Striga walked forward her shaky steps had long settled down though her energy had been mostly sapped, she steadied herself using the wall to help her move forward, and soon her eyes fell upon a set of lights ahead of her, “An exit.” Striga muttered, pushing away from the wall and walking out into the light, her eyes fell upon the sight ahead, Delish stood at the top of a large circular platform a fuzzy ball of light was ahead of him, “Beautiful is it not? And though it is not complete… With a few more souls… we shall have a Stella of our own.”

  Striga narrowed her gaze, “Stella? The wish-granting device?”

  Delish raised his hands, “The original Stella was crafted similarly, by my forebears, to send this land skyward… But I would use it for a different purpose! I would use it to rebuild our land so that we can be together forever Striga.”

  “At the cost of everyone else around us!?! I won’t allow it, I’ll stop you!” She shouts, taking a step forward, but she stops when she feels Delish’s overwhelming magic even now a bead of sweat formed on the back of her neck.

  Delish smirked looking over his shoulder, “Oh? And… how do you intend to stop me?” His tone was deadly serious despite his smirk, “You and your pitiful magic, yes you're powerful indeed… but this is a spell cast by an incantation… no magic on earth can stop this.” he stated pointing to the fuzzy ball of light above, he was right Incantations will keep going unless…

  Striga looked to the ground, “...That is unless the caster himself decides to stop it.” she confirmed, “So all I have to do is convince you to stop.” There was another way.

  Delish dropped that smirk instantly, “Of all the avenues you could have taken, you would choose one that is impossible? Hm. And here I thought your strategies were perfect…”

  “...I only use information that I have to create the outcomes that I want. Sadly this time I don’t have that information, so… while it may be out of character for me I’m taking a page out of someone else's book and making a gamble.” Striga declared her memories flashing to the countless times Skylar had saved her.

  Delish ears perked at that, and he put a hand on his hip, “Oh? Found someone else to care for; Have you?” his eyes fell to Striga’s hand noticing the missing ring, his eyes narrowed slightly.

  “That’s besides the poin-”

  “That is PRECISELY the point!” he shouted his anger finally boiling over, “I have ripped you from the clutches of tragedy and saved you time and time again!” he threw his hand to the side, his eyes bulged from his skull his fury could not be contained, “But again and again and again and again! You look for others, I am RIGHT HERE! Why can’t you see what is right in front of you!?! The one you should love, the one you should worship, the one you should praise! He is right in front of you!” So shouted Delish.

  Striga frowned at that, “Are you stupid?” She asked suddenly, her gaze covered by her hair, “You kill, you scheme, you plot the death of a whole nation.” She slammed her boot down onto the ground and her hair lifted some as she took a step forward. It was brief but Delish could see Striga’s gaze filled with malice, “And you still think I could retain any feeling of love for you?!” she then gritted her teeth looking to the ground, “...Well you're not wrong. I love you. I love you more than anyone else. I love you so much that my heart feels like it’s going to burst.” her hands reached up to her chest and she clenched it biting her lip as tears formed on her eyes, “But… I can’t let you do this, no matter how much I love you. I have to save you from the monster you're becoming. Isn’t that my duty as your friend!?!” she shouted looking up at Delish.

  Delish paused at that and he gritted his teeth, “This is my dream, Stella is right there… I just have to make my wish and then… and then it’ll be over, we can be free! We can be together Striga! Without the need for a nation! We can travel, we can see the sea! We can do anything together!” Delish pleaded, holding out his right hand, “Just take my hand… And for once… put your faith in me.” His pleas were earnest, a final desperate cry.

  Striga looked to that hand and closed her eyes slowly, “...My feelings for you will never die, no matter how long this world goes, my love will remain imbued with it.” she walked forward slowly, the weight of the world on her shoulders, she already said she’d do it didn’t she?

  She’d take the gamble.

  And bet everything on her next move.

  So she reached out and took his hand, and a single string wrapped around his fingers, binding their souls together, Delish’s eyes widened in realization of what Striga’s plan was, he tried to move away, but Striga pulled on his hand pulling him close, and she uttered a single word, “Sorry.” As soon as that word was uttered she perked her lips together bringing in the one she loved so dearly into their first and final kiss, before she reached for the knife on the sheath in her back, with one swift moment she plunged it into Delish’s chest stabbing him right in the heart. In that same motion, she removed that knife, and his blood shot out covering Striga.

  Delish stumbled back, his eyes wide in pain, “S-Striga…?”

  All he could do was ask the question as he fell off the platform. Striga stood there with a frown looking at the fuzzy ball in the distance it had already begun to fade away.

  The walls began to rumble, and Striga found herself staring at the sight, little white motes of light began to scatter and flow away, she reached up hoping to catch one, a single light made it to her palms and slipped through her fingers.

  As soon as it did, the ground broke beneath her feet and she found herself falling.

  “I see… So that’s the way of the world… I wonder… in our next life…?”

  The clouds came ever closer, and as it did so a sad smile formed on her face as tears left her eyes, “Will I be allowed happiness?”

  Something grabbed the back of her shirt keeping her suspended in the air, before throwing her onto a small wedge of land.

  Jenna stared forward from a pink portal she had opened, watching Striga’s unconscious form.

