Act 5 - Chapter 7

Chapter 52: Oaraun; Sharaun 49th, 344SR; 00:19

The red blood spread out from Arid's body, smoke drifted over the noble's corpse carried by the whistling wind. Oaraun heard a building crumble behind him, his eyes remained unphased on Ajal. A few seconds later a massive quake rumbled the ground as the building hit the ground. The dust picked up its pace, and Ajal's hair swayed in the same direction. The fumes rose from the city, collecting in the grey clouds under a green sky. Oaraun squinted at the sky, and so did Ajal. At the peak of the Celestial in Hiria, a bright light shone, lighting up the night sky an ominously dark green.

"Somebody received a gift..." said Oaraun. "The era is changing... What do you hope to accomplish anymore? You think you've changed anything here?"

Ajal didn't reply, his expression was static. Oaraun breathed in deeply as a chill ran down his spine. 'How much has he recovered... Why don't I sense any angels in the city?' Oaraun asked himself as he observed the black and red scar across the divine being's torso. Ajal pulled the blue hooded robe off and let go, it drifted in the wind before falling flat on the ground.

"Only the School of Magic's council wear that... Angela must have helped you..." Oaraun deduced. "Where is she?"

"Answer my question first. Where is Jack?" Ajal replied.

"Even if I knew, I doubt anything you say could alter his conviction."

Ajal gritted his teeth, he was about to lunge forward. However, a spirit approached from behind, and Oaraun turned to see Vincent Terrahoff. The druid took his jacket off as he conjured a greatsword similar to the one in Oaraun's hand.

"My lord! This heathen sent the angels somewhere!" Vincent spat.

"What..." Oaraun uttered with a raised brow.

"I'll kill him in their place! And then I'll kill that woman too! He's naive if he thinks he can fight us alone-"

"Vincent!" Reygar shouted. "Don't interfere..."

'Huh...' Oaraun looked at the once headless knight, a ghostly face was fading away as his spirit depleted. Vincent's spirit was also drained. 'They've both used their Spirit Bloom... That's Reygar's face? He looks like Gungnir before he transformed...'

"What?!" Vincent scoffed at the knight. "Why shouldn't we kill him? Don't tell me he's earned your respect!"

"He has, but that's not why..." Reygar responded with a calm face as he looked at the two divine beings with wide eyes. "They are on another level, far beyond even the viceroy. We'd only get in our Lord's way..." Reygar's face faded away, and the set of armor returned to being headless.

Vincent stopped as he heard Reygar say that. 'I wouldn't have this fight any other way...'

"That's why I didn't sense any angels... I'm impressed, you really managed to save them, well, some of them. No matter." Oaraun sighed, and Ajal squinted at his reaction. "You've only delayed the inevitable... The king of the angels has already been killed. By my hand."

As the smoke obscured Ajal's body, his spirit moved quickly. Oaraun gripped his blade and lifted it as Ajal suddenly jumped forward at a high speed. Their blades clashed, echoing through the ruined streets as the smoke was forced away all around them. Ajal's scythe rattled against the side of the greatsword, and Oaraun pushed back. Ajal's feet hit the ground, and he immediately stepped forward, pushing his spirit as well. 'How is he matching me? I should be able to outpower him-' Oaraun's foot dragged back, his brow raised in disbelief. 'He was that worn out during our last battle... Hah... Haha!' Oaraun grinned, focusing his spirit, he pushed forward and tried to slam his shoulder into Ajal. A white flame lit up over the edge of the scythe. Ajal pivoted on his left foot, slipping past Oaraun. 'The white flame! Whatever he hits he'll-' Oaraun froze as Ajal flicked one scythe straight up, then spun and made a heavy swing with the other.

Oaraun quickly blocked the scythe, however, Ajal spun it and swung again. 'Shit-' Oaraun kept his focus on Ajal's violent flurry, the length, and size of the sickle changing with each hit. 'Where did he throw the other!' Oaraun jumped back, trying to quickly glance for where the second scythe was, but Ajal suddenly teleported back into range.

"Rgh!" Oaraun grunted as he blocked another slash.

Ajal didn't slow down, his feet dragged against the dust as he continued to keep Oaraun on the defensive. A black shadow rose around them, 'What?!' Oaraun tried to jump out, but was too late. Ajal's third eye glowed purple, Oaraun knew what was coming and prepared to dodge. Only for the black shadows to disappear, Oaraun found himself looking at the grey clouds behind Ajal, his feet dangling in the air. 'He can teleport others-' Ajal kicked off Oaraun and clutched the scythe he threw earlier, his third eye brightening all the while.

Oaraun glanced to the left and saw the middle of a building, glancing even further and he saw the ruined streets below him. He quickly raised his greatsword and braced the blade with his forearm.

"Dark Blast!" Ajal roared.

The purple beam struck the blade. Oaraun focused his spirit behind him as his back slammed straight down into the rubble.

"Dark Assault!" Ajal chanted again, grasping two scythes and starting to spin.

Oaraun quickly slammed his feet into the ground and rose with strength in his abdomen. With both hands overhead, 'Jealous Flame!' Oaraun swung down as Ajal closed the distance, releasing a flaming slash through the air.

