Chapter 47: Roar of the Lion

Zander and Esta stared at Vulcan as he (joined by the rest of the Sins moments later) looked between them and the currently deceased Alex before he started walking toward them as the others looked at their dead leader and found they couldn't move due to Esta's commandment of love, but Vulcan could.

"What? The Commandment doesn't work on him." Esta said in surprise as Vulcan stepped towards him and squared up against him, Ax in hand.

"Of course it doesn't work. Why would I feel any hatred towards someone who is so obviously weaker than myself? All I feel is pity." The Lion Sin told him, currently several inches taller than the Exo.

"How very prideful. What could you possibly find pitiful about me?" Alex's second brother wondered.

"Not only that you need a Commandment to give off the illusion that you're strong, but also the fact that Alex has the misfortune of calling the spineless cowards in front of me his siblings." Vulcan stated. This caused the other sibling to bristle.

"You insolent-!" Zander started to say.

"Hold it, Zan." Esta told him. "If he really thinks he can beat me, then why not let him show it?" The Exo added before he ducked down and delivered an uppercut to Vulcan's helmet covered chin, before jumping over his and punching him down the cliff side, kicking him back up it, and then punching him to the ground again. "Now, anything else you want to say?" He asked as the Titan got up.

But then he was caught off guard by a blinding light coming towards him at his right side and was just barely able to block it as it was revealed to be Vulcan using his Sunbreaker small ax melee on him. Esta stumbled backwards a few steps before falling to his knees just as the rest of the Commandments arrived.

[He brought Esta to his knees?] The resurrected Devil Kell said in surprise.

"With a blow he obviously blocked? Impossible!" Zander spat.

[Best be careful. He's not like the other's.] Glox cautioned, getting nods in return.

"What's wrong? Did you find something interesting there on the ground?" Vulcan asked Esta casually. The Exo started chuckling in response before it turned into full blown laughter.

"No. I just can't get enough of the outside world." He replied as he got back to his feet. "So, I think I'll go all out against you." He added as he pulled out a dagger from his chest.

"How impudent of you." The Lion Sin huffed before he swung Rhitta down on the man, and then was surprised when Esta swiped his weapon to the side and blood gushed from his shoulder.

"Heh. That's the beauty of my power, Full Counter. I can reflect any physical attack with double the impact." He boasted as Vulcan tapped his own shoulder with a look of surprise.

"Interesting. No wonder I felt pain just now. I really do pack quite a punch, don't I?" The Lion Sin mused. He then took a stance.

"Ha ha ha! You're unbelievable! How proud can one man be?!" Esta laughed. "Before I kill you I have to know, what was your name again?"

"The name's Vulcan. Commit it to memory before I kill you." The man told him before conjuring a Cruel Sun. "And since you have decided not to hold back, I will do you the courtesy of the same."

"Thanks but you should know, if you use that kind of power so close to others, those behind you will be fried to a crisp." The Exo states as everyone behind Vulcan started feeling the heat of the sun and burning up, some even getting melted armor.

"Sentry, can you confirm that there's a large lake nearby?" The King of the Awoken asked his companion.

"Yeah. It's two miles to the southeast, which is where you're facing." She replied.

"Good." The Lion Sin nodded, before he made his sun blast Esta all the way towards the lake and then appeared above him and then conjured another. "Cruel Sun!" He yelled as the sun blasted Esta into the lake… and evaporated it!

Zander barely managed to get there in time when he saw the entire lake get reduced to nothing but a giant sinkhole.

"What the-?! He just evaporated the whole lake with one move!" He got out with wide optics.

Esta slowly stood up as his armor was burned away and his entire right side was charred. "I have to admit, that was a strong attack. I really felt it. It's lucky that I deployed my darkness when I did. Any later than that would've been rough." He sighed as said darkness healed him. "Alright, let's end this." He then extended his arm. "Aura Blackout." He intoned as his darkness swallowed up a Cruel Sun Vulcan had formed.

