Dawn's eyes opened, taking in the world around her. Her breaths came fast and uneven as the breeze caressed her skin, the fabric of a hospital gown still clinging to her body. She lifted her gaze to the skies, staring at the evening glow with a confusion she could not place. Then, she heard a voice.
"D-Dawn?"
Slowly turning her head, her eyes widened. "F-Flage?" she whispered, her soft voice trembling as tears welled in her eyes.
Soon, her gaze dropped to the gaping wound across his torso, and her expression shattered. "Oh my gods, Flage!" she cried, rushing to him.
Nekro and Ash stood a short distance away, watching in silence. Ash's silver eyes flicked to the side, surveying the enemy that remained unseen and a good distance away. He confirmed that The End still sat unmoving on his throne, and Limbo showed no signs of movement, warranting both his caution and relief.
Dawn knelt beside Flage, pressing her hand over his wound. "How did this happen?" she asked, sorrow etched in her eyes as she listened to his ragged breaths.
"It's… nothing," Flage rasped, easing slightly at the sight of her. "I thought… you were gone. I thought I would… never see you again."
"Don't speak," Dawn urged, glancing at the wound. "You'll only make it worse."
Her hands trembled as the god's clear blood stained her skin. "You're a god," she whispered through tears. "Why can't you heal this instantly?"
Flage gave a faint, pained laugh. "That isn't… how it works," he explained. "Not… this time."
Dawn searched desperately for what to do, refusing to believe he could be in such a state. But before she could speak again, another voice called out.
"Mom?"
The moment Dawn heard the voice, she slowly turned her head. Behind her stood two teenagers, their eyes fixed on her. Recognition struck instantly, and her own widened in utter shock.
"Oh… my gods," she whispered, rising to her feet as she inched closer. "Amy? Hunter?"
Mia and X stood in silence, watching as their biological mother, a person who had been declared dead since their birth, stood before them.
Dawn moved closer before swiftly embracing them in a tight hug, tears rolling down her cheeks with speed. "I don't believe it," she said softly, her eyes closed as she held them tightly. "You're both... so grown."
X's eyes turned toward Dawn, unsure how to react to the moment. The woman who had birthed him stood before him, something he never thought he would witness. His gaze turned to Mia, who reciprocated the hug with their mother, tears rolling down her cheeks as well with passion.
The End glanced at the moment from a distance, remaining seated on his throne. "Fascinating," he muttered calmly, amused by what he was witnessing.
Limbo stood in silence, his disdain for the moment contrasting with Olivia, who instead watched with a softened heart.
After a bit, Dawn moved back, a smile on her face momentarily before it dissolved, her gaze returning to Flage. She swiftly moved back toward the gods, as he had watched the moment with a heavy heart.
Moving closer, Dawn held onto Flage's palms, the moment between them completely opposite of what had happened during their last meeting. "You can beat this," she said, her words heavy as X and Mia inched closer. "I know you can."
"I'm... sorry, Dawn," Flage muttered, his eyes flickering. "I broke the promise I made that day… that everything would be okay."
Dawn smiled, tears still in her eyes. "What do you mean?" she asked. "It's like I told you then... 'the next time we meet would be with our two children.'"
Flage's eyes slowly widened, recalling the moment when Dawn had said this. His gaze soon witnessed the truth: his children, stronger than ever and before him, and his lovely wife--whom he had thought he lost--alive and well.
The sight was overwhelming to him, but despite the pain he felt, he let out a small smile, an action he had not performed for a very long time.
"I... love you all."
And slowly, Flage's eyes began to close, his head tilting to the side while still on his knees.
Witnessing this, Mia inched closer. "D-Dad?" she questioned, crouching beside Flage as her tears streamed faster. "Please... don't go."
Dawn noticed the pain in Mia's eyes and placed a palm on her shoulder, watching her daughter whose breaths began to quicken.
Mia's eyes fell on the golden hue that slowly began to consume Flage's body. "Dad?" she called out once again, her words soft as her sobs grew louder.
