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| The Final Saturday Horror Compendium #92 Prologue Unlimited amounts of mysteries fill the void of Eternity. To some, these mysteries are the backbone of existence. Sentient life relies on folklore, deeming it the instinctual law known to all forms of life. Without the unknown, there would be no need to initiate the conduct of learning what we are. In order to understand a certain aspect of life, you must be willing to deny knowledge of another. The principle of existence outweighs the comprehension any sentient life form is capable of understanding. As a result, a basic explanation on what to expect will occur. Consider Eternity to be a void, one without a beginning or an end. What lurks beyond the void is well out of our grasps, but what derives within it is ours to explore and understand. This void acts as a realm for its occupants to dream upon. These dreams are filled with imaginative characters, each walking down three separate paths to distinguish their symbolism: Good. Evil. Neutrality. While the characters may not be aware of their roles in life, they nonetheless fight for their right to live. But within this void, the three symbols of a character's destiny had been spawned by an entity that mastered the laws of this void. It had been eons since the first form of sentient life explored the void. In the 'Eve of Armageddon', they met oblivion. But instead of being removed from the void, they remained as one entity. A cloister of minds, each destined to explore the void and its symbolic paths, became one. How this happened was a complete mystery. As a result, the first symbols of life were created and the void became the instrument of the anomaly's will. But this anomaly was still alone in an empty universe. If one was alone in the world, then one was free to create its own laws of identification. Only it didn't expect to be alone. Irony had tainted its way of life. It was made up of a legion of minds; all linked into one omnipotent being that called itself Dehadrayth. Yet, it felt as empty as the void it occupied. Dehadrayth was suffering an eternal judgment of depression. To heal its wounds, it cultivated a new form of life. It spawned an offspring, one free to dictate its own way of life and explore Eternity. But a grievance occurred. In the hours of the offspring's resentment, Dehadrayth had discovered a new breed of life, multiplying through out the void. These life forms were destined to become sentient organisms, each with the power to imagine countless duplicates of the void it dwelled within. But Dehadrayth's offspring allowed its reckless ambitions to affect the gene-pool of these new entities. It manipulated them all. The three symbols of character had been reacquainted with the void. The offspring was given a name: Dogolas. It was Dehadrayth that created the three symbolic principles of character. But it was Dogolas that brought it back from the dead. Eons later, the void had become filled with trillions of sentient life forms. Each possessed the ability to create a void of their own inside the cortex of their minds. The duplicates contained life as well. As a result, there were an infinity amount of voids. But all these voids were connected. Whether taking the form of a specter or a witness, Dehadrayth dwelled in all these voids. When one sentient life form died, it was faced with a trial of reckoning. Realizing it would join the everlasting despair that is Dehadrayth, it grew bitter. Dehadrayth's suffering grew and grew. Dogolas's ambitions intensified, realizing his wavered father was the key to its thirst for power and perfection. Hoping to one day achieve redemption, Dehadrayth played a game with its malevolent son. A large number of characters through out the ages had been molded to fulfill a single purpose in life, a purpose to suit the diverse agendas of Dehadrayth and Dogolas. There had been victories and losses on both sides… And yet, despite the circumstances, it was a stalemate. This is the story of one void, out of countless others. This is the story of a certain planet that has an unlimited amount of duplicates. This is the story of a dynasty unlike any other, and the trials they had and will endure to end a war that had plagued countless generations. Should they succeed, then Eternity can at last know the ideal of peace. How did this happen? Let's start from the beginning. Four years ago, the world of Man was under siege. Grand cities were wiped out, thousands of lives were lost every year, and graves that had been dug to bury the dead were filled by the tears of the survivors. Even in the 21st century, Man and Kaiju relentlessly fought amongst one another. Why did they fight? Perhaps it was because of territory, maybe the Kaiju was aggressive, or it is just a mystery. Did the Kaiju win? Most of the time; countless armies were wiped off the face of the Earth. Humanity had its shares of victory, but in the grand scheme of things, we were very lucky. Even our state of the art weapons, gigantic machines, and weapons of mass destruction failed to eliminate them. How did we stop them? We seized their brain wave patterns, manipulating their behaviors in doing exactly what we say. How long did that work? Not very long; like all Man-made devices, there were flaws. These flaws drove the monsters insane. What was done to fix this? We ceased controlling them. Instead of controlling them, we altered their behaviors. In an attempt to keep them occupied and insure our own survival, we located a cloister of islands and engineered an artificial holding pen, designed to keep the monsters restrained. What happened next? The Powers That Be were well aware of the power these creatures wielded. They wanted it. But in order to gain the power they sought, they had to carefully gain it. It would cost a fortune to control the monsters. What did they do? They funded a private corporation that would use these monsters as a form of entertainment. Strings had to be pulled in order to get this idea off the ground and allowed. Government's worldwide funded weapons and devices needed to keep the monsters restrained. Their behaviors were once again altered to suit the needs of the controllers. What was the result? The MWF: Monster Wrestling Federation. Billions of people worldwide flocked to watch graphic battles. The Powers That Be had all the funding they'd ever need. But some of the monsters were killed, right? Correct. How were they brought back? Samples of their DNA had been retrieved. In labs designed to engineer an exact duplicate of the monster, the monsters were brought back to life. Their DNA strands contained cellular memories of the past. We have not yet discovered why or how, but there had never been any problems. The neural pathways were manipulated nonetheless, so even if there were problems undetected, it would not matter. But there were problems? No. But there were problems? No. But there were problems? From a religious stand point; yes. Why? These were once considered Gods. Some of the monsters are ancient deities. Monsters like Mothra and Gamera were different. They took part in the battles, but should emergencies arise and we were unable to stop it, they would be there to handle it. Was my question answered? No. It is questionable if these Kaiju possess souls. There are some extremists in the world that believe they do. As a result, riots had indeed ensued, and at times, the MWF had been threatened. Had there been invasions? Yes, but not from a fellow Man. The MWF had become the dominant organization on the planet. Wielding the most powerful creatures to ever roam the galaxy, the world was fortunate that the MWF did not seek out political power. Why didn't it? The chairman of the MWF was not interested. Who is the chairman? Tomzilla. Who is he really? Thomas Singleton. Why did he not seek power that could've easily been attained? Because he realized it would've destroyed him and everything he cared for. You said there were invasions? Correct. What were we invaded by? Extraterrestrials… Are you serious? Yes. As stated, the MWF had become the new power in the world. It was why the governments graciously provided the funding needed. There was a sense of fear. In order to enslave the planet, aliens would need to conquer its powerhouse. The MWF was always there to defend the world, even if the monsters had no desire to save the human race. It was thought to be a gimmick, but when beings from another world, such as the Galaxy Trians, invaded - it was for real. The only way to prevent widespread panic was to go along with it. But the MWF was victorious? Yes. …Every time? Yes. What of The Powers That Be? They continued to pull strings behind the scenes. But those strings were eventually disconnected? Correct. The chairman and his staff secretly formed a pact. In an attempt to prevent The Powers That Be from attaining the dominion they craved, the chairman and his staff devised a plan to overthrow them. Did it succeed? Yes and no. What went wrong? Several invasions had transpired. These invasions consisted of repeated attacks from aliens and some secretly funded by The Powers That Be. But the chairman and his staff remained in power? Correct. In order to insure not only their positions in the MWF, but also our very survival, they personally took part in the battles. It was a way of sending a message. What were the Angels? Messengers of God, sent to test Mankind of the brewing storm that has yet to come. What else? Puppets. Puppets? Yes. They had been awakened by The Powers That Be, in an attempt to destroy MWF Headquarters and everything on it. If the monsters were defeated, the Angels would've initiated total annihilation. If The Powers That Be could not achieve the power they craved, then nobody could. That was their philosophy. There's more, isn't there? Yes. The very storm the Angels were sent to test us of. What is it? Armageddon, the final trials we are all destined to face. All of us? Yes. Humans will not take part in these trials alone. All sentient life forms are destined to take part in these trials. What are the trials about? Our survival and destiny… Could you be more specific? This is only the beginning. What is the beginning? The beginning of our trials. Enough riddles and semantics, what is it? … What are we dealing with? The Sorrow of Eternity… Scarlet strands of light extinguished out of the clouds, glinting off Cybersaur's golden coating. Inside Cybersaur's cockpit, Vader fought for his life. The human pulled a handle back, causing machines to whirl and clatter. Cybersaur turned completely around, unleashing a volley of missiles and searing lasers. Missiles plummeted into the diseased bodies of a demon horde, stripping the flesh from their bones and reducing the savage beasts to cinders. Scorching lasers departed out of Cybersaur's synthetic mouth, piercing cauterized fissures in the demons' grotesque flesh. Every time a demon fell in battle, several took its place. There was no end to their anarchy. "Goddamn it!" Vader frustratingly shouted. Sweat dripped down the slopes of his fatigued face. The human's bloodshot eyes surveyed the bloodshed occurring outside the haul of the mighty machine he controlled. Vader spotted a demon leaping directly at him. "Shit," he muttered and quickly pulled a lever. Cybersaur grazed the air with one of its metallic claws, decapitating the fiendish creature's head from the rest of its body. But preventing a demon's attack was nothing new. Vader had frantically been doing that for the past few hours. His sweaty hands clenched the handles, which controlled the multi-billion dollar machine. Vader's hands trembled as he typed a command on the keyboard in front of him. The command activated Cybersaur's rocket boosters. Azure-silvery flames poured out of the inoculations built inside Cybersaur's legs. It fired off enough power to propel Cybersaur into the air. Dozens of demons entrenched their claws inside Cybersaur's legs, shredding the metallic hide in an animalistic gesture. Vader started to panic. If they brought him down, it wouldn't be long until they tore Cybersaur to pieces. All this time, Vader had forgotten about his allies. Hot lead poured into the swarming demons, striking the arm joints and disabling them from the rest of the body. Armless demons fell to the ground, moaning in anguish. Black blood oozed out of their permanent wounds, bringing the attention of their famished kin upon them. Like rabid dogs, the demons attacked one another, showing no mercy to a member of their own brood. Vader was reluctant to admit it, but seeing the demons tear each other apart was satisfying. "More satisfying than them tearing me apart," Vader said out loud. "I concur," a voice whispered over the com-link. Vader dazedly remembered the voice's owner. "Jim?" Vader inquired, traumatized by the constant battles. The human started to recall how he wasn't alone in this fight. The Evangelions had been with him when they were ambushed by hundreds of demons. The psyche of Eva Unit 01 replied, "DDB, Vader. We're still on our mission, so refer to me as my code name." Vader felt his heart pound in his chest. "Forgive me, just I forgot all about you, and…," Vader was cut off as several demons jumped onto Cybersaur's back. The demons deployed their catlike claws and started to abrade Cybersaur's outer haul. Parasites entombed within the linear surfaces of the claws, slithered into the scrape marks. Alarms started to blare in Cybersaur's cockpit, alerting its pilot of a contamination breach. "Holy shit, I have a contamination breach!" Not far away, the Evangelions made their presence known. The crimson Evangelion, better known as Eva Unit 02, carried a pistol in each of its monstrous hands. Bullets exploded out of the barrel, blasting cauterized holes in any nearby demon. Several demons charged the crimson Eva Unit, their mouths oozing with pus and saliva with each bound. The Evangelion unloaded an entire magazine on them. Only a few managed to survive the barrage of bullets. One of the demons jumped out at the crimson Evangelion, who in response ducked down, avoiding the infected claws and teeth. Eva Unit 02 shoved his hand down the demon's throat and grabbed a hold of the internal organs in the process. Evangelion Unit 02 mutilated the organs with his bare hand. The demon vomited blood all over the crimson Eva's arm. Unit 02's artificial eyes located the demon's accomplice. The vicious creature emitted a low, threatening growl. The top lip curved up, undraping its sharp teeth. The Evangelion pulled the demon's insides out of its throat and allowed its carcass to slump to the ground. A progressive knife dropped out of the Eva's left shoulder and into its left hand. In a mocking courtesy, the Eva crushed the skull of the fallen demon, and pointed the knife at the growling fiend. A neon-reddish glow illuminated the outskirts of the blade. Predatory eyes glared into Eva Unit 02's four glowing orbs. The crimson Evangelion waited, knowing full well they were being watched. Other demons prowled the distance, waiting to converge upon the Evangelion. But should this lonesome demon fall by the Eva's blade, they would converge on it and devour its remains. The soul residing inside the core of the scarlet Eva sensed its comrade not far away. The purple Evangelion, better known as Evangelion Unit 01, held an automatic rifle in its arms and was unleashing an onslaught of firepower. Mounds of demon corpses stained the forsaken ground. Yet these small victories paled in comparison to the true goal. Evangelion Unit 02 hesitated no longer. The crimson Evangelion charged, transcending the limitation its size would normally decree. The Eva's target charged as well, its black hide basking in the scarlet luminosity. Eva Unit 02 jumped forward, motioning its target to take the same action. But the Eva fell to the ground and knelt down. The Eva raised its progressive knife over its head. The tip of the blade slit the demon's underbelly wide open. Once the demon landed on the ground, its intestines fell out of its belly and saturated the soil. As the controller of Unit 02 suspected, the other demons rushed in and tore their sibling to pieces. "They are a plague to this world," Montyzilla's psyche declared to his comrades. "We should feel relieved that we don't have to deal with them on Earth." "But should we fail," DDB announced in regards to Montyzilla's comment. "Earth will be crawling with them." Montyzilla's mind imagined the thought of turning towards a large cloister of demons. Just by thinking about it, the crimson Evangelion made it happen. Unit 02 was poised in a fighting stance and had the blade sticking in front of him. Just by imagining these living maladies crawling across the Earth made Monty sick to his stomach. "Not if I slaughter them all." Monty softly stated. The scarlet Evangelion charged the horde of demons, unafraid of the looming danger. Evangelion Unit 02 plunged its synthetic form in the sea of demons, grazing flesh and bone with its progressive knife in all directions. Predatory jaws clamped the Evangelion's crimson armor, engraving bite marks in the Eva's thick garments. The mind lurking inside the Evangelion's core chuckled with glee. "Perfect," he stated while smiling. It first started out with a swarm of demons enveloping Eva Unit 02's body. The four eyes of the Eva Unit blossomed with energy. Eva Unit 02 expanded its AT-Field. The exposure to the AT-Field completely wiped out the demon horde. It started with their charred hides being stripped from the body; next, the muscles were exterminated and minced into tiny pieces. The barrier of Eva Unit 02's mind splintered the skeletons of the ravenous sprites. A gloomy sphere of light shrouded the Evangelion. The area around it had been annihilated. It stood in a small impact crater. Pallid light escaped the boundaries of its four eyes. A growl disembarked out of its hidden maw, silencing the wind in the air. "My God," Vader whispered in disbelief, loud enough for DDB to hear. "Close, but only a mere clone," DDB said while correcting Vader's shocked response. Vader favored Eva Unit 01 with an ill-tempered expression. "What the hell are you talking about?" Vader shouted, disturbed by DDB's response. The demons started to give the three synthetic life forms space. Every single one of them was starving, they've been hungry for months. Yet their prey had proven its strength. It will take time to weaken them. DDB considered this perfect timing and started to explain. "When I had my own individual body, I wasn't aware of what an Evangelion was. The truth is," DDB explained in a serious tone, "we've been lied to. I didn't want to say anything, because the entire truth would hamper the mind and reduce anyone to a vegetable. The truth is; Evangelion is a synthetic copy of a human." Vader was baffled. "You have to be kidding…" "No, I'm not." DDB exclaimed. "It had been attained only by unlocking the human mind. As you know, we use only 6% of our brain. Scientists had secretly deciphered a way to unlock 94%. The knowledge is all but a blur to me, but the result revealed the basic components. Tell me something, do you consider yourself a religious man, Vader?" Vader felt compelled to not answer. He wasn't fond of religious topics. Truthfully, Vader's faith was his and his alone to know. It was uncomfortable expressing his beliefs to someone who wasn't a Man anymore. Well, he is still technically human, if what he says is true, Vader mentally told himself. "Yes, I do." He finally said aloud. "Then I shall proceed." DDB processed his thoughts, before continuing. "Since humans have not yet achieved our evolutionary potential, we dwell in myths, legends and prophecies in an attempt to explain what we don't understand. And believe me, there is a lot we don't understand. Had it ever occurred to you that if we unlocked our minds, without holding anything back, we would transcend the limitations physics bounds us by? Perhaps God was once a Man, only His mind didn't hold back. With such intellect, anyone could take the form of a Deity and create another life form." Vader nervously glanced at the demons strolling on the outskirts. Eva Unit 02 eerily didn't move. Black blood dripped off the sharp edges of the progressive knife the crimson Eva held. "How ironic, isn't it? Scientific and Religious beliefs have been at war with each other for centuries, yet it never occurred to anyone that they collaborated with one another. Should you discard your belief and use science as your eternal guide, you will surely meet a lonely oblivion. Should you disregard science and endlessly preach about your Faith, then you will forever dwell in an illusion." DDB paused, and continued, "No, in order to reach the paradise you crave so dearly, you need both." DDB allowed his words to sink in. It was too hard to explain. Even DDB didn't know the schematics of the ordeal. Ever since becoming one with the Eva, the human mind had had his mind unlocked. Just connecting with the sacred entity was enough to stir DDB's subconscious. Had the other Eva pilots discovered this secret? Subconsciously, DDB felt everyone was aware. But with their minds pre-matured, it was likely that the majority of the human race was destined to expire in their own ignorance. A select few had recently unlocked the truth. But instead of using it for the benefit of Mankind, they selfishly tried to play God and created the Evas. What was the Evangelions' purpose? That DDB did not know. But when this is over, DDB will find out the truth and put an end to this insanity. As an Evangelion, DDB felt perfect, a sensation unlike any other. It was wrong. He was never meant to wield such awesome power. Physically, the Evangelion was one of if not the deadliest creature to ever walk the Earth. If he truly desired greed and corruption, he could take over the world. Is that what the MWF planned? DDB begun to wonder if Tomzilla was in on it… No, DDB thought, irritated by his suspicions…He would never. But then again, it was Tom who killed him…Only accidentally, it was all an accident. Perhaps Tomzilla wasn't in on it. It was a conspiracy, one involving perpetrators who are willing to wipe out the entire human race just satisfy their own agenda. Evangelion Unit 02 started to budge. The crimson Eva knelt down, its scarlet coating failed to blend in with the ground that was stained with demon blood. It was a way to make the demons think it was injured. Injured prey was always easier to kill than those that were healthy. The maws of the converging demons started to moisten with drool. At last, they would have the chance to feast upon a creature whose body components would provide the strength they need. No longer would they need to feed upon each other - well, at least for now. Their nails dug into the putrid soil. In their quest to feed, the demons had become a meal themselves. Millions of parasites infected their disgusting bodies. Maggots had burrowed away into the lifeless eyes of the demons. Leeches attempted to drain what little substance the demon bodies offered. All the more reason of why the core conscience of Eva Unit 02 anticipated the luxury of eradicating the demons from existence. A compartment in the Eva's leg opened, allowing the Evangelion to reach down and pull out an inanimate object. The crimson Evangelion held it sternly in his hands, holding it as if it was a handle. On opposite ends of the handle, two long blades extended outwards. Evangelion Unit 02 twirled a spear in his hands, instantly striking the nearest demon without remorse. The jagged end of the spear sliced the demon's body in two. Its innards slumped to the ground, staining the filthy soil with its own waste. The crimson Evangelion turned to face the horde of demons, its four eyes sparkling with divine power. Every single one of the demons hesitated to attack. Their minds were primitive, yet the realization of death was enough to inform their putrid minds that engaging the red humanoid meant death. Drool dripped out of the confines of their jaws. The ground sizzled when the acid-like properties made contact. "Come get some," Montyzilla's mind muttered out loud. The demons answered the human's demands. As one, they sprinted to meet Eva Unit 02 in combat. The Evangelion swiftly ducked beneath a leaping demon, carving the spear's blade in the shoulder and removing the arm from the body. Eva Unit 02 swiped the spear forward, decapitating two demons in front of him. A demon swiftly converged on the Evangelion's left side, but the bio-engineered warrior jumped up and shattered the creature's jaw with its foot. The one-armed demon snorted in anguish, not pleased with the realization of losing its limb. Eva Unit 02 heard its bestial cries of vengeance, and turned just in time to thrust the spear in the demon's abdomen. Blood sprayed out of the demon's penetrating wound, staining the Eva's crimson coated armor. -Thomas Singleton |
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| Great cries echoed across the dark landscape as Super Godzilla lumbered towards the evil Dogolas. The Dark Echelon cries in response, his echoing bellow mocking the approaching giant. Super Godzilla echoed back with a fiercer cry, yet Dogolas continued to mock him. Suddenly a bright beam leapt from Super Godzilla's jaws, washing over Dogolas. The Dark Echelon gave a brief cry of pain before blasting back with a beam of his own. Super Godzilla echoed a cry in response, toppling over to his side. Dogolas laughed. "It seems not even the mighty Super Godzilla can defeat me. This world was foolish to place its hopes in such a weak being..." Dogolas laughed again when a beam raced straight at him from Super Godzilla. This time there was a sound of genuine pain as it washed over him. Super Godzilla held the beam on him, letting is wash over Dogolas' body. The Dark Echelon answered with a beam of his own. The dark beam slammed against Super Godzilla's hide, yet the giant stood his ground. It soon became a greatly inflated game of chicken between the two, seeing which of the giant would flinch first. Continuing to hold the beam on the other, the two focused everything into their attack. However, it soon became evident that not even Super Godzilla can evenly match Dogolas as he toppled over from the dark beam. Dogolas laughed again. However, would this simple knock down stop the King of the Monsters? No, certainly not. He rose to his feet as quickly as ever and charged Dogolas now, lashing into the Dark Echelon with brutal physical attacks. Punches, kicks, tail whips, biting, anything that could be done was done. Dogolas was taken back slightly, caught slightly off guard. He lashed out in return, landing in his own strikes with his tendrils. Angered by Dogolas' very existence, the King of the Monsters charged up a Navel Beam - firing it point blank range into the Dark Echelon. Dogolas cried out in pain as the beam washed over him, knocking him away from Super Godzilla's physical onslaught. Before Dogolas could retaliate, the beam ended and Super Godzilla charged forward to continue his physical barrage. Underneath his armored skin, the King's powerful muscles propelled curled fists forward - slamming them into Dogolas' hide. In response, Dogolas' tendrils lifted Super Godzilla up, tossing him into a hillside. However, Dogolas wasn't done with the King of the Monsters, not yet. His tendrils pulled him out of the hillside and began to toss the King around, blasting Super Godzilla with sinister beams as he fell to the ground. Super Godzilla managed to rise to his feet, his arms hanging slack at his sides, his head slightly cocked back as he groaned in pain. His head still gently rolling around on his shoulders, Super Godzilla was hit with a brutal barrage of beams that knocked him off of his feet. Before he could even move, Dogolas threw him into another hillside. As Super Godzilla flew through the air, Dogolas blasted him with a barrage of dark beams. The King of the Monsters cried out in pain as he slammed into the hillside, hundreds of tons of rock and dirt falling on him. This time, he rose slowly, still issuing a battle cry. He wanted more. Lumbering forward, he cried again, his hatred fill roar echoing over the land. Dogolas issued a mocking cry in response, charging up a beam to strike the King before he got too close. However, before he could, a bright beam glanced across his hide. Caught off guard, Dogolas lashed the beam out wildly at the attacker, missing drastically. Suddenly Glitter Tiga and Armor Mothra gracefully landed in front of him, Armor Mothra hovering gently. The two cried out at the Dark Echelon as Super Godzilla joined them. Three more shadows descend from the sky as Drakan, Akuma, and Evajiran join them. Dogolas glared at the Six before issuing a battle cry. The Six echoed with their own, each cry more vicious than Dogolas'. After all, they were fighting to survive, why would they not want it more? Dogolas then laughed as the battle began, the sky turning bright from the beams, a steady cloud of dust rising into the air... As the battle against Dogolas continued, the tide began to slowly turn. Dogolas' hordes were being steadily decimated, though victory was far from certain. Each MWF warrior had their story to tell. Not one warrior could be measured below another, as each showed amazing valor. Each fought viciously, they fought to "the death and beyond." Those warriors that were mystical, that were in touch with other worlds, could see this. Warriors like Miereki smiled to themselves as they could see the soul leave the body of a fallen warrior, only to see the soul still lashing out at Dogolas' hordes as it had when it was still in the body. This was the case of every warrior. It came to be understood that this battle was the pinnacle of their lives, the very reason they fought. Every other battle throughout their lives was a mere practice for this battle. No matter how great the stakes of a past bought, none could compare to the stakes of this one. Because of this, every warrior fought their hardest. Every motion, every attack, every step taken was just one part of a fluid stream of combat. Never before had any of the MWF warriors looked so fine. It was because of this that the tide of the battle began to steadily turn. Victory was no more a disembodied hope as it was a finish line, an actual goal that could be vividly seen. Dogolas' hordes grew steadily smaller, the bodies, limbs, and innards of fallen underlings of the Dark Echelon littering the ground. Perhaps what added most to the MWF warriors' turning of the tide was that they were enjoying themselves - to a degree. Warriors like Miereki took pleasure in their work as they laid waste to thousands of Dogolas' horde. There was a persistent, tiny smirk on Miereki's sleek face as his Psysabers sliced any foe to pieces as they got too close to the Keeper of Silence. He gently floated along, tearing a pathway through the horde - as did hundreds of MWF warriors. Suddenly the sea of Dogolas' horde parted around Miereki as a massive demon lumbered forward. The beast towered over the Psychic, saliva dripping from his massive jaws as he grasped a huge sword. The sea of Dogolas' horde began to churn as they eagerly awaited the massive demon to slay the Psychic. However, as the demon raised his sword up to strike down Miereki, the Keeper lunged forward with both of his Psysabers drawn. The demon, large and slow, made no changed as he began to slam the sword down. However, just as the blade was about to cleave Miereki in half, a Psysaber sliced through the blade. The demon only took a step back before a hurricane of slashes tore into his hide, Miereki passing behind him in the process. The demon turned to face the pint-sized Psychic, his eyes wide with confusion as his body fell to pieces from the many gashes in his body. The horde churned further in rage and closed in around Miereki, only for a geyser of their limbs to rise up from where he hovered - the ring around Miereki growing increasingly larger. From above, the sea of Dogolas' horde was filled with hundreds of these rings. In the center of each ring stood an MWF warrior who would lunge at the next demon to lunge into the ring, only to tear it limb from limb. It was these rings, this wide-spread fear of the MWF warriors that made the horde grow smaller and smaller, victory drawing nearer and nearer. Meanwhile, the Six continued their battle against Dogolas with no avail yet. Beams lanced across Dogolas' hide, yet he continued to charge at them intent on killing them all. A powerful beam charged within Dogolas and launched out at the Six. It struck the ground before, causing a massive explosion that tossed them into the air, separating them. As the Six lay scattered about, Dogolas approached the downed Akuma. Pain ran through Akuma's mind as he was blasted by a powerful beam that seemed to drive him deeper into the ground. Dogolas drew closer still, a devilish gleam about him that showed he was ready to end the Red Dragon's life. A mixture of pain and dread ran through Akuma's mind as it ran through the mind of another... Dogolas launched the beam with a bellow. Just as it was about to strike Akuma, it seemed to slam against a wall, throwing great bolts of energy into the air before bouncing back directly into Dogolas. The Dark Echelon was knocked backwards and even fell to the ground before rising up quickly. Akuma opened his eyes to see Dogolas rising up, farther back than he had been when he fired the beam. "What the...?" Akuma said to himself in disbelief. "How'd you do that?" the dragon Drakan questioned his rival. Dogolas glared over at Akuma, slightly bewildered as to how the dragon deflected the beam. Suddenly Miereki floated down beside Akuma, glaring at Dogolas. The Dark Echelon thundered a cry of hatred at the Psychic, charging up a beam. Miereki glared at Akuma. "I'll draw his fire. You and the others hit him with everything you've got." echoed Miereki's Psychic voice inside of Akuma. Before Akuma could even nod in response, Miereki soared past Dogolas with amazing speed, the sinister beam the Dark Echelon was charging firing radically into the sky. Akuma quickly riled the others of the Six and they began to bombard Dogolas from behind as the Dark Echelon seemed obsessed with destroying the one that deflected his beam. As Dogolas fired beam after beam at Miereki, only for them to miss, the Psychic rained down blast after blast in response, pinpointing the Dark Echelon each time. Whether or not Miereki's attack hurt was debatable, yet it could be certain that they angered and aggravated the Dark Echelon. The Six wasted no time as they followed Akuma's instructions, blasting Dogolas with everything they had. Had it been any other creature, it surely would have been destroyed by this point. Finally Dogolas realized the greater threat and turned back to the Six, bringing his destructive fire back on them. This bought Miereki time to charge up his most powerful weapon, the devastating Reaper Beam. He knew that his part in this fight was minimal, that he could do his part better on the battlefield against the horde. However, he knew that this small intervention was what the Six needed until the true intervention could take his place. Miereki released an echoing Psychic cry as he fired the Reaper Beam at Dogolas. The Dark Echelon turned to face Miereki, only to see the blinding image of a glowing scythe drive into him. Dogolas issued a cry as he was engulfed in the beams' massive explosion. No matter how strong the opponent, a beam that powerful was certain to at least wound. Dogolas flew through the air due to the blast of the beam and slammed to the ground hard. The Six quickly descended upon him, attacking the Dark Echelon with everything they had. Miereki smiled to himself as he floated off to the sea of the horde, intent to finish what he had started. However, a voice called out to him as he flew off. "Miereki! Wait!" The Psychic stopped, already knowing who had called him. "Akuma...return to the fight." Miereki said, not facing the dragon. "Why don't you return to the fight, hm? We could use you." Akuma answered back, eager to have his long-time ally by his side once more. "This is not my fight. My destiny lies elsewhere on this battlefield." Miereki turned to look Akuma in the eye, smiling lightly. "I know you won't let me down, no matter what choices you make. Go back there now. It is your destiny to be of the select that were chosen to rid the Universe of Dogolas, not mine." Akuma seemed at a loss for words, turning back as Miereki had said. He glanced to Miereki one last time, issuing a sort of good luck cry. Miereki watched the dragon return to the fight, proud to have known him. Knowing beyond the present, Miereki gave a final glance before turning away. "May your soul rest in peace when this is all over..." the Psychic said before floating off towards the sea of the horde. As he did, he heard the thunderous cries of Balkzardan as the beast approached the fight of the Six against Dogolas. Miereki smiled before flying off. His work lies elsewhere... As the battle against Dogolas raged on, the Six turned their attention only for a minute as Balkzardan entered the fray. Turning against the Dark Echelon, Balkzardan summoned up his powers to attack Dogolas. The land and weather were made to Balkzardan's disposal as he joined the Six, aiding them against Dogolas. Yet even with Balkzardan's assistance, the Six still struggled to defeat Dogolas. A massive beam slammed against them all, knocking them to the ground. Even the mighty Balkzardan was not above the power of the beam and fell just like the six. It was their echoing cries of pain that brought Miereki back to aid the Six. He carried several MWF warriors with him as they landed on the outskirts of the battle. The Six had risen to their feet to see a welcoming sight. A virtual ring of warriors surrounded the battlefield that held them and Dogolas. The warriors cried out eagerly, showing that they were here to stay, to aid the Six in their fight against the Dark Echelon. Dogolas glared about, only to resume battle with the Six and Balkzardan. As the warriors that had come for back-up prepared to attack, a wave of demons lashed out at them. Miereki glared at the demons, as did the entire line of warriors. The demons grimaced back, backing up a good measure of distance between them. Miereki drew out a Psysaber, holding it aloft before issuing a Psychic battle cry that was echoed by the warriors that stood with him. The line of warriors then charged forward, tearing into the sea of demons. Angered by Balkzardan's intrusion, Dogolas decided to handle the beast personally. Managing to throw the Six off of him shortly, he lashed out at Dogolas' viciously with a Psychic link. Balkzardan bellowed out in pain as he blacked out, collapsing to the ground... "Remember who you are, Balkzardan..." the Dark Echelon whispered. Balkzardan suddenly was surrounded by a blinding light, which was then followed by a view of the galaxy. He felt sick as Dogolas' voice echoed through his head. "Do you remember who you are, Balkzardan?" the Dark Echelon questioned. "N-no..." Balkzardan responded, his voice weak and confused. Dogolas smirked before speaking: "You were once apart of a mighty elemental race. You were an abundant species, more abundant than the humans that infest this planet. You and your race roamed the galaxy, spreading life in the shadow of death and barrenness. I cannot even remember the number of planets your race brought life to.' "You were a benevolent race as well. You were loving, giving, and caring. Your race was able to spread life to barren worlds through the use of your elemental powers - the very powers you know use against me..." Balkzardan groaned in disbelief. He could not remember how he was able to come from such a race when he had been so sinister. Dogolas was quick to answer him. "Do you not remember that you were the outcast, the black sheep, and the misfit of your society, of your family? Do you not remember the wrath you laid down, the power you exerted? Remember, Balkzardan, remember..." Suddenly Balkzardan's eyes were opened. He could see it all vividly before him as his memories rushed back to him. He could feel the hatred he held for his family, the hunger to see their deaths. He only watched helplessly as he saw his past play before him. He could remember the bouts of madness he experienced, the pounding headaches that drove him to the edge of insanity. As he saw his past unfold, Balkzardan could actually feel his past pain. His head throbbed with pain so badly that he clutched it in an attempt to drive it out, yet to no avail. The past turned darker still as he could see his past self plotting the destruction of his race. And that was what he saw next. He could see the gleeful smirk on his face as he killed each and every one of his family, of his entire race. The cold, unmoved glee beamed from his face as he cut down those that he truly cared about. And then it all went black... The aftershock of Balkzardan's slaughter of his entire race was brutal. He was unable to grasp just how much he loved them until they were gone from his life. He now knew his mistakes. He was sick before and did not know it. Instead of seeking out a remedy, he lashed out at his loves ones, killing them all in the process. Balkzardan cried out in anguish as his past played before him. Only now, thousands of years later, could he realize just how horribly insane he was... - Michael Margiotta |
