Text Afterworld

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

To KHLegendIII, yep, that's what I was aiming for!

 

To Keyblade101, indeed, I think that I've gotten pretty good at writing heart wrenching scenarios!

 

Good evening everyone, I hope that all of you are doing okay! So then, we’re this close to getting to the final ten chapters of this story! It’s been a long journey, and I’m happy that you’ve all been here with me, supporting me every step of the way! After so long, we’re about to see the conclusion to this story unfold! I hope you’ve all enjoyed this tale I’ve woven, and well, I hope you all continue following me in the future as I continue writing more stories! But anyways, let’s focus on tonight’s chapter! Enjoy!

 

Chapter Thirty Nine: A Simple World

 

                Chozetsu was standing over a sheer edge of a cliff, and downwards, all that could be seen was a swirling abyss that led to pitch black darkness below. He had his hands behind his back, and he was calm, despite what was going on. He felt an unnatural air of peace about him. Perhaps it was because his plans would finally reap their rewards in mere moments…perhaps it was because finally, he would be able to set things right. Whatever was coursing through his mind, he didn’t show it in his face. He was tranquil, contemplative, and then he found himself looking towards the sky, as if he was expecting it to tear open at the seams at any moment! In fact, that was something he was practically expecting at this point!

 

                “Paradise is just within reach…it won’t take any longer now…” he thought to himself. He then closed his eyes, and then he began to think back to a time…to numerous times, where he had tried to achieve his goals but had failed.

 

(Start Song Here)

                The very first time, when he had tried to save the world from destruction, he remembered it clearly. He remembered it as though it was yesterday! The world was not as it was now, and there were cars, people with phones, people living their daily lives in a heavily modernized world. He remembered that he had tried to warn everyone that a great disaster was coming unless they would all unite and help to change the world. But no one would listen. It was his great despair, as the Calamity struck, and all life gave way to destruction. That encounter with death terrified him, marked him forever. But when he saw that he had been given another chance, another life, he was baffled.

 

                Then his thoughts drifted towards numerous times in history, numerous cycles where he had tried to resolve things peacefully, or tried to rally people to his cause. But whatever he tried, it would fail, and he would be met with the world’s demise again and again. A vicious cycle that he longed for to end. At one point he gave up hope in the world, and he gave up hope that the world could be saved. In fact, you could say that he even thought that the world wasn’t worth saving because of all the filth that plagued it!

 

                No matter how much the world changed and adapted to the numerous circumstances, the same problems always remained. Greed, relentless bloodlust, politics, governments, petty squabbles. These were all things that corrupted the minds and hearts of a great many people in the world, and it’s what would always cause the world to fall into strife and then be cleansed of impurity. He saw humanity for what it was. A plagued species that would never right itself, that would never travel along a path that would lead to stability. No, he saw that humanity was a lost cause, doomed to fail because of their unwillingness to change things, an unwillingness to rid the plague of corruption at the source. All the lifetimes, all the cycles that he kept going through only solidified his thoughts. He knew that humanity was lost…unless he took actions into his own hands, make his own plans and decide that it was best if humanity went to hell. He would save the world, save mankind from itself, and ensure that no cycle would ever repeat itself.

 

                “Hmm, this has been a long journey. Too long, I say. But finally, I shall be able to rest soon. All of this work will have been worth all this pain…” he whispered to himself.

 

                Just then, he noticed something peculiar! He saw a rose petal, just a single rose, floating among the distorted world. It was something that really stuck out, considering the floating debris and the malformed shapes that were now the essence of the world, or what was left of it, at least. The rose petal slowly blew towards his direction, and when it was near, he reached out his hand and grasped it. He closed his hand and then opened it slightly, looking at the rose petal. He found himself smiling, and feeling a sense of ease that he hadn’t felt in quite some time.

 

                “And so, even with destruction, life prevails and finds a way…the world will be set right this time.” he said to himself, reassured in his convictions.

 

                He then thought of what it would be like after all of this was over. He could even imagine it vividly! A world in which people could be able to forget about suffering and pain, a world in which they could be able to thrive and help and support each other! It would be a place in which all of the people and their loved ones could reunite, and that they could be able to live an afterlife worthy of all the strife and anguish they had been through in life. Of course, for this to happen, many lives had to be sacrificed, but Chozetsu knew that these souls would reincarnate again in the next world. That was something that the opposition would not understand. Their simple and archaic instincts to bring back the world the way it was blinded them from seeing things clearly. Couldn’t they see that Chozetsu only wanted to bring peace and a world in which humanity can finally, truly be cleansed?

 

                Chozetsu gave out a soft sigh, and then he thought of the companions who had accompanied him in this journey. Beriel, Lucilda, Ellene and Kalciru. All of them different, all of them from different paths, and yet converging together, their goals aligning to complete a singular objective. Chozetsu truly hoped, in his heart of hearts, that they could all be able to find their peace and return to their loved ones once this was over. But before that…

 

                Before that, one last battle would have to be held. There would be nothing that could be able to dissuade one party or the other from fighting. Each group had their convictions and their reasons, and they would not back down, they would fight for what they believe in, and they would give it their all. This last battle would finally be able to pave way for the new world.  He could feel them now. They were very close by, and they were preparing for battle. It really was only a matter of time. Just then, he heard footsteps. He glanced over his shoulder and saw that it was Beriel.

(End Song Here)

 

                “Sir, it’s almost time…” he said with a grim voice.

 

                “I know, Beriel…I know.” Chozetsu replied softly.

 

                “Do you think things will grow dire? Will we fail in our objective?” Beriel asked, concern in his voice. Chozetsu turned around and then placed his hand on Beriel’s shoulder.

 

                “We’ve come this far, my friend. We’ve done too many things, sacrificed too much and waited much too long for this moment. No, we will not fail. We cannot fail.” he reassured.

 

                “Hmph, well you seem awfully confident…” Lucilda sneered as she appeared beside Beriel, her gleaming red eyes glaring.

                “And why wouldn’t I be confident? Don’t tell me that you’re getting cold feet now, Lucilda?” Chozetsu asked teasingly. But she only gave out a huff and turned her eyes away.

 

                “I’m not saying that! I’m just worried, is all. We’re already this close, I don’t want everything we’ve done to be for nothing…” she said.

 

                “It won’t be for nothing. We’re clear on what we must do. We need only to fulfill our roles and ensure that things roll along smoothly. Our opposition is great, but we also bear strength. We’ll be evenly matched, and things will certainly be difficult, but I have faith we’ll pull through. After all we’ve been through, we have to pull ourselves out of this.” Ellene said, unflinching, unconcerned. She was definitely certain of their victory! Chozetsu then noticed that Kalciru was nowhere to be seen.

 

                “It seems that our missing friend prefers to stay away for the moment.” he noted.

 

                “I’ve never liked that guy…he rubs me the wrong way. I don’t trust him…” Lucilda complained.

 

                “I have to agree…Chozetsu, you do know that he’s always been suspicious, right?” Ellene asked.

 

                “Yes, I am aware that he is unpredictable, but so far, he has helped us in our plans. But we must obviously be ready for any sort of betrayal…especially now that we’re so close to ending things.” Chozetsu answered. “We keep our eyes open for any sudden change in our plans.”

 

                “Indeed. Now then, how will we deal with our little band of heroic misfits?” Beriel asked.

 

                “We will dispatch them, and we will make our final stand. They will offer much resistance, and I sense that they have acquired great power, so we will have to be on our guard at all times. Let’s not forget that we also wield great power, and so we must not hold back. These people are the only ones who managed to survive the world’s transformation, so that fact alone deems them dangerous. They will come at us with all they’ve got, so we must respond in equal measure.” Chozetsu explained.

 

                “Heh, it’s going to be a pleasure snuffing the life out of those idiots…the nerve of them, to think that they can screw up our plans! Oh, I’m definitely going to enjoy picking them apart!” Lucilda said with gleeful and sinister intent!

               

                “Just be sure not to overdo it when you’re around us, Lucilda my dear. You tend to go blind when you’re excited, and you might end up accidentally killing one of us, instead!” Beriel said.

 

                “Ha, then if that happens, I’ll be glad to have you be the one to die by my hand!” Lucilda laughed, and Beriel only smiled and shook his head. Ellene rolled her eyes.

 

                “I swear, you two are sometimes unbearable…” Ellene said, as if talking to a pair of children. Chozetsu allowed himself a chuckle.

 

                “Anyways, my friends, enough bickering and squabbling. The final battle comes, and we must be sure to be prepared. We have to be at full strength!” Chozetsu said, and the others nodded. They knew what they had to do.

 

---

 

(Start Song Here)

                Meanwhile, Kalciru was looking at the world in the state it was in. He was smirking. He enjoyed seeing such chaos and disorder. He had decided to stay away from Chozetsu and the others. He didn’t particularly care for any of them, much less consider them comrades. He just felt the instinctual urge to kill and bring destruction to everything! He felt his hands getting restless, his gauntlet filled with power! And since he had the power of the Maker in him thanks to Vincent, he had much power in store that he could use against the fools who dared to try and change the world back. He had his eyes wide open, scanning the environment for any trace of those fools! He wanted them gone, and fast!

 

                “I’m starting to get tired of all this waiting…that self righteous Chozetsu is really getting on my nerves…but I suppose it doesn’t matter. After all, with everything so close to coming to a head, I don’t have to wait all that longer…” he thought to himself, and then he looked at his gauntlet, and he eyed it over. He then opened his hand and moved his fingers. “Soon, this world will meet its end, and I will ensure that its destruction is final and complete…no one will get in my way, especially not Chozetsu…”

 

                With that, Kalciru walked through a path that winded upwards, formed out of misplaced boulders and distorted chunks of land. He was walking through the debris and he smirked. He could feel the hot rush of battle inside him. He wanted to lay his hands on Zaria and her friends already! But he knew that they would be strong and tough to defeat. While he did enjoy a challenge, he would observe how things would play out. He would determine their strengths and weaknesses, and then, like a smart and agile predator, he’d swoop in for the kill. Let his “comrades” tire themselves out. He’ll watch silently and strategically from a distance. Even though he is skilled in battle, he knows when to avoid a fight. And so, he chose to remain where he was. He was at a high enough vantage point that he could see Chozetsu and the others far down. They looked like ants, and yet he could see them clearly! He saw the wide field that expanded beneath, and that’s where he knew the final battle would take place. And he had the best seat in the house to witness it!

 

                “Well then, Chozetsu, let’s see just how far your ideals will take you. Will you succeed, or will this be your final resting place?  Hmph, I’m aching to find out…” he whispered to himself as he smirked. “These fools fall to their own machinations, it’s pathetic, really. Let them continue onward with their delusions. It’ll all be their downfall.” he said, aloud this time.

 

                He would enjoy every second of this.

(End Song Here)

 

---

 

                The others stood there alongside Chozetsu, and each of them remained silent, looking onwards to the horizon. They knew what to expect, and they knew what was coming. This was all simply the calm before the eventual storm. It would lead to bloodshed and more chaos, but it would be the final battle, the decisive blow that would either end in their victory or their downfall. They all had worries in their minds, they all had thoughts racing through them at a breakneck pace.

 

(Start Song Here)

                Beriel was thinking about his loved ones. He clenched his hands into fists, and he closed his eyes. His usual gentlemanly demeanor was giving way to weariness and the toll of years upon years of living on in this world. He wanted this to be over already. He wanted to see his loved ones again, to look upon the faces of his wife and daughter. Nothing else mattered to him except that. And the fact that he was being delayed his reunion was biting away at his soul. He just wanted to get this over with!

 

                Lucilda was ever and eerily silent, her incorporeal form weaving and seeping into the ground and seeping out. She could feel Beriel’s tension, and she found herself thinking about her mother. It had been such a long time since she had felt the warmth of her mother’s love. She knew that she was undeserving now, given her current state. She really didn’t know what to expect once all of this was over. Would she carry on in this new world Chozetsu had promised them? Or would she fade away into nothingness and bring an end to her lonely existence? Would she be missed by any of her comrades? Would she miss them? All these thoughts coursed through her, and yet she was stubborn enough that she gave out a huff and shoved those thoughts down.

 

                Ellene was thinking about Bane. Their encounter had unwillingly brought back feelings from the past. The fact that she had been able to look upon the face of her dear brother again was something that brought her great joy…but at the same time, she despised seeing him again. She wanted nothing to do with him, and yet she was grateful he was alive. But knowing what would come next, she wasn’t so sure it was the best thing for them to have found each other…she knew what she would have to do, and she wouldn’t hesitate. That’s probably what killed her inside the most. The fact that she was willing to kill her own brother in cold blood. But her loyalties were to Chozetsu and the dream he had established for them. She would see this through to the end, no matter the cost, no matter the cost to her own well being.

 

                Chozetsu could sense the raw tension and fear that ran through his friends. He understood. They had been preparing for this moment for such a long time, but now that this moment was finally at hand, he could understand their fear and their sorrow.  Everything as they knew it would come to an end, and they would approach a new, unknown beginning. He could sense that they were diverting their attention to him, in the hopes he would utter some words to ease them. And that’s precisely what he would do. They deserved that much.  And so, he stepped forward and then turned around, facing the three of them. He looked at each and every one of them, looking into their eyes. Ellene’s eyes were watering, Beriel was shedding tears, and although Lucilda’s eyes seemed emotionless, he could sense the sadness, the shaking, the uncertainty.

 

                “My dear friends…we have traveled a long road. This has been a difficult journey, and we have gone through much…through way too much, with many sacrifices and many lifetimes passing us by. Everything we have done, the choices we have made, the actions we have taken…have led to this moment.” Chozetsu said, then taking a pause.  “Right now, we stand on the cusp of entering a new world, a world in which we will finally get the peace we have so long been yearning for, for an end that will bring us to a new beginning! I know that this moment is one of great uncertainty, and one of great fear…and yet, you all stand here with me. You stand by me and my convictions, and you place your faith in me! You have followed me faithfully when any one of you could have turned away or betrayed me. I want to let you know that your faith and your loyalty shall have its reward. You will all find the peace you have sought for…and so will I.” he said, with firm conviction resonating through every word he uttered. Slowly, he saw how their faces became stern and full of determination!

 

                “And so, now that we are in this final moment, I ask you all to place your faith upon me once more. Stand by me in this final battle, and let us fight for what we want! Fight for what we deserve! Are you with me?” he asked.  Beriel stepped forward.

 

                “Always, old friend.” he said, and he placed his hand upon Chozetsu’s shoulder. Lucilda then came forward.

 

                “Yeah, well, I’m stuck with you morons…not like I have any other choice…” she muttered, though Beriel could sense the faintest feeling of a smirk cross her face. He smiled and said nothing. Ellene then stepped forward and put her hand on Chozetsu’s other shoulder.

 

                “We are with you to the end.” she said. They all stood together, in silence. Their strength, their unity, their faith led them to this moment. And it would determine the course the world would take.

 

                The pieces are just about ready to be set into motion.

(End Song Here)

 

------------------------------------------

 

Chozetsu and his friends are ready to meet battle head on. Whatever happens next, their actions will determine the course of the future. The final clash is at hand, and the very fabric of reality itself hangs in the balance! The final battle is about to begin!  Be prepared for Chapter Forty: “The First Move!”

 

So then, that was the chapter, everyone! Yes, I know that this chapter was shorter than usual, but it served its purpose into delving into the minds of Chozetsu and his group just as they are about to enter the final battle! Things have gotten pretty intense, huh? After the next chapter, the ten part finale will finally take place, and I guarantee it’s gonna be something you’ll all remember! Be sure to stay tuned, and thank you all very much for your love and support! As always, be sure to let me know what you thought about tonight’s chapter, and until next time, stay tuned for the next one!

[KHLegendIII 709]

it seems that Kalciru is up to something big...

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

To KHLegendIII, it could be so, my friend, it could be so!

 

Good evening everyone, I hope that you are all doing okay! So then, things are just about to get at their most intense, and the final battle is almost officially finally upon us! Are you excited!? What do you think will happen? How vicious do you think the battle will be!? Well, it won’t take longer to find out, because next chapter, we finally get to the ten part finale to Afterworld! It’s all led up to this! So then, before that, read on, my faithful followers!

 

Chapter Forty: The First Move

 

                Zaria and the others had awoken, and they were now making the final preparations for the final battle they were about to face. They knew that things would change, and they were certain that a great and dire consequence would follow their actions. They weren’t all that certain that order would truly be restored and that the world would truly return to the way it was…but they had to at least try and give it their all, especially since they had been gifted with the power of light to combat the darkness! It was now or never, and each of them knew what was at stake. They all gathered together, and Ilia had recovered greatly, no longer looking deathly pale, but still a bit weak. Vincent was by her side, silent.

 

                “Well everyone, this is it…it’s all led up to this. This will be our final stand…any last words?” Zaria asked aloud, giving everyone time to think.  Grim was the first to step forward.

 

(Start Song Here)

                “Well, I’ve lived a long and fruitful life, and even though I’ve had my share of grief and sorrow, I’ve become stronger from my experiences…and right now, everything I’ve done has led up to this. It all hangs on this fragile thread, and I’ll be damned if I let the world fall to an unknown fate.” he said, as he looked at his hand and clenched it into a fist.  “I won’t throw away the power that was given to me. I will put it to good use, and I will give my life if I have to. I have no regrets, and I have no hesitation in my heart. I’m ready to dive in fully into this.”

 

                “Agreed. If we are to be able to make the future we want to become a reality, we must take the first steps, here and now.  And…I just want to say something, in case anything goes wrong.” Laren spoke, then he turned to Tatsumaki. She looked a bit surprised at the way that he was looking at her. A fiercness was in his eyes, but not the kind of fierceness of battle, more like a fierceness of a person wanting to convey something to another. A sharing of emotions. He walked towards her and then cupped her face in his hands.

               

                “Tatsumaki…I just want to let you know, that if anything happens…I want you to know that I love you…” he said, his face turning red as he said those words. Tatsumaki’s eyes slowly widened as the silence between them formed. Her breathing became uneven, and she couldn’t believe what she was hearing! This man, Laren, the man whom she loved, also loved her just as much! She could feel the raw emotion in his words, and her heart was thundering in her chest! Before she could say anything, he dove in and gave her a sincere, passionate kiss, and Tatsumaki felt everything blur around her. She slowly wrapped her arms around him, and they embraced and kissed each other, finally letting their feelings for each other come to the surface! When they pulled away, Laren smiled and then held her hand. “And with having said that, I know that if I do die, I’ll have let you know how I feel about you…” he stated. Everyone else was shocked and surprised, and they all had grins on their faces! Ilia was looking at them, and she felt nostalgic. Looking at Tatsumaki and Laren reminded her of herself and Vincent way back when…

 

                “Well!? What do you have to say about that, Tatsumaki!?” Zaria teased! Tatsumaki shook her head and then sported a wide smirk.

 

                “It’s about damn time!” she barked, to which everyone laughed! She touched Laren’s face as a tear rolled down her cheek. “I love you too, Laren. And I’m so grateful that we could share each other’s feelings right before the end.” she said as her face reddened. She then looked to everyone.  “This is what we fight for…for the happiness of having someone by our side, for the sake of everyone who’s never had a chance to be happy, for the sake of someone who wants to find their place in the world…and we’ll give the people back the lives they deserve to live! We’ll stop this apocalypse from erasing us, or we’ll die trying! I’m not afraid!” she said boldly, holding Laren’s hand tightly.

 

                “I have to say that you people truly are something else. I never expected to meet such a group of ragtag folks…but I’m glad I did. Before meeting you, my life was driven only by my painful memories and my sense of helplessness, but being with you all has allowed me to find new purpose, to find a reason to keep pushing forward. Something to protect and cherish…and it’ll be an honor fighting by your side.” Bane said, with arms crossed. Zaria looked at him, and even though his face was bandaged up, she could feel the emotion radiating off of him. His feelings were pure, and the words conveyed them perfectly!  Then everyone looked at Ilia and Vincent.

 

                “What about you two? Anything you need to get off your chest?” Grim asked. Ilia and Vincent looked at each other, and they could all tell that they had many things left unsaid between them. Vinent stepped forward, and he looked at each and every one of these people. The drive and determination in their eyes…the fierceness of their determination shone through, and he smiled slightly, and he closed his eyes.

 

                “There’s nothing for me to say…only that I know that you’ll be able to fix what we clan leaders could not. You’ll be the ones that will make the difference…that much I know.  And…” he looked to Ilia. “It may be too late to fix things…too late to go back to what we wish we could live again…but the time for regrets is long past. What matters is now. What we do now will change the course of the world.” he said, as he nodded at the others.

 

                “Vincent is right. We have done mistakes that have cost the world its stability and safety. We have done things that have not resulted in good actions. We will do all in our power to help restore the world back to the way it was. I know that it’ll be a long road for us to be able to make things work the way they used to…honestly, I doubt that anything will ever be the same.” Ilia mentioned as she looked at Vincent, and then looked at the others. “But it’s like Vincent said. What matters is now.  We decide how the world moves on, not fate!”

 

                “Very well said, Lady Ilia!” Grim mentioned, as he bowed to her.

 

                “Well guys…my life has been one crazy ride after another, and I haven’t exactly had it easy. I’ve had my fair share of licks…but being with you all has given me a sense of purpose. Being with you all makes me want to protect you, makes me want to cherish the bonds I have, and well, I wouldn’t change our bonds for anything in the world. And if we die here, I just want to let you all know that it’s been an honor fighting by your side!” Zaria said, letting those emotions seep out of her chest. Everyone smiled at her, and they stood there together, enjoying the final bit of silence they’d have together. Then, they all looked towards the horizon, and then they saw behind them. World’s Edge was gnawing at what little essence composed this decaying world.

(End Song Here)

 

                “Well…let’s push onward, then!” Laren said. But just as they were about to set out, a flash of lightning suddenly struck, and everyone covered their eyes, ensuring that they wouldn’t get blinded by the flash of light! When the light died down, they saw that a lone man stood there. A man who was smiling with quite sinister intent! Vincent immediately recognized him and clenched his fists!

 

(Start Song Here)

                “You! Kalciru! You filthy traitor!” Vincent shouted. Kalciru simply laughed and looked at his gauntlet, as if ignoring everyone and pretending that they weren’t there.

 

                “Traitor? Well, I believe that I never made clear what my allegiance was…and besides, I said that I was a traveler, and that wasn’t a lie. I was traveling to and fro from point a to point b. So in truth, I never did lie to you, I never betrayed you…I helped you so I could help myself. It’s the way of the world, boy, you should know that!” Kalciru lazily spoke, enjoying the angry flaring eyes of the new powerless Vincent.

 

                “You’re one of Chozetsu’s troops! We’re ready to face you and your friends!” Tatsumaki growled.

 

                “Ha, troops!? Friends!? Ha!” Kalciru blurted out, then getting into a fit of laughter that made everyone get on edge. This man was being unpredictable, and they made sure to keep their guard up extremely high. They didn’t want any unexpected surprises hitting them in the back of the head! “You truly are rich, girl! I know Chozetsu and the others, but they are no friends of mine. Really, they’re just nuisances. I actually applaud what you are trying to do here. You’re here to stop them and kill them off! I’d be cheering you on, but you also want to stop the world from decaying…and that’s something that I cannot allow…” he said, his mocking mannerisms paving way to a serious expression on his face.

 

                “What…?  Why do you want the world to decay? What’s in it for you!?” Grim demanded! Kalciru glanced at him with disinterest and then he looked up to the sky and waved a hand upwards, as if in spectacle!

 

                “The end! That’s what’s in it for me! You see, all this talk and ridiculous notion of saving the world and bringing it back from the abyss doesn’t sit well with me! People only bring despair and chaos and destruction, and they think they are entitled to be judge, jury and executioner! Humans are despicable and ungrateful bastards, at one moment they love you, and then at another they turn on you like yesterday’s trash…” Kalciru expressed, his tone now dead serious as opposed to his jolly nature from just a few seconds ago! “Honestly, it sickens me how this repeats itself. It’s not so much as I want the world to continue…I prefer for it all to be burnt away to a crisp, into nothing but ashes! Humanity is irredeemable, and unworthy of saving. And what good is saving the world if people will only bring more harm to it? To me, it doesn’t make sense. And besides, I lost my faith in the intricacies of life long ago. I say good riddance to the world and its fate! Anyways, that being said, like I told you all, I won’t let you get away with this, so…” he snapped his fingers, and multiple portals opened from thin air, and from them all, countless amounts of Shadow Blights came through, all of them aggressive and hungry to no end! Everyone looked on in shock, and Kalciru paced backwards, and he smirked as a portal opened behind him.

 

                “Enjoy your final moments, you sad excuses for human beings!” Kalciru mocked, as he disappeared into the portal, leaving only the Shadow Blights, which were heading straight towards Zaria and the others!

(End Song Here)

 

                “Well, isn’t this something?” Laren asked, as everyone stood in a circle, back to back! The Shadow Blights were closing in on them, and they saw that this would be a difficult battle to overcome!

 

                “Seems we get to have a warm up before the battles to come! I’m game!” Zaria said, trying not to lose heart and making light of the situation. Everyone else either scoffed or snickered or rolled their eyes. 

 

(Start Song Here)

                And so, with a silent cue, they all gave each other a nod, and then they began to hold back the hordes of hungry Shadow Blights! They remained close by, doing their best to retain their circle formation while making sure to give a hand to each other! So far, at least, it seemed to be working! They thought of using the powers that the light had bestowed upon them, but, it would probably drain their strength, and they’d need that power to be able to stand against Chozetsu and his group! And so, they used their own strength, and they forged on!

 

                Bane transformed his hands into mechanized, rotating fire cannons, which shot forth bursts of Scorched flames, concentrated and full of melting heat! Each burst hit its mark, causing the Shadow Blights it came into contact with to disintegrate and burn to ashes! He glanced at Zaria, and then he drew a large sword that he forged using Craftsman power, and then he flung it towards her, and she caught it, using it to cleave a Shadow Blight clean in half!

 

                Zaria then proceeded to go into a frenzy, opening up a path between the swaths of enemies, bashing them left and right with her sword, dodging and blocking each attack she could! She ensured to keep a level head, doing her best to keep all of her surroundings in check so she wouldn’t get isolated from the group! Suddenly, a Shadow Blight outstretched an elongated claw, and she just barely dodged it by leaning herself back far enough so that the claw only scraped her cheek ever so slightly! She grunted and then let herself fall, and when she was about to hit the ground, she flung herself around the sword and then kicked the damn creature, sending it reeling and barreling towards other incoming foes! Then, just when she was surrounded by more foes, Bane came from behind, and he delivered a barrage of flames that turned the creatures into ash! Zaria then leapt high, and then, Bane positioned himself below her, placing his hands like a platform, a foothold for Zaria to land on. Once she did, his forearms gave way to thrusters, and then he planted his feet firmly in the ground! With a sudden burst, he shot Zaria upwards, as she pierced through the sky, going higher and higher!

 

                “Alright, let’s see what we get from up here!” she thought, as she then flipped and positioned herself in a diving position, and with her sword, she plunged down, the pressure of her fall causing her to plummet down faster! The wind was coursing through  her to the point that her eyes began to get watery! Sparks were starting to sizzle from her sword, as the pressure was so great that when she landed, she caused an enormous shockwave, and the ground beneath her cracked, giving way and causing massive chunks of earth to be sent flying, catching the off guard Shadow Blights completely by surprise! She then stood back to back with Bane, and the two of them gave each other a nod. For now, they were holding their own quite well!

 

                Laren and Tatsumaki were also back to back, but they had decided to take the high ground, and now, they were standing on a significantly tall rock pillar, from which they were using ranged attacks to dispose of the Shadow Blights! They sharpened their wind attacks to be like lethal daggers, so that each time they flung their gusts towards the creatures, they were taken care of easily! But it didn’t stop the swarms of foes from multiplying, and now they were trying to climb up to where they were positioned!

 

                “Oh no, you aren’t getting up here!” Tatsumaki challenged, as she spread her two arms wide, and then she closed her eyes and knelt on one knee! She was concentrating her energy, and Laren knew just what she was about to attempt!

 

                “You’re thinking of…” he began. Tatsumaki smirked, and she nodded.

 

                “You know it!” she finished. Laren understood, and as Tatsumaki charged her power, Laren summoned forth his spear, and then, with both hands, he held it upwards, and when he did, the clouds above began to stir! They started to swirl in circles, slowly but surely, as if the spear was a tethering point from which they were to coalesce! Suddenly, powerful gusts of wind began tearing through the distorted landscape! The Shadow Blights paid it no mind, their hunger and their feral nature overshadowing their basic survival instincts!

 

                “This is what you get for trying to kill us, scum!” Tatsumaki shouted, and with that, she opened the palms of her hands, and an enormous vortex of wind surrounded her and Laren, shielding them from the creatures and causing many of them to be flung or torn apart by the very force of the winds themselves! Soon after, Laren’s spear began to pulse with energy! Then, lighting started to cast down, landing on the spear!

 

                “Here goes!” Laren shouted, and then, a giant thunderclap resounded throughout the battlefield! Lightning struck violently, and the giant vortex became electrified, and it slowly started to expand, consuming and pulverizing all Shadow Blights caught within its radius!  There was nothing they could do to outrun the attack, and just when their survival instincts had indicated for them to run, it was already too late for them! They were vanquished almost effortlessly!

 

                At that same moment, Grim had summoned Eluzia, and they were protecting Ilia and Vincent! Ilia had put up a barrier that could at least be able to help Grim and Eluzia hold off against the beasts easier, but she was still too weak, and she couldn’t manage much. Vincent felt powerless, and he literally could not do anything to help, so he just stayed by Ilia’s side, silent. Grim glanced at the two of them and then he looked forward, and he saw that a particularly nasty looking Shadow Blight was heading their way! It gave out a shrill cry, indicating that it was going to take on Grim alone. The other creatures backed off, drooling and hungry as they were, but it seemed as though they respected their larger brethren!

 

                “Well, isn’t that a nice beastie…?” Grim thought. He looked towards Eluzia, and his faithful companion growled softly, as if saying that he was ready for battle! And so, Grim stepped just outside the barrier, and he stared down the enormous creature. Grim could feel a chill course through his spine, for every second he spent looking at that ghastly thing, the nothingness and shrill coldness in its eyes seemed to unsettle him greatly!  The creature gave out a roar and flexed its body! It seemed to be a humanoid type of Shadow Blight, but it had feral features that seemed more in term with those of a man-wolf! It’s cunning and gleaming red eyes were narrowed, as if assessing its prey, determining how long it would take for it to pick Grim apart, piece by little piece! And almost as if Grim had read its thoughts, the old man smirked and gave the creature a taunt!

 

                “Just you dare come and take a bite of me!” he challenged. With that, the creature snarled and delivered the first move, as it slammed both of its fists to the ground, but Grim managed to dodge the attack just barely, though the shockwave of the attack did make him stumble a bit! The creature then lunged forward, swiping with its claws, brutal yet precise in its movements! Grim dodged or summoned forth roots from the earth to block its attacks! Eluzia slipped quietly to the side, and the creature took no notice of him! Grim hoped this would work, so he kept the creature’s focus at all times!

 

                “That’s it, you stupid mongrel. You think that you can best me!? Well, you’ve got another thing coming!” Grim said defiantly, as he clapped his hands together and then summoned forth a blade of poison thorns! He then charged towards the beast head on, slashing at its shoulder! The creature roared but ignored the pain, instead taking this opportunity to get in closer to Grim! The creature pinned him down and snarled, ready to take a bite off!

 

                “Grim, no!” Ilia shouted, panicking at the sight of the old man about to lose his face!

 

                “Eluzia, now!” Grim shouted! The man-wolf Shadow Blight cocked its head, and before it could deduce the trap it had fallen into, Eluzia had burst into giant, sharp, wooden tendrils filled to the brim with a poisonous, paralytic sap! He ensared the creature and held it tight, said creature howling in pain and desperately struggling to free itself! It was held in place, and the other Shadow Blights, seeing that their older brethren was being bested, stepped in! But Grim slammed his fist into the ground and giant roots pierced from under the earth and skewered any creature that came near!  As for the man-wolf…

 

                “This is the end for you!” Grim proclaimed, and when he closed his hand into a fist, Eluzia reverted to his normal form, shedding behind the trap where the man-wolf was ensnared! The giant branches cut into the creature and crushed it, pulverizing and crushing it to nothingness!  The other Shadow Blights tried getting through, but Grim’s giant roots were managing to hold them back! Eluzia ran to Grim’s side and the old man petted him and smiled.

 

                “Good work, boy!” he said, and then they rushed towards Ilia and Vincent.

 

                “Things are going well for the moment, but we don’t know how many of these things will keep on coming! Lady Ilia, I know you don’t have enough strength, so rest assured that I will protect you both, even at the cost of my own life! You can count on that!” he said. His honor was first and foremost in this moment, and he would keep his word.

 

                Just then, Zaria and the others gathered towards Grim, Ilia and Vincent. They were able to get back together, but there were still many foes left to slay! Vincent stepped forward with a stern look on his face.

 

                “I’m not just going to sit by without doing anything…Grim, give me a weapon to use. I may not have my Scorched powers anymore, but I can still fight with my own strength!” he said. Grim could see the determination in Vincent’s eyes, and he then summoned forth a vine sword that held sacred wood at the hilt and blade, therefore making it quite a dangerous weapon!

 

                “Don’t let your guard down!” Grim said.

 

                “I would never!” Vincent replied.

 

                “Well everyone, it’s a good day to slaughter some bastards!” Zaria cried out, and the others laughed!

 

                The Shadow Blights dove in, all with the intent to devour! But Zaria and the others stood strong and together, all of them surrounding Ilia, so she wouldn’t get hurt, and Ilia, in turn, was able to add a healing spell to the barrier she had created, so that everyone could be able to keep up their strength despite the relentless hordes of enemies! They stood their ground, and they fought with all their might!

 

                Laren stabbed his spear on the ground, causing lightning to crack down from the sky, opening fissures in the earth that made the hellish creatures slip and fall, plunging into the darkness of the earth’s depths! Tatsumaki created a wind wave that kept stronger foes at bay while eliminating the small fry! Bane configured his arms and transformed them into enormous poles, with which he pounded on the ground, causing tremors! And from the ground, giant rock pillars rose, piercing through the ranks of the enemy! Zaria went berserk and cleaved all foes with her rage and her relentless sword strikes, while Grim summoned forth a bow and fired off lethal poison arrows in all directions, ensuring that each arrow would hit its mark! Eluzia was sprinting throughout the battlefield, clawing and tearing his way through the enemy forces!

 

                Ilia continued to administer as much energy as she could into keeping everyone else up to strength! For now, it was working, though she was feeling weak! Vincent, on the other hand, was viciously lashing out at the Shadow Blights, using the blade that Grim had given him quite well! Even though he no longer had powers, that didn’t mean that he wasn’t capable of putting up a fight! They all stood their ground. But as time passed by, they found that the relentless hordes of foes weren’t letting up, and they weren’t even so much as showing any signs of retreating!  Things were starting to get very bad!

 

                “Guys…I’m not liking how this is going!” Zaria shouted.

 

                “Hold the line! Stand strong together!” Bane said, standing fast! The others remained as courageous as they were able, but things became ever worse as the Shadow Blights all started to mount each other, and their bodies began to merge! Zaria and the others concentrated their attacks on the ever growing mass, but they found that their attacks were having no effect! The creatures only continued to stack up on each other and merge, until they weaved and morphed together to form a colosall Shadow Blight that took the form of a dragon! It gave out a horrifying roar, and it breathed out a dark mist from its mouth, as if it were fire! It then swooshed its tail towards Zaria and the others, sending them reeling and scattering!

