Chereads / Legend Of The Jo-lan / Chapter 61 - EPISODE 59; MY KIN, MY FAMILY PART II: HUMANITY’S ULTIMATE NIGHTMARE; TRIALS OF THE HUMAN DREAMWEAVER; JUST ZAN NIGHTBANE PART I

Chapter 61 - EPISODE 59; MY KIN, MY FAMILY PART II: HUMANITY’S ULTIMATE NIGHTMARE; TRIALS OF THE HUMAN DREAMWEAVER; JUST ZAN NIGHTBANE PART I

THE HUMAN DREAMWEAVER AND THE STONE OF TRUTH VS THE DEPLORABLE DREAM AND THE SOUL OF LIES; MY KIN, MY FAMILY PART II: HUMANITY'S ULTIMATE NIGHTMARE; TRIALS OF THE HUMAN DREAMWEAVER; JUST ZAN NIGHTBANE

Zan, Ayumi, Face and Victoria stood in the hall of the Kirisawa Residence.

"Are they okay?" Zan asked Ayumi.

She had done her best to treat Ai and Mr Kirisawa's wounds. Victoria and Face helped. Zan just watched them since he wasn't sure of how he could help.

"Luckily, their injuries aren't serious. They just need some rest" Ayumi said.

"We can't just leave them here alone" Victoria said worriedly.

Suddenly, Zan, Ayumi, Face and Victoria heard the sound of electricity surging and Fenrir suddenly appeared and swung his blade aiming for a strike at Zan.

In a flash, the Luminares was out to shield Fenrir's strike. He smirked at Zan and praised him.

"Not half bad" he said. "Anyone that has the power to block a stealthy attack from me probably stands a chance against Zanfar" Fenrir said as he sheathed his blade. "Go Dreamweaver! I'll have Arlene take care of the rest of their wounds. You two should escort them. I think it best for you to conserve your energy for now" he said.

"Why are you letting us go?" Ayumi asked Fenrir.

"The sins of our generation was great. Because of our stubbornness, many good people have died. I don't believe we have the strength of heart to confront Zanfar. But you kids, you're amazing. You've achieved more than we could hope for. You defied us and protected the Dreamweaver! You defeated the souls of evil together and your love was strong enough to overpower the trials fate placed in your path! If there is a human in this world whose love rivals that of the Princess Of Dreams…it's you Zan, her only son. I'll believe in you like I did nineteen years ago. I too will wield my sword for your sake. Go Dreamweaver! Protect the Dreams Of Humanity!" Fenrir said.

Zan nodded and raised his sigil.

"Face, Victoria, I have an important task for you. It's the last thing I'll ever ask of you and you are the only ones I'll have carry it out" Zan said seriously.

"Ask us anything" Face said.

Zan smiled.

"Stay in the Real World and protect it from any form of Nightmare that breaches the Mirror Gate" Zan said.

"Of course! We'll take care of it! Leave this to us! Just worry about Zanfar!" Face declared.

Zan could tell that Face had absolute faith in his words.

"I'm coming with you regardless of what you say so don't you dare tell me to stay behind too" Ayumi said seriously.

Zan saw the determination in her eyes.

"Let's go Ayu" Zan said.

She seemed surprised at first but she smiled as soon as she grasped understanding of what Zan had just said.

"As faithful knights of the Dream King we call on thee Eternal Mirror Gate! Let us through into thine Kingdom Of Dreams!" Ayumi and Zan called together and in a flash of brilliant light, they were transported to the Dream World.

When they opened their eyes, they found themselves in a barren wasteland.

"Where are we?" Zan asked Ayumi.

Ayumi looked around and turned to face Zan grimly.

"It's the Wastelands Of The Forsaken. This is the place the Dream King was last rumoured to have been seen. To tell the truth, now that I think about it. It was rather strange that none of the higher ups questioned his disappearance. Chances are, the Dream King hasn't been in the Castle Of Dreams these last twenty years. How much of the true story has been distorted by the Chancellor? This is coincidentally the place where those Nightmares closest to Zanfar reside" Ayumi explained.

"TCH! Leave it to the Mirror Gate to alter our destination. I'm starting to believe it sends us more to where we need to be than where we want to be" Zan complained.

No sooner had the words escaped Zan's lips than they heard the sound of approaching hooves.

"Oh no! I hope it's not them. Anything but my father's horses!" Zan cowered in fear.

"It's not horses. Even in the Realm Of Nightmares, there are boundaries. The Nightmare King is not foolhardy enough to invade territory belonging to Zanfar. He may ride Jumen Orkan or Omnicron but Zanfar has his own riders; the wraiths and Giga-Wraiths and they also ride Omnicron!" Ayumi roared.

True to her words, they found themselves besieged by nine Omnicron. Great black horses with blazing red eyes and legs covered with armoured bones which were rumoured to be the bones of all the warriors they had trampled on. On their backs rode great terrifying apparitions clothed in dark fearful armour. They all wore hoods but their blazing red eyes and the great fearfulness emanating from them were enough to keep anyone frozen in their attempt to assault them. To make matters worse, they all held great swords in their right hands. With their left hands, they controlled the Omnicron by manipulating their reins. Even Ayumi was a little scared.

"What a terrifying combination! Giga wraiths riding atop Omnicrons! Zan, be careful!" Ayumi warned Zan.

"What's wrong Ayu?!" Zan asked her starting to feel scared himself.

"These are not your average Nightmares. The warriors riding atop the Omnicrons have the power to suck the strength of their adversaries. They also have the power to unleash the Omnicron's latent abilities!" Ayumi warned Zan.

At that moment, the Giga-Wraiths pulled on the reins of the Omnicron and the Omnicron gave a chorus of terrifying neighs. The sound of their neighs were so powerful, they seemed to tear sound itself apart from reality. Zan and Ayumi began to feel a sinister aura emanating from the Omnicron.

"Here they come!" Ayumi exclaimed.

A moment later, the Omnicron charged on them. Attempting to run from the Omnicron would have been foolish. They could only hope to defend themselves from the Omnicron or fight back. They also had to prevent being cornered or surrounded. They fought against the Omnicron's attempts to trample them as though they were clashing swords against swords and Zan began to realize a fundamental but harsh reality to this side of dreams. That if he could not break the feet of Omnicron which were subjects of Zanfar, how then could he break Zanfar who was their overlord.

Fortunately, it only appeared as though the Omnicron were testing Zan and Ayumi's strength. They seemed amused at the fact that Zan and Ayumi were able to shield themselves from their charge by deflecting their terrible kicks with their blades so they circled around and faced them.

The Giga-Wraiths pulled on their reins a second time and the tremendous sinister aura could be felt again. This time, the Omnicron opened their mouths and it seemed to Zan like they were gathering energy particles from the atmosphere.

"ZAN! GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Ayumi screamed and pushed Zan out of the way.

No sooner had she done that than terrible red flames; a physical manifestation of curses came out of the mouths of the Omnicron and narrowly missed them.

"Zan! Are you alright?" Ayumi asked him.

She had felt their ill intent even before Zan could perceive it and was vigilantly preparing herself to shield them from the attack if need be. She had saved both their lives.

"Just a little stunned, that's all. Are you hurt?" Zan asked her.

She shook her head. Zan stood up and helped her to her feet.

"We can't just stand here and anticipate their attacks. If we don't attack, it's just a matter of time before they get in an effective hit" Zan suggested.

"I am Prince Ayzan Nightbane!" Zan called. "And I am Ayumi Kirisawa, true heiress to the House Of The Kirisawa bloodline!" Ayumi called. "In our time of need do we call upon thee, the Flaming Star, Heavenly Lights; reveal thine form; Pyrostellis Luminares!" Zan and Ayumi called to their swords.

The Pyrostellis Luminares appeared in their hands as they did before; Luminares made out of Light in Zan's hands and the Pyrostellis made out of flaming stars in the hands of Ayumi.

"Let's attack them!" Zan declared and took the lead.

Ayumi followed close behind him and they charged on the Omnicron and Giga-wraiths. A bit of a foolish plan to charge on horses and their riders from the front but when you were faced with an enemy which could easily outrun you, there really was nowhere to go. You had to keep them within your line of sight for defense or a counteroffensive. Ayumi and Zan had begun to discover that her Pyrogeysers and Zan's Silver Dream were not completely lost either. There were times they appeared when they called out to them and they were the tools they used to fend off the earlier attack. Since the Pyrostellis Luminares consumed a lot of mental energy to keep in use, they decided on a way to deal with that. When their initial weapons appeared, they'd use them instead and if they didn't, they'd use the Pyrostellis Luminares. But when the Pyrostellis Luminares ran out of energy, they more often than not reverted to their initial weapons. Even the Pyrostellis Luminares were not enough to cut through the bones of the Omnicron. It appeared to be an established fact that no weapons could cut through them.

So Zan and Ayumi altered their tactics. They decided to try out an energy based attack instead.

"Too weak! Your attacks are too weak!" the Giga-Wraiths said and swung their blades at Zan and Ayumi.

They evaded the attacks of the Giga-wraiths with little difficulty since they now knew what to expect.

"Our attacks don't penetrate the armour of the Omnicron" Zan said.

"Now, it's our turn to attack!" the Giga-Wraiths roared and pulled the reins of the Omnicron.

The Omnicron gave terrible neighs and Zan felt a terrible bloodlust. The Omnicron opened their mouths once more and Zan and Ayumi knew an energy attack was headed their way. It was so concentrated in power that it was dark in appearance; unlike the initial crimson like energy they shot out.

This time, it was Zan's turn to save Ayumi's life from the massive streams of black flames. Their attacks blasted a rock behind them. So massive was the shockwave that they were knocked quite a distance. Zan succeeded in shielding Ayumi from both the flames and the shockwave but he wasn't doing so well. He could feel a warm liquid oozing down his forehead. He didn't need Ayumi to tell him for him to know he was bleeding.

"Ayu, are you okay?" Zan asked her.

She shook her head as though she was trying to overcome the shock.

"I'm fine but…you're hurt" Ayumi said as she touched his head.

Zan's blood covered her hand.

Ayumi tore off her sleeve and tied it around his wound.

"Now is not the time to worry about that. Ayumi, let's use the Dual Luminous Blaze now" Zan suggested.

"We might have to wait for the right moment. I bet they're going to use a more powerful breath attack next. Listen Zan…" Ayumi whispered to him.

"That's an interesting plan! You're a genius!" Zan praised her.

"But if we fail, the backlash will be severe" Ayumi said. "And we can't waste our energy here. We might still have Zanfar to face. Perhaps it was fortunate that the Eternal Mirror Gate brought us so close to him".