  “...Just for today, I’d rather not see Skylar’s face drenched with tears. Consider yourself lucky protector.” Jenna declared turning around and closing the portal she had made.

  Chapter 20: Our Ascension.

  Skylar stared up at the castle gates just before her, a frown appeared on her face, “She’s just inside…” she muttered to herself, taking in a breath and stealing her nerves before reaching out and putting her hands on the large double doors using her strength to push them open.

  Skylar paused as the doors parted there was a creaking sound as they did so, and she could feel the tension growing in the air around her, she was greeted to the insides of the castle, large stone walls and red carpets made up the place and there was a certain regal charm to the whole area, but that feeling of being in a regal place was cut off by the pink strings littering the wall. The castle itself was empty despite these factors. Devoid of any signs of life that should litter a place like this.

  A frown creased Skylar’s lips as she stepped into the building, the doors slammed shut behind her.

  The strings along the walls lit up magic flowing through them like blood veins in a body, “Follow the strings and find the source…” Skylar muttered to herself yet even so, she rubbed her shoulders nervously as a chill ran up her spine.

  She walked forward through these empty hallways, seeing the carpet grow more tattered as she did so.

  She paused when an open door caught her view to the left, it showed a kitchen.

  It was in disarray, cuttery and platters scattered about and shattered, she even spotted bits of blood.

  An omen of what was to come.

  She took in a shaky breath and moved on, walking along the hallway she took note of paintings that lay on the way, most of them were broken down.

  The strings crossed out the faces.

  They don’t matter.

  That’s how Skylar interpreted it, her gaze fell onto a staircase ahead.

  Slowly she began her ascent as the strings grew along the walls greater in numbers as she did so.

  The pink strings almost seemed to glow scarlet as Skylar reached the top of the stairs, straight ahead was another large door.

  It was covered in those strings, they bulged, pulsing excited at the coming of the hero of the skies.

  Of course, Skylar stared at the sight of a scowl on her face as she approached the door reaching up to the sword on her back, only for her eyes to widen just a bit in surprise as the strings began to recede into the cracks of the door.

  And slowly the door began to part, opening right before Skylar’s eyes.

  Straight ahead, Lust sat on her throne, her eyes closed and she rested her head on her fist.

  The floor was submerged in blood, high enough for it to reach Skylar’s calf.

  It was kept in the room by a thick layer of strings just in front of the door.

  Skylar said nothing, stepping over the strings and troughing through the blood.

  Above her were the corpses of every soldier that had served Lust, Lust slowly opened her eyes and spoke her words, “And so you arrive. My Mirror.”

  Skylar stood just a bit away from the stairs that led to the throne, “...I was starting to hold some reservations about slaying you. But after what I’ve seen here? I think I can safely say you're a monster.”

  Lust let out an amused huff at that, “‘Monster’ is such a broad term, every man woman, and child on this miserable rock has the makings of a monster. It’s our nature.”

  “We also have the makings to be decent people. Something you tried yourself. Before you threw it aside.” Skylar fired back with a glare.

  “Saw that did you?” Lust asked with an amused smile there was a sense of pity held beneath her gaze, “You saw the whole tale. I really did try, you know. But time after time, the world reminded me… I’ve never been cut out to be human. A monster’s life is the one for me.” She then raised her hand examining her nail, “But even now I am not the strongest. Outclassed by my peers.”

  Skylar scowled, “So sad for you. Do you expect even an ounce of pity from me?” she asked this question her eyes flashing with anger.

  “Of course not.” Lust lowered her hand and slowly stood from her throne, “I expect understanding.”

  She held her hand out to the side, “You who stands on the pinnacle of human might, the world in the palm of your hand… Why do you cling to these lesser creatures when you could be so much more? Wrath has fallen to your hand as well, hasn’t he? If you asked Origin… I’m sure he’d make you an Eternal.”

  Skylar stared forward clenching her fingers around the hilt of her sword as she took a breath before taking a step forward, “And I’d have to decline, I’m not the type to so callously throw the world aside. Besides…” Skylar paused looking over her shoulder at the door behind her before continuing, “There are still some things I want to protect.”

  Lust lowered her right hand frowning as she did so, “Is that so?” she reached out, summoning her blade, “So you would stand against me? Rejecting your true nature to the bitter end?”

  “No.” Skylar held her blade out in front of her chest, her eyes shining through a myriad of colors, “I stand here, over the blood and corpses that you made. As your mirror. As proof that you're wrong.”

  Skylar made this declaration without fear, gritting her teeth, “About the world. About life. And about me.”

  Lust tilted her head to the side wearing an amused smirk, leaning back on the bloodied throne she sat upon Lust crossed her legs and “You're making a poor case if that’s your goal.”

  Skylar took in a breath closing her eyes before she shot forward the blood rocketed up past her thigh and into the air as she closed the distance.

  Lust watched the sight with clear disdain on her face as she lifted her right hand summoning forth an obsidian black blade Lust and Skylar then clashed on those steps, “Let me make a better one for you then.” Skylar growled as sparks flew, “Your goals, your life, and everything you hope to achieve amounts to jack shit. Because I'm going to kill you.”

  Lust laughed at that, “Kill me? You're a little girl whose only known a semblance of power, I’ll crush you underfoot and make you beg for release!” Lust raised her free hand upwards and a set of pink strings shot upwards wrapping around two of the corpses strung above, she yanked, pulling them down and throwing them at Skylar.

