~Chapter XXV~
Sabu gazed down at Nefertari, staring into her glowing green eyes. He let go of her arms and stood himself up, still keeping his eyes on her. The process was done.
The teen looked to his black dragon. "Red-Eyes, destroy the village," he commanded.
The red-eyed dragon spread its wings and launched itself into the air. Sabu watched it fly, but commanding his beast to move exposed him immediately to nobody other than Akuto, a man now wearing his bandit gear including a dark bandana around his neck and his hair in a rather short ponytail. Clad in black and beige, Akuto almost resembled a desert child, but also he blended into the darkness. Drawing out his long sword, Akuto charged towards Sabu and struck him in the back. Sabu had been caught off guard but dissolved into grains of sand, only to reappear behind Akuto. He snatched the sword from the bandit and prepared to shove it into his back, but Akuto was quick enough to twirl out of the way and grab Sabu by the shoulders, pulling him down so that he could knee him in the face a number of times.
Nefertari slowly sat herself up, rubbing her head as if she had a headache. Her green eyes dimmed to reveal her naturally-purple ones. The woman, although confused and weak, turned her head to watch as Akuto and Sabu fought each other. Her body currently felt too numb for her to move, so all she could do was watch; a part of her thought of crawling to her DiaDhank, but she knew that summoning Vennominaga could be risky. Unless that's what her mind told her to think...
The black dragon glided through the sky and opened its mouth, raining fire and burning heat down onto the village of El-Isfet. The Desert Children were immune to the heat, but the villagers were not so lucky; they perished instantly.
Haku had pulled the bodies of Akuma and Kira out of the way, checking their pulses. They were barely alive. The scribe understood that this wasn't a good sign; they would likely die in a short space of time. Something had to be done before they breathed their last breath.
Kubui ran over to Haku, Kekku following close behind. "What happened?" he asked. "What happened to Akuma and Kiro? They were alright a few moments ago."
Haku gave them both a sad stare, not even wanting to answer. They both seemed horrified, but Kekku was the first to scowl.
"This all happened because of that creep, Akefia!" he snapped. "The moment he left, this happened! I bet he was working for Apophis all along!"
"Now's not the time for blaming anybody," Haku told him quietly. "We must defeat the Desert Children before this village falls."
"Our chances look slim," Kubui admitted. "The leader already reached Nefertari."
"We can still win," Haku assured. "We can save the queen and we can take down that dragon, then we'll have the upper hand."
"I'll go after the leader," Kekku volunteered. "He's my brother. I'll save the queen from him. I'll defeat him."
"Kekku, it's too dangerous to go alone," Kubui responded, worry evident in his voice.
"Stay with Haku," Kekku commanded. "Do what he tells you. Protect the villagers and defeat that dragon. Sabu is mine to deal with."
Kubui seemed to hesitate, but sadly nodded his head. "Be careful," he muttered. Kekku simply flashed a grin at him.
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine," he assured. And with that said, the freckle-faced young man ran away through the chaos in the blood-covered streets of El-Isfet, heading towards his younger sibling.
Sabu was still busy with his duel against Akuto. For a mere bandit without any magical power on his side Akuto was doing quite while; he had pulled out his golden throwing knives and had stuck them into Sabu, and he had also used his sword to slice him a few times. However, no wound was hindering Sabu at all. He only seemed motivated to dispose of Akuto even more.
Nefertari was still only sat watching the fight, but she caught sight of Kekku running closer. She did not stare for long, not wanting to give away his position, but Sabu already sensed him coming. The young teen pulled out Akuto's golden knives, which had been digging into his flesh, and threw them at the bandit before kicking him to the ground. Now his attention was on his brother.
"Why are you here, big brother?" he asked quietly.
"I'm not letting Apophis get what he wants!" Kekku shot back at him, taking out two daggers.
"You're too late," Sabu revealed coldly. "Nefertari is now carrying the spirit of Apophis. In due time, Apophis will emerge from her body and he will bring an end to this world."
