《World Kings Part Eight: War》


 Chapter 1: Song of Judgment

    Xtabay''s airship was a luxury frame. Meaning it was large enough to transport and entertain around fifty passengers. King Bonrue designed it personally for her when he became a World King. Oya, Mul, and Nanette sat in the dining hall together as the ship made its way to Uraeus. Nanette shifted her starry eyed gaze back and forth between her father and sister while the awkward silence between the two of them grew. Nanette couldn''t take it anymore and spoke up. "You two really don''t have anything to say to each other after all this time?" "We didn''t have much to say to each other before he left." Oya scoffed. Mul smiled slightly. "Well I have tons of questions." Nanette''s voice grew excited. "Oya, do you have a boyfriend?" Mul curiously side eyed Oya waiting for a response while Oya was caught off guard by the question. "What kind of question is that?" She asked. Nanette''s smile faded. "A sisterly one." She answered. "Why do you keep calling me that?" Oya asked, slightly annoyed. Nanette''s face looked hurt. "Because Mul raised you and he''s my dad. Doesn''t that make us sisters?" Oya hesitated. Nanette was by no means a child but she still held on to the innocence of one and Oya, knowing how cruel and unforgiving the world could be, was not about to be the one to take that from her. "Well when you put it that way I guess it does." Oya replied, sparking even more delight in Nanette''s eyes. "So what about your mother?" Before Oya could answer, a sudden chill spread its way through Nanette''s senses causing her to stand from her seat and place her attention on the window behind her. "What''s wrong?" Mul asked, also standing from his chair. The sensation hit Oya next, then Mul but it was too late for them to react as the sound of a trumpet followed by barrage of light beams that perforated the luxury airship.Two figures stood atop a hill and watched as Xtabay''s airship plummeted down wrapped in smoke and flames. "You haven''t lost your touch Israfel." The Angel Kushiel applauded. "I thank you for your kind words but I am afraid they still draw breath." Israfel replied. Kushiel grinned. "Then play us another song." "Indeed." Israfel agreed. The angel once again lifted her golden horn and let loose a long note that signaled a rain of energy to cascade down on the wreckage of the airship. "Beautiful." Kushiel said softly.


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    Oya pushed a piece of debris off of her and sat up. Smoke, flames, and pieces of Xtabay''s ship littered the area and obscured her view. "Stand up kid. We gotta find Nanette." Mul stood behind her with his hand out to help her up, She took it. The two of them walked through the field of smoke and scrap searching for Nanette and any survivors. "All this smoke isn''t helping." Mul remarked. He held out his hand and waited for Eurus. The blade clattered through the debris until it emerged from the smoke and Mul caught it. He drew the blade from its sheath and a strong gust of wind cleared the smoke around them revealing two unknown entities standing in front of them. "It seems you survived? How unfortunate." Kushiel greeted unfurling his wings which were more like an insect than a bird. Israfel stood a few paces behind him. "Kushiel and Israfel." Nanette with blood dripping from her forehead walked up behind Oya and Mul. Oya looked at her sister. "You know them?" She asked. Nanette nodded, "They''re Angels." She added. Oya frowned, "How do you know that?" But before Nanette could reply Kushiel spoke up. "You are a very knowledgeable young woman. I don''t believe we''ve met, yet you know who we are. I will admit we have no quarrel with you miss so if you would so kindly step away from the..." Kushiel stopped short of his sentence and narrowed his eyes as he recognized Nanette and signaled Israfel to play another note. "Don''t let her play the horn!" Nanette called out urgently. Before Israfel could fully lift the horn to her lips Xtabay shot out of the smoke and tackled her to the ground, taking the angel''s neck in one hand and the horn in the other. Without hesitation Xtabay forced the horn down the angel''s throat. Israfel struggled in vain against Xtabay''s strength. The angel gasped for air as Xtabay stared with serpent pupils into the angel''s dimming eyes before blowing scarlet flames into the bell of the horn. The angel''s mortal body burned apart and melted into a pile of flesh on the ground as Xtabay''s eyes now stared fixated on Kushiel.

 Chapter 2: Temperance

    Kushiel peered into Xtabay''s wrathful gaze with a face full of disgust. "Look at you, you detestable creature." He snarled. Xtabay turned her back toward Israfel''s smoldering remains and met Kushiel''s stare. "You are all putrid abominations that are no longer permitted to inhabit the lands of our great Lord Tawasi!" Kushiel unfurled a pair of insect-like wings while he spoke. A strange blade also seemed to grow from his right arm. "I shall cast upon you a judgment so absolute it will leave a scar carved into this land that shall act as a warning to the others of your scornful tribe to never again cast your hearts away from Tawasi!" Xtabay shot for Kushiel just as she did Israfel but Kushiel grabbed her wrist before she could make contact. He sliced her midsection twice and kicked her away. Her body streamed through the air but Kushiel''s wings allowed him to catch up before she could lose momentum. The blade on his wrist morphed into a hammer and he slammed it into Xtabay''s chest forcing all of the momentum to carve a crater into the ground under them. "Mother!" Nanette yelped and tried to go to her mother''s aid but Oya grabbed her by the arm. "No. She will be okay. You need to stay safe." Mul tried to explain but Nanette pulled her arm away. "No. We''re going to help her." Nanette held her hand towards the wreckage of the air ship for a second before her grandmother''s Katana met her palm. "Lets go." She ordered her father and ran off after her mother. Mul looked at Oya and back at Nanette then let out a sigh before following after her. "Why is it always like this." Oya complained to herself. "Wow what''s the point of free will when she herself can''t even choose between what she wants and how she feels about it? And here I thought you were supposed to be all about impulse." Oya looked around for the voice but couldn''t find a source. "You know, I bet it''s that pesky human side of you. Humans crave to be ruled. They need someone to pull their strings and tell them what to do. And yet your very existence pushes them to make their own decisions and ultimately their own mistakes as they fail over and over at their own personal ambitions. Do you even understand how much pain you put them through?" Oya smirked at the voice''s words, she realized long ago that it was the lack of free will, the lack of personal options that caused people so much misery. She shifted her sight to view the astral plane and saw Israfel standing in front of her. "I forgot your kind are all spirit. Your physical bodies are fake." Israfel took a step back when she realized that Oya could see her. "And how did you figure that out?" The Angel asked stalling as she thought of a plan of attack." Oya took a step forward. "I learned that when I burned Michael away. He didn''t have the time to retreat out of his body." Israfel grew enraged at the nonchalant tone in Oya''s voice as she spoke so casually about the death of her captain and friend. "You arrogant little bit..." Israfel''s words were cut off as Oya summoned Piasa''s scythe in a flash of bright light. "Don''t worry this should be a little more humane." Oya swung the scythe cutting through the frequency barrier that separated the two planes and cleaving Israfel''s spirit in two. The two halves of the angel''s spirit formed into one bright ball of light and rose into the air before shooting off westward at an incredible speed. Oya shifted her sight back to normal before she attracted the attention of any lingering spirits and hurried off after Mul and Nanette.


