'Twas yet another dark and stormy night atop the Archon's Roost… or perhaps it was day? Not that the Lord of Dark himself really thought much about it. After all, in this Dominion of Hate, time was all but halted. Lightning simply continued to strike from the clouds above. The statue, his birthplace, stood as a symbol as his victory 'cross the land once known as Lucrece.

Below, silence filled the once fair forests. Empty, the once bustling homes in Fulgaia Village and Lucrece's castle town have become. Stained blood red, many signs of direction have been painted. No signs of human life disturbed this place. Naught but demons rule in his dominion.

And here on Hate's Triumph, his place of rebirth, he stood tall. The TRAITOR'S cape flowing in the wind as he wore it with pride. A fitting trophy claimed from one of the worst betrayers in history. The other one… better forgotten. The only thing of value was her tool of suicide, and he detested how filthy she made it with her tainted blood. They should be thankful he provided mercy and placed their souls in a trial in another plane to stew in their miserable sins. It wasn't like paradise was going to welcome them anyhow.

…And yet… Odio, the Lord of Dark, the Demon King, did not feel satisfied. Lucrece may have forced him to become what he is now, but it was only a small part of the world. A wider world where many cultures, nationalities and religions exist apart from each other. A world that suffered one underlying issue. A plague as old as time itself.

"O man…" the Lord of Dark mused, his voice echoing in the air. "A slave to appetites. A beast."

He shook his head, amending his statement, "Nay, lesser still… For hunger drives a beast. To fight, to kill, to feed. Survive. Naught else. But man… He's more complex. More foolish. More driven by madness.His hunger knows no end. The world's his meal…"

Putting his hand to his chin, he considered the wider scale. Truly, for all his so-called 'evil deeds', humanity was worse, by and large. How many others have they made miserable for their own vanity? How much have they stolen to satisfy their greed? How often have they killed to feed their gluttony? And how often had they gone unpunished?

Seeking forgiveness from others and Gods, only to commit sins further, blaming those they hurt. A disgusting cycle of hypocrisy and selfishness, yet thoroughly embraced by the whole of humanity. Knowing brutes, they are. Akin to parents who consider the births of their children mistakes, yet chose to have them anyhow and cause them pain. All of it, disgusting.

"I'll teach him manners, then. Restraint. Respect." He declared, turning towards the summit as lightning struck once more with a dramatic flair of the cape. "He's drunk on vict'ry, spares no thought for those who suffered for his spoils–but soon he shall!"

He thus descended from the mountain's peak and retraced steps he only barely recalled. The path he took towards his former self's demise. So foolish and filled with false hope, was he. So desperate to rescue his 'love'. A love that betrayed him and sealed Lucrece's fate doing so.

The arena where they fought the demon lord false. This place where they fought as one band for the last time. Where the last true hero of Lucrece had passed away, his faith in humanity returning yet ultimately for naught. Where the SORCEROUS BANE OF EXISTENCE showed his true intent and deceived all for love unearned. When tragedy in motion was set.

Then, his destination. The one place where purpose once he knew not until he accepted his destiny. A room where he stared upon the occupants with a rare expression of melancholy.

"I weep for you, my brothers." He spoke gently.

He walked forth, gazing at the seven statues that stood tall upon the complex stairway before him. To his east, the statue of what appeared to be a demonic horned skull. To his west, a statue of a large and brutish man wielding some kind of large, barrel-shaped weapon. Below them, statues of men of might stood proud and powerful. And below them, at the bottom, were statues of a toad-like creature in a robe and a large monster with many fangs. Yet in the center was a statue of a bird creature sitting cross-legged; almost a religious idol. All of them peculiar and ominous figures, but to the Lord of Dark, they were the only ones worthy of his sympathy.

"To the last…" he spoke to them all, "You stayed the course. Pursued your hearts' desires. With eyes unclouded. So close, but, alas…"

His eyes closed, mourning the unfairness of their fates.

"Like me. Deprived– nay, robbed of just reward. Disgraced and dubbed the villain..." He could feel his fist clenching with barely restrained anger, "Sland'rous lies. A winner's justice! Hist'ry bent to whim! The losers silenced, stripped of voice and claim, and stricken from the page!"

Such was humanity's arrogance. Their inability to accept their faults. They've a need for someone to blame when they don't get what they want. What they never earned. Thus they make a game of causing those who worked for their spoils pain and taking credit.

"If that's the game, I'll play along. Cross time and space and stand. For we the damned. Rewrite the tale. Just so!" Odio began walking down the steps with determination in his eyes. "Your statues seven are my ink and quill. With magic potent, singular… Pure hate! I'll take up arms. Assume the guise we share. For we are Odio…"

He stopped before the central statue, finishing with, "And we will win!"

Yes. This will be the lesson he would teach. He'll make sure his brothers will get the justice they deserved in life, past and future. A reward that he was denied. And for that, what better place to start at the very beginning? Long before he had taken the title of Demon King?

He gazed upon his eldest counterpart. A large beast, akin to a reptile, with sharp claws, a long tail, and a vicious maw filled with teeth. Most notable was the scar across its eye. This one had seen much in its long life.

