November 12th, 2030

Two beings walked apart, Sinblade taking the lead. The fallen leader of The Will of Kyoya drifted behind, embracing himself as he stared helplessly at the ground. His unfocused, purple eyes barely saw anything. He was deep in his thoughts, thinking about his previous mutterings about what should be done. This complete shift had disturbed him, and he felt even more guilty; he knew that he had left CJ and Arkaid behind. It would've been a matter of time before they both woke up, but Eirik had little faith in their safety in such an unforgiving world. He kept assuring himself that he would've come back if only he knew that he was safe from facing those horrid dragons. He himself didn't even feel safe knowing that Sinblade would turn on him the moment Dahaka returned.

The black knight of a dragon kept his eyes on the horizon, scouting for any sign of life. Multiple times he has altered his traveling direction, believing that he has had some form of inner guidance shift. Walking straight was not satisfactory to him; he had made a right turn at some point, changing their entire path. Maybe he made a left as well? He couldn't remember. All he could think of was his buddy and how distant he became. He glanced back, noticing that Eirik was still barely there. "Master Eirik," Sinblade stated firmly. The man didn't respond at first, still keeping his thoughts to himself. "Master Eirik!"

That shook him awake. The fallen leader snapped back to reality. He frantically looked around to find the source before finding it to be his buddy. Buddy? Could Eirik truly call him that at this point? "I'm not your master," Eirik moaned somberly.

"Don't speak so foolishly."

"Your master is Azi Dahaka, not me," Eirik began. "You turned your blade on me, something that no buddy would've done. You may view me as a second, but that makes me on some putrid level of some common cohort."

"You're ignoring the issue at hand," Sinblade returned solemnly. "Azi Dahaka created me. To go against my creator would be sacrilege. I cannot do such a task."

"Then leave me." Sinblade went quiet from such an adamant demand. The dragon diverted his eyes, but he couldn't stop feeling guilty. "When I became your buddy, I thought of you as family. Azi Dahaka may have created you, but he has been gone many times before. I have been with you for as long as I remember, yet you took his side over mine; you took the side of a demon that only is there when he needs you." Eirik's emotions began to compile on top of each other. His hands shook from the complete and utter betrayal from the one person he trusted the most. "When I was about to protest, he needed you. When Dahaka had those plans with Kyoya, he needed you. In every fight against Balle Soleil, he needed you. But that happens every 1000 years. What does he do for you in the meantime? While he's resting, completely leaving you behind, people like me stood beside you. I gave you my blood!"

"Master…."

"Stop calling me that!" Eirik barked back. "I didn't want to be your master; I wanted a friend! I wanted someone that I could trust with everything! And when my brother was taken… you just stood there! You just let it happen! You didn't even fight back!" Eirik's rampant anger quickly subsided. Sadness took its place. Sinblade remained speechless, unable to say another world. "Leave me. I don't want to be near you anymore."

"… Eirik."

"Go." Eirik refused to look at him. "Go find your real master. I want to be left alone."

"… And you?"

"Why should you care?" Eirik muttered weakly. "I lost my brother, the world probably knows what I've done. I definitely have no home to return to, and the only person left in this world that I could trust had betrayed me. I don't need to explain anything anymore; there is nothing left for me here."

"Then why walk?"

"Because I still need to find the Cavalry," Eirik answered with sorrow. Sinblade gasped. "I need to tell them what happened. What happens afterward… I don't care. I just want them to know where they can find their friends. As for you." Eirik finally raised his head, staring into Sinblade's helmet. "I'll keep going straight, you will take a left and you will stay left. If Azi Dahaka comes back, I don't want to be anywhere near you. The last thing I want is for him to have you kill me."

"… Eirik, I share that sentiment…." Sinblade's comment fell deaf on Eirik's ears. His master continued to remain oblivious to such a call. However, a sudden roar brought them both to their senses. They both turned to the South, watching as two gargantuan beasts flew in the skies above. Now was not the time for bickering; Eirik needed to find some cover. He rushed for the nearest rock formation, hiding behind it as he noticed Sinblade doing the same. He didn't care to ask why he too had done this, for he was too focused on the two beasts in the sky. The battle was coming to them, and there was no way they could run from this.

Zahhak crunched onto Azi Dahaka's neck. The ghastly dragon could feel his teeth piercing into the scales. Dahaka wailed, roaring out in pain as the two of them fell from the sky. A loud THUMP followed as they slammed into the ground. Zahhak refused to let go. He gripped harder with his teeth as he lunged at Dahaka's torso with his feet. The claws scratched across the Black Sun Dragon's ominous scales. Some were torn off, revealing pale skin. Dahaka tried to throw his traitorous disciple off of him with a fast beam of light. It wasn't nearly as strong as his main attack, but he was still recharging his energy to even perform such a feat. That weakened beam shot at Zahhak, sending him yards away as his colossal body tumbled across the wasteland.

Azi Dahaka unleashed an ear-piercing roar. It echoed across the land, shaking the very ground they walked on. His crimson eyes struck into Zahhak's weakened eyes. The two stood across from each other, cautiously waiting for the other to move. Dahaka groaned with pain. He looked at his mangled body, noticing that he was missing many scales. His teeth were bared. He saw that he hadn't made a real dent or scratch into Zahhak's 'scales,' if one could call them that. Zahhak's body was like a strong current of a river; the 'scales' appeared to fluctuate around him, morphing in shape. The energy of CJ's hidden power was the outer layer now, constantly moving around and reforming Zahhak's wounds, protecting him from any sign of harm. Azi Dahaka became even more furious. "How… how is this possible?!" He roared back. "Your scales! No… they aren't scales at all!"

