Three Days Later
Now I'm a damn human's plaything...
A few days after the loss, Bahamut was still burning with anger at it. He still couldn't believe that he had actually been beaten by the humans. He wanted them to be self-sufficient...not his superiors. In a way, he tried to assure himself that if he hadn't given them that grace period he would have won. But he could never prove that now. And now, he was bound to his new "master", a human girl. In the end, it wasn't Crusader that had felled him, Ark, or Wyvern. It was a group of humans. Simple humans had brought him down. What more, a group of humans with that damned arrogant ninja. He thought beating him was so easy, did he? Bahamut desperately wished for a rematch against all of them, but preferably against just him. Then he'd show him what it meant to be beaten...
Khan and Singh stayed fixed at their columns, not daring to get close enough to encur their master's wrath. They had never seen him so moody and furious. He paced about his inner sanctum or simply sat and propped his chin on his arm while he burned holes in the walls with his gaze. They would have been lying if they said that their estimation of Bahamut hadn't fallen somewhat since losing the fight. They didn't think the humans would even scratch their king, let alone beat him. They feared the humans more than ever now, realizing that not even the King of All Espers could defend them from them. What did this mean for the kingdom? What did this mean about the position of espers now?
Bahamut thought much the same things and more. He could never return to the Planet now. If he did, and word got out that he was the summon of a human, his authority would be totally underminded. No esper would dare follow under him. They'd accuse him of being weak and caving into the humans. A real rebellion would occur, and this time it would not be ended so peacefully. If Wyvern returned, he would find no small amount of support waiting for him. That only made him burn with more anger and hatred toward those that had beaten him. It only made him more and more resentful of the Summoners, and of humans in general. Humanity was already vain, arrogant, and dangerous enough with the espers over them. What would they do now? Odin had been slain... Leviathan had been conquered... And now, the great Bahamut was submitting to the beck and call of the Summoners. Were they finished? Was their race done for now? Had they allowed the humans to become too strong? Go too far?
Bahamut stewed on as he waited for the inevitable. Eventually, they would encounter a strong threat down there. And when they did, they would call him. And he would have to answer and attack. That was his position now: hired muscle. His massive power was in the hand of feeble beings, and he could do nothing but bend to it. He forgot all about the chance to go into the moon's center. He forgot about how it was his chance to strike back against the person who had wronged the Planet. All he thought about was how he was the servant of another. And it was a horrible, sickening feeling to him, for he had not felt beneath another for thousands of years. And even for one like Bahamut, it was hard to master such a feeling...
The great esper continued to think of such things, stewing in his own resentment...when the call finally came.
Abruptly, Bahamut felt a tingling in his arm. He looked up from his stone gaze at that, and turned his head to it. He paused for a moment before realizing that was the arm that Rydia had bonded with. And now, he felt the small fraction within him stirring. He was being summoned. He frowned a bit at this, and nearly sneered. In a lazy, surly fashion, he grumbled and brought himself up to his feet. His master was calling, and now he had to respond. Sneering again, he flexed once and shredded his robes off. Immediately, he reverted into his full form, snarling and growling all the way. He appeared to be a menacing beast for the first time, and not a controlled and wise being. But he didn't care. He was too upset.
Khan and Singh noticed this, and both turned and looked at him. "Master?" Singh called out meekly, not risking angering him. "Is something wrong?"
"Duty calls..." Bahamut sneered in response, as he felt Rydia's presence grow stronger. It began to take a form to it. It slowly began to generate energy around himself, and a cloud soon began to swirl in front of him. Slowly, just as it had with Rydia, he felt energy being pushed within him and taking form, becoming a mass of green orbs with orange flames inside them. They held for a moment, but then began to spread out from one center. They moved to the edges in a perfect circle, and energy began to draw through them as Rydia's aura emerged to form the portal. Yet as it did...Bahamut began to sense something from it. It was a part of her, and it did echo her true nature wherever it is. And now, Bahamut sensed it and grew somewhat puzzled.
That's odd... The five of them were very steadfast and brave...but I sense terror and desperation...
The mist stretched out in front of the portal, and soon it began to form a film layer for Bahamut to move through. As it did, Bahamut felt a deep feeling within his soul, compelling him to go forward and pass through that portal. Bahamut growled again deep in his throat. There was no escaping it now. Bound to Rydia, he couldn't disobey even if he tried. He had to move through and carry it out. He sighed once more, rolling his eyes, and cracking his neck slightly. I better get this over with...
Without even saying goodbye to Khan and Singh, he stepped forward and passed into the portal. As his body slowly sank into it and vanished within, far away...deep within the moon's surface...his body began to reappear on the other end and form as quickly as it had come through.
As Bahamut's head emerged...he nearly froze. It was only due to the portal's nature that he was able to push through, for he could not move in his stunned shock.
The esper king sensed he was deep in the moon now. Several miles down...most likely far more than that. The dark presence within the center of the Planet was much clearer here. He could sense its violent anger and power...and soon discovered it was far greater than he estimated. This foe was likely more powerful than ten of him put together. He could scarcely comprehend it. How could something possess so much strength...and so much rage to match it? From here, it felt even more distinct...even more like its own entity. Bahamut had known only of one entity ever made of pure evil...and that was Chaos. But this thing...this monstrosity...appeared to be made out of the anger and rage of just one person, not a collective gained over thousands of years. It was too horrible to believe...
And yet...that aura was overshadowed and eclipsed by the one he saw right in front of him.
This was a small area. There were great pillars and turns in the crystaline cave around him, but this area was suspended over even more caves and seemed to be hanging in darkness. The crystal was less rough here...almost as if it had been a true structure at one point that had not suffered the effects of age as badly as his own cave. Most notable, however, was a set of columns against the edge of the platform. A single pedistal was mounted there, and mounted on the pedistal was a single sword in scabbard, resting against a small prop to hold it up. Bahamut saw this sword...and immediately he deciphered his own name written on it. So were the names of Wyvern, Odin, Leviathan, Starlet, and Ogopogo...as well as the names of all of their progeny, which had been enchanted to appear after every new birth. There were thousands of names written on it now, most too small to even see under the patriarchs. But it was there, still gleaming with power and might as the first sword: Ragnarok.
This decor was wholesome and clean...unlike the recent changes in it.
Bahamut looked down, and saw, bent and broken in a bad way, the ninja Edge. He had changed his clothing, but it was incinerated again. Something had compound fractured his limbs one by one...as if torturing him...before snapping his neck. He was barely alive, and nearly foaming at the mouth. Ahead of him, partially impaled on a crystal column, was Kain. Half of his armor, which looked bigger and stronger, had been ripped off, and his blood-soaked hair hung loosely down as he writhed on the end of the pillar like a worm on a hook. Rosa was in a pile on the opposite side, flames slowly burning her clothing and flesh. But she hadn't the power to put them out, and merely let them continue to burn her already broken body. Cecil...was under the foot of the likely perpetrator, who was delighting in breaking every last one of his bones one by one, and had just finished up with the ribs and sternum, and was moving up to the shoulder blades. Finally, legs and one arm broken, skull bleeding and likely fractured, and barely holding on...Rydia chanted out with her one hand left.
