Act 3 - Chapter 10, Part 2

'What the... His spirit disappeared... He's out of my range... Then was the real clone the one that didn't vanish?' Ajal looked around. He hadn't realized the other two Lightbringers also left the range of his Spirit Sense, meaning they were long gone by now.

"Thank you..." said Angela.

"Huh?" Ajal looked to the noble of House Rover.

Angela was curled up over her lieutenant, her fist clenched over his chest.

"He didn't get hit because of you... You really don't want anyone to die, even your adversaries..." Angela admitted to herself, she was taken aback by Ajal's actions.

"Took long enough to convince you..." Ajal groaned.

"Heh..."

Zeus opened his eyes and saw his squad leader staring at Ajal. The ethereal quickly shoved her out of the way and stood in front of her.

"Let's go! Come on captain!" Zeus shouted as his leg wobbled.

"Haha... Ethereals are always interesting..." Ajal laughed as he turned around.

"Captain? Come on- Hey! Where are you going asshole!" Zeus cursed.

"Zeus stand down... We won't win... And he isn't even trying..." Angela ordered. "Thank you, for saving my lieutenant," Angela bowed her head to the ground.

"Oh..." Ajal scratched his head with his burned hand, the black charred skin returned to its regular form. "Yeah, no problem..."

"Huh? Saving the lieutenant?" Zeus stuttered. "I don't see Ando and the others. He saved them?"

"You are so dumb..." Angela sighed as she sat back.

Ajal walked towards the hybrids, the reaper stood between the opposing sides. The soldiers looked at Ajal hesitantly, some of the soldiers started to shout to bolster the courage in others. However, the giant drew a black scythe from under its cowl. The descendants of Tyra stepped back. Blaize stepped forward and clapped.

"Bravo!" Blaize shouted at Ajal. "You let an absolute scumbag get away, and you spared two of the mongrels which enforce that scumbags rule," Blaize sneered.

"Your name is Blaize, right? A resistance commander?" Ajal asked.

"Yeah that's right, what about it?"

"Blaize, call off your forces, and leave," Ajal interrupted.

"Huh?!"

Ajal turned towards Vala.

"Queen of the hybrids... Honorable clan leaders, please ensure the safety of your civilians... I will not let blood be shed on this battlefield any longer..." Ajal spoke in a raised voice as he bowed his head.

Vala flinched slightly, "I told you already, you know nothing of this-"

"I may not know this world's struggles or the pain you have all experienced..." Ajal bowed his head. "But I won't stand by and watch you destroy yourselves or anyone else any longer! You won't free the non-unified, I understand. From here on out, the non-unified people of Grelt are under my protection!" Ajal projected his voice to the entire army.

"W-what?" Shina stuttered with a surprised laugh.

"The land to the east of Andurill, and the towns already inhabited by the non-unified. The rest of the land I don't care about, but I am taking all of that by force." Ajal declared. "Even if it isn't today! Or tomorrow! I will not allow the non-unified to be slaves!"

The hybrid civilians looked at one another with puzzled eyes. Many of them looked to the queen. Ajal gripped the silver handle of his scythe, 'Come on... Just stop this...'

"Honorable?! Yeah, you don't know this world's struggles..." Blaize drew both his swords. "So what, I got to kill you to get to them? So be it!" Blaize ran forward.

"Banhu?! Banhu! Are you okay!" Iris shouted.

Blaize stopped as he looked to his fellow commander. Banhu was standing, his body was covered in sweat and he was slouched over. 'Did it do anything? I didn't get to see what his vision was...' Banhu waddled back and forth, he touched his head as he looked at all of the hybrids, they looked back at him with unbearable hatred. Banhu turned to Ajal and walked towards him.

"Oi! Banhu!" Iris shouted.

"Hm?" Banhu turned and looked at Iris with a straight face.

"Are..." Iris paused. "Are you good?"