 

                The dragon let out a vicious snarl, and it was ready to breath out its powerful dark mist, but just then, lightning struck the creature, and it struck so hard that it got toppled off balance and fell on its back! Everyone looked upwards, and they only noticed a blindingly fast streak woosh down from the air and towards the creature! It gave out a roar of defiance and flipped itself up, and then it took to the skies, flapping its massive wings and sending itself upwards! Beneath it, Zaria saw that the streak that had fallen from the sky was a woman!

 

                “Who is that?” she pointed out.

 

                “Wait, that’s…Lady Saphira!” Laren said, as he recognized his leader immediately!

 

                “Wait, really?” Zaria asked in excitement!

 

                “Yeah, it is her! She’s saved us, big time!” Tatsumaki said with a defiant smirk!

 

                They all watched on as Saphira planted her feet onto the ground. She seemed to be measuring the distance she was going to jump, and she seemed to be waiting for a precise moment to launch herself. The dragon was already quite a ways up in the sky, and every time it flapped its wings, it sent out wind gusts that rippled through the distorted world, sending chunks of debris and other such things floating towards multiple directions! The ripples made their way to the ground where Zaria and the others were, and while the gusts were strong, they weren’t enough to send them flying! They were able to stand just fine, and Saphira seemed to be absorbing all the wind  that came down. It was as if she was charging up her power with the gusts, to amplify whatever attack she was going to attempt now!

 

                Then, the dragon stopped its ascent, and it remained high up in the sky, and it began to charge its attack! It was about to unleash a fatal dose of its dark mist down towards the ground, to cover the land in darkness! Saphira still stood there, waiting. Zaria and the others were starting to get anxious, and they were starting to wonder just what the heck Saphira was waiting for!

 

                “What’s she doing…?” Bane asked.

 

                “I’m…not exactly sure.” Tatsumaki replied, even herself being unsure of what was happening.

 

                They continued looking onward, and they saw that the dragon was just about to unleash its attack! And then, just when its mouth was full of compressed air, lightning struck atop the creature, stunning it momentarily, and that’s when Saphira made her move! Before the others could even conceive that she had already propelled herself upwards, all that could be heard was a noise similar to that of a thunderclap! They saw Saphira turn into a blindingly fast streak again, and she summoned forth her mighty lance! Like an arrow that runs straight and true, she pierced through the dragon’s neck, severing its head with a clean cut!  The dragon, with a surprised look on its face plastered in its final moments, was unable to unleash its attack, and instead, its eyes closed, and as its body plummeted to the ground, it faded away into nothingness, and Saphira landed gracefully down. She turned to look at the others, and she was glad to see that they were all safe!

(End Song Here)

 

                “Lady Saphira, you saved us!” Laren said, as they all ran towards her, grateful for her last minute save!  She looked at them all and gave out a heavy sigh.

 

                “I was worried for all of you…I am glad to see that all of you made it! There’s hope yet since all of you are still here and in the fight! So, I assume that you have also been gifted with the powers of the light?” Saphira asked. They all nodded.  “Well, it seems that we are all prepared to face the final battle that is to be waged before us. We have to keep heart and ensure that we don’t let the dreams of our people die here. We must fight as one!” she proclaimed. She then saw Vincent, and she bowed her head down in apology.

 

                “Vincent…I’m sorry that things couldn’t have turned out different. If we had listened to you and tried to help you, none of this would have happened…” she said. Vincent remained silent, but then he shook his head.

 

                “Don’t get yourself hurt thinking about the past…what matters is now.” is all he said. Saphira looked up at him and noticed that he didn’t have a hint of anger in his eyes. No…he seemed to have a sort of peace, if not a little bit of regret.

 

                “Right…” she replied.

 

                They all gathered together, and they were grateful for the fact that no more Shadow Blights had appeared, but that didn’t mean they could take it easy. And it was perhaps better if they moved onwards, lest they be beset by more foes!

 

                “Well everyone, let’s get a move on! We’ve got to stop Chozetsu and the others!” Zaria said.

 

                Just as they were setting out, they found that they were being surrounded by darkness! Everything around them was beginning to turn pitch black, and for one moment, they thought that they were being set down upon by more Shadow Blights, but then they felt a different presence! This was a more sinister and more powerful kind of darkness! They all stuck close together, ready for whatever was coming their way!  Everything was silent, and there was nothing to be seen, until…a pair of gleaming red eyes.

 

                “Those eyes…” Ilia whispered.

 

                “That dark witch…Lucilda…” Saphira snarled. Everyone else tensed at the sudden laughter that crept about, feeling as if that laughter came from behind them, but in truth, the laughter could be felt from all directions! But they couldn’t give in to fear, not now! They had to stand strong!

 

                “All of this unity…all of this resistance and refusal, all of you continuing your needless fight. You truly are such strange scum!” Lucilda purred.  “But it won’t matter. I’m going to put an end to you all, right here and right now! I’m not going to let you screw up everything that I’ve worked so hard to achieve! This will be your tomb, drowning in the endless darkness!”

 

                “You will not sway us! We will conquer this trial and defeat you!” Bane proclaimed. Then, the darkness swirled and ravaged them all, as if they were being rocked around a swirling tornado!  The red eyes became bigger and bigger, and they suddently felt dwarfed! Just what was she!?

 

                “You will all die!  And I’m going to enjoy every single second of it!” Lucilda shrieked with rather joyful glee! Her sadistic moan sent shivers down everyone’s spines, and they knew that they were in for a tough battle.

 

                The end had already begun.

 

------------------------------------------- 

 

A battle against darkness itself challenges our heroes to hold on to the light. Will they be able to escape the clutches of Lucilda, or will her darkness consume them whole? Prepare for the first part of the ten part finale of Afterworld, starting with Chapter Forty One: The World After-Part 1 Of 10: “Lucilda, Raging Darkness Incarnate!”

 

Oh yeah, that’s what I’m talking about! We’re finally close to the finish line! The ten part finale is finally coming around, and I’m sure all of you are going to be blown away! Be prepared! Thank you all for supporting me on this long journey, and I hope you stick with me till the end! As always, be sure to comment on what you thought about tonight’s chapter, and until next time, stay tuned for the next one!

[KHLegendIII 709]

We're already starting off with a bang, I see.

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

To KHLegendIII, yep, as I always like to do with my ten part finales, the end must be full of epic bangs!

 

Good evening everyone, I hope that all of you are doing okay! So then, this is it! Finally, the ten part finale to my story is at last upon us! Ooh, I’m very excited to show you all what I have in store! Ha, let’s get to the nitty gritty, I don’t want to keep you all waiting! Enjoy!

 

Chapter Forty One: The World After-Part 1 Of 10: Lucilda, Raging Darkness Incarnate

 

(Start Song Here)

                Now the darkness was complete, and Zaria and the others were completely entrapped in it! They couldn’t see any sort of exit, no way to be able to break through the darkness, so they knew that they had to be prepared for anything that Lucilda would deliver at them. This was her playground now, and she had all the advantages! Only her eyes were visible, and even then, there would be lapses of time in which her eyes would vanish! They could all feel her presence, but it was disorienting, for they could feel her everywhere, and hence, her exact location could not be pinpointed!

 

                “Should we use the power we were given?” Grim asked.

 

                “No…I have a feeling we can’t just use it yet. The power we wield is one we have to be careful in using! The light never told us if using said power would burn us out…so it’s best we fight with our own strength for as long as we can!” Bane suggested. The others agreed, and then they were all beset by dark chains that wrapped around each and every one of them!  Lucilda was chuckling to herself, and then her eyes appeared again, and this time, they were on Bane. She drew herself closer to him, and her dark mass formed into an arm, and then she traced a finger over Bane’s chest.

 

                “Well, aren’t you something special? But really, if this is all it takes to beat you, then none of you are worth my time…but still, it’ll be fun toying around with you all before I tear you apart!” she said with glee. Her fingers turned into razor sharp claws, and just as she was about to strike Bane and skewer him, Zaria was able to summon her sheer willpower to break the chains, and she lunged herself towards her, but failing to harm her! Lucilda stopped, and then she looked over to Zaria and began to laugh!

 

                “Ha, did you honestly think that you could do me any harm? I am darkness itself, you insolent bitch! Your attacks pierce right through me! I can control the darkness, and so long as you are all surrounded in it, you have no escape, and no hope of victory!” she explained.

 

                “That doesn’t mean we can’t try!” Zaria replied, and then she slashed away the chains binding the others, and they all gathered together, and they lunged towards Lucilda!

 

                Laren and Tatsumaki combined their powers to form a lightning vortex attack that swirled around Lucilda, but she simply dematerialized her dark mass and then rematerialized it a second after! The attack had done nothing!  Grim tried summoning forth a hail of thorns, but each of them were vaporized by Lucilda’s dark powers!  Eluzia growled and tried to bite her, but he couldn’t find anywhere to bite! Bane punched the ground and caused a violent tremor to take place, rocking the surrounding environment and making the others stumble! Still, Lucilda did not show any signs of being affected! Only her eyes, attentive and amused, were staring back at them! Zaria headed towards her and tried to go for a multitude of sword strikes, but still nothing! Vincent even tried helping out with the blade Grim had given him, but all efforts to harm her were futile!

 

                “Heh, you morons…you just don’t get it! Now it’s my turn!” she shouted, and with that, an immense dark aura could be felt, and everyone could feel the swelling wellspring of power emanating from Lucilda! She seemed to be absorbing the ever encroaching darkness that surrounded them, and then, dark thunderbolts were zapping all around them, and small pebbles began to rise! Her eyes became an even more vicious tone of red, and her anger was palpable!

 

                “Die, rats!” she shouted, and then she unleashed countless dark spikes that jutted out from her incorporeal mass, and it was all the others could do from barely managing to avoid getting skewered! But just when they thought that they were safe, the spikes extended and curved and redirected themselves, following their targets at all times!

 

                “Everyone, take out those spikes!!!” Vincent shouted, and they all attacked as quickly as they could, though some of them managed to get scraped by the spikes, leaving behind small cuts that were seeping with darkness! It stung them slightly, but they weren’t going to let small scratches get the better of them! But even with their efforts, the spikes rematerialized and headed towards them again, restlessly and with great velocity!

 

                “It’s no use, these things won’t break!” Zaria shouted, as they were all being pinned down!

 

                “That’s just so you can all learn your lesson and get it through your heads that you can’t mess with me, you can’t kill me!” Lucilda said with joyful glee! 

 

                Bane and Grim were both back to back, and they were cutting the spikes and blocking them, and then they glanced over their shoulders at each other, and Bane had a thought come to him.

 

                “Grim, Ilia!” Bane shouted. They both turned their attention towards him.  “As long as this darkness is amidst us, we won’t be able to do much of anything, only block these things until our bodies give out! I’m going to fire off a sphere of flame, so draw your energy from it and light this place up!” he said.

 

                “What!?” Lucilda exclaimed.

 

                “That’s right! I get what you mean!” Grim said, nodding in agreement. “Can you be able to use more of your power, Lady Ilia?” he asked. She nodded.

 

                “Yes, let’s do it, quickly!” she urged. The three of them then prepared for their tactic. Bane quickly charged up an immense fireball and launched it upwards, the flames shining bright, and then Grim and Ilia absorbed the light of the flames, and with their combined strength, they were able to bring from under the earth a giant root that blossomed into a radiant tree with a giant flowerbud! Then, they used their powers to open it up, and it unleashed a beacon of light that shone brightly, breaking through the darkness, and giving them a fighting chance at getting out of Lucilda’s death trap!

 

                “What!? Impossible!” Lucilda snarled as she saw her darkness slowly deteriorating away, the flower’s light piercing through it!  “That damn thing!!!” she shouted, and shen she formed her arm into a large tentacle, and then she whipped it towards the tree, snapping it in half and making the flower wilt! But by then, her dark barrier had been completely lifted, and now the others could be able to take her on. But she still had the advantage of an impenetrable body, so even though she no longer had her dark barrier, she was still a threat nonetheless!

 

                “The barrier is down, now is the time to strike!” Ilia said! “Saphira, now!”

 

                Before Lucilda could get a sense of what was going on, she noticed that Saphira was right behind her, and her spear seemed to be endowed with a particular power that she did not recognize! But knowing that she was invincible, she didn’t bother dodging the attack…but at that moment, without realizing it, that mistake had cost her! Her eyes went wide as she suddenly felt a splitting pain emanating from her rib!

 

                “W-what!?” she exclaimed, coughing out blood! And that’s when she noticed that her body was taking physical form! Her dark mass was subsiding, and when she realized that she could now be harmed, she used her dark powers to get away and make distance between herself and her foes!

 

                “How…how is this possible!?” she demanded, looking at her hands, seeing skin on them for the first time in what felt like an eternity!

 

                “A little theory I wanted to test…and one that I think was worth the risk. The power of the light shines through even the most pitch black darkness! No one is invincible, fiend!” Saphira said, as her spear shone with a brilliant light, the light which had bestowed its power to her and the others! It was another part of Bane’s plan, and he knew the risks, and so did Saphira, but she had wanted to take the risk, for right now, there was no room for hesitation! And so, their gamble paid off, and they seemed to have given Lucilda a significant blow!  But then they noticed that she only got angrier!

 

                “Fools…insignificant fools! I’m going to turn you into minced meat!” she roared with anger, and with an almost unholy burst of speed, Lucilda drew out her dark claws and jumped from one target to the next, viciously slashing at each and every one of them, managing to hurt them! They tried dodging and blocking, but the best they could manage was to just reduce the impact of Lucilda’s powerful attacks! But even then, she didn’t let up, as she then delivered a low, sweeping kick, and with her darkness, she elongated the shadow of her leg, tripping all of them down to the ground. Once they were all disoriented, Lucilda dove in and then pounced at Saphira, clawing at her like a rabid animal!

 

                “Come here, let me tear off that face from your head! Let me change the way you look at things!” Lucilda sneered with undeniabl animalistic fierceness. But Saphira kicked her away, but she received a particularly powerful slash that caused a wide gash to form across her armor! Luckily, the wound didn’t go skin deep, but did manage to raze the surface of her skin slightly. And that was more than enough to feel the potent darkness that she wielded! Lucilda jerked back and made sure to keep her distance from everyone! She looked at them all like a cornered animal, and then, when they charged towards her, she effortlessly dodged all of their attacks, moving and weaving flawlessly with the grace of an experienced combatant! She looked at them all and scoffed!

 

                “Just who do you think you’re up against!? I’m not some simple weakling! Even without my dark barrier, I can still kill you all with my bare hands!” she said, and with that, her body began to retreat into the dark mass again. She was going to kill them all viciously, and the look in her eyes indicated that this was no longer about fun, but simply about the murderous intent to kill!

 

                “Damn, this isn’t good! She’s too fast, and she’s way too deadly! What do we do now?” Vincent asked, glancing towards Zaria.

 

                “We keep wearing her down. She’s going to run out of steam, and then, that’s when we dive in for the finishing move!” she suggested.

               

                “Right!” everyone said in unison.

 

                And so, Ilia was able to exert more of her power, and with some extra weight to said power, she was able to uproot a giant, serpentine creature created from the roots beneath the earth! It opened its giant maw and gave out a fatal hiss! It’s fangs were filled to the brim with poison, and it was at the ready!  And so, the serpent slithered towards Lucilda, aiming to strike true and fill her up with its poison!

 

                “Move, move!” Bane commanded, and they all followed suit. They knew Lucilda would try to stop the serpent, so they made sure to keep her distracted so that she wouldn’t be able to bat an eye at the creature!

 

                Bane shot a barrage of flame spheres, all of them exploding around her, rendering her unable to see anything beyond the range of the explosions! She braced herself and covered herself with her arms, and when she smoke subsided, Laren and Tatsumaki lunged towards her together, the two of them delivering quick and precise attacks with spear and wind attacks! Saphira added thunder mines beneath the earth, and Lucilda didn’t think it wise to try to take a step, as any direction could prove in quite the electrocution!

 

                Vincent leapt from above, and then he struck at her with precise sword strikes, but she only blocked the attacks with her bare arms, and then she tried absorbing him into her! Dark tentacles protruded from her body and snagged him, grabbing him tight and not letting go! He struggled and tried to get free, but he was trapped! She then drew another tentacle, this time with a sharp and lethal end, and just when she was about to strike him to end it once and for all, Grim shot a spore arrow straight at one of Lucilda’s eyes, and the spores emanating from the arrow infiltrated her right eye! She shrieked and let go of Vincent, and then together, they struck at her, their blades piercing through her dark mass. But she didn’t scream, she didn’t even so much as complain, as she was concentrated in rubbing off the spores in her eye! This meant that physical attacks would not affect her as of yet!

 

                “Damn it! This is getting difficult!” Zaria said, as she dove in and attempted to swipe at Lucilda’s eyes, but she was able to take hold of her sword, and she slapped it away, and then, darkness surged out beneath Lucilda like a pool, and everyone’s feet were now stuck to the ground! They were unable to free themselves, and then Lucilda’s dark mass of a body seemed to grow, until she towered over all of them like a looming wraith of death! Her red eyes turned and unholy, demonic red!

 

                “I have had enough! Drown in the darkness of your nightmares, and see your fears become flesh!” Lucilda shouted, as the darkness beneath them all began to crawl up until it reached their eyes and covered them, sealing them shut, making sure they would not open again! They tried to force their eyes open, but they found that they couldn’t!

 

                “N-no…damn it!” Laren exclaimed. They heard Eluzia growl, and he tried to take on Lucilda by himself, but the yelp they heard seconds afterward indicated he was not successful!

 

                The worst was yet to come. Soon, they noticed that all sound was being drained, and they couldn’t hear a thing except their breathing! They were each being isolated by immense, nightmarish dark auras that were enveloping their bodies! They struggled on and on, but…

 

                “No….Tatsumaki, no!!!” Laren whimpered, as he saw her beint mutilated, her body being torn to shreds by Shadow Blights and being discarded like scraps! He saw Saphira trying to hold back the storm of foes, but she was decapitated by another Shadow Blight that chomped her head off! Laren knew this wasn’t real, but it was so vivid that he let out a scream, horror filling up his heart! He screamed until he couldn’t hear himself!

 

                “No…nngh, this can’t be happening!” Tatsumaki gasped, as she felt herself suffocating, running out of air! She saw Laren and Saphira and the others deteriorating, their bodies rotting and decomposing, as nothing but shadows and death presented themselves before her. The world was completely destroyed, and a red sun had risen….the cloulds were black, and all that could be heard were the screams of her loved ones and of countless innocents! Tatsumaki shivered uncontrollably, and she felt her body going numb…

 

                Bane wasn’t even able to speak, as it seemed to him that he was deprived of speech, or any sort of movement or action at all! He found himself tied to a stone pillar facing the sheer face of a cliff. Down the plunge, he saw the world, desolate, a wasteland. Then he saw gravestones, all of them with the names of his friends…he was the only one left, the only one in the world, cursed to live for eternity, watching the world die out…not even birds chirped, no living thing made a sound. All was dead and barren. Bane was alone!

 

                “No…damn it, no, not again!” Grim sobbed, as he was witnessing his wife’s death over and over again, in an endless loop! He was being cornered in a dark hallway, and his wife’s hand was extending towards him, whispering. “Come with me…it’ll be all over…die and join me.” she whispered with such caress and soothing calm in her voice. Grim was trying to resist, but his heart couldn’t take it. He wanted to be with his wife, he just wanted all this to be over. He went towards her…and then she grabbed him by the throat and started to choke the life out of him! And he wasn’t struggling in the slightest…

 

                “Vincent….everyone…” Ilia whispered, as she saw everything around her crumbling. She saw Vincent fading away, the Scorched flame inside him consuming him, burning him into nothing but ash! A strong wind blew his ashes away, and Ilia, gasping with shock, fell to her knees. When she looked down to the ground, she saw the corpses of Saphira and Eros, their bodies lifeless, their eyes wide with fear. And a shadow, a long shadow casting itself towards her, prepared to dig its claws into her heart. Tears streamed down her face, and she closed her eyes, ready to accept her fate.

 

                “I failed you all…I failed you all….” Vincent murmured to himself over and over, as he stood at the entrance to his home, the village burnt down to nothingness, black ash covering the entirety of the ground! Mt. Terios had erupted into searing flame, and his people were all vanishing, tears streaming down their faces and cries of agony resounding as their lives were snuffed out by the very flames that they possessed. Vincent thought of Seth, of Audrey, of everyone he loved and cared for…and he wept uncontrollably, feeling powerless, not being able to do anything to save them, or himself.  He then felt his own heart pulsing, his body starting to give in to the heat…and in those moments, he thought of Ilia…he was ceasing to be.

 

                “This is not how it ends! I refuse!” Saphira said, fighting back against Lucilda’s nightmare trance! But she couldn’t shake off the nightmarish and hellish influence, and instead she found herself face to face with an endless legion of Shadow Blighs inside World’s Edge! Behind her, the world as she knew it had become a black void, and when she turned to look at the Shadow Blights, she saw that they had taken the form of everyone she had ever known…and knowing who they were, she couldn’t bring himself to take them down!  But they lunged at her, and in horrifying shock, she found her body reacting on its own, striking down Laren, then Tatsumaki, then Ilia…and she winced and screamed in horror as she kept killing everyone, even though she didn’t want to!

 

                Each of them were all sinking in their own hell, they were being consumed by the nightmares that plagued their subconscious. They could feel the darkness gripping at their very life force, until…

 

                “Snap out of it, guys! We’ve come to far! We won’t let Lucilda use our personal demons to get the best of us! Wake up!!!” Zaria shouted, as she pierced through each nightmare, extending a hand, her body with a golden aura surrounding her! She touched each and every one of them, and with that, they were able to snap out of Lucilda’s hold, and they freed themselves of the darkness! Lucilda jerked back, feeling the stinging sensation of Zaria’s light, and she winced and snarled!

 

                “Damn it, how!? I had you in my nightmare trance! How is this possible!?” she exclaimed, then turning her gaze towards Zaria. “How the hell did you not fall in my trance!?”

 

                “It’s simple, really. The nightmares I have, I’ve lived them day in and day out. My nightmares always haunt me, my fears are always on my back…but I don’t let them get to me. I use the fear, I use the uncertainty and anger to hone myself, and to strengthen myself. So your trance did nothing more than reinforce my strength!” Zaria explained, then looked at her hand.  “Also, the light proved to be effective…granted, my body feels a bit heavy now, but it’s okay. I was able to free the others, so it’s all good!”

 

                Lucilda shook her head, her eyes blinking with uncertainty, her dark mass morphing unevenly. It seemed that Lucilda herself was starting to give in to fear!

 

                “No…it won’t end like this! I will kill you all!” she roared, and in a final ditch effort, she focused all of her dark powers, and her bodily mass expanded, shifting into a giant, feral beast that resembled a wolf! She roared and growled with deadly intent, and she sprinted at once, ready to go in for the final move!

 

                But just as she was about to swipe at them with her claws, they all attacked in unison! Zaria, Saphira, Laren and Vincent aimed for the legs, while Grim and Tatsumaki went for the back, while Ilia delivered an attack with her serpentine creature to the chest. Bane flung a sharp, stone spear straight towards her head! When the attacks hit, they all injected their power, Zaria and her friends using a portion of the light’s power to make Lucilda’s body physical! Once they struck, Lucilda gave out an agonizing howl, and a dark shockwave rippled from her, sending the others reeling back!  They stood at the ready to go for another attack, but now they saw that it wasn’t necessary.

(End Song Here)

 

                Lucilda’s massive wolf form began to diminish, and she reverted back to her normal mass. She then fell to the ground, and she found that her body was being cleansed of the darkness! She was seeing her own flesh again! Was this work of the light that her foes had? Whatever it was, she hadn’t thought she would see her skin ever again…and there, her body was ragged, slashed all over by the attacks of Zaria and the others. She was bleeding, and her eyes were getting blurry. They all stood over her, silent.

 

(Start Song Here)

                “Never did I think I’d see my normal body again…I…I thought I had remained a monster for all time…” she muttered. Zaria knelt beside her and held her head. Lucilda’s eyes, now a soft, gentle red, met hers.

 

                “I had remained inside myself for so long…my darkness, it enveloped me in such a way…I think that I just didn’t want to be hurt again. After losing mother, the world became dark for me. No one…would want me…they would not accept me because of what I possessed. And so I became a monster…my nightmare, never being able to see the light, never being able to be by my mother’s side again, has tormented me all my life.  Now that my body is no longer steeped in the dark, do you think…” her voice broke, tears forming in her eyes. “Do you think that I can be able to see mother now?”

 

                “Look, I don’t know you, but I can tell that you’ve had quite a past…and well, I know how it’s like to deal with personal demons. But you don’t let the darkness determine what course your life will take. True, you had no one, but if things had been different, if you had people who would’ve supported you, powers or not, I’m sure your life would have been better. But at the same time, you had the choice to make, a choice in how your life would turn out. You let yourself be blinded by despair, and you didn’t see anything in your powers beyond hopelessness. But you c ould have used it to help people…but now that it’s come to this, no one will ever know…” Zaria said, being honest.  “If we had crossed paths at some point…maybe I could have been able to help you.”

 

                “Well…at least there are some people that made me feel like I had a place to belong. Chozetsu and the others…they treated me like family…” Lucilda remarked, her eyes softening as tears streamed down. “I put up walls though, pretending that I didn’t give a shit about them…so that I wouldn’t allow myself to get close, so that I wouldn’t lose them…but still, they treated me like family…at least I can take some comfort in that…” she whispered, and then her body slowly began to fade away, the light enveloping her.  She was ready to close her eyes, but then something happened. Zaria and the others couldn’t see it, but there was something in that light that beckoned to Lucilda. Something that made her eyes open wide.  She extended her hand, and she gave out a gasp, as she started sobbing, but this time…with tears of joy.

 

                “Mother…how I’ve missed you…”  she whispered, as she faded away into light.

 

                Zaria and the others stood there, watching as the light slowly rose towards the heavens, losing itself in the distorted sky, until there was nothing left. They all remained silent for a moment, and they had now been able to defeat one of Chozetsu’s group. There were still four more to defeat.  Without so much as hesitation, Zaria walked ahead, beckoning the others to follow.

 

                “Come on, we’ve got no time to waste! The others are waiting for us up ahead! I can feel it…” she said.

 

                “Zaria’s right…our next battle awaits!” Bane said, and so, they all followed her.

 

                They had been through a grueling battle, the first of which would determine the fate of the world, and this had been too close a call. They had almost fallen prey to the machinations of their very minds, the fears of their very hearts, but somehow, Zaria had been able to pull them out of the nightmare. Had it not been for her, the world would have been doomed, and Chozetsu would have had his way!

 

                Zaria…the fact that this very woman stared at death in the face and did not blink showed resilience and courage, the kind of courage that spread towards the others as well. They had to keep on the fight, they needed to keep pushing forward, for all of their sakes!

 

                As they kept going, they found their next foe awaiting them…

 

                “Ah, it seems as though Lucilda has gone off in peace…” said Beriel, who was standing before them, with a calm and relaxed expression in his face. “At the very least, she was able to leave this world with a smile on her face…I truly did care for the dear girl. I thank you for ending her suffering, but at the same time, I cannot forgive you for killing her…so now I must avenge her, and uphold Chozetsu’s dream! Prepare yourselves!” he said, as he stood at the ready!

 

                And so, another battle was to begin…

(End Song Here)

 

--------------------------------------

 

Lucilda has fallen, and now, Chozetsu’s group is down to four! Will Zaria and the others be able to defeat Beriel? Will they push forward and get all the way to Chozetsu? Tension is rising, and every step forward is another step towards the world’s final doom or triumphant salvation! Stay tuned for Chapter Forty Two: The World After-Part 2 Of 10: A Gentleman’s Honor.”

 

Whoo, what an insane chapter! Dang, I lived that battle like if I had been there myself! You know, I’m really happy with how this chapter turned out, and I think it was a nice little send off for Lucilda, whether you loved her or hated her!  So then, part one is down for the count, and now part two beckons! Do you think that Zaria and the others will be able to keep up with Beriel? Let me know what you think, and thank you all for your love and support! As always, be sure to comment on what you thought about tonight’s chapter, and until next time, stay tuned for the next one!

[KHLegendIII 709]

What a chapter.

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

To KHLegendIII, indeed so, my old friend!

 

Good evening everyone, I hope that all of you are doing okay! So then, here’s part two of the ten part finale of Afterworld! Our heroes will now be facing Beriel, and the question now is: how will they fare against him? Will he prove to be a challenge? Find out and read on, my loyal readers!

 

Chapter Forty Two: The World After-Part 2 Of 10: A Gentleman’s Honor

 

                Everyone was standing before Beriel, all of them silent, staring at him, and he stared right back at them with an unearthly calm. He knew what they had done, he knew how they had defeated Lucilda, and yet, he wasn’t stricken with any sort of nervousness or any sort of uncertainty. If anything, there was almost a peaceful air about him. It seemed to the others that he had been waiting for this moment! He was waiting for this battle to come…and what would happen now was anyone’s guess. Beriel held up  his hand and looked to the distorted sky and gave out a sigh.

 

                “Before we begin, though, I want to take one more moment to admire the scenery. True…the world is not as it should be right now, but that will all change once Chozetsu achieves his goal. You will all see that he has been working towards the greater good for each and every one of us!” he commented, and he smiled and closed his eyes. “Soon, I will see my beloved wife and daughter again…after so long, I’ll finally be able to hold them, as I once did.”

 

                “You were the one who had come to me before, back then in my village, when all this was just starting.” Vincent spoke out.  “You know that this is all pointless. What assurance have you that Chozetsu will have what he says come to pass? Wouldn’t you want to see the world restored back to the way it was, to ensure that people can be able to return and live their lives? Wouldn’t that be what your  wife and daughter would want? To see you help bring the light back?” he said, trying to convince Beriel to lay down arms. It seems that he didn’t want the old man to have to end up fighting them. But Beriel shook his head with conviction, and he stood his ground.

 

                “I am sorry, Vincent lad, but there is no shaking my convictions and my loyalty. I had already decided what path I would walk in this life long before all this came to pass. Everything I have done, I have done to get to this moment. And now that everything that I have worked towards is almost complete, almost come to fruition, I will see it through to the end! I have come too far to let it all go to waste now!” Beriel said, firm in his belief and in his ideal.

 

                “You do realize that we will kill you?” Bane inquired. “We are going to put you down, and then we’ll go after the rest of your comrades to stop this apocalypse from being completed…”

 

                “I fully do realize that, my good sir. I realize it and am ready to step up and play my part. For even though I am an old man, I do believe that I have a good chance, call it more of an assurance, that I’ll be more than fit to provide you all with a decent showing of my skills! I’m sure that I will not disappoint!” the old man said, giving a gentle smile. Zaria knew that this man was one of those responsible for the way the world was, and yet…and yet she couldn’t sense all consuming malice in him. He was just truly a man who wanted to fight for what he believe in, same as what she and her friends were doing now.

 

                “Well, we are sorry, but we have to kill you in order to keep going. We won’t pull any punches on you!” Zaria declared. Beriel smiled and bowed his head.

 

                “I would have it no other way, my dear.” he replied. “Now then, be on your guard!”

 

(Start Song Here/Repeat If It Ends Early)

                Beriel drew his sword, and the instant he did, there seemed to be a tense and strong aura emanating from him that everyone felt! It was as though he was bending his mighty will at them, in a show of strength that indicated that he was indeed ready for a battle to the death! And he seemed to have no qualms about facing everyone at once. If anyting, he seemed quite calm with his situation.

 

                Without a moment’s hesitation, they all jumped in and began their offensive! They all rushed towards him and delivered calculated, precise attacks! Zaria and Laren clashed blades against him, but he managed to block both of them with just his one sword, and he kicked them away, and Tatsumaki dove in with an uppercut at the ready, but he dodged it at the last second and swung his sword in a wide arc, which Tatsumaki just barely managed to dodge! Grim summoned forth a root axe and Bane transformed his arm into a sword, and the two of them dashed towards Beriel, Eluzia in tow, and they tried to gang up on him, three to one! But he parried, sidestepped and low sweeped the three, making them fall on their backs! Ilia, who was now greatly recovered, joined in as well, summoning forth thorn daggers, and Saphira charged her spear with lightning, and they performed a joint attack meant to sweep the old man off his feet! But he jumped up just in time, and he performed a flurry of sword stirkes which forced them to back away!  Vincent then came in, thinking that he had caught the old man off guard, only to realize that he had been waiting for Vincent to strike, and he was met with a brutal punch to the face that sent him reeling! Everyone stood back, and they refrained from attacking him further! Beriel looked at them all and looked quite amused!

 

                “Well, it seems that even at my old age, I can be able to keep you all on the very edge of your seats! Right, then, I believe it’s my turn to deliver an onslaught!” he commented, and then his face grew grim, and without to much as an intake of breath, Beriel lunged. And the others were woefully caught off guard!

 

                Beriel propelled himself forward with great speed, and he fell upon the group with swift efficiency, a testament to the years and years of training and honing that he had undergone. He hadn’t come this far out of sheer luck! The others were barely keeping up with him, as he delivered aggressive yet refined sword strikes, swinging in arcs and thrusting with the speed such as of a woodpecker going at it on a tree! They blocked or dodge, but they managed to get a few cuts and scrapes, and that was because they were trying in all their power to keep up with the old man! They all fell back, but Beriel gave them no reprieve, as he then leapt upwards. But that’s when Laren, Tatsumaki and Saphira decided they would make their counterattack!

 

                “The skies are our specialty!” Laren remarked, as he leapt up with great speed, spear in hand!

 

                “Grave mistake!” Saphira said, as she prepared a lightning attak as she leapt up from the other side.

 

                “You’re toast!” Tatsumaki gleamed as she leapt up to the center. They all closed in on him, ready to pin him and deal a significant blow, yet…

 

                “Funny that you should mention that…” Beriel smirked, and in a split second, he swung his sword, and a mighty woosh of wind after, a glorious arc of crimson flame formed that brought with it an intense and unimaginable heat that struck Laren, Tatsumaki and Saphira, and they fell to the ground instantly, the flames threatening to consume them!

 

                “No!” Zaria shouted, and the others headed towards them in alarm! They were able to put out the flames burning them in time, but they were damaged, their skin reddened from the flames Beriel had summoned! They all stood there, now very wary of what would be their next move, if they could even get to it!  Vincent, on the other hand, was wide eyed!

 

                “How…? I thought you didn’t have your power anymore…you said you had gotten rid of it! How…? And with all Scorched relieved of their powers, how do you still have yours?” he asked, trying to piece it together.

 

                “Well, my boy, you see, my power has been with me for quite some time. For as long as I can remember. And so, I have always had access to it. I could suppress it or unleash it whenever I would wish it. The flame is a part of me, and it is a flame that I learned to conquer, so that it wouldn’t consume me. After everything I had gone through, I had to ensure that I would not die out from my own flame. Chozetsu had a hand in this as well, for through our mutual cooperation towards his goal, I was able to hone my skills, and I also experimented on, so that the flames could become a natural part of my body. And so…” Beriel said, extending his hand and forming a graceful string of flame. “The result that you see before you is what happens when a man sticks to his convictions and goes about doing anything to achieve them. So then, I should warn you, I won’t hold back. I will burn you all to ash if I must!”

