50 The Final Conflic (2/2)
”Oh, how rude. A man should never expect a lady to reveal herself when she is not yet ready to do so. I haven't even used my powers on you yet.” She scoffed, getting disgruntled looks from both of the brothers who were preparing to attack. ”Don't look at me like that, it's so unbecoming of you both.” Imposter Talis snorted, as she flew up into the air to use her tail to ram Rocky into his brother, knocking both back into the dirt. She hovered there, laughing. ”Kee hee hee!” She cackled, diving down at the male dragons, to spiral through the air and shoot herself right through them, before gracefully landing at a distance. ”The impious will fall to Grand Master Aoba, for he is the chosen one.” She said, revealing her true form to them, the succubus, Horrifica. ”Treasonous traitors, such as yourselves, have no business interfering with my master's plans. No. Rather, I shall force you to bend the knee to him ONCE AGAIN!” Horrifica exclaimed, lifting her eye-path, to use her hidden eye's hypnotic powers, in attempt to brainwash them.
Before either could make another move, their bodies froze with their irises glazed over as if they were in a trance.
This pleased the succubus, ”Now you're mine! Kee hee hee!!” She gleefully cackled.
Her content in this was soon broken, as a samurai sword swung from seemingly no where, to hack her body in half. Mid air, the succubus horizontally split in twain, with her enraged eyes reeling to focus on her attacker. Behind her stood Nobou, with Talis not far behind.
”You fool.” Were the words that left Horrifica's succulent lips, as her body suddenly shifted back together, before she could even hit the ground. She hovered in the air with her wings, leering to the two new Terra before her. ”Did you really think that would work on ME?” She scoffed, holding to her bosom. ”Have you not once ever encountered a succubus before, 'love'?” She asked in a mocking manner. ”You can't kill me, without striking my heart, but there is NO WAY you will EVER make such an accomplishment! Unlike other succubus, I can move it to ANYWHERE in my body!” Horrifica scoffed, making the mind controlled Rocky and Heath turn to face Nobou and Talis with her charm.
”Are you done talking yet?” Nobou asked, gripping to his swords.
This motion and tone seemed to intrigue Horrifica. ”I can tell my powers won't phase you, but that does not mean I am out of alternative methods... There is something you want, in which you can no longer have. Rather. Someone?” Her lips curled as her form shifted, taking the physical appearance of Tyr. ”Am I right?” She asked, in a menacing tone, through the face of Nobou's recently departed lover.
This had Nobou shaken, he could not believe his eyes at this sight. ”T-Tyr?...” He barely mouthed.
Horrifica kept the form, raising her hands up, as if to call Nobou closer, with a subtly deceitful smile forming. ”Nobou, she's trying to manipulate you! Don't fall for her trick!” Talis pleaded, seeming to know Horrifica all too well.
The imposter Tyr began to engage with Nobou, ignoring Talis as 'he' drew closer to the smaller man. ”Don't listen to that woman, she's trying to force us apart.” Tyr said, as he ran his fingers along Nobou's cheek.
Nobou stared, unable to fathom how this could be possible. He KNEW what she was, so how was he falling for this?! An undertone of frustration began to cross his face. He found himself being drawn in, and not by some hypnotic trance. It was as if part of him was truly believing what he was seeing in front of him, despite knowing deep down that this was not truly Tyr before him.
”Nobou!” Talis called, trying to reach for her brother, however Horrifica was not about to allow her to interfere.
A grimore appeared, hovering beside the imposter Tyr as powers of his suddenly began to be replicated. Spirit-fire began to float around them before barraging over to Talis, smashing her back into the dirt as the hypnotized Heath and Rocky began to close in on her. Tyr's attention was now fully on Nobou, as the small dragon continued to be pulled in by this succubus. Step by step, Nobou came closer, unable to break from his path to this illusion before him. Nobou came into the imposter's embrace, not seeing the deceptive grin forming. Talis was struggling from her position, being held back by her friends that were under the succubus' spell. Tyr flexed his claws, preparing to impail the dragon in his grasp, when suddenly the cold steel of Nobou's blade had been struck upwards into the imposter's chest cavity.
