"Wow…Bahamut can regenerate?" Palad exclaimed at the battlefield.

However, the other espers had already forgotten about that move. It really didn't matter comparing to the danger they were in right now. They were all sweating and shivering with terror. They could all sense Crusader's new power even from where they were. They could feel the heat coming off of it. Phoenix was beginning to come around, but she was still barely conscious. Her head was rolling from side to side and her eyes opened and shut. Nevertheless, the espers no longer were concerned with her recovery.

"We're dead…" Ogopogo moaned. "Let's run…while we can…"

"That thing just keeps getting stronger." Leviathan exhaled in amazement. "Bahamut doesn't have a chance anymore."

Starlet hesitated a moment, then tried to be optimistic. "…It's…it's bluffing, right? About being that strong?"

"I wasn't sensing anything signifying a lie in Crusader's mind." Leviathan grimly answered. "Thus far, it's had no reason to lie… I'm afraid Crusader is simply inconcievably more powerful than either Jadea or we predicted."

The espers stood in stunned silence for a moment. No one said anything, just simply watched in helpless shock as Crusader continued to beat the life from Bahamut. Odin bowed his head and continued to think, it appeared, but finally Wyvern snorted at the whole idea. "Big deal." He simply stated. "So Crusader's gotten more powerful. Bahamut's just playing with it again. He still has the Megapyrin. He could blow it away any time he chose, especially since he's stronger than ever now."

Hearing this, Ogopogo brightened up a bit, as did Palad. "Hey, that's right!" He chirped. "He can still use that attack to win the fight."

Leviathan sighed in reply. "Guys, use your common sense." He simply stated. "Bahamut doesn't play around. He would have done the Megapyrin long ago if he could have, but there's not enough time to do it. Crusader would be able to dodge it as well, and the moment that it saw the attack coming it would revert into a stronger form. Think reasonably. Even at his current strength Bahamut doesn't have nearly enough power to summon a Megapyrin big enough to kill Crusader with one hit."

A cold air settled on the group after that. Leviathan was right. They all knew that was true. Ogopogo turned pale and began to shiver in fear again, and the others likewise looked out at the field hopelessly. Crusader was taking its time out there, beating Bahamut slowly in order to make him feel more pain. But they all knew they would be next very shortly… But there was nothing they could do. None of them were in the same league as Bahamut or Crusader. Even Wyvern was weak compared to them. The situation looked hopeless…

Until, at last, Odin raised his head, and coldly took a step forward.

"Well then, I guess I'll have to kill Crusader."

The others immediately snapped out of their fears and looked to the esper. They stared at him blankly a moment, before Wyvern merely snorted and grinned at him. "Nice joke, Odin. But I'm afraid we all know here that me and Bahamut are a lot stronger than you. I don't really see how you could do anything in this battle."

"That's because I have yet to reveal my secret weapon." Odin calmly answered, continuing to glare at the battlefield.

Leviathan turned away from the battle and raised an eyebrow to Odin. The others did likewise. "Secret weapon?"

"He's lying." Wyvern snorted in response. "He's got nothing."

"Actually, I do." Odin nearly snapped back at Wyvern, seeming irritated with him. But he quickly calmed down. "I knew partially how to do this when I was born, but over the past six months I've fully brought it out and up to bear. I have a good grip on it now. And it's incredibly powerful."

"Why didn't you use this back with the fiends…or until now?" Starlet ventured.

"Yeah." Wyvern added, seeming to think this validated him.

"Same reason Bahamut isn't using the Megapyrin. Too long to set up." He simply answered. "Also, it's a lot more focused than Bahamut's attack. It's easier to sidestep. However, I think it's time has come at last."

"You think it's strong enough to beat Crusader now…even strong as it is?" Ogopogo asked.

"No." Odin readily replied, an answer that the others were puzzled to hear.

Wyvern snorted again. "Then why bother trying it?"

