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I've decided to put up the CMoAs for The War of Heaven and Hell. Here they are, organized by Chapter and Character.

Chapter 3: Grace (also a CMoF)

Quote:
"Why must you continue to oppose us? We will be victorious. The more you fight, the more you lose. I am certain that our leaders would be more than willing to allow your survival if you would only accept the inevitable." The man paused in his rant temporarily, unfolding his arms. "Look around you," he continued, waving his left arm to the collapsing buildings, the flames. "We will not do more harm if you would just join us. These worlds need order, judgment." He looked to the hand in the air, watching as it began to crackle with azure electricity, warts forming on the shown part of his arm. "We have such power. Power of the sky," the ElectroBolt Plasmid was replaced by a fist that was blue with cold, icy spikes coming from the back of it, "the freezing cold," the Winter Blast again changed, the ice melting instantly as the hand blistered from an internal heat that reddened it, a small blue flame forming between his thumb and middle finger that readied a snap, "and the hearth." The Incinerate! Plasmid deactivated, the hand returning to normal as he turned his back on them in his reverie. "And so many more. Thunder, pure rage, devotion. And those are only the gifts of Rapture. If you would only join us, or send us your leaders such as the aid of the Assassins, we would be happy to allo--" The Templar lieutenant was cut off suddenly by a sharp pain from behind him, accompanied by a *shink*.

A dagger was buried in the back of his armor, having cut through quite easily. Sora watched in surprise as Brier staggered forward, then fell, half-conscious. The weapon ejected itself from the Omega fighter, soaring back toward its owner. Somnio and Hawk stared at the person as she caught the weapon, along with all others in the area.

Grace looked at them all in silence for a moment. Then she spoke. "What?"


---

Chapter 4: Ephiram

Quote:
Ephraim was last. He stepped to the yet-to-be covered grave. "I... Ah... Oh, nevermind. I can mourn later." He turned to the others. "Why the heck are we holding back? Why in the world can they do this to us without penalty? Why aren't we going all-out on them!? We should be using everything we have, every little trick up our sleeves! To hell with the rules - they've killed off a true hero. We need to put our heads together and figure something out. We can do it. We're the best. Do any of you understand that? We're the best. There's no one else to turn to but us. But we need to work together. So we need to stop wasting time, right?"

The hero of seven adventures started to move away...but stopped. "There's a lot of double agendas going around amongst the future selves... but believe me when I say that you can count on me. I'll use up every ounce of magic in my body before I let another one die." Again, he started to move away. "And I don't care what anybody says. I'm gonna assassinate Reaper with a Chronos Break at the first opportunity. Screw him."


As an added bonus, written by our admin himself, only slightly adapted by me.

---

Chapter 5: Lee (Posthumous)

The entire act of giving the coding to reprogram the Geth to the heroes, getting back at Elena after he died.

---

Chapter 6: Isaac

Quote:
Finally, a black tentacle brought up the first item. A white mask, decorated with many red crosses. This was not just a mask, a conduit for Dark Will corruption, though Reaper had modified it for that purpose when corrupting Demi.

"The Jack of Blades," the Aselian boy greeted his fellow demon.

"So, you would use my power?" This being, this creature of the Void, was only interested in power, exercising it and taking it. Likely why he controlled the Bargate Prison on the side.

"You may be of the Court, but I'm not interested in your power. Where are we? Do you know?"

The demonic soul knew. "Archon's Folly. Before you act, please consider what I can offer." There was a pause. "You wish to save your friends, your family, your female?" Apparently Reaper had told this trapped soul much. "All you must do is don this mask. My army of Minions will come to your aid--"

Isaac cut him off, holding the mask up to him, face to face. "No. Yours. You kill, corrupt, possess, and it always ends the same. William Black failed to kill you. That was his true folly, right? Yeah, I know what you do. Reliable sources told me. You can join your Queen and Knight, in any case. Take some comfort in that."

"But my power--"

"I've worked with power for too long. Power over a half goddess and her heavenly father. Power over my brother. Power, power, power. You know what, Jack?" He raised the mask-gripping hand.

"I'm sick of power. I don't need it."

And he threw the mask as hard as he could, watching it fall to the magma below. The Jack of Blades was dead at last.

Next, the boy turned back to the Gateway. He again concentrated. This next object was a silver and gold orb. Taken from the world of Assassin's Creed--was it still called the Holy Land?--was one of several Apples of Eden. A device for mass hypnosis. Mind control. The Jack was the failsafe and way to turn one evil without disturbing the person's skills. This was for the non-fighters. The technicians and such.

Isaac closed his eyes as he gripped it. Dolor had warned against staring into it, or it would be incredibly difficult to purposefully destroy. Such power could have a large impact on the wielder. It was very hard to find the will, even with his knowledge of its purpose. This could help so much. Just use it against Omega, and everyone would fall into line.

But at what cost? Isaac was not ready to compromise his morals to win... With difficulty, he let it drop, hearing the splash in the magma below.


---

Chapter 7: Shooter, Somnio, and Grace

Quote:
The group came to the exit to the Alley to Between when the buzzing changed to shouts. Aliens and humans were coming, having seen the firewalls upon making the trans-world pathway and knowing they were in no way naturally there.

"We can't make it into the world safely with them at our backs," Axel noted, knowing that many were probably pouring into the artificial town. "Funny, I was going to die here anyway."

Then, a single figure stepped before the rest. Shooter drew his submachine gun, knowing he needed rapid fire capabilities, and stared at the portal to the town.

Grace and Somnio stood at his sides. "You're not doing this alone," the former told the mute gunslinger.

Angel stepped forward, but Tom's future stared at him. "Tom's you c--"

"We can hold them off. Don't waste your life. Just do me a favor. Kick their a**es."

"You can he--"

"GO NOW!"

Isaac and Greg had to drag Hawk's future into the portal to The World That Never Was as all else ran in. The Cruxis angel spoke to Grace.

"Give 'em hell."

Just a nod, a hint of a smile. Then they were gone as the first Splicers came through.

--

Swan Song: Lukgar Revak

After years of putting up with his host, the millennia-old Cruxis manifestation lets Greg have it with a seven minute long The Reason You Suck Speech.


Aug 6, 2010, 10:49pm, gregzilla wrote:
"Ain't been all that great to me," the counterpart told the Seraph, in no mood to chat with most of them, though he spoke anyway.

To Hawk, he said, "Listen, I never saw you in reality. Unless you mean future me, in which case...whatever. You think I put that in here? No way. That's been stuck for years. Not my fault. You think I like any of that? The only part I wanted you all to see was the Abomination of Dirge."

Then to Akyra. "What am I here for? Well, I'm here because 'that idiot,'" he used Hawk's words, again pointing to his host, "had a make out session with his then-new girlfriend in the Mana Tree Yggdrasil. I have every right to be in my own host's mind. Idiot. You saw me locked in here."

Last, Luna. "I did nothing but give an open invitation to come and join me here to hear what I have to say, to see that thing festering in here for years."

Two sections of his heart, and Greg still had not learned anything. Not why he would have his tooth broken by a stomping foot, nothing. He was understandably irritated with Lukgar. "So, what's the deal, Revak? You might not have created those things but you did call us in here. Why? You haven't spoken to me in years."

