Pained, frightened clucking and screeching echo through the halls. Mad grunting and snarling silence all voices. With a thrust, blood bursts onto the faces of disgusted and mortified creatures as feathers fall slowly to the ground. The silence is broken by the guards charging for the monstrous shadow creature that sits across from Thamiezel. The guards are thrown back by a torrent of wind as the alien traveler steps up onto the table, marching over to Thamiezel and kicking the plates of food into everyone's face. He steps down, circling over to the king and queen and giving a bow.
"I am He of Many Faces. I am the Instigator. The Blithering Banshee. Nyarlathotep, at your service."
With the name of the monster, everyone in the throne vanishes, save for the twins, Bill Cipher, and Waddles the dragon.
"Your party left!" Nyarlathotep shouts.
"We sent them away." Thamiezel and Zelestra reply.
"It seems my reputation preceded me. Come now, am I really such an untrustworthy fellow?"
"You butchered one of the greatest angels that ever existed as a gift for Inferno. Then you stabbed them in the back and blew up the Fourth Circle of Hell. And then you attacked the realm of Xexanoth. You have betrayed everyone you've ever known."
"Oh, right. I did do that, didn't I?"
The demon giggles slightly, reminiscing about his insane life.
"Fine, but besides that. Come now, I'm here to help you."
The dark trickster hovers over to Bill Cipher. And for once in his long life, Bill Cipher is afraid. He shrinks to avoid earning any wrath from the other monster.
"Lil' Billy, how's it going? Still trying to compete with me?"
"Well, uh, just, you know, not really, just having fun at my theme park. Have you visited?" Bill asks, unsure how to respond to his deranged other.
"Several times, yes. Now I'm bored again. But luckily for you and your friends, things are about to get… fun."
Nyarlathotep transforms into three spheres of energy. One glows white with heavenly beauty, another is filled with the fires of Hell. And the third is a swirl of murky colors with thousands of eyes.
It represents Xexanoth, one of the most dangerous beings in the cosmos. Like Bill Cipher, the creature began as a being of knowledge. A dream dweller from ages long past, the entity began to crave matter. So it feasted. First it devoured souls. Then it came for planets. Then entire star systems. Now, billions of years later, the great beast consumes entire galaxies. Stars, black holes, planets, and all the space between becomes energy to fuel the growing power of the ancient beast, whose power is greater than Inferno and Paradise.
Thamiezel and Zelestra watch as the glowing white orb moves forward. Thamiezel and Zelestra have been observing the display with blank faces, not giving any hint into their thoughts. The white sphere speaks to them in a childish, innocent voice.
"I am the happy place in the sky! I am filled with birds and songs and laughter and sunshine! You'll never find a nicer place!"
The crimson red sphere comes forth next, speaking in a low guttural moan.
"I am seven sins for nine Hells, fragmented yet united. Lust, greed, wrath, pride, gluttony, sloth, and envy."
The last sphere approaches, bubbling and gurgling incomprehensibly. And then a small star appears between all three spheres. One that begins to glow brighter than any other. They turn on it, smothering the bright twinkle. Nyarlathotep reforms his body.
"So you're saying-" Bill starts.
"I'M NOT FINISHED!" screams the greater devil. Bill's body shrinks into a microscopic triangle. Nyarlathotep turns back to the twins.
"Inferno and Paradise are sending their forces against you. Once they break the barriers around your tiny galaxy, Xexanoth will consume everything. He's a Hungry little fellow."
"And you're telling us this, why?"
"Because it's more fun that way. To know ahead of time. Time… funny, you don't have much left. Better get going!"
And with that taunting statement the demon trickster vanishes, leaving the twins and Bill alone. Thamiezel and Zelestra stand from their seats of power.
"Sister, I will go meet with the Emperor of the Sovereign Sun."
"And I will give the orders to halt the invasion of the other galaxy. We're going to need all of our resources. "
Thamiezel turns to Bill, who begins to panic and stutter, realizing the twins are going to stand against three of the greatest powers in the cosmos.
"You… you two c-can't be serious."
"We are."
"Well… I think I'm packing my bags and heading off."
"No." they say in unison, quietly but forcefully.
Bill Cipher attempts to flee anyway, but the twins keep him in the abandoned party room.
"We'll need you to win."
"Win?! Win?! You can't beat all three of them!"
"No. Inferno and Paradise won't send everything against us. That would be too much of a risk to them. They're going to distract us while that fat bastard Xexanoth eats us. We want you and your playground to be near the edge of wherever the gate opens to the realm of Xexanoth."
