Hell burned around Mike, a suffocating furnace of despair. Each breath tasted of ash and brimstone, the air thick with the agony of lost souls screaming in eternal torment. His wings—massive, dark as the void yet glowing with divine light—crackled with raw power. In his hand, Demon’s Bane gleamed with purple flames, the blade resonating with the fury coursing through his veins as he locked eyes on his target—Anna Sha.
Before him stood the embodiment of every evil he had ever faced. The Demon Lord Anna Sha, once monstrous and disfigured from their battles, now twisted into a version of cruel beauty. Pale, flawless skin replaced the burns he had inflicted, her dark hair flowing like a shadow, framing a face that was sickeningly perfect. Her eyes, cold and taunting, gleamed with sadistic glee as she stood amidst the swirling maelstrom of souls she had consumed.
Mike's heart pounded in his chest. They had been fighting for what felt like hours, clashing with an intensity that could shatter worlds. Every strike of Demon’s Bane had brought him closer to victory, slicing through her defenses and cutting deep into her flesh. She had been bleeding, weakening, her smug arrogance fading with each brutal blow. Mike, through the other world's immense power, had been gaining the upper hand, fueled by the rage of the countless lives Anna Sha had destroyed.
But then, the change came.
Just as he had landed a devastating slash across her midsection, sending her sprawling, a surge of power rippled through the air, dark and suffocating. Mike felt it before he saw it—a flood of souls, pouring through the crackling tear Anna Sha had ripped open in the fabric of reality. Beyond the portal, he could see the distant stars of Caldera’s galaxy, and from it, an endless stream of souls rushed into Anna Sha, filling her with unimaginable strength.
She rose to her feet, the wounds Mike had inflicted rapidly knitting themselves back together. Her eyes gleamed, her smile widening as her pale skin glowed with the raw energy she had siphoned from Caldera’s universe.
"Michael..." she purred, mockery dripping from every syllable. "You're too late. Can’t you feel it? The souls of trillions are already mine."
Mike felt the torrent of souls surging into her, their cries echoing in the back of his mind. Beyond the crackling portal, Caldera’s universe wasn’t being drained of life itself, but rather the souls—collected and stored by some ancient power—were now being funneled into Anna Sha. It wasn’t the galaxy that was being devoured, but the fruit of one powerful entity’s labor. Worse still, there was something about the energy flowing into her that felt unsettlingly familiar—something ancient, draconic. It stirred memories of Ignial, the red dragon whose form Mike had once inhabited after being split from Valicar. But the connection was hazy, distant, and now, too much was at stake for him to dwell on it.
"You feel it, don’t you?" Anna Sha sneered, her voice dripping with delight. "These souls, Michael, they come from your dear sister’s universe. From Caldera’s Galaxy. The remnants of a mighty dragon and magic you’ve long forgotten. And now they belong to me."
Mike’s chest tightened, not for the nameless souls being devoured—those never mattered to him. A brief pang of guilt surfaced, a fleeting echo of the man he had tried to become on Earth. But that part of him was already fading, nearly erased by the warrior he had always been. His old self had re-established itself so fully that the guilt barely lingered, swept away by the relentless focus of the destroyer he once was.
What twisted the knot in his gut wasn’t the souls—it was the thought of Sophia. The pain she would feel, the devastation she’d endure watching her universe, her people, being drained and consumed. He wouldn’t allow it. Not for her, not for Altheack. The warrior in him surged forward, ready to destroy anything in his way.
Anna Sha laughed, sensing the storm brewing in him. "You don’t care about them, do you? But your sister? She’ll care. How will she feel when I tear her world apart? When she watches her people suffer?"
Mike’s eyes narrowed, rage boiling over as his grip tightened around Demon’s Bane. Energy crackled along the blade, and without another word, he charged. His wings sliced through the thick air, his sword a blur of light and shadow as it cleaved toward her with unstoppable force.
Anna Sha’s face twisted into a sneer as she raised her hand, summoning a shield of dark magic. But Mike’s strength, fueled by both holy and infernal power, was too much. The blade shattered her defenses in an explosion of light and darkness, sending shockwaves through Hell itself.
"You won’t touch them," Mike growled, his voice vibrating with fury. "I’ll burn you to ash before you lay a finger on her world."
Anna Sha staggered, the force of his attack shaking her to the core. But even as she faltered, she laughed, a cold, venomous sound that sent chills through the burning air. "You think you can stop me?" she hissed, her voice dripping with madness and cruel satisfaction. "These souls… they’re not just any souls, Michael. They were given to me—by a fool much like you."
Her eyes gleamed with a twisted sense of irony as she leaned into the words. "Don’t you remember? You served me once. You handed me millions of souls in your reckless thirst for power, in your endless quest to bring back those you lost. You did it then, and now, another fool has done the same. Just like you, blinded by the promise of something greater."
She smiled, her taunt laced with triumph. "You’re too late, Michael. Too late to stop what’s already been set in motion."
Mike hesitated for the briefest moment. Given to her? Who could have given her the souls of Caldera’s galaxy? And why? He could feel the draconic essence, the ancient power pulsing in them. But he didn’t have time to think about it. All that mattered now was stopping her, no matter the cost.
Anna Sha's mocking words rang in his ears, but the past was behind him. He tightened his grip on Demon’s Bane, fury igniting in his chest as memories of his own betrayal surfaced. She had tricked him once—twisted his desires, used his grief and hunger for power against him, forcing him to sacrifice millions of souls in his quest to bring back what he had lost. But never again.
His voice was low, dangerous, vibrating with raw fury. "You tricked me before," he snarled, his eyes blazing. "But never again. I’m my own man now, and I’m here to kill you."
His wings flared, dark and radiant, as he prepared to end this. "And I’ll make sure you never touch Sophia’s universe."
With a roar, he lunged again, Demon’s Bane cutting through the dark magic that clung to her like a second skin. Anna Sha screamed as the blade tore through her, the souls within her rebelling, straining to break free of the darkness binding them.