    Nanette stood frozen in awe as she witnessed the angel and her mother engaged in a bloody waltz amongst a sea of scarlet flames. She had never witnessed a battle so fierce, even Tai''s training with Sahn wasn''t this spectacular. Her eyes could barely keep up with their movements. After a moment Oya caught up to them and stood by their side. She didn''t speak, she too was captivated by the beautiful display of violence. Nanette noticed that Oya and Mul seemed to have no trouble following the battle. At one point a stray fireball found them in its path but Oya easily deflected it with a wave of her arm. Xtabay noticed the stray ball of flames that almost hit her daughter and decided to move the battle further away. Mid-fight her wings appeared with only a partial transformation and with one devastating flap she lifted herself high into the air and sent fire and wind knocking Kushiel away from her. He recovered and flew after her, summoning a second blade on his other wrist. Xtabay manifested a ball of flames in the palm of her right hand and began to squeeze causing the flames to heat up drastically. She squeezed until her hand formed a fist and radiated a bright red light. She then fired the condensed flames as a beam that burned off Kushiel''s right arm as he tried to manifest a shield that failed to block the attack. Kushiel''s scream was muffled by Xtabay''s hand as she gripped his face and plunged him into the ground head first. She held him there and began to condense her flames against his face. Kushiel''s muffled screams grew more panicked while his face was slowly roasted by the intensifying scarlet flames. Suddenly three black tendrils wrapped around Xtabay and pulled her away from Kushiel, while a casket simultaneously emerged out of the ground, swallowed Kushiel and slammed itself shut before being sealed by a series of golden chains. Xtabay dug her heels into the ground to stop herself from being pulled back. The tendrils released her and she spun around to identify her assailant. When her eyes found Impetigo the rage inside her that belonged to Kushiel found a new home and she lunged toward him only to be stopped by the emergence of an iron wall in front of her from out of the ground. "Hold on Tabs, relax for a second, it''s just us." Lukoh¨¦''s voice calmed her slightly. "What''s the meaning of this?" She snarled at him. Lukoh¨¦ cautiously peered from behind the wall, checking to make sure she was calm enough to talk before he converted the wall back into sand. "We went to the palace to find you but they said you already left for Uraeus, so we tracked the signal of your airship to its last location." Xtabay took a deep breath to calm herself more before she continued the conversation. "Why did you rescue that thing and why were you searching for me at my home?" "Well.." Lukoh¨¦ started before being interrupted by Impetigo who walked up beside him. "There have been some new developments concerning your boy and that one over there." Impetigo''s long finger pointed at Oya. "What are they doing here?" Nanette asked, looking at her sister who shrugged her shoulders in response. "Let''s go." Nanette suggested while already running towards the three Kings. Xtabay smiled softly at her child who joined her. "Hey guys long time no see." Mul greeted the kings. "Mul? Where have you been?" Lukoh¨¦ questioned while shaking hands with his old acquaintance. "He discreetly gestured at Xtabay so she wouldn''t notice, "Oh I''ve been around." He turned his attention to Impetigo and awkwardly waved at him. "No hard feelings about the last time we saw each other right?" Impetigo grunted and vanished into his shadow. "Ignore him." Lukoh¨¦ advised while the golden sand swirled around the group. "we need to go, also does anyone know where Sahn is?" His question hung in the air as the sand swallowed them up.


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 Chapter 3: Mountains and Anger

    Music radiated from the village at the bottom of the hill. Sahn sat at the top tapping his foot to the rhythm. "What are you doing up here master?" Lynn approached from the other side of the hill, fresh tattoos adorned her arm. Sahn noticed the tattoos and smiled. "How''s it feel?" He asked. She sat down beside him and looked at the village below. "Different than I thought it would." She answered. "But you didn''t answer my question. Why aren''t you enjoying the party?" Sahn didn''t answer right away. He laid back in the grass and looked up at the sky. He opened his mouth to answer but stopped when he noticed something headed towards them. "Master?" Lynn looked over at him and saw a look she didn''t think sheˇŻd ever see his face make. She looked where he was looking and saw what she thought was a meteor hurtling toward her. She braced herself as the light crashed into the hill beside them. Sahn stood up while the dust from the impact washed over him. The dust cleared to reveal an extremely large man with long red hair and a long red beard in blue and gold armor carrying a large cleaver accompanied by a visibly agitated pale young man with shaggy white hair and no shirt and baggy pants. "Greetings!" The large man greeted, his voice boomed when he spoke. "We are looking for a gentleman by the name of Sahn Juber, might you be able to point us in the right direction?" The man''s jolly disposition caused Lynn to relax but Sahn wasn''t fooled. "Hahaha, gentle? That''s the first I heard that one. But you want me, you got me." Sahn responded. The agitated young man took a step forward but was stopped when the large man held his cleaver out in front of him. "Would you be so kind as to accompany us back to our domain?" The large man asked. Lynn walked up beside her master. "Excuse me but you don''t show up here destroying landscapes and demanding things of people. You haven''t even done the proper introductions." Lynn''s bravado only seemed to agitate the younger man. The large man laughed, "of course of course where are my manners? My name is Turiel of the mountain. And my deceptively young looking friend here is Af, and we are angels my dear. And we''d like to take your friend here back with us." Lynn frowned. "He''s my master and I don''t know what an angel is so you and YOUR friend can just go back where you came from." Af sucked his teeth and went for Lynn. He moved too fast for Turiel to stop him or for Lynn to react but Sahn intercepted him with a kick that launched him back behind Turiel. Sahn nodded affirmingly to Lynn before darting off after Af. "Well that didn''t go as well as I''d hoped. Now if you would excuse me young miss I have business..." Before Turiel could finish Lynn jumped up and hit the angel with a punch that planted him into the ground. The tattoos on her arm were now glowing an iridescent white. "Well that was surprising." Turiel grunted while he sat up in the mini crater his body made. "Hahahaha! You''ve got heart young miss! How about you and me go round while Af deals with your master?" He asked while slowly floating out of the small crater. The sharp edge of his cleaver began to glow gold and the ground under Lynn''s feet began to rumble. Turiel swung his cleaver down and without it making contact, the ground under Lynn''s feet split apart. A pillar of ice jutted out of the ground where Lynn was and launched her to the opposite side of the fissure. When she landed she was holding Boreas and snow began to fall. "Oh, might that weapon be a Halo?" Turiel asked. Lynn frowned. "You talk too much." She said, launching herself at the angel.


