The Legend of Samuel Mason Pt. V - The Cleansing

Chapter 28

We were too late.

We emerged from the portal created by Celestia, to be greeted with a completely destroyed Inquisition Fortress. Bodies strewn everywhere. Some were... so graphic, I can't describe it.

Despite the chaos, the bloodshed, the bodies, the Inquisition continued fighting. I watched as Aaron roared, charging one Aspect head on. The Aspect was at least 14 feet tall, his hair wreathed with snakes, and his body was arced with turquoise lines.

Aaron and the Aspect clashed, Rigor rumbling from the impact. Aaron was missing an arm, as he was giving it his all. Trill was lying unconscious, his neck was bent at an unnatural angle.

From above, I saw Calliope and Mavus fighting an Aspect in the skies, the Aspect had four wings, and had a halo over her head, which was similar to Calliope. Calliope activated Seraphim, manifesting his armour, clashing with the Aspect, wing against wing, but the Aspect was stronger, and I watched as the shockwave knocked Calliope unconscious. Ariandal fell to the side of the castle. Mavus flew in and fired several pods from his shoulders, each blasting a beam of green light alongside his chest beam, but the Aspect flew right through the combined beam, and impaled him through his armour with all four of her wings, causing Mavus to yell in pain.

Reya and Dennis were fighting an entire squadron of Decenites, facing back to back. Firing force cascades left and right.

"Reya." Dennis spoke.

"Yeah?"

"It's been one hell of a ride, Reverb."

Reya gritted her teeth, firing sonic waves from her hands. "It sure was, Joust."

Dennis grinned, as the Decenites closed in on the two of them. I could only hear slashing and tearing as two of my teammates were consumed by these... things.

Lazarus and Hark were trying to form a portal to evacuate the families and the people to another dimension, but some Decenites appeared, and grabbed Paladin Hark, biting into his body and absorbing him as Hark screamed in pain. One Decenite ran up to Lazarus as he tried to summon a rune, but the kid sliced his hand clean off. Then his leg. Lazarus collapsed, screaming in agony as the Decenites began tearing him apart, but a huge stone golem appeared. Ferris. Ferris roared as he grabbed the Decenites and yanked them away from Lazarus. But even he was starting to be overwhelmed.

I couldn't watch this anymore.

"We have to do something!" I screamed at Tob and Janna. Tob was well ahead of me, transforming into his wolf form and helping Aaron. Janna watched the army, in sympathy.

"They have no chance at surviving. You know this, Champion."

"Then let's try to get as many people to safety as we can. Can you use your Aspect of War magic or something to evacuate them?"

Janna nodded. "I will try. I'll defend as many survivors as I can."

I looked at my hand, summoning the Unity, and shrouding my body in pure white flame. We needed to get the Aspects out of here. I put on Wheeler's Goggles, and shot forward with the Motion Force, slamming into each Aspect I saw. None of them could react as I zipped across the battlefield, relocating them to the other side of the country.

"Young Master, relocating them will have no effect if they are this powerful."

"We just need to move the fight. Distract them so the others can evacuate."

I approached the last Aspect, summoning the Power Force as I let loose an open handed strike, creating a huge shockwave and smacking the Aspect to the other side of the country and creating a massive valley.

"They're not going to stay for long, Cap. What are you gonna do?" Celestia fluttered next to me.

"Boost my next move."

"Got it."

I clasped my hands together, imagining my body being distributed over a large section of land, and opened my eyes as a million copies of me manifested. All powered by the Achilles Force. My spectres shouted, and shot forward with the Motion Force. They probably weren't able to use Darkfire, but it should be fine.

I flew to the air, and wound back my hand, transforming it into a giant glowing white blade. I slashed, mixing the Achilles Force with the Power Force, delivering a massive blast of Unity energy as the projectile wiped out an entire legion of Decenites. I didn't want to kill them, but they weren't giving me much of a choice.

I landed in front of Mavus. "Mavus, what's going on?" I asked.

Mavus wheezed, removing his helmet, his face was bloody. "The Aspects, invaded. They... came, but only at limited power. They had an army of their own... they were like you..."

Mavus's knees buckled as I caught him. "Mavus? You good?"

Mavus managed a weak laugh. "I'm always good, man. I'm... the best-" Mavus coughed, and vomited blood, which splashed on the ground.

I steadied him. "Hey, stay with me man. Let me heal you." I held out my hand, attempting to use the Restoration Force.

I watched as Janna commanded the others to evacuate to the portal, her voice boosting the speed of all the foot soldiers as everybody evacuated. A Decenite leapt at her, but Janna swatted her hand, creating a massive gust of wind and sending the kid back.

The Restoration Force wasn't working. Why wasn't it working?!

Mavus' eyes were becoming more and more empty. Suddenly, someone zoomed in front of me. Adam was in full battle gear, just like his mom. He ran to Mavus' side, tears streaming down his face. Mavus regarded him, sadly.

"Hey, kiddo. Is Mom okay?"

Adam sobbed. "Yeah. She's through the portal."

