It took days for Abyss to get directions for the coordinates Nedi ’s letter boasted and to get there.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLo9TXk5Ok8
When he neared the location, he saw the large building shudder. The earth beneath Abyss shook. “What is going on?!” He exclaimed. It was a disaster zone. Ground was cracked and burned with arrows and boulders scattered across the terrain.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwK3oqcoDjI
In the distance, he could see Rosorken Soldiers battling human rebels... Rebels... PISTOL. Does... Nedi work for PISTOL or Kronos? Abyss shook his head. He knew it was too good to be true. Nedi had been lying about his identity. Abyss thought that those names were weird. Was Nedi trying to go undercover? Did he know Abyss from before? Why would he lie about all this?92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡje5XJEuViJ
Still, Abyss didn’t want to believe it. He wanted Nedi to be an ally. Didn’t Achlys say gathering an army was good? If Abyss already had a connection with Nedi, maybe he could bring him over to his side.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6dGfCnda2
Without considering how difficult it could be to find Nedi in the commotion, Abyss hurried to the battlefield, struggling to keep his hopes low.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKV5XwEHA8Q
* * *
Abyss had to dodge arrows from the human side and all manner of explosions and elemental abilities from either end of the battlefield. It was a miracle he wasn’t dead already.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZp5p1MtfS
Just as he was about to give up on the idea of finding a person without a recognizable face in a warzone, Abyss nearly got hit with a bolt of lightning.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZRfKfmdaQ
Abyss was stunned. The last time he was almost killed by stray lightning was...92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLwF5kmICv
“Zeus! We need a defibrillator!” A familiar voice called out. The voice made Abyssal’s blood boil.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEk8oylVcqT
“On my way, Commander!”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVpaTbBEFm
Abyssal’s heart stopped. He spun to try and spot the source.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjqXnclp29
“Volt!”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0F5SVHmzEy
Abyss ran towards the young man rushing to a fallen rebel. The familiar golden skin and bright blond hair was mistakable. The long-lost twin nearly tripped when he heard his name.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU7A0dRczR
“Abyss?!”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4zxFzFuFj
Volt only looked over his shoulder a split second before turning away and coming down on the dying soldier with sparking hands.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaGDb1bbxn
Abyss chased after his brother and stood only a foot away.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMISpGEs0r5
Commander H glanced at Abyss from his defensive post. Abyss glared back. Commander H didn’t respond. He just turned to scan the battlefield again. The dark-haired twin stared disbelievingly at Volt.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23WGlIz56r
“Clear!”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2j0jjlJWC
The body jumped at Volt’s touch.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8FZ0C0Nja
Volt tried once more before the fallen soldier jumped back to life. He seemed at dazed as Abyss, though his confused state lasted only a couple moments as Volt pulled him up. The rebel ran back out to battle spawning swords from nowhere.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmat4xRoUL
Abyss ran to his brother, grabbing him from behind.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fnsl8OL9t
“I thought you were dead,” he whispered through choked-back sobs. Abyss hated how emotional he was being, but he couldn’t help it. All the aching from the letter came flooding back intertwined with overwhelming relief. Tears streamed down Abyssal’s face.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGkQpy5iwo
Volt placed a hand on Abyssal’s before gently breaking away from his grip and turning to come face to face. Abyss latched on again immediately. He wasn’t going to let Volt go. Not again. Not where death was so eminent.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfapUBcZmB
“Abyss,” Volt whispered, “now’s not the time. It isn’t safe-”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YGuilpTrt
“I don’t care! You don’t know what I went through! Why didn’t you tell me you were okay?!”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MflfWfNe4
Volt’s face hardened as he swallowed back a large lump of guilt.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPo1lqj018
Abyss was right. Volt didn’t know how it felt to lose a brother.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGeeBmxibh
“...I’m sorry... I couldn’t, I-... I just couldn’t...”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaAm5n0XKT
“Why not?! I’m your brother, Volt! I thought you died! I thought we’d never see each other again!”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2mD01gHBT
