Anti-Magic

Eunomia glows green as the energies of her projections returned to her body. She overlooked the realm from where she stood, observing the results of her attack. Though most of her enemies perished, those who remained were far too dangerous to be kept alive. She'd contemplated unlatching all but the second platform, but she'd used the Rolling Star to prevent such a fate. When everything ends, they're going to need a home to return to. Those of the seventh platform have already relocated mere weeks ago. Some also coming from the other five platforms over the course of a few decades. The population was growing too numerous and the conquered Real Estate of other realms was no longer becoming a viable option. So what choice is left other than to face them herself?

Eunomia looked over to the second platform, seeing all the citizens muttering among one another. She could see the looks of concern and frustration of the citizens' faces. Some of them gestured the frustrations they've had with how the situation was being handled. Anomaly's return was always planned. The loss of the seventh and fifth division forces, the arrival of Outworld's forces, and the arrival of Earthrealm's warriors was not.

Speaking of the Golden Witch, Eunomia looked over to the stairway leading to her platform. She sees Anomaly running up the stairs behind them. She looks at the end of the top of the steps, seeing Abacus & Hotaru finally making it. She raises her staff and points it toward the stairs. Anomaly had a look of surprise as the platform began to lower. She wasn't sure she'd make it. She couldn't teleport like she wanted, not while Eunomia's chi was nullifying everyone else's. As she came closer to the end of the steps, she planted the blade of her naginata between the top two steps. She leaps up and lands on the other end of the Naginata before propelling herself into the air like a trampoline. She sees that its not possible for to grab the ledge in time. With a quick swipe behind her back, she pulls out her kobujutsu and plants it into the side of the platform. She grabs the other and climbs to the top of the platform. As she stands up, exhausted by the run, she finds herself in the midst of Anomaly, Abacus, and Hotaru.

"What did you hope to accomplish facing the three of us on your own?" Eunomia questioned. Anomaly opened her mouth, but found herself at a loss of words. Eunomia was right, she didn't think her plan through that far in advance. There was no way she would be able to take her out as long as Abacus still lives.

Not far behind, along the stairs heading toward the second platform, Kitana, Shelia, Chan, and the others observe the highest platform. Kitana's heart dropped as they began to descend to the bottom of the realm—or so she thought. Jacqui inspected the platform closer and noticed that they were not descending from the platform, but rather the platform was ascending away from the rest. As the reached the top, before them was the forces of the Seidan Guard. The group enters a defensive stance as they prepared to face the group. However, unlike before with Justice Brigade, this was the Army's full might. Jacqui observed the map along her wrist band and notices the update.

"This one is much larger than the others," she said. "This army is here for a reason."

"Then that means—" Chan began.

"Anomaly's here," Kitana finished. "Or rather, she's up there." The men began to rush the group a few at a time. The civilians could be heard from far away despite the sounds of armor being dismantled before them. They didn't let up. The Guardsmen were more relentless this time. Chan understood completely. They weren't worried about killing them. The guards were focused on keeping the civilians protected from them. The drive caused them to take stances not utilized on previous platforms.

"Be careful," he commanded.

"They aren't even trying," Kitana said.

"They are," Shelia corrected before sticking an ice dagger into the opening of the attack guard's neck. "A cornered animal is always bound to push harder for their own survival."

"In this case," Cassie says, "they're pushing harder for Seido's survival."

"Don't let your guard down," Takeda says. "I can feel their fear, but we can't show sympathy when we've come this far."

"It's not pity that's slowing me down," Cassie says. She falls to the ground, finding herself positioned on her knees and elbows. She started to breathe rapidly, as if she were having a panic attack. Jacqui lowered her guard for a split second, but Takeda holds his arm in front of her.

"Keep the pressure up," Takeda told her. "I'll deal with Cassie."

"You're our best fighter," Kung Jin said.

"We're a team," Takeda responded. "We're best when all four of us fight." Takeda breaks away and moves in on Cassie. He places his hand on her head. "Relax Cassie."

"Why…does…the sky…feel so…close," she questioned. Takeda looks at Jacqui and frowns. She nods before firing an electric blast toward one of the guards.

Takeda closes his eyes and finds his way into Cassie's mind. Suddenly, he too felt the claustrophobic aura around them. He felt himself beginning to curl on the floor as the dark, depressive atmosphere started to overwhelm him. He began to remember his time back in Earthrealm. He remembers how his mother was taken by the Red Dragon. He remembers the dark place within his heart and mind during that period. His father, Kenshi, wasn't able to protect them. And in the end, his mother suffered for it. He was taken in by Hanzo Hasashi with hopes that everything would return to normal. Yet, it never did. He didn't see a light at the end for a long time. Why were they still fighting.