"It's not strong enough to beat Crusader if that thing tries to block it." Odin explained. "But it has enough power that it can kill it if I can hit it in a vital spot. Therein, however, lies the problem. Not only does this take a lot of time to prepare, but it also takes a second to aim it after its done, and it's slower moving than these other attacks. If I just try to hurl it right at it, it'll dodge it or intercept it, and then go into a stronger form. But I've realized now that if Crusader stays in a weaker body, it can be killed before it has the chance to bring out more of its power." After saying that, Odin turned his head and glared at Leviathan and Ogopogo hard. "That's where you two come in."

Both of them turned pale and looked scared and surprised. "…Us?" Leviathan innocently asked.

"Yes." Odin answered. "I saw your Contra-cycle move. Both of you are going to have to grab that thing and hold it."

Ogopogo nearly passed out. "No…no way!" He stammered. "It's too big! It's too strong! It'll kill us in seconds!"

"Seconds is all I need." Odin calmly returned. "Three seconds, to be exact. Once I've finished charging up my attack to full, I need you both to go and encircle Crusader and hold it still. I would have needed you just to keep it steady while I charged, but the arrogant thing is so preoccupied with Bahamut it won't notice. I need you just to keep it steady for the three seconds. In particular, I need you to keep it from guarding its head. That will give me enough time to aim and throw it. If I can hit it in the head, the blast should kill it."

Ogopogo shook his head furiously. "Uh-uh! No! I'm not getting anywhere near that monster!"

Leviathan was pale and trembling as well. Had it been yesterday, he might have cowered and agreed with Ogopogo. However, Leviathan was already going through many life-altering changes starting that morning. As a result, somehow, some bravery was inside him to risk such a lethal move. He was nervous through and through, and also didn't want to even get in breathing range of the deformed hulk. Yet in the end, he gave a nod. "…I…I'll do it."

Ogopogo whirled to him like his head had suddenly started growing flowers. "Leviathan…!"

Though scared, the esper wasn't going to let himself be talked out of it. So he turned to Ogopogo with a calmer look instead. "Come on, Ogopogo. We got to try this. Besides, you heard what Odin said. It won't take that long and he'll destroy it before it can hurt us." With that, he turned to Odin. Mentally, he pleaded with the warrior esper to lie. "Right?"

Odin stared back. He heard Leviathan's message, but lying about dangers of battle was not in his nature. Nevertheless, he realized there would never be a chance if Ogopogo was too cowardly to even give this a shot. In the end, he tried to sound as considerate as he could. "…You'll be on your own only for the three seconds. After that, it's dead. I promise."

That was as reassuring Odin could be without lying, but Ogopogo still looked pale and nervous. "It could kill us in less than one second…" He quivered.

Leviathan groaned inwardly, but then spoke up to his brother again. "Ogopogo…this is our only shot. We're the only ones that can do this. If we don't try it, then we're all going to die anyway. We have to be brave and give it a chance."

"But…"

"Once Crusader is dead, it won't matter if we're dead or not. Phoenix can revive us."

"…I'm still…"

"Come on, Ogopogo. Please? I…we can't do this without you."

The esper continued to hesitate. It was obvious now that Ogopogo was the most cowardly of them all. He would do what Leviathan wanted, but would that serve him throughout this coming event? Or would he finally refuse to do something? Time went by a little longer, but in the end, looking reluctant and sweating all over, Ogopogo shrugged and gave a half-nod. "Oh…alright."

"About time." Odin gruffly answered. With that, he readily stepped forward, distancing himself a bit from the other espers and moving before them. When that happened, he planted his feet hard on the ground, and then turned his head behind him. "Get ready and be ready. The instant I tell you to go, get moving."

Leviathan nodded readily. Ogopogo swallowed himself. But both of them began to slide out to flank Odin on either side. Leviathan moved a bit more readily than Ogopogo, although both were quivering with fear. Only Odin and Wyvern showed no fear at this point. Wyvern "hmphed" at the sight of them, muttering something about them being dead if they had to depend on Leviathan and Ogopogo. But Odin didn't pay attention. He turned around and faced the battle, and then inhaled deeply and held his breath. He slapped both of his palms together, closed his eyes, and then uttered a single phrase…

"Gunge Lance…"

Immediately, the ground began to rumble around him. To the surprise of the others, a haze of aura began to turn around Odin as well. The warrior's muscles stretched and strained, and he grit his teeth and appeared to be focusing hard. The air grew charged around him again, only this time little sparks and bolts began to go off. The rumbling grew. Small pebbles began to levitate around him, borne along on the power and air he was summoning. Odin began to sweat, but continued to focus. Leviathan turned to him and was a bit shocked. Odin's power, or at least the power of the attack, was growing considerably. It had already surpassed Wyvern and Ashura's power. In a few more moments, if it continued to build, it would surpass Bahamut as well. But Odin merely showed his teeth and grunted as he continued to focus.

