Zephia didn't waste time taunting Jack, as she immediately sent a Thoron beam from the palm of her hand. Even though Jack couldn't get a good read on her face, he knew that whatever it was, it was hiding a fury the likes of which Elyos had seldom seen.

The only one that burned brighter laid within Jack himself. He had anticipated the attack and forced himself to the side, remaining cognizant of the battle around them as he shot a bolt at Zephia. She easily intercepted it with Thoron again, but it brought forth a cloud of dust that made it impossible to see. Just what Jack needed - a reason to close the gap. He drew his sword while keeping a hold on the crossbow, and charged.

Zephia must have anticipated that, as before he was even partway through the cloud, his sword clashed against her own. He could see her eyes glinting as she forced Jack onto the back foot, keeping him from attacking her by substituting any defense for an all-out assault that left him weary.

Even so, she was losing focus. Jack could see that, and when the opportunity presented itself, he kicked her directly in the side, where the angry-looking scar marred her tanned skin. The effect was immediate; she keeled over, coughing and sputtering while holding her side. Jack went in for the kill-

His blade was blocked by what looked like bone, and Jack growled as he looked up to see Byleth's pensive eyes staring down at him, with not a hint of malice behind their glassy finish. Chrom and Robin immediately went into action at that, as Zephia regained control and restarted her assault in earnest.

The good news was that Byleth's Emblem move wasn't an offensive attack. The bad news was that Jack had no idea how its effect translated into real life, so he kept up his defensive, dodging blows meant for him when possible while Chrom blocked some from both Byleth and Zephia, although his abilities as an Emblem could only take him so far. Something would need to give at some point - whether it was Jack's stamina or Zephia's wound remained to be seen.

Jack couldn't find a good point to Engage with Chrom; Zephia was good enough at keeping him in a weird dance of swords such that he couldn't focus on anything other than her. It was maddening - he had the tools to deal the final blow for good, and yet he couldn't do it with her constantly trying to break through him.

He needed a distraction, and after what felt like an eternity of back and forth, said distraction arrived in the form of a small, blond spitfire in ornate plate armor wielding a giant battleaxe.

Marni came in from the side like a bat out of Hell, nearly bisecting a Corrupted that got in her way before Zephia could even see her, although Sombron's lieutenant wasn't going to be completely blindsided by her, it seemed, judging by her jumping out of the way as Marni's battleaxe came down on her position.

Zephia looked upon the blonde knight as if she was regarding a cockroach.

"You have gall to show your face to me again, young lady," Zephia said, venom dripping from her tone. "Haven't you done enough? Must you mar my gaze with your presence?"

"I know what you did! To her!" Marni snarled. "I'm not gonna let that go!"

"Such a shame - you were always too spiteful and flighty for your own good. Fine, then. Die here along with your new-"

"Emblem, Engage!"

Jack saw the opportunity afforded to him by Marni and he took it, allowing Chrom and Robin's power to surge within him. Within moments, brilliant spectral wings carried him through the air. He bared his teeth in a defiant sneer as Falchion's edge shone with pale light. Zephia's eyes widened as she raised her sword to, if not block, then parry the blow. Byleth was by her side, Sword of the Creator ready.

Jack let his instincts take control at that point, and his instincts told him to kill her as painfully as possible.

Byleth swung the Sword of the Creator at him, but Jack ducked underneath it at the last moment as he continued to surge forward. He slashed backwards and the Emblem dissipated. It didn't leave Jack a lot of room to hit Zephia with Falchion, but he wasn't aiming for that. Instead, he did something she didn't anticipate - he reached his hand forward as Zephia prepared to block a blow that never came, and grabbed her by one of her horns. It was the smaller one, and with all of his strength, he pulled.