"Triple-" Ajal hesitated. "Ignition!"

Ajal pressed his leg against the air and kicked off in another direction, just barely dodging the flaming slash. With another ignition, he corrected his course. Oaraun focused flames into his feet, flying forward and igniting his spirit, Ajal did the same. The space between their weapons distorted as they clashed again, Oaraun overpowering him this time.

"Rgh!" Ajal grunted as Oaraun flew forward, pushing Ajal into the sky with him.

"Rah!" Oaraun grinned, "Hah-Haha!"

Ajal swung his foot up and kicked Oaraun's side with a spirit ignition, separating from him in the air. Oaraun spewed green flames out of both feet, propelling back in for Ajal with his blade pointed forward. Ajal lifted both scythes over his shoulder as Oaraun approached, deflecting the strike in mid-air, but the force launched him back.

"Rgh!" Ajal grunted.

Ajal crashed through the wall of a building with a massive impact, cracking a large portion of the wall's surface. Oaraun continued forward and immediately swung through the debris, slashing through the smoke. Ajal dashed under the sword and then pointed his legs up, Oaraun's eyebrows raised, and he delivered a spirit ignition-infused kick straight to his abdomen. The haste Ajal moved with caught him off guard, he pressed off the ground and swung both his scythes.

"Ha!" Oaraun roared as he swung the greatsword and deflected.

Oaraun stumbled back and turned, the second Ajal hit the ruined floor his spirit burst and launched him forward. The shadows moved behind him, forming two scythes engulfed in white flames. Ajal swung them both down at Oaraun as hard as he could. He raised his greatsword and blocked it, only to feel two more ignitions. Oaraun slid back a few steps, and Ajal pursued with an upward slash with both scythes. As Oaraun blocked, Ajal let go and slid under the greatsword, dragging two new scythes out of the shadows, he pulled the blades up with incredible speed. 'Sickles-' The blade of shadow slit Oaraun's throat.

"What-" Oaraun was caught off guard as Ajal tackled him into the wall.

Ajal's third eye started lighting up, he focused his spirit into his fists as he ignited his spirit at his heart. Oaraun tried to take a breath but felt an uncomforting failure as his throat just spewed out more blood, gritting his teeth, he flexed the muscles at his neck. Ajal took advantage of the opening, elbowing Oaraun across the face and then pulling his arm back and smashing the skull helmet right off with a double ignition.

"Hah-" Oaraun laughed as his throat healed, he was exhilarated.

"Huh-" Ajal hesitated.

Ajal slammed his fist into Oaraun's side, but Oaraun kept his left fist clenched and swung right into Ajal's stomach at the same time. The two of them both coughed up blood, Ajal grabbed Oaraun's arm and pulled him over his shoulder, slamming him into the ground. His third eye was glowing to a blinding point, and the walls and surroundings were smothered in the purple light.

"Dark Blast!" Ajal roared.

The purple beam shot out of his third eye once more at an unreal speed, blasting Oaraun with great force and sending him through the building to the ground floor in an instant. 'Rgh! What power!' Oaraun slammed into the lobby on the bottom floor, before he could even take in the surroundings, Ajal teleported to him and kicked him in the head. Ajal grasped the jagged collar of the black armor and slammed Oaraun into a pillar. Oaraun landed on his back, released flames, and flipped onto his feet, he breathed in as he dragged his feet against the ground and ran straight at Ajal. The two scythes shrunk into small sickles, Ajal spun them as he dodged Oaraun's first swing then blocked the next.

Ajal continued to redirect and dodge strikes, parrying the swings from Oaraun. Ajal jumped over the blade and pressed both his feet into Oaraun's chest, he hit the broken pillar again. Ajal spun the sickles together and formed a massive scythe, he breathed in as he spun it around his body. Oaraun tried to block the upward swing, but it dragged straight through the ground and cut through him and the ceiling.

"Gah!" Oaraun grunted, his eyes raised as he watched the blade crash through the concrete.

Ajal spun the massive scythe and continued to rip apart the first floor of the building. Oaraun swung with all his might to deflect the heavy strikes, then dashed forward and stepped into Ajal's range. 'Dodge this!' Oaraun swung down as he channeled green flame through his feet into the ground. Ajal blocked an explosion that ruptured the ground and knocked him off his feet.

"Ah!" Ajal lost his footing.

Oaraun swung the greatsword up and struck Ajal, slamming him into the ceiling. The flames flowed through his legs, propelling into the ceiling and smashing Ajal through, and then through another, and another.

"Hrah!" Oaraun roared as he charged Ajal through seven floors of the building.

They flew out the side of the skyscraper and soared through the city, Oaraun continuing to gain speed as he propelled more and more flame through his feet. Oaraun smashed Ajal into the side of the Celestial before Ajal disappeared. 'Huh-' Oaraun hesitated as Ajal grasped his leg and started to spin. 'He used the shadow of the Celestial?!'

"Ahack-" Ajal coughed up blood. "Rah!"

Ajal threw Oaraun toward the ground, but he simply propelled back into range. Ajal deflected a slash and was knocked off course toward House Pendragon. Oaraun zoomed forward, swinging his blade at Ajal. They locked blades in mid-air, and Oaraun drove him straight through the hospital adjacent to House Pendragon. Ajal crashed through the hallway, but jumped to his feet, taking a stance with both scythes held behind him. A white flame lit up on both sickles as he threw them with a spin at the relentless Oaraun.

