Holy High - IC 2 - Open

[Luminesa]

An angel?...If I was a mere angel, dear, I would not have the sort of power I have...I am an entity beyond your comprehension. If you saw my true form...you would crumple where you stood... He then touched her face, and brought his close to hers. He had no attraction toward her, but the glow of his gaze struck a sort of primal terror into anyone who looked deep enough. There was something dreadful hiding in those eyes.

I am pure power, pure control, pure domination. I am a force that destroys and creates worlds, universes, with mere words. Mere thoughts. I am a dimension all of my own, and all who see my true form surrender at the sight... He wrapped his wings lightly around her, with the warmth filling her with both a drowsiness and an incredible anxiety, so strong it was palpable. It made her skin pulse, as though her heart was about to explode from terror right beneath the skin.

Even daughters of God such as yourself...

"Nothing is beyond my comprehension other than the mysteries known only to God Himself," she spat, and shoved him away. "Don't you dare lay a hand on me. I do not fear you." Her own eyes glowed red, a killing intent beyond the intentions of all murderers combined, a righteous wrath beyond all understanding.

In that moment, she saw nothing.

Justice was truly blind.

He didn't falter, as he pulled his hand away. You don't see it, do you? You, and all the little beings like you, are what is wrong with this world. You claim to love justice, beauty, and peace, but look at you. You only see a thing that must be killed, not a deity that might hold answers to those mysteries.

He then frowned slightly, and he furrowed his brows. His speech became even more passionate, though his quiet tone remained the same. You cannot see beyond yourself, beyond your own pain, can you? You can only see pain that you relate to, never pain that you yourself have not experienced. You love Arael because he has suffered like you, but what if his suffering was of a different kind? That is why I wish to destroy all suffering. And hopefully, with all that suffering, vindictive little creatures like you shall disappear.

[Charlia]

"Nothing is beyond my comprehension other than the mysteries known only to God Himself," she spat, and shoved him away. "Don't you dare lay a hand on me. I do not fear you." Her own eyes glowed red, a killing intent beyond the intentions of all murderers combined, a righteous wrath beyond all understanding.

In that moment, she saw nothing.

Justice was truly blind.

He didn't falter, as he pulled his hand away. You don't see it, do you? You, and all the little beings like you, are what is wrong with this world. You claim to love justice, beauty, and peace, but look at you. You only see a thing that must be killed, not a deity that might hold answers to those mysteries.

He then frowned slightly, and he furrowed his brows. His speech became even more passionate, though his quiet tone remained the same. You cannot see beyond yourself, beyond your own pain, can you? You can only see pain that you relate to, never pain that you yourself have not experienced. You love Arael because he has suffered like you, but what if his suffering was of a different kind? That is why I wish to destroy all suffering. And hopefully, with all that suffering, vindictive little creatures like you shall disappear.

"You lie!" she screamed. "I feel the pain of others. Constantly. It's my curse! I understand all sides of every story! And what I see in front of me is a creature whose mind is so twisted that he thinks his torture of others is all for some greater good! Do you think yourself to be God, that you should decide what to do with His creation?! You are nothing more than a well-intentioned extremist who is so obsessed with eliminating suffering that he is blind to the fact that all he is doing is causing more!"

In the physical world, her eyes were still glowing red, and she was muttering something to herself, over and over and over again.

She had gone practically catatonic when Adam had touched her face and then taken hold of her, but at this point she was merely staring into space with her newly red eyes, just whispering to herself.

[Luminesa]

He didn't falter, as he pulled his hand away. You don't see it, do you? You, and all the little beings like you, are what is wrong with this world. You claim to love justice, beauty, and peace, but look at you. You only see a thing that must be killed, not a deity that might hold answers to those mysteries.

He then frowned slightly, and he furrowed his brows. His speech became even more passionate, though his quiet tone remained the same. You cannot see beyond yourself, beyond your own pain, can you? You can only see pain that you relate to, never pain that you yourself have not experienced. You love Arael because he has suffered like you, but what if his suffering was of a different kind? That is why I wish to destroy all suffering. And hopefully, with all that suffering, vindictive little creatures like you shall disappear.

"You lie!" she screamed. "I feel the pain of others. Constantly. It's my curse! I understand all sides of every story! And what I see in front of me is a creature whose mind is so twisted that he thinks his torture of others is all for some greater good! Do you think yourself to be God, that you should decide what to do with His creation?! You are nothing more than a well-intentioned extremist who is so obsessed with eliminating suffering that he is blind to the fact that all he is doing is causing more!"