The millennia old counterpart took a deep breath. "Okay, you wanna know, then? Because if you do, I will not tolerate any interruptions."

"Shoot."

Lukgar Revak stomped toward his host, and glared, his orange eyes boring into those sky blue ones. "You. Are. An. A**hole." He started to walk away, toward the Key Crest representation. "You want to know why I won't talk to you? I give up! You never learn. Never!" He threw his hands up, and turned back, glaring again. "Every single world you go to, you don't help, you don't save people! You kill them! You try all you might, but you don't make a difference, don't do anything legitimately positive for anyone! Let's take just a few examples, shall we?

"Albion, the world of Fable. You followed that last Archon across the world and up the Spire back in that time, shouted for him to stop before he made his wish. What did it get you?" The counterpart pointed at the Station floor, at the blue scars that were visible. "A load of Will energy to the back and horrible blue glowing scars. Great job, you total moron!"

The young man tried to cut in. "Now you lis--"

"I am not finished!" And he went on once more. "South Ashfield, in the world of one of the Silent Hill games, number four by the sounds of things. Your solution for Walter Sullivan's rampage? Running in, guns blazing! He can't be killed by your weapons! You aren't a savior, even if you did keep him away from Townshend and Galvin for a little while. You're suicidal! Oh, wait, we knew that all ready! All you got were a few more bullet wounds for your trouble, and had to run away from him for a few hours when he got other weapons!"

"Fairport, the universe of First Encounter Assault Recon. Wasn't that nice? You ran in to follow Harlan, but that did nothing to help, just got him melting all over! The Point Man didn't need your help, and you just got your burns and nightmares for years after, and lost your spellbook. Oh, and now she's curious about our kind, Interferences. You really know how to screw up a situation, hero! Thanks!

"Mercer's Manhattan Island, [PROTOTYPE]. You couldn't find a flatly good side of the conflict, so you just threw it all to chance, decided to go with the sanest option after you hacked BlackWatch command to get info. The US Marines under Colonel Ian Taggart. You went with them, watched BLACKLIGHT eat people to learn about it and Mercer. Helped him take out that REDLIGHT infested woman, MOTHER. Well, I'll give you one thing. She was psychotic. But he was just as bad! You tried to help Taggart escape with his life, and what did that get you? BLACKLIGHT can track you, probably knows your name. It gains memories from who it eats, and he wouldn't budge, so it probably knows your name and wants you dead for your involvement! You can't hide behind an alias now, and it all ready is suspicious. Congrats! That virus probably is heading back to the base you all are in right now!

"The USG Ishimura, one of those Dead Space games, probably a prequel. You shot the guy. Congratulations. But that didn't help at all! You spent all that time arguing with McNeill and Weller about everything, especially with McNeill after some time away from Murdoch. And where did that little venture get you? Oh, right! That incident with the Spider! I'm sure that came back to bite them in the a**!

"Rapture, back with Jack again. Wasn't that nice, a good little trip together, like old times? No, it wasn't, was it? You just showed 'Atlas' even more for him to use as a business tycoon by yelling at him in the Heights! I mean, seriously, you don't think at all about how you talk!

"The Omega 4 mass relay, the Milky Way, the Mass Effect universe. You don't think you would survive a trip through by virtue of your experience alone did you? Good thing Kira refused to let you go, or you wouldn't ever get to have your oh-so-heroic death!

"And then there's here, the Halo universe two decades in the past. Name one thing you've done that's selfless, one thing that wasn't for you."

Finally, a word in. "Saving that Adam kid in Arc--"

"BULLSH**!" Lukgar was even more furious. "You haven't done one thing, not even one, that wasn't for yourself, your 'redemption' in the eyes of her. And about being in a relationship? I don't care if you ever did again. Do whatever together. I'm over four thousand years old, and I'm more capable of growing up than you! How pathetic is that? About your pathetic excuse. That kid? Cutter sent in a Hornet to cover for his run to the escapees. And about your time as a corporal: you don't have nearly as much power as you act like you do. Admit it! You order everyone around, make your vague threats and torture a few Innies, and act like you're in charge! LC Azumi, you boss her around, but she doesn't say anything because she's in your squad. What next? You order around the captain? Oh, wait, that's right: you did! More than once! You don't have much power at all, but bully your way into getting what you want. That's beyond pathetic!

"And all of that, all of it, I might have dealt with for a little while longer. But then there comes Dirge. That thing followed you out. You were too caught up in your romance to notice how you dealt with that thing. I've handled my own beast, the Minion of Suffering, recently, using my better method. The right method. You never beat your envy, your green eyed monster. Mason and Usagi, they rejected their sins, didn't just use brute force and tricks. Did you? You were different about how you dealt with it. Never won. It's been inside, making is way into your life at every opportunity. Your anger, born of jealousy for what others had. Killing Isaac? Accentuated fear of losing Usagi to him again. Dolor? Well, very appropriate method of execution, but the reason remains. Every sin is feeding that creature. Everything makes it stronger. Fighting Sullivan because he still had a chance at getting what he wanted out of life, Wade out of afterlife. Omega 4 was just stupidity. Fighting with McNeill because he had the girl, Murdoch, something you lost. The Archon, who was willing to throw away everything he had, an entire kingdom. Rage and sorrow also fill it, give it strength if jealousy won't fit the bill. And all things considered, there's only one man I can blame.

"It was all because of you. You and your selfish inability to let go, to stop working to get anything you wanted."

Greg was speechless after such a rant. What could he say? Only two words came to mind, about the length of the rant itself as much as its content. "...Holy sh**."

--


CMoA/CMoH: Greg
Swan Song

After four years of constant strife and growing insanity, Greg finally learns to let go and move on.


Again and again Greg pounded the face in, not stopping for a single instant. He hated everything it stood for, everything it was. He had to destroy it, any way he could.

"You never beat your envy, your green eyed monster." Lukgar's word echoed through his mind.

"The right method." Whatever that was, he was sure he could get it this way. It had to be it.

"You're pathetic!" This time it was Jealousy, right in front of him, his face regenerating, the bones molding into place once more.

Punch.

"You can't have what you want. Even Wade can get it! Even the Archon!"

Punch. The white snow was gone, replaced by red as the Abomination laughed. That laugh wasn't stopping. He had to stop it, had to! He would die here, in this courtyard!

Wait a second.

"Most of my brothers and their killers were trapped here. They continuously attack, but neither ever wins."

The words of Abbot Song, from seven years gone, echoed as clearly as Lukgar's. Greg finally understood where he was, where this battle was. Where Lukgar had sent him to have the Abomination find him.

The last time he had been here, he had seen Chinese Imperial soldiers battling monks. Each side hit each other, but neither ever seemed to win, each person stuck in their personal struggles. A curse of Dirge.

He was fighting Jealousy. The being had never attacked him in any fatal way here. The first strike was just locking blades, others just superficial wounds. His fatigue was all that hurt him, and his rage was covering that. Time to change that.

The young man raised his fist again....

