from where Ajal had awoken. The red ape stood tall but immediately crashed into the ground. Regal tried to stand but fell once again. Its blood leaked from multiple cuts and scars across its body, darkening its red fur.

Ajal ran toward the pit that was shielded from the blast. Vala was on her knees in the center of the pit. She breathed heavily, blood dripping from her head and mouth. She held her arm upwards toward where the people were. Andrei and Morin looked up at her with shocked expressions, the two of them were okay. In the distance, a white horse rose from the rubble as well, it stumbled shortly after it stood. 'She protected those two... And sent the horse to shield the people from the rubble... how much ether did it take her to summon two of those beasts...'

"Please! Mom!" A cry from the other side of a pile of rubble made Ajal's heart freeze.

Ajal turned and ran over the rubble, he saw no one but still heard the crying. He quickly grasped a chunk of debris and focused his spirit into his arms. He shoved the rubble to the side and looked down. An arm rested in a pool of blood that seeped out from under a large chunk of debris. A child breathed in and out frantically, trying to move the boulder but couldn't. Ajal looked down with wide eyes, watching a golden light rise from the corpse the child tried to save.

"Haha!" Ajal heard laughter come from somewhere in the clearing. "Repent fools! Repent for the sins you have committed!"

Ajal's eye twitched as he stood up and looked over the rubble and saw the man from earlier. He wore black pants with silver rings on his ankles and waist, and a sleeveless open shirt that exposed his large belly and muscular chest. The man walked forward, laughing with his hands raised in the air. He was bald with small eyes and a large beard of black hair. At the same time, Ajal noticed multiple golden lights begin to rise out of the debris, the families continued to cry as their loved ones' souls departed.

"Retribution!" The bald man yelled. "Cry! Cry out in pain! This is what you deserve! Those who survived will be born anew knowing not to repeat the mistakes of their ancestors!"

"What..." Ajal uttered with wide eyes and clenched fists.

Ajal heard a loud sound behind him. The air whooshed as Regal soared through the air with a jump and landed in the clearing, Vala jumped down from the gorilla's palm.

"You- do you know what you've done!" Vala's voice seethed with rage.

Ajal ran over the rocks towards the clearing as well. Vala limped forward with blood dripping from her head. The gorilla stumbled onto all fours, unable to stay standing.

"Do you know... What you've done! Banhu Uunan!" she screamed in rage, gripping the blade with a bloodied hand. Ajal walked over the debris towards Vala, he clenched his fist as he approached.

"I know exactly what I did! And you do too! How many of my brothers died just like this? Do you know how it feels now? Queen Grehilia!" Banhu roared with a menacing grin on his face as he held a massive spinal cord with a bell at the end of it.

"You- how dare you! I'll-" Vala shouted, her face twisting in anger.

She turned her head as Ajal approached, and Banhu raised an eyebrow.

"You-" Vala turned to Ajal, but she lowered her weapon,

Ajal looked at the crowd for a moment, watching the gold lights float into the sky. Hundreds of little glints floated upwards before vanishing into small particles.

"How many people were in the district?" Ajal asked with wide eyes.

She squinted at him in confusion.

"Thousands of lives were just lost, how many people were in the district?" Ajal asked again.

"At least over fifty thousand people were in the northwest district..." Vala answered.

"Many haven't died, save them, your gift will prove useful for that..." Ajal advised before he turned to Banhu "I'll deal with him..."

"Stay out of this! I'll tear him to pieces!"

"Please... Don't let any more people die..." Ajal asked with a sad look on his face.

Vala gritted her teeth, a pained expression on her face as she shut her eyes. She turned towards the crowd and looked down.

"My brother once said the same things you did..." Vala admitted. "Do you plan to spare the resistance too after that..."

Ajal didn't answer.

"I will kill him, regardless if you do it or not," Vala declared. "Regal!" The red gorilla appeared right next to her and started toward the rubble.

"Woah, wait a minute I have business with her-"

"I have business with you," Ajal cut Banhu off.

"Oh? I don't think we know each other," Banhu replied.

"Yeah, you don't. But by the end of this, you'll never forget..." Ajal threatened.