Zephia pulled against Jack's grip, trying to get her horn free before a tearing sound rang out through the battlefield, and a scream followed a moment later. Jack held Zephia's torn horn in his hand, and as she was screaming and holding the wound on the side of her head, he lunged and plunged it into her shoulder. She dropped the sword - it clattered to the ground as Jack then kicked her, knocking her off balance but not off her feet. With one push, he felt lightning surge through Falchion, and he flew high into the air before dashing forward.

Dust clouded the air around him as he felt the power of the Emblem fade - of his own volition. He didn't want to use it for what would come next. He brought out his crossbow - Natalie's crossbow, and he walked forward.

Zephia's breathing was labored as she laid before Jack, wounds and blood all around her. The side of her head was stained red, and the wound at her side reopened. Unless she received medical attention soon, she would certainly die.

Marni came up beside Jack, still brandishing her battleaxe and greatshield as she looked at Jack with worried blue eyes.

"Are we…?" Marni asked quietly.

Jack nodded.

"Oh…" Marni mumbled, "I… I'm not sure I can do that-"

"Then leave. The others could use you," Jack said, patting Marni's shoulder. "I'll make it quick."

It was strange how Jack was so easily able to lie about that. Marni quickly nodded and headed out - Jack saw her run toward the castle, as the battle that had surrounded them seemed to be over. Besides the overturned humvee nearby, Jack could see a couple other vehicles nearby, all damaged or destroyed. One looked skinnier than a humvee, but still had a machine gun mounted to its back, while another had to have been a regular car, although it was so damaged and broken that it was hard to tell. Weapons, both guns and medieval arms, laid on the ground, alongside the bodies of Alear's army. The only marks for the deaths in Sombron's army were the piles of ash that had once been Ashborn.

Jack snorted as he approached Zephia. She barely moved as she looked up at him, defiance in her eyes. Byleth's ring laid not far away, the darkened metal twinkling as if beckoning him. He ignored it; he had something more important to deal with first.

"I should not have fought with my wound," Zephia spat out. "If I had been at my full strength, I would have killed you. And it would not have been quick."

"You really know how to plead for mercy," Jack observed. "In fact, I think I'll let you go free. How does that sound?"

"Spare me your sarcasm," Zephia snarled.

"Who said it was sarcasm?" Jack asked, looking around as if one of the piles of ash would provide the answer. "I wasn't being sarcastic. I was serious. But now, nah, I think I'd rather blow a hole in your face."

"Is this your idea of a joke? After everything you have taken from me?" Zephia snapped. "Was it not enough to take away Griss? To turn Marni and Mauvier against me!? Now you would even mock me as I lay dying!?"

"Everything I've taken from you?" Jack echoed hollowly.

"You and the Divine Dragon… if it weren't for you-!"

Jack let out a laugh. He threw his head back even as he began to charge his crossbow. "Listen, Zephia, I know all about you. I know how you destroyed your entire village. I know what Sombron promised you. I know about the pasts of all the Hounds. I know what drives you, but do you wanna know something else?"

Before Zephia could respond, Jack continued.

"Three words: I. Don't. Care. I don't care about how horrible your past was. I don't care that your parents are dead. I don't care about what you want from Sombron. You killed Natalie. You killed her in the worst way I thought possible. Because you didn't just kill her; you tortured her. You tore her apart. You broke her mind and body."

Jack took a deep, shuddering breath as Zephia tried to get up, fear and pain in her eyes.

"Sombron never would've given you what you wanted. And you never deserved it. Fuck you, Zephia. I hope you burn in Hell."

Zephia held up a hand. "No, Jack-!"

Jack fired. The bolt traveled through the air for a split second before it struck Zephia's outstretched arm. Blood splattered against the ground as Jack loaded another bolt quickly, manually cocking the slider that loaded them, and allowed it to charge for a few seconds. Zephia was still alive, just barely. Her arm had been blown off from below the shoulder, and she looked at Jack with wild eyes as she reached out her other hand, as if it would save her.