"I met Jor... He scolded me for what I did with his power... Told me to stop- Holding grudges to honor those who died... You know what's funny, I even saw this tale, of a great hero who taught two races to stop their endless conflict which only led to their destruction," Banhu explained as he looked at Ajal. "Histories repeating..."

"What... What the fuck?" Blaize stuttered in shock.

Vala looked at Ajal and Banhu. "What does this even mean... Are we supposed to forgive him? He killed, hundreds! Thousands of my people-"

"Babies..." Banhu interrupted. "Children, that... Didn't even know me... Or have anything to do with my conflict... Everyone I killed..." Banhu dropped to his knees and slammed his bald head into the stone ground. "Had nothing to do with this conflict... Haha... It's ironic..." Banhu's voice cracked.

Ajal looked at Banhu, he pressed his eyes closed. 'Dammit...'

"I had to do it..." Ajal told Banhu in an apologetic tone.

"Huh...Ha-ha, why do you sound sad... I want to thank you!" Banhu bawled as he snorted on his mucus.

"Hey... Get ahold of yourself..." Blaize uttered.

Vala cringed with confusion plastered across her face.

"Citizens of Andurill! Even now... I can barely look at you, the more I see your faces, I see the faces of the innocent family members I stole from you... I'm sorry! I'll accept any punishment, even death!" Banhu declared. "However, should you execute me, I demand a duel with the son of Jestaul! That is all!"

There was a silence in the air, everyone was speechless. The wild Banhu Uunan was on all fours prostrating himself to those he sought to blindly destroy. The wild man sobbed heavily at the thought of what he did, the remorse in his tone was undeniable.

"Huh?!" Carala scoffed.

"What in Zadia's name..." The queen stepped back as she looked at Ajal with a very different look, a terrified look.

Ajal and Blaize both reared their heads back 'I didn't expect this...' However a sudden blade drawing took Ajal's attention. He turned to see the female resistance commander drawing her blade from the sheath. The strangely shaped short sword was wide and its entire edge was a bright silver but the plate of the blade was a dull grey. Iris's hair blew in the wind as she stared Ajal dead in the eyes with blood-red eyes.

"Undo this, stop this humiliating game..." Iris demanded.

"I'm not really the one doing it-"

Iris pounced forward at Ajal, grunting as she swung her blade down. Ajal disappeared for a moment and reappeared by the Reaper. However rapid footsteps to his left alerted him quickly. The reaper disappeared into the shadows as Ajal turned to see Blaize charge forward. He stepped forward and swung both swords inward horizontally, both got blocked before they could reach Ajal by the reaper in the shadows.

"What the f-" Blaize grunted but was cut short as Ajal slammed his fist across his cheek.

Six black scythes appeared around Ajal the moment Blaize was launched, one of them soared toward Blaize. He slammed his foot into the ground and jumped back, he lifted his blade and managed to block, but the spinning blade continued to force him back. 'Spirit Ignition!' Blaize's eyes went wide as a Spirit Ignition launched him into his allies. Multiple savage rebels tumbled backward as Blaize collided with them. Iris charged forward only to feel a hand grasp her throat. Her eyes lit up and her legs kicked the air as she was jerked back and slammed into the ground with an unreal force.

"Gah!" Iris grunted as she tried to grasp the invisible hand holding her throat, but couldn't grab hold of anything

"Dammit! What the hell is this!" Blaize shouted as he charged back in.

Ajal spun his scythe in hand, but it suddenly vanished. 'Oh shit... I used up all of my spirit...' Ajal jumped back as his third eye closed.

"Roku's Array! Sixth form!" Blaize dashed at Ajal.

"Huh..." Ajal uttered.

'He's fast-' Ajal dodged two upward swings. However, it was faint.

"Grelt's Rain!" Blaize shouted as he slammed both of his swords down.

Ajal conjured his scythe and blocked both. 'Without my Spirit Bloom, I can't stop them all easily...'

"Roku's Array! Fourth Form!", "Roku's Array! First Form!" Blaize chanted once more, but Ajal heard Iris speak as well.