"I don't know what you're planning Dream Knight and Dreamweaver however, your attacks will be futile. The bones of the Omnicron can absorb energy attacks too" one of the Giga Wraiths said.

"Ack! He can speak!" Zan exclaimed in shock.

"I'm more surprised by the fact that they are intelligent" Ayumi teased.

"Well, if you're that sure, could you just stand there peacefully and take an energy shot from us. If it doesn't actually work, we might consider giving up. There is nothing to fall for if there's no chance of losing for you" Zan said with a smirk.

"Well then, you can test the futility of your…" he was saying when Ayumi and Zan charged up the Dual Luminous Blaze.

They shot it at the Omnicron and Giga Wraiths but just before their technique hit them, the bones of the Omnicron on their legs spread out to protect them. Their technique was effective enough to take out three of the Omnicron and Giga-wraiths much to their dismay. Six of them now remained.

"What?! It didn't work!" Zan exclaimed in shock.

"It did work. We got rid of three of them" Ayumi informed him.

"Those were used as defensive shields. Your attack is powerful but it won't work twice!" the Giga-Wraiths said and charged towards Zan and Ayumi with their Omnicron.

Ayumi and Zan leapt out of their line of attack and attempted a counter attack but it only breached the Omnicron's armour by a few centimetres!

"Ayumi, can you think of any ways to defeat them?" Zan asked her.

"I have just one more idea" Ayumi said as she called Zan close and whispered the plan to him.

"Ayu! You're brilliant!" Zan praised her.

"Don't praise me yet. The backlash will be severe if we fail" she said grimly.

Zan gulped and stared at her, and then he stared at the Omnicron.

The Giga-wraiths laughed at them in amusement.

"We are impressed. You actually managed to survive two energy attacks from us. The previous attack, we named the Hellfire technique. If you can survive our next attack, there is no reason, you can't go through us" they mocked Zan and Ayumi. "We call it the Reins Of Synchronized Hellfire!" the Giga-Wraiths said as they all pulled on their reins at the same time.

All the Omnicron neighed in anger. So loudly it was almost as though they were roaring. Then they opened their mouths and Zan saw energy as crimson as blood and black as darkness itself gather around their mouths. The energy came together as a ball focused in one place, then overcompressed.

Ayumi and Zan responded by building up power in their Pyrostellis Luminares.

When the Omnicron shot the darkness out of their mouths, Zan and Ayumi rammed the Dual Version Luminous Blaze into their Reins Of Synchronized Hellfire. It was now a battle of force. The Pyrostellis Luminares constantly balanced the strain between Zan and Ayumi but it began to warn them of potential strain. They were being pushed back when they felt a firm hand hold them from behind.

"Mind if I transform your Dual Attack into a Delta attack?" a kind elderly voice asked.

"Who are you?" Zan and Ayumi attempted to ask but he instructed them to focus on their enemy.

"What then should we call this new attack?" Zan asked him.

"Is now really the time?!" Ayumi complained.

"I agree with the lad. The power of a technique lives in its name so let's call it…"

"THE FLARING LUMINOUS BLAZE!!!" they roared together as the man's sigil activated.

Zan stared at it in shock for it was the Nightbane! They had just found His Majesty Keiran Daymare; the Dream King!

The force of their combined powers grew till they outmatched the powers of the Omnicron and Giga-Wraiths. The latter were blasted into smithereens and disintegrated into ashes.

Zan and Ayumi turned to face their rescuer.

"You are the Dream King!" Zan declared in horror.

"Why did you help us?" Ayumi seemed sceptical about his intentions.

"I haven't seen a sigil like yours before. And the boy's. You do resemble Ayumi Kirisawa Of The Pyrogeysers though. I was amazed to see her battle on the Day Of The Battle Of Black Water Bridge!" the man said with a laugh.

"You watched that battle Your Majesty?" Ayumi asked.

She seemed really happy. Zan was mad on the other hand. She was readily accepting a compliment from the man that had hunted him all his life.

He nodded.

"And I am the Dreamweaver whose life you've plagued!" Zan roared.

"So you're the son of Sanziri Nightbane and my daughter, Ariel are you? I guess I owe you an apology then grandson" the Dream King said with a laugh.

"KI-MI! Look how casually he's taking it!" Zan roared.

"Life really is a funny thing, if I ended up saving the life of the person I swore to destroy. But I only aimed for your life once. The one pulling the strings now is my treacherous chancellor Tyrannes. I withdrew into the realm of Nightmares to observe how he intended to move things since I had my suspicions. I never suspected though that he was the sixth soul of evil, Sloth and that he intended to unseal Zanfar. Judging by the corruption that is occurring at a rampant rate around the areas close to the Mirror Gate and the Mirror Gate itself, the taking of life of creatures within that vicinity. I would say, the only thing hindering Zanfar's awakening now is the elemental stones of sealing" the Dream King said. "I'll pay him back for the life stolen from my daughter!"

"Actually, my mother still lives" Zan informed him.

He opened his eyes in shock.

"Are you sure of this?!" he suddenly seemed excited.

"Out of my dad's own mouth" Zan said.

"I see. If he says it then I believe it to be true. Your dad is so powerful he practically has no reason to lie. The first human Nightmare King. He is an anomaly in his own right" the Dream King said with a weird look on his face.

Zan could almost picture his father mocking the Dream King as a comic figure.

"Haa, I know the feeling" Zan sighed.

"You just committed treason against your father" Ayumi mocked Zan.

"Wh-What?! H-Hey Ayu! That's not fair!" Zan exclaimed.

"We have no time to waste here. Tell me. Do you still have the elemental stones. I heard news of them being in the possession of the Kirisawa Order Of Dream Knights" the Dream King said.

"Until tonight, the chancellor moved against us. They took the stones and hurt my family! I'll make them pay!" Ayumi roared.

"The feeling is mutual! Tyrannes has harmed my people long enough!

Born of earth,

Free as air,

I summon thee creatures of Light

Which hast forsaken the Darkness,

As a Nova Wraith, I call on thee

Obey mine command and show thine glory,

Appear Jumen Orkan!"

The Dream King called and in a flash of golden light, three winged horses appeared.

In a way, they resembled Omnicron. Their eyes were like golden flames and their legs were covered in golden armour. On their nostrils were two great horns made of a metallic substance.

"Amazing! Jumen Orkan! I've heard of such magnificent creatures but never actually seen one" Ayumi exclaimed excitedly.

"What are they?" Zan asked her.

"They are Omnicron that have forsaken their bloodlust and become pure creatures of light. However, unlike the gentle unicorn, they are terrifying warriors with unmatched strength, speed and agility. But I was under the impression that they could only be summoned by a Nova Wraith" Ayumi looked at the Dream King.

"When you've lived in darkness for so long, it is easiest to see even a tiny ray of light. When I abandoned my hatred for Zan and the Nightmare King, I was granted by God, the power to become a Nova-Wraith at will. That is how I survived in this accursed Desert for so long" the Dream King informed them. "There is no time to waste here! Let us depart now!" he ordered as he gestured towards the Jumen Orkan.

There was one for each of them.

"Are you perhaps implying that we need to ride these?" Zan asked him.

"The fastest way to the Mirror Gate; the fastest way to stop Zanfar's awakening so yes" the Dream King said.

"In some ways, he's just as brutal as my dad" Zan thought.

"Guide the Jumen-Orkan with the reins but be gentle. They are beings of immense pride so if they perceive that you are attempting to order them around or control them, they will rebel against your guidance and go wild" the Dream King whipped the reins hard and his Jumen Orkan flew into the sky.

They respected him that much, Zan reasoned.

Ayumi whipped her reins gently and her Jumen Orkan flew as well. But for Zan, he wanted to see just how wild a Jumen Orkan could possibly be and whipped his reins hard. He regretted it far sooner than he expected. With a terrifying neigh that caused an earthquake of sorts, his Jumen Orkan leapt turbulently into the air as though it intended to throw him off. Ayumi slapped her forehead.

"You just don't listen do you?" she muttered.

Meanwhile, the Chancellor stood before the Mirror Gate with an army of Dream Knights he was manipulating with an evil spell.

"Finally, after so many millennia, the power of the Dark Lord Zanfar will belong to me. It will all be mine! The Dream World, the Real World and…"

"Don't you even dare say the Nightmare Realm or so help me I'll bury you; but not nearly as politely as my son makes it sound!" the voice of the Nightmare king interrupted the depraved chancellor.

"Who said that?!" he roared and looked around.

All the Dream Knights turned around and beheld a fear worse than the chancellor; the Nightmare king; Zan's father.

"YOU! HOW DARE YOU INTERRUPT MY MAGNIFICENT MOMENT OF GLORY?!" the Chancellor roared.

"More like maladjusted nonsense with no remedy. Do you seek your own demise? I do not expect a weak minded man like you to be able to control the power of Zanfar. A fool like you is at best a puppet. A worthless pawn to be disposed of later at Zanfar's convenience" the Nightmare king said.

"How dare you?! Dream Knights, make him suffer!" the chancellor roared.

Within seconds, the Dream Knights surrounded the Nightmare king. He battled them with non-lethal force, knocking them unconscious and binding them with binding spells to restrict their movement.

The chancellor walked to the Mirror Gate. There was an omega symbol engraved at the centre of the Gate. The symbol was surrounded by seven slots. Each for a specific elemental stone.

"Sealed by fire, by fire undone!

Tempered by water, by water undone!

Freed by wind, by wind undone!

Blocked by earth, by earth undone!

Ordered by time, by time undone!

Quickened by Lightning, by Lightning undone!

Bound by Light, by Light undone!"

The Chancellor chanted as he placed each elemental stone into its assigned slot.

Seven souls of virtue once sealed seven souls of evil; but when the positions are reversed, they free the ultimate evil; humanity's greatest Nightmare, the animosity known as Zanfar. As presumptuous and hasty as the chancellor was to gain power for himself, he had presumed that the stone of light would be unnecessary and that it could hinder Zanfar if used to unseal him and for that reason, he made a grave error in judgement; for Zanfar though powerful, would now never truly be whole.

"AWAKEN! ZANFAR! ETERNAL LORD OF DARKNESS!!!" the Chancellor commanded.

Almost immediately after he had said that, two immensely evil crimson eyes appeared on the Mirror Gate and slowly, but surely, it began to open.

The Dream King, Ayumi and Zan were nearing the Mirror Gate when they saw it open slowly. They knew in their hearts that their worst fears had just been realized. Zanfar was now free; the devil's ultimate living sigil and the coordinator of evil. He was now free and darkness was about to be birthed anew.

