Disaster: No End In Sight - A Future Card Buddyfight Story

by BurningCard

Kyoya Gaen's defeat, at the hands of Gao Mikado and Bal, did not mark the end of Disaster. Even after his fall, many others follow in his old footsteps. Chase Hallows, working in the field of monsters relations, is thrown into the fray as more monsters and people act in Kyoya's name. Alongside the Fifth Omni Lord and his Cavalry, they will keep fighting to end the Will of Kyoya.

44. 44 - We are the Fifth Omni Cavalry!

(POV: First)

When the beast was reborn, everything happened too quickly for words. From the little I could recall, streams of dark energy lashed out like typhoons. The harsh, sandstorm-esque pressure forced all of us back. We could barely hold our own against it. The arid soil from the earth beneath us was thrown up, propelled at such insane speeds. My eyes were closed, protecting myself from the sands pelting against my body. I felt something throw me back, making me fall victim to the intensifying winds.

That's when everything became such a blur.

My body was sent rolling backward. I could barely hear the yelps of my allies, for my ears rang with each hard thud my body made. My armor clanged and rattled as my pathetic body fulfilled its dreadful course. The air was knocked out of me. Barely able to brace myself, I tucked my head into my chest and held my hands back. Occasional glances to my left allowed me to see two of my comrades fall victim to the wind. Meglax and Merak stiffly keeled in the harsh gusts of wind. Finally, I managed to stop myself, watching as my two comrades continued to toss and coil behind me. When I looked back they finally came to a complete stop. Meglax had given in to his fatigue, and Meglax was unconscious from his injuries. We had lost one of our Super Cavalry dragons! I gritted my teeth before turning away. I looked up to see a completely different sight. Somehow, don't ask me how, a war was fought in the blink of an eye. All seemed to be decided once I saw the new demon rise from the remains of his broken shell.

The Cavalry was in the worst situation it was in. After Merak fell, after Meglax fell victim to his form's fatigue, I couldn't imagine that things could have gotten worse. Doble was wounded; claw marks were raked across his chest, reducing his armor to paper. His body was tossed aside, effortlessly struck by what appeared to be a claw. I couldn't tell; the figure of the very object was unlike any claw I had seen before. Rikka's twisted into a panic as she saw her partner get thrown away. Everything felt like it was moving slowly after that. Rikka began to dash toward her fallen comrade. Melanie and Mizaru were standing alone, both in awe at the power the magician had seen. I could feel it too; the rampaging, blasphemous power of the demonic hellspawn had grown to such a level beyond my comprehension. As Alliot weakly limped towards me I could only assume that what we were witnessing was the power of a true deity.

Whatever that thing was, it was not a dragon.

It couldn't be.

What dragon would look so … lost? Gone?

The thing's eyes stared into nothing. No pupil could be seen; the only color there was a white, but an ominous white. Such a white color was from the void, removed of all representation and pure meaning. There was no purity in those eyes. Seething rage fell from them. This dragon… no, it couldn't be a dragon. Such a leviathan, such a demon, could only make me fathom it as something else entirely. It's lost eyes were unreadable. Its gaping mouth only made it more like that of the undead. The beast's eight legs arched outward as the head appeared to look directly forward. It's arms cracked with each fidget of a movement; it felt it's new limbs and stretched them out like a newborn calf. It wailed an otherworldly call, screeching into the skies above it. Its black wings were outstretched. In the dark, the void, pulsating scales would be unable to be seen. It was an unnatural black color. There was no way I could believe the creature to be living. The scales twitched with each slight buckle. The lifeless eyes were unmoving, and its jagged teeth drooled heaps in front of me. It thirsted for prey; it thirsted for our death.

Without a doubt, we were caught off guard. As the demon's eyes rested onto my own, I rushed over to Doble's aid. He still managed to maintain his super form. The juggernaut of a man grasped at his chest, angrily glaring at the beast who attempted to slay him. I could only afford to help a little, for I barely had the mana to use spells so callously. Alliot watched my back as I pressed my hand over Doble's wounded chest. Carefully, I enveloped my hand with the green aura, beginning the process of closing the wound.

Rikka held onto her buddy tightly. The two of them stared with disgust at the terrible beast. All those who could still stand turned their eyes to the spectacle before them. Zahhak had become anew. His lifeless eyes continued to peer forward. He could not take his eyes away from me. "You have no worth to me. I am reborn, seeking a new path. No longer Successor, I am the Black Sky Sun Dragon, Zahhak! When this day is won, none shall seek me! None will come after me! As for you pathetic lot, there is no escape!"

We were all dumbfounded by such a creature, so much so that we didn't even move. By the time we saw an incoming, giant claw, we realized just how little room for error we had. The speed of the swipe was too different to plan against. In that small moment, we all had no choice but to disperse. We all leaped in different directions, watching as the claw slammed into the ground. I felt the quake just as I was about to land. I tumbled, falling backward as Alliot did the same. He was right in front of me. I was becoming light-headed after just healing Doble's wound. I barely had the time to stand up when I saw the creature's thick tail. It just came off the ground, and it was coming towards us fast!

Doble was in front of me, still trying to recover from the sudden fall. Out of the two of us, my mind immediately decided who was more valuable; the Cavalry Dragon, Alliot. At least he could fight! My body acted on that swift decision. Alliot didn't even get the chance to see the tail coming from him. There was no way he could dodge in time. Putting every last bit of power into my legs, I leaped forward. My body rammed into Alliot's back, knocking him forward. He was laid flat on the ground. By the time he saw me, my figure was blocked from his view from beast's tail.

In that instant, I blacked out. It was only for a moment. My body was hit with such velocity that I couldn't even register the pain. I just felt my body stop mid-air before a strong, opposing force thwacked me back. My vision went dark, but it came back in mere moments. It was like my body went through some sort of loop in sensations. I couldn't make sense of it. The hit knocked me out, but I came to once I felt the dirt grind against the back of my head. My body lost control of itself as it became a toy for the earth. I rolled over it, feeling my limbs buckle and break as my weight and momentum thrashed me into the earth with each roll.

