"Good day, son of Flage."
Nekro gazed at X, who stood before him. "I am glad you answered my request for your presence."
The surroundings were that of Under World, within the chamber where Nekro usually resided.
"You speak as if I have a choice," X replied, his eyes showing their usual irritation as he stood straight before the god. "Just tell me why I am here."
Nekro smiled briefly, understanding this was simply the demigod's nature. "Then I will cut to the chase," he said as his expression slowly dimmed. "According to information I received about half an hour ago, there is a chance one of the gods will betray the pantheon."
X's expression shifted slightly, recognizing the severity of the claim. "I see," he said calmly. "Then why summon me?"
"You have a reputation as the single greatest marksman to ever live," Nekro stated. "A reputation I can confirm is true. Which is why I wish to bestow upon you a certain duty."
He shifted his stance, pacing with his hands behind his back. "You see, I have a bond with all my siblings," he said. "And after the last... quarrel I had with one of them, I vowed never to strike any of them again, regardless of the situation. This means if things truly change for the worse, I cannot intervene."
"And so you want me to take your place?" X asked, following the god's intent. "You expect me to be capable of putting down a treacherous god?"
Nekro remained silent for a moment. "I know you can," he finally said. "You possess your father's unique skill of remaining undetectable even to foes with divinity. All you need is the right tool for it."
He stretched out his right hand, palm upward. Particles swirled before manifesting into a strange red bullet. The strain it caused to create the item was noticeable, though Nekro masked it before the demigod.
"This is a special bullet," the god continued, "one the others cannot manifest due to its complexities. A bullet capable of stripping any being of their divine nature."
X's eyes widened. "What?" he asked, unable to fathom such a statement.
What shocked him was not that Nekro could create such an artifact--after all, he was a god of infinite power--but that such a weapon could actually affect other infinitely scaling gods.
"It is exactly as it sounds," Nekro said. "If there is truly a traitor among us, I would not want the pantheon forced to kill them. So, I decided an alternative: to bestow you the duty of neutralizing their infinite power permanently."
X was caught off guard, unsure how to respond. He was curious about how Nekro had accomplished such a feat, but dismissed the thought as irrelevant in the moment.
"Why me?" he finally asked. "Such a duty is beyond me."
Nekro's gaze stayed firm. "This is not something I can entrust to another god, considering the risk that the one I ask is the traitor. And no other demigod, not even my own son, has the skills you possess to fulfill such a task."
Though he did not show it, X acknowledged the confidence Nekro placed in him. And after a sigh, he accepted.
"Fine."
Nekro smiled. "Then please, stretch your weapon... and be sure never to come in contact with the bullet yourself."
Nekro carefully placed the single bullet into X's chamber, equipping Soul Slayer with a god-breaking round.
X holstered the sidearm, then returned his gaze to the god. "Is that all?" he asked, his face unreadable behind the mask.
Nekro smiled and nodded. "I am glad you are willing to take such a risk for the sake of reality," he said. "I know there is still good in your heart, even though it betrayed you in the past."
X turned toward the door. For a moment, his gaze drifted away before snapping back over his shoulder, anger flashing as he glared at the god.
"You know nothing about me."
The End kept his gaze upon X, who returned a menacing glare with audible growls behind his mask. "A transformation fueled by rage," the being said with a curious grin. "One ignited by the user's dying wish."
Watching X's uncontrollable fury reach its peak, The End could no longer contain his excitement for the moment.
"Now then... how will you entertain me?"
Immediately after his words, X rushed toward him without hesitation.
The height difference between the two was evident, but this did not deter X from striking with his full force. The mercenary swung relentlessly, driven by his determination to exterminate his opponent.
The End maintained a defensive stance as always, knowing it was the best way to truly savor every encounter. Yet as he continued to evade, he soon recognized something drastic in X that he had to acknowledge.
"Such rapid increase in overall power," he remarked, weaving around the blows effortlessly. "Magnificent."
X's movements were erratic, like an animal fighting for its life. He lunged with all his might, caring nothing for his own safety.
The End stayed on the defensive for a while, slipping past every strike until he finally found an opening. With that, he stretched his right fist forward, swinging at X with incredible speed. But the unexpected occurred.
The moment The End's blow connected, X planted his feet firmly and stood unmoved. In the same instant, he countered with a strike of his own aimed straight at his opponent's face.
The End's eyes widened, shocked that X had endured his attack. The demigod's left fist surged closer, faster than anticipated, only to halt inches away, stopped by the invisible barrier that still held firm.