"You think you’ve won?" she hissed, her voice trembling with rage but still clinging to arrogance. "I’ll escape, Michael. I’ll bring this power with me, and when I do, your sister’s world will burn. You’ll watch her suffer—just like you always have."
Her hand reached for the tear, the portal flickering with chaotic energy. The rush of souls from Caldera’s galaxy continued to pour into her, strengthening her even as Mike tore her apart. But then, as she faltered, a twisted smile curled her lips. With a flick of her wrist, she opened another portal—a dark, swirling gateway that led deeper into Hell. And through it, Mike saw it—the crystal.
Altheack.
The crystal, glowing faintly with her trapped soul, hung suspended in the void. Anna Sha had pulled it from the depths of Hell, forcing it into view, a cruel distraction to keep him from pursuing her.
Anna Sha’s laughter rang out, sharp and mocking. "Ah, Michael, here we are again," she taunted, her voice filled with venomous glee. "The lover you fought so hard to save… or your sister’s entire universe. Who will you save this time, hero?" She dangled the crystal mockingly before him, her eyes gleaming with malice. "This is your final trial of your soul—your last chance. Will you fail them both, or choose one to watch suffer? You can’t save them all."
He hadn’t forgotten. He couldn’t forget. Altheack’s soul was still trapped here, locked in that damned crystal, waiting for him. He had fought through legions of demons, clawed his way through Hell itself, all to save her. And now, she was right there, so close to freedom. But he was forced to make a choice—save her, or stop Anna Sha.
Mike’s grip on Demon’s Bane tightened until his knuckles turned white. The thought of leaving Altheack behind twisted like a knife in his chest. She had suffered for so long, waiting for him, enduring Hell itself. His eyes flicked between the tear where Anna Sha was escaping and the crystal where Altheack’s soul was trapped. She was calling out to him, even without words.
But Anna Sha…
If she reached Caldera, if she entered Sophia’s universe, the destruction she’d unleash would be unimaginable. Sophia would suffer, and the pain would destroy her. Altheack would never be safe. He had no choice.
"Damn it!" Mike growled, his voice a ragged snarl, filled with fury and regret. His mind was made up, even though it tore at him. He’d save Altheack, he swore it. But not yet. Not until Anna Sha was stopped.
Raising Demon’s Bane high, Mike slashed the blade through the air, tearing open a hole in reality itself. The portal Anna Sha had created trembled as his power surged through it. Hell itself quivered under the force of his rage. His wings flared wide, crackling with divine and infernal energy, amplifying his strength beyond anything mortal—or divine—could contain.
But just as he prepared to leap through the tear after Anna Sha, he felt something—The Veil.
The unseen barrier between Hell and Caldera. The same Veil that had kept gods and demons out of that universe for eons. The same one that he and Sophia had fought to protect, killing the Pillar of the North to ensure its survival.
Now, that very barrier was keeping him out.
Mike slammed his fists against the invisible wall, the ripple of power blocking his passage into the next plane of existence. His wings flared behind him, glowing with divine light, but even that wasn’t enough. He could see Anna Sha slipping through the tear, her body flickering as she passed into Caldera. Her power surged as she fed on the souls pouring into her.
"You’ve got to be fucking kidding me," Mike snarled, his frustration boiling over.
But he wasn’t about to let her win. Not after everything. Not after what was at stake.
With a roar, Mike thrust Demon’s Bane into the barrier, channeling every ounce of his power into the blade. The Veil trembled under the assault, cracks forming in its invisible surface. He could feel it beginning to give way, and with a final, earth-shattering push, he tore through the Veil.
The crack opened wide, enough for him to pass through. A grin spread across Mike’s face—feral, filled with triumph.
"I’m coming for you," he roared.
With one final, thunderous step, Mike launched himself through the tear, leaving Hell behind and plunging into Caldera, ready to tear Anna Sha apart before she could destroy everything that mattered to him.
Mike burst through the tear in reality and into Caldera, the universe that had once been Sophia’s domain. The second he passed through the veil, he could feel it—the strain on his physical form. The divine and infernal energies that surged within him were tearing at the fabric of the realm itself. Every second he lingered in this world risked unraveling the fragile balance that kept this universe intact.
But that wasn’t the worst of it. Anna Sha was here. He could feel her presence, a poisonous aura seeping through the air as she moved farther toward her goal—total destruction. She was drawing on the souls of Caldera, souls collected by a dragon, harvested from humans, elves, dwarfs, and other beings. They were funneled into her, feeding her an unfathomable amount of power.
Mike had sensed something familiar about those souls earlier, but now it became clearer. It wasn’t from a necromancer or your usual demon's pact—it was a dragon with a pact that had collected them, much like Sophia’s first life as Solaria.
A memory flickered at the edge of his mind, and his fury deepened. The sight of a red dragon, faint and distorted, flashed before his eyes. He didn’t know its name, but the power it wielded was unmistakable. This was no ordinary magic. Only a dragon could command necromancy at this level, harvesting countless souls and binding them to one such as Anna Sha.
His heart raced with rage. It wasn’t just about the people she had stolen—it was about Sophia, her world, and the pain this would cause her. He didn’t care about the lives lost, not in the way a hero might, but the thought of Sophia’s universe being torn apart by this witch... it burned him.
He had once sworn to protect his sister, to ensure her world wouldn’t fall into ruin like so many others, and he wouldn't let anyone—especially Anna Sha—destroy what little remained of Sophia’s universe.
He tried to push forward, but with each step, the weight of this realm’s reality pressed harder against him. His body flickered, unstable, the edges of his form blurring as the forces within him began to tear him apart from the inside out. He couldn't hold on like this much longer.