And stopped. He stood up, looking down at the Abomination.

And suddenly, all of the fights stopped. Every last one. The Rage, the Sorrow, and the Jealousy, regardless of their position in battle, looked directly at him. They had all stopped laughing, their faces of scorn and ridicule replaced by something else entirely.

Horror.

As the Abominations had stopped fighting, so did some of the Interferences. Even Kynthia, who wanted the Abomination against her to just go away, had stopped in her rapid slashing, panting from the exertion. The demigoddess looked in the direction of her former boyfriend, a frown upon her face.

"Greg...?" Just what was he trying to do?

Audrey, having been knocked off her feet before the Rage against her had stopped, staggered back to her feet. She wiped off some of the snow on her clothes and also looked over to see what was going on. She didn't know what Greg was trying to do, but she didn't ask. Maybe whatever he was planning would get them out of this mess.

Akyra stared at the Jealousy before her...who had his head turned all the way back. She poked him a few times, earning no response. "...That's kinda creepy..." was all she remarked.

Luna's arm had thawed out by then. The Summon Spirit of Light was back in her place in the air, no words spoken at all. She just turned her attention to Greg silently, waiting to see what the former summoner of Aska would do.

Well this was rather unexpected. Jasmine blinked as she floated mid air, readying her chakrams for yet another attack on the Abomination. Now that they all had stopped attacking Jasmine wasn't sure what to do.

"What's going on?" Jasmine asked, not really expecting a answer.

Jealousy looked up at him, trying his best to keep up his mocking facade. But he wasn't laughing anymore. "What's the matter, moron? Give up?"

Greg just ignored him, stepping over the bloody combatant. With every step, he grew in his internal energy. "No. I didn't give up. I did before." He heard Jealousy getting to his feet as he stopped before the gates into the central temple.

This time, the laughter came again. But Greg knew it was forced. "You really think that giving up is gonna help you? That you can beat me by stopping your fight? I can kill you right now!"

"Then why don't you?" The lack of a reaction was enough, and a cold smile grew on the soldier's face. "I knew it. You don't really want me to die, do you? You just want me to keep fighting. When I'm out of energy, you take the wheel, leave me to my hate for everything you stand for." He took another step, closing his eyes.

Now the frantic Abomination was speaking again. "You can't honestly believe that pile of crap you're shoveling, can you? You think that by just ignoring me, you'll beat me? I'll always be tugging at the back of your mind, keeping--"

"Yeah, I do." The blind Zivaku opened his eyes, and saw for the first time. "I think that you're a coward. That you fight and fight your battles using me as a proxy, trying to get ahead however you'd like. That I've been using my power to seek redemption for my sins, but without understanding what those sins actually were."

"Well, you've got yourself to blame for that!" The fiend was grasping at a straw, stepping toward him, putting a hand on his shoulder that was shoved aside. "I wasn't spun from the mana stream, wasn't conjured up by some 'crazed' angel! I. Am. You. Everything you stood for, everything you wi--"

"No. You were me." Those blue eyes stared back at him, the gaze not holding anger, but rather peace. Finally, finally peace. He saw the Abomination, all of them. Their hair was paling, turning white as snow. Just as he had been as a spirit. "You were everything I was. Everything I fought with. Aska knew that. Lukgar knew that." He turned back, stepping again. "I'm done fighting you. Done pretending I was right, that I was some knight in shining armor. I broke my Pact, broke my closest promise. But no more. I've done my time, killed and destroyed so much, barely ever done a thing right. But that changes today." Another step, at the doorway to the central chamber of the temple, where he had had his first battle. "I'm out of here."

He looked back, past Jealousy and ignoring the other Abominations. "Guys, let's go. I have a job to finish, and I intend to see it through. The right way."

Kratos nodded at this, telling Greg, "It's good to have you back, Greg."

Kynthia stared at Greg, not saying a word or moving yet. What was once in her eyes, anger and frustration towards the former angel...was now surprise and admiration. This was no longer an insane man who'd be willing to kill for her. This...this was the man she had fallen in love with...

No words were spoken from the demigoddess. She just followed after Greg, her Summon Spirit beside her once again. She was also ready to see this through to the end. But this time, she was without anger. Once more, she trusted her former boyfriend.

"Well, looks like he finally grew a spine," Akyra said with a smirk. She turned to the Abomination she had been up against, and gave him the double finger for the hell of it. "Let's get moving Audrey."

Audrey nodded as she and her counterpart walked after Greg to the doorway. It was time for this to end, they both thought.

That was not how Jasmine expected the fight would end but she would not complain. She found this place a little creepy and getting out of here sooner than expected was good news to her. With one final glance back at the Abominations, Jasmine flew after Greg. It was good that it was over to Jazz, even though she knew Greg for around a hour or so.

Aetulia smirked as the Abomination froze and just silently walked over to Greg. Hawk, on the other hand, raised one hand and flipped an Abomination the bird, even though it really couldn't see. He then joined the others and waited for the next step of this mindf***.

Greg kept walking, smirking behind him.

"No..." Jealousy gasped, staring at him with eyes wide with horror. The face was deathly pale, the hair white as the snow once was. All of the Abominations walked as one after the Interferences.

Greg just passed through the doorway, continuing to walk as a white light shone before him.

"Do not ignore me!" He stopped at the door, his hands touching an invisible barrier. Everywhere he touched, up came a kanji symbol. The one that meant "serenity." "No! Come back and fight me!"

Still he walked, not paying any mind. The creature was pathetic, really. Begging for a fight that would never come.

It was then that the Abomination, all of his forms, saw a light illuminate his shadow, darkening and lengthening it. the snow was melting, no longer falling from the sky. This construct could no longer exist, with him no longer in power, and so it was self-destructing. All looked back to the door behind them, open once more, and gaped.

The sight that they came across cannot be accurately expressed in words. Light was a way to describe it, as was possibly humanoid as well. But those were the only things that could be used.

Thousands of voices called to the host of Lukgar Revak as the light came to the Abominations, grabbing them and dragging them into the doorway one by one. "Not bad, kid," they said, female and male, of all ages. "Not bad at all."

Finally, just Jealousy itself was left. It looked back to Greg as he came to the last door. "Come back! Come back!"

Once, he was the lion. Meant to fight as long as he could, but never really for his own reasons. Acting as though it was for others, but truly only for himself. The lion was gone. A wolf of a pack looked back, still calm. "Not this time. I don't need you anymore." And he stepped through, leaving the screaming monster behind to be enveloped forever.

===

Three hours had gone by.

"Hey, I got something." Tyler felt his commanding officer stir slightly, leaning against his cot's back. Kynthia had been lain out on the bed itself, as was certainly Greg's intention. Hawk and Kratos were against a wall, Jasmine and Audrey each on their own cots. "You okay, boss?"

His eyes cracked open slightly, then squinted at the new light once more. Just Tyler there, with Azumi behind him, seeming on the verge of shoving him aside to see if he was okay.

You did it right this time, came the singular, masculine voice of Lukgar Revak, calm this time. Calm and not vulgar.

A sound came forth from the young man's mouth. It seemed alien for some reason, at least to him. What was this?