'Dark Passage!' The blade on the end of Ajal's scythe receded as the whole staff was engulfed in black and white flame. Iris charged and lunged forward. Ajal blocked her strike but was forced back. 'Where the hell is this strength coming from...' Iris's horns glowed a bright red. Blaize dragged his blades through the fur on his shoulder, lighting them with a crimson flame.

"Wild Frenzy!" Blaize started swinging, releasing crimson slashes through the air.

'Dark Abyss!' The black and white wave spread out from his third eye, making each slash disappear.

"World Splitter!" said Iris with her blade raised high.

Ajal tried to kick her away, but his foot pressed into Iris's abdomen. She didn't budge. 'What the It's like kicking a wall-' She swung her blade down with a Spirit Ignition and dragged her blade down Ajal's chest. 'Agh!' Ajal winced as the blade passed through him. Iris was about to swing the blade up but she suddenly dropped her blade and grimaced. Her eyebrows quivered.

"Ah-" Iris grunted as she dropped to her knees and grasped the spot Ajal kicked. She coughed up a little blood, "What the... That fuckin hurt! I mitigated the damage!" Iris groaned in pain.

She glared up at Ajal but then her expression changed immediately. Her eyes widened as she looked up. Iris's spirit slowed down and dropped like sludge. 'Huh? Why did her spirit just change like that...'

"Iris get away from that freak! Roku's Array! Third form!" Blaize chanted.

Blaize thrust his blades forward. The intensity of heat from the blade could be felt from a short distance. Ajal dodged the multiple thrusts, tossing his black and white scythe into the air while doing it. Blaize ran forward and made a diagonal swing. 'Dark Passage!' Ajal teleported above him and grasped his staff, the resistance commander turned, and his blades reflected a bright golden light. Blaize squatted down to jump at Ajal, but he stopped as his eyes widened just like Iris's. 'Huh?'

"What are you doing-" Ajal stopped as he squinted at the odd reflection in the rebel's blades.

'A yellow light?' Ajal turned back and forth. 'It's the middle of the night... There is no light source that-' Ajal looked up and paused. Vala noticed the sudden change, she looked up at the sky as well. Ajal held his breath for a moment, 'What... Is that...' A massive circle of light in the sky, high in the sky, behind the clouds. It was large enough to surround the entire district, and even cover part of another. The ring wasn't complete, the two ends reached for one another slowly.

"What the hell is that?" Ajal asked.

"No way- why!" Angela shouted.

Ajal glanced at Angela, her eyes were wide and her jaw shook as she looked up at the golden light in the dark night sky. 'Does she know what that is?'

"I suppose I should've realized the moment Arid Lightbringer made you that offer," said Vala.

"Realize what?" Ajal asked. "What is that in the sky?"

"Hah- haha..." Blaize laughed quietly. "Everything was meant to go wrong today I suppose..."

"Ah fuck... First I fell out of a building... Now, this..." Iris groaned.

Angela fell to her knees as she looked at the circle of light form.

"Once again- someone tell me what the hell that is?" Ajal asked the various people around him.

"Lucifer is going to use the Lightbringer..." Angela asked with tears coming out of her eyes.

"That sword in the stone?" Zeus asked.

"The Lightbringer?" Ajal repeated.

'I'll see you in hell one day, divine being...' Ajal recalled Arid's words. 'Is this what he meant...'

"The gift of Ymir Lightbringer... it's capable of producing energy on par with that of a star and weaponizing it. The angels are going to fire it as... As soon as that circle is complete, it's large enough to engulf all of Cabac... They're going to turn this place into nothing but a desert... All of us and the people included..." Vala explained.

Ajal's eyes widened as he heard that. He looked back up at the circle in the sky, it was beyond three-quarters full. 'How long has that been casting?!'

"Well, we're screwed," Iris groaned as she sat back.

"Yup... As much as I want to stab that damn queen, the three-eyed wonder is gonna get in the way again..." Blaize complained.

"Before you could draw your blade I'd have your head!" Oberon shouted.

