Session 40

Our Last Hunt

All stories eventually end. Whether it be a long epic or a series of diary entries. It can't go on forever, even if you truly want it too. -Description for The Ex-Conqueror Diaries

It was funny to them.

For so long, they had watched from the shadows. Occasionally, they would act. Usually, this ended in utter failure. Maybe that was why they eventually stopped doing that altogether and just relaxed until today.

"Funny how things work out." Phoenix thought and smiled.

Currently, he and his teammates were standing at the edge of Valia's castle, staring out at the ruins they had called home for so long. All around them, angels had begun to massacre all that stood before him with not a hint of regret. And now, they were the only ones capable of taking on these threats. The irony of that seemed delicious enough to eat almost. If they had the time to do that.

Phoenix took a deep breath and charged forth, with Mage following right behind. It was just like old times, back when The empress was their biggest problem. When there was just one timeline you needed to follow. Where things were certain and clear. And yet, it was quite boring to read and/or experience. Then things changed, for better or for worse.

Lightning Blade!

Mage swiped both of her kopis through the air, electricity now flowing through the metal. She then stabbed it into a nearby angemon, freezing them in place for a couple of seconds.

Twin Phoenix Cutter!

A pair of small phoenixes shot out of Phoenix's katanas, slamming into the angel Mage had been working on.

With that change, came new opportunities and challenges. Each one, a test of one's strength pushed to the breaking point. A few times, the author had managed to break him. And yet, here they stood triumphantly. Maybe, just maybe, there luck was beginning to change. They doubted it, already knowing their coming fate.

"Come on." Mage whispered, snapping Phoenix out of his moment of reflection. "There are still many angels to fight."

Phoenix took a deep breath and sighed. A lone magnaAngemon stood patiently, potentially waiting for them. The duo dashed their way over to it.

Gate of Destiny!

As they got within striking distance of the ultimate, a golden disc appeared beside it, ready to suck the duo in.

"Fuck." Phoenix whispered and gave Mage a slight nod.

Inferno Firework!

Mage shoved her left kopi into the ground, only for a large bottle rocket to shoot out and slam into their opponent. The gate then dissipated and left the magnaAngemon quite confused. The duo then charged in, slamming their weapons into him and tore the digimon to shreds.

"Another one down!"

As Phoenix said that, five more magnaAngemon swooped down and surrounded the duo. In retrospect, it probably wasn't the best move they could make at the moment. Not that they even cared at this point.

Lucky Strikes!

A figure blitzed through the group, slashing a pair of butterfly swords through the magnaAngemon.

"I guess that answers our question." Mage whispered as their savior could now be seen.

"Thanks Gambler." Phoenix added as Gambler smiled and the three headed on, finding a massive herd of Angewomon and MagnaAngemon awaiting them.

Twin Phoenix Cutter!

Five Card Slash!

Inferno Firework!

As Phoenix and Mage launched their attacks out, Gambler charged towards their opponents with a deck of cards. She then flung it up into the air, watching as the pieces of paper floated through the air in relative peace. Or would have, if a scythe blade hadn't torn through and interrupted her attack.

"Hey!" Gambler announced as a boy and a girl jumped into the fray. The duo made quick work of the threat, leaving the three heroes quite annoyed. "Did you have to do that, Devi and Reaper?"

The duo only laughed.

"And let it not be like the old times?" Devi announced and tapped the pole of his scythe against the ground. "We got to savor it while lasts."

He was probably right, sadly. All journeys had to end eventually, no matter what sort it may be. For as far as they had come, the group had reached their destination on the road of life.

In the distance, their target stood all triumphantly and menacingly. They were almost ready to take her on, just having to wait on just one more teammate.

"What's taking her so long?" Reaper shouted and stared towards Phoenix and Mage. "You didn't piss her off again, did you?"

Phoenix and Mage rolled their eyes and a girl carrying a boombox ran up.

"Sorry about that." the girl explained and casually placed the boombox on the ground.

"You're on time, Empress." Phoenix joked and got a glare from her.

Empress then pulled a pair of cutlasses out and approached the group, kicking the boombox on in the process. 'Can't stop us now' by Machines of Flesh and blood then began to play as the group charged towards to their opponent, ready for whatever fate awaited them.

