Author's note: I am sorry for the delay, me brother ran off with my table to help my mom remove stuff from her house because bed bugs bleh. And my bike broke down on the way home from work on Sunday so I've been trying to get that taken care of…. Well without further excuses here you go enjoy!

Chapter 14: Brothers

Alarm claxons sounded across the ship, Achron had made a move and the gilded fleet needed to counter it. Rip sat on his bunk polishing his hammer, Mjolnir. He was never one to panic, he always thought panicking made people do stupid things, making nistakes they would otherwise have avoided. His blonde hair was getting long again, he'd need to cut it soon, but it could wait until after this battle.

Jack appeared in his doorway. "Wondering where you'd been," The teenage boy said with a smirk "Off playing the invincible jerk again?"

"Time for jokes is over," Jack said almost condescendingly "It's Kain and Mortis, Seraphin wants us to head them off."

"Bleh," Rip said in disgust "The death guy, I don't like him."

"Then I'll let you smash him to pieces," Jack said "I don't particularly care."

Despite their demeanor Rip and Jack knew that they were not going to win this fight, they weren't meant to Seraphin had work to do and could not fight them immediately. Didn't matter though, they did have a score to settle with these two

Alright then," Rip said "Off we go." The two disappeared in an instant.

"Not so fast," A deep voice sounded from behind Jack, the Red haired immortal turned. Behind him stood the Great Dragon and his lover Eliatrope.

"We are going with you." Eliatrope said.

"You have no idea what we're up against." Jack rebutted.

"It was not a request." Eliatrope said.

"It is our universe," The Great Dragon continued "Our responsibility to protect, not yours."

"If what you say is true," Eliatrope said "Then we should be able to defeat these two."

"You are powerful immortals," Jack said "But you don't stand a chance against Kain and Mortis."

"I don't know Jack," rip said tilting his head to the side, his finger touching his chin as he thought. "They might be useful, I sense a lot of untapped power in them."

"So be it." Jack said reluctantly.

Percedal was not happy, this 'Seraphin' guy didn't want to fight? What was the whole point then? Wasn't that what you were supposed to do, fight out your differences. That's what he was always taught growing up. That's what he taught his children.

Yugo insisted they remove themselves from Astrub, he believed the battle would cause too much damage. The golden knight had agreed as he was not here to destroy. The team had moved themselves to a nearby prairie with no onlookers.

"I just don't understand," Percedal said "Why is everyone opposed to fighting and taking action? You say you're here to help, but you just stand there like you're too good to fight anyone yourself, what is that supposed to prove?"

"That I am leagues beyond your power." Seraphin said "And that this fight is a waste of time, time better spent fighting an enemy rather than a potential ally."

"But that's the whole point!" Percedal said "If you're that strong let's see it already!"

"Fine," Seraphin said sounding bored "Let's get this over with."

"Don't hold back." Percedal said smirking

"If I don't hold back," Serpahin said "You will die, as will this entire planet, likely the entire solar system and possibly the entire Krozmos, so please don't get your hopes up."

"Now I really want to fight you!" Percedal said grabbing Rubilax from his belt.

"I really don't want to fight him dally," Rubilax.

"C'mon Rubi, we've been through worse!" Percedal said charging forward towards the man, he no longer wore his blue and gold outfit from the night before, rather he donned his golden armor, the armor in which he had fought the gods. Percedal slammed onto the armor's plating, not even scratching it. Seraphin slapped Percedal aside with the back of his hand as though slapping a small child, still thr force was enough to send him careening through the air and into the tree line of a nearby forest.

Percedal smiled broadly and his body glowed brightly, he rocketed from his position, Serpahin turned his head and raised his hand, catching Percedal's head like a ball, while rubilax's blade bounced off his armor. Seraphin's hand glowed dark blue for a moment, then percedal's head was slammed into the ground below him, the aetherien's hand not moving from it's spot.

Percedal again rose, and again attacked, Seraphin made no attempt to move, allowing Rubilax to bounce harmlessly off of him until the sound of metal on metal grew tiring. Seraphin stopped Percedal's movments by pressing him fingers against the god's chest, he then flicked them forward forcing Percedal back, though this time the Iop god did not fall over.

"Are you done?" Seraphin said impatiently.

"I'm just getting started!" Percedal replied dashing in an arc around Seraphin to attack from behind. He slammed Rubilax as hard as he could into the aetherian's back.

"That hurts you Iop," Rubilax yelled "Stop banging me into his armor already!"

"Wise words," Seraphin said. Earth rushed up to meet Percedal's chin, knocking him back as though he had suffered an uppercut. Again the aetherian had not moved, he simply crossed his arms and continued staring forward. To percedal's friends it looked like a paddleball game, with percedal constantly being swatted aside by Serphin like a ball hitting a paddle over and over.

