Chase looked up, ascending the final staircase...
Michael who was standing behind his friend took a shaky breath, as the final moment was nearing closer than ever.
Equan looked at Michael, exchanging similar gazes towards each other.
Then Equan held out a fist.
Michael tilted his head as they continued to climb the staircase, then Equan threw his head back and groaned.
"Come on dude! Ever heard of a fist bump?"
"Oh..."
Michael bumped his fist awkwardly against the archer's.
"That was some sick fighting back there, from the both of you!"
Equan said pumping the same fist in the air with a fiery grin on his face.
"We wouldn't have been able to advance without your ranged attacks."
Chase said flatly from above them, not bothering to look away from the door awaiting them.
Michael had never seen such determination on his face before, and that was truly saying something.
They had been through hell together, and weren't even old enough to drink yet...
Michael only smiled, stretching his arms as they mentally prepared for the big moment.
But he knew that it wouldn't be that easy, they all did...
Something or someone was awaiting them behind that door...
They all knew it...
Onyx of House Dragon...
Onyx rushed up to the windy path of the mountain alone, his strength slowly returning as his breath grew ragged, he was close...
Zelenna had ordered him to assist the king once they took the city back, obviously there was still some fighting, but for the most part they had won, and now Onyx was on his way to assist Chase- No, the king...
He needed to hurry though, as something told him that the worst was yet to come...
Running up the steep road, he grimaced, and continued to press forward, promising himself that he would be there for grand finale.
Leo of House Lion...
Pulling Neveah with his weight, they continued to climb the stairs, silent as they went.
Eventually he spoke up; however, finally deciding that he needed to ask the question.
"Hey Neveah..."
She shook her head, probably trying not to pass out, which Leo knew would have meant the worst for her.
"Yeah?"
She replied eventually.
"Don't die on me kay?"
He decided against asking the other question, and steadied his resolve.
"Promise..."
She muttered, widening her eyes and clenching fist that was tightly hanging on to the other side of Leo's shoulder.
'I can't ask her if she can still fight... I know it isn't over yet, but she needs a healer, and if what I think will happen, happens... Then without a miracle she wouldn't be able to make it...'
He thought with a deadpanned expression as they slowly neared the final corner of the stairs.
Skylar of The House of Undead...
Hans let out a roar as he crushed the skull of the last soldier with his mighty gauntlets.
Skylar leaned against the wall, taking a shaky breath as he shut his eyes.
"Don't rest just yet..."
Gideon said, helping up one of the injured students who had recently been chained to the same wall.
"I know..."
Skylar whispered, tugging at the cold skin of his forearm.
Lithica, The Celestial of Light...
'I'm almost there, my lord...'
He thought, his vision blurring and his breaths heavy but constant.
His wings were gone, but he was thankful for such powerful blood that could regenerate even the worst of injuries, but it would take time, and that was something that his lord did not have.
Lithica pulled himself up to the next flight of stairs, holding together the gaping hole in his chest with his other hand.
He just needed about twenty minutes before he could fight again, it wouldn't be pretty, but he needed sun light...
He needed it quick, and this dark hall would not suffice...
'A trial by fire...'
He thought about the words that his first master had said.
"A trial by fire... Would show worth for those who could mark themselves in the history books..."
He whispered the full words of the lesser god of light, feeling it vigorate his very being in seconds.
"I'm coming my lord... Just... Hang on a little longer..."
Poppy of House Aries...
Leaning against her teacher, she scowled forward as they walked.
They were probably on the seventh floor by now, and all was cleared out except for Leander's office, which meant that the strongest of the enemies was awaiting them.
Neo looked terrible, yet he continued to complain about the bandages and the little things that didn't really matter at all.
Luke looked terrible, although he was the most battle ready of the five of them, he was mentally the weakest at the moment.
Yet, poppy was grateful that he had saved them, if he hadn't Poppy would have died... And Neo... He almost died...
Nevertheless, she steeled her nerves as Reinhart led them up the final flight of stairs...
...
The chair croaked as it rocked back and forth.
It was almost time...
Argo exhaled deeply enough to shake the books free from their shelves.
"It was quite nice sitting in such an ancient room..."
He said standing up, and walking toward the mighty window.
The Pyrothar shined like nothing he had ever seen before.
It was such a majestic sight that he could only watch the sizzling of the second sun with his mouth agape.
The room was grand, and surely big enough for him to go all out, yet it was as if destiny itself told him that this would be battle for the ages...
He summoned his helm...
The dark knight's helm sat perfectly over his head, made from majestic steel forged at the heart of the dwarven mountains.
His Chestplate was a fine piece indeed, as well as his leggings...
The sigil of a shattered sun was resting on the chest of his armor, showing the true name of the commander of the Phoenix Academy forces, tasked with holding the academy until Rider was ready to push the conquest deeper into Vallmora...
The Sun Breaker gazed at the second sun, slowly pulling his sword from his sheathe as the door slowly creaked open.