Chapter 4:

Revelations

The screams of his new victims, blended together like a symphony in Gendo's ear. The splatters of blood as his undead hordes walked mercilessly onward killing every elf they could find. Their master himself was at the head of them, but he did nothing. Casting and slashing nothing he simple walked onward. Absorbing mortal blow after mortal blow as if it weren't real…he continued.

"Form the line! Archers at the ready!" one elven commander cried trying to inspire his men to combat. "Aim for the necromancer. If he falls then they will stop."

Gendo continued unhindered by sword, fazed by the sight of the formation. "Fire!" he heard vividly. He continued looking forward as a rain of arrow fell all around him, riddling his and servants bodies. However that didn't delay him from his mission. He would enter the Valley of Eva, he would take the throne of the Cosmos and he would wait. "Second line fire!" He continued with his emotionlessly expression as he looked up and one hit directly in the right eye.

He stopped in his tracks for a second so did his army.

"Victory!" they cried. Suddenly the army started up again this time more aggressive bypassing Gendo and bum-rushing them before they could react. Gendo started up again. He jerked his head left as an arrow is shot through his temples. He turned to the offenders, high of a ledge above his army's reach but not his. His eye glowed an eerie green as the archers was suddenly surround by lichs. Their screams were add to the ones he was already hearing.

"Stand Fast Soldier of Eva for the White Mantle Calvary shall turn these undead bastards back." was screamed overtop the wailings. Elves on white horse attacked from the ground while elves on winged horses assaulted them from the air.

"We can still win this day." Gendo was unimpressed and looked onward standing still he summoned lich and bone dragon alike to deal with the aerial brigade then he awakened more newly dead from the slumber to fight against their former brethren in life.

"Don't fear this aren't your allies…the dark ones wish you to waver in your resolve. Fight hard." Though it didn't so, the voice had angered Gendo now. His angered turned to rage from rage it became raw power. From beneath him a bone dragon had formed and honored it's master with a ride. Instantly his eye fixed on the transgressor, the young elf queen Maya leading her people into battle on winged horseback wielding Balthazar, one of three legendary sword of the Magi. With the holy sword in hand she charged him. He slowly slid the dark blade Nerv from it's sheath, they collided. Their sword connected time after time with no clear winner in sight. Maya broke from him for awhile raised Balthazar to her face and prayed before it. The blade glowed a bright gold as a ball of energy formed at it's tip. Thrusting the sword high into the air she cried, "Shooting star!" Beams fired sporadically at Gendo, who simply looked at them as they struck him. The bone dragon was consumed by an explosive light…Maya watched sharply for any signs that their master was dead. Anything…she received the desired on…the body of the bone dragon fell lifeless to the ground. She rejoiced, "Next I will save you Sempai." She begin to wheel her horse around to deal with the other dragons but she stopped as two demonic wings revealed themselves. The light receded however Gendo received very little damage, the attack had the reverse effect. Gendo had amidst the attack become quite enraged. So much it shown on his face, he lifelessly expression now was replaced with the faint glimpses of anger and hatred, the green glow from his eye now red. Even his sword showed signed as a dark aura had consumed and swirled violently around the black metal. He hovered in mid air, supported only by the dark in his soul he fought so hard to control. Maya knew she wouldn't get the chance to rue this day. However she didn't resigned herself to that fate, as long as she drew in strength, Casper wouldn't be without entertainment. She charged Gendo with all the power she could muster. Her mad dash inspired her people to do the same…"For the Valley of Eva…I will not fail." the doomed elves screamed in unison.

Shinji final got Misato to stop for a break…it was little way away from their personal sleeping ground…the entire night Misato dragged Shinji deeper and deeper into the wilderness. No signs of civilization within miles, Shinji drew weary about this. He trusted Misato whole-heartedly and would give up his life if she asked him to or it was required to save her. He learned to love her quirks, and viewed her much like a maternal figure he never possessed but this Misato seemed distance; extremely distance. He looked alone off in the horizon as Misato got her bearings. The city of Aerials was the last place she wanted to return to. She knew what awaited them both there; truth pain suffering and for one of them possible death. Shinji bite into one of the apples he had picked up on the way. After eating he felt most of his strength return to him…however he still worried about Misato. Misato stood before him, "Time to go." she muttered helping Shinji up to his feet.

"But Misato."

"Listen Shinji…this is something I need to show you before I can go any further. Before I can help you any further you need to choose a side. And by showing you this I will have helped you choose."

"How far away is?"

"We will have reached Sho by now but if we hadn't continue without stop…we will reach the tower of Aerials by nightfall the city isn't that far from it. But we will rest there for the night."

They continued on like Misato planned; nonstop. Shinji devoured more and more apples he found along the way to keep his strength up as the snow pelted his face relentlessly, he seemed to get colder and colder as they continued by not from the snowfall by from Misato's touch. It numbed his hand as she grasped it tightly clinging to his to make sure it was still there. Day transitioned into night almost instantly as they entered the tower. Shinji's found a bed to his liking and lit the fireplace to provide him with much needed warmth. Misato stood outside the door and watched, she knew his presence would alert the guards posted to protect Aerials. It had been an hour and it was a matter of time before they came here looking for the intruding wizard. She became a stone sentry…unmoving, unflinching as their footsteps echoed up the stair.

