Chapter 28: Ajal; Shauran 45th, 344SR; 16:45

Ajal, Reinhardt, Adam, and George blended into the crowd of people and made their way through the wide streets of Cabac. 'They've turned off most of the lights in this city. Thankfully the people from Baltin are as tall as me so I sort of pass off as one of them... But I will absolutely not wear those clothes... I can't believe Marina recommended that...' Ajal shivered at the thought of the revealing clothes. Reinhardt and Adam walked in front, and George was close behind. Ajal looked up at the sky, a green square of light shone against the blanket of clouds. The light came from Anka, in the center of Andurill.

"I wonder what the queen is wearing today!" A masked woman gossiped.

"She always wears something new and looks amazing," the other masked woman replied.

"The weather is nice, not too hot or cold," a masked man said behind Ajal.

'It is so hot today... Why do they all wear these masks?' Ajal could feel his warm breath hit his face. The limited visibility and the sweat on his nose continued to bother him. They approached an overpass that connected two of the large buildings in the city together, just beyond that was where the majority of the district's lights shone. Reinhardt and Adam looked down as they started to descend a flight of stairs, Ajal got a better look at the center of Cabac. Down the flight of stairs, a concrete walkway surrounded a large field of green grass. The field stretched as far as Ajal could see in both directions towards the center of Andurill and away from it.

In the middle of the large divide that split Cabac, was a large circular building. It was three stories high, the first and third floors were open and had no walls. A massive statue stood on the roof, it depicted a woman holding a large katana in a crouched down position with her blade raised in the air. 'Looks like she's swinging her sword... In that direction, it makes her look like the one who made this field, almost like she split the city with a slash... What the?' Ajal took notice of some strange jagged rocks at the base of the statue. 'Those look like... Feet? But where is the rest of the body? Was there another statue?'

On the grass, were thousands of mats with various colorful patterns on them. Families sat down and prepared to dine together. Along the concrete walkway, stands were set up where food would be served. Several masked people even volunteered to help.

"George, I swear you better not try to eat-"

Ajal turned to see George holding a plastic cup with a strange green drink inside, he even had a straw. 'I- how... I didn't say drink... I should have said drink...' Ajal just shook his head as he looked around again. 'If everyone has a mask, it'll be annoying to keep track of... But, Raum doesn't have a mask, he should be easy to spot.'

Adam nudged Ajal with his elbow, he looked up to see him pointing at someone. A brown-haired woman with a pretty face he recognized. She wore red pants, and a red vest, with a gold sash hanging off her shoulder. The clan leader walked through the field with a spring in her step, the jewelry around her neck jingled each time. 'It's her... I- can't remember her name... But I fought her in Logos... The one with the green thunder...' She walked in front of two people who wore masks. One of them was a man and the other a woman with similar clothing. However, rather than gold sashes they had the normal red, with silver decals and edges.

"I'm going to follow them... Keep an eye on our exits," Ajal whispered.

"Got it... Are you sure you want to go alone? You should at least go with Reinhardt..." Adam suggested.

"Even with Spirit Arts a clan leader would mop the floor with all of you single-handedly. No offense, but teaching you all Spirit Arts would be a waste if you died. As soon as I send the signal, go help the others, I'll try to join you as soon as I can."

"No offense taken, we remember what happened in Logos."

"We'll try and keep an eye out for the resistance," Reinhardt whispered.

Ajal walked forward, following the clan leader from Welis. He stepped over the various mats set in vertical lines across the field. Young hybrids looked up at him as he walked by, wearing masks that made them look quite intimidating. An aroma of spices filled the air, multiple drum beats could be heard close to where the two clan leaders walked.

They approached a muscular man who was the same height as Ajal. The eight-foot man wore dark green pants and a golden belt, his upper body was completely exposed. His body and muscles almost ripped through his skin from how big they were. His veins were clearly defined along his rugged forearms, and every muscle would move with him. 'No mask... He must be the clan leader from Baltin if he's wearing that... It probably is better to go shirtless when their tops are that tight...' He had a brown scruffy beard with the rest of his hair slicked back, 'Descendants of Wilo have a golden arm, that can't be Raum...' Ajal continued to follow them, he glanced back and saw multiple masked hybrids seated on the grass or mats, Reinhardt followed not too far behind, Adam stood with George near the stairs. 'Come on... Where could he be...?'

Ajal stood a short distance away from the two clan leaders as they greeted each other casually. The two men behind the clan leader from Welis bowed before the large muscular man. Young hybrids peered up at them with eyes full of sparkle and awe. Ajal waited for them to keep moving, however, he felt someone poke his shoulder twice.

"Uh- hi?" Ajal turned quickly.

A six-foot-tall woman with a sleek black and gold dress looked up at Ajal with a glare. Her rich brown hair was tied back, and a single blade of hair ran down the right side of her head. She pushed her glasses up and seemed to squint even harder at Ajal, her eyes scanning him up and down. 'She has no mask... Is she supposed to be a clan leader as well?' She looked up at Ajal with an annoyed glare, 'What's her deal- does she know-'

"Move," the woman rudely demanded.

Ajal looked at her for a moment and then took a step to the side and she walked by, 'Pretty sure you have enough room to walk around...' She stopped right next to him and squinted again. Ajal felt uncomfortable, 'Shit... Is she onto me? Am I too obvious-' Her thin eyebrow twitched, she sighed and moved a blade of brown hair to the side of her head. A purple scarf was loosely coiled around her slim neck. The edges of her sleeves and collar were all fashioned with golden beads and details. Above her chest was an insignia of a winged horse.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm... Looking for a place to sit?" Ajal lied.

"I'm talking about that ridiculous outfit..."

Ajal looked down at his loose white coat and black dress shirt. 'What?' He lifted one leg and observed his small shoe and brown pants, his ankle exposed between the two. He looked back up at her and tilted his head in confusion.

"Ugh, moron," she said under her breath, she pointed at his pants with crossed arms. "You're wearing the wrong pants and the wrong outfit in general. Someone from Baltin shouldn't wear clothes from Andurill, those coats are too small for you. Are you a soldier? Must be... Considering you can't even dress properly," she lectured.

'What... Huh... I look fine... What's her problem?' Ajal just looked down at her silently. She turned and continued to walk. A tall man was walking behind her, he wore a similar outfit. However, the gold details were now silver, and he wore a mask with a horizontal line under each eye and a dot on the forehead.

"Oberon! Where's your shirt?! You're setting a bad example for the others you brute!" the woman shouted towards the clan leaders.

"Carala, it's good to see you too," the large man with the gold belt and green pants greeted her.

Oberon noticed Ajal, he squinted for a moment before he turned his head. 'Do I stand out that much... Crap...' Ajal turned his head and looked around, every time his eyes would meet another, they'd looked away. 'Maybe I do...' The hybrid clan leaders turned and continued towards the structure in the center of the long grassy plane between the towers of the city. Ajal gave it a moment before he continued to follow.

The food they ate had a strange scent, not bad, but certainly different. A bold, earthy scent rose from the variety of foods eaten on long tensile leaves. Ajal didn't see or smell any meat, just legumes, vegetables, and lots of fruit.

The clan leaders were a good distance away and nearing the main building, Ajal continued forward. 'How will the resistance strike... They could be hiding in the crowd...'

Ajal approached the central structure, the pillars on the side represented swords on the outside. He walked between the pillars and entered the structure, on the other side he noticed that behind each pillar was a woman with long blue robes, each of them with a katana sheathed at their side.

