Chapter 54: Ajal; Shauran 49th, 344SR, 1:19

The dust spread away as the pressure and force from the great clash of power cleared away everything lesser. Lightning struck the walls of Helios or the earth behind it. The clouds twisted and turned rapidly in the strong winds. Ajal and Oaraun both held their ground as they tried to overpower the other.

The twelve-foot berserker clad in black armor was stronger, stepping forward slowly. Ajal's barefoot dragged against the rubble, just barely keeping his ground. Invideus charged forward and bit the reaper above Ajal, its teeth oozing with green flame crunched down on the cowl, burning it with the fuming saliva. 'Double Ignition!' Ajal ignited his spirit at his feet and the scythe, pushing Oaraun back and separating from the clash.

The second Ajal hit the ground, green flames spewed from Oaraun's greaves, propelling him forward. Ajal jumped to the side and spun both scythes at the same time. He dodged Oaraun, slashing him as he passed by. Oaraun flipped in mid-air, changed directions, and redirected his course before Ajal could land. He raised his silver scythe quickly and spun the purple blade upward. He clashed with Oaraun and stopped him despite his speed, the purple crescent ground against the green greatsword. The blades were both forged from their condensed divine blood, however, Ajal's was far stronger. Invideus continued trying to gnaw past the reaper's scythes.

'Thanatos's Light!'

Ajal and the reaper switched positions. The reaper immediately swung its scythes at Oaraun, he quickly raised his guard as a flurry of slashes carved through the air and ground. Invideus looked up as Ajal raised his foot overhead. 'Triple... Ignition!' With one kick, Ajal smashed Invideus's head into the ground. The top of its skull cracked. The dragon immediately spun from that position, Ajal raised an eyebrow as he felt an attack coming. The tail of bone struck Ajal, and a spiked piece of its vertebrae jabbed his right side.

"Rgh!" Ajal grunted as the tail flung him through the ruined streets.

Ajal crashed into a flat road but flipped back onto his feet. Invideus rose from the ground and ran on all fours, jumping up to the highway. Green sludge dripped from its maw, melting the road as its mouth lit up. A fireball shot forth from its jaw, Ajal ignited his spirit and dodged to the left. Invideus fired two more, he dodged to the right, turning and crouching low to the ground and dodging the third. The dragon bellowed viciously, then flapped its wings and crawled forward as Ajal ran towards it.

Ajal fearlessly charged in. 'You're nothing compared to the other dragons I've fought!' As Invideus swung its claw, Ajal slid against the ground, just barely dodging. He ran under and behind the beast, jumping into an empty caravan. Invideus fired another blast at him. Ajal grabbed onto one of the wooden beams inside and swung himself out of the caravan. The fireball struck and obliterated the abandoned vehicle. Invideus turned and continued to fire.

Ajal vaulted over the rail in the center of the road, then ignited his spirit and just barely dodged another explosion. He tumbled against the ground as Invideus aimed ahead. There was another abandoned caravan down the road, Ajal sprinted behind it out of sight. His feet dragged to a stop as Invideus fired, and the fireball struck the path in front of him, missing completely. The explosion's impact caused the caravan to lift slightly, meanwhile, Invideus charged another fireball. Ajal ducked and grabbed the bottom of the caravan, lifting it and then flicking it into the air. 'Spirit!' Before Invideus could fire, Ajal jumped and flipped, bringing his leg around full circle. 'Ignition!' He struck the caravan, sending it spinning through the air at Invideus, smashing into its face and causing the fireball to explode in its mouth.

Ajal looked left and right, as the dragon was staggered by the explosion. The reaper slammed its scythe into the ground, however, Oaraun flew past it and then straight upwards. Ajal turned and focused his spirit on his feet, igniting with each step and quickly darting across the highway filled with debris. Chunks of destroyed buildings and abandoned or unused caravans were all clogged further up the road. Invideus whipped its head through the smoke and flew after Ajal. 'It's not speeding up... It can probably only do that with him on its back...' Ajal looked up.

A green glint in the sky zoomed overhead faster than both Ajal and Invideus, curving downward and flying parallel with the highway straight toward Ajal. Oaraun held the green greatsword low, getting ready to strike. Ajal summoned the reaper to his side, still running from Invideus, but fearlessly charging straight at Oaraun. 'That's not a bad idea!'

Ajal ignited his spirit with each step. The reaper raised two scythes with its arms made of flesh behind Ajal. The other four silver arms with eyes positioned themselves behind the reaper. Invideus dodged out of the way of the four beams, Oaraun raised an eyebrow as Ajal was launched forward even faster. 'Spirit Ignition!'

Ajal and Oaraun both swung at the same time, and a loud smash vibrated through the air. They knocked each other off course as the impact cracked the walls of the nearby building. 'Thanatos's Light!' Ajal swapped positions with the reaper, and with the momentum, he soared straight for Oaraun, spinning overhead with the purple crescent side of his scythe overhead. Oaraun gasped as he looked up, he wasn't ready to defend so soon after the last clash. Ajal slammed the scythe down, and the force crushed the ground beneath Oaraun. Even the highway collapsed in on itself, the road tipped in both directions, almost tilting perpendicular to the ground. Rubble and caravans rolled down the road, on wheels or on themselves, joining the descent.

Ajal spun his scythe overhead as he fell through the hole. He spun the purple crescent again as he prepared for another attack. Oaraun swung his massive blade and cleared the smoke. The top of his skull helmet, as well as the jagged shoulder plate on his right side, had been smashed. Ajal and Oaraun swung at the same time. Another ripple of force spread out instantly, and falling rubble and caravans suddenly stopped in mid-air.

Ajal looked down and noticed the cracks in the ground glow green. 'He's focusing flame into the ground!' Oaraun absorbed the impact, then reached upward for Ajal's leg. As he grasped it, Ajal spun his other foot around and kicked his arm away. With the momentum, he grasped one of the jagged spikes of Oaraun's armor, swinging around to his back, and held on.

"World!" said Oaraun, intent to blast Ajal away.

