The sounds of battle horns and bells rang throughout the city, which caused a massive panic to erupt amongst the civilians and refugees who hurried their way to shelters as the defenders of the fairy capital rallied together in order to drive off the invaders.
The various Guardians that came to the city's defense leap into action, summoning their Titan, Nature Dragon and Wild Beast partners for battle, while legions of fairy, elven, human, fae and beastkin warriors gathered their weaponry and moved toward the city's walls.
Leading her tribe, the Leonians, Ungala brought her forces to bear as she took charge over the city's defenses in order to buy time for Cerine to find the way into the Spark of Karnus' chamber and seal it before Noctus could claim his prize.
Meanwhile and after they had wished the defenders the best of luck, Fire Davis, Water Davis, Dark Davis, Kari and the others in their group were then transported by the Arch-Savant back aboard Miracle's Reach, which after bringing the Fire Realm's embassy staff on board, launched from its landing pad and floated high above the city.
Due to the height and its status as a neutral ship, Miracles' Reach would remain safe from the conflict amongst the invading forces.
Returning to the briefing room as the crew of Miracle's Reach activated the monitors, Kari, the trio of Davis and the others could only sit back and watch as the battle unfolded before their eyes.
Aiming his blade toward the city's gate, Argoth bellowed with a great and dark malice within his tone.
"For Noctus, for the Dark Emperor and for Mordakus!" He declared.
With a collective choir of battle cries and shrieks, the Wightborn and the undead legions of Noctus surged forward, Tenebran leading the charge as he expelled a fearsome and bloodthirsty roar, his undead kin and legions of Wight elves, along with human, dwarves and even ratmen, rushing with the skeletal and spectral legions of the Eternal Lord in order to slaughter the opposing forces.
From atop the city's walls, legions of elven, human and bearskin archers unleashed volleys of Nature Mana infused arrows upon their foes, while more archers behind the defensive structure unleashed their own barrage upon their enemies, knowing that while they could not see their foes, there were more than enough of them clustered together for their arrows to hit something.
Uncaring in the slightest as to many of their own soldiers were struck down in the midst of the arrow onslaught, the Nature Mana within conflicting with the Dark Mana keeping them alive and causing the undead forces to fall, the legions of Noctus continued to surge toward the city's gates as siege cannons behind the dark armies opened fire upon the city and struck many of the treemen, who all let out shrieks of agony as their bodies dissolved into nothingness.
"Bring the gates down!" Tenebran commanded as his skeletal and Wight Rat allies tried to scale the walls, while a series of large and terrifying Shadow Demons rushed toward the gates in an attempt to use their brute forces to open the way into the city, the sight of which brought a dark smirk to the undead lizardman's face.
Ready to protect the city, the Guardians that were a part of the ground battle rushed past the archers and defenders behind the city's walls, using their strength to leap into the air in order to land and strike at their forces on the other side of the defensive structure.
But as the Guardians leaped into action, many figures quickly moved through the undead forces at great speed, before leaping into their air themselves, revealing the small legion of Dark Lords that were in the service of Noctus, who then met the Guardians mid leap as they began to their personal battles, one side fighting to protect their realm, the other to conquer their foes.
In the skies above the city and the forest, meanwhile, fairy warriors, alongside humans, elves and beastkin riding upon the backs of eagles and other flying beasts, were joined by Nature Dragons, winged Wild Beasts, winged beastkin and insectoids as they all charged against the dark armada around Noctus' fortress, with the dark airships and fighters opening fire upon the incoming enemies, while Death Dragons, winged Shadow Demons and Dark Reapers were joined by spectral hosts, winged skeletal abominations, undead wyvern and vampiric beasts which then moved to clash with their Nature Realm enemies.
As the Nature Realm aerial forces held their own against their dark foes, a number of the winged defenders where then struck down by powerful blasts of dark purple flames, their agonizing screams causing many to look on as Dharak, Nergul and Senagos joined the battle, the large and terrifying Dread Wyrms either consuming their foes in their fiery breaths or ripping them apart with razor sharp claws and teeth.
