I totally didn't miscalculate five days and start posting a day early. Nope, not me.
"That's it!" Hades screamed. "Six of them are dead! The Children have done it!"
Damien didn't need to hear this to know it had happened.
A deep pain had shot through every part of his body, sending him flying to the ground. Hades had not struck him, but he felt like his soul was being torn to shreds. From what Xisplate had told him, he could guess what this was.
Vantros was dead.
He had absorbed the being after defeating Taisho, so he felt him die. He grabbed for his neck, trying to confirm it was still there. Once he was sure it was, he gasped for air and tried to stand, his body fighting him.
"Damien, you need to stand," Xisplate said. "You know what happens now."
"E-Easier said than done," he hissed. "I feel like a part of me was just ripped out."
"It would not be wrong to say that was what happened," Xisplate replied, "Vantros would have fused to you somewhat. His death is forcing his being to be ripped from you. But that does not matter. Stand, or we will be in danger."
Damien tried to, but again his body would not. His legs seized and collapsed, and he barely had enough strength to stop his face from splashing in the dry water of the Circle. His lungs felt like they were on fire, and his blood felt like it had turned to jelly.
"I-I can't," he said, "I-I need a minute."
"You don't have one! Stand up!"
"I can't!"
"This is it," Hades said, "the culmination of thousands of years! It's here! The day is here!" He laughed manically, making Damien fight for control of his body. He still didn't have it. "With six dead, his slumber will be ended!"
Damien turned to look at where Hades' voice was coming from, and his stomach turned.
The man was standing with the staff he had clenched in both hands, the serpent figurehead glowing. An aura of power surrounded Hades, one that sent a chill down his spine. This was bad. This was really bad.
"Six seals have been broken!" Hades called, "The chains have snapped! Lord Zomrus, your power is yours for the taking! Hear my voice and awaken in your bonds!"
A massive door slammed into the ground behind Hades. The door was bound by black chains, and every few seconds it pulsed like a heart. Then, in an instant, six of the chains snapped into pieces and fell to the ground. The door bulged outward, whatever was behind it fighting for freedom.
Then the scream came.
The scream that reached Damien's ears was horrific. It was unlike anything he had ever heard before. The only way he could describe it was what he imagined the creation of the universe sounded like. The sound caused his entire body to reverberate, his cells threatening to break apart and turn him into a puddle of goo. But just as soon as it started, it ended. The door stopped fighting against the remaining restraints, and went back to beating slowly.
What came next made Damien wish he'd gone deaf from the scream.
Ah, Cain. I am seeing you through my own eyes for the first time. I am impressed, my young disciple.
The speech had not come from the door, or behind it. It was coming through existence itself. Like the world had come alive and was speaking. The voice was both in his head, and far away. It was everywhere, yet nowhere.
"Thank you, My Lord," Hades said, bowing to the door. "I did as you asked; Six of the chains have been broken."
Yes, I feel it. My power it returning. These bonds that have held me down for so long are being broken. My eyes that have been closed for so many years are opening, even if it is a slow process. Yet six still remain.
"Yes, M'Lord."
You know what to do next, don't you Cain? These remaining portions of my power will not fight you, they will flee. Ensure that they do not.
"The ritual, M'Lord?"
Yes, it is time. Time for you to earn your place at my side. Preform the Planemeld, merge the remaining Circles of Judgement into one and slay the remaining Demon Lords. Do not feel anxious, you will have my power at your side.
Damien was barely able to comprehend what was happening, but he heard that. Hades was going to merge the remaining Circles, draw the living Demon Lords right to him. That couldn't happen. He needed to get up and stop this!
Damien Dreyar.
He froze.
Did you think I did not know you? Aha, I know you, boy. The holder of a twelfth of my power. Cain has done well to hold you off while the Children completed their work. Now, I think your determination deserves reward.
Before he could ask what that meant, the ground beneath him erupted and took him with it. The stone quickly merged into a black throne, one he was chained too and his eyes forced to focus on Hades.
I will grant you the honour of witnessing my rebirth. Watch as Hades merges the Circles and draws the rest of my power here. You should be honoured, Damien. A God has just rewarded you. Now, what do you say?
Damien said nothing.
Nothing to say? No matter. I will hear more than enough of your voice as Cain slays your allies one by one. Cain, do it.
"As you wish, Lord Zomrus," Cain said. At this, he planted the staff on the floor and held it tightly with both hands, the figurehead glowing again.
The scream that echoed across the Third Circle nearly deafened Elise completely. Holding her hands over her ears did nothing, as the sound penetrated her soul and tried to tear her to shreds. She collapsed onto her side as the sound disappeared, causing her to gasp in pain as she recovered control of her self.
"What the fuck was that?!" She exclaimed, looking over at Simon. He too had fallen to his side, sweat drenching his face.
"I don't know," he answered weakly, "Meridia? What was that?"
Both turned to the Demon Lord who stood before them, still as a statue. She didn't reply for a moment, but eventually she sighed.
"I must face my fate without you both," she said, looking over her shoulder at them. She raised a hand, and a portal appeared before them. "Take that, you will return to the place you started this battle at. Your families are waiting."
"Meridia answer us!" Simon said, "what the hell just happened?!" Meridia frowned and turned away from them.
"Zomrus has awoken in his chains. My Circle will soon be merged with the other living Demon Lords. Mortals cannot survive a plane transition like that. Please, flee this place."
Elise felt like her consciousness had left her body. Zomrus was what? He was awake? Had they failed? She barely acknowledged Simon forcing her to her feet.
"Be safe Meridia," Simon said curtly. Meridia only nodded her head, and Elise was shoved through the portal.
She landed on her face roughly, snapping her back to it. She quickly realised what had just happened, and turned just in time to see the portal close.
"Meridia!" She shouted, but it was to no avail. The portal closed, leaving them in the room they had started in. "Damn it!" She swore, "what the hell is happening?!"
"Elise?" A voice asked, "Simon?" Elise turned and saw that they were not the first ones back. Steph had approached them while they were distracted, looking alert. Behind her were a myriad of others, all looking dejected but interested at their arrival.