"It's over!" The Exo yelled.

"What are you talking about?" The Awoken King said as he swung his ax.

"Full Counter!" Esta intoned, causing the attack to rebound. Vulcan grunted as another wound was created before he went still. "My darkness swallowed up that sun of yours. In terms of magical power, I clearly have the upper hand. Additionally, my Full Counter can redirect your attacks right back at you. You know what this means don't you? I had fun, Vulcan."

Then it was suddenly one minute to noon.

Without warning, a long cut was made on his chest, causing his optics to widen as the pain made him stagger back.

"My attacks have no effect on you? Who decided that?" Vulcan questioned as the darkness covering his attack dissipated.

"I didn't even see his attack coming! Who the hell is this guy?" Esta muttered to himself in shock.

"Your Darkness swallowed up my sun? Who decided that?" Vulcan questioned further as he towered over Esta. "And now for Cruel Sun." He added as his sun grew larger.

"Oh no, brother!" Zander yelled in concern as he tried to go to Esta's aid.

"I will be the one to decide. Now… Die." Vulcan said as he brought his sun down on the man below him.

The attack flew forth and collided with Alex's estranged brother and continued to fly through the air. The Lion Sin grunted as he put more power into the attack and sent it flying through a hill.

"VULCAN, YOU BASTAAAAAAAARRRRRD!" Esta yelled as he was enveloped by the flames. Zander, hoping to save him, flew right in front of it desperately tried to push back against it, but it was futile.

"BROTHER, NO!" The horned Exo yelled as both were then consumed by a massive explosion. As the explosion subsided Esta was nowhere to be seen, but a very angry Zander was in clear view as he charged at Vulcan. "You'll pay for that, you bastard!" He yelled as he landed in front of Vulcan.

"Ominous Nebula!" The Exo intoned as a dome of noxious darkness surrounded them, the Commandments and the Sins, right as the clock struck noon. Vulcan just walked forward, unaffected.

"So you wish to fight me? Well then." He said as he raised a finger into the air. "It seems the time has come." He intoned, entering his The One form.

"You're able to walk forward unaffected by my Ominous Nebula…?! What kind of monster are you?!" The Exo asked in disbelief.

"I don't care if it's Alex or Esta. The three of you seem to have a desire to get the scrap pounded out of you by me." Vulcan mused.

[Dr'ol, that power seems very familiar to me. Where have I seen it before?] Reviks asked the Cabal next to him.

[I cannot recall it either, it seems.] The four armed Primus replied.

"The time has come." Vulcan said in an ominous tone as he grinned murderously behind his helmet while he entered The One.

"How the hell is he able to stand up straight without being affected by the Ominous Nebula?!" Juna wondered in shock.

[I swear I've felt this somewhere before…!] The former Devil Kell exclaimed as he looked at the sight.

"You've bested Alex before? If that happened, then he wasn't being serious." Zander stated. "He's a tough guy, but he always had a bad habit of toying around with stronger opponents just to spite them… Meh. He got what he deserved." He continued with a shrug before getting serious. "I'm a different person, though. Alion or fly… They will all fall before me!" The Commandment of Piety declared. This was then followed by Vulcan slamming his favored ax onto the barrier surrounding his quarry.

The two attacks clashed against each other as sparks flew everywhere, and after a few seconds, Zander deflected the attack.

[He's even able to block Vulcan in his 'The One' form?] Skolas questioned.

"Impossible! He's even able to give me a scratch?" Vulcan mused as he looked at his large hand, which was squirting a small amount of blood. "Hmmm." He hummed thoughtfully before he tossed Rhitta over his shoulder.

"I take it you have no intention of throwing down your weapon to beg for your life?" Zander questioned.

Vulcan simply raised his flattened hand and pointed it down at the Exo's sword as it radiated unimaginable power. "Divine Blade: Vulcanus!" He intoned. He then brought his hand down on the Exo's blade. Hard. The wind from the shockwaves forced everyone to cover their faces.