As Bahamut arrived on this scene of death and gore, his hatred evaporated. Instead, he stared in dumbfounded shock. As he did, he heard a wicked laugh, and looked up to see its source. It was the one torturing Cecil.
"Itsy, bitsy human fools..." The voice sneered, breaking a new bone with each syllable. "You thought it was going to be so easy, didn't you? Now you're mine to tenderize. I haven't had a good meal in a long time..."
However, at that moment, the beast seemed to hear Rydia's chanting, or see what she was doing. He immediately wheeled to her. Snorting again, he abandoned the helpless Cecil. Instead, with one easy leap and in the blink of an eye, he was on Rydia. His massive claw enveloped her throat, choking off her chanting. He raised her off the ground soon after, throttling her and leaving her unable to even clutch at the hand. Instead, she merely turned her gaze to her final summon. Her eyes begged him.
"Ba...ha...mut...please...help us..."
On hearing this, the beast turned its head to Rydia's line of sight. Bahamut now stared fully into the face of the creature, removing any and all doubt of who it was. Deep fear began to turn in his stomach. He wasn't ready to meet him again, and seeing him brought back memories of his defeat not too long ago by esper standards. Was this what FuSoYa was talking about? Had he known that he was here the whole time? Was this why Bahamut couldn't sense him after their fight? He didn't know...and he didn't know how he had got here either. But he was. The other seemed just as surprised. He had never expected to see Bahamut here. He thought that he was back on the Blue Planet this whole time, no doubt triumphing over his victory. But now he was right here, and it only took a second glance for the monster to see exactly why he had come here. On doing so, a menacing grin began to appear on his face, and he glared darkly at his brother.
"Wyvern." Bahamut stated aloud.
"Well, well..." The red esper uttered aloud. He turned fully to him. "What do we have here?" With that, he began to grin wickedly at him. "The mighty Bahamut...the great King of All Espers...now a mere dog for a group of humans. Running along when your master calls, little brother? Whining in fear at their pain? Are you here to lick their wounds?" He snorted in response to this, but kept smiling. "How pathetic... This is what you've become. You almost make me want to throw up to look at you. The mighty creature that beat Griever is now a puny slave for a lesser race."
Bahamut felt his inner anger rekindled at this. He glared darkly at his brother. However, it didn't last. He was still stunned just to see him there. "What are you doing here?"
"I might ask the same about you." Wyvern coolly answered, but then gave a shrug. "But why not. After our last battle, I was too weak to stay and risk fighting. Even that weakling Leviathan could have finished me. I had to flee...and I had to make sure you couldn't sense me. I searched desperately for a few days, even in my critical condition. But that was when I came across a rather large tower that I hadn't noticed before. It was probably erected while I was in the Lifestream, but no matter. From there, I heard a voice calling to me from the depths of space, and I realized it was coming from the moon. It offered to heal me and give me a place to hide and bide my time, and in exchange it wanted me merely to bring it the two swords I had claimed, and to place myself as a guard in its lair. Of course, it was too good to pass up, and I accepted."
Bahamut felt himself grow angry at that. He glared darkly at his brother. "So you sold your soul to Zemes, did you?"
In response, however, Wyvern frowned and snorted. "Please. The guy downstairs?" He casually responded. "I wouldn't even serve under you, little brother. Much less some lesser being I don't even know. I accepted his gifts and I paid their price, yes. But that's the extent of me working with him. I got something from him, and he got something from me. As far as I'm concerned, we're square with each other." He paused at this, and then suddenly snorted again in a small laugh...as if he had a private joke. "Of course...I can't say the same for a few others..."
The king esper raised an eyebrow to this. "What do you mean?"
"Well, after your little attempt to purge your kingdom of traitors, a lot of espers had no place to go but up here." Wyvern simply answered. "Who should I see but my excuse for a relative Ogopogo? That miserable coward was among them. Apparently, brother betrayal is a theme among our race. I'm sad to say he was much weaker than me. He did sell himself to Zemes in exchange for power. He's much stronger now, but he's also the mindless minion of the Lunarian. Last I looked, he keeps him a bit closer to himself, and he put him in front of the Masamune. A bit insulting to see one of our kind turned to that, but that was his choice." He paused and grinned again. "Of course...you know all about becoming another's servant, don't you Bahamut?"
Bahamut felt his blood boil at that, but he held his tongue. In the meantime, he felt regret and disappointment in Ogopogo. In the end, that was the path he chose. He really was always weak...always letting others take care of him. But he was one of the original espers. He was his brother as well. He pitied whatever had become of him...but by now, there probably wasn't even anything left of him. Just Zemes' consciousness feeding on the evil in his heart. Perhaps he could be freed as Golbez had been...but even if he was, he didn't know if it would matter. Ogopogo had given himself to one monster. He'd do it again. All he was now was the pawn of whoever could serve his best interests. He really was a worm now...and it would probably be better if he never returned.
"Anyway, I was just hanging out here to build my power a bit more." Wyvern continued. "Of course, the manager of the premises tried to offer me greater powers if I'd bow down to him, but not only do I serve no one, I don't need his petty gifts to be able to be the best. So I've just been lurking down here, making sure that no one took the sword that I worked so hard to obtain. A few of the colored dragons followed me here and run around from time to time. Zola and Noonian are running around with them. As for me? I just wait around until the latest meal comes by." With that, he looked down and grinned at the fallen Rydia. "Speaking of which...I've always wondered what they tasted like since the day I first saw them..."
Bahamut balled his hands into fists. He glared darkly at him. His voice issued a cold warning. "Leave them alone. They mean you no harm."
"Oh, that's where I disagree, Bahamut." Wyvern smoothly replied. "They are trying to take the Ragnarok from me. They thought to challenge me as well. But I can see your apprehension." With that, he grinned a bit more. "There's one little other item, isn't there?" He menacingly asked. "Your life is tied to her's, isn't it?"
The blue esper swallowed at that. He struggled not to shake and tremble in mounting anxiety. He had hoped that Wyvern wasn't aware of that...
"How interesting..." Wyvern menacingly continued. He paused for a moment after that. He let Bahamut wait in anxiety for a few moments. He literally had his life in one claw, and could end it with a simple squeeze. He brought Rydia over to himself, and as if she was some sort of pet slowly began to stroke her head. He seemed to be thinking of something...and finally reached a decision. "I think I have a better idea, Bahamut." With that, he suddenly reeled back and tossed Rydia's limp body right to him. Bahamut, reacting in shock to this sudden movement, and yet still not wanting to risk further injury to his Summoner, quickly reached out and intercepted her. He caught her in a cradling catch, and gently brought her body back in to him. Wyvern then crossed his arms and finished.
"You kill her."
