It took days for Abyss to get directions for the coordinates Nedi ’s letter boasted and to get there.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhms6G2vy1F
When he neared the location, he saw the large building shudder. The earth beneath Abyss shook. “What is going on?!” He exclaimed. It was a disaster zone. Ground was cracked and burned with arrows and boulders scattered across the terrain.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0GaCdmyYA
In the distance, he could see Rosorken Soldiers battling human rebels... Rebels... PISTOL. Does... Nedi work for PISTOL or Kronos? Abyss shook his head. He knew it was too good to be true. Nedi had been lying about his identity. Abyss thought that those names were weird. Was Nedi trying to go undercover? Did he know Abyss from before? Why would he lie about all this?18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6wgVnKhHK
Still, Abyss didn’t want to believe it. He wanted Nedi to be an ally. Didn’t Achlys say gathering an army was good? If Abyss already had a connection with Nedi, maybe he could bring him over to his side.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0v0MwfT8K6
Without considering how difficult it could be to find Nedi in the commotion, Abyss hurried to the battlefield, struggling to keep his hopes low.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkGZD8oHvy
* * *
Abyss had to dodge arrows from the human side and all manner of explosions and elemental abilities from either end of the battlefield. It was a miracle he wasn’t dead already.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZWQ8m6yZF
Just as he was about to give up on the idea of finding a person without a recognizable face in a warzone, Abyss nearly got hit with a bolt of lightning.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaZv7hqauP
Abyss was stunned. The last time he was almost killed by stray lightning was...18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoWNE2Dmjx
“Zeus! We need a defibrillator!” A familiar voice called out. The voice made Abyssal’s blood boil.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCvKhFgXgy
“On my way, Commander!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCutFjXseVg
Abyssal’s heart stopped. He spun to try and spot the source.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ugoCaUjMy
“Volt!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxp7b7fetuy
Abyss ran towards the young man rushing to a fallen rebel. The familiar golden skin and bright blond hair was mistakable. The long-lost twin nearly tripped when he heard his name.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9V7wPtJPcp
“Abyss?!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsDZpPAe8j
Volt only looked over his shoulder a split second before turning away and coming down on the dying soldier with sparking hands.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDq7u038iG
Abyss chased after his brother and stood only a foot away.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6idfcY0RIl
Commander H glanced at Abyss from his defensive post. Abyss glared back. Commander H didn’t respond. He just turned to scan the battlefield again. The dark-haired twin stared disbelievingly at Volt.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojx81ZPrWU
“Clear!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aui5K36HT
The body jumped at Volt’s touch.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAnCKZKiWc
Volt tried once more before the fallen soldier jumped back to life. He seemed at dazed as Abyss, though his confused state lasted only a couple moments as Volt pulled him up. The rebel ran back out to battle spawning swords from nowhere.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5aRkUZT0Y
Abyss ran to his brother, grabbing him from behind.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiV3IqHffjy
“I thought you were dead,” he whispered through choked-back sobs. Abyss hated how emotional he was being, but he couldn’t help it. All the aching from the letter came flooding back intertwined with overwhelming relief. Tears streamed down Abyssal’s face.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsJPu9tvDu
Volt placed a hand on Abyssal’s before gently breaking away from his grip and turning to come face to face. Abyss latched on again immediately. He wasn’t going to let Volt go. Not again. Not where death was so eminent.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiVIONM7yt
“Abyss,” Volt whispered, “now’s not the time. It isn’t safe-”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ371g4xX5KU
“I don’t care! You don’t know what I went through! Why didn’t you tell me you were okay?!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSClZRBdcq
Volt’s face hardened as he swallowed back a large lump of guilt.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn453YQ1qPG
Abyss was right. Volt didn’t know how it felt to lose a brother.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuqdhDjVNM
“...I’m sorry... I couldn’t, I-... I just couldn’t...”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbmocLjThg
“Why not?! I’m your brother, Volt! I thought you died! I thought we’d never see each other again!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmGUEDLY3T
“It’s.. Complicated... I gave you hints.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCi94spvki
“What are you talking about?!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooJaiR5Mcg
“I- Nedi? Mark? It’s a code-”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcV8NUBfWWp
“How was I supposed to know that?! You were sending me cryptic letters and let me believe you were really gone! Even when I responded!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyO4jIqc94
“...You’re right... I was... less right ... but we still don’t have time for this- Look out!” Volt grabbed Abyss back and jumped to the ground, barely avoiding a flaming arrow that exploded on impact with the ground, blowing the twins several yards across the treacherous terrain.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsCpkVbbWb
The twins broke apart and the moment they stopped, Volt got up and placed a hand on Abyssal’s shoulders. “I’ll explain everything when this is over. As long as we’re both still alive. ” Volt ran off at incredible speeds that Abyss wasn’t sure he’d seen before. And that was saying something.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiB3F6E3II
Abyss scrambled to feet and yelled after Volt, “Not funny, yig thisar!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0mm1uBvjt
A woman in a long-sleeved, sparkly, silver turtleneck and blue-stained leather pants who was riding a large star platform gasped and covered her ears.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOq4jZLxOI
Does she know what I said? Even still, what does it matter to her?18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwclfJu0N1
Abyss shook it off and ignored the woman as she flew away on her star raft or whatever the heck was going on there. Until she turned and threw a ninja star that stuck into the stomach of a nearby Rosorken and exploded, knocking Abyss off-balance.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYX1j9VB8tL
“How many of those do you have left, Astrea?” a large, burn-scarred, bald man called out.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JJ586HLcQ
Star lady answered, “About 12.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGeFEJD1N8
“I got 50 more for you here!” The man threw a small pouch to her. Abyss seriously doubted 50 of those freaky ninja stars could fit in there.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGFS6kg6I7
“Thanks, Hephaestus!” she called back before flying off.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0q0FTxEam
That’s when it hit him. There were Greek gods among PISTOL, fighting Kronos, and more on the other side.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvHJW5R6E7
“She doesn't like profanity,” Hephaestus told Abyss before dropping a shield in the younger one’s arms and heading off quickly.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvCKzGhQCn
Just then, Abyss had to block an arrow soaked in some sort of berry juice. He glanced back and saw a woman wearing nothing but twisting vines holding a bow, sitting in a tree that continued to grow taller. A magpie sat on her shoulder.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecrJM9qFZo
At first, Abyss thought she was Merry, but her hair was much darker and... was she missing a breast? Abyss decided not to focus on that and kept running, changing up his patterns as randomly as possible to throw off the archer’s aim.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIedcA6ImU
Demeter? He guessed.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEwEPpCZYP
That’s when he nearly ran into a large gold statue of Aaron.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIumrZrgFu
No, it WAS Aaron, or... Ares... but how? It looked like the fingers on his right arm were broken off. Before Abyss could question it, a golden axe swung for his head, answering the question. An intoxicated man swung the axe around, recklessly stumbling.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YjroNOZZj
“The lllllast ounce of my gold powerssss,” the man slurred. “Givvven away... nnnever to returrrrrnn.” He hiccupped, “Twice! The last usssed to kill my own brother!” Suddenly, the man collapsed. His hair was grey and twisted with vines.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjCZoptbPl
“Eeehh... Dionysus,” Abyss groaned. “Goodnight, Master D.” Abyss was practically raised and trained by that guy, until he called off practices to lay in his room with a migraine usually while Abyss was in the middle of an electric chokehold. He always made the call just in time, but that never meant he liked the weird guy.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstxHOouquK
Abyss continued to scour the battlefield for Volt. He wasn’t losing his brother. Not again.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDofnFzT7RJ
But he found Achlys first.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9fQCNNTDW
“Abyss, please come with me. I’ve sent Vivian and Lucy for your brother, we can regroup. I’m not letting either of you get hurt like this. It would be pointless.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZVcdzUfSc
“You- you mean it? Wait, you knew about Volt?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiklkpnVCzp
“I... figured it out.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpKMO3CnL1
“With the letter? How?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qTuC4SK3T
“Uh... it- it was easy. Just come with me. It isn’t safe here. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.” Her voice felt sickly sweet. She was hiding something...something important.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hKOsFXf17
Still, Abyss had to follow her. Achlys was right, it wasn’t safe here. He’s already lucked out too many times, and if she was able to get Volt into a safe place, Abyss had to be there.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHz6zC7cUzI
* * *
Achlys took Abyss to the place they first met. Even if it was where he met Achlys, Abyss still didn’t like this place. Those memories weren’t particularly pleasant.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfQoJqYHMr
“Abyss!” Volt exclaimed running to him. “We have to get back up there. I only stayed because they said you were coming.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsr9AKkUAP
“I’m not letting you go back up there!” Abyss snapped.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQcc3hTlMX
“And I’m not letting you stay down here. It’s where we released-” Volt spotted Achlys and glared at her. His voice was low, “her.” 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmqQFvPNDY
“What do you have against-”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGECkFIG3Zj
“She’s the one who got me registered as dead.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGHo71CceQ
Abyss was stunned. “But- why?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Z2pT93xp8
“She wanted me out of the way so she could manipulate you, obviously. Hades told me how she plans to destroy the world. She needs your power to do that.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPdPuvH45T
“It’s more than that!” Achlys blurted.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1w4G1YbyS
“How so?” Volt asked.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QBL401Bo5
“I-I like the company.” Achlys shook herself and snapped, “I need the princess too.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxTYlI4ATx
Abyss couldn’t speak. I stared at the two of them in stunned silence.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HvpLIZAMb
“Abyss, she can’t be trusted. She wants to destroy the world and plunge it into an endless night of flames and destruction.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbABx3iCEg
“I- I know... but-”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o9N4KX1VM
“What do you mean you know?” Volt demanded. “You were going to help her do that willingly? Weren’t we considering turning against Kronos for that same reason?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrolgFnNvA
“I did! I am! I... I think... It’s complicated.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRofHFfD7q
“Don’t tell me you wanted to destroy the world out of revenge for me? The culprit was her all along! You already blew up PISTOL. They saved me! When coms cut out, Hades assumed, but they found me in the castle dungeon, poisoned and dying because of her! They rescued me.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2drVoyxDkD
“And you didn’t tell me before because...?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPK0r0kmPTO
“I couldn’t! Things were going to Xouya and nobody knew what side everyone was on. You were with her!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHY34sVb3BY
Abyss was trembling. His mind swam in confusion, and he was brimming with anger. His fists were clenched, and his arms shook.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSeCrnNjkX
Abyss turned to Achlys and yelled, “You did this to my brother! I bet you never even wanted to save anyone!” He grit his teeth and growled as Achlys’ face fell into a glower. “You just wanted the glory. You wanted to see humanity crush under your heel to show up Kronos.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pTj9s91WQ
“You’re not seeing things clearly, Sol,” she said smoothly.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sHF36ZoY3
“You don’t get to call me that!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYDqo6ecDf
“Your blinded by your emotions. You can’t understand... Girls!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HuCsESEL9
Vines shot out from the shadows, one wrapping around each of the brothers.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaoqjoZ13b
“I didn’t want to do this, Abyss,” Achlys said. She wasn’t looking at him anymore. She turned away and clenched her fists while the twins struggled. “I never wanted to hurt you or your brother. But he’s given me no choice... I won’t do the same to you.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VAQbRw0XE
“What are you talking about?! Volt has nothing to do with this, leave him out of it!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yy4FJD4nP
