The Legend of Samuel Mason Pt. IV

Darkstar operative Samuel "The Blackflame" Mason is haunted by the death of his Guardian, Merrow Rivenlight, as he teams up with Janna Kull, the Aspect of War and fellow Darkstar operative Toby "Lupine" Rufus in locating The Benefactor to obtain his blessing.

The trio venture to Millennium City, to locate remnants of the fallen clan, The Doma, and find the Benefactor. Sam's soul-link companion, Connor "The Sentry" Shel must face and overcome his horrific past as The Dark Masamune, as humanity's fate banks on the unification of The Subjects of Quinta.

Chapter 19

"So... you come here often?" Tob asked Janna, as we made our way to Millennium City.

We weren't able to travel to the Champions Universe properly, as we were dependent on Celestia's teleportation, and Celestia was still suffering from the blow to the head during our chase with Hawk.

Janna ignored Tob and walked beside me. "Familiar of Blackflame, where is the Doma Clan?"

Sentry manifested and walked alongside me. "They were slaughtered, but their base is still present. We will need access to their teleporters."

I wasn't really familiar with this place. Despite being in its alternate version, Multifaria, to help Lazarus and the Grizz, the place was still very new to me. I activated Hunter's Eye, and scanned my surroundings. Several teleporters matching Sentry's description were located near Renaissance Centre. I unintentionally also turned to the distance, glancing at a newly restored Croft.

"Why are you smiling?" Janna asked me.
"Just got nostalgic is all. I found the teleporters."

A couple of heroes were relaxing and socializing, at the front of the cogwheel stood Defender. I heard he was a big deal in this country, but Hunter's Eye said otherwise. With his suit, he seemed to be around Tier Four, at most.

I turned around and noticed that Sentry wasn't hiding his identity.

"Hey Connor, you okay with walking around like this? Wouldn't they recognize you?"

Sentry turned to me. "Will they recognize me, after my face is like this?"

I was silent. I momentarily forgot that Sentry's face was disfigured in our first encounter with Mogul. "Sorry..."
"I forgive you, young master."

Tob stretched his arms. "Good ol' Ren Cen. You know, this was the first place Lazarus introduced Reya and I to. I almost got punched by Defender for asking if Witchcraft was single!"
"Uhh, I don't know if that's something you wanna brag about, dude."
"Punched by Defender? You know what kind of clout I would get from that?"

Janna looked disappointed. "If the Aspects invade, this country has no chance of surviving."

I turned to her. "And that's exactly why we got to do this. We're all that stands between utter annihilation."

"Hey, Sam." Tob called me over.
"What is it."
"Look."

Tob was pointing at one of the heroes, who was covered in fur. A behemoth.
"He's asleep!"

"What?"
"Yeah, I can tell. I can sense him sleeping. I have an idea..." Tob pulled out something from his purple hoodie. A collar.
"Dude what the hell, how did you even get that? Where did you even get that?!"

"HAHA! It's gonna be funny, come on."
"No! Why would I do that to him."
"Come on, can you imagine that guy just waking up and freaking out when he finds the collar around his neck?! What if he bounds up and down like a dog trying to get it off? That would be so jokes!"

The thought of the behemoth jumping around frantically with the collar around his neck was pretty funny. Plus what harm was there? It wasn't like he was going to declare war on us. It would have been too awkward since we were in public.

Celestia fluttered to my face, grabbing my nose. "You're not going to actually follow through with this dork's prank, are you?"
"Uhh..."
"You're unbelievable!"
"Oh come on! I need a laugh. The last few days have been hard on me."

Celestia's pouty face softened.

Janna, unfortunately, didn't seem satisfied with my reasoning. "Ugh, you're both going to embarrass me. I will be waiting at the tailors."

The behemoth freaked out. "WHICH ONE OF YOU TROLLS DID THIS? VERY FUNNY, YOU KNOW. HAHA I'M LAUGHING SO HARD. YOU MUST HAVE THE SADDEST AND MOST PATHETIC LIVES TO FIND HUMOUR IN THIS."

Tob and I burst out laughing at the top of one of the hero statues as the behemoth tried to yank the collar off with his foot.

I wiped my eyes from laughter.
"His face, oh my god. You must have the saddest and most pathetic lives to find humour in this!" I made a mock imitation of the behemoth while Tob was rolling on the statue, laughing.
"Dude! The fact that he used his FOOT! Oh god, I can't breathe."

We calmed down. Tob leaned back on the stone statue. "Bro, I've missed this. It's been so long since we've messed with people. Remember when we used to play pranks on the others in Darkstar?"
I laughed. "Of course."

How could I not forget? The day we replaced Junon's conditioner for hair bleach and she ran out of the shower screaming that her hair was all blonde. Or that time we replaced Kronus with a kitchen knife the morning of the mission, and Jason was forced to use the kitchen knife to fight.

It didn't matter how much we had been through. Who I was before, or what happens in the war. My time with Tob, pulling pranks as the "Darkstar Hooligans" always put a smile on my face.

"If we don't stop the Cleansing, just wanted to let you know, I feel like the luckiest guy ever to have been your friend."
"Why?"
"Because none of this-" Tob spread his hands. "None of this would have happened. We never would have met Jason, never would have started Darkstar, beat up those New Militia goons. I would have kept living my life as Toby Rufus, not knowing I was a demigod. We wouldn't be pulling pranks, and we wouldn't be the best looking guys in Corinth."

We jumped down once the behemoth left. Probably went to some police station to complain or something. We went to the tailors to look for Janna.

"Which one do you guys prefer?" Janna held up two blouses. I couldn't figure out the differences between the two. Both white, same style, same buttons. She had to be joking.
"They look the exact same." Tob and I said at the same time.

Janna shook her head really fast. "No, they're not. Look, one of them really brings out..." Janna started talking about measurements and a bunch of fashion jargon that I didn't really comprehend. I looked at Tob, and he was just as lost.

"I have no idea what she is talking about." I whispered to Tob.
Tob turned to me. "Dude, she's a girl, it's easy. Watch."

