Hephrostosis was standing in the War Room of a castle they had repurposed as their main stronghold with Liam and Ignus.
"So Mason was slain?" Hephrostosis asks.
"Yes sir." Ignus confirms. "We believe it to be the work of that alleged Chaos Guardian."
"Hm...it matters not. Once the Eternal Night is upon us we can finally take over. Humans and mobians are weaklings who are below all of us. The sun and it's curse was brought upon this world by them to suppress and rebel those more powerful than they...besides Mason being killed will throw the Paladins out of whack for a while..." Hephrostosis chuckles evilly.
"What of the crimson Hedgehog calling himself Rage Chaotic Lord Hephrostosis?" Ignus asks.
"What about him?" The demon king scoffs "You don't truly believe he is this mythical Chaos Guardian when Vlagh and the one who betrayed them killed every last one of them do you?"
"No but he is very powerful regardless." Ignus says "We should exercise caution around him."
"Hmmm that I can agree with." Ignus nods agreeing. "Chaos Guardian or not he has seen battle. Far more than the other Paladins. You can tell by his eyes. He isn't to be underestimated."
"The new initiates have they chosen their blessings?" Hephrostosis asks
"They have. What's more we have a pureblooded werewolf among them. It seems our cause has roused like minds. Many with these powers seek the same. A world where we rule over the weak and puny humans and mobians unfortunate enough to not have been blessed." Ignus answers.
"Good..." the Demon nods "And the final stages of preparing for the Eternal Night ritual?"
"Well underway. With the disruption causing chaos amongst those damnable Paladins we shouldn't expect too much resistance." Ignus nods.
"Good. What of Liam?" Hephrostosis sighs.
"He is well. However he is also worried about the capabilities of Rage Chaotic. More so than I. He says that Rage is more than any Paladin or Elder." Liam says
"Well maybe we need to eliminate him then if he is so powerful." Hephrostosis sighs.
"Why not turn him?" Liam asks "He would be extremely useful on our side."
"That is a possibility too...except now that Mason is gone he has to be very high in their pecking order. You said it yourself Magnus addressed him as a Lord Paladin. Not to mention Mason assigned it to keep his cover." Hephrostosis stood up and looked out of a window. "However if that rumor about him being a Chaos Guardian is true that won't work."
"What do you mean?" Liam asks.
"Chaos Guardians have this special blessing that prevents them from being changed into things like lycanthropes or vampires." He replies "If in the off chance that is the truth...we must prepare for the worst."
"You're being a bit overly cautious with how close we are. Once the Eternal Night hits we can't be stopped!" Ignus objects.
"A Chaos Guardian would be able to stop us even then." Hephrostosis says."while I have my doubts on that crimson rat I wouldn't be surprised if some Chaos Guardian meddling with time decided to show up."
"So what do you suggest we do?" Ignus sighs knowing there was no arguing with him.
"Get the old 'Chains of Darkness'." He orders
"I am sorry the what?" Ignus asks
"Chains of Darkness you know the magical chains that allow you to turn anyone to do your bidding or the things that make the good guys bad?" Hephrostosis explains "Sound familiar?"
"Oh..." Liam speaks up "I know what you're talking about. Last I heard that one guy...Nix I think used them back when he was trying to break the barrier between here and his world."
Meanwhile back in Eden Rage and the other Lord Paladins were in the Elder's Court. A large room with a large table used for meetings amongst the Elder and Lord Paladins. In this case Kira herself was taking the role of Elder. "So..." she begins "First things first. Where are we since the announcement of Mason's true intentions?"
"It's still a truth that is settling in to many of us. A lot of anger and a unified call for action." Magnus says.
"We need a new Elder first!" Credo says.
"That is true however the battle against Hephrostosis needs to have the highest priority at this point. They are nearly ready for their ritual for The Eternal Night." Kira interjects.
"No doubt they are held up in their main church or stronghold." Rage says crossing his arms "Which I bet is that one Nia and Magnus stopped me from stumbling into a while back."
