AN: I can't believe I have written this. Takes place after the door have closed.

So, I realized that I haven't said anything about the AU. Basically, it is about their lore, but instead of being known for sacrificing their team mates (and seemingly reappears), they are more of a powerful all around group.

This also sees them if they were forced to fight as long as it takes, all the while knowing the consequences should they do so. Don't worry; I'm not the type the end the story in a bleak note.

Once again, many thanks to Loyal Lady Pisces for being a very helpful beta.

Chapter 3: Hope

Demios and Phobos landed with a thud, slowly catching their breath as they stand up and look around.

This place isn't anything like Dragon World. The black sky is illuminated by a moon, the ground is a giant barren wasteland; there is an unpleasant sensation in the air. So far, the entire Purgatory Knights, save Cronus have gathered themselves to a circle, discussing their situation. Demios and Phobos silently get closer to the group, overhearing their conversations as they sit down together among them, getting their attention.

"Captain, where's Cronus?" Aelous question causes Demios to freeze. Unsure at what to say, all he managed to say is, "He..." Demios couldn't finish the sentence. Aelous somehow noticed the bloodied sword Demios currently held, "Captain... did you..." the implication is too strong, Aelous somehow can't bear to finish the sentence. Demios doesn't respond, he simply nods, with a sorrowful look on his face.

Aelous cast his head down, "Anima has told us what happened to our base, we have agreed to rest in here for a bit, to gather our thoughts," Aelous sat down without a word, Demios nodded and sat up, and began to look for Anima.

The air is tense, whatever happened, no one have thought this would happen to them. Some are resting after the injuries, notably Selene is treating Phobos and Ray as they suffered a lot due to the onslaught earlier, while Aelous, Cross, Gairahm, Gerald, Chester and Dusk talked about their surroundings.

"How could a world be shrouded in darkness like this?" Cross looked at the sky, it is still black; the large moon provided some light to the group, yet the surrounding area is a little cold for them.

"This world, there is something unnatural, like this place is an exact opposite of our Dragon World but doesn't seem like that." Gerald could feel the cold air around him; it is rare to be this cold in Dragon World. It is cold only when it snows, but that too is only for a month.

"It's hard to believe that all creatures we have fought originated from here, there is almost no life around here." Dusk commented on the almost lifeless surroundings

"I'm pretty sure that no one lives around here, I mean, why don't you look around?" Selene has returned to the group right after finished treating Phobos and Ray's injuries. Indeed, the surrounding areas, are nothing but forest, ahead is a cliff, with a wasteland beyond.

"Hmm, what's wrong Aelous? You have been quiet lately." Chester asked Aelous, his head is still cast down, as in deeply thinking about something, "It's about what captain refers about Cronus, and he isn't with us."

Gairahm understood what Aelous is feeling, after all when your own captain accept the fact that he just put a fellow team mate in mortal peril definitely will soil one's own opinion. "Captain put his hope in Cronus, just as Anima has forewarned us earlier, he didn't have a choice." They recalled at what Anima told them earlier,

"WHAT?" Aelous shouted at Anima, it is regarding the damage on their home base, no one definitely guessed how much is destroyed as they left in hurry, it really hit them like a rock.

"Don't give me that, I don't know about it until earlier too. Also, Cronus won't be with us." This statement is met a puzzled look from the rest, "Huh? Why?"

Anima's face darkened, "You will see, I just asked you people to at least let him explain the reason." Anima trailed off to the edge, watching the barren lands. At that moment, Demios and Phobos have arrived as both landed with a thud, the door they came from closed with a loud screech.

"Well, captain sure hasn't explained it, I will listen though." The rest nodded as they continue to chat among themselves, Gerald and Dusk choose to break from the chat to check up on others.

"Okay, has anyone able to understand what happened earlier? Right after they 'pushed' us here, they just disappear." Selene asked the rest, yet all she got is a similar response, a 'no'.