The caravans that had been stopped by the explosion of force slowly started to descend again. Ajal jumped off Oaraun's back and scrambled up the slanted interior of a caravan. The caravan spun slowly through the air, Ajal managed to jump to the front seat, and then up to a falling piece of rubble.

"Flame!" Oaraun roared as he leaped straight up with explosive speed.

Ajal's third eye pulsed as he sensed Oaraun coming, his greatsword just seconds away from drawing blood. The green flames launched the rubble and abandoned caravans back upward, the debris was practically being juggled through the air. Ajal jumped and spun in mid-air, deflecting Oaraun's inbound attack and letting him soar past. 'Thanatos's Light!' Ajal's hands were shrouded in the fire-like black and white aura as he landed on the cloth covering another caravan.

Oaraun turned in mid-air and zoomed back in for another strike. 'He's fighting relentlessly! Makes sense after I wasted the first few minutes of his Spirit Bloom, he probably knows I'll have the upper hand soon!' Ajal slid down the side of the falling caravan and grasped a handful of the cloth cover. He left a black and white mark on it as he twisted his body in mid-air, dragging the whole caravan with him.

"Hah!" Ajal threw the caravan at Oaraun.

The cloth lit up green before being burned straight through, Oaraun effortlessly pushed forward, closing the distance and swinging down. His blade inches away from hitting Ajal. 'Thanatos's Light!' Ajal teleported to the burning cloth, ignited his spirit to kick off the air, and landed on the elevated highway that slid into the hole spewing green flames. Ajal dragged his feet against the slant and ran up. With two short breaths, he kicked up the height of the road as it crumbled, then jumped off the top. Ajal landed on flat ground, immediately falling forward and rolling over his shoulder. Then, he hurried across the flat, unbroken road, vaulting over the rail in the middle.

Ajal let out a quick exhale before going back to his top speed. He sprinted down the highway, occasionally glancing back at the dissipating pillar of flame. 'I need to finish him off without him healing... Or else this fight won't end until I can't move anymore!' The road started to rumble. Ajal felt Invideus's spirit fly underneath the highway, Oaraun's, however, was still far behind in the same spot.

"World Flame!" Oaraun roared.

Ajal turned in the voice's direction while Invideus kept going, he squinted as he saw an ominous green light glow from beneath the highway down the road. The light of the green flame could be seen reflecting off the remaining buildings at the side of the highway. 'That technique!? He-' Ajal turned back around as he heard multiple crashes from far down the road echoing through the ruined streets. 'Is that thing destroying the road's support? What'll that even-' Ajal's third eye went into a frenzy, and his body shook from a sudden anxiety caused by his Spirit Sense. 'Somethings coming-' Ajal paused as the highway started to descend. He looked left and right, looking for a nearby building, but hesitated as he noticed the green light extend down the road and shine on the wall of those very buildings.

"Shit!" Ajal cursed as he jumped to the side of the road

"Sword of the Revenger!" Oaraun roared, his voice loud enough to be heard clearly.

The middle of the highway lit up green as a searing hot pillar of flame split it in two. The road that was already about to fall, suddenly lifted before being ripped wide open, Oaraun's sword tipped to the right and he cleaved through a building. Ajal tumbled and jumped to the nearby s structure's window. Ajal turned and flinched as he saw the pillar of flame glide through the buildings and swing full circle. The blade cleaved through even more buildings and slashed Ajal, chunks of burning rubble also struck him. A blanket of green flame stuck to his skin, burning him.

"Rgh! Muer's Darkness!" Ajal corrupted the green flames, dying them black and pulling them over his shoulder, and wearing them. "Oblivion flame cowl!"

Ajal fell into the lower streets, he couldn't get an idea of his surroundings. 'Thanatos's Light!' Ajal switched positions with the reaper, reappearing above an untouched part of the highway. At that very second, Ajal listened to the very clear sound of an explosion. The moment he looked down, he was face-to-face with Oaraun in mid-air.

"Huh-"

"Spirit Ignition!" Oaraun roared as he slammed his blade down.

Ajal raised his arms, igniting his spirit right before the blade hit him and absorbing the impact slightly. Blood leaked out of the gashes in his arms as he was launched down into the last bit of the highway, smashing right through it to the lower level.

"Ah!" Ajal groaned. "Ha- Thanatos's Light, Reapers Assault!" he uttered as he jumped to his feet and then backflipped instinctively.

Oaraun slammed his greatsword into the ground, he looked up as Ajal's feet were still off the ground. His greatsword glowed green, he stepped forward and thrust the sword forward, Ajal conjured the silver dual-ended scythe to his hand, swinging the purple crystal crescent and deflecting the strike, but being knocked back at the same time. Ajal shifted to a short grip, spinning one end with his fingers. The black blade grew in size as he threw it vertically with an upward swing. It looked like a black saw slicing through the ground, the center of the disk was the purple crescent, spinning with a black singularity at its center. Oaraun quickly guarded, the scythe rolled against his greatsword, and his feet dragged back from the force of the singularity increasing its speed.

"Rgh!" Oaraun grunted, however as he lost his footing the greatsword was knocked out of his hand and the blade pierced into his arm. "Agh!"

Oaraun dropped to one leg as he stuck his hand into the side of the spinning disk and stopped it. Ajal looked past Oaraun and to the shattered highway where hundreds of black scythes spun with white flames glowing off of them, they rained over the battlefield, hitting Oaraun three times. 'Imperial Battle Arts!' Ajal closed his third eye and ran forward, focusing a majority of his spirit to his chest and charging, the flaming cloak flapped as he ignited the spirit at his foot and dashed.

"Spear!" Ajal shouted as he delivered a high jump kick straight to Oaraun's face.

"Rgh!" Oaraun grunted as his helmet was smashed into his nose.

"Hammer! Blade!" Ajal delivered a slam with his other foot, and then with the momentum brought his elbow down on Oaraun's thigh, then jumped. "Axe!" Ajal brought his heel down on Oaraun's torso.

