The Final Battle

"You have courage to venture in here alone."

The demon man looked around him, surrounded by the glowing red eyes various true demons, gathered in a large hall of dark stone. Hisses and shrieks echoed throughout the cavernous room. The man then looked up into the large glowing eyes of the wormlike demon before him as it spread open its long spiny winged arms.

"Oh?"

"You are strong, I can see that. However, to all of us, you are nothing."

"I didn't come here for a fight. I came to ask a question."

"A question?"

"Are you frightened?"

"What!?"

"If you are not frightened, then why do you hid in this cave?"

"Serus Uriel hides from nothing!"

"Then why do you stay in your dungeon? I can feel that you all know what has arisen. I can feel your hate as if it were my own."

"But it isn't fool! You may have parts of us in you, but do not pretend you know how we feel."

"I don't need to pretend. I can feel your fury washing over me just speaking to you. It has been some time since the third rising. Since you broke the hold the Clockworks had over your people. They used many demons as their own instruments of war against the humans, until you freed yourselves."

"We have no desire to help the humans."

"Do you truly believe that the humans are all the Clockworks are after? Those machines yearn for nothing less than the destruction of all life on Roika. When the humans are gone, you and your people will be next, and you won't last long. You can spawn as many of your lost as you'd like, but you won't be able to keep the pace up. The drain on you will be too great. Now is your one and only chance to fight. Fight for your survival, and take revenge on the things that dared control you. Or don't. Stay in your dungeon and just wait for the end. The choice is yours."

"I still don't understand what we're doing here!" Mepstet yelled over the high winds, standing on the deck of an airship. "There's nothing on Death Island but demons!"

"No. I can feel it. Deep inside the island. It is gathering power. The Clockworks." Chen said.

"If you say so. Well, point me where you want us to land and I'll let you off."

"No need." Chen said, jumping over the side.

"What the…" Mepstet stared as the vessel of the gods plummeted toward the island. "Good luck Chen."

Geiox looked north, across the fields of Flaris, toward his oncoming enemies. An army of mechanical man sized beings all gathered around the Gigas class, the giant quadraped.

"This is it." Geiox looked around him at the gathered men and drew his sword. "All we can do is buy time."

Geiox stepped out ahead of the front line of soldiers and turned to face Flaris' army.

"We all know what is at stake here. We can not let them get within range of Bobor! It took too long to gather our forces to launch an attack. That means we'll be charging right within the range of the Gigas. The only chance we're going to have of cutting our losses will be if those of us that can cast Assist class spells, make sure to use running support magics, just as it's charging to fire. The margin for error on this is nonexistent! Our only chance of effectively holding them off will be if we can reach in close quickly."

"Good plan."

Geiox turned about.

"Argoein!"

"Although with your casters having to keep up multiple speed boosts at once, they're going to be somewhat exhausted by the time you all get over to the enemy. They may as well die in the run. Of course, even with the boost in speed, there's no guarantee you'll all make it over there. Your speed will be great enough to avoid a second shot, but the destruction of the first will be great."

"It's a risk we have to take."

"I'll clear the field for you. Do try and keep up. It will be hectic over there though…make sure you don't get in my way."

"What?"

Argoein turned and let out a piercing howl before breaking into a run straight for the Clockwork army.

"Dammit…charge!" Geiox yelled.

As the distance between Flaris' army and the Clockworks began to close, Geiox could see in the distance, the Gigas' beam charging to fire when suddenly, swarms of demons began falling into the left and right flanks of the enemy army, calling the blast of the Gigas to the demons.

"Incredible….now!"

The feet of each soldier charging across the field began to glow with yellow light as the army increased its speed. Even so much faster than previously, Geiox noticed they weren't gaining on his brother. Instead Argoein pulled away even more, and when he was just past three quarters of the field he leapt into the air, then came crashing down somewhere in the center of the Clockworks. The mechanical monsters were so bus with the demons that Flaris' soldiers went unnoticed until they crashed into them like a wave, spilling iron and blood over the front lines.

Down, more and more, deeper and deeper into the earth the vessel of the gods Chen went. There was a faint light that grew brighter the farther down the seemingly endless staircase. Upon reaching the bottom, Chen looked into the lit room, and saw the tenth body sitting in a giant chair with strange tubes linked to it. The machine suddenly opened its eyes and spoke.

