Act 5 - Chapter 1

Chapter 46: Oaraun; Sharaun 48th, 344SR; 19:56

A whistle in the sky was cut short by a vicious explosion within the city of Helios. Oaraun raised an eyebrow at the Hydronian minister as Ardel glanced between them. 'A truce?' The massive creature with a dog-like snout peered down at Oaraun with nervous eyes. 'This beast remembers me...'

"A truce? With the Hydronians!" Ardel whispered to Oaraun, his tone deeper and more wretched.

"Please, let us leave this barren beach, and go someplace more, hospitable," Prime Minister Nepecis spoke slowly.

"More hospitable?" Ardel sneered, his tone deeper and filled with uncharacteristic contempt.

'The abyssal creature attached to Ardel... It's surviving outside of the abyss... He's in control of it, but it still seems to dominate his persona...' The minister turned around, his dark blue cape was decorated with light blue embroidery, curving lines starting from the bottom and circled around a symbol in the center. The symbol resembled two tears, evenly spaced in the center of the cape. The prime minister lifted his right hand toward the water in the distance, and a light blue charm shaped like a teardrop hung off his wrist. 'The Azuli tear, one of the harbinger Yuria's seven gems... He's the current wielder?'

"We will go to the capital city of Cerulea," Nepecis walked on the water's surface.

The tear-shaped jewel glowed a bright blue before the water in the distance started to spin, forming a whirlpool. The mermaids on the back of the creature pursed their lips, a whistling caused the water to move. The large creature seamlessly turned toward the whirlpool. Oaraun glimpsed the chains embedded into its oily skin that secured the golden armor. Deep red cuts were carved into blubber, scars riddled the creature.

"Wait..." said Oaraun. "We don't have the time to entertain a meeting with your queen, the battle in Helios requires our attention... The same one I assume you're out here watching..."

"Please understand we mean no offense, it'd be in our interest to keep track of, what happens on the surface in these, times of great change. Don't fret about the time, you'll be back here, within the hour, I promise my right arm. Our travel will only take moments," Nepecis spoke with a slow tone. "Oh, and please don't worry, we've made accommodations for surface dwellers."

Oaraun glared at the minister in silver armor, 'I should see what this is about... I am also interested in seeing how far they've come...' He glanced toward Ardel and tilted his head towards the Hydronians.

"Very well, I will trust your decision, my lord," Ardel lowered his head, his tone was normal.

Oaraun walked forward, as he stepped onto the water he didn't sink through, but instead stood on it. He glanced toward the women on the back of Nipe, then back down at the water which bent like rubber. 'An odd gift... I never understood how Eris's gift worked.' The surface made it simple for him to step onto the golden platform secured onto the back of the Celestial beast. 'Though, it has been long since I saw a creature of the Celestial, the natural creatures that the angels multiplied were all life that came from Jalrog... They could never have the majesty of Grelt's Celestial beasts...' Oaraun walked onto the back of the creature and Ardel followed.

The minister walked to the front of the beast and pointed forward, Nipe moved toward the massive wormhole in the sea. Ardel and Oaraun crouched and braced themselves, the creature flapped its tail fins and propelled forward quickly. They entered the whirlpool. Oaraun's stomach sank as he peered at the smooth-flowing spiral of water. As Nipe traveled downwards he sped up and they accelerated through the tunnel formed from spinning water.

***

Several minutes passed within the tunnel of water. Oaraun couldn't see anything outside, the moving water was too hard to see through. They suddenly slowed down, and the noise of the spinning stopped as they approached a wall of smooth water, it was like a window into another world. Nepecis pushed his right hand forward, the center of the smooth wall depressed and formed a bubble around the Celestial beast. The descendants of Eris raised their pitch and the pocket of air was held firm as Nipe flopped into it.

"Incredible..." Bishop Ardel uttered. "It's my first time seeing it... The underwater kingdom of Cerulea..."

A massive kingdom of bright lights lit the dark depths of the sea north of Helios. The underwater city had a blue glow to it, hundreds of dome-shaped structures surrounded a forest of spires that elevated three large platforms. Small figures that swam between the structures looked up at the descending transport. At the center of the three, they connected to a single massive cathedral that seemed to descend deep under the sea floor. Pathways through the water made of giant silver rings acted as bridges around and out of the city, 'It all looks so organized...'

"Welcome, to Cerulea," said Nepecis.