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| Yes, the fate of the universe was being decided elsewhere; yes, Dogolas was the prime threat in the universe or something at the moment. Ghidrah didn't care. Dogolas meant nothing to him now; he was simply a means to an end, and that end was here: a final battle against his greatest foes. Would it have been odd to consider them friends? It was probably the closest he was ever going to get to having real companionship, anyway. Even the other Ghidorahs, who shared traits similar to his own, were not as close as one might think. They themselves were means to an end, serving to distract the other monsters on this island long enough for Ghidrah to kill the three before him. After the battle, they would part ways, letting each do as he desired for however long this world or universe had left. No, the other Ghidorahs were not friends; just family. Ghidrah remembered an ancient partnership with Gigan, and while he recalled it being fun, he also recalled that he had been under mind-control for almost the entire time. Gigantis, Anguirus, and Rodan, on the other hand, while they had never exceptionally nice to him, had always been there for him. They had greeted his past arrivals in their own ways; using atomic breath, sonic booms, and a thorny, spiked carapace to say their hellos and goodbyes. Ghidrah's left head stole a glance at the unconscious Anguirus, whom he had thrown aside minutes before when he realized his ineffectiveness as a club. Ghidrah had flung the beast at Rodan, who managed to catch the beast and carry him to his little nap area before rejoining the fray. The beast looked satisfied in his sleep. He looked reluctant to wake up and continue the battle, which was fine. Either way he was going to end up on the ground. Rodan circled overhead, dropping boulders as big as small buildings. They of course did nothing to harm the golden dragon, crumbling instantly against his invincible body. His muscles barely bounced to accommodate them, and his heads deigned them unworthy of their notice. Rodan would be dealt with when he ventured closer, only then could he be considered dangerous. Right now, the only thing warranting his full attention was Gigantis. It was always Gigantis; ever since their first encounter, Ghidrah had been obsessed with the beast. He had never managed to kill him, or even to force him to yield, to retreat. Always, this little gray thing had found a way to best him. Never alone, of course, even now, but it was infuriating. He remembered how Gigantis had stomped on his neck, how he had tossed one head to the ground and seen it bounce, how he had grabbed all three heads and necks from behind, picked him up over his head and slammed him to the ground not once, not twice, but three times. Ghidrah cackled in madness, losing focus and sending his gravity bolts everywhere but someplace substantial. Gigantis took this as his cue to rush in and assault his foe head-on. Roaring in rage, the beast slammed into Ghidrah, the impact echoed for miles, but accomplished nothing, as neither Gigantis nor his foe felt it. A fist slammed into one of Ghidrah's heads, knocking it aside, but another swung around and blindsided the King of Monsters, skull hitting neck with a dull thud. Gigantis gagged; a lesser foe would have fallen back, but the saurian merely lashed out again, catching the writhing head in one hand, and slamming it into the dragon's own chest. The third head hovered in front of Gigantis, staring him down before releasing a point-blank blast of supercharged gravity. Reeling, Gigantis unleashed his own weapon. The glancing, close-range atomic blast merely singed the King of Terror's mane. In response, Ghidrah jumped forward, sending his own impressive bulk into his enemy, knocking his foe backwards and to the ground. The monster's laugh was horrendous; three chirping, serpentine barks split the air as Ghidrah advanced, firing bolt after bolt into the mighty beast at his feet. Lines were stripped from Gigantis' flesh; miniature canyons announced their arrival with a thunderous clap and a stream of smoke. Gigantis roared in agony and collapsed on his stomach. He could hear his adversary's footsteps draw nearer. With more strength than he thought he had, he lifted himself up on his arms and swung his tail. Unfortunately for Gigantis, Ghidrah had anticipated this, and bit down on the appendage with his left head. The initial shock of the pain was intense, but the saurian had no time to dwell on it, as in the next second he was lifted high into the air and slammed into the ground. Ghidrah laughed and let fly with another volley of gravity bolts, further maiming the King of Monsters. A haze took hold of the ancient Godzilla. He had not felt pain like this in a long while. Even his impressive regenerative abilities were failing to keep up. There was something about Ghidrah that always managed to thwart his natural defenses, as if the creature had been designed with his destruction in mind. Though he would never admit it to anyone, even himself, he enjoyed this. Gigantis had always been too big, too strong, it was refreshing to think that there were bigger, stronger things out there. Ghidrah kicked him in the head, and Gigantis rolled. There are many things about Ghidorahs that are considered legendary. Their tempers are short and intense, they hate all life, loathing others of their kind only slightly less than they loathe everything else, they like to kill, maim, and destroy things, they fly, they don't need to breathe, they have golden scales and three heads, shoot gravity bolts from their mouths, and are bigger than fuck all. Another legendary thing about these magnificent creatures is their ability to not pay attention to anything for more than a few minutes. There are a few exceptions to this rule, a particularly hated adversary of similar lethality is one of them, but put a Ghidorah in a fight against more than two of these adversaries and it's inevitable that he's going to forget about one of them eventually. This Ghidorah hardly noticed the boulders in the first place, so it was only a matter of time before he would forget the monster dropping them. How he could forget after what happened to him in 1964 is anyone's guess, however. Rodan, flying at mach 1.5, like he so often did, rammed his head into Ghidrah's back, right between the monster's shoulder blades, directly on his spine. If it didn't hurt the King of Terror; it sure in the hell stunned him, and the monster toppled over onto his chest, his three heads quivering. Rodan, as he had discovered so long ago, had a neck that was highly resistant to impact. He fluttered for a moment, hovering in the air, before digging his talons into Ghidrah's back. A series of past events whirled through the golden dragon's mind[s]: The end of a war, nine or ten monsters, an oversized bit-player of a dinosaur, delivering some ungodly kick to his back, Gigantis, Mothra, A spider, Anguirus, that damn dinosaur; kicking, biting and scratching-Then, at the end of it all, a smoke ring, wrapping around his throat… No. This would not happen again. No! The ground, under the strain of Ghidrah's struggles, exploded. Rocky earth rose up into the sky and fell as the King of Terror flapped his wings, and beat his chest against the ground with each undulation. He pointed his three heads at the ground and torrents of energy gushed forth, their recoil helping to lift him, to raise the form of a 30,000 ton golden god from the earth. Needless to say, Rodan was stunned. The pterosaur could only stare on, talons still imbedded in flesh in shock as Ghidrah rose. Wait. Talons imbedded in flesh? SCRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPP! Not anymore. Ghidrah screamed in rage and pain as a few tons of his flesh left his back. Warm liquid spilled out of the open wound and ran down the dragon's body. The King of Terror turned to face his airborne enemy and started snapping at him with his jaws; Rodan was quick however, and he easily managed to dodge most of the attacks. The pterosaur even managed to get a few good licks of his own in during the exchange, pecking, kicking, and buffeting his adversary with hurricane winds. And then an eye and a talon found one another. The right eye of Ghidrah suddenly found itself without as much depth perception as it would have liked. It bit down on the leg that owned the talon, but the other leg kicked it off. In a blind fury, Ghidrah leaped up at Rodan, attempting to meet the red, winged reptile in mid air; to beat it where it was the most formidable. The move seemed to work, as Rodan was quite surprised, and was unable to defend himself from being "punched" in the side of the head. Of course, leave it to a Ghidorah to forget about a radioactive fifty-meter dinosaur in the middle of a fight. With lightning speed, Gigantis brought himself to his feet and lunged forward, grabbing onto Ghidrah's twin tails. The move stunned the dragon so much that he wasn't ready for a newly-composed Rodan kicking him in the chest as Gigantis mercilessly battered him into the ground. Ghidrah writhed for a bit before Gigantis jumped on his back and started pounding the crap out of his heads from behind. Once again pinned and grounded, the King of Terror began to panic. Gigantis was not prepared to handle Ghidrah's strength, and was sent sprawling when the monster beneath him bucked. The saurian and the dragon righted themselves in the same instant. Ghidrah turned to face Gigantis but was met with a mach 1.5 blur heading straight for him instead. This time, however, Rodan's impact did nothing to harm the King of Terror, who took the ram in his sturdy chest. The pterosaur did a mid-air stagger, waves of wind expanding around, under, and over him. Sensing an opportunity, Ghidrah lifted all three of his heads high into the air, cackled with joy and wrath, and brought them down in unison upon his bewildered opponent. Rodan collapsed to the ground in a heap, bleated, and gargled. Ghidrah, in a gesture of disgust and total domination, brought his foot down on the flying monster's neck. There was an odd snapping sound; a pretty common thing to hear when giant monsters fought one another. Rodan's eyes closed, though his breathing did not cease. He was not dead, but he was out of the fight, at that moment, anyway. Ghidrah decided to burn the beast's body after the battle was over. The battle was not over, though. Gigantis snarled, his eyes glowing blue; his spines doing the same. Ghidrah fanned his wings and leveled all three of his heads at the monster before him. He cackled menacingly, his own eyes emitting a golden shimmer. Two of the loudest roars ever heard blended into one discordant melody, and two kings charged one another. -------------+------------- These things were nothing but filth. Their mere presence sullied the air, the ground, the water, and wherever else they happened to be. They smelled horrible, and they clung like dirt. Legion, sapped of all of her strength, could only try to hold on to Grand King Ghidorah. She could do nothing more to harm the monster, having been soundly beaten by him, and simply hoped that her sheer mass would slow him down. It didn't. The King of Ghidorahs bit into Legion's carapace, lifted her into the air, and threw her at the struggling, pathetic form of Death Ghidorah. The sound the impact made was satisfying; very squishy. Turning around, Grand King Ghidorah spotted a slowing Megaguirus and smiled inside. He opened one of his mouths and with brutal precision, blasted the wings of the weakened dragonfly. They exploded in blossoms of fire, and fell off of the creature. She fell to the ground, making not a sound, but writhing uncomfortably. The Grand King chirped in victory. The monarch looked around. There was nothing left to fight on this side of the battlefield. His impulse to destroy taking over, the beast leaped into the air and surveyed the landscape. The first thing he saw was a vicious battle between Ghidrah and Gigantis. It was a beautiful sight. Both opponents were savage and brutal to one another, and while it seemed that Ghidrah had a slight upper hand, the other monster was not giving way easily, and had managed to get in some impressive hits here and there. Somehow, Grand King Ghidorah believed that this battle was the most important thing happening on the island; it simply exuded an aura of significance. He decided that it was best not to interfere in that little skirmish. Turning one head he spied another battle. This time it was a battle between two substantially larger foes. The largest Ghidorah on the battlefield was locked in a cruel duel against the monster known as Destoroyah. They seemed to be fighting over the still form of the robot MOUGERA, which was being used as a club by whichever one would wrestle it away from the other. Their battle seemed about even, and the Grand King considered interfering on his brother's behalf, but decided that he could wait a bit longer. His favorite pastime was torturing the weak after all, and, though he hated to admit it, Destoroyah was hardly weak. No, something more amusing was in order. He looked around a bit more, and saw something worthy of his immediate attention. The corpse of a Ghidorah was a rare thing to come across, and yet, there one was right there, lying in a pool of its own blood, perhaps mutilated. This, the Dragon King knew, was the younger one. This was the runt who had attempted to flee from the battlefield. Obviously, it had been pursued by something far beyond its limited capabilities to handle. The Grand King felt a pang of regret as he eyed the corpse from above. He had never been fond of this deceased one, but it was still pure enough in essence to be considered one of his brethren. Angling himself, the monarch flapped his wings and descended. He was next to the body within moments. The crystals were a dead giveaway. The one known as Space Godzilla had slain this Ghidorah. The young one had never even stood a chance against such an enemy. … First, he removed the crystals, pulling them out with his jaws and tossing them aside. Then, he lowered his heads and did what he had to do. It tasted delicious, but very wrong. After two minutes, there was nothing left except for a few spots of bloody earth. Even the bones had been eaten. The meal replenished his strength. He was in peak condition once all of the younger one's flesh was consumed, perhaps even stronger than he had been before, but this little excursion into cannibalism had forced the Dragon King to reconsider some things. "That was even more amusing than I had anticipated." The voice was deep, strong, and in his mind. Grand King Ghidorah turned two of his heads to meet the threat. Space Godzilla stood only a few hundred meters away, looking as dangerous as anything the monarch had ever seen. This was not intimidating, nor even surprising. The Ghidorah sneered, and used his own powerful mind to reply. "You could have attacked me during my feast. Why did you let me finish?" "I wanted to see how you would react to seeing the corpse of a family member. I expected some sign of remorse, but I see that you are even more depraved than some claim." A glint showed in the Ghidorah's eyes. "Depraved? That sounds like something one of the lesser beings of this planet would say. Don't tell me that you're shackled by any sense of morality." "I never said depravity was a bad thing." "It doesn't matter; you acknowledge such a thing exists. There are no absolutes in this little universe of ours, save chaos. You have shown me that your mind is weak." "That's your problem, dragon; you refuse to anchor yourself to any concept, and therefore are subject to the whims of the cosmos." "You believe yourself above the cosmos then, Saurian?" "The cosmos is nothing. I have bent its forces to my will, and I shall bend you to my will, as well." "An interesting boast, but you have not impressed me." There were no more words. Space Godzilla opened his mouth and shot a corona beam at his opponent. It arced through the air, spinning, twisting, and vibrating. But Grand King Ghidorah had spoken, and with the simplest movement possible, he opened a jaw and out spilled a bolt of pure energy. Despite the chaotic nature of the corona beam, the monarch's blast managed to intercept it. The streams fought each other for a while, before the middle head of Grand Ghidorah seemed to smile. "If you are above the cosmos itself, surely angering a part of it won't do you any harm?" With that, the middle head opened fire on the corona beam, hitting the blast at an angle and forcing it off course. The stream of energy bent at such a sharp angle that its new path was perpendicular (If you could apply angles to such a thing) to the old one. It flew across the island, guided by some malevolent hand, until it found a place to strike. Destoroyah felt something white hot tear into his back, obliterating hundreds of millions of the microscopic crustaceans that comprised him. He dropped the MOUGERA his tail held, and looked away from the giant Ghidorah he faced. For some reason, the Ghidorah did not take advantage of this situation, perhaps stayed by the warning of another… The amalgamation looked in the direction the attack came from, and was greeted by the stare of a dumbfounded Space Godzilla. The saurian managed to generate his shield a millisecond before the micro-oxygen ray impacted. The shield was obliterated. Grand King Ghidorah let out an approving cackle and turned his back on now occupied foe. "I hope you enjoy playing God." And with that, he screamed. The sound was horrible, and it echoed across the entire island. A mile away, Ghidrah heard the sound, and, with the greatest disgust, leaped into the air, away from an enraged Gigantis. With a final, evil glare at his foe, he sped away towards the source of the noise. The same happened with the now unchallenged Giant Ghidorah. The three chirped and screeched at each other until the Dragon King quieted them. "We are leaving." It became apparent that the others wished to know the details. "There is a place on this earth called Mongolia. There are caves there that conduct a certain energy that we require. Those caves are our destination." He would answer no more questions. The next thing he did was fire all three of his gravity bolts at once, allowing them to collide into one nexus of energy, and then, he used a fraction of the energy he gained through consuming his brother, mixed with a fraction of energy he had obtained through Dogolas, and split space in half. A bizarre hole appeared in front of the three, swirling with light and fire. As it grew in size, the Dragon King turned to his companions. "Before we leave, I should warn you. We are not going to die, but we are going into a very deep sleep for a few hours. When we wake up, we will no longer be what we are now, but something greater. All of us shall exist as one again, but as something even stronger than what Dogolas made. We shall be greater than a King. We shall be a Kai-" But then he noticed the skeptical and nearly mutinous looks he was getting and broke off there, deciding to explain everything once they reached their destination. He turned back around, looked at the fully-grown portal, and stepped through. The others followed suit, staying behind a moment longer to glare one last time at the broken island they were leaving behind. The portal closed as Space Godzilla, Destoroyah, and more monsters tore into each other. ----------+---------- What majesty is this, this golden light * Which stand*s on four legs * With three minds Screaming Like [[ Hyenas? ]] I F E A R H E W I L L L I F T H E L L T O T H E H E A V E N S And humble Gods -Case Middleton |
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| Geysers of blood burst into the air as Dogolas battled those that had stood before him. Super Godzilla, Glitter Tiga, Armor Mothra, Akuma, Drakan, and Evajiran could not help but begin to tire as the mighty echelon proved to be a formidable challenge. Suddenly several salvo of missiles slammed into the hide of Dogolas as Cybersaur, Eva 01 and Eva 02 joined the fight. Dogolas smirked and responded with a glittering beam of his own which raked across the hides and hulls of all that were present. A deep laugh echoed forth from Dogolas, none could defeat him. "I don't know about anyone else, but he's really starting to annoy me..." Vader sighed as he piloted Cybersaur to release another salvo of missiles into Dogolas as the rest of warriors unleashed a barrage of attacks at the echelon. Dogolas bellowed out in pain. Even him, in all of his power, felt pain from a full on barrage like that. He needed to lower their numbers. If more came to help them, he would soon have difficulty winning. He retaliated the attack with another vicious barrage of his own projectiles. Orbs and beams of all different colors leapt at the warriors, each one being struck and each one toppling over. Dogolas laughed again, raising his tentacles to the sky. Unfortunately on Dogolas' part this proved to be a mistake. Super Godzilla, Akuma, and Drakan were all quick to rise from the attack and proceeded to tackle the Echelon to the ground in unison. Once pinned beneath them, the three began to lash out with claws and teeth, tearing into the dark lord. Dogolas dispersed them with his tentacles and rose back up. He glared at those that had gathered before him. Balkzardan and other monsters blasted the raised Dogolas. More and more were aiding in the battle against Dogolas - the ultimate battle of good vs. evil. The Dark Echelon bellowed in rage as he retaliated with his projectiles, yet was still being viciously bombarded. "You fools...do you really believe you can defeat me? I am Dogolas, supreme ruler of all the Universe!" Dogolas glared at his foes. He then turned his gaze to Akuma. The great dragon gave a bellow of pain as he clutched his head. "Akuma...Akuma...why are you doing this?" Akuma's world had gone black. All he could see was Dogolas floating before him.: Akuma...you and I are not so different. We both want the same thing...power. But we are being held back by the same figure. Drakan...yes, Drakan is holding us both back. Akuma, realize your power, your purpose. You were put on this Earth to destroy that cursed Drakan. You know it to be true and yet you hold back..." Akuma's head was throbbing with pain and he shook it back and forth violently, driving to drive it out. It only persisted and grew worse. "Akuma, it was I, Dogolas, who granted you the power to become what you are now. Yes, me! I saw the potential in you and gave you a gift. You've yet to use it though. Akuma, destroy our mutual enemy with the power I have given you. You know this is to be your calling, your destiny." The blackness disappeared and Akuma was back on the battlefield. Had time stopped or was it all a hallucination? Either way, the battle was still underway, Balkzardan crushing a huge pillar of rock over Dogolas as Super Godzilla lanced a beam across the echelon's hide. Akuma glared to Drakan and without any notice, tackled the dragon into the ground. He raked his claws over Drakan's hide and took to the air, issuing a challenge. Drakan bellowed out in rage. Despite his convictions not to, he broke from the battle and chased after Akuma. It was time they settled this once and for all... The two darted about in the skies, circling like two boxers waiting to engage. It was a game of chicken at the moment. Who would be the first to blink, to attack? The answer was obvious as Akuma bellowed loudly and charged Drakan, tackling him in mid-air. The two tumbled head over heels over and over again, still airborne before Drakan kicked Akuma off. He bellowed viciously at Akuma and released a vicious beam at the dragon. The stream of energy lanced across the dragon's high, hitting him directly in the sternum and nearly knocking the wind out of him. Drakan's blast knocked Akuma high up into the atmosphere. Akuma bellowed in rage and used gravity to his advantage. A sharp dive bomb ensued and the two dragons clashed as Akuma slammed directly into Drakan. The two proceeded to fall to the ground, where Akuma slammed Drakan in with all of his strength. A massive explosion of dust and dirt flew into the air, large enough to attract the attention of even Dogolas, even if it was only for a second or so whereupon he was tackled to the ground. In the massive crater created from the two dragon's fall, both Akuma and Drakan went at it hand-to-hand. They viciously raked out with their claws and fists, slamming their weapons against the skull of the other. Geysers of blood shot into the air from both of the great dragon's faces as their claws tore into the flesh of the other. Finesse, coordination, strategy, and skill were all forgotten as the two grappled and tussled and slugged it out in the crater they had created The two broke from there brawl and circled slowly, glaring at each other. Drakan unfurled his wings and gave a vicious battle cry. But before he could charge, Akuma leapt through the air and tackled Drakan to the ground, giving a vicious one-two slugging into Drakan's skull. Akuma jumped off of Drakan, only to grab a hold of the dragon's head and neck and slam him over his shoulder back on to the ground. Akuma fed pure rage into his battle, viciously holding Drakan tightly in a chokehold and slamming him repeatedly over his shoulder on the ground. Drakan cried out in agony but manages to release a vicious beam directly into Akuma's chin. Akuma cries out as the beam tosses him head-over-heels and on to his back. As Akuma slowly gets to his feet, Drakan slams his tail across Akuma's face. Akuma flips to the ground again, releasing a beam that rips into Drakan's side. Akuma gets to his feet again and viciously charges Drakan. His eyes burn with rage as he begins to tear into Drakan again with his claws. His fury was unmatchable as it looked like he finally had Drakan beat, slowly mauling him to death. Suddenly Akuma was frozen in mid-swing, his hand stuck in the air. Before he could react, Akuma was sent flying through the air backwards and slammed against the side of crater. Slowly floating down out of the sky came Miereki, his eyes glowing a pale blue. Drakan rose slowly, shaking his head with a hand to his forehead Akuma growled viciously as Miereki had him pinned against the crater wall. "What are you doing...?" Miereki's voice echoed in Akuma's mind. "I'm killing Drakan....once and for all. What's it look like you idiot?" Akuma snarled Miereki raised an eye at Akuma and extended a palm slowly. Akuma's head shot back against the crater wall, as if in punishment for his insult to the Psychic. "Why? Have you finally decided to chose the evil path you've so wisely avoided? This is Dogolas' doing, not your own conviction and that you know. You have fallen prey to a trick, nothing but a trick. You don't want to kill Drakan..." Miereki glared at Akuma. Akuma shamefully looked down. His eyes were opened and he could see that Miereki's words were true. Still though, he resisted. "If you kill Drakan, then how many others must you kill? Do you realize that you're killing someone on our side? If you kill Drakan then you aid Dogolas. Yes, that's right Akuma, you help him. And if you kill Drakan, then you might as well kill me." Akuma's eyes looked up to Miereki in surprise. He had not looked at it from that angle. He lowered his head again, remorseful.... "Putricus...." Akuma looked up at Miereki, who floated there still. "Putricus, my old ally and friend, dispel Dogolas' evil. How many battles have we waged side by side and against how difficult of odds? Now will you betray me? Putricus...Putricus...resist the evil one and join with me once again." Akuma's hold against the crater wall was released and he collapsed to the ground. He quickly rose to his feet and unfurled his wings. He snarled at them both, Drakan moving into a defensive position. Miereki gently floated there watching Akuma with a raised eye. Just as he had predicted, the dragon rose into the air and headed back towards the battle with Dogolas. Drakan unfurled his wings and Miereki followed behind, quietly smiling to himself. The battle between Dogolas has only grown more vicious with Akuma and Drakan gone. The corpses of dozens of monsters lay on the ground as beams and orbs and bolts of all different shapes and sizes and colors leapt through the air. Within Evajiran, a battle was also taking place. A blinding light echoed through the being's psyche and the human within took control. Tomzilla smirked as he took control. However, even with Evajiran, Akuma, and Drakan back in the fray, their numbers are nothing in comparison with Dogolas' power. In brilliant flash of an explosion, the MWF Warriors realize another great comrade has fallen - Armor Mothra. Of all the monsters that were present, Dogolas hated Mothra almost the most. Her body fluttered out of the air in flames and crashed to the ground, joining the denizens of the underworld, her corpse joining those of her many friends and former enemies that had fallen. A dark laugh echoed out of Dogolas as he looked at Mothra's lifeless corpse. His tentacles raised again to the sky and a great orb enveloped him and expanded outwards. The monsters all ran from the growing orb, knowing that touching it would not - in anyway - be good. "Get behind me." Miereki's psychic voice echoed as he focused all of his power into a shield. The monsters did as he commanded and stood behind Miereki's shield, which was now clashing against Dogolas' orb. Inside the orb came Dogolas' laugh again. "You fools! You think that pathetic shield can stop me?! I've destroyed another one of your greatest warriors and yet you foolishly persist! Must I kill all of you?! Can't you see that my destiny is now in my control?! I control it, nobody else! You will never be able to steal it away from me now! You can never defeat me!" Dogolas' voiced cackled with laughter and delight. Miereki's shield rippled as Dogolas amplified his orb's power. Soon the orb was cut away into just a large beam. Miereki lay crouched on the ground, one hand used to hold him up as he focused every once of his essence into holding that shield. Other monsters rushed forward to add their own shields to Miereki's. Other monsters, those who couldn't produce a shield, fired beams into the shields from behind. Much to the monsters' luck, the beams were able to add strength to the shields. "Holds your shields." Miereki echoed as he dropped his own. The monsters all looked at Miereki wide-eyed in disbelief. Why would one of their chief warriors suddenly give up? Yet he wasn't. Miereki hovered slowly into the air as his eyes glowed faintly. A vortex flew around Miereki as bolts of lightning fell around him. Miereki's vortex began to suck in beams of all sorts and soon the monsters began to move behind the Psychic as he charged his mighty Reaper Beam. With a psychic wail, Miereki released the Reaper Beam straight into the shields in front of him. The shields were overtaken with power and the Reaper Beam charged ahead with the strength of all of the shields with it. Essentially, a massive beam made from each of the monsters' rushed straight at Dogolas and ripped his own beam apart. Dogolas gave a bellow of sheer agony as the super beam slammed against him and sent him flying through the air, slamming into a cliff side. Dust settled slowly and all was still. There was an unusual silence as no movement came from where Dogolas fell. The monsters slowly proceeded forward to examine, all looking towards the pile of rocks and dirt where Dogolas was. It was all truly over. Suddenly a beam rushed forward, striking Super Godzilla in the chest. The leviathan gave a bellow of pain as Dogolas rose from his grave and lashed his tentacles out, knocking several monsters to the ground. It seemed that nothing could hold the Dark Echelon back. Dozens of monsters fell before Dogolas' rage as he lashed out viciously, crying out in sheer rage and anger. "Pull back!" Akuma bellowed as he took to the air. The other monsters that weren't being slaughtered followed Akuma's lead as they pulled away from the Dogolas' grave where the risen echelon slaughtered all who were in range. The others could only look back in sympathy as they watched their comrades fall. "Many a good warrior is falling as we speak..." Miereki echoed, his eyes glowing with hatred for Dogolas. "We must destroy him. The killing must stop!" The others echoed their agreement with Miereki as they pulled back. Soon there were no monster left around Dogolas to kill and the Dark Echelon floated towards those that had survived. Their numbers had dropped drastically and it would surely cost the warriors dearly as the battle was far from over... - Michael Margiotta |
