Author's Note: I do not own Code Lyoko

Chapter Ten – Extent of Power

"Ulrich? Ulrich! Are you okay?"

His eyes twitched as he regained consciousness, "What happened to me? My head feels like it was cracked open."

"You were under Morgan's control."

"What do you mean?"

"The only way she can possess someone if they willingly give themselves to her, she probably used your deepest desire to do so."

"Damn."

"Don't blame yourself, she has taken many under her control without much effort. The important thing is the resurrection has been stopped."

"Where are we?"

"We are running back to your friends as fast as I can carry you."

"And Mordred?"

"He is still back there at the Shrine. But I wouldn't worry, the book is back in safe hands."

Ulrich's cell phone rang and pulled it out of his pocket and saw that it was Yumi calling. He clicked the call button and brought the phone next to his ear.

"Hello, Yumi?"

"Ulrich, we are over at the factory. XANA has just activated a tower, tell us if you notice anything strange?"

"Besides the whole magic, demon, and angel strange?"

"Yeah, besides that."

"Uh, Yumi. I think I know what his attack is."

The possessed Mordred ran alongside them as he unsheathed the Ebon Sword and threw the first strike. Breaking quickly, Derrick tripped over his feet and Ulrich flew free from his arms. They both tumbled along the ground as XANA slid to a halt. After a moment, Ulrich crashed into his greaves before his back met the ground. XANA smiled within as he raised the blade to rid himself of one enemy forever.

Glimmers of light flew through the air piercing the back of the possessed Mordred. He buckled over as Ulrich took this chance to roll away. Getting back to his feet, the teenager ran toward his rescuer. XANA looked over his shoulder to see Amelia standing there with her bow of light drawn back. He cursed her silently as he rose back up.

Amelia shrugged her head, "Go to your friends, Ulrich. They need you, we'll hold him off."

Ulrich nodded and ran toward the factory. Amelia closed her eyes and three arrows appeared against her bowstring as her eyes reopened. Derrick stood at the ready for now anything could happen. XANA smiled looking at Amelia and drew the sword up in a battle stance, then he winced in pain as he fell on one knee.

Amelia and Derrick lowered their guard, "What is happening, Brother?"

"It seems 'our friend' doesn't enjoy letting someone else have control."

Mordred shouted, "Get out of my head! … your body is mine now! … Darkness take you, damned virus! … It is pointless to resist, I am too strong!"

He lunged at Amelia who let her arrows fly, the three pierced through him, but he remained unfazed as he continued his charge. Amelia saw the blade swing down and she closed her eyes preparing for the worst. It didn't come as Derrick pinned XANA's arms from behind.

"Amelia, step back!"

She leapt backward with a single step and fired more arrows at XANA.

"Virtualization!" Jeremy shouted over the intercom. Odd, Yumi, and Aelita rendered slowly in mid-air and fell to the desert floor when fully virtual. Landing with perfect balance, they waited the short while for Jeremy to materialize their vehicles. The girls jumped on the Overwing with Yumi driving as Odd claimed his Overboard.

"The tower XANA has activated is forty degrees east of your position."

"Any monsters, Jeremy?"

"That's strange, there aren't any."

Yumi began issuing orders, "Okay everyone, be on your guard. Odd, flew above us and give supporting fire. Aelita, hold onto me."

They did as instructed and went their way to the activated tower.

Odd aimed back and forth ever on the alert for danger, "I don't like this...it feels too quiet."

The girls just nodded in agreement. They drew closer to the tower and still no monsters. Thanking their good fortune, they pressed on to the tower. Aelita walked inside as the other two guarded the tower. She rose up to the upper platform where the screen appeared before her. She stretched out her hand and touched the screen. After identifying her, she inputted the Lyoko Code.

XANA moved with deadly accuracy and almost slashing Derrick and Amelia once or twice. His thirst for magical power has made XANA even more dangerous than before.

"Come on, you pathetic beings! Is this all that you got?"

Then he fell to one knee, he felt his control over Mordred weaken and that meant a tower was deactivated, "Those damn kids!"

"Sister, what is going on?"

"I think our new friends are helping."

XANA rose back to his feet and glared at his opponents, "Fools! We are not done yet! I still have control over this body!"

"Brother, maybe we should…" She shrugged her head.

"Not yet, Amelia. There is no need for that right now."

"Okay, Brother."

"Jeremy? I don't think we thwarted the attack. I still feel pulsations."

"Hold on, Aelita. I will check…" He typed on the keyboard, "…you are right, XANA has two more active towers. Strange, I wonder why the super scanner didn't detect them before."

"But why would he need two more towers?"

"I can answer that." Ulrich said as the elevator doors opened.

Jeremy looked over his screen to see him, "Ah Ulrich, good timing."

"XANA has possessed Mordred. Derrick and Amelia are fighting him now."

"Okay so now, he is in control of a powerful magical villain. This must explain the three towers, each must be giving XANA the strength to possess him."

Aelita smiled, "Gotcha, Jeremy. We are on the way to the next tower, send Ulrich as fast as you can."

"He is on his way."

Ulrich nodded before heading to the scanner room.

The three Lyoko Warriors dived into the tower and traveled to the forest sector. When they emerged from the tower, Ulrich greeted them on his Overbike and they raced to the second tower.

Derrick removed a vial from his coat and poured the contents on his shoulder to remove the effects of the Ebon Sword. His movements were getting more careless and slower, he saw the same in Amelia. They were tired from all the battles they've had this day and he was straining the limits of his demon rage.

"So it seems you both have reached your limits." XANA boasted and then fell to one knee, "Damn…another tower gone. That's it!" His red eyes flickered, giving the orders to his troops.

After which he raised his gauntlet and flexed his hand causing spikes to stick out of the armor. He threw his fist back and Amelia winced in fear.

"Die, girl!" He shouted before throwing his fist toward her, "Spike Darts!"

All the spikes shot off the armor flying toward Amelia, "Brother!"

The black metal glistened in the moonlight. Her eyes widened as time seemed to slow, the fear of death grasped her firmly for she knew now was her time. Then the tail of a trenchcoat trailed in the wind blocking her view. The spikes sunk in with a sickening thud as Derrick screamed and fell on all fours.

"Brother!" She shouted crawling to his side, "You didn't have to…"

Tears fell from her eyes as he smiled with blood dripping down his chin, "I had to. You're my little sister after all."

"Brother, I…"

"Don't speak. You were right though, time to use it."

She nodded her head while crying.

"Give me some room, we need it if we are using our last resort."

In the next chapter, it all comes down to this…the final tower and the last resort revealed.