Chapter Eight

"Under my nose?" asked Isaac.

"Yes," replied the Wise One. "Or rather…in your blood. You see, it all ties back to that day so long ago when you, Garet, and Jenna ventured to Sol Sanctum…and when Saturos and Menardi attacked."

Isaac thought hard. "You're right," said he. "You came and let us escape. But what does that have to do with anything?"

"It's all to do with the Mars Star," explained the Wise One. "The Mars Star was the only star that you did not hand over to Saturos and Menardi. You carried it with you for the duration of your journey. When I allowed you and Garet to escape, I imbued the Mars Star with power. You were never aware of it; when after a long time you journeyed to the Mars Lighthouse, you defeated the Doom Dragon and so lit the final lighthouse, causing the Golden Sun to rise. As you did this, the power I imbued in the Mars Star caused a quarter of the Golden Sun's energy to enter your body. You possess power of the Golden Sun as well!"

"But what does that have to do with anything?" asked Isaac.

"Alex was able to become a vessel of Alchemy because he, too, possesses power of the Golden Sun," the Wise One explained. "I did not wish for the Golden Sun to rise because I knew that Alex was lying in wait, trying to claim its power for himself. I was too cautious, though, because Alex was never able to claim its full power anyway. When he stood before it on the peak of Mt. Aleph, he also claimed a quarter of the Golden Sun. Because of that, he could possess more Djinn than any other, and so he gathered nine Djinn of each element to resonate the power of the four elements with the power of the Golden Sun, unleashing Alchemy."

Isaac thought hard to try and grasp this. "So…what are you saying?" he asked. "Since Alex and I each possess a quarter of the Golden Sun…"

"The Golden Sun that hangs in the sky is only half of it," the Wise One concluded. "The other half is distributed between you and Alex. That is why whenever Alex tried to kill you, he was stopped – the portion of the Golden Sun in his heart reacted with that of yours. They repelled, and so you two could never kill each other, no matter how much you wished it."

"So how am I supposed to beat Alex if I can't kill him?" asked Isaac.

"That has changed now that Alex has unleashed Alchemy," the Wise One explained. "Now that the four elements have resonated with his Golden Sun fragment, this restriction no longer rides upon either of you. But now Alex has taken flight to the Golden Sun hanging in the sky, and he is attempting to claim the other half of the Golden Sun so that he possesses three quarters of it. This must not happen…because even though he won't have the full Golden Sun, he will eventually learn that you possess the remaining quarter and he will kill you and take it."

Isaac nodded, fully understanding. "But still…you never told me how we could defeat Alex."

"Isn't it simple?" asked the Wise One. "Alex unleashed Alchemy within himself with the power of nine Djinn from each element – and you can do the same!"

"I can?" asked Isaac.

"Yes," the Wise One answered. "Look around you! You possess nine Venus Djinn already; Garet possesses nine Mars Djinn, Sheba possesses nine Jupiter Djinn, and Mia possesses nine Mercury Djinn. With these thirty-six Djinn and the Golden Sun fragment you posses you can unleash Alchemy and face Alex in the final battle of Weyard!"

Isaac felt new hope welling within him. "Of course!" he said. What he hadn't noticed was that Garet, Ivan, Mia, Jenna, Sheba, and Piers had gathered around. He turned to them. "Did you hear all that?" he asked.

All six Adepts nodded. "Yeah, this is what it's going to come down to," Garet said. "I would be willing to give up my strength so that you can finish off Alex once and for all!"

"I agree," said Sheba. "We will help you defeat that wicked being!"

"Even though Ivan, Piers, and I don't have our Djinn with us, we'll still help in any way we can," said Jenna.

Isaac grinned. "Thanks, guys," he said. "Well, we don't have time to waste…let's do this!"

Garet walked up to Isaac and put out his hand. "You're a good friend, Isaac," he said. "I hope you the best of luck when you face Alex." He shook hands with Isaac, and Garet's nine Mars Djinn joined Isaac, and he now gained Fire Psynergy.

