It took days for Abyss to get directions for the coordinates Nedi ’s letter boasted and to get there.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUduuzaCFoH
When he neared the location, he saw the large building shudder. The earth beneath Abyss shook. “What is going on?!” He exclaimed. It was a disaster zone. Ground was cracked and burned with arrows and boulders scattered across the terrain.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxizJyvrhZC
In the distance, he could see Rosorken Soldiers battling human rebels... Rebels... PISTOL. Does... Nedi work for PISTOL or Kronos? Abyss shook his head. He knew it was too good to be true. Nedi had been lying about his identity. Abyss thought that those names were weird. Was Nedi trying to go undercover? Did he know Abyss from before? Why would he lie about all this?100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNh1r3Mwt7O
Still, Abyss didn’t want to believe it. He wanted Nedi to be an ally. Didn’t Achlys say gathering an army was good? If Abyss already had a connection with Nedi, maybe he could bring him over to his side.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Iubh5XMT1
Without considering how difficult it could be to find Nedi in the commotion, Abyss hurried to the battlefield, struggling to keep his hopes low.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3PAStZCeP
* * *
Abyss had to dodge arrows from the human side and all manner of explosions and elemental abilities from either end of the battlefield. It was a miracle he wasn’t dead already.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSu4WmbR1YK
Just as he was about to give up on the idea of finding a person without a recognizable face in a warzone, Abyss nearly got hit with a bolt of lightning.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKX1KklBqM
Abyss was stunned. The last time he was almost killed by stray lightning was...100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdURd5CKgW
“Zeus! We need a defibrillator!” A familiar voice called out. The voice made Abyssal’s blood boil.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzEc5rQCrs
“On my way, Commander!”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEssAJ1bclp
Abyssal’s heart stopped. He spun to try and spot the source.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0esJJ7kqX9
“Volt!”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClfRHz5t1l
Abyss ran towards the young man rushing to a fallen rebel. The familiar golden skin and bright blond hair was mistakable. The long-lost twin nearly tripped when he heard his name.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oqkdD1ugp
“Abyss?!”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHntgYtuLK
Volt only looked over his shoulder a split second before turning away and coming down on the dying soldier with sparking hands.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GyiephtxB
Abyss chased after his brother and stood only a foot away.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpnob3spnr
Commander H glanced at Abyss from his defensive post. Abyss glared back. Commander H didn’t respond. He just turned to scan the battlefield again. The dark-haired twin stared disbelievingly at Volt.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccNaQkFMvw
“Clear!”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbafgZ4lCc
The body jumped at Volt’s touch.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUn76RDZHMx
Volt tried once more before the fallen soldier jumped back to life. He seemed at dazed as Abyss, though his confused state lasted only a couple moments as Volt pulled him up. The rebel ran back out to battle spawning swords from nowhere.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlVdGWDLX7
Abyss ran to his brother, grabbing him from behind.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaP5AMyaMlH
“I thought you were dead,” he whispered through choked-back sobs. Abyss hated how emotional he was being, but he couldn’t help it. All the aching from the letter came flooding back intertwined with overwhelming relief. Tears streamed down Abyssal’s face.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFa3cYFab68
Volt placed a hand on Abyssal’s before gently breaking away from his grip and turning to come face to face. Abyss latched on again immediately. He wasn’t going to let Volt go. Not again. Not where death was so eminent.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sNKhRJzzs
“Abyss,” Volt whispered, “now’s not the time. It isn’t safe-”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHkolLzS2Q
“I don’t care! You don’t know what I went through! Why didn’t you tell me you were okay?!”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZEbQPYmIO
Volt’s face hardened as he swallowed back a large lump of guilt.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecJ0nmJsOx
Abyss was right. Volt didn’t know how it felt to lose a brother.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztUcK26ma9
“...I’m sorry... I couldn’t, I-... I just couldn’t...”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡel0Cn5XN4S
