It took days for Abyss to get directions for the coordinates Nedi ’s letter boasted and to get there.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnWcgEx4yY
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuz89cli7Us
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?122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKORoLMats3
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0K9pIEBet
Without considering how difficult it could be to find Nedi in the commotion, Abyss hurried to the battlefield, struggling to keep his hopes low.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjXKAmjxhN
* * *
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvz65eTNR85
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvA9Z593c5M
Abyss was stunned. The last time he was almost killed by stray lightning was...122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1Gt9yu0ut
“Zeus! We need a defibrillator!” A familiar voice called out. The voice made Abyssal’s blood boil.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11Wx21IsIj
“On my way, Commander!”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4mnzGreEA
Abyssal’s heart stopped. He spun to try and spot the source.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxsNGZ9Iyh
“Volt!”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RjLxAZNnw
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScH98znY9k
“Abyss?!”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNN5j2mzdbD
Volt only looked over his shoulder a split second before turning away and coming down on the dying soldier with sparking hands.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCuua0DWBs
Abyss chased after his brother and stood only a foot away.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9q6MnSHTmJ
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoEyA6b0xM
“Clear!”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClmOufrXUo
The body jumped at Volt’s touch.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhD0VIveTmK
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQLCiYhJhf
Abyss ran to his brother, grabbing him from behind.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ztJNr8qE6
“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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLJG6GOvGr
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7fmQZR0tt
“Abyss,” Volt whispered, “now’s not the time. It isn’t safe-”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJFrfx7WBH
“I don’t care! You don’t know what I went through! Why didn’t you tell me you were okay?!”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLp16QQtqAR
Volt’s face hardened as he swallowed back a large lump of guilt.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLh6oXDyoR
Abyss was right. Volt didn’t know how it felt to lose a brother.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHwModtS5c
“...I’m sorry... I couldn’t, I-... I just couldn’t...”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24yzRbCnDB
“Why not?! I’m your brother, Volt! I thought you died! I thought we’d never see each other again!”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDpEySsqsH
“It’s.. Complicated... I gave you hints.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuydRWGLHSF
“What are you talking about?!”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡat3rqM34fP
“I- Nedi? Mark? It’s a code-”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWfRwZbOSn
“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!”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qAwqMMoB7
“...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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8iWGZkEib
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDH9RJD9Obb
Abyss scrambled to feet and yelled after Volt, “Not funny, yig thisar!”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIRbs0JC1g
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nA5oIlh0C
Does she know what I said? Even still, what does it matter to her?122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnOEcjfYrD
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXaU9ct28D
“How many of those do you have left, Astrea?” a large, burn-scarred, bald man called out.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeB2S8y5spy
Star lady answered, “About 12.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7RPGgS1wz
“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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ROsqoPo1Q
“Thanks, Hephaestus!” she called back before flying off.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyP8edtn9g4
That’s when it hit him. There were Greek gods among PISTOL, fighting Kronos, and more on the other side.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDbCOJY5rg
“She doesn't like profanity,” Hephaestus told Abyss before dropping a shield in the younger one’s arms and heading off quickly.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgofAMH4Hs9
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFQWDRZaNI
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIJiMAFjtt
Demeter? He guessed.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7L7u9tKQHZ
That’s when he nearly ran into a large gold statue of Aaron.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFD0W7uPeQp
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9wEiUKHRA
“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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27ltCQ1YzP
“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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIecBpnBQN
Abyss continued to scour the battlefield for Volt. He wasn’t losing his brother. Not again.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTBSoMNhc2
But he found Achlys first.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFAnPL2MPE
“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.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjX2jIc9D9w
“You- you mean it? Wait, you knew about Volt?”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEYQ2e1P7b
“I... figured it out.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2Uon3A52U
“With the letter? How?”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstW14WAL7d
“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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdsYNi6335
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJttJPcu88
* * *
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRmlVqNl7W
“Abyss!” Volt exclaimed running to him. “We have to get back up there. I only stayed because they said you were coming.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwc4MGr0jfW
“I’m not letting you go back up there!” Abyss snapped.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZTxS7cWTm
“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.” 122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysP36tmvQ7
“What do you have against-”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tfM3ygtms
“She’s the one who got me registered as dead.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJ6KPmSM6U
Abyss was stunned. “But- why?”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDaJxkCfhD
“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.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GtZqb9QyS
“It’s more than that!” Achlys blurted.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvUo6uAkEu
“How so?” Volt asked.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1FU0q9LPL
“I-I like the company.” Achlys shook herself and snapped, “I need the princess too.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9S28eZZfUQ
Abyss couldn’t speak. I stared at the two of them in stunned silence.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0P6gkRGLD1
“Abyss, she can’t be trusted. She wants to destroy the world and plunge it into an endless night of flames and destruction.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7kNuv6I62
“I- I know... but-”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAMskec34T
“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?”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQZIGZTrK8
“I did! I am! I... I think... It’s complicated.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIqrc2NHQN
“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.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI7qMK7QR1
“And you didn’t tell me before because...?”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QICOFCT8A
“I couldn’t! Things were going to Xouya and nobody knew what side everyone was on. You were with her!”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2iDIPGmYc
Abyss was trembling. His mind swam in confusion, and he was brimming with anger. His fists were clenched, and his arms shook.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjKinKC3Uf
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.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPBlIQkSVt
“You’re not seeing things clearly, Sol,” she said smoothly.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLLdVTAbJ2
“You don’t get to call me that!”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1eDWnQyiV