He remembered why. He never lost his family. He had one. The Shirai Ryu raised him for half of his life. He did reunite with his father. He resented him for years, but he found a way to relieve himself of that resentment. He was the one who saved his mother from her servitude under the Red Dragon. Though his life never returned to normal, he got the happy ending he wanted. He didn't fight to see another day. He fought for others who's life was not as fortunate. He fought to keep others away from that dark place. He's helped the orphaned delinquents who joined the Shirai Ryu during their time of need and led them down a path that gives them a future. He couldn't let that darkness take him again. He stood firm and called out to Cassie. The girl's breath relaxed ever so slightly. He pushed to stay with her, but the darkness was still overwhelming him. He opens his eyes, releasing himself from the girl's mind. He looks around at everyone as they struggled against the guards. He looked to Cassie who was beginning to relax.

"Push them back!" Takeda shouted. Chan peeked back at him, as did Kitana. "The soldiers crowding us is causing her symptoms," he said. "So push them back."

"If only it were that easy," Shelia said.

"Can you not take them elsewhere with your portals, Chan?" Kitana questioned.

"I can't find a safe place in the distance to do so," he said. "And sending them to a new platform is out of the question."

"Actually," Jacqui began, "if you can use your portals to force the soldiers back one by one…"

"Right," Chan responded. He begins to open a few portals as the guards rushed toward them. He was able to open the portal against a few of them, but it only caused the guards to be more careful. However, it was enough in the eyes of Takeda. He noticed the men stepping back as the threat of the groups' attacks was starting to take a toll on them. The deaths of their allies also afflicted their minds as well.

"Cease this futile assault and let us pass," Kitana shouted. The men ignore her, though it was clear the thought crossed some of their minds. "Why are you all even attacking me of all people? I'm the empress of Outworld!" The men perked up.

"Empress?" One said. The men halted their assault. Cassie was breathing much slower. Takeda could here her heart rate slowing down.

"Eunomia and I stood atop of that platform over a year ago, watching over this realm. I have not attacked you all until you all attacked me. Is this true justice?" she asked.

"You fight with her usurpers. Your men fought against us on the sixth platform," another said.

"Kotal Kahn is not my ally," she shouted. "He took the throne from me years ago with the help of Anomaly. She is in this realm. She will kill Eunomia. Only I can stop her."

"You speak lies, Empress," another said.

"I speak truth!" she said. She points to Chan. "I brought these Earthrealm Warriors to help with the war effort, yet your Justice Brigade attacked them as well. Is this justice?"

"You would admit your crimes here?" he asked. Jin palmed his forehead.

"We're done for," he muttered.

"Our crimes?" she questioned. "Your men struck first without telling us our rights. That is perjury, as the Earthrealmers would call it."

"No it's not," Jacqui muttered to Jin.

"If we are truly the ones who are wrong, why is it that Outworld's warriors are not here yet we remain?" she asked.

"This same system occurred years ago, and Nightwolf survived though he was not a Seidan. He eventually became one of your generals before he was corrupted by this." Kitana pulls out the Seidan Kamidogu dagger and presents it too the guards. The men took a few steps back as they saw the demonic aura radiating from the dagger. Suddenly, explosions were heard on the third platform below them. Chan looked over the edge, seeing numerous buildings now destroyed. Including Hotaru's tower. Shelia joined him watching what was going on. Upon seeing the patterns, she could only assume someone else was searching for Seido's real Kamidogu as well.

"We've got to get those portals back open," Shelia said. "Someone's following us. And they're definitely not Seidan."

"No one should be on that platform," one of the guards said.

"Wait," Chan said as he looked at the Kamidogu dagger in Kitana's hand. He then looks at the top Platform.

Where are you? A voice called. Where are you? Kitana and Chan looked around before staring at one another.

"You can hear it too?" She asked. The Seidans stared in confusion. Another explosion occurred, rocking the ground beneath them.

"You can't stay here and wait to die," Kitana shouted at the guards.

"We've been ordered—"

"To protect the civilians," Jin shouted. "Don't treat them like casualties of war." An explosion occurs in the distance of the second platform. The Guards are taken off guard by the attack.

"The civilians!" Jacqui shouted. "Someone's infiltrated them!"

"We'll guard the entrance. You all deal with that," Kitana ordered. The men hesitated. "NOW!" she yelled. The men, still reluctant, conversed with one another. They have many concerns for disobeying the orders of their leader. Especially when it comes to following the orders of an outsider. The screams echoed in their minds. Their decision was rush. They ran in the direction of the sounds without saying a word. Takeda sighed before lifting Cassie on her feet.

"Thank you," Cassie said.

"Anytime," Takeda said, rubbing the back of his head. "Now what?"

"I know how to open the portals and reach the top platform," Chan said.

"You've been staring at this dagger since I pulled it out. Am I to assume…" Shelia laughed, interrupting Kitana's question. "What is it?" Kitana asked with annoyance.

"Just as interesting as you were 17 years ago, Chan Kang," Shelia complemented.

At the top platform

Anomaly lied in defeat. Bloodied. Battered. Broken. Eunomia stood above her., exhausted by the battle. Anomaly seemed shocked by her inability to take on the woman. It was as if she'd been stripped of her magical abilities. She even healed much slower than her souls would allow. If it were not for Earthrealm's abundance of souls, she would've perished earlier in the battle. Anomaly looked over to Abacus who simply smiled. He was right. She was going too die at Eunomia's hands.

