Link Fangirl01: I am much better now thanks, yes, I had no intention of letting them get off easily, I left Otomai and Ogrest on the planet because I wanted to concentrate on the brotherhood. Adamai has to meet up with Yugo too, Chibi's still a kid, I'm not a hundred percent sure what he's gonna do. And as far as you know Mortis stays dead.
Yina the darkness Selatrope: I am feeling much better now thank you, You are right about Lillith and Mortis (though they are done for this arc). I was just curious about the language because I found Google translate was translating your paragraph's awfully well, normally it doesn't do that so well, so I thought you might have been using it.
Author's note: Still too long between chapters, Memorial day weekend was a bunch of family parties, so not writing this. It was fun though I finally got to see captain America winter soldier, the fight scenes gave me some Ideas for Yugo's sword battles regarding the use of his shield (He won't be throwing it though).
Chapter 26: Heaven Fall
Kain was fighting alongside Ignis to battle some of the more tenacious members of the Arma lumari. Some of these guys were very hard to put down and it helped to fight alongside another. Ignis was a lesser aetherian who preferred power over fire to other means of battle. He was currently melting the armor off of an immortal who screamed as the metal burned his flesh.
A blue spear shot past his visual horizon, nearly slashing at his exposed face, it was followed by a large purple beam attack that did graze him singing the hairs on his beard. He turned to see Eliatrope and The Great Dragon accompanied by Rip Van Winkle and another younger dragon. Kain was shocked, he opened his senses to find Mortis, but the Aetherian had disappeared, as though he was…
"So, you killed the death bringer." Kain said with a snarky attitude "I suppose that fate fits him. And Lillith?"
"Fled like a little chicken after I showed showed up!" the young dragon said pridefully.
"Ah," Kain said sarcastically "You must be a powerful one indeed, to make a little lesser immortal run away."
Adamai frowed, he did not enjoy being mocked. The Great Dragon put his hand on the younger dragon's shoulder.
"do not let the enemy under your skin." He said "It leads to mistakes, and in battle mistakes lead to death."
"Listen to your master little one." Kain mocked "Don't act hastily."
Eliatrope rose her arm and several portals opened the tips of spears beginning to show in each.
Kain smiled and lifted his own hand above his head, "Try all you want, you won't be killing me." He said with a smug smile.
"They won't." A voice said from behind him. Looking back he saw that ignis had been pierced by a blade and was retreating away from a man with Red hair and a long black cloak. He did not wear his sunglasses into battle this time revealing his crimson eyes to all.
"I will however." Jack said angrily.
Adamai pumped his fist "Yes!" He said "The cavalry has arrived!"
Jack turned his head towards the young dragon "Go find your brother, I sense his part will be coming soon." He said, adamai wanted to fight on that point but the intensity in Jack's eyes clearly denied any chance that he might win. The immortal was sending him a clear message: Leave, I'm going to start destroying things and when I do I don't want you in the way.
Adamai nodded in agreement and disappeared into another of his purple vortexes.
Ignis began to inch closer trying to get the drop on the crimson haired immortal, but the man turned his head eyeing him. Ignis stopped in his trackes, this one was a greater immortal, one not so easily crushed beneath a boot.
"Rip, keep this Jackass off me." Jack said.
Rip hefted his hammer and smiled "No problem Mr. Ripper." He said, turning to Eliatrope and The Great Dragon he continued "You two should stay out of the way, this fight will get intense. Although if you wanted to do that spear trick again…"
Eliatrope smiled "Glad to know I can be of assistance."
"Ignis," Kain said calmly "It's time for that little matter we discussed."
Ignis smiled "On it boss man!" he said quickly flying towards the battling fleets with a streak of fire following behind him.
Eliatrope began to pursue, but Rip stopped her by extending his hammer into her path.
"Jack has it in hand," Rip said confidently "Why do you think he sent Adamai to find his brother? You are needed here Lady Eliatrope, Kain will not go down easily, the more of us there are, the better the chance we have."
"I see." Eliatrope said, disguiding her disappointment, she knew that billions and even more lives were being snuffed out on those ships, to think someone with even a small fraction of Achron's powers was on their way to add to that number upset her. It upset her more that she was not to do anything about it, Adamai and Yugo were her children, and Jack was flinging them head first into a battle with one of the most powerful entities present.