“Your blinded by your emotions. You can’t understand... Girls!”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtXllNJ6Y9
Vines shot out from the shadows, one wrapping around each of the brothers.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Wat9PArLY
“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.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGRNjVuVR5
“What are you talking about?! Volt has nothing to do with this, leave him out of it!”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvA01pQcLab
“You’re wrong, Abyss... I’m sorry, I really am,” some part of Achlys’ voice sounded truthful even if Abyss couldn’t see her.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYlLLXLow6
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2j6nxYfIy
“He inserted himself when he came to kill me. He had a lightning bolt in his hand and bloodlust in his eyes.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfxIYmkrJ6
Vivian tied a vine in Volt’s mouth and around his head. Volt’s head drooped with remorse.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tWJwBfLqZ
“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?”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSV24ULnoM
She strode away and grabbed the vine holding Abyss, guiding him to a higher place. Lucy and Vivian followed as Abyss struggled.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwxyaTvN3K
“Look, your brother was right about one thing. I do need you. I need your power, devour.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Es6nAI48k
“Why do you need it if you can get all sorts of power wielders on your side so easily?” Abyss snapped back.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOuQWFS7qp
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.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJwYk7yIEM
“What does this have to do with anything?” Abyss snapped.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaK8euTOVx
“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.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgh3mQ7aymU
“I know this one,” Vivian muttered. “This is how the youngest god, Zeus, became the king of gods.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4PidPhNxj
“Yes, Zeus made tartar out of the titanus tyrant Kronos. Or at least, he was supposed to.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6jqeP2lie
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Abyss growled.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡao1Bez56AI
“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.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOE1yQbe6D
Abyss stared in shock. No wonder Achlys was so twisted. All of this on top of being locked away when she was 10.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdtvrcx228
“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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7onoM13ew5
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoLGXm3nLU
“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.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0fBUuoBgH
“So, they locked you away to protect you?” Abyss guessed. His voice was quiet.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbPGP930uQ
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.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1JqqMjkMO
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...”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLHiWIlIaQ
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblOBOg1I8s
“Stop!” Abyss cried, lunging toward his brother again.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEh20PFEDr
“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?”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiR3rTh4Qn
“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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4j3CjdV7W
“If you want to save your brother and avoid seeing him fully submerged, you’ll give me Ember’s powers.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUG6iYfXppV
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.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oCdLbf2WV
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. 122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ndTk00dUr
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1xspfXJig
“Why are you doing this?!” Abyss pleaded, looking at Vivian.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4v4ky0Ycfz
“Because I said to,” Achlys said.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqp0nBKxXhb
“One for the many,” Vivian muttered.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCH3mUzrrn
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.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTc3uWvyqx
“You don’t get to call me that!” Abyss said, lunging once again, this time at Achlys.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkX19JiB2Wp
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.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡst2ENZXffX
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUG6VJTh2ST
“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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DMQNRBJQT
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs09qt6XHck
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMxJlTwwP0
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5Sq79gLeh
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQaAZM5wcl
Abyss stopped at Volt's side. He had to think of something to do.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfUxBJ76UT
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9nnLRYxre
Eventually, Volt stopped twitching, and sparks stopped jumping off of him, but he wasn’t breathing.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6KypHejCz
Come on!122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYq7MgL5GY
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRdOipVqBz
“You can’t be gone!” Abyss cried, tears falling down his face. “Not again! Please!” He shook his brother’s shoulder.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4If3FrAeK
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIsYA4F0jh
“What are you doing?!” Abys blurted, grabbing her arms and trying to pull her away.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUaaV2hudd
“Chest compressions idiot! I don’t actually want him to die, do you?”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzvnrvleEd
Abyss swallowed a lump in his throat and pulled away as Vivian continued to do CPR.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUphBxEReZ
“Just don’t get in the way of anything. Go take care of Lucy.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrAXMrh5Qb
Abyss looked over his shoulder at the girl before she shrunk away and hid behind a large, mysterious machine.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UboBQ2gLf
Abyss didn’t want to leave Volt’s side. He stared back at his brother.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PhLUiYvdL
He felt the little girl grab his sleeve. “Go stop her.” Lucy whispered so Vivian wouldn’t hear her.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecj8IbOt63
Abyss looked down at her.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpOWwSLeAj
“What?” the word barely came out.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCThHWSCWh
“You have to stop the scary lady. She wants to blow up the world.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CyFPcKGCF
“But-”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0c1oHGEDi
“No buts, you have to stop her.”122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeijmhEBE0
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?122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vVFbXuQbQ
She said she didn’t want him to die even though she helped hurt him in the first place.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gRvefDyIm
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?122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfIxXQo0dU
Maybe not.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXvCn8uWqS
Abyss thought back to the conversation he had with Volt the day they came to Earth.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9pBr0XncK
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.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZWmMYrHo7
Lucy was right. She was a little kid who couldn’t possibly understand all of this, but she was right.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5xMTq0A56
But… what about…?122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwb7Scizjq
Abyss shook his head. He didn’t have time for this. He’ll be okay. Abyss looked back a final time to us brother.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZMMEOAp5S
“I’ll see you later, Volt. Don’t you dare die on me again.” Abyss said quietly.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDud0drgWs
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmSpVsobkF
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