Nekro lay on the ground, his unconscious form unmoving for what felt like an eternity. The shackle placed by The End remained fastened around his neck, ensuring he stayed neutralized. But as time passed, he suddenly heard a voice.
"Things won't end here," the voice called. "Your help is still needed."
It had a feminine tone--commanding, yet comforting. The spoken words felt less like a distant memory or vision and more like someone speaking to him in real time.
Slowly, as the voice faded, the shackle around Nekro's neck began to dissolve, losing its form until it vanished completely.
For a few moments, Nekro remained still. Then, almost instinctively, his eyes snapped open.
...
"Klaus."
Klaus stirred at the sound of his name. Slowly opening his eyes, he pushed himself upright, pressing a palm to his head. His surroundings stretched into a boundless white void, endless in every direction. His head throbbed, and as he looked at himself, he realized his divine transformation had vanished. He had returned to his mortal form.
"You're awake."
The voice made Klaus's eyes widen, a tone very familiar to him. Turning slowly, he locked eyes with someone he thought he would never see again.
"A-Avalon," he whispered in disbelief, watching her smile at him.
His breath caught, and without hesitation, he rushed forward, pulling her into a tight embrace, his eyes shut against the reality before him.
"It's really you," he said, his tone trembling with disbelief.
Avalon giggled softly and returned the hug. "I've missed you, too."
For a few precious moments, they held each other before Klaus finally pulled away, glancing once more at the endless white.
"Where… are we?" he asked.
"It's kinda hard to explain," Avalon replied gently. "But just know that this... isn't exactly real life."
Her words struck him, and all at once, the memories returned. His face fell, grief overtaking him as he recalled everything.
"I... couldn't save him," Klaus muttered, sinking to his knees. "I couldn't save anyone."
Tears slipped down his cheeks as he pressed his palms against the ground in defeat. "I failed them… I failed you."
Avalon's smile was soft, touched with sorrow, yet unwavering. She knelt beside him, laying a gentle hand on his back.
"You fought with everything you had to protect everyone," she said warmly. "Not just humanity, but reality itself."
She leaned closer, pulling him into another embrace. "For what it's worth… I'm proud of how far you've come."
Tears streamed freely from Klaus's eyes as he rested against Avalon, comforted by her warmth.
...
Olivia's arms held The End tightly from behind, and in her embrace, the being quickly realized he was powerless.
"This damned girl," he thought to himself. "She is using her power to nullify mine."
With Ouroboros present and the shackle once around her neck gone, it was clear to him that Olivia had gained control of her inherited power. Yet, despite the danger, he could not help but giggle in amusement.
"So, you had this power within you all along," he mocked. "And it seems your affection for that mortal who perished was enough to spark it awake."
Olivia's rage was evident, fueled by his lack of remorse. Her grip kept him bound in place, though that was all she could manage for now.
"There is nothing else you can do," The End said with a smirk. "So stop wasting our time and let go of me."
But before he could speak further, all attention shifted behind them as a new presence emerged.
The End turned, his eyes widening as he saw Nekro standing weakly, his breaths heavy, one hand resting on his neck.
The shock was not at the god's presence, but at what was missing--the shackle that had once bound him.
"What?" The End muttered with wide eyes. "How is this possible?"
Nekro's condition was far from ideal, having lost so much of his strength from the now-absent shackle. Yet his resolve burned brighter than his exhaustion.
"It was your voice," Nekro said, his eyes fixed on Olivia, who still restrained The End. "You were the one who freed me."
Recognizing the situation, The End began to struggle, but Olivia held him firm.
Noticing this, Nekro wasted no more time. Swiftly, his stance shifted, and determination set into his gaze.
"I know what I must do now," he declared, stretching his hands forward and placing his palms together. "Even if it costs me everything."
As he prepared himself, Nekro's thoughts returned to what he had heard before waking--the words that had reached him in his despair, now confirmed to be Olivia's voice.
...
"You cannot remain downed," Olivia had said. "Your role is still necessary to save all of reality... to avenge your fallen siblings."
"H-How… can I be of use?" Nekro asked.
"You are the only one who can open it," she explained. "You must open the prison that once kept him bound."
Nekro hesitated in silence before answering. "It is impossible," he admitted. "I do not know if I can hold it open alone. It could also create a gateway for the rest of his being that remains imprisoned to escape."
"I know," Olivia replied firmly. "Which is why I will now reveal to you... a way to open an entrance with no exit. One that you alone can sustain for a brief, but sufficient, duration."
...