Thamiezel turns to Bill as Zelestra leaves, ready to warn their armies.
"I'm counting on you, friend. Don't disappoint me." Thamiezel says, threatening his deranged ally to prevent Bill from abandoning the twins.
"And what of me?" Waddles asks.
"Be ready to defend against the forces of Paradise. You'll be more than a match for anything they send against us."
"And the other two?"
"I can deal with Inferno. They'll throw me to the Malebolge. But there isn't anything that second-rate torture pit can put me through that I haven't suffered already. So get going, Waddles."
The dragon nods in affirmation. Waddles leaves the citadel, moving towards the outer edge of the galaxy. The twins turn to Bill.
"Now… Bill Cipher, we will not lose."
"Just go back to your boss!"
"We can't… when Old Narly appeared, our master cut off all traces to prevent Narly from discovering our master's world… we're alone."
"Well… fuck."
Bill and the twins leave the empty room, preparing to unite their soldiers to defend the galaxy. The alarm spreads across the empire. Millions of planets empty of civilians, fleeing to the inner circle of Thamiezel's empire, where the twins' magic is strongest. The armies sent to invade the other galaxy, numbering in the hundreds of billions, begin to return at Zelestra's command. Zelestra sits at the outskirts of her galaxy, watching as every last ship, every single warrior, comes forth. And then she creates a shield. A blanket of power drapes over the galaxy, enveloping it and strengthening the worlds against any breach. No one can enter or leave, either through the shield or by passing through the void. The galaxy is sealed off from the rest of the universe, allowing no light or thoughts to escape or enter.
Zelestra watches from the protection of their empire as the invaded galaxy is abandoned. Just as the last of the twins' forces have retreated, Xexanoth reveals his true might. A wound opens in the universe. A gap in existence a million light years across encircles the abandoned galaxy before carving it out of reality. Nigh infinite pulsing tendrils of energy suck the life out of the galaxy. Some smaller than an insect, others light years long, impossibly moving against the laws of the universe and corrupting every speck of matter and dark matter into fuel for the great ones on the other side of the cracks in existence.
"Xexanoth. A hostile universe that eats chunks of others." Thamiezel says, hovering next to his sister.
"How many people were destroyed just then, brother?"
"Too many to count. All fuel for the belly of that parasitic dimension. They're going to use that fuel against us. They're going to break down our world, piece by piece, until we are finished."
Zelestra turns to her brother. Her lover for countless years. Thamiezel alone is allowed to pass through the barriers around their empire. He flies across the waves of existence, coming to the capital of the Empire of the Sovereign Sun. The homeworld sits beneath the greatest star in the universe, immortal and larger than entire solar systems, giving light and warmth for those who dwell on the world. The flat planet is itself a creation of the rulers of the empire, a massive mechanical fortress larger than nearly all natural stars, using the great sun above to fuel its power. Thousands of cities cover the massive floating rock. The machine planet is built solely for the purpose of feeding the energy beings that dwell within, creatures that seen from afar would be mistaken for stars. Within a small archway, Thamiezel finds the entrance to the throne, a dimensional pocket stretching out for the length of planets, coming to the center of the emperor's mind.
"Thamiezel… approach."
The collective sentience of the emperor turns its eye upon the vampiric god. It is an amalgamation of the last of the ruling houses' minds and souls from a long abandoned world. The minds, once mortal and made of flesh, have ascended beyond their material forms into pure thought and power. And now Thamiezel comes before them, ready to beg for their aid in his war.
"You have come before us."
"Obviously," he says with a grin.
"I need a little help. Some jerks are trying to take over my galaxy."
"Who defies you?"
"Well, you know… a few Angels… a couple of demons… an eternal eating machine that has ruined several of your galaxies before and is likely unstoppable."
"You speak of Xexanoth. You require the impossible… none here can defeat the worlds beyond ours."
Thamiezel grins at the collective, invisible pool of minds.
"Defeat? No. They each have thousands more souls than even your great empire. But Inferno and Paradise will not send their entire hosts against mine. Pyriphlegoth and Yaltabaoth wouldn't make such a plan even if all others came against them. These are rogue powers, my friend. Things that are planning against their masters. No one else will help them. Think about it. Xexanoth has ruined hundreds of your galaxies for food. If we can stop him now, then that mindless beast will never again threaten you."
Thamiezel's words pierce the stubbornness of the ancient minds. The collective sentience glows and shimmers, delving deep into thought. Then it speaks again.