The End froze briefly, but then X suddenly leaped back as though on instinct. His glare showed his confusion, but what startled him wasn't his opponent's attack, but rather his own.
"He managed to withstand the strike," The End muttered before his grin slowly returned. "Fascinating."
X wasted no time, rushing back in with speed that had somehow doubled, an almost impossible feat after such relentless effort. Yet The End remained untouched, his smile revealing that he was still in control.
"Yes, half-breed," the being said. "Show me the unbound limits of your power."
X roared with thunderous rage, his voice shaking the air as he struck with even greater ferocity. When his opponent continued to evade, he swiftly stepped back, crouched before a tombstone, and ripped it from the ground.
He charged and swung it with terrifying speed, but before it could connect, a strange purple substance consumed the stone, dematerializing it before it could land.
Undeterred, X shifted his stance and pressed on without pause. His strength grew with every passing moment, and so did his rage.
The End shifted from pure defense to a mix of offense and defense. His blows struck with crushing force, but X refused to yield, always returning to the fray unscathed. Then, as The End launched another punch, X accomplished yet another shocking feat.
As the fist came near, X slipped past it at ridiculous speed and unleashed a devastating right hook. The strike was so powerful that it cracked the invisible barrier around The End, before shattering it completely as even more force poured into the blow.
Reacting instantly, The End raised his left forearm to block the demigod's attack, then shoved him away with his right hand.
X skidded back a short distance, boots grinding into the ground before halting the momentum.
The End glanced at his forearm, noting the dent in his armor. His grin widened further. "That barrier was not the strongest one yet," he thought. "But still, this child..."
X's rage continued to deepen, his gaze locked onto the grinning being before him.
"Now this... is true entertainment," The End declared, his voice booming as his eyes lit with thrill. "Show me more, son of Flage."
In Under World, the demigods remained in silence, their minds racing as they waited patiently.
Quinn had fallen asleep, the strain in her head making it difficult to remain conscious, while Klaus stood quietly, visibly troubled by the situation.
The lack of updates from Main World weighed heavily on him, and with the risks of observing The End, Iris had decided not to take a look at the ongoing events. This left them unaware of what had transpired on Earth, something that deeply bothered Klaus.
He recalled his father's words, and they only fueled his desire to act--especially with his mother still on that planet, facing danger. He couldn't stand idly by, not when he felt he might be able to do something.
"I have to go," he suddenly said, drawing every demigod's attention. "I have to head to Earth like the others."
"And how exactly do you expect to do that?" Rose asked.
"I don't know," Klaus admitted. "But I can't stand here and risk my mother's safety, or the lives of innocent people."
"I get that," Tyler said from the side. "I don't want my mom in danger either. But like Rose said, there's nothing we can do right now."
"Plus," Ace added, "Nekro gave us a task that might be our only hope, so we need to stay here."
"I know," Klaus replied. "But as long as the rest of you are here, it should be fine if I leave."
Klaus began walking toward the door of the room they were in, intending to reach the transportation podium in the Facility. However, Shade placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.
"I know how you feel, Klaus," Shade said calmly. "But you know that won't work. There's no way to travel between worlds anymore."
Klaus stood in silence, his mind racing. "Damn it," he muttered in frustration. "If only there was some sort of rift that could bridge the worlds..."
But as he said this, one of the demigods perked up.
"Wait… did you just say Rift?" Ace asked from the side, drawing everyone's attention.
Ace's eyes widened slowly, as if a sudden realization had struck him. "Oh… my gods," he said. "I think… I think I know a way to get you to Earth."
"What?" Riley asked. "How's that even possible?"
Ace stood in thought for a moment, while Klaus looked at him curiously.
"I--I can't really explain it," Ace admitted. "But I know there's something I need to do."
His gaze fell to his hands, focus growing with every second. Soon, he rose to his feet and stepped forward. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and placed his hands at his sides.
Everyone watched silently, eyes fixed on him in curiosity. Then, Ace's palms began to vibrate rapidly. His eyes remained shut as he brought his hands together ahead of him, before a strange blue energy began to envelop them.
At that moment, Klaus was convinced Ace truly had something. He watched in awe as the space in front of Ace began to tear, caused by the friction from his vibrating palms as he separated them from one another.
Gasps filled the room as Ace spread his hands apart, tearing open what appeared to be a Rift in the space before him--its core glowing with a deep blue essence.
Ace's breathing grew heavier as he pulled his hands back, slouching in exhaustion. "This… should take you… back to New York," he said faintly, his eyes fluttering. "It'll stay open… until about five seconds after its use."
Klaus's shock was clear in his expression. "How the hell did you learn an ability like this?"
