It took days for Abyss to get directions for the coordinates Nedi ’s letter boasted and to get there.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQ5Bpjg6nf
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfB0cEQGT2
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?26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CtrzDa9kK
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIQBacHtSc
Without considering how difficult it could be to find Nedi in the commotion, Abyss hurried to the battlefield, struggling to keep his hopes low.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrEHlnEkKy
* * *
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasBuH45fjR
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3ifpEkgji
Abyss was stunned. The last time he was almost killed by stray lightning was...26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9O4JPXPiE
“Zeus! We need a defibrillator!” A familiar voice called out. The voice made Abyssal’s blood boil.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4KvQNoj06
“On my way, Commander!”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEecNMPyJ99
Abyssal’s heart stopped. He spun to try and spot the source.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUW4FYfH2q
“Volt!”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSX969U8aUq
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAndqzGCjTZ
“Abyss?!”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bImyjPcoG
Volt only looked over his shoulder a split second before turning away and coming down on the dying soldier with sparking hands.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWsJiyUjHd
Abyss chased after his brother and stood only a foot away.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbUsQEVWXz
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdx1O0Du1wP
“Clear!”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeongw4WIl
The body jumped at Volt’s touch.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYs008zHdy
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh18mLBQTKk
Abyss ran to his brother, grabbing him from behind.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXHpJBMfJb
“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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nQWMZ3uBa
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrq2WDg14B
“Abyss,” Volt whispered, “now’s not the time. It isn’t safe-”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPu28wosn6
“I don’t care! You don’t know what I went through! Why didn’t you tell me you were okay?!”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSqvXXk7vR
Volt’s face hardened as he swallowed back a large lump of guilt.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKwl4UGyFW
Abyss was right. Volt didn’t know how it felt to lose a brother.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSPGL7s4eZ
“...I’m sorry... I couldn’t, I-... I just couldn’t...”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMudg26Ndy3
“Why not?! I’m your brother, Volt! I thought you died! I thought we’d never see each other again!”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11OPPDg7Sc
“It’s.. Complicated... I gave you hints.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOIDF9hQn3
“What are you talking about?!”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyC3GDAsnHX
“I- Nedi? Mark? It’s a code-”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3GjdyBKzb
“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!”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlc8OJUWfX5
“...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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1EPRrwI3X
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKYJsgEhPx
Abyss scrambled to feet and yelled after Volt, “Not funny, yig thisar!”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WBU9wLVLU
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunMDvA5wP5
Does she know what I said? Even still, what does it matter to her?26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFnD28VW3A
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZ2ozKOPL3
“How many of those do you have left, Astrea?” a large, burn-scarred, bald man called out.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgwHKuxnTm
Star lady answered, “About 12.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwp27eI93b
“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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzNU8cHZiA
“Thanks, Hephaestus!” she called back before flying off.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrIesBNsoM
That’s when it hit him. There were Greek gods among PISTOL, fighting Kronos, and more on the other side.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToRAqTPyY9
“She doesn't like profanity,” Hephaestus told Abyss before dropping a shield in the younger one’s arms and heading off quickly.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUlr9vmiLJ
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp24JWbj5aV
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4FoOxm2r6
Demeter? He guessed.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnPstxd6Zu
That’s when he nearly ran into a large gold statue of Aaron.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrq0rGfBZ4s
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyCqpI9OaT
“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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHB8CzXE0IW
“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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBFvuAvLXS
Abyss continued to scour the battlefield for Volt. He wasn’t losing his brother. Not again.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFBrtpViAf
But he found Achlys first.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkL3f5fqkI
“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.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8ElU4amtJ
“You- you mean it? Wait, you knew about Volt?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMGq7WZYbZ
“I... figured it out.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14vGBPIqjH
“With the letter? How?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OVZltWQhr
“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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9D2qEIOgcv
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWQarkUJg0
* * *
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3IpaCq5MV
“Abyss!” Volt exclaimed running to him. “We have to get back up there. I only stayed because they said you were coming.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ou4dS5KFm
“I’m not letting you go back up there!” Abyss snapped.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArpVCOGxSI
“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.” 26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRrBPg9zyy
“What do you have against-”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3Jpxh88VS
“She’s the one who got me registered as dead.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEFQAhG0CX
Abyss was stunned. “But- why?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTfxvlPn9r
“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.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGZw74wz62
“It’s more than that!” Achlys blurted.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7rZufmFSb
“How so?” Volt asked.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUPJmzHaYe
“I-I like the company.” Achlys shook herself and snapped, “I need the princess too.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAfxHoezWv
Abyss couldn’t speak. I stared at the two of them in stunned silence.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItPLuRfda6
“Abyss, she can’t be trusted. She wants to destroy the world and plunge it into an endless night of flames and destruction.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtc8M5yMPv
“I- I know... but-”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezSN0tgDU5
“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?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRR6hcgR4ol
“I did! I am! I... I think... It’s complicated.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzj0OhpiQnZ
“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.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuDyr4ymYe
“And you didn’t tell me before because...?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQf875CPcn
“I couldn’t! Things were going to Xouya and nobody knew what side everyone was on. You were with her!”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvOT4k9J4j
Abyss was trembling. His mind swam in confusion, and he was brimming with anger. His fists were clenched, and his arms shook.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡES2YpnfH4l
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.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupsvijdrRk
“You’re not seeing things clearly, Sol,” she said smoothly.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfqCn1mFpC
