Chapter 70:
The Monster Belos
Christa's lower body was turned to stone while the petrification spell made it up to her waist. At this point she had accepted her fate and could care less. All she could think of was everyone dying because she lost. Belos stood by her as they watched through a see through portal of the draining spell taking effect on everyone. Near them was the portal door hooked up to a generator just waiting to be used, a desk near it with tools and above them was magic flowing in the air and making it's way through a large door behind them where Keizer was in.
Emperor Belos: Just look at this. I never thought I'd actually accomplish something like this. Wouldn't you think Euphemia?
As this was happening we see Luz peeking from below the platform as they were a few steps away from it with the others behind her.
Luz: Christa. She's here.
Hunter: Belos too?
Luz: Yeah.
King: There's the portal too.
They continue watching as Belos began to remove his emperor uniform and underneath it all was his old deadwardian clothes.
Emperor Belos: I'm always sad at funerals. Alas, a part of me has died today. ( tying his hair) But it's time to move on. The master will be revived, I will finally return home and of course you will die. You have any final words Euphemia.
Christa: What else is there to say? I failed what else is there you want to hear from me?
Luz reached into her pocket and pressed the button on the tracker.
We then cut to Matti who had just treated Mr. Hirata, who had survived but seemed in critical condition as his right eye was covered in bandage with a healing patch on it and his left arm was gone, appearing to have been blown off leaving his torn sleeve in it's place.
Matti: I was able to stop the bleeding, but I couldn't find your arm.
Mr. Hirata: ( breathing heavily) It's...it's alright. Peter...where's Peter?
Matti: I didn't find his body, but I doubt he could have survived that.
Then they heard a beeping sound. Matti took the tracker out and saw on small screen that it was coming from Luz.
Mr. Hirata: What is it?
Matti: It's Luz. I think she found Belos.
Mr. Hirata: The path is blocked and it'll take too long to find another path.
Matti: You stay down. I'll handle this.
Matti took her staff as she tried to use her magic to remove the debris blocking the entrance to them with levitation magic.
We cut back to the others as a bit of time passes, but no help has arrived. Luz looked back and saw the Christa's whole body was turned to stone with only her head left.
Luz: I can't wait any longer.
Amity: Luz you're not thinking what I'm thinking.
Luz: They're not going to make it in time and I have no choice.
Luz runs up to Belos.
Amity: Luz wait!
Luz runs up on the platform a few feet away from Belos and Christa.
Luz: Belos!
Christa: Luz?
Emperor Belos: Ah Luz, your just in time to witness my greatest achievement.
Luz: Stop the draining spell and let go of Christa now.
Emperor Belos: You know I can't do that. I've come too far.
Luz: She's your niece! You can't kill her!
Emperor Belos: She's an inbred monster that shouldn't exist. The worst kind of witch. But forget about her, see this.
Belos shows Luz the key to the portal.
Emperor Belos: I have just enough blood left in this key to make one trip back into the human realm.
Luz: So what, you're going to go back and say " Hey guys, the name's Phillip, I'm king of the witch hunters and I just came back from the demon realm to which I just destroyed. Your welcome." No one's going to believe you. Witch hunting isn't even a thing anymore. And fashion sense, yikes my dude.
Emperor Belos: First of all it's witch hunter general. Second this is all I had to wear for 400 years.
Luz: Wait so you've been wearing the same clothes for 400 years? Ew.
Emperor Belos: And third that's why I need you with me. I hate to see another human fall because of these monsters Luz. I'm offering you one last chance. Come home with me. I will reunite you with your family and you will be proof of my heroism.
Luz: Tell everyone that you're a hero? You're a major hypocrite. You claim to be someone who is trying to save humanity from monsters, yet you're working with something far more evil than what you think and became the monster yourself. You're no hero. You're a slave.
Emperor Belos: ( sighs) Don't say I didn't try.
Emperor Belos extends his arm turning into a tendril coming at Luz, but then King steps in front and lets out a sonic wave at the arm, forcing Belos to retrack. The others jumped in by her side.