Behind them, Oaraun glanced over and noticed a large mass of shadow that crept into the city. 'That's...' An abyss formed from a fallen Celestial slowly consumed the city, it spread out from a large field of rocky crags beyond a large set of plateaus. The field of crags almost looked like mountains enclosing the city. 'This has to be over a thousand meters under Helios... It's hard to believe, but its abyss would eventually take the city in less than a hundred years...'

"How long has the abyss been spreading into the city?" Oaraun asked.

"Several months. We've known about it for some time, we even tried to handle it on our own, but it was for naught... Navigating those pitch-black depths is, near impossible, " said Nepecis.

"How many people were taken by the abyss?" Ardel stepped forward and asked.

"Taken? No one has been taken by the abyss for several centuries... The folk who witnessed it first over a hundred years ago spoke of spears, with minds of their own... Reaching outwards, plucking away anyone careless enough to get close... But recently, we've experienced no such thing, it's been so long our people don't even fret anymore..." Nepecis replied.

Oaraun and Bishop Ardel glanced at each other for a moment. 'Terra Gerrenwalt should have been the abyssal being here... But it somehow found its way to the ruins of Pathos... But even so... How did the abyssal being of Zadia's Celestial end up here... Why did it come here?' To the north of the city, the deep blue depths had silhouettes of the distant scenery. There was an odd sight to the north, several red lights aligned side by side created a type of path. However, a larger silhouette swimming through the path toward Cerulea caught Oaraun's attention.

A gigantic sea snake, large enough to topple the buildings of the kingdom slowly approached. 'Another Celestial beast...' Dark blue scales reflected the bright lights from the city as it soared over Cerulea. Bubbles followed from the spine-like tendrils around its neck, the spines were connected by a rubbery red skin. The massive red-eyed serpent stopped at the central cathedral and lowered its head, several figures stepped off and walked toward the cathedral.

"Oh, my apologies, I should've mentioned, that two representatives of Pandora would be attending as well," Nepecis added.

"The demons?" Oaraun replied quickly. "Hmm, good... I wanted to get in contact with Abaddon anyways..."

Nipe landed on the platform, and the air bubble shook but didn't pop. Nepecis walked off the Celestial beast and the bubble moved with him at its center. Oaraun and Ardel followed close behind the minister. As they approached the silver cathedral, its doors, and walls moved on their own and revealed the nave. Another large bubble of air awaited them inside the room decorated with colorful glass paintings. The layout was similar to that of the one the harbinger Xenia had built. 'The three titans all built cathedrals for the one who would inherit their power... '

They walked through the shifting solid pieces of silver laced with golden decals. The inside of the round space was surrounded by a row of seats, in front of those seats, descendants of Eris lined the room. Their song controlled the wall of water in the center of the room.

"This way," Nepecis turned and gestured towards the wall of fierce water.

The wall of water spread apart and revealed the center, several figures stood inside of the dome. On the left was the group who had arrived on the dark blue serpent. They were comprised of warriors in similar blue armor, with red skirts, the armor was strikingly similar to that of the serpent behind them. The same creature's hollowed head served as a helmet. Each held straight swords with golden guards. Oaraun squinted as he carefully observed a similar decal all over their gear. Five red circles all organized into a single line, on their shields that line curved around and formed a pentagon on its front. There were two figures in the group Oaraun was focused on immediately.

A woman in the same bulky blue armor was tall with long and dense orange hair flooding out the back side of her helm. Her helmet was different, possessing two bright red eyes instead. The woman wore a skintight black suit beneath the thick plates of armor, but she stood six feet tall and stood with a diligent stance.

A man next to her sat back with his arms crossed, he was shrouded in black robes. 'That one is most certainly a demon...' He had scaled green skin and a mouth that protruded forward, making his face look long. A thick red thread secured a pendant under his grey beard, and his horns extended forward from his head underneath a golden crown. The green-scaled creature and the orange-haired woman both gazed at Oaraun with deep red eyes, their glow felt nostalgic.

Nepecis walked across the room and stood to the right of the throne, to its left was a woman with red hair and silver armor. She wore similar attire to the minister. However, her helm possessed a fin on the top where he hair flowed out. Despite her face being covered, a scar could be seen on the left of her jawline.