"This is too easy!" Dharak remarked with a dark chuckle as he watched the carnage play out before him, which furthered as he engulfed a group of fairy warriors within his dark fire, his laughter remaining as his foes were burned alive.
Ripping an eagle-like Wild Beast apart with his claws, Nergul then threw the corpse aside as the Dread Wyrm then bellowed with a sense of impatience. "Give us a real fight!"
"Surrender and embrace Death!" Senagos added as she unleashed her fiery breath upon her foes, while adding her own laughter to the pain and suffering she was causing her enemies.
Onboard Miracle's Reach, which remained well out of the conflict zone, and within the briefing room, those watching the battle had mixed reactions, with those from the Digital World watching with shock, horror and concern, while Fire Davis, Julie, Caleb, Victor and Kenji looked on with frustration as they knew they could not interfere in a battle between allies.
Off to the side, Dark Davis, Henry and Water Davis watched the battle with great interest, their eyes focused upon their allies as they battled the Nature Realm defenders.
Finally, Kari watched on with some relief within her heart, mostly due to the fact that Nature Davis had not joined in the fight just yet.
"Damn, they are getting slaughtered out there!" Takuya remarked with a sense of frustration, the Warrior of Flame feeling conflicted as part of him wished to go out and aid the Nature Realm defenders.
However, the other part of Takuya knew that he would only cause countless issues between the Dark Imperium and the Dark Realm if he interfered.
"And Tichalla's forces and the Wild Horde are still barely a day away." Fire Davis remarked with a small growl as he too continued to watch the battle unfold before his eyes. "Plus, we have no idea if any help is coming from the Light Realm. Noctus knew exactly when and where to strike."
"Of course, he did, he is not an Eternal Lord for nothing." Dark Davis remarked in reply, his words gaining the attention of those within the room as the Shadow continued.
"He has planned for this for years now, we just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, and thus he asked us to stay out of this. That is why he was ok with Kari telling the Grand Guardian of his plans, because he believes he cannot be stopped." Dark Davis then went on to say, his gaze returning upon the monitors as he took in the battle below Miracle's Reach.
"These guys are all really scary." Calumon said with an understandable fear within his voice as he snuggled himself deeply within Jeri's arms, the brunette gently holding the small Digimon close to her chest in an attempt to comfort her friend.
"And you're alright with all this crap happening?!" Impmon then questioned with an emotion of confusion and anger as he looked upon Dark Davis, the imp Digimon finding it hard to believe that someone like Davis, no matter how many of them there are, would be ok with this kind of slaughter occurring right before him.
"As I hoped the others would explain to you, this is life in Nexus. As Champion of the Dark Emperor, I am charged with the defense of the Dark Realm, but I cannot interfere in the actions of the Eternal Lords or the invasions of our enemies." The Shadow said in reply as he looked upon Impmon, who remained with a frustration shared amongst the heroes and heroines before he once again looked back toward the screens.
"Besides, all hope is not lost yet for the Nature Realm." Dark Davis then remarked, his words drawing everyone's attention as the Shadow told the others. "The Grand Guardian is on his way, and like all five of us, he doesn't back down when it comes to protecting those important to him."
As a smile graced many of those from the Digital World, knowing that once Nature Davis and his Pack arrived, the fight would take a different turn, Kari held a mixture of hope, worry and concern within her expression.
'Please be careful, my love.' The Dark Empress thought to herself, keeping her eyes upon the screens as the battle between the Nature Realm defenders and Noctus' legions continued.
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Down below Miracle's Reach, the smoke began to fill the air as the battle raged on, the undead continuing their assault upon the city's gate and against the city's walls, while the Dark Lords continued their battle against the Guardians.
Letting out a fearsome roar as the Shadow Demons continued to slam their weaponry against the gate, Tenebran turned to the Wightborn around him and began to chant loudly and menacingly. "Death! Death! Death!"
"Death! Death! Death!" The dark legions began to chant as they pushed forward with their attack, with some of the undead forces scaling the walls reaching the top and began to fight with the archers along the wall.
"Death! Death! Death!" The chanting continued as several Guardians were cut down by the Dark Lords, emboldening the Dark Realm forces and terrifying the Nature Realm defenders in the process.