"… Chances of Paradise and Inferno combining forces… currently… .0340532% … chances of causing Xexanoth to abandon the galaxy… 20.0203% with our combined armies… you will receive a tenth of our power."
"You made the right choice. With our combined power, nothing will stand against us."
Thamiezel gives a bow to the amalgamation of creatures. He leaves the emperor for his home galaxy, finding Zelestra commanding the armies from the capital. Wendy and Pacifica, along with the twins' family, have bunkered down on Cul-Cerberon, the center of the twins' power. The reinforcements from the Empire of the Sovereign Sun begin to appear at the outer rings of Thamiezel's galaxy. Giant world ships capable of transporting all manner of weaponry and soldiers and carrying enough power to vaporize entire solar systems approach the shields. Zelestra and Thamiezel lift the barriers on their realm, allowing the world ships to pass through. With their armies gathered, the galaxy prepares for siege.
"Now we wait." Zelestra says.
"This… this will not end well." Thamiezel mutters.
"If this is how we end, then it will be a wonderful end, brother."
"Yes… yes it will. With any luck, we will escape… and it will mark the beginning of the final war between Paradise and Inferno… and we will defeat our enemies once and for all."
Thamiezel and Zelestra retreat to their home world. An eerie stillness weaves its way into the corners of their realm, where their defenses are weakest. The twins and their armies wait for days, waiting for any sign of attack.
"Maybe… Old Narly was just messing with us?" Zelestra says, her voice rising hopefully.
"If… I doubt it… fate has never been kind to us…"
Before they can continue, they feel a great presence drawing closer. Something heavy and powerful and ominous presses against the universe. A great light cracks into the universe at the outskirts of the galaxy. The gap shatters the fabric of creation, encircling the empire. Xexanoth attempts to carve their home out of the universe, allowing him to assault from all sides. With their power, the twins repair the damage, forcing the gaps closed. But they are not able to fully seal away Xexanoth's might. The cracks in the universe remain open near the epicenter of the breach, unable to be sealed by Thamiezel and Zelestra. The gap remains as an omen in the sky, seen from all corners of the empire. The spawn of Xexanoth begin to break through. The swarm of Xexanoth comes as a mass of meat and energy, filled with countless souls intertwined and strung together, unable to remember who or what they were and made only to serve the will of their master's endless hunger.
As Xexanoth's army begins its assault, the twins' allies wait in ambush. The world ships hide within the stars and beneath gas giants, preparing to unleash their torrent of power and weaponry. They hold energy capsules capable of breaking through the speed of light and instantaneously ruining an enemy force thousands of miles across, dimensional soldiers that create powerful distortions that tear through the mind and drive lesser beings insane, and voids that mangle and damage the soul beyond the ability to continue fighting. The weapons wait until the abominations of Xexanoth are close enough to be damaged. The swarm of monsters presses against the shield of the twins. But knowing that the other realms could attack at any moment, the twins' are forced to maintain the defense's current shape. They allow the swarm to begin passing through the barrier.
Bill Cipher appears from his demonic world within the mass of stars and planets, preparing to command his legion of world ships and their trillions of soldiers and weapons with his dark mind. On the screens of every world ship, the golden pyramid appears. He speaks in every language to the swarm of creatures that have been sent to defend the twins.
"For every tentacle you cut off, you get a prize. If you somehow land the kill shot on the god in that hole, I'll give you everything I own! Now fire, flesh sticks!"
The world ships open fire, bathing the stars in madness and death. Planets and moons are vaporized and reformed, only to be destroyed again. Lesser beings of flesh from the realm of Xexanoth are killed and reborn by the waves of power. They are thrust through a cycle of death and rebirth. The already unstable minds begin to fall apart, losing the will to continue fighting and becoming harmless. The torturous waves of energy smash against the might of the ancient deity's world. From within one of the world ships, Bill Cipher can see a wall of chaos coming from the other realm. It's a monstrous wall extending impossibly in all directions, encompassing the view from the frontline.
"Those crazy flesh sticks are going to ruin me… ah, screw it. There's not one damn place in this universe or any other that would take me now. Fuck it, let's play!"
Bill Cipher cackles maniacally, ready to go down in a blaze of glory. He uses his reality altering trickery to subdue and trap the less intelligent powers of the host of Xexanoth, hurling them into an endless maze of thoughts and madness that they cannot escape from. The two great forces crash against each other without strategy or thought, simply trying to win by breaking through the other side's armies. The defensive line holds against the endless swarm, seemingly keeping them at bay. Then the attacking swarm adapts to the twins' strategy.
