It took days for Abyss to get directions for the coordinates Nedi ’s letter boasted and to get there.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjPMoVyUF6
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpFJxjuMq7
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?34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchwJGnL7tx
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbROGQY5suE
Without considering how difficult it could be to find Nedi in the commotion, Abyss hurried to the battlefield, struggling to keep his hopes low.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUwRFf40hw
* * *
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeu8FfpC50F
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwywBGr5ys
Abyss was stunned. The last time he was almost killed by stray lightning was...34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqlH1rY7GD
“Zeus! We need a defibrillator!” A familiar voice called out. The voice made Abyssal’s blood boil.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWd86hiiij
“On my way, Commander!”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPJZqxpZUJ
Abyssal’s heart stopped. He spun to try and spot the source.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzVy9nxy8R
“Volt!”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6J2khXQuY
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡti4grRwD6V
“Abyss?!”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYxOqKaiVg
Volt only looked over his shoulder a split second before turning away and coming down on the dying soldier with sparking hands.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1JQKlBfkw
Abyss chased after his brother and stood only a foot away.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bArtNsM0M
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OqLizKPX3
“Clear!”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg87nKF15PQ
The body jumped at Volt’s touch.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGkaGtDUoX
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6PW2ff0YG
Abyss ran to his brother, grabbing him from behind.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QJcgB35O8
“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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayzBPbulga
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8s9kw7nqWM
“Abyss,” Volt whispered, “now’s not the time. It isn’t safe-”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zIbZfpZrO
“I don’t care! You don’t know what I went through! Why didn’t you tell me you were okay?!”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYT4rbNMSI9
Volt’s face hardened as he swallowed back a large lump of guilt.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4X4sLFAhP
Abyss was right. Volt didn’t know how it felt to lose a brother.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Lzo8LHxSi
“...I’m sorry... I couldn’t, I-... I just couldn’t...”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKVmrROVmD
“Why not?! I’m your brother, Volt! I thought you died! I thought we’d never see each other again!”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKvrYmAKnN
“It’s.. Complicated... I gave you hints.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaiOF0DsRO
“What are you talking about?!”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7r0GpXQ6Yw
“I- Nedi? Mark? It’s a code-”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHwROVXwtI
“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!”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsa0uY0QyQ
“...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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmsjMPGd0a
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFILkTmEyHr
Abyss scrambled to feet and yelled after Volt, “Not funny, yig thisar!”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2jaC0m34x
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMZ5zj0rfN
Does she know what I said? Even still, what does it matter to her?34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ194ppJ7fRV
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWeTxshKzM
“How many of those do you have left, Astrea?” a large, burn-scarred, bald man called out.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnU6XTk6B1
Star lady answered, “About 12.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFdQMUTzjB
“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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSiZNWIikK
“Thanks, Hephaestus!” she called back before flying off.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcjkv1voF9
That’s when it hit him. There were Greek gods among PISTOL, fighting Kronos, and more on the other side.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJpfxt7Ltp
“She doesn't like profanity,” Hephaestus told Abyss before dropping a shield in the younger one’s arms and heading off quickly.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9enyXmQoh
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPl3qvKTwy
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaWxKwmehZ
Demeter? He guessed.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTwzeuPBkZ
That’s when he nearly ran into a large gold statue of Aaron.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCX9H9hhfaA
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwR9OSCNU4
“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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsUROGDgcG
“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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8mwLaOSPi
Abyss continued to scour the battlefield for Volt. He wasn’t losing his brother. Not again.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VO2KfYQ9X
But he found Achlys first.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxfpplZuGT
“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.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTC8VDgUjl
“You- you mean it? Wait, you knew about Volt?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qwccYU29W
“I... figured it out.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3C4boYYeAT
“With the letter? How?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIJgmGSAHD
“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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vqTmE9Xp5
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rBs5SsRip
* * *
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhcYcv1GrX
“Abyss!” Volt exclaimed running to him. “We have to get back up there. I only stayed because they said you were coming.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uwlO3Qp07
“I’m not letting you go back up there!” Abyss snapped.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88JgBoVi26
“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.” 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLHGmp2t3y
“What do you have against-”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2Gbzu6ar9
“She’s the one who got me registered as dead.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNXjVov57l
Abyss was stunned. “But- why?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqKawXorLY
“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.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvI6jVcrHmx
“It’s more than that!” Achlys blurted.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUl8owumKS
“How so?” Volt asked.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡng2JA8JxCF
“I-I like the company.” Achlys shook herself and snapped, “I need the princess too.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMQRC1QUw5
Abyss couldn’t speak. I stared at the two of them in stunned silence.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlh4EO3C1Lr
“Abyss, she can’t be trusted. She wants to destroy the world and plunge it into an endless night of flames and destruction.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lemsMJfUA
“I- I know... but-”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEUSqTGiIQ
“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?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPQZ11dnx7
“I did! I am! I... I think... It’s complicated.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITbWMyO9q2
“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.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtbeyPKWvr
“And you didn’t tell me before because...?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKN7WcHYTHT
“I couldn’t! Things were going to Xouya and nobody knew what side everyone was on. You were with her!”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ295Og1leOn
Abyss was trembling. His mind swam in confusion, and he was brimming with anger. His fists were clenched, and his arms shook.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwqpGY3BPe
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.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6I86c6k7E
“You’re not seeing things clearly, Sol,” she said smoothly.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUKIkhDlmB
“You don’t get to call me that!”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsUBzrHA9M