Rather than being stunned, the imposter began to laugh, uncontrollably. ”KEE HEE HEE HEE HEE HEE HEE!!!!!” Horrifica laughed, taking back her true form as she swung Nobou away with her bat-like wings. ”Need I remind you what I had already proclaimed, dragon? You CAN NOT kill me!” She cackled, flapping her wings to pull herself into the air with her grimoire following her.
Nobou was getting back to his feet, clutching tightly to his katanas, as his focus peered to Talis' position and then to Horrifica. ”Release my sister and the others.” He demanded.
”Let me think.” Horrifica mockingly pondered, before quickly saying, ”Not likely.” She scoffed, channeling magic with her spell book. ”Since manipulation will not suffice, then a duel you shall have.”
”Why must you fight against your own kind this way, Horrifica?! The Rhyme. Aoba. They are only using you!” Talis suddenly shouted, drawing the eyes of both combatants.
”My kind? You mean the fiends that fight with the Amygdala?” Horrifica made a face of disgust. ”You misunderstand, Talis. They side with the race I DESPISE the most, and Aoba, why, he's not as you think him to be. He is a GOD amongst men! He IS the will of the Maker! I will not part from my Master, for Aoba and I are bound as ONE!!”
The succubus flew at them, casting dark magic the spiraled from her finger tips. Nobou intervened, cutting the spells in half to thrust the magic to either side of him as he blocked her path to Talis. ”Your fight is with me.” He said sternly.
”Nobou, be careful.” Talis softly said, concerned for her brother and the child he was carrying.
”Very well, your funeral.” Horrifica's lips curled as she softly chortled under her breath.
Twirling her finger around, Horrifica created a dark vortex that spun around like a twister in the path of the dragon samurai. Water pockets formed inthe air as Nobou lifted his free hand up, luring the magic around him as he cast it the succubus. The spells clashed, causing both to disperse, with Nobou taking this opening to rush through to Horrifica. He came in close, clashing back and forth with her briefly before hacking off both her arms that came right back to her like her body had done before. This only made her laugh again, as she through Nobou back down with another spell from her book.
Talis was still restrained by her friends that were under Horrifica's thrall, but they did not seem to harm her, as if Horrfica wanted her to see Nobou's suffering. She could do nothing but watch, as Nobou and the succubus continued to fight back and forth, but her worry only increased. Nobou was struggling terribly against this fiend, no matter what he did she just kept snapping back. His hair parted briefly as his unusual eyes focused for her, seeing the succubus take the form of Gaigas this time. As the black dragon dove from the sky with green flames blasting from his mouth to ignite the surrounding nature into a brush fire, Nobou prepared to charge. However, as he shifted his footing, he felt an odd presence beside him, a ghostly aura that was there with the faint shape of Tyr. Along side this spirit, Nobou shifted to engage the incoming fire breather. With water forming around him to dissolve the flames, Nobou raised his katana over his head to bring it down upon the shapeshifter. He felt his sword being guided, like something was telling him where to aim. As it met it's mark, the blade collided with the horns of Horrifca's form of Gaigas.
The blade connected, swiftly taking the horn right from her head, as her form began to fluctuate violently. Horrfica screeched, with her body becoming unable to control the genetic code of her body and resulted in becoming halfway stuck in her transformed state as Gaigas and half her own. As she screamed, her body began to violently shake, taking the surprise of the surrounding Templars as she violently combusted into flames. Her body practically detonated from within, with her limbs flying from her half formed body. She was quickly forming to dust as the remains collapsed to the ground. Her disembodied head rolled to Nobou's feet, weakly looking to him.
”You... and the others will never succeed... Even... Even if Aoba and the Templar fail here... Our Son... He will rise... and complete.... the Maker's plan...” She said, as her head completely evaporated before him.
As she perished, Heath and Rocky found themselves released from Horrifica's thrall, quickly releasing Talis who ran to Nobou to hug him. ”You idiot...” She said, practically sobbing from worry.
”We're fine... I promise.” He said hugging her back, as he noticed the other two quickly getting to the defensive as the surrounding Templar seemed prepared to close in. ”I felt a presence... I think it was Tyr... keeping us safe.” He softly said, with on hand holding to his stomach.