Firing again, Jack watched as the bolt hit Zephia square in the chest. When the dust settled, Jack saw her remains. Everything above the middle of her torso had been turned into jelly - her remaining arm and legs were sprawled out, and her head had completely vanished, blown to pieces against the grass.

Instead of feeling any sense of satisfaction from killing her, Jack felt nothing. Nothing at all. If anything, he felt cold, as if the Elusian air had entered his veins. Jack turned away, shutting his eyes so tightly that he saw spots and colors. He couldn't stand to look at her.

Zephia deserved her death. Jack knew that. But for a moment, he felt wrong. He didn't feel like himself. All he wanted to do was to hurt her, to make her suffer - he could've shot her in the head and ended it there, but he didn't. He drew it out, made sure she knew how pathetic she was.

Chrom appeared beside Jack, pointing at the castle.

"We should make sure the others are alright," he pointed out.

"That's it?" Jack asked, his voice cracking. "Not gonna scold me for seeking vengeance? No thoughts on how violent that was?"

"I've let anger for my sister's death cloud my thoughts before as well," Chrom said.

Jack stopped for a moment before sighing and nodding.

"It would be wrong for me to judge you for that," Chrom said, "at the very least, it would be hypocritical. I can understand that kind of deep, burning rage. All I ask is that you make sure it doesn't affect those you love."

Jack nodded again. "I just want this to be over."

"And it will be," Chrom said, before pointing again at Elusia Castle. "But we've got one more thing to take care of."

Jack did as he was told. Before he left the empty battlefield, however, he picked up Byleth's ring. He took one last look at Elusia Castle, took a deep breath, and then headed toward it.

Even as Jack rejoined the battle - or what passed for a battle in the halls of Elusia Castle, considering the Corrupted and Ashborn were few and far between - his mind was elsewhere. The chilling sensation he felt throughout his body refused to abate, and everytime he tried to think of anything else, all he could see in his mind's eye was Zephia's desecrated corpse.

The battle the regular soldiers were fighting, however, was merely against the dregs of Sombron's army; there was a bigger, deeper fight happening below the castle. Jack could feel it from the way the floor quaked and the sounds of magic striking stone. It didn't take long for Jack to find the entrance to where they were all fighting.

It was behind Elusia's throne, itself a masterwork of construction - it was made of stone and carved with images of dragons and humans - and it descended deep into the ground beneath the castle. It was like looking into a black hole, only without a corona. There was only the faintest showing of light within, and Jack had to squint to even see the flashing of magic or the firing of a gun.

"Alright," Jack said, turning to his side. "Ready?"

Chrom appeared beside him, and nodded. "Ready. Let's finish this!"

Jack grunted as he charged forward, crossbow in hand as he allowed it to charge. There could not have been more than a few bolts left for it, but it would be enough - he wouldn't have time to reload until later. The walls were covered with ceremonial depictions of Sombron, seeming as if he was 'blessing' his worshippers. Knowing what had happened to most who had worshiped Sombron, Jack couldn't help but chuckle darkly to himself - not because he found it funny, but because it was so counter to everything Sombron had done.

Nonetheless, Jack pushed forward, and when he reached the end of the long stairway, he felt as if he was looking at a fireworks show.

There were five people inside, not counting Sombron. Alear had Libération in hand, slashing and stabbing at his father with near-reckless abandon, flanked on one side by Marth, and on the other by Diamant, who had Roy near him as well. Ivy was the third, staying in the background casting spells and sending volleys of mystical arrows straight toward the Fell Dragon. Timerra and Alfred mostly kept to the sidelines, making sure Sombron couldn't escape from fighting against Alear and Diamant.

It was an effective strategy, one Jack didn't think he needed to butt into. He was preparing to turn back - if the others had it under control, then the soldiers who pushed against the remnants of the Corrupted horde could always use a few more explosions. However, that changed rather quickly.

