Jango jumped over Inferno's fireball attack and retaliated with one of his own. The assassin lord merely backhanded it and came flying at him with a demonic charged Blaze Kick. Jango countered with Thunder Punch, the electricity being deep red.
Their impacts and attacks were causing damage in the dining room through the immense shockwaves and flames scorching about the room. Jackson had to place a mask on so he wouldn't suffocate from the smoke.
Speaking of Jackson, he threw an Aura Sphere at Inferno, hoping he would be caught off guard. Much to his displeasure, he sensed the attack and back flipped over it, allowing it to hit Jango. Inferno kicked some knives up and kicked them at the Riolu. Jackson dodged the demonic infused cutlery just barely.
Jango flipped off the table and sweep kicked Inferno before delivering his elbow into his gut. The assassin lord was not deterred by the attack as he slammed his foot into his head and smashed it into the table. Inferno jumped into the air, practically floating, and fired a power Flamethrower down on him. Jango saw the incoming attack and crossed his arms. His suit protected him from any serious damage, but it barely held up against the demonic power within the attack. He jumped after Inferno, using Flare Blitz. Inferno countered with Brave Bird. The two attack canceled each other out.
Jango and Inferno landed and fired powerful Flamethrowers, raging heat swarming. Inferno seemed to have the upper hand, but was caught off guard by Jackson who appeared out of the ground and kicked him in the jaw. Inferno glared and grabbed his ankle, preparing to slam him on the ground. Jango, however, surprised him with Dragon Claw. He lost his grip on Jackson, allowing him to strike Inferno's right kneecap.
Inferno jumped back and held his kneecap. He smirked at his former apprentices. "Impressive…most impressive." He stood up and stretched his rapidly healing leg. "But you're only delaying the inevitable." He stomped on the ground, summoning a flaming boulder, and kicked it straight at them.
Jackson destroyed it with Force Palm, but the rubble obscured his vision, allowing Inferno to come in and knee him in the jaw. Jackson skipped across the ground and landed in the fireplace.
Jango dodged Inferno's fast paced attacks with split second timing. He ducked under his final kick and uppercut him with a Thunder Punch. He recovered quickly and did a spin kick right into his side. Jango rubbed his side and growled before firing demonic fire from his hands. Inferno charged through it and punched him with the force of a bullet train. Jango clutched his gut in slight pain.
"Your foolish attempts of victory are useless," he boasted as he advanced towards Jango.
The Charmeleon panted as he felt his sore gut heal up. "I wouldn't…count us out yet…" He stomped on the ground, causing a raging fire to pour out through the room. Inferno shielded his eyes from the blinding flames. As he was distracted, Jackson dashed out of the room. Once the fire settled, Inferno opened his eyes just in time to see Jango nail him in the face.
He skidded across the floor and shook his head. Jango used Flare Blitz and charged at him. Inferno negated the attack with Blaze Kick and kicked him towards the other end of the now charred table. Jango recovered and picked the table up, throwing it at his former master. Inferno punched it, reducing it to splinters. Jango caught him off guard in the wreckage and kicked him straight into the kitchen.
Inferno pushed himself up and grabbed two kitchen knives. His demonic energy flowed through them and transformed them into hellish daggers. At first, this surprised him, then he smirked with satisfaction.
Jango jumped in and barely dodged the surprised knife swipe from Inferno. He kept backing away as Inferno inched closer, swinging his blades.
Any ideas, Scourge?
You still have a small amount of geokinesis.
Jango took one large step back and stomped his foot on the ground. Inferno was sent into the ceiling by a large pillar of earth. Jango smirked, but ran away as Inferno smashed through the pillar. Jango grabbed some knives, infused his demonic aura into them, and threw them. Inferno blocked a few, but got two stabbed through his left leg and right shoulder.
As he pulled them out, he was slammed into the ground with the kitchen counter. He roared and blasted it away with the force of his aura. He threw his blades at Jango, who knocked them away. The two got in close and started throwing punches and kicks at each other. They were moving so fast, it was hard to keep track of their movements. They both successfully blocked each other's attacks with expert timing. Their collisions caused shockwaves throughout the kitchen, destroying everything around them.
Jango delivered one last punch and sent Inferno flying into the hallway. The assassin lord rubbed his jaw before continuing with the fight.
Jackson attached a bomb to the boiler tank in the basement. He set the timer to about thirty minutes. He ran back up the stairs and went to find another main line to the castle. He could sense the fight intensifying nearby. He needed to hurry.
He found another pipeline and set attached the last bomb to it. There…all of the bombs are set. He pulled out a remote and activated the countdown before destroying it. Now let's just hope we can defeat Inferno in time.
He flinched from a nearby explosion. He turned and saw Jango and Inferno wailing on each other with all their might.
Inferno blocked two of Jango's punches and kicked him down the hall. He then summoned a massive fireball and threw it down their way. As Jango pushed himself up, Jackson got in front of the attack and dispersed it with Force Palm.
Inferno smirked. "I'm surprised, Death Shadow. After everything I've done for you, you're willing to help these lower lifeforms. Pitiful…"
Jackson took a stance. "I am no longer your underling, Inferno."
"Why are you willing to help them? I'm the one who showed you the truth of the world. I can give you power. The power to vanquish anyone who stands in your way. Make the smart decision, my son." His wrists blazed wildly. "Your life depends on it."