Oaraun grasped Ajal's leg after he took the brunt of the damage, 'Thanatos's Light!' Ajal teleported behind Oaraun with his leg raised. Ajal swung his foot and slammed Oaraun in the back of the head with a spirit ignition, teleported once more, and swung the other foot the other way. A crack echoed through the city as Ajal's foot broke the rest of the helmet off.

"Ack!" Oaraun coughed as his head snapped in the other direction.

Oaraun tried to grab Ajal, but he darted behind and wrapped both his arms around Oaraun's waist. Ajal focused his spirit on his back, igniting it to lift Oaraun overhead, and falling back to slam him head-first into the rubble. Flames spewed out of the back of Oaraun's armor, burning through the small cowl of black flame easily. The moment before he hit the ground, Ajal dived into the shadows.

"Damn!" said Oaraun.

Ajal rose a few steps away, jumped forward, and kicked Oaraun in the side of the head. 'Triple Ignition!' Ajal blinked as he launched Oaraun, reappearing where he would land and then swinging his foot straight up. Oaraun's eyes widened as he clenched his teeth and took the hit straight to the chin, Ajal vanished again, reappearing right next to his scythe. He kicked the silver handle up with the top of his foot, crouched, and then jumped. Oaraun's eyes glanced to the left as Ajal jumped into the air with the scythe above his head.

"Hah!" Ajal exhaled as he slammed the purple crescent into Oaraun and knocked him back to the ground.

Ajal breathed in and out heavily, 'Eclipse magic! Stellar Corona!' A soft light glowed from Ajal's hands. 'I've never tried that hard to use magic, I never needed something so powerful before... And I'm bad at stabilizing it... The dark energy and the light energy both have to be absolutely pure, it takes a ton of focus to do right... Earlier... I did stabilize it, I didn't even think it was possible to... I balanced both my light magic, and my dark magic, and the moment the balance was broken, it bursts... Natural light and natural darkness are pure by themselves because, in their natural state, they lack disparity... So if I let it charge on its own... I should be able to use my abilities normally while it grows! Eclipse Magic! Genesis!' Ajal created a vivid black orb in his palm, the edge of it surrounded by a layer of white light. 'If this works... Just blasting him with all the energy didn't seem to kill him earlier, and I couldn't even gauge the damage I did to him because he went flying... And... Releasing that much energy carelessly might be dangerous...'

Ajal vanished once again, reappearing at a wall where a sickle landed, he left the miniature dark star behind. He looked across the rubble-filled canal through the streets, what used to be a highway. Ajal kicked off toward Oaraun with the black sickle above his head. Oaraun turned, and he started to raise his greatsword, Ajal grasped the sickle and threw it before teleporting again. This time Ajal teleported to Oaraun's right side and swept his legs with a spirit ignition. Ajal teleported again in front of the berserker and swung both fists forward. 'Double Ignition!' A sudden explosion caught Ajal off guard, he was engulfed in green flames. Ajal's eyes widened as he looked up, he shielded his face from the flames. 'What was that?! Dammit! Keep him on the defensive! Thanatos's Light!'

Oaraun flipped in mid-air, he was quick for his massive size. Ajal blinked to the side of another building and then kicked off. Oaraun glanced at him for a moment, and rather than dodge, he looked like he was waiting for something. Ajal spun his leg through the air, focusing his spirit at the same time. Before his foot could land, an explosion from Oaraun's foot rippled through the air. A field of smoke spread out, Ajal continued forward and swung his foot, only to hit nothing.

"Huh-"

Another explosion rippled above Ajal, and Oaraun quickly soared to the ground. He crashed into the rubble and rolled to his front. 'Is that how he closed the distance earlier?! He's...' Ajal stopped as he remembered the last fight. 'He only started propelling to match my speed in the last fight... But I think he realized he can charge it... Shit... This fight is only going to get more difficult! Imperial Battle Arts!' Ajal blinked again, this time right in front of Oaraun to his surprise.

"Hammer!" Ajal threw his fist forward, and Oaraun quickly blocked with his forearm.

Oaraun knocked Ajal's fist to the side and stepped forward, swinging the large blade, but missing as Ajal teleported away once again. Oaraun didn't expect him to teleport just out of range and run right back in, jumping and swinging his leg overhead. 'Triple Ignition!' Oaraun grunted as he blocked and stumbled to the side. Ajal landed on the ground, spinning his elbow around and smashing it into the side of Oaraun's head. Invideus roared from far away, while Ajal continued to spin, bringing his knee around to continue the chain of attacks. Oaraun grunted as he swung his greatsword quickly, Ajal hopped out of range and landed faster than it could hit the ground.

"Reaper's Assault!" Ajal ran forward as Oaraun stumbled backward, he reconjured his silver scythe and the reaper to his position.

"Indra's Forge!" Oaraun's armor reformed as he reconjured his greatsword in hand, a black skull jaw, and an even bigger skull helm, fitted with black horns took shape. "Necropolis of the Damned!"

Bricks started to form beneath Oaraun's feet, layering over the rubble and destroyed roads. 'He reinforced his head... And he deployed that technique in the city!' Rather than stack upon the rubble, the green bricks materializing out of thin air seemed to stack around the uneven debris. Ajal jumped over a rising curb, stepping off of it and leaping toward Oaraun. Their two weapons lit green and purple sparks under the dark walls rising around them, Ajal spun behind Oaraun with momentum. Oaraun whipped all the way around, quickly grasping Ajal's foot and pulling him back to the ground.

"Agh!" Ajal grunted.

Oaraun stepped down on Ajal's chest and ruthlessly swung the greatsword down. 'Thanatos's Light!' Ajal teleported away, he turned to re-engage but stopped as he saw a green wall in front of him. 'He deployed the walls to counter my mobility! Shit-' Ajal sensed Oaraun's spirit approach quickly, he heard the repeated crashes on the other side of the one wall in front of him. Ajal dived into the shadow as his third eye glowed purple. Oaraun flew straight through the wall like a missile. Ajal jumped out from the shadow, 'Yama's Ray!' the purple light focused as Oaraun turned and was about to charge back in. Ajal held the beam for a few seconds, condensing it, and then releasing it by just barely opening his third eye.