  The corpses cracked and twisted as they descended, their bones breaking as they were moved with the strings.

  Skylar grits her teeth, ducking to the right and pulling away from Lust’s blade.

  She then slashed up cutting through the first corpse letting the blood spill over her body, she leaped over the second corpse spinning through the air and slamming her blade down upon Lust’s sword once more.

  “So fond of preaching your right, yet no regard for the dead.” Lust commented as she smiled wickedly, “You're not as pure as you claim.”

  “I never claimed to be pure.” Skylar spat back, “And I’m not going to let the dead stand in the way of my goal of defeating you!” Skylar pushed back leaping away from Lust as Lust slashed forward with her sword failing to hit Skylar and instead slashing at empty air.

  The blood rippled along the ground as Skylar landed, she winced feeling the might that Lust wielded.

  Skylar instantly ducked to the side, as Lust shot past her with a slash through the air, Lust landed on the bloodied ground behind the chosen warrior, Skylar spun around as did Lust, Lust came in low while Skylar came from on high once more there blades clashed.

  The force sent a shockwave that caused the blood around them to form waves, it pushed outward as the duo pushed away once again, their eyes fixed on each other, Lust raised her free hand skyward once again sending strings up into the air.

  They grabbed onto the corpses one after the other without halting.

  Skylar grits her teeth shooting forward once more, her steps were light but they caused ripples in the blood.

  Lust’s smile widened as she pulled on the strings, “Howl louder little pup!” She roared, pulling the corpses down, they jolted moving as they started to fall towards Skylar.

  Skylar lowered herself to the ground bending her kness before leaping through the air gripping her blade with both hands and cutting through a handful of corpses, she then craned her neck to the side avoiding a swipe from one of those string-attached corpses.

  Lust was moving them of course, puppeteering them like they were toys.

  Skylar hit the ground leaping backward, her eyes switching to a crimson glow as she coated her blade in flames slashing forward creating a wave of flames that fired through the air.

  Lust paused as the flames washed over the arena before she retracted her strings and slashed at the beam of red flames.

  Cutting it just before it met her, but of course, her strings were now gone.

  Lust growled staring at Skylar as Lust hit the ground, Skylar took in a breath before darting forward.

  Raising her blade and slashed down at Lust, Lust however was faster moving to the side and slashing at Skylar’s gut.

  Skylar stepped back, but the blood on the ground made her lose her footing and her stomach was cut, it wasn’t deep but it was enough to make her wince as she got the distance.

  Lust looked at her blade with an amused hum, “Your magic is troublesome, but it’s nothing I cannot contend with. And your swordsmanship is sloppy at best.” Lust then stared forward, “It would seem the outcome of this battle is already decided.”

  Skylar clutched her stomach a scowl on her face as she stared forward locking her gaze onto Lust, “You think so huh? I’m not out of this fight just yet you know…” Skylar kept her right hand on her sword but it was trembling.

  “Of course.” Lust started to walk forward, slashing her blade across one of the corpses that littered the bloodied ground, “I’ve lived my life. Tried my best to see it out, and what did it get me?” Lust stepped upon a corpse, cracking its bones as she approached, “My only bit of kindness was found dashed upon the rocks, a shame really. If that man hadn’t done what he did, I might have deluded myself into thinking this world was worth saving… but it’s not. There is no life on this planet that is worth it, all lives fall into pitiful groveling when faced with someone stronger than them.”

  Lust now stood in front of Skylar, she pointed her blade forward right to Skylar’s face “So then little pup… bow down. Do that and I may consider sparing your life.”

  Skylar stared at the ground with a frown on her face, she could feel her vision blurring in and out.

  She fought hard just to get her, and she was running out of energy…

  Her eyes closed and she took in a breath searching her thoughts for an answer to the question.

  She could hear a chorus of voices, friends, family, and her thoughts all shouting.

  Screaming at her with the same answer, the same voice.

  And so Skylar slowly began to open her eyes gripping her blade, Lust stared down and raised her sword slashing down.

  Only for her blade to shatter against Skylar’s sword right before Lust’s eyes Skylar slammed her left fist into Lust’s gut sending her flying backward, “I won’t bow to you! Or anyone else who causes senseless bloodshed!”

  Lust stumbled backward clutching her gut as she growled staring at Skylar, “Still fighting the good fight? Why? Whatever for? You throw yourself into harm's way, shackling yourself for the sake of a ‘peace’ that you can’t even believe in!”

  Skylar’s eyes flashed, flowing through a myriad of colors before settling upon one, and Skylar responded, “It’s not my place to decide how the world will turn. My story is only a small chapter in this place… and so I’ll live it, reaching out my hand to others. Raising them higher, so that they can see my dreams through where I cannot.” Skylar responded, stepping forward.

  Lust took a step back, fear entering her gaze as she stared into Skylar’s eyes.

  “Silver…” Lust muttered with a growl, “No that’s… impossible, the elements already struggle to remain connected, a silver-eyed mage cannot exist…” Lust clenched her hands into fists, and Skylar stared forward with her now silver eyes.

  And Lust grits her teeth before throwing a hand to the side, “No, it’s a bluff! You cannot hold that power, you're just an ignorant brat who knows nothing about the world!”

