Hey there people! Time for another action-packed chapter.

Also, a little warning: this contains thoughts of suicide, extreme violence and whatnot.

Also: God, I'm hating this new format of copy in where they undo the typing. So annoying!

Well, you've been warned. Now time for the action!

Act IV:
Forgotten Truths

Chapter 29
Voice in the Darkness

"Are… we there yet?" Presea asked in an unsure tone, hugging herself as she looked at her surroundings.
"A bit impatient, are we?" Genis said with a sly smirk on his lips, a smirk that gave Presea chills throughout her body.
"I… just wanted to know," she said.
Presea and Genis had traveled by means of a portal to the Fooji continent. What unsettled her even more was that they reappeared right at the entrance to the Temple of Darkness. Presea didn't like the place, not since her father was killed here by her hand.
When she was a child, she had already been uneasy about the temple. But now, older and with a greater sensitivity, she could feel the thick darkness in the air. Strangely enough, this darkness wasn't as oppressing or scary like the ones in stories. They felt… balanced, like they were supposed to be this way. It was almost welcoming and…
Stop it! That must be Shadow's soul confusing you. Presea berated at herself. She shook her head and continued to follow Genis, deeper into the temple.
The talk they had before was still on her mind…

- / - / - / - / - / -

"Extract Shadow's soul?" she asked to the half-elf who was looking at her intently.
"Yes. I'm sure you noticed everything you are now is all because of Shadow's soul," Genis said. "So, if it is extracted from you, you can go back to live your life as a common human."
Presea looked away from him and crossed her arms, thinking. She never thought there was a way to extract Shadow's soul from her. Granted, she didn't even know what exactly had happened to her until Colette explained it. Maybe… maybe she should give it a shot.
"Think about it…" Genis spoke again. "If you have never touched Shadow's soul, your father would still be alive and your sister wouldn't have left," Genis' smirk was present as he spoke.
It was true. Everything went down to hell because of Shadow's soul, so why not simply get rid of it? Maybe, after she did it, she could go to some city and remake her life. Maybe even contact her sister and talk to her again. Presea looked to Genis in the eyes and nodded to him. The boy smiled again.
"In that case, come with me to the Temple of Darkness, my master is waiting there," he said as he waved his hands a runic circle appeared beneath them. "He will be able to extract the Summon Spirit inside you and give your life back to you."

- / - / - / - / - / -

Genis had to smile at how easy it had been. The girl was so desperate she didn't even notice the fact that there should be no way he knew about what happened with Presea's father and between her and her sister. Desperation was a great ally when convincing one to do something. He almost felt sorry for the naïve and traumatized girl. Almost.
Either way, Master Nebilim wins. he thought as they now neared the bottom of the temple, where the altar was located.
Genis then stopped, and turned to Presea. His voice tone and expressions were neutral as he spoke:
"My master is down at the altar. I can just take you to this point, from now on, you go alone."
Presea started to get suspicious. What if this was some kind of trap? The boy was certainly strange enough, the ease with which he could change his expression and the smile he gave were all was just too suspicious, even if he was a half-elf.
But… she had to see it through. If there was a chance for her to return to her normal life again, then she should take it. And if it wasa trap… well, she didn't have anything left to lose. She nodded her head to Genis, strengthening her resolve and walking down the staircases left. As she went deeper, she could swore she heard the half-elf chuckle as he left, going back to the surface.

- / - / - / - / - / -

"You really sure they came here?" Sheena asked as she and the others rode in monsters, going to the Temple of Darkness.
"Positive. Her aura was unmistakable," Tenebrae, riding besides the group in the middle of the air, said. "However, what worries me is the means she used to come here."
"I doubt it was her. Presea didn't have any trace of usage of chaos magic in her aura," Raine said.
After the group had left Ozette and Ratatosk asked Tenebrae to use his monsters to find a trace of the girl's aura, Tenebrae informed them, with a very worried expression, that she had just teleported herself to the Fooji continent using chaos magic.
Sensing they didn't have any time to lose, Raine decided it was time to call in their favor with the Renegades and contacted Yuan, requesting their fastest boat to the Fooji continent. They were quite surprised when they arrived at Altamira (after an overnight ride in Ratatosk's newly recruited, beast monsters) and found a modified Elemental Cargo of the Lezareno Company ready and waiting for them.
Alicia was there and quickly explained them how to ride the boat (while Raine was trying very hard to ignore the fact they were going to ride on the sea again. For the duration of the trip, she stayed inside the cabin, hugging a table's feet) and urged them to find her sister. Colette looked her in the eyes and said they would do everything in their power to bring Presea back.
Several scenarios were running through Raine's mind, one more dangerous than the last. There was only one explanation to how Presea suddenly managed to appear from one continent to the other: a demon or a Desian managed captured her and was now taking her to the Temple of Darkness. The only question was "why?".
"Do you think the Desians captured her?" Marta asked.
"If that was the case, why didn't they execute her if they knew she was a Summon Spirit? That would make more sense," Zelos inquired.
"I can't believe I'm going to say this, but Zelos' right. It doesn't make sense. Unless…" Sheena spoke
"Unless this is a trap to lure us in too," Emil finished for her.
"The possibility is very high," Solum spoke.
"Either way, we can't just abandon her like this. We promised Alicia we would bring her back," Colette said. She had kept a serious expression on her face since they heard from Tenebrae where Presea had gone to.
Zelos and Sheena looked to the blonde, both thinking that she was somewhat different from her usual self. Sheena wondered what had transpired with the two of them in Ozette, while Zelos just shook his head with a smile and closed eyes, before opening them and resuming his serious expression as they rode towards the Temple.
Lloyd stayed quiet during most of the travel. He didn't know why, but he felt like they were about to face serious danger…