Ajal walked over to Angela and knelt in front of her. "Where is the gift being activated?"

"Huh? There's no point... Most likely Helios..." Angela laughed. "Damn..." Angela slightly smiled as her eyes started to water.

"What do you mean there's no point?!"

"Judging from the size of that circle, they intend to use the Lightbringer's full power... It's powerful enough and large enough to cover all of this city... To think it would be my allies that would end me..."

"I thought I said it already, no one else is dying," Ajal stood up and walked towards Rolo.

The short, black-haired man squinted as Ajal approached. He reached for his greatsword.

"I know you're probably pissed, but I need a favor. Make me lighter," Ajal asked.

Rolo tilted his head. "That's... That's above the clouds... Even if you weighed a feather, you'd never make it that high no matter where you jumped from..."

"That's why I'll need a head start... Queen, I need your help," said Ajal.

Vala glared at Ajal. "The king of the angels is going to blast the entire country... We can't evacuate in time, nor can we afford to lose Andurill..." Vala explained. "What is your plan?"

"Haha! Wait, wait- I want to see this. Does this tool really think he can stop the Lightbringer?! Give me a fucking break!" Blaize laughed.

"I don't have time- you," Ajal pointed at Vala. "Bring out that red gorilla!" Ajal demanded impatiently.

"Her name is Regal..." Vala uttered with contempt as the red circles appeared over her eyes and forehead.

"Whatever, you know who I'm talking about, I need Regal to throw me," Ajal said as he started jogging towards the center of the clearing.

"Throw?" Avery repeated. "You're not going to live a fall like that..."

"I can take it... It'll hurt, but I've fallen from higher..." Ajal nodded his head as he pieced together his plan. "If someone could catch me though, that'd be great..."

"How in the hell are we supposed to catch you?" Shina asked. "You're going to be falling way too fast from a height like that..."

"Banhu... I need your help, come on!" Ajal asked as he turned and ran away from the hybrids and past Angela.

"Huh?" Banhu replied with a puzzled tone.

"You seriously gonna help this idiot? What the hell happened to you..." Blaize scoffed.

"Shut up Blaize you useless nerd," Iris scolded.

"Yeah, seriously shut up," Shina also scolded.

"Hey listen, I don't want to die next to you either... But I'm not stupid enough to really think this idiot can do it?" Blaize asked.

"He seems to believe he can..." Iris said while she glared at Ajal.

The hybrids of Argol and the citizens watched Banhu follow after Ajal.

Ajal ran as close to the center as he could. 'I don't have much time... Dark Passage!' Ajal's hands were engulfed in a black and white flame, he crouched down and conjured a small black sickle in his hand. The white flames shrouded the sickle as he stuck it into the ground.

"What'd you need me for?" Banhu asked.

"I need a favor... When I give you the signal swing the bell upwards right here," Ajal tapped Banhu's shoulder as he ran to the red gorilla.

"If it is any form of redemption, I'll do it..." Banhu nodded.

"I- I don't like using that technique... The dead and the living are not meant to meet... I am sorry for whatever you had to see..."

Banhu put his hand on Ajal's shoulder. "Sometimes the dark truth is what we need to see the light..."

The massive creature squinted at Ajal. The ape leaned forward on its fist. Vala stood next to Regal, the gorilla opened its palm for Ajal. He stepped onto the rough skin, it sank slightly.

"You, uh... Roll!" Ajal called.

"Rolo..."

"At the peak of my height, return my weight to normal, you- uh- with the horns..." Ajal pointed at Oberon. "Oburn?"

"That works..." said Oberon.

"Oburn; use your gift to pull me to the ground."

"Are- are you insane?!" Oberon asked.

The golden circle in the sky finished. The inside of the hollow circle of light started to grow bright as well. Like a sun in the sky, it turned night to day. The atmosphere started to heat up rapidly as the entire area was lit up with a bright light.

"Just trust me Obur-"

"Oberon..." The clan leader from Baltin spoke with a raised tone as he glared at Ajal.

