Chapter 38: Oaraun; Shauran 46th, 344SR, 12:30
Vivian cowered behind Bruno, their faces lit green by the flame blazing around Oaraun's skull. The three of them stood in a barracks not too far from the citadel's infirmary. 'Their equipment was stored here...' Vivian and Bruno both wore white coats with green details, the symbol of House Rael, a fist that resembled a skull on the left side of their chest. Sweat dripped from both of their heads, 'Looks like they snuck in...' The two of them had completely recovered thanks to Xenia's gift. Bruno held his fist low, his gift was equipped to his index finger, glowing in preparation to defend.
"I understand, you're afraid," Oaraun nodded. "I am no longer Alexander Rael, however, worry not, my time as him had moments I cherish... Vivian, Bruno... There is no need to cower, however, there is something I must ask... You are privileged to your own choice, for I am no longer your master..."
"You... You couldn't be Sir... What happened to Sir Alexander!?" Vivian shouted frantically.
"The parasite that shackled my will is no more, just like the Lightbringer's control over me," Oaraun stated as he looked at his pale green hand clad in a black gauntlet. "I imagine both of you know nothing of this, it was long before your time..."
"Parasite? Lightbringers control?" Bruno hesitantly asked. "You... You sound like him... They said you saved us..."
"Indeed I did, I am the Divine Being of Grelt, Oaraun. I was defeated by the angels after I tried to save this world, and turned into their puppet... I will take Helios and return the Ammonian race to its former glory, its rightful glory... Your assistance in the coming battles would be welcomed, however, I do warn you... Those who kneel will live, however, the Lightbringers and their acolytes will be martyred for the crimes of their ancestors, and they will resist... There is no telling who or how many will die."
Bruno slowly lowered his hand, and the orange light glowing from the ring faded. Vivian looked up at Oaraun with puzzled and concerned eyes. Oaraun turned and walked towards the door.
"You... But..." Bruno stuttered. "I can't! I will not disgrace my father and family, Sir Rael! I will not allow you to..." the old man shouted with his head high, but froze.
Oaraun stopped and turned, glancing at Bruno over his shoulder.
"There is nothing you can do to stop me, if you go west from this citadel you'll reach a large open-ended cavern, from there Bruno can use his gift to safely get you both to the passages in the wall leading to Ulkay... Warn the citizens of Helios, tell them we are coming," Oaraun requested.
"Sir this is madness!" Vivian shouted.
"Madness?" Oaraun sighed. "The king of the angels, his ancestor, Ymir Lightbringer, slaughtered my pregnant wife and unborn child. By the time I had made it there, I was too late..."
Vivian and Bruno's eyes both widened.
"I gave everything I could to this world, and I was robbed of everything unjustly that day, they've disgraced me, had me kill and torture my own people..."
"What..." Vivian whispered.
"My people will have their vengeance against the Lightbringers, and I will have mine. Any angels who stand in my way will die as well..." Oaraun firmly stated.
"What..." Bruno stuttered. "You... You can't! You seek to take Helios... I won't allow it!"
"The two of you will not stop me. If you go to Helios now, you should be able to warn them. There is something I must take care of, which should give you enough time..." Oaraun continued towards the door.
"Sir wait! Sir!" Vivian cried.
The divine being walked out of the room, leaving the two who were once his subordinates. They shook with the mercy and knowledge they had received. Oaraun walked out of the room and looked down. He let out a sigh as he pulled the door closed behind him. 'This is for the best...'
"You have strong faith in those two shaking smews," a deep voice whispered from the right.
Oaraun turned to see a man wearing a trench coat and a torn hood, his head just met Oaraun's shoulder. They leaned against a table with silver details and engravings in its brown wood, a golden scepter resting on it. 'A royal druid?' A curly black mop of hair behind his black collar obscured his face, however, one pale eye gazed through. He held a green greatsword in his hand, it was identical to Alexander's. 'Who-'
"The name's Vincent Terrahoff," he introduced himself as the greatsword vanished from his hand and turned into a golden scepter.
"You possess the Rite of Sight?" Oaraun turned in surprise. "What of the other Rites blessed by the Celestial? I've seen seven of the other Royal Druids including you, there should be thirteen golden scepters forged from the Xenia's scepter..."