"Good." Mavus coughed. I clenched my fist. WORK. Why wasn't the Restoration Force healing him?!

Adam watched as I struggled to use my powers. "It's not working... is it."

Mavus put his hand on my wrist, his eyes flickering with one final light. "Hey bud. It's okay. I've done my part." He smiled at Adam. "I'm sorry I never was the... father I was destined to be. I'm sorry for everything you been through, in the future, and now. But Dad's gotta head out."

Tears streamed down Adam's face. "Dad... it's okay. It's okay. Mom is gonna be alright. You're gonna be alright. Just hang in there... please..."

Mavus coughed. "I wish... I could just make a machine that'll make you all better." He put his hand on Adam's face. "Man, it's like... looking in a mirror. So handsome, just like your father."

Adam managed a laugh. "Come on, enough joking around Dad."

Mavus's breathing was getting weaker. "Yet... so beautiful... like your mother. All the good from me, and all the good from her. My greatest creation..."

Adam sobbed. "I am. I'm proud to be your son. I forgive you. I- I-"

Mavus was losing his pulse. "Say your name... one last time..."

Adam held his father as I stepped back. I never felt so useless in my life. "My name... is Adam. Adam Jonathan Shaw."

Mavus smiled for the last time. "That's... my boy..."

Chapter 29

"Take your father. I'll hold off the Aspects."

Adam took his father in his hands, still horribly shaken. "Sam... what happened to you? Your powers..."

I glared at the group of Aspects, who were fending off my spectres. "Run to the portal, Adam. I'm sorry the Cleansing took so many lives. But I'm here now. I have the power of the Unity. I will not let another person die today."

I leaned forward, and zoomed towards the Aspects, but before I could even close the distance, my spectres all disappeared.

I stopped running. "What the hell?" I muttered.

Celestia fluttered next to me. "That one." She pointed, her voice trembling. "He's different from the others."

I looked at where she was pointing. A man, with long, black hair that flowed to his shoulders, his eyes, pure gold. He looked, ancient. But refined. He eliminated all of my spectres from a single strike from his palm.

He was looking right at me.

"Celestia, get in my consciousness. It's not safe for you out here."

Celestia, for once, didn't complain. She instantly dissipated into a bolt of purple lightning.

"Young master, this man... his power is unlike the others."

I glared at the man. "Let's put it to the test."

I stomped my foot, and shot forward with maximum speed of the Motion Force, but as I approached the man, he moved his head to meet my gaze. My eyes widened as the man smiled, and raised his hand. I felt my chest being pummelled in a hundred places as I spewed blood, the Motion Force deactivated as I slammed into the side of a mountain.

"H-How." I croaked. My body felt like it was covered in needles. I tried to get up but realized I wasn't able to move. My body exploded with pain with every movement.

He broke every single one of my bones.

The Restoration Force began working on my body, mending my bones. Great timing. I was struggling to gasp for air, as I knew my ribs were shattered. No doubt a punctured lung.

"A Paladin, wielding the Unity? Interesting." The man spoke to me, as a smaller man approached him. A kid. I recognized him immediately.

"You're... you're Deimos, aren't you." I got to my feet.

Deimos smiled viciously. "Yes... Samuel Mason, formerly Decen of Acadia. You wield all of Queen Quinta's energies, but despite this, you're still.... so.... weak."

Deimos shot forward, but I caught his fist. But despite that, Deimos was still overpowering me, forcing me to sink deeper and deeper into the ground. "Make no mistake, Blackflame. I am not like Mogul. He had become Prime Aspect for centuries, but I have been Prime Aspect since CONCEPTION."

Deimos spread his hands, and his entire body glowed gold, blasting me with a painful incinerating light. I slammed into dozens of mountains.

"Cap!"
"Young Master!"
"Sam!!!"

My soul link's screamed at me as I felt like my body was being torn apart. The beam was gone, but my body was still burning. I tried to get to my feet but the fires continued to burn, scalding my skin as the Restoration Force struggled to keep up.

I concentrated, forcing my Restoration to push beyond its limits. I yelled as a white shockwave emitted from my body, extinguishing the fire and fully regenerating my body.

I was breathing hard as I stood face to face with the Prime Aspect. Deimos regarded me with bored eyes.

"My brethren seek to destroy you. My followers seek to torture you. My own brother, Mogul, wanted to see you suffer. Know this, Samuel Mason. I want nothing but the best for the multiverse. But to see the Acadians throw away their loyalties, creating false gods. Idolizing themselves. Then seeing humanity do the same..."

Deimos' hand flashed and I hit the ground, groaning, clutching my midsection. He was so fast, I couldn't even react. At least with Mogul, I could see it coming to react with Doma Martial Arts.

Deimos continued. "It broke my heart. I thought humanity would recognize their true lords. But they didn't. They worshipped... themselves. Power. They loved it. They craved it. Do you know, how it feels?"

"You're... not a god." I muttered through the pain.