Vala turned her head in surprise as Ajal dashed forward, the blood lust dripping from Ajal's spirit could be felt. 'I remember this feeling, the unquenchable rage towards those with no regard for life...'

"Hmm? Who are you?" Banhu asked in confusion.

Ajal's third eye flashed purple and he slipped into the shadow, descending deep into the darkness. One light in front of him led to Banhu. Ajal focused his spirit into his fist as he ascended towards that shadow. Ajal rose from the shadow, his spirit bursting as he emerged and planted his fist in Banhu's face. 'Rgh!' Ajal stepped forward, pushing his fist forward, and slammed Banhu's head into the ground. Banhu looked up in shock as Ajal raised his leg above his head and focused his spirit on his heel. 'Spirit Ignition!' Ajal slammed his foot into Banhu's stomach.

"Agh!" Banhu coughed.

Banhu tried to grab Ajal. Instead, Ajal grabbed his hands and twisted them, pulling him forward and stomping directly on his forehead. Ajal let go and then jumped, spinning his foot around as he landed another heavy kick to Banhu's stomach.

"Argh!" Banhu grunted in pain as he coughed up blood.

Banhu conjured a spine in his hand, at the end of it was the bell that caused the devastation. 'That thing!' Banhu swung the spine at Ajal, he focused his spirit on his left side to block the strike. However, the moment before it hit, the bell tolled, releasing a mind-rattling soundwave that launched Ajal off his feet. 'What the!' Ajal flew backward through the air and bounced off the ground. He grasped the ground and dragged himself to a stop.

"Where did that force come from?!" Ajal murmured as he looked up

"Ow- Who the hell are you?" Banhu asked with grit teeth as he held his stomach.

Ajal opened up his third eye and fired the purple laser at Banhu, he spun the spine he held and blocked the beam. The bald man's feet dragged against the ground as he spun the staff. Ajal stopped firing the beam, as it ricocheted toward the rubble. Banhu kept spinning the staff. He raised the bell above his head and then slammed it down in front of him, making a massive dent in the concrete, the bell tolled again. A wave of force shot forward at Ajal and hit him directly, launching him backward once again. 'That power!' Ajal felt his feet leave the ground and he tumbled once again.

"Damn! What the hell is that thing... It packs a serious punch," Ajal got to his feet, and stumbled slightly as his head ached.

Ajal focused his spirit into his chest, 'Spirit Manipulation...' His spirit started to run through his veins and strengthen every part of his body even further. Banhu ran forward with a mad grin on his face, each step making large thumps in the concrete. he spun the bell around as he jumped into the air. Ajal focused his spirit into his fist. As Banhu swung down at him, he threw his fist forward and clashed with the golden bell. He didn't feel any impact until the bell tolled. A force launched Ajal backward again, and the sound of the bell rang through the air. 'Damn!' Ajal tried not to fall back, his feet dragged against the ground.

"Was that a third eye? You're him, aren't you? The off-worlder," Banhu asked.

"Knowing who I am isn't going to change the outcome of this fight," Ajal warned.

"Well, I don't even want to fight you, but the truth is, I don't think I've ever witnessed strength comparable to yours. How do you like Grelt? Is your old planet better?"

Ajal tilted his head, "What are you getting at?"

"I hate Grelt, it's quite a shit hole I think, what's your world like?"

"Unfortunately, both are plagued by morons like yourself who have no value for people's lives."

"No value for people? Me? Hahahaha!" Banhu laughed out loud.

"What's so funny..."

"I find it amusing, the very same justice you seek to show me for killing those people is the same justice I brought upon them."

"The children who've never known war or death? Did they deserve this? Are you hearing yourself?" Ajal asked with outstretched arms, gesturing at the field of destruction.

"Yes, children, just like me all those years ago... Even after our Celestial beast, the pride of our people! Was mutilated, by those wretches, they went after the descendants next! My people still suffer to this day! The descendants of Jor will have their retribution, whether you stop it or not!"

Ajal didn't know what to say, but he already knew this conversation was useless. Instead, he started to charge his spirit through his body.

"How many years did they reap the benefits of my people's suffering? Living spoiled lives abundant with wealth!" Banhu shouted.

"This isn't the solution! This just keeps the cycle going!" Ajal shouted back.

