Demiurge was struggling to get on his feet, stumbling when ever he tries, before finally getting up and resting his back on the wall, but before he could start using his godly healing, Jericho appeared and continued pounding away on his face, in hopes of getting him weak enough to ask a few questions…
"I know who you really are (he said, while holding on to the armor of Demiurge)… and that's why am not letting up on you, cause I know you heal very quickly… you are a sub god, and a subordinate of a god called Pluto… tell me everything you know, then I can plead your case with the six gods" said Jericho while he landed another punch on the face of Demiruge… "{I see now, he is truly Jericho, the brother of my young master… no wonder he also felt a little like a human when we first met… (chuckled)… h-he really is a god now… and a much more powerful one… I do not think he is a sub god… there's just no way a sub god will be this powerful… he must be a true god… (panic in his eyes)… can't believe they made Lord Jace brother into a true god, just to stop us… what are those idiotic gods thinking up there}" Demiurge thought, still with a very worried demeanor…
"you have to answer me, sub god" Jericho demanded again, he stopped hitting him as he saw Demiurge was about to speak…
"I-I know…. w-who you are t-too… (he smiled)… t-the mask isn't helping you… prince Jericho Von Menssai… or should I say former prince (laughed) cause you know… you died, ohhh… how sad" Demiurge laughed, Jericho wasn't really all that surprised, but he was still very curious as to how Demiurge knew it was him all along, which he asked…
"oh?… we know everything that goes on up there, my master, his holiness Pluto, is omnipresent you know (he laughs)… but there's one thing I do not know… how and why were you made a true god you corpse, was those useless gods willing to go this far, to stoup this low just to stop us" he asked with disgust in his face…
"well I do not hold someone like you any explanation, I am not a true god, I am no god, I am human… I do not care if you believe or not… now answer my question… what are you people up to?" Jericho asked as he dawned a very serious look on his face.
Demiurge protested in disbelief, Jericho ignored him and kept pressing for answers…
"tell me what Pluto is really up to, and I can assure you the other gods will be lenient with your punishment" he said, Demiurge couldn't help but just laugh at Jericho's statement, which was agitating Jericho…
"do you really think I would be here right now if I cared about my godly title and privileges?… my master, his holiness, lord Pluto, had a lot of other subordinates, but those fool betrayed him by turning their backs on his ambitions, they chose their status over our lord…. and you really think I care about something so uninspiring to betray my lord?… then you are a bigger fool than those pathetic gods of yours" Demiurge ranted on, feeling incredibly disrespected…
"I see… I was wrong, I though all of you were the same, no loyalty, and untrustworthy bunch of scums, looks like I won't be getting anything concrete from you… hmm… at least answer this question… will you leave this place and stop pursuing his majesty king Leohart and his daughter?" Jericho asked with a calm tone, then someone appeared behind Jericho as he continued to question Demiurge…
"well, as for that… am not the one you should be asking that question… 'masked man'… am not the one with an history with the king… you should be asking my young master… you are in luck, cause he is right behind you" Demiurge stated glancing behind Jericho with a grin on his face, when Jericho was turning around to see who Demiurge was looking at, he felt a very painful kick around his ribs, and he heard it crack on impact, the blow took Jericho by surprise as he got knock to the side with force, smashing into the walls and groaning in pain as he landed.
When Jericho looked up to see who hit him, he saw someone so different and yet so familiar… someone with completely different features and hair/eye color, but it was undeniable… they were someone he still recognized, and someone he haven't seen in years… his younger brother Jace Von Menssai, staring him down, with a look Jericho had never seen his brother make before, a look filled with hate and resentment…
During his fight with Jericho, Demigure had already sent word to Jace through one of his undead armies, informing him that he had spotted king Leohart, and also he informed Jace that the masked man Drako spoke about was also with him, and they are engaged in a battle… Jace moved so fast to get to Demiurge as he got that message, it didn't take long for him to make it to them.