"If it isn't it will have a way to their main branch or whatever." Julia says "They also likely have Sonic the Hedgehog imprisoned there if they haven't found a way to brainwash him."
"I can track him." Rage says "It is faint and hard to pick out but he has a bit of a Chaos scent to him. I have to be on the surface though. I can't track anything this deep underground not to mention the barrier around the city. Chances are he will lead us to their main church if not someone who knows where it is."
"Even if that's the case we'll never make one of those cultists to talk." Kira says.
"I have my ways." Rage says. "A little bit of magic and you can learn the truth from just about whoever you want."
"Given they don't suicide like the last captive we took." Magnus says disdainfully.
"Perhaps it's time we put Rage to use." Credo suggests "He is clearly versatile and powerful I am sure he and you could handle that church back in Nebraska no problem."
The rest look at him in silence. It was Magnus who broke it finally after a minute or so. "That is reckless. Even with Rage's abilities a two man mission is risky."
"Rage?" Kira asks.
"I am all for going and knocking on their door. It's high time we show those cultists that their time on this world is limited." Rage says "No doubt they think we are in chaos without Mason. While we are a bit shaken we can still hit hard and fast."
"Very well. Credo prepare a small group to join Rage, Nia and Magnus." Kira says "I need to speak with Rage and Magnus alone."
The other salute and take their leave as Kira waits for them to leave and sighs "I won't be here long." She admits "A new Elder is needed and well..."
"Rage and I are the most qualified?" Magnus asks.
"Well no. You are Magnus but you have a small flaw that is rather glaring. You sometimes don't make the best of calls and jump the gun..." Kira says folding her hands.
"Why is he here then if you're going to choose me? I thought the time you selected and gifted a new Elder was sacred." Magnus asks.
"We require a witness and a partner of vows." Kira says "Someone who is strong enough to take you down should you fall to Darkness..."
"You want me to be the one?" Rage asks.
"Yes and you will also take his place as Grand Paladin." Kira says.
"With all due respect Lady Kira." Magnus speaks up "Rage is a Chaos Guardian first an aid to the Paladins second. Besides if Mason was corrupt his rank of Lord Paladin would be null and void right?"
"That may be but I gave him my blessing. He is perfectly qualified. Plus if I wish to issue him a Lord Paladin Rank who would argue?" Kira asks.
"That's nice and all but..." Rage intervenes "After this is all over I can't stay working as a member of your group...my duties as a Chaos Guardian come first."
"That's fine." Kira says "Even still we are your family. Any member of our Order no matter how short or how long is family. You are not only welcome here in Eden with open arms but we will be happy to join you should you need our aid to vanquish evil."
"...Thank you Kira."'Rage says bowing his head.
"It's nothing." She chuckles "Now you guys have a temple to raid."
"Right." Rage and Magnus salute and exit the room. Nia was waiting for them as they left.
"So?" She asks
"We have a job to do." Magnus says "We're going after that place in Nebraska."
"How many of us?" Nia asks
"You, Rage and myself." He says
"Are you sure?" Rage asks "We don't know what lies ahead of us. Will three of us be enough?"
"It has to be." Magnus says "Rage you could probably do a mission like this alone if you wanted."
"I doubt that." Rage chuckled at what he would take as a compliment. "Besides I am not exactly looking forward to rescuing Sonic."
"Why?" Nia asks almost immediately.
"He has a tendency to...use the Chaos Emeralds more than he should." Rage sighs "He can abuse their power to make up for his own lack thereof. Personally I don't like him all that much for him acting as if they are his to use whenever he wants."
"So?" Nia asks "I don't see the issue there."
"Whenever someone who isn't a natural born Chaosblood uses the Emeralds normally they use the positive energy. The negative energy builds up as a result. If it not not dealt with a being known as Nazo is released. At times things like Perfect Chaos would use the negative power and balance things back out. When that doesn't happen I have to venture into the pocket dimension that the power of the Emeralds emanates from and 'clean' them so to speak and it sucks." Rage explains.
"I see." Nia nods "I understand now."
