“Nooo! Tired!!” says growler in a booming voice.
“Alright! Alright big guy! Don’t worry, we'll help you.” says Cole while helping Growler to his unknown destination.
“But what about the demon! What about Shado?! Do you think he’s ok? Will they be back?” questions Brody.
“It, it doesn’t feel like it.” replies Cole.
“What do you mean?”
“You can sense it. Every time the demon materialized you could feel it coming. Now you don’t, right?”
“Then why hasn’t Shado come back yet? Does that mean he’s still fighting it? Is he stuck there? This isn’t like him. He always comes back.”
“I don’t know. Something happened though, or else that thing would be back by now.”
Slowly a small group of Ultrasapiens join the men in their walk towards the mountains. It didn’t take long before they arrived at what Growler was looking for, a large cave entrance burrowing into the mountain side. Growler walks inside waving his hand.
Cole calls, “Where are you going?”
Growler grunts before disappearing into the darkness, “Tired!! Need sleep. You bring food...”
“Ok then... I guess he earned his nap.”
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What’s left of the NGP, Enlightened Ones, and nomadic Ultras collect by the cave readying themselves for one final confrontation. Though the collective moral has plummeted. They have been battling Ultras loyal to Death, Death himself, Blood Hunters, Cain, Ultra Blood Hunters, and some immortal demon. Many of them are injured, already developing PTSD as they digest the events. Thankfully most of the Blood Hunters were wiped out by Sariph, but they didn’t make it through without casualties.
Cole questions aloud, “Has anyone seen Cain? Did anyone see what happened to him?”
The group is silent, shaking their heads no.
Arch questions, “Then where is he? He’s dead? The demon ate him?”
“No, I can sense he’s still alive. Don't ask me how because I don’t understand it myself. I just know.”
Em steps forward placing his arm on Cole, “I can sense Shado is alive too. I can’t say where. He’s far away. Maybe not even in this dimension, but he needs us.”
Cole sits on a rock pondering. He looks around at the defeated group for some hope, but it's obvious they are exhausted. Justice, Ryder, Cinder, Em, Brody, Arch, Blazer, Rush, Kid, and Broin. All of them sit covered in a grime made of dirt and blood. All of them beat mentally and physically. Everyone except, Cole notices Byson staring back at him intently. Byson, the large man wearing a huge purple wolf pelt that he traded Blazer for. Byson the bald nomad bearing a large sword that matches his size. He stands at attention, waiting for Cole to tell him the next move.
Cole questions Byson, “You look like you haven’t lost any energy at all?! How are you holding together so well?”
Byson replies in a deep voice, “My ability is my strength. Strength against whatever opposes me. The stronger my opponent, the stronger I am. Many strong opponents today. Today has been a good day.”
“Whaat?! Then why didn’t you fight Sariph?”
Byson looks down slightly defeated, “I’m strong, but I’m just not that fast.”
Look at everyone. They are done. They need a morale boost. I hate using my power to manipulate but I have to do something...
Cole quickly switches to a consoling voice, “Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. I know we all did our best.” He quickly jumps to the top of his rock calling to everyone, “Remember what Ghyia told us! We are Ultrasapiens! We are beings of pure energy and light! We are here to bring everyone back. We are here to bring a massive healing of consciousness. It’s up to us. We can’t stop now and let Death continue! Autobots rollout!”
Collectively they jump to their feet. Surprisingly Cole’s words did have an energizing effect. Brody questions Cole, “Did you just quote transformers?”
“Ya funny don’t you think?”
“Time and a place buddy.”