G'raha was conscious of his time, and hence why he didn't want to delay the planning by long. Every piece of news that came from beyond the seas was grim, telling about countless massacres incurred by the blasphemies and terror they brought. Some of the civilizations of the three continents, such as Limsa Lominsa, have been all but obliterated while all others remained scarred, with its people yearning for a last chance and an escape from this cursed land. G'raha wondered how many of them would rather stay and fight until the end. He couldn't have been the only one with such desire…But then again, those people must have been incredibly tired.
So it was up to him to continue the fight. When the two ascians had their rest, G'raha called upon them to discuss the possible strategy. They met at one of the open-air pavilions near the Studium, a place young scholars would use to relax and appreciate nature. Halmarut seemed like he enjoyed nature despite the rather cloudy day they found themselves amidst, while Pashtarot couldn't allow himself to be at ease even here. All he cared for was Fandaniel and punishing him, and the fact that G'raha still didn't know his whereabouts annoyed him greatly, eventually causing him to walk outside of the pavilion and take a break, leaving the Exarch alone with Halmarut. The second ascian was far easier to deal with, but even he didn't always listen.
"…Hm, is that not crimson wineberry I see growing there?" Halmarut wondered as he looked upon a lone flower growing in the shadows of the trees. "Your people should be careful. Its beautiful looks are quite deceptive. Should anything threaten its peace, it would not hesitate to release rather gruesome bile…" The ascian was fascinated by the park around him. "Poor Demeter had to feel it upon himself when he tested the concept back in the Akademia…Although maybe this is different, I can't quite make out its aetheric composition. Strange, usually it works well enough, must be that annoying presence…"
"Demeter?" G'raha knew he should've switched back to the topic at hand, but he couldn't dent that learning more about those ascians was fascinating, considering the lives they led.
"Yes, that's how Halmarut…Well, I was called back before the Sundering. A specialist in plant and fungal life could tell you everything about every single flower growing in the world, some of which he created himself. All of this knowledge was brought onto me with the Libra memory crystal, and interestingly enough, even now, this knowledge comes in handy from time to time."
"I see…Now, back to my proposal." G'raha sighed. "What do you think? With Hydaelyn's crystal no more, my only option, for now, seems to be somehow harnessing Zodiark's power from the crater, hopefully taking enough so I can travel to this mysterious place at the edge of the universe. I cannot do that alone…But what if there are three of us?"
"Poor Pashtarot, to have him see Zodiark's killer claim his very form…But if we are to talk of technicalities, I'm afraid there is little I can do to help. It's one thing to claim your spot as the heart of our god, strong individuals should be able to do that, and another to give form to what is essentially a graveyard of aether…If the three of us try it at the same time, it will be utter chaos." Halmarut shook his head. "There needs to be a single mind, a very powerful one…Alas, I think only an Unsundered soul can handle that feat."
"Damn, it…" G'raha clenched his fist as yet another plan was crumbling around him. "Perhaps Hydaelyn?"
"She isn't exactly Unsundered from what Emet-Selch told me, and anyway, mixing the aether of light and aether of shadow is bound to end up in a disaster. Maybe if Pashtarot goes through the remaining six shards to rejoin himself? Believe me. He wants it. Even Zodiark's demise won't stop him."
"And how long will that take?"
"Considering it takes time for a soul to reincarnate…Very long."
"So that's not an option, then…There must be some other way."
"Here you are!" G'raha and Halmarut were interrupted by a voice that echoed from outside their pavilion. A familiar miqo'te woman made her way toward them, eyeing G'raha and his companion with interest.
"Hello, C'irena."
"You know, you could've told me a bit more than just announcing that two goddamn ascians will need rooms in the inn!"
"Sorry, I was a tad busy."
"Oh, I see how busy you are, spending your time here and enjoying the wind while everyone else is packing their things for an evacuation." C'irena shook her head playfully.
"How did you find us?"
"I did what I do best, overheard." The woman smirked. "Krile and Montichaigne came to the docks to check on the people, and all they could talk about was how worried they were that the Ascians are now allowed to roam our parks. So, forgive me, my curiosity…" She looked at Halmarut. "Were you an emperor somewhere as well? On another shard, perhaps?"
