Act 4 - Chapter 5, Part 2

"Hah... We did it... We did it!" Zeus cheered.

Ajal turned around, he still stood on its corpse. But as he did he was surprised to notice a golden figure rise from the remains of the abyssal being. 'The soul... But...' Ajal had never seen someone's soul take the form of a person, they usually resembled a ball of light. A bright figure of a little girl and a smaller boy, they were holding each other's hand. The woman resembled Terra, but the little boy next to her was new. Ajal squinted as he noticed the two of them smiling, they squinted before they began to fade into the air. Ajal felt all of the fatigue at once, he fell off the abyssal being's torso and rolled onto the ground. 'The abyss will take some time to fade... Especially one of this size...'

"Thanks, idiot," Zeus mocked Ajal nonchalantly.

"Stop calling me an idiot... I have a name," Ajal sighed as he looked up and breathed in and out.

"Why did you help me? I tried to cut off your leg earlier."

"I punched you for that already" Ajal reminded him.

"It was a lucky hit..." Zeus pouted.

"What does that have to do with this?"

The hybrids who had been controlled by Terra began to writhe, the giant skeletons started to scream. Now that Terra was dead, their control was broken, however, they would not survive. Hybrid and resistance soldiers tried to tend to anyone they could, however, a sudden cursing drew his attention.

"Kill the hybrids! Now! While they are weakened!" A descendant of Tyra shouted.

"Slay the queen!" several more roared.

Vala glared at Iris who had simply walked away towards the building Banhu crashed through earlier.

"Shut your mouths you dishonorable fools!" Blaize cursed. "You dare call yourselves descendants of Tyra! Then tend to our injured brothers, I refuse to allow the dead to rest here!"

"Nice... I wouldn't be able to stop them anymore..." Ajal sighed, he tried to stand but his whole body ached.

Oberon approached Vala who was sitting down. The queen was out of breath as well.

"How many of our people were lost?" Vala asked.

Oberon looked down, pulled off his helmet, and sat next to her.

"I lost count a while ago..." Oberon answered.

Vala shook her head. "Arken was right... He was always right..."

"My queen..."

Blaize noticed Vala say this, but he didn't say anything. He pulled his blades out of the ground and sheathed them. Vala stood up as the resistance commander approached.

"Let's agree to a cease-fire?" Blaize offered. "Geral would probably be upset about this... Even if he had seen what happened here... I don't care... That guy didn't even show up..." Blaize replied.

"I am willing to spare who's here, but I am only willing to tend to our own. We are not allies in any way, don't forget, however, if you were to tell me what Geral's plan was, I might reconsider..." Vala gave Blaize an intense glare.

"Geral? Geral attacked Dorad... He was there, I saw him..." Yami mentioned.

"What?!" Oberon and Vala both whipped their heads toward Yami.

"Dorad? We didn't plan to attack Dorad?" Blaize replied.

"What?" Vala tilted her head.

"We specifically targeted Andurill, Geral told us to wait for all of our forces but we waited for an hour and he didn't show up. Then that kid showed up, Jack... Wasn't he on Geral's orders?"

"What..." Ajal quickly shot up, then scrambled to his feet and ran towards Blaize and Vala. "Jack?! You saw Jack?"

Blaize, Oberon, and Vala squinted in confusion.

"Why do you know Jack? You're not even from this planet..." said Blaize.

"Is he alive-"

"Ajal!" Sarah ran out of the building. "I tried to tell you earlier but I forgot! Jack is- Jack..." Sarah froze, unsure of how to say the next part.

"Jack is what? What happened to Jack-"

The black edge of the abyss disintegrated and revealed the surrounding chasm. The abyss was no longer obscuring the ruins of the city they battled on. Massive temples and strangely shaped buildings made of green withered stone stood tall all around them. The sun shone down into the chasm. Above the surface, the tops of buildings peaked over the edge of the rubble.