"Death! Death! Death!" The Wightborn then bellowed as the two Shadow Demons continued to slam their fists and weaponry upon the gate, which started to break apart from their assault.
On the other side of the gate, legions of fairy, elven, human and beastkin warriors stood in a line, armed with spears, shields and various forms of weaponry, all of which looked ready to strike down whatever foes dared rush in through the gates.
Having archers ready and lined up behind them with another group of Guardians, their partners and more treekin remained ready to protect the city, no matter the cost.
"No matter what comes through those gates, we will stand our ground!" The wolf-like Guardian declared as she prepared her axe for battle, her battle cry receiving a collective roar from the defenders as they prepared for whatever was about to come their way.
Then, and with a powerful blow, the gates shattered, shards of wood and stone were sent flying toward the defenders, who were saved as a series of vines and roots emerged from the ground and deflected the oncoming debris, curiosity of Ungala and her Nature Magic.
But from the opening, a pair of bipedal beasts emerged, horrid creatures made of bone and muscle, with long spine-like tails, clawed hands, razor sharp teeth and scythe-like blades within their right hands, beasts that let out bloodthirsty roars as the Wightborn and undead legions rushed past them in order to strike at their foes.
As the archers unleashed their arrows upon their enemies, the soldiers and Guardians charged forward, meeting their foes head on as the city grounds themselves quickly turned into a great battlefield itself.
Letting out a feral and fearsome battle cry, Tenebran charged into the fight, the undead warrior swinging his ice axe and cutting through a series of elven soldiers, before quickly moving and biting the head clean off another foe with his massive jaws, the former Guardian laughing maniacally as he moved on to his next fight.
As the Wightborn and other undead abominations surged their way into the city, they were quickly met by an array of vines, roots and rock pillars that struck through their ranks and decimated their numbers, the sudden attacks throwing the dark forces into disarray.
Her hands and eyes glowing with Nature Mana, Ungala focused on her nature magic as her tribesmen charged toward their enemies, while the arch druidess continued to focus upon her power as she waves her hands, causing more roots, vines and rock spikes to strike down her foes and give relief to her allies.
Focusing on the earth around and beneath her, Ungala called upon the very elements themselves.
Bringing her arms upward as the ground beneath her shook, legions of rock elementals then emerged from the earth, while elementals of pure water emerged from the nearby rivers and streams, which added their own might in terms of defense toward the capital as they clashed with Noctus' forces.
Along with the elementals, the vines and roots that were summoned from the ground all came together to form dragons, giants and other creatures of nature as the plant-like beasts moved to aid their allies and drive the Dark Realm invaders back.
Taking a moment to catch her breath and to also regain her energy now that her allies and tribesmen had backup, Ungala looked to the air as Celine and her royal guards flew down and landed beside the arch druidess, a look of concern and horror etched upon the fairy queen's face upon seeing the damage done to her kingdom and the slaughter happening around her.
"Were you able to find the Spark's location?" Ugala questioned with some seriousness within her voice, the arch druidess frowning as Ceine merely shook her head in reply.
"Wherever the entrance to the Spark's chamber is, it was sealed long ago." The fairy queen informed her ally, before she said with a growing dread within her voice. "And I fear Noctus will tear the city apart to find it."
It was at that moment that both Ungala and Cerine then sensed a great darkness, this causing the pair to look and face the broken gates as a great cloud of darkness then swept into the city, moving like a tidal wave as it covered the streets and alleyways.
As the darkness moved around the Dark Realm forces, the Wightborn and undead did not seem to be affected and seemed to be emboldened by the dark energy.
But as the darkness touched those defending the city, the Nature Realm warriors cried in agony and pain as their bodies were consumed in the waves of darkness, while the elementals withered and crumbled into dust from the surging shadows.
Acting quickly in order to defend their allies, Ungala and Cerine worked together, both rulers of the Nature Realm bringing their hands forward, forming a barrier to block the darkness and push it back, where both felt the tremendous dark energies being pushed against them.
Groaning from the strain their bodies felt from keeping the darkness back, Ungala and Cerine looked past the barrier and toward the gate, where their eyes widened in horror to see Noctus himself emerging from the darkness and entering the city, his own shadow emanating the dark energy that was consuming everything before him.
