AN: Hope you enjoy reading~

Chapter 22:

The walk back to re-join the others was done in silence, but Killia appeared significantly calmer, which made Samuel feel relieved and accomplished. He had no knowledge of what had occurred prior to his arrival, but his presence had given Killia the peace he needed, so he supposed it did not matter.

Everyone had gathered in the area that Samuel had entered through the portal. Even Seraphina and Red Magnus. Though the latter seemed to have fallen victim to a series of gunshots once more. He was a favourite victim of hers, after all. And she likely took her anger out on him after not being able to locate Killia.

Poor Red Magnus.

"Killia! Samuel! You're back," Usalia was the first to greet them, sincerely happy to see them.

Christo regarded them with a curious gaze. "Is everything all right?"

"Yeah," Killia replied, his tone apologetic. "I'm sorry for worrying everyone."

Zeroken smiled a cheerful, wolfish grin. "Alright, Bro seems to be back to normal."

"I knew Samuel could do it, plip," Usalia added with a sagely nod.

Ah, so it was Usalia's idea, was it?

Seraphina, however, was less than pleased. No surprise, there. "Speaking of which; why are you here?"

"I asked him to come," Usalia revealed without a hint of fear. Naturally, as she had no fear of being on the receiving end of Seraphina's guns. "Killia just needed his Emotional Support Samuel."

Samuel lifted a hand to his mouth to make it appear that he was biting back a laugh, but was really attempting to hide his face to fend off a blush that no doubt flared across his cheeks.

Though, he did not exactly mind being referred to as such. Besides, she was just joking.

A joke that made the frown on Seraphina's lips deepen.

He was not going to be petty and antagonistic.

"You're welcome, by the way."

Ok, maybe a little.

"I'm glad that Killidia has been suppressed for now," Christo began, his expression becoming stoic. "The spear is just ahead."

And if Killia was right about Bloodis loitering about, so was he.

"Samuel."

Samuel turned his head toward Killia and nodded. "Alright, I'll head back to the Pocket Netherworld now." He reached into his back pocket. "I have my teleporter with me."

He retrieved the teleporter and walked a little aways from the group. But as he did so, he turned and caught Killia's gaze, giving him a pointed look. "Remember your promise."

Killia gave him a small smile. "I remember."

Samuel nodded, satisfied with that before he turned his attention to the others. "You guys be careful, too, alright? I'll be waiting for you on the main bridge."

He received a chorus of affirmations and promises of safe returns from the others. He waved before he turned his attention toward the teleporter, about to activate it.

Only to sense an overwhelming, dominating presence directly behind him.

He snapped his head up, only for an arm to wrap around his throat and a hand to snatch his wrist, twisting it so that he dropped the teleporter in response. The pressure around his throat and collarbone caused his eyes to close on their own accord. He instinctively reached up to tug at the arm around his throat, only for his hand to touch the cold, harden steel of black armour.

"Samuel!"

From the cool, overwhelming aura, and from the fear in Killia's voice, there could only be one demon responsible;

Bloodis?

"What are you doing?" Killia demanded. "Why are you taking a hostage?"

It…did seem rather uncharacteristic of him. But how would Samuel know? The guy was a Demon General. He was capable of anything. Just like his son.

"I'm just ensuring that you unleash that power of yours," Bloodis replied smoothly.

"Everyone, we need to get Samuel away from Bloodis, or Killidia will be unleashed," Christo instructed, his tone both controlled but frantic.

W-wait, did Bloodis know?

"I see," Bloodis mused. "From your reactions, you have not found a way to clear your heart. Perhaps it would be merciful to simply kill you here and now."

It did not matter how Bloodis knew that Samuel was Killia's control or why, Samuel was not going to be used as some shield! And he was not going to be the reason that Killia lost control again!

Samuel peeled open an eye and lifted a hand, angling it toward Bloodis' face. Where a magical circle quickly appeared, followed by the red-hot flames of a Mega Fire attack.

Bloodis reacted just as quickly; leaning back to avoid the flames while simultaneously removing his arm from around Samuel's neck like he had hoped. He, however, tightened his grip on Samuel's other wrist and whirled him around to face him, his other hand curled into a tight, all too menacing fist.

Samuel surprised himself by instantly conjuring up a Mega Ice spell between them.

The pillar of ice piercing up from the ground forced Bloodis to pull back his arm, narrowing avoiding the narrow, spike-like tip at the very top. The suddenly appearance of the ice attack caused him to slacken his grip on Samuel's wrist, and he immediately took advantage of his distraction.

However, Bloodis was not as distracted as he appeared as he used that same hand to strike through the ice with an open palm, and struck him on the upper arm that he impulsively raised defensively in front of him.