My lungs wouldn't take in any air. I could feel my heart begging for life as my muscles and bones creaked with exhaustion. There was no way of knowing if my bones were broken, but everything hurt; everything truly hurt. My body didn't want to move; it just wanted everything to end. Weakly, I lifted my head up. I was thrown about thirty yards away. My head sagged over my chestplate when I noticed Alliot looking back to me, eyes agape. "CJ! You okay?!" I croaked. I couldn't respond as my body heaved, desperate for oxygen. The others looked in dismay.

Things were becoming blurry. Distraught, I noticed that the others were looking at me funny. Each one was speechless, looking to me like I was part of the dead. That's when the dizziness set in. My head began to hurt. I raised my right hand to my head. I felt something soft, warm, and without form. When I pulled my hand down, that's when I saw my body's necessity within my head. When I sagged forward, something began to slowly pour over my eyes, making them sting. "… Oh…." Everything became a blur as I fell over to myself, feeling the liquid drip onto the barren dirt.

I could only hear; I couldn't trust my vision anymore, for it began to fail me. Zahhak's voice rang in my ears as he approached a familiar orange figure. Without pause, the beast did something. I couldn't tell what at the time. But my nerves shook me when I heard the sound of claws slashing through flesh. Alliot's voice was next. "RAAAAGH!" The mass tumbled towards me, grunting before my vision was blinded by his purple hair.

Doble's voice called out. "You bastard! How dare you!"

The demon showed no remorse. "Those two aren't important to me. Alliot is nothing but discarded waste, and CJ is dead to me. If you Super Cavalry Dragons wish to seek vengeance, then come at me with your lives on the line!"

Mizaru huffed. "You will regret harming our comrades!"

Noises; nothing but noises. Figures were moving about, going all over the place according to my failing eyes. With what I recognized as Alliot's hair blocking my vision, I could only see so much. My ears told me the story, hearing the sounds of clashing claws and steel blades. Rikka's grunts as she rushed around the enemy, maneuvering with such incredible grace. I knew that she would not dare to get too cocky; she couldn't afford to lose someone over making a poor mistake. Melanie's lack of presence meant that she was assisting the two Supers whenever she could. From what I could hear, they were playing defensively. Zahhak… his power was too much. I could hear his legs pounding into the dirt with each triumphant motion. The confidence… the arrogance of this demon could be heard merely by just listening to its flaunting, powerful steps. It worried me; this showed that this creature had much power to spare.

No matter what, I had to believe in my comrades. As my body began to fail me, I needed to do anything for them, even if it was so little.

Alliot's body struggled to roll itself towards me. My comrade panted heavily, feeling the intensity of his wounds. It reminded me; I had to close the wound on my head before completely going out. I had so little mana left; I began to feel the weariness settle in. Regardless, I needed to survive as long as I could. I placed my right hand over my head, feeling my mana caress the wound. The hand twitched; the mana weakened and became unstable within my hand. The leaking ceased for certain, but the pain didn't go. There was no choice but to cease the process; I needed to conserve whatever energy I had left. Suddenly, I felt a rough, reptilian hand brush over my eyes. The blood concealing my vision was brushed away, leaving me face to face with my fallen comrade. His torn chest was the first I set my eyes on; he was raked with three deep claw marks. The wounds called out to me; they begged to be healed. With the little remains of my energy left, I willed my right hand close to him. My partner was speechless, bewildered at such a display. With the remains of my strength, I managed to bring my hand towards the center-point of his wound. "T-There," I moaned slowly. The green mana was faint, but it was all I had left. I knew that, if I kept this up, I would be in Arkaid's state for sure. But I didn't care; I needed to ensure Alliot's survival first before worrying about myself.

My partner could barely look to me, anguished over the futility of my rescue. I managed to shove him out of the way, only for him to get hit by another incoming blow. It was truly a futile endeavor, but the only thing I regretted was that he seemed worse for wear than me. However, based on how he looked at me, he saw different. "CJ, stop, please," he grunted back. His eyes reeked of anger, or was it guilt and he just expressed it like that? "You're too tired."

"… I should've done more," I muttered weakly. Alliot gasped. The response came out of nowhere, but to me it was something that was on my mind since our talk in the cavern. I struggled to formulate my words as my body began to slowly shut down. "You said you were just 'some third,' right? An add-on… but I never wanted you to see yourself like that. If I had done more… then you would've felt like …." My breath weakened. The urge to cough broke me out of the calm stupor I was before. My heart was pounding. If it could speak, it would be furious at my foolish attempt to save a friend. Even so, I didn't regret it. "… you would've felt like you were home."

"… CJ, don't talk like that," Alliot laughed, but it was disjointed and nervous. His breathing picked up as he looked deep into my eyes. My dull, weakening eyes. "F-Fine, you win, I'm not some third, alright? Just stop healing me."

"You need to go."

"What?" He grimaced. "What do ya mean?"

"You need to go," I sighed, feeling my body grow heavier. "Go… get Arkaid. Get her out of this hell."

"… No, are you, you're screwing with me!" He forced out, grunting from the sharp pain. His teeth were bared, almost like he was trying to scare the pain away. "Stop talking like that!"

"You're too important." My eyes began to darken, feeling the world grow silent around me. "You saved her and me already… it shouldn't be hard to do it again…."

I felt my head rise and fall repeatedly. I still wasn't done; Alliot's wound was still far too open. Suddenly, the dragon grasped my arm, tensing my fingers. "Ya bastard… you think I'm just gonna leave ya behind! You're my buddy!" He cried back to me. Hearing him say those words… something felt strong within. "You and I are eternal partners! You're sticking it out for me, so I ain't leaving ya! If you're dying, then I'm gonna go down swinging to save your ass!" He growled into my face, staring back with invigorated, angry green eyes. He suddenly winced, flinching from the horrible pains.

When my head sagged to the left, I was suddenly surprised to feel something soft and comforting. Alliot's hair rested beneath my head, supporting me as I felt the coldness of the end begin to tug me downward. "Right… we're buddies till the end."

"Exactly!" He attempted to roar back. "And we're gonna beat that Alvis guy into the ground! Just you wait; he'll be begging for us to stop when it's all over! Forget my doubts, forget Tenbu's orders. I can't leave ya; we're eternal buddies till the end!"