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| Atomic flames blossomed out of Super Godzilla's jagged spines, unleashing enough power to propel the creature through the air. Super Godzilla's scaly wings stretched out in an attempt to keep the body balanced. Roaring flames continued to consume the atomic dragon's spines, and rapidly flowed down Super Godzilla's back, providing the power needed for Super Godzilla to take to the skies. Super Godzilla's feral orbs spotted the malevolent ruler of this forsaken realm. Nuclear energies dispersed from Super Godzilla's maw, decreasing the distance between the atomic dragon and Dogolas. The red-hued beam fused with Dogolas's sternum, scorching the fiend's armored-hide. It took only a few seconds for the wound to disappear. The crest embedded deep inside Dogolas's forehead gleamed with unholy light. A streak of psionic lightning shimmered towards Super Godzilla, striking the aerial-saurian in the shoulder. Dogolas's projectile had pierced Super Godzilla's shoulder, and shredded the monster's internal muscles. The shoulder joint literally popped, unable to survive the sheer power of the beam. The effect of Dogolas's counterattack had taken its toll on Super Godzilla's flight pattern. Super Godzilla struggled to remain airborne, but the noble saurian felt his blood empty out of his shoulder wound. The severity of the damage was enough to postpone Super Godzilla's entire assault. Confirming Super Godzilla's inability to return fire, Dogolas logically complied with a volley of psionic beams. Dozens of psionic bolts rippled out of Dogolas's crest, shredding Super Godzilla's aloft body. Super Godzilla plummeted into the ground, unable to remain airborne. Blood bubbled out of Super Godzilla's burnt wounds. His body ached with a nerve-racking pain. Super Godzilla clasped the putrid soil with his claws. The monster was trying to summon the full potential of his newfound power. 'Do you honestly deem me that ignorant?' Dogolas telepathically shrieked, offended by Super Godzilla's antics. Not willing to wait for the atomic saurian to recuperate, Dogolas's tendrils lashed out, and dug deep in the bowels of Super Godzilla's flesh. Super Godzilla howled in surprise, as he felt his life force seep out of his body. Dogolas's tendrils sucked the life out of the atomic dragon, absorbing the rich substance Super Godzilla had to offer. 'You were a fool to believe that I would simply wait and allow you to regain your strength.' The soil beneath Super Godzilla started to split open. 'It seems I am not the only one who hungers for your plasma.' Organic tentacles slithered out of the fissure and wiggled its way into Super Godzilla's thick hide. Super Godzilla barked an angry roar. The strong beast thrashed around wildly, detaching the tentacles in two with his awesome strength. But Super Godzilla's incredible power was dropping at an astonishing rate. To add more to the suffering, Dogolas ensnared Super Godzilla with his telekinesis, and started to squeeze the life out of the powerful beast. Super Godzilla felt the bones within him splinter. The reptilian flesh covering Super Godzilla's hide started to form bubbles. It would only be a matter of time until the champion of Earth abandoned existence. A golden boomerang separated Dogolas's tendrils from Super Godzilla. Dogolas immediately sensed the golden humanoid giant, Glitter Tiga, in the distance. A storm of psionic lightning converged on Glitter Tiga, electrifying the brave warrior who saved Super Godzilla's life in his hour of need. Glitter Tiga moaned in agony, still perplexed by the realization that Armor Mothra was gone. Only Mothra possessed the power to help them return to Earth. Without the custodian, will they ever return home? It then occurred to Glitter Tiga that he was barely alive. Dogolas's psionic storm had taken its toll, hampering Glitter Tiga with enough power that the giant fell to his knees. A golden aura radiated from all corners of Glitter Tiga's figure. This alone stirred the ground, but it also manipulated the psionic bolts in the process. Glitter Tiga pointed the palm of his hands at the Dark Echelon. A golden sphere flickered to life in the center of each palm. Upon Glitter Tiga's command, golden streaks of light flared out of his hands, and sped to meet Dogolas in a blinding showcase of fury. Dogolas summoned a mental barrier, deflecting Glitter Tiga's assault upon arrival. The crimson clouds above continued to bathe the dueling warriors below with its florescent beauty. In the twilight of Earth's last stand against a tyrant bent upon perfection, the greatest warriors life had ever spawned stood tall and defiant. Psionic balls detonated across Dogolas's back. Dogolas whirled around, enraged by this unexpected attack. A wounded Miereki hovered several hundred meters away. Blue-silvery light glimmered in the central cortex of Miereki's orbs. A blanket of fog covered Miereki from view. 'Balkzardan,' Dogolas muttered, acknowledging the fog's master. Balkzardan emerged from the fog. The element wielder glared at Dogolas, challenging the Dark Echelon once again. 'You truly are a glutton for punishment.' Balkzardan snarled as he responded. "And you are a glutton for ignorance. I know you more than anyone, Dogolas. No matter the pain or revelation, know this; you are the most pathetic being to ever show its face to Eternity." 'Do not dare mention Eternity for you are unable to comprehend its eternal monopoly.' Dogolas issued an assault with his tentacles, slashing the element wielder with no remorse. Balkzardan's cunning speed allowed him to dodge the majority of Dogolas's tentacle strikes, but only a few of them succeeded in hitting their target. Balkzardan's flesh recoiled from each impact, and barely succeeded in retaining its stature. The wielder of the elements groaned in disapproval. Balkzardan's fighting spirit would not allow him to succumb to Dogolas's superior might. With his bones aching, Balkzardan summoned the frigid temperatures of the elements. Dogolas's blood-shot eyes examined his one-time disciple. The truth of his heritage had allowed Balkzardan to tap into his full potential. But even with this new found power, Dogolas sought nothing more but to eradicate the element wielder and his allies. When that happens, Dogolas will at last achieve the perfection he craves and all will be right with Eternity. A wave of freezing temperatures prickled the Dark Echelon. Dogolas felt his armored flesh turn to ice. His tentacles resembled frozen twigs and were unable to muster the strength to move. A frigid fog dampened Dogolas, lowering his bodily temperature. In only a matter of seconds, the monarch of this desolate domain had been transformed into a crystallized statue. Behind a wall of ice, Dogolas's inclination blazed a psionic emptiness of despair. Balkzardan greeted Dogolas's gaze. "But you do comprehend it? What makes you better than the rest of us? Why should we perish and be slain in battle, just to allow you to gain the omnipotence you crave?" Balkzardan stopped, allowing his words to sink in. The wielder of the elements continued, "You are nothing more than a mere mortal, like the rest of us Dogolas. It is the one thing you have renounced, time and time again. You hate being mortal, yet it is the only thing that makes you feel alive." The ice started to thaw. Dogolas's tentacles started to wiggle, splintering the encasement of ice. The glare of Dogolas brought forth hate and vengeance. A shimmering aura sparkled out of all corners of Dogolas's body, eradicating the frozen prison. The Dark Echelon observed Balkzardan's reaction, sensing his immediate retaliation in the process. Dark clouds lingered thousands of feet in the air, bleaching out the crimson skies above. A loud roar of thunder boomed out of the dark clouds. It issued a bombardment of lightning bolts, each striking the malevolent Dogolas. Dogolas's skin crawled with sizzling smoke after each lightning strike. 'Impressive,' Dogolas announced. 'These bolts are of element in nature, but also something more. They carry with them supernatural properties.' Dogolas paused, while examining his former associate. 'Your kin would've been proud.' A bolt of lightning flared across the sky, casting its radiance upon Balkzardan. Balkzardan's catlike eyes sparkled with elemental fury. His claws started to sink into the putrid soil. The blood flowing in Balkzardan's veins intensified its speed. The horns that curved out of Balkzardan's jaws released pillars of light, which swirled into the entrance of his maw. Together, the energy formed an energized sphere. Without a moment's passing, Balkzardan discharged the energized sphere and allowed it to strike Dogolas's sternum. A cloud of fiery bolts and radiance covered Dogolas, electrocuting the vengeful monarch's flesh, ripping and shredding it from its foundations. Dogolas unleashed an extent of his telekinetic power; the lightning bolts were driven away and Balkzardan felt it wash across him. Balkzardan had been immobilized. Dogolas's mind probed every inch of Balkzardan's body. Balkzardan tried to fight it, but his will was dwarfed by Dogolas's own. Unable to move, Balkzardan watched helplessly as the crest entombed within Dogolas's forehead issued a bright flash. A whirling psionic blade twirled towards Balkzardan. It sliced into his collar bone and ravaged his back. Blood sprayed out of Balkzardan's wounds, staining his flesh and ground alike. The soil beneath his paws wiggled in anticipation. It tasted the blood Balkzardan conceived. 'It yearns to feast off you,' Dogolas informed his former disciple. 'Do not frit, Balkzardan. It will not be the end. I did offer you all salvation and you all declined it. But when I proclaim dominion over all, you will be apart of it, apart of me.' Balkzardan tried to fight, but to no avail. 'It is pointless. Give in my former vassal, accept your destiny. There's a reason of why I made you unique.' Balkzardan struggled to fight his former master. "Never," he whispered. Dogolas allowed silence to engulf Balkzardan's entire world. The Dark Echelon prepared to rip the element wielder apart from the inside. But a fist, empowered with nuclear travesty, plowed into Dogolas's back. Bolts of nuclear power ravaged Dogolas's backside, damaging the monarch's spine and introducing the sovereign to a world of pain. The impact alone knocked Dogolas forward. Dogolas twirled around and regained his composure. Super Godzilla stood in defiance, challenging Dogolas once more with his savage eyes. Radioactive residue dribbled out of the atomic dragon's mouth. Atomic power illuminated out of the ridges of Super Godzilla's spines. A beam poured out of Super Godzilla's reptilian jaws. Dogolas psychically dispersed the projectile, never allowing it to reach him. 'You still long to kill me…' Dogolas telepathically told the enraged Super Godzilla. 'Why? Your son still lives amongst the living. Your thirst for vengeance has no meaning.' Super Godzilla remained silent. The atomic saurian did not dare respond. Super Godzilla's jagged spines flashed an appealing mixture of beauty and awe. His scaly wings were flowing with warm blood. Energy sizzled down Super Godzilla's spines, which transferred into the spikes protruding out of the tip of his tail. The sparkling spikes extinguished a bright fluorescent glow. Dogolas read the look in the atomic dragon's eyes. He did not need to read Super Godzilla's mind to comprehend the monster's motives. 'I know longer have a desire, Godzilla, in trying to convert you into seeing the light.' Hordes of tentacles fixed upon Super Godzilla and attacked. Energy roared out of Super Godzilla's spines, hurling the atomic saurian towards Dogolas. Chasms of light gleamed within Super Godzilla's fists. Tentacles whipped through the air and attempted to scourge the aloft monster, but Super Godzilla's energetic hands shredded one of the tentacles upon contact. Each swipe disemboweled every tentacle caught in its relentless path. When one tentacle was separated from its kin, it proceeded to regenerate what was lost. No matter the intensity, no matter the newly found agility at Super Godzilla's disposal, the horde of tentacles was too much to fend off. Several stabbed into Super Godzilla's ribs and torso, puncturing layers of dense flesh. Super Godzilla groaned a disarraying growl. It had dawned on his primordial mind that he was helpless. Yet the ancient reptile struggled to fight Dogolas's omnipotence. The sheer brute strength of Dogolas's tentacles lifted the brawny reptile off the ground. Super Godzilla savagely fought the tentacles with all his might. Dogolas embedded the tentacles deeper in the reptile's flesh. Dogolas sent psychic signals, connecting his mind to Super Godzilla's own. Super Godzilla's thrashing ceased. Reluctantly, Super Godzilla allowed his body to be tilted around in circles. The great beast felt other tentacles fasten around his legs. Dogolas's plan was finally realized; Dogolas was planning to break Super Godzilla in two just by using the strength of his tentacles. Darkness greeted Super Godzilla's eyes, robbing the saurian of his vision. At first, Super Godzilla felt excruciating pain, but it eventually subsided; the monster's bones shredded the organs, plaguing the King of the Monsters with internal bleeding. Bones and torn muscles clogged Super Godzilla's veins and arteries, shutting down Super Godzilla's neural pathways. Streaks of golden light tore out of Glitter Tiga's hands. The projectiles closed in, but failed to strike Dogolas's tentacles. A telekinetic barrier had shielded the tentacles from danger. Instead of looking at Glitter Tiga, Dogolas simply commanded the soil to obey its master. The ground broke away from its foundations. Glitter Tiga's gleaming orbs carefully scanned the ever-changing environment. But before the golden warrior could respond, the ground buried Glitter Tiga with its mass. Beneath the ground of Dogolas's domain was a world unlike any other. It was an ocean filled with death and decay. Tendrils yearning to feast off Glitter Tiga's life force attempted to breach the warrior's holy armor. An impulse of power fluctuated out of every corner of Glitter Tiga's body and formed a dome. The tendrils were disintegrated and the blood was evaporated. The surface above Glitter Tiga was eradicated. Dogolas noticed a large dome rising out of the ground, burning the surrounding area with its intense heat. Glitter Tiga levitated out of the apex of the dome. Golden bolts shimmered brightly around his holy figure. The pearl inside Glitter Tiga's sternum flashed repeatedly. Glitter Tiga was summoning an immeasurable portion of his power. Dogolas was not going to allow it. Once again, Dogolas was interrupted. Psionic balls pummeled Dogolas's carapace, covering the entire backside in a cascade of telekinetic flames. Dogolas's advanced mind manipulated the particles around his attacker. Miereki stopped his psionic bombardment and concentrated on Dogolas's misdemeanor. The psychic sensed a disturbance. Dogolas manipulated the particles in the air, forging whips made up of pure energy. With just the thought of his mind, Dogolas commanded the energy whips to strike the psychic. Miereki moved out of the way, but his pain receptors alerted his mind of a tragedy. Part of Miereki's right hand had been separated from the rest of the appendage. Smoke smoldered out of Miereki's damaged hand. It did not bleed; the energy whip had cauterized the wound from the beginning. Miereki noticed several other energy whips being formed… He had only a few seconds to brace for the worst. Bolts of lightning ravaged Dogolas's head, electrocuting the tyrannical monarch. Balkzardan unleashed a barrage of spheres, each composed of the elements of fire and lightning. Dogolas felt them dig into his skin and detonate. Balkzardan took the time to acknowledge Miereki's predicament. The psychic desperately dodged Dogolas's energy whips. Miereki had succeeded to a degree, but the energy whips had scourged the psychic's body. Cauterized cuts had been inflicted upon Miereki's figure, proving to be a painful reminder of how close Miereki came to being sliced to pieces. Miereki's orbs shimmered brightly, summoning barriers that succeeded in only buying Miereki the split second he needed. A psionic sphere formed inside Miereki's left palm. Miereki hurled it towards Dogolas without a moment's notice. It dodged the energy whips and closed in on Dogolas's face. The sphere detonated, unleashing a psionic explosion that washed across Dogolas's face. It was the last straw. Miereki's reflection appeared on Dogolas's gloomy eyes. Demonic energies swirled around Dogolas's forehead, empowering the crest within. An amber beam stretched out of Dogolas's forehead crest, striking Miereki dead in the chest, piercing the psychic's body in a split second. In only the short amount of time it had, Dogolas's energy blast had dispersed while inside Miereki's body. The dispersed beams coursed through Miereki's veins, annihilating everything in its path. Miereki watched in disbelief as remnants of the beams circulated out of different parts of his cadaver. When Miereki felt the worst had subsided, the energy whips reminded Miereki otherwise. Balkzardan watched in stunning disbelief as one part of Miereki remained in the air, while another part fell lifelessly to the ground. "Miereki," Balkzardan quivered hopelessly. Smoke smoldered out of the charred remnants. The psychic was still alive, but his entire right side had been segmented. Miereki's docile eyes carefully examined his condition. Centuries of meditation had allowed Miereki to possess full control over his emotions. His heart feverishly thumped within his chest, unable to cope with the tension exclaimed by the pain receptors. Luckily, Dogolas had abandoned any other chance in shredding Miereki to pieces, at least for now. "Balkzardan," Miereki asked the elemental wielder via telepathy. "I may not be much of assistance any longer." "Fight to the end my friend; it is all we can do now…" Miereki probed Balkzardan's thoughts. "You feel it is still hopeless?" "You don't need to be a psychic to see that we are just prolonging our inevitable demise. I tried warning you all, but none of you believed me. We are dealing with an entity whose power far exceeds our own," Balkzardan explained, expressing the hopelessness in their campaign. "Our efforts are as futile as a hive of ants trying to stop a volcanic eruption." There was a pause between Miereki and Balkzardan's mental conversation. The two watched Dogolas resume his attempts in breaking Super Godzilla in two. They noticed Glitter Tiga preparing an all out attack. Dogolas was simply baiting the golden warrior in launching his onslaught. "You once asked me an unanswerable question." "Which is?" "'What is the pretence of Eternity?' you asked me," Balkzardan recalled. "Do you remember my response?" "Yes," Miereki replied. "I still do not have an answer, and probably never will. But I do believe there is one way to find out." Miereki's azure-hued eyes pierced Balkzardan's very soul. The psychic was aware of where Balkzardan was going with this. "Dogolas," Miereki answered back. "Quite right," Balkzardan acknowledged. "I know what he plans to do. Absorbing our very souls is only the beginning. Our life forces alone would grant the monarch enough power to achieve his goals. Don't you sense that emptiness beyond the reach of our souls?" Miereki pondered on Balkzardan's question. Super Godzilla quietly groaned. Red blood ejected out of his mouth, staining the constricting tentacles. Super Godzilla felt Dogolas's slithering tentacles inside his abdomen, savoring the warmth the reptile's body provided. Bloodshot eyes squinted at the Dark Echelon, lividly expressing the disdain the saurian felt for the despot. Dogolas shared Super Godzilla's sentiments. The tentacles probed the neural pathways circulating within Super Godzilla's veins. A portion of Dogolas's mind entered Super Godzilla's own. It wouldn't be long until Super Godzilla's body was under Dogolas's jurisdiction. 'Inside this creature's body is the key to my ascension. This insignificant being carries a code inside its prehistoric conscious. Ascertaining it will insure victory, for that I am positive.' The Dark Echelon felt annoyed and unraveled. Why had it taken him so long in discovering the importance that lurked within this aberration? It had managed to hide a key to unlocking the secrets needed to unite with Eternity…to change Eternity. 'I can feel it calling out to me. I know I am worthy to possess it.' Super Godzilla's mind lingered a wave of confusion. 'That's right, our minds are connected. You should be pleased to know that you aren't fully connected with my own, otherwise you would go insane. It is true, you contain information. With that information, I'll have the ultimate power I crave, the knowledge that will unlock a mystery that had haunted my being since birth.' Miereki worriedly glanced at Dogolas. His mind had overheard Dogolas's words, hearing them as he spoke to Super Godzilla. Balkzardan had heard it as well. He was still connected with Miereki's mind. The two suspiciously stared at Super Godzilla. It'll only take a few moments for Dogolas to snap Super Godzilla in two. In a less amount of time, Dogolas will have already found what he's looking for. Were both Miereki and Balkzardan willing to sacrifice Super Godzilla's life to discover the truth? 'Is this where you hid it from me, father?' Dogolas asked an unforeseen force. 'Had I not offered you enough? Had I not simultaneously increased your depression and power? If you desired my life, you would've taken it. Only if you did, I still would've won. And now, I no longer need to wait for some being to slay me. I've found the root to the apex of your throne. I suppose you planted this yourself. I'm sure you missed me, or at least a shard of yourself. In an attempt to unite, you planned this in advance. Quite clever, but foolish…' With the only hand he had left, Miereki pointed his left palm directly at the Dark Echelon. Miereki manifested a psionic orb, which emitted a bright lavender glow. The light bathed Miereki's battered body, revealing the look of dismay on the psychic's face. An azure-hued radiance overshadowed Miereki. The psychic shifted his gaze and noticed Balkzardan, summoning an azure sphere at the tip of his maw. Miereki now had his full attention on Dogolas. The psychic was empowering a great deal of energy into the psionic orb. He knew Balkzardan would manipulate the elements and increase the intensity of their projectiles. Dogolas was aware of Miereki and Balkzardan's motives. The Dark Echelon attacked the projectiles, commanding the two spheres to self destruct. Miereki sensed a disturbance inside his psionic orb. Before the psychic could intervene, Dogolas made it explode in Miereki's face. The sheer power of the explosion alone managed to engulf Miereki completely. The explosive shockwaves escorted Miereki's charred body high into the air. Miereki's aloft form remained in the air for a few seconds, before finally crashing into the organic soil, out cold. Balkzardan experienced the same fate. His own projectile had detonated, enveloping Balkzardan's entire body. The ground beneath the element wielder was incinerated. Shockwaves ravaged the land, shredding it from its foundations. Balkzardan landed several hundred yards from Miereki. The Dark Echelon sensed Glitter Tiga's power rising. Dogolas coldly gaped at the golden warrior, sensing the escalation of Glitter Tiga's strength. The golden warrior was transcending his normal limitations. Dogolas's time was running out. Glitter Tiga prepared to unleash his assault in a few seconds. Instead of searching Super Godzilla's mind, Dogolas would have to siphon it entirely. But Dogolas was too late. Glitter Tiga brought his arms to his chest. The pearl emitting light from his chest heralded a beam of golden might. Dogolas marbled at the mortal's incredible power, as it raced to meet him head on. Unleashing the blinding beam had knocked Glitter Tiga backwards. Glitter Tiga retained his footing, but the testament of the sheer power he was unleashing was dearly noted. Unable to survive the destructive energies, a fissure had split the ground asunder beneath the arching beam. Dogolas was still trying to siphon Super Godzilla's mind. The Dark Echelon forged a telekinetic barrier to shield both of them. But Dogolas was unable to divert all his power into the barrier. Glitter Tiga's ultimate attack collided with the barrier; the impact had made the entire region tremble. Streaks of the golden beam punctured Dogolas's barrier, cleaving Dogolas's armored flesh. Black blood seeped out of Dogolas's wounds. The golden streaks severed the tentacles attached to Super Godzilla. 'No!' Dogolas shouted in frustration. Super Godzilla's composure returned instantly. Azure-silvery flames roared out of Super Godzilla's spines, propelling the atomic dragon towards the heavens. But instead of ascending towards the crimson sky above, Super Godzilla flipped forward, and used his tail to throw an atomic ball. The atomic ball pelted Dogolas's face, submerging Dogolas's head in a sea of fire. Knowing the abstraction of Super Godzilla's mind was at that point impossible; Dogolas diverted all of his power to his barrier. Glitter Tiga's powerful energy blast failed to affect Dogolas any longer. Knowing his efforts would be all for naught, Glitter Tiga stopped. The energy blast faded. Glitter Tiga silently surveyed Dogolas's demonic stature. The malevolent monarch tilted his head. Dogolas shot one of his tentacles directly at Glitter Tiga. Glitter Tiga made an effort to evade the oncoming tentacle, but the ground beneath his feet wrapped his ankles together. The tentacle struck Glitter Tiga without remorse. Glitter Tiga was knocked into the ground, unable to withstand Dogolas's fury. Knowing Glitter Tiga was temporarily disabled from combat; Dogolas focused all of his attention on Super Godzilla. Atomic flames churned out of Super Godzilla's spines, impelling the atomic saurian through the air. The flames had forged a thick layer of smoke in its wake. Dogolas watched Super Godzilla fly away, but he knew the reptile's true motives. Super Godzilla diverted his trajectory by flying towards Dogolas. The atomic dragon separated his jaws, unleashing a golden-hued beam. Dogolas raised one of his tentacles and placed it directly in front of the oncoming beam. A wave of telekinesis embodied the tentacle, surrounding it with its psychic appeal. Super Godzilla's energy blast collided with the tip of the tentacle. But the telekinesis shredded the beam's energetic properties, and succeeded in diverting the energy blast completely. A disdained snarl escaped Super Godzilla's savage jaws. Dogolas postponed in his counterstrike, noticing the arrival of two of Super Godzilla's allies. The two dragons, Drakan and Akuma, joined the aerial saurian. 'So you seek to triple-team me?' The Dark Echelon murmured quietly. All three flying reptiles had their wings extended outwards. It was an amazing spectacle; three magnificent creatures of prehistoric origins flying gracefully next to one another. The wind grazed the scaly wings of the flying behemoths. Shockwaves bounced off the flying trio, flattening the ground below. Scarlet light bathed the armored-hides of each reptile. Dogolas's psychic mind conjured energy spheres out of thin air. The particle manipulation had proven itself useful. Dogolas was ready to separate the three Ones, when that happens, Dogolas's inevitable rise to perfection will be at hand. Dogolas commanded the particles to form energy blasts. Upon birth, the energy fired streaks of light at the opposing trio. Super Godzilla pulled up, extinguishing an increase of energy that poured out of the monster's spines. While Super Godzilla ascended towards the sky, Drakan and Akuma flew in opposite directions, dodging the streaks of light. Dogolas sensed other hostile forces converging on his position. Immediately, hot lead bounced off Dogolas's emerald carapace. Dogolas sensed the presence of Evangelion Units 01 and 02. The two Eva Units hid amongst the rubble, automatic rifles drawn. Smoke rolled out of the gun barrels. The artificial eyes of the Eva Units stared intensely at the forsaken ruler of this realm. "He senses us," the mind of DinoDragonBoy announced over the com-link. Dogolas's tentacles poured psionic bolts directly at the crimson Evangelion Unit. Eva Unit 02 expanded his AT-Field, dissipating the approaching projectiles, but in the process, the Evangelion had destroyed the rubble around him. "No shit, Sherlock!" Montyzilla's mind protested. "Monty, seek shelter! You destroyed your cover!" DDB hollered with desperation. The crimson Evangelion remained immobilized. "Don't tell me what to do, Jim." A shimmering wave embodied Dogolas entirely. The Dark Echelon's entire body sparkled brighter than the Sun. Dogolas turned his frontal arc directly at the crimson Evangelion. Dozens of energy beams lanced out of Dogolas. They all close in on the humanoid warrior. Eva Unit 01 noticed Dogolas's intervention, but was helpless to respond. All its dominant mind could do was alert Eva Unit 02 as fast as possible. "Monty, watch out!" DDB telepathically shouted. Eva Unit 02 noticed the heralding cloister of energy beams coming his way. The Evangelion dove out of the way, barely avoiding contact. Each energy blast tore into the ground, blasting holes into the soil. The crimson Evangelion rolled across the ground, sensing the converging onslaught of Dogolas's power. Eva Unit 01 took the liberty of covering his ally; the purple Evangelion pulled the trigger, unleashing dozens of rounds per second. Gigantic bullets flared out of the automatic rifle, diving into Dogolas's body. But the bullets melted upon contact, unable to withstand the irradiating temperatures of Dogolas's energetic state. The red Eva Unit 02 jumped to his feet and waved his hand through the air, expanding his AT-Field once more. Evangelion Unit 02's AT-Field pushed the energy blasts away, preventing them from tearing the Eva Unit limb from limb. Unit 02 jumped behind the mounds of rubble, temporarily safe. Dogolas reverted back to his regular state. A split second later, Drakan's particle beam singed Dogolas's raspy throat. Dogolas's entire throat had nearly dissolved. But the Dark Echelon rejuvenated the damage instantly. Drakan's reflection appeared on Dogolas's eight eyes. The skeletal dragon closed in, intent on cleaving Dogolas's cranium. Drakan's razor sharp claws glistened as they prepared to dice Dogolas to pieces. One of Dogolas's tentacles lashed out and encased Drakan's neck, suffocating the dragon. Drakan seized the tentacle with his claws, ravaging the tentacle to pieces. But once Drakan became free, two energy blasts pounded Drakan's sternum, removing the skeletal carapace, and left behind two smoldering craters in Drakan's armor. Drakan fell to the ground, unable to remain aloft. A layer of organic liquids covered the craters, regenerating the lost skeletal armor. Dogolas telekinetically shoved Drakan off his feet. The Dark Echelon entered Drakan's brain and disconnected parts of the cerebrum. Everything started going dark; the barbaric wasteland he had come to know as a temporarily home faded from reality, destined to be replaced by emptiness. Black bolts pelted Dogolas, shredding the Dark Echelon's emerald armor. A blinding beam stretched out of Dogolas's forehead, attempting to ravage his new attacker: Akuma. The dark dragon dissolved into a cloud of dust, avoiding Dogolas's beam. Akuma reappeared a hundred yards in front of Dogolas, hell-bent on dismantling Dogolas with his bare hands. Akuma increased the thickness of his arms, manipulating the muscles to grow to extraordinarily proportions. Akuma repeatedly pounded Dogolas's mantle. Electrified swipes scorched Dogolas's façade. The Dark Echelon's mind ensnared the dragon, supplying the mental strength needed to break Akuma. A painful cry howled out of Akuma's reptilian jaws. Dogolas savored Akuma's moment of suffering, deeming it a satisfying short victory. All of Dogolas's tentacles wrapped around Akuma and started to squeeze the life out of the dark dragon. Psychic receptors ventured from Dogolas's tentacles into Akuma, fusing with his neural kinetics. Dogolas controlled Akuma's abilities, preventing the dragon from teleporting. Drakan raised his claws to thrash Dogolas's tentacles, but Dogolas's telekinesis enmeshed the dragon. Hindered of his chance to free Akuma, Drakan was at Dogolas's mercy. The Dark Echelon was far from granting mercy of any kind. Atomic beams rained from the sky, striking Dogolas without remorse. A cascade of atomic flames enveloped Dogolas's entire upper body, exposing Dogolas's ancient flesh to sweltering heat. Dogolas ascended his gaze to the heavens, spotting the outline of the King of the Monsters, Super Godzilla. The shimmering aura escaping the crest on Dogolas's forehead heralded the coming of a psionic blast. Dogolas unleashed an amber-hued beam. The sheer power of the beam's departure had made Dogolas's head bend back. Super Godzilla's fiery orbs noticed the ascending energy beam. An apron of energy blossomed out of Super Godzilla's spines, allowing the saurian to try and fly out of harm's way. The muscles in Super Godzilla's wings tensed up. But Dogolas's psionic beam singed Super Godzilla's abdomen, vaporizing the monster's torso, eradicating a combination of bone and muscle. Pure and sudden shock overwhelmed Super Godzilla. Super Godzilla closed his eyes, unable to remain conscious. His carcass fell from the sky, allowing gravity to overtake it. Super Godzilla collided with the ground, generating powerful shockwaves that annihilated the surrounding area. A dense layer of smoke covered the area, shrouding the immobile behemoth within. In the center of an impact crater, Super Godzilla slept softly…subconsciously trying to find a way to wake up. "Damn," Montyzilla whispered, acknowledging Super Godzilla's fall. The human mind commanded for the Eva to pull the trigger. Dozens of bullets flew out of the barrel's mantle, plunging their metallic bodies into Dogolas. The bullets bounced off Dogolas's thick carapace. Unit 02's attempts at injuring Dogolas succeeded in only capturing the Dark Echelon's attention. "Shit!" Monty shouted vigorously. A wave of telekinesis bathed the mounds of rubble, crumbling it into dust, leaving the crimson Evangelion defenseless. Unit 02 was picked off the ground and hurled thousands of feet into the air and eventually fell face first into the ground. Eva Unit 02 tried to free itself, but the soil's hunger would not allow it. Organic tendrils slithered around the Eva's throat, hindering the Evangelion's chance at breaking free. When the Eva's strength failed, the next option was clear as daylight; Eva Unit 02 expanded the spiritual barrier of its soul. The Eva's AT-Field shredded the organic tendrils and ended up demolishing the soil itself. Eva Unit 01 unleashed a bombardment of bullets. Seconds after discharging the rifle's ammunition, the purple Evangelion stopped, and rolled out of view. The Evangelion popped up several hundred yards away from its first hiding spot. Again, the Eva pulled the trigger and pelted Dogolas with hot lead. 'Continue your cowardly antics, Evangelion,' Dogolas malevolently announced. 'It'll only bring forth more suffering to the dragon.' Dogolas's tentacles constricted Akuma harder than before. Drakan tried desperately to save his comrade, but Dogolas had already ensnared his mind with emptiness. The skeletal dragon felt depleted, unable to summon the strength or the willpower to engage. Dogolas's malicious eyes fell upon Drakan's own. Images of Drakan's past flooded into his mind, reminding the dragon of his past failures. Saliva dribbled out of Drakan's mouth, saturating the ground below. Drakan's current status could only be compared to a lobotomized patient. "Drakan, you weakling, are you just going to stand there and let me die?" Akuma growled. It was an attempt to raise Drakan's courage and fight the helplessness he was feeling. The strength of Dogolas's tentacles blinded Akuma of seeing Drakan's reaction. Dogolas controlled Akuma's molecular structure, which kept the dragon stuck in a physical state. "Well, are you?" |