The sight brought silence upon X, who watched as his mother and sister cried over his father's petrified body.
The family felt the pain of losing Flage, but where they felt grief, The End felt something else.
"Yes," a chant suddenly came from a distance, as The End and those accompanying him appeared much closer on the battlefield.
It was almost as if he had altered reality, moving from his previous location to one much closer in a single instant.
He rose from his seat as a grin adorned his face. "That moment was... exhilarating," he said, stretching his hands to his sides as he glanced at the family. "What a marvelous spectacle. Pain, grief, anger, joy, sorrow... such a mingling of emotions was indeed worth the wait. Well done, mortals."
As these words left The End's lips, Mia's expression began to shift from pain to anger.
X noticed this change, his glare fixed on his sister as she began to shiver with frustration at the situation. "Compose yourself," he muttered calmly. "Don't do anything stupid."
But Mia's rage had already tipped over before his warnings.
"You find this amusing?" Mia asked suddenly, her head still bowed toward Flage's body. "You think our pain is meaningless?"
Mia began to rise as she turned her gaze toward the being, anger plastered over her features.
"You know nothing about pain."
X's worries began to grow as he witnessed his sister take a step closer to The End. "Stop," he muttered to her.
But Mia paid him no mind. She continued walking toward the being, her pace quickening with each step.
The End glanced at Mia with a smile, watching her rush toward him with rage in her eyes.
Limbo looked at his creator, but seeing no order given for interference, he remained in place.
Finally, Mia reached The End and lunged forward with a clenched right fist. But before her attack could connect, an invisible barrier stopped her strike and instantly pushed her back.
Mia quickly regained her footing as The End began to hover forward slowly. Her anger burned even hotter, and she rushed at the divine being once more.
Dawn watched in growing fear, uncertain of what exactly was happening, but her maternal instincts screamed for Mia's safety. "Amy," she muttered softly, sorrow filling her eyes at her daughter's pain.
"Pardon me," a voice suddenly spoke at her side.
Turning her head, Dawn saw Nekro, his gaze fixed on the ongoing conflict. "This situation is dangerous for you. Would you allow me to hold onto you to ensure your safety?"
Dawn's eyes shifted from Nekro back to Mia, who kept charging at The End while he moved effortlessly around her strikes with a mocking smile.
"Will... she be okay?" Dawn asked, her voice trembling. "I-I can't lose any more of my family again."
Nekro hesitated, unwilling to lie, but still sought to reassure her. "I understand," he said evenly. "I will do my best to ensure her safety, but that will be difficult if you remain here in harm's way."
Dawn looked back at him, her voice faint. "R-Right. Sure."
With her words given, Nekro placed his palm over Dawn's shoulder. Her form shimmered before once again condensing into a necklace. He tucked it securely beneath his armor, ensuring her safety before turning back to the battle.
The End continued to sway casually, avoiding every strike from Mia. Yet her anger only grew, driving her to attack faster and harder.
The End smiled, his curiosity plain. "This is most interesting," he remarked, weaving around her as though he foresaw every blow. "Thou knowest thou hast no hope of prevailing against me, and yet thou dost fight with all thy strength, clinging still to the hope for another outcome."
His words only fed Mia's fury, and she lashed out with even greater frustration. The End tilted his head slightly, then decided to probe deeper. With but a thought, he reached into her mind, scanning her entire being in a single instant.
"Ah, I see," The End said at last, the reverberation in his voice changing ever so slightly. "You lost your father, and the one you loved, and now you hold me responsible for their deaths."
Mia froze, her teeth grinding as his callous tone fanned her rage. "You know nothing about bonds," she spat. "That's why you have no idea what it feels like to have them ripped away from you."
The End's grin widened. "So tell me, what do you hope to achieve now?" he asked. "Do you wish to take my life in return?"
"I don't care anymore," Mia said coldly. "But I won't stop until one of us is dead. And either outcome will satisfy me."
