Klaus and Shade fought Limbo in tandem, the intensity of the battle unlike anything they had ever experienced. They fought with ferocity, but what truly stood out was their immaculate synergy.
The demigods covered one another perfectly, almost as if they shared a single mind. This was possible due to the synergy between the gods embedded within the rings they wore.
"These... beasts," Limbo thought to himself in shock. "They move like completely different beings compared to mere moments ago."
Stretching out his hand to land a blow, Limbo watched as Klaus raised his forearm to block it. Swiftly, Shade appeared at his side, landing a devastating kick against the lower part of his chest. The attack cracked a portion of his armor, sending him flying back a noticeable distance.
As he staggered back, Limbo spread his wings and used them to regain his footing. His gaze fell on his torso as he saw blood seeping slightly through the crack. Rage surged at the sight, but he forced himself to remain calm, knowing that succumbing to anger would only cost him. With this thought, he reformed his armor before his opponents rushed back in.
Both parties clashed with heavy blows. Limbo landed solid hits on the brothers, but they struck him just as well. Yet as time passed, Limbo began to regain the upper hand.
The god's skill was undeniable, evident in every movement. He grounded his opponents with deadly precision, but before long, they rushed back to their feet and rejoined the fray without hesitation.
Despite having the advantage, Limbo grew frustrated with their persistence. Klaus soon landed a blow to the god's chest, forcing him back slightly.
"Why do you inferior creatures refuse to perish?" Limbo shouted, his voice raised in annoyance.
"Because as long as the blood of the god of light runs through my veins," Klaus retorted, his golden eyes steady with stoicism, "I will never yield to a false god like you."
Limbo glared with irritation. "Am I supposed to be intimidated by your words?" he spat. "Do not provoke me, heretic."
Immediately, two Singularity Cores materialized in his palms, and he pointed them at the demigods, intending to pull them closer. Yet to his shock, Klaus and Shade remained unaffected.
Soon, Shade raised his hands as darkness flowed through him, morphing into a bow and arrow. He released the arrow, forcing Limbo to change his stance and evade.
"How can this be?" Limbo thought in disbelief. "The range of my abilities has dulled on them significantly."
He understood that his cores grew stronger the closer his opponent was, but after this last attempt, he realized the demigods might be too strong to be influenced from afar. Furthermore, the Ouroboros seemed to have weakened the power of his abilities overall.
"That cursed rule," Limbo muttered, realizing he needed to change tactics.
As the battle continued, Klaus began to notice something odd about Limbo's fighting style. He realized the god was far more tactical than before, even though he was landing fewer attacks. Still, Klaus did not allow this to slow his aggression.
Whenever necessary, Klaus used his Phantasmal State to evade, while the Abyssal Pit worked well for Shade in keeping him safe. And although they already moved at incredible speed, Klaus made use of his Burst Speed when needed to avoid major attacks. However, he could not make use of the momentum in his swings, so it offered little offensive advantage outside of catching his opponent off-guard from time to time.
Limbo's clear advantage had shifted drastically, but contrary to what might be expected, he appeared unfazed by this. The composure caused Klaus to remain cautious.
Because of this, Klaus stretched out both hands and charged forward, creating a first-grade Solar Ball in each palm. Limbo noticed and hurled himself away using his wings. While retreating, he stretched out his palm, conjured a Singularity Core, and launched it at Klaus.
But as the demigod pressed onward, Klaus used his Burst Speed to sidestep the incoming projectile before continuing his rush at normal pace.
He inched closer to Limbo, and just as he arrived a few steps away with both hands extended, the god smiled.
Instantly, Klaus swapped places with Shade, shocking both demigods. Without wasting a moment, Limbo revealed a core in his grasp and slammed it into Shade, launching him high into the skies.
Klaus turned toward his brother in alarm, but Limbo quickly closed the distance to keep him occupied.
For a moment, confusion filled Klaus. He had assumed the ability no longer worked under Ouroboros, especially since Limbo had not used it earlier. Now, he realized the god had only been saving it for the right moment. But it also meant that for the moment to occur this way, Limbo's range for the initial swap was far more limited than before--likely one or two meters in radius. Still, it made sense given the god's nature.