"…Thank you, Alliot," I slowly moaned. "I just wish the end wasn't so soon…."

My Precious Partner, it is not!

That voice!

Alliot heard it too! His eyes glanced behind me. He must had seen the grandest of spectacles, for his jaw dropped to the soil as he gazed breathlessly at the one walking towards us. I lacked the energy to move, but I need no eyes in order to recognize such a voice. It was a voice I hadn't heard in so long. A voice filled with confidence, kindness, and a strong sense of determination. Lately, her voice had been clouded with doubt and dismay, but such a voice was now clear! The voice seemed to be working some sort of magic of its own; a wave of relief came over me in mere seconds of hearing the pleasant tone. The pains wrecking my body began to fade, and Alliot's wounds were healed effortlessly. It was then that a felt it; her familiar mana. Drowning in it was an understatement; I was completely at mother nature's mercy as I sensed the overwhelming amount of mana. My body shook, almost frightened at how much things had changed. My body began to feel lighter. By the time I started to at least attempt to gain understanding of the situation, I was already on my feet, turning to the one who saved us.

Her familiar short, brown hair was a welcoming sight. Her light-blue scales, her cold, determined eyes were traits that I was at my happiest to see. However, things had changed, and I knew it was for the better. The humanoid dragon had donned attire rather different compared to her old self. Her robes were white and clear. Stripes of brown, gold, and red marked the inner workings of her holy garments. Her chestplate was marked with gold inner workings and teal shades of leather. A brown hood covered her head, but I knew the woman who donned it. Still speechless at the overwhelming amount of mana, I continued to observe her every new aspect in the purest sense of awe. What stunned me the most was her staff. The long, new and improved Sand Staff was an illuminatingly beautiful sight. The large crystal that was kept in place at the end glowed furiously, yet calmly. The crystal glowed with passion, resonating with the strong demeanor my eternal partner displayed before us.

Alliot and I were too awestruck to speak. I saw a hint of a smile, but it faded the moment her eyes caught sight of the demon. The fighting had ceased. Each individual was spaced too far apart for any surprise attack, but it wasn't planned; everyone had stopped fighting at precisely the right time. My fellow comrades were just as dumbfounded as Alliot and I as Arkaid made her way to their side. She stared into the eyes of the devil, striking her staff outward. The mana enveloping her was unreal; it surged with such immense power even after restoring my health as well as Alliot's! A sudden wave of curiosity took over me, making me look back. Meglax and Merak were conscious, but resting against a rock formation. She had healed them, completely even. The two of them were marveled at how quickly she had restored their well-being. But that made me wonder; how much energy did she herself have left? To have healed us all this much, it made me worry that she might be expending herself too much.

Suddenly, the demon peered over to our side of the battlefield. His menacing grin grew large at the mere sight of Arkaid. "To think you wouldn't show…. The weakest of the Cavalry has come out to play…."

Arkaid's unmoving expression spoke volumes on its own; she wasn't fazed by such unkind words. Her voice spoke proudly to the fallen man, calling out his true name. "Alvis, you have lost your right to speak. Before me lies the truth of why you were never chosen. Giving in to the darkness, you now set your sights on previous allies. You even went so far as to hurt Alliot. However," she continued. A sudden burst of energy poured from her soul. Mists of energy scattered from around her. I could feel it; her mana was intensifying at an alarming rate! "You nearly killed the one I treasure most! For that, I will see to it that you cease!"

"Hooooo," the demon snickered. "I sense some power in you. This should be good. Too bad it's coming from who ran away." Arkaid glared back at him. "Did I happen to touch a nerve? Or did you just forget about how you ran away from your role?"

"… I know of my past mistakes," Arkaid solemnly returned. The genuineness in her words spoke clear to me. There was no questioning her; only a fool would question how much she believed in those words. "However, I have accepted the truth, as I will soon hope to accept myself…." She turned to me, eyes glistening. She was on the verge of tears, but her smile beamed with happiness as she spoke. "I have those who'll never leave my side. And because of that, I cannot toss my duties aside." I nodded back to her, making her chuckle softly. She turned back to the deity with ferocious eyes, staring down the gigantic beast. "I wish to remain as the sapience of the Fifth Omni Dragon Lord. As I have been and always will be. I have accepted my weakness, but it has brought me strength through what I have with my comrades. I cannot let them down. No, I forbid it!" Her staff glowed brighter by the second. Her emotions piled within herself until her voice boomed, letting it all out! "Which is why, for the sake of my comrades, for the sake of the one I hold most dear to me, I will not hesitate to bring about your end!"

Alliot could feel his body rattle with excitement. He grasped his right hand into a fist, staring down the beast with beaming confidence. "Hell yeah! You better watch yourself now, ya hear?! You're done for!"

"Really? Just because of her little speech?" Zahhak muttered back. "You give me little reason to take her seriously."

"It's not just her words, but what her words stand for!" Alliot roared back. "It's what they stand for. I know her words ring true. I may not be as adamant about the whole thing as she is," he began with a tough, cocky grin. Only he, Arkaid and I appeared to know what he meant. "But I'm CJ's buddy too, and he's the guy I want to fight with till I die. So you can go shove your crap right back where it belongs, ya bastard!"

"How absurd!" Zahhak reeled back. "How is it that you still believe you can beat me? I defeated your other Super; you merely got another! How do you think you still have a chance?!"

A deep feeling delved into the deepest parts of my heart. The feeling wished to bring out a series of words, words that I had yearned to speak for the entirety of my time within this group. I looked over to Rikka and Melanie, watching as the smirked and smiled back to me. Doble, the confident screwball, chuckled back to me. In a weird way, I can't help but adore him. Mizaru nodded firmly. I felt the feeling even more when Meglax and Merak came to my side. My feelings… for all of them… I couldn't hide it anymore. "Because, no matter what, no matter how bleak things will get in the future…." My eyes glared back, void of regret. "No matter what happens, nothing is going to change that fact that we're a family!"

Rikka smirked. "Right back at ya."