  Skylar responded by putting on a small smile, “You would know, wouldn’t you? You're my reflection after all… one wrong step, one false move and I’d be standing where you are right now.” Skylar declared putting her left hand over her heart, “Scary isn’t it?”

  Lust glanced to the side thinking back on her choices only for anger to replace her thoughts, “You think you're better than me? Is that it brat?” She hissed.

  “No.” Skylar responded flatly, much to Lust’s confusion, “I’m just lucky I suppose. Lucky to have allies that’d rush to my side and help steer me on the right path…”

  Skylar then reached out her left hand to Lust, “Let me help you.”

  Lust stared at that hand for a moment, a frown coming across her face, and she slowly reached out to it.

  Stopping just short before pulling her hand away, “There is no place for me in this world.” She muttered looking to the nearby windows, “Not anymore. A monster will always be a monster. A human will always be human. And a god can never live amongst mortals.”

  Skylar kept her hand outstretched, “Who’s to say we can’t change that?” Skylar offered with a small smile, “We fight and fight for an endless battle that will never truly cease, but I for one don’t want my life to be that full of endless war. I want to laugh, to love, and to live… so if I have to be the one to take the first step I will.”

  Lust chuckled bitterly at that staring forward, “You naive child, you think that will be enough do you?”

  “It’s the first step.” Skylar responded again, “But not the last. All you have to do is take my hand.”

  Lust stared at that hand before lifting her right one her strings began to move across the walls, “Come to think of it…” The blood on the ground began to ripple and Skylar lowered her hand, stumbling around as the ground shook, “I never could stand my reflection.” she clenched that hand into a fist.

  And the entirety of the room began to rumble. The pink strings shot outwards from the blood attempting to wrap around Skylar.

  Only for Skylar to slash downward her blade coated in silver flames, it burned through the strings effortlessly.

  And so Skylar shoots forward, seeing that her attempts at negotiations have failed she fired through the sea of blood and towards her target.

  Lust leaped into the air carried higher by her strings. “It’s about time that I shatter you like the rest!” Lust declared throwing her hand downwards, a flurry of strings shot downwards.

  And Skylar responded by leaping upwards carried by the wind as she replied, “I didn’t come here to fall to you!”

  Stolen story; please report.

  Skylar flew higher, slashing through any strings that got too close.

  But there were many and she was only one girl, soon the thousands of threads threatened to latch onto her.

  So Skylar took in a breath, closing her eyes she threw her arms and screamed, sending flames outwards to burn the strings.

  Lust’s eyes widened and she threw her arms up to shield herself, only for Skylar to close the distance with a gust of wind and cut Lust’s left arm clean off.

  Lust started to fall, and as she entered the air Skylar grabbed Lust by the shirt locking eyes with her, and spoke, “Drown in the sins that you made.”

  Skylar then spun through the air before throwing Lust downwards right towards the pool of blood that lay in wait below.

  The ground shattered, the pool of blood was sent downwards with the ground and Lust found herself staring upwards toward her foe, Lust’s eyes were wide in pain and surprise.

  -“Am I going to lose? To this thing? No… I’m better than this. I’m better than HER I will… I will not…”

  Lust’s eyes glowed with anger, she gritted her teeth and they seemed to grow at least somewhat.

  “I WILL NOT LOSE!” she roared as a pink glow surrounded her.

  Skylar looked down from above, her eyes narrowing as she held her blade in a defensive style ready to take on whatever came even as Lust was now covered by the pooling blood.

  From the pool, a new form exploded upwards.

  Lust’s roar overtook the air, as a dragon rose from the pool.

  The blood poured across its crimson scales draping it in its ichor, Skylar’s eyes widened and she slashed down as the dragon slashed up with its claws.

  Ultimately this resulted in a power struggle as Skylar was pushed further into the skies.

  She let out a cry as they crashed through the roof sending rubble flying.

  The dragon that Lust had become roared spinning vertically and slammed its tail into Skylar her eyes bulged and she could hear some bones back as she was sent flying backward.

  Skylar grunted flipping through the air, before stopping in place she stared forward at the sight.

  The red beast floated there, its wings folded over itself, it took in a breath before throwing those wings aside letting them beat in the wind.

  The simple action pushed the nearby clouds away.

  It was then that Lust heard something, a voice, a voice that gave her a new name.

  “I am…” she spoke, holding her clawed hands outwards, her eyes staring forward with menace, “Bahamut… I am Bahamut.”

  Skylar stared forward now flying in the sky she frowned, “Bahamut…?” She repeated the name, it rang familiar in her mind though she knew not why.

  “Dragons.”

  Alma’s voice suddenly entered Skylar’s head causing her to blink.

  “We are fickle creatures, born unto this world from hatred. And intense longing, a longing that Lust clearly had… All of us are born from the souls of a god, and though her transformation has yet to be complete right now Lust- No Bahamut stands on more than equal footing.”

  Skylar said nothing to that, holding her blade out to her side, “We’ll see about that.”

  Bahamut stared forward at Skylar and spread its wings letting out a roar, Skylar winced at the roar and prepared to fly forward.

  But she paused when she saw something.

  Strands of multicolored energy flew into the air.

  But where from?