Zahhak confidently snickered. "Whatever power that man had, it is now like my armor. Coursing through me, protecting me… shielding me." He stared at his body, watching as the energy continued to rivet around him. "Even now, it is like that man is protecting me with every ounce of my strength. I can accept that."

"To think that your bond with him was so strong!"

"No… he must hate me now," Zahhak solemnly returned. "After what I did to him… he'd never forgive me. But, I had to do it. And now that his power is now welded to my own being, I have made it my own. If I had to thank you, for one thing, it would be the fact that you placed too much faith in me to blindly and mindlessly obey you like the disciple you truly desired."

"Continue to talk to me in such a way, and you will not live another day."

"No…," Zahhak muttered in return. "I believe that destiny is yours. The Purgatory Knights are drawing near."

"What?!"

Zahhak appeared to take command of destiny itself. Upon the horizon, an army emerged. At least thirty humanoid dragons rushed forth with weapons at the ready. Azi Dahaka winced weakly at the sight of who was in the front. He recognized that dragon's face; it was Demios, the Leader of the Purgatory Knights! Alongside that behemoth of an adversary was a young man, who appeared to be in his young 20s. Such a sight frightened Azi Dahaka even more; in his experience, the bond between buddies is something that has brought him down too many times. And now, rushing before him, was an army being led into battle by a strong pair of partners. With him in such a weakened state, he worried about a possible disadvantage. His first thought was to retreat, but Zahhak took advantage of Dahaka getting distracted. He slammed into the Black Sun Dragon, making the beast tumble toward the charging crowd. "Curse you!" Dahaka cried out.

Zahhak watched as some of the dragons took to the air. He himself took flight, feeling invigorated as he watched his 'former master' become cornered in mere moments. He remembered seeing that Purgatory Knight from before. He knew the being's role; the scout Purgatory Knight must have alerted the opposing forces. As Zahhak expected, other beings were going to finish off the Black Sun Dragon leaving himself to fly confidently away. He snickered to himself, watching the Dragon of the Black Sun realize the futility of the situation. Azi Dahaka roared, bellowing curses at the traitorous disciple. Zahhak muttered to himself with a cocky tone. "I do not wish to continue our petty squabble. Someone like you continues to chase power, which is why you needed us to be the brains. You failed because you couldn't do both. You are nothing more than a mindless brute, who refused to acknowledge his own surroundings." He looked forward, feeling a peculiar sensation. He sensed it a good distance away, and he was drawn to it immediately. "I must confront my own demons before fulfilling my brother's destiny."

The battlefield below was filled with the sounds of bellowing soldiers. Ones who were able took to the skies, soaring around Azi Dahaka's heads. No true act of war was made, for the troops ensured that they completely surrounded the beast at all sides. The archers and mages kept their distance while the swordsmen and defenders stood at the reader. Right in the front of it all was Demios, standing proudly alongside his buddy. The leader stuck his sword into the ground, erecting his back proudly as he sternly laid his hands on the pommel of his sword. Demios's eyes became blood red as he stared into the demon that was Azi Dahaka. He couldn't help but grin, but something held him back; the possibility of failure. Even when weakened, Azi Dahaka was a threat to keep an eye on. He glanced at Liam, feeling the power of the Disaster Force empowering the man. Liam smirked cockily as the dark power enveloped his body, giving him newfound strength. The human proudly wielded Demios's gift to him; the Orcus sword. It made the Leader of the Purgatory Knights feel even more invigorated. His allies stood and flew with strength. They saw their victory before them. "Azi Dahaka! In a way, I am overjoyed to be on this battlefield! I will have the pleasure of striking you down, ending you where you stand!"

The elder dragon snarled lowly. His eyes caught the sight of two familiar adversaries. A blue-haired boy remained steady with an illuminated blaster rifle. His hair flowed long; the Future Force was activated. Beside him was the neodragon, Star Dragoner Jackknife. The two made eye contact with Azi Dahaka but refused to say a word. They looked at each other, tense and frozen as the tension in the air made everything heavier. Dahaka's exasperated sigh echoed throughout the entirety of the army. He knew that this was going to be harsh battle for him, but his sights on victory did not wane. He returned to the side, staring into the face of the leader of this small army. "Even though my disciple has betrayed me, my life shall never end. I am darkness and destruction incarnate! I am that of a God! You would have better fortune attacking my foolish disciple; he may be stronger, but he is one that has not yet learned to truly become eternal."

"No; you will fall here."

"That is but your arrogant thinking, leader of the Purgatory Knights!" Dahaka growled. "Before my time is up, I shall send you all to a burning and excruciating hell. I will bring about a hellfire so horrifying that you wish I could end your pitiful suffering."

"It is unfortunate that you are just as arrogant, if not more so," Demios returned with a prideful smirk. "For one that was bested by his disciple, you continuously speak of victory. Such meaningless semantics will fall on deaf ears."

"If that is true, then my words are meaningless to you."

"That they are."

"Then the time for talking ends here, Knight!"

"Purgatory Knights! CHARGE!"

Everyone stormed forward, unleashing a furious assault as battle cries filled the air!

(POV: Arkaid-First)

I was slowly beginning to regain the use of my muscles to the point that it was more than just a simple twitch. My fingers were responsive, showing that I have been making strides in my recovery. My feet could rotate, which was met with a similar feeling of contentedness. However, my arms and legs were still struggling to move. I wanted to be able to support myself. I felt CJ's strength fading as he continued to carry me across this putrid world. He has been supporting me for so long… I feel tremendously guilty for having him work so hard to get through this. I could feel his lungs beating like a heart, ready to burst. His legs shook weakly with each inch of a step forward. His skin paled, his weakening demeanor showed. "CJ, please, you should stop for a bit."

