Chapter 42: Ajal; Shauran 46th; 344SR; 2:58

"Dark Blast!" Ajal roared.

While the ground rumbled for an unknown reason, Ajal released the purple beam from his third eye, blasting Oaraun point-blank and launching him through the ruined city. The purple beam seared through the building for several seconds. A hole had been burned perfectly through the stone. Ajal fell to one knee and grasped his right arm. 'Ah! Fuck!' The pain from his hand being cut off was still there despite the limb being fixed. The ground rumbled again and caught Ajal's attention this time.

"What the..." Ajal looked down at some pebbles shifting to the left on their own.

He stood up and limped out of the building he was in, then looked across the abandoned town. The corpse of the abyssal being was gone. 'If it's gone... Then...' The ground rumbled again. Several buildings rose as the ground cracked. 'A new Celestial is coming...' Ajal's heart started to beat faster, and the rumbling got stronger. 'I'll use this chance to go after Jack!'

Ajal dropped to the nearest roof, ran across the building, and jumped over a wall. He fell down to a lower part of the city and landed on a lower level, rolling over his shoulder as he landed. He knelt down as his body slowed down, and the rumbling became even stronger. Ajal conjured two scythes as he jumped between the rooftops. 'I have to stop Jack! Dark passage!'

A white pillar breached the ground and soared straight up. The new Celestial started to rise, and Ajal ran up the slope of the tilting roof. 'Dark...!' He jumped off and threw the scythe upwards to the top. 'Passage!' Ajal teleported up into the sky, right above the white pillar. The top of the tower had a strange vertical ring on it, almost like a gateway. Ajal reached for the rising tower, grasping the edge as it soared straight into the sky.

"Ah-" Ajal grunted.

The pain in his right arm caused him to wince, he reached up with his left arm and grasped the edge. His hair flowed behind his head as he rose out of the caverns and through the chasm in Andurill. His fingers curled over the smooth edge and gripped it tightly, he reached up and grasped the surface with his other hand as well. Ajal pulled himself up, and the arm that was severed ached more. 'Almost... Almost on-'

"Ajal!" Oaraun roared from far down below.

"Ugh..." Ajal muttered as he looked down.

"Our battle is not over yet! You believe you can escape-" Oaraun screamed, however from that distance, Ajal didn't understand the rest.

"Jack hasn't made it that far yet... I can probably catch up..." Ajal paused, he remembered what Oaraun told him about Grelt's history. 'Will I even be able to stop-'

Ajal felt a massive flux of spirit from the chasms below.

"Spirit Bloom!" Oaraun's voice echoed through the sky, Ajal could hear it from that distance. "Viridiscent Eyed Slayer!" A pillar of energy shot into the sky.

"Aw, fuck..." Ajal muttered as he pulled himself onto the rising Celestial.

Ajal rolled onto the top, then stood as he looked over the edge at the mountains and grasslands of Hiria getting smaller and smaller. The white pillar of energy emitted straight into the sky from where Oaraun stood, and everything around him in all directions was blown back. 'Shit... I didn't think about that... He's a divine being as well... Spirit Arts is probably trivial to him... All of his abilities are about to get stronger...' The buildings crumbled as boulders and rocks flew to the edges of the chasm. The rumbling of the ground was engulfed by the sound of the energy from the white pillar, it was burning any moisture in the air nearby. The white pillar reached past the clouds in the sky and lit all of Hiria with a bright light. The sky turned from a light blue to a dark green. From the edge of the Celestial, the white light was almost blinding. Ajal looked down, the chasm was so far away now he could barely see or hear Oaraun.

Ajal turned, and he could see the gondola in the distance. Jack and the others on the gondola had reached the surface and were making their way to the edge of Hiria. The pillar of light disappeared, and the color of the sky returned to normal.

"They'll reach Helios before the sun falls... If I use a Dark Passage from all the way up here... I can get there in one jump-"

An ear-piercing, harrowing roar echoed through the sky, coming closer and closer to the top of the Celestial. 'What the hell is that...' Ajal turned around and looked down, and a green glint was flying up to the rising Celestial at an extreme speed. As the Celestial came to a stop, a massive dragon with a body formed from just pale green bone and jade scales flew past the top of the Celestial and into the air. 'A dragon?!' Its head resembled that of a human skull. The wing beat was loud despite being made of bones. The dragon stopped and looked down at Ajal. Oaraun stood on the back of the creature's rib cage, holding his green greatsword, this time the blade was spilling liquid green flames that crackled in the air. They soared down toward Ajal, and the force of the wind sent his hair in all directions.

"Dark Blast!" Ajal opened his third eye and fired the purple beam.

The dragon suddenly dived down past the edge to avoid the blast, and then gilded upwards as its wings reopened. It turned and flew straight towards the top of the Celestial and crashed into it, grasping it with tiny hands and holding on. The dragon pulled itself up, and a flame started to collect in its mouth. Oaraun leaped off its back and soared down towards Ajal, raising his massive flaming blade with both hands. 'Block it!' Ajal conjured two scythes and took the impact head-on. Oaraun looked Ajal in the eye as they pushed their weapons against each other. The heat from the blade burned Ajal's skin without contact, 'Ah! What the! The flames weren't this hot before! And the sword is bigger too-' Ajal's mind went blank as he realized Oaraun's height dwarfed his own, despite the two of them standing at eight feet earlier, Oaraun now towered over at twelve feet. 'Huh-' Oaraun stepped forward and broke right through his guard, the blade slashed down Ajal's chest. 'This guy's bigger, I don't think I can block him!'

"Ah-" Ajal gritted his teeth, trying to bear the pain.