The strike sent him flying back a couple of yards, landing hard on his back, and skidding across the grass, pushing the air from his lungs, and winding him.

Bloodis may have held back in his attack, but it still hurt like hell.

"Samuel!"

"I-I'm fine!"

Probably.

Samuel rolled onto his side and leaned heavily on his elbows as he coughed and spluttered for a moment. Ok, he could still move his fingers and he could still breath. No blood in his spluttering, either. Nothing bad happened. Good. But he had been separated from Killia and the others. With Bloodis in-between them.

That most certainly was not good. But at least Bloodis could not use him as a shield anymore.

He hoped.

Bloodis stared in Samuel's direction for a moment before he turned around, turned his back to him, disregarding him entirely, as he turned his focus toward Killia once more.

"I told you before, the doubt in your heart is what's making you weak," he began. "So, wipe out all your hesitation, all your evil intentions, and show me your true power. If you don't…I'll kill you right here."

Samuel was not going to let that happen.

Bloodis shot forward suddenly, appearing directly in front of Zeroken. And before he could even respond, Bloodis delivered a punch to his stomach, hurling him back several feet. Zeroken skidded across the grass and soil, tumbling, and rolling until he landed face down. And did not move.

"Zeroken!"

The others scrambled to respond.

And, one by one, each received a brutal attack of their own. Immediately rendering them unconscious. So vicious and sudden were their attacks that they did not have the time to utter noises of surprise or pain.

N-no! They all took direct attacks from Bloodis!

Samuel needed to find a way back over to them and heal them. At least get to Christo so he can help him heal everyone.

Killia was the only one standing. But…Why wasn't he responding? What was wrong? Did something else happen?

He was…trying desperately to keep control over Killidia.

"I see," Bloodis said, both haughty but somehow disappointed. "That how it is, then. The Rebel Army dies here, all because they have an incompetent novice for a leader."

Bloodis was hell-bent on unleashing Killidia, wasn't he? Samuel had to do something to stop him. Killidia had not done a single thing to hurt or threaten him, but Killia did not want to go back to that part of his life. He refused. And Samuel would do whatever it took to ensure that Killia would never have to relive it.

He would do anything for Killia.

Samuel ignored the pain in his fractured arm and pushed himself to his feet. "Killia, stop! You don't need to rely on Killidia for strength. It's you. You are the strength that you need. If you're still unsure, then I'll fight for you. I'll fight as long as needed. Until you are ready. No matter how long it takes or what happens to me."

Killia snapped his head up. There may be some distance between them, but Samuel could see the fear on his face. "What? N-no…!"

Bloodis turned his head to look at him at first before he turned his bulky, decidedly more powerful form to face him. Turning his back to Killia. Revealing to him that he did not regard him as a threat. "Hm? So, you'll be my opponent, then?"

Samuel nodded his head sharply. "If I have to be."

Unexpectedly, instead of just scoffing or performing some other act of dismissiveness, Bloodis positioned his body into a battle stance. "It appears that someone is resolute in their heart."

"I may not be as strong as Killia," Samuel said as he followed suit, preparing himself to conjure as many elemental attacks as necessary, "but I have full trust in him and his heart. And I will prove it."

The battle was not going to be easy. Bloodis was to be the most dangerous enemy he had ever encountered in battle. But, if he treated him as he would any decaying Seedling or newly created Snap Draingon, then maybe he could…withstand a few short minutes.

If he learnt one thing by being Killia's righthand man on the battlefield, it was that Bloodis needed to be up-close and personal with his enemies. If he was able to keep Bloodis at a distance somehow, then he could distract him long enough for the others to gather their senses.

That was his best strategy. There was no way he could win. He was not delusional enough to even entertain the idea.

Samuel and Bloodis stared each other down, the battlefield eerily silent.

Until Bloodis darted forward.

Samuel responded by summoning a role of ice pillars from the ground in his path. Bloodis barely slowed in his pace as he smashed through them with his fist. A predictable response, one that Samuel countered by conjuring a Mega Star, the spell slamming into him from above, stopping him dead in his tracks.

He had hoped that it would cause him to face plant into the ground. But that would be asking for too much. Bloodis landed in a crouch position; down on one knee, withstanding the pressure with the help of a palm pressed against the ground.

The spell would not last for much longer, so Samuel jumped back a few more steps as he prepared to conjure another elemental spell. A hopeful destructive Mega Fire spell. Followed by a Mega Wind to fan the flames further.

He did not want to be like the Lost and cause more destruction to Flowerful, but he didn't have much choice in the matter. If they did not find some way to defeat Bloodis and destroy the spear, Flowerful was to be lost to them forever anyway.