"OH NO! WE'RE TOO LATE!" Ayumi exclaimed in fear.

The Mirror Gate opened and beyond it, only eternal darkness could be seen.

They descended to the ground and dismounted from the Jumen Orkan. All the possessed Dream Knights stopped fighting and bowed down on one knee facing the Mirror Gate. The Dream Of Evil was about to be realized. Zan, Ayumi and the Dream King watched the Eternal Mirror Gate hoping against hope that nothing would come out but then; their hopes were crushed when they heard light footsteps approach them from beyond the darkness. And slowly but surely, they saw the figure of a man walk out of the Mirror Gate. The figure was shrouded in darkness almost as though it were wearing immaterial clothing. A black hood covered its head but his evil crimson eyes could be seen behind the hood.

"Are you Lord Zanfar reborn?" the chancellor asked, uncertain himself.

"Could you be perhaps, the one that unsealed me?" Zanfar asked him.

"I am. For that, I desire power and riches beyond any imagination! Give me the power to rule this world!" the Chancellor ordered.

(What does it profit a man to gain the entire world and lose his existence?)

Suddenly, a tail escaped from behind Zanfar and bit the Chancellor on his neck. As they all watched; Zanfar's hood fell off.

"Zan! He's…!" Ayumi exclaimed in shock.

"An exact replica of myself!" Zan exclaimed in shock himself.

But that wasn't entirely true. Zanfar had characteristics that showed inversion of Zan. They both had dark skin but where Zan's eyes were white, his were black, where Zan's were mercury like in color, his were crimson red. Where Zan had the Seals Of Identity, Zanfar had two long scars running down his eyes almost like bloody tears till they reached his chin.

"Utter moron. You'd think someone who claims to be evil would know how to behave before supreme darkness. Before this world, there can only be one ruler, and that is I" Zanfar said in an expressionless tone.

Then he turned to face Ayumi and Zan as the chancellor shrivelled up and began to crumble into dust.

"I have no use for a human chancellor but perhaps, I might have use for my former fragment Sloth; the bahamut also known as Sin" Zanfar said as he absorbed the soul of the chancellor into himself.

"It is nice to see you after so long Zanviel; the Beautiful Dream. You ran away before we could settle the previous battle. I hope you do not intend to disappoint me this time Zanviel. You had the seven souls of virtue to aid you in the past but now, I have on my side the seven souls of evil. Need I inform you of the overwhelming difference between yourself and I on the power scale? It is no longer a mere talk of tipping. To defeat me, you will have to destroy the scale itself" Zanfar boasted. "I prefer however that we settled things differently. Come and be one with me" he said with an outstretched hand.

"IN YOUR DREAMS! RETURN TO ME MY MOTHER!" Zan ordered.

Ayumi could sense Zan's rage. The Pyrostellis Luminares began to discharge energy quickly almost as though it was about to go berserk.

"Why? Is it your desire to join her?" Zanfar asked coolly, almost to the point of being mocking.

"STOP MESSING AROUND! RELEASE MY MOTHER AT ONCE!" Zan demanded.

"Why don't you join her? She is within me after all" Zanfar said with a sly smile.

"You are free now! I will demand one more time that you release my mother!" Zan was becoming angrier by the second.

Zan's mercury coloured eyes began to darken and the seals of identity on his face began to disappear.

"Now why would I do that? If I release your mother, you will never unite with me. If you want her so bad…come and get her" Zanfar said with a smirk.

Zan shut his eyes and felt the rage shoot up to both his head and heart.

"You'll regret making me so angry!" Zan roared as he opened his eyes.

They were now looking as sinister as Zanfar's.

"Zan!" Ayumi called to Zan but he ignored her and charged towards Zanfar.

"TAKE THIS! RAGING ULTRAVIOLET ATTACK!" Zan roared as he leapt into the air concentrated dark energy into the Pyrostellis Luminares and attempted to burn Zanfar to death.

Ayumi sensed the danger and charged at Zanfar from the ground.

"You certainly act more like me though" Zanfar smirked.

His words were almost silent but powerful enough to distract Zan.

In that moment, Zanfar phased and grabbed both Ayumi and Zan by their throats and slammed them to the ground. He had stopped Zan's attack with his bare hand and stopped Ayumi at the same time. They felt crushed.

"The darkness does suit you; after all…I am the one that taught you that technique!" Zanfar declared. "Everything you know, even your battle style itself; was invented; by me. Do you really think it is enough…to stop me?" Zanfar challenged.

"Let me show you the true power of the Raging Ultraviolet Attack! I am Zanfar; the true king and origin of nightmares; also named; the Evil Dream and the Eternal Darkness! I summon all the darkness dwelling within the hearts of men and scattered across the universe! Appear Armageddon!!!" Zanfar called.

His voice permeating existence itself and as though in response; a massive force of darkness consumed him. A force so great it blew Zan and Ayumi to the ground. A force beyond anything they had literally experienced so far.

"His power…is unparalleled!" Ayumi exclaimed in fear.

"That is the power of the lord of darkness! Humanity's worst Nightmare!" the Nightmare king stared in awe.

They all stared at Zanfar in awe as his power continued to rise. When the Darkness disappeared, he stood before them, completely armoured in darkness; almost as though he were the ultimate warrior. His sigil was even more terrifying. It was something between a Reaper's scythe and a diabolic cutlass.

"Still think you're strong enough to defeat me?" Zanfar challenged.

Zan frowned.

"Won't know unless I try!" Zan roared as he charged to attack Zanfar.

"Hmmph! You might actually be the foolish part of me that decided to challenge God. I guess I will show you what I am capable of. RAGING ULTRAVIOLET BARRAGE!" Zanfar roared as he released a successive stream of dark attacks that crashed into Zan with full force.

The attacks felt like minute cuts and they seemed to pierce through both flesh and bone. Zan screamed in pain, unable to avoid a single one.

"ZAN!" Ayumi screamed in horror but she was afraid to confront Zanfar.

The Dream and Nightmare kings rushed to Zan's aid in hopes of disarming Zanfar but he blasted them to the ground. Zanfar's attack was holding Zan hostage. When he finally released his hold, Zan collapsed to the ground in an unconscious heap. Then Zanfar turned to face Ayumi. The look he gave her was one of utter hatred. One so great it paralyzed her.

"How unsightly. For him to have fallen in love with a coward that cannot even protect him from me. Is this your comprehension of strength? You cannot even look at me" Zanfar growled menacingly.

He had finally slowed down his speech to human levels.

Ayumi began to weep and couldn't stop.

"The Princess Of Dreams who wasn't even a combatant was a far more worthy adversary than you could ever hope to be. Take that fool back to the Human World and tell him this, I give him until midnight to surrender himself completely to me or I will destroy everything he holds dear and that…includes you! In the meantime though, I will entertain myself with those two idiots" Zanfar said as he pointed to the Dream and Nightmare Kings.

Ayumi carried Zan on her back and walked towards the Mirror Gates. She accessed its Through and Through function and disappeared from the world of Dreams.

She reappeared in the Kirisawa Residence with a terrified look on her face.

"Ayumi! What's wrong?! What happened?!" Mr Kirisawa asked worriedly.

"W-We were too late! Z-Zanfar has been unsealed! W-We couldn't stop him" Ayumi stammered and collapsed.

"Just what exactly happened in the Dream World?" Mr Kirisawa wondered.

He and Ai had finally regained consciousness. Arlene who was also present had tended their wounds.

Zan woke up three hours later. It was 9:00pm and he couldn't quite make sense of what happened. He even thought it had just been a nightmare. Face and Victoria were sitting beside him.

"Where am I?" Zan asked them.

"You're home" they said.

"Where is Ayumi? How is she?" Zan asked.

Zan still felt weak and painful.

They looked at each other worriedly.

"Why can't you answer me?" Zan asked them but they remained silent.

Zan got up from his bed and rushed to Ayumi's room.

When he opened the door to her room, she wasn't on her bed.

"Ayumi!" he called but there was no response.

Zan looked around and found her sitting in a dark corner trembling uncontrollably and sobbing.

"Ayumi" he called gently but she didn't seem to have heard him.

Zan walked towards her.

"Ayumi" Zan called to her again but she didn't respond.

As Zan drew closer to her, she lifted her head to look at him but when she saw his face, a scared expression appeared in her eyes as Zan's face overlapped with Zanfar's within her imagination.

She began to draw back.

"NO! STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY FROM ME!" she screamed in terror.

Zan was taken aback by her reaction.

"Ayumi, it's me…Zan" Zan said gently but she was still terrified.

She clutched her head tightly and shut her eyes.

"Leave me alone Zanfar! I-I don't want…to die" Ayumi burst into tears.

Zan frowned and turned away from her so that she would not see his face.

"Ayumi…what did Zanfar do to you?" Zan asked her.

"I won't tell Zan to meet you at midnight! I won't let you kill Zan!" Ayumi screamed.

Zan opened his eyes in realization; then he narrowed them in rage.

"The bastard! I'll get him for this! Zanfar I promise you; by the end of this day, I will crush you into dust!" Zan swore and walked out of Ayumi's room.

Zan walked down the stairs feeling angry and hurt but trying to put on a brave face. Ai met him halfway down.

"How is she?" she asked Zan.

"She's scared of me" Zan said as tears flowed down his face.

Zan ran out of the house and roared;

"ZANFAR!!!"

Face and Victoria came up to him and laid comforting hands on his shoulders.

"Buddy, we're here for you" Face consoled him.

"What do you plan to do now?" Victoria asked Zan.

Zan shook their hands off his shoulders, refusing the solace they were offering and shut his eyes.

"Isn't it obvious?" Zan asked as he turned to face them and opened his eyes.

Zan's eyes were glowing as sinisterly as Zanfar's once more.

"I'M GOING TO KILL THE BASTARD!!!" Zan roared and summoned his sigil.

Then he accessed the Mirror Gate's Through and Through function and disappeared into the Dream World. Face and Victoria stared at each other with worried expressions on their faces.

"This is turning into a Nightmare" Victoria said.

"It's already a Nightmare. The question is…will we make it through this one?" Face said seriously.

Zan landed in the Dream World and what he saw shocked him. There were intense flames everywhere. Dark smoke stretched out as far as the eye could see.

"What took you so long? You kept me waiting for so long I just couldn't hold back the urge to start a bonfire without you. I have already destroyed a third of mankind's dreams. You know what that means don't you? A third of reality will be wiped out. A third of the human race will…die" Zanfar said with a smirk on his face.

