ddunk ddunk ddunk ddunk.
Two pairs of footsteps moving along the stone streets.
Julius had dashed towards Monk Artemis.
"Hya!!" Artemis clapped his hands together.
Julius' dash sped up—
*Shit! He brought me closer because he was already prepared to attack at this current moment…but where is he going to hit me from?!*
Julius' eyes looked for all possible angles.
"Oh-"
Artemis had flown into the air, moving behind Julius— kicking him in his back.
"Kkha!" Julius coughed saliva.
Monk Artemis had jumped onto a street pole, balancing on top of it.
*I'm tired… too tired. I can't handle the strain. That's my last move. Yet look at him, he has a whole stockpile..* Artemis eyes looked up.
*Guess, I'll be meeting you soon.. Newly appointed Angel.*
Julius had thrown himself into the air—
"I'm done playing games.."
Artemis had no time to use his abilities. Julius had concentrated an abundance of energy into his speed. His speed breaking anything Artemis had seen.
A finger had touched Artemis' chest.
Silence.
"I suppose that's it."
He spoke into the sea of darkness in front of him.
Nothing but the sound of his voice.
His world was void and cold— until a star, no, an angel.
"So it is you…" Artemis said laughing.
"Have you come to take me now?"
The angel's hair long and blond, his eyes full of life and colored like an amethyst.
The angel had spoke— "Yes my friend. Come. I'll show you our Kingdom of Cosmos."
Artemis laughed— a happy laugh. So happy, tears were in his eyes.
Artemis' appearance returned to his youthful days, 1,000 years prior.
His world was dark no more.
bbzzzkt! A strike of lightning bestowed.
*Damn it, and I fried myself too. I have 2
or 3 good moves left before I fall.* Lloyd wiped sweat from his face.
Adam had stood in front of him, unfazed.
He yawned and felt the grass to his side—
"Man, wish I was just like this grass. Get my hair cut every other week… no work, just grow and get cut. Blow around in the wind.. dream life." Adam looked at Lloyd.
"What do you wish you were?"
Lloyd had been taken aback.
"Why are you trying to make small talk with me..?" Lloyd raised an eyebrow. "Your enemy…"
Adam looked at him, showing an expression. A half smile.
"Enemy? I don't believe anyone truly has any opponent or foe. To me— the concepts of war or battle is purely psychological warfare. The selfishness of humanity trying to push these agendas onto others to justify their meaningless pursuits. The reason I'm fighting you— is exactly that." Adam scratched his neck. "I don't know why Lord Emperor has us here, but I know in order to survive I have to do this. So I'll ask you one more time."
"What do you wish you were?"
Lloyd's eyes were full of shock.
*This guy.. he doesn't even want this? He's not evil?*
Lloyd hesitantly opened his mouth—
"I wish… I was someone strong. Someone maybe like Imaez.."
Lloyd's face was filled with embarrassment yet he continued—
"My dad was killed in a protest when I was 13, trying to stop a policy from being passed. A pastor from my hometown took me and my siblings in because my mother couldn't afford it." Lloyd's fist balled up. "I wish I was strong then… strong enough to save him. Strong enough to stand up to this empire!"
Adam smiled—
"I see."
"In a world full of evil, you lot may be good. I don't want to be the one who gets in the way of history."
Adam slowly turned into darkness.
"Stay alive. I'll go save my comrades. Maybe next time, you won't be the guy I fight."
Lloyd leaned onto the wall—
"Yeah… I'll stay alive. What about you, Imaez?"
A field of blood.
Naomi and Marie had locked eyes onto a black haired boy.
"Falcon!!" Naomi frantically checked his pulse.
"Wheww, he's alive." She said with relief.
Marie had turned to Vanessa's body—
"Talk about brutal." She knelt down to examine the body.
"He definitely made sure he killed her."
Naomi grabbed Falcon and lifted him on her shoulder—
"Yep… Falcon likes to be efficient. He's been practicing that for years, I'm sure he'll be ecstatic when he wakes up."
"Let's go check on your Reaper friend."
Marie nodded— "Right!"