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| The immobilized Drakan struggled to break free of Dogolas's ensnarement, but failed. Akuma's encouraging words only prodded Drakan to feel bitter and weak. Dogolas deemed Drakan unworthy to be a witness and swatted the dragon's neck with one of his vile tentacles. No longer constrained by Dogolas's enchantment, Drakan was easily knocked away. The skeletal dragon slid against the putrid soil. Parasites and other conniving organisms attached themselves to Drakan's passing form, intent upon feasting Drakan's plasma. Drakan tried to rise, but the blow had shattered his neck. The realization stunned Drakan to the point of where he was once again immobilized. Dogolas allowed Akuma the strength to open his eyes. The two beings stared at one another, aware of the hatred shared between the two. 'Quite the loyal comrades you surround yourself with, Putricus,' Dogolas teased, insulting Akuma's newfound benevolence. Akuma tried to counter, but his mouth muscles failed to operate. The jaws could not be moved. Akuma's tongue lazily resided within a puddle of saliva. Dogolas allowed Akuma the strength to operate his mouth. To human ears, the dragon was simply snorting, growling a certain pattern of sound waves. But Dogolas read Akuma's mind, understanding the sounds and what they meant… "How ironic, one of your vassals abandoned you just to befriend a weak and timid creature," Akuma lectured bitterly. It was all a distraction on Akuma's part. Perhaps his allies, including Drakan, could find a way to break him free. 'They can't help you, Akuma.' Dogolas retorted passionately. 'The sweet sensation of erasing Armor Mothra from this existence was soothing. But giving you oblivion will be even more of a prize. Eternity shall shed a tear, when it learns that a newly reformed warrior like you perishes, the way a traitor always should.' A wave of seething hatred blossomed inside Akuma's savage mind. While the dark dragon had found a beacon of light and hope in his own soul, there was still a thirst for Dogolas's demise. Akuma's ghostly orbs observed his fallen comrade, Drakan. There was once a time of when Akuma felt jealousy when it concerned Drakan. Akuma's desire to fight always leads to a confrontation with his dragon counterpart. Now after all these years, the feud between the two dragons had reached an end, and they had finally recognized a sense of balance between the two of them. Through all the years of seeking destruction, through all the centuries of searching for the great power he had always craved; Akuma never knew that deep down, he was really seeking redemption. 'Or perhaps, I should simply make you watch your newfound friend's demise first…' Dogolas completely turned Akuma around, forcing the dragon to observe Drakan's battered body. Blinding light emanated out of Dogolas's forehead, bathing the surrounding area with its magnificent glow. The Dark Echelon was summoning malevolent energies capable of bringing Armageddon to all it touches. Akuma sensed the darkness brewing in Dogolas's gathering power. It was the same power Bagan had utilized against Majin on Earth. In the distance, Evangelion Unit 01 examined Dogolas's intentions from afar. The light secreting out of Dogolas's forehead reverted to darkness. "That does not look good," DDB worriedly insinuated. Unit 01 pointed the automatic rifle at Dogolas and pulled the trigger. Rounds and rounds of bullets flared out of the barrel, bombarding Dogolas's emerald carapace. But the darkness emanating from Dogolas became darker, preventing the Eva from seeing its target. The ground beneath the purple Evangelion wiggled. Unit 01 stopped firing and scanned the ground, noticing organic tentacles sprouting out of the soil, entangling the Eva's ankles. The Evangelion pointed the rifle directly at the soil, knowing full well that it was alive. Hot lead burned out of the barrel, punching sizzling holes into the ground. Blood emptied out of those holes. A fissure ripped the ground wide open, forcing the Evangelion to drop into the bloody abyss inside. The crimson Evangelion noticed Unit 01's descent into the world beneath the ground. Unit 02 sprinted to help his comrade, but the soil intervened; organic tendrils, equipped with bony thorns sticking out of its surface, scourged Unit 02's body parts. "Son of a bitch," Monty shouted painfully. The thorny tentacles had pierced the Eva's armor with the utmost ease! Blood trickled out of the open wounds, staining the soil below. The ground digested the blood instantly. It wanted more. A barrage of thorny tentacles lashed out at the crimson Evangelion, but with the wave of his hand, the Eva expanded its AT-Field, exterminating the thorny tentacles upon contact. The Evangelion turned and dashed across the fetid ground. A forest of thorny tentacles awaited the arrival of the sprinting Evangelion. The Evangelion once again rapidly waved his hand. The spiritual essence of the Eva's AT-Field shredded the thorny tentacles. Eva Unit 02 attempted to leap towards his Eva comrade, but dozens of thorny spines ripped into the airborne Evangelion. The assembly of tentacles pulled the aerial Eva to the ground. Unit 02 fought valiantly, showcasing incredible strength that rivaled the likes of Godzilla. But more and thornier tentacles sprouted out of the ground, constricting the synthetic humanoid robot. The tentacles punctured the Eva's armor and started to feed upon the blood that flowed in the Evangelion's veins. Helpless, the crimson Evangelion watched in desperation as the ground closed, severing Unit 01's chances at departing the bloody abyss below. Darkness seeped out of Dogolas, staining the area with its perpetual makeup. Akuma disappeared, no longer capable of being seen by mortal eyes. The dark coating of the dragon's flesh helped the dragon blend in with its new surroundings. Akuma could feel the malevolence within the blanket of darkness. It was calling out to him, trying to taint the dragon once more and return him to his bloodthirsty ways. But Akuma's newfound benign nature prevented the evil from taking over. Suddenly, eight separate eyes pierced the darkness. Crimson light fluctuated out of the orbs, immediately filling Akuma's heart with fear and distrust. 'You can feel it, can't you? The power I am conjuring will not only wipe Drakan out of this existence, but destroy the rest of your companions.' The Dark Echelon asked without remorse. Akuma felt drained. The darkness was feeding off the good that dwelled inside, nurturing the malicious nature the dragon once had. When Akuma replied, his voice failed to express a Herculean gesture. "Dogolas, y-you are insane. There is a r-reason of w-why I betrayed you, twice. Your ambitions for perfection will lead you…" 'To my own destruction,' Dogolas asked, answering the rest of Akuma's sentence before he could. 'Perhaps I will die. It is entirely plausible that attaining perfection can only be attained after death. The path that will lead to my ascension is irrelevant. Achieving it is all that matters.' A strange sensation alerted Akuma's senses. There is only one way to insure the fate of Akuma's friends. Akuma's genetic structure was born out of the darkness brewing all around. It was this same darkness that gave Putricus the power he once had. In a way, it was like returning to the dragon's birthplace. If he bonded with the darkness, Akuma would be the only survivor. 'Don't you feel it? It's calling to you. You cannot live forever as a pariah, dragon. You cannot live the life of fraud.' Dogolas's echoing words splintered the void of Akuma's mind. Drakan's eyes barely cracked open. Darkness clouded the skeletal dragon's vision. Despite not possessing the eyes capable of piercing the perpetual darkness, Drakan's senses informed the dragon of the grave peril he was in. Darkness crawled across the skeletal surface, attempting to taint Drakan's soul and body alike. Drakan summoned the strength he never had. He had not yet rejuvenated to his full potential. The darkness watched Drakan lazily stand on all fours. Drakan's legs weakly struggled to keep the body off the ground. The malevolent wave of evil envied the dragon's bravery. It desired to envelop Drakan completely. A barely conscious Glitter Tiga felt the supernatural disturbance. The golden warrior's divine power was compelled to spread and cleanse the region of the brewing darkness. Despite being engulfed by its malevolence, Glitter Tiga's benign soul fought the evil without mercy. Golden streaks shined out of every corner of Glitter Tiga's body, erasing a volume of darkness around him. Drakan faintly spotted the beacon of light. The skeletal dragon reared its head to the unforeseen heavens and unleashed a thundering roar. From all around, Drakan heard the cries of his comrades. While Drakan's will to survive was admiral, it was ultimately futile; a tingling crawled up the spines of all present, warning them of their inevitable demise. "I think not, Dogolas," Akuma snarled without fear, "Since my genetic makeup is that of darkness, I can control it." The dark dragon paused, before concluding his statement. "And control it I shall." A premonition dawned on the Dark Echelon. Dogolas saw visions of the future, each revealing an excruciating death. The Dark Echelon calmly made plans to counter these images of the future. Akuma's soulless eyes started to sparkle. Chasms of azure particles infused Akuma's once empty eye sockets with the beauty it had long craved to possess. The decomposed flesh that covered Akuma started to peel away. Beneath the layers of dark skin, scarlet scales started to reveal themselves. Akuma had shed away the darkness that had concealed the dragon within. For a short period of time, Akuma reverted back to Putricus. Like a pack of ravenous jackals, the darkness closed in on the scarlet coated dragon, hoping to reclaim what was once its own. Fabrics of celestial light secreted out of Putricus' flesh, fending off the prowling darkness. Dogolas was stunned to see the dragon free of his tentacles. A few seconds ago, the dragon was drowning in a sea of iniquity; but now, Putricus was free of Dogolas's clutches. Putricus gazed up at Dogolas and stared intensely into the Dark Echelon's eyes. Dogolas read those eyes like a book and knew exactly what Putricus planned to do. In a selfless act of heroism, Putricus at last achieved redemption. The dragon allowed the darkness to fuse with him once more. An entire sea of pale blackness washed into Putricus' prehistoric form. But the dragon didn't stop. He continued to absorb the darkness swirling about. Green glows shimmered around Dogolas. Psionic energies entombed Dogolas in a psychic sepulcher. When Putricus at last absorbed all of the darkness, Putricus stared off into the distance, and connected with Drakan's fiery orbs. For that moment in time, the two dragons exchanged an understanding by embracing one another as long lost brothers, each seeking redemption and honor. No longer covered with red scales, Putricus was a living shadow, immune to the pillars of light extinguishing out of the crimson skies above. Even if he had embodied dark energies of demonic origin, the benignity of the dragon had never shined brighter. A split second later, the darkness overloaded and the dragon disappeared. Everything in a hundred foot radius was sucked in. No longer was there Dogolas or Putricus, but a black sphere. The sphere increased in size and then finally detonated, reverting to a blinding light of mystical properties. It was the light of Putricus' enlightened soul. There was no explosion, no earth-shattering shockwaves, not even a tremor, there was only the blinding glow. The blinding glow transformed into a perfect outline of Putricus. It was the final testament of a dragon saying goodbye to its comrades one last time before finally dissolving into thin air. There was nothing left. |
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| Light returned to Glitter Tiga's dome-shaped eyes. The golden warrior rose to an upright position. Glitter Tiga witnessed a wasteland that no longer contained its master. Only Glitter Tiga's allies appeared in his line of sight. A rejuvenated Balkzardan slowly started to venture towards the area of where Dogolas and Putricus were last seen. The element wielder had sustained heavy damage, but Balkzardan's cellular reconstruction had changed all that. Miereki levitated towards the sky, a result of his inability to walk. Half of his body had been sliced in half. Though Miereki's wounds had been cauterized, the pain was still excruciating. But years of meditation enabled Miereki to block out the intense pain. A wounded Drakan crawled to where he had last seen his friend. There the dragon was joined by his comrades. Drakan pondered on what to say. Recently, the two dragons were at one another's throats, but in Putricus' final hour, redemption was at last achieved. "I guess it was always a race, wasn't it? A race to see who'd be the first to achieve redemption," Drakan mumbled softly. "Our bloody battles were legendary. For what it's worth, you were my greatest adversary." Drakan stopped, remembering the battles the two dragons had. The memories appeared vividly; Drakan's mind failed to recall the full extent of the bloodthirsty battles. Miereki remained silent. The psychic was aware that there was a possibility of Putricus' spirit faintly being present. Miereki sought to telepathically contact the spirit, but met failure. It was possible that Putricus' spirit had already moved on beyond Miereki's reach. Nonetheless, Miereki was prepared to pay his respects. The psychic still recalled the dragon's ferocity. None would dare partner with the dragon. Time and time again, Putricus lashed out at those considered his ally. The dragon had only one desire and that was to fight. Miereki had lived for eons, possessing the power and stamina needed to survive for so long. After arriving on a planet called Earth, Miereki was surprised to find creatures capable of challenging his impending godhood. There are some capable of killing him. But there was something else about this third planet from the Sun. Miereki had visited thousands of inhabited worlds, yet this one was unique. Miereki vowed to be one of its many guardians and take part in MWF battles, but only to improve his psychic abilities. But when Miereki learned of Putricus' legendary ferocity, Miereki volunteered to be his partner. For the first time in either one of their lives, an ally had been found, one they can trust. Miereki sensed a darkness dwelling deep inside Putricus, one the dragon wasn't even aware of. The psychic had long suspected that Putricus' dark past would one day be revealed. But Miereki had prayed that when that day comes, Putricus would make the right decision. "And you have," Miereki telepathically declared. "Thank you, my friend." Glitter Tiga had nothing to say. The golden warrior had never feuded with the dragon. To him, Putricus was a comrade in arms, nothing more. A tingling informed Glitter Tiga that his other allies needed assistance. Glitter Tiga spotted the crimson Evangelion unit, immobilized by fields of thorny tentacles. The other was dwelling beneath the soil, desperately fighting for its life in a sea of blood and decay. Glitter Tiga took a step, preparing to lend his assistance. Suddenly, a hole was split between time and space. Glitter Tiga stopped, stunned by this strange phenomenon. A tentacle scourged out of the hole, piercing the spiritual pearl attached to Glitter Tiga's chest. But the tentacle did not halt its advance, it kept going. Glitter Tiga felt the tentacle disembowel his insides, contaminating the divine energies surging within. The tentacle emerged out of Glitter Tiga's back. Pure shock had overtaken Glitter Tiga's mind. The golden warrior's hands trembled. Balkzardan, Miereki and Drakan were in awe. They sensed Glitter Tiga's life force fade at an astonishing rate. The pearl located on Glitter Tiga's chest, dissolved and sprinkled to the ground. It contained the incredible power Glitter Tiga had at his disposal, but it also contained the combined essences of Ultraman Tiga and Dyna. Glitter Tiga weakly surveyed the horrified look of his allies. "It was an honor…" the golden warrior weakly trembled, before disappearing in a heap of yellow light. In front of everyone, the almighty Glitter Tiga and the third One was slain. As the light faded, the tentacle that had took Glitter Tiga's life remained stretched out. The majority of the tentacle was no where to be seen. It pulled back into the dimensional rift, no where to be seen. Dogolas emerged out of the rift. Never before had the kaiju felt such hopelessness in their campaign against the Dark Echelon. Dogolas had been eradicated piece-by-piece, down to the last molecule. It was impossible for him to have survived that! Angered by the death of Glitter Tiga and Putricus' selfless sacrifice, the monsters unleashed a relentless bombardment of energy. Torrents of fire emerged out of Drakan's jaws, striking a telekinetic wall that separated it from reaching Dogolas. Psionic beams flourished out of Miereki's hand, meeting the same fate as Drakan's fire. Balkzardan bolted hundreds of feet into the air, electricity surging around every inch of his body. Dozens of lightning bolts flared out of Balkzardan, striking the telekinetic wall without remorse. Balkzardan warped the air around the evil monarch, freezing Dogolas's flesh. 'It feels great to be alive,' Dogolas proclaimed happily, insulting the efforts of the monsters. Balkzardan disappeared into a bolt of lightning, which struck the ground several hundred meters away from Dogolas's left. Miereki levitated at the same distance from Dogolas's right. Only Drakan remained in the same place. Miereki hurled a stream of psionic might; Balkzardan's jaws departed, unleashing an amber-hued surge of electricity. The two projectiles struck Dogolas from opposing sides, exposing the malevolent one to destructive energies. Amidst the exposure, the tentacles on Dogolas's right side wrapped around one another, becoming one. The ones on his left side did the same. Impervious to the destructive energies surging all around, Dogolas raised his combined tentacles and pointed them in opposite directions. Dogolas channeled the omnipotence into each, joint tentacle. The energy absolved from either joint tentacle splintered the projectiles of Miereki and Balkzardan easily. Both psychic and element wielder met absolute darkness as Dogolas's beams washed over them, stripping away the layers of flesh that contained their bodies. The pain was unbearable, eventually leading to a state of unconsciousness. It was the only way to escape the pain. Dogolas's gloomy eyes settled upon the torn and withered Drakan. The skeletal dragon inhaled the toxic air, ignoring the effects it would have on his earthly form. Drakan's superficial wounds had healed, but the damage he had sustained left its toll. Combating a superior foe had left Drakan exhausted. But his body wasn't the only thing exhausted; the dragon's spirit was on its last legs. Drakan's instincts sensed an inevitable demise. Armor Mothra, Glitter Tiga and Putricus - all of them had perished. What hope did Drakan have? The Dark Echelon examined Drakan's self-regret. 'Such an imperfect specimen,' Dogolas thought without satisfaction, 'It possesses power that no mortal should ever have, and yet, it is deeply troubled,' Dogolas's thinking stopped and observed Drakan. 'Pity,' Dogolas concluded. Chasms of light seeped out of Dogolas's forehead, heralding the final seconds of Drakan's life. The dragon's envious eyes watched on with amusement. It suddenly occurred to the dragon that he was going to die. Nothing on Earth or in Heaven could save him. Piercing bolts of light lanced out of Dogolas's forehead, puncturing the dragon's body. Drakan's armored-plated flesh succumbed to Dogolas's demonic power. Malevolent streaks penetrated the first layer, incinerating the internal organs housed within. A split second later, the beams strode out of Drakan's backside, signaling their departure. Drakan crunched to the ground, unable to remain standing. Blood did not seep out of the dragon's damaged wounds. Dogolas's projectiles had cauterized the wounds before any blood could escape. Drakan's red eyes started to fade. The living soil beneath the dying dragon wiggled excitedly. Its insatiable appetite reached a climax. Organic vines sprouted out of the ground, entangling Drakan's weak form. Drakan protested in the beginning, but started to accept his fate. Dogolas commanded the ground to stop. The vines immediately untangled the dragon and returned to the world beneath the hungry soil. The Dark Echelon hovered towards the wounded dragon. Dogolas sensed Drakan's diminishing life force. It was a shame that such a feral creature had to die. Super Godzilla's nuclear orbs opened. The atomic dragon scanned the area around him, noticing he was lying inside an impact crater. Super Godzilla started to budge, but howled a painful grunt; just trying to move brought pain to the mighty beast. Super Godzilla felt his bones snap into alignment, regenerating the damage his body had sustained after the fall. The monster's fighting spirit would not allow him to just lie there, yelping painfully. Super Godzilla fought the pain as he rose to his hind legs. Not willing to wait, Super Godzilla allowed atomic energy to blossom out of his spines. The roaring flames boiled the soil and warmed the blood in his leathery wings. The intense stream of energy propelled the leviathan off the ground, launching the atomic dragon towards the sky. Super Godzilla's feral eyes spotted Dogolas approaching Drakan. Amber-hued flames churned inside Super Godzilla's maw, signaling the birth of nuclear dread. Dogolas continued to hover towards the wounded Drakan, 'And so the fourth One shall join my father,' Dogolas announced arrogantly. An atomic beam sliced into Dogolas's abdomen and pushed the Dark Echelon deep beneath the soil. A sea of atomic fire engulfed Dogolas entirely. The energetic flames disappeared, allowing smoke to replace its dazzling appeal. Super Godzilla descended out of a dark cloud, a bright radiance of power gleaming out of his fists. The atomic dragon rapidly descended to meet Dogolas. As Super Godzilla closed in, a lone tentacle emerged out of the cloud of smoke. It lashed around Super Godzilla's neck, applying enough pressure and strength to divert Super Godzilla's trajectory. Super Godzilla spun around the cloister of smoke and blew it all away, revealing an unharmed Dogolas. Dogolas twirled his entire body, causing Super Godzilla to unwillingly do the same thing. The Dark Echelon forcefully slammed Super Godzilla against the ground, releasing the hold he had on the reptile's throat. Super Godzilla skidded across the barren landscape, tearing up the soil with his jagged spines, releasing torrents of blood out of the torn ground. The blood covered Super Godzilla in an apron of contaminated blood. It burned Super Godzilla's flesh as the beast came to a halting stop. Super Godzilla noticed that he had stopped next to the wounded skeletal dragon, Drakan. Dogolas hovered towards the reptilian duo. Particles of light swirled into Dogolas's forehead. Dogolas suddenly stopped, unleashing a barrage of energy blasts above Super Godzilla and Drakan's heads. The beams destroyed a bombardment of twirling blades. Dogolas stared coldly at his humanoid attacker. 'Tom,' Dogolas telepathically revealed. A covering of fog concealed the strolling image of Evajiran, 'so nice of you to join your comrade and assurgent father.' The pilot of the synthetic hybrid snapped, "Shut the hell up, you son of a bitch." 'Such strong words,' Dogolas replied irritably. 'I assume you plan to back them up." Evajiran stopped. Irradiating blades slit out of the top of his fists. "Yes, I do." Dogolas noticed a disturbance in the air. A rumbling roar echoed across the forsaken wasteland, informing Dogolas that more were on the way. In the distance, azure-flames seared out of the leg compartments of Gamera, the Guardian of the Universe. Green blood gushed out of Gamera's wounds. The blood was swept away by the wind, never to be seen again. Hundreds of yards away, Ultrizard sliced the air with his slender form. Ultrizard's wings stretched outwards, controlling the trajectory of the reptilian warrior. Below, Godzalla, Yonggary and Fusion sprinted as fast as their bodies could muster. 'So this is how it is going to end.' "No Dogolas," Tom corrected quietly. "This is how it is going to begin." Everything went bright. A gleaming Cross ruptured out of the ground, incinerating the hungry soil instantly. Evangelion Unit 01 emerged out of the holy symbol, eyes gleaming brightly. The Eva was not berserk, merely enlightened. Light glistened off of Unit 01's purple armor, masking the entity as if it were an Angel from Heaven. Eva Unit 01's optic eyes turned to the trapped Unit 02. "Monty," DDB's mind muttered over the com-link, "just let it go." The monsters surrounded Dogolas. Dogolas paid them no heed, instead Dogolas contemplated upon the exchange between the Evangelions. "Yeah, easier said then done!" Monty replied back. "How am I supposed to just let it go?" "By believing," DDB replied. "Haven't you ever had a goal you just wanted to achieve, Monty? Did you ever believe in something so truly, your very soul was willing to transcend its boundaries, just to make it happen?" "DDB, I just can't--," "My name is Jim and yes, you can!" Monty's mind envisioned his human face. He was able to remember what it felt like to be human, not some mind trapped in the belly of a beast. Truthfully, Monty had long the chance to prove his existence, by defending his family, friends and neighbors. Putting his life on the line was the price to pay. But Monty did not care; in fact he considered it an honor. Those goals came true to a degree. But instead of joining the army, Monty's education and experience allowed him to join the MWF Staff. Announcing battles that concerned giant creatures was all good and dandy, but there was a gap in Monty's soul. This gap had finally faded, once the human synchronized with the synthetic life form Evangelion. At last, Monty had the chance to fulfill his goal. It was about time he remembered his purpose. "Thank you, Jim," Monty whispered and allowed spiritual energies to engulf his very being. The thorny tentacles encasing the crimson Eva's body disintegrated once the Evangelion generated a large increase of power. A burning Cross enveloped the Eva, scorching the putrid land that tried to crawl out of the bloody abyss below. An enlightened Evangelion Unit 02 marched out of the illuminating Cross, its crimson armor sparkling in a figment of beauty. All four artificial eyes gleamed brightly, channeling divine power. Jim acknowledged Monty's newfound power. "Behold the true power of an Evangelion, a synthetic vessel created out of the fusion of science and sorcery. The full potential of a human being! The instrument of God…" Dogolas cackled evilly. Unit 01 turned its attention towards the Dark Echelon. 'Instrument of God,' Dogolas questioned. 'Does thou truly believe in such a being? After all, you believe in the Devil, correct?' "Yes," Jim replied bravely. 'Here's a revelation for you then,' Dogolas announced proudly. 'I am the Devil.' Super Godzilla's earth-shattering roar captured Dogolas's attention. Dogolas noticed all the creatures that had come to defy them. An unforeseen power was fueling them the strength they needed to continue fighting. A power Dogolas had never felt nor was ever aware of. "And we're the instrument of God," Tom announced without remorse. "It's time you pay for all the things you've done." Evajiran thrusted his hands forward, dispelling the irradiated blades. The two twirling blades struck Dogolas's chest, covering it in two explosions. Dogolas used his amazing speed and flew directly towards Evajiran, unaffected by the hybrid's assault. One of Dogolas's tentacles launched forward, attempting to crucify the hybrid warrior, but Evajiran extended his AT-Field and shredded the tentacle. Dogolas regenerated the loss tentacle instantly. A shimmering aura of power gleamed from Evajiran's hands. The hybrid pointed them forward, unleashing twin atomic beams, each made for the sole purpose of slaying the mighty monarch. Dogolas telekinetically moved away, avoiding the two atomic beams. Fusion charged forward, intent on plunging his horns deep into Dogolas's flesh. Dogolas scourged Fusion's ankles, separating them from the rest of the body. Fusion dove into the ground and was welcomed by a nerve racking pain. Gallons of blood emptied out of Fusion's ankles, which was no longer attached to the feet. Dogolas's telekinesis lifted Fusion off the ground and hurled the saurian thousands of feet away. Dogolas turned fast enough to see Eva Unit 01 wave its hand, initiating the expansion of its AT-Field. Unit 01's spiritual assault thrashed Dogolas's body, shredding the carapace away from its foundations. The injured parts of Dogolas's sternum regenerated, but the pain did not subside. Dogolas shot out a tentacle, piercing Eva Unit 01s sternum. The Dark Echelon reeled the Eva towards him. Energy swirled around his forehead, signaling the herald of his psionic beam. Unit 02's shoulder compartment opened, revealing a blade nestled within. The crimson Eva grabbed the blade and sprinted to save his comrade. Eva Unit 02 sliced the tentacle in two, releasing Eva Unit 01 from Dogolas's grasp. Eva Unit 02 jumped towards Dogolas, plunging the knife deep into Dogolas's throat. The Eva pushed the blade with all its might, easing it deeper into Dogolas's throat. Tentacles wrapped around the Eva's waist and pulled him away. Dogolas pulled the knife out with his mind. Evangelion Unit 02 expanded his AT-Field, freeing itself from Dogolas's tentacles. But Monty didn't expect Dogolas to telekinetically throw the knife into his stomach. All eight of Dogolas's eyes illuminated an eerie glow. The crimson Eva was lifted off the ground and chucked miles away. Psionic bolts flared around the aloft Eva, destroying the Eva's scarlet coated armor. Dogolas watched the Eva plummet into the ground miles away. The Dark Echelon rapidly turned and faced Super Godzilla and Drakan. Atomic energies emerged out of Super Godzilla's jaws. Particles formed inside Drakan's mouth, fusing into a sparkling sphere. The sphere spawned a particle beam that emptied out of Drakan's mouth. The two kinetic forces struck Dogolas, splintering the monarch's carapace. Super Godzilla's heat ray gouged a trail deep beneath Dogolas's flesh, overheating the bodily organs to the point of where they exploded. Drakan's particle beam had removed a portion of Dogolas's emerald surface, dissolving the atoms at a molecular level. The sheer force accompanying the beams pushed Dogolas hundreds of yards back. But the resilient monarch barricaded his body with a shield, stopping the two concentrated beams. Several irradiated blades struck and detonated, covering Dogolas's entire back in an apron of fire. Dogolas swiftly turned to face Evajiran. While Super Godzilla and Drakan's beams were still being blocked, Dogolas fired a psionic torrent of energy out of his forehead. Evajiran's AT-Field expanded outwards, capturing the psionic beam and suspending it in its place. But instead of using his own power to cripple the hybrid, Dogolas commanded the soil itself to fight his battle. Several tendrils extended out of the soil, binding Evajiran with a constricting grasp. At the tip of each tendril, hungry jaws latched onto Evajiran, siphoning the hybrid's life force. Evajiran called back the AT-Field, allowing it to eradicate the siphoning tendrils. But it also allowed Dogolas's psionic beam to pierce Evajiran's shoulder joint, incinerating the bones and muscles in one foul swoop. The artificial armor was reduced to ashes, along with the organic material beneath. Evajiran was unable to remain standing. Realizing the hybrid was defeated, Dogolas rapidly ascended upwards. The Dark Echelon flew over Super Godzilla and Drakan, casting a shade of malice over the two prehistoric titans. Before anyone of them could react, a tentacle ravaged their throats. It wasn't long until the tentacles tightened their grips upon contact. Dogolas acrobatically flipped forward and landed thousands of feet behind the two monsters. The sheer strength of Dogolas's tentacles was enough to hoist both monsters off the ground, hurl them hundreds of feet in front of the diabolical monarch, and then finally slam them into the ground. Dogolas whirled around, scourging the air with a swipe of a tentacle, which generated a powerful wave of telekinesis. The telekinetic wave crashed into Ultrizard, dismantling the reptilian warrior's frontal arc, knocking the wind out of him. Ultrizard tumbled to the ground, unable to repel Dogolas's attack. Thermonuclear flames churned out of Godzalla's mantle, covering Dogolas's shoulder region. Yonggary unleashed a barrage of fireballs, pelting Dogolas's armored hide. Gamera, the Guardian of the Universe, glared at Dogolas's bulbous head, and fired a plasma fireball. The impact covered Dogolas's entire upper body in a cloud of scorching flames. In a split second, Dogolas's tentacles bashed all three kaiju simultaneously, flooring every single one of them. 'Accept defeat and I'll grant you all eternal serenity,' Dogolas calmly announced. A barrage of lasers bombarded the Dark Echelon. The lasers engraved tiny craters, but the wounds quickly healed. Dogolas's eight eyes acknowledged his attacker. 'Cybersaur,' Dogolas said, recognizing his attacker, 'or should I say Vader?' Streams of azure-silvery flames rolled out of Cybersaur's rocket boosters. The mechanical leviathan was descending from the sky. Cybersaur, the pinnacle of science and robotic advancements, was now a battered and broken robot that was barely able to operate. At the apex of Cybersaur's shoulders, the laser cannons pointed emotionlessly at the Dark Echelon. Sweltering smoke oozed out of the barrels. "Eternal serenity," Vader questioned, nearly vomiting at the thought of such a lie. "Quit trying to fool everyone, Dogolas, we know your sick ambitions. Do you really want everything to end? Turn the cosmos into a bleak, desolate void?" 'Foolish mortal,' Dogolas lividly replied, 'the cosmos is already a bleak, desolate void. It is just filled with cancer.' Evajiran started to rise off the ground. "Cancer that you, yourself, helped spread!" Tom fired back. Dogolas sighed obscurely, 'All the more reason to eradicate it.' "This is pathetic!" Vader shouted angrily. "You are a fucking hypocrite! Surely one as advanced as you can see that. You are contradicting your own actions!" "Vader, I believe we're missing the true motive," Tom murmured darkly. "Remember, Dogolas desires to become perfect. Even if he is more powerful than the rest of us, he is still not perfect. Exactly what does that make us? Imperfect sentient beings, the same imperfect sentient beings Dogolas tainted. That's right Dogolas," Tom revealed proudly, "you see yourself in all of us. That's why you want to absorb us, because you want yourself back. But at the same time, you are reminded just how mortal you truly are." Vader laughed hysterically. "So you are nothing more than a gothic-reject, aren't you? A sad, spoiled despot that is sad that he is like the rest of us." "Reminds me of Orukai," Tom jokingly teased. "Just because she couldn't achieve the power she craved, the psychotic bitch tried to end the world numerous times. She manipulated the behavior system, making some monsters actually try to destroy us; she awakened the Angels, which nearly initiated the apocalypse and she also…" 'Was one of my pawns,' Dogolas interrupted. Tom couldn't finish. He was speechless. The same woman that tried to be his puppeteer was in fact a puppet herself. 'Had she succeeded, none of this would've happened. In fact, I would already be perfect, but alas I had foreseen failure on her part.' Dogolas disappointedly announced. The monarch sighed with boredom. 'Either way, you cannot win. If you murdered me right here and now, I'd achieve perfection. But if I kill you all, your life force will grant me the power needed to force my ascension.' "No," Vader muttered in denial, "we'll stop you." Dogolas levitated into the air. 'Then try.' The Dark Echelon exclaimed coldly. Dogolas gracefully tore through the air and reached the sky above in a few seconds. Super Godzilla mustered the strength needed to rise to his feet. Atomic energies crackled to life, illuminating the jagged spines. Nuclear flames blossomed down the spines, propelling the atomic dragon into the sky. The heat bathed Super Godzilla's residing wings. A bright azure glow glistened out of Super Godzilla's eyes. The atomic saurian desired to see Dogolas's corpse. He yearned for the taste of the monarch's blood. Vengeance was still fueling Super Godzilla's rage. The King of the Monsters will see to it that that rage will at last be quelled. Ultrizard got up on his hind legs and noticed Super Godzilla's ascent. The reptilian warrior broke into a sprint, and leaped upwards. Ultrizard's wings extended outwards, capturing the layers of wind passing him by. The reptile took to the skies, eager to join Super Godzilla in battle. Gamera stood in an upright position. Thick layers of smoke rolled down his legs, eventually spawning azure flames. The flames pushed Gamera high into the air, leaving a trail of smoke behind. In the distance, the wounded shapes of Miereki and Balkzardan got up. A psionic bubble wrapped itself around Miereki, which thrusted itself directly towards the sky. Balkzardan's lower body transformed into electrical bolts that provided the boost needed to launch the element wielder to the skies. Machines clattered inside Cybersaur. The machine's rocket boosters slowly activated and propelled the damaged robot upwards… Evajiran and the other land-based warriors watched on helplessly as an aerial battle was about to unfold before their very eyes. |
 |