And as Nekro's hands remained outstretched, his wings spread, and his body began to glow. He grunted deeply, teeth clenched, showing how much force he was putting into the act. After a few more seconds of struggle, his palms began to vibrate before he turned them around.
When the god forced his hands apart in a ripping motion, the space before him tore open, and a portal of nothingness opened ahead. The portal stood about nine feet tall; its center shimmered in a strange color that matched the armor The End wore--an incomprehensible hue to mortals. From a single glance, it was clear where the portal led.
The Void.
Witnessing this, The End's confidence faltered. His eyes widened, showing fear for the first time since his arrival. He struggled harder as he realized what was happening, but Olivia held him fast, unyielding. Soon, his body slowly began to float backward.
Somehow, Olivia still had the strength to float back, and her action dragged both her and The End toward the Void's mouth.
Rose watched in shock as Olivia somehow matched The End's power and began hauling them both toward the portal. Questions crowded her mind, but all she could do was watch.
The End's voice rose in fury. "Unhand me, wench!" he spat, his hands still fighting Olivia's grip.
His feet never touched the ground, which meant he could not anchor himself to it. Yet despite all his force, Olivia would not relent.
Blood seeped from Olivia's nostrils, evidence of the strain as she pulled The End toward the Void, but her determination did not waver.
"No matter how hard you try," she shouted, voice ringing louder than before, "after all you've done to everyone--to the friends I made and cherished--you must pay."
"Is this a joke?" The End retorted, angered. "Your whole existence stems from me. Your sympathy for these creatures only proves how defective you truly are."
"Then you better not let this 'defect' pull you back to where you came from," Olivia said calmly, continuing to drag him backward.
The End was stunned that Olivia had countered every ability he possessed. He couldn't even use destruction to deter her. For the first time in his existence, he found himself in a situation where his power wasn't enough for him to prevail.
Nekro's gasps grew louder as he sustained the Void's entrance. The strain showed, but even if it meant his death, he would not falter.
As the struggle continued, Olivia weakened by the second. Her eyes blurred, and her strength began to wane--a change The End soon noticed.
"I will not become my own undoing," he hissed, redoubling his resistance to the maximum.
Suddenly, as the two beings were mere feet from the Void, The End's right hand broke free of Olivia's weakening grip. Exhaustion had taken its toll on her, and he seized the chance without hesitation.
Immediately, he flung his freed arm toward Rose, who stood frozen, watching the moment unfold from a distance. In an instant, his power pulled the demigod to him, and she was dragged into his grasp with terrifying speed.
The End seized Rose's right hand, holding her tightly as she fought to break free. Her feet dangled above the ground, the difference in size preventing her from pulling away.
Seeing this sudden turn of events, Olivia froze. Despite how critical time was, she could no longer drag him backward.
The End laughed as their struggle came to a halt, his analysis proven correct. "It seems your being truly is made entirely of benevolence," he mocked. "You cannot even sacrifice this mortal's life for the sake of the rest."
Olivia battled with herself, torn between duty and compassion. But despite her turmoil, she could not keep pulling. She could not risk Rose's life deliberately.
"Your virtue has cost you your only chance of winning," The End sneered, his smile widening. "You were so close to defeating me, I must admit. And while this newfound feeling I feel is riveting, it is only a matter of time until that wretched god loses consciousness. And when he does... I will deal with you all accordingly."
...
Klaus lay in silence, his head resting on Avalon's lap as they settled on the ground, nothing but emptiness surrounding them. Avalon stroked his hair with a gentle smile, while Klaus stared blankly into the void ahead.
The silence stretched on until Avalon finally spoke.
"It might be time for you to return, my love," she said, her smile unchanged.
Klaus didn't answer right away. His gaze stayed forward, his mind distant. "Why?" he muttered at last, his voice hollow. "I've already lost everything."
His eyes grew red as the weight of his thoughts pressed on him. "First, it was my dad," he said quietly. "Then Riley… who I couldn't even save. And then I..."
His words faltered, his throat tight as he held back tears. "I loved them all, you know. Even Riley," he admitted to Avalon, his gaze still toward the emptiness. "But now… there's nothing left for me in the real world. I'm all alone."
Avalon continued caressing his hair, her smile soft and unshaken as she gazed at him with love.
"You haven't lost everything."
Klaus's eyes shifted slightly, glancing upward at her.
"You still have Natalie, whose love for you cannot be measured," Avalon said, her words firm with truth. "You still have the other demigods, who look to you for guidance, no matter their own personal ideals. And you still have the planet--the same one you've risked your life for."
Her smile warmed as Klaus tilted his head toward her. "You're not alone," she added gently. "You haven't been for a very long time."