"Then what?! We, be the bigger man- let go of our envy and live humble lives. No... My actions here will be remembered in history, it isn't evil, this is justice, whether you like it or not! This is the only solution!"

Ajal kicked off the ground and ran forward. Banhu did the same. He held the spine with two hands and started to wind up a heavy swing, as they were about to clash Ajal jumped forward with his third eye open. 'Dark Abyss!' the wave spread out and Banhu's weapon disappeared to his surprise, he swung his hands through the air and left himself completely open.

"Huh?!" Banhu uttered.

Ajal punched Banhu in the face, the large man stepped back slightly dizzied. Ajal swung his leg up and struck Banhu in the shoulder, then swung again in less than a second and struck him in the head. Banhu grasped Ajal's foot with both hands and let out a roar. The large man swung Ajal, but Ajal pulled his foot down out of his grip, and Banhu's eyes widened as he stumbled forward.

"Dark Assault! Dark Passage!" Ajal shouted.

Ajal's shadow stretched upwards like a liquid, spiraling into six black staffs. Banhu looked up and tried to defend himself. The edge of each staff was shrouded with a black-and-white aura, Banhu lowered his guard as the black rods didn't move. Ajal pointed one finger, and one of the scythes flew forward at a high speed and hit Banhu in the stomach. Banhu stepped back as he clenched his teeth. The rod that hit Banhu disappeared, leaving a black-and-white mark on his stomach. Ajal fired another rod at Banhu, he reconjured the spine and swung it to deflect, and a black shadow appeared on the edge of the bell. 'Dark Passage!'

"What the hell is your gift supposed to be!" Banhu yelled in frustration.

As he spoke, Ajal disappeared and reappeared right in front of him, with his palm flat against Banhu's stomach.

"I don't have a gift," Ajal replied.

Before Banhu could react, Ajal punched his stomach with the same hand. Then stepped forward and punched upwards, slamming his fist into Banhu's chin and knocking him off the ground. Ajal pointed his palm at Banhu once more. This time all four rods struck him, one in the right shoulder, one for each leg, and another one to the face. Banhu slid back as he held the spine, his feet dragged against the ground as he spun, winding up another swing. Ajal ran forward but slowed down before Banhu struck the air. 'It's coming...'

"Take this!" Banhu shouted as he swung the bell up at Ajal.

As the bell rang, Ajal jumped and shielded his face as the force launched him into the air. He soared straight upwards, getting a good view of the clearing, the field of debris, and the surrounding districts. Ajal looked back down to see Banhu spinning the staff around, winding up for another heavy swing. He watched carefully as the large man expertly spun the staff around his front, to the side, around his back, and eventually above his head. A twister of dust spun around Banhu. Ajal descended back to the ground, picking up speed as he fell. As the large man was about to make his swing, Ajal's third eye opened. 'Dark Passage!' Ajal vanished.

"What!" Banhu uttered.

Ajal reappeared, grasping the bell, and with the momentum, while falling, he swung his foot and struck Banhu in the back of the head as he flew straight past him. Banhu grunted as his eyes rolled to the back of his head. 'Dark Passage.' Ajal reappeared right next to Banhu, slamming his fist into the side of Banhu's head. 'Dark Passage.' He teleported to his right and swept him from under the leg. 'Dark Passage!' He teleported again, slamming his foot into Banhu's knee, then teleporting once more above Banhu and slamming his head into the ground with a final punch.

"Agh!" Banhu coughed up blood as Ajal stood over him.

Ajal breathed in and out heavily, Banhu rolled onto his front, grasping the areas he was struck. 'If there is no changing your mind... I have no choice... Dark Silence...' Ajal raised one finger, and the skin on his entire arm shriveled and took on a pitch-black hue.

"How could you have no gift... The only people without a gift that could be this strong is the divine being..." Banhu uttered weakly.

"Yeah, that's right, so people on this planet do know what I am," Ajal reached for Banhu's face with his shriveled hand. "As much as I despise you... This technique disgusts me... I am truly sorry..."

"You- You're?!"

