Crona's Quest

by bigbook29

Many years had passed since the Kishin's awakening and resealing, and the world is now broken. The demon swordsman wanders freely now, searching for the six concepts that gave all life to everything that exist. Each in the form of a special gem. But while his goal may be pure, the journey for such power might cause the boy to become a mad titan. *post-manga & X-over Marvel's Thanos

3. SOUL (p2)

Crona did not at all travel that far from the twin rooms, barely even a few steps away…before it was as if…the ground itself opened right under his feet, and he began to fall.

And he fell.

And he fell.

His screams of shock and horror, reached no ears…not even his own…as he was no longer in the same world as any other living being. For as time changed, so has the nature of Death, where it now resides within a place that is completely unlike anything before seen from the childish 'Death Room' the previous Reaper had. This place was massively different.

It was like some the point of reality where chaos and order meet and meld.

There was gravity, and yet none.

There was time, and yet none.

There was light, and yet dark.

There was nothing, and yet everything.

All around Crona, he saw many things, that his mind could barely take. He and Ragnarok both couldn't even seem to be able to gain any sense in what was happening around them, not even the direction that they were falling in as they found themselves going upward…downward…left…right…all at complete random as everything around them changed.

It wasn't long before they began to find the same changes on themselves.

Such a Journey is something even the worst of evil would wish upon their worst enemies. Yet somehow in this place, Crona…somehow seemed to push on. In a place with no floor, he gains his footing. In a place with no air, he breathed.

This place was made to try and break people. As it is part of colony of strange myriad dimensions, of inconceivable realties. Yet he pushed on. Moving pass his panic state as he tries to gain control of what was happening.

Whatever hold this place tried to keep on him kept breaking and grabbing on again. As if it were a child that could just barely reach to grab its new toy, yet it would squirm and move out of its hands before it had a tight grip.

Such a feat is both a spiritually and physically taxing experience as it did not leave Crona unharmed. It stretches, molds, and twist his body. Push bones to their limits as they felt like glass about to be broken, making his skin feel as if it were turning into a liquid and make it melt off his bones, crushing and mangling every cell within his body, even shattering him apart into nothing but specks in the wind.

For a lesser being this could be a fatal endeavor.

Yet Crona pulls himself back to normal. No matter what this place throws at him. It seems that he would not surrender to it. He just simply endures it, pushing on forward as if it were having but a minimal effect on his being. He always holds true to himself somehow.

His journey ends dramatically, as the world shatters apart from him like glass, freeing him from the torture before closing itself behind him.

Leaving Crona to be completely and utterly confused as he picks himself off the ground and looks around himself. "What- how- why, I- I-I…" He mumbles out as he as he tries to regain his bearings. He places his hand on his chest, and moves them around his body. He was clearly disoriented after what had just happened. "Arms…legs…body…head…Ragnarok?" He asks out loud as he looks around, trying to see where he was right now.

Whatever had just happened seemed to have no lasting effects on Crona as he appeared just the same as before, however…the trip seemed to have some…effect on Ragnarok himself, leaving the black blood creature…a bit…scatterbrained. "Apple sauce and cheese puffs with criminal oatmeal…reasons." The Demon sword said back in a completely dizzy and sick tone.

Crona gives a look of confusion as he hears Ragnarok's reply, never really hearing such a tone from him before. He hoped that his friend wasn't sick…he didn't really know how to deal with that right now. "Um…okay…R-Ragnarok, are you okay?" Crona ask with concern. "We need to kill them all, all of them…pineapple on pizza is a SIN! IT'S A SIN! Coconuts of the birds of Taco-" Ragnarok shouts as he begins to continue talking, saying things that didn't even begin to relate to one another and even cutting himself off mid-sentence.

Crona just continues to be confused as he gave his head a tilt and gives a low 'huh' sound. He tries to get his mind off Ragnarok for now as he looks around them again, his eyes getting more used to the darken area. "Well Ragnarok…I…I don't know where we are…but I still think we are in the Academy." He mumbles, as he begins to block out Ragnarok's…nonsense while still talking to him.

The teen was right…they were still in the academy, but somewhere else. No longer in the dungeon hallways, that was for sure, but someplace deeper now. Someplace…familiar. Crona places a hand to his head as he tries to piece together where is he, even tapping his own forehead as it that would help him. "Ah, where am I...I know this place…when did I-" He was interrupted mid-thought as Ragnarok begins to loudly shout out random stuff. "Spicy…extra spicy tea! With biscuits of raspberry jam!"

Crona presses his hand on his face, as he gives a small groan of annoyance. "Ragnarok, you're not helping…ugh…" Going further to ignore the loud voice in his head, Crona then notices something down the hall in front of him, a small bit of blue light that seem to faintly hum. The light was slightly pulsing as it faded in and out of view a bit along the floor. Crona looks at it for a moment longer, seeing the light was unchanging as it remained in place, before he looks back to the complete darken hallway behind him. "Well…I don't have many choices to roam here. Un...well um…" Crona gulps nervous as he begins walking to the direction of the light, slowly as he could so that his feet wouldn't make much sound.

He imagines Ragnarok probably saying something to him about how 'this is something dumb teenagers do to get themselves kill' or something along those lines…though currently said fool was occupied with singing the lyrics to a song that Crona didn't know. "She'll be coming around the mountain when she comes, she'll be coming around the mountain when she comes. I'll kill you Nazis! She'll be coming ar-" Becoming agitated and even more annoyed from the outbursts, Crona gives a hard punch to his own head to try and silent the voice. It worked…for now, silencing Ragnarok as he makes some comment of taking a nap, Crona was thankful for that as it allowed him to think and to hope that this was only temporary and Ragnarok would be back to his…slightly less annoying self soon.

At least he was funny before, although Crona would never admit that to him aloud.

Pressing his back to the wall, Crona slowly began to look around the corner of the hallway where the blue light came from…and it was there he saw a doorway. A large black door, with large red frame around it. A skull-ish design was at the center of it with golden bars around it. The blue light was shining through the bottom of the door, along its sides, and even down the middle of the doorframe.

Crona remembered now, what this is. Or at least may have been.

This is the DWMA's Secret Vault.

He remembers back to when Medusa told him of this place. How it was hidden through numerous tunnels underneath the Academy, how It held many different things inside. The door to the room didn't look to so much as have a dent on it or even a speck of dust after the many years. It would make sense…being this far underground and for most likely having the most security of the entire academy.

If there was anyone here, it would be behind this door.

Nervousness began to creep into Crona's being. What Ragnarok said earlier was still true, that Kid could be different in ways he doesn't even know. So much has happened here, and the souls outside were in pain…yet he was doing nothing. Whatever happened had clearly changed Kid, maybe for the worst. So, while taking a deep breath to prepare himself, Crona moves to open the door.

Before he could touch it though…a voice called out to him. "It's impressive how you managed to get through the Nexus of Reality so well Crona…it's meant to break lessor beings down. Wither their brains down to much lower levels, to the point that they become so numb to everything they either can't even make sense of their hands or even remember how to breathe. Yet you manage to act like nothing has happen to you at all." The voice was deep, and powerful…yet carried a deep tone of it, of something that was old and maybe even tired. "Enter…it has been long since I've had a guest."

Crona hand was held an inch away from the door, completely still since the voice had spoken. It had strike something within him…the same old feeling of fear he had when he first met Death…the same feeling of how small he was compared to it. Everything was quiet around him, the only sound he could hear was his own heart as it was rapidly beating in complete panic. He was regretting coming here, he was terrified of what he was gonna see, what was he was gonna do, what was he doing here- "Welcome to the thunder-dome, bitch!"

"AH!" At Ragnarok's sudden scream at his head, Crona jumps forward in fear…accidently knocking into the door, and with his added strength…the old door didn't stand a chance as Crona literally tackles it off its hinges.

Picking himself off from the floor, Crona quickly looks at what he done. "What happened to taking a nap!?" He screams at Ragnarok as he looks down to the large dent he made in the double doors. "Two men enter, one-man banana- snore…" Crona begins to feel his annoyance grows to actual anger as Ragnarok begins to poorly pretend he was taking another nap. He was snapped out of it though as he realizes the shadow that was in front of him. "Eh, sorry! I-I didn't mean to, R-Ragnarok scared me and I-I…" He tries to speak as he looks up from the doors he knocked down…and is struck silent as he saw what was in front of him. The room itself seemed like what one would expect, for a 'secret vault' of the DWMA. Various old tools, machines, even old torture devices, and other things Crona couldn't even name where what looked to be have been careful place and organize across the entire room, to the point that everything looked symmetrical in shape.

Though these…trinkets were nothing compared to the two things that really caught Crona's attention as they were what stood in the middle of the room. One of the things was…what could only be described as a well.

An actual well.

It seemed normal, and rather old looking, and it didn't look like it was coming that far from the ground, just a few inches…but what was coming out from it, was something…something else.

It was a bright shining blue light, that seemed…alive somehow. It was moving and spiraling in the air around the entire room, breathing…pulsing with life. There were even smaller specs of light within it…as if it were filled with the stars themselves.

But the bright light, was heavily contrast but what stood in front of it. A tall black cloaked figure. For a moment, Crona thought that it was Lord Death…but he knew better, that person wasn't the same goofy nice man that offer Crona the chance to be with his 'hope'.

The one standing in front of this well wasn't that. It was…Kid. One of her friends, the same one that was the second to comfort him about his…gender issue, and who helped him learn the most about this school. It was easy to tell it was him, because of his hair…even after all this time, there were those three white lines that circled around it…only difference was that they were complete halos now…and were also floating above his head.

"All these years, and you decided to make an entrance…heh…my, how have you changed Crona." Kid spoke, the voice from earlier was coming from him. It alone was almost enough to make Crona think he was wrong…but this new reaper remembered him. "K-Kid…is that you?" He asks out, to be certain.

A sigh of eased joy comes from the figure in front of the well. "Ahhh…no one has called me that for a pretty long time. It's usually just 'Lord Death' or simply 'reaper' now-a-days…then again, I don't get much visitors so, feel free to call me what you like. It's…nostalgic being called that again." He says in a pleased tone, one a bit unfitting for a voice like his.

"K-Kid…I…I…" Crona tries to speak but he was beginning to stutter and his body was starting to shake…his nerves were getting the better of him. It was one thing talking to Eruka…she was just a witch, a monster…this was one of his…'friends', the ones he had betrayed and forgotten. But Kid was not pushing him at all. "It's okay…take your time. Time is all we have in this place after all." He said in a lax tone.

Taking a few deep breaths…Crona pushes himself to his feet, deciding the best thing he could do…was be straightforward. "What happened?" The reaper doesn't even turn to look at him, choosing instead to continue staring at the well. "To what exactly? The school, the planet, or me? You need to be more specific Crona...a lot happened since you've been gone…heh…funny, it almost felt like it was right after, now that I think about it." He said, tilting his head a little from side to side as he spoke.

Crona began to slowly step forward, placing a hand on his chest to try and calm his heart down as he spoke. "I…I know things aren't right…and so much time has passed-" Crona flinches a bit as Kid interrupted him. "2,073 years, 11 months, and 14 days to be exact…not that I was keeping track or anything." He tells him, while giving a shrug of his shoulders. It was such a casual way of speaking but his tone…his voice…made it hurt for Crona to listen to it.

"…how?" He barely whispers out as he continues to walk forward.

Kid seem to understand what he was implying. "How did the world suddenly begin to end? Well…that in itself is a long story…but I'll shorten it for both of our sakes." He tells Crona, before tilting his head again and asking. "How aware are you of life outside this planet?"