An encore of skeletal roars filled the air, and everyone's spines leaped out of their backs. Ajal turned immediately to see massive skeletons and small skeletons as far as the eye could see. 'Huh...' A giant platform was carried by four giants, with heads clad in gold armor, they were significantly bigger than the tallest skeletons and lacked any visible bone. Logorite grew from their chests.

"Shit..." Vala muttered under her breath.

"What the hell!?" Ajal asked.

"The Damned!" said Vala.

There were multiple figures on the platform being carried on the shoulders of giants who were all too far away to see. 'Those giants are at least fifteen feet tall... And they aren't skeletons... Their limbs almost look like wood... Just like...' Ajal remembered the skin on the body of the abyssal being.

"All forces! Retreat, we are in no condition for a battle like this!" Vala cried.

The giants walked forward bringing the gondola towards them, as they got closer Ajal focused on the person sitting on the throne. 'Is that their leader?' She stood up and walked forward. A large number of thuds echoed through the air, all of the skeletons had knelt down at once.

"All hail Queen Xenia!" each of the surrounding forces shouted.

"She's still alive..." Vala whispered.

The gondola lowered as the giants knelt down, the ground shook as their knees touched the floor, and Ajal's eyes widened. 'Jack...?' Ajal's friend, the non-unified he tried to help stood on the gondola, along with multiple other people who wore strange clothing or armor.

Jack was shirtless, he only wore black pants, his hands were stained red with blood and he had a few wounds. His hair was a mess and his face was dirty, he looked down at Ajal and Sarah with wide eyes.

"Jack..." Sarah uttered in shock.

Ajal glanced at Sarah, 'What the hell happened...'

"Magnificent, truly magnificent!" Xenia congratulated with raised arms and a voice that projected over a great distance.

"Oberon... Gather the troops and retreat," Vala ordered as she struggled to stay standing.

"Don't you dare try to leave! Not after the queen has blessed you with such praise!" A bald man with a mask that resembled teeth sat on the steps of the gondola and stood up.

"In truth, we came here to battle against the abyssal being as well. It appears that wasn't necessary, despite our hatred for you hybrids and the sin of your shameful betrayal, you've done us a great favor. I'll let you live today. However..." Xenia tilted her head towards the ethereals. "The angels will not receive such mercy, those amongst you will all die here and now. We will march across the surface, and take our rightful kingdom back!" Xenia declared.

The skeletons all started to roar and charge forward. Two figures jumped off of the gondola and landed on the ground, the bald man who snapped earlier, and another who wore a dark black trench coat. The one in the black trench coat looked directly at Ajal and then drew a black scythe. 'What the... That looks like mine?!' He turned to Nova and Zeus who had confused and concerned expressions on their faces.

"Agh-" Ajal tried to move but his body still ached.

He spun the scythe around similar to how Ajal would. As he got closer his eyes were easier to see, with green pupils, and the outer layer wasn't white, but black. His black hair was curly and had a greasy shimmer to it. He ran towards Zeus.

"Zeus!" Yami and Nova both shouted.

Ajal noticed Vincent's spirit focus on his feet, and build up. Ajal focused his spirit in an instant, the bald man seemed to notice, 'Spirit Ignition!' Vincent kicked off the ground and dashed at Zeus, however, Ajal got between them and blocked the strike with his own scythe.

"Oh!" said Vincent.

"None of them are dying, not while I'm here!" Ajal declared.

Vincent glanced at Oberon and then the scythe in his hand disappeared, 'Huh-' Ajal stumbled forward as a black axe materialized into his hand. 'He can copy weapons!' Vincent swung the axe down diagonally with one hand, Ajal leaned back and it soared past him, piercing into the ground. As he did he noticed the bald one running for Nova and Lawrence. A smile creeped out from under Vincent's collar as he lifted the axe and swung horizontally at Ajal. 'Dark Abyss!' The black and white wave released from Ajal's third eye, and the axe disappeared. Ajal spun and brought his leg up for a kick to the head. Vincent quickly raised his arms, 'Spirit Ignition!' The back of Ajal's foot struck Vincent and broke right through his guard, launching him toward the army of skeletons. The other turned with wide eyes as he saw that.