As her words sank in, shadows stretched before Klaus. He turned his gaze ahead and froze, his eyes widening at the sight he beheld.
Klaus witnessed all the gods standing before him, towering in a row only feet away. Ahead of them were the demigods--including Trent--every one of them looking at him. And even closer stood Shade and Riley, with Sol directly behind them.
The crowd smiled, their eyes fixed on Klaus, who stared back in utter disbelief. The sight was overwhelming as he lifted his head from Avalon's lap, and he could no longer hold back the tears streaming down his cheeks.
"You've changed a lot since we first met, you know," Avalon said softly, breaking the heavy silence as she rose to her feet. "You used to despise the world, but now you sacrifice everything you love to protect it. To protect those who will never know the price you paid."
Klaus's heart raced as he took in the scene before him. Those he had come to care for, perhaps without even realizing it, were standing there, looking at him with hope and trust. Though he had long given up hope of victory, this moment made the weight of his helplessness feel almost small.
Avalon's gaze remained steady, her smile unwavering. "I love you so much, Klaus Walker," she said, watching him slowly rise to his feet. "And I always will, even in death. But your duty isn't done. It's not time for us to reunite just yet."
...
In an instant, Klaus's eyes shot open, their clear white glow signaling his return to the real world. Slowly, he raised his head, scanning his surroundings and confirming that he was still in the crater where he had fallen. His divine form remained intact, his wings fluttering faintly at his sides, scattering the dust around them. Yet, even miles beneath the earth, his gaze was fixed elsewhere.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Klaus knew what had to be done. He stood tall, his eyes shifting to the side before stepping forward. Leaning down, he retrieved the Ring of Horns that Shade had left behind, then straightened with a stoic expression. His wings unfurled wide, and with a single leap, he burst out of the crater.
He darted through the air toward the scene ahead, where Rose was trapped in The End's grasp. Time seemed to slow as his focus sharpened to its peak. Every detail imprinted itself into his mind: The End's cold smile, Olivia's growing desperation, the flicker of exhaustion in Nekro's eyes, and Rose's strained grunts as she fought to free herself. Klaus's heartbeat thundered in his ears as the world around him seemed to hold still.
Noticing the shift in the wind, The End turned sharply, his smile faltering as his gaze locked on Klaus approaching at an incredible speed. He recognized the ascended demigod's intent immediately.
"No!" he roared, his expression twisting in alarm. "You dare not--"
But Klaus pressed on, unmoved by the being's rage. His left hand extended, forming a small Sol Blade in the shape of a dagger just as he reached the scene.
Klaus watched Rose as she slowly turned to him, her mind unable to comprehend the speed of the moment like the other participants. Arriving at the scene, he was already aware of the only way he could remove Rose from The End's grasp. And in a swift motion, he raised his blade and struck, cutting cleanly through Rose's wrist.
He knew that he was physically unable to overpower The End's grasp, so this was the only way he could save Rose from the being. Furthermore, since she possessed divine genes, he was certain that her chances of bleeding out from the cut were low. With all the loose ends tied, he finally returned his focus to The End, knowing he had no time to waste.
With Olivia keeping the being contained, Klaus poured his entire self--across every dimensional plane--into holding The End in place.
The End's eyes widened in horror as he watched Klaus channel every ounce of his strength to keep him at bay. "This cannot be!" The End shouted in rage. "I will not return there!"
The being struggled violently against Klaus, but the demigod held firm.
Grunts of exertion escaped Klaus's lips as he pushed forward with all his might. Finally, after every effort, he succeeded in driving The End and Olivia backward.
The world seemed to move in slow motion as Klaus advanced, his gaze shifting to the side to meet Rose, still suspended in the air and drifting away after being cut free.
The two demigods locked eyes, one fully comprehending the moment more than the other. One final time, Klaus let a faint smile reach her before pressing forward. In a single, decisive moment, he thrust both Olivia and The End into the Void.
His grip on The End was crucial; had he let go, the being could have latched onto something to remain in their reality. Klaus knew this was the only way to ensure the being's banishment, though it meant he would also follow them into the Void.
Klaus plunged into the Void, his gaze fixed on the portal as his mother's final words to him echoed in his mind:
"No matter what version of yourself you become, you will always be my hero, Klaus Walker."
Those words struck him deeply, especially amid the chaos. "Hero… huh?" he murmured, as the Void's entrance finally sealed behind him.
With the portal closed, the world resumed its normal flow. Rose fell to the ground, alongside Nekro, who coughed violently before collapsing unconscious.