"… Not until… we get to another place," he panted back to me. I nudged my head more over his shoulders. His eyes were half open. His mouth wasn't closed. My eternal partner was working himself like a dog, panting heavily as the cold, arid air sucked the life out of him. Food was growing scarcer with each trek, and it showed. I was starving, but it would be selfish to say something like that when CJ was pushing himself forward. Each breath became like that of a weary wail, calling out for the Goddess of Fortune for any sign of help. He was not one to appreciate relying on luck, for it would demean what he earned. But pride was no longer a factor in any of this; I could tell that he just wanted to get us out of here.

Normally, I would be pestering him to stop, but his mind was vanishing before me. It left me in a state of panic. He stopped; he could feel my increased heart rate pound into his back. Wearily, he turned his head to me, tilting his head to a figure a few hundred feet away. It was another cavern, surrounded by a smaller assortment of boulders for cover. It was perfect for another chance at recovery and rest. My partner gave me a fragile smile. I expected for him to say something. I wanted him to say anything so I could truly see the happiness on his face.

But then his face faded. Everything rushed through me as my partner's body fell forward.

The air was knocked out of me when we landed on the ground. I adjusted myself the very little I could, trying to register the situation that just occurred. CJ's head was to the side. His eyes were only slightly open. His soft, slow breath pushed away some of the free soil in front of his face. "CJ, are you okay?" I hastily asked him. My voice cracked; his sudden collapse made me start to panic. "CJ? CJ, are you okay?!" He wasn't answering me. Why wasn't he answering me?! "CJ? CJ!" I screamed at him. I was completely unable to think logically. My mind went into a frenzy. I couldn't find myself able to think of any other way to fix this. I was still unable to move on my own; I was completely useless! CJ was the only one between me and him that could actually function, and now… now…. "CJ, please, you need to get up! I can't-… I can't!" My eyes watered. I found myself turning away, wishing to ignore everything. "I can't help you… Why can't I help you?"

I cursed at my useless body. Frantically, my body twitched with each futile attempt at natural motion. A sudden jerk made me tumble to the left, leaving me in the dirt. I spat it away, looking back at CJ's lifeless body. He still didn't move. "Damn it, CJ! You need to move! Please!" I hated myself. I hated everything that I stood for yet couldn't! I was supposed to be his protector! I was supposed to train him into a true warrior! I had so much time left with him; I had an eternity to make him a true and honest man! …

But I failed.

I failed him. As I watched CJ's motionless body, I could only think of what would happen if things were different. Looking back, I wished that I never met him; meeting me was the worst thing that could have happened to him. God damn me! Why do I even have to exist?! Why should I even find myself worthy of even breathing! If I could, I should've just ended my life so that CJ wouldn't bother himself over me. I was supposed to protect him, not the other way around. 400 years of serving my master, 400 years of training myself for the sake of protecting Lord Tenbu, and 400 years of me giving it my all just so I could reach the expectations of other dragons… all of that was wasted. Not only did I not even try to break free of getting captured, but I let myself get in this useless state. I let some horrific plan occur, and my buddy could be gone!

What was the point of buddyfighting with him? Testing him? What was the point of me drinking with him, and enjoying myself by just discussing anything, literally anything? What was the point in enjoying the mere act of discussion? What was the point of struggling through those 400 grueling years after being ousted at birth for being the runt of a litter? What was the point of me fighting all this time to keep my precious partner safe?!

What was the point of getting so close to him?

Was the point of all of that to end up dying forgotten in some unforgiving, barren land? Was that the true point of it all? If I just talked to Marissa more; if I had just talked to her about her feelings towards CJ, then CJ wouldn't have lost her; she would still be there with him. Such a terrible power would've never been discovered! The sudden realization is piercing through my weakening skull! It was my fault! All of this was my fault! If I had just looked for someone else; if I had just avoided all of this! If I had just avoided CJ then his dark power would have never been known! Losing Marissa must have been what ruined him; that must have been that final straw! Instead of trying to solve it and bring them back together, I took the opportunity for myself! How selfish am I?!

My voice fell completely silent. Whatever sound that could have possibly been heard had left me. I lost my will. My body was no longer tense; I accepted this horrible fate. We were going to die out here. The only thing I could do was turn my head away from my partner, attempting to ignore my failure. I was his shield. I gladly accepted such a role. I would gladly die for him, but he tried to save mine at the expense of his. I couldn't even fight back. I lost my right to declare my own death.

I felt my eyelids become heavy. Weakly, I accepted this.

Just let me go.

(POV: Third)

Azi Dahaka continued to fall victim to the swarms of enemies. They were relentless in their assault, striking from above with an onslaught of magic and arrows. The swordsmen navigated their way closer as they struck at Dahaka's hardened scales. Although they would only dent the outer layer, a strong strike by key fighters managed to completely bypass the scales! The Black Sun Dragon thrashed away at the enemies around him, watching as the two main groups began to charge through the crowd. Liam took flight on Demios before the two of them began to hastily orbit the demon dragon's body. Jackknife and Tasuku took flight with each other. Tasuku's buddy skill was online, enabling him to take flight. His shoes emanated a peculiar green aura as he soared through the air. He remained in the back, blasting away at Azi Dahaka with a relentless series of blaster shots! The Black Sun Dragon was drained by these constant attacks; he could only do so much against an assault so one-sided!

Liam fell towards Azi Dahaka's side. Using his weight and momentum, he pierced his Orcus sword along the side of Azi Dahaka's right face. He didn't see it coming; he was trying too hard to keep track of all of the pesky enemies. Alone, each member of the force would not be worth anything. However, as a group, these attacks were adding up. Azi Dahaka was completely overwhelmed, but he was far from giving in just yet; he had to adjust his position so he wasn't completely surrounded. He hastily extended his wings, taking flight for a short moment. If his wings were damaged by any attack, his ability to fly in this battle would be annihilated. He had to plan out where he would fly and leap to, otherwise, it would be a fruitless endeavor for him.