Finally, Azumi shoved Tyler aside, kneeling in front of her CO. "Hey, you gonna--" Her words caught in her throat, and her face contorted with rage as she punched him straight in the jaw. "You complete ba*****! You had us worried sick!"

Tyler rubbed his head. "...Did we break him? Okay, if we did, whatever I did was totally not my fault. Just putting it out there."

That noise was still coming, though somewhat familiar even with the pain. Finally, he knew it.

For the first time in four years, Gregory Zivaku genuinely laughed. He could start over.

It had been too long.

--

Gonna list the rest of the CMoAs for "The War of Heaven and Hell." Chapter 8 has none, so I'll start with 9.

And late? Of course this isn't late.

===

First, two from Chapter 4, two takes of Umi saying pieces that I think I mentioned.

What The Hell, Hero?: From Ephiram to Kaith

Ephiram's Rousing Speech, the Misfit Mobilization Moment
======================

CHAPTER 9: Reaper

Kind of meta, but it takes a lot of preparation to make that huge amount of Darklings as a trap.

===

CHAPTER 9: Derest


Quote:
That Otherworld portal was pumping out enemies that only he, Alucard, Ephraim, or Isaac had proved capable of truly destroying. That made two of them now if the man didn't perform another body swap now. What to do....what to do... Alucard? What should I do?

Judging from Reaper's recent actions, deception is hardly below him. Corruption from the start. You need to--

"Answer me now!" Jump back to avoid a grenade, smash it back with the Casull katar. It was methodolical, looked easy to others. But it really wasn't.

What would your brother do?

The dhampir knew the answer. Anything in his power. What had happened to Luke was why he hated war, but he would have done whatever he could. Jake had to do the same. He spoke to Isaac again. "Isaac, start closing the Gateway. Now." A question of why as thirty troops were killed by a Flare spell. "Just do it. No matter what. I'll keep it closed, or at least from being an issue. ... I have a way. Toodles, mate."

He did not see the portal begin to close so much as felt it. He needed some blood, some way to put his craze on hold. A nine foot tall monster, with no eyes or nose and a many-fanged, large mouth, stood near the dhampir, ready to swipe at him with a large fist. It did not seem to be ready as he lunged at it, sending them both over the ledge. Derest heard Isaac and Greg shouting his nickname as he plunged into darkness, through the closing portal into a different chaos.

"Setting Control Art Restriction to Level..."


===

CHAPTER 9: Ele


Quote:
Silence, as her hands were raised, her mouth forming inaudible words. Streams of red, of green and of brown rose from her fingertips as she looked around the battlefield. Silence continued as she continued to mouth her spell.

Aerith took action, having an idea of what was being planned. She pointed at the two males among them, and intoned, "M. Barrier!" A transparent bubble of magic energy surrounded herself, the duck, and the Black Mage, a formidable protection against magical attacks.

Then came the scream. Ele threw her head back and released a call of untamed rage, her stream of MP not stopping for an instant.

KRACKOW! Thunder boomed in the clouds, and the very weather itself turned against the Omega forces.

Lightning rained from the sky, each bolt seeking out an individual Engineer or Banshee. Those that did not explode instantly started on a crash course with the group, as if hit by an electromagnetic pulse. Not even the high jumping Brutes were safe. Their primative jetpacks detonated on their backs from the surges, sending them to the pavement screaming in agony or dead.

Tornados touched down on almost every rooftop, sweeping up snipers and throwing them skyward, where hail collided with them, ending their lives.


=====

CHAPTER 10: Axel, Pyro, and Inferno


Quote:
"I have defeated fleets of thousands! Consumed a galaxy of flesh and mind and bone!"

With that, they began. First all three held out their hands, fireballs charging in them, and fired. The flames merged into a larger blast, and the Gravemind roared as its mouths were hit. The three Then gripped each others' hands in a triangle that self-immolated, slamming back the five tentacles that came at them. When they were closer, they let go, and each went in for the last strikes.

Axel's Eternal Flames flared up and began spinning around their user. "You asked for it!" They were launched, each hitting the Chimeran or unknown orifice and causing a fiery detonation on impact. As they returned, he shouted again, holding them together. "Don't say I didn't warn you!" The weapons were engulfed in a blaze, one that grew rapidly. When it mostly dispersed, the ex-Nobody held a single chakram many times the size of the two combined. He threw it at the central mouth, a much larger explosion occuring.

Both Zero Mode Jonathan Mireus fell through the inferno, their voices still audible to their higher companion as a large flame was formed on each of their right fists. They spoke in unison.

"This hand of mine is surrounded by roaring flames. It's endless burning tells me to bring justice! Here I go!" The two held back the fists, and punched on the next call. "Erupting Burning Fist!" The two, along with Axel, were propelled out of the mouth by the resulting jet of flames, sent up into the air as areas around them were caught in the rising fireball.

Evidently, even that was not enough, as the Gravemind still spoke, albeit dazed. "Resignation is my virtue; like water I ebb, and flow. Defeat is simply the addition of time to a sentence I never deserved... but you imposed."

The rising motion slowed, and they all stopped about level with the ships' generators. Axel again threw his bladed disks, each into a different ship.

"You talk too much."

He had no idea if he could cause the ships to explode. That kind of shot was luck alone. But he needn't have worried. The Carrier forms in each ship were close to the cores, or close enough. On impact, one Carrier in each ship staggered forward into the reactor, and exploded to release its cargo of Infection forms. These triggered chain reactions of revolting explosions, causing the reactors to overload in seconds, blue infernos erupting outward down and up the pit, as damage and propulsion.


=====

CHAPTER 11: Cid Highwind and Kaith


Quote:
"All cannons on target," the War Chieftain said calmly, seeing the lone Gummi ship come through the purple clouds. He saw a small symbol on its nose in black and red, but not much. "You fought well, demon. I would have liked to duel against you personally. A shame it must end this way." He laughed to himself quietly. "The human is not even changing course."

The Redemption indeed continued straight at the Covenant-Otherworld blockade, not stopping.

....Then came the force.

The thousands of ships burst through the clouds, various sizes and shapes. Covenant Seraphs, Phantoms, Banshees, and even an Assault Carrier could be seen.

The grin died on the Brute's face. He finally understood the symbol on the nose. The black heart, outlined in red, with a red X of thorns crossing it.

"Target the Heartless." His panic grew. "Target the Heartless. Target all of them! Fire, you humans! FIRE!"

---

In the Gummi ship, Kaith smirked. "Take this, you bas****s."

As the massive force of Heartless noticed the Omega troops, Kaith's grin changed to a very serious expression, the man barking orders into his helmet's communicator to the allied Separatist Covenant vessels. "All ships, ignore the Heartless! Focus on getting close to the world and launching out pods!"

Cid had stopped listening to the captain, gunning the engine of the Redemption as he weaved in and out of incoming shots from behind and in front expertly. He had spent a long time fixing Gummis to the ship, Engine types, Wing ones, and others, to maximize efficiency. Far from a wisecracker as he sometimes would be, this was a man who hated what he was working with, the monsters that had taken his world for a time, and the newer ones that had done the same once more. The pilot kicked the wings into a spiral, spinning to avoid two missiles simultaneously that hit targets attacking him from both directions. It was going to be close if they were going to make it down.