Melanie innocently smiled. "Love you too, brother!"

Doble scoffed quietly, unable to hide his grin. "You have gusto when the shit hits the fan; I'll give you that."

The darkened dragon had enough of this. "Your words are meaningless!" With an intense breath, the dragon scorched his surroundings with a searing ray of heat and fire. Mizaru managed to back off with Melanie in his arms. Doble came to Rikka's aid, evacuating her from the scene. The beast roared as his fury mangled his very mind. His lifeless eyes delved into nowhere as he thrashed his body and tail around, scorching everything in sight. Anger gripped him, reducing his logic to nothing. The thirst for power, the fixation on anger and destruction, the yearning for chaos that Azi Dahaka carried had now poisoned his mind. As my comrades came to my side, the dragon looked back to see all of us, together. "You think you're so cute! You believe you have everything and I have nothing?!"

… The time felt right…

I remembered what was in my pocket. Slowly, I pulled out the small object, revealing to all what resided within. Zahhak scoffed back. Once he knew it was a regular Core Deck Case, he bellowed heartily with laughter. "You really think that is gonna do you any good? You fool! You can't even bring out the Disaster Force! That pitiful device won't help you?!"

"You're right," I muttered in return. My eyes stared at the device. "… But you should be saying that yourself; this is your device, not mine."

"What did you say?!"

"Back at the castle… I was looking for any possible Dark Core Deck Cases. I believed that finding one was our only way to safety." My eyes trailed away, finding the sight of my comrades standing beside me. Alliot nudged my shoulder with a fist, playfully smirking at me and egging me on. The cool, calming look from Arkaid brought me to her. She could sense it; a rising power between us all. "I found your deck case; I found out you tossed aside your Gamble Magic, the same way you tossed aside Sitri, the one who saved you back then…."

"NO MORE WORDS!" Zahhak roared back. "I WILL KILL ALL OF YOU!"

"I didn't need you…," I slowly returned. "You needed me, but you wanted me for yourself and only that. You wanted others to stay away. But that isn't right…." Suddenly, I felt a beaming power emanate from the Core Deck Case. Rikka and Melanie saw it too; they could see the power storming into being. They felt exactly the way I did. Our time together may have been short, we may have had our differences, but at least one incredibly important thing remained. "In a partnership, you must look out for each other. You must care for the other. I see that with my buddies. I see that with my comrades. I see it in Liam and Demios. And I see it with the one I value the most above everything." The blue gem of my device continued to glow, beaming with life. The Cavalry Dragons embraced it; after so much time with their partners, this unifying last stand, this final call to arms, this call for family was what was truly going to bring out our true potential. "Thank you for the Deck Case, Alvis. I dread that you had to lose Sitri, but this shall bring out the best in Alliot, Arkaid, as well as me! It will bring out the best in all of us!"

"Buddy Skill! On!"

Rikka, Melanie and I felt it. The Fifth Omni Cavalry Dragons embraced it. Behind us all was an emblem; an emblem signifying our cause. The Shield of the Fifth Omni Cavalry, the sign of our loyalty, the sign of our pledge, the sign of what we stood for, was worn on our backs. The shield illuminated with the same otherworldly glow of the blue gem of the Core Deck Cases. Newfound power surged through me as my very being began to glow with the same soft, calming hue. My armor reflected this change, enveloping me with the very same hue. With that came something beyond my dreams; newfound strength. The others had their garments reflect this sudden shift. Everything was enveloped in the same soft, warming hue of the bonds that tied us all together. Melanie eagerly looked behind her, seeing Tenbu's head on the shield's emblem. Surrounding the very icon was a small gem, representing each of the colors the Cavalry Dragons held on their scales. As the immense power flowed through us all, I couldn't help but feel much lighter….

I took to the air. I merely thought where I wanted to go, and my body willed me up. The others followed suit. We all rose up together, soaring into the skies until we glared back at Zahhak at eye level. The shields behind her back seemed to be the only light in this weary, loathsome sky. As Zahhak looked back to us, we all beamed with overflowing confidence.

Rikka: "So, you doubting us now?"

Doble: "I'll get you back for making me look like a fool!"

Meglax: "I may have failed to destroy you, but not again!"

Melanie: "I'll never forgive you for hurting Merak!"

Merak: "It appears my duty as a knight is far from complete."

Mizaru: "Alliot, you ready to show them what you're made of?"

Alliot: "Hell yeah! Time to bring the bastard down!"

The closest to me grasped onto my head. Something within me made me gasp, but I then turned to see it was Arkaid. She smiled softly back at me, nodding her head. "I hope that you're ready, for I can't imagine myself doing this without you."

I scoffed back at her. "Please, it's an honor to fight alongside you. I'm fortunate to have this chance."

Zahhak snarled furiously. "That power…."

"Our power is one; that is the basis of our combined Buddy Skills," my voice called out. "I'm sorry that your yearning for me made you destroy yours."

"Don't even think about apologizing to me!" Zahhak growled back. His pulsating scales began to wildly flail around him. The rushing river that was his body created intense currents that his scales traversed. "No use in doing that when you will all die!"

Mizaru sighed. "It's unfortunate, but your persistence has sealed your fate."

"I will not fall to the likes of your mere mortals!" Zahhak roared. "Come at me with your pathetic little family!"

"Very well…." Mizaru directed his katana at the foe. He breathed deeply, readying his senses. Meglax slowly willed himself back to his state of being, feeling the rush of his Super Form's energy. However, I could feel it; he only had a little bit back. Regardless, he wasn't going to keep himself from using it just because there was little left; the solemn gaze in his eyes was enough to see that he meant to do whatever he still could. Mizaru acknowledged the persistence of his comrade. He looked at the non-Supers, watching as their armor glowed with the strength of the unified Buddy Skill. "Very well, Zahhak. Since you were a friend of CJ's, we will do our best to make it quick!"

"You will try!" He roared back. "Now! Come at me!"