"You must've talked to Emet-Selch…No, nothing so grandiose on my part. I usually work from the shadows, like Igeyorhm and Deudalaphon. You can call me Halmarut." The ascian introduced himself.
"C'irena." She smiled at him. "Most people aren't too happy about your presence, to be frank, but I, for one, think it's for the better."
"No need for flattery." Halmarut chuckled. "Many mortals try it with us, and it never works."
"Hey, who do you take me for? It's not about that. I was simply wondering if the two of you will truly help G'raha to save the star. That's why he even conspired with you, right?"
"We will try," Halmarut responded calmly. "As flawed as the sundered world is, I'd rather it not face complete oblivion."
"Good, good…" C'irena looked at the Exarch, who couldn't help but feel that her games were yet another distraction.
"What do you actually want?" He asked.
"You are far too distrustful, G'raha…And I thought we were past that point." She smiled playfully, reminding him of the night they had spent together. "All I want is to make sure you feel better, that's all…If I wasn't able to help you, perhaps those two can. You know, I thought that you might abandon this pursuit after some time, but it was idiotic of me to even consider this. You aren't someone who wavers, are you? I know that one of your main concerns was that there was no one to walk this path with you, that no one could understand…But maybe that will now change? And if so, I will be happy for you. Genuinely."
The Exarch took a deep breath; it was clear that C'irena spoke from the heart. G'raha was hesitant to fully open up to her, wondering if she simply wanted to sleep with someone as unique and powerful as him out of intrigue and admiration that she demonstrated back in Limsa, but perhaps she truly wanted the best for him. She was one of the few ones who still clung to faith, after all.
"I…Thank you."
G'raha was about to continue, but a loud voice pierced his ears, causing the three of them to turn around and watch the road near the pavilion. Pashtarot was there, ranting at a lone guard that passed by his side.
"And you dare to blame the Ascians for the Final Days?!" His raging voice continued to grow louder.
"That's not what I…"
"Elidibus was right, you people do not know your history, nor do you care at all for it! We did everything to save this world from the cataclysm and nihility and undo the damage that the Final Days have wrought upon us, everything!"
"And what will you say of the ascian that destroyed Garlemald then? He was one of yours!"
"That traitor stopped being an ascian the moment he disobeyed the Unsundered's order. The fact that you would even think to associate him with us is…"
"What's going on here?" G'raha rushed towards the arguing men along with Halmarut. "Pashtarot…Do you not remember what we agreed upon?"
"Oh, I do very well. I'm not provoking anyone." The ascian spoke with pride. "But it doesn't mean I'm going to accept slander like this. Hear that? Now the Ascians are responsible for the Final Days, apparently. I know how quick mortals are to denounce their own traitors and disassociate with them, how curious that they won't allow us the same courtesy…
"Come on. You're getting far too heated." Halmarut sighed. "Remember, they are just children compared to us, and even in Amaurot, children would often say things that are…Well, not the brightest."
"I suppose…" Pashtarot sighed with disappointment as the lone guard slipped away. "I guess it's that presence I can feel…It annoys me to no end."
"So you sense it, too?" Halmarut wondered. "A bit tiring, that one, and getting closer…I wonder what that might be."
G'raha was about to ask about the presence the two were feeling, but moments after, he felt a disturbance himself.
"What is this?" The Exarch wondered as he noticed a surprised smile emerge on Halmarut's face.
"By Zodiark…Seems that there is another ascian here, and a powerful one at that!" This announcement made G'raha's heart skip a beat. Could it be…
A dark portal opened before them, letting G'raha feel a sense of dreaded familiarity as there could only be one explanation. The Unsundered soul that the Exarch tried to chain not so long ago, the one that promised to leave the realm forever, was now free and unbound, his eyes staring at him through the darkness.
"Always so surprised when they see an old acquaintance…I see where Ryne learned this from." A playful voice echoed from the other side before the rift of darkness finally closed, unveiling an ascian clad in black robes with a now-familiar mask handed down by his chest. His face was unmistakable.