"I recall a deep voice say 'Bring them', does he mean us?" Cross speculated, he feels uneasy on the word.

"Perhaps, but the question is, why?" Gairahm keeps thinking about why anyone would want them here.

Everyone is silent; no one spoke a word as they continues to think about it, "There is no point thinking about what we don't know. I will create a camp, we need to find a place to rest for now." Gairahm stand up, he headed to a small clearing in the middle of the field, using the rocks to create a foundation for the fire.

One snazzy clothed fin-scaled dragon is currently busy tuning his guitar while Dusk sat beside him.

He is Arnaut, the group's bard, with the ability to boost the groups morale to help them stay in spirit. Being a bard, this makes him physically weak when he is forced to fight ...not! Actually he is pretty much capable of aggressive assault, but really bad when it comes to defend himself.

"Oh, Dusk, what's up?"

"Checking you up." Dusk casually responded.

"Sorry, what?" Arnaut has a dumbfounded look on his face.

"I mean, checking how are you doing, are you all right?" Dusk quickly steer back the subject to the main topic.

"Oh," Arnaut stops what he is doing and think about what he wanted to say. The moment passed in silence for a few seconds. He took a deep breath before speaking, "No. Actually, I don't know whether to feel either confused or angry."

"Angry?" Dusk didn't expect that emotion.

"Stuck in here, powerless to do anything," Arnaut look up to the black sky above, "It didn't help that I and a few others were the first to got pulled in here. It was sudden, no time to react and the next thing I know, I have landed here." Arnaut realized that he just ranted, "Sorry."

Dusk take a seat beside him, saying nothing as Arnaut calmed himself, "I'm not going to pretend I'm all right. Who ever thought that our battle will led us stuck in here?"

Dusk simply stared at the distance, thinking at what Arnaut said. True, as long as he has been with Purgatory Knights, he never thought this would happen, stuck in Darkness Dragon World.

"By the way, don't you feel cold, dressed like that?"

Arnaut question caught him off guard. Being a fighter, his clothes only covers his side, his bare muscular chest is visible .He doesn't wear body armor as they tends to slow him down. Yet, wearing this type of outfit in these cold surroundings...

"A little," despite saying so, Dusk shivers a bit from the cold. Arnaut rolled his eyes, "And here people told me I'm a lech for playing music and love to use some lame pick-up lines."

"Really? Cause you definitely seems the type to do that, Mr. Entertainer." Dusk snicker at the thought. Mr. Entertainer is what Arnaut got called when is off entertaining guest with music, it's his side job.

"Hey! I entertain you guys and all you think of me is the image of a pervert!? At least I'm not the only one, I hear you got the impression that you are a show off, dressed like that."

"No need to get mad. We enjoy your performances too. If not, why we would bother with you in the first place?" There is a moment of silence, "By the way, regarding the show off, it's been done to death.

"Really? I guess we are similar to a degree. Thanks though, for caring at least." Arnaut smiles, they really appreciate him as a dragon who can grant solace to those who need it.

Dusk laughed a little, "Looking forward for your music tonight, we will need it." With that, Dusk get up and proceed to a small made camp for the night.

"Yeah, I will." Arnaut returned to tune his instrument for the time remaining.

Out of nearby forest, a short but muscled dragon carrying a large white axe in his back has just finished looking for wood. Known as Carter, he his one aggressive fighter as the way he fight can knock most enemies out, or send them flying.

He has found a few barks for the base of fire and a lot of twigs that he carry in his arms. Gerald approaches him as he piles them down on the middle of campsite. "How is it?" Gerald greeted his team mate in a friendly way.

"Found a few fuel for fire, it will keep us warm for the night. How's everyone?"

Gerald gestures to the chatting group, "Over there, still chatting. We really need to get our hold together now."

"Say Gerald, what makes you use such inconvenient weapon?" Carter pointed to he chain he carries with him, "I've seen you at some ridiculous disadvantage because of it." Carter refers to the moment where his chain got caught and allows the enemies to pull Gerald to them; some are more embarrassing, like getting the chain stuck due to unexpected situations for example.