The high-speed beam reverberated through the air, the beam flew across the large gap between them and struck Oaraun in the chest. He slid back from the impact, and Ajal shot the beam five more times. Each violet bolt smashed more and more of Oaraun's armor. Ajal ran forward as he fired the last bolt. However, he didn't expect to see a green flash, followed by Oaraun flying forward with a jump kick. 'Shit! Dodge-'

"Ack!" the wind was knocked out of Ajal, he had just barely focused his spirit in time.

Oaraun's foot started to glow, and Ajal's third eye went into a frenzy once again. Ajal tried to swing his other fist, however, the difference in size allowed Oaraun to hit first. The black foot pressed into Ajal's abdomen, and just before it did, he noticed the skull on the side of Oaraun's armor, its eyes and jaw leaked flames. His foot suddenly released an explosion, and Ajal was blown back at a high speed. 'Rgh!' Ajal focused his spirit on his stomach to avoid as much damage as he could, but his skin was blown right off and his muscles were burnt and torn.

"Ahagh!" Ajal grunted as he crashed through a wall and tumbled.

Ajal rolled for several seconds, scraping his exposed flesh and skin against the ground until he was dragged to a stop. The skin started to heal fairly quickly, but it still stung painfully. Oaraun walked over, breathing heavily before laughing.

"Burns doesn't it? I noticed how you charged your little beam, and I thought maybe I could do the same since our blood has similar properties, and the result is magnificent... The divine beings were born for battle, we flourish in it!"

Ajal rolled onto his front, breathing in and out heavily as he slowly stood. Oaraun walked forward but stopped as he heard the sound of bricks crumbling somewhere else. Ajal heard it too, he turned and was caught off guard as the building and part of the Necropolis were ripped from the ground. Oaraun crouched and held the ground as the rubble and buildings lifted up and started to rotate around the rising dark star. Ajal was shocked to see the bricks he lay on start to rise as well. The buildings and road were spun around the black and white star, it was developing orbits quickly.

"What... What is- That- that ability!" Oaraun stuttered as he turned back to Ajal.

Ajal ignited his spirit and hopped across the moving stones and bricks, grabbing his airborne silver scythe and spinning it as the reaper soared forward. Oaraun raised his guard and blocked two strikes from the reaper, then spun and winded up a massive strike as Ajal swung the purple crescent spilling with energy.

"You! What did you do?!" Oaraun shouted.

"I won't let you control the arena this time!" Ajal bluffed.

Ajal landed on the same platform as Oaraun. He spun his scythe and slashed his armor. Oaraun barely flinched, pointing the blade forward, and lunged. Ajal bent his torso and dodged, deflecting the blade with his scythe at the same time, and pivoting forward into his range. 'Spirit Ignition!' Ajal slammed the purple scythe into Oaraun's head then spun the scythe around and slashed his helmet

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"Agh! Raaah!" Oaraun swung his fist and struck Ajal in the face, then immediately lunged forward and slammed his greatsword down.

Ajal blocked it with his weapon but was slammed into the ground and straight through it. Ajal flew threw the vortex, he ignited his spirit and grasped back onto the rubble Oaraun stood on. 'Thanatos's Light!' Ajal's shadow moved on its own, and the reaper rose out of it, lifting its massive scythes out of the cowl. Ajal jumped off to another piece of debris as the reaper began viciously swinging at the previous one, cleaving it to pieces and sending even smaller debris across the orbit.

An explosion rippled as Oaraun launched himself away from the vortex. Ajal dragged a scythe out of the shadows and shifted it upwards, imbuing it with the white and black aura as he focused his spirit. 'You're not getting away!' Ajal whipped the scythe to the left, aiming in front of his path. As Ajal threw it he lost his balance and tumbled, he held on tightly to a chunk of rubble. The star produced crackling purple beams of energy that seemed to flow into Ajal. 'How much energy is the dark star collecting?! It's generating its own magnetism and gravitational pull?! I... I was capable of this...' Ajal paused as he felt it flow toward him. Oaraun glanced backward and saw the scythe flying toward him.

'Thanatos's Light!' Ajal teleported to the scythe and ignited his spirit. He just barely got into range, grasping Oaraun's leg. Immediately, an explosion from his foot rippled outwards and burned Ajal's face. 'Don't- let go!' Ajal exhaled as he spun Oaraun and threw him back toward the star, his throat scorched from the exhaustion, dehydration, and heat.

Oaraun crashed through several moving pieces of rubble and debris. Ajal was pulled back toward the star, landing and rolling on a flat part of a building's wall. Ajal floated a few orbits away from the center, while Oaraun was much closer. The two stood up and stared at each other their separate platforms revolving at opposite ends around the debris field. Ajal drew his silver scythe and took a defensive stance. The reaper rose from the shadows behind him, lifting each of its arms, and opening all of its purple glowing eyes as it let out a silent roar. Oaraun fixed his armor, the skull jaw forming over his excited grin. Invideus landed on the same platform, grasping on tightly as it roared. Despite the black skull dragons' cries, Ajal and Oaraun's attention was drawn to the ground outside the city.

"Oaraun! Oaraun! Oaraun!" the druids cheered in mass for their champion.

Ajal looked over his shoulder at the gate. He turned his head to keep looking as his mouth hung open from surprise. It was hard to see, but there was a field of dark druids entering the inner city.

"Despite everything I know about you... Seeing them like that makes me question my belief..." said Ajal.

"It's the second time death has come to stop us, it failed to kill us the first time, and now it sends its avatar with you... They are depending on my victory... Even after I failed them once... But, it matters not," said Oaraun. "I couldn't care less about who we are right now..."

Oaraun raised his greatsword as the piece of debris approached, Ajal hoisted his weapons up and swung. The two clashed as they passed by each other for a brief moment, Invideus fired two fireballs from its blazing maw. The reaper split the blasts with the massive scythes, then fired two beams from its silver palms at the structure Oaraun stood on. Oaraun's left foot ignited with a green explosion, and he dodged the beam. Invideus flew off the platform to evade.