Deimos growled as he kicked me in the face, I yelled in pain as the impact sent me through dozens more mountains. Deimos manifested in a shower of orange stars. "Ah... ever the heretic."

I regenerated, but I didn't know how long I could last. Deimos... he was impossibly strong.

"I am... so sad." Deimos began to fake cry, putting his foot on my head, stomping it on the ground over and over. "All I wanted was for the Acadians to see me as their god. THEIR. GOD. But no... but what was worse... so much worse..."

Deimos grabbed my by the head, lifting me from the ground with one hand. I was face to face with the Prime Aspect. I was barely able to stay conscious. The pain was excruciating, and blood was flowing from the top of my head, leaking across my face.

Deimos ripped Wheeler's Goggles from my face, smashing them on the ground. "Do you know what's worse than to see your followers betray you?"

I said nothing. I was in no position to do anything. If he wanted, he could kill me right here. I needed to play it smart.

"Quinta... that BITCH. She... she had to go, give up her power to these... mortals. To make them her Subjects. The same mortals who could not accept me as their lord. To... have a child, and create a familial line. One based on a curse. A horrible horrible curse. One to die, and one to raise."

Deimos screeched to the sky, the sound of his scream echoing.

Deimos threw me onto the ground. One to die, and one to raise. A horrible curse. Everything finally made sense. How Bridget was able to psychically link me. What she meant by the Unity.

Bridget was a descendent of an Aspect. She was the descendent of Quinta, who was destined to find me. And she didn't even know.

"Where are Quinta's subjects..." I muttered, lying on the ground. I stared at the sky, my body unable to keep going. The sky was dark, stormy grey. Just like our last encounter against Mogul, but this time, much more hopeless. I didn't have Junon, Aaron, and Mavus backing me up. I was all alone. Sweat and blood mixed on my face as I breathed as hard as I could, catching my breath.

Deimos raised an eyebrow. "Why do you seek such information? To plot against me?"

I coughed, decorating the sky with a shower of red. I was regenerating, but he did way too much damage to my body for me to recover all the way in time. My only hope was to use my wit.

"I... I have no chance at beating you. Might as well give me some closure..."

Deimos' laugh bellowed across the valley, booming across all of Corinth. I could still hear the echoes of battle, the cries of my allies as the Decenites tore them apart.

"So be it, child. Perhaps I can give you the closure you so desire. Before I relish in your death."

If I could smirk, I would have. I've fought enough immortals to know. Despite how smart, or powerful, or experienced they were, they all had one flaw. Their ego. I needed to pry this information as much as I could before he was on to me.

"The Subjects of Quinta have fled their realms, to see their queen. One last time. For they know, that my brethren seek to reclaim our place in the cosmos. With our Aspects now conduits, they are no longer safe."

They went to see Quinta... but Quinta was slain. Meaning... meaning...

The Underworld.

"Young Master, Jason and Amana..."
"I know."

Jason and Amana, they were in the Underworld, still training. I needed to go down there to find Quinta. To reunite the Subjects. Together with their power, I could defeat Deimos. Maybe with Deimos defeated, I could force the Aspects into the unescapable realm Lazarus and Hark were working on.

"Thanks, man." I replied, my body finally regenerated and ready to go.

Deimos glared at me. "Excuse me?"

I opened my hand, white flame accumulating. "See ya." I fired a huge blast of Unity Darkfire at Deimos. Obviously, I knew it wouldn't do shit, but it was a good distraction.

"Celestia, send me to Jason!"
"On it!"

Purple lightning blasted me from the sky, as I dissipated, Deimos attempting to grab me. I watched as Deimos glared at me, but regaining his composure.

"We shall meet again, Blackflame. Until death do you part."

Chapter 30

The Underworld was... nothing like I expected. I was expecting landscape of endless fires, bones, and rocks. Maybe I was just delusional. Maybe I had seen too much death and went crazy. But the moment Celestia blinked me to the Underworld, I was greeted with what looked like a city of black buildings, landscapes. Torches lit up the area with a dark blue light, similar to Darkfire.

Sentry manifested. "In here, I have power. I am no longer held back by the soul link."
"Uhhh, thanks?"

Celestia fluttered next to Sentry, perching on his shoulder. "I am sorry about, your friend."

I clenched my fist. Mavus. I couldn't save him, and he ended up dying in front of Adam's very eyes. I couldn't let his death go in vain.

"Sam?" I turned around to see a towering six foot musclebound guy approaching me. Jason ran up to me and crushed me in a hug.

"Oh god, you're okay. How's Tob? Darkstar?"

The expression on my face was enough to tell him they most definitely were not okay. Amana gasped as she joined us.

"What happened?" She asked.

"Tob is okay." I replied. Jason looked relieved, but suddenly tensed up again.
"How many are gone?"

I looked away. "Reya, Dennis, Paladin Hark, they were torn apart by the Decenites and consumed."

Sentry continued. "Aaron Sterling and Mavus Shaw didn't make it either. All the Street Angels were killed, 78% of the Inquisition was slaughtered, the remaining managed to evacuate to Lazarus' portal."