"Greetings, druids and demons," Nepecis greeted, "I bring you together here today, divine lord of the Ammonians and his vassal... And here, royalty of Pandora, the first son and first daughter of the demon king. Drakiel, the wise lord of the Garuk mountains, and Dianatha, general of Kirn."

"It's my first time seeing demons... I'm quite impressed, that man over there, Drakiel, possesses a terrifying capacity for magic..." Ardel whispered to Oaraun.

"On my left, Garossa, Chieftess of Irosea will be representing the minister of her respective land," Nepecis cleared his throat, and the floor started to move. "And now, please welcome, the current queen, Yuria the Fifth!"

A platform rose from the gap in the floor, and four more descendants of Eris elevated a golden seat with a blue cushion. They stood at a corner of each, it reminded Oaraun of how the giants would lift the Gondola that carried troops into battle. Each of them had thick golden bracelets and collars. 'I've seen many of these women... The descendants of Eris... I also know slaves when I see them...' Oaraun's attention was drawn to the patterns on the floor shifting, similar to the wall of the building.

The queen of the Hydronians was seated on the platform, with soft navy blue eyes gazing at Oaraun with passionate longing. Her lips were a dark purple, and her scarlet red hair was braided into a thick ponytail. Her golden crown had a blue gem in its center, surrounded by the symbol of two tears. She shifted her legs and leaned forward, her breasts pushing against the white dress which exposed much of her skin. The demons bowed on one knee. Oaraun and Ardel continued to stand. Yuria noticed this and smiled, Nepecis glanced between Oaraun and his queen.

"Will you not bow for me?" Yuria asked in a coy voice.

"No," Oaraun stated simply.

"Hm," a slight laugh escaped her lips. "That's fine, I'd have been disappointed if you did, divine slayer," Yuria spoke in an inviting tone, her gaze never leaving him the whole time.

Nepecis and Garossa stepped forward into the middle of the room. They both raised their right arm, similarly to Nepecis, a jewel was secured to her wrist. However, her gem was red. 'Another one of Yuria's gems... They've been separated?'

"We call upon your audience after bearing witness to your return. The two pillars of light, followed by the rise of a new Celestial were observed by even the residents from Pandora," the Garossa explained with a stern tone.

"I assume you brought me here for more than just a welcome back..." said Oaraun.

Nepecis waved his hand with the blue gem, and a glob of water from the surroundings flowed elegantly into the center of the dome and spread out into flat shapes. Then, the red gem glowed, causing parts of the strange shapes to solidify. 'Fascinating...' The frozen water almost resembled land masses, Ardel stepped forward to get a better look.

"This is... Hiria and Kamino..." said Ardel, as he glanced toward Oaraun.

It wasn't a perfect match, but the general structure of the landmasses seemed correct. Oaraun was fixated on Helios at the top of the visual, Cerulea was not too far north of the city.

"The depths below Hiria and Kamino is a location we refer to as the Jade caverns, the kingdom of Ethos descended to those depths when the Celestial had fallen through the land," Garossa explained.

"Thank you, chieftess," Nepecis turned to Oaraun. "As you noticed on your way here... The abyss is running rampant into Cerulea. It had engulfed most of the Jade cavern, we call you here to inform you, that we cannot vanquish the abyssal being lurking in those depths, not alone at least. Yuria's emerald was lost within them with the death of the second queen. Without it, we have no means to control the pressure, we would be, killed before we even had a chance to battle," Nepecis explained.

Oaraun looked down, "The gift of the harbinger has been separated and its power divided... Now I see... Yuria's factions have divided... Haven't they?"

"If you understand that, then this is much simpler to explain. The only way we can access the Jade Caverns... Is through-"

"Pathos and Logos..." Ardel answered. "You want to access the caves through the tunnels and caverns underneath our cities..."

"At the moment, the bedrock separating the sea from flooding those caverns is so thick the water cannot breach it, by re-directing the flow upwards through the caves, we can alter the water pressure by outflowing it to us using Yuria's sapphire," Garossa explained. "We'll be able to mitigate some of the pressure and lure the abyssal being to us, into an area it can be handled by someone of your strength."

Ardel glanced toward Oaraun, "It is possible... However- I know you wenches want Pathos for something else!" Ardel suddenly snapped.

The old man leaned over as he coughed, his body shook and the tendrils on him writhed. Garossa stepped in front of Queen Yuria but stopped as Ardel raised his left hand. The old man cleared his throat as he huffed painfully.