"Three have fallen to the abyss, Ardel's Rite of Mind, the Rite of Force, and the Rite of Bonds. Rael Gerrenwalt's Rite of Fire has been missing long before any of those though... I imagine you haven't met Henry either, son of Milna Gordon," Vincent explained.
"Milna? She held the Rite of Truth previously..."
"Royals, from Pathos..." Vincent dragged those words with a disappointed tone. "The last would be the children of the Viceroy. Reygar, holding the powerful Rite of Path... While Elisia holds the Rite of Shepherd."
"Hm... The Rite of Fire... Pontiff Rael's... Alexander Rael was the one who killed him..."
"You killed him?" Vincent sounded surprised.
The two started walking through the hallway. Green light from the logorite above connected to stalactites illuminated the hallway with a gentle green. Silver metal decorated the borders of tables, the tiles on the floor, and even the portraits of families on the walls.
"Yeah, while I was possessed by the angels... I never did find out why he came to the surface that day, or what he was doing for all that time..." Oaraun sighed. "What do you need Vincent? I will be departing for the abyss soon."
"Elisia and my scout both reported a strange event that occurred yesterday, we are unable to explain..."
"Hm?"
"The caverns above Pathos have collapsed, the surface has been breached."
"What?" Oaraun's head shot to the right in surprise.
"Yeah, less than a day ago..."
"Above Pathos... That should be around Andurill..." Oaraun stopped as he looked down in thought. "The hybrids should have been celebrating the festival of life there..."
"The destructive capability required to perform such a feat is impressive in itself... I wonder who did it..."
"Interesting. Very interesting," Oaraun stated as he remembered who would be gathering at Andurill.
***
Oaraun and Vincent reached a split path, one leading up to the throne room of the citadel, the other outside. Oaraun turned the corner and walked outside. On the bridge, atop the buildings, standing in the distance, what was left of the Ammonian army took up arms, rallying to Oaraun's return.
Giants towered over the buildings, they stood half as tall as the bridge pillars leading west. Some had green crystals growing from underneath their chest plates, jutting out from beneath their robes. Hundreds of green specks of light started to rise, silver scepters, all studded at the tip with a logorite catalyst. 'Not only did they consume my blood to survive, they even use it in their weapons...' The cheers from the city's denizens echoed through the caverns, growing until it was loud enough to shake the Oaraun's bones. Oaraun breathed a sigh of satisfaction as a feeling of nostalgia came over him.
"Rise!" Oaraun roared with a commanding voice. "Rise up! Brothers and sisters!"
The crowd roared even louder.
"Pureblooded giants, righteous druids! For over a hundred years, you've suffered, sacrificed, and endured in my absence! The envy you feel shall be felt by this entire world!" Oaraun shouted with his hands raised.
Four giants much bigger than the others walked through the city, all clad in the old golden armor of Ethos, their heads just reached the ledge Oaraun stood on. Their long strands of hair were slicked by the creature's exhale. Massive teeth, large noses, and small green eyes could be seen behind the gaps in their helmets. These giants possessed large shards of logorite in their bodies.
On the bridge was a large platform that didn't seem connected to the other structure. There were figures already waiting on the steps of that platform, one of which Oaraun recognized. 'The judicator... Dariel Drake...' Next to him stood Vincent, staring off at the fields of glowing green lights. There was another who held a golden scepter, a man clad in robes Alexander had not seen before. Two of the armored giants stood at either side of the bridge leading to the west. The four giants grasped one corner of the platform and waited. The roars of the army began to rise again as the queen stepped toward the edge, adjusting her white mask. To her left and right were the viceroys Evangeline and Gungnir. Wren walked behind her, and they stepped onto the platform the giants waited to raise.
"Even with all of our forces, the only way we'll be able to slay an abyssal being is with an ethereal..." Oaraun spoke as he walked up the steps alongside Queen Xenia.
"Where might be we able to find one?" Xenia asked.
"They aren't easy to come by... Conscious and sentient beings are created from a Celestial gift. Actually, the angels possess an ethereal, he was a member of my squad... However, he was young and naïve... Actually... There was more than one..." Oaraun remembered the white-haired angel from Logos. "The most we may be capable of is slowing it down..."
"I refuse to let my subjects be tortured any further by that monster, we leave no one behind," Xenia decided.
They reached the top of the steps and walked between the pillars surrounding its edge. In the center of the temple was a throne at the top of a small pyramid. Xenia walked up the steps and past the throne. Xenia faced the army of Ammonians looking up at her, she took a deep breath.
