Hellfire and Brimstone
CHAPTER 77: THE FINAL CONFRONTATION
-Outside the Temple-
Storm and Mayhem had to clear a landing zone for the X-Jet and the Velocity to land. The mountainous terrain was hard to work with, so Storm had to clean off all the snow as Vincent blasted a level landing area for them.
As the two vehicles landed the others started to disembark and gathered together with the exception of Emma and Xavier who stayed inside. Slayer looked at them all and he felt strange at the moment, like the eye of the hurricane. They were about to go into the final battle. Either they won and saved the world or they died and the world would burn. He had avoided a few such instances, but nothing this grand.
He saw a few of them shivering a bit in the cold as Logan stood in front, "Okay Multiple, Wolfsbane, Sunspot, and Ray, we need you four to hang back here."
"What, but why?" Roberto asked shivering a bit in the cold he would just transform, but with no sunlight he had to conserve his power. Sometimes having powers based on solar energy was just a major pain for him since without it he had to be more careful of how much he could use.
Cyclops stepped forward, "For several reasons actually. First, we need certain people here to help guard Emma and the Professor. While they're in there helping to keep us shielded and to prevent any other mental attacks against us, they'll be vulnerable." He looked at them as they had to know the importance of this and started to walk amongst them, "Ray you got an unlimited energy source for long range attacks. Roberto you need to conserve your energy and out here the sun might break through and recharge you. Rahne, with your powers you will be able to smell or hear anyone approaching, you're on sentinel duty."
The red headed Scottish girl nodded and changed into her were-wolf form. In this form she was faster, stronger and her senses were nearly on par with Logan. She even had a little healing ability but nothing like Logan or Laura's. Scott came to Jamie and from the disappointed look on his face. He figured that Jamie felt like he was the weak link.
Everyone knew that at times he felt like his powers were useless in a fight, but Scott wanted to give the young boy the confidence he needed. Despite his size and powers Jamie had more heart then any of the New Mutants. He tried the hardest out of all of them because he felt the need to prove himself the most. Scott placed a hand on his shoulder, "Jamie you're literally a one-man army. They'll need you because you're their backup, with you here they might not be able to be overrun by sheer numbers so I'm asking you to help them and keep them safe."
Jamie looked up surprised at Scott and nodded his head. "You can count on me," he said feeling a bit more proud in his role and even Rahne smiled at him seeing him like this.
"Okay you'll find some warmer gear inside and in case you need them a few weapons just in case," Logan really hated this, but Slayer had trained them all in a few melee weapons because when it came to demons, such things were necessary. Seeing Rogue, Vince, Cannonball and Angel with black blood on them proved that. But he wasn't going to give them guns, only staffs, fighting sticks, and stuff like that that.
"Okay then," Scott looked at them, "I'll be in point with Vince, Logan, and Slayer. Laura I need you, Colossus, and Scarlet Witch to take the rear and cover us if they get behind us." Laura nodded, for she knew how important rear guard was in a battle from her training with Hydra. "Okay then…Everyone let's move out."
Xavier sensed all of this and had to smile at how proud he was of them all. 'Good luck my X-Men, and God speed,' he sent to them all.
'Charles?' Emma sent to him from her seat in the helicopter the silver headpiece on her covering her eyes as she focused her powerful mind. 'Can you sense it?'
'Yes I can' said Xavier, feeling the darkness that was like a blackhole, something that was the pure darkness trying to draw them in, but it wasn't empty. He only caught a glimpse of it, but it was unlike anything he had ever sensed. When he had been under Apocalypse's control he had felt such evil that it still haunted him some nights. But this…This was far beyond that. It was too terrible to look into and was painful to just get too close to it. What was worse was that it was like this was calling to him in some way, there were no words or sounds just a feeling.
There was no way to prepare for such a thing and he used all his willpower to ignore it and push it away but it was still there lurking for a weak spot to his mind. But he would not let himself be drawn in there was too much at stake.
'Guard you mind Emma and whatever you do, don't get too close to it.'
You don't have to tell me twice she sent back and readied herself. She could already feel other forces at work trying to probe the others but she wouldn't let that happen. She was Emma Frost! She had been the White Queen! And she let nobody or anyone get in her way in life!
"Okay then…Time for you all to learn to fear the White Queen," she said coldly to herself as she focused her mind on the task at hand. She only gave one more thought to her friends and her love before she pushed all thoughts aside and set to the task at hand.
The other mutants made their way to the temple as they saw sighs of a major fight. There were claw marks all over the place as well as broken or discarded weapons, pieces of clothing, and lots of dried red stains that they all knew had to be blood. The temple had a few torches going, but nothing like when it had been before it fell. There were deep shadows everywhere the perfect place for some of the creatures they and to hide in.
Logan kept his senses sharp as were X23 and Nightcrawler as he looked into the darkness. He had with him something that he had felt that he never would have used, his fencing flails. Only now the caps he put on them were off and pointed. He didn't have much in the way of offensive powers, but he was a great fencer at least he thought so. His family back in Germany had taught him this…In fact, his father taught him the most. He thought back to them, he had never told him of all the events of what happened to him and the others only that a few bad things happened.
He signed, knowing he should have but how does one tell their family about this? He just didn't know how Jean had found the strength. He couldn't call them for a few weeks at first afraid. He'd just break down and cried. But he eventually had and it had been great to call them and he told them about Wanda and they wanted to meet her and Rogue one day.
Although now with Mystique living with them, that would complicate things. He loved his adopted parents, in fact he thought of them as his real parents. He considered Miss. Wagner just as much a mother to him as Mystique. He knew that if both women meet, THAT wouldn't be pleasant. But he was grateful for them and hoped that after this they could all meet so that all his family would be under one roof. They had given him his swords on his last birthday and had been training at the mansion with them for a year.