| Dogolas felt the wind exceed over his body, as his aerial form tore across the sky. The grisly monarch allowed the crimson light to entice his very being. Dogolas's tentacles wiggled freely in the pervading wind. The Dark Echelon flew into the heart of a cloud and allowed it to shield him from mortal eyes. Dogolas flew out of the cloud, sensing a disturbance. Nearby, the reptilian outline of Super Godzilla closed in. Golden flames sparkled in the back of Super Godzilla's maw, heralding the coming of nuclear anarchy. Dogolas decided to wait for Super Godzilla's first move. It wasn't a long wait. A golden beam stretched out of Super Godzilla's jaws, barely missing the swift and cunning outline of Dogolas. Dogolas stretched out one of his tentacles, impaling the brawny shoulder of the atomic dragon. The tentacle wiggled its way deep into Super Godzilla's shoulder, damaging the bone and muscle tissue. Dogolas channeled psionic energy into the shoulder. Dogolas once again tried to enter the monster's mind and decipher the code he craves; the code that'll unlock everything Dogolas needs. 'The humans surprised me,' Dogolas admitted without regret. 'However, they have not yet uncovered the full truth. They are not aware that you are the key to end everything. I do not need to experience death or even absorb the others. You are all that matters.' Super Godzilla growled. The monster slashed the tentacle with his claws, disconnecting it from his shoulder. Super Godzilla renewed his original assignment; the atomic dragon's nuclear power boosted the strength needed to propel the titan closer to its target. A horde of tentacles rained down upon the flying saurian. Super Godzilla empowered his hands with nuclear energy. The monster's wings flapped, guiding the body to where it needed to be to avoid contact with the many tentacles. Super Godzilla was close enough to lean back and thrust one of his irradiated fist forward, pounding it against Dogolas's round-shaped head. The physical blow was enough to nearly topple the monarch out of the sky. Dogolas managed to regain his composure, but Super Godzilla once again plunged his fist into Dogolas's head. Again! And again! And then again! The physical blows disrupted the sound waves. Loud bashing sounds echoed across the entire sky. Super Godzilla gripped Dogolas's sternum with his irradiated hands, burning the monarch's flesh. At point blank range, Super Godzilla fired a golden beam, which carved deep into Dogolas's sternum. Super Godzilla continued pouring the golden energies, not willing to stop until it had punched a hole through Dogolas entirely. Psionic energy gleamed out of the central cortex of the forehead. Super Godzilla's golden flames disappeared and the relentless saurian glared into Dogolas's eyes. As the two beings flew endlessly across the sky, the battle was just heating up. Super Godzilla raised his right fist with the intent of shattering Dogolas's skull. A tentacle wrapped around its wrist, implementing a telekinetic shock that disabled Super Godzilla's entire right arm. Super Godzilla's numb arm dropped to its side. The atomic saurian growled a furious cry and attempted to use his other arm, but several tentacles quickly constricted him. Not willing to let his bones shatter and cause internal bleeding, Super Godzilla released a nuclear pulse. The pulse destroyed the tentacles in a bright flash of light. Shockwaves generated out of the explosion, striking the aloft Dogolas and knocking him hundreds of feet back. Atomic flames steamed out of Super Godzilla's spines, allowing the saurian to remain in the air. Super Godzilla discharged a streak of golden energy that clashed with Dogolas's own. The two beams pushed against one another, urgently trying to overpower the other. Blinding streaks of light generated out of the clashing beams, bathing the entire sky in its luminance. The sheer power the two beams unleashed caused clouds to drift further and further apart from the two dueling adversaries. A group of flying monsters approached the titanic showdown. Flying in front of the cavalry was Gamera. Plasma flames crept into the center of Gamera's jaws. Remnants of Gamera's green blood had long dried up, no more then just a stain. The custodian's entire back was still critically damaged. Balkzardan and Miereki ventured not far behind. Balkzardan started to manipulate the elements, conjuring up dark clouds that could only bring forth thunder and lightning. Even though Miereki was soaring to battle a being superior to him in every single way, the psychic was still prone to concentration. Ultrizard wasn't far behind; the reptilian warrior's internal energy started to channel out of Ultrizard's emerald orbs. Psionic bolts ruptured out of the flaring forehead, following the trail of the massive psionic beam. It slithered its way past the two colliding beams, and merged with Super Godzilla's subconscious. There it delivered a neural shock that temporarily knocked Super Godzilla out cold. The golden beam no longer fluctuated out of his jaws; as a result Dogolas's psionic beam won the clash and reamed a hole in Super Godzilla's body. The spines on Super Godzilla's back had been ripped away from the powerful beam. Super Godzilla's eyes rolled into the back of their sockets. The atomic flames blazing out of his jagged spines disappeared. Super Godzilla plummeted towards the earth below. The pervading winds failed to catch Super Godzilla's monstrous mass. Dogolas watched the atomic dragon fall closer and closer to the ground, until finally striking the world below. The impact made the ground rise high into the air, shrouding the irradiated saurian in a thick layer of dust and smoke. The fiery escape of Gamera's fireballs captured Dogolas's awareness. Three fireballs seared across the sky, burning the toxic air all around. In certain areas, the toxic fumes caught on fire, forging a diagram of flames high up in the sky. Dogolas deemed the fireballs unworthy, preferring the use of his tentacles instead of his mind. Three tentacles, each gunning a specific fireball, shot out to meet them head on. The tentacles pierced the fireballs, destroying the blistering hearts of each fiery sphere. Every fireball exploded simultaneously, forming a large cloud of sweltering heat. But the unyielding tentacles did not stop, but instead they scourged directly towards the harbinger of the fireballs: Gamera. Gamera noticed the danger and tucked his head and limbs inside the armored-shell, allowing azure flames to erupt out of their sockets. The spinning custodian shifted its trajectory, avoiding one of the tentacles. But the second tentacle manipulated its own tip, forming a razor-sharp edge. The tentacle pierced the twirling body of Gamera, spewing fresh blood. Finally, the third tentacle constricted Gamera and squeezed it with all its strength. Inside the shell, Gamera heard the outer haul crack. Soaring nearby, Miereki used his only hand to discharge a psionic bolt, singing the conniving tentacles. But Miereki was not prepared for an even stronger psionic bolt that splintered the volume of space between Gamera and Dogolas. The beam ravaged the custodian by blasting a sweltering hole in the center of his body. Gamera plunged downwards, losing a large amount of blood along the way. The wounded custodian tried to muster the strength to go aid his comrades, but Dogolas's attack had hindered any hope Gamera ever had at stopping his descent. Knowing the impact would be severe, Gamera allowed thick layers of smoke and fire to erupt out of his sockets, which all pointed down. It slowed Gamera's falling form, but ultimately failed in stopping Gamera entirely. The Guardian of the Universe struck the ground. A hazy cloud of dirt smothered the guardian. The impact alone had knocked Gamera out cold, embroiling Gamera's consciousness with darkness. Bleak clouds molested the skies, conjuring up a chain of thunder and lightning. Dogolas hastily sped away from the flying trio, luring them to give chase. Miereki followed the wrathful despot, invoking psionic storms in Dogolas's direction. Dogolas allowed the psionic energies to douse his speeding form, but they failed to breach the thick carapace. Feeling a mixture of the elements and psionic impulses will prove to be a different story, the two beings, Balkzardan and Miereki, bombarded Dogolas with a barrage of lightning and psionic bolts. Winds of fury blew against Dogolas, drastically decreasing his speed. Dogolas twirled around, facing his two attackers. A glimmering ray of light shot out of Dogolas's forehead and dispersed into two separating energy rays. Miereki summoned a telekinetic bubble, which withstood the full brunt of the beam and allowed it to deflect harmlessly away. Balkzardan dissolved into bolts of electricity, avoiding the beam's wrathful presence. The electrical bolts slithered across the scope of the sky, reforming Balkzardan. But the two beams were only meant to distract the warriors. With Balkzardan and Miereki occupied, Dogolas attacked the reptilian warrior known as Ultrizard. Ultrizard took a swipe at the incoming tentacle with his wrist blades, but the tentacle immediately wrapped around the blade before it could do damage. Another tentacle squeezed the life out of the arm, cutting off the blood-filled veins. Realizing his other arm was free, Ultrizard attempted to split the attacking tentacles in half by utilizing his other wrist blade. But upon contact, the collision merely spawned a shower of sparks. Cleaving the tentacles would not free him of Dogolas's clutches. The tentacle wrapped around the individual wrist blade radically changed its strategy. It pulled the blade cleanly out of the wrist, filling Ultrizard's mind with a feeling of horrible pain. Ultrizard's jaws divided, gesturing a loud, painful cry. Dogolas's tentacles released the grip they had on Ultrizard's arm and scourged the reptilian's face, shutting him up. The tentacles constricted the wrist of the other arm, but instead of trying to pull the blade out, they decided to try something else. Tightening their grip, the tentacles psychically controlled the molecular structure of the wrist and hand. The density increased in length and size. Ultrizard watched fearfully as both his wrist and hand grew exceedingly large. It finally reached a climax; a combination of flesh and muscle popped in all directions. Ultrizard's eyes peaked open. The aloft warrior felt a strange warmth residing on his face. Ultrizard's tongue emerged out of his mouth and slurped the strange warmth. Ultrizard suddenly realized the warmth was in fact his blood. Pieces of Ultrizard's flesh dangled from his face. Ultrizard peered down at his injured hand, noticing the flesh and muscle tissue was completely gone. Only a blood, stained skeleton remained. Ultrizard tilted his head upwards, but instead of seeing Dogolas, he was greeted by two lashing tentacles. The tentacles bashed Ultrizard's skull, knocking him out cold. Ultrizard plummeted towards the ground below. Seeing Ultrizard's resignation from the aerial feud, Dogolas quickly moved in-between the other kaiju and pointed his tentacles at them. The tentacles unleashed a web of telekinetic might, entangling Balkzardan and Miereki. Dogolas commanded his tentacles to bring the two together. Miereki and Balkzardan were forced to collide against one another. The collision brought forth a loud, bashing sound that echoed on for miles. Dogolas encased his stunned adversaries in an invisible sphere. Inside the center of the sphere, Dogolas made the particles energize; the sphere itself transformed into a ball of crackling energy. Dogolas made the energetic sphere descend downwards. To those still alive and present down below, the glowing sphere resembled a burning comet that made its way towards the ground. The impact was never seen. A large ball of light rose out of the ground, exceeding the elevation of the clouds. It unleashed brilliant streaks of light across the land, bewildering the inhabitants with its explosive display of power. Entire landscapes failed to survive the blistering shockwaves that swept over them. Mounds of dirt and smoke rolled across the region, cleansing the land's inhabitants of the ability to see. At the center of the explosion, Miereki and Balkzardan rested silently. Their bodies had been burnt beyond recognition; however, within the charred outlines of the bodies, life barely dwelled. It would takes hours, maybe even days, to regenerate the massive wounds either one of them had sustained. Dogolas watched on from above. It was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen. The Dark Echelon felt as if he was watching a star explode; the land below was space and the explosion was the remnants of the energy that was once concealed inside a star. The poetic beauty of the explosion touched the core of Dogolas's very being. And yet, Dogolas felt empty. Thousands of worlds had been reduced to nothing more but barren wastelands. And for every world that was cleansed of life, Dogolas felt empty. Even after absorbing the life force of entire planets, Dogolas never felt any different. Only his hunger grew. That thirst for power was all Dogolas desired. Dogolas shifted his observing eyes and marbled at the unconscious Super Godzilla below. 'Why is it this ambiguous creature, father?' Dogolas asked an unforeseen force. 'What makes this creature worthy to possess the key to my everlasting conquest? Why did I receive a vision prophesizing the rise of six chosen ones that would deliver the hand of my defeat?' Dogolas paused, deciding it would be best to dwell upon his own words. The Dark Echelon's vast and ingenious mind failed to decipher the answers. 'Am I to blame? Had I without knowing implanted a shard of myself within the cortex of Godzilla's mind?' A cold surge of wind washed over Dogolas's gloomy body. The feeling left a lingering sense of satisfaction. 'That's it, isn't it? In the creature's creation, I had unknowingly concealed my own fate. A piece of my mind had bonded with this inferior creature. The power he wields is intriguing and I do find its personality fascinating, but the creature is merely a form of entertainment. None truly remember its purpose. The world from which it had been created no longer remembers the unspeakable horrors it is capable of. Nobody remembers the symbolism. And none recall its purpose in life.' Dogolas sighed stubbornly. 'No matter, I've come a long way, and nothing is going to stop me.' A battered Cybersaur hovered within reach of the malevolent monarch. "Alright asshole, I think it's time you get a taste of our planet's scientific achievements," Vader stated gleefully. The human reached over and opened a compartment, revealing a red button. Without any hesitation, Vader pressed the red button, initiating the launch sequence of Cybersaur's nuclear arsenal. Machines whirled and clattered beyond the walls of the cockpit's boundaries. The rockets loaded inside Cybersaur's shoulder pack moved beyond sight. Inside each shoulder pack, a hidden missile popped out. A biohazard label was attached to each missile's metallic frame. Without notice, the missiles tore out of their cubicle, no longer constrained to one place. The two missiles rapidly approached the devious monarch. Flames baked out of the ends of each missile, creating a trail of smoke in their wake. Fabrics of crimson light glinted off the metallic surfaces of the speeding missiles. Cybersaur was several miles away when the two missiles struck their unsuspecting target. Two fiery balls of light engulfed Dogolas completely. Powerful shockwaves rippled across the sky, striking the damaged robot with full force. Cybersaur's computer systems were shutdown. The robot's means of flight was shut off. With its circuits fried, Cybersaur fell to the world below. The last thing Vader could see were two mushroom clouds looming in the sky. Cybersaur crashed into the ground. The ground coiled from the impact, spawning a tide of dirt and smoke to disperse in all directions. Beneath the inorganic surface, the living soil patiently waited for the quakes to cease. Then it would once again rise to the surface and devour anything caught in its hungry path. Miles above the quaking surface; the burnt carcass of Dogolas fell rapidly to meet it head on. Dogolas's body plummeted into the shaken surface, flattening the ground with his gigantic size. All around Dogolas, the ground was torn out of its foundations. Remnants of the ground had been kicked high into the air, eventually returning to the soil from which it came. A large cloud of smoke covered the entire landscape. A smoldering array of smoke swallowed fifty square miles of land. No mortal eyes possessed the means of penetrating the hazy thickness. Those wandering within blindly sought a way to see where they were going. Amidst the thick covering, Fusion blindly dragged his body across the soil. Blood oozed out of his ankles, leaving a stained trail behind. Fusion was well aware of what lurked beneath the soil. It would only be a matter of time until it caught his scent. Before this smoldering quagmire, Fusion witnessed Dogolas's charred carcass falling from the sky. It would be unwise to declare victory, but Fusion just couldn't help it. If Dogolas is dead, then they have won. But the hybrid should be thankful that Dogolas was not dead. Had the monarch fallen, it wouldn't take long for all of existence to be erased. Nobody knew how long it took for the smoke to settle. By the time it was possible for any eyes to decipher its surroundings, all of the kaiju capable of moving met one another. From all corners, they came, battered and bruised. Their battle scars was as clear as day. Tired eyes peered down at a newly made impact crater, surveying the scorched body that lied within. Smoke escaped the carcass, molesting the nostrils of those present, filling their senses with a putrid scent. Despite Dogolas's unmoving presence, his malevolence still lingered in the vicinity, tainting the souls of all those present and accounted for. Hate registered out of Super Godzilla's feral eyes. The abomination that was lying there before him deserved death. But Super Godzilla's nostrils sensed life still lurking in that burnt shell of flesh and malice. There were many reasons of why Super Godzilla demanded Dogolas to depart existence. Besides the murder and transmutation of his son, Super Godzilla now had another reason to fuel the fire of vengeance. Dogolas was in fact connected to him. A shard of Dogolas's demented soul dwelled deep inside Super Godzilla's subconscious, awaiting the chance to return to its source. Thanks to the manipulation of the humans, Super Godzilla's mind and behavior had been altered. It had in fact evolved to the point of where Super Godzilla was able to identity the situation they were in. Even if Super Godzilla achieves vengeance, it'll all be over. That revelation was the only thing keeping the atomic dragon from ravaging Dogolas's carcass. Miereki silently hovered off the ground. The psychic's body was still blackened by the explosion he had endured recently. It took everything Miereki had to remain calm. Such pain had burrowed its way past the third-degree burns, and ravaged Miereki's mind. It tried to spread a sense of panic. But Miereki blockaded that sense of fear with his strong will. Through out his entire life, Miereki had encountered countless beings, each possessing a great array of power. None of them rivaled the sheer terror Dogolas symbolized. Not only did Dogolas possess the power to wipe out any being in the cosmos, he also had the intellect to mentally rape the minds of anyone he encountered. This was truly an honor; Miereki suddenly realized all of that training he had endured centuries ago was finally paying off. Drakan weakly inhaled the toxic air into his lungs. That feat alone took a large quantity of Drakan's strength. Drakan at first was puzzled of why none bombarded the wounded deity with everything they could muster. If they cannot kill him, then why not incapacitate him? Drakan was still left in the dark. Truthfully, Drakan didn't feel alone. Perhaps everyone was thinking the same thing. It was a foolish decision to just wait for the impending doom Dogolas would bring forth once he regained consciousness. But then again, impending doom awaited them with whatever decision they made. Whatever the decision, Drakan was not going to let Putricus' sacrifice be in vain. Ultrizard stood amongst the other kaiju. Every few minutes, Ultrizard's eyes turned away from Dogolas, and examined his damaged hand. Dust had settled upon the skeletal hand, infecting it with its decaying presence. Ultrizard's noble heart still engineered the courage needed to stand against the enemy, even if the odds were stacked against them. Ultrizard desired the chance to see just how bruised and battered he really was. He was still exhausted, but should he be needed in combat, Ultrizard would bravely be there. The Evangelion Units remained quiet. Everyone knew exactly how they felt. None of the others had ever been mind-controlled by the maniacal tyrant. They were just puppets, controlled to do whatever their puppeteer desired. Many monsters had been slain as a result of Dogolas's mind-control. They still remember how it felt to be a prisoner in their own minds, forced to watch their Evangelions tear monsters limb from limb. When they were free of Dogolas's mind control, they were forced to attack one of their own. The end results lead to an excruciating demise. Being killed by your enemy is natural in combat, but to be slain by one of your closest friends? Even after death, it still haunts them to this day. Whether it was by the hand of an unforeseen force or just simply an unexplained phenomenon, the souls of the humans sought out and harbored the cores of their Evangelions. Now with complete control of the synthetic goliaths, the souls of Jim and Monty desired nothing more but to have their human bodies back and to rid the cosmos of Dogolas's eternal suffering. Artificial eyes peered out of Evajiran's skull. They stared solemnly at the charred corpse of the Dark Echelon. Unlike all the others, Evajiran was a combination of sorcery and evolution. The genetic code of an Evangelion, spliced with that of a Godzilla, equaled a beast more powerful than anything the world had ever seen. It was a forbidden fusion between two supernatural elements. But the hybrid wasn't just a product of two species; dwelling inside its core, two souls fought for dominance. A truce had been psychically declared amongst the two sparring souls, but once Dogolas had been dealt with, it was likely that the war between the two supernatural forces will once again commence. It was likely that the human would depart Evajiran, but there was still a high level of danger. The other soul was destined to walk in Godzilla's footsteps. Instead, Dogolas murdered the child, but the horror didn't stop there. Dogolas had absorbed the child's life force and implanted it in an artificial body. The birth of Kongzilla was short-lived, but the havoc it had dealt remained. Instead of leaving this abysmal of existence, the soul desired vengeance and bonded with the core of Evangelion Unit 04. An unholy mutation transpired miles beneath this planet's surface. When all is said and done, both souls inhabiting Evajiran knew it would only just be the beginning. It was doubtful that either one of them will ever rest in peace. *** The assembly of monsters remained on guard for hours. They all recalled the devastating challenges they were forced to endure. Upon arrival, the monsters were met with extreme opposition. Thousands of demons attempted to tear them to shreds. A few of the monsters failed to survive the encounter. After surviving the sea of demons, the monsters met the tyrannical monarch and his loyal knights. Such bloodshed had not been seen since the days of Bagan and his relentless conquest. It had dawned on the monster garrison that Bagan was merely the beginning. Bagan was a soulless pawn, used to initiate the pain and torment that was to come. Had the sins Bagan committed in the past never occurred, the dragon might've received sympathy. Without a soul, Bagan was eternally lost. The demon only recognized destruction and thrived in its chaotic glory. But Dogolas's manipulation predates Bagan's age of terror. Long before Bagan, an advanced alien life form set its sights on Earth. Engineering miniature spawns of itself, this alien gave birth to a sentient species, designed to wreak havoc upon Earth. The advanced alien named his artificial children: Trians. But their high level of intelligence soon broadened their prospective and proclaimed themselves the Galaxy Trians, for their level of power expanded across the galaxy. They fought the monsters on a planet called Earth. Despite their superior technology, the Galaxy Trians met defeat after several invasions. Unknown to the sentient race, Dogolas slowly manipulated their motives. The MWF event 'March Monster Madness' witnessed a horrible accident. The earth creature known as Godzilla experienced a nuclear overload and detonated, destroying a cloister of asteroids. Only recently it had been discovered that the monster known as Godzilla contains the key to Dogolas's ultimate power; however, during that time, Dogolas used the Galaxy Trians for a different purpose. After attaining a sample of the creature's DNA, the Galaxy Trians engineered a dark clone, a product of science and sorcery. It was meant to become one of Dogolas's loyal knights, designed to wipe out any resistance the Earth had to offer before Dogolas's sons arrived to rule. But the dark clone, later referred to as Gojira, had other things in mind. Gojira's reign of terror was short-lived. Dogolas considered the services of the Galaxy Trians useless. As a result, the Dark Echelon secretly wiped out their entire civilization. Dogolas warped the mind of the creator of the Galaxy Trians, making the entity feel as if Earth was to blame. So the advent of Zog became a reality. Zog's monstrous strength, power and intelligence overwhelmed the MWF, but the beast was eventually disposed of. But before his invasion, Zog had secretly implanted an artificial being deep within the planet's core. Not even Dogolas was aware of this. The future concerning this being is not yet known. What was at first considered another useless world to tame and rule later became an obsession. Dogolas learned that the planet was connected to his ultimate desire in becoming a perfect being. The worms inhabiting the world were destined to decide the fate of the cosmos. It was exactly why Dogolas sought out its conquest. He had succeeded to a degree. Widespread panic had gripped the planet. A state of fear spread like wildfire, enveloping entire continents. Dogolas's true victory, however, was when he mentally deprived the warriors of the planet. Where others had failed at hurting them, Dogolas excelled soundly. They wanted vengeance. All of them wanted Dogolas. Instead of waiting for Dogolas's next move, they would bring the fight to him. It was all an elaborate scheme on Dogolas's part. Earth's counterattack was preordained before the invasion ever commenced. With Earth's greatest warriors gone, Dogolas's second wave commenced. The assembled monsters still had no idea of what's been happening on Earth. All of Dogolas's puppets have been summoned to perform the tasks needed to insure Dogolas's victory. No matter the outcome, everybody knew that in some way, shape or form, Dogolas couldn't lose. The tyrant desired pain, devastation and ultimate power. Either way, Dogolas attained exactly what he wanted. There's no way to grasp the true nature of what the monsters were up against. It was simply beyond their comprehension. |
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| Eight eyes opened, allowing psionic energies to surge within the optic lens. The mind had been awake for some time, monitoring the assembly of monsters. While they were dwelling upon a series of unfortunate events, Dogolas envisioned how he'd perfectly mutilate every single one of them. Dogolas's vast and limitless mind tapped into the stream of time, analyzing every particle in existence, predicting the movements everyone was bound to make. The Dark Echelon noticed the immobilization of all the kaiju. The beacons of hope had been stripped away from their broken bodies. All of them found themselves at Dogolas's mercy. But what satisfied Dogolas most of all was seeing the mighty Super Godzilla, quivering in fear. The atomic dragon had been rendered powerless. Dogolas psychically watched his future self prepare to suck the life out of the saurian and witness his ascension to ultimate power. But then darkness clouded Dogolas's vision. Curiously, Dogolas attempted to see into the future once more. As before, darkness clouded Dogolas's vision, preventing him from seeing the outcome. 'The beast was inevitably beaten,' Dogolas assured his worried conscious. The Dark Echelon analyzed the emotions he was feeling, deeming them insensitive. 'I feel no fear.' Dogolas assured himself, blocking out the emotion only inferior life forms could comprehend. Eternity offered nothing for Dogolas to fear. It was why he felt only he was worthy to wield its unlimited supremacy. 'Not even father can stop me.' Just by mentioning his father, Dogolas recalled the countless wars they had waged upon one another. It all started inside this very universe. Ages before life stained the planet called Earth, Dogolas and his father clashed. But the battle was not a bout between strength and power, but emotion. Unlike his father, Dogolas desired ultimate power. Upon his birth, Dogolas had sensed a hole inside his being. Suspecting the only way to fill it in was to achieve perfection, Dogolas set out to achieve it. Along the path to glory, Dogolas had manipulated the cosmos, tainting all sentient life forms with his evil. In the beginning, Dogolas was flattered, and considered the inferior insects to be his children. But as time passed, Dogolas noticed a similarity between him and the other life forms. They all felt similar emotions. Just having something in common with these low-level organisms disgusted Dogolas. Every being mirrored a reflection of Dogolas's imperfection, reminding him of how small he really is. Not only will Dogolas drain the universe dry, but he'd also absorb the souls of the dead, fusing all life forms into one being. In doing so, he'd no longer feel deprived of his superiority; however, fate intervened. It appeared Dogolas's father would not allow it. 'The depressed fool knew he couldn't defeat me,' Dogolas told himself, reliving those glorious moments. Dogolas later discovered an interesting gift all sentient life forms possessed. Within their very minds, parallel universes existed. The minds acted as a gateway, only a prelude to the vastness of Eternity. Everything was connected, as was Dogolas's meddling of life. The next phase of the war between Dogolas and his father reached a new playing field. Not only had Dogolas tainted the minds of all sentient life forms, he started to use them, bending them to his will. The manipulation of their minds was only the beginning; manipulating their minds eventually leads to the exploitation of the parallel universes lurking inside. The abysmal travesty of Evil constantly fights to overthrow Good across the scope of Eternity. 'But you were there to nurture the good, weren't you, father?' Dogolas recalled, cursing the unseen existence of his father. 'How typical, a being comprised purely of depressed souls, thriving to make others feel good.' There was more. The war between Dogolas and his father had spanned across limitless dimensions. Trillions of sentient life forms clashed, driven to fight one another to insure the survival of the forces of Good or Evil. And yet, it was a draw. There was nothing Dogolas or his father could do to win. Around that time, Dogolas developed the ability to see into the future, realizing the war would be all for naught. Switching strategies, Dogolas forged an empire inside a pocket dimension, which was connected to all. After establishing his headquarters, Dogolas set out to achieve a new way at ascertaining perfection. In an attempt to create loyal, but powerful disciples, Dogolas genetically used his own genetic structure, to create his estranged sister: Queen Monera. But Queen Monera proved to be an annoyance. Dogolas seized over a thousand worlds, searching for those worthy to become his Knights. After years of searching, Dogolas had finally found the perfect ones. At times, Dogolas had to genetically create his own. Over time, Dogolas had molested his estranged sister, Queen Monera, just for the sake of having an heir to his throne, should he be destroyed. Instead of having one son, he had two. They patiently observed Dogolas's tyranny, savoring their father's leadership and kingdom. Over time, Dogolas engineered thousands of advanced civilizations, designed to locate keys to Dogolas's inevitable success. While Dogolas's agents searched the cosmos for the key to perfection, Dogolas created a new breed of creature that would serve to be the backbone of his army. Thus, the demons came into being. They were vicious, brutal creatures that possessed no emotions. The demons would not be able to tell the difference between right and wrong. All they craved was blood and the obedience of Dogolas. With an endless army under his control, Dogolas's reign knew no equal. There was no being capable of defeating Dogolas one-on-one. Even entire armies failed to destroy the Dark Echelon. But Dogolas discovered that his father was also gaining more power. The power of his father flourished for every genocide Dogolas committed. It dawned on Dogolas the only way to become Eternity itself was to destroy everything, then and only then could Dogolas usurp his father's power. For every death Dogolas or his followers committed, the souls went directly to Dogolas's mind, where its power was abstracted. But it was simply the beginning. Eventually, Dogolas realized that no matter what, victory was in his grasp. Whether he wiped out all life or simply died out, omnipotence was on the horizon. Satisfied, Dogolas made preparations to expand his empire; however, one of Dogolas's agents had located a specific world that contained powerful creatures. After acquiring the residue of Putricus, Dogolas sent his resurrected Knight to the planet, with the intention of its inhabitants being slain. But after Putricus' memory faded and went rogue, Dogolas set forth the motions that lead to where he and the kaiju were now. Without a second thought, Dogolas slowly levitated off the ground, and leaned upright. An aura of malevolence shrouded Dogolas, bathing the assembly of monsters in an apron of trembling fear. *** 'The greatest warriors MWF has to offer,' Dogolas sarcastically remarked, launching an affront upon their characters. 'You offer me nothing but entertainment. But now, I grow tired and impatient; the time has come for all of you to experience oblivion. Look on the bright side,' Dogolas announced wittingly, 'you will all be apart of my perfection. My ascension will become your own.' Telekinetic waves generated out of Dogolas's tentacles, entrapping the assembly of monsters. They struggled to break free of Dogolas's mental grasp, but they were too weak. Evajiran expanded its AT-Field for the sole purpose of breaking free. But the AT-Field failed to shred the mental encasement. All of the monsters felt their bodies break from the pressure of Dogolas's mind. At times, they were hoisted upwards, where every inch of their forms was crushed. Cybersaur's outer haul was unable to withstand the sheer force of Dogolas's constricting mind. Its surface splintered, allowing a torrent of sparks to spray out of the artificial body. Inside Cybersaur's cockpit, Vader desperately struggled to activate Cybersaur's targeting systems. The entire room shuddered from each telekinetic strike. Sparks flared out of fried computer systems, shutting down certain parts of the robot. Sweat saturated the human's face and started to stain his eyes, blurring his vision. The air vents started to shutdown, allowing smoke to roll into the cockpit. Smoke clogged Vader's throat, making it unbearable to breathe. The targeting systems beeped, alerting the human that they had found their target. Without hesitation, Vader punched the button, activating the full metal missiles. Missiles started to emerge out of Cybersaur's shoulder compartments, but Dogolas's telekinetic waves ignited the fuel tanks inside the missiles, causing them to explode while still inside the shoulders! Cybersaur's shoulders erupted in a ball of napalm, scorching the upper part of the robot's body. Dogolas set his sights on the Evas, deeming them too dangerous to live. Tentacles sprung from Dogolas's sides, impaling their sternums with sheer cutting force. Psionic bolts sizzled out of the tentacles, scalding the insides of the Evangelions. The Evas felt their bodily organs melt from within. Growing restless, Dogolas released a telekinetic shockwave, which immobilized the functions of their brains; even mechanical giants like Cybersaur went obsolete, the result of the human within unable to remain conscious. Dogolas relinquished his tentacles from the Evas. The minds of Evajiran and the other Evas were faintly awake; however, Dogolas knew they were no longer a threat. Dogolas twirled around, spotting the colossal Super Godzilla. Super Godzilla's eyes lividly glared at the Dark Echelon. Dogolas felt the hatred steaming out of the reptile's mind. Lurking inside the livid mind of the atomic dragon laid the key to Dogolas's ascension. The tendrils wiggling around Dogolas's chest extended their lengths. They approached the immobilized Super Godzilla, eager to feed off the monster's life force. Instead of attacking the chest region, they pierced the layers of flesh on the monster's side. The tendrils dug deep into the monster's veins and started sapping the monster dry. But that was only the beginning. The armored-carapace inside the central part of Dogolas's chest opened. Beneath the separating carapace, hungry jaws awaited. Super Godzilla groaned weakly, sensing his impending death. As the monster's eyes rolled back behind their sockets, exposing the base of each eye in the process, Super Godzilla had no idea of Dogolas's true motives. A large, round tentacle emerged out of Dogolas's chest. At the end of the tentacle, hungry jaws snapped vibrantly. Saliva frequently drooled out of the jaws, burning the ground beneath. Fabrics of crimson light glinted off the razor sharp teeth. The scarlet clouds above watched the horrific scene unfold. 'It's exactly how I envisioned it,' Dogolas proudly stated. The hungry jaws moved closer, seeking to tear a hole through Super Godzilla's chest and mutilate the atomic dragon's heart. Darkness started to greet Super Godzilla's torn mind. Feeling the end of his life brewing closer, Super Godzilla summoned all the power his body could muster, and focused it all to a chamber nestled inside his belly. Azure-hued flames crackled inside Super Godzilla's chest cavity, a prelude to the destructive power emerging from the outer realms of Super Godzilla's fullest potential. The ground trembled, a sign of its inability to withstand the incredible power the saurian was beckoning. A gravitational rift manipulated the region, making rocks and debris rise off the ground; a true testament of Super Godzilla's rising power. The serpent that extended further from Dogolas's chest stopped, acknowledging the rising power of Super Godzilla. Its insatiable appetite overruled all signs of common sense. Dogolas prodded it forward, obsessed with the power lurking inside the dinosaur's primordial mind. 'This is what was hidden from me?' Dogolas smirked arrogantly. 'Never before had I seen such a feeble attempt to prolong the inevitable.' The serpent moved forward. Drool saturating out of its jaws intensified, as its hunger grew. Dogolas's tendrils stopped sucking the life out of Super Godzilla, preferring to abstract the rest with the serpent's hunger. Dogolas's incompetence kept the monarch from noticing the movements of Evajiran and the Evangelions. They simultaneously stood upright, still exhausted after being exposed to Dogolas's psychic onslaught. Dogolas watched the serpent approach its target. The Dark Echelon's hunger rivaled the serpent's own. In a few minutes, Dogolas will have completely digested Super Godzilla's mind, and at last achieve the perfection he had forever craved. 'It was a foolish decision, father,' Dogolas said out loud, wanting his father to recognize his ignorance. Azure bolts crackled around Super Godzilla, creating loud, thunderous sounds. All of the bolts converged upon Super Godzilla's chest, where all of the creature's nuclear energy was residing. Super Godzilla's scaly wings started to melt. The rest of the monster's body started to follow the trend. When Super Godzilla's eyes at last returned to their original posture, the creature stole a glimpse of the hungry serpent drawing nearer. Super Godzilla's eyes stared beyond the approaching serpent, and stared directly at Dogolas. The Dark Echelon examined the monster's eyes, probing its intentions. In spite of not being able to reveal facial expressions, Dogolas suddenly revealed a staggering fear. Super Godzilla's nostrils caught the scent of Dogolas's fear, savoring this once of a lifetime feeling. 