 

                With that being said, Beriel then unleashed a fiery wall, and the others, knowing they couldn’t very well face said wall head on, had no choice but to run from it! They all began their retreat, for they knew they couldn’t withstand the smoldering heat that Beriel was sending their way! But just as they were trying to escape, Beriel propelled himself, and when he reached them, a heat shockwave emanated from him, causing the others to wince from the excess heat! He then went towards Zaria, aiming to go for the kill! She was caught off guard, until…

 

                “Look out!” Bane said, as he got in the way, Beriel’s sword piercing through him in the process! Zaria’s eyes opened wide, and everyone else was pulled aback in shock!

 

                “No, Bane!!!” Zaria shouted! Bane held Beriel’s sword and didn’t let go, and the old man nodded and seemed quite calm!

 

                “Ah, no problem then! I can take care of you this way anyway!” he said, and he let out a powerful, scorching flame that enveloped Bane’s entire body! Zaria screamed as she tried to reach for him, to pull him out of the flames, and the others tried to help, but Beriel drove them away with another heat shockwave! Zaria’s eyes were brimming with tears, but Bane glanced back at her.

 

                “Pull it together! Remember that I have Scorched powers, too! And my body is enhanced, so a flame like this won’t be the death of me! So snap out of it and strike him while I have him pinned!” Bane shouted! This snapped everyone out of it, for he was right! He was enhanced as opposed to them, and as a result, this was the perfect chance to strike at Beriel, now that he was in mid attack!

 

                “Impossible!” the old man exclaimed, now showing a bit of shock!

 

                “Got it!” Laren shouted, as he propelled himself and shot like an arrow, his spear piercing through Beriel’s abdomen, piercing all the way through! The old man, shocked, coughed out blood, but he immediately removed the blade from Bane, and he leapt back before anyone could harm him further! He had gotten away, but at least he had been damaged!

 

                They turned to see Bane, and they found that Beriel’s attack had scorched him quite significantly! His body was black burnt for the most part, and the bandages covering his face had been burnt off! Now, for the first time, they got a look at his face, and they saw that it was not a normal human’s face. Bane knew that his bandages were burnt off completely, and he remained silent. Zaria approached him quickly, while the others made sure to keep Beriel away, as the old man tried to go at them again! He had healed his wound by cauterizing it with his flame, and he was trying to get to them, but they were all holding their ground! Zaria stayed with Bane, and she saw his face up close.

 

                It seemed as though most of his face was mechanical, only his eyes and the upper part of his head that remained were actual human skin. His face was like that of a mechanized skull’s, and Bane’s eyes seemed to shake a bit, almost as if he was ashamed of them, of her, seeing his face. His true face.

 

                “Bane, are you okay?” she asked, seeming not to care. This surprised him, but he nodded.

 

                “Yes, but…my bandages…” he trailed. Zaria smiled and touched his face.

 

                “We all have our pasts, and we’ve all sacrificed many things to get where we are. You, most of all, seem to have sacrificed a bit too much. But no one will judge you for it. I won’t judge you for it. It doesn’t matter what face you wear, I’ll always stand by you, and so will the others.” she said with a smile, and then, she turned towards the battle. “Alright, if you’re sure you’re okay, then come on, we have a battle to win!”

 

                Bane was a bit flabbergasted by this, and he found himself blushing!

 

                “R-right…” he muttered, as he went and joined the fray anew!

 

                Together, they attacked as one fearsome unit, and little by little, they were ensuring that they were the ones that had the high ground, the advantage over this battle! Beriel had no choice but to remain on the defensive, blocking each consecutive attack. His wound had completely healed, though, and that was a problem, because the opening Bane had given them had been for nothing!

 

                Getting increasingly tired of this, Beriel planted his feet firmly on the ground, and then he wreathed his sword in searing flame, and with a quick swipe, he sent forth a menacing wave of flame that threatened to consume and burn everyone to ash, so they had no choice but to get out of the way! Beriel then struck the ground, causing large chunks of earth to jut out of the ground! He then shattered those chunks into smaller fragments, into shards! Then, he shot forth a fireball that spread its heat to all the shards, enveloping them in fire! With a wave of his hand, he sent the shards raining down, and the others knew that these shards were too fast to dodge and too sharp to block, so they all scattered and tried to find cover! Luckily, they were able to hide under chunks of debris or small little caves that dotted the landscape. They weathered out the storm of shards and waited until the last one dropped!

 

                “Grim, now!” Ilia shouted.

 

                “Right!” Grim replied, and as he placed his hand below him to the ground, he closed his hand into a fist, causing a giant root to pierce upwards from under the ground, catching Beriel off guard, the vines coming out from the root tightening around him!

 

                “Now it’s my turn!” Ilia said, as she summoned forth spheres of light that were shimmering, almost like pollen! She guided the spheres towards the root that Grim had summoned, and she placed them around Beriel like mines! Then, when she closed her hands into fists, the spheres detonated, the explosion converging into a yellow mist that fogged out the view of Beriel’s restrained body! Everyone else remained close by, wary, knowing that they needed to be ready for any sort of surprise!

 

                Soon enough, Beriel dispelled the fog with heatwave, and he burned the root holding him, the vines melting away as his body heat seared through them!

 

                “You think to stop me with your powers, Lifespring? It is by the power of the Scorched that you rely in order to gain your strength, so your powers are nothing against me!” he stated, as he swung his sword and stood for a moment.  “You must all realize that this is futile. Stop trying to fight such a senseless fight. In the end, it won’t make a difference. Succumb yourselves to this fate, and I am sure that Chozetsu will find a place for you all in the afterworld! You need only support his vision, and you need only believe in him, and I know that you will all find peace! As a gentleman, I ask this of you. Stop your fighting!” he pleaded.

 

                “No can do, old man. We aren’t going to sway from our path, just as we can’t make you sway from yours. It’s the way we think, the way we operate. It’s not about whether one side or the other wins, it’s about which belief is the strongest in the end.” Zaria said.

 

                “That’s right.” Saphira added in, supporting Zaria’s words. “You believe that what you are doing is right, and we believe that what we are doing is right. No matter of words or honest intentions or any other sort of feeling can remove the conflict that is in place. We will forge forward for what we believe. We must stop you…”

               

                Beriel sighed sadly, for he truly did look like he didn’t want to fight them. He didn’t want to kill them. Rather, he simply wanted them to understand, but… “Then, you will die with your belief. There is nothing more that I can do to persuade you. So melt into the fires of the end, which I cast upon you!” he shouted, sheathing his sword and then raising both of his arms up. The others looked in alarm, as the landscape around them began to change! The distorted sky was getting harder to make out, as it seemed as though smoke was covering the sky! Then, beneath them, they felt as though their feet were burning up, and that’s when they realized that the ground was beginning to melt!

 

                And then, they saw that lava was spewing from out of the ground like geysers, spraying with great intensity and all consuming heat! The landscape was becoming harsh and hellish, and a stone pillar began to rise from where Beriel was standing, a stone pillar which was becoming molten rock! He was rising above the melting landscape, and he was towering over them all!

 

                “Everyone, we have to get a move on, or else we’re going to get boiled here!” Vincent shouted. And so, they all began to run towards Beriel, trying to reach him before the stone pillar got higher above them!

 

                “Bane,while there’s still time!” Laren shouted.

 

                “On it!” Bane panted as he ran, and then he slammed the ground, and the chunks of earth that had still not melted jutted out, and with his Craftsmen powers, he was able to keep the chunks floating steadily, so that they were platforms for Zaria and the others to stand on, to jump from one to another to get closer to Beriel!  And so, they all got on the platforms, and they were able to secure footholds on them, and when they looked below…

 

                “Unbelievable…” Tatsumaki whispered under her breath.

 

                The entire landscape before them had turned into a river of molten lava, any trace of ground that was there, swept away by the currents of searing flame! They were lucky that Bane had been able to summon forth the platforms when they did, otherwise they would’ve melted right into the lava!

 

                But they couldn’t just stand idly by, especially with a foe who was aiming to kill them! Beriel was flinging a steady stream of fireballs towards them, trying to make them stumble and fall off of the platforms, but they were able to dodge them, jumping from one platform to the other, ensuring that they would land safely! Beriel saw this, and he instead fired towards the platforms that lay before them, melting them down, and now leaving them with less platforms they could land on! This was becoming a problem!

 

                “If we don’t think of something, we’re going to be turned into nothing but lava waste!” Grim exclaimed!

 

                “Let’s see if I can figure something out…” Saphira said, as she then started to spin her spear in circles in front of her.  She sped up the spinning, until she was able to form a gust of wind that was blowing a steady current of air in front of her!

 

                “Right, we’ll help too!” Laren and Tatsumaki said in unison, as they added their wind powers and made the current stronger!

 

                “Alright, someone, anyone, ride on the current and get to that bastard before he burns us into a crisp!” Tatsumaki shouted!

 

                “I’m on it!” Vincent said, as he ran with a breakneck pace! He leapt over Saphira, Laren and Tatsumaki, and once he  landed on the wind wave, he soared in a straight line, straight towards Beriel! He prepared his blade, ready to deliver a fatal thrust, and before Beriel could react, Vincent had already landed on him, his blade piercing through Beriel’s stomach! The old man coughed up blood, and he gritted his teeth, wincing and groaning in pain! But even so, Beriel raised his hand upward and then he lowered it, causing an enormous rumbling to take place!

 

                “What…what are you doing?” Vincent asked. But then he looked down and saw that the river of lava was beginning to diminish. Then, a few seconds later, he felt a shadow looming over him. That’s when…

 

                “This is where you all burn…” Beriel said, as he jumped out of the way, and the giant lava tsunami loomed, ready to strike down and burn everything it came into contact with into nothingness!

 

                “Shit…shit, we’re screwed!” Zaria spat, as they were all petrified and unable to do anything to stop this attack from annihilating them!

 

                And so, all they could truly do was close their eyes and pray that it was a quick death, one they wouldn’t feel and agonize over…

 

                But no heat burned them to ash! Their bones did not melt away…they were still whole! They all stood on the platforms, stunned and wondering what had happened! That’s when they saw Vincent, who somehow, someway, had been able to hold off the attack! How it was possible at all was something that truly boggled the mind, considering that he didn’t have his Scorched powers anymore! But that’s when they saw that his body was glowing with a golden aura! That’s when they all knew.

 

                “The light…it protected you, and protected us in the process!” Laren said aloud. Vincent, who was still shocked at what had just happened, couldn’t quite understand the feeling he was having, but he could feel a strong light inside him. He looked at his hands and noticed the golden glow.

 

                “The light?” he asked, dumbfounded. But he wasn’t left with time to ponder the question, as their attention was caught by Beriel, who looked from below in disbelief! The landscape was now free of lava, though it was hideously charred black due to said lava. Beriel clenched his fists, and he cauterized the wound that was in his stomach.

 

                “This is impossible! You should have all perished under my lava tsunami! This is not possible!” Beriel exclaimed, surprised, but then he regained his composure! “I have to say…that is quite an impressive display on your part! Right then, come at me!”

 

                Readying himself, Beriel began charging energy, but at the same time, he didn’t leave himself open to attack, so he cast a flame barrier around him, protecting him from any ranged damage! If they wanted to hurt him, they had to get in close, but they knew that he was expecting them to do that. So the question now was what to do.

 

                “Everyone, we’re going to have to take a big risk here…” Zaria said slowly. The others looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

 

                “Yeah…we don’t have much time in our hands as is, so we’ll have to be reckless…” Grim followed. And so, the others immediately sprinted, dashing from the platforms they had been standing on, and they went straight towards Beriel, and when they were close enough, they scattered around so that they surrounded him! They made sure that they were protected from any surprise attacks he would unleash, and just when they were about to strike, Beriel disappeared in a fume of ash, and they ended up hitting nothing but the charred ground!

 

                “Too late! This is where I draw the line of victory! Fall!” Beriel bellowed, and they all looked up at him in surprise, and they saw that beyond him, there was an endless stream of giant chunks of earth, all wreathed in flame, looking like if they were meteors! Beriel rained them down upon them all, and to ensure that they wouldn’t escape, he planted flame mines beneath them, so that they would be too busy trying not to get their legs blown off. They wouldn’t be able to dodge the onslaught coming from above!

 

                “No, no! This can’t be how it ends!” Bane shouted, gritting through his teeth!

 

                “Damn it, we won’t be able to prevent both attacks from seriously injuring us!” Saphira exclaimed, trying to uproot the mines with her giant wind gusts, but it was to no avail! Shortly after, the meteor-esque rocks plunged onto the earth, causing a gigantic explosion that gobbled up the distorted field, consuming it in blinding, burning light as far as the eye could see! Beriel remained there, floating in midair, and then he closed his eyes and stroked his chin.

 

                “Well…it is over then.” he whispered. But as he turned to leave, he noticed something from the corner of his eye! He looked below, and he dared to hope that he had just been seeing things…but when the fumes lifted, there they all were, intact, all being protected…by that golden light! It had envelope them all in a shield that protected them from Beriel’s ultimate attack!

 

                “No…it cannot be…” Beriel whispered, defeated, dumbfounded that they had survived this attack!

 

                “Together now, everyone!” Zaria said, and they all joined hands, and their light coalesced together and formed a powerful light beam that shot out at blinding speed, piercing through Beriel, taking him right then and there, in one shot! His eyes opened wide as he received the full force of the attack, and he found himself feeling heavy as he fell to the ground and landed with a thud! Within seconds, Zaria and the others were already near him. He was standing up, slowly, coughing out blood and gasping for breath. His mouth was all bloodied, and he was struggling to stand!

(End Song Here)

 

                “No…this cannot be! I have not finished seeing this through to the end! I need to be here when Chozetsu opens the way towards the new world! I…I can’t…” he said, but as he looked down towards his chest, he noticed the wound that had pierced him, and as he used his flames to cauterize the wound and heal himself, he found that his powers were not working! Instead, the light was consuming him slowly, eating him from the inside out, and each little particle of his body that left him slowly turned into light that floated upwards towards the distorted sky. He then realized what was happening. He realized that he was dying.  He then set his eyes upon Zaria and the others, and they looked at him sadly.

 

                “It’s over now…” Saphira said.

 

                “It didn’t have to be this way…” Grim muttered, as he clenched his fists and bowed his head low. The others said nothing, and Beriel began to shed tears. A gentleman true and true to the end, he took out his handkerchief and he cleaned his mouth, which was stained with blood. He coughed and covered his mouth with his hand, and he straightened himself and then looked to the sky, and tears continued to stream down his face. Now that he was finally at death’s door…what would await him beyond it? Then he seemed to be shaking, and then he turned away from the others. He swore that he could feel something…a familiar presence watching him! When he turned around completely, just beyond his reach, there they were…

 

(Start Song Here)

                “L-Lania…? Esmerelda?” he stuttered, his body shaking, his tears falling down ceaselessly. He didn’t dare to move from where he was. Was this some sort of cruel trick of destiny? A toll for all that he had done? He closed his eyes and clenched his fists, shaking his head. He didn’t know what this was.  When he looked up again, he saw that the two of them, his beloved wife and dear daughter, were reaching out their hands to him, in a welcoming embrace. They were welcoming him home. At that, Beriel broke down, and he wept, all the frustration, all the sadness inside him pouring out like he had never done…

 

                “I have missed you both for so long!” Beriel sobbed.  “Everying I have done in this life, is for you two. To be able to look upon your beautiful faces again…” he gasped, and he continued to weep. “…And here you are, right before my eyes!”

 

                He turned to look back at Zaria and the others, and they nodded.

 

                “Weren’t you going to kill me?” Beriel asked.

 

                “You’ve already been through enough. You should go in peace…” Zaria said.  Beriel nodded slowly, and he looked at her and them for a long time. The words were unspoken, but he was thanking them for this small moment, this small moment where he could be at peace. Instead of dying in senseless conflict, he could die an honorable, peaceful death. So he slowly turned, and then he started to walk, step by step, reaching ever closer to his beloved family. As he got closer, their eyes shone brighter, and they reached out their arms ever more. When he finally reached them, he hugged them tightly, and he didn’t let go…

 

                He held them, and he felt them. They were real. It was them, and no cruel trick! This was his wife and his daughter! He looked at the two of them and smiled, tears falling all the while.

 

                “Welcome home, father.” Esmerelda said, beaming a wide smile, a gentle smile. She was just as he had seen her before she had died. So did Lania.

 

                “I have been gone for so long…but now, now I can be with you, and finally rest…” he sobbed quietly, as he held onto them, and with them, slowly turned into beautiful streaks of light. Those same streaks turned into brilliant lines of flame that slowly ascended to the heavens, leaving behind a warmth the likes of which they couldn’t describe. Not a fire of destruction or calamity. A fire of comfort…of home.

 

                And somehow, the world felt just at least a little bit brighter, and Zaria and the others pressed forward. Before all was said and done, they had a job to finish…

(End Song Here)

 

----------------------------------------------

 

With Beriel fading away into light, Chozetsu’s group is now down to three members! Our heroes were barely able to survive this battle, will they be able to survive the next? Each battle brings them closer to the final confrontation that will decide the future of the world! Stay tuned for Chapter Forty Three: The World After-Part 3 Of 10: “Brother And Sister.”

 

Daaaang, what a battle! I’m just as excited as all of you, believe me! Right, so this marks yet another one of Chozetsu’s group that has fallen, and now, with three members left, just how intense to do you think the remaining battles will be? Well, let me assure you, it’s going to be something you won’t soon forget! Haha, anyways, thank you all very much for your love and support, and be sure to let me know what you thought of tonight’s chapter, as always! So then, until next time, stay tuned for the next one!

Edited January 30, 2018 by The Transcendent Key

[KHLegendIII 709]

Oh man, what a battle.

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

To KHLegendIII, yep, just wait till you see the next one!

 

Good evening everyone, I hope that all of you are doing okay! So then, we’re on to yet another chapter, and it looks as though things will only continue to get ever more intense! Are you all ready for what’s to come? I hope you are, because let me tell you, things are going to get exciting and epic! Read on, my faithful followers, and enjoy the chapter!

 

Chapter Forty Three: The World After-Part 3 Of 10: Brother And Sister

 

                Right off the heels of their battle against Beriel, Zaria and company decided to take a short break. They knew that they couldn’t sit idly by for too long, but they had been close to meeting death, and so they needed to recover a bit of strength before the battle at hand that would follow. Who they would go up against was anyone’s guess, but whoever it was, they needed to be ready! Luckily, the power of the light was helping them heal up and give them a boost of strength. It was as if it responded accordingly to the bodies of each and every one of them, as if the light were part of their nervous system, of their immune system. Soon enough, they found themselves feeling much better!

 

                “That was way too close…” Ilia said, looking back from whence they came. She couldn’t believe that they had already made it this far!

 

                “Well, we can’t catch our breath for too long. More battles await us, and I suspect that we won’t like what we’ll find ahead…I even sense someone watching us. They’re close, but at the same time, distant. Whoever we’re up against, they’ve already got their first steps planned…we have to be careful how we proceed.” Saphira mentioned, letting out a cautious breath.

 

                “I don’t know how we can be able to keep pushing forward like this. Even with the power of the light helping us, it doesn’t mean that we can be reckless…we have to take very careful steps with our next couple of battles, or we’ll meet an early end…” Grim said as he petted Eluzia, who was sitting beside him. They then looked at Bane, and they saw that his gaze was fixed firmly beyond the path they were treading. They all looked at him, and then they looked towards the path, towards the horizon, and they couldn’t see anything of note.

 

                “Bane, are you okay? You look like you’re in a trance!” Tatsumaki asked. Bane glanced at them momentarily before returning his gaze towards the horizon.

 

                “She’s the one who’s coming after us next.” was all he said.

 

                “She…? As in…” Zaria strayed. Bane nodded, knowing what she was going to say. She looked at him with saddened eyes. Almost as if he could feel her eyes on him, he looked over to her.

 

                “I’m ready for what comes next. I know that my sister has gone down this path, and despite the fact that she is my sister, I’m ready to do whatever I have to do. I won’t hesitate. I know what I have to do…” he said, reassuring Zaria and the others that he was indeed ready to do what had to be done. They had no doubt about it, but they knew that at least some part of Bane didn’t want to fight his sister. But they remained quiet and didn’t say anything.

 

                A few seconds later, Bane was the first to stand up, and he jerked his chin slightly towards the horizon.

 

                “Come on, let’s go…” Bane said, and so, they all made their way through the path, keeping their eyes open. Bane kept the lead, for he was apparently the only one who could see Ellene. With his modifications, he no doubt already knew her precise location, and perhaps they were even looking at each other, staring each other down from miles away!

 

                Vincent, meanwhile, was lost in his thoughts. Ilia was walking beside him, and she could notice that something was bearing down on his mind heavily. He was burdened and he looked to be greatly troubled. She wanted to comfort him, but with the rift that had grown between them, she saw it difficult for them to have any communication the likes of which they would have years before. But still, she decided she would try to bridge a gap between them. So she could reach out.

 

                “Vincent…are you okay?” she asked, placing a hand gently on his shoulder. He looked at her and his eyes met hers, and they remained holding each other’s gaze for a bit before he looked away. He sighed.

 

                “Seth and Audrey…they’re the only ones who had survived with me after…after Kalciru played us. But after all this happened, I have no idea whatsoever if they’re even alive or not. I…I feel helpless, not knowing anything about them. I’m scared to discover that they may not be in this world anymore…that they may have been erased…the very thought of that…” his voice broke. “…It terrifies the living hell out of me…”

 

                Ilia looked at him and then trailed her hand down his arm and then entwined her fingers in his. He gripped her hand tightly, and she smiled softly. “Vincent…don’t give up hope. Just because things ended up like this doesn’t exactly mean that you lost your friends forever. They could probably be just around the bend, or maybe a little further off. You don’t know for sure that they’re dead. Just keep your thoughts positive, I’m sure you’ll find out something about them soon enough. Have faith.” she said. And somehow, she managed to soothe him, for he calmed down. He still looked troubled, but he seemed less so now. He gave out a soft sigh.

               

                “Thanks, Ilia. I needed to hear that.” he said with a sad smile. She smiled back at him, and she was just about to say something, when suddenly…

 

                “Get down! Now!” Bane shouted, and everyone quickly got down on the ground, as something that seemed to be a projectile whistled above them, leaving a trail of smoke behind! A few seconds later, it detonated a short distance way from them. A missile, it seemed.

 

                “She’s coming at us…” Bane warned. “Get ready!”

 

                And so, everyone got into position, and within a few seconds, Ellene had come, whooshing through the skies thanks to her propulsion thrusters, a modification in her body. She came at them until she was a few feet away from them, and then she stopped momentarily, hovering above everyone else.

 

                “You have bested Beriel…that’s unfortunate. It looks like you lot have proven to be more troublesome than you are worth. It looks like we were wrong to underestimate you…” Ellene spoke.

 

                “Nothing is going to stop us from halting this madness. You are in our way, and you will die, like the others before you!” Saphira challenged. Ellene gave out an unamused huff.

 

                “Hollow threats don’t scare me, woman.” she replied. Saphira gritted her teeth at the comeback.

 

(Start Song Here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC3ZpHNY0-o

                “I won’t have any of you proceeding any further. With that in mind…” she said, and suddenly, she raised her arms high, and her forearms began to glow, no doubt another one of her enhancements at work! She clasped her hands together, and behind her, an enormous barrier formed, one that was invisible but had the distinct quality of an impenetrable fortress wall! “I won’t let any of you forge forward…”

 

                The others cursed under their breaths. Not only did they have to face Ellene, but they also had to break through this barrier if they wanted to get any farther! This was going to get complicated!  But still, everyone prepared for battle, ready to see this through! But then, Bane spread out his left arm, and he glanced over his shoulder at the others.

 

                “I will take care of this fight. All of you ensure that you break through that barrier…” he said.

 

                “Are you insane, Bane!? We do this together, we aren’t going to leave you alone to face her!” Zaria protested.

 

                “Hmph, you have little faith in my abilities, Zaria. Trust me, I can handle myself in this fight. All of you have to break through that barrier, or we’ll only be stalled, and that’ll be bad. It’ll only make Chozetsu’s imminent disaster all the more likely to happen. So don’t drag this out by arguing and get to work on bringing down that barrier!” Bane said in a commanding tone! Zaria was about to protest again, but Laren grabbed her by the shoulder, and she whipped a sharp glance at him as he shook his head.

 

                “He’s made his mind up, Zaria. He wants to do this on his own. And he’s right, this barrier has a powerful aura surrounding it. If we don’t get to work bringing it down, we will be stalled. I fear not even my Dragoon powers can get us over the barrier. It seems to have some sort of energy that restricts anything from passing through or below or above. We have to find a way to destroy it!” he said, trying to help Bane’s case. She relented and then sighed.

 

                “Fine. But make sure to kick her ass!” Zaria huffed. Bane smirked.

 

                “Will do.” he said, and then he turned his attention towards Ellene, who was still hovering above them. They all made their way to the barrier, but Bane wasn’t worried that Ellene would go after them. No, she was confident enough in her abilities that she found it unnecessary to try to stop them. That’s what he hoped she was thinking!

 

                “So, it seems we will settle this in a personal battle. Well then, I don’t object to this. Besides, those friends of yours won’t be able to break through so easily. After I’m done with you, I’ll take care of them.” she said. Just as Bane thought. Her overconfidence would bring about her downfall. But he wasn’t about to let her know that! She looked at him and scoffed.

 

                “It looks like you’ve been wrung dry, brother. You look horrible.” she said. Bane gave out a soft chuckle.

 

                “Well, forgive me for not looking presentable enough for you, sister.” he shot back. Ellene gave a dry smirk, almost as if feigning amusement.

 

                “Well then, let’s get on with this, brother. I’ve waited too long to dispatch you, and now that I finally have you here in front of me, I’m not going to waste another moment…” she said.

 

                “Then let’s get to it!” Bane challenged, and without a second thought, the two of them propelled themselves forward, dashing at each other with almost lightning speed, and they both launched their fists at the same time, and they collided, and the two of them got into a stalemate, just seconds of the battle having begun! But Bane put more firepower into his thrusters, and he was able to overpower her, plummeting her down to the ground, which she crashed into with a loud boom!

 

                A small crater had formed where her body had fallen, and when Bane went down to inspect the damage, he saw that she was already gone! A split second later, she was already behind him, just about to deliver a fatal punch, but Bane was able to dodge just barely, and then he went for a low swoop kick! She jumped, dodging the attack, and then she lunged forward, transforming her arms into dual swords! She went toward him recklessly, and yet with precision! She dove in hard and delivered a series of strikes, but Bane was able to transform his right arm into a wide shield, and he was able to repel her attacks for the most part. But he could definitely feel the force behind them!

 

                “That all you got, brother!? I have to say that I’m a bit disappointed. I expected some more fire within you!” Ellene remarked, as she pushed Bane back with a forceful thrust of her dual blades that made him slide along the ground, leaving the trail of his feet in a straight line!  Bane quickly reverted his arms to normal, and then he concentrated energy into his chest.

 

                “You want fire that badly? Then here you go!” he shouted, and with that, a cavity opened at the center of his chest, and from it, scorching hot flames spouted out like that of a flamethrower’s, and the flame spread wide, threatening to engulfe Ellene! She smirked and managed to dash through the flames. Her body had caught some of it, but she immediately brushed it off and then propelled herself towards Bane, not giving him enough room to counterattack. She slammed her fist across his face, and then she thrust her sword, aiming to pierce through the cavity in his chest, but he closed it just in time, but a wide gash still managed to open when her blade scraped his skin! He leapt back, and he thought of what he would do next. Ellene was already on top of him before he could even so much as speak!

 

                “Don’t let yourself slip, brother. Now isn’t the time to be thinking. Action is what’s required here…” Ellene said grimly, as she aimed to sever Bane’s head with a scissor cut from her blades! But he was able to get away thanks to using his thrusters to dodge the attack!  He then leapt up in the air and turned his hand into a cannon, and he shot forth a lightning sphere!

 

                “It’s over now…” he said, and when the lightning sphere landed on the ground beside her, it triggered a cluster of mines that he had placed beneath him, and they all blew up into a wide explosion, and he had to get himself a short distance off so as to not get caught in the blast.  He saw as the flames expanded, and then he gave out a soft sigh, and his eyes turned grim.

 

                “Sister…” he thought.

 

                Then, he felt something off. He just happened to look down, and he noticed that the right side of his abdomen had been smashed through! Shocked, he quickly landed on the ground, and then his eyes darted everywhere.

 

                “Did you honestly think that would finish me off, brother? You think too highly of your skills…” Ellene called out. Bane cursed under his breath. He hadn’t wanted this to drag out more than it had to, but it seemed to him now that this wold not be the case.

 

                “Brother…I searched for you for so long…after I had found out that you were alive, I needed to find you. But you did all in your power to avoid me. You wanted nothing to do with me. You faked your own death so that you would be rid of me!” Ellene said, and her voice was starting to sound less grim and more…emotional. She had been keeping this frustration inside, Bane thought, and she was starting to break now…

 

                “You abandoned me…” she hissed.

 

                Silence.

 

                “Hmph, and your silence speaks volumes. No protests, no form of remorse whatsoever. Some brother you turned out to be…” she spoke, hurt. She then appeared into view, and her eyes were filled with hatred, her body tensing, a palpable aura of aggression that Bane could sense even if he were to be miles away.  She was about to say something else, but Bane interrupted her, as he dashed towards her and then punched the ground, causing a tremor to take place, making her stumble! Bane took this opportunity and then he transformed his arm into a longsword, and then he hacked away at her, managing to land fatal blows that would probably kill her.

 

                But he knew that she wouldn’t let things stand this way. She wasn’t going to go down without a serious fight. But he kept hacking away, that is, until Ellene clasped his sword with both of her hands, and her eyes were now flaring with utmost rage.

 

                “I will turn you into nothing!” Ellene spat, and she then delivered a fatally powerful punch that sent Bane flying back, and he, caught totally by surprise, found himself crashing down to the ground with a sickening thud!

 

                Zaria and the others, in the meantime, were trying to get through the barrier, trying with all of their might to dispel it. But it was easier said than done. Laren, Tatsumaki and Saphira had combined their powers, and even with the mighty wind blades and thunderous spears that they launched again and again, they did nothing but only scrape the barrier slightly. Grim tried to open a path underneath with his roots, and Ilia tried to supply more power towards opening the path belowground, but as had been stated before, this barrier was impenetrable, no matter where you tried to find an entryway! It was a difficult process.

 

                As the battle between Bane and Ellene raged on, Zaria looked over to them, and she saw that they were making a mess of the surrounding area. Ellene really did have no interest in thwarting her or her friends, for her objective was her brother.

 

                “Zaria, let’s try something.” Vincent said. She looked over to him, and the two of them planted their feet firmly on the ground. They concentrated their strength, and then they unleashed their power, sending forth mighty sword thrusts which they hoped would break the barrier! But, unfortunately, it was still not enough!

 

                “Damn it…this isn’t good!” Grim cursed.

 

                “This is proving to be a difficult task. We can’t exhaust the power of the light, because we don’t know just how powerful our remaining foes will be. We have to try to break through this barrier with our own strength. Otherwise, we’ll be too tired to face our remaining foes. But what can we do to take this barrier down?” Saphira thought aloud. The others were racking their brains, for this was indeed proving to be a bothersome obstacle.

 

                “How about…” Grim started, as he took to observing the barrier, looking at either side. He walked to one end of the expanse and then to the other, and he passed his hand along the barrier, getting a feel for it. “How about if we try to compress this barrier? Use our powers in a way that we can be able to crush it, make it collapse within itself!” he suggested. The others looked at him, and they all agreed.

 

                “It sounds like a well laid idea, Grim. Let’s give it a shot.” Ilia said.

 

                “Very well, we’ll assist you as best as we can!” Saphira encouraged.

 

                Bane and Ellene were now trading far harsher and stronger blows. They weren’t even trying to be careful anymore! They were going all out, dashing towards each other and inflicting barrages of attacks, bruising each other and their bodies colliding, the sounds of their clashing like those of breaking bones, except for the fact that they were far more resilient than a normal person. Ellene delivered a roundhouse kick to Bane that sent him plummeting down to the ground, making him crash headfirst down! She then landed on top of him with a sharp kick to the spine, which crunched like dry bone! Bane gave out a gasp and coughed out blood! Blood…

 

                “Hmph, it’s hard to forget that we still have organs inside us, despite our enhancements, eh brother?” Ellene mocked, as she grabbed him, pulling him up, and then tossed him aside like a broken toy. But as he landed to the ground, he was able to regain himself for a slight moment, and then he rushed towards Ellene, pouncing on her and pinning her to the ground, then proceeding to punch her ruthlessly in the face, the sound of his fist connecting with her face echoing through his mind! Crunch after excruciating crunch! He then turned his hand into a dagger, and he was just about to run it through her forehead, but slammed into him with a headbutt, causing him to fall on his back to the ground, having gone blank for a moment! She stood up slowly and cracked her neck.

 

                “Pathetic. You are nothing but pathetic, you sad excuse for a living being…” Ellene said, spitting out blood. “Come on and give me a fight!” she shouted, as she kicked him brutally in the stomach, causing him to cough out a condsiderable amount of blood!

 

                “Damn…she’s gotten stronger…” he thought.

 

                “Get up!” she commanded, kicking him again! He rolled along the ground, but he got back up to his feet as fast as he was able, and just when Ellene was about to kick him again, he held her foot and then twisted her ankle, but she twisted her whole body so that wouldn’t happen, and then, when she attempted to kick him with her other foot, he dodged and then kipped himself up, delivering a brutal right fist straight to Ellene’s face, the impact of his knuckles colliding against her cheek resounding with a brutal crack! With that brutal show of force, Ellene was sent flying, but in midair, she straightened herself and then landed on her feet.

 

                “You’ve gotten stronger. I can tell that you have a deep drive put into all this. You have much at stake here…” Bane said.

 

                “More than you know, brother…more than you know.” she barked back, and then she dashed towards him, and Bane did the same, and the two collided in a flurry of punches and kicks. To the human eye, it would seem as though there was a blur in the environment moving constantly from left to right. It was that much speed that was being put into the battle, and each time their feet planted themselves into the ground, they left large skid mards, their feet slightly sinking down into the ground, steam slowly hissing out of the cracks! They were brutally at it, and there wasn’t a hint of hesitation in either of them. This was a fight to the death! 

 

                “Damn it…tell me why! Tell me why you didn’t even bother!? Why did you abandon me!?” Ellene demanded, her each and every punch being delivered harder than the previous one. She was full of anger, her fury seeping out of her body like a palpable wave of malevolent energy. She was letting out so much frustration that tears of anger were streaming down her face. “Tell. Me. Why!” she shouted, transforming her arm into a claymore and then slashing right across Bane’s chest, opening up a considerably wide gash! Even he was not expecting an attack that strong, it seemed, for his eyes opened wide, and he fell down to the ground…and didn’t move.

 

                The others, who were working on breaking the barrier, heard the resounding thud that Bane’s body made when he fell abruptly to the ground! Zaria registered what was happening, and she saw Ellene with an enormous claymore, and a short distance off, Bane was on the ground, his chest wide open, his body immobile! Zaria’s heart clenched, and she felt that things had taken a turn for the worse.

 

                “No…” she thought. Her thoughts were starting to jumble up, and she couldn’t concentrate, what with the others doing what they had to do to break through the barrier. Grim and Ilia had summoned forth giant trees from deep underground, and they were bending the trees to crush the barrier, like how one would crush a cage. With the help of Laren, Tatsumaki and Saphira’s powerful wind gusts, the trees were being laid down on the barrier, entrapping it. And slowly, it was beginning to crack! Vincent, who was by Zaria’s side, had also noticed what had happened to Bane, and the two of them looked at each other uneasily.