Amana began to tear up. "What about Junon?" She whispered.

Oh god. Junon. How was she going to take the news that her boyfriend was now gone? I should have been there, to tell her that I failed her, but instead I came here.

"She made it." I replied, but my voice was hoarse. Good news didn't feel too great when the losses were this great.

Jason put his hand on my shoulder. "What are we going to do now?"

I looked up at my remnant and teacher. "Prime Aspect Deimos told me that the Subjects went to see Queen Quinta, who is down here. I'm gonna find her and get to her Subjects. Unite them so we can take these Aspects together. I couldn't beat Deimos one on one even with the Unity and the four energy realms. We're going to need everything we got."

Amana clenched her fist, clearly enraged. Red lines began to form on her arms, but Jason stepped forward and embraced her. "We fight to protect, not for revenge."

Amana calmed down. "We need to find Quinta, right? Then let's go."

"Wait."

Jason and Amana looked at me.

The two looked confused. I needed to tell them. No more secrets.

"When I merged with Decen, I was given a prophecy, by Rolah the Paladin of Hope.

"It's written that one will unite the Subjects of Quinta, and eventually, the Aspects will be defeated."

Celestia fluttered next to me and sat on my shoulder as Amana looked at me with concern. "I'm guessing there is a catch."
"You're right." I replied.

Jason walked up to me and put his hand on my shoulder. "Tell us."

I took a deep breath. "In this war, we will win, but... I don't make it."

Amana and Jason began to tear up, as Jason slowly removed his hand, staring at me with his silver eyes, the same eyes that regarded me when I first met him, begging him to join on his quest to stop Ariandal. It seemed like ages ago.

"What... what do you mean?" Jason whispered.

I looked at the two of them. "The Aspects will fall. And I will die."

Chapter 31

Amana and Jason followed me as I used Hunter's Eye to locate Quinta.

In the dark environment, my eye lit up bright white, as I scanned the area with the two of them in tow. I looked in my reflection, my eyes, silver and magenta, staring right back at me. I was no longer Samuel Mason, but I didn't feel like Decen either. I felt like someone else. Someone who had seen it all, almost.

I slowed down until I was walking beside Amana. She took a deep breath. "So... I guess you found the other realms, huh?"

"The Motion Force and Restoration Force were innate to me. I consumed an Aspect to get the Achilles Force, and I used the psychic link with Janna to get the Power Force. As for the Unity..."

Bridget manifested next to me, holding my hand.

Amana gasped. "So that's what she looks like!" She put her hand on Bridget's hair, ruffling it.

No one ever saw Bridget in person, aside from Lazarus and a few others. But they knew she existed. I guess it was nice to see Amana interacting with Bridget, despite the circumstances. It probably had something to do with Bridget using her powers for the first time, but I wasn't in the mood for looking into it.

Several underworld creatures slithered or crawled around the buildings to look at us, but they emitted a feeling of respect to Jason. Amana saw me looking.

"John and I have been busy gaining their respect. We're gathering as many allies as well can to make the push against the Aspects. We just didn't think they would make their move so early."

The air was sullen. I failed Mavus and Junon. But I needed to move forward. Keep moving forward. We needed to make sure the deaths didn't go in vain. If I didn't stop these guys, they'll kill more, more and more, until everyone was dead.

"Hey." Amana broke the silence.
"Huh?" I responded, realizing that Amana was looking at my parka, which had been badly damaged in my fight with Deimos.
"What happened to the jacket I gave you?"
"Oh... uhhh..."

Amana laughed. "It's okay, Sam. I was wondering when it would get destroyed. But it's probably not too comfortable wearing that with it being all cut up. Maybe once we rest, I can get you a new one."
"Hmm."

"Guys. Something isn't right." Jason interrupted us.

We weren't there yet. I knew that. We were in the middle of nowhere, a bunch of black obsidian rocks, kind of like a landscape from Corinth, but all black.

Hunter's Eye was no longer picking up Quinta's essence. But... someone was here.

Before I could react, a hooded being appeared out of nowhere, kicking me in the chest as I slammed into a hill, obsidian dirt flying everywhere.

"Sam!" Amana shouted at me, but before she could get to me, the figure zipped behind her with cyan electricity, opening his hand as a jolt of cyan light sent her flying too. Jason stepped forward, drawing his katana, activating his dark energy, but the figure held out his hand, like he was using the force.

Jason's neck glowed cyan, as he dropped the sword and clutched at his throat, choking and retching.

"Jason!" I shouted. I got up, but I was held down by several clones of the hooded figure. I blasted them all away with Unity Darkfire, and shot forward, but the figure shrouded him and Jason with a cyan light. This power...

Amana screamed at Jason's name, trying to slash at the sphere of energy with her tail to no effect.

I zoomed forward, but Amana held me back.

"No! You might get Jason!"

I pulled away my punch. "This power... it's Achilles Energy."

Amana's face turned horrified. "Then..."

I looked at the sphere of energy that was now encasing Jason and the figure. "This guy is a Subject of Quinta."