"There will be time to see to the children later," The Great Dragon said "For now my dear, we must fight." She understood that, but it didn't mean she had to like it. Her angered gaze turned to Kain's calm form
"When I'm done with you," She said darkly "I'm going to tear that friend of yours into pieces, before he can touch my son!"
"Aside from not giving a damn about Ignis," Kain said calmly "You will not finish me, I am indeed indestructible and invincible; the personification of betrayal itself."
Eliatrope smiled darkly "I know better," she said "I stabbed you, and you bled."
Kain's face seemed a little less confident after that.
Yugo had managed to fight through the Deum Bellum on the Gilded fleet's ship and was pressing into their own darkened hull. He had found that the soldiers stationed to guard the Black ships were quite a bit tougher than their offensive companions. Yugo found a lot of them were larger and could wield a strange red demonic energy, not entirely unlike a shu shu's energy, but undeniably different.
The eliatrope swung and slashed at the soldiers as he went, he bashed in faces with his shield and flipped over demonic swords cutting off their arms with the edge of his shield, or sword, whichever was closer. Percedal had returned Rubilax to his blade and was swinging the great shu shu around like a hurricane, he was quickly toppling and destroying his enemies, many ended with a swift beheading.
"These guys are tougher than the ones on the golden ship." Percedal said
"Yeah," Yugo replied "But not tough enough!"
"Really now?" another voice said from the back, "perhaps the god of pain and suffering will suffice?"
A dark shadow reached out from beyond the light of their powers and grabbed Percedal's neck, the iop god began to grasp at nothing as the shadowed hand gripped him and choked him.
"First I'll kill the god of war," the voice said "Then I'll kill the little mortal that wants to believe he can be a god."
"I am not a god!" Yugo said in frustration, how did this guy even know about all his godhood stuff anyway? He concentrated his wakfu on his eyes and using their power searched his surroundings, there was a big black humanoid shape where the voice originated from.
As percedal was strangled by an intangible hand Yugo rushed forward, remembering his training with cra, he dispersed his wakfu blade and summoned a spear instead, he threw it perfectly at the shadow, but the spear did not hit, or kill it. Fortunately however, in order to stop the blade, the shadow had to relinquish his grip on Percedal.
The shadow's arm had shot back and caught the bladed spear of energy before it had hit him.
"The mortal tempts me." The self proclaimed god said in frustration "Perhaps I should humor him." The dark god's voice grew darker still as many smaller voices were heard laughing in glee at the turn of events.
Yugo lowered himself into a fighting stance, in another turn of events a large purple vortex appeared near Percedal and Yugo, the vortex remained for a moment, then Adamai appeared from it, landing on his feet in draconic form behind his brother.
"Yugo!" Adamai said with concern, he had felt the presence of another one of Achron's Deum Tenebrea aboard this ship, and was concerned for his brother's safety.
"There is an immortal here!" Adamai said further enhancing his concern.
"Yeah," Percedal said standing and recovering from his blow "We found him, did you want a piece?" The iop asked with a smile.
Adamai was always amazed how this orange haired idiot could consistently bite off more than he could chew. Most people eventually figured out that their mouths were only so big, but not Percedal. The iop sincerely believed his mouth would grow bigger if he kept trying.
"Immortals aren't easy to kill Percdal." Adamai said "Lady Eliatrope barely managed it with the help of another immortal."
"Another Deus Tenebrea lies dead?" The dark god said "Which of them did this 'Eliatrope' fell?"
"His name was Mortis." Adamai said
The dark god seemed to chew on that information for awhile, the smaller voices grew quiet and concerned.
"You know not what you speak dragon," The dark God said "Mortis was no immortal, he was beyond us, and Aetherian in name and blood."
"You mean," Adamai asked "he was of the same race as Achron?"
"Yes," The dark god said "It would seem one among your number is very powerful indeed."
Yugo smirked "Well then you should be easy," he said "After all, I am her firstborn son, and the dragon behind me is my twin."
"A Human, brother to a dragon?" The dark god asked "A Vartai? You may not be so mortal after all."
"We don't have time for this Yugo," Adamai said "Kain is planning something, something big, he's going to give Achron what he needs to finish this fight."
Yugo frowned "But, there is a battle here to be fought as well."
"Don't worry friends," Percedal said with confidence "I'll destroy this dark entity and join you afterwards!"
"Dally…" Yugo began.