The End's grin slowly faltered, fading into a stern glare as he watched Mia's punches fly with unrelenting force. Her words had dampened the moment, and the being began to lose his amusement in their fight.
Soon, his grin shifted into a stern expression. "Am I supposed to be afraid of you?" he asked, his white pupils fixed on Mia with irritation.
Yet Mia never lost steam, and she continued to lunge toward the being.
She rushed forward with her right fist, but The End merely shifted his body aside. Time itself seemed to slow as he raised his hand, smacking Mia directly across the head.
The strike seared her instantly, burning the left side of her face. In moments, her cheek, her eye, and even parts of her hair were consumed before the force hurled her a tremendous distance.
Mia slammed into the wall of a building and collapsed to the ground. She lost consciousness immediately, her body limp where she fell.
X's eyes widened in horror as he saw his sister's burned face resting against the wall. "No," he muttered in shock, unable to tear his gaze away.
The End's irritation faded, and his expression eased as he hovered toward Mia. "You took that hit better than I had anticipated," he said. "For that, I commend you."
Standing over her, he extended his hand, his tone sharpened with disdain. "However, your life is of no use to me. So I will grant you the outcome you so desperately desire."
A strange, dark purple glow slowly began to build around his palm. But before it could be unleashed, a certain disturbance halted his action.
Turning his gaze aside, The End noticed Drake, the offensive half of Ash.
The demon's claws were outstretched, flames scorching around his hands as he thrust his attack forward. Yet the invisible barrier surrounding The End held firm, stopping the strike short.
"Ohh?" The End said with mild curiosity. "Now what is this?"
But Drake's focus was elsewhere, his gaze fixed firmly on where Mia lay. "Take her away," he said urgently.
Those words told The End the truth of the attack. Slowly, he turned his eyes back toward Mia, only to find her gone--with X nowhere to be seen as well.
A grin crept back across his features as Drake's hand still burned against the barrier, the force scratching against it with relentless heat. Soon, the demon's yellow eyes began to glow before, in a sudden burst, the area erupted with a massive explosion.
Drake hurled back from the blast, his eyes flicking to his hand before narrowing once more at the aftermath. The ground shook from the sheer power of the strike. But when the dust cleared, The End remained at the center, not a single mark upon his body or armor.
"Damn it," Drake muttered, settling into a battle stance.
The End laughed lightly before focusing fully on the demon. "You wish to fight me?" he asked, adjusting his posture. "Very well. I will humor you."
Before the words had even settled, The End appeared before Drake in an instant, his speed incomprehensible.
Drake's eyes widened as he threw his forearms up in defense, just in time to see The End's foot slam into him. The blow launched him back a tremendous distance, his shock at being caught so off-guard plain in his face.
The End's speed was imperceivable, faster than Drake could track, though he had already known this truth. Refusing to dwell on it, he flared his flames to halt his momentum midair. But the instant he looked forward again, The End was already there.
The being thrust his hand out, but before the strike could land, Nekro appeared between them, raising Banisher--one of the Weapons of Imperium. The black scythe clashed against The End's fist, halting its force.
The End turned his eyes upon Nekro, smiling faintly, while Nekro's gaze remained steady with cold focus.
"Are you alright?" Nekro asked Drake, never breaking his lock with The End as he held the being's fist in place.
Drake quickly regained his footing and shifted into a stance. Bringing his palms together, he thrust them forward, unleashing another massive explosion. The blast shook the ground, yet as the smoke parted, The End was no longer within its reach and had already slipped away.
Nekro moved to Drake's side, both fighters locking their gaze upon their foe. In that instant, Drake's features began to morph, giving way to Ash, who stood in his place.
"What of the girl?" Ash asked, his eyes never leaving The End, who watched with a faint smile. "Have they passed the threshold?"
"Almost," Nekro answered, Banisher gleaming in his grip. "But he is moving as fast as he can. Until then, keep yourself safe."
Ash returned his full attention to The End after his father's words. Soon, his features shifted, returning to Drake, whose eyes carried immense focus.
"Understood, father," the demon responded, his stance firming once more for battle.
