"Every judgement of conscience, be it right or wrong, be it about things evil in themselves or morally indifferent, is obligatory, in such wise that he who acts against his conscience always sins."
- Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Doctor of the Catholic Church (1225-1274 AD).
Another day passed in Echo-07: Nelly and Hermes were eating in the mess hall with the other students of the Tower of Babel. In just a few days they would be tested and if they passed would be able to climb to the next floor of this enormous tower. The air in the mess hall buzzed with hushed conversations, the clatter of plates, and the occasional bursts of laughter. Nelly stirred her soup absentmindedly, her mind elsewhere. Hermes sat across from her, gaze locked onto a datapad, skimming through a set of notes with a furrowed brow. "You're nervous," Nelly observed, finally breaking the silence. Hermes glanced up, blue eyes unreadable. "No," she said simply. "Just... thinking." Nelly arched an eyebrow. "About what?" Hermes set the datapad down and exhaled. "The tests. The Archons. This whole mess. I can't shake the feeling that something bigger is coming."
Before Nelly could respond, a shadow loomed over their table. A tall, sharp-eyed woman with jet-black hair tied in a severe ponytail stood before them. She was clad in the white and gold uniform of the Tower's elite instructors. Instructor Kael. Her presence alone was enough to silence the nearby tables. "Hermes," Kael said in a clipped tone. "You are to report to the Headmaster's chambers immediately." Hermes and Nelly exchanged glances. "Did I do something wrong?" Hermes asked cautiously. Kael's expression remained unreadable. "You'll find out soon enough. Come."
Hermes pushed her tray aside and stood, following Kael out of the mess hall. The corridors of the Tower of Babel were vast and winding, each level more intricate than the last. The deeper they went, the fewer people they encountered. Hermes felt the weight of each step settle in her chest like a growing storm. Finally, they arrived at the Headmaster's chambers. The towering golden doors bore an ancient insignia—one Hermes recognized but had never dared to question. Kael knocked twice, and the doors swung open on their own. Inside, the room was dimly lit by the glow of ethereal blue flames hovering in the air. At the center of the chamber stood Headmaster Elias, a man of indeterminate age with piercing golden eyes. Beside him was another figure, one Hermes did not expect to see—Arinsu. "Hermes," Elias greeted, his voice smooth but carrying an unmistakable weight. "We have much to discuss." Hermes cast a wary glance at Arinsu. He simply smirked, exhaling a slow puff of smoke from his pipe.
"The Archons are making their move," Elias continued. "And they have already begun sowing dissent within the Tower." Hermes stiffened. "What do you mean?" Elias folded his hands behind his back. "There is a conspiracy against you, Hermes. Against you as a Prophet. Against everything we stand for." A chill ran down her spine. "Who?" Arinsu finally spoke, his voice like silk over steel. "A faction within the Tower. Some of your own instructors. Even some of your fellow students. They believe the Archons' warnings about you. That you are a threat, one that must be removed before your power grows beyond their control." Hermes clenched her fists. "Then we root them out." Elias shook his head. "It's not that simple. They are not acting alone. The Archons have agents everywhere, and they are not above using deception to turn your allies against you." Hermes' mind raced. If this was true, then she was already surrounded by enemies—some hidden in plain sight. "What do we do?" she asked. Arinsu tapped his pipe, a knowing glint in his eye. "We play their game. We're bringing in some of Percival's old friends we'll be arriving momentarily and more importantly you're friends we'll be arriving soon. Turns out you'll be reunited quicker than we originally thought. We had no idea that the Archons would find your location as soon as they did so they'res no reason anymore for you to stay in the tower or in the Demon Realm exclusively. We find their weak points. And then... we strike."