"Release your righteous envy!" Xenia commanded across the caverns, the crowd erupted into cheers. "The embers of our brewing fury will set their banners ablaze"
"The bite of our noble steel will split their skulls!" The crowd repeated together.
"We will show the surface, no mercy!"
"Repenting fickle envy on hands and knees, their sight shall not be blessed and mercy will not save them!" the crowd spoke in unison.
"With the strength of the titan! On the graves of our fallen!" Xenia furiously roared.
"With the strength of the great one, on the graves of our fallen!" Each druid and giant slammed their weapons into the ground at once, the sound echoed through the cavern before fading to silence.
"My subjects! Release your righteous envy!"
"Advance!" Oaraun roared with his greatsword raised.
The platform he stood on began to rise, at each corner of the moving temple, giants from the kingdom of Ethos rose up. Dariel Drake walked forward and stood next to Oaraun, staring down the long highway that led to Pathos. The structure rose and fell evenly as the giant took large but careful steps through the city. Citizens of Logos down below looked up in awe, some bowing or praying to Xenia.
"That was a great sound, I'm feeling giddy..." Dariel laughed. "We get to pluck some wings tonight!" the judicator hollered.
"Not immediately," Oaraun mentioned.
"Huh?"
Dariel pulled his mask off and exposed the bone of his jaw. He wore an unbuttoned coat with a knife secured at his waist, baggy pants, and gloves. A slash through his waist was sealed with green gemstone. 'He's consumed logorite...' He had no hair in sight, just a clean shaved head. His eyes were narrow and small, his nose was missing as well. Even the man's wrists seemed to be nothing but bone. 'He's broken his own Rite in the past... But he's still trusted by the queen? Interesting...'
"We are going to siege the abyssal being and reacquire the forces we've lost first," Oaraun informed Dariel.
"Do we even need them?" Dariel replied.
Oaraun looked at Dariel for a moment. "If the abyss continues to prosper the way it has, then all of Grelt will be doomed."
"Hmm..." Dariel nodded. "Two Celestials fell that day, right? If the abyss has been spreading for over a hundred years... Wouldn't the two have connected by now?"
"I am unsure, however..." Oaraun stopped as he looked down in thought.
"What?"
"The abyssal being has taken the form of a woman named Terra Gerrenwalt... Meaning that it had to have been born from the titan Xenia's fallen Celestial."
The giants had carried the gondola halfway across the bridge. The marching armies of Ammonians all approached the archway in the caverns that led away from Logos.
"Gerrenwalt?" Dariel repeated. "This being is related to the missing pontiff?"
"Yeah, however, he's not missing. It was several years after the angels and the demons settled on Grelt, and just before the demon king had secluded himself in Pandora, a mysterious event occurred. A giant rose from the ocean and caused panic as it tried to reach the citizens... That giant was Rael..." Oaraun explained.
"Who stopped him?" Dariel asked.
"Me..." Oaraun admitted. After I cut him down... I remembered him briefly. My memory was wiped again afterward... Because I stated that the giant seemed familiar..."
"Heathens," the queen shook her head in disbelief.
The two viceroys lowered their heads as the giants started to reach the outer gate of Logos.
"I don't know what Rael's motives were that day, it's likely he was fleeing... The descendants of Yuria had followed him that day."
"Onto land? How puzzling..." Gungnir mentioned.
"Thought those things hated being anywhere other than underwater?" Dariel questioned.
"I'm unsure of his reasons... Thinking back to that day... He never did seem to try and attack, he didn't even have his scepter. The poor old man was slaughtered without a chance at resistance..."
The platform continued to rise up and down as it was carried by the four giants, they approached the massive wall of rubble and boulders. Oaraun looked down at the small hole he walked through days prior.
"If the two abysses connected, we shouldn't have survived... Could the descendants of Yuria have found a way to tame it?" Vincent asked.
"It's likely..." the quiet man in robes mentioned with a lazy tone.
"What do you mean Henry?" Dariel asked.
"We know very little of their gifts... They've prospered all this time, undisturbed by the other races, who knows how much they've progressed... Their Celestial still stands somewhere as well."
"We should be happy that it is still standing..." Oaraun mentioned. "Had it fallen, this world would've promptly been destroyed..." Oaraun walked forward to the front of the moving platform.