There were many hybrids gathered there, all in very pristine clothing. Ajal noticed a large number of them with golden arms, but they wore white robes that covered even their feet. Each of them seemed to be overweight, their round stomachs hung over the sashes at their waist.

'They remind me of the archbishops... Huh?'

The descendants of Wilo in white robes greeted people in very different attire. They weren't uniform in appearance like the hybrids were, but wore formal black tuxedos and dress shirts. One of them caught Ajal's attention, a short, black-haired man with a red shirt underneath. 'That's... an angel?! The noble from Logos, he's the odd one that didn't fight... I almost forgot angels are going to be attending this event as well... That may make things complicated...'

The angels and the hybrids in white robes walked up a set of stairs that encircled the edge of the building, following the descendants of Wilo in white robes. Ajal took one step forward, and two katanas jutted forward in front of him and blocked his path. He glanced left and right, a blue-haired woman at the handle of each blade, wearing a loose blue coat with thin fabric over a dark blue garment. Ajal backed up slightly but stopped as he felt the light poke of a blade behind him.

"Not another step," one of the swordswomen behind him ordered.

'Royal guards... Four of them, there's more around the room as well...' Ajal observed his surroundings, and the other female guards around the room stood by.

"I didn't think you'd be dumb enough to walk right in," said a familiar voice from behind.

Ajal looked down and noticed a short man with a full head of spiky black hair walk in front of him, as well as a woman wearing similar clothes to the guards, but with gold wavy patterns along the coat. The two of them didn't have masks, 'Clan leaders... This guy was also in Logos...' He wore a similar outfit to the one Ajal wore, but with golden decals on it. His curved greatsword rested on his back as he turned and looked Ajal in the eyes.

"I remember you two, from Logos right-" Ajal turned his head to the one with the katana, he stopped as he realized it was a different person.

"So you were the one who made my best student look like a pushover, an admirable feat," the one with the katana praised. "The name's Shina, leader of Dorad's royal guard."

"You forgot my name? That's cold... It's Rolo, but, you've gone and joined the resistance though so I don't mind. We'd never be friends," Rolo tightened his grip.

"I'm not here to fight, and I'm not with the resistance. I wish to speak with the queen of the hybrids, peacefully," Ajal nonchalantly revealed.

The angels and other clan leaders hadn't noticed the encounter as they went up the stairs. Rolo and Shina looked at each other for a moment when they heard that.

"My cousin almost died when she said she encountered you and the resistance in Rea," Rolo reminded him with a fist clenched around the greatsword handle.

"I didn't know that would happen, nor did I want that to happen. The resistance wanted me to join them in some plan they had tonight, but I turned them down. I'm sorry your family member got hurt. I did the best I could to help her," Ajal apologized, Rolo squinted as he looked up at him.

"Why do you want to speak with the queen, and what details did they reveal about that plan?" Shina asked as she tilted her head.

"I don't know much about the plan, just that it was meant to happen tonight and it involves taking all of Andurill," Ajal brought his hand up to his face.

Shina raised her own hand to the long katana sheathed at her waist. Ajal looked at her for a moment. He pulled the mask off over his head and revealed his face.

"I was getting tired of wearing that... I'm going to free the non-unified people from slavery," Ajal stated outright.

"Huh?" Rolo uttered.

"Why would you- an off-worlder, want to free the non-unified..." Shina asked.

"I don't believe the non-unified deserve the lives they live, and I'm someone with the strength to change that," Ajal mentioned. "I think people are born pure, even all of you," Ajal glanced outside, some children were playing with their newborn siblings. "Life will always be exposed to sin, maybe it's inevitable. I'm willing to give the hybrids and the angels a chance to explain themselves before I must release my wrath."

"Your wrath? The strength to change that? Don't you think you're underestimating us a bit-"

"Zilu, wait," Shina raised her arm and interrupted her.

"Huh?"

"Don't underestimate him, he defeated Avery easily... And don't forget our duty... The resistance can still attack... This, this may be a favorable option for us, let him through," the clan leader of the guard explained. "Alright, off-worlder..."

"It's Ajal..."

"Ajal... I'll grant your request, however, if you take advantage of our courtesy, I will kill you."

"I don't want to ruin this event for any of the people here."

Rolo continued to glare at Ajal.

"You sure about this..." Rolo asked.

"Don't worry, the queen was interested in the off-worlder as well, and if he tries anything, I can stop him," Shina stated confidently with a lax expression.

Shina turned and made her way for the stairs, the guards sheathed their katanas. The swords they held were half the length of the clan leaders. Ajal followed her. They walked up the stairs and ended up in an enclosed hallway, the sound of people outside was blocked out. Candles with blue flames lit the hallway, 'This is going well so far on this end... But, I still haven't found Raum... How are the others doing... Not having communication makes this a lot more complicated...'

"By the way," Shina suddenly broke the silence.

"Hm?"

"Who dressed you?" Shina snickered.

"Oh, not again... It doesn't look bad..." Ajal argued with an annoyed tone.

"I mean, you look good- but... Your outfit is all over the place, so it was-" Shina held back a giggle. "Really obvious you were sneaking around. You looked so odd, you stood out."

"Beats wearing that green outfit from Baltin..."

"What? You'd probably look great in that... Tafi couldn't even take her eyes off of you once she saw your face."

"Tafi? Who's that?"

"The guard who was to your left earlier. Truth is, all my girls have been curious to see who defeated Riva in Logos."

"Riva?" Ajal remembered the battle in Logos. "Oh, her... She didn't like small talk as much as you seem to," Ajal laughed.

"Haha, yeah that's Riva alright..."

The two approached another set of stairs that led to the third floor. Light spilled into the hallway from the top of the steps.

"Come to think of it, all of the royal guards I've seen so far have been women. Why is that?" Ajal asked.

"Only women can inherit Ginpa's fang. The Celestial beast itself despises men," said Shina.

"Huh... Interesting..."

The two walked up the steps. Ajal looked to the right, the walls of the building were open once again. Ajal glanced to the left and stopped, he took a deep breath through his nose as everyone's sight fell upon him. The circular floor had a strange design. A black and white circle, it wasn't split down the middle, the black appeared to engulf the white. But on the other side, the white flooded towards the black and consumed the color at the same time as it was consumed. At the wide end of both colors, standing opposite from each other were two statues. On the black side was a statue of a woman, and on the other was the statue of a man.

'Well... I knew this part would be awkward...'

The noble angels stood at the sides of the room. The black-haired boy with a red shirt looked at Ajal and his eyes went wide. A woman with short blonde hair next to him was wearing a blue shirt and white pants, she nearly choked on her drink as she noticed Ajal. 'Two nobles... Are those the Lightbringers? No... they have the insignia of a dragon, and that one is a mask... I don't see Alexander Rael...'

The hybrid clan leaders sat behind a long table. 'Raum isn't here yet...' Behind all of them, was a single throne that was at least twelve feet tall. On that throne, atop the short flight of steps, sat a woman. She leaned forward to get a better view, the silver tiara on her head had a variety of colored jewels embedded in it.

Around the back of the room, behind the queen, were several old hybrids. Each of them wore robes that covered their wrinkled skinny bodies. 'Purple, blue, green, two people with grey, brown... The colors of their robes, they're each from different clans... Who are they?'