"O child of fury. Slaughtered in your prime." Odio lamented the loss. "By brutish men bereft of spoken words. But barely won, their vict'ry. Weak and frail, they are. Not hunters, no, but prey…"

A red aura began to form around the Lord of Dark held his hands out towards the statue. In turn, the statue's eyes began to glow.

"Go forth in rage!" He encouraged, casting his magic, "This time you'll eat your fill!"

Yes. Go forth. And take vengeance for what those humans took from you.

—-

Oersted groaned as consciousness returned to him with an additional headache. He got up from the ground, feeling an ache in the rest of his body following him as he tried moving and getting back up on his feet. His vision was blurry at first, but steadily he regained it as he saw where they were. This had to be the canyon's depths, with only a narrow path ahead of them being the reasonable exit as they were practically trapped between walls of stone. However, that paled in comparison to what he saw right under his boots.

Quickly jumping away from it, the former champion's eyes took sight of what they were surrounded by. Bones. Human bones. All scattered apart and even piling up, collecting dust, yet not a single stain of blood remaining on them. As though someone went to the trouble of making sure these bones were picked clean of anything else.

"What kind of God dost the Kuu serve…?" He whispered to himself.

Hearing someone else getting up, he turned to see none other than Zaki shaking his head before immediately running towards another person, concern on his face. Concern was wasted if one would ask Oersted, seeing as the one the warrior was checking on was the Kuu Chief. Why, the very moment the Kuu Chief got up, he didn't waste any time interacting with his greatest warrior and shoved him out of his way, trying to run off like the coward he was. Good riddance, the knight believed. But there were more important things he was concerned with.

He ran over to Pogo and Beru, the latter of which got up fine with a shake of her head. To his relief, Pogo got up soon after.

"Long fall." Oersted said to them. "Pogo, Beru, not hurt?"

"Beru feel hurt, but not heap big hurt. Beru soon fine." Beru assured him. "Pogo not hurt?"

"No, Pogo fine." Pogo answered. "Pogo had long fall before. Where this?"

"...Kuu god home."

They saw Zaki getting back up after his own chief pushed him aside. He still looked serious in spite of being thrown to the wayside, so to speak.

"Kuu god eat sacrifice here." He explained. "Now we food for Kuu god. No escape."

"But coward chief run that way." Oersted pointed at the way ahead. "Why not do same?"

As if to answer the fallen hero, they heard primal cries echo in the distance, making them jump. Then the echoes silenced as the sound of something growling and gnawing followed after. Beru hid behind Pogo, scared by the downright terrifying noises. Cautiously, Zaki stepped forward, grunting to call for his leader. It was at this time that Gori got up with an uneasy look and joined up with his friends. Everyone looked out into the darkness of the path beyond… and then something flew back at them before tumbling along the ground before coming to a stop at Pogo's feet.

It was the Kuu Chieftain's crown, coated in blood and… saliva?

A sound like thunder caused them to step back towards the chasm's wall. Oersted readied Brion, though sweat started coming down his brow. Another thunderous sound came closer, and everyone could feel the ground begin to shake, rocks falling around them. Then another, louder and more powerful. Another, and a shadow began to emerge on the ground, moving towards them as that shadow's owner came from the darkness. Closer it came, and the group of five began to shake as they could see the coming monster that towered above them.

An immense beast, larger than even the Mammoth King. A gigantic reptile, standing on two, three-clawed feet with a smaller claw just to the sides of each foot, it had two small arms both with two sharp claws, just like the blood-stained teeth in its immense, hungrily drooling maw. Covered in dark brown scales, coated with green smudges and pale tan stripes on its back and long tail and a pale gray underbelly. Both of its eyes were a menacing yellow, and both lacked pupils to signify it had anything resembling a soul, though there was a great scar crossing its right eye. And worst of all, there was a red aura coating the monstrosity.

It gave a great and terrifying roar, shaking the cavepeople to their core while Oersted tried keeping firm.

"...ODO…" Zaki breathed out. "Last of old times… Kuu god… ODO…!"

This was it, then? The 'god' of the Kuu? All the while, Oersted kept his eyes on the giant monster, ready to fight it at any moment's notice. However, the moment its eyes fell upon his, it was then the former champion had remembered something. He had seen this beast before!

"This is no mere beast… 'Tis one of the statues in the Archon's Roost!" Oersted realized. "Then that must mean by mistake my coming here 'twas not! This creature, evil's origin in most primal form… The source of demonkind, it must be… The first Lord of Dark!"

—-

"Hm? Who is this?" The Lord of Dark saw something that didn't seem to belong in this era. "That armor he dons… that sword he wields… why familiarity dost this breed?"

This one seemed out of place. That blonde hair. Those brown eyes. That fighting stance. Odio could have sworn he had seen this before. Maybe even…

He shook his head, leaving such thoughts behind him.

"Nay, it matters not." He focused. "He shall be devoured like the rest!"

—-

The giant reptile, ODO, took another step forward, wondering which morsel to feast upon first. Its eyes seemed to focus upon the gold one. It wore too much metal. Crunching into the bone would be too troublesome. The green one was too small. The orange one and the primate had too much fur. But the purple one… yes… the meat on her would do just fine.