"My, my, my." the opponent announced, pulling a crossbow out. "So this is how it's going to be, huh?"

"We wouldn't want it any other way, Yami." Empress answered and snickered. "Let's finish this."

Darkness!

Yami fired her crossbow off, crossbow bolts now raining down upon them.

Gorgon Slash!

Empress charged towards her, slamming both cutlasses into the opponent. Afterwards, Yami found herself unable to move for a few seconds and was subjected to a couple of rounds of slashes and stabs from her opponents.

Success!

Yami grabbed hold of her opponent and placed the crossbow in front of their head. She then fired, watching as the bolt pierced right through the head and into the ground.

Inferno Firework!

Once more, Mage stabbed her left kopi into the scorched earth as a bottle rocket shot out of the ground and into the opponent.

Lightning Blade!

She swiped her right kopi through the air, electricity flowing through it once more. Mage then swung the dagger into Yami and connected with the crossbow. The discharge alone should have been enough to kill her. Yet, Yami still stood there, haven't even moved a single inch at all.

"How pathetic, Clara." Yami mocked and kicked the scorceressmon to the ground. "I expected much more from you."

Yami then smashed her boot into Clara's skull as a bone-shattering crack echoed throughout the area.

"How dare you!" Phoenix shouted, charging up another round of twin phoenix cutter. "You will pay for this!"

Before Phoenix could launch off his attack, Gambler grabbed hold of him.

"Now is not the time for this, Ace." Gambler whispered as everyone's 'favorite' character sighed.

"Fine." he answered and took a deep breath as Gambler released him.

Five Card Slash!

Gambler pulled a new deck of cards out and threw it up into the air around Yami. She then charged forth, slashing and stabbing at the small projectiles in mid-air.

Lucky Strikes!

Gambler then dashed back through a second time and was tripped by Yami.

"I guess your gunslinging friend isn't going to save you this time."

Gambler was then slammed into the ground as a second crack filled the area once more.

Doombringer!

The blade of Devi's scythe shot off as he swung it and the long chain towards their opponent. Yami grabbed hold of the chain and pulled the weapon out of Devi's hands, swinging it into his chest.

"Predictable." Yami announced and slammed the other end of the weapon into Reaper. "You're up. Any last words?"

Ace laughed and grabbed hold of Yami, giving her a tight hug.

"Yes, actually." Ace explained. " I caught you."

He then shoved Yami to the ground, an uneasy smile forming on his face. In a way, he had hoped it wouldn't have come down to this. But at the same time, he was ready to face this outcome with everything he had to give.

"You caught me off guard." Yami responded and pulled a pair of butterfly swords out. "But you'll have to do much better than that."

She was probably right.

He wasn't an overpowered yet interesting sue.

He wasn't a happy go lucky robot thing.

He wasn't some 'amnesiac' girl given a second chance on life.

He wasn't an awkward social butterfly.

Nor did he had infinite lives.

And yet, he was perfectly fine with that. He was Ace Resterez. No one else would truly be like him. And in the end, that was all that truly mattered. He had found his purpose within this mess and had attained the goal he and his friends had aspired too.

To be a hero.

Hidden Art: Phoenix Swarm!

Instead of the usual two phoenixes shooting out, a dozen of the birds appeared in front of Ace.

"And this is where my journey ends." Ace whispered, watching as the birds slammed into Yami. "Good luck with Delta, toots."

His eyes then slammed shut for the final time, a smile plastered on his face as his katana fell to the ground and the birds flew off to parts unknown. With that, the last of the hunters had died, not that any of you care that much.

"Good riddance." Yami remarked and teleported away as Heck fell silent for the first time in forever. And for now, it would stay that way until the time came to rebuild once more.

In the end, it was all just a stepping stone within this convoluted mess towards the bigger picture.

Notes:

RIP Hunters

May 1, 2012- May 1, 2016

Four years. Four long years of writing.

Crazy how times flies. Eventually, you just have to move on to bigger and better projects. For so long, I was unable to do that. And it shows at times in a couple of my past works. But now, this is their end and it is time for me to continue on.

Other than that, regular posting should resume in mid to late May.

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Next Time: Any moron can be a pirate.