"We're not the first back, I see," Simon said. Before Steph could answer, four more portals sprung to life. Through them walked Michael and his Father, Erza and Jellal, Orga, and Gray. They all seemed surprised at each others arrival, exchanging glances.
"Seems we're all back now," Erza said, "Did you guys just get sent back too?"
"Yeah," Simon said, "you guys as well?" They all nodded grimly.
"Quinxotic never showed until she sent me away," Gray remarked, crossing his arms. "When she did, she warned me it was too late and I needed to leave."
"Zoka said the same," Orga said.
"Akirelys as well," Jellal said. "He said that-"
"Six have fallen," Elise said weakly, "Which means Zomrus is awake."
A heavy silence fell over the entire team, no one speaking.
"Everyone who was already here failed," Natsu said quietly. Elise turned to him in surprise to see Nashi trying to console him. "We all lost, and the Circle we were in collapsed. Anhkseram saved us and sent us back here."
"But," Steph said anxiously, turning in spot to look at them all. "If that's the case, where's Damien?"
Another heavy silence came as everyone realised Damien was no among them. Elise felt the pit in her stomach knot so tightly it threatened to snap her organs.
"He's still with Xisplate," she said slowly. "In the center of all of this."
What happened next caused a ripple effect that went through the universe like a shockwave. As Cain activated the Planemeld ritual, a wave of primordial magic washed over the entirety of Earthland and indeed, all planets in it's solar system. It stretched beyond the galaxy Earthland was in and hit distant planets as well. Tremors were caused in parallel universes as well, all of creation buzzing as Zomrus' power returned to him.
Then, in the blink of an eye, Bella Realight disappeared from the Blue Pegasus Guild Hall.
Gin and Anna disappeared from The Hollows, causing Neptu and The Cross to panic.
Ben disappeared from his place beside his dead sister.
Akirelys new takeover wizard, an unnamed boy, died as a result of the attempted teleportation.
And, of course, Damien was already at the epicentre of the shockwave.
As Cain channelled Zomrus' power and called upon the remaining fragments, the last remaining six Circles of Judgement were drawn together. Seeing as the Circles were held together by their core, which was also made of Zomrus' magic, the pocket dimensions all crashed together in a horrific symphony of the dead screaming out in anguish. The Planemeld destroyed untold numbers of souls from the afterlife's that crashed together, causing a disruption in the circulation of magic power big enough for all wizards on Earthland to notice. As these realms were forced together, any mortal beings would have been turned to shreds, unable to survive the dimensions fusing into one.
Thankfully for Damien, he was host to a Demon Lord.
And far away, far from anyone currently involved in the scuffle, a woman sighed. The cathedral she was praying inside of was shuddering, the lights dimming as the Circles merged into one.
"It has begun," Mother said. "The Unholy One has awoken."
Damien could not, for the life of him, recall what had just happened. He'd been watching in vain as Hades starting to merge the Circles, and then everything went black. Now his eyes had snapped back open, and he was still chained to his chair. The Circle itself did not look any different, but it sure felt different. He felt like he was being forced to share space in his mind, as if Xisplate had visitors in his soul. Perhaps that was how Xisplate felt now, his Circle no longer his own.
"Damien? Are you alive?"
"Y-Yeah..." Damien managed, realising he was out of breath. "What just happened?"
"Cain activated a ritual called the Planemeld. He merged my Circle with the other remaining Demon Lords. He plans to kill us all now that we are together."
"B-By himself?"
"He is Zomrus' takeover wizard. Now that Zomrus is awake, his power rivals all of us put together. We are half of his strength, and now Cain can call on the other half."
"...W-Well what the hell happened to me?" Damien asked. His entire body felt weak, like he'd just been forced to eat an entire buffet by himself.
"Mortal souls were never intended to experience a Planemeld. I had to takeover your body by force so we would survive."
"So you saved me again, huh?"
"Now is no time for sentimentality. We aren't alone anymore." Damien assumed he meant the other Demon Lords were now here as well, but when someone ran in front of him from behind his throne, his blood ran cold.
"Damien?!" Bella asked, her beautiful blue eyes wide and horrified. "What the hell happened?! Where are we?!"
"...Bella?!" Damian asked weakly, "W-Why are you here? It's too dangerous!"
"Answer me first!" She shouted, "A second ago I was in my guild hall, and now-!"
"Now we're here," another voice said. Damien turned his head and gasped when he saw Gin standing before him, clutching a young girl in his arms protectively.
"Gin?!" He asked incredulously. "What...?!"
"The Planemeld does more than merge the Circles," another voice said. Damien turned again to see Meridia standing with Mortavius, Zoka, a woman in a black dress with a black hood over her eyes, and someone who looked vaguely familiar.
"It calls on every fragment of Zomrus power to return as well," Mortavius said. "And seeing as we're connected to your souls..."
"We were drawn here," someone else said. Damien watched as some kid he didn't recognise appeared behind his friends.
"Ben," Zoka said, "you're here."
"I am," Ben replied. "To do what is required of me." Even though he was sluggish, it eventually occurred to Damien that Ben was Zoka's takeover wizard, and as such was their enemy.
"Ah, it seems everyone has joined us," Damien turned back to see Hades, or Cain, was still kneeling before the door. "Good. That ritual took more out of me than I was expecting. Lord Zomrus needed to give me strength."
Giving you the strength to survive the experience is the least I could do for you. After all, soon I will wake fully, for the first time in thousands of years. I owe you that much, Cain.
"W-What is that voice?" Bella asked, "where did it come from?"
"I-It felt like it was in my head," the girl in Gin's arms said.
"Who do you think it was?" Mortavius asked, "Who is the only one he could be?"
The bastardised portion of me is correct. Welcome, Demon Lord takeover wizards. I have been watching you for so many years, waiting for this moment. For the moment I could retake my strength from you. Ben, my boy, come closer.
Damien watched as Ben took a few steps forward, but Zoka got in his way. The two stared at each other quietly, neither backing down.
"Ben," Zoka said, "don't do this. You're not some tool he can just use."
"I'm not being used," Ben replied. "I want to do this."