Gerald looks at his chain, "Well, it actually has a lot of utilities. I used it to bind Graybard earlier, don't you notice?"

Carter shook his head, "That's not what I meant."

There was an uncomfortable silence when, "Sorry," Gerald's tone suddenly change to a deeper tone, "I refuse to answer your question."

Carter is suddenly taken aback by Gerald's sudden change, "Um... Gerald?"

"Huh?" His voice reverted back, "Um... Sorry, it is sensitive matter to me."

This is the first time he saw this side of Gerald, he has heard rumors of Gerald suddenly change when asked about his weapon. But his voice earlier... it has a weight of authority on it, no dragons could possess such ability to pressure his enemies by talking, unless... for now, Carter keeps that opinion to himself.

"No need to show that face," Gerald's voice changes again. Carter immediately snapped back to Gerald. There is an intense stare coming from him. "I could tell what you are thinking just looking at you, I just presented it earlier."

"Umm..." Carter really feels uneasy at Gerald's sudden change. He really wish he didn't ask that earlier.

"All I shall say is this, 'keep your opinion to yourself.' " There was an uncomfortable pause, "I have no interest meddling in something trivial as this," Gerald turned away from Carter, "I shall take my leave then." He walked away from Carter, he head to the small camp created by the others.

Carter shakes a little at what just transpired, "What... what just happened...?"

Back to Gerald, he covers his eyes with his left hand, "Not again..." his voice has reverted again.

Demios found Anima staring into the distance, beyond him is a giant wasteland, no living creature in sight "Thank you, Anima, for calming them down."

Anima doesn't respond immediately, eyes still stare at the distance, "Have you explained it to them?"

Demios lightly shake his head, "Not yet. I...don't know how..."

"I assume they have told you what I have explained?"

"Yes, but which one?"

"Our home base destruction, as of why did you stab Cronus, I simply give you a time to explain, but looks like that will have to wait..."

Demios closed his eyes, recalling that event.

"W... Why?"

"I... It's difficult...," Demios paused for a moment, "The look on his face back then," another pause, "Even, it is hidden with the mask, he feels betrayed, and I am the one who have done the deed, of nearly murdering him..."

"We can only hope that he understands...," Anima closed his eyes, "Between all of us here, he feels that he doesn't have a place to belong. I can only hope that he can find it, after being closed for so long..."

Demios thinks about what Anima said, Cronus was a loner, and tends to space out randomly if unchecked, otherwise he is pretty capable when fighting. One can only wonder what his past is like. These days, he is a bit more active, if still silent.

"Back then, he was just a big guy, tagging along with us before we even became Purgatory Knights."

"Let us return, I will help." Demios followed Anima as they returned to the camp, a fire has been made and the group gathers in a circle.

Phobos and Ray has awoken and sit down with the rest, most of their bruises have faded. Carter seems to put his distance away from Gerald, as he sits between Aurnat and Gairahm. Demios and Anima sat together, the group now awaiting what their captain has to say.

Demios stayed silent, he too finds himself confused at what to say, or at least where to start. The silence is finally broken when a voice speaks out, "Captain, it's about time you explain to us, regarding Cronus." It was Aelous's voice. He has a stern look on his face, awaiting answers from Demios.

Demios took a deep breath before speaking, "What do you want to know?"

"Why? Why do you must put him down like that?"

Demios closed his eyes, "I believe you all had heard, at the destruction of our home base, and all its applications." They all nodded in confirmation, "Everything was destroyed, except Cronus's pod." They all gasped at this news.

"Wait, so you did that to..." Aelous is at loss for words, he doesn't know what he wanted to say.

"I have left him a letter. He will read it, and hope he could understand why." Phobos added the information to the group.

"Please clarify," Selene added in a neutral tone.

