Chapter XXXVI: Judgment Day Part III: Gods Among Men

"What was that?" Christian asked, now freed from his chains.

Everyone in the room including Anna, Kristoff, Eugene, Rapunzel, Olaf and all of the dignitaries in the room heard it; the monstrous roar. It would have been impossible for any of them to not hear it. Some were even startled by it's sound. Most of them have never heard of anything quite like it. The only ones who were familiar with the sound was Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf. They thought it was impossible, though. Elsa told them Marshmallow was destroyed long ago.

"It can't be..." Anna said.

"It sounds like it." Kristoff said in disbelief.

"What are you guys talking about?" Eugene asked the two.

Before either Anna or Kristoff could answer, Olaf blurted out "Marshmallow!". The name didn't sound very threatening to anybody else in the room at all. How could something with Marshmallow as a name be that scary? Then, some wondered who even named it Marshmallow. Most didn't know how Marshmallow looked like and Anna and Kristoff could assure them that they didn't want to know. Most of the monarchs would pee themselves when they see Marshmallow as they've never seen something quite like him in their entire, long lives.

"That explains the snow pile up there." Anna said to herself.

"You mentioned something about Kai." Kristoff said.

Anna knew how this conversation was going to go. Knowing Kristoff, he will be reluctant to just leave Kai here with Cade, and apparently, Marshmallow as well. If they did go up there though, they would be wasting time as it will take a few hours to get to Arendelle on horseback and Kai would not forgive Anna for breaking her promise. Anna owed Kai so much, and if her repayment was not breaking her promise, so be it. She was thinking of a way to talk Kristoff down when he finds out.

"Kai came with us for most of our journey." Anna said. "Now, he's up there fighting Cade."

"Well, we gotta help him." Kristoff said. "You heard what Cade can do. Cade can destroy Kai. Now, there's the big guy he has to deal with." Kristoff took a step forward towards the stairs but Anna stopped him by putting her hand on his chest. Kristoff gave Anna a confused look at first, wondering why she was reluctant to let him go. Anna was Kai's friend as well, Kristoff thought. Shouldn't she want to help him out just as much as he did?

"I can't let you go there." Anna said.

"What are you talking about?" Rapunzel asked, stepping forward, closer to Kristoff. "Of course we have to help him."

"He doesn't want help." Anna said. "He told me that we should go as soon as possible."

"There's no way we're doing that." Kristoff said.

"Yeah." Olaf said. "He's our friend, and we will never leave a friend behind."

"I swore to him!" Anna said, loud enough to ring in the ears of everyone in the room. "I made him a promise that we would leave immediately and save Arendelle. We're so close to the end of all of this. All we need to do is take the horses outside to Arendelle, show these people to Ander, and we'll all be safe. If we go up there, who knows what bad things will happen. Our side is winning so let's just quit while we're ahead."

"Do you not care for him?" Rapunzel asked.

"Of course I care for him." Anna said. "If it were up to me, we would be up there right now, helping him."

"Then why aren't we?" Kristoff asked.

"Because it's not up to me." Anna answered. "It was up to him. I promised Kai that I would not look back for him so we can stay focused on the task ahead."

"Then why don't we just break the promise?" Kristoff asked.

"Because I'm not like that." Anna said. Anna then looked at her friend, Rapunzel, who had a worried look on her face. "Neither is Rapunzel." Anna continued. "I don't break promises to friends."

There was a long silence for a while. No one dared to speak up. Most of the monarchs were looking at Anna with surprised eyes. They thought that Anna was nothing more than a child who always did what she wanted to do. They couldn't decide if what she was doing now was childish or not? She was being selfless by honoring a friend yet she was being selfish by not hearing out the opinions of the others. Really, it wasn't up to them to decide. Most could care less if they helped Kai out or not since they could care less about Arendelle's safety. But, few wanted to save Arendelle such as Christian and his brothers and King Lyre.

Eugene walked toward Anna, standing next to her, facing Rapunzel and Kristoff.

"Anna's right." Eugene said. "We should leave Kai."