“It’s.. Complicated... I gave you hints.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlewwnTcset
“What are you talking about?!”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAPCWFSkYT
“I- Nedi? Mark? It’s a code-”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx260FEF74y
“How was I supposed to know that?! You were sending me cryptic letters and let me believe you were really gone! Even when I responded!”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYItoPZKwcu
“...You’re right... I was... less right ... but we still don’t have time for this- Look out!” Volt grabbed Abyss back and jumped to the ground, barely avoiding a flaming arrow that exploded on impact with the ground, blowing the twins several yards across the treacherous terrain.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQBIgIDwY5
The twins broke apart and the moment they stopped, Volt got up and placed a hand on Abyssal’s shoulders. “I’ll explain everything when this is over. As long as we’re both still alive. ” Volt ran off at incredible speeds that Abyss wasn’t sure he’d seen before. And that was saying something.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1R1suMI9PK
Abyss scrambled to feet and yelled after Volt, “Not funny, yig thisar!”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfkYeKvyuo
A woman in a long-sleeved, sparkly, silver turtleneck and blue-stained leather pants who was riding a large star platform gasped and covered her ears.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiqVZlDBbf
Does she know what I said? Even still, what does it matter to her?92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsgSY7QAsj
Abyss shook it off and ignored the woman as she flew away on her star raft or whatever the heck was going on there. Until she turned and threw a ninja star that stuck into the stomach of a nearby Rosorken and exploded, knocking Abyss off-balance.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7t3fNhrhG
“How many of those do you have left, Astrea?” a large, burn-scarred, bald man called out.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7o9cIOQmqR
Star lady answered, “About 12.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jMdnUd5q6
“I got 50 more for you here!” The man threw a small pouch to her. Abyss seriously doubted 50 of those freaky ninja stars could fit in there.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvw2OOqhJBH
“Thanks, Hephaestus!” she called back before flying off.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOImoRNiuU
That’s when it hit him. There were Greek gods among PISTOL, fighting Kronos, and more on the other side.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw78Y4UPDDB
“She doesn't like profanity,” Hephaestus told Abyss before dropping a shield in the younger one’s arms and heading off quickly.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyuWb0lQuN
Just then, Abyss had to block an arrow soaked in some sort of berry juice. He glanced back and saw a woman wearing nothing but twisting vines holding a bow, sitting in a tree that continued to grow taller. A magpie sat on her shoulder.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUMXDnWsh8
At first, Abyss thought she was Merry, but her hair was much darker and... was she missing a breast? Abyss decided not to focus on that and kept running, changing up his patterns as randomly as possible to throw off the archer’s aim.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6CDg38suO
Demeter? He guessed.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49wUN7KSo4
That’s when he nearly ran into a large gold statue of Aaron.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3BCSVLY8Q
No, it WAS Aaron, or... Ares... but how? It looked like the fingers on his right arm were broken off. Before Abyss could question it, a golden axe swung for his head, answering the question. An intoxicated man swung the axe around, recklessly stumbling.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJP4a3qpb6
“The lllllast ounce of my gold powerssss,” the man slurred. “Givvven away... nnnever to returrrrrnn.” He hiccupped, “Twice! The last usssed to kill my own brother!” Suddenly, the man collapsed. His hair was grey and twisted with vines.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpFOIoMJ71
“Eeehh... Dionysus,” Abyss groaned. “Goodnight, Master D.” Abyss was practically raised and trained by that guy, until he called off practices to lay in his room with a migraine usually while Abyss was in the middle of an electric chokehold. He always made the call just in time, but that never meant he liked the weird guy.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDaKf7kksG
Abyss continued to scour the battlefield for Volt. He wasn’t losing his brother. Not again.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygka5mCByD
But he found Achlys first.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEpH6BVNAz
“Abyss, please come with me. I’ve sent Vivian and Lucy for your brother, we can regroup. I’m not letting either of you get hurt like this. It would be pointless.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFx28FwhAW
