A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means not been proofread yet nor edited.1****
"Husband..."
Empress Azarese rose from lying on the bed. She stride slowly until she makes it to the balcony. The wind blew her hair. Her sight is in a haze.
"Husband..." Her eyes watered.
Ohms noticed how light walked out and stood by the balcony. He didn't want to believe it. The sight made him correct his posture, his eyes zoomed to see her closer, to make sure that nothing is fooling him. But it's real. She is real.
Empress Holy Azarese Elyzena, the Sun's Daughter, is real.
His hand rises to touch the button below his ear on his suit.
"Watts, can you hear me?" He said, and his brother picked it up. Connections were clear.
"Brother? Kuya, where are you!? Please, come back! We found Lady Aviana and her husband! And Daro... Oh, he's---"
"Watts, I don't give a fuck about those people. Everyone, I will show you something."
"Wife!"
The Emperor pulled the Empress back inside and put her back to their bed. When Ohms shared the live feed of where he was looking, they didn't see anyone nor anything but an empty balcony.
"That's dangerous, wife. I am here. Where did you put our baby again?"
The Emperor went down to look under the bed but the toy wasn't there. He sighed. Next time, he will make another doll and chain it around her wrist.
"Baby."
"I'm looking for it."
He pulled the blankets and finally found the toy underneath. He gave it to her, laid her down, and tucked her in.
"Don't exhaust yourself and rest. Sleep well with our baby. Hmm?"
The obedient Empress nodded and shut her eyes.
"Good girl." He left a kiss on her lips and called for Celia.
"The Other Sider pest is outside. I'll crush it myself, so look after my wife," he ordered and pulled a half-face mask from his space storage and attached it on his lower face. He suits up in a matte-black bodysuit, molding the shape of his body perfectly. He stood by the balcony and met Ohms's stares.
The knights withdrew their weapons and began marching back to the Palace now that their Emperor is here. Their top priority now is to secure the Empress's safety and security.
"Ohms, you should run. Run back here! OHMS!" Aloisia demanded as soon as they saw the Emperor. They knew in just one look: their son will die by the hands of that thing.
But seeing him ignited something in Ohms Xirquit. Excitement. The thrill of facing and clashing against a mysterious stranger. He didn't do much during the Armageddon War. The adults did all the work, leaving only a tiny bit to the children. And he hated that he got lesser action. But now?
"No, Mom. It's my time to shine."
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU SAYING! COME BACK HERE AT ONCE! OHMS! OHMS!?"
Aloisia almost threw her fist to her ears when Ohms cut their connection if only her husband didn't stop her. She wrestles him down to free her hand from his grip.
"Xerene! Where are you going!?"
Aloisia didn't look back and went on her way.
"Where else? To drag your stupid feeling-main-character son's ass back to us. I swear to fucking God---if I see him dying by the time I got, I won't fucking save him and laugh on his face!"
The Emperor scanned the visitor below him, but nothing came up. But upon his personal assessment, he could say that the Other Sider is either an Earthling or from a modern civilization, basing alone from the fact that he is wearing a better bodysuit than him. Much cooler even, because his is much simpler as long as his performance will reach his peak and beyond.
"Speak your name," he demanded as he jumped off the balcony.
"Make me." Ohms challenged and changed his weapons. One is a sword, the other is a gun.
'Interesting. He must really be an Earthling, too,' the Emperor thought with a smirk.
The fight began with a blinding flash as both combatants launched themselves at each other, colliding with a force that sent shockwaves rippling across the Empire. The Emperor's strikes were swift and calculated, each blow infused with raw, sharp essence, while Ohms Xirquit countered with vicious swipes and parries with his sword.
Everything stood still as the historic clash took place before their eyes, reflecting the quick flashes of light coming from their weapons and trails.
Both are moving at an incredible speed. The Emperor's stats are greater than his, but Ohms Xirquit can equal him as long as he focuses. They are talking by fighting, feeding each other's bloodlust and longing for action.
Ohms is doing well for himself until he was taken off guard when the Emperor pointed his finger at him, surprising him with a series of laser beams and balls of energy.
"Fuck!"
Aloisia hit her brakes when she made it outside. Her feet were pinned against the soft, white sands, as her bulging eyes shrink from the event she's currently witnessing.