"Dark Assault!" Ajal spread his arms out, conjuring a set of six new scythes as he ran through the long white hallway.

Oaraun crouched and kicked his spirit off the floor, dashing through the hallway and closing in on Ajal. Only for the nimble warrior to turn, and parry the strike. Oaraun gasped under his breath as he was left wide open. he watched as Ajal turned the flipped the sickle in hand, it changed sizes for a brief moment, re-extending as he finished gripping it. 'Why is he so slow suddenly-' Ajal swung the scythe up and slashed Oaraun's face. 'No- I'm getting faster!' Oaraun smiled as the curved blade dragged the flesh in his mouth off. The cool air licked the exposed gums.

Ajal hesitated as Oaraun ignored the pain and swung anyway. The greatsword slashed through Ajal's right shoulder and chest, but he kept gritting his teeth. He swung back down and clashed with the green greatsword, flipping the scythe and striking again. Oaraun swung the sword with one hand as if he were using a dagger. Their clashes alone echoed through the hospital for several seconds.

"Raaah!", "Hraaah!" Ajal and Oaraun both screamed as their minds entered a similar focus.

Oaraun continued after him, Ajal turned and jumped as he blocked another slash. They continued to slash at each other, their blades gliding through the walls around them like it was made of sand. Each ignition blew chunks of the walls away and expanded their current arena. Ajal's third eye continued to brighten. Oaraun slowed down and watched his moves carefully, the other five scythes floated around him, showing no sign of movement. Ajal swung his scythes forward, and Oaraun deflected Ajal. 'Why isn't he firing-' Oaraun got ready to swing again, only for Ajal to vanish the second he blinked. The bright purple light now shone from behind.

"Crafty son of a-" Oaraun turned, only to see nothing but the purple light still reflecting on the walls.

'He teleported twice!'

"Dark Blast!" Ajal roared, his voice sounding deeper and louder.

Oaraun was launched once again by an extremely powerful blast, particles of purple light floated in the beam's absence as it disappeared. Oaraun crashed into an apartment complex, and Ajal jumped out from the hole he made in the hospital. 'Ah... If he charges that beam... It comes out with much more force...' The berserker shook his head as he looked at the armor on his shoulder where the highly condensed beam struck him. The black armor was bent, and the beam had morphed its shape. Oaraun looked up as he channeled the flame through his feet once more.

"That's more like it!" Oaraun shouted as he soared back in.

The wall behind Oaraun exploded outward, shattering into thousands of pieces as he launched off it. Ajal spun the scythe as he raised it over his head, swinging at the same time as Oaraun. They clashed and soared past each other, and the five scythes around Ajal started to spin as white flames lit up on each. As Oaraun turned he watched each of them fly out, rather than flying straight at Oaraun, they made wide curving arcs. 'What the...'

Oaraun flew forward, easily avoiding two of them while the other three barely even came close. Ajal spun his scythe as Oaraun approached, however before he could slash him, Ajal disappeared again. 'What-' Oaraun looked around for a few seconds, only to feel a spirit ignition-enhanced punch to the back of the head.

"Agh!" Oaraun grunted.

Oaraun hit the wall and dragged against it, Ajal ignited his spirit and changed course straight for the ground. 'What is he-' Ajal vanished before he hit the ground, Oaraun looked up as Ajal soared straight forward and slammed his fist into his stomach.

"Ah!" Oaraun coughed up blood. "Rah!"

Oaraun propelled forward and pushed Ajal with him, however, he vanished again. 'From above-' Oaraun looked up and saw nothing, only for him to get kicked in the stomach from below. 'Where did- Rgh! The scythes he launched earlier- He wasn't aiming for me!' Oaraun glanced back as he saw Ajal soar forward with his arms raised overhead.

"Triple Ignition!" Ajal shouted as he spun and slammed the back of his hands into Oaraun's head, then vanished again.

Oaraun was about to hit the ground, only for Ajal to fly in one more time spinning with his spirit focused on his foot. The reaper smashed his spirit into the side of the berserker's head. Oaraun slammed into the glass window, his head and back aching from the pain.

Glass from the building rained down to the streets below as Oaraun fell forward off of the building. Oaraun quickly focused his spirit as Ajal slammed his foot into the back of his head.

"Agh!" Oaraun grunted as he hit the ground.

Ajal slid on the side of the building, his feet squeaking against the smooth glass, igniting his spirit and shattering the slab of glass as he kicked off towards Oaraun. 'Shit-' Ajal spun in the air with both scythes, slashing at Oaraun's neck. With the flick of his greatsword, he parried in time. Ajal's feet dragged against the ground with the momentum of his fall. They both turned while winding up for another powerful swing.

"Spirit Ignition!" Oaraun and Ajal's clash echoed through the city once again.

The sides of the building started to chip. Dust filled the small street between House Rael and House Pendragon. The two of them ignited their spirits repeatedly. Oaraun felt his mouth heal.