"Rah!" Oaraun's other foot ignited as his greatsword guided the purple electricity through his swing.

Ajal blocked the strike but was launched off his platform by an ignition. Oaraun immediately turned and swung at the reaper, cleaving through its cowl and ripping through nothing but cloth. The reaper swung downward and slashed Oaraun, only for him to regenerate immediately and suddenly slash the reaper's arm off.

Ajal crashed into a piece of the highway, causing it to flip repeatedly. The reaper punched Oaraun to his surprise, then blasted him with the other two silver hands, sending him flying through the platform. Ajal shook his head, looking up as he heard Invideus's roar. The dragon soared toward the reaper from below. Ajal sprang to his feet and leaped off of the debris, Invideus didn't see him coming.

'Spirit Ignition!' Ajal swung his scythe down and severed the creature's neck. The dragon's body twirled off course as its skull joined the orbit, the body crashing with a moving rooftop and rolling flowing with the current. Ajal landed on a green brick and immediately heard a loud explosion burst above him. The second Ajal looked up, Oaraun slammed his greatsword down, then ignited his flames again. 'Damn!'

Ajal was pushed down, and his knee slammed into the stone cracking it. His footing gave out. He fell through the debris, crashing straight through it. Ajal's head throbbed from the impact and a stream of blood rolled down his forehead and neck as he kicked himself away. However, a stream of flames spewed from Oaraun's feet, propelling him with the speed of the vortex and holding his greatsword forward. Ajal's third eye went into another frenzy as the blade approached, 'Reaper's Assault!'

Ajal summoned six scythes all around him, grabbing one and spinning it quickly to deflect. Ajal crashed into another chunk of rubble, and Oaraun slammed him through that as well. All the while, the berserker continued swinging viciously, each strike with the intent to hack through him. Ajal blocked two strikes, stepped off a brick, and narrowly dodged the third. As the star pulsed to a greater size, and its orbit widened and strengthened, the reaper came around behind. The reaper's purple eyes started to glow, and Oaraun's eyes lit up green as he let out a battle cry.

"Hraah!" Oaraun roared as he swung wildly.

'What the hell!? He's barely slowing down?!' Ajal blocked a strike and turned, sprinting and jumping to a rock, then skipping across it onto the next piece of solid ground. The moment he turned Oaraun was right in front of him yet again, Ajal could barely think. On one hand, his third eye watched Oaraun's every move, meanwhile, he had to keep his footing stable as he was pulled closer and closer to the star. Ajal's forehead started to throb as a green explosion echoed from behind. The moment he turned, his eyes widened as Oaraun slammed his blade into Ajal's side, he took the brunt of the impact with his spirit but was still launched away from the star. Before he could hit more debris, Oaraun's foot exploded once more, and he closed the distance once again.

Ajal conjured his silver scythe to block, and Oaraun's foot slammed into the handle and pressed into his shoulder. Oaraun propelled flames through his other foot as he escaped the pull of the star. Ajal was slammed into the ground, his shoulder aching as his back dragged the rest of his body to a stop. Oaraun lifted his greatsword over his head as he held Ajal down with his boot. 'Rgh! ' The druids cheered as they saw Ajal on the ground, and their champion above him.

"Die!" Oaraun shouted.

Ajal's third eye lit up purple. Oaraun thrust his sword down. Ajal's heart skipped a beat as he just barely caught the blade in time with his hands. Oaraun's blade ignited with flames, they seared Ajal's hands, 'Muer's Darkness!' Ajal dyed the flames black as he looked up at Oaraun's flaming green eyes. It was when Ajal noticed Oaraun's spirit weakening, he realized. 'He's losing his Spirit Bloom!' Oaraun flexed his arms and pressed down even harder, while a vein bulged in Ajal's neck and forehead.

"Graah!", "Raaah!" the two screamed at the other while locked in the standstill.

Ajal pressed his feet against the ground, trying to get some leverage against the sword. Oaraun slammed the blade down with his other hand and slid past Ajal's grip, his third eye went into another frenzy as the tip of the blade touched his chest. Oaraun raised his fist again, as the reaper soared around the star on a platform of rubble. Ajal saw the purple light, a black and white flame coated his hands. 'Thanatos's Light! Yama's Ray!' The reaper fired six blasts all at once, Oaraun was completely unaware as each struck his back and launched him off. A black and white flame was left on the tip of the greatsword,

"Ahagh!" Oaraun winced as chunks of his armor were blown off, they broke off of his body as he tumbled against the dirt.

'Reaper's Assault!' Ajal conjured six scythes and his primary silver one. Ajal focused his spirit on his feet and ignited it, launching forward relentlessly with everything he had. Oaraun stood weakly, his weak and heavy breaths made it obvious he was worn out.

"Hraah!", "Haa!" Ajal and Oaraun both released almost primal battle cries.

Ajal quickly reentered his range and slashed down his shoulder with the purple crescent. The impact broke the left side of his armor off, and Oaraun swung his blade despite the pain. Ajal let go of the silver scythe and grabbed two black ones, spinning and deflecting the strike.

Ajal's feet dragged backward as he kicked off and lunged back in. He swung the scythes down as Oaraun raised his blade back up, deflecting the hit. Ajal let go, spun, and grabbed two more, whipping his blade through Oaraun's arm, but not deep enough to sever it.

"Agh!" Oaraun grunted as his arm spewed blood.

Ajal ran forward and jumped, kicking Oaraun in the chest, grabbing the last two scythes, and slamming them down on his right arm, breaking the other gauntlet off. Oaraun dropped his greatsword as he stumbled backward, breathing heavily as his glowing green eyes faded.

"Imperial Destructive Arts!" Ajal chanted, Oaraun raised his arms and shielded his face.

He was caught off guard as Ajal feinted and pressed his hands against the ground. 'Anubis's Abyss!' The black and white wave extended outward and erased Oaraun's armor.

"Warhammer!" Ajal pressed off the ground and slammed both feet into Oaraun's chest, igniting his spirit, and launching Oaraun away with a direct hit.

"Gah!" Oaraun grunted.