The two in the grey robes seemed like opposites of each other. One bloated and breathing heavily as he wiped the sweat off of his forehead plastered with curled golden hair. His golden arm rattled as he watched Ajal carefully. 'I haven't done anything and he already looks like he's shaking...' The other in grey seemed to be around the same age as Marina's grandfather, he was a descendant of Ophi. A short, slim man with a white beard covering his mouth, but a stern gaze that looked down on Ajal.

At the right end of the table, seated slightly far from the others, was the man in glossy purple robes. He picked at his nails, unaware of everyone else's concern. Each of his fingers was decorated with a different golden ring.

The one with a brown robe was looking at Ajal with a spark in his eye. His dark skin was speckled with dark spots underneath his eyes. His head of hair and beard was full of silver strands, shining in the light. The old woman in the green robe was very slim, her skin was well taken care of but her age could not be hidden. She looked at Ajal with a stern, focused gaze.

Ajal's eyes lingered to the last in a blue robe, he had been in a state of meditation with his eyes closed. He had straight blue hair, a long face, and considerably smoother skin than the rest of the elderly hybrids. His clothing was adorned by red strings and curved silver decals that almost resembled blades. He had a multitude of wooden trinkets hanging off of his robes, Ajal didn't know what they were, but they had an odd five-pointed symbol on them. Shina said something quietly to the queen before she took a seat next to Oberon, Carala, and Avery sat at the other end.

"My queen, my elders, I bring the off-worlder before you. We expected he'd be here following the commotion in Bellos. However he claims to not be working with the resistance, and he wishes to speak with us, peacefully," Shina gestured toward Ajal.

"What is the meaning of this?" the female noble of the angels with a shiny blue dress shirt glared at Ajal.

"You..." Carala tilted her head in confusion.

Oberon leaned back while he watched Ajal. "I had a feeling there was something strange about you... So you're the one who defeated Alexander Rael..."

Ajal looked up at the queen, and she looked back down at him with curious blue eyes. Her skin was perfect, her black hair had a hint of purple, braided into a ponytail that rested on her right shoulder. Her clothing was different than the rest of the hybrids. Blue robes hung loosely from her body, she wore a tight black dress under, revealing her slim yet defined abdomen, long legs, as well as her arms up to the shoulders. Vala rested her cheek against a finger with a blue painted nail, her fair skin, and entire appearance made her seem harmless. 'She has the gift of a harbinger... I shouldn't underestimate her...' Ajal reminded himself.

"I assume you're the Queen of the Hybrids?" said Ajal.

"Please, call me Vala," she said with a smile and a soft voice.

She was beautiful, her eyes brimming with confidence and strength as they locked with Ajal's. A firework shot into the sky, lighting up the field of hybrids who looked up in wonder at the display of colors. The queen and the divine being kept their intense glares as the light faded.

"My name is Ajal, the divine being of the planet Imperion."

The elders at the back of the room, even the ones who weren't interested initially were now focused on Ajal upon hearing the title.

"Divine Being? Impossible..." the bloated man with the grey robe breathed even heavier.

"I've heard, you're quite the topic, and the rumors of you being quite handsome are true," Vala complimented. "How long have you been in Andurill? Is it to your liking?"

"It's been a few weeks. It's nice, quite the change for me. I like Imperion more, but both have problems I can't ignore."

"Problems you can't ignore? Is that why have you come here," Vala asked with a smile, her gaze narrowing.

"It wasn't by choice," Ajal answered as his eyes wandered to the two statues in the room. "I was forced to flee from my home world."

"Forced?" Oberon repeated with a puzzled tone.

"I was betrayed on Imperion, and it's why I am here. Unfortunately, I'm stuck here on Grelt until I can figure something out. Until then, I am staying, and there is no way I'm standing by while I see the harm you all do."

"Stay on Grelt?!" The elder in a purple robe scoffed.

"Why? What do you seek to accomplish on Grelt?" The elder woman in green leaned forward.

"The non-unified do not deserve the lives they live, you and the angels will release them from slavery," Ajal demanded.

Vala's smile faded. The room was silent for a moment before several elders started to giggle.

"Haha, fool! You don't understand the amount of progress we've made with the non-unified! They who had nothing to offer were given the means to support this world! You want to take away their place in the hierarchy?" The elder in a purple robe suddenly snapped.

"Hierarchy?" Ajal scoffed with grit teeth. "You don't give any of them a choice! You're forcing them to help you... Your progress is being marked in their blood, on their graves, with their lives!"

"Well, of course, that's what I just said, were you even listening? They should be honored to aid the Celestials chosen-"

"Bullshit," Ajal cut him off.

"You- Did you just interrupt me?!"

"Vala, do not humor this heathen any longer!" the large blonde elder with the grey robe spat.

"I saw what happened in Logos, you're letting innocent people suffer for their entire lives... The fact you care about your profits before that shows me who's in the wrong here..." Ajal argued back.

"Without the non-unified, the resistance will-"

"The resistance, the demons, I don't care... There hasn't been an attack from the demons for years... You're blatantly in the wrong here. Especially them!" Ajal pointed to the angels.

"You heretic! Shina! Kill-"

The queen raised her hand and everyone stopped talking, Ajal gulped as he kept his calm. The angels looked ready to engage at a moment's notice. Ajal had focused his spirit to his core the moment he arrived, ready to counter at any time. A drop of sweat rolled down his forehead. 'Where is Raum... He's still not here?'

"Ajal, you believe the non-unified to be innocent?" Vala asked.

Ajal squinted at her. "Yeah... From what I've seen..."

"From what you've seen, but what about that which you haven't?"

"What are you getting at?" Ajal tilted his head.

"There was a point in time when the hybrids were forced into slavery by the non-unified, it was several eras ago, back when we were still known as Lithonians, and the non-unified as Ammonians. I can assure you, they do deserve the lives they live, every single one of them," Vala revealed.

'What?' Oberon didn't flinch at those words, but Shina and Carala both looked surprised as she mentioned that. 'Known as Lithonians? Ammonians... The real name of the non-unified? What...'

"My queen, please, this is forbidden to speak of," the elder in a blue robe calmly stated.

"The angels helped end that age of despair for the hybrids, freeing the non-unified will both bring about the inevitable return of that era as well as the end of my people," said Vala.

"Vala, do not speak further of this-"

"No, an era didn't end. You pushed the cycle forward... And now the ones you've oppressed seek the same justice you do! It's going to continue like that unless it's stopped or when one of you is dead and gone!" Ajal cut the elders off.

The elder in purple sighed, "You think we can trust you? Humor me more, clown. No wonder you were betrayed... Are you sure it was a betrayal or did they just kill an idiot with no idea what he spoke of?"

"I don't trust him, how can we be sure his outrageous story is even true? What if this... Imperion simply sent him to take ours?" the elder in green raised the question.

Ajal tilted his head, 'This isn't going how I thought it would... Was she telling the truth about that? The non-unified once ruled Grelt? How... I don't buy it at all... But this planet has been strange as is... Could the non-unified Celestial have been destroyed... Wait... I didn't once consider that... Wouldn't that mean... There is an abyss somewhere on-' Multiple footsteps walked up the stairs, breaking Ajal's train of thought. a man with spiky black hair and a golden arm entered. 'Another clan leader?'

"What the... What's going on here?" the man who entered uttered.

"Hi, Raum!" Avery waved, seemingly unaware of the tension in the room.