"My most humble apology," Ardel apologized as he stepped back.

"That being attached to your face..." the demon prince Drakiel spoke up, his voice was deep. "It is of the abyss... Isn't it...'

Ardel glanced at the demon for a moment, "Yes, this creature has assimilated itself into my own... It is almost like a conscious extension of myself..."

"Then... What does that creature know of the abyss that we do not..."

The tendrils on Ardel's face quivered, "The-"

"Don't answer," Oaraun ordered. "That information is off limits..."

Ardel looked to Oaraun with a confused expression, the demon prince tilted his head.

"Limits?" Drakiel stood up, he was at least seven feet tall. "What kind of limits do you speak of, slayer?"

"It's partially a personal reason, however, that information is why you need us. Mind my comrade's outburst, but what he said still applies... What is in it for the rest of you? You simply request our might and access into our territory and we are to assume there is nothing in it for yourselves besides a ceasefire..."

"Why, with all due respect, the abyss is an enemy to us all," said Nepecis.

"It's an enemy to you at this current moment, the rest of us later. I am no fool, by aiding with the return of Zadia's Celestial... You are assisting them as well. If you don't intend to answer honestly, I am done with this charade," Oaraun declared.

Nepecis gulped as Queen Yuria stood.

"My Queen-"

"Silence minister," Yuria ordered with a cold expression, she glanced to Oaraun and that sly grin stretched out once more. "You truly are an impressive man, Oaraun. What we want is free travel across Hiria and Kamino. By securing channels through Pathos, we would have direct access to the other side of Hiria, where a sub-faction of Hydronians who resist us are located. We will help you kill the abyssal being, in return, we want access to Jakar on the other side of the sea."

"Jakar?" Oaraun repeated the name, he hadn't heard it before.

"Like Irosea, it's another city of Hydronians."

"Territorial advancement... Then what is their purpose here?" Oaraun gestured towards the demons.

Dianatha walked past Drakiel and cleared her throat.

"King Abaddon is willing to offer his strength in order to vanquish the abyss, we'd be making our allied Hydronians stronger. I also ask on behalf of Abaddon, now that you've returned, what will happen to the angels?" Dianatha asked.

"What? Is he concerned about Lucifer? You can guarantee to your, king... Tonight, I will paint the ruins of Helios with Lucifer's blood. He should come by and see," Oaraun declared.

"Hehe..." Drakiel laughed quietly with a toothy grin.

Dianatha didn't flinch, "I see, I will pass the message on. May I assume the prospect of comradery in the future is still open? It benefits all parties if the waters between Pandora and Kamino are safe for the transport of goods."

"You seek to establish trade routes... Then, I request another meeting in the future, I'd like to know what goods Pandora has to offer," Oaraun turned to Yuria and let out a sigh. "Very well then, I will make sure Xenia gets word of what was spoken of here... Minister, please escort us back to Helios."

Nepecis walked forward as Yuria twirled her bang with her finger.

"Is there such a need?" Yuria asked with a haughty tone.

Oaraun stopped and glanced over his shoulder.

"You're the divine being, the power of the druids is yours, why answer to her when you could make the decision yourself?" Yuria said with a smug grin.

"I serve the druids, and the druids alone," Oaraun stated clearly.

"If you answered to me, I'm sure you'd find more satisfaction than you do with that... Insecure woman," Yuria laughed.

Ardel's body quivered and he turned quickly, "Insecure-"

Oaraun raised his hand and the bishop stopped. "With all due respect, Xenia has what you and Zadia lacked."

Yuria's face twitched, "Oh? And what might that be?" Yuria asked with a curious tone, brimming with anger.

"The strength of a leader that commands unity across generations. True strength, the kind only found by those who know what it means to struggle."

***

Nipe breached the surface of the water, the dark blue sky was now pitch black. The Celestial beast crawled onto the dock and started to sniff the concrete. Oaraun and Ardel stepped off the golden mount as Nepecis took a deep breath of fresh air. 'We really did get back within the hour... That's a very effective means of transport...'

"I apologize for my queen's rude remarks, noble druids," said Nepecis. "I found great pleasure in our pleasant meeting tonight,"

"It's no issue minister," Oaraun assured. "Thank you for keeping your promise. You seem like a man I can trust."

"Why, there is no greater honor my lord," Nepecis bowed. "I will take my leave, may fortune benefit you in this battle, but I doubt you'd need it."