 

                “Go!!!” Grim shouted from behind. “We’ll take care of this!” he said, as the barrier continued to crack! At the sudden noise, Ellene darted her head, and she noticed what was happening. Apparently, she had not expected this, for her face bore an irritated expression, a very unpleasant one which spelled potently certain doom for anyone who would cross her path.

 

                “Now to take care of all of you…” she said, but Zaria and Vincent quickly intervened!

 

                “I don’t think so!” Zaria said. “How could you leave your brother like that!?” she shouted, anger seeping through her veins.

 

                “Hmph, he’s nothing but a weakling.” she said, glancing over her shoulder at him. Zaria and Vincent looked at him, and they saw that he was still immobile. Zaria’s lips began to shiver, and her body trembled with the fear that he might be dead…and then she turned towards Ellene.

 

                “You will pay…damn you!!!” she shouted infuriatingly, and then she dove into battle, without thinking, without any sort of hesitation, and she dove forward, attempting to hack away at Ellene, and Vincent followed suit, the two of them attempting to get rid of her as fast as they could! But she blocked the two of them without much effort, holding one sword with one hand and blocking the other with her claymore. She then spun once, creating a ripple of energy that drove Zaria and Vincent back.

 

                “I don’t have time for you imbeciles…” Ellene said, and she pressed forward to dispatch the others. But Zaria lunged from behind, pouncing onto her back, managing to stab her sword into her shoulder! Ellene stopped, but she didn’t cry out in pain. Instead, she glared over her shoulder, her eye gleaming with anger, and she grabbed Zaria by the head and then yanked her over her shoulder, and then she slammed her face first into the ground! And then again…and again. But Vincent stopped her before she could do more fatal damage, and he was able to land a few strikes at her, but they were having no effect, and she simply swiped him away with electrical energy, jolting his body all over and sending him tumbling to the ground.

 

                Zaria, weakened, looked slowly upwards, and she noticed that where she had stabbed Ellene was not flesh, but rather, robotic arms. Circuitry and cables that were now severed. It was the reason why Ellene did not feel pain when Zaria had stabbed her there. She saw Vincent and prayed that he was alive. Ellene looked at her closely, and she smirked.

 

                “Hmm, I see that you have a certain relationship with my brother…well, it won’t do to kill you now. I’ll leave you for last.” she said, then she tossed her aside and went towards Vincent. He was struggling to stand, but he knew that Ellene was coming for her.

(End Song Here)

 

                “Damn it…is this it?” he asked himself. “After all this, I won’t be able to see if Seth and Audrey are alive or not? But…I had so much I wanted to do…I wanted to see this world restored…look upon the faces of my people once more…” he thought, already resigning to his fate. He heard her footsteps, and he was just about to turn around, to look into the face of his enemy, but…a thud, and then the sound of dragging. Vincent looked back, and he saw that Ellene was scrambling on the ground, being dragged away!

 

                “I’m not finished with you!” Bane said, grabbing her by her legs.

 

                “What!? Impossible! How are you still alive!? I killed you!” she exclaimed!

 

                “No, you didn’t.” he said. Vincent looked at him and noticed the wide gash across his chest and saw that there were multiple cables and circuits out of places from the wound Ellene had inflicted upon him, and yet here he stood! It seemed as though the wound had not reached into his heart!

 

                “All I wanted…was to protect you.” Bane said.

 

                “What…?” Ellene asked. She was pinned now by Bane as he looked at her, with saddened eyes.

 

(Start Song Here)

                “ I wanted you to be able to live a full life, a life which you could enjoy in peace. I didn’t want to be in the way. I didn’t want you to be put into any danger, so I had decided that it was best to stay away, to protect you from the shadows….” he said. Ellene remained silent, and her face darkened.

 

                “Didn’t you think about what I would have wanted? I never asked for your protection! I need you by my side, and yet you abandoned me!” she roared!

 

                “No…I never abandoned you. I’ve always been watching over you, Ellene. I saw when you decided to enhance yourself, and when you started to do all the horrible things you did…I was watching you the whole time.” he responded. He felt Ellene hesitate with her thoughts.

 

                “Why didn’t you find me…? We could have worked together, side by side, and we could have shared Chozetsu’s vision together!” she said, her voice breaking. “Brother, I needed you by my side…”

 

                “I’m sorry…I’m sorry that I couldn’t do more. But, it’s only fitting that I am here with you, in the end….” he said, now almost in a hushed whisper. Ellene understood what this meant, and tears started to roll down her face.

 

                “So, I guess this is it, then…” she said. “I won’t lay down my beliefs for you, I won’t join you…I’m only an enemy who will stand in your way and kill you…so it makes sense that you’ll kill me. I know that.”

 

                Bane stooped his head low momentarily, almost as if he was relenting. He didn’t want to kill her. He didn’t want things to end this way. That much Vincent could see. But he noticed that Bane had already melted off her legs with his Scorched powers, and he had pinned her arms with spears he had made out of Craftsman power. And now his hand was glowing with an electrical blue. Vincent looked away. This wasn’t something that he needed to see. He quickly ran over to Zaria to check on her and see if she was okay.

 

                “Brother…” Ellene whispered.

 

                “Sister…” he gently said.

 

                With unspoken words, the two of them exchanged sincere glances at each other. Things that could have been different, situations that could have been averted. All wrong doings of the past and things that could never be atoned. And yet, after all this, here they were in the end of it all. Their lives had been full of misery and suffering, and they had gone through much. Even after all this, they looked at each other, with smiles…with tears running down both of their faces. He gently laid her up, and he embraced her. He embraced her tightly, and she opened her eyes wide. Soon, tears began to flow down again. This was the love she had missed for so long. In the end, she could be sent off with the love of her brother, the love of what he fought for, and the love that would ensure he’d live on, and she’d live on in him.

 

                And in a split second, Bane tore through Ellene’s chest, grasping her heart and burning it to ash. And then, her body fell limp, and her hand landed on his shoulder. She had a peaceful expression on her face. Bane held her close.

 

                He screamed…he drowned in pain, in suffering…

(End Song Here)

 

------------------------------------------------

 

Ellene has been defeated, and now, only Kalciru and Chozetsu lie in wait. With the barrier about to be broken, our heroes prepare to head on towards their next battle. But this has taken a heavy toll on them, as each battle drains them emotionally and physically. Such is the way that conflict leads into sorrow. Be prepared for Chapter Forty Four: The World After-Part 4 Of 10: “The Crossing.”

 

Wow…that was emotionally intense, huh!? I bet you weren’t expecting this turnout at all, huh? I mean sure, you all guessed that Ellene would meet her demise, but not this way, eh? Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Dang, I can’t believe this story is almost over! It’s been a thrill writing it! So then, let me know what you thought about tonight’s chapter, and until next time, stay tuned for the next one!

[KHLegendIII 709]

Dang, this was sad.

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

To KHLegendIII, yes, indeed it was. Sorrow is the most horrifying part of any conflict, and it is also apparent here.

 

Good evening everyone, I hope that all of you are doing okay! So then, here we are, another chapter up and ready for you all to read! Gahhh, the end is so near, I can almost taste it! I hope you’ve all enjoyed this ten part finale so far, because things are just about to get to their most intense point! Just six more chapters, and this story shall end! What a journey this has been! But anyways, enough talking, here’s the chapter! Enjoy!

 

Chapter Forty Four: The World After-Part 4 Of 10: The Crossing

 

                Ellene slowly disappeared, her body fading away, her enhancements short circuiting and crumbling to pieces. Bane stayed there with her until she vanished completely, and even then, he remained there for long minutes. Zaria wanted to go to him, but Vincent had suggested otherwise, saying it was best to leave him alone for the moment and focus on breaking down the barrier. Zaria relented, but she decided that Vincent was right. Bane had just had to kill his sister, and even though he had been ready for this, she knew he hadn’t been ready for the pain it would bring to his being.

 

                And so he remained there, kneeling on the ground, looking towards the distorted sky, as his sister faded away into particles of light, floating upwards into the ever ominous darkness the sky had become. He clenched his fists, and he slowly opened his hand and saw the remains of his sister’s heart. He knew that there had been no other way, and yet he still felt the sharp pain of loss. He just didn’t expect it to hurt this much. But he could grieve at a later time. Now, his friends were depending on him, and they had a job to finish, a mission they had to complete before all was said and done. And so, he stood up and shrugged off the pain, concealing it inside, and he went to the others, ready to help.

 

                When he reached them, he saw that they were just about to completely shatter the barrier. All they needed was a little more power, and they would make it through!

 

                “Bane, come on, we could use a hand!” Saphira shouted.

 

                “Right!” Bane replied, and so, he readied his arms, turning them into giant hammers, and then he started to pound away at the shell of the barrier, while the others kept forcing it down from the sides! Slowly, it kept cracking, until it finally burst, and the barrier was shattered to nothingness! The way had been paved, and now they were clear to continue!

 

                “We finally broke the damn thing! Come on, let’s go, we have no time to waste!” Grim said, and they all swiftly kept going beyond the path that lay through where the barrier had once been. They walked for a good while until they decided to take a short rest. The incident with the barrier and the battle against Ellene had proven to be a challenging ordeal, and they all found themselves realizing that they were getting ever more exhausted! Zaria went over to Bane, and she noticed how scarred his body had become.

 

                “God…this is horrible. Look in the shape you’re in now, Bane! It’s unbelievable how you can be able to sustain so much damage!” she said, tracing her hand over Bane’s chest, noticing the large gash that had left it open, wires and circuits damaged and hanging. Bane remained silent as she looked at him, and he was overall surprised that she wasn’t looking at him as a machine…but like a man. He blushed slightly, but he did his best to hide it. For now was no time for foolish things like romantic thoughts, especially in the situation they were in now. And besides, with what had just happened, he could only think about the gnawing pain that was eating at him. The pain of losing the family he had tried so hard to protect.

 

                “Bane…do you want to talk about it?” she asked. But he only remained silent, and he didn’t know how to put his pain into words. But he knew that she had to understand. She had a way of understanding people, even when no words were uttered. And almost as if she had read his mind, she held his hands firm and lovingly. He slowly looked up to her eyes, and their eyes met. She shook her head.

 

                “I can’t even begin to imagine what you must be going through right now…but we’re here for you.  I’m here for you.” she stated, and she gave him a sad smile. Saphira walked over to them and saw the state that Bane was in.

 

                “You’re looking worse for wear…do you think you can even be able to function at this rate?” she asked bluntly. Zaria was about to protest, but Bane nudged her, letting her know it was okay.

 

                “I’ve sustained heavy damage, and far worse wounds than these. I’ll manage. We don’t have time to fix me up, I’m fine the way I am, and I can still fight.” he answered, showing no hint of tiredness nor hesitation.

 

                “Good. We need you, Bane. We all need each other to watch each other’s backs. That’s the only way that we can be able to come out of this mess with victory. I want you all to remember that!” she declared. The others nodded in agreement, and shortly after, they set to march forward, heading towards their next battle.

 

                As they walked, they noticed that the path they were walking in was becoming narrow little by little. They noticed that the environment was deforming or withering away with each step they took, and when they took a moment to look back, they noticed that what was behind them was just a shell of what was once the world. What they were walking on now was what seemed to be a bridge comprised of what little essence remained of any physical mass. This was probably due to World’s Edge having gnawed away at the world with the darkness it brought, and the whole calamity that Chozetsu brought upon them all was probably another cause. But they didn’t dwell on it, and they kept walking. They couldn’t afford the luxury of sightseeing or investigating, not when so much was at stake!

 

                “So we have two more people we have to take care of…” Grim spoke out of the blue. “I have a bad feeling that things are going to go downhill fast.”

 

                “I know what you mean…I feel this heavy presence in the air, a very ill foreboding. It’s already bad enough that the world is as it is, but having this strange, bleak hopelessness on our backs is discomforting.” Vincent said, as he rubbed his shoulders, as if though they felt stiff!

 

                “That means we’re getting closer towards the inevitable end of it all. The closer we get to Chozetsu, I’m afraid we get closer to whatever it is that he’s concocting. Saphira and I were only part of what he had planned in store.” Ilia mentioned.

 

                “You two?” Laren asked. “How so?”

 

                “Well, you see, before the world plunged into the chaos it currently is, Chozetsu had us captured, and then we were confined and used as covenants for whatever rite he performed, and that rite ended up in the world’s undoing. But I sense that whatever he had planned, using us as his keys to the kingdom, so to speak, was a first step. Whatever he has planned next, this dark foreboding and sense of dread must have something to do with it…” Saphira explained.

 

                “Well, the sooner we get to him, the sooner we can put an end to this, and we can finally stop the world from being consumed! Because let me tell you, I haven’t particularly enjoyed this one bit!” Tatsumaki exclaimed!

 

                They all got lost in thought momentarily, and as they kept walking, they noticed that the path became ever more narrow, until the ground beneath them was barely like a bridge, a very dangerous crossing that they had to tread through carefully. For below them, nothing but a seeping, poisonous looking darkness loomed, and there didn’t seem to be any particular way to get out of that dangerous muck, not unless they were willing to use the power of the light, a power they had to use wisely. So unless they wanted to waste that power, they had to be careful. And so, they walked in a single file, slowly, steadily.

 

                “I’m not liking this, guys. It’s too quiet….” Zaria said. The others looked all around them, and indeed, the silence was a great source of unease.

 

                “All the more reason for us to move quickly, lest we encounter anything unpleasant before our next battle…” Laren said, and so, they made it an effort to walk through the crossing slightly faster, while making sure that their steps were light.

 

                But suddenly, they heard something, and they all stopped dead in their tracks! They remained as still as stone, and they didn’t dare move. For a moment, there was nothing but silence again, but after a few seconds, the same noise sounded again! This time, it was nearer! Still, they remained where they were, not daring to move a muscle! Zaria, who was at the back of the line, felt a shiver run down her spine, and she just so happened to glance back cautiously, when she saw a giant pair of red, gleaming eyes staring back at her! She held her breath, swallowed down a scream, and she tried to retain her composure. But the creature opened its mouth, and Zaria could feel its warm breath! It was about to make its move!

 

(Start Song Here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aES3Wevrbuo

                “Run!!!” Zaria shouted, and the creature hissed, its eyes darting to and fro as it moved within the fog beneath!

 

                Everyone began to run, and they had no choice but to put full weight into their steps, but as a result, the crossing was shaking violently, the small bit of ground beneath them crumbling! If they didn’t make it out of there in time, they’d all fall down into the fog, and their deaths would be certain!

 

                “Damn it, of all the things that could happen, it has to be this!” Tatsumaki shouted, as they all ran!

 

                Zaria kept looking back, and the creature’s eyes were still hot on their trail, right behind them, unrelenting! A slight movement that made it pop its head out indicated that it was a large, snake-like Shadow Blight! Only that it was at least a gargantuan size that defied that of any normal snake’s! Zaria really didn’t want to figure out personally, for she would much rather run and live than stay and inspect the creature! And so she ran with the others, but soon they all found that the path was crumbling before them, and they still had a ways to go before making it to the other side!

 

                “We’re falling!!!” Vincent shouted!

 

                “I’ve got it!” Grim said, and quick thinking on his part was able to save them for his moment, for he clasped his hands together and then slammed them down on the falling bits of earth, and from them, vines grew that became hard enough for everyone to gain a foothold, and so, a path of vines was being made out of the crumbled ground! Ilia reinforced the vines and ensured they wouldn’t break easily, and so they kept running!  But the Shadow Blight was just about to snap at the vines, ready to plunge them down into the abyss!

 

                “Laren, Saphira, Tatsumaki, now!” Bane shouted.

 

                “Right, let’s do this!” Laren shouted, and he and Saphira and Tatsumaki took formation and leapt up into the air, side by side and gliding alongside each other. The three of them fused together powerful wind gusts, and Saphira injected a dose of lightning, and they flung the electrifying wind gust towards the creature, electrocuting it on the spot and making it hiss in pain! It was stopped momentarily, and when the three of them landed on the vines, they propelled themselves back to where they were, following the others as they continued running away from the creature!

 

                “That should stop it momentarily!” Larren said confidently! But not even a few seconds passed when the creature shook off the electric shock, and now it was heading towards them with greater killing intent!

 

                “I think you might have spoken too soon!” Tatsumaki said.

 

                “I’ll take care of it!” Bane said.

 

                “But are you sure you’ve got enough power to deal with this thing!?” Zaria asked. But Bane ignored her question, and he united both of his arms together, converting them into one immense cannon, and then he fired a powerful shot that sent forth intense Scorched flames that blew through the fog and threatened to consume the creature! But it was still heading towards them! And the unlucky thing about this attack was that the vines were being burnt to ash!

 

                “Damn, I didn’t think about that!” Bane grunted. “But I’ll resolve this quick!” And so, he did the same thing that he had done against Beriel, and he was able to make some bits of the ground float in place, and he turned them into platforms so the others could use as landings and footholds. With that, they kept going, faster and faster, ignoring the exhaustion in their bodies, for the creature behind them prompted them to forget about any pain or any sort of tiredness!

 

                “The path! I can see the other side of the path, where it opens up!” Tatsumaki shouted with relief!

 

                “Then we’re almost there! Come on, we can’t stop now!” Saphira encouraged. “Everyone, move it!”

 

                Adrenaline was rushing through all of their bodies. They were facing a life and death situation, and each time they landed on a platform and jumped to the next, the Shadow Blight’s fangs were barely scraping them! By some unnatural force, or simply because of its insatiable hunger, the creature was keeping up with them, making it impossible for them to catch a breather!

 

                With each passing second, they bounded over the platforms, and each second they drew closer to safety, the creature would gain on them ever more so! It grew to the point that the creature’s shadow was looming over them! It was only a matter of time before the creature swallowed them whole!

 

                “Keep going, keep going!” Zaria shouted!

 

                They all leapt and panted and heaved. Their bodies were burning up, their limbs were getting stiff from the constant and ceaseless running and jumping! Zaria could feel fatigue in her lungs, and she was finding it harder to breathe! Her steps were slowing, and as the others gained speed, she remained behind, suffocating under the exhaustion, coming to a full halt! She glanced back and noticed the Shadow Blight just about to bare its fangs and consume her completely, and she closed her eyes, ready to accept her fate…

 

                “Snap out of it, Zaria!” Bane shouted, as she felt a slight gust of wind rush past her! When she opened her eyes, she noticed that Bane had imapaled the creature’s mouth with his arm, which had turned into a large spear! He then used electrical energy and zapped the creature, within seconds making it explode, it’s body vanishing and fading away into nothingness!  Zaria was too in shock to move or do anything, so Bane only picked her up and carried her off to the other side, where the others were waiting.

(End Song Here)

 

                “Good thing you got to her on time, Bane. Otherwise, we would’ve lost her!” Grim said, sighing in relief.

 

                “You were faster than any of us. You really came through!” Tatsumaki remarked. Zaria was still trying to put herself back together and stand up, but her stomach felt like it had been tied into multiple knots, and she felt a bit nauseous! But then, slowly, she was able to regain herself, and then she looked over to Bane and put her hand on his shoulder.

 

                “Bane…I owe you one.” she said.

 

                And so, they had all made it through the crossing, and they saw how the path completely disappeared, and the platforms crumbled away into small pebbles, leaving nothing but an empty void filled with darkness! It’s a good thing they had been able to make it out on time, otherwise, that crossing would have been their end!

 

                “It’s a good thing that we’re quick on our feet. For a moment, I thought that Shadow Blight had us then and there!” Laren commented. “But we work together as a team, and we are strong, so at least we were able to pull through this.”

 

                “Yeah, but what’s it worth if we’re all dead tired? Not even a little bit of rest will help us now. Whenever we come across our next opponent, we’re going to be seriously outmatched. We’re going to be in for quite a fight…” Vincent explained.

 

                “Oh, how right you are! In fact, what you said just now accurately describes how things are, and I might like to add something to that!” a voice spoke all of a sudden! Everyone quickly looked around, alarmed, at the ready, but they were indeed tired. Then they saw a man appear before them. Vincent’s eyes flared with an inhuman rage once he laid eyes on him!

 

                “Kalciru…” he whispered through gritted teeth.

 

(Start Song Here)

                “Indeed so!” Kalciru answered, with quite an amused expression on his face. “I have been watching all of you as events have unfolded before me. You’ve managed to take down Lucilda, Beriel and Ellene, and you are all still here in one piece! Granted, you all look worse for wear, but yet still you are here! It astounds me, it truly astounds me at how great your willpower must be to allow you to cross ever further on these bounds even after all you’ve been through. I applaud and commend you for coming this far. To think, you are all this close to getting to Chozetsu! But…” his voice slowed, and he paused, looking at each of them, and then he feigned to look sad. “…I am afraid this is where it ends for you. This is where your journey ends.”

 

                “I beg to differ, but you don’t get to decide that, scum!” Saphira shot back. Kalciru turned his head to look at her, and he scoffed and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

 

                “I admire your resilience and your defiance, Saphira of the Stormtracers. Your strength and your reknown has spread far and wide across the world, and as such, a great many people respect you, and a great many more fear you! It’s no wonder you’ve always been the neutral party when it comes to the affairs of the world. But, look where your inaction lead you! It led not just you, but the whole world into this state. Not that I’m complaining!” he teased, to which Saphira had to bite down her words, as she clenched her fists.

 

                “You’re in our way, and rest assured, we will eliminate you!” Grim threatened. Kalciru slowly raised his hand, and as he did, sparks of flame formed, along with streaking white flames as well! Vincent’s eyes widened as he saw this!

 

                “No…this can’t be…” he gasped.

 

                “Oh yes, it definitely can be!” Kalciru said while smiling. “You see, I took the liberty of acquiring your immense power back when you obtained the power of the Maker. Once I took it from you, and therefore took away your powers and the powers of your people, you ensured me that I would have a vast amount of Scorched power to call upon, a power that I can make bend to my will at my beck and call! And so, I immensely thank you for your contribution in all this! You’ve allowed me to get closer to achieving my dream!” he said with glorious joy emanating from him, the kind of sick joy that would be associated with a psychopath admiring his latest work!

 

                “Damn it…” Vincent cursed to himself.

 

                “And what exactly is your dream?” Tatsumaki asked.

 

                “You seem to have a different vibe than Chozetsu…you have much more sinister intent seeping inside you…” Ilia said.

 

                At that, Kalciru couldn’t help but chuckle.

 

                “Heh, you fools…” he said to himself. The others tensed…

 

                “You see, I have waited far too long, I have had to endure so much time for my goals to become a reality…” he began to say, as his gauntlet began to glow due to the power of the flames that were encircling around it! “I saved the world once. I did my best to protect my people, I did my best to do right by them, and yet they all shunned me for the immense power that I wielded. Allies that I fought alongside feared me, wouldn’t even look my way…people feared what they could not understand. And so for all this time, I have channeled all of that negativity and hatred, and it has kept me alive for all this time…because after having gone to the trouble of saving this world, my objective changed. Now I wanted to see it rot. To see it go back into the dark chasms from whence it originated!”

 

                “Just…what is it with you!? What the hell are you planning to do!?” Zaria demanded.

 

                “To cast the world back into an age of darkness…in which nothing but the void existed. That way, there will be no war, there will be no petty squabbling, and there won’t be any sort of people that would insult and judge and define things with their prejudice. I don’t really care all that much for Chozetsu’s plans. He goes on and on about a perfect world, an afterworld in which all people can be able to live their lives without knowing pain. But that is a lie. No such world exists, and it never will. The only true peace you can find is the peace and solitude of eternal darkness. That eternal calm will bring peace, and it’ll bring the satisfaction of eradicating all of existence…” Kalciru said, and then he raised his arms, and darkness started seeping out from his body!

 

                “Now then…I believe it’s time I give you all a first look at how glorious the world’s true end shall be!” Kalciru said, and as the darkness from him seeped out, Shadow Blights took form, and countless numbers of them started to amass, encircling and surrounding Zaria and the others! Their numbers multiplied exponentially, and now, everywhere they looked, they were gazing upon a hellish landscape, a land in which nothing but darkness and gleaming red eyes stared at them, hungry, waiting. Kalciru started to hover above everyone, darkness emanating from under him and his features turning gnarled and bestial! He grew fangs and his hair grew longer and gruff, and his eyes turned just as red as the Shadow Blights!

 

                “Welcome to your worst nightmare!”

(End Song Here)

 

--------------------------------------------

 

Surrounded by darkness, our heroes now face an immense and seemingly infinite Shadow Blight army, with Kalciru at its head! With exhaustion pinning them down and with barely enough strength to hang on, will our heroes be able to make it through this? Or is this the end of the line for them, after so much sacrifice? Find out in Chapter Forty Five: The World After-Part 5 Of 10: “The Darkest Nightmare, The Deepest Abyss!”

 

Oh yeah, that’s what I’m talking about! Our heroes are going to battle Kalciru in the next chapter, and let me tell you, it’s not going to be an easy fight! But hey, none of this has been easy on our heroes, so the fact they’ve made it this far speaks volumes of their willpower and sheer determination! So anyways, thank you all for tuning in and reading, and thank you for always supporting me and showing me your hype for my story! Let me know what you thought about tonight’s chapter, and until next time, stay tuned for the next one!

[KHLegendIII 709]

Oh man, here we go.

[Keyblade101 526]

Amazing chapters as always.  :smile:

 

P.S. Going off-topic for a moment, did you notice that Riku's new outfit and slightly shorter haircut in the new KH3 music trailer makes him vaguely look like Noctis from FFXV? I saw some people on youtube commenting on that and once I compared both Riku's new look and Noctis I could totally see it!

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

To KHLegendIII, yep, you said it!

 

To Keyblade101, thanks man, as always, I appreciate your comments!  Haha, and yes, the Noctis similarities in Riku's new look are strong! Not a bad thing, I might add!

 

Good evening everyone, I hope that all of you are doing okay! Gahh, I’m so excited, we’re just five chapters away from ending this story! Each chapter is a step closer towards the ultimate endgame! And now, our heroes face off against Kalciru, but things are looking pretty grim! Let’s hope that our heroes make it through this struggle in one piece! So then, here I bring you all the latest chapter of my story! Enjoy!

 

Chapter Forty Five: The World After-Part 5 Of 10: The Darkest Nightmare, The Deepest Abyss

 

(Start Song Here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXnTZVTMwdg

                With just a wave of his hand, Kalciru sent forth an immensely overwhelming wave of Shadow Blights, the horrid creatures swarming over Zaria and the others like a giant wave of water! The creatures came crashing down aggressively, their weight pinning them down, making them unable to break free! Kalciru continued to hover over the ground, and his eyes were gleaming an ever soul devouring red! He was laughing maniacally, reveling and enjoying the moment, feeling utmost happiness at seeing the world finally being swallowed whole, like he had wanted to do for such a long time!

 

                The Shadow Blights merged together and formed countless giant abominations, each of them spouting out more of the damned things or unleashing a powerful dark ooze that spread throughout the ground, as if it were a toxic, venomous disease! Zaria and the others could do nothing but try and hold back the attack the creatures were relentlessly delivering, but they were finding it difficult as they were also trying to avoid the dark ooze spreading all over the ground! Above, the sky turned a dark red, and lightning began to crash down! It was something out of a person’s worst nightmare!

 

                One of the giant creatures swooped its tail, making everyone separate and fall towards different directions! Zaria and Bane tumbled and fell to the far side of the field, the Shadow Blights quickly chasing after them! Unfortunately, they didn’t even have a break to catch their breath, and they were forced to take the creatures on! Zaria and Bane fought back to back, keeping each other safe, working together to hold off the enemy hordes! Zaria swung her sword without pause, even though her lungs felt like collapsing! She was heaving, she was slashing, she was doing all in her power to fight back! Bane, even with his wounds, was also holding his own, but his circuits were sparking and sizzling. He could use his powers, but he couldn’t overexert himself, lest something worst happen to him!

 

                “This is impossible!” Zaria shouted!

 

                “We can’t let up, not now!” Bane panted, and the two of them kept fighting. But even as they did so, they found that the landscape around them was becoming more nightmarish, and an air of hopelessness was closing in on them! Their hearts pounded, they felt as though they were being eaten alive, even though they were feeling no pain!

 

                Laren and Tatsumaki were flung towards another side, and numerous of the creatures were clawing at them, or rabidly trying to bite off their limbs! They were doing all they could just to make sure the creatures didn’t scratch them! It was hard enough trying to get to Kalciru, these Shadow Blights were particularly vicious, even more so than all the ones that had come before! Suddenly, one of the creatures pounced on Tatsumaki, biting her right leg and then pulling her, dragging her away from Laren! She yelped in pain, and Laren’s eyes opened wide!

 

                “No, Tatsumaki!” he shouted, as he quickly went to her and chopped off the creature’s head! “Get away from her, you demons!” he snarled, but even as the creature’s head was severed, more wer coming for them, and they bit Laren’s right arm, causing him to shout in pain!

 

                “No…no…this can’t be happening!” Tatsumaki whimpered. “I won’t let it end like this!” she shouted, and even with her bitten leg, she stood up as best as she could. Limping, she summoned forth all the power that she could and created a wind barrier that maintained the creatures at bay! It worked for the most part, at least momentarily, but already Tatsumaki could feel that this barrier wouldn’t be enough to protect them for long. She tried to remain standing, but she limped again and fell down, the pain coursing through her body! Then, she realized that her veins were turning a dark purple, and the veins were creating marks all over her body! When she looked to Laren, she saw that the same was happening to him!

 

                “W-what’s happening to us!? What is this…?” Laren gasped, as he felt suffocated! He and Tatsumaki held on to each other, and they stood up. They didn’t even know what they were supposed to do now! Fighting seemed a futile thing now, what with their bodies being overtaken by the dark veins that were enveloping them from the inside!  Was this was death felt like?

 

                “No…this can’t….no, I refuse!” Laren grunted, but he stumbled and fell on one knee, but Tatsumaki held him, even though she herself was about to collapse, the wind barrier becoming thinner the more relentlessly the Shadow Blights tried to break through…

 

                “Laren…” she whispered, looking at him. He slowly turned until their eyes met. Her eyes were watering, and she seemed as though she was going to say something. Her breath was uneven, and her voice was breaking, as what she was trying to say was being drowned out by sobs. “I love you…” she said. Laren swallowed the lump he felt on his throat.  Was this to be their end?

 

                “Tatsumaki…I love you too.” he said. The two of them looked into each other’s eyes, and they gave each other one final, gentle kiss. They were now certain that there was no getting out of this. How they had been defeated so easily only attested to the overwhelming power the darkness now had over them…but they could repel it with the light!  But, almost as if Laren had read her thoughts, he shook his head.

 

                “I think…that’s exactly what he’s trying to do…” he spoke.

 

                “What do you mean? she asked.

 

                “That man, Kalciru…he senses the light within us. Or, at the very least, he knows that we carry with us great power. And with this darkness he’s conjuring, he’s planning to draw it out, only so that he can take that power for himself and amplify his own…it’s just a hunch, but I can tell that he has the intent to draw out our strength for his own gain. Remember that he said that he doesn’t care about Chozetsu’s goal…” Laren explained. Tatsumaki looked uneasily towards where Kalciru was, hovering above them all, endless darkness pouring out of him!

 

                “He’s a monster with no regard for life…” she whispered angrily. She then looked to Laren, and tears began to roll down her face. She shook her head, and she was filled with anger and hatred towards Kalciru, a man who was so bent on destruction that he gave no regard to anything! This was an unmerciful and hellish nightmare!

                Further ahead, Vincent and Ilia were scrambling up some ruins they had stumbled upon as soon as they had stood up, and they tried to see if they could at least remain above their enemy! But the Shadow Blights were right behind them, their hunger and their violent rage apparent with their bloodthirsty eyes gleaming a violent red!  Vincent and Ilia climbed up, but it was in vain, for the creatures easily scaled up the small ruins they had hoped to take shelter in, and they immediately began their assault! They proceeded to claw Ilia and Vincent viciously, causing huge gashes to form on their arms and backs, immediately making them fall in pain!

 

                The creatures continuing their endless assault, Vincent laid on top of Ilia, sheltering her from the ravenous claws of the monsters, and he was receiving their full assault! He was shouting and grunting in pain, and as much as he tried to stay strong, the pain was apparent, and blood was trickling to his sides from his back! Ilia looked at him in horror, and the creatures around them were savoring every bit of this! The fear, the despair, it was their fuel to continue their feast!

 

                On instinct, despite the exhaustion and despite her weakened state, Ilia pushed from the deepest wells of her being and brought forth a powerful surge of energy that repelled the creatures, sending them flying back, some of them writhing in pain, others howling or yelping as they were startled! Vincent was too wounded, he was too badly injured to say anything, and he slowly rolled off from Ilia’s body, laying down beside her, his breath heaving in and out, forced, labored. The Shadow Blights had severely damaged him!

 

                “Vincent…” she whispered, tears in her eyes blurring her vision. She touched his face, and he only shook his head, not being able to say anything. He looked at her, and his eyes…even though they were in death’s maw, his eyes still held on to even the slightest bit of hope that there could be an escape…that small hope kept him going.

 

                And it was what would keep Ilia going.

 

                “These damn creatures…” she said through gritted teeth.

 

                She slowly stood up, and even though her body had weakened, and even though the wounds on her were stinging greatly, she still kept at it. She stood fully up and saw the creatures surrounding them. They were the only speck among a sea of black, red gleaming eyes shining everywhere! It was a horrible sight, and Ilia for a moment lost herself. But she quickly shook her head, and she glanced over her shoulder at Vincent. She clenched her fists, and her eyes steeled themselves, an expression of rage now forming!

 

                “For too long I stood at the sidelines, choosing not to do anything to help you, Vincent…but so help me, I won’t let these damn creatures be the end of us! I will protect you!” she declared, and with that, she opened up her palms, and from the center of her palms, roots started to form, and said roots began to grow into large blades, and they were tipped with poison and a paralytic sap!  As soon as the blades finished growing, she imbued them with her body’s aura, and she stood on the steps of the ruins, overlooking all the hungry Shadow Blights!

 

                “Come at me, you beasts! If I’m going to die here, I’ll drag you all down with me!” she challenged! The Shadow Blights roared and snarled to her challenge in response! And in the seconds that followed, the swarms rained down on her and Vincent in what could best be described as a giant mass of darkness, threatening to swallow them whole! But her blades cut through the darkness and formed constant gaps in the formation of the creatures. She wasn’t done yet. Not by a long shot, not when she had Vincent to protect!

 

                Grim and Saphira had been holding off the Shadow Blights on their end as best as they could, but they were finding it difficult to keep up with the continuing hordes of foes constantly coming at them, not giving them even a moment’s rest! Grim, at his old age, was still impressively standing tall, Eluzia by his side, as the two fought with every fiber in their body, not letting wounds or surprise attacks get the best of them! Grim was already badly bruised, and Eluzia’s body was chipped in various places! Grim glanced over to Saphira, and he was impressed at how relentless she was!

 

                “What force drives this woman, I don’t know…” he thought to himself.

 

                That was because Saphira was being an unflinching force to be reckoned with! The Shadow Blights weren’t even able to so much as make a scratch on her, for she was able to keep them all at bay, even though she was surrounded! With spear in hand and crackling lightning in the other, she thrust and darted and weaved through the hordes, raining down lightning on them and paralyzing them, giving her enough time to send them flying with powerful wind gusts! This woman truly had some incredible stamina, but even Grim could tell that this was taking a toll on her as well. She just happened to be more resilient than the rest of the group!

 

                “Hold down the line! We musn’t let these creatures gain the upper hand! If we let them keep us pinned down, we’ll never be able to get to Kalciru!” Saphira said, as she pierced through a throng of the creatures with a powerful lightning thrust! She was back to back with Grim, who was shooting forth a barrage of poison thorns.

