Disclaimer: Same as always. See chapter one.

Chap. 16

Anubis is coming! Unconsciously, I started to panic. He's...wait, calm down. I forced myself to clear my head. Okay. This just means that we'll have to move fast. If Dingo gets caught before he can obtain the technique, then we're all in serious trouble. It was risky, but...

-"Be careful."-

Be careful? What was he talking about? The answer came when I opened up and Ken floated out toward the battered Inhert. Ken? No! I couldn't let her risk her life. I promised Ardjet that I would take care of her. But unfortunately, there was no other option. And it was too late to stop her anyway. I just had to wait, and hope that she returned in time. I could see Dingo's face now. He seemed worried, but hid it well. Ken's form eventually reached the side of Inhert's head and she reached for the technique. She then unlocked it from Inhert and its energy sheered out and at me. My body was flooded with incredible energy before it faded away within.

-Zero Shift-

But something was strange. Although I felt the energy of the technique, I couldn't tap into its power. But I was warned that it would take time for me to use. Suddenly, the chamber above began to rumble loudly. It didn't take a genius to know that Anubis was here. And Ken had no way of reaching me before he arrived. I was about to move down myself to retrieve her, but instead she ducked away from the debris and hid under Inhert's body. Dingo closed the chamber just as the cavern crashed in loudly. Debris and dust came in and in the midst of it, a form warped in a materialized before me.

"I've found you."

I seethed, "Anubis."

His usual grin was crossed on his face as he floated in front of me, "We've got to stop meeting like this, brother. It could be bad for your health." He cocked his head slightly, "I see you still intend to oppose me. I wonder...oh I see. It's...what's his name...ah yes, Dingo. He's still alive. Incredible, isn't it?"

"What is?"

His tail danced around aimlessly, "The power we both possess. Within you lies a dead soul, alive again. While I have taken the living and granted them death with a single wave. Don't you see? We are gods as was always meant to be."

"Gods?" I shot back. "You think killing innocent lives and destroying a planet makes you a god?"

He shrugged, "Me? Hahahahaha!!! I have nothing to do with it. I'm merely following Metatron's call. The blood that surges within me and you."

"You're insane!"

Anubis didn't respond. Rather, he raised his arm into the air. Volts of red metatron energy crackled above his head. I stood ready to fight when he swung his arm, not at me, but at the floor below, straight at Inhert.

"RAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"

"What...stop it!"

The volts of energy smashed into the ground around Inhert. He wasn't hit directly, but the force of the energy was harming him further. After several blasts, Anubis stopped.

"Inhert, you sedimental old fool. I never really thought you'd betray me." He looked back at me. "You just can't trust anyone these days, can you?"

"That was pointless." I grumbled. Attacking a warrior is one thing, but not when they are completely defenseless.

"What? Oh yes, of course. You treasure life." He folded his arms once again, "Well, how would you feel to know that your existence has cost many lives already?"

'What?' "What do you mean?"

"Those that gathered the Metatron for our creation have paid with their lives. A fitting task for a species whose life means nothing."

I didn't believe it. He had to be lying. But...Anubis has done a lot of things, but he's never lied. No, he has to be wrong.

"You mean...people have died for us to live?"

"That's right. In fact, your runner was supposed to be one of them. But by some miracle, he survived. Like a cockroach."

I growled, but I began to sense Dingo's presents thoughts. His final mission, the transfer of Metatron and Nohman's betrayal. Anubis was right. But still...

"Enough. I don't care what happened in the past. You will not destroy and kill anymore. I will stop you!"

He crackled, "Hahahahahahaha!!!!! You and what army? Or maybe I'm mistaken. Maybe you can defeat me now. Let's find out." He suddenly raised his arms up and outward. "Come on. Get me!"

"RAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"

I wasn't aware of the rage I was building up in me since his arrival, but now I went at him in a murderous frenzy. Anubis smirked at my attack and as my blade was ready to come down on him, he disappeared.

