~ Ten thousand years ago, before the War of Magic ~
Meriel, Adramellech, Ramiel, and Kasiel entered the portal that the Fourth Guardian opened. It led them directly to the borders of the dimension called Nihil. From there, the angels followed the dark energy until it led them to a rift that connected to the Fifth Dimension. Once they found it, they all went through the rift. As soon as they were in that dimension, a terrifying sensation took hold of them.
Kasiel: What... Is... This?!
Adramellech: I have never felt anything like this!
Meriel: Where is it coming from?!
Ramiel: It's everywhere!
They couldn't see anything besides darkness. But they could feel a presence so evil it overwhelmed their senses completely.
Fourth Guardian: Ramiel? Kasiel? Meriel? Adramellech? What did you find?
They could communicate even being a great distance away from one another. But the Fourth Guardian got no reply. He feared the worst had happened.
He then sent a host of angels to contain whatever the other four encountered.
Fourth Guardian: Barachiel. Lead a host of our warriors to the site of the Fifth Dimension. The four that were sent earlier haven't reported back. I fear that the dark power that lies therein has destroyed them. Use maximum caution in this mission. I am counting on you.
Barachiel: Leave it to me!
Barachiel assembled five thousand angels and led them through the same portal the other four had gone through earlier. Once the rift connecting to the Fifth Dimension was within sight, they stopped and waited. Barachiel wanted to observe the situation before charging in. Three scouts were sent and ordered to report back within thirty minutes. Once the three entered, what seemed like a loud explosion was heard. One of the angels was shot out from the Fifth dimension at great speed. Barachiel caught him. When he checked him, he realized that he was already dead.
"The horror!"
"What do we do?"
"Will we stand for this? Let's avenge our fallen brother!"
A few of the angels present got impatient and decided to charge in, disobeying orders.
Barachiel: What are you doing?! Get back to your positions and await further instructions!
"While we wait here like cowards, the others are being murdered!"
"We are warriors of light! Nothing can stand against us!"
About 500 of them rushed into the Fifth Dimension. They were the bravest among the angelic warriors. As they crossed the threshold, nothing could be seen from the outside.
Barachiel: The rest of you, maintain your positions! – said Barachiel, upset because of the insubordination of a percentage of the angelic host.
Barachiel used a seeker spell, meaning he could know the location of someone and possibly see through their eyes. He could see with the eyes of one of the angels that went in. He could also hear what he heard. However, there was nothing to be seen but darkness. Endless, cold, isolating darkness, and a lingering all-encompassing evil presence... No... not just one... several evil presences... And they were getting closer... and closer...
Suddenly the sound of conflict erupted. A battle was taking place, but because of the darkness, it was impossible to see who or what the enemy was. Then things began to get confusing.
"You?! We thought the darkness slew you... What... What are you doing? Wait! Noooo!"
"What is happening? Who did you see?"
[CONSUME]
Barachiel: [Argh!] The link was broken! This means that the warrior whose eyes I was using is now dead.
The remaining number of the angelic host was uneasy and eager to go to battle. But Barachiel wanted to avoid leading them all to their deaths since they didn't know what they were up against.
Barachiel: Honorable Fourth Guardian.
Fourth Guardian: Report, Barachiel.
Barachiel: I have determined that entering this dimension of darkness is too dangerous. Several of the host did so in complete disregard of my instructions. They were all attacked by unknown beings that dwell in the darkness... it might have been the darkness itself that attacked them! One of them was shot out of the outskirts of this dimension dead. I can only assume that the others inside have found a similar fate.
Fourth Guardian: Barachiel. The darkness from that dimension is spreading at an increasingly rapid rate. I need not tell you how alarming this is. You must put an end to it.
Barachiel: But... honorable Fourth Guardian…
Fourth Guardian: Listen to me, hosts of Uranos. I, the Fourth Guardian, exercise divine authority. Go into the Fifth dimension and put an end to whatever you find to be the source of this dark power!
All the angelic host that was on standby charged into the darkness. Barachiel also went in reluctantly, believing it to be a huge mistake. And he was right. It was.