"Emet-Selch?!" G'raha let out a shocked gasp as he realized that the Unsundered ascian was, indeed, back. Pashtarot and Halmarut were just as surprised by this, watching their old ally in silence. His unbound reservoirs of aether and energy were unmistakable. Even the Exarch could feel them.
"I prefer Hades now, but it is of little…" The ascian's signature smirk, however, quickly dissipated when he noticed his comrades.
"Now, now, this is getting interesting!" His eyes sparked with curiosity. "I thought my senses were failing me when I sensed souls that familiar in the middle of Sharlayan. Are you conspiring with my brethren now, G'raha? To your credit, that might be the most rational decision you've made ever since arriving on the Source." Emet chuckled before looking at the ascians. "Poseidon, Demeter, forgive me for leaving without a short notice; I was rather hasty with my plans, but now…"
"Poseidon?" Pashtarot interrupted him. "We address each other by our seats, the symbols of our duty. To do otherwise would be a display of disrespect!"
"There are no more seats." Emet shook his head. "The Convocation is officially disbanded, for our duty is accomplished." G'raha listened to him carefully and now finally realized that the ascian seemed different from how he was when he left. He was more…Alive, happier, a stare G'raha never imagined to see him in.
"What do you mean disbanded?" Halmarut asked. "Since when?"
"On my authority as the last of the Unsundered."
"Wait a moment. I don't understand." G'raha spoke up. "You said you would not return here…What happened on the First? Where is Ryne? What have you…"
"Calm yourself. Ryne is alive, as are your other friends. I stayed true to my word," Emet explained. "As for why I have returned…That wasn't in my initial plans, yes, but as we both know, plans tend to change after unexpected developments. Now, I return here for one single purpose."
"And that it?"
"To do everything in my power to help you and yours end the Final Days by any means necessary." The ascian declared, once again forcing the Exarch to recoil in surprise.
"Are you…Do you even remember how many times you told me you want nothing to do with this world? Why a sudden change of heart?"
"Not so fast." Pashtarot continued. "Do you realize what you've done, Emet-Selch? Halmarut and I obeyed all of your orders, worked on the Ninth, and set in motion, all as Elidibus and you instructed…We expected some notice, some further instruction. But all you did after Elidibus and Zodiark fell was to run! This mortal told us what you were up to, attempting to travel to the past and reclaim a perfect life for yourself. And what about us? What about those who toiled for thousands of years to restore the world?!"
"Alas, without Zodiark, our people and society can never be restored." Emet sighed. "I will not make excuses nor justifications for my actions. They are, indeed, born of a selfish desire to end the nightmare of existing on a sundered star as quickly as possible before it turns into rubble and ash. But what I will say is that despite all that occurred between us…We have been afforded some more time to muse over the future and finally do the task that our 'dear' Hydaelyn reserved for Edwin. But before…" Emet's voice grew annoyed. He was clearly distracted by something. "What in the heavens is wrong with the aether here? As if there is some presence making its way towards the city in a rather rapid fashion."
"Wait, this wasn't you?" Halmarut wondered, making G'raha and Pashtarot immediately turn towards Emet with surprise in their eyes.
"No, I can discern my own presence from that of another being…A being which can rival an Unsundered in its density, mind you." Emet's voice grew quieter as the echoes of realization emerged on his face.
Moments later, they heard a terrifying roar piercing the skies.
…
Well, this was hardly how ascian expected his grandiose return to turn out. He was eager to see G'raha Tia again, even though he wasn't able to describe why in precise detail. Perhaps he simply wanted to lock at the Exarch's face as he stared at the ascian in disbelief, having his assumption that he left their world utterly shattered. Or perhaps it was a subconscious desire to tell him that perhaps, there was some truth in his words about miracles, after all…He did not think to encounter his remaining brethren in Sharlayan. Pashtarot and Halmarut have always been loyal ascians, and while the Unsundered saw the overlords as ultimately expendable, many of them earned respect through their tireless work for the ascian cause. Pashtarot was an especially zealous ascian who would take well to the termination of their faction. Unlike some others, he never even considered having another purpose in his life apart from their great work.