Klaus swung the Solar Balls he still held, but Limbo evaded skillfully, countering with a strike that pushed him back. Realizing it was difficult to land a clean hit, Klaus advanced again. But instead of attempting to land either ball, he slammed them together, creating a massive explosion before Limbo.
The blast lit the field, but thanks to Phantasmal State, Klaus remained unharmed.
As the light settled, Limbo reappeared a distance away, having swapped with a small nearby tree that was vaporized by the explosion.
Meanwhile, high above, Shade struggled against the core dragging him upward. Its momentum and gravitational pull made it difficult to dislodge, and he could not call upon the Abyssal Pit since it was grounded.
As the seconds passed, Shade was pulled closer to the clouds, where oxygen thinned. Knowing he had only one means to escape the bind, his body began to change, shadows consuming him entirely.
Back below, Klaus staggered back from a blow as his shadow darkened on the ground. From it, Shade crawled out and rolled aside.
"Are you okay?" Klaus asked, keeping his eyes locked on Limbo.
"Yeah," Shade replied, rising with exhaustion and pain. "You'd think godly powers would make death feel less painful and tiring."
Soon, the Abyssal Pit shifted back to his side on command.
Shade crouched, reaching in to pull out a long spear of darkness, while Klaus clasped his hands together to form the Sol Blade. Once more, they returned to the fight.
Limbo fought with his fists, yet still kept pace. The demigods struggled to land solid strikes, and the battle continued under his control.
"His moves are too calculated," Klaus thought. "It's like he refuses to let unnecessary emotion drive him despite his irritations."
Limbo's control was impressive, born from his nature of observing others around him.
As the god of Space, he occasionally distanced himself from the other gods when he was still a member of the pantheon, during their duties under The End. This was why he became so skilled at observing how others behaved, which translated into his ability to understand them.
Every time Klaus attacked, Limbo created a Singularity Core near the demigod to prevent him from using his Phantasmal State. This allowed the god to land a hit whenever the opportunity arose. Similarly, he accounted for Shade's formidable defenses with the Abyssal Pit, keeping it occupied with the orb's gravitational pull while continuing his assault.
Shade swung his spear, but Limbo evaded. Soon, the god drove his elbow into the weapon, shattering it and striking the demigod away. Shade pulled back, then reshaped the broken weapon in each hand into twin blades before rushing back into the fray.
Klaus also fought fiercely, but like his brother, he struggled to land a clean hit. The multitude of cores hovering around the battlefield made it difficult for him to commit to offense; if he got too close, he risked being dragged in by their gravitational pull.
Things were looking grim for the demigods, and they began to question whether they could win at all.
"We can win this," Shade thought. "I still have that power... but no, I will not succumb to using it."
Shade debated whether victory was possible without resorting to that power, but his thoughts snapped back to the present when he saw Limbo kick Klaus aside and rush toward him.
With the god's hand reaching out, Shade swiftly reshaped his weapons into a shield, morphing them before him to block the strike. He expected Limbo to push him away, but instead, the god pressed his palm against the shield and applied crushing force.
Shade collapsed to the ground, struggling against the pressure. Noticing this, Klaus rushed in, bringing his blade down to slash the god. But as he closed in, Limbo smiled.
In an instant, a sharp snap echoed from Limbo's fingers. Immediately, both demigods froze in place as the color drained from the surrounding space.
Limbo chuckled, then erupted into a maniacal laugh. "You demigods are as predictable as ever," he said with amusement, strolling to the side as Klaus and Shade remained bound.
"I will admit, it was difficult keeping the two of you within range... but it seems your worry for one another was your downfall."
Throughout the fight, even though Klaus and Shade fought side by side, they never attacked at melee range together. This was because they remained wary of Limbo's earlier display of divine power--the ability that made the space around him his Labyrinth. Though its range had weakened, it was still enough to trap them both if they closed in together.
"You were both aware of it all along, were you not?" Limbo said with a grin. "I knew the moment had to be perfect before I could use it. Simply feigning damage would not have lowered your guard. No, only this situation would work."