"No!" Kekku shouted. "I won't let any of that happen!" He ran towards his brother, yelling with rage as he jumped up and tackles him. Sabu reduced to sand once again, but as he appeared behind Kekku Akuto threw his sword at him. The blade went through his side and this time seemed to injure him.
Kekku used this time to turn around and kick Sabu in the chest, knocking him onto his back. He looked to Akuto with his dark purple eyes. "Get the queen out of here!" he barked. "Keep her safe until we eliminate this threat, then she will reward you with your freedom!"
"You cannot face him alone," Akuto reminded, but his words meant nothing to Kekku.
"Just get Nefertari outta here, Akuto!" the pale man ordered. Akuto frowned but nodded his head, running to Nefertari and lifting her up. Nefertari stared at Kekku with weak eyes as she was taken away from Sabu, worried that something could happen to her companion. She watched him engage in combat with his sibling once again, and he did not seem to be the dominant fighter. Sabu had the powers of magic while all Kekku had were his blades and poisons, but neither attack method seemed to affect Sabu. All Nefertari could do was watch as Sabu beat his brother to the ground.
Further into the village, the dragon had unleashed another Inferno Blast upon the citizens. Safira and Anku watched with growing concern, both of them then turning to look at Servus.
"Servus," Anku spoke up. "Do you have any memories in your mind?"
"I have nothing," Servus whimpered. "I'm trying, and I feel like something is trying to reach me but... I just cannot grasp it!"
"We're running out of time," Safira announced. "We must do something, Anku!"
"We cannot do anything," Anku told her, sounding surprisingly relaxed. "The ritual cannot go on with two people."
"Yes, it can," Safira told him firmly. "There is another way to summon the Queen of Dragons." Anku frowned slightly.
"I know the method in your mind," he told her.
"Good," Safira replied. "Servus cannot remember who he is. He cannot help us. That dragon will destroy the village and kill everyone in a mere matter of minutes. Something must be done."
"Once you do this you know there is no going back," Anku reminded, but Safira did not seem to care.
"The black dragon has taken enough lives," she stated. "Let us see what happens when it meets its queen."
Anku stared at her, but being the apathetic person he was he chose to nod his head. "Very well," he said before turning to Servus. "Go and find Haku. Protect the people from the Desert Children; I will help Safira unleash the Queen of Dragons."
Servus had sad eyes. "What's going to happen to her?" he asked sadly.
"What happens to her is her choice," Anku replied simply. "She chose to do this, Servus."
"But..." Servus began before being interrupted.
"There is no time for discussion," Anku said. "Find Haku and anyone else. Kubui. Akuto. Anyone who can fight and protect the citizens."
Servus hesitated but his sad expression hardened slightly as he nodded, running to find Haku so that he could do what he had been told to do.
Anku turned back to Safira and held his wand up. "Are you ready for this, Safira?" he asked her.
"I'm as ready as I will ever be, Anku," Safira responded, a sad smile on her face.
Anku's wand began to glow. "Then here it goes," he murmured before raising his bright wand. "I call upon the gods! I call upon my Heka and the Heka of Safira! I offer the Ba energy of Safira to bring forth the Queen of Dragons so that it may protect El-Isfet and destroy these invaders!"
Safira's body began to glow, brighter and brighter before suddenly she exploded into a mass of sparks. Anku had to shield his black and orange eyes from the sight to avoid being blinded, afraid that his spell had not worked, but when he returned his gaze to where Safira once stood her saw a shadow. Lifting his head, Anku noticed a blue humanoid dragon with large wings and golden armour.
This was her. The Queen of Dragons.
Not only that, but this dragon was also Safira. Now she had become the Queen of Dragons, and she forever would have her soul within this beast.
Safira let out a roar and flapped her wings, flying towards the black dragon. The scene was witnessed by everyone, and even the Desert Children had to stop to gaze at the two creatures.
Servus, Haku and Kubui were working together to help the citizens escape to the palace. Akuto had taken Nefertari there already where she currently sat on her knees beside her two fallen friends, Akuma and Kiro.
"This is my fault," she muttered in a sorrowful tone. "I couldn't protect them."