"Rgh!" Ajal winced as the wounds in his back throbbed, he crouched down as he looked for the other.

Ajal flipped his scythe around and crouched down. 'Double Ignition!' He dashed forward and swung his scythe down at the other, however in a single moment, a knight in black armor stopped Ajal.

'Huh!' The knight had a black skull helmet, his armor was large and jagged. Green flames spilled from his collar and engulfed his head in a ghoulish inferno. Ajal pushed the scythe forward, but the knight didn't budge. 'What the!' He held a green greatsword with one hand, its green blade oozed heat.

"That greatsword-"

The knight pushed his blade, and Ajal felt his feet lift off the ground.

"Huh?!" Ajal grit his teeth.

"Spirit Ignition..." The knight chanted as he swung his blade upwards and launched Ajal.

'Huh!' Ajal flew back towards a building, crashing through the wall. Ajal struggled to get up, the pain was unbearable, and he was on the verge of passing out.

"Alexander... Rael..." Vala uttered with a worried shock as she looked up at the knight with the green greatsword.

"What?" Nova and Lawrence both turned to her.

Ajal's eyes widened. The black skull helmet vanished and revealed a pale face that resembled Alexander Rael's. However, his skin was much paler, the white in his eyes was now black, and green flames rose from his skin.

"Alexander Rael is dead... Oaraun has returned," the bald man with dark skin stated.

Vala looked up at him with shaking eyes.

"What's wrong Vala," Oaraun walked forward. "It's been so long since we last saw each other... You've grown..."

"You're- You're back to normal..."

"The last time you saw me like this, must have been ages ago... The hybrids have become powerful, you're nothing like what you were in the past. But how did you come to obtain that power," Oaraun asked.

"I..."

Oberon stood between Vala and Oaraun. He was visibly shaking. As Oaraun stepped closer, Oberon lunged forward. Oaraun simply dodged, then struck Oberon's side with the back of his hand.

"Agh!" Oberon grunted as he tumbled against the ground.

"Oberon!" Vala cried.

"He's not important," Oaraun grasped her collar and pulled her up off the ground. "You obtained that power by betraying the Ammonian race... Right..."

Vala looked at Oaraun with a frightened expression.

"Right?!" Oaraun shook her. "You envious fools bit the hand that fed you..."

"Unhand her!" Oberon shouted as he lunged forward with his axe raised.

Oaraun threw his greatsword with little effort, it soared straight at Oberon.

"Huh!" Oberon raised his axe and blocked it, however, the force of the greatsword knocked him over.

"I..." Vala stuttered.

"Not you, those envious elders, too fattened by the gluttony of power," Oaraun dropped Vala and she fell on her side. "You are simply their herald," Oaraun turned to Lawrence. "Years of my people's suffering has gone unrecognized, the world took my generosity and piled it with their dirt and shit..." Oaraun seethed as he glared at Nova.

"Hey! Stop!" Ajal yelled from a distance.

"After I am done slaying every single angel on this planet, those who allied with them are next. Live out your final days, see the beauty of the sun illuminating the landscapes, spend time with your loved ones, indulge in the various pleasures, experience life's generosity, the experience you stole from us," Oaraun projected his voice, speaking to them all.

"That's... Alexander Rael?" Nova asked Lawrence.

Lawrence's expression was no longer lax, "Yeah... This isn't good..."

Oaraun raised his greatsword into the air and it ignited with green flames. Lawrence got in front of Nova to block the strike. However, instead, Yami blocked the strike.

"There's no way that's true! You're not Alexander!" Yami shouted.

"Yami... So you lived..."

"Huh-" Yami's eyes lit up as Oaraun grasped his face.

"You said you wanted to be king, remember," Oaraun reminded him as he dragged him forward.

"Agh!" Yami's head was smashed into the ground, he stumbled into a wall.

"Yami!" Nova cried. "Fire Magic!" she raised her scepter.

"Don't!" Lawrence shouted.

"Great Fireball!" the ethereal roared.

The fireball struck Oaraun and barely did a thing.