"Why? You're dooming the world."
Do not listen to that worm, Benjamin. He speaks only out of self-preservation. I have promised both you and your sister a paradise in return for your efforts. I will not let them go unrewarded.
"Is Zoe...?" He asked weakly.
Her soul swirls within me. Once I have awakened, I will reward both of you handsomely. I will grant anything you ask. I am a God, after all.
"He lies!" Zoka shouted. "He doesn't intend on helping you, or anyone else! Zomrus views human as scum, as cattle that need to be culled! He will not grant you any wish, Ben!"
"And what have you done for me?!" Ben shouted at him, tears gathering around his eyes. "Ostracised my sister and I from our family?! Caused us to get hunted down?! Master Hades was the first person who ever offered to help us, not you!"
"My duty is not just to you! It's to the entire world!"
"Well I don't care what happens to the rest of the world! I just want to live peacefully with my sister!"
I can grant you that wish, Benjamin. All you have to do is what Cain told you. Do you remember?
Ben swallowed hard, but reached under his jacket. He pulled out a glowing red dagger, which caused the other Demon Lords to recoil from it.
Good boy. Now, stab Zoka with it. Anywhere will do, the magic in the dagger will destroy him from within.
"Ben-!" Zoka tried.
BE SILENT, WORM!
The shout nearly caused Damien to black out, but he managed to just barely hold on. When he looked up, he saw every single Demon Lord had fallen to their knees, the shout seemingly hurting them.
"Xisplate?" He asked worriedly. The Demon Lord did not reply right away, but when he did he sounded like he was in pain.
"Now that he is awake he can subjugate us!" He said, "He is the being from which we originate, he has power over us!"
Now Benjamin, do it. Drive the blade into Zoka, and be rewarded with paradise.
Damien watched, helpless, as Ben approached the downed Demon Lord. Zoka had no free will, so he couldn't even look up as the boy approached him. Ben raised the dagger, his hand shaky.
"Stop it!"
Damien watched, stunned, as the little girl Gin had with him ran at Ben and pushed him down, making him drop the dagger.
"Anna!" Gin shouted, "what're you-?!"
"How could you want to kill your Demon Lord?!" Anna asked, tears in her eyes. "You're supposed to be partners! I won't let you hurt him, he's trying to help you!"
"Anna..." The hooded demon said weakly, "stop it, come over here..."
Ah, the little girl.
Anna paled as Zomrus spoke.
I watched you as well, my darling. I could give you paradise as well, if you'd be so kind as to take that blade and stab Quinxotic for me.
"Why would I do that?" Anna asked weakly, "Quinxotic is all I had for so long. She's like an older sister to me. I would never harm her." Anna turned and looked towards Cain. "You're the reason Eastyn is dead, aren't you? You killed him!" Damien didn't know who Eastyn was, but he could guess that it was another takeover wizard.
"Well not me directly," Cain replied. "One of my Children did." Anna's face hardened.
"Then I'd rather die than help you!" She shouted, "Eastyn was my friend, and you killed him! I won't forgive you!" There was a beat of silence in the Circle before Zomrus began to laugh. The sound caused Damien's brain to conjure up the worst horrors he could imagine, his blood freezing in his veins.
I should have guessed. The sole thing I regret giving you higher intelligent beings. Free will. Despite all the power I have, I can't force you to do anything if you don't want to. Such a revolting aspect. I truly do wonder how my younger self ever agreed to such a character trait.
"That right," Xisplate said. "Damien, Zomrus may be powerful, but he had no direct hold over you! Your free will prevents him from doing that!"
"A lot of good that does me, chained up!" Damien replied, "what do you want me to do, exactly?!"
"You know what! Separate we don't stand a chance, but if we merge our souls, connect completely, we could do this! You have to take on my full power!"
Damien gulped at this, remembering the risks. The odds he died were high, and even then they might become a separate being thanks to merging like that. But what choice did they have? They would die anyway at this rate.
I've had enough of this. Cain, deal with the child.
Damien looked up just in time to see Cain blink to Anna, and smack her across the face. The girl cried out as she went flying, Gin rushing to catch her.
Excellent. Now Ben, do what needs to be done.
Ben had gotten back to his feet, blade in hand once again. He was approaching Zoka, and Damien made his decision.
"Bella," he said," making her look back at him. "I need you to free me, then listen carefully."
"What?" She asked, "o-okay." She knelt down next to him and snapped his restraints with her magic, freeing his wrists. "What do we do?" She asked, scared but determined.
"Listen carefully. There's only one way we win this, and we have to take Xisplate and Meridia's full power." Her eyes widened at this.
"But-"
"Yes, it's dangerous and breaking one of the Laws, but we don't have a choice. We'll die anyway if we don't."
"...But if we do, our souls will merge with theirs," she said. "We'll cease to be a single person, and become both at the same time."
"I know, but we don't have a choice!" Damien shouted. He looked over at Ben, who was now standing over Zoka again. "If we don't do this Zomrus will wake up. At least if we do this we stand a chance."
"Damien's right." Damien looked over to see Gin and Anna were with them again, Anna nursing a black eye. "We don't have a choice." Bella gulped.
"Is four twelfths enough power to resist?" She asked, "there's only us four, seeing as Ben won't join us and Akirelys has no takeover wizard with him."
"It has to be enough," he said. "Otherwise we die." Bella scanned him bur eventually nodded, moving to his ankle restraints. Gin and Anna moved to stand behind his throne, protecting them as she worked. She freed one of his ankles, and Damien heard the sickening sound of a blade cutting through flesh. He didn't have the heart to turn around. He instead focused on Bella, watching her as she worked. Even so stressed and panicked she was beautiful. It was actually unfair how she managed to be pretty even in a situation like this.
"I'm not the most well-versed in human affairs," Xisplate said, "But there is a good chance this is your last chance to tell her how you feel. Do it."
Damien had expressly been trying to avoid that. The last thing he wanted was to develop an attachment that could make any of this even harder, but he knew deep down he and Bella had already done that before he even knew to stop. She drew him towards her like a magnet, constantly trying to get him closer to her. Despite how he struggled in the beginning, he'd fallen under her spell eventually.
