It took days for Abyss to get directions for the coordinates Nedi ’s letter boasted and to get there.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrn5r4h4YR1
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmozicOzzt
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?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKdhG419Og
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6SYf52pch
Without considering how difficult it could be to find Nedi in the commotion, Abyss hurried to the battlefield, struggling to keep his hopes low.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHjpaXrm06
* * *
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEF6yWQnd7
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKAemeezTe
Abyss was stunned. The last time he was almost killed by stray lightning was...23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3G0FZiJAa0
“Zeus! We need a defibrillator!” A familiar voice called out. The voice made Abyssal’s blood boil.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGWJU732nM
“On my way, Commander!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFlfsOyU8Q
Abyssal’s heart stopped. He spun to try and spot the source.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gKy0mWdrf
“Volt!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xzejsJCQl
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1A2GDF17g
“Abyss?!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhf6nHKu0JZ
Volt only looked over his shoulder a split second before turning away and coming down on the dying soldier with sparking hands.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi40imsqZeS
Abyss chased after his brother and stood only a foot away.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtOweXASoU
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbFZ0VmQhD
“Clear!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyk5Pcdnys
The body jumped at Volt’s touch.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmEiPVzUCt
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxzCn96zb6
Abyss ran to his brother, grabbing him from behind.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZSRYFiScM
“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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtikqXk7q6r
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvEYZDFfBL
“Abyss,” Volt whispered, “now’s not the time. It isn’t safe-”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTa2UTwBX6Z
“I don’t care! You don’t know what I went through! Why didn’t you tell me you were okay?!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgvAnXNZ6R
Volt’s face hardened as he swallowed back a large lump of guilt.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21pV95anGn
Abyss was right. Volt didn’t know how it felt to lose a brother.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWGBFo4dUd
“...I’m sorry... I couldn’t, I-... I just couldn’t...”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHT7OqwHnfA
“Why not?! I’m your brother, Volt! I thought you died! I thought we’d never see each other again!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbzHWxg5AT
“It’s.. Complicated... I gave you hints.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmO5sPqE0I
“What are you talking about?!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0Zs2hOvqV
“I- Nedi? Mark? It’s a code-”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fhBILT5Mm
“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!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONippIeRGr
“...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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1OnlDhYjO
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQaK9mqlF9
Abyss scrambled to feet and yelled after Volt, “Not funny, yig thisar!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNx1hmxCEW
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMscwng6fTm
Does she know what I said? Even still, what does it matter to her?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzr8QmH7nVe
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcUNSOIoW5
“How many of those do you have left, Astrea?” a large, burn-scarred, bald man called out.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2Lun6HvOd
Star lady answered, “About 12.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVkOxe5xZU
“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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqrfjVMqG5
“Thanks, Hephaestus!” she called back before flying off.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWCDLeRPUq
That’s when it hit him. There were Greek gods among PISTOL, fighting Kronos, and more on the other side.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jguZkc5RO
“She doesn't like profanity,” Hephaestus told Abyss before dropping a shield in the younger one’s arms and heading off quickly.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1pQlWIFSO
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbECEBWLtz
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlJQZj9GhD
Demeter? He guessed.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTR1URdcah
That’s when he nearly ran into a large gold statue of Aaron.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEsXYuH8Qd
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ab63dAueO
“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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwcxxJGEca
“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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwjTkiD2mY
Abyss continued to scour the battlefield for Volt. He wasn’t losing his brother. Not again.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPSSAmM3g5
But he found Achlys first.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwFioasvNw
“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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiJSIvgCP8
“You- you mean it? Wait, you knew about Volt?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AhglhzX4G
“I... figured it out.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OiE5xA61y
“With the letter? How?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWI1ct955f
“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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5TTDStYl4
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzMpWxIBlz
* * *
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIsRBkHNLf
“Abyss!” Volt exclaimed running to him. “We have to get back up there. I only stayed because they said you were coming.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIF7UgCFPQ
“I’m not letting you go back up there!” Abyss snapped.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qXYiUR84F
“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.” 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡed02GjzAUT
“What do you have against-”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAnKlOAZ21
“She’s the one who got me registered as dead.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpE6HBKOYl
Abyss was stunned. “But- why?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTwaOje3bF
“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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnYlGzKstF
“It’s more than that!” Achlys blurted.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAftryE36so
“How so?” Volt asked.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0PkWcwtrl
“I-I like the company.” Achlys shook herself and snapped, “I need the princess too.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtF2Cc31HvP
Abyss couldn’t speak. I stared at the two of them in stunned silence.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeMpNwxlI5
“Abyss, she can’t be trusted. She wants to destroy the world and plunge it into an endless night of flames and destruction.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF2f8zDN0S
“I- I know... but-”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsSq7A8NHl
“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?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LSHqcNrvu
“I did! I am! I... I think... It’s complicated.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8I8HlKwkTN
“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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBywS1HkFoT
“And you didn’t tell me before because...?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BGvN9Hk1F
“I couldn’t! Things were going to Xouya and nobody knew what side everyone was on. You were with her!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dbtIgV65K
Abyss was trembling. His mind swam in confusion, and he was brimming with anger. His fists were clenched, and his arms shook.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZAqvy0dA9
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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VXj418lnO
“You’re not seeing things clearly, Sol,” she said smoothly.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxyfmCaQoB
“You don’t get to call me that!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFHVmax4ni
“Your blinded by your emotions. You can’t understand... Girls!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxWYUzXkmC
Vines shot out from the shadows, one wrapping around each of the brothers.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHjouuBtyI
“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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQajJVjs1uh
“What are you talking about?! Volt has nothing to do with this, leave him out of it!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUd00ElfG6L
“You’re wrong, Abyss... I’m sorry, I really am,” some part of Achlys’ voice sounded truthful even if Abyss couldn’t see her.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwf8gjtA0lr
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7h2BwZfiP
“He inserted himself when he came to kill me. He had a lightning bolt in his hand and bloodlust in his eyes.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7E2SnR1kWl
Vivian tied a vine in Volt’s mouth and around his head. Volt’s head drooped with remorse.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQo5sYLwVGm
“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?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuDyF7IECM
She strode away and grabbed the vine holding Abyss, guiding him to a higher place. Lucy and Vivian followed as Abyss struggled.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajzNQEiO8f
“Look, your brother was right about one thing. I do need you. I need your power, devour.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CmlADiUGk
“Why do you need it if you can get all sorts of power wielders on your side so easily?” Abyss snapped back.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45S8qffQ0O
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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQoM9z7O8g
“What does this have to do with anything?” Abyss snapped.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYfejuV8tZ
“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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOrfOocsiO
“I know this one,” Vivian muttered. “This is how the youngest god, Zeus, became the king of gods.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEffLiyO9d
“Yes, Zeus made tartar out of the titanus tyrant Kronos. Or at least, he was supposed to.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vAHIH4j8B
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Abyss growled.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡourFLvpBZV
“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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAYNkqGJAj
Abyss stared in shock. No wonder Achlys was so twisted. All of this on top of being locked away when she was 10.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxL8phNqGH
“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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQcGKa78Ga
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXrF84Z2iP
“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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5M9LjULsw
“So, they locked you away to protect you?” Abyss guessed. His voice was quiet.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ATHwofCNT
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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5SBeecG5B
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...”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUN78aXiZ0
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRJf1CLtev
“Stop!” Abyss cried, lunging toward his brother again.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2Pa1quC3d
“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?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3u1evuLAsh
“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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkXi1TVXQH
“If you want to save your brother and avoid seeing him fully submerged, you’ll give me Ember’s powers.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkduMmic7aJ
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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxVxueL3fU
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. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGl8cOpXE7Z
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmxTQCzCWV
“Why are you doing this?!” Abyss pleaded, looking at Vivian.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡref5FEP1qx
“Because I said to,” Achlys said.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykgHd7GAGL
“One for the many,” Vivian muttered.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7wtoK2mUq
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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6l9HFTe9JI
“You don’t get to call me that!” Abyss said, lunging once again, this time at Achlys.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GUONGKJAi
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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiTZwX0vL2
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9p4XQvxRGK
“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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbP7zIdc7Sf
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWsJSPugng
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWA7ivYx2LE
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AfBowulaA
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjs3JtWBktK
Abyss stopped at Volt's side. He had to think of something to do.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIaxiViEIW
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVo2xKbsSv
Eventually, Volt stopped twitching, and sparks stopped jumping off of him, but he wasn’t breathing.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzvsxw6m5r
Come on!23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyyV9oavNN
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoB1oU3zcv
“You can’t be gone!” Abyss cried, tears falling down his face. “Not again! Please!” He shook his brother’s shoulder.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlDJAjcZpc
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9e2y9Cnlc3
“What are you doing?!” Abys blurted, grabbing her arms and trying to pull her away.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpmwE3A1jP
“Chest compressions idiot! I don’t actually want him to die, do you?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1F6NZoEiVo
Abyss swallowed a lump in his throat and pulled away as Vivian continued to do CPR.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFIxESUwmb
“Just don’t get in the way of anything. Go take care of Lucy.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDqB1xGeBL
Abyss looked over his shoulder at the girl before she shrunk away and hid behind a large, mysterious machine.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxdReYBvRy
Abyss didn’t want to leave Volt’s side. He stared back at his brother.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9A3ySma6Ua
He felt the little girl grab his sleeve. “Go stop her.” Lucy whispered so Vivian wouldn’t hear her.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4n5AfNMcl0
Abyss looked down at her.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YLv1TtgrG
“What?” the word barely came out.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rNRbvMS3A
“You have to stop the scary lady. She wants to blow up the world.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgcFZs0xCe
“But-”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPg0wXilmKS
“No buts, you have to stop her.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQsW9hNYf6
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?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VAlLicfFM
She said she didn’t want him to die even though she helped hurt him in the first place.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQB8V7Be4Xc
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?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Tzv9bAWfs
Maybe not.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNH0TA2mikl
Abyss thought back to the conversation he had with Volt the day they came to Earth.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgaMs5uc7W
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmgm4Bpk6P
Lucy was right. She was a little kid who couldn’t possibly understand all of this, but she was right.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN1W7jwcci
But… what about…?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18KT5PrQ6I
Abyss shook his head. He didn’t have time for this. He’ll be okay. Abyss looked back a final time to us brother.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UOAAmptr9
“I’ll see you later, Volt. Don’t you dare die on me again.” Abyss said quietly.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvodrRX7yVG
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFD3OzTyLFi