“You’re wrong, Abyss... I’m sorry, I really am,” some part of Achlys’ voice sounded truthful even if Abyss couldn’t see her.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYWhY5LBWl
Vivian pulled out a wooden chair and used the vines to tie him down. Lucy stood in the corner crying. Vivian wore a forlorn yet determined expression.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCVmPLPBSI
“He inserted himself when he came to kill me. He had a lightning bolt in his hand and bloodlust in his eyes.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTPcutKKXc
Vivian tied a vine in Volt’s mouth and around his head. Volt’s head drooped with remorse.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVkEy5c1ur
“It’s strange having all our powers in one place again. The daughter of a necromancer along with the two inheritors of her closest uncles.” Abyss walked over and set a hand on Vivian and Volt’s shoulders. Volt shot her a glare and static zipped across his shoulder at her hand. She pulled away instantly shaking off the bitter sting. “Ah-” she hissed, “Zippy are we, Zeus?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmh2UF1A69
She strode away and grabbed the vine holding Abyss, guiding him to a higher place. Lucy and Vivian followed as Abyss struggled.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡML60rPFXnU
“Look, your brother was right about one thing. I do need you. I need your power, devour.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XSt1P2PhX
“Why do you need it if you can get all sorts of power wielders on your side so easily?” Abyss snapped back.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xc8hJwOkb
Instead of answering directly, Achlys began telling a cryptic story. “Once there was a seer living in ancient Greece. His name was Tiresias. His reputation was so well known that people took his words for doctrine. He foretold an event that would come to pass millennia later.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RnHZwpDTa
“What does this have to do with anything?” Abyss snapped.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2pUu5DQ9g
“Shut up and listen. Maybe you’ll find out,” Achlys hissed. “The Greeks had their era of Rosorken coming to help out in a couple small ways. Teaching advanced technology to men in towers, giving kings endless supply of priceless metals to progress society, you get the gist. Here’s the thing, they weren’t fully aware of the Rosorken until wise old Tiresias shared a story about my father’s generation. Dear Uncle Zues and Grandpa Kronos.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkGMrVIThJ
“I know this one,” Vivian muttered. “This is how the youngest god, Zeus, became the king of gods.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0i6mXdQlX
“Yes, Zeus made tartar out of the titanus tyrant Kronos. Or at least, he was supposed to.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPO8bdTJQnv
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Abyss growled.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZrmqyCkJn
“Well, the legend was so widespread by modern fiction and the rising popularity of Greek mythology. As the Greeks adopted these foretold great powers as gods, the Rosorken caught ear. Kronos learned of the legend. He fell in love with a human woman, Rhea, and learned of her scheme to protect his killer, their son. When Rhea tried to cover for Zeus, Kronos devoured her essence as well. In front of the entire family. I watched my grandpa kill my grandma. Suck her dry, turn her into a husk.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNryDA8VwN0
Abyss stared in shock. No wonder Achlys was so twisted. All of this on top of being locked away when she was 10.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqNgyu0c55
“Kronos made a deal with the rest of the family. By turning over Zeus, he would spare all the rest of his children, grandchildren, and nephews. He came out on his own. He was no older than you or me. He sacrificed himself for each one of us, he listed the names of everyone in the family, dedicating his pain to us through screams as he was stripped of his power, strength, and life. He was gone before he got down to my name.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLw4M8uKUh
Abyssal’s breathing was heavy. He was sure he heard the call for each Grecian deity by name playing through his mind on loop alongside the screams of all those he killed before. It didn’t make sense to him then, but now, it was as if Zeus’ sacrifice was tied to Kronos’ power itself as a reminder of all the people he wasn’t allowed to kill.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3plTCU7M4A
“Other names were too far down the list, including any of my cousins, my mother, any of Hyperion or Khaos’ lines, or me. Many of them were hunted down the same way. Kronos had his twisted loophole. Those without Rosorken blood were always picked off from the families first, so when my mother was killed, father knew we had to escape like Helios did.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdG2yg2UPzH
“So, they locked you away to protect you?” Abyss guessed. His voice was quiet.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxrWVkR183
