The light died down. Dreulara remained in place, but it visibly shook.
Takabi lowered his arm, eyes readjusting to the darkness. Around him, pillars of magma rose high, dark clouds forming overhead and hot rain splashing down quickly. In front of him, Jade breathed hard, his palm still gripping the now shattered dirt.
"Fuck… I… Didn't use enough…"
"You're insane," Takabi said. "How could you go and ruin your home planet?"
"Fuck off," He replied. "I am God, and my will is absolute."
Takabi ran up, placing a kick on his chin and knocking him down. "Look around you! This isn't something a God would do! Abuse his power and destroy people's homes!"
Jade stood up, wings stretching out wide. A black light outlined his body, ground shaking in combination with his mana, and Dreulara's struggle to stay together. "You were gifted to have those Gems… It's… It's the only reason you kept up with me." His shoulders rose and fell in a laugh, before he let out a scream.
A scream of anger.
A scream of power.
Behind his voice was that of a Dragon. Not a mythical creature, one surrounded by mystery and intrigue. It was a hateful beast, full of darkness and evil. Jade charged forward, soaring through the air and magma. Takabi leapt back, then flew forward and connected a heavy kick. Jade reached up, gripping Takabi's leg and throwing him away. He crashed through what remained of the station, willing his wings to keep himself airborne. Jade dashed in after, eyes snapping around until he looked up. Takabi slammed his foot into Jade's face, flames bursting out around him. Speeding downward and around, he propelled himself aside and struck hard.
Lava burst upwards in the center of the station, ripping the marble and garnet apart and pouring onto the floor. Takabi ran forward, sliding under Jade's legs and grabbing his tail. The veins in his forehead bulge as he pulled with his full might, spinning Jade around rapidly before tossing him high into the air.
"You need to be stopped, Jade!"
"I shall never stop! I have a destiny!"
Flames gathered in a sphere around Takabi's body. Shooting upwards, Jade blocked his face from the worst of the fire, his scales cracking within the heat. Takabi dashed up, fist slamming into Jade's exposed stomach. He coughed blood, before his head snapped back sharply at Takabi's fist. They smashed through the ceiling, flying higher and higher until they were in the exposed air. Takabi pulled his palms back towards his waist, thrusting them forward and striking Jade with a Nova: Wave.
"I won't die!" He dashed forward, throwing fist after fist, Takabi slowly blocking each one easier and easier.
Jade felt it. His strength was failing him. He wielded his Godhood carelessly, and now he was certainly paying the price for it. His cheek caved in at Takabi's kick, and Jade hit the roof of the station. Landing softly, Takabi willed another Nova forth, charging forward and expanding its size.
"This ends, Jade!"
He looked up, sphere slamming into his torso. Light erupted between them, pain shooting through Jade's mind. For a moment, it seemed as if time had stopped, because behind Takabi he saw an image.
The image of a man he murdered. One he felt justified in doing, but now held guilt at his actions. With him was a woman as well.
Both Jessica and Garuga, mimicking Takabi's posture and anger. In their eyes, however, there was disappointment in Jade. That same disappointment he knew would follow him whenever he passed.
Jade flew back, hitting the pillar that was standing tall, sliding down as the blackness faded from his skin and returned to his hair.
Takabi dropped to his knees, Gems' markings fading from his body. Looking up, he watched Jade's body hit the floor in front of him.
Pillars of lava burst around the station. Dreulara growled with an unstable force. There wasn't much time left, and Takabi knew that.
"Damn."
Jade slowly picked himself up. "This is where our little game ends, Takabi. You certainly were a worthy opponent." Standing on both his feet, he smiled and raised his palm. "You bested me in the bet, truthfully. However, bets aren't always needed to be taken. Killing me would've been the better option." Mana built in his palm. "Die knowing you lost because you were naive."
A dragon's roar rang out overhead. From the clouds, two large bodies dashed downwards, shrinking in size until Porrelth and Syrreth landed at Jade's sides. Porrelth leapt forward, gripping Jade's arm as Syrreth tended to Takabi.
Jade snapped his eyes between the two, color draining from his face. "How… When did… Why are you here?"
"To pick up our child. This play date has gone way too far."
Syrreth helped the Angel stand. "A gate will open in a moment. We need to leave as soon as it does." She looked Jade directly in the eye, her face blank. Syrreth scanned him with her white gaze, shaking her head.
"How is it you went so wrong? You were such a kind boy all those years ago."
"Once we find a new planet," Porrelth began, "You'll go before a judge, and more than likely be executed for your crimes."
"I… No… But I'm a God…" Jade muttered. "This isn't right… It's not happening… I should be the one winning here!"
"Sorry, pal," Takabi began. "You overestimated your luck."
He laughed at his words. Jade snatched his wrist back and leapt forward. Syrreth and Porrelth pushed Takabi back, a sphere forming around Jade and stopping him in place.
"Enough, boy! Face your fate like a man!"
"MY fate!? MY Fate was to be a GOD! And you all DENIED ME THAT!!" Black wrapped around the two Dragons. Jade's skin went black again, hair raising on its ends as he gripped the pair.
The field changed for a moment. Their movement was slow, as if time held them in a thick lock. Razor sharp airs cut at their arms and legs, blood splattering violent as each lash grew deeper. Porrelth roared, orange flames bursting outwards around him. Syrreth shut her eyes, clapping her palms and releasing a layer of white into the black. The field shattered, both Dragons dashing at Jade, fangs exposed.