"I entrusted him with a hope, that he could protect Dragon World alongside everyone should the terror rises again." Phobos concluded his explanation.

No one spoke a word after that. They are still pondering about the information.

"What are you hiding?" Demios broke the silence, his eyes fixed on Phobos.

"Hiding what?"

"You know something about Cronus that we don't." Demios recalled that Phobos was researching about Cronus's origin, but it was never brought out again after 5 years.

"Do you really wanted to know?" His voice is solemn, as if he has uncovered something sad, "I can reveal one fact, but that's it. I'm not revealing his entire background, that's a breach of privacy."

Demios doesn't respond immediately, yet he choose to settle with this, "His name, is Cronus really his name? If not, then..."

"Cronus..." Phobos clasped his hand together, he put his head down, "That is not his name, I found out that it is Caelus."

The group is surprised to hear that Cronus faked his name, "How... why?" Cross asked, right now, he is both confused at how the Vice Captain can uncover such fact, on the other side is a shocking feeling that Cronus would do something like that.

"Forgive me; I can't reveal anything beyond that."

"What did you do with the information?" Since Phobos has revealed that Cronus is a fake, what he do with the information is the most important part.

"I compiled it in a letter, the same letter I entrusted him our hope. It is mostly my personal musing on the matter," Phobos shifted to comfortable position, "Enough about him. Right niw, we have a more pressing matter at hand." Silence returned among the group again.

"So, now what?" Cross asked, now unsure as they have absolutely no plan on what next.

"They will definitely strike again, ready to invade once more," Chester clenched his fist tightly as he spoke.

"What are you suggesting? We stand here and fight them all? That's just stretching it!" Cross retaliate against Chester's unspoken suggestion.

"But if we didn't fight back, then it's our home world will be gone." Ray's reasoning is a duty to protect Dragon World.

"How are we supposed to fight the entire Darkness Dragon World's inhabitant? I mean, us, against the whole world? Impossible!" Gairahm knew to draw the line between possible and impossible, regardless of duty.

"In the end, they will come here to try again, and again, as long as the door is still closed." Selene concluded.

"We can't fight forever." Dusk knew that they will fight in the end, but for how long?

"Can't we take turns?" Aurnat agreed that they can't fight forever.

"No, we run the risk of being overwhelmed, and an ambush. If the earlier swarm is any indication, then it will get worse." No matter how strong you are, a massive amount of enemies is all it takes to bring you down, and Phobos knows it.

"But not everyone out there could fight right?" Since there is no way an entire world is a fighter, Carter's assumption makes sense.

"We already have trouble fighting a few huge creatures, they definitely will send more at us." Anima shot down the possiblity. The problem isn't whether they can fight or not, but all they need to took them down is a lot of large creatures to do the dirty work.

"There is one way, but I want to discuss this with all of you." Demios's idea caught everyone attention.

Anima looks surprised before realizing the method he referred to, "Demios, wait-"

Demios immediately replied, "I know, but we are out of options. We have to fight in the end, and the only thing we can do is survive, no matter how long it takes." Anima clenched his fists, he doesn't have a way to solve this problem too, but he fears the consequences for such method.

"The solution I speak of is to make ourselves immortal." This got a stunned silence from the group before Demios continues, "I know it's absurd, but I'm not mad, I'm serious, this is a curse. A curse that makes our bodies never to age or die. If we die, our bodies will regenerate itself, allowing us to recover and fight further." He took a deep breath, "I need your own opinion. If we took this path, we have condemned ourselves to fight forever. I choose this for the better good, to keep protecting our homeland; I will fight if it means using this. But I want to know, what is your opinion using this art, and will you all stand and fight alongside me? Becoming an immortal to stand until bitter end?"

The rest looked around uncomfortably, the premise is clear, they accept and condemned themselves to eternal battle, or they don't and only a matter of time before they fall.

"We will fall, either way. All we could do is simply prolong the inevitable," Aelous spoke in a defeated tone.