Tob interrupted Janna's fashion lesson. "I think the one on the left is better, really brings out your rack."

Janna's jaw dropped, clearly offended. Well, I guess this was it.

Before Janna could blast Tob out of the tailor with the Power Force, Sentry interrupted us.

"The teleporter is ready. Destination, the Doma base."

Chapter 20

Teleporation was not my thing. Especially Millennium City's teleporters. The moment I stepped in, it felt like my insides were unravelling. I closed my eyes as everything became warped and I lost consciousness.

I woke up. Where was I? I looked around. A bunch of people were walking around in a building, carrying bags. I looked down at my clothes, which was no longer my parka and tank top. My hair hit my eyes.

I was in a flashback.

I looked up at the clothing store. Designer clothing, as Merrow had described it. I got up from the seat that I was asleep in. Walking around, I noticed a bunch of people my age, hanging out in groups. Many of them were holding hands with their partners.

I saw my reflection in one of the glass windows. A lanky eighteen year old wearing clothes that were way too large for me. My magenta eyes gazing back at me with a fierce aggression.

"Decen, you're going to scare everybody off when you're looking like that." I turned around. Merrow was holding a bag with clothes in it.
My mouth moved on its own. "Real funny. Why are we even here? I thought we were going to the maw."
"The mall, m-a-l-l, yeah."
"WHAT?!" I growled. Several young couples jumped and looked at me.

"Hey! Calm down, you're going to embarrass me. It's bad enough I have to drag you around when I'm shopping. Can you at least try to be less.... you."

"You said we were going to the Maw. I was prepared to battle the hound-dwellers."

"Well, my clothes are getting old, and you technically agreed.... so...."

"Your clothes look fine. Why are you getting new ones."
"Clearly, you wouldn't understand. You wear the same thing every day."

My eyes glowed a brighter magenta. "You watch your words, fish girl. I am a Paladin, the most feared warrior-"

"Merrow!!!" A bunch of girls ran up to us. One hugged Merrow as she laughed along. "Sasha! How have you been? Looking good, queen!"

One of the girls looked at me. "So is this your little brother? He's adorable!"
"What? We're not that far apart-"
Merrow interrupted me. "Yeah, I'm forced to take him with me everywhere I go."

I couldn't believe what I was listening to. Merrow wasn't older than me by much. But then again, it wouldn't make sense to go around telling everybody in the mall that I was a Paladin capable of destroying the entire building if I wanted to. The fact that Merrow was taller than me by a good few inches probably fed into the cover.

Merrow hung out with her friends, and I walked from behind, at least a few feet away. Something caught my eye. A man. No... this wasn't part of my memories. This part never happened.

I walked away from the group and to the corner, a space wedged between two stores. The man regarded me with silver eyes. Close cropped hair, black nano weave jacket, tank top, cladded jeans.
"Decen." Samuel Mason spoke.

I looked behind me and realized the store was gone. Everything was gone. I turned back and the man changed. He was me. Not the current me, but the Decen me. His hair, now covering his eyes, dyed with magenta.

"Child of war's final stand."

I backed away, but ran into someone from behind. I turned around and realized I bumped into Jason, his silver eyes regarding mine.

"Hands of purity, stained with night." He spoke robotically.

"No... stop." I muttered. I tried to escape, but a bunch of white chains stopped me from moving. A man in plaid, with a snake around his shoulders.
"Killer. Killer. Killer." Icarus chanted.

More people began to surround me. Joining the chant. Amana, Darkstar, Jonna, the Inquisition, everybody.

KILLER, KILLER, KILLER, KILLER

"STOP!!!!" I yelled, transforming into Form 2 and unleashing a torrent of Darkfire, vaporizing everybody.

Someone emerged from the darkness. An aged woman with green hair. Her eyes bloodshot from crying.

"No... stop... please. Not her..." I sobbed.

Merrow looked me in the eye, face to face. "You killed me."

"No. I DIDN'T. I DIDN'T!"
"Your past, your actions. If you never killed those people, I never would have died."
"YOU'RE LYING."
"If you didn't, you would have escaped Ulthreal's spell. I would never have sacrificed myself."

"SHUT UP!" I screamed, blasting everybody away.

Amber ran up to me. "Stop! Sam!"
But I didn't listen. I was hysterical. I tackled her to the ground, and began to squeeze.

"SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!!!" I screamed as Amber began choking.

Suddenly, the rage dissipated. Amber's lifeless eyes staring at me.

I began to cry as the darkness closed in on me.

Chapter 21

"AAAH!!" I screamed, clawing the air.
"Hey, hey. Relax. Stop!" Janna grabbed my hands with crazy strength.

Tob snickered. "I didn't know you were the type to pass out from teleporters. What happened?"
"No idea, guess I'm not used to these types."

Janna leaned in closer to me. "You're sweating up a storm! Are you sure you can do this?"

I took a deep breath, calming myself down. It was just a dream. Get a hold of yourself, Sam.
"Yeah." I lied.

We approached Sentry. Sentry opened up the main terminal and was typing on a keyboard.

"How's the investigation, man." I tried to act cheerful.
"No one is here. I cannot find any records of Master Kabito."

"That's too bad." Tob replied, walking up to the round table. "Is this porcelain?"
"Stop touching things." Janna scolded Tob.

Janna had a point. This wasn't our place. The only person who belonged was Sentry, and he was banished. So basically none of us were technically welcome.

"Yeah, the last thing I want is to defile this place. I don't even think we are welcome here."

"No, you are not." Before I could react, a blade was at my neck.

I put my hands in the air, despite knowing there was no way that sword could realistically kill me.

Everybody turned around. Sentry unsheathed his katanas. "Release my master."
"You have trespassed on our land. We show no remorse to invaders." The woman replied, her voice cold.

I concentrated, purple lightning arcing from my body as I blinked out of the woman's grasp, appearing next to Sentry.

Janna stepped forward, but Sentry stopped her. "Search." Janna, Tob, and I ran to the terminal and began typing.