"Number nine, what is it you are doing here?"

"Should we say something?" Chen asked the gods within him.

"Are you stupid? Now is our best chance to destroy this thing!" Shadow answered.

Chen felt a power in his legs like that in the tournament. He felt the speed course through him as he rocketed from the place he stood toward his previous master. Even at such speed, the Clockwork Master effortlessly plucked him up into the air by the neck and threw him into a wall off to one side.

"I see now. That explosion must have fully woken your consciousness. Surely you must know though, that no mere puppet body, even with a soul can match my power. You will die here. Then all the worlds pathetic humans will die as well, starting with those in Flaris."

Chen charged again, this time being thrown into the high ceiling. He began to come back down when the Clockwork raised one open hand above him.

"You fool. We may both have the same bodies, but that is not the same as being able to fully utilize their abilities. I am no mere prototype. I am The Clockworks!"

Suddenly, the end joints of the master's fingers seemed to detach from the rest, to reveal a metallic section between the flesh. A strange humming sound filled the room, as electricity began pouring out of those metal sections into the Clockwork's palm.

"What on Roika?" Shadow echoed in Chen's mind.

Once the electricity formed a ball, it shot out of the Clockwork's hand, striking Chen in the chest.

Mepstet was still aboard a Crimson Shield light ship when there was an explosion on the ground below.

"Take us closer!" He ordered.

The ship came down to a dozen feet above where the explosion was, and where Chen was laying closeby.

"Chen!"

There was another, smaller, explosion a few feet away. When the dust cleared, Mepstet stared upon the tenth body he found in the ruins now floating in the air.

"Great. Which one is which?" Robner whispered.

Chen struggled to all fours and took one look at his enemy, hovering just above the ground then dropped his head again.

"What is going on?" Bobor asked within Chen. "We have the same bodies, but how is it that he is this much more powerful? With Shadow and I here we should be strong enough to fight this beast."

"You're gauging our powers as though we were in a human body. While in a body, we may bring out all the potential and dormant abilities that they otherwise can't, but this body is different. It's the Clockwork's toy after all. It's only natural that the master would know how to use it fully." Shadow explained.

"True, but then…"

"This is Chen's job."

"What?" Chen asked.

"You're holding back."

"I thought as much, but, why Chen?" Bobor now asked.

"I'm sorry. I just…I don't want to lose control. What if the Clockwork takes over again?"

"You sniveling weakling!" Shadow screamed.

"Shadow!"

"You shut your blubbering mouth Bobor! Here he was talking about making up for past mistakes, but when he agreed to be our vessel, he thought his work was done. Come to find out you have something you truly need to contribute, but now you're having second thoughts. You want to know what happens if the Clockwork Master takes over again? The same thing that will happen if you don't even try."

The Clockwork human lifted its hand again, and began charging electricity into its palm once more. This time however, it set its aim for the nearby airship.

"Pull up!" Mepstet barked.

"Look Chen! We aren't even viewed as a threat. Clockwork is going to destroy that ship and all the people on board unless you wake up and take control of your life right now!"

A light began to form in one of Chen's eyes. He lifted his head to face the clockwork, and a beam of energy shot out suddenly striking the other's arm just as he released the electric attack, barely missing the airship. Chen rose to his feet.

"Now, we're ready." The three entities within him echoed.

Geiox knew that even with the demons helping in the battle, they were slowly losing ground. For the moment, he was only concerned with one thing as he was cutting his way through swarms of Clockworks to find his brother. He finally came upon a sort of circular clearing, littered with Clockwork body parts, and a bloodied Argoein standing at the center as more Clockworks swept into him from different sides. Geiox charged in, beating away as many of the enemy as he could.

"What are you doing you fool, you're going to get in the way here!" Argoein yelled while disposing of two Clockwork soldiers.

"Say what you will Argoein, but I know it's you! I won't let our family be torn apart again!"

There was an explosion above them as another airship came down in flames from the Gigas' beam weapon.

"That makes seven. The fleet is being ripped apart. Nobody but Atrys can form a shield strong enough to withstand a shot from the Gigas. Even then, the question becomes how many." Argoein commented, tearing the head off one Clockwork soldier nearby.