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    Sahn glanced over his shoulder at the clash between his student and the other angel. Af took that second to attack but Sahn phased just in time to avoid the punch and returned just as quickly and delivered a knee to Af''s stomach. He then grabbed Af by his face and slammed him on his back into the hill. Sahn continued to mush Af into the ground by his face.. Af''s anger weld up inside him until it manifested as a burst of red energy that erupted outward. Sahn jumped back in time to avoid the blast. Af stood up, his body literally bleeding with anger, the emotion sweating out of him as a red vapor. Sahn''s grin never wavered and that filled Af with even more rage. He began to tear out pieces of his hair as he roared with anger. But his voice was silenced quickly when Sahn appeared in front of him with not-air gripped in his fist. He slammed his palm into Af''s chest and the explosion gouged out the countryside in that direction for about a mile. The music below stopped as the aftershock shook the village causing all the villagers to take notice of the hill. Turiel stopped dodging Lynn''s attacks and turned to see what became of his partner. Lynn''s hits began connecting but Turiel didn''t seem to notice. She jumped back to a safe distance and also turned her attention to where her master was. Sahn stood at the edge of the new cliff he created and peered through the dust cloud. The dust shifted as Af calmly flapped his now visible large white wings. He rose out of the dust surrounded by a glowing red aura. He gently floated towards Sahn and stopped in the air a few feet in front of him. He reached up and grasped the glowing white halo that was over his head and brought it down in front of his chest. The halo morphed into a white bowl filled with a red dust like substance. Sahn''s instincts flared. "Lynn!" He called, holding out his arm to her. Somehow she knew what to do and she let go of Boreas and it flew over to Sahn just as Af blew the red dust out of his bowl. Sahn caught it and the red dust cloud engulfed them both and they were gone.


    Red dust swirled around Sahn like a storm. It didn''t seem to have any physical effects on him, he couldn''t even feel it. But he knew he was no longer on that hillside. "Greetings." A voice from behind him called out. Sahn whirled around to see Af but it didn''t quite resemble the version he was fighting. He tried to phase but couldn''t. "This zone is cut off from the dimension you usually occupy. Your special trick won''t work here." The copy informed while it gradually floated towards Sahn. "Special trick?" Sahn replied slightly offended. "Where''s the other guy?" he asked. The copy smiled slightly. "He''s here, all around us." Then it crumbled into red dust. "Damn." Sahn said under his breath when he realized what was going on.

 Chapter 4: Unforeseen

    Bonrue walked the hallway that eventually led to his lab. While he walked he watched out the window the people down below walking the streets going on about their day. The Dweller''s words swam their way into the forefront of his thoughts but the memory was cut short by a loud voice coming from his office. "WHERE IS HE!?" Xtabay''s voice boomed from inside his office right before the door was kicked off its hinges and logged into the hallway wall. Xtabay stormed into the hallway and looked around until she spotted Bonrue. "You!" She growled, and stomped toward him. "Where''s my son?" Stopping only a few inches away from him. Nanette and Lukoh¨¦ followed her out the room trying to catch up with her followed by Mul and Oya. "I don''t know off the top of my head Xt..." Bonrue''s sentence was cut short by Xtabay''s fist but her punch never made contact. Cassius appeared in time to catch her punch with his left hand and pointed his gun under her chin. Lukoh¨¦''s sand also wrapped itself around her waist and arm. Impetigo''s shadows wrapped its way around her as well. "Xtabay, cool it. A World King can''t assault another World King in their own territory." Cassius tried to remind her. "A dispute between two World Kings must be handled by the two World Kings. So I''d suggest you un- hand me." Xtabay replied, the temperature around her body began to rise and the other Kings began to strain to hold her in place. "King Xtabay like I said, I don''t know where Tai is off the top of my head but I can easily locate him." Bonrue informed her. Xtabay shook her detainers off and composed herself. "My apologies, I''m on edge because we were attacked on our way here." "Angels?" Bonrue asked. "How''d you know?" She asked. Lukoh¨¦ read the situation and intervened. "Maybe this isn''t the best time for this conversation. Let''s focus on finding Tai." Bonrue was already swiping through a holo- pad. "Looks like the last time the tracker pinged they were in northern Terrabe a few hours ago but it seems the tracker is no longer giving out a signal." "You put a tracker on my son?" Xtabay huffed, almost embarrassed that she hadn''t thought of it herself. "No. On his companion." Bonrue answered. "I''ve been keeping an eye on her since she was an infant." "On Kashurra, why?" Oya asked, walking up to the rest of the group with Mul in tow. "Has anyone heard from Sahn?" Cassius interrupted. "He doesn''t wear a holo-watch so the only place to check for him Would be his village. I''ll go." Lukoh¨¦ volunteered. "May I go along with you King Lukoh¨¦? There are some old friends there I haven''t seen in a while." Nanette''s question surprised him. "Uhh yeah. Nanette smiled and stepped closer to Lukoh¨¦. "Father, are you coming with us?" She asked. "No. I don''t know why you''re okay and I won''t question it, but the air ship we were in just blew up not thirty minutes ago. So I''m going to find something to eat and take a nap." Mul replied. "Very well may I borrow Eurus?" Mul handed her his sword without word or hesitation. She hoisted it on her back and with both her father''s and grandmother''s weapons in hand looked up at Lukoh¨¦. "let''s go". "You be careful." Xtabay told her. Nanette nodded in understanding, and with that the golden sand rose up around the two of them and they were gone. "Now," Xtabay started turning her attention back to Bonrue. "My son?" "I''m weary of waiting. Let''s get on with it." A voice ordered, coming from a door down the hall behind Bonrue. The voice triggered something in Xtabay she had long thought reconciled. When Thuren Bahn emerged from that threshold, Xtabay exploded with rage and shifted into her serpent form, destroying that side of the building. "YOU DARE RELEASE HIM!" Xtabay''s voice boomed. The people on the street ran screaming from Xtabay''s form as rubble from the building fell around them. The rest of the Kings, Oya, Mul and Thuren escaped the collapsing structure to the street below. Security mechs swarmed the building looking for civilians to guide them to safety while sentry turrets emerged from the roofs of the surrounding buildings and took aim at Xtabay. "Xtabay calm down! Here me out!" Bonrue pleaded. "You were supposed to wait till we were all gathered." Cassius reminded Thuren. "I didn''t know she could talk in that form." Mul whispered to Oya. "YOU WOULD BETRAY US?" There was a slight rumble in the air when Xtabay spoke. "It wasn''t us it, was an angel. But that doesn''t matter now, this is about Tai!" Suddenly the turrets atop the surrounding buildings took their aim off of Xtabay and trained on a different target. A dark skin shirtless man with large collar around his neck descended from the sky. Large tattered bird like wings protruded from his back and shackles were clasped around his wrists and ankles. He stared down the Kings with a stoic expression. "ANOTHER ONE?" Xtabay growled. The turrets began to fire at the Angel but had no effect on him. He instantaneously appeared in front of Xtabay and with a back hand sent her giant serpent body crashing through several buildings. Without hesitation Mul leapt into the air to attack him but he was already in front of Oya. Before any of them could react he put his hand on her shoulder and they were gone. "Oya!" Mul called out, while multiple beams of light punched through the clouds and several squadrons of angels descended just as the first did. "Is this part of it?" Cassius asked Bonrue, as beams of light continued to break through the sky around the entire city. "So far so good." He replied.