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Oaraun raised his hand and conjured his greatsword. He focused his spirit on his arms, as the sword was engulfed in a green flame. Dariel stood up and took a step back.
"Jealous-" Oaraun raised the blade, and at the tip, green wisps of fire and embers focused. "Flame!"
A pillar of flame shot forward from the tip of the greatsword and crashed through the wall. Rocks flew in all directions before the pillar blasted straight through the wall. The giants walked forward and stepped up the rising hill.
"Waaaa... Pretty..." Wren looked up at the bright green light with awe as she sat on the ledge of the platform, kicking her feet back and forth.
"I'm going ahead," Oaraun declared.
Oaraun focused his spirit, it was the first time he felt it in years. He knelt down, 'Spirit Ignition!' Oaraun leaped forward, soaring through the dust for several seconds. Oaraun landed with enough force to knock the dust away. Oaraun raised the greatsword and swung the sword, the dust cleared as he put the blade on his back. In the distance at the end of the hole, there was an area lit up by a bright light. Oaraun crouched down and jumped forward a great distance, clearing over half of the path with his next leap. As his feet planted into the ground he focused his spirit and leaped once more. He soared through the wide-open caverns between Logos and Pathos at breakneck speed.
Oaraun stopped as a sudden crash caught his attention. A dazzling purple beam of light pierced through the cavern's wall, blowing it wide open. It soared high above his head, striking another wall. 'That was... The other divine being is here... What happened in Andurill?' Oaraun continued his sprint.
***
Oaraun reached the outside of the hole and was met with light that stung his eyes. He looked up and witnessed the sun rising over the edge of the chasm. He looked across the land littered with rubble and rock, chunks of buildings from up above in Andurill were scattered about the old city of Pathos. 'It's been years since I last saw Pathos...'
A set of walls at the top of a hill surrounded a silver statue that resembled Xenia's tree. The sunlight reflected off the drooping silver branches. 'To think its brittle and pitiful form still stands proud... Even after Andurills, and the Spear of Jalrogs fall...' Just north of the silver tree, was a large amount of rubble, at the top of it was a damaged structure smoldering with a bright green flame. Further behind that, Oaraun could see the edges of the abyss. A black fog lingered completely still off in the distance. Close to the front gate of Pathos, in the courtyard, a blue light started to glow, followed by a thunderous explosion as bolts reached over the walls. The two statues in front of the gate were clad in rigid carved robes, they both held golden scepters that resembled the druid's gold scepter.
"There..." Oaraun grasped the handle of his blade.
Oaraun crouched down and jumped over the field of rubble that surrounded what was once the kingdom of Pathos. In a single jump, he soared over fields of rubble, landing in the courtyard where he saw the explosion. He immediately noticed several figures surrounded by giant skeletons. Oaraun landed in the center of the courtyard full of rubble and stood tall. He pierced his green greatsword into the ground. The smoke in the area spread out in all directions, revealing a battlefield full of familiar faces.
On one side of the courtyard, a woman clad in silver armor and black robes. They wore a mask covering their face and held a short sword in one hand. There was also a headless knight, even without a head he stood at Alexander Rael's height. 'Druid's... I don't recognize them...'
On the same side as those two were two non-unified Oaraun remembered immediately. One had curly black hair and dark skin, he wore tight black clothes, similar to that of resistance members from the surface. 'Franklin...' The other non-unified had brown hair, his shirt was partially torn revealing a well-built upper body. However, his red eyes were fixed on Oaraun's sword. Oaraun stared at the boy for a moment, 'Do my eyes deceive me...'
"What the hell is that!" Franklin shouted in terror.
"That... That sword," Jack uttered.
"Jack Eldritch..." Oaraun walked forward.
"That voice... You're... You're!" Jack rose to his feet.
Oaraun stared at the boy with a tilted head, 'Is he going to try and fight me?' Jack ran forward with clenched teeth and fists.
"Jack! What are you doing stop!" Franklin shouted.
"Alexander Rael!" Jack screamed.
A crackling from behind Oaraun drew his attention, he turned to see a blue ball of energy growing.
"Particle Magic! Particle Projectile Cannon!" a man roared.
Oaraun grabbed his great sword and raised it, blocking the blast. Oaruan stumbled back slightly. The force launched Jack off his feet.
"Agh!" Jack grunted.
"Who are you... Another one of the damned?" a stern voice asked.