He even tried to get Wanda into it. She showed promise but needed more patience. He walked on with one sword drawn and another at his side and the last one over his shoulder. It was strange how so many of them carried weapons for his battle. Psylocke carried her Katanas, Vince even had his own sword, and Kitty was using those three edged knife weapons she had gotten from the Canadian. Even Sage was armed with a knife and two pistols strapped to her uniform.
And, of course, Slayer had his weapons as did August carrying the weapon that would kill Selene. He had mixed feelings there was a part of him that wanted to see her dead, but there was also the part that said killing was wrong no matter what. He had been so conflicted, but he didn't voice it. He decided to just stay away from Selene if he could and let fate and God decided what would happen to that woman.
They were about halfway in the temple when Logan's nose picked up something. He sniffed the air, the heat in the place was slowly getting up as they moved in deeper and he swore the smelt a hint of what Kurt kind of left in his wake of a teleportation. But what really caught his nose was that smell was getting closer and there was something else in it. In a moment, his ears picked up something and Slayer himself tensed up as the tattoo over his eyes glowed for a second.
"Company is coming," he growled out.
Slayer nodded this was going to be a nasty fight. As they would have to battle their way to the gate maybe tooth and nail. "Everyone stand ready!" Slayer called out pulling out his sword. It was then that the horde of darkness came out, creatures of various types running, crawling, or flying came at them without stopping or pause.
Scott let lose a powerful optic blast trying to make a hole in the enemy formation and Mayhem raised one hand and started to fire crimson energy blasts as well taking carefully aimed shots trying to take out the more dangerous looking ones. They only delayed the army of evil as they started to swarm around them. Soon Scott was firing all around him, ducking attacks and countering with his powers. Slayer was cutting through the forces and Wolverine went into the fry with a roar. The mutant started to literally tare into the ranks and Vince found as he usually did with calm fury as his sword cut into the flesh of the enemy and he fought with all his strength.
The other creatures decided to go for the others as the scent of living humans drove some of them wild with anticipation. Kurt pulled one of his swords and tossed it a bit into the air to be caught by his tail and drew the one on his back. He used his powers to 'stick and move'. Teleporting close to a creature and attacking it then using his agility to duck, dodge, weave, and even teleport out of attacks.
His mother was proud of how well he was doing, but she quickly had to pull her attention to an eight foot monstrosity with six arms and just as many eyes. She turned into a panther to quickly ran under the legs and pounced on a more animal looking creature that looked like a giant caterpillar from hell. She slashed at the eyes and jumped off and onto the first monster's back tarring into it with her claws and teeth.
Many of the creatures suddenly clutched their heads in pain, as the others knew that Emma and Xavier were helping them out by sending mental attacks to their enemies.
Amara turned into her lava form as she and August battled together. August was a pro at handling such creatures and gave out hints to the others when she saw them struggling. Magma tried to burn many of them but creature born from the inferno tended to be immune to her powers at times. Thankfully, Iceman and Jubilee were right with her to even it out as Bobby's powers proved more effective to those that were more fireproof then the others.
Jubilee had been training long and hard this past year on her powers and with the new training had found out that she had to use her hands in certain ways for more forceful blasts. She also wore a new set of large shades that helped to not blind herself with her powers when she used that.
"How many of these things are there?" she yelled out to them blasting one in the eyes blinding it as August stepped forward and kicked it away from them.
"Try not to think about that and just keep fighting and moving forward!" August yelled back to them over the noise of the raging battle.
The others fought on, but as some of their enemies approached the rear guard X-23 noticed that they weren't stopping. The roared out and jumped into the fray. Her front claws slashing through the creatures and she managed to decapitate one of them with her foot claws. Wanda focused all her power on the creatures before her, sending hex bolts that threw them aside or causing stones from the ceiling to sudden come lose and fall on them, causing the ground suddenly give way or parts of walls fall onto them.
Colossus, like his name suggested, was just that against them, picking up the heavier ones and throwing them into the other enemies. His skin was too tough to wound but his uniform had seen batter days as it was being torn up but he fought on. But he noticed something they weren't stopping at them and he suddenly realized what they were doing.
"They are going for the others!" he yelled through the melee.
"Damn it, we need to stop as many as they can or they could be overwhelmed!" Scarlet Witched cried out doubling her efforts.
-Outside-
They others had been waiting for sometime out in the cold. Everyone but Rhane had put on some warmer clothing given that her fur was keeping her nice and warm. She was secretly kind of glad that she was out here then inside. She had been brought up in a very strict religious background from her old guardian. Those hadn't been happy years for her but when her mutation kicked in and she started calling her a demon child she had run away. That was when Moira found her and took her in as her own.
Even though she never thought herself as a child of evil like the Reverend had kept on calling her, she was still a religious person and to be honest this whole thing scared her. She wasn't sure she could face actual demons and all of this just seemed like it was right out of the pages of Revelations.
But then she caught something with her nose. The wind had shifted in their favour and her ears were picking something up. As it got closer she felt that she could tell it wasn't the others it was something else.
"We have company comin'!" she yelled out to the others.
Roberto powered up and got ready as Ray's fists danced with electricity. Jamie who had taken a metal fighting staff started to multiply himself. Soon a few dozen monsters were coming out of the temple towards them.
"Well looks like we'll get our chance after all," Ray said, although at the moment he wouldn't have minded that they didn't have any action seeing some of those things.
"Well then…Let's do it!" Sunspot took off in the air in his solar form and fired his solar energy at the rushing creatures. Ray powered himself up as much as he could and let loose the most powerful electrical attack he could muster. Rahne snarled and readied herself as a small army of Jamies were formed up.