"How could you say that?" Rapunzel asked.

"We need to leave right now if we have a chance at saving Arendelle." Eugene said. "It's going to be a few minutes before afternoon when we get there, so hopefully we get there in time."

"If we leave, Kai will die." Kristoff said. "And you know it. He's survived a lot but he just got lucky. Luck runs out."

"Kristoff, what's more important to you?" Anna said. "Save the life of one and lose the lives of thousands? Or save the lives of thousands at the cost of leaving a friend?" She hated saying what she did. It made her sound like she actually wanted to leave Kai. She knew for a fact she had to.

Kristoff looked down at his feet, weighing his options. He knew that there wasn't much that Anna could do if he decided he was going to run up there. Then, he wondered why he couldn't just stay while the others left. He remembered only he knew the way to Arendelle. Also, if anyone else stayed, they wouldn't be much help as Cade would easily destroy them. There was only one option that had more positives than negatives.

Kristoff turned around and walked a few steps forward. By that point, everyone was freed.

"Follow me." Kristoff said, talking to the monarchs. "There's a stable of horses outside. There aren't enough for all of you, so you might have to share."

Kristoff walked away, and out the door. All of the monarchs followed him as they had no other choice. Eugene then broke away from standing next to Anna and followed the others out. Rapunzel was reluctant to step a foot away from where she was standing. She looked at Anna and gave her a disappointed look. Anna wasn't surprised that Rapunzel was disappointed in her. If only Anna knew that Rapunzel was truly disappointed in Kai as he was so willing to leave everything he knew behind. Rapunzel then looked away from Anna and followed the others out, silently.

Christian was the only person not walking out. He walked towards Anna, leaving them the only two left in the room after Rapunzel exited.

"Shouldn't you be leaving as well?" Anna asked.

"I will." Christian answered. "But I feel that you must know something. It can't wait any longer."

"What is it?" Anna asked.

"It's Hans." Christian answered. "Cade told us everything while he had us in his palm. He didn't believe we were getting out of here alive. He told us how Hans planned everything alongside him and what is to become of Hans after. He is a traitor who will pay for everything he has done."

Anna's facial expression did not change at all when Christian was telling her the news. She just listened, patiently.

"You don't seemed surprised." Christian said.

"That's because I'm not." Anna said. "I had a feeling Hans had something to do with this since the very beginning. It'll make me sleep better now that I know it's true."

"We should've just convicted him of his crimes during the trial." Christian said.

"No kidding." Anna said. "Now come on. We have to go."

Christian walked away and toward the exit, followed by Anna. When they got outside and stood at the top of the stairs, they saw how the outside brightness was different. The sun was going to go down soon, and so was their time. Down the stairs, everybody had already gotten on their horses. Most horses had two people on them. One horse was free, meant for Christian to ride. Kristoff was on Sven, and Olaf was in the back. There was a space between the two meant for Anna. Rapunzel and Eugene were on the back of Maximus who was standing next to Sven proudly.

Christian walked down the stairs, quickly, though careful not to slip as that would be his end. Anna followed him down, though not as fast, and walked to Sven. Sven was happy to see her, but Anna didn't return the greeting. She got onto Sven's back, holding onto Kristoff in front of her. Olaf was sitting at the back, ready for the ride.

Snow wasn't falling at all. It was as if the snow knew that it was a special day.

"Are you okay?" Kristoff asked Anna.

"I'm fine." Anna said, distantly.

"Okay." Kristoff said, knowing Anna was lying. Sven turned back, facing all of the other people and horses, allowing Kristoff to talk. "Follow me!" Kristoff ordered.

Sven then started to run away from the palace follows by Maximus. The monarchs ordered their horses to follow the others. Soon, everybody was clear and away from the palace, rushing to Arendelle.

As they ran, Anna looked back at the palace which was still visible.

"Good luck Kai..." Anna whispered.

The race against time had begun.