Banhu stopped talking and his eyes went wide as he noticed something above Ajal. Ajal quickly deactivated Dark Silence, his arm returned to its regular color and shape. Instead, he conjured a black staff in his hand and swung it up, deflecting Rolo's surprise attack from above. The clan leader kissed his teeth in frustration as he landed a short distance away.

"What do you think you're doing..." Rolo asked with a vicious glare.

The clan leader's shirt was torn off, and his body was stained with blood and bruises. His dense hair slightly covered his eyes filled with anger. His hand shook with the curved greatsword in hand.

"I know you want him dead-"

"Then move!" Rolo interrupted Ajal.

"No," Ajal declined.

"Who the hell do you think you are!" Rolo yelled.

Ajal squinted, he gripped the handle of his scythe as he prepared for this fight to resume. 'What is the best option here? I need to find the others and get out of Andurill... But that'd be allowing this brawl to happen... Are the others even alive?' Ajal gulped.

"Well?! Know your damn place! Get out of my way!" Rolo hissed.

"I can't let this cycle of violence continue. It-"

Banhu lifted his hand straight up while his back was on the ground. 'Huh!' To Ajal's surprise, he conjured the spine in his hand and it formed, sticking straight upwards with the bell at the peak of its height.

"Tsk!" Rolo guarded himself with his greatsword.

Ajal jumped back as Banhu pulled the bell down, striking the ground and launching himself away from Rolo and Ajal. 'I underestimated him! He's crafty with that weapon!' Ajal's feet dragged against the ground. Banhu stood up, he stood between Rolo and Ajal.

"I hate to agree with the midget, but you have no right stepping into this battle. This isn't your place," Banhu spoke as he rose to his feet.

"How dare you kill this many of my people!" Rolo roared, completely absorbed with rage.

"Nice, you finally know what that feels like," Banhu chuckled with a grin that lacked remorse.

"You son of a-"

"Maybe I should weld their hands to metal bars so they can do nothing but push around what I want them to!" Banhu roared back.

Rolo gritted his teeth and ran forward. 'Weld their hands to metal bars?' Banhu ran at Rolo spinning his weapon. Rolo jumped as Banhu switched to an underhand grip.

"Shura's Array! Fourth Form!" Rolo grunted.

"Roku's Array! Second Form!" Banhu grinned.

"Prism Slash!"

"Hell's Gambit!"

Rolo leaped into the air, flipping once before he swung his greatsword downwards. The bell dragged through the ground as Banhu swung it upwards. A large wave of concrete and dust flew at Rolo. He shielded his eyes as Banhu continued to swing the bell upwards, it tolled directly in front of Rolo. Ajal watched the small clan leader get launched straight upwards. The great sword dropped next to Banhu. However, it started to rattle, then was pulled out of the ground by a strange force and flew toward Ajal. 'Wha-' Ajal heard footsteps behind him.

The clan leader from Baltin ran past Ajal as he pulled his helmet on his head. The antlers on the helmet and his overall size made him look monstrous. His face was obscured by the gaps in the helmet. Rolo's sword flew into his left hand, as he drew his battle axe with the right. Oberon had equipped himself with black armor.

"Shura's Array! First Form!" Oberon shouted.

"The son of Jestaul?! I've been looking for you!" Banhu yelled excitedly as he raised the spine over his head.

Oberon started to charge faster, and Ajal noticed his spirit collect at his legs. 'He got angrier... But his spirit refined itself... I don't know if that guy is aware of himself using Spirit Arts, but he's definitely experienced in battle...' Banhu looked up and spun the bell even faster. 'Getting between them might be bad...' Ajal thought as he continued to focus his spirit a good distance away from the two. 'The only way to get them to stop might be a Spirit Bloom... But... This is far past the point of no return right now... There is no civil option anymore...'

The sound of electricity crackling reached Ajal's ears. 'Above...' Ajal looked up and noticed a white horse in the sky, a trail of green electricity followed it. 'What the... It's that flying horse! Where are its wings? Are those shoes?!' The green electricity separated from the horse and Ajal watched a person descend over the clearing.

Oberon raised the greatsword and axe overhead, jumping and slashing with both weapons. Banhu stopped in a strange stance amid a wide swing of the bell, he held himself on one leg while swinging the spine back upwards. The ball of green electricity moved in a zigzagging pattern behind him. 'Her... She was at Logos...' The ball of electricity took the form of a woman with a clenched fist.

