Meanwhile, Xayn and Bazren had already made their way inside [https://img.wattpad.com/2e07e56805bda3bdbf05c29bd7eb9f04ac2ea8c8/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4f796b422d5233735159564777773d3d2d313232333431323431322e3137326237633130336366663731356632313731373036383631332e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

Meanwhile, Xayn and Bazren had already made their way inside. The citadel was indistinguishable. The sky was blood red, as black rain fell from the skies. The undead within had gone rogue, feral... Rationality had all but left them. Only redeemers and masters managed to keep their sanity, as Mortmundus shifted and morphed.

Bazren: My home...

Xayn: This is terrible. Bazren, we must move. We have to speak with Qu, no matter what.

Bazren: ... Right. Right! There's much I want to say to him...

They make their way to the cathedral. On their way there, they do their best to avoid the citizens that were turning into monsters before their eyes. Amalgamations of undead were fusing together, as black tar rained from the sky, binding their bones and creating more creatures like the ones they saw in the forbidden citadel. They did not engage, as reaching Qu was their top priority. They reach the center of the citadel, where there is a massive market. It seemed to be the largest battleground in the citadel. Then, Bazren notices a familiar figure...

Bazren: Xayn... Look!

In the middle of the market lay what was possibly the city's last line of defense. Qu himself led a squad of redeemers, against the onslaught of monsters that came at them. They were surrounded on all sides.

Qu: Keep fighting, men! Fight to protect your home, protect your people! Do not let these beasts take what little we have have left in this dead, cold world of ours...!

They fought bravely, but it was no use. More and more monsters formed before their eyes... Soon, the entire citadel would be completely overrun.

Xayn: This is... Bazren, I'm not sure there's anything we can do here! Shouldn't we try to escort Qu and his guards out of here before they all get killed...?

Bazren: Qu won't abandon his citadel, that much I do know... We can't let them die Xayn. Let's help them out!

Xayn: In that case, I'll do my best...

Xayn takes to the skies, shooting down whatever monsters he can from above. In the meantime, Bazren approached Qu's squad.

Qu: Bazren...? You're back...!

Bazren: Master Qu. Let's skip the pleasantries... We have a citadel to defend.

Qu was caught off-guard by his pupil's attitude, but there were far more pressing matters at hand. With Xayn and Bazren's help, the monsters were being dispatched far more quickly. Luckily, it seemed that the rain that poured from the skies was letting up, as well. Over time, less and less monsters were being created.

Xayn: Hah... Would you look at that! Could the universe be favoring us for once...?

Finally, it seemed there was hope for Qu's last warriors. They were now able to take down their enemies faster than new ones were coming.

Qu: Almost there men, keep at it!

As the skies were getting clearer, barely any new opponents were forming. Shortly after, it seemed like they had finally done it. All was quiet in Karghna.

Bazren: That seems to be all of them... Good.

Bazren turns back to Qu.

Bazren: There is much we have to discuss... Regarding Ragma. And Nu...

Qu's eyes widened.

Bazren: And a certain hidden box created by you, a long, long time ago...

Xayn lands between Qu and Bazren.

Xayn: Not yet Bazren, look!

Even though the rain had stopped, large puddles of tar had formed all around the market district. These puddles were now converging into one a single one, forming a massive pool of blackness that drew in nearby vessels. As more and more vessels were drawn in, a massive monster began to take form... The largest one they had seen thus far.

Bazren: Shit...

Qu: Men! To combat positions! We are not done yet...

The enemy towered above even the cathedral itself. Even though the tar didn't manage to cover its entire body, it was so massive that all attacks directed toward its unprotected areas were useless.

Karghna was being razed [https://img.wattpad.com/573ca1f61ef6e5374731d877fef862f3804b541e/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f45364669504b544e5a66384279673d3d2d313232333431323431322e313732373734363735373335623831363837343837363033373938312e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

Karghna was being razed. Whatever soldiers Qu had left were being crushed by this massive foe.

Xayn: It's useless... We can't damage it! Bazren, there's only one thing that may work here...!

Bazren readies her shield. It had some energy stored up, but it would definitely need much more if they were to use it to take down the enemy.

