It took days for Abyss to get directions for the coordinates Nedi ’s letter boasted and to get there.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡke2GEoJ5vf
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsQbED15Wd
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?339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡib7vpXwRUH
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdN6tQxI0A
Without considering how difficult it could be to find Nedi in the commotion, Abyss hurried to the battlefield, struggling to keep his hopes low.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6cjETjhtF
* * *
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBy0RYCy9v
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jdCR18OZR
Abyss was stunned. The last time he was almost killed by stray lightning was...339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Pnf7u5VYC
“Zeus! We need a defibrillator!” A familiar voice called out. The voice made Abyssal’s blood boil.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMEpdqAh6q
“On my way, Commander!”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3RFxia37v
Abyssal’s heart stopped. He spun to try and spot the source.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc85tEEGF7X
“Volt!”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuA8mFc2oik
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbL48vhS4b
“Abyss?!”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTMELNNZTI
Volt only looked over his shoulder a split second before turning away and coming down on the dying soldier with sparking hands.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgM7Sxg00j
Abyss chased after his brother and stood only a foot away.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYG8VttaDC
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutXfTco9mL
“Clear!”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fYKIwIPGN
The body jumped at Volt’s touch.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIg4qmajxdH
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPtSu3ebXl
Abyss ran to his brother, grabbing him from behind.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡergOLok5r7
“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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SwACTrRBE
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbK74xKLfFe
“Abyss,” Volt whispered, “now’s not the time. It isn’t safe-”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdMe22z2uc
“I don’t care! You don’t know what I went through! Why didn’t you tell me you were okay?!”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQX62ZdCpS
Volt’s face hardened as he swallowed back a large lump of guilt.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRwaXKtR2K
Abyss was right. Volt didn’t know how it felt to lose a brother.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACMAVM8SKm
“...I’m sorry... I couldn’t, I-... I just couldn’t...”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IK6iQ2BJe
“Why not?! I’m your brother, Volt! I thought you died! I thought we’d never see each other again!”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyIlDeDssC
“It’s.. Complicated... I gave you hints.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9mqEnmJv5
“What are you talking about?!”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtXS79Ubhb
“I- Nedi? Mark? It’s a code-”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJhnX1fS1I
“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!”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGXCVAuCpk
“...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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDGm0OE7qJ
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4L9UTGc5ww
Abyss scrambled to feet and yelled after Volt, “Not funny, yig thisar!”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoySFGxvvda
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCORMYuNK2
Does she know what I said? Even still, what does it matter to her?339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR90Q4SXW40
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskzRdHbFzM
“How many of those do you have left, Astrea?” a large, burn-scarred, bald man called out.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XOgzjtt7B
Star lady answered, “About 12.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiu7By1CNv0
“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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lcahfDw2l
“Thanks, Hephaestus!” she called back before flying off.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvXyFrzVfV
That’s when it hit him. There were Greek gods among PISTOL, fighting Kronos, and more on the other side.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmsbYXU2B3
“She doesn't like profanity,” Hephaestus told Abyss before dropping a shield in the younger one’s arms and heading off quickly.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkballzaNK
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8uNumDu4A
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8Sa9JaYlJ
Demeter? He guessed.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUVE2o5MD2
That’s when he nearly ran into a large gold statue of Aaron.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjzF3SDVeJ
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcQQLH7Dqs
“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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpUeHBNtGc
“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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPFJ3llwLL
Abyss continued to scour the battlefield for Volt. He wasn’t losing his brother. Not again.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnWwZUj1Kr
But he found Achlys first.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTwBlYrvLo
“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.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUsBwaPGaq
“You- you mean it? Wait, you knew about Volt?”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLSevYJFAr
“I... figured it out.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzN6vzvZMe
“With the letter? How?”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgG0J28Mmhc
“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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7kF8zeQzx
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zmbLaKzK9
* * *
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZHAjURZv8
“Abyss!” Volt exclaimed running to him. “We have to get back up there. I only stayed because they said you were coming.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDw2tiu5er8
“I’m not letting you go back up there!” Abyss snapped.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYACdR261F
“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.” 339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgJ3MuzyLj
“What do you have against-”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlZeAUvCXJ
“She’s the one who got me registered as dead.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrvhcSXt1H
Abyss was stunned. “But- why?”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoAdjXBnOv
“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.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyCrsIU4mC
“It’s more than that!” Achlys blurted.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9phJzGooz
“How so?” Volt asked.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtx2AQ1vZAV
“I-I like the company.” Achlys shook herself and snapped, “I need the princess too.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbqDkmQ0BW
Abyss couldn’t speak. I stared at the two of them in stunned silence.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfreCRPwPn
“Abyss, she can’t be trusted. She wants to destroy the world and plunge it into an endless night of flames and destruction.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmKUexi8b3
“I- I know... but-”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hMr2o5dtc
“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?”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡon50p3HEbH
“I did! I am! I... I think... It’s complicated.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlHWKG6fq5
“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.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bIkNCB0qX
“And you didn’t tell me before because...?”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmG0BwfriEx
“I couldn’t! Things were going to Xouya and nobody knew what side everyone was on. You were with her!”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJaIdgezC8
Abyss was trembling. His mind swam in confusion, and he was brimming with anger. His fists were clenched, and his arms shook.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAVo8fFiGb
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.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqrcRnFU0p
“You’re not seeing things clearly, Sol,” she said smoothly.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMYsGVAMiX
“You don’t get to call me that!”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdc52ppTCD
“Your blinded by your emotions. You can’t understand... Girls!”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGr26pnylx9
Vines shot out from the shadows, one wrapping around each of the brothers.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhlfpgHusE
“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.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fTjyVAnFo
“What are you talking about?! Volt has nothing to do with this, leave him out of it!”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGqhNdV0KT
“You’re wrong, Abyss... I’m sorry, I really am,” some part of Achlys’ voice sounded truthful even if Abyss couldn’t see her.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlnYaxOgSd
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrX3Qkfm6BU
“He inserted himself when he came to kill me. He had a lightning bolt in his hand and bloodlust in his eyes.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmvXNH7A2p
Vivian tied a vine in Volt’s mouth and around his head. Volt’s head drooped with remorse.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpuFLTaLUW
“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?”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZxrjwf1j5
She strode away and grabbed the vine holding Abyss, guiding him to a higher place. Lucy and Vivian followed as Abyss struggled.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGwhIjGxXL
“Look, your brother was right about one thing. I do need you. I need your power, devour.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVSmabBbPt
“Why do you need it if you can get all sorts of power wielders on your side so easily?” Abyss snapped back.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaZxsQYaME
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.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwtbN2bwhU
“What does this have to do with anything?” Abyss snapped.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXfbJBDRBc
“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.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtqs7T9hqv
“I know this one,” Vivian muttered. “This is how the youngest god, Zeus, became the king of gods.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTi6Owf6iV
“Yes, Zeus made tartar out of the titanus tyrant Kronos. Or at least, he was supposed to.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDdDMs6Ylu
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Abyss growled.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeLVgvn0yx
“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.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDYhhy5tML
Abyss stared in shock. No wonder Achlys was so twisted. All of this on top of being locked away when she was 10.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrj60BGcb1
“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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqEcBOeN4c
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnda3XD4RT
“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.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJZMktodjy
“So, they locked you away to protect you?” Abyss guessed. His voice was quiet.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Zg3SB3eZA
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.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxMd70x3tk
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...”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ941nN3W44Q
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrryg7DEfSG
“Stop!” Abyss cried, lunging toward his brother again.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY1sI2SyEn
“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?”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmkzeyMKe5
“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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpC1FhRR41
“If you want to save your brother and avoid seeing him fully submerged, you’ll give me Ember’s powers.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBToaV0BN3
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.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwbvLXHDFO
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. 339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveF9dhoktO
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiygX6RujKb
“Why are you doing this?!” Abyss pleaded, looking at Vivian.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21S83SCoi1
“Because I said to,” Achlys said.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2eswWt8cL
“One for the many,” Vivian muttered.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd22osu7rZq
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.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT206LkHpzL
“You don’t get to call me that!” Abyss said, lunging once again, this time at Achlys.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPMYxN8p7I
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.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YwXQjCu8W
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfYw8UCVmi
“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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYLgypqg7l
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9pGhAgqpl
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkbzlGH7dP
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjOZUYFQu9
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54Ibe4JCqY
Abyss stopped at Volt's side. He had to think of something to do.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsa549HMs14
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeb1f4qghEA
Eventually, Volt stopped twitching, and sparks stopped jumping off of him, but he wasn’t breathing.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2v4ip2KjP
Come on!339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieJA1t1dkG
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZ8wCXEo1p
“You can’t be gone!” Abyss cried, tears falling down his face. “Not again! Please!” He shook his brother’s shoulder.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fToB0dQza
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQyNISfhkg
“What are you doing?!” Abys blurted, grabbing her arms and trying to pull her away.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVldq8KcMov
“Chest compressions idiot! I don’t actually want him to die, do you?”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSVTw8xujM
Abyss swallowed a lump in his throat and pulled away as Vivian continued to do CPR.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qQJMepY1o
“Just don’t get in the way of anything. Go take care of Lucy.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjW6RrfwOr
Abyss looked over his shoulder at the girl before she shrunk away and hid behind a large, mysterious machine.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPX5VUAXWQV
Abyss didn’t want to leave Volt’s side. He stared back at his brother.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqo2ZzF3o6
He felt the little girl grab his sleeve. “Go stop her.” Lucy whispered so Vivian wouldn’t hear her.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ayOfJFvc7
Abyss looked down at her.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGrK2b4qvE
“What?” the word barely came out.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBnYhDChXB
“You have to stop the scary lady. She wants to blow up the world.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3IF3pPj1q
“But-”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5vWpotnGE
“No buts, you have to stop her.”339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1e7gfCWbs
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?339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZ8SeJdXyo
She said she didn’t want him to die even though she helped hurt him in the first place.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlEQT6tMLg
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?339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pLoD4Cuq4
Maybe not.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZHvodPrP7
Abyss thought back to the conversation he had with Volt the day they came to Earth.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iwBVKtkqS
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevSWAMVOx9
Lucy was right. She was a little kid who couldn’t possibly understand all of this, but she was right.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtfWceJXFq
But… what about…?339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmVCxoAJk7
Abyss shook his head. He didn’t have time for this. He’ll be okay. Abyss looked back a final time to us brother.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGcqBdbsXj
“I’ll see you later, Volt. Don’t you dare die on me again.” Abyss said quietly.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo5P2QomkW
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJWdk2EQsp
and then Add to home screen.