He took flight to the side, leaving the inner circle. The forces were then made to adjust their positioning as they watched the elder dragon land once again. Demios was extremely close to cleaving through one of Azi's wings, but the Elder dragon retracted them. With a strong thrash of his heads, Demios was forced to be evasive. He maneuvered his way through the thrashing heads. He gasped at every close hit; he could sense just how small his wiggle room was; one false move and he would be sent spiraling to the dirt below at 100 miles an hour! Each weave was a struggle, but he managed to escape. Azi Dahaka looked at the forces before him as they rushed forth. "Filthy mortals! You will not best me yet!

Eirik peered through a nearby rock. He heard the sounds of war coming closer to his spot. It wasn't safe anywhere near here, but he couldn't afford to get out in the open and flee. With the battle occurring, he had little hope but to remain next to his traitorous buddy until the warzone was brought further away. Until then, he could only hide behind his feeble rock formation as the battle between good and evil commenced in front of his innocent eyes.

The Black Sun Dragon continued to use his fiery breath on the opposing foes. Some of the dragons in the middle of flight were shot down, sent spiraling to the ground. Tasuku gasped as he watched the horrific results of Purgatory warfare. The body fell to the ground, lifelessly tumbling across the dirt until everything in that once lively body completely ceased. The young boy froze in his place. Jackknife quickly went to his buddy's side. "Tasuku, we must continue… Tasuku?!" The young boy was frozen at the sight of such horrendous death.

It was then that Demios and Liam flew in from the side. Liam eagerly set himself down on the ground. He anxiously breathed; it appeared he had, at the very least, a slight fear of heights. Regardless, he rushed to Tasuku's side and stared at the boy's eyes. "This is how we have to fight. We die, but come back, so people like you don't have to go through something so horrible." Azi Dahaka's demented roars echoed throughout the land, shaking the army. Tasuku shielded himself as the roar's shockwaves pelted against our group of heroes. Liam kept yelling over the noise. "That's why you stay back! We may die, but we'll rise again!" He returned to Demios's side but soon rushed towards the demonic dragon with his Orcus sword.

Jackknife recognized it. He watched it closely as Liam joined the battle before them. "That sword…."

Demios nodded. "It was my own. It was a gift from me to him."

"You would trust him with such a thing?"

"Jack, I have found a buddy that I can trust my life to," Demios returned sternly. "Just like you, which is why I can't stay here; I must fight alongside him!"

Tasuku understood it. He understood it all right then and there. He needed to shake away his anxiety; he needed to fight for what was right. As he watched Demios fly into battle, he turned to Jackknife with a firm nod. "Jack, let's get to work!" Jackknife, with a proud smile, nodded back to him. Tasuku grasped his blaster tightly as he took flight. The two of them flew alongside each other, unleashing their lasers at the Black Sky Dragon with everything they had. Demios and Liam were making use of every small opportunity given to them. They had to play it close; Dahaka was making quick work of some of the Purgatory Knights. He burned away more callous dragons, sending their corpses to the grounds. With his behemoth of a tail, he thwacked away at any dragon who dared to venture too close. Even with this, Azi Dahaka knew that he was running out of time. He was only able to take out a small portion of this army. They were advancing like a group of bees; swarming around and nailing the demon dragon in every single feasible area. Azi Dahaka had no choice but to take flight once again. These forces were getting too close to him, and he was not at full power yet!

He took a short flight to the right. Eirik winced in fear. A sudden wave of panic went through him as he leaped to the side. Sinblade followed him just before Azi Dahaka landed on top of the small rock formation, smashing it into bits. "What do we have here?" The Purgatory Knights stopped their assault. Eirik and Sinblade had made their appearance known. Before anyone else could react, Azi Dahaka scuffed Eirik to the side. Sinblade weakly looked away, trying to ignore it all. He refused to watch as Eirik was being toyed with by the demon dragon he once proudly served. "A mere human rat? Eirik… you have finally arrived, and you may have your purpose to me yet." Tasuku and Jackknife took to the front of the crowd. Eirik meagerly looked up, shaking with fear as he stared at the large army. "Child of destiny, I believe that it would be in your best interest to keep this man alive."

Tasuku gritted his teeth. "You're doing it to your own? You truly are a heartless demon!"

"I am the embodiment of chaos and destruction; a dragonic deity who seeks to amass more power," Dahaka proudly returned. He stared at Eirik with dread. Azi Dahaka could feel the power within him finally come close to its filling point. He grinned menacingly, surveying Demios and Liam as they stepped alongside Tasuku. "Or, does the Purgatory Knight wish to ignore such a human?"

Liam shook his head. "It doesn't matter if he's dead; he caused all of this!"

Jackknife quickly stammered back. "What are you doing?!"

Demios shook his head. "Don't be a fool, Jackknife; we don't reason with his kind."

"He has a hostage!"

"Who happens to be the Leader of the Will of Kyoya," Demios returned with a stern huff. "I swore to get back at Kyoya, as well as all of his followers, for what he did to me and my army. Under Kyoya's command, I was a mere puppet to the likes of him and Dahaka. I refuse to abide by your rules."

Tasuku yelled back. "He's a criminal from our world and deserves a fair trial like everybody else."

Liam shrugged his shoulders. "But we aren't on Earth anymore; we're in Darkness Dragon World."

"That doesn't mean-"

"No matter what, we're not letting Azi Dahaka have any chance of escaping!" Liam gritted his teeth. "Forget your deal, Dahaka! We're not letting him in at all!"