'There is seven of them. Most then likely Avengers of some sort. I don't want to disturb Shinji for he will need his slumber.' She walked to the end of the hall…take her longsword from her back and awaited them. They came at full force when they saw her…their mission was killed then ask question later. The small corridor hadn't allowed her to swing her blade in full force and forced them to attack her one at a time but their smaller blades were ideal in this situations. After killing her first victim, she relieved him of his sword. She combated them pushing them back ever so slightly down the steps. One after one until they all meet their end at her sword. She tossed the blade away covered in flesh blood, she entered the room housing Shinji as both the sun and Shinji's smiling face greeted her.

"Time to go." she commanded dragging him down the steps half-aware of his surroundings…making sure he didn't come into reality until they were complete out of the tower.

"Misato…slow down." He snatched his hand from her grasp, "Last night…or rather I heard you killing them. Why?"

"…."

"Misato!" She walked over to him kissed his forehead and slammed her fist in his stomach as hard as she could rendering him unconscious. He went limp on over her shoulder and she carried him. The snow hide her tracks as she walked onward. Misato knew that more Archons awaited her head she couldn't walk through the front way. Only option was the secret road…, which Misato found amazingly amusing, the path of Hyoraji; the path she walked to escaped is the path she decided to use to enter.

'The dark chamber. The land of where heaven and earth collide with hell.' She thought pressing onward. She found the secreted entrance…a wind tunnel with a powerful updraft. She held tightly to his body and dive feet first being blasted skyward. She landed on a ledge. After sitting Shinji down against the wall she surveyed the area…

"Kaji don't let him get away."

"Okay…Ritsuko…behind you."

"Don't worry I have him…Kaji Ritsuko press forward down let them escape."

She slapped Shinji continuously until he came back into awareness. He stared into Misato's eyes for awhile.

"Forgive me Shinji there aren't many answers I could give until now…"

"Is this is Aerials?"

"Yeah…or rather the entry way to the Chamber of Guf. Long ago me, Kaji, and Ritsuko entered this very chamber with the intent to kill the King."

"Why?"

"We served your father who allied himself with the Covent."

"My father?" She helped him up and started walking down the hall.

"Shinji that isn't the half of it." She pointed to a collection of bones supported only by an arrow…

Ritsuko raised her sword and slashed the last of her opponents, she turned and smiled quietly. "You guys go on ahead. I wish to stay and clean up."

"You sure Rits…"

"Yeah go ahead." As they disappeared the young elf warrior lend down against the wall and slid down. She smiled slightly injured but over all fine. She looked around Misato and Kaji were too far ahead for her to catch up now. She didn't really mind guard duties…Archons were fun opponents. And with the legendary sword Balthazar she had all the entertain she handle…Suddenly the thundering of footstep cascaded down the corridor.

"King Tabris will be furious? How could we let them get to great emperor Hyoraji?"

"No time to for you talking we have to get the emperor to safety or something horrible will happen."

'Misato are you sure about this' The new coming soldiers stood in front from of Ritsuko. She let them have a brief smile before her heart hardened and the warrior inside her took hold.

"We don't have time for her. The purple haired one wielding Melchior." Ritsuko exploded directly toward them, her feet bypassed all corpses as if they were there and nothing could impede her march. However an arrow fired deep from behind them. Striking the elf in her heart and causing to come to a halt instantly. Everyone looked at where the arrow came from…"King…King….King Tabris."

Ritsuko felt the life draining from her body…however she was compelled to stare into the red eyes of the white haired monarch as he passed her.

"I forgive you for you sins Ritsuko." rang out in her ear as she drew her last breaths standing there.

"Ritsuko lies there died to world." They walked the same path her and Kaji followed, the scene played out in her head it seemed so real. She saw her younger self running down the hallway following behind Kaji. They entered the King's hall…on the throne impaled by a lance….

"Master?" Shinji said walking over to the throne. Misato grabbed his shoulder and held on to it tightly pulling him back. But somehow he broke away, he shot a glance at Misato…his eyes were cold and unforgiving but powerful, extremely powerful.

"Misato…." he said with a growl…

"Oh god…" she said watching his brilliantly golden aura become as black as tar and it's warmth replaced by the cold sting of death.

"God can't save you now…the coven can't even save you."

"Well Onyx it is nice to see you using the body of your pupil to exact your revenge."

"Shut up…I will kill you! Kill Gendo! And when I am done I will kill each and every moment of the coven. Then I will Shinji to rule the throne of the Cosmos"

"You will release Shinji at once or I will send you to hell." Shinji/Onyx laughed walked over to the throne removed the lance plunged into the corpse's abdomen. Shinji collapsed as Onyx returned to his own body in the corner. He should up his body decayed; losing his flesh and being consumed by maggots. She staggered at first over to the Lance quickly drawing it.

"I may not be able to use the lance's full power but the satisfaction I will receive from kill you with my own hands will more then suffice."

"I still command Melchior." Onyx chuckled heartily.

"So…I command the Lance of Longinus. This fight was eight hundred years in the making Misato…the three Magi the fought to take the Emperor Hyoraji knew the might he wield with Lance…to contest it they need a weapons of considerable might themselves…the lance, Nerv, Caspar, Melchior, Balthsar, Lillith, and Eve. All forged from the same skin of Gods." Misato place her hand on Melchior. However the Lance is blessed by all three…you only have one's blessing, Lillith's. This fight was determined the moment you brought him to me. NOW DIE!"

The decaying geomancer dashed at Misato with full force his weapon extended poised to strike her…she glared at him holding Melchior tightly ready willing and able to strike.