“You- you mean it? Wait, you knew about Volt?”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSu39l4QbY0
“I... figured it out.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBBuMCefKw
“With the letter? How?”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjCyyFA23b
“Uh... it- it was easy. Just come with me. It isn’t safe here. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.” Her voice felt sickly sweet. She was hiding something...something important.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmOEN9TRCO
Still, Abyss had to follow her. Achlys was right, it wasn’t safe here. He’s already lucked out too many times, and if she was able to get Volt into a safe place, Abyss had to be there.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fOWb3VTjX
* * *
Achlys took Abyss to the place they first met. Even if it was where he met Achlys, Abyss still didn’t like this place. Those memories weren’t particularly pleasant.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUapEVPpMIP
“Abyss!” Volt exclaimed running to him. “We have to get back up there. I only stayed because they said you were coming.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkPRPqL6o4
“I’m not letting you go back up there!” Abyss snapped.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZd5Y5y6a9L
“And I’m not letting you stay down here. It’s where we released-” Volt spotted Achlys and glared at her. His voice was low, “her.” 92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXxLVAuiLb
“What do you have against-”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhX3gG1MGtD
“She’s the one who got me registered as dead.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALPIoJjwww
Abyss was stunned. “But- why?”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGO6bLGNit
“She wanted me out of the way so she could manipulate you, obviously. Hades told me how she plans to destroy the world. She needs your power to do that.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeyZW8JKMz
“It’s more than that!” Achlys blurted.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd82WbKgCq0
“How so?” Volt asked.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFj3E8ehv9
“I-I like the company.” Achlys shook herself and snapped, “I need the princess too.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzTXrbyoV9
Abyss couldn’t speak. I stared at the two of them in stunned silence.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6g6Zdniad
“Abyss, she can’t be trusted. She wants to destroy the world and plunge it into an endless night of flames and destruction.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmWQ4YDm3b
“I- I know... but-”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9cNyKeBZr
“What do you mean you know?” Volt demanded. “You were going to help her do that willingly? Weren’t we considering turning against Kronos for that same reason?”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReDh7gZQI3
“I did! I am! I... I think... It’s complicated.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplI7EJSkLr
“Don’t tell me you wanted to destroy the world out of revenge for me? The culprit was her all along! You already blew up PISTOL. They saved me! When coms cut out, Hades assumed, but they found me in the castle dungeon, poisoned and dying because of her! They rescued me.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJghDlS9YIu
“And you didn’t tell me before because...?”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgZKyxTc2y
“I couldn’t! Things were going to Xouya and nobody knew what side everyone was on. You were with her!”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4UwfG0cwU
Abyss was trembling. His mind swam in confusion, and he was brimming with anger. His fists were clenched, and his arms shook.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbf92OskFf
Abyss turned to Achlys and yelled, “You did this to my brother! I bet you never even wanted to save anyone!” He grit his teeth and growled as Achlys’ face fell into a glower. “You just wanted the glory. You wanted to see humanity crush under your heel to show up Kronos.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQGWB17iH4
“You’re not seeing things clearly, Sol,” she said smoothly.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNj38BsMLSI
“You don’t get to call me that!”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aV1QHuUwx
“Your blinded by your emotions. You can’t understand... Girls!”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0wyWtibPB
Vines shot out from the shadows, one wrapping around each of the brothers.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZgIxnUHH9
“I didn’t want to do this, Abyss,” Achlys said. She wasn’t looking at him anymore. She turned away and clenched her fists while the twins struggled. “I never wanted to hurt you or your brother. But he’s given me no choice... I won’t do the same to you.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rP8GWKlM9
“What are you talking about?! Volt has nothing to do with this, leave him out of it!”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfUE76paS7
