Revan turned his head slowly, his crimson eyes locking onto Henry as Lon Hux (Man in Maroon) chuckled.
Lon Hux: Henry! It's GOOD to see you again.
The chains around Lon tightened abruptly, eliciting a sharp grunt of pain from him.
Henry: Save it, Lon, (he said coldly with his eyes dead set on Lon.)
A tremendous noise filled the sky, the distinct sounds of explosions rapidly approaching. Revan, Henry, and Lon all looked upwards, their attention caught by something moving at incredible speed. A deafening boom echoed as what sounded like a missile crashed into the battlefield below, engulfing the area in a large cloud of dust and fog.
The undead horde and the assembled group all froze, their attention fixed on the impact zone. Through the dissipating fog, a silhouette began to emerge. A figure, tall and imposing, walked out of the haze. It was Ezra Darhk, clad in his black skinsuit, now adorned with a long white cape, white gloves, and white boots, a white belt cinching his waist. He surveyed the scene, his gaze sweeping over the Enforcers, the prisoners, and the familiar faces of the Covert Operations Division.
Kira Davies smiled, a rare expression of relief on her face.
Kira: Well, it looks like backup has finally arrived.
Appearing instantly beside Ezra in a burst of speed was Jack, who smashed through the last remaining undead in his path, his body covered in blood. Ezra flinched slightly, his eyes widening as he took in Jack's blood-soaked appearance.
Ezra: The fuck…
Jack quickly looked down at himself, his brow furrowing.
Jack: Oh. Yeah, this is... They're zombies.
Ezra: "Zombies..." (He looked around at the remaining undead, then back at Jack, a skeptical expression on his face.)
Suddenly, a ray of ice shot towards their position. Ezra and Jack reacted instantly, leaping to opposite sides as the icy beam passed between them, freezing the air in its wake. They turned to see the prisoner who had encased Emily in ice standing before them, his skin as pale as his white hair, his eyes glowing a vivid light green.
Ezra: Wanna take this one, Jack?
Suddenly before Jack could reply, Ezra screamed in agony, clutching his torso as the telekinetic inhuman, her eyes blazing with purple energy, attempted to crush him.
Jack, his eyes wide with confusion and concern, watched Ezra double over, groaning in pain.
Jack: Ezra? Whats–
Ezra: –Feels like… every bone… in my body… is trying… to bend… inwards… (He stuttered, his teeth clenching from the agony, veins popping up on his forehead and eyes turning red.)
The ice prisoner extended both palms, firing two more rays of ice, one aimed at Ezra and the other at Jack. Time seemed to slow to a crawl for Jack. He inhaled deeply, the sounds of the battlefield fading into complete silence. He turned his head slowly, watching the ray of ice hurtling towards him, frozen mid-air. Strangely, he couldn't move his legs.
Jack: What the hell…? (He strained, trying to move his feet, feeling an invisible hold that began to numb his lower limbs.)
A piercing scream echoed from the rooftop above. Jack craned his neck upwards. Lon Hux, his body contorted in agony, screamed as the chains binding him glowed intensely before dimming. He breathed heavily, his gaze fixed on Revan.
Lon Hux: What are you waiting for, Revan?! Now's your chance!
Revan: ...
A tense silence hung in the air as Revan looked down at Lon, his expression blank, before his crimson gaze shifted to Henry. Henry stared back, his white eyes resolute.
Henry: "Revan, (he repeated his name, recognizing him.) You won't get what you want ESPECIALLY like this.
Revan remained silent. Suddenly, Lyra, her form ethereal and filled with malevolent energy, stabbed Henry from behind with a dagger. Henry showed no sign of pain as he turned around, surprising Lyra, his hand shot out to grab Lyra by the neck, lifting her off the ground with ease. He turned back to Revan, his white eyes blazing with power.
Henry: THIS isn't your wife.
Revan: I know...
The dagger piercing Henry's back glowed intensely before exploding. A large, circular opening, completely see-through, appeared on Henry's torso. Henry dropped Lyra, collapsing to his knees, his usual bright white eyes flickering and dimming as he looked at the ground in disbelief.
Henry: tch…?
Lon Hux chuckled weakly.
Lon Hux: Oh, Henry. Still so blind to seeing the potential of mortals.
Henry: Tch... What?
The chains on Lon pulsed with energy, blooming brighter.
Lon Hux: Revan... the quietus to all of life, CAN hurt us. Hell even do more, he's nearly killed me with his bare hands and at his weakest too.
Henry: H– How? This should be...
Lon Hux: Impossible, yes, but to THEM, brother. Not to us.
Henry's eyes widened in fury as he looked at Revan, then back at Lon.
Henry: What did you do?
The chains binding Lon dissolved completely, freeing him. A wide smile spread across his face as he watched Henry's condition.