As the creatures got close enough she ran into them using her claws and enhanced strength to attack them. She fought on as a few Jamies were with her using the metal staffs against them. She saw to her horror on creature tare into one Jamie and her heart nearly stopped, but when it disappeared she realized it had just been a clone. But now the thought of what would happen if the original was hurt or worst killed? She wasn't thinking that they would no longer have the numbers on her side and she was thinking she could lose the sweetest boy she had never known.
This only fuelled her as she fought on more vicious now as her more wolf like nature took over. To her, Wolf side Jamie was not only a part of her patch but at the moment was her 'mate' and was very protective of him. The original Jamie was at the hatch of the X-jet he swiped his staff hitting one of them on the head and a reverse thrust into the gut of another. He had two more helping him and he already had one scrap oh his face from one attack earlier.
He knew that when he absorbed all his clones, it wouldn't be pleasant. He always remembered what each of them did and having all those memories and of the injuries they would receive would be hard on him. But the Professor and Miss Frost needed them here and he wouldn't let them down. So he fought on doing his best to fight them back. He saw the others doing the same and he just hoped that the others would be able to close the Gate soon.
-Back in the Temple-
The X-Men and New Mutants were slowly making their way toward the center of the temple. Sage was already limping from a small wound at her thigh, but she pushed on firing her guns into the heads of anything that was close to her. She was starting to run low on clips as she had already used up three of the eight she carried. She saw Boom-Boom throwing many of her time bombs into the mass of creatures blowing up several of them to pieces.
"Yes!" she cried, but then covered herself as black blood and flesh hit her, "Oh gross!"
She wiped from of it off her face and felt like throwing up but she held it back now was not the time to lose her head or her stomach. If she did she would most likely be killed.
Gambit was fighting with the others and this was definitely something he never saw himself doing, but then again he never thought he would work with a man like Xavier or fall in love again with a woman like Rogue. 'Life is just full of surprises,' he mused to himself and ducked under the strike of a creature that looked like it was made out of molten rock. Although he couldn't charge up organic material he figure this thing might be charged up. So he quickly slapped his hand to it's chest and charged it up and ran. The creature exploded in a shower of stones.
The fighting continued, but slowly the enemy ranks started to thin out as they went on. Kitty was sweating at the moment all the fighting and phasing was taking its toll on her. Her hair was a mess and she tried to keep it out of her face while fighting, for the first time she was really glad she wore a ponytail as it kept her hair from blinding her. She moved to the side to avoid a creature with barbs on his arms, but it scraped her arm. She cried out, but stabbed its neck with her sai and yanked it free. She looked at her arm there were several cuts and a bit of bleeding but nothing major.
She took a moment to look around. Rogue, Cannonball and Angel were dealing with the flyers at the moment as everyone else was still fighting. Some sporting injuries and it just hit her that this was the worst fighting she ever saw. She knew that she should be scared to death, but for some reason she couldn't feel anything at the moment all she felt was the need to survive.
She wiped her brown and continued on fighting, she was sure that later she might have a panic attack with all of this was over but at the moment she just had to focus on the fighting.
By now the flow of enemies had stopped and they gathered together to take the time to rest up and see to the injured. Jubilee was with Bobby, who was trying to see if he could ice up the slashes in his back, but he was having trouble as Hank looked at it.
"How is he?" Jubilee asked trying to ignore the stinging in her cheek from a hit to her face earlier. She knew she would have a bruise there later.
"I don't like this, Bobby. When you go back to being human this may be turned into an open wound," Hank told him.
"Well this sucks," Bobby winced. He really wanted to go on, but his back was aching all over and it was hard to move. He also wasn't looking forward to having and open wound later on.
Everyone else only had a bit more minor injured, either bruises, scraps, shallow cuts. Sage however had taken a nasty hit to her shoulder and was fighting back the pain as it felt like it was dislocated. Tabitha had at least one bruised rib but she told everyone she was fine although Sam kept on looking worried at her.
Jean had hurt her fist hitting something that was a lot harder then it looked. She was sure it wasn't broken, but her wrist hurt like hell and it might be sprained. But she chose to ignore it.
"I don't think Iceman will be of any more use," Beast told the rest of them.
"I'll take him back to the others maybe we can help them out," Jubilee offered as she helped Bobby up supporting him. Even thought he was cold to the touch she would endure it, he had gotten hurt because he had been looking after her after all.
"It might be logical for me to cover them," Sage said her one arm limp as her other held her gun.
'That might be best,' Xavier sent to them, 'The others are doing well, but they are tiring.'
"Good, guys take care," Scott told them as the three started to leave.
"Sure thing," Bobby said trying to manage a smile, "And kick her ass for us will you?"
Scott smiled at Bobby and nodded his head.
Chamber of the Gate
The ominous halls of the elaborate Temple of the Gate seemed like an endless maze as the X-men made their way into the heart of the complex. They had found a break in the forces sent against them for the moment and they took it to travel more quickly this time.
"Come on guys! We're almost there!" urged Slayer as he shot off another purple energy blast from his hands to disable a few of the crystal traps near the main hub.
"I know…I can already smell Selene's stench! It still stinks as much as last time!" growled Logan, ready to tear into this woman the moment he saw her.
"Just be sure you save some of her for me, Logan! I've got a lot of grievances with this woman and it's high time I settled them!" grunted August in a determined tone, the dagger still safely tucked away in a small holster on her hip.
"Believe me, August…We all do," said Vincent, hoping to get a piece of this woman as well, for all those torture sessions she put him through and what she did to his friends.
"Don't get too cocky, you guys…Selene is sure to be ready for us," warned Slayer, seeing with his eye that they were all a bit distracted by their own personal vendettas with this woman and against someone like this, that was NOT a good idea.