“You’re wrong, Abyss... I’m sorry, I really am,” some part of Achlys’ voice sounded truthful even if Abyss couldn’t see her.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyGd2RfHXE
Vivian pulled out a wooden chair and used the vines to tie him down. Lucy stood in the corner crying. Vivian wore a forlorn yet determined expression.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLh349OfIb8
“He inserted himself when he came to kill me. He had a lightning bolt in his hand and bloodlust in his eyes.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZU273mcqi0
Vivian tied a vine in Volt’s mouth and around his head. Volt’s head drooped with remorse.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYOU5BH45C
“It’s strange having all our powers in one place again. The daughter of a necromancer along with the two inheritors of her closest uncles.” Abyss walked over and set a hand on Vivian and Volt’s shoulders. Volt shot her a glare and static zipped across his shoulder at her hand. She pulled away instantly shaking off the bitter sting. “Ah-” she hissed, “Zippy are we, Zeus?”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomplhAXAtx
She strode away and grabbed the vine holding Abyss, guiding him to a higher place. Lucy and Vivian followed as Abyss struggled.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADqGebpNdh
“Look, your brother was right about one thing. I do need you. I need your power, devour.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HiZ3AQKsC
“Why do you need it if you can get all sorts of power wielders on your side so easily?” Abyss snapped back.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9sFT3d6EG
Instead of answering directly, Achlys began telling a cryptic story. “Once there was a seer living in ancient Greece. His name was Tiresias. His reputation was so well known that people took his words for doctrine. He foretold an event that would come to pass millennia later.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHb10N0ghk
“What does this have to do with anything?” Abyss snapped.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdRhy9wkTW
“Shut up and listen. Maybe you’ll find out,” Achlys hissed. “The Greeks had their era of Rosorken coming to help out in a couple small ways. Teaching advanced technology to men in towers, giving kings endless supply of priceless metals to progress society, you get the gist. Here’s the thing, they weren’t fully aware of the Rosorken until wise old Tiresias shared a story about my father’s generation. Dear Uncle Zues and Grandpa Kronos.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQxxPzvvQX
“I know this one,” Vivian muttered. “This is how the youngest god, Zeus, became the king of gods.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSwFTlti51
“Yes, Zeus made tartar out of the titanus tyrant Kronos. Or at least, he was supposed to.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1KayaR9WW
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Abyss growled.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREfqM3dQH8
“Well, the legend was so widespread by modern fiction and the rising popularity of Greek mythology. As the Greeks adopted these foretold great powers as gods, the Rosorken caught ear. Kronos learned of the legend. He fell in love with a human woman, Rhea, and learned of her scheme to protect his killer, their son. When Rhea tried to cover for Zeus, Kronos devoured her essence as well. In front of the entire family. I watched my grandpa kill my grandma. Suck her dry, turn her into a husk.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOpU3wCSpj
Abyss stared in shock. No wonder Achlys was so twisted. All of this on top of being locked away when she was 10.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtEpfR07nX
“Kronos made a deal with the rest of the family. By turning over Zeus, he would spare all the rest of his children, grandchildren, and nephews. He came out on his own. He was no older than you or me. He sacrificed himself for each one of us, he listed the names of everyone in the family, dedicating his pain to us through screams as he was stripped of his power, strength, and life. He was gone before he got down to my name.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxb0HaEbo6K
Abyssal’s breathing was heavy. He was sure he heard the call for each Grecian deity by name playing through his mind on loop alongside the screams of all those he killed before. It didn’t make sense to him then, but now, it was as if Zeus’ sacrifice was tied to Kronos’ power itself as a reminder of all the people he wasn’t allowed to kill.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0MffLV7CA
“Other names were too far down the list, including any of my cousins, my mother, any of Hyperion or Khaos’ lines, or me. Many of them were hunted down the same way. Kronos had his twisted loophole. Those without Rosorken blood were always picked off from the families first, so when my mother was killed, father knew we had to escape like Helios did.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4k3IbMoVP
“So, they locked you away to protect you?” Abyss guessed. His voice was quiet.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlDv92lx0Y