Through the thinning veil of his vision, Mike spotted her—Sophia. She was in battle, her form already shifted into her draconic shape, flames erupting from her mouth as she fought off the dark tendrils of Anna Sha’s magic. Even now, in the heat of battle, she was the epitome of grace and power. But as she turned toward him, their eyes locked, and for a moment, all the fury and chaos around them vanished.
"Mike!" Her voice was sharp with shock, but there was something else there—relief, emotion so deep it nearly broke through her warrior façade.
A flicker of emotion crossed her face as she blinked back tears. Her tough, hardened exterior cracked, if only for a moment. Seeing him again, after everything, after so many years apart—it was overwhelming.
Mike grinned despite the chaos around them, a low, teasing growl escaping his lips. "Crying already? Haven't even killed a god yet, Soph."
Her lips twitched into a smile, warmth breaking through her usual stoic façade. "You idiot," she breathed, her voice soft but filled with years of pent-up emotion. "I’m not crying."
"You are. Always such a crybaby."
She could only shake her head, the grin refusing to leave her face. It had been too long. "Shut up," she muttered, trying to hide the tears brimming in her eyes. Seeing him again, after ten thousand years—it was like finding hope in the middle of a nightmare.
The moment of reunion was fleeting. Anna Sha’s laughter echoed across the battlefield, cold and mocking, reminding them both of the reality they faced. But before either could react, a golden dragon, massive and shimmering with radiant energy, swooped down from the sky. Mike blinked in surprise—he did not know this dragon, nor had he ever seen it before. Yet, it moved with a ferocious purpose, unleashing a torrent of golden flames toward Anna Sha, distracting her. The demon lord hissed in rage, her focus momentarily torn from them as she redirected her dark magic to fend off the unexpected assault.
“Who the fuck is that?” Mike questioned, his eyes narrowing at the golden dragon.
“Raz,” Sophia responded quickly, her voice sharp, but she didn’t have time to explain further. “No time for that. Focus!”
Mike could feel it—the energy ripping through him, divine and infernal forces pushing his body beyond its limits. Sophia’s voice cut through his haze of power. “You’re falling apart,” she said urgently, her eyes scanning him with worry. She could see it—the way the divine and infernal energies within him were tearing at the seams of his very existence. “You can’t stay here, Mike. This universe won’t hold you.”
Her words hit him hard, but the battle was far from over.
Mike growled, clenching his fists, forcing himself to stay grounded despite the unbearable strain. "I’m not leaving," he spat through gritted teeth. "Not while she's still here. I won’t let her destroy this place... destroy you."
Sophia’s eyes flickered, a mixture of emotion and something else—determination. They both knew the truth they had been avoiding. They had spent near 20 years in the same body, merged as Valicar, trying desperately to untangle their souls. They had worked so hard to separate themselves, but now, the reality they both feared was staring them in the face.
"Mike..." Sophia said, stepping closer, her voice low but resolute. "We have to do it again. You have to use me as an anchor... like before."
Mike froze, his eyes locking onto hers. He couldn’t help the bitter joke that slipped from his lips. "Gross," he said with a smirk, but it quickly faded as Sophia glared at him.
"Damn it, Mike, not now! You know what I mean!" she snapped, her frustration spilling over.
His smirk vanished, the weight of her words settling in. Merging again—it wasn’t just about borrowing her power. It was dangerous, more than either of them liked to admit. They had fought so hard to separate their souls after being merged for decades, but now they faced the truth. Sophia was the only anchor strong enough to keep him in Caldera’s universe. The only dragon with the strength to contain his power and prevent it from destroying the Veil—and the universe itself.
"Soph..." His voice faltered, uncertainty flashing in his eyes. "We worked so hard to split us apart. You know what this means... We might—"
"I know," she interrupted, her voice firm but softer now. "I know what it means. But it’s the only way. You’re too powerful for this world as you are. If you use me as your anchor, we can stabilize it. I can hold your power, keep it from tearing the Veil apart." She paused, her gaze intense but unwavering. "We can stop her."
Her words hit him like a blow. He couldn’t lose her, not again. But she was right. There wasn’t any other way.
"Do you trust me?" she asked, her voice quieter now, her eyes filled with that same unbreakable resolve.
Mike took a deep breath, the tension in his chest tightening. But then a crooked smile crept onto his lips. "Always."
Without another word, they both closed their eyes, reaching deep into the recesses of their shared memories. The bond between them, forged through lifetimes of struggle, began to reawaken. Mike’s divine and infernal energy surged, flooding through him like a tidal wave, and Sophia opened herself to it, allowing his power to flow into her.
The ground around them trembled as their energies fused, a storm of light and shadow swirling in the air. Mike could feel Sophia’s soul aligning with his, just like before, when they had fought as Valicar. The sensation was both terrifying and exhilarating, their individual selves slipping into one another until there was no clear line between where one began and the other ended.
Sophia’s body began to shift, adapting to the raw force of Mike’s power. Her Polymorph spell twisted, taking on new characteristics as her form transformed. Black and gold armor wrapped itself around her, born from Mike’s demonic essence, and Demon’s Bane materialized in her hand, its purple flames licking at the air. Together, they became something new—Valicar, the perfect fusion of power, both divine and infernal, held together by the bond they shared.
Sophia’s draconic form rippled beneath the armor, her features taking on the demonic attributes of Mike’s power. Her eyes glowed with the same furious light, and her wings, once her own, now flared with the combined energy of Hell and Heaven.
As the last remnants of their transformation settled, Sophia blinked, her voice quiet but filled with awe. "We’re really doing this again, aren’t we?"
Mike chuckled darkly, the sound now a mix of his voice and hers. "Looks like we are."
Anna Sha’s laughter stopped abruptly, her eyes widening as she watched the transformation. "No..." she breathed, genuine fear flickering across her face for the first time. "You can’t..."
But it was too late.
"We’re not done yet," Mike’s voice rumbled, though it was no longer just his. It was both of them, their voices fused into one, powerful and unwavering.