Christa: Guys.
Emperor Belos: So, you didn't come alone after all.
Alex: That's right Belos. We meet for the first time for the last time. Wait uh...( mumbles) this is the first time and...yeah.
Emperor Belos: So I'm lead to believe your friends combined actually defeated the Legion of Five? How pathetic of them to lose against children, of course I was going to kill them myself sooner or later.
Christa: Guys no, get out here! Run save yourselves!
Hunter: Not without you.
Emperor Belos: Is that you Hunter.
Hunter froze the moment set his attention to him.
Emperor Belos: I knew you'd come Hunter. You're the last thing I need for the Master.
Hunter: All those guards down there. How could you just kill them all and throw them down there to rot?
Emperor Belos: You think I wanted this for them? I made those other grimwalkers to help aid me with my plans and...well to have some part of Caleb with me. Some were good, some weren't, some weren't at all like him so they didn't last long. Some took the fall for me, willingly or not. But most of them betrayed me the moment they learned about the draining spell. I almost had you until...
Then Belos noticed Hunter's staff and Flapjack.
Emperor Belos: That palisman. Where did you get that?!
Hunter looked at Flapjack but didn't answer as he just held onto his staff tight.
Emperor Belos: You've been keeping secrets from me haven't you. Be a good boy and hand him over. I'm actually feeling a bit unwell.
Hunter: No. Never.
Luz: You're not taking anymore palisman.
Emperor Belos: Are you really stupid enough to face against me.
Gus: Uh hello. Seven of us, one of you?
Emperor Belos: Oh please.
Belos tapped his staff down and when he did, monstrous arms rose from the ground, grabbing the Hexsquad by their arms, hands, legs, shoulders down with one of them grabbing King by his snout to make sure he doesn't yell.
Emperor Belos: Euphemia with her Eye couldn't defeat me, what makes you low level witches any different against my power?
While all the others were stuck down and were unable move, before one of the arms grabbed Luz's hands she had the lightning glyph in her hands. She couldn't move her fingers much but was barely able to tap her index finger on it. The powerful glyph not only electrocuted the arm but the blast shocked the others off of her. Belos set his attention to Luz, but before he could do anything she used an invisibility glyph and disappeared. She appeared behind as used two fire glyphs and formed them together to make X shaped fire wave at him, but he blocks it with his staff. Luz ran around and took glyph combo of water and ice. She formed a wave of water as it was coming down at him like rain and then turned into ice and came down at him. But his dark aura burst from his body destroying the ice coming down at him. He looked back and lost Luz again.
Emperor Belos: I have to say I'm impressed. You've come so far discovering glyphs and combining them in such a short amount of time. You have a strange intuition with these, it took me years to find only half of them. Almost like the Titan didn't want me to find them.
Luz appeared visible and used the lightning glyph on him. Belos was momentarily surprised as he countered the attack with a beam from his staff, canceling it as the blast pushed Luz back to the edge of the bridge.
Christa and Amity: Luz!
Luz held onto the edge and looked down at the pit. She gulped and looked back up, but quickly took out a light glyph from her pocket. Belos made his way to her but when he did she shined the light at him. He was momentarily blinded and when the light faded, Luz was gone again.
Emperor Belos: Is this your strategy Luz? Hide and sneak attack me. It won't work you.
We now cut to Luz hiding behind the portal door. He was right her method wasn't working. He wasn't using his full power but was still no match for it or at least she needs help from her friends but with the staff in his hands he was in control. She had to free them and get him to stop the draining spell she thought but didn't know how. She looked over at the table and saw the sigil branding glove on the table.
Emperor Belos: That's it? You're just going to hide and cower? ( sighs) I expected so much more out of you. Well if that's the case...
Belos set his attention to Christa and sped up the petrification process as now her head was about to be turned into stone.
Emperor Belos: Then I should just finish her off.
Willow: No!
Hunter: Christa!
Gus: Stop!