I snapped my head upward, but there was no sight of him anywhere. Looking around, I could barely make out his shadowy visage warping through the columns. I began to calm down. Alright, let's review. I've obtained more techniques and gain more strength from my previous battles, so I might be able to do something to him. But then I remembered before. I had these techniques before when I was in the Antillia. Even though the ones I had now were more powerful versions, I doubted that they would have any better effect on a creature like Anubis. I would have to rely on my natural power.

"What's wrong, Jehuty? Having second thoughts?"

I turned around to see Anubis a short distance away. He was flying at me with his lance out. I quickly unsheathed my own blade and blocked. But Anubis's force was too great and I was slammed backward, almost hitting the wall. I stopped myself just in time to see him disappear again. Where is he now?

"Ha!"

Anubis suddenly reappeared right in front of me. His lance was about to stab into my chest when out of sheer luck, I dodged to the side, causing it to impale into the wall. Taking advantage, I moved in to slash at him, but he had pried the lance from the wall and warped again. I had to focus. We both had the same metatron, so I should be able to trace him somewhat. The shadows of his being were moving around the chamber rapidly, almost untraceable. Almost.

-"There!"-

I suddenly shot my hand toward the mid-corner and fired a wave of metatron beams. Just at that moment, Anubis reappeared and the beams hit him full on. But he had made no attempt to defend and the beams did absolutely nothing to him. He gave me a wry look.

"What was that supposed to be?"

I growled and made ready to fire another wave, but Anubis had warped again, this time to top center of the chamber.

"Brother! Let me show you how it's done!"

Stretching his hand again, he fired his own wave of energy beams. The beams soared around in a strange zigzag formation like blaring veins. The beams were curving at high speed, all coming right at me. I flew of to the side, but the beams seemed to follow me, no matter where I went.

"Decoy!"

My shadowy image was left behind and the beams hit it and smashed into the wall. I was in stealth so that may give me from breathing space.

"You can't hide from me."

Anubis warped and reappeared at another area. His wings converged together and dark energy began to surge within him. He suddenly released a thick flare of energy and it came right at me. How could he know where I am? I dashed away again, with the flare flying right behind me. I swiftly swooped upward and caused the flare to hit the column, causing it to explode and crumble. Backing away from the damaged area, I waited for Anubis to appear. I tried to sense him, but it was too difficult. But there was a reason for that. He had appeared right behind me.

"Sucker."

His lance bore down on me and it was too late to defend as the bladed lance slashed down my shoulder. I reeled back, my shoulder in scorched pain.

"You're we..."

He didn't see it coming. For that matter, neither did I. Somehow, through another miracle, I ignored the pain of my slashed shoulder and charged at him. My own blade slashed right across his arm, hurting him. I...hurt him? I finally hurt him! But I was being premature as the attack did only minimal damage and served only to enrage Anubis. Using the butt end of the staff, he smacked me right across the face, causing me to reel back toward the wall. I struggled to stop once again, but Anubis was already firing in red beams, this time with reckless abandon. The beams shatter the entire area I was in, but luckily I was able to avoid the fire. The entire chamber was covered with smoke and I couldn't see him. And judging by his delay in attacks, he couldn't find me either. But even so, what will I do? He's still to strong for me to battle. I only managed to scratch him while he severely hurt me. My injury would heal in time, but not enough considering my opponent. Without the Zero Shift awakening my true power, I still don't stand a chance against him.

"Get away, Jehuty."

'Huh? Inhert?'

I didn't realize that the smoke had cleared enough for Anubis to spot me. He gleamed evilly.

"There you are!"

With a single toss, Anubis reared his arm back and hurled his lance at me. I was completely caught off-guard as the spear came right at me. But before I knew it, a dark image suddenly tackled me up toward an open hatch that had opened behind me. The spear missed me by a hair and stabbed into the corridor. As I flew back, I noticed the image was one of the afterimages of Inhert.

"Inhert..."

"It is up to you now, Jehuty. You are the one...to save us all."

Unfortunately for me, I could still hear through his thoughts. Thoughts of relief which was soon followed by pain and finally these last words...

"Foolish old man! You can't even die right!"

"Guuaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!"

I shut my eyes solemnly as I was finally thrown outside. The afterimage of Inhert faded away into nothingness and I flew away.

'Thank you, master.'