Anna Sha snarled, her beautiful face twisting into an expression of pure hatred as she merged with the red dragon completely. But even as she raised her dark magic to strike, she knew she was facing something far beyond her power now.
Valicar had returned.
All around them, the battle raged across the shattered surface of Caldera’s moon and the space above. The Empire’s warships and Templar vessels fought desperately against Anna Sha’s twisted fleet, their weapons lighting up the void with searing energy and chaotic magic. Explosions erupted in every direction, debris from broken ships spiraling into the endless black. The battlefield seemed ready to tear itself apart under the weight of the conflict, as if the very fabric of reality could barely withstand the intensity of the forces at war.
As Mike and Sophia merged, they hadn’t noticed the arrival of reinforcements—the demonic ships jumping in from hyperspace, summoned by Anna Sha’s call. But now, with their souls combined, the new ships became painfully clear. Easton had already taken charge of the Imperial fleet, his flagship holding the line, giving them the precious time they needed. It was his leadership that kept the battle from tipping, buying them the final moments to complete the merge.
As Valicar stepped forward, Sophia filled him in quickly, her voice tinged with disgust. "The souls... they’re coming from Holvor. He’s harvesting them, trying to kill all life in the universe, feeding them to Anna Sha."
Mike’s eyes narrowed as he looked toward the massive, corrupted dragon wreaking havoc in the distance. Holvor’s body, once a majestic crimson, was now twisted and blackened, his scales crawling with dark magic, corrupted like a living nightmare. His wings beat heavily, stirring the space dust, as he tore through the wreckage of moon and ships alike.
Mike's brow furrowed. There was something nagging at him about that dragon. “Who the fuck is that dragon?” Mike asked, his voice laced with both confusion and familiarity. “He seems… familiar.”
Sophia’s voice darkened as she responded, a deep sadness beneath her words. “That’s Ignial’s son, Holvor.”
Mike’s heart clenched at the mention of Ignial. Memories of the red dragon whose form he had once inhabited as Valicar flooded his mind. Ignial, the mighty dragon whose soul he had merged with in another life, was a figure that stood in contrast to everything Mike had ever become. Noble, honorable, a protector. And now, his son had fallen to the same darkness that had once claimed them.
Sophia continued, her voice thick with grief. “He’s done something similar to what we did. He made a pact with Anna Sha, and she’s twisted him—corrupted him beyond recognition. Just like she almost did to us.”
Mike’s grip on Demon’s Bane tightened, the rage simmering beneath his calm facade finally boiling over. "He’s gonna learn the hard way like we did," Mike growled, his voice low and dangerous. "We’ll stop them both."
Sophia nodded, sharing in his fury. But for a brief moment, her voice softened, a flicker of warmth breaking through the storm. "Thank you for saving me earlier... with the necromancy. I felt your touch, even through the portals."
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Mike couldn’t help but grin, despite the chaos surrounding them. "Well, I couldn't just leave you hanging, could I?"
Sophia smiled, the brief levity a spark of light in the darkness around them. "No," she replied, her eyes softening. "You never could."
But the moment was short-lived. Above them, the war continued to rage. Imperial and Templar ships unleashed volleys of energy into the void, targeting the demonic fleets bolstered by Anna Sha’s twisted power. The sky above the moon was alive with fire, the wreckage of ships falling like meteors, leaving trails of fire and destruction across the battlefield. The sheer scale of the carnage was overwhelming, but none of it deterred Anna Sha, who stood at the heart of it all, her dark magic swirling around her, the souls of Caldera’s galaxy fueling her ever-growing power.
The few remaining demonic ships, battered but not broken, had regrouped in the void. Their twisted hulls, jagged and black as night, now circled protectively around Holvor and Anna Sha. Holvor, who had now fully embraced his monstrous form, shared in her corruption. His body, once proud and draconic, was an ink-black horror, his massive wings shrouding the battlefield beneath them like a storm. The two stood united in their twisted bond, their combined presence a beacon of darkness drawing the remaining demonic forces to rally around them. It was as if the very void bent to their will, casting a shadow over the ruins of the shattered moon.
Holvor's form was grotesque, pulsing with the same abyssal magic that flowed through Anna Sha, their connection making them nearly inseparable in both form and power. Together, they commanded the last of their fleet, standing as a dark pillar in the midst of the chaos, preparing for their final stand.
Anna Sha glanced upward, her attention momentarily split as the Templar and Imperial warships continued to barrage her forces from the void. The distraction gave Valicar a moment, but it wouldn’t last long. Her power was too great, and her armies—both in space and on the ground—still outnumbered them.
"We don’t have time to waste," Mike said, his voice gruff, the weight of the battle settling heavily on him. "If she keeps feeding off those souls, it’s only a matter of time before she turns all of Caldera and this universe into another Hell."
Sophia nodded in agreement, her eyes narrowing with fierce determination. “Then let’s finish this.”
With a burst of speed, Valicar surged forward, the darkened moon beneath them cracking further as their wings beat the air, propelling them toward Holvor and Anna Sha. They had fought their way through Hell before, and they would do it again.
Holvor, Anna Sha, and everything they had become would burn.
The battlefield was a boiling sea of chaos and blood, the screams of the dying mixing with the roars of dragons and demons. Valicar—Mike and Sophia, merged as one—stood at the heart of it, wings outstretched like an omen of destruction, their massive form casting a shadow over the scorched ground. Demon's Bane, their colossal sword, burned in their grip, the purple flames along its edge licking the air as it pulsed with raw power.
Before them, Holvor, the once-proud dragon, twisted and corrupted into a monstrous abomination, glared at them. His once crimson scales were charred black, veins of dark magic coursing through his body like an infection. His maw opened wide, revealing teeth like jagged obsidian, stained with blood and ash. He wasn’t the Holvor that had fought with honor; this was a beast driven by Anna Sha’s dark control, nothing but a vessel for her hunger.
