It took days for Abyss to get directions for the coordinates Nedi ’s letter boasted and to get there.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iCLv4f5wC
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfVIitIEwB
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?46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NGaxteM7i
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6JHaO265b
Without considering how difficult it could be to find Nedi in the commotion, Abyss hurried to the battlefield, struggling to keep his hopes low.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6OqhS2uzk
* * *
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNbuIW5uir
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRIXFza7FR
Abyss was stunned. The last time he was almost killed by stray lightning was...46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3XHVQJmlv
“Zeus! We need a defibrillator!” A familiar voice called out. The voice made Abyssal’s blood boil.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡES54NBFjEK
“On my way, Commander!”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡponVMRGhRU
Abyssal’s heart stopped. He spun to try and spot the source.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xqeBBv2Y5
“Volt!”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeevPH9nXf
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLknSyoQZ9
“Abyss?!”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLckaEfWdd
Volt only looked over his shoulder a split second before turning away and coming down on the dying soldier with sparking hands.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYvTd3a4d2
Abyss chased after his brother and stood only a foot away.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrGqlcg5D7
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiESaUQknK0
“Clear!”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7ihjxC6lG
The body jumped at Volt’s touch.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBs4sWhWD0W
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9M0mNfu1in
Abyss ran to his brother, grabbing him from behind.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0IBiik81Q
“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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMOqSkwOoz
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMX7W1Dx8b
“Abyss,” Volt whispered, “now’s not the time. It isn’t safe-”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEakAP8MqGZ
“I don’t care! You don’t know what I went through! Why didn’t you tell me you were okay?!”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBPlV8BdBy
Volt’s face hardened as he swallowed back a large lump of guilt.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZObB7izV8v
Abyss was right. Volt didn’t know how it felt to lose a brother.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IdwZjV8Y8
“...I’m sorry... I couldn’t, I-... I just couldn’t...”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80SWwXdBfm
“Why not?! I’m your brother, Volt! I thought you died! I thought we’d never see each other again!”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuizFehZEpS
“It’s.. Complicated... I gave you hints.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xUqIwVVho
“What are you talking about?!”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZk1xP9y5r
“I- Nedi? Mark? It’s a code-”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy94yv4DrIu
“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!”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIBU6aJIWJ
“...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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3Wwuy0PJz
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnYhxFKd4r
Abyss scrambled to feet and yelled after Volt, “Not funny, yig thisar!”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQK4t653iVt
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFdbCRLPsO
Does she know what I said? Even still, what does it matter to her?46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrmuugZIm2
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBNb2vOqJn
“How many of those do you have left, Astrea?” a large, burn-scarred, bald man called out.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjO39wpZAU
Star lady answered, “About 12.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pVr2HG3QE
“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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeskLEMdyuS
“Thanks, Hephaestus!” she called back before flying off.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsAGo64Ieb
That’s when it hit him. There were Greek gods among PISTOL, fighting Kronos, and more on the other side.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZMLT1Ihlk
“She doesn't like profanity,” Hephaestus told Abyss before dropping a shield in the younger one’s arms and heading off quickly.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDSN1bgo5e
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SaEX7vlbs
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosu7gncMsY
Demeter? He guessed.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHadEAMFug9
That’s when he nearly ran into a large gold statue of Aaron.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcx8EOvhMCT
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJN8tnei5Nj
“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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrI34HwgjJG
“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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5pgDQrgoD
Abyss continued to scour the battlefield for Volt. He wasn’t losing his brother. Not again.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzRKPSc0tx
But he found Achlys first.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9q6gYIl1NR
“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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSLcy3ymrt
“You- you mean it? Wait, you knew about Volt?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweqqOaEfPU
“I... figured it out.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCDS3ZuWvK
“With the letter? How?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ANcSsRmND
“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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNLRPto04Y
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEag6heJlNX
* * *
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxz5nEC4jq
“Abyss!” Volt exclaimed running to him. “We have to get back up there. I only stayed because they said you were coming.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87KSWyXgyK
“I’m not letting you go back up there!” Abyss snapped.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71nHOMSkR6
“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.” 46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAAI4sBLmq
“What do you have against-”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINoXATHefB
“She’s the one who got me registered as dead.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rrc5uwwBw
Abyss was stunned. “But- why?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7h9CwvmWjs
“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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSlUP63iAu
“It’s more than that!” Achlys blurted.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBi4U7CJhC
“How so?” Volt asked.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQMwPcCra7
“I-I like the company.” Achlys shook herself and snapped, “I need the princess too.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74rJ1Xsjtl
Abyss couldn’t speak. I stared at the two of them in stunned silence.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gDc0ooDTo
“Abyss, she can’t be trusted. She wants to destroy the world and plunge it into an endless night of flames and destruction.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6XIH1Ye3m
“I- I know... but-”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLs8APl0pl
“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?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ispovqh47
“I did! I am! I... I think... It’s complicated.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ppEvAmHzE
“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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyl8lFroW3
“And you didn’t tell me before because...?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuPegm4O6C
“I couldn’t! Things were going to Xouya and nobody knew what side everyone was on. You were with her!”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyK5Ob8lh7C
Abyss was trembling. His mind swam in confusion, and he was brimming with anger. His fists were clenched, and his arms shook.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVloy3lM0cP
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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbsGUuAF3f
“You’re not seeing things clearly, Sol,” she said smoothly.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmspaPglGvb
“You don’t get to call me that!”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCHrNCvemp
“Your blinded by your emotions. You can’t understand... Girls!”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGogPEu0EgK
Vines shot out from the shadows, one wrapping around each of the brothers.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23tredfQts
“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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmS4UZ5J5La
“What are you talking about?! Volt has nothing to do with this, leave him out of it!”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aJKA95w4N
“You’re wrong, Abyss... I’m sorry, I really am,” some part of Achlys’ voice sounded truthful even if Abyss couldn’t see her.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcDLKh8MOA
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPhH7r4bJB
“He inserted himself when he came to kill me. He had a lightning bolt in his hand and bloodlust in his eyes.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtVvZk92CL
Vivian tied a vine in Volt’s mouth and around his head. Volt’s head drooped with remorse.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxJvNF2Vz1
“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?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKe5NjzC59y
She strode away and grabbed the vine holding Abyss, guiding him to a higher place. Lucy and Vivian followed as Abyss struggled.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDt1BtEXNd
“Look, your brother was right about one thing. I do need you. I need your power, devour.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVzZanGkXg
“Why do you need it if you can get all sorts of power wielders on your side so easily?” Abyss snapped back.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfku1pfODC
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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93RjBs5Wy6
“What does this have to do with anything?” Abyss snapped.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxBfRn0kCS
“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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9W2YmTdbPj
“I know this one,” Vivian muttered. “This is how the youngest god, Zeus, became the king of gods.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTpgGCHMgX
“Yes, Zeus made tartar out of the titanus tyrant Kronos. Or at least, he was supposed to.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3589v4cAT9
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Abyss growled.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFh6WNYdmf
“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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIrQea1kSZ
Abyss stared in shock. No wonder Achlys was so twisted. All of this on top of being locked away when she was 10.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHXyeJ7Pfb
“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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9NN3MHnhM
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYNf2vqByh
“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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmPgFLnAhK
“So, they locked you away to protect you?” Abyss guessed. His voice was quiet.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83HzDVnZiO
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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3gO6g6530
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...”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wtHrdJXcz
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQQfXmcMKu
“Stop!” Abyss cried, lunging toward his brother again.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpCFY3PCdh
“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?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVFpy4kp9h
“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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51ThNbeQ0b
“If you want to save your brother and avoid seeing him fully submerged, you’ll give me Ember’s powers.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApLkUcTasq
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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIFMGozetB
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. 46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkQPkSbfw0
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eXrV9cGg9
“Why are you doing this?!” Abyss pleaded, looking at Vivian.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxzIoa8KUF
“Because I said to,” Achlys said.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCY7oNXiRU
“One for the many,” Vivian muttered.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2Bxp7u5qv
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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmY1I7UH3yZ
“You don’t get to call me that!” Abyss said, lunging once again, this time at Achlys.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1w9f1BQwac
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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOr4FyMDFI
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4tP9rF4dz
“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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGhYrRnFEg
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhdEuV7fxU
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvFbqeuVOw
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ353e1GsMQV
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJdh4O1PiU
Abyss stopped at Volt's side. He had to think of something to do.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7y1MrRVzS
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDG9NrrJTx
Eventually, Volt stopped twitching, and sparks stopped jumping off of him, but he wasn’t breathing.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9RG4a1tqd
Come on!46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGPXYGiVQ4
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1PzGOm2lz
“You can’t be gone!” Abyss cried, tears falling down his face. “Not again! Please!” He shook his brother’s shoulder.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRWIkvj4Hr
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9DfBFfVQr
“What are you doing?!” Abys blurted, grabbing her arms and trying to pull her away.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrIrMxfiLn
“Chest compressions idiot! I don’t actually want him to die, do you?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUeGjQp7nE
Abyss swallowed a lump in his throat and pulled away as Vivian continued to do CPR.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHiMMsfxgC
“Just don’t get in the way of anything. Go take care of Lucy.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvyxmHSSOZ
Abyss looked over his shoulder at the girl before she shrunk away and hid behind a large, mysterious machine.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWsFbFB2ks
Abyss didn’t want to leave Volt’s side. He stared back at his brother.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60oOE0G0Ph
He felt the little girl grab his sleeve. “Go stop her.” Lucy whispered so Vivian wouldn’t hear her.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlg3J0xAhy
Abyss looked down at her.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNb9Cupm8R
“What?” the word barely came out.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxcUW4Pk1H
“You have to stop the scary lady. She wants to blow up the world.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9nYc2Uqro
“But-”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hPVAsoWUf
“No buts, you have to stop her.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp48T1xxHuz
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?46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBF8xzJLbO
She said she didn’t want him to die even though she helped hurt him in the first place.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Bi4h9mPwn
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?46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNmcc5bX0F
Maybe not.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKp05tIhUW
Abyss thought back to the conversation he had with Volt the day they came to Earth.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSS9SZoeSt0
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKNsHOwhqz
Lucy was right. She was a little kid who couldn’t possibly understand all of this, but she was right.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5YYqBGiOA
But… what about…?46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOW1Be6Y8X
Abyss shook his head. He didn’t have time for this. He’ll be okay. Abyss looked back a final time to us brother.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVvxwYuniO
“I’ll see you later, Volt. Don’t you dare die on me again.” Abyss said quietly.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd413DG7t7B
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FkGepG90d
and then Add to home screen.