"Don't blame yourself," Akuto grumbled. "They were fighting and they had their soul beasts destroyed by that dragon; it was just unfortunate. Battles don't have happy endings no matter whose side you're on."
Nefertari slowly lifted her head, tears in her eyes but her expression strong. "No," she growled. "There's a way I can save them." Akuto only narrowed his eyes.
"I wouldn't be trying anything if I were you," Akuto warned. "It might just be Apophis taking over your mind."
"I do not feel him," Nefertari clarified. "I know that I am still me; my mind is strong and will not succumb to the control of others." She gently clasped her hands around Kiro's sceptre and Akuma's scythe. "Mahad taught me a few advanced magic tricks when I still lived in the Capital," she announced. "It is possible to bind the Ba and the Ka together, fusing an individual with their monster. I can do that to save them."
"Sounds risky," Akuto warned again. Nefertari frowned up at him.
"You are in no position to tell me what I should and shouldn't do," she reminded him, closing her eyes. "Now let me focus."
The green jewel at the end of Kiro's sceptre began to glow. The whole of Akuma's scythe did the same. Nefertari began to chant an Egyptian prayer under her breath as Akuto watched with curiosity, raising his eyebrow when watching the two bodies begin to glow and levitate. From their weapons came their reconstructed monsters which then began to fuse with their masters, but the effects weren't what Nefertari had predicted. Electric sparks shot from their bodies and dark shadows seemed to envelope them. Akuto had to take a few steps back, staring at Nefertari and then at the two creatures which started to form before his eyes.
And then, when the darkness and the sparks faded away, two new individuals stood there with their eyes closed.
The first to open her eyes was Kiro, who still wore her golden Egyptian armour. This time, however, she had piercings and a tiara, along with a golden dragon necklace around her neck. Her black hair had become red halfway down and on her back unfolded a pair of demonic wings. Her eyes, too, had become red, her lips were now black and in her hand she gripped her sceptre.
Akuma opened her eyes next. Her eyes were a crimson red and she wore armour similar to Kiro's, although less conservative if that were even possible. Black angel-like wings unfolded from her back, though her golden hair remained untouched. She was gripping her scythe, which now glowed with a dark and ominous aura. A pendant was around her neck and a sadistic grin was on her face.
"My my, dear sister, doesn't the village look fun tonight?" Akuma mused, looking at Kiro.
"It does indeed, sister," Kiro grinned. Akuma looked at her, still grinning.
"Shall we play a game?" she asked. Kiro looked back at her and nodded.
"We shall," she answered. Akuma chuckled lowly, looking outside to see the fight between the black dragon and the dragon queen.
"This village is done for," she said. "Let us destroy the Capital!"
Kiro smiled even more. "That sounds like a wonderful suggestion," she responded.
The two winged girls laughed in a wicked manner, breaking out of the palace walls as they flew in the direction of Egypt's Capital.
"Oh no..." Nefertari gasped in pure horror. "No... No, this cannot be happening!"
"Your powers are corrupted," Akuto told her coldly. "Apophis is using your powers now. I did warn you."
"We must stop them!" Nefertari cried. "We have to do something!"
"First we have to save your village from those Desert Children I warned you about," Akuto growled. "You're useless for now; stay here. I will help bring your people into this palace."
Nefertari could only watch him leave. She did not feel like a queen anymore; Akuto's words had not insulted her, for they carried some truth to them. There was nothing she could do now that Apophis was feasting on her soul, but the strangest part of it was that she did not feel anything at all...
Was something else inside her hosting the soul instead?
...
Sabu stared up at the fight between his Ka and Safira. For once he showed some emotion: anger.
"Red-Eyes!" he called out. "Destroy the dragon queen with Inferno Blast! Unleash the attack! Now!"
Kekku tackled Sabu and pinned him to the ground. "You've lost, Sabu!" he yelled. "Your Ka is losing to the Queen of Dragons!"