The question makes Crona pause for a moment, before he remembers back to what Eruka told him about the things that happened to the world. "…enough to know that it exists…apparently." He says back, much more of a dry tone then he intended to. He didn't like talking about her.

Kid scoffs at that answer. "Heh…that was more than I knew, that's for sure. It all happened so fast and with so many things at once. I remember one day, looking outside as we tried to direct everyone…witches, weapons, normal people…all together to try and save this world. My oh my…have we failed, so…spectacularly." That was the first time Crona saw Kid's hands as he gave a wave with them both at the end of his sentence.

He…is wearing black gloves now, very tight skin-tight ones with claw-like tips on the edge of his fingers…completely opposite of his father's.

Kid continued to speak as he lays his hands down at his sides. "It was on that day that I saw…six lights coming down from the stars to our little earth. Even from…millions of miles away…I could feel the unbelievable power that they had. I watched as one…just one of those…completely and utter decimate the 'black moon' that you made to entrap that monster who killed my father...heh…" Kid gives another scoff, either completely oblivious to the shock that ran through Crona's core…or just didn't care.

The black blood teen was holding a hand to his head as he began to picture it in his mind. That light was the reason he was here now…why he was back here…now…in this hell on earth. Crona didn't know wither to be angry or confused. Meanwhile Kid just kept talking. "Just pow! Right through it, like a bullet through a sheet of paper. Hehehe….it be funny if that hadn't caused the deaths of billions." He finishes with another shrug.

"Things were as bad as it could possibly be…and then somehow when those lights came down, it made it all worst. Things you couldn't even imagine Crona." He says, losing his lax tone. Changing to one more sadden, drenched with age. "I spent…so long, so tiredly…looking for one…just one…of these lights…and after just a thousand years…and over 90 percent of all life on this world dying out to the horrors that rose in the wake of its end…did I find it. I…found it…I found it." His shoulders begin to shake, as his head looks down.

Hearing him repeat himself, Crona began walking to him again. "…you found all the sources of the lights?" He asks, only to stop again as he sees Kid hold up his hand in the air…and in-between his thumb and index finger was a…small…green gem stone. About as big as a tiny rock. "Yeah…no…I found, a single source of those lights, and here it is!" He yells, his voicing shocking Crona as it sounded to be a mix between anger and…just disbelief.

Kid then pulls the gem back, holding it in front of himself. "Simply amazing, isn't it…this little gem." He shakes his head a bit. "…I've crushed literal bugs, bigger than it. Yet…Crona, this little gem, holds more power than I could even claim in all my…or ANY reaper, witch's, or even god's entire existence!" He holds the gem in view again, and Crona begins to walk forward again…getting a better look at the object.

He couldn't believe what Kid was saying. The gem in his hand was no different than any other kind of jewelry. Just a pretty rock…yet with what Kid was saying…

"It is no exaggeration Crona…believe me, I had seen it do so much…lost so much to it." He says as his tone changes again to something more bitter tone as he moves the gem again to look at it. "It is called the Soul Gem. A name that truly doesn't give the fear and feeling of awe-inspiring that something this powerful deserves. With it, the sentient being that holds it is able manipulate the very fabric of a person's soul…everything that makes that person who they are, that makes them exist…is all up to the mercy of the bear's will." He tightly closes his hand around the gem.

It was easy to tell that…it pained him to talk about it. "Never has there been such an almighty and unique weapon…so imagine my horror, when I realized that there were more of these. Each one just as powerful as the last, with each controlling the entire concept of a person's being...I…was scared Crona, I was truly scared." Crona was right behind him now…he sees the robe he wore was…in tatters, underneath it seemed that he also wore his normal outfit…though it was obviously very worn out. There was also…a silver pole on each side of his hip, probably a weapon.

"I'm…sorry." Crona tells him, as he looks down to the ground. He was sincere about it. He believed that it was unfair for this to happen. That he was able to just…sleep all this time, while Kid had to suffer through it, had to push himself through it all day by day. He watches as Kid give another shrug. "It's fine, as…heartless as it may sound, I had gotten over this realization after a couple of years. I've given up entirely after I had gain this gem. I had no friends, no family, and not even a purpose anymore." The reaper…then turned to look at him…it was just a glance over his shoulder but it was enough for Crona to see…

He really had changed.

The Reaper mask he wore on his face…wasn't the same as his father's…this one was much more skeletal, less childish. It just seemed to grab at his face, almost like it was digging into it. His eyes were also different…completely black save for his pupils as they glowed an orange hue, still retaining their skull shape at least. But the skin under the mask…what little that Crona could see between the bone-like veil he wore, and the black grown-out hair he had…it was…grey, rotten, sickly.

He couldn't look at it for long as Kid looked back to the well in front of him, or rather the gem in his hand. "…this gem, I had used it to create what stands before us now…the Infinity Well. Come…look in it. It's alright, you can do it." Kid changed his tone, now he was speaking…in the same calm and patronizing tone as one would do for a small child, it annoyed Crona a bit…but he followed what Kid said. Slowly walking to the stand next to him…and Crona had to hold himself back from gasping, or letting the reaper now how shocked he was…as he saw more of him.

If the mask and skin weren't enough to tell he was completely different…the fact that his chest was completely bare sure did…and by bare, Crona would be very literal. Bare of skin and muscle…and most of his ribs, showing his still beating heart…it was as if something ripped his chest open. The gem was no longer in his hands now.

Crona eyes just stared at it in complete shock for he didn't even know how long…it wasn't till he saw Kid looking back at him that he manages to rip-his eyes away from the sight…and to the well. And in a single moment his mind was taking from Kid's body horror, and to the beauty of the well.

The outside was amazing…but inside…

"…nice isn't it. Within its cosmic vortex lies universal knowledge of unimaginable possibilities. Within this realm are no barriers of knowledge, such depths aren't meant for anyone…even me." Kid mutters as he walks closer to Crona. Placing a hand on the black blood teen's shoulder.

Crona didn't even acknowledge it. His mind…just moved elsewhere.

It was like looking in some endless tunnel of light, stars…all moving together as one mind, body, and soul. Words couldn't capture what he sees.

"This is where I learned everything." Kid told him, speaking in such a disrespectful tone again. Treating Crona like a…well a kid, ironically…but as much as Crona wanted to say something back to him about this…he couldn't, something about the well was just…drawing him in. Before he knew it, he was on his hands and knees, trying to see deeper into it. Kid's words finally connect in Crona's mind.

"E-everything?" He asks, his voice just barely above that of a whisper as he doesn't break eye-contact from within the well. Kid's hand tightens on his shoulder as his tone begins to turn…harsh. "Everything." It sounded as he bones begin to creak as he lowers himself to speak into Crona's ear. "…Just think it Crona, and the knowledge, the answers…are yours to know. What is it you want to know about the most Crona? What happened exactly after you sealed yourself away, what happened to the witches after the Kishin was dealt with, or…perhaps none of those things matter to one. But I know what will."

He reaches up to the heart within his chest with his free hand, lightly pressing his hand on it as it glowed a faint green glow. "Just think it, as the question in your mind…and while gazing into the abyss, it will gaze back into you the answer." There was a long list of things one in Crona's position would seek, answers to the many unknown questions of life, ways to help fix this world, how to fix oneself…but none of those mattered to him.

Hope…his hope, that is all that mattered to him.

She…was all that mattered.

Tears begin to form in his eyes, his breath begins to be caught in his throat, his arms begin to quiver…just barely able to hold himself up anymore. With his eyes tightly closed, tears still managing to escape their hold…the boy…the tortured, lonely, scared boy ask-…begs to the depths for one…simple answer. "M-…Maka…what happened to Maka?"

Her name leaving his lips, felt like a knife in his heart…he was not worthy to even utter, nor even think it…yet the pain he felt…was nothing compared to the horribleness of what came after.

No sooner than when he finished mumbling her name…the answer came to him.

Maka, his angel…his hope. The kindest, most beautiful, caring being in all aspects of life to him. The one that saved him, twice from his own despair. Who pulled him out of the darkness into her light. Who he…he loved with all his heart…

…was dead right before his eyes.

She hadn't died protecting the lives of her friends, she hadn't died in some way to prevent an inevitably, she hadn't died murdering a monster…she tripped.

She was one of the many faces of many crowds as they were trying to escape with their lives as hundreds of horrible things were happening around them. To try and find shelter.

And she tripped, and fell…and…and…and broke her neck. The cause of her death, was just a random rock, that was there…no doubt from the many destroyed buildings near-by. She tripped…fell…and couldn't catch herself in time, as her skinny, soft neck…meet the hard gravel of the stone…

He saw it happening in front of him as if he were there.

The people with her, fellow students, witches, civilians…they didn't care…he watched as they stomped on her corpse…as they trampled her body, what was left was…almost unrecognizable to Crona…

His mind…became blank.

His eyes turn dull as they just glace forward, he hadn't even realized that he moved to an upright position. Everything was…gone to him. His arms laid limp at his arms, they did not even twitch…no part of him moved…as Kid laid his hand on Crona's shoulders. "Such pain…such sorrow…I hope that you found what it is you are looking for Crona. Not all questions, are to be answered… one must have something to take with them to their grave." As Kid spoke, he then slowly removes his hand from Crona's shoulder…and reaches for the sliver poles on his waste.

With just a grip, the poles extended to at least arm length…before both sprouted blades…revealing them to be small duel-scythes. With no hesitation, Kid placed the scythes on the side of Crona's neck…the edges of the blade, digging into his skin. "I will release you from this life, but no comfort for your soul. That is the only mercy I can give you...Kishin." He then slowly brings the blades back, readying to strike. "Demon swordsman, Crona…child of the witch, Medusa. You are charged with the crimes of all that you had murdered, and for you being the suspicious result of your 'sacrifice' leading to the end of the world…I sentence you to death…" Kid spoke, keeping his harsh tone. But even with the blades on his neck about to come down on him, Crona did not move. Not even flinch.

Kid gives a low scoff, as he mutters out. "You know…in a way, you're the lucky one out of the two of us, maybe one day you'll get to see our friends again…you might even get to see Maka again…Goodbye Crona."

He then throws his blades forward, to end the horrible life of one…Crona.

If only he were he that boy, the same that fell to tears as he was hug for the first time…the same one that didn't know how to deal with much of anything…the same one that full of regret for all the terrible things that he had done…that was frail, and scared to fully fight back…he would have died.

…Crona was no longer that boy.

At the mention of HER, her name leaving his lips, questions came flashing through his head…where were her friends as she died, where was he as his Maka died in the street like a dog, and was continuously stepped on like a bug. The lifelessness in his eyes were gone, the sorrow in his heart was replaced by rage, and for a fraction of a second…as Kid was bringing his blades down to Crona's neck…something within the reaper, told him that he had just committed a big mistake.

When the blades came stuck Crona's neck…nothing happened. The skin…didn't even gain a little cut. Kid was stun in silence as the blades did nothing…this was impossible. The blades he had were created the same as way as with the Infinity Well, there were made to withstand and pierce through the strongest flesh.

He stands in shock as Crona picks himself from the floor, continuing to face the well. "Was this your intent, Reaper? To shatter my mind with such grim realization, and then murder me as if I were one of those pathetic creatures your father hunted down." Before Kid could attempt to give a reply, he was suddenly sent across the room as the back of Crona's hand slams into his mask.