Elias nodded. "The trials ahead will be harder than any you've faced before, Hermes. But you must endure. Because if you fail... the mission will fail. And so will everything we have fought for." Hermes took a steady breath, forcing the uncertainty from her mind. If this was the path she had to walk, then so be it. She would not fall. Not now. Not ever. "Then let's begin." It was clear that the true struggle had begun. A man ran into the office and Sir Percival's friends arrived. From the shadows appeared Percival and four men dressed in imposing armor with their helmets covering their face; one of them was familiar; it was the Green Knight. The others were: Lancelot, the Black Knight, the Red Knight, the Yellow Knight, and Arthur "King of the Britons." The 7 of them including Percival announced that they would be aiding in the struggle and fighting the Archons. Elias said: "And Uvia is going to meet your friends at their compound. They'll be here within several hours, hopefully that will give us enough time to prepare for the strike by the Archons. We will proceed with the day as usual but we will be on high alert." Meanwhile Uvia came to Nova's Compound Uvia informed everyone what was happening it was agreed they would enter a portal that Uvia opened to Echo-07. Ungar had heard that King Arthur and the others would be arriving people he had once been at odds with and now we're close friends as well as Erisa and Elsa, old friends as well.
In the realm of the Gods Apollo had ordered the Archon and several others to begin the process of going on the offensive. Qora nodded to the Archons including X and Zed that now was the time to destroy this unholy Prophet and this wicked new sidekick (Mark) of hers as well. Zed: "In a few hours we'll attack the Demon Realm, this Prophet is located in Echo-07." Qora: "You think you can control yourself around that wolf, I heard about your bout with him." X nodded: "I'll be fine." A giggle was heard, "I heard about that too. These people we're going up against seem super-duper strong. I sure hope we're strong enough to take them on. It would be a weel shame I we feel in this battle." Qora looked with anger: "You decided to show up after all: Kakia: the goddess of Malice." Kakia giggled: "Well, when you say it like that you make it sound like a real meanie-bambeanie." Zed: "ENOUGH! We head out now! Get ready, we're about to hit the ground running."
The Tower of Babel continued its daily routine, but a tension gripped the air, an undercurrent of unease running through its corridors. Hermes, having returned from the meeting, sat beside Nelly in their shared quarters, recounting every word Elias and Arinsu had said. Nelly listened carefully, arms crossed, her expression darkening with every revelation. "So, the Archons know where you are," she muttered. "And they're moving fast." "Faster than expected," Hermes admitted. "But we're not alone. Percival and his knights have arrived, and Uvia is bringing reinforcements." Nelly let out a slow breath. "Then we don't have much time." A knock at the door interrupted them. When Hermes opened it, Percival stood on the other side, flanked by the Green Knight and Lancelot. His face was grim. "The Archons are en route," he said without preamble. "Our scouts have confirmed it. We have at most two hours before they breach Echo-07." Hermes exchanged a glance with Nelly. "Then we prepare now." In the courtyard of the Tower, warriors and students alike gathered. Elias stood at the center, his golden eyes sweeping across those assembled.
"Make no mistake," he declared, his voice ringing clear. "This is not a test, not a mere trial of skill. This is war." Beside him, Arinsu smirked. "And we intend to win." The knights stepped forward, each removing their helmets, revealing determined expressions. Arthur, the King of the Britons, surveyed the young warriors before him. "Each of you has trained for this. Each of you is stronger than you know. The Archons believe they can break us, but they underestimate what it means to fight for something greater than themselves." Elias nodded. "We will not wait for them to strike. We will meet them head-on." A ripple of determination spread through the gathered fighters. Weapons were drawn, spells were readied, and final strategies whispered between allies. Hermes felt her heart hammering, but she silenced the fear. She had chosen this path. She would see it through.
Meanwhile, in the skies above Echo-07, the Archons arrived. Zed and Qora led the vanguard, their forces appearing in waves of dark energy. Kakia twirled in the air, her laughter shrill. "Oh, look at them down there! All lined up like little dolls on a shelf." X stood silently, his gaze fixed below. Zed raised a hand, and the army behind them came to a halt. He grinned, sharp and cruel. "Let's begin." With a single gesture, the battle for Echo-07 erupted.