Slowly, the esper pulled his palms apart, as if some incredible force was holding them together, revealing a bright, solid, beam of energy now formed between his hands…

Bahamut swung his fist wildly at Crusader, and the thing nimbly leapt over it all together, and then seemed to hang simply in the air. He tried kicking at it next, but within the blink of an eye it was already behind Bahamut. He then tried spinning around and smacking it with his tail, but once again he hit nothing, as Crusader reappeared in front of him. Finally, he swung his fist right in front of him, but Crusader easily sidestepped it, and then gave Bahamut a backhand slap that sent the esper sailing backward.

Bahamut shot back through the air in agony for a moment, but somehow flipped over and righted himself. He quickly crouched and took off right for Crusader again, who had crossed its arms and stood plainly. Just as Bahamut got in range, the thing nimbly leapt into the air, let Bahamut sail under it, and then kicked his foot forward hard to smash into Bahamut's side. The esper heard the ribs break that time, as his kidney screamed out in pain. Bahamut collapsed to the ground at that, clutching for his side and gasping for air. But Crusader simply landed and kicked him again, this time in the throat, with another power to rip him off the ground, sending him spinning back in the air, and land on his back a few feet away. The esper hacked up blood and gasped for air.

Crusader exhaled a laugh at the esper, then calmly turned its back to him and kept its arms crossed. "I could kill you with a wave of my hand at this point, Bahamut." The thing murmured. "But why would I want to deny you the slow, painful death I've been promising?"

Bahamut lay on the ground panting for a few moments more, struggling to gain his breath. However, in the end, he quickly shot back up and onto his feet, and then swept at Crusader's legs in a flash. Yet the monster still leapt over them easily. Bahamut tried following up with a kick in the air, but Crusader quickly dodged that and was on Bahamut's other side in the blink of an eye. Quickly, the esper spun around and swung its fists at the beast, first one then the other. They connected this time, but Bahamut might as well have been punching a mountain because Crusader's head didn't move a bit when either fist hit it. Seeing the uselessness, the esper quickly jumped back again a distance. He planted his feet, extended his wings, and began to charge power once again. He focused hard and fast, causing the air to ripple around him with energy and heat, before opening his mouth and firing off another attack. "Pyron!"

Again, a series of orbs shot out of his mouth and toward the enemy. They were all blazing just as brightly as ever, but Crusader neither bothered dodging nor guarding itself. Moments later, the orbs impacted. They all pounded together and gathered into a large mass, and then erupted into the one giant explosion as before. It was just as hot and fearsome as every. The ground was torn up and debris was thrown everywhere as always, and a tower of smoke and dust came up from the site. After a bit of burning, the explosion died off again, the sky cleared, and the debris slowly began to rain down. Bahamut was panting hard now, slumped over and tired.

Yet as the smoke cleared, it was revealed that Crusader hadn't changed. The explosion seemed to form a trench around its body, and in the center it was unharmed. It didn't even looked burned and hadn't moved an inch. It was completely untouched by the attack. Bahamutonly managed to stare blankly for a moment before Crusader took off again. Within an instant, the beast was on top of him once more, and pounding its fist into Bahamut's stomach.

The esper gagged and collapsed around the fist, moments before his head snapped back as Crusader pulled up and smashed him in the face with an elbow. To finish off, the thing spun around and struck Bahamut with the back of its hand, snapping him off of the ground and sending him crashing headfirst toward it once again. The impact was so hard that he bounced and then slid across the dirt, knocking up rocks and debris as he did so, on landing. He tumbled hard for a few moments before finally stopping, and again was stuck on his back struggling to get air.

"Finished?" Crusader asked. "Good. I'll kill you then."