As they charged into the darkness of the Fifth Dimension, most of the angels were incapacitated. The overwhelming sensation of great evil simply took over them. Some of the angels were fighting against an enemy that most weren't able to see. The darkness in that place was so dense you could almost feel it. A familiar voice suddenly recited an unknown enchantment. He finished by saying
"END OF DAYS"
"Barachiel"
"Barachiel!"
"Wake up!"
"What should we do now?"
Barachiel: What… happened?
Barachiel and a minimal number of the angel warriors were in Nihil. They could see the rift connecting to the Fifth dimension expanding, growing larger and larger by the minute.
Angelic Host Officer: There was a powerful shockwave. Only about fifty of us made it out. We don't know what happened to the others. We cannot do battle in there. It is a place where fear becomes palpable and evil reigns supreme... a place of complete and utter darkness... a Dark Dimension.
Barachiel: Let us return to Uranos. I must speak with the Fourth Guardian personally…
~ Present-day ~
After the bright light shined, Legend, Richard, Rachel, Nimrod, and Meg opened their eyes. They were on the ground in the Arkana. All of them at the foot of the mountain range that protected Moriah... what was left of the mountain range anyway...
Rachel: We were... in the Nightmare dimension... We were trapped in a terrible Nightmare!
Richard: Rachel? Rachel! – Richard was crying and went to hug his sister.
Richard: I'm so sorry, Rache! I couldn't find you!
Rachel: Richard... It wasn't real. Whatever you saw in there... That was the lord of nightmares toying with you... With all of us!
Relm: I like that name... Lord of nightmares... It has a nice ring to it!
All the heroes were feeling drained from the intense mental anguish the nightmare had caused them. But aside from Meg, Rachel seemed to be the only one aware of what had truly happened.
Meg: Guys! The enemy is in front of you! Don't let your guard down!
Legend, Nimrod, and Richard were affected the most by the nightmare. It didn't look like they had the will or strength to fight.
Meg: {This isn't good! It looks like the nightmare got to them! If things continue like this…}
Relm: Well, I realized something quite interesting in there... So... I guess I should deal with you first!
He was referring to Meg. He learned Meg's true identity: someone from the angel race. He decided to send him to another dimension so he wouldn't intervene again.
Relm: BE GONE!
A portal was opened right above Meg and vacuumed him in. While he was being sucked in, he yelled
Meg: Legend! I believe in you!
Legend: Meg! MEG!!!!!!
Legend finally snapped out of his languished state.
Legend: You fiend! What did you do to him?!
Relm: I sent him to another dimension where he wouldn't interrupt me again. That tricky little bastard... if he hadn't saved you all, I would have been able to devour your souls quite quickly!
Rachel: Meg saved us from the Nightmare dimension? But... How?
Relm: You obviously have no idea who he is...
Legend: He's our friend! And I won't forgive you for hurting him!
Legend held the Sword of Light with both hands. The blade of light was formed, sensing Legend's will to fight for justice. Rachel stood next to him with the staff of Zoe. Both weapons seemed to be resonating with each other.
Rachel: I won't allow you to fulfill your deranged objectives… I too will fight… to protect the Arkana! To protect my friends!
Nimrod: I don't know what the heck I just went through... But if that bastard made me live through the most scaring moment in my life again... and twisted the memory of my beloved family... I SAY WE KILL HIM RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!
Richard: I have been mostly a burden as of late. But as a Holy knight from a noble house, I will not stand idly by as the ones I care about risk their lives for honor and justice. I shall risk my life as well. My sword is with my friends! For justice!
Relm: Alright then. Come at me!
And so they began their attack. Rachel cast Wall on all four of them, and Nimrod flew at Relm for a charge attack.
Relm: Boring... So predictable! – Relm made a portal right in front of him, so Nimrod flew into it and came out in front of Legend, knocking him down.
Nimrod: What a cheap trick!
Legend: That hurt!
Nimrod: It wasn't my fault, kid! Come on! We're just getting started!
Richard moved in as if he was going to attack with his sword but ultimately used a flying kick instead. He managed to hit him.
Relm: I applaud the initiative, really.
Legend jumped from behind Richard with a surprise slash, but Relm dodged it.
Relm: {I can't let him touch me with that thing... It would be bad news...} Ok. It was fun while it lasted. I'm done playing games.