He looked at the two demigods with joy. "I must say, you sinners nearly had me," he admitted. "But I am afraid your luck has finally run out."
With a motion of his hands, two shards of glass flew from outside the Labyrinth into his palms, their colors fading upon entry.
"Unfortunately, I cannot sustain this domain as long as I would like because of that wretched rule," Limbo said, his expression softening. "A shame. I would have preferred to see you both suffer slowly before your demise."
His grin returned. "But since your deaths are inevitable here, I will admit it... you were both formidable opponents."
With that, Limbo drove one shard into Klaus's heart, the strike so swift it seemed effortless. Then he turned to Shade--still pinned down by the pressure from earlier--and thrust the second shard through his back, at the same spot as Klaus.
"No!" Olivia screamed from the sidelines, watching Limbo pierce the demigods.
She tried to rush forward, eyes wide with horror, but The End pulled her chain taut.
"Do something!" she cried, glaring at the being in desperation and slight anger.
But The End only stared ahead, remaining unmoved. "Do not ruin the best part," the being said, his focus unshaken.
Klaus and Shade stood frozen, unable to react to the wounds they had received, as Limbo towered over them, laughing.
"Good riddance, you filthy low lives," the god said with a grin, as color returned to the area.
But as it did, Klaus's earlier momentum carried through. But instead of falling in agony, the demigod shifted, swinging his blade and slashing through Limbo's chest, catching the god completely off guard.
Limbo staggered back and dropped to one knee, eyes wide. "W-What?" he stammered in shock, as Klaus stood unscathed.
Then he saw it--the shard he had driven into Klaus lay on the ground, untouched by blood. It had never pierced him at all.
"This... this cannot be," Limbo whispered. "You could not have activated that ability so quickly."
Limbo was in shock, but that emotion only grew as he witnessed Shade rise as well.
Unlike Klaus, the shard of glass remained lodged in Shade's body. However, instead of blood seeping from the wound, liquid darkness poured forth. Through the tear in the demigod's shirt, it was revealed that his flesh and skin had been replaced by darkness.
This meant Shade had swapped his body beneath his clothes with Pure Darkness, keeping his vital organs hidden away within the Abyssal Pit throughout the battle. To conceal this, he left his head and hands untouched, even though doing so was risky.
Shade pulled the shard of glass from his body, his gaze fixed on Limbo. "I can't believe your plan worked, Klaus," he said.
"Same here," Klaus replied, his eyes locked on their opponent. "Seems the telepathic connection from the rings came in handy after all."
At those words, Limbo's eyes widened in realization. Throughout the fight, Klaus and Shade had never spoken aloud despite their seamless coordination. Even in moments where concern seemed natural--like when Shade had been launched into the skies--Klaus showed no outward worry beyond an initial reaction, as though he already knew his brother would be fine.
Now Limbo understood. They had been communicating telepathically the entire time, hidden from his awareness. That was why Klaus had been able to activate his Phantasmal State at the exact moment required--they had planned it all along. Worse, Limbo had already used his Labyrinth, meaning he could no longer rely on it since it was now on a lengthy cooldown.
The realization that he had been played turned Limbo's shock into boiling rage.
Klaus wasted no time, rushing forward to finish the god. But before he could land the final blow, a violent force blasted both him and Shade away.
Limbo rose to his feet, fury blazing in his eyes, a massive scar carved across his chest and through his shattered armor. "You insolent... despicable... blasphemous, inferior creatures!" he roared. "You dare look down upon me?"
Suddenly, Klaus and Shade turned their eyes skyward, where a Singularity Core began to form high above. But unlike the others, this one was massive, expanding by the second until it darkened the evening sky like a black hole.
Immediately, objects from as far as the eye could see--branches, trees, even buildings--were pulled into its grasp.
The demigods knew at a glance that this was catastrophic.
"I would bathe in your blood if it were not tainted with mortal grime," Limbo spat, his hands lifted to the skies. "Instead, I will destroy this planet and everything within it."
Klaus and Shade prepared themselves, but hesitation on what they could possibly do in such a moment clouded their thoughts.