'Thanatos's Light!' Ajal reappeared at the greatsword, then ignited his spirit and got into range with his spirit focused on his foot. 'Triple Ignition!' Ajal swung his leg up and kicked Oaraun in the chin, knocking him into the air. Ajal condensed the energy in his third eye as he looked up, and summoned the reaper to his shadow. Its head, chest, and four arms pointed out of the ground and glowed brightly. Oaraun's eyes widened as he realized there was nothing he could do.

"Yama's!" Ajal shouted, a ring of purple light condensed on his forehead. "Ray!"

A massive purple beam engulfed Oaraun, he tried to shield himself but it was useless. The purple beam seared his flesh and skin. Ajal focused even more of his energy into the beam, launching Oaraun straight up into the air. The purple beam flew out of Helios, lighting the dark night sky purple.

The blast faded after several seconds. The druids were silent as Oaraun fell, crashing into the ground. Ajal breathed in and out, his eyes widened as he felt Oaraun's spirit flow.

"Toll of Nemesis! Zelos Greatsword!" Oaraun shouted.

"Tsk!" Ajal kissed his teeth out of frustration as Oaraun's wounds healed.

Oaraun leaped forward out of the smoke, spinning and slamming his greatsword into the ground. Ajal jumped back, and Oaraun fearlessly ran forward and clashed with Ajal. The two of them spun, dragging their feet to a stop as they swung their weapons. The moment they clashed, Ajal was surprised at the lack of resistance, Oaraun let go of his blade. 'This guy- Rgh!' Oaraun pressed his fist into Ajal's chin and knocked him back. Ajal tried to swing his scythe down, only for Oaraun to narrowly dodge, he was faster without the armor.

"Rah!" Oaraun punched Ajal in the head and then in the stomach, however, he jumped back the moment he saw the growing star reach a massive size, it was wider than a building now.

Streams of purple energy flowed between Ajal and the star. Ajal raised his palm, and the star moved to his hand. The energy slowly condensed, shrinking the star as it floated above Ajal's palm.

"What the... Are you trying to tell me you harnessed even more power!? Hah- Haha! With that kind of power, remind me, which of us is the monster here!"

"Ah!" Ajal grunted as the light burned his palms, it was charring his skin. "Gah!"

The black orb surrounded by a white layer of light pulsed as the energy tried to escape. He grasped it and started to crush it in his grip. 'With all of this energy as my catalyst...' Ajal slammed his other palm into the orb and curled forward as he pressed it into his core. The orb of light entered the area between Ajal's chest and abdomen. His hair started flashing white.

"What the... That again!" Oaraun uttered as he raised his greatsword in front of him to block.

"Ah!" Ajal cried as his skin started to burn, it glowed as it started to change color. "Eclipse Magic! Glimpse of Infinity!"

Ajal's skin was suddenly dyed a deep black, white lights could be seen flowing through his skin. His hair lit up a bright white, and purple energy crackled off of his body. The reaper disappeared as the floating rubble from earlier rained over the city. Only his third eye was open.

"What- What is that form- Agh!"

Oaraun was launched back as Ajal instantly closed the distance and punched him. The strike was too fast for him to channel any spirit behind it. 'What!' Oaraun slowly flew toward the inner wall as a massive burst of energy rippled out of Helios. 'What is this...' The strands of energy flowed across the ground and soared slowly through the air. Ajal's thoughts felt uncomfortably quick compared to everything else, the druids all looked at him for a moment, their skull jaws hung open. With their excited expressions, it was almost like they hadn't witnessed what happened seconds ago. Ajal was caught off guard as he watched Oaraun slowly soar toward the wall, it was almost like he wasn't moving. 'Time is moving... Slowly?' Ajal felt the mass of light and dark energy draining from him quickly, 'No... I don't have time to think about that... I only have five seconds left to use this energy...'

Ajal crouched, looked up at Oaraun, and kicked off with one step. In an instant, he punched Oaraun toward the inner wall and straight through it. Then flew through, and then kicked him further into the air. Ajal ran up the wall of Helios and then delivered three punches in succession to Oaraun's stomach. Oaraun's expression was a mix of pain and shock, his mind still unaware of even the first attack. Ajal kicked off the air itself, flipped forward, and punched Oaraun straight down. 'Imperial Battle Arts!'

"Hammer!" Ajal shouted as he planted his fist into Oaraun's abdomen and slammed him into the ground.

The buildings of Helios all cracked, and the ground collapsed in on itself as Oaraun hit the ground. Ajal's skin returned to normal, and a chill immediately ran over his body. It was so cold he started to skip a few breaths. Oaraun was flat on the ground, his eyes rolling to the back of his head, he had a massive hole in his stomach. Oaraun's body decreased in size, his spirit bloomed had finally ended.

"My Lord!" a druid shouted desperately.

"Huh..." Ajal turned around.

Hundreds of druids occupied the rubble-filled road near the gate to what was once the inner city of Helios. Ajal watched as the giants approached, the gondola on their backs. Gundyr floated forward and grabbed a pillar as he witnessed the scene of Oaraun on the ground. Reygar, Ardel, and Vincent, who had watched the entire fight, stood by speechless.

"Impossible..." said Gundyr.

Xenia watched behind her faceless mask, her spirit seemed tense.

"Get up Oaraun!" Ardel cried.

"Oaraun! Oaraun! Oaraun!" Ajal looked around and listened to the cheers.

The desperate cries filled the city. Ajal fell to one knee as his body felt too cold to move, 'What is this!? It's- so cold!' The sound of a dragging foot made Ajal look back up, he twitched as he watched Oaraun's leg curl in.

"Agh! Ah... Ha!" Oaraun rolled onto his front, slowly pushing himself up.

Oaraun slowly rolled onto his front, wheezing as he held the wound. He conjured his sword in hand, however, it disappeared immediately. Oaraun fell forward.

"Agh..." Oaraun uttered weakly on one knee. "You'd go this far... For those bastard angels... What have they ever done for you... They stole your technology! Stranded you on this planet! You witnessed what they did to the non-unified, to my people! And that's just us! Thousands more have suffered under their reign! They deserve- to die! You believe you can shoulder the burden of their sins! They don't deserve protection from the divine! They don't deserve to live for another day!"