'Raum?! That's him?' Ajal turned and looked at him carefully. He wore a bright white coat, but he never had anything on underneath, his lean upper body was exposed. He had baggy black pants and spiky black hair with a stern face. Ajal observed him up and down several times, there was no key in sight. 'I have to let the others know with Dark Abyss... But... I don't think it'd be wise to do something sudden right now... What the?'

Ajal squinted as he watched Raum pull a chain up the stairs. A slim man with torn, ragged black pants at the end of the tether stepped into the room.

He had long, light blue hair, his bangs covered his face, and Ajal could only see the scruff of his beard. The man looked up at Ajal with a glare, followed by a squint of confusion. His arms were bound by a coil of green lightning.

Stolen story; please report.

"I'm afraid you cannot simply leave as you intended, Ajal," Vala said coldly.

Ajal sighed as he looked down.

"Oh yeah?" Ajal replied.

"While we can't prove if the story about your homeworld is true. Instead, you can prove it to us, prove you are not a member of the resistance," the queen raised her arm to the man in tattered robes.

"Huh? I'm not a part of the resistance-" Ajal squinted at the light blue-haired man staring up at him. "Who even is this?"

"Jericho Ilyian, one of the last descendants of Tilill. He fought for the resistance, ruthlessly slaying hybrids using his skill with a sword, even besting many of the royal guards. With Geral Murdok's escape, he escaped as well, only to be captured again on the outskirts of Dorad with a vengeance. He is responsible for killing seventy-four of our soldiers, twelve of our rangers, and two members of the royal guard, and that was since his escape. He now has the opportunity to atone," Vala explained.

"Why are you telling me all this..." Ajal tilted his head.

"Because I want you to be my executioner. He is a valued member of the resistance, take his head, and I will know you aren't one of them."

"I don't care about this- I'm here for the non-"

"The non-unified are out of the question, they cannot be set free," Vala shut his request down.

'She isn't going to budge on this... And those old people won't let her tell me the full truth...' He turned to the man with light blue hair on his knees.

"Do it, I'd rather die by your hand than any of the frauds of this alliance," said Jericho.

Ajal looked down at him with a blank expression, "You seem ready to die?"

"Yeah... The last few weeks have shown me something important. I disgraced Tilill's gift by committing to such bloodshed."

"Why'd you do it?" Ajal asked.

"Heh, one last conversation before the end, would have preferred someone I knew rather than a stranger... At first, I believed I was right to follow in his footsteps... But, years in that prison gave me a lot of time to think... I was a young and naïve fool..." Jericho looked up at the queen and the clan leaders, and then at the two statues in the room, a grin spread across his face. "None of us could have ever lived up to the Lithonians of the past, no one except Arken. Master Shura and Master Roku would scoff at the sight of this pathetic council!"

The queen clenched her teeth as she looked down on Jericho, her fingers gripping the armrest of the throne. Ajal looked up, he sighed as his third eye opened. 'Looks like we're doing this the hard way... Dark Abyss.' The black and white wave extended out of Ajal's forehead and engulfed all of Cabac. The green coil of crackling electricity vanished, Jericho looked at his palms in shock and then back up to Ajal.

"So, you finally reveal your true nature," Vala scoffed at him as she looked around at the colorless world, even observing her own hands.

"What the... Who- who are you?!" Jericho asked with a shocked tone.

"You want to atone right? That won't happen when you're dead. You are all broken... This world won't change with bloodshed," Ajal said coldly as he turned to the queen.

"Then? You seek to change this world without sacrifice?" Vala laughed. "Perhaps I overestimated you, your ideals are that of a foolish child, willfully ignorant to the truth of this world."

Ajal looked down, unsure of what he could say to try and convince them peacefully anymore. Then crouched down and grabbed Jericho's shoulders, in the next motion he focused his spirit into his foot and dashed with him towards the window. Many lanterns fell from the sky, and people in the crowds outside the building were suddenly startled as the black and white wave retreated into his forehead.

"Oberon!" Vala called.

Ajal glanced behind him to see a battle axe made from black steel ethore spin toward him. He dodged to the right and turned to face the large man. Oberon raised his palm, where there was a symbol that resembled two horns. Jericho was suddenly pulled back, but Ajal quickly ran past him toward Oberon. 'Without his axe-' Oberon closed his fist, pointed it to Ajal, and opened his palm once more. 'What is he-' Ajal heard chips of wood hit the floor, and immediately rolled. The battle axe flew over Ajal and back into Oberon's hand. He tumbled onto two hands and pivoted, swinging his right leg at Oberon's ankle to try and sweep him from below. Oberon winced but stood his ground as Ajal's foot slammed into his ankle, the large hybrid raised his axe into the air and swung down. Ajal rolled to the right, the axe pierced into the wooden floor. Ajal focused his spirit on his leg this time.

"You'd dare fight me without a weapon?!" Oberon shouted as he started swinging his giant axe with one hand.

Ajal got to his feet as Oberon made a horizontal swing, leaning out of the blade's reach. The axe sliced some of his hair. Oberon swung and made a vertical swing from below. Ajal flipped backward and landed on his feet once more out of his range. Ajal crouched down as his spirit overflowed.

"I don't need one," Ajal lunged forward, 'Spirit Ignition!'

"Guh!" Oberon gasped.

Ajal's fist planted into Oberon's exposed abdomen. The large man stumbled back with wide eyes. Oberon dropped the heavy axe and raised both his hands into the air with clenched fists. Ajal ducked quickly and went for another sweep, 'Spirit Ignition!' Oberon's feet left the floor. Ajal pushed off the ground with his arms, flipping over in mid-air and bringing his foot down. 'Double Ignition!' Oberon blocked the kick but was smashed through every floor of the building. Ajal stood up straight.

"Let's stop that there..." Ajal said nonchalantly.

Carala's jaw dropped. Shina had a look of shock on her face, and Avery shivered in her seat. The queen sighed as she came to terms with what just happened. Raum stood up and jumped over the podium he sat behind.

"You! How dare you use Arken's Chambers!" the elder in the blue robe stood up and slammed his hands into the table.

"Arken's Chambers?" said Ajal.

"What- are you... Are you Arken?!" Jericho uttered in shock.

"Huh? No? What?" Ajal stammered.

"Avery I thought you said this guy wasn't that much stronger than you..." Shina asked.

"Yeah... Well..." Avery stuttered.

"I was stiff that day, I woke up from my coma a few hours before we fought. This time, I'm at full power, you don't want to fight me, not here, and not when the resistance is afoot," Ajal tried to convince them.

"The resistance?" Jericho repeated in surprise.

"Stiff?" Avery laughed with a fierce look as she stood up and cracked her knuckles.

"Welp, Carala I assume you'll be taking the lead on this one," Shina smiled as she stood up and reached for her blade.

"Heh, funny..." Carala replied, her eyes fixed on the hole Oberon fell through, sweat rolling down her head.

"No, stand down," Vala ordered.

Ajal looked to the queen and focused his spirit on his arms. Vala sighed and raised her arms up to stretch. She stood from the throne and took a step off into the air. Ajal turned to Jericho, who looked to be shivering as his eyes were locked on the queen preparing to fight.

"Get out of here," Ajal told him once and he didn't hesitate to take off in a hurry, jumping out of the building.

"Boros," Vala called.

Ajal watched a green flower light up in both of her pupils. A long wavy sword appeared in her hand, it had a jade-colored edge with a silver blade. Several marks appeared on her face. Vertical wavy lines appeared at either side of her mouth stretching under her chin. Above her eyes, was a horizontal line that followed the curve of her brow. Ajal's eyes widened as she stepped onto a surface materializing out of thin air.