  Skylar felt her gaze shift to the island below.

  Of course.

  “She’s draining the island…” Skylar hissed in realization, anger, and a sense of fear etched onto her features.

  Bahamut let out a soft groan as it began to absorb the energy, Skylar shot forward letting out a roar as she brandished her blade.

  Bahamut’s eyes snapped down and it snatched Skylar up in a single grab bringing her up to its maw, “I have you to thank for this don’t I?” Bahamut questioned with a wry smile, “If it wasn’t for your clash, I would have never been born… go on then, say ‘Happy Birthday.’ it’s the least you can do.”

  Skylar growled at that glaring at the beast, Bahamut didn’t seem disappointed instead it seemed amused as it continued, “No? Hm, what a shame…”

  It then beat its wings flying up higher and higher spinning as it did so, “But I have so many new gifts, and I would die if I could not show them off!” Bahamut threw Skylar downwards, and its maw began to grow with power as Skylar approached the castle at an alarming speed.

  “...You know the words. Call for me!”

  Skylar stared up as Bahamut eclipsed the sun, it let out an ear-piercing roar and sent down a wave of rainbow energy upon Skylar.

  But just before it made contact, Skylar opened her mouth and whispered a single word, “Overdrive.”

  As soon as the word left her lips, her eyes turned reptilian and a glow surrounded her body.

  From her chest, a roar exploded followed by a creature.

  It came forth in a glow of golden light slamming against the light of gods, and flying upwards higher and higher.

  Leaving the Shadewalker behind it rose.

  Bahamut closed its maw, just in time to bear witness to claws slamming into its scales causing Bahamut to lurch backward and dart to the side.

  “What… What matter of magic is this?” Bahamut questioned, staring forward, there right before its very eyes.

  Flew Alma, the dragon stared forward with anger in its gaze, “This girl is under my protection Bahamut.” Alma said, “If you would bear the name of king, then you must rip it from my claws…”

  Bahamut stared forward a glare in its gaze, “...I see. So that would make you… Proto Bahamut, the first.”

  “Alma.” Alma corrected without hesitation, “That is the name I have given myself, you would do well to shed yourself of that name as well.”

  Bahamut chuckled, “A name such as this benefits me. After all, I stand higher than all races now! You will not best me ‘Alma’ You should have stayed in your hiding spot within that insolent whelp below.”

  Alma smirked at that baring his fangs, “That ‘insolent whelp’ is a child of the skies, she has served this realm far longer than you ever have… and together we shall strike you down.” With those words, he beat his wings causing the clouds around him to part, and Skylar ascended to his side.

  “...Bahamut was it?” Skylar raised her blade once more, “I’m not done with you just yet, you’ll get your birthday present. And it’ll be fresh out of the oven…” Skylar declared, running her hand across her blade and coating it in silver flames, “Hope you're fine with that.”

  Bahamut chuckled, throwing its arms out, “How amusing, come then! I shall take your bond and sever it along with these skies!”

  With those words Bahamut darted forward, the clouds pushed away from him, and Alma let out a roar closing the distance, spinning in the air as he did so slamming his tail right into Bahamut’s.

  Bahamut hardly flinched; instead, it grabbed Alma by the tail and swung him around like a ragdoll.

  Skylar flew through the air slashing down into Bahamut’s tail Skylar’s eyes widened as her slash did naught to the beast’s tail, and Bahamut growled before spinning around.

  Using Alma’s still swinging body like a club slamming it into Skylar.

  Bahamut let go of Alma letting him fly off as Skylar flew backwards through the air.

  Alma took in a breath as it flipped through the air, before sending out three balls of crimson flames towards Bahamut.

  Bahamut scoffed at the sight before flying past those flames with little effort, “Is that all you can muster?! Mere parlor tricks?!” Bahamut shouted as it breathed in, ready for another beam of flames.

  Alma held out its right hand, “You’ll die a fool's death Bahamut.” He clenched that hand into a fist and the trio of flames that flew past Bahamut halted before flying into Bahamut’s back causing him to flinch and glance to his right.

  Just in time for him to see Skylar plunge her blade into his eye, Bahamut roared, lurching backward and reaching up grabbing hold of Skylar and throwing her through the air wisps of magical energy flew through the sky and into Skylar as she soared backward..

  Bahamut spun around vertically ensuring his tail hit Skylar with extra force desperate to force the girl backward.

  Skylar let out a painful cry as she was sent flying through the air before her back hit…

  Wood?

  She blinked while sitting up, she recognized this place.

  “The Airship?” she muttered with confusion riddled upon her face, before looking over her shoulder, there Julietta was, running right up to Skylar.

  “Look’s like I made it just in time…” she muttered looking ahead at Alma flying through the air, letting loose his breath across the clouds ripping into the very fabric of reality as he did so.

  All the while Bahamut flew expertly through the skies avoiding every lethal blow and taking up more energy from the land below.

  Skylar slowly stood up, “This isn’t good.” Skylar spoke with a frown, “At this rate Babylon is going to sink.”

  Julietta nodded slowly, “A clash between dragons. Something like this hasn’t been seen in years.”

  “And for good reason.” Skylar stepped forward, cracking her neck, “I’m heading back in.”

  Julietta’s eyes widened at that, “Wha- After what just happened you're heading back in!? You’ll die if you go back there, Skylar.”