The Black Sun Dragon sighed. "It is a shame..." Azi Dahaka looked beneath him, staring at the frozen man. Eirik's body was trembling with fear, making him unable to move. Despite Tasuku's wish to send Jackknife in, he realized it would mean risking Jack's life for such a fruitless endeavor…. He just couldn't accept it. Even so, Azi Dahaka raised his left foot, eying the young man. "… I did appreciate your service to me. However, you are no longer needed."

Tasuku curled his hands into fists. The nonchalant attitude from Azi Dahaki brought out his anger. "Stop it…."

"Time for you to die, Eirik!"

"STOP IT!"

Suddenly, a black flash yanked Eirik from beneath Dahaka's grasp. The foot slammed into the ground, but there was no sign of Eirik. "What is the meaning of this?!" Tasuku and Jackknife gasped, but Demios merely observed the truth firsthand. He recognized that feeling; the desire to protect your buddy. He understood it without question, which was why he knew it was Sinblade who rescued his buddy at the very last moment. The dragon had Eirik wrapped in his left arm. Eirik meekly looked up, seeing the face of his trusted partner. "Sinblade… you have betrayed me!"

Sinblade shook the doubt from his mind; his eyes were clear! "No… I cannot let this slide by again!" Sinblade turned to face the demon dragon, staring at him with his crimson eyes. "No longer will I let you control me. I am Eirik's buddy, through and through. His devotion to me has shown that he is the one to lead me! You, however, will be silenced; brought to your death by the edge of my sword!" Eirik felt empowered. He felt honored to have a buddy such as Sinblade by his side.

Azi Dahaka merely snickered at the display. "No… you both have done your purpose well enough; you have given me the time to annihilate everything in my path!" Sinblade knew what was coming. He grasped his buddy and rushed away. The Purgatory Army tensed up, nervously watching as Azi Dahaka's heads began to charge up balls of raw energy. Electrical surges of aura orbited each violet-crimson sphere.

Demios knew what was coming next. With one loud order, he commanded his army. "Scatter! Avoid it at all cost!"

There was no hope of deflecting this attack. Jackknife grabbed hold of Tasuku before taking to the skies. His best hope was to use his aerial maneuvers and avoid whatever thing may come his way. Demios needed to attempt to draw the line of fire away from his army. That was all he could do in such little time they had left. He hastily grasped onto Liam, taking him into the skies. The rest of the army didn't dare to venture any closer to the fiend. They scattered across the landscape in too many directions! Azi Dahaka knew his targets. With the three of his heads ready to release his ferocious attack, he reeled back discharging the violent rays! "Erasure of History!"

The three rays shot out. Jackknife knew one was going for him. "Hold on!" He cried out. Tasuku grasped tightly onto his partner. The green dragon took off at high speeds, weaving through the air as the laser raced behind him. With every rise and dive, the laser followed. Jackknife was putting everything he had into avoiding this one final attack. All he could do was keep himself from getting too close! Tasuku grunted from the air rushing at him from the intense speeds. He grasped even tighter on the dragon's helmet, but he could feel himself slipping. It only made him put everything into it. He buckled down. He weakly looked back, staring at the emptiness of such a relentless attack. The scarlet ray shot out past them, extending into the unknown behind them.

The army was scattered, but that didn't stop one of the heads from breaching the main hud of it. One ray skewered into the planet's crust, causing upheaval and torment wherever it went. Souls that were not fast enough were victim to the ray's insane blast. They were scorched in an instant, leaving only their burned corpses behind. The others would cry out to their fallen comrades, only to fall victim to the attack themselves. The slow was the first to go, but even the speedy ones were not prepared enough to evade the ray's sudden twists in trajectory. It was obvious that the army was Dahaka's main target, but as this was going on….

The third ray was after Demios. The dragon couldn't get himself to match the same speeds. His size and armor held him back. With each intense flap of his wings, he could feel his muscles and bones creak from extreme soreness. It was becoming too much for him. He gritted his teeth, soon holding onto his buddy even tighter. Liam worriedly looked to the ground, watching as Demios winced from the pain. He had immense power but lacked in speed in comparison to Jack. Demios worriedly looked at him, watching as the ray began to catch up with him. Demios took a quick dive in a last-ditch effort to gain some speed. He spread his wings, diving towards the ground. He looked back, but the laser was still inching towards him. He was getting too close to the ground; if he were to get too close, his army would fall victim to the third! Demios couldn't afford to do that; he needed his force for battle! Demios spun in the air in an attempt to weave to the side. He needed to get to a new area so he could start another climb. Just when he started for it, the laser scorched through Demios's wings. The sharp pain shot through the dragon's weary body. He roared from the pain. The sudden surge of pain made all of his muscles twitch and unhinge. He was falling, gone limp from the sudden surge of pain. He twisted and spun, becoming victim to the wind. But then, his mind beamed back to life with shock and fear; he had released his buddy.

His head jerked back, watching as Liam fell helplessly from the sky. He didn't scream; the fear of the skies gripped him as he watched the red ray draw closer. Demios cried out for him. "LIAM!" There was no use. Liam stared into the unforgiving void that was Azi Dahaka's attack. Before Demios's eyes, Liam vanished within the crimson.

…

The Erasure of History had finally ceased. Half of Demios's forces had fallen victim to that last attack. Azi Dahaka heaved heavily; that last attack took nearly everything out of him. He stared at the remnants of the army, chuckling to himself as he noticed Demios's weak body force himself back on his feet. Azi Dahaka needed time to recuperate, but he knew he had more than enough time; he knew that it was going to take some time for Demios to retrieve his will for battle.

Demios was in horrible pain; his wings were singed to the point that his bones could be seen. His wings folded, and he fell to the ground after feeling such horrendous pain. He inhaled angrily, smelling the scent of his scorched brethren. Jackknife and Tasuku rushed over, landing alongside him. Tasuku rushed to his side. "Demios, can you stand?"