"What are you doing to Jason!" I shouted at the figure. Amana looked downright murderous. Several clones circled us, but Amana powered up her celestial form, swiping them all away. But the more she put down, more took their place.

"You shall not pass beyond this zone. We cannot afford to let the Queen be attacked again. Not again." The hooded figure's mouth quivered.

"Listen, we're not here to hurt Quinta. We're here to unite her Subjects. We need your help. The Aspects-"

The figure cut me off. "The Aspects will not come here. This is where we shall stay with our Queen, until the end. There is no stopping them."

I clenched my fist. "I wield the Unity. I can stop them if you guys back me up."

The Subject shook his head. "Your power as of now, is not enough to stop the Aspects. Not at their full power. And I shall prove it to you."

The sphere of energy containing Jason dissipated as Jason fell to the ground. His silver eyes... no longer silver. But glowing cyan.

Jason drew his katana and aimed it right at Amana and I. Amana put her hands over her mouth. "No... Jason..." She whispered.

"What game are you playing, Subject?" I shouted at him, but the Subject regarded me through the shadows of his hood. "If you cannot save your friend, you cannot save your people."

Jason roared, powering up, his body crackling with black electricity and his black aura, which became mixed with the energy of the Achilles.

"Stop... stop, Jason!" Amana shouted at her boyfriend, but it was too late.

Jason charged forward, and I was forced to engage my teacher as we clashed, the shockwave shaking the entire landscape.

Chapter 32

Jason and I exchanged blows while Amana and I tried to get through to him.

"Jason... we're not your enemies. Snap out of it!" I shouted at him as Jason wildly slashed at me. I summoned the Motion Force to keep my distance, but Jason was getting faster and faster. The Kaiju Boost increasing his speed, and the Achilles Force amplifying alongside it.

Amana tried to step in, but she was surrounded by the Subject's clones.

"The boy must prove himself." The Subject's voice spoke through all the clones in unison. Amana yelled and engaged the clones in her celestial form.

Jason roared as he sliced down with his katana, but I summoned Merrow's spear, blocking it. The veins on my arms began to glow white with the Power Force, but suddenly, flashbacks of our time together, Jason training me, him being there for me back when we were in Darkstar, appeared in my head.

I couldn't do this to him. I can't kill Jason. I can't.

Jason began to overpower me in strength, as my feet began to crack the ground.

"Jason..." I seethed through my teeth. I was losing the struggle, and the rage in Jason's cyan eyes was offsetting.

"Jason!" I yelled.

Jason spiralled, spinning and managing to catch me in the midsection with a powerful kick. I slid back, Jason shooting forward, launching a ton of slashes at my direction. I blocked them all with Merrow's spear. Despite the reach advantage I had with the spear, Jason's technique was still far ahead of mine. Jason disarmed me, the spear hitting the ground as he sliced down, catching me in the chest.

I stumbled back as a line of red began to expand on my tank top. Jason ran forward to finish me off.

"No." I growled, opening my hand, and blasting Jason with Unity Darkfire. Jason yelled in agony. It tore my heart. Suddenly, several Jason spectres appeared from the flame, each powering up a Townbreaker Slash. I spun and unleashed a spin kick, launching a huge swipe of Unity Darkfire which annihilated the spectres.

Jason appeared from the flames, his body on fire, charred and scorched, but he was still running at me with full speed. He was unbelievably stubborn, black and blue lightning emitting from his body. His Kaiju Boost wasn't being capped. The Achilles Force must have removed his limiter somehow. His speed nearly caught me off guard.

I powered up the Motion Force, mixing Celestia's Boost as I zoomed across the battlefield, Jason in hot pursuit.

Jason managed to get another hit on me, slicing the sleeve off my right arm completely off, then jabbed his katana right through my midsection. My stomach burst in pain as I yelled in agony, grasping the blade and glaring at Jason.

"Jason..." I gasped. "Don't..."

Jason's cyan eyes momentarily flickered. "S-Sam...?" His eyes went wide. "No... stop... you need to kill me I can't-" The Achilles Energy took control of him once more, as Jason buckled, screaming in pain as his body began sparking with cyan electricity. I pulled the blade out, but Jason slashed again, forcing me to dodge and instinctively summoning the Power Force as I strike him in the side, sending my teacher into several dark mountains.

I zipped forward, grabbing Jason by the head, but seeing Jason's seething rage, growling and snapping at me... I couldn't.

"Jason!!!" Amana screamed. She flew to our direction, but several Achilles chains wrapped around her legs and pinned her to the ground.

The Subject took off his robes, and approached us. I glared at him, but then my eyes widened. "You're...."

"A kid." Amana finished my sentence, her face also in shock. The kid was no older than 8, just like Bridget. For some reason, it looked like he was of average height, but I realized that he was just levitating the entire time.

"For someone who wields the Unity, it is shocking to know that an Underworld warrior can hold his own, even with the Achilles Force Influence." The boy spoke, his face expressionless. There was a huge scar that ran through the side of his bald head, down to his lip, which glowed cyan like his power.