The Celestial beast turned as Nepecis raised his hand toward the sea, Nipe's fins hit the surface and splashed water onto the dock. The massive creature moved forward at a surreal speed and descended into the whirlpool.

"Do you honestly trust that man?" Ardel asked.

"Are you kidding? Of course not..." Oaraun scoffed. "He seems like he has his own goals..."

Oaraun looked up at the Celestial as another explosion echoed from the southern side of Helios. Pillars of smoke were lit across the city and reached upwards toward a dark figure in the sky. 'What the... That's...' Oaraun touched his forehead as he recalled something from his memory as Alexander Rael.

"They deployed the Michael class..." Oaraun uttered.

"The Michael class? That thing in the sky launched out of the sea earlier... They attacked us with several weapons just like that after you stopped the spear of Jalrog years ago... "

"Ardel, get me up there... To the buildings in the inner city..." Oaraun pointed toward the inner wall

"Walbur... Rise," the bishop walked forward and commanded.

The shadows started to move, two grey hands stretched out and grasped the ground. Walbur pulled itself from the shadows and turned to the two druids. The massive creature rumbled the ground with each step of its tiny legs. Walbur's skull face lowered as it bowed down, Oaraun stepped onto its shoulder as Ardel floated. Triangular-shaped scales were carved into the rough skin of the humanoid creature.

"Walbur follow me!" Ardel flew toward the buildings up the elevating streets.

As Walbur rose off the ground, Oaraun grasped the smooth strands of grey hair growing off its head. Ardel flew over the buildings, Walbur kicked off with its tiny legs and landed on the building, before jumping once more. The wind blew past Oaraun's face as he looked down at the empty streets. 'No one is defending back here... They must have focused all of their remaining defenses on the front of the city...'

"Ardel, inform Xenia of that meeting after the battle, it'd be unwise to distract her..." Oaraun ordered.

"I understand," Ardel replied.

The bishop flew parallel to the inner wall and straight upwards, 'The abyssal being was able to freely navigate the abyss, but even that one is allowing Ardel to fly seamlessly through the air...' Walbur's massive fingers lodged into the stone and dragged down, it flexed its arms and climbed up. Ardel flew over the city, towards the left side of the Celestial, where House Pendragon's office and the Helios general hospital were located. Walbur knelt down and leaped forward to the hospital, crashing into the top of the building and smashing several of the top floors. 'Nice.' Walbur dragged itself onto the roof and then jumped off again toward House Rael's main office and landed on top.

"Hm... This is not what I expected," Ardel uttered as he peered over the front half of the city.

Oaraun looked up at the ship in the sky, it was a floating grey sphere, with three white wings on each sound that surrounded the central vessel. The defense cruiser was at least a hundred feet over the city. A beam of light shot out from the front and split into several other purple beams that formed a barrier in front of the front gate of the city. 'That's why we haven't taken the city... The defense cruiser is keeping us out... But...' Green blasts of logorite from the rooftops rained over Roverswood, the forest in front of Helios was set ablaze. The bright green and orange lights from the fires lit up the night.

"That aircraft is high up... It's stopping our forces from advancing..." said Ardel.

"From the looks of it... It only seems to be defending the front... It didn't stop us from getting this close..." Oaraun replied.

"What should we do? Walbur could get you up there..."

"Not yet... I could use my own Spirit Bloom to get up there as well, but the problem is that I know they have another one..."

"Another?"

"They possessed three ships like this deep underneath Helios: The Michael defense cruiser, the Rafael dreadnought, and the Gabriel mothership... The demon king used the mothership to reach Pandora safely, the Michael class is right in front of us, but their strongest battleship still hasn't been launched..."

Within the city, angels in white suits looked like tiny specs on the tops of the rooftops. Some of those troopers turned and looked up at House Rael, pointing to Walbur's massive form peering down on them. Outside of the city, across a forest burned to the ground, the gondola was held up by the four giants in gold. Blue shields formed around the forest and defended the druids. 'They can't breach Gungnir's defense... But our forces cannot advance either...'

"We'll deal with the defense after... First, their offense, we'll clear the rooftops... Let's go!" Oaraun commanded as he conjured his green greatsword in hand and jumped from the top of House Rael.