- / - / - / - / - / -

Presea looked around the dark space that was Shadow's altar. It hadn't changed in the least from the last time she had been there. However, there was a new element in the scenery, a silhouette standing near the exquisite altar.
When Presea approached, she froze in her place. That presence… she never felt something so powerful in her entire life. It was like she was feeling an entire legion of presences rather than that of a single being. Was this really Genis' master?
"Hello, little one," the figure said in a melodious, smooth tone, walking forward and entering in Presea's sight.
She saw it was a man with elven features, blood-red hair and eyes with slit-like pupils, wearing a silver set of armor which was open in a "V" line from his collar to the middle of his thorax, showing he wore nothing underneath it. His metal boots and gauntlets were clawed.
"W… who are… y-you?" Presea asked in a wavering voice, noticing her body was starting to shake.
She didn't like the feeling around the man, not in the least. She wasn't even touching him, but she was already feeling like his presence wanted to invade her body and crush her soul. She didn't even want to think on what would happen should he touch her.
"Neran. Neran Illirium, at your service," the man gave her a bow in a very gentlemanly manner. "So, are you Presea Combatir, the one tormented by Shadow's soul?" he gave her a warm smile, like he wanted to soothe her, but Presea knew better than to trust it.
"Can you really… extract it?" she used the same words as Genis, but still kept her distance from Neran.
"Of course," he said in a reassuring tone. "That is, if that is what you truly want."
There was something in Neran's tone that sent warning bells on Presea's head, but she decided to dismiss them. If he could really make Shadow's soul vanish from her life then she would be taking the risk. She was already tired of all of that anyway.
Presea steeled her expression and nodded. Neran smirked and beckoned her to come closer, instructing her to stay near the altar. Presea did so and, suddenly, she felt an agitation in the darkness over the altar. Shadow's soul's half materialized at the pink haired girl's presence. It seemed about to speak when it suddenly took notice of Neran's presence.
"YOU… ! … Dan…" the fragment was silenced when Neran snapped his fingers, a cage of fire materializing around Shadow's soul, silencing it. The fragment tried to break free, but each time it did the flames agitated to keep it in place.
"Tsk, tsk. So unruly," Neran said walking closer to Presea, who could only look in awe as the man effortlessly dominated Shadow. "Now, shall we start?"
The girl shook out of her stupor and nodded once more. Neran started to recite a chant as a magical circle appeared beneath Presea. Ethereal, glowing runic circles appeared in her hands, chest and forehead. After Neran finished, he spoke:
"Now, touch Shadow's soul and the process will be reversed and you'll finally be free of this torment," Presea looked to the man and then to Shadow's soul, which was still trying to break free. "I'll dispel the cage as you reach to touch him," the magician guaranteed.
Presea let out a deep breath, mentally preparing herself. As she raised her hand, thinking on all the years of suffering and emptiness she had to endure because of Shadow. How she earned for all of it to end, to have all of this pain and emptiness go away and finally make something meaningful with her life. Surely, it would be better if all of it had never happened.
Neran's smirk turned into a malicious grin as he dispelled the fire cage when Presea's hand was almost touching it. The moment it vanished, Shadow let out a desperate warning:
"Nebilim… ! …" however, it was too late, for in that moment, Presea touched the dark, gaseous-looking mass.
Her eyes widened as her body emitted a heartbeat-like pulse and she felt as if something was being drained from her. It was painful, like a part of her was being ripped off. When she was about to say something she felt somebody touch her shoulders… Neran touch her.
The effect was immediate. Her mind went numb and she felt like her heart had practically frozen. She couldn't speak, she couldn't move… she couldn't think. It was like her soul had been completely paralyzed as Presea could only widen her eyes. Then it came. It was only for a fleeting moment, but so clear that it seemed to last for hours.
Agony… fear… despair… hatred… rage… greed… sorrow… So many emotions passed so quickly through her… and they all came from Neran, but… they didn't feel like they were his. Nobody that touched her before ever carried this much emotions within him. Amidst all of it, she caught a name:
Nebilim…
The last thing Presea heard as her consciousness started to fade away in darkness was Nebilim's voice as he leaned near her ear, whispering:
"Now, sleep child… sleep your pain away, for all eternity…"