He demanded it. There was no turning back now. There was no overwhelming wave of guilt. As we all charged forward, flying through the air with our minds at the wheel, I didn't feel any fear or hesitation. Zahhak was going to destroy my family if this kept up. Even though he was my friend, even though something within me still finds some sort of attachment to him, I couldn't afford to let him go. I couldn't forgive him for what he had done to us. We all shared that realization; a once-decent man had given in to the darkness, spiraling so far down that the only way to truly defeat him was to end his existence once and for all.

My desires fueled the buddy skill. The sapphire glow came off from all of us as Tenbu's shields hovered just behind our backs, remaining close as we stormed through the sky. We stayed within our collective trios, advancing as three teams united under one cause and goal. With our weapons at the ready, we became ready to unleash a relentless assault against the fallen man. As we made our approach, something burned within me. My mana was amplified, passionate over the camaraderie between us all. Melanie was the first to feel such a feeling. Her mana intensified around her before she unleashed a mighty spell. The frosty attack chilled the air, but the sheer magnitude of that attack had changed. She had grown stronger. The buddy skill made all of us stronger. Zahhak, with a strong flap of his wings, flew towards us with his mouth oozing with corroding flames. He was approaching at hastening speeds, hoping to clear us out with one mighty ram.

We diverted ourselves to the side. We watched as the beast flew past us, roaring angrily at the polluted clouds above. As he began to loop, the magicians and archer made their way to the back. I was but a swordmage, but my magical talents would not be of use at such a far range due to my inexperience. I took to the front, standing alongside Alliot who raised his Shining Bunker spear to me. The drills upon it surged with energy, rotating at impossible speeds. I didn't know if the buddy skill could empower our weapons, but I didn't care; we were all so much stronger.

The ranged attackers led the assault first. I could feel the intensity of some of the spells being cast as they raced over my head. Just as Zahhak managed to turn himself around, he watched as Arkaid's staff illuminated with an otherworldly azure hue. "Sand Alchemy: Arrow!" Her signature attack, but it was something else now. The arrows were longer and numerous. I heard the whistles of each magical bolt darting through the skies. Meglax released a series of his arrows, assisting in making the attack become impossibly dense. Melanie's hands shook from the shocking power. Electrical jolts made her hands twitch until she released it at a single point. The bolt dashed overhead. We all watched as these attacks mercilessly struck the impressive deity. Arkaid's attacks were overwhelming. The beast howled as he coiled his body from the pain. "All of you, go in!"

It was time for us to make our move. They were moving closer; it was time to put pressure on Alvis's stomach. I saw just how weakened the demon had become mentally, safeguarding his stomach by coiling up. However, it was not going to be worthwhile for him. Now that Mizaru and Doble knew where to hit, it was only a matter of time before they unleashed the true might of their power, the same way Meglax did before.

As the two led the charge, a circular object took form behind the leader. His magical blade remained firmly grasped in his right hand as he angled it back. The metallic, round object perched several katana blades. It stretched out beyond his bodily frame. "To make me draw 'this' out… is no easy feat!" His golden deity sword became like that of the stars as he felt his power rising. Doble's flames spread throughout the air around him. The sheer amount of heat was insane; any hotter and I believe he would've set the air around us on fire. The flames streaking from his body was immense, simply put. The broadsword in his hands lit the air aflame wherever he swung it. All at once, he became like that of the Phoenix, racing across the sky bathing in his hellish flames. Mizaru and Doble raced towards the opponent's torso, but Zahhak couldn't let it happen. He couldn't let them bring about his end, now could he? The Black Sky dragon tensed his being. A void-like power began to form at the edge of his mouth before he sprayed it towards the assaulters. The rays hindered their movement, but Mizaru remained firm. Suddenly, the swords perched in his circular sheath came out on their own. The Magical Deity sword shined like the stars as he finally managed to get closed.

Before my eyes, Mizaru moved like the wind. His typhoon reflexes had picked up to a certain point that he nearly appeared invisible. Every sword in his possible possession struck at the foe in consecutive succession, slashing into the corroding, pulsating scales that coated the monstrosity. Suddenly, the beast's pulsating scales ceased their movement. The aura compiled to a single point, hardening the scales. Even with Zahhak's efforts, Mizaru did not give in, and neither did Doble. Doble's sword burned through the hardened flesh. Doble's movements were like a fiery dance, flames weaving and curling in the air around him as he struck with such precision and strength that only the calm could achieve through incredible mastery.

It was only a matter of time before something would happen to them. They were holding the beast back; we all knew it. The beast was keeping their attacks at bay, but only barely. It was up to us to bypass through, for the two Supers held back against the dragon the only way two physical strikers could. We all rushed in, feeling their combined will compel us forward with every ounce of speed possible. Numerous spells pelted against the hide of the demon. Even though Melanie's appeared to make some sort of effect, Arkaid appeared to be the only one doing real damage. As her Sand Alchemy: Arrows struck back, they pierced through and imploded in the focused area. With explosion made the dragon writhe with fury. The pain rattled the fallen soul.

Merak's speed got him the most advantage. He could weave around the beast's claws as he approached, easily striking at the demon's face. Even though the beast could regenerate the lost eyes, temporary blindness was still an advantage. Even though the demon began to thrash his body about, shaking the ground far beneath us, we were far from wavering; we got too close to back down now. Alliot's drill rang with passion as he dove beneath the dragon with Merak at his side. Zahhak tried to roll, but he felt the edges of the sharpened weapons of the two warriors striking at his coiling sides. Alliot drilled into the pulsating scales while Merak's spear struck with numerous, precise strikes. They couldn't follow the stomach without risking harm to themselves. That's where Rikka and I came in.

Together, the two of us raced towards the weak spot. Her fist was relentless as she charged in, shrieking with a tense and empowered battle-cry. She struck at the stomach. Zahhak hastily coiled and writhed around. He had to move around whenever and wherever he could. No; I couldn't miss this chance. I went for where it hurt with Rikka following behind. With a swift lunge, I struck in the area I remembered. Did I hit it? Yanking the sword out, I swiped a bit to the left. I could see a familiar face; I just missed him. The hole was only so big, but I saw him. I saw Alvis panting angrily. Before Rikka could come in with another strike, I felt the powerful legs throw us both away. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" The impact struck my armor the most. Rikka and I were thrown to the side. Unfocused and unstable, we struggled to regain our composure in the air. Our bodies were like ragdolls tossed into the wind.

