Chapter Twelve
Three times the swords of Alex and Isaac clashed, and the two battlers backed off for a moment, then beat their wings and took flight higher into the sky.
"You think you can survive?" challenged Alex. "My winds shall ravage the earth and my waters shall extinguish the flame!"
Isaac thrust out his free arm and another great sword formed. One sword now shone with yellow light, the other with a crimson hue. Alex then put out his free arm and a second sword formed as well, and one sword became a shining light azure while the other was a deep blue. They charged at each other and their weapons clashed again, throwing their hatred and malice all at once.
Isaac closed his eyes suddenly. A great pillar of rock jutted up from the earth and struck Alex directly in the spine, catching Alex off-guard, sending him tumbling through the air. Alex quickly thrust out his arm and used great blades of wind to shear through the rock pillar, reducing it to rubble. He swung that arm down and caused a great hurricane to form around Isaac, whipping Isaac around like a toy. Isaac called upon his Alchemy and filled the cyclone with flame, the great fire whirling through the sky and striking Alex as it spun. Alex flew back but called upon a great wave from the sea to extinguish the flame.
In a cloud of steam the two fighters stopped momentarily once again. They both panted, exhausted beyond comprehension, but yet they fought, though drenched with blood, sweat, and tears.
Alex thrust out his swords. "I'm sick of this," said he. "This is a complete waste of time! JUST DIE ALREADY!" He charged at Isaac, swinging both swords. Isaac thrust out his blades and blocked the swings, and there they stood, locked in combat. Energy flew out from their bodies as they pushed hard.
Alex smirked, and he drew back one blade, slashing Isaac swiftly across the chest. Blood splattered everywhere and Isaac dropped out of the sky, plummeting down. He hit the ground on one foot then sprung back up, charging again. Alex thrust out one hand and fired a tornado that tore through the skies. It struck Isaac, tearing his clothes, and he raised his swords in an X formation to try to defend himself. The pressure was too much, and his blades shattered, and Isaac cried out as he took the full brunt of the attack, tumbling back.
"ISAAC!" the Adepts on the ground cried. They had gathered again, all watching the climactic clash.
Isaac managed to slow his descent, and he stopped in midair. Alex dove right at him, swords out in front of him, but Isaac cried out, using his Earth Alchemy to bring forth a great pillar of rock. Alex's swords plunged into the rock, and they were wedged in too deep. Isaac then raised his arms, sending the rock pillar flying into the air. Alex clutched onto the swords, but they snapped, and he lost his grip, dropping his sword handles to the ground below.
"I guess we're both without weapons now," said Alex.
"We have our fists," said Isaac. "And that's the only weapon I need."
Isaac and Alex flew at each other, swinging at each other. They hooked arms and spun around, both directing a kick. Their feet struck each other and they flew back then charged again. They swung their fists and their knuckles struck each other, and there was a sickening crack. Both fists were split open, and their hands bled, but they continued their fight. Isaac aimed a swing right at Alex's head, but Alex grabbed him by the arm and twisted it, then hurled Isaac down. Isaac grabbed onto Alex's ankle as he fell, and he thrust up his free hand, firing a stream of flame that engulfed Alex's body and singed his flesh. Alex cried out agony, then hurled a wave of water around himself, the two elements resulting in steam pouring into the sky.
Isaac yanked on Alex's ankle, catching him off guard, and he let go, bringing Alex's face to his level, and he punched Alex right in the face, sending Alex tumbling back, blood streaming from his nose. As Alex tumbled back he directed a kick that connected with Isaac's jaw, sending Isaac reeling.
As Alex moved back through the air, he fired wind blade after wind blade at Isaac, but Isaac dove and dipped masterfully, dodging every single attack. He then fired another stream of flame at Alex, but Alex threw a wall of water in front of himself to block it. Alex charged through the wall of steam right at Isaac. He drew back his fist, and it shone with golden light, powered up by Alchemy.
Isaac reacted quickly, calling upon his powers to raise a mountain before himself. The mountain rose up and Alex struck the massive mountain with his fist. The very impact caused the entire earth to quake, and the mountain shattered, reduced to rubble. Isaac was sent flying back from the impact, and Alex tore forward, striking Isaac in the chest. Isaac cried out, blood flying out of his mouth, and he plummeted, landing hard on the ground below, creating a crater from the very force of his fall.
Alex hovered over his fallen foe, a sadistic smile on his face. "FINALLY, IT IS FINISHED!" he yelled. "FINALLY, ALL HAS ENDED! YOU NEVER DID STAND A CHANCE, ISAAC!" He thrust his arms into the air, and rain poured upon the earth, the sky turning dark. Lightning ravaged Weyard, and it was covered in a veil of shadow.
Isaac struggled to open his eyes, and he moaned, his left wing having snapped. He was in horrid pain, with multiple broken bones and lacerations, and he tried to move, but only coughed up blood in the process.
"No…" Mia gasped. "Isaac…"
Garet turned away. "I can't watch," he said.