"Disparity addition!" Nova shouted.

The orb didn't explode but instead was consumed by a larger green flame.

"Disparity addition... The seventh natural law of magic, however..." Green flames seeped from Oaraun's skin. "You seem to have forgotten the eighth law?" Oaraun grinned.

Nova's eyes lit up as she realized. Oaraun lifted the massive ball of green flame above his head, it absorbed her attack completely. He stepped forward, and Lawrence got in the way to block the fireball, but rather than throwing it directly, Oaraun hit the ground. Lawrence and Nova were launched off their feet.

"You... Only Alexander would know that..." Yami shivered.

"Vivian and Bruno are alive, I assume that's why you returned here..." Oaraun walked towards Yami. "Rise and fight boy, I still have high hopes for you, don't disappoint me."

"What?!" Yami stuttered, he was losing his will to fight.

Zeus jumped from behind Oaraun, still holding the massive sword.

"Die!" Zeus cursed as he tried to cleave Oaraun's head.

As the blade soared for Oaraun, he simply turned and then caught the blade with his hand.

"Huh?!" Zeus panicked.

A white flash came from the left, Oaraun dropped his greatsword and raised his other hand. Angela flew forward at a high speed and tried to cleave Oaraun as well, only for her blade to be caught.

"The fuck?!" Angela cursed.

"Hello, old friend," Oaraun greeted Angela as he pulled Zeus around by the blade and smashed him into the noble.

"Agh!" Zeus and Angela both grunted.

Oaraun walked towards them as his blade lit up with a green flame, he raised it above his head.

"I said I won't let you!" Ajal roared and caught Oaraun's attention.

'Spirit Ignition!' Ajal's spirit focused on his legs as he leaped off the building. Oaraun turned the moment before Ajal could slash him. The two weapons struck each other, and the force of their spirits clashing sent everything around them flying.

"Divine being of Imperion!" Oaraun grinned excitedly.

"Oaraun!" the bald man shouted.

"Stay back Dariel! All of you stay back!" Oaraun stepped forward and pushed Ajal back. "He's far beyond your strength"

'Agh- My wounds from the last battles...' Ajal focused, 'Spirit Manipulation!'

"You focused your spirit into your heart to increase your physical abilities and reaction time, impressive!" Oaraun laughed.

"You don't seem as psychotic as before!" Ajal started to push forward.

"You believe you can change this world without anyone paying for their sins... Your madness goes beyond mine..." Oaraun asked before he swung upwards and sent Ajal flying back once more.

'Shit- He's much stronger than before! What the hell happened to this guy?' Oaraun sprinted forward with all his spirit focused on his right arm. 'He's even using Spirit Arts perfectly!'

"This is a fine opportunity, is it not?" Oaraun asked with a hint of excitement in his voice as he swung his great sword down again.

Ajal blocked, his feet pressed into the ground hard enough to shift the surrounding buildings.

"Opportunity...?" Ajal asked, then redirected the greatsword and jumped up with a spin.

'Spirit Ignition!' The roundhouse kick struck Oaraun, and a massive smack echoed through the chasm. Ajal grimaced with wide eyes as Oaraun blocked the strike with his left wrist, he didn't budge at all. Ajal's eyes widened as Oaraun grasped his foot and dragged him through the air, he pulled down and drove Ajal straight into the ground.

"Agh!" Ajal grunted as his back slammed into the rock and another wave of force rippled through the air.

"Ajal!" Sarah cried.

Oaraun swung him into the air. Ajal opened his eyes as Oaraun took a stance with his sword ready. The green blade started to glow, crackling with lustrous green embers. The air around him distorted as it heated up.

"Jealous...!" Oaraun raised his greatsword, "Flame!" He swung horizontally.

Ajal opened his third eye, it glowed with a blinding purple light, "Dark Blast!"

The wave of flames flew for Ajals, the purple beam released from his third eye and engulfed the bright green flame. Oaraun jumped as the beam hit the ground, he was launched forward by the momentum. He soared through the air spinning towards Ajal. 'What the-' Oaraun ended his spin with a downward cleave. Ajal tried to raise both scythes to block but the greatsword slammed through his defense and slashed down his chest.