"Are you done with your games, Aisa?" Eunomia asked.

"Not until…you're dead," she wheezed. Eunomia chuckled.

"Still the same Aisa as ever," she said. Eunomia directs her staff toward Anomaly. It glows green, and the souls within Anomaly were being drawn toward it. Anomaly's eyes drifted in numerous directions. She knew Eunomia had grew more powerful over the millennia, but she never expected her to be like this. She didn't know what she was thinking this entire time. She'd come for the Kamidogu, yet found herself being led to the Lord of Order. She knew she'd be no match for all three of them, yet she still gave in and chased after them. She remembered what Abacus told her. Maybe he was right. This was probably his twisted sense of humor to prove that her truth meant nothing and that her path was his to control.

The explosions from below rocked the platform and caught the attention of Hotaru and Abacus. Anomaly snapped out of the daze she'd been in. Even with her being aware of what was going on, she was still unable to move as the woman drew numerous souls from her body. Hotaru and Abacus overlooked the edge of the platform. Below, they saw silhouettes rushing across beneath the smoke that was covering the second platform. Civilians, soldiers, and rebels alike yelled, cursed, and fought across the realm.

"Eunomia," Abacus called, "they're here."

"I can bring them back with her souls. Get rid of the second platform," she said. Hotaru nods. He thrusts his hands forward. He then pulls them back and raises them in the air.

Come to me. Hotaru hesitated. Abacus looked at him with suspicion. Come to me. The voice repeated. Hotaru lowers his arms and looked around.

"Why do I hear him?" Hotaru questioned.

"Who is it that you hear?" Abacus asked. Eunomia's attention was now on him as well.

"What are you doing?" Eunomia questioned. "Take care of the invaders."

"We must open the portals," Hotaru said as he walked toward Eunomia.

"You what?" she questioned.

"The Kamidogu," he said. "It's calling to me. As it always does." Eunomia was spooked. Her spell weakened as she lost focus.

"You've been corrupted this whole time?" Eunomia questioned. "Who did you encounter for—"

"We knew the risk when we left the Kamidogu with him," Abacus said calmly. "This was Havik's doing."

"The portals must be reopened!" he shouted. Eunomia scoffed at his request as she continued the transferal of souls.

"Make this quest, Abacus," she instructed. Abacus uses his power to activate the portals. Hotaru opens the power to the source of the voice. He reaches his arm inside. Abacus looks through the portal, noticing that there was no wall.

"Stop!" he said as he grabbed Hotaru's arm. Both of them were too late as the two were dragged into the portal. On the other side, they came face to face with Kitana, Shelia, Chan, Takeda, Cassie, Jacqui, and Jin who were fully prepared to fight. Chan sighs as the light of the Kamidogu dagger in his hand began to dim.

"It worked," Chan said. Shelia's eyes widened, as did Kitana's.

With Abacus away from the top platform as well as Eunomia becoming distracted, Anomaly's souls immediately repair her body. She twiddles her fingers before pushing herself up on her feet. Eunomia steps back, cursing under her breath. Anomaly cracks her neck as well as her knuckles before raising her fists to defend herself.

In the distance of the third platform

Destruction plagued the realm. The third platform had become nothing but smoke, fire, and debris. Members of the resistance ransacked every burnt out building they could, in search for weapons and the living. Among them marched a middle age woman with frizzled short hair. Walking beside her was Seido's former commander, Dairou. The two inspected the damage caused by the resistance, observing the numerous bodies being burned or tossed outside of the platform's outer edge. They stopped upon reaching a realm portal leading to the first platform. The woman takes a deep breath before turning away from the portal, much to Dairou surprise.

"Hotaru and Eunomia are likely through this portal," Dairou said.

"Our infiltration was interrupted, was it not?" the woman asked.

"It was," Dairou responded bluntly.

"And why is that?" she asked. Dairou remained silent. "Because Seido's Lord was standing beside Eunomia," she answered in his stead. "If this portal is open, that would mean this lord is no longer with her. Or she is no longer with that lord. Which means she is no longer with Hotaru."

"How can you be sure?" Dairou asked.

"If I were sure, I'd be a Seidan," she responded. "Uncertainty is our best weapon as well as our guide. If we go through this portal and our enemy is this realm's lord, we will surely die. If Eunomia is indeed on the other side, they're is no stopping their Lord from appearing behind us and sealing the portals. Thus, we will perish still. If Hotaru is the only one on the top platform, it would mean Eunomia and their lord have both perished. I welcome you to take your chances alone, but I would rather experience this life of mine for as long as I possibly can." The woman smiles and bows toward the portal. Dairou sighs before turning away from it. She proceeds to do the same as they observed the cause being spread to the lower platforms.

End of Chapter 16

This Chapter took a lot longer than I expected, hence why there are so many words this chapter. The ending of this chapter is what I would consider a bridging chapter. From there up until chapter 19, I will not only be closing the doors on this arc, but I will also be slowly opening the doors to the next arc which will officially begin with Chapter 20.

(Upcoming—Smoke & Mirrors)