Ajal breathed in and out as his teeth rattled, he gazed upon the ruined city. He simply looked at Oaraun as he took a deep breath. Oaraun gritted his teeth, the bags under his eyes were stained with blood, and several strands of blood ran down the left side of his face. Oaraun winced as the hole in his stomach healed slowly.

"You're right... They don't," said Ajal.

"Don't screw with me! If you believe-"

"I don't deserve to live either, far less than they do" Ajal shrugged and shook his head at the same time.

Oaraun squinted at him.

"I have no right to speak for them, but... I don't save them because they deserve to be saved. Not many people do... But," said Ajal. "People can change while they are alive... Once they're dead, the meanings of their lives are set in stone..."

The grey clouds flashed as the sky slowly brightened to a soft navy blue. The rumbling storm clouds calmed. The strong gusts of winds flowed back into the city and whistled through the devastation. Oaraun stood up, panting heavily at the same time, he was visibly exhausted.

"You think a change can remedy their sins..." Oaraun scoffed. "It's no wonder Jack doesn't believe in your-" Oaraun stopped as he suddenly rose.

Ajal's eyes narrowed in confusion, Oaraun looked down as he floated upward. 'What the-' Ajal took a stance as he didn't see the berserker's spirit move. Oaraun moved his legs, but both he and Ajal were caught off guard as his feet dangled over the ground.

"Wha- What is- Ah!" Oaraun was dragged straight upward by a supernatural force.

"What..." Ajal stepped back, glancing at the druids, and then back to his opponent.

Oaraun floated upward into the sky, dangling helplessly as he rose higher and higher. Ajal turned, looking up at the Celestial itself as the sun rose. There was a figure in the sky, Oaraun was dragged up to it before the figure suddenly took off toward the top of the Celestial. Oaraun's body was pulled behind them to the top. Ajal stood in front of the army of druids, everyone was speechless after what they had witnessed. A single thunderbolt struck nearby, releasing an echoing rumble through the sky.

"Hey!" Ajal shouted, he ran forward but stopped.

'Wait! What the fuck just happened?! Who was that?!' Ajal looked around, most of the buildings had been damaged and destroyed. 'Reaper's Assault!' Ajal summoned the reaper behind him, it opened its cowl and released scythes tipped with white flame toward the Celestial. The sickles struck the side opposite to the rising sun, 'Thanatos's Light!' Ajal teleported to the Celestial and immediately entered its shadow, his spirit bloom ended right there at the same time. Ajal quickly traveled through the shadow, straight toward the top of the Celestial.

***

It had been several minutes since Oaraun was taken. The sky was orange as the sun rose. Ajal soared through the shadow as fast as he could, he was at past three-quarters of the way up now. 'What the hell happened... Who was that... They were too high up to be seen by my Spirit Sense!' As Ajal reached the top of the Celestial, he grasped the edge and pulled himself up, his eyebrows raised the moment he glimpsed the scene upon it.

A shirtless man stood in front of Oaraun's body on the ground, he was facing Ajal. His hair was white, and his pupils were bright red. Two black tattoos on the man's face resembled tears drooping down his pale cheeks, their spirit was immense and extremely violent. The black rags that covered his legs flapped in the wind. He lifted his bare foot, then slammed it down on Oaraun's head. The sun rose behind the man, shrouding his body in shadow as two vibrant red eyes tilted up at Ajal. The mysterious man's expression softened, and his spirit calmed.

"You really did a number on him... I don't even have to try to keep him down... He can barely stand... I saw that light show earlier, was that your magic?" the stranger spoke, he had a smile on his face but he looked sad.

"Who... Who are you..." Ajal asked hesitantly, he focused on his spirit to his foot.

"Huh," the man tilted his head, raised his hand, and pointed at himself. "What do you mean?" he spoke, his somber voice sounded familiar, and Ajal's eyes widened.

Ajal stopped channeling his spirit, "Jack... Is that you?!"

"Am I that unrecognizable now..." said Jack.

"Jack... You-" Ajal uttered with a shocked expression.

Jack looked down at his palms, then clenched his fists. Ajal was frozen in confusion as he looked at his friend's appearance. The same friend he had been fighting all this time for. Oaraun coughed, he pushed himself up and tried to stand.

"It was true... My dream was true... " Oaraun uttered weakly. "I knew it! I knew all-"

Jack raised his foot and then slammed it into the Oaraun's head. A shock wave of force rippled outwards. Ajal raised his hands and was forced back a step. Oaraun's body stopped moving, the damage from the battle prior had worn him out completely.

"Yeah... It's me..." Jack answered.

"What... Happened," were the only words that came to Ajal's mind.

Jack breathed in, and then exhaled slowly, "I died."

"What..." said Ajal.

"I was killed, by the king of the angels... He kicked my body into the sea, just seconds before the Celestial gave me the gift to fight back... No... That isn't right..."

"Huh..."

"I was saved, by the Celestial King..."

"The Celestial... King?" Ajal tilted his head, he was even more confused now. "Jack... What are you talking about... What happened to your skin?! What are those marks?!"

Ajal glanced at the gateway behind Jack, there was nothing through it but the orange sky. But then he looked back to Oaraun on the ground. 'Did he really get a gift... Is that what he used earlier?!' Jack walked toward the edge of the Celestial.

"And then he showed me the truth... He showed me why I was cursed with this life... Why this reality... Is truly nothing but a prison..."

Ajal's head tilted. "A prison?"

"He watches everything, he showed me everything..." Jack turned, it was hard to tell, but it looked like a tear fell from his eye. "I'm sorry Ajal, you were right..."

"Huh... What- What are you talking about..."

"Sin begets sin..." Jack stated. "But even if I know this, it'll never change."

"Never change..." Ajal repeated. "No... Jack, people can-"

"People can change Ajal? Is that what you're going to say..." Jack took a deep breath. "Their change will never bring Lydia back. Their change will never bring Carol back. The past, cannot be changed. I won't forgive them, not just the angels, the Lithonians as well, I will show this world the very despair I felt..."