"my answer is no… king Leohart is mine… and you will die if you try to stand in my way… no, scratch that, you killed one of my Grand Four… you will still die either way… masked man" Jace stated, with a voice filled with anger, Jericho was taken by several emotions as he saw his brother, and sadness was the most powerful of them all, Jace then reached down, grabbing Jericho by the neck and lifted him high, coating his fist with the earth, he punched Jericho sending him flying again, Jericho had no reaction as he was still surprised by how much Jace has changed, Jace ran towards where Jericho had landed, lifting him up again by the neck…
"just look at you.. 'hero'… how pathetic, you should have just stayed out of all this, you stand no chance against a being like me… in case you haven't heard, human… I am Jace, the son of a god… I am a demigod, just that should be enough to show you that you are way in over your head, but you still chose to stand in my way… you chose to defy me, looks like it will be the last thing you do on this earth" said Jace squeezing away at his brother's neck, unknown to him he was his brother…
"J-Jace… y-you know, t-they are j-just… u-using you… o-open your e-eyes" Jericho managed to let out in his struggles, but this only aggravated Jace more hearing the slander coming out of the masked man's mouth…
"don't you dare speak about my father with such disrespect you insect!!… and who gave you the dispensation to use my name!!" Jace screamed in anger and toss Jericho to the side, Jericho slammed on the wall again, groaning in pain…
"{I was so sure seeing him wouldn't be a problem, I though I would be able to use force against him if he doesn't listen to reason… but… I can't hurt him… I just can't… seeing him again after all this years… I can't bring myself to hurt my brother}" Jericho thought to himself with tears slowly appearing in his eyes, Demiurge stood at the side, fully healed and could not contain his excitement seeing Jace destroying his brother as he already knew, Jace slowly made his way towards Jericho whom was on the floor, taken over by sadness, as he just couldn't hurt his brother after all, with his mask hiding his tears, Jace was preparing a huge attack using ice as he approached Jericho…
"you are so pathetic, you can't even defend yourself… usually it will be a huge waste killing someone like you myself, but I am extremely aggravated right now, that it doesn't matter, I will kill you now bastard… Soul Casting…. Grieving Ice" said Jace as he aimed it at Jericho, whom looked like he had lost the will to fight, and a Demiurge smiling blissfully from ear to ear, then suddenly they felt an unbearable heat around them and it collided with the attack of Jace, causing a huge explosion around them, Demiurge looked for cover while Jace quickly activated an earth related casting, protecting himself, as the smoke died down a woman can be seen holding on to Jericho, it was Erica whom had made it just in time to help Jericho.
"Demiurge… who is this human?" Jace asked, holding in his detest…
"young master, that is the princess of Righteous, her highness Erica Von Righteous, we've attempted ending her on several occasions cause of her meddling" he replied making his way to the side of Jace...
"I see… so, lady knight… I hope you are not stupid enough to think you can also defy me cause of the little trick you can do… I hope you aren't that deluded" said Jace staring down Erica with a very intimidating look, but Erica ignored him, all her focus was to snap Jericho out of his trance…
"hey… hey… you've got to snap out of it, I know it's not easy for you, but look at him… right now that isn't who you think it is… it up to you to try and get the person you know back… come on, you are stronger than this…COME ON!!!" Erica screamed at Jericho to get him back from the abyss his mind wondered into…
"{what does she mean by that?}"… Jace was confused and far from amused by how Erica was ignoring him, this made him absolutely furious…
"how dare you ignore a god!!!" Jace exclaimed in anger then he appeared beside Erica, hitting her in the stomach, the impact sent her flying, with Jericho whom was in her arms still out of it.
Jace continued, this time setting his sights on Erica, she slowly got up, still reacting in pain, but all she cared about was how Jericho was, she slowly started making her way toward Jericho whom landed opposite where she did, Jace quickly made his way towards her, lifting her high up, and with his other hands he created a spear of ice and was about to impale her…
"just know… you are dying today cause of your scorn toward a god, at least you should be grateful to die by the hands of a divine being such as myself" Jace stated, then began driving his hands to the chest of Erica, out of desperation to get Jericho back, Erica lost it and screamed…
"SNAP OUT OF IT… JERICHO!!!"… hearing this, Jericho looked up and saw Erica about to be killed, he finally snapped out of it, as all he could think about now was to protect her.
Meanwhile, Jace eyes got wider as he heard that very familiar name…
"w-what did you just say" Jace asked in shock… Demiurge looked like life had been sucked out of him, and Jericho finally picked himself up, and with this, he felt very different… he could hear Demiurge talking but his lips wasn't moving, he could hear Erica begging for him to be alright, not minding she is the one in danger…
"{w-what is this… am I tapping into their thoughts and emotions?… are all this, their desire?}" he was confused with what was happening, but figuring that out wasn't important for him at the moment, getting Erica back was all he could think of.