"Let's get going." Magnus says "We should get there before sundown so we can formulate a good plan."
"Agreed." Nia says as the two of them teleport. Rage sighs and follows them. However before he could teleport Julia stopped him.
"Rage!" She pants.
"Yes Julia?" He asks slightly annoyed.
"Here." She manages to get out between breaths handing Rage a set of armor "The armor I said I would make." She says. Rage smiles and tries it on.
It fit him perfectly. A maroon color with a green gem shape on the left breast plate and on the right shoulder the Lord Paladin symbol of a sword with four stars. "I thought Mason said I wasn't-" Rage started to object.
"To hell with what that traitor said." She spits "You're a Lord Paladin through and through even as a Chaos Guardian so wear it with pride!"
"Thank you." Rage says "Though what if it breaks should I change forms?"
"Oh that's easy, Natalia worked some of her magic on the armor to add self repairing and adjusting properties. Now it won't get stronger in terms of defensive abilities just how much strain it can take from you.
Rage appears next to Magnus and Nia in the same small shack they had tied him up in where they were waiting. "I'm not sure I will ever get used to that spell." Rage comments.
"I feel you." Nia chuckles looking at the empty chair Rage was once tied to "Brings back memories huh? Feels like just yesterday we tied you up here."
"You act as if it's been years." Magnus chuckles "It's only been a few weeks."
"Anyway what's the plan?" Rage asks.
"Well we want to go in through the roof." Magnus says "Hit them by surprise fast and loud. Going in the front door isn't viable."
"I mean if we did we may as well bang pots and pans on the way down." Rage scoff chuckled "Any major threats?"
"It's possible Ignus or Nero are there." Nia says "Nothing the three of us can't handle."
"Alright I am ready to go whenever." Rage says summoning his sword. It was best to do it now where they didn't need to worry about being heard or spotted.
"Here we go!" Magnus says as he and Nia rush out followed soon by Rage.
The three make it to the back of the building. A church modeled after Judeo-Christian chapels. No guard, no entrance on this side. They quickly ascended the wall to the roof where a skylight was open to help with ventilation. "Ready?" Magnus asked with hand signs. Both Rage and Nia nod and Magnus pulls a yellow orb out. A stun ball. It acted similar to a stun grenade. They waited and watched for the perfect time.
"Nero is here." Nia whispered pointing to a white wolf.
Meanwhile down below Nero was leading a group of devotees in a spell circle unaware of the three above.
"Wait." Rage says looking closely "I recognize that circle..."
"What?" Magnus asks "What is it for?"
"It's part of a spell for the Eternal Night." Rage says "It requires four separate rituals to be performed in unison each requiring a blood sacrifice." Rage says "Though they probably have decoys..."
"I doubt this is a Decoy." Nia replies "Look." She points to a magical cage where Sonic the Hedgehog was being held struggling to free himself still.
"He'll never break the cage..." Magnus says.
"Oh trust me that won't stop him..." Rage says with an annoyed grunt "He's stubborn as hell."
"Well we better go." Magnus says and the other two agreed.
Nero still unaware as to what was about to transpire was finishing up the circle when the yellow orb Magnus had dropped next to him. "What the?" He questions as it glows "Flash Orb!" He shouts ducking and covering to evade the effects.
Magnus leapt down landing on a Orobas. It screeched before he stabbed it. Nia landed next and struck two robed figures with fire spells and Rage finally landed last. He didn't hit anything and merely stood up.
"Paladins!" Nero hisses. He looks at the thee and chuckles "Magnus and Nia even."
"Helo Nero." Magnus snears "About time we met again this time your BS won't work."
"Hmph seeing how our little spy is gone perhaps..." he chuckles "Who is your red friend? I haven't seen him before...he stands out like a sore thumb too in that crimson armor."
"My name is Ragis Chaotic the Hedgehog I am The Last Chaos Guardian." Rage says sternly. Nero looks a minute in shock upon hearing the name.
"You?" He asks "A Legendary Chaos Guardian?" He then bursts out laughing.