"He has already taken two direct shots for other ships."

Some minutes passed while the brothers fought side by side against never ending waves of the mechanical foot soldiers. Argoein looked up and noticed that the flagship was on a path away from the battle.

"What do you suppose he's up to?" Geiox asked.

"Our time is up." Argoein answered.

The Gigas' one glowing eye began to gather large amounts of energy, and then released it. A giant beam was on a direct path for Bobor until the flagship flew to the line of fire. The light shield surrounding the ship dropped after seconds of withstanding the force, allowing the rest of the attack to punch the ship in half. The lights of several boards could be seen in the distance, only one of which continued shakily onward to Flaris.

"So that's it then." Argoein said. "In a few minutes the Gigas will build its power for the blast that will destroy the fortress, and much of Flaris with it. If they don't get that cannon up soon, we've lost."

"No! We just need to stop it ourselves somehow. We're the closest to the Gigas. Maybe we can do something."

"Sounds almost like suicide, but at this point, I guess it wouldn't matter if it were. I'll clear the way, you just move quickly."

With that, Argoein began carving his way through the crowd to the Clockwork behemoth, with his older brother close behind.

"The flagship is down! The Gigas is in range to fire on us already!"

"Damn! How long before it fires again?"

"It will need to charge for another three minutes at least sir."

"Then we have two to get Bobor's Light up and running!"

"Repairs are mostly done, but in it state, we'll probably only be able to get one shot at about thirty percent power. Will that be enough?"

"It's better than nothing."

"What about Lady Cerand sir?"

"She has protected us all with her life more times than I can count. Let us protect her for a change!"

Chears rang out in the canon room. Meanwhile, Lady Cerand lay in bed in her chambers getting occasional reports through the few guardsmen still aboard the fortress.

"The flagship?"

"Destroyed ma'am. Reports say that several escaped…"

"Sir Yob?"

"No word."

"Thank you. Please, return to your family, they are going to need you now more than ever."

The soldier bowed deeply, before leaving the room. Lady Cerand sat herself up with great effort in her bed and tried to walk, but collapsed just outside of it. She felt an arm around her waist and looked up at her helper as he threw her arm over his shoulder, lifting her to a stand.

"Atrys…"

Tears came to her eyes as she looked at her burnt and beaten love's face.

"I've failed Dwin."

"We both have."

There was a moment of silence between the two of them.

"I also failed you, Atrys."

"How can you say such a thing?"

"I…should have…been more…"

Atrys stopped her with a finger over her lips.

"I love your devotion, your love, toward Flaris. I don't need reassurances. I never have. I chose to devote my life to yours and I have no regrets. I love you Dwin, as you love Flaris and its people."

"Thank you. Now…I'd like to look at the city, one last time."

The two made their way arm in arm to the nearest balcony facing northward. Dwin Cerand looked out upon the city she loved so much, then outward to the very thing that would destroy it.

"I want to protect it Atrys. Just once more before I go, but I am too weak alone."

"Then it is a good thing, that you aren't alone."

The lovers looked deep within each others eyes just as the Gigas' attack had prepared, firing a beam of energy toward Flaris. Atrys and Dwin held each other closely, and when their foreheads touched, the entire fortress began to glow white.

"Gods, we're too late!" Geiox exclaimed watching as the beam streaked across the sky on a destructive path toward Boboor.

"Wait…what's that light?"

The fortress glowed more intensely, and just as the beam was about to enter over Flaris city, a great red light shield enveloped the entire city.

"What is this?"

"It's Lady Cerand you fool! She's giving us our chance. Is that damned cannon charged?"

"Yes sir!"

"Fire!" The chief engineer shouted.

Bobor's Light grew blue with energy, and shook the space around it before letting out one shot, then collapsing. The beam from the Gigas ceased just as the shield around the city faded away. Bobor's final attack flew directly into the Clockwork monster and there was a great explosion.

"Thank you Lady Cerand…now, did that do it?" The engineer whispered.

The Gigas collapsed and with the explosion, chunks of its body rained down all about the field. A plate of iron from the giant was about to crash upon Geiox as he stared still at the fortress Bobor, when his brother stepped in destroying it with a punch.

"Would you pay attention? Or do you want to get yourself killed?"