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 Chapter 5: Retrieval

    Lynn and Turiel sat on the hill where she and Sahn had been sitting earlier. "Yeah so the emergence of the unruly one and the boy triggered a fear in our lord." Turiel explained. "I personally have no issue with humans. Despite your flaws I actually find you all quite charming." Lynn smiled, "Well I appreciate the compliment Mr. Turiel." The swirling cloud of red dust loomed behind them in the sky when suddenly a fountain of golden sand emerged beside them. When the sand receded Lukoh¨¦ and Nanette were left standing there. "Nanette!" Lynn shrieked getting up and running over to greet her friend. "Hi." Nanette struggled to say while being squeezed. Golden shackles shot from the dirt and latched themselves around Turiel''s neck, wrists and ankles. "What''s going on here?" Lukoh¨¦ asked, staring up at the dust prison. "And what are you up to?" Lukoh¨¦ directed the question to Turiel and Lynn. Turiel didn''t struggle against his restraints, he sat calmly and replied. "My partner is locked in combat with Sahn Juber whom we''ve come here to apprehend or eliminate. That cloud there is the manifestation of his halo." Lukoh¨¦ listened but didn''t take his eyes off the cloud. "Hmm and judging by your behavior I assume there''s no way to enter it from the outside?" "That is correct." The Angel confirmed. "So we wait until one of them loses?" Nanette asked. "Not necessarily, halos don''t always deactivate after their angel is gone." Lukoh¨¦ replied. "You are well informed. It is surprising you weren''t on our list." Turiel chuckled. Lukoh¨¦ smirked in response while the golden sand formed steps that led up to the dust prison. He formed a drill out of the sand and tried to penetrate the prison but when the sand made contact with the dust a tiny explosion pushed the two substances apart. "Hmm it''s like someone tried to copy the sand and came up with this stuff." Lukoh¨¦ surmised, pushing his glasses back into place. Nanette thought for a moment before an idea appeared in her head. "Try Zephyrs!" She yelled out excitedly. Lukoh¨¦ obliged and summoned the dagger. He pushed the blade into the dust and it slipped in with ease but then after a second it was expelled. "Huh, almost." Lukoh¨¦ mumbled. "Wait! Lynn, do you still have Boreas?" Nanette asked. "Uhh no master has it inside." She answered. "Even better!" Nanette ran up the steps and the sand formed a platform next to Lukoh¨¦. "May I borrow Zephyrs?" She asked him. "Sure." Turiel frowned at Nanette as she began to place the three blades against each other like her father did when he was younger. The three weapons melted into each other and formed the broken blade once again and she began to slowly push the blade into the sand.


    Inside the dust prison Sahn battled wave after wave of dust clones. Each time Sahn felled a clone, it would collapse into a pile of gray dust. Mounds of gray dust were littered across the seemingly infinite expanse of the prison. Sahn dispatched 4 more clones before jabbing Boreas into the floor and sitting down in the dust. "I''m bored!" He proclaimed," Let me out or fight me!" The first copy appeared again. "I''m afraid either of those options are not possible. "It said calmly." Sahn didn''t argue or complain, he just folded his arms across his chest and pouted. "You could just surrender." The clone suggested. Sahn ignored it, his attention instead was on Boreas which was glowing. "Oh-ho?" Sahn chuckled, while standing up and taking a step back. "What''s happening? What did you do?" The clone asked, worried. "Not me." Sahn replied, with an anticipatory grin. The floor where Boreas was lodged began to fracture. And as the floor cracked open Af''s voice could be heard screaming in pain throughout the prison. The crack grew into a fissure and Boreas fell into it.


    On the outside Nanette had used the broken blade to make an incision in the dust prison large enough for her hand to fit. She reached inside until her shoulder touched the edge of the prison and rummaged around like she was searching through a large bag. After a bit she gently pulled Boreas from the incision. "There." She said gleefully. "Impossible." Turiel whispered to himself. Lukoh¨¦ watched with intrigue. He was amazed not only with the fact that she had just performed a feat that shouldn''t have been possible but at her natural affinity when it came to the Anemoi. "Lynn, do you mind?" Nanette asked, gesturing with Boreas. Lynn shook her head, her face painted in anticipation. Nanette smiled then took a deep breath before slowly pushing Boreas into the broken blade. A blinding flash of light engulfed Nanette and caused the others to shield their eyes. When the light faded a golden ring had positioned itself a few inches above Nanette''s head. Light seemed to pour out of it and over Nanette''s body like it was water, giving her a golden aura. "Azazel''s halo." Turiel remarked, his voice carrying both amazement and disbelief. "What was that?" Lukoh¨¦ asked him, but it was Nanette who answered. "Azazel the first watcher. This was the power he gave Aeolus all those blooms ago. Aeolus molded it into the Anemoi because he couldn''t bear its power like this." "How do you know that?" He asked. "It told me, or actually it knows it? Either way I can''t bare this for long myself, I have to do this quick." Nanette levitated into the air and summoned a sword of light in her right hand. "You guys should move." She warned. Lukoh¨¦ grabbed Lynn by her arm and led her to safety but left Turiel where he was but summoned a wall of sand in front of him to act like a barricade. Nanette swung the sword and a shockwave of light cleaved through the dust prison causing it to burst like a bubble. Sahn and Af were expelled into the dirt as the prison burst. Sahn stood up brushing dust and dirt off himself. "Wasn''t expecting that." He said looking over at Af who had a gaping gash incision chest from Nanette''s attack. "Ooo, that is unfortunate. Serves you right for trapping me in that though." Lukoh¨¦ and Lynn ran up to Sahn to greet him and Nanette descended and landed next to them. "What''s all this?" Sahn asked, looking at Nanette glowing. "She smiled softly and took the halo from over her head. "Nothing, this belongs to my father." She said while the halo shrunk down to fit around her wrist. "Excuse me!" Turiel called out. They all turned to look at him. "With my partner felled and with the re- emergence of Azazel''s halo it is safe to say my campaign against you Sahn Juber has ended. If you would be so kind as to release me I will take my leave." Lukoh¨¦ and Sahn looked at each other both with befuddled grins. "Why should we do that?" Sahn asked, phasing his hand in and out and walking towards the captured angel. "Wait master, let him go he''s not a bad guy, I''ll vouch for him." Lynn begged running between Turiel and her master. Sahn stopped and looked at his student. "I can also offer some information." Turiel added. "What information?" Lukoh¨¦ asked. Turiel gestured to the shackle around his neck. Lukoh¨¦ obliged and released it. "Thank you. About now your compatriots in Uraeus should be under siege by the full might of the heavens. Our orders were to keep you all separated and take you out individually. But when Jehoel met his demise the orders were to overwhelm you with the full might." "What? They''re under attack?" Nanette asked for confirmation. "Do we know where Tai is?" Sahn asked Lukoh¨¦. "No, but Bonrue might by now." "Then let''s go." Sahn said, sporting his signature grin. Nanette nodded determinedly. Lukoh¨¦ waved his hand and released Turiel. "If you try to attack us again I''ll show you what happened to the last angle that crossed me." Lukoh¨¦ warned him. Turiel nodded in understanding. "Thanks Lynn." Nanette called out cheerfully as the sand rose up to take the three of them.