"… Where… where's Liam?" Demios muttered weakly. "I need… I need to see Liam!" He managed to force himself back up. The leader of the Purgatory Knights scanned his surroundings. The survivors surveyed the casualties as they weakly retrieved their weapons. It was as if their will was sapped out of them. Even though death was but a temporary measure, one cannot forget the amount of torture and pain one goes through. One thing remained on his mind though, and then, once he found what he was looking for, his spirit ached. "Liam!"

With his remaining strength, the dragon rushed over to his partner. The young man was lying helplessly on the ground. His entire body was singed, darkened from the extreme heat of the blast. Liam's clothes were burnt nearly to ashes. Demios couldn't bear to look at him, but then he saw his stomach move; Liam was still alive. Liam groaned, unable to speak. It was like his insides were burned from within. Jackknife hid Tasuku's eyes, hoping to hide the boy's eyes from such horror. Tasuku shook his head as he grimly looked below. "I shouldn't look away from reality." He gulped. Demios stuck his sword into the dirt as he knelt beside his trusted partner. Liam couldn't even look at him; his eyes were completely gone, burned away from the unforgiving heat.

"Liam…," Demios muttered softly. He placed his hand on Liam's head. The partner could recognize the dragon's voice. He struggled to speak, gagging from his scorched insides. His throat was sealed, and Liam was on the way to death's door. Demios watched as Liam continued to suffer through this. With a darkened face, he knew what must be done; he had to force the curse to restore him. In order to do that….

Demios tore his blade from the dirt. Liam gagged on his own blood as Demios placed the tip of his blade over Liam's chest. Demios's hands trembled; this was too difficult for him. However, he knew that it had to be done. He needed the curse to restore his partner, and the only way to do that was to end Liam's life. Demios thrust the sword into Liam's chest, bursting through it. Liam released one final weak gasp before falling silent….

The leader of the Purgatory Knights refused to open his eyes. What he had just done was unforgivable. But then, Azi Dahaka's voice beamed from far behind him. "You had to silence your own buddy… how unfortunate."

Demios exhaled lowly. "Azi Dahaka…."

Every ounce of sadness evaporated. The only shred of emotion left within the leader's soul was that of anger and rage. He pulled his sword from Liam's chest, holding it grimly at his side. "You will cease."

"You're buddy will surely return… eventually," Azi Dahaka returned nonchalantly. "I don't understand the sentimentality of you Purgatory Knights."

"… I made an oath to myself," Demios scowled deeply. His red eyes pierced back at the demon behind him. "I promised that I would never let Liam fall victim to death, and I swore to never hold the edge of my blade to him ever again. And you…." Tasuku and Jack gasped, watching as the aura around Demios began to shift. It became like that of steam, pouring out of his armor until it began to raise around him. His breathing became deep and hallow. "You … you made me break both!"

"Yes…," Azi Dahaka returned with a grin. "And you will have to live with that; you'll have to live with that fact for the rest of your eternal life!"

"… That's right…." Demios stared beneath himself. "Your past errors do not get erased…. That past becomes a part of your history, tormenting you for all eternity." His body became enveloped in the harsh steam. An intense heat beamed from it, making Tasuku and Jack pull themselves back. Demios could feel it; the rage of his fallen allies, the guilt of letting them fall… and, worst of all, he felt the absolute betrayal of his own conviction; he was unable to protect his buddy from undergoing a cruel death. Demios would never forgive himself for that, yet he couldn't forgive Azi Dahaka either! "… It is because of that truth that I have strength!" The steam poured from him, enveloping his very soul. "The pain of my allies… the sadness of death… it will stick with my soul for all eternity, and I will use that pain to bring about vengeance!"

The steam erupted from around him. His soul flared with intense lightning and power! The steam flickered, erupting with blue aura as shocks or raw energy twitched around him. Demios felt a new power coursing through him. His brown, tainted scales lost their unholy color. The purity of the soul; his white scales returned to him. He felt the scales and skin around his wings return to him. He proudly expanded his wings, roaring proudly into the dastardly skies above! His scarlet eyes cried for vengeance! Azi Dahaka reeled back, gasping at the sight of such newfound power. Demios's allies cheered before him as Demios's new form came to be. He embraced the cold truth. Blue hues enveloped his golden and brown armor. It was a sharp color; it was like he commanded the power of lightning! "Leading my army, I am the Foundation of the Purgatory Knights, Lord Demios." He turned around, staring at Azi Dahaka's eyes. He directed his sword at the horrendous foe. "Now, Azi Dahaka… you will fall!"

With his renewed wings, he rushed forward with incredibly new feats of strength. His speed was unparallel to that of even Jackknife dragon. His comrades cheered, invigorated by their leader's newfound power! With one last assault, the Purgatory Knights led the charge against the final attack. Demios rammed his sword into Dahaka's jaw, blindsiding the demon with his new speed. Dahaka roared back with pain, but there was no use in intimidating the leader of the Purgatory Knights anymore; Dahaka knew he was too weak to continue. It was only a matter of time before he would wither away. He felt it… he felt the end of his time here nearing.

The onslaught against him was relentless. Demios slashed and cut his way through Azi Dahaka's hardened defenses. The Purgatory Knights became spectators as they watched their leader cut through Azi Dahaka so effortlessly. Their lord slashed into Dahaka's middle neck, causing the dragon to shake violently. The demon couldn't take it anymore. He sagged to the side as the Purgatory Knights continued to slash into his very behind. It wasn't long; the Purgatory Knights were able to make their last assault where it counted. Azi Dahaka was defeated, too exhausted to even fight back.