"The hell is he thinking?" I muttered.
"For a Paladin of War, you are quite uneducated." Janna whispered.
"What?"
"Sentry wishes to fight the samurai alone. It's an act of pride and honour."

I glanced at Sentry, who was facing down the woman. The woman wore silver armour, but with samurai plating similar to Sentry's. Her hair was chin length, like a bob, but something about her face felt similar. Sentry and the woman circled each other, their katanas drawn.

"You trespass on our territory. It is not only illegal, it is immoral."
"The Doma Clan has been long gone. There is nothing here."

The woman suddenly leapt forward with blinding speed, her katana glancing off Sentry's sword. Sentry whirled around and slashed at her, but the woman's skill was... astounding. The two exchanged blows, but it was clear that despite Sentry's strength and power advantage, the woman's skill was on another level.

Sentry slashed downward, which opened himself up, which the woman took advantage of. The woman slashed at both Sentry's legs, causing him to fall to the ground.

The woman aimed her katana at him, her eyes expressionless but cold. "You fight like us, but your technique is tainted with brutality. The elegance of The Doma is no longer a part of you. It is impure.

"I don't know how you learned our ways, but treason is treason."

Sentry tried to get up, but the woman stomped him back onto the ground. "You are holding back. Why."

I got up, but Janna held me down. "No."

Sentry looked the woman in the eye. "Because I... cannot strike down my own mother..."

Chapter 22

Nessa Akatsume. That was the name of Sentry's human mother. It was her who taught him the ways of The Doma, which Sentry taught to me.

Nessa walked up to Sentry. "Connor..."
Sentry only regarded his mother. "I thought you were dead. I had slain everyone in my blind, feral rage."

Nessa put her hand on his mask, and Sentry grabbed her wrist. "You do not wish to see my face, mother. I am..."
"It's okay. Let me see." Nessa took off his mask as Sentry's arm went slack. Tob hid behind me, much to my annoyance.

Sentry's face was hard to look at. He used to have a chiselled face, decorated with lines of the Hellspawn around his cheeks. But now, ever since Mogul had disfigured it, his nose was bent, and his face was horribly scarred. Sentry's dark hair, just like Nessa's flowed to his shoulders neatly.

I had never seen Sentry take off his mask ever since that day, until now.

Sentry's face was full of shame. But Nessa looked up at him and put a hand on his face. "The pride of a Doma warrior is not dictated by their appearance, but their honour. Are you saying that your worth is dictated by how you look?"
"No." Sentry muttered.

Nessa turned to me. "I sense a degree of loyalty between you and my son."
I nodded. "Yes. I chose to make him my familiar after I bested him in combat."
"I see."

Sentry shook his head. "You are supposed to be dead. How is this possible?"

Nessa put away her katana. "I was slain, yes. But after you had left, I was tended by a healer who had stumbled over our base. I was the only one left, along with Master Kabito."

"Where is Master Kabito?" I asked.

Nessa went up to Sentry and smoothed his hair. "Master Kabito left our base, in search for the strength to take down the Dark Masamune. However, after he learned that he was slain, Kabito isolated himself."

Sentry clenched his claw for a hand. "What I did was unforgivable."

Nessa knelt down in front of Sentry, who had sat down. "Connor, your rage is justified. I never thought your father would conspire against his own son. I was the fool to have believed him. I should be the one to apologize."

Janna approached Nessa. "We're looking for Kabito, we need his help in our journey. May we enlist his services?"

Nessa regarded her. "You emit a strong warrior's aura, but it is plagued with regret and hesitation."

"That's for sure." Tob finally spoke, but Nessa suddenly shot him a look.
"You on the other hand, emit too much confidence."

I held back a snicker. Destroyed.

Nessa continued. "To answer your question, that is not up to me decide. Master Kabito can be found at the top of the mountains, the devil's fingers."

"Where the hell is that?" Tob blurted out.
I glared at him.

Sentry spoke up. "I know where it is, but the journey will be long and the conditions will be harsh."
"Perhaps you should stay the night." Nessa said. Sentry hesitated.

"Good idea, I'm exhausted." Tob muttered.

I had a hard time sleeping. You couldn't blame me, after the last time I went subconscious. I lay awake as I listened to Tob snoring. I overheard Sentry and Nessa talking. I knew it was probably not cool to be in their business, but... Sentry was my familiar, and my companion... so by the distributive law...

I leaned in closer.

"You've grown so big."
"It was from my countless battles alongside Decen and Mason."

"If you were free from the Paladin, would you come home?"
"Do I still have a place in the clan... or even in this city? After what I have done?"
"We can always rebuild. Perhaps foster another clan. One that is built on trust, not strength."

"Eavesdropping?" Janna turned to me.

"Oh.. uh..." I stumbled with my words. Janna scooted closer to me.
"It's okay. I'm guessing you can't sleep, huh. Nightmares?"

"Yeah."
"You're still haunted by her death, aren't you."

I had to change the subject before I started bawling like a little baby. "Whatever, better question is, why is it that you sometimes change from a serious, ancient tone, to a valley girl accent?"

Janna snickered. "I like talking like this. It makes me feel... free from my roots. But millennia speaking in the tongue of the Aspects is a really hard habit to drop."

I guess she had a point. "You think we can get this blessing? This Master Kabito guy sounds real intense."

Janna paused. "This Benefactor, he is a deity, and I have a feeling he is a warrior who prioritizes honour above all else. I don't know. But I have a feeling he's going to want more than a pretty please to get his blessing. Probably some kind of trial to prove your worth."

Great. If it wasn't one thing it was another. "If it's honour, then maybe we should have gotten someone else to do it."

"And there you go again. If you keep beating yourself up over the past, you'll never move on and become a better person, Champion."

I sighed. "I wish my past was something I could move on from. If only it was that easy."

Janna shifted and repositioned herself to face me, her blue eyes were stunning. Not like it mattered.

"Want to hear a story?"
"What are we, in second grade?"
"Aww, okay Mister Grownup. I guess I'll just leave you to your own self pity as you spend the night staring at the wall."
"Fine." I grumbled.