Kid's body hits the side of the room, crashing straight through the many objects and machines he had stacked and organized through the years. The loudness of the noise was enough to wake up a certain someone from their sudden nap. "Wimmy Wham-Wham Wozzle!" Ragnarok called out, still in that dizzy tone. Crona simply says back to him. "Ah, I was wondering why I was suddenly able to think two consent thoughts without being interrupted."

He was distracted though by the sudden voice to not see a blur of unimaginable speed rushes to him. He was barely able to see what had hit him as he suddenly found himself picked up in the air, and thrown right to the other side of the room parallel to when he sent kid flying, only difference being instead of crashing through, his body just slams into it…which results in the entire collection of trinkets from the past…all falling on him in an almost comedic fashion.

"Arh, that hurt." He mumbles as he begins to force his eyes open, feeling the inside of his head begin to throb in pain. The sudden movement and hard impact really weren't what he needed right now…however it seemed to be enough to finally snap Ragnarok from his scatterbrain state of mind. "Ah, my fucking non-existent head! What is happening right now!? Where the fuck am I?! Why does everything taste like purple and orange had a baby girl?!" He yells as he sees that Crona was trapped under a large pile of machines and other stuff.

"Oh god damn it, why is it every time I take a nap I find your ass in some…errr! I swear to god you're like a New York times newspaper, there's always a new issue of the same bulshit." Ragnarok yells in frustration as Crona begins to push himself up, tossing aside anything that was on him with little effort.

Kid's voice echoes behind, speaking as if…multiple of him were talking at once. "You've really have changed since the last two millennia…You are certainly stronger." Turning around, Crona was met…with a 'interesting' sight. Kid was standing there, his duel scythes in each hand, his mask broken at the side of which Crona had hit him. Allowing Crona to see some of his face…which almost made him regret hitting him.

Ragnarok was more than enough to voice his disgust. "Oh my god, what happened to his face?! Gross he looks like a zombie faced fucked an avocado!"

Crona holds the urge to roll his eyes as he quietly mutters back. "Ragnarok." But the demon sword didn't pay any mind to him as he continues to speak about Kid's face. "Ugh...he looks like the inside of Freddy Krueger's asshole."

"Ragnarok!" Crona now calls out to him as he sees Kid staring him down, the teen holds one arm up, while he places the other near his hip. He really needed to focus now, as Kid looked to ready himself. Crona could see as orange light begins to spark off him like electricity. "What is h-" Crona tries to mutter before he his thoughts are interrupted by Ragnarok. "Now I know why so many people are scared to stare into the face of Death."

"RAGNAROK!" Crona shouts with pure annoyance, he was distracted once more…suddenly Kid was in front of him in a rushing movement, his scythes scaping on the floor.

Crona quickly throws his arm up, in an attempt block…but only for Kid to turn back into a black blur to change directions again…the reaper was behind him…the blades just centimeters to his eyes…Crona was just barely able to think before the blade was slashed across his face.

Crona falls to the floor, holding his right hand to his face as a burning pain was on his face. "Ah, darn it!" He mutters as he pulls his hand away, seeing no blood on it. His vision was not impaired, but the burning pain he felt was unlike any blade he felt…

He then sees why, as Kid stands near the well again, staring into it…his scythes blade edges were glowing the same orange glow as the sparks of lighting around him. "I must say Crona…You truly have become more durable through the years. I guess that just simply means that I need to place more force behind my strikes." With that…something begins to grow from the back of Kid's back…it was only a whole second…before two skeletal wings shoot from his back.

Crona flinches back from shock at the sudden appendages, and watched in shock as they gave a few flaps to stretch themselves out. They looked to be held together by the tatters of Kid's robe…as well as what might be muscle tissue. "Oh, that is just fucking disgusting." Ragnarok mumbles, with Crona very well agreeing with him.

There wasn't even a blur this time…before could even notice anything, Crona suddenly found himself out in the hallway on his back, howling in pain as his chest was literally sizzling. The pain was delivered so quickly and fierce that Crona could barely move, having to really force himself to look down at his chest…and sees a long red, steaming, slash mark on his chest, going down to his stomach and side.

Seeing such a mark on one's body…Crona couldn't help but be reminded of the time where he saw Soul shirtless once. The irony was not lost on him.

"Okay…oh fuck…i-is it me, or is it burning up in here?" Ragnarok asks, while Crona tries to ignore the pain and move. But before he could even get to an upright position, his head was slammed down into the floor again, a noticeable dent on the concrete ground as it was starting to break apart underneath him due to the force. "I do not think so, Demon swordsman."

Kid's voice spoke, causing Crona to snap his eyes open as he looks around for the reaper…and finds him just standing right there in the doorway to the secret vault. His bone wings were folding in on themselves, and his scythes were on his hips.

"You have gone unpunished for your crimes far too long. It is time I did put an end to you." Kid spoke as orange sparks still show on his body, before they slowly die down. "I give you this one chance to lay your arms down and accept your demise. I had not counted on you being so…resilient."

Crona pushes himself up again, glaring right at Kid with a look of cold malice. "Put…an end to me? For what reason?! Your father…MAKA…proved more than ever that I…I was just a tool. That I never wished to harm anyone. I simply did as I was told." Crona growls out, feeling his insides were boiling as sweat moves down his brow.

Kid didn't even flinch or made any movement as he watches Crona stand up. "And what did you do after you were acquitted, hmm? Oh right…you betrayed us…you left us…and you became your mother's 'tool' all over again." He said, his words striking Crona's heart like a spear, causing the teen to briefly look away for a moment.

"…I felt as if I had no choice." He mutters out, before looking back at Kid. "You do not know of the torment that it has rot on me, so don't you dare speak of it, Reaper." Crona spoke louder, his voice…matching more of a certain snake witch's with how low and cold it sounded.

There was movement this time, as Kid gives a scoff. One the eyes under his mask moving a little…as if he was amused by Crona's response. He raised his hand up and pointed one of his claw-like fingers to Crona. "But you DID have a choice, and that choice caused the deaths of many lives."

The low sound of knuckle creaking is heard, as Crona tightly closes his fist. "Yeah…and I choice poorly…" Crona began in a somber tone...before he gives a smirk and said. "…much like your father did when he decided he should try again with another son."

"DAAAAAAAAAAAMN!" Ragnarok loudly laughs out, almost so much that Crona wished that Kid to could hear it too…though the small victory was taken from them as Kid rushes forward and grabs Crona by the neck, slamming him into the floor again, with much more force then before as Crona was now slightly embedded to it.

Kid kept his hand on Crona's throat as he tightens his grip further, as if trying to sink his claws through the skin. "You would dare to bring up my father?! What of your mother Crona?! How many lives has she taken through her many years? How many souls have suffered because of her?!" He loudly questions before he moves in flash, and Crona found himself slamming into the side of the wall, right next to the secret vaults entrance.

"Erh…W-whatever the number may be…it surely pales…in comparison to that number of people you failed…Reaper." Crona spat the title out, as if saying it was an insult, which due to the massive failure that said Reaper feels about himself…it most likely was.

"Err! You…" Crona then feels himself dragged around…almost like he was flying, before he is slammed into a far side wall at the end of a hallway. "Uhh, Crona…as much as I love the fact that you are shit talking someone so much right now…I am kinda hoping you are not pulling a what's his name-star…and are actually able to back your talk up." Ragnarok cry's out in a panicking tone. Crona knew what he was referring to, truth was that the reason that Crona was speaking back to Kid in such a way…was so that he could buy himself some time to think up of a plan.

The Reaper's speed was almost no match for him, always moving faster than he could see. Crona needed to get him to stay in one spot…and close enough so that he wouldn't be able to dodge. Till then…well…he's learned to take a beating through the years.

After having his body have his body smashed right up against another wall, Crona then finds himself up on the floor, rolling to a stop right back in front of the well. "Ehh…what, have another thing to show me? Please…tell me it's the look on Liz's and Patty's face when they died." Crona coughs out, trying to bait Kid some more.

But as he looks up…he sees the Reaper was standing in front of the well, staring at it. This time Crona could focus on kid's eyes…as they just seemed to be glanced over. "…I cannot let my anger control me, not at this moment." He spoke as he places his hands behind his back and turns his head to look at Crona. "…I was not only speaking of your crimes in the far past Crona. I was also speaking of the one we are currently suffering from." He spoke in a cooler tone, losing all anger he had it seems.

"What are you talking about?" Crona asked as he begins to catch his breath, trying to study Kid for any moment he could use to attack. Kid turns away, to look back into the well. "I have asked the well, numerous times…what had truly caused everything to happen to us…and it would not show me anything really. Yet when I ask it…what the future holds for this world before 'the end' comes…I see you…YOU…a child of an evil witch, a Kishin…you are the future that the infinity shows, and nothing more." Kid turns back to face Crona, the orange sparks lighting up around him as he takes his scythes out again. "I know what that means, you…are the end…'The end' that the Infinity Well shows. That means that all that needs to be done is your death…then everything will eventually return to normal."

Crona could see on the reveal part of Kid's mask, his sickly skin was creaking as a smile was forming. He tries to brace himself as the reaper began to set forward, as well as the wings behind his back fold out again. He was starting to realize the danger here much more. It may take a while, but with that speed and his burning scythes…Kid could kill him here if he is not careful.

He needed to set Kid off…but not with anger like before…he needed something else.

Something more like what would always stop him in his tracks.

Pulling himself off the ground again for the numerous time that day, and taking a quick breath…Crona lays is arms down, and stands up straight. "Boy…you're delusional." Crona spoke in a…near melancholy tone, mix something like that of a parent speaking done with her child out of sheer disappointment. It was easy to see that it threw Kid off as he paused for a moment.

"You simply are a lost cause now. Think that something called 'the end' can be stopped, with something as minor as killing a single person?" Crona slightly shakes his head. "I have no words to comment on such a narrow-minded gasp of mind. But I cannot blame you…I know what it's like to lose, to feel so desperately that you're right, and to fail all the same. It was a lesson that I was taught a long time ago…yet, even with your many years of experience…it seems that you still fail to truly grasp such a lesson." Crona takes a step forward, watching as Kid takes a minuscule step back in response.

He looked confused for a bit in his eyes, before it turned to anger. No hint of the glanced over look he had earlier as he stared at the well. "You…dare to talk to me like that? Speaking like I am a child that is not to be taken seriously." Kid retakes his step forward as the orange lighting shoots from him now. Yet Crona doesn't flinch as a bolt nearly hits him. He stands his ground and crosses his arms as he stared right at Kid.

"The only matter I do not take seriously, boy, is you." He says…his voice somehow seeming to…deeper, older with due to his tone. "Your hopes that something of this magnitude, that simply killing one man could result with 'everything will eventually return to normal', it resembles the demeanor and thoughts like that of a pouty child that knows no better." Kid's anger falters as he takes a few steps back, looking back to the well again.

It was only for a moment though as he rips his eyes away to look to the ground in front of him. "No…it's not, it's the way things must be. It will be that way again, I am assured of this and not-" Crona's voice cuts through his own.

"You're boring me."

Kid's eyes shoot up to look at Crona, seeing him just continuing to glare at him. Anger moves through his body and with his speed he lunges at Crona, pinned him into the ground as each scythe blade was pressed up against his neck. "You call me BOY! But there is simply no other way to see anything Crona! Your demise was the only hope I had, I had watched on for years, waiting for you to show yourself as you somehow seem to elude the Infinity Well, just as any vision of 'the end' does! You must die Crona! There is no other way, please!" Kid screamed as he tried to cut through the sides of Crona's neck with his scythes, the teen trying to keep him back by holding his arms.