"Thunderclap Smash!" Avery and Oberon both shouted as they aimed for Banhu's bald head.

"Jor's!"

Banhu leaped off of the one foot he used to pivot and dodged the two of them, spinning around as the bell flipped around his back spun in the opposite direction it had been spinning in prior. Ajal listened to an almost satisfying click of each vertebra on the spine 'He- straightened it perfectly!' The bell tolled as Banhu landed and swung it away from them. Ajal watched the man's spirit flow from his chest to the end of the bell. 'He just-' A Spirit Ignition from Banhu knocked the bell over his head toward the two clan leaders.

"Wild ride!" Banhu cheered.

Banhu screamed as the bell swung directly over him before it hit the ground, his muscles flexed, and the bell stopped just before hitting the ground. He held it firm with a long grip and started to shake the bell back and forth, sending a torrent of shock waves that blasted everything in front of him away. Oberon quickly got in front of Avery and shielded her. The bell began to toll rapidly, sending multiple powerful shockwaves directly at them. Despite wearing heavy armor and being at least over three hundred pounds, Oberon was pushed back by the first few shockwaves. Oberon's feet left the ground and he was sent tumbling toward the rubble. Ajal covered his ears, the amount of noise coming from that bell was mind-numbing.

The bell's tolls became weaker, and the sound of Banhu laughing maniacally overtook it. 'This guy is insane!' Ajal braced himself, held his ears, and focused his spirit on his feet as a wave of force pushed against him. The three clan leaders had all been blown away, but Banhu was still unscathed by any of them. 'This guy is a resistance member I'm guessing... A big shot considering how strong he is... He is skilled, extremely skilled.'

Oberon hit the ground once more and separated from Avery, she rolled against the ground before bringing herself to a stop with her left hand. Her foot dragged against the ground as she threw the red sash off and charged forward against the momentum. She jumped and stopped in mid-air as a green thunderbolt fell from the clouds and into her hand. 'That's new...' The green electricity crackled around her, and the bolt in her hand took a jagged shape. The dark sky was lit green, 'Her attack in Logos did a ton of damage... That looks way worse!' As she fell she spun the lightning bolt, landing with her right arm and hoisting it over her shoulder.

"Well if it isn't Avery!" Banhu chuckled as his weapon disappeared.

"Roaring Javelin!" Avery shouted as threw it straight at Banhu.

The green bolt soared through the sky in a flash. Banhu could only jump back as the lightning-fast attack struck the ground and engulfed him in a green explosion. Ajal shielded his eyes as the light stung his eyes, his feet even dragged backward as the explosion sent a shockwave of force outwards. Banhu was launched this time and sent to the other end of the clearing.

'Sure he got the surprise attack on them, but this is a suicide mission for him... He's up against all the clan leaders on his own and the queen... He couldn't have just attacked without a plan...'

The white horse from earlier trotted in the sky with its greaves, it made laps around the cloud of smoke in the center, dodging the dust and debris knocked up by the explosion. Tiny grains of smoldering concrete showered over the battlefield. The sound of rubble being lifted caught Ajal's attention. There were multiple large chunks of rubble floating above the rest of the debris. 'That's right... Descendants of Ophi can lighten the rubble... Huh?'

Ajal noticed someone running over the elevated debris. He squinted in disbelief as he saw a figure quickly running towards the clearing where they fought. The figure crouched down and Ajal noticed them focus their spirit on their legs. 'Huh- Another Spirit Arts user? More resistance? They're going to jump-' Ajal looked up at the horse, 'Impossible... It's too far to reach, even with a Spirit Ignition...'

To Ajal's surprise, the figure jumped off the chunk of debris with powerful speed, soaring straight toward the horse. 'What?!' A slice followed by the horse's frightened and pained whinny echoed through the air. Its severed white leg fell as the figure soared into the smoke, a person fell from the top of the horse.

"Shit!" Ajal focused his spirit and ran forward.

The horse faded into a crackling white light. 'Spirit Ignition!' Ajal jumped up and caught the woman falling, however, he immediately groaned upon realizing who it was. 'Not her...'