- / - / - / - / - / - / -

Lloyd and the others entered the dim-lit temple. Tenebrae told them he could feel Presea's presence from the depths of the temple, at Shadow's altar. As they arrived in the main room, which gave access to Tenebrae's altar and the lower levels of the temple, the group descended the stairs.
Unknown to them, a small figure was observing the party from the higher platforms. He just eyed the group with an analytical look as he thought:
So, they came. Just as predicted… Genis smiled at that. These fools are in for a nice surprise.
Raine suddenly stopped, feeling a strange and yet familiar presence. She turned and looked to the upper levels, but saw nothing. It had been for only a moment, but she could have sworn she felt an aura.
Was that my imagination?
Shaking her head, Raine followed the rest of the group to the depths of the temple. As they hurried their pace, the group suddenly stacked when they felt a powerful presence down. Even Colette and Lloyd could feel it and it made they start to tremble in their place. Sheena, Raine and Ratatosk knew that aura very well:
"He's here," Raine said.
"Nebilim…" Emil said as he let Ratatosk take control.
"That's bad. Presea is down there too. Do you think… ?" Zelos started.
"It's really a trap. He's waiting for us to come and try to save her," Raine spoke.
"But we can't let Presea with him," Colette said. "We have to save her."
"Colette's right. Let's go and…" Lloyd proclaimed, but was interrupted by Zelos.
"And be slaughtered? Have you forgotten that we didn't even manage to get past his shield?"
"So what? Should we just leave Presea like that?"
"We're losing time. We have to go now!" Sheena spoke and the rest of the group, minus Zelos and Raine followed her hurried step towards the altar.
Zelos sighed, closing his eyes and shaking his head. Did they have some kind of hero complex to go rushing in a situation like this without even a plan?
I swear… someday this will end up killing me. Oh well… Zelos thought in resign.
"This is so reckless," Raine mumbled with as sigh of her own.
"That it is," the red head agreed with her.
The group finally arrived at the last platform. The darkness here seemed less thick, allowing them to see better. When their eyes adjusted to the environment, they let out gasps.
Suspended above the altar was Presea, strapped to what looked like some kind of giant cross made out of solid, flowing darkness. Raine, Sheena and Ratatosk's eyes widened at realizing the cross was actually a manifestation of Presea's own aura, which was flowing outwards in an unusual manner. The reincarnated Shadow seemed to be sleeping, her eyes closed and head hanging down, bangs of pink hair obscuring her face, but there was no movement in her chest, indicating she possibly wasn't breathing.
Part of Presea's body seemed to have been absorbed by the dark cross as her arms, midsection, legs and neck were held by dark straps. At the foot of the cross stood a blood red haired figure using a thin, silver armor with otherworldly inscriptions carved in it. The group drew their weapons as they heard Nebilim's voice, chuckling as he slowly turned to face them:
"Welcome my friends. I see you arrived just in time."
"You… what have you done to Presea?" Sheena yelled at the Supreme Head of the Demonic Invasion Troops.
"Nothing that she didn't wish for," Colette and Marta seemed mildly confused by that while the others merely scoffed at Nebilim.
"Probably because you messed with her head," Zelos said.
"Did I? I don't know. She seemed like she was already pretty much broken before she came to me. Isn't that right, dear angel Colette?"
The group turned to look at Colette, who just stood in silence, before she asked:
"You were spying on us?"
"I don't need to. Your emotions are very easy to read. You must sympathize with her, right? After all, you two share similar experiences; she killed her father in this very temple and you ended up killing your friend and amorous interest back in Iselia," Nebilim smirked at that as he mildly narrowed his eyes in a piercing and malicious smile and expression. "Is that why she feel so connected to you, I wonder?"
"SHUT UP, YOU MONSTER!" Marta yelled at Nebilim. "What gives you the right to talk about this? It's your fault things like these happen!"
"Was I the one who turned Presea's life miserable?" Nebilim countered. "Was I the one who kept accusing her of murder and calling her names? Was I the one who said to Iselia's Mayor to chase Colette out?" here Nebilim's expression turned steely as he looked at Marta, who seemed like she wanted to counter, but could only grit her teeth. "Before tossing the blame around, start by looking at your own mistakes and sins."
Lloyd widened his eyes in surprise at having something he had once said being thrown back at his friends. Ratatosk grumbled and decided to speak up:
"You're avoiding the subject. What have you done to Presea?"
At this, Nebilim's smile came back as he spoke:
"As I said; nothing that she didn't wish for. Presea was feeling miserable, she wanted her hollow and meaningless existence to end, she wanted it so much she would abandon even her own soul to do so. So, I merely granted her wish. By extracting Shadow's soul, she will have the normal, quiet life she always wished."
"That's absurd," Raine said. "Presea is Shadow. Extracting it would mean her death."
"Indeed it does," Nebilim closed his eyes as he chuckled once more, Colette's eyes widened. "But I'm sure that letting her know that would be just as devastating as saying the only way for she to become free of this hell she has been plunged into is by death."
"So you played with her feelings?" Lloyd accused.
Nebilim didn't answer to that accusation. He just looked at the cross behind him, staring at Presea. His smile turned into an enigmatic one as he spoke once more, his tone one of divagation now:
"Humans are such sad creatures… they are the only creatures that kill their kin for petty reasons and have the ability to drive themselves to extinction. In the end, they drown in their sorrow and despair, dragging others around with them," he turned to the reincarnated Summon Spirits. "Presea is no different from the many humans who had their lives ruined by others of their same species. It's so ridiculous…" Nebilim's expression turned into one of what looked like sadness. "Why do they have to torture their own kin over such idiocies? Why must they find someone to hate and put the blame for every single mishap in their lives?