"Good! This is more like it! An even fight! Hahaha!" Oaraun chuckled madly. "Good, good! I could never feel satisfaction in that handicapped victory or conquering this city of weaklings!"

Ajal grunted as Oaraun stepped forward, continuing to laugh maniacally. They ignited their spirits and launched each other away, Ajal was about to jump in again but stopped. Green flames started to rise out of Oaraun's armor, the ground exploded all around him as an inferno lit up the street. Ajal's hair was knocked back in the wind as he held his ground. Oaraun took a stance, and the flames around him burst into a wilder frenzy. The glass started to melt, even the ground was burned black and charred.

"You better be ready to kill me, or else this will just end up like last time!" Oaraun declared. "Toll of Envy!"

Oaraun's armor reformed in an instant. Ajal's left hand was engulfed in the black aura as he grasped a sliver of the green flame. It changed color as he dragged a black and purple flame out of it.

"Heart of Darkness, Oblivion Flame Cowl!" Ajal pulled the black flames over his shoulder.

Oaraun lunged forward and slashed at Ajal, a trail of green flame spewing from the edge of his blade. The force of the swing launched him backward as the cowl of flame flapped, it seemed to stop the green flames from harming Ajal. Oaraun dashed once again as Ajal flipped and took a stance, getting ready to attack. 'Wait, he hasn't-' A black and white wave extended from Ajal's third eye the moment Oaraun swung his blade down. His armor and the greatsword disappeared as Ajal focused his spirit on both scythes.

"Double Ignition!" Ajal ignited his spirit behind both scythes as he made a crosscut at Oaraun's torso.

"Ah!" Oaraun cried out in pain. "Raah!"

With the utmost of Oaraun's strength at that moment, he roared in a rage and brought his elbow right down. The strike made Ajal's eyes go white for a moment, but he countered immediately with a right hook straight to the jaw. The black-and-white wave receded, and Ajal ducked and grabbed Oaraun's legs. Blood gushed from the deep cut in Oaraun's stomach as Ajal slammed him on his back, then immediately lifted his right foot overhead.

Ajal slammed his foot into Oaraun's stomach, he coughed up blood, channeled flames into his back, and propelled himself back to his feet with a clenched fist. Oaraun slammed his fist into Ajal's face and launched him off the ground, then focused flame into his feet and soared forward. He tackled Ajal and soared straight for a building.

"Ah!" Ajal grunted as Oaraun pushed him through the various hotel floors.

Ajal focused his spirit on his back as Oaraun slammed him through the roof, then grasped his leg and swung him back down into it. 'Jealous!' Oaraun raised his hand and conjured his greatsword, he looked down at the building as a pillar of flame extended out of his blade. 'Flame!' Oaraun trusted his greatsword forward at the building. A pillar of focused green flame soared straight for the building.

Ajal curled his legs in and pressed his hands against the ground, he pushed himself into a backward flip and landed on his feet. Ajal immediately tried to jump back as the pillar of flame smashed through the building, but was engulfed by the explosion. Oaraun continued to channel the fire straight downward. The pillar of flame pierced through each floor, before hitting the bottom and spreading out into the streets. An inferno of smoke and flame engulfed several blocks of the inner city.

"I was careless..." Oaraun huffed as he grasped his abdomen. "He almost cut me in half..."

A part of the smoke bubbled out, and a black figure within it suddenly dived out. Ajal separated from his cowl and fell against the next closest building. His cowl of black flame burned up in the air. Oaraun landed on the top of the burning building and looked down.

"I thought you wanted to take this city..." Ajal huffed. "What good will it be if it's nothing but ash!"

"We will rebuild, this architecture definitely needs some revamping..." Oaraun judged. "There are a few buildings I want to stay behind, but for our battle, I'm willing to make an exception." he grinned.

"Well isn't that just nice..."

"What do you say we stop wasting time..." said Oaraun, his spirit started to condense.

Ajal's brow raised as he felt Oaraun focus his spirit across his spine. Ajal took a stance and focused his own spirit across his spine. 'This is it! This is what I've been waiting for!' The flame behind Oaraun was launched back as his spirit fluxed. The building crackled slightly, and parts of the wall fell as the green glow of flame was painted across every window.

"Spirit Bloom! Viridescent Eyed Slayer!" Oaraun howled.

A white pillar of light burst from where Oaraun stood, it shot directly into the sky and pierced the clouds. The sky lit up green once again. Ajal exhaled as he relaxed his aura, instead, he redirected some of his spirit into his heart and ignited it. Then conjured two scythes, tipped with the black and white flame.

The building crumbled beneath Oaraun's feet, and rather than fall, he remained still in mid-air. Oaraun felt his muscles expanding his armor, and his greatsword's blade became longer as his armor grew to accommodate his increasing size.

"Let's go!" Oaraun hollered as he looked down. "Huh-"

Oaraun looked down at the lower rooftop, flames shot out of his feet and kept him afloat. Ajal stood in the same spot, unarmed. 'What... He didn't use his Spirit Bloom yet...' Oaraun floated there dumbfounded for a moment. He was even more confused as Ajal started to back up, turning, and actually running away. Ajal jumped down to the next building, and out of sight. 'Why... Is he insane? Does he hope to defeat me without his spirit-' Oaraun's thoughts all came to a sudden halt.