"Don't let us down," Sheba said, placing her hand on Isaac's shoulder. "Go out there and make us proud." Her Jupiter Djinn then left her and joined Isaac, and he gained Wind Psynergy.

Isaac turned to Mia, and saw that she was on the verge of tears. "Isaac…" she said. "Since we've journeyed together…I've just…I don't know how to say this…"

Isaac was completely oblivious. "Huh?" he asked.

"I…love you, Isaac," said Mia, and she threw her arms around Isaac. As she hugged him, her Mercury Djinn started to join Isaac's power.

In the sky was Alex, before the very Golden Sun, so high above Weyard that trees appeared as specks. The orb of Alchemy glimmered before him, golden light gleaming upon him. "Here it is," said he. He put out his arm. "And at last, my existence shall be complete…AND I SHALL BECOME INVINCIBLE AT LAST!" He laughed cruelly. "Look at this world below me. It does not realize what is happening at this moment, the changes that are to come…"

Alex paused. With his sharpened eyes he could see the ground far below him, and there he saw Isaac and Mia hugging. He saw as they kissed, and he felt a rage greater than any other well up within him. He remembered his feelings for Mia when they were growing up…and now Isaac, that damned wretch, had stolen his love from right beneath him!

"I don't need the Golden Sun yet for this," he said. "I SHALL KILL ISAAC NOW!"

Alex pulled out his sword, and it shone with blinding light, a testament to the power that resided within it. He beat his wings and went in an all-out dive bomb headed right for that cursed Venus Adept. He would kill him now. A rotten bastard such as this does not deserve life, thought Alex.

Isaac gained Mia's Mercury Djinn, and he gained Water Psynergy, and he now could wield the power of all four elements. Garet, Sheba, Ivan, Jenna, Piers, and Mia watched in awe as the four elements resonated with the fragment of Golden Sun in Isaac's veins, and so he stood, his hair becoming a bright yellow hue, and he gained thick golden gauntlets along with a matching breastplate. From his back sprouted two great wings, the span of them over thirty feet, and he stood a new being. He both possessed and was Alchemy, a living embodiment of the four elements.

With increased reflexes he saw Alex dropping out of the sky toward him, and Isaac drew his glistening golden blade, holding it up and clashing with that of Alex. The two foes beat their wings and took flight, swords at the ready.

"You copy my power?" demanded Alex. "But how?"

"I, too, possess a quarter of the Golden Sun!" explained Isaac. "In the sky hangs the remaining half, and you shall not have it, even if it leads to my death!"

"Death is even possible at this new state of power," said Alex. "For as I have learned, Isaac, we are polar opposites. We cannot coexist like this; that is why our paths continue to cross and we must face each other here. One of us must die for balance to be restored."

"And you must be the one to die," said Isaac. "For whether both of us live or I die, this world will still be cast into chaos and shadow. I will not allow that to happen!"

"Nor will I allow you to ruin my life further," said Alex. "I suffered six weeks in hell beneath the earth! I deserve to achieve my ambitions! AND YOU SHALL NOT STOP ME!"

Alex flew at Isaac, and their blades clashed. The two exchanged thrusts and blows as their epic duel filled the skies with the noise of battle. Garet, Ivan, Mia, Jenna, Sheba, and Piers all stood together with the Wise One as they watched the conflict unfold.

Alex plunged his sword at Isaac's throat, but Isaac ducked and aimed a thrust at the belly of Alex. Alex managed to catch Isaac's blade with his own sword, and they two thrust up and clashed blades again. After another round of swings the two foes backed off, both breathing hard.

"I see you have power equal to mine," said Alex. "Though I hate to admit it, you are my equal."

"And the same applies to you," said Isaac. "But here at the end of Weyard, at the wane of humanity, one must succeed and one must fail."

"Then let us decide it," said Alex. "Let us decide the fate of Weyard in this battle of battles. Do not hold back, Isaac…you know that to kill me you will need to use all of your power. I swear to you, I will not hold back."

"Nor shall I," said Isaac. "Come! Let us be done with it."