"In the end, they will be punished by their conscience, even if they don't realize it. Humans also have the incredible ability of creating their own, personal hell, several times worse than Niflheim or any other lower spiritual realm could be. Even you, my friends, know this place," Nebilim smiled a sad smile, as if he really pitied them. "You visit it several times in your live, although you never realize it.
"It is in there that resides all of your fears, your failures, everything you learn to hate comes from it. And it was this hatred that called me back to this world. Yes… I'm here to unleash this hell you created to yourselves in this world and make you wallow into it until you desire for extinction. Aselia itself scream for retribution. The mana cries for this vengeance. And I am its harbinger," his smile turned into a malicious expression. "In the end, I'm just giving you more material to add to your personal hells. I'll raze the world that you know and let you agonize," he stretched his hand forward and closed his fist for emphasis.
"What the heck are you babbling about?" Zelos asked. "And what do you mean with personal hell?"
"Heh heh heh. Presea knows, even you know. The worst and last hell you will ever know is right here…" Nebilim then pointed to his forehead, tapping it with his finger.
Zelos, Raine and Colette stepped back at that declaration, but Lloyd, Ratatosk, Marta and Sheena stood on their stances, glaring at the red headed demonic commander. They comprehended what that demon said, but they wouldn't let he make Presea suffer any longer.
Lloyd, Sheena, Marta and Ratatosk charged at Nebilim, who stood on his place, not moving a muscle and simply smiling at them as the three latter transformed and swung their weapons against him. There was a loud "CLANG!" and the group saw their weapons stopping in mid air, pressing against Nebilim's flame shield.
"Really, do you all need to be so rash?" he asked, as if inquiring why they used certain type of silverware, closing his eyes. When Nebilim opened them again, his pupils contracted into slits as his smile turned into a maniacal and gleeful one. "You never learn to look into the situation, DO YOU?"
Faster than the blink of an eye, Nebilim unleashed a powerful, flame-charged kick on the group, piling them all, side-by-side and holding them in his stretched leg as he made a 360° turn and threw the reincarnated Summon Spirits on the ground. The battle finally started as Raine and Zelos charged spells and Colette threw her chakras, which multiplied in mid air. All bounced against Nebilim's barrier, who turned to Colette and before she could blink, the Demonic Commander was already upon her.
Nebilim brought his arm down and Colette put her chakra up to defend. The fist then let out a jet of roaring flames between Nebilim's closed fingers, but it slid around the reincarnated Gnome, not reaching her body thanks to the protection of her chakras. Colette felt her weapon heating fast. It was then several, big, ice shards hit the red head on his side, pushing him away from the blonde. Lloyd and the others recovered and attacked Nebilim all at once.
However, the demonic commander easily countered them all, batting away their blows or letting them hit his flame shield. The fact the four also didn't have much of a synchrony in their attacks also helped Nebilim, who found openings to counter-attack using ridiculously strong blows, which produced sound waves in the air each time they connected. If it weren't for their Summon Spirit defenses, the group knew they would already have half of their bodies' bones shattered to pieces.
Raine casted Ray, just for Nebilim to dodge every light beam, and Zelos tried using Ice Tornado, but their elven-looking adversary simple teleported out of it and fired flame beams on the group. Nebilim then materialized his two flame-swords and attacked the melee combatants. His blows were fast, precise and left a trail of scorching heat at every swing.
Colette tried controlling the earth to trap Nebilim, but he quickly jumped or simply sent a sphere of compressed, magical fire against any stalagmite that appeared where he would land, making it explode in several shards. Raine tried using Brilliant Shackles, but just as the ethereal, light seals were to close around Nebilim, they were stopped by his flame shield. The red head smiled as he waved his hand.
"Insanity Reverse!" the seals were repelled, disappearing in mid air and reappearing right over Raine. However, even their color and element had changed from light to darkness as they closed on Raine and exploded.
"He can reflect magic?" Sheena exclaimed. That few seconds of distraction was enough for Nebilim to appear right over her and grab her head once more, releasing a jet of roaring flames over her body. "Oh no, YOU DON'T!"
Concentrating her aura, Sheena produced a strong pulse with it, pushing Nebilim away. Ratatosk came in, using Destroyer's Song near the feet of their powerful opponent, the resulting pillar of spiritual energy consumed Nebilim. However, he easily shot his hand out of it in a spear thrust, nearly hitting Ratatosk's eyes, who leaned to the side, but still got his face grazed by the claw-like tips.
Nebilim then summoned his fire blade on his still stretched hand and swung it at Ratatosk, who blocked with his sword. Lloyd then used Blazing Fang as his blonde friend jumped away before the attack hit Nebilim's flame shield. The red head merely smiled as the flames spread around, trying to engulf his bubble-like shield.
"Really? Using fire on me?" he snorted.
"That was only the first!" Marta called from up. Nebilim looked at her as the girl quickly concentrated her power. "Typhoon Saw!" a wind tunnel involved him and several wind disks impacted with his barrier, which started agitate violently at being attack so much in such short intervals of time.
When the attacks passed, Nebilim noticed a concentration of magical energy beneath his feet. He looked below and was instantly encased in an iceberg. The ice formation then exploded around him, once more agitating his flame shield. It was then Nebilim felt a growing concentration of Ratatosk's energy and looked in time to see the Lord of the Monsters unleash his Ain Soph Aur.
Nebilim was about to block the attack when he felt someone approaching him from behind and attacking his back, leaving ice formations on his wake:
"Frigid Star!" Zelos cut Nebilim's back five times, forming a star pattern and ending with a wind infused thrust, which pushed against the flame shield and distracted Nebilim long enough for Ratatosk's attack to collide and Zelos to jump back.
The flame shield agitated with more violently and finally broke as if it were made of glass. Nebilim's eyes widened as he was consumed by the multicolored mass which exploded around him. As their adversary was consumed by the multicolored flames, Zelos charged another spell, looking at Ratatosk, who understood his intend and touched his shoulder. The two then casted an Absolute spell which froze the flames of Ratatosk's attack solid.
The group sighed in relief, seeing the ice didn't immediately break. Colette took the opportunity and rushed to the base of the dark cross that was still holding Presea in place. She looked up to the pink haired girl and called:
"Presea, we came for you!" there was no response from the reincarnated Shadow. "Presea, we're here. We've come to help you. Please, talk to me."
"It's useless..." Nebilim's booming voice sounded in the chamber, making the group gasp and look at the ice formation, which started to crack until it exploded, releasing fire and mist. A gust of heated wind forced them to protect their eyes. "The girl has lost herself in pain and sorrow, her soul drowning into it," footsteps sounded as the group could see Nebilim's smiling silhouette emerging from the mist. "She is now completely overrun by the darkness she should command. Your voice won't reach her soul."
The group stood in battle positions again. Colette stood protectively in front of Presea's bound form. Nebilim simply smirked at all of them as he said:
"I must congratulate you all. You became strong enough to break my flame shield," he closed his eyes. "However..." in the blink of an eye, Nebilim was gone from his spot and in the next second, appeared near Lloyd, who widened his eyes at not even sensing him approaching. "You are still way out of your league!" with his eyes wide and pupils narrowed into slits, Nebilim kneed Lloyd's stomach with incredible strength, more than before.
As Lloyd lost all air and bent his body in a mute gasp of pain. He was unable to defend himself from the next attacks. Nebilim attacked Lloyd with a sequence of combos utilizing several fire weapons that pushed Lloyd's Summon Spirit's defenses to their very limits.
He's… too... fast… was the only thing Lloyd could think of between the rain of blows, not being able to put up his defenses or to counter the fast and vicious strikes of the red head. The only thing that saved him from reverting back to his human form and being slaughtered was his resistance to fire.
He sensed Sheena flying to his direction, ready to attack. Nebilim teleported again and, to Sheena's surprise, appeared directly in front of her, his fist closed. She didn't have time to avoid the ridiculously, strong punch that connected with her face, stopping her on her place and producing another sound wave in the air. Nebilim's closed fist quickly opened and closed its grip on Sheena's face, bringing it down on the floor with gargantuan strength, making a crater around her.
Nebilim then produced a jet of roaring flames from the hand that was still holding Sheena on the ground. She could feel her defenses being eaten away very fast.
It's even stronger than before. Sheena noticed.
"Leave them alone!" Marta shouted as she launched several wind disks against their fearsome adversary.
Nebilim only gave a side glance at the disks that were closing in before he ceased his attack and teleported several more times, looking like there were copies of the demonic commander manifesting themselves. When Marta noticed it, Nebilim was standing still again, his almost maniacal smile in his face. He brought his hands up and in each of them where Marta's wind disks, trying to cut through Nebilim's gauntlets, but only being able to produce sparks.
The disks were then consumed by flames, turning into scarlet saws that Nebilim threw back at Marta, who gritted her teeth and flew to avoid the deflected attack. However, she noticed too late Nebilim disappearing again and reappearing behind her.
"Really… don't you all ever learn?" he said before applying a violent chop on Marta's side, making her body bent as she gasped in mute pain.
Nebilim then stretched his free arm forward and produced another jet of flames, but this one rocketed him backwards, his back against Marta, pushing her along in high speed. They only stopped when Marta's front painfully collided with a pillar, dust flying from it.
The Supreme Head of the Demonic Invasion Troops jumped off Marta's body as she fell to the ground. He was met by several ice projectiles in mid air, which he broke with his gauntlets, and even a giant sphere of light, ready to shoot light beams at him. Nebilim crossed his arms in an X pattern and reunited chaos energy:
"Soul Reaper!" the claws of his gauntlets glowed an orange light as they seemed to grown in length. Nebilim cut through the light sphere with his claws like it were made out of paper and cut through several other dark blades that flew to meet him in the air.
Zelos and Raine were surprised that their adversary could actually dispel their attacks like that, so much that when Zelos noticed, Nebilim had already landed near him and tried to impale his face in a spear thrust of his clawed gauntlet. Zelos put his shield up and deflected the blow, however, he didn't notice in time Nebilim opening his still stretched hand. The reincarnated Celsius was hit by the jet of roaring flames. Zelos screamed in pain and trying to put up a barrier as he was pushed back by the strength of the fire. Fortunately, his shield and barrier managed to block off most of the fire, before Zelos had to discard it due to the scalding metal, but it didn't spared the reincarnated Celsius from getting horrible burns on his side, making him go to his knees.
Raine immediately casted Cure over her companion, his skin regenerating at a fast rate, leaving no scars behind. However, Nebilim took advantage of that and teleported near Raine. The half-elf tried to bat him away with her new staff, however Nebilim effortlessly caught it with his hand. The Supreme Head of the Demonic Invasion Troops closed his hand on the weapon, breaking it. Raine was about to jump back, when Nebilim's hand shot forward and grabbed her throat, cutting off her air ways.