Nevertheless, this was a discussion Hades was willing to have, but something struck him as odd the moment he emerged in Sharlayan. A distant yet swiftly approaching presence, the one that belonged to an Unsundered being. There were no creatures in this world whose aether could rival that of Hades with Lahabrea and Elidibus gone…None except dragons of the first brood. This thought seemed absurd, especially with four of seven of those dragons being gone, and yet there could be no other explanation. The other ascians felt it too.
"What is it?" G'raha spoke nervously. "Can any of you explain that presence you are sensing?"
"It comes from the sea." Halmarut looked towards the docks with echoing fear emerging in his eyes. With how much mist and clouds this day brought to Sharlayan, even the docks were barely visible from the Studium, much less the sea beyond them.
"A dragon…" Hades's quiet voice echoed through the park, causing C'irena to recoil.
"W…What? A dragon?!"
"We have some unexpected company, and if I were you…I would hide." Hades sighed as he peered at the skies above him. "It's already here."
Before Hades could continue, a dreadful echo of sadistic laughter pierced everyone's ears. A cackle enhanced by outside technology eluded pure joy and satisfaction, finally making Hades realize the truth. Amidst this overwhelming presence, there was another familiar soul, this time colored in crimson.
"Is it who I think it is?" Pashtarot spoke up, trying to hold back the rage in his voice.
"Yes. And he brought toys."
As if answering Hades's assertion, the next sound that emerged from beyond the mist was a monstrous roar, a draconic screech that would both strike at the arms and echo in one's very mind. Hades had enough time to learn about dragons and their behavior ever since they arrived on the star, and he was able to recognize certain cues. This one sounded desperate, like a pained wheeze of a wyrm whose body was in a continuous state of agony.
And then, finally, the creature would show itself.
The ascians, G'raha and C'irena, were forced to watch in horror as the mist was unveiled with a giant dragon piercing the skies with immense speed. It had ebon scales, and its wings covered the skies themselves, with both of its crimson eyes pulsing with raw and unbound aether. It did not take long for Hades to recognize the dragon. It was the brood mother of Meracydian dragons, Tiamat, who fought against the Allagan invasion along with Bahamut. All before falling to Lahabrea's manipulations and agreeing to resurrect her fallen brother through the arts of summoning…Since then, she has been consumed by grief and chained on the floating facility of Azys Lla for thousands of years…Up until this very moment. Hades could already hear the faint echoes of screams emerging from the city's corners.
"By the gods…" C'irena's lips quivered while G'raha clearly mustered his bravery and looked at the dragon closely.
"It…It has a rider!" He was right; a silhouette grabbed Tiamat's back, bonding her with the Allagan neurolink technology, the magical shackles created over her neck and limbs. Hades could see the garments of her rider, this mask, this cape…
"Amon!" The ascian clenched his teeth and shouted in anger. The traitor reclaimed his original body, likely through one of his clones. The last time Hades saw the treacherous ascian was when he was on his knees, shaking in fear, all while trying to manipulate the Unsundered by unveiling parts of the hurtful truth to him. Looking back at it, both of them were in a rather pathetic state on that day…But now the situation changed.
"Citizens of Sharlayan!" Fandaniel's ecstatic voice echoed from above, no doubt enhanced by yet another Allagan tool. He must have taken a lot from the abandoned facility. "Word has it that your leaders have begun to work on an effort to evacuate your people from this star to a place where they would hide from Final Days in safety…Where they would be able to run. Sheer blasphemy and hubris, absolutely unthinkable! Final days are a work of art, my work of art that was paused by your pathetic gods of light and darkness for generations, and now when the final act has finally begun…You dare to leave?! What a disrespectful audience…And disrespect will be punished!" With each word, Fandaniel grew more furious and unhinged. The spite he held for those people and the world rivaled that of any other ascian. And after seeing Hermes as he was so recently…It felt so surreal to realize that this was his unbound spite and desire, a monster that was free from any conscience Hermes might have had, the extent of his depravity unbound. "What is it I see below…So many ships at your docks, all from different corners of the world…I wonder what is it they carry? Something important, otherwise there wouldn't be so many guards, and Hydaelyn's moon rats gathered around it. The resources for your vessel…Time to let them burn! Tiamat, burn those docks to ashes."