"Not you!" Carala shouted and struggled in his arms.

She threw a weak punch at him which didn't do much at all, Ajal cringed. She looked frightened upon seeing Ajal's expression and put her hand down, knowing it was pointless. Her black and gold dress was covered in dirt, she had a bruise on her shoulder, and her hair was ruined. One of the lenses on her glasses had been cracked.

"I just saved you... Piece of shit..." Ajal uttered with grit teeth as he landed on one knee.

"I didn't ask!" Carala bickered.

Ajal dropped her and looked towards the smoke where the figure landed.

"Ow! Why'd you drop me!?" Carala complained.

"Pretty sure a lot of people want to drop you, maybe from a bit higher as well," a woman's demeaning voice came from the smoke.

Ajal turned to the figure walking out of the smoke and conjured a scythe. She had a sinister grin and two black horns on the sides of her head, black hair tied back in a wild bun. She wore similar pants to Banhu, but a white jacket that drooped down to her knees and buttoned up to her neck. She held a strange single-edged short sword that seemed to have a unique design. The blade was flat, with an edge on both sides, it had a hole where the guard and the handle connected. Her horns lit up red and emitted steam. 'It wouldn't be possible to jump that high with one Spirit Ignition... But even with Spirit Arts, she jumped far...'

"Who are you supposed to be?" the woman grinned, lunging forward with her sword before Ajal could even answer.

The two clashed, Ajal noticed it again, she focused her spirit, but there was something else. Ajal pushed his scythe forward, to his surprise she managed to hold him back as the red horns glowed even brighter. She squinted as she stepped forward and tried to push Ajal back.

"Iris! You'll pay for harming my vanguard!" Carala cursed from behind Ajal.

Ajal held his ground, 'Are the horns making her stronger?' Ajal focused his spirit and swung her off, she just barely evaded the scythe's blade. Her feet dragged against the dirt as she glared at Ajal. 'What's the best course of action right now?' The woman squinted at Ajal from head to toe as she rested her strangely shaped blade on her shoulder. She leaned forward and put a thumb to her chin as she continued to analyze Ajal.

"You didn't answer my question, who are you?" Iris asked with a blank face.

Ajal didn't reply, his third eye opened instead. 'Dark Assault.' The shadow around Ajal formed into six scythes and started to spin. The woman's brow raised, unsure of what Ajal would do. 'This is a mess...' Ajal sent the scythes forward, and Iris jumped over it. 'I need to find the others...' Ajal pointed two more fingers and two more scythes flew toward her. She dodged between the two of them, while in mid-air, the last one spun towards him. Iris spun and clashed with the scythe, her feet dragging further back. 'This has gotten far too out of hand... I failed to stop anything...' Ajal was about to send the next scythe forward.

A white flash brightened the area with a blinding light. 'What- Light?!' Ajal's scythes vanished as all the darkness in the area was purged. A loud clash of steel echoed through the air, as the blinding light faded.

"Who was that!" Carala asked with a worried tone.

A warrior with a longsword had clashed with Iris. Ajal recognized the formal black pants and shoes, and the glossy blue dress shirt, but they wore a white cowl now. 'An angel?' The silver cowl drooped over her body. She held a strange sword as well, a claymore, and had short icy blonde hair that reached down to her neck.

"Iris... You seem to be doing well," the mysterious newcomer spoke.

"You... Angela Rover!" Iris groaned.

"You don't sound happy to see me!" Angela stepped forward.

Iris stepped back and then to the left, Angela jumped upwards and made a wide swing down. Iris blocked the strike but was locked into another clash again. Angela had been wearing a mask, it was white with three slashes going through the left side. One of her eyes could be seen behind the slashes. It was very similar to that of the insignia. 'What the... That mask...' He sensed a spirit within the mask, separate from the spirit of Angela. 'Is it similar to Kadyr's?'

"You're a bit higher on the hate list, so yeah," Iris returned a sinister grin.

"Haha, still upset about those years in prison? Zeus!" Angela suddenly called.

"The strong one is mine!" A voice from Ajal's right shouted out loud.