The silver haired woman closed her eyes, waiting for the red head to break her neck just like he did with her weapon, but was surprised when a stone column rose from the floor and hit Nebilim from the side, making his grip on her neck go. The column continued to rise until it eventually crushed Nebilim against one of the pillars on the room.
Lloyd and Sheena flew to the point where Nebilim had collided against the pillar, their weapons drawn, just to be surprised when their adversary appeared in front of them and reared his arms back. They managed to block off the double punch sent their way, however the strength had been enough to push their weapons back. Again, the red haired wraith quickly opened his hand and grabbed the face of his opponents, thrusting them down and diving as his palms let out fierce, otherworldly flames. The three seemed to convert into some short of scarlet comet. When they hit the ground, the impact created a strong explosion.
Nebilim landed a few feet away from the explosion, behind him was another crater with Lloyd's and Sheena's unmoving bodies in its center, the two back to their human forms. Colette started to get desperate as she saw Zelos, Marta and Ratatosk lunging at Nebilim, just to have their attacks deflected and magic dispelled.
She then turned to Presea, who was still unconscious and unresponsive. She tried against to wake up the girl:
"Presea! Please, wake up! We need your help!"
"Towering Fear!" came Nebilim's cry as three pillars of flames rose around him, sending Marta, Ratatosk and Zelos in the air. "Rejection Core!" he thrust his hand forward as the three fell to his level, producing a giant fire ball, which burned the group before it exploded, pushing them all away. Marta's spirit form was dispelled and the force of the explosion seemed to have knocked Zelos out.
Raine casted Healing Circle over the group, but without a weapon to serve as a focus, the effect of the healing Arte had been greatly reduced. Colette turned to Presea again and ran to the base of the dark cross. She grabbed the hem of the pink haired girl's black dress while pleading for her to wake up:
"PRESEA!" Colette called, but seemed to have just as much success as in her previous attempts. She felt somebody grab her shoulders from behind and a voice sounded near her ear.
"Didn't I tell you she won't respond?" Nebilim's smooth and dangerous tone sounded. "The girl gave herself up to her despair and sorrow. She's nothing more than an empty shell now," he then dragged Colette back and threw her to the middle of the room. Raine rushed to the side of the blonde girl, glaring at Nebilim all the way. "You would do better to simply sit down and wait for your end."
"Not… in… your… lifetime…" Ratatosk's ragged voice sounded. The three looked to the side and saw the Lord of Monsters struggling to get up, supporting himself on his sword.
"Is that so?" Nebilim asked with a grin on his face. "Well then, you leave me no choice…"
With that, the Supreme Head of the Demonic Invasion Troops swept his arm in the air, leaving an arc of flames on its path. With the same hand, he grasped the middle of the newly formed, large, flame bow as he brought his other hand forward, closed and brought it back, forming a giant, fire arrow. The elven-looking wraith then took aim on Ratatosk. Colette and Raine could see what was about to happen and, ignoring the eminent danger, Colette got up and ran to shield Ratatosk.
"Solar Pierce," Nebilim then let go of the arrow and it turned into a beam as soon as it flew out of the bow.
Ratatosk could only look at the beam coming to him, but his vision was blocked when something yellow came on the path of the beam, calling out her defensive Arte:
"Terra's Shield!" a bubble-like, brown sphere with Gnome's symbol on the front appeared around Colette as she crossed her chakras. However, it proved to be too weak against Nebilim's attack.
The shield shattered the moment the beam hit it and the chakras melted as the beam passed by them, hitting the center of Colette's chest. At first, she was only forced back a little by the impact, however her eyes widened when energy quickly concentrated on the point and it released a powerful explosion, launching the girl back. The explosion made Colette revert back to her human form and, unfortunately, her defenses weren't able to absorb all of the damage, having already absorbed, unknowingly to Colette, the penetrating effects of the beam before.
The group watched as part of Colette's skin was tore open by the explosion, blood flying as she was flew in arc as if in slow motion. She then hit the floor and skidded to a halt, her eyes open and unfocused, her expression frozen in surprise. She didn't even have the time to scream. Nobody spoke as they looked at the blonde.
Raine then snapped out of her stupor and called for Colette, running to her and looking over the damage. Without Raine noticing, tears started to come to her eyes as she saw Colette's state; the girl's head was turned to the side, blood was quickly pooling around her, her breath was uneven and deep and the wound… Raine was immensely relieved Colette was still alive.
The silver haired woman quickly went to work on healing her friend, however she knew there was little she could do to a wound like that without the a weapon to use as a focus. The most she could do was to repair the damaged muscles and stop the bleeding. She and Ratatosk then heard Nebilim sighing as he said, his voice sounding strangely sad:
"She's going to hate me for this, but…" he then walked to Colette, but Ratatosk quickly put himself on his feet, ignoring all pain in favor of standing between Nebilim and his friends. Putting up his best hateful expression, the fierce Summon Spirit lashed out:
"STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM THEM, YOU DEMON!"
Nebilim stopped on his place at seeing Ratatosk still had the strength to stand. He then chuckled, but unlike before, it was a sad one, like he was remembering a particularly bad joke. Ratatosk raised his eyebrow at his enemy's behavior as Nebilim spoke:
"Demon? Yeah… I think that's just fair…" his tone was strangely hollow, bearing none of its usual smoothness and eagerness in battle. "Still…" he then looked at Ratatosk, his eyes now with a piercing and serious gleam. "We all have roles to play… and this is mine."
With that he produced his two fire blades and continued to walk to Ratatosk, who knew he stood no chance in the state he was.
Marta, Colette, everybody… I'm sorry. If only I…