Argoein barely got the words out when he felt something pierce his chest. A look of shock entered Geiox's face as it was covered in his brother's blood. They both looked down, to find one of the Clockwork soldiers had plunged a bladed hand through him from behind. Argoein gritted his demonic teeth, grabbing behind him, he broke the blade off at the source, then impaled the soldier with its own weapon after pulling it from himself. Soon after, two more soldiers entered, piercing Argoein from both sides. He fell to his knees, coughing up black ooze. Geiox finally came to and disposed of both Clockworks. Argoein fell forward into the earth and Geiox knelt beside his body, turning him over, he cast a shield about them both.

"Why? I don't understand. You said before…"

"I sold my soul brother. Not my heart."

"What?"

"Do you remember our mother and father?"

"Yes, of course I do."

"Well, I don't. all I remember is Targos, you, and…I couldn't save her. The cabin was attacked by demons driven mad, and I froze. I watched them tear her apart."

"That…is that why…"

"I swore to do what it took to become strong. I never wanted to see another person I loved die. Now, after all that….and I'm just as helpless as before. I'm…sorry…brother…"

"No…you can't die now Argoein. We've just become a family again. I can't lose my little brother all over again! Argoein!"

The general of Saint Morning tried in vain to revive his soulless brother as the Clockwork soldiers began chipping away at the light shield. He faintly heard the familiar voices of the smiths Boboku and Boboko coming to him as they were trying to break their way through the enemy masses.

"Geiox, get out of there! The cannon didn't work, the Gigas is not down yet!"

As the hulking metal monster stirred to life, so too did Geiox's fury. He lifted his sword and it began shaking with power. Suddenly his sword appeared to grow to four times its length as Geiox swung it in a wide circle, cutting down all the Clockworks surrounding him. He looked up at the Gigas and let out a roar before launching the sword directly at it. There was a bright flash when the sword struck its target and an explosion.

When finally the light faded and the dust settled, all that was left of the Gigas was its four massive legs. Geiox turned back to his fallen brother, dropping to his knees and cradling his lifeless body in his arms. The smiths arrived, just as more soldiers gathered to strike him down.

The battle between Chen and the Clockwork Mater had left its mark all over Death Island. Where once there were mountains, now were only hills. Forests turned to wastelands, and craters covered the flatlands. Through all this destruction, there was no clear victor ready to emerge.

"Even at this level, we're only slightly stronger, but we're running out of time." Bobor said. "Our binding won't last long enough to win at this rate."

"Then, we've lost? You mean there's nothing we can do?"

"Not entirely." Shadow answered. "While we do bring a body to its full physical and even magical capabilities, we can also do one more thing."\

"Shadow…"

"We can release all the energy of the spirit we're bound to all at once, like an explosion. With the two of us, and even your help Chen, this war could still be won."

"But you'll die Chen." Bobor added.

"You're sure it will be enough?" Chen asked after a moment passed.

"Yes." Shadow answered.

"Wait, Chen, there may be another way. If we…"

"No Bobor. You said so yourself. There's no time. What do I do Shadow?"

"Just make sure he can't get away from you. Bobor and I can handle the rest."

"Right." Chen quickly dashed toward his enemy, narrowly avoiding the Clockwork's fingers as they stretched across the field to find him. Chen got close enough to send the master into the air with a punch, then grab him up midair, and guide them both back down into the hole leading into the depths of the island.

"What are you doing number nine?"

"I'm sorry Mikyel. It looks like, I can't keep that promise after all…" Chen thought.

Light began to fill the tunnel as the two mechanized bodies plummeted deeper and deeper, until they reached the end of the tunnel, and the light exploded.

Mepstet looked on from the ship at the hole his comrade had just flew down. Suddenly the entire island began to shatter, and light poured out from the cracks reaching outward from that very hole.

"Gods…evasive maneuvers!" The man shouted.

The entire island was enveloped in a ball of light and flame, as the ship was battered by howling winds. The tempest subsided, and when Mepstet regained his feet, he looked out in awe at the sky where Death Island had been.

"Chen!" He roared, mounting a board.

Robner searched all that day and night through the floating debris looking for evidence of his survival, all the while, completely unaware that the war was won, and he was the sole witness to their victory.