Jason began to thrash, but I held him down, my hand manifesting a claw. "Give Jason back you brat." I growled, but the Subject regarded me sadly.

"No. Then you will fail the test."

"What test?!" I responded.

The boy flew to the air, manifesting constructs, four other kids who wore robes and an old, gaunt lady covered in chains. "If you claim to wield the Unity, and you claim to put an end to the Aspects who killed my Queen, then you must prove to me that you can do it. You can save your people. Starting with your friend, Jonathan Crypt of Croft."

Jason roared as the Kaiju Boost continued to climb. Black lightning arcing off his body as my claw construct began to crack. Jason grabbed his katana and slashed at me, ripping my parka as I fell back.

"Jason... STOP!" I yelled.

The Subject did nothing. He only watched. "You hold back, against your teacher, your mentor, your brother. It is necessary to save him, but you must know when to put him down. For the sake of others."

"I will not kill Jason." I stood my ground as Jason continued slashing at me. Sentry, Celestia, and Bridget begging me to stop. I refused. I will not kill another brother. I will not kill my family, my loved ones, ever again.

I fell to one knee, blood leaking from the corner of my mouth. "Jason... I won't fight back, not until you fight for yourself."

Jason's eye twitched as he brought his katana back, ready for a final swipe to end it all. "Every loved one I have had... has been ripped away from me." He whispered. Amana's eyes widened. "John! That isn't true! We're still here for you. Please come back."

Jason shook his head, tears streaming down the one eye that was exposed from his mask. "Not yet. I already know Sam is going to die... I'll never... I've never... had a family. There's no point."

Amana continued shouting at her boyfriend. "I'm here. We're all here. Darkstar..."

Jason glared at her. "DON'T, use logic against me, Amana. I... I'm not as stupid as you think I am."

A bead of sweat rolled down the side of her face. "I would never..."

"You're only with me because you had no one else... if the world you and Sam lived in had others... you would never have been with me. You never would have chosen me. You considered me the only viable option."

Amana's eyes filled with tears. "That's not TRUE. That's the Achilles talking. Please... come back to me!"

Jason threw the katana to the ground. "Every person I have loved, every family I have had. They were all taken from me. Sam will die. Reya and Dennis are dead. It will only be a matter of time before the rest of Darkstar will die. And soon... you will leave me too."

Amana tried to come up with something, but for once, she looked lost. Confused. Unable to come up with a coherent argument.

Jason walked up to Amana, his cyan eyes full of hate. "I'm NOT your fallback plan. I am... I am my own man. I don't need family. Fate... fate has told me that much." Jason grabbed Amana, and she instinctively pulled away, causing Jason to pull his hand back.

"You're... afraid of me." Jason muttered, taking off his mask. His face was utter devastation.

"Jason, that's not true. This is all in your head. Amana loves you with all her heart, she would do ANYTHING for you. Can't you see how much you're hurting her right now? Letting the Achilles take over you like that? Letting it say these things? SNAP OUT OF IT." I yelled at Jason, getting to my feet, my slash wounds regenerating.

Amana fell to her knees. "Please John. Don't do this..." She sobbed. Jason clenched his fists. I needed to stop him.

Forget the Unity. Forget the Darkfire. Forget Quinta's Energy. Forget Doma Martial Arts. I needed to do this. Myself. I ran forward, and tackled Jason to the ground as we pummelled each other. There was no samurai technique. There was no fighting skill. This was a straight up fist fight. A straight up brawl. We slammed our fists against each other, smashing each others faces, throwing each other to the ground and wrestling on the obsidian dirt.

I threw Jason on his back and climbed on top of him, punching him in the face repeatedly. "IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT?! JASON?!" I roared at him. I continued punching him as Jason tried to stop my hands. Jason's face becoming more and more bloodied with every strike. "Is this what you want? For us to fight like this?" I repeated myself.

Suddenly, Jason caught my punch, his overwhelming raw strength overpowering mine, as he pulled my arms away and slammed me on the ground. He began punching me in the face over and over again, my face exploding in pain.

Amana ran up to Jason, but he pushed her to the side. Jason continued his assault on me as I felt my body slowly giving up without the Restoration Force. My vision becoming blurry. Jason's punches were getting slower as he began to tire out, his hysterical sobbing overtaking his speech as I struggled to breathe. Spitting blood.

Jason had me pinned on the ground, my face was bloodied, and Jason holding up his fist in the air. We were both badly beat up. Jason's tears mixing with his blood like mine. I stared at him, barely conscious.

"Do you remember..." I croaked.

Jason looked at me. "Remember what..."

"What I did... what we did... as Decen."

Jason's fist began to drop. His eyes flickering. "Do... do what?"

"Icarus..." I busted in a fit of coughing. My vision slowly turning dark. Jason's cyan eyes flashed with silver.

"The Paladin of Light... I don't-" Suddenly, Jason clutched his head. "What's... what's happening?!" Jason began to yell as his memories as my remnant began reappearing. The memory... my darkest memory. Me killing Icarus, flashed in his mind.