Bazren: Everyone, take cover away from here! Make sure you're as far away from the area as possible...

Qu signals his men to leave their posts. They hastily retreat.

Bazren: Xayn... I need you to lure that thing into attacking me.

Xayn: Got it.

Xayn flied around the entity's face, but it was useless. It was as if the only thing in its mind was a blind lust for destruction. It paid him no mind, as it continued to crush the citadel's buildings.

Bazren: Shit... Should I place myself on the way of its attacks...?

Qu: That would be much too dangerous, Bazren! We need to face that thing out in the open, where we have proper visibility... Facing it amidst all the buildings and debris would be a death sentence!

Xayn lands near them.

Xayn: Then I see only one way...

Bazren and Qu devote their complete attention to Xayn.

Xayn: You must strike Bazren, master Qu.

Qu was caught completely off-guard by this proposition.

Qu: Xayn... You know us masters cannot take direct part in battle...

Xayn: It will not be in battle! You need not damage Bazren. Just hit her shield with all your might. As long as you do that, Bazren will be unscathed. That shield of hers can store immense amounts of power and then release it in the form of a blast... And there's no way we will gather the power we need to take that thing down without your help!

Qu ponders.

Bazren: Master. The entire citadel will be destroyed at this rate. Is that worth the price of not striking an inanimate object...?

Qu hesitates.

Qu: Are you sure she won't be hurt?

Bazren: Not if you hit the shield.

Qu: ... Very well, then...

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Qu readies his weapon. It was a large, two-handed mace. He charges a swing, channeling great amounts of energy into it. The mace overflows with energy. Once it had amassed enough, he swung. The mace hit Bazren's shield like a mallet striking a gong. The attack was angled perfectly, in such a way that Bazren was sent directly backwards. She slides for several kilometres, firmly holding onto the shield as the ground beneath is destroyed by her sliding feet. The shield emanated so much energy that some of it was being absorbed by Bazren herself.

Qu: I hope that was enough...

Xayn quickly flies over to her, helping her approach the battlefield once more.

Xayn: Do you think the blast will take it down...?

Bazren: If it doesn't, then I don't know what will...

Xayn drops her off close to Qu, where she has a clear line of fire in the direction of the hulking monstrosity.

Bazren: Master, do me one last favor... Keep me from sliding backwards as it attack it. I'm probably going to be sent flying backwards otherwise...

Qu holds onto Bazren.

Qu: Whenever you are ready.

Bazren: Xayn.

Xayn: Say no more.

Xayn distances himself from her enough that he won't get hit by the attack.

Bazren: Alright. Here it goes...

Bazren channels power into the shield, releasing the pent up energy. A beam of highly concentrated energy is shot from its center with so much force that an earthquake was created by Bazren's feet. She struggles to keep the attack aimed towards the monster, but with master Qu's help, she manages to stabilize her aim. The beam hits the side of the monster, piercing it from one end to the other. Once Bazren sees the attack is successful, she directs all her strength towards moving the beam horizontally, in an attempt to slice the beast in half, destroying it utterly.

Bazren: Almost... There...!

The enemy is split in two, falling to its knees shortly after. Bazren had spent all the energy inside the shield, falling unconscious due to the strain it placed on her soul. But it had paid off. Finally, it seemed that the threat had been vanquished. Shortly after, Xayn reunites with Qu.

Qu: Xayn! Will she be alright...?

Xayn: Don't worry, she'll be fine. She just needs some rest. There is much she wants to say to you, master.

Qu looks down, towards Bazren's unconscious vessel.

Qu: Yes... I believe we have much to discuss... But not here. Could I ask you to help me escort whatever citizens are left into the outskirts of Karghna...? I fear it may not be safe for them to remain here. Especially if puddles of that tar are still around.

Xayn: Yes. I would suggest that very same course of ac-

Xayn was interrupted by a deafening rumbling. Dust and debris are kicked up by the area where the enemy was taken down. Something was moving.

Xayn: No... It cannot be...

The monster had regenerated its body. It had managed to stand up once more, and it was furious. It was making its way toward the three of them.