”Alright you two, ain't the time for that yet.” Rocky spoke up, as he loaded his gun.
”He's right. It's not safe here.” Heath added, his focus on the incoming Templar.
Talis released Nobou, to do the same.”We can't give up, the children must have a world to go to after this war is done.”
”I agree.” Nobou nodded, holding to the hilt of his sword, as his jarring eyes looked upon the nearing battalion of Calvary and infantry men.
Meanwhile, across the war-zoned plains, the Templar fighting against Nye's group had managed to force her, Jackyn and Adam further inland of the plains. The infantry men had surrounded their location, placing them at a higher elevation. Ashewyn and Nye's other allies, along with the remaining Ghestro followers, took notice of their situation. Six wings flew through the air not far above their position, as the mighty sword Excalibur was drawn forth. The morning sun rising to glisten along it's bejeweled brand, illuminating the skirts of land in topaz lights, that sparkled keen like frost upon it's hilt.
The Templar ceased attacks, as they withdrew from them, but only to a brief distance as feet landed behind Nye's group. ”Your Queen is dead, darlin', and yet here you remain a thorn in my side.” The voice of Aoba spoke, drawing the attention of Nye and her companions. Their eyes had turned to face the forced whimsical expression forming on Aoba's obviously dark toned face as he gazed upon them. He was no longer playing some game with them, and despite his perfect composure, it was clear by the way his sword was held , that he was not going to consider ending this on good terms. ”Not only does the 'Angel of Death' still live, but it appears many of the traitors yet side with a woman of no social standing.” Aoba scoffed, gripping to Excalibur as he eyed his prey.
With Adam at his side, Jackyn placed himself in front of Nye, leering to Aoba as he gripped tightly to his daggers. ”You have a death wish after what happened last encounter.” Jackyn growled.
”On the contrary, Jacky-boy, your reign of terror meets it's end this day, as does the remainder of this traitorous group of ragtag fools. Mark me, with the Maker as my witness, and Excalibur guiding my pious hand, I will deliver the Maker's will in this dire plight! For I am the one who will not falter in the darkness!” Aoba exclaimed, proudly.
”Pious? Says the man, whose moral compass is broken. You are no virtuous lord who has any divine right. Do you truly believe you to be some 'chosen one', bringing the will ofMaker? You and your Templar are nothing more than fanatics, playing the hand of some God!” Nye proclaimed, sternly, her fear absent as she looked upon this eccentric madman.
This caused Aoba's lips to curl as he circled around them, his eyes ever so watchful. ”Be this your attempt for witty repartee? I daresay, the advisor to your deceased Queen, was far more commendable. Your words ring hollow, sweet pea. The time for subterfuge is over.” Aoba replied, rather calmly to their surprise. ”Woman like you truly need to learn their place. You may have withstood my charm when we danced, but I've already defeated your Queen, and now I'll smite down the remainder of you insubordinate, disreputable outcasts in the name of the divine!” He shouted, flying for them with Excalibur shining brightly in the morning light.
Jackyn quickly pulled Nye out of the way of Excalibur's trajectory, as Aoba swooped passed them. Adam engaged pursuit, his arm swinging for Aoba as he crossed his path, before reeling his mouth scarf to lunge at the Rhyme. Aoba parried his attacks to knock Adam back, before he took off into the sky. Everyone on the battlefield who opposed the Templar had already witnessed this, and began their arduous push against the knights to make their way to aid them against Aoba's assault. The Templar infantry and cavaliers began to obstruct their path, engaging them in combat to force them back. With everyone of Nye's allies, the Ghestro followers and the Resistance teaming up in one focused area they began to make a strong strike back against the Templar. There was power in their united force against these knights, with the unified goal of defeating Aoba once and for all.
