It took days for Abyss to get directions for the coordinates Nedi ’s letter boasted and to get there.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzHMhA3nfm
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kZxafY2vR
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?391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWuVErPJ7h
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGL5wIT1kgZ
Without considering how difficult it could be to find Nedi in the commotion, Abyss hurried to the battlefield, struggling to keep his hopes low.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2wPN9m6Zt
* * *
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LlWD0FMnc
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1MyfJCMN3
Abyss was stunned. The last time he was almost killed by stray lightning was...391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYM6Biuz8Ae
“Zeus! We need a defibrillator!” A familiar voice called out. The voice made Abyssal’s blood boil.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlsUmcbap2
“On my way, Commander!”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkWDFssr2i
Abyssal’s heart stopped. He spun to try and spot the source.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPeD4pUWYt
“Volt!”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UCg1gvQcT
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVvAY5oePC
“Abyss?!”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGENVJQOyW
Volt only looked over his shoulder a split second before turning away and coming down on the dying soldier with sparking hands.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnI6qvQjMh
Abyss chased after his brother and stood only a foot away.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzi9FZThYb
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbplS4PiCvF
“Clear!”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJryVWH7H6h
The body jumped at Volt’s touch.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTWPSi4cSZ
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnx4e0Go3u
Abyss ran to his brother, grabbing him from behind.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOuY2pc6WS
“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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8ZQg9QFGZ
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLx0nAbDJU
“Abyss,” Volt whispered, “now’s not the time. It isn’t safe-”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmn5HW4MyX
“I don’t care! You don’t know what I went through! Why didn’t you tell me you were okay?!”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReqTHbpxz9
Volt’s face hardened as he swallowed back a large lump of guilt.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdz62G59FL
Abyss was right. Volt didn’t know how it felt to lose a brother.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWmOAgNBA9
“...I’m sorry... I couldn’t, I-... I just couldn’t...”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyLN0gwiTB
“Why not?! I’m your brother, Volt! I thought you died! I thought we’d never see each other again!”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSGq2Kj6Ha
“It’s.. Complicated... I gave you hints.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCVisqNRN4
“What are you talking about?!”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzSjqBxSo7
“I- Nedi? Mark? It’s a code-”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mWBLMjx0D
“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!”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNru6zyIpEH
“...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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzx2ybOYuWq
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85HVMY1XQt
Abyss scrambled to feet and yelled after Volt, “Not funny, yig thisar!”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbaiEsKYVs
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KVqkVJDEd
Does she know what I said? Even still, what does it matter to her?391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MO35bkaBG
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBrlkO48H6
“How many of those do you have left, Astrea?” a large, burn-scarred, bald man called out.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcy9GJMH3KV
Star lady answered, “About 12.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwS6b5og6DB
“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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RWw26uwky
“Thanks, Hephaestus!” she called back before flying off.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6g8ClxWDQp
That’s when it hit him. There were Greek gods among PISTOL, fighting Kronos, and more on the other side.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupjfwqQrqW
“She doesn't like profanity,” Hephaestus told Abyss before dropping a shield in the younger one’s arms and heading off quickly.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHICCeJcn7J
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nqHq3ACBZ
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2ikqL8sTh
Demeter? He guessed.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97AXxaUIYY
That’s when he nearly ran into a large gold statue of Aaron.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsb2ITGKlkr
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhUu3v02eE
“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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QTj9tIrJY
“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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTof0t8pvJ
Abyss continued to scour the battlefield for Volt. He wasn’t losing his brother. Not again.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHD24OXZueY
But he found Achlys first.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuaQ1mqk79
“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.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlW9wyXD1Y
“You- you mean it? Wait, you knew about Volt?”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTUYSd9K3O
“I... figured it out.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJ63Um9H9G
“With the letter? How?”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULjsGnghjO
“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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TqQXoJnCt
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49hIIrlWuo
* * *
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnp3jIsKHh
“Abyss!” Volt exclaimed running to him. “We have to get back up there. I only stayed because they said you were coming.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAJh7X70mX
“I’m not letting you go back up there!” Abyss snapped.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZ6e2fVKvi
“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.” 391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSa3YOWCZ9d
“What do you have against-”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoApxG6MvU
“She’s the one who got me registered as dead.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcAR7E59KE
Abyss was stunned. “But- why?”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSeap1vJrr
“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.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1DNkpkeO1
“It’s more than that!” Achlys blurted.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFUziWNxBC
“How so?” Volt asked.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVuWZfni4E
“I-I like the company.” Achlys shook herself and snapped, “I need the princess too.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXWdmby6Ep
Abyss couldn’t speak. I stared at the two of them in stunned silence.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaDPHDxWd3
“Abyss, she can’t be trusted. She wants to destroy the world and plunge it into an endless night of flames and destruction.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDmOZrJlcd
“I- I know... but-”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0KC2rJo5U
“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?”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIvfHC7WCr
“I did! I am! I... I think... It’s complicated.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc5s9xSNlz
“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.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumFpJhVsqa
“And you didn’t tell me before because...?”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKeEposxPm
“I couldn’t! Things were going to Xouya and nobody knew what side everyone was on. You were with her!”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiotn2NmvV
Abyss was trembling. His mind swam in confusion, and he was brimming with anger. His fists were clenched, and his arms shook.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCawsXEuOB
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.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYXYxQOUqu
“You’re not seeing things clearly, Sol,” she said smoothly.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANnmU3FXx7