"Well… This is unexpected." Monty remarked as he shielded Juna from the winds.

"No one should be able to even get within striking distance of Zander when the Ominous Nebula is up! What is this guy?!" Juna questioned.

[Wait, now I know where I've seen this magic before! There's no mistaking it, it's a Grace!] Glox told them, fluttering to Dr'ol's shoulder. [Without a doubt, it's the same power of that Arch Angel sent by the Traveler back in the time of the Collapse to try and stop Lord Crota. The Angel of the Sun, Mael!] He continued, causing everyone's eyes to widen in shock.

"What?! And Zander thinks he can take that guy on?!" Juna asked in disbelief. Back with the two combatants Zander was glaring at Vulcan as his arms were beginning to give.

"This war between light and darkness has gone on for a long time, it even transcends time! Why would an Awoken like you concern yourself with it, for what purpose?!" He snapped.

"All for the sake of my friends and family!" The Lion Sin growled as he pressed on.

"This isn't gonna end well…!" The Commandment of Purity exclaimed in slight fear.

"Friends? With that monster, Alex?! Don't make me laugh! The Alex I knew would never have let himself feel such complex, naive and pure emotions!" Zander retorted, anger flaring, but this caused his concentration to falter and a second later, Vulcan's karate chop broke through his barrier. Zander was now straining himself in holding back the monstrous Titan's hand from hitting him.

"It was only a matter of time until he broke through it." Ana mused as she watched the fight progress. A moment later, Zander jumped back… But Vulcan had other plans.

"Did I say you could get away from me?!" He growled. Holding out his index finger he concentrated another large amount of power through it. "Divine Spear: Vulcanus!" He intoned as he thrusted his finger forward and deep into the Commandment of Piety's midsection. Zander gagged in pain as he dropped his sword and a white fluid that everyone assumed was his blood sprayed everywhere.

"Captain Zander!" Monty yelled as Vulcan's attack dig deeper into the Exo.

"Die." Vulcan growled as he pushed with all his might and sent Zander flying in Dr'ol's direction and tumbling to the ground, his body severely damaged. Vulcan then began walking in their direction, intent on finishing the job. Juna saw this and was immediately terrified of the beast stalking their way.

"Um okay, fuck this shit! We need to get out of here!" She exclaimed, her legs shaking.

"Ten Commandments! Retreat!" Monty yelled as they grabbed Zander and quickly left the scene. And not a moment too soon, because as soon as they left, Vulcan's one minute was up. When he saw them leave, he scoffed in distaste.

"I'll finish him another time." He grunted before he decided to give Snake a call. "Has Alex been resurrected yet?" He asked.

"No. I decided that bringing him back in the middle of that fight would be a bad idea." Snake replied.

"What are you waiting for, then? A fucking invitation?! Bring him back!" Cortona ordered impatiently.

"Okay, okay! Sheesh." The Ghost muttered before he began to bring his Guardian back… And then a familiar voice was heard.

"Cocoon of Darkness!" The apparently alive Melissa exclaimed as Snake was engulfed in said woman's technique with Alex's body, much to everyone's shock and anger.

ThermalsniperN7: Well… Vulcan certainly went to town on Zander and Esta, didn't he?

Dragon Emperor0: And now he's gonna have to wait an entire day to be able to take Alex down quickly… Oh boy I just realized. What the hell are Koroth and Elizabeth up to right now? I sure do hope he hasn't deflowered her yet.

ThermalsniperN7: If he has, then Alex is gonna explode with more force than an unstable dyson sphere. Though if he hasn't, then we're good… But if Alex sees him with Elizabeth, he's a goner.

Dragon Emperor0: I got a really bad feeling that it's gonna be one worst case scenario after the other in the next chapter…

ThermsalsniperN7: If it is… I don't know what comes next outside of Alex rampaging and destroying every Hive stronghold in the solar system in a fit of rage.

Dragon Emperor0:... Uh, see you guys next week?

ThermalsniperN7: What he said.