"Nothing can defeat my dragon!" Sabu shot back, watching the fight with fury as he attempted to wriggle out of his older brother's grasp. Kekku grit his teeth, keeping a firm grip on Sabu as he glanced back up at the fight.
The Queen of Dragons used her clawed hands to wound the black dragon. She was swift to evade its Inferno Blast attack, flying behind it and tearing its wings so that it fell. As Red-Eyes let out a screech, the dragon queen used her power to obliterate the beast in one final blow.
As the beast exploded, Sabu felt a pain in his chest. He let out a scream of pain as if he had been fatally wounded. Seeing that he was weak, Kekku took out his daggers and raised them, but he suddenly started to hesitate. This was his brother. His beloved little brother. There was no way he could kill him.
Sabu scowled up at Kekku through his pain. "You're weak," he snarled. "You should never hesitate in a fight!"
It was at that moment that Sabu thrust his own concealed blade deep into Kekku's chest, cutting straight into his heart. Kekku let out a sharp gasp, freezing as he remained straddled on his younger brother's chest.
His eyes were wide. He knew that this wound was fatal. He knew that his time was coming.
"Sabu..." he croaked. "...You're... You're... an idiot..." Sabu did not expect to feel both of Kekku's daggers plunging into his own chest, and now that he was weak he could not heal. He could not turn to sand to avoid the attack. What was even colder was the twisting and turning of the two blades. Sabu stared up at Kekku with dying grey eyes, realising that his older brother was, like him, someone who had been broken and toyed with.
"We could've... shared... this life..." Kekku panted before flopping onto his side. Sabu made no attempt to move, for the two wounds to his chest were the end of him.
"A life... of slavery..." the younger foreigner spat. Kekku shook his head.
"You're... the one... who'll die... a slave..." he spluttered. He smiled sadly, however, and saw his brother turn his head to look at him with his glazed eyes.
"...Apophis... will still... be... reborn..." Sabu reminded painfully. Kekku shook his head.
"Not my problem now... heh heh heh..." he replied. His hand reached for Sabu's and gripped it tightly. "Wonder... what... the afterlife... is like..."
Sabu was about to pull his hand away, but decided against it. What was the point? Here they were, two dying brothers, who had been reunited in such a twisted scenario.
"...Pretty..." the young teen answered, raising his free hand. "...Light..."
A tear dripped down Kekku's cheek. "I'll... see ya there..." he whispered.
Sabu never got up from the sand ever again.
Kekku, a man who had spent too long being miserable and insane after a life of loneliness, labour and grief, smiled as he breathed his last breath.
Their fighting was over.
...
The Desert Children stood and stared as the sun started to rise. This was abnormal behaviour for them; they could not survive in the day, yet here they were, waiting for it to come. Their job was done. Their leader was dead.
So, when the sunlight hit the village, the Desert Children all dissolved into a pile of sand for a final time.
Blood was everywhere. Bodies were everywhere. Buildings had been destroyed. The Queen of Dragons, including Safira's soul, had vanished after the black dragon was defeated. It had served its purpose.
Nefertari remained in her palace, muttering yet another Egyptian prayer with her eyes closed and tears staining her cheeks. She was trying to call back the spirits of Akuma and Kiro to seal them away, but her useless chant was interrupted by Haku. The two met eyes silently, a solemn expression on Haku's face, until Nefertari chose to speak up.
"How many are dead?" she asked. Haku shook his head in a shaky manner.
"Too many," he replied. "Men, women and children. We did everything we could but..."
"Bury them," Nefertari commanded. "Bury them properly, Haku. Get Kubui and Kekku and Servus to help your."
Haku shook his head again. "Kekku is dead," he announced. Nefertari's eyes went wide, but no tears appeared. She had wasted them all, and no doubt Apophis was tired of seeing her weep. Kekku had been a dear friend of Nefertari's for quite some time, but after a night like this... she could not say she was surprised to lose someone.
Besides, she had to focus on retrieving Akuma and Kiro. She knew that she was banned from the Capital, but she had to stop them; once the Capital was destroyed they'd eventually return to El-Isfet to do the same.
~End of Chapter~