Christa was breathing heavily as tear shed from her eye as she was about to be turned to stone.
Luz: Stop!
Luz appeared behind the portal door as Belos turns around and postpones the petrification on her.
Luz: I'll go with you just, just let my friends go.
Amity: Luz what are you doing?
Christa: Don't do it. He won't give want you want.
Luz: If I go with you, will you spare my friends.
Emperor Belos: Spare them?
Luz: Come on. You need living proof this place exists and no one will believe you without me. You said you'd do anything to save humanity and well, I'd do anything to save the people I love. Please...Phillip.
Belos approaches her with caution.
Emperor Belos: Fine.
Alex: What the hell is she...
Hunter: Shh.
Luz: Then let's shake on it. Human style.
Belos looked at the hand behind her back and wasn't so sure of shaking her hand. Luz took her hand out and showed nothing on it. He seemed relieved and shook her hand, but then her free hand grabbed his arm and felt a pain on his wrist. Luz had used the invisibility glyph on the sigil branding glove, giving Belos a sigil. He groaned from the pain as he felt his magic being drained out of him. He dropped his staff and lost control on the Hexsquad, freeing them but Christa was still partially turned to stone.
Gus: Nice trick.
Emperor Belos: Argh! You! What have you done? ARGH!
Luz: Yeah, it's not so pleasant is it? Now turn off the draining spell!
Belos didn't answer as he just stood there on his knees and holding his wrist.
Luz: You'll never make it out of here if you don't stop the draining spell now. So stop it!
But it wasn't exactly going as planned as while his magic was being drained, he began to transform into his monster form that we had seen in his mind and flashback. He towered over the group and turned around letting out a demonic roar.
Alex: Okay there's the decomposing zombie face look I was hoping back on Coven Day.
Luz: Alex that is seriously not helping!
We cut back to outside as the draining spell was near complete. All the witches were falling to the ground weakening from the spell. Back on the platform where the coven heads were, Eda's whole body was being corrupted due to her curse. Her body was about to be destroyed, but then Archimedes appeared and detached her sigil branded hand, freeing her body as her hand disintegrated.
Eda: Archy...
Eda gasped when she saw his leg, showing he had cut off his own leg to stop the venom getting to him. He was breathing heavily but also looking a bit pale from the blood loss.
Archimedes: I promised a special kid that I wouldn't let anything happen to you.
Archimedes collapse on her lap as she held him.
Eda: Archy.
We cut back to the fight as the Hexsquad were fighting Monster Belos.
Luz: Okay I know your mad about me tricking you but come on you can still fix things. Just stop the spell.
Belos roared and formed his hand into a scythe about to attack her, but then he is pulled down by Willow's vines.
Willow: I don't think he's in cooperative mood.
Belos tore off the vines as he hit one of the pillars. The debris was coming down at Luz, but Amity shielded her with an abomination shield. She then formed a large hand and held down Belos's head as Luz helped by using ice magic.
Amity: We have to calm him down.
Gus: I'm on it. ( takes out mini mirror amplifier) Alright Belos, time to calm down a little.
Gus used his illusion magic and got into Belos's mind. In a flash Belos relived his dark memories involving Caleb, his death, meeting Keizer and becoming cursed by Cornelia. He roared as he reached out at Gus and grabbed hold of him, making him lose focus.
Willow: Gus!
Alex uses a stone pillar to launch himself up at Belos from behind and head locks him and starts punching him in the face. Belos drops Gus as he tries to shake Alex off and then grabbing him off his neck. But when he did Alex aimed his stone fist at his face.
Alex: Smile you son of a-
Alex launched the stone fist rocket arm at Belos's face making him drop him. He felt his feet being frozen by Luz's ice glyphs. She and Willow lassoed his neck and pulled him down, to which Amity formed abomination goo into a large fire glyph. Belos roared and stepped back. He lunged at her, but the King stepped up and let out a sonic yell at him. This forced him to back as the yell itself shook the area a bit, even making Christa's stone body shake.