…Should he instead aim for the spear? There was no way he could defeat Bloodis. Only Killia had the strength to do that.

But that would mean turning his back to Bloodis.

No, he had a point to prove. Not to Bloodis. He could care less about that man. But to Killia.

The second that Mega Star faded, Bloodis was up on his feet and on the move. Samuel forewent using Mega Fire first, and went with Mega Wind in hopes of pushing Bloodis back, or at least slowing him down. He knew that he could not keep moving back as there was a ledge behind him, and he could not afford to put anymore distance between him and Killia, and the others.

Throwing a Mega Star followed by a Mega Fire for good measure, Samuel knew it was his one shot to attempt an escape back to Killia and the others.

But the flames being thrown back at him stopped him dead in his tracks.

Did Bloodis just used his own aura to push back the flames and stars? Damn it, just how much power did the guy actually have?!

Bloodis stepped from the flickering flames. "You. Why do you risk your life for someone with such a weak heart? He stood by and watched as his so-called allies were defeated in front of him, one-by-one. He cannot even protect what is important to him. What purpose does he or his fist serve?"

That guy's self-righteous lectures were really starting to get on Samuel's nerves.

"Would you shut up!" Samuel snapped in return. "You don't know anything about Killia. He has the strongest, kindest heart of anyone I know. He saved my life more times than I can count. Gave me purpose when I was thrown into a world of chaos. You know nothing. Stop acting like you know everything when you're working for a demon that believes life is to be thrown away at his discretion, you self-centred sell-out!"

He held out his hand in an attempt to summon the last of his energy to throw out one last Mega Star…

Only for Bloodis to suddenly disappear from his line.

And that same menacing, overwhelming aura to appear directly behind him once more.

Samuel immediately whipped around. How did Bloodis get behind him so-?!

Bloodis grabbed him by the throat and lifted him up off the ground before he had the chance to respond.

Squeezing his eyes shut, Samuel released a noise that could only be described as a pitiful whimper as he weakly wrapped his hands around Bloodis' wrist. The metal was cold and harsh under his touch. He did not even have the strength to struggle. His head throbbed from pain, mentally fatigued from using far too many elemental spells in quick succession.

He…had reached his limit.

"You, Killia," Bloodis called out. "Are you going to continue to let an injured so-called comrade continue to fight your battles for you? Or should I just put him out of his misery?"

The pain did not bother him. It was the fact that Bloodis was to attack him directly in front of Killia, to spite Killia, that infuriated him the most.

"I have nothing but sympathy for you," Bloodis said to Samuel, without an ounce of emotion in his voice. "You're going to die because you chose to trust an incompetent novice."

N-no…he could not die…Not in front of Killia. He couldn't…

"Don't fill his head with that garbage!" Z-Zeroken?

"That's right! Sir Killia is stronger than anyone else!" Was that Seraphina?

"Killia's eternal rival is me! So, he won't lose to you!" Red Magnus?

"Killia won't lose to anyone! He'll defeat Void Dark for sure!" Christo?

"Killia is my saviour, plip!" And Usalia…

Th-the others. They were all right…? That was a relief. Hah. Maybe now Killia finally understood how important he was to his allies.

They…it was up to them now. Samuel couldn't fight anymore…

A powerful pulse of energy resonated suddenly.

That power…?

Had Killia unleashed Killidia? No…No, it was different. So different. It was strong, but calm. Confident without ego. Reassuring and powerful.

The grip around Samuel's throat dissipated and he felt himself falling. Only for an arm to wound around his back and a hand to grip his shoulder, holding him upright and cradling him against a chest.

"Do not touch him," Killia commanded. "I won't let you touch him ever again."

Samuel forced his eyes open and he tilted his head back. He furrowed his brow slightly, unsure of what he was seeing. Killia's hair was a vivid blue and red marking adorned his forehead. Yet, strength rolled off of him in waves, powerful yet calming.

Killia held him close with one arm wound tightly around his shoulders, his hand gripping his shoulder in such a way that he curled him toward him. The touch, the embrace; it was protective.

His other hand, however, was held out in front of him, curled tightly into a fist. As though he had just delivered an attack to Bloodis in order to get him away from Samuel.

"K-Killia?"

Killia turned his gaze toward him, his honey golden eyes as vivid and gentle as ever. "It's all right now."

Samuel gazed up at him for a moment before a smile - tired, relieved, and happy – spread across his lips. "It's you, Killia."

"Yeah, it's me," Killia replied with a soft smile of his own. "Sorry it took me so long."

Samuel shook his head. "It's ok. You're here now."