"Long ago, there lived a Spartan, his name was Vitruvius. He served under a great general. I knew him and watched his life back when I was still an Aspect."

"Okay."

"He was a great warrior, and he was unique from the rest of his brothers. He always smiled. Had a big goofy grin on his face despite the worst of times. His smile gave his brothers hope, in a life that was grim and full of bloodshed.

"Vitruvius's smile served as a symbol of strength, and was recognized by his general. As a result, he became one of the most renowned Spartans in his cohort, and many admired him greatly... to the point where he was considered a hero to his brethren."

"What happened to him?"

Janna regarded me. "It turned out, Vitruvius had a terrible past. He killed his family in a fit of rage, because he struck a deal for power in exchange for his soul. It was a foolish choice that he didn't take into heart at the time, because when he made the deal, he was on the verge of death."

Janna continued. "To cope with it, Vitruvius buried his past and put on a smile. To always smile despite how dark his future was. One day, Vitruvius' cohort was tasked to raid a village. There, the general commanded his Spartans to slaughter everybody. Men. Women. And Children. When it was time for Vitruvius to bring down the sword on a family, it all came out."

I was silent. I saw where this was going.

"Vitruvius' past was slowly eating him up from the inside, and because he had kept it all a secret, his cohort was not aware of it. Vitruvius, like his Spartan brothers, believed that strength meant the neglect of their weaknesses. But that was exactly what caused the Spartan's downfall. His past came out, and Vitruvius lost his mind. Killing his allies, and attempting to kill the general.

"The general had to put Vitruvius down. The fall of their smiling champion... it led to the fall of the entire cohort. And everybody was vanquished."

I realized that I was tearing up. "Worst bedtime story ever." Janna laughed.

"Do you know who in this story you remind me of? I'm sure you know the answer."

I was silent. Janna put her hand on my shoulder. "You can't let your past eat you up. Sometimes, the greatest strength comes from opening up to those who care about you. I care about you. Toby and your allies all care about you. Don't bury it deep inside anymore."

Chapter 23

Freezing. That was what the devil's fingers was like.

"We are approaching the tip of the formation. I hope you guys are all ready to meet Master Kabito!" Janna shouted over the wind.
"So.... cold..." I muttered.

Tob gave me a smirk in his wolf form. Easy for him, he had a bunch of fur. I had to put up with the occasional lump of snow entering my parka through the opening in my neck. I didn't bring a scarf.

"Come on, Champion. You're almost there, don't give up on me!" Janna shouted as I trudged up the mountain. Sentry was giving me an inspirational speech, but between my shivering, and Bridget's requests for hot chocolate, I wasn't able to hear it.

By some miracle, I managed to reach a space that was secluded from the wind. We decided to stay there for the night, before all my joints froze up from the cold.

Janna spilled the branches she had collected along the way, and lit the fire.

Tob tried to cozy up to Janna in his wolf form, nudging her waist with his snout. But Janna wasn't having it.
"Nice try, Rufus."

Tob whined, in disappointment.

Janna turned to me. "You should have dressed for the weather. I warned you that it would be cold."

I managed to regain my voice after a few minutes sticking my head over the fire. "I didn't think it would be that bad."
"You literally froze up fighting the bandit in Earth XIX."
"That was different."
"Uh huh."

Tob crossed his paws, and rested his snout on them, eyeing Janna, whining.
"No." Janna told him.
Tob whined louder. Giving Janna the puppy dog pleading eyes thing that he spent months mastering.
"Ugh. Fine."

Janna stroked Tob's snout, causing him to wag his tail. What a simp.

Bridget manifested and sat next to me. "I want hot chocolate."

This was going to be a long ass night.

There were no nightmares, thankfully. I slept like a rock, until Tob woke me up, in his human form.

"Dude."
"Wha-What? What do you want?" I wiped my eyes, barely awake.

"I see something. Someone. Over there."

He pointed at a nearby mountain. Sure enough, it was a figure of a man. Watching us.

"Come on..." I muttered. "Can I not get a single night of proper sleep..."

I slipped on Wheeler's Goggles and activated Hunter's Eye. The man didn't look like a samurai, so Kabito was definitely out of the question. But this man... his face didn't look right. One of his eyes was blue and the other, brown. His hair, standing on end.

"Who the hell... who is that?"
"No idea. But I woke up in the middle of the night, and he's been standing there for hours. It's kind of creepy."

I turned to Janna, who was fast asleep.

"Should we wake Janna?" I asked.

Tob turned to her. "Nah. Let's deal with this ourselves. Don't wanna disturb the queen."

"Yeaaaah, I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear that."

We made our way down the Devil's Finger, and flew to the man's location.

Celestia's voice squeaked in my mind. "Have you gone insane?! Why are you approaching this creep!"
"He wants something from us. Plus he's making us uncomfortable."
"What kind of an explanation is that?!"

I activated Form 1, and flew to the air while Tob enchanted his Jordans and flew alongside me.

The man watched us as we landed in front of him. Tob enchanted his handgun, which glowed orange with runes. My arms flickered with black and blue Darkfire, my right eye glowing white with Hunter's Eye.

"What do you want." I shouted at the man.

Tob aimed his gun at the man's head, as he tilted his head at an unnatural angle. Suddenly, the man's arms elongated, twisting and contouring into a pretzel shape.

"Uhhhh...." Tob powered up his gun, glowing black with dark energy. "You good, man? I don't think that's how arms work."

Four extra arms sprouted from his back, as the man suddenly leapt forward, knocking me into a snowbank. I watched as the man tackled Tob off the side of the ledge, Tob screaming and trying to knock the man off.

"Tob!" I shouted. I blasted my surroundings with Darkfire, melting all the snow around me in a black circle. I shot forward, pursuing the two as they tumbled down the side of the mountain. Tob was firing his gun randomly, one of the blasts nearly catching my face.

"Celestia, can you blink Tob out of there?"
"I can't."
"What?!"
"I can't manifest in these conditions. My wings will freeze!"