- / - / - / - / - / - / -

Everything was dark…
She couldn't feel, couldn't hear, couldn't see, couldn't think…
She felt like she was floating, but didn't know if her eyes were open or not. All around her was only darkness as memories replayed on her head:
Her father falling, dead before even hitting the ground, his life sucked by a stray, dark burst she released…
Her sister slapping her and calling her a monster and a freak…
Her banishment from Ozette…
Years spend in solitude, feeling empty…
Being tormented by wandering spirits…
It was like a bad movie put on "Repeat" that she couldn't stop watching. It played again and again, until the only conscious thought she could think of was:
It would've been better… if I was never born…
Presea now wished she could just stop all of it. She wished she could just disappear… cease existing. Be swallowed by the darkness that surrounded her once and for all. Oblivion would surely be better than this life.
… ea…
She heard something…
… Presea…
Was somebody calling her? But why?
It's useless… another voice spoke.
Presea then felt other images coming to her mind:
A lone child crying over the dead corpses of her parents. A devastated village on the background…
Soldiers rushing to the battlefield, half of them were falling at the first barrage of bullets. Fighting in a war they had nothing to gain from…
A person, a half-elf by the looks of it, his body twisting and mutating into a hideous, green creature…
Death… destruction… corruption… sadness… hatred…
Is life even worth living? Presea thought as she saw all of these scenes, the tragedies caused by her own kind.
… Please… Presea…
There came the voice again. Presea thought she saw something amidst the darkness. It also had sounded familiar? Was it somebody she knew? She felt like her own sense of identity was slowly disappearing…
"Presea, wake up!"
It was then she finally opened her eyes.
Around her was darkness, but she could now see her body. Ahead of her was what looked like some kind of water mirror, swirling and slowly becoming clear, like a fogged window.
The world… cries… always…
A new voice sounded, this one very different from any Presea had heard. She looked to her side and, to her surprised, she saw what looked like a mass of dark-purple darkness with two red eyes and a silver, belt-looking ornament around what should have been its waist, it was hard to tell.
The creature turned its red eyes to her and the pink haired girl immediately knew who it was…
"Shadow…" Presea didn't know if she had spoken that or voiced it in her mind, but creature seemed to understand her nonetheless, as it nodded its head to her.
The mass of darkness then turned to the window and Presea also looked, a little curious. She saw images on it:
A boy crying over the corpse of a green haired woman, swearing revenge on her death…
A monster (however, Presea somehow knew that wasn't its true form) towering over a man holding a sword, behind him a passed-out child and a creature that looked like a big, white and green dog. The man charged forward and attacked with tears on his eyes…
A little girl with black-violet hair was crying over the corpse of an old man with signs of burnt. Lightning fell around her, striking and instantly killing anybody that dared to approach…
A village burning…
A giant, gruesome tree made out of roots destroying a port city…
The boy from before, claiming that if the world rejected him he would destroy it and build a new one before multicolored, ethereal wings sprouted from his back…
A rebellion. Masked people killing anybody in sight…
More death… violence… deceit… anger…
The world… no matter… time… space… reality… always suffer… Shadow spoke. This… nature… of existence…
Presea looked at the window again. Indeed, suffering was a constant in the world. There would always be disasters and catastrophes. So why even fight? It would always end up in pain and suffering all over again. No one could fight against the inevitable. One life wasn't enough to assure the safety of the world.
… we need your help…
There came that voice again and, strangely enough, Presea thought she knew who was talking. It was then she realized, with a jolt, that she indeed knew the person.
"Colette!" Presea turned from the mirror and looked around. She could hear sounds of battle. Was Colette in danger?
No use… Shadow spoke. The world… life itself… won't change… pain and sadness… again…
Presea then turned to her old self. She knew it was right. No matter what she or anybody else did one thing was certain; sadness and pain would always exist in everybody's lives. The world wasn't a utopia. There was no way to make it eternally peaceful and make everybody happy.
"COLETTE!"
Presea's eyes widened as she turned again to where she thought she had heard the voice. It was another one that she knew. Was Colette in danger? In that case, she had to help her.
Still going… ? … Shadow asked as Presea turned and made mention of start running before she stopped.
There was silence between them as the girl lowered her head. The images from before replayed in her mind, but this time she disregarded them all.
"It's true… the world will always witness sadness and pain. Our lives are made of that," Presea spoke, more to herself than to Shadow. "But…" she slowly turned to face her past self. "I don't care about any of that. There are… things I want to do… people, I still have to talk to.
"Colette… she tried to help me, said I should live, if only for those that I can protect. I… I don't know what she exactly meant by that, but I want to ask… talk to her again."
You… end up… hurt… sadness… suffering… Shadow replied in that hissing and deep voice of his.
Presea thought on that. True, there was no guarantee she wouldn't suffer and be abandoned again, but even so…
"STAY AWAY… !"
She looked up at hearing that. She was losing time thinking on these things. Finally, the pink haired girl spoke:
"I don't care if I'm hurt. I am already dead inside, but… if my life can have an actual meaning, if I can make something good out of my existence, then I don't care how much pain I'll have to endure. Besides… I don't want for Colette to die. At least that much I'm certain of… she deserves to live and be happy."
You… not enough… power… Shadow spoke. Will you… take power… darkness? …
Presea looked at him and then felt the sadness and desperation from before invading her. She knew that if Colette was out there, it was possible she had met Nebilim and was fighting him and Presea wouldn't be able to help her the way she was now. No, she needed power if she would want to defend Colette from Nebilim… power like that of a Summon Spirit's.
But could she actually take up the power that she tried so much to reject? She had thought she could finally get rid of Shadow's soul and have her life back…
Am I… willingly to trade that for Colette's life? Presea asked herself. Resolve washed away the uneasiness and the despair she felt before. She already knew the answer. No. My life isn't worth hers. Colette deserves to live more than me. She has friends and she has a future. She faced the same things as me and she still has the strength to fight, to live.
"I know you might hate me for wanting to get rid of you…" Presea started speaking to Shadow. "But… please… I'll accept any punishment, anything you want, so I beg of you…" Presea never thought she would be in a position like this, asking for the power she tried to shun her entire life. But for Colette … "Let me have your power, just this once. So I can save Colette!"
Presea felt tears coming to her eyes as she plead with Shadow. The Summon Spirit stood silent on his place until he finally nodded with his head.
Your resolve… strong enough… conquer darkness… remember… this determination… the bond with… Keeper of Terra's Oath… Shadow then extended his hand to Presea. You're ready…
Suddenly she remembered of the day she first met the other half of Shadow's soul. That day, he said she wasn't ready to take up her destiny, but now… Presea only nodded. No use thinking on that. Her mind was set. Protecting Colette was the priority for her and for that she would even merge herself with Shadow if it was necessary.
Presea then reached and grasped Shadow's stubby hand. Dark winds started to blow around them, but the two stood unaffected. Liquid darkness started to crawl up Presea's feet, but even so she stood in her position, fearless. It actually felt… good. Like a warm water running up her body. Presea closed her eyes.
Then Shadow's voice sounded for the last time:
Reborn… Warrior of the Deep Abyss…
Finally, Presea opened her eyes…