The surface resembled a layer of scales, it materialized quickly and formed into a massive snake that took up most of the room. It had similar markings to the ones on the queen's face, a silver blade peaked out of its mouth as it licked the air. Vala pointed her sword toward Ajal and the green snake lunged at him. 'What-' He conjured his staff to block, however, the snake swerved to the left and circled Ajal.

The snake coiled upwards and peered down at him. Ajal jumped as the snake constricted its body and tried to crush him. To his surprise, the snake opened its maw, and a wavy sword shot out of its mouth instead of a tongue. Ajal quickly conjured a scythe and parried the strike and landed on the beast's green scales. It was uneven to stand on, but it was smooth like glass. The creature moved while Ajal stood on it, its body slithered out of the window and then stretched upwards to the roof of the building. It wrapped around the statue of the woman with the sword as it reached higher altitudes.

The scales shifted as the snake towered over the people and continued into the sky. Vala ran up the body of the snake with the wavy sword in hand. Ajal conjured his staff and the two clashed. She slipped past him after the strike and turned, then made several quick stabs at his head. Ajal parried a strike, spun the staff, and countered. However, she parried as well and jumped backward.

"We can still stop this right now!" Ajal huffed but managed to crack a smile.

"Yeah, I will, by killing you!" Vala replied.

Vala threw the blade straight at Ajal, 'Why would she disarm herself?' he thought as he knocked the blade away and ran up the body of the snake towards her. She raised her hand and a purple light appeared in her eyes.

"Zetsu!" Vala called.

The marks on her face changed to a single line under her eyes and over her nose. Ajal sprinted forward but stepped on nothing but air as the snake's body vanished. 'Huh?!' Vala conjured a black blade with a jagged edge, this time a hawk with a large purple beak materialized under her feet. She landed on the back of the creature. The hawk never had a single scale, its body was black and made of a thin but stretchy membrane. It flapped its wings and dived toward Ajal.

Ajal raised his arms and focused his spirit to block, but was surprised to see the bird fly right past him just like the snake. He glanced at Vala on the beast's back and noticed her swing that new blade at him from a distance. The blade extended outwards, each individual piece connected by a wire that connected it to the next. The wired blade extended around Ajal and coiled around him, parts of the edge hooked into his skin and dug deeper as the tether tightened. Ajal winced in pain as he was pulled upwards through the sky away from the civilians.

'She's trying to take this fight elsewhere... I need to stick to the plan and get back-' Ajal's head slammed into a building, and he was dragged against the wall. He felt dizzy, Ajal gritted his teeth as he opened his third eye.

'Dark Abyss!'

The sword and the hawk disappeared, and Ajal felt blood slip out of his cuts as they started to heal. He fell through the sky along with the chunks of the building. Vala dived through the sky, she had her eyes locked on him. The black and white wave receded.

"Regal!" Vala shouted.

'Ah, what's next...' Two massive muscular arms covered with red fur and golden bracelets stretched out from behind her. The markings on her face changed once more, this time to red circles that covered her eyes. A massive red gorilla had appeared out of the light and caught Vala, it twisted its body in mid-air and tried to grasp the side of the building with its enormous hand. The red ape was at least twenty feet tall, its massive fingers dragging lines through the building, before kicking off toward Ajal.

"Oh, shit-" Ajal raised his arm to block.

The gorilla let out a furious shriek as it swung its massive fist toward Ajal. He tried to block with his spirit, but there was so much force behind the punch he couldn't mitigate the damage. 'Agh!' Ajal flew for several seconds before crashing into a wall and then slamming into the ground with a thud. Ajal rolled onto his front and pushed himself up. He looked around, his brow rising as he realized he was back in Ketova, in front of the library.

"Fuck... That hurt..." Ajal huffed weakly, jittering at the red electricity crackling off his body. "She launched me pretty far..."

The blue buildings of Cabac stood tall in the distance, the red gorilla still very visible from afar. 'It's going to be hard to fight this person without trying to kill her... She has insane offensive capability up close...' Ajal felt the bones in his forearms shift as they healed. 'Focus... Spirit Ignitions won't be enough... Six swords... There's three more I haven't seen...' He looked around, there were several hybrids still in Ketova who were startled by the sudden crash. Ajal looked up and saw the red ape in the distance still falling, however, it looked like it was about to swing again.

"What the..." Ajal uttered with a confused tone.

The gorilla swung its arm and threw something toward Ketova. 'Seriously...' Ajal conjured two scythes and raised them as Vala flew towards him, she swung a greatsword with a large zig-zagging blade and clashed with Ajal. The two clashed, each of their blades grated against the other. Red lightning danced around the small street as the two separated and exchanged a flurry of strikes. Ajal winded up a large swing, however, she jumped backward and dodged.

"Regal!" Vala shouted and the gorilla materialized behind her. Regal roared as it swung its fist down at Ajal. 'It's too hard dealing with both of you at once!' Ajal focused his spirit into his own and punched the gorilla's incoming fist 'Spirit Ignition!' Two cracks echoed through the air as the ape's arm bent. The force rippled through the air, and Vala was shocked to see the massive monster that towered over Ajal suddenly step backward. The gorilla clutched its hand in pain as it fell on its back and rumbled the ground and the glass of the buildings. Red lightning crackled through Ajal, but he shook the pain off as he walked forward.

"Got any more oversized animals..." Ajal shook his fist.

Vala breathed in as she swung the blade around and reengaged. 'Dark Assault!' Six scythes appeared around Ajal, four started to spin and flew toward Vala. She blocked the first and elegantly dodged the others. Ajal grasped the other two. 'Manipulate the shadows!' The two handles and the blade shortened in length, he spun the smaller sickles as Vala swung the greatsword down. He took an underhand grip and caught the large sword with both sickles. Vala grunted as she tried to pull back, Ajal raised the blade up, leaving her body open. Ajal raised his foot. 'Spirit Ignition!' Ajal kicked forward, however, Vala did the same, blocking the ignition, with her own spirit.

"Huh?! You-" Ajal looked down in shock as he realized what just happened.

Vala jumped back as the greatsword disappeared from her hand, and Ajal pursued. 'She used Spirit Arts! I know I saw that... Arken's Chambers... Are they the same?' Ajal ran forward, she jumped upwards. 'Huh?' Ajal jumped and swung his leg at her, however, she blocked it with her own foot, and then kicked off Ajal. Landing on the roof of the building.

"Gotoh!" Vala called.

'This one's new.' A large lance appeared in Vala's hand, she pointed it directly at Ajal and aimed with her other hand, and a white light started to crackle behind her. The mark on her face had changed to two lines under her eyes and a circle on her forehead. The queen's eyes glowed white, Ajal could see it from a distance.

Vala thrust the lance forward towards Ajal from on top of the building and a beam shot forth from its tip. Ajal jumped backward to dodge it, but at that moment, a horse ran straight through the building Vala stood on. Its coat was a bright white and had similar markings to the queen, the middle of its head had a straight horn at the end which looked similar to the lance. It was like the beast had been thrown at him. Ajal tried to block but the horn went straight through his defense and pierced his stomach, he dropped the sickles and grasped the horn before it went further. The horse continued to charge.

"Agh!" Ajal grunted in pain, gritting his teeth as blood spilled over his lips.