"Rgh!" Ajal grunted as Oaraun stepped forward with his foot raised. 'Shi- Ack!'

Oaraun's foot pressed into Ajal's stomach.

"Spirit..." Oaraun uttered, and Ajal's eyes widened. "Ignition!"

Green flames engulfed his foot as he pushed forward, launching Ajal with an explosion. His back and head slammed through several buildings. Ajal rolled against the ground as he hit another wall. "If I fall the angels will die!' Ajal conjured his scythe, 'Dark Passage!' The black and white aura surrounded the scythe as Ajal dropped it. He turned his head to see where he was soaring, 'Dark Passage!' Ajal phased through the shadow on the wall and reappeared where he dropped the scythe, soaring out of the hole straight at Oaraun who had turned his back.

"Imperial Battle Arts! Buzz Saw!" Ajal shouted while spinning through the air.

Oaraun turned and raised his greatsword with a surprised look on his face as Ajal swung his leg straight for his head. His foot hit the side of the great sword, and he continued to spin, delivering a flurry of kicks at Oaraun who stepped back and blocked each. The final kick Ajal feinted, instead of hitting the greatsword once more he swung his leg around and swept Oaraun from underneath. 'Spirit...' Ajal jumped with his leg raised, 'Ignition!' Then slammed his foot into Oaraun's stomach and drove him into the ground before jumping back and taking a stance.

"Everyone get out of here!" Ajal shouted at the top of his lungs.

"But- Ajal you're-"

"Run!" Ajal cut Sarah off.

"Hah... Hahaha!" Oaraun laughed.

Ajal huffed heavily as he fell to one knee. 'Ah...' He held the wound on his chest.

"Interesting..." Oaraun stood with enthusiasm in his tone. "This truly is a rare opportunity."

"What're you rambling about..." Ajal huffed as the wound on his chest closed.

"We are both the divine beings of our respective worlds, mine Grelt, yours Imperion..."

"You're... A divine being?" Ajal weakly took a stance. "So I was right to suspect you..."

"Is that so? Well, not everyone can heal from fatal wounds I suppose..."

The two stood at the same height. The surrounding buildings which still stood from the clashes of their short exchange crumbled.

"We are the apex of our people, the absolute strongest among them, however, that changed the moment you arrived here..." Oaraun explained.

"Huh?" Ajal tilted his head in confusion.

"There was only one divine being on your planet, was there not?"

"Yeah-" Ajal thought about it for a moment.

"Exactly, that's it. This may be the first event in all of time, where two divine beings battle."

"You still sound insane... That hasn't changed."

"Insane... Remind me, why do you fight? Was it not to return to your world?" Oaraun asked with a dismissive tone.

Ajal squinted at him, "I seek to free the non-unified from the angels, in a way that doesn't require innocent people to die..."

"Hm? No, no..." Oaraun laughed. "I mean why did you fight in the first place? Before you fled your planet?"

"What? Why do you want to know..." Ajal glared at him.

"Because, there are more similarities between us than differences, here, I'll ask a better question since you were so curious last time. Had Jack not destroyed the logorite facility in Andurill, had you won against the hybrids and established your pacifistic order, do you believe you could quell the envy in the hearts of the people?"

"Jack... Did what?" Ajal uttered in disbelief.

"Oh? You don't know... Jack is the reason we're here right now, he was the reason this city had fallen."

'That isn't possible...' Ajal stared at Oaraun for a moment. "You're bluffing..."

"I struggled to believe it as well, but it is true... He targeted the facility where logorite was stored in and distributed, the substance his people desperately mined, and my blood..."

Ajal turned to Jack at the top of the Gondola, he looked down at Ajal with blank eyes. 'He... He...' Blaize and Iris glanced at each other with wide eyes.