Creatures of unknowable origins begin to pour out of the hole. They are jagged and pointed with limbs and appendages that shift in and out of existence. Rather than push forward blindly, they disappear from the universe, weaving through lines of atomic structure and avoiding Bill Cipher's dimensional traps. They reemerge within the world ships. They crawl out of impossible spaces where the wall meets the ceiling. They slip out of the corners of jagged armor and pointed edges. The impossibly angled beasts begin to swarm across the world ships at the very front, slaughtering all living things and pressing through the ranks of Thamiezel's allies. Far within the center of the galaxy, Thamiezel and Zelestra watch the growing battle while searching for the other invading forces. Zelestra's heart fills with anger, knowing that they cannot aid the world ships, lest they risk spending all their energy on one enemy and leaving their empire open to attack from the other armies.
"Xexanoth comes against us, brother."
"Which means the other two will strike elsewhere."
Thamiezel searches for the breakthrough of Inferno's armies. He finds the outer worlds of his realm being filled with an unnatural mist. The specks of life remaining on the planet begin to scream in terror and pain as beasts from the deepest pits of Hell enter the cosmos.
"Inferno comes against us, sister. I will handle them."
"If they capture you, they'll torture your soul."
"Nothing I haven't already suffered."
Thamiezel smiles psychotically, watching the armies of the damned enter creation. They are not simply beasts from the lesser worlds of Hell. They are monsters from the pits of the Malebolge, the prison of eternal torture.
Colossal entities with emaciated limbs and bulging bellies wander into existence. Their faces resemble cooked leather stretched over a dragon's skull with a lower jaw that extends to their waist, a maw that inhales souls and corrupts them within their massive stomachs. The walking towers begin to spread like a virus across all planets in the vicinity. They focus on planets with life, ignoring the rest of the worlds and the emptiness of space. Thamiezel charges as a meteor to the growing tumor that is the Malebolge. He smashes through planets and destroys thousands of the demonic hordes. He lands on the surface of a dead planet, and is immediately surrounded by the soldiers of the Malebolge. Thamiezel grins at them. He embraces their hate and their insanity, wishing to test their limits.
"You will be fun to play with!"
Thamiezel unleashes his insane and chaotic thoughts. He bathes the demons in the same torment that he has suffered. Many of the devils fall lifelessly to the ground, gurgling and moaning as their thoughts are consumed by Thamiezel's mind. They writhe on the ground, almost pleasured by their own suffering before they fade away. Thamiezel releases barriers of light and spirals of reality-altering energy against the enemy, slaughtering and consuming millions. With the Malebolge focused on Thamiezel, the rest of the twins' vampiric soldiers close in around the gates of Inferno, preparing to battle to the end for their god's favor.
"Now this… this is wonderful." Thamiezel says. The goblin warships and vampire devils under Thamiezel rain fire and madness upon their enemies. Several world ships begin unloading their greatest weapons, mad creatures filled with the energy of stars. Soulless and mindless, the beasts are simply extensions of their commanders' thoughts. The abominations throw themselves against the demon host of Inferno without any concern for their own safety. Thamiezel slaughters several of the towering demons, drinking in their putrid energy and souls. As Thamiezel battles the forces of the Malebolge, another gateway to Inferno opens.
Gigantic beasts encased within spinning rings of fire fly out from the Fourth Circle. Their fiery rings slash across the skin of the universe, butchering all in their path. The armies of Thamiezel and the Empire of the Sovereign Sun push back with all their might, driving the host of Hell back to the gates of Inferno. Thamiezel laughs psychotically, enjoying his insane game. He slaughters the demons slowly and deliberately, giving them the same suffering they have inflicted on countless others.
"Brother, I see you are having a good time."
"Indeed. We will not lose to these animals."
Far off from the battle with Inferno, Zelestra spots the gateway to Paradise begin to open. A swarm of angelic beings descend from the realm of light. Giant whirling wheels covered in eyes and mouths, massive creatures of light who appear to be covered in flayed skin draped over their exposed organs, and single eyed orbs of flame the size of moons appear. Then a swarm of winged humanoids with bird-like faces come out in the billions, all prepared to destroy the thorn in their god's side.
"So it begins, brother. And so it ends."