Killia held him closer as he turned his gaze toward Bloodis. "I'm not running away anymore. I lost someone important to me once, but never again. I won't ever endure that pain again. I'm not going to run away from my weak heart anymore. I'm not going to run away from my pathetic self. It's not about revenge or destruction. It's about the people who are important. That's why I fight with my fists!"

Killia kept his arm around Samuel's shoulders as he leaned down and slipped an arm under Samuel's knees. He then lifted him up into his arms with little effort and turned around, baring his back to Bloodis without a concern.

"Christo," he called out as he carried Samuel over to the others and carefully set Samuel down onto the grass. "Can you take care of Samuel for me?"

"Of course," Christo immediately replied as he knelt down by Samuel's side, placing a hand on his back to support him.

Killia then stood back up, his posture tall but free of tension. "Everyone else; thank you. But I'll take care of Bloodis."

He turned on his heel and with slow, purposeful strides, he made his way toward Bloodis. Where he stood in the middle of the ruined field of his and Samuel's impromptu battlefield. In his usual, arrogant posture.

"Ah, finally," he uttered as he pulled himself into a battle stance once more. "A battle worth fighting."

"These fists…these skills…I dedicate them to my irreplaceable allies!"

Killia's aura, now filled with confidence and determination to protect those he come to care about unconditionally, flared as he surged toward Bloodis.

"The Ultimate Demon Technique Final Skill Adviya Holy Water!"

Hah, he did it.

Of course, he did. There was no doubt in Samuel's mind.

… … … … …

"So, Killidia no longer exists?"

Staring out into the vast inky blackness of the Netherverse beyond the large glass panels of the Pocket Netherworld, Killia nodded his head. "My 'Other-Self' never truly did. He was the manifestation of all my negative emotions. All my self-hatred, all my frustrations, anger, fear."

Samuel swung one leg over the ledge of the walkway over the main bridge as he tugged the other toward his chest. Fresh bandages adorned his right arm and had a few new bruises around his throat, but remarkably he received no other injuries.

"And you turned all that negativity into a new Overload skill." Samuel nudged Killia playfully with his arm. "Do I get to say 'I told you so?' now?"

Killia gave a small chuckle. "Don't get ahead of yourself. I may have defeated Bloodis this time, but he'll be back."

Samuel rolled his eyes. "Celebrate your wins when you can, Killia, it won't hurt you."

"There is something bothering me."

"Going to yell at me about challenging Bloodis…?"

Killia turned to him and actually smacked him lightly against the back of the head. "I should," he retorted.

Samuel rubbed the back of his head. The hit didn't hurt, of course, so it was just for play. "Red Magnus will be jealous, though."

Killia shook his head. "No, I get why you did. I'm still furious, but that's more toward myself. It's just…" he turned his gaze toward the Netherverse outside once more. "Brutus's previous attack on the Pocket Netherworld brought a fear I hadn't considered. And Bloodis today almost made that fear a very real possibility."

That got Samuel curious. "What do you mean?"

"When you were about to use the teleporter, there was little stopping Bloodis from simply following you. Hitching a ride, if you will. And I may have been none the wiser."

Samuel looked at Killia in surprise. He hadn't even considered that possibility. "That's…you're right. That could have been possible."

"I could have returned here," Killia sighed, his shoulders sagging forward as he raised a hand in front of him. "Only to find you…"

Samuel scooted closer and dropped his hand into Killia's open palm, threading his fingers through his. "Your fear didn't come true, thankfully."

Killia looked down at Samuel's hand in his, momentarily startled, only to curl his fingers around Samuel's a moment later. "But another nearly did."

He was obviously referring to Samuel's impromptu (and wholly unsuccessful) battle with Bloodis. It was highly likely to be weighing on his mind for a while.

"Again, your fear didn't come true." Samuel nudged him with his shoulder. "You saw to that yourself."

"Yeah."

Killia turned his gaze back to the Netherverse once more, and Samuel did the same. Yet, highly aware that his hand remained interlocked with Killia's, their fingers interlaced, his palm pressed atop of Killia's, both resting upon Killia's thigh. It felt…unusual, yet comfortable. Comforting, even.

He did not feel the need to point it out.

And he most certainly was not about to be the one to pull away.

"You know," Killia began, "in some ways you remind me of Lieze. But in other ways, you are nothing alike. A part of me wants to keep you away from the battlefield, but another knows that there is no one I trust more to fight by my side in battle."

Samuel was not sure where Killia was going with that little reveal, so he found himself breathing a small sigh of relief. "I'm glad you ended with that. Because you would have a hard time keeping me from the battlefield."

And away from his side.

Killia chuckled. "I figured as much. You are my righthand man, after all."

"You got that right. For better or for worse."

And Samuel was happy with that.

Right…?