"Banhu get ready to swing that bell when I give the signal! Stay by the scythe!"

Regal pulled her arm back, while Ajal stood on her palm. Banhu got into position and got ready. Angela watched with wide eyes. The person she was ordered to defeat was currently trying to save her and hundreds of people. Ajal took a deep breath. 'I need to get high enough to touch that circle with Dark Abyss... How high up even is it...' Ajal gulped.

"Are you ready?" Vala asked.

"Yeah," Ajal lied.

Regal's arm flexed, and in a single motion, it rose Ajal up, faster and faster until it whipped upwards with all its strength. Ajal flew directly up through the sky, the wind hit his face as he flew. 'I didn't think this part through! How will I know I'm close enough!' The light got brighter and brighter the closer Ajal got, but gauging the distance was difficult. After several seconds of listening to the airflow past him, he slowed down. Ajal turned in mid-air and started to float in the air, he felt his stomach sink as Rolo released his gift. Ajal's weight returned and he dived back toward the ground with increasing speed. He fell faster and faster, as Morne's will pulled him down back to the city. His whole body was cloaked in the black and white aura as he fell.

"Now!" Ajal screamed.

'Dark Passage!' Ajal teleported to the mark he left on the ground. Banhu swung the bell and struck it just under Ajal. The force as well as the momentum he carried from falling launched him like a bullet straight back up through the sky. He had to close his eyes as he flew, struggling to open them as the intense wind resistance made him squint. The cold touch of the air flowing past him was offset by intense heat from the Lightbringer's attack. Ajal heard a buzzing as he flew up. 'I can hear it!' Ajal's eyes shot open. The circle of light was still a kilometer away as he reached the peak of this jump.

"Dark Abyss!" Ajal roared, loud enough to echo across Andurill to the people's ears.

The black and white wave shot out of Ajal's third eye. It spread out towards the circle of light. However, Ajal didn't see it disappear. 'Keep going!' The wave continued to extend, and Ajal released as much energy as possible, even igniting his spirit behind him just for a few more centimeters. The intense buzz from the light became mind-numbingly loud.

A beam of light fired from within the circle.

A massive shower of light flew toward Ajal, and Andurill however his dark abyss blocked part of the blast immediately. Ajal screamed at the top of his lungs as he forced the monochrome wave as far as he could. The black and white wave was almost at the circle in the sky.

"Aah!" Ajal roared as he bled from his third eye, extending the wave as far as he could.

The wave reached the circle of light in the sky, and it vanished in an instant. The light that wasn't touched broke like glass and started to rain down from the sky, burning up in the air and fading away. A black sky was revealed to Ajal as he slowed down. He coughed raggedly in the air, 'I can't breathe!' Ajal twisted his body in mid-air and looked back. 'The air up here is thin!' He soared back down towards Andurill. From that height, he had a good view of all of Hiria. The clearing that Banhu created covered more than a quarter of the city.

A circular outline of an orange scar in the city glowed even from that distance. 'Some of the blast connected with the city...' Ajal soared back to the ground. Far off in the distance was a soft blue light over the horizon. The mountains to the north and south of Andurill were huge, but Ajal now saw them from the top. Multiple towns and buildings were all separated by hills, forests, and rivers. The sea on either side glowed in the darkness. He thought back to Imperion for a moment and squinted. 'I'll definitely do right by you this time... Natalia...' After falling for a few more minutes, he heard a noise.

A green explosion in the center of Anka caught Ajal's attention. It was gigantic, bigger than any explosion he'd ever seen. 'Huh...' Ajal watched a cloud of green and grey smoke stretch into the sky. A ripple of force shifted the clouds as an ear-popping soundwave ruptured through the sky.

"What..." Ajal uttered.

Ajal stopped as he saw a crack spread out from the center of the city. 'No way...' He watched in disbelief as the smoke and debris covered the city. Ajal heard multiple explosions in the distance. The crashing buildings spread the smoke past the walls of the city. Ajal could only watch helplessly as the city he tried to save crumbled.