Alex shut his eyes, and he thrust his arms out at his sides. "I have waited so very long for this to happen," he said. "For so long, I have waited for this day, when I would possess all of Weyard's Alchemy. I deserve it – I have gone to hell and back, and I have survived. I had descended out of man's knowledge, and now I have returned. For the suffering I have endured for my ambition I deserve this."
Isaac looked up, struggling to speak. "You think… you think that just because you had a rough spot in life…that you deserve all of Weyard's power?" he asked. "You're nuts! You have no right to strip everyone of their power and claim it for yourself! What makes you think that you deserve to rule an empire? You don't! Get it through your head, Alex – NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO ABSOLUTE POWER!"
"If I can claim it, then I deserve it!" yelled Alex. "These pathetic excuses of life should defend Alchemy better if they want to keep it! When I claim the rest of the Golden Sun from you I will wipe Weyard clean! I will raise a new empire from the old ashes! I will create my own order, my own people, and I will hold power over them! They will do my bidding! With my great power every wish I have will be granted! I will create my own race, and they will all serve them! I WILL FORCE THEM!"
"You are the most sick and sadistic person I have ever met," replied Isaac. "You have completely lost your mind. I don't even think you're human anymore! You've gone completely mad!"
Alex paused, and suddenly he realized how mad his ambitions were. I…I can't possibly believe this, he thought. I can't possibly think that I can create my own race…possess all power…no. I've come too far to quit now. Maybe my plans won't go like that, but I will rule this planet. And the humans will serve me. They will need me! They will need my powers to survive! I will make them swear allegiance to me forever! Whoever stands against me will die instantaneously!
Alex stared down at Isaac below him. "So helpless…" he said. "You're completely helpless…I'm going to enjoy this."
Alex raised his arms above his head, and he looked up to the heavens. "With all my power I will strike you down, Isaac…" he said. "This is it…my final attack…the final blow that will erase you from existence!"
Alex reared back his head and yelled at the top of his lungs, his cries echoing through all of Weyard. He became engulfed in blue and azure light, and so dark blue shining armor rimmed with gold began to form around him. His wings turned larger, with red blades sprouting from their tips. In one hand he bore a great golden shield, larger than he was, and he gained a great steel chain around his waist. Upon his head he gained a great helm, a blue helm with a great red horns that curved upward. He bore the armor of Catastrophe now, completely consumed by a lust of destruction.
"What…?" asked Isaac, not understanding. Catastrophe consisted of Mars and Jupiter elements, and Alex did not possess any fire powers.
Alex laughed. "You think I'm summoning Catastrophe, don't you?" he asked. "Well, I am not – that is not possible without Fire Alchemy. I have merely used my Wind Alchemy to recreate his power within myself!"
Isaac didn't get it, but he didn't care. He knew that he was in a very real danger.
Alex thrust his arms into the air, and he poured all of his Wind and Water Alchemy out of his body, creating a giant sword, taller than that of a mountain, above his head. In his iron hands he gripped the handle of the sword, and he held it before him. The great silver blade pulsed with water and wind swirling around it.
"Goodbye, adversary," said Alex, pointing the blade down. "This is where it ends. THIS IS WHERE I CLAIM WHAT IS MINE!"
Alex laughed sadistically, and he plunged the sword downward. The point headed right for Isaac, about to skewer him. The others watched in horror, helpless, unable to get even close due to the great shockwaves that surrounded Alex and his weapon. The blade fell through the air and neared its target.
Isaac clenched his fists. He felt new power welling up within him. "What's this?" he asked.
Isaac felt as he was gripped by the spirit of Felix, and he felt Felix's Earth Psynergy flowing through his veins. He rose to his feet, and he felt as if Felix, his fallen comrade, fought alongside him. He knew that it was Felix…he could feel it. In the eleventh hour his comrade's spirit was giving him the power he needed to face Alex.
"What are you doing?" demanded Alex. "JUST LAY DOWN AND DIE!"
Letting out a loud cry, Isaac thrust out his arms and caught Alex's blade, grabbing the sides of the steel between his hands. The earth shook and broke beneath Isaac's feet, and he became engulfed with golden and crimson light, flame and earth filling his body. His wings spanned out wide, and Isaac's power grew greater as Felix's spirit aided him.
"WHAT?" demanded Alex. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? YOU CAN'T! NO! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS?"
Isaac stared hard at Alex, clad in his great armor. Rain continued to pour down, and Isaac was soaked with rain, blood, sweat, and tears. "Because…a friend has joined me this day," said Isaac. "AND THIS DAY YOUR REIGN IS OVER!"
Alex watched in horror as Isaac pulled down on his sword, wrenching it out of his hands. He then twirled the sword around and grabbed it in his hands, pointing it right at Alex. Alex's armor fell away, and he turned, trying to fly away. He beat his wings as hard as he could, flying as hard as he could.
"Know this, Alex," said Isaac, taking flight. "Whenever someone tries to destroy this world, tries to tear down what countless others have spent their lives building up…I will be there, and I will stop them."
He then thrust the great blade forward, plunging it right through Alex's heart. Alex gave one last cry, and his body was completely incinerated, and he ashes blew away in the wind.