Walking forward, the Eternal Lord didn't care about the battle raging around him, nor about how his warriors and servants bowed as he walked past them, or to the enemy forces which stood against him, all that mattered to Noctus was his prize.
To the sight of the great enemy showing himself, a few of the Guardians that were within the city's walls and apart of that battle quickly rushed toward Noctus, each leaping at him from different angles as they brought up their Nature Mana infused weapons, ready to strike the Eternal Lord down and save the city.
Before the Guardians could strike, however, Noctus reminded them of why he was one of the most feared beings in Nexus.
Moving quicker than any of the Guardians, Noctus grabbed one of his attackers by the face, his skeletal hand brimming with darkness as he swung the warrior around and slammed his body into the ground, the Guardian's body dissolving into nothingness and leaving only a crater in place of their remains.
Swinging his right fist, the Eternal Lord then struck another Guardian, the impact sending the warrior flying and slamming into several buildings, before his body was consumed by the darkness.
Sensing Nature Mana surging toward him, Noctus brought his left hand up as a volley of Nature Mana infused arrows came toward him, the arrows stopping midair as they turned a dark purple, infused with Dark Mana as they then turned and launched themselves back at the Guardians and archers that unleashed them, striking down many that opposed the Eternal Lord.
Turning his attention toward the barrier, Noctus brought both of his hands up and pushed them forward with a loud cry, the darkness around him forming into a massive and shadowy skull as it surged forward and slammed into the barrier, the Eternal Lord forcing his might against Ungala and Cerine as all but screamed in pain, doing everything in their power to hold Noctus back.
Annoyed with the struggle, however, Noctus expressed a frustrated growl and pushed even more energy into his attack, which shattered the Nature Mana barrier and sent Cerine, Ungala and the guards with them flying with pain filled cries, their injured forms scattered around the entrance to the Great Tree as more defenders moved to aid the queens.
"Idiots." Noctus just said as he briefly looked upon Cerine and Ungala's injured bodies, the skeletal being ignoring the charging Nature Realm defenders as his own servants moved to engage them in battle.
The Eternal Lord walked through the conflict with no second thought, while Tenebran walked alongside his Master for protection.
Moving closer to the Great Tree, Noctus and Tenebran soon arrived at the Eternal Lord's destination, the Guardian Lodge.
Bringing his right hand up and releasing a blast of darkness upon the door, Noctus' power shattered the door and allowed the Eternal Lord and his escort within.
With the battle raging outside, the Lodge was left empty and unattended, leaving Noctus and Tenebran undisturbed as they walked through the great hall.
Looking around briefly with his hollow eyes, Tenebran had brief flashes of his old life as he took in the seats where he and other Guardians in a Lodge not too different would sit, drink and tell stories of adventures and battles against the Dark Realm and Water Realm, while also working alongside those same Guardians to help his tribe and the Nature Realm from those who threaten it.
The Wightborn lizardman even remembered the day he entered the Lodge closest to his tribe's land and met the Grand Guardian himself, along with his Pack, where Tenebran quickly found himself amongst friends as he fought alongside them against Noctus.
Growling to himself, however, Tenebran pushed those memories, the memories of who he used to be, out of his mind and focused on the task at hand, where he stopped behind Noctus as the Eternal Lord looked upon one of the central items within the Lodge, the shrine of Karnus.
Examining the wooden statue of the Nature Dragon God, Noctus then brought both of his hands upward, where he unleashed a powerful blast of darkness at the shrine, the intense energy so strong that Tenebran hand to shield his eyes from the assault.
When the attack died down, the undead lizardman looked with some surprise to see that with the shrine gone, there was a hidden stairwell that led downward, a passage toward the hidden chamber of the Spark of Karnus.
"Make certain no one interferes in what is about to happen." Noctus commanded without even looking at Tenebran, his words earning a nod from the undead lizardman as he watched the Eternal Lord descend down the stairs, the former Guardian then turning and placing his axe into the ground, waiting patiently for the Grand Guardian and his Pack to arrive.