I stared at Jason. "I did the unforgivable. It took everything I had to move on, to forgive myself. If you.... if you kill me now...."

Jason grabbed his fist with his other hand. "I will be repeating history." He muttered, his silver eyes slowly returning.

I took Jason's fist, which opened, as I held his hand. "You are my remnant, but you are more than that. You are my brother. I love you, Jason. I..." I continued coughing.

"Young Master! Use the Restoration Force! Your life... it is fading fast!" Sentry's urged me.

"Captain... don't leave us. Don't leave!" Celestia screamed at me.

"Sam!!! Don't go!!!" Bridget wailed.

I took Jason's head and rested it on my chest, my vision fading. "My curse... a curse of misfortune. It was something that I had even when I was Decen. And I ended up giving it to you in the form of losing loved ones. I am so sorry."

Jason gritted his teeth, trying to regain control. The Subject looked at us. "You're breaking my control. You have hope after all."

I tried to ignore the brat. "Jason... you're... all that's going to be left of me. Please, continue to do what you're doing. I was never a good person as Decen. But here you are, with an actual girlfriend!" I tried to laugh, but ended up coughing instead. Jason was shaking, sobbing as he continued to rest his head on my chest.

"Fight it, Jason. You're stronger than this. You're stronger than I ever was. Your emotional strength. Your resolve, that's why Amana loves you. Not because you're some fallback plan." I muttered, my voice slowly dying out.

Jason looked at me with his silver eyes. "Sam..."

I smiled, as everything began to turn black. "Welcome... back..." I whispered as I lost consciousness.

Chapter 33

I was falling. The darkness around me, the Underworld, warping like a funnel. The sounds of Sentry, Celestia, and Bridget, screaming after me, their voices fading.

"It's okay... it's okay guys..." I tried to reassure Jason and Amana, even though I couldn't even see them. They were probably worried sick for me. I was gone from my mission for too long. Oh man. Jason was going to kill me! Man screw that, Amana was going to kill me!

You would think that Jason would be the scary one, but it was always Amana. Haha.

I didn't want to go. I held out my hand, tears streaming from my face. I still had a job to do.

"I still... have a job. I still have a job. I STILL HAVE A JOB!!!" I yelled at the darkness, as several stars began forming, getting bigger, and bigger. And bigger, until my vision became bright white.

I was standing in a bright light. I looked down. Clouds? Was I in heaven?

I walked forward, and the clouds became flowers. A figure near the horizon. I needed to go. I had to go to this person. I ran forward, completely oblivious to the fact that my Darkfire, Unity, Energies, and powers were gone. I chased after the figure, until the person became more clear.

An old woman, sitting under a tree, surrounded by five little children. She was tending to them, as the children sat next to her, keeping her company. She looked up at me, her eyes gaunt, sickly. Her hair grey, reaching her knees.

"Samuel Mason of Croft. Bridget has chosen an interesting one." She smiled at me.

Bridget.

"Quinta?" I asked, hesitantly. Quinta looked at me curiously. "You seek my Subjects." She spread her hands, at the children. One of them stood up. Bald head, huge scar around his face. He turned to face me.

"Blackflame." He spoke, his voice no longer deep and ominous, but like a child.

I resisted the urge to give him a wedgie. He gave us hell. But I bit my tongue. "I need your help. All of you. It's time we put an end to the Aspects."

The kid raised his hand. "I know. I needed to see your power. As it is, like I said before, it is not enough to defeat Deimos. But..."

He walked up to me, and put his hand on my chest. "You have heart. Which is why Bridget chose you. Which was why it was destined to be you."

The other Subjects stood up, taking off their hoods. They were all little children, and one in particular... her face.

"Bri- Bridget?!" I exclaimed. Bridget smiled as I ran up to her and wrapped her in a hug. I opened my eyes, and realized that she was no longer a little girl, but a young woman. She regarded me. "Hello, Sam."

I looked confused, as the others began to transform into adults, each Subject smiling at me.

Quinta stood up, and hobbled to me. "We have been watching. Our saviour. The prophecy. I'm sure you recognize some of these people."

I looked at the Subject, his robes now red for the Restoration Force. "Rolah." I spoke. Rolah nodded. I turned around and saw another Subject, his robes, a dark green. He held up his hand, the sign of the Doma. "Master Kabito..." I whispered, in utter disbelief.

Quinta put her hand on my shoulder. "My child, you must know, that up until now, your life has been a series of destinies. Your destiny, as a hero to these people. You always strived for greatness, even in your past life. Is that right?"

I looked away. "Quinta, I... I'm not a hero."

Quinta tilted her head. "Why is that, child?"

"A hero is supposed to save the day. I let all these people die. Hell, I'm not even a good guy. I've done so many horrible things."

"Yes..." Quinta turned around, facing the tree. "You are most certainly not a good person, but is that not what the prophecy speaks of?"

I was confused. "What do you mean?"