However, just as it went to do so, Gori finally took action and kicked the Kuu Chieftain's crown right at the reptile's face! The audacity of such a move, even getting hit by the crown, made the beast roar with anger. While surprised by the ape's move, this made Pogo and Beru know that they could just stand idly by and do nothing. The way to freedom was behind the so-called god of the Kuu, and to get out they had to go through it. Zaki, though, still felt a bit hesitant. Could he really fight against the god his people worshiped for so long?

"As long as ODO lives," Oersted spoke up, "without Kuu feeding it, it will leave and eat other tribes. We must bring this monster's end!"

Pogo, Beru, and Gori all gave affirming nods. Zaki still hesitated, but his fists seemed to clench. But there was no time to wait on him. The knight and his friends had a monster to fight, and so charged towards battle as ODO roared at them once again. The monster's red aura seemed to flare more around it as it glared angrily, ready to rip and tear at the hairless apes before gnawing the meat from their bones.

The group quickly split apart when ODO moved to bite into them with its mighty fangs. Pogo shivered at the sight of some familiar blue hair stuck to the teeth and mixed with blood. But he recovered fast enough to use his quick spear to try and pierce into the scaly hide. He cut into it a few times, but apparently not enough to really draw blood from the beast. That made the young lad pretty nervous before barely avoiding ODO turning its head.

Gori managed to run behind the dinosaur and leap onto ODO's tail before giving it a bite. His teeth hurt! The scales were hard, but the ape kept holding on, not planning on letting go. The giant beast roared, trying to swing its tail about to send the gorilla flying. But the ape, while lacking in brains, was big in determination and held on, trying to break into ODO's hide with his teeth.

Beru was trying to keep her distance while attacking the monster. But quickly she found her kicks and whips from her Wildheart Sack were not doing anything but annoy it. At that point, she ran to avoid getting trampled under its feet. Her agility indeed served her well, never getting bitten into. Still Beru felt that she had to do something, otherwise her friends would get heap hurt!

Thus left Oersted, who felt he was practically fighting against the false Lord of Dark once more, could feel Brion leave scratches in the scaly hide of ODO. Roaring in agitation, ODO tried swinging its tail, and Gori along with it, to hit the knight. But fortunately the former champion slid under it while Gori gave a cheer for his blonde friend. Seeing the creature from behind, the knight leapt high into the air and stabbed the so-called god right in its back! ODO roared in irritation, now having another annoyance trying to dig sharp objects into it.

—-

"Fret not, Child of Fury." Odio continued assuring his counterpart as he gave more of his power. "These fools are naught but gnats beneath thine feet."

But even so, the way that blonde one moved… he swore he remembered something like that from before. But where…? When…?

—-

"Hrgh…!" Oersted struggled to get another good stab into ODO's back as the beast continued moving to try and get him off. Well, him and the ape on its tail. "This beast's hide is stronger than any mere drake! To admit so, heresy, but from the first Lord of Dark, what else to expect?"

But that observation served only to distract the knight, and at last ODO managed to shake him off by flinging Gori at him from its tail. A satisfied growl escaped its maw. Finally, those little gnats were done poking it or biting it. Now it could focus on eating them. Ripping the flesh from their bones.

"ODO heap strong…" Pogo admitted as he helped the former champion and his ape friend up. "Weapons not hurting much!"

"Oersted notice!" He replied. "Still, keep fighting!"

A scream drew their attention back towards the battle at hand, and Beru trying to run from the large beast trying to devour her. Pogo immediately threw caution to the wind and rushed over to save her, taking out a pair of sticks and rubbing them together fast to create a pillar of fire to burn at ODO's underbelly! The giant reptile roared again and turned to crush Pogo flat under its foot, but Oersted quickly pulled the lad out of the way. Fortunately this allowed the cavegirl to narrowly get out of harm's way at the moment. However, this got the Kuu god angrier and focused again on them.

ODO then started bending its knees down. Then with a mighty jump, it leapt towards the trio with such shocking speed that they couldn't run away in time! The ground shook when it landed back on the ground, and the monster snarled as it pinned the knight, caveman, and gorilla to the ground under its mighty foot. Somehow still alive, having managed to avoid being run through by its claws. Nevertheless, they could not escape it now, no matter how they struggled.

These little hairless apes were getting to be too troublesome for their own good. ODO did not want to devour these bugs anymore. It just wanted them DEAD. It hated them. Hate. Hate.

SWEET, PURE HATE.

—-

"Yes, Child of Fury. Yes!" Odio could feel the hatred they shared growing, making him eager to see the battle end as he desired. "Embrace your hatred in full! Kill them all! Claim your deserved vict'ry and just reward!"

Finally. Finally, his brother could begin enacting his vengeance upon all of humanity for what they had done to him. For taking what was precious to him and stomping it underfoot, this would be the perfect start– doing the very same to them…!

—-

Oersted tried his best to free himself from beneath this Lord of Dark's foot. Anything to try and save his friends from sharing a fate of being nothing but meat for a monster to feast upon. But though he still had a good grip on Brion, the sheer strength and mass of this beast prevented him from moving it in any meaningful way. He might also have been feeling the ruthless reptile trying to crush their bodies beneath it too! Things were looking very grim.

