Steadily unraveling the mysteries in this madness, a hero living with tormenting agony. His ignorance for years, everything coming together. Hearts aligning, each proceeding down the black abyss, their stand against their foes. Valor overhearing the information, connecting the pieces. Enemies around him, an icy mist surrounding him.

Plunging his katana into the ground, spreading the fog far. Freezing his opponents, instantly ending the conflict. Continuing onward, finding his way at the top. A digital recorder on an object, shortly grabbing it. Turning it on, an image shooting above. That bright hero, children pulling on him. His family not far, their smile towards him.

"Azim Vandal continues to display tremendous capabilities. He definitely does have what it takes to kill the Iconoclast. With her no more, there wouldn't be anyone to stop our path."

Living through terrible times, his old friend falling into the depths of despair. Someone constantly trying to escape, her shackling wings. Yearning to soar, surpassing countless foes. Originally filling with love in the old days, hatred consuming her, her feverish heart. Her different path from the hero, choosing to become the true enemy. Shattering the endless cycle, a reputation never leaving her, constantly forcing ahead in her own direction. Hearing nearby movements, the deity turning, facing another general. The serious god, gripping his katana's hilt.

"Azim became the perfect disposable soldier, a Super Soldier." That man extending his sword afar.

"And so, you bunch provided the extra push needed to get him on board huh." Valor's cold voice.

"Classified information." The general's sharp look.

Dragging his family into this mess, targeting another with their vision. Making sense of these fragments, an action towards a larger goal. Their advancing technology, some chilling points. Sending his findings to the rest, that deity shortly dashing forward. Stepping to his opponent's side, hastily striking down. Their colliding weapons, forcing against the other. Breaking away from the god, these two clashing throughout the vessel. Ripping it apart, pieces falling below. Two soon from a distance, the deity readying himself. An icy mist spreading from him, glaring at the one ahead.

"You never should have targeted my wife."

His powerfully increasing pressure, solidifying the airship in ice. That enemy unable to move, his quickly beating chest. The god bursting onward, instantly striking through his foe. Freezing him whole, a massive glacier stretching to the sky. Shortly standing straight, sheathing his blade. Shattering the attack, this vessel breaking apart. Moving onward, nothing else remaining in this place.

Crafting his current life, wanting to maintain it. That Iconoclast on another airship, her massive shadowy claw of a dragon, her pulsing veins. Many enemies impaling in darkness, blood streaming down. Folding her arms, thinking on their discoveries. These multiple angles, the young woman steadily making sense of it.

Her attention onward, a general there. Walking towards him, his firearm in her direction. Launching an enormous wave, her claw above. Drawing it into her arm, assimilating it into her body. Adjusting to the pain, growing even stronger, steaming rising to the air. Weapons able to damage her, moving beyond their technology. That enemy stepping away, his quickly beating chest. Dashing to him, grabbing him by the head with her talon, holding him high.

"Answer this, who killed Azim's family, was it you lot?" her sharp tone.

"Heh, a deadman has nothing to say, Iconoclast." Devilishly smiling at her.

A man choosing his path, the demon unable to do anything else. Throwing him overboard, her encounters with many over the years. Firmly clutching their beliefs, understanding these common sentiments. Proceeding in her own way, gripping what is inside. Not letting go, continuing down her route. Descending below, finding herself in a room of pods. Her dark surroundings, making her way forward. Shortly stopping, turning to the strange containers. Robotic parts inside of them, her hand trailing along the tags. Names of individuals, her own amongst them.

"They have been collecting DNA from many, including myself." Positioning her arms in a thinking posture.

Advancing their technology, gathering samples from other lifeforms. Their resolve to combat her, this troubling situation to her. A great challenge, her boiling blood. One from the deepest abyss, her presence on the crystal platform of memories. Her feverish soul, her vast wings. That Seraph behind her, folding her arms. Their eyes meeting with the other, their agreement on the course. Facing the path ahead, the devil progressing in its direction. Shortly finding themselves in the back, a digital recorder on the ground. That young woman kneeling to it, grabbing it, soon pressing the red button. An image spreading above, pictures of gods along with herself.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"We searched far and wide, gathering the DNA of gods. No matter, their own isn't good enough on its own. Our real prize, is the Iconoclast's. With this, her own power will be her downfall. We will infuse her DNA into Azim, creating the perfect weapon, a Super Soldier. With this success, when his time is over, he will be disposed of. This is the solution to having the worlds in the palm of our hands."

"If you think your technology can best me, then come and try." Rising to her feet, her solemn voice.