"Jack wait! This isn't you! You're a good-"

Jack's spirit violently spiked, and he raised his hand. Ajal stepped back as he expected an attack. All he felt was his hair whip to the right as a sudden force launched past his head. Ajal stood still, glancing to his left where something had flown by. 'What was that... He fired something, I sensed it... But I didn't see anything...'

"Don't... Ever... Say that again..." Jack warned, his red eyes full of fury.

"I'm not taking it back..." Ajal uttered with surprise, he focused his spirit on his forehead and activated spirit manipulation at the same time. "I know they wronged you, but Jack, killing them won't change anything..."

"I know."

Jack raised his hand, and the diamond mark on his palm glowed, Ajal breathed in and got low. Jack waved his hand toward Ajal who tried to dodge, his third eye opened. 'Dark Passage!' He left a mark on the ground with his foot. However, all of a sudden, he stopped. 'Huh?!' Ajal tried to move, but he couldn't 'What- Nothing is touching-' Jack dragged his hand overhead, and Ajal's whole body was lifted through the air seamlessly. 'Woah!' Jack opened his palm and released Ajal, throwing him off the Celestial.

"Ah!" Ajal gasped as he soared right off the edge. "Jack!"

The wind flapped by his ears, Jack walked toward the edge and looked down as he fell. 'Dark Passage!' Ajal teleported back, he appeared where he had stood. Jack's back was turned. He dashed forward quickly but chose not to draw a weapon. Jack looked up and turned, 'Dark Abyss!' The black and white wave passed over the top of the Celestial. Jack floated backward as he tried to avoid it, but he couldn't. The wave hit Jack and he suddenly fell on his back. On the soles of his feet, there had been another symbol of a black diamond. Jack tried to get up, raising his hand but looked at it with a frustrated expression.

Ajal pushed his hand to the side and grasped his arm, stepping forward and sweeping his left foot. Jack slammed his foot down and kept his ground, then struck Ajal in the chin with his fist and an ignition. 'Agh- What the fuck?! His spirit is way stronger for some reason?!' Ajal twisted Jack's wrist and pulled him over his head.

"Agh!" Jack grunted as Ajal slammed him onto his back.

As Jack tried to get up, Ajal quickly maneuvered around and wrapped his legs around Jack's waist, arms, and around his neck.

"Agh!" Jack struggled to get up, but couldn't. "Let go!"

"What the hell happened to you!" Ajal asked with grit teeth as Jack struggled. "Stop fighting, talk to me god dammit! You're my friend!"

The black and white wave receded, and Jack looked up with a furious expression. Ajal felt his body lift as Jack rose off the ground. 'Woah- What the-!' Jack slammed his elbow into Ajal's stomach, and to his surprise, the wind was knocked out of him. 'When- When was he this strong!' Ajal reached for Jack, but he simply flew away out of range. 'Huh? Hold on...' Ajal flipped and landed, he looked right back up and blinked several times. 'What kind of gift is this... He can fly, fire invisible blasts, move people without touching them...' Ajal pondered, while Jack floated out of reach.

"They all deserve to die Ajal! And now that I have the power to do it, I will kill them all!" Jack declared. "This battle is over, I will crush the angels, right here, right now. That is why I exist! I am the envoy of my people!" Jack shouted with a determined tone.

Ajal froze as Jack's hands were suddenly shrouded in a black aura, for some reason the silhouette of his hand glowed white within. The ground shook, and Ajal looked down. 'What the...' Ajal looked back up at Jack, whose other hand was engulfed in a similar aura as they grasped something. Ajal looked down as he felt the entire Celestial move. 'No... That's... Not possible...' Jack raised his hand, the Celestial started to rumble. 'Hey... Hey, hey hey!' Ajal turned and looked off the edge, the plains of grass across Kamino were divided as several cracks divided the land.

Jack gritted his teeth, his muscles bulged and the veins in his head popped out. Ajal listened to the rumble, the voice of the land itself cried into the sky. The Celestial twisted slightly, causing Ajal to stumble. Then it twisted the other way and Ajal's heart sank. Jack breathed in as he started to pull his hands upwards. The Celestial started to rise, pulling the ground with it. Ajal stumbled again and fell as Oaraun looked around with wide eyes, he grinned as he started to laugh.

"I knew it! I knew you were to be feared, Jack Eldritch!" Oaraun laughed.

Ajal was speechless as the Celestial rose from the ground, the earth quaked and shifted. Jack raised his palm above his head and the Celestial rose even faster. As it tilted Ajal and Oaraun started to slide off. 'No! Don't let him go!' Ajal ran up the tilting ground.

"Jack! Stop!" Ajal screamed.

Ajal ran up the slope, he ignited his spirit as he built up enough speed. However, before Ajal could even reach the edge, Oaraun lunged forward and slammed his arm into his throat.

"Ack-" Ajal grit his teeth, and a rush of anger came over him. "Oaraun!"

"Bear witness, Imperial! Bear witness to the destruction you caused!" Oaraun chuckled madly.

Ajal slid against the ground, and the skin on his hand tore as he tried to hold on. It was too late as he slipped off the floating Celestial. Ajal watched in horror as the landmass the Celestial dragged with it cracked and crumbled before falling back down hundreds of feet.

"Jack!" Ajal shouted through the sky, but it was no use.

Ajal could only watch as the figure of the friend he tried to save drifted further and further away. The Celestial stopped moving, and the entire structure tilted.

"Jack!" Ajal screamed again. "Jack!" he tried over and over.

The entire Celestial stopped still for a second before the pillar was launched off of the planet at a surreal speed. The displacement of mass caused air to whip in all directions. Ajal flew off his course as they descended back to the ruined land of Kamino. A feeling of dread came over Ajal, gritting his teeth and shutting his eyes. 'Was I wrong... To choose to intervene in this world's affairs... To try and save you when you asked for help... Was the two of us meeting each other a mistake... Was it wrong that I survived...' Ajal could do nothing but regret as he fell back to the surface of Grelt.