"Ist nothing to be done?" He thought while still struggling. "Ist mine fate doomed to be failure to the death? Unable to change history where it hath begun and protect mine friends? Pogo… Gori… Beru… Forgive me… Alethea…"

Indeed, all seemed lost as ODO opened its mouth to bite their heads off. But just then, something soothing reached the boys' ears. It appeared to be like singing, but without any concrete words. Even so, they were caring, passionate sounds. All pleasant, like a serenade for the soul.

"Beru…" Pogo noticed where the sound was coming from, and they could see her singing.

Compared to her rather terrible singing that somehow helped them recover from injury, this was actually good singing from her. At first, the champion thought this would heal them at a greater level than before… but he didn't feel any sense of magic healing his wounds. However, he did find it had another positive effect for their fortunes. Somehow, ODO began roaring and shaking its head in pain, as if something was assaulting it. It got so distracted that it backed up and got its foot off of the three of them, letting them get back up! It was then Oersted had figured out the effect Beru's singing had.

It was not a song of healing for her allies, but for impeding evil!

—-

"Gah!" Odio cringed as he could feel pain coursing through his being. That damned primitive wench's singing was burning to the core! "That accursed noise…! It's ringing in mine skull! Just what kind of power doth that witch possess?!"

It reminded him of things from long ago. Things that had lost all meaning. Deceptively sweet nothings that ruined him when the lies were revealed. Lies! Cruel, cruel lies! All of it!

"…ou a… I pl… ai…"

"Enough! Quiet! No more of thine falsehoods!" The Lord of Dark roared before angrily putting more of his power into the statue. "Crush that harpy! Slaughter them all!"

—-

The dark and spiteful aura surrounding ODO suddenly grew to titanic proportions as it roared with untold frustration. It turned its gaze towards Beru, trying to push its way through her song to devour her. Oersted, Pogo and Gori were about to go on the attack to save her, but just then, to their surprise, Zaki ran past them with a battle cry and jumped onto his 'god's' back before stabbing his spear right into the back of the monster's neck! ODO reacted to this by thrashing about and crashing its body against the canyon walls, sending rocks falling down.

"Zaki!" Pogo exclaimed in surprise. Neither he nor Oersted expected him to actually help them out in this situation.

"Kuu… Zaki fear ODO long enough!" The Kuu warrior kept trying to stab his spear through the reptile's hide. "Pogo right! Zaki dum-dum follow coward chief. Zaki dum-dum take sacrifice for fake god. Kuu dum-dum make tribes fear them. No more! Kuu no need fake god! Zaki fight ODO for Kuu pride and honor!"

Oersted stared at Zaki and, for the first time… THE HEINOUS WIZARD did not manifest over him. He was finally seeing Zaki as himself. Not a single flashback to memories long past reminding him of… him. Despite everything, starting as their enemy, Zaki chose to be their ally and fight against the source of all that is evil. He truly was a warrior of honor.

That said, Zaki unfortunately ended up finally being flung from ODO's back with his spear breaking apart in the process, leaving him without a weapon to hold. Fortunately, the sharp end was still left in the fake god's scaly body. This seemed to do nothing, but to Oersted's eye, he could see they were starting to make progress towards bringing the vile beast down. The way it was moving slower and its eyes seeming unfocused made it clear as day too. Though what was that stench…?

Gori let out another of his mischievous snickers and the former champion could see that, while they weren't looking, had thrown some of his… eugh… droppings near the reptile. The vile odor also seemed to be affecting it too, making it wretch with disgust and pain. Just what was in those haunches that makes Gori's… piles so hazardous to one's health? Then again, Oersted didn't want to know. He truly and wholeheartedly didn't want to know.

But they had no time to waste. This was it. If they were to survive and gain freedom, they had to finish off this First Lord of Dark now. The knight swore to put an end to the demon king's history before it could begin and readied his blade. Brion would strike true, this he swore!

"Everyone!" He called to his allies, "Hit ODO with strongest attacks! We finish ODO here!"

Everyone else nodded, knowing that this was going to take all they had to put this to an end. Beru continued singing her song, further causing the giant monster to to ache with pain on top of already being poisoned. This was further intensified when Gori began pounding his chest like a mighty drum. Though it didn't have the same soothing sound as Beru's singing, it was clear Gori's chest-pounding carried with it a great passion only an animal could possess. On top of that, Zaki's lizard friend took all the rocks that were scattered about from ODO's earlier thrashing and threw them all at the beast's face, even striking it in the eyes. With the fake god's attention properly disorganized, Oersted and Pogo both had the opening they needed.

Oersted held his sword behind him, gathering a force of wind before slashing forth with enough force to send it into the air, calling out, "Windbite!"

Then, with potent magic and six green orbs of light gathering together above ODO, the lights then shot down and struck at the monster with heavy blows, one of which even striking the sharp end of Zaki's spear deeper into its being. This flashy attack did not kill the false god, true, but it was the perfect cover for Pogo to leap into the air to jam his own quick spear into the reptile's cranium. He was just about to run it through, but shockingly, Pogo missed the angle and pushed the spear too early, turning himself over so his head was moving towards ODO's head instead. And it was a direct hit! Surely this comical chain of events would cost them all…!