Odin continued to sweat and strain as he focused. The beam between his palms had continued to lengthen the longer that he pulled them apart. Once he had reached maximum length, however, he bent his palms backward and the beam left his palm to continue to grow. Still, he strained and struggled, as if it was taking everything he had to keep it growing. It seemed like he could barely hold on to it. Leviathan tore his gaze between him and Crusader. By now, the monster was playing with Bahamut, and he knew it wouldn't be long before it would kill him. Odin had to hurry.

The esper continued to lengthen the beam, until it was bigger than he was. Then, it changed on either side. The beam seemed to enlarge in diameter a bit on both sides. On one end, it grew and then rounded itself after extending a bit, forming a "blunt" end to the beam of light. On the other, it grew wider, and then slowly tapered back in until it formed a point that was several inches long, looking like a short blade in and of itself. With that done, Odin exhaled sharply, as if he had finished doing a great work. He seemed more relaxed now, but kept his eyes closed and moved slowly and deliberately as he lowered his arms and brought them back toward the center of the beam of light. Slowly he extended them back until they were right over the middle, and then he grasped the beam itself. Amazingly, as if it was just another weapon hovering in mid-air, the beam came right out of the sky and remained in Odin's grasp. Still, the esper moved slowly as he pulled it back to his side. At last, his eyes opened.

"Get ready…"

Crusader began to hover into the air again, putting himself a distance above Bahamut. The esper himself gasped and struggled to get up from the ground, but he taken too much punishment. It wasn't possible. Instead, he looked up as best he could, trying to focus on Crusader through his blurry vision and one swollen eye. He immediately realized Crusader was preparing himself for another attack. Bahamut knew he couldn't dodge it. He didn't have the energy yet to move fast enough. He thought about trying to stop it early, but he couldn't. It was too soon after his last attack to throw out another.

Besides…he began to realize that it wouldn't be enough anyway. It would just delay the inevitable. He couldn't beat this monster.

"Too bad, Bahamut. You tried so hard…but in the end you failed to realize your mortality versus my godhood." The thing mocked. With that, it began to raise a hand and pointed out two fingers right at Bahamut's heart.

Most suddenly, Odin snapped the shaft, his Gunge Lance, over his head, and held it straight with one arm. He was getting ready to throw it. At that, he barked his solid order to the two waiting snake-like espers. "Now!"

Leviathan bit back his fear and terror, and then coiled down and built his power as much as possible. Then, in a flash, he sprang up and, with the aid of his own inner power, shot straight for Crusader. He didn't look back or hesitate, wanting to do this immediately. Fortunately, the thing wasn't even paying attention to them. All it focused on was Bahamut. It wasn't even seeing them coming up to get it…

Wait a minute, them?

A thought entered Leviathan's head, for he was still reading from the area trying to get hints. From Ogopogo he sensed a paralyzing fear. A fear so strong and terror-stricken, that he couldn't budge within it. Leviathan hesitated, but then even as he sprang forward risked looking back to seeing what was going on. Sure enough…Ogopogo hadn't moved a bit. He was only quivering there and trembling in fear.

Ogopogo! Leviathan screamed at him mentally. Come on!

Ogopogo just stared back terrified. He wasn't even looking at Leviathan, but at Crusader, transfixed by his power and size. And on seeing that, any bravery that Ogopogo had mustered had vanished all within fractions of a second. "I…I can't…!" He quivered in fear.

Leviathan cursed mentally. In truth, he couldn't blame him. He too was stricken with terror and only forcing his body to do this. But without Ogopogo he didn't know what he could do. Odin was focusing too much. The esper couldn't hold off the attack, but had to do it now. There wasn't any time for anything else. And Ogopogo wasn't moving. The attack was ruined. A temptation fed on Leviathan's own fear at that. If the attack was already doomed, why not give into his own fear as well? Why not cower and hold back like Ogopogo did? He couldn't do anything now. Crusader would kill him, and then dodge the attack anyway… Just give up…

And yet Leviathan refused to do that. He didn't know what drove him, except perhaps knowing that futile as the situation was, it would be even more futile if they surrendered without a fight. He couldn't hold back. He had to try and do this himself. And so, he let his body continue to sail toward Crusader, and near the beast quickly. "Contra-cycle!" The esper bellowed.