"Enough!" Percedal said "You may all believe me an idiot, but I am not, I cannot stand toe to toe with the monsters out there, but you can. I can fight this one, I believe I can win this battle, it will be hard, but if it helps you stop Achron, it's worth it."
"C'mon Yugo!" Adamai said motioning to his Vortex.
"Fine," Yugo said "But I'd better see you at papa's place when this is over dally! I'll get you all you can eat!"
"And I'll be there scarfing it down." Percedal replied.
Yugo and Adamai jumped through the vortex and disappeared to iop only knew where. There Percdal, the new iop stood and faced his opponent. His orange power and flames he had caused with Rubilax were his only illumination.
"I applaud you God of war," The supposed god of pain and suffering said "You act because you must, now you will die."
"I like the name you give me." Percdal said "God of War, perhaps I should show you the lengths that war has come to on my world!" With the words out of his mouth the iop god tightened his grip on Rubilax and summoned forth a massive amount of power. he had an orb of glowing orange energy around him and the orb illuminated the room, showing the dark god, a lengthy man with long fingers and green eyes, he was surrounded by little imps that looked on in awe.
"I don't think we can win this Dally." Rubilax said worriedly
"Neither did I." Percedal said "But there are more important things than winning this fight, and for once I understand that."
Rubilax looked at Percedal in surprise. "You, You're really willing to die?"
"If it means that Eva, Elely and Flopin live," The iop god said "then yes."
The dark god laughed "Well then, you should know the name of your death, I am Kura'Shatal The Tormentor of souls."
"And I am Percedal," Dally said "Warrior god of world of twelve!"
With that he rushed forward into the shadow master's realm.
Elely was the first to feel his presence, another of the powerful beings that Rosaline was afraid of. She was more at ease with this one however as he was not the dark void of evil that Kain or Achron seemed to be in her power's sight. He was more fleshed out, right now he was determined and excited as he rushed towards the valorous at mach speeds.
Rosaline was the next to sense him and immediately took a defensive stance, it seemed the aetherian was going to burst right through the observation deck's casing. The shields would activate and hold the air in afterwards, but nonetheless it would be wise not to be complacent, this one was a hot headed, battle hungry servant of Achron's darkness.
Next was Flopin, the boy looked up at his sister's insistence and saw the aetherian making for the bridge, he jumped to his feet and grabbed his sister shoving her back towards the entrance in hopes of keeping her out of the battle and away from another evil entity.
That is when Ignis broke the barrier.
Transparent steel like structures shattered as he broke through, as the aetherian fell gracefully to the ground an almost web like substance shot out and covered the hole becoming an energy based shield, holding out space. Though some objects on the floor that had been loose were pulled upwards and fell back down.
Ignis landed in ring of fire before the admiral of the fleet, he stood a good three inches taller than her and let it show in an attempt to intimidate her. Rosaline had seen this tactic before and had long ago learned that it wasn't all that intimidating.
The admiral struck out at the Aetherian quickly trying to get herself at enough distance to draw her primordial weapon and keep him at bay. Ignis however liked close quarter battles and quickly closed the gap forcing her on the defensive. His manipulation of fire was rather good and Rosaline did not have an elemental power to counter it.
Elely and flopin watched this battle as it raged onward, Elely was watching ignis' emotions change, he was excited, but also in some kind of ectasy, she found his state quite disturbing which came out as disgust. Flopin looked at his sister, she had been so helpless and desperate but a an hour ago, now there she was wearing her tough face again, looking at her enemy as a bug to be crushed rather than an insurmountable obstacle she could not overcome.
The boy smiled, he was glad to see his sister back to her old self, it was comforting, nonetheless he feared she would revert to her fearful state if the aetherian before them was not defeated.
"What's the matter girly?" Ignis said in his insane cackling voice "Do I frighten you?"
Hardly," Rosaline replied "Disgust is a far more apt term for my feelings about you."
From this Flopin determined that the two did not know each other, though he wasn't sure why he thought that was the case. Seeking to help the admiral that had cared for them so far he raised his bow and took aim staring intently at the enemy, hoping that the sight he had used to defeat Uriel would return.
The sight did return, but what he saw was strange and forboding, the entire being was lit up with a steel grey color and without asking he knew that the color meant his arrows could not harm it. His powers were still new to him and he was still surprised by what he could do, he lowered his bow.
"What's wrong flopin?" Elely asked.
"My arrows won't harm him." Flopin said "I'm powerless to fight him."