It wasn't long before the city began to be reduced to dust at the very least that was the idea. The Archons were everywhere. The same Archon warrior X with the mask confronted Hermes this time. Hermes blocked his attack with her Spirit Blade; she had grown far more powerful running through no less than twenty simulations; the Level she had risen to was 250. Hermes blocked the attack, "You looking to piss me off!!" X clapped back: "No, I'm simply here to take your life!!" Erisa and Elsa leaped into battle knocking X backwards. "Get back you animal!! We have no time for the likes of you." X laughed. As he said this someone shouted from behind: "You forgot about last time!!" X was hit into the side of a building causing many celestial sea creatures to scatter in panic. Everyone looked and saw Prince Lupus and the others. "How pathetic, you've been slacking, I the destined Lord of the Universe have only been growing stronger." X flew back to where he was before: "You really think you're tough. I humored you last time." Lupus laughed and scoffed back: "That may be. But I'm not the same person I was before. Behold, the power of a God." Lupus leaped into battle causing a massive explosion. The rest of the group began to meet up. But Talus interjected: "It's no time to catch up, we're under attack, we'll catch up after this!!" As they said this Qora the goddess of warfare descended upon them with her blade.
The battlefield erupted into chaos as Qora landed, her blade igniting with ethereal flames. Her piercing gaze swept over the warriors before her, settling on Hermes. "So, you're the so-called Prophet," Qora said, her voice laced with amusement. "The one who's supposed to bring balance? How laughable. You're really a monster and we'll do our part to destroy you." Hermes tightened her grip on her Spirit Blade, stepping forward. "You talk too much." Qora smirked. "And you have no idea what you're up against." Without another word, Qora lunged. Their swords met in a brilliant clash, the force sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. Sparks flew as Hermes met Qora blow for blow, her training evident in every movement. But Qora was relentless, her strikes sharp, calculated, and merciless. Meanwhile, the battle raged around them. Percival and Arthur fought side by side, their legendary blades cutting through the Archons' forces. Lancelot and the Green Knight moved like shadows, striking with precision before disappearing into the fray. Erisa and Elsa held the line with their magic, weaving powerful barriers to shield their allies. Lupus clashed with X once more, their battle shaking the very ground beneath them. X grinned through the struggle. "You talk a big game, wolf. But let's see if your bite matches your bark." Lupus snarled, his body glowing with divine energy. "Let's find out." With a deafening roar, he unleashed a devastating strike, sending X hurtling into a crumbling tower. The impact sent debris raining down, but X emerged, laughing. "Finally," X said, dusting himself off. "A real challenge." Back near the center of the battlefield, Kakia giggled as she danced through the carnage, her presence alone enough to spread discord. "Oh, how delicious! The despair, the struggle—it's all so entertaining! These people sure our entertaining." Zed, standing on the outskirts, observed the battle with a cold, calculating stare. He raised a hand, signaling his next move. "Enough playing around," he said. "It's time to end this." Dark energy swirled around him, and with a single motion, he sent a wave of destruction crashing into the battlefield. Warriors were thrown off their feet, the ground itself splitting apart. Elias, standing atop the Tower's ruined walls, gritted his teeth. "We can't hold this position much longer." Arinsu appeared beside him, unfazed. "Then we don't hold. We advance." Elias smirked. "I like the way you think." He raised his hand, sending out a pulse of golden energy that rejuvenated his allies. "All forces, push forward!" Elias commanded.
Hermes, still locked in combat with Qora, took a deep breath. She could feel the battle shifting, the tide turning. But this was only the beginning. The real war had just begun. With renewed determination, she pushed back against Qora, her blade glowing brighter than ever. Qora's blade began to glow with red energy and she brought it down on Hermes but it was blocked at the last second by Mark. "Nice to meet you, don't worry I'll be helping you out now." The fight continued. The battlefield churned with energy, the clash of steel and the roar of war reverberating through the ruins of Echo-07. Mark stood firm beside Hermes, his presence a shock to both allies and enemies alike. His golden eyes gleamed with confidence as he parried Qora's attack, his sword crackling with divine energy. Qora sneered, withdrawing her blade and circling Mark like a predator assessing its prey. "So, you must be the so-called 'powerful ally' we've heard so much about," she mused. "How amusing. Do you really think you can stop me?" Mark smirked, twirling his blade effortlessly in his hand. "I don't know - but I'll try." Without hesitation, Qora lunged again, her blade slicing through the air like a comet. Mark met her strike with a forceful counter, the impact creating a shockwave that sent dust and debris spiraling into the sky. Hermes took the opportunity to regain her stance, her grip on the Spirit Blade tightening. She had faced countless opponents before, but Qora's ferocity was something else entirely. Around them, the battle raged on. Lupus continued his relentless assault against X, his fists glowing with cosmic energy. With a feral growl, he landed a devastating blow that sent X skidding across the battlefield. X wiped blood from his lips and chuckled. "Impressive. But I'm just getting started." Lupus charged up a single attack and sent X flying into the dirt landing close to Qora.