"...id! Cid Highwind!"

The call of his name partially broke through the focus. "Can't you see I'm busy here?!"

"The controls to drop us down to the world are jammed! Anti-teleport barrier!" Kaith knew that he did not truly need to shout, but the tension of the situation was enough to make most men crack.

"Then how the heck do I get you down there?!" The ship backflipped, causing a Driller Heartless to collide with an Otherworld biplane.

"Bring me in close, and get me an opening! I'll improvise!"

The enormous Covenant flagship, an enlarged Assault Carrier with the addition of darkness-related weaponry from various sources, loomed near them, charging a beam usually meant for glassing.

"Sh--" The rest of Cid's curse was drowned out by the sound of the beam narrowly missing them, but shaving off half of one wing as the Redemption dipped low.

"Where are you?!" Kaith shouted into his comm. "We need your backup, right now!"

Just then, a very large blue explosion rocked the front of the flagship.

"About damn time!" Cid yelled as the Geth ships all began to enter the fight, having warped from Traverse Town to this world's space using their own technology. "What took.....you.....so.... Oh you have gotta be kidding me."

Nobodies, hundreds of them, came in right behind the quarian-made machines, setting their sights on the world below. It seemed that they were trying to retake their world from the invaders. That in no way, shape, or form meant that he would ally himself with them ever.


=====

CHAPTER 12: Kairi (and a bit of Riku)


Quote:
On instinct, Kairi tossed her Memorial from her right hand to her left. She did not even realize what she was doing until it was done, and another Keyblade, her Destiny's Embrace, appeared in her right. She held them low, surprised but not questioning. Riku opened his mouth, perhaps to ask how she could use the Synch Blade dual wielding technique, but she shook her head. Don't question it, she seemed to say. Perhaps the time her heart had been in Sora's body had been enough for temporary dual Keyblades, maybe longer than temporarily. She would use any advantage she could get.

I think now is a good time to use more advanced sleights, Naminé said to her other. Do what I say, and you'll make it out of this.

Kairi nodded, as she and Riku looked to the swordsmen around them. The battle in the sky seemed to be distracting them. Not the Keybladers, however. It was then that the battle began anew.

Kairi and Riku were caught in their own sword fights quickly, with normal, unaltered Templars. They managed to defeat their first opponents with some minor difficulty, but were caught off guard by the enhanced Brier, who seemed to move so quickly that his every motion was a blur. The leader slashed both of them back with a sword that constantly changed its status from electrified, to blazing, to frozen. His very body seemed to be blistered, having warts, or blue with cold at random. Perhaps these were more advanced uses of ADAM.

Riku was set aflame by the blazing sword, Kairi temporarily paralyzed by electricity. Both had been very heavily damaged by the attack. The former did not stop his assault, just turning to Brier and launching a barrage of Dark Aura shots, making him stagger back before holding up his empty hand. It whistled slightly with a freezing wind as it shook, steadily increasing its intensity with ice crystals forming before tge hand...

Before the strike could be made, Riku attacked again and disrupted the upgraded Winter Blast, his flames dissipating as he was thrown across the roof by the empty hand in anger.

"Riku!" Kairi shouted as she recovered from her paralysis, and used several sleights in quick succession to escape the mass. She raised her Keyblades high, a large fireball erupting from the tip. Said fireball exploded into a rain of smaller ones as she prepared another sleight, the Firaga Burst a success. The Princess of Heart threw both Keyblades at the burning men, watching as they spun in simultaneous arcs, knocking the enemies back further and actually disarming a few. Apparently Reflect Raid worked well. Lastly, she used two consecutive spells, knowing that she had to use reliability rather than power. A Graviga spell froze that group of Templars in place and damaged them enough to near defeat, a Stopra to Brier freezing him in place with enough time for her to run to Riku.

When she had, she saw that he had taken out a Potion and was finishing drinking it as quickly as possible. "Do you need help?"

"No, I--Wait!" The boy warped between Kairi and Brier in an instant, generating a Dark Shield that fended off a duo of Plasmids. A red ball splashed against the shield, as well as a green one. It was difficult to tell what the Seneschal had been planning, but it wasn't good. As the Shield disappeared, Riku was already running toward Brier, getting damaged by the remaining Templars along the way. It was only a telekinesis grip by the man followed by another throw that stopped him.

"You cannot ever defeat me, boy!" the confident man gloated.

"Like I'll ever give up!" This was making the Dawn Walker angry. He held his weapon out in front of him, and darted across the battlefield, slashing away at each of Kairi's former opponents as he came toward the near-Splicer. With each dash, the Keyblader was surrounded by small, yet plentiful strands of darkness. When he reached the man, Riku shouted again. "You can't stop me!" The Way to Dawn was surrounded by light, much like Kairi's earlier, and he struck at the lieutenant, again and again before jumping back, panting.

Meanwhile, Kairi was still using her magic, being hurt steadily as well. A Raging Storm sleight sent a trio of blazing tornados around the roof, sending warriors flying off of the roof. An Aqua Splash caused freezing rain to fall from the sky, harming many of the remaining Templars over time as she slashed away with both Keyblades, a Freeze sleight encasing many of them in ice to keep them still as she did so. For several enemies, a Magnet Spiral that drew them close to Kairi followed by a slash was their end. Still others fell prey to Fira or Blizzara spells that homed in on them. Lastly, the final few just vanished from existence altogether, victims of a Warp sleight.

These spells, though powerful, left Kairi wounded. She ran at Brier, and, as she came close and Riku jumped back....disappeared entirely. Her Teleport sleight landed her behind the Seneschal, and another sleight was activated. The Lethal Frame froze time for several seconds, allowing Kairi to land several slashes before the man moved again. When he did, she drew another card, and grinned at her good fortune. She pointed her Destiny's Embrace at Brier's back, and shouted, "Holy!" With that, a beam of light erupted from the tip, sending the Templar to the middle of the roof, but not before he landed another electrified slash against her. Again, Kairi felt the power within her that very same power that had allowed the light spells from the end of last part of this fight. Could she do more with two Keyblades? Only one way to find out.

"You can't stop us!" The Princess of Heart of Radiant Garden ran toward her opponent, and jumped into the air, holding both Memorial and Destiny Place high above her head. The tips shone, and a thick beam of light shot high inti the sky, many more coming down around her and several harming Brier. "Give me strength!" Her body glowed brightly with light, and a stronger, faster beam was launched, the same happening to the striking beams.

Again, she was back to normal power, and drank an Elixir thrown by her friend, Riku doing the same. They came together. It was time for a finisher. A Limit.

Both came in front of Brier, and held back their Keyblades. An aura of darkness surrounded Riku's one of light around each of Kairi's, as they stabbed forward at him, making him stagger. Then, both began to warp and attack, appearing and reappearing around the Templar. Riku fired Dark Aura shots from all angles, Kairi throwing her Keyblades or firing off what could be best described as Light Aura blasts, the polar opposite of Riku's attack. Finally, they both appeared above the man, and swung down at him as they dropped. The two friends of a fallen hero went back-to-back. Riku pointed the Way to Dawn at the severely weakened enemy, side by side with Kairi's Destiny's Embrace. Riku spoke.