Oaraun looked past his blade to the man in a white outfit underneath a blue robe. 'Ha... Seriously? Haha!' Oaraun felt an excitement within him grow. The man had very short hair, his eyes narrowed as he noticed the greatsword. Behind him was a blonde man shaking on the ground as he stared at Oaraun, they wore hybrid clothing for some reason.
"You don't recognize me, or do you, my good friend, Arid?" Oaraun asked with a grin, Arid squinted upon hearing his name. "We never really were the closest friends, I think I knew that punk Arthur better than you. Then again, I didn't get along with many angels while my memories were absent!"
"Memories?" Arid Lightbringer squinted before his expression lit up.
"Huh? These damn corpses just keep on coming..." Leanne confidently walked forward.
"Leanne, Laris! We need to retreat!" Arid stressed, his demeanor had completely changed.
"What? Again? Why?" Laris asked with a bewildered tone.
"I'm not leaving until that punk grovels on the ground for mercy..." Leanne hissed.
Oaraun turned to the other two Lightbringers. The two had a braid a single braid on opposite sides of their head. Leanne just reached six feet, while Laris was around five feet. They both wore tight white suits that only the Lightbringers would wear. Oaraun giggled before he started to laugh uncontrollably. 'I made a great choice in coming here first!'
"I refuse to be disgraced twice in one day by letting those punks get away-" Oaraun started to chuckle even louder and cut Leanne off. "What the hell is so funny you stupid corpse!" Leanne raised her whip.
"Leanne!" Arid shouted with an uncharacteristic panic.
Oaraun focused his spirit and dashed forward in front of Leanne in a single second, reaching for the tail of hair at the side of her head. A wall of light blocked his hand. Oaraun glanced to the side and noticed Laris with his palm raised, the boy had barely reacted in time judging from his expression.
"What the!" Leanne shivered, she barely reacted in time.
Oaraun pulled his arm back and smashed a hole through the wall of light effortlessly. He grasped the tail of her hair and pulled her towards the fixed wall of light, slamming her face through it. Oaraun pivoted on his left foot and whipped her into a building.
"Ah!" Leanne screamed as Oaraun tore the blonde hair he grabbed right off.
"Leanne! What the-!" Laris cried as he launched a wall of light forward.
Oaraun turned and locked eyes with Laris, his grin widening. The wall slammed into him and pushed him back, Oaraun's feet dragged through the dirt to a stop. 'Rgh! Hahaha!' Oaraun couldn't wipe the grin from his face as he walked forward and pushed the wave of light.
"Laris! Haha! Fight me, Laris! You Lightbringers always thought you could defeat me!" Oaraun roared with a mad grin.
"Huh- That couldn't possibly be-" Laris stuttered.
"It is! It's Alexander Rael!" Arid Lightbringer shouted as he raised his scepter.
Two giant blue circles lit up behind Arid and started to form two balls of blue energy.
"Particle Magic! Dual Projectile Cannon!" Arid roared as the two orbs fired forth.
Oaraun giggled as he dashed past one and split the other in two with his greatsword, then jumped forward and slammed his blade down at Arid. Laris quickly raised his palms and created a golden wall of light, the greatsword crashed into it and cracked it immediately. Oaraun violently whipped his greatsword out and started thrashing at the wall of light.
"He's breaking through my gift, how can they do it so easily?!" Laris grunted.
"We need to retreat! Back to Helios!" Arid advised.
"What?! We can take-"
Laris stopped as Oaraun pulled his fist back with a wide grin. He punched straight through the wall of light. Laris grimaced in terror as Oaraun reached forward for his face. A golden whip wrapped around his arm. Oaraun glanced behind him and saw Leanne, her hair looked significantly shorter.
"You damn cretin! You'd dare rip my- Agh!"
Oaraun dragged Leanne off her feet with the whip and started to swing her around, slamming her into rocks as he laughed menacingly.
"Haha! Hahaha!" Oaraun laughed as he tormented the weaklings who didn't respect him once.
"Ah!" Leanne released her whip and flew into the rubble of a destroyed building.
"Stop Leanne! We are no match!" Arid shouted.
"That doesn't look like Alexander..." Laris shuddered.
"What should I take to Lucifer's throne? Your severed heads? Haha!" Oaraun chuckled menacingly.