Author's Note: Hey guys. No, this is not the end of the chapter, and I will probably not put an author's note in the middle of a chapter ever again. I just wanted to tell you guys something that will enhance the next part of the chapter. The song "Battle Cry" by Imagine Dragons from Transformers: Age of Extinction is perfect for the next scene. Google it if you haven't heard it yet. Imagine the first two verses playing quietly while Kai and Cade are talking. Then, imagine the chorus playing loudly when they fight, without further ado, the moment you've all been waiting for.

Kai and Cade stood facing each other on different ends of the room. Cade stood in front of the opening to the balcony while Kai was standing in front of the door out of the room and into the rest of the palace. Kai had his sword drawn and so did Cade. The two were right now just waiting for someone to make a move as neither of them wanted to make the first one. Since the two were pretty far apart, the first move one would make would have to be running at their opponent. That gives time for the other person to make their counter, and counters could easily lead to wins.

Right now, they were just giving each other a stare down. Probably the most intense stare down ever in man kind. The stares on each of their faces would be powerful enough to move a pencil if they wanted. That's how intense their intense stare down of intensity was. An intense stare down was required before an intense battle.

"Hans was wrong to fear you." Cade said.

"What would you know about Hans?" Kai asked.

Cade chuckled. "Oh, I totally forgot about how much of an oblivious fool you are."

"I'm starting to regret promising to not use my powers." Kai said, angrily.

Cade's smile faded quickly. He figured that Kai had the right to know as he had came all this way. Seeing as how Cade wasn't going to let him out, Cade decided it was fair to let him know. And, even if Kai did manage to defeat Cade, Cade would be alright with it as long as Hans went down with him.

"Hans was working with me all along." Cade answered.

"Of course he was." Kai said as if he should've known it all along. "Because why half-ass being a manipulative, wretched bastard?"

"I see it doesn't surprise you." Cade said.

"One doesn't just stop his quest for power." Kai elaborated.

"No." Cade said. "One does not..."

"Well then..." Kai said. "Get ready for round two. I assure you, the results will be different this time."

Cade broke into a sprint at Kai. It was incredible how he could run so fast on ice without slipping. It was obvious that Cade had practice with this. It seemed as if he saw that this day was coming and he trained for it. Kai hoped that this day was coming. Ever since he let Cade get away back at the castle, he wanted to settle the score. Kai did not like losing. Not. One. Bit. He promised himself he wasn't going to make a habit of it, and he was going to fulfill that promise starting that day.

Cade brought his sword up and launched himself in the air above Kai, ready to swing down. Jumping was a large mistake for Cade. He was so much faster while running, but he gave up speed for a stronger blow. Cade realized his mistake while in mid air but it was way too late to change it. Kai easily could've killed him right then and there by stabbing Cade as Cade as coming down on Kai, but Cade knew he was going to be okay. Kai never killed a person. It was against Kai's moral code.

Cade expected Kai not to take the easy victory, and he was right to assume that. Kai stepped to the side as Cade swing his sword down and landed. It's ironic how Kai swings his sword as if he was going to kill yet has never taken a life. To be honest, Kai was actually glad that the bad guys block his attacks.

Kai still had the upper hand on Cade. Kai put his left hand on Cade's back quickly and pushed him down onto Kai's knee. Kai's knee hit Cade in the upper stomach area, leaving Cade to wheeze. Kai then stepped in front of Cade and kicked him back, forcing Cade to slide back on the ice though he was still standing. There, Kai noticed his mistake. Cade still had his sword in his hand. It would've been best if Kai had disarmed him a few seconds ago as that would've made things so much easier for him.

Kai then ran a few feet toward Cade and swung his sword up in an attempt to make a cut on Cade's torso. Luckily for Cade, he was able to block Kai's attack before it scratched his torso by swinging his own sword down on Kai's. The tips of both swords were now on the icy floor. They both gave each other a dirty look and quickly took their swords away from each other.