In the physical world, her eyes were still glowing red, and she was muttering something to herself, over and over and over again.

She had gone practically catatonic when Adam had touched her face and then taken hold of her, but at this point she was merely staring into space with her newly red eyes, just whispering to herself.

CHARLOTTE'S MIND

'Do I think I am God?' he repeated, amused. He then chuckled. Little one, I am God. I am as old as the God you serve, but I am the true God. Look around you. Innocent people suffer, and I want to end all your suffering. But in order to do that, I must use specific tools in order to bring about that end. You do not think you are a tool in the hands of your own God? That is why all you Angels were created, as tools. Though faulty ones, at best. Look at yourself. You can hardly even function because of your anger. Your hatred. You are too afraid of letting go of that in order to see the vision I present to you. You say you do not fear me. Well...I do not fear you...

He moved behind her, leaving a trail of light as he did so, and he whispered earnestly in her ear, Look at yourself, Charlotte. See?

He showed her an image by twisting the light around her. In the mirror-like frame was a young, 13-year-old girl Charlotte, alone and crying, in the corner of a house. Her shadow sprawled across the ground and rose up, glowing white, with little wings to match. Yet as it went to touch the grown Charlotte, desperate for help, it touched her and began to bleed. First her hand bled, and then her heart. The shadow fell to the ground, turning silver before rusting and fading away. Meanwhile, the girl Charlotte turned to dust, and the dust fell at Charlotte's feet.

MARS

Xavier tried to see into her mind, worrying that Adam was now trying to possess Charlotte. After all, as strong as she was, she was also unstable, and knowing just where to poke her could lead to catastrophe. "Charlotte, can you hear us? Charlotte?" he called.

Patriah saw her, and he read her mind. Suddenly, he broke into a cold sweat, as he read her emotions. Charlotte was being psychologically-torn by Adam, and he felt every ounce of her terror, her rage, her frustration, and her weakness. It was like a fever that ravaged the body until all of its systems shut down. He clenched his fists in order to keep from falling on the ground in pain.

What...what is this thing?!

[Charlia]

"You lie!" she screamed. "I feel the pain of others. Constantly. It's my curse! I understand all sides of every story! And what I see in front of me is a creature whose mind is so twisted that he thinks his torture of others is all for some greater good! Do you think yourself to be God, that you should decide what to do with His creation?! You are nothing more than a well-intentioned extremist who is so obsessed with eliminating suffering that he is blind to the fact that all he is doing is causing more!"

In the physical world, her eyes were still glowing red, and she was muttering something to herself, over and over and over again.

She had gone practically catatonic when Adam had touched her face and then taken hold of her, but at this point she was merely staring into space with her newly red eyes, just whispering to herself.

CHARLOTTE'S MIND

'Do I think I am God?' he repeated, amused. He then chuckled. Little one, I am God. I am as old as the God you serve, but I am the true God. Look around you. Innocent people suffer, and I want to end all your suffering. But in order to do that, I must use specific tools in order to bring about that end. You do not think you are a tool in the hands of your own God? That is why all you Angels were created, as tools. Though faulty ones, at best. Look at yourself. You can hardly even function because of your anger. Your hatred. You are too afraid of letting go of that in order to see the vision I present to you. You say you do not fear me. Well...I do not fear you...

He moved behind her, leaving a trail of light as he did so, and he whispered earnestly in her ear, Look at yourself, Charlotte. See?

He showed her an image by twisting the light around her. In the mirror-like frame was a young, 13-year-old girl Charlotte, alone and crying, in the corner of a house. Her shadow sprawled across the ground and rose up, glowing white, with little wings to match. Yet as it went to touch the grown Charlotte, desperate for help, it touched her and began to bleed. First her hand bled, and then her heart. The shadow fell to the ground, turning silver before rusting and fading away. Meanwhile, the girl Charlotte turned to dust, and the dust fell at Charlotte's feet.

"I am no mere angel," she spat, and then saw the vision. "What is this?" she screamed. "What are you trying to accomplish with this?! What do you possibly have to gain from showing her to me? Your tricks dishonor those innocent children! What could you gain by desecrating their memory?!"