"Are you getting roughed up?" mused Qora. "Just having a little fun the wolf has improved since last time." A high pitched voice was heard: "You two are goofing around two much, it's time for me to put a quick end to these silly-billies, I have to clean up this whole mess." Lupus landed with his arms folded. "And who is this one other obstacle to overcome?" Kalkia responded to Lupus: "Oh your the one who fought X last time aren't you? I heard you're pretty strong." Lupus smirked: "That's an understatement. I'm the one who's destined to become God. I'll rule over the Universe and that includes you as well. So step aside I have no need to deal with such a weakling." The girl who was a cute little girl with pink hair and pigtails was giggling. Ungar yelled out: "LUPUS! GET AWAY!!!!! GET THE HELL AWAY FROM HER NOW!!!!" Lupus was stunned for a second, but he was sent flying into a small building and began to cough up blood. "Who the hell are you? You got lucky."
Lupus staggered to his feet, wiping the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. His golden eyes burned with fury as he glared at the seemingly innocent girl before him. Kakia twirled a lock of her pink hair around her finger, tilting her head with a playful smile. "Oh dearie me, that looked like it hurt. Are you okay, little pupper?" Her voice dripped with mocking sweetness, but her aura pulsed with something far more sinister. Ungar rushed forward, gripping Lupus by the shoulder. "Idiot! You don't understand what you're dealing with! Kakia isn't just some Archon foot soldier—she's malice incarnate! Her power grows the more you resist! The more you fight back, the stronger she becomes!" Lupus growled, his pride bristling at the warning. "Then what do you suggest, wizard? Let her win?" He flexed his fingers, golden energy crackling around them. "No," Ungar said, tightening his grip. "You have to outthink her. Don't feed her malice with your anger. Stay calm." Kakia clapped her hands together. "Aww, that's so cute! A little pep talk. But it won't help you." She suddenly blurred forward, appearing inches from Lupus and Ungar, her small hands slamming into his chest with a force that sent him skidding back. The air crackled with dark energy as her giggles filled the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Hermes and Mark continued their duel against Qora. Sparks erupted as steel met steel, their movements blurring into a deadly dance. Mark gritted his teeth as Qora pressed forward, her strikes faster, more precise, her eyes glowing with an eerie crimson light. "You're persistent," Mark admitted, parrying another strike. "I'll give you that." Qora smirked. "Persistence is a virtue in war. But you? You're just another fool who doesn't know when he's lost." With a flick of her wrist, she shifted her blade's angle and sent Mark reeling back with a calculated strike to his ribs. Hermes took the opening and lunged, her Spirit Blade cutting through the air like lightning. Qora barely had time to twist out of the way as Hermes's strike carved a deep gouge into the ground where she had stood.
"I see," Qora mused, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow. "You've been training, Prophet. But let's see how long you last when I stop holding back." Before Hermes could react, Qora's blade ignited with a deep crimson glow, a shockwave of raw energy blasting outward. Hermes barely managed to brace herself before the force sent her skidding back, dust billowing around her. High above the battlefield, Zed observed with a calculated gaze. The battle was still raging, but he was growing impatient. The Archons had the upper hand, but not decisively enough. They needed to end this before reinforcements arrived. "Enough playing around," Zed muttered, raising his hand. "It's time to finish this."