Jade smiled widely. The three clashed in blinding fury.
Takabi listened closely at the clashing, struggling to get to his feet and join.
Porrelth pulled his arm back, flames gathering around his knuckles before he struck Jade's nose. Stumbling back, the Shadow Dragon held his face as Syrreth appeared behind him. His eyes locked on her, and he roared out in pain when her blade of light pierced his back and ran clean through his stomach.
"Time shall Stop," Jade cried out with bloody lips.
All froze and the sound ceased. He pulled himself from her sword, stumbling forward towards Takabi with clenched fists. He coughed, time resuming, the pair of Dragons between him and the Angel in seconds.
Jade was given no time to defend once the pair of fire and light began to assault with a flurry of fists. His head snapped in different directions, indents along his chest and limbs.
"You won't take him from us!"
"Go to hell you father killing reject," Porrelth yelled, throwing a scaled fist forward and knocking Jade away.
Magma rushed upwards in the distance, explosions ripping apart the concrete and soil. The two stood back to back, breathing in deeply. Fire and light gathered within their throats, before they yelled an ocean of the elements. Both swallowed Jade, the Dragon screaming in pain and agony.
"No! I… I will DENY THIS!" He covered his face. "Time… Shall STOP!"
Once more, the universe seemed to freeze. Jade rushed forward, large dragonic arms bathed in shadow at his sides. "YOU CAN'T DEFEND IN FROZEN TIME!"
He stumbled, time resuming instantly. The two stopped roaring, and threw their arms forward. A shock wave ripped through the air, intensityfinally dying down as Jade stopped running, a mere couple feet away from Takabi.
Jade's stomach slowly oozed blood before he dropped to his knees. For a moment, Takabi smiled at his injuries. Upon spotting Porrelth and Syrreth, and the gaping holes in their sides that consumed Syrreth's stomach and most of Porrelth's right intestines, the color drained from his face.
"Porrelth! Syrreth!"
"Takabi," Syrreth said weakly. The whiteness of her skin was darkening. The signal from her Mana was getting weaker and weaker. "Forget about us now." She held her side. Coughing, she sucked in a lungful of air. "That last attack really did a number… Bastard took most of our organs."
"Screw off," He yelled at her, punching the roof at his feet. "I'll heal you!" Behind him, a bright light erupted into existence. The gateway to the Bunker.
"Look around you, boy!" Porrelth's voice startled him. "We're only going to slow you down as we are. There's no time left, and we can't give Jade any window to escape. Our best chance to get rid of him, to avenge Garuga, is to stay behind and go up in flames with him." At each word, Porrelth took in heavy breaths, more of his blood spilling from his fingers and onto the roof.
"No… No that's…"
"Stop arguing and go!"
"I won't leave you behind! I can't lose you both too!"
"You've grown…" Syrreth said. She looked back at him. "Listen… The universe needs you. Jade isn't the end."
"I know that.. I… I still need you guys to guide me forward. I can't do this alone."
"You're never alone," Porrelth said. Magma burst behind the gateway. Lava rained down from above, splashing on Takabi's shoulders. He felt tears welling up in his eyes, a strong force holding him firmly in place. "Heed our words. No matter what, you shall never be alone, Takabi. Forever and always, we'll be watching over you."
"You've become such a fine young man." Syrreth smiled. "Please, do us one last favor. Like Garuga told you, be your best self. Live true to who you are."
"You…" His voice was lost. Takabi clenched his fists, tears flowing freely. "You're both… Unbelievable…"
"Promise us."
Sniffling, he shook his head, refusing to move.
Jade raised his gaze, Dreulara shaking more intensely. Rings of lava ripped through cracks in the concrete, black clouds swirling together overhead. Jade dashed at him, black surrounding his palm.
Syrreth reached out quickly, a hand of light soaring through the air and wrapping around his throat. With a cry, she pulled him back, Jade snarling madly. Porrelth pointed at Takabi, smiling proudly before stating, "Good luck, Kid." Flames shot out, striking the boy and forcing him through the gate.
Cool air washed over him, his tears flowing uncontrollably. He was in the Bunker's exit staircase. Rumbling shook the structure, and once he stood back up, a blinding light greeted his vision. Porrelth, Syrreth and Jade's bodies blackened from the gate's view, bending and twisting before simply withering away into nothing.
He dropped to his knees, eyes wide in shock. In pain and disbelief.
Just like that, it was all gone. Dreulara went up in a massive, blinding explosion. Within the stretching light, for a moment he saw their faces. Garuga, Jessica, Porrelth and Syrreth.
The four stood happy, proud and thankful of him. They nodded, bowed and turned, beginning to walk further into the light. Takabi reached out, his tears staining his cheeks wet, steam rising from the last of Porrelth's fire. His voice that was caught in his throat freed itself, full of pain and anguish. "Don't… Don't go… Please!" He yelled into the dimming light. "DON'T LEAVE ME! GARUGA! PORRELTH! SYRRETH!!"
His sobs echoed into the darkening space, stillness greeting the Bunker, as well as silence. His voice, broken and strained, echoed into the remnants of the Dragon Planet, Dreulara.