The sight of the fallen demon dragon brought the army to tears. "Lord Demios! The God Slayer!" The other knights rallied behind that cry. Demios was solemn but proud of his allies. He looked into himself, feeling his new strength. It was a part of him now. He could feel the pain and rage course through him. However, he suppressed it when he saw Jackknife holding the fallen buddy in his arms. Demios rushed to the side, looking at his comrade. The other Knights crowded around Demios's fallen partner. "… For Liam!" One of the knights bellowed. "For Liam!" The others followed.

A long, empty exhale left the fallen demon's middle mouth. The others turned to Azi Dahaka, staring at the fallen god. Demios growled back. "You lost, Azi Dahaka. I shall remember this victory, including the pain it brought my buddy and I. When you return, I shall remember it all so that I am ready to repeat history."

Azi Dahaka scowled weakly back. His body slowly began to evaporate. Corroding flames engulfed the elder dragon. It was time for him to return back to his state of rest. "Returning before the 1000 years was a mistake… I lost too much. I lost my prize. I lost to you. I am destroyed, but I will not vanish forever. When the day comes, none will be able to stand before me, and none will come after me!"

Tasuku shook his head. "In that time, new heroes will come. I have faith!"

"Foolish of you, Child of Destiny," Azi Dahaka growled softly. "You involve yourself in such a matter. Your destiny didn't lay here…. This may have prepared you, perhaps…?" Azi Dahaka's voice faded away into nothingness. As Liam's body recuperated within Demios's arms, he watched as the felled god was reduced to ash, returning to sleep for another millennium.

(POV: Arkaid-First)

Something disturbed me from my slumber. Subtle drops of water were dripping against the tip of my snout. The disturbing sensation made my eyes flutter as I felt my body awaken. Hours must have passed, for I soon noticed that the sky was darker than before. I didn't have the compulsion to yawn. I didn't have the desire to look at anything in particular. I hoped for my life to cease so that I didn't have to witness my buddy's end. As I drearily rolled my head to the side I realized that I was sitting upright, laying against something rough and hard. I hastily turned to my right. I was laid against a small boulder! But how? I fell unconscious in the open, not here. It was then that I heard a voice from my left. He chuckled a bit, openly excited. "You're awake."

CJ's voice made my body tense up. Quickly, my head spun back to face him. He too was startled by how hasty me behavior became. There was a bit of apprehension in his demeanor. He sheepishly waved at me with an awkward smile. My partner must have found my situation to be ludicrous to him. He didn't understand at all… he wouldn't know. But even so, I was overjoyed to see him awake once again. "You're okay!" I sighed in relief. "Thank goodness… thank everything."

"I came to, but I still have no idea how long I was out," he began. "You weren't awake either. I'm sorry for stopping too early," he continued. "I don't know what-"

I couldn't take it. "CJ!" I quickly interrupted. As expected, he fell silent, immediately retreated within himself. "… I'm sorry, it's just… we need to talk about what happened back there, and I need you to listen to me."

"… Erm… okay," he hesitantly replied. "Are you okay?"

I lowered my head. "No," I sighed morosely. "I'm not okay…. I want to be honest with you; my head went to a very dark place." His concerned eyes made me feel more comfortable around him. He was open to me, still silent for the sake of beckoning me to keep speaking. It was becoming rather difficult; I could feel my chest beating intensely as my throat started to dry. I softly coughed, soon looking into his deep, caring eyes. "I can't keep these thoughts within me anymore. It hurts too much; I need to tell you everything that I have been feeling ever since I became like a useless log."

"Arkaid, you're not useless."

"You may continue to say that, but I cannot believe in those words, even if they are from you," I somberly returned. I sighed again, finding it difficult to maintain my breathing as I spoke. "Ever since you started carrying me, I wanted my life to end." I could feel CJ's heart sink. His demeanor changed as all the color drained from his face. Even so, he remained quiet, allowing me to keep speaking. "I was hoping that, if my life were to end, you would leave me behind and stop worrying about me. That feeling… those voices… they can't leave my head." I paused, and it was for too long. CJ felt compelled to speak. But, as soon as he spoke, I tried to keep going. "And after th- sorry," I weakly returned.

He hastily got up. "No-no-no, it's fine!" His voice was on high alert. "You're speaking. I'm sorry for cutting you off!"

"You didn't," I tried to begin. "I mean, I paused for too long."

"You're struggling to put your thoughts together. I should've expected that."

"It's nothing to worry about, CJ," I returned with a weak smile. "I know you wouldn't intentionally be rude to me. We've known each other for a while."

"It's just… I'm sorry."

I wanted to keep going, but I couldn't help but become enamored by his actions there. Already, he had something that he wanted to say. He may see me as intelligent, but his behaviors and actions made me believe that he always knew what needed to be said. It intrigued me, and I put my expectations up a bit high. I soon began to collect my thoughts again, hoping to keep going with a clear, flowing mind. "… And, after that, I started to believe that things would have been better if I never met you." He faltered weakly, retreating back. His actions were subtle to the average eye, but I saw them clearly. "I just can't stop seeing myself as the cause of everything. Marissa even confronted me about you; she told me to meet you, and she didn't tell me why she left. If I had just pressed her for more information, maybe she could've told me what I needed to hear. Maybe I could have brought you two back together. Maybe… maybe you could've been living without this hidden power within you. If emotional trauma truly feeds into it, then that event may have never happened if I just intervened. But no… I let it happen; I went to go meet you instead of resolving an obvious problem; a problem obvious to any fool. My responsibility is to protect you, yet, not only can I not do that now, but my actions may have caused this entire catastrophe…."