They were all on their way for make their final attack. Selene was just up ahead…They could feel it. This was the woman who had caused them all so much pain. She nearly killed Emma, tortured Vincent, had Rogue and Kurt raped, and done plenty more to make them all suffer. And they knew she wouldn't stop as long as she still existed…Leaving them with only one option.
"SELENE!" yelled August as they all entered the Chamber of the Gate.
It was probably the biggest room they had been in thus far. It was practically big enough to fit another temple inside. But at the center of it all was their target…The infamous Gate of Hell. It must have been a full five stories high…Big enough to fit a jumbo jet. The gate was slowly opening as they felt the heat rushing out of the beyond the Gate and the cried and sounds of the damned that chilled them to their bones. They also saw that another group of demons had gathered waiting for them.
Then, at the center of the room…The master behind it all was right there waiting for them, standing upon what looked to be a large circular alter with a pentagram inscribed upon the floor. It was the Black Queen herself…And she bore no such fear about seeing her greatest enemies standing there before her. Because in her mind…She had already one.
"You're too late, X-men…" said Selene in triumph as she stood before the gate, each and every piece of the necessary components now in place, "The seal on the gate is broken…The alignment is in place."
"Guess that makes us locksmiths then…" shot an undaunted Slayer as he drew his sword in preparation for battle, "And guess what lady? We're having a special today on giant, rusted doors that open a portal to hell."
"Err…I knew you'd be along for this, Slayer!" grunted the Black Queen, who harbored the greatest grudge against this young warrior who had bested her twice, "But even you can't stop me this time! Once the gate is open, the forces of hellfire will consume this entire planet! I will be the one true queen to reign over the forces of darkness now and forever! And I promise you…I'll make sure that each and every one of you suffer for eternity!"
"Funny…I've practically been hearing those words since the cradle. You'd think I'd learn to give a shit by now…" grunted August, which quickly drew the Black Queen's attention.
For Selene, it was a rather pleasant bonus to see her daughter again at a time like this. She knew that she would probably end up entangled in this mess. After all…She always did have such a great talent for further disappointing her. And now that she was on the side of the X-men, that made her even more worthy of her wrath. Because after this was over, she intended give her some of the worst 'punishment' of all for standing in her way and not accepting her destiny.
"Ah, glad you could join me for this momentous occasion…Dear daughter," she taunted.
"ERR! SHUT UP!" spat August in response, "I'm NOT your daughter! And you're NOT my mother! You may have given me my life…But I'm going to make sure I end yours!"
"Strong words from a weak little girl. I'm ashamed that I ever placed my faith in you…But no matter. It will all be over soon enough!"
"Oh no it isn't!" yelled Vincent as he took to the air, turning himself into a flying ram with the force of a fully loaded fright train.
"Vincent, wait!" yelled Jack, but it was too late.
Vincent didn't even get halfway to the Black Queen as she easily countered, firing off a powerful red bolt of energy that hit the young soon to be father head on, knocking him back with the kind of force that would have blown the flesh off of one's body.
"Vincent!" yelled Kitty as she and Piotr rushed to his aid.
"You see, X-men? It is pointless to continue fighting…Now the end is at hand! Feel the power of the raw forces of HELL!"
"Bring it on, bitch!" yelled Rogue, the memories of what this woman did to her hanging thick in her mind.
Making good on her word, the Black Queen went on to open up the gate…Causing a massive burst of fire to shoot outward right at the team of young mutants.
"EVERYBODY DOWN!" yelled Scott, causing the whole team to hit the floor.
Then, as the flame receded, they could hear the high pitched squeals of countless demons. They were laced with the pain and suffering of the forces of Hell…And now they were entering their world in full force.
"Minions of Hell! Attack them!" ordered Selene.
With no shortage of forces to obey her every command, the demons swarmed upon the whole team like a flock of angry locusts. Each one of them was out for blood and after countless years in the vast wastelands of hell, they were looking forward to a little snack.
"Good God! These things are ugly!" yelled Wanda, her hexing powers now simmering at their full force.
"Not as ugly as their about to become…" growled Laura, unsheathing her claws along with her father.
"Right! So vhat's zhe plan!" yelled Kurt over the screams.
"Easy…We hold them off until we can take down the source!" yelled Scott, unleashing a couple of blasts upon a few demons that tried to swoop in and attack them.
"And how do you propose we do THAT!" yelled Mystique, sticking close to Kurt and Rogue as the army of minions moved in ever closer.
"By keeping them busy…" replied Jack, the symbols on his hands now glowing brightly as he felt the intense mystical energy all throughout the room, "Just keep them off my back…I'll take care of Selene."
"You think you can handle her alone!" yelled August, using her strength and fire powers to stave off a trio of simultaneous attacks.
"I have before…And I can do it again," said the mutant warrior, sending the young mystic a conspicuous look, "You know what to do…"
"Right…" she said, grinning to herself as half the hoard of demons landed upon the ground and prepared their full assault.
"And we'll cover you!" yelled a determined Mystique, "Just be careful…"
"Oh don't worry, Raven…I promise you, I won't hold back this time!"
Then, as the vast army of demons converged upon them, Jack used his energy manipulating powers to pump up his physical prowess and leap over the surrounding swarm of minions with superhuman strength. There was so much energy pouring through the gate…Energy that he was tapping with every ounce of power he could muster. Even if it was detrimental to his well being, he would only worry about that AFTER Selene was dead and gone.
Once he was over the hoard, the X-men stood ready to cover their friend as he went in to fight the very source of their problems. And after all the training they had received from him, they were ready to fight with every last fiber of strength that they could muster.