Bahamut's eyes widened. Out of all the possible responses that could have come and all the possibilities, he wasn't expecting that. "What?" He asked in genuine surprise.
"Oh, come on." Wyvern chided. "You know you want to. Don't deny it. You're angry at her, aren't you? You're angry at all of them."
Bahamut paused in response to that. He closed his mouth and looked slightly to the ground. He didn't say anything, but it was obvious what he was feeling.
Wyvern pressed on at that. "It's perfectly understandable. I'd be mad too. Look at them...puny little creatures as they are. Fractured and broken so easily. Look what they've done to you. They've humiliated you. They've made you a laughing stock. They made you come to terms with your own weakness. I know what's burning inside you right now..." Wyvern lowered his head and glared menacingly at Bahamut. A wicked grin spread across his face. "You're burning with anger. You're burning with humiliation." He slowed his voice, and let it slide easier. "...You're burning with revenge."
The blue esper didn't answer. He continued to stare at the ground. He wasn't fearful...but he knew that what Wyvern said was true. Even as he held the Summoner in her grasp, he couldn't help but feel enraged that his life was tied to hers...a reminder of who he was now. A reminder of the bond between the two of them...between the monster and his summoner...the servant and his master. Such a tiny, mortal creature...and he was forced to do its bidding. Their bidding...and they were once so meager and inconsequential. If not for him, they'd still be the slaves of Griever...or dead. And now, he was the one beneath them...
"Consider her my gift to you, little brother." Wyvern coolly continued. "Much as I despise you...I can't bear to see you reduced to this. Finish her. Satisfy your desires. Get your revenge and end your battle the way it was meant to be ended. Kill her. It's the only way you can be free, after all. Break the code of the Summoner and strike down your own master. I've made it easy for you. Then you'll be separated from her and you'll be free to pursue your own destiny again. And no one will ever know that dirty little secret that you were beaten by humans. With her gone, no one will know that you aren't invincible or unstoppable. They will fear you again. Do it. Strike her down and put these humans in their place. Let them know once at for all that you will always be their superior."
Bahamut felt his muscles stiffen. Wyvern's words sank into him, and went deep into his heart. If the humans returned...then everyone would know the truth. Everyone would know that even the mighty Bahamut could be made to serve them. Then his authority would be undermined forever. Then a true schism would begin. Then espers would begin war among each other, and perhaps even expand it into the human world. The blue esper thought over this and wondered...wasn't it worth a few lives to save so many others? To maintain their peace and position? The greater good? And as for himself...he would be bound to this woman for the rest of her life otherwise. He would always be forced to come out and fight her battles for her. By his energy and stamina would she live. While she sat back, he would be her power. He was a slave. And why should he be that? Why should he submit to such a lowly creature? Wasn't it foolishness to place his own power in the hands of such base, weak creatures? Was that not an unbalance for them? Did it not restrict him, keeping him from carrying out his own ends for assistance and secrecy? Was he now not a powerful tool on a human's side as he was? It would be better to be free...to ensure that none would ever be able to use his power for evil. That was a great danger...but the only way to be free was a death. And besides...they had been arrogant to fight him in the first place... They were too cocky...and some of them were rather dark in nature...
Why should I serve them? Isn't it better that the great Bahamut remains free? Why should I let them exploit me?
The blue esper looked down. Yes, there were many reasons to do this. Besides...they weren't going to win. If they couldn't beat Wyvern, they would never destroy Zemes. And she was so small...so pathetic... In a thousand years, no one would know she ever lived. One strike...and it would all be done with. Her life was so inconsequential and puny that such was the case. And inside...he felt his anger and rage rise to this...urging for him to grant it satisfaction. His palms sweat, and his fist began to tighten. Just one...and then his anger would be sated. Nothing would ever change, and the espers would remain powerful. Slowly...he began to shift her into one hand...and started to pull out his fist from under her. Soon it was free, as he shifted Rydia's nearly lifeless body into one hand. She still had enough consciousness to see this, and her eyes filled with fear. She looked up to Bahamut and stared at him in shock. But the esper continued to raise his hand. His anger demanded satisfaction. He felt himself pushing him on to do it. To make her pay for humiliating him... His fist was in position, and he prepared to bring it down and finish her...
But then, Bahamut froze. For at that moment, an ancient voice echoed deep in his memory.
What makes you think you won't be just like me?
Crusader's grim prophecy.
At once, Bahamut's anger broke. It was replaced by fear as he looked at the position he was frozen in. He was going to do it. He was going to kill her...
And he was going to kill her because he was jealous.
Just as he had faulted Crusader... Just as he had faulted Wyvern... And now, here he was, moments from doing the same thing. At once it hit him, and he was faced with the gruesome truth. In the end...even he couldn't stand the fact of a "lesser creature" being stronger than him. Even he couldn't resist the temptation to beat them into submission. Even he was reluctant to give up the power that he had held for so long. In that moment, he saw what he really was now. He saw what he had sunk to. He had been a hair's breadth from becoming his own brother. He had nearly set on the same path toward self-destruction, self consumation by the same grudge and anger.
Bahamut was stunned for a moment. He couldn't believe he had nearly done it. These five...they were only trying to help. They had come to him because they recognized his power to help, just as the old Light Warriors had. He should have accepted it. He should have gratefully gone along...just as Leviathan and Odin had. Both of them had willingly come forward, because they knew they were more than summoned monsters now. They were playing an active role in saving the world. If Bahamut hadn't been so clouded by anger, he would have realized that too. He would have seen this as his chance to destroy Zemes and his evil. But in the end...all he could do was stew and brood with anger at what had happened to him. All he could feel was anger and malcontent toward them. They had all given so much to help the world that he had abandoned, and all he could do was desire to destroy them in the same way their enemies had. For a second, Bahamut hated himself for that. He hated what he was and wondered how he could have been so base and so selfish. He wondered how much difference there really was between him and the foul creatures of the world. Had he really fallen so close to being like Crusader? Was he as bad as his brother now?
However...that lasted only a moment. Then he realized that wasn't important right now. There were far greater matters at hand. The five were helpless and dying before his brother. They couldn't fight him anymore. But he could. He didn't know if victory was possible. He didn't know how much better or worse the two were. But one thing was for certain. If he didn't stop him, then the five would die. Somehow, he had to take his brother down. Fearful as he was and much as he doubted himself...this time, he had to win.
"What's wrong?" Wyvern suddenly snapped. His voice sounded irritated. By now, he expected Bahamut to strike, but the blue esper hadn't moved yet. Bahamut noticed this, and it brought him back to reality. However, he didn't move. Not yet...at any rate. Instead, he held on to the helpless Rydia a moment longer. His fist stayed frozen in mid-air. But then, abruptly, he spun around and faced away from Wyvern. He made no other indication of hesitation or change of intent. He simply turned around and put his back to him. Wyvern, of course, darkly glared at this, expecting that something was up. But it didn't matter. He was stunned long enough for Bahamut to act. Gently, he bent over and set Rydia back on the ground. The girl looked at him panicked for a moment...but then noticed that the king esper didn't plan to hurt her. She looked up to his eyes with puzzlement instead. Bahamut paused only long enough to give one mental message.