Zelestra laughs to herself while preparing for battle, flying past stars and planets to the very gates of Paradise, followed by the combined armies of demons, vampires, goblins, and dread spirits built up over the millennia of rule. Zelestra and her armada clash with the army of Heaven. The servants of the dark queen and the slaves of light tear each other to pieces as Zelestra throws planets and stars against her enemies. Hundreds of thousands of angels fall to Zelestra's vampiric power. The senseless slaughter continues for hours as both sides attempt to break each other. The twins watch the movement of the enemy armies. They watch as Inferno's host begins to spread out. And the angels of Paradise, rather than aid the demons in the fight against the twins, begin to attack them. The angels begin to fight against Xexanoth and the demons. The hordes of Inferno lash out at angels and Xexanoth's slaves. The three powers have started battling each other.
"Why are they fighting each other, brother?"
"Each one wanted to attack us. Each one wanted to claim us. But attacking at the same time… this is something they didn't plan… Old Narly did this. He set them on us and then on each other."
"He's wants the battle to spread. He wants to begin the last war."
Far away from the growing battle, the twins' family dwells in safety, along with Pacifica and Wendy. But they are restless. They are desperate to help in any way they can.
"They… we should be out there with them." Wendy says, her eyes furrowed and ready for action.
"We aren't powerful enough. We're nothing compared to what's out there." Pacifica replies, looking down as the galaxy tremors with the mind-shattering war.
"I… fuck."
"How is that even possible?" Stanley asks.
"What?" Pacifica replies.
"Just… that. The war. Up there. And all around. I can feel it."
"I know… I hope there's something looking out for them. Someone. Either that vampire boss of theirs or someone else… but… this is insane…"
Above the walled planet, Stanford and Alice watch from a defensive tower, armed with guns far too weak to defend against the divine powers coming for them.
"You can feel it too, can't you?" Alice asks.
"Yeah. I can… so this is what happens when gods go to war… it feels like the universe is melting."
"That's one way to describe it."
"Have you ever seen this before?"
"No. I've seen both places, but they weren't active. Not like this. I thought Dipper was joking when he said that the war could ruin much of the universe. But this… they aren't even fighting at full strength."
"I pray to whoever the fuck those kids know what they're doing."
Alice smirks at her ancestor. The light from the cracks in the universe can now be seen throughout the galaxy as an omen of oblivion. Another gate opens near the battle between Thamiezel and the Malebolge. A creature only slightly smaller than Thamiezel comes forth from the gate. It has reptilian skin with five eyes in the center of its head. Four arms extend out from the mass of material, each with three sharp claws. Mammon, demon of greed, prepares to take back his stolen crown, the key to Cocytus, and vaporize all that Thamiezel has created.
At the gates of Heaven, one of the greatest angels of Yaltabaoth comes forth. The mad creature is forever praying in Enochian, the language of the angels. Its thoughts spread out like telepathic waves, a war cry against those who would oppose Heaven. The deafening invocations drive the lesser creatures of Thamiezel's empire into despair, causing them to lose all will to fight for their master. Only the world ships and soulless creations of the Empire of the Sovereign Sun can withstand the madness of the Archangel's mind. Zelestra glares at the mad beast.
"You… I know you…" she snarls, recognizing the angel.
With six golden wings spreading forth from an orb of fire, the angel had spread knowledge of its realm across twenty million galaxies. Countless worlds know of Paradise's offering due to this angel. It is the one that watched over Zelestra after she died, the one that kept her imprisoned and attempted to bury her memories of her lost brother.
"I know you, angel. But I don't know your name. So what should I call you, monster?" Zelestra asks in her thoughts, taunting the slave of light. She hears its mind, spewing praise and thoughts meant to consume and sedate her soldiers into surrendering.
"I am Raquel. I am the light of God. Praise him. Thank him. Love him."
"Oh shut up, you blabbering infant. You stole me from my brother. You let him fall into nothing. Now I will give you back the pain he suffered."
Zelestra's vow brings the angel's gaze upon her. The vampire queen growls, seeing the one she desires to destroy protected by its legions of angelic spawn. The angels surround their commander, preventing the vampire from coming closer, lest she be overwhelmed by the entirety of Paradise's host. Zelestra falls back, allowing the twins' army to bring their destructive power against the forces of Paradise. They fire dimensional weaponry that distorts and breaks down the fabric of existence, tearing through the weaker angels and forcing the host of Heaven to retreat temporarily. Zelestra watches the angels from afar, keeping her thoughts focused on maintaining the shield surrounding the twins' empire.