With a deafening roar, Holvor charged, his massive bulk shaking the moon. Valicar met him head-on, Demon’s Bane raised high. The impact was devastating—like titans colliding, their blows sending shockwaves through the battlefield. Demon’s Bane came crashing down with brutal force, slicing deep into Holvor’s side. His corrupted blood, thick and black like tar, sprayed from the wound, coating the ground in a sickening pool.
Holvor howled, rearing back, the wound deep but not fatal. His monstrous form twitched, but instead of retreating, he retaliated. His tail, thick and armored, lashed out with terrifying speed, catching Valicar across the chest and sending them skidding back across the broken earth.
As Valicar dug their claws into the ground to halt their momentum, Holvor unleashed a torrent of black flames, flames that reeked of death and decay, fueled by the countless souls he had consumed. The fire washed over Valicar, burning through their armor, searing their flesh. For a moment, everything was pain—skin sizzling, the stench of burnt flesh filling the air.
But Valicar endured.
Their shared rage burned hotter than the flames. Mike and Sophia together pushed back against the pain, rising through the inferno like a force of nature. Their black and gold armor, though charred and cracked, still held, fueled by the divine and infernal energy surging within them. Mike snarled, pushing through the agony as Sophia’s focused strength centered them.
As they prepared for another strike, Sophia's voice slipped into a familiar incantation, her lips moving quickly. "Luras van," she chanted, summoning the magic that had saved them countless times before. But then, before she could complete the spell, Mike's voice joined hers, seamlessly continuing her chant.
"Loraza, Father of Mankind!" Mike’s voice rang out, deep and commanding, a surge of energy rippling through the air. Sophia’s shock was immediate, her eyes widening as she felt the power double... no triple, the spell warping under his influence. Mike had never been able to cast magic before, let alone continue one of her spells, yet now, not only had he taken over her incantation—he had strengthened it.
A golden lightning bolt crackled to life between them, its tip as dark as ebony, electrified and infused with holy power. It crackled with such force that even the air around it seemed to hum, the energy palpable. The bolt slammed into Holvor’s chest, tearing through his corrupted scales and sending him reeling. The lightning sizzled, searing his flesh and leaving a trail of molten gold and ash.
Sophia felt Mike’s smug grin through their shared bond, his satisfaction at how much he had grown impossible to ignore. "You surprised?" he teased, his voice dripping with humor despite the battle raging around them.
Sophia didn’t have time to respond, too caught in the moment as they moved in unison. With the dragon staggered, they launched themselves forward, Demon’s Bane raised high. The golden energy crackled around the blade as they cleaved into Holvor’s neck with sickening precision, cutting through muscle and bone. Blood gushed from the wound, spraying like a fountain, painting the battlefield in viscous black gore.
Sophia still couldn't shake the disbelief at how far Mike had come, her shock mingling with admiration as she felt the raw power they now shared.
Holvor’s monstrous form let out a guttural roar, but it wasn’t just him—Anna Sha’s voice screamed through the dragon, echoing with a mix of desperation and fury. "You twin bastards! You think this changes anything?" Her voice cracked with panic, barely masked by her anger. The dragon’s body convulsed as Anna Sha clung to her puppet, her control slipping. The once-proud draconic form twisted further, transforming into something nightmarish, like a manticore stitched together from shadows and rot, with Anna Sha’s twisted face sneering grotesquely across the abomination’s features.
Her voice grew more frantic, taunting through the monstrous creature. "You can’t win! You’ve always been weak! Michael, you’re nothing without me! And you, Sophia, you’ll never be strong enough to stop me! Never!" The desperation in her tone was palpable, her words laced with a fear she couldn’t fully hide.
Mike grinned through clenched teeth, his voice a low, mocking growl. "You sound scared, Anna. Maybe it's because you know this is the end." His confidence surged, feeling Sophia’s shock and admiration ripple through him as their shared strength deepened.
Sophia, however, felt a pang of sadness, her heart tightening as she looked at what had become of Holvor. The son of Ignial, now reduced to a twisted puppet for Anna Sha’s desperation, was beyond saving. There was nothing left of the proud dragon, only a warped, ruined shell manipulated by the demoness.
Holvor’s mutated body lurched forward, the dark energy holding him together fraying at the seams. The tendrils of demonic power snapped under the strain, leaving the grotesque form barely functioning. But Valicar moved with the lethal grace of two minds fused in perfect harmony. Demon’s Bane swung in a wide arc, cleaving deep into Holvor’s neck. Black blood, thick as tar, sprayed across the battlefield, splattering the cracked surface of Caldera’s shattered moon.
Holvor let out a final, agonized howl, but Anna Sha’s voice broke through, shrill and hysterical. "No! This isn’t how it ends! I’ll tear your world apart! I’ll make you suffer for this! I still have the souls—I’m still stronger than you!"
As the dragon’s head hit the ground with a sickening thud, the rest of its body crumbled. The dark tendrils holding it together snapped and evaporated, leaving a pile of broken flesh. For a brief moment, the blackened image of Anna Sha’s face flickered in the air, her features twisted in terror.
"You’re fools!" she shrieked, her voice cracking with raw desperation. "I can’t die! I’ll consume everything! You’ll never be free of me!"
But the cracks in her confidence were obvious, her once-unstoppable power now teetering on the edge of collapse.
Before Valicar could strike the final blow, Anna Sha, with one last frantic gasp, summoned a crystal from the depths of Hell. It hung in the air, glowing faintly, and within it, Mike and Sophia could see it—Altheack’s soul.
Anna Sha's face twisted into a manic grin, the weight of her own impending doom fueling her madness. "I’ll destroy her!" she screamed, her voice shrill and filled with fury. "Who will you save, Michael? Your sister’s world or the woman you love?"
Mike’s heart pounded, torn between the need to stop Anna Sha and the desperate urge to save Altheack. The weight of his choices bore down on him, but before Valicar could charge, James appeared.