"Then boost me."

I felt Celestia's power coursing through me, arcing with purple electricity as I shot forward with immense speed. You might be wondering why I didn't just go Form 2. Celestia's boost, or the "Grace of Celestia" as she liked to call it, basically enhances part of my power. If I went straight into my higher forms, I would risk damaging my surroundings. In this case, I might have hurt Tob. Form 1 with the Grace of Celestia had the speed of Form 2, but the collateral of Form 1, making certain tasks more effective.

It turned out I didn't need to rescue Tob, because suddenly, his panicked expression became serious.

"Get... off of me!" Tob's yell turned into a roar as his mouth elongated, teeth becoming longer and sharper. His wolf-like eyes becoming more defined as white fur grew all over his body, which also grew in size until Tob was in his wolf form, snarling as he snatched the man in his teeth, slowing the fall against the side of the mountain with the claws on his paws.

Tob growled as he swung the man out of the way, shooting through the side of a neighbouring mountain.

I flew and changed course, flying into an arc to pursue the man. Tob snarled as he gave chase as well, leaping from landform to landform, his speed matching mine.

The man screeched at me, attempting to wrap me with one of his long arms. I barrel rolled out of the way and held out my hand, manifesting Merrow's Spear, arcing with cyan Achilles Electricity. I launched the spear right at the man, impaling him in the chest.

I landed on the ground, sliding past the man and retrieving the spear. The man screeched at me again, but Tob landed right on top of him, snarling and growling at him. The man began wildly swinging, but Tob was much more feral, biting and scratching at the monster.

The monster kicked Tob away, sending him into a mountain.

I shot forward head first, Hunter's Eye picking up a weak spot. I landed a powerful punch at the point underneath the man's ribcage as I heard a few bones crack. The man tried to wrap his arms around me, but I swirled out of the way. I spun on the ground, my feet whirling in the air as I landed an upside-down axe kick on the man's skull.

Tob growled as he pounced from the side of the rubble, nailing the man on the ground. The fight was over.

"I'll ask you one more time. Who the hell are you. Why are watching us." I summoned Merrow's spear, imbuing it with Darkfire and Achilles Electricity, aiming it at the man's face.

The man's face was hard to look at up close. His cheekbones were so high up, unnaturally causing his mouth to be in a permanent smile and his eyes to be squished up.

Before I could react, an arm emerged from the snow. The hand slowly went up to me before Sentry manifested before me, blocking the hand with his body.

"Young master..." Sentry choked, as he fell to one knee. I ran to his side, his breastplate smoking from the point of contact.
"Return, Sentry. Return."
"I... cannot... he forbids it..." Sentry gasped.

I turned to the man. "Who the hell are you?! What did you do to Sentry?!"

Tob snarled at the man, who simply cackled, speaking for the first time. "I have done nothing. I've simply... activated his... darkness, the darkness in his heart.

"I am Skialg, the Aspect of Decay. And your familiar shall rot, from his sins!"

The Aspect cackled in glee, as Sentry fell to the ground, face first.

Chapter 24

"You. Are. Next!" Skialg screamed, grabbing Tob's claws, but the flames of his paws burnt the Aspect's hands on contact.

Skialg screeched, squirming away from Tob's grasp. "You... you possess the blood of an immortal, but... not like us. Not like us." Skialg's head turned a 180.
"Pantheon...." The Aspect hissed, before scurrying away, digging deep.

Tob was about to give chase, but I put my hand on his fur. "No. We need to get Sentry to Janna. I have no idea what Skialg did to him. We need to hurry."

Tob grunted in agreement, lowering his back for me to load Sentry on while Celestia was whispering in my head. "Oh no... my dear Connor! Will he be okay?!"

"I'll make sure of it." I replied, gritting my teeth. I opened my hand to see if my Darkfire was still working. Nothing came out. Not good. That meant I couldn't use Sentry's Darkfire or his super strength. I lifted Sentry's body with everything I had. He was incredibly heavy. Lifting him felt like doing an overhead press of at least 225 lbs. I guess I should have taken Jason's gym sessions more seriously after getting Darkfire.

"You won't always have your powers, Sam. That's what this training is for."

It was really biting me in the ass now. I was really maxing out. My shoulders felt like they were giving way. That's what happens when you max out without proper warm up.

"Celestia, can you blink me back to Janna?"
"I can't, repeated use of Blink will drain me, especially in this weather."

Well, that was real helpful.

I climbed on Tob's back. "I can't fly. My Darkfire is bust. Take us back to Janna."

"Skialg." Janna muttered, as she inspected Sentry's wounds. "My brother was never a front-line fighter. That was not what he was known for."

Janna stared at the arcing lines of toxic green spreading to his body. "The Aspect of Decay was known for the damage he could inflict to a person, being, no matter how strong they were. As long as their sins were great, so was the lethality of his spells. He is like Ulthreal, but his powers far worse. Lethal."

"We should take him back to Nessa. Maybe there is a way to fix this."

Janna shook her head. "As far as I know, a biological cure is impossible. Of all of those who were able to recover from my brother's decay, the battle was not biological, but mental."

I took Sentry's hand as he looked at me through his mask.
"Do not blame yourself, young master." Sentry mumbled, his voice weak.
"Save your strength, Connor. We're gonna save you. I swear by it."

The trip back to the Doma base was probably the worst. I hated giving bad news. Apparently, Nessa hated receiving it either.

Nessa slammed me against the wall, her sword against my throat. "If my son dies, so will you." She looked like she wanted to behead me and I didn't blame her. But she wasn't the only one feeling like shit. I already lost Merrow. To lose Sentry too...

Janna tried to calm her down. "Lady Akatsume, there is a way to save him. We need to establish a psychic link."

A psychic link. I saw where she getting with this. "The psychic link should allow me to enter Connor's subconscious, and I could be able to draw him out of the curse. We just need to find a way to form it."

Nessa slowly let go of my throat. "I will be the one to enter his consciousness. I know where all his hatred is coming from. I will talk to him."