I felt the grasp of someone hoisting me up. Wrapped in the arms of a comrade, I quickly looked to the side and saw Arkaid's welcoming face. "Don't strain yourself, my hero," she playfully mused to me. Such an odd position; it was embarrassing to be held in such a way and still be seen as the hero. When I diverted my eyes from cheerful embarrassment, I noticed Merak holding Rikka with his spear hoisted at his side. The sound of Arkaid's calming voice was what brought me back to her. She was focused, unyielding to the pressure around us. She muttered into my ear. "I believe I have a way." She took me to the side as the battle waged on.

The others must have known this too. They didn't bat an eye at us as Arkaid landed us on the ground. My eyes were drawn to the others as they combated against the fallen deity. Zahhak's defensive capabilities kept him alive in all of this chaos. He would harden his scales to a point, and whatever goes through was pelted by his massive legs. His many legs acted as a fortified cavalry around his stomach, where we needed to go. Even so, I saw my comrades fight with everything they had. If I didn't have so little strength compared to the Cavalry Dragons, I would be able to do more, so much more. It appeared that my eternal partner could sense my storm of emotions, for I felt her right arm caress my shoulder. "CJ, you are doing everything I'd want from you. Do not belittle yourself over this."

"I just wish I could do more."

"You've done more than enough," she replied with a soft smile. "You've done everything and more. This is why I'm nervous to ask you about this, but you and I are the most in sync."

"What do you need?" I hastily urged a reply. "If you need anything, just tell me."

"I wouldn't expect any other response from you," she returned with a gratified nod. She prepared her staff, grasping it with both hands as she bent her knees. Her sight focused on the determined weak spot. No wonder she was able to save me; she picked up where Rikka and I were going and managed to learn about the weak spot on her own. Her staff began to glow as a strong gust of power emanated from her very being. "When I used my Sand Alchemy: Arrow, a sensation came over me. It was as if something told me that I could do more." She arched her back. "I saw what Mizaru and Doble were capable of, using their enhanced skills at the cost of their energy. I connected the two, and now, a phrase is unable to leave my mind." She turned to me, but with a pained expression. What was she about to ask me that was so harmful? Her weakening posture made her look scared to say anything more, but she pressed on. "I realized, only too late, that I healed my comrades at the expense of much of my mana. That is why I need to ask you for your mana, but it pains me to demand more from you."

I understood. After everything I had done for her, she fears that asking such a thing would be too much. She had only just revitalized me, but now she is asking it back. She may fear that I could fall into the same state she was once in. She feared that I didn't want to risk falling into such a worthless, horrible state. However, as the war echoed around us, as our allies exchanged blow for blow with the enemy, the only thing that mattered to me, in that very moment, was ensuring that Arkaid understood that she could ask me of anything. "Arkaid…." I began to answer, initially lost in my words. My emotions controlled me, finishing the answer for me. "… I'll give you my everything."

She gasped at such a remark. Her eyes were unable to leave mine. She chuckled to herself as a warm, happy smile curled on her face. A sudden flicker of energy flashed out to me. The serenity of it, the absolute beauty of it, it was too much beyond my understanding due to my puny human mind. I know she told me to never belittle myself but, in my eyes, she was above me in every way, regardless if she saw the opposite. "CJ… grasp the Sandstorm Staff with me, if you please." I obliged with no hesitation. I approached her, mimicking her stance as I grasped the rod of the intense staff. My mana began to feed into the powerful weapon. The overwhelming amount of energy shook me; there was so much of it! Arkaid was pouring an insane amount of it into her weapon. She trusted this move. She trusted me with her all. "Together, we are the Sapience of the Fifth Omni Dragon Lord, now and forever."

This was it.

This was the way it was going to end.

I didn't want her to give up anymore mana. I fed the staff everything I could muster. My legs buckled, shaking from the sudden wave of exhaustion that overcame me. Despite this, my hands refused to release the staff. A soft, peculiar sound began to become like that of a high-pitched roar. My sense of hearing was clouded as Arkaid continued to charge up the attack. Her staff shook, feeling the intenseness of the mana within it. Suddenly, she aimed the staff directly at the opposing dragon. Our powers were one. We were one. She called out the name of this monstrous ability. "SANDSTORM ALCHEMY: HOLY ARROW!"

Like a hunter with a bow, we released. The staff came back from the fierce recoil. In an instant, a gigantic mystical bolt came whizzing out of the magical weapon. The thickness of it rivaled that of Zahhak's own neck, and it stretched just as long as the demon himself! Arkaid was nearly thrown off balance by such intense energy. I collapsed onto my feet, giving in to my exhaustion and awe as I watched the attack illuminate with the light of the heavens. The sheer speed of it, the sheer magnitude of such power; it could only be achieved with the assistance of a dear one. The comrades felt it. Melanie felt it. With a sharp yelp, the others hastily moved to the side. They knew it was coming. They knew she had something in store for the demon. By the time Zahhak even got the chance to see how massive arrow was, it pierced through him, shooting directly through his chest and leaving a gaping hole. He cried. His roar had shown the severity of the damage. He felt the gaping hole in his chest. If only we aimed a bit lower, but the recoil was a shock to me and her. She grimaced, realizing the error was far too late. "Such power would've stopped all of this." She sighed, yet she refused to give in. I saw her Fifth Omni Super form wavering. Her clothes began to fade in an out from her white colors to that of her previous form's darker robes. The energy brimming within her was weakening. Could she only do this once, twice at the very most?

The demon fell from the skies, crashing to the ground with a mighty thud. Mizaru and Doble raced forward; Arkaid had silenced the beast for now. They had to end it now! But then, the dragon curled itself up, creating a barrier within him and the outside world. Mizaru felt the density of the barrier before him. Doble rammed his fist into it, angrily beating on it. "You coward! Come out and fight like a true warrior!"

Meglax sighed. "This cannot be," he muttered in defeat. "At this rate, he may evolve again."

Merak comforted his comrade. He could tell that Meglax blamed himself for what happened before, and now history was repeating. "We fought back, we can do it again. For the sake of everyone! For our comrades back home!"