Ajal jumped away, he continued to glance at the giant skull head of the dragon. Viscious black saliva dripped off its teeth and boiled in the air, igniting into the bright green fire as Invideus reared its head back. Oaraun lunged forward, and in two long steps, he closed the distance. 'Dodge!' Ajal rolled and avoided the blade. Invideus kept its eyes locked on Ajal as Oaraun continued closing the distance, the dragon took a low stance. Ajal's third eye watched the dragon as his other two were locked on Oaraun. Ajal conjured a giant scythe. Oaraun swung his blade as Ajal guarded. 'Triple Ignition!' Oaraun's horizontal swing struck the black scythe, and three spirit ignitions failed to stop the force. Ajal's feet dragged against the white stone as he kept his eyes locked on Oaraun's monstrous green ones.

"Rgh!" Ajal pushed the blade back. "Graah!" Ajal held his ground with all his strength.

"Spirit Ignition..." Oaraun uttered.

Ajal's eyebrows raised, Oaraun swung forward and sent Ajal tumbling across the surface of the Celestial. As he was knocked away from Oaraun he got a better view of him, he was massive, monstrous even. The armor around his body was bigger, and more jagged than before. Ajal heard the dragon spit to his left, the ground lit up green as warmth approached quickly. He turned to see a massive green fireball flying towards him, engulfing the entire peak of the Celestial with green flames.

Ajal spun his scythe to block the flames, as it struck the heat was still intense at the touch. However, he looked up past the embers to see the black eye sockets of the dragon glow as it reared its neck. It opened its mouth for a split second and released another ball of green flame, it pierced the air with its speed. Ajal quickly jumped back and dodged the next fireball. However, Ajal charged straight through the flames as the dragon fired a third fireball. 'Dark Abyss!' the black and white wave released from Ajal's third eye, passing over Oaraun as he continued to charge and extinguish the dragon's fireball.

The flames disappeared, Oaraun's blade and armor disappeared, and the wave didn't reach the dragon on the other side of the Celestial. However Oaraun's eyes were still bright green, he was still bigger, and he didn't stop him from throwing his fist forward. 'That's not an ability, his Spirit Bloom literally made him bigger!' Ajal took a stance and breathed in, 'Spirit Manip-' Ajal was about to focus his spirit on his heart but stopped. 'No, I have to conserve my spirit! Use his size against him!'

Oaraun's fist was about to strike Ajal, but he ducked under, getting too close for Oaraun to strike 'Triple...' Ajal ignited his spirit once, and closed the distance, slamming his shoulder into Oaraun's stomach. Oaraun was surprised as he stepped back. 'Ignition!' Ajal spiked him in the gut with his elbow, then jumped. His last ignition struck Oaraun in the chin.

"Rgh!" Oaraun sneered.

The monstrous Oaraun grasped Ajal's leg with one hand and then started to spin him around.

"Huh-!" Ajal uttered as his body hit the ground before being flung overhead. 'Dark Pass-'

Oaraun smashed him into the floor, not before Ajal left a drop of white flame on the ground. Oaraun raised Ajal above his head to slam him again. 'Dark Passage!' Ajal avoided the slam, he soared forward with the momentum and spun his whole body. Oaraun swung his arm behind him, clubbing Ajal in the head. 'Agh!' Ajal turned his face to the right, causing Oaraun's hand to slide passed, and the monstrous giant stumbled. Ajal turned and raised the back of his foot in an instant.

'Triple ignition!'

Ajal smashed the back of his heel into Oaraun's head, disorientating him. He then jumped above the twelve-foot berserker, spinning as he brought his leg down and slammed it into the top of Oaraun's head with another spirit ignition. Ajal landed on both feet as he crouched down and then sprung up, pummeling Oaraun in the jaw with another ignition. Ajal spun from his stance as he took a breath, raising his leg and smacking the dizzied Oaraun in the head with the back of his foot once again. Ajal felt his mind go into autopilot, igniting his spirit with every strike.

"Phthonos Armor!" Oaraun chanted out loud, and black armor started to forge on his skin.

'He's reequipping!' Ajal crouched and breathed in, 'Spirit Release...' Ajal's third eye quickly shut, and his scythes disappeared as well. 'Eclipse magic... Genesis!' A black sphere appeared at Ajal's fist, a light glowed within it, a purple speck at its center. Oaraun's eyes raised in surprise at the new technique.

"A pure union of light and darkness?!" Oaraun uttered with a tone of disbelief, despite the very feat happening right in front of him.

"Imperial Destruction Arts, Cannon!" Ajal punched forward with the black orb at the end of it.

A bright white explosion erupted the moment Ajal's fist made contact. The force sent Oaraun off the edge of the Celestial. Chunks of armor started to fall towards the ground with him, as he started to descend he looked at his smoldering chest. The armor Oaraun just conjured had been broken in a single hit. 'Dammit! I didn't contain it! Fucking light magic!' Ajal huffed heavy breaths, he fell to one knee. His entire body screamed at him to just lay down and close his eyes on the hard surface. The air was less dense, and Ajal was taking heavier breaths. 'I need to use my Spirit Bloom as well, or else I'll just lose the battle of attrition...'

"Invideus!" Oaraun called as he fell, the dragon kicked off the ledge and flew around the Celestial to his aid.

'This is my only moment... The last time I used it was roughly a day ago against the Lightbringers... It won't last long, I have to defeat him quickly, even if it means killing him!' The spirit Ajal conserved spread across his spine and up to his head, it started to ignite all at once. Ajal brought his hands together, joining the tips of his thumb, index, and ring fingers. His third eye opened and started to spew purple light. Ajal channeled his spirit through his spine, up to his brain, clasping his hands together as it started to flux.

"Spirit Bloom!" Ajal chanted, his voice echoed across Grelt, "Wrath of the Reaper!"