“You don’t get to call me that!”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7BB18w1ZT
“Your blinded by your emotions. You can’t understand... Girls!”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDQeuLcwDc
Vines shot out from the shadows, one wrapping around each of the brothers.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgPQZFAVMw
“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.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLg4aF0g0jf
“What are you talking about?! Volt has nothing to do with this, leave him out of it!”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMdXIs7Fbm
“You’re wrong, Abyss... I’m sorry, I really am,” some part of Achlys’ voice sounded truthful even if Abyss couldn’t see her.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybf679Ban2
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwAdjtsP6v
“He inserted himself when he came to kill me. He had a lightning bolt in his hand and bloodlust in his eyes.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgs9tFAJOTJ
Vivian tied a vine in Volt’s mouth and around his head. Volt’s head drooped with remorse.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3Wr8vV3wJ
“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?”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscHqjqQt7u
She strode away and grabbed the vine holding Abyss, guiding him to a higher place. Lucy and Vivian followed as Abyss struggled.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVw7iHpMuTS
“Look, your brother was right about one thing. I do need you. I need your power, devour.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCihq5ONWk
“Why do you need it if you can get all sorts of power wielders on your side so easily?” Abyss snapped back.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9qKGvBDXZ
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.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzgiJxP9N6
“What does this have to do with anything?” Abyss snapped.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqWgGkuMSg
“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.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzpkaYI37o
“I know this one,” Vivian muttered. “This is how the youngest god, Zeus, became the king of gods.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPf9DI4LOv
“Yes, Zeus made tartar out of the titanus tyrant Kronos. Or at least, he was supposed to.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeywb7BJZf
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Abyss growled.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJV4IGqVteg
“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.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuelNyi9GSa
Abyss stared in shock. No wonder Achlys was so twisted. All of this on top of being locked away when she was 10.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNTtfLuT1Y
“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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5psqU6QVf
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6aQnPw6MP
“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.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GdRIpmKjk
“So, they locked you away to protect you?” Abyss guessed. His voice was quiet.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfmdHozx4W
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.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoMYrkEwQm
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...”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7SFysMfGS
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHLfizBn8p
“Stop!” Abyss cried, lunging toward his brother again.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHKkHXAGQp
“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?”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpnf0aJwbN
“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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH60wPTYgUE
“If you want to save your brother and avoid seeing him fully submerged, you’ll give me Ember’s powers.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXih7ieNrwZ
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.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMr3bhWakU
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. 391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvUdwlPdHf
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOalX9rPV1f
“Why are you doing this?!” Abyss pleaded, looking at Vivian.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbOArbrnvO
“Because I said to,” Achlys said.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYy6X1ovz3
“One for the many,” Vivian muttered.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv34NUIRyfE
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.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryXh60bCeB
“You don’t get to call me that!” Abyss said, lunging once again, this time at Achlys.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkmPutJdKr
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.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYrvVC6jEP
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFg9RkLjmI
“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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQw5hCQTjB
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfaCgGmxmr
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjdF3xoeJB
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlBNW6oW3l
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYTfVOlToq
Abyss stopped at Volt's side. He had to think of something to do.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXI425lxhHV
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8saDrvsRg
Eventually, Volt stopped twitching, and sparks stopped jumping off of him, but he wasn’t breathing.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfm0EejLvP
Come on!391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmZpWKiLsZ
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡle9EjrRRIL
“You can’t be gone!” Abyss cried, tears falling down his face. “Not again! Please!” He shook his brother’s shoulder.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdbQWL4jWp
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFiWpm6HJC
“What are you doing?!” Abys blurted, grabbing her arms and trying to pull her away.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxTa8tCml7
“Chest compressions idiot! I don’t actually want him to die, do you?”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DyF0PAqZY
Abyss swallowed a lump in his throat and pulled away as Vivian continued to do CPR.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjn10oXjfbw
“Just don’t get in the way of anything. Go take care of Lucy.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZb2lKKZ0mD
Abyss looked over his shoulder at the girl before she shrunk away and hid behind a large, mysterious machine.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMbEpnFoSE
Abyss didn’t want to leave Volt’s side. He stared back at his brother.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhayvrRTQ03
He felt the little girl grab his sleeve. “Go stop her.” Lucy whispered so Vivian wouldn’t hear her.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGdgVTQFzY
Abyss looked down at her.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡor2uCPydF5
“What?” the word barely came out.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96uk1XuX37
“You have to stop the scary lady. She wants to blow up the world.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aRNR6CsKh
“But-”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqNgyQWrzO
“No buts, you have to stop her.”391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6I6Em9WgM
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?391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlMRWAu94L
She said she didn’t want him to die even though she helped hurt him in the first place.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1EgPR6nfN
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?391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOacPsXALxy
Maybe not.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqVoVYrjSV
Abyss thought back to the conversation he had with Volt the day they came to Earth.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tMh4SFQDp
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbZKq1Gawk
Lucy was right. She was a little kid who couldn’t possibly understand all of this, but she was right.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8coF9zU8bM
But… what about…?391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbMmnKbP6U
Abyss shook his head. He didn’t have time for this. He’ll be okay. Abyss looked back a final time to us brother.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezHofvu0Se
“I’ll see you later, Volt. Don’t you dare die on me again.” Abyss said quietly.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qaLFwt5jE
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUpyZ7E1OW
and then Add to home screen.