"Okay X-men! Let's do it!" ordered Scott, now taking on his full role as the leader in the face of this army from hell.
"Right with you, babe!" said Jean, staying close by her lover's side as they began to counter the oncoming force of demons, "Besides…I've been waiting for a little payback from these thing!"
"Well it looks like you've got no shortage of targets, luv," commented Betsy, now bearing two psionic blades in preparation for the oncoming attack.
"No kidding…At this rate, we'll be swamped!" said Warren as he took to the air and began attacking a few of the flying demons.
"It don't matter either way, homme…We just gotta buy time," said Gambit as he firmly gripped his staff along with several charged cards.
"Which, not surprisingly, is always against us…" said Ororo, using her wind and rain powers to blow away several dozen charging demons.
"Yeah, like, as if we're not used to that by now…" said Kitty, remaining strong as she, Piotr, and the now recovered Vincent Freeman took their battle stance in preparation for the coming melee.
"All the more reason to believe, Katya…" said Piotr, grabbing several demons that tried to pounce upon him and his lover, throwing them away as if they were tennis balls.
"Right…And at this point, our most powerful weapon is faith…" said Vincent, calling forth all the strength he could muster to stop this hoard from descending upon the world where his family, both present and future, lived.
With a deafening scream, the vast army of demons all charged the lone team of mutants, driven by their incessant hate and unyielding rage towards all that which is pure. For Vincent, he kept an open link with Emma, who was still outside in the Velocity, sitting this battle out because she was carrying their child. And in addition, he sent out one last little prayer for the strength that he knew he would need to protect his friends, his family, and the woman he loved.
'Father Michaels…Wherever you are…I know you're going to help me with this one.'
The mutants were prepared to fight to the bitter end to save their world. And as the swarm of demons descended upon them, they fought back…Bearing their hearts and souls for the world they were ready to sacrifice everything for. This was it…The final battle between good and evil. If they lost…Everybody lost. And they would either succeed…Or perish trying.
While the X-men took on the army of minions that Selene had unleashed upon the world, Jack Robinson, the mutant warrior known as Slayer, landed with a powerful thud upon the large circular alter where Selene had cast the final spell. He bore in his hand the magic sword that had helped him slay evil time and time again and as the immortal embodiment of Yoshinto…He was ready to fight to the death to stop this evil bitch from destroying everything.
"You…" seethed Selene as she approached the mutant warrior she hated so much.
"Miss me, bitch?" taunted Slayer as he took a battle stance.
"You really are a fool, warrior…Thinking you can best the Black Queen of hell!" she yelled, venomous hate dripping from every word.
"Guess that just makes me a stubborn little boy with too much free time on his hands…" quipped Jack in response, "You're really gone off the deep end this time lady. Because of all the things you've done over the ages…And oh have there been many…This has to be, by far, the worst!"
"Ha! Don't tell me you expected anything less…"
"Are you kidding? The only thing that has really surprised me about this shit is that you're STILL dressed like some stripper from an S&M convention! Honestly…What kind of queen dresses like that? Even Hell must find it sickening…"
Selene had just about had it with this man. She knew he was trying to taunt her and knock her off her guard, but she wasn't about to let it happen. She had waited too long and worked to hard to get to this point and she was NOT about to let some smart mouthed warrior stand in her way.
"You insubordinate little prick!" she yelled, using her magic to conjure up a spell that caused a demonic sword to form in her hands, "I've had it with you! It's time to send you to Hell, Slayer! You're soul shall BURN under the embers of a thousand flames!"
"What part of that is supposed to scare me?" said Jack in response, ready to commence the final fight, "You may not be able to comprehend it because you've been alive for so long…But there's nothing you can say to scare me about death."
"Oh…And why is that!" she demanded, holding her flaming sword in preparation for her assault.
Jack just grinned as he prepared to make his move.
"Because…I died once."
Then, with super human speed, Slayer launched his attack upon the Black Queen, moving in using his quickest, most effective three slash combo techniques, designed to be one-thrust, one-kill style tactics. But the immortal queen saw it coming and with the fires of Hell now fueling her power, she quickly countered with a spin move of her own, which helped her to dodge the attack.
Jack had anticipated that she would be much more difficult this time around and was quick to block her resulting counter, causing their swords to clash in a deafening bang that echoed all throughout the chamber. With the mystical energy now simmering through every square inch of the battlefield, the two fighters began to glow with immense metaphysical power…Showing just how determined they both were to take one another down.
"Is that all you've got, warrior?" taunted Selene as she shoved him back, giving them both a chance to prepare their next move.
"Trust me lady…" shot Slayer in a determined tone, "This is just foreplay…"
Letting out the war cry of a thousand warriors, Slayer lunged forth and renewed his assault on the Black Queen. He tapped every ounce of energy, both physical and metaphysical, he could…Sending his power and strength to new heights. But despite this, Selene countered with every ounce of drive, using the power she had amassed from the forces of darkness to overcome her enemy.
A plethora of sparks flew as their swords clashed in a fast paced battle between good and evil. Slayer tried to remain on the offensive, launching several two to three slash combos coupled with some mystic bursts to wear Selene down. But despite his efforts, Selene managed to counter every last one of them, using her nimble form to avoid and block even his most skilled attacks. Admittedly, he was highly skilled, but not skilled enough to stave off the Black Queen of Hell.
"Give it up, Slayer!" she taunted as she deflected two more of his forward thrust attacks, "You may have bested me twice before…But this time, I have the raw powers of Hell at my disposal! And no warrior…No matter how skilled…Can overcome the greatest forces of true darkness!"
"Can it Selene! You may be immortal…But I am the mortal vessel of an immortal spirit! And under the name of Bushido…I WILL stop you!"