The black hole of Prince Valor has grown and is absorbing the Wall. And the ocean is empty, evaporated after falling into the fissure.
The Wall is losing. Who knows what will happen to them if the Wall's force that is keeping the black hole together is gone?
"KI'ZAAR!" she shrieked as her feet struggle to where to go. To the Ki'zaar to seek his help and answer the calamity, or to her foolish son who could be dying by now?
Azarese stood before him. The Ki'zaar was surprised and immediately left his seat to come to her himself.
"Destroy the Wall."
It made the Ki'zaar stop.
"Mi'zaar, what do you mean?"
But Azarese said she said.
"I know you're still not well. You're enduring it. Grant my wishes and I will complete whatever the cycle is with you. First, destroy the Wall."
The Ki'zaar was speechless. Where is this all coming from? He's greatly baffled. The Wall? Destroy it? For what? If the Other Side, where they came from, is the opposite of this Side, why would she ask him to destroy the Wall? For what?
"Are you going to do it or not?"
Her face is serious. Too straight, too blank. He couldn't read her at all and he wouldn't want to read her mind, but he wanted to know why she's suddenly asking him to do something that is the same as committing a crime. He's a righteous man. An honorable dragon. He tried to invade her mind but he couldn't, which is a first for him.
"I have no need for useless men." Then she began to walk away with a dark and grim expression on her face.
If he wouldn't do it, then she will. And if she dies, she will consider it as a gift.
But the Ki'zaar caught her in his arm. It was not tight, between them is the Prince. His hand traveled to her waist, then gently caressing her lower abdomen.
"Don't shatter my heart like this, my Mi'zaar," he softly whimpered to her ear and rest his head on her shoulder.
"Give me a reason why I must. Give me a reason why I must take that risk. I would do anything for you, as long as you will give a reason to. I am sorry, but I am a responsible being. You can step on me as long as I allow it, but never bend me. I am sorry, but give me a reason."
'If it's Watts, he would do it without thinking twice...'
But the Ki'zaar is not him. He's a responsible ruler, wise and just. He's doing his best to adjust and adapt. He's willing to do anything for her---as long as there is a reason. A logical and acceptable reason.
She faced him; the fury in her eyes is calm but it made him tremble.
"Then see it for yourself. All the reasons inside this fucking head. Then decide."
She stepped back and stretched her arm to grab him by the neck. It's not tight, but it's not loose either.
"If my reasons are not enough to alter everything you believe in, then I'm afraid that we are not a match made in heaven. I am wicked. I am twisted. I am evil. You are but the opposite of me. And I will leave you. I will take my son with me because he's mine. You don't care about me, so why would I to you? Go, invade my mind. See what you must see. And I wish you can handle all of it. "
Ohms sustained the pure energy ball he received from the Emperor. He stopped its momentum with his bare hands, but the ball is still trying to push through his chest. The Emperor made it grow. The suit gave up and melted away. The skin of his hands burned, cooking his flesh.
He screamed and between his hands and the energy ball, he manifested the same thing.
"Give up and just die. That's gonna warm you up," the Emperor, now chilling on top of a broken roof, advised him. He's watching Ohms. It's amusing how someone like him managed to withhold the might of his magic.
"I---should say that to you. Bet your parents never gave you warmth! Mine did! So much that it burned me more than this bullshit is burning me!"
His own energy ball grew, pushing the Emperor's back and him.
With enough strength, he directed both back to the Emperor. He sighed and mad his magic eat Ohms's. Now, it has become bigger and brighter and more powerful.
Ohms balanced himself. He's battered. The time they spent fighting is short but Ohms was already exhausted and beaten. The Emperor isn't even taking him seriously. He's just toying with him. A warm-fucking-up.
"Here, catch this and die." He threw the energy ball back to Ohms and didn't care about what happened next to him. He stretched his arms and stand up. It's over. He had fun, a little bit.
However, when he saw the black hole sucking the Wall in, he stood still. He opened his palm, making a flower out of nothing. One by one, he pulled its petals.
"It's gonna break, it's not gonna break. It gonna break, it's not gonna break..." And the last petal said, "---It's going to break."