Jackson clenched his fists as he looked between Jango and Inferno. He narrowed his eyes at Inferno. "I've already told you..." He started building up a massive Aura Sphere. "I'm done being your underling!" He launched it with tremendous force.
Inferno narrowed his eyes calmly and held his hand out. He stopped the Aura Sphere dead in its tracks, shocking Jackson. He slowly turned it red and absorbed the energy. "You disappoint me, boy." Once it was fully absorbed, he appeared in front of Jackson almost instantly and slammed his knee into his jaw. Jackson flew into the air. Jango ran over and caught him just in time.
"Jackson!" he shouted worriedly. He checked his pulse and sighed with relief. He was only unconscious. He growled as Inferno began to laugh.
"It's almost pitiful. As I've said, Draco, you're chances of succession are impossible. Just give up and accept your death like a man."
Jango set Jackson down and stood up. "Oh, I'll accept my death." He glared. "But you're coming with me."
Inferno smirked. "What childish thinking…as if you can kill me." He smirked wider. "Unless, of course, you had some assistance from Dr. Psi." Jango's eyes widened. "I'm no fool, Jango. I'm well aware you killed him and stole those demonic bombs. I planned for it." He summoned a fireball in his hand. "Once I incapacitate you, I'll leave you to die while I slaughtered the rest of your pathetic army."
Jango clenched his teeth. "I won't let you do that!"
"Then try and stop me." He threw the fireball in the air, which exploded and rained down explosive demonic energy.
Jango covered himself and Jackson from the attacks. He saw Inferno looking towards a window, obviously preparing to leave. Scourge, we need to do something and quick!
Scourge watched the scene unfurl from the mindscape and rubbed his head to try and come up with an idea. One popped into his mind. I have an idea. Infuse as much energy as you can into the castle. Make it escape proof.
Will that work?
I'll help you, don't worry. Now hurry! Jango nodded and slammed his palms on the ground.
Inferno tapped the glass lightly, shattering it. "Well, it's been fun." Before he could step out, his path was blocked by a thick red aura. "What's going on?"
The resisters managed to take out the last of the remaining assassins. The Royal Guard went around tying them up while the able bodied men helped bring their injured comrades to the hospital.
Ampharos nodded in satisfaction. "Alright, we got the easy part done. Now we just need to way for Jango."
Zangoose looked towards the castle and tapped him. "Uh, my king? You might want to look at this." This caught the attention of the kids and they ran over. They all gasped at what they saw.
A massive amount of blood red energy swirled around the castle. Red lightning bounced off of it. It slowly took the form of a giant sphere, encasing the castle entirely. It was so thick, no one could see through it. They weren't even sure if the castle was even in there still.
Amanda instantly grew worried. "Jango…"
The interior of the castle has completely changed. It has turned demonic, with dark red walls with demon faces contorted into them. The lights have turned blood red, adding an eerie feeling to it. The most noticeable change was that all doors and windows to the outside were gone.
Inferno narrowed his eyes and started punched the walls. Not even a crack. "What is this?"
"Just a little Underworld décor," Jango explained smugly. "This is material even you can't break through. So now we're both trapped in here until the bombs go off."
Inferno stared at him for a moment, actually showing an impressed look towards him. "Willing to sacrifice your own life just to save others? I'll give you this Jango, you are determined." He then smirked unsettlingly. "But here's the thing. Let's say I were to kill you before these bombs go off. Wouldn't that mean your little spell would wear off?"
…oh crud.
You said it, Jango thought back with the same shocked tone.
His expression was enough to answer the question. "That's what I thought." He rushed Jango with his hand ablaze.
Jango grabbed Jackson and jumped out of the way. He ran away with the unconscious Riolu slung over his shoulder. He needed to find a safe place for him. It didn't help that Inferno was following them briskly, seemingly taking his time, yet not wanting to lose them. He threw fireballs down the hallway, giving Jango a split second to evade all of them. Inferno summoned a stream of fire that engulfed the hallway entirely.
The Charmeleon gasped upon seeing it and quickly looked for an escape. Much to his luck, there was a door up ahead. He opened it and slammed it shut just as quickly as he entered. He could feel the heat rage past it.
He sighed and carried Jackson over to a corner of the room. "He should be safe here for the time being."
Despite our current predicament, I'm surprised you took the time to help him.
"Well…it's just in my nature, I suppose. Won't do us much good once the bombs go off."
Speaking of which…I'm surprised Inferno hasn't come into the room yet. A master assassin would know to check here first.
Jango narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, you're right." He finally got a good look at the room. Thankfully, or perhaps unfortunately, they were in the weapons room. Blades, daggers, instruments of killing surrounded them from every angle.
At least we have some form of protection.
Jango nodded in agreement. He narrowed his eyes at the door. He couldn't sense Inferno's demonic presence. Either he learned to mask it or he was long gone, the latter being very unlikely.
Keep your guard up. We're not sure where he might come from.
"Relax, I've studied the layout of this building for years." He pointed to the walls, ceiling, and floor. "There's a secret trap door in every one of the rooms. He can't get the drop on us." He then pointed to the door. "That's his only other point of entry."