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 Chapter 6: Shahadaku

    Somewhere near the southern pole of Hyunda where the landscape would normally be covered in ice, was a beach with black sand. Trees of different varieties grew out of the salt water and animals not typically seen on Hyunda made homes in their leaves. Within this blackened bay a man sat against the only tree not in the water with his feet dug into the obsidian sand. A pleasant breeze blew through his locks and the sun kissed his copper skin. Although his eyes were closed he still noticed and smiled when the space a few feet to his left collapsed into itself forming a door. Kashurra stumbled through the portal bundled in layers of clothes under a thick coat. Tai stepped through shortly after, also dressed for the cold. Kash took off one of her gloves and held her hand up to test the temperature. "Tai, you sure this is right? This is a beach not a frozen wasteland." Kash pointed out with an attitude, as she began to strip off the layers of clothing. Tai surveyed the area until he noticed the man lounging against the tree. "This is definitely the place but I''m sure it was far south, there shouldn''t be a beach here." Tai''s eyes didn''t leave the man as he spoke. "Well I''m taking off all these unnecessary clothes you had me put on." Kash complained, still pulling off layers. Tai didn''t pay her much mind, his focus was on the mysterious man. "Excuse me." Tai called out. It caught Kash off guard. She hadn''t noticed the man until Tai called to him. "Wait, who''s that?" The man smirked, eyes still closed. "I was wondering who was going to find me here first, glad it was you." "Who are you?" Tai asked. "Yadala." He answered. "Are we supposed to know that name?" Kash asked rudely. The man stood up and brushed the sand off himself. "Doesn''t matter." He finally looked in their direction, his eyes were glowing a steady violet. He looked at Kash for a moment before sucking his teeth. "Humans are cheeky." "You''re an Aeon." Tai pointed out. "There aren''t supposed to be any more here." "I could say the same about you, Aeon of Fate." Tai frowned. "You know me?" "Yes and no." Yadala snapped his fingers and Tai was suddenly dressed in the same unbuttoned white shirt and brown shorts that Yadala was wearing. And Kash was in a two piece bathing suit with a white cover up. "But I would like to learn more about you. You see, with all my power and resources I still can''t answer the question of why you exist." "What kind of question is that? Why does anyone exist?" Kash''s brash tone annoyed Yadala. "Because I allow it!" He yelled, startling Kash and putting Tai on the defensive. He took a second to compose himself before he continued. "Young Taivero, you are an anomaly like myself. We are created Aeons, this much I know. But what I don''t know is how it''s done and you will tell me." Tai''s thoughts went to Aour. "Why do you think I would know if you don''t?" He asked. Yadala smirked. "I survey all of my creation and not too long ago two Aeons entered a blind spot in my sight, which is an anomaly in and of itself, but three ultimately emerged from that blind spot, one of them being you." "Why not ask Oya?" Tai asked. "I called out to my kind and you were the one that answered." "And what would you do with this information even if I did have your answer?" Yadala''s face lit up. "Raise an army and claim true reality." Yadala became almost unaware of their presence as he spoke. "I''ve glimpsed it, you know. I''ve seen past Trixie''s so-called kingdom. Past the great halls of Amenti. But a glimpse is all it was. Oort stood in my way, denied me my birth right even as Apep set out to devour this material copy." "Oort?" Tai repeated. The question seemed to snap Yadala back to their conversation. "Aeon of boundaries." Yadala answered. Tai thought about everything he just heard and came to a conclusion. "Sorry I don''t know how to do what you''re asking, we can''t help you." Tai turned around and opened another portal. "Let''s go Kash, this guy''s delusional." He whispered to her while he ushered her toward the portal. A mass of darkness suddenly formed like a wall between them and the portal. A single glowing eye peered out from the darkness at them. "So Fate, you deny me mine?" Yadala asked, his words laced with malice. "Hostile divine energy detected. Initiate shining weapon protocol." Kash''s voice was monotone as she spoke. Confused, Tai placed his hand on Kash''s shoulder but to his surprise she seemed to be asleep. "Master Taivero I am your blade, please wield me as you see fit." Kash said, still asleep. "What are you talking about Kash? "Master, please establish the connection so you may wield me." Kash demanded. "What are you tal...." Kash stepped forward and kissed him. Tai was taken aback for a second but then relaxed in the moment. "Connection established."


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 Chapter 7: The Freedom of Chaos