Limbo smiled as his laughter rang out. Unlike the demigods, he did not care for the battlefield. Even if he were to fall, taking everything they fought for with him meant their loss was assured. His plan was flawless--until suddenly, time itself stopped.
Limbo stood baffled. Though his mind processed what was happening, his body was completely frozen. The entire world, including the demigods and himself, had halted, and for several long seconds, nothing changed--until a voice cut through the stillness.
"Did I permit you to threaten this world?"
Instantly, Limbo's frozen gaze witnessed The End, who appeared before him, fury etched in his eyes.
"If you dare defy me again," the being said coldly, "you will join the rest of your kin in death."
Soon, the world resumed normally, and The End was no longer in sight.
Limbo froze in fear as the Singularity Core in the skies suddenly stopped absorbing objects. A purple essence soon covered it, consuming its presence entirely within mere seconds.
Klaus glanced at Limbo in confusion, watching as the god remained in place, paralyzed by shock. He had no idea what had caused such a reaction or why Limbo had stopped his attack, but he wasted no time thinking and instead capitalized on the opportunity before him.
Klaus rushed forward, his palm stretched out as a Solar Ball spun into existence in his grasp. Without hesitation, he slammed it onto the god's chest, the force breaking through Limbo's already shattered armor and sending him flying into a wall.
As the light dissipated, Limbo struggled to rise to his feet. His chest now exposed, he realized that his distraction with The End's words had nearly cost him his life--a fear that lingered faintly. But he was not about to accept defeat. Not at the hands of mortals.
With a roar of anger, Limbo spread multitudes of Singularity Cores around him.
Klaus glanced at his opponent before Shade called to him from his left.
Shade nodded slightly. "It's time to give that thing a try," he said to his brother.
Realizing what Shade meant, Klaus stretched his left hand to his side, palm facing downward. Shade mirrored the gesture, extending his right hand beneath his brother's, palm facing upward.
Their dominant hands, where the rings were worn, pressed together. Klaus's palm began to glow as he released his Radiant Aura, while Shade conjured darkness into his own. As Klaus shifted his hand into a sideways fist and pulled upward, a sleek dagger of Absolute Light manifested, accompanied by thorns of Pure Darkness spiraling along its sides.
The weapon was intricate, a mixture of light and darkness in their raw forms as it manifested in Shade's palm before he grabbed onto it.
Shade wielded the blade, his eyes on it for a moment before he stretched it toward Klaus. "You have to do it," he said. "You're faster than I am. I'll back you up to make sure you land the final blow."
Klaus glanced at Shade. "Are you sure?"
Before Shade could answer, Limbo's enraged voice broke through. "You think this is over!" he screamed, his fury boiling over as few Singularity Cores swirled violently around them.
But Klaus's Perfect Precognition sensed imminent danger. He shoved Shade out of the way just as a Core came crashing down, pinning him to the ground instead.
Shade tried to intervene but was stopped immediately. "Go!" Klaus said. "I'll help if I can, but this is the best chance we have. It's all up to you now."
Shade hesitated, but as more orbs flew toward him, he took a deep breath, gripped the blade tightly, and charged forward.
Shade moved with precision as Singularity Cores rushed at him with haste. He made sure to keep his distance from them so as not to get pulled by their force, continuing his run toward his opponent.
Limbo stretched his hands forward with rage, hurling even more cores without concern for his evident exhaustion. But Shade pressed onward.
"It doesn't matter if I can do it or not," Shade thought. "I must defeat him."
He evaded the cores until one suddenly appeared too close for comfort. He watched it approach slowly, but before the pull could absorb him, the Abyssal Pit shot up from the ground before him, taking his place and allowing him to continue. Without slowing his momentum, Shade pressed onward until he reached Limbo.
Limbo tried to retreat, but there was no time. Luckily, he had another plan to counter the assault.
As Shade reached him and stretched his hand forward, Limbo swapped places between the demigod and Klaus, who lay pinned by the core a good distance away. Yet as Klaus appeared before him, instead of shock, the demigod's eyes held dedication, wielding the same dagger Shade had possessed.
"What!" Limbo exclaimed in shock.