"You're done." And a beam of light came from each of their weapons. The two spiralled around each other, then merged, a piercing blow that ended the session.

The Templar lieutenant was propelled back to the edge of the building by the beam, tumbling on his back. Behind him, far below, was the smoking pit that had once housed the Flood allied with Omega. As he looked to Kairi, who had dismissed Memorial, holding only Destiny's Embrace and pointing it at his chest one-handedly, he stood slowly, weakly. Both heroes had quickly drank Ethers before he made this attempt. He was back to normal, no longer seeming as powerful as he had been with the injection before the fight.


=====

CHAPTER 13: Greg (CMoF)


Quote:
"Yield, and I will let you see her again after I bind you both to my will."

The Aselian had no intention of ever letting himself be bound, and would never allow Kynthia to be ever again, definitely not to this young man who had made his intentions quite clear on more than one occasion. "Bind this." On the word, he kicked hard with both legs right between his near assassin's own, causing him to drop the gun and stagger back in pain as the younger Interference backflipped to his feet, then punched him in the face, causing him to fall on his back, injured.

That came out horribly wrong, but it was totally hilarious, Lukgar laughed.

"Shut....up....." Ron told Greg's counterpart, reaching for his sword...only to have Greg pick it up.


===

CHAPTER 13: Greg and Black Paladin


Quote:
When Phantom turned around, someone stood between him and the soon-to-be corpse. Someone fielding two rapiers of white blade and gold hilt. "Gregory. I will do you a favor, kill your brother for you." The Saint Rapiers were held at his waist in response. "You will never need to worry about his danger to your love and life." Narrowed blue eyes. Phantom snapped his hilt holding wrist in response, squeezing the cylinder. A pair of blue blades of energy erupted from the hilt in shots of plasma, and aura of darkness surrounding the blade after. The darkness-infused Energy Sword custom made for Phantom, named the Chaos Phantom after his most powerful form, was ready. "Why fight for him?"

"Like I'll tell you." And the combatants flew straight at each other.

This was barely better than Isaac had done. While Greg could occasionally get a hit in with his blades, the power of this man was far too much for him. He was steadily weakened as they flew back and forth across the room, many wounds all across his body. One strike slashed through both of his rapiers like butter, slicing the blades from the hilts before an armored boot kicked him right in the chest, slamming him into the ground. The angel skidded along the surface to a position close to his almost unmoving brother, a dent in the metal at the point of contact.

"Damn it...." he coughed, feeling liquid on his lips. These wounds would not heal easily.

Phantom landed before the angelic Interference. "We will take all you have, little Greg."

"Do I....really....need the...monologue?"

Rather than answer audibly, Phantom pulled back the Chaos Phantom Energy Sword, readying a finishing stab.

There was the sound of a screaming engine, broken glass, and a dark blur, and Phantom wasn't there anymore. Two windows were broken, the dark Energy Sword clattering to the ground. Ron was staring at the spot where his empowered future had been, then the window, then the spot. Pretty reasonable, considering.

Isaac, still slightly aware of his surroundings, was surprised as well. Then again, it wasn't every day you saw a motorcycle crash through a window and plow someone out of another.


===

CHAPTER 13: Greg (CMoH)


Quote:
Isaac was shocked to silence by the move and run. Ron had actually stabbed to kill his brother. When they died, would they reach the same world? Would they--

"First...Aid."

A green light washed over Isaac, healing his wounds as the glowing hand of Greg touched his shoulder. Strength returned to his body, and he crawled to him, looking into his face. "Why did you come back for me? Why did you waste it on me? Why?! After all I've done, all I did to you, why wouldn't you use it on yourself?!" The boy was frantic. "What am I going to tell Kynthia?!"

Greg did not reply to the first question. Instead, he made requests. "Please....tell Kyn..... Tell her I......" Ragged coughed interrupted him, crimson splattering on the ground.

Tears fills the younger Zivaku's eyes. "I will, Greg. I promise you I will."

"I.....I'm not.....gonna make it."

Isaac was bawling. "No, you can't die on me! Not here, not now!" The weapon had been infused with darkness. He was a fool, trying to delude himself with no success, and knew it, crying even more.

"Take...this sword," he gasped weakly. "Kick his a** for me."

The younger brother only nodded, unable to speak.

"Please....protect my Kyn......any way you can....Pray for her...."

Isaac understood. "I will," he choked out.

"I'll....tell Sora.....you say hi...." A sense of humor to the end.


===

CHAPTER 13: Isaac (and Kynthia and Demi for the end also)


Quote:
Isaac's charge was more or less uneventful. He passed an Elite and some Geth, but all seemed to be preparing to leave, with the exception of one Geth unit working on a computer console. Didn't it realize that the place was possibly being destroyed from the inside, if he interpreted those explosions right?

The boy just followed the blood trail. The earluer wounds still would lead to Ron's death. Eventually he saw him, up on the roof. "Ron!"

The older teen looked to him. "Isaac, you can help me. It can be like it was."

"You disgust me."

Those words hurt. He pressed on. "With me in the throne room, didn't you like hurting them? Didn't you say you would like to--" A muttered Dark Sphere darkness blast hit his leg, forcing him to a knee for a moment before he stood again, shakily.

"I was faking it. I'm never going to do that. Ever. Shut up."

Bloodied by the earlier assault and this new wound, the Omega member backed toward the edge of the Tower. "Listen, Isaac, I would never hurt you."

"Phantom sure as hell would," was the cold counter.

"I would never do anything to hurt you. You're like a brother to me. I'll always welcome you back to my side." The sadomasichist coughed up some blood from the wounds he hated, more as he was punched in the gut and forced to his knees, then kneed in the face, falling back.

"You think I'll join you again? For what? Power? Generic conquest? I'm sick of power. You'll never be anything like my brother. He honestly gives a crap about people for better reason than you ever will."

Ron Rivers stood again, backing away as Isaac approached again. "Your eyes--"

"Maybe preemptive karma for all the stuff we did. Don't you DARE act like you know me."

Cain reached the edge, and looked back over it at the battle below. "I'll forgive everything you've done to this army. To your friends. Leave him." The Chaos Phantom pierced his chest and exitted him out the back. The subsequent kick sent him flying over the edge with the bloody wound through him. The present of Ronald Cain Rivers heard one last sentence from his former partner before all went black.

"Not interested!"

Many more explosions were rocking the Chimeran control center. Were all of the Angels in here? Hopefully. Isaac saw a Geth dropship, which looked somewhat similar to an enormous silver insect, coming his way as the Elite and all of the Geth there came to his sides. Their ticket out. The boy and his allies stepped from the Tower to the ship, which started it's takeoff immediately.

Isaac looked back toward the building, tears in his eyes. "Goodbye....brother." He was gone now. The Tower exploded at last, metal and fire again raining from the sky. The boy knew what he had to do. A promise he had to keep. He looked to a Geth trooper. "Get my radio in a link with the Geth network and everyone else." Soon it was done, and he spoke again, this time into the handset to a far wider audience.