"I… I'm not sure when," Ace replied, his knees wobbling. "But… if I remember right… it has to do… with you, Klaus."
Klaus's gaze softened in confusion. "What? What does that even mean?"
But before Ace could answer, he lost consciousness, his body collapsing. Link rushed forward, catching him before he hit the ground and gently placing him on a chair.
"That ability must've taken everything out of him," Link said, glancing at Ace. "He's out cold."
Klaus couldn't stop wondering what Ace meant, but he knew there was no time to dwell on it now that he had finally gained a means to travel to Earth.
Swiftly, he turned to Shade. "We have to go," he said, before glancing back at the portal.
"Wait!" Lance called out, stepping in front of the rift. "What do you even plan on doing when you get there?"
Klaus paused briefly. "There's something Shade and I can do that could prove useful," he said. "It's not groundbreaking, but it could be effective if necessary."
"And you think that'll be enough to defeat a being that has killed off the majority, if not all, of the gods?" Lance asked.
Klaus stayed silent for a moment before meeting Lance's gaze, his expression calm. "I'm sure you heard something from Siege during his death, just like I did with my father," he said, his words softening Lance's look. "You need to trust us. We've got this."
Lance let out a sigh after a short silence. "Fine," he said, stepping aside. "But I will obey the orders given to me by Lord Nekro and remain here."
"I understand," Klaus said with a nod.
"We better get going," Shade said. "Every second counts."
"I'll go with you guys."
Klaus and Shade turned to see Riley step closer.
"Oh no, no," Klaus said. "I can't let you do that."
"Why not?" Riley asked with an annoyed expression. "You think I'm not strong enough?"
"I know you're just as capable as I am," Klaus replied, "but I can't risk your life for this."
"But it's my life," Riley shot back with frustration. "And I also can't stay here while you risk yours for our sake."
"You guys talk about risking your lives like it doesn't hurt," Tyler muttered. "Also, am I missing something, or are the two of you acting like you're a thing?"
"Damn, who's gonna tell him?" Link said from the side.
Riley glanced at Klaus with soft eyes. "I want to go, Klaus," she insisted.
Klaus stayed silent, but a sigh caught his attention.
"Just let her go with you," Rose said from the side. "It's her choice, not yours."
Klaus looked at Rose, then back at Riley, locking eyes with her. "Fine," he said, prompting a smile from her. "But you can't do anything reckless."
"I'm going too, by the way," Rose suddenly added.
"What?" Klaus exclaimed.
"Don't worry, you're not going to convince me to stay," Rose said with a grin. "I'm going whether you like it or not."
"I would advise not going in numbers," Quinn suddenly said, revealing she had woken. "Lord Nekro told us to keep our presence limited, so four should be the maximum."
"That's fine with us," Rose said, still smiling as she turned to Klaus. "Right?"
Klaus glanced back before sighing. "I guess," he said calmly.
"Guess that means I'm not tagging along," Link said, his mask showing no expression. "Not like I was eager to throw myself in harm's way anyway."
Meanwhile, Quinn moved closer to Klaus, lowering her voice. "Are you sure about this, Klaus?" she asked, her worry plain.
"I don't think I could ever be sure," Klaus admitted, his gaze dropping slightly. "Which is why I want to ask you this. Since I've known you, you've never been wrong. So tell me... tell me I survive this, and things will end up alright."
Quinn stayed quiet for a moment. "You know I can't guarantee that, Klaus," she said softly.
"I know," Klaus replied. "But please... just say it."
Quinn sighed again before giving in. "Fine," she said gently. "Everything will be alright in the end."
Klaus nodded before turning back to Shade and the others. "We better get going," he said, his eyes fixed on the rift ahead.
Back on Earth, The End and X clashed, their fists striking with ferocity.
Even though X still failed to land a decisive blow, his power had grown tremendously, allowing him to evade the majority of The End's attacks.
The End could not hide his intrigue as his gaze shifted briefly toward Nekro, who lay unconscious nearby. With just one glance at the fallen god, an understanding entered his mind.
"This power..." he thought, "it was inherited from him. Meaning it is also a derivative of my own."
A smile spread across his face as he refocused on X. "Your power has been rising exponentially these past moments," he said, maintaining a defensive stance as he evaded X's relentless strikes. "If this continues... your strength will eventually surpass even the gods."
The End's grin widened as he let out an uncontrollable giggle. "You truly are your father's son," he said with delight. "This fight has brought me more entertainment than anything since my freedom."