Oaraun held on to the greatsword with two hands over his head. The drop troopers on the rooftops were shocked to see the green-eyed warrior descend. Most of them started to step back as Oaraun's blade lit up. 'Jealous... Flame!' Oaraun slammed his blade into the roof, releasing a blast of green flames that melted the angel's armor and skin.

"What the?!", "Aaaagh!", "How did it get past our defense!" the angels on the rooftop all entered a frenzy as smoke clouded the building.

The screams faded one by one with each of Oaraun's swings as he ran through the smoke. His blade glided through their bodies like butter, it almost felt like he was playing. The druids outside the city began to cheer, roaring out loud as they witnessed the green flames blazing within the city. Oaraun failed to feel any pride or satisfaction in killing the enemies who wronged him and his people. 'They are nothing compared to a divine being... Weaklings... I doubt I can feel enjoyment in a one-sided fight ever again...'

The angels on the other buildings turned, confused about what was happening. However, they were even more confused as Walbur crashed onto the building, pressing two top floors in and then jumping across the street toward the next.

"What the fuck is that?!"

"Crush the sinners!" Ardel commanded with a monstrous tone, he floated in mid-air between the buildings.

The building crumbled with every beat of Walbur's fists, it violently pummeled and smashed the angels. Limbs were flung off of the building toward the city streets down below. Angels in the streets ran for cover as rubble rained down on top of them. Walbur reared its head to the side, before grasping a whole chunk of concrete and ripping it off the building. The angels on the next roof froze as Walbur whipped the piece of debris straight at them. Oaraun nodded as he looked down, he pulled his sword out of a charred corpse in a suit of armor. 'I probably trained this angel myself...' As the smoke cleared he glanced at the other angels on the rooftop.

"Retreat... retreat!" one of them yelled.

The angels ran, Oaraun sighed as he focused his green flames through his blade, then swung a flaming slash toward them. Only two made it to the edge and jumped from the forty-foot building before being engulfed in vicious flames. The engines on their thruster packs spun, and a green glowing smoke shot out of the nozzles on their suits. The propulsion slowed their fall as they tried to reach the ground.

Oaraun ran forward and jumped for the two angels. He focused green flames through his feet and propelled himself downward. The troopers were utterly unaware of their pursuer. Oaraun slashed one of them on the way, sending them off course into the wall. The divine being flipped in mid-air before he hit the ground. Green flames fired out of his feet and stopped him the moment before he hit the floor. He focused the flames through a single point at his feet, propelling himself back up.

"Wait- Wait!" the descending trooper screamed as Oaraun rushed him.

Oaraun grasped the angel's leg and dragged him through the glass of the building. The angel grunted and struggled as his helmet was shredded off, and the skin off his face followed. Oaraun flew above the building and looked down at another platoon who stared up at him with terror in their eyes. The white armor of the angel he dragged was torn open and the body mangled. Oaraun threw the body at the troopers, channeled more flame to his feet, and flew past the corpse.

"That sword-" an angel uttered before he comprehended the tip of the greatsword coming towards his face.

Oaraun stabbed through a soldier and crashed into the crowd of them. He stabbed his sword through the angel's head and neck, embedding itself between his ribs. Oaraun jumped for the next angel and swung his blade down.

"No, no wait- Ah-" the trooper's scream was cut off as the blade with a body hung on it bludgeoned him.

Oaraun felt no remorse as he cleaved through the ranks of soldiers he once trained. His ablaze greatsword melted through the metal and released a foul scent. Two blasts hit Oaraun, but they did nothing. He cut the last soldier down and looked across the buildings to see Walbur on a rampage.

The streets below contained several angels locked in combat with someone. 'That's a druid... Their spirit is strong...' A sudden noise from behind him caught his attention, Oaraun turned as he felt a familiar spirit.

"Rooah!" Yami roared as he charged through the air with both wings fully spread.

"Well, I'll be damned..." Oaraun uttered with a grin.

Yami swung his blue staff which had a blue blade made of a strange see-through substance at its end. 'He's learned to use his energy in different ways...' Oaraun raised his greatsword and they clashed, Yami pushed him off his feet and then drove him downwards toward the street.

"Huh? What the... This sword?!" Yami muttered to himself. "Sir?!"

The boy's expression lit up with shock as Oaraun propelled flames through his feet. He stopped his descent and pushed back Yami. A sudden light to the right caught his attention. He turned to see a beam of light coming his way, 'The Lightbringer!?' Oaraun kicked off Yami and dodged out of the way, then propelled himself through the streets toward Castle Patheon.