"This is Isaac Zivaku. I have something for every person on our side not actively fighting Omega to do. Every human, Geth, Elite, and what have you. Do exactly as I say, as the final request of a fallen hero."

---

Kynthia was in the midst of fighting alongside Demi. A small group of Splicers were dead around them, both males and females. Four male Thuggish variants were left of this bunch, ducking behind cover to avoid the two Interferences. It was then that Isaac called in over the radio.

"Kynthia, Demi, this is Isaac. Greg......" He stopped, choked up. "They killed him. He's dead, by dark energies. Kynthia, he wanted you to know that he loved you. Please.....for all of us.....destroy the Carrier. Keep fighting. We need you." He cut out.

The younger demigoddess was in shock. Her love, her closest, most constant companion, dead. Her mind flashed through the times with Gregory Zivaku. The near kiss in the Twilight Town Sunset Club, where they began to realize how they left for one another. Their first real kiss in the forest of Nippon, amongst the trees, with their admissions of their feelings for one another. Visiting Aselia, and comforting him about his father's death at his brother's hands. The time in the Land of Spirits of the Jade Empire, working for a chance at life once more and knowing that they would be together in death. World after world with him, living or dying, but alway being happy together. Their reunion after her escape from her immoral deeds as a result of his brother's binding and subsequent corruption. They were always together from then on.

Tears welled in the girl's eyes, and she spoke, her voice cracking. "Greg....." The dam broke, saltwater rushing down her face in unending twin stream. Kynthia looked to her Moon Scythe. She could be with him again. Just use the Scythe, and she could do it. The grip tightened....

Demi touched her shoulder. "Don't," she whispered soothingly. "You know as well as I do that he would hate to have you die just because he did. You heard Isaac."

"But--"

"If we lose, what's to say the Underworld won't be locked down forever? That they won't find more corrupting items to make you stop caring about him again?" Demi looked to the sky, where two men, one in white MJOLNIR VI armor, the other in strange black armor, raced across the sky, trading blocks with a familiar blue sword and red one respectively. Kaith was okay, at least for now, even with the death of "mini-"Greg. "We need to keep going."

Silence in a non-response.

"So you lost your man, girly?" one Splicer guessed from the earlier call of Greg's name. "Aw, too bad. More ADAM for us!" Was that all they cared about, their genetic drug?

The men continued to taunt her, even though it was to no response. He was dead. All she lived for anymore, torn away by this war, this army. She hated it.

Just then, the demigoddesses saw the white orbs of soft light, the ones coming from the sky. From all directions, in a constant stream while marked with Japanese characters.

Prayers. Hundreds, maybe thousands of them, and they wouldn't stop coming. They collided with both daughters of Yumigami, and words could be understood.

Geth. "Survive, mates of Kaith-Captain." "For the Maker."

Pence. "Make it through this."

Olette. "Please be careful."

Fuu. "No loss."

Rai. "We need you to win, y'know!"

Kira. "You can do this, Usagis."

Merlin and the Radiant Garden Restoration Committee. "You must do this!"

Squall "Leon" Leonheart. "You can make it if I can."

Yuffie Kisaragi and Tifa Lockheart. "Give 'em all you got!"

Pyro and Inferno, oddly enough, though they had not come with them initially. "Don't let any of them get out after what they've done here."

Axel. "Let them know they're fired."

Kairi. "If I can make it without Sora, you can keep going. Don't give up!"

Riku. "Finish them now, while you can."

Sain. "If you die, I am so gonna kill you! Destroy that Carrier so they can't get out!"

Isaac. "Make it through this, for my brother and for all of us."

Many more. Experienced Interferences and new ones from this journey, Elites and others. All who were not actively fighting have constant streams of prayers.

They kept coming, and there was a brilliant flash of light. When it faded, both demigoddesses had undergone major makeovers.

Their hair, unrestrained in the case of both of them, was as white as the moon. Two white bunny ears with red markings were on top of each head. Both half-goddesses now wore purple kimonos with moons across them. Each Moon Scythe had a second head at the bottom of the handle, identical to the first, but facing a different direction. Finally, red marking outlined night-blue eyes and a holy aura surrounded each daughter of Nippon's lunar god. The goddess forms of Kynthia and Demi were active, stronger than ever thanks to the reinforcing prayers that never stopped.

The Splicer quartet had been stunned to silence. Suddenly, three of them reacted simultaneously in an odd way.

They cracked up. Bunny ears? That was this new form? That was hysterical!

Kynthia resented the ridicule, the renewed taunting. But the silent one of the Splicers caught her attention as he spoke.

"I dunno, guys. I think they look kinda hot." Apparently, he was not above sizing up his opponents and potential killers as their gender alone. "Hey, girlies, maybe you could--"

He never finished the request. Four male heads rolled out of the alley. The women of divine parentage evidently did not take kindly to being spoken of that way by opponents so soon after the death of the younger one's boyfriend.

Then came the second scream of the night, audible to all on the world. A banshee shriek of untamed rage from the lungs of a young woman in her late teens. It allowed no real release in the end, but did draw the attention of almost all remaining Omega ground forces.

Kaith's arrival and occupation of the aerial targets had given them an opening. It was time to turn it into a gaping hole.


=====

CHAPTER 14: Kynthia and Demi

....Can I say all of it? Pretty much uninterrupted?

=====

CHAPTER 15: Hayner and Seifer


Quote:
Rather than fight, Seifer looked to Hayner. "We wouldn't be in this situation if it weren't for you."

"Are you serious?!" Hayner shouted back. "Now?"

Alvior was chuckling as he approached them. The foolish humans did not even know when to stop arguing.

"I'm just laying down the facts, loser." Alamsy curled his hand into a fist, holding the bat tightly as Hayner did the same. "If you want to hit me, go right on ahead."

"Gladly." Both held back their bats as Alvior came close...

The dual smash caught the Chieftain in the face, surprise causing him to almost drop the Fist of Rukt.

The rivals took their stances, not even looking at one another after the successful trick. It was time for combat once more. The real argument would probably come later.

The Hammer swung down as both jumped back, though still damaged and weaker. More and motte strikes came at them, one almost hitting Seifer as another came close to being killed by a direct hit. They came forward soon after, hitting the Brute, to no actual damage.

Then came the many shots from the snipers below, some using Beam Rifle snipers. Alvior shouted as his shield was destroyed, and the true counterattack began in the form of a combination attack, almost a pseudo-Limit. Both of the boys ran forward, jumping and kicking Alvior in the face before backflipping to land upright. They then charged again, smashing at the Chieftain's head repeatedly ad they jumped before hitting the abdomen, forcing him to turn around. Finally, both swung at his right side, causing a spinning half turn before their finisher.

Both boys ran at Alvior's back, each grabbing a leg and tackling him to the ground in pain. Afterward, the two climbed on top of him before he could recover, repeatedly bashing his head and neck with their spiked weapons, viscous, purple blood flowing from the alien's wounds. Only then did both exhausted heroes stumble off. The Chieftain of the Brutes, Alviorus, was dead.