X pressed forward, his assault only growing more vicious. When he swung his right fist, the air around it cracked like glass. The force made Olivia and Limbo flinch, even from a distance, overwhelmed by his power.
"Such strength," Limbo thought. "How is he even mortal?"
The End reacted swiftly, raising his left hand to slice X's fist clean off. But as the strike carried through, another hand immediately grew in place, the attack continuing seamlessly and catching The End off guard.
In response, The End thrust his right palm forward, stopping the punch mere inches from his face as the battlefield shook violently.
"This demigod wields this inherited power even better than the god himself," The End thought, regarding Nekro. "Truly remarkable."
Though his joy was evident in the moment, his smile gradually faded as he recognized the growing repercussions of letting X's power run unchecked.
Evading another strike, The End spoke calmly. "An infinitely scaling power that sustains its wielder until their death wish is fulfilled..." he muttered, "such a terrifying implication of the power you inherited, capable of bringing down any foe, no matter who they are."
But then his gaze darkened further. "Yet, as I told you before... every ability has its counter."
X lunged in with a deadly left fist, his red eyes glowing as sparks suddenly began to flicker around his back. But just before the blow could land, everything froze in place.
The End instantly vanished from place and reappeared at his opponent's back. "I have seen all I need from your ability," he said, stretching his hand forward.
Placing his palm against X's back, a strange white aura glowed around the demigod before spreading outward, encasing him in a radiant cube, each side spanning six and a half feet. The cube sealed X off completely before time resumed once again.
"I would have loved to continue our dance," The End said softly, "but indulging you further would prove detrimental to me. So, I had to end it here."
Silence now filled the battlefield, a stark contrast to the chaos moments earlier.
"The best way to counter an infinitely scaling strength like yours..." he continued, his gaze fixed on the cube, "is an infinitely consuming pocket reality such as this."
His expression softened, almost regretful. "This is the first time I have resorted to such tactics since my release. For that, I commend you... Hunter Woods."
With those words, The End's body glowed before his form dematerialized. In an instant, he appeared seated once more on his throne, savoring the memory of the battle as Limbo and a defeated Olivia stood at his sides.
"Father," Limbo said, bowing his head, "now that the half-beast has been dealt with, what are your next plans?"
The End was silent for a few moments. "I had planned on exterminating this world once I was done with its strongest fighters," he admitted. Then his gaze shifted, a smirk forming on his lips. "But... it seems a new act has entered the stage."
Immediately after his words concluded, a sudden disturbance tore through the fabric of space at a noticeable distance. Shortly after, various individuals began to emerge from the rift, revealing Klaus, Shade, Rose, and Riley.
The demigods stepped through the rift and stood in silence, their gazes scanning the ruins of the area where they had appeared, before the rift slowly closed behind them.
"I can feel it," Riley said at once. "His presence."
"That helps us find him faster," Klaus replied, turning his gaze to his right. "And from what I'm sensing... we might be a bit late."
Riley and Shade exchanged glances, realizing they could no longer feel any trace of Flage or the others who had left Under World.
"For now," Rose said, "we need to head toward his location."
"No need."
The demigods froze in place, their bodies unable to react after a voice cut through the air. A short distance behind them sat The End on his throne, accompanied as always by Limbo and Olivia.
This was not the same location where he had been before the demigods' arrival, revealing that he had shifted reality itself, repositioning to where the rift had opened. The absence of X and Nekro further confirmed this.
Klaus slowly turned his head, his eyes widening as he locked onto the very being he had seen in the meeting room--the one who had taken his father's life.
Klaus stared at The End, but his mind also registered the situation. Nekro and the others were nowhere in sight, and this reality unsettled him. The absence of Tremor and Tundra was concerning as well, though for now, he focused on the fact that Limbo was the only hostile god present. But as his eyes moved from The End to the throne, he noticed a familiar face.
"Olivia!" Shade suddenly cried, his eyes wide as he saw her shackled at the neck, bound at The End's side.
"S-Shade," Olivia muttered in shock, her eyes locking with his.
Shade's gaze darkened, fury rising as he turned to The End. "What did you do to her?" he shouted.
"It's okay, Shade," Olivia said quickly, trying to calm him. "I'm fine. I promise."
Shade's anger lingered, but Klaus stepped closer to restrain him. The End smiled faintly at the exchange, still seated comfortably.
"I see you have made an acquaintance with my other half," the being said, his reverberating voice pressing an intense weight over the demigods.
"Other half?" Klaus asked, his confusion evident.
Olivia lowered her head, the weight of her reality pressing down on her.
"So you were all unaware as well," The End said with a grin.