The blades were burning into his skin, with steam pouring out as Crona was screaming through grinding teeth at the pain. But it seemed that at most the things could only brand him. Kid tries to pull away, his plan being that he truly need speed, much more force in order to do the deed of finally taking Crona's head…but as he tried to pull away, Crona kept his hold…and that's where Kid saw something…though he wasn't sure if it was due to the light reflecting off the Infinity Well…

…it looked as if…Crona's eyes began to glow slightly.

Kid soon found, it was no trick of a light.

As he is blasted off Crona, his scythes leaving his hands, and is bashed against the very ceiling by the sheer force of what had hit him. His body falls to the floor in a twitching mess. His limbs were failing to listen to him, he gasped and tried to regain some control of himself…yet he couldn't.

The blast…that black wave of power…came too fast for even the reaper, and even if it hadn't moved at such speed…with Crona's tight grip he couldn't have dodge it. His body paid for that. His forearms were badly burned…nearly driven down to nothing but rags that were once muscles and bones… his masked was even more broken then before…just barely covering his face…but the worst of the damage…was done to his exposed heart.

It shrunk in size, looking even more frail and gray…as it would turn to dust in any second. It could only give the faintest of beats, the only reminder Kid had that he was even still alive…as his body just wouldn't move.

He was weakened…beaten down so...easily…all because he was taken by surprise. From his fallen position, his masked face pressed against the floor, his arms and legs in…painful awkward positions…he sees his scythes on the floor…just out of reach for him, but more importantly he sees Crona as the begins to stand himself up.

"Uh…well, I can certainly claim…that will leave a mark." He coughs out as he presses his hands to his neck, pressed against each side as they continued to lightly release steam…he was damage, yet Kid could see no drop of blood. "Ragnarok, I understand you are excited but please calm yourself…we are still not done." Crona muttered to himself, before turning to look down at Kid.

A cold emotionless look was on his face.

And a feeling of panic began to race within the Reaper's soul. He tries to force his body together, forcing his parts to fix themselves. One may be able to knock Death down…but it is nearly impossible to kill them unless they are of a godly decent themselves. But healing is not an easy thing to do, not in his mangled state. He needed to prolong his time, to fully heal himself and retrieve his scythes…gain speed…and rid the world of him as he should have done years ago on that boat…

He tries to open his wings, to grant him a temporary retreat…only to be met with horror as nothing but pain was all that came. A realization came…that when he had hit the ceiling, the force had fractured them too far for him to use in other for flight…he tries to think of something else, some other means of escape…

Only for Crona to begin to walk closer.

Kid could get a better look at him. The teen had barely changed at all through the years. The only noticeable change being his clothing, an oversized coat, pants, and a lack of shoes…not to mention the four belts he wore, two of which were cut through when Kid had slashed crossed his torso.

The redden mark already gone. It looked as if his strikes had the same effect as if he were scratching him with his nails.

Crona steps closer, walking past the scythes till he was mere inches away from Kid. Crona looked to be inspecting him for a bit as he moved a hand to his chin in thought. "Interesting…I remember when I had wings myself once, I'm…positive you can recall, correct?" He spoke, mention back when they had first met…that time was so long ago…it almost amazed Kid at times how well he could remember it.

His nostalgia is quickly taking away, as he sees Crona step out of his line of sight. He tries to move his head, any part of his body to face him…but he needed more time to heal enough to do so.

Then came a feeling of something…stepping on his back. "I rather enjoyed my time flying, it was…fun in way. Being free from the ground where everything just looks…so small by comparison. It…it helped sometimes." The sounds of bones shattering and Kid's screams echoed throughout the entire Dungeons and tunnels of the ruined DWMA.

Crona steps back to admire his…'handy work'. "It's a shame you will not be able to feel something like that for a long time." He says, as he sees Kid on the floor…wailing in pain as he couldn't even move any part of him…save apparently his mouth. Crona looks down to the wings in his hand…the bones were just beginning to fall apart now. Turning to dust in Crona's hands…making the teen wipe his hands on his coat as gives a small look of disgust.

"Jeez man, you didn't have to do him like that!" Ragnarok calls out as Crona turns to look to Kid's back, seeing as there were two boney stumps were the wings used to be attracted too. "I may not need to…um…'do him like that'…but I consider it pay back for what he had done with me. Also, it helps to make sure he reminds in one spot." Crona tells him, before he walks in front of Kid, kneeling next to his head so the two can speak…eye to eye.

Though no words were shared between the two now. Only a cold, emotionless stare from Crona, and a fiery, hate filled one from Kid. Crona rested his hand on his propped-up knee, while his other rested on his hip…near the gun that seemed to miraculous survived not only the beating he took, but also managed to remain hidden under the coat. A fleeting thought crossed his mind about what a weapon could do to the Reaper, if it would even harm him at all. That would be a bit amusing if such a sad excuse of a weapon was actually the one to kill Death.

Crona almost wanted to try it…but not now, he had different ideas. Not that Ragnarok wasn't gonna asked. "Um…you gonna do something now, or am I interrupting a sudden fucking staring content here…if it is one, I think your winning because he blinked like three times now…so…I don't know, maybe…you should consider something…oh what's that phrase…KILL THE BITCH?!" He shouts, which was enough to make the teen close his eyes and give his head a tilt…as if that would help him escape the volume of Ragnarok's words.

"Not now." Crona told him, before he moves his head forward toward Kid's face…the Reaper look frighten for a moment as Crona grabbed the bottom of his chin and forcibly tilted his head so that it was completely facing him. "Do not be concern Reaper, I have no intention of killing you. Not of yet at least…I still hold some questions to ask you."

Kid struggles to take his breath, Crona being able to see a bit of his rotten mouth as he greedily sucks in the air to fill his lungs and speak. "…then seek them within the Infinity W-" He tries to spat out before Crona silences him by with a punch to the floor, just millimeters from Kid's eyes.

He pulls his hand away, allowing Kid to see him fully as he spoke. "I refused to indulge in something with such a painless and willing means of getting answers…not when I hold the beaten and true response in my hands. I wish to hear it from your bleeding tongue, to hear every painfilled moan, every bit of hesitation, every attempt to lie and justify yourself. I want to see just how truly pathetic you are." As Crona talked he tapped Kid's head, as if to truly drill his words deep within his mind.

How Kid longed for a means of attack…to fight back…but he couldn't do anything. But stare right back into Crona, hearing him speak in that…that tone of voice, look down at him with such…venom in his eyes, seeing him hold himself in such a…superior style…

Kid remembers one person, who embodiment such similar traits such as that. He spoke of such horror things, and would be so enthralled to witness a living being suffer in such a way.

"…you truly are your mother's son."

The words seemed to have some impact on Crona, but it was much of nothing. As Crona just looked off to the side for a bit…and then gave a hum and slightly nod of the head. "…maybe I am." He said in a 'matter-of-fact' tone, before leaning close to Kid as he continued to speak.

"I guess we are just always gonna live with the burden of being followed by out parent's sins." It could be the damage to his head that he got when he hit the ceiling…but Kid swore…that as Crona spoke, and reached with his hand to lightly slap Kid's cheek…Crona was giving the exact same smile Medusa gave them, when she had them all fooled as a simple nurse.

The smile was gone though, rather quickly, as Crona leans back and begins to look out the doorway of the Secret Vault room. "On my way inside this ruin of a once great academy…I had witness something truly horrendous…the souls of those who haunt this city. Thousands of what were once people who lived here…not nothing but vulgar misshapen ghost. How do you call yourself a reaper and let these souls rot with the rest of this world? I am not that customary to the ways of you, reapers…so please…enlighten me." He commands as he crosses his arms over his chest.

Though his voice was a bit monotone here was a cold look in his eyes that demand answers. Seeing that he was in no position to really fight back, Kid pushes himself to talk back to him. "There is…nothing to being reaped now." Crona pulls himself away from him slightly, raising a confused brow as he asks. "What are you talking about?"

Kid gives him a low growl, as he tightly closes his eyes. "Years ago, the lights of heavens…were completely wiped out…" His eyes then open, showing great hate within them, his voice growing louder as he spoke. "Even the fires of damnation are but mere flickers of flames now…and trust me…I would rather every living soul be trapped on this accursed rock with me, then be forced to subjected the same fate as a monster just because of the idea…that there is nowhere else to go. We will all simply wait for the end to come."

Crona stared at him in silence for a moment. Moving a hand to grab at his chin as he looks off to the side. "So that's how you should have it then?" He mutters, his voice growing more…to his usually self, though it wasn't out of symphony…rather it was just out of disbelief. "You leave an untold number of souls out there in the world to being monsters…simply because you cannot do your job?" He says, motioning his free hand out the vault in refence to the world outside.

It was those words that seem to truly trigger Kid's rage as he began to scream at Crona. "What do you know of my duty? Nothing!" Crona's eye begins to visible twitch. "The world…everything…it had…it's all gone. The natural order, the balance of everything has been…thrown completely out of line! There is no afterlife anymore…life is meaningless at this point! No heaven to inspire too…soon no hell to avoid! Everything has…been brought to its knees by war, famine, pestilence…leaving only me…as Death. Simply waiting here for 'The end'."

Crona glares down at him at that, grabbing the back of Kid's neck and picking his head up so that Crona could see more of his broken mask covered face. "You…you are not worthy of being a reaper. You would actually give up on these souls, ALL the people that followed you and your father to their deaths!" He then throws kid head back down to the floor, his cold deep tone returning to him as he stood up. "How dare you give up. Have you forgotten what your 'friends' would have done?! Even if all these years had passed, there is no doubt in my mind that they will STILL keep trying. I know that they would." Crona takes a deep breath to calm himself as he rubs at his eyes in frustration.

The reaper keeps himself still with his face pressed on the floor. "…I had seen many things since this had all started Crona." He said as he begins to push himself up, just enough to turn his head and look to Crona once more. "I had seen true horrors, that this word had made…and it had broken me, I will not shun from that fact, but in my position, no one would be able to do the same." He then moves his head back down to face directly to the floor.

The black blood teen kneels again to look closer at the fallen reaper, watching as he was starting to shake slightly. "I had…to change with this world so much. You know…Death didn't used to just be one thing, Crona. We used to be so many different things all at once in fact. A actual metaphysical concept that was once many things to many people all at the same time. We were known as tragedies, as horrors, as releases, as old friends….and as such, we were all able to take such embodiments of those concepts. The Reaper…the first of us, was an embodiment of an inevitably…he would chase his victims down through the very stars themselves if he had too…my…my father chose to become a merciful embodiment the one to be you friend."

"Holy fuck you two are mellow dramatic." Ragnarok mutters out as Crona could feel the demon sword shifting within him, and give a yawn. Crona could hold himself, as he gave a small chuckle with a nod. It did seem too much talking was going on, with none of it being answers that Crona had seek. He continued to talk with Kid though. "So, which are you Kid? Are you my friend as well?" He asks with a small smile…though it falls as he sees a spark of orange lighting appear on Kid's body.

Before Crona could speak, he was easily tossed out of the vault room, his body bouncing off the ground like a rock on a pond's surface before he hits the far wall opposite to the secret vault's entrance. "Ow…we should stop talking shit to the speed reaper over here." Crona ignores him, focusing around himself as he stood back up. He messed up, he knows it…allowing the reaper to heal and buy himself time.