"You've made one miscalculation, Draco." Jango and Scourge's eyes widened. Jango looked around cautiously, grabbing a sword off the rack. "I've studied the demonic arts longer than you have. I know how to perform spells. I just never had to necessary power to cast them…" He felt a red light under him. He looked down at a circular portal opening up. "…until now." A fist came flying out and struck him in between the eyes.
He staggered back and, with blurry vision, saw Inferno rise out. He was decked out in his battle armor and his sheathed obsidian sword. He also had a pouch attached to his side.
"I told you, I've planned for every inconvenience. What do you think I did in my study when you were out on missions?" He clenched his fist. "Or whenever I went out on solo missions? I've uncovered more about the demonic world than any other scientist or researcher of the supernatural. You're at a disadvantage."
Jango felt anger well up inside him, creating a thick, blood red aura around him. "That won't stop me!" He got in close and threw a barrage of attacks at him.
Inferno blocked them in an almost mocking fashion. Once he saw an opening, he knocked the wind right out of him. Jango staggered back, gasping for air. Inferno didn't give him enough time to recover as he delivered a flurry of kicks his way. He was sent skidding into the wall. He pushed himself up and saw him walking towards Jackson. He slammed his hand against the floor, forming a rock barrier around him.
"Your fight is with me!" Jango picked up two swords and charged.
Inferno pulled his out and clashed with him. Jango ducked under a sword swipe and sweep kicked Inferno. He caught himself on one hand, but, with his guard down, got nailed in the chest. He flipped himself back up and fired an array of flames at Jango, who blocked them with his swords. Inferno created a portal and stepped through it.
Jango's eyes widened. "He's going to escape!"
He won't. When you infused your energy into the castle, I casted a spell that'll keep him from using any form of teleportation.
"Okay, but he's still going to be hard to catch!" Just then, he felt something strike him in the back of the neck. "OW!" He turned around and only managed to catch a glimpse at a small portal closing. "You have got to be kidding me…" He stood his ground, lightly shuffling in circles.
A portal opened up, where Jango instinctively blocked a punch. Another portal opened up, this time with the obsidian sword passing through. He sidestepped with his suit getting nicked. More and more portals began opening up, making it increasingly harder to dodge or block attacks.
Scourge! Help!
Scourge kept track of Inferno's seemingly random attacks. "Inferno is a coordinated fighter...even unpredictability has a sense of order to it." After studying Inferno's strikes for a little longer, he smirked. Jango, wait five seconds, then fire an attack 45 degrees from your right, vertically upward.
Uh, run that by me again?
DO IT!
He fired a fireball exactly wherehe wanted it. It went straight through a portal that just opened up. Inferno came flying out of another portal, slightly charred. He dusted himself off. "You couldn't have figured that out on your own so quickly. That spirit is giving you help, I presume." Jango gritted his teeth. "Resourceful, but futile nonetheless." He dashed towards him with his sword.
Jango blocked it, but Inferno ending up snapped the blades in two. He threw them away and protected himself with a shield. I need a power boost!
I gave you full access to my powers!
Well, give me more power!
I can't! He flinched when Jango got kicked across the floor. Jango, listen to me. A bearer and a spirit need to learn to cooperate. But they also need to be perfectly balanced.
Jango caught Inferno's blade in between his hands and threw him over his head. What does that mean?!
It means we're not compatible. You have a good aura, I have an evil one. It's like fighting fire with water. Water overpowers fire, but a flame can be just as strong as a wave. Our auras are clashing with each other immensely.
So how do we become compatible?!
I don't know!
Before he could continue with his mental conversation, Inferno used a Blaze Kick against the back of his head. "You shall not succeed, Jango."
Jango pushed himself up. He'll just have to improvise. He threw two fireballs in his direction. As he expected, Inferno disposed of them with no trouble. However, what he didn't expect was the two earth pillars that struck at the back of his legs and knocked him onto his back. Jango worked his magic and clamped Inferno down to the earth.
Inferno struggled. It was made from the demonized castle, making it extra irking. "This won't hold me down forever!"
"Yeah…I know." He held his hands out and focused. Earth started rising out of the ground and orbited around a giant sun-like energy ball, similar to the one Destruction created at the festival. The earth slowly coated around the sun ball. "It's over, Inferno. This attack is taking in as much of my demonic and evil energy as possible. With this one blast, I shall reduce you to ash."
The assassin lord smirked. "You don't have the guts to kill me."
He clenched his teeth. He could see he was hesitating. Curse his flickering tail flame! "I-I'll do it! I swear!"
"…then do it." Jango raised a brow in shock. "You heard me. Drop it down on me. Prove to me that you are a killer."
"B…But I-"
"You're killing evil? So what? No one is truly good." Jango narrowed his eyes, conflicted with his decision. "Face facts, Draco. I've turned you into a cold blooded machine of death. You're only filling your natural instincts. You have the mind of a killer now."
He shook his head. "No I don't!"
"You can't deny it. You're only moments away from completing your life long goal. Killing your parents' murderer." His eyes didn't show worry or fear. He was calm. "This is what you want. NOW KILL ME!"
"SHUT UP!" Jango brought the attack down on Inferno. The attack flashed in a brilliant red light. Jango's eyes widened and he shielded his body as the blast knocked him back roughly. A sea of flame swarmed throughout the room. All the weaponry that got caught in the blast was destroyed in the process.