Shade's eyes widened at the implication, but before he could react, Rose sharply drew his attention.
"Calm yourself, Shade," she whispered. "Don't lose sight of the objective."
Shade held his glare for a few moments longer before finally forcing himself to relent.
"We can spare the trivialities," The End said after a moment of silence. "What brings you all before me?"
Klaus regarded him with a neutral expression. "You already know, don't you? You are almighty, after all."
The End leaned back against his throne. "The future contains an infinite number of possibilities," he said. "An amount I have little interest in exploring, since there is never one set in stone. So no... I do not know which path you have chosen in this encounter."
Klaus stayed quiet for a moment, glancing at the others before returning his focus. He himself was still unsure of what path to take, but he already knew the plan he had settled on before their departure.
"We came... to plead for our existence."
The End's eyes widened slightly as he leaned forward. "Ohh?" he said, amused.
Klaus felt uneasy at the words. His father had just fought and fallen to this very being, and pleading was neither the proudest nor the strongest stance. But he considered other factors--the lives of those who did not deserve damnation. Like his mother.
"I understand the gods imprisoned you against your will," Klaus continued, "and for that, they faced your wrath. But we did nothing to deserve it, and we never asked for the sentience we were given."
The End smiled mockingly but had allowed Klaus to finish. "So you want me to leave this world and the one beneath untouched?" he asked.
"I know it goes against your nature," Klaus said, "but since you possess powers beyond infinite, I ask only that you spare this realm and create other worlds of your own for your... satisfaction."
Klaus bore the weight of his words. He knew this meant that if his plan worked, The End would still create new sentient beings to torment in their place. But in that moment, all that mattered was the safety of this world. If it were up to him, he would fight for it until his last breath, as his father had. But his priority was humanity--the reason for his very existence.
The End remained silent for a moment longer, the tension weighing heavily on everyone present. "I must admit that your argument strikes true," he said, shocking all before him. "I have already exacted vengeance on those wretched beings, and I have already smote one reality before arriving here. So, I currently have little desire to exterminate your species again--especially with how much entertainment I have received from the earlier three."
Klaus realized The End was likely referring to Mia, Ash, and X, making him wonder if they were still alive.
"Worry not," The End said, catching Klaus's attention, "the mortals still live--though barely."
This brought slight relief to the demigods, though they understood the most important word in his statement was barely.
"So... does that mean you will let us be?" Riley asked.
The End glanced from his throne with a smile. "Perhaps," he responded, causing a wave of comfort to wash over the demigods.
Klaus, however, felt skeptical. It seemed far too easy.
"Oh my gods," Riley said, glancing at the others. "I don't believe it."
"However..."
All the demigods returned their gaze to The End as he continued. "I cannot grant you your survival. You will have to fight for it instead."
Immediately, shadows fell upon the group once more. "What do you mean?" Klaus asked. "We have no chance of survival if we have to fight you for it."
"I agree," The End said, before his gaze shifted to his right, where Limbo stood in silence.
Limbo turned to his creator, slowly realizing what he meant. "You wish me to fight these mortals, Father?" he asked.
"Precisely," The End confirmed.
A smile spread across Limbo's face, though he quickly suppressed it and fell to one knee. "You honor me with this duty, Father," he said. "I will not disappoint you."
"I expect to be entertained," The End said. "You will suppress your infinite power during the engagement."
A taunting grin soon spread across his features. "Unless... you require it to match their strength?" he asked, causing Limbo to freeze momentarily.
"P-Preposterous," Limbo said. "Fret not, Father, I will provide you the best performance yet."
"Do not disappoint," The End replied, his gaze shifting forward once again.
Limbo remained on his knee for a moment before rising, a smile creeping back onto his face. He turned his shrouded gaze to the four demigods before him, the shackle over his eyes hiding his sight. Tilting his head upward, he spread his arms wide, inhaled deeply, and exhaled with calm anticipation.
"It is a fine day for lambs to be slaughtered," he muttered, smiling as he began to walk forward.
As Limbo approached, the demigods braced themselves.
His excitement was clear, as he had long awaited a taste of battle since escaping Under World. "Mortals... sinners," he began, his words louder as he advanced, "rejoice, for your lives will soon be taken by the hands of divinity."
Klaus knew that among all the gods, Limbo was the one who despised humans the most. He knew that things were not going to be easy for them.
"Your existence is heresy," Limbo continued, stopping a short distance from them. "But fret not, for death shall be your salvation."
His smile soon faded, leaving only the shackle over his eyes, which made his presence even more menacing. "Let me show you what happens when mortals defy true divinity."