A white light exploded outward from where Ajal stood. The white pillar of light at the top of the Celestial stretched even further into the sky. It changed from a light blue hue to purple.

"At last..." Oaraun grinned, he stood on the back of the rising dragon.

Ajal walked out of the light, and a silver staff appeared in his hand. One side possessed a crescent scythe forged from amethyst, a singularity was fixed in the center of the crescent. On the other end of the staff was a three-eyed black skull, attached to the end of a jagged black scythe.

Two black arms exited the light. They curled inwards as the beam of light started to shrink, the arms spread out and the light disappeared. Ajal stood underneath the reaper cloaked in a black robe, its jagged teeth and single purple eye obscured by the black hood and a mop of curly hair.

The reaper let out a bone-chilling cry, its jagged teeth opened as it roared. Its voice was almost majestic, low pitched, but with an emotionless, and painful longing deep within. Oaraun's dragon let out a furious roar, green embers spilled from its maw. The divine stand-off hundreds of feet in the sky was being witnessed all across Grelt.

"Reaper's Assault..." said Ajal.

The reaper opened its cloak, releasing a storm of black scythes spinning toward Invideus. The dragon flew up before tucking its wings and spinning, diving past multiple scythes and then opening its wings and flying straight up. A green tail of flame flowed behind the dragon, it extended from Oaraun's ignited blade.

The reaper disappeared into the Celestial's shadow and then traveled to the other side of the pillar. Oaraun swung a flaming slash through the air, as Invideus charged in with its claw reared back. 'Muer's Darkness!' Ajal raised the purple crescent scythe, and as the flaming slash came close, the black hole in his scythe absorbed it. 'Thanatos's Light...' Ajal teleported to the reaper at the other side of the Celestial as Invideus brought its claw down.

Ajal spun and swung the purple scythe through the air, releasing a flaming slash of black fire. Oaraun raised his sword and swung it down, releasing a flaming slash of his own. The two projectiles smashed into each other and spread flames off the top of the Celestial. 'He doesn't need to activate the flames anymore...' Ajal looked off the edge of the Celestial while the reaper remained in the shadows on guard, he knelt down and placed his palm on the side of the Celestial. 'Thanatos's Light...'

Oaraun leaped off the dragon with his greatsword raised high, he closed the distance in seconds as Ajal turned around. Oaraun swung his blade but stopped in mid-air as he clashed with the reaper in the shadows. Oaraun reared his head back in surprise, a slicing noise was all he heard as his blood sprayed from his back.

"What the-" Oaraun grunted as he turned and saw nothing.

Oaraun hit the ground and tried to lunge forward again. This time his legs and arms were cut as he brought his sword down on another intangible object. He glanced to the right and noticed the shadow of the reaper above his own. The shadow cleaved down and both of Oaraun's arms were severed.

"It lurks in the shadows!?" Oaraun shouted in surprise.

Ajal walked towards the edge of the Celestial, he peered down towards the darkness-filled chasm within Andurill's borders.

"Where do you think you're going!" Oaraun shouted, however, the shadows moved towards him, he put his guard up and blocked a cut to his throat. "Damn pest!" Oaraun's arms regenerated as he reconjured his weapon, then swung his blade around and clashed with the reaper.

Ajal took a deep breath as he looked at the round curve of the horizon. 'This is at least nine thousand feet passed the surface... ' Ajal looked off in the distance, he could see the bridge between Hiria and Kamino between the clouds, even the top of the other Celestial on Kamino. Oaraun roared as he charged for Ajal, however, Ajal leaned off the edge and fell off the Celestial. He soared through the sky down toward the chasm, he tucked his arms to his side and dived faster.

'Triple Ignition!' Ajal ignited his spirit at his feet, increasing the speed of his fall. The ground approached slowly, he fell for several minutes. 'Thanatos's Light!' the moment Ajal hit the rubble sitting at the bottom of the chasm, he dived straight through the shadow and reappeared at the top of the Celestial. He gritted his teeth as the momentum sent him horizontally straight toward Kamino.

"Invideus!" Oaraun called, mounting the dragon and going after Ajal.

'Damn!' Ajal glanced behind him at the top of the Celestial as he soared through the air at high speeds. 'Reaper's Assault!' The reaper rose from behind Ajal, it was forced to use his shadows as there were no others. It opened its cowl and released hundreds of black scythes through the air. 'I can't dodge like this!'

"Faster!" Oaraun ordered.

Invideus flapped its wings and accelerated, banking to the left and descending to dodge a wave of black scythes. The dragon opened its jaws and was about to bite down on Ajal. 'Anubis's Abyss!' The black and white wave released from Ajal's third eye. Invideus vanished, and Oaraun's armor and sword did as well. Not before he ignited his spirit and propelled himself into range.

"Even now you think you can run!" Oaraun shouted as he slammed his fist into Ajal's face.

"Agh!" Ajal grunted as the punch sent him spinning off course.

Oaraun kicked off the air once more and altered his course using spirit ignitions, and flames propelling from his back. Ajal spun, and kicked Oaraun in the head, but took a blow to the stomach. Ajal reared his fist back before hitting Oaraun with a spirit ignition himself. Oaraun grasped Ajal's face and held it steady as he clenched his fist. 'Focus my spirit-' Ajal couldn't move his spirit in time and took the hit head-on. Ajal grunted as he kneed Oaraun and then punched him twice. Ajal then grabbed Oaraun's leg and started to swing him with momentum, before letting go and throwing him down, increasing his speed to the ground.

"Ugh!" Ajal grunted as he spun through the air. "Got to land-"

"Indra's Arms! Necropolis!" Oaraun shouted as he fell.