Elely looked back at the two combatants as they shot around the bridge clashing fire and golden dust against one another.
"I don't think she can win." Elely said "She is very concerned, and frustrated about something, like she is fighting an unwinnable battle."
"That's not good." Flopin said "We have to do something, Can't you like talk to her in her head or something?"
"No," Elely responded "I can only feel the emotions she feels, I can feel his emotions…" The girl shuddered "But I'd rather not, he's disgusting."
"Nothing for it then." Flopin said
No sooner the words were out of his mouth did the two land with Rosaline standing nearer the sadlygrove twins. As this happened Flopin noticed something lodged behind Rosaline's back, something shaped like a large knife, but the same steel grey color as the aetherian. And he had an idea. Of course pulling that idea off would be easier said than done, as the battling duo moved around the observation deck quickly.
Ignis was getting carried away and he knew it, so before it got too far he pulled back momentarily and targeted the ship's navigational computers. He shot out molten balls of fire at each one, scattering the inhabitants of the observation deck away from their desks. With the navigation out the engines stopped and the ship began to slowly move towards the world of twelve. Ignis smiled, the plan was working.
Rosaline was greatly disturbed by that action, the Valorous was roughly five times the size of the world of twelve, but it was made out of very light materials that caused it's gravity well to be less than that of the planet below. As a result it was being pulled in. it would crush the world of twelve if not stopped.
Ignis was immediately back upon her. Damn it! She should've used that time to draw her primordial blade rather than gawk at the immanent destruction of the planet below. Before she could move she felt the light touch of fingers relieving her of the blade she had failed to draw, and began to turn seeking an explanation. Then she felt the sensation of boots pressing against her back running up the length of it.
Ignis' eyes moved to lock on the blonde haired boy that suddenly appeared over Rosaline's head, he was at first interested in blasting the boy to cinders to see what Rosaline's reaction would be, but then noticed the very distinctive glow of the primordial blade in the boy's hand.
Everything went into slow motion for Flopin as he grabbed the knife and used his leverage to push himself up rosaline's back, he jumped up and towards the fiery beast of an aetherian before her. The beast noticed his presence, and seemed delighted for the briefest of instances. Then the beast seemed frightened, he took a step back from Flopin, but it was not quite fast enough. So he reflexively raised his arm to block the blow.
The blade pierced Ignis' arm cut down the length of it like a hot knife through butter, tearing open his flesh to reveal the bloody musculature within. Ignis screamed in pain and remain rooted to the spot grasping his arm desperately as his form diminished to that of a middle aged human. Flopin lost no time leaping upward and stabbing the long knife through the aetherian's chest.
Ignis' screams stopped, he looked down at his chest, he saw the blood gush forth from his pierced heart as Flopin jumped back to avoid the spill. His eyes saw this, his mind did not want to accept it. His hand reached for the blade, his body's last futile attempt to resist reality before his energy left him and his body fell slumped back on bent knees to the ground, his fingers falling gently from the blade to the cold floor.
Flopin was much less surprised by the outcome this time, he was not panting, nor were his eyes bulging like when he had killed Uriel. Rosaline looked at Flopin for a moment, she was actually quite impressed by the little mortal boy, he had feeled an immortal and a lesser aetherian in one day, few could say the same.
The admiral walked towards the dead body, her boots touching the evil man's vile blood as she reached in and took her knife from his chest. A small amout of blood flowed forth as she pulled it out adding to the already growing pool. Using her own powers Rosaline removed both body and blood from the floor and put them back into place one within the other, she then used her golden dust to create a coffin of sorts and pushed it beyond the rift in the observation deck, through the shield, allowing it to float off into space.
Rosaline was worried, while the world moved at a snail's pace still within her mind people rushed too and fro, everyone was afraid, everyone was desperate as the ship fell towards the planet below. The orange haired girl fell to her knees, but she did not cry she simply stayed there her hands pressed against one another glowing brightly. Her brother came in behind her and grasped her shoulders adding to the glow.
Elely was desperate, she had no power here, in truth her power was useless in this place, she could feel the fear, desperation and terror in everyone around her. She summoned her power and concentrated it as best she could. She fell to her knees and places her ahnds together as papa had shown her to pray. No she pleaded mentally Don't be afraid, don't run, don't abandon us! It was no use her power was to feel, not to effect.
She felt her hands on her shoulder and looked up, her brother stood there also concentrating his own power, though he was not exactly experienced at doing so.