"Lucifer!" Oaraun roared through the streets as he soared forward.

Spears of light shot forward at him, Oaraun angled his feet and dodged out of the way. The castle in between the buildings of Helios's main street was built into Helios's inner and outer walls. Tall spire-like towers and a keep that poked over the walls. Before Oaraun could reach it a wall of stone rose in front of him, he crashed straight through it but stopped. 'This wall... The only one who could do this is Bruno!'.

"Fight! Fight me, Every house in this damn city can try! Jealous Flame!" Oaraun roared as he charged forward and melted the rocks around him.

'I never once thought about using my firepower in such a way, only Ajal had the speed that forced me to adapt and fight in new ways...' Oaraun crashed through the wall and took off at a high speed straight into the castle garden. He glanced up toward the castle, over the large gate, on the balcony, stood the man Oaraun wanted to kill the most. A slim blonde man with long golden locks and a blue circle crackled behind him as he grinned and raised the golden blade.

"Lucifer... Lightbringer!" Oaraun roared. "Is this how you imagined you would see me again?! Is it you bastard!"

"Guards! Guards!" the king of angels called frantically, as he grimaced at the sight and tightly clutched the glowing sword.

The king's white cape flapped as a beam of light shot forward at Oaraun, he walked forward and felt the beam embed into his shoulder. 'So fast... Dodging the Lightbringer from this close is impossible without predicting where he'll fire...'

"You sent me to the abyss! You knew what was down there! You knew it would be too much to be stopped! You sent me and my squad to die!" Oaraun laughed maniacally.

"You can't even die right you useless cur!" Lucifer screamed as he fired another.

Oaraun slapped the incoming spear of light out of the way, "Prepare yourself! King! The years of suffering you and your miserable race have caused ends tonight!"

"Silence!"

Lucifer fired several more spears of light, but Oaraun raised his greatsword and blocked them with ease. He channeled green flames into his blade, Oaraun shifted his stance, preparing to send a flaming slash at the castle. However, two slabs of stone extended from his sides and engulfed him. Oaraun swung his blade down through the stone anyway, slamming his sword down into the ground and blowing away the morphed ground. Oaraun turned and glanced through the flames, he grinned as he saw Bruno.

"Haha... You did well Bruno... You managed to evacuate them..." Oaraun commended.

"Sir Alexander! Please end this madness!" Bruno shouted.

The large man wore drop trooper's leggings and armor, both palms on the ground. Oaraun turned back to Lucifer and continued forward, the rock shifted and moved once more. The divine being dodged out of the way, before jumping onto a rock and then toward the balcony.

"Ah!" Lucifer shrieked as he was caught off guard. "Somebody-"

Oaraun swung the blade down but was stopped by a blue blade. Yami had flown into range just in time to stop the swing. 'Hehe... This brat...' Yami grunted as he swung his foot, forming a blue set of greaves in the midst of his attack. The blue-haired angel slammed the greatsword down with his halberd as he kicked Oaraun in the shoulder, launching him back to the ground. Oaraun landed on both feet and looked up at his former lieutenant, grinning.

"Are you really... Alexander Rael?" Yami looked down with a pained expression.

Oaraun tilted his head, he stabbed his blade into the ground. He reached for his skull helmet with both hands, pulling it off and revealing his face. Yami and Bruno both hesitated.

"Why... Why are you doing this sir..." Yami huffed.

"I was never an angel, and I am no longer Alexander Rael, that's all you should need to know..." said Oaraun.

"I can't... I can't fight you... I only knew you for a short time, but I respected you!" Yami pleaded.

"What's this? What happened to that desire to be a king... Fine then, pathetically watch as I burn this wretched city to the ground..."

Yami gritted his teeth and landed in front of Oaraun, he pulled his hair back and tightened his headband around his forehead. He spun his staff around quickly and took a stance with his feet spread out and the blue halberd formed around his staff. The wings folded around him and the energy took a different form, into plates of armor that covered the lieutenant's uniform. 'He's learned to be more efficient with his energy... He's progressed quite a lot since our short fight weeks ago... Given more time, you could become a real monster Yami...'

"I won't let you destroy Helios, sir..." Yami glared at Oaraun

"Protect this city then Yami. With strength truly worthy of kingship, strike me down!" Oaraun shouted.