At about halfway up the east side of the Celestial, Oaraun suddenly landed on something in mid-air. Ajal was puzzled for a moment but then noticed massive green bricks forming at Oaraun's feet. 'What- Ah!' Ajal crashed into one of the massive rectangular bricks, his face and the front of his body taking the brunt of the impact. Ajal grasped his head as he rolled onto his back. The thuds and clicks of giant bricks were all he could hear around him.

"Ah! What the hell was that!" Ajal winced as he held his throbbing head, however, his attention was drawn to the green brick he found himself lying on.

Ajal looked up and watched in disbelief as green bricks materialized in the thin air. Forming massive bridges in the sky, towers, cathedrals, massive staircases, and smaller spiraling staircases in the sky back towards Ajal. The structure multiplied from every brick it made, the bricks started to turn in certain spots, then turned over and enclosed everything. The structure resembled a castle, but it still continued to form at a rapidly accelerating speed. Oaraun stood across a large gap. 'What the... Did he just make a kingdom?!'

"Zelos Greatsword!" Oaraun called, and the weapon appeared in his hand.

Oaraun ran forward and stepped off. The bricks of the castle wall behind him extended out and provided a platform, he kicked off with a spirit ignition. The platform turned into stairs for Oaraun to run up. 'Shit, getting away from him up here is going to be even harder... But... He hasn't used that move yet... The Toll of Envy was already a pain in the ass before, it's probably way worse in Spirit Bloom...' Ajal conjured his double-sided silver scythe. As Oaraun swung down he clashed with the reaper in the shadows, he grunted in frustration before raising his blade to strike once more. Ajal spun the scythe around him and cleaved at Oaraun, slicing through his armor.

"Rah!" Oaraun howled without being phased.

Green flames spewed from Oaraun's blade, and the reaper emerged from the shadows due to the shifting light. It swung its scythes wildly as Oaraun cleaved just as viciously. However, to Oaraun's surprise, Ajal ran forward and struck his blade with the crescent end and blocked it easily. 'Muer's Darkness!' The reaper raised all six arms and swung down, causing Oaraun to jump back, the flame from his greatsword was tainted black and dragged towards the scythe. Ajal spun his scythe around and threw it underhand, it spun through the air towards Oaraun, and a black flame encircled its edge. The reaper lunged forward as well.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Invideus!" Oaraun roared, and the dragon materialized behind him and slammed its claw into the reaper's face, pummeling the puppet into the ground.

'Spirit Manipulation!' Ajal focused his spirit on his heart as he closed the distance. Oaraun deflected the spinning scythe, and a veil of flame obscured his vision, 'Imperial Battle Arts!' Ajal ignited his spirit at that moment and leaped forward, with a spin. 'Pickaxe!' Ajal slammed his foot into Oaraun's helmet and broke half of it off. Invideus roared as it chomped down at the reaper's metallic hands, it failed to do any noticeable damage. Oaraun swung upwards, and Ajal jumped out of range and caught his scythe in mid-air. Ajal's third eye lit up purple, and the six eyes on the reaper lit up as well. Oaraun quickly raised his great sword to defend.

"Yama's Ray!" Ajal roared.

A purple beam erupted from his third eye, and the reaper's four silver arms moved out of the cowl, blasting purple beams from the eyes on its silver palms. Invideus was launched off into a cathedral, the dragon disappearing from sight inside the large building. Oaraun blocked the beam, he stood his ground, holding it back. However the reaper quickly rose and shifted its fire on Oaraun, as the six other beams struck his blade, his feet dragged backward quickly as he tried to stop himself. But it was too much, Oaraun tumbled on his back as he was engulfed by the blast and sent flying into the base of a tower. The purple beams all struck the same spot and exploded outwards. Ajal landed on two feet, he quickly spun his scythe and took a stance while he maintained his breathing.

"Hehe..." A slight laugh came from the hole, growing in pitch. "Hahaha!" Oaraun laughed out loud.

Ajal squinted, but in a flash, Oaraun shot forward from the hole. The speed he ran at caught Ajal off guard, he was being propelled forward by the viridian fire. 'He's faster!' Ajal quickly parried a strike, however, Oaraun swung immediately after. 'Reaper's Assault!' The reaper opened its cowl and released a rain of black scythes. Oaraun merely grinned as their weapons continued to trade blows. His skin and armor were slashed in the process. 'He doesn't give a damn about the damage!' Oaraun raised his massive blade above his head, then swung down. Ajal squatted to absorb the impact, however, Oaraun swung down again, over and over. All the while, laughing maniacally.

"Haha!" Oaraun swung down once more.

'Thanatos's Light!' Ajal teleported to the reaper and quickly tried to take a stance. However, Oaraun already closed the distance once more. Blood dripped from the cuts all over his manic face as he tackled Ajal with his jagged shoulder pad.

"Ack-" Ajal coughed as the wind was knocked out of him, and he was sent tumbling across the ground.

Ajal flew right off that level, and down to the bridge leading to the cathedral Invideus was blasted into. The reaper appeared where Ajal would fall and caught him. Ajal looked up, his eyes could barely stay open. He fell to the ground and almost immediately dropped to his knees. 'Agh...' Ajal grit his teeth as he looked up, red droplets splashed against the green stones under him.

"What a hideous creature... The chains and skulls dangling from its cloak... I always saw myself as some kind of... Image of death after the number of wars I've fought. But that... It's revolting..." Oaraun giggled. "A Spirit Bloom connects oneself to their soul... You truly are death itself..." Oaraun stabbed his blade into the ground. "Hah... Hahaha...."

"What's so funny?" Ajal tilted his head.

"Funny? No..." Oaraun giggled. "I'm having the time of my life... No one's ever been able to combat me to this degree... The chaos within me finally has its match..."

"What do you mean?" Ajal huffed, trying to buy some time to recover.