Then, Slayer launched another attack, but Selene was ready for this one. She effectively countered this time by doing a death defying acrobatic maneuver, jumping into the air and flipping right over the mutant warrior before he could regain his momentum and with that split second, she landed her first blow.
"AHH!" yelled Jack as he felt the sudden sting of her sword making contact with his armor.
Not satisfied with one blow, Selene went on to hit him three more times, badly tattering his samurai armor and putting him in a great deal of pain.
"That's it warrior! Feel the pain of your defeat!" she yelled as she plunged her blade into his upper left shoulder.
Jack felt his blood trickle from the resulting wounds, but that only served to push him even further as a new look of determination came over his face and he countered with a sweep kick that knocked Selene off balance. Then, before she could get up, the mutant warrior landed a devastating horizontal slash across her torso, the pure chi of the magic blade burning the Black Queen down to the core of her very being.
"ERAAHHHHHH!" she screamed, still very much affected by the power of Jack's sword.
Slayer managed to land a few more blows, but Selene was quickly able to shove him off, giving the two combatants a moment to recover from their respective blows.
"You…Little…Shit!" grunted Selene as she felt her own immortal blood flow down her body.
"Bring it on…Bitch!" gasped Slayer, his wounds still stinging.
Once again, the two fighters let out war cries as their swords met in yet another tangled mesh of sparks and bursts. At one point, Selene tried to gain the upper hand by unleashing a barrage of dark magic, channeling her energy into a spell that sent shadowy figures laced with dark energy upon the young warrior. But Slayer quickly countered by casting a powerful spell of his own, causing his eyes to shine a blinding yellow color, the resulting light burning away her incarnations.
Frustrated, Selene returned to using her sword, landing a few more blows to the mutant warriors increasingly tattered body. His armor was now beginning to wear and with each hit, he was amassing more and more wounds. But Slayer wouldn't allow these wounds to be without a price…Responding with a few major blows of his own, hitting her with his sword on her upper left leg, her shoulder, and even landing a slash upon her face…Which REALLY seemed to piss her off.
"Damn it! WHY WON'T YOU DIE!" yelled the immortal queen as she felt the rare sensation of her own blood trickling down her face.
"Guess the Grim Reaper's stuck in traffic…" taunted Jack, spitting up some blood.
"You fucking piece of…FEEL THIS!"
Then, armed with the fires of hell, Selene unleashed one of the most powerful mystical attacks in the art of black magic. Her hands glowed bright red as she concentrated her energy into a small point before her, causing a tiny ball of energy to quickly grow to massive proportions. Slayer's all seeing eye picked up on this, and immediately he scrambled for a response.
"DIEEEEEE!"
Then, as the massive beam of energy shot through the air, Selene felt assured that this would be the finishing blow. But much to her disappointment, Jack was able to respond by simply using his purple haze shroud to disappear just as the beam was about to hit him…Only to reappear right behind her where he was able to land several significant blows.
"HRAHHHHHHH"
Selene's screams then echoed throughout the area as she felt the burning power of Jack's sword clash with her flesh. Her blood spilled as she felt the blade cut her as no other had before. Slayer was in a true state of focus, the power of Layla, Yoshinto, and all his ancestors that once wielded a sword for their honor guiding him in his fight to overcome this great source of malevolence and darkness.
Finally, after sustaining some pretty heavy blows, Selene fought back with a quick counter that landed her sword right upon Jack's torso. This time, he was the one to let out yells of agony, allowing Selene to land further strikes, hitting him again on his neck, his arm, and chest.
"YOUR SOUL WILL FRY SLAYER!"
After what felt like an endless barrage of blows, Slayer managed to knock Selene back with heavy kick to the gut. But even after she was no longer landing any blows, he fell to his knees in a fit of pain, coughing up blood and clenching his wounds. Selene was also reeling, struggling to maintain her balance as she felt the sting of his sword burn away at the core of her essence.
"Ugh…I…Will…Destroy you!" grunted Selene, trying hard to keep her poise despite her pain.
"Give it up…Selene. You…Can't…Win. The forces of darkness…And light…Must be balanced," struggled Slayer, leaning on his sword for support, "I won't…Allow you…To destroy that…Which I have come…To love."
Then, in a show of his determination, Jack ripped off his tainted armor so that he was now pretty much bear chested. But from his little stash of supplies, he took out a lone bandana…One that bore the same symbols as those that covered his hands. And as he wrapped it around his forehead, staring down the Black Queen…He stood poised to finish the job, even if it meant his death.
"Fight me all you want…Slayer," growled Selene, who was beginning to regain her composure, "You can't kill me…"
Then suddenly, just as she prepared to deliver what she hoped would be the final blow to the mutant warrior…An all too familiar voice shot out from the maze of demons.
"Hey Mom…SHUT UP!" yelled August as she made her way toward the altar and hit Selene with a devastating jump kick that knocked her off her feat.
Jack couldn't help but grin upon seeing this, even if he was in such an immense amount of pain. And he was about to help August finish the job, when suddenly…A group of demons coming through the gate who had sensed their queen's distress descended upon him.
"Damn it!" he cursed as he returned to his feet, ready to stand his ground, "Can't you ugly little shits take a hint!"
While Jack worked to fight off the demons, August went to work, landing blow after blow to her already wounded mother. Slayer had done a good job of wearing her down, but she was far from vanquished. All the years of torture and suffering that she had caused her was boiling over as she pounded away at her mother's immortal body. Loud screams of rage and pain fueled her assault as she knocked her sword out of her hand and landed blow after blow to her estranged mother.