Well... that's done for now.

Oh, and before I forget, here's a skit for you, starring...

Genis and his aides Rahishi and Reriki! Let's see what these guys are doing while our gang of heroes is fighting for their lives:

The General's Aides
Genis: Wonder how long it's going to take…
Rahishi: What is it, my General?
Genis: Lord Nebilim. He said he wanted to evaluate in which level things are. I wonder if maybe I should have stayed with him.
Reriki: Oh, anxious for some action, Master Genis?
Genis: Not really. I just want to see how strong they are, so I can form the best strategy to deal with them. I don't want to get caught off guard if they are more experienced than I anticipated.
Reriki: Heheh. Yeah. I get it.
Rahishi: Urgh. You're so immature. Anyway, there's nothing we can do, but wait for Lord Nebilim. Otherwise, we will be breaching orders.
Genis: Yeah, but… I really wanted to see Ratatosk's magic. That's not fair!
Reriki: Oh. Here, here, Master Genis, let me give you a hug.
Genis: Huh… thanks, but I don't… mmmfh, uuumf!
Rahishi: RERIKI!
Reriki *smiles*: See? A hug always makes anybody feel better.
Rahishi: Not when you're suffocating him with these overgrown pillows you call breasts! Let him go!
Reriki: Awwww, you're no fun!
Rahishi: Honestly, I don't even want to think what would happen to General Sage if I wasn't around to stop this shameful behavior of yours.
Reriki: For your information, I would take very good care of Master Genis. I would always make sure his bed is warm at night, that he sleeps in comfort and have a nice and tasty breakfast each morning.
Rahishi: Let me guess, with you as the food?
Reriki: Of course. What else?
Genis: Um… excuse me. I have to…
Rahishi: Oh, General Sage you're bleeding by your nose. Here, let me tend to it.
Reriki: No fair! I wanted to tend to him.
Rahishi: And you certainly would stop the bleeding by smothering him on another one of your "hugs".
Reriki: Wrong! I would lick it clean.
Rahishi: AH! My General! Damn it Reriki, you made him faint!
Genis *thinking*: Sometimes, it's really inconvenient having this body... or keeping composure around these two.

Review and Reriki will give you a hug! (C'mon, you know you want it)