"Zanfar…BECAUSE OF YOU…BECAUSE OF YOU…AYUMI IS SCARED OF ME!!! I WILL DESTROY YOU!!!" Zan roared as he charged to attack Zanfar.

"Yes…fight! Fight till your heart can bear it no more! Fight till your spirit breaks!" Zanfar urged Zan on as he parried Zan's attacks.

Zan fought him with every intention of crushing him but little did Zan know that Zanfar was luring him into a trap.

Zan took a very wide swing at him and it made Zan vulnerable when Zanfar evaded his attack. Then Zanfar stepped into range and slashed Zan across the chest. Zan fell to the ground bleeding profusely.

"Do you understand that you can only obtain true strength by uniting with me? Do you see it now Zanfar?" Zanfar asked Zan.

Zan placed his sigil firmly on the ground and stood up by leaning against it.

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UUUUP!!!" Zan roared and charged to attack him again.

"Have you been abandoned?" Zanfar asked Zan.

His question paralyzed Zan.

"I recall Ayumi making a promise to love and protect you just this sunset. Has she already broken that promise? Has she already forgotten her love for you? Tell me…is she really scared…of you?" Zanfar mocked Zan.

Zan shut his eyes and felt his tears flow.

"There is no pain in the darkness. Once you join me, you'll understand" Zanfar stretched his hand towards Zan.

"I also promise to believe in you regardless of the strength of the adversities we will face. I promise to protect you and to love you. I promise to see the future with you Zan. I make this vow on this sacred mountain" Zan recalled Ayumi's promise and opened his eyes.

"I'll never join you! It is your fault Ayu is so scared of me!" Zan roared.

Zanfar sighed.

"I did nothing to her. I only told her to get you to come to me before midnight. That was all" Zanfar said.

Zan pointed his sigil towards him.

"You're lying!" Zan roared and charged to attack him.

Meanwhile, in the real world, disasters were occurring simultaneously on all the continents. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes and tsunamis were beginning to ravage the earth. Dream City which was closest to the Dream World was undergoing a much worse trial. Nightmares were invading Dream City under Zanfar's influence and attacking humans. The Human Dream Knights fought against the menace.

Face, Victoria, Fenrir and Arlene spread out to fight the Nightmares. Face and Victoria were novices so they stuck together. Fenrir and Arlene had split up on the other hand. Mr Kirisawa left Ayumi in Ai's care to engage in the battle as well thus the war between Nightmares and Reality broke out.

Ai walked to Ayumi's room.

"Ayumi! You've got to snap out of this! You are stronger than this!" Ai scolded Ayumi.

Ayumi was still trembling all over.

"I can't. I can't do this anymore" Ayumi cried.

"You should be with Zan! Fighting with him! How can you be scared of the only man you've ever loved!" Ai scolded Ayumi.

"H-He is Zanfar" Ayumi said.

"Are you even aware of what is going on? Nightmares are invading the Human World! People are dying! Natural disasters are ravaging the world. We are fighting to protect this world and you…a full-fledged Dream Knight is cowering in fear. The novices are fighting too! They are looking up to us to guide them and assure them that everything is going to be okay! And Zan is on the worst battlefield alone because you abandoned him! Do you understand what he is going through now?! He can't fight in the condition he is in now! He has always protected you…getting hurt over and over again in the process. Enduring physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological torment all for your sake and you can't even protect him even once?! You disgust me! It was because of your weakness that…" Ai stopped herself from saying more. "You can sit here feeling sorry for yourself for all I care! I'll fight with the others to protect humanity!" Ai roared and left Ayumi's room banging the door in the process.

Ayumi buried her head in her knees and began to weep.

Meanwhile, Zanfar and Zan had taken a short breather. To be more accurate, it appeared as though Zanfar was teasing Zan. He still wasn't fighting seriously.

"What is it you really want?! You already have your freedom and we both know you don't really need me!" Zan argued.

He shook his head and turned to stare at Zan.

"How many times do you want me to ask? You still haven't answered my question. 'How would you like to become everyone's worst Nightmare?'" Zanfar said with a grim smile.

Zan recalled the evil bunnies that had been the bane of his dreams since childhood.

"That…was you all along…watching over my dreams wasn't it?!" Zan roared.

"Indeed it was. Though I never imagined your father would infiltrate your dreams and awaken your powers as Dreamweaver. You Nightbane folk are indeed amusing" Zanfar said. "No one has blinded my intentions like your father has".

Zan's rage grew. His dad had always tried to protect him and his mom sacrificed her years to keep him safe and for twenty years now, she had succeeded. Now Zan had to free them both! He didn't care how but he had to let them out of Zanfar's belly!

Zan charged towards Zanfar but he stood there smirking and waiting for Zan as though Zan were moving in slow mo. When Zan was close enough, he realized just how terrifying an entity Zanfar was. He found himself in the air and did not know how he got there. It only felt as though he was flung but the pain soon caught up and Zan realized how he was flung. The crack on the ground said it all. With a stomp, Zanfar had grabbed him by the throat and flung him into the air. Before Zan could recover his senses, Zanfar was right behind him in mid-air.

"This is what I've always wanted; your rage and with it, a path to your heart has opened for me and a door wide enough for me to break through. As I expected; your answer is satisfactory…Zanbӧngfar!" Zanfar declared as he turned into dark mist and penetrated Zan's body.

Zan felt his rage grow and grow and soon, he felt nothing but rage. When he finally landed on the ground, he opened his eyes. Everything around him only served to make his rage even more. Zan felt two scars on his face, the scars of blood tears. The colors he once knew the world to be were now inverted. The flames were blue, the ground greenish. He sensed all the life in the world within him. All their evil thoughts, all their evil ways and his indignation grew. Every life on earth deserved death, and he was going to be the one to hand it to them for every human had the same thought, the same mark…of sin!

Zan raised his hands to the heavens in dream world and the sky began to fade away like clouds becoming thinner and thinner till finally, the greatest power of the Dreamweaver was made manifest. Reality and Dreams faced each other through their skies as though they were mirror images with differing reflections; an asymmetrical reflection. Zan now knew why Zanfar and Zanviel despised humans so much. Everything they ever tried to do right was a front to satisfy their own desires for conquest but now, the conqueror after subduing all the world would have to bow before a new oppressor.

"You pitiful humans! I know you all personally for you all played a part in what I am today. Even in trying to train and awaken seven souls of virtue, I find all of you riddled with the seven souls of evil; confounded and awed by their power. Well, they were merely fragments of my being and now, you shall be forced to gaze upon my magnificence as I begin my rule as Overlord of both Dreams and Reality!" Zan roared as the power within him grew.

Zan felt his body changing. He knew that after this transformation, he would no longer be human but a creature of malice and fear.

In the world of reality, every living creature was forced to gaze at their sky. The blue firmament was no more and now, where the firmament was, a reflection of their intentions, their dreams laid to waste confronted them. They came to realize that their plans for the future was naught and all they had struggled for was in vain. There had never been a word for true hopelessness as the reflection that confronted them now for on this new creature, each person found a reflection of their own sin.

Zanbӧngfar had finally been reborn, the dream, the education, the thought that was completely isolated from God's loving kindness, his goodness and his mercy. A hideous creature with the characteristics of a chimera; a terrible hybrid with three heads, of a lion, a dragon and an eagle. Its body was that of a dragon with the underbelly of a serpent, white, yet disgustingly frightful and significant of death. For tails it had six of them which were serpents with heads and with these heads, it gathered the collective evil of the human race and transformed it into its sustenance. Now ask me; how do you defeat a creature that is sustained by the evil of men?

The answer is; mass repentance but how possible is that? Impossible for men but possible for God for the first reaction when faced with such a creature is more negativity; more fear, more sustenance.

This would forever be known as the day the sin of mankind took literal form, literal life. The Dream Knights were forced to see the being they would be forced to confront and in realizing just how futile their efforts were almost gave up but around the world, the strongest souls were also aligning; and everything would change with the appearance of the two Breakers; the one also known as 'The Old Living Everlasting Entity' nicknamed Code Ageless and the one who disregarded every human world to create bridges and now carried in her hands the bequest of a hero of old; the bequest called "The Power Of The True Soul."

"So…let the destruction commence!" Zanböngfar declared.

"Find your identity; don't let it go;

The Seal is there; within you know

Your Origins; then let tears flow;

Then find yourself; make sure you're free…!"

Ayumi slowly came to herself. Meanwhile, Face and Victoria had heard the terrifying voice. They watched as the Nightmares that had invaded Dream City bowed before this new menace. They watched in silence as it spoke; and when it had finished speaking; they raised a loud cry.

"Wh-What is…that thing?" Victoria stared in horror.

There was no sky anymore. Just the Dream World reflected above as a burning blaze.

"That must be Zanfar" Face muttered.

He was trembling.

The beast spread out its wings and rose to the air wreaking destruction on the Dreams Of Mankind and leaving fear in its wake. The only Dream spared was the Castle Of Nightmares which Zan had a lingering attachment to.

In Second Chance Hospital, people were losing their lives to the Ultimate Unconsciousness but as they did; one woman was regaining her life.

When the beast was satisfied with the damage it had caused in Dreams; it proceeded to travel to the world of Reality. Nations were in confusion, some on the verge of waging war with others until at last they found a common enemy in this creature. They set aside their differences and would have been well equipped to begin a war with this creature only if they had been prepared for this in the first place but it had taken them by surprise. The creature attacked the great continents causing destruction in its wake and with each attack, panic spread worldwide and as the panic began to converge, the creature made sure to partake in its meal, the fear and evil of mankind created from its attacks. When the creature was sure it had caused enough damage, it returned to Dream City to start a new one. This was the central home of the Dream Knights and filled with the realization that there was no escape, the Dream Knights united to confront the creature.

Face turned to Victoria.

"Vicky, you remember the time I said 'the day you ever said something nice to me, something unlikely would happen? Well I'll say something nice to you instead. Just in case I perish, I want you to know that I love you" Face confessed.

Victoria was surprised. She didn't expect this and she almost didn't hear it but she wasn't going to ask Face to repeat himself because she knew that he wouldn't so she replied;

"I already told you how I felt once, don't make me repeat myself".

Then Zanbӧngfar landed right before them; the Deplorable Dream was about to commence its conquest of Dream City.

"I am Victoria Arthur…"

"And I am Boniface Kenyah…"

"In my time of need do I summon thee…sigils of…!"

"Wind!"

"Earth!" they called together.

"Let the trial of Earth and Wind commence!"

