While Verick struggled against the siblings, Kas slowly backed away from the arena. Bright yellows flashed their threatening presence across the seats.
From the molten sea of dying warriors, a warrior emerges. His entire being remade with the sole purpose of resistance.
Ether reached for the walls, grabbing onto them as they slowly were consumed by the molten sand. He pulled himself up to the seats, where warriors backed away from him.
"You're a sweet little heart, Shora," Tellendor commented. "Will you commune with the Zegus and throw the Yonie back into its cage?"
Without a second heartbeat, Ether drove Tellendor's tip straight into the stone stairs. By birthright, he was a warrior made to succeed far beyond Solice's control. Starting with this.
Fiery wings engulfed his back, casting his front in the shade. Tellendor burned bright in his hands, and by the thought of it, he took off.
Kas growled, keeping his eyes on the somehow alive Ether. Maybe it was true, he thought. Maybe - just maybe, the Undying Revenge wasn't a title, but a warning.
No matter how many times he was killed in the past, he was still alive. Stomach rumbling with hunger as his victim was near.
Ether descended from the skies with a burning fire that bellowed like a dying beast. Beckoning the sound of burning warriors with its every crackle.
It was his fury - his pain. He lost a home, once. Stumbled through the darkness until he found a path. Down that same path he found Pearl, which led him to Orako. And now, he rests unsure of their fates.
Tough armor melted into molten metals as their users dropped to the ground. Dying without a sound, yet screaming in agony.
Deep beneath his visors, Ether was crying uncontrollably. Tears poured out of his eyes as he ascended then descended, brutally killing fleeing warriors by the dozens.
With every move, he remembered they were no different from him. But that didn't make him cry, it was something else. What made him cry was their involvement with a personal battle.
"Such a sweet little one, yet you hold a mean body. You can do more than just slam onto the ground, Ether," Tellendor spoke through the flames. "Experiment with yourself."
Like he was told, Ether dashed so fast through warriors, they exploded. Instead of gore coating the seats, it was black ash. Burning them instantly, so they would have an easy death.
"ENOUGH!" Kas yelled. "You really are the Undying Revenge so many feared you to be."
Ether ascended over him. "All I wanted to do was to live inside this Legion! You denied me that wish. Forced me and my siblings into exile and now we stand inside your Legion's corpse. Why? WHY?!"
"I don't need to answer you. What do you want, paranormal thing? You have already taken over half my forces and land. Alise is in retreat and my family is frightened. What more do you want?!?" Kas yelled back.
"For a normal life. I want a normal life with my family, Kas. You never saw me as an equal. But have you taken the time to realize I have a family, too? Have you?" Ether's voice trailed off.
Kas swallowed, realizing just what he meant by that. Despite the amount of pain he was put through, Ether still struggled through it. No matter how great it was.
Even through the scarce hospitality of his captors, Ether still saw one light: his family. The young Thawed he had offered himself for, the one who betrayed Kas.
Up until now, Kas believed the new generation of Coros members were all bloodthirsty, motivated for the fight. Just like Solice, Dinem, and Trin. Completely forgetting about their Yonie sides.
"Tell me, can you give me that normal life I crave?!?" Ether asked in tears. "Th - that's all I want... to live in peace with my Pearl and my little Orako. But you - you wanted to kill me. Now here I am. Killing your people because you won't face me."
"No," Kas admitted. "I am a father myself... come down, let's put an end to our conflict for good."
Ether calmly lowered himself from the skies, sparks died out as he softly landed on his feet. The crying turned into weeping. The end of this journey was in sight.
Upon examining each other for a brief moment, Ether charged forward. Flames engulfed his body as he dashed through the stairs in a blind fury.
Kas caught him by the neck before he could make contact, then he spun around and tossed Ether against the nearby walls. They fractured as Ether struggled to brush the daze off himself.
Before he could completely recover, Kas dashed up with a hot knee. He drove it straight into Ether's skull, breaking the entire wall behind him.