It broke through the door and traveled throughout the castle. The assassins from earlier regained consciousness, but screamed as they were caught in the flames and disintegrated into practically nothing. Everything was destroyed in the blast, nothing more than ash and smoke. Flames scorched across the walls and floors, leaving their trail of destruction.
There was no other living soul in the castle. No one. All except Jango and Jackson, who was shielded from the blast thanks to his rock barrier.
Jango panted heavily over the giant crater he dropped his attack. He couldn't see Inferno anymore. Was he…dead? He doubt he could use a portal while clamped down, so he must have been turned to ash.
He sighed and looked at his hands. Another life…figures. He shook his head and went to grab Jackson.
He stopped in his tracks when laughter echoed throughout the room. He looked around frantically before laying eyes on the crater. A hand burst out of the ground. Inferno pulled himself out from the ground and dusted himself off. He smirked when he saw Jango's fearful expression. "Well, I'll give you this. That could have actually killed me. Too bad for you my armor was made to withstand that kind of power."
That was…practically all of your energy. Scourge muttered in disbelief.
Jango pulled out a dagger and held it defensively. It didn't help he was shaking like a Grass-Type in a snowstorm. "I-I'm warning you, stay back!"
Inferno crossed his arms. He remained calm. "This reminds me so much of my last encounter with your father." Jango shuffled his feet anxiously. "He stood there, trying to act heroic, with that same expression. I believe his last words were 'You will not take my son. He is the Phoenix Child'." He placed a hand up to his temple and shook his head. "On and on with that ridiculous prophecy. What a joke." He scratched his chin. "I wonder how I took him out."
Jango became tense. He was acting so nonchalant about his former friend's death? It was sickening.
"Hmm…" He tapped his fist into his palm. "Oh right. I believe I removed his throat." He laughed, agitating Jango. "Out of all the murders I've committed, that has to be one of my favorite types of execution."
He flexed out his claws. "You see, Draco, you can't beat me. I have years of experience compared to you. Plus, you can't even properly control your powers. None of your descendants could control that spirit. Your entire family is made up of people who see the good in the world. Your legacy is built upon stubborn fools who refuse to stay down. I guess that's one reason why they're known as the Phoenix's. They always rise from their ashes. But even a phoenix can be killed.
"As for your powers, I have a better understanding of them. My aura mixes well with them. I don't push it away, I embrace it." He clenched his fist, a blood red aura seeping off. "No matter how strong you get, no matter how much power you receive, you will always be defeated by those of a greater power." He spread his arms out dramatically. "The weak are meant to serve the strong, that's how it works. I took you in as my apprentice, not my successor. You were meant to serve by my side. You were meant to be my puppet-"
"SHUT UP!" Jango yelled sharply, sending a vicious shockwave across the floor. It crumbled under his feet. "I don't care how strong you are! I'm not letting you cause any more harm towards the world!" He held his dagger up more confidently. "Even if I die, I'll die knowing I saved the world from an eternity of suffering!"
Inferno could see it. Jango's aura became darker. His anger was fueling his power. "You still can't accept the truth." He reached into his pouch and started digging around for something. "Very well, my former apprentice. Why don't I show you what true power looks like?" He pulled out an orb that was yellow with a black and red symbol on it. It almost looked like a DNA symbol. "Tell me, do you recognize this?"
He squinted his eyes, trying to remember where he has seen that item before. His eyes widened fearfully and he stepped back. "No…"
"Oh, so you do?" He tossed it in the air lightly and caught it. "Blazikenite…a power item that allows a Blaziken to Mega Evolve into a far more powerful form of themselves." He pulled out another orb, this time one that was attached to a necklace around his neck. "By fusing my auras into these, I shall Mega Evolve and receive untold power from the transformation.
"I told you, Draco. The strong always surpass the weak. And now…you shall be the first to feel the wrath of my TRUE POWER!"
The Key Stone and the Blazikenite glowed brightly. An orange strand of energy traveled out of each stone and came into contact with each other. Inferno's body glowed in the same orange color, roaring as his body went under physical changes.
Jango stepped back cautiously, scared out of his mind. His aura was…overwhelming. It was so thick, he could barely breathe. A second wave of energy expelled from Inferno, pushing him back harshly. If he wasn't careful, the force could snap his neck.
As Inferno finished changing form, the orange glow around him soon turned red. The ground under him was set ablaze. The castle could barely take the pressure it was undergoing.
Everyone gasped in horror as the giant sphere that blocked entry or escaping from the castle suddenly turned into raging fire. They all moved back as the flames lightly grazed them.
"What's going on in there?!" Zangoose shouted.
Terry had his arms crossed, surprisingly not bothered by the flames. "Jango is being pushed to his limit. I don't know why, though."
"Inferno is increasing his power with the Mega Stone." They turned and saw Chromo walk over to them.
"Chromo!" Amanda exclaimed.
"What are you doing here, old timer?" David asked.
"Is Altaria and the kids okay?!"
He coughed into his wing. "Yes, Ms. Altaria and the children are in safe hands. After the assassins have been purged from the city, I escorted them back to some shelter."
Ampharos, while haven't formally meeting this man, was shocked. "Mega Stones?!"