[Luminesa]

CHARLOTTE'S MIND

'Do I think I am God?' he repeated, amused. He then chuckled. Little one, I am God. I am as old as the God you serve, but I am the true God. Look around you. Innocent people suffer, and I want to end all your suffering. But in order to do that, I must use specific tools in order to bring about that end. You do not think you are a tool in the hands of your own God? That is why all you Angels were created, as tools. Though faulty ones, at best. Look at yourself. You can hardly even function because of your anger. Your hatred. You are too afraid of letting go of that in order to see the vision I present to you. You say you do not fear me. Well...I do not fear you...

He moved behind her, leaving a trail of light as he did so, and he whispered earnestly in her ear, Look at yourself, Charlotte. See?

He showed her an image by twisting the light around her. In the mirror-like frame was a young, 13-year-old girl Charlotte, alone and crying, in the corner of a house. Her shadow sprawled across the ground and rose up, glowing white, with little wings to match. Yet as it went to touch the grown Charlotte, desperate for help, it touched her and began to bleed. First her hand bled, and then her heart. The shadow fell to the ground, turning silver before rusting and fading away. Meanwhile, the girl Charlotte turned to dust, and the dust fell at Charlotte's feet.

"I am no mere angel," she spat, and then saw the vision. "What is this?" she screamed. "What are you trying to accomplish with this?! What do you possibly have to gain from showing her to me? Your tricks dishonor those innocent children! What could you gain by desecrating their memory?!"

What is this, Charlotte? This girl...and her shadow...these are you. You do not recognize them, I see. Is it because you have been consumed by your rage, consumed by your efforts to give of yourself in order to drown your pain? Tell me, Charlotte...in the time you have raged against me, how many innocent children have died from the same pain you wish to stop? What is the use of your anger? Is it to save innocent lives? His tone switched and became more vicious. Or is it because you fear what may happen if you back down?

[Charlia]

"I am no mere angel," she spat, and then saw the vision. "What is this?" she screamed. "What are you trying to accomplish with this?! What do you possibly have to gain from showing her to me? Your tricks dishonor those innocent children! What could you gain by desecrating their memory?!"

What is this, Charlotte? This girl...and her shadow...these are you. You do not recognize them, I see. Is it because you have been consumed by your rage, consumed by your efforts to give of yourself in order to drown your pain? Tell me, Charlotte...in the time you have raged against me, how many innocent children have died from the same pain you wish to stop? What is the use of your anger? Is it to save innocent lives? His tone switched and became more vicious. Or is it because you fear what may happen if you back down?

"I know who she is," she growled. "She is who I once was. But I saw something that clearly you did not... She was not alone."

Then he continued his breaking speech, and her heart stopped.

Is it because you fear what will happen if you back down?


In the physical world, her eyes flashed back to their normal blue, and her mouth opened in a silent scream.


You fear what will happen if you back down?


A single tear slipped from her eye.


What will happen if you back down?


"NO!" she screamed, and cast a wave of blinding white in his direction. She wanted him to stop talking. She wanted him to leave her alone.

But she couldn't cast him out of her own body without ensuring that Arael would suffer in her place.

I could choose... to make him suffer... but I refuse!

[Syrixces]

Raven

Raven rolled his eyes, thumbing his bird's skull mask, the migraine he had accumulated, disappearing from his mind.

Well woopty - doo. At least half of you are in lala-land. Wake up people! We got work to do! Where are the others......

He narrowed his eyes, his body dissipating, exploding into a flock of albino ravens.

What. A. Surprise.

He looked down at Thanakron's cavern, reforming into his human form.

Surprised you could resist the temptation to back-stab us for this long, Thana.

He snapped his fingers, re-appearing on the ground, ash and fire billowing about him.

You always were a traitor, Thana.

Thanakron

Thanakron did not answer, simply turning, the pain in his face evident, and stabbing his scythe into the ground, the black energy, banishing Thana from the cavernous obsidian palace.

GO AWAY, LITTLE DOG. YOUR MASTER BECKONS.

Tharizdun

Tharizdun chuckled lightly to himself, siting down on the blood soaked steep outside his red kingdom.

Raven is an old fool. What should I care?

Thanatos

Thanatos growled, ripping into his true form, bone mask, scythes, and grey skin, placing his hand in a warning nature on Arael's / Adam's shoulder.

Leave her alone. She's been through enough, let alone your half-assed attempt as Psych - 101.

[Theocretes]

Raven

Raven rolled his eyes, thumbing his bird's skull mask, the migraine he had accumulated, disappearing from his mind.

Well woopty - doo. At least half of you are in lala-land. Wake up people! We got work to do! Where are the others......