In that moment, he realized Shade had let go of the dagger when stretching it closer, which was why the weapon had not swapped places with him as well. And with the fire in Klaus's eyes, it was clear the demigods had anticipated this action.
Klaus gripped the dagger with both hands and thrust it toward Limbo's heart. The god panicked but reacted swiftly, grabbing the demigod's arms and keeping the blade mere inches from his armor.
"You think you can defeat me, you lowly mortal?" Limbo spat, keeping Klaus's attack at bay.
Klaus used all his might, but the blade could not go further. "I know I can't..." he said, determination still blazing in his eyes, "but that's why I'm not alone."
After his words, Klaus let go of the blade, his eyes still fixed on Limbo, who looked down.
As the god's gaze fell to the ground, he saw a pool of shadows beneath them, from which a hand made entirely of darkness sprang up and grabbed the blade. His eyes briefly fell on Shade, who remained pinned in Klaus's place by the core, his right hand deep in another pool of shadow at his side.
Limbo watched as the dark hand stretched upward, driving the blade of light and darkness into his heart, forcing him to release Klaus and stumble back.
The effect of the dagger was different from usual. The light burned his flesh, while the thorns of darkness spread tendrils deeper into his body internally from multiple angles.
Klaus used the opportunity to hold the blade in place alongside Shade's conjured hand, stopping Limbo, who desperately tried to pull it out.
The god screamed in agony, striking Klaus relentlessly to free the weapon. One blow even struck Klaus in his right eye, but the demigod remained unyielding.
Limbo's wings also tried cutting through his opponent's body, but the trench coat Klaus wore negated all the relentless attacks. Finally, Limbo's strength began to wane, allowing Klaus to push him away before falling to his knees.
The Singularity Cores around the area slowly vanished, releasing Shade, who regrouped with his brother. "Are you alright, Klaus?" he asked, moving closer.
Klaus remained on his knees, his eye bleeding slightly, but contrary to expectation, he was smiling. "Y-Yeah," he said, prompting a smile from Shade as well, who helped him up.
A wave of relief washed over them as they turned back to Limbo.
"No... This... cannot be," Limbo muttered, his grounded body too sluggish to move as the dagger remained lodged in his chest. "Death... in the hands of these... inferior creatures... is the worst kind of transgression."
Limbo's eyes wavered as he turned to The End, who remained seated, unfazed by the moment. "F-Father," the god muttered, his strength easing. "Forgive me... for I have... sinned."
Slowly, Limbo's body began to petrify as it slumped, turning into a gold statue like the other gods. Yet The End showed no signs of remorse, lacking any ounce of emotional attachment to the god's eventual death.
Klaus and Shade looked at one another, their joy evident as they gasped for air.
Klaus's attention turned inward. "Dad..." he thought, "we did it. We saved our reality."
The relief he felt was beyond words, but as he turned his gaze, his eye widened as before him stood The End.
"I must admit," the being began, his words reverberating as always, "I had not expected this exact outcome."
Immediately his words concluded, the demigods fell to one knee, reacting to his overwhelming presence. Klaus felt numb, and his expression changed instantly.
The End crouched before them with a slight grin, his feet never touching the ground. "In this day alone," he began, "I have experienced more amusement than I ever had with my destructive endeavors. And for that, I commend you, half-breeds."
Soon, The End let out a daunting smile. "Though you think I was unaware of your conversation with those gods you adorn yourselves with?" he revealed, proving his awareness of Halo's assessment hours earlier. "The only reason I chose to play along was because I wanted to be entertained."
Klaus was shocked by The End's knowledge, but the moment began to trouble him. "You... promised," he muttered. "You said... you'll leave us alone."
"I did promise that," The End replied. "And I am always true to my word. However, I never said one battle alone would suffice."
As Klaus heard this, his single eye widened, feeling as though he had been tricked. But The End recognized this feeling, and his smile slowly shifted.
"You think I betrayed your trust?" he asked, his gaze on Klaus.
The End's eyes displayed disdain for Klaus's expression, almost as though he felt they were ungrateful. "You see me as evil... only because you see nothing at all," he said. "But you fail to understand just how merciful I have been to you all."