Ayumi came to her senses and looked around herself. She could hear screams coming from outside. She couldn't block them out no matter how hard she tried. They were almost as though they were sounding directly within her mind. She felt guilty. The people she swore to protect were struggling to endure what she was trying to escape from. She found her resolve and attempted summoning the Pyrostellis Luminares to reach Zan but when she did, an image of Zan's anguish permeated her mind and then the Pyrostellis Luminares shattered to reveal the Pyrogeysers. She knew that she and Zan were no longer connected by their sigils. She ran outside and saw how the Nightmares were destroying everything.

Then she suddenly heard a terrifying roar and knew what sort of creature could have made it. She followed the sounds.

Within Zan's mind, he found himself trapped. Zanfar had taken control over his body. Their spirits were coalescing but he had not yet completely assimilated Zan. Zan was forced to watch the destruction Zanfar was causing and powerless to stop him. Zan tried to fight against his mind domination but that did not change the fact that in spite of his hatred for Zanfar; Zan was also beginning to sympathize with his cause as he showed Zan the history of mankind. There was not as much proof of kindness as there was of selfishness. Zan who grew up on the streets knew that. When Wanye was killed, people around cared more about their car than human life and no matter how hard Zan tried to let it go, he still couldn't forget.

But then, he recalled his mother and father and his grandfather. Zanfar was the one that dragged everyone into his mess. Zan's mother's hands reached for him and pulled him out of Zanfar, separating the two consciousnesses.

"Zanbӧngfar; even you know the law. You cannot consume the Human Dreamweaver until he wills it but he does not will it yet. Within you, I will act as arbiter to settle this cause. You must pit your seven souls of evil against the Dreamweaver's seven souls of virtue. The victor will decide the fate of mankind" Zan's mother said as she shattered the chains binding herself. "I shall sing my song and with my song, the souls of evil shall be called in to testify against the souls of virtue and the souls of virtue shall be called in to defend themselves. If they triumph as they did before; the Human Dreamweaver shall regain his identity. If they fail; the Deplorable Dream shall be born anew".

As they all watched, Zan's mind was split in two and each part of Zan's mind was given equal dominion. To the Light, half of Zan's mind; to the Darkness, half of Zan's mind.

Meanwhile, Face and Victoria were doing their utmost best to ward off Zanbӧngfar, the Deplorable Dream. Mr Kirisawa and Lightning Knight Fenrir had arrived to back them up just in time.

"We can't let Zanfar consume any more dreams. We must ford him off and if possible; push him back to the world of dreams" Fenrir said.

"Is it possible to reseal him?" Mr Kirisawa asked.

"Yes, it is but I am unsure of whether we have the power to do so. To make matters worse, I believe the Dreamweaver has been consumed. Whatever that creature is, it is a fusion of the Dreamweaver's spirit with Zanfar's spirit. Just what exactly happened?!" Fenrir exclaimed in horror.

Zanbӧngfar stared at them for a while.

"Wouldst thou dare to stand in mine way? If thou wouldst, then perish this moment!" it roared as it opened its mouths and shot out darkfire.

All the Dream knights present leapt out of the way. Some of them stood on buildings whilst the others stood on the ground.

"So this may very well be our final battle won't it? Then as Dream Knights, let us wage a battle worthy of our station! Let us not shame the Dream King with our weakness!" Mr Kirisawa declared as he pulled out the trailblazers; larger scimitars than Ayumi's Pyrogeysers.

Fenrir took in a deep breath and summoned his sigil; a rapier.

"You two kids should keep watch; we'll engage Zanbӧngfar!" Mr Kirisawa declared as he charged to attack the creature. Fenrir followed close behind.

The two men kept close to each other and only separated when Zanbӧngfar prepared a breath attack. Whenever Zanbӧngfar would attack with his tails, they would defend themselves and then aim to slice off as many of the serpents' heads as possible. However, they noticed that regardless of the wounds they dealt Zanbӧngfar; the Deplorable Dream was almost practically a self-sustaining entity. It would recover almost immediately due to the evil emanating from the hearts of men and since it would be pointless to eradicate man to defeat Zanbӧngfar, the creature was practically immortal.

Still knowing how pointless the venture would be, Fenrir and Mr Kirisawa fought on. Perhaps the creature had another weakness. If it didn't, sealing would be the only other option. But this was a creature that had bided its time carefully to build up strength and now, it had spread enough terror to attempt shattering the Mirror Gate.

"I am Ryuuji Kirisawa; Head Of The Kirisawa Order Of Dream Knights; in acknowledgement of my pact, I summon thee Ryuenjinn!" Mr Kirisawa called to the guardian deity of his clan.

A great crimson dragon of flame descended from the sun and bound itself to Ryuuji's shadow manifesting itself as a part of him and bearing similar weapons as he. Ryuuji charged on Zanbӧngfar. Zanbӧngfar fought back and grabbed the scimitars; then it pushed Ryuenjinn down and completely sealed its attack. Ryuenjinn opened its mouth and spouted flames. Zanbӧngfar seemed unharmed until Fenrir summoned his guardian deity; a wolf named Sabrefang. Sabrefang charged on Zanbӧngfar and plunged his fangs into the Dragon's jugular. Poison permeated Zanbӧngfar but Zanbӧngfar was himself poison itself so it had no effect whatsoever. Zanbӧngfar raised an arm and knocked Sabrefang to the ground.

Face and Victoria watched the battle in awe.

Ryuuji immediately seized his chance and grabbed Zanbӧngfar by the neck and repelled it.

"Take this! A thousand fiery slices!" Ryuuji roared as he unleashed a flurry of attacks.

Ryuenjinn responded by copying Ryuuji's ability and unleashing the same flurry of attacks.

"The Kirisawas Great Shadowflame ability; Ryuenjinn no soutensoryu!" Ryuuji roared as Zanbӧngfar was pushed back.

"Great! We're making steady progress!" Fenrir congratulated Ryuuji.

"I don't think so. Something's wrong. That creature. It seems to be barely conscious. The real creature should be much more threatening than this. You saw its power as it attacked the Dream World. Compared to that it seems to me as though it is currently in slumber" Ryuuji said.

Ayumi slowly approached them from behind. When she saw Zanbӧngfar, she opened her eyes in fear.

"Ayumi Kirisawa; hath thou finally come to interfere with me?" the creature asked her and then remained silent.

"I-Is th-that…?" Ayumi murmured in shock.

Her father turned to look at her solemnly and nodded.

Ayumi started to approach the creature slowly.

"Zan, I'm sorry. I'm better now. Let's go back to the way things were before" Ayumi declared.

They had just resolved one problem only to jump into another.

"Perhaps, I may need to use my blade of hope Ayumi" Face offered.

Ayumi shook her head.

"Your turn will come Face. Very soon. He knows what needs to be done and he has been preparing himself. I'm ready Zan. We all are. Please commence your trials for I know that though I cannot see it, the Pyrostellis Luminares still lives. I know this for I can feel your thoughts. Of anguish and of calm" Ayumi said.

Ai arrived on the scene too and so did Arlene. They had finally assembled.

"In the face of overwhelming spiritual danger, you shall also be granted overwhelming spiritual assistance" Zan's voice rang within Ayumi's mind and the minds of the others. "I may have succumbed to Zanfar's grudge but I haven't lost to him yet. Could you bring to me the tools of my assistance, friends of my father?" Zan called.

Arӓlpheisl, Ananse and also Emma Colette appeared before them.

"We have been watching your strife and expected things to turn out much worse but we are surprised ourselves. Your father's measures were tremendous. Zanbӧngfar is alive, yet he is still immobilized?" Ananse asked.

"Sanziri; the Destroyer Of Lies. He shattered the fang of Ziri, purified it and transformed it into a stone of virtue; then having a Dreamweaver for a son, endured his wife's voluntary exile into the bowels of Zanbӧngfar and now we see why. A force as pure as the Princess Of Dreams can neither be corrupted nor consumed. And now, she serves as a scourge within Zanbӧngfar and an arbiter to administer justice between the Souls Of Evil and the Souls Of Virtue; the Ones that opposed the Souls Of Evil; His Kin; His Family" Arӓlpheisl said.

As they spoke, two others arrived. Their arrival sparked an interesting conversation only they and the other two seemed to understand.

"That Nightmare King, so this is what he has been scheming all this while; an internal confrontation and a diplomatic way to settle this mess" Ananse said.

"I must say I am impressed. To think he could project this far into the future" Arӓlpheisl said.

The two that appeared were a lady and a man. The lady had long dark hair and striking features. The man had long silver straight hair and wore sunshades.

"Projected you say? Don't make light of what he has done. It's more like directing things. If Zanbӧngfar was directing things like the yolk and white of an egg; then San was the shell that encased his plans. How long has it been since their last duel?" the man with silver hair said.

"It feels like only yesterday, when San and his souls of virtue fought and sealed Ziri away. Ziri; the nature and identity of Zanbӧngfar. He has fought well. We cannot allow his efforts to go to waste" Ananse said.

"Has fought well? Would I be right to assume that you perchance have presumed San dead already? Do not jest; that would be unbecoming of the man we once rallied behind" the man with long silver hair said.

"What are you talking about?" Ayumi asked.

"Do you have the blade we once gave you," another man said as he approached the party from behind.

"You finally arrived too Darag-Arokna" Aralpheisl said.

"Yes, I do" Ayumi responded.

"The time is coming soon when you will have to thrust it into the heart of the Human Dreamweaver and rekindle the humanity within him" Arälpheisl said.

"LET THE TRIAL OF THE SEVEN ELEMENTS COMMENCE!" a loud voice sounded all over the world.

OF WIND AND EARTH

Where does the wind…blow from?

In which direction does it move?

Does it blow from the Earth to the Heavens?

Or does it blow from the Heavens to the Earth

Where does the blowing wind start from?

From whence does it start its journey?

Does it blow from the West to the East?

Or does it blow from the East to the West

From whence did the Earth attain its form?

Whose hands modelled it intricately so?

Who made the Earth a symbol of Hope?

And why does it carry so much pain?

The Earth and Wind sing to me,

They whisper a melody in my ears,

When the wind courts the Earth I hear a rustling

When the wind courts the Earth I hear a whistle.

The voice sang loudly. In an instant, Victoria and Face were carried into the mind of the beast.

"Within the beast were two Dreams. One of them was the Dream we knew, his name was Zan and he is the one called the Human Dreamweaver. There was another Dream though. As it stood, they were both bound by a cord of light and darkness as though battling for dominion of the body they were currently within. The other Dream was filled with malice. That is the dream called The Evil Dream; a dream that preys on the dreams of humans and crushes them; creating grudges within their hearts that awaken the ever malevolent Deplorable Dream. Our mode of thinking seemed to have been changed once we entered the body of this beast. We knew everything the Beautiful Dream was and all that it was not also stood right before us; but I know deep within me that Zan does not wish to write a tale of terror. There was also a woman before us seated on a throne. Her son was to judge the quality of humanity's dreams, and she in turn was to judge the quality of her son's dream. The woman sang this song continuously for as long as we stood in her presence".

