A bright flash of lightning dazed Light warriors, followed by intense electrical surges through their bodies. Organs became fried to a crisp as Jakery finished reemerging.
Off towards the distant homes, he realized Valentine was there. Watching a hysteric Hazen, who loomed over a corpse. Catching his attention.
In another bright flash, he traversed the distance. Making it right beside his Sherpa within seconds. Valentine glanced down at Jakery, keeping a slightly composed face on.
"What happened? Where is Gloria and why are you two out here... oh," Jakery turned his attention to Hazen. "Is that Trijunn? He - he's dead! Yes! This - this is great. Okay, but what happened to her?"
Hazen pressed her hand on her chest, before turning around. "He took his last risk. I need to go visit the Murmosa pack."
Jakery carefully made his way closer, understanding her situation along the way. He recognized why she was feeling this way, even was able to relate.
In response, Jakery place a hand on Hazen's shoulder. "You know. War fighting is easy, until you watch someone who was allied with you die so close. I understand that."
"What do you understand of anything?" Hazen began to tear up. "I saw my father die before my eyes, and saw one of your own elites basically killing himself just to end my father's killer."
"You're jumping too deep," Jakery softened his voice. "I never got to even understand what a father was, until Ether, my brother, taught me that fatherly love. Sometimes, he would even behave like my mother."
Hazen held her tears in. Pausing to hear what he was going to say. In a way, she understood those emotions. Her mother was absent for many long periods in her life.
"It may sound weird, and it is to some degree. But you have to understand one thing. Solice, my dad, I didn't know who he was because when he was alive, I was too young. I was a tiny little baby."
Jakery drifted his hand up to her face. "Life hasn't been easy on me, especially after I killed my first warrior. Dominatsu, I believe. Since then, my life has gone off track. But I can be a guide, your guide if you need it."
"Hizentre was my guide..." Hazen blankly stared at his hand. "I am lost. But will you be able to provide the same comfort?"
"You seem like a sweet one, of course. I learned well from my brother, I know how to take care of others. Valentine," Jakery called out. "Bring her to safety."
As Valentine carried out orders, he grinned. Life passes by most eyes at lightning fast speeds, catching many off guard. But to him, he was aware of this.
Every loss was required, especially for their nature. Gloria's end, Risk's end, both needed to happen. After all, it would have taken place later.
But now, he saw something new. From the conflict, Jakery began his ascent to the man Ether was shaping to be. And Hazen was taking her first steps out of Hizentre's shadow.
Two lost souls wandering together. Holding the other tight for comfort and guidance. That was Valentine's prediction.
While the duo retreated back to friendly faces, Jakery knew it wasn't completely safe. Not yet. Both of his daggers ignited in a neon blue, alerting him something was up.
Jakery took them out, seeing himself in the sparks. Arrows whizzed by overhead, raining down on Infinus. It was exactly what he needed to do.
Bright blues set the skies ablaze, torching every arrow before it could make contact. All archers watched, dumbfounded as their projectiles ceased to exist.
When they brought their attention back down, a merciless Jakery loomed over them. His helmet reflecting the utter fury of an Infinus leader.
"LIGHT LEGION!" his voice echoed. "HEED MY MERCY OR TASTE OBLIVION."
Out of panic, several archers reached down for a dagger to attack with. But before they could pull anything off, Jakery had already attacked.
One of his daggers pierced the chest of the closest archer, and the other one punctured the skull of the furthest one. On command, electrical currents charred their entire bodies.
Leaving behind their lifeless molds. After the fact, Jakery examined the archers. He realized just how brutal he was.
Many archers weren't attempting to fight back. And on some of those, portions of their bodies exploded. Covering their neighbors in their insides.
Jakery stumbled back, glaring down at his hands. "No... no - no. No way. E - Ether wouldn't have been like this. He - he would have given them an opportunity. Only taking out the bad ones. Yes. B - but I killed them."
Distant beastly screams caught his attention, bringing out his murderous heart again. In response, Jakery screamed back.
Breaking through reality in a flash of lighting, finding himself right on top of a Cemtras. It roared in rage as it pummeled everything around it to dust.
Its two hands closed, bringing them both down on a nearby allied Cemtras. Causing it to enrage and lose control of itself. Bringing the fight into an equal playing field.
Up there, Jakery examined the retreating Light forces. They stampeded away from the Infinus and enraged beasts. Hoping to stay safe in the inner heart of Vominchto.
But instead of letting them retreat, Jakery slammed down in the very center of the horde. Sending many flying into nearby walls or structures.
Causing more injuries and fear. His own confusion blinded him, making Jakery believe what he was about to do was what Ether would have done.
"LIGHT!" he screamed. "Bow, now! Do not run from me!"
Despite his wishes, some warriors caved into calamity. Bringing themselves to attack the attacker out of self-defense. Resulting in Jakery unleashing several dangerous volts of electricity through every surrounding Light warrior.
Once it was done, Jakery stumbled back. His heart continued to pound in his ears. Deafening the sound of Infinus splitting its forces to hold down the area.
"No... wait... why are you all dead?" Jakery asked to no one. "I thought I... please get up."
An Infinus warrior stopped beside Jakery. "Good job, Jakery. But hey, that was a bit too much. They were retreating."
Then they took off, helping the team set up for their defense. Leaving Jakery alone with his confusion. During that moment of isolation, he realized what was happening.
During his interaction with Hazen, it had awoken his confusion was again. He did not know what he wanted to be. Was he a Yonie or a trooper?
Strong belly or soft cheek? Would he kill with no reason or butcher with cause? Another way he thought of this was, would he be Demon or Ether?
His two family members that he grew up with. Both cared for him unconditionally. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he came down to a squat position.
Suth planted her axe next to Jakery, startling him. She sat there, motionless. Keeping her eyes off in the distance, wondering what was ahead of them?
"This section is ours. Our teams are splitting up, for now. I will be taking the eastern wall with a smaller battalion and hopefully meet up with Enoptes. Kellenas will be following behind."
Jakery struggled to speak. "Can I still be a kind heart if I kill?"
Suth looked down at her axe. "We have our reasons, Jakery. That's what matters here."
"What if confusion was my reason?" he replied.
"You're to blame," Suth answered in the most blunt way possible. "Was this the reason why they died? Because of your confusion?"
"I just want to be something when I grow up. Maybe I am not ready to be a full strength warrior. Maybe I am more fit for being a caretaker, instead," Jakery mumbled.
Suth got on one knee. "You belong out here in the fields with us. Your tiny little hands have to get dirty. If it isn't outside with a weapon, its inside with a partner. You get it?"
Jakery nodded. "Yeah. But how do I get a kind heart?"
"Multiple answers to that. As a Thawed, ascend Digon and ask for forgiveness. However, a Zegus would tell you to battle on. But a Thresher would hug you tight and adore you regardless," Suth answered.
"Now get up," Suth brought her hand down. "We are going to save your brother."