But now, what did that matter? They were probably going to die.
"Bella," he said as his other ankle was freed. "I need to tell you something." She looked up at him, blue eye inquisitive. Damien felt his throat closing up, which just pissed him off. The world was ending, and he was nervous about telling a girl he liked her? This was insane.
"And yet so totally human," Xisplate said wistfully.
"...If we don't make it through this," he finally managed, "I just want you to know. I'm pretty sure I love you."
She didn't react at first, causing Damien to panic a bit.
"I-I mean, I think so. I'm not super experienced at this part of relationships, but-"
He was cut off as Bella pressed her lips to his. She only kept them there for a moment before she moved away and pressed her forehead against his, exhaling.
"I love you too," she said. Damien felt adrenaline pump through his veins as she moved away and offered him a hand. "We can talk about our life together after we survive this, yeah?" Nodding and swallowing his fear, Damien took her hand and stood.
How so disgustingly human.
Damien froze as Zomrus spoke once more.
Another Demon Lord falls, and the child linked to him does as well. And what do I spy our human friends doing instead? Confessing their love for one another. As if you don't have anything better to do. Revolting.
Damien looked over to where Zoka had been, and his stomach turned. All that remained was Ben's body, face down in the water. Another one was dead. Anger surged through him as he stared at the boy's body, another innocent dragged into this because of indifferent Gods.
"As if you could ever understand love," he spat in Cain's direction. "The only thing you love is yourself. Don't criticise me when no one and nothing wants or loves you."
An intensity unlike anything he had ever felt before descended upon them. The pressure was so intense he nearly buckled and collapsed, but managed to stay upright. No words had been spoken, but Damien could tell; Zomrus was angry.
I don't understand love? How dare you speak to me about love. I loved humans and dragons just as much as my brother did in the Dawn of Creation. I still love you now, even more than he did. Do not be confused, Damien Dreyar. I am not doing this out of some twisted sense of belonging or desire. I do it to save the worlds Anhkseram has abandoned.
The worlds require correction, correction my Brother refuses to give. He believes that the free will we created you with should allow you to do whatever you please with no consequences in your psychical life. That you should be able to murder, rape, steal, destroy and annihilate anything you wish. No, no more. This world needs to be changed. It needs my hand to guide it.
The conviction with which Zomrus spoke almost convinced Damien. His words wormed their way into his mind and made him think. Yes, he was technically correct. Humans had abused their free will, constantly so. They did horrible things to one another, not expecting any sort of consequence from a higher power. Of course he was right.
And yet...
"Don't give me that," he spat. "Good thing you aren't the God of Wisdom, because you are dumb as fuck. None of those things are allowed to happen! We punish those who do it! Isn't that good enough?!"
Such a disgustingly mortal way to perceive the world. Your petty human punishments are not good enough. Murderers and rapists deserve more than being locked away forever. I will ensure that all sinners will burn and cry forever more. That whenever an evil act is committed, the perpetrator suffers a million times more than the victim. I have seen enough over the eons to know this is the only way. If you had seen the things I had, dealt with the sinners I have, you would understand.
There was a silence.
But I can tell, looking into those defiant eyes of yours, that you have no intention of changing your mind. Your mind was made long before you got here. You intend to fight me until your last breath. Go, then. Do what you need to do. We will decide the fate of the universe here, right now. Is your petty human conviction enough to stop me? Cain, kneel before me.
Cain knelt towards the door.
You have served me well over these years. I will bestow to you your God takeover spell. Assume my power and finish this ordeal.
"Of course, My Lord," Cain said. He brought the staff before himself, resting the figurehead in his hand.
Then he crushed it.
Dark magic flowed from the broken figurehead into Cain's body, the power pulling at Damien's soul.
"Damien, we have no time. Repeat after me."
"Okay."
"Anna my dear, we have no choice."
"I know," Anna said weakly. "I trust you, Quinxotic." Anna heard a small chuckle.
"Thank you, child. Now, repeat after me."
"Never in a million years did I think we would end up doing this, Gin."
"Neither did I," Gin admitted. Mortavius exhaled slowly.
"All things considered kid, you were an alright takeover wizard. Say what I say."
Gin did not offer him a response but, after seeing Drakhosz, he had to admit Mortavius had been rather lenient on him.
"Bella dear, you know it's time."
"I know." Bella said, trying not to stare at the back of Damien's head. Meridia chuckled.
"Your love will make you stronger, especially because of me," she said. "Repeat after me."
"Okay."
As power poured into Cain's form, all four remaining takeover wizards raised their hands over their head. Power began to be siphoned from the Circle around them, gathering in the magic circle in their palm.
"I invoke the Aspect of Death!" Damien chanted, "I offer up my body and soul to you! Assimilate with me so we may slay our foes!"
Damien's body was consumed by shadows, clinging to him like skin. His form began to morph and change underneath it, growing taller and bulkier. The shadows faded, and what came from them was the Aspect of Death. It had white hair on the left side of it's head and black hair on the right. His eyes were the inverse, black on the left and white in the right. From his back sprouted wings that were obsidian black And slick like lizard skin. The armour too was black as midnight, covered in Primaglyphic runes indecipherable to anyone and speaking of the power death held. From behind sprouted a tail of pure black magic, flicking like a snake's.
"I invoke the Aspect of Blood!" Anna shouted, "I offer my body and soul to you! Assimilate with me so we may paint the battlefield red!"
Anna too was consumed by black power, her body growing taller and more slender. When she was revealed her hair was pitch-black , flowing out from underneath the hood over her head. Her eyes glowed crimson from under the hood, blood-red lipstick on her mouth. Across her body was a tight dress covered in the same runes, speaking of the power of blood. The dress left only her arms revealed, both arms having more runes painted on them in blood. Crimson erupted from her shoulders to form wings of blood that oozed onto the ground, painting the water underneath her red. The tail that sprouted from her back was also blood-red, splitting into two ends that whipped around angrily.
"I invoke the Aspect of Brutality!" Gin cried, "I offer my body and soul to you! Assimilate with me so we can lay waste to our foes and grind their existence to nothing!"