Janna looked at me. "Then I will work on the connection. You and Toby keep watch."

Janna took Nessa's hand and put her hand on Sentry's body, which was deteriorating fast. She continued eyeing me. "My brother's curse can be lifted, but this fight will be entirely determined by Sentry's mental strength. As Skialg's sister, I am able to interact with his curse. But that is all I can do. What happens now... depends on your familiar."

We sat in silence as Nessa and Janna closed their eyes, the hum of the psychic link filling the air. Celestia was silent as she manifested next to me.
"What are you going to do, Cap? You can't use Sentry's powers."
"Let's just hope nothing attacks us."
"Let's not jinx it."

I looked down at my hands. "I can't use Darkfire, and my old powers as Decen are gone... but we can still do it old school."

I clenched my fists, Achilles Energy shrouding them in cyan light as I generated two claws.

Chapter 25

Yeah, so the silence didn't last long.

"You gotta be shittin' me." Tob muttered.

From the distance, I could make out Skialg, alongside two other people. They were approaching us at a fast rate. I didn't need Hunter's Eye to know that.

I looked back at Janna, who was completely focused on the mind-link. It was now or never.

"Tob, hold the base. I'm going to take em all out with the Motion Force."

Tob was about to say something but I wasn't having it. I needed to keep these guys off Sentry. I stomped on the ground as my body lit up with a green glow and sparks. I looked around as time slowed, the drop of water coming from the icicle slowing down and freezing mid-air. I rushed forward with a huge burst of speed, as the surroundings remained slowed.

Skialg, in all his grinning glory was frozen, but suddenly, something felt off. I looked at the other two lackeys. Dark navy blue jackets, lined with red. Black hoodies. Dark jeans. They were dressed similarly... to...

Decen.

The one on the right, a girl, had her black hair, tied up in a single braid along her shoulder. The guy on the other side, his hair in a buzz cut. Their hair both black. Their hair both dyed magenta at the ends.

Against my will, my surroundings began to speed up, as the girl glared at me, her magenta eyes full of regarding mine. I wasn't able to stop as I slid to the other side, the Motion Force being inhibited.

I hit the ground, sliding.

"How..." I muttered. "The Motion Force, their conduits can't be siphoned."
"They can't... unless you're a pure conduit. You're not pure." Celestia remarked.
"You're telling me this NOW?!"

The girl walked up to me, as Skialg cackled. "Ah... isn't this quite the reunion. I knew your face looked familiar... DECEN."

I got to my feet, but the guy on the right did a flip kick, his leg momentarily transforming into a blade, slashing my face. I started to regenerate, but the girl shot forward, leaving behind a trail of red energy as she kicked me into a boulder, shattering it. My body felt like it was being injected by liquid needles.

Skialg cackled. "Lord Mynell never ceases to amaze me, creating these... Decenites."

Decenites?

The guy shot forward, grabbing me by the collar and launched me into a boulder.
"I thought you would be... bigger... Father."

No way. No no no. This couldn't be happening. But it was.

I yelled as I launched myself out of his grip, attempting to escape and Blink myself out of there, but suddenly, the girl wrapped my neck with her arm-tendril. I began to choke as she slammed me into the ground, again, and again.

The girl slowly approached me, kneeling on top of me and leaning in until we were face to face.

"Why is he so weak, Quinn? Why is Dad so weak?"
This was getting way too weird. "I'm not your dad you sicko, get off of me!"

I tried to blast her away with Darkfire, but I forgot. I didn't have any. I activated the Motion Force and slipped from her grasp, but I was pinned again, the girl's eyes glowing with magenta. She must have been the one dampening my powers.

Quinn's arm turned into a blade. "Don't matter. If we are stronger than father, than it just means we are that good. Means our brothers and sisters invading the Inquisition are doing just fine."

My heart rate went up. "What?" I growled.

My body began swirling with red energy. I was shaking with rage. It was too late. We were too late. We weren't moving fast enough, and now the Aspects had begun to invade. I slammed my fist on the ground, which was now black and red. My old powers as Decen returning.

The girl walked forward, her eyes glowing.
"Go ahead." I growled. "I don't need Quinta's energy, or my soul links to take you two jokers down." The girl's eyes widened.

My hand transformed, into a black and red claw, as I swiped forward, slashing the girl's eyes out. She fell back, screaming.

"Rachel!" Quinn shouted. He ran up to me, slashing with his bladed arms, but my claws were far stronger, as I severed his arm-blade into three equal pieces. Quinn fell back, yelling in pain.

Rachel pulled out a pill, and it broke apart, being consumed by her body as she fully regenerated. She grabbed me with her tendrils and dragged me across several landforms, but I used the momentum against her, grabbing her tendrils and pulling her to me. I leapt forward as the two of us tumbled down the mountain. Rachel pummelling me in the face as I positioned myself on top, the two of us falling onto the spiked rocks below. I repositioned myself, kicking Rachel in the midsection hard as I launched myself back from the fall.

Rachel was impaled by one of the spikes, as she glared at me.

I walked up to her and took a satchel that was strapped on her belt. The pills were organic, which probably explained why she was able to regenerate from absorbing them. I threw them off the edge as they disappeared into the clouds below.

"You are too late... Dad. We're already there. Tearing apart your precious Inquisition."

My hand transformed into a giant blade. But Rachel laughed hysterically.

"What're you gonna do, kill your daughter?"
"You are not my daughter."
"Quinn and I, we were born from your cells. We were created off your genetic code. We are your children. And soon, you will know our power, as we tear apart your make believe family."

"Celestia."
"Yeah, cap." Celestia's voice was calm for once.
"Shut her up."
"On it."

Celestia manifested, raising her hands as Rachel and the rock flew up into the skies. Rachel screamed hysterically as she yelled my name.
"Save me Dad! Save me!!!"

She was not my daughter. She was created to destroy me, and everything I had loved. She needed to be eliminated.

A large bolt of purple lightning zapped her as Rachel flew to the ground, her charred body looking up into the sky.
"Why didn't you kill me?" She muttered.