He narrowed his eyes, his body dissipating, exploding into a flock of albino ravens.

What. A. Surprise.

He looked down at Thanakron's cavern, reforming into his human form.

Surprised you could resist the temptation to back-stab us for this long, Thana.

He snapped his fingers, re-appearing on the ground, ash and fire billowing about him.

You always were a traitor, Thana.

Thanakron

Thanakron did not answer, simply turning, the pain in his face evident, and stabbing his scythe into the ground, the black energy, banishing Thana from the cavernous obsidian palace.

GO AWAY, LITTLE DOG. YOUR MASTER BECKONS.

Tharizdun

Tharizdun chuckled lightly to himself, siting down on the blood soaked steep outside his red kingdom.

Raven is an old fool. What should I care?

Thanatos

Thanatos growled, ripping into his true form, bone mask, scythes, and grey skin, placing his hand in a warning nature on Arael's / Adam's shoulder.

Leave her alone. She's been through enough, let alone your half-assed attempt as Psych - 101.

"You should care, for he alone may be weak...but with his little army, he is strong enough to destroy us. That is why Thana and I need your help. I belive Raven should be battling Thana and thankaron as we speak, we do not have much time....are you with us?"
Ianar offered his hand for a shake

[Luminesa]

Raven

Raven rolled his eyes, thumbing his bird's skull mask, the migraine he had accumulated, disappearing from his mind.

Well woopty - doo. At least half of you are in lala-land. Wake up people! We got work to do! Where are the others......

He narrowed his eyes, his body dissipating, exploding into a flock of albino ravens.

What. A. Surprise.

He looked down at Thanakron's cavern, reforming into his human form.

Surprised you could resist the temptation to back-stab us for this long, Thana.

He snapped his fingers, re-appearing on the ground, ash and fire billowing about him.

You always were a traitor, Thana.

Thanakron

Thanakron did not answer, simply turning, the pain in his face evident, and stabbing his scythe into the ground, the black energy, banishing Thana from the cavernous obsidian palace.

GO AWAY, LITTLE DOG. YOUR MASTER BECKONS.

Tharizdun

Tharizdun chuckled lightly to himself, siting down on the blood soaked steep outside his red kingdom.

Raven is an old fool. What should I care?

Thanatos

Thanatos growled, ripping into his true form, bone mask, scythes, and grey skin, placing his hand in a warning nature on Arael's / Adam's shoulder.

Leave her alone. She's been through enough, let alone your half-assed attempt as Psych - 101.

THANAKRON'S CAVE

Thana heard Raven's voice, and he jolted in place. "...No..." he whispered, as Thanakron banished both of them. He whirled around and faced Raven. He was horrified that he had been discovered, but yet he refused to back-down. "How did you find me? I gave you no lead," he demanded.

MARS

Arael blinked, watching Thanatos speak to him. "You fool. He is inside Charlotte, not me..." he answered, aggravated.

[Luminesa]

What is this, Charlotte? This girl...and her shadow...these are you. You do not recognize them, I see. Is it because you have been consumed by your rage, consumed by your efforts to give of yourself in order to drown your pain? Tell me, Charlotte...in the time you have raged against me, how many innocent children have died from the same pain you wish to stop? What is the use of your anger? Is it to save innocent lives? His tone switched and became more vicious. Or is it because you fear what may happen if you back down?

"I know who she is," she growled. "She is who I once was. But I saw something that clearly you did not... She was not alone."

Then he continued his breaking speech, and her heart stopped.

Is it because you fear what will happen if you back down?


In the physical world, her eyes flashed back to their normal blue, and her mouth opened in a silent scream.


You fear what will happen if you back down?


A single tear slipped from her eye.


What will happen if you back down?


"NO!" she screamed, and cast a wave of blinding white in his direction. She wanted him to stop talking. She wanted him to leave her alone.

But she couldn't cast him out of her own body without ensuring that Arael would suffer in her place.

I could choose... to make him suffer... but I refuse!

INSIDE CHARLOTTE'S MIND

Adam smiled, as he saw her shut down in front of him.

There now...you see, was that so hard?...There's nothing to fear here, Charlotte, if you simply surrender. I am not that horrible little angel, that little deserter...I am here to help you...Rest yourself, give-in, and I will do all the rest...

When she shot the light at him, he dodged it by merely moving his head aside, and the light absorbed the light. He watched it, and then turned back to her, seeing that she was crying.