Aoba dove back around, with Excalibur ready to strike. They split up as Aoba came into range, diving in opposite directions to dodge the strike. Sitting up, they noticed him circling back around. Swooping down at them as they rose up, Aoba swung his sword again. His target was Nye, making his flight proceed in her direction. Nye quickly deflected it with her Wraith-edge as he came at her. Their swords clashed, causing sparks to fly from the collision. Nye struggled to hold back the glimmering blade with dark aura flowing one, the visible restraint was apparent as was her intense gaze. Rapid steps rushed for them, as Jackyn broken between the sword to force Aoba backwards with blood magic violently pulsating around them.
Aoba flew back but caught himself midair, disgusted by the blood speckling his beautiful white feathered wings. His demeanor shifted, as his gaze met Jackyn's. ”Perhaps I should be directing my assault upon the Angel of Death. If he dies, as do you, eh darlin'?” Aoba grinned menacingly, with an undertone of anger as his eyes briefly had shifted to Nye, before returning to Jackyn's fierce gaze as he prepared to charge.
Without hesitation, Jackyn raised his palms into the air causing many pools of blood not far from them to elevate into a small army of his bloodbone archers. Arrows blasted through the air, nearly clipping Aoba's wings. Blood magic was hurling around, trying to force the Grand Master out of the sky; Aoba however, dove back around to evade the ichor spells cast at him to engage his crystal upon his waist. Channeling his power, he used the crystal to perform his phylactery magic to blast a beam of light from the sky in Jackyn and Nye's direction. The charge of light crashed into the ground, flinging both of them back roughly in opposite directions. As the light energy cleared, Adam emerged from behind the debris to cast a dark corrupted energy disk attack at Aoba. The disk spun through the air before erupting into a hazardous cloud of dark power biting vigorously into Aoba's holy sword, before being deflected back into the caster. Adam's corrupted arm was hacked off by the magic, before he was flung back into the crowd of Templar facing off with Nye's allies. This left Aoba to Nye and Jackyn alone. The two staggered to their feet, split onto opposites sides of the soaring Rhyme king.
”What are you waiting for you undisciplined fool!? FIGHT ME!” Aoba mockingly called as he flew in, while wildly swinging Excalibur for Jackyn's neck.
The Dream weaver reeled back, narrowly dodging the blade as it tore through the collar of his turtleneck top. Any wrong move there, and his head would have been cleaved right off. Urgently, Jackyn drew to his daggers, slashing at just the right moment to parry Aoba's attack, before quickly back flipping to dodge the next. As his feet slid along the ground, his blue eyes sharply focused to Aoba with a cold sneer, while he quickly drew blood from the ground, and shot it right at the opposing enemy. Aoba took the blast, but within a matter of seconds, he immediately countered with a blast of light that thrusted Jackyn off his feet.
”Jack!” Nye gasped, flying in to slash her massive sword for Aoba. Aoba whirled around, countering her attack, while blocking it with his own blade.
”You have poor taste in men, darlin'.” Aoba scoffed at her, as he swiftly disarmed her weapon. Before she could distance herself, Aoba clutched his hand to her throat, forcing her closer in a violent manner. ”It's your duty as a woman to obey your lord and master, which should have been me.”
”Let. Go. Of. ME!” Nye gritted her teeth, as she tried to pull away.
”I think not. Regardless, you have a terrible habit or ordering me around, while you should rather bite you tongue! Whatever do they even call you, woman?” Aoba grimly scolded.
Nye grabbed to his wrist, leering to him behind emerald eyes. ”Nyghtmare.” She growled.
This response made Aoba scoff with disapproval. ”How drull. Did you come up with that name yourself? Here I thought you would have something cuter.” He mocked, tightening his grip on her neck, as he shoved the blade of his sword through the thin skin of one of her wings; tearing it downward to force her to cry out in pain.
”...Cute? I don't do 'CUTE'!” Nye hissed, in a clearly painful tone; kicking the bottom of her boot directly into his face to thrust herself from his grasp so she could get to Jackyn. She roughly landed on the ground, forming away her wounded wings, before running in the direction Jackyn was located.
”YOU'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!” Aoba practically roared, as he dove after her in pursuit.