"He's underestimating me!" Oaraun seethed as he clenched his fist. "Get back here!"

Oaraun crouched and then jumped, leaping a great height above the city. 'He went back to the ground!' Oaraun landed on the building Ajal stood on, then stepped off into the narrow alley between two buildings. Oaraun slowed his descent by grasping the wall, the fingers on his metal gauntlet carving a scar into the structure. 'Huh-' Ajal's spirit zoomed upwards and past Oaraun as he descended. 'He- What the fuck!' Oaraun landed at the bottom of the narrow alley and looked up. Ajal crawled out of the shadow and pulled himself back onto the roof.

"You dare toy with me!" Oaraun screamed.

An inferno of flame shot out from his feet, and the base of the two buildings was pushed away, causing several skyscrapers to lean into each other. Oaraun soared straight upward, as the falling structures loomed over him, he sped up and crashed straight through. Ajal ran across the falling building and long jumped for the next.

Oaraun smashed through the debris and looked down, "Ajal!" Oaraun roared as he changed course and charged straight for him.

Ajal was halfway to the next building before Oaraun closed the distance. Ajal glanced to his right, 'He can't dodge from here, I've got you now!' Oaraun swung his blade down. It just barely touched Ajal's hair, before he vanished.

"Huh-" Oaraun flew headfirst into another apartment complex.

Oaraun dragged his hand against the ground and came to a stop. He then quickly got to his feet and ran for the opening he had made. With his hand against the roughly broken bricks, Oaraun leaned out to get a better view. He glanced up, left, right, and even down to the streets filling with grey smoke of the crumbling city 'Where the fuck did he go?!'

Oaraun stepped back, he focused his spirit on his forehead. He ignited it slowly, the feeling of his brain pushing against the inside of his skull caused him a brief moment of excruciating pain. 'Spirit Sense!' Oaraun breathed out as he looked across the city. Ajal stood still at the west end of inner Helios. 'How... How did he teleport to that part of the city?' Oaraun looked down and squinted again.

"But why would he..." Oaraun whispered to himself.

Oaraun's head reared back. He opened his palm and looked down. His enlarged palm was pale white, just slightly green. Oaraun turned his hand and looked at the other side, bright green veins glowed beneath his skin.

"That fucking-" Oaraun realized what Ajal was doing. "He's going to wait for my transformation... To end..."

Oaraun's heart skipped a beat for just a moment, a vein bulged in his head. His teeth rattled as a rush of anger flowed through him.

"Coward!" Oaraun roared as loud as he could. "Invideus!"

Oaraun ran forward and jumped out of the apartment. A green light flashed under him, followed by dark green bones materializing from thin air. The bones clicked together like puzzle pieces, forming wings, ribs, a spine, and limbs. From its rib cage, a spew of vicious green flame shot out. Inside the bright green light, the upper and lower jaw of a human skull stretched out. The jaw clamped together and the rest of its head followed. Invideus let out a mighty roar as it spread out its bone wings above the streets.

"There," Oaraun pointed his greatsword at the building where Ajal stood.

From the sky, Oaraun could see the entire city of Helios. The inner city was far more damaged compared to the outer city. The south section was filled with debris and destruction. The last section where Ajal and Oaraun just fought had been reaching similar damage. The west part of the city was mostly untouched, except for the three blocks destroyed where the Michael class was brought down. The northern sector of the city and the ports had barely been touched. Invideus banked downward toward Ajal. Oaraun squinted, as they approached the rooftop, he saw him simply standing by once again.

"You damn coward!" Oaraun roared as he focused his flames behind him, Invideus sped up.

Ajal pulled another two scythes out of the shadow, nonchalantly staring up at the dragon's haunting face. Invideus raised its razor-sharp claws as it closed the distance. Oaraun watched carefully, the moment before the claw touched Ajal, he vanished again. 'I knew it! He is trying to stall!'

"He went east!" said Oaraun.

Invideus spread its wings and banked in mid-air, circling all the way around the Celestial as it soared back in. Oaraun sensed Ajal's spirit at a building just a few blocks from the one he jumped to earlier. Oaraun flinched as he noticed two black disks spin outward from a building. One went flying toward the northeast side of the city, the other went toward the south. 'I didn't see him throw the first set of scythes... He must have set those up when I was entering my Spirit Bloom!' Oaraun's lips spread open from the strong wind, and Invideus continued to speed up as they dived for the building.

"World Flame!" Oaraun chanted, hoisting his sword over his right shoulder. "Don't stop! Keep speeding up!"

The dragon's wings folded inward. From a distance, the dragon almost looked like a green bullet flying through the air. The green greatsword's blade extended, and a line of flame now followed the dragon's trail as well.

"Sword of the Revenger!" Oaraun swung the flaming sword.

Ajal's spirit vanished once again, reappearing at the south side of the city. Oaraun's rage bellowed forth as he dragged the massive sword of fire through the buildings. It melted through stone and brick, leaving behind a bright green glow wherever it touched. Invideus dived into the street and flew parallel to the ground. A sound barrier formed as they continued to accelerate, Oaraun dragged the sword through the buildings in the east of Helios and then carved through whatever remained in the south. As they zoomed by Oaraun didn't even see Ajal, his spirit vanished again and he reappeared in the north sector.