Jack didn't know how much power Sombron had left - the room housed an altar at the extreme far end, and it was glowing a dark purple. It was possible that Sombron could have made some last minute sacrifices, but after all the punishment he had endured, the fact he was standing up to multiple Emblem users was a shock. Especially since after another bout, he made his move. A pulse of Fell energy left his hand and crashed into Diamant, sending him backward and slamming him into a pillar. He fell down, unable to get to his feet. Roy made sure that he wasn't attacked again, but that still left Alear alone to fight Sombron, if only for a few seconds.

It would only take a second, considering Sombron was power Fell magic in both hands, to either hit both Alear and Marth, or just one or the other. Timerra and Alfred would take a few precious moments to reach the fight, and Ivy was still trying to cast a spell after her Engaged state ran out.

That left only Jack, with his charged crossbow practically crackling with blue light. He could even hear the thing humming with power, it had been charging for so long. It was the same kind that blew the doors off of Brodia Castle. Jack snarled and took aim.

He didn't wait or hesitate. He knew Alear would be caught in the blast, but Sombron would be receiving the brunt of it. And so, he pulled the trigger, and a bright blue bolt sailed through the air, straight toward Sombron.

The bolt hit its target. A pale blue explosion shone light throughout the altar room. Alear was blown clear away, his armor and clothes stained with soot - and he had more than a few bruises, but he was alive and able, as he got up a few moments later. He turned to regard Jack with a slight glare. Jack gave him a salute in response.

"You…"

It was the first time Jack had heard Sombron's voice since he had completed the game what felt like years prior. The smoke cleared after a time, and Sombron's body was-

…Maybe all that power was used for offense.

Sombron's arm had been completely destroyed - the one that Jack had hit with his crossbow. It was nothing more than a mangled hunk of flesh at his side. His dark skin was peppered with wounds, probably from fighting Diamant and Alear moments prior, and one of his horns had been cut. All in all, the Fell Dragon was looking a little worse for wear. The fact he hadn't transformed yet likely meant that he couldn't.

In other words, it was almost over. And they didn't even need to gather all of the Emblem Rings, or the Emblem Bracelets.

"It's over," Alear said, holding his arms. "You're beaten. If you continue, you'll die. And I will make sure to finish the job properly this time."

"You were always the strongest of my children," Sombron said, and Jack could have sworn he heard a bit of pride in his voice. However, it was quickly replaced with nothing but contempt. "I should have smothered you in the crib. Perhaps then none of this would have happened. However, you are wrong. I am not here to beat you. That has not been my goal since you routed my forces at Lythos. What I have been working at… is to delay you."

Jack tilted his head. There were questions he had, questions he knew would never be answered in full, and so he had made peace with the fact that after Sombron's death, he would never know the true reason for everything. He knew what Sombron wanted, of course - power, weapons, but he would never know why it was him, specifically, and his friends and family that had been taken to Elyos.

All those thoughts vanished when he took a look at the altar. It was no longer purple, at least, not the middle of it. A purple aura outlined its edges, but the center of the anomaly before them was a stark white. The same stark that the strange creatures that Brianna had summoned had been.

Deep within that bright vortex, Jack could've sworn he saw eyes.

"What have you done?" Jack asked. Usually, to someone like Sombron, it would've been a demand, but the appearance of the growing white light almost made him sound conversational.

"I have given myself more time. You have experience with going to another world, do you not? You are one of the Outlanders. Had the situation been different, you would be dead. But there shall be plenty of time for that later," Sombron said, and his bloodied face smiled at all of them. "I will certainly see you on the other side. We will meet again."

Suddenly, as if a grenade had gone off, the white vortex grew in size, exploding all around them as it first engulfed Alfred and Timerra, their screams echoing in Jack's ears. Diamant was next, who grunted as he was consumed. Alear and Sombron were obscured immediately after.