 

                “It doesn’t matter how many of these things we take down, Kalciru seems to keep summoning forth an endless supply! This isn’t looking good at all!” Grim said.

 

                “We have to keep going…even if our bodies give way!” Saphira said, refusing to admit defeat. Just then, a considerably bulked up Shadow Blight suddenly came up to her and grabbed her leg, proceeding to lift her up and slam her down hard to the ground! Grim quickly reacted and summoned forth a giant, spiked root that pierced through the creature, but it kept its hold firm on Saphira, and it was squeezing her leg tight, and she shouted in pain!             

 

                “No!!!” Grim shouted, but he was struck in the back by another of the creatures, and he fell flat on his face!  He gasped for breath and coughed out blood, and when he tried to stand, the creature stabbed him with its claws again, making him drop to the ground again! Eluzia tried lunging at the creature, but it sent him flying back, another piece of wood from its body chipping away! The creatures were aiming to tear them into shreds!

 

                “No…damn it, no! This isn’t happening!” Grim cursed, trying to find the strength to stand! But his body was growing heavier by the second, and Eluzia whimpered to his side, and yet stood strong, defending his beloved master from the creatures as best as he could!

 

                “Damn you, Kalciru!!!” Saphira shouted with utmost rage!

(End Song Here)

 

                Within all this nightmarish chaos, Kalciru emitted a purely twisted, maniacal laugh, and he seemed to be pleasantly enjoying himself. After all, he had these warriors under his thumb, and he could just sit back and watch them be shred to pieces without him having to move so much as a finger! The darkness continued to seep out from his body, and he saw how these warriors of the light were desperately clinging on to their lives!

 

                “You know…I find it quite amusing how you all desperately claw your way just to stay alive. Here you all are, fighting against my army of darkness, and by all means, you should be dead. After all, these creatures rend flesh from bone without relent, but you aren’t ordinary people. No, all of you are truly something else!” he went on.  “No, there is a special light within you all, and that light is what gives you power. It gives you the means to continue this senseless fight! And as much as I enjoy watching you suffer, I do have to get to doing what I must. To ensure that I have almighty power, I must extract more power from all sources I can. And you all seem to be the perfect candidates! Your powers will siphon into me, and with all of that raw energy in my hands, I will obliterate extinction itself! Then the world will know the peace it’s so long wanted!”

 

                Everyone kept on fighting, but he knew that they were listening.

 

                “In truth, you should all consider yourselves true heroes! For because of being who you are, that gives you the privilege of being the ones to give your lives to ensure the world’s future! And in my hands, the world will be more than safe, that I guarantee!” Kalciru said with a smile.  “So struggle all you want, fight as long as you are able, but this battle is mine. You will not win.”

 

                Those words echoed through everyone. They knew they were being pushed into the tightest of corners, and they knew it would only be a matter of time until their bodies stopped altogether and fell down from exhaustion and from all the injuries they were sustaining! By all means, as Kalciru had mentioned, they should all be dead! And in a few seconds, they actually thought about it. The peaceful release of knowing that there doesn’t have to be any more fighting…

 

(Start Song Here)

                “No…” Zaria whispered. She kept saying the word no multiple times, and through her mind, flashes of memory were peppering all over. Memories of her life, of all that she had learned, of all the hardships she had gone through…of all the friends she had made, the family she had come to know. She couldn’t die now, not when she had to protect them, to keep them safe!

 

                Bane was severely damaged, his right ribcage having been chewed out by a Shadow Blight. His body was short circuiting, and his systems were failing. He could end up dead in the floor at any moment, but his human heart…his human mind…he couldn’t bear to let it all end here. Even though he had wandered in misery for most of his life, that had all changed when he met Zaria and the others. He knew that he needed to cherish them and protect them…to do so the way he was not able to with his sister. And then the death of his sister came back to mind. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, feeling the frustration and agony of that loss eating away at him! But no longer would he feel this loss! He would not feel this feeling again! So he had to continue fighting!

 

                Laren was heaving on the ground, holding Tatsumaki’s hand all the while. They had come to far, they had sacrificed so much, they had seen too much, they couldn’t just up and die here! Not after he had finally admitted the feelings he shared with Tatsumaki! He wanted to be able to give her a life she could enjoy, a life she could be able to live fully, one that she deserved after everything that had happened. He wanted to see her smile again, he didn’t want to see her suffer. He shook his head, denying death. He wasn’t going to let death stop him here just yet!

 

                Tatsumaki’s breathing was ragged. She was struggling just to breathe, and she didn’t even want to know what awaited them, now that they were this close to being devoured by the Shadow Blights. She felt the haunting tinge of fear and darkness creep into her soul, and she couldn’t find it in herself to do anything. She just wanted to give up then and there, let the despair take her, end her life and end everything.  Why was she thinking this? She hated herself for thinking these thoughts…then she felt a hand on hers. Laren’s hand. She looked up to him, and she saw that he had been renewed with resolve, and despite the condition he was in, he wasn’t going to throw in the towel just yet!  Tatsumaki then remembered that she had things she wanted to do, sights she wanted to see! And she wanted to share all of her experiences with Laren. She wanted to be able to have a life with him, to be able to achieve more things, to set new goals, to go on more journeys, to see the world! No, she wasn’t going to let her dream die here. She was going to fight, even though her body was practically in decay!

 

                Vincent stood up, despite the pain that was coursing through him. He wasn’t just going to lay idly by and let Ilia take on the hordes of hellish creatures by herself! No, even with none of his Scorched powers, he would help her with his own strength, and together, they’d find a way out of this! Vincent knew that this wasn’t going to be the end. He had sought to be rid of these powers, and he wanted to see how this would change the world, how it would change for his people! He wanted to bring them back, so he could be able to see the change himself, to tell himself that he had done the right thing after all! He prayed over and over to himself, hoping that Seth and Audrey were alive somewhere. He stood up and took the sword that Grim had given him, and he hacked away at the Shadow Blights!

 

                Ilia noticed Vincent’s iron clad determination, and she knew that she had to keep up. After all, she had been the one that was fighting all of these creatures, keeping them at bay, so just because Vincent was feeling better didn’t mean that she could slack off. No, she was going to keep up with him, she was going to fight beside him. Like it should have been from the start. Like it should have been for all of those years. And even though things were the way they were now, she still felt that she could be able to make a difference. What she hadn’t been able to do then, she’d do now. If they survived this, she would see that things would be different, and she would see the world begin anew, so that it doesn’t fall prey to the darkness that was now consuming it!

 

                Grim was beset by the creatures left and right, and he was finding it hard to get up. His body was aching, and old age wasn’t helping his case. The only reason he hadn’t been devoured whole was because of the simple fact that Eluzia had been standing by him, defending him and keeping the creatures at bay, but he could see how badly injured his dear companion was. He clenched his fists and he slowly stood up, even though his body was begging him to stop! He had to protect his friends, he had to see this through to the end, to see the world restored, even if it was the last thing he’d do! He wanted to ensure the next generation that they’d be able to live in a world of peace and plenty. With those thoughts in mind, and with the steely resolve within the memory of his dear wife and all the loved ones he’s cherished for all these years, he stood up, and with a deafening battle cry, he pushed forward, striking back against the hordes of foes with nothing but sheer willpower!

 

                Saphira didn’t even need to think twice about anything. She was hell bent on taking down the darkness that was consuming the world, and she wasn’t going to let this army of hungry, stupid mongrels get the better of her! No, she summoned forth from within herself all the power she could muster, and with a roar of fury, she let out an inward implosion of lightning that shot out of her body, enveloping her and growing by each second, eliminating all foes that surrounded her in seconds! Her eyes had an undeniable and unshakable will to stay alive!

(End Song Here)

 

                Kalciru was at a loss.  He didn’t know how this was possible! But there it was! All of these warriors of the light were fighting back! They were doing the seemingly impossible and they were breaking through the hordes of Shadow Blights! Their bodies were well past their limits, but that didn’t stop them from plowing through, giving it their all! Kalciru gritted his teeth and clenched his fists! Things were derailing faster than he would have thought possible!

 

                “Stay down, you imbeciles!” Kalciru commanded, sending forth a wave of darkness that only amplified the powers of the creatures under his control. There. That would do it, he thought.  But…

 

                “Break the line!!!” Saphira shouted, like a seasoned and grizzled veteran of war! And to Kalciru’s surprise, he saw what he didn’t think possible!

 

                Each of the warriors found their way back to each other, and they lined up, one behind the other, with Saphira leading the frontal charge and Zaria defending the back of the line! They all immediately started to charge through the bleak darkness, making a beeline towards Kalciru! Any creature that dared to come from the side was decimated by the others that were within the line. They were covering all their bases, and they were like an arrow light, piercing through the black! And they were getting closer and closer!

 

                “Stay back!” Kalciru shouted, as he shot forth a beam of darkness from his palm. Saphira and the others stopped just in time, as the attack hit just a few feet away from them! Then, they all formed a circle!

 

                “Together now!” Saphira shouted, and they all pointed their weapons at the center of their circle, and with the powers of wind and lightning, the power of life, and Bane’s additional Scorched powers, they formed an elemental sphere that was teeming with destructive energy! Kalciru could feel the power from this sphere, and he knew that things weren’t going to go his way now at all!

 

                “Now!!!” Zaria shouted, and they all launched the sphere upwards, and when it got to a certain point in the sky, Laren shot up like lightning, shattering the sphere and sending down a ceaseless rain of elemental fury that decimated the entire Shadow Blight army that Kalciru had mustered! And Kalciru himself was caught in the hail of elemental energy, finding himself falling down to the ground with a heavy thud!

 

                Zaria and the others walked up towards him, but they kept their distance. Even if he was weak, he could still prove to be powerful. After all, when backed into a corner, that’s when someone’s defiant fighting spirit would push through to the very last moment! Kalciru saw them, and he shook his head. He then started to laugh, and he seemed to be amused!

 

                “For the life of me, I do not understand you people. With the way the world has become, you still want to save it? Humanity is rotten to the core, and we are the ones who brought destruction upon the earth. We mistreated our home, and yet you all still want to save it. What madness drives you?” Kalciru asked, as someone who seemed to be desperate for an answer.

 

                “Just because the world has known darkness, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t light. True, humanity has been the downfall of this world, but we aren’t all rotten.” Bane said. “There are those of us who still hold true in cherishing the world. Not everything is destruction and violence.”

 

                “That’s right.” Zaria said. “You’ve seen how far we’ve come, and you’ve seen how much we’ve fought. If we had been just any sort of person that would just give up and not give a damn, well, that’s where you’re wrong. We’ve all been wronged in this life, but just because we’ve had it rough doesn’t mean that we have to take it all out on the world…”

 

                Silence.

 

                “When I look at you…” Zaria started. “…I feel sad. I feel like you’ve been through so much, much more than anyone deserves to go through. You said that the world wronged you after you did so much to help, right?” she asked.  “I’m truly sorry you had to go through such pain…but that doesn’t mean that you have to inflict that same pain unto others.  Instead…” she said, letting the words hang as she knelt on one knee and extended her hand to Kalciru.

 

                “Instead…use the pain you’ve gone through to help others through their own pain. Help others so that they don’t have to go through the same sorrow you did. Don’t you think that’s a better way to live than chasing down vengeance and darkness?” Zaria spoke. Her words resounded, and her friends were amazed. Despite her personality, she truly had wisdom beyond her years.

 

                Silence again.

 

                Kalciru looked at Zaria’s hand for a long time. He seemed to be pensive, as if he was heavily thinking on her words, weighing them, analyzing them.  Then, he slowly stood up, still not taking Zaria’s hand. For a brief moment, she saw a glint of hope in his eyes. But he shook his head.

 

                “Despite your youth, you have wisdom befittin that of a sage. Heh, the world’s wonders never cease to amaze me.  But despite all that, no…I will do what I must. I will have my vengeance, and I will drag you all down to hell with me if I have to! My heart was steeped and snuffed out into the darkness long ago…all that I can do now is bring the world down with me!” Kalciru declared.

 

                A defiant last stand? Or a silent cry for help? A plea to end him? Zaria clenched her fists, but before she said anything, Vincent stepped forward in front of the others. He didn’t look back at them.

 

                “Stand back, everyone. I’ll take him.” he stated.

 

                “Heh, you!? In your current state, you’re nothing more than a nuisance to me! I’ll kill you on the spot…” Kalciru smirked.

 

                “Don’t be so sure!” Vincent said. “Besides, I have a score to settle with you. You deceived me and my people. I honestly thought you wanted to help us…for lying to us like that…you will pay! This is for my people!”

 

                “Well, come on then, if that’s how you want to die!” Kalciru greeted, darkness pouring out of him.

 

---------------------------------------

 

The darkness of the Shadow Blight army has been purged, but Kalciru still remains. Now, as a final stand for his people, Vincent readies himself to fight against Kalciru, to fight for the people he could not save, for everything he wanted to achieve, for everything he failed to do. Vincent’s determination and his will have led him to this moment! Will he prevail, or will he meet his demise? Be on the lookout for Chapter Forty Six: The World After-Part 6 Of 10: “To Settle The Score!”

 

Oh yeah, that’s right, we’re getting into the real nitty gritty here! I bet all of you are dying to see how this smackdown turns out! Well, worry not, the next chapter shall have an exciting battle, of that much I can assure you! Be prepared, ladies and gents! And as always, thank you very much for your unflinchingly loyal support, it’s very much appreciated! So then, be sure to comment on what you thought about tonight’s chapter, and until next time, stay tuned for the next one!

[KHLegendIII 709]

Wow, this was intense.

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

To KHLegendIII, hehehe, just you wait, intensity will keep intensifying in the coming chapters!

 

Good evening everyone, I hope that all of you are doing okay! You guessed it, it’s chapter time again, and now, we shall see Vincent duke it out against Kalciru! After everything that Kalciru made Vincent and his people go through, the time has come to settle the score! But will this battle be one sided? Or will both opponents be equally matched? There’s no telling how this will turn out! Read on and enjoy, my loyal readers!

 

Chapter Forty Six: The World After-Part 6 Of 10: To Settle The Score

 

                The air was now thick with tension. Zaria and the others were standing by, due to Vincent’s request. He had said that he wanted to take on Kalciru alone, that it was something he had to settle. It didn’t mean the others have to like his approach. But they respected his wishes.

 

                Vincent carefully and cautiously sidestepped, gauging his opponent, wondering if he could find an opening. Kalciru knew that Vincent was scanning for any weaknesses, and in a show of cockiness, Kalciru remained still, with his arms crossed. He smirked and shook his head.

 

                “You really think that you can break through to me? You honestly have a grand sense of delusion, my fr—“ Kalciru was saying, but then he felt a slight sting on his right cheek. He felt a slight bit of pain from it, and he touched his cheek and noticed that a long scar was now running to the side, a thin line! Kalciru’s eyes opened wide, and he looked at Vincent, who was still there, exactly where he had been! Kalciru hadn’t taken his eyes off of him, so how…?

 

(Start Song Here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvlI20oftow

                “What the hell was that…?” Kalciru thought, but he didn’t let himself lose his composure. No, if he did that, then Vincent would definitely find a weakness to exploit. Kalciru simply feigned ignorance and chuckled to himself softly.  “So, you think that you can be able to hurt me? I applaud you for grazing my cheek…” he said, and then, from his gauntlet, he summoned forth a sword of dark energy, and he swung it in rapid arcs and then held it in front of him, pointing towards Vincent! “…But in all honestly, this is as far as you’ll go,  you pathetic man…”

 

                Vincent already knew that Kalciru was unsettled. Oh, Vincent was prepared. Even without his Scorched powers, he had trained his hand to hand combat skills and his swordsmanship many times. In fact, every day in his home, when he’d go to the Barren Plains, he would always ensure to hone his physical prowess, if ever there came a time he would need to use those skills. And it just turns out that the training was definitely well worth it after all!

 

                “No more talking, Kalciru. We settle this now!” Vincent declared, and he held his sword firm, and the two of them took stance.

 

                Zaria and the others were getting tense, as watching these two fighting was like watching a slowly progressing duel.

 

                “Why is he taking so long to make a move…? This is making me anxious!” Zaria exclaimed. Grim rubbed his chin and he nodded, as if in response to Zaria’s unsettled behavior.

 

                “They are both waiting for one another to make the first move.” Grim answered.  “You see, when two skilled swordsmen duel, it isn’t simply about hacking away and hoping to sever your opponent or rend flesh from limb. No, there’s a strategy to it, and there’s also the mind games.”

 

                “Mind games? How do you mean?” Tatsumaki asked.

 

                “Well, you see, playing with your opponent’s psyche puts them off edge. It makes them more likely to commit a reckless action that’ll leave an opening to strike. They are both trying to get each other into that state of mind. They both think alike.” Grim explained.  Then, they all fell silent, and they continued to watch the duel before them unfold!

 

                For a few more moments, Vincent and Kalciru remained sidestepping a considerable distance away from each other, but close enough that a strike would reach if any of them tried to make the first move! And then, in the blink of an eye, the two went for each other at the same time, resulting in their blades clashing, already in the beginning of their duel, reaching a stalemate! Kalciru pushed down on the ground with his dark power, and he tried to make the pressure harder, so that Vincent would kneel. But Vincent kept his feet firmly planted in the ground, and within a split second, he summoned forth a surge of strength which allowed him to push upward, therefore providing him with a momentary window of opportunity!

 

                 He went in for the strike, but before he could do any damage, Kalciru quickly raised his blade and met his, blocking his attack! The two of them then proceeded to go at each other with a flurry of multiple blade strikes, with the addition of a few punches and kicks added in for good measure! The two of them were considerably fast fighters, and given what the stakes were, the two of them were fighting with that much more purpose! One could barely hear them, the sounds of their blades clashing providing all the noise the others would need to hear! The two kept clashing, and they swooped at each other, on many moments almost proceeding to create a gash or sever a limb! But each time, one or the other would find a way to block or dodge the attack!

 

                Kalciru then leapt back and fired forth from his sword dark flames, and he shot them at Vincent continuosly, hoping to distract him with this attack! The flames rained down on the ground like a meteor shower, and the ground was being peppered and wreathed in flame, causing smoke to arise and pieces of earth to shift, causing sand to fog up the view of the battle! With this, Vincent should have a hard time trying to pinpoint Kalciru’s attacks!

 

                “I’m impressed! Even with your lack of Scorched powers, you more than make up for it in physical strength and swordsmanship! Color me amused!” Kalciru said sarcastically. He scoffed and kept launching forth streaks of dark flames, until the battlefield was covered in a hue of flaming purple! Kalciru observed the landscape, and he noticed that Vincent didn’t seem to be making any—

 

                “Damn it!” Kalciru spat, as he barely managed to dodge a strike that would have severed his head! His neck was now slightly grazed, blood dripping from it slowly. Kalciru gritted his teeth, but still, he retained his composure…

 

                “Be aware of the opponent in front of you, or you’ll surely lose your head!” Vincent said, as he shot through the flames like a bullet, landing an attack on Kalciru that made him tumble back! At that moment, Vincent found a more likely opportunity to land a hit, and so he did! He swiped with his sword and managed to scrape Kalciru’s chest and his right shoulder!

 

                “Soon, this will end…” Vincent said grimly. The two of them leapt back, and they stared each other down, back into the same state they were before they began their duel! Kalciru was laughing in the meantime.

 

                “Heh, don’t get cocky, imbecile…you may have grazed me, but that doesn’t mean you will come out victorious from this battle! This is my moment, and I shall be rid of you!” Kalciru said with great amusement in his voice!

 

                Zaria and the others were observing the battle as it unfolded, and Saphira, who had her arms crossed, was impressed at Vincent’s skill.

 

                “I had no idea that he had also been training his physical skills. As leader of the Scorched, he had many responsibilities. And yet he always found the time to improve himself. That is most impressive, and very becoming of a leader.” Saphira commented. “You can tell by the way this battle is going that his skill is one to be reckoned with.”

 

                “Yes, you can definitely say that again, Lady Saphira.” Laren agreed. “Though the two of them are evenly matched for the moment, I can see that beneath this layer of sword against sword, a great psychological battle is taking place. I can see it in the way Vincent eyes out Kalciru with bloodlust, and the way Kalciru looks at Vincent with disdain, with the desire to destroy…this is a tense battle, to be sure!”

 

                While the others were discussing the battle at hand, Ilia was clasping her hands together, uttering silent prayers so that Vincent would come out of this okay. She held onto her clasped hands with hope, and her heart was racing!

 

                “I know you can do this, Vincent! I know you can do this!” she thought to herself!

 

                A few moments later, Vincent and Kalciru went at each other again, only this time, their attacks were slightly more aggressive! They were now also using the terrain to gain advantage! Kalciru was lunging forward with broad and quick reaching attacks, while Vincent took cover behind floating chunks of boulders and leapt from one to the other, barely managing to dodge Kalciru’s attacks! When reaching further up, Vincent decided to try plummeting down to deliver a heavy attack from above, but Kalciru saw this coming, and he raised his hand, blocking the attack with his sword! The two of them again held each other in a stalemate, but this time, Kalciru caught Vincent off guard by shooting a burst of dark flames upwards towards some of the floating boulders, making them burst into smaller pieces which were now raining down on them!

 

                “Heh, I’d look up if I were you!” Kalciru scoffed, and Vincent wasn’t able to dodge in time, as he was hit by the hail of rocks falling on him! This caught him off guard, and Kalciru went and dove for the kill, piercing his sword through Vincent! It ran him through!

 

                “No!!!” Ilia shouted!  They all stood in momentary shock, but…they noticed that Vincent had moved himself just in time, and so Kalciru’s blade pierced through, but towards his shoulder, and not near his heart. He was able to avoid a fatal injury that would’ve probably killed him right then and there!

 

                “Heh, impressive! Even under that hail of rock, you still managed to at least divert the course which my attack took…” Kalciru complimented. “But you won’t get chances like this one again!” he said, and then he removed the sword and then went in for another strike, but Vincent, who was now on the ground, rolled out of the way and fell to the side!

 

                “Oh no, you won’t get away!” Kalciru challenged, as he dashed right towards Vincent, who met his attack with a surprise upward slash that made Kalciru leap back in shock!

 

                “Who said anything about getting away?” Vincent shot back. Then he took the initiative, and then he started to bat the floating rocks that had broken off from the big boulders with his sword, disorienting Kalciru and forcing him to go on the defensive! Bane observed this and he nodded, approving of Vincent’s method.

 

                “Now, in for the kill.” Bane thought.

 

                And indeed, with Kalciru distracted by the hail of rocks being flung at him, Vincent dove through the attack, with the intent of making the finishing move! But even with the distraction, Kalciru still managed to barely block the attack, and the two reached a stalemate yet again! But they quickly broke it off and soon after began clashing again and again, each time they stroke, their attacks became faster, until it was as if though Zaria and the others were watching blurs before them! They were that fast!

 

                “What use do you have to fight for a world that’s already lost? What redemption do you hope to find, if you’ll just end up being scorned like I was?” Kalciru asked while they fought, bringing into question Vincent’s reason to continue fighting. Vincent didn’t answer. Kalciru noticed this, and he knew he had hit a nerve. He smirked and then knew what to say next…

 

                “That’s right, even if you all manage to save this world, you will still be crucified for everything that you did, just to set things right with your people! In the grand scheme of things, everything you’ve done has been for nothing. Your mission was doomed from the start, and it only took you until now to realize just how futile your efforts truly were. Yet here you continue to fight.” Kalciru stated, as he punched Vincent in the face and then swiped his sword, creating a scar on Vincent’s left cheek! Vincent slightly winced, but continued to say nothing!

 

                “There is no hope, there is no way for your people to be saved. We Scorched were damned from the start…and damned is how we will end our existence…in a pile of ash! So don’t you see? I’m actually performing a merciful act! By plunging the world into eternal darkness, there is no more need for conflict or endless and senseless fighting! Everything can cease to be, and the silence that follows will be the true peace that this world has such long sought for so many centuries, for so many wars that have been fought, for all the people who have lived and died! You should understand…” Kalciru said, his steel tongue making the words resound within Vincent. The two of them then clashed with a strong strike, theh both of them clashing hard, sending forth shockwaves that shook the entire battlefield! Some pieces of rubble started to fly around and about, and Zaria and the others took cover!

 

                “This is getting intense!” Grim shouted.

 

                “Cover your eyes, or else those little rocks will probably get to our eyes!” Tatsumaki warned. And so, they all ducked behind some massive boulders and waited for the rubble to fly past them! Suddenly, they heard a massive boom, and then they all moved from their cover, and they saw that Vincent plummeted to the ground and dark flames enveloped his body! Kalciru was smirking, and everyone else was stricken with shock! Ilia’s heart pounded, and her body felt frail all of a sudden!

(End Song Here)

 

                “No…” she whispered. Kalciru floated slowly down.

 

(Start Song Here)

                “And so, my heavily misguided friend, the path you chose ended up being the wrong one. Now, if you had a similar mindset to mine, we could have set to work into making something quite glorious together. But alas, you had your heart set on your people first. Hmph, funny, it’s actually your selflessness that ended up getting them all killed!” Kalciru went on, as he paced back and forth, stirring Vincent’s anger as he was struggling to stand, the purple flames still enveloping him! “All those loyal soliders who started out with you, and one by one, they were being eliminated! But the others, instead of adhering to common sense, instead of returning to their homes, made the foolish decision of following you through to the end! And that cost them their lives! Their loyalty to you cost them their own minds and hearts. Especially Seth and Audrey…” he said, those final words hanging in the air heavily, and he stopped talking.

 

                “…What the hell did you say?” Vincent asked, with a razor sharp tone! Kalciru smiled.

 

                “You heard me. Vincent and Audrey. Two people whom you were especially close to! Seth, the loyal best friend anyone could ever hope to have. Always with you through thick and thin, providing you with some sense of ease whenever you’d feel doubt. His loyalty and his friendship to you cost him his life. Right now he’s probably just ash floating in this miserable place. As for Audrey…” he stopped again. Vincent clenched his fists, and Ilia noticed how much he tensed when Kalciru mentioned this Audrey woman.

 

                “Oh yes, Audrey. I knew how much she meant to you. After your spat with Ilia, I’m sure that you felt heartbroken and lost. You felt like you were on the edge of the abyss, that you had lost someone whom you thought would always be there for you, but turned out to turn her back on you in the end…” Kalciru said, directing his gaze to Ilia, whose face darkened as she looked down, ashamed of the words Kalciru was uttering. It was all true…she had abandoned him when he needed her the most. She hadn’t been there for him to help him through his pain. “And within that darkness, you found some light in the form of Audrey. Oh, she was a spark of fire, someone who intrigued you with her view of the world, despite her cursed fate of burning to ash. At first, you only talked to her as a friend. But then you started to develop feelings for her, and her for you!” Kalciru said, shouting at that last comment! “Oh, and you two knew that you had these feelings, and yet you didn’t know how to communicate them properly! And she was yet another blind follower who went with you on this doomed journey! She accompanied you and fought by you until the very end. She died because of you!” he finished, pointing his sword at Vincent, whose eyes were now piercing intimidatingly at Kalciru in a deadly glare!

 

                “Damn…this just took a turn for the worse!” Laren cursed.

 

                “Kalciru’s got him right where he wants him! He’s toying with his mind, and now Vincent is going to act recklessly! This could end up bad! We have to get in there and help him!” Grim said, and he was just about to join the fray, but Ilia stretched out her arms, and she glanced back, shaking her head. Her face was grim.

 

                “This is a fight that is Vincent’s and Vincent’s alone. We can’t interfere. It’d be a tremendous disrespect if we stepped in.  We just have to trust that he’ll make it out of this in one piece…” Ilia said, her voice shaking slightly, as if she herself weren’t sure that Vincent would make it out of this alive!

 

                “What’s the matter, Vincent? Did I strike a nerve?” Kalciru teased mockingly.

 

                Silence.

 

                “Heh, what’s the matter, cat got your tou—“ and in that instant, before Kalciru could even make heads or tails of what was going on, ended up being painfully slammed to the ground with an unnatural strength that took the breath out of his lungs! Zaria and the others were shocked, their eyes wide open, not knowing how to react! What had just happened!? Vincent was there, and suddenly he wasn’t!

 

                Kalciru slowly stood up, and he coughed out blood. He hadn’t expected this level of strength! But what exactly had happened! Before he could even look to see where Vincent was, he found that Vincent’s sword pierced brutally through his stomach, the proceeding, gut wrenching noise being the only noise that Kalciru heard at the moment! And it made him sick!  He then shouted out in pain, and he gasped for air and coughed out more blood, and then he saw the gaping hole that was now present where his stomach was! He knelt and then fell on all fours, gasping and trying his best to keep himself alive!

 

                “You think you can get to me…? YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN GET TO ME!?” Vincent spat with an almost demonic rage! At that, Kalciru realized the fatal mistake that he had commited!

 

                He had angered Vincent. And that would cost him!

 

                Kalciru tried to stand up quickly and tried to cauterize his wound, but Vincent appeared in front of him, and then he gripped his enflamed hand, and he forced it right into Kalciru’s face, the dark flames enveloping his entire head, setting it aflame! Kalciru screamed in agony, and he could feel the flames suffocating him! It almost felt as if though his heart was going to stop! But then he was punched in the face and sent tumbling to the ground!

 

                Vincent stabbed his sword on the ground, and he only walked towards Kalciru, bare handed, his eyes filled with rage! The others watched on in silence, and they saw just how much raw power Vincent possessed without the flames of the Scorched in his body! Vincent then knelt down in front of Kalciru, whose face was now horribly burnt, his hair almost completely fallen from his head! Kalciru smirked despite this, and he gave out a cold laugh!

 

                “Ha, so, you have quite some power without your flames indeed! But so what!? As long as I draw breath, I can still take everything from you, I can make you into nothing, I—“ he said, trying to talk big, but as soon as he gazed into Vincent’s eyes, he felt small and insignificant.  He felt as though he was staring into the eyes of the devil himself! For where Vincent had been standing, fighting against him, stood in his place a demon with pent up rage and frustration! In trying to blind Vincent with rage, he only gave him the power with which to end him!

 

                “Heh, you think you can take more from me than you already have? You must be joking.” Vincent scoffed, and then he grabbed Kalciru by what little hair remained on his head! Kalciru winced in pain, and he couldn’t find any words to say, as he was gripped with terror, in a trance, almost as if he was gazing into death itself!

 

                “N-no…this isn’t how it’s supposed to be! I’m not going to die here, not after I’ve had to wait so long to unleash my darkness upon the world to eclipse it, to bring it the peace it deserves!” Kalciru protested with what little bravery remained within him, though to Zaria and the others, it sounded more like sobs than defiant words.

 

                “Die? You really think that I’m going to kill you?” Vincent asked. The question hanged in the air, and apparently, Kalciru was second guessing.

 

                “Y-you aren’t?” he dared to ask. Vincent looked at him with those deadly piercing eyes again, and then he gripped Kalciru’s throat and squeezed tight! Kalciru’s body throbbed and he squirmed, trying to get out of his hold!

 

                “No. Death doesn’t suit you. It’s too much of a mercy for someone like you. No, for everything you’ve done, a slow and torturous death is what you’ll have. Years, decades, maybe centuries will pass, but I’m going to make sure your death is the most agonizing thing, that as you spend the rest of time pleading for silence to come, you’ll only face fire and suffering, for all the lives that you took, for everything, for the deceit, for the betrayal.” Vincent said, with a feral tone! “You were wronged, that much I know…but you didn’t have to go down this path. You could have used the pain you felt to make you stronger, so you could ensure that others wouldn’t have to face the same wrong you did. You could have stopped the cycle of conflict. But instead, you decided to opt for a path of destruction, of self satisfaction. So that doesn’t deserve a simple death. It deserves suffering for the rest of your days… Vincent finished. Zaria and the others couldn’t even begin to find words to explain what they were just witnessing! Even Ilia was shaken, never having seen this side of Vincent before!

 

                “No…you’re bluffing. You aren’t capable of inflicting that sort of pain!” Kalciru said, trying to brush off Vincent’s threat.

 

                “Hmph, bluffing, huh?” Vincent asked, with an icy cold composure in his voice. Before Kalciru could shoot back a remark, he found that his right hand was being gripped intensely! Vincent was crushing his hand, causing him pain beyond compare! He felt as though his bones were being crushed, and yet his hand looked whole! Just what was this!?

 

                “What the hell…what the actual hell!?” Kalciru protested, thinking to himself! He knew he had to get out of Vincent’s hold before he’d get any serious damage! He had to attack now! “Burn to ashes, you insignificant cretin!”

 

                But, this was what would be his doom! As soon as Kalciru ignited his hands, attempting to use the power of the maker to imbue his dark flames with the silver flames that had belong to Vincent, he found that he had set his own demise into action! Vincent summoned forth strength from his body, and an aura seemed to emanate, and from that aura, he binded Kalciru’s hands, forcing them to be kept aflame! Kalciru watched in panic as he couldn’t move, his body seeming to shut down by Vincent’s touch! Then, Vincent placed Kalciru’s hands on his body, and he found that his body was being harmed by the very flames he had wrought to defend himself with!

 

                “No! What is this!?” Kalciru demanded, his voice trembling! Vincent grabbed him by the collar, and he lifted him up, forcing him to look into his eyes!

 

                “I have channeled all the anger, all the frustration and sorrow and sadness that my people have suffered. I have thought of them every single day of my life, from the very beginning, up till this very point in my life. Their anger has become mine, and my anger has given me strength! You may have taken my power from me, but there’s still one thing you can never take away…and that’s my conviction, my willpower!” Vincent said.  “But…there’s one more thing I want to pass on to you before saying our farewells…”

                “I don’t want anything that you have to offer! Stay back!” Kalciru protested, now flailing in terror, but he wasn’t able to do anything, he was helpless to stop whatever Vincent had in mind!

 

                “But you will receive this gift nonetheless. Something to while away the hours in your eternal torment.” Vincent said. And with that, his eyes shone with a deadly red gleam, and he stared into Kalciru, who seemed to be running out of breath, almost as if Vincent’s glare was draining him of life! The aura around Vincent’s body became blood red! “All the suffering that my people have endured…all the pain…you will know their unrelenting anger. Farewell…” he said.

 

                It only took a matter of seconds for Kalciru to completely lose his mind! He began to scream in a sickening way, as if he was being torn limb from limb! Whatever had transpired just now, Vincent seemed to have gotten into Kalciru’s head in a way that none of them could have ever dared imagined! Kalciru’s eyes were bulging, his skin turning pale, his body burning up by his hands, which did not cease to spout out fire! The flames would burn him for eternity, the anger and sadness and sorrow of Vincent’s people forever haunting the man’s mind until the end of time itself! Vincent dragged him through the battlefield, and he neared a cliff edge, where the abyss below awaited.

 

                “You don’t deserve peace. So you have reaped what you have sowed. Goodbye, Kalciru.” Vincent said, uttering his final words as he flung Kalciru down into the abyss!

(End Song Here)

 

                And all that could be heard were the screams of a broken, crippled man, forever to drown himself and burn in the flames of hellish sorrow.

 

                Vincent drew himself back from the cliff, and then his aura disappeared, and he fell down on his back, exhausted! He breathed heavily, his body highly damaged from the battle he endured with Kalciru! Zaria and the others went to him immediately, and Ilia quickly went to his side, and she healed him as best as she could!

 

                “Vincent…you did it.” Ilia whispered.