"Faster!" Oaraun commanded.

Invideus sped up again, and the rubble on the ground was picked up by the force of the air. The buildings of the city became a blur, and the sound of the air moving by faded, only the echo remained. They circled the Celestial as they continued to gain speed, flying parallel to the inner wall. In less than five seconds, they were flying upward through the north sector of the city. Oaraun watched as a scythe flew off the top of House Rael, he soared straight for it. The moment their eyes met, Ajal only had time to hesitate. In a fraction of a second, Invideus slammed its claw into Ajal, and he vanished to the scythe he had just thrown.

"Ah-" Ajal grunted, however, Oaraun soared far past Ajal and didn't hear all of it.

Invideus banked, curving around the Celestial at a high speed, the sound of the air pressure popping echoed through the sky. Ajal fell from the top of House Rael, grasping his chest as he wheezed in pain, he glanced to the left. As Oaraun approached again, Ajal's third eye lit up purple in mid-air.

"Dark Blast!" Ajal roared, and he fired directly at the dragon.

Oaraun pointed his blade forward, Invideus flew through the purple beam and tackled straight into Ajal. The purple beam was split, and the separated beams struck random parts of the city. Ajal disappeared once again before he could get hit, reappearing around the southern sector this time. 'He had time to throw the other scythe! No matter!' Oaraun crouched as Invideus flew straight through the inner wall. Rather than slow down, Oaraun continued to focus his flames and speed up. Invideus angled upward and started to rise. The two of them spiraled the Celestial, then suddenly went downward toward Ajal.

They flew into the southern section within a millisecond. A black and white wave spread out from the place they aimed for. 'Shit!' Oaraun had no time to avoid it, the second he hit the black and white wave, Invideus, his armor, greatsword, and flames all vanished all at once. Oaraun flew right past his target, the sonic boom from his speed rippled through the sky as he crashed into the ground at an insane speed. The explosive sound echoed repeatedly as it popped both their eardrums.

"Rgh!" Oaraun crashed through the streets, rubble and metal scraping and cutting through his skin as he came to a stop. "Agh! Ah..."

"You fucking psycho... You went faster than the speed of sound..." Ajal huffed as he held his ear.

The black and white wave receded. Oaraun struggled to stand, after moving at those speeds, just standing still felt odd. He fell to one knee as he grasped the ground, to him, it was spinning. Ajal dashed forward as Oaraun was getting up.

"Hah..." Oaraun exhaled. "Toll of Nemesis!"

The cuts and bruises on his skin all healed. Ajal kicked Oaraun in the face, then brought his other leg and hit him with an ignition in the same spot. Oaraun was still disoriented, the kick made him even dizzier.

Ajal lunged forward and slammed both fists into Oaraun's stomach, then pivoted on one foot, brought his leg around, and struck Oaraun's head again. Half the skull helmet broke off. Ajal flipped and brought his leg around once again. However, before he struck, Oaraun caught his foot. Ajal kicked off the ground with his other leg, then slammed it into Oaraun again with a triple ignition. Oaraun's feet dragged against the ground, but he didn't let go.

"Huh-" Ajal stuttered as he was quickly pulled overhead.

"Rah!" Oaraun slammed Ajal into the floor.

"Agh!"

Oaraun raised his knee, then stomped down. Ajal gasped as the air was knocked out of him. Oaraun raised both hands overhead and clasped his fists, 'Double Ignition!' Ajal quickly kicked the ground and rolled backward. As he got to his feet, Oaraun smashed the ground, channeling flames into the strike and launching Ajal once again.

"Ah!" the flames burned Ajal's skin as he tried to recover.

Ajal jumped backward, and Oaraun dashed forward the moment he was airborne once again. With his greatsword overhead, he swung down. Ajal quickly conjured a sickle and blocked it, igniting his spirit three times. Oaraun's swing didn't slow down, the greatsword slammed against the scythe and continued forward. Ajal clenched his teeth, his back slammed into the ground as Oaraun raised the greatsword for another slam.

"Die!" Oaraun roared.

Ajal quickly recovered before he swung down, with the small sickle in hand he got ready to block once more. Oaraun grasped his sword with both arms as he slashed at Ajal. Their weapons clashed, and Ajal immediately loosened his grip. The greatsword dragged against the curved blade's edge, Ajal pushed it away at the exact moment Oaraun could no longer pull back. Oaraun's eyes lit up as his blade hit the ground, Ajal jumped with his sickle overhead. He stepped off the greatswords blade and leaned into range. Oaraun quickly let go of his sword and raised one arm to guard his throat. 'He'll go for my throat again to stop me from using Spirit Arts!' Oaraun focused his spirit on his neck.

However, rather than slash his throat, Ajal feinted the slash, kicked off the sword, and landed a flying roundhouse kick on Oaraun's temple. 'What-' Oaraun opened his eyes for a brief moment, Ajal carried the momentum and raised the extending scythe. 'Shit-' Ajal swung his scythe, slicing the blade through both Oaraun's eyes. Oaraun reflexively swung his greatsword up, Ajal, still standing on its blade, jumped into the air with momentum.