Arid clasped his hands together. "Mirror Magic! Distortion!" Arid and Laris both vanished, reappearing at the side of the unconscious Leanne.
Oaraun jumped, spinning in the air as he brought his greatsword down on them once more.
"Light Magic! Solid Light Cage!" Arid created a field of light shielding him from Oaraun.
The blade pierced through the wall and came to a stop just inches away from Arid's head.
"Mirror Magic!" Arid focused his spirit on his scepter.
'He's trying to run!'
"Great distortion!" Arid shouted.
The noble Lightbringer, as well as his two lieutenants, were engulfed in a bright light. The light suddenly flew into the sky before flying toward the east. Oaraun stood still as he felt his heartbeat slow down, he breathed out with a content smile. Oaraun's greatsword vanished from his hand, leaving wisps of green flame behind.
"That blade..." the woman clad in black feathers noticed, she immediately bowed on one knee.
The headless knight noticed her bow, his body turned towards Oaraun and faced him for a moment. The knight flinched before he bowed as well.
"A headless knight... I take it you are Reygar, son of Gungnir... And you?" Oaraun asked the woman.
"My lord, my name is Elisia Von Friede," Elisia rose. "That angel was powerful... However, his magic had been exhausted prior to this... What of the other?"
"The abyss takes precedence for now, what do you mean the other-" Oaraun stopped as he heard someone approach.
Oaraun turned to see a blonde man with messy hair looking up at him with puzzled eyes. 'Lector... Why is he...' Reygar stood up and reached for his blade, however, Oaraun raised his hand.
"Sir... What the hell happened to you..." Lector shivered.
"Lector, I didn't think I'd meet you here," Oaraun replied calmly.
"Where's Vivian... What about Bruno... Yami?" Lector asked as he shook his head.
"Yami I am unsure, I sent him to Dorad to inform them of House Rael's defeat, I presume he never did make it back to Helios..."
"Defeated? You were defeated?" Lector asked. "Then!"
"Fear not, Vivian and Bruno are on their way to Helios, they will warn the citizens of Helios of the approaching conflict..."
"Approaching... Conflict?" Lector repeated.
"I will take Helios from the angels," Oaraun declared. "Lector, what are you wearing?"
"Huh..." Lector looked down at his tight clothes, a grey robe that was once resting on his shoulder was now torn and hanging by his side. "I... Uh..."
"Nevermind that... What happened in Andurill..."
"This is... This is too much to take in all at once..." Lector stepped back as he held his forehead, he looked slightly relieved, but all the more stressed. "I- What the..."
"Jack, no!" Franklin shouted.
Rapid footsteps approached from behind Oaraun. He turned to see Jack running at him as fast as he could. The non-unified boy leaped forward with his spirit focused on his fist.
"Rah!" Jack screamed and lunged forward.
Jack's fist planted into Oaraun's jaw, it wasn't enough to move him. Oaraun looked down at the brown-haired child with red eyes. 'Spirit Arts... And he uses it well...'
"What the fuck?!" Lector shook his head in disbelief as he watched Jack recklessly attack.
"It's been some time, Jack Eldritch..." Oaraun wiped his cheek as he looked down at the enraged boy.
"Alexander Rael!" Jack sneered. "I'm glad you're alive! Now I can kill you myself!" he declared with tears running through his grit teeth.
Jack ran forward and threw his fist. Oaraun simply caught it.
"Agh!" Jack grunted as Oaraun held his wrist.
"Oh?" Oaraun replied as his skull helmet disappeared. Jack tried to pull away, only to be let go. "How will you do that? With the use of your Spirit Arts? You did more damage to yourself than you did to me," Oaraun approached slowly.
Jack cowered, however, Oaraun just walked by. Jack shivered on his knees as the divine being walked right past him. Oaraun simply walked right by toward the main citadel.
"The man you once knew, Alexander Rael, is dead. I won't ask for forgiveness, I did kill countless slaves, your friend, and your parents. I committed those crimes under the orders of the Lightbringers," Oaraun explained.
"Huh..." Jack uttered.
"Hear me!" Oaraun roared at the building. "Your divine berserker has returned! Rise! Rise!" Oaraun chanted as he focused his spirit on every part of his body.
"Divine... Berserker?" Lector repeated.
Jack watched in horror as Oaraun focused his spirit.
"Toll of Envy!" Oaraun roared.