"I don't like killing." I responded as Rachel lost consciousness.

I returned to see Tob at 100% had defeated Skialg and pinned down Quinn, who was trying to absorb him, to no luck. Tob snarled at Quinn as he glared at me.
"You killed my sister."

"I didn't. I left her alive. You can tend to her, but don't come for us again."

Quinn laughed hysterically as Tob set him free. "No matter. We've already invaded your precious home."

I kept my rage in check. I shook my head. "Why are you helping the Aspects? They're evil, they'll cast you guys aside like they do to the people they slaughter."

Quinn glared at me. "You wouldn't know, father." He spat that word like it was an insult. "We were created from you, yes. Our cells, they are comprised of mostly you. But we are also Mynell's creations, and so we serve him. Like how you served the Acadians."

Quinn suddenly became even more hostile. "Oh for Chrissake. Of course you wouldn't get it. You lived your life with that hot smoking babe of a Guardian who looked after you. Imagine living your life under the service of an Aspect. We are bred for war, like you. But unlike you, we never went soft. We continued fighting and killing, training and slaughtering. Consuming. Our enemies, each other. The weak."

My eyes went wide. Celestia gasped. "Oh god..." She whispered.

"Surprised? We had no choice. We are warriors. That's the life we lived, and continue to live. Those who weak will perish. Even if they are our own blood."

I clenched my fists. This guy... he did the most unforgivable thing ever. But... wasn't this the same thing I used to do as Decen? Slay your own brother for his strength? I needed to end this. I couldn't let this kid live his life the same way I did. I had to end him.

Suddenly, the image of Merrow appeared in my mind. Visions of Merrow holding out her hand to me whenever I freaked out. Putting up with me despite who I was, or what I did. Even as a Paladin, my sins, she put up with them all.

It just takes one person to have the courage... to reach out.

Merrow's last words to me.

No. I couldn't just kill them. Just because they were like me, just because they were killers like me. No one is beyond forgiveness.

"Quinn... you don't need to live your life like this."

Quinn momentarily hesitated, but went back to sneering. "Empty promises. What are you- gonna be my dad now? It's a bit late for that bud."

I walked up to him and put my hand on his head. Quinn didn't slice me up, his sneer softening up slightly.
His black hair, dyed magenta at the ends. The kid couldn't have been any older than fifteen.

"You're not bound by blood. Trust me, I've lived down this road. We're not destined to be killers. It just takes the first step to redemption to continue the path."

Quinn's eyes began to tear up, but he furiously wiped it off. "Screw off. I don't need this. I'm taking Rachel and we're leaving. Doesn't matter anyway. Our job is done."

"What job?"

Quinn looked at me, his eyes full of hate. "To distract you. You old geezer."

Chapter 26

"We need to return. Now." I told Tob.

Tob and I were with Nessa and Janna, the psychic link still in progress. Sentry was not doing any better, if anything, his body was getting worse. The decay was spreading like wildfire.

"Skialg can't undo the decay. I tried to shake it out of him." Tob cleaned off his sneakers.

"What the hell is going on in there..." I muttered.

I reached out, to touch Sentry, but Tob stopped me.

"Don't."
"What choice do we have? They've already begun the invasion, we need to move."

Celestia materialized. "And do what? We've contacted a grand total of ZERO Subjects, and you've lost your Darkfire. The Decenites are at least as strong as you were as Pre-Paladin Decen. You just going to freestyle this?"

I gritted my teeth.

"Celestia, if I don't do something, Sentry will die. I don't know what's going on in there, but I have to check. You able to make a psychic link or something?"
"No."

"Dammit!" I growled, smashing my fist into the rock, breaking it.

"Sam?" Bridget's tiny voice appeared next to me. She looked at me nervously. I realized I had suddenly scared her in my fit of rage.

"Hey, kid. I'm so sorry." I knelt down to bring her in a hug.

"I can link you to Mister Sentry." Bridget replied from the folds of my parka.

I pulled away and stared at her. "What?"

"I know how."

"But-"

Celestia suddenly zipped around Bridget, inspecting her. "So you got powers after all girlie!"
Bridget nodded.

That was a lot to take in. "Bridget... what exactly are you?"
"Bridget." She replied, cluelessly.

I rolled my eyes. "You're not a normal girl, are you."
"Mommy said I was cursed."

"Cursed?!" Celestia gasped. She fluttered in front of Bridget. "Young lady, you are most certainly not cursed! If anything, you are blessed with such power!"

My heart began beating faster. "Bridget... what exactly can you do?"

Bridget walked up to Sentry and took my hand. "Unity."

My eyes went wide. "Wait wha-" before everything suddenly went bright white, my senses overloading as I entered Sentry's consciousness.

Chapter 27

I was in Sentry's consciousness. I was standing on a hill, surrounded by cherry blossoms. The sky was red, but not blood-red. It was... kind of soothing. Like an autumn scene. So samurai.

I continued walking, and made out a man, his knees to his chin, in a fetal-like position crying. A woman was by his side, trying to comfort him. Sentry and Nessa.

I approached the two, listening in.

"Connor... come back to us. We need you. Your friends need you."
"Darkness... slaughter... blood on my hands..." Sentry whispered, in a trance.

Nessa turned to me. "I can't... get through to him..."

I knelt down. Sentry still had his armour, but... something about him was different. He didn't look demonic, his hands, although pitch black, looked... human.

Nessa noticed me staring. "You've never seen him in this form. This was him, the true and pure Connor Shel. Before the hatred, the betrayal."
Nessa looked down, in shame. "Before my betrayal. I did this to the poor boy. I am no warrior maiden."

"Hey." I put my hand on her shoulder, hoping she wouldn't slice me up. "Let's just focus on getting our Sentry back. The past is the past."

Nessa smiled. "Forgiveness, a virtue that we rarely considered. No clan is perfect, I suppose... our clan lacked this. Perhaps you may get through to my son."