Cade delivered the first attack by slicing downward towards where Kai's neck and shoulder met. Kai blocked his attack by swiping his sword upward at Cade's, parrying Cade. Cade reacted very quickly by grabbing his sword handle with his other hand and swing it down on Kai's opposite shoulder. Before Cade could carry out and finish his attack, Kai kicked him in his right knee. Cade fell to the ground, flat. Kai raised his right foot up above Cade's back and attempted to stomp on him. Kai had just given up good footing for a good strike. Cade swung his arm at Kai's foot, making Kai fall down on his back.

Cade shot up with his sword in hand and stood next to Kai's body. Cade jabbed his sword down at Kai, but Kai rolled out of the way. Cade's sword stabbed the ground. Usually, ice was strong. Stronger than one. Stronger than ten. Stronger than one hundred men as some say. Ice is stronger than one hundred men unless one has a pick axe. Cade's sword stabbed the ground and went into the icy ground. More cracks began to appear on the floor. The palace wasn't going to last very long. There had to be a winner as quick as possible.

Kai jumped up from the floor and spun his sword. He then grabbed it with both hands, knowing it would give him more speed and ferocity. Kai wasn't used to holding a sword with two hands, but it might be essential to Cade's defeat. Cade grabbed his sword and pulled it out of the ground. A hole was in the ice below them. He too held his sword in both hands, mirroring Kai's stance.

Kai delivered the first strike which Cade easily blocked. Cade then took his own sword away from Kai's and delivered a strike of his own. Kai blocked it just as easily. With lightning fast reflexes, the two swung their swords at each other following blocks. Te sound of metal clashing rang in the entire room. The only thing that could be heard was the swords striking against one another. The ferocious way they fought was exactly why so many people feared them. They each could've easily taken a group of men out in the blink of an eye with the speed and power they fought with.

Kai had to be careful to always keep an eye where the swords were going. If he messed up just once, he would be done for. As fast as they were attacking each other and blocking, Kai still couldn't keep his gaze away from the weapons as that would mean his end. It was way to early in the battle to end it now.

Kai delivered one last blast that Cade blocked. The two kept their swords in that position, trying to push the other down. Their strength equaled each other, meaning the blades weren't going anywhere. The two then glared at each other.

"Suffer like I have suffered!" Cade said, angrily, straining to push Kai's sword down with his own.

"I will not meet my end today." Kai said. "The same cannot be said for you."

Kai kicked Cade in the gut, pushing him back and parrying him. Kai had the jump on Cade this time. Kai swung his sword upward, diagonally to Cade's torso. Kai wasn't close enough for his sword to do any real damage to Cade, but there was a large diagonal cut on Cade's body where Kai had slashed him. Cade howled in pain as this was the first time he had underwent such an injury. Blood quickly started to come out of his wound, staining his clothes in red.

Kai believed he had the advantage now. He raised his sword up with one hand and swung down, intent on making a similar wound on Cade. Cade quickly swung his own sword up at Kai's while the sword came down. Kai's sword flew out of his hand and behind him. Kai quickly turned his body to see where it had landed. Miraculously, the sword had stuck to the floor by the blade a few feet in front of a wall. More cracks began to appear in the ice around where the sword was.

Before Kai could take a step forward, Cade slashed his sword on Kai's back. Kai screamed in pain and collapsed to his knees. A large diagonal, red cut was on Kai's back. Blood ran out quickly. Some of the blood began to drop on the icy floor like Cade's was. Cade considered this payback for what Kai had done to him. Cade took a step forward to Kai, trying to hold up on his injury. Cade kicked Kai's back, making Kai slide forward and fall flat on the ground. He gave out another scream do to the pain Cade had just caused his back.

Kai slowly started to drag himself forward while on the ground, heading to his sword.

"Weak!" Cade said. Cade slowly ran to Kai's side and kicked his gut. Kai turned over in pain and grabbed his gut. Kai groaned though he didn't say anything to Cade. Cade just stood there, waiting for Kai to make a move.

Kai then turned back onto his stomach. Blood marks were on the floor next to him. He still continued to drag himself to his sword, refusing to give up. His sword was sticking out of the ground only about two meters away. If only he could reach it in time.

Cade kicked Kai once again in the gut, this time, much harder. Kai was sure something had broken. His rib perhaps? It pained him just to move his torso.