Adam was unable to break through the swarming Templar foot soldiers, but as a mounted rider charged him, his arm suddenly regenerated; blasting through the severed place into a near exact replica of his original arm. The others fighting against the Templar were unable to crush this wall of Templar obstructing their various paths to alleviate Nye and Jackyn's situation. The playing field was in complete pandemonium as Aoba's underlings fought back the opposing forces. Nye had managed to reach Jackyn, who had already gotten back to his feet, clearly in concern for him. However, Jackyn noticed Aoba flying in from behind her. With quick thinking, Jackyn pushed Nye away forcefully as Aoba charged through, slashing in a crescent maneuver. Jackyn having forced Nye out of the way saved her from getting sliced open, however, he had placed himself closer taking a direct blow to his artificial leg. The prosthetic was shattered into fragments as Excalibur tore right through it, with the impact slamming Jackyn back into the ground violently.
Nye had the look of fear in her eyes, as she saw Jackyn force her back, and then seeing him take the heavy blow to his leg. Aoba was circling around, but her Angel of Death was still on the ground, struggling to get up. Nye attempted to reach him again, but her path was soon blockaded by Templar leaking into the battle zone.Unable to fly, she was stranded from her lover with the dense cluster of knights surrounding her. Her view of Jackyn was cut off, before she could even see him take inspiration from his battle with Jehxal earlier, and use his ichor magic to form over the shredded cloth and broken metal, that still clung to his stump of a leg, into a temporary replacement made of blood to stand up with. As Aoba dove again to face off further with Jackyn, Ashewyn and Eclipse broke through the infantry Templar to reach Nye's position. The others were slowing making their way through to push back the holy knights. Flames threw back many of the Templar, giving Ashewyn opening to get beside Nye, with Eclipse not far behind.
”Hey, sorry for the delay. You okay, Nye?” Ashewyn asked, using the sword he held to slice up a foot soldier that drew near.
”I'm fine, I'm more worried about Jack right now, Ashe.” She begrudgingly stated, her eyes more focused to the area Jackyn was residing. ”Aoba's too strong to face alone, we need to work together to take him down.” She added, forming her sword to slash back incoming Templar.
”I don't doubt it.” Ashewyn replied, striking back more incoming Templar, and keeping close with Eclipse.
”Can we count on support from the others?” Eclipse asked, slashing lighting against a wall of Templar.
”Aye.” Nye said swinging her Wraith-edge to create a pathway.
Jackyn was not far from their position now, stumbling as he continued to fend Aoba away with his duel daggers, accompanied by the spiral pools of blood floating around him. The blood magic spread, shooting at Aoba as Jackyn fought his way mercilessly through the gathering Templar forces. Unlike their previous battle with Aoba, they had increased their forces, and this time everyone was in place and ready to fight like this was the end of days. Shane on horseback mounted an assault against cavaliers with Max and Sally, while Zyron and Solitaire kept close to combine magic and bladed strikes against knights in the back of the Battalion. Miles and Minerva had taken to the skies accompanied by Heath and Rocky, keeping the Pegasus and dragon riders from making any push forward. Ronan along with Nobou joined the front lines to break down the wall, with Talis supporting their rear. Adam, now joined by Iiblis were dealing with the heavily armored generals, leaving Nikolai to deal with any stragglers.
Nye with Ashewyn and Eclipse managed to fight their way through, meeting Jackyn from the other side of the field. He and Nye ran up to each other, but Aoba was still in hot purist of Jackyn. His attention was suddenly grabbed by Ashewyn who had Eclipse beside him. Rage began bubbling to the surface, recalling her betrayal and his previous battle with Ashewyn in the castle. ”Eclipse! Why am I NOT surprised by this!? You're still working with that AMYGDALA!?” Aoba exclaimed in rage, changing his target for Eclipse and Ashewyn.
As he came into rage with Excalibur in tow, flames fabricated from Ashewyn's palm, igniting his wings ablaze, but this only made Aoba more livid. Violently the King of the Rhyme hammered his sword through the air as he shifted focus to the red haired Amygdala. Ashewyn could tell the flames weren't slowing him down in the slightest, but maneuvered to counter the incoming blow that nearly took his head off. Gripping tightly to his sword, Ashewyn held back Excalibur, with his own blade narrowly grazing against his neck as he struggled to hold Aoba's sword back with all his might. This war had grown far more arduous than any of them had anticipated, but neither side was ready to back down. They all knew they had to make this final stand against Aoba, even if it meant putting their entire offensive against Aoba alone.
