It took days for Abyss to get directions for the coordinates Nedi ’s letter boasted and to get there.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9E6J5Vjjk
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTZglRZlFN
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?27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3v6dAeSZ7
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiTrXYh6Rf
Without considering how difficult it could be to find Nedi in the commotion, Abyss hurried to the battlefield, struggling to keep his hopes low.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZoPCXu0Bq
* * *
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMy89i8AQLS
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWwvUKHUJe
Abyss was stunned. The last time he was almost killed by stray lightning was...27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQClC7aiQF
“Zeus! We need a defibrillator!” A familiar voice called out. The voice made Abyssal’s blood boil.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIMoQ68c5i
“On my way, Commander!”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeoZ6PT8mg
Abyssal’s heart stopped. He spun to try and spot the source.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDyChhfu77
“Volt!”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZrAlrCeze
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp40fNbWD3l
“Abyss?!”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJckpsFcz0
Volt only looked over his shoulder a split second before turning away and coming down on the dying soldier with sparking hands.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIsDDrJhyD
Abyss chased after his brother and stood only a foot away.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYCFszQIrV
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzPYWCSIBn
“Clear!”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYN2KKjTSrZ
The body jumped at Volt’s touch.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgc235iA3T
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJq2GipBRfg
Abyss ran to his brother, grabbing him from behind.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdfwIHoQoh
“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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaonuT0uSl
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFN5nY566K
“Abyss,” Volt whispered, “now’s not the time. It isn’t safe-”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VuXPzsq0f
“I don’t care! You don’t know what I went through! Why didn’t you tell me you were okay?!”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpKvods2qu
Volt’s face hardened as he swallowed back a large lump of guilt.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkk4ZDz7WQH
Abyss was right. Volt didn’t know how it felt to lose a brother.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3fewaaJCh
“...I’m sorry... I couldn’t, I-... I just couldn’t...”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCQBWANNy1
“Why not?! I’m your brother, Volt! I thought you died! I thought we’d never see each other again!”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDX59XWfU9F
“It’s.. Complicated... I gave you hints.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡragA4HSeN9
“What are you talking about?!”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1Kdh9SyeU
“I- Nedi? Mark? It’s a code-”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQT0VDsg7Hs
“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!”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5bFOGUV9Q
“...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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMWZ0kvTCB
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoGPlIPFSI
Abyss scrambled to feet and yelled after Volt, “Not funny, yig thisar!”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pgOE0cysx
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9F06MD0oJy
Does she know what I said? Even still, what does it matter to her?27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDoM7qZ3Hg
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNQsF1cLA9
“How many of those do you have left, Astrea?” a large, burn-scarred, bald man called out.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKKl2bcqPW
Star lady answered, “About 12.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡly3gkIYKMS
“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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXS6jI5umO
“Thanks, Hephaestus!” she called back before flying off.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhzysLASNt
That’s when it hit him. There were Greek gods among PISTOL, fighting Kronos, and more on the other side.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIT2AK0hvA6
“She doesn't like profanity,” Hephaestus told Abyss before dropping a shield in the younger one’s arms and heading off quickly.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GpqLzLWAl
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK23kwVxiYM
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XoDmMzZUS
Demeter? He guessed.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnO3K6PiXDP
That’s when he nearly ran into a large gold statue of Aaron.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoO2xnVCNDo
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlwM6Ap3nA
“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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLmhIJD4il
“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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqeKMV9Z3x
Abyss continued to scour the battlefield for Volt. He wasn’t losing his brother. Not again.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UYBSPhjeL
But he found Achlys first.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPTDrEI2KO
“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.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtH3cK6ujh
“You- you mean it? Wait, you knew about Volt?”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhh6ccQAP8
“I... figured it out.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qR3sd5fxW
“With the letter? How?”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPB5IWo0Goj
“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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyrAMuObZt
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFTJcVwFGj
* * *
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASmOE5kAGK
“Abyss!” Volt exclaimed running to him. “We have to get back up there. I only stayed because they said you were coming.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aT956QWCH
“I’m not letting you go back up there!” Abyss snapped.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQzZj7uMDH
“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.” 27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfWbNvPhPx
“What do you have against-”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI53dQNpSCe
“She’s the one who got me registered as dead.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyJ168DvFO
Abyss was stunned. “But- why?”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkVBL8OhZQ
“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.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnY8yX964s
“It’s more than that!” Achlys blurted.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrcJJ77Mip
“How so?” Volt asked.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMeTSWI012
“I-I like the company.” Achlys shook herself and snapped, “I need the princess too.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM043LKcJq5
Abyss couldn’t speak. I stared at the two of them in stunned silence.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiF5ykIzHI
“Abyss, she can’t be trusted. She wants to destroy the world and plunge it into an endless night of flames and destruction.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3NImERatw
“I- I know... but-”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQsSbOlvUg
“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?”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYd28ApuUN
“I did! I am! I... I think... It’s complicated.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdTWk5xb4z
“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.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJvjzYsn6u
“And you didn’t tell me before because...?”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7bQjztyB3
“I couldn’t! Things were going to Xouya and nobody knew what side everyone was on. You were with her!”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9O1ACWA6Rs
Abyss was trembling. His mind swam in confusion, and he was brimming with anger. His fists were clenched, and his arms shook.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8O5Dijrxr
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.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMggmeyEWt
“You’re not seeing things clearly, Sol,” she said smoothly.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bqumYuCOh