A green pulse rumbled the ground, and all of the giant skeletons inside started to shout and cheer, roaring through the halls of the surrounding building. The giant skeletons in the courtyard started to roar as they raised their arms. Steps marched from within the kingdom of Pathos. Skeletons even started to rise out of the ground, each of them clad in a strange green mist. Their teeth rattled, bony fists slammed against the ground, and the hollow cries of skeletons became the call to all the others around.
"Although you are in such a rush to die... Fate continues to keep you alive..." Oaraun turned to Jack. "Do you hate me? The envy within you is overflowing."
"Huh- Envy? Envy?!" Jack repeated. "You-"
Jack quickly got to his feet and ran forward, focusing his spirit into his fist. Franklin quickly got in the way and stopped him a short distance from Oaraun.
"Let go! Let me go, Franklin!" Jack violently reached for Oaraun.
"No! Jack, you don't stand a chance! Run!" Franklin shouted while holding him back.
Reygar turned towards the cavern that led towards Logos. The four giants carrying the Gondola stepped out of the shadows.
"Even if you managed to kill me Jack, do you believe our people's suffering would end?" Oaraun asked.
"Our?!" Jack spat, the question made him even angrier.
"The Damned and the non-unified are the same, a race the world once knew as the Ammonians. We were feared for our power, but our nobility commanded respect, everything changed however when the first off worlder's arrived."
"The first... Off-worlders?" Lector stuttered.
"Yes, the angels and demons are from a different world, a world called Jalrog. I learned of it during my time as a noble of the angels. The divine being of Jalrog, a being known as Ragnarok, split part of their world. A piece of it separated along with one of the planet's remaining Celestials. It would've destroyed much of Grelt as well, if not for mine and the two viceroys' sacrifice. Two of our three kingdoms were devastated, and two of the Celestials of our planet were destroyed. It's not that you were unworthy of the Celestial... The Celestial that belonged to our people had been destroyed by them," Oaraun explained.
"We... We aren't unworthy..." Jack repeated in shock.
"Thousands of Ammonians were buried alongside their history. The Lithonian and Hydronian races sided with the angels in order to take our place as the rulers of Grelt. We were defeated, overwhelmed by fate and the disgusting envy of those... Animals..." Oaraun scoffed.
"The... Angels and the demons... Were, off worlder's?!" Jack looked down at the ground, his fist clenching.
"The angels and the demons broke their allegiance, I'm unsure of the exact events that took place on Jalrog which caused its destruction, but they weren't on good terms even when they arrived here... The current alliance is built upon a lie."
Jack was speechless. "You... You're lying... That's insane..."
"The proof is all around you Jack, just like you, these warriors rise to fight for what they believe is right. Their envy is true, righteous in nature, just like yours," said Oaraun. "The Lightbringers and the hybrids, use the non-unified simply to make use of your life, in truth, they should just kill you. But those gluttonous fools couldn't escape their own nature."
Even Franklin stood in shock, despite trying so desperately to run earlier. Oaraun turned and started to walk in the direction of the abyss.
"If you seek vengeance against the Lightbringers, rise. I am not your enemy, if you wish to see the angels burn, then join us... It is you who deserves to see their fall more than anyone else... After the abyss has been dealt with, and our allies safe, we will take Helios for ourselves!" Oaraun raised his blade in the air. "Prosperity shall be governed by us once more!" Oaraun roared, boosting the morale of the army.
The skeletons, giant and small all opened their jaws and roared into the sky. Jack looked at all of the skeletons around him.
"You're insane!" Franklin shouted.
Oaraun stopped and glanced over his shoulder. The dark-skinned boy tried to stand tall in front of Oaraun, but his legs shook.
"You're- you're just as bad!" Franklin cursed at Oaraun and the troop of skeletons.
"Oh?" Oaraun turned back, slightly annoyed.
"Jack! Get up, we need to get out of here!"
Jack's expression was dumbfounded, he was still processing the information he just heard.
"I'm not that smart... And I don't know much... I don't get much of what he said! But!" Franklin shouted. "This guy is just planning to cause more bloodshed!"
"Franklin? How surprising, seeing the two of you allied together considering what you did," Oaraun mentioned.
"Huh..." Franklin uttered.
Jack clenched his fist, dragging the dust on the ground with his fingers. He breathed in and out excessively, and loud enough to be heard.
"What? Do you not remember?" Oaraun asked.