"Victoria Arthur, representative of the Second Soul Of Virtue, Freedom; you will confront once more, Enslavement; representative of the Soul Of Evil Enslavement and prove the value of the Dreamweaver's second tale; The Book Of Enslavement. Likewise, you Boniface Kenyah; representative of the Third Soul Of Virtue, Hope; shall confront the Soul Of Evil Despair and reprove the value of the Dreamweaver's third book; the Book Of Despair. If you lose, Zan shall lose a portion of his dreams to the Deplorable Dream but if you triumph; he shall win more of his dreams and eventually triumph over the Deplorable Dream; Zanbӧngfar" the woman said.

"We knew within the depths of our hearts that the woman that stood before us was the purest of all dreams; The Princess Of Dreams. Zan and the other Dream seemed unconscious and trapped by the bond of Light and Darkness that connected them. We knew; the turn of Light and Darkness to battle would also soon come but it had not come just yet."

"Victoria; in Zan's second tale your first meeting with him was one where you exhibited great hubris and a rude nature. You only valued the strong. You had heard of Zan who had defeated The First Soul Of Evil; Cowardice but this then would have been the only reason for which you would have been willing to form a bond with him. Your own hubris led to your capture and it was your hubris that enslaved you within a dimension no one could reach into. Zan had to go so far as to question an ancient witch to free you and you were even so weak in spirit that he had to rely on Zanfar's strength to free you. Without your carelessness, he would never have learnt of his connection to me; the True King and Origin Of Nightmares. Would you dare plead innocent of these charges?" the voice of Zanfar roared.

"I, the representative of the Soul Of Freedom heard this. I realized I was undeserving of the title. All Zanfar had said had done nothing but prove that I was the greatest of prisoners. It was indeed my pride that made me unwilling to work with Zan and Face. It was also my pride that got me captured. Zan hadn't told me what he had had to face and I was forced to experience it as though I had never missed a moment of it. I could see my involvement like a trail of triggers. I had no choice but to plead guilty."

"I plead guilty of these charges" Victoria said.

"But it is a lie Victoria! Your tale was written by my actions too and though I named it a Tale Of Enslavement; it was about Freedom. It was freely written by my actions and Face's too. Ayumi was also involved. It was not a tale about just you. It was a tale about friends who fought together to defeat an evil that tried to imprison them with their past. It wasn't about whether you won against Enslavement or not. The true value of the tale was in the fact that though we had only just met, we risked our lives for each other out of our own choice. That is why Dreamweaver Book two is wrongly titled. It's real title is Dreamweaver Book Two: Freedom; A Tale Of Victory!" the Dreamweaver's voice sounded.

The woman looked at Victoria and smiled.

"My son values his relationship with you. True, you were captured but he better than anyone knows why that was. He naively tried to hide the fact that he was the one that defeated Cowardice to avoid a love triangle among him, yourself and Ayumi. He didn't want that unnecessary hassle. As ridiculous as it sounds, he could have prevented your capture but held back" the woman laughed.

"I guess that makes you innocent. I hope we can still be friends Victoria and please forgive me" the Dreamweaver laughed.

"Za-a-a-an! Once this is over, I'm going to teach you a lesson!" Victoria yelled.

"I was relieved to discover that even within the mind of the terrible beast, one of my best friends still retained his personality."

"Thus, the Dreamweaver retains dominion over the Soul Of Virtue; Freedom! He is free from your attempt to force him into any kind of evil. The rest of the trials shall be determined by his choices!" the Princess Of Dreams declared.

"Now let the trial commence between the representatives of Earth!" the woman declared. "Boniface Kenyah…your tale was obviously wrongly named. Of all Zan's friends, you withstood Despair".

"But he was a brute in life, reckless and always dragging those around him into danger. He might be a living representation of the Earth's Virtue; Hope. However, you cannot deny the fact that he never gets along with Victoria. If he cannot get along with Freedom, then Hope is Imprisonment!" the voice of Zanfar declared.

"But that renders your argument invalid Zanfar. You argued earlier that Victoria symbolized Imprisonment and that she was a prisoner; and she truly was. It is because Victoria's freedom often means imprisonment for those around her that Face cannot get along with her. But once, Face gave Victoria hope; even before they met; and she in turn gave Face a life free from senseless fighting with bullies. Their attributes proved to be true and they were both liberated and freed. Thus the third book I wrote was also wrongly named. It was a tale about the trends society has that serve to create Despair for others. Not all poor people are heroes and not all wealthy people are villains. In everything related to people; there are those that are good and those that are evil. One trait does not necessarily define the entirety of a person. That was the Hope in the third book. A freedom from imprisoning thoughts. That was why Face was killed and it was Victoria that freed him with her persistence" Zan argued.

Zanfar was silenced. Within Zan's mind, he was proving to be the boss of his feelings and he knew he was gaining dominion over everything a Dreamweaver was entitled to have; and that included the Dreams Of Humans."

"I agree with Zan. Your actions in the Second Book triggered a chain of events that brought many unfortunate things into Zan's life. But those unfortunate events only served to strengthen the fortunate ones. Victoria and Face, you have won for my son his freedom and his hope for it was in the third book he learnt the value of the present and in hoping on God. Now, when you return to the world outside Zan, you will find that Zanfar isn't the only threat. Many humans are panicking. No one knows where the world is headed. This ignorance within them is causing more anguish, fear and hatred. Liberate as many as you can from this Nightmare with the truths you have learned and study to show yourself approved by the King Of All Creation" the woman said.

And in an instant, Face and Victoria were carried out of Zan's body.

OF FIRE AND WATER…

Fire and Water; elements two

Born from both they are elements true

Trapped in darkness, Light would lose

Together with darkness Light would fuse

Fire then will turn into Flame

And reveal to Light His Holy Name

Purified by Fire the sun will rise

And cleansed by Water they'll reach the skies.

Water and Fire two entities

These two entities gave birth to truth

Truth was cloaked in darkness

Light and Darkness fused,

Fire then enraged, became a burning blaze

And burnt all the darkness encaging wondrous light

Water cleansed the pain held in Light's sorrowful heart

And fire fused with Light to become the world's burning sun.

The voice of the woman sang aloud. All the strangers that appeared among the Dream Knights smiled.

"Ayumi Kirisawa, your time has now come. Remember to use the Kommeno Syndesmo. It could free Zan" Arӓlpheisl said as he walked to Ayumi and lay a hand on her head. "You have always been one to lay your own path. Trust your heart and the powers of both the Silver Dream and the Pyrostellis Luminares" he said.

Ayumi nodded as she vanished from the battlefield.

"Within the beast, I met the one I loved whose name means Dream. I also met the worst side of himself, the one named Nightmare. I had ran once and broken my promise to him but this time, I would not run. There was a woman present also who glowed like the sun. I knew immediately that she was the Princess Of Dreams. I felt the love she had for her son even when he was trapped in this deep darkness. The trust that she had that he would overcome this. Her trust was so strong that I now understood what she did those nineteen years ago. She had set the stage. She had purposely allowed herself to be entrapped within the darkness of her son's heart so that she could reach him whenever he was close to his deepest darkness. Her act saved my life and my soul for I felt now that she was close to the darkness in my own heart; acting as a breaking point for its influence. I loved the woman I saw deeply because I felt she had accepted everything I was too. I also saw within the mind of this beast my sister who had once taken a curse in my place and had lost five years of her life to pain. Dream had also saved her."

"We meet again Ayumi Kirisawa. You know your identity in this trial do you not?" the woman asked Ayumi.

"I do. I am the representative of the Soul Of Virtue, Courage" Ayumi said.

"Find your identity; don't let it go;

The Seal is there; within you know;

Your Origins; Then let tears flow;

And find yourself; make sure you're free.

Ayumi heard her voice sing and harmonize with the woman's song. She smiled and opened her voice to utter the next part of the song. It was her gift to Zan in case he ever lost his humanity. Ayumi also understood what Arӓlpheisl had just said to her. Arӓlpheisl was saying that the Kommeno Syndesmo was a dead sword and that she didn't need it. He told her to pierce Zan through the heart with it; then said, she should trust instead in the power of the Silver Dream which is Zan's will to protect her; and in the Pyrostellis Luminares which represents their oneness. Why would she pierce Zan through the heart if she already had his heart and if she could directly communicate to his heart through the Pyrostellis Luminares.

"You are my kin; my family

So find your truth, set yourself free

Now learn to breathe, open your eyes

And tear away, the empty lies".

"Zan had forgotten; he had forgotten how to be a human being. He didn't even know what a human being was anymore. He was trapped in a stasis and though he had more dominion over his mind, he was trapping himself purposely to avoid facing his own nightmare which was not any external force but the worst side of himself. And I was going to teach him what a human being was. All along, he was the one singing to me. Teaching me that I was a good person but now, I was going to teach him in turn."

"You seem to forget Ayumi Kirisawa that you are the greatest of cowards! You are not only a coward but a murderer as well! You murdered Zan's parental guardian and used your power to harm your classmates! Thanks to you, your own sister was cursed! How dare you speak of humanity?!" Zanfar's voice thundered.

"I can speak of humanity because…I am forgiven!" Ayumi declared.

"Now learn to cry; now learn to breathe;

Now learn to hear; now learn to eat;

Now learn to smell; stand on your feet;

Become dear friend; a human being

Now learn to feel, now learn to reach;

Now learn to call; now learn to speak;

Now learn to crawl, now learn to walk;

Become dear friend; a human being.

Now learn to reach, now learn to play;

Now learn to laugh; now learn to pray;

Now learn to listen and talk and feel;

Become dear friend; a human being.

Now learn to learn; now learn to teach;

Now learn to write; now learn to read;

And sing and draw, and paint yourself;

With all of us; as human beings.

You are My Kin, My Family;

So find your truth; set yourself free;

Now learn to breathe open your eyes;

And tear away the empty lies.

Find your identity; don't let it go;

He did entrust to you; I know you know

Your Origins; now heart tears flow;

You are My Kin; My Family.

I sang this song; my gift to Zan. I felt my memories flow through him. I had shared so many moments with him his own memories were mine and thanks to the Pyrostellis Luminares, I could recycle his memories and send them back to him with mine.