...All of that will not help you here. You are merely hurting yourself here...That is why all of my servants are built the way they are. They cannot resist...they cannot fight...they cannot hurt themselves...Do you see that now, sweetheart?

MARS

"I think I'm going to be sick..." Patriah began to feel nauseated by all the pain, all the torture, and he rushed away to throw-up.

Joaquin watched him, knowing exactly what he was feeling. Not because he had psychic powers, but because he knew what Adam was capable of.

Meanwhile, Xavier had heard Raven's comments, and he grit his teeth in anger. "That little rat...Blows-off Charlotte's pain and then runs away...I'm not dealing with this. Where is he?!" he demanded.

[Charlia]

"I know who she is," she growled. "She is who I once was. But I saw something that clearly you did not... She was not alone."

Then he continued his breaking speech, and her heart stopped.

Is it because you fear what will happen if you back down?


In the physical world, her eyes flashed back to their normal blue, and her mouth opened in a silent scream.


You fear what will happen if you back down?


A single tear slipped from her eye.


What will happen if you back down?


"NO!" she screamed, and cast a wave of blinding white in his direction. She wanted him to stop talking. She wanted him to leave her alone.

But she couldn't cast him out of her own body without ensuring that Arael would suffer in her place.

I could choose... to make him suffer... but I refuse!

INSIDE CHARLOTTE'S MIND

Adam smiled, as he saw her shut down in front of him.

There now...you see, was that so hard?...There's nothing to fear here, Charlotte, if you simply surrender. I am not that horrible little angel, that little deserter...I am here to help you...Rest yourself, give-in, and I will do all the rest...

When she shot the light at him, he dodged it by merely moving his head aside, and the light absorbed the light. He watched it, and then turned back to her, seeing that she was crying.

...All of that will not help you here. You are merely hurting yourself here...That is why all of my servants are built the way they are. They cannot resist...they cannot fight...they cannot hurt themselves...Do you see that now, sweetheart?

"Don't call me 'sweetheart'," she snapped. "You're the one who was controlling Arael before. You're the one who violated my mind. I remember every moment of it... You nearly made me Fall... I will never give in to you!" she screamed, and sent another blast of light at him from all sides, using all the power she could muster. And she could muster more power than most gods could even dream of.

[Luminesa]

INSIDE CHARLOTTE'S MIND

Adam smiled, as he saw her shut down in front of him.

There now...you see, was that so hard?...There's nothing to fear here, Charlotte, if you simply surrender. I am not that horrible little angel, that little deserter...I am here to help you...Rest yourself, give-in, and I will do all the rest...

When she shot the light at him, he dodged it by merely moving his head aside, and the light absorbed the light. He watched it, and then turned back to her, seeing that she was crying.

...All of that will not help you here. You are merely hurting yourself here...That is why all of my servants are built the way they are. They cannot resist...they cannot fight...they cannot hurt themselves...Do you see that now, sweetheart?

"Don't call me 'sweetheart'," she snapped. "You're the one who was controlling Arael before. You're the one who violated my mind. I remember every moment of it... You nearly made me Fall... I will never give in to you!" she screamed, and sent another blast of light at him from all sides, using all the power she could muster. And she could muster more power than most gods could even dream of.

He smiled, as the light flooded around him. Charlotte...I am light. You cannot defeat me with light...Why do you continue to fight? I am only a vision here...You cannot kill me when I am in your mind...

[Charlia]

"Don't call me 'sweetheart'," she snapped. "You're the one who was controlling Arael before. You're the one who violated my mind. I remember every moment of it... You nearly made me Fall... I will never give in to you!" she screamed, and sent another blast of light at him from all sides, using all the power she could muster. And she could muster more power than most gods could even dream of.

He smiled, as the light flooded around him. Charlotte...I am light. You cannot defeat me with light...Why do you continue to fight? I am only a vision here...You cannot kill me when I am in your mind...

"I will never stop fighting," she hissed, "not if the only other option is surrendering my body to someone like you!"

Her physical self was staring blankly down at trembling hands. Her head ached from the war raging in her mind. She was beginning to regret this choice, but if she gave up now...

[Luminesa]

He smiled, as the light flooded around him. Charlotte...I am light. You cannot defeat me with light...Why do you continue to fight? I am only a vision here...You cannot kill me when I am in your mind...

"I will never stop fighting," she hissed, "not if the only other option is surrendering my body to someone like you!"