X rushed forward with incredible speed, covering blocks in mere seconds. His gaze stayed fixed ahead, and in his arms was Mia, who remained unconscious, half of her head burned deep into her flesh.
X's focus was unwavering, his speed never faltering for even a moment. "Stay alive," he said calmly, his eyes still forward. "I refuse to lose any more people I care about."
The End's gaze turned to Nekro and Drake, who charged at him with determination. "Why do you still assume you have a fighting chance?" he asked.
But the two fighters did not respond and continued to swing at him.
"No matter," he said soon after, evading their strikes with effortless grace. "In the end... my entertainment remains the priority."
The End maintained a defensive stance, avoiding every blow as the fighters pressed on with sharp precision. Drake's offense flowed in tandem with his father's, keeping pace with every advance. Yet, not a single strike landed.
Then, The End adjusted his stance and struck, slamming the back of his right knuckle into Nekro's jaw, sending the god flying on impact. Turning to Drake, he seized the demigod by the neck in a single motion, lifting him high into the air without delay.
But as Drake noticed this, his features shifted once more, swapping places with Ash. A cloud of smoke enveloped his body, and in the next instant, the demigod dissolved into mist, retreating swiftly to regroup with Nekro, who had already returned to the fight.
Rushing back into the fray, all three fighters clashed. The End alternated between offense and evasion. Nekro blocked most of the strikes, while Drake pressed forward with steady attacks. Whenever danger loomed, he swapped with Ash to deflect or escape, making their defense more fluid. But though The End wore a smile, his amusement began to fade.
"This back and forth begins to bore me," The End said after slipping past another flurry of Banisher's strikes.
In an instant, he appeared behind Nekro, faster than the god could perceive.
Nekro spun, only to see a fist flying toward his head. He brought Banisher up to block while Drake rushed in from the side, but The End's strength was overwhelming. He poured greater force into the strike, sending Nekro hurtling away once again.
Turning to Drake, who drew closer with Ethereal Flames blazing in his fists, The End unleashed another strike.
Drake thrust forward desperately, hoping to land his strike. But seeing his foe's blow would land first, he detonated an explosion ahead of his own chest, forcefully launching himself backward to avoid the impact.
However, before he could retreat further, The End lunged and seized his arm.
Drake quickly swapped with Ash, whose body dispersed into smoke again to evade and reposition. But this time, The End was prepared.
"This again," the being muttered before stretching his hand into the cloud of smoke.
His fingers sank into the mist, and slowly he began to pull Ash from within, forcing the demigod back into physical form against his will.
Ash's eyes widened in shock as The End lifted him by his silver hair, suspending him off the ground. For the first time in his life, his defenses had been bypassed so easily, and fear slowly crept into him.
The End grinned, raising his free hand to strike. But before he could, Nekro returned, swinging Banisher with tremendous force.
Though this halted The End's attempt to strike Ash, the scythe still failed to pierce the invisible barrier shielding him. With a shift of his grip, The End swung Ash like a weapon, slamming him into Nekro before letting go.
The two fighters flew back, but Nekro spread his wings to halt their momentum. "Are you alright?" he asked Ash, who still looked shaken.
Ash quickly regained himself. "I'm fine," he said, rising to his feet.
As the demigod stood, Nekro's focus sharpened, as though alerted by something. His stance eased slightly. "It is time," he muttered, his gaze still fixed on The End but addressing Ash.
Ash nodded at his father's words, then turned his eyes back to their foe. "Drake," he called out. "Time to lock in."
After his words, Ash's form began to change. But unlike his usual swaps with Drake, this transformation was different.
His face darkened, and his mouth opened, pouring out a thick, black smoke as his body grew taller. From his open mouth, the haze stretched outward, shaping itself into a hood. A long, black cloak formed around him, flowing with the same darkness as the great black wings sprouting from his back.
And after a moment, the demigod stood transformed, the same grim figure that had once manifested during the human extinction crisis--a form akin to a soul reaper.