Crusader looked up at this in puzzlement, and was just in time to see Leviathan lash his body around him: four times around his arms and middle, four times around his legs, and lastly lashing himself around his neck and head…struggling to keep it still for the shot. Lastly, he opened his mouth wide and bit down on the back of Crusader's head, trying to use his own powerful jaw to keep it steady. With that, he locked himself up as best he could, and then looked down and waited for Odin's attack, praying to himself that it would come soon.

"Leviathan, you fool…" Crusader sneered after a moment, more shocked at the attack than restrained. "If you wanted to die first, why didn't you say so!"

With that, Crusader snapped its head violently backward, smacking it through Leviathan's open mouth and hitting him hard in the back of the head. The blow was horrific and powerful, and Leviathan had never imagined anything so strong. The power was so great that there was a moment of euphoria, one in where he wondered if he had even been hit as stars flooded his vision. But then, pain quickly rushed in afterward, smothering all of Leviathan's senses and swirling the world into a sea of dizzying black. Leviathan's control over his body faded away, and at once he and his coils became limp. His entire body slowly slid off of Crusader's body as it slowly constricted, and moments later Bahamut extended his arms to catch Leviathan's lifeless form as he landed right on him.

But right at that moment, Odin had all the time he needed. Gritting his teeth, furious at Ogopogo for screwing up and praying that Leviathan had held Crusader long enough, the esper snapped his arm forward and hurled the Gunge Lance right at Crusader's head as hard as he possibly could. And it was fast. The attack seemed to snap like a bolt of lightning, streaking through the sky to make a great line extending from Odin right to the creature's head. It cut through the air like thunder, creating a horrible thunderclap behind it so loud that the espers had to cover their ears.

Crusader realized this in an instant, seeing the attack coming for it. But by the time it did, the attack was already nearly upon it. Even it couldn't dodge in time. And so, moments before impact…Odin watched and saw it bring both arms up and cross them in front of its head.

"No!" The esper cried.

But it was too late. The attack connected, and the horrible eruption went off. This newest attack was the most powerful one yet by far. Explosions not of fire but of light ripped off from Crusader's head. Only this attack was so focused that the explosion went directly behind it, casting up a storm of energy and power from it. The force was so great that the ground was ripped apart, and the espers cried out as they were thrown back violently distances of twenty or thirty feet, along with rocks and boulders of all sizes. Again, the sky was dark from the power of the attack and thunder raged from it. And yet, the attack was so focused that Bahamut was able to look up from his own position on the ground and watch the eruption of light come from Crusader's head from the force of Odin's attack. The esper was duly surprised. Never before had he imagined Odin possessed so much power within him. Leviathan moaned through bloody lips and began to come to, and soon he marveled at the attack as well.

At last, the smoke cleared. Half buried under the dust and debris, the espers lay like dead animals in a scattered pile a distance away from where they were. But soon, Wyvern began to pick himself up and dust off his wings. Starlet came next, cradling Phoenix within her arms. Phoenix seemed to be awake now, though still lifeless and unresponsive. Ogopogo seemed to still hide a bit under his pile, but managed to raise his head and look around. A bit brusied and with blood on his brow, Palad picked himself up last. No one had time to shelter him from the blast, but he seemed ok. They all looked up and looked to see what had happened. Immediately, on doing so, Odin grit his teeth in anger as his heart sank.

Crusader still lived, unmoved from its old position. That wasn't to say it wasn't hurt. No, on the contrary…it now had two bloody holes through both of its arms. The attack had gone right through them. As for its helmet, part of it had melted away and the residue now ran down between its eyes. A nasty, bloody wound was on the bare skin underneath, deep and oozing blood down over its entire face. And yet, its eyes were not glazed but filled with fury. Anger and rage radiated off of it beyond belief now, so strong that the evil power seemed to increase throughout the entire world. Crusader was alive and angrier than ever.