"All I will say to you Ayumi Kirisawa is that my son loves you. And he loves your family dearly. For this love, he will not allow any evil to be said about your family in his presence. Your family is free" the woman said.

Ai and Ayumi were carried out of the beast's mind.

"The music is starting to sound a bit more melodious now isn't it?" Arӓlpheisl asked.

Originally, Ayumi thought that he was trying to be humorous but indeed, Ayumi's voice continued to harmonize with the woman's voice as she began to progress into the next part of her song. Ayumi turned to look at Ai, and the two began to laugh. It felt like Zanbӧngfar had already been defeated.

OF LIGHTNING AND TIME…

Where does the raging Lightning strike from?

Is it a wondrous vision or frightful sound?

Are Thunder and Lightning two inseparable brothers?

Are they sight and sound, different entities or the same?

Thunder and Lightning are separated by time

As Lightning flies Thunder desperately tries to catch him.

Lightning and Thunder may have the very same Mother,

But if their mother is Cloud, then isn't their mother Water?

Oh time, Oh time, just how many things have you seen?

Were you there when God laid the foundations of existence?

How long Oh time, have you been in wondrous existence?

Were you made before, or after or are you existence?

How many wars Oh dear Time have you seen?

How many tears have you shed for us lowly humans?

How much of suffering have you Oh Time endured?

How many afflictions lay heavy on your heart?

Do you bear a grudge for us, we weak suffering humans?

Do you question our love, our purpose and very existence?

Oh time but how then will you explain to God?

That you bear a grudge for us so immature?

Time your suffering is to see us suffer,

Oh time, your tragedy is your immortal existence,

If the ease of your wounds come from the relief of ours,

Then hate us not but teach us how to grow!"

The voice of the woman sang loudly and as it did, the summons was sent forth to Prince Asante and Fenrir Sabrefang.

"We found ourselves within the mind of the beast. Before us, bound together were the Beautiful Dream, Zanviel and the Evil Dream, Zanfar. Zanviel had begun to move again. Very slowly as though time itself had slowed down but he moved nonetheless."

"I have called you to witness for yourselves and for my son, Zan; but also to witness against the Evil Dream Zanfar as the representatives of the souls of virtue; Forgiveness and Goodness but your trials might be slightly harsher than the previous representatives as you have directly influenced the pain in the lives of many within this book" the woman said.

"You have uttered it yourself O Princess Of Dreams. As kind as you are, even you see that Prince Asante is the embodiment of the Evil Soul Of Time; Chaos and Fenrir Sabrefang was a part of those that hunted your son from his birth. Prince Asante, you erased your own existence due to your refusal to truly accept yourself. You thought of no one but yourself and hated the element of the one that saved your life; the Dream Knight, Saito Kusanagi. You hated to reflect on your life; you hated to see the good in people because you would barely even look at them! You hated the virtue of reflection. How dare you stand before me and proclaim yourself a representative of the Soul Of Virtue; Forgiveness when you could barely even forgive yourself!" Zanfar attacked Prince.

Prince took in a deep breath and made his stand.

"Yet I was interested to test the mettle of human love. I do not call myself the representative of the Soul Of Virtue; Forgiveness. Everyone, even you Zanfar know me as the Soul Of Evil; Chaos" Prince said.

"But there is something unique about you Prince. My son tells me that you never did fulfil both roles completely. You refused to act according to the designs of evil and pursued your own interests, yet at the same time, your testing the love he had for Ayumi is the reason he stands today. Still, you didn't associate yourself with the other souls of virtue and thus were never the full embodiment of Chaos or Forgiveness. It is ironic that the Soul Of Evil that represents time was rescued by another representative of the Soul Of Virtue; Kindness. In hindsight, it could be said that your attempt to lure Saito Kusanagi to her demise and her willing act to rescue you even though she was walking into darkness awakened something that hasn't existed within time. The coalescence of Chaos with Forgiveness transforming you, Chaos into a curious being. This was the reason you sought to understand love. The first of its kind shown to you by Zion and now replicated by His Soul Of Virtue; kindness. You willingly chose to defy your nature and place in existence to serve a higher path after meeting my son" the woman said.

"What?! Prince is Chaos?!" Zan's voice sounded within the beast's mind.

"Does it irritate you son?" the woman asked.

"No! That's great! He's not only my stikomik drawing pal but a gamer and an otaku too! For a soul of evil, he's pretty human to me!" Zan's voice exclaimed joyfully. "But you're too clingy Prince. You need to learn to let go of stuff".

"You're one to talk!" Prince screamed at Zan.

Zan laughed at him.

"So in the end Prince, you have been rescued by virtue of my son's friendship with you. I would be interested to see how this friendship progresses into the future. You really are worthy of the title Forgiveness because you have been forgiven" the woman said.

Zanfar was furious! Turbulence began to occur within the mind of the beast and the Beautiful Dream began to move slightly faster but now, the Evil Dream was moving too as the bond between both grew weaker.

"Now Fenrir Sabrefang! You have been known to be an impulsive man! Always giving heed only to orders, never thinking for yourself; never weighing the consequences of your actions in light of an eternal scale. Your blind devotion to the Dream King and your foolish zeal led you to attempt murdering his grandson, not once but multiple times. If the Breaker also known as The Old Living Everlasting Entity had not intervened, you would have murdered royal blood! You are a murderer by intention and as many sins are associated with you as you are willing to commit in this blind devotion of yours!" Zanfar accused Fenrir.

"The next Dreamweaver born nine hundred and ninety three

And a thousand revolutions from the day of Zanfar's sealing

Will bear the seal of the Dark Lord;

And by his hand shall endless darkness envelope

Both the world of dreams and of reality;

However, though the union of Light and Darkness

Will bring forth an incarnation of disaster,

The tears of true love shed by the Princess Of Dreams

Shall give to the incarnation a choice;

To yield to the path of Light and Love;

Or fall to the path of darkness and hatred;

The choice shall be his to make…

I admit my faults. I would do anything, even become a monster to remain faithful to the path I dedicated myself to; my loyalty to the Dream King remains the same; nothing has changed. If he ordered me to hunt Zan again, I probably would however, I took a chance on the boy's ability to choose for himself the path he would follow and even now, I still believe in him; no, I believe in the words of the Princess Of Dreams whom I once served loyally. I entreat you to recall the day of battle nineteen years ago" Fenrir said firmly.

"Zan now has the memories of Zanfar so he knows. He saw that you spared his life that day and would have moved to protect him from Zanfar" the Princess Of Dreams said. "And if it were up to Fenrir, Zan would be dead before Zanfar ever had the chance to absorb him but the fact that Zanfar has taken control of him and both are still alive is proof that you took another chance on my son. Thank you Fenrir. We have always been good friends" the Princess Of Dreams said.

"He is a true knight. Like the lightning that can pierce through the hardest substance. Like an arrow shot from the hand of God, he is firm in his resolve and straight in his path" Zan said.

"Fenrir, since you are a knight, I will tell you this. Where there are nightmares, there are problems. And where there are problems, there are fearful humans. Where fearful humans dwell, there lies battle and where they congregate to take advantage of fear, there is death. You need to spread your forces wide and break their ability to intentionally take advantage of the troubles around them. Starving them of their ability to coordinate will be like starving vengeful flames of air. Eventually, instead of converging and burning strongly, they will burn out. You must first deal with the nightmares. The lesser they are in a location, the lesser the fearful influence they will have. You just need to hold them back until my husband wakes up. He is currently enjoying a bit of rest and I assure you, it will not be a pleasant sight when he sees the nightmares that are taking advantage of the Chaos" the woman said.

"Pardon me if I may ask. Is he really that strong?" Fenrir asked.

"Strong? My husband made a single move and things fell into place as a result. He knew all he had to do was marry me. Everything else you see around you are simply the symptoms of our marriage. Zan is yet to fully manifest and that is what he awaits" the woman said. "My husband's defeat was also an intentional matter but we both know that this is not his fight. You could consider this…Zan's training".

The woman said as both representatives were carried out of the beast's mind.

"Prepare yourselves all you living creatures dwelling within time! For now, Light and Darkness shall confront one another!" the voice of the woman called.

Suddenly, there were loud sounds of chorus! No one could see where the song came from. All they could hear where loud choruses. The world trembled at this sound. Then the voices sang as though ushering this confrontation in.

OF NATURE, MAN AND FORCES

"A wounded bird flies high, searching for a lonely place,

Not knowing where or why this world is such a really messy maze

The wounded bird flies high, seeking out a Holy Place,

Not knowing where or why this world is such a messy maze.

Searching, seeking, for the way back home…

Flying(Flying), Trying(Trying) not to give up hope…

Searching, seeking, for the way back home,

Flying(Flying), Trying(Trying) not to give up hope.

Timeless, windless, wordless, endless

Something from my past seems worthless

Memories I can't define,

Of things I just can't seem to find.

A star, a storm, a great starship,

That blazes on a timeless trip

A black hole comes and wakes my fears,

The silent stars shed endless tears.

Bended, ended, winded, worded,

Silent the crew disappear,

I awaken the next day on my bed

To find that all my memories are dead,

Growing, hiding, rising, finding

I can't fit in this strange setting

My past is lost but I am here

And the silent stars keep shedding timeless tears…

The wounded bird grows wings,

Soaring higher, breaking strings,

Wounded wings stretch further

Breaking burdens, hardened yes…but tender

The toothless beak grows fangs so stronger,

Tearful eyes, now fearful and wiser

Wounds of the past become a shield

Impenetrable and light to wield…

A star a storm a great starship,

That blazes on a timeless trip,

Formerly I was lost; yes a stray but I'm here,

And the stars guard his tears eternally!"

The voices paused as another song began to intertwine with their chorus.

THE OUTCRY OF DARKNESS

How can you stand there before me?

How can you speak so highly of humans?

Light you say humans are worth the life they have!

Light you say humans are worth your very life!

How will you justify the suffering?!

The suffering these pathetic creatures cause?!

Their very existence is the source of pain!

Yet you love them even more despite their faults!

Light, how naïve you have become!

To give them free will just so they can choose you of their will!

Wouldn't it be better to bind them hand and foot to stone?

And force them as lowly servants to hearken to your voice!

Light how naïve you have become!

To bless those stupid creatures with your very will!

To live within them as though they are your very Temple!

To teach them everything about your very self!

How can you stand right there before me?!

And look into these painful eyes of mine?!

When you tore my very existence from existence?!

Was it just so creatures so impure like these can live?!

Tell me now! Tell me now O Light!

I stand in constant adversity to you!

Tell me why I must die so they can live!

Tell me why you found no place for me in existence?!