With those words, Tiamat let out yet another roar as raging flames emerged inside her jaw, his eyes set on the city below.
"No…No!" G'raha began to cast a spell of frost, it was unlikely to reach Tiamat and Fandaniel, and even if it did, it would scarcely hurt them. Tiamat aimed her first wave of flame on the passageway that connected the harbor with the inner Sharlayan. The fire scorched the path and a few houses that were saturated around it. The unlucky few that tried to run were consumed by flames almost immediately. Tiamat did not stop there; she let out another wave, this time aimed at the houses themselves. Three of them were crumbled to rubble after her attack, with their remnants falling onto the torn passage. Amon must have wanted to cut the rest of the city off so he could have some fun.
"No, no, damn it!" G'raha cast spell after spell, though none of them reached the dragon.
"G'raha…" C'irena tried to speak through her fear. "Montichaigne and Krile…They're still there!"
This was enough to completely annihilate G'raha's rational thought.
"He won't take them…I won't let him!" The Exarch charged into the fray, pushing the ascians aside as his eyes were set on the docks.
"Wait, you idiot!" Hades reached out, but it was too late. G'raha had already disappeared behind one of the houses. "No matter how many times life will display the consequences…Some people just don't learn."
"Is he always like this?" Halmarut wondered.
"Yes…And don't ask why he is still alive; I'm wondering that too."
"He is dedicated to his friends, an admirable trait," Pashtarot noted. "Not that it has any meaning when his half-broken body is powerless against that creature."
"What are you three waiting for?!" C'irena shouted. "You have to help him!"
"Calm down, girl; we will." Hades said with a sigh. "Not in the least because of the scores we have to settle with the rider of that wyrm." The Unsundered turned towards his brethren. "Now, then, shall we begin?"
"I'm not teleporting straight to the docks if that's what you're asking." Halmarut shrugged.
"We'll start with the passage and then make our way there while Fandaniel is distracted. As long as we get close enough and G'raha doesn't die beneath the rubble on his way, we can yet offer some suitable resistance to him."
"Sounds like a plan." Pashtarot nodded.
"Good, then, let's waste no more time. The traitor awaits!"
Soon after, the ascians focused and opened a shared dark portal that took the three of them closer to the docks. As not to endanger themselves, their first destination was chosen to be the ruined passageway. It would not be a problem to get further from there, but they needed to make sure Fandaniel was distracted.
When the ascians emerged, they were immediately met with rising flames. The entire place around them crumbled, with the houses obliterated by the dragon's flame. It would be extremely hard for anyone who cannot use magic to bypass the burning rubble, which meant that everyone that remained on the other side was trapped in what could be only called hell on earth. Amon never had much conscience, and the smallest remnants of it he held onto were long gone and eroded. He would show no mercy to them. And if he would slaughter G'raha's last friend, that might as well put him on the brink of turning into blasphemy…And he was the only mortal alive Hades could count on in the battle against the Meteia.
"He's having the time of his life, the monster…" Halmarut clenched his fist as the younger ascian watched Fandaniel circle around the harbor, putting one ship to flame after another. The sailors would run with desperation on their faces, would jump into the waters, cry and beg for mercy only to be obliterated momentarily.
"He will pay dearly; the mortals are nothing but a distraction." Pashtarot manifested a silver blade in his hands as if aiming to attack the dragon at any moment. "Can you sense your mortal 'friend'? I don't see him anywhere." He said while looking at Hades. The Unsundered closed his eyes and attempted to pin down G'raha's soul, only to discover that it was on the other side already. He was eager to defend his friends and must have run so quickly that he was able to bypass some of the rubble before it got incinerated.
