Kas' broad figure proudly edged itself over Jakery. Casting the shadow of a giant over the feeble frame of his opposer. Rage built in his heart, twisting and seething with anger by the minute.
"Your lineage has caused nothing but trouble to the Legion, little pawn. This is proof of it," Kas' voice thundered.
Jakery lowered his stance, shifting his daggers along the palms of his hands. "We were nothing but loyal, only to be betrayed. Ask yourself who attacked who?"
Hearing the little critter speak disgusted him. Lesser creatures should not be allowed enough knowledge to speak the same languages as smarter creations.
In a heartbeat, Kas dashed towards Jakery. His speed caught the weaker Variant by surprise. Just as Jakery tried to step away, Kas grabbed him by a horn. Then he tore the helmet off.
Exposing the frightened face of a young combatant. He stared at Kas, heart pumping out of his chest. A knot tied up his throat while the much stronger Variant pummeled his head with his own helmet.
The horn broke from the sheer force. A sickening crunching sound overshadowed the distant melodies of crackling flames and dying breathes.
Grass and dirt parted as Jakery tumbled across the field. His body seemed like a little toy meant to amuse Kas. Except he was no toy, and Kas was keen on his death.
Upon reaching a swift stop, Jakery laid face down. Grass covered his face from the outside world. Hiding the fact tears were quickly flowing out of his eyes like cascades.
But his cries didn't go unheard. Kas examined his posture, body movement, and the faint cries.
That attack hurt, a lot. But it wasn't because it was a basic attack, but because Kas shattered Jakery's entire face.
The feeling of blood oozing out of his nose while the deep, unshakable feeling of broken shards of his skull sliding past each other injured him even more.
Kas brought a foot down on Jakery's back. Now pinned against the floor, seriously injured, and panicking, Jakery understood it was time to take from his lessons.
Electric pulses destroyed his body. Causing Kas' foot to stomp on nothing. From the clear skies above, a desperate sibling looked down at the battlefield.
Tears continued to pour out of his eyes. It burned, but he couldn't help it. That pain forced him to cry and start the cycle from the beginning.
Jakery forced himself to fight. Three electrical spheres rained down from his hand. They danced around each other as they fell to meet their target with force and fury.
All while Kas looked up, unimpressed by Jakery's attempt at survival. Thunder and desperation stormed towards him at blinding speeds until they met.
Explosions rocked the entire arena while electrical pulses savaged Kas' armor and body. Burning everything to a fine crisp, ready for a bigger predator to consume.
Smoke and surges settled, allowing Jakery to witness his actions firsthand. What he saw demoralized him.
Right where the explosions went off, right where his killing blow was supposed to be, was Kas. Still standing, shoulders wider than normal and chest proudly pumped out.
He seemed unphased by the attack. As if he experienced it before. Despite how much effort Jakery put into that attack, it only merely entertained him.
Lightning engulfed his frail frame. He burned to bright that the world around him got darker. Leaving him as the only source of light. Energy pumped through his entire body as his Third Rule gave it its best.
After embracing for the dangerous move, Jakery descended from the skies. Two balled up fists, one behind the other, waiting for their victim, stood over his head.
Kas waited for Jakery's attack. Two rough eyes stared up at the incoming storm, winds of war kicked up in his mind while his body toughened up into a mighty fortress. One no storm could penetrate.
Something Jakery found out upon impact. His hands slammed onto Kas' head. Several thousand watts of electricity flowed from his hand onto his target. Only to be shrugged off.
"Pitiful little creature. I have earned the right to shape Koroth as I deem fit. So I refuse to leave my daughter without a daddy and wife without a husband. However, I refuse to let your lineage continue," Kas threatened.
Jakery stumbled back, startled by Kas' sharp words. He felt fear take its toll in his mind. Plans of escaping and survival went all over the place.
This wasn't normal fear, this was Jakery feeling terrified for his life. Kas wasn't like a Light Legion warrior or elite. He was so much more. So much more lethal and potent.