"Chaos and destruction litter my path, but it always bored me, no one had the strength to match my own... Except now... Rise! Rise! Imperial! Rise and keep fighting until your life is exhausted!"

Ajal spun his scythe around him and took a stance, holding it horizontally behind him as the crescent end glowed a bright purple. "You're insane..."

Ajal spun the scythe around and lowered it, bending at the knees as he got ready to fight. Flames spewed from Oaraun's armor, he kicked off the bridge and soared down at Ajal with his greatsword pointed forward. 'Dodge-' Ajal jumped reflexively, just barely avoiding Oaraun flying straight into the bridge and splitting it.

"Agh- Muer's Darkness!" Ajal grabbed the flames burning him, they turned black in his palm before he threw it over his shoulder.

Oaraun ran forward with the added speed of his flames. He swung his massive sword horizontally. Ajal looked up and grasped his scythe with both hands, blocking the incoming strike, however, the force had pushed him off the ground. Oaraun ignited his spirit and kicked off, tackling Ajal through the stairs of the cathedral.

"Rgh!" Ajal grunted.

Oaraun charged at Ajal once more, smashing him through the smoke and tackling him down to a lower tower.

"I've learned your tricks!" Oaraun shouted as he drove Ajal into the tower and through multiple floors.

Each time Ajal's back struck the stone, he felt his consciousness slip further and further. The cowl of black flames he had taken from Oaraun managed to mitigate the heat. Ajal kicked Oaraun back to make some distance, however, Oaraun's foot pressed into the wall and he leaped forward into range once more. The reaper materialized above him and cut Oaraun multiple times however he continued forward anyway.

"Dammit-" Ajal grunted in frustration as Oaraun tackled him through the wall of the tower and back outside.

Oaraun grabbed the cowl, it burned his hands but he didn't flinch. Green flames shot out of his shoulder, propelling him into a spin. 'Ah!' Ajal was caught off guard as Oaraun dragged him around the air at high speeds.

"Ack!" Ajal could barely keep focused on his surroundings.

"Raaah!" Oaraun let go of the cowl, throwing Ajal back toward the Necropolis.

Ajal crashed into the staircase and tumbled onto his feet. The staircase led upwards into the cathedral, Oaraun propelled himself forward and swung at Ajal once more. Ajal quickly dodged, then darted up the steps as Oaraun crouched. The berserker jumped up five steps at a time, Ajal sensed him coming and turned. The green flames spewing off of Oaraun started to flow toward Ajal's weapon as he spun it. Two silver arms appeared around Ajal with black scythes, Oaraun clashed with them, however, Ajal continued up the steps.

"Stop running coward!" Oaraun charged up the steps, lunging forward to stab Ajal.

Ajal turned and swung the crescent end of the scythe and caught Oaraun off guard. As the crescent hit Oaraun's blade he struck it at an angle which caused Oaraun's arm to twist. The greatsword flew out of his hand, off the edge, and down to the ground thousands of feet below. Oaraun was wide open and in perfect range, 'Now! Use the high ground against him!' Ajal lunged forward and slashed Oaraun in a single motion, six more slices appeared from behind him.

"Raaah!" Ajal started to slash Oaraun rapidly.

Oaraun quickly shielded his face, taking multiple cuts with each swing. Ajal turned and struck Oaraun with the back of his foot and pushed him down the stairs, then kicked off with a spirit ignition and slashed him twice more. Oaraun held his ground as he grunted from the pain.

"Agh!" Oaraun coughed up blood, "Grrah!" he blindly charged forward.

Ajal was caught off guard as Oaraun tackled him straight into the stairs. 'Grh! ' Oaraun grabbed his leg with one hand, spun, then slammed him into the wall. 'Ack!'

"Your strikes are losing their power!" Oaraun roared as he swung Ajal around once more and then whipped him through the next level of stairs.

Ajal crashed through two levels of the staircase and then slammed into the third. His body was embedded upside down for several seconds, he was about to lose consciousness before he started to fall. Oaraun jumped through the first hole in the stairs and then jumped for the next. He kicked off the step and soared straight into Ajal. 'Rgh!' Blood spilled between Ajal's teeth while he tried not to focus on the pain.

They burst through the cathedral's basement, straight into the nave of the building. Ajal was in mid-air, barely conscious as Invideus roared. He opened his eyes to see the dragon above him with its maw wide open. The world seemed to slow down for a moment as the dragon's teeth descended on his abdomen.

"Anubis's Abyss!" Ajal shouted, releasing the black and white wave into the cathedral.

Invideus, several bricks of the Necropolis, Oaraun's armor, and his weapon. All of it vanished as the black and white wave passed over. The room was dark, the reaper had a large space full of shadows to move through. Ajal's heartbeat kicked into overdrive, his adrenaline taking over.

"Come on, lets go!" Oaraun hollered.

"Imperial Arts!" Ajal roared.

'I have half a minute where he can't use any ability!' Ajal ignited his spirit and closed the distance in a second 'If I don't finish him now!' Oaraun looked down in surprise to see Ajal suddenly go on the offensive. 'Any damage I do now will just be wasted!' Ajal threw his fist forward, and Oaraun blocked. Ajal continued to ignite his spirit behind him.

"Thruster!" Ajal ignited his spirit rapidly, propelling his fists forward and landing a flurry of punches to Oaraun's body.

"Rgh!" Oaraun grunted, he reached forward and tried to grab Ajal.

Ajal quickly ducked and pointed his feet up while pushing off the ground with his fingertips. 'Triple Ignition!' Ajal pressed his feet into Oaraun's stomach and knocked the wind out of him. Ajal pushed off the ground and slammed his foot into Oaraun's chest again, the audible crack of a rib echoed through the cathedral.

"Gah!" Oaraun's eyes started to fade, the twelve-foot behemoth was off the ground.