Rachel: So am I – Rachel had spent all this time channeling for a big attack spell...
HOLY!
Relm: REFLECT (*A spell that made most magic bounce off, reflecting to the attacker*)
The spell reflected at Rachel, hitting her in full power. Since the power behind the magic was enhanced by the Staff of Zoe, she didn't survive.
Richard: RACHEL!!!! Noooooo!!!
Nimrod: YOU BASTARD!!!!!
Legend: Rachel!!!
Rachel's death shook everyone. But to their surprise, the Staff she had in her hand started glowing, and a star-shaped light came down from the sky and landed on Rachel. Rachel got straight back up as if nothing had happened. This was the grace of the Staff… Life (if the bearer were killed in battle, they would be brought back to life if in proximity to the staff).
Richard: Rachel! I thought you were dead… we all did…
Rachel: I think I did die… but the staff's power brought me back...
Relm: Interesting power. How fortunate for you.
Rachel was with all her stamina and strength. She attacked Relm with a different kind of magic.
Rachel: Deep power within… born from the light of innocence. Come forth to bring evil-doers to a halt!
Offensive Light Spheres! (* a white magic spell that could only be described as an innate magical ability. It attacked opponents with spheres or bubbles of light that were quite explosive against beings of darkness*)
The spheres started hitting Relm when he expected them to be reflected at Rachel. He was not happy about that surprise. He was still with that deranged smirk on his face, though.
Richard caught him distracted by Rachel's spell and got a good clean attack. His slash attack cut Relm's left arm off.
Nimrod: Way to go, Sir tin-man!
Relm: I guess I should take this seriously, shouldn't I?
Relm's severed left arm gave Richard an uppercut, knocking him down. He dropped his sword and fell to the ground on his back. Relm's severed arm then picked up the sword he dropped, went high up in the air, and then dropped with lightning speed cutting Richard in half.
Legend: Noooooooo!
Rachel: RICHARD!!!!!!
Nimrod: Damn it!
Rachel started channeling for the casting of the spell called Life to save him, but Relm realized what she was doing.
Relm: It's not going to be that easy, child...
He snapped his fingers, and Rachel became a pig.
Nimrod: Rachel!
Nimrod was heading towards her, but then Relm looked at him and cast STONE. He was petrified from head to toe in an instant. He fell to the ground getting a few cracks in the process. And so, in only a few minutes, all the heroes were taken out. Only Legend was left.
Relm: It's time to finish this. I have humanity to enslave and whatnot. How about I use the same skill I used earlier when you thought I was saving you?! That would be so ironic, wouldn't you agree?
Legend was scared. He knew that if he were defeated there, it would likely mean the end of humanity in the Arkana. He wished they could have been more aware of the situation from the get-go and not been deceived by the nightmare...
Meanwhile, Relm was channeling for his extremely destructive attack: Oblivion Blast.
Legend: {It can't end like this... I need another chance!}
Relm: Unlimited power that dwells within... Channel your infinite energy through this rod to bring forth ruin!
Legend: {We need another chance! Richard... Rachel... Nimrod... Meg! We weren't ready for this... We weren't prepared to face HIM!}
Relm: OBLIVION... BLAST!!!
The massive beam of energy was shot from the Omega Rod. It disintegrated Richard's two halves. Pulverized Nimrod's statue. It obliterated pig Rachel. At the rate it was going, it would destroy Legend and the entire kingdom of Moriah behind him.
Legend's fear was great. But his will to make things right was greater. The Sword of Light responded to that will. As the blast was about to hit Legend, who was uttering a battle cry earnestly with the sword in his hands, something strange began to occur. The beam of energy started going backward instead of forward. It looked like time was rewinding itself.
It was precisely that. Time was indeed rewinding itself. Legend was seeing all this unfold. He had activated the sword's grace Time-walker, which allowed the sword-bearer to alter the flow of time. He wasn't entirely sure how he did it, but it may have just turned the entire situation around for the heroes.
And so, time rewound itself until it stopped. And suddenly, time was flowing again. It started flowing when they were trapped in the Nightmare dimension. Legend had to relive the nightmare once again...