Achlys let out a mad cackle. “Handsome, that’s only half the reason! Tiresias, the brilliant idiot also gave us a Plan B. ‘Should Zeus fail to rise to power, the solar powers will combine with darkness to destroy the world and cause Kronos to burn eternally.’ With Helios on the loose, father and I were a liability. Kronos wanted us out of the picture, and one of us was far more venerable, far less talented in blending in. She wasn’t protected by Zues’s sacrifice like her father was. They sealed that little girl away, and now, the queen of deadly mists and darkness will rise and claim the sun’s power to ensure Kronos burns in this life and the next.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡre6nEt7Rwb
Abyss pulled Princess Ember out from behind a large generator, bound and struggling. “You’re going to give her power to me. “Give me the Solar Powers I require, Abyss. If you defy me...”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSmuMJyrnS
On cue, Vivian flooded the lower portion of the floor where Volt sat. The Water was up to his shins and be began shorting out. Volt’s muffled cries filled the air as his muscles contracted.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFO8nX9roJM
“Stop!” Abyss cried, lunging toward his brother again.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FPGFKvyBr
“As expected, cartridge holders always come with limitations compared to their predecessors. Real Rosorken offspring always gain stronger abilities than their parents, even mix-breeds like me. And what happens to a toaster when dropped into water?”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbvTu8QwsN
“You’re hurting him!” Abyss exclaimed. He could care less about Achlys’ drawn-out explanations. Too much longer and Volt’s leg muscles would retain permanent damage.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw54M0yGzoX
“If you want to save your brother and avoid seeing him fully submerged, you’ll give me Ember’s powers.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kwLlHROUl
Abyss lunged towards Vivian and barely missed touching her arm with his cheek. Vivian leapt away and Achlys pulled him off-balance towards her. “Little traitor,” she hissed. “See what happens when you test me.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pq2KeXvHz
The water level began rapidly rising as Volt’s body began to shake and seize up painfully further up. The water reached Volt’s stomach and continued to climb. Abyss could see his brother’s arms tensing and pulling against his bindings desperately. Electricity danced on top of the water as it started to near the group on the higher ground. 92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBAxWMaint
Achlys dragged Abyss further up and Vivian led Lucy to safety. The woman’s expression held a sort of pained remorse. It was clear Vivian didn’t want to do this, but she still didn’t stop.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FBLCw4W2V
“Why are you doing this?!” Abyss pleaded, looking at Vivian.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVSv1QQr1C
“Because I said to,” Achlys said.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrZExOuYwf
“One for the many,” Vivian muttered.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZCQRUVsFZ
Achlys nodded with a falsely somber expression. “Exactly. It’s the same as when I told you we needed to destroy this planet for the sake of the universe, Sol.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr79sH0B5rG
“You don’t get to call me that!” Abyss said, lunging once again, this time at Achlys.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTky7km3uaX
Achlys’ face fell as she jumped back and Abyss fell on his face. “I’ll call off the flood if you just give me her power.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPLigwlITp
The crackling of electricity surged bigger and brighter as the electrical whining grew higher and Volt screamed louder before he was cut off with a gasp. The water had reached his chest.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJdjlnzI6N
“Okay!” Abyss gave in. He was panicked. Achlys bent over and took Abyssal’s right hand. He touch his left to Ember’s arm and began the energy transfer. Ember’s cry of pain replaced Volt’s in the moment and red energy spiraled up Abyssal’s arm, down through his belly, and out the other arm into Achlys.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWpZWrUwIz
Once he was certain her got all of Ember’s powers, Abyss released, careful not to drain any of her life-force. He pulled his hand away. Ember’s arm was scorched where he grabbed her. She was breathing heavily. Abyssal’s hand was also burned where he made contact with Achlys.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oetMgNwPX
Abyss decided not to tell Achlys about the drainage that came with a borrowed power, but then, she rolled Ember into the electrically charged water. The princess yelped, but the water buried her cries as she fell under. Abyss scrambled to his feet, vines falling away, but he couldn’t do anything as he watched her body sink, twitching, violently.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPrxth3ukn