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Back onboard Miracle's Reach, those newer to Nexus, along with Kari, Fire Davis and the rest of those from the Fire Realm watched the battle being shown upon the screens.
A growing concern was shared amongst the group, especially as they watched Noctus single handedly devastate his enemies with no issues.
Meanwhile, Dark Davis, Henry and Water Davis observed the battle with continued interest, before the Arch-Savant then turned his gaze upon one of the monitors, which showed something heading toward the city.
"There." Water Davis then said, his words causing the group to look upon the screen and see Jiraiya, alongside Shinon's butterfly-like Wild Beast partner, dashing through the air toward the battle.
"Now the tide of the battle will change and he'll show you all his true strength." Dark Davis remarked as the image zoomed in upon Nature Davis, who had placed his helmet back upon his head as green energy emanated from the eye slits, showing the determination within the Grand Guardian's being.
'Let's just hope it's enough to take on Noctus…' Henry then said with a small sense of concern within his voice, knowing and having seen along with the Shadow the power the Eternal Lord had at his command.
Remaining with her hands close to her heart, but feeling some relief as both Fire Davis and Dark Davis placed comforting hands upon her shoulders, Kari kept her eyes upon the image of Nature Davis as the Dark Empress continued to think with a growing concern, as well as a strong sense of belief. 'Be careful, my love… Please come back to me…'
As the battle raged on the grounds around the Great Tree, the remaining Guardians rallied the city's defenders around Cerine and Ungala, who were being treated by druids, while the Wightborn legions moved closer and closer to the defenders, ready to slaughter them and end this battle in Noctus' name.
But before the Dark Realm forces could advance, a loud roar stopped them in their tracks, before the invaders were assaulted by blasts of green flame and a volley of powerful Nature Mana infused arrows, startling their ranks and throwing the Wightborn off for a moment.
It was then that the Wightborn heard a mighty battle cry above them, where they looked up to see the Grand Guardian himself coming down toward them, his hammer raised high as it brimmed with Nature Mana, before he slammed it into the ground, sending forth a massive shockwave that sent many of the Dark Realm forces flying.
At the same time, Garen, Erik, Alicia, Sakuya and Lyna leaped off of Jiraiya and landed on the ground, their partners being summoned as they charged at the Dark Realm forces, while Shinon and her partner took to the skies in order to aid their aerial allies against the flying invaders.
Upon seeing the arrival of the Grand Guardian and his Pack, the remaining Guardians and defenders let out cheers and battle cries, rallying together as they surged past their Realm's Champion and resumed the battle with the Dark Realm legions.
Bringing his right hand up as Jiraiya reverted back into his energy form and entered his gem, Nature Davis and the Pack members on the ground then turned to check in on Cerine and Ungala, rushing over to the two rulers and their guards.
"Are you both alright?" Nature Davis questioned.
"Yes, but Noctus… he entered the Guardian Lodge… It must be where the entrance to the Spark was hidden…" Cerine panted in reply, before her eyes widened toward a sight behind Nature Davis and his Pack.
Turning to see what was wrong, the group looked on with concern as the Dread Wyrms flew down and looked ready to attack, to keep Nature Davis away from Noctus and burn the city down in the process if they had to.
Acting quickly, Cerine then brought her hands together and closed her eyes, where her entire body began to glow with Nature Mana as the fairy queen then commanded with her authority as a ruler of the Faelands. "Awaken, Grovewarden, and defend these lands!"
About to unleash their dark fire upon their enemies, the Dread Wyrms came to a halt in the air as a loud, deafening and fearsome roar echoed throughout the area, which then caused the Death Dragons to look upon the Great Tree itself.
At first, one would assume that it was just a gigantic vine that had wrapped around the massive tree eons ago, but as Dharak, Nergul and Senagos had just come to realize, that was not the case.
Watching as the massive vine moved, those looking upon it saw the entity slide itself from around the tree and into the sky, showing arms and legs much like many of the Nature Dragons, while a series of butterfly-like wings emerged from its back.
As the top of the vine then turned to face the Dread Wyrms, it opened up like four leaves, revealing a dragon's head which bellowed with another fearsome roar, the Nature Mana surging through its very being both immense and powerful.