If you have any strength left at all...use it to hide.
Bahamut only got to look in her bewildered eyes for one more moment...before turning around in a flash and tackling Wyvern with all his strength.
Soon, both espers went shooting off the edge of the stone platform. But Bahamut kept pushing, bringing his wings and force into it. Wyvern was too surprised to fight back, astonished at the sudden move. Both of them spiraled through the air for a few moments from the collision, going down and leaving the upper platform behind as they fell through the sky. The crater space around them was deep and empty, and fell straight into blackness for miles. However, Bahamut directed them both to another side ledge about two hundred feet down. He shoved straight down on Wyvern here, and after a few moments smashed him into the stone with all his strength. He tried to manuever him to one of the stalactites, but in the end it was impossible, and the great red esper merely flailed out and broke one instead. The impact was hard, and Bahamut crumpled down on top of Wyvern on landing. But that lasted only a moment. Both grunting a bit, the two espers pulled off each other and got to their feet. Bahamut, on top, quickly leapt back off of Wyvern, putting a good distance between them. He also began to ready himself for a fight. As for Wyvern, he rubbed his face and staggered up.
"You little wretch..." He sneered as he got up. "You fool... I gave you the chance for revenge, a chance to help you...and you throw it back in my face!"
"I won't let you touch them again." Bahamut coldly stated.
Wyvern looked to him and scowled. "I can't believe it... You actually want to be their slave. Or are you brainwashed right now? I gave you the chance for freedom. All this time, you refused to relinguish your power...and now you give it so freely?"
"I don't care about your mad delusions, Wyvern." Bahamut responded. "Your fight with them is done. They're beaten. Leave them alone."
Wyvern paused at this, but then merely grinned in response. "And if I don't feel like it?" He sneered. "What will you do then? Bleed on me? If you know what's good for you, little brother, you'll run back through that little summon portal while you still can with your tail between your legs like a good coward. Because I've been itching to grind your body into a bloody pulp ever since you drove me off forty years ago."
Bahamut felt a wave of fear travel through him. It was true. Wyvern probably had more than enough power to beat him with. He should have worked more on his Sol-pyrin...tried to make sure it could beat his Megapyron. In a fight, he knew he hadn't a chance. He had won purely by luck last time. This time...goodness knew what Wyvern had done to improve himself. He should have trained harder...prepared better...readied himself for this rematch that, deep down inside, he knew was inevitable. If only Leviathan were here too... With his new power, he might have had a chance...
"Do I detect a hint of fear?" Wyvern menacingly asked as he stood up. "You should. You see, your little masters decided to use some sort of new spell that reveals how much power an opponent has on me. They were most horrified to see that my power was at 47,300."
However, on hearing that...Bahamut did not feel despair at all. He felt a glimmer of hope, though he dared not show it. He remembered the numbers that Rosa had told about him. True...his base power was far too weak. That was what Wyvern was no doubt sensing right now and basing his boast on. But Bahamut remembered that after a Supra-velo, his power went all the way to 47,890... It was barely enough, and he would have to recharge it again and again during the fight. But it was better... Wyvern was strong, but he fought with anger rather than skill. Perhaps...if he could keep his wits about him and fight smartly enough...he could actually beat this foe. And that possibility was an even greater ray of hope. If he could...then he could come back. He could return to Terratopolis and his friends once again. He could make sure that matters like Zemes never happened again. At last, there was a chance to defeat his brother once and for all. And he was willing to take that chance.
"Well, what have you to say to that?" Wyvern coolly asked in reply.
Bahamut hesitated for a moment longer. But then, he lowered his head and grinned dangerously.
"Supra-velo."
Immediately, Bahamut's power exploded. He felt the familiar energy course through him, increasing his speed and power dramatically. Wyvern raised an eyebrow to this for a moment, surprised at the sudden change. However, he had no idea what the true power was. Bahamut did. The red rings surrounded him, and soon they shattered and left him in the red aura. Then, in a flash, he tore forward at full speed and drove his crest right into Wyvern's face.
A tremendous collision sound rang out. Wyvern, his face half-crushed, half-stunned, fell back in shock as blood trickled from his nose. But Bahamut didn't let up. He stormed forward and began to bury Wyvern under a barrage of fists. He smashed his head one way and the other with each strike for a few moments, before rearing back and bringing up his legs instead. These he drove again and again into his stomach, bending him over and driving him into more pain. At last, he reared back as Wyvern bent forward, and fell on his back as Wyvern fell onto his feet. He was then in the perfect position to kick him in the chest with all his might, sending him back up into the air. He quickly shot up, tore past him, and then swung his tail around to send Wyvern bending the other way and sailing back to the ground. He smashed into it hard, bashing a large crater into it. Bahamut then spread out his wings, braced himself in mid-air, and fired off a Pyron at his fallen body. Wyvern was too stunned to do anything but writhe. The chain of energy sailed to the ground and then smashed into him, and immediately a powerful chain of eruptions went off. Fire and debris flew up everywhere around Wyvern as he was lost in an explosion.
Bahamut panted for a moment. He had given Wyvern everything he had on that one. Hopefully, it created a deficit that he wouldn't recover from the rest of this battle. However, he grimly began to anticipate true pain. There was no way that Wyvern was that hurt from that assault. But he was sure that he was enraged now. But he had to keep up with him. He had to match him blow for blow. It was the only way that his slight power advantage would make a difference. If he let Wyvern get in too many hits on him...he was dead.
The smoke continued to rise, glittering with crystal dust, for a few moments. But then, it parted violently as Wyvern, fully enraged, shot out and greeted Bahamut with an uppercut to the chin. Bahamut felt mind-numbing pain go through him as his neck was stretched to its limit, before Wyvern went up above him and moment and then drove his foot into his body at an angle. The effect ripped him out of the sky and sent him hurtling to the ground. Seconds later, he struckit and landed hard on his back, bashing his own crater. However, he didn't stay down long. He quickly sprang up and somersaulted backwards out of it, just in time to avoid Wyvern as he smashed his feet into the ground where he was. Bahamut then launched himselfand sailed straight for the red esper, smashing his head into his face yet again. Wyvern staggered a little...but then reached out and seized Bahamut by his neck. While clenching his throat with his talons, he violently swung the esper around and smashed him into a nearby stalagmite, breaking the entire stone column off. He swung him around to smash him into another...when Bahamut opened his mouth and managed to force a Pyrin past Wyvern's talons and blast him right in the face. The red esper yelled in agony and released his brother, who used some of his momentum to go ahead and fly into the column...but only long enough to touch down against it, squat, and then launch back at Wyvern with even more force. Moments later, a fist smashed against the side of Wyvern's head and he went flying again.