But then, something broke.

—-

A cracking sound got Odio's attention.

"What's this?" The Lord of Dark looked up towards the statue of the Child of Fury. A crack seemed to have appeared on the head. Then, more cracks started forming from it, starting to reach over the entire form. "No… No! This cannot be…!"

—-

Pogo ended up rolling off of ODO and landing on his behind, rubbing his head after dealing with such an impact. Still, the situation appeared tense. ODO seemed to be standing in place, as if frozen from being hit so squarely. But then, it began to stumble on its own two feet, shaking the earth once more. It continued stumbling until it let out one final roar and then fell to the ground. Unmoving. The ominous aura that surrounded it fading away to nothing.

ODO, last of the dinosaurs, no doubt the source of all evil and the Lord of Dark in its most primal form… was dead. Pogo, Oersted, and their friends had won.

Getting up with an affirming grunt, Pogo looked away from the dead beast and looked onto the path ahead. Suddenly, it didn't appear as dark as it did before. Without needing any words, he started moving forward on his own. Beru was in full agreement and of course followed suit. Gori went to follow, but then stopped and looked back to Zaki, who nodded in return.

With his friends moving ahead, Oersted moved to follow, but he found himself stopping before their vanquished foe. Something appeared off to the knight. Something that should be uncharacteristic for a Lord of Dark to have, even as a corpse. Sure, he was used to his enemies fading into nothing but the blackened dust-formed malice they were born from, but this was the first he saw a monster that didn't. And from the scarred eye of the beast, what did Oersted see?

Tears. More accurately, tear stains that had dried and coated the scales they rested upon, only recently having come down once more. It looked… sad, really.

"Why just stay and pretend to be a god rather than be free…?" Oersted wondered.

The champion then noticed that Zaki hadn't yet left with the others either. He stopped near the crown of his late chief. Cowardly and cruel that he was, a chief was still a ruler of his people; he knew that perfectly well. And Zaki, though misguided once, was a loyal man. Loyal to a fault.

The loss of his liege would be a blow to any honorable man who swore fealty. It certainly was to the former knight.

Their gazes soon met, and for the first time since they kept dueling with each other, they finally nodded to each other with complete understanding as warriors.

"Others ahead. We follow." Oersted said, turning towards the way forward.

Zaki gave one last look to the crown. Then he nodded, looking ahead with him.

"Yes. Move forward." Zaki said.

And so, the pair of warriors, walking side by side, followed after their friends. The dawn finally began to rise as the night had passed after what felt like an eternity. The immense cliffs of the canyon eventually stopped as the light of the sun grew bright above them. Finally making it out of the false god's lair, they joined with Pogo, Beru, and Gori in gazing at the sight that lay before them. For the first time, they had seen something that wasn't simply more first and dust riddled with the bones of things long past their life. Something Oersted had not seen since his self-isolation in the Archon's Roost.

Green. Beautiful, beautiful green grass and colorful flowers. Trees filled with leaves and tall like mighty oaks. Butterflies fluttering about without a care. In a land that was dry as a desert, this place had the one thing the rest did not. Life.

Pogo, Gori, and Beru wasted no time getting to enjoy this new place, feeling the grass beneath their bare feet, enjoying the refreshing air and the soothing smells. Of course, then Gori decided it was a good time to play and then started mischievously chasing after the cavegirl. From there, Pogo started chasing after his ape friend when he picked up the girl over his head and started running about. Oersted and Zaki went onto the grass and watched them play, happy they at least got to relax after such an intense ordeal. At the very least, this new place would be a new home for the tribeless people.

But, as the knight picked up a purple flower and held it gently in his hand, his thoughts wandered again.

"'Tis a beautiful place, untainted by predator and hunter alike." He observed. "For untold time, ODO couldst have lived here in peace. Yet, prison narrow and self-imposed it chose, content to feast on people most fearful. A god, be considered. What couldst drive an animal to live in misery willingly?"

Should he really feel sympathy for such a creature, after all the people it ate to satisfy its hunger? When it could have just left for greener pastures?

Though perhaps he was not one to talk. After all, he did seal himself within the Archon's Roost, feeling that was the only way he could truly save Lucrece in spite of everything he went through, some of which because of them. He actively chose to let himself be miserable and hated since killing demons and monsters in the roost would prevent them from threatening the land. An easier decision than convincing them of his innocence. Reasonable too, so none but children would deign to believe him anyhow.

But, he reasoned to himself, he did it because he knew better than to blame them for something that wasn't their fault. He knew that THE FRIEND FALSE was the true villain anyhow, and he avenged himself and his heroes in the end. He could not save the kingdom, but he could still protect it to the death. Well, that was what he figured before all this business involving magic and accepting a destiny he did not desire to pursue. Before going through time to change his fate.

That was different from choosing to do evil, was it not? If so, then why, after all it had done to the people living in this era, did it shed tears?