“Why not?! I’m your brother, Volt! I thought you died! I thought we’d never see each other again!”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIqc2EFCmB
“It’s.. Complicated... I gave you hints.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdRDBPnoBl
“What are you talking about?!”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCHieb1Nj6
“I- Nedi? Mark? It’s a code-”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3WLDt8vhr
“How was I supposed to know that?! You were sending me cryptic letters and let me believe you were really gone! Even when I responded!”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDmNoGzph1
“...You’re right... I was... less right ... but we still don’t have time for this- Look out!” Volt grabbed Abyss back and jumped to the ground, barely avoiding a flaming arrow that exploded on impact with the ground, blowing the twins several yards across the treacherous terrain.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfTJdEQ2pc
The twins broke apart and the moment they stopped, Volt got up and placed a hand on Abyssal’s shoulders. “I’ll explain everything when this is over. As long as we’re both still alive. ” Volt ran off at incredible speeds that Abyss wasn’t sure he’d seen before. And that was saying something.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPLJPp9uTJ
Abyss scrambled to feet and yelled after Volt, “Not funny, yig thisar!”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCksysJamo
A woman in a long-sleeved, sparkly, silver turtleneck and blue-stained leather pants who was riding a large star platform gasped and covered her ears.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWgeshBVhH
Does she know what I said? Even still, what does it matter to her?100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzu6rHoLTN
Abyss shook it off and ignored the woman as she flew away on her star raft or whatever the heck was going on there. Until she turned and threw a ninja star that stuck into the stomach of a nearby Rosorken and exploded, knocking Abyss off-balance.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8umfg2TdB0
“How many of those do you have left, Astrea?” a large, burn-scarred, bald man called out.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4I5czudxUu
Star lady answered, “About 12.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iOSK3sUhX
“I got 50 more for you here!” The man threw a small pouch to her. Abyss seriously doubted 50 of those freaky ninja stars could fit in there.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYZPtWOOW8
“Thanks, Hephaestus!” she called back before flying off.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Pvajy0MxH
That’s when it hit him. There were Greek gods among PISTOL, fighting Kronos, and more on the other side.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfh261DyzuN
“She doesn't like profanity,” Hephaestus told Abyss before dropping a shield in the younger one’s arms and heading off quickly.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8GPEVLAVG
Just then, Abyss had to block an arrow soaked in some sort of berry juice. He glanced back and saw a woman wearing nothing but twisting vines holding a bow, sitting in a tree that continued to grow taller. A magpie sat on her shoulder.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7nBWDTZL0
At first, Abyss thought she was Merry, but her hair was much darker and... was she missing a breast? Abyss decided not to focus on that and kept running, changing up his patterns as randomly as possible to throw off the archer’s aim.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0mD83vuez
Demeter? He guessed.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgMu0p7qKD
That’s when he nearly ran into a large gold statue of Aaron.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡok2wEeqUdN
No, it WAS Aaron, or... Ares... but how? It looked like the fingers on his right arm were broken off. Before Abyss could question it, a golden axe swung for his head, answering the question. An intoxicated man swung the axe around, recklessly stumbling.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSSoE2wxfg
“The lllllast ounce of my gold powerssss,” the man slurred. “Givvven away... nnnever to returrrrrnn.” He hiccupped, “Twice! The last usssed to kill my own brother!” Suddenly, the man collapsed. His hair was grey and twisted with vines.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxoRe5nOnX
“Eeehh... Dionysus,” Abyss groaned. “Goodnight, Master D.” Abyss was practically raised and trained by that guy, until he called off practices to lay in his room with a migraine usually while Abyss was in the middle of an electric chokehold. He always made the call just in time, but that never meant he liked the weird guy.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxFHfiA3rS
Abyss continued to scour the battlefield for Volt. He wasn’t losing his brother. Not again.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Zueru3Qh2
But he found Achlys first.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNR4D50rPl
“Abyss, please come with me. I’ve sent Vivian and Lucy for your brother, we can regroup. I’m not letting either of you get hurt like this. It would be pointless.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2q6p9el0m