"Recite it. The line."

I fumbled with my tank top. My parka was basically disintegrated now, and I was standing here with my torn up tank top and jeans, the padding completely gone. I looked like death.

"Hands of purity, stained with night. But I'm not pure. I'm-"

"Yes, you are. You are pure, because you are impure."

"I don't get it-" Suddenly, it hit me. What Merrow had told me. I was good, because I was bad. I knew the horrors of killing. The pain of betrayal, the guilt of the numerous sins I had committed.

Hands of purity, stained with night.

Hands were pure, because they were stained with night. With the darkness.

Quinta smiled. "No man is perfect. And I will tell you this. No Aspect is perfect either. We are not gods. But what makes someone pure, is who they are now. Your Guardian, Miss Rivenlight, saw that in you."

Bridget stepped forward. "You were chosen, because you lived a life full of sin. You knew that it was bad, and you blamed yourself. And so, you reincarnated as Samuel Mason, to forgive yourself, and seek redemption."

I looked around me. "Does this mean... you're going to help me?" It was a stupid question, but Bridget just smiled. "It's written is it not? Subjects of Quinta, one will unite?" Bridget stood with the other four Subjects of Quinta with her Queen.

I was still not used to seeing Bridget as an adult, after looking after her for so long. Did that mean everything she had done was a lie?

"You seem uneasy." Bridget said. I looked up at her.

"Of course I'm uneasy. I- I don't even know what to make of you now. I feel like our whole relationship has been based off of a lie."

Bridget's face turned sympathetic. "I didn't want this either, but I can tell you that I was born, and I did die as Bridget, the daughter of a family who shunned me. But I lived my life the same way any other normal human girl would. It was my second life, because I knew what had to be done. As one destined to die, you must understand."

I took a deep breath. It needed to be done. She was right. I still felt horrible.

"I take it you are not satisfied with my answer. I am sorry." Bridget's eyes met mine.

"No... it's not that."

"Then what is it?"

"The lives of many were taken. I... When I fought Mogul, I was able to save Aaron. I was able to fight alongside my friends and keep mostly everybody safe. But now... Aaron is dead. My team is probably all dead. Even if I defeat the Aspects... this cannot be changed." My voice broke. Reya and Dennis. They were gone. I could still remember their times together, Dennis trying to impress Reya, competing with Tob. Our times having dinner together at Ferris' hideout, laughing and drinking and having fun.

Things can never go back to the way they were before.

"You must know from your days as a Paladin, and from what Celestia has told you, that no Conduit to the Unity exists."

"Yeah..." I muttered.

"The reason for this is simple. The power of the Unity is more than just an energy realm that unites the others realms." Bridget walked up to me opening her hand, as white sparkles appeared. "Only I wielded the power of the Unity as its Conduit, because I was destined to guide a hero who will one day defeat the Aspects who had wronged my Queen. I was chosen, because I understood my role, well before the conception of the Subjects."

The sparkles surrounded me as I saw visions of my days in Darkstar. Amana giving me my nano-weave jacket. Tob and I playing pranks on the other members of Darkstar. Jason introducing himself to Tob and I. Jason teaching me Doma Martial Arts. Then my past as Decen. My days alongside Merrow, and me writing on Merrow's spear. Jonna, Icarus, and I, at the top, declaring to be the best of the best.

"I know your life is hard. For I have seen it with my own eyes. The terrible, terrible trauma that you kept hidden deep. But you must admit, that your life has had good in it. You gained a family alongside your friends in Darkstar."

The sparkles accumulated around my neck, until Wheeler's goggles re-appeared.

"The Unity is the most powerful energy realm, because it has a power no other being has possessed before. Not even Deimos, the Prime Aspect of Fate.

"The power is sought after by the greatest of warriors and deities. For it is even beyond Lord Deimos' reach.

"True Magic. At a cost."

Bridget rejoined her Subjects, as they began to power up with their respective realms. Quinta smiled as she slowly began to dissolve. Bridget and the others began to glow brighter.

This was too good to be true. "What is the catch?"

Bridget looked at me as she began to glow with a brilliant white light of the Unity. "You are not a true conduit to the realms, and you wield my power through a soul-link. Wielding the necessary power of the Unity will disintegrate your body."

I looked at my hand. "So you're telling me the power I was wielding wasn't at full strength?"

"No. But now that you have united us, and discovered the truth, you have broken through the limiter that had subconsciously protected your body. If you want some advice for this war, save your power. For one final burst."

So that was it. My final stand, to go full power with the Unity to stop Deimos and his Aspects. I knew what I had to do.

Bridget smiled. "So... what are you waiting for, Blackflame of Croft? Let's finish this, and complete the prophecy."

I put on Wheeler's Goggles as my body began to glow a bright white. Was I scared about my fate? No. Why?

Because it's only when a soldier is cornered, do their true colours show. What separates a warrior from a coward. Why was I not scared of my fate? Simple.

I am Samuel Mason. I am Blackflame. I am Decen.

The Paladin of War.