Qu: Xayn... Take her. I will deal with this myself.

Xayn: Master, you mustn't! The moment you attack that beast your soul will be damned. You must not break your vow...! Please, please reconsider... Mortmundus still needs you. We still need you!

Qu: After all I've done... I can think of no better way to die, than protecting the people of this world.

Xayn: Master Qu, please...

Qu: Listen, Xayn. This is all you need to know: take Bazren and Raxyas, and go to Raxyas' tomb. That is where they are. You must make haste... Destroy them, put a stop to this once and for all. Make sure that no one ever makes the same mistakes I did... Now, go!

Qu hands Xayn Bazren's vessel and begins channeling energy into his mace. The enemy was almost on top of them.

Xayn: Dammit...

Xayn flies away, with Bazren in his arms. When he was at a safe enough distance, he turned back. The monster had already made his way to the master, and was now preparing to crush him with one of its feet. Qu was ready to strike the beast as soon as the foot made contact with him.

Xayn: Goodbye, master Qu...

In the blink of an eye, a blinding flash of golden light zooms past Xayn.

Xayn: Huh...?

The light crashes into the monster's torso, creating an explosion that makes the enemy lose its balance, sending it several feet backward.

Qu: What is that...?

Next to Qu, the debris from what seemed like a flying vehicle of some kind falls from above. A titanic undead then lands nearby.

Raxyas: You are not getting off that easy, master Qu...

The entity summons golden flames from its right hand, where its weapon begins to materialize... The whip-gladius.

Qu: ... Raxyas! But how...?!

Raxyas: Seems like we both have a lot of questions. Let us see to it that we make it out of this alive, so we can all get the answers we want. Shall we?

Qu nods. Above them, the monster had regained its balance, and prepared to crush them. Raxyas uses his weapon to create a shield of sharp blades around himself. Once the foot connects with him, black tar is expelled everywhere, revealing the bone underneath. The blades were not powerful enough to damage the bone, however, which caused Raxyas to be slightly crushed by the monster's great strength.

Qu: Raxyas!

Qu rushed to his aid, but Raxyas signalled that he keep his distance.

Raxyas: Worry not... It is all a part of the plan...

Raxyas was in clear agony, yet he was standing strong. Ethereal lines began to form from the glowing circle on his back, connecting it to the monster. Raxyas' strength greatly increased. He attempted to use his gauntlet to tear the monster apart, but it was much too strong and resisted its influence. However, he was able to push the monster's foot back, offsetting its balance yet again.

Raxyas: Now... It is my turn to strike.

Raxyas runs towards the monster as it struggles to keep itself upright. Sprinting towards the foot that had the exposed bones from earlier, Raxyas prepares to deal the finishing blow. He morphs his weapon back into its gladius form and concentrates all his focus on a singular part of the monster's exposed bones. As he channels his energy into the gladius, he thrusts it forward into the enemy's foot. Severely weakened by Raxyas' armor, the bone could not keep the blade from piercing, and the gladius entered it cleanly. Then, holding it with both hands, Raxyas twists the blade. The bone breaks from the point of entry, and the cracks from the attack spread all across the monster's body. With a single attack, its entire bone structure was turned to dust. As Raxyas retracts the blade, the beast collapses before him, turning to dust shortly after.

Raxyas: Alright. Let's wrap this up.

Raxyas un-summons his weapon, and re-unites with Qu. Xayn joins them shortly after, with Bazren still unconscious in his arms.

Qu: Raxyas, where did you find that vessel...?

Raxyas: Do you recognize it? You should...

Raxyas tells him how he found his old master's vessel. Before explaining further details, he decided to wait for Bazren to awaken. He felt like she should be the one talking with Qu. After some time, she awakens. Her attention immediately shifts to master Qu.

Qu: Bazren, I-

She slowly gets up.

Bazren: You are a monster. Do you understand that?

Qu was silent. The other redeemers attempted to intervene, but Qu stopped them.

Qu: No... Let her speak, please...

Bazren: This was all your fault! The people of this citadel turned into horrible monsters and lost what little humanity they had left, all because of your appetite for knowledge...