Aoba was fiercely managing to force Excalibur closer to Ashewyn, with his sword beginning to shatter from the intense power that was the legendary Holy sword. Unexpectedly, a chain came flying in from behind the Grand Master, lassoing around his throat as the chain from Nye's Wraith-Edge dragged him backwards enough for Ashewyn to distance himself. Jackyn used his ichor magic to create a wave of airborne blood to smash back surrounding Templar. As this happened while Nye held Aoba back, more of their allies were able to break through, to join in against the King of the Rhymes. Eclipse rushed towards Aoba, using her Lighting Waveblades to savagely cut off his six angelic wings.
”AHHH!!! YOU BITCH!!!” He cried out in pain.
With a powerful pressure of energy, Aoba unleashed the full extent of his Phylactery magic; blowing everyone backwards with extreme force. It was clear how tough this tyrant was to take down, and everyone knew they needed to pitch in so this battle could be won. Nye was quick to get back to her feet,thrusting the chain around Aoba's neck once more. Iiblis swiftly got to the opposite side, using his chain weapon to aid Nye's maneuver. With the combined chains, the two of them managed to bind Aoba, bringing the mighty foe to his knees. With this constraint, Aoba's sword, Excalibur, was forced from his grasp. Without Aoba's sovereignty over it, the blade that binded his enemies was open to be claimed. Miles leapt from Ember, in attempt to grab Excalibur, to only have his hand burned by the mighty sword. Reeling back, others, like Max and Heath, attempted to grab it to receive the same response from the sword.
This made Aoba suddenly laugh in delirium. ”HahahahahAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!!! FOOLS! Excalibur has no wish to belong to anyone else! It belongs SOLELY TO ME!” His force of power was beginning to sever the chains hold on him. ”My sovereignty knows no bounds!! I AM THE GRAND MASTER, AOBA ZEPHOS, HAND OF THE MAKER HIMSELF!!! ! I AM THE ALMIGHTY CHOSEN ONE! WITH THE MAKER AS MY WITNESS, EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU SHALL FALL BEFORE ME!!!!” His power was causing the very ground to tremble below their heels.
If they didn't act fast, Aoba would surly escape. Jackyn was keeping the templar at bay with his ichor powers, while Adam joined Iiblis and Nye in binding Aoba with his dark energy formed into more chains. Talis was gusting up with wind, blowing back any Templar that managed to breach Jackyn's field spell. As Aoba struggled to get free, many on their side realized now was the time to strike. First it was Miles, thrusting his sword through Aoba's gut, followed by Ronan mirroring where Miles impailed him. Aoba however continued to laugh, while his power continued growing stronger. This drew in Rocky to shoot Aoba through the chest, but yet he did not falter. Sally through her lance into the air, using a spell to duplicate it into many, letting them violently thrust through Aoba in various points, only to have the same result as the others. Aoba was not going down, in fact he was beginning to break out, standing up from his pinned position. Nobou took his duel katanas drawing close to X-slash at Aoba, to only be thrusted back by a growing force. Zyron channeled magic, along with Heath's ice breath, freezing ice shards to impail through Aoba's arms to help keep him from breaking loose.
The surrounding Templars were manning the trebuchet against the wall of blood, smashing their way through, despite Talis and Jackyn's effort to hold them back, aided as well from Minerva's arrows in the sky. Solitaire, Shane and Max were forced to fight back the Templar who made their way in, joined by others who weren't able to make effort against Aoba. Nikolai joined them as well, leaving Aoba to be dealt with by Ashewyn and Eclipse. Eclipse decided to take her Waveblades to slash up Aoba's torso, lighting him up with electric power, as she forcefully tried to kill him. Nothing was working, Jackyn could even see this, causing him to thrust a dagger in Aoba's direction, stabbing him right in the windpipe. Aoba just wouldn't die, pulling the chains from the holders to thrust them away like a whirlwind. His eyes gleamed as they focused to Excalibur.