Bahamut rushed after Wyvern as he flailed out, intent on putting more into him. But just before reaching him, his brother managed to recover, and quickly balled his hands into a double fist and swung them up, clubbing Bahamut on the side of the head and sending him flying to the ceiling. Wyvern took off after him, and drove his fist into his stomach as he ascended, causing Bahamut to collapse around him. He bashed into his abdomen three more times, plowing as deep into his gut as he could each time. But when he came for a fourth...Bahamut sprung back to life as well, spun around, and brought the end of his tail down on his head. The blow connected and sent Wyvern falling...but it was only for a moment. The red esper used the same momentum to spin himself around, and soon brought his own tail down on Bahamut's head. Pain soon shot through his skull as well as he spun around...but this time he managed to halt himself early. While still turned around, he swung the heel on one of his rear talons down across Wyvern's face. The monster was stunned, but not for long. He smashed his fist into the lower back of the king esper as he tried to turn himself back around, stunning him. Then, he reached out and seized both of his legs and wrenched Bahamut's body downward. Soon, he was hurling back toward the ground with Bahamut's head first. The king esper tried to escape, but it was no use. Moments later, the whole cave shook as Bahamut was plowed into the ground again. A huge cloud of crystal dust erupted, and Wyvern glared maliciously down at his brother, thinking he must have been seriously hurt by that. But then, abruptly, Bahamut's legs snapped to life, seized Wyvern by the head and neck in a scissor grasp, and then tore him off the feet and smashed his head into the ground as well, just as hard as his brother had. The two both reeled for a moment from their blows, but then both of them used a single claw to push themselves out of the ground, and quickly dashed away from each other in a flying cartwheel to put a distance away from each other. Both froze and then readied themselves for battle, and stared at one another.
Both were panting now, and covered with bruises. Blood was running from several places on both. But still, there was no clear winner. Bahamut only stared a moment before taking advantage of the situation. He immediately performed another Supra-velo, restoring his incredible strength in an instant. Then, both of them took off to one another once again.
The two collided, and another thunder clap erupted from their connection. They both went flying back from the impact, but they both recovered at the same time and smashed into each other again, sending off another shockwave. They did this several times, causing the cave to shake and let dust rain down from the ceiling. Finally, on one of the collisions, Wyvern managed to twist himself around at the last moment and give Bahamut a foot to his face, so that only he took the blow. He was flipped over first and went flying, and Wyvern moved in to bring more pain. But before he could connect...Bahamut again sprung to life and gave him an uppercut. Wyvern's head was ripped to the ceiling, but he still managed to bring his feet down and smash them into Bahamut's gut. But that only enabled Bahamut to swing around and swat Wyvern with his tail once again. Wyvern began to fly down from the impact, but he managed to recover himself again and flew up once again, driving his fist into Bahamut's already weakened gut. The blow made his ribs crack this time...and Bahamut was in pain...but he managed to respond with his head bashing into Wyvern's again, this time cracking into his crest and sending blood spilling out over into Wyvern's eyes. Gagging and snarling, Wyvern swung his fist out to club Bahamut in the face. But the blow was weak, and Bahamut was able to bring both fists over behind his head and then smash them down onto Wyvern's already vulnerable crown. A sickening smack resulted, and Wyvern, stunned, sailed down to the floor of the cave and smashed into it a second later.
Grunting and groaning, Wyvern staggered to his feet, only to have Bahamut be on him again. He hooked him again, sending his head flying down to one side, and then gave him a blow with his other hand to send his head flying back up the other way. The power actually sent Wyvern flying up a little, high enough for Bahamut to grab his legs. The blue esper seized them, and then drove the whole red esper forward, smashing him into a stone stalagmite as hard as he could and swinging him into the ground as he did so. The entire stone column broke and fell, and buried Wyvern partially under it. But at that...Wyvern's rage only grew. Furiously, he smashed out with both legs and bashed Bahamut in the face, sending him flying away from him again. Bahamut sailed back, but quickly righted himself and stood again. As for Wyvern, in a roar of rage, he flung the stone ruins off of himself and glared madly at his brother.
Wyvern was now visible tired. Sweat was beginning to come off his brow, and his face was covered with blood. Attacking Wyvern's head had been a painful and hard way to go, but now that Bahamut had done his injury Wyvern found himself in a permenantly dazzled and dizzy state. And Bahamut was still able to keep up with Wyvern despite the pace of the battle. For the first time, Wyvern began to realize that there was a chance he might lose this fight. And that only served to drive him into a madder rage. He quivered with anger, and his fists and muscles clenched as hard as steel. He hissed and sneered from between clenched teeth, furious to see that Bahamut was still standing and awaiting another blow. He held for a moment longer...before he realized something. There were still a few advantages he had that Bahamut hadn't...
A moment later, Wyvern took off at full speed. But Bahamut was surprised at this, for instead of attacking him, he shot away from him and up toward the old platform. For a moment, Bahamut foolishly thought that Wyvern had surrendered and was running away. But then, his heart was gripped with an icy fear, and his eyes opened in panic. He realized now what it was. He was going for Rydia. If he could kill her while Bahamut was linked to her...
Immediately,the great espertook off at full speed after him. But even with his Supra-velo, he was negligably faster than Wyvern. And his brother already had a head start. He looked up, and saw in terror that he wouldn't make it. Wyvern was already almost to the platform, and he saw his mouth open and prepare to discharge a blast that would annihilate all life there in one single shot.
But then...Bahamut got his own idea. Immediately, he bent his head down directly away from Wyvern, charged for a split second, and then fired a Pyron. Without bracing himself, the Pyron pushed off against him, and his speed shot up dramatically as he was blasted straight up to Wyvern. The red esper had just cleared the rim of the cliff, and was moments from firing...when Bahamut, being pushed backward, pounded him in the throat with his elbow, slamming his esophagus shut. Wyvern gagged as his eyes grew large and blood flew from his mouth...but more importantly the Pyron he was able to fire erupted inside his own throat. Horrible gagging pain shot through his chest, and the esper was left gasping for air and coughing up blood. But Bahamut kept pushing, driving Wyvern higher and higher until he reached the ceiling...and then sandwiched Wyvern's neck between his elbow and the crystal stone. Smoke began to billow out of Wyvern's throat, and the red esper looked to be in incredible pain. He weakly fell off the ceiling, clutching for his neck and dribbling blood from his nose and mouth. But Bahamut didn't give him a chance for that either. He immediately seized him by his tail, swung him around by it about five times to build up enough speed, and then flung his brother back down, away from the platform, as hard as he could. Moments later, Wyvern connected against the stone ground with a tremendous crash, causing one of the stalactites to break from the ceiling and fall to the ground. A great trench was dug into the brittle stone as Wyvern's body toppled forward and slid away, toward the edge of the lower platform that led deeper into the cavernous underground.