"YOU EVIL SADISTIC BITCH OF A MOTHER!" yelled August through her assault, "IT'S NEVER ENOUGH FOR YOU, IS IT! ALL THE PAIN! ALL THE SORROW! EVERYTHING! YOU JUST CAN'T STOP! YOU WON'T LET UP UNTIL THE WHOLE WORLD IS FUCKING DEAD!"
Then, as August landed one last blow that knocked Selene to the floor, she took out the dagger of Anubis…Feeling it's burning power within her hands. This was it…She was finally going to end it all. This woman who had brought so much pain upon the world was at her mercy. At long last, she her quest could come to an end…The shame of her bloodline could finally be avenged.
"It's over, Selene…You lose," said August, ready to deliver the final blow.
"Oh you poor diluted child…I think you need a little time out," responded Selene with an insidious grin.
Then, just before August landed the final blow, Selene's hand was engulfed with a reddish flame and in one swift motion, she hurled a stream of burning embers right into the young woman's eyes.
"AUGH!" she yelled as she stumbled back, trying to shake the sting out of her eyes.
Using her new window of opportunity, Selene knocked the dagger out of her hand with a swift kick and hit her renegade seed with a series of devastating mystic bolts. She tried to counter with some chi shields, but they didn't hold up long and they further weakened her resistance.
"You are weak, August!" yelled Selene as she struck her wayward child with flaming fist, sending her into a plethora of pain, "You were always weak! And you'll always be weak! I trained you…I taught you…I placed all my faith in you!"
August was then knocked to the ground by another heavy blow, but she wasn't about to stay silent as she struggled to fight back.
"You may have…Made me. But…You never…Loved me!" shot August in response, "I was never…Your daughter! I was only…Your pawn! You wanted me to be as cold and cruel as you…But guess what? You failed!"
That only caused Selene to scorn in response as she took her daughter by the neck and held her in a firm iron grip.
"A pity…You could have made a fine Princess of Hell."
Then, using her life draining powers, the Black Queen began to sap the life out of her daughter.
"Time to face Mommy, August…After all, disobedient children cannot go unpunished!'
"AHHHHHHH!" she screamed, feeling her strength drain away from her.
August tried to fight it, but Selene's grip was just too strong. She had to escape…She couldn't allow this evil bitch to win. After all her fighting…All her training…Was this how it was going to end? Just as she found friends, a home, and a new love in Amara…Was it really going to end here?
"Time to pay the piper…Dear daughter."
"NOOOOOOO!"
Her strength was now only half as great as before…She was fading fast. She tried to focus and cast a spell, but she was just in too much agony. She was on the verge of passing out, the blistering gaze of the Black Queen still leering at her incessantly. Then, before she could go any further…She was once again halted by the sound of a most hated voice.
"Hey Selene…Catch!" yelled Jack, his hands glowing a bright blue color as he threw a large ball of energy right at the immortal woman's body.
"Augh!" yelled Selene as she abruptly dropped August's limp form.
As she turned back towards Slayer, she saw that he had fought off the demons…But he was still not in very good shape to say the least. His body was bruised, battered, and beaten on so many levels that he was barely standing. And she had just been flushed with a new surge of life energy…Ensuring that she now had the upper hand.
"Chi orbs again? Honestly, Slayer…Don't you think I've prepared for such tricks?" she taunted as she approached the weakened warrior.
"Lady…I knew you were sick…But your own daughter! You just have to die!" grunted Slayer, still in a world of pain, but still very determined to put a stop to this.
"Ha! Face it, warrior. You're too weak and I'm too strong. Two times you've bested me…But this time, your luck runs out!"
Not wanting to give him any possible chance, Selene used her renewed strength to hit the mutant warrior with a blast of fiery energy. Jack tried to counter, but as soon as he did, Selene rushed forth and delivered a barrage of mystically charged attacks to his wounded body. This time, the Black Queen didn't hold back…This time, she wouldn't stop until the job was done. This man had already thwarted her twice…She wasn't about to go down a third time.
Slayer's bodily pain was finally beginning to catch up with him as he tried to counter, but his defensive moves only slowed the Black Queen…It did not stop her. Eventually, she managed to catch him off guard in his weakened form and deliver a devastating burst of fire that knocked him off balance…Leaving Selene open to finish the job once and for all.
"It's over, Slayer…Time to die!" she yelled as she grabbed him by the neck and prepared to drain his life force until there was nothing left, "Any last words?"
Then…What happened next shocked the Black Queen more than any attack ever could…For Slayer, the mutant warrior who was now at her mercy, was merely smiling back at her.
"Checkmate…"
Then, before Selene could even begin to process what he meant by that…She felt a single, penetrating blow strike her right through the chest. Her grip suddenly loosened around Slayer's neck and she stood paralyzed by the sudden rush of power that radiated from the blow. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before…A force the likes of which she had never experienced. It burned her all the way down to the very core of her being.
Looking down at her chest, she could see the end of a dagger…But not just any dagger…The dagger of Anubis. It was one of the few forces that could kill an immortal…And she had just bore the blunt end of it. And to the one who carried the dagger in her hand in order to deliver the final blow…It was an act that was centuries overdue.
"No…" gasped Selene, suddenly feeling the life force that had kept her alive all throughout the centuries burn away like soft embers.
"It's over…Mom," said August as she firmly gripped the dagger her knuckles turning white as she felt the horrible sensations one felt when gripping the dagger. But she fought it, she had to end this once and for all, "You lose…"
"No…NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Selene's body began to rapidly age as the years finally started to catch up to her.
She looked to see her body losing the precious life energy that sustained her. She began to age and soon she looked more like ninety years of age. Her hair gone white and her body frail then she went limp and fell to the ground. Her body crumbly to dust as August fell to her knees holding her arm as it had gone numb from the power of the dagger.