Months pass with no end in sight to the ruin. The conflict grows as the Empire of the Sovereign Sun puts its full force on defying Xexanoth, showing that they are no longer willing to tolerate the deity's consumption of their own galaxies. They focus much of their efforts on fighting within the galaxy of Thamiezel and Zelestra, but conflict has begun to spread elsewhere. Priests and worshipers of Xexanoth are crushed and obliterated without mercy. Their souls are captured and denied their desire to merge with their god. Angels and demons begin to emerge into the universe, both attempting to discover what the other empire is planning. They hunt each other's slaves and cults, breaking apart planets and ending entire civilizations as a side effect of their fighting. The twins' empire is now protected by a powerful barrier created by the Emperor of the Sovereign Sun. With their full power available to them, the twins have fully entered the battle. They are relentless and nigh unstoppable, butchering millions of demons, angels, and ancient monsters without pause. But the vampiric gods begin to reach the limit of their power. They expel energy quicker than they can consume their enemies, draining them to the brink. The twins return to their capital to regain their strength. The broken and weakened vampires dwell within their throne, surrounded by their family. Zelestra sits near her children and parents with Pacifica.
"This… we need to stop. We have to escape." Bella says.
"No. Not until I have my revenge." Zelestra says, snarling angrily at the thought that the angel who hurt her and her brother still remains free.
"We might have to, Mabes." Pacifica says, holding Zelestra's hand and squeezing tightly. Zelestra smiles, pulling Pacifica into a kiss.
"Paz, I will never let them take you. Nothing will harm any of you."
At the other side of the large room, Thamiezel sits with Wendy, both enjoying the solitude away from the others.
"Dip, are you going to keep fighting?"
"Yes. I will fight until they leave or completely turn on each other."
"You know, you could always use another demon to help."
Thamiezel smirks at Wendy's devotion, knowing she would risk her own soul to help defy the powers that have come against them.
"I'd never risk your soul. Risk you falling back into what you once were. There are worse things in the Malebolge than you have seen. It's why I won't let anyone with a conscious to be tortured go against the demons. I won't let anything be put through that pain."
"I'll help kick those angels' asses."
"Heh. That's why I love you. A stubborn hunter. And rage. So much delicious rage… when my sister and I return to the frontlines, go with her against the angels. And if you manage to kill some, I'll bake you a cherry pie when we get back."
Wendy laughs as Thamiezel pulls her into a hug. On the other side of the throne room, Stanley and Stanford are speaking with their descendants and Zelestra, wondering just how long it will be before one war ends and the next begins.
"Nuts is what this is. And you just keep fighting. Why?" Stanley mutters.
"Because we want it to end. All of it. This stalemate that deprives people of the ones they love. This idiotic game that has ruined countless souls. I want it to finally be over… then we can rest."
Zelestra turns her gaze down, closing her eyes and breathing steadily. She doesn't want to speak the truth; that they've been cut off from their master. She senses her brother's power restored and stands, walking over to meet with him. Another presence makes itself known in the room. Nyarlathotep appears with a bag of cheese popcorn. Thamiezel turns his attention to the old god.
"How did you-"
"How did I get past the shield? Quite easily, actually. Don't know why everyone always has trouble with that."
"You started this war, didn't you? You wanted it to happen."
Nyarlathotep giggles at the twin vampires. The thin light emitting from his mouth curls upward, emulating a human smile.
"You twins… you're smarter than the average demon or angel. I do hope you don't disappoint me."
The demon vanishes, along with his bag of popcorn.
"What a strange creature." the twins mutter together. With their strength restored, they prepare to leave. Within their minds, the twins discuss the growing conflict.
"You never told Wendy, brother?"
"Of course not. She doesn't need to hear it."
"Stupid vampire boss."
"He might hear us, sister."
"He didn't even give us a chance to flee."
"No doubt because Old Narly is watching us. If that monster learns the truth, then Dracul loses everything… but this means we've lost everything."
"Not yet. There must be something we can still do."
"None I can think of at the moment but keep fighting… fight with everything we have and send our enemies back to their worlds."
Thamiezel and Zelestra kiss one last time before returning to the battlefield. The universe has become hot with savagery and pain. The edges of the galaxy are torn and mangled. Black holes and scars in the very fabric of existence have become as much a threat as the endless swarms of demons and angels.