Qu did not interrupt her.

Bazren: ... We know what happened all those years ago. How you opened a portal to the void and doomed an entire citadel to become corrupted and destroyed, and now it all happened again... And chances are it is still happening. Except for this time, it is happening all over Mortmundus...

Qu remained silent still.

Bazren: SAY SOMETHING! Was it worth it, are you pleased now?! Why... Why would you do this! During all my time here, I looked up to you...!

Bazren was losing control of her emotions. Xayn steps in, and gently pulls her aside.

Xayn: That is enough, Bazren... Whatever happened in the past cannot be changed. But we will prevent it from happening ever again. Will you help us, master Qu? We cannot do this without you.

Qu finally speaks.

Qu: Ever since that day, I was never the same. I wish I could go back, and prevent all that happened. I could not, so I did the only other thing I could... I devoted my life to ensuring that nobody may ever do it again. Unfortunately...

Qu, too, was getting emotional.

Qu: I have failed. I have failed the people of Mortmundus, I have failed the citizens of that citadel, I have failed the citizens of Karghna, I have failed you, Bazren... I know it is worthless to say this, but I am sorry. And if I could, I would tell it to everyone's face. Every single person that is gone because of me, every single person who lost what little they had because of me... I would apologise to them. Even knowing it would not change a thing, what else could I do for them...? For the ones who are gone? I cannot do anything else but apologise... And it will forever eat me from inside that no matter how many good deeds I do, no amount of them will right those wrongs. But I swore I would not give up on them. I would not let myself go that easily. I swore that from that day until the end of my days in Mortmundus, I would live to protect its people... That if need be I would perish protecting them.

Qu struggles to pull himself together.

Qu: My life does not belong to me anymore... It belongs to Mortmundus. To its people. And as such, I wish to continue to do everything in my power to protect them...!

Qu turns to Raxyas.

Qu: I must thank you, Raxyas... Had it not been for you...

Raxyas: Do not mention it, master Qu. But, we really cannot afford to lose more time... The Thirteen still need to be stopped. What else have you uncovered? Where is Tentoria?

Qu: She is... About to be sacrificed. She is the last piece required to open the portal... They plan to use the only point in Mortmundus' surface where watchers intercept to build a pillar of destruction, with Tentoria at its center. The watchers will flock to her, dying as they come in contact with the energy of the pillar... As each watcher dies and Tentoria recovers her memories, more and more of her power will be released. However, with the 13 weapons constantly bombarding her with energy... She will be unable to use it. All that concentrated power, alongside the void that will be slowly seeping into Mortmundus with the death of every watcher... It will be more than enough to open a portal to the world of the living large enough for undead to cross over.

Bazren: That's... Horrible!

Qu: ... And it is not all... This process will most likely destroy Tentoria, forever. She will not reincarnate. All the watchers will die... Which means...

Xayn: Mortmundus itself could cease to exist! They never planned to save everyone... They only wanted to go back themselves...

Qu: It would seem that way. Which is why you three must go, now. Save Tentoria, and stop Incola. Or rather... There is one more thing you should know.

The trio listen intently.

Qu: The Thirteen... And Incola... They are one and the same.

Raxyas felt a grip in his chest.

Bazren: Fuck...

Qu: It was their plan to change their identity shortly after Raxyas was brought back to Mortmundus... They needed to keep him under control, ensuring their plans would not be stopped... And to accomplish this, they used Zank as a bait to capture, and enlisted him in their very ranks. I believe he is the one they call Naizk, now...

Raxyas dropped his head in shame.

Raxyas: Master Za had suspected as much, but I was too blind by their words to see it...

Xayn places his hand on Raxyas' shoulder.

Xayn: Thirteen or not, you were powerless to stop them, Raxyas. The moment they captured us after defeating Zank was the moment they dominated the playing field. But not anymore! Now we can put an end to this. Together.

Bazren: Right! We can't waste more time.

Qu: Indeed, Raxyas. Go to your tomb, rescue Tentoria, and destroy them. Once and for all. The fate of Mortmundus and all its inhabitants rests on the three of you.

They bid Qu farewell, and make their way to the tomb...