The horse ran forward and crashed through several buildings, each consecutive impact made the horn pierce further into his stomach. Ajal flexed his muscles with all his strength to stop it from going any further. He grunted as he used his spirit, mitigating some of the damage from crashing into the walls. The horn started to glow. A beam blasted forth and sent Ajal flying. He collided with several trees and branches and then crashed through a building, falling onto a red beam.

"Ack!" Ajal coughed up blood.

Ajal slowly tried to stand, looking up at the red pillars of Rea glowing in the light of the lanterns. He pushed himself up as blood spilled out of the wound in his stomach. 'It's not too deep... Dammit, those things pack a punch... And she can summon them in various positions for optimal attacks... The horse is fast and can fire beams...'

Ajal heard slithering move closer to where he was. He looked left and right as the slithering noise grew closer, he looked for a sign of movement in the jungle of red pillars all around him, lit only by faint orange lights. 'I should get to higher ground!' Ajal focused his spirit on his foot and jumped up to the next level of pillars. Ajal's spirit flowed towards his own heart, 'Spirit Manipulation: Heart!' He controlled a Spirit Ignition at his heart, causing energy to flow into it rapidly and cause his blood to pump much faster.

'Where is she?' Ajal looked around but suddenly noticed the mouth of a snake appear out of thin air and open. 'Huh-' Ajal's expression lit up in surprise as Vala stood on the snake's silver tongue, with the wavy sword in hand. 'The snake can camouflage!' The queen jumped forward and swung the wavy green-edged blade at Ajal in mid-air, he parried her strike and launched her back.

"Shura's Array..." Vala uttered as she flew back, she raised the sword and pointed it at Ajal. "Piercing Thrust!"

'Shura?' Ajal noticed a silver glint fly at him at an extreme speed, he deflected it just in time and felt his feet drag backward. 'I didn't expect that much-' The queen stabbed forward two more times, Ajal dodged the first, but the second pierced deep into his left shoulder.

Ajal grunted as he grasped the wound which started to convulse immediately. It felt hot, and the wound started burning up in just seconds. 'Poison? I'll heal!' Ajal had no time to think as the queen jumped onto the red beam and dashed forward as the wavy blade disappeared. The light in her eyes changed from green to blue.

"Tempa!" Vala roared.

A katana with a blue blade and no guard appeared in her hand, the handle wrapped in white cloth. Three vertical stripes appeared on her forehead and three horizontal ones under each eye. A cat with a blue and white coat, covered in sapphire-colored flames appeared behind her. A three-bladed claw stuck out on each of its hands, each blade resembled the katana in Vala's hand. She swung the blade at Ajal, but before she could make contact he dodged to the right. 'Spirit Manipulation will boost my speed and power, ignition won't be enough for her... I don't think I'll need to use a Spirit Bloom... I should focus on getting back to the others... But I'd rather not go back without accomplishing anything...'

"Shura?" Ajal repeated as he raised the scythe to block. "Who's that?"

"That's your concern right now? How insulting," Vala lunged forward with the blade raised above her head.

Ajal watched carefully as he guarded, he raised the scythe to block quickly. Before Vala swung she vanished, leaving wisps of deep blue flame behind. Ajal was surprised as he felt a slash through his back at that same moment. He stumbled forward and then swung the scythe behind him. Vala dashed backward out of range, and the sounds of the cat's paws thumping against the redwood grew closer. Ajal quickly jumped up, grasping the beam on the next level as the cat swiped at where he stood. 'This one's dangerous!' The cat and Vala both disappeared this time, Ajal opened up his third eye immediately as he turned.

'Dark Abyss!' The wave caused the markings, weapon, and beast to disappear, leaving Vala defenseless as she swung from above without a weapon. Ajal raised his foot and kicked her in the side, and she blocked with her arm. But winced from the force. Ajal pulled his foot back and kicked again in a single second. Vala flew down to a beam two levels down and collided with it.

"Rgh..." Vala winced as her arms went numb from the kick.

"You can use Spirit Arts, so then why is it illegal? Why is it called Arken's Chambers?" Ajal asked.

"Silence... Don't you dare say my brother's name!" the queen glared up at Ajal with sudden ferocity.

"Why?" Ajal nonchalantly asked. "We're not around those elders anymore, they kept interrupting... Please, tell me the truth... If you have a harbinger's gift I know you stopped aging."

"The truth?" Vala glared up at Ajal as she stood.

"The non-unified couldn't have done that, not without the Celestial, there are no angels here either, tell me the truth," said Ajal.

"I'll tell you the truth on one condition," Vala grinned. "Kill the angels, all of them, bring me Lucifer Lightbringer's head, and then we'll talk history."

Ajal squinted as he looked down at her. "That's not fair," he laughed. "So, the angels are the problem?"

"It won't matter to a dead man."

"You may be the queen, but you don't give a shit about property damage," Ajal commented as he looked at the building he flew through.

Vala smirked. "You are amusing... Why don't you join me?"

"Huh?"

"The resistance and the angels would stand no chance against us," Vala offered, her tone made the offer sound genuine.

"Bloodshed is not going to solve anything. That's idiotic, your race is divided and you're only going to further that divide! As it is your choice to fight me while the resistance could be making their move!"

Vala closed her eyes as she looked down.

"Each clan leader was hand-picked by me, they'll stop the resistance with or without me. You continue to try and meddle with our affairs and history, typical of off-worlders... It's a shame, truly, I don't want to do it, but..." Vala opened her eyes which glowed pink. "You must die. Elrin!" Vala called.

A short sword with a wide blade appeared in her hand, and the tattoos on her face changed to two black vertical stripes that passed over her eyes. 'Where is the animal?' Vala focused her spirit to her feet and jumped up the red pillars to Ajal. They clashed once more, Ajal redirected her strike, and Vala spun and stepped close to avoid the scythe's reach. Ajal conjured a smaller sickle and blocked the second strike coming from above.

"Shura's Array! Sixth Form!" Vala knocked Ajal back with spirit, she turned her sword to swing it upwards. "Grelt's Steel!" she roared as she swung the blade up.

Ajal blocked the strike, but his feet lifted off the red beam. 'Huh-' Ajal couldn't form words as he was launched through Rea by that single swing. Ajal hit the ground and bounced off of it, rolling onto a bridge made from yellow wood before crashing through a rail and crashing into a stream. He opened his eyes as he tried to take a breath but he coughed as water flooded into his mouth, the distorted yellow bridge above the water was all he could see. 'Is this... Bellos?! Are you kidding me? That attack had more force than that gorilla's punch? I'm pretty sure that was a Spirit Ignition... No there was more to it than that... What is that weapon...' Ajal pulled himself onto the bridge, his clothes stuck to his skin. Ajal tore his ripped coat off and threw it aside. In the distance, a white light glowed. It was coming from the red pillars in Rea. Ajal conjured his scythe and spun it around, taking a stance on the bridge.

The light flashed and in a single moment Vala flew through the sky, Ajal dodged, but she slightly grazed his chest. 'Dark Passage!' Ajal's scythe was engulfed in a black-and-white aura, he slashed at the queen but she ducked under the blade. Her eyes glowed pink once more. However, Ajal manipulated the blade of shadow, forming another one of equal length on the other side, and pulled the scythe back, cutting Vala's back and leaving a black and white flame.

"Agh!" Vala grunted but breathed in and gritted her teeth. "Elrin," she grasped the short sword and stabbed forward.