Just then, the Ki'zaar had placed his hand firmly on the Wall, and instantly, the skies above began to warp and twist, splitting open to reveal the vast expanse of space.
"Meteor Shower."
Hundreds of blazing meteors hurtled toward the Wall with terrifying speed.
The Empress, awake and sat on the bed, watch the shower with her baby. Celia is by the door, as awestruck as her.
And right before their eyes, the Wall submitted. The black hole suck it wholly, revealing the paradise on the Other Side. The skies are much clearer, and the high ocean waters were slammed to the ground of their Side when the Wall was lifted.
Time stood still for every living thing as they watch a black hole swallow the Wall and got the first glimpse of what's beyond it.
Chancellor Titania looked down at the body that was ejected from the Other Side. Sizzling and smoking.
Ohms's burnt hands twitched. He got up. His suit have melted on his skin. He has become unrecognizable.
The flow of time suddenly became slow for Jeth Draven when he dived to save his wife from the blade that's about to divide her neck and head. Time flow naturally when they landed on the ground and the Chancellor's face was slashed.
"Av... Avelin... L-Love..."
Chase Hyatt only moved for a second, but the following seconds, he already lost his head. Ohms Xirquit sat by as he watch the Emperor behead every single one of them. His mouth was left gaping, shaking and breathing ruggedly as the nightmare happen before him.
"S... Stop..."
Jeth Draven buried his wife's head to his chest and screamed.
"RUN! JETH DRAVEN!" Ohms screamed and reached out his hand to save him. He shoot beams to the Emperor but they were too weak.
His heart seem to stop from breathing when the husband and wife's heads rolled to his feet.
"All..." He heard the Emperor murmur as he straighten his back, "...this time... You were enjoying life in here?"
Ohms's hand fell to the sands. He shuddered, his blank eyes staring at the artifact he summoned.
It was like...his mother's.
"That would mean they're alive here, too."
Who the Emperor is pertaining to, he don't know. He spared Ohms and began walking away, then flew. The path he took? To the Warlock Empire.
"Husband..." The Empress dropped her feet to the ground and stand up, alerting Celia.
"Husband, gone. Husband... Danger. Danger. Husband---"
"M-My Empress, the Emperor is well! He's... He's training! That's right, he's training in the Tower!"
"No... Husband, danger. Husband! HUSBAND!"
"Hands, please! Don't let the Empress go!" Celia cried out after the Empress shoved her aside so she could take her leave.
Hands heard Celia and understood her request. Though they somewhat have a mind of their own, they are deeply connected to how the Empress uses them. It's contradicting. Two pairs were grabbing on the pole of the bed to prevent the Empress from leaving while the other pair is fighting them so they could go.
"Empress, the Prince will be lonely without you! Look, o-oh no, the Prince is crying!" Celia acted and rock the toy side by side, but it had no effect on the Empress.
"Husband. Baby."
"Y-Yes! The Emperor is making another baby! So please..." She went back to her and gently placed the toy in the Empress's arms, "Please take care of the Prince. He's sleepy and sad. He needs his Mommy."
"Mommy..."
"Yes, Empress. You are a mother."
From the skies above, the Emperor looked down on the prosperous Empire below him. The Warlians were squinting their eyes as they look up and point at him. Some of the Imperial Family were outside; came out to see the phenomenon happening. And now, a strange black being is over their heads and they feel threatened.
Archduke Karrygyl turned around to face them, "L-Let's go inside. Dispatch the knights this instance and---"
Their eyes widened by the sudden appearance of the Emperor behind him and cut his head clean.
A horrified shriek escaped from the women's mouths. Prince Ocean raised his hands to build a wall between them and the Emperor, but he forced his way through it and sliced the Prince from his head down to his stomach open.
"OCEAN! FIRE---"
The Emperor teleported behind Prince Fiery and kicked him in the spine, snapping it and pushing him away. The Prince screamed in pain and cried. He couldn't move. He's paralyzed!
"Mons... Monster..."
Prince Terra mumbled and wet his pants when the Emperor towered over him. His tears leak from his eyes.
"You are." The Emperor sliced him diagonally and turned to the last among the four who is crawling away from him and screaming his lungs out as his tears fall from his eyes.