He nodded. "I fear Inferno planned for this, in case Jango were to get the upper hand on him." He narrowed his eyes. "However…I do not believe that is the case here. Inferno wants Jango to suffer, to see what he will do to us. He is toying with him."
Terry checked his watch. The moment Jackson activated the bombs, he received a countdown from it. "Twelve minutes left until the bombs go off."
Amanda looked towards Chromo and clasped her hands together pleadingly. "Please, you must help him!"
He bowed his head. "I am afraid I cannot help. This barrier is shielded with magic. Nothing can break in or out." He raised his wing. "However…even if I could, I feel this is something Jango must do on his own. The crossroads of fate are diverging…now we will see what paths he and Scourge shall take."
They all looked towards the flaming sphere with hopeful expressions.
The flames died down after a while. Jango rubbed his aching head as he looked at the figure standing before him.
Inferno has completely changed into his Mega Form, with some changes to him and his armor. His hair, in the same shape as the Mega Form, was blazing with fire. The flame streams that came off his wrists have turned into a darker shade of its original color. His armor has turned black, with red spikes on the shoulders.
He stretched, adjusting to the new body and suit. "I must say, I am liking my new look." He bent down and stretched his legs. "So Jango, still feel confident in beating me?"
Jango's eyes were shrunken in terror. His aura was insane. He was strong WITHOUT the demonic blood. It was like he was staring into the face of a real demon. He shook and dropped his blade. It was so quiet, the sound of it touching the ground clanged loudly across the room.
The assassin lord enjoyed seeing his horrified expression. "That's what I thought." He stood up and began walking over to him. Every step he took left a fiery footprint in the ground.
Jango panted quickly, trying to regain control of his breathing. Jango, focus!
I can't! I've never been this terrified in my life!
This is your first time going up against an aura like his. Scourge narrowed his eyes. I'll admit, though…even I can't help but flinch from that massive energy within him. But that doesn't mean you should give up.
What can we do? We're too weak compared to him!
Don't count yourself out just yet. We may be at a disadvantage, but there's still hope.
Jango finally got a hold of his breathing and calmed himself down. He slapped his cheeks to remove his nerves. "Alright…I can do this."
We just need to hold him off for a little longer. You can do this.
"Right…" He clenched his fists and roared upward, releasing a pillar of fiery energy. His eyes and claws glowed red as he got into a striking position. "This ends here, Inferno!" He lunged at him.
He threw fast paced punches at his face, but he simply moved his head fluidly to avoid the attacks. He even had his eyes closed. He backhanded Jango away, but this didn't deter his fiery aggression one bit. He dug his claws into the ground to stop and ran back, repeating the same tactic. Again, Inferno dodged every single attack. He brought his foot down on his spine, crushing him against the ground, then kicked him into the wall. He regained his balance and ricocheted off the wall. Inferno sidestepped and elbowed him into the ground. He prepared a kick, but Jango moved out of the way.
Phew, that was close.
Inferno disappeared and reappeared behind him. "Nice try." He punched him into the air. He appeared over him and kicked him straight down. He then appeared on the ground and kicked him to the side. This resulted in a vicious game of pinball for the poor Charmeleon.
Jango activated Flamethrower and changed his direction before he could get hit again. He jumped off the wall and threw a punch at Inferno. He vanished just before it hit him. Anticipating his next attack, Jango rolled out of the way from Inferno's blazing axe kick. He picked up some debris, infused demonic energy into them, and threw them. They exploded upon impact with him. Inferno fanned the smoke away and fired Flamethrower
Jango jumped over it and fired his. Inferno jumped through a portal to avoid it and came out behind Jango, chopping him in the back of the neck. His vision became blurred, making him stumble around. He could barely make out Inferno as he picked him up by the cloak.
"Useless," he uttered as he flung Jango to the side, ripping the cape of the cloak off. "Stand and fight me!"
Jango struggled to get himself back up. His knees shook uncontrollably. "I…won't…quit!" He charged at Inferno with a full powered Thunder Punch.
Inferno took the attack without fear. It was only a minor tickle to him. "Now do you see the truth?" He slammed his fist down on Jango's head, cracking his mask and possibly his skull. "You will never have the power to surpass me." He picked him up once more and punched him into the face, completely destroying the mask. "It is pointless to continue fighting." He punched him in the gut.
He coughed up a large bit of blood. "Then…why do you still…want me to fight you?"
"To teach you a lesson." He smashed his face against the floor. "You fight to protect your friends. But that is your biggest weakness." He picked him up and punched him with a flurry of fists. "By abandoning those feelings, I have no weakness." Jango could feel his bones slowly breaking to pieces. "That's what makes me strong. I have nothing to lose. You do. And that's what will always hold you back." He tossed Jango to the side like a ragdoll.
He could barely stay conscious. His body ached all over. It was hard to move. It felt like every cell in his body was screaming in pain. He clenched his eyes shut. He wanted to yell at Inferno, but he couldn't find his voice.
Inferno took out his sword and stabbed Jango in the shoulder. He was so choked up that he couldn't scream. "Once the obsidian kills you off, I can finally leave. Now then…" He walked over to the rock barrier that housed Jackson. "Time to teach my other insubordinate a lesson."