"Pathetic!" Cade said.

Kai continued to crawl to his sword, not ready to give up. He wasn't ever going to give up to the likes of Cade. As long as he still had breath, he would fight. Only when Kai rejoined his mother in the white room would Kai give up. Kai wasn't in the white room. He was in Elsa's Palace, meaning there was still some fight left in him.

Kai made a few more drags to the sword. He wondered why Cade hadn't just killed him already? The sword was now only about two feet away from his hand's reach. He was almost there. He was so close. Then, Cade grabbed Kai's body and turned him over. Kai groaned in pain while trying desperately to reach the blade of the sword. Cade knelt over Kai with his knee on Kai's stomach and his other leg on the icy floor. Cade dropped his sword on the floor to the left of Kai.

"Waste of life!" Cade exclaimed. Cade then took both hands and wrapped them around Kai's neck. His thumbs were over Kai's Adam's apple. Cade then pushed down his thumbs, tightening his grip on Kai's neck. Kai already needed to breath heavily during the fight, but now he couldn't breath at all now.

"I'd normally stab you." Cade said. "But this is more fun for me."

Kai put his left hand around Cade's wrist, trying his best to get Cade to stop choking him. Cade's grip was too powerful to be moved. Kai's vision darkened as he felt himself starting to lose consciousness. As Cade choked Kai, Kai made one last attempt to grab the sword. Kai was especially lucky since Cade didn't notice. Kai stretched his arm and grabbed the blade of the sword with his right hand. Kai pulled up as hard as he could with a good grip. Blood ran down Kai's hand as he had cut himself from the blood. Kai was fortunately able to pull the sword out and swung the handle of the blade at Cade's head.

When the handle hit Cade's head, Cade instantly let go of Kai. He fell to Kai's left side on the ground, grabbing his head in pain. Kai breathed heavily once more, trying to catch his breath. Kai then quickly got up and held his sword the correct way with his right hand. The sword handle was going to be stained red, though. Kai walked away from Cade who was still on the floor. Both seemed to need to get their bearings together.

Cade got up before Kai could make an attack. A large cut was on the corner of Cade's fore head where Kai hit him. Blood ran down his face and over his cheek.

Cade took quick steps towards Kai with his sword raised in the air. Cade swung his sword down toward's Kai's shoulder but Kai blocked the attack by swing his sword at Cade's while it was coming down. Cade, now parried, was punched in his right rib cage area by Kai's fist. Kai punched as hard as he could and he could've sworn he heard something crack. Kai hoped something cracked.

Kai then swung his sword at Cade's knees, hoping to take both out. Cade put his own sword over the part of his knee where Kai was going to hit. Although Cade felt the vibration, Kai did not inflict any real damage. Cade pushed Kai's sword out with his own. Cade then raised his sword up above Kai's head and swung down, hoping to end it already. Cade knew it was a mistake not killing Kai earlier while Kai was down. Kai blocked Cade's sword attack by holding his sword with both hands above his head. The sound of the clashing metal was definitely the loudest that came out of that battle.

Kai pushed his sword up, making Cade take his sword away from Kai's head. Kai then swung down at Cade's waist, but Cade managed to dodge the attack by taking a step back. Since Kai was swing his sword down pretty hard, he turner in a ninety degree angle when his sword missed it's target. Cade swung his own sword down at Kai's left calf, cutting it an inch deep. Kai gave out another yell as blood came down his calf.

Kai was angered now. He turned quickly and looked down at Cade's feet. A quickly took his sword and stabbed Kai through the left foot. Kai's blade touched the ice, meaning it was a clean cut through Cade's foot. Cade gave a haunting scream similar to the scream Kai had provided. Kai took his sword out from inside Cade's foot and saw the blood running down from it.