“You- you mean it? Wait, you knew about Volt?”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdtIjZXCdV
“I... figured it out.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2O2qK9sp6
“With the letter? How?”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeR02QwTZ6
“Uh... it- it was easy. Just come with me. It isn’t safe here. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.” Her voice felt sickly sweet. She was hiding something...something important.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAw11WSrVwr
Still, Abyss had to follow her. Achlys was right, it wasn’t safe here. He’s already lucked out too many times, and if she was able to get Volt into a safe place, Abyss had to be there.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSS6aLHgMf
* * *
Achlys took Abyss to the place they first met. Even if it was where he met Achlys, Abyss still didn’t like this place. Those memories weren’t particularly pleasant.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHD9QVwcOO
“Abyss!” Volt exclaimed running to him. “We have to get back up there. I only stayed because they said you were coming.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQlfhWHFhd
“I’m not letting you go back up there!” Abyss snapped.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pLAm2ZHRZ
“And I’m not letting you stay down here. It’s where we released-” Volt spotted Achlys and glared at her. His voice was low, “her.” 100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SMLooHoBy
“What do you have against-”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzzmJby2rA
“She’s the one who got me registered as dead.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnY92z1tkm
Abyss was stunned. “But- why?”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRrySrRKRi
“She wanted me out of the way so she could manipulate you, obviously. Hades told me how she plans to destroy the world. She needs your power to do that.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8NfVHZ2l0
“It’s more than that!” Achlys blurted.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwA7PGQs3h6
“How so?” Volt asked.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QEkgWeFjP
“I-I like the company.” Achlys shook herself and snapped, “I need the princess too.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsa6e6IgFF
Abyss couldn’t speak. I stared at the two of them in stunned silence.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBq1uE0U5r
“Abyss, she can’t be trusted. She wants to destroy the world and plunge it into an endless night of flames and destruction.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJAAaQWRpb
“I- I know... but-”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4m2yJsCuT
“What do you mean you know?” Volt demanded. “You were going to help her do that willingly? Weren’t we considering turning against Kronos for that same reason?”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqb9jjZFcM
“I did! I am! I... I think... It’s complicated.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJbSpkn26O
“Don’t tell me you wanted to destroy the world out of revenge for me? The culprit was her all along! You already blew up PISTOL. They saved me! When coms cut out, Hades assumed, but they found me in the castle dungeon, poisoned and dying because of her! They rescued me.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEpWouf9Si
“And you didn’t tell me before because...?”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnBPT7WJpt
“I couldn’t! Things were going to Xouya and nobody knew what side everyone was on. You were with her!”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKQtQXr24G
Abyss was trembling. His mind swam in confusion, and he was brimming with anger. His fists were clenched, and his arms shook.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcaKsEZN9r
Abyss turned to Achlys and yelled, “You did this to my brother! I bet you never even wanted to save anyone!” He grit his teeth and growled as Achlys’ face fell into a glower. “You just wanted the glory. You wanted to see humanity crush under your heel to show up Kronos.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSGsihcssU
“You’re not seeing things clearly, Sol,” she said smoothly.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk48UNCGgjC
“You don’t get to call me that!”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01zhtKlkw2
“Your blinded by your emotions. You can’t understand... Girls!”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1aLZuSWPk
Vines shot out from the shadows, one wrapping around each of the brothers.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyzD03yv0l
“I didn’t want to do this, Abyss,” Achlys said. She wasn’t looking at him anymore. She turned away and clenched her fists while the twins struggled. “I never wanted to hurt you or your brother. But he’s given me no choice... I won’t do the same to you.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCApFXI8kwA
“What are you talking about?! Volt has nothing to do with this, leave him out of it!”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKNtF5UT1q