Achlys looked over his shoulder before nodding to Vivian. The water parted and allotted a path to Volt, no longer submerged, but twitching occasionally with a spark, unconscious in his seat. His hair was wet and the sparks seemed weak.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oaq2ZvCem
Abyss ran to his brother as Achlys left. She wouldn’t have to worry about her new power draining away now that it had no source to return to.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadgEuSe0QL
Abyss stopped at Volt's side. He had to think of something to do.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6gdE4n7DI
I got it. He nervously touched Volts arm, surprised that it only shocked him a little. Like static. Abyss grabbed his brother’s arm and began to drain away the electrical powers that made him weak to water in the first place. Vivian came to Abyssal’s side and reached out, drying Volt by pulling away the dripping water. It took Abyss everything he had not to whack her arm away. But the water was still draining around them and he needed her to hold it apart.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZAcGCPfIt
Eventually, Volt stopped twitching, and sparks stopped jumping off of him, but he wasn’t breathing.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTK1n53P6j
Come on!92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBh0346ljg
Abyss didn’t know what else to do. He didn’t feel any of the electricity trying to drain away from his own body the way it normally did.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4osFHjMV6H
“You can’t be gone!” Abyss cried, tears falling down his face. “Not again! Please!” He shook his brother’s shoulder.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcr6MtI3dRk
Vivian undid the vines before she grabbed Volt by his arm and pulled him off the chair, cushioning his head so it wouldn’t hit the concrete floor. She began violently pressing down on Volt’s ribs.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeqeTmpauJ
“What are you doing?!” Abys blurted, grabbing her arms and trying to pull her away.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjblTLOeIo
“Chest compressions idiot! I don’t actually want him to die, do you?”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKXdzfF7ts
Abyss swallowed a lump in his throat and pulled away as Vivian continued to do CPR.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnc06CdV5eh
“Just don’t get in the way of anything. Go take care of Lucy.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDLPtRePup
Abyss looked over his shoulder at the girl before she shrunk away and hid behind a large, mysterious machine.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHUrhDYON4
Abyss didn’t want to leave Volt’s side. He stared back at his brother.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuh2ef8rut
He felt the little girl grab his sleeve. “Go stop her.” Lucy whispered so Vivian wouldn’t hear her.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGH312Y10C
Abyss looked down at her.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSrSgmFMC6
“What?” the word barely came out.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeem8VEodX
“You have to stop the scary lady. She wants to blow up the world.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcB0vI2Krt
“But-”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMYJ9WpkRz
“No buts, you have to stop her.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2QaioQYSV
Abyss didn’t know if it mattered. He couldn’t leave Volt’s side. He didn’t know why trying to save people who would die anyway served any purpose. Then again, why was Vivian trying to save Volt?92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgvXOADEkY
She said she didn’t want him to die even though she helped hurt him in the first place.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEQAkTquPG
Abyss thought about if he really wanted the people on Earth to die. He helped the person who wanted to destroy the world, but… did that mean he couldn’t help now?92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEQh1aRXTK
Maybe not.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWNhHxKJHx
Abyss thought back to the conversation he had with Volt the day they came to Earth.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyevrl5FHB
He didn’t want to destroy the world he never did. And maybe there was another way to save the universe from Kronos the way Commander H fought.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ29XoAhCfy
Lucy was right. She was a little kid who couldn’t possibly understand all of this, but she was right.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzL15KBSL0
But… what about…?92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfJagOZ7Au
Abyss shook his head. He didn’t have time for this. He’ll be okay. Abyss looked back a final time to us brother.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRQaDza5jm
“I’ll see you later, Volt. Don’t you dare die on me again.” Abyss said quietly.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQ6qz54eMn
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShlf8N50T6
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