"He's there already, the fool."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Pashtarot sole with eagerness. "Dragon or no, together we are strong enough to resist it, and once that's done, Fandaniel will be powerless!"
Hades was inclined to agree, but something halted him. The Unsundered heard a whimper from behind him, turning around and looking for the source. What he saw was a young man with tears of blood streaming down his face as the rubble forced him to the ground, piercing his body.
"P…Please…Help…"
It would've been far easier to end his suffering here and now, yet Hades couldn't force himself to. After witnessing so much struggle, feeling himself being brought low by the agony and pain, reminding himself of the fate of his people and the suffering they endured…It was worth trying to save lives. The endless cycle of misery had to end somewhere.
"Halmarut, prepare to heal him!"
"Aren't we…"
"Do as I say! We'll have to be swift on this one." Hades commanded before casting a powerful spell of lifting. The next instant, the pile of rubble that befell upon this poor soul began its ascension, revealing the deep cuts in his back. It would be a rather grizzly job to put him back on his feet, yet this wasn't the ascians' concern; all Hades cared for was to ensure he would live long enough for someone else to come and pick him up.
"I see what you mean." Halmarut sighed before casting a helping spell on the victim. He couldn't heal his wounds in their entirety, but it was enough to soothe them and create additional protective barriers to make it harder for the blood to clot. "I think that will keep him stable for some time, but I'm still going to propose we get to the real problem at hand."
"Of course." Hades reassured him. "The path seems to be safe enough. Follow me."
The ascians wasted no more time; they teleported once again, this time right into the heart of the fiery pit Fandaniel created. The Exarch was still nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he was helping the survivors, granted there were still many that attempted to run only to find themselves trapped in the docks with all passageways ruined.
Tiamat, meanwhile, continued to unleash more waves of flame, flying from one pier to another. Every single ship was obliterated already, but this was far from the end of it. Amon forced the dragon to burn down the remaining civilians that attempted to escape the piers. Enhanced by the dragon's either, a simple fire turned into a magical firewall that left no room for them to escape. Among one of those piers, Hades sensed the souls of Krile and Montichaigne, both forced to retreat and hide on a single pier, praying for someone to come and save them.
Some were brave enough to battle the beast. Interestingly enough, those were mostly loporrits. A group of rabbits charged towards Tiamat, led by the one called Buildingway…Venat must not have given them a strong instinct for self-preservation. They created small weapons in their hands, be those spears or swords, and surrounded the wyrm. Of course, it ended poorly for them; a wave of dragonsfire was enough to scorch every single one of them in one fell swoop. Hades could feel them dissipating into aether, like arcane creation that they were, a pointless death, even if they didn't waver. However, there was one unlucky survivor. The wounded loporrit attempted to crawl away as Amon gave another command. This time the wyrm extended one of her limbs, grabbing the rabbit with her claws and swiftly dragging it right toward Fandaniel. The renegade ascian watched with glee as the loporrit shivered in terror before him, too terrified to even look.
"Now, now…" Fandaniel began. "What do we have here?"
"P…Please…Don't hurt me!" The creature let out a few tears falling down his eyes.
"What is your name?"
"I…"
"Answer me!"
"P…Puddingway…"
"Now, considering you're one of Hydaelyn's rodents they called down here to work on the vessel, I take you to know where it is." Amon continued. "So if you value your fur even a little, you will tell me where they hide it!"
"I…I can't!" The loporrit attempted to speak bravely. "I promised not to tell anyone outside our Forum! I won't betray them…I…"
"Perhaps you don't understand the gravity of your situation." Fandaniel sighed. "Tiamat. Make him suffer."
"I shall not." A spiteful yet firm draconic voice echoed in Hades's head, as it likely did in the minds of others.
"What was that again?" Fandaniel chuckled.
"You have committed a grievous sin by my hand…I shall not give in to your command. I shall not be part of the massacre any longer!"
"You forget yourself, wyrm!" With those words, Fandaniel unleashed a powerful shock coming from the neurolinks onto Tiamat. They caused the dragon to screech in agony as it barely had any power left to even roar. "And now do as I say!"