Taking off his mask, he turned it into a blade and throwing it at the direction of Jace, it sliced clean through the hand that was holding Erica by the neck, she dropped on the floor and coughed as she took in oxygen.
As Jace turned to have a look at Jericho, he was met with a heavy punch across his face, which sent him flying some distance away, Demiurge hurried to go check on Jace.
Jericho then ran to the side of Erica and with tears in his eyes he was so apologetic…
"am so sorry Erica… I-I froze after seeing him… I-I thought I was ready and I wouldn't care he was my brother, but I was wrong, I still care so much about him… (sobbing)… am so sorry I put you in danger cause of my cowardice and weakness, am sorry Erica" said Jericho still beside himself with how he almost let Erica die…
"it's completely understandable… he is your only family after all, am just glad you are back Jericho (smiled then placed her hand on his face)… now go, try and snap him back to his senses" said Erica feeling nothing but relief, as she concluded her thoughts.
Jace returned, his lost arm was back and this time he had a different look on his face, he was consumed by shock, to see his brother is really alive and in front of him…
"J-Jericho?… (Jericho turned slowly, without his mask)… it is really you?!… you are here?… b-but how?… this is you!!… how are you here?" Jace stumbled on his words as he was still consumed by shock, Jericho took a deep breathe, composing himself then responded…
"yes my brother… it is me"... "j-just how is this possible!?… you died!!… don't tell me father is also with you?!" Jace interjected, panicking a little…
"well no, father isn't with me, he is in a better place… I came back for you Jace, and am not a ghost, am very much alive… you have to listen to me Jace, this (looking around) all this, it isn't you, it's not… you are being manipulated by that evil god… he and this his pawn right here.. (pointing at Demiurge)… knew I was alive, but by the looks of it, they didn't tell you anything about it… they are using you" Jericho explained trying to convince Jace…
"Demiurge!!… is what he's saying the truth?… did you and father already knew my brother was still alive, and the person sent by those gods no less?" Jace asked sounding very torn between the both of them…
"yes young master Jace, it is true, we knew… but it was your father's decision not to tell you, he wanted to give you a choice to decide on what you want… if he told you, you would've made your decision based on the moment, he wanted you to be surprised by your brother's return, to see where your heart really lies… he did not keep it from you to hurt you, young master, your father knows best after all, he is a supreme god, he trusts you" Demiurge replied, unfazed by being on the spot…
"would you shut your disgusting mouth up!!!… that evil god is no father of my brother… we already had a father, and he was the best… Jace, listen to me, you are being used by that god, look at what he turned you into, using the love and bond you shared with I and father, fueling your frustration, turning it into anger and pure hatred… come on Jace, you know father would never want all this" Jericho said, pleading with Jace to see reason, Jace stood silent for a moment, as he was processing what was happening.
After what seemed like an eternity Jace looked like he had finally gathered himself, then he spoke…
"Jericho… are you saying you support those power blinded fools… they started a meaningless war, took a lot of lives… destroyed a lot of nations, completely destroyed the system of the world… and you are trying to save heinous people?" Jace asked looking deep into his brother's eyes…
"Jace, that evil god caused all that… it wasn't on the people here, they are…" ...