Gin disappeared into a black mist, growing taller than Damien or Anna. When he was revealed his body was covered in bone armour, runes formed from veins pulsing across the breastplate. His arms were free, but pulsing with veins that pumped magic through his form. His silver hair had darkened to grey, his eyes glowing gold. Across his back lay a sword with a bone hilt, the dark metal of the blade reflecting what little light was in the Circle. The sword was framed by two skeletal wings with no skin to allow flight, but they still flapped with power. He moved to crack his neck, the small movements sending power across the realm like a shockwave.
"I Invoke the Aspect of Seduction!" Bella yelled, "I offer my body and soul to you! Assimilate with me so may annihilate anything for the ones we love!"
Bella too was consumed by mist, but she was vastly different then her allies. Where the others had armour or clothes, she did not. What came forth from the mist was a perfect depiction of the female form, covered in nothing but dark coverings over her breasts and groin that hugged her curvaceous figure. Although Bella was a beautiful woman, the form of this new being was perfect. All aspects of her one could be attracted too were perfection, from her breasts to her neck. Her skin was without blemish, Runes painted her body, with the ones covering her sexual organs pulsing with power. Her hair was blonde save for the ends, which were dyed crimson. Her face was picture perfect, her eyes glowing a lustful red. From her back came deep red wings, which somehow managed to beat seductively. From her fingertips sprang nails that were done to perfection, but still razor-sharp enough to slice open titanium with no effort.
The completion of these assimilation caused the forms of the other Demon Lords to disappear, leaving Akirelys by himself still kneeling.
Cain paid no mind to any of this, bringing the broken figurehead of his staff to his chest.
" AՆПĦ, LՆЩ ՆЦ DᕓƵƓƼ, GƵϺƓ Пᕓ ßՆ Ɠᕓ ĦƓᕓϺƓƼ ĦՆ ﬦᕓ ⴵƵϺ ƔԖΛϺ ƵƔՆƓ Ƶ Ϻᕓﬦ ᕓƵ"
He too was consumed by black magic, although his flowed outwards from the sealed door before him.
Similar to the Ascension of Winter and Rina, as well as the God Soul power of Dimaria from Alvarez, Cain's body was covered in blackness, his form losing any definition save for his mouth being visible. Dark purple markings wrapped around his legs and arms, the ones in his arms pulsing. The markings that wrapped around his torso was the language of the Gods, marking him as the God of Death. The markings themselves were complex and confusing, weaving every which way and intersecting constantly. They even seemed to change at random. His hair had grown longer and was standing up on it's end, the sheer amount of power flowing from him making it float. His entire body was outlined by a thick black lines, emblazoning him against the dark backdrop. When he opened his eyes they too were of some marking, which resembled a skull but with several markings flowing out from the mouth and encircling it.
Nashi looked up in surprise as the cavern began to shake, the runes on the wall flashing white and black. The magic in her body began to shake as well, as if it was afraid.
"What the hell is happening?" She asked weakly, looking around her.
"This has to be because of Hades," Her Dad muttered, "the final battle is going to be taking place right about now." The cave shook even harder, and the feeling of dread Nashi had forced her to scoot closer to her Father. She looked around the others, trying to find anyone who might know what was happening. No one did.
"This feeling..." Nashi turned to look at Winter, who was sitting with Rina. Both had been positively exhausted, but now seemed to be wide awake.
"Yeah," Rina said. "It's the feeling of the Divine. I know it too."
"Yeah," Katsuchi agreed. He was laying in front of Winter, as the girl had been in the middle of healing. "There's a God somewhere exerting their strength."
No one was foolish enough to ask who it might have been. Nashi looked over to Steph, who was sitting in the middle of the pack, face ghostly white and eyes wide.
"Damien," she whimpered, "please be okay. Please."
The power that poured off of the five of them sent shock waves through every realm, existence itself shuttering as ten twelfths of the God of Death's power was unleashed for the first time in thousands of years.
Lucy Dragneel paled in her home, looking out the window as the world shuddered around her. She inadvertently held Luke closer to her, as if to protect him from the power being unleashed.
Mirajane, who was at the guild hall, also looked unnerved, but for different reasons. Her being in tune with demonic power let her know something was very, very wrong. After all, her own power stemmed from Zomrus as well, seeing as he was the reason demons existed at all. The power within her stirred and raged against her, making her forcibly keep in under wraps.
All those with demonic takeover abilities across all continents also felt this rumbling, several accidentally entering their forms without meaning too as their powers resonated.
Even far far away, in a land not known by man, this shockwave was felt. It caused Drake to jump and turn, his hearing letting him hear the screams of the damned as the Lord of Death awakened. He didn't know it at the time, but he had a massive part to play.
Mercuria the Poison Dragon also heard these cries, frowning to herself. She questioned whether or not the Sun Dragon Sirius had known about any of this, if the Sage Dragons would know. Little did she know she too had a part to play.
However there was one person who knew more than anyone else. Someone who, up until that very moment, had lived a peaceful life away from combat for over twenty years. Far away from Fiore, far away from anyone else who had played a part in this tragic tale so far, a woman fell to her knees at her farm. This woman was the only person currently, in any place on Earthland, who had a direct link to one of the God's. She had the biggest part to play of all.
Dimaria Yesta, hostess of the Time God Chronos, started to sweat as the shockwave washed over her. It was not a millisecond later that her own power resonated, and she heard a voice she had not heard in many years.
"Chronos? What just happened?"
For the first time in a long time, her God answered her.
"Time has run out. Return to the capital, Dimaria. We will be all that stands between this country and ruination."
And although no one could speak for him at that time, the second brother of the Time and Space duo opened his eyes and stirred as well. Aether looking outwards upon the ever expanding space of his domain, frowning.
"Is it time now, Father?" He asked. And for the first time in many eons, he was given an answer.
Yes, Aether. My brother is awakening, and I will need your help to save the world we have created.
The remaining Circle struggled to contain the strength unleashed within it, nearly falling apart at the seams. Existence itself rippled like water, barely able to hold itself together.