A familiar sound of grunts calling cut his introspective thoughts off. Approaching him and Zaki were, to Oersted's surprise, some of Zaki's fellow tribe members. Leading the group were that father-son duo from before, with the father holding out the dropped crown towards Zaki. The long-haired warrior, surprised at holding it, looked upon his people, silently asking if this is what they really wanted from him. They all nodded their affirmation, content with having someone like Zaki as their chief, knowing he was a true leader who wouldn't do anything to harm their people or go after others for no reason. Sure, they did bad things altogether, but they wanted to be led by someone who also wanted to make amends with people.

Well, that's how Oersted interpreted those grunts anyhow. Hopefully Zaki will be able to teach them language too, given enough time. At the very least, Pogo, Gori, and Beru were still running around and playing without a care. Then came more steps from where the Kuu came. To Oersted's surprise, they were people he had never expected to see again after all that had happened.

It was Oji, leading the likes of Clunk, Niku, Tano, and other members of Pogo's original tribe. All of them looked rather tired, having been running the entire time. Strangely, to the former hero, they all seemed relieved to see him, Pogo, Gori, and Beru were all alive. Not a single look of judgment on their faces, like he'd expect from people who cruelly cast their own people out for trying to do good. What was going on here?

Still, their very approach also caused Zaki and his people to back away a few feet, understandably wary… and ashamed, since they did invade Oji's cave a while back, after all.

"Ors-ted… you alright!" Oji said, actually sounding happy. "Pogo, Gori, and woman too! Oji glad… all tribe glad see you safe…"

"Really?" Oersted was cautious and doubtful about this, remembering someone else who tried appealing to him through flattery after a harsh event. "Even after exile of us, Oji claim care for us? Pogo tell Oersted before Pogo understand why, but Oersted not so understanding. We strong enough. We can fight. Yet Oji feared Kuu retaliation. Found it better cast us out then put faith in us, after we protect tribe. Yes, we keep Beru secret, but secret should not matter when we want keep tribe safe! Beru help too! She care for Pogo home!

"Pogo sad after exile." He continued, and of course he noticed Clunk, Niku, Tano and the others definitely looking more ashamed as he kept going. "Pogo blame himself for us cast out. Keep strong face whole time, even after Beru kidnapped again. Pogo suffer much, get stronger. Now Pogo beat god Kuu follow with own head. Pogo save all tribes without home tribe help. Pogo strong in muscle and heart, even though young, without tribe help. So, Oji tell Oersted. After all said and done, why come now when not help or listen to Pogo before?"

"...It true. We too scared to do anything then."

Oersted was taken by surprise, hearing Oji actually admit that.

"Oji fear what happen if all Kuu attack home. Desperate." Once more Oji proved his wisdom by using bigger words even as he looked down with his eyes closed. "Oji also… sad Pogo and Ors-ted keep secret from tribe. Wish Pogo and Ors-ted be honest from start. Oji should have just whack Pogo and Ors-ted with big stick. Instead, hurt make Oji lash out and cast Pogo, Ors-ted, and others out. Oji make big mistake."

Looking back up to the champion, Oji had a grateful smile on his face and said, "But Oji also happy Ors-ted keep promise."

"Promise?" Oersted blinked in confusion. "What promise?"

Then a flicker in the back of his mind suddenly popped in before his eyes.

—-

As he was dragged past Oji, the old man seemed to say something as his lips moved.

"Take care of Pogo."

—-

"Oji make mistake, yes," Oji explained as Oersted remembered, "but Oji still trust Ors-ted keep Pogo safe. Ors-ted close friend of Pogo, like Gori. Why Pogo become strong warrior. Even if Ors-ted no trust tribe now… tribe trust Ors-ted help Pogo. That Oji care about most of all."

Then, shocking the knight, Oji and his tribe all bowed their heads and said at once, "Tribe so sorry for what tribe did, Ors-ted!"

The former champion was at a loss for words. This was incredibly different from how his last exile panned out. No one gave him a chance to explain himself. No one bothered giving him the benefit of the doubt. The only ones who did were respectively tortured to death and was a child whose word would not be taken seriously. They were dead set on believing him to be the Lord of Dark. But this…

…Just what had happened to humanity to unlearn the empathy he had seen at the beginning of humanity's age?

"A-Ahem…" Zaki cleared his throat. "Zaki not want interrupt, but… Zaki want say sorry too."

Oji finally faced Zaki, looking at him seriously.

The Kuu warrior continued, "Zaki aware attack on tribe awful. Zaki follow orders of Kuu Chief… coward. Dead now. Pogo big heap lecture Kuu on pride and honor. Zaki scared for long time of fake god. Fake god also dead. Pogo and friends heroes to Kuu. Help Kuu remember what Kuu should be. Zaki… all Kuu owe Pogo and friends."

"..."

Oji stared at him, apparently checking to see if there was any sign of deception. When none were found, he looked to his people, confirming with them what they intended to do next. True, the attack on their tribe was definitely something they couldn't just forget. But at the same time, they also owed that apology to Oersted, Pogo, and Gori for casting them out. And as it appears, all of those who were really causing problems for everyone were, well, dead. Thus, no issues seemed to remain.

Oji stepped forth towards Zaki, pointing to the crown the warrior was still holding.

