It took days for Abyss to get directions for the coordinates Nedi ’s letter boasted and to get there.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFvXyce8j8
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqs3kgpxndU
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?20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9fh6p3VTS
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuda2EPwNV
Without considering how difficult it could be to find Nedi in the commotion, Abyss hurried to the battlefield, struggling to keep his hopes low.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZC0XT1rOK
* * *
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVbGxORVag
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkfdKETbt8
Abyss was stunned. The last time he was almost killed by stray lightning was...20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgFSxpnOIH
“Zeus! We need a defibrillator!” A familiar voice called out. The voice made Abyssal’s blood boil.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqCGiMjkZy
“On my way, Commander!”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmd6cG6W6p
Abyssal’s heart stopped. He spun to try and spot the source.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4x1ToRhgyR
“Volt!”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZDVYgqyQD
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3arVommxJc
“Abyss?!”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLKpvupl6R
Volt only looked over his shoulder a split second before turning away and coming down on the dying soldier with sparking hands.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnxsvxQJbK
Abyss chased after his brother and stood only a foot away.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIABdiVCJD
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFw9bXsAtCu
“Clear!”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAfoDpe540
The body jumped at Volt’s touch.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSV8HC3SU6E
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MUos6Z6ye
Abyss ran to his brother, grabbing him from behind.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeWfNduTWy
“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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMiUkXHRra
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeNqPHjqjY
“Abyss,” Volt whispered, “now’s not the time. It isn’t safe-”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq5EzDLNIp
“I don’t care! You don’t know what I went through! Why didn’t you tell me you were okay?!”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkliSFcBBGp
Volt’s face hardened as he swallowed back a large lump of guilt.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9fGFqsZBm
Abyss was right. Volt didn’t know how it felt to lose a brother.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tXIInhiGf
“...I’m sorry... I couldn’t, I-... I just couldn’t...”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAqRuzszA6
“Why not?! I’m your brother, Volt! I thought you died! I thought we’d never see each other again!”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHKwYuonv2
“It’s.. Complicated... I gave you hints.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvZJDgyDWj
“What are you talking about?!”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70O8C7Y3RB
“I- Nedi? Mark? It’s a code-”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBrGQcxxiP
“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!”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVghPZmS34P
“...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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUWTEs5A4D
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWD0Dtt6rlO
Abyss scrambled to feet and yelled after Volt, “Not funny, yig thisar!”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ntGxG4eSL
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdatBPK0i2
Does she know what I said? Even still, what does it matter to her?20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDUdzRRjPf
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonEvaRVeMR
“How many of those do you have left, Astrea?” a large, burn-scarred, bald man called out.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnly9Gcb1X
Star lady answered, “About 12.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrIRi1gk45
“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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bcETGTDgm
“Thanks, Hephaestus!” she called back before flying off.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzMlRztNVO
That’s when it hit him. There were Greek gods among PISTOL, fighting Kronos, and more on the other side.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftWDcpTjDt
“She doesn't like profanity,” Hephaestus told Abyss before dropping a shield in the younger one’s arms and heading off quickly.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbjeCWKVX8
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFQSP3J3Kp
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlr7b3q8D18
Demeter? He guessed.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfjgmybruQ
That’s when he nearly ran into a large gold statue of Aaron.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIv5kY8kNvY
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOJc0OO8yI
“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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKK2yxuXDo
“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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9KnTV51vC
Abyss continued to scour the battlefield for Volt. He wasn’t losing his brother. Not again.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjdTFUOATg
But he found Achlys first.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnTvZihntm
“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.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPJZncL8py
“You- you mean it? Wait, you knew about Volt?”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk804BNk9cY
“I... figured it out.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDmDzXij0P
“With the letter? How?”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2M5McDenBB
“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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgBzv496NN
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1j0Krsb0F5
* * *
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyvBqUFQV5
“Abyss!” Volt exclaimed running to him. “We have to get back up there. I only stayed because they said you were coming.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxGWic3I75
“I’m not letting you go back up there!” Abyss snapped.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbreVUNx8K
“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.” 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfe9qLx93aV
“What do you have against-”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBP6buo27qP
“She’s the one who got me registered as dead.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76AzbKG5eO
Abyss was stunned. “But- why?”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeocFmDj6t
“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.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgQoE1viUE
“It’s more than that!” Achlys blurted.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjgdAX4eA6
“How so?” Volt asked.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVH6pJOm7c8
“I-I like the company.” Achlys shook herself and snapped, “I need the princess too.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2BVkcWBye
Abyss couldn’t speak. I stared at the two of them in stunned silence.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyzHSf0sNe
“Abyss, she can’t be trusted. She wants to destroy the world and plunge it into an endless night of flames and destruction.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAy5ujQAQ01
“I- I know... but-”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmf0rIg8fN
“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?”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuc14ltlu3R
“I did! I am! I... I think... It’s complicated.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzU2WJQQk7
“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.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZT19yoFCpo
“And you didn’t tell me before because...?”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDULPxov1GA
“I couldn’t! Things were going to Xouya and nobody knew what side everyone was on. You were with her!”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvPeOxR5fI
Abyss was trembling. His mind swam in confusion, and he was brimming with anger. His fists were clenched, and his arms shook.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84nkbeS5Ia
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.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiO3hsuqok
“You’re not seeing things clearly, Sol,” she said smoothly.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkcV5rkRGq
