Act 5 - Chapter 8, Part 3

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"Ah!" Jack panicked as he rose, huffing in and out.

Jack took short deep breaths as he suddenly felt like he could breathe again, he looked at the sky full of white dots known as stars. The Celestial king no longer pinned him down, he was seated in the chair. Jack was about to get up but stopped. 'What the...' He turned his right arm and felt his hand touch the cold ground for the first time. Jack quickly sprung up and looked down to see two new hands. His palms were dry, untouched even, however, for some reason, the diamond marks on his palms were real.

"What'd you do to me..." Jack asked with wide eyes looking down at the ground.

"I gave you what you wanted, the power you would need to stand against the Celestial, far more powerful than any Celestial gift, and in the right hands can even best the divine beings... However, you are my card now, I believe I'll play more of a hand in this universe, it is getting quite interesting. Go forth Jack, the battle of Helios is still ongoing..."

Jack stood there silently, and he looked at the king with wide eyes. Jack clenched his teeth as his eyes narrowed on the king.

"Oh, what's the matter?" the king asked.

"What did you show me..." Jack gulped.

"I told you, didn't I? The truth, the truth of everything, the meaning of life, some might call it."

"No... No, you're wrong!" Jack snapped viciously.

"Am I? Sin, begets sin, Jack. Ajal tried to tell you, he tried very hard," the king laughed.

"I'm not the same! I'm different! I-"

"You're lying to yourself."

Jack fell to his knees, looking down and feeling his hair touch his eyebrows. He punched the ground as he couldn't clench his teeth any harder. He took one step and rose. Jack raised his palm towards the king.

"Hmph, I admit you are far stronger now with that gift, but if you were to fight me here, the outcome would be the same..." The Celestial King spoke calmly.

"Why... You have the power to change everything! Do something... Anything! End this madness and let people live peacefully!"

"I just showed you the peaceful option, and you saw what it brought it about..."

The Celestial King's sword lifted out of the ground as he stood, he lifted his hand and grasped it, swinging the blade while the white cape flapped upwards. Jack gritted his teeth. 'Power...' He clenched his fingers as he felt something in his hand he hadn't felt before.

"Well, this should help you learn how to use it..." The Celestial King laughed. "That is assuming you don't give in to despair..."