Looking upon the new dragon, Nature Davis found himself smirking, having only heard tales of the ancient Nature Dragon known as the Grovewarden, where the Grand Guardian found himself grateful that this being was indeed his ally.
At the same time, Dharak, Nergul and Senagos were excited by the fact that they had a new foe, but were also startled by the fact that this Nature Dragon was larger than they were, which only added to the imposing presence of the Grovewarden.
Refusing to back down, however, the Dread Wyrms unleashed a combined blast of their dark flames toward the massive Nature Dragon, which in turn unleashed a powerful blast of Nature energy that clashed with the Dread Wyrms' attack, the conflicting energies causing those below to shield themselves from the intense energies as they clashed with one another.
Forced to cancel their attacks, the Dread Wyrms let out their own battle roars toward the Grovewarden as they turned and flew back into the skies above, where the Nature Dragon took off after its foes, perceiving them as the biggest threat to the kingdom that it could deal with at the moment.
Looking upon Nature Davis, Sakuya told him with a growing seriousness in her voice. "Alicia, Lyna and I will help the battle out here while you, Garen and Erik go and stop Noctus."
Nodding in response toward the girls and bowing before Cerine and Ungala, Nature Davis, Erik and Garen rushed toward the Guardian Lodge, while the rest of the group moved to join the battle and push the Dark Realm invaders out of the city.
Rushing through the broken doorway leading into the Lodge, the Grand Guardian, Erik and Garen came to a halt when they saw Tenebran waiting before what appeared to be a set of staircases that led down below the tree, the sight causing the trio of Guardians to glare as they looked upon the fallen Guardian before them.
"Davis, go on ahead." Garen said with a growl.
"This is our fight, yours is against Noctus." He went on to say as he brought his blades up and prepared for battle.
"We'll join up with you once we've dealt with this traitor." Erik told Nature Davis as he withdrew his blade and aimed it toward Tenebran, who merely smirked in reply.
Looking between his two oldest friends and allies since he first arrived within the Nature Realm, Nature Davis nodded to the pair, before rushing forward, hoping to dodge any attack Tenebran tried to make in order to stop him.
But much to the Grand Guardian's surprise, as well as the surprise of Garen and Erik, Tenebran remained in place as Nature Davis moved past him and made his way down the stairs, the undead lizardman keeping his focus, as well as his dark smile, upon the remaining two Guardians, who each prepared themselves for what they knew would be a tough battle.
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Through the comm device each of the Davises kept upon their person, those on board Miracle's Reach were able to watch Nature Davis as he rushed down the stairwell and toward the battle to stop Noctus and save the Nature Realm.
With a look of determination expressed upon his face, the Grand Guardian soon found himself within a massive chamber, one big enough to fit multiple Nature Dragons and a few Titans within and still have room.
On the other end of the chamber, Nature Davis could see a massive door, one larger than the Great Tree itself and made of stone, with carvings of Karnus and other images related to the Nature Realm etched upon it.
From his position, the Grand Guardian could sense the immense amount of Nature Mana from the other side, where he knew that the Spark of Karnus was just beyond those stone doors.
And between himself and that door, Nature Davis narrowed his eyes as he looked upon Noctus, who looked back upon him with hollow eyes.
"Ah… I was wondering when you would show up." The Eternal Lord casually remarked as he watched Nature Davis finish walking down the stairs and stand before him with a serious glare within his expression.
"You know, you have a reputation, Noctus. You're smart, intelligent, manipulative. So I found myself wondering why would you even tell Kari about your plans, knowing that she would tell me." The Grand Guardian remarked, continuing to glare upon the Eternal Lord as he continued to speak.
"That was when it hit me… you wanted me here." Nature Davis then said, his remark surprising Kari and most of those watching from on board Miracle's Reach.
Chuckling lightly to what Nature Davis had said, Noctus looked over his shoulder briefly as he commented in reply. "This door was made by Karnus and the Nature Empress themselves, a doorway meant to be used by those in tune with Nature Mana. Even with all the power at my disposal, it won't let me pass."