“You don’t get to call me that!”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAW9wqgYSrM
“Your blinded by your emotions. You can’t understand... Girls!”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxcP6Rp7JI
Vines shot out from the shadows, one wrapping around each of the brothers.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgat298cOp
“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.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XZWwotsk0
“What are you talking about?! Volt has nothing to do with this, leave him out of it!”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnU4BgJVdPL
“You’re wrong, Abyss... I’m sorry, I really am,” some part of Achlys’ voice sounded truthful even if Abyss couldn’t see her.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZt62DzxCe
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhJROOc9zv
“He inserted himself when he came to kill me. He had a lightning bolt in his hand and bloodlust in his eyes.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiGZeLMonL
Vivian tied a vine in Volt’s mouth and around his head. Volt’s head drooped with remorse.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73IfanXyj4
“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?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodRiYPDzeE
She strode away and grabbed the vine holding Abyss, guiding him to a higher place. Lucy and Vivian followed as Abyss struggled.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKnixup6Bc
“Look, your brother was right about one thing. I do need you. I need your power, devour.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmkuZFz2Wr
“Why do you need it if you can get all sorts of power wielders on your side so easily?” Abyss snapped back.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY29mIemmZb
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.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTs2uwNuMB
“What does this have to do with anything?” Abyss snapped.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JZJh3yIsK
“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.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxa1ndCZ9z
“I know this one,” Vivian muttered. “This is how the youngest god, Zeus, became the king of gods.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiNdAKgK8L
“Yes, Zeus made tartar out of the titanus tyrant Kronos. Or at least, he was supposed to.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JslI39Uew
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Abyss growled.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8moFv1ya2
“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.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3uqAz6zua
Abyss stared in shock. No wonder Achlys was so twisted. All of this on top of being locked away when she was 10.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzOMAG5CDX
“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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPNDISooAt
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZdlAOswXb
“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.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNHoyrzfPo
“So, they locked you away to protect you?” Abyss guessed. His voice was quiet.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WJWsBjUEb
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.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jS1cF6Tca
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...”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscjYGIBD7t
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEWHngsKyi
“Stop!” Abyss cried, lunging toward his brother again.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJiZTdSv9n
“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?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyj9FrFNJUt
“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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQC4Ublzpal
“If you want to save your brother and avoid seeing him fully submerged, you’ll give me Ember’s powers.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinaWBncREe
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.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIh0vWk0DOe
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. 26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ0c7WRNWt
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXlUKuWUTy
“Why are you doing this?!” Abyss pleaded, looking at Vivian.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1XxRUT5X5
“Because I said to,” Achlys said.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdephcbeZiH
“One for the many,” Vivian muttered.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElfKK6m6hp
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.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQ2lT4OSMn
“You don’t get to call me that!” Abyss said, lunging once again, this time at Achlys.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nGIOTTr7c
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.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxDK93XE99
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSDyDVokBU
“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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhj0pQ6ye3s
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1fKTU7LsN
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHSnhnykkY
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6Vvu8d6o8
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgY1zSfQ0jq
Abyss stopped at Volt's side. He had to think of something to do.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdObVxEaQzR
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCypCs67sx
Eventually, Volt stopped twitching, and sparks stopped jumping off of him, but he wasn’t breathing.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlfFsz09sZ
Come on!26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvThzVGIMh0
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxkdkWamRj
“You can’t be gone!” Abyss cried, tears falling down his face. “Not again! Please!” He shook his brother’s shoulder.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3ZDI2TxYT
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMvnZsYmbL
“What are you doing?!” Abys blurted, grabbing her arms and trying to pull her away.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBAKqSRvdb
“Chest compressions idiot! I don’t actually want him to die, do you?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosvHw2E5wJ
Abyss swallowed a lump in his throat and pulled away as Vivian continued to do CPR.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblr9Ikxu3v
“Just don’t get in the way of anything. Go take care of Lucy.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazhOhdb8Ab
Abyss looked over his shoulder at the girl before she shrunk away and hid behind a large, mysterious machine.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3WCRtLfEG
Abyss didn’t want to leave Volt’s side. He stared back at his brother.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHh1JkY7JQ
He felt the little girl grab his sleeve. “Go stop her.” Lucy whispered so Vivian wouldn’t hear her.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBi5WPyXUSx
Abyss looked down at her.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4kXt7kbwI
“What?” the word barely came out.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAFY2wDu5q
“You have to stop the scary lady. She wants to blow up the world.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Uq9QUXNvl
“But-”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblV1DllqpY
“No buts, you have to stop her.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3bgdHD3fF
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?26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUHRVDt1Ly
She said she didn’t want him to die even though she helped hurt him in the first place.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacwPod0Y7g
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?26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiKIyDPaJQ
Maybe not.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRb9zyKuWve
Abyss thought back to the conversation he had with Volt the day they came to Earth.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzn5qnrKCtK
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwADA2sHAkR
Lucy was right. She was a little kid who couldn’t possibly understand all of this, but she was right.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIYIBewKES
But… what about…?26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCLUDcOpsx
Abyss shook his head. He didn’t have time for this. He’ll be okay. Abyss looked back a final time to us brother.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXXHFGrb2p
“I’ll see you later, Volt. Don’t you dare die on me again.” Abyss said quietly.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbLugGk2IG
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVNpc4uD4s
and then Add to home screen.