His body, crackling with infernal energy—demonic power that Mike had forgotten he wielded—stood tall. James, unlike his brother Eckheart, had always embraced their mother’s dark magic, becoming a master of the infernal, the opposite of his father’s divine power.
James moved in a blur, throwing himself between Valicar and Anna Sha. Dark magic tore through the battlefield, and James, standing between the blast and Altheack’s soul, absorbed the brunt of the attack. His body glowed with a fierce, hellish light as the magic tore through him, the sacrifice burning away his mortal form.
“Mother,” James spat through the agony, his voice filled with both pain and resolve. “You were always evil… but this? This is too much.”
Anna Sha’s face twisted in fury as she watched James defy her, her voice laced with venom. “You’re a disappointment, James,” she spat, her once-confident grin slipping as the dark magic swirled around them. “Just like your brother. Weak. Always too sentimental, too soft.”
James gritted his teeth, the pain searing through him as he struggled to maintain control of the dark magic. “Maybe,” he rasped, his voice strained but defiant. “But I’ll die with my soul intact. I’ll never be like you.”
Anna Sha’s eyes blazed with rage. “Fool! You think you’re anything more than a failed experiment? You’ve always been a failure, James. Always beneath your brother, beneath me.”
With the last of his strength, James hurled the dark magic back at her, severing the connection she had with the souls that fueled her. His body began to disintegrate, consumed by the very power he wielded. As his mortal life ebbed away, he turned to Valicar, his expression softening despite the agony tearing through him.
“I may have been a disappointment to her,” James whispered, his voice barely audible, “but I won’t be one to you. Finish this… for all of us...Save the world, Mike… Sophia… end her,” James gasped, his voice barely a whisper, each word a struggle as his strength ebbed away. With a final, shuddering breath, his mortal form disintegrated, his essence swirling into the dark abyss of infernal energy. His very soul ascended, transforming into an archdemon, a towering, terrifying figure bound to the power he had long embraced. In that selfless act, James had saved Altheack, but the price was steep—he damned himself to Hell for eternity, forever bound to the infernal, much like his brother who had ascended to Heaven after his death at Mike and Sophia’s hands.
Valicar, the fusion of Mike and Sophia, let out a cry of anguish, the raw emotion tearing through their combined form. The weight of James’s sacrifice crushed down on them, but there was no time to mourn. Anna Sha, weakened and vulnerable, shrieked in rage and pain as the souls she had stolen rebelled against her, tearing at the seams of her being. Seeing the opening, Mike seized the moment. With a growl, Valicar raised Demon’s Bane high and drove the blade deep into Anna Sha’s core, the sword pulsing with dark and divine power as it siphoned the very essence of her strength, consuming her from within.
Anna Sha’s scream echoed across the battlefield as her body began to disintegrate, the souls she had enslaved tearing her apart piece by piece, the souls within her rebelling, tearing her apart from the inside. Her power—everything she had built—was being sucked into Valicar. Mike could feel the surge of energy, the trillions of souls flowing into him, merging with his essence. His power expanded to unimaginable heights, but with it came a price.
Sophia screamed, the strain on her body unbearable. Though she was immortal, she wasn’t a god, and the sheer force of the energy Mike had absorbed was pushing her to the brink. Her entire body trembled, barely holding together under the immense pressure. "Mike!" she cried, her voice filled with pain. "We can’t hold this… You’re going to tear us apart!"
Mike’s face contorted in agony, every fiber of his being strained by the overwhelming surge of divine and infernal power. The energy coursed through them both, threatening to rip apart the very fabric of their existence. But he held firm, determination etched into every line of his face. "Just… a little… longer!" he snarled, forcing his will to contain the storm raging inside them. The veil between worlds was fraying, and he knew if he didn’t leave soon, his presence would destroy Caldera itself. But before he could escape, there was one more thing they had to do.
They had to save Altheack.
Sophia, despite the searing pain ripping through her body, knelt beside the crystal that held Altheack’s fragile soul, her form slowly shifting back from a dragon to her human form. Her hands trembled as she whispered an ancient spell, her voice steady yet filled with urgency. “La ra lusian cuz riv morivia,” she chanted, the ancient incantation carrying the weight of both love and power. The magic wove itself delicately around the damaged essence, a desperate plea to bring Altheack back from the brink of oblivion.
As the spell took hold, a transformation began. Mike and Sophia shifted, merging once again into Valicar, but something had changed. Where once Sophia had led, now it was Mike’s presence that dominated. The armor remained, black and gold, but gone were the familiar streaks of blue and red running down their back. Instead, their hair shimmered with violet and crimson, reflecting the change that had taken place within them. Mike had grown, not just in strength but in soul, and now, he was the force driving Valicar forward, the one who had reshaped their shared form.
Their sword, now sheathed across their back, pulsed with a dark energy as they stood, not as a towering dragon, but still bound by the power of Valicar, their human form glowing with magic. The overwhelming energy within them began to flow into the crystal, wrapping around Altheack’s broken soul with glowing tendrils of light. They weren’t just mending her; they were making her stronger, more resilient than she had ever been.
Golden threads of energy knit her together, piece by piece, her body reforming from the remnants. But this wasn’t merely a return to life. They were giving her more—immortality. Her form, now strengthened by the magic they channeled, would never age, her body resilient against time and death, a fortress indestructible and eternal.
Sophia felt the shock of the transformation but couldn’t help a small smile as she sensed Mike’s confidence radiating through their shared form. This was the culmination of their journey, and as they both poured their energy into Altheack, they knew she would be unstoppable.
Sophia focused with all her might, her eyes burning with intensity as she hardened Altheack’s soul and mind, forging her spirit into something unbreakable. If Mike couldn’t always be there, then he would ensure she’d never need saving again. Altheack’s new form wasn’t just a restoration—it was a transformation. Her soul, her body, her very essence had been fortified with their shared power, making her better, more resilient than ever before.