"That one...was mine," Seifer panted.

"Shut....up...."


=====

CHAPTER 16: Vivi


Quote:
From this chaos, paradoxically, came inner peace, a kind of trance. Vivi Orunitia felt everything and nothing, heard the battle and was deaf. Saw everyone at once, and his singular target. From this came his physical transformation.

From the Twilight Towner came a bright flash of light, one that dimmed to a glow around him, but did not fade. When he was visible once more, all of his clothing was white, including his straw hat. Rather than black, the shadow under the hat was a solid blue, his yellow eyes within replaced by white orbs. The disturbingly calm, young mage mumbled names repeatedly, almost seeming to not even notice Aerith Gainsborough or Donald Duck as they gaped at him in complete surprise. "Seifer..... Hayner...... Sora...... Greg...... Hawk....." He went on, listing all who had died for their cause, repeating again and again in different orders. The list digressed, changing to being only the repetition of the first two, as his anger rose in his inflection.

It was then that the beast, Armitael, seemed to notice him from afar, banking and starting to fly in his direction. Bahamut was not its true test, its real battle. This young mage was.

"Meteor!" The word seemed to be said by two voices simultaneously. The sky turned red rather quickly, and a pair of very large crimson meteorites crashed down from the sky, tearing the Assault Carrier that Demi and Kynthia had attacked into three uneven pieces to be certain it could not be used. That was a good experiment, enough to show himself his capabilities in this state.

"Poison! Bio!" Both of the spells seemed to be said at the same exact time as Vivi raised his arms. A transparent sphere of purple light surrounded the hybrid creature, poisoning it in a way that would gradually deplete its health. Simultaneously, a green sphere also cane up, causing nonelemental damage and quickening the health loss. The beast roared, speeding its approach as the spheres disappeared.

"Drain! Osmose!" A stream of pink light came away from the monster, health depleting further for a short time as the rosy light came into Vivi's right hand, the one holding his makeshift staff that was his new bat. At the same time, many small orbs of white light also were drawn from it, the magical energy known as MP depleting from Armitael and entering the entranced Vivi through his open left hand. Then both stopped, the Black Mage rejuvinated as the monster was further weakened before it could get into combat range.

"Firaga! Thundaga!" A large fiery explosion occurred at the position of Phantom's powerful transformation just as he was also hit by an electrical surge, both causing him serious damage and forcing him back a bit with a pained roar.

"Blizzaga! Water!" A group of thick, icy stalagmites stabbed up into Armitael, not managing to freeze him. They didn't have to, as a large orb of water smashed inti him directly after, both together causing a large amount of damage, but allowing him to press on regardless.

Two Banshees, the only ones remaining on the side of Omega, flew in from two sides to aid the future of Ron Rivers. Little did they know, they would instead help his enemy.

"Death! Break!" Behind one Banshee appeared a figure in a mysterious brown cloak, swinging a scythe at the back of it several times before disappearing. A purple line appeared where the scythe moved. As this Grim Reaper disappeared, the driver, whatever its species, was dead, the vehicle on a crash course with Armitael. The other Banshee was petrified, turned completely to brown stone, but also remained on its course. Both hit the dragon-beast simultaneously, causing more harm with the plasma explosion and rocky collision.

"Comet! Demi!" Armitael was ready this time, though weak. He dodged the comet that fell from the sky, blue flames surrounding it from its atmospheric entry. But, as a beam of darkness aimed at Vivi was finally charging in his mouth, the second attack hit. A Phantom, affected greatly by the increased gravity of its darkened aura caused by the Demi spell, smashed down on top of the combined form of the Sacred Beasts, forcing it downward. As the beast rose one more time, it was directly in front of the Black Mage, point blank for the last strike.

"Flare!" A massive explosion of nonelemental energy obscured the beast from view, rocking the building from the shockwave. When it was gone, Ronald Cain "Phantom" Rivers was no more, in his normal humanoid form nor his supercharged or more normal Armitael dragon form. The only thing left was a shadow, one that floated away in the wind and rain of the world.

As the remains of the aura-diminished Armitael were destroyed by the dual Flare, Vivi again flashed brightly. He staggered back, and fell, not seeming to be conscious.


===

CHAPTER 16: Kaith and Ephiram


Quote:
The response from the trained soldier was....a chuckle? He was laughing at his fate?

"What is so funny?" Still laughter, so the weapon was raised. "Tell me!"

"If you insist." With a smirk, the downed man continued. "You're pathetic."

"No matter what you do, you never move forward. People have been trying to figure out the meaning behind this war, the fighting and corruption, torture both psychological and physical. But I know what it is. What would be the point in telling them? I figured it out about a few hours ago, after some of my team, my past and Kynthia's, told me what your reign is like. You keep looking for more worlds to bring under your wings, into the grasp of yourself, Rivers, Jessica, and Kynthia. I have to hand it to you, though. That idea to kidnap us and re-corrupt her a third time? Not bad as far as planning goes. I don't like it, but it was good work as far as your schemes go. Still, there's the issue of what your goal actually is.

"There is none. You never thought that far ahead, did you? Never really accomplished your goals to the fullest before. I was always there to stop you, or my friends were. Do you even know what those are? Aside from that multiple-attempted rapist Rivers, who actually cares about you besides your corrupted allies, knows you as more than your power alone?

"The way I see it, you'll always just be my little brother, Isaac. Never able to be better. Always looking for more. Trying to be one better. I have something, you want it or want better. You try to stay a step ahead, but never can get there.

"So that's the story."

Reaper had had enough. He raised the Blood Sword, preparing the killing blow. "If you ever thought scolding me would work to save you, I would say you are mistaken. Say hello to father for me."

"Far from it." Kaith smirked, but could not move much still. "After all, I'm not the real hero here."

The demonic leader of Omega, its last member beside the soon-to-arrive Old Machines, was confused. Then he had no reason to be. His armor's back was hit by a blast of pure light, exposing a tank of quarter-way depleted blue EVE with a needle reaching through to his left arm for injection when necessary. At the impact of the light, he heard the Darkness scream. There was a flash of light, and a large quanitiy of pain almost directly after. The screaming and light attack were one thing. The sword that skewered him almost directly after was the bigger problem.

The Blood Sword was almost dropped as Reaper staggered forward, looking down at the blue blade that was sticking out of his chest. How was this possible? Nobody could have climbed up the Skyscraper in so short a time frame. No flight-capable heroes could have managed this. Except...

The man pulled on the Blade of Olympus with a Demon Arm, yanking it out of his back with one hard pull. The wound, the gaping hole, was slow to heal. That cursed god-forged blade...

He turned to face his assailant. But when did he...?

"I told you. I promised that at the height of your glory, with all of your ripoff armies and bound souls, I." The man picked up the Blade. "Would." Its weight was tested. "F***ing." Untold rage in those hazel eyes. "Kill you."

He stomped forward, dead set on his target. "Might have been a little late, but it's time to make good on that promise."


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CHAPTER 17: Ephiram (and a bit of Uchi)

...all of it. Just...all of it.

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I'll get to the epilogue later, since it's more CMoH and CMoF material.