'It's working!' Ajal quickly conjured a black staff from the shadows, as he dragged it up, a massive blade formed from the shadows. Oaraun couldn't defend himself as the massive blade cleaved through him hard enough to knock him a few more feet into the air. Blood sprayed from Oaraun's chest, however, his grin remained static.

"Raaah!" Ajal roared as he dragged another scythe out of the darkness, cleaving Oaraun once more, and knocking him even further into the air.

Ajal jumped with a flip, bringing both scythes down at once and leaving hideous gashes through Oaraun's muscles. Ajal threw the scythes forward with an underhand grip, it skipped across the ground and slashed Oaraun once again. One of the reaper's four floating arms caught the scythe as it ricocheted into the air, then brought it back down once more and sliced Oaraun's right forearm deeply.

"Thanatos's Light!" said Ajal as he lifted the other scythe above his head.

Ajal cloaked his body in white flames as the reaper continued to slash Oaraun, the berserker took notice. 'Spirit Ignition!' Ajal threw the scythe through the air. Oaraun opened his eyes for a moment and managed to block the scythe in time with his arms.

"Rgh! Good! Fight to-"

'Thanatos's Light!' Ajal teleported to the scythe and held it firm. The reaper raised each of its arms and spun, striking the scythe and pushing it all the way through. The blades cleaved Oaraun's arm right off and carved deep into his chest with six slashes. A scratch was left on the green gem in Oaraun's core.

"Aaaah!" Oaraun cried out in pain.

Ajal dashed behind the stumbling Oaraun, wrapping his arms around his waist. Oaraun panicked as he realized what Ajal was about to do again. He reflexively elbowed backward, striking Ajal in the face and knocking a tooth out.

"Hraah!" Ajal screamed as he flexed his muscles in order to lift the twelve-foot monster.

Ajal barely registered the pain as he focused his spirit on his back and lifted Oaraun. While engulfed in the black and white flames, Ajal jumped backward. Before they both landed head first into the ground, Ajal slipped into the shadow.

"Ah!" Oaraun cried as his spine bent out of place.

Ajal leaped out of the shadow, grabbing Oaraun's head and pulling him up before kicking him through the cathedral and into the stone chairs embedded in the floor. Oaraun tumbled onto his back, his body riddled with spots for Ajal to teleport to. 'Thanatos's Light!' Ajal teleported over him and planted both feet into his stomach. Oaraun tried to grab Ajal but he jumped up, then slammed his feet into his abdomen once more.

"Ack!" Oaraun coughed.

Ajal's third eye lit up purple, the light started to pulse as he got ready to fire.

"Yama's-"

Oaraun suddenly lunged forward with his remaining hand and slammed it straight into Ajal's face. 'Rgh!' Ajal felt his feet leave the floor as the giant Oaraun stepped forward.

"Spirit Ignition!" Oaraun shouted as he pushed forward and drove Ajal into the ground with his punch.

Ajal dived into the shadows, then shot straight up, lunging forward and kicking Oaraun. Before he could pull his foot away, Oaraun grasped it and dragged him out of the shadow and over his head. 'Thanatos's Light!' Ajal suddenly appeared behind Oaraun and grasped his arm, pulling him around and causing him to stumble.

"Slippery little-"

Ajal struck Oaraun with the back of his foot, his neck whipped to the left as his eyes went white. Oaraun's eyes widened as he glared at Ajal who had already been lunging forward to continue his flurry of combos. Green flames started to spew from Oaraun's wounds once more. 'Shit! His abilities are-'

"Toll of Nemesis!" Oaraun roared.

Ajal quickly landed two kicks to Oaraun's head, the first staggered him, but the second did nothing. Each of his previous wounds healed, and his severed arm even came back in an instant.

"Shit-"

Oaraun charged forward and grasped Ajal's face, smashing him into the stone. Oaraun pivoted and threw Ajal in the opposite direction, down the nave of the cathedral, 'After all that damage! He's going to be-' Ajal opened his eyes, Oaraun had already propelled forward and tackled Ajal, launching him through the chapel and outside.

"Rgh!" Ajal grunted, conjuring his scythe while looking forward at the inside of the cathedral.

"Indra's Arms!" Oaraun roared from within the cathedral.

The berserker leaped out of the building at a high speed, then ran down a flight of stairs being constructed in his very path. Oaraun swung his greatsword while running at Ajal, the bricks formed underneath the two of them and formed into a platform. Ajal landed on his back, and as Oaraun's blade approached the reaper's hands reached out from the shadow underneath him and blocked the strike. The four floating arms grasped the double-ended scythe and swung down at Oaraun, slicing down his face and across his chest. Oaraun didn't flinch, the wound instantly healed as he lifted his blade again.

"Spirit Ignition!" Oaraun swung down.

Ajal tried to block only to be smashed straight through the brick floor. He listened to the wind pass his ears for a few moments as the sound of Oaraun kicking off the air echoed. However, he crashed once more and found himself in a large room filled with massive pillars this time. Ajal looked to the left and saw a throne. 'Where...' Ajal didn't have time to think as Oaraun fell on top of him, pressing both his grieves into Ajal's stomach.

"Agh!" Ajal grunted as the floor broke underneath him again.

Oaraun slammed Ajal through three floors of bricks before he crashed into the fourth. Oaraun grabbed Ajal by the collar and pulled him upright. Ajal opened one eye before Oaraun's fist slammed into his face, sending him flying across the room and through a pillar. The floor gave out on the level above as the pillar crumbled, and green bricks rained down over the arena. Oaraun jumped upwards, intent not to give Ajal a single moment to think.

"Thanatos..." Ajal uttered while gasping from the pain.

"World," Oaraun chanted as he held his greatsword high.

"Light!" Ajal shouted.