He punched through the rock, then felt a paw immediately slam into his chest. "Reversal and Force Palm!" Jackson released a powerful beam of blue energy from his paw, increasing its power thanks to the Reversal and the amount of damage he sustained earlier. The beam burned right through the ceiling, a perfectly clean hole.
He panted tiredly, having just regained consciousness. He watched as the smoke from his attack settled down. Inferno laid on the ground with a singe mark on his chest plate. His eyes were narrowed, more annoyed than hurt by the attack. He flipped onto his feet and dusted himself off. "A sneak attack. Very resourceful."
Jackson clenched his teeth. "Aura Sphere!" He threw it, but it got backhanded immediately after.
"Too bad sneak attacks only work once." He walked towards him.
"Dig!" He spun around and drilled into the ground.
"Oh no you don't." He stomped on the ground, sending a pillar of lava upward. Jackson plopped out, his fur singed and blackened. Inferno grabbed him by the throat and lifted him to eye level. "To think, I treated you as my son. And this is the thanks I get?"
"You are no father to me!" he shouted as he punched his face. He waved his paw with a cringe. It felt like he punched ten feet of steel.
Inferno sighed and shook his head. "Unruly pests such as you need to be exterminated from the world." He dropped Jackson, then immediately kicked him into the floor. "You should at least thank me, Death Shadow. You'll die at the hands of your adoptive father. Not a mob who will place you in a jail cell for the rest of your life." He punched him repeatedly, sending him deeper and deeper into the ground.
Jango watched them for as long as he could before slipping into an unconscious state.
(Jango's Mindscape)
He opened up his eyes and looked around at the fiery landscape that was his mind. Unfortunately, it was slowly turning into black smoke, all thanks to the obsidian. He got into a sitting position and sighed.
"So, this is where it all ends, huh?" Jango looked to his left, where Scourge sat next to him. This is the first time he ever saw the spirit so helpless.
He sighed. "Yeah, guess it is."
They could hear the sounds of Inferno pummeling Jackson without mercy. It was almost hard to listen too. Scourge snapped his claws and muted the noise.
"So, what now?"
"We just wait for the obsidian to kill us, I guess."
Scourge shook his head. "Have any plans?"
"Even if I did, it won't matter. Inferno has us at a disadvantage. Not to mention my body is way too broken up to move. Our fates are sealed. Only hope we have left is that the spell stays intact a little while longer."
"Still, are you going to let Jackson die out there?"
"He knew what he was getting himself into. He knew the risks."
"There's dying like a hero, then there's dying without dignity. This isn't how either of you want to go out."
Jango leaned back and supported himself with his arms. "Doesn't matter. As long as Inferno is gone, I couldn't care less at this point."
Scourge watched as the mindscape continued to evaporate away from existence. Once it was fully gone, they're as good as dead. He looked back at Jango. He could tell he meant what he said. But he could also see in his eyes that he wanted to settle the score once and for all. That drive to win and fight still burned inside of him. He couldn't help but smile at that. Guess that's why he was so fond of Jango. He had that certain passion to fighting he had himself.
Now, here they are. Awaiting death. A sign of surrender.
Scourge narrowed his eyes. He didn't want to go out like this. And neither did Jango. "Get up…"
"Huh?" Jango muttered.
"I said get up!" Scourge flapped his wings and rose up. "I'm not letting this guy have the last laugh! If we give up now, we're only proving him right! We need to show this guy we are a force to be reckoned with!"
Jango stood up. "That's all well and good, but there's still one problem. He's stronger than us. And it was you who said we aren't compatible."
Scourge raised a feather. "Yes, you and the Spirit of Hatred and Evil aren't compatible. But, you and the Spirit of Purity and Life are."
The Charmeleon raised a brow in confusion. "What are you getting at?"
"While I may have changed, my aura still can't resonate well with yours. But, if I were to turn into the Spirit of Purity and Life, we may still have a chance."
"You can actually turn back into your original self?"
He shrugged. "Well, it's not an exact science. Technically, I still am the Spirit of Purity and Life. If I can just expel my negative energy with your positive energy, we may actually stand a chance against him."
Jango looked down in thought. He wanted to stop Inferno from harming his friends. But, for his entire life, all her ever wanted was revenge for his parents. He wanted to stick to his word and he's going to.
He sighed, then smiled confidently. "Alright, let's give it a shot!"
"Good. Give me your hands." Jango placed his hands into his wings. "Now, I'm going to feed off your positive memories to expel my negative ones. Once we do that, we should notice a change."
"Wait, ALL of your negative memories?" Jango asked in disbelief. "Dude, you've lived for centuries under hatred. How is five years of good memories going to help that?!"
"I never said this was going to be easy. Besides, I'm also going to feed off your emotions. The stronger the positive ones are, the more of a chance we have."
"Still, will it be enough?!"
"Only one way to find out." He closed his eyes and channeled his aura. "Now start remembering!"
Jango closed his eyes and concentrated. His aura started flowing into Scourge. He began to recall his earliest memories. Everything he could think of. Birthdays, hanging out with his parents, attending fairs, everything. The farthest back he could remember was his parents tucking him into bed, wishing him goodnight. He could feel the warmth of that moment, the happiness radiating off his innocent face. It made him smile a bit.