 

                Vincent only remained silent. He knew that his actions just now had shaken everyone, and they were a great deal startled. It was understandable. He hadn’t let this anger out, he had only kept it inside, festering for such a long time! It was a rage that even the fiercest fire could not replicate! Vincent had honed his physical skills, all that time using the pain he had to endure, the pain his people had been forced to live with. That mental strain caused him to become stronger. In a sense, his pain gave him strength, and he finally channeled it out.

 

                Ilia could see it in his face. It was as though a great burden had been heaved off of his shoulders, and his face now seemed contemplatively calm.

 

                “Vincent…this is all you had been keeping inside you…I’m so sorry.” she thought to herself, as she couldn’t get the words to surface.

 

                The others remained by his side. They were a bit startled, for sure, but this had been Vincent’s fight, and they had no reason to object to his actions or interfere. This was his personal score to settle, and now he had done so. And with that, all of Chozetsu’s followers had been slain. Now, only Chozetsu himself remained.

 

                “We should rest up, even if it’s for a little bit. After everything we’ve endured, we’ll need all the strength we can muster to take on Chozetsu. He’s the final obstacle to overcome.” Saphira advised.

 

                “Agreed.” Grim said.

 

                So they all sat around Ilia and Vincent, and they all set to rest for a short while. Their bodies were bruised, their hearts and minds tested after all they had gone through. And it still wasn’t over, so they had to prepare themselves for whatever hell awaited them now. But even with the grimness of the final battle looming, Zaria was glad that she could be surrounded by the people she loved, that she could be with them. They were all lost in their thoughts, but they were bound together by their strong bond of friendship and camaraderie. They had come this far, and now, the end was nearing.

 

                To finally put an end to this conflict.

 

------------------------------------

 

And so, all of Kalciru’s followers have perished. Only Chozetsu himself remains, and our heroes are on the verge of victory…or annihilation! They have pushed themselves to the limit, and even with their short rest, they still have a monumental task ahead of them! All the pain, all the battles, all the experiences our heroes have attained has led them to this moment! It is finally time to decide the world’s fate! Be prepared for Chapter Forty Seven: The World After-Part 7 Of 10: “March Of Heroes!”

 

Ooh, ooh, the next chapter finally brings about the epic final battle between our heroes and Chozetsu! Gahhh, I always get excited whenever I get to the final acts of my stories, I tend to outdo myself and just make my endings really explosive and epic and dramatic! The ending for this story will be no exception! Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Thank you so much for your unflinching support, and please let me know what you thought about tonight’s chapter! Well then, until next time, stay tuned for the next one!

[KHLegendIII 709]

My word, that was dark

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

To KHLegendIII, yes, indeed it was! Now, I'm sure you'll love how this next chapter turns out!

 

Good evening everyone, I hope that all of you are doing okay! Wow, can you believe we're already on March!? This is the anniversary month of the Kingdom Hearts series! Yay! Anyways, I’m sure all of you have been waiting for this, and you’ve all probably been anticipating this chapter for a while now! Well, here it finally is! Our heroes are about to square off against Chozetsu! Everything that has transpired has led to this moment, but will victory be achieved, or will the world meet its demise? The fate of the world hangs in the balance, and things are at their most intense! Read on, and prepare for the final four chapters!

 

Chapter Forty Seven: The World After-Part 7 Of 10: March Of Heroes

 

                The moment leading up to the inevitable confrontation with Chozetsu was filled with silence. Zaria and the others had rested up, and even though they were exhausted, they were ready for whatever awaited them next. Chozetsu was now the final obstacle to overcome! Defeat him, and the world would be restored to the way it was! That’s what held everyone up. It’s what kept them together, even though they were about to fall over from exhaustion! The previous battles had taken their toll, and it was noticeable. But still, they all marched forward, knowing full well that if they didn’t do anything to stop this madness from destroying the world, no one would be able to…because there was no one left.

 

                “Yeah, we’re the only ones who can save the world…no pressure.” Zaria thought to herself as she scoffed lightly.

 

                After their rest, they ascended a long, steep hill, almost as if they were ascending a great and mighty mountain! The path was distorted, with floating debris everywhere and some chunks of the path were malformed, almost as if someone had pulled out the terrain and left nothing but the cracks and pebbles and floating debris that remained. This was much of what they saw as they ascended forward on this path. But as they kept going up, they noticed that the path started to become more stable! It was to the point that they eventually saw that the rest of the way upwards actually looked like a normal mountain path, and there were even trees and bushes and what appeared to be a stream! Signs of life in a deserted and twisted landscape! Zaria and the others didn’t even know if they were just looking at a mirage or if this was actually real! But they couldn’t stop to admire the scenery, for they had to keep trudging onwards!

 

                “I sense his power…Chozetsu is near.” Saphira stated.

 

                “I’m guessing that he’s up at this mountain’s peak. It looks like that’s where he’s staying put.” Grim said.

 

                “Yes…but we have to be absolutely careful. With everything that Chozetsu has done, he is a man of unpredictable instinct and principle. We have to be ready for anything that he decides to throw at us. Up until all this happened, he was right under our noses all this time, and we had been too blind to notice his machinations…we were blind…” Saphira said, with regret in her voice. Ilia put her hand on her shoulder and smiled at her reassuringly.

 

                “I assure you, Saphira, there’s nothing we could have done. We had no way of knowing that Chozetsu had this much power and that he was up to something this big. We just have to do what we can to make things right. To ensure that our struggles weren’t in vain when all is said and done!” Ilia said.

 

                “There’s no going back now…we have to finish what we started.” Vincent said.

 

                Everyone nodded and remained silent for a bit. They still had fresh on their minds the moment when Vincent had changed suddenly, the way he had spoken to Kalciru that made the man shake in fear as he plummeted towards his eternal torment! Vincent knew that they were all a bit shaken by the side he had shown, and he felt bad for making them feel this level of discomfort. But at the same time, he knew that they understood. It was as if their silence was a way of reassuring each other that everything was okay. Vincent let out a soft sigh, and he looked forwards, towards the summit. Like Saphira, he too, could feel the immense power coming from above!

 

                A few moments later, they had all finally arrived at the summit, and they found that the surface of the summit was flat and clean, polished and smooth! The ground was a pearl white color, as opposed to the rough gray and light brown of the mountainside. The summit was wide, and there was nothing in particular, except for Chozetsu, who was standing at the far end of the summit, his back turned to them. Above them, they could see the distorted sky, only that this time, they could see that there was something beyond it, but it was obstructed, opaque! They all stood there, side by side, and Chozetsu slowly turned to face them.

 

(Start Song Here)

 

                “So, you have all come.” he said, and let his words hang in the air until he walked to the center of the summit’s flat surface, and he put his hands behind his back. A smile was plastered on his face, and he seemed genuinely excited!

 

                “I am truly impressed! You have all exceeded expectations, and you have all endured much to get here! You managed to kill all of my comrades, and now you have reduced my group to just my lonsesome self. Truly, your skills are nothing to laugh at, I truly and sincerely congratulate you for having come this far. I wouldn’t have imagined it!” Chozetsu said.

 

                “This ends now, Chozetsu! The world will no longer be at your mercy! We are going to end you, here and now, and take back the world and return it to the way it was! Your machinations are done, there is nowhere for you to run to!” Sahpira declared triumphantly!

 

                “Run? Why would I run? Do you really think that after all my hard work, that I would just up and turn tail when things got complicated? That shows how little you know about me, my dear Saphira.” Chozetsu replied.  “Although, to be fair, you didn’t know much about me to begin with, so I suppose I can forgive you for your thoughts.  And also, it is not a machination which I have been striving to, it’s the realization of a dream, a means with which to finally end the world’s suffering!” Chozetsu declared, opening his arms wide, as if to embrace each and everyone one of them!

 

                “Don’t you understand that your actions have caused the world to collapse?” Zaria asked. “Don’t you see that what you’re doing has cost the lives of everyone? How can you be able to live with all that with a smile on our face?”

 

                Silence. Almost too chilling a silence…

 

                “You assume that the deaths of the world’s population brings me joy? Do you truly think something like that?” Chozetsu asked, now grimly.  “You are gravely mistaken.”

 

                He turned around, again facing his back to them.

 

                “You all do not know how much I have sacrificed…how much I’ve seen and how much I’ve had to suffer to get to this point. All that I have witnessed is enough to drive you all mad. In short, the world as it is now cannot stand. This planet, this source of life, we have abused and taken for granted! Don’t you see? I am trying to set this planet back into a new beginning, and forge a paradise in which all of our loved ones can be able to live and thrive! A utopia, an ideal place to live, a place where everyone can be happy, and everyone can have a place to call home! The constant calamities that have befallen this world have been too dire and too great, and it’s all because of mankind’s obsession with power and greed. Nothing is ever enough for our doomed race. Which is why the world has had to restart countless times! Each time, I had hoped that the next generation would change from what had come before.  And while change did come…more problems came that plunged the world back into darkness and decay…” Chozetsu said, his words weaving an impact among Zaria and the others.

 

                “When I saw for myself that the world would not change, I took it upon myself to change it by my own terms. I knew that it would take work, that it would require great patience and sacrifice. But for the sake of being able to save lives, to be able to breathe a fresh start into existence, it was all worth it! And the result of my work is what you see above you!” he said, pointing towards the sky.

 

                “What is that supposed to be…?” Bane asked.

 

                “That is the portal…the final gateway that will lead us all into paradise, into a land without pain or death or war. The final keys to the puzzle are each and every one of you.” Chozetsu answered, to which the others looked on in surprise!

 

                “What do you mean that we’re the final keys of the puzzle?” Tatsumaki asked, alarm in her voice!

 

                “Like I said, young lass…you are all the keys that will open this final gateway. For you see, you possess the power of the light…the light of the world that deemed you its power, that gave it to you freely after proving yourselves to her! That light is what is required to open the final gateway which will ensure that the world can start anew!” Chozetsu said, a smile returning to his face! He then extended his hand towards them, like a longtime friend who had been longing to see them!  “Give me your light! Help me achieve this final step, and we can all go into the world that lies after, together! There’s no need for you all to fight, there’s no need for you all to suffer or toil! Come with me, and we can be able to forge a new path for the future, one in which we can cast aside the endless cycle of conflict!”

 

                The words hung for a long time, and Zaria and the others were actually hesitant about fighting him! True, his methods were questionable, but he did want the greater good, and he wanted to bring forth a new world where everything would be set right!

 

                “Have we…been thinking about this the wrong way?” Zaria thought to herself.

 

                They all suddenly found themselves doubting what they were doing. What if the way they had been going about things was wrong? What if they were destined to help bring an end to the cycle of conflict? By helping Chozetsu, wouldn’t that count as saving the world? These thoughts ran through the heads of each and every one of them, as they pondered what to do. But Ilia stepped forward, her mind made up, her heart unflinching!

 

                “Chozetsu…I can sense that beyond a doubt, you truly have the best intentions at heart…” Ilia said. “…But the way you have gone about this is wrong. Even though you strive for a noble goal, spilling all the innocent blood that’s been spilt is too horrible a price to pay! We don’t  have to reshape the world for us to atone for our sins! We can do that by bettering ourselves as people every day! To learn from our mistakes, to build upon our failures in order to make the future brighter for future generations! That’s what living means! When one pushes forward beyond failure, beyond defeat, to see the greater picture! Instead of focusing on that, you thought that destroying the world to bring about a new one would be the best course of action. But think of what your actions have accomplished!”

 

                “My actions have accomplished more than you could ever hope to gain!” Chozetsu replied!

 

                “But all the people that have paid the price have been derpived of their lives! All those who dreamed of being able to accomplish their goals, their aspirations in life! All those who wanted to see what course this world would take! All those who wanted to change the world for the better, to build upon what had come before…but now, all those voices have been silenced…and in their name, we will stand against you, to stop you from making things worse!” Ilia declared in a defiant challenge! The others snapped out of their doubt and then stood by her side, no longer in doubt!

 

                “That’s right! We’ve come too far to just give up now! Not when we’re this close to putting the world back to the way it was! We’ll stop this disaster from affecting our world any further!” Grim said. Everyone took stance, and they were now ready for battle. Saphira looked over to Ilia, and saw how determined, how powerful she looked right now. Even if she didn’t notice it, Ilia had grown during this experience. Saphira could see all the wisdom she had gained from this ordeal. She smiled slightly.

 

                “Good on you, Ilia…” Saphira thought.

 

                Chozetsu shook his head and sighed.

 

                “Well, it seems that I won’t be able to get through to you. But that’s fine…I did try my best to reason with you and even gave you the chance to join me in reshaping the world…but it seems you are all bent on continuing your resistance against me.” Chozetsu said, almost sounding disappointed! No, he was definitely disappointed! Even with all he had done, he was truly sad that he would have to fight against Zaria and the others!  “If that be the case…” he muttered, as a powerful aura began to emanate from him! “Then I shall fight for my dream, I shall fight till my final breath, but I will not sway from my goal!” he finally said!

(End Song Here)

 

                “But…before that, I will need you all to fight me with full, unadultered strength. And so…” Chozetsu said, and then he waved his hand towards Zaria and the others, and to their surprise, they were being healed! He was healing them before their battle! Just what sort of foe was this man?

 

                “What are you playing at…?” Bane asked distrustfully.

 

                “I play at nothing, friend. I simply do not want to fight you all in a weakened state. I want to say that I was able to defeat my foes at their full strength! Nothing more, nothing less.” Chozetsu answered simply. Everyone was baffled. This man was truly something! Now, their wounds were fully healed, and they felt new strength being pumped into them! A breath of fresh air!

 

(Start Song Here)

 

                With a momentary silence, a sudden gust of wind picked up, and the battle began in earnest! Chozetsu was outnumbered, so Zaria figured that this would be an easy fight, considering that they had the advantage in numbers! But still, they had to be wary, as all the other foes they had faced were also alone, and they had packed quite a punch! But still, with the power they had, the power of the light…they could defeat him, and the sooner they could, the better!

 

                “This all ends here!” Laren shouted, as he thrust his spear forward, attempting to impale Chozetsu!

 

                “Right indeed!” their foe answered, and with a simple swipe of his hand, he repelled Laren’s attack, and then he proceeded to launch a flurry of punches that caught Laren off guard, and with the final punch, he was sent flying!

 

                “W-what!? Such strength!” Tatsumaki gasped in awe! They all leapt back and tried to dodge Chozetsu’s next attack, but they weren’t able to, and they were swept off their feet by what seemed to be a gravitational attack! Chozetsu was in the ground, spreading his arms wide and moving his legs smoothly along the flat surface, as if getting into a martial arts stance! When said stance was completed, a strange noise echoed around the battlefield, and as it turns out, this was a gravitational attack! Zaria and the others were stuck in midair, and they felt their bodies being crushed by the gravity that was forcing them to stay in place!

 

                “W-what the hell is this!?” Bane exclaimed, their bodies tightening under the strain of the attack!

 

                “You can’t seriously expect me to believe this is all that you’ve got? Come now, please, give me a battle which I can be proud of! I ask for nothing less!” Chozetsu declared sincerely, and then he snapped his fingers, and the gravity holding Zaria and the others aloft sent them crashing down to the ground, their bodies leaving heavy marks on the flat surface! They groaned and felt the impact of the fall, but they couldn’t let this stop them!

 

                “Why, you!” Saphira shouted, as she propelled herself and launched towards Chozetsu, aiming for a low sweep kick followed by a spear thrust, but Chozetsu caught her midway through the attack, and he slammed her face first into the ground! Almost immediately, Bane attempted to dive in and pierce his sword through Chozetsu, but the man simply grabbed him by the arm and flung him over! Grim tried to summon forth roots to try and trap him, but before the roots could come out of the ground, Chozetsu cast his hands down, sending forth a boom that prevented the roots from sprouting out! Then, he dashed towards Grim and punched him right in the gut, so hard that Grim coughed out blood and fell to the ground with a gasp!

 

                Ilia and Vincent both tried to go for a combined attack, but before they could even charge up their energies for said attack, Chozetsu intercepted them, catching them in midair by kicking Vinent in the stomach and by punching Ilia right in the jaw, the impact of his attacks sending both of them plummeting to the ground!

 

                “This isn’t good! Everything we try to do just ends up in failure! This is bad!” Zaria said, as she was trying to think quickly of how to get Chozetsu off guard!

 

                “We don’t have time to think! Zaria, brace yourself!” Tatsumaki warned!

                Before Zaria could catch wind of Tatsumaki’s warning, she saw that she had picked her up, because Chozetsu had launched an attack at them that they barely managed to dodge! But even as they were airborne, Chozetsu seemed to have seemingly teleported from the ground right to where they were in the air!

 

                “There is no escaping what’s in front of you!” Chozetsu said, and with that, he delivered a powerful kicking sweep that sent out a shockwave, which in turn, struck Zaria and Tatsumaki, making them fall to the ground!

 

                Everyone was scattered, and they were getting up, trying to regain a bit of their strength before heading in for another onslaught! Chozetsu stood in the middle of all of them, and he waited for them to get up, his arms behind his back.

 

                “You all have that fiery will, that determined spirit to succeed. But alas, it will take more than willpower to achieve what you desire. Show me that what you fight for is enough to make you push beyond your limits! Come at me with all you’ve got!” Chozetsu encouraged! They were all puzzled by his behavior! He wasn’t acting hostile, he didn’t seem to have that malicious intent to kill. He was simply treating them as if though he were training them in combat! That was something Saphira would not stand for!

 

                “Don’t you dare mock us!” Saphira growled, and she sent forth her spear, launching it straight towards Chozetsu, with his back turned! But he stopped the spear short with just the tip of his finger, and it fell, clanging down to the ground!

 

                “Damn it! How can you be this powerful!?” Saphira demanded! Chozetsu rubbed his chin, and he put his arms behind his back again.

 

                “Centuries, my dear Saphira. It has taken me centuries to get to the point where I’m at now. Physically and mentally, I am well aware of what’s around me, and thus, I am able to calmly assess situations of battle such as these. Right now, all of you are agitated. I understand your rage, but don’t let rage itself be the fuel that feeds into your power. Let your own strength come forth from pure heart and determination! Stop dragging yourself down with the shackles of rage, and you’ll unlock more strength.” Chozetsu lectured, as though he were talking to a small child. Which only served to anger Saphira ever more!

 

                “Enough of your talk!” Saphira shouted, and the others went charging towards Chozetsu along with her, from all sides! It seemed as though they were all going to attempt to get the jump on him! But just as they were about to deliver their attacks, he vanished into thin air, teleporting himself way from harm and therefore appearing behind them, making them all turn around!

 

                “Come now, time for round two!” he taunted.

 

                And so, Zaria and the others prepared to deliver their next onslaught of attacks! Bane caught both Zaria and Tatsumaki as they both jumped on his hands, and then, with his strength, he pushed them forward, and then he propelled them with his boosters, causing them to be sent out flying, like bullets! Zaria had her sword at the ready, and Tatsumaki had her wind daggers, ready to pierce through and attack! The two of them landed side by side in an x pattern, but Chozetsu caught them, just as assuredly as Bane had launched them! He then flung them aside, only to find that Bane had used the distraction to get in close!  He dove in and transformed his fist into a blade in a split second, managing to at least get a graze on Chozetsu’s face! The small scar ran across his nose near to his upper lip, and Chozetsu leapt back before getting harmed further!  He stopped for a moment and touched the freshly made scar, feeling the blood seeping out.

 

                “Well, I haven’t seen this flow out in a long time.  Good work!” Chozetsu remarked, also rubbing a slight split end on his hood that had been caused by Bane’s close quarters attack.

 

                He then glanced over his shoulder, and he saw that Grim and Ilia had fused their powers together and created a huge battering ram that was heading straight towards him! He was just about to teleport himself away, but he found that he was being pinned down by something! When he looked down, he saw that Eluzia, Grim’s faithful companion, was biting down on his robe, ensuring that he’d stay in place!  And so, he received the full force of Ilia and Grim’s combined attack, which sent him flying and tumbling towards the other side of the flat expanse!

 

                Not even letting a single second pass, Laren, Saphira and Vincent dove in for the next onslaught! Saphira and Laren summoned forth deadly thunderbolts, and Vincent caught the powerful surges of electricity with his sword, then channeling their power and launching it straight towards Chozetsu like an arrow! And just when it was about to hit its mark, Chozetsu caught the bolt!  They all looked on in surprise!

 

                “Hmm, it seems that you are now focusing your energies, and some of your attacks have actually landed!  Well, it seems that I was right to not underestimate you! Under pressure, you all perform spectacularly!” he said, as he gribbed the bolt tightly and then crushed it with the same hand he was holding it, making it crackle out of existence! The others couldn’t even begin to comprehend how he was able to negate that attack!

 

                “Now then, I believe it is my turn!” Chozetsu announced, and before the others could even have a moment to predict his next move, he dashed towards them at an almost blinding speed, summoning forth a blade of what seemed to be light energy, infused with darkness that was pouring from out of his hand!  He channeled that power and started to hack away at each one of his opponents! They were startled and were barely blocking and dodging his attacks, but some of them weren’t able to do both, and they received some of the attacks, gashes forming on their arms and legs!  He then repelled them all away with a gravitational field that pushed them all way from him!

 

                They all attempted to get back to him, to try and surround him, but he snapped his fingers, freezing them in place!  Then, they felt as if everything around them had stopped! They couldn’t move their bodies, except their eyes, and they were all bearing witness to Chozetu’s mighty power! He jumped from one to the other, his attacks leaving behind the trail of light that his blade weaved, and they could feel the pain scorching through their bodies!  When he snapped his fingers again, they all fell to the ground, the pain from their wounds becoming instantly more painful!

 

                “After centuries of honing my skills, I picked up a few things. I can be able to control gravity, and to a certain small extent, I can be able to slow time. Or, to put it more realistically, my body achieves a speed of which would make you think you are all being frozen in time, when in reality, I am simply faster than all of you. Pretty interesting technique, eh?” he asked, looking at them as they staggered, trying to stand!

 

                “Now then, it is time for you all to realize the enormity of your situation.  Mine is not just any power!” Chozetsu claimed, and then, in both his hands, he started to form what seemed to be small, purple spheres that slowly took on a larger shape!  He leapt up in the air, and the swirling energies of the distorted world that surrounded them seemed to be all coalescing towards Chozetsu, and he was absorbing all the power of the environment around them! The spheres grew larger and larger, until they appeared to look like if they were two twin suns!  He then launced them forward, sending them plummeting down towards the helpless opponents below, and a blinding flash of light emitted once the explosion hit! Chozetsu remained hovering in the air, with his arms behind his back.

 

                “Surely this isn’t all that you have to offer?” he asked, though he was thinking to himself more than asking.

 

                But what Chozetsu didn’t realize is that somehow, Zaria and the others had been able to dodge the attack! They were airborne now, all of them, and a golden aura was surrounding their bodies! This was when Chozetsu knew that they were going to dig into the power of the light that had been bestowed upon them! So he prepared himself accordingly!

 

                “Enough of this! We will show you the power of the light!” Ilia shouted, and together, she and the others poured all their energies into a full, powerful and mighty attack! Their energies were forming a giant sword of golden light that was materializing at a rapid pace!  Chozetsu looked on, impressed!

 

                Their power all came to a point, and the mighty sword fully materialized, and with one rapid swing, they brought it down upon Chozetsu, who attempted to stop the attack with his hand! Surely they didn’t expect that he would repel this attack as well?

 

                The attack landed, but the biggest surprise was that Chozetsu was actually holding the giant sword, keeping it at bay with his bare hand! Although this time, they noticed that this was taking a toll on him, as his arm was being significantly injured, with rays of light spreading to Chozetsu’s arms like veins, illuminating his skin! But he did not budge, he remained there in place!

 

                “Just what the hell is this guy!?” Grim demanded, surprised that he was still holding on, resisting the attack they had all launched together!

 

                “Push down!” Vincent shouted, and with additional strength, everyone gave it their all, and they pushed down forcefully on the golden blade, and now, they could see their attack was having a more potent effect, as Chozetsu was forced to let go, and he received the full blunt of the attack, as he plummeted down to the ground and landed with a loud and resounding thud! The ground beneath him cracked, and everyone dropped down and landed one after the other!  Without a moment to hesitate, they prepared their next move!

 

                “Alright, I’m gonna hold him down! Everyone, help me out!” Zaria said, and so, they all summoned forth chains of light, and with said chains, they all wrapped them around Chozetsu, binding him in place! Then, Blade summoned forth his blade, and now, it was enhanced with the power of the light, making the blade significantly sharper and more lethal! Then, like a predator going in for the kill, Bane struck a total of eight times, in all directions, darting through Chozetsu’s body like a hail of arrows, and with the final strike, the chains broke, and Chozetsu staggered and received the multitude of attacks, creating multiple gashes across his chest and back! He then fell to one knee and coughed out blood! Everyone stood on guard!

 

                There was a brief silence, and for a moment, they thought that Chozetsu would completely drop to the ground, ensuring their victory! But surprisingly enough, the man remained knelt on one knee, and he was bracing a hand against his chest, as if he could stop the bleeding with his bare hand! He coughed out more blood, and slowly, to everyone’s dismay, he stood up. He turned to face them, and then, he took off his hood!

 

                “Impressive. I knew that all of you were special. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have come this far, isn’t that right?” he remarked, sincerely complmenting his opponents. Everyone noticed that with his hood down, he bore a mask that concealed the upper half of his face. His mask seemed to have the form of a dragon’s head! The lower half that wasn’t covered bore a smile which Chozetsu had.  He then took off his robe, and underneath, he had long, black pants that resembled those that people would use for training in martial arts. He had a sleeveless black shirt and dark brown leather braces that covered his arms. And on his abdomen, he had bandages that weaved together, as if forming a protective layer of light armor.

 

                “W-what’s he doing...?” Tatsumaki asked nervously.

 

                “I believe it is time for me to up my game. I cannot hold back an inch of my strength!” Chozetsu said.

 

                “Wait…he’s not even at full strength…?” Zaria thought. “This doesn’t sound good…”

 

                Chozetsu then closed his eyes, and in a momentary flash, his body began emitting a powerful aura! Then, he closed hs right hand into a fist, and then he struck the ground! Suddenly, a thunderbold crackled down from the sky and struck Chozetsu, the blinding flash of light making the others avert their gaze!  When the light died down, they saw that Chozetsu was now clad in armor of the blackest knight! The mask he wore was now part of a full on helmet that resembled a dragon’s head, and his armor looked lightweight but at the same time very powerful! He then summoned forth a giant lance, its bladed tip resembling that of a dragon’s open maw, and giant, jet black wings sprouted from his back, each layer of the wings covered with sharp blades! His eyes glew a dark green from his helmet, and he took stance!

 

                “This is my Dark Dragon Crescent armor! Now then, come at me!” Chozetsu challenged.

 

                This was worse than Zaria could imagine.

 

                Much, much worse.

(End Song Here)

 

----------------------------------------------

 

Just when our heroes think they shall emerge victorious, Chozetsu reveals that he has more power in store! With his new form, will our heroes be able to keep up with him? Even with the power of light at their beck and call, will it be enough to stop this seemingly relentless foe? Find out in Chapter Forty Eight: The World After-Part 8 Of 10: “The Dark Dragon’s Wrath!”

 

Yep, just when you thought Chozetsu couldn’t get any more powerful, here he goes and delivers a powered up form for our heroes to overcome! Pretty epic stuff, eh? Haha, let me know what you thought about tonight’s chapter, and as always, thank you for following my stories! Until next time, stay tuned for the next one!

Edited March 2, 2018 by The Transcendent Key

[KHLegendIII 709]

What in the world is Chozetsu  even capable of? 

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

To KHLegendIII, oh, you'll see. Trust me!

 

 Good evening everyone, I hope that all of you are doing okay! Alright then, I’m just going to cut to the chase, because I know that all of you are dying to see how the final battle plays out, cuz I know I left you all with a cliffhanger in the previous chapter! Let’s just say that our heroes have their work cut out for them! But here’s hoping that they pull through! Read on, my followers, and enjoy!

 

Chapter Forty Eight: The World After-Part 8 Of 10: The Dark Dragon’s Wrath

 

(Start Song Here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYN8qJvVyO8

                With a single bound, Chozetsu, now clad in his Dark Dragon Crescent armor, left behind a ripple of energy that cracked the ground beneath him, causing pebbles to lift from the ground and chunks of earth to chip off gradually, the giant debris being launched everywhere behind him! He came upon Zaria and the others like a bolt of lightning, practically in a blinding speed which they could not fathom! With a single sweep of his lance, he sent them all flying, some of them even off the mountain, sending them tumbling down the long, steep downhill incline!

 

                Bane attempted to hold the line, trying to see if he could be able to buy time for some of the others that were sent off the mountain, but he was quickly dispatched, with Chozetsu proceeding to grab Bane’s head, slamming him down to the ground! He slammed his head repeatedly, causing the ground to cave into itself because of Bane’s cybernetically enhanced head! He found that bits and pieces of his face were chipping off, and wires were starting to jut out! The strength of this man was just too ridiculous! Bane then tried to counterattack by activating his thrusters to get out from under Chozetsu, but that did him no good! Chozetsu proceeded to chop off Bane’s right arm, and then using said severed arm to strike at his back repeatedly!

 

                “Fool.” Chozetsu uttered, his voice now deeper because of the armor. He then brutally pounded on Bane, just about to tear him apart! But then Laren came, having propelled himself from a bit further down the mountain, and he managed to pierce his spear through Chozetsu, halting his assault on Bane!

 

                “Quickly, roll out of the way!” Laren urged, and Bane did so with what strength he could muster! After he did so, Laren withdrew his spear from Chozetsu’s body and then made an attempt to strike at his head, but Chozetsu grabbed Laren’s spear and broke it in two, as if it had been nothing more than a toothpick! Laren was speechless, and he couldn’t even begin to fathom just how powerful Chozetsu had become! And this was his strength when he wasn’t holding back?

 

                He wasn’t able to brace himself properly, as Chozetsu used his gauntlets, which had razor sharp talons, like those of a dragon’s, and he stabbed Laren repeatedly in the abdomen, causing the man to cought out blood and wince in pain! Chozetsu then flung him to the ground, and he was just about to go for Laren’s heart, with Grim and Ilia came and took hold of both of his arms with heavily thorned roots!

 

                “Oh no, you don’t!” Grim said, and he planted his feet firmly in the ground! Eluzia had morphed itself into vambraces that gave Grim extra strength to hold on to the roots that were now restraining Chozetsu! Ilia was straining herself, and drops of sweat were trickling down her face! The two of them held fast while the others came up the mountain, so that they could all regroup! Tatsumaki came and took a quick look at Bane and Laren. Both of them had suffered significant damage, but already, the light within them was healing their wounds!

 

                “Hold him down longer! We need just a little more time so that Laren and Bane can fully heal!” Tatsumaki said.

 

                But as much as Grim and Ilia did their best to hold on, Chozetsu simply pulled his arms back, pulling them towards him! He transformed his dragon gauntlets into sharp blades, and he was just about to impale them! Luckily, Vincent got in the way and cut the thorns, just in time for Ilia and Grim to be able to dodge the otherwise life ending attack! Chozetsu’s attack hit nothing but thin air, and then, Zaria and Saphira came, at full speed, both of them with heavy attacks at the ready!

 

                “Here goes!” Zaria shouted!  She and Saphira both lunged forward, at the ready with their weapons, and when they delivered their fatal swing, all Chozetsu had to do was duck, and he kicked the two of them away, sending them tumbling down!  Now everyone was around him, and he stood there and crossed his arms, like one who would be waiting for something.  This served to intimidate the others even more, as their attacks didn’t seem to have an effect on him!

 

                “I will say this…” Chozetsu said all of a sudden.  “Each and every one of you is giving your all to this battle, for what you believe in, and for the cause you believe to be right. I applaud you for giving me your all. But sadly, it will not be enough to help you in stopping me. I have just begun, and all of you are already spent. If I were to be unmerciful, you would all be dead at my feet.”

 

                The way he said these words really sent a shiver down everyone’s spines. He was toying with them. They didn’t even know what kind of strength this man was capable of. He mentioned that this was his strength when he wasn’t holding back, but they all started to wonder if this was even the case at all!

 

                And so, without even a small moment of rest, Chozetsu came upon them again, this time with even more ferocity! It was all Zaria and the others could do to just maintain their footing and barely be able to keep up with his attacks! Each time he delivered onslaught upon onslaught, his armor seemed to radiate an even more powerful dark aura! At this point, Zaria and the others were now starting to use the power of the light within them at a much more constant rate. If they didn’t use those powers, they’d be wiped out! With each strike Chozetsu would deliver at them, Zaria and the others would bounce back, thanks to the revitalizing energy that the light gave them!

 

                “There will come a point when even the power of the light will fail you. There is only so much that all of you can take. I will ensure that you break your limits! Break past your limitations!” Chozetsu said, as he then punched the ground, causing a massive shockwave to pulse its way throughout the battlefield, causing the ground beneath him to rise up, the landscape distorting and jutting out massive sharp spikes of stone from the very earth itself! Countless pebbles had risen and fallen, and Zaria and the others had been blown away!

 

                “Damn it, he’s just too strong!” Zaria cursed, finding that it was impossible to defeat their foe!

 

                “No giving up now! We’ve come this far, we won’t let up till our last breath leaves our bodies!” Tatsumaki encouraged. The others, though slightly exhausted, agreed with her words, and they all stood up, ready to go through another round of attacks!

 

                Now, Chozetsu leapt up towards the sky, and then he clasped his arms together, making a noise emit from his hands that sounded like a thunderclap! The others had to cover their ears, because the noise seemed to have an ear splitting effect that tore through them! They had no choice but to cover their ears! They looked up, and they saw that Chozetsu was charging forth a massive and powerful attack, as he was gathering dark aura!

 

                “Stop him now, while he’s preparing his attack!” Saphira commanded, and they all went forward, trying to use this moment as an opening, and advantage!

 

                But as they tried to attack, they found that they couldn’t get close to Chozetsu! Even though he was stationary, charging his attack he seemed to have some vast power at work that protected him from any outside influence, as every time that Zaria and the others tried to get at him, they would be harmed by what seemed to be a dark miasma! Even with Saphira, Laren and Tatsumaki using their wind powers to blow away the miasma, it would not let up!

 

                “Prepare yourselves, everyone!” Grim shouted!

 

                And true enough, this is what they would have to do, for every second that passed by, Chozetsu’s aura became ever more powerful!  Soon, they saw that a small sphere was forming in between his hands! He was shaping it, nurturing it, giving it power! It slowly grew and grew and kept growing! It kept growing until it reached a massive size, and then, with another clap, Chozetsu made the sphere explode, and it sent forth a giant surge of dark and light energy that shook the very foundations of existence! There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide! It was all over now!

 

                The mountain was seemingly destroyed, the summit being chipped to pieces, the entire mountain being swept away like a sandcastle! It was that much sheer destruction that, in the end, caused the mountain to reduce itself to nothing more than a pile of rubble! 

 

                Chozetsu floated down, with his armor still donned, and he didn’t find it surprising that even after this fatal attack, Zaria and the others were left intact! But that was because they had used the power of the light to create a shield that protected them at the last minute! Any second later, and they would have been swept away by Chozetsu’s fatal attack!

 

                They all panted, in disbelief, and quite frankly, shaken by what just happened!

 

                “T-that power…it’s too much, even for us!” Vincent said.

 

                “It’s a power that I didn’t imagine was possible!” Ilia replied.

 

                “Everyone, he’s right in front of us! Prepare yourselves!” Saphira urged, and they all got into stance, ready for the next onslaught. Chozetsu had his arms behind his back.