Rose clutched her hand in pain, teeth gritted as she let out a strained grunt. Yet the physical pain was nothing compared to the weight pressing on her spirit in that moment.
Through the quiet, she heard Klaus's voice one last time in her mind, an echo akin to what Sol had done for Klaus before his passing:
"Rose, I'm sorry for what I'm about to do. Please… take care of yourself, and take care of my mom as well. You're the only one I trust with this task, and I know she'll be struggling after today. Please, be there for her in my place, and in Shade's as well. Tell the others I'm sorry… but it seems you guys will have to go on without me."
Rose remained on her knees, holding her right forearm as tears streamed freely down her face. Klaus had sacrificed himself for humanity, and the weight of that irony only reminded her of who he had been before everything.
She stayed there a while longer, eyes eventually falling on his trench coat lying in the corner. With the threat finally gone, her tears flowed unchecked--not just for Klaus, but for all the others she had lost in mere moments.
She began to lose her vision from the blood she was losing, but before she could succumb, a sudden disturbance caught her attention in the distance.
Rose saw a bright white light flash at a location, and curiosity compelled her to rise and move toward it, hoping it was who she thought it was. She hurried forward, her breath coming in rapid gasps, until she finally arrived at the scene. But what she saw was not what she had expected.
On the ground, X lay broken. Blood seeped through the demigod's chest, where his heart should have been, and both his eyes bled completely. He drew rapid, desperate breaths, clinging to life with every ounce of strength.
"X?" Rose called in shock, moving closer to aid him.
But X had only one thing on his mind at that moment. "Where... is he?" he asked weakly, his voice strained as he kept his head upward. "Where... is... Klaus Walker?"
Rose stood in shock at the demigod's request, but the pain of the answer sombered the moment. "He… sacrificed himself," she said softly, "to push The End back into the Void."
X's breaths remained rapid, but as he processed her words, they soon began to ease. It was as if he had found something within the revelation Rose had provided.
"I… see," he murmured finally, his tone calm.
And after his words, he let out a soft exhale beneath his mask, but drew no further breath.
Simultaneously, miles away from the battlefield, Mia's eyes shot open as she inhaled deeply. Her breaths were quick and ragged as she rose from a hospital bed, doctors rushing to her side at her sudden movement.
Rose watched as the mercenary's hand eased, realizing what was happening. "X!" she called out, attempting to wake him. But it was too late.
Desperately, Rose tried to rouse him, but her own struggles began to overtake her, and she soon collapsed sideways into unconsciousness.
...
In Under World, the demigods sat quietly, awaiting whatever verdict might come. Suddenly, Quinn's eyes widened, sensing a shift.
"Impossible," she muttered, drawing everyone's attention. "I can't feel his presence anymore."
"Who?" Tyler asked, curiosity and shock mingling in his voice.
"The End," Quinn replied, turning toward him. "He's gone. I'm certain of it."
The demigods could hardly believe it. "You mean… they actually won?" Piper exclaimed, leaping from her seat.
"Yes," Quinn confirmed, a smile on her face as the demigods began to cheer in disbelief.
Link leapt with joy alongside the others, but his eyes soon returned to Quinn. Her expression had changed--witnessing everything that had transpired on Earth.
Quinn fell to her knees, tears streaming uncontrollably.
"Quinn!" Link called, rushing to her. "Are you okay? What's going on?"
The cheers of the other demigods died away as they turned their gaze to her, seeing the fear in her eyes as she remained unmoved on the floor.
...
On Earth, Rose lay unconscious for a long time, but her eyes flickered when she suddenly heard sobbing. Her vision returned, and she saw a grounded Mia, who had arrived at the scene, breaking into tears as she held X's form in an embrace. The sight filled her with sorrow, but she soon lost consciousness once again.
Because of the severed connection between worlds, as well as Nekro's unconscious state, the demigods in Under World were unable to return to Earth. For this reason, the queen of Nyxia, Shynx, suggested that they stay in her place for as long as they needed after learning about the painful victory against The End.
The next day, Ace finally regained consciousness from his earlier use of his Rift ability, and with his awakening, they once again required his ability to transport them back to Earth.
As the demigods finally returned to Earth, they witnessed the chaos and destruction that spanned farther than the eye could see. Somehow, it was still nighttime on Earth, but it was not difficult for them to understand why. Still, they swiftly attempted to regroup with the other demigods who remained, hoping to recount and assess everything they could.
Humanity maintained a massive distance from all of New York throughout the incident, making it easy for the demigods to operate without disturbance.