In the epicentre of the Circle, four stood against one. The assimilated Demon Lords squared off against Cain, all of them staring at each other. Akirelys, the only remaining Demon Lord with no takeover wizard, could only stay kneeling.
Before Cain appeared before him.
Cain lifted a hand, and Akirelys was lifted in the air. Opening his other hand, a scythe appeared in his hand, and he swung it at the Demon Lord. It never made contact, however, as the arm ceased moving. Cain looked at it in surprise, noting that his blood itself was fighting him. He turned back to look at the other four, Anna aiming a palm at him.
"Let's end this," The being in Damien's place said, "together."
As Anna held him, the other three charged him. Gin grabbed the blade on his back and swung it down, trying to cleave Cain in two. The man dodged, and Gin cleaved straight through the Circle itself, leaving a slash in space. He only managed to dodge a few feet into the air before a ball of blood appeared before him, spawning millions of pinprick needles that shot towards him at light speed. He tried to dodge, but was only able to dodge so many before he was pierced countless times. The power of Zomrus rushed and healed the wounds in no time, but not fast enough before Damien appeared over his head, hand raised.
"All Life Ends!" He shouted. A fireball of black magic erupted from his hand and engulfed Cain, who cried out in annoyance but still swatted away the fire. He turned and countered Gin's attempted slash, kicking him away to parry Anna's blood weapons as they flew after him. He turned and fought hand-to-hand with Bella, who outmatched him thanks to Gin kicking him in the stomach, allowing Bella to slam her fist into his face and send him flying into the ground. He hit it hard and dodged as Damien attempted to slam into him, raising his scythe and swinging it.
"Reap All Souls."
The scythe extended to biblical proportions and slashed through the entire Circle, leaving a horizontal slash wound in reality. All his enemies had ducked under it, Gin getting in close.
"Slash That Rends!" Gin raised his blade horizontally and swung it, Cain forced to match the swing with his scythe. The power that reverberated off of them as they clashed caused more wounds in reality, ones where dark magic began to seep through like blood. Gin jumped backwards, revealing a ball of blood hurtling straight for him.
"Blood Of Millions!" Anna chanted. The ball made contact against his chest and exploded with enough force to destroy an entire continent, sending him flying backwards. Cain righted himself and flew back at them, just in time to see Bella plant a kiss on both Gin and Damien's lips.
"Adrenaline of Love!" She said. Both Damien and Gin glowed red, and when they flew at him again their vigour was increased a thousandfold. They swung so fast Cain could not defend every strike, taking punches and slashes several million times as they fought. It mattered little, however, as the power of Zomrus rushed to cleanse the wounds. Kicking Gin backwards, Cain created his scythe once more and swung it vertically on Damien's head. The man dodged it and grabbed his arm, breaking it off with one clean snap. The arm immediately healed, and Cain punched him in the head with it, which sent him flying. He turned and swung his scythe at Gin, who parried with his blade and created another rip in space.
Cain had been about to strike, but his body was thrown off balance. His mind fought against him, and all his thoughts turned to sex. He growled in annoyance, and looked towards Bella, who had her hand aimed at him. She winked at him, which sent another wave of pleasure racing through his body. This weakened him enough so that Gin could slam his elbow into him, sending him flying down. He was met by Anna, who already had her hand aimed at him.
"All Blood Boils," she said. Cain's internal temperature jumped to that of a small star, his inside being cooked as his blood raced through his body. He stumbled, and was met by Bella's fist striking him in the face. When she hit him, more pleasure raced through his body. Had Cain retained his psychical sexual organs in God Soul, he would have experienced a life-shattering orgasm from her touch. As it stood though, all it did was make him stumble again as he regained his footing.
Before he could move his blood went from boiling to absolute zero, then further beyond. This froze him place, and Bella wrapped a chain around his midsection.
"Pleasure Of All Life!"
All at once the experiences and sexual pleasure of all things that had ever lived assaulted Cain's mind, turning his mind to jelly as he was wracked by billions of mental orgasms. He barely even registered that Gin and Damien had landed before him, both charging dangerous spells. Gin had dark energy flowing into his blade, and Damien had space itself warping around his clenched fists.
"Executioner's Brutality!" Gin shouted. He swung his blade diagonally, and the blade carved through reality like butter. When the force of the strike hit Cain, it cleaved him in two, from his shoulder to his waist. He had only barely acknowledged this strike when Damien appeared in his vision.
"Death Of A Star!"
The magic power that descended onto Zomrus' body was akin to an entire celestial body exploding, rending his body into nothingness and causing him to cease existing.
At least, that's what it was supposed to do.
Damien landed and collapsed to one knee, panting. He had exerted way to much strength, he could feel it.
"How're things looking?" He asked inwardly. Xisplate hummed anxiously.
"You're using too much of my strength," he said, "any more and you'll burn up your own soul and merge to me completely." Damien grit his teeth and looked over to assess the others. He could tell they were in just as bad, if not worse shape than him. But it didn't matter.
"How much time do we have?" He asked.
"You? Five minutes at best. The others, Anna especially, have less. You need to end this now." Damien scoffed.
"I just threw the heat death of the universe at him!" He exclaimed, "if that's not enough, then-!"
Did you think a measly twelfth of my power could kill me?
Damien looked back towards ground zero of his attack, watching as the black fire left behind faded away. Despite the fact that he was sure he'd used enough power to destroy him, Cain stood alive and well, scythe in hand. Zomrus' laugh echoed around them.
This fight is in vain, my children. Cain is more powerful than all of you put together. My power sustains him, heals him. He cannot die so long as I am alive. And you cannot kill me.
Cain raised his hand, and aimed his scythe. Damien watched, horrified, As Akirelys flew out of the darkness and was impaled by the blade, getting cleaved in two. His upper half fell, body facing Damien. The Demon Lord looked stunned, his eyes pleading with Damien. He could do nothing, and the Puppetmaster dissipated to nothing, his essence flowing towards Cain.
It is eight twelfths of my power versus four. Cain is too strong. Come, let him reap you. If you submit to me, than I may allow your souls to rest in paradise with Ben and Zoe.