Nessa took my hand, her eyes watery. "Please, Blackflame. Bring my son home." Nessa's body began to dissipate, meaning her psychic link was starting to dissolve.

I sat in front of Sentry. "Hey buddy? You there?"
Sentry continued to weep. "Leave me. I must die by the sword. If not the sword, then my sins. I do not deserve this life."

I took off my parka, which dissolved. He needed to see me, not as Samuel Mason, but as my old self. The old me that took him in so many years ago.

I looked up, my eyes closing as I felt red swirls around my body. My muscle mass disappearing as I became smaller, skinnier, my face becoming less chiseled, more gaunt. My eyes losing the silver, and my short hair growing out, turning magenta at the ends.

A coat, navy blue lined with red, floating from the heavens and wrapped around me. I spoke, but my voice was no longer Samuel Mason. It was the voice of the Paladin of War.

"Dark Masamune of the Doma."

Sentry looked up, his eyes bloodshot. "De- Decen?"

I looked at him, my old expressionless and cold look. "Why do you wish to die by the sword, samurai."

Sentry sniffled. "I have slain my family. My clan. With my bare hands, I brought the sword down on my own father, my own mother. The screams of my brothers and sisters as their blood accumulated on my blade. I do not deserve to live."

I stood up, my hand transforming into a huge blade. I needed to reenact what had happened.
"What are you doing?!" Celestia screamed in my head. So I guess she was part of this link too.
"Shut up, Celeste. I'm doing a thing!"
"Do NOT call me that. Don't hurt my precious Shelly!"
"I won't, relax."

I continued my little act. "If I bring my blade down on your neck, your life will end here. There will be no more possibilities, no more chances for you. Do you understand?"

Sentry looked at my blade. "I am a Kaiju. Kaiju's get no second chances."

"A Kaiju, huh."

Sentry was silent.

"What if I told you, that you could be more than a monster? One that protects."

"What do you mean?" Sentry looked up at my face.

"Not all monsters tear people down. Some can protect. I am offering you a chance, Connor Shel of the Doma Clan, to become my familiar. My protector."

Tears streamed down the big guy's face. "I have no reason to live, I don't understand."

"I'm telling you to become my familiar. Reset the board. Become anew. From this day on, you shall serve me, as a familiar to the Paladin of War."

"Become anew..."

"Your past, shall be your past. Nothing more. What will it be?"

"A protector... What shall a Kaiju like me, be called, one that protects?"

"A Sentry. A protector, and a soldier, stationed to protect me with your life. You may have lost your family here, but there's more to being my familiar. I am offering you more than a job. I am offering you a family. Join Merrow and I."

Connor took my hand. His hands becoming demonic, his body glowing with black energy. "Sentry..."

"Sentry of Decen. Sounds pretty cool, don't you think?"

"Sounds... cool? I do not feel cold."

"It's just a saying. I can teach you more of these slang terms if you join me!"

Sentry took my hand, and put his fist against his chest. His body growing, more and more of his demonic features returning. "I shall swear my allegiance, to Paladin Decen of Acadia, as your Sentry. Your protector."

I realized that what I was saying, applied to myself too. "Good. Neither of us are good. I've done my fair share of unforgivable things. So let's face our past together. Alright?"

Sentry got to his feet, taking my hand. "Thank you... for saving me. Young Master."

"That's what I do for the people I love, man." I replied, returning back to my Samuel Mason form.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" A familiar voice appeared behind me. I turned around.

"Merrow?!" I gasped. I ran to her, but Merrow put her hand up. "No."

"How are you here? Are you real?" I cried.

"My dear Paladin." Merrow smiled, her face becoming younger until she was back to her old form. The day I first met her. "You've grown so much."

Sentry stood next to me. "Guardian Merrow, why have you come?"

Merrow tilted her head. "I just wanted to see how two of my favourite people are doing."

I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. It took everything I had to move on, but seeing her again, made me realize all I did was put a cork in it. And now everything was flowing out.

"Merrow... I can't do this. I can't live my life without you. I've-"

"Shhh." Merrow put her finger on my mouth. "I know it is hard. When I lost you to Mogul, I was the same way.

"But you have a job to do. Save these people from the Aspects."

I was trembling, and I probably looked like the biggest wimp ever, but I didn't care. "My quest is botched. My people are being invaded, and I lack the strength to defeat them. I'm just... a mess. I can't see myself moving forward with your death. I can't forget you, no matter how much I try."

"Then don't."

I stared at Merrow. "What?"

"Remember me. Use it as strength, not as a weakness. Your memories, our memories, wield it, like a weapon. Your past isn't there to bind you down. Don't mistaken shackles for humility. Being chained to being humbled. You're pure, because you lived your life impure. You're kind, because you know the horrors of war, the horrors of your sins. You learned to be compassionate, because you lived your life without it.

"Don't look at yourself as a killer, but as one who has seen death. You're more than that to these people, to me, and to yourself.

"Embrace who you are"

I looked at my hands, which were humming with a white energy. I never saw this energy before, but for some reason, I knew. "The Unity" I whispered.

Celestia gasped. "Cap... you did it..."

Merrow ran her hand through my hair. "Hey, Cheesen."

I managed a weak laugh at my old nickname. I never thought I would hear it again. "Yeah?"

"When you're finished. When you've done your job. Come back to me."

"What do you mean?"

"I know about the prophecy. I know that your final stand will be against the gods. And when that time comes."

I put my hand on hers. "I'll find you."

Merrow smiled. "Then you know what you must do, Paladin Decen of Acadia."

I looked up, as Sentry dissipated into my consciousness, my body wreathed in a white flame. For once, my flames were no longer black. The Darkfire, Celestia's Lightning, Achilles Force, Restoration Force, Motion Force, and... now, the Power Force, uniting as one.

"Let's kick these guys' asses."

I woke up and Janna fell backwards. "Did.... did it work?"

I opened my hand, which glowed with a white celestial flame. Janna gasped. "The Unity..."

"Let's return home, fend off these stupid Decenites, then find Quinta. I need to have a word with her Subjects."