"You idiot!" Sonic shouts from his cage "He's the real deal!"
"Shut it you blue pain in my ass! Once I deal with these three I am sacrificing you and that's that!" Nero shouts.
"You won't survive to sacrifice me." Sonic scoffs as Nero turned his attention to the three Paladins.
"Now as for you three..." he chuckles gathering dark magic and firing bolts of it at them. All three of them dodged in different directions.
A wall of purple flames then separated them. Nia who had rolled forward was isolated from Rage and Magnus with Nero. "Nia!" Magnus shouts rushing to the fire but it pushed him back burning his left arm badly. He screamed in pain.
"Nya ha ha ha!" Nero laughs "That isn't normal fire you idiot!"
"My turn." Rage says to himself using Chaos Control to teleport into the half of the church that was otherwise blocked off. Nero was a bit surprised at the move but he didn't let it affect him as he fired more dark magic at them. Rage this time cut the blast with his sword harmlessly dispersing it. Nia used a defensive ward to block the spell.
Rage lunged to counterattack Nero however he was stopped by another dark magic volley. This time he was forced to launch a few Chaos Spears to nullify the attack.
"Hmph you seem to be a cut above these two Red." Nero chuckles.
"My name is Rage." The crimson Hedgehog rebuttals with scorn tainting his voice.
"Very well then, Rage I will take care of you here and now! Witness the full power of the great Nero!" He shouts as a flame engulfed his body.
At some point Nero's body changed while the fire engulfed him. No longer was he the wolf who was just throwing dark magic. Now he stood or rather floated as not Mobian but demon. Two orange eyes glowed with fury. Black and purple plate like skin covered his body. A pair of wings flapped as the flame vanished.
"This power..." Magnus grunts still isolated with the captive Sonic. "It's crazy..."
"Awe this is nothing." Sonic scoffs.
On the other side Nia was shaking in fear. "This is the power of a full blooded demon...not some summoned low level one...there's no way we'll ever win!" She says. This fed into the egomaniac that was Nero who laughs.
"That's right! Grovel in your fears and knowledge that even a lower class upper level demon trumps you in power!" Nero laughs as Rage stood firm. "As for you Rage...what say you!?"
"It's an impressive change I'll give you that." Rage replies with a smirk "You wanna see something cool?"
"Oh sure...it can be the last thing you ever show me..." Nero chuckles.
"Cool..." Rage starts as he glows. He fur suddenly turned golden and his eyes a blood red.
On the other side of the wall the shifts in power and energy could be felt but nothing seen. Sonic could feel Rage's change "Super Rage..." he says
"Super Rage?" Magnus asks looking at Sonic "Like Super Sonic?"
"Close." Sonic says "However Rage's super form gives him a large power boost and the ability to hold it much longer than I can. In exchange for the invulnerability." He explains. "Still...he is a force to be reckoned with."
"Certainly portrays it. Pretty flashy too." Magnus says.
"Please you should see his Ultima Chaos Form." Sonic chuckles "You wanna talk flashy."
"H-how is that cool?!" Nero stuttered as Rage shoots him a cocky grin.
"Oh let me show you." He says snickering "Icy Chaos Spear!" He shouts firing spears of Icy Chaos energy at Nero's feet freezing him in place.
"What?!" He exclaimed shocked as he struggled to break free.
"Hehe." Rage chuckles as he throws his sword into the air. It changes into a bow as it flipped through the air. The crimson hedgehog grabs it in his left hand as it falls and extends the arm out to a shooting position. He brings his right hand closer and a bow string of intertwined energies forms as he pulls back a golden arrow of Chaos energy forms. Holy Chaos to be specific, Chaos specially infused with Light energy for killing demons "Aaaaaaand bullseye." Rage says lining the shot up and letting the arrow fly.
A brief icy cold silence filled the air before Nero let out an agonal scream. His body began to burn from the effects of the attack. "This is impossible!" He says.
"Game set and match." Rage smirks returning to his normal state. "Unfortunately for you it seems to be your final one as well."