His aura turned from red to blue as it flowed into Scourge. His fiery body crackled a bit. He needed more energy. "Jango, we need more!"
"I'm trying as hard as I can!"
"Don't force those memories! Let them come naturally!"
"But there isn't even much to my childhood!"
"Childhood innocence may be strong, but don't forget you have more good memories. This past month, you made many friends. Try thinking about them! Remember all the fun you guys had! Use that to your advantage!"
Jango slowed his breathing and concentrated. His aura glowed brighter as he revisited his old memories.
(Exiting Jango's Mindscape)
Inferno grabbed Jackson by the throat and began to choke him to death. "This is the end of the line for you, Death Shadow."
Jackson desperately tried to escape his grasp. He could feel himself losing consciousness, slowly becoming lightheaded. He wasn't sure how much longer he could last.
Inferno closed his eyes with a satisfied smile. Everything was going according to plan. Nothing can stop me now. His eyes snapped open upon sensing a new aura. "What the…" He turned towards it, then, it surprise, dropped Jackson.
Jango's body glowed in a light, blue aura. His breathing started to return to normal. His heartbeat climbed back up to normal. His injuries disappeared one by one, as if they were never there in the first place. He levitated off the ground and landed on his feet. He grabbed the sword lodged in his shoulder and pulled it out slowly. He tossed it aside.
Inferno narrowed his eyes. "What is this?"
He began to rise off the ground as wind swirled around him, tossing aside loose rubble. Red flames swirled around him, encasing him in a transparent, fiery bubble.
What really ticked the assassin lord off was how content and tranquil Jango seemed to look. "Why isn't he suffering? He should be scared, not relaxed!"
Thoughts raced through Jango's head, of his time in Poketopia. Every moment he spent came back to him. Everything he cherished, everything he cared for.
"Awesome, Pokémon of your species aren't from around here that often."
Sphere…you're such an odd fellow. You're probably just as awkward as me. Still, I appreciate everything you have done for me. You're a good friend to have around.
"Be patient Jango, your true love will be out soon!"
Heh, Flower…you're a bit scatterbrained, to say the least, and you may need to work on your managing skills when it comes to money. But you did believe I had a chance with Amanda and you supported it in your own strange way. I am glad to have met you.
"I will help. It is my sworn duty to care for the king and princess. I shall not fail you."
You're one loyal butler, Jamison. I understand why you didn't trust me after the attack. I don't care if you still hate me or not. Just please protect the king and Amanda. I thank you for giving me a chance.
"It is nice to meet you, young man."
…those are the words of someone who doesn't know the truth. Zangoose, I am so sorry about killing your friend. I know I can't bring him back, but I can at least guarantee your survival. I hope you can somehow forgive me.
"Leave me alone! My Uncle Jangy save me, bullies!"
Katie…you are the closest thing I ever had to a little sister. You've touched my heart the day we met. And, even after the horrible things I've done, you still look up to me. I hope one day you find a loving family to call your own. If I live through this ordeal, I might even take you in myself. Stay strong, squirt. Be kind to everyone you meet. And never lose hope in anything.
"I, uh…I want to apologize for calling you Gecko Freak…Look, I was a jerk, I admit it. I shouldn't have acted the way I did."
I'm the one who should be apologizing, David. I treated you just as badly. I nearly got you killed…three times, in fact. Both of us were out of line. There's a chance I may never see you again. Please, take care of Amanda. She's going to be heartbroken if I die. She'll need you in her time of need. We may have a rough start, but I appreciate you standing up for me when I needed it the most. You're a good guy, David.
"That's what friends are for. Without them, civilization would be turned into mass chaos."
Terry, you were the closet thing I had to a brother. You've been my friend since preschool. We had some great times together. To think, after all these years, we managed to recognize each other. Not only that, you were the first person I ever trusted with my secret. You managed to keep that secret for about a decade, not once bragging about it or exposing me to the world. You are someone I can trust. I will never forget you.
"You are a Phoenix. When things go wrong, you rise from the ashes of defeat and tackle the fight head on. You are who you are…you are a symbol of hope for all…you…are Jango Azrael Phoenix."
Uncle Chromo, without your guidance, I could have forgotten who I was. I blamed everything on myself, wanting to end it all. I couldn't have made it this far if it weren't for you. I still say leaving me to fend for myself was a low blow, but I'm kind of glad you did anyway. It's like you said, time cannot be interfered with. I may not have gotten to know you as well as I should, but I will never forget everything you taught me. Thanks, Uncle.
"Jango…you care about Amanda, right? You would go to great lengths to protect her?...That is something to be worthy of. You don't protect her because it's just a job…you protect her out of the love you feel for her. I can't think of anyone better for my daughter than you."
I'm sorry I have broken your trust, King Howlite. You put your daughter's life in my hands and betrayed that trust. I understand that you might not want me to be with Amanda. I will respect your wishes. All I ask is that you spend more time with her. You're the only family she has left. I don't want her anymore heartbroken than she should be. Lead your city to victory and protect it and your daughter with your life. It was an honor working for you.