"DAD! DAD! KUYA IZAAC! KUYA DAVORIN! HELP! HELP! AAAAHHHH!!!! DAD!"
Prince Izaac opened his eyes. When he got up abruptly from the bed, his head hurt and dizzy. Princess Aurora is lying to her side, her back facing him. She's not asleep but grieving. Mourning, weeping.
"Always a hero, but you couldn't save your own sons," she told him and it destroyed him.
"I...will be back."
Princess Aurora shut her eyes and buried her sons' clothes in her chest.
Suddenly, the Heart Palace exploded to smithereens.
The Emperor stepped on Prince's Zephyrus's leg. The poor Prince screamed his lungs out from the pain he experienced for the very first time. The Emperor then just gave the Heart Palace a blast. He meant to end everyone in it in one go, then he'd play with the ones who were left with him outside. Like Prince Zephyrus. Oh, he hated the four very much. So, he gave each a magic circle to heal them slowly. Very, very slowly, and painfully. So that every second is a torture, so that they will never forget it, so that their flesh will feel so hot but it's not burning.
"WHY! WHO ARE YOU! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO US!" Prince Zephyrus bawled. He's scratching the floor, trying to get away from him but the Emperor is stepping on his flattened leg.
"Me? I am---"
His hand acted on reflex and blocked the sword that suddenly came out of nowhere.
Prince Izaac built the Heart Palace to what it was once and put everything inside a protective barrier.
The Emperor's face slowly contorted into an unhinged grin when he recognized the bastard who launched an attack against him.
"IZAAC DRAGUNOVV!!!" He yelled his name as the Prince push him back and away. Away from the Palace, then high up in the air to settle things there so the damages would be minimal.
"I will kill you."
Prince Izaac lost his control and unleashed 10% of his power without considering his Limiter. The Emperor laughed as loud as he could and as irritating as he could. He spread his arms to his side and guffawed.
"Is this what's in here all along!? Yes! YES! No, Izaac! You're not killing me! I AM KILLING YOU."
Celia was this close in helping the Empress fall asleep when they heard consecutive explosions outside. When she looked through the windows, he saw a couple going their way. The ones she fought in the island.
"Pests!"
She pulled out a new mask and wore it. Before going out to silence them forever, she locked the Empress inside her chambers.
"WHERE DID YOU TAKE MY SON!"
Aloisia left her husband behind and locked in when she found Celia.
The ground beneath Prince Izaac fractured and erupted as colossal chunks of rock and debris were ripped from the earth, suspended in mid-air, and then hurled toward the Emperor with terrifying velocity. But the Emperor, equally formidable, responded with a fierce concentration of energy, telekinetically deflecting the massive projectiles, shattering them into dust with a mere thought. Whilst the dusts are blocking each other's sight, he took the Emperor by surprise and landed the first hit on his face.
Voltage Xirquit had to stop from his pace. It wasn't his intention to, but he was left to watch his wife solo the fight against the stranger. He knows she's not in a bloodlust yet, but the strength she's pouring is obviously giving the other party a hard time.
"WHERE IS MY SON!"
Celia coughed up blood after taking the punch in her gut. The blood she threw up wet her face, thus, her mask loosened. Aloisia continued throwing punches. Without her artifact. What's the sense of using artifacts when she could easily settle the score between them with fists and feet alone?
Her husband gulped.
Watts arrived and stopped his mother's fists. His eyes widened from the force and strength he had to endure upon impact. It shook his system, scared his bones, and terrified his heart. It was so powerful that the bones from his fingers up to his shoulders burst.
"W-Watts! Another stupid son of mine! Why!?"
Aloisia pulled her fist back and caught her son in her arms. That's the cue for her husband to come. On the other hand, it was as if Celia met a ghost upon hearing the name she said out loud.
"I-I'm okay. I'm fine. I can heal myself," he assured her. Aloisia, frustrated and everything, opened her helm and cried.
"Why are you...like this? My oldest and my youngest, both smart and stupid. Your brother... I don't even know where he is. That fucking son of a b---"
"It's your son. Don't say the last part. It would be you," Voltage Xirquit sighed then looked at the stranger before them. His eyes were as wide as hers now that her face is bare.