"Flame!" Oaraun roared.

Ajal was engulfed in a black and white flame as he slipped into the shadow. Oaraun slammed his blazing sword into the stairwell, and an explosion of flame and heat bursted outward. Multiple floors of bricks rained down from above as Ajal phased through the shadows. 'What the hell?!' Ajal phased through the world of shadows and reappeared at a floor two levels above. His heart beat quickly. 'This is tough!' The light shone from above, illuminating the fortress forged from green brick. 'He can just summon a castle and a dragon when and wherever he feels like it!'

Ajal took a deep breath as he raised his arms weakly, conjuring his scythe in both arms. The reaper's arm stretched out of the shadow behind him and pulled two massive scythes from the shadows. 'My attacks aren't working well against him... I took way too much damage earlier for nothing... I need to try something new...' The other four silver hands floated around Ajal, drawing small black scythes from the cloak's shroud. Blood trickled down the wounds on Ajal's arm, dripping off of his knuckles clutched around his silver scythe. The reaper's cloak provided him with a large shadow, 'If I fight with the reaper... I might be able to match his power...'

"There's nowhere to run now!" Oaraun crouched down and jumped up to the next floor.

"I won't..." Ajal replied as he steadied his breathing.

Oaraun jumped up to the level Ajal stood on before he lunged forward. Ajal dashed forward and clashed with Oaraun, 'Spirit Ignition!' They both stood tall, pushing their blades against each other. Oaraun stepped forward, 'Even with the reaper-' Oaraun's arm quivered, Ajal took notice. The reaper's four silver arms swung down. Oaraun jumped back. 'The damage earlier must still be there! It wasn't for nothing!' Ajal kicked forward with a spirit ignition and swung his scythe at Oaraun.

"Rgh!" Oaraun hesitated as he blocked.

Ajal let go of the scythe, "Reaper's Assault!" Ajal quickly conjured two scythes and slashed Oaraun, the reaper spun the silver scythe around and cut Oaraun as well. The reaper's silver hands started to swing as Ajal conjured two more scythes, flipping and slashing at Oaraun.

Oaraun managed to block, but he was forced to look up as the reaper raised the scythe overhead. However, Ajal grabbed the collar of his armor and pulled him down, kneeing Oaraun in the nose as the silver arms slashed at his legs. Ajal pivoted and dragged Oaraun overhead with all his strength.

"Fall!" Ajal roared as he slammed Oaraun headfirst through the floor.

Ajal didn't show any mercy, jumping down with him and slamming both feet into Oaraun's face 'Thanatos's Light!' Oaraun's nose cracked, and Ajal teleported in that instant to the mark he placed while spinning. 'Triple Ignition!' Ajal quickly spun and brought his leg down on his nose again.

"Guh!" Oaraun grunted as he was launched down to the lower levels.

Ajal jumped back with a bright purple light glowing from his eye, the reaper's eyes started to glow, and each of its four silver hands opened. "Yama's Ray!"

Oaraun quickly conjured his greatsword, but it was too late. The purple beam hit him directly, launching him through the building. The beam released in an instant, avoiding it was nearly impossible. The berserker was blasted backward, Oaraun shifted the blade in front of him and blocked the beam from burning him further. The beam dissipated as Oaraun was launched out of the castle. Ajal's breath was harsh, he fell to one knee as his head barely stayed up. 'Shit... Move... Finish him off! One more blast and he can't-'

"Mmh- Ack!" Ajal grasped his mouth, crimson blood flooded over his palm. "Ha... Ah..." Ajal's eyes quivered, his vision was fading as he breathed heavily.

Ajal tried to hold himself up using his silver scythe, blood trickling over his chin. 'I... I'm way past my limit...' Ajal looked to Oaraun as a green light flashed in that direction. The berserker grasped his sword with both hands. He glared at Ajal from a distance as he fell backward to the ground hundreds of meters away, dazzling green flames spewing out from the surface of his greatsword.

"World Flame! Damnation!" Oaraun roared as he thrust his sword forward.

A stream of green flame flew directly at Ajal. 'From that distance?' The flame soared through the sky, it spun through the air and grew in size. A black skull face appeared in the center of the fireball. The skull's mouth opened wide, growing to a colossal, unavoidable size, it melted the green pillars it flew past. 'Shit!' Ajal tried to slip into the shadows, his eyes widened as the bright light extinguished the shadows around him. The fireball struck Ajal and exploded, launching him through the building and smothering him in a searing hot green flame.

"Ah!" Ajal groaned at the touch of the flame.

Ajal flew through layers upon layers of green bricks. 'Anubis's Abyss!' The black and white wave extinguished the green flames burning his skin. He felt a moment of relief, before crashing through another wall and then hitting the Celestial.

"Ack!" Ajal bounced off the white surface of the tower.

Ajal felt his body tilt forward, he only realized where he was as he looked down at the green planes of grass and rigid mountains around the ruins of Andurill hundreds of meters away at the ground. 'I have to get back to solid ground! Spirit Ignition!' Ajal kicked off the Celestial and lunged for the bricks of the floating castle. The bone-chilling roar of Invideus came from his right. 'Shit-' Ajal was defenseless as the dragon rushed him. It caught Ajal in its jaw, its grey and jagged teeth piercing his abdomen, straight through old wounds and scars on his torso.

"Aaaah!" Ajal cried out in pain, his voice echoed through the sky.

The dragon's wings folded inwards, descending to the ground with Ajal helplessly unable to stop it. Oaraun stood on its back, raised the sword around grasped it with both hands, and then jumped. The green flames channeled through the blade, firing straight upwards and extending its length.

Ajal pushed against the jaw of Invideus, and the jagged teeth slowly slipped out of his wounds. Intense viridian flames spilled from the dragon's maw, burning Ajal even more.