'No!" Dogolas shouted in despair, recognizing the atomic dragon's intentions. Dogolas commanded the serpent to return to his womb, but the serpent's ravenous famine hindered it from obeying Dogolas's orders. Super Godzilla paid Dogolas one last glance before the monster's eyes dissolved. A torrent of nuclear energy emerged from the navel cavity, which transformed into an exact duplicate of Super Godzilla's head. As the energetic beam charged to meet the serpent, the kinetic duplicate of Super Godzilla released a thundering roar of chaos. It closed its jaws as it entered the serpent, but it didn't stop, it continued to move through the serpent's slender body, incinerating everything it touched. As it made its way towards Dogolas, the serpent dissolved into a cloister of charred particles, no longer controlled by its limitless appetite. Dogolas watched helplessly as the beam entered his abdomen, free to spread chaos within the center of Dogolas's body. The Dark Echelon felt surges of nuclear energy fill his veins, overriding the supreme power at Dogolas's disposal. Dogolas could've stopped the movement of the nuclear disturbance, but even he was too slow to react. Blue glowing outlines appeared on the outside of Dogolas's body, showcasing the internal affair transpiring before the assembly of monsters. Dabbling deep inside Evajiran's mind, the soul of Godzilla's son cried out, unleashing the holy stigmata of Evajiran's mind. Instead of trying to rule Evajiran, the mind simply wanted to unite with Tom's own. At the same time, Jim and Monty felt a huge intake of power, one that empowered their very souls with the divinity needed to rid the cosmos of Dogolas. To make sure the nuclear energy could not break free; Evajiran and the Evangelions stepped in and expanded the barriers of their mind. From three different angles, the AT-Fields collided against Dogolas's ravenous shape, containing the destructive power of Super Godzilla. No where to go, the atomic energies crippled Dogolas's nervous structure. Every molecule in Dogolas's body turned off, leaving a crippled and disfigured body levitating helplessly in the crevasse. Every inch of Super Godzilla's outline faded into a shower of particles. Godzilla's supreme form had used up every ounce of energy it had to offer. Now, it was gone forever. But standing inside the cloud of particles, the bipedal shape of the King of the Monsters stood proudly. Strangely, Godzilla noticed he was different; after experiencing the evolution of Super Godzilla, Godzilla's genetic structure had been altered. He was as large as he was before the transformation, but his body was slimmer, muscular. The dorsal spines were shorter, but sharp nonetheless. Godzilla's charcoal coated hide hid the saurian from the darkness that had settled upon the battlefield. The King of the Monsters felt an unbelievable amount of power. While it wasn't enough to rival the sheer power he had as Super Godzilla, it was still simply amazing. Godzilla examined the crippled form of Dogolas. Never before had Godzilla seen the monarch in such a helpless state. The urges lurking inside Godzilla's reptilian mind commanded him to stride towards Dogolas and rip him to pieces. Godzilla took a thundering step forward, crushing the ground with his monstrous mass. Hot breath howled out of Godzilla's jaws, steaming the cold air around his face. Godzilla paused and marbled at the fragile state Dogolas was in. The monarch's veins had been replaced by Super Godzilla's nuclear power. Now, a bright azure-hued glow emitted out of the veins, exceeding the boundaries of the emerald surface. To some, the twisted shape Dogolas was in was simply disturbing and downright terrifying, but to others it was beautiful. Evajiran fell to his knees. They had done the impossible. Instead of allowing the darkness of Dogolas's evil to taint them all, they stood their ground, and in the eve of Armageddon, they held their heads up high and won. Evajiran surveyed the condition his comrades were in; Drakan's skeletal armor slid off the slopes of his body, revealing crimson scales underneath. Dogolas's telekinetic wave had deformed Drakan's molecular structure. In doing so, Drakan devolved back to his original form: Enferno. The scarlet dragon's amber-glowing eyes scanned the crippled form of Dogolas. Miereki allowed psionic energy to surround his damaged body. The psychic bathed the landscape with an aura of beauty. It was a way of congratulating the monsters from Earth of a job well done. Miereki shifted his gaze and turned towards Balkzardan. "It appears you fought on the right side, Balkzardan," Miereki proudly informed the element wielder via telepathy. Balkzardan expressed an enlightened look of comfort. "It appears I did," Balkzardan remarked without regret. Ultrizard paid no heed to his damaged hand. The infection would no doubt lead to its amputation, but it did not matter. Dogolas was defeated! Ultrizard felt a rise of his internal power, exceeding their limitations. Fusion, while still unable to stand, weakly analyzed the look of satisfaction all of his comrades mirrored. Not even the barbaric atmosphere of this terrifying world could envelop the growing happiness they were all feeling. Godzalla silently stood upright, showing no signs of any emotion. The beast merely enjoyed the celebration all of his allies were feeling. That alone was enough to make the reptile happy. Victorious roars echoed across the horizon, informing any survivors that had been under Dogolas's tyranny that they were free. Silence drifted from Godzilla's prehistoric presence. The King of the Monsters took another step towards the crippled monarch. Godzilla's teeth anticipated the thought of shredding Dogolas's flesh. Godzilla felt a breeze of wind wash over his colossal form, refreshing his scaly hide. Evajiran strolled to Godzilla's side, making sure the beast didn't unintentionally trigger the apocalypse. Godzilla did not move, instead the beast took a good look at his son. No longer was Godzilla's son a miniature of his appearance. Instead, he was a twisted creation of science and sorcery. Luckily, it had chosen to fight against the darkness that was Dogolas. In many ways, Godzilla respected the new form his son had unwillingly become. So much power resided inside Evajiran. But the scent of Evajiran was a strange feeling. Godzilla could smell his son, but there was something else, something that was human. Even if his son was still alive, the pain of his death had not yet subsided. The tiny child Godzilla adopted so long ago would forever remain in the cortex of his mind. 'Show no sympathy for your bastard of a child, Godzilla, he is no longer under your protection…' Dogolas's voice muttered coldly, silencing the victorious cries all around. Evajiran jumped back into a fighting stance. Irradiated blades slit out of his wrists, ready to be deployed at a moment's notice. A bright azure-silvery combination blossomed out of Godzilla's dorsal spines, blinding any spectators behind him. The wounded form of Gamera rose into his bipedal stance, ready to fight the tyrant once more. Balkzardan's enlightened expression faded. Miereki readied the full potential of his psionic power. Churning flames flourished brightly inside Enferno's ravenous jaws. 'Relax your impudent minds and be still,' Dogolas demanded. 'This is but a mere setback.' "Bullshit," Monty replied stubbornly. "Admit defeat, Dogolas, there's nothing you can do!" 'So it may seem,' Dogolas admitted reluctantly. 'I am unable to crush your puny minds or simply obliterate you all on the spot.' Evajiran lowered his arms, "So then you are defeated. Give up Dogolas, it's over. Your tyranny has reached its end." 'On the contrary, human,' the Dark Echelon replied smoothly. 'As I said, this is but a mere setback. I still hold the key to your destruction.' "Like annoying us with your futile threats," Jim jokingly questioned. A tired Vader watched the monitors inside Cybersaur's cockpit. While his allies distracted Dogolas, Vader made preparations to launch a preemptive strike. Should Dogolas show any hostile signs that would reveal oblivion; he'll be ready to react. Dogolas remained silent. The crimson clouds above rumbled. Blackness bleached out any light that tried to descend from the sky. At first, the Earth Warriors thought it was an erratic disturbance in the atmosphere. But soon they realized the moving blackness was a sea of cackling demons. Godzilla stared at the millions of demons flying around the sky. The King of the Monsters never ran for a fight and this one wouldn't be any different. But Godzilla's survival instincts told the nuclear saurian to run. Godzilla reluctantly turned and sprinted away from Dogolas, as the demon army descended from the sky and flew swiftly towards the cloister of monsters. Following Godzilla's lead, they all broke into a sprint. Enferno and Ultrizard caught a current of wind with their wings, and propelled their bodies high into the sky. Yonggary held Fusion over his large back, as he retreated with his comrades. The damaged Cybersaur barely kept up, sparks sprayed profusely out of numerous parts of its robotic form. Dogolas watched the retreating kaiju. 'It seems father implanted the one thing capable of crippling me. Very well, I'll accept my misfortune, but perfection shall still be mine!' The demon army flew pass Dogolas, the guidance of their ruler intensified their momentum. It didn't take long for them to reach the kaiju. But instead of attacking, they cut off the only exit they had at escaping. The sea of demons encircled the monster army, hindering their movements drastically. Completely surrounded, the monsters aggressively prepared to fight to the death. In the distance, they could see the looming form of Dogolas. The Dark Echelon was too weak to budge, yet its loyal servants had answered his plea and arrived just in time to spread his will upon the warriors from Earth. Captivated to defend their lives, the monsters prepared to battle an entire army of demons. They were well aware of the odds against them; death was evident in such a battle. But they would make sure that there would be a large number of casualties inflicted upon the opposing side. Upon Dogolas's mental command, the demons attacked. A stream of blue-hued flames erupted out of Godzilla's mouth. The unbelievable power Godzilla was discharging nearly knocked him off his feet. Godzilla dug his feet deep into the ground in an attempt to remain upright. Godzilla's atomic beam singed an entire demon battalion, obliterating their demonic bodies and reducing them to charcoal. Godzilla's newfound power proved useful. No demon caught in his line of fire survived. Aware of the imminent death that awaited them; several demons avoided the dinosaur's fury, and snuck up on him. Godzilla noticed the creeping demons. The atomic flames blossoming out of Godzilla's jaws vanished. Several demons leaped at the King of the Monsters, intent on sinking their claws inside Godzilla's flesh. Godzilla responded without any measure of mercy by clubbing the aloft demons aside the head, shattering their skulls with his powerful claws. The demons were knocked effortlessly into the ground. Godzilla's physical blows had inscribed cracks upon the outskirts of the demon's skulls. Black blood dribbled out of the cracks, staining the ground beneath Godzilla's feet. Godzilla noticed another group of demons attempting the same strategy. The King of the Monsters twirled around, breaking their aloft bodies with the swing of his powerful tail. Godzilla turned to face the endless swarms of demons. Godzilla's dorsal spines irradiated chasms of azure-silvery light. Atomic energy pulsated out of Godzilla's carnivorous jaws, blasting the demons to pieces. Scorching flames burned out of Enferno's maw, reducing a demon battalion to cinders. The charred remnants rained from the sky, covering the advancing brethren of the dead demons. One demon jumped towards Enferno, hoping to rip a hole through Enferno's throat. But the scarlet dragon swiftly turned in a 360-degree spin, decapitating the demon with the scythe on his tail. Enferno caught the headless body in his hands, and tore it to pieces. Kinetic bolts of energy crackled from inside the horns atop Enferno's skull. Blazing energies fluctuated out of Enferno's jaws, annihilating other demons caught in its path. Mangled body parts fell from the sky, pelting the ground. Plasma fireballs pour out of Gamera's jaws; entire cascades of demons disappeared in sweltering flames. Noticing a demon drawing too close, Gamera whirled around and mutilated the demonic creature with his elbow blades. But the custodian failed to see another demon from behind. In an attempt to get a good grip, the demon buried its claws deep into Gamera's flesh. After succeeding, the demon gripped Gamera's throat with its horrendous jaws. Gamera struggled to separate the demon from his body, but hordes of other demons swept in and bombarded Gamera with their sharp claws and teeth. Gamera, the Guardian of the Universe, was covered head-to-toe. Painful cries escaped Gamera's jaws. It was a risky move. Not only were Gamera's allies alerted, but also the other demons. Thankfully, one of Gamera's allies heard his mournful cries. Hot lasers punctured the bodies of the demons, slaughtering them before they could kill Gamera. Gamera located his savior; smoke steamed out of the gun barrels stacked on top of Cybersaur's shoulders. With the motion of Eva Unit 01's hand, the Eva's AT-Field disemboweled the demonic bodies of the demons. A host of demons descended from the sky, shredding the Eva's armored hide. The Evangelion's hands quickly gripped the throats of the demons and tore their epidermises straight out. By utilizing its amazing strength, the Evangelion threw the demons to the ground. Eva Unit 01 stole a glance of the crimson Evangelion, Unit 02, fighting not far away. Unit 02 held an automatic rifle in one hand and a progressive knife in the other. Hot lead burned out of the rifle's barrel, popping holes inside the demon bodies. A couple demons managed to avoid the gunfire, but ended up being sliced open by the progressive knife. One of the demons grabbed the rifle with its vile jaws, snapping the weapon in half. Bullets poured out of the broken gun, signifying the rifle's usefulness was no longer needed. Eva Unit 02 dropped the broken weapon, and resorted to using its appendages to dispatch the fearsome demons. Crimson fists bashed the demon skulls to pieces, causing black blood and cranium pus to pour onto the ground. Irradiated blades flew out of Evajiran's wrists, penetrating the demon horde immediately. A split second later, the demons were engulfed by an atomic explosion. Shockwaves rippled across the sea of demons, spreading the mangled body parts all over the battlefield. Evajiran's hands replaced its physical appeal, and allowed waves of atomic energy to embody the hands. A vile demon leaped towards Evajiran, but the hybrid caught the demon with its bare hands. The energetic hand burned the demon's face. It was a horrible way to die; the skin was instantly incinerated, the facial muscles boiled to the point of where they popped and the organs within melted out of the ears and eyes. Noticing another demon pack not very far, Evajiran dropped the dead demon, and threw it into the sea of its brethren. The human inside Evajiran watched in awe as the dead demon was devoured by its brethren. 'Scary,' Tom disgustingly told himself. He wanted to vomit, but there was no time to waste. Evajiran thrusted another irradiated blade, enveloping the demons in an explosion. The hybrid turned, releasing an azure-silvery stream of energy out of his hands. Evajiran's spines crackled brightly, blinding any demons that attempted to attack from behind. Dogolas watched amusingly. There wasn't much of anything Dogolas could do. Still connected with the planetary surface, Dogolas issued an order; the soil complied. Large snakelike organisms emerged out of the soil. Their towering figures dwarfed even Dogolas's crippled body. They possessed no eyes, but large, hungry jaws, filled with thousands of jagged teeth. Brownish scales covered their serpent bodies. A toxic odor drifted out of their flesh. Parasites burrowed beneath their scales fed off their intoxicating plasma. In unison, they turned towards their master, awaiting his orders. 'Kill them,' Dogolas announced coldly. 'Leave none alive.' The snakes hissed. Their colossal bodies slammed into the ground, and slithered towards their master's enemies. Godzilla squeezed his jaws, crushing the sternum of a crying demon. The King of the Monsters threw the corpse to the ground, and proceeded to fry approaching demons with his atomic beam. A group of demons ambushed the Monster King, knocking the powerful creature off his feet with their combined mass. A snarl of contempt hollered out of Godzilla's jaws, encouraging the demons to shred Godzilla's thick carapace. They acted as crazed piranhas, vibrantly chewing and clawing trenches into Godzilla. Godzilla's claws lashed back, scourging one of the demons off of him. The wounded demon prepared to strike back, but another demon ended up attacking it! Godzilla grabbed a hold of one of the demon's throats and at pointblank range, Godzilla fired his heat beam. The atomic beam separated the neck from the demon's head, blasting the cranium completely off! Godzilla threw the fried corpse off his body and rose to his bipedal stance. Atomic flames started to radiate out of Godzilla's dorsal spines, acting as a herald to nuclear annihilation. Suddenly, Godzilla's body was snatched up by the hungry jaws of a giant snake! Gigantic fangs punctured Godzilla's abdomen. In doing so, the fangs pumped millions of gallons of venom into the nuclear saurian. Godzilla's white blood cells naturally repelled the venom, but the damage was still enough to make Godzilla's head badly ache. The snake prepared to attack another monster, but then a nuclear beam lanced out of the top of its head. Life faded from its reptilian eyes, signaling its defeat. Godzilla scurried out of the newly made hole, and released a victorious roar. The King of the Monsters stood at the apex of the snake's head. Fountains of blood sprayed out of the snake's head, covering the monster entirely. The scent of blood quickly attracted the attention of a demon swarm. One demon flew straight towards Godzilla. Its intention was to knock Godzilla off his feet. The end result was like having an egg thrown at a brick wall. Godzilla's muscular chest caught the demon; the impact literally shattered the demon's carcass. The King of the Monsters grabbed opposite ends of the body and in a showcase of his monstrous strength, Godzilla ripped the demon's body in half. Enferno's slender figure sliced the air. Frantic wings flapped vibrantly, anxiously propelling the scarlet dragon through the air. Torrents of fire breathed out of Enferno's predatory jaws, scorching any creature that got in its way. A demon struck one of Enferno's wings and started ripping the leathery appendage to pieces. Enferno started to sink closer to the ground. The scarlet dragon pulled the demon closer by using its injured wing. The scythe attached to Enferno's tail cleaved the attacking demon. Intestines spilled out of the demon's fissured carcass. Like hungry mosquitoes, hordes of other demons attacked Enferno without notice. An overwhelmed Enferno plummeted into the sea of demons below. The hundreds of black, filthy bodies scavenged all around, preventing Enferno from being seen. Inside the demon swarm, a burning flame made its presence known. Soon the tiny flame increased its volume, engulfing the entire demon horde and reduced them to cinders. A wounded Enferno slowly raised upright, allowing mountains of burnt dust to slide off his body. Hungry jaws tore a chunk out of Evangelion Unit 01's back. The dominant mind lurking inside the Eva's core felt blood freely ooze out of the gaping wound. Unit 01 jumped high into the air and twirled all the way around; the Evangelion's hands clenched the jaws of the attacking demon and snapped them in two. The purple Eva allowed the injured demon to run away, where it was eventually devoured by its own kin. Unit 01 expanded its AT-Field, which ended up capturing several demons. The end results lead to the mutilation of each creature. A terrifying hiss made the Evangelion stop in its tracks. Over a thousand meters in front of it, a behemoth snake stared at it. Its eyes considered Evangelion a meal. The snake widened its mouth, revealing two sharp fangs, each dripping with venom. Evangelion Unit 01 readied its hand, preparing to release its AT-Field once more. But then another snake blindsided the Eva from its left. While the Eva wasn't exactly eaten, the snake's fangs had completely penetrated the Evangelion's chest. But the Eva's hands kept a hard grip on the snake's jaws, preventing them from closing any tighter. The Eva's condition became worse; a demon latched itself to the Eva's helpless back. A combination of claws and teeth peeled off the majority of all the armor on the Eva's back! The demon slashed the Eva's spine, cutting off the feeling the Eva had to its legs. Chasms of light gleamed out of the Evangelion's artificial eyes, a prelude to the release of the Eva's AT-Field. The demon was completely eradicated, not even an atom was spared. But the head of the giant snake suffered a worse tragedy; spiritual shockwaves pulled the scales off of the snake's head, eviscerating the insides within. No longer without a head, the snake frantically moved around, crushing some of the demons with its gigantic form. The Eva was about to murder more demons, but the first snake it saw lashed out, intent on gulping the Evangelion in one bite. An irradiated blade struck the snake's temple, decapitating the reptile's skull in one foul explosion. Evajiran prepared to destroy the rest of the snake, but then two missiles soared right in front of its line of sight. Evajiran watched the two missiles strike the snake's body, destroying the gigantic reptile in two large explosions. "Thank you, Vader!" Tom said cheerfully. "No problem, just trying to help--," Vader's reply was cut short. The metallic coating that encased Cybersaur's entire body was compromised. Sensors alerted the pilot of the danger he was in. Contaminations had breached the walls, endangering Vader's mortal body. If the diseases entered the cockpit, Vader would meet death in no time. Luckily, a bright emerald glow bathed Cybersaur's metallic frame. A barrage of green beams struck the demons and tore them to pieces. Ultrizard's thunderous roar attracted the attention of the other demons. The reptilian warrior bashed a demon with its clubbed tail. Green bolts lanced out of Ultrizard's mouth and hands, annihilating any demon unlucky enough to be caught in its wake. As Ultrizard fought for the health of his comrades, psionic balls plowed a group of demons, incapacitating them instantly. Miereki hovered to meet an oncoming demon horde. By implementing the use of just one hand, Miereki unleashed a psionic stream. The psychic onslaught removed the demons from existence. Miereki turned, noticing a strange disturbance in the air. The air was warped, manipulated to free hundreds, if not thousands, of demons. Thousands of frozen statues took up a portion of the battlefield. "Balkzardan," Miereki announced, naming the one responsible. "The iniquity of these foul creatures shall realize death!" Balkzardan shouted angrily. The element wielder's figure spawned over a hundred lightning bolts, each craving the destruction of an individual demon. Elemental energies charged the inner chasms of the horns near Balkzardan's jaws. The energies discarded out of the horns, and combined inside Balkzardan's gaping maw. A glowing sphere sparkled out of the cavern of Balkzardan's jaws. Without a moment's notice, the sphere gave birth to an electrifying stream of energy. The electrical bolts slammed into a demon horde, annihilating fields of malevolent bodies in one strike. A burning odor sizzled out of the charred corpses. The battlefield was rich with the foul odor. At times, the human pilots nearly vomited. Miereki favored Balkzardan with a look of satisfaction. "Had I sensed your pain years ago, I would've tried to help you, Balkzardan. I would've helped guide you, on your path to redemption." Balkzardan preferred to stay in telepathic contact, instead of speaking directly at him. "Your words are kind, psychic, but I am no where near redemption. I do not deserve it." "You do," Miereki insisted, "You just don't realize that it has already accepted you." Balkzardan was silent. "Maybe so," the element wielder hesitantly murmured, "but I just don't feel it. I will forever be tainted by Dogolas's shadow. My coming into existence was a result of his doing. I slaughtered my entire race and countless others. I may be redeemed, but with a heavy heart, I can only accept death." Balkzardan paused and considered over a dozen demons with envious eyes. "After they depart this existence…" "Those creatures do not possess the means to tell the difference between Good and Evil, Right from Wrong," Miereki said in a pity tone. "They are soulless vessels, designed to have but one purpose in life: to kill." A shimmering aura encased Balkzardan completely. "All the more reason of why I will show them no mercy!" Electrical energies replaced Balkzardan's physique. Balkzardan shot out towards the demons; the physical contact alone was enough to electrify each and every single one of them. A tidal wave of electricity bombarded a cascade of demons, eradicating the foul beasts within seconds. Either the bodies of the demons were blown to pieces or wasted away in a cloud of dust. Dogolas silently observed the battle unfolding before his leisure. The warriors from Earth held their own, even against the monstrous snakes that tried to devour them. But the tides are bound to change. Another vision of the future guided Dogolas's malevolent mind. Blurry images of the future revealed a group of disfigured monsters, barely recognizable. They were completely surrounded. Puddles of blood covered the ground beneath their feet. Mangled corpses occupied the tainted soil; amongst the dead, allies of the monsters lied lifelessly on the ground. The demons impatiently waited for Dogolas's order. Dogolas noticed a future of where he was still crippled, yet seconds away from achieving perfection. Dogolas gave the signal; hordes of demons charged the assembly of monsters. But then suddenly a blinding light filled Dogolas's vision. What was that? Dogolas was unsure. Before the Dark Echelon could ponder anymore, he felt the arrival of another entity nearby. 'Irys,' Dogolas whispered, identifying the name of his former follower. The Mutated Gyaos descended from the skies above. Internal power pulsated out of Irys' body armor. Tentacles wiggled out of Irys' back, as if they had a mind of their own. An amber light secreted out of a glowing sphere located inside Irys' skeletal-shaped skull. Attached to each of Irys' forearms was a metallic blade, which was capable of extending its length to penetrate the carapace of its prey and sap the life out of it. It many ways, the Ryuseicho was a miniature clone of Dogolas himself. "Dogolas," Irys telepathically contemplated. "You know why I'm here." Irys approached the ground and implanted his feet against its rough surface. 'Of course…' Dogolas muttered without any surprise. 'You seek to betray me. The tortoise made a deal with you. I observed the entire conversation before it even occurred. Your reasons are understandable. Mostly every being of your stature, above or below it, would attempt the same thing. You hope to abstract my life force and achieve the power you crave.' Irys monitored Dogolas, examining the critical condition he was in. "You're injured?" the Mutated Gyaos asked, ignoring Dogolas's comments. 'Yes, I am,' Dogolas replied patiently. "You cannot move, and it seems you are helpless, yes?" 'Yes.' "Excellent," Irys happily announced. The Ryuseicho raised one of its scythes. "This will make things easier." 'So you are saying you would've actually opposed me openly had I been at my full health?' Dogolas said amusingly. "Do not try to avert my intentions, tyrant. My decision has been made, my destiny has been realized." 'A false destiny,' Dogolas revealed snidely. 'Do you honestly think you can wield the power of Eternity? Eternity itself is beyond the limits of time and space. At this point in time, even my vast and ingenious mind cannot comprehend the scope of perfection. What hope have you?' Irys scurried closer, intent on sinking each of his blades deep into Dogolas. To Irys, Dogolas was a meal, the grandest meal of all. It would take Irys hours, maybe days to absorb it all. The end result is worth the wait. "Stop trying to tease me with your manipulative nature--," Irys started to say. Dogolas decided to cut him off, 'I am only telling you the truth. Think of it Irys, why did I not kill you when I had the chance? I knew from the moment I made you that you were going to betray me.' "I'll find out after abstracting the information, personally!" The metallic ends residing at the tips of each tentacle flashed a malicious glow. In unison, they all pointed directly at Dogolas. Particles crackled around the tips of each tentacle. If the abstraction backfired, the tentacles were ready to use excessive force. 'I have to admit, the tortoise played you all too well,' Dogolas said in a conniving tone. Irys stopped. "What do you mean?" 'What makes you so sure that it would work? Did it ever occur to you that the tortoise used you, knowing that if you tried to absorb me, I would overpower your mind and take over your body?' Irys was silent. Dogolas continued, 'You had him. He was about to meet oblivion, and infuse you with his ancient power. But instead, you made a deal with him.' The Dark Echelon noticed Irys having second thoughts. It dawned on Irys that Dogolas was right. What guarantee did he have that he actually could absorb Dogolas's power? There was no way of knowing. But there was still an urge to keep going and find out. Irys started to walk towards Dogolas once again, scythes drawn and ready to be launched at Dogolas's carapace. Like a wary assassin, Irys waded closer to his meal. Dogolas's fragile eyes stared emotionlessly at his former pupil. The azure-hued energies coursing through Dogolas's veins started to shine brighter. 'So be it.' Dogolas proclaimed disappointingly. The Dark Echelon manipulated the atoms of the soil, making it become softer, and unstable for Irys to stand on. The Mutated Gyaos started to sink beneath the organic soil. Beneath the surface, the organic soil started to bond with Irys' flesh. Irys felt a brief pain, but it elapsed a few seconds later. The Ryuseicho lost all feeling to his ankles. Irys looked down and noticed a strange substance covering his ankles. The surface bubbled repeatedly, as if it had a life of its own. Slowly but surely did Irys realize that the ankles were no longer apart of him. Instead, they had become something much more. The substance started to crawl further up Irys' body, tainting everything it touches. An immobilized Irys weakly gawked at its former master. The internal lights glowing inside Irys' chest died. 'Your treachery is duly noted and accounted for,' Dogolas informed the dying traitor. 'Joining with the world is your punishment. Cherish such an honor, young one. It is bonding with you, accepting you as its own. Be glad it isn't devouring you.' The substance had reached the bottom of Irys' neck. It had a yellowish coloring, signaling the possibility of it being a disease. Irys couldn't feel anything anymore. Dogolas's words were true; he was becoming one with the soil. It crept up and started to swallow Irys' head. Webs of its makeup slithered inside Irys' metallic mantle, forcing the amber sphere inside to die out. The last feeling Irys felt was the realization that his insides had been stripped away and replaced. Irys' form broke down and melted into the ground; no longer was it an individual, but something much more. The living soil had become Irys' sarcophagus. Dogolas watched Irys fade away beneath the putrid soil. 'Pity,' Dogolas eloquently murmured. A salvo of missiles erupted out of Cybersaur's damaged shoulder compartments. The heat-seeking rockets possessed an advanced computer chip that prohibited it from striking anything but the enemy. Metallic missiles ascended higher into the air, flames baked out of the base of each missile, creating a thick line of smoke, until they at last fell rapidly into a cloister of demons. Balls of fire grew out of the ground and subsequently incinerated entire fields of snarling demons. Ash was all that remained of the demon's legacy. Cybersaur tilted its mechanical frame, in an attempt to change the course of its trajectory. To the robot's dismay, a continuous flow of sparks sprayed out of every wounded area. The amber glow inside Cybersaur's artificial eyes started to dwindle. "Damn it," Vader cursed from within Cybersaur's cockpit. "Can things get any worse?" A demon pounced on top of Cybersaur's head and impaled the robot's metallic skin with its vile claws. Several other prowling demons inched closer, wary of the robot's threat. Their nostrils smelled a life form lurking somewhere inside the robot. This prompted an all out assault from the hesitant demons. Together, they slammed their bodies against Cybersaur's back, applying enough force to knock the robot completely off its feet. Cybersaur crashed into the ground, its colossal weight made cracks splinter the ground in all directions. The demons savagely scraped the robot's exterior, wounding its surface. Sheets of golden plates were removed, revealing the mechanical skeleton underneath. Cybersaur pushed the ground with its forearms and rose off just enough to locate one of its many attackers. The robot's mouth separated, allowing scorching lasers to pour outwards. Hot, burning lasers punctured dozens of holes in one of the demons. The demon cried, attracting the attention of those it had helped in bringing Cybersaur down. Like the cannibals they are, the demons left the injured Cybersaur and attacked one of their own. Hungry jaws gripped the demon's legs and yanked it from its socket. A fountain of black blood secreted out of the bloody leg socket. Enabling claws punctured the demon's sternum and scraped away the dark flesh, revealing the dried organs inside. Putrid teeth stabbed the organs, yanking them out of their foundations. The demons swallowed the organs into their starving bellies. Vader watched on, a little bit relieved that he was still alive, but was still sick to his stomach. "Computer, damage report," Vader demanded. A digital voice responded immediately, "Damage report - 83%." "Holy shit," Vader shockingly replied. "I'm surprised Cybersaur was still able to walk!" The human felt sweat dabble his eyes. Vader reached over and searched for a napkin that was tucked away inside a slot. The human wiped his saturated face. When Vader was finished, he threw the wet napkin down on the ground. He pressed a button, activating one of the only few missile compartments working. A missile burst out of its holding pin. It struck the cannibalistic demons and engulfed them all in a sweltering inferno. The flames had instantly reduced their demonic bodies to ash, but the shockwave registering from the explosion blasted the ash residue all over the region. Traces of the ash stuck to Cybersaur's exterior, tarnishing the machine's coating. Cybersaur started to rise upright, but its alarm systems informed the pilot that the robot would be unable to remain standing any longer. Vader attempted to activate Cybersaur's rocket boosters; the rocket boosters visibly popped out. Ignition for takeoff prompted yellow-reddish flames to blossom out of the rockets. The power of the rockets slowly lifted Cybersaur off the ground. Cybersaur's rocket boosters were hot enough to reduce the soil beneath it to molten slag. At first, it was difficult for the rocket boosters to propel the titanic machine higher, but the surge of energy was consistent enough to make it happen. But just as Cybersaur was thousands of feet above the ground, three demons ambushed the robot and tackled Cybersaur to the ground. The entire cockpit shuddered from the impact. "Goddamn it!" Vader lividly shouted. Crimson hands reached over and grabbed a hold of a demon's head. It squeezed with all its might, crushing the demon's cranium in an unbelievable showcase of strength. The many video screens tucked inside the cockpit revealed Evangelion Unit 02 lending its chaotic assistance. Eva Unit 02 turned to another demon and punched it square in the face. The demon's face literally coiled from the impact, the bones inside the face had been pushed back into the skull. Dark blood squeezed out of the areas of where the bone had slit the skin. The conniving creature slumped to the ground. Finally, with the wave of its hand, the Eva cleaved the last demon's head from the rest of its body with an AT-Field. "Thank you, I was just about to--," Vader started to mutter. "Shut up, get up, and kick ass," Monty replied, cutting Vader off. Vader could only smile. Despite the incredible performance Eva Unit 02 showcased, the crimson armor covering its humanoid figure had been critically breached. The Evangelion had bled a large amount of blood that attracted the attention of a large swarm of demons. Every few seconds, after shattering bones and impaling bodies with its razor-sharp spears, the Eva's AT-Field shredded fields of demons. Eventually, the Eva bit off more than it could chew… The crimson Evangelion noticed mounds of demon corpses it had mangled with its bare hands. Suspiciously, the Eva shifted its stance and to its dismay, hundreds of demons surrounded it. Holy light sparkled out of its four eyes, indicating an increase of strength and stamina. Fresh blood seeped out of every wounded pore of the Evangelion. Every single demon present inhaled the scent of blood into their nostrils. It agitated their hungry minds, boiling the dark blood flowing in their veins. Every demon was waiting for one of them to attack first; the Evangelion patiently waited for one of them to do so. "Fuck this," Monty whispered from within the Eva's core. "Come with it then!" he telepathically shouted, agitating the demon horde. Simultaneously, the demons charged at the lone Evangelion. Hungry claws and teeth ravaged the Evangelion. Every time the Evangelion tried to force a demon off, several have already shredded its attacking arm. The sheer numbers of the demon horde overwhelmed the Evangelion. Unknown to the Evangelion, it along with the attacking horde, stood inside a puddle of blood. A demon's claw grazed the Evangelion's windpipe, scourging it wide open. The Eva was unable to monitor the extent of the damage. Hordes of demons buried their ravenous claws deep inside the Evangelion, stapling the bodily organs hiding inside. At that point, it would be impossible to describe the cuts, bruises and multiple damages the Evangelion sustained. The human mind cried, as the demons tugged the Eva's intestines out of its belly. Blood thirsty locusts they were. All of the demons present penetrated the Eva's armored hide, breached the steel-like muscles underneath and used their jaws to crunch on the bones. Not even the Eva's AT-Field could stop them. Luckily, Eva Unit 02's salvation came in the form of an atomic beam. The stream of atomic energies splintered the demon horde; the power packed behind the atomic blast managed to push and incinerate everything in its path. Entire fields of demons wasted away under the inferno temperatures of Godzilla's nuclear blast. But Godzilla's intervention wasn't the only active one; irradiated blades flew out of Evajiran's arms, bombarding demons with its deadly atomic explosions. Evangelion Unit 01 expanded its AT-Field and molded it into the shape of spear that lanced every demon in its path. A combined assault of Miereki's psionic beams and Balkzardan's booming lightning bolts helped lower the demon population. Other monsters arrived shortly after. All of them offered assistance in protecting the badly damaged Evangelion Unit 02. The unconscious Eva laid on the ground, bathed in blood. "How is he?" Tom shouted worriedly. The human prayed his friend was still alive. Eva Unit 01 bent down and analyzed the injuries. "He's in critical condition, but he's still alive!" It was a relief. Sadly, the good news was short-lived. Reality informed the assembly of warriors that the odds were once again stacked against them. They had no where else to go. Millions of demons flocked to move in on the kill. The surreal numbers of the horde overwhelmed the scope of the Earth warriors. They were better off facing Dogolas. Streaks of light blazed out of Enferno's draconic jaws, mutilating several filthy spawns of Dogolas. Lasers emptied out of Cybersaur's metallic maw. Cybersaur's power was drastically dropping off the charts. Atomic energy constantly glimmered out of Godzilla's dorsal spines. Nuclear flames crackled out of Godzilla's mouth, incinerating fields of the ravenous fiends. Charred demon corpses provided protection, barricading other demons from reaching the monsters sooner; however, death was still inevitable. Never before had the monsters seen such carnage. Killing a dozen only allowed a dozen more to arise. Suddenly, the demon horde stopped, freely allowing the monsters to demolish them. In retrospect, the monsters once-by-one stopped. Confusion registered out of their eyes. All of the monsters were badly damaged. Dry blood clogged the deep wounds that had been engraved to their bodies. They gasped for air, a desperate sign of survival. None of them could remain still. Still believing they were in combat, the bodies vibrantly shuddered. They all felt exhausted. Most of the energy had been purged during the war. If they didn't know better, it was as if the demons were all gawking at the conditions they were in. Godzilla snarled, deeming such an act as an affront to his stature. The eerie, immobilized figure of Dogolas stood perfectly still. Resembling an un-wavered tyrant, crippled but still retaining the throne to his kingdom, Dogolas installed the demons the strength to overtake the monsters. Sensing death around the corner, Godzilla stared directly at Dogolas. If killing Dogolas brought forth annihilation, it was better to kill the Dark Echelon than be murdered first. Atomic energies enriched Godzilla's dorsal spines. Azure-silvery hued flames churned out of Godzilla's reptilian jaws. Godzilla's predatory orbs lividly stared directly at the crippled Dogolas. 