Ajal turned to see a boy with a strange aura, 'Huh?! An Ethereal?' He had narrow vicious eyes like a beast, a pointy nose, and sharp teeth making a wicked grin. His white dress shirt had the blue insignia of a mask with three slashes, and around his neck was a strange white cape. Ajal opened his third eye as Zeus ran forward, he raised his foot and tried to kick him back. However, he ducked and rolled under Ajal's leg to evade. Before he could turn, the cape flowing behind Zeus suddenly wrapped around Ajal's leg. 'Huh?!' Ajal was pulled, skipping on one foot as he tried to hold his ground. Zeus turned around, and his cape moved on its own. The cowl wrapped around his arm and formed a curved blade, he raised it in preparation to try and cut off Ajal's leg.

'Dark Abyss!'

As he swung the blade down it disappeared, and the cape vanished as well. Ajal planted his foot on the ground, stepping forward with his fist raised. The short black-haired boy looked up with shocked eyes as he realized their positions had been reversed in a matter of seconds. 'And he's also a kid... Just like the one from Logos...'

"Huh-"

Ajal held back as he slammed a spirit-charged fist into the boy's chest. Zeus tried to block before the fist connected. The boy gasped as he hit the ground, his body ricocheted back up a few inches. 'He blocked that in time? His instinct is good.' The back of his head hit the ground and his expression warped into disbelief. He grasped his chest as he wheezed in pain. Ajal heard rapid footsteps to the left, and the woman in the blue dress shirt charged with a piercing glare. Angela swung her claymore, and Ajal leaned back out of range. He stepped back as Angela lifted the sword back up and stepped into range. Ajal watched her moves carefully, Angela made a horizontal swing, and he dodged to the left.

'The sword didn't disappear... But the cowl and the mask did. Those are her gifts, the sword is a regular longsword.' Angela had bright yellow eyes and big lips, and her bangs were longer on the right side of her face she flicked her sword up and Ajal dodged once more. She dashed forward and tried to stab. 'Spirit Ignition!' Ajal raised his foot and stepped down on the middle of the sword. 'This sword didn't break from my kick... It's made of an ethore...'

"You!" Angela grunted.

Ajal pivoted on the blade and swung his other foot at Angela, delivering a kick to her face with his heel. Angela gritted her teeth to bear the pain, she gripped the sword and swung up. Ajal jumped back while Angela stumbled back to the boy on the ground. Angela breathed in and out, the noble's eyes locked with that of the divine beings.

"Zeus... You idiot, I told you this guy beat Alexander even while he went all out... Be careful!" Angela warned with a strict tone.

"I almost got his leg!" Zeus replied weakly as he struggled to get up.

"Well, you didn't... And he just anticipated both of our attacks even though this is the first time we've clashed... Heh... The reports weren't kidding... He's a monster."

"Where did my gift go?! It just vanished before I could get him..." Zeus complained.

"He can deactivate gifts... He deactivated mine too. My head is kind of fuzzy after that kick..."

"What the hell are you? First, you make weapons out of the shadow and now you cancel Celestial gifts?" Iris asked. "You're pretty damn cool, I like you. Dig the get up as well."

Ajal tilted his head at the strange comment. 'At least someone does...'

"Zeus! Get Carala out of here!" Angela ordered.

"Go! Yycan!" Zeus's cape flew off him and turned into a large wolf on all fours.

The creature ran towards Carala who was a short distance behind, she looked at Ajal.

"Did you bring those non-unified? The big one with the red hair and the other two?"

"Huh-" Ajal turned to her. "Where are they? Are they okay?!" Ajal walked towards her with a concerned expression.

"They're fine... Everyone in the center of the city was saved by the queen and the members of the royal guard. They are helping civilians who weren't so lucky... I won't lie, I wanted to arrest them," Carala admitted as she got on the back of Yycan, Ajal squinted. "Shina stopped me... Thank her if you see her again..."

"I see, that's good..." Ajal took a deep breath.

'I still need to figure out what happened to Jack's group... Please be okay, all of you...'

Angela ran forward, she reached for her face as she lowered the claymore with one hand. Ajal conjured a scythe as she approached. The mask appeared in her hand, and a blinding flash lit the area once more. Ajal's scythe disappeared. 'Dammit! That's going to be a problem! '