Before Jakery could get away, Kas grabbed his wrist. He kicked Jakery away, resulting in his entire arm getting torn off his body.
A sense of warmth. Blood going where it's not supposed to. The type of warmth to comfort someone in their final moments as they waited for existence to fade away.
Kas instinctively spun around, arm still in hand. When he reached his full spin, he beat Jakery over his head with it. Momentum boosted the energy, making Jakery's existence torture.
He wanted to die on the spot. Everything was pain. His head was hurting, life fading, and energy draining.
Before he collapsed to the ground, Kas grabbed Jakery by his armor's collar. "Are you a hero? Are you a villain? In the middle, perhaps? I want you to think of that as your life fades away... little critter."
With that, Jakery fell to the ground. Blood rushed out of his open wounds like a running stream of water.
Cold mixed with warmth. Everything felt numb. Time ceased. Breathing got harder by the second. Until he stopped.
Not long after. Jakery found himself somewhere different. A smooth breeze woke him up. The comforting feeling of a new home. One without any threats.
Grass moved accordingly to the gentle winds as the distant sun painted the valley pink. This place seemed foreign to him. As if it was somewhere he has never been to before, but at the same time he was there before.
It was odd. A strange feeling. The type one would get if they had a dream and somehow relived it in real life.
He turned around to get a better view of the world around him. When he did, he saw something that broke his heart.
Off in the distance, a lonely tree sat under the vibrant skies. The branches upheld leaves and apples. While three figures rested below.
Upon getting a closer look. Jakery realized who they were. It was Ether with his arms opened, allowing a younger version of himself and Demon in for a hug as they fell asleep.
They slept in each other's grasp. Their perfect harmony and tranquility reflected the mood of the environment.
"Oh, my. Young Jakery, are you alright? You seemed startled by something," a sugar sweet voice asked him.
Two arms wrapped around him, lifting him up into a soothing, motherly hug. He hasn't felt such warm embrace in years. Because there was no better hugs than those from his mother.
"L - Lya? Is that... is that you?" He asked, throat started to tie up.
She held her young in her arms. "Of course, little one. I missed you so much. Between you and me, you are my favorite. So soft and lovable, and at times innocent. A charm your brother's have lost."
Jakery began tearing up. "M - mom... where have you gone? Are you still alive in the real world?? Come back to me, please."
Lya softly giggled. "Am I alive? Yes, but maybe not in the same way as you. An entity called me and promised me to see my little boy, all grown up with his own Third Rule."
"D - does that mean... we can live together? Like... in the old days? I can help you cook, like how we used to."
"Silly, Jakery. You are so innocent. But times changed. And I see you have too. You're not so small and soft. I remember holding you in my arms for the first time. Your soft Yonie skin tried to find comfort inside my palm," Lya commented.
She held Jakery tighter. "But now you are reaching my size. Tell me how your brothers have been?"
Before Jakery could respond, a distant rumble caught their attention. The world went still, waiting for it to cease. When it did, everything seemed to have gone... sour.
"What was that?" He asked, nervousness in his voice.
Lya placed her son down. "I am afraid my time with you is up. But know, I will be watching you. I am your guardian, since the day you were born. Goodbye, I love you."
"I love you too, mom..." Jakery began tearing up.
An angelical glow started consuming her. She softly smiled at her son once last time. It was so long ago since she held him in her grasp. This felt special to them both. It was them meeting for the first time in a long time.
The emotions overtook Lya, she came down for one final hug. Her arms encased Jakery in a loving grip that felt like an upgrade to Ether's Yonie grasp. Tears rolled down her eyes to drip onto his hair.
And Jakery cried. Tears rolled down his eyes. He opened them to gaze upon his mother's face one final time. That's when he realized something was off.
Instead of Lya, Ether held him in a tight hug. Desperation and intense stress messed up his face.
"D - Demon, thank you so much... but just to confirm. This is the original Jakery, right?" Oria's voice asked in the background.
Ether looked down at Jakery. "You might be confused, and I am too. But I'll try my best to explain what just happened."