"Flopin?" Ahe asked "What are you – "
"Maybe if we work together," he said near tears "Maybe if we combine our powers we can do something. Your empathy with my range."
"Alright, I'll try."
The soldiers were actually quite effective at keeping the enemy soldiers at bay, it was clear whose foot soldiers survived the longest on the front lines. However the commanders and officers were another story. Many dark creatures forced themselves into the garden trying to dispose of the ship's life support systems entirely. If they got rid of the air, they killed the ship.
This was not as easy as it seemed.
The Sadida Princess had not had the opportunity to show her full power for some time, but she was thoroughly enjoying herself now. The plants themselves became the enemy for these poor darkened souls as they tried to rampage through the forest like garden. Vines tore themselves from the earth to wrap around the monsters and crush then into a black mist.
For those fortunate enough to get through plant life unscathed a monstrous whereform being awaited them. Ruel had kept Junior in his haven bag and the Dhreller had emerged enraged and ready for battle. The two used their power to fuse and become a Dhrelzerker slashing and destroying anything that Amalia's vines and plants missed.
The soldiers appreciated this for what it was, a reprieve from chasing those that made it past their line of defense. There was no need no one survived what the enemy was quickly learning to call 'The Forest of Death'
Amalia had also learned to use psychological warfare, which occasionally caught both Ruel and the Seraphin troops off guard.
"Drink of my enemy's blood and grow stronger!" she yelled like a mad witch from within her lair, the plants obeying her orders and gaining a red tint as they did. The latter part was not expected, even Amalia found herself in mild alarm at the development, as though some of the plants were truly becoming vampiric beasts.
The effect on the enemy was profound. Whole groups of dark soldiers fled or at least backed off, no one wanted to attempt entering The Forest of Death, A forest of carnivorous plants that killed you and ate your blood.
This made the soldiers jobs quite easy, and the invasion was quickly repelled, word spreading that the oxygen plant had become home to a duo of monstrously powerful beings that mortals should not attempt to fight, and the number of enemies began to dwindle.
Ruel removed himself from Dhrellzerker form and Amalia lowered herself to the ground before the forest, dusting her hands.
"That takes care of that." She said matter of factly
"Not quite" The captain of seraphin;s soldiers said "The mortals will avoid this place now, most of them can't fight at your level, but now we will have to face deities and immortals that wish to accomplish what the mortals could not."
Before anything else could be said the everything suddenly tipped to the side violently pulling them all towards the back of the forest and slamming them against the back wall.
"What was that?" Ruel asked as he regained his breath from the blow.
"Stabilizer engines are out." The captain said "The ship is falling towards your planet."
"That's bad isn't it?" Amalia asked.
"Yes," The captain responded rather calmly "The Valorous is nearly five times the size of your world. If this ship hits your planet, your planet will shatter, and our fight will have been for nothing."
"How does something that big, fall towards something so small?" Ruel asked
"The ship is made of a superlight alloy," The captain said " your planet's gravitational pull is sufficient to force it inwards towards it."
"I don't know what that means." Ruel said in frustration.
The man shook his head "It just works alright."
"Fine." Ruel said "How do we fix it?"
"Manual over ride," The captain replied "Nowhere near us."
Suddenly a wave of emotions flooded the room, washing over enveryone present, and overwhelming desire to save the planet below. Amalia and Ruel were resistant to it, but it seemed the soldiers were not, they were forcing themselves up and towards the front door. Presumably trying to find a way to save the planet.
"Is that?" Amalia started.
"It's Elely!" Ruel said with pride, "She's going to save us!"
As Achron's blade swung low Seraphin dodged with a roll that nearly put him in position to counter. However the dark Aetherina was already there, blacking the move and predicting the next. Toying with him, showing him he was powerless against the almighty king of the omniverse
"It would seem we run short on time," Achron said as he witnessed the Valorous fall towards the planet. "And I am out of patience!" the dark Aetherian charged, placed his blade against Seraphin's neck and pushed.
Author's Note: This was supposed to be out yesterday, but PMS decided to be PMS again and she broke down about 12 miled from my house, I spent the whole day trying to figure out what was wrong this time and finally got my friend to haul her back home. We found out that the spark plug is shot, so now I have to start replacing her pieces, Joy…
Vartai is the name of a half dragon half human race in Artix entertainment's Adventure Quest and Adventure Quest Worlds, in case you were wondering what mythos that came from.