"Ah!" Oaraun's vision became a blur of red.

His spirit sense struggled to follow Ajal, his entire mind fixated on the pain in his face. 'My eyes! Fuck! The blade went deep!' Oaraun held his own face as he stumbled backward, blood ran down his nose and chin.

"Imperial execution arts! Saber!" Ajal came down with his elbow raised over his head.

Oaraun looked up, he raised his arms but hesitated. 'I can't tell or sense where he'll strike-' A sharp impact to the top of his skull immediately caused him to defend his head from further damage. 'Fucking savage! Haha- Agh!' Oaraun was caught off guard as he felt a spirit ignition strike his ankle. Oaraun's foot slid, little did he expect another spirit ignition to strike his other foot. 'What's happening!' Oaraun's other foot slid and he lost his footing. He fell to an awkward position, one foot planted, and the other sliding, he was losing balance. A sudden punch to the gut was followed by an even heavier one straight to the liver.

"Ahack!" Oaraun coughed, his throat rasping.

'I can't handle his hand-to-hand combat even if I could see! My eyes will be back-' Oaraun paused as he was lifted up and slammed into the ground, and then a heavy impact sent him rolling across the ground. 'No! He damaged more than my eyes, my bones, and part of my brain! It'll take too long!' Oaraun rose, curled up, and defended his face from all sides. A flurry of punches, kicks, slashes, slams, and throws continued onward for what felt like an eternity. Ajal continued to smash his armor to pieces, bruising and bloodying his body more and more. As Oaraun felt the cold air meet his exposed skin, he heard the spinning scythe approach. 'If I use Toll of Nemesis, I'll heal immediately... But he'll most likely counter-' A slash severed one of his arms, and the blade just barely grazed Oaraun's shoulder and neck. 'The trade-off isn't something I should worry about!'

"Toll of Nemesis!" said Oaraun.

"Dark Abyss!" Ajal yelled right after.

The pain across Oaraun's body all disappeared, but so did his armor and sword. His vision returned but his eyes were still blurred from the blood. Ajal angled the scythe, 'He's going for my eyes again!' Oaraun raised his fist and caught the scythe's blade with his bare hand.

"Rgh!" Ajal grunted as he conjured a scythe with his other hand. "Huh!"

"You'll pay for that!" Oaraun dragged Ajal forward by the scythe and grasped his wrist with an iron grip.

"Shit!"

Ajal tried to pull away, kick away, he hoised the other scythe over his head and tried to cut off Oaraun's arm to get away. However, Oaraun caught his other arm. The difference in size allowed Oaraun to simply raise one foot, he channeled flame into it before slamming it into Ajal's chest. He let go of his arms and drove Ajal into the ground, stomping his chest in and cracking a rib.

"Aa-!" Ajal's air was cut off, he made a silent cry from the pain.

"Use your spirit bloom!" Oaraun taunted as he slammed his foot down again.

Oaraun channeled even more flames into his foot as he continued to press Ajal into the ground. Flames fanned out from all around them. Ajal's arms were shrouded in the black aura, he corrupted some of the flames and used them to shield himself.

"Oblivion Flame Shield!" Ajal grunted.

"You continue to underestimate me! Fight at your strongest!" Oaraun raised his open hand into the air. "Or sit there and die disgracefully!"

'I need something stronger to beat his Oblivion flame!' Oaraun focused his spirit to his core, 'Spirit Release!' The air around Oaraun's hand started to spiral, he grasped Ajal's leg and lifted him up. 'I never liked using magic... But I'll do anything if it means defeating you, right here, right now!' The flames in his hand started to spiral, a black sphere appeared in the center of a vortex on his palm. Ajal's eyes lit up as he watched the green flames spiral around the black sphere. The air whirred violently as the spiraling flames pulled in everything around it. Black and green lightning crackled from it as Oaraun got ready to strike Ajal.

"Death Storm Magic!" Oaraun chanted.

"What!?" said Ajal, he focused his spirit as he took cover behind the black Oblivion flames.

"Breath of Destruction!"

A horizontal tornado of flame spread outward, and the black and green lightning rippled forth along with it. Ajal was sent flying back by the unreal force, it was like nothing he had felt before. A pulse of black lightning spread outwards and immediately blew half of the cowl away, another pulse blew the rest away. All the while, he was being carried in the eye of the tornado. Another pulse of black lightning struck Ajal and tore straight through his torso, obliterating his right arm and shoulder. The storm projectile struck a building with Ajal inside it, the force burst out, and black lighting and strong winds spread outward. The building was eviscerated and blown away at the same time. Oaraun paused for a moment in shock. As the dust cleared, a figure could be seen on the ground pushing itself up. Ajal rose with a shocked expression, his left arm reached for where he was struck. 'Haha... hahaha!'

"Hahahaha!" Oaraun laughed as he witnessed the destructive capability of his own magic he didn't know he was capable of.

"Ah!" Ajal grunted as he reached for his right side, his arm started to heal back quickly as he focused his spirit and looked forward.

"This is too much fun... Is it the same for you? I'm learning more about myself the more I fight you!"

"You're just a fucking psycho..." Ajal pushed himself up with his left hand.