“You’re wrong, Abyss... I’m sorry, I really am,” some part of Achlys’ voice sounded truthful even if Abyss couldn’t see her.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7Zh22GVni
Vivian pulled out a wooden chair and used the vines to tie him down. Lucy stood in the corner crying. Vivian wore a forlorn yet determined expression.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu86yURV3Wh
“He inserted himself when he came to kill me. He had a lightning bolt in his hand and bloodlust in his eyes.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM44kU7i0hM
Vivian tied a vine in Volt’s mouth and around his head. Volt’s head drooped with remorse.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2GI28t0iS
“It’s strange having all our powers in one place again. The daughter of a necromancer along with the two inheritors of her closest uncles.” Abyss walked over and set a hand on Vivian and Volt’s shoulders. Volt shot her a glare and static zipped across his shoulder at her hand. She pulled away instantly shaking off the bitter sting. “Ah-” she hissed, “Zippy are we, Zeus?”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPPS5FufN2
She strode away and grabbed the vine holding Abyss, guiding him to a higher place. Lucy and Vivian followed as Abyss struggled.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvxrQ46dJj
“Look, your brother was right about one thing. I do need you. I need your power, devour.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmM5MSVZ7Qj
“Why do you need it if you can get all sorts of power wielders on your side so easily?” Abyss snapped back.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhIYVamV1N
Instead of answering directly, Achlys began telling a cryptic story. “Once there was a seer living in ancient Greece. His name was Tiresias. His reputation was so well known that people took his words for doctrine. He foretold an event that would come to pass millennia later.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtX4X0pBvfX
“What does this have to do with anything?” Abyss snapped.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71YJP3BJmO
“Shut up and listen. Maybe you’ll find out,” Achlys hissed. “The Greeks had their era of Rosorken coming to help out in a couple small ways. Teaching advanced technology to men in towers, giving kings endless supply of priceless metals to progress society, you get the gist. Here’s the thing, they weren’t fully aware of the Rosorken until wise old Tiresias shared a story about my father’s generation. Dear Uncle Zues and Grandpa Kronos.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38QrCvK58Q
“I know this one,” Vivian muttered. “This is how the youngest god, Zeus, became the king of gods.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQJLAAE5m7
“Yes, Zeus made tartar out of the titanus tyrant Kronos. Or at least, he was supposed to.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5RDHuKUsN
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Abyss growled.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3HLMEHVqO
“Well, the legend was so widespread by modern fiction and the rising popularity of Greek mythology. As the Greeks adopted these foretold great powers as gods, the Rosorken caught ear. Kronos learned of the legend. He fell in love with a human woman, Rhea, and learned of her scheme to protect his killer, their son. When Rhea tried to cover for Zeus, Kronos devoured her essence as well. In front of the entire family. I watched my grandpa kill my grandma. Suck her dry, turn her into a husk.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDV92ZpEuO
Abyss stared in shock. No wonder Achlys was so twisted. All of this on top of being locked away when she was 10.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnn2phUA1eb
“Kronos made a deal with the rest of the family. By turning over Zeus, he would spare all the rest of his children, grandchildren, and nephews. He came out on his own. He was no older than you or me. He sacrificed himself for each one of us, he listed the names of everyone in the family, dedicating his pain to us through screams as he was stripped of his power, strength, and life. He was gone before he got down to my name.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlACx0JvtRH
Abyssal’s breathing was heavy. He was sure he heard the call for each Grecian deity by name playing through his mind on loop alongside the screams of all those he killed before. It didn’t make sense to him then, but now, it was as if Zeus’ sacrifice was tied to Kronos’ power itself as a reminder of all the people he wasn’t allowed to kill.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0aR5RuJsR
“Other names were too far down the list, including any of my cousins, my mother, any of Hyperion or Khaos’ lines, or me. Many of them were hunted down the same way. Kronos had his twisted loophole. Those without Rosorken blood were always picked off from the families first, so when my mother was killed, father knew we had to escape like Helios did.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8q3FlXwXy
“So, they locked you away to protect you?” Abyss guessed. His voice was quiet.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJurWpcYg63