Tiamat obeyed, clutching Puddingway harder as he squealed in pain. It didn't take long for her claws to pierce the rabbit's skin.
"P…"
"Tell me!"
"Labyrinthos…Beneath…The ground…"
"That was easy…Were your kind created in the world Unsundered, you should've been locked in the does of Pandaemonium for your incompetence. Now, finish him off."
With those words, Tiamat ripped the rabbit in half, forcing him to dissipate into aether like his comrades. This was the moment when a familiar Exarch emerged, shielding the people behind him, now finally ready to battle the fearsome opponent.
"Enough of this! You will pay for every life you've taken today!" This time, a powerful spell of use was strong enough to reach the wyrm, causing her to switch focus to G'raha. Soon, his eyes met with Fandaniel's. "Amon…" G'raha's voice quivered; Hades could only imagine how he felt. To meet a legend he studied as a figure of a long-gone past rejuvenated and alive, yet in such a pathetic state.
"Do I know you?" Fandaniel wondered before realization struck his mind. "Ah, the arm gives it away…The Crystal Exarch, right?" After those words, Amon let out a maniacal cackle. "Oh, my, oh my, my knight in shining armor, my savior and most loyal ally! It is you who I have to thank for destroying Zodiark and fulfilling my plans when they were so close to utter ruin…"
"G'raha!" Krile's panicked voice echoed from beneath the firewall. "Run; he's too powerful for you to face!"
"And leave you here? Never."
"Silence!" Amon commanded, forcing Tiamat to roar once more. "One move, and I will burn your friend alive! Consider the fact that I spare from becoming a blasphemy to be a mercy and a display of gratitude for your help. After all, there isn't much you can accomplish alone…
"And what if he is not alone?" A dark rift emerged beside the Exarch, finally unveiling the ascian trio. Their sudden appearance made the elezen recoil and his hands shake. Hades could sense immense fear rising up in his soul.
"W…What…" Fandaniel's lips quivered before he took a deep breath. "Pashtarot, Halmarut…Aligning yourself with the sundered now? How low have you fallen!"
"Not as low as you are going to fall once I lay my hands on you." Pashtarot declared with pride, though Fandaniel clearly didn't care for the gesture.
"And you, Emet-Selch…" Fandaniel spoke with a voice full of wonder. "What it is you are doing here? Was it, not the time for you to abandon this world like you wanted? Did the Crystal Tower fail you, and now you have to fight for scraps…Why are you still here?!"
"I could ask you the same thing," Hades smirked. "For the one who was so eager to rush into oblivion's hands, even so, much that you were ready to perish along with Zodiark…You seem awfully clingy when it comes to life. Why haven't you retreated into the stream yet? Growing attached to your meaningless existence?"
"I…I couldn't leave this matter unfinished." A sadistic grin emerged on Fandaniel's face. "All must be fair, and everyone must be equal in the face of oblivion! Even Hydaelyn understood that…Almost. If it wasn't for her knowledge, the Sharlayans would've never begun the construction of the vessel, never allowing them a chance to escape the Final Days! I am simply forcing them to play by their rules, a little course, correction, if you will."
"Hah, how easy it is to wound your pride…Even the smallest chance that some will survive sets you on edge, forcing you to abandon all of your ideals and beliefs of nihility! Who are you then, if not a pathetic hypocrite?"
"Shut your mouth!" Fandaniel retorted. "You are not in a position to argue, you failed to restore your world, and I have succeeded in destroying it. It doesn't matter whether I am the first to die or last. Oblivion has already won! You would have to die knowing that all your efforts of those thousands of years have been for nothing, that you are worthless scum who will not see your precious Amaurot again…That you have failed!"
"And who says I failed?" The Unsundered's smile was enough to infuriate Fandaniel, as was evident by his spiteful expression. "Perhaps I come bearing news of success and complete knowledge of what it is you are…Hermes."
"Tiamat, attack!"