Christa: Whoa, whoa, whoa-oof! (whole body fell face down on the ground) Ow, my face.
Belos got back up and formed both his hands into scythes, but Hunter using teleportation hit Belos across the face with his staff. He teleported on the ground and placed a earth glyph on the ground as an earth pillar hit him from under the chin. Belos fell on his back as Alex grabbed him from his foot and began to spin him around and threw him off the bridge. Belos used his scythe hands to cling onto the walls. He climbed on the walls and jumped off of it to the bridge. He roared coming at the group but King once again used his sonic yell and the hit made him hit the wall, splattering into goo. The group gathered back together as they were tired out from the fight.
King: Wow. Now that was a splat.
Alex: Ew. Welp he's dead.
Gus: So that's it right? It's over.
Luz: No, we needed him to stop the draining spell.
Then she heard a muffling sound.
Luz: Huh?
They turned around and saw Christa was still on the ground face down as she was trying to say something, but her voice was muffled.
Luz: Oh no Christa.
Willow and Alex lifted up her body as a little dirt covered her face.
Willow: Sorry Christa, is that better?
Christa: Yeah thanks Willow.
King climbs to her face and hugs her.
King: Christa you're okay. Don't ever do that again!
Christa: Guys you actually came.
Luz: Of course we came.
Amity: Did you think we weren't going to follow you.
Gus: Yeah girl, get with it.
Alex: Next you take me on this.
Howl ran up to her and jumped up trying to lick her face.
Christa: Howl you're safe. I'm sorry for worrying you.
Hunter: ( hugs her) Are you okay Red?
Christa: Yes, thank you for coming.
Hunter: Yeah well...don't ever do that again.
Amity: Oh get used to it. It's what I have to do for Luz all the time.
Luz: Yeah I...hey you make it sound like a bad thing.
Amity: Hush now Batata.
Christa: Guys listen, Belos can't stop the draining spell. I don't think anything can. But if we destroy Keizer now, it should free the magic back to everyone.
Alex: Well then let's get you free. Now uh...how do we do that.
King: We should take her to Matti.
Luz: No that'll take too long. Where's Belos's staff.
Hunter: There it is.
Hunter found Belos's staff and brought it up to her.
Hunter: Okay now let's see how does this work?
Luz: You don't know? You had an artificial staff before.
Hunter: I only used it to warp and all I never petrified anyone. Now let me think.
But as Hunter tried to figure out how to use the staff, Christa noticed that Belos's splattered remains were moving up the walls and to the ceiling.
Christa: Uh guys.
They turned around as Belos globby body dropped from the ceiling and was back on the bridge as it took b ack his monstrous form
Luz: Oh you gotta be kidding me.
Monster Belos: I have had it with all you! (forms both hands into scythes) It's time for a time out!
We cut back to Matti and Mr. Hirata as the former tried to dig through the blocked path using her staff. The debris was really heavy despite using levitation. Matti was tiring out.
Mr. Hirata: Matti you look exhausted. You need to stop.
Matti: But the kids are in trouble. I have to hurry.
But then the two heard footsteps from the other end. They looked and saw it was Lilith (harpy form) and Hooty holding Seraphina.
Matti: Lilith?
Harpy Lilith: Matti, I got the notice that you guys found Belos and... oh my Titan, what happened here? Mr. Hirata what happened to your arm?!
Mr. Hirata: Let's just say Peter couldn't take his loss fairly
Seraphina: That explosion we felt that must have been it.
Matti: Seraphina! You're hurt.
Seraphina: Yeah, was hoping to find you soon.
Lilith placed Seraphina down as Matti tended her leg.
Matti: What happened to you guys?
Harpy Lilith: Selene ambushed us. We kept moving until we got the notice to come here.
Mr. Hirata: Where's Hipporit?
Lilith: ( frowns) He's...he's dead. Selene killed him.
Matti replied with a gasp as Mr. Hirata frowned.