 

                “Your will to live truly does baffle me. Other beings, lesser beings would have given up long ago. Others would have given in to despair, they would’ve lost their nerve. And yet here you are, standing in what is basically your deathbed, and still, you all choose to defy me. You are all a very interesting and special set of existences. Never had I met people like yourselves…you have truly impressed me!” Chozetsu said thoughtfully. He truly meant the words that he said.

 

                “Well, it just goes to show you that humanity is not a lost cause. That any kind of existence in general is not a lost cause, as long as there are people who are still left to take up the good fight!” Grim declared.

 

                “A very perfect and logical statement, my old Lifespring friend.” Chozetsu agreed. “Now then, let us continue!”

                With that, Chozetsu propelled himself towards them again, breaking through the shield of light that had protected them from his fatal sphere! He grabbed Zaria and dragged her across the ground, throwing her like a rag doll towards a rock wall that lay a short distance away! Zaria crashed into the wall with a gasp and shocked eyes, falling to the ground face first! Then, he wheeled around and summoned forth his lance again, and he swung it with great proficiency, using it as a very potent defense for keeping the others at bay, and also using it as a great offense, as he thrust and slashed vigorously, a powerful burst of dark energy emerging every time he attacked! The others were having a hard time trying to reach him!

 

                Grim then took a small window of opportunity, and he seized this small chance at possibly getting to harm Chozetsu, and he quickly summoned forth dual poison blades, and then he dove in, ready to stab Chozetsu in the back! But he just outstretched his hand and met his attack with a tight grip to Grim’s neck! Chozetsu tightened and squeezed, and Grim was caught off guard, his eyes bulging, his breath coming to a halt!

 

                “No!!!” Laren shouted. He was just about to thrust his spear at Chozetsu, but he just flung Grim towards him! Laren quickly caught him, ensuring that he wouldn’t fall down harshly to the ground! He quickly checked Grim’s pulse and was thankful that he was still alive! He was just shaken and greatly injured, as the old man attempted to catch his breath!

 

                “Come here, you!” Tatsumaki challenged, as she imbued her hands with lightning energy, and then she took a set of powerful attacks and delivered them upon Chozetsu, trying to land a hit, each attack gaining more speed and power!  And then, to everyone’s surprise, even Chozetsu’s, she managed to hit him in the chest!

 

                “What? What is this!?” he exclaimed!

 

                “Don’t mess with us!” Tatsumaki triumphantly declared, and then she delivered another flurry of powerful attacks, concentrating on the frontal part of Chozetsu’s armor, making an attempt to chip it off progressively! Soon, Ilia joined in on the onslaught, and she clasped her hands together, and from her arms, giant roots emerged and spouted out lethal and sharp thorns, and she wrapped them around Chozetsu, pinning him in place!

 

                “Now, do it now!” Tatsumaki shouted, and Saphira quickly came and improvised!

 

                “On it!” she responded, and with her spear, she summoned forth a wind vortex, and she shaped it in the precise mold of Chozetsu’s body, so that she could trap him, suffocate him with air so that he would not be able to escape! He was pinned down! It was working!

               

                “Now, now!!!” Zaria shouted, and so she and Vincent slashed through Chozetsu with their swords, delivering swift, clean strikes that struck across his chest!

 

                “Bane!” Zaria shouted!

 

                “Right!” Bane answered, as he transformed both of his arms into a giant cannon, and then he fired forth a fatal blast of flame that scorched Chozetsu’s armor, setting it ablaze in a fierce and powerful flame!

 

                They had been able to deliver fatal hits!

 

                But just when they thought that they had suddenly gained the upper hand, Chozetsu unleashed a burst of energy from his armor, and it sent forth a powerful shockwave that sent them all hurtling back! Now he was unleashing powerful energy bursts with each step that he would take! Zaria and the others were backing away, for now, they couldn’t afford to get close to him, otherwise, they’d be goners!

 

                “Away!” Chozetsu commanded, and with a simple swipe of his arm, he sent forth a giant wave of light energy that threatened to cut through Zaria and others, potentially killing them all in one blow!

 

                “No!!!” Bane shouted, reacing upon instinct, and then he put both of his arms forward, and the light within him shone radiantly, creating a powerful barrier that repelled Chozetsu’s fatal attack! It was a great relief that he had been able to protect his friends in time, but Chozetsu immediately appeared behind them, just like that, and with both hands, he unleashed a powerful burst of energy that tore through them all, knocking them all aside, north, south, east and west! They fell in all directions, and fell hard…

 

                “This power…it’s too much! Just what is this man capable of!?” Laren thought to himself. He couldn’t even believe how things were going as of now! He thought that after a few attacks, they’d be able to whittle him down, but no such thing occurred. If anything, it seemed as though Chozetsu was sapping everyone’s power, looking barely unfazed at the damage that they had inflicted upon him! It was almost as if their attacks had caused no effect!

 

                “Enough!!!” Saphira shouted! Chozetsu turned around, and then his eyes fell upon the fury that was Saphira, as her body was pulsing with the golden aura of the light! She looked ready to deliver a series of attacks, and Chozetsu was ready to receive them! Before he could even say anything, he himself was shocked when all he felt was a piercing pain in his stomach! He looked down, and he saw that Saphira’s fist had pierced through his stomach, and her hand almost looked like it had transformed into a claw! The attack was that ferocious, backed by all that power!

 

                “Impossible!” Chozetsu exclaimed, coughing up blood!

 

                “Now, die!” Saphira said, and then she thrust her spear into Chozetsu, causing another grave wound that tore open another hole through his stomach, just above the one that she had made with her fist! Then, she launced him upward, and she followed him closely!

 

                All the others could see were just simple flashes of light, like  if they were literally watching a thunderstorm! Bolts crackled and danced in the sky, all indicative of Saphira’s rampaging assault on Chozetsu!

 

                At the hightest point in the sky, Saphira was just about to deliver the final blow, convinced that she had put Chozetsu through hell, but…she found that Chozetsu gripped her arm, halting her assault, and then he flipped her over and then kicked her hard, putting all of his force into the attack! Her eyes went wide, and she suffocated, not being able to catch her breath! Then, Chozetsu dived down, each second of their descent causing numerous shockwaves to form in the sky! It was the fatal damage he was dealing to Saphira!

 

                Suddenly, his wings grew sharper, and then, he embraced Saphira to him, and all that the others could see was that she was being enveloped! They quickly spurred into action, not wanting to let their friend die!  They weren’t just about to sit by and let that happen!  Each of them tried to stop Chozetsu from killing her, but he only repelled them with numerous beams that he fired from his eyes, or rather, from his visor in his helmet! The beams carried with them a powerful, searing force to them, causing numerous burns to form on the others as they trid to dodge and block the beams, but to no avail! Like flies, they were all being swatted away!

 

                “Nngh, I won’t let you kill me like this!” Saphira said through gritted teeth, as her body was pressing against Chozetsu’s tightly, his wings piercing into her back! She tried to hold back a yelp, because the wings hurt…they were penetrating her skin and seeping into her bones!

 

                “This is your final rest. Don’t bother yourself anymore. You’ve fought well. There’s no need to keep fighting.” Chozetsu said in reply, in a most soothing and caressing voice! This caught Saphira off guard, and though she was denying and resisting with all her might…his words caused her to drop her steely resolve…and her eyes widened and blood came out of her mouth as his wings continued to press into her. Any moment, and he’d reach the vital organs!

 

                “This is it…” Saphira thought, despair filling her mind, yet a calm, an unnerving calm trying to take over her. “This is how I die…”

 

                “That’s right, rest. You’ve been through enough.” Chozetsu said, in a caring tone. He stroked Saphira’s head and closed his eyes. “I will make you all sleep. You have all suffered enough.” he said. But suddenly, he felt lightheaded! It all happened in just a few split seconds, and before he realized it, he saw that his wings had been cut off, and Saphira was no longer in his grasp! He felt greatly weakened momentarily, and then he reoriented himself, landing on a floating platform that slowly moved across the distorted space! He shook his head slightly, trying to reorient himself, and then he looked in all directions!

 

                “What just happened…? My wings…” he looked to where his wings once were. He still couldn’t comprehend it. “What even…?”

 

                “Down here!” Zaria shouted! Chozetsu looked down, and he saw her, standing defiantly along with the others, Saphira in Tatsumaki’s arms. “You won’t defeat us!” she said, her sword imbued with golden light!  Chozetsu scoffed, and he wasn’t just about to let this be a moment of triumph for them. No, he couldn’t let them have any shred of hope! He had to end this, here and now!

 

                “I’ve had enough!” Chozetsu said, and he fired forth a giant sphere of darkness that threatened to envelop them all, to consume them and vanish them from existence! But to his surprise, he saw that Zaria cut clean through the attack, and she then dashed towards him, managing to deliver a fatal strike! A few seconds passed, and a chunk of Chozetsu’s armor fell off, and blood trickled down from the gash that was now opening over his ribcage! He held on to his side, and he glanced at Zaria, and she landed down towards the others!

 

                “Your belief…” he whispered. “It’s stronger than I thought it’d be…”

 

                “Everyone, now!” Zaria shouted, and they all pointed forward with their weapons, charging forth the energy of the light imbued upon them!

 

                “This ends now, Chozetsu!” Vincent shouted!

 

                Chozetsu attempted to teleport himself away from the attack, but he found that he couldn’t do so! He was wondering why this was the case! But then, he looked to his arms and legs, and he saw that they were bound by chains of light! He couldn’t move! He had been so focused on the battle at hand, that he let his guard down! And with all the energy he had put  into his attacks, he couldn’t break free of the chains binding him!  Chozetsu smiled under his helmet, and he nodded.

 

                “Quite clever, you bunch are.” he thought to himself.

 

                “Now!!!” Zaria shouted, and they all put their energies together and fired forth a powerful beam of golden light that traveled with precision and speed! It was to deliver the final and deciding blow!

 

                “But…I will not let you obstruct my dream!” Chozetsu thought, for at the last moment, the armor morphed into a protective shell, and therefore, he was able to protect himself from the beam!

 

                As the beam hit, he absorbed the damage in his shelled form, and after the attack subsided, he released all that pent up energy back at them, and they were caught unawares of this! This was an unexpected turn in the battle for them! They all scattered, lest they be severely damaged by the beam!

 

                Chozetsu then pounced, and he landed on the ground and then dug the claws of his armor into the earth! The others quickly tried to assault him, but he kept them at bay with small chunks of his armor that had floated off on their own, acting as protective barriers against Zaria and the others! When digging firmly into the ground, Chozetsu took hold, and then, he strained himself, using his full strength, and that of his armor, and he tore off a gigantic mass of earth and lifted it up along with himself, who floated above everyone else! Then, he gripped the giant mass of earth tightly, and he imbued fire into it, and then he slammed it down with his fists, causing the massive chunk of land to take the appearance of a meteor!

 

                “Brace yourselves!” Grim shouted, and they all tried to get away, but the radius of Chozetsu’s attack was too wide! They wouldn’t be able to dodge on time!

 

                But…

 

                “No way in hell will I let you end us here!” Bane shouted! He stood alone, facing the gigantic falling mass of earth, and he transformed both of his arms into a giant cannon, and he planned to intercept Chozetsu’s attack! He charged up the most powerful beam he could in a manner of seconds, and then he fired it off! Once it hit, the mass of earth split into many pieces, and luckily, they weren’t harmed by the attack!  Chozetsu then launched his gauntlet like a grappling hook, taking hold of Bane and then pulling him towards his other gauntlet, as he sheathed a dagger from within said gauntlet!

 

                “You are in my way…” Chozetsu said, and he pierced his dagger into Bane, and he grunted in pain! “It’s a shame. Your determination could have served me well.”

 

                But that’s when Bane started to laugh.

 

                “Oh? And what’s so funny, young man?” Chozetsu inquired. Bane slowly looked up, his eyes meeting Chozetsu’s and he shook his head.

 

                “Nothing much. Only that your time is up!” Bane said, and then, he tore himself off from Chozetsu’s grip and fell to the ground, while Chozetsu himself was confused by Bane’s words! When he turned around, he saw that Grim and Ilia had summoned giant root pillars, and they snapped at him, clapping him in between the pillars, and once they connected, multiple vines enclosed themselves, wrapping themselves around all of Chozetsu’s body, ensuring that he wouldn’t be able to escape!

 

                “I see…well done!” Chozetsu thought!

 

                Laren and Tatsumaki stood side by side, a short distance away from each other, and they summoned forth swirling tornadoes that made their way to Chozetsu, trapping him in place, in an attempt to suffocate him again! And on the top, Saphira summoned forth a mightly lightning bolt that struck Chozetsu to the core! He was enclosed in a death trap!  And this time, with all the energy that he had spent, he couldn’t be able to break free this time! Now he would receive the full force of their attack!

 

                Immediately, Grim, Zaria, Vincent and Bane readied their weapons, imbuing them with powerful light, and at once, they shot their beams of light in unison, striking forth with the combined efforts of all the others, forming a grand explosion that left in its wake a blinding white light! They all covered themselves, averting their gaze so that their vision wouldn’t be obstructed!

(End Song Here)

 

                When the explosion died down, they saw that Chozetsu’s armor had been completely decimated, and he was in his normal form again! He was kneeling on the ground, and he was looking downward. He seemed as though he had reached his limit!  But they all knew better than to think that this was the end, and so they approached him carefully!  As they did, they noticed that Chozetsu’s body was now badly bruised, and there were multiple scars everywhere, and blood had stained his clothes! The pieces and chunks of his armor were laying here and there and everywhere, and his face was still downcast, looking at the ground.

 

                “It’s over, Chozetsu, you’ve lost.” Saphira stated. The others surrounded him.  “So, what have you to say for yourself?

 

                “What I have to say…?” he slowly repeated.  He chuckled soflty to himself, and then he started to clap his hands…in applause! The others were now worried, for they knew that something bad was about to happen! He slowly stood up, and they were all about to strike at him at once, but he immediately unleashed a powerful shockwave that sent them all flying back!  Then, he slowly took off his helmet, and his face was revealed!  He had long, silver hair, and his eyes bore a strange color, like if the universe itself were inside his very soul! He looked at them with a smile, and he nodded to them in acknowledgement!

 

                “You have all truly proven to be admirable and worthy opponents. It’s no wonder why my faithful and cherished friends all perished by your hands. Your strength is something to be feared!” he congratulated.  “But…”

 

                Chozetsu snapped his fingers, and then, in what none of them expected to see, the entire landscape around them distorted!

 

                Suddenly, a giant black hole appeared, and slowly, it started to suck in everything that was around them! All the debris, the little remaining pieces of land that remained, all of the destruction and chaos…they were all gathering towards the giant black hole, being devoured by the darkness that awaited within!  Zaria and the others found themselves floating in midair, with no ground beneath them to support their feet!  Then, the sky above them turned into a dark crimson, as did the abyss below them! The abyss was swirling into itself, giant black and red streaks leading into oblivion! They saw Chozetsu right in the middle of the black hole, and he seemed to look like nothing more than small speck in what seemed to be the most nightmarish image they had ever seen with their very eyes!

 

                They noticed that even the Shadow Blights, who were desperately trying to escape the pull of the black hole, were being sucked in! Even creatures as dark as those feared death, it seemed.  And then, they felt another sudden surge of energy from behind them! They all glanced back, and they were speechless at what they say! It was World’s Edge! The encompassing darkness that had been devouring world was to merge with the black hole! They all looked towards Chozetsu, with fear in their hearts, shock coursing through them, uncertainty binding them!

 

                “You’ve gone mad!” Zaria shouted!

 

                “Mad? Surely, you are mistaken. What I am doing is cleansing the world for its new awakening…” Chozetsu said, and with another snap of his fingers, his body disappeared completely, consumed by the black hole!  A few seconds later, a giant, colossal form slowly creeped out of the darkness!  It was Chozetsu, but now he bore a black cloak, looking like the grim reaper himself!  In his right hand, he wielded an hourglass, and in his left, a giant scythe!

 

                “This is your end! My final form shall destroy you!” Chozetsu bellowed, Zaria and the others frozen in fear!

 

                This was beyond any nightmare they could’ve ever even imagined!

 

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The time of reckoning is come…the stage has been set for the end of everything, and the only thing stopping the world from completely being destroyed are our heroes…but with the colossal task ahead of them, with the seemingly invincible foe they have faced…are they looking at impossibility? Will they meet their end here? Everything has led to this…the final battle to decide the fate of the world! Be prepared for Chapter Forty Nine: The World After-Part 9 Of 10: “The Final Gateway.”

 

Oh God, we are about to finish this story! Dang, this is about to get to its most epic point ever! I’m so excited to show you all what I have in store! Everything has led to this, and now, all that’s left is for the final battle to take place, and the fate of the world will be decided! It’s my pleasure to say that these final two chapters will be unforgettable, for sure! So then, let me know what you thought about tonight’s chapter, and as always, thank you so much for your endless support! I appreciate it! Until next time, stay tuned for the next one!

[KHLegendIII 709]

O_O

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

To KHLegendIII, just wait, there's one more phase to this battle! X3

 

Good evening everyone, I hope that all of you are doing okay! Wow…I can’t believe that we’ve already gotten to this point in the story! I always get immensely excited when approaching the final chapters, because as a writer, getting to see this journey through to the end has been an exhilarating ride! I hope you’ve all felt some excitement running through your minds with each chapter I’ve posted, because it’s all led to this! Now, the final battle is at hand, and it’s either the moment of triumph for our heroes, or their final doom that seals the fate of the world itself! Prepare yourselves everyone, for the abyss that awaits!

 

Chapter Forty Nine: The World After-Part 9 Of 10: The Final Gateway

 

                What was it like to see something come to an end? Something that no one thought possible?

 

                To Zaria, seeing this current image, which would forever remain imprinted in her mind, was a perfect example of seeing something come to an end. She and her friends, all whom had fought valiantly and without rest, now faced what was probably their most nightmarish battle yet! They were all floating in midair still, since there was no ground beneath them to hold them. And yet, they found that they were in place, for as much as she thought that they were falling, they seemed to be just in between the massive crimson sky above, and the swirling chaos below. In front of them, the giant black hole from which Chozetsu had emerged, having become something far from human…

 

                “This is the lengths that you’ll go to in order to achieve your goals? You don’t even know the consequences of what all of this will bring forth! You’ve doomed us all!” Saphira shouted in defiance!

 

                “Consequence or no consequence, it won’t end up mattering, Saphira.” Chozetsu bellowed, his voice now deep and demonic. “Everything is as it should be, everything is going according to my design. Soon, all of this will be nothing more but a distant memory to all of you. For even though you insist on opposing me, I still have a place for you all in the new world. I don’t want you to be left behind…”

 

                “Well, you have quite the way of showing how much you care!” Grim mused sarcastically.

 

                Soon enough, Zaria and the others then felt that they had landed on something. But when they looked below, they saw that there was still no ground beneath them to be seen. Apparently, it was some sort of invisible floor, but really, at this point, Zaria and the others didn’t have time to wonder! They all stood, and in front of them, Chozetsu loomed before them, like death about to claim the souls that have gone adrift!

 

(Start Song Here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUBATLiCcNA

 

                “Enough of this.” Chozetsu said calmly, and with a simple outstretch of his hand, he shot forth an immense beam of red and black light, which zipped right at Zaria and the others! They weren’t able to dodge or block the attack, even with the power of light within them, and they were all forcefully pushed away, feeling as though their minds were being torn apart from their bodies, as if flesh from bone was being severed! They all writhed in agonizing pain, and they knelt over or fell down completely, holding onto their heads, as if they would burst out any second!

 

                “Rest…” Chozetsu said, and then he took hold of his hourglass, and then he placed it above his right hand, and then, it floated on its own, and the sand that was on the top slowly but surely started to make its way to the bottom…

 

                “I don’t think we want to wait around for what’ll happen once that sand reaches the bottom…” Bane said, holding on to his sides, as he struggled to stand.

 

                “Yeah…no kidding!” Zaria said, as she spat out blood. They all stood, one by one, but significantly weaker. But still, they weren’t going to let this be their final resting place! They didn’t want this nightmarish hellscape to be the last thing that they saw before they died!

 

                Then, with one massive swing of his scythe, Chozetsu summoned forth giant, dark tornadoes that were swirling with lightning, and a hail of ice also showered down upon them! It seemed as though Chozetsu could control the elements with this final form of his, and this would prove to be a great problem if Zaria and the others couldn’t find a way to defeat him once and for all!

 

                “Come on, let’s go, we’ve got no time to waste” Vincent shouted, and he stood up, despite the searing pain in his body, and he ran as fast as his legs could carry him! The others watched him run towards the massive Chozetsu, and they soon quickly followed. They were all friends, comrades in arms, charging forward, regardless of what it would cost them.  If the world could survive, their lives were a worthy cost to pay!

 

                “Sink into the depths of darkness…” Chozetsu said, and with a direct downward swipe of his scythe, he sent forth a pulsating crescent arc that was blazing with crimson fire!  He then raised both of his hands and then, from the crimson sky above, he sent down a rain of meteors!

 

                Zaria and the others tried to dodge or block the onslaught of attacks coming at them, but they simply weren’t able to withstand Chozetsu’s power! They were being fatally injured, and they were flying towards multiple directions, farther away from each other!  But still, they stood up!

 

                “This is going to require some thinking…” Ilia thought.  Then she snapped her fingers! “I’ve got it!” she said, and then she closed her eyes, and she performed some strange signs with her hands, and then she weaved what seemed to be invisible markings in front of her. Then, when she outstretched her hand and opened her palm, a sudden burst of light sprang, and adding the power of light within them all, she was able to give each and every one of her friends, including herself, a boost in power and vitality, and an increase in their defense!

 

                “Good thinking, Ilia!” Laren shouted!

 

                “Right, now it’s our turn!” Tatsumaki said, and she and Laren glanced at each other and nodded in unison. They both propelled themselves with all of their might, and as they leapt upwards, they imbued themselves with wind energy, and they started to charge up lightning within their bodies as well!  They went higher up, but Chozetsu was just about to swat them away!  But…

 

                “Down here, you imbecile!” Saphira taunted, as she threw a lightning bolt right at Chozetsu’s chest! He quickly looked down, and then he hastened to take hold of Saphira! As he did so, Grim came in and summoned forth his dual poison blades, and he began to hack away at Chozetsu’s gigantic arm, trying to see if he could deal in some considerable damage!  Vincent came from the other side and then summoned forth his inner power, and he began to unleash a barrage of attacks, the likes of which he had unleashed  upon Kalciru!

 

                “Away with you!” Chozetsu yelled, and he unleashed forth a burst of purple, pulsating darkness that flung the attackers back!  Then, with a wave of his hand, Shadow Blights appeared, but these ones seemed altogether different than any of the others that had appeared before!  These ones looked more demonic than animal, sporting large horns and vicious claws and terrifying jaws, filled to the brim with razor sharp teeth! Their eyes glowed a crackling crimson!

 

                “Make way!!!” Zaria shouted! The others moved to the side, and she came along with Bane, and the two of them, charged with the power of the light, unleashed a powerful wave of light that cut through the darkness like a sharp blade, and it managed to decapitate quite a few of the newly summoned Shadow Blights!

 

                The two of them then fought back to back, reinforcing each other in their attacks! Zaria somersaulted and plunged her sword into the skull of one of the deadly creatures, and then, as she backflipped back, Bane grabbed her leg and then flung her high up while he delivered a wide radius attack imbued with the power of the Craftsmen, as stone shards materialized and then plunged into the Shadow Blights like teeth sinking into flesh!  Then, Zaria plummeted herself downwards, and when she struck the invisible ground, a white shockwave unleashed, freezing the creatures in place! Bane then proceeded to punch the ground, immediately incinerating the creatures with an effective, radius wide flame attack!

 

                Saphira, Grim and Vincent capitalized on this and they made sure to take care of the rest of the Shadow Blights!  Grim summoned forth his wooden bow and then shot poison arrows and paralysis arrows, causing the creatures to be slowed down! With a struggle, they tried to keep Saphira and Vincent at bay, but the two warriors dispatched them quickly enough! Vincent delivered a lightning fast attack with his sword, delivering a fatal strike that even left behind a ripple of red energy, a result of his inner power! Saphira electrocuted the remaining creatures with her spear enough that they burst from the crackling electricity!

 

                “Fools…” Chozetsu said.

 

                “You’re the fool…” Zaria smirked. Before Chozetsu could say anything else, Laren and Tatsumaki landed down, like a thunderclap, and they pierced through Chozetsu from the top right to the bottom, electrocuting him and cleaving him with great force! Then, Ilia capitalized on this, and from her body, she summoned forth giant vines that wrapped around Chozetsu, the thorns growing out of them piercing into him!

 

                “As long as we live, we fight!” Ilia shouted out defiantly!

 

                “So it would seem…” Chozetsu replied.

 

                And without so much as an effort, Chozetsu broke free of the bindings that were keeping him in place, and he unleashed a giant, dark red aura that sent forth a wave of darkness which engulfed Zaria and the others! They all started to panic, for they felt as though they were being burnt alive, but their bodies weren’t being scorched! It was like the flames weren’t even hurting them, but at the same time, they felt as though their bodies were being melted to bare bone! It was terrifying!

 

                “No, we can’t let this pain get to us! We have to push through!” Zaria shouted, and she trudged forward. Despite the pain, she knew that she had to keep pushing past it, lest she give in to it and let it consume her. The others, though riddled with pain, kept pushing forward as well. Chozetsu swapped at them with his arms, unleashing crackling dark electricity that hit them with jolts, this time marking their bodies with bruises! But no matter how bruised they got, the light within them would heal their wounds, and they would push forward!

 

                “Now, we strike!” Zaria shouted!  Grim and Bane ran forward, and they shot multiple projectiles, so as to create a diversion! They aimed right at Chozetsu’s chest, concentrating their projectiles there! Obviously, the attacks had no effect, but they did have Chozetsu’s attention, which was their goal!  Saphira, Laren and Tatsumaki ran to one side, attempting to climb one arm, while Zaria, Vincent and Ilia attempted to climb the other!

 

                As they started their ascent, Grim started to deliver the heavy fire, shooting forth massive spore clouds that caused a paralytic effect on Chozetsu, thus making him unable to move, and then he delivered a volley of poison arrows by shooting one upwards and then dispersing it with a snap of his fingers, causing the one arrow to multiply into hundreds, raining down a hail of poison!  Bane, in the meantime, had fabricated giant catapults with the Craftsmen part of his powers, and he infused them with Scorched flames and then shot them forth, launching the spheres, delivering exploding damage upon impact!

 

                Now, the others had proceeded into climbing halfway up the arms, but then they saw that numerous Shadow Blights were coming from up top to intercept them!

 

                “What the hell!? Even his arms are riddled with Shadow Blights? Just what is this!? Get out of our way!!!” Zaria shouted, as she swung her sword relentlessly, using fragments of the power of the light to cut through the stronger ones! Ilia covered her ascent by providing bursts of light of her own making, infused with the light within her! With said bursts of light, she was keeping the Shadow Blights at bay! Vincent then took care of the already dazed creatures with his powerful strength, cleaving them with great ferocity as he struck!

 

                On the other side, Saphira, Laren and Tatsumaki were blowing their way through, howling like a ragining stormwind, quite literally, as they ascended! Their powerful, combined wind torrent blew away any Shadow Blights that tried to get too close! When they glanced to their left, they saw that Zaria, Ilia and Vincent were on par with them, and they were climbing steadily, not losing their footing!

 

                “Hmph, I don’t think so…” Chozetsu uttered. “Do you think I’m that much of a fool to let myself be caught off guard with a tactic such as this? You are all truly desperate indeed.” he said, and then, they all heard a loud, resounding ring! Almost like the chiming of a bell! A heavy bell announcing some promised hour! And that’s when they all looked towards the hourglass…and they saw that the top half was diminishing at a steady pace!

 

                “Your time is almost up…” Chozetsu said grimly, and then, he raised both of his arms upward, flicking away the others as they had tried to attack him, and then, he started to speak in some strange language, one that none of them had ever heard of before! No one could even guess what he was saying, but they all knew that the end result wouldn’t be good! Then, he slowly weaved out of the strange language and then spoke normally again!

 

                “And now…heaven’s divine judgment will rain down upon you…drown in the abyss!” Chozetsu said, and with that, he sent forth a powerful gust of wind that pushed at Zaria and the others with great force!

 

                Before they knew it, they found that they were falling, falling down towards the deadly spiral that awaited beneath, the abyss that was awaiting them! As Chozetsu delivered a more powerful gust of wind to them, they were being pushed further below, and Zaria could see just how far they were getting from Chozetsu, as he was seeming smaller and smaller the more they fell!  And to make matters worse, giant meteors were falling right towards them!

 

                “We’ve got trouble!” Tatsumaki shouted!

 

                “Keep calm! We can’t lose our tempers here!” Vincent advised. And so, they all straightened themselves out as best as they could, and with each second, the meteors got closer and closer to them!

 

                Bane was the first to act, as he summoned forth a giant battering ram with the power of the Craftsmen, and he broke through one of the meteors, smashing it right in half! The chunks dispersed and hit many of the other meteors, causing them to implode, reducing the explosive damage significantly! Saphira then zigzagged through the debris of the meteors, using them as stepping stones, and then, when she was in the clear, she leapt up, using her power to the fullest, and with her dragoon abilities in play, she pierced through three meteors with one upward strike of her spear! She cleaved them in two, and they dispersed everywhere, turning into pebbles!

 

                Grim and Ilia combined their powers, and by doing so, they summoned forth giant roots, and they managed to sew the roots into the fragments of the meteors that had been chipped off, and when they took hold, the roots served as upward ascents to the chunks of stone, which would serve as platforms!  Zaria and the others began their ascent as the others continued to make way, clearing a path through the meteor rain!  They used each other to push themselves upwards, never stopping, never hesitating! They were all working together as a unit, with one mind!  And the further they ascended, the closer they got to Chozetsu, who noticed that they were still at it!

 

                “You refuse to die…you really do have strong convictions to go with your strength!” Chozetsu complimented, and then, he formed a blood red sphere in his hands, and then he flung it! As the sphere fell towards Zaria and the others, it picked up in strength, and it seemed to expand the further down it got!

 

                “What in blazes is that!?” Grim asked.

 

                But before any of them could react, the sphere exploded, and it sent forth a dark mist, a blinding dark shroud that took everyone by surprise, and engulfed them! They had been unprepared for this attack, but considering just how powerful Chozetsu had become, they should’ve expected something like this to happen! But now, it was too late for anything, and they hadn’t been able to stop this surprise counterattack!

 

(End Song Here)

 

                And now, all that remained was darkness.

 

(Start Song Here)

 

                “Huh…? What?” Ilia asked, as she suddenly opened her eyes, and she found that she wasn’t in the battlefield anymore! Rather, she seemed to be somewhere else entirely! But that’s not what surprised her! What surprised her is that Vincent was by her side!

 

                “Ilia?” Vincent asked, as he opened his eyes and saw her.

 

                “Vincent…where are we?” Ilia asked, uncertain of their situation.

 

                “I don’t know…one moment we were battling Chozetsu, and now…I don’t know what to make of this, honestly.” Vincent answered, as they looked around.

 

                “This is a glimpse of what life will be after I achieve my goal.” Chozetsu said suddenly, which startled Vincent and Ilia as they jolted around and saw that Chozetsu had been behing them, and this time, he was his normal self.

 

                “What do you mean…?” Ilia asked.

 

                “Well, I took the liberty to delve into your minds a bit as we battled…and I could tell that all of you had strong desires, strong enough to go hand in hand with your goals of saving this world. And so, I took your desires into consideration, and I have to say, this is a nice and beautiful thing to dream about, to long for. When I defeat you all, the world will be reborn, and this can be your corner of the world, where you and Vincent can live the lives you have always wanted to live together.” Chozetsu explained. At that, Vincent and Ilia froze…

 

                “Our lives…together?” Vincent whispered. He looked at Ilia, as she looked at him, and the two of them were holding their hands. They were clenching tight.

 

                “This is…what it would be like?” Ilia thought.

 

                Bane had opened his eyes, and all he could see was ocean. Endless ocean, and beside him, he saw Zaria, whom had also opened her eyes. The two of them knew that this had to be some machination of Chozetsu’s, and so anything that would appear here was going to be used against them. They couldn’t let their emotions get in the way of the current situation at hand! Zaria walked towards Bane and then stuck close to him. They both seemed to be on a ship full of traveling passengers, each with a story to tell. Workers, families, people searching for adventure. People from all walks of life were here, and Zaria and Bane were two such people who were finding themselves in this sea of adventure, of a journey beyond everything.

 

                “So…I take it you wanted to see the world?” Bane asked to Zaria. She smiled.

 

                “Yeah…part of the reason why I had become a mercenary. That line of work allows you to go to different places. But, after a while…killing to be able to get to where I wanted felt wrong. I wanted to give it up for so many years, but it was the only way that I could be able to live. The only way I could be able to make sense of the world. All that changed when I met all of you…” Zaria said, and then slowly, she took hold of Bane’s hand and squeezed. “And I met you…”

 

                “Zaria…” Bane said, as he felt his heart skip a few beats…

 

                “And after the two of you have suffered through enough and gone through hell…don’t you owe it to yourselves to let everything begin anew? So that the world begins in a clean slate, and you can be able to start fresh?” Chozetsu asked, as Zaria and Bane saw him, sitting on top of one of the ship’s masts.

 

                “We know this is a figment of your making…” Bane said bluntly.

 

                “A figment, yes, but of my making? No, this is something that your heart innermost desires. What you two both desire. You have all fought valiantly. But isn’t it time that you all let fate run its course? It would grant you a chance at living a new life. And reuniting with those lost to us…” Chozetsu said, as he then gazed downward. Bane followed his gaze, and then he saw…

 

                “Big brother!” Ellene said, running towards him happily, looking normal, as if she had never undergone any enhancements at all!

 

                “E-Ellene…” Bane stuttered, and he looked to Zaria, and the two of them felt immersed in this…they could feel the potential of this coming true…

 

                Laren and Tatsumaki awoke to each other, in each other’s arms in bed, as they were greeted by a warm new day, with the promise of good things to come. They were looking at each other, and then they sat up on their bed, and then they looked at their surroundings. It was a beautiful room, simple and elegant, and cozy. It had a small study, where a collection of books was held, for Tatsumaki’s fancy. To the right, there was a small porch outside, with two chairs and a small table overlooking a lush forest. Laren could see the bright morning sky as far as the eye could see! To their left, they saw something that left them frozen for a bit!

 

                “L-Laren…is that?” Tatsumaki breathed.

 

                “Yes…it is.” Laren answered. The two of them slowly got out of their bed, and then they walked towards what was…a crib. They looked inside, and they found a beautiful baby girl, who was peacefully sleeping with a smile on her face.

 

                “O-our baby?” Tatsumaki gasped.

 

                “It’s what we want for our future…I know what this is.” Laren said softly. “Chozetsu is showing us what might be, should we consider that he wins this battle…isn’t that right?” he asked, as he glanced over his shoulder, knowing full well that Chozetsu had been watching them all along!

 

                “Ah, you are perceptive, my dragoon friend. You were able to pick up on this quickly. Yes, as you said, this is a sample of things that can be…things that you can make happen after the world is reborn. You and Tatsumaki, living together and raising a beautiful baby daughter.” he said with a smile, as he walked over to the baby girl and stroked her head gently.  “There’s no need for this continuing chaos, and you all know this.”

 

                Laren and Tatsumaki looked at each other, hesitantly.

 

                A simple showing of how things could be.

 

                Grim and Saphira awakened, and they were greeted with sights which the two of them had not expected to see!