After a particularly bad hit Seraphin turned his head towards Evangelyne and sighed "What do you see in this guy?" He said genuinely curious. "He can't be that good for the kids."

Percedal got angry when he heard this, very angry, how dare this super powered punk from another world drop into his life and tell his wife how to live hers! After a few moments of rage, his pupils disappeared and he became calm, though when he looked at Seraphin the latter's face distorted, clearly put off by Percedal's new appearance.

"Is that normal?" Seraphin asked.

"You really pissed him off." Eva said "That's not something you want to do."

Seraphin turned his head back just in time, his hand shot up and caught the punch meant for his face, deflecting it, but the iop did not fly off this time, instead he grabbed Seraphin's arm and twisted his body slamming his feet into seraphin's head. Unprepared for the blow the aetherian's head jerked sideways. The blow was harmless despite it's intent, but it annoyed Seraphin, who's hands glowed dark blue again sending Percedal flying.

Percedal recovered quickly this time, almost instantly in fact, something Seraphin had not expected. The Iop god rushed back at him and Seraphin tried to catch the punch, misjudging the distance and missing. The punch connected to Seraphin's armor, cracking it. The aetherian's hand swept across his view and slammed into the side of percedal's head, the iop's head spun and his body slammed into the ground, bouncing off like rubber to kick Seraphin in the side.

The blow was not as hard as the last, seraphin grabbed his leg and spun, throwing percedal towards the treeline again. In an intant Seraphin disappeared and reappeared ahead of Percedal's flight slamming his fist down into percedal's back and forcing him to the ground again.

"So," Seraphin said "Now you fight with your full power, and you told me not to hold back."

Percedal heard nothing as he stood and looked at his enemy, his body glowed and he rocketed upward breaking the sound barrier, as he rocketed to the space where Seraphin should have been the aetherian's hand grabbed him by the back of the neck and held him.

"You're fast little god," Seraphin said smugly "But not that fast."

Seraphin's fingers elongated, becoming spear like claws which he dug into percedal's neck. The mindless iop squirmed and struggled until Seraphin's fingers reached his spinal cord, with a light tap lightnig shot down his spine and through his body. The pain returned the iop to his senses as Serphin's fingers retreated from his neck.

Percedal looked down on a blurry hill where burry figured that roughly resembled his friends stood.

"Guess I lost huh?" he said

"Yes little god," Serphin replied "You have lost." Seraphin dropped the iop, darkness creeped into his vision as he fell, he barely noticed when he hit the ground.

"Perhaps I overdid it." Seraphin said as he watched the god fall. He waved his hand and green energy flung out casting itself towards the iop god and covering him in a light green glow.

"He'll be out for a few hours," Seraphin said calmly "and incredibly sore for several after he wakes. Let us go now to the valley of dust to meet with the others."

"Okay," Yugo said.

Lucian was in awe of what he had seen. "Even you don't move that fast Yugo."

"Nobody in the world of twelve does." Ruel said matter of factly.

Echo stood in front of the large ice crystal before her. She was using this crystal to scry the location of Otomai, the only person among Yugo's group she had physically seen. Seraphin was with them now, the idiot iop had fought with him and lost, a most humiliating defeat for a god. It would appear that seraphin was indeed what he claimed to be.

The golden knight was offering to transport Ruel's buggy back to the Enutrof's home, though he would need a location, the enutrof was holding out, insisting that they take the buggy since they had brought it this far. Seraphin insited they did not have time. The golden knight was right, she could feel them now as well, dark presences drawing ever closer to her world.

"Stupid Iop." A voice said from behind her, she turned to see Adamai standing there, the young dragon was always angry and moody now, she suspected he was more hurt by the loss of his brother than he let on. He insisted that he was fine, but Echo could see that he was not. She worried for him, he was becoming dark, too dark.

"Why he always insists on a fight is beyond me," Adamai said "Is he not a warrior of balance and peace?"

"Iop's have a special way of bonding," Echo said patiently "They fight to learn their opponent's spirit, it's quite useful actually, they can tell who is trustworthy and who is not afterwards without worrying about it as they travel."

"That's stupid," he said "he's a god, sensing wakfu should be a simple task for him, it should be enough."

"He never learned," Echo said "He was raised a mortal."

Adamai grunted and turned to walk away.

"You should stay," Echo said calmly "Seraphin will be back with the Brotherhood of the Tofu and Otomai shortly."

"I don't care," Adamai said darkly and walked away.

Echo sighed, another voice spoke from the darkness "That one's soul grows steadily worse." The voice of Ush said sadly "we should be careful."

"Yes Ush," Echo said "If he cannot work things out with his brother, we will have to keep a close eye on him, this anger will only poison him."

"They are about to appear," Us said matter of factly

Echo whatched at Seraphin closed his eyes his body glowing with a golden sheen, he opened them and assured the Enutrof that his buggy was returned home. After this he commended them to close their eyes, then he disappeared from the crystal.