”Your attempts against me are FUTILE! AHAHAHAHA!” Aoba reeled his head back to laugh, in almost an insane manner. He was starting to loose his mind, to this power he was bestowed with.
As he forced his way through the allies that made effort to strike him down, he did not falter, his sole attention on reaching his sword that laid before him. Ashewyn wasn't about to let him through however, reaching for Excalibur with the utmost determination. Light vividly glowed, blinding everyone as his hand touched it's bejeweled hilt. Moments passed as the light died down, to revealed Ashewyn rising up before Aoba with Excalibur in his grasp.
”...But HOW!?” Aoba demanded in complete shock, in the very moment Exclaiber's brand struck through his skull.
All eyes turned as silence engulfed the battlefield, witnessing Aoba's body hit the ground, with Excalibur pierced between his eyes. The ongoing struggle and all it's violence completely ceased in this moment, as the Grand Master fell in battle. Nye and Ashewyn stood together with their allies and friends amongst them, all facing the surrounding Templar.
”Your King is dead!” Ashewyn exclaimed, taking this leadership role, as he noticed Nye not stepping forth. ”Surrender, or join him!” He commanded, taking hold of the Holy Sword, Excalibur.
The remaining generals and the rest of the Templar soldiers seemed lost, as if they were unsure what to do in this moment. Siegfried and the Lupis general stared along with the other Templar units, as they all began to slowly laying down their arms. Unable to continue this war without their King, the Templar were forced to surrender, in defeat to this ragtag group of fighters. Even the allies like Raz, and the felines that had fled the battlefield observed this at distance.
”The wind of change is blowing now... I think it's time the Templar dissolve their forces, and forfeit the right to control other races' freedoms. The disagreements of dead men should not weigh on our judgements as they have been.” Nye stood higher, struggling to speak in front of all these people. It was clear she was anxious, but she had to speak her mind.
”No matter the shape or form, controlling the freedoms and lives of others shouldn't be any given race's privilege.” Solitaire spoke up, before glancing to Zyron. ”These bloody rules restricting who you're allowed to love? Why do things have be that way? It just doesn't make sense.”
”Yeah. We're all different, but that does not mean that we shouldn't have the same freedoms as anyone else?” Miles spoke up, taking Minerva's hand as she dismounted Ember, beside him.
”Rhyme, Amygdala, Lupis, fiends, the various races that have been called 'Leashed', or even the Terra, Elves and Centaur. None should dominate any others just because some of us look different.” Eclipse added, looking upon the gawking Templar.
”We're all people, and many of us have our own cultures. So, shouldn't our differences be celebrated?” Talis threw in her input as well.
”Pray tell. Wherefore must we square in thine manner? I beseech thee, is peace nay an option?” Sally pleaded, in her usual manner.
”These meaningless laws of imprisonment and slavery do nothing to help people.” Shane spoke up, getting a nod of agreement from Jackyn.
The words of the united group allied with Nyghtmare and her friends weighed heavy with the Templar, forcing the war to end, and the new world order to be taken to heart. Peace treaties were discussed here on the very battle the Templar lost, that would help unify Desdemuna's people in ways that had not been considered for many a century....
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Epilogue:Brave New World
The Crusaders of Freedom managed to defeat the Templar Order; in spit of this the many cities and towns began to be flung into panic and disorder, after the Templar were forced to disband. This began the rise of potential new leaders and rulers, as Kingdoms were beginning to slowly rebuild from the ashes of the former sovereign power of the world. Many older technologies and beliefs were being discarded, and left abandoned as things were forced to evolve in unexpected ways. New places were being built, and changes in the laws were made, like inner-species relationships; but it would take time for people to accept these adjustments. This would undoubtedly cause new conflicts and possible wars, which lead to the Resistance being fully established to keep the peace. At last there was finally time to mourn the dead, but there was much yet to be done. Heath and Rocky brought together many from the War of Freedom, to stand together to become part of this. Ashewyn being able to wield the Holy Sword Excalibur was quickly sought out to join them, as were many of the others.