With a wave of his arm, the skies above Echo-07 darkened, a massive rift opening in the heavens. From within, tendrils of black energy spiraled downward, searing into the earth like spears of pure destruction. The battlefield was thrown into chaos as warriors scrambled to avoid the deadly onslaught. Elias and Arinsu stood atop the crumbling battlements, their expressions grim as they watched the battle unfold. "This is escalating too fast," Elias said. "If we don't do something soon—" "We'll lose," Arinsu finished. "I know." Elias clenched his fists. "Then it's time. We activated the contingency plan." Arinsu arched an eyebrow. "Are you sure? That's a dangerous gamble." Elias nodded. "We don't have a choice. Send the signal. It's time to bring in the final piece of this war." As the battle raged on, a distant horn echoed through the skies—a sound that sent a ripple of unease through the Archons. And in the far distance, beyond the crumbling ruins of Echo-07, a shadow loomed. Reinforcements were coming. And with them, the true battle for Echo-07 was about to begin.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield Ungar began to pick up the baton as Lupus began to catch his breath against Kalkia. "How long has Ungar been? My if it's been 1,100 years it's been a day." Ungar laughed, his metallic voice boomed: "A long time but I have to say you look great, you always were way prettier than your putrid black soul." Kalkia chuckled: "Oh sweetie, you always knew how to stir my heart. You were always a little sweetie." Out of nowhere she was knocked into the dirt. Ungar knew exactly who had done this. "Talus…" Talus floated downward Hermes was close behind. "Talus be careful you don't know what she's capable of." Lupus spat some blood and began to grumble: "Great the little imp has to upstage me yet again, all he does is toy with my pride." Talus approached Kalkia slowly: "My oh my, you really are a tough one, what's your name sweetie?" Talus: "I'm Talus, member of the Demon Clan, and I've had enough of your shit. I made a promise to my friend Daniel, he was a warrior, an elf who gave up everything to give me a second chance, and I won't let him down." Kalkia thought to herself, "An elf warrior named Daniel. Hmmm…" She then replied: "Oh well sweetie I guess it's your turn, I'll make sure to give you a close shave."
Talus didn't hesitate. The moment Kalkia moved, he was already striking. His demonic energy surged through his claws, dark violet flames licking at the edges as he swung his talons with deadly precision. Kalkia, still giggling, danced backward, dodging with unnatural ease.
"Oh, what fun!" she chirped, flipping over Talus's strike and landing gracefully behind him. "You've got some speed, I'll give you that. But let's see if you can keep up."
With a flick of her wrist, a wave of sickly pink energy lashed out toward Talus. He twisted away, but even a glancing touch of the attack burned his skin. He gritted his teeth. Whatever this power was, it was corruptive, eating away at his energy the longer he was exposed to it. "I don't have time for games," Talus growled, adjusting his stance. His aura darkened, the air around him crackling with unbridled power.
Kalkia clapped her hands excitedly. "Oh, is this where you get serious? I love it when they do that!" Before she could react, Talus vanished in a blur. He reappeared inches from her, his blade already swinging in a deadly arc. This time, she wasn't fast enough. The strike connected, sending her skidding across the battlefield. She came to a stop, her playful smile twisting into something far more sinister. "You actually hurt me," she murmured, touching the fresh cut on her arm. Her pink eyes flared with malice. "That's very, very naughty of you, Talus." She extended both hands, and the battlefield trembled as dark tendrils erupted from the ground, lashing toward Talus. He dodged the first few, slicing through others, but they kept coming, relentless and overwhelming.
Nearby, Hermes and Mark were still locked in combat with Qora. The Prophet's blade clashed against Qora's relentless onslaught, Mark staying just behind Hermes, providing openings where he could. Qora, however, was unfazed. If anything, she seemed to be enjoying herself. "You two are actually making me work," she admitted, her crimson blade humming with raw power. "I suppose I should be grateful. But enough warm-up." She spun, her sword cutting through the air in a vicious arc. Mark barely managed to block, but the force sent him crashing into a nearby ruin. Hermes gritted her teeth and lunged forward, striking with everything she had. Their blades met again, sparks flying, and the sheer impact sent ripples through the air. Above them, the rift Zed had summoned grew larger. The dark energy spilling from it began warping the battlefield itself, twisting reality, sending waves of destruction outward. Elias and Arinsu saw it from their vantage point. The time had come. Arinsu raised his arm, and the sky answered. From beyond the horizon, a massive golden warship emerged, its hull glowing with divine energy. The sound of its arrival alone sent tremors through the air. From within, hundreds of warriors prepared to descend. Elias smirked. "Now we fight on equal ground."