  Skylar stopped at the front of the ship, turning around slightly, holding her blade tightly in her right hand, “Is that what you think?” Skylar put on a wide smile as her eyes flashed crimson flames burst to life across her sword, “As if I’d ever lose to some hussy who claims to be my equal, I’ll cut her in two and feed her to the rivers of blood!”

  With those words, Skylar leaped forward throwing her arms out, “ALMA! Give me a lift!”

  Alma ceased his breath attacks and flexed his wings, flying downwards so that Skylar could land on his back.

  Bahamut turned her gaze towards Skylar, in a split second Bahamut opened its maw and fired downwards with a mighty breath attack.

  In response to this Skylar slashed into the air her blade sent out a beam of silver fire that collided with Bahamut’s breath cutting through it and forcing Bahamut to close her maw and dart off to dodge.

  In that same instant, Alma caught Skylar and took to the skies once more, he spoke as he did so, “Got a plan kid?”

  Skylar held onto Alma’s back with a frown, “It’s not a foolproof one. But if we can wear her down, I should be able to take her abilities like I did with you… If not, all I need is one good strike.”

  Alma flew into the skies and dead ahead Bahamut lowered himself to the duo’s height, Bahamut stared forward growling at Skylar, “You ant… I shall set you and this entire world ablaze, the shackles that bound me are no more!” Bahamut roared, throwing its arms out and the skies above grew dark, the blue skies changed to a crimson red as Skylar’s eyes narrowed.

  She stood tall on Alma’s back, her jacket whipping back and forth through the air for a moment before she spoke, “All this power… and still you look at me in fear.”

  Bahamut’s eyes bulged at that, “INSOLENT PEST!” he roared dashing forward and slashing down with his claws.

  Only for Alma to slash up with his own, pushing Bahamut away.

  Skylar leaped off Alma’s back, letting out a cry as she attempted to strike at Bahamut’s chest.

  Bahamut growled darting away from Skylar just before she could make contact, attempting to get away.

  Once more a swirl of color came down from below, “Enough games! I’ll return you and this island to dust!” Bahamut let out this cry as flames of rainbow began to form in its maw.

  Alma flew forward to contest this, but it would seem he wasn’t fast enough.

  As Julieta’s airship slammed into Bahamut’s chest, his eyes widened in pain as he grabbed onto the sides of the airship with his claws.

  “Do not think for a second I’ll let you leave this place unscathed Lust!” Julieta shouted on the deck of the airship pointing her blade forward, “I’m not so gutless to leave a child to fight on her own…”

  Bahamut responded by slowly lifting its head revealing the flames of rainbow that poured from its maw it let out a rage-filled roar sending the beam into the sky before bringing it down upon Julieta’s airship, Julieta dodged to the side narrowly avoiding any lethal damage from the blast.

  Bahamut then let go of the ship and started to fly upwards, Skylar stared down at the sight before shouting, “Alma! Fly down there and save them!”

  “What but Skylar-” Alma was cut off as Skylar leaped into the air flying up towards Bahamut.

  Alma of course considered following Skylar but ultimately decided to heed the girl’s orders.

  So he flew downwards, scooping up one half of the airship gathering up the falling occupants, and flying them down to the island.

  Bahamut flew upwards until it eclipsed the sun above it spread its wings throwing its head upwards.

  Once more the rainbow flames condensed together, “The blue, the pure, the dead, and the world… All shall burn in the flames of purification!” Bahamut declared pouring all of its rage down into the next strike.

  Sending the beam of rainbow downwards, so large and bright that it could be seen from every corner of the island below.

  Skylar flew up towards the beam with determination. In her gaze she tightened her grip on her blade, “I’ll protect this world and all of the beauty it has to offer… That. Is my choice!!!”

  Skylar shouted slamming her blade against the flames, she immediately grunted as the flames pushed her down, not even acknowledging her feeble resistance.

  In response to this Skylar growled, “I won’t… I can’t fail again…” Skylar hissed as memories of The Kingdom flowed into her mind.

  The fire, the corpses, and the stench filled her mind.

  “If you need help, then call upon us.” Vita’s voice came from within Skylar.

  And her eyes widened at that before a small smile came to her face, and she let out a cry, wings of flames burst forth from her back as she pushed back against the flames.

  Bahamut stared down at the sight of anger in its gaze, “WHAT!?!”

  Alma stared up from the ground staring up with a smile on his face, “There it is… the prophecy made manifest.”

  Skylar let out a cry flying up absorbing the flames into her wings, the moment Bahamut noticed this she stopped the breath attack and instead breathed in pulling what remained of her flames back and coated herself in those flames flying downwards to meet Skylar head-on.

  Slashing down with its claws.

  They met in the light of the sun slashing down at each other Skylar winced as blood flew from her chest and arms.

  Her blade shattered in the light of the sky around her, all the while Bahamut’s eyes widened as flames of silver coated its body, “Im…Possible…”

  Its body started to crack and fade, before shattering like glass.

  Lust began to fall straight down towards her castle.

  Skylar’s wings faded and she took in a breath as she began to fall as well.

  The duo fell faster and faster until they reached the castle below.

  Lust hit the ground first, right onto her throne and the rubble of her symbol of strength. She growled trying to sit up, only to find that she had no strength left in her body.