“Your blinded by your emotions. You can’t understand... Girls!”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTsrZafJN1
Vines shot out from the shadows, one wrapping around each of the brothers.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZJT98MfbD
“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.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxm5oeL7D0
“What are you talking about?! Volt has nothing to do with this, leave him out of it!”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmv2ZE6IL6E
“You’re wrong, Abyss... I’m sorry, I really am,” some part of Achlys’ voice sounded truthful even if Abyss couldn’t see her.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRAkFm2Uz6
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LjzGRJMHh
“He inserted himself when he came to kill me. He had a lightning bolt in his hand and bloodlust in his eyes.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjabbA3Fq7
Vivian tied a vine in Volt’s mouth and around his head. Volt’s head drooped with remorse.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ343aN7cmbQ
“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?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYJa4GiMTO
She strode away and grabbed the vine holding Abyss, guiding him to a higher place. Lucy and Vivian followed as Abyss struggled.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7aW2c9DUv
“Look, your brother was right about one thing. I do need you. I need your power, devour.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLF5BQMxFKz
“Why do you need it if you can get all sorts of power wielders on your side so easily?” Abyss snapped back.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKS1OnecLUN
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.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaq2S4a8MuW
“What does this have to do with anything?” Abyss snapped.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY30i0g3Dgw
“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.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4TJBn599a
“I know this one,” Vivian muttered. “This is how the youngest god, Zeus, became the king of gods.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1H7GvYfA4
“Yes, Zeus made tartar out of the titanus tyrant Kronos. Or at least, he was supposed to.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcIOkXewDc
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Abyss growled.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPEHBGKYPb
“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.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtFO6bILa1
Abyss stared in shock. No wonder Achlys was so twisted. All of this on top of being locked away when she was 10.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVD41ddeFz
“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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ563cwhxzyd
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTS1jWT5MoM
“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.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOHSDQsp2s
“So, they locked you away to protect you?” Abyss guessed. His voice was quiet.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIruD27aTQ
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.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJxQ0dzpsn
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...”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fbR6e6kaY
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fJCSyRro2
“Stop!” Abyss cried, lunging toward his brother again.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNz3KEKWkW
“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?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sSpiYhADt
“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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERfRNDVOj4
“If you want to save your brother and avoid seeing him fully submerged, you’ll give me Ember’s powers.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTP4sfVmQ8
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.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrNFM2tSsh
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. 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHwRHQTsXr
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsOUrbFiyo
“Why are you doing this?!” Abyss pleaded, looking at Vivian.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYyYHC5Xbq
“Because I said to,” Achlys said.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cA3OmCVms
“One for the many,” Vivian muttered.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6uzPw1u3z
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.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYSu26tHG6
“You don’t get to call me that!” Abyss said, lunging once again, this time at Achlys.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIjtO8Gytq
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.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdOgvt2rhS
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnQJG9TNkR
“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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3ES92UoRi
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANuXNzu3JE
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqW8AM0bZB
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawkjWBREwJ
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCb3IovmXkV
Abyss stopped at Volt's side. He had to think of something to do.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTiFetV0ng
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSr8M4ajll
Eventually, Volt stopped twitching, and sparks stopped jumping off of him, but he wasn’t breathing.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XzmSY0R5M
Come on!34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ584EJLKI2n
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgavAMb8Uza
“You can’t be gone!” Abyss cried, tears falling down his face. “Not again! Please!” He shook his brother’s shoulder.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGl5gyQywLn
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiruZWjwarX
“What are you doing?!” Abys blurted, grabbing her arms and trying to pull her away.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSptXiu8mh
“Chest compressions idiot! I don’t actually want him to die, do you?”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQtzHPTeCU
Abyss swallowed a lump in his throat and pulled away as Vivian continued to do CPR.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiv6VVNs1JT
“Just don’t get in the way of anything. Go take care of Lucy.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPKZHAbEFx
Abyss looked over his shoulder at the girl before she shrunk away and hid behind a large, mysterious machine.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7oD8KwKQI
Abyss didn’t want to leave Volt’s side. He stared back at his brother.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgJlf437E6
He felt the little girl grab his sleeve. “Go stop her.” Lucy whispered so Vivian wouldn’t hear her.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5XVWQ9RwF
Abyss looked down at her.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbAnrVhW4Y
“What?” the word barely came out.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMqMdSlTwO
“You have to stop the scary lady. She wants to blow up the world.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGLZkpQK0D
“But-”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5U1LMf2Du
“No buts, you have to stop her.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPNuysou6O
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?34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZVjARBXZ3
She said she didn’t want him to die even though she helped hurt him in the first place.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNffUJvDwi6
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?34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDr8IP9CUSi
Maybe not.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NhU2p53IZ
Abyss thought back to the conversation he had with Volt the day they came to Earth.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbFS1jkO1x
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.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYD2ZXZAK1
Lucy was right. She was a little kid who couldn’t possibly understand all of this, but she was right.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESvK5rGky5
But… what about…?34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyL5R5ma5s
Abyss shook his head. He didn’t have time for this. He’ll be okay. Abyss looked back a final time to us brother.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Y8zrRY5Pr
“I’ll see you later, Volt. Don’t you dare die on me again.” Abyss said quietly.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwGzBhq53Y
34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8nJAmS4OP
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