From the sky Erisa and Elsa appeared and they got Kalkia's attention quickly. "My oh my the celestial twins that have existed for countless eternties. Did you show up just to fight little-old-me." Erisa snapped: "Just your filthy mouth. We have no time for your games!!" They used they're energy meanwhile King Arthur and Percival appeared as well and then Ungar and Talus. Kalkia was extracting much joy from this as she cackled with glee. "Oh my, you all don't get to you, you can't lay a finger on me. Silly mortals you never learn."
Kalkia's laughter echoed through the battlefield, a haunting melody of amusement and malice. Her pink eyes gleamed with sinister delight as she watched the growing assembly of warriors before her. Talus, Ungar, Hermes, the Celestial Twins Erisa and Elsa, and now even King Arthur and Percival had joined the fray. A smirk curled across her lips. "Oh my, such a grand audience," she mused. "It's almost flattering." Talus didn't wait for her to continue. He vanished again, reappearing with a burst of dark energy at her flank. His claws slashed toward her with devastating force, but this time Kalkia was ready. With a flick of her fingers, a barrier of pink energy erupted in front of her, stopping his attack mid-air. The force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, but Kalkia remained untouched. "You're quite the feisty one," she mused, tapping her chin. "But tell me, little demon, how much of that power can you really control?" Talus barely had time to react before his own energy flared wildly, turning against him. The violet flames that once encased his claws now writhed chaotically, searing his arms. He gritted his teeth, his eyes widening in realization. "Damn it," he growled. "She's manipulating my energy?" Kalkia giggled, twirling a finger. "Oh, sweetie, it's not manipulation. I simply helped you see the truth—power like yours is unstable. And when you don't master it, it masters you." Before she could press her advantage, a blast of golden energy erupted toward her. Erisa and Elsa hovered above, their celestial forms glowing with divine brilliance.
"Enough talk," Elsa declared. "You've meddled with too many lives, monster."
Kalkia barely evaded the strike, but the golden energy seared across her left arm, leaving a smoldering wound. Her smirk faltered, her eyes narrowing. Slowly, she turned toward the twins, an eerie grin stretching across her lips once more. "Well, that actually stung." She flexed her fingers, rolling her shoulders. "Looks like I'll have to stop playing nice." In an instant, the sky above darkened as a storm of pink and black energy erupted from her body. The ground cracked beneath her, and an overwhelming force pressed down on the battlefield. The warriors instinctively braced themselves, their weapons glowing with power as they prepared for her next move. Arthur stepped forward, Excalibur gleaming in his hands. "No more tricks, witch," he commanded. "It's time to face your judgment." Kalkia chuckled darkly, her gaze locking onto Arthur's with amusement. "Oh, Arthur, Arthur, Arthur… always so noble, always so predictable." She lifted a single hand, and the air itself seemed to twist and ripple around her. Then, without warning, she lunged. A blur of speed, she was upon Arthur in an instant. Excalibur met her clawed fingers, but rather than shattering against the legendary blade, her nails scraped against it with a sound that sent shivers through the battlefield. Arthur staggered back, his grip tightening.