But it didn't end there, the Gate was still opening and the demons were still pouring out from it as the fighting continued.
"Jack!" said a weakened August as she sauntered over to him and helped him return to his feet.
The mutant warrior truly was a mess. His body was bruised, bloody, and beaten…But he was still alive. Once again, he had gone up against the Black Queen and survived…But as his all seeing eye drifted towards the still active gates, he knew that his work was not yet finished.
"Jack! August! Are you two okay?" exclaimed Scott as he and the rest of the team gathered around their two wounded friends.
They had all successfully held off the demon army with no losses, for their training had done them good, but a few of them were sporting new injuries at the moment and they were tiring. They couldn't keep this up.
"Is…Is Selene gone?" said Jean as she helped August up while Vincent and Mystique lent Jack a hand.
"Don't worry…She's gone now…Gone for good," said a deeply winded Slayer, still struggling to stand under his own power, "But that bitch still broke the seal to the gate…The darkness on the other side is still poised to enter our world and consume it in it's entirety."
"Finally, now we just have to figure out how to close the Gate!"
Then August screamed in pain as dark energy hit her in the back as Jean caught her and they looked to see Selene standing there in perfect health.
"Come on! What does it take to kill this bitch?" Scott yelled out wondering how she was standing there. "Shouldn't she be dead?"
"I AM dead," Selene snarled at them pointing to the ruined body with the dagger still in it, "I died and went to Hell, but in case you forgot it's not exactly that far!" She then walked toward them now as and undead creature of darkness. "Thankfully, when you are all dead and the Gate is fully open they'll most likely give me back my life."
She smiled at them even in death she still would have her revenge.
"Then we'll just have to seal it!" grunted Logan, going the logical route.
"I'm afraid…That's not possible Logan," said Jack in a grim tone.
"He's right about that." Selene smiled at them as the battle around them raged on. The mutants were starting to get overwhelmed now with more and more demons coming out of the Gate. Even in the Blackbird and Velocity, Emma and Xavier were tiring. They had been shielding the others and sending psychic attacks to the demons but their minds were already at their limits.
"What! But what about the key! The Professor said that we could use the key!" exclaimed Warren as he and the others fought on. Warren had a nasty scrap here and there on his body and was holding his side from a nasty attack he got from something with very sharp talons.
"Yes…But only by balancing out that which Selene has disrupted…" said Slayer, the symbol on his eye glowing a bright red as he finally managed to stand on his own, shaking off the support from Vincent and Mystique, "And I'm afraid that now the key is active, it exists in both worlds and the only possible way for it to be destroyed along with the darkness is…"
August, who knew very well what that implied, was quick to react to his words. In the back of her mind, she knew it was the only way…But that didn't mean she wanted to see it through.
"Through the other side…" she found herself saying, looking back at the mutant warrior with a bewildered daze.
"Yes…" said Slayer as he picked up his sword and sauntered over towards the altar, "Once the gate is opened…The only way to close it is through the other end. The evil that Selene unleashed must be contained…It must be balanced again."
"Jack, wait!" yelled Mystique, not liking where this was going for a second, "What…What are you saying?"
Looking back at the woman who he had shared plenty of passionate nights with and all the friends who he had grown so close to…A solemn look soon fell upon the face of Jack Robinson. After all this time…After all his suffering…He had finally found a place where he could be himself. He finally had people who cared about him…Who liked him…Who gave him so much more reason to live on and fight. Now here he was…Faced with a choice the likes of which he never faced before. He knew there was no way around it, but that didn't make it any easier for what he was about to do.
"I'm sorry my friends…But it's the only way," he said, standing firm as the warrior he was, still bound by the honor and compassion that had been instilled on him through the spirit of his ancestors, "I must close this gate…I must stop this evil once and for all. I am a warrior…I am Slayer…The embodiment of the immortal spirit, Yoshinto. I am bound by the code of Bushido…And it is my duty to ensure that this heinous power is never unleashed…No matter what the cost."
The X-men stood shocked and horrified by what Jack was saying. The look in his eye…That look of such great determination and unending sorrow…It said it all. This was a man who was by nature an enigma…Yet in joining them, he had become their friend…Making what he was about to do all the more difficult.
"Jack…Please, no…" said Vincent, shaking his head, not wanting to lose another friend.
"We can find another way!" said Ororo, pleading with the yearning look in her eyes for him to stop, "There's still time!"
"No, Ororo…There is no more time," said Jack, his tone still solemn, "This is the only way…"
"NO!" yelled Mystique, trying to run over towards the mutant warrior, but Kurt and Rogue managed to restrain her, "YOU CAN'T! DON'T DO THIS! PLEASE!"
Selene saw this and ordered some of the demons after Slayer to stop him from what he was planning. She even ran towards the mutant, but wasn't sure if she could get there in time. She had been so focused on commanding the battle she forgot about that accursed Slayer and now she had to stop him.
"I'm sorry, Raven…I'm sorry, my friends," he said as he prepared to make his final decision, "Be strong, X-men…Follow your hearts, follow your dreams, and never lose sight of that which is important. Live on…Fight with honor, compassion, and heart. Cherish those you love…Always have faith…And most of all…Don't ever forget who you are. Through sorrow and joy…Victory and defeat…You are all, true champions of light. You have the power…It's just a matter of how you use it."
With his last words said, Jack Robinson, the mutant warrior known as Slayer, turned back towards the gate…His sword in hand and his determination immeasurable. He would not allow this world to be consumed by darkness…He would not allow his friends to suffer at the hands of this evil. And with one unyielding act of faith, honor, and compassion…Jack "Slayer" Robinson impaled his sword on the glowing key as he fell through the Gate of Hell.
NEXT UP CHAPTER 78: SACRIFICE