"Damn it…" Odin cursed. "I can't do that attack again… So close…"

The ground began to quake around the esper, tremoring from the growing rage of Crusader. Its muscles bulged with anger as it glared madly at its wounds, watching the blood drip. "You…" It hissed angrily. "You dare…to strike me! Nothing has ever done this much damage to me…" It continued to fume in mid-air, as the air grew charged again in its rage. The espers cringed, fearing the worst would come. Slowly, the thing turned and glared not at Bahamut or Odin, but at all the espers gathered together on the ground.

"Enough! You die now!" It snapped. With that, it swung its head down furiously at them, as if throwing something off that at them. "Crimson Horn!"

The wind seemed to cease and the air grew stagnant as light gathered around in the air. It was not soft or pleasant light before, but a burning blood red light.It came together and solidified, growing into a pure red color, and condensed into one point that was around the horn over Crusader's own head. But no sooner had it all collected there than it went off again. Itformed itself into a large, burning ring of light. Once that was done, it sailed off of the horn of the monster and then began to fly straight toward the group of espers below. It enlarged and grew bigger, large enough to affect an area of ground over where they were, and sailed toward them. Immediately, the espers scattered.

Wyvern dove out of the way immediately. Odin seized the paralyzed Ogopogo by the back of the neck, leapt across the field, seized Palad with his other hand, and then ran for it too. That only left Starlet and Phoenix behind. The former stared at the incoming ring, watching it burn and glow and near. She was holding Phoenix, and couldn't get away with her. And so, after hesitating for a moment, she spun around, shielded as much of Phoenix with her body as possible, and waited for the attack to hit.

However, Phoenix had recovered a tiny bit, and she would have none of it. Despite her strength being gone, somehow she managed to find enough to spring to life. She spun around in a somersault, ripped Starlet off her feet, and then used any reserves she still had to throw her sister out of the blast zone as fast as she could. Starlet hit the ground hard, and Phoenix immediately collapsed as well. Starlet couldn't look back, but the others did, staring at Phoenix in fear…realizing she couldn't dodge it now and no one was left to help her.

"No…" Bahamut whispered.

But it was too late. The ring hit. Immediately, a blaring sound like a foul cry went through the air, and the red light erupted as if it was an explosion in and of itself. It had a deal of wind with it, and whipped some rocks and debris around. The light itself spread out over a slightly larger area, although it hit nothing new, and then dissipated after its shining forth. And yet, it seemed to do no damage even over the center of its area. Phoenix was face flat on the ground now, letting the red light wash over her and penetrate her and cover her.

And yet, as the attack went away, as the sky returned to normal, and as sound returned to the area, nothing seemed different. The espers looked hopefully to Phoenix, and sure enough the esper opened her eyes and began to look around a bit. Nothing had happened at all. Only Crusader, hovering above, seemed to be unchanged and satisfied with the result.

Wyvern snorted. "That didn't do anything."

Leviathan swallowed a bit. "Maybe…" He weakly ventured. "It's been weakened…by Odin's attack."

In response to that, the group received a cold and chilling laugh from up above. They all looked overhead, in time to see Crusader looking darker and more malicious than ever. They didn't like that look or that sound, and anxiety soon gripped them.

"You poor fools. I wouldn't expect you to know the nature of my attack…although I know all about yours. Yes…even if I didn't know already that Phoenix had the power to revive you, I saw it for myself while I was playing with Bahamut. But I digress…I assure you that the attack accomplished its purpose. My Crimson Horn attack marks one for death. Bit by bit, now, even as your Phoenix lies there, her blood begins to heat up. Soon it will boil…and then it will burst into flame and consume both her and your only chance of living through this encounter. She will be dead in three minutes, and there's nothing you can do to stop it."

The greatest amount of horror yet struck the espers. Each one of them felt their hearts turn cold. The sky had seemed to grow still again, and Crusader's last words hung on the air. None of them had ever expected this. None of them had felt the burden of being faced with death since Phoenix revealed her ability. But now, shock paralyzed their muscles and froze their faces in icy stares. Starlet herself looked down to Phoenix, even as the firebird looked up in surprise at her own standing.

"No…" She murmured.

"You'll be joining her soon enough." The thing snapped. "You've been holding up pretty well so far. But I'm not going to wait for you to do another one of those attacks. Now face my fourth form."

To be continued...