"Zaki chief of Kuu now." The elder told him. "Have heap important duty to tribe and others. Oji know this well. If Zaki willing, tribes unite in peace. No sacrifices. No gods. No fear. Only friendship."

Zaki, with an understanding smile and placing the crown at last on his head, replied, "Zaki agree. Peace between Kuu and… uh…"

"South Tribe." Clunk helped.

Wait, that was the name of their tribe the whole time? Just the South Tribe? Oersted had no idea it was something so simple! …Although, he probably should have. This was a rather simple era.

"Peace between Kuu and South Tribe much wanted." The scarred caveman continued. "Together, no longer live just in caves. This place, new home for new tribe. Tonight, we feast!"

Oji nodded, agreeing, "Tonight, we celebrate union and– AHH!"

And then Gori came in and ended up picking up Oji and lugging him above his head. Beru, in the process, ended up launched in the air, and then dropped down upon a still pursuing Pogo. Oersted blinked at the sudden shift in mood as Beru quickly got up to check if Pogo was alright. Fortunately, the young lad got up just fine and smiled at her, letting her smile back. Then they were treated to the sight of Gori still running around with a shouting Oji on top of him.

"POGOOOOOOO! HEEEEEEELLLLP!" the elder cried out.

"...So, think this enough for Oji?" Oersted ended up asking his green-haired friend.

"Aw, let Gori have fun." The young hero waved it off. "Gori not play with Oji long time. He need this."

In the midst of Oji's comical cry for help, everyone else, from South Tribe to Kuu, began laughing. Oersted's smile remained wide as he took in the joyful atmosphere. Finally, something had gone right in his life. Evil vanquished, people saved and peace reigned once more. Just what he had always wanted to do as a hero.

Sure, it might not be his time, but as he noted Pogo and Beru holding hands and starting to gaze at each other, he had the feeling that it didn't have to be. After everything Pogo had gone through, he deserved this happy ending.

And so, later that night, the Kuu and the South Tribe, having united under the new name of 'Heiwa', whatever that meant to Oersted, celebrated in their new home in the grasslands under the full moon. Zaki and Oji stood upon a gigantic haunch of meat carved from the dead body of ODO as their people danced around it with lit torches illuminating the scene. Both tribes, especially Niku for that matter, were happy with the meal they were blessed with. After all, they were going to be having this meat for quite a while with how huge it was! Nothing could possibly make them happier.

However, Oersted couldn't help but note, while eating some of the meat (and it was admittedly better than he expected), that a certain couple were missing. Well, them and Gori too. Where could they have gone? Seeing Clunk talking with a couple Kuu tribe artisans, the former champion figured he might know. So, he got up and went over. Clunk, noticing his bonafide assistant approaching, pardoned himself and turned towards the knight.

"Ors-ted! Enjoying party?" Clunk asked with a smile. "Clunk sure is! Learn new ways to make things too! Clunk so glad tribes finally at peace. Maybe even get women soon!"

"On women," Oersted began, "Clunk see Pogo and Beru? Oersted not see them here."

"Oh, Pogo and Beru go to south caves, back to Pogo's room." Clunk answered, his thumb gesturing in its direction. "Guess Pogo finally becoming man in more than hunt and strength."

"Right. Thank Clunk." And with that, Oersted had a destination to check out.

Though what could Clunk have meant by…

Oh.

Oh…

Suddenly he felt his legs pick up the pace. He still wasn't sure how old Pogo was, much less how old Beru was, but he had to make sure this would not turn out with any sudden monster appearances. He ran as fast as he could, eventually making it to the caves to the south and went inside. From there, he intended to rush towards Pogo's room… but then, something slowed him down.

The cavern was quiet. He could understand why. Everyone else was busy celebrating a newfound peace and Pogo was just about to 'celebrate' with Beru. But now that everything was going to be at peace in this time, was there a need for him to remain? The young lad defeated the source of evil; did the finishing blow, as unorthodox as it was. He achieved his happy ending and got his hero's welcome.

He then heard the sounds of a scuffle and immediately got worried. He ran over towards Pogo's cave and… well, it seems he didn't need to be. As it turned out, Gori had gotten curious and followed the pair inside, and Pogo no doubt did his usual routine of knocking Gori out and kicking him away from his business. What Oersted did not expect were those female gorillas from before rushing right past him and then dragging Gori into the next room. Well, at least Pogo wasn't going to be alone in happiness, he supposed.

Well, if there was nothing else, he had better–

"l…"

Then he heard a noise.

"l…"

No, not a noise, but a grunt? Perhaps an attempt at speaking?

"l–!"

It sounded like Pogo. Just what was it that he was going to say–

"LOOOOOOOVE!"

"...And with that, to their business I should leave." Oersted quickly about-faced and walked away as more rather inappropriate noises came from Pogo's room. He might have also heard Gori's snickering, but that was probably just his mind finding that fitting to end on.

Truly, the people of the past were definitely a forward people.

But now he could see that he could no longer stay in this time. He still needed to get back to his own. Perhaps things would be different and he could see their descendants one day. Still, he was going to miss being around these good people, living an admittedly simple life among other humans once again. Well, for how long it lasted, at least.