The voice of the Evil Dream sang loudly. An ominous chorus followed his song. Hatred emanated from his voice as he began to realize that he was quickly losing ground. After he had sang, the ominous choruses became less and less loud as a brighter chorus followed. Then Zion gave his answer.

THE ANSWER OF LIGHT

Tell me my dear friend, Darkness tell me,

Why do you call to me with Hatred?

When did your nature change so sadly?

Tell me how did I wrong you, Darkness?

Tell me now why do you hate me so much,

Tell me, Oh tell me, tell me, tell me,

I want to know your reason Darkness,

Tell me where all this hatred came from…

THIS IS MY ANSWER TO YOU DARKNESS…

Who was there before I called to light?

Wasn't it you, dear darkness?

In who was my glorious nature concealed?

Wasn't it in you darkness?

Who hid my face from all of existence?

Wasn't it you Oh darkness?

And who saw all of my glorious form?

Wasn't it you, Oh darkness?

Before I gave Light any form,

Where was my own face hidden?

Before I called out to Dear Light,

Who reigned over all of pre-existence?

Yet why did your tragedy have to begin?

When I called out to Dear Light My Son?

Why did your envy lead you to sin?

Tell me my Dear Friend Darkness,

When Light stood before my glorious presence,

Before your face too Darkness, remember,

Why did your darkness turn to hate?

Tell me my Dear Friend Darkness, tell me?

The beauty you had before all of this

Was in your precious nature to conceal

But now all you do is hate and hate

And hate has turned you into hate

You and Light were meant to be closest of friends

And at the same time precious rivals as well,

You could have played hide and seek with him

For all of eternity in my Garden of Eden,

I would have smiled to see you with him

To see you become his very first friend

But the very first thing you showed to him

Was a sign of total and utter contempt

Even then O darkness when Light and You,

Fused and battled it out for almost a day

Till I lay my hand between both of you,

And separated you for all of Time

Tell me then darkness, who had more space?

In my creation, wasn't it you?

You were proud and happy with all your power

But Light had to suffer utter rejection.

Light had no place in my creation

Even though he came from my very own self

Yes, Light Is Me, I say it clearly

But for your sake, I chose rejection

I didn't want you to feel totally lost

Or abandoned then, yet the One you hate

Was the very same one who came to me,

And said he'd choose rejection

So you can live.

Yet what did you do darkness?!

You rubbed it in his face!

Rejected his kindness!

And insulted his grace!

Tell me darkness now, for how many millennia?

Have you ruled supreme, over all of man?

How many scars have you caused dear man?

And who has my dear man, chosen as God?

Isn't it you O Darkness, and all your pride?

Your vain intelligence and empty knowledge?!

Still you stand in my presence and accuse Dear Light,

Whose suffering was not only for Man,

But you!

Well then Darkness, to you here is my verdict

An Edict I decree, on my very Own Name,

Since you've chosen to despise Light

In Spite of all his suffering,

And stand in opposition

To the graces poured out for you?

I will take from you all graces,

Dear Light, My Son, won for you,

And pour it on creatures

Of much more worth than yourself,

Be they of a much more grander,

Or lowlier nature than you,

They will come to possess wisdom,

Surpassing even yours!

Listen to me Darkness, you who despiseth Light!

Today I decree, Light will flee from you!

Since thou prefereth blindness, thou shalt so possess,

Since thou prefereth not to hear, thou wilt be filled with deafness!

Light wilt lose his place of rejection,

Light wilt inherit all the grandeur you so now possess,

Thou wilt walk in the path Light once walked,

A pain in the sight of others, and a thorn in their flesh!

Since thou despiseth the sacrifice and pain,

Dear Light endureth for thine sake,

Affliction wilt followeth thee like a shadow

And thou wilt learn of the pain in Light's heart!

Thou wilt come to realize, that thou possesseth no right,

To bear any kind of grudge against my Dear Son, the Light!

Thou wilt be filled with resentment, for thine very own self!

As thou realizeth that thine unquenchable fury, tis unjustified!"

When Zion had finished singing, the bond between Zan and Zanfar broke apart.

"Finally, we're apart! I will not allow you to dominate my mind Zanfar!" Zan declared.

"As long as I have this body; just this body; I still have the advantage!" Zanfar roared as he charged towards Zan; and then he blasted Zan through his chest with a fistful of the Raging Ultraviolet barrage.

Zan was pulled out of Zanbӧngfar's body and fell to the ground.

"ZAN!" Ayumi called to him.

Zan was bleeding severely.

"Zan! Hang on!" she called.

"I'm tired…so very tired" Zan said and shut his eyes.

Ayumi frowned and stood up. She called to her sigil and the Pyrogeysers appeared instead. Ayumi stared at them and realized their significance.

"ZAAAAN!!!" she called.

Zanbӧngfar began to move again. The battle began anew and panic spread throughout the world since everyone could see the battle simply by looking at the sky. The fear of the people began to flow around the world. Zanbӧngfar was having the meal of his life as the fear flowed into his tails.

The hopes of the Dream Knights were shattered as they saw Zan's body lying on the ground.

"Wh-What d-do we do now?" Victoria asked.

Ayumi charged towards Zanbӧngfar screaming at the top of her lungs.

"Ayumi! Don't be reckless!" Ai screamed at her.

As they stared at the beast, they noticed its chest area beginning to glow bright.

"Ayumi! Watch out!" Ai screamed.

Zanbӧngfar inhaled deeply and spewed out a stream of flames. Ayumi froze in her tracks as the flames narrowly missed her. For a moment, she felt her former fear begin to return.

She heard gasps of terror and shock and when she turned to look at the reason why, her own eyes widened in terror. There was nothing left of Zan but a pile of hot ashes.

"Now let's see him attempt to rise again!" Zanbӧngfar's voice echoed.

"I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR THIS!" Ayumi roared as she upgraded the Pyrogeysers to their active form and slashed at Zanbӧngfar angrily.

Zanbӧngfar's wounds healed immediately and considering his body mass, anyone's attempt to attack him could be equated to the sting of a mosquito bite. He attempted to pound Ayumi into the ground but she evaded and attacked him with the Thousand Fiery slices technique. Face activated his Blade Of Hope and rushed behind Zanbӧngfar.

Victoria frowned.

"I am Victoria Arthur, true successor to the bloodline of the original Arthur Pendragon; but my sigil's true form is none other than the legendary bow of Orion! You will pay for killing Zan, Zanfar!" Victoria roared as her crossbow transformed into an ivory bow.

An arrow made of crystal materialized. Victoria pulled it to its full length and aimed for Zanbӧngfar's heart. She released her arrow just as Face chopped off two of Zanbӧngfar's serpent headed tails and Ayumi dealt damage to its main body. Her arrow pierced its body but now the rest of Zanbӧngfar's tails were aiming for Face, its feet were aiming for Ayumi and its heads were aiming to incinerate Victoria with breath attacks.

"I AYUMI KIRISAWA! TRUE HEIRESS AND SUCCESSOR TO THE BURNING PATH OF COURAGE DO SUMMON THEE PYROGEYSERS!!! UPGRADING PYROGEYSERS LEVEL ONE TO BLAZE SIGIL LEVEL ZERO!!! AWAKEN…SHINSEI RYUENJINN!!!" Ayumi called as a great amount of flame escaped from her body and knocked Zanbӧngfar into the air throwing him off balance and causing both his tail and breath attacks to miss.

In that instant, Fenrir and Ryuuji Kirisawa cleared Face and Victoria safely out of the way but they were reminded just how fearful a creature Zanbӧngfar was when its attacks reduced every building in its path to ashes including everything else.

"H-H-How horrible" Victoria shivered.

All over Dream City, people were panicking. No one cared anymore. Some people were trying to find safety; religious people saw this as a chance to draw closer to the God they felt they had forsaken for so long. But some people also saw this as a rare opportunity to do all the foolish things they couldn't normally do. Arӓlpheisl, Ananse, Darag-Arökna, Emma Colette and the other man watched silently. They watched and waited to see what would happen next yet they had no intention of interfering with mankind's affairs. Mankind had brought this on themselves because it was an undisputed fact that Zanfar is a force only as strong as mankind would allow it to be and if it was this strong, then man would have to find a way to deal with it since they caused it.

Zan opened his eyes. He was in a white place. Everything around him was just serene and simply white, as though he was at the borders between this life and the next. He stood up and began to walk forward. Looking around, he hoped to find something but he found instead, a someone.

He found Jesus seated on a rock in the middle of a river, the only other thing in the surroundings around him.

"I know I said I would see you soon 'Dream' but I didn't expect to see you so soon" he said.

Zan lowered his eyes sadly.

"I failed you. I…died" Zan said.

He laughed at Zan. That laugh without any hint of mockery in it.

"You may have died, but you did not fail me. Humanity sure got itself into some big trouble this time didn't it" Jesus said.

Zan nodded.

"Zanfar is too strong. We can't beat him on our own. We need your help Lord. You defeated him once, you can do it again" Zan pleaded.

"I don't need to do it again because…he is a defeated foe. What I need is for you to seal his defeat and make it manifest. I need you to put him under my feet as I've already done it myself. Zanfar is not a force I need to fight again. The lesson I needed to learn from facing him, I already learned but you still need to learn your lesson. Look at humanity and tell me what you see" Jesus said to Zan and pointed below himself.

Zan looked at the earth and saw many dark spots. Many people with blemishes and leprous sores; covered in materials that looked like mud and clothed in dirty garments.

Zan leapt back in fear.

"Is that what we are?!" Zan screamed.

Jesus shook his head sadly.

"That is what he sees and sadly that is what you see and that is what the rest of humanity sees. Look underneath all that and tell me what you see" Jesus pointed.

Zan strained his eyes to look as Jesus directed him to and what he saw astonished him greatly. Beneath all the mud was hidden great light striving to break through; the true human existence. The true human life. The Beautiful Dream.

"So what do we do now? I'm dead" Zan complained.

"First you rest" Jesus said.

Meanwhile, the Dream Knights had temporarily withdrawn from Zanbӧngfar's presence. Thanks to Aileen, they could monitor Zanbӧngfar's position and keep themselves a safe distance away. Ayumi however was furious and still out for blood. Just when she was about to summon Shinsei Ryuenjinn and was hoping to deal some real damage, she had been whisked away to safety by her father. Her anger knew no bounds.

"Let me go! I must destroy Zanfar! Zanfar killed Zan!" she roared.

"Tell me Ayumi. Would Zan wish for you to lose your life avenging him?" Aileen asked gently.

Ayumi gritted her teeth and began to weep.

"Zan, Zan" she cried.