Thamiezel begins to battle with a legion of demonic locusts from the third circle of Inferno, sent by Mammon to harass and irritate the vampire. Zelestra fights against the angel Raquel and his host, firing a barrage of dark power from afar to lure them away from the gates of Paradise. A large angel attacks Zelestra from above. She dodges out of the way of its angelic light, which vaporizes hundreds of goblin warships. Zelestra transforms into a cloud of blood and pierces the large angel. She consumes the beast from within, causing it to cry out in agony before being silenced. Thamiezel continues to repel the demonic horde from the Malebolge. More and more demons appear, each stronger than the last. The hissing, gurgling creatures begin to overwhelm Thamiezel, unleashing a relentless barrage on the tired god.
"I… will not lose… to an army of inbred, shit-brained, demon… thingies!"
Thamiezel releases a gigantic wave of destruction rivaling a hundred supernovas. The chaos tears apart the skin of the universe, creating hundreds of black holes and pathways into the oblivion of the void. The display of power forces back the Malebolge temporarily, giving Thamiezel time to feast on the scraps of souls and regain some of his lost potency. He turns his gaze upon the gates of Xexanoth, which has been spreading its contamination throughout the twins' galaxy and overwhelming Bill Cipher's power and the world ships of Thamiezel's ally. Thamiezel turns his gaze to the great dragon, Waddles, who is currently battling the armies of angels.
"Waddles, we need help near the gates of Xexanoth. Bill Cipher is losing. Make sure that damn hole doesn't grow any bigger."
The great dragon hears the thoughts of his master and moves to the other battlefront. Zelestra unleashes waves of darkness, slashing and ripping apart the greatest angels. The divine vampire begins to lose strength against the seemingly infinite assault. Thamiezel , sensing his sister's fatigue, reappears at her side.
"What are you doing here, brother?"
"You're losing too much energy."
"So are you."
Thamiezel looks over the maddening conflict. He takes the crown of Mammon off his head and gives it to his sister.
"Use it and burn these damned angels."
Thamiezel vanishes after giving his sister the weapon of the demon of greed. She begins to use the powerful crown gem to attack her enemies. She allows a sliver of light from one of the angels to touch the gem. And then the gem releases a wave of power that obliterates the angel. The powerful gem sends back a hundred times the energy given out, incinerating the weaker creatures of Paradise and giving the vampires precious time to recover.
Near the cracks of Xexanoth's realm, Wendy and Alice Pines join forces against the weaker creatures of the swarm. The destructive demon and her powerful angelic ally carve through a monster with five tentacles attempting to wrap itself around one of the world ships. Wendy punches it with her fiery fists while Alice slices up the tentacles with her sword. With the giant monster's grip weakened, the world ship is freed to fire its planet killing weapons. The ship destroys the monster that attempted to subdue it before unleashing a barrage on another legion approaching from the cracks in the universe. Alice and Wendy land on one of the planets as Bill Cipher continues to warp the local reality into his own nightmarish world. But he too is strained to the breaking point. He is leaking power every second, desperate to stall the onslaught. A legion of angle shifters breaks through the defense and begins attacking the weaker parts of Thamiezel's empire. Alice and Wendy attempt to regain their resolve as the war rages around them.
"This isn't going to end well." Alice says.
"No. No it isn't."
"Why don't we run?"
"We can't."
"… What?"
"Those twins… think they're so smart… we're fucked if we can't win. No other reason they'd keep this battle going for so long."
Bill Cipher's avatar floats down to the planet. The golden triangle flickers in and out of existence, struggling to maintain his physical form.
"So, I don't know about you two, but I'm getting really tired." he says. His voice distorts uncontrollably, sounding like static and sparkling electricity. Every moment he fights brings him closer to losing all his power.
"Yeah. Take a breather and then we'll keep going." Alice says.
"Can't. No such thing as a breather. Just keep losing more power."
"Those planet sized ships should help keep the hole occupied for now."
"Yeah… you know? I guess this isn't so bad… going down with the ship."
"You know?" Wendy asks.
"Of course I know. I felt that giant vampire dude fuck off right when Old Narly showed up. We're just stalling."
"Seriously, how did I not know this?!" Alice shouts.
Bill Cipher laughs despite his own fading power. After several tired breaths, Alice and Wendy rejoin Bill Cipher in the battle as the world ships battle a swarm of sentient black holes. The monstrous creations of Xexanoth feast on the firepower of the world ships, growing in strength as they rip their way through the defensive line. The commanders of the Empire of the Sovereign Sun's fleet realize that they are simply fueling the black holes. The world ships use their artificial gravity wells to repel the black holes. The world ships surround the sentient monstrosities, forcing them in place with the gravity wells. Anchored together, the black holes are denied the energy needed to sustain their power. Thamiezel, realizing that his allies are weakening, appears near the gates of Xexanoth. He banishes the black holes into the void, denying them further matter to devour. The weak vampire next turns his gaze upon the swarms of Inferno. He growls defiantly before teleporting to the warfront against Hell.