"I shall…"
"Those are your tormentors, the ascians! They created Allag. They raised me to the seat, and they are responsible for Bahamut's demise!" Fandaniel shouted before unleashing another shock and forcing the wyrm to continue battling. "If this is to be our little 'family reunion,' then I will bring all of the warmth I have for you!" Fandaniel screamed as he forced Tiamat to unleash a wave of flame upon her opponents. Hades immediately created an aura of darkness that was reinforced by his comrades so that they could protect themselves and G'raha. Even for Unsundered ascian, however, a dragon was a fierce opponent who wasn't easy to rival.
"I could teleport and help them out!" Halmarut shouted so that all his companions could hear. "Pashtarot, help me on this!"
"Think again!" Amon cackled. "The moment one of you tries to teleport, I will not hesitate to turn this pier to ash along with all who are trapped in there."
"I'm willing to take that risk…"
"No, wait!" G'raha interrupted the ascian. "We cannot risk their lives this; there has to be another way."
"What way? We aren't exactly at our freest here!"
"Haven't you seen enough?" Pashtarot sighed. "He's a frail one, far too easy to force into submission."
This talk served to distract them, and soon the flames broke through the defenses, causing the aura to scatter.
"I have you now!" Fandaniel shouted with glee as he continued the onslaught. The sundered ascians had to teleport to the side while G'raha outright jumped away. Hades was the only one who could withstand the strike, still drawing upon his dark energies. Tiamat wasn't so easily beaten. However, the dragon was quick to unleash a destructive spell of akh morn, causing the ground beneath Hades's feet to tremble. His mortal vessel got caught in the epicenter of the attack and thus wounded, causing the ascian to grunt in a sudden surge of pain. "How pathetic." Amon continued to mock him as the wyrm's shadow rose over the Unsundered. "You are getting old, much like Elidibus…Will you do me a favor and scream just as loudly as the Emissary did?" His spite and shamelessness knew no bounds, leaving Hades with little choice as the Unsundered felt rage stirring up in his heart.
"There truly is only one kind of language degenerates, as you understand." The ascian called upon his aether, unleashing a powerful wave of energy. It was so quick to form that Fandaniel was barely able to react, and none of Tiamat's strikes had any effect. Soon, Hades finished his transformation and emerged in his true form, a sorcerer of eld, the bender of pure darkness.
"Finally, you show yourself…"
"No toys will protect you from the pain you will suffer for what you did to Themis…Not a single one!" Hades hissed in a fury before unleashing destructive spells upon Fandaniel and Tiamat. The arrows of darkness and spheres of darkness were United by his power in a merciless array of attacks, the combination of which would make any enemy tremble. Of course, Fandaniel quickly resorted to using Tiamat as a shield, forcing the wyrm to take most of the hits no matter how agonizing the process ended up for her. She would roar and screech in pain as Hades's spells would wound the creature, forcing the blood to flow from the openings on her skin.
"This is not enough! Burn him!" Amon continued to push her, though it had to be clear, even for him, that the Unsundered ascian was about to prevail.
"Few words can describe the sheer level of your delusion, Hermes. The grandeur lie you tell yourself!"
"I am not Hermes…Do not call me by that name!"
"Oh, but you very much are shackled by the same chains, broken by the same despair. You are so the unhinged part of his soul, the one that never holds back."
"I'll make you pay for that!" In his rage, Amon allowed for an opening which Hades used to wound the dragon even further. Eventually, Tiamat got simply too tired to fight.
"No matter how hard you try, you cannot win," Hades said with sheer confidence in his voice. "You might have believed yourself to be free from the ascian shackles, but we are still here. And we will not let you roam free."
"Ha-ha…I am not afraid of your kind, not anymore." Fandaniel chuckled before commanding Tiamat to rise into the air. "All you came here to do is to watch my greatest performance yet…You remember what happened when Elpis collapsed, do you not? For when the Ward of the Heavens descends upon this puny city, the effects will be much the same. You'd be wise to prepare yourself and your newfound allies, for none will be spared!"
Moments after, Amon turned his gaze to the enclosed pier.
"Tiamat…Kill them all!"
The dragon unleashed a raging inferno, and in the next instant, the entire pier was scorched.