“You don’t get to call me that!”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAWo9XFo1r
“Your blinded by your emotions. You can’t understand... Girls!”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2xohjXlGV
Vines shot out from the shadows, one wrapping around each of the brothers.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TvH0obEDl
“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.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJubTyi3Isq
“What are you talking about?! Volt has nothing to do with this, leave him out of it!”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7fOMDgi1s
“You’re wrong, Abyss... I’m sorry, I really am,” some part of Achlys’ voice sounded truthful even if Abyss couldn’t see her.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08PvlIjnzK
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BezBmVnGX
“He inserted himself when he came to kill me. He had a lightning bolt in his hand and bloodlust in his eyes.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOmVwMD4Qs
Vivian tied a vine in Volt’s mouth and around his head. Volt’s head drooped with remorse.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI88QJL4r4r
“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?”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehwEHR25Z9
She strode away and grabbed the vine holding Abyss, guiding him to a higher place. Lucy and Vivian followed as Abyss struggled.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3Ud4sRvy3
“Look, your brother was right about one thing. I do need you. I need your power, devour.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOe2yTUZL2S
“Why do you need it if you can get all sorts of power wielders on your side so easily?” Abyss snapped back.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡko7mUO2OB4
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.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgNxFoGhgV
“What does this have to do with anything?” Abyss snapped.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLiCnOG13o
“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.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9ITGIxV9K
“I know this one,” Vivian muttered. “This is how the youngest god, Zeus, became the king of gods.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyncnV7TEe
“Yes, Zeus made tartar out of the titanus tyrant Kronos. Or at least, he was supposed to.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfII85nnZrH
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Abyss growled.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeK8Nehtu9u
“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.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRoCsnFTGc
Abyss stared in shock. No wonder Achlys was so twisted. All of this on top of being locked away when she was 10.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TaEimxtop
“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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuY0feruwL
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4apLzKEiKS
“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.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FcFpaG6W8
“So, they locked you away to protect you?” Abyss guessed. His voice was quiet.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Lqn7DUtb0
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.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmENoG9M1Q0
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...”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3mn5iHoNe
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlTXXgyO2G
“Stop!” Abyss cried, lunging toward his brother again.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSIasRqezb
“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?”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEJIhOfsE0
“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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0x3ClNTxb
“If you want to save your brother and avoid seeing him fully submerged, you’ll give me Ember’s powers.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVp0seR1ZIv
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.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALv0t4Iyvv
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. 27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡme3ts1XQAr
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJpAuTeE9L
“Why are you doing this?!” Abyss pleaded, looking at Vivian.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LeO7PE616
“Because I said to,” Achlys said.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2v5eN5ss3o
“One for the many,” Vivian muttered.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVsZIHvBGS
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.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3skGuHhXM
“You don’t get to call me that!” Abyss said, lunging once again, this time at Achlys.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MraZtXQmK
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.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMFakTKCAm
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8Ntx3ddLE
“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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpofDlXbql9
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PrhF6deCs
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLkQTIOO6l
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHFSI7Dvye
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSV1hNIdn9f
Abyss stopped at Volt's side. He had to think of something to do.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLp46d9e5s
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCl4u1tlPzY
Eventually, Volt stopped twitching, and sparks stopped jumping off of him, but he wasn’t breathing.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuH3ONpK7d2
Come on!27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38cttAxuXS
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7MnLnEF6M
“You can’t be gone!” Abyss cried, tears falling down his face. “Not again! Please!” He shook his brother’s shoulder.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFqtoRaglR
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldL4dMMZRU
“What are you doing?!” Abys blurted, grabbing her arms and trying to pull her away.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdETUVpCWg
“Chest compressions idiot! I don’t actually want him to die, do you?”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67NkpWgcn4
Abyss swallowed a lump in his throat and pulled away as Vivian continued to do CPR.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjpSZckHn5
“Just don’t get in the way of anything. Go take care of Lucy.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3R95IzR30j
Abyss looked over his shoulder at the girl before she shrunk away and hid behind a large, mysterious machine.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLMxx8KRSg
Abyss didn’t want to leave Volt’s side. He stared back at his brother.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs8vZuArXq
He felt the little girl grab his sleeve. “Go stop her.” Lucy whispered so Vivian wouldn’t hear her.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfdQAqTThb
Abyss looked down at her.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY35wkR2e8d
“What?” the word barely came out.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZhCCrxJaT
“You have to stop the scary lady. She wants to blow up the world.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozj1gpc0Ge
“But-”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpKLhIDfmn
“No buts, you have to stop her.”27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZAuACLjWN
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?27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVTkJx1l3l
She said she didn’t want him to die even though she helped hurt him in the first place.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmULWAitWP
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?27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlV3n1djPU
Maybe not.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEBoATrAF6
Abyss thought back to the conversation he had with Volt the day they came to Earth.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehhUEiy9Q8
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpAZRKm7K5
Lucy was right. She was a little kid who couldn’t possibly understand all of this, but she was right.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Mh9QDmRG5
But… what about…?27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0Sjlim0nt
Abyss shook his head. He didn’t have time for this. He’ll be okay. Abyss looked back a final time to us brother.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJxSf9Kg5a
“I’ll see you later, Volt. Don’t you dare die on me again.” Abyss said quietly.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTEZ0OU5Gj
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDmwbXxJi5