It was then a sinister chuckle replaced Nero's scream "Fools...Hephrostosis succeeds yet! We predicted something like this and we had not three, not four rituals but eight! With the Eternal Night...he will be...unstoppable..." Nero exposes before he drew his last breath. With that the fire, and energy cage holding Sonic vanish
"No!" Nia says. "We failed!"
"Big deal." Sonic chuckles.
"You don't get it!" Nia panics "Hephrostosis has even more power now that night cannot beget day! Darkness has fallen and light cannot shine!"
"You're forgetting you guys have the world's fastest Hedgehog and the universe's best Darkness slayer." Sonic says clearly referring to not just himself but Rage as well.
"I can still stop him." Rage says. "It will not be as easy as it could have been but it doesn't matter. If I killed Nix, Vlagh, hell even Dex I can stop this guy."
"I hope so." Magnus sighs "For now we need to regroup and discuss our next move."
"Agreed." Nia says "Sonic you're coming with us."
"Of course I am. Besides I have a score to settle with hephrostocles." Sonic says.
"Back to Eden it is." She smirks grabbing Sonic's arm and teleporting back with an innocent smile. Magnus and Rage laugh after she leaves and follow suit.
Rage arrived in Eden shortly after Magnus and looked to see Sonic on his knees vomit on the ground in front of him. "Never. Do. That. Again." He struggled to get out between pant as he stood up.
"Sorry Sonic only way in and out of Eden." Nia says. "You'll get used to it."
"I doubt it." Sonic spits.
"You know considering we just saved your life you are acting rather ungrateful." Magnus says sternly.
"I didn't ask for it!"' Sonic sneers.
"It doesn't matter." Rage sighs "Saved him or not The Eternal Night has descended and we have little time to work with. We need a investigation team searching that church for any connection to their main temple."
"Agreed." Magnus nods "We have a war to win."
"Back already?"Credo asks as the other Lord Paladins join up with the four.
"Win how? The Eternal Night was Hephrostosis' grand scheme. He is unstoppable." Julia says.
"The Eternal Night has thrown the balance of Light and Darkness off significantly. We are not only at a disadvantage in numbers but in power too." Natalia informs the group in a grim tone.
"What do we do?" Leah asks "Reports show our outposts are in chaos, our other communities are being ransacked and soon it will be the world!"
"This is it then..." Magnus sighs as a silence fell over the group. It was one of the cold dead silences that made the air feel weighted and heavy.
"It's not over." Rage says clenching a fist "Not as long as I still stand!"
"The hell it is!" Nia shouts "We didn't come this far just to give up! Think about it if we give up they win! The world is theirs! They don't win until we give up... we have a Chaos Guardian...we have a shot!"
"You mean RAGE has a shot!" Julia scorns "He is the only Chaos Guardian, he is the only one who can stand against Hephrostosis and his beasts now!"
"Nia is right." Rage says "I agreed to aid all of you. Regardless of if you fight or not though I am. Hephrostosis interferes with the light dark balance. I can't let him get away with this..."
"...Giving up now would be cowardice." Credo finally says. "We swore to protect this world from demonkind when we took the oath as Paladins. We give up here we fail everyone on Mobius! We can't do that. I for one would rather die fighting rather than die waiting for those monsters to come kill me."
"What say you Magnus?" Nia asks.
Magnus stood quiet not looking at anybody. He finally sighed deeply and looked at them all "We fight." He says "Suicide mission or not if we have any chance of beating Hephrostosis we take it! The world is going to fall into chaos and disarray now that ancient magic is surfacing again after being all but wiped out to their knowledge. They won't be able to stop him! Magic is but a myth to them now! We are the Paladins of Kira dammit! We can't let some demon get away with doing whatever they want to on Mobius! Are you with me?!" He preaches.
The others replied nearly instantly and agreed. It went without saying everyone knew the risks and what was on the line. They were ready though. They had to stop Hephrostosis and put him back in the ground. If they couldn't then the world was doomed...