XXV
This chapter is likely to be short, just a heads up! Not super short, but short enough. I wanted to dedicate more time to the final chapter, where the final battle will take place. I MIGHT still beat my deadline of Autumn, but there's no promises. The new school year took me completely by surprise, so we'll see how this goes!
The end is near!
'What in the name of Ancestors happened to Gaul?!' Ignitus thought as he watched the carnage unfold before him, wrapped in the cold hands of fear.
Before his eyes, Gaul laid waste to the forest just outside the city. Explosions shook the ground below him as he flew around the area, and the shock-waves nearly knocked him off out of the sky as he watched in horror; the forest's trees tumbled by the dozens, and massive clouds of dirt kicked up with each attack.
All the while, he kept hearing the maniacal laughter of Gaul himself, as he punch, kicked, and slashed at the wilderness.
Ignitus flew high in the sky, the sun toasting his back. He shot a glance at Terrador, who, with the other Guardians, flew with him. "Where are the soldiers?!"
"They had arrived less than half an hour ago."
"What happened to them?"
The Guardian of Earth returned his gaze to the carnage below, his eyes dark. "They're down there."
Ignitus's eyes rested on a sight that would make him pray that he'd forget this day for years to come. An army was there, but it was one of bodies.
Some were better than others, and he could clearly see, even from that elevation, the missing limbs, pools of blood, and innards scattered among on the forest floor and in the trees. It was a stomach-twisting sight, leaving a look of disgust and anger on Ignitus face.
"We have to stop this now!"
Gaul had long noticed their presence, but this was too much fun to just stop!
He would launch an attack of pure dark energy at a tree, and it exploded! Every time he punch someone, they would shift in and out of reality itself before disintegrating in a gush of organs.
Everything he did with his new powers had a wonderful impact on his victims, and he was loving every second of the carnage he caused. Just WAIT until he returned to Brontes, and the others. Oh, the looks on their face when he rips them apart, scale by scale, bone by bone!
The fires around him raged, eliciting a sick smile on his face, covered in warts and dirty fur. He turned to the city behind him, untouched and quiet.
"I wonder what types of screams I'll hear when I tear out the organs of all the citizens!" He spoke in a crazed voice.
"That's quite enough, Gaul." He heard Ignitus land behind him. "Your fun stops here!"
Serving up his best smug smile, he faced the Guardians. "Is that so? You know, I just loved the way the animals squealed before I killed them. I wonder if they'll shout with the same energy."
"That's too bad," the booming voice of Terrador was heard, "because you won't ever know such a thing."
The ape cackled echoed throughout the land. "Really?! Do you honestly think that you stand a chance against me now?"
They were through with talking. The four split up, and charged rapidly toward the ape. This was their city, their home, and they were going to defend it!
Gaul stood where he was, never losing that arrogant, smug smirk of his. Terrador summoned an armada of rocks as he ran, and launched it at him, only for the ape dodge every one like it traveled through molasses. Volteer halted to a stop, and fired arcs of electricity at the ape, who simply laughed as the electricity coursed right through him.
"W-what the hell?" Volteer said, "What in the name of-"
Yet again, the sound of a sickening cackle echoed. "I tried," Gaul spoke in a mocking tone, "to warn you."
"You cannot win… you have no chance. I draw my power from the darkness in this universe. Every second, I can feel my body growing stronger and stronger, and you'll never defeat me."
The Guardians paused in place, curious now. "What," Ignitus started, "do you mean you draw power from the universe's darkness?"But Gaul grew impatient now, too lazy to explain. "No more talking, you die NOW!"
"What are you doing?"
She had been resting outside the city, snug on a large branch from an oak tree, a few dozen or so feet above the ground. The voice of none other than the Purple Dragon had awoken her from her slumber.
He wasn't anyone she wanted to see. "What do you want?"
"I know you're still angry about last night, but running off again won't solve any of your problems." He said, after landing on a branch nearby her.
"I didn't want to be there when Gaul blew up the city. I at least wanted one last night before I died."
Spyro shook his head and sighed. "Again with this negative bull crap?"
"Yes! You saw how powerful he was. I could feel his power yesterday, and I knew he was hundreds of feet away from us when he took down the Skavengers!"
"He displays his power once, and you decide that he's invincible."
Cynder muttered curses at him, before standing and changing the subject. "Shouldn't you be helping out your friends?"
"They told me they'd be of assistance, and that they would return shortly. I told them I'd find you."
"Well, you did, so you gonna piss off now?"
"Not until you return with us. I'm sure they'll have Gaul under control by then."
"What makes you so sure?"
Spyro sent her a smile. "You don't know anything about them, do you?"
Falzar had said something about the Temple of Darkness long ago, before the whole Figura event snapped their ability to talk with him.
He said that this temple draws pure mana and energy from dark emotions, actions, and elements. It makes their power available to it's user, but at a cost. If over used, it could have dire effects on the user.
Judging by the destruction of the forest, Gaul may not know that just yet...
An idea formed in the Fire Guardian's head. Gaul was putting up much more of a fight than he thought he would, and they were struggling. Fresh wounds had been tore open on all of their bodies as they continued to attack and evade him, but he wasn't even braking a sweat. His forehead was bleeding, a start, but other than that, it seemed that they soon wouldn't be a much for the ape if they continued.
But they had to hold out. If he could just get the gears of his plan turning...
"Terrador!"
The Earth Guardian flew to him, covered in wounds, but still up for a fight. "What is it Ignitus?"
"Use all of your most powerful attacks whenever you get the chance!"
He gave the Fire Guardian a look of complete shock. "Why? What good will that do?"
"Just do it! I have a plan, alright? You heard that guys?"
Through the chaos, he heard the others' voices of approval.