Achlys let out a mad cackle. “Handsome, that’s only half the reason! Tiresias, the brilliant idiot also gave us a Plan B. ‘Should Zeus fail to rise to power, the solar powers will combine with darkness to destroy the world and cause Kronos to burn eternally.’ With Helios on the loose, father and I were a liability. Kronos wanted us out of the picture, and one of us was far more venerable, far less talented in blending in. She wasn’t protected by Zues’s sacrifice like her father was. They sealed that little girl away, and now, the queen of deadly mists and darkness will rise and claim the sun’s power to ensure Kronos burns in this life and the next.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfgoYO1hXW
Abyss pulled Princess Ember out from behind a large generator, bound and struggling. “You’re going to give her power to me. “Give me the Solar Powers I require, Abyss. If you defy me...”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFZZEOcPBe
On cue, Vivian flooded the lower portion of the floor where Volt sat. The Water was up to his shins and be began shorting out. Volt’s muffled cries filled the air as his muscles contracted.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeYhmnC9f3
“Stop!” Abyss cried, lunging toward his brother again.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjTtGDqkcg
“As expected, cartridge holders always come with limitations compared to their predecessors. Real Rosorken offspring always gain stronger abilities than their parents, even mix-breeds like me. And what happens to a toaster when dropped into water?”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEtqFVwGqR
“You’re hurting him!” Abyss exclaimed. He could care less about Achlys’ drawn-out explanations. Too much longer and Volt’s leg muscles would retain permanent damage.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpWBzKyh1n
“If you want to save your brother and avoid seeing him fully submerged, you’ll give me Ember’s powers.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvoKrr6eAx
Abyss lunged towards Vivian and barely missed touching her arm with his cheek. Vivian leapt away and Achlys pulled him off-balance towards her. “Little traitor,” she hissed. “See what happens when you test me.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4WFTTTtrJ
The water level began rapidly rising as Volt’s body began to shake and seize up painfully further up. The water reached Volt’s stomach and continued to climb. Abyss could see his brother’s arms tensing and pulling against his bindings desperately. Electricity danced on top of the water as it started to near the group on the higher ground. 100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVr3rqqtXk1
Achlys dragged Abyss further up and Vivian led Lucy to safety. The woman’s expression held a sort of pained remorse. It was clear Vivian didn’t want to do this, but she still didn’t stop.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraZVHDuxUc
“Why are you doing this?!” Abyss pleaded, looking at Vivian.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIGaFMWPSP
“Because I said to,” Achlys said.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JoleTTxwb
“One for the many,” Vivian muttered.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXwPx2xckC
Achlys nodded with a falsely somber expression. “Exactly. It’s the same as when I told you we needed to destroy this planet for the sake of the universe, Sol.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbk4Khlag5
“You don’t get to call me that!” Abyss said, lunging once again, this time at Achlys.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1WSXhkyZt
Achlys’ face fell as she jumped back and Abyss fell on his face. “I’ll call off the flood if you just give me her power.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pTtNV0pGD
The crackling of electricity surged bigger and brighter as the electrical whining grew higher and Volt screamed louder before he was cut off with a gasp. The water had reached his chest.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeIlXvOJ8x
“Okay!” Abyss gave in. He was panicked. Achlys bent over and took Abyssal’s right hand. He touch his left to Ember’s arm and began the energy transfer. Ember’s cry of pain replaced Volt’s in the moment and red energy spiraled up Abyssal’s arm, down through his belly, and out the other arm into Achlys.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7PE1R0RnE
Once he was certain her got all of Ember’s powers, Abyss released, careful not to drain any of her life-force. He pulled his hand away. Ember’s arm was scorched where he grabbed her. She was breathing heavily. Abyssal’s hand was also burned where he made contact with Achlys.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOOVvqf4WP
Abyss decided not to tell Achlys about the drainage that came with a borrowed power, but then, she rolled Ember into the electrically charged water. The princess yelped, but the water buried her cries as she fell under. Abyss scrambled to his feet, vines falling away, but he couldn’t do anything as he watched her body sink, twitching, violently.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTO4UUX7pHj