  The simple action of moving caused her no end of pain, and the blood that covered her body was most certainly hers…

  She watched as Skylar hit the ground ahead, Skylar groaned slowly getting up to her feet.

  A shaky breath escaped her lips as her bloodied head lifted ever so slightly, locking her eyes on Lust.

  Lust kept her gaze on Skylar and the silence between the duo was broken by Lust at last, “End of the road.”

  Skylar felt her body shake as she took a step forward, it was taking every fiber of her being just to walk forward now.

  She let out a sigh as she started to approach, slowly yet surely, Lust heard the steps and spoke, “You achieved your goal… you walk a path of power, pure and uncontested…” Lust said Skylar remained silent as she continued to walk forward, so Lust continued, “This age of strife will not end you know.” Lust chuckled bitterly though it pained her to do so, Skylar stopped moving and, looking to her right saw a sword was stabbed into the ground, Lust’s blade, Skylar took in a breath reaching out and grabbing the blade, removing it from the stone it was pierced into, Lust looked up at that, “And when you put that sword through me…” Lust muttered as Skylar at last reached the throne, “A new Lust will be born.”

  Skylar looked down at Lust, pity in her gaze as she started to raise that blade, Lust growled, “Do it. Only then will you fully understand.”

  Skylar then took in a heavy breath before thrusting the blade forward stabbing it through Lust’s heart, her eyes remained open as she kept her eyes trained on Lust, Skylar at last gave her response, “I’m sorry that this was the only way to save you.”

  Lust stared up and as the last semblance of life left her eyes, Lust spoke her words raspy and choked with blood, “Rejected… even by my mirror. So this was the price… to my ascension.”

  Skylar stared down at Lust as she drew her last breath.

  It was only then that Skylar allowed herself to look away from the throne and towards the rubble.

  …

  She noticed something, a hole.

  A peculiar hole that was not there before.

  So of course, despite her weakened state Skylar started to approach that hole, her eyes were heavy and she was out of breath.

  But there was still a reason for her to keep moving, “H-Heh, didja see that Tetra? I did it. I… I finally did something right.” Skylar muttered to herself, reaching up and clutching her head.

  It hurt.

  She was in so much pain, but she saved everyone.

  Didn’t she?

  Skylar leaped down the hole and landed with a slight grunt, “Ow, okay… no more drops…”

  She looked around, and saw a hole leading into a cave nearby, “That’s… where Striga should have come out from, right?” She muttered to herself with a frown, “But then where is she?”

  Skylar started to walk closer to the edge, noticing that the area ahead seemed unstable, “Surely she didn’t fall…” Skylar gulped and peered over the edge.

  And there she saw a sight that brought an unexplainable feeling in her heart.

  There was a small outcrop of land, and right there on it.

  Was Striga, her eyes closed and Skylar could see the small movements of her chest heaving up and down.

  Skylar let out a sigh of relief before leaping down despite her earlier statement landing right beside Striga.

  Striga slowly opened her eyes looking up to Skylar, “Showed her a thing or two then…?” Striga questioned with a weak smile.

  Skylar laughed only to instantly wince and fall onto her butt, looking over to Striga, “Yeah. You could say that… And you?”

  Striga paused for a moment looking up at the sky, she slowly sat up, never turning her gaze away from the azure sky above “Got some stuff off my chest, and now he’s gone… It’s strange, but… I think I’ll miss him.”

  Skylar looked over to Striga before looking out to the sky, “I see.” she didn’t know what else to say to that.

  The duo both blinked as they heard a roar, Alma flew down towards the duo.

  Upon his back was Julieta, “There you two are!”

  Skylar blinked at the sight smiling as she saw Julieta only to flinch as she saw Julieta’s face.

  “She’s uh, livid isn’t she?”

  “It would seem that way, did you do something reckless again?”

  “Er. I don’t wanna talk about it.” Skylar blushed, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly, her eyes widened as she felt something.

  A warm feeling.

  Skylar looked down to see Striga hugging her.

  “...You know people might get the wrong idea if you keep holding onto me like that,” Skylar said with a light smile.

  “Just shut up and let me hold you,” Striga responds flatly.

  Skylar said nothing more to that, helping Striga to her feet, and slowly they walked to the edge as Alma approached.

  “The day’s just begun. And our fight is over… So what’s next for you, miss hero?” Striga questioned pulling slightly away from Skylar.

  Skylar let out a hum at that before smirking, “I’ll go where the wind takes me next… though it seems pretty calm as of late.” Skylar then glanced at Striga, “So I guess I’ll stay by your side for a bit longer.”

  Striga’s eyes widened at that before turning back to the skies, “Is that so?” She smiled softly, “I’m glad.”

  Julieta leaped off Alma’s back, “Both of you are beyond reckless and if you weren’t injured I’d beat the shit out of you!!!”

  Alma stared down at Skylar with a piteous smile, and Skylar responded with a small chuckle, “Hey uhh, Julieta… I know you're in a foul mood and all but you think you could help me out?”

  Striga let out a wine, “Noooo, I don’t want her to hold me.” and Skylar responded with an exasperated expression.

  “She’s not gonna hold you… Or at least I hope, I can barely feel my legs as is.” Skylar winced

  Julieta took in a breath and stepped forward helping Julieta along, “...So what’s the plan?”