Ajal stepped on the blade, however, she let go and jumped back. The sword did not disappear. A low-pitched roar stopped the sound of water violently splashing back and forth. Ajal turned and looked up to see a massive brown-furred behemoth on two legs towering over him. It had giant horns that almost resembled dying trees. It stepped downwards, and Ajal jumped back, dodging the hit. As its hoof hit the ground, the impact caused the water to fly up in an instant. Ajal flew backward as tree roots broke out of the bed underneath him, skewering his arm, slicing his skin, and hitting the scar he had on the left side of his torso.

"Gah!" Ajal let out a deep cry of pain, the sound echoed out further than the rumbling roar of the brown elk.

The tree roots extended back into the ground, and Ajal fell back to the bridge and landed on his back. His stomach convulsed as he fell short of breath, 'That hurt! That fucking hurt!' Ajal rolled onto his front. The queen dropped to one knee, she breathed in and out while looking incredibly weary. 'She's been going all out this whole time... She's only getting tired now? She's conjured weapons and massive animals back and forth... She has to be worn out...' Ajal pushed himself up on one knee, and as he grasped his side, blood leaked out of the old wound in his stomach. The queen stood as he did.

"Tempa..." Vala huffed. Despite being worn out, she grasped the katana as she walked forward. "Shura's Array, Fourth Form!" Vala ran forward. "Prism Slash!"

Vala grasped the blade with both hands and vanished, leaving behind blue flames. Ajal stood, his legs shook and he felt like passing out, but he conjured the small sickle and held it up. She appeared in front of him and swung down, he blocked and she disappeared once more. Ajal felt a slash at his leg, he swung the sickle to his right but hit nothing but lingering embers. Ajal raised his other arm and caught the blade with his hand. He pulled Vala over his head and slammed her into the bridge. Ajal grasped her leg and threw her upwards. He opened his third eye which glowed purple. 'Dark Blast!' An extremely large purple beam exited his third eye towards the airborne queen.

"Regal!" Vala quickly grasped the bolt-shaped greatsword and held it up to block.

The beam reflected off her blade, but it still sent her soaring through a building. Red lightning and purple plasma melted through several buildings. The beam flew through Bellos and pierced through two towers in Cabac. The beam dissipated slowly, and Ajal pointed his third eye to the wound. He focused his spirit on his wound and braced himself. He fired a small beam toward the wound, burning it closed. Ajal grunted in pain as he breathed in and out. 'The last person I had to try this hard against was Idyr... Harbingers are such a damn pain...' Ajal put his hand against the shadow the bridge cast, he breathed in and out as the slight cuts healed. 'Dark Passage.'

Ajal teleported behind Vala and stopped her flight, she turned with a wide eye. 'Spirit Ignition!' Ajal slammed his leg into her back and sent her to the ground. The red gorilla appeared where she soared to and broke her fall. Ajal landed on the grass and fell to his knees, he looked up and noticed the statue of the woman on top of the building 'I'm back here- in the center of Cabac...?' Ajal felt his legs lose strength. One hand kept him from falling on the ground, and the other held his cauterized wound. A rush of blood came up his throat he coughed it up over the green grass. Ajal stood up groggily. Vala limped out of the smoke, breathing heavily as she held the cut on her side.

"Bastard!" Ajal heard a voice behind him. "You'd dare draw our queen's blood!"

Raum Septirion ran at Ajal from behind, Ajal caught his breath as Raum's golden arm shot forward. Ajal raised his hand and the claw grasped it. 'What the...' Ajal felt himself get pulled forward, he took one step and braced himself. Raum was shocked as he failed to pull him with all his strength, Ajal took one step and pulled. Raum's feet left the grass as he soared towards Ajal.

"Ah!" Raum grunted.

The clan leader flew towards Ajal, 'Since I'm using Spirit Manipulation, I probably won't need an ignition...' The golden claw let go of Ajal's arm, and the force of it retracted back to Raum causing him to spin in the air. As Ajal swung his foot, Raum swung him with momentum and their kicks clashed. 'Oh?' Raum fell to the ground in front of Ajal and then tried to punch Ajal. Ajal blocked the punch, Raum pulled back and immediately dropped onto his hands and swung his leg up at Ajal's head. Ajal dodged backward. Raum ran forward without hesitation. 'So he prefers hand-to-hand combat...' Ajal took a stance and redirected the first two of Raum's punches, then raised his knee to block a low kick.

"What!" Raum gasped under his breath as Ajal chose to fight with his hands as well.

"I prefer hand-to-hand," said Ajal.

Ajal saw a few openings but didn't take them. Raum jumped and threw two kicks, Ajal blocked the first, then grabbed his leg after the second. He pulled the clan leader overhead and slammed him into the dirt, however, Raum landed on his hands and flipped to his feet. Then ran back in. With each punch, Ajal deflected nonchalantly. A palm strike to the chest redirected. A kick to the head narrowly dodged. Raum jumped and tried to strike Ajal with his knee, only to hit the air as Ajal flipped backward. Ajal continued to redirect and dodge every attack from the noble.

"Agh! Shit, you're good!" Raum grinned.

Raum fired his golden arm, and Ajal moved his head and dodged. However the golden arm grasped the ground, and the wire pulled Ajal's shoulder down as he closed the distance again. Raum tried to make another low kick, and Ajal tried to counter by stepping on his foot, however, it was a feint. Raum threw a punch with the golden arm, 'He's swinging early?' To Ajal's surprise, Raum launched the hand at the same time.

"Agh-" Ajal uttered as the golden fist flew forward and hit him in the nose.

The golden claw then grasped his face, and Ajal peered at him through the gaps between his fingers. Ajal was about to attack, but a hand slammed into his back. He suddenly felt lighter. 'Shit!' Raum jumped back and pulled Ajal with the golden arm, he was dragged through the air and straight towards the ground.

"Shura's Array! Third Form! Rending Thrust!" Shina yelled as she stabbed her blade forward from the top of the building.

Ajal felt air pierce straight through his wrist. He looked to the top of the building to see Shina with her long gleaming katana drawn and pointed straight at him. 'Dammit, she launched a thrust?!' Ajal opened up his third eye. 'Dark Abyss!' The black and white wave hit all of them. The golden arm disappeared, and Ajal's weight turned back to normal. As he soared back to the ground, he noticed a white light in the corner of his eye, only to see a white horse with winged grieves tackle right into him.

"Agh!" Ajal grunted, he was knocked to the side. 'This is overwhelming trying to fight all of them!'

"Ajal was your name, right? Prepare for a life in prison for drawing blood from our queen!" Carala said from the back of the horse, Avery rode behind her on the same horse.

A swinging noise came towards him, Ajal quickly conjured a scythe and parried Oberon's battle axe flying at him. However, his attention was drawn back to the two clan leaders on horseback as he heard crackling electricity. Ajal focused his spirit on his back

"Shura's Array, First Form!" Avery yelled. She jumped off the horse, straight towards Ajal, "Thunderclap Smash!"

Avery's fist pressed into Ajal's back, he gritted his teeth as the green electricity coursed through him. The familiar feeling of being cut by multiple small blades ran through each of his individual veins. Ajal flew towards the first floor of the building, but before he could land he felt Oberon connect a heavy punch to his stomach. 'Agh! I didn't use spirit there... but- he did?!' Oberon wore a black breastplate over top of the outfit he wore before.

"So you can use Spirit Arts just like her," Ajal grinned.

"Silence," Oberon threw a punch at Ajal.