Percival leaped in to assist, his lance thrusting forward. But Kalkia spun gracefully, evading with ease before kicking him square in the chest, sending him flying backward. Ungar roared and charged, his massive fists descending like a meteor. This time, Kalkia met his attack head-on. The ground trembled as their weapons clashed, the sheer force splitting the earth beneath them. The impact sent shockwaves through the battlefield, toppling ruined structures and sending debris flying in every direction. "You're strong," Ungar admitted through gritted teeth, pushing against her with all his might. Kalkia winked. "Flatter me more, and I might just let you land a hit." But before she could counter, a blast of violet fire engulfed her from behind. Talus had regained control, his eyes burning with renewed determination. "I told you," he growled, stepping forward. "I made a promise. And I keep my promises." Kalkia's form flickered within the flames, and for the first time, a hint of frustration crossed her face. As the inferno began to fade, the combined forces of the warriors closed in around her. Hermes, Mark, Erisa, Elsa, Ungar, Talus, Arthur, and Percival—all ready to strike. She let out a slow breath, the amusement in her expression replaced by something far more dangerous. "Well then," she murmured, stretching her fingers. "Let's see if you can entertain me a little longer." Now Demi and Mark entered the fight. Kalkia mused: "If it's not the queen of this realm, the Demiurge. Looks like you joined the good guys. Oh and you're dating this demon (Talus), you have a little boyfriend, awww I'm so happy for you."
Demi barely spared Kalkia a glare before vanishing in a blur of speed. Faster than the eye could track, she reappeared behind the eldritch woman, a sphere of crackling white energy forming in her palm. Without hesitation, she slammed it into Kalkia's back. The battlefield trembled as a deafening explosion rocked the air, sending Kalkia hurtling forward. She twisted mid-air, landing on her feet with a delighted chuckle. "Oh, that actually tickled." Kalkia's grin widened, her pink eyes flashing as she straightened. "Demiurge, darling, I thought you would have more bite." Demi's expression remained unreadable, her silver eyes glowing with divine intensity. "You're a parasite, Kalkia. I'm going to burn you out of this existence." Talus stood beside her, shaking off the remnants of his own energy surge, his claws flexing with violet fire. "You talk too much," he snarled, lunging forward. Kalkia sighed as she deftly sidestepped his strike, her own fingers slashing out like knives. Talus blocked just in time, but the force sent him skidding backward. Before Kalkia could follow up, Demi was already on her again. This time, the Queen of the Realm struck with precision—her palm colliding with Kalkia's sternum. The air around them cracked like glass, and a burst of pure energy erupted from the point of impact, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.
Kalkia stumbled, blinking in genuine surprise. She let out a delighted gasp. "Oh! That one actually hurt." Her grin widened as she touched the scorch mark seared into her flawless skin. "How wonderful." Demi didn't hesitate. With a flick of her wrist, the air around them darkened, then fractured as golden chains erupted from the void. They lashed toward Kalkia, wrapping around her limbs, pulling her taut. For the first time, Kalkia's smirk faltered. "Oh, this is new," she mused, tugging experimentally. The chains burned where they touched her, sizzling against her flesh. Demi took a slow step forward. "This is your end." Talus joined her, his flames intensifying. "No more games, no more tricks." He raised his claws, the fire swirling into an orb of destructive power. But Kalkia's laughter cut through the moment. "Oh, my dears," she purred, her voice rich with amusement. "You still don't get it, do you?" The battlefield trembled again—not from the warriors' power, but from Kalkia's own. The dark rift above them pulsed violently, tendrils of black energy snapping free and converging on her. The moment they touched her, her body convulsed—then, with a sickening crack, the chains binding her shattered as if they were mere illusions.
Demi's eyes narrowed. "Impossible." Kalkia stretched her arms, her aura now darker, more volatile. "Oh, darling, nothing's impossible for me." Her pink eyes gleamed with cruel excitement. "Now, let's turn this up a notch, shall we?" Without warning, she raised a hand, and the ground beneath Talus and Demi exploded. A force unlike anything before sent them both flying in opposite directions, smashing them into the ruins surrounding the battlefield. Talus groaned as he pulled himself up from the rubble, his vision spinning. Demi did the same, shaking off the dust. Kalkia hovered above them now, arms outstretched, dark energy swirling around her like a living storm. "I have to admit," she mused, tilting her head, "you almost made me break a sweat." Talus wiped blood from his lip. "She's getting stronger." Demi exhaled, her eyes locking onto Kalkia's glowing form. "Then we just have to hit harder."
"Give me just a second sweetie. King Apollo ordered me to kill the Prophet so let me do something, it won't take a minute." She disappeared and grabbed X and when she appeared with him Talus's claw knocked off his mask he was exposed for everyone to see it was Daniel.