    Oya found herself standing amongst the amber grass outside of Trixie''s cottage. She frowned while a breeze brushed against her. "Oya." Trixie''s voice called out from behind her. She turned to see Trixie, Aevum, the angel who brought her and another woman she didn''t recognize. "Miss Trixie, Lord Aevum." Oya greeted. She smiled gently at the woman she didn''t know and scowled at the angel. Trixie noticed and spoke up. "Apologies Oya, I asked him to bring you here." The light from the perpetual sunset painted them all in a soft golden hue. "Who are you?" Oya asked the woman she didn''t recognize. The woman stepped forward with a soft smile. "My name is Sophia." "Aeon of...?" Oya asked. "Wisdom, on a good day." Sophia joked. Oya turned back to Trixie. "Not to sound rude, but what am I doing here?" "Well it''s about young Taivero." Trixie answered. "What about him?" Aevum finally spoke up. "Fate is an anomaly and he needs to be eliminated." Oya''s eyes went violet. She summoned her scythe and pointed it at Aevum. "Explain yourself!" "You dare?" Aevum protested, his eyes too went violet. "Unruly indeed." Sophia chuckled to Trixie. Trixie sighed, then the entirety of the sky turned a deep violet. "Enough!" Trixie''s voice boomed from every direction. Aevum immediately backed down. Oya recalled her scythe and stepped closer to Trixie. "Explain." "Allow me." Sophia interjected. Oya relaxed and waited for the explanation. Trixie waved her hand and the amber grass braided itself into chairs and a table. A couple of blue birds flew over carrying a teapot and cups and served them tea. Sophia sat down first and took a sip from one of the cups. "We Aeons exist in pairs, or better yet we come into existence together with our counterparts. Of course you being born as a human are the exception." She explained. "But Tai literally had human parents. I was given to Mul as a damn apple...what humanity?" Oya argued. "Taivero is different, let me explain. Like I said, Aeons come in pairs. We govern our aspects, create, protect, destroy, together. But there is a second nature we all possess." "Second nature?" Oya leaned in closer. "Yes. The thing about the second nature, if you feed it, it cultivates new Aeons." "Explain this second nature." Oya demanded. "I am the embodiment of wisdom but there was a time where ironically, I acted without it. I wished to see what I could accomplish on my own without my partner. And in the absence of my namesake, my second nature emerged. Curiosity. I snuck away and flexed my prowess on my own and, unfortunately, I became responsible for the plague of suffering you all are experiencing." "How so?" Oya asked. Sophia took a deep breath in preparation to face her shame once again. "My curiosity, my...foolishness was nothing but a Delusion. A Delusion that manifested." "A lesser Aeon." Aevum interrupted. "A false Aeon." Trixie corrected. "But still an Aeon." Sophia added. "And in my shame I cast it away to the darkest part of our realm." "And within the discreet nothing Delusion took shape." Aevum interjected. Oya could feel the embarrassment radiating off of Sophia. "Yadala is his name and in his ignorance and delusion unknowingly imprisoned the Eldritch when he created the material realm." Oya sat back in her chair. "I''ve haven''t had the pleasure of meeting him. But I fail to see what that has to do with Tai." Trixie put her hand on Oya''s. "Well dear..." she swallowed hard, "you did something similar, albeit unwillingly." "But therein lies the issue." Aevum interrupted again. "You are the embodiment of free will. So for you to unwillingly do anything is to go against your nature, feeding your second nature." Oya frowned. "And what would that be?" "Desire." Trixie answered. "What?" Oya asked. "When Mul left you you were lonely, so lonely your desire for a family for companionship manifested." "Wait." Oya said, standing from her chair. "Y''all saying I created Tai?" "Yes and no." Sophia answered "Then what are you saying?" "Like I said before, all Aeons are born in pairs. But there are three exceptions to that rule. Christos the first of us, and yourself." "You said three." Oya reminded her. Trixie stood up and took Oya''s hands in hers. "Just because you didn''t come into existence together doesn''t mean you don''t have a partner. Well, that might not be the right word." "Counterpart." Aevum corrected. "Yes, well your counterpart took your desire and infused it into his already prepared vessel and Taivero was born." Oya snatched her hands back. "Apep is my partner!?" Trixie nodded reluctantly. "Wait wait wait." Oya said, backing away. "I need a second to process this." "A second I don''t have." Aevum responded standing up from his seat. "I have a very important meeting about cleaning this mess up once and for all. Bilan is on her way to to rectify the anomaly and all will be well shortly." He said, vanishing. "Bilan?" Oya asked looking at Trixie. "Aeon of destruction." She answered. "Destroy...Tai? No, I have to go." Oya stated. "Wait." Sophia called out. Oya stopped and turned back. "Fate is part of free will. He''s throwing off the balance of everything and needs to go. On top of that Apep is trying to use Taivero to enter the material. Don''t let Apep get what he wants, or we all suffer." Sophia''s warning did not go unheard, but Oya vanished without a reply.


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 Chapter 8 Tumultuous

    The gravity encompassing the Blackened Bay was distorted and unstable. Giant spheres of water were suspended in the air, large clumps of sand and soil detached from the rest of the planet and floated like mini islands above the ground. Kashurra sprinted across the surface of one of these clumps in pursuit of Yadala who kept his distance while attacking with disembodied eyes that formed in the center of shadowy masses. Tai sat in the sand below with a gravitational barrier around him. His eyes were closed while he focused pushing his power through Kash. Their connection placed Kashurra in a semi-hypnotic state where she could access Tai''s command of gravity. This allowed Tai to wield his abilities without being overtaken by the deluge of power like when he and Oya had first met. Bonrue had accomplished this by placing a chip inside Kashurra''s brain when she was an infant, as well as feeding her the divine essence that was given to him by Ziusudra all those blooms ago. As Kash ran across the surface of one of the water spheres an eye with a gold iris appeared in front of her. It blinked and an explosion erupted evaporating the water leaving only a large quantity of salt to rain back down on the beach. Kash leapt off the sphere right before the explosion but the force still blew her away. She recovered by using gravity to form a foothold of sand in mid air. From her foothold, Kash scanned the area for Yadala when suddenly four golden eyes appeared around her. A gravitational rift opened up under her and she let herself fall through as the eyes winked and exploded. The explosion was also sucked into the rift. A second rift opened up beside Yadala but only the explosion emerged, catching Yadala in its blast radius. Kash giggled from atop one of the water spheres. Yadala tore what was left of his shirt off and threw it away. His violet eyes began to glow. The brighter they shined the darker the sky got as black clouds shrouded the southern sky in a night-rivaling darkness. Kash stopped giggling, left speechless she stared up at the unnatural darkness only looking away when a trio of humongous golden eyes appeared in the sky. Each one was brighter than the sun that naturally shone over Hyunda. The eyes washed the beach in a white hot light. Tai opened his eyes and stood up, breaking his connection with Kash. This released the gravity that affected the shore causing Kash to fall with the deluge of water that was the sphere. Tai used his power to pull her to him safely. "Close your eyes!" He told her, pushing her head down and holding her tightly. The blinding white light that emanated from the eyes seemed to be absorbed back into them once again leaving the beach in darkness. The darkness held for three seconds then three superheated beams of light erupted from the gigantic eyes. The beams moved across the surface of the planet closing in on Tai and Kash, burning deep chasms into the planet. The beam moving from the sea instantly evaporated any water it touched. The beam moving across the beach turned the sand near it to glass as it moved closer to Kash and Tai. The beam moving toward them from the forest incinerated the trees, not even leaving ashes. Tai''s eyes began to shine bright much like Yadala''s were moments ago. Tai held his arm over his head with his palm facing up and a black disc like the one when he fought Oya formed above him. The disc grew and formed an orb around them. Inside the orb Kash and Tai''s connection broke. "What happened, where are we and why am I sweaty?" Kash asked. Tai smiled gently. "Trust me, okay?" Outside the orb the light beams converged on their position but they were absorbed into the blackness of the orb.