"Remember what?!" Franklin snapped.
"The only reason that girl who defied the angels died, was because you gave away her and Jack," Oaraun pointed at Franklin.
Jack flinched, his head slowly turning towards Franklin with confused eyes. The giants reached the outside of the wall, their footsteps echoed throughout the chasm. Queen Xenia stood up above at the edge of the raised platform, observing the kingdom of Pathos. Jack's head turned to Franklin with wide eyes.
"I... I was-"
"A perfect example of what the angels molded you into. Obedient slaves, completely dependent on the angels. Protection, food, shelter, they gave you the bare minimum. Telling you that you should have been grateful for scraps while stuffing their mouths full from the profits they made of you. My mind had been destroyed, but I was molded into an instrument to sever the limbs of those reaching for what they truly deserved. I instilled fear in you all. I made you too afraid to step out of line. Too afraid to have bonds, out of the fear of them being ripped apart. Too afraid to believe in your own selves and fellow brethren. To the point, some of you had even started to sell out your own," Oaraun explained.
Franklin was speechless as he stood still in front of the divine being. He glanced at Jack, however, his eyes widened with guilt. Jack glared at him, the veins on his forehead bulging as he looked at Franklin with a look of hatred.
"You... Carol died... Because of you?" Jack whispered to himself, his mind visibly racing just from the twitches in his face.
"Jack... I..." Franklin uttered, he didn't know what to say.
Jack stood up and glared at Franklin, his eyes wide with rage. As Franklin backed away, Jack walked forward.
Franklin stepped back hesitantly, "He would've killed someone if I di-"
Jack suddenly lunged forward and slammed his fist across Franklin's face. His spirit was too erratic to control, he failed to perform an ignition but he had still dealt a powerful blow to his comrade's jaw. Franklin hit the ground, he grasped his face as he writhed for a moment, but desperately tried to get up. Jack got on top of him, pinned his arms to the side, and grasped his collar. Jack drove his fist into Franklin's nose, his fist throbbing as he looked down at the other slave.
"Jack, wai-" Franklin tried to plead, only to be punched again.
"How dare you!" Jack screamed as he continued to pummel Franklin.
Franklin's hands clawed at Jack's wrists, desperately trying to free himself. Jack gritted his teeth as he kept striking his face as hard as he could. Franklin swung his fist and punched Jack in the nose, however, Jack kept holding on. Franklin kicked and struggled but he wasn't stronger. Franklin pulled his hand back, Jack didn't notice, as he was completely engulfed in rage.
"It's your fault!" Jack screamed.
Elisia approached intent to split the two of them up. However, Oaraun raised his hand, gesturing for her to wait. Franklin swung his fist at Jack's head, hitting him with a weak spirit ignition. He managed to knock the furious Jack off. Franklin desperately got to his feet but stumbled, his right eye bruised with tears and blood running down his broken nose.
"Agh!" Jack grunted. "Raah!" Jack screamed as he charged after Franklin, and tackled him to the ground.
They both tumbled against the dirt. Franklin turned and swung his fist around, hitting Jack again. However it didn't stop the enraged slave, Jack grasped Franklin's neck. Franklin croaked and uttered whimpers, he reached for Jack's face. Elisia looked at Oaraun with wide eyes before turning back to the two.
"Sta-" Franklin uttered weakly as his eyes started to fade.
Reygar grasped Jack's arm and yanked him off quickly. Franklin coughed raggedly as he managed to take a breath, however, the boy lost consciousness right after.
"Let me go!" Jack shouted as he tried to break free from the knight's grip.
Reygar obliged, and he let go of Jack's arm. The brown-haired non-unified turned and looked up at the headless knight with enraged eyes. Only to raise his brow as Reygar swiftly planted his gauntlet into Jack's stomach. A sharp exhale escaped Jack's throat as he fell to his knees.
"Ahgh!" Jack winced as he fell on his side and curled up into a ball. "Rgh!" he groaned.
Reygar stood over Jack before walking toward Franklin to examine the damage. Oaraun approached the pathetic child on the ground.
"You possess the most envy of any single being in this world, Jack. But you are powerless to make any change at all. It's frustrating, isn't it... We are the rightful rulers of this world. The angels and demons are a plague, they are responsible for all of this," Oaraun offered his hand. "It is up to us to make it right. We must be the cure to that plague. Jack, you must be the one to witness their fall."