He sees as the blur moves from within the secret room down the tunnel to his left, and Crona notices that it had picked up the scythes that were on the floor earlier. "…err, dang it." Crona mumbles as he holds his hands up for any incoming attacks as he inched his way closer to the tunnel, shifting his view as much he could around him…not trusting the maze like as the reaper could come from behind him. He flinches slightly as the blur rushes passed him to the other tunnel, tensing his body as he felt a burning ghost of a slice nearly touch his face.

He looks passed him down to the other tunnel opposite of him…as Kid was standing there now.

"What are you waiting for!? Laser his boney ass again!" Ragnarok shouts at him, as he sees Kid had stopped moving. Crona didn't like it…this seemed too simple.

He could barely see him due to how there was little to no light there…save from what came from the well. The orange lighting that kept sparking off him did help but not by much.

"I need to be cautious, I only manage to catch him by surprise the last time. I still lack much control over that ability of mine, if I fire and he is able to dodge or worst I put too much power in it then I can risk this entire place collapsing down on us…and he could get away." Crona mumbles as he reaches a hand down to his hip, seeming that now was as good of a time to use his weapon, if for anything to catch Kid off guard again. "Don't you mean that…we could die?" Ragnarok asked nervous, not liking the possibly of the place falling on them like that…

…They still had no real idea how durable Crona really was.

With a glare, Crona mutters to him a low 'We won't', before he rushes before he turns around and rushes back deeper into the tunnel he was already closed to. Keeping himself hunched over with one arm lowered.

His thoughts were that here…he could have a bit of the advantage of knowing at least Kid could only travel in two directions...feeling a burning pain sneer into his back, Crona knew where he was. "Ah!" He gasps out as he stumbles and loses his footing, falling to the floor on his stomach. The reaper's voice, regaining its deep and powerful tone. "You actually thought you could out run me? I thought you were smarter than that." Kid spat out as he held his scythe up…not noticing as Crona had his right hand moved to inward to grab at a certain object and angle it…so the tip was slightly upward.

A loud echo of a shotgun is heard as large burst of pellets, rocks and other things that was used to make its ammunition blast out of Crona's the side-back of Crona's large coat. "I'm am." Crona mumbles, not even looking to see if he had hit kid before trying to distance himself from the reaper as best he can…he managed to quickly run a few steps before looking backward…and seeing that Kid didn't even look faze by the shot.

If anything, he just looked annoyed…as he was glaring right at the freshly made hole that was on the wall to his left. "I should have seen that coming." Crona groans out before he rushes deeper into the tunnel as fast as he could. A certain demon sword yelling at him as he does. "What happened back there!? I thought you shot the gun!" Crona gives another groan as he shouts back. "I did!"

"Then why he not be headless!?" Ragnarok shouts, somehow louder than before. "I missed, okay!" He quickly sees that a fork in the path was up ahead, and quickly makes a choice to head right. "…HOW!? He was three feet away from you!" Crona's face gets a bit gray at this as the familiar feeling of embarrassment came. "…I wasn't looking and it was an awkward angle." He then sees another path and makes a turn without thinking. "You stupid f-"

Before Ragnarok could finish the insult, Crona was knocked onto his back a pair of scythes blades trying to pierce through his bare chest causing Crona to scream in pain again. "You had completely devastated my wings...it will take me days for those to heal." Kid angrily tells him as he tries to force the scythes in further on Crona's skin. "I may not be able to kill you easily, but I can cripple you." Kid then quickly pulls the scythe back and tries to slash them into Crona's eyes.

It happened quickly, and it was barely any light within the tunnel itself. All there was being that he could see the scythes closing into his face, and the orange lighting that was emitting from Kid's body…Crona was scared, so much in fact he didn't know that the poorly held together shotgun…was in his hand since he had started running, that was till his finger pulled the trigger.

However, it…seemed Crona was right about a certain thing about the quality of the weapon.

As it literally exploded right in both Crona's and Kid's faces. Kid was reeling back, screaming as he covered his face. Though it had stung Crona too, it seemed he had a higher pain tolerance…was too afraid to care about it as he quickly picked himself up and ran opposite of where he came from.

"Please don't tell me that the gun blew up." Ragnarok spoke in a worried tone, with Crona not having to look at the weapon to know what happen to it…considering that it literally lost about all weight it had. "…okay, the gun didn't blow u-" He tries to say with Ragnarok shouting back a loud 'LIAR!'. "But you said-" Crona tries to defend himself but Ragnarok was still quicker to respond. "I thought you would have learned by now Crona, NEVER try to correct me! I'll deny it till the end of time!"

Although this had not seemed like the best of time to be doing something like this…this was an idea of how to calm themselves during a stressful problem. Crona was following the blue light of the well, taking the same turns as he had before…all the while he was trying his hardest to think up a way for him to defeat the reaper…that was when he noticed something…as he was running closer to where he had shot his gun and missed…he saw the spot he shot out…with another exact looking hole opposite of it on the other side of the tunnel further ahead.

As he runs passed it towards the other tunnel, Ragnarok shifts within Crona…like he was slapping his hand against his forehead. "Do not tell me it has been over two thousand years, and this son of a bitch STILL has that stupid OCD!" Crona grins as he enters the tunnel and slams his into the side of the tunnel wall as he continues running…leaving a fist size hole behind him…followed by another and another.

Kid rushed out of the tunnel on his side, his masked completely removed…showing his completely 'zombified' face, twisted into a snarl full of rage. "Crona…there is no point to run or hide, I will find you sooner than later!" He looks to the vault, but finds no sign of him. He then turns to the other tunnel and rushes to it…only to pause as he sees a fist-size hole on the side of the wall.

With an irritated growl, Kid feels the old compulsion within him that he had since…so long ago. He throws a quick glance further down the tunnel, and sees another hole…and another…and another, each one in a zip-zag pattern on either side of the wall. Kid tries to hold himself to push the annoying compulsive disorder off to the side long enough for him to settle matters.

But seeing it all right in front of him, in the halls that took him years to perfect…Kid gives a yell as he slams his fist opposite of where Crona had made his hole. The brick did creak…but not as much. Though strong, it seemed he wasn't at Crona's level in that department…but he did make up for it with one other thing.

Using his speed to his advantage, Kid rapidly punches at the wall, succeeding in breaking a hole and forming it to make sure it had looked exactly as Crona had made his own. He did this with the other hole, and the other, seemingly making his way down the tunnel…just in a different way slightly slower way.

He stops though as he had come upon a small open pathway, it wasn't that large…just enough to fit a single person in the middle, with two ways silting off to the sides diagonally. In-between each of these paths, and his own, were bust of his father on pedestals…though the one on the left side was broken as its masked head was broken clean off and shattered on the floor.

Kids hands tighten around his scythes, feeling the ultimate insult of this. Not only to himself but too his father of all people. Seething with rage now, the lighting was sparking from Kids body more than ever as well as his scythes were glowing even more now. The light was very much appreciated as he was quite far from the well now and the tunnels had no light. It was thanks to this new source of light though, that Kid had manage to see something he missed...

…behind the bust in front of him…he could see Crona's jacket as it was trying to hide behind the statue. Kid throws his arms back, ready to cut down the shaped rock…but paused mid-swing.

This was too obvious to him. Crona having gone through the trouble of punching the many holes in the walls wouldn't go to waste over just something like this. He was a lot of things but Kid very much doubt that the two thousand years of time had harm Crona's planning ability. With what had happened earlier with those…'beams of light'…Kid knew that full well.

He turns to look at the bust to his right. It would be the perfect spot to ambush him, if he were to attack the statue in front of him. His back would be turn and Crona could fire at him with those 'beams' again. "A capable plan…but not good enough!" Kid shouts as he slashes the bust to his right apart completely with one massive swing from his scythes…yet, aside from the stone…nothing else was there.

His eyes fully widen in panic, Kid rises his weapons up again and uses his speed to quickly crave apart the statue in front of him…only seeing the tatters of Crona's large jacket fall to the ground. "What!?" He shouts, before turning to the bust that was missing its head and cutting it down.

…nothing.

His eye began to twitch, as he pulls his face away…trying to make sense of what had happened. If Crona had…just 'played him' so he could continue making his escape. He pulls his head back as he was about to scream at the ceiling in frustration…just in time to see as Crona drops his hold from the ceiling and knees him right in his face.

Kid staggers back, dropping his scythes as the sudden hit caught him by surprise with such a hard impact. If he had a nose it would definitely be broken. But it seemed that was not the end, as Crona perfectly landed on his feet and continued his assault on the Reaper.

This wasteland of a world filled with unimaginable terrors had taught Crona one thing, he needed to get good without a weapon. And although he would never be one to gloat about it…he found he was rather good at hitting things with his hands.

It helped that Ragnarok was 'coaching' him.

With an uppercut to Kid's with his left arm, followed by another with his right Ragnarok began to shout at him. "Right to chin, left to chest side, fore-arm to throat, left to stomach blow!" Crona did exactly as he said, throwing a right fist to Kid's chin, followed by a jab to the left side of the ribs, then followed by Crona slamming his fore-arm to Kid's throat and a hard punch to his stomach making the reaper to double over from the intense hit.

"Did I say stop!?" Crona knees Kid's chin again, making his head arch back a bit upward, so that Crona could punch him easier. Another hard jab with his left creaks against Kid's head, followed by another heavy blow with his right. "Put some weight behind it!" Crona hops back a bit and leaps forward with charging fist right to Kid's jaw with all his weight behind it.

Landing on one foot, the swordsman training Medusa had put him through ran through his head about keeping balance at almost all cost. But he also saw an opening. Having struke him with his left, Crona's right hand shot up and grabbed him by the collar of his tattered robes and spun him around, throwing him up against a wall. "That's the way, confused the bitch!" Ragnarok cheered on as Crona began to violently slam his fist into Kid's face repeatedly, with the eighth hitting knocking him to his and knees.

"Make him kiss the ceiling!" Crona kicks upside Kid's head just as he looked to regain some sense, and grabs him by his shoulders. With his massively enhanced strength, Crona easily tosses Kid up to the ceiling like of bag of trash. It creaks slightly from the force of his body hitting it and falls right back to the ground…right into Crona as he lands one final punch that sends Kid spiraling to the floor. "Ding-ding-ding! Ahhhh, the crowd goes wild! Winner by knock out, CROOOOOONA!"

Ragnarok cheering was ignored as Crona gives a small gasp, just now realizing how out of breath right now. He rested his hands on his knees and tries to compose himself as sweat was rolling down his face. It was not an easy task to hold himself up on the ceiling like so. And for him not to panic as Kid slashed up at the statues like a mad man.

Crona picks up a rag that used to be part of his coat and uses it as a towel to dry his face. "How fitting that you be the one to destroy your father's image." Crona mumbles out as he looks to the remains of the busts that Kid ruined. He then walks to the reaper, kneeling to his level on the floor.

His jaw was broken, and the haloes on his head had become completely dim…shocking Crona that they would still be on him. He expected him to be like before, broken and muttering small spats of hate at him…yet the reaper seemed knocked out. "I supposed I finally manage to make him hit his limit…thankfully." Crona breathes out a sigh of relief and sits down on the floor.

His body ached like never before. Though he had really learned to take a beating, it was still a beating.

No doubt he was gonna deal with many sore spots the next time he goes to sleep, something he was not looking forward too. With a heavy breath, Crona pulls his legs up…and begins to hold him.

Thoughts came to him on…what should he do now? What could he do now? He has journey through snow, rain, and desert for a chance of answers to his question. But the one question that mattered most to him had just been answered…what can he possible do now in this world? It was not like there was way to fix th-

…Crona's thoughts stop…as a faint green glow begin to come from Kid's open chest.

Right in the center of his heart.