"Jack... Hey Jack!" Ajal uttered in shock before shouting. "You-"

Ajal looked into his eyes and felt a sense of dread fill his stomach. Jack looked down at him without a hint of humanity in his eyes that once was. Jack turned around and walked away from the edge of the gondola.

"Jack! Jack, wait, don't go!" Sarah shouted.

"Wait... Hey Jack, wait! Where are you going?! It can't be true!" Ajal cried. "You wouldn't-"

Jack stopped, his head turned slightly and Ajal felt a chill as he noticed the hateful glare. Even from that distance, it was clear Jack glared at Ajal with contempt and disgust. It was a look Ajal had seen before, he recognized it and knew immediately there was no bluff.

"Ajal..." Jack seethed. "Sarah... The hybrids and the angels murdered Lydia..." He shouted while pointing to the fleeing hybrids.

"What..." Sarah uttered.

Ajal's eyes raised in surprise and shock, 'What...'

"They captured her after we left her in Ulkay... The hybrids and the angels both tortured her to death... For entertainment..." Jack spoke with unnerving calm. "We left her in Ulkay, and the angels just found her again! Sent her to Andurill without any of us knowing, and had her tortured to death on a stage for people to enjoy! I don't even know what happened to all of the children we saved..."

"They... They did what..." Ajal uttered. 'Tortured... For entertainment?'

"Why are you helping them?" Jack asked. "The very people who killed Lydia, you're trying to save them..." Jack pointed to the angels.

Ajal froze, unsure of what he could even say to get through to him.

"I knew you wouldn't be able to do it..." said Jack. "There is no future for us where the angels are alive..."

Jack turned around, the giants started to push the gondola.

"Wait! Don't! Jack don't-" Ajal stopped as Oaraun's heavy footsteps approached.

Ajal raised his hands as Oaraun slammed his greatsword into him. 'Agh!' He flew off his feet and rolled against the ground. The army of skeletons all started moving west, climbing onto the walls and up to the top of the chasm.

"Draw your weapon..." Oaraun demanded with a serious tone.

Ajal opened his eyes and looked up at the blue sky above. His whole body ached. His muscles were sore. Cold air flowed through the wounds on his body. Dirt and dust irritated his skin. However, it was nothing compared to what he felt right now.

"I've always loved to fight, is it the same for you? I was born to destroy, just like you," Oaraun asked.

Ajal sighed, 'I'm tired...' He rolled onto his front and stood up with his eyes closed, he cracked his neck and knuckles.

"I hate it," Ajal replied with a tired tone.

"Your battle with the hybrids, and then with the abyssal being has left you quite weakened... I thank you for slaying her. I feel the utmost shame knowing you must die here."

"Huh?"

"While I disapprove of such shameful conditions for our duel, I am bound by my duty and envy."

"Shut up..." Ajal glanced towards the gondola.

"You still think you can avoid this battle..."

"Where the hell are you people taking Jack!" Ajal questioned.

"He will witness first hand, the slaughter, and execution of every angel."

Ajal's head tilted back and his eyes widened as his heart skipped several beats. Ajal's spirit ignited at his foot and he soared at Oaraun, he conjured a small scythe in his hand as he charged forward.

"Oaraun!" Ajal roared.

He swung down and clashed with the greatsword, sparks flew from where both blades grinding against each other. Ajal pushed the blade up and let go, Oaraun slammed his blade into the ground as Ajal slipped into the shadow and reappeared behind him. He dragged his elbow through the air and spiked Oaraun in the right side of his head. Oaraun spun back towards Ajal and tried to swing his fist into Ajal, but he ducked under the fist and took a stance.

"Imperial Battle Arts! Driver!" Ajal punched Oaraun in the face, and stepped forward, igniting his spirit as he swung forward and launched him.

Oaraun flew backward before landing on both feet and looking up at Ajal with a bloody grin.

"Good... Good! Fight! Our battle will be an epic carved into the history of our very land!"

"I'll put a stop to this madness, once and for all!" Ajal declared.

"Your wrath, or my envy... Which is stronger!" Oaraun grinned maniacally as the black skull helmet formed over his face.