    Yadala strolled up to the Orb and examined it, his brow furrowed when he felt a new presence emerging from what was left of the trees at the edge of the beach. "Now this is a surprise!" Bilan shouted, skipping up to Yadala. "You''re smaller than I remember, beast." Yadala sneered. Bilan jumped up and slapped him on his back a little harder than any friendly gesture would be. "If you weren''t such a momma''s boy I''d be here for you. So don''t push your luck." The orb finally faded and Tai and Kash looked confused at the new face in front of them. "Aour?" Tai asked. Yadala closed his eyes and lowered his head. "Then I''ll take my leave." He said reluctantly, and vanished. "Isn''t this the little girl from the lab?" Kash asked Tai. "She looks a little different." Bilan cleared her throat before speaking. "Taivero Carneigho, Aeon of Fate, abomination. Your existence is an affront to existence, material or otherwise. And it is my onus to expel you from it." Tai didn''t respond but Kash pushed past him. "Who do you think you''re talking to? I don''t know who you are or where that other guy went but you weirdos need to leave him alone!" "Shut up." Bilan said and waved her hand as if swatting away a gnat. Kash screamed in pain as a pale green light erupted out of her eyes and mouth. The light stopped and Kash''s body fell into the sand limp and silent. Tai''s eyes were wide, he slowly looked down at Kash laying lifeless in the black sand. He dropped down to his knees and gently lifted her head. "Kashurra?" He whispered. "Your turn, kid." Bilan said cheerfully. Tai looked up at her but she was gone. The beach was gone. The sand was no longer black but gold. "I CAN GIIIIIVVEEEEE HER BAAAAAAACK TO YOUUUUUUUUU!" The sand trembled while the voice spoke. Tai didn''t respond, he just hugged Kash but her body disappeared from his embrace. He felt a hand touch him gently on his shoulder. "Tai." Kash said softly. He whipped around but nobody was there. "YOOOOOOUUUU CAN HAAAAVVVE HER BAAAAAAACK! JUST LEEEEEEEEEET ME IIIIIIN!" "I don''t care, do whatever." Tai responded under his breath. Tai was back on the beach with Bilan in front of him. "Your turn, kid." Bilan said cheerfully as she pointed her palm at him and a pale green light shot from the ground like a geyser but Tai was no longer there. Instead he was standing in the water looking out over the horizon. Bilan frowned. "You''re faster than you look." Tai ignored her. "I must admit this place, this prison is as beautiful as it is formidable. But now that I''m here I can unravel its beauty from the inside out!" Bilan stood confused at Tai''s ramblings, but then the realization hit. "Oh no." "You, Destroyer. Life here seems rather abundant, disproportionately so. Do you not perform your duty?" Tai addressed Bilan without turning around. "I''ve been predisposed until recently." Bilan responded. Tai slowly turned around. "I see." His eyes were no longer brown or violet but a glowing, shimmering silver. Bilan rushed Tai, she unleashed a combination of punches and kicks none of which seemed to be able to make contact. "This boy truly is the perfect vessel. It''s a shame he never used his most powerful gift." Tai spoke while Bilan was still attacking. "Stop." Tai commanded. Bilan immediately stopped punching. "Kneel!" Was Tai''s next command but Bilan struggled to resist the compulsion. "Oh, you deny your fate?" Tai seemed amused at the thought. "Y-you don''t be...long here A-Apep." Bilan struggled to say while fighting her hardest not to give in to the compulsion. Apep smirked, "Will is an Aeon''s greatest weapon...but she doesn''t seem to be here right now." Apep clenched his fist and the gravity increased planting Bilan face down in the sand. Apep didn''t just do this within the isolation of the beach but the entirety of the planet. Anything too weak to withstand the sudden increase in gravity was crushed. Infants, children, small animals, the sick and elderly. Airships were pulled out of the sky, swimmers drowned. It lasted only a few moments before he returned it to normal. He then levitated over to Kash''s body and stared down at it. "Did you know, before the beginning, there was nothing but swirling chaos?" He asked Bilan, who was trying to stand up. "But then a single thought popped into being. Do you know what that thought was? It was eternity, the all of everything pondering itself. And that one singular thought granted the concept of emptiness. And emptiness yearns to be filled. Did you know this?" He asked, still staring at Kash. He flicked his finger and an orb appeared behind Bilan and began to draw her into itself. She desperately tried to resist, clawing at the ground trying to escape its pull. "But now that emptiness was filling itself with more and more thoughts. And those thoughts created structure and order and identity. But the only thing that was there before that first thought had its own thought, and I was born. Did you know that all we are are thoughts? You, me, this boy even the abomination that made this silly copy." He flicked his finger again and another orb appeared in front of Bilan. It also began to pull her into it. The gravity of both orbs increased and began to pull her apart. But Apep kept talking even through her screams. "Oh I never did say what that first thought was, did I? Well no one knows, nobody was around to hear it." Bilan was already gone, torn into two different singularities. Apep didn''t notice or care. "Get up." He ordered Kash''s corpse and it rose from the sand and shambled lifelessly behind Apep as he floated off towards Uraeus.


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 Chapter 9: A Turn of Events

    A tree made of shadows loomed in the center of the west shopping district of Uraeus. It held in its branches three angels it drained the life force out of. Impetigo stood atop a nearby building drinking in the energy his tree provided. A soldier angel rushed him from behind brandishing a sword. Impetigo avoided the strike and grabbed the arm of the soldier, his seemingly human mouth morphed into a grotesque maw with jagged razor edged teeth. He opened wide and bit into the soldier''s neck and shoulder, then ripped the spirit from his body, swallowing it. "Disgusting. Your gluttony knows no limit." A pale man dressed in long flowing red robes with his black hair tied in a top knot floated down from nowhere and hovered over the roof Impetigo was on. Impetigo''s mouth morphed back to resembling a human''s. "There is no limit." He replied, dabbing the blood from around his lips with his pocket handkerchief. The pale man couldn''t hide his disgust. "You make me sick." Impetigo tipped his top hat to the man and the branches of the shadow tree reached out to grab him. The pale man revealed a whip from under his robes and lashed the branches of the tree away. He cracked the whip in the air and suddenly Impetigo was in a small quiet room with no windows or doors.