“You don’t get to call me that!”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOMiVUdG65
“Your blinded by your emotions. You can’t understand... Girls!”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVT7ybGlro
Vines shot out from the shadows, one wrapping around each of the brothers.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6lPVUgwbh
“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.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVuRU7qDrT
“What are you talking about?! Volt has nothing to do with this, leave him out of it!”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSYxMY3rBX
“You’re wrong, Abyss... I’m sorry, I really am,” some part of Achlys’ voice sounded truthful even if Abyss couldn’t see her.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GZ3XRXgbw
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1HwhWcWc6
“He inserted himself when he came to kill me. He had a lightning bolt in his hand and bloodlust in his eyes.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC0vP04Afe
Vivian tied a vine in Volt’s mouth and around his head. Volt’s head drooped with remorse.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHmG02dM60
“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?”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDA2gaOH4Z
She strode away and grabbed the vine holding Abyss, guiding him to a higher place. Lucy and Vivian followed as Abyss struggled.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCICU7mS0Hg
“Look, your brother was right about one thing. I do need you. I need your power, devour.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcDvXTTkys
“Why do you need it if you can get all sorts of power wielders on your side so easily?” Abyss snapped back.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡso82VrwHka
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.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo24zMqGGa7
“What does this have to do with anything?” Abyss snapped.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6F36jaDMf
“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.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMWgOdXJAD
“I know this one,” Vivian muttered. “This is how the youngest god, Zeus, became the king of gods.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dlhgLljrw
“Yes, Zeus made tartar out of the titanus tyrant Kronos. Or at least, he was supposed to.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBDHtd7BuZ
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Abyss growled.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmLJ85Sbsl
“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.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPP1kvQ6gQQ
Abyss stared in shock. No wonder Achlys was so twisted. All of this on top of being locked away when she was 10.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYUeC2CL56
“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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1vHJzFV2p
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EYSt2wex7
“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.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9544mC67Mq
“So, they locked you away to protect you?” Abyss guessed. His voice was quiet.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjiv7UJpdh
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.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6aXkPOa6g
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...”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpM4H0mCNK1
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40TAsbgxD7
“Stop!” Abyss cried, lunging toward his brother again.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhM1XELfQv
“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?”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74Mb6nDJPz
“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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhAjnydOBe
“If you want to save your brother and avoid seeing him fully submerged, you’ll give me Ember’s powers.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtM9IDWwKYr
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.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZf4wbMP6TJ
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. 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGbe9Cwm9O
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjyfqLkMd9
“Why are you doing this?!” Abyss pleaded, looking at Vivian.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jnlVCmNUM
“Because I said to,” Achlys said.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hhZV78Hmm
“One for the many,” Vivian muttered.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhch6Eac8gL
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.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxRNl6NFNf
“You don’t get to call me that!” Abyss said, lunging once again, this time at Achlys.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQCObiRaYQ
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.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPP2JDDkAAE
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSEYDfCuOk
“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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYfEJIKp2r
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tHJ20SGC8
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxshin7Sm0Y
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjk7XUFLHA
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bFgF4VReO
Abyss stopped at Volt's side. He had to think of something to do.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4sUixfeo6
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiDpBg127h
Eventually, Volt stopped twitching, and sparks stopped jumping off of him, but he wasn’t breathing.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvl3vg3jsl
Come on!20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEat9SuZES
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarMmP2tYYU
“You can’t be gone!” Abyss cried, tears falling down his face. “Not again! Please!” He shook his brother’s shoulder.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7StQ609Tei
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4y9oICz6tx
“What are you doing?!” Abys blurted, grabbing her arms and trying to pull her away.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqukndDIKa
“Chest compressions idiot! I don’t actually want him to die, do you?”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbKP2wgYkN
Abyss swallowed a lump in his throat and pulled away as Vivian continued to do CPR.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFSwrHL8mI
“Just don’t get in the way of anything. Go take care of Lucy.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hZSzhdUDN
Abyss looked over his shoulder at the girl before she shrunk away and hid behind a large, mysterious machine.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zdll7xxMN
Abyss didn’t want to leave Volt’s side. He stared back at his brother.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7q3qeVY5Je
He felt the little girl grab his sleeve. “Go stop her.” Lucy whispered so Vivian wouldn’t hear her.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSapVOFEJ0
Abyss looked down at her.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznNNiESgYP
“What?” the word barely came out.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2M4ZIQ1Waw
“You have to stop the scary lady. She wants to blow up the world.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CG7OxwAby
“But-”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDdWl5pv4j
“No buts, you have to stop her.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbTgd79jst
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?20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EhzvgQTxA
She said she didn’t want him to die even though she helped hurt him in the first place.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBXni9zsBC
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?20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKUg2VKOdL
Maybe not.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wOHe8akS7
Abyss thought back to the conversation he had with Volt the day they came to Earth.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMW7PP3JrY
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cJWBm63zb
Lucy was right. She was a little kid who couldn’t possibly understand all of this, but she was right.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvXkNthL9k
But… what about…?20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZ5Y0vM7hM
Abyss shook his head. He didn’t have time for this. He’ll be okay. Abyss looked back a final time to us brother.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttHwsn2SNK
“I’ll see you later, Volt. Don’t you dare die on me again.” Abyss said quietly.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ql9S3Qpp7
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XBEyOfvLr