"Ah!" Ajal winced from the pain but focused all of his spirit to avoid being bitten in half by the dragon.

Using the shadows within Invideus's maw, the reaper slashed through the shadows, ripping the dragon apart from the inside. Ajal was released from its jaw, he fell to the ground with blood dripping from his burned body. Ajal crashed into the dirt and rolled against the grass down a hill. The reaper faded into the light, and Ajal's third eye closed. 'Agh... My Spirit Bloom is used up...' He could barely move anymore, he glanced to the left and saw the outpost at one end of the bridge to Kamino. However, the entire area was lit green as Oaraun's flaming sword reached an unreal height.

"World Flame! Sword of the Revenger!" Oaraun roared from the sky, his voice echoing across the land.

Ajal looked back up in shock, Oaraun swung the massive flaming blade down. He made a horizontal cleave, cutting straight through structures in the Necropolis. The continent-sized blade tilted down toward Ajal and he felt his heart freeze for a moment. Ajal quickly sat up into a squatted position. 'Spirit Ignition!' Oaraun swung the colossal pillar of flame down, cleaving a perfect scar through the landscape. Ajal just barely managed to dash out of the way.

"Ha... Ha..." Ajal looked up and huffed, he tried to steady his breathing.

A crash echoed in the distance and caught his attention, a shard of the Necropolis's cathedral pierced the ground and launched smoke in all directions. The stone structures rained down while smothered in green flames. Fireballs of molten stone flew across the sky, leaving smoldering trails behind, and embedding themselves in various locations across the eastern side of Hiria. The largest, unbroken chunk of the palace crashed into the outer wall of Andurill and smashed through it. A crash close to Ajal caught his attention as he felt Oaraun's spirit, he stepped out of the smoke and walked forward toward Ajal.

"Hah... Ha...." Ajal breathed in and out repeatedly.

"Your Spirit Bloom is already depleted? You used your Spirit Bloom after me as well... You really are on your last legs..." Oaraun analyzed.

Ajal rolled onto his front and pushed himself off the grass, planting his knee on the ground and pushing against it to stand. However, the moment he did he wobbled towards the fissure from Oaraun's slash, falling onto his shoulder just a few meters from it. 'Ah...'

"It's difficult to take pride in this great battle... However, you are most certainly the strongest I've ever fought..." Oaraun explained.

Ajal turned and felt his legs convulse, he bent his knees as he desperately supported himself on wobbling legs.

"If you weren't already knocking on death's door, perhaps this would've been more interesting. In truth, I'd rather battle you at the peak of your strength... But leaving you alive is a decision I know will have consequences... There's still a chance to come to your senses..."

Ajal looked up at the green skilled warrior with one eyebrow raised.

"The angels are a plague, they were destined to die, yet they survived. And their survival was at the cost of thousands of my people... Lives drenched in blood aren't worth saving. That isn't even considering the hundred years of gluttony that Lucifer Lightbringer indulged in... Jack, the druids, the non-unified, they have every right to exact pain and suffering equal to their own upon the angels..." Oaraun explained, his tone making it sound like this should've been obvious.

However, Ajal simply stood up straight and returned a glare. Oaraun squinted as he realized there was no point in trying to convince him.

"You remind me of my old self..." Oaraun nodded as he raised his hands while he held the greatsword. "This sensation of wanting to rip them all limb from limb. I feel it. My people, feel it... For killing my innocent wife and countless others who lived in the service of furthering prosperity... For ruining the kingdom I built for life to live equally... Slaying and enslaving my people, using me as their executioner for over a hundred years..."

Ajal cringed at that last part, he looked down.

"One day, perhaps you'll understand... " Oaraun added.

"Then when does it end? When does the bloodshed end!" Ajal shouted.

Oaraun tilted his head. A subtle laugh escaped Oaraun's mouth as he started to laugh out loud, "When all of our enemies are dead. There won't be anyone left to envy us."

"I'll never join you, you're an insane piece of shit..." Ajal cursed as he took a stance, however, his leg still wobbled. "I won't let you drive Jack down this path of vengeance! You don't know him! He's not like the rest of you! He's still a good person!"

Oaraun reared his head back. "I don't think it's me who misunderstands Jack, after all, I've known him far longer than you. Another child who was the product of another two forsaken slaves finding love in one another's hopeless existence. Of course, it's common in Logos. The slaves were not sterilized as the Lightbringers wanted an endless supply of them."

Ajal struggled to not feel disgusted.

"They're sent to institutions in Torovince at birth to be raised. Forced into schools and educated in the trades, the basics the angels needed them to know, resistance meant abuse. They weren't allowed to socialize, instead, they had been pitted against each other in training. Jack was sent to Logos at sixteen after I martyred his parents, they were simply trying to find their son who had been robbed from them..." Oaraun explained.

Ajal felt a vein in his forehead bulge.

"I, as Alexander Rael, forced the slaves to clean up the Eldritch parent's mess. So even his fellow slaves despised him the moment he set foot in Logos," Oaraun laughed.

Ajal's head throbbed as he gritted his teeth, his eyes were wide.

"His envy is true, undeniable, it is his right to witness Helios burn the ground. He deserves a front-row seat in front of that burning kingdom... If you fail to understand that then it's you who knows nothing about Jack."

Ajal gritted his teeth and breathed in through his nose, he slammed his fist down on his shaking leg once and it stopped. He raised his arms and cracked his shoulders, then brought his fists down and took a stance. Ajal could barely straighten his back, blood ran down his head. 'I have to win... '

"I have to stop you... All of you," Ajal declared deliriously, he breathed in and out weakly.

"Heh," the twelve-foot berserker grasped the handle of his blade and took a stance, green flames erupted from his body. "That's the spirit."