On the long run, by using the dark arts, they simply prolong the invasion. Most has resigned to the fact that fighting an entire world is impossible, but if they didn't take that path...

"If it is what we need to protect our homeland, then I accept it!" Ray has decided, he has come this far and he will not fall that easy.

"Are you serious!? Not that I disagree, but turning immortal means that we will have to fight forever!" Selene stands up, shocked that Ray would agree so easily, the pride of the Halberd clan as protectors is really getting to him.

"But if we don't, it is a matter of time before Dragon World completely collapses," Chester gestures to the door, "If they invade again right now, they will be powerless to fight back. The only thing we can do is stand and fight, and hope that on the day we fall, they are ready to fight back." Chester concluded his view. Everyone know he is right, Dragon World can't handle another invasion in such short time.

"Will we regret it?" Aelous still lamented the fact that they are doomed.

"Perhaps, but we will regret it more if we didn't took the path," Demios concluded, there is no other way.

"I suppose that's true," Aeolus took a deep breath, no longer lamented the fact, his face filled with determination, "Very well, I'm in!"

One by one, everyone agreed on taking the method, Anima says nothing while Phobos smiled sadly at what they have agreed. He walked to Anima, putting his hand at Anima's shoulder, "Even if we are going to regret it. What we need to do is burn this image, the image of Purgatory Knights filled with resolve to protect what is dear to them, even if it means sacrificing our freedom."

Anima chuckles a bit, "Strange to hear it from you, after all this came from our Vice Captain Phobos, the dragon with an odd sense of humor."

Phobos smiled back, "Watching them has given me a more, idealistic view."

Watching his comrade fired up, even knowing the sad truth, Aurnat readied to play his guitar, granting a solace for their hearts for the night, and the last day as a mortal being, and prepare himself for more to come.

In reality, hope is the worst of all evils, because it prolongs the torments of man - Friedrich Nietzsche

The ground trembles as Demios finished the black arts, purple auras entered each of the Purgatory Knights body, a faint purple glow is visible, indicating the spell is complete.

"Well, no turning back now." Anima commented at their new immortality.

The air shakes violently as a tremendous army of demons assembled in front of them, threatening to tear them apart and open the gate once more.

Standing proudly, Demios lifted his sword high in the air, "If you wanted to open this door, you must go through us! Purgatory Knights, charge!"

With renewed resolve, the battle began anew, lasting for over 100 years. Yet the painful truth comes after they have fallen.

Hope is misleading, hope is cruel, but hope is all we have - Meredith Black

Demios panted as he held his sword, how long he has been fighting? How many times he has died? He couldn't remember. All he could see is the seemingly endless swarm of demons in front of him.

The Purgatory Knights is a mess, slowly as the battle goes on, and the corpse of their enemies piled up, they went insane. Many of them lost their mind to the bloodlust. The noxious air of the demon realm began to spread to them, mutating them. Demios feels helpless once more.

Almost his entire comrade has fallen. The over exposure of Darkness Dragon World air put a toll on their minds as their body shifted in appearances and their hearts got corrupted.

Carter's body become round, his weapon now a two-sided axe with a blood red coloring on it. Dusk suffered a few more scars, now his scars glows purple, and he also lost his left eye. Phobos has it really bad; instead of transforming, he sprouted a new pair of arms behind his old one, now he holds a maul that could pull his opponents towards him, alongsode his trident and blade.

Noticeably, they all have been corrupted by darkness, all of their eyes are red, their tails have morphed to a smaller weapon of what they usually wield, except a few who noticeably wouldn't look different.

Demios noticed he has run out of energy again, to his left, Anima is still standing, also tired. Between everyone that is cursed, only both of them are left. Phobos has fallen previously to give them time to recover, his last act before completely corrupted.

"Demios, this...this is over...we have lost..." Anima punched the ground, his eyes drowned in sorrow; Demios couldn't even stand to fight any longer.