"DON'T YOU DARE SPEAK ILL OF MY FATHER!!!… (Jace interrupted Jericho)… you and father got killed, not only by their greed, but by someone our father trusted so much, how does that not enrage you!!… I was left alone… I was lost… (Jericho had a really sad look on his face, as he listened to Jace speak)… I was barely alive… but that all changed when I met my father, he brought back light and desires into my life… he gave me a purpose, a goal… he gave me my truth… I can't have you speak ill of my savior (sighs)… Brother, join me… we lost so much, cause of the greed of this people… I know you feel how am feeling right now, it's only fair we take back everything we lost, and put them in their place… together… (stretched his hands towards Jericho)… what do you say" Jace asked really hoping his brother would agree with him, Demiurge smiled to himself after witnessing their exchange, Erica didn't like how torn and extremely hurt Jericho looked, she wished this will end cause it's causing Jericho so much pain…
"Jace… please… (pain in his tone)… don't do this… please… do not make me do this" Jericho said, filled with complete sadness…
"big brother Jericho… am going to ask you one… last… time… join me, your only family, let's reclaim our lives, together… what do you say… 'big brother'?… you and I, against this tainted world" Jace adds, with his hands still stretched out to Jericho, he stared with complete sadness, after a moment he spoke…
"that's impossible little brother… you've gone too far, I guess I was too late to get to you, am so sorry… I will have to stop you and that god from whatever you are planning… am sorry but I can't join you, but don't worry, dear little brother… I won't rest until I save you" said Jericho, the words felt like he was swallowing nails, it hurt him so much to say, but he couldn't let Jace continue with his rampage…
"(sigh)… well… that's a shame, I was really hoping to take the world with my brother, but I guess, MY brother is well and truly dead… from this day fore dear Jericho, we are no longer family… I am just Jace… Jace Von Menssai, the Jace you know… is dead… do try to remember that… we are enemies now, and you will also remain dead to me, cause I know my real brother won't be as pathetic as you are… I've lost the will to continue any further… the last sign of respect I will be showing to you now, at least for what we once shared as family, will be to retreat… but, the next time we cross paths… Jericho… I will kill you… and this time you will remain dead… (his body started glowing, as he prepared to leave)… oh, and do tell that scum of a king, I am not done with him yet, I will get him, and when I do… he will wish for death… let's go Demiurge… (Demiurge responded)… good bye, Hero" Said Jace as he left, handing back to his ship.
Jericho fell on the floor, and a wave of intense sadness took over him, he had just confirmed what he dreaded, he has lost his brother…
"hey… Jericho… this isn't over yet… you will get Jace back, he will listen to you… please do not give up, remember what you said.. you will slap back senses into your brother and get him back, him retreating is a good sigh that he isn't far gone yet, you can still get him back… do not give up Jericho" Erica said trying to inspire Jericho, which looked like it worked, at least on the outside, he picked himself up and gave her a light smile…
"you are right… it's not over yet, I will get Jace back" he agreed, they both turned and headed back to the castle.
"young master Jace, do you think it's wise to leave now when we are so close to completely decimating this city" Demiurge asked in disappointment…
"look around you Demiurge, there are even more Lost beast roaming, I believe we've met our objective, father only asked us to shake up the nation, to show our power, and I believe we've done that… (remembers Jericho)… and besides, seeing him, completely drained out the rage I felt, I haven't forgiven the king by any means, but continuing and going up against him now (Jericho) wouldn't be wise, I wouldn't be at my best, cause for that moment, I was very happy to see he was alive, and I relished the prospect of taking the world with him by my side again… but I was completely disappointed when he opened his mouth to speak… I assure you he isn't my brother anymore, he is officially our enemy, and when I see him again, it will be his last day on earth… (Demiurge sighed then smiled)… and you… you have a lot of explaining to do, and this time leave nothing out" said Jace with authority in his voice, Demiurge looked nervous for a while then smiled it off as they continued to make their way to their ship.
On getting there, they met someone familiar pacing nervously on the vessel, when they got closer they saw it was Kolpa, he ran to them as he saw them approaching, sounding like he haven't rested in days…
"lord Jace!, you are here"...
"Kolpa?… what are you doing all the way here, why do you look this rough?" Demiurge asked completely curious…
"never mind that… I've got very big news to deliver to lord Jace… your brother was the human sent by those gods to try and stop us" Kolpa Exclaimed dramatically as he told Jace, seeing Jace completely unfazed by his news, Kolpa was so confused…
"how is this not surprising any of you??" he asked confused…
"well… that's because you are a little too late Kolpa, Young master Jace doesn't only know Jericho is alive, he has also met him" Demiurge explained…
"oh wow" ...
"{it will appear Kolpa didn't know my brother was alive… that's somehow a relief}… is everyone on board (Demiurge replied with a yes)… let's get out of here then" Jace called…
"wait… I thought Pyon was picked to go with you… he isn't here yet" Kolpa spoke on his observation…
"that fool went and got himself killed… make preparations for his replacement, as soon as we get back" Jace stated, Kolpa was surprised someone was able to actually kill Pyon, but he didn't care for much longer…
"then lord Jace… this is the perfect opportunity to contact prince Tazz, the Prince of Righteous" Kolpa suggested…
"{oh?… the brother of that lady knight that was with Jericho… hmmm… not a bad idea}… okay Kolpa, send him to me when we return" Jace agreed, Kolpa looked proud, then they set out, back to Menssai.