"Jango, I know you don't give yourself enough credit, but you're a strong Pokémon. Just because you lost doesn't mean you're a failure…Jango, don't doubt yourself just yet. You said you have a better grasp of your powers. Maybe this time will be different…Jango, wait!...Good luck…"
…Amanda…there are no words that could describe how much I want to thank you. You shined a light into the dark void that was my heart. Even after the torture I put you through, even after I betrayed your trust, even after admitted all the terrible things I've done in the past…you still want to save me. And you did. You saved me from myself. Without you, I could have killed everybody around me. Without you, I would have lost my way. My life has been a sea of mixed morals and I could no longer tell right from wrong. I felt I needed to protect you. But, in the end, you're the one who protected me. I had to embrace the side of myself that I rejected. It caused me pain. You…you gave me the will to accept that side of myself. I will cherish your love and kindness for all of eternity. Thank you…for everything. I will always love you.
A spark of blue energy shot out of the red sphere. They became more frequent, flying off in all sorts of directions. Starting from the bottom, new flames began to appear. Sapphire blue flames flowed steadily around the sphere, like a gentle river in the forest. It radiated a majestic light throughout the room.
Jackson laid there, awestruck by the sight. "Wow…"
Inferno cautiously picked up his obsidian sword and aimed it like a javelin. "I don't know what kind of game you're playing, Draco, but it will only lead to your defeat!" He charged at the sphere.
Time seemed to move slow as he charged at Jango. He clenched his fists. When push comes to shove, I'll always pull through in the end. I am not a monster…I am not evil…I am not an assassin…I am…
"DIE!" Inferno thrust the sword into the sphere.
Seconds passed after that. Expressions of anger and shock came to light from Inferno and Jackson respectively as the sword inched closer to Jango's heart.
…his eyes snapped open.
The sphere exploded in a pillar of sapphire flames. Inferno was pushed back by the force and smashed right through the wall. Jackson covered himself as the flames covered him. Yet, they didn't hurt him. They were warm, even comforting. Inferno, however, gritted his teeth as they scorched his skin.
The flames traveled throughout the halls, covering every inch of the building. Nothing was left untouched. Nothing burned. They glowed in a mystic light that shrouded everything in their wake.
Everyone could see something glowing from the top of the giant fire sphere. Lightning crackled down the sides like a brilliant lightshow.
The sapphire flame pillar burst from the top and touched the sky with its flames. The dark clouds that hung overhead dispersed as a shockwave of blue flames stretched across the sky, all the way to Poketopia.
As the citizens took the injured to the hospital, they stopped briefly at the flames passing by, showering them in their flames. At first, they flinched. Then, they realized the flames were harmless. In fact, they kind of tickled.
Back at the dark castle, a giant phoenix of fire took shape and screeched proudly towards the sky. Everyone stared at it in awe.
"Amazing…" Ampharos muttered.
Chromo glanced at Amanda, who possessed a relieved, joyful smile. He chuckled and looked back at the phoenix, which dissipated. They chose the path of light.
The flames eventually died down, still scorched across the walls. Jackson panted lightly, still taken back from the sudden explosion of light. He could sense the aura radiating within the smoke cloud Jango stood in. It was immensely strong. He could see the aura, a fiery blue color, rising as high as the ceiling. Heck, it was spreading across the ceiling!
Inferno, who was too angry to sense the change in aura, picked himself up and wielded his sword. "Well, that actually did hurt me quite a bit. But it still won't be enough!" He charged again, attempting to repeat the same tactic.
Blue eyes shined through the smoke. They narrowed as a powerful, invisible wave of aura blasted out of the smoke. Inferno's eyes widened as the force not only caught him off guard, but he couldn't even stand up to it for more than a second. It knocked him off his feet and onto the floor.
The ground sunk deep under the pressure, forming a massive crater. The walls that surrounded them crumbled to dust, giving their battlefield more space. Jackson, who was covering himself, couldn't believe the amount of power being used from just a simple blast of aura. And this was coming from an expert of aura.
The rampage of aura eventually quieted down. Inferno pushed himself up, breathing deeply. He finally began to sense the blazing aura for himself. "His demonic aura…that power…it's immeasurable…"
Laughter echoed throughout the room, sending slight shivers up Inferno's spine. "It's funny. The very thing that you call a weakness is the thing you fear the most. Don't try hiding it, Inferno. I can see that look on your face. You're scared."
"S-Shut up!" He needed to keep his cool. "I don't fear anything!" He threw the largest fireball he could conjure at him.
Jango, whose shape started to appear the smoke, held his hand out and emitted a light pulse of blue energy. The fireball dispersed instantly. "What did I tell you? That wasn't even all of your energy. You actually fear me now."
Inferno held up his sword. "Who…what are you?"
Jango stepped out of the smoke. His assassin outfit has completely changed. He wore a blue robe that went down just a bit below his waist. It had an impressive sheen to it, allowing light to bounce off. The hood over his head was pointed on the end, resembling the beak of a phoenix. The sleeves were a bit baggy, but didn't interfere with any movement. He wore black pants with mystic runes running down the sides. His tail flame turned the same sapphire blue as his flames. Sheathed on his back was a double edged sword, with the hilt being an amazing bluish-silver and shaped like wings.
His eyes glowed blue, with his irises still visible. He spread his arms out as the flames behind him grew. "I am Jango Azrael Phoenix…the prophesized Phoenix Child…" He smirked. "But…you may refer to me…as the Phoenix Knight."