The Soul Gem.

Crona remembers back to what Kid had told him of it. How powerful he said it was…such thoughts of a thing could make a person wonder. To control the many souls…maybe one could bring a certain one back to the user.

The faint feeling of hope came, pushing his exhaustion away, as he leans forward to the reaper's chest. The thought of having such a power…to manipulate the very fabric of a person's soul, sent shivers up Crona's spine…to have the ability to see 'her' once more.

But just as he neared touching the reapers heart…a large flash shined at his face, blinding him and forcing him to cover his face for a moment with his other hand. As the bright light faded…suddenly Crona was pressed up against a wall, a cold grip on his throat. "Err…gha…na." Kid's gurgled voice spoke as his jaw hung awkwardly, not allowing him the ability to speak normally. The gem within his heart was glowing so brightly now that it could be seen through the muscle tissue.

Crona tries to shove him away, pushing against his exposed ribs with one hand while trying to pull the hand from his throat. But something was wrong…he was feeling…weaker. It wasn't from exhaustion…it was as if…he was being drained.

The black blood teen could see as Kid's creak bones, and slightly burned skin…was starting to heal. With a loud 'pop' his jaw places itself back into place, allowing him to speak. "I had no desire to do this to you Crona. Soul Gem…allows me to take complete control of a person's soul and life…including stealing it for myself." Kid told him, his voice sounding weaker…more like it's old self. The green glow of his gem growing brighter as Crona could feel…more of himself draining away, his mind becoming numb and losing feeling of his body.

Though a familiar sense began to build in him, rushing to his eyes once more as he grits his teeth…though just as it began to build up, Kid suddenly throws his free hand forward to under Crona's chin, forcing him to look up at the ceiling and hold him in that position.

"You are not going to surprise me again with something like that." Kid told him as he struggles to keep his hold as Crona tries to move out of it. "This is bad, this is bad this is fucking bad!" Ragnarok screams as he too could feel the effects the gem had on him. The demon sword trying to move around within Crona trying to think up a thing to do…even if Crona were to fire the beam at the ceiling it would only cause everything to fall on them, it probably wouldn't even do much with Kid and his speed.

Panic began to flair within Crona as he tries harder to push the reaper from him, the feeling…was starting to fade as well.

Crona couldn't think on such manners as he continues to struggle, throwing his body as best he could and kicking out his legs. He tries to reach for Kid's heart…that if he were to just rip the old thing out and be done with the reaper…but it just out of reach, and with the gem drain…it was starting to get hard to even move his arms. Ragnarok's voice begins to grow faint within his head, his shouting growing faint. "Shit…n-not like this, not like…not…ah…" As Ragnarok spoke as he trying to come up with some idea, he could feel as Crona was starting to lose consciousness…his body nearly stopping all movement as his arms drop down and hang at his sides.

He just wanted…he needed to get Kid away from him. To just push him away so he could think. "I am sorry Crona…Soon you will lose everything you are, and will become trapped within the Soul Gem. This seems to be the only way I can put an end to you. Forgive me." Kid told him as the gem brightens itself again, feeling the whole tunnel with its glow now.

Crona could just barely make out the look Kid was giving him from the very bottom of his eyes. It was a look of pity. A kind of look that just was of…shame at himself. "You…disgust me…" Crona mumbles out, catching Kid's attention easily. "You are literally kill me, holding the fate of my very soul in my hands…and you have the gale to feel bad for me?!" He could feel Kid push his chin further up, till all he could see was the ceiling.

"Just be quiet Cron-" He pauses though…as he looks down…he hadn't even realized that he had moved closer to Crona, because now…Crona's arm had moved up…was placed right on top of his heart. Another flash came blasting the two in a light so bright it was like they were standing on the surface of the sun…but when the light dim…all that happened was that Crona was on the floor…Kid having let go of him as he backed away from the teen.

He placed his hand on the heart worried for a moment, reaching into the folds of the organ to feel the gem itself. "…I am not sure what you had just done, but I see now that it was for nothing." Kid muttered with a small smile of relief, before he turns back to look to Crona…

Though Crona…was different. For one he was standing up… and two, he was…completely black like a silhouette version of the teen. Kid froze up upon seeing the thing…and notices as the real Crona…was behind it. "Oh, I don't know. I think it was for something." A very familiar voice spoke and it was a realization for Kid as he took in the features the silhouette did have…white gloves with black lines going down the fingers, two gray wrist straps on each arm with little spikes on them, similar to the one he had on the right side of his body that was to his shoulder and under his arm, but out of all of those….the one to stand out the most was the large white 'X' on his face.

"Ra-" Kid only barely manages to say before a fist slams into his face and knocks him to the floor. "In the blood bitch!" Ragnarok shouts as gives out a loud laugh. "Hahahahaha! Oh man, it's been literally forever since I had legs! You know what this means you Reaper bitch!?" He happily shouts as grinds his feet to the floor. "I get to finally kick your skinny zombie ass!" The demon sword launches himself forward just as Kid was picking himself up.

From on the floor, Crona was just regaining his sight…them having gone dark just moments ago…just in time for him to see as a…'Ragnarok' version of himself had just kicked Kid in the face. "Am I dreaming…or is this weird nightmare?" Crona said as he pushes himself to his feet, or at least tries too. His body was very weak now, he doubts he could really put up much of a fight.

"Legs, actual legs! HAHAHA, oh man…I am so doing the Cossack dance after this!" Not that it seemed he was needed at that moment seeing as Ragnarok was attacking Kid, mercilessly at that as he was grabbing the reaper by his shoulders and knee him in the face repeatedly.

Though just as it seemed he had the upper hand, the orange lighting had return around Kid and in a blur of motion he was gone from sight. "Oh, damn it! Just when I was really overdue to knock someone's teeth out." Ragnarok groans, before he turns back to Crona. "Hey Dipshit. Man…it's been so long since we've actually seen each other…you look like shit."

As he spoke he walked to Crona and helped the teen to his feet. "How is it possible?" Crona mumbled out, very confused as he sees Ragnarok was not only out in his own body…but also looked a bit like him. The demon sword just shrugged his shoulders. "Hell if I know, just one moment ago I stuck inside you, not even able to use my lovely voice…and then BOOM. I just felt such…a rush, and I was just able to slide out. Guess I just needed a good pick me up." He then began to flex and pose a bit. "Oh man it is good to be out again…I feel so loose. Like a river in…something I fucking know how to explain it."

Crona gives him a blank stare for a moment, until he just thinks back to a moment ago. "The Soul Gem…it must have empowered you somehow." Ragnarok gives a scoff as he starts to hop on his feet. "Well then, what are we to do? Just stand here and do nothing? We got a Reapers to figh-" Before he could finish though suddenly his legs were completely sliced off. "OH, COME ON!" Ragnarok shouts before falling to a floor…and turning into a large black puddle on the floor.

"Ah, Ragnarok!" Crona cries out with concern before he feels a blow right to the side of his head and he is knocked to the floor again. Kid quickly stood over him, entrapping Crona on the spot before he could pull himself away.

The reaper seemed…different though. While his heart continued to faintly glow with the green light of the gem, his body looked to be almost transparent now. Like he was close to disappearing on the spot. "You…" He calls out, his voice speaking with an echo behind it, as he raises a hand up to his heart and nearly loses his balance for a bit.

Though tired and drained of what energy he mainly had left, Crona saw a chance and took it. He grabs the ankles of Kid's feet and pulled, knocking him to his back. The teen then rushes to Ragnarok shouting if the demon sword was okay…all that manage to come from him though was a gurgle scream, with Crona just barely able to make out something about not being able to form this time.

Crona gives a growl…before suddenly he feels a hard kick on his stomach and collapse on the floor, gasping for breath. "You did this." Kid said before he picks Crona up again, and tosses further down the tunnel, away from the puddle of the demon sword…who was gurgling profanities out as loud as he could.

Crona forces himself to look up to the reaper, watching as he seemed to examine himself, his body continuing to slightly fade in and out sight. "I've had to limit myself so much on the Soul Gem's power…but you…somehow triggered an overload." Suddenly he has a scythe in his hand, his lighting seeping into it…the whole weapon was crackling with orange light, with steaming pouring out of it. "Such power…is…intoxicating. It had been so long since last I used it so…" He begins to mumble.

With a growl…Crona was showing a very tired and annoyed face. He was done with their fighting, and done with these trivial back and fourths. He tries to push himself forward and punch at the reaper…

…only to have Kid's hand enter his chest.

A shocked gasp escapes Crona's lips…as he feels the reapers hand was pass his skin, his muscles, his ribs, even his own heart. It was resting on his very soul now.

Crona's scream could be heard through the tunnel…echoing across every corner, such a tone of horror it was, unfit for any mortal hears to hear.

Such a sound was only fitting to Death itself.

Or at least it would have, if Kid was able to savoir any feeling at all…instead…he found himself on the floor, leaning against the wall…most of his torso missing…as the space was taken up large hole. His blood…gray with age, was all over the floor…spewing from him like a river…what remind of his lungs made it impossible for him to breathe…all he could manage to get out was a simple whimper as a cold feeling enter his being.

Crona opposite of him, looking to be embedded into the wall bed his body, completely stiff as he looked on in front of him in sheer horror…his left-hand was held up and shaking…as small bit of steam rose from his palm.

It was…the same kind of blast as before, that had hit his mask and upper body. Though instead of his eyes it came from his hand this time. "H-how…how…" Crona mumbles out as he begins to rub his right hand over the palm, feeling that while it was a bit warm…it was fine for the most part.

The teen then looks back to Kid…or rather to behind the reaper…at the large mess of blackness that covered a huge part of the tunnel wall…all the bricks having been burnt into a pure black color. What he had just fired had burned right through the reaper and to the wall behind him.

Like before it had come too quickly for him to dodge…but this time it was stronger. Kid didn't even know if it was what Crona had meant to do. The once swordsman just looked frighten by what he had just done. Like the gravity of it all had just taken him.

He tries to speak, to say something to him… only for his attention to be taken away as a certain puddle of blood was letting out a frustrated scream.

"Ragnarok!" He calls out in a worried tone as he pushes himself up and limps to where his partner was on the floor. "Can you move?" He asks as he kneels to him and offers a hand, hoping to see if the demon could return to his body. Though the puddle had made movement, a small bit of itself raising up, only for it to just slaps back down on itself.

As Crona seemed busy with Ragnarok, Kid's eyes trail down…seeing the Soul Gem on the very floor right in front of him. Kid tries to move, and get himself back to it…his only chance to survive.

The only movement he could muster was his body falling face first on the floor in an awkward position, like a puppet with the strings cut. He was forced to grovel…but the gem was right there in front of him. He could reach it and-…but no…his body just…fails on him.

He was not dead…after all he was death itself…but there was no way he could heal at the rate he normally would after taking such a wound. It he had a son of his own, someone to take his place he would be dead on the spot…but no, he hadn't done such a thing. With the world coming to a complete end, Kid had seen no point.

It was the one of those classic moments like this he could not help but reflect on one's life. He wonders if he had a child…would he have been like his father more? Someone wiser, and better able to defend the world? It was unfortunately he was not near the Infinity Well to show him such answers.

He looks from the corner of his eyes as he sees Crona trying to help Ragnarok, speaking to the puddle as he grabs at it and tries to pick it up…only for the liquid to fall from his hands. The boy seemed franticly panic as the demon puddle continued yelling at him. He could hear Crona trying to come up with some plan about getting a bottle or a bucket to hold his friend in…seeing Crona act like this…his old self…instead in those moments of brute strength and sliver tongue.