"I hope you know what you're doing," spoke Cyril, as he flew around, shooting ice shards. "I don't want to lose to this monkey."
The Ice Guardians cold a dark growl as a response. "Should've thought about that before you decided to challenge me, fool!"
Ignitus smiled when he stole a quick look at Gaul through the explosions and carnage, while dodging dark attacks with inches to spare. Already, the effects of using his power were showing. His eyes were bloodshot, and below him, Ignitus could make out a small pile of his own fur, resting on the ground. Good. Now, if they could spur him on, they might make some true progress.
Ignitus leapt into the air. His mana was still recovering, and his wounds began to burn, but he had to keep moving. Gaul didn't hesitate to evade, running across the ruined, roasted forest, continuing to hurl attacks at the Guardians. He was surely getting stronger, but not for long.
The other Guardians began to barrage him. Whizzing right past Ignitus were ice shards, cold as the tops of the tallest mountains and as large as furniture. He could hear the discharge of electricity, and the sound of massive rocks breaking against the ground. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
The ape below them snake his way around their attacks, of course, but his movements were growing more and more sluggish. He was becoming visibly tired, taking deep breaths after attacking and moving for only mere seconds. He didn't have much longer if he kept this up, but Gaul had an ace, a trump card ready, just in case. But that was only for emergencies, and a few puny dragons would never bring him close to ever using that.
Ignitus, however, could beg to differ, if he knew...
Cynder followed behind Spyro in flight. The smell of burning forest lined the air, but a hint of something else was what made her scrunch her face. It was the smell of burnt flesh, and she knew just who was the cause of it. Already, she was having second thoughts about coming back with Spyro.
"Why are you going to them right now?" She had to yell to make sure he heard.
"I just want to make sure they're all right." He shouted back to her, never taking his eyes off the smoke cloud in front of them.
She sighed, barely hearing herself huff in the wind. "Can I at least head back to the temple?"
He said, "Fine, but if things go south, don't hesitate to find a safer place!"
Cynder nodded, veering off to the left, in the direction of the city, still very far in the distance.
Spyro continued towards the battleground, now actually hearing the explosions and destruction of the battle. Something's happening, he thought as he flapped his wings harder, picking up speed.
Only moments ago, there was no chance of Gaul using his trump card, but now, it was seeming like a better idea as the minutes, no, seconds passed by.
It was becoming more and more clear that using such power had a price, one he'd neglected while he was in his delightful carnage. Now, it was likely too late for him to continue being on top in this fight. His arms and legs ached and burned, his eyes stung, as bad as they had before, and his movements were very slow, like he was drunk. He'd been using too much power, and he was burning through it so much that it was backfiring on him now. He had no options, he had to use it.
"PREPARE TO DIE!"
The wind shifted, swirling around the ape as the Guardians stopped to watch this new event. Out of nowhere, dark clouds formed and emitted pure black lightning, and thunder roared all around them, yet brought no rain. As the seconds passed, an earthquake rocked the ground below the Guardians, tumbling more trees and causing further destruction.
Spyro arrived just then, his eyes wide in surprise as he witnessed Gaul's new attack. "What's going on?"
He got no answer, as the Guardians were too focused on the form of Gaul, who was slowly being engulfed by a ball of pure black energy. In seconds, his head, feet, and body were completely surrounded by the energy, as if he were swallowed by it. The realized, much too late to stop him, just what he was doing.
"SHIT!" The others were surprised to hear Ignitus curse so loudly. "Fall back, now! He's going to detonate himself!"
"WHAT?!"
"GET OUT! NOW!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! FOOLISH DRAGONS!" Gaul's voice boomed. "You've shunned us, pushed us to the bottom, forced us to live like dirty, worthless peasants, while you got the world to yourselves! Now, it's time for our payback! TIME. TO. DIEEEEEEEE!"
His distorted, demonic laughter echoed for miles and miles. They were too late now, much too late to stop him. He had more than enough energy to now to destroy everything on the planet. Was this his plan? Ultimate revenge by extermination?!
The dragons frantically tried to fly away, but they knew in the back of their minds that they were doomed. No one could stop him now, no one could touch him. Gaul had... won, he had actually managed to beat them.
"What's the point?" Ignitus said, stopping abruptly, the others following suit. "We should've figured something out and beaten him while we had the chance. Now there's no point in running, there's nothing we can do."
"Don't say that Ignitus..." Spyro said. "There's another way, there has to be!"
Gaul was almost ready, they could feel it. Any second now, and boom. Everyone, and all these years of fighting, defending and protecting their homes would've been for nothing, and they'd all be turned into dust.
But a familiar voice called out to Ignitus, one that he'd hadn't heard in what felt like ages. Frantically, searching around, he looked for the Convexity Dragon.
"What the-! Who're you?!"
The Guardian of Fire turned, and he nearly cried his eyes out when he saw none other than Falzar, right before Gaul. He hadn't changed from the day he'd first met him.
"Geez. You guys don't know how much the Ancestors are going to chew me out for this," were his first words after returning to the Realms.
"Ignitus, Volteer, Spyro, Terrador, and Cyril. I'm sorry for my absence, but there is no other way. I'll take him back into the Convexity Dimension with me, and that will be the end of it."
Alarms went off in the heads of all the dragons. "But," Ignitus only managed to get this out.
"I'm sorry. I'll see you guys when your time comes, but my road ends here. It was short, but great while it lasted. Goodbye."
And without another word, he placed a paw on Gaul's shoulder, and they were gone. The shaking stopped, and the storms began to dissipate. In a moment, all was fairly normal again, aside from the forest still ablaze in some areas.
For just a mere moment, it seemed that all would be well again. But it was only for that moment. The Temple of Darkness now had no vessel within this dimension, and it's power was released upon the world. And like that, everything began to descend into true chaos.