"Haha! Then let's try this! Spirit Release!"

Ajal's eyes lit up, and he exhaled steadily in an attempt to handle the pain. "Spirit Release!"

"Interesting! Let's see which of us is stronger!"

"Eclipse Magic..." Ajal chanted with his third eye closed.

"Obsidian Magic!" Oaraun chanted as well.

In Ajal's palm, a tiny black sphere with a white light in its center floated upward. Oaraun's flames condensed with a black matter, both seemed to collect at its center. The flames condensed into bright green magma, taking on the form of a spike. The bright green spike cooled until it turned a shiny black, similar to the metal of Oaraun's armor. Ajal focused deeply. 'Huh...' Oaraun looked at the tiny sphere in Ajal's hand, a white light glowed around the edge of the black circle, it was so faint, but it was there. 'It looks like an eclipse in his palm... He struck me with that in our last fight once... It was powerful...' The air around the black nail, and the black sphere was distorting. 'Did he form a star in his hand?'

"Rgh! Ah!" Ajal grunted, and his hair started flashing white.

'What... What's happening to his body...' Ajal's right arm regenerated, and he hovered it over the sphere. His skin started to burn, his eyes started to dry up. Oaraun stepped back, and an unfamiliar anxiety came over him. Oaraun looked down at his own palm and noticed himself shaking. 'What is this...' Ajal's hair became bright white, it was practically glowing.

"Genesis!" Ajal roared as he thrust the orb forward.

"Black Nail!" Oaraun launched the projectile.

The black orb slowly floated forward, 'This is different... Was it unstable last time?!' Oaraun felt an unnatural amount of doubt as he continued observing the attack. The black nail flew toward it, but then a crack appeared on the orb, like shattering glass echoing through the sky. In an instant, a blast greater than the strength of the Lightbringer shot forth. The black nail was engulfed by the greater attack. 'What?!' Oaraun raised his greatsword just in time and tried to block the blast. The force pushed him off his feet, he flew backward through the wall of Helios, and after a few seconds, another impact followed.

The light faded, and Oaraun couldn't feel the ground anymore. His greatsword had been charred black, his armor had changed shape slightly, melting over his skin and drooping. Oaraun stared blankly at the black sky, he looked around as he felt himself start to fall. 'I'm- In the air?!' Oaraun winced as he looked down, and noticed himself over the seas south of Kamino. A hole was shot into the top of the mountain as well as the wall of Helios. 'He blasted me that far?!'

"Invideus!" Oaraun called, the dragon materialized underneath him and he landed on its back. "Agh!"

Oaraun crouched as he ripped his own armor off, his skin was seared from the blast. 'He burned me?! Me!' Invideus flew back over land, and Oaraun channeled flames behind him and accelerated. A strange feeling came over Oaraun, the anxious hesitation he felt earlier was similar. 'Are we really on the same level... No... I know full well, he is far stronger than me!' A sudden spike in spirit within Helios alerted Oaraun.

"Spirit Bloom! Wrath of the Reaper!" Ajal roared, his voice echoing across Grelt.

"Bastard..." Oaraun grinned as his burns healed. "His Spirit Bloom will outlast mine... I have no choice but to win this before it does!"

The white pillar burst out of Helios, the light reached the clouds and the sky was dyed purple. Invideus sped up, and Oaraun continued channeling his fire. 'He launched me southward off of the continent... From Helios... Unreal... He's been holding onto power like that this entire time?!' The bone dragon's wings curled inward as he soared over Kamino, flying right over Logos and the mountains and angling downward toward the capitol. As Oaraun approached Helios, hundreds of black scythes flew through the air toward him. A sound barrier formed around Invideus.

"Dodge!" Oaraun commanded.

Invideus barrel rolled through the air, dodging and knocking away multiple scythes. Ajal looked up, his hair had returned to a black color and his third eye glowed. A figure rose from the shadows, six purple lights appeared around him.

"Don't stop!" Oaraun pressed forward. "Obsidian Magic!"

Invideus's hand was engulfed in green flame, it condensed into magma and cooled into a black gauntlet with razor-sharp claws. The six lights fired purple beams, as well as a seventh from Ajal's forehead. Invideus flew through the gaps in the grid of purple beams, as they curved and cut through buildings Invideus continued to dodge, but one wing was burned off. Invideus raised its palm, and the reaper reached into its cowl and dragged six massive scythes from the shadow.

The dragon and the reaper clashed, and the black claw exploded. Oaraun flew off its back with momentum, rolled, and took a stance with his greatsword behind him. Ajal conjured the silver scythe in hand. One end had a blade of shadow, and the other was a crescent made from a purple crystal, a black singularity in its center. Ajal spun the weapon between his fingers and ran forward, and Oaraun did the same.

"Spirit Ignition!" The two of them shouted as they clashed.

The ground rumbled, and buildings continued to fall, sparks flickered between their weapons. The purple sky returned to black. Oaraun looked Ajal in the eyes. Invideus hissed at the reaper, and green flames spilled from its maw as it bellowed. The force of their clashes and battle continued to push the clouds away, the sky flashed as lightning struck the borders of Helios. The clash of divinity could be felt across all of Grelt.