"Pogo… thou art a brave young man with a heart so boundless in empathy." He said as he began to focus on casting the same spell that brought him to this time. "May you and Beru find eternal happiness and in each other alone place your faith. Farewell."

He called upon the power within him once more. The magic coursing through his being was a familiar feeling as he concentrated on his deepest desires. From his boots to his fingertips, the power grew and grew, until at last everything faded in a great white flash. Gone was the cave and he felt himself floating again. Once more, he could see glorious Lucrece, before all had gone wrong. He had reached for it, hoping this time he could make it.

And once again, the light overtook his senses.

—-

He felt himself stir once more, feeling a breeze brush against his face. As he arose, Oersted could feel grass beneath his feet, not some barren rock. At first, he believed he appeared in the woods near humble Lucrece or even near Fulgalia Village. But he then saw that the ground appeared uneven, meaning this had to be a mountain. Did he bring himself to the Hero's Rest? But there wasn't any snow.

He looked around at his surroundings. Vast grass with some patches of dirt, flowers the likes of which he hadn't seen before, symbolizing life he didn't find at the beginning of humanity's age until near the end. A large boulder just sitting comfortably nearby. But most awe-inspiring was the view before him. Numerous tall, mountainous peaks as far as the eye could see with fog covering the ground below.

"'Tis most beautiful… but…" Oersted could tell what this place wasn't, "'tis not Lucrece. I failed again, it seems…"

"Ors-ted…?"

Oersted heard a voice he really didn't expect to hear. He turned around fast and saw none other than Pogo, Beru, Gori, and even Zaki, all looking dazed. When they recovered, they looked around themselves in confusion. This wasn't the caves nor the celebration they were partaking in. What had happened to them?

"Pogo? Beru? Gori? Zaki?" Oersted was shocked at the sight of them, his mind filling up with several questions about this. "What art thou doing here with me?"

"Ors-ted use big words again…" Pogo pointed out, but looking around, he added, "but Pogo let slide. What happen? Where this place?"

"I… I don't know…" the champion could only answer as such. "This is all…"

"Well now, what's all this?"

Yet another voice chimed in, apparently observing this situation. They looked to see someone coming up the path leading towards them, and he looked vastly different from what they had seen before. An old man with a partially bald head with gray hair. He wore an all black attire and he was fairly short in height. He had his eyes squinted closed, but they seemed to be slightly open as he stared back at the group before him.

"My goodness… I certainly wasn't expecting this when I woke up today." The man said with some humor in his voice.

—-

"O Child of Fury… how could I have failed thee so…?" Odio held such remorse within his chest as he held the rubble in his hands. "What should have been your finest meal before seeking revenge so sweet, became naught but tragedy once again? I am deeply sorry…"

The Lord of Dark was in shock over witnessing his brother lose against those pitiful primitives even with his assistance and power. Just could they possibly have lost? He was all powerful. He was the Demon King! All hatred was his to command!

There had to be some reason for this unseen turn of events. Some secret strength they held to somehow subvert his influence. But no, it couldn't have been that. Magic was in its most primitive state in that time as well. They couldn't have been able to use sorcery as they were. They could barely even use tools, much less swords!

Then, he got it. One of those humans actually used a sword. Wore armor too. Both wouldn't exist in their proper, perfected state until the middle ages! How could he have overlooked this at the moment?

"So then," he considered, "it appears that there is an interloper in our midst. An anomaly in time, looking to subvert me. If so, then they should appear next in…"

He put the rubble of ODO's statue down and turned towards another of the statues. One of the human men who knew the art of fighting. A taciturn frown on his glaring face, a young man with short, slicked back, silvery white hair, an outfit with a circle in the middle with the image of a dragon, a cloth belt tied around his waist, peculiar slippers, and bandages that went from his feet to his calves. The Lord of Dark walked over to this statue and stood before it. Perhaps one who was more active in the affairs around him would be more observant.

"O Child of Cruelty…" he lamented. "With heart of steel and will unwavering you honed your craft. But still were bested by unbloodied whelp. Redemption will be yours."

As the statue's eyes glowed, he told it, "I humbly ask thou holdst thy strength back. For now, at least. An interloper seeks to circumvent us. Reduce thine art to nothing. Together, let us seek out his identity…"

Whoever this interloper interfering with the game of hist'ry was, Odio would be sure to make him suffer for intervening on humanity's behalf.

—-

And so, Defier of Destiny finally makes it to chapter 5! Seems things are still not going to go as Oersted expected, and now he has accidentally pulled the Prehistory party along for his ride through time! Now who could the old man be? And for that matter, what will happen now that Odio seems to see something is wrong with the timeline?

Again, apologies for the lateness of this chapter, folks. Not only did real life throw a few curveballs here and there, but it also took a while just to get the latest chapter of my Nicktoons & Disney Heroes UNITE! fic up and ready. But thankfully, it's finally up and we're finally getting into the next arc of the story! Hopefully writing the chapters to come out should be easier since there's more dialogue involved.

Thanks again to Akito the Boxer for beta-reading and fine-tuning this chapter for me. This wouldn't have been possible without his help. See you all next time!