With a gasp, Altheack’s eyes fluttered open, her chest rising as she drew her first breath in what felt like an eternity. The rush of life filled her, and for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. She looked up at Mike and Sophia, still merged as Valicar, the energy from their fusion crackling around them like lightning. Tears welled in her eyes, the overwhelming surge of emotion making her voice tremble. “I… I can’t believe it,” she whispered, her throat tight with the weight of it all. “You saved me…”
Mike and Sophia, still locked in their fused form, could barely contain the flood of emotion that surged between them. Their love for her, their shared bond, burned hotter than any magic they wielded. The energy still crackled through their bodies, but they allowed some of it to flow into Altheack, infusing her with the very essence of their power. She wasn’t just alive again—she was something more, something eternal.
"We said we’d always come for you," Mike said, his voice strained but filled with undeniable affection, his heart laid bare. He leaned closer, his eyes locking with hers, and for a moment, everything else faded away. "I love you, Altheack. I always have."
Sophia’s voice joined his, the warmth and intensity of their shared connection enveloping them all. "You mean everything to us. We couldn’t let you go… not again."
Altheack’s tears fell freely now, her hands trembling as she reached out to them. As her gaze locked onto Valicar—one eye glowing red, the other purple—she felt the overwhelming power and love radiating from their combined essence. It wasn’t Mike and Sophia standing separately before her; it was both of them, merged into something more, something fierce and eternal.
"I love you both," she whispered, her voice breaking with emotion. "I’ve always loved you."
The crimson and violet of Valicar’s eyes blazed with intensity, the flicker of divine and infernal energy still rippling through their form. Mike’s voice, deep and filled with tenderness, spoke softly, yet with all the force of their shared power. "This is the least we could do for you… if I can’t be around, then at least I know you’ll be strong. Stronger than ever."
Sophia’s voice joined, melding with his, a firm but loving cadence in the harmony of Valicar’s voice. "Your soul, your mind… they’re fortified now, Altheack. You’re ready for anything. You’re unbreakable."
Altheack looked into those glowing eyes, red and purple, the duality of everything they had become. She could feel the changes within her, the strength surging through her veins, the immortality bestowed by the ones who loved her more than life itself. Tears welled in her eyes once again, but they were not tears of sadness. They were tears of awe, of overwhelming love. They had saved her, remade her, turned her into something stronger than death.
"I love you," she whispered again, her voice trembling, "and I will never forget this."
Valicar’s gaze softened, and their hand gently brushed against her cheek, the raw energy still crackling in the air. "We’ll always come for you, Altheack," they said, their voices fused in perfect unity. "We love you, now and forever."
And as the glow of their eyes flickered and the storm of power raged around them, the love they shared bound them all in a way that transcended the magic and war that surrounded them. Altheack had been given a gift greater than life—eternal love, unbreakable strength, and the power to face whatever the future held. Their bond, forged in the fires of battle and tempered by the sacrifices they had made for each other, made them unstoppable in this moment.
But before they could savor the reunion, a cold, mocking laugh pierced the air, cutting through the harmony they had created. A voice rang in Mike’s head, familiar and commanding. "You have done well, my champion, but now you must continue our mission." The god from whom Mike had drawn power was speaking directly to him. Even as the laughter echoed, a massive figure stepped forward, wearing the armor of a Templar—a hulking orc, his presence undeniable.
"Yalgarth," Sophia whispered, her voice tight with both fear and realization.
The sound echoed across the battlefield, harsh and cruel, and Valicar's gaze snapped toward its source. A twisted and vile figure, stood before them on the surface of the shattered moon. Yalgarth's body had been warped into a grotesque puppet, his form shimmering with an ominous aura. Holy light clung to the edges of his golden armor, twisting into something sinister, as if reality itself recoiled from the unholy mix of divinity and corruption. Yet there was something else—an unsettling, all-too-familiar energy radiating from him, one that sent a chill deep into Mike’s soul.
The creeping sensation of recognition made Valicar pause, their grip tightening on Demon’s Bane as the horrifying truth sank in. This was no ordinary enemy.
The Pillar of the North had returned, not as a mere demi-god but now a full god. The massive hole torn in the Veil had given him an opening, and Yalgarth’s body had become the perfect vessel for his malevolent presence.
“This isn’t over,” Eckheart sneered, his voice dripping with malice, cutting through the stillness. “You didn’t think it would be that easy, did you?”
Easton appeared beside Valicar in a golden flash of light, his expression twisted with horror and rage. His eyes darted between Yalgarth’s corrupted body and the vile smirk on Eckheart’s face. "Father!" he spat, venom dripping from every word. "After everything—after all the death, you’re still here, still manipulating, still betraying us! How many more, Eckheart? How much more blood are you going to spill in our family's name?"
Eckheart’s laughter was dark and hollow, reverberating across the battlefield. “Oh, Easton, you’ve always been so naive. Your uncle James played the hero, yes, but he was always weaker. Always inferior. You see, I have always been the true son of our father, Merik. I am the Pillar of the North, even after death. I’ve returned to claim what is mine.”
Easton’s voice trembled, fury and disbelief contorting his features. The weight of every betrayal, every death, crashed down on him, choking his words with rage. “James… he was twice the man you’ll ever be! He gave everything to stop this madness, and you…” His voice cracked, but the seething venom sharpened with each word. “You’re nothing but a bastard! A twisted spawn of that whore, Anna Sha, and that cunt of a father you keep worshiping—Merik!”
Eckheart’s grin widened, his face darkening with twisted delight. His eyes gleamed with malicious joy at his son’s pain. "James sacrificed himself for a world that isn’t worth saving, and now, I will finish what he was too weak to complete. And you, boy,” Eckheart’s voice dropped to a dangerous snarl, his expression hardening, “will not insult your sire, or my sire, again. I’ll rip that insolent tongue from your mouth myself."