Achlys looked over his shoulder before nodding to Vivian. The water parted and allotted a path to Volt, no longer submerged, but twitching occasionally with a spark, unconscious in his seat. His hair was wet and the sparks seemed weak.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IVVBLhKes
Abyss ran to his brother as Achlys left. She wouldn’t have to worry about her new power draining away now that it had no source to return to.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdzuvt8yZe
Abyss stopped at Volt's side. He had to think of something to do.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwMwB2Mzld
I got it. He nervously touched Volts arm, surprised that it only shocked him a little. Like static. Abyss grabbed his brother’s arm and began to drain away the electrical powers that made him weak to water in the first place. Vivian came to Abyssal’s side and reached out, drying Volt by pulling away the dripping water. It took Abyss everything he had not to whack her arm away. But the water was still draining around them and he needed her to hold it apart.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUqcclzJH6
Eventually, Volt stopped twitching, and sparks stopped jumping off of him, but he wasn’t breathing.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHai8at9Oce
Come on!100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkurWdPC5dg
Abyss didn’t know what else to do. He didn’t feel any of the electricity trying to drain away from his own body the way it normally did.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Hc0qk1MEU
“You can’t be gone!” Abyss cried, tears falling down his face. “Not again! Please!” He shook his brother’s shoulder.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChAuAe15NL
Vivian undid the vines before she grabbed Volt by his arm and pulled him off the chair, cushioning his head so it wouldn’t hit the concrete floor. She began violently pressing down on Volt’s ribs.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocKV0HP6b5
“What are you doing?!” Abys blurted, grabbing her arms and trying to pull her away.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQE8DJRa8I2
“Chest compressions idiot! I don’t actually want him to die, do you?”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfihjFN8cFD
Abyss swallowed a lump in his throat and pulled away as Vivian continued to do CPR.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoccLVhqpAt
“Just don’t get in the way of anything. Go take care of Lucy.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaP1Db7SAr
Abyss looked over his shoulder at the girl before she shrunk away and hid behind a large, mysterious machine.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAZqgg53Ih
Abyss didn’t want to leave Volt’s side. He stared back at his brother.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREKMauW1RB
He felt the little girl grab his sleeve. “Go stop her.” Lucy whispered so Vivian wouldn’t hear her.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfzlU5G33S
Abyss looked down at her.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3NUd7yg3c
“What?” the word barely came out.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBG9SFmYo3
“You have to stop the scary lady. She wants to blow up the world.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAEsG7IK8H
“But-”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHWyec6nTa
“No buts, you have to stop her.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fRiXnYhhW
Abyss didn’t know if it mattered. He couldn’t leave Volt’s side. He didn’t know why trying to save people who would die anyway served any purpose. Then again, why was Vivian trying to save Volt?100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrWEztLUc7
She said she didn’t want him to die even though she helped hurt him in the first place.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWd28kN3HO
Abyss thought about if he really wanted the people on Earth to die. He helped the person who wanted to destroy the world, but… did that mean he couldn’t help now?100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAAO4WVMyy
Maybe not.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3n3twZYv9
Abyss thought back to the conversation he had with Volt the day they came to Earth.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXCdTxuFKf
He didn’t want to destroy the world he never did. And maybe there was another way to save the universe from Kronos the way Commander H fought.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kXokGumIb
Lucy was right. She was a little kid who couldn’t possibly understand all of this, but she was right.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgGGPJj965
But… what about…?100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfT4eFrdL7
Abyss shook his head. He didn’t have time for this. He’ll be okay. Abyss looked back a final time to us brother.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRx2u8p2tLQ
“I’ll see you later, Volt. Don’t you dare die on me again.” Abyss said quietly.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zno4z9vpX
100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXr9Hio7Ubb