The Zesher collapsed to the other side, where he realized just how far Infinus has come. After the debris settled, Ether heard the sounds of overhead Weavers raining down.
Warriors, both Infinus and Light, carelessly roamed the streets with their parties. Striking each other down, while arrows dawned the sky. Which took flight beside Sky Beasts.
Right as he began to get up, Kas picked him up and prepared to bring him down again. But Ether used the wings to bring them both off the ground. Once Kas was off the floor, he let go.
Causing the leader to fall onto the dusty roads with a frightened Zesher right on top of him. Ether quickly reached down for his arms, hoping to break one before he could recover.
But Kas kicked him off. Striking him right against the chest. He got on his knees, then charged towards Ether. Catching him off guard, allowing Kas to throw him over his head.
Ether landed behind him. The impact lingered in his bones. Like a downed firefly, Ether was bright but unable to continue. Yet he remembered Pearl, how much he cared about her.
Bright embers raged on like wildfire inside his heart, carrying him up from his rest. Ether brought a powerful strike with his forearm up to Kas' face.
Giving him enough time to follow up with a powerful knee straight to the gut. This one Kas felt. It lingered inside his core for a while after.
Through teary eyes, Ether saw himself retreat, then charge at full force. Hoping to bring the leader with him overhead. Only to feel Kas wrapping his hand over his head.
Adrenaline pumped Kas full, it was his extincts telling him this was not a normal match up. He was not in the upper hand, but he was facing an equal. Motivating him to quickly tug on his skull.
"AH!" Ether screamed in pain.
He felt the blinding pain tightening around his neck as he got yanked straight into a knee. Kas let go, then brought down a closed fist to the back of his head.
Ether fell to one knee, putting him in the perfect position to utilize Code of the Faceless. Kas spun around the downed Zesher, grabbing onto one arm.
With a swift pull and strike, it snapped like a twig. Causing Ether to scream out in pain. It was unbelievable how much it hurt. This kind of pain - it was something new.
Kas then fastened his arms around Ether's neck, blocking out the oxygen flow. Once he was secure, he tightened them like a snake latching onto its prey.
"Just die," Kas grunted. "Do us all a favor and die!"
Through all the pain, Tellendor spoke to Ether. "You do not cave in so easily, do you? Who even are you? Shora or Ether? Sometimes I can't tell who my own son is."
As Tellendor spoke to him, Kas wondered why Ether still had so much fight left in him. Using his other arm, he continued to claw and struggle.
Kicking his body around like a wounded animal trying to flee from a trap. Which only made it more difficult for Kas to handle this situation.
"Die, please. You don't have to keep on fighting, you have proven yourself. Ether, please die!" Kas howled.
But Ether refused. He continued to fight on. Struggling to break free from the hold Kas put him in. Which concerned Kas.
He was believing this 'Undying Revenge' was truly paranormal. Something far greater than he had hoped to fight.
Eventually, Ether stopped fighting. His struggling dwindled out like a dying flame. Along with his abilities. However, Tellendor's voice got louder.
"No, not my poor - poor Shora. Get up, sweety. Let me heal your wounds -"
Kas let go, stumbling back in disgust. Despite how battle-hardened he was, Kas never believed he was going to face off against someone this unrelenting.
A nearby warrior caught his attention. The figure watched in satisfaction as his rival rested lifelessly beside the leader.
"Is the little critter dead?" Talis commented.
"Listen to me, boy. Keep an eye on this thing for me. I have to go find my family before he raises up again. I need to see my daughter one last time," Kas ordered.
Talis shrugged, seeming confused by what he meant. "Sure, go for it. I guess. I'll keep an eye on my good ol' submissive pal, here."
Kas nodded in disgust. "Yeah, you do you, kid. Listen, do not treat this little one like a toy. He can fight, that's all that matters with him."
"Don't worry. I've fought him in the past. I know his tropes. Just let me handle him, if he 'comes back', of course!" Talis joked.
Without another word, Kas ran off towards the outskirts of the city. Hoping to find his family before anyone could get to them.