"Don't you think that's weirdly fucked up? I can't open it." The Eternal Lord remarked, before looking back at Nature Davis, pointed his boney finger toward the Grand Guardian and informed him with a dark glee in his voice. "But you can."
"What makes you think I'll help you?" Nature Davis questioned as he withdrew his hammer and shield, part of him knowing that the Eternal Lord would not use Kari against him, not without invoking Dark Davis' wrath.
"I don't need you to cooperate, Motomiya, I just need your broken body." Noctus said in reply.
Keeping his deathly gaze upon the Grand Guardian, Noctus then declared. "I promised your little girlfriend I wouldn't kill you, but I never promised to not leave you within an inch of your life. I will drag you to that door and force it open, and then I will end the Nature Realm, once and for all."
Holding his right hand out, Nature Davis watched as a scythe made of bone appeared within Notcus' hand that was decorated with a series of skulls around the back of the blade, which the Eternal Lord swung around and showed that he was ready to fight.
Gripping his hammer tightly, the Grand Guardian shook his head as he told Noctus with a great seriousness within his voice. "Your timing of this is bad, Noctus. Right now, Nexus can't afford to lose the Nature Realm, nor can it afford to have you out of commission either."
"Is there a point to this, Motomiya, or are you going to just dictate your fucking obituary next?" The Eternal Lord questioned with a mild annoyance within his tone.
"There are signs that They are moving, Noctus!" Nature Davis growled in anger and frustration, the Grand Guardian seeing the recognition upon the Eternal Lord skull-like face as he understood what the nature variant of Davis was referring to.
"They unleashed an aberration upon the Water Realm and Kari not only saw Them, but They spoke to her as well!" Nature Davis then informed, his words confusing those newer to Nexus as they looked toward Fire Davis, Dark Davis, Water Davis and Kari for answers, while those that were a part of Nexus frowned toward the idea that They could be coming.
"If either you destroy the Nature Realm or I kick your ass and send you screaming back to the Dark Realm, all of Nexus would be weaker in the event They strike." The Grand Guardian went on to say, where he pointed his hammer toward Noctus and told him with a growing seriousness in his voice. "So I am giving you one chance, leave and do not come back now. Save your ambitions for another time. Or I will break you here and now."
As though to prove how serious he and his partner were, Jiraiya appeared next to Nature Davis, the Nature Dragon expelling a mighty roar toward the Eternal Lord as he prepared to aid his partner in this battle.
There was a brief moment of silence before Noctus spoke again, where the Eternal Lord told the Grand Guardian with his own seriousness within his voice. "I have come too far, too close to stop now. I will break this realm and use its carcass to strengthen the Dark Realm, to give it the power it needs to fend Them off one and for all, and not even you will stand in my way!"
With his declaration, the dark purple gem upon Noctus' right forehand began to glow, the darkness seeping out of it and forming a large dark vortex, where a massive creature, a Dark Reaper, emerged from the shadows.
Resembling the stereotypical appearance of the grim reaper itself, the monster towered over Jiraiya and Nature Davis, resembling a horrid skeletal abomination clad within black robes that had four skeletal arms, each of which held onto a massive black scythe, a scythe bearing dark runes along the handle and three blades which ran near the tip.
Upon the being's skull was a small crown with three points upon the top, while two smaller skulls rested upon its shoulders and acted as a set of extra heads.
Finally, within the darkness that seeped from the Dark Reaper's cloak, even more skeletal hands could be seen, the sight of the creature unnerving to many who saw it as Nature Davis and Jiraiya knew that this was Noctus' partner, Mortis, a Dark Realm creature which had brought death and ruin to all who had faced it.
Keeping their resolve, however, the Grand Guardian and his partner prepared themselves to face the Eternal Lord and his ally in order to protect not only the Nature Realm, but all of Nexus as well, to overcome death itself.
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Author's Note: We now come to the battle between Nature Davis and Noctus. How will it go? Stay tuned as the adventure continues.
PS: The Grovewarden is based on the Celestial Dragon from Wild Hearts and Mortis is based on the evolved version of the Triscythe Reaper from the Shadowverse card game series.
Also, if any of you are wondering who or even what They are, let's just say the wait won't be much longer.