Melanie rushed to Mizaru's side. "W-what do we do now?"

He groaned slightly, trying not to completely give in to defeat. "We can only do so much. We have to wait."

Rikka scoffed back. "You kidding me? We can't just wait! If he comes back stronger, we won't be as ready! You Supers are running out of energy! We can't just wait!"

As Alliot stared into the defensive, curled dragon, he saw as a soft hue from the corroding energy enveloped the very sphere. It came about like a thick fog, blocking everyone from simply viewing whatever was inside. Whatever the case, the fog was no longer like the pulsating scales. He chuckled to himself, turning to his partners below. "We don't have to. Come on." The others turned to him. As soon as their eyes found Arkaid and me, they all knew what to do.

Heaving heavily, I turned to Arkaid, watching as she stared angrily at the foe in front of her. "That barrier… how can we hope to penetrate that…."

"Not sure," I muttered weakly. My heart was racing from the exhaustion alone. The panic hasn't settled in, for I knew another battle was soon to come. "However, once he reforms himself, I'll be right beside you. I'll never leave you."

"How can you say such things?" She whimpered softly. "Do you ever worry about yourself?"

"Do you?" I returned with a smile.

"… No," she chuckled pathetically. "… is it for the same reason that I believe it is?"

"… I don't care about myself," I replied back with a smile. Slowly, I forced myself back onto my feet, calmly looking at her. The sight of me managed to lighten the burden she carried, for she stood tall and proud once again. She eagerly listened to me, grasping the staff she carried the tenser she felt from my words. "Other people give it meaning. Without Alliot, without you, I wouldn't care about anything, which is why I can never run." I placed my other hand on the staff. "Do you truly feel the same?"

"Without any doubts," Arkaid returned. "I merely wish to be of use to others. I want to help them, to protect them, and I'll do so at the cost of my life. When it comes to my precious friends, and when it comes to you… I can't imagine a life without anyone I cared about."

"That is why I can't run from this," I tightened my grip on the staff, staring deeply into her eyes. "One more time, Arkaid. While we still can; let's blast that shell open!"

"B-but you can barely stand? You've already offered me enough!"

"I told you I'd give you my everything," I returned with a nod. "I can still stand. I still have my mana within me. I refuse to go down and give in. You need all of the help you can get!"

Alliot's voice boomed from behind me. He grasped my shoulder. I turned to him out of surprise, seeing him cockily grinning back to me. "Don't forget about me, ya bastard! I'm your buddy too, so go ahead; take whatever mana you want!"

"Alliot…."

Mizaru, Melanie, and Merak stood proudly behind Arkaid. She turned to the three of them with widened, clear eyes. Mizaru smiled at her as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "Please, take as much as you need."

Melanie beamed. "Miss Arkaid! Make the biggest Holy Arrow EVER!"

Merak stately nodded to her, assisting Melanie as the two of them grasped her shoulder. "I stand by you, not as a knight, but a friend."

She was just as speechless as I was. Rikka's trio emerged behind me, grasping my shoulders altogether. Meglax smiled softly, looking at me with kind eyes. "I hope that you now truly feel like one of us."

Rikka chuckled. "Well, let's see what my big, strong dragonman thinks of you." Rikka nudged Doble, making him gasp. "Well, aren't you gonna say something?"

"… Thank you," Doble returned with a strong huff. "And I'm sorry. I'm sorry for doubting you."

Somehow, I chuckled back. "You had enough reason to, in my eyes." I returned, watching his eyes widen. "I got this far because of Arkaid, not because of my own will."

Alliot playfully nudged me. "What, so I'm chopped liver then?"

"No, far from it; you're important in your own way," I returned. "All of you are."

Rikka scoffed back. "This guy just doesn't know who he's dealing with."

Mizaru concurred. "We aren't just some group."

Within us all, a sudden sensation gave way. In unison, our cause, our dreams, what we stood for, we all let it out. "We are the Fifth Omni Cavalry!"

Arkaid smiled softly, taking aim. It was a sign for the end to truly come. I inhaled, feeling my body sucking in all of the mana the others could give. I felt the different energies rush through me all at once. From within myself, I watched as the different streams flowed and fueled my own. Each one became a part of my own power. I imagined that Arkaid was feeling the same. When I turned to her, I realized we both had tears in our allies. Everyone was one. Our eyes ignored the world as the staff rocketed up and down. The energy within it rattled the very magical weapon to its core. The crystal vibrated with a stunning array of colors. Within the crystal, the colors of our beings, our mana, our life-force, they all coincided and mixed to create a display of pure light. But the energy kept coming. More and more of it fueled the Sandstorm staff. Our energies became like that of a sandstorm! Energy surged from the staff, emanating shockwaves of raw energy as gusts of wind blew from our unified stances. Our buddy skills began to lose our hues; whatever energy we gained, that went into it. Everyone truly yearned to give Arkaid and me everything they had left. My legs buckled, but I would not rest. I only wanted to give more. I wanted to give Arkaid every last bit of what was needed. That's when Arkaid finally declared it. Just when I was about to feel the weight of my body press me to the ground, Arkaid screamed from the top of her lungs. But it wasn't just her; it was all of us. Altogether, our voices called for the end of this miserable fight! "SANDSTORM ALCHEMY: HOLY ARROW!"

It took everyone's power to hold the staff steady. The very power that left the Sandstorm Staff emerged with an overwhelming force. It took everything to hold the staff steady as a beam of light, unparalleled to the one before, shot out. The very arrow let off a roaring noise. It appeared to be shredding the air around it. It did not fly with a whistle, it roared with the ferocious nature of the dragon it sought to destroy. The arrow was larger than the very barrier itself. We all stared at the marvel of our creation as the beam of light blinded all of us. We could only hear. We heard something shatter. With that, came a man's scream.