Cade stepped back, allowing Kai to step forward though Kai was limping. Kai swung his sword down to where Cade's left shoulder and neck met. Kai honestly didn't care if he killed Cade there or not. He wanted revenge for what had been inflicted upon him. Cade had barely enough time to put his sword in between Kai's sword and shoulder. He blocked Kai's attack, though Kai just kicked him in the knee. Cade instantly fell to the ground, allowing Kai to raise his sword over Cade's back. There, Kai didn't mean to kill Cade. Kai only wanted to hurt him until he could barely breath. Kai swung his sword down upon Cade who rolled to the side.

The a large part of Kai's sword got stuck in the ice. As he struggled to pull his weapon out, Cade got up with his sword coming to Kai. While Kai wasn't looking, Cade kicked him in the gut, pushing him back. Kai was now without a weapon. Kai took a few steps back as Cade approached. Cade jabbed his sword at Kai's stomach, but Kai rolled on the ground before he was stabbed. Kai rolled behind Cade and next to his sword. Though movement hurt him, Kai pretended to be fine. Kai out his hand on the handle of his sword and with one pull, instantly pulled it out.

Cade turned around, and from where he was standing, jabbed at Kai to close the distance with the chance of doing damage. Kai swung his sword down on Cade's sword... which was a mistake. The tip of Cade' sword cut Kai's right thigh by about three inches wide and one inch deep. Kai managed a quick scream but decided to not dwell on the pain.

For one last time, Kai held his sword in both hands. He took a step towards Cade who was holding his sword the same way. The two swung swords at each other and blocked attacks. As fast and furious as they could, they attack each other in hopes of winning. They attacked quicker than lightning. Time around them seemed to slow down as they fought. So fast even that sparks flew out of where their swords met.

Both decided to make one finishing blow, not even thinking about blocking. The two raised their swords up and swung it as if to finish the battle. Both swords hit each other in midair, sending both men sliding back. Both Kai and Cade breathed heavily. Cade didn't even know the amount of cuts on his head. Somehow, Kai managed to scratch his cheek, forehead, and chin. Kai had one large cut on his left cheek but it wasn't deep. It would heal eventually or leave a scar.

"This is never going to end, Cade." Kai said.

"Not on my watch!" Cade said.

Cade took a final step forward a swung his sword down upon Kai. Kai expected this. He swung his own sword up as hard as he can with as much power he could muster. When Kai's sword hit Cade's, it cut through it. Cade's sword flew up in the air in two parts; one with the handle and one without. Both parts stuck on the ceiling by the blade, cracks appearing on the ceiling. The entire palace shook while the men tried to keep their balance. After a few seconds, the shaking stopped and they assumed they were safe.

Kai's arms were tired. He dropped his own sword, believing he had won.

"It's over..." Kai said, too tired to finish the sentence.

"Not without my victory!" Cade said.

From somewhere in the back of his clothes, Cade reached and pulled out a flintlock pistol, aiming it at Kai.

"I don't want to play fair anymore." Cade said.

Cade expected Kai to freeze out of fear and accept his death. Cade was confused to see that Kai was not moved by the sight of the pistol at all. Cade didn't know that Kai had gotten over his fear. Kai lunged and grabbed the barrel of the pistol and pointed it away from his body. A startled Cade pulled the trigger, making the bullet hit the ground. Normally, the heat of the pistol would burn a man's hand, but that didn't apply to Kai. Kai grabbed the pistol away from Cade and threw it far away from Cade's reach.

Kai then punched Cade in the stomach, making Cade lean forward. Kai then grabbed Cade's body and pushed him, no, threw him to the balcony area. Cade slid on the floor on the balcony, now without a weapon. As he stood up, he found that Kai was standing in the doorway between the balcony and the room, holding his sword and pointing it at Cade's throat.

Kai was too tired to have a smile on his face.

"Game over." Kai said.

To be continued in Chapter XXXVII: Judgment Day Part IV: The Fate Of Many

Author's Note: Here's the action I promised you guys. The next chapter will focus more on suspense than action. Hope you guys liked the chapter. Reviews were somewhat light for my previous chapter so please comment/review in this one. Oh yeah, sorry for causing more pain on Kai in this chapter. At least he didn't lose another finger. Ciao.