Damien growled, his eyes glued to where Akirelys had just died. He thought about Ben, who had just killed himself not twenty minutes before. He thought about the other Demon Lords who also died. He thought about their takeover wizards, who had dropped dead across the world.
"As if," he spat. "Never in a million years. I'd rather drop dead right now than let you win!"
Use your words carefully, Damien Dreyar. They might be your last.
Gritting his teeth, Damien flapped his wings and flew at Cain, raising his hand. A void appeared there, and he launched it at him. Cain swatted it aside with his scythe and aimed to slice him as well, but he was struck in the back by Gin, knocking him down.
"We don't have the strength to fight forever!" Gin said to him, "if our souls burn up, the Demon Lords lose their ability to resist him! We need to end this now!"
"I'm right behind you," Damien said, looking over his shoulder at the girls. "Go all out! This is it!" Both nodded, and Damien returned his eyes to Cain, who had joined them in the air again.
"Blood Rush!"
"Loved One's In Danger!"
Damien felt both power boosts hit his system, his blood rushing through his veins and increasing his strength as Bella's spell empowered his drive. An aura of magic began to leak off of him and Gin, and he could only assume the girls looked similar. Cain raised his scythe, and Damien grimaced. This was it.
"Slash To Rend All Things!"
Gin's blade cleaved through reality once more, striking Cain in the midsection and slicing him apart. As his golden blood splattered from the wound, it was grabbed up by Anna and firmed into her own scythe, which was aimed directly at his head.
"Ichor's Revenge!" Anna shouted.
The golden scythe sliced vertically through Cain's head, his brain flying out as it was sliced in half.
"Damien!" Bella shouted. He turned, and received a lustful kiss on the lips from her. Power surged through his veins, so much so that he was shaking. Bella parted and when he met her lustful gaze, the power intensified even more. Now his entire being was pulsing. "Finish this," she whispered to him. He nodded, and returned his eyes to the remains of Cain falling through the air. He brought his hands together, planting a fist against his open palm vertically. Taking a deep breath, he channelled all of his strength into this spell. If this failed, they were going to die.
"Void of Non-Existence!"
The spell he had created was not visible to his eye, but he knew it was there. He reared back and launched the spell at Cain's remains. When it made contact with his chest, His body was sucked into the spell and disappeared. There was no fanfare, no explosion, no sound. He was simply erased from existence. Damien fell to one knee, panting from the exertion. He could feel his soul burning, in danger of being destroyed. But he had to stand, it might not have been over.
"Damien," Bella said weakly, "I...I think we did it!"
"Did we?" Gin asked, sweat dropping down his forehead. There was a beat of silence as they all waited for something to happen, but nothing did.
"I don't see or hear him," Anna said weakly, who was already on her knees, arms hanging limply at her side. "I think we did do it." Again they waited, but no one appeared to ruin their mood.
"We..We did it!" Bella shouted, wrapping her arms around Damien's neck as she collapsed. "We did it!"
"I actually don't believe it..." Gin whispered. "He's not coming back?"
"Well do you see him?" Anna asked. She sounded tired, but gleeful nonetheless. Damien let out a weak laugh and turned to look at Bella, who did the same.
"Told you it was the only way," he said to her. She let out a scoff as a retort, eyes not leaving his.
"I love you," she whispered. She moved her head to kiss him, this one giving him nothing but love. He returned her weak passion, happy to know they had both survived this. He moved away and exhaled weakly, the power in him beginning to wane.
"I'm lowering my strength so I can peacefully separate from you," Xisplate said. "If I don't you'll die anyway."
"Okay," Damien said, "Thank you, Xisplate. We won thanks to you."
"No Damien. Without the free will given to humans, we had lost before it ever began. We won because you were here." He laughed at this.
"Agree to disagree," he said. Bella panted as she rest her head on his shoulder, him resting his head on hers. There was a blessed silence between the four of them, basking in their victory.
There is nothing more delicious than tearing hope away after they think it's over.
This sentence was accompanied by a horrific gurgling. Damien turned, eyes widening as Anna was lifted up, Cain's scythe through her stomach. With one swift movement the little girl was sliced in half, her two halves falling limply to the ground.
"G-Gin..." She whispered weakly, reaching out to him weakly before her hand slumped against the ground. The light in her eyes left, her skin going grey.
"ANNA NO!" Gin shouted. He erupted off the ground and flew for Cain, the two striking each other's weapons. Damien tried to rise to his feet, but he stumbled.
"Xisplate give me everything you have!" He roared.
"Damien-!"
"JUST DO IT!"
Anna was dead, she was already not moving. He couldn't let Gin die.
He couldn't let Bella die.
"Bella give it everything, now!"
"I am!" She cried out. Strength filled him again, but it was very clearly waning. They were losing strength already. His soul cried in anguish as Xisplate's power threatened to erase him, but he pushed through the pain. He had too, or it was all over. No one else was going to die.
Gin was thrown backwards by Cain, just in time for Damien to reach him. His strikes were blocked a thousand times over, Cain striking him in the head with the butt of the scythe. He tried to stand, but was sliced across the chest and sent rolling away. He got up just in time to see Bella charge him, and Cain stumbled again.
The lust of the human mind is such a nuisance. You have my respect girl, you are more annoying that I envisioned.
"SHUT UP!" Bella screamed, red light gathering in her fists. "You just killed a little girl! I'm going to kill you myself!" She drove her fists into Cain, again and again. Each strike caused his body to contort awkwardly, Damien wasn't sure what she was doing, but it was clearly leaving Cain disoriented. He rose to his feet again, creating a scythe out of black magic himself.
"Damien if you're not careful-!"
"It doesn't matter what happens to me!" Damien cried, raising the scythe and rushing to Cain. "I have to kill him! Give me everything, Xisplate! EVERYTHING!" His soul roared in pain as Xisplate flooded their body with power, but he didn't stop. He had to keep going, he had to end this. Bella fell backwards, and Damien sliced open Cain's midsection. Golden blood pooled on the ground underneath him, but the wound quickly sealed itself up. The two engaged in a quick duel on scythe's but it was clear Cain was more experienced. Falling back, Damien ducked as Gin swung over his head and took off Cain's left arm, but it quickly reappeared and Gin was shoved away as well. Bella caused him to contort awkwardly again, but it was clearly waning. He wasn't freezing up as much as before.