Thamiezel flies to a dead world with a legion of machines from the Empire of the Sovereign Sun, attempting to strengthen the weakened center of the defensive line. He commands the swarm of machines against a pillar of fire summoned from the fifth circle of Hell. The army latches onto the pillar and detonates, creating wormholes to other parts of the universe and syphoning away the demon's power. Thamiezel strikes at the soul of the weakened flame, consuming it and taking its power within.
"This… this is fun." Thamiezel whispers. The tired king searches for the weakest point in the army of Inferno. But he finds that the swarm of Hell hasn't weakened from the fighting, simply growing in strength as more and more demons enter the universe. He finds Mammon's spirit glaring back at him.
"You've come all this way for a piece of jewelry. That's funny."
The vampiric devil turns around and moons the demon lord of greed.
"Kiss my ass, bitch!"
Thamiezel laughs before returning to battle. At the other side of the galaxy, Zelestra continues to use Mammon's crown against the armada of Paradise. But every explosion of fire also harms her. The great power begins to take its toll on the queen. She hides it within her body, preventing her trump card from becoming her downfall. The armadas of the twins continue to battle for the galaxy, staving off their own extinction and demise. For every angel they destroy, they stall their destruction by a second.
"Brother, we're losing too much power."
"Yes… yes we are."
"Do we retreat?"
"… No… you have that crown?... And I have the mind jewel… I can… I will use it against them… somehow."
"Brother, get back here now!"
Zelestra turns her gaze to her brother, finding him being overwhelmed by the forces of the Malebolge. He laughs despite the doom approaching, cackling in mockery of the army sent against him.
"Is this what it takes to destroy something as small as me?!"
The mad king laughs as he continues to attack the armies assaulting his body, mind, and soul. The demonic horde begins to relent. Thamiezel does the moon walk, dancing and spinning victoriously. But the hordes of the Malebolge are not cowering in defeat. The demon lord of the third circle descends to the broken body of Thamiezel. It knows that the vampire is weak. Too weak to defend himself against one of the seven great demon lords.
"Mammon. It's been some time since we've played."
Thamiezel cackles at his opponent. He attempts to fight back, but the weakened vampire is no match for the demon lord of greed. He's thrown into the side of a moon, ruining the celestial body. Thamiezel stands again, watching Mammon approach as chunks of the moon fly off into space.
"I take it you're the one who organized this little get-together?" Thamiezel says, motioning to the growing horde of the Malebolge. Mammon ignores Thamiezel's taunting and attacks again. Thamiezel is crushed through the entire moon and thrown, hurtling through space before crashing through a star and landing on a dead planet.
"Ow…"
Thamiezel giggles weakly as Mammon approaches again, preparing to destroy his enemy completely.
"You stole something of great value to me. Now I will steal everything from you."
Thamiezel grins despite his growing fears. Knowing that he's betted everything on this. Knowing that his entire existence hangs in the balance.
"I… will not lose… to walking piles of dung, Mammon."
The demonic lord of greed extends one of its talons, slashing across Thamiezel's broken body. The vampire cannot hear his sister's voice any longer. He cannot feel his connection across the vastness of space. So the mad king does the unthinkable.
"Mammon… you want to drag me to the Malebolge? Then let's go together."
Thamiezel tackles the avatar of the demon lord.
"Time to scream, Mammon!"
Thamiezel drags the demon lord of greed through space, expelling much of his fading power as he approaches one of the gates.
"You've lost your mind!" Mammon shouts.
"Never had one!"
Thamiezel laughs as they disappear through the gate and into the eighth circle of Hell. Zelestra feels her brother's essence fade from the universe. She growls at the army of angels sent against her. The ones from the universe of bliss that chained her mind all those years ago.
"You all did this to me… and I will never let you take me again."
The angelic forces begin to overwhelm their enemy. But they have a different task than simply destroying Zelestra. They begin to weave chains of power around her body. They begin to drag the queen back into the realm of light, attempting to enslave her again. They desire to learn the secrets of her power and the knowledge that made her and her brother nigh unstoppable. Zelestra, with the last of her strength, charges through the gates of Paradise, rips her way out of the chains and vanishes out of sight. The twins are gone from the universe, lost across an infinite distance as their empire faces its doom.