Her displaying soul, someone rising to the threat. A card still within her, holding onto it. Her pride inside, embracing her demonic blood. Taking up her arms again for a bit, meeting the current conflict. Those with her in the abyss, walking down a road of light. Not bending to their foes, determination in their eyes. Sending this message to the rest, the devil heading off. From another airship, the cyborg amongst many bodies. Frustratingly lowering his head, an explosion nearby, a vessel going down. Learning this information, his real enemy in sight, his former leader. Sundown on them, coming closer to their goal.

"How unlike a hero to behave in this manner." A general walking in.

"I have my reason. Now, tell me the truth, was it you people who killed my family?" his sharp eyes on the man.

Evidence avoiding him for years, those pulling his strings. Their plan in mind, an entity preventing their path. Developing weapons, gathering the necessary pieces. Using many lives, his own amongst the lot. Requiring some confirmation, having to hear it himself. Glaring at the one ahead, his silent foe. Anger from the hero, releasing an enormous energy. Crushing the area, his showing fury. Divinity shining from him, his hands inside of his coat pockets. Bursting onward, rapidly spinning his kicks. Clashing against the general, hitting away his sword. That enemy sliding back on his feet, his faint smile.

"A Defender of Midgard working with the Iconoclast. Who would have thought I would see the day a hero becomes a villain." The shrugging general.

"A villain am I? Fine, I am okay with it. If it means this world can live without your tyranny, I will gladly accept it." Standing on his side, his hands below.

Living this life, his rage inside, still believing in his direction. A hero hoping for a better tomorrow, concerning with other's lives. Those smiling faces, voices no more. His enemies before him, the cyborg's willingness to become an enemy. His burning soul, these feverish sentiments. That opponent plunging his sword in the ground, light piercing high, racing to Azim.

Clenching his hand in and out, forcing it onward. A hole opening at the center, drawing in the power. Energy flowing into his body, enhancing him. Unease from his foe, that hero charging onward. Meeting this one, crashing against the other, light washing over the area. The cyborg standing strong, his back facing his opponent. The general falling below, blood spilling along the area.

"It does not matter, I will gain my answer soon enough." Azim's cold voice.

Carrying his desires along with his heroic heart, this weight on him. These welling emotions, closing in on his goal. His great torment, choosing to remodel himself. His direction to an individual, his real enemies nearby. The Iconoclast coming into his life, shining a new path. Reaching his hand forward, yearning for the light at the end of the abyss.

Two residing there, his dreadful eyes on them. Continuing onward, soon finding himself at the back of the airship. A digital recorded on the ground, the man kneeling to it. Activating it, images shooting above. His family there, his happy wife and playful daughter. This picture zooming out, lines connecting to him.

"It was clear that Azim Vandal would never achieve his potential, and ultimately our plans would never succeed without him. Thus, it was decided, that in order to push him, we would need to eliminate his family. Hence the attack that set ablaze the land, and took half of his body. With this, we were one step closer to our goal, the first Defender of Midgard was born. It will not be long until the worlds are in our hands."

"My family was killed for such a petty reason. Those laughter's, they are all gone...Astek...!"

His immense rage, those stringing him in their lies. Wanting to create a Super Soldier, his family in the way. His former leader wishing for the worlds in his hands, someone yearning to command them. That Iconoclast obstructing him, a hero with potential inside of him. Moving pieces into place, everything making sense. Azim unleashing his fury, screaming out.

Releasing his power, crushing everything around him. Rising up, this falling vessel. Leaping high, fuel pushing out of his feet. His hands in his coat pockets, glaring above. The last one coming in, spanning wide in the sky. Its black armor, many heavy weapons. Flying towards it, those firing at him. Forcing through it, devouring their assaults.

Assimilating it into his body, growing stronger again. Shortly descending to the center, the rest waiting there. Night to the scene, the bleeding moon shining down its light. An object cursing those in its presence, constantly signaling the existence of one. Landing next to them, looking to numerous bodies. His attention to the sky, Astek coming closer. Their dark armor, energy from his feet. That hero stepping forward, his sharp gaze.

"If this is your idea of a hero, then I want no part in it." The cyborg's furious tone.

"Those who hold power will be the hero or villain. Now then, Defender of Midgard, Azim. You are now obsolete, and I am the superior version." That man touching down.

"Even if the chance is minuscule at best, this defender will show you a true hero's soul." Cyra glancing to Azim, faintly smiling.

"Right, a better model or not, you will feel my soul." His vision on Cyra, returning a similar grin.

"A hero is to be lovingly admired, not despised." Maria folding her arms, glaring at the enemy.

"Indeed, and I would say, Azim has more than earned the title." Valor's hand on the hilt of his katana.