Understandably, it was a lot to take in. I laid everything out in front of him. I was plain. I was straight. I didn't hide any of my feelings. He was quiet for the longest time, formulating his mind to construct something to say. I had hoped that he was going to be rather quick like before, but I noticed that he slightly shook his head at times. Was he second-guessing certain things? Watching him put so much effort into this made my horrible feelings leave me for a moment, or maybe they were suppressed slightly. Just knowing that someone cared as much as he did… it helped. Finally, he turned to me with an unexpectedly frank expression. "I'm sorry, I… I just don't get it."

"You… don't get it?" I returned weakly. "… How do you mean?"

"… I feel like I need to break it down logically," he started. He rotated his body so that he completely faced me. He stared into my weakening eyes before continuing. I could feel the genuineness of his voice as it caressed my ears. "I just don't know how you could feel that way. Going back to Marissa, how could you know? You must have had good reason not to press her about it, right? If that's the case, it's out of your control; for all you know, she could've just ran off in fear of being pressured by you."

"I… I guess."

"But this is the most important thing that you need to understand," he began. He leaned close, looking deeply into my eyes. "Dead or alive, I wouldn't leave you behind." His words struck hard. A thought crossed my mind telling me that he wasn't serious, but I saw otherwise. His eyes were all I needed to see. He looked at me as the most important person in the world, the same way I saw him. It was also through that which I realized another reason why he'd make sure that I was brought home; I realized that I would've done the same thing for him. At first, I was afraid to say anything back to him. He nudged himself closer and casually laid himself against the boulder's surface. "Don't be afraid to talk, Arkaid. I want to be here the same way you have."

"Like I've done anything."

"You were there for me plenty of times," he returned, invigorated with confidence. "Before we fought Hoshi, and when we fought Liam! When we were fighting the retainer together! You always made sure to put me as a priority over your own life. I find it insane that I have to say this; you're stronger than you believe, Arkaid."

"If only you gave yourself that much credit."

"Pardon me?"

"Back then, you were quick to sell yourself out," I returned somberly. "You doubted your strength. You doubted everything that I saw in you. I had to tell you something that I thought you already knew. I thought it was pure insanity for you to deny that you had strength and potential." I lowered my head, quietly looking away. "… Why is it that I can't be the same way now?" I morosely diverted my eyes. "Why do I need to be helped?"

"Because it's your turn to be me," he softly replied. "The same way I couldn't think then, you can't think now. You and I struggle with our doubts, but it's up to each other to take care of the other when needed." His voice was echoing with passion as he spoke closer to me. "At least… that's what I believe."

"I never wanted you to take care of me."

"But isn't that hard?" He asked, concerned. "You're always trying to help me, but you won't let me help you in return? That pains me, Arkaid. Nothing hurts me more than seeing someone I care about go through something like this. So, when you tell me you wish you never existed..." He nudged closer, staring deeply into my eyes. "Well, I just can't stay away from that. You're too important to me..."

"… I guess Alliot was right," I returned with a slight chuckle. "We both really are losers."

Suddenly, a smirk came upon his face. "The right term was 'idiots,' I believe."

"Right… idiots." The two of us laid our backs against the rough boulder. Our eyes gazed at the dreary skies above us. "… We both see each other with expectations the other can never admit to."

"You're still perfect to me."

I nodded back to him. "I wouldn't want to have any other person as my partner," I returned with a soft smile. My admiration for him just kept compiling more and more. I wanted to ask him about it; what I said at the castle. On all of the days that he's been walking, not a single time did he mention it or ask about it. Such a circumstance is understandable; he's been worried about me and my survival this entire time. I couldn't blame him. I couldn't blame him for anything, no matter how weak he saw himself as. I needed to talk to him about it; now just felt like the best time. Even so, I was still incredibly nervous about it. I felt my head swell up from a sudden wave of heat. "… CJ?"

"Yeah?"

"I didn't lie back at the castl-" I cut myself off. CJ picked up what I was startled by too. The two of us tensed up before falling into a state of silence. Neither one of us could afford to talk; the sounds of footsteps were heard from afar. Any excess noise would alert them. Even though CJ recovered some of his stamina, there was no feasible way he was in a condition to fight. Even so, I heard him grasp onto his katana. He grasped it tightly before slowly turning himself around. He tumbled over, weakly falling onto his side. There was no way he could fight in this state; he could barely stand.

Anguish covered his once confident eyes. His anger took the form of a fist as he pressed it into the dirt. His weakening eyes gazed upward, trying to see above the boulder. However, his legs twitched as he tried to bring himself up. It was no use. He couldn't even support himself to even stand. He had been walking for far too long; the short rest did nothing for him! I could only watch as my partner fell victim to his exhaustion. He winced silently, cursing at his failing muscles. He pleaded for them to move, but they just wouldn't go. There was nothing else he could do except give in.

Somberly, he let his katana fall. He morosely laid himself back against the wall. Our only hope was that the source of the footsteps would ignore us. However, the sounds began to get louder, and the footsteps repeated at an odd rate. It began to sound like a pack. There were more enemies than just one! The situation worsened from there. His eyes stared worriedly into mine. He frantically looked at his surroundings. I could tell that he was trying to go over any option that appeared feasibly possible to him.

But nothing else would work. We were both too exhausted to function.

I tapped my left hand against the dirt. It was a quiet sound, but it was loud enough for CJ to perk his ears up. He slowly looked over at me. I eyed my hand. He looked down to it, soon looking into my eyes. He could tell what I felt. I didn't need to say any words. If this were to be the end, at least have it so we could go out like true partners. He whimpered softly. I wanted to hug the sadness from him, but the best I could do was offer him my hand. My partner inched closer to me, grasping my left hand as the footsteps began to draw closer. I could feel CJ's hand tensing up as it tightened around my own. He was stricken with grief. However, as the footsteps became closer, he and I looked at each other one more time. All of our fears melted away.