Anima doesn't have time to react when a sword pierced his body, taking away what little life he has.

"No, NO!"

It came back to him, the moment where Anima pushed him out of the way, and rescued by Cronus, now Caelus.

"Caelus... forgives us... This is... our... limit..."

Another sword descended on Demios, he doesn't react nor fight back, the last thing he could think of before fading is, 'If it is mean a chance to restore what we have lost, then I will take it, even if it is means, carrying all of my team mates still sane soul, and to suffer a lot more, then so be it.'

His body fall to the ground, seemingly dead, the sword that pierced him dissolved into a black fog that descended on his body, surrounding his body with a dark aura. His body slowly lifted to the air as the dark aura intensifies. Suddenly, almost entire fallen members of Purgatory Knights body began to glow white as a white sphere of soul tear away from their bodies. The souls entered Demios body as it stands straight, his eyes closed. The dark aura is replaced by a blinding light, the demons near him step away as the light grow brighter, before it finally died down. Demios opened his eyes; now sport the same red color as the rest of the corrupted Purgatory Knights.

It is over, the entire Purgatory Knights have fallen to Darkness Dragon World, and now, they are ready to invade once more.

Standing behind him is the entire fallen Purgatory Knights, ready the corrupted knights has changed, their idealistic view from protecting the world to destroying it.

Demios decided to wear a long red mantle that doubles as a scarf, with that they marches forward, towards whatever world they will invade now.

Around the time where the souls entered Demios, no one noticed two souls stayed within their own bodies, a newly rebirth Anima is approached by Phobos.

"Stay strong. We will get through this together." Anima turned around and come face to face with Phobos, despite his new pair of arms, his eyes hasn't become red yet, neither do him. He gives Anima a small smile, nodding in confirmation before the eyes turned red.

Anima smiled as he realized that Phobos has withstand against the corruption, alongside him, they will see that they can support him, ensuring that he didn't went completely insane. His eyes shifted from a normal green to a familiar red. Both of them looked at their captain, standing before the door. As corrupted as he is, they both knew that he has chosen to carry the greatest weight, and they will be here to support him through the ordeal, as they walked down together the road.

We live because we have hope - Drilon Shamolli

Back at Dragon World

The former home base of Purgatory Knights is still in ruins, the wooden remains of what seems to be roof has broken down. The flowers around the valley have bloomed; the sun shines brightly among the clear blue sky. The forest surrounding the cliff hasn't changed much.

Below it, a now empty pod can be seen, it is opened. The metal casing on the upper section displayed a sentence: 'last opened: 5 years ago'. The entire casing has rusted as time passed without care. Over there, a large white dragon wearing a familiar black armor with gold trimming looks solemnly at the pod. He crouched and put his head at the device, slowly whispering, "This is the last time I will be here…"

The plaque with Cronus's name is no longer there; instead a brand new plaque is there, with a word inscribed on it: 'Caelus'.

The dragon turned around and faces the cliff, he spread his wings open, and he holds his weapon, a scythe in his left hand, preparing to soar again to the sky. Behind him, the pod has finally given away, the entire machine shut down; it is nothing more than a broken piece of metal now.

"Farewell." He ascends to the sky, leaving the last relic of the Purgatory Knights, the Pod of Rebirth to be forgotten in time.

The End

AN: Whew, this fanfic this completed. This chapter is shorter than the previous one as this is more of a character building chapter.

Names, again;

Arnaut: Name inspired from Arnaut Daniel, a poet, from Troubadour Dragon

Carter: From Blood Axe Dragon, I will just leave this here….: 'The noxious gases of the Demon Realm, distorts the shape of his weapons, appearance, and even his heart.'

Caelus: Cronus's real name. God of sky in Roman myth. More details regarding this coming soon.

17 out of 23 members has been named. That's a lot...

As always, fell free to review if there is anything you wanted to say or ask. Any feedback is welcome as well.