After his words, The End slowly stretched his right hand toward Klaus. "Let me show you."
And as his index finger met Klaus's forehead, a purple substance immediately began to consume the demigod. Klaus screamed in agony as the strange substance flowed through him, and soon his body began to dematerialize.
"Klaus!" Shade cried, watching the same purple substance begin to consume him as well.
The entire area was soon overtaken by the substance, and before long, everything around them followed--Olivia being the sole exception.
The substance spread throughout the city, consuming every single object and person. Soon, it extended across the planet, and even beyond, consuming all of Main World. But it did not stop there.
Back in Under World, Quinn's eyes widened in horror. "It's... all over," she muttered as the purple substance devoured everything around them.
"Are you kidding me?" Tyler said in frustration, before his form was immediately consumed along with the others.
Within moments, everything in all of existence had been consumed by the purple substance--from the corpses of the gods in Higher World, to the creatures in Flage's world, to even the souls of the monsters that remained in Hell. In mere seconds, reality itself had been exterminated with a single action.
The End floated in absolute emptiness, a sight incomprehensible in the third dimension. His gaze remained fixed as he hovered in place.
"In reality... there is only existence, or the absence of existence."
His gaze then turned to the side. "You see it now, do you not? What I am truly capable of."
Somehow, his words reached Klaus, whose form had been destroyed like the rest of reality, but whose mind was kept intact.
Klaus perceived his surroundings, and what he saw was indescribable. It was a colorless realm, and the only way he could explain it was total nothingness. He had no feelings or emotions to anchor onto since his being no longer existed, yet he somehow understood that what he was experiencing was pain.
Finally, The End waved his left hand, and in an instant, Klaus returned to the exact point where the being had touched his forehead, watching as the hand retracted.
Klaus groaned in agony as Shade turned toward him.
"Klaus?" Shade called out in concern, but he was unable to move his body.
Klaus's eyes widened as he gasped in pain. What he had just witnessed felt unreal, yet he knew it was entirely real.
"What you just saw is a mere taste of my capability," The End said. "So do not underestimate my patience with you mortals."
For a single moment, Klaus processed the destruction of the infinite expanse of all reality, and his mind had to slowly replenish itself from such an experience.
With a smile returning to his face, The End finally rose again, turning away as the demigods suddenly stood straight at his command.
"I spoke true when I said you would have to fight for your survival," he said, backing away, "and I do indeed plan to spare your reality if you come out on top. However... there seems to be no more adversaries to challenge."
He paused for a moment before his smile grew. Then he turned back to the demigods. "You know, I have always preferred darkness to light."
After his words, The End walked closer before placing his left palm upon Shade's head.
Shade screamed in agony as his eyes began to roll inward.
"Noo!" Klaus shouted, watching as The End placed another palm over his brother's head, an intense force spreading across the area--one that brought no good.
Olivia glanced at the scene, terror in her eyes. "Shade!" she muttered, attempting to move closer.
Yet her chain held her in place. Turning back, she saw The End still on his throne, holding the chain silently.
"Where do you think you're going?" the being asked, his expression stern.
"Please," Olivia begged. "Please don't do this to him. They don't deserve this."
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she turned to Shade, whose body began to shiver. The demigod let out a banshee-like scream that echoed as his form began to levitate.
All Klaus could do was watch, witnessing his brother in pain and too powerless to intervene. The world felt hazy to him, and his mind was still recovering from his last experience.
Finally, the ordeal eased, and Shade fell to the ground.
Klaus glanced in horror, his two eyes--including the one that had been damaged--widening as he looked at Shade, who lay with his eyes closed, facing the ground.
"Shade?" Klaus muttered softly.
But his brother remained motionless.
Suddenly, Shade began to rise--but this felt different.
As he rose, darkness began to consume his body, forming armor from the soles of his feet to his chest, similar to that of the gods. The armor clung firmly to his body, though his face remained uncovered, his eyes still closed.
Witnessing this transformation, Klaus knew it was nothing good. His eyes reflected defeat as he watched Shade take a deep breath.
Finally, Shade opened his eyes, revealing inverted-colored eyes, resembling those of The End.
"Arise... my knight in shade."