'So the Eve of Armageddon comes to an abrupt end,' Dogolas tiredly informed the monsters by using telepathy. 'I shall at last ascertain perfection.' The Dark Echelon stopped and read Godzilla's mind, no longer needing the information that lurked inside the monster's genetic code. Simultaneously, Dogolas monitored the minds of the other monsters. 'How does it feel?' he asked them all. 'How does it feel to know that all of your efforts had been for naught?' Godzilla savagely separated his jaws. At the same time, the demon horde charged the warriors of Earth. The sea of demons would flood the Earth warriors in only a few seconds. They would leave nothing left. A torrent of atomic dread escaped Godzilla's jaws. The atomic beam sliced the air with its sweltering presence. It seared towards Dogolas, packing enough power to end Dogolas's life. Halfway between the atomic beam and Dogolas, a phenomenon made its presence felt. A glowing sphere ripped the fabric of space and time. It unleashed a blinding cascade of light, bathing the entire region. The demon horde instantly stopped. Dogolas stared at the phenomenon with a puzzled look. Earth's warriors were struck in utter awe. Godzilla's nuclear beam struck the glowing sphere; the energetic ball absorbed the heat beam, and rendered it harmless. Tendrils of divine energy lingered out of the cortex of the glowing sphere. They randomly waved around, serving only to appeal the spectators. 'Father,' Dogolas reluctantly whispered. Overhearing Dogolas's identification of the celestial being, the monsters marbled at its beauty, while at the same time, they kept their guard up. Time literally stood still. Every being representing Good, Evil or Neutrality awaited the words of Dogolas's father. Just by feeling the light it generated was enough to send shivers up their spines. 'Foul spawn of thyself, why do you pester these mortals?' the celestial being asked, its voice was loud enough to stir the heavens. Dogolas was stunned. It took the Dark Echelon seconds to contemplate a response. 'Consider it my birthright, you old fool,' Dogolas replied snidely. 'Your birthright was to uphold justice,' Dogolas's father remarked immediately, 'why does thou seek to damn Eternity?' The Dark Echelon laughed, 'Because it deserves it.' 'It deserves it?' the celestial being questioned. 'It deserves peace and prosperity. Why do you do this?' Dogolas prepared to ask, but his father had already cut him off. 'It is because thou realized its own life is imperfect and wherever it goes, it sees a mirror of its own self.' The being ended its statement with a question, 'My son, do you not sense the ignorance in you?' 'Be silent, father,' Dogolas replied, 'I am free to do whatever I plea--,' 'Address me as Dehadrayth!' Dehadrayth demanded loudly. 'Can thou uphold my wishes?' 'Can thou shut up?' Dogolas irritably replied. 'I know what you are trying to do, and it's not working. You seek to stop my inevitable rise in overtaking the throne of your power. You foolishly played The Game and now you shall pay the consequences, father.' Dehadrayth's gleaming essence stroked Dogolas, examining the critical injuries Dogolas had sustained. 'These mortals have injured thou, have they not?' Dogolas refused to reply. 'I see my son is ashamed of his misfortune,' Dehadrayth stated without remorse. 'Or should I say embarrassment?' The Dark Echelon remained silent. No sentient creature could ever comprehend the hatred Dogolas shared for his father. The conflict between Father and Son had spanned across countless realities. Trillions of sentient life forms had been tainted by their engagements. They had never physically fought one another, but they had used the organisms as pawns. Earth's warriors had especially been used countless times. Beings such as Godzilla, Gamera, Ultraman, and many more had been used as puppets. They weren't alone. Entities such as the ruler of Latveria, Dr. Doom; the Man of Steel from Metropolis, Superman; Earth's Sorcerer Supreme; Dr. Strange; the Mad Titan, Thanos; an evil despot of Apokolips, Darkseid; the Dark Lord of Middle Earth, Sauron; the maniacal Clown Prince of Crime, The Joker; the Dark Jedi of a galaxy far far away, Anakin Skywalker; the diabolical Dark Abraxa, Axias; the wall-crawling superhero, Spiderman; the vampire with a soul, Angel; the Great Old One, Cthulhu… All of them were engineered specifically to fulfill the symbolic symbol of character. In doing so, it either helped Dehadrayth or assisted Dogolas. But the multi-dimensional war never reached a verdict. As Dehadrayth and Dogolas analyzed their historical past, Earth's warriors struggled to comprehend the existence of Dogolas's father. A badly damaged Eva Unit 02 was able to summon the strength to study the event unfolding before them. The wounds regenerated slowly, repairing the critical wounds it had sustained from the brutal brawl it had with the demons. "That's Dogolas's father?" Monty weakly questioned out loud. "Incredible," Jim gasped, amazed by the existence of such a divine being. "I had never seen such a holy being before." "I thought Evangelions are holy," Monty aggravatingly murmured. "They are, but this, this is simply beyond anything we've ever seen!" Jim replied, still struck in utter awe. Tom's mortal eyes stared out of the artificial orbs of Evajiran. The arrival of Dehadrayth had halted their impending demise. But the human just couldn't believe Dehadrayth was as holy as Jim was giving it credit for. Anything that was responsible for Dogolas's birth should be the antithesis of what is holy. Tom decided to speak his mind, "Jim, I'm not so sure. I mean, it is related to Dogolas. I don't trust it." The monsters allowed the humans to gossip. Ever since creation, the monsters never dwelled upon such affairs. They allowed only their instincts to guide them to success and survival. But the sentient monsters started to speak. "I can't read, this, Dehadrayth's mind," Miereki worriedly exclaimed. "All I hear are…screams." Balkzardan was staring at the ground. "Dogolas rarely ever talked about his father. I'm surprised he named his brood after him." "What do you mean?" Miereki asked and instinctively started to read Balkzardan's mind, right as the element wielder replied. "The Kion Dehadrayth," Balkzardan stated boldly. "It is Dogolas's way of worshipping himself." "How do you figure?" Yonggary snarled. The gigantic dinosaur had been listening in on the conversation. "Because," Balkzardan said, "Dogolas plans to overthrow Dehadrayth by becoming one with him. The power Dogolas would possess is simply beyond our comprehension. So it is Dogolas's way of worshipping himself." The monsters became silent. The humans continued to discuss their opinions amongst one another. "He's a bitch," Monty shouted without restraint. "Dogolas is a bitch, Dehadrayth is a bitch; all of them are! That's my opinion." "Really deep," Vader sarcastically pointed out. The pilot of Cybersaur prepared his speech. "Guys, the best thing we can," Vader paused and corrected his speech, "no, the only thing we can do right now is wait and see." Evajiran noticed a strange thing happening to the demon horde. Smoke started to sizzle out of every pore of the demons. "Guys…" Tom contemplated loudly. Everyone noticed the demon horde was being reduced to ash. Dehadrayth's glowing essence extinguished holy light upon the cascade of demons. It dissolved the disgusting creatures, reducing them to a valley of ash. The warriors from Earth remained immune to Dehadrayth's light. Had Dogolas been able to move, the Dark Echelon would've likely attacked. But since Dogolas was crippled, the Dark Echelon was forced to watch helplessly as his demonic army was wiped out in a blink of an eye. What would've taken an enormous amount of power, endurance and sheer numbers to overcome, ended up being easily dispatched by the celestial entity known as Dehadrayth. The warriors from Earth fell silent, with an exception of one. "Damn," Monty whispered. |
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| Battle Island had seen its fair share of violence over the years. In the past, it had been the battle ground of large monster armies, climatic battles, and memories beyond the scope of one's imagination. Colossal creatures, each harboring the power of a nuclear bomb, clashed in front of a large crowd of violent-craved humans. Had the monsters never been altered, it was likely that they would've preferred to escape then fight. State of the art technology allowed the humans to alter the behavior pattern of the monsters ever so slightly. It was enough to make them intelligent, yet docile. They only followed the scripts designed for their personality. These insignificant creatures, falsely made without a purpose, had been given the symbolic symbols of character. So it was only natural for a large scale battle royal to occur. A corona beam twirled out of SpaceGodzilla's predatory jaws, engraving cauterized trenches into Destoroyah's carapace. Destoroyah bellowed a horrible roar, shaking the ground from underneath them. The towering titans squared off against one another, neither showing a shred of mercy. A forest of crystals covered the landscape, empowering their master with the cosmic power he desired. A barrage of corona beams lanced into Destoroyah, shredding the armored-carapace that covered the crustacean. Destoroyah opened his maw and sprayed a stream of destructive energy. The energy had been spawned out of the destructive power circulating inside Destoroyah, power that was engineered by the Oxygen Destroyer. Destoroyah's oxygen destroyer ray collided against SpaceGodzilla's extraterrestrial chest, tearing the alien flesh cleanly off. The cosmic saurian cried in pain, but it was thankful that its body possessed the means to regenerate the damage. "Insolent fool, why do you continue to fight a battle not worth fighting?" SpaceGodzilla strongly demanded. Destoroyah's scarlet eyes peered out of its demonic head. Micro-oxygen constantly sprayed out of holes located underneath Destoroyah's neck. The crustacean was made up of trillions of microbes, each connected to a singular mind. All of them demanded SpaceGodzilla's death. Choosing to ignore SpaceGodzilla's question, Destoroyah's jaws again parted, spewing an explosive spray of destructive energy. The lavender hued beam collided against a shield SpaceGodzilla erected in front of him. Behind the barrier, SpaceGodzilla watched the destructive energies deflect into several different directions. SpaceGodzilla's malicious orbs turned, locating a group of crystals that were no longer capable of offering energy. SpaceGodzilla's telekinetic mind yanked the crystals out of the ground. Intent on using them as spears, SpaceGodzilla telekinetically threw the cloister of crystals at the attacking Destoroyah. Destoroyah stopped firing its oxygen destroyer ray and concentrated on the aerial crystals. The long, razor-sharp horn on top of Destoroyah's forehead charged with energy, forming an even longer kinetic blade of energy. Destoroyah massacred the crystals with its laser horn, quickly reducing them to broken shards. Destoroyah bent its head back up, anticipating the look on SpaceGodzilla's face; a corona beam zigzagged into Destoroyah's mouth, striking the back of Destoroyah's throat. The beam had blasted a hole out of the back of Destoroyah's neck, exposing the insides to the outside world. Green blood oozed out of the breached wound, and it leaked down Destoroyah's backside. "I'll give you a moment," the cosmic saurian kindly offered, while at the same time issuing a threat. Destoroyah gestured a defining roar. Blood vomited out of Destoroyah's mouth, staining the ground below. Instead of accepting defeat, Destoroyah's flesh crawled with angry microbes, each secreting clouds of dense smoke. Destoroyah became completely enveloped by the smoke. To avoid SpaceGodzilla's attacks, the crustacean broke off into dozens of smaller Destoroyah Aggregates. Each of them burrowed beneath the ground, escaping SpaceGodzilla's wrath - for now. *** Dagarah flapped its scaly wings, caressing the wind with its aerial dynamics. The aquatic dragon soared through the sky, surveying the wrecked island with its reptilian vision. King Ghidorah's reign of terror was over. All of the golden dragons had departed, leaving an army of monsters left with one another. It was only natural for these powerful titans to fight one another. Dagarah made its way to the water area, preferring the saturated environment. The triphibian dove beneath the watery waves. Dagarah embraced the cold temperatures, savoring the rich feeling of the water soaking its scales. But then a silhouette bleached the surface, casting its dark shade over the relaxing Dagarah. Immediately deeming the shape's creator an enemy, Dagarah attacked without any measure of mercy. The dorsal fins outlining Dagarah's back spewed bolts of energy directly upwards. Dagarah's energetic projectiles pierced the surface, striking the scaly hide of the aerial Rodan. Still exhausted from its battle with Ghidrah, Rodan nearly fell out of the sky and into the water below. Rodan's incredible eye sight located the perpetrator behind these deceitful attacks. Dwelling hundreds of feet beneath the surface, Rodan spotted Dagarah. Unable to attack the underwater dragon with its talons, Rodan instead vibrantly flapped its wings, unleashing a bombardment of shockwaves. Smoke steamed out of Rodan's burnt marks, a testament of the damage Dagarah had already dealt. Sadly, Rodan's shockwaves succeeded in doing nothing more but lifting waves of water into the air. Rodan cackled irritably. Dagarah's mammoth jaws parted, expelling a stream of destructive energies. An energy blast broke out of the water and struck Rodan's abdomen, incinerating layers of flesh instantly. A painful roar escaped Rodan's slender beak, informing his attacker of a job well done. Dagarah gleefully watched Rodan strike the watery surface. The impact formed miniature tidal waves, an excellent way of revealing the area of Rodan's descent. Dagarah propelled its body towards Rodan and started to dream of the taste of its flesh. Hungry jaws departed, revealing the black abyss of Dagarah's throat. Rodan's eyes slit open and spotted the sea dragon inching ever so closer. The battle with Ghidrah had taken its toll on Rodan's strength. Normally, the ancient pteranodon would've burst from beneath the water and fly out of harm's way. But now, Rodan only had the power to flap its wings and intimidate Dagarah. Dagarah finally reached its prey. The sea dragon clamped its jaws over Rodan's abdomen, crushing the bones hiding beneath the fleshy surface. Rodan's painful screeches echoed across the vastness of the undersea world. Rodan attempted to scrape the sea dragon with its talons, but Dagarah's thick flesh prevented such a feat. It seemed the pteranodon would have no choice but to accept death. Luckily, powerful claws cleaved Dagarah's skull, providing enough strength to make Dagarah abandon its grip on Rodan. Dagarah shifted its gaze and noticed Gigantis. The heroic saurian had made its way deep beneath the crashing waves; all for the sake of Rodan's protection. "Who dares to attack me in my own realm?" Dagarah demanded, hoping to intimidate the legendary monster that floated before him. "A warrior whose realm happens to be your own," Gigantis snidely replied, hampering Dagarah's intimidation. "I'll spare your life if you allow Rodan to leave." "Fair enough," Dagarah exclaimed and turned his hungry eyes towards Gigantis. "But then, what happens to you?" A stream of destructive energy spewed out of Dagarah's mouth and struck Gigantis' chest, impaling the thick layers of scales that had been designed for protection. The concussive force Dagarah's beam packed drilled Gigantis thousands of feet across the watery depths. Gigantis regained his composure and started to swim in a direct collision course with Dagarah. The two reptiles met underwater. Gigantis' claws sliced the water, battering Dagarah's skull. Dagarah propelled backwards, preferring the opportunity to discharge its barem instead of using its own claws. Thousands of organic byproducts of Dagarah's genetic structure latched themselves to Gigantis. Gigantis tried to pull them off with his claws, but the barem had already sapped the dinosaur of its strength. The venom each of the barem secreted was designed to take away the energy of any organism. Gigantis was now helpless. It wasn't long until Gigantis noticed he was floating next to Rodan, "The currents must've pushed me closer to you." "I wish…" Rodan reluctantly said. Gigantis noticed Dagarah was circling both of them. The sea dragon was manipulating the water currents by utilizing mythical manifestations. It wasn't long until an underwater cyclone came into being. The underwater cyclone twisted Gigantis and Rodan helplessly around in circles. Large platoons of barem secreted out of the bowels of Dagarah's shoulders. Every single one of them attached their tiny bodies to the two behemoths. The acidic liquids their mouths produced sapped the monsters dry. Dagarah watched the monsters slowly stop moving, a definite sign of defeat. Dagarah inched closer, its stomach literally growled in anticipation for the feast. Deciding it would be best to devour tinier pieces, Dagarah mutated his shoulders. Large spikes extended out of each shoulder. Chasms of light sparkled inside the inner region of the spikes. Energy erupted out of Dagarah's mouth and spikes, slicing deep fissures into Gigantis and Rodan's bodies. Crimson blood bleached the body of water around their floating forms. They were both barely alive. As Dagarah closed in, luck proved to finally be on his prey's side. A tidal wave rolled across the water and lifted Gigantis and Rodan out of the quagmire they were in. It crashed their shapes against the shore. The tidal wave had pulled the barem off of the two titans, preventing them from draining their life force. Gigantis' scaly fingers clenched the sandy beach. Water dribbled off the slopes of the reptile. Gigantis opened his eyes and witnessed the sanctuary the beach provided. Rodan breathed in the fresh air, relieved of the conditions of holding its breath underwater. Gigantis smelled the scent of an entity drawing nearer. The heroic saurian stood upright. Standing bipedal proved to be a painful experience. Gigantis felt his bodily fluids regenerate the loss energy the barem had taken away. But he had no time to worry about that. An amber fin sliced the watery surface, informing Gigantis of the arrival of the entity he sensed. A large head and neck rose out of the water. Wet, scarlet scales covered most parts of the face and neck. A silky-white apron of flesh covered the frontal arc of the creature's neck and sternum. "Titanosaurus," Gigantis acknowledged, identifying the name of the creature before him. "I noticed you were in distress, so I thought I'd lend a helping hand." "I was much appreciated," Gigantis replied gleefully. Titanosaurus swiftly turned, spotting another creature dwelling under the water. "Dagarah," the large dinosaur murmured seriously. Gigantis' upper lips pulled up, revealing the sharp teeth hidden within. Dagarah burst out of the water, releasing a horrifying roar. Without hesitation, Gigantis sprayed a sheet of atomic flames. The atomic flames burned the upper torso of Dagarah, scorching the emerald scales of the sea dragon. At the tip of Titanosaurus' tail, two appendages separated, and opened up an organic fan. The titanic saurian turned around and started to swing its tail back and forth, generating strong swirling winds. Rodan weakly got up and aided Titanosaurus by flapping his monstrous wings. Powerful winds steadily lifted millions of gallons of water into the air. Amidst the large bodies of water, Dagarah was helplessly thrown around like a rag doll. Deciding it would be best to make use of his condition, Dagarah twisted his body around in circles. Rings of energy shot out of Dagarah's spinning body, and struck the scaly back of Titanosaurus. Its penetration sliced deep into the back, barely missing the spinal cord. A loud scream howled out of Titanosaurus' mouth. The mighty dinosaur plummeted face first into the sandy beach below. Rings of energy attempted to disembowel Gigantis and Rodan. Rodan lunged into the sky, avoiding contact with the energetic rings. The beach shuddered after Gigantis dove into the ground. Bodies of sand defied gravity and were kicked high into the air. Mounds of the sand poured over Gigantis' fallen frame. Immediately afterwards, Gigantis pushed the ground and stood upright. Azure-silvery hued flames gleamed out of Gigantis' dorsal spines, signifying the release of his primary weapon. Sheets of radioactive fire breathed out of Gigantis' prehistoric throat, bathing Dagarah's face completely. Crackling energies steamed out of Dagarah's shoulder spikes and pierced Gigantis' shoulders, annihilating the arm joints within. The concussive force knocked Gigantis hundreds of feet away. Gigantis fell into a valley of plant life, flattening trees with his immense size. The heroic saurian rolled onto his back and noticed an aerial battle ensuing above. Rodan sliced the air with his slender body. The flying reptile took a peak of the creature hot on his trail. Dagarah gracefully flew across the sky. The sea dragon was no stranger to the skies, a fact Rodan would discover the hard way. Whether it was by using mystical means or it was just natural, Dagarah easily exceeded Rodan's aerial speed. Dagarah flew above Rodan, intimidating and mocking the 'Lord of the Skies' at the same time. Intent on making Dagarah think twice, Rodan twirled around and pushed his talons deep into Dagarah's underbelly. Rodan pulled the layers of skin apart. Fountains of blood poured out of Dagarah's underbelly, drenching the cackling pteranodon's entire body. Dagarah slammed its fists against Rodan, and succeeded in pushing Rodan away. While drenched in blood, Rodan flapped away from the mythic dragon, and flew in front of him. The wind blew against Rodan's sleek form and pulled the blood off of him. It splashed the blood against Dagarah. Dagarah's feral orbs lividly glared at the fleeing Rodan. The dragon opened his jaws and fired a blazing torrent of energy that struck Rodan's back. To increase the devastation, Dagarah's shoulder spikes fired a twin salvo of energy. Explosions ransacked Rodan's figure and burned the pteranodon's flesh. The sheer strength of Dagarah's beams blew Rodan out of the sky. Rodan plummeted towards the earth below. The giant pteranodon landed head first into the ground. The impact created a cloud of smoke that engulfed Rodan's unconscious body. Gigantis noticed Dagarah flying straight towards him. The heroic saurian looked down at a mountain in front of him, and noticed a willing ally. Gigantis strolled towards the mountain and stopped several hundred feet. Dagarah closed in, but neglected to unleash its energy blasts. Once Dagarah flew over the mountain, the dragon knew he had Gigantis exactly where he wanted him. To Dagarah's dismay, a large, bipedal dinosaur jumped in front of Dagarah. It resembled a Tyrannosaurus Rex, only larger and far more powerful. The dinosaur planted its foot into Dagarah's cranium and shattered the exterior of the skull. Dagarah was forced off course and crashed into a field of trees. Parts of Dagarah's skull barely cracked out of the skin surface. An agonizing headache traumatized Dagarah's savage mind. The dragon did not possess the mental strength to try to get back up. Instead, Dagarah noticed the advance of a group of monsters. The wounded forms of Gigantis, Rodan and Titanosaurus approached from opposite corners. Dagarah's attacker revealed itself as the massive Gorosaurus. Gorosaurus' prehistoric jaws separated and unleashed an earth-shaking roar. Finally, Dagarah noticed the arrival of another monster; a tenacious, armored-saurian whose courage dwarfed all. Anguirus… A dissatisfying roar escaped Dagarah's lips, as the five monsters moved in for the kill. A few miles away, six malevolent eyes watched the five dinosaurs bombard the wounded Dagarah with an onslaught of atomic flames, claws, tails, and teeth. The race of dinosaurs had always aggravated the three-headed titan of death. A damaged Death Ghidorah considered the six monsters miles away. It had barely survived the impact of Legion's mass colliding against him. Luckily, Death Ghidorah was in reach of plant life and had sucked it dry. Acidic saliva dribbled out of Death Ghidorah's mouths. It was time to drain the life force of something more mobile than plant life. Battle Island has indeed seen its fair share of battles… But as the army of monsters continued to wage a massive war upon one another, a trial beyond a cosmic scale was about to unfold, and everything would be apart of it. *** Dogolas's demonic army was gone. Their bodies had been reduced to ash, which served as the only reminder that they ever existed. Dogolas surveyed the scope of the planet under his rule. Dogolas's once glorious empire was now a barren wasteland. The Dark Echelon's dreams of attaining perfection had been reduced to a fantasy. It seemed Dogolas was at long last finally defeated. 'My son, why do you believe you have failed?' Dehadrayth asked, sensing the despair lingering in the abyss of Dogolas's mind. 'You succeeded in fulfilling your original intentions; your evil has tainted the cosmos and beyond.' 'An accomplishment I'm proud of,' Dogolas admitted. 'And do I sense a sign of parental affection? Are you trying to coddle me for my failure?' Dehadrayth said nothing. The celestial cloud of light merely expanded its mass. 'Well, don't think for a second you have won, father. I may never achieve perfection, but you will never receive redemption. All are bound to experience death and the despair that awaits them after. Face it father, I have won.' Dehadrayth dwelled upon the words of his son. The malevolent monarch still holds power over the cosmos and everything beyond. It was then that Dehadrayth paid heed to those that witnessed the conversation. Below, the warriors from Earth watched silently, and patiently waited for a conclusion. Dehadrayth sensed a beacon of hope inside them all. Though they were wounded, they still possessed the courage to fight to the very end. The celestial entity contemplated the significance of these creatures. It appeared a few of them possessed sentient minds, each containing an infinite amount of voids within. It was a shame that they too were tainted by Dogolas's malice. If only they could prove themselves, if only… That's it. 'So you believe you have won, my son?' Dehadrayth asked its child. 'I may not have the power to stop you, but I do have the strength to stop myself.' Confusion rattled Dogolas's psyche. 'What do you mean?' Dogolas asked, demanding an answer. 'Your inability to comprehend my logic angers you, does it not?' Dehadrayth exclaimed without a shred of arrogance. 'I shall eternally judge all. I'll give these mortals a chance to prevent the dark fate that awaits them all. No longer will their fates be preordained. They will be in charge of their own destinies.' Dogolas was in utter shock. 'It's strange, isn't it?' the celestial entity questioned. 'For the first time, I feel alive. The souls that make up my very being have been enlightened by that one feeling all life deserves to feel: hope. It is with that hope that I believe the 'Sorrow of Eternity' can be undone. These mortals shall decide both of our fates. But not only are they going to decide our fates…but their own.' Dogolas reluctantly watched Dehadrayth's celestial essence envelop all. Godzilla, Evajiran, Enferno, the Evangelions, Gamera, Yonggary, Ultrizard, Balkzardan, Miereki, Fusion, and all of the others present and accounted for disappeared in Dehadrayth's apron of light. They weren't alone. Everything and everyone was exposed to Dehadrayth's celestial light. It was time for Dehadrayth to announce the beginning of an event unlike any other. Cosmically connected with all, Dehadrayth whispered gently. 'Let the trials begin…' *** |