Her physical self was staring blankly down at trembling hands. Her head ached from the war raging in her mind. She was beginning to regret this choice, but if she gave up now...

Very well then...wear yourself down. You are only delaying the inevitable, Charlotte...The end is coming, and you cannot run from it...

[Charlia]

"I will never stop fighting," she hissed, "not if the only other option is surrendering my body to someone like you!"

Her physical self was staring blankly down at trembling hands. Her head ached from the war raging in her mind. She was beginning to regret this choice, but if she gave up now...

Very well then...wear yourself down. You are only delaying the inevitable, Charlotte...The end is coming, and you cannot run from it...

"You'd be surprised," she retorted. "I've been alive for millennia, since only a little after the earth was created. And I've been running ever since." She grinned. "But light isn't my only weapon."

A bolt of darkness this time, spreading out and rushing towards him from all sides.

"I will never give myself to you."

[Luminesa]

Very well then...wear yourself down. You are only delaying the inevitable, Charlotte...The end is coming, and you cannot run from it...

"You'd be surprised," she retorted. "I've been alive for millennia, since only a little after the earth was created. And I've been running ever since." She grinned. "But light isn't my only weapon."

A bolt of darkness this time, spreading out and rushing towards him from all sides.

"I will never give myself to you."

Adam smiled, as he saw the darkness. So there is darkness in your heart...I welcome it...How lovely. But it cannot hurt me, Charlotte. After all, I am Chaos... He opened his arms, and the darkness entered him. However, it did not do anything. He simply chuckled as he watched Charlotte's expression.

[Syrixces]

Raven

Raven grew, his robes, hood, and mask growing along with him, to a height of almost nine feet, his eyes glowing a bright sky blue from behind the mask, as energy, billowed in his robes around him, white fire blazing on the path he took. His edges began to blur, almost in he form of flapping wings, as the space around him crackled. He spoke up, his voice shifting, thundering through the dead plain around them.

REALLY? HOW DID I FIND YOU? GOD, REMEMBER. AND YOU LEFT A DECENT ENERGY TRAIL TO BOOT. SO, HOW YOU GONNA EXPLAIN THIS ONE?GONNA TELL YOUR APPRENTICE THIS? OR PERHAPS HE SHOULD ASK IANAR? AFTER ALL, YOU BOTH SEEM TO BE IN ON THE PLOT. SO GO AHEAD. EXPLAIN. YOURSELF. NOW.

Tharizdun

Tharizdun mimed thinking for a second, before shaking his head mockingly, snapping his fingers, spikes of eldritch ice snaring from the ground, surrounding Ianar.

Ooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrr I could impale you. So much more fun.

Thanatos

Thanatos simply groaned, shaking his head in frustration.

Here we go again.

[Charlia]

"You'd be surprised," she retorted. "I've been alive for millennia, since only a little after the earth was created. And I've been running ever since." She grinned. "But light isn't my only weapon."

A bolt of darkness this time, spreading out and rushing towards him from all sides.

"I will never give myself to you."

Adam smiled, as he saw the darkness. So there is darkness in your heart...I welcome it...How lovely. But it cannot hurt me, Charlotte. After all, I am Chaos... He opened his arms, and the darkness entered him. However, it did not do anything. He simply chuckled as he watched Charlotte's expression.

She was about to cast another attack when something happened.

She looked as if she'd been struck. Indeed, a mark was rapidly forming on her face.

Her eyes went wide, and staring, and then she collapsed, lying still.

Too still.

[Theocretes]

Raven

Raven grew, his robes, hood, and mask growing along with him, to a height of almost nine feet, his eyes glowing a bright sky blue from behind the mask, as energy, billowed in his robes around him, white fire blazing on the path he took. His edges began to blur, almost in he form of flapping wings, as the space around him crackled. He spoke up, his voice shifting, thundering through the dead plain around them.

REALLY? HOW DID I FIND YOU? GOD, REMEMBER. AND YOU LEFT A DECENT ENERGY TRAIL TO BOOT. SO, HOW YOU GONNA EXPLAIN THIS ONE?GONNA TELL YOUR APPRENTICE THIS? OR PERHAPS HE SHOULD ASK IANAR? AFTER ALL, YOU BOTH SEEM TO BE IN ON THE PLOT. SO GO AHEAD. EXPLAIN. YOURSELF. NOW.

Tharizdun

Tharizdun mimed thinking for a second, before shaking his head mockingly, snapping his fingers, spikes of eldritch ice snaring from the ground, surrounding Ianar.

Ooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrr I could impale you. So much more fun.

Thanatos

Thanatos simply groaned, shaking his head in frustration.

Here we go again.

"can I make you a deal? You team with us, and you can impale me. Sound good?"
Ianar took a smile to his face, fully prepared to be impaled
Then he thought...and took a different aproach
"wait....why impale me...when I can get you the opportunity to impale dozens of others! Raven and his army march here now...why not impale them? Plus, I like you, you are cool.."

[Luminesa]

Raven

Raven grew, his robes, hood, and mask growing along with him, to a height of almost nine feet, his eyes glowing a bright sky blue from behind the mask, as energy, billowed in his robes around him, white fire blazing on the path he took. His edges began to blur, almost in he form of flapping wings, as the space around him crackled. He spoke up, his voice shifting, thundering through the dead plain around them.

REALLY? HOW DID I FIND YOU? GOD, REMEMBER. AND YOU LEFT A DECENT ENERGY TRAIL TO BOOT. SO, HOW YOU GONNA EXPLAIN THIS ONE?GONNA TELL YOUR APPRENTICE THIS? OR PERHAPS HE SHOULD ASK IANAR? AFTER ALL, YOU BOTH SEEM TO BE IN ON THE PLOT. SO GO AHEAD. EXPLAIN. YOURSELF. NOW.

Tharizdun

Tharizdun mimed thinking for a second, before shaking his head mockingly, snapping his fingers, spikes of eldritch ice snaring from the ground, surrounding Ianar.

Ooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrr I could impale you. So much more fun.

Thanatos

Thanatos simply groaned, shaking his head in frustration.

Here we go again.

THANAKRON'S CAVE

Thana stared at Thanakron, infuriated, and then he slowly calmed himself. He then closed his eyes and breathed slowly. "...You do not frighten me, Raven. You do not care who dies around you, and because of your lack of intervention, intended or otherwise, we lost one of our best teammates. You are a being of darkness, a demon of the lowest order, and I do not trust you in the slightest. So I have turned against you. I have turned to the deities you tried to kill, knowing that they are not the ones at fault. You are. You are a vindictive, hateful, graceless being, God or otherwise, and I will not serve you," he told him calmly.

He stood for a moment, calm and staring into the darkness. "I was born in a realm like this...darkness...Complete and utter darkness...because I was created to bear the darkness that torments the world, so that the balance would be kept. So that evil would not be able to rise, to destroy that balance and to this destroy the world...It is a painful existence, an existence that causes me to feel incredible pain and agony you could not even begin to understand. That is the secret of the Angel of Death: he weeps for the world because he is the cause of its sorrow, the cause of separation, the cause of riots and of fear. Though he wants to save those who he hurts, he can only defend them from the background. And he is never, never understood..."

He then turned to Raven, and a black tear fell from his eye. "Tell all of them if you must. Tell Patriah. Tell his lover. Tell Hyperion, all of them. Tell them what I have done. But I will stand by it until the end. I will be the barrier, the final frontier that separates hope from despair. I will be the one deity you cannot defeat, the one you can never catch, because you were not created to defeat me. You were created that I may rule over you, that I may keep you in your wicked chains." He then put on his skull mask, and he stood tall, with his scythe-which was as tall as he was-held erect by his side. He knew what he was doing. It was drastic, and he knew the consequences could be terrible, but it was all he could do.

"These gods, these deities you fight, they are no longer your war. I am your war. Now come at me with everything you have..." His eyes glowed red, and he glared down Raven.

"If you can."

He then disappeared into the shadows, away from Thanakron's cave.

[Castle Crashers]

Hyperion

He grinned, holding her close to him, her darkness cooling his intense atomic heat. Hydrogen atoms burned around him, fusing with solar wind.

Evil? Psh. You were never evil. Just a little scary. But who isn't? Plus, I love that you're a little terrifying! Makes you fun!

He nuzzled inwards, siding up next to her, resting.

And who doesn't like that?

She laughed. "Being terrifying is fun? How so?"

[Luminesa]

Adam smiled, as he saw the darkness. So there is darkness in your heart...I welcome it...How lovely. But it cannot hurt me, Charlotte. After all, I am Chaos... He opened his arms, and the darkness entered him. However, it did not do anything. He simply chuckled as he watched Charlotte's expression.

She was about to cast another attack when something happened.

She looked as if she'd been struck. Indeed, a mark was rapidly forming on her face.