The feeling of nostalgia came again…along with a tear in Kid's eye.

So much has changed…so much horrors have been done. He was no saint…as he himself had done awful things in the wake of this world. All the Reaper could do was silently weep now.

Crona hears the faint sound of Kid sob, and turns to face him.

He looked pathetic. His body folded over like that of a drunken fool, his wretched face pressed firmly against the floor, his blood being all spilled out all around him in a mess…even the three halos around his head have turn dull in color and had fallen back to within his hair. Tears were in his eyes.

With a scoff, Crona almost turned back to Ragnarok…but stops as he sees the Soul Gem on the floor so close to Kid. "Wait…the gem!" He calls out as he stands back up to his feet, a bit too quickly as he pauses to let out a small whine…his body aching from the fight and the massive drain still after all. But Crona wouldn't let that stop him.

With a tiny smile he turns back to look to his partner. "Ragnarok…it was when I touched the gem you manage to get out. Maybe I just need to hold it for you to get to normal!" Kid's eyes snap open as he hears this. He could see as Crona limps his way.

"No…stop." He meekly speaks, his voice barely even audible. "Stop…Crona please." He raises is further as Crona stops near him and kneels to the gem. "Don't do it." With his hand raised slightly he goes to pick the gem up. "I AM BEG-uka!" Kid pushes himself to scream…but ends up coughing mess.

Crona did listen to him though, his fingers just nearing to touch the gem. He doesn't even look to Kid. "…you ignore your responsibility to the souls outside these walls …you failed to keep Maka safe…you given up on the world and had tried to kill me for no real reason…just on the premise of some misconception." He presses his fingers down on the floor, all around the gem…it being so easy for him to just pick it up now.

Yet he wanted to know just what Kid was gonna do. "Why should I listen to you?" He asks and Kid begins to push himself, the sound of small honks of breaths is heard and view of seeing such grotesque skin and muscle moving was a displeasing show for Crona…but as Kid finally manage to make himself face him…the Reaper started to beg. "P-please…do not touch the gem…you don't understand anything of it."

"I'm pretty sure you told me enough of what I need to know." Though Crona's words weren't with that cold tone as before, it still seems to hold its own level of harshness. "Crona...the Soul Gem is not meant for anyone to use…such power…it was not meant for any mortal to wield, let alone even hold…only beings of such amazing strength can dream of such a feat. Not…even I am truly worthy of such…power…how did you think I ended up like I am…"

This time…Crona looked to him, a small side glance. It seemed to be of a bit of concern for a bit as he looks at the Kid…before his eyes turn back to the gem on the floor. Thoughts ran through his head, as Crona remembers what Kid had told him about the gem's power to manipulate the very fabric of a person's soul. It made him think…if he could be able to bring a certain soul to him…because as horrible as things could go only one conclusion mattered.

She was all that mattered.

With a small smile on his face, one the causes a flame of fear to echo through Kid's soul. "…last time I checked…I was pretty strong. Let's see how much." The Reaper didn't even have the breath to scream…before Crona swipes the gem up in his hand…

…outside the old academy, were the souls of Death City. Mangled through the many years of outside horrors and time, these souls hadn't experience such fear in a long time after the black pillars had shot out of the school and barrel through several many ruins of buildings…they would have no idea that in that same day…they would be forced to experience such an emotion…twice in the span of a single day.

The Academy was a place thought by many that it was untouchable, even with the approach of the new arrival they had not though much of him…that was still something came. A plush was felt.

Like as a heart had its first beat. Such a feeling was unbelievable for the spirits…it had caused to them all to pauses in thought as they all look to the old school…the dead weren't the only ones. Many miles away living beings paused too…all looking to the direction such a plush came from. Millions of miles away from even the planet's surface felt it to even other unknown parts of the universe…beings that knew next to nothing of what it could possibly be all had felt it.

Only a handful of individuals could ever have even a hint to what it was.

A man in the village of his people, placed a hand on the glowing red gem embedded to his forehead.

A woman in a field of flowers held her children, as the orange gem in her necklace began to glow.

A being in who rules a fiery pocket dimension, looked away at from the glow his yellow gem gave.

A king…and prince, both stare at their own gems, the kings look fearfully from his three eyes at his shiny blue gem, while his child look to the beaming purple one with eyes of hope.

Back at the ruins of the city such a feeling could only be felt for a moment…before the entire academy exploded from the inside, a massive storm was form from in its' place. It was unlike anything before seen by the souls of the city as they could be still in watched on.

The storm was living, breathing with inner explosions of unnatural greenish light. The souls all watched on in awe at the amazing colorful display. Though the storm's power was devastating, so much so that even without the senses of that their living bodies each and every soul within the city could still feel the might of infinity itself right in front of them….and they felt drawn to it.

All they had felt was cold…the storm provided warmth.

All they have felt was hunger…the storm appeased their hunger.

All of them were scared…the storm gave comfort.

The first emotion that the souls had felt in years, was fear but now another feeling had been born again.

Belonging.

With no hesitation to be had, the souls began to move. Their distorted beings traversed through the terrain of their broken home, each of them…one by one, all let their bodies enter the storm…becoming one within it. Becoming part of the growing storm.

Becoming part of Infinity.

---

"Oh…my…fucking head." Ragnarok moans as he sits up from the ground, placing a hand to his head as he could feel his non-existent brain was like Jell-O right now. Though technically one could guess it was. A thought he didn't want to think about right now as he regains his sight…

…and sees where he was.

"Holy shit, oh my god! What happened!?" He shoots up to his feet, as he looks around him…seeing the massive amount of ruins all around. The entire tunnels…the dungeon…the Death Weapon Meister Academy was completely and utterly wrecked like an atom bomb went off from within.

There parts that stone that melted, large amount of dust and ash all over the ground, he could still see as if parts of the bricks and cement on the floor had these strange greenish creaks along them that ominously glowed like they were radioactive.

He could even see that the destruction had stretch so far out into the rest of the city…if it had seemed like it was demolished before, now it was simply…dilapidated into nothingness. Ragnarok felt like he had to pull a word out of retirement just to express how bad it was. There was no evidence of a city ever being around them, save for like several small bits of bricks that miraculously seem to have found their way above the sand.

Ragnarok takes a deep breath, wincing a bit at the awful smell as everything reeked of old age and sulfur, he was trying to piece together what had happen. The only thing he could recall was how Kid had taken his legs from him and how he fell to the floor and splashed into a puddle, not his proudest moment.

From then on, it was like he a turtle that was stuck on its back, not able to do anything but give little bits of movement. He couldn't even see what was happening due to how he couldn't form his own eyes and all sounded was muffled about like when someone was in water.

He didn't even remember being knocked out or anything, and at this point he seriously cannot help but feel he had some case of 'world screwing over' Narcolepsy seeing as every time he falls asleep, something seems to happen that effects himself and Cron-…

"Crona!" He shouts out in realization as he begins to move aside some large rocks around him, frighten at the thought of what might have happened with Crona as he stood alone against the reaper earlier. "Oh shit, no…no! Crona, please be alive!" The creature of black blood didn't even question as he is easily able to lift the large pieces of stones and toss them off like they were made of paper. "Say something man, I'll dig you out! Conserve your breath and try not to move!" But as he moves from an empty pile to rush into another large pile of stuff…he sees a familiar person with bright pink hair as they were standing in front of hole that glowed a 'strange' blue light.

Without a word, Ragnarok rushes over as fast as he could to the teen while screaming out to him. "Crona, oh man thank god you're alive. What happened?!" He asked, nearly tackling the teen down if he hadn't managed to stop himself.

Crona continued to stare down the well with little to no emotion on his face, and himself in his usual pose with his left hand gripping his right arm. "What do you mean 'what happened'?" He asks back.

One of the upper corners of Ragnarok's 'X' face tilted up slightly as he gestures behind him to the wreckage behind him. "D-Don't even act like…what you don't seem to notice that suddenly the academy had a very nice sky-light?!" He tells him while watching as Crona just gives him a shrug and reply. "I'm not following."

He then turns to look to Ragnarok as he gives a small look of worry. "…Ragnarok, do you require more rest?"

If he really had a jaw, it would no doubt be dropped right now. "…rest? I was asleep, you knew I was asleep?! OF FUCKING COURSE, I WAS! THIS SHIT SEEMS TO KEEP FUCKING HAPPEN EVERYTIME I SHUT MY EYES APPARENLY, NEXT THING I KNOW AN ENTIRE FUCKING BUILDING THE SIZE OF GOD'S DICK IS GONE!" Ragnarok shouts as loudly as possible for him, making Crona give a small wince as he leans away from the demon sword.

"Why must you always use such profanity and volume, I am right here and I assure you I have good hearing." Crona replies, causing Ragnarok take a long deep breath to try to calm himself down. "Do you even have lungs?" Crona ask…causing Ragnarok to pinch the middle of his 'X' as he takes an even deeper breath.

"Crona…what happened…to the tunnel, of the academy that we were trapped within…with reaper version of Speedy Gonzales." He says, quietly but full of irritation. Crona gives a small 'oh' at that as he looks back into the well and replied. "Well it had been destroyed."

Ragnarok had to seriously fight the urge to tackle him on purpose now and beat him into he was black on the outside as well. "…NOO! You don't say? I didn't notice."

Crona gives a small sigh, as gives another shrug. "Your sarcasm is always a joy to hear." Ragnarok walks up to Crona's face and looks ready to punch the teen's head off. "Good to hear numb-nuts! Now, please enlighten me by telling me…What the fuck happened and what are you looking at!?" He gestures a hand to the Infinity Well.

At first Crona looked confused by the question, but then gives a small groan as he realizes why. "Oh right, your mind seems to have had a…problem after we went through the nexus of realit-" He was stopped as Ragnarok back away and screamed. "The what now? I'm sorry, did we step into a freaking D&D board without me knowing?" He then turns around and kicks off a rock out of frustration, not even paying attention as it flies off into the horizon as he was too busy being mad at the moment.

With a roll of his eyes, Crona turns back to look at him as he said. "This is the Infinity Well, and with it I can gaze in and get answers to any questions in the universe…save for some concerning a certain…thing." He mutters at the end in a slightly unsure tone.

"Well how does that clear up a lot." Ragnarok replies as he walks off to one of the large pieces of stone and begins to drag it close to them.

"Please just stop talking so I can explain in full." Crona calls out as Ragnarok just hopes on top of the stone and gestures his arms out, as if to silently say 'please, go on'…which Crona knew was just a nice way to put Ragnarok's true meaning.

With a slight bit of reluctance, Crona reveals the what he was holding in his right hand…the infinity gem.

"Holy shit, is that the gem Kid had in his heart-" Ragnarok shouts, nearly falling off the stone in shock but managing to catch himself. Crona begins to explain. "Yeah…the Soul Gem. After I grabbed it…something just…exploded from it and me. Something I couldn't even describe. It was like…being within a tornado. It must have been what made you cause you to black-out earlier." Ragnarok begins to slowly look at the destruction around them.

"So, wait…if you are holding that, then…where is that asshole?" Crona just looks bac to the well, a sad look on his face. "In there…or at least was…now he's just gone." A scoff comes from Ragnarok as he leans his head in his hand. "…you threw him in the well? Damn…pulled a reverse Lassie on his ass."

"I don't want to talk about it." Crona says, as he tightens his grip on his right arm. Although it was small thing to notice from his point of view, his tone of voice was enough to tell Ragnarok that something bad happened.