When our sight was being restored, I felt something wobble on my right. Arkaid drearily weakened, falling limp and tumbling backwards. Her staff fell from her hands as her tired, weary soul yearned for rest. I went for her, holding her tight before she could fall. How? How could I still stand? How could I still stand up? No… I knew the answer. As she laid limply in my arms, unable to move a limb, I remembered the power resonating in her staff. I know that we both sensed it; any more energy would have broken the staff in two. She had to put some energy somewhere else. She knew I was willing to give her my everything. Regardless, she fed the excess energy to me, as well as back to the others. They all felt confused as to why they were standing, but soon they realized why. Even though she hated being in such a useless state, she looked at me with eyes that told me the answer to my question; she'd rather go through it again then let me experience such a fate.

The dust settled. The only thing that remained was a soft, black vapor emanating from a cold, nearly-lifeless body. I felt my eyes tear, holding Arkaid as she smiled back at me. I offered her everything, but she'd rather give me her all instead. That was her. That was who Arkaid was. Selfless, Strong, Smart, Kind, Loving, too many things to me. I didn't want to put her down. I just wanted to hold her, to keep her safe until she was back to her old self.

I expected the others to speak, but they were fixated at the sight far across from us. When I began to focus in on it, I began to hear it too; the sound of someone coughing. Alvis was alive, but only barely. I could feel it even from here; his energy was reducing at an alarming rate. It was only a matter of time before I would lose him forever. Reluctantly, I gave Arkaid to Alliot to hold. "Arkaid, you are beyond anything I could even begin to say," I muttered to her. She weakly returned a smile back. I didn't want to let her go. I didn't want to leave her side. However, I still needed to do one last thing. "Alliot… please hold her. I need to talk to Alvis while I still can."

I couldn't tell if it was out of pity or not. However, against the wishes of my companions, I approached my fallen friend. The corroding energy that was once my own was now leaving the weakened body. What remained was Alvis, but half of his body was gone. There was barely anything left keeping him alive. Was the energy playing a part of it? I could only assume. I could tell that there wasn't much time left. The darkness of that forbidden power was leaving him, giving him very little time.

The pitiful soul gasped for air, pleading for his life to be saved. There was nothing we could do for him. Without the lower half of him, there was nothing to heal him back too. Even then, there was little doubt that he was on his way to death row. I felt tears fall from my eyes. Hadn't we won? My comrades and I have defeated the enemy, so why am I still so solemn and sad? Even with such a victory before me, how could I not see it as one?

Because it truly wasn't.

Alvis was my friend.

He had given in to his selfish desires and became a monster because of it.

As I came closer to him, his soft, blue eyes gleaned back to me. I knelt to his side, looking back to him as I gave him my right hand. Doble called out. "CJ, what're you-?" Alliot stopped him, immediately shaking his head. Doble couldn't understand at first, but his sudden trance into silence told me that he was able to learn why I still cared about someone like Alvis. Alvis was someone I had known for years. I had grown close to him. I had appreciated his fun, goofy antics for quite some time. Regardless of such feelings, that wasn't enough for him. He wanted more; he wanted to be in a relationship I wasn't comfortable with. That broke him. I broke him. Silently, I blamed myself as he grasped onto my guilty hands.

The man refused to look away. This was his fate; he had already accepted it. I couldn't. I refused to. Was this really the way we treat people who give in at their worst moments? There was no fathoming my sudden fit of guilt. I kept thinking that, maybe, I could have done something different. This entire thing happened because of me. That guilt kept me silent, but Alvis was able to speak. His voice became raspy, nearly void of life. "We… wanted you to join us," he muttered slowly. "Arkaid and you… my brother wished it. He saw how much I cared for you."

"… That's why you kept her alive…."

"You shouldn't thank me," Alvis returned morosely. "… If I didn't work with my brother… this never would've happened."

"What do you think I would've done?" I muttered back.

"You would've… gotten stronger," he sighed, breathing heavily. He knew that the end was coming, but he wasn't afraid. "You would've trained with them all, right? … You could've learned to deal… with what we did to you…." Alvis lazily glanced past me. "Hell, you probably would've gotten so strong that you'll never get captured again."

"Well, now I am."

"Don't cry for me."

"I'm not."

"Yeah, you are," Alvis returned softly. He somehow chuckled to himself, seeing the others behind me. "They all hate my guts…. Yet you still weep for me."

"…They love me anyways," I returned quietly. "… Arkaid and Alliot don't always agree with me, but they trust my reasoning."

"Look at you," Alvis smirked weakly. "Trying to talk like some strong man." He looked back at me, lovingly staring into my darkened eyes. "… I find that to be astounding. I find you simply astounding."

"…. Just stop," I quietly moaned. "Just… rest."

"… I will only do so if you do one thing," Alvis returned with a smirk. How could he even afford to do something like this? Shouldn't he be tired? Shouldn't he be beyond exhausted? How could he still be so confident and silly? How could he just now revert back to the Alvis I remembered so fondly? "One thing."

"… What is it?"

"… I want you to kiss me." His words echoed in my mind. "Just once. I just want to share one kiss with you. I don't want my only kiss with you to be when you were taken over; I want to kiss the real you."

"… Why would you even care?"

"Because, even after everything, I still love you," Alvis replied solemnly. "… Just… one last kiss… please."

What came over me was some sort of wave of guilt. Did he see this coming? Did he expect me to give in and fold so easily? Either way, I couldn't deny him something like this. I had no romantic feelings for him, but I wanted to him to at least relax. I gave in to the demand, lowering my head towards his. The first sensation was the rippling touch of my lips meeting. From how Alvis's head motioned towards me, it was like the lips met for the first time. I felt his gasps running down my neck. I didn't say no. I didn't remove myself from his graceful caress. For the first time, albeit too late, he truly seemed to at least act like he cared more about me. He then jerked his head further up, digging his tongue further into my mouth. When our tongues touched, I felt another gasp. It pierced into my throat, but I didn't recede. His emotions riled up, passionately fueling his innermost desires. He had wanted to exchange something like this for so long. Finally, as the two of us pulled about, he breathed heavily. I looked to the dark energy that once encompassed him. The remains of it had all but vanished. Finally, Alvis muttered back to me. "Good luck doing the same for your buddies," Alvis mused with his final breath. "They don't even have lips. Haha…. Ha…. Ha…."

"… Jealous to the end," I wept. "You insane man…."