They saw a defeated Mia remaining on the ground, with X's head on her knees. They saw an unconscious Rose beside the siblings, and Nekro lying a short distance away. They also saw Ash and Drake, who had been separated, their bodies located a good distance apart by one of Link's drones.
With their only source of transportation being Ace, they remained on Earth for a bit longer until the demigod could fully regain consciousness and aid in transporting them all to Higher World, finally.
Rose was the first to wake among the survivors the following day. After her, Ash and Drake both took a full week to recover from The End's influence. Finally, Nekro regained consciousness after nearly a month.
During these days, the world remained in peril, but they gradually realized that they had somehow survived the end times. The demigods used this time to mourn those they had lost, whether fathers or friends, before the god of Fire finally awoke.
When Nekro awoke, his powers wavered. Not only was the strain of keeping the Void open for so long still taking its toll on him, but the burden of maintaining reality alone weighed even heavier. With the other gods absent, he could not simultaneously preserve mortality and keep reality stable, including the seal of the Void.
Recognizing this, the god decided that the best course of action was to ascend the other demigods to take the roles of their fathers. He understood the lack of dignity in ascending them by himself--especially after realizing his true nature as a fraction of the creator he despised--but he also understood that this was the only choice to ensure the stability of everything.
"I will burden myself with the tolls of reality," Nekro said to the demigods. "It is my way of ensuring that the world my siblings and I created remains steadfast. But as for the decisions regarding mortality, I will leave those to you, who have grown among them long enough to understand the best course of action."
With his words, Nekro entrusted the responsibility of all mortality to the demigods, confident they would be the best stewards. However, one of them declined everything, from the responsibility of mortals to the ascension into pure divinity.
"I can't..." Rose said. "I'm sorry, but I can no longer be a demigod. Not after everything I witnessed that day."
Rose's right hand had not regenerated after all the time that had passed, signaling that she had nullified her power completely since then--a visible testament to the severity of her claim.
The other demigods attempted to convince her, but she refused them all. She claimed there was nothing more she could do and that her involvement was not imperative for reality to continue. She explained that she did not want to suppress her memories of those she had lost, but as long as those memories remained, she could not embrace pure divinity.
After hours of back and forth, the other demigods finally surrendered to her decision and allowed her to return to Earth.
With the new pantheon of deities assigned to watch over reality, the demigods were now officially seen as gods by title. They moved swiftly on Earth, addressing all the lingering errors left by The End.
Firstly, Arthur realigned the Earth to its proper axis, and with a unanimous decision from the new pantheon, they resolved that the best course of action for all of mortality was to erase all memories of the conflict--whether human or demonic.
To achieve this, Iris used her power to influence all of mortality's perception, aided by Quinn. The new pantheon also repaired the destruction The End had caused, redistributing humanity to make up for the losses in Australia. Tales of gods became strict myths for both mortal races, with belief left entirely to individual choice to preserve as much sentience as possible.
Once these decisions were finalized, Nekro departed for Zero World, the realm Flage had left behind. He carried the corpses of his fellow gods--friend and foe alike--and buried them beside the cabin where he now resided, following human customs.
Similarly, Mia took a break from her duties to fully mourn all her losses. Her face still bore the scars from the encounter with The End despite her ascension, but they did not bother her. She stayed in the cabin her father had lived in during his time on Earth, finding solace in its familiarity.
She knelt at the front of a grave marked with a familiar mask at the side of the tombstone, whispering a prayer despite knowing its futility. She also wielded a trident-like weapon in her right hand, a newly forged weapon that became a signature of hers.
"Amy?" Dawn called from inside the cabin. "Do you have a moment, dear?"
Mia rose from her knees after a few more moments and turned to the cabin before walking inside.
Due to the circumstances, the pantheon chose to preserve the memories their mothers still carried, feeling it would be unfair to strip them of their grief.
Consequently, Rose now resided at the Walker residence, watching over Natalie, who continued to grieve her losses as Klaus had requested. Her mother, Brianna, also moved in, acting as a supportive presence to Natalie as they shared each other's pain.
...
Life on Earth returned to normal, with humans living their lives as they always had before the involvement of the gods. Yet one thing had changed.
At the center of New York, where the crater that once threatened to annihilate humanity had lain, now stood a single statue, revered unanimously by all humans. No one could explain why, but the statue was universally treated as sacred.
At its base, four names flanked the sides--two on each side--and a single name stood at the forefront.
Above these names stood the statue of a figure fully clad in armor, wings spread wide across his back. The statue stood about fifteen feet tall, acting as a beacon of light amid the darkness of life and reality.
It was called… the Hero Statue of Walker.