Mr. Hirata: Then all is lost. We lose our leader, the enemy knew our plan and the kids...
Harpy Lilith: Wait where's Luz?
Matti: Beyond the debris blocking the path and I think they're trapped with Belos.
Seraphina: They're in there with Belos?! We need to hurry!
Matti: Don't get up, you can't walk.
Harpy Lilith: Hootsifer.
Hooty: I'm on it. I'm coming guys!
Hooty shoved his head through the wall and tried to dig through to get to the others.
We cut back to Luz and the others struggling against Belos. He was now standing while everyone was on their knees or barely stand as they all looked scratched and bruised.
Monster Belos: I told you. No matter how many times you take me down, I still stand. Now then.
Belos picks up his staff and points it at Christa, about to complete her petrification. Howl stood in his way growling at him, to which Belos grabbed hold of hi.
Christa: Howl!
Monster Belos: I was wondering where you went. I could use some of your essence right about now.
Before Belos could kill Howl, Hunter appeared and cut off Belos's hands with his staff freeing Howl and making him drop the staff. His hands grew back as Hunter stood in between Belos and Christa as he pointed his staff at the former. Although he did appear to be shaking and trying so hard to not be afraid.
Hunter: Stay back!
Monster Belos: Stand aside Hunter.
Hunter: N-No.
Monster Belos: What was that?
Hunter: I said no.
Monster Belos: You dare defy me? After all I've done for you? I treated you like a son!
Hunter: What about Caleb and all those guards? You were going to do the same to me.
Monster Belos: I told you before the Titan had big plans for you.
Hunter: By making me the vessel to Keizer? You said I was going to make great things. How is any of this great for me?
Monster Belos: Don't get me wrong, you were my favorite out of all the grimwalkers. Atleast you were until you left and now your protecting this girl.
Hunter: I won't let you kill my girlfriend.
Monster Belos: What?! You're dating this halfbreed and you've been keeping a palisman when you're well aware I need them. What possible reason do you have to betray me? You wouldn't even exist if it wasn't for me. I created you! I own you!
Hunter: You may of created me. But you don't own me. All my life, I trained and trained till my bones cracked just to get your approval. I worked my way to be Golden Guard to please you. I helped you build the portal and get the key because I wanted to make you proud. I devoted my life to you but you never actually cared about me. I saw you as a role model but to you I was nothing more than another expendable pawn in your game. But my friends and Flapjack, they care for me. They still helped me even after all I did. They made me feel like I belong and I can just be me and I like that. And you know what else I'd like Belos? I'd like to leave the Emperor's Coven and never step in that throne room again. I'd like to study wild magic and carve palisman. I'd like to attend Hexside as a regular student and play flyer derby with my friends. I'd like to go out with Christa.
We then get a close up on Hunter's hand where he has a glyph hidden in between his hand and staff.
Hunter: But most of all, I'd like to make sure you never hurt anyone again!
Hunter took out the lightning glyph and shot it Belo's face, but dodged with a side step and his hand grabbed Hunter by his neck and began strangling him.
Christa: Hunter!
Monster Belos: Caleb! You stabbed me in the back again!
But then an ice spike came from below and pierced through his arm freeing Hunter. He looked over and saw it was Luz.
Luz: You stabbed him first.
Belos formed his hand into a scythe and ran at Luz about to strike her. She place an earth glyph on the ground and formed a stone wall. He broke through it with ease but didn't see her. He was then hit with a fire glyph on the back.
Luz: He was her father! Your brother and you killed him!
Belos swiped down at Luz who rolled out of the way and took a glyph combo of air and ice, creating a tornado with hail in the form of ice spikes. He ran through and although he was hit he didn't back down as Luz then took a glyph combo of water and lightning. It formed a wave of water at Belos which also eletricuted him. He fell down as she took out a couple plant glyphs and wrapped his body up.
Luz: He was your brother Phillip! Your best friend and you killed him! How could you do that?
Monster Belos: Caleb chose to live with those witches and become a traitor. He chose to become devil like them!