Ajal ducked under the fist and focused his spirit on his fist, swinging forward and planting his fist into the breastplate. To Ajal's surprise the armor didn't crack, Oberon raised both arms and swung down on Ajal's head. His head felt numb for a moment as his hearing faded, but he raised his fist again and planted it into Oberon's chest. 'Spirit Ignition!' He punched Oberon's chest again.

"It's useless!" Oberon shouted. "The Ethore of Baltin is unbreakable, even for you!"

"Ethore huh?" Ajal replied groggily.

'Magic enhanced armor... If it's black... That's dark magic, maybe I could use light magic, but that may be risky right now... But black ethore? Where is there a concentration of dark magic that is strongly located on this planet? ' Ajal focused his spirit into his fist, 'Spirit Ignition...' He punched Oberon in the chest once more, this time with much more force behind this strike. Oberon was pushed off his feet, stumbling backward, raising his arms to guard. 'Double Ignition!' Ajal slammed his fist into Oberon's chest once more, and the black armor cracked.

"Gah!" Oberon coughed.

Oberon tried to grab him, but Ajal caught his hand with his left. 'Triple Ignition!' Ajal slammed his right fist into Oberon's chest once more, and shards of the armor came off.

"Agh!" Oberon looked up to see Ajal and his eyes went wide as he saw the grin across his face.

'Spirit Ignition!' Ajal punched him in the chest again and let go at the same time, the eight-foot man who weighed over two hundred pounds flew out of the building and straight through a pillar. 'Shit... It's been a while since I've felt like this... Having fun while fighting...'

"Shura's Array! Fourth Form!" Vala hissed.

Ajal turned and conjured his scythe, he focused his spirit on his arms.

"Prism Slash!" Vala appeared in front of Ajal holding the katana with no guard.

Ajal conjured his staff and blocked the strike from her sword, she vanished, and he turned around to the right and blocked another strike. As she disappeared again Ajal jumped and dodged the low sweep.

"Impossible!" Oberon was speechless. "He avoided the queen's enhanced Prism Slash!"

'Damnit, she's already recovered!' Ajal focused his spirit on his foot, and kicked off the ground, dashing away toward the buildings. 'Dark-'

"Gotoh!" Vala called.

The sound of giant hooves galloping behind him caught his attention.

"You're not going anywhere!" Vala shouted.

Ajal turned to see her eyes glowing white, she charged forward with a lance in hand in front of the horse. 'Dammit! Triple Ignition!' Ajal grinned as he focused his spirit to his feet and crouched down.

"Shura's Array! Second Form! Heaven's Charge!" Vala chanted.

She stabbed forward at Ajal, closing the distance in an instant. Ajal used the first ignition to dash past her and dodge the thrust. The second ignition was used to dash upwards to the horse's face. The horse's eyes widened and it was about to panic as Ajal jumped in front of it. The final ignition was focused on his right foot as he slammed it into the horse's nose. It stumbled off its two front feet and fell onto its side, dragging through the grass as a cloud of dust rose around it. 'Dark Passage!' Ajal conjured a scythe and shrouded it in the white and black flames. He looked to the tallest building where Jack and the others should've been. Ajal focused his spirit on his arm as he swung the scythe toward the building with both his hands as he fell into the smoke.

"Shura's Array! Sixth Form!" Oberon and Shina both spoke at the same time from somewhere in the smoke.

Ajal ran from the source of their voices, blindly dashing through the smoke.

"Grelt's Steel!"

'Dark Passage!' Ajal vanished from the field. Reappearing in mid-air and grasping the scythe, he manipulated the shadow to turn it into a smaller sickle as he hit the building and jabbed the blade into the side of the wall. Ajal breathed in and out as he pulled himself up to a platform on the building near a window, he looked at the field as he steadied his breathing.

"I need to find Jack, but first..."

Ajal looked back to the field before, he noticed the red gorilla in the field earlier, it seemed to be looking at Ajal. It was crouched down with its hand open, it looked like it was ready to swing something.

"What the... No- Stop, no way..." Ajal uttered in disbelief.

The monkey whipped something, red eyes flew towards the building at a high speed.

"Ugh..." Ajal groaned.

Ajal put his feet against the building and kicked off as he pulled the sickle out. Vala flew directly at him and the two clashed in mid-air. Sparks flew in all directions. Ajal spun in mid-air uncontrollably, unable to control where he was going.

"Zetsu!" Vala called as she landed on the black hawk's back.

Ajal fell through the sky, he put his arms to his side to speed up as he dived straight down. He glanced back, she held the jagged black blade above her head as the hawk soared down faster than Ajal. The jagged sword extended and wrapped around Ajal, pulling him to the ground faster.

"You're so damn persistent!" Ajal grunted as he opened his third eye.

'Dark Abyss!' The black and white wave released and the hawk disappeared, as well as the blade. Ajal and Vala both focused their spirits as they fell to the ground. They landed in the wide street, Vala breathed in and out as she got up, blood trailing from her head onto the ground. Ajal grasped the wound on his stomach as it continued to burn.

"You know, I didn't think you were really one of them at first. But I am definitely mistaken, you are a divine being. Your strength proves it..." Vala praised Ajal.

Ajal looked up at the sky with his back against the ground. He huffed as he got ready for another round, only to notice something falling.

"What is that?" Ajal asked as he pointed up.

Vala's eyebrow raised. She looked up and noticed the figure in the sky and her expression turned to concern. Ajal turned his head to her and noticed two children standing in an alleyway close to her. She didn't notice them. One had spiky hair, the other a mushroom cut. Ajal recognized them quickly.

"No... No! Not like this! I won't let you!" Vala shouted while looking up at the figure in the sky.

'Isn't that... those are those two kids who I met when I got here...' Ajal watched them, cower in the alley. One of them had a shiny object in his hand. 'I can't remember their names...' Ajal's expression lit up as he remembered they were connected with the resistance. At that exact moment, Andrei ran forward toward Vala.

"Hey!" Ajal quickly rolled onto his front and tried to push himself up. "Look out!" Ajal shouted at Vala.

"Zets-"

Andrei stabbed her in the stomach with a knife, as he tried to jab the knife further into her stomach. Ajal had a look of disbelief plastered across his face. Vala shoved him away as she stepped back, the blade had gone deep. Vala turned to Ajal, she looked at him as she fell to her knees. Morin and Andrei charged forward once more.

"Damn you Banhu Uunan... Regal..." Vala called.

The red ape appeared and shielded Andrei and Morin with its body. Vala looked at Ajal, she noticed the confusion on his face, chuckled slightly, and simply smiled.

"Huh?" Ajal didn't understand why.

"Prepare yourselves heathens! Hahaha!" Ajal heard someone's voice echo through the sky from high up above, it was very loud despite sounding far away.

It came from a man falling from the sky, he would land in just a few seconds. He was bald and wore black baggy pants that flapped in the air, and on his ankles and waist were steel rings. The man was just as big as Oberon, but a lot chubbier. However, Ajal noticed something strange behind him. He held a real spine in his hand and connected to its end was a bell.

"A bell?"

Ajal glanced at Vala, then back at the man who descended. He fell towards the next street over, and Vala lowered her head in defeat. 'What's happening-' A bell tolled on the other side of the building. Ajal felt his legs leave the ground as the force of sound launched every single building around the man outwards. Ajal shielded his face as he watched the buildings and the streets get forced back. Everything in all directions of where the man struck was blown away by an unstoppable force.