Achlys let out a mad cackle. “Handsome, that’s only half the reason! Tiresias, the brilliant idiot also gave us a Plan B. ‘Should Zeus fail to rise to power, the solar powers will combine with darkness to destroy the world and cause Kronos to burn eternally.’ With Helios on the loose, father and I were a liability. Kronos wanted us out of the picture, and one of us was far more venerable, far less talented in blending in. She wasn’t protected by Zues’s sacrifice like her father was. They sealed that little girl away, and now, the queen of deadly mists and darkness will rise and claim the sun’s power to ensure Kronos burns in this life and the next.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcmjeRYra9
Abyss pulled Princess Ember out from behind a large generator, bound and struggling. “You’re going to give her power to me. “Give me the Solar Powers I require, Abyss. If you defy me...”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkEHonC8dw
On cue, Vivian flooded the lower portion of the floor where Volt sat. The Water was up to his shins and be began shorting out. Volt’s muffled cries filled the air as his muscles contracted.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4AITW9FOi
“Stop!” Abyss cried, lunging toward his brother again.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUREIqWuGee
“As expected, cartridge holders always come with limitations compared to their predecessors. Real Rosorken offspring always gain stronger abilities than their parents, even mix-breeds like me. And what happens to a toaster when dropped into water?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYise6qh65
“You’re hurting him!” Abyss exclaimed. He could care less about Achlys’ drawn-out explanations. Too much longer and Volt’s leg muscles would retain permanent damage.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwO1xXvagjY
“If you want to save your brother and avoid seeing him fully submerged, you’ll give me Ember’s powers.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nFrFJT5QK
Abyss lunged towards Vivian and barely missed touching her arm with his cheek. Vivian leapt away and Achlys pulled him off-balance towards her. “Little traitor,” she hissed. “See what happens when you test me.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsNLbPb3qB
The water level began rapidly rising as Volt’s body began to shake and seize up painfully further up. The water reached Volt’s stomach and continued to climb. Abyss could see his brother’s arms tensing and pulling against his bindings desperately. Electricity danced on top of the water as it started to near the group on the higher ground. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHeduhBkv5
Achlys dragged Abyss further up and Vivian led Lucy to safety. The woman’s expression held a sort of pained remorse. It was clear Vivian didn’t want to do this, but she still didn’t stop.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMCwAkZK8D
“Why are you doing this?!” Abyss pleaded, looking at Vivian.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHrK1IyevU
“Because I said to,” Achlys said.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKpXAizZ5l
“One for the many,” Vivian muttered.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDgwegH9c6
Achlys nodded with a falsely somber expression. “Exactly. It’s the same as when I told you we needed to destroy this planet for the sake of the universe, Sol.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9wt4Kx4Iq
“You don’t get to call me that!” Abyss said, lunging once again, this time at Achlys.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgjTsDtf2W
Achlys’ face fell as she jumped back and Abyss fell on his face. “I’ll call off the flood if you just give me her power.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWvOm7luH8
The crackling of electricity surged bigger and brighter as the electrical whining grew higher and Volt screamed louder before he was cut off with a gasp. The water had reached his chest.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0G10sGURv
“Okay!” Abyss gave in. He was panicked. Achlys bent over and took Abyssal’s right hand. He touch his left to Ember’s arm and began the energy transfer. Ember’s cry of pain replaced Volt’s in the moment and red energy spiraled up Abyssal’s arm, down through his belly, and out the other arm into Achlys.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUp74ad8gd9
Once he was certain her got all of Ember’s powers, Abyss released, careful not to drain any of her life-force. He pulled his hand away. Ember’s arm was scorched where he grabbed her. She was breathing heavily. Abyssal’s hand was also burned where he made contact with Achlys.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxe2w6dguQr
Abyss decided not to tell Achlys about the drainage that came with a borrowed power, but then, she rolled Ember into the electrically charged water. The princess yelped, but the water buried her cries as she fell under. Abyss scrambled to his feet, vines falling away, but he couldn’t do anything as he watched her body sink, twitching, violently.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWi8PyzAQo