 

                For Grim, it was Tamara. She was standing there, smiling at him with her brightest smile, a smile that he missed dearly. He looked at her in disbelief, and he couldn’t shake off the unbearably fast heartbeat which was pulsating inside him!  He reached out to her slowly, and as he got closer, he saw that she was…with their child! Grim froze, and his eyes widened all the more! Tears began to well up, and he knelt on the floor, his shoulders slumped. He looked at the adorable baby boy, as he cooed and excitedly smiled at him. This was the baby that he and Tamara had always wanted to have…and he was looking at the child right now! He cried and shook his head solemnly, and then he felt a hand on his shoulder. When he looked up, it was Tamara, soothing him. He gasped softly, and tears continued to roll down…

 

                Saphira saw beyond the expanse, everyone that she had known. Her friends, her family, everyone that she had come into contact with in this life. And by her side, she saw Eros, Vincent and Ilia, and they were all looking at her with smiles in their faces. They looked on ahead, and Saphira followed their vision, and what she saw was something beautiful. The world, brilliantly intact of any danger or darkness, with all people united as one. There were no disputes, there were no sort of insecurities or dangers, there was no uncertainty among anyone’s faces. They all shone brilliantly with confidence and with happiness! Saphira trembled. She had always wanted to be able to stand side by side with her dearest friends and forge the future together, without the need for bickering or arguments or sadness. She saw this, and it was so palable, so real…

 

                “You two have simple and unconditionally innocent desires. You, Grim, want to be able to raise a child with the love of your life, Tamara. Saphira, you want to see the world unified, with no unrest. These are simple wishes, earnest desires of the heart. And this can come to pass…should you allow it to be so. If all of you join with me, we can pave this pathway together. We can make sure that this future comes to pass.” Chozetsu said, as he had his hands behind his back, his back turned to them. He looked onward and breathed in softly. “It’s a beautiful sight, isn’t it?”

 

                He then slowly turned around, and then, in each one of Zaria and her friends’ glimpses into the future, Chozetsu outstretched his hand.

 

                “There is still time. It’s not too late for you all to join me. Come with me, and together, we can reshape the world, and we can be able to do it justice, for the sake of all those whom we love, both living and dead, and for ourselves…what say you?” Chozetsu asked warmly. Everyone looked at each other, and they didn’t know what to say. Their hearts were greatly moved by all that they had just seen, and the fact that they could be able to achieve these lives they so desired was something that made them almost lose sight of what they were fighting for.

 

                Almost…

 

                “No…” Zaria spoke, her head bowed, her voice breaking.

 

                “What…?” Chozetsu asked.

 

                “I said no!” Zaria repeated! Everyone looked at her sadly, and they all bore grim expressions on their faces…

 

                “It’s true that what you’ve shown us is a manifestation of our desires…of all that we want in this world.  And joining you seems like such an easy way out…it feels like such an easy way to put this all behind us, and simply go forward with your plans.” she said, then paused.  “But when I think about it…if our happiness is achieved through the expense of countless upon countless of lost lives…of a world completely changed because of the way you decided to do things…it would be wrong. It would be happiness, but a part of my heart would always feel guilt for forsaking all the people, the innocent people, and even the wicked alike, who all perished because of your machinations!”

 

                “That’s right…we won’t sacrifice the lives of so many people, just so we can be able to achieve our dreams…dreams that we can achieve by our own merits, not by some offers of grace or mercy!” Vincent declared.  “You are fighting for your reason, and we are fighting for ours. There’s no persuading us to join you, and there’s no us persuading you to stop this. We are each determined in our respective reasons…and we won’t let down. We refuse.”

 

                “No more destruction…this ends now!”  Saphira added in.

(End Song Here)

 

                Chozetsu lowered his hand slowly, and he looked down, almost seeming to be genuinely sad that they refused him. In fact, he was sad. Of that much they could all be certain. Even at this point, he was still trying to save them from the results of this battle. But he knew that they wouldn’t change their mind. He then put his hands behind his back and then vanished.

 

                “So be it…” he said, as his body disappeared.  And then, one by one, all of the glimpses, the dreams that were so vividly manifested to Zaria and the others, faded away, little by little.  Zaria and Bane saw as the ocean disappeared. Ilia and Vincent knew that their story had ended a long time ago…and they were already at peace with that. Laren and Tatsumaki saw their unborn child fading away, but they knew that this wasn’t the end. Grim shed tears as he smiled to Tamara, as she nodded in approval and disappeared, fading away with a smile on her face, their child waving a farewell to him. All the people smiling at Saphira, all the warm faces, all of them disappearing.

 

(Start Song Here)

 

                “We fight for a world, where everyone can be able to achieve happiness. Not by some destructive means…but by hard work and compassion!” Ilia declared.  And so, they were broken out of these illusions, and they were back in the crimson hellscape that they had been battling in! They were now in midair again, and this time, Chozetsu, in his giant cloaked form, entangled them in crimson chains, and he sent forth black, crackling lightning!  The lightning crackled through their bodies, and they all writhed in pain!  Chozetsu bound them in the chains tighter, and now, the sand in the hourglass was spent, having reached the bottom! Then, the noise of a bell resounded again. And now, the sky became ever more darker!  That’s when Chozetsu took hold of his scythe with both hands, as he prepared to deliver a fatal blow! The one that would finish this once and for all!

 

                “This is where it ends…” Chozetsu uttered, and with one fell swoop, he sent down a massive swing of his scythe, which unleashed a dark fog of blackest night! The darkness completely eclipsed his foes, as they disappeared from sight! He closed his eyes, and then he gave out a low sigh. “It is done…”

 

                Or so he thought…

 

                “Hmm?” he suddenly turned around, feeling something that shouldn’t be there…and then, that’s when he saw that the darkness was being cleansed…by the light!

 

                “What!? No, it cannot be!”  Chozetsu gasped!

 

                And there, in a sight he hadn’t expected to see, he witnessed as Zaria and the others were completely engulfed in golden aura, their eyes shining with golden light as well! As if in a trance, they all surrounded Chozetsu in a wide circle, a giant wall of light encircling them all!  They all raised their hands, and they started to shoot out beams of light right above Chozetsu’s head!

 

                “What is this!? You’ve lost!” he exclaimed, as he delivered powerful gusts of darkness, but it was no use! The attacks were having no effect anymore!  And then, as the beams became stronger, they formed a giant sphere of light that hovered just above Chozetsu’s head!  Then, a manifestation of the light itself appeared before Chozetsu, looking at him with a warm smile.

 

                “You! The light!” he said.

 

                “Light lives on.” she spoke, and then, she closed her eyes and spread out her arms, and then she began to speak, but her voice was intermingled with those of Zaria and the others, as they were speaking in unison!

 

                “Protecting the light, dispelling the darkness. Pushing back the end, to bring about the beginning. Transforming the depths of despair into wellsprings of hope. Channeling the light to embrace the dark. By the will of the world, we seal your fate. The light rings true, so strike and restore the world anew!” they all chanted!

 

                Chozetsu was not able to react, as they all dashed towards him at lightning speed, slashing through him with eight gashes of light, all of them landing on opposite sides from where they had stood, and the light herself cleaved the final strike, and Chozetsu’s cloak began to diminish, and his darkness was being driven away, the crimson sky losing its ominous nature!

 

                “No…but after everything I went through…” Chozetsu said, not screaming, not challenging or trying to defy his fate…but letting the end come.

 

                And with that, a giant burst of light resonated throughout the entire plane, and a blinding flash eclipsed all!

 

                “I-is it over?” Zaria asked, as the flash died down, and their eyes began to adjust.

 

                “No…not yet.” Bane said.

 

                “But the battle is over.” Tatsumaki reassured.

 

                Their vision cleared, and now, they were standing on a singular, massive platform of earth, and two beams of energy were seen on the far side of this platform.  In between, there knelt Chozetsu, all bloodied up, his clothes torn, his body bruised, his eyes stricken with defeat.

 

                “So…this is the end, then…”

(End Song Here)

 

----------------------------------------------------

 

And so, the battle is won, and our heroes have triumphed over Chozetsu, therefore bringing an end to this long journey! But, the world is yet to be restored! There’s one more thing to do, before everything can go back to the way it was. One final sacrifice…stay tuned for the finale of Afterworld in Chapter Fifty: The World After-Part 10 Of 10: “The World Begins Anew!”

 

Hoo boy, that was one intense final battle, eh!? I hope that you all liked it and found it to your fancy! I did my best to ensure that Chozetsu would live up to the power he had attained throughout all of his centuries of life! I hope you all enjoyed the three stages of his battle, and well, now we are just one chapter away from finishing this story! Be prepared for the next chapter, cuz it’s gonna be filled with the feels! Let me all know what you thought about tonight’s chapter! Thank you all so much for tuning in, and like always, I appreciate your support! Until next time, stay tuned for the next one!

[KHLegendIII 709]

Oh man, that was intense.

[Keyblade101 526]

Amazing and intense chapters! You are the MASTER, my friend!  :biggrin:

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

To KHLegendIII, thanks, I'm glad you thought so!

 

To Keyblade101, haha, thanks man! Hehe, thank you, thank you! I try my best!

 

This is it, everyone! The final chapter! The end of this fifty chapter story, of a tale of heroes and villains, of a world forever changed, and of destinies intertwined and altered forever! Good evening everyone, and welcome to the final chapter of Afterworld! It’s been quite a bumpy ride, huh? I can’t believe that we’re already in the end! This marks the eight story that I’ve written and posted here on KH13, and wow, I just can’t believe how many stories I’ve written already! I love how I’ve grown as a writer, and well, I thank you all for always supporting me and for following my works! Anyhow, I’ll leave the rest of the speech till after the chapter is done, because I want you all to focus on the finale first! Without further ado, here is the ending of Afterworld! Enjoy!

 

Chapter Fifty: The World After-Part 10 Of 10: The World Begins Anew

 

                A long moment of silence brewed, and everyone was left breathless! They were waiting for the moment when Chozetsu would transform into another form, or surprise them with another counterattack! But as they waited, the reaction never came. Chozetsu just knelt there, his eyes stricken with defeat, his body limp and tired. His face revealed, he only bore a sad smile on his face. They all walked towards him, and then they stood right beside him. He looked down to the ground and took a few deep breaths, and then he looked behind him, towards the pillars of energy that were awaiting. One of light, and one of darkness. He gave out a soft sigh, and then he looked to Zaria and the others, and then he nodded in acknowledgment, recognizing his defeat.

 

(Start Song Here)

 

                “It seems as though no matter how hard my efforts were, in the end, your willpower and the reasons for you to fight outweighed mine. And so, the aftermath of our fated battle is now this…a paradox.” Chozetsu said.

 

                “Paradox…? What do you mean?” Tatsumaki asked, not liking where this was likely heading.

 

                “Now we are stuck in a loop. The world is neither completely destroyed nor fully recovered. It is in a state of limbo, if you will. Through stopping my actions, you stopped my plan from taking full fruition. That, in turn, has caused the world to end up in this paradox, and now, those pillars over there, one of light and one of darkness, are the key to unraveling what happens next.” Chozetsu explained, as he then sat down, his knees hurting from having knelt.

 

                “So even though we stopped you, this still isn’t over…?” Grim asked. Chozetsu nodded. Then they saw that Chozetsu coughed out blood, and he gasped for breath, and they all surrounded him, attempting to ease his pain! But he stretched out his hand and shook his head.

 

                “No, no.” he replied. “It is alright. This is what I must suffer, the consequence I must endure for having failed. Do not concern yourself with me.”

 

                “It’s not about failing or succeeding. No person deserves to be forsaken…” Zaria said, looking at him with a glare, but her face softening upon seeing Chozetsu’s contemplative and then smiling face. He coughed a little and then looked upwards towards the sky, which now seemed frozen completely, as there was no movement of the distortion, just simply an emerald hue hanging above them.

 

                “I can see why the light chose you all to inherit her will. You have compassionate hearts, and you are selfless in your actions. I think that she did a fine job choosing you as her champions…” he remarked, acknowledging them.

 

                Then, silence loomed again.

 

                “So…what happens now?” Bane asked, and everyone shared in his concern, for with the world now remaining frozen in place, there still remained the question of how it would be restored back to the way it was, to undo the damage that Chozetsu and his comrades had done. Simply defeating Chozetsu hadn’t been enough, as evidenced by their current predicament.

 

                “Hmm…after all these centuries, I really have no clue as to what happens next…” Chozetsu answered softly.  Then he looked at his own hand.  “I have lived for so long, and I have gone through so many lives, always sure of my decisions, always acting upon my instincts and my heart, but now…what comes next is a blank to me.” Soon he coughed out more blood.  “…The power that I used in this struggle has drained me. I have spent myself in a way that I hadn’t done so in all my lifetimes…never had I had to overexert myself the way I did.”

 

                “What exactly are you saying…?” Saphira inquired.

 

                “In short, dear Saphira, what I mean to say is that I suspect…well, I suspect that I will not reincarnate this time. When I die now, that will be the end of it. The end of my long journey…” he answered.

 

                “And how is it that you can be certain of that?” Laren added in.

 

                “It’s just a feeling I have. Normally, I give no thought to my death, because since in my lifetimes I did all I could to make things right, I would simply do what I could to right the world again after each reincarnation.  But now I feel this cold and frail feeling in my body. Something I have never felt before. I believe that this fateful battle may have finally ended the shackles of conflict of which this world has been prison of for centuries…call it divine will, or call it a cruel joke, it really all ends up centering around the fact that this is my time.” he said calmly, and then he closed his eyes and cast his head down.

 

                “Y-you know that we had no choice, Chozetsu…you made us do this to you. If you had just stood down and helped us restore the world to what it was, you wouldn’t be feeling this way!” Ilia said, tears forming. Even though he had betrayed her trust by lying about his identity, she still cared for him. After all, he had served in her house for many, many years. That part of her life nudged at her heart, and it made her have a soft spot for Chozetsu. Even after everything, she felt devastated for him.  But he simply smiled.

 

                “But then, I would have given up on my dream. And after all these centuries, I wasn’t going to give up on my ideals in a heartbeat. No…this was the way that things were meant to play out. I remained in my path and you remained in yours. It’s that simple.” he reassured. “So please, do not be so hard on yourselves. You did what any hero would do. You came to do what was right in the end.”

 

                “But it’s not like we didn’t understand what you were trying to accomplish. We all knew that you were doing all these things for the right reasons.  But we couldn’t let you get away with how you were doing it…and that’s why we feel so torn.” Vincent said, looking down.

 

                For it was indeed, true. Even though they had succeeded in stopping Chozetsu, they weren’t necessarily happy that they had done so. They were having mixed emotions. They were able to save the world from this man’s machinations, but they destroyed his dream of possibly making a better world! But, as is said, the lives of many are worth more than the lives of the few, or even of the one. They couldn’t have done anything else to avert this.  Now, this is where they stood. Conflicted, feeling bitter because of everything that had happened.

 

                “Well, I will tell you all now, do not be remorseful for what you all did. Yes, I wanted to create a better world, but the way I did go about it was questionable. I placed countless lives in jeapordy and made them all part of my plan as pawns. I led them all to oblivion. You all managed to defeat me and put a halt to my plans. There is no remorse to be had here. You can live with pain, but don’t live your lives in regret.” Chozetsu thoughtfully said, imparting a bit of wisdom. “Heh, sorry about that. That’s a bit of the Oracle in me talking.” he chuckled.

 

                The others smiled sadly at him.  Then, they reacted in alarm, as they saw that Chozetsu’s body was starting to fade away into light!

 

                “Hmm…it seems that my time has finally come.” Chozetsu said, as he slowly stood up, but stumbled and fell. He was going to get himself back up again, but Laren and Tatsumaki held him up, helping him stand. The others surrounded him, and they all put their hands over him, in reassurance, being there for him in his final moments.  He smiled.  “Thank you…” he whispered, and then he glanced back.

 

                “As for what comes next…in order to restore the world to how it was, you must imbue those pillars with the life force of one who brings forth life, and the other with the darkness that balances it, that urges life forward.  The power of the Maker is what will come into play here.” he explained, and then, with a snap of his fingers, the power of the Maker materialized into a small, silver sphere that then slowly levitated and floated towards the center of these two pillars! “Nothing is without sacrifice…remember that.”

 

                “Chozetsu…” Ilia sobbed, holding his hand.

 

                “So this is what deaths feels like…” Chozetsu spoke, now low and almost inaudible. “At least…I can go in peace now…I have no regrets…”

 

                And then, just when he was about to close his eyes, he saw something that he didn’t expect to see! Before him, he saw Ellene, Lucilda and Beriel. They were all standing before him, all of them imbued with a golden aura around them. Only Chozetsu could see them, but Zaria and the others knew that he was having a final moment with his comrades. And so, they gave him the space he needed.

 

                No words were necessary for what followed. With unspoken words, Chozetsu thanked them for everything. Tears fell down his face, and he looked up at the sky, and then he smiled. Ellene, Lucilda and Beriel outstretched their hands towards him, and he reached out, slowly. When he touched their hands, they all vanished together, little by little. Chozetsu glanced over his shoulder at Zaria and the others, and he gave a sad smile.

 

                “I hope you can all forgive me…” he said, his voice echoing and fading away from existence…

 

                “It’s….over.” Saphira muttered to herself.

 

                At that moment, everyone came at a pause.

(End Song Here)

 

                Right now, they stood victorious! After all of their struggles, after all the pain and suffering, and after all the hardships they had to face, they triumphed against Chozetsu and his plans, and they were able to stop him from ushering forth a complete change to the world and destroy it! But now, they were left with the words that Chozetsu had spoken to them, and about the sacrifice that had to be made in order for the world to be truly restored!  They all looked at each other uneasily, and they looked towards the two pillars of energy. Silently, they stared at them, and they could feel the power pulsating from them! They could also notice how indeed the entire world seem frozen in place, like how one would see a picture or a painting! World’s Edge was right behind the pillars, its dark maw opened wide and sucking everything whole!  They all remained silent, and they all took a moment to catch their breath.                         

 

                “Light and the darkness that pushes the light forward…does that mean…?” Zaria thought.

 

                “I think I know what Chozetsu meant when he was talking about the sacrifice that has to be made.” Vincent said bluntly. Everyone looked at Vincent suddenly, and they didn’t like where this was going. Only Ilia seemed to be calm about this, if only because she knew what Vincent was going to say. She stepped forward and stood by his side, and she looked at them all with a sad smile.

 

                “Yes, I believe that I too, know what Vincent means by this.” They glanced at each other and then they looked behind them, seeing the two pillars, brimming with energy.

 

(Start Song Here)

 

                “It’s not fair…” Zaria said through gritted teeth.

 

                “Zaria, you have to understand…” Ilia tried to say, but Zaria snapped, glaring at them!

 

                “No, I don’t have to understand! We’ve already been through enough and we’ve already sacrificed a great deal! We’ve had to put our very lives on the line, and we’ve had to see the whole world vanish before our eyes and turn into nothingness! We’ve had to endure pain, we’ve had to endure our own pasts, and after all this struggle, after all the effort that went down, this is how it all ends? I refuse to believe that! It just…it just can’t be!” Zaria exclaimed, punching the ground in frustration! “It’s not fair!”       

 

                “No, it’s not…” Laren followed. “But sadly, this is the only thing that can be done in order for the world to be truly restored. Zaria…the lives of many are worth more than the lives of the few. In war, in any kind of conflict, casualties are a given. We had undertaken this journey, ready to face any consequence, any dire fate that would await us.  This is just how it has to be…” he said, putting his hand on Zaria’s shoulder to comfort her.

 

                “Ilia and Vincent…the choice is still up to the both of you. Chozetsu told us what we needed to know, but that doesn’t mean that you have to follow on what he said. If you two don’t want to sacrifice yourselves, then you don’t have to. Just keep in mind that the world will forever remain in limbo if those pillars aren’t fed the energy they need in order to make the world function again…” Tatsumaki remarked. She clenched her hands into fists. “Whatever happens, the choice belongs to the both of you, and only the both of you can decide how things follow up from here on out.”

 

                “Well put…” Bane replied.

 

                Silence loomed over everyone for the slightest bit. Ilia stepped forward and gave off a radiant smile. She looked at each and every one of her friends, and she put her hands together, intertwining them, and then she looked up to the sky.

 

                “I am very blessed to have met all of you. True, I would have wished for us to have met under different circumstances…but then again, under different circumstances, we would’ve passed each other by as total strangers.” she admitted sadly. “But either way, I am glad that I got to meet all of you. I know that this has been a harrowing journey, and the fault lies within us, the leaders of the clans, who failed to see what was wrong. We failed to act upon the wrong of the world, and we failed to lend a helping hand like we should have. This is a responsibility we neglected, and now it’s a sin for which we must atone. To make up for everything that couldn’t be done…for everything that I couldn’t do for Vincent and his people as well…” she said, the last words coming out in a whisper, though Vincent heard them, and his eyes teared up.

 

                “The world fell prey to everything that was happening…even though I wanted to liberate my people, I didn’t realize the amount of chaos that this would bring. And to make matters worse, Eros and his people ceased to be when the world became like it is now. But I want to make this right. I want to be able to make this right by myself and by my people…especially Seth and Audrey.” Vincent said. “Before the final battle, Ilia and I had already discussed upon this. We suspected that there was something else that needed to be done in order to return things back to the way they were.  Now that we know what we must do, we won’t hesitate in doing what needs to be done.”

 

                Saphira stepped forward, with tears in her eyes.

 

                “I feel stupid for not having had the foresight to be able to prevent this from happening. As one who was supposed to take care of the balance of the world, I failed in my duties, as I couldn’t even help my friends when they were in most need. I am terribly ashamed, and no words of apology can be able to undo everything that has happened. And now that you two have decided to go through with this…it just…it just frustrates me that I can’t do anything to make this up to you!” she said, bowing her head down, feeling shame and frustration and sadness all at once!

 

                “Saphira, you’ve been nothing but a wonderful friend. And please, don’t be so hard on yourself. We were all to blame…” Ilia reassured.

 

                “If you truly feel like you have to make up for anything…then promise us…that you’ll look after the world after we’re gone. That you can be able to be a guiding hand to Zaria and the others, and the new generation that will rise up and hopefully, lead the world in a completely new direction. One free from the shackles of conflict and the cycle that’s plagued this world for centuries. Promise us that you’ll be there to see the world reach a new era of prosperity. If you can promise us that, then you have nothing else to feel shame for.” Vincent said calmly. Saphira began to shed even more tears, and she nodded slowly.

 

                “I promise…I promise to you both! I swear that I will make it my life’s duty to guide the future, and help rebuild the world into a better place!” Saphira pledged, and she looked to Zaria and the others with a smile. “And with the help of these brilliant people, we will see your dreams come to fruition!”

 

                “I’ll do all I can to help as well, Lady Ilia.” Grim said, bowing to one knee. Ilia smiled and went towards him and bid him rise.

 

                “My dear old Grim, one of my most faithful soldiers. You’ve always been a trusted person, one with honor and integrity. Your wisdom and your experience in life will no doubt serve the people a great good. I give you my blessing to succeed me, as the leader of the Lifespring Clan! There is no one to whom I could think to bestow such an honor!” Ilia declared. The others smiled, and Grim cast down his head, crying softly.

 

                “Lady Ilia…I swear, on my honor, I won’t let you down!” he affirmed, bowing to her once more.

 

                And so, with that, Ilia and Vincent walked towards the pillars. Ilia went towards the pillar of light, and Vincent towards the pillar of darkness. Everyone else walked towards them until they were a few feet away. Ilia and Vincent were just outside the pillars, and they looked back to all of their friends. Their faces were all bearing such sadness, such sorrow. It was to be a tearful farewell, one that wouldn’t feel bittersweet. One that would only bring sadness to their hearts. They wished that things could have gone differently, but like all things in life, nothing ever goes as one plans. It’s just the simple truth of things. But even so, even with everything that’s happened, they have no regrets. They chose the lives they chose, and they did all in their power, having done their best by the people.

 

                The only regret, for the both of them…is that they never got to be together and live together, or form a family.  Those dreams never came to be.

 

                But, they couldn’t think about themselves right now. They saw the bigger picture, and they knew what their sacrifice would do for the world. It would give everyone a second chance to make things right. To hopefully mend the hurts left behind by the previous generation. With those thoughts, they were now to step into the pillars, when…

 

                “Wait!” Zaria shouted! Ilia and Vincent froze. They turned around, and then they saw everyone bowing down, with their heads cast to the ground. They were showing their gratitude, they were showing their love for them…and they were crying for them. They then all stood up, and Zaria gave a firm nod and looked at Ilia and Vincent in the eye, with determination and promise in her eyes.

 

                “I swear to you, we will all pitch in, and we’ll help make the world a better place! You can rest easy knowing that we’ll fulfill your wish!” Zaria said.

 

                “I know you will.” Ilia said, as she went to Zaria and touched her face. She then looked to everyone. “It is true that I have only known most of you for just a short time, but I want to let you all know, from the bottom of my heart, that I was truly blessed to meet all of you! I know that you will all help push the world in the right direction!” she said happily. Everyone smiled sadly, as tears continued to stream down their faces. With those words said, Ilia slowly backed away, and then she looked at Vincent once more. They looked into each other’s eyes, and then, they all felt a presence suddenly coming! It was dark and cold…and when they looked, they saw someone beyond the pillars, right at the center, along with the sphere that contained the power of the Maker! Zaria and the others drew their weapons to face this new threat, but Saphira raised her hand.

 

                “No…he’s no enemy. He is the Wraith…” she said, almost in a whisper.

 

                “Wait, the Wraith? The one who had sent us the message about what had happened a while back…?” Grim asked cautiously. Saphira nodded.

 

                “The very same…remember, the Wraith is death itself. Vincent and Ilia have come forth, and their sacrifice is one that requires all of the essential components…light, darkness, life…and death. The Wraith is simply a part of the process, it seems. At least, that’s what I can make out, based on what Chozetsu had said that the sacrifice would require…” Saphira explained.

 

                Then they all fell silent. The Wraith nodded to Ilia and Vincent, who in turn, walked towards the pillars. They glanced back one more time at their friends, and they gave them a parting smile. Not one of sadness, but one of hopefuleness. And this time, they all smiled back, with tears in their eyes. And so, they stepped into the pillars, and once they did, their bodies began to fade away into light! Then, multiple streaks of light fired off randomly towards all directions, some of the streaks striking the ground and causing it to crack! Zaria and the others braced themselves for whatever would happen next, but the Wraith simply extended both his arms! He held one out for the pillar of light, and one for the pillar of darkness! He was containing the massive power that was outpouring from the pillars! And with that containment, the Wraith was able to transfer that power into the sphere of the Maker, which began to shine brilliantly!

 

                Everyone was taken aback, they were stricken with awe with what they were seeing!  It was as if existence itself was taking new form, as multiple small spheres of light and darkness began to appear from everywhere, being sucked into the sphere of the Maker! The light and darkness coursed through Zaria and the others, and when they looked to the pillars again, they could still see the silhouettes of Ilia and Vincent’s bodies!  And they could still see their faces…

 

                And their parting smiles.

 

                “We leave this world to you…” Ilia said, her words echoing out of the pillar for the others to hear.

 

                “A new beginning…” Vincent said, and then he whispered to himself: “Seth…Audrey…this is for you as well.”

 

                Suddenly, all the outpour of power stopped, and within a split second, everything blinked out, and Zaria and the others saw nothing more than a flash, like how one would see light suddenly lighting out the darkness!  And then…

(End Song Here)

 

                “Huh…? What?” Zaria thought to herself, as she rubbed her eyes. She opened them, but had to close them again, for the sudden brightness was too much for her vision, and she could barely make out anything! But slowly, as she blinked a few times, her eyes adjusted, but then, she noticed something! She felt something soft underneath her! Something refreshing and…earthy!  “Is this…?” she thought, and then she stood up, and then saw what she thought she wouldn’t see again!

 

(Start Song Here)

 

                She was standing upon a grassy hilltop, and overlooking it was a wide expanse of land, with a river coursing through with vibrant and clean water! She saw trees as far as the eye could see, and she felt a refreshing gust of wind pass through! She looked around, and she teared up.

 

                “We really did it…” she thought. Then, that’s when she noticed something else! “The others!” she blurted! She suddenly started making a run for it, searching for them frantically! They had to be okay!

 

                She ran and ran through the vast expanse of grass, and she noticed how clear and blue the sky was, and how many clouds were dotting the sky! She had almost forgotten how this looked like! All the chaos that had happened before had nearly made her forget just how beautiful the sky could be! She smiled and kept running, but as she didn’t see where she was running, she found herself crashing into something, and then falling to the ground on her behind!

 

                “Ouch!” Zaria exclaimed, as she rubbed her back and noticed a looming shadow above her!

 

                “Heh, where’s the fire…? You have to watch where you’re going, you know.” a familiar voice said. When Zaria looked up, she saw that it was Bane!

 

                “Bane” she shouted, and she immediately leapt up and embraced him, holding him tight! She cried into his shoulder, and she smiled, relieved to know that he was okay!  Bane was a little surprised by this sudden embrace, but he accepted it and embraced her in equal measure. He sighed of relief, and then the two of them pulled away.

 

                “So…where are the others?” she asked, blushing slightly.

 

                “They’re in a town nearby. We had all woken up before you, so we decided to leave you resting. I was watching over you as you slept, and I was coming to fetch you. Luckily, you bumped into me.” Bane answered, also slightly blushing.

 

                “Ah, then perfect! Let’s go see them!” she said excitedly, holding his hand and breaking into a sprint! Bane smiled, his eyes softened.

 

                “Zaria…” he thought.

 

                They ran until they reached the town that Bane had spoken of, which was Kaishi Town. It was a quaint, humble looking place, and there, Zaria saw something else that she hadn’t thought she would see again! People! All kinds of people, coming to and fro like nothing had ever happened! They were all living their lives, and they were all going about them happily! Children were playing and teasing each other near the water fountain, couples were taking strolls or browsing through shops or eating at restaurants! Elderly people were playing chess or simply enjoying the day outside! People from all walks of life, living how they should…in peace.  This brought tears to Zaria’s face.

 

                “I can’t believe what I’m seeing…” she said in a whisper.  Bane put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

 

                “I know…it was a pretty big thing to see when we all woke up as well. I still feel goosebumps. I had almost forgotten how all this felt like. The hustle and bustle of a town…it’s overwhelming, honestly.” Bane said in contemplation.

 

                “Yeah…” Zaria replied, then thinking back on Ilia and Vincent, and all the other lives that had been lost, and all that had transpired.

 

                “Come on…let’s head inside.” Bane said, as they entered a small tavern, which was where the others were.

 

                And Zaria was overwhelmed with emotions when she saw that all of her dear friends were there, present and accounted for! They all greeted her with smiles on their faces. She joined in with them, as they were all sitting in a round table, eating and drinking. She sat in between Grim and Bane, and she looked at each and every one of them.

 

                These were the friends she had fought alongside with…people whom she had entrusted her life to, in a situation, a conflict which had endangered the entire world!  And now…they were all here, and they were rejoicing in the complete restoration of the world, and everything in it! They all smiled and ate and drank, but at the same time, in each of their minds, they all thought of the sacrifice that Ilia and Vincent had made. They hadn’t forgotten…they couldn’t.  And almost as if she had read their minds, Saphira stood up, with a mug in her hand, ready to raise it for a toast.  She looked at everyone, and her eyes softened.

 

                “A toast…to the friends we lost in this struggle. We wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for them. We toast for the world that was restored, thanks to them. I…words cannot even begin to describe how this changes everything.” she said, then giving pause ever so slightly. She smiled and then raised her mug. “We’ve been given a second chance…a chance to make things right, to do right with the world and make it into a place where everyone can be able to live in harmony, a place where we can be able to repel conflict and avert it…the way that wasn’t done back then…”

 

                Then, one by one, the others stood up.

 

                “For a new world.” Laren said.

 

                “I’ll cheer to that! For the lives of the peple!” Tatsumaki chirped in, holding Laren’s hand!

 

                “In honor of Lady Ilia and Lord Vincent…” Grim said, raising his head in reminiscence.

 

                “To the future that lies ahead.” Bane uttered.

 

                “To peace…and to a world newly reborn…” Zaria said, rounding out the toasts, as they all raised their mugs and remained standing, in a moment of silence.

 

                They knew that the task ahead of them wouldn’t be easy. Just because the world had been restored didn’t mean that everything that would come would be smooth sailing. Like anything that had come before, this would all require hard work.  They would have to go through a lot to fulfill Ilia and Vincent’s final wish. But they would do so just the same. They were already commited to making it happen, and so long as they would live, they would live by their vows! They would live their lives, and help make the world a better place in the process! They were ready.  Suddenly, someone entered the tavern. Or rather, two people instead of one. Everyone looked back, and Saphira smiled as she saw who entered.

 

                “Ah, you two have finally come. It’s good to have you here with us.” Saphira said, greeting them.

 

                “Who are they?” Zaria asked.

 

                “Oh, I’m sorry…we hadn’t introduced ourselves!  I’m Seth, and this here is Audrey!” the man named Seth said, as he bowed in greeting, as did Audrey.  “We’re going to do all in our power to make things right as well. Vincent brought us back from death…he was—no, is, my best friend, and I owe it to him.” he said, with a sad smile.

 

                “Yes…we owe everything to him.” Audrey said, as a tear rolled down her face.

 

                “Right then…” Saphira said, as she looked towards the counter. “Barkeep, bring one more round of drinks!”

 

                The barkeep nodded and went to do said task.

 

                “Heh, well, looks like we’ll have our work cut out for us.” Zaria said to Bane. She held his hand firmly, and she felt sadness, yet happiness at the same time. This was a brand new world. She would get the hang of these emotions, and she’d be up to the challenge placed before her.

 

                “Indeed. But hey, we’ll pull through together.” Bane said with confidence.  Zaria nodded.

 

                “Yeah…what we’ll do will be our gift to the world.”

(End Song Here)

 

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THE END

 

And so, we have come to the end of this story!  Wow, what an emotional ride that was, huh? I hope that you all enjoyed this finale as much as I enjoyed writing it!  This had been quite the long journey, so I am happy that I was able to see it all the way through to its conclusion!

 

It’s hard to believe that this makes my eight story since 2011! That makes a total of five Kingdom Hearts fanfictions and three original stories!  I can’t believe how much time has passed in between each work I create! And well, I’ve found that with every story I write, my writing style improves! I find myself really proud of my work, but what makes me feel the most proud is seeing you all have such an appreciation and love for my stories! You’ve all followed my works since the beginning, and I wouldn’t have this much drive to write if it wasn’t for all of you loyal followers supporting me! So thank you for sticking by me all these years!

 

You know, I actually would’ve finished this story sooner, but since Hurricane Maria hit last September, I had no power until December 1st, so that was like a forced two month hiatus! But thankfully, even though the storm had ravaged the island, we were all able to pull through, and when I finally returned here, I was able to resume work on my story, and I’m glad I got to finish it! At least that means I’ve never left a story of mine unfinished, so there’s that!

 

But anyways, thank you all once again! Thank you for reading Afterworld, and well, I hope you’ll all stay tuned for my next works! There are many ideas that are constantly brewing in my head, both Kingdom Hearts related and otherwise! For now, I’ll take a short rest, but rest assured, you’ll be seeing a new story from me soon! What the story will be, I can’t tell you that, and it’s because…I still haven’t decided myself! Like I said, I’ve got many ideas, but I have a hard time choosing which I wanna go with! Lol, anyways, thank you all for your love and support, and stay tuned for my next story!