Nyghtmare had refused to join future wars, as well as declined becoming the Ghestro family ruler. When Raz reappeared with Koron's son, Anderz, it was decided that the fiend would raise the child to eventually take up the role. Along with the willing aid of Adam, who eagerly wanted to get closer with Raz after their past encounters in the war, they would become Anderz retainers, and raise the boy together to become the successor to the Ghestro family. Nye had refused this offer due to having only wished to regain freedoms of her race and the others, and so that she and Jackyn would be able to finally live without fear surrounding their union. She however did explain to Ashewyn every detail of what Pneuma had told her, including that they were siblings, before disappearing off out of contact from the others, with Jackyn and Nikolai. Miles chose to go his own way, to be with Minerva and live with the other feral Lugooz in their hidden feline village. The two eventually got together when Miles convinced Minerva to go with him to the festival town, and share their first kiss upon a tall tower over looking the mass excitement and celebration.
Solitaire and Zyron were able to finally be together without worry, deciding to get married before Solitaire would give birth to their son. Zyron decided to continue aiding the Resistance after this, eventually taking priority of becoming a priest. With Ashewyn joining the resistance, he and Eclipse began to spend a lot more time working together and he eventually opened up to her feelings for him, and they decided to start a family together. He always did have a fondness for her ears. The other amazon felines, like Morrigan decided to remain with the resistance, while Seiko and Ronan returned to the Amazon village with the young Naga child, Yvenne. Ronan, like Zyron, would also soon become a father. Shane did not plan to stick around either, he now had to care for Hitomi, in respect for his deceased friend, Hige. Talis and Nobou were able to become a family again, helping each other raise their hatchlings together, along with Talis' new lover, Djinn. Iiblus also joined the resistance, having been left without a purpose after the Cult of Ghestro was left leaderless.
With Knothole now empty, Nye and Jackyn decided to remain there and make it their own. The two arrived some time after the war and discussions had concluded, and Jackyn's prosthetic repaired. With the few who had remained here now gone, it was left barren, and complelty abandoned. Nikolai had followed them in as they looked around. It was somewhat melancholy how void this place was now, the small reaper looked around while watching Nye and Jackyn having brief moments of touching hands, before eventually sitting down to lean against each other. Nye rested her head to Jackyn's shoulder as they sat there talking, almost in a cuddling manner. Nikolai floated over to the bar, to hear a sound in the kitchen. Curiously he proceeded towards it to be met with the other fiend, Yandere, leaping into his arms to be spun around happily. Nye and Jackyn noticed this deciding to give the two fiends some time together, with Nye leading Jackyn upstairs by the hand. They reached the upper level, before proceeding into Nye's former room. She set down her Amygdala journal to the bed, before stepping closer to Jackyn.
She let her hands softly extend to his face, before briefly sharing a kiss, that was followed by a brief dialog between them.”We'll always be together.” Nye assured him, at the end of their exchange. They both seemed a bit hesitant, but decided to hold hands as they sifted closer. Their feet began to move in harmony along the floor as the two seemed to dance much like a combination of the Waltz and Argentine Tango. Their auras were visibly forming around them as they danced together, before their foreheads eventually met as the dance ended. There was a faint glow as their aura around began to elegantly spiral around them, merging together in the air as it found a corner of the room. As it spiraled together, the strands of their auras began to entwine together, forming into a slime-like webbing that spun into cocoon.
However, from the opposite forces; there were many, now former Templar, who survived the war. Kloud had died of illness before the war began, leaving Ayame without a father to her soon to be child she carried. Elliot remained by her side, to protect her and the child, and promised to do such even after his freedom was given. The other generals from the war were left without work, choosing to pursue new paths, that would later come into effect. Merric however, was still spurned from the death of his brother, as he had darker plans in mind with other mysterious individuals that opposed the new order.The sense of danger was clear, with these new sources of trouble appearing from seemingly no where to combat the Resistance fighters...
Fading to black there was a soft rumbling sound, buzzing like festering bees in complete darkness. The reverberating echos of a deep, yet distorted chuckle followed, as demonic red eyes of an unknown entity flashed open...
The End... or is it?