    Gunshots rang out through the city as Cassius shot down angel after angel. "Their numbers have grown but their capabilities dropped in tandem." He said to Bonrue who was diligently plugging away on his holo pad. "Desperation." Is all he said in reply. Cassius reloaded and took the moment of reprieve to check his near futures. "That''s weird." "What''s weird?" Bonrue asked. "I can''t see..." The sound of a whip crack interrupted Cassius and he found himself alone in a room. Identical to the one Impetigo was in. Bonrue looked up from his pad to see the pale man floating where Cassius had just been. Bonrue put his holo pad away. "Tawasi." He greeted. "The nerve you posses, addressing me with such informality." The third Deception descended to the ground. Bonrue smirked. If you want to chat I''d prefer to do it face to face. These copies aren''t worth my time. It''s the real Lord Tawasi I want to meet." Bonrue could tell that his mocking was getting the best of Tawasi. "If you think...." The clones'' words were cut short as a torrent of scarlet flames bathed the entire block in heat while Xtabay slithered through the sky overhead. Bonrue tapped a button on his watch and a secret compartment rose out of the sidewalk and he slipped into it, escaping the flames. When the flames finally receded all that was left was a red peacock feather where the clone was standing. "Careful Tabs, you almost hit that Bonrue guy." Mul said, riding atop her head. Xtabay moved closer to a building allowing Mul to jump off before shifting to her human form. "He''ll be okay." She finally replied, landing next to him on the roof of the building. Mul walked to the edge of the roof and looked over. "Hope so." He turned back to Xtabay who was staring up at something. Another Tawasi looked down upon them from the air with a platoon of seven angels at his back. "Rid me of their presence." He ordered the angels. Xtabay shifted just her wings and charged at the platoon before they attacked. Mul watched in appalling amazement while Xtabay figuratively and literally tore the platoon apart. Suddenly he felt a faint vibration all around his body. He looked down and noticed golden grains of sand popping into existence around his feet. The sound of a whip cracking drew his attention back to Xtabay but she was gone, only the Tawasi copy remained. "It seems your unworthy wretch of a companion abandoned you." The copy taunted. Before Mul could retort, an explosion of light eviscerated the false Archon. Mul stared up at the glowing visage of his daughter floating where her mother was seconds before. "Nanette?" He asked. "Hey dad." She greeted floating down to him. "We found Master Sahn. And I believe this is rightfully yours." She said, pulling the halo from her wrist and holding it out for him to take. "What is this?" He asked, taking it from her. The moment he touched it a blinding gold light covered the area. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    In a park in the northern part of Uraeus, Thuren Bahn stood surrounded by angels. All of a sudden eight pillars of golden sand erupted from the ground, engulfing the angels and then pulling them into the ground. A ninth pillar appeared next to Thuren and from it emerged Lukoh¨¦ followed by Sahn. "You look old." Thuren remarked jokingly to Sahn. Sahn smiled big. "I am." He laughed in return. "Where is everyone?" Lukoh¨¦ asked. "Thought there''d be more going on." "We scattered, I don''t know where the others ended up." Thuren replied. A shrill grinding rang through the air as Bonrue pulled up on a magnetic cycle. "They''re gone." He told them while getting off the cycle. "What do you mean?" Lukoh¨¦ asked. Bonrue joined the group and pulled up his hollow pad. "I''m not sure I''m still working on it." They all simultaneously felt a presence appear where at the same moment the sound of a whip cracking and Thuren was gone. Sahn, Lukoh¨¦ and Bonrue all looked up to see the real Tawasi standing in mid air. "This foolishness has gone on long enough. Now, bow to me and I will lessen the suffering planned for you. But make no mistake, you all will still suffer." Tawasi said as he descended to the ground to stand in front of them. "Aye Dick head, remember me?!" A voice called out from down the block. Tawasi''s face contorted in disgust in recognition of whose voice it was. The others turned to see a young muscular man in a sleeveless black hoodie and black baggy pants walking towards them. Long locks fell from under the hood and covered most of his face. "Who''s this now?" Lukoh¨¦ asked. The young man walked by them and pointed at Tawasi. "You said you''d let ''em go if I surrendered, yet here you are doing the same shit. This time I''ll finish it. No deals, no excuses." "Aeolus." Tawasi growled. "Wait, what?" Lukoh¨¦ exclaimed. "Interesting turn of events." Bonrue remarked. Aeolus turned back to them, "Go find ya people, I got brodie." Aeolus turned back to Tawasi and his aura flared.

 Chapter 10: Mul? vs Tawasi

    "How?" Tawasi asked. Aeolus didn''t reply, instead he dashed at Tawasi and punched him in his face, sending him crashing through several trees. Aeolus summoned Notus and sent several burning slashes after Tawasi that exploded on impact. An arrow of light erupted from the smoke but Aeolus dismissed Notus and called Boreas to his hand and a wall of ice formed in front of him and blocked the arrow. Tawasi burst out the rubble and into the air. He raised his arms and began to motion as if he were drawing a bow string. When he completed the motion an arrow of light formed where an actual arrow would be. Aeolus sucked his teeth and summoned Eurus. Tawasi loosed the arrow and at the same moment a burst of air pushed Aeolus out of its path. The arrow altered its trajectory and headed toward the remaining Kings. Sahn stepped forward and blocked the arrow with the palm of his hand. "Soft." He chuckled. Aeolus moved through the air like he was skating on ice, weaving around Tawasi''s arrows, getting closer to him. "Ya aim is trash." Aeolus taunted avoiding Tawasi''s final arrow and plunging Eurus into Tawasi''s chest. He let go and a burst of air erupted from the sword and propelled Tawasi through a building and into the ground. The building collapsed burying Tawasi under tons of rubble.


    "Hey!" Nanette called out to the remaining Kings while running up to them from down the street. "Nanette, did you give Mul the halo?" Lukoh¨¦ asked. "Halo?" Bonrue repeated. "I did." She answered. "But when he took it, he turned into a different looking guy and ran off." She continued to explain. "Him?" Sahn asked, pointing to Aeolus. "Yeah." She confirmed. "Dad!" She called out to him. "Dad?" Aeolus looked over at her and something pulsed deep inside of him. Aeolus'' body erupted in a golden light that just as quickly faded. Mul now stood where Aeolus was. "What the fuck was that?" He said to himself. "Dad, are you alright?" Nanette asked, running to his side. "Yeah, I think. What happened?" He asked. "I think you were possessed by the halo I gave you. Part of Aeolus''s spirit must still have been attached to it." She explained. "At least that''s my best guest." Suddenly, the gravity increased forcing everyone violently to the ground. "D-dad?" Nanette struggled to call out. "What''s going on?" Lukoh¨¦ asked, his arms straining to keep his body from going completely prone. Bonrue couldn''t speak, the force was strong enough that it was slowly crushing him. "Tai." Sahn answered, struggling to remain on his feet. The increased gravity continued for about twenty seconds before returning back to normal. "Are you okay Nan?" Mul asked his daughter while slowly standing up. He offered her his hand to help her. "That had to have been Tai." She said while taking his hand. A beam of light shot into the air from under the rubble. "It''s always something." Mul sighed. "Run back to Sahn, I''ll hold him off. Nanette did as she was told. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    Tawasi violently burst from the rubble in his cosmic form. A gigantic red peacock with two horns. The eye pattern on his tail feathers were actual eyes that looked around and blinked independently. "Enough! You impertinent toddlers! Know I gave you every opportunity to repent for your egregious transgressions! This time I''ll start fresh! No blinding, no resets. I''ll build my throne with your souls and Saklas isn''t here to save you this time!" The mention of the name Saklas sent a pulse through Mul''s body. Nanette felt it too but for her it was deeper, like her DNA resonated with the name. Aeolus'' halo appeared behind Mul, tendrils of light connected it to his back. He tried to summon Eurus but instead a glowing blade of light formed in his hand and the wind began to howl. All of Tawasi''s eyes focused on Mul. Sahn watched with an excited grin stretched across his face. Lukoh¨¦ began to help Bonrue up but they both stopped to witness. Nanette made her way over to Sahn and stood beside him. Mul and Tawasi''s standoff ended when Mul took a step forward and appeared on top of Tawasi''s head. All of the Archon''s eyes grew wide. "You dare humiliate me?" Tawasi thrashed his head around in an attempt to knock Mul off but Mul took a single step and was back on the ground where he started. The large eye on Tawasi''s tail feather noticed Mul and he stopped Thrashing. "I am no one''s fool!" He screeched, while flapping his wings to lift himself into the air. Mul began to step again but stopped and smirked. As Tawasi dove for Mul, Xtabay in her serpent form burst into the dimension shattering her prison room like glass and scattering pieces of the room all over the park. She bit Tawasi''s neck and slammed him into the ground sending a shockwave through the city.