Bahamut quickly shot back to the ground as well, and put himself a short distance before Wyvern. Wheezing, his brother got to his feet slowly. There was definitely a deficit now. Bahamut began to feel some hope inside him. If he could draw this out a bit longer...keep up with him a bit more...then he could beat him. The red esper continued to rise until he was on his feet, although unsteady. His blood covered vision glared at Bahamut, and the king esper felt hate and anger so strong that he almost felt his flesh heat up looking to him. Wyvern was quivering with rage now, and driven almost mad with the pain. At first, Bahamut thought that was a bonus. The angrier he got, the more ferocious his attacks would be...but the sloppier he would start to think. He prepared himself for another terrible assault, waiting on his brother to move...
When he sensed it.
Wyvern's dark power was shooting up dramatically. His wings began to spread out from him. His tail started to brace itself. Then, Bahamut realized what was happening. His hope was crushed and fear and anxiety replaced it. He was summoning the Megapyron again. And despite how much better Bahamut was doing, he knew that he still couldn't outmatch it. One Megapyron would be all it would take to put an end to this fight. Wyvern's victory could be decided by one blast. Already, the sky grew dark and began to crack with energy and power, and Bahamut was dumbfounded. He couldn't beat him now. The best he could do was hope to lessen the damage with his own Sol-pyrin. But it would make no difference. In the end, the attack would still be more than strong enough to cripple him. Then Wyvern would be the victor once again. Bahamut began to despair. Cold sweat mingled with his own sweat. What could he do? If he couldn't find a way to get around this attack, then he'd never win... But he had come so far. There had to be some way!
Well... Bahamut thought after a moment. I suppose...I could try one thing...
It was risky. He wasn't sure if he could pull it off. He had never tried this technique before, and it would mostly be improvised. If it was wrong, then he died. But he had to give it a shot. Immediately, he sprung back from Wyvern as the energy began to take form around his brother. Then, he immediately spread out his own wings and braced himself as well. First things first, he immediately performed a Supra-velo, once more pushing his energy to maximum. That done, Bahamut unfurled his wings and began to charge his own Sol-pyrin. Soon the ground shook around him as well, and the area around him grew lighter. Rays began to form around his wings, and his head began to shake slightly from the strength as a great ball appeared in front of his mouth.
Over the rising sound of wind and trembling, Bahamut heard an evil laugh. He knew it was from Wyvern. He thought that he'd simply obliterate Bahamut's Sol-pyrin like before, and then finish him. He might have been right, too. There was a good chance that would happen...and Bahamut feared the maddening pain of the attack. But this was the only way. Both of them continued to summon their powers, looking to repeat the exact same thing that had happened to them forty years ago. Both were soon rippling with energy, struggling to control the powers they had summoned. Both glared at each other. Bahamut was cold and somewhat nervous, while Wyvern glared maliciously at him, believing that his victory was here at last. They both held only a second longer, and then fired at each other. The two waves of power once more send up clouds of crystal dust as huge trenches were blasted into the ground. Light filled the caves for miles around. And then, the two blasts connected, and a shockwave ripped off from the impact that tore apart every last stalagmite and stalactite in the chamber. Then the two energies held, and pushed against one another.
Wyvern immediately pushed more into the attack, more eagerly than ever. He wanted to overwhelm him quickly this time and do as much damage as possible. However, as he began to do this, through the blinding, raging waves of energy, Wyvern saw something that puzzled him. Bahamut had fired his attack, but he didn't push anymore energy into it. He let it there, to slowly be worn down by Wyvern's attack. Instead, he had closed his eyes and was focusing, seeming to be chanting another spell or attempting to. His evil brother sneered, and simply pushed more power into his own attack. The Sol-pyrin held for a while, and it burned off most of the energy in Wyvern's own blast. But in the end, it was too little. As before, the orb of energy disintergrated. Laughing in victory, Wyvern shot his own flaming blast straight for Bahamut, howling with delight at how Bahamut's flesh and bone would soon burn in his hellish flames, and rejoicing that victory was his at last. The blast went closer and closer, and finally enveloped his brother.
Immediately, Wyvern fired more energy into it. He pushed as much as he could and more into the attack, wanting to do as much pain to Bahamut as possible. Make him suffer for all that he had done. Bahamut vanished from his vision, and still he blasted more. Rocks and debris flew up from the area around Bahamut. Heat waves radiated. But still Wyvern fired more, his eyes full of malicious glee. Finally, when he felt he had slow roasted Bahamut enough, he cut off his energy flow. The last of the Megapyron sailed at Bahamut and dissipated, and Wyvern laughed to himself as he stood,licking his lips to see the pain that Bahamut had to now be in.
However, he was in for some surprise.
Bahamut, sweating, panting, and trembling...held his hands in front of him...where an irredescent shield now burned.
Wyvern was puzzled at this for a moment, and his anger began to return at how Bahamut had somehow intercepted his attack. That anger soon vanished, however...when to his utter shock his hellish Megapyron erupted forth in flaming fury from the shield...and went right back to him.
Wyvern's eyes widened and his heart sank in his chest. His mind was full of rage and bewilderment, as the fires began to glow over him, and the first deadly orb sailed right for his face.
"Impossi-"
That was all Wyvern got out before the attack erupted. Soon, his own orbs sank into his flesh and erupted from the inside. Terrible heat and fire raged through him, and tremors tore into his flesh and bashed against his bone with lethal force. Wyvern screamed in agony as his flesh blackened and blistered under the power, and his body was rocked violently by the greedy flames as he roasted in agony. A massive wave of smoke and energy radiated off of him and enveloped him. A great black cloud fountained up from his body as the Megapyron erupted. Wyvern burned on and on for a few seconds before the massive attack finally died out, and when it did a cloud of dust and smoke made it impossible to see anything that had happened.
Bahamut, on his part, nearly collapsed and panted. He couldn't even afford the energy to smile at the moment. That move had nearly done him in at the end. But he had remembered Rosa's reflection spell. Luckily, his keen intellect and ability to sense minds and energy made it possible for him to pick up on almost any attack. Of course, he usually had a week to do so, but just now he had to improvise that move. It nearly broke him. Apparently, much of the energy in a spell that was reflected was lost as heat as it hit the shield. If one was too weak, it might break through entirely. But what was reflected back was always weaker due to the heat loss. That blast, Bahamut realized, had only been about a tenth of the true power of a Megapyron. But it still made a very damaging attack. Not enough to beat Wyvern...but by now, victory was more clear than ever. Bahamut realized he had done it. He found a way to repel the Megapyron. And now, Wyvern had to have only half of his power or less left. Bahamut realized he could win. Without the Megapyron, it was now only a matter of time before Wyvern lost the rest of his strength.
He was going to do it. He was going to beat him at long last...