Her eyes went wide, and staring, and then she collapsed, lying still.

Too still.

MARS

"Oh no. No no no no no no no..." Xavier caught Charlotte, and he knelt down with her in his arms. He then looked over at Lux. "I should have asked this earlier, but go in there and help her. I don't know what's happened, but you need to help her. I'll protect her body and try to heal her," he ordered.

Lux shuddered at the idea of facing Adam, but he slowly nodded. Focusing, he sent a Star-Self into Charlotte's mind.

CHARLOTTE'S MIND

He looked around, until he saw Charlotte's consciousness lying on the ground, completely still. "Charlotte!" He ran to her side and held her unconsciousness, trying to wake her up. "Charlotte, please, it is me...Lux...Wake up...Charlotte..." He was frantic, seeing that she was completely still.

Adam merely watched from a distance, smiling, waiting to watch what would happen next with Charlotte.

[Charlia]

She was about to cast another attack when something happened.

She looked as if she'd been struck. Indeed, a mark was rapidly forming on her face.

Her eyes went wide, and staring, and then she collapsed, lying still.

Too still.

MARS

"Oh no. No no no no no no no..." Xavier caught Charlotte, and he knelt down with her in his arms. He then looked over at Lux. "I should have asked this earlier, but go in there and help her. I don't know what's happened, but you need to help her. I'll protect her body and try to heal her," he ordered.

Lux shuddered at the idea of facing Adam, but he slowly nodded. Focusing, he sent a Star-Self into Charlotte's mind.

CHARLOTTE'S MIND

He looked around, until he saw Charlotte's consciousness lying on the ground, completely still. "Charlotte!" He ran to her side and held her unconsciousness, trying to wake her up. "Charlotte, please, it is me...Lux...Wake up...Charlotte..." He was frantic, seeing that she was completely still.

Adam merely watched from a distance, smiling, waiting to watch what would happen next with Charlotte.

In her mind, there was an echo, her voice saying something. But it wasn't her voice, not really. It was too young.

I won't feel anything.

If I lose my fight, I'll stop feeling.

I can't be hurt if I can't feel pain.

He can't hurt me if I can't feel pain.

I just have to keep fighting until I can't fight anymore... and then...

No more pain.

[Luminesa]

MARS

"Oh no. No no no no no no no..." Xavier caught Charlotte, and he knelt down with her in his arms. He then looked over at Lux. "I should have asked this earlier, but go in there and help her. I don't know what's happened, but you need to help her. I'll protect her body and try to heal her," he ordered.

Lux shuddered at the idea of facing Adam, but he slowly nodded. Focusing, he sent a Star-Self into Charlotte's mind.

CHARLOTTE'S MIND

He looked around, until he saw Charlotte's consciousness lying on the ground, completely still. "Charlotte!" He ran to her side and held her unconsciousness, trying to wake her up. "Charlotte, please, it is me...Lux...Wake up...Charlotte..." He was frantic, seeing that she was completely still.

Adam merely watched from a distance, smiling, waiting to watch what would happen next with Charlotte.

In her mind, there was an echo, her voice saying something. But it wasn't her voice, not really. It was too young.

I won't feel anything.

If I lose my fight, I'll stop feeling.

I can't be hurt if I can't feel pain.

He can't hurt me if I can't feel pain.

I just have to keep fighting until I can't fight anymore... and then...

No more pain.

Lux heard the words, and his heart broke. "...Charlotte?...No...Charlie?" It was a child's voice, and it saddened him greatly. Wherever it came from, he wanted to find it and to stop this.

Adam continued watching, dazzling and beautiful, but equally as cruel as he was glorious.

[Charlia]

In her mind, there was an echo, her voice saying something. But it wasn't her voice, not really. It was too young.

I won't feel anything.

If I lose my fight, I'll stop feeling.

I can't be hurt if I can't feel pain.

He can't hurt me if I can't feel pain.

I just have to keep fighting until I can't fight anymore... and then...

No more pain.

Lux heard the words, and his heart broke. "...Charlotte?...No...Charlie?" It was a child's voice, and it saddened him greatly. Wherever it came from, he wanted to find it and to stop this.

Adam continued watching, dazzling and beautiful, but equally as cruel as he was glorious.

I don't want to hurt anymore.

I want the pain to stop. Oh, God... why does it hurt so much...

...do You even care?

...it hurts... so bad...

...somebody help me...

A shrill scream, and then the silence was broken only by muffled, echoing sobs.