Jack reached out his hand to Ivy, who was running away from the blast. Just as she was about to grasp his hand, she was gone, completely and utterly. Jack could hear what sounded like footsteps from the back, near the staircase to the throne room, but he was too busy screaming.

Screaming was all he heard as he was taken. It echoed and pulsed around as if he was in an echo chamber. The bright white gave way to darkness that engulfed him just as assuredly, and after that, he knew no more.

When Jack awoke, he immediately vomited.

Thankfully, he was face down in the dirt, otherwise it would've splattered all over him. Nonetheless, his body was wracked with dry heaves afterward as he tried to get himself under control. There were no thoughts or feelings; just pure instinct as he tried to keep himself from keeling over again. His muscles felt like jelly and his skin felt like it had ants crawling all over it as he fell to the side.

The grass was dry and itchy, while the sky had a sickly orange hue to it that made it look like he was on another planet. He took several deep breaths, trying to get his breathing under control. Occasionally, he would be hit by another urge to throw up, but after what felt like several hours, he was mercifully allowed to relax his muscles.

The sky was wrong.

That was obvious - he had noted it before, but it was only when he had calmed himself down and allowed himself to really internalize what he was seeing did he understand just how it was different. There was an orange sheen to it, as if there was something wrong with the atmosphere. Orange wouldn't be too alarming during the evening or the morning, but judging by the sun-

The sun.

The sun hung heavily in the sky, looking engorged. It was a deep, blood red, as if a sore had opened up in the sky and it was oozing. The light bled into the sky around it obscuring its true form. Jack's eyes didn't even hurt looking at it, like the regular sun would.

"What…" Jack murmured. "How? Where am I?"

Jack took a deep breath as he sat up, feeling his stomach doing somersaults in his body. He was in a field - a field of dried, dead grass that showed very little, if any, life to it. There were no chirping birds, no insects making noise, nothing. All Jack could hear was the breeze, gently fluttering along the dead grass.

"Chrom… Robin?" Jack asked. "Have you- wait, what?"

Jack looked down to see that the Bracelet that held Chrom and Robin was gone. Jack's breathing became quicker as he searched himself for the other Emblem he had.

A mixture of relief and confusion struck him as he held up the Ring of the Instructor. It was still Corrupted by Sombron, but it would be better than nothing. He would need to figure out what happened to Chrom and Robin later. For the moment, he needed to find the others. He remembered the look on Ivy's face when she was consumed by the white light, and it made his heart drop into his stomach.

When he finally stood up, he felt as if he was about to fall down again. It took everything in him to take a few steps before he wanted to curl up on the ground and let nature take its course.

The weariness didn't go away when he heard wings on the wind, but it did make him more alert. He slipped on Byleth's ring and looked up to the sky.

At first, he hoped above all else that it was somehow Ivy flying upon her wyvern, but that hope was quickly dashed when he saw that it was adorned with different decorations. In fact, it looked a lot like-

Jack could feel his skin turn paler as he turned around to find his weapons. They laid some distance away, both his sword and crossbow, but he was too far away to reach them before she landed. Jack spun around, teeth bared in a sneer as he readied the Sword of the Creator - the only weapon he could think to use - as she got off her wyvern before him.

There she was, as if Jack hadn't just blown her apart less than an hour prior. She regarded him… warmly? There was not a hint of malice in her eyes as she looked at him, and the ribbons that decorated her horns were yellow instead of a dark pinkish-red. There was no motion to reach for her sword, and no spells danced between her fingertips.

"It is…" she said, and her voice was different, but still Zephia's. "It is good to see you again, my dear friend. Somehow, I knew that you had not perished that day. Welcome back, Jack!"

Jack's eyes widened again, and it took a good amount of restraint to keep his jaw from opening in shock. He had only one thing to say in response.

"...What?"

If you're wondering, by the way, the title for this chapter roughly translates to 'I Crush Those Below Me'. Very roughly. Came from an old Bungie ViDoc. Good times...

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