  “...Head back to Jubilee I guess,” Skylar muttered.

  “Not in our state, we should head back to the town… I’d be a problem if one of us plummeted into The Cloud Sea after all.”

  “You say that as though I’d allow any of you to fall.”

  Julieta glared at Alma, “Oh hush you, I thought you were vanquished…”

  “Er, yeah that might of been my bad…” Skylar stated with a sheepish smile, “I didn’t even know he was hanging around in my heart until a couple of weeks after I fought him. He’s on our side though, you can trust him.” Skylar stated confidently.

  Julieta glared at Skylar but sighed, “I suppose I have no choice…”

  ***

  Origin watched the screen ahead of him as it faded to black, he paused as he saw something.

  A blade at his neck, “And what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting Pride?”

  Pride growled, “Let me kill her.” Pride spat instantly, “She took him from me so let me-”

  “No.” Origin responded plainly, “I allow you your grief, I’m more than aware of how close Wrath was to you, but I will not allow you to resort to rash actions.”

  “Rash actions?” Pride hissed, “You're throwing us at Skylar one after the other, not allowing us to take her on as a unit! You're not asking us to work as a team, you’re… just executing us!” Pride shouted.

  Origin’s face remained calm as he looked over his shoulder, “And what of it?”

  Pride stared forward in shock.

  Origin’s blatant admission of such a thing hurt her more than anything else, so Origin continued, “You are all reborn fragments of something greater. More than half of you fail to do anything worthy of your fragments… so I shall make better use of them.” Origin declared.

  Pride grits her teeth and raises her blade slashing down at Origin, but her blade shatters as soon as it flies through the air.

  And she fell to her knees covered in overwhelming weight, “I said I’d allow you your grief.” Origin declared standing up, “But that is over now, perhaps I should dispose of you as well.” he started to turn around.

  Lifting a hand Pride could feel something tightening around her neck as she was lifted upwards.

  Origin didn’t offer any words as he watched the life get choked out of Pride.

  But then…

  A new sound came into his ears.

  A… slurping sound?

  Origin turned his gaze to the right, there.

  A girl was sitting. She wore a long red dress and had brown sandals.

  Her purple hair made her stand out even in this theater.

  And in her right hand, she had a small drink that she was slurping loudly, she let the straw pop out of her mouth with a ‘pop’ a smile dancing across her lips.

  “Now Origin… I think Pride there has the right idea, this Skylar of yours… You seem so sure she’ll succeed in what you’ve got planned but I’m not convinced.” The girl spoke.

  Origin didn’t respond, staring up at her.

  So the girl tilted her head, “Hm? What’s wrong old man? Cat got your tongue? Can’t see me? Helloooo?” the girl threw her cup letting it hit Origin’s head, the lid popped off and the contents splattered over him.

  The girl that stood up in her chair, taking steps over the tops of the theater chairs moving down them like they were staircases, “Don’t tell me? You thought I’d be gone longer.”

  The girl grabbed Pride by the arm and threw her aside, Pride hit the walkway ground gasping for air.

  And Origin stared at the girl before him speaking, “What are you doing back so soon Gluttony? I gave you a mission didn’t I?”

  Gluttony smiled pleased to be addressed by name, “You did, I got bored of that though. I mean slaughtering a few people that you seem to be mildly annoyed by brings me no amount of boredom… this though.” Gluttony turned her gaze from Origin and to the screen, “Heh, that Skylar brat… She could be fun~”

  “I forbid it!” Origin shouted, only for him to wince as Gluttony slammed her foot into his face pushing Origin onto the chair.

  Gluttony glared down at the man, “Giving me orders now? When did you grow so bold little pup~” She questioned, a pressure filling the room.

  It was stifling like the air had just left the building.

  Pride could do nothing but stare in fear.

  And Origin managed to choke out his next words, “She needs… time, time to grow.”

  Gluttony frowned at that, “No.” She removed her foot and turned to the screen ahead, “You can accelerate the process of growth. That part is easy…”

  Origin looked to Gluttony with concern, “What are you plotting…?”

  Gluttony let out a hum putting a finger to her chin looking over her shoulder and she smiled innocently, “...She’s a Shadewalker isn’t she? But in comparison to Anarchy, she’s so disappointing… So I’ll make her a tasty morsel, one worthy of the name Shadewalker…”

  Origin grits his teeth, “You intend to push her to that limit? You’ve gone mad, she can never overcome it.”

  Gluttony chuckled, “Oho? A challenge? I do take such pleasure in proving you wrong… in two years I’ll make her a threat worth your full attention. Of that much, I promise you.”

  Origin offered no more words to the mad woman before her.

  And Gluttony leaped from the chairs, landing back into the walkway, picking up Pride by the back of her shirt, “Come on short stuff, no more bugging the worthless sack of shit~”

  And with that Origin was left alone once more.

  Origin let out a tired sigh running a hand down his face, “Well this is a fine mess… Now that Gluttony is involved there is no telling how this will go.” he looked to the screen ahead of him with a frown creasing his face, “No, this can still work in our favor. I will not be beaten by her… not when it comes to this.” he declared standing up, “It’s my will that keeps our species going. And it is my will that shall save humanity…”