Lon Hux: I've turned him into the savior of every world, not meant to exist, set on fueling only chaos itself.
Revan: (He began walking towards Henry,) you're so used to being… godly… always knowing you'll be okay, that you safe from danger, you never once thought to go out and save a race or to keep your guard up at all times. (Standing infront of him, he raised his bloodied falchion, the tip glinting in the dim light.) Funny how things have turned out for you, killed like every mortal.
Henry grunted lowly, his gaze snapping up from the ground, his eyes suddenly blazing with their bright white light. He screamed, a wave of raw energy erupting outwards from his body, slamming into Revan, Lyra, Lon, and everything else on the rooftop with tremendous force. Henry stood, the hole in his suit remaining, but his torso now whole.
On the ground, Jack stared upwards in confusion at the blast, then saw a figure in a maroon suit plummeting from the rooftop, followed by Revan. Seeing Revan, Jack's heart sank. His muscles tensed, his teeth clenched. He turned his head frantically, trying to move his still-frozen legs.
Jack: Come on! (He grunted, exhaling in frustration.)
He looked over at Ezra, still frozen in his agonizing stance. 'Damnit, whatever got Ezra got me too...' Jack thought as his gaze swept the battlefield, landing on the telekinetic inhuman, her palms extended towards both him and Ezra.
Jack: Oh, come on. Douche's powers shouldn't be working right now.
Revan, after his fall, looked around in the sudden, unnatural silence. He turned to Lon and asked him...
Revan: What is this? Why is Noone moving?
Lon Hux looked around, a slow smile spreading across his face as he saw Jack still moving amidst the frozen chaos.
Lon Hux: Thank the speedster. He can see the whole world at a very slow pace, (he dusted off his suit,) everything except you, me and that prick up on that roof.
Henry instantly appeared before them, his suit ripped where the hole had been, his white eyes blazing with fury.
Henry: You… you ruined my suit.
Lon Hux grunted.
Lon Hux: You should kill your targets now, Revan. While everything is still placed on hold.
Revan glanced sideways at Lon before turning back to Henry.
Revan: Who is he to have you so scared?
Lon Hux: Our biggest concern, GO now...
Henry: Revan i know your story. You a good guy. Good guys don't kill innocent people, you're being used.
Revan's crimson eyes flickered slightly, a hint of purple.
Revan: Even if that is true. I can't stop now. I have to do this.
Henry: Why?
Revan: Because if I don't... everything will die at once, all together. Right now, there are countless worlds that are full of life, sure "that's good," but they are unbalanced in terms of populations, less deaths equals all sorts of evil that can be produced at once which will lead to destruction, (he looks down with his eyes shut as he now speaks at a soft tone,) just like mine... (He clenches his fists, looking back up at Henry, back to speaking up clearly,) that is why I won't stop until every name is crossed out of existence. As heartless as I sound, deep down i feel nothing but remorse, which is why I use their remaining spirits to warn the next person on my list, to have them prepared at least... Can't you see that what I'm doing... is mercy?
Henry: No. It's not, Revan. You not a god. You don't possess the capacity to know what's currently happening in every world... You're only guessing.
Revan: That's where you are wrong. I'm death.
Henry: No, you're Lon's puppet, (he snaps his fingers and nothing occurs.)
Seconds stretched into an eternity of silence. Henry's brows furrowed in confusion as he looked at his snapped fingers then back at Revan. He snapped his fingers again. Lon Hux began to laugh, a cruel, mocking sound. Two large, pale-skinned claws erupted from the shadows behind Henry, grabbing him firmly, immobilizing him.
Lon Hux: I must say, that exchange of words was... surely something, (he claps his hands,) bravo, both of you, now, (he looks at Revan,) back to the main quest, my good man.
Revan nodded, turning around, his gaze fixed on Phil, beginning to walk slowly towards him. Jack strained against the invisible force holding him, his desperation growing.
Jack: Damnit… (He exhaled slowly, a sense of calm washing over him.)
Time began to move again, the frozen figures and airborne debris resuming their trajectories, albeit at a snail's pace. Revan walked through his undead army, their movements agonizingly slow. Once time returned to normal, the rays of ice struck both Jack and Ezra, encasing them completely.
The world stood still for Jack, encased in the biting cold that crept from his toes upwards. Beside him, Ezra remained a frozen statue. The battlefield, moments ago a scene of frantic action, now echoed with the scraping of shuffling feet. Undead figures, riddled with bullet holes from the gunners and bearing the scars of Jack's lightning-fast strikes, pulled themselves back to their feet. Rex, Martin, and the others watched, their faces masks of disbelief, before Rex's strained shout pierced the unnatural quiet. "Retreat!"
But their legs remained rooted to the spot. A wave of frustration rippled through the group. Someone muttered, their voice tight with fear, about being unable to move, the words echoing the silent panic in everyone's eyes.