For a moment, Crona just stayed silent. Bringing the infinity gem closer to his face so that he could stare into it. "…he said I was not human anymore, not anymore a Kishin now."

Ragnarok gives a small 'huh' sound in response, with Crona giving a sigh. "He told me, right before I grabbed the Soul Gem, that it was is not meant for any mortal to even hold. That…only beings of amazing strength can dream of such a feat. It's what caused him to look so…" Crona pauses for a second as he tries to think of a proper word to describe the reaper.

"To look like Skeletor's deformed cousin?" Ragnarok offer, with Crona taking it. "…yes, I think…" he mumbles just going along with whatever Ragnarok was referencing at this point. "Yet...when we saw afterwards how I just looked so…the same, Kid started to…well, as you would say um…'f-freak out' on me." Crona begins to rub at both his arms now, as he gives a small shiver. "He said this world had changed me…and he was right. I look in the Infinity Well and it had showed me just what happened."

He turns to Ragnarok again, showing the scared look, he had. "I mean… it was a lot of things. Like radiation, demonic magic, other stuff…it was just so much that I just…" He gives a shake of his head at the disbelief at this kind of stuff. "There was also how we escape too…it was an infinity gem that crashed through the moon and free us…and amazingly its power affected us too."

"Fuck's sake, man." Ragnarok calls out as lays his hands flat on the stone. "Hey man…fuck it, at least you didn't up grow three arms or something…I mean shit maybe that's because the black blood doesn't let us get sick but…" He gives a small puff of breath as he looks off to the side.

He almost wanted to thank Medusa now more than ever for the shit she did to them. Who would have known it would make such a good effect on them?

Crona gives a small nod as he looks back to the well, bending down so he could look closer into it. "…He called me a titan. A being that could rival gods, in terms of just raw power." He could see as the within it the lights were moving and shifting around so beautifully. "Then he…tried to take the gem from me and…" Crona places a hand on his face and sighs. "We need to find the other five gems."

"…wait, why?" Ragnarok steps off the stone and walks up to Crona in confusion…only for the teen to come up to his face and nearly shout. "The infinity gem of the soul is pretty much just an exotic peddle to us! I thought I could…I thought I could bring her back with it." He almost instantly calms down…and is sadden.

"oh." Ragnarok mumbles out as gives an awkward cough, not really expecting Crona's outburst like that. And he could see as this…was really upsetting Crona right now and he could tell why. He remembers to what Kid had said earlier about the him not doing his job, if Maka was reaped then…she really was…

Crona gives a small sniff as he could feel tears already build up. He quickly wipes his eyes to stop them before they could form. "…she's gone, so we need to find the other gems to bring her back."

Ragnarok looked as he was ready to protest this idea…but stops himself as he thinks it be better to just go along with it. "And these other gems are?" He asks, watching as Crona manage to stable himself as he tells him. "The other gems are of Time, Space, Reality, Power, and Mind. Each one granting limitless power that the wielder." Crona then began to go on about all the gems, a bit too fast for Ragnarok to follow. "With the Time Gem we could go back in time and change everything. With the Space Gem we could be anywhere we need to be, the Reality Gem itself could alter the very fabric of-"

The feeling of hands clamping on his shoulders stops Crona for a moment. "Whoa...whoa…chill the fuck out…" Ragnarok tells him as gives him a small shake, making Crona mumble out a small 'S-sorry'. When Ragnarok takes his hands from Crona's shoulders, he places on the his 'X' as he tries to think. "Okay so um…these gems are the kind of things allowed Kid to do that speed stuff?"

Crona begins to fumble for a bit as feet as he looks down to the floor. "Well in reality it was just charging his own ability but the gem empowered it-" Ragnarok fist smacks down right on his head, causing the teen to nearly fall over.

"How about fuck off!" Ragnarok shouts in anger. Crona looks up to him gripping his head, more shocked from the hit than from it hurting him, as he asks. "W-what?"

"Crona, we got lucky back there. You're telling me that there are five fuckers out there that could be like…shit man, if some fuckers already have these, then it is game over." Ragnarok shouts, giving a shove to Crona's chest that cause the boy to stumble back a little. "T-The Infinity Well had told me that some of them don't even realize the f-full power of their g-gem." He tries to convince Ragnarok…

…only to get hit again. "So, there are people with these gems, of course! Let me ask you something…are these nice enough people that they would allow you to take it from them?!" Ragnarok shouts as he places his hands onto hips, though he lacks a face, it was easy to see how angry he was as the top parts of his 'X' were bended downward slightly.

"Well…no but -" Ragnarok then grabs Crona shoulders again and starts to shake him.

"Fuck off then, Crona let us cut our loses…it would be suicide to fight this kind of shit. From what I can…put together, that pebble in your hand could take complete control all that connect to the very soul right? And it alone was powerful enough to do THIS! Just from you touching it!" He then throws his arms out to everything around them. He shoves his face close to Crona's growls out to him. "You want to fight people who could…who can do this but with Time, Space, and Reality?! Fuck…off!"

Crona stays silent for a bit, staring directly where Ragnarok's eyes would be. The demon sword pulls away and crosses his arm, thinking that he had won the argument…but before he could even say anything else, Crona mutters out. "…I could be with Maka again."

From many miles away, one could hear possibly the loudest scream of frustration ever made.

Ragnarok throws his head back as he lets out his scream, holding his hands to his head. "Damn it, damn it, damn it, god mother fucking damn it!" He turns around and kicks the stone he was sitting on far out of his view, and began shouting out all his rage as he paced back and forward. "No, just NO, I want nothing to do with this fucking awful idea! We have been through too much as it is! Hell, our entire life we've had to deal with so much shit dumping on us till even when the whole world ended, and we had to look around to this fucking place just for answers…and you know what, I was fine with that…really, what else could we do? But now, now you are just telling me that you see this other pile of shit, the worst that we've ever seen ever! With infinity bulshit and god knows what else! And you just want to dive in head first in it!"

Ragnarok then walks back to Crona, poking at the teen's chest as he shouts right in his face. "Here's what I say to that. FUCK YOUR GEMS, FUCK YOUR STUPID PLAN, FUCK YOUR COW, AND DEFINITELY FUCK YOU!"

At his last shout Ragnarok punch's Crona as hard as he could, knocking Crona nearly off his feet for a bit. The two stood there silently for what had felt likes minutes. The only sound being Ragnarok's heavy breathing from his shouting. The one to break eye contact was Crona as he just looked to the floor, he had place one hand to the side of his face that Ragnarok hit, with his other hand closed to his fist.

Ragnarok got ready for him to shout something back, or to attack him back…but neither happen as Crona slowly looks up to him with a cold look of determination.

"Fine…I'll do it myself."

He then turns his back to Ragnarok and kneels down to the Infinity Well. Placing the infinity gem in his left hand…he then dips it into the well's inners…and a bright golden light shined on from it. Ragnarok throws an arm over his 'X' as the light nearly blinded him…and as they dim down, he sees Crona was standing back up…a golden gauntlet on his left hand, with the with the Soul Gem placed right into the very middle of its palm.

He then begins to walk away, mumbling out a small. "…Goodbye."

For a moment as he walks off, Ragnarok just stood there and watched. Seeing how he wouldn't even look back to him. Didn't even give a wave or something.

They have been through so much shit.

The murders, the experiments, the many days trapped within that dark room…Ragnarok's legs moved without him thinking, his fist on the other hand... "SON OF A BITCH!" He cries out, catching Crona's attention long enough so he could turn his head…and get punch once again by Ragnarok.

Being taken surprise by the hit, Crona was knocked to his backside, where he stared irritably at Ragnarok and shout. "Stop hitting me!" Ragnarok stood over him and shouts back. "Stop being a stubborn asshole! How dare you try to be 'the bigger man' here and just leave!"

Crona gives a small growl as he slams his gauntlet hand down on the floor. "You didn't want to be a part of this." He tells him as he tries to move back up to his feet…only to pause as Ragnarok offers him a hand.

"Just shut up!" Ragnarok says. "I'm coming…but not because I'll miss you or anything, it's because I know damn well for sure you won't last a goddamn minute without me." Crona looks at him and his offered hand with widen eyes. "R-really?" He mumbles out, with Ragnarok giving groan as he says back. "Yeah, you're just that much of a piece of-" He is stopped as Crona tackles him into a hug, nearly pushing him down.

"Thank you." Crona says happily, sounding close to crying. Ragnarok tries to push him away as he replies with 'Thank you very mu-ah forget it.' He gives up, just letting Crona let go on his own.

With a sniff and wiping the few tears that manage to leak out, Crona begins to tell him. "This quest is going to be troublesome Ragnarok…we might have to face those with limitless power, the likes of which we've never seen before, due to them each wielding the gems…and maybe 'the end' itself."

Ragnarok gives a flick to Crona's nose. "Dude, I just fucking agreed, don't make me regret it more than I already do…wait 'the end'?" He questions at the title, wondering just what Crona meant.

Crona rubs at his nose a bit on the hit. "Some kind of thing that Kid was talking about, I looked into the Infinity Well but it seemed to be the only thing it cannot show me." He then gives a shrug. "Kid thought that…I was maybe it."

"Well with my name, could you blame him?" Ragnarok scoffs out, causing a Crona to give a small chuckle as he stands up to full height. "Heh…yeah, that is true."

With a sigh Ragnarok grips Crona's shoulders and turn him around. "Well then…let me just see something." He tells him, and leaps…easily slipping into Crona's back and returning to becoming one with his blood. With a large 'splat' sound, Ragnarok is out of Crona's back again…this keeping his bottom half in. "YES! Back to piggy-back rides bitch! Oh man, this is good cause as much I like having legs again…I remember that walking sucks."

A familiar sense of nostalgia came over Crona and he couldn't help but laugh as he feels Ragnarok ruffle his hair. "Hehehehe…oh can you, um…you know." Crona fiddles with his fingers, with a hopeful look on his face.

"I think I know what you are talking about…hang on." Ragnarok slides into the body again and begins shifting around, unknown to the two as this happened…the Soul Gem gave a slightly shine, and from out Crona's back forms two large black blood wings. Crona gives an excited gasp at seeing them, before he bends his knees down…and launches himself into the air with his full might. "Wait asshole, I'm fucking rusty!" Ragnarok yelps out as the two flew through the air, the black wings quickly flapping before being managing to even themselves out, allowing the two to continue to fly.

Unknown to either of them, a person stood at what remains of the Infinity Well.

He wore a black outfit with redden areas on it such as the man's arms, legs, and on his belt, that had two sashes on the front of it. On his back was a long red cloak, that was yellow underneath, that was connected to his outfit with a…familiar cartoonish skull.

"So…you've collected one of six, Titan…such a quest would be mad…hehehe…a mad titan, now it is much more believable how it is you've fallen uncle." He chuckles out, his voice sounding to guff yet having a wise tone though it. "A mad titan, oh boy…father is gonna throw a fit when he finds out who exactly it is." He brushes aside some of his blonde hair, so that he could better gaze upon what he held in his hand.

A staff, with a hawk figure on the top of it…and within the hawk's beak was a purple gem. "But he might just be what the universe needs." With a raise of his staff and a small bright flash of light, he was no longer standing at the remains.

Gone now, to spread the word of Death's demise.

---

The Soul Gem.

One of the six.

With it the wielder can observe, attack, split, duplicate, create, destroy, cancel out, or even still a targets spirit. It can manipulate the soul of any and every individual in existence. The living, the dead, a life from another universe, it doesn't matter. Such power can be truly deviating within the wrong hands.