A whoosh sounded and Seraphin appeared but a moment later surrounded by the Brotherhood of the Tofu.

"Welcome my guests," Echo said in a kind voice. Despite them the Brotherhood seemed less than enthusiastic to be present.

"You are Lady Echo?" Yugo asked

"She is," Otomai answered for her "She leads the Brotherhood of guardians."

"I will choose not to correct you on the name," Echo said "I am indeed Lady Echo, this is Ush Galesh, Son of Ecaflip."

"Another Demi-God," Otomai said "They seem to everywhere now."

"Where is Adamai?" Yugo said in a hostile tone.

"I'm sorry," Lady Echo said in genuine sadness "He said he did not want to see you, he seems rather angry about something."

"I suppose he has the right," Yugo said returning to a more regular tone.

Echo raised an Eyebrow, unlike Adamai, Yugo seemed to be saddened and willing to forgive his brother. He was certainly worthy of his kingship over the Eliatropes.

"Enough small talk," Seraphin said "Achron has made his first move, he sends the Deum Tenebrea. His elite enforcers to subjugate this place before he enters."

"This is abnormal?" Echo said sensing the concern on Seraphin's voice.

"Indeed, The Deum Tenebrea are lesser aetherians." He said worriedly "Normally he would send the Deum Nocturnus, immortals more easily defeated."

"I assume you have a plan then." Ruel said part fearfully part angrily

"I have dispatched the Arma Lumin to hold them as long as possible." Seraphin said.

"I have no Idea what any of this means," Yugo said " Deum Tenebay, Arma Lumus, what are they?"

"I'm sorry," Seraphin said "The Deum Tenebrea are one of the four orders of the Achronian military forces, they are the enforcers of Achron's will, think of them as a form of royal guard. Their name translates to gods of darkness" The aeutherian continued "The Deum Nocturnus are the scouts, their name means gods of the night. My Arma Lumen are an order of immortals, they defend my kingdom from the darkness that Achron spawns, their name means Shield of light."

"Okay," Yugo said "That's a lot to remember."

"We don't have time for it." Seraphin said "The Arma Lumen can only hold off these two for a few hours at most."

"It sounds like you know them mister," Lucien said quetly "Who are they?"

Seraphin dropped his head, his eyes turned dark and sad, he clearly had terrible memories associated with these people.

"Kain, was a friend, someone I trusted," he said "He betrayed me, and our home world to gain power under Achron's wing." Achron looked very sad as he recalled "Mortis was found, he is a psychopath, he believes that only whe all who live are dead can we as sentient beings know peace and unity in that death. He seeks to kill all."

"You said they were Aetherians," Ush said "Meaning we don't stand a chance."

"What?" Yugo said "You can't mean that!"

Seraphin turned to look at Yugo "I am an Aetherian, and that is why I could defeat your friend so easily."

Yugo's eyes went wide. "Then, what do we do?"

"You and your brother, you are immortals" Seraphin said "You can defeat lesser aetherians, but it will be hard. I will teach you," He offered "My fleet moves to protect your world, Mortis will sense the life here, and come to destroy it."

"What do you mean immortals?" Yugo said

"You and your brother are more powerful than you know." Seraphin said "More powerful than the gods of your world. Speaking of which, I will need to speak with them before I go to fight Kain and Mortis."

Lucian looked around "Where is Jack?" he asked

Seraphin smiled "Jack is an Arma Lumin young one." He said.

"So that means?"

"He's been sent to fight the darkness."

The two were rocketing forwards, they were headed to straight to the world of twelve, Jack wasn't about to have that now. He would make sure they stopped in their tracks. He cocked his gun back and took aim. He pulled the trigger, a large red bolt fired and Mortis came to a halt as it sizzled past his face. Kain stopped shortly thereafter looking back.

"Something wrong?" The Betrayer asked

"Arma Lumin," Mortis said

"Damn," Kain answered.

"Hello old friends," Jack said as he appeared before the pair, Rip appeared behind him bringing Eliatrope and The Great Dragon with him.

"Four Immortals for little us," Kain said sarcastically "Looks like we finally have some respect among the Arma Lumin. Who are your new friends Jack, interns?"

"You wish." Jack replied.

"Rip van Winkle," Mortis said "You cheat death and unity again, why do you fear them so?"

"I don't fear death," Rip said "I'm more use alive for the moment."

Kain charged a large dark blue sphere in his hand, and Mortis summoned black power into his scythe. Jack hated Mortis, his power was hard to see when fighting in space.

"I'll take Mortis," Rip said confidently raising his hammer upward, lighting struck it and his hair branched out from his head in lightning bolt patterns as he glowed a bright yellow.

"No prob," Jack said drawing his knife "Dragon, help rip, Eliatrope with me."

"It appears your serious this time Jack." Kain said "Too bad it'll be your last fight."

Epic battle will be epic…