The smoke finally cleared, and it revealed what had happened in its wake. Wyvern was burned horribly over the front of his body. He hadn't lost scales, but many of them had begun to twist and curl against his flesh. Blood oozed out from his blackened skin beneath several points. His entire body sizzled and popped. His gums were enflamed, for the heat had licked into his mouth. Now he held it open in a frozen snarl. He looked absolutely wretched, and Bahamut could sense he had lost a lot of power. He opened his eyes and glared hatefully at Bahamut. Now, he had so much anger it began to approach the level that Zemes was at, at least before he had managed to form his own consciousness. For a moment, he did nothing. Only continued to glare at him. Bahamut readied himself as well. He didn't want to attack first, but allow Wyvern to make the first move. Yet all he did was seethe with anger. For a moment, Bahamut wondered if that was it. Perhaps he was weakened enough now that he couldn't fight back anymore. That seemed a little unusual...but it was a possibility. However, in the end, that wasn't what happened. The silence was at last broken...
By Wyvern starting to laugh.
Bahamut stared at him in puzzlement, but Wyvern merely glared at him maliciously and continued to cruelly chuckle from his baked lips. He sounded maddened and insane, but he continued to giggle as he stared at him. His eyes flashed dangerously. Bahamut didn't know what was going on. Had his power made him slap-happy? Or had his own madness gotten the better of him? But Wyvern only continued to chuckle onward for a few moments longer. Then, at last, he calmed down and spoke once more.
"Well, well..." He slowly exhaled through his burned throat, a dry, raspy sound. "You seem to think that you've won, after all, Bahamut. You think that because you managed to outdo my Megapyron that you've beaten me. But I've got some bad news for you..." He lowered his gaze and grinned wider.
"...The Megapyron isn't my Omniapex."
Bahamut eyes widened a bit at that. He hesitated for a moment. He had doubts that the Megapyron was Wyvern's ultimate attack, but he hadn't honestly believed that. After all, the Megapyron was so powerful, it had to be his ultimate attack...didn't it? But Bahamut knew deep inside that his ultimate attack had to be something like Bahamut's own Sol-pyrin. And realizing that Wyvern had a stronger move... Bahamut felt himself begin to tense up. If he was telling the truth, he could only imagine how horrible it would be...
"I knew the Megapyron wouldn't be enough to destroy you." Wyvern continued. "I thought at best, all it would end up doing was countering your Megapyrin. So I stayed in the Lifestream longer. Sure enough...I finally unlocked the true power within me. I think our mother tried to keep it from me...but in the end, I absorbed so much energy from the Lifestream even she couldn't keep me from finding it. Of course, when I encountered you, I thought my Megapyron was more than enough to beat you. So I didn't bother performing my own Omniapex. But now that you've finally surpassed that...I guess I have no choice but to obliterate you."
Bahamut felt sweat began to pour from his brow again. He stared coldly at Wyvern, trying to restrain his growing fear.
Wyvern sensed it regardless, and grinned menacingly. "Now then...allow me to give you a little lesson. Each one of our kind has an element that we're our best in. That element is the source of power for our Omniapex. When you fought Griever, you found out that the power of the sun was your element. Hence, your Sol-pyrin absorbs solar energy and then fires it. However, my Omniapex is constantly building power inside me, but its growth is retarded by solar power. In effect, my element is darkness. If I have a big enough vacuum of light energy, I can form dark matter to fuel my own breath attack." He paused for a moment after and grinned wider. "But why take my word for it? I think this is the sort of thing that you have to see to believe."
Immediately, Wyvern unfurled his wings and shot into the sky once again. Bahamut, frozen in growing fear, only stood there as he saw him hover high into the sky. After that, he aimed his head not at Bahamut, as he thought...but higher, toward the platform above. "Get yourself ready, Bahamut." Wyvern sneered. "Even I scare myself with the power of this attack. Of course, you could dodge if you wanted to...but then I'm afraid you lose anyway, because I'm aiming for your little masters." He chuckled darkly, and unfurled his wings and stiffened his neck. "Wait until you see what it's like to feel real terror!"
Bahamut's jaw hung open and his eyes froze in horror. But already, his brother began to charge the power. Much darker energy surrounded him now. It seemed to form beams of darkness around him and draw into him. Wyvern held his mouth open, and began to generate the power into a ball in front of him. Indeed, it looked a lot like Bahamut's own attack. But it was far stronger than the Megapyron. Already, the crystal cave began to quiver. Energy bolts already started to surround him, and grew fiercer and stronger with time. Wind blasted against Bahamut from above. But he could only stand there dumbfounded. What could he do? If he stayed here, this new attack would obliterate half of the cave, and take Rydia with it. But if he got in the way, he doubted even he could withstand it. The method like last time probably wouldn't work. And the blast would likely finish him. He didn't know what to do... He was in a no win situation now. In the end, however, despite how futile it might be, he could only make one choice.
Quickly, Bahamut shot up and got in the path of the oncoming attack from Wyvern. Once again, he activated his Supra-velo. The constant magic was draining him, but he had no choice. Soon, he exploded forward with new power. Then, he spread out his own wings and began to summon his power once more. Bands of light began to surround him, but he pushed it harder. He needed it to be as strong as possible. If it wasn't, he would never be able to reflect this move. He continued to generate more power, causing the ground to shake and bolts of energy to surround him as well. Wyvern's own attack began to grow. His weak neck quivered violently, trying to withstand the growing flare. But he was summoning it. Bahamut felt his heart sink as the new attack gained more power than ever before. This new attack would easily outclass a Megapyron. Bahamut began to doubt himself, but still struggled to bring in more and more power. He put everything he had together as he began to form his own Sol-pyrin. An orb began to form over his own jaws. His neck began to quiver as well, and he felt a burning in it as he struggled to hold the power and feed more into it. The wind picked up between the two and grew violent, whipping up even larger columns of stone than last time. The ground swelled and cracked underneath both of them. Light began to surround Bahamut, while incredible darkness began to surround Wyvern. He dimmed so much that only the flare itself could be seen. As for Bahamut, he turned so radiant it was blinding to naked eyes. It was a perfect repeat of forty years ago, only stronger. Bahamut continued to push more and more power into his, as Wyvern struggled to maintain his own. But even though Bahamut felt his body generate more and more power...he realized in fear that it was impossible for him to put anything else into the flare. His flesh was ready to burst. His bones were ready to break. Any more, and it wouldn't matter. The horrible truth of Wyvern's evolution came to light. Wyvern's body was simply built better and could hold more power...and he could never match it. Despite the extra power, Bahamut couldn't use it.
There has to be something I can put it into... Something I can do!
But it was too late. At once, Wyvern snapped his head back, nearly breaking his own neck, and let out his own massive ball of light.
"Noc-pyrin!"
Bahamut saw he couldn't afford anymore, and quickly fired his own Sol-pyrin. Now, both attacks, two giant orbs of burning energy with great waves behind them thundered toward each other. They sailed for a few moments before colliding. Instantly, a crack went out that was so strong it hurt Bahamut's ears, and a shockwave went off that was painful for him to bear. It tore a great bowl into the ground, and blasted his human friends away up above. For miles above and below, light flooded the chambers, and the dark creatures within shrieked and retreated. Even the great evil in the heart of the moon looked up and saw the great energy that had gathered...and a rare wave of fear rippled in his black heart.