Belos broke free and grabbed Luz by her neck and lifted her up in the air.
Monster Belos: It was his fate, his destiny!
Luz: You're a monster! A demon! Is that your destiny?
Belos however seemed to be taken aback of what he said.
Monster Belos: N-No...I...I'm still a man underneath all this...I
With his guard down, Luz took the lightning glyph and shot it at his face. Belos hit roared in agony as he dropped her. Once freed Luz ran over to his staff.
Monster Belos: ( growls) You horrible cheating girl!
Belos uncovers his face and see's Luz running to his staff and chased after her. Luz made it to the staff and rose it up.
Monster Belos: No!
Luz smashed the staff to the ground breaking it, doing so restored Christa's body as she fell to her knees. But only seconds after Luz destroyed the staff Belos roared and swiped across Luz's face.
Amity: Luz!
Luz fell to the ground as she held her hand over her left eye. She looked at her hand and there a bit of blood on it as we see Belos had left a small cut on her eyebrow. She got lucky stepped back resulitng the injury minor.
Monster Belos: I was fool for toying with you and giving you one too many chances. Now I will do what I should have done the moment I met you.
Christa: Belos!
Belos turned around and to his horror, Christa was free giving him a serious look and her Eye power aura flowing out of her body.
Christa: Stay away from my sister.
Christa formed her hands together and shot a white beam at Belos. This pushed him away from Luz as Amity and King helped her up. Belos tried to attack Christa again, but was at a disadvantage with his magic drained and his staff gone. Belos tried to fight back, but everytime he did he would see Caleb's ghost in Christa's place making him hesitate. Christa continued firing at him as he kept stepping back, closer to Keizer's room. He roared at her and tried to swipe down at her, but her next attack disintergrated his arm.
He yelled in agony as he couldn't regenerate his arm this time due to the Eye's power burning his evil tainted body. Belos laid on the ground as he body mutated again. The others joind Christa as they watched Belos transform to what at first looks like his human form, but when we get a look at his face it shows only his left eye seemed normal while the rest of his face had his monster look and still retaining the horns. He was breathing heavily as he was weakening and couldn't grow back his arm at will. He was surrounded while Alex secured the portal door and the key and although the group couldn't see, Belos also saw Caleb's ghost standing by them giving the same look.
Emperor Belos: Euphemia, have mercy on me please I beg of you.
Christa: What's wrong? I thought you were immortal.
Emperor Belos: It still hurts and the cursed mark.
Christa: Good. You deserve this pain. You don't deserve to live after everything you done.
Emperor Belos: No, no Euphema. I-I'm family. I never wanted to hurt you, your parents or your sister. It's Keizer, who is the real enemy. He made me do all those things. It was his fault, it was idea.
Christa: Don't lie! I've seen how you acted even before you made the deal with Keizer. The only reason you did was so you can kill everyone. You really are a slave to a greater force.
Emperor Belos: And what does that make you?
Christa: I'm the Holder of the Eye.
Christa reachers her hand at Belos about to blast him.
Luz: It's over Belos. You lost and Keizer is next.
Emperor Belos: It is never over. No!
Belos used his arm and formed it into a mace and slammed it on the ground.
Christa: Everyone get back.
The Hexsquad ran back a bit as the impact broke off a big portion of the bridge leaving a gap between the group and Belos as the latter ran to the doors where Kiezer was in and entered in the room.
Luz: He's getting away!
Belos entered the room where Keizer is waiting.
Emperor Belos: Master! Euphemia is free and is outside trying to kill us. Please, I need your help. I don't have the strength to keep fighting. Help me!
Keizer: Then we are down to our last resort. I will destroy Euphemia myself.
To be continued...
Author's Note: And that's if for this chapter. Finally one that didn't take a month to make. Well these next couple are much easier to write since I've been working on them for a while. But stay tuned next time as it's time to wrap up the season 2 finale arc. If you liked this chapter be sure to follow, favorite and review. As always thank you and until next time.