Valicar's fury surged like a tidal wave. Mike could feel the wrath rising in him, his hand tightening around Demon’s Bane. The power of both Heaven and Hell coursed through him, and he could feel Sophia's anger matching his own. Together, they stepped forward, wings flaring wide, shadows and light swirling around them like an inferno. "You won’t take anything else from us," Mike growled, his voice a thunderous mix of rage and defiance. “This ends here.”
But before they could charge, a brilliant flash of golden light erupted from Yalgarth’s corrupted body, momentarily blinding Valicar. The battlefield trembled under the weight of divine energy. Mike staggered, feeling a strange, powerful pulse in his heart as if something inside him had momentarily shifted. Sophia gasped, her hand clutching her chest, as if the light had reached deep into their very souls.
And then, a voice—a voice that Mike hadn’t heard in what felt like lifetimes—echoed through his mind. It was a voice of authority, but also one filled with something deeper, something ancient.
"Michael… destroy the Veil."
It was Merik, the god of humanity. His presence flickered in the golden light, briefly taking over Yalgarth’s body, his tone calm yet commanding. “Let the gods in, Michael. Tear down the barrier, and allow us to finish what the mortals and demons cannot. The Veil has kept us out long enough.”
Mike felt an overwhelming surge of conflict—he had fought to protect the Veil, to keep it from being shattered. Yet now, Merik himself was asking him to tear it down. To let the gods into Caldera, to let them "save" it. The weight of that choice pressed heavily on Mike’s heart, his mind racing. Destroy the Veil? Let the gods in? Could he trust them? Would they truly bring peace, or would they seize control just as the demons had tried?
Sophia’s voice broke through the haze of his thoughts. "Mike! Don’t listen to him!" She pulled him back from the edge. "We know how this ends if the gods get in. They’ll take everything—turn this world into another of their playthings!"
Mike gritted his teeth, shaking off the weight of Merik’s influence. His wings flared wide, crackling with divine and infernal energy. "You don’t control me, Merik!" he roared, his voice filled with defiance. "I won’t be your puppet!"
And then, Yalgarth’s body convulsed violently, the golden light more powerful, the malicious energy of Eckheart. The orc’s form twisted grotesquely, his laughter returning, deeper and more menacing. "Ahh, Merik, always trying to pull the strings." His grin spread wide, revealing blackened, decayed teeth. “But you see, Michael, I am the one in control here.”
Sophia narrowed her eyes, her voice sharp. "Eckheart… you’ve been planning this all along, haven’t you?"
"Of course," Eckheart sneered, his voice dripping with malice. “You think the gods care about you? About your world? I convinced Father that you were the perfect fool to bring Hell down. The demons were always our greatest enemy, and you’ve done exactly what we needed. With them gone, this world belongs to the gods, and to me.”
He paused, his smirk widening as he let his words sink in. "You were so desperate, so blind in your fight against Anna Sha, that you even brought back the Templar Order—fools trying to reclaim their glory, thinking they could fight the darkness. And I let you. I watched as you all scrambled to fight my mother, never realizing that you were dancing to my tune. I emboldened her, made her believe she could claim this world, promised her the gods would never get involved.”
Eckheart’s laugh was cold and cruel. “She was just as foolish as the rest of you, grasping for power while I pulled the strings. She thought she could claim everything, but it was all part of my plan. Now, with her out of the way, this world is mine.”
Mike’s fury boiled over, his wings beating against the air as the darkened battlefield around them twisted with his power. "You manipulated everything?" His voice shook with rage. "You used me to destroy Hell, so you could hand this world over to the gods?"
"Exactly." Eckheart’s smirk never faltered. "You see, Michael, you’ve always been a tool. A weapon. But now you have a choice—join us. Accept your role as the Demon Lord, our vassal, and together, we’ll burn away the last remnants of mortal defiance. You’ll rule Hell, and Caldera will be ours. Or resist, and we’ll crush you along with everything else."
The battlefield trembled as the skies above opened, revealing the approaching gods. Massive in scale casting a blinding light over the shattered moon as the veil faltered. At the same time, the Templar fleet above, once allied with the mortals, turned their weapons on the Imperial ships. The few surviving Imperial warships, already battered by the demonic forces, were caught off guard as holy beams tore into their hulls. A new civil war erupted in the void above as the gods made their move.
Easton’s voice cut through the chaos, filled with disgust. "You’re no better now then you were ten thousand years ago… or Yalgarth. Bastards, all of you!" His face twisted with rage as he turned to Valicar. "We can’t let them win. Not now. Not after everything."
Sophia’s eyes blazed with fire as she turned to Mike, her voice filled with grim determination. "I knew this was coming. I could smell this betrayal from a mile away. The gods are no different from the demons—they’ll destroy everything to claim their prize."
Mike’s grip tightened around Demon’s Bane as he felt the power surging within him, the combined forces of Heaven and Hell at his command. A dark smile crossed his face, one filled with defiance and raw power. "They think they can take everything from us? They think they can use me?" His eyes gleamed with a dangerous fire. "They’ve fucked up."
Valicar’s wings flared wide, their combined voice echoing across the battlefield. "This power is mine now. I command both Heaven and Hell." Mike’s laughter rang out, dark and triumphant. "You wanted me to be your weapon? Fine. But I’ll use this power to tear you all apart."
Eckheart’s smirk faltered, a flicker of doubt crossing his features as he realized just how much power Valicar now held. But still, he pressed forward. “You can’t win this, Michael. You can’t hold this power forever. Sooner or later, it will destroy the Veil and kill your sister along with this entire universe.”
Sophia’s grin matched Mike’s as she looked toward Eckheart with deadly intent. "We’re not afraid of you. Not anymore. You may have planned this, but you forgot one thing—we’re stronger together. And now we have everything we need to stop you."
And as the gods loomed on the horizon, ready to descend, Valicar stood tall, Altheack by their side, their hearts burning with resolve. The final battle was coming, and this time, they would fight with everything they had.
The gods could come, the traitors could scheme, but they were ready.
They would not fall.