"Gin!" He shouted, "give it everything you got! Don't let the pain stop you!"
"I'm way ahead of you!" Damien turned to see Gin was clutching his sword with both hands, his skin turning ghostly white. Crimson veins bulged from his arms and neck, and he let out a roar unlike anything he had ever heard. Gin rushed Cain again, His swings getting faster and faster and tearing open more holes in space. Cain could not dodge every attack, and every time he didn't a new part of him was hacked off. Arms, legs, internal organs, they were all carved away but immediately regenerated. Damien watched the battle closely, waiting for his opening. He spotted it once Gin forced Cain to dodge to the left, leaving him exposed. He rushed to the man and placed a hand against his body.
"Rot and Disease!" Cain's body instantaneously began to rot away from the touch, spreading up his entire body quickly. His arms fell limp and his legs buckled somewhat, coughing up golden blood as he did so.
"Damien move!" Bella shouted. He fell backwards, and a chain wrapped around Gin's body and held him in place. As he struggled weakly, Gin descended from above. With a roar, he brought the blade down on Cain's head, splitting it in two and shattering his head into a million pieces. Damien let out a weak laugh as Gin landed, driving the blade into Cain's body again and again, hacking it apart.
Before his head flew clean off his body.
Damien gaped as Gin's body, now headless, struggled to move before collapsing into a heap, turning grey as it did. Cain flung golden blood off his scythe, perfectly healed yet again.
I told you, you are not enough. I am stronger.
"...Bella run! We have to get the fuck out of here!"
"Run where?!" She cried as he stumbled towards her.
"Anywhere! We can't beat him! If we die, then Zomrus will-!"
Cain appeared behind Bella, and Damien's heart stopped.
"BELLA!" he shouted. The blonde whirled and dodged the incoming slice, punching Cain in the stomach. He flew back only a few feet, going after her again. Damien tried to reach her, but his body gave out underneath him. His consciousness bulged against his brain, his soul burning like it had not before. He was dying, he could feel it. Xisplate said nothing, but Damien felt more strength get poured into his veins. He got to his feet and mentally thanked the Demon Lord, flying towards Bella. She was holding her own well enough, but he could tell that was because she had done the least fighting before. Every blow she got slower and slower.
"Back up!" He shouted. Bella did as he asked, and Damien got in close. He gathered magic in his fists and struck Cain another thousand times, but none of the punches were enough. He just kept regenerating. He took a hit to his stomach, then his chest. Damien lost his breath as he flew back and landed on one knee again, his body shaking. He had no time left. He was going to die any second. He looked up as Cain stood before him, lifting his scythe.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Cain was sent flying as Bella landed a horizontal kick on his face, causing him to fly backwards. "Get up," she said, "we are NOT dying on our knees!" Damien tried to do as she asked, but his body fought him every step of the way.
"I-I need a minute," he said. Bella grimaced.
"Fine," she said, bringing her hands together, "I'll get you a minute. Lust Purge!"
Colour drained out of Bella's body, her skin going from pale white to a dull grey. Without another word she flew at Cain again, attacking so mechanically and precisely it was like she was a different person. She fought and pushed him all over the place, and landed at least several thousands blows on him over the course of thirty or so seconds. Cain struggled to keep up with her, but that wouldn't last. He needed to get to his feet, and now.
"Xisplate!" he shouted, "more power!"
"There is no more power, Damien." He blanched at this.
"W-What?"
"I have already given you everything, and it's still not enough. There is no more to give."
"B-But-!" Damien heard a cry, and his eyes flew back to the fight.
Bella had fallen to her hands and knees, Cain poised above her.
You fought honourably, Succubus. Allow me to make it quick and clean.
No.
No no no.
"Bella run!" Damien shouted at her. All she could do was turn and look at him, smiling weakly. Her being faded in and out of existence, and he came to a horrible realisation; she was out of gas too.
"Damien," she said as Cain raised the scythe. "I'm sorry. I love you."
He did not get to reply before her head was separated from her body, flying high into the air before falling to the ground nearby.
It had been a while since any tremors had happened, but Nashi was not calm. She wouldn't be until Damien appeared and reassured them everything was okay, and he hadn't yet.
No one else looked all that calm yet either, pacing or chewing on their nails. Every second that passed made everyone more antsy. Nashi was a few minutes away from a panic attack herself. Looking over at Steph, she looked damn near dead, a statue who stared blankly into the distance and waited for something too happen.
And something did.
Ah, The friends and family. I see you all are still waiting.
Nashi and several others jumped to their feet, looking around for where the voice came from. Sadly, it seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
I see you've been anxiously waiting for the results of this battle. Allow me to alleviate your concerns. Here, come with me.
Before anyone could object, Nashi and the others were forcibly ripped through a rift in space, dragged for what felt like centuries through a void before being spat out into a puddle of dry water. Nashi tried her best to not throw up from the experience, looking up to survey her surroundings.
What she saw was Damien, on his knees, a scythe pressed up against his throat. The being that stood before him could be no one else but Cain, but she barely recognised him. The others seemed to take notice of what was happening, and a few jumped to their feet.
"DAMIEN!" Steph cried, trying to run forward. She didn't get far before an intense magical pressure collapsed against their shoulders, forcing them all down to their knees. Nashi could barely breath under the pressure, but kept her eyes on Damien, trying to figure out a plan.
Kneel and be quiet like a good audience should. You're about to witness the rebirth of the God of Death. Rejoice, humans. For the last lock will be undone.
The last? What about the others? What about Gin or Anna? Or Bella? Where were they? She didn't see them or their bodies anywhere.
"Don't you dare!" Simon shouted from her right, "Leave him be!"
Or you will do what, Simon Scarlet? I have nothing to fear from you. No, the only thing I fear is wasting another second. Cain.
"NO!" Steph screamed.
Her cries did nothing, as Damien's throat was ripped open and his head disconnected from his body.