Wyvern put more power into his own attack, but Bahamut was unable. He was barely able to hold it as it was. Despite having gathered more energy, he could do nothing with it. Instead, he readied himself to perform his own reflection spell. But already he knew it was futile. The attack was too strong. He could see his Sol-pyrin already buckling and breaking under the new Noc-pyrin. His heart filled with fear and despair. It was finished. In the end, no matter what he had done...no matter what he had tried...he realized that he would never be a match for his brother. He had spent too much time preparing himself. He had spent the whole of the esper history getting ready for this fight. And now, it was finished.He couldn't escape death this time. At once...he realized he was over.
Wyvern's eyes blazed with hateful glee as he sounded a laugh over the thunder. Bahamut continued to look with empty despair. A cracking went out, and then the Sol-pyrin broke. The Noc-pyrin, now unhindered, shot forward to demolish its intended target. Bahamut, feeling death staring him right in the face, nevertheless threw up the reflection spell. It was even stronger this time, for he had experience now. But when the Noc-pyrin hit it, it was as if a mountain had been dropped on his shoulders. His body exploded into pain and agony. It felt as if his bones would shatter. The massive attack just continued to blast against him, and within moments it had already filled the reflection attack to capacity and continued to flood it. Bahamut felt his arms begin to burn and smolder. The heat began to bake his face. His eyes watered and burned, and he slammed them shut and struggled to hold it. But it only tortured him more. The barrier was nothing to it. In the end, Bahamut realized his effort was for nothing. As the blast began to consume him in fire and shadow, he saw that he couldn't prevail. His body would burn away long before the Noc-pyrin was broken. He couldn't hold it any more. In the end, as Wyvern cackled like a demon, his barrier shattered...and the attack hit.
Even the body of Bahamut could not comprehend the pain that he went into now. His flesh went numb as his body was unable toregister the energy that went into it. All that the Megapyron had done forty years ago was repeated, and worse than before. Bahamut's power once again shrank into nothing as the energy tore into him, flailing the scales and skin off of him, making his flesh peel and pop. His wings were torn into tatters again, and his body was once more ravaged as the violence broke most of the bones in his body. His efforts had once again drastically lowered the power, but it was too much. Bahamut felt as if his soul had already left his body, as the numbness let him watch his own body burn and cook in the fury of the Noc-pyrin. His eyes were shut...but still he felt his retinas begin to burn away. The fire went down his throat and burned his insides through and through, until there was only a charred body left behind.
But the attack broke, just like last time. Bahamut sacrifice had managed to accomplish one thing. The power had not hurt the humans. They had been a bit burned from the heat, but they were alive. But in the end, it was too little. Bahamut couldn't hold himself anymore, and limply fell to the ground. His body, already broken, collapsed into a twisted heap against the ground on his back. Again, he was just as he had been forty years ago. Even worse, it felt like. Only Bahamut numbness allowed him to stay conscious. His heart was barely beating. His lungs were barely getting the air from every breath. He had nothing left...and he couldn't move anymore. His body continued to smoke and crackle as he lay on the ground. He could barely look out around him. And again...he realized he was finished.
No way out this time...
Bahamut weakly stared forward. Just a little in front of him loomed the pit that stretched to the core of the moon. But he knew he wouldn't be thrown down this time. Wyvern wouldn't take the chance. Slowly, he saw his red feet come down in front of him. Immediately after, the owner bent over and began to wheeze. Apparently, that attack had taken too much out of his own battered body. But he could still stand, and he could still move. And so, he walked forward a bit more toward the fallen esper. Once he stood right over him, Bahamut saw his hunched over form for a brief moment. Then...abruptly...five Pyrins were fired out of Wyvern's mouth. They didn't hit him head on...but proceeded to strike each one of his limbs and his tail at the socket point. Each one hit him with such force that he felt the bone break inside, and despite how weak he was, Bahamut gave out a yell in pain as he felt them strike him. Once done, Wyvern staggered a bit, but still grinned menacingly.
"Now you are truly helpless." He sneered. "And victory is at last mine. I have waited for thousands upon thousands of years for this, and at last I have won. Now I can finally return to the Blue Planet in triumph." He hesitated a moment...but then lowered his own claw and seized Bahamut's head by the crest. He yanked it up, and soon Bahamut found his own damaged eyes looking into Wyvern's victorious ones. The evil creature grinned again at him. "Give me your best face, Bahamut. I want to look in your eyes as you die. Any last words you want to say?"
Bahamut was silent. He weakly stared forward, struggling to deal with the new pain that ended his numbness. But even as he felt his life had ended...he sensed one final thing within him. Despite the pain he had been in, he still had that small bit of power leftover...and now he was free to use it again. He looked at Wyvern a moment longer...but then opened his mouth, revealing a blinding red light inside...to which Wyvern's victory was once again snatched from him and replaced with utter terror.
"...Megapyrin."
At once, Bahamut's body was flung back as his solar-powered Megapyrin fired. The strongest one he had ever made now proceeded to ravage his brother. The force was too great to withstand, and blasted him against the ground and away from the pit. But the huge energy wave struck Wyvern point-blank in the upper torso. Wyvern struggled to bring a wing in front of him to guard at the last moment...only to have the energy rip right through it, shatter the bones inside, and then blast right onto Wyvern's face. The scales were burnt away, and a horrible wave of fire pierced his skull and went into his brain. Fire and explosions burst from within, and soon he felt his very brains begin to boil within his head. His neck was broken from the power, and heat continued to wave over him and drain what strength he had left. The blast continued to rush forward, covering him with more heat and eruptions, and his body was ripped off of its feet all together. The wave continued to push him afterward, continuing to blister him and break him, until he was as wretched as his opponent. Wyvern cried out in pain and anguish...for the true pain was that he had his victory taken away again. The energy sapped his strength and drained him, and then continued to roast his body. And the misery of his loss again was too much to bear. He yelled out in unspeakable misery a thousand horrible notes. He was powerless to leave the blast...and he only managed to wrench his battered body free after the blast had carried him over the pit. The blaze raged on, and it left Wyvern dangling in midair. The beast's face turned to panic. He glared at Bahamut with red eyes full of fear and shock. Even as it did, the monster struggled to fly...but one wing was useless. It struggled to use the Auto-aero technique, but its power was gone. It flailed miserably for a second...and he gave one final look to his brother. His face was tight with terror and horror at its own impending demise...and perhaps a small light in it begged for help. But even if Bahamut could rise, he would not help him. His eyes gazed mercilessly back. Wyvern's gaze then flew into one last mad rage...and as he fell down over the edge and into the infinite black abyss below, his intelligible, hate-filled screams cursed his brother to the very last. But they turned into echoes, and then faded into nothing.
When that happened, all became silent, and Bahamut was alone. Only his long, slow breathing remained. But still he looked back at the pit one final time...and realized that it was finally over.
Wyvern was gone.
He had won.
To be continued...