Achlys looked over his shoulder before nodding to Vivian. The water parted and allotted a path to Volt, no longer submerged, but twitching occasionally with a spark, unconscious in his seat. His hair was wet and the sparks seemed weak.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxfVFt66iO
Abyss ran to his brother as Achlys left. She wouldn’t have to worry about her new power draining away now that it had no source to return to.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQNZdU85KZ
Abyss stopped at Volt's side. He had to think of something to do.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeCxtkjrfV
I got it. He nervously touched Volts arm, surprised that it only shocked him a little. Like static. Abyss grabbed his brother’s arm and began to drain away the electrical powers that made him weak to water in the first place. Vivian came to Abyssal’s side and reached out, drying Volt by pulling away the dripping water. It took Abyss everything he had not to whack her arm away. But the water was still draining around them and he needed her to hold it apart.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjFRCOdnRj
Eventually, Volt stopped twitching, and sparks stopped jumping off of him, but he wasn’t breathing.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEjOfyBAJ3
Come on!18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenzwoNYDXX
Abyss didn’t know what else to do. He didn’t feel any of the electricity trying to drain away from his own body the way it normally did.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuooR5Otngg
“You can’t be gone!” Abyss cried, tears falling down his face. “Not again! Please!” He shook his brother’s shoulder.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vX4FTKj9Y
Vivian undid the vines before she grabbed Volt by his arm and pulled him off the chair, cushioning his head so it wouldn’t hit the concrete floor. She began violently pressing down on Volt’s ribs.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7QC57rFsB
“What are you doing?!” Abys blurted, grabbing her arms and trying to pull her away.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvjchpiecc
“Chest compressions idiot! I don’t actually want him to die, do you?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFZaFDCe5P
Abyss swallowed a lump in his throat and pulled away as Vivian continued to do CPR.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHIMZzwJyp
“Just don’t get in the way of anything. Go take care of Lucy.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBdKP0YmDg
Abyss looked over his shoulder at the girl before she shrunk away and hid behind a large, mysterious machine.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2qqKWoadc
Abyss didn’t want to leave Volt’s side. He stared back at his brother.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KQ3M9OoIm
He felt the little girl grab his sleeve. “Go stop her.” Lucy whispered so Vivian wouldn’t hear her.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOcJjxw8Am
Abyss looked down at her.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU2dNC3Anr
“What?” the word barely came out.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYe3v21o1AO
“You have to stop the scary lady. She wants to blow up the world.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFQVgOBkKP
“But-”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDIfKpzMk3
“No buts, you have to stop her.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VnVXMrHVr
Abyss didn’t know if it mattered. He couldn’t leave Volt’s side. He didn’t know why trying to save people who would die anyway served any purpose. Then again, why was Vivian trying to save Volt?18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWFssJFkXB
She said she didn’t want him to die even though she helped hurt him in the first place.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdqQS88XWA
Abyss thought about if he really wanted the people on Earth to die. He helped the person who wanted to destroy the world, but… did that mean he couldn’t help now?18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt037P889rY
Maybe not.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AgeWsbSkR
Abyss thought back to the conversation he had with Volt the day they came to Earth.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqapmbHxRn0
He didn’t want to destroy the world he never did. And maybe there was another way to save the universe from Kronos the way Commander H fought.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ici6wFzvE
Lucy was right. She was a little kid who couldn’t possibly understand all of this, but she was right.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMrx56Pa1Z
But… what about…?18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZPRkmdgmN
Abyss shook his head. He didn’t have time for this. He’ll be okay. Abyss looked back a final time to us brother.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc35M5m7wk
“I’ll see you later, Volt. Don’t you dare die on me again.” Abyss said quietly.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJV3RNRAqF7
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PxEsl4yOI