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| United Betrayals The divine light of Dehadrayth faded. Cautious eyes considered the environment around him. On all sides, cavern walls stared back at him. SpaceGodzilla released a frustrating growl. The cosmic saurian possessed eyes capable of penetrating the thickness of space. Darkness failed to prevent SpaceGodzilla from seeing the environment around him. Crimson light seeped out of SpaceGodzilla's alien orbs. The cosmic saurian sensed another lurking in the shadows of the cavern. SpaceGodzilla sought out to locate this unlucky individual and tear them limb from limb. Bolts of cosmic energy sparkled out of the monster's shoulder crystals. They struck the ground and planted the seeds of harvesting a power source. Several crystals grew out of the ground. Light registered out of their crystallized forms. The light drove the surrounding darkness away, revealing the environment in a clearer fashion. "So I'm not alone," an unknown figure announced. SpaceGodzilla's eyes searched for the voice's owner. Cosmic bolts rippled out of the crystals, empowering SpaceGodzilla's shoulder crystals with the rich energy they craved. Try as he might, SpaceGodzilla could not find the unknown entity. Enraged by this embarrassment, SpaceGodzilla ordered the entity to reveal his identity with a loud, terrifying wail. "So you wish to know my identity, space monster?" SpaceGodzilla gritted his razor-sharp teeth. "Yes," SpaceGodzilla beckoned with ferocity. "Tell me who you are or face oblivion!" Footsteps echoed across the cavern chambers. SpaceGodzilla's foreign orbs spotted a humanoid outline. Holy light burned from a pearl attached to the entity's chest. SpaceGodzilla felt his veins boil. Out of all the beings SpaceGodzilla could've come across in this subterranean environment, it had to be an Ultraman. The space monster gestured an angry growl. The Ultraman stopped, aware of SpaceGodzilla's hostile reputation. But the Ultraman had stopped close enough to the light crystals for SpaceGodzilla to identity what type of Ultraman he was. Purple, red and silver coatings were a dead give away. "Ultraman Tiga," SpaceGodzilla hissed irritably. "What brings you to this cavern?" Ultraman Tiga was poised in a stance that would allow him to fight at a moment's notice, "An act of a higher being, apparently. Were you not paying attention?" SpaceGodzilla fired a blazing corona beam at the ground in front of Ultraman Tiga. The corona beam ravaged the ground and left a scorching trench behind. Ultraman Tiga did not move. He was aware of SpaceGodzilla's motivations. Had he shown a sign of fear, it would've been enough to fuel SpaceGodzilla's arrogance to the point of anarchy. Still, SpaceGodzilla remained curious as to why Ultraman Tiga had suddenly appeared out of no where. Then again, SpaceGodzilla didn't know exactly why or how he arrived here in the first place. All the cosmic saurian could remember was his battle with Destoroyah on Battle Island. But then a blinding light enveloped his very being. SpaceGodzilla recalled the words of a celestial being well beyond his comprehension. Then immediately after, SpaceGodzilla was here. "A trial," SpaceGodzilla murmured silently. Ultraman Tiga nodded his head. It was strange being alive again. The Warrior of Light recalled the climatic showdown with Dogolas. After bonding with Ultraman Dyna's essence, Tiga had transformed into the supernatural being known as Glitter Tiga. But even with the combined power of both Dyna and Tiga, Glitter Tiga met death nonetheless. The power of Glitter Tiga's separate souls prepared to enter the apocalyptic void of Dogolas's mind, where their power would become his own. It seems an unforeseen paradox interfered and pulled Ultraman Tiga's soul out of the fire pits of Dogolas's psyche. Ultraman Tiga was given a second chance, but to do what? What exactly was this trial? It seemed neither SpaceGodzilla nor the Ultraman knew the answer. SpaceGodzilla curiously read the blank expression on Ultraman Tiga's gleaming, round-shaped eyes. "I assume the trial involves us battling to the death," SpaceGodzilla assumed prematurely. "Not that I shall abject…" Bright fabrics of light shimmered out of SpaceGodzilla's shoulder crystals. The angelic horn on top of SpaceGodzilla's head emitted a red glow. A split second before SpaceGodzilla's jaws separated, Ultraman Tiga carried out a preemptive strike. Ultraman Tiga distanced the space between his arms, empowering the air between them with bolts of divine energy. The benign being formed an L-shape with his arms. Holy light sliced out of the Ultra's right arm and sought to obliterate the space monster. A crystallized barrier separated the holy beam from SpaceGodzilla. Ultraman Tiga's zepellion beam crashed into the barrier and dispersed into opposite directions. Remnants of the beam grazed the granite walls. Tremors vibrated the cavern, causing rocks to break out of their foundations and fall to the ground below. Ultraman Tiga stopped firing his zepellion beam and preferred the chance to engage SpaceGodzilla in a physical confrontation. In an instant, the purple coating was replaced by red. The muscles increased in size and strength, and bulged out of the armor-coating. A stronger Ultraman sprinted towards the cosmic saurian, intent on taking the massive space monster down. Not interested in being bashed by Ultraman Tiga's physical strength, SpaceGodzilla's shoulder crystals unleashed emerald bolts that entangled the sprinting Ultra. The air was warped around Ultraman Tiga and the benign warrior noticed that gravity was no longer present. Ultraman Tiga was pulled off the ground and chucked straight into the ceiling above. SpaceGodzilla's telekinesis bashed the Warrior of Light into the cavern raptors. Smoke consumed Ultraman Tiga, shrouding the warrior completely. But SpaceGodzilla didn't need to see him to know what to do next. Ultraman Tiga felt gravity return, but this time it rammed the Ultra warrior into the ground. Immediately after, the Ultraman was hurled once again into the ceiling above. An imprint of the Ultraman's shape was left embedded inside the rocky soil. During the moments of being aloft, the pearl attached to Tiga's chest absorbed the particles of light present in the room. Gathering the energy into the palms of his hands, Ultraman Tiga chucked a blazing energy blast directly at SpaceGodzilla. SpaceGodzilla attempted to raise another shield, but Ultraman Tiga's attack had already made contact. The scorching energies detonated against SpaceGodzilla's sternum, applying enough concussive force to knock the cosmic saurian against the side of a wall. With his concentration interrupted, SpaceGodzilla no longer controlled the gravity around Ultraman Tiga. Tiga dropped to the ground and landed on his feet. Wasting no time, Ultraman Tiga sprinted towards SpaceGodzilla and jumped into the air, drop kicking SpaceGodzilla all the way through the wall. SpaceGodzilla crash landed into a larger room. Strangely, the room was brightly lit from an unforeseen force dwelling in the ceiling above. SpaceGodzilla levitated to his feet and stared curiously at the shimmering ceiling. If SpaceGodzilla didn't know better, it was as if the light was made up of an entity that was very much alive. An energy blast lanced into SpaceGodzilla's ribcage and carved a deep hole. The flesh healed, but the pain never subsided. SpaceGodzilla rotated his line of sight and spotted Ultraman Tiga hiding behind the hole in the wall. Every few seconds, Ultraman Tiga took a peak and fired a blazing energy beam from his hands. SpaceGodzilla unleashed a corona beam that twirled around the edge, striking Ultraman Tiga's shoulder and dug deep enough to shred the armor coating. Light oozed out instead of blood. The injury started to rejuvenate. Ultraman Tiga was getting ready to fire another energy blast, but bolts of green energy wrapped around Ultraman Tiga and pulled him through the wall. SpaceGodzilla telekinetically chucked the Warrior of Light to the other side of the room. There, Ultraman Tiga jumped to his feet and the two adversaries prepared to face off once more. 'Is there any question as to why you two are fighting?' Dehadrayth's voice boomed from the glowing ceiling above. 'The answer is elementary; one of you is good, the other is evil, thus you both are destined to oppose one another.' Divine flames churned out of the celestial light. It glinted off of SpaceGodzilla's scarlet eyes. The cosmic dragon analyzed the words of the mysterious being. "I assume you are the one that brought us here?" SpaceGodzilla silently whispered, sounding bored in the process. 'One of many brought you here,' Dehadrayth intelligently replied. 'You are the one known as SpaceGodzilla, correct?' "Yes," SpaceGodzilla stubbornly replied. 'And the other is known as Ultraman Tiga,' Dehadrayth revealed, acting as a prophet. 'You are both aware of the trials, but none of you know exactly what your trial is, correct?' Silence greeted the celestial being. 'No would be both of your answers, yes?' Dehadrayth wasted no time in explaining the trial. 'You are both here to take part in a trial that involves three participants. I shall test each and single one of you of your purpose. We shall discover why you had chosen to become Good or Evil. And finally, you both will have to put aside your differences. Should you succeed, you will pass the trial, and end my Son's threat.' "Wait a minute," Ultraman Tiga alleged, "what do you mean by three participants? There's someone else here?" SpaceGodzilla ignored Ultraman Tiga's question, "I need to work with him? Please, I will never join forces with him. I don't need him." 'Shall your questions go unanswered?' Dehadrayth asked, silencing the two giants before him. 'That may be the case, but know this, if thou does not enter or pass my trial, you will both join the eternal reckoning of despair that is Dehadrayth.' A bolt of divinity struck the center of the ground, removing the iron plates hiding underneath. Dwelling inside the subterranean world was a black egg. The ground beneath the black egg rose upwards. It ascended to the point of where SpaceGodzilla was smaller than the ground that supported the egg. The egg itself was as large as SpaceGodzilla. SpaceGodzilla stared at the egg, sensing the darkness that dwelled inside. A familiar scent of malice greeted SpaceGodzilla's nostrils. SpaceGodzilla felt a strange feeling, like he had fought this evil before. Ultraman Tiga naturally was aware of the evil being nesting inside the egg. Whatever it was, the amount of power dwelling inside was enough to make Ultraman Tiga want to partner SpaceGodzilla. "But Dehadrayth, we are already aware of our purpose. Why do we need to form an alliance?" Ultraman Tiga asked, unsure if he wanted to join a creature as evil as SpaceGodzilla. To Ultraman Tiga's dismay, Dehadrayth never replied. The swirling fabrics of light above merely watched the decisions the titans below made. Cracks started to splinter the exterior of the black egg. An eerie sound started to shake the entire cavern. The sound reminded those present of thunder, but more terrifying. It emitted a cackle unlike any other. SpaceGodzilla's alien brain reminded him of where he had sensed such evil. It was back at Battle Island, against the King of Terror himself, King Ghidorah. So this is where the Ghidorahs flocked to. It appears they had combined their demonic life forces to once again become one. Last time, it was done by using science and sorcery, concocted by Dogolas. But now these engines of destruction had used their own power. SpaceGodzilla had slain the benign Ghidorah, the only creature that held the golden dragon back from its fullest potential. "It seems I'll have no choice but to have a temporarily alliance with you." SpaceGodzilla coldly hissed. The egg shattered. A colossal titan stood out of the remains. Darkness embellished the creature that stood upright like a human. What was originally expected to be the apocalyptic King Ghidorah, turned out to be a skeletal monster that was covered with dark morbid armor! The bipedal creature had two tails that curved around one another. On each of its shoulders, half of a skull appeared. Each skull possessed two amber glowing eyes. The central head contained two sharp horns. Hungry jaws drooled uncontrollably. Black veins bulged out of the monster's massive biceps. The monster was unlike any other, serving as the beginning of the ultimate Ghidorah. It was a mutation, an anomaly among its kaiju brethren. The beast wasn't just any mere monster… It was a Monster X. Already deeming the creature unfit to live, SpaceGodzilla grazed Monster X's thick carapace with a barrage of corona beams. The energetic daggers dug as far as possible, but failed to ultimately crack Monster X's dense armor. A shower of sparks covered Monster X's body. Six grisly eyes sparkled amidst the shower of sparks. SpaceGodzilla's eyes widened in utter shock! This abomination had survived a bombardment of corona beams without suffering a scratch. And now Monster X was ready to launch its counterattack. Golden bolts of energy leaped out of Monster X's frightening orbs, and struck SpaceGodzilla's sternum. Strands of SpaceGodzilla's flesh ripped away from the body and rained to the ground. Burning holes took up residence. The injuries started to heal. But the sheer shock of being damaged made SpaceGodzilla stumble back and fall into the ground. Eerie smoke fluctuated around the skeletal humanoid. Angry snarls grunted out of Monster X's malicious jaws. All of Monster X's amber glowing eyes turned to face Ultraman Tiga. Tiga's muscles still bulged out of the armor coating that encased his body. Monster X barked a discomforting roar. It was a challenge directed at the Warrior of Light. The Ultraman accepted the offer and broke into a sprint. Monster X wasted no time; the bipedal demon leaped towards Ultraman Tiga, decreasing the volume of space between them. Ultraman Tiga fired a streak of light that literally bounced off of Monster X's broad carapace. "Crap!" Ultraman Tiga stopped and shouted. Monster X brought the wrath of its fists down upon Ultraman Tiga. The sheer brute force each fist heralded was enough to bury the Ultraman hundreds of feet below the rocky ground. The penetration of the soil alone was enough to vibrate the entire cavern. Deeming defeat by the hands of a monster unacceptable, Ultraman Tiga picked himself off the floor and lunged at Monster X. Tiga's muscular fists bashed Monster X's rock hard face. Loud, disturbing sounds bounced off the cavern walls. The impact sounds entered SpaceGodzilla's ears, reminding the cosmic saurian of the sound two rocks would make if they were bashed against one another. Ultraman Tiga relentlessly punched Monster X aside the face, barely bruising the demon's facial surface. To the Ultraman's dismay, unlike Monster X's face, Tiga's fists were becoming bruised. Enraged, Tiga summoned the divine energy circulating within his veins. Crimson energies crackled around Tiga's fists. The Ultraman plowed his right fist into Monster X's chest. It was all it took to knock Monster X all the way to the other side of the room. Monster X crashed into a wall of granite. The impact caused the entire wall to crumble and topple to the ground. Monster X's body had created a hole in the side of the wall, which contained him. The skeletal demon glared at Ultraman Tiga, favoring the Warrior of Light with an ill-tempered smile. Particles of light were borrowed from the celestial essence of Dehadrayth. Ultraman Tiga focused all of the light particles into the palm of his hands. Not wasting time, Ultraman Tiga converted the light particles into a stream of energy that struck Monster X's chest. Monster X was knocked deeper into the granite wall. A haze of smoke covered the entrance to the hole, blocking out any signs of Monster X's whereabouts. Golden beams flared out of the hazy smoke and arced to meet Ultraman Tiga. Not only did they strike and penetrate Ultraman Tiga's flesh, they applied enough pressure to knock the Ultra warrior off his feet. Tiga's back bounced off the ground and rolled across its hollow surface. Monster X emerged out of the hole; unholy lights pulsated out of its eyes. A group of corona beams stabbed Monster X's face. Each corona beam conjured an explosion that burned Monster X's demonic façade. A curtain of sparks enveloped Monster X's upper body. Monster X jumped out of the hole and landed on the ground. The rocky soil coiled from the impact, and made the floor rise out of its foundations. A tidal wave of rock rolled across the center of the room. In the center of the devastation, Monster X stood upright, acting as the personification of Death itself. Chasms of light gleamed from the inner shapes of SpaceGodzilla's shoulder crystals. A corona beam blazed out of the cosmic dragon's mouth and grazed Monster X's shoulders. Ultraman Tiga cuffed his hands together and fired a relentless barrage of energy beams. Monster X quietly stood there, un-wavered by the deadly assaults. The skeletal demon faced Ultraman Tiga and fired a quick burst of golden bolts. Ultraman Tiga ceased firing and formed a visible barrier in front of him. Monster X's golden bolts collided against the barrier. The barrier successfully fended off the attack, but it was destroyed afterwards. Ultraman Tiga charged the deadly beast, intent on bashing its brains out with his fists. Unlike last time, Monster X was ready; grisly hands shot out and grabbed a hold of Ultraman Tiga's throat. In a testament of its physical brawn, Monster X lifted Ultraman Tiga off the ground with just one hand. Monster X brought Ultraman Tiga close enough to smell its horrible breath. Ultraman Tiga's round-shaped eyes were only inches away from the amber-hued optics of Monster X. SpaceGodzilla watched the scene unfold before him. He could intervene, but SpaceGodzilla was more interested in watching Ultraman Tiga suffer. "Die," Monster X howled in a low-pitch voice. The skeletal demon squeezed the life out of the Ultraman's throat; however, a change of strategy occurred. Monster X threw Ultraman Tiga against the wall on the other side of the room. Ultraman Tiga bounced off the wall and fell to the ground. Monster X shifted its gaze and turned towards SpaceGodzilla. Gravity bolts rippled out of SpaceGodzilla's shoulder crystals, immobilizing Monster X in a gravity field. SpaceGodzilla manipulated the gravity to his liking, which leads to Monster X's body to being propelled directly into the wall. Afterwards, SpaceGodzilla commanded crystals to grow and entrap Monster X deep inside the wall. Ultraman Tiga walked over to the center of the room and looked up at the crystals. The Warrior of Light turned towards SpaceGodzilla. "About time you helped me," Ultraman Tiga angrily uttered. SpaceGodzilla didn't say a word. The cosmic saurian simply stared at his temporarily ally, gesturing a ghastly smile. SpaceGodzilla's crimson eyes ascended upwards. The glowing mass of Dehadrayth glinted off of SpaceGodzilla's terrifying orbs. SpaceGodzilla had never seen a celestial being capable of delivering the kind of power Dehadrayth was capable of. Not even Dogolas had shown such feats. The space monster heard a growl exit his reptilian lips. Just by mentioning Dogolas's name wrought anger to SpaceGodzilla. Originally, SpaceGodzilla was chosen to become apart of Dogolas's Kion Dehadrayth. SpaceGodzilla turned down the offer and was tortured as a result by the demon Bagan. The space monster still remembers that day like it was yesterday. SpaceGodzilla's torture had created a thirst of vengeance. Truth be told, SpaceGodzilla wanted to join the other monsters to engage Dogolas on his own turf, but the space monster had other plans for conquest. Had it not been for King Ghidorah, the world would've fallen to his tyranny. Now the space monster was forced to take part in these pathetic trials. He still didn't know the purpose of these trials. Worst of all, SpaceGodzilla had to partner up with an Ultraman of all beings… A loud tremor shook the entire wall. The crystals started to crack. After a few strikes, the crystals finally shattered. Monster X's fist stuck out of the splintered crystals. The demon's physical strength had broken through the crystal barricade. SpaceGodzilla lividly stared at Monster X, angered by the fact that Monster X had broken free. The skeletal demon jumped all the way from the wall to its opponents. SpaceGodzilla levitated off the ground and twirled all the way around, striking Monster X's face with the crystallized spikes at the tip of the tail. Monster X was knocked off its feet. Had it been any other creature, it would've taken it minutes to recuperate from an ugly blow like that. But Monster X was on his feet in seconds. Monster X slammed its fists against SpaceGodzilla's chest, shattering the crystal sternum that lied underneath. SpaceGodzilla released an ear-piercing scream. With the whip of Monster X's other hand, SpaceGodzilla was forcefully knocked off his feet. Ultraman Tiga ran up and started striking Monster X's dense carapace with a bombardment of fists, but Monster X just stood there, unaffected. The Ultra warrior prepared to take another crack at Monster X's skull, but Monster X caught the Ultraman's fist with its hand. Monster X brutally took its other hand and smashed it against Ultraman Tiga's captured wrist, shattering the divine bones lurking within. A painful grunt echoed out of the metallic lips of the Ultra warrior. Tiga fell to his knees, unable to withstand the intense pain that had befallen him. Monster X prepared to fire its deadly gravity bolts from up close, but the Ultraman's life was saved when SpaceGodzilla bashed its body against Monster X. Monster X was knocked to the ground and slid across its rock hard surface. SpaceGodzilla stood side by side with the injured Ultraman Tiga. Monster X started to rise, but he didn't wait to stand up, instead Monster X unleashed a blazing torrent of its gravity beams while standing on one knee. Unlike the first few times, Monster X actually fired streaks of light that did not falter. SpaceGodzilla summoned a crystal barrier that met the full brunt of Monster X's assault. Luckily, the shield also defended the injured Ultraman Tiga. Monster X's gravity bolts pushed against the barrier. The golden streaks started to seep past the shield. They bombarded SpaceGodzilla and Ultraman Tiga, piercing tiny cauterized holes into their flesh. But SpaceGodzilla kept the battered shield up and running. When deprived up energy, Monster X stopped firing its ballistic arsenal and simply glared at the duo. "So you wish to die by other means?" Monster X snarled. The skeletal demon was insulted by the fact that his attack hadn't penetrated SpaceGodzilla's shield in the way he wanted it to. "Be silent," SpaceGodzilla replied coldly. Monster X roared loudly. An aura of darkness crackled around the skeletal demon. Had the beast been around a forest, the vegetation would've withered and die. SpaceGodzilla smelled the scent of death. It was the same scent of King Ghidorah's ascension to absolute power. After the three headed dragon achieved its full potential, it was unlike anything the cosmic saurian had ever seen. And yet, the quivering feeling SpaceGodzilla felt transcended the terror he felt during that brutal battle. Originally, King Ghidorah ascertained such power by receiving assistance from Dogolas. But now, the creature was evolving. There was no guidance, no assistance, nothing on Earth or Hell was helping this 'Harbinger of Doom'. If Death ever took a physical form, it would be an exact duplicate of the creature that was about to make its presence once again known. The personification of Death… Monster X leaned forward. It placed its decaying hands on the ground. The bones and muscles inside Monster X's arms rearranged and started to increase in size and mass. What was once a skeletal coating transformed into golden scales. Monster X's legs suffered the same transformation. The half-empty skulls that sat atop of Monster X's shoulders grew another part, no longer half of what they originally were. Ghastly smoke lingered out of the pores of Monster X's figure. The skeletal parts residing on his chest snapped away, creating golden wings that expanded hundreds of feet in each direction. Now possessing three heads, Monster X was ready to complete the cycle of its evolution. The three heads grew hundreds of feet into the air. Golden scales embellished the exterior of each neck, replacing the dark skeletal surface. When the ghastly smoke cleared, Monster X was no where to be seen. Instead, the frightening outline of a three headed monster took its place. "King Ghidorah," SpaceGodzilla snarled lividly. "Wrong…" all three heads of the dragon hissed. "We are a Kaiser…we are Kaiser Ghidorah." SpaceGodzilla analyzed the importance of the name. Ultraman Tiga didn't take his holy eyes off of the fearsome dragon, but that didn't stop him from asking SpaceGodzilla a question, "Kaiser? Is he trying to say he's the Emperor of all Ghidorahs?" "There are no Ghidorahs left," SpaceGodzilla stated awkwardly. "It seems the arrogant fool believes he is above a King." Six red eyes focused on the cosmic saurian. Lurking behind each of those eyes was a manifestation of Death itself. The 'Harbinger of Doom' has at last achieved its fullest potential. And now Kaiser Ghidorah sought nothing more but to purge the life out of those who dared defy him. SpaceGodzilla would be the first to die. The egotistical space monster had no purpose. SpaceGodzilla was a disease to Kaiser Ghidorah's unholy existence. For every second that SpaceGodzilla breathed, it was an affront to the golden dragon. How dare this imposter take the shape of the only creature worthy of facing Kaiser Ghidorah! It was a travesty for Kaiser Ghidorah to even bother with the likes of these inferior creatures. Kaiser Ghidorah cared not for a trial, in fact he thrived in the idea of fighting to the death; it was just a shame the King of the Monsters was not his opponent. Otherwise, the Emperor would've shown the King his place in the order of existence. "Die vile dragon," SpaceGodzilla hollered loud enough to break Kaiser Ghidorah's concentration. A corona beam flared out of SpaceGodzilla's carnivorous jaws. It engraved a hole inside Kaiser Ghidorah's sternum. The cosmic weapon had penetrated Kaiser Ghidorah's thick scales. Six orbs glared at its attacker. Three mouths simultaneously opened and spewed gravitational bolts. The gravity beams bathed the area with its amber-hued essence. Its beauty was awe-inspiring, but it failed to conceive the damage they wrought to all. SpaceGodzilla screamed a painful cry that shook the cavern walls. Kaiser Ghidorah's gravity bolts ravaged SpaceGodzilla, shredding and butchering the space monster's thick hide. Suddenly, Kaiser Ghidorah's gravity beams lifted SpaceGodzilla off the ground. It was a horrible way to be tortured. The gravity beams acknowledged Kaiser Ghidorah's command, and forcefully thrusted SpaceGodzilla head first into the wall. Cracks splintered a fissure, allowing SpaceGodzilla's skull to freely sink into the wall of granite. A staggering headache made SpaceGodzilla black out. Noticing Kaiser Ghidorah was distracted, Ultraman Tiga took the time to take a cheap shot. Holy light drifted out of all corners of Ultraman Tiga. When it faded, the increase muscle mass had returned to normal. The purple coating had returned. Faster than before, Ultraman Tiga released a barrage of energy beams that sliced into Kaiser Ghidorah's flesh. But the wounds instantly healed. No longer concerned with SpaceGodzilla, Kaiser Ghidorah shifted its attention to Ultraman. Blind bolts of energy escaped Kaiser Ghidorah's mouths, entrapping Tiga immediately. The destructive energies ravaged Ultraman Tiga's exterior, engraving blistering trenches every second. The pearl on Tiga's chest started to blink, signaling Ultraman's life force was now in jeopardy. Light floated out of the injuries Ultraman had sustained. To the Ultraman, light was the equivalent of blood and at this rate, he was losing a large portion of blood. SpaceGodzilla started to come to. The cosmic saurian turned to see the malicious scene transpire before him. SpaceGodzilla watched a mutilated Ultraman fight to stay alive. Reluctantly, the cosmic saurian knew that the only way of winning was to keep the Ultraman alive. Noticing Kaiser Ghidorah was distracted, SpaceGodzilla fired a corona volley at one of the dragon's necks. The corona beam cleaved the neck's outer surface and blazed into the center of the appendage, vaporizing the arteries, muscles and bone within. The gravity bolt circulating out of Kaiser Ghidorah's right mouth faded. Crimson eyes faded as the entire right neck disconnected from the rest of the body and slumped to the ground. Sizzling smoke baked out of the decapitated neck. All two heads stopped shredding Ultraman to pieces, recognizing the great deal of damage SpaceGodzilla had caused. Ultraman fell to the ground, lucky to be alive. Ultraman's broken wrist was the least of his worries. "Imposter, you shall endure our wrath because of that!" Kaiser Ghidorah hissed vilely. Streaks of golden energies blazed out of the front of Kaiser Ghidorah's jaws. They struck one of SpaceGodzilla's shoulder crystals. Before SpaceGodzilla could painfully wail in agony, the shoulder crystal was ripped to pieces. A blinding light escaped SpaceGodzilla's destroyed shoulder crystal. Half of the energy the space monster contained was lost. But Kaiser Ghidorah wasn't done with the space dragon. The gravity bolts ensnared SpaceGodzilla and pulled him towards the hungry golden dragon. Fate was not kind to the cosmic dragon. Kaiser Ghidorah's jaws clamped down upon SpaceGodzilla's healthier shoulder crystal. The powerful teeth punctured the crystallized exterior. SpaceGodzilla tried to fire a corona beam, but Kaiser Ghidorah had already started to siphon the energy right out of the shoulder crystal! SpaceGodzilla helplessly watched the energy circulate down Kaiser Ghidorah's necks. The shoulder crystal started to dim. It wouldn't be long until SpaceGodzilla's energy was completely gone. Ultraman Tiga weakly stood. Thankfully, Ultraman's holy form had already started to regenerate the damage Kaiser Ghidorah had inflicted. But should SpaceGodzilla perish, Ultraman would not have a chance. The Warrior of Light channeled the holy radiance he had to offer. With the flick of the wrist, Tiga hurled an energetic disc. The disc arced to meet the now two-headed monster. It sliced the exterior of Kaiser Ghidorah's left neck and ripped out the other side, narrowly missing the middle head. Kaiser Ghidorah's middle head relinquished the hold it had on SpaceGodzilla's shoulder crystal and screamed in frustration. It fired a golden bolt of energy that lanced into SpaceGodzilla's chest. The gravity beam pushed SpaceGodzilla away, knocking the cosmic dragon into a wall hundreds of meters away. Smoke churned out of the decapitated left neck. It wiggled uncontrollably, believing it still had a head on top its muscular frame. The middle head morbidly stared at Ultraman Tiga. Never before had Ultraman sensed such evil. The abundance of travesty and annihilation was at an all time high. Kaiser Ghidorah made a vow… To destroy Ultraman Tiga! Kaiser Ghidorah ignored the fallen SpaceGodzilla and charged the injured Ultraman. The ground violently shook as the colossal dragon charged to meet Ultraman Tiga in combat. It didn't take long for the golden dragon to reach its target. Ultraman stood his ground, not afraid of the dreaded beast that had slain a good portion of the galaxy. Kaiser Ghidorah noticed the benevolent warrior before him did not possess the one emotion the dragon enjoyed probably more than genocide. "You do not fear me," Kaiser Ghidorah's only head whispered irritably. Out of all of Kaiser Ghidorah's victims and rivals, only one creature defied his tyranny and showed no fear in doing so. Having one creature in the cosmos that showed no fear was an insult. But now two!? Ultraman noticed the flame of anger burn brighter inside Kaiser Ghidorah's eyes. "Did I make you mad?" Ultraman Tiga purposely inquired. The Warrior of Light figured he'd try to make the dragon reach the point of where anger shrouded its judgment. "I'm not surprised, your type are easily angered. Could it be a sign of ignorance? I'd reckon so. You know, I've been aware of your rivalry with Godzilla for quite some time. Must be an insult to one of your caliber to realize that in the duration of your rivalry, you've never defeated him - not once," Ultraman continued, "and now you have the audacity to slay me?-and Godzilla's clone? Give me a break!" Kaiser Ghidorah favored Ultraman Tiga with a modest look. If Tiga didn't know any better, he'd say Kaiser Ghidorah was smiling. "Wish granted," Kaiser Ghidorah maliciously replied. The middle head lashed forward and clamped the Ultraman's throat with its relentless jaws. Lights started to flicker from Ultraman's shimmering eyes. Kaiser Ghidorah siphoned the light out of Ultraman Tiga, and converted the light to darkness. It seemed Kaiser Ghidorah was keeping its promise and was going to give Ultraman Tiga a broken neck. Ultraman's pearl started to flash even brighter. With only one working arm, Ultraman Tiga didn't possess the stamina to stop the 'Harbinger of Doom'. Strains of energy circulated out of SpaceGodzilla's damaged shoulder crystal. The space monster gently placed its nervous hand on the ground and infused the soil with the seeds it needed to construct crystal fields. One by one they popped out and infused SpaceGodzilla the energy he needed to stay alive. SpaceGodzilla gazed at the terrifying feast nearby. Kaiser Ghidorah was murdering his reluctant partner. Truthfully, SpaceGodzilla would've loved to just see Ultraman Tiga die. In fact, the cosmic saurian was about to do just that. But then SpaceGodzilla stared up at the ceiling, and noticed Dehadrayth's celestial essence. "Damn trial," SpaceGodzilla irritably whispered. Crimson bolts blazed from all corners of the horn embedded to SpaceGodzilla's forehead. A powerful corona beam radically whirled out of SpaceGodzilla's maw and aimed to decapitate Kaiser Ghidorah's last head. But Kaiser Ghidorah saw the corona beam coming and dropped the helpless Ultraman Tiga to the floor. A gravity beam flared out of Kaiser Ghidorah's mandibles. The golden fabrication of Kaiser Ghidorah's power clashed with SpaceGodzilla's corona beam. SpaceGodzilla telekinetically ordered the corona beam to avoid Kaiser Ghidorah's gravity bolt, but the gravity beam followed the corona beam everywhere it went. SpaceGodzilla's eyes looked up and stared at Kaiser Ghidorah. "The bastard can control his the same way I can control mine!" Ultraman Tiga manifested all the light he had left. The Warrior of Light took his broken arm and formed an L-shape with his healthier one. A zepellion beam poured out of Ultraman's vertical arm. It closed in on Kaiser Ghidorah's middle and final head. Red serpentine eyes noticed Ultraman's attempted murder. Kaiser Ghidorah casually ceased firing its gravity beam and whirled its head to meet the zepellion beam, and prepared to fire until the arrogant dragon remembered one little problem: SpaceGodzilla's corona beam. Both SpaceGodzilla's corona beam and Ultraman's zepellion beam struck Kaiser Ghidorah's middle head simultaneously. A blinding ball of light enveloped Kaiser Ghidorah's upper body. Shockwaves generated out of the explosions, which knocked SpaceGodzilla and Ultraman to the ground. The light subsided and revealed a headless Kaiser Ghidorah. The gigantic body fell to its knees and slumped to the ground. A disgusting smell lingered out of the pores of its dead carcass. The Evil that drove Kaiser Ghidorah was gone. SpaceGodzilla absorbed energy out of his crystal fields. The cosmic dragon levitated off the ground and approached Kaiser Ghidorah's carcass. A bewildered Ultraman could only get up on one knee. The injuries he had endured would probably take his life. But the battle was won. Ultraman Tiga looked up at SpaceGodzilla and noticed the space monster was staring at him. "Nice job," Ultraman benevolently said. Strangely, SpaceGodzilla continued to look at him, almost obsessively. A wave of malevolence faintly glistened out of SpaceGodzilla's eyes. It suddenly dawned on Ultraman that his life was in grave danger. But there wasn't anything he could do. He had been injured to the point of where death was bound to accept him as its own. "Well, I'm not surprised, just disappointed. I have fought for the sakes of others all my life, never caring about my own life. And look where it got me. I will never regret my hospitality towards others. I will regret never killing you when I had the chance." The sharp end of SpaceGodzilla's crystallized tail ended Ultraman Tiga's speech. It pierced the pearl on Ultraman's chest and sliced out his backside. Ultraman didn't think about SpaceGodzilla's betrayal, Kaiser Ghidorah's brutal torture, or even the trials; instead, Ultraman Tiga thought about the lives he saved and the light of a better tomorrow. It was a peaceful way for him to die. SpaceGodzilla pulled his tail out of the dead Ultraman. Before long, both Kaiser Ghidorah and Ultraman Tiga disappeared in a cloud of particles. Energized tentacles reached down from the celestial essence of Dehadrayth and absorbed the life force of each entity. "So this was all a set up?" SpaceGodzilla murmured out loud. "To have us fight to the death and then absorb the power of those that died? Intriguing I do admit." 'Does thou arrogance know no bounds?' Dehadrayth's voice thundered from above. 'Do ye not realize the importance of one's trial? You were given an easy task to ignore the pride that shrouds your judgment. In doing so, you would've been spared. But thou allowed the corruption of its own arrogance to take control.' "Be silent you annoying fool," SpaceGodzilla angrily shouted. "I do not care about your trial." 'It's not my trial, it is yours,' Dehadrayth corrected him. 'Ye still do not understand?' "What's there to understand? I won; they lost, plain and simple. Those are the rules of nature: survival of the fittest! And I am the fittest!" 'You are not fit to acquire redemption, SpaceGodzilla,' Dehadrayth coldly replied. 'You want to know the truth?' "I'm entitled to it," the space monster snorted. 'Surely you would've figured it out by now?" Dehadrayth baited SpaceGodzilla's arrogance, but decided to cut to the chase. 'Ghidorah and Ultraman were sharing your trial. It was a test of character. All of you showed your role in the universe. Ghidorah is meant to be the embodiment of Evil. Ultraman is meant to be the personification of Good. But what is your role, SpaceGodzilla? Living the life of a tyrant obsessed with achieving ultimate power. There are many like you. Sadly, the order of life is in need of wicked dictators like you. It is your Evil and Injustice that empowers the champions of Good to fight for what they believe in.' "So then why didn't I pass?" SpaceGodzilla confusedly responded. "Did Ultraman and Ghidorah pass?" 'Did you ever once think about being benevolent?' Dehadrayth questioned honestly. 'No, they didn't pass. In order to pass this trial, all would've needed to pass.' "That doesn't sound very fair," SpaceGodzilla retorted. 'You dare question me about fair?' Dehadrayth articulated. 'You are the one that betrayed Ultraman, don't you dare lecture me on what's fair. You failed, SpaceGodzilla. That is the key to your answer. Had you not betrayed Ultraman, all would not have been lost. But alas, I've reached a verdict and this trial has ended.' Dehadrayth's celestial essence engulfed the entire cave. SpaceGodzilla roared in despair as the light shined down upon him, and dissolved his molecular structure. The cosmic saurian was no longer an individual, but another torn soul that was now apart of Dehadrayth. Brothers of Darkness The icy mountains surrounding Mt. Everest had been tainted by dark clouds. Darkness had prevented the sun from penetrating its thickness. Humans no longer dared to venture into these dark realms. A sinister warlord had taken over the areas surrounding Mt. Everest. At the base of the largest mountain on Earth, egg sacks conceived the birth of creatures born out of the depths of Hell. Upon birth, these vile creatures are born with the ability to kill at will. They all strived to maul any creature caught in their path. These fearsome creatures were given a name: Zoigar. At the apex of Mt. Everest, the ruler of this forsaken land reigned supreme. Lavender glowing eyes peered out of Gatanozoa's demonic skull. The spawn of Dogolas eagerly surveyed his domain. He was telekinetically connected with the Zoigar swarm. They sought only to follow orders and spread dread across the land. The darkness that Gatanozoa's body secreted had made the apex of the mountain melt. What was once granite was now a murky, acidic lake designed to provide for Gatanozoa's leisure. The hot substance baked Gatanozoa's flesh, soothing the tyrant in the process. Only one thing lurked inside Gatanozoa's mind. "My father had always warned me of him," Gatanozoa mentally murmured. "Father, I will not let you down. Whatever transpires, I will see to it that your will is enforced upon these pathetic worms." A distant cackle alerted Gatanozoa of a disturbance. Lately, Mankind's armies have attempted to annihilate the Zoigar swarm without success. At first, Gatanozoa assumed they were attempting another raid, but it seemed that wasn't the case. Flocks of Zoigar were immediately dispatched to the outskirts of Gatanozoa's domain. Gatanozoa needed only a few days to spread his darkness across the globe. Zoigars would be born everywhere. There would be nothing powerful enough to stop him. Father had always told him that achieving power was easy. Only those incapable of achieving power deemed it hard. There was only one rival Gatanozoa considered threatening. Ruling the planet wouldn't be difficult, but to Gatanozoa's disdain, Father had decided to make things difficult. Taking over the planet had become a sibling rivalry. Gatanozoa's estranged brother, Gudis, had landed in Africa not long ago. For some reason, Gatanozoa's advanced mind was beginning to make a connection between Dehadrayth's announcement and this sudden intrusion. Gatanozoa's love for Dogolas transcended the stars; Gatanozoa's hatred towards Dehadrayth was even greater. There was only one other creature Gatanozoa despised as much as Dehadrayth and that would be his wicked brother, Gudis. The two siblings had never liked one another since birth. Had it not been for Dogolas's intervention, they would've killed each other years ago. All Dogolas had to do was order them not to fight. They happily obliged Dogolas's wish. Times have changed. Gatanozoa was determined to spread anarchy to all corners of the globe. Darkness shall inherit the planet and poison those that inhabit it. Subconsciously, Gatanozoa sensed a disturbance in his Father's kingdom. He chose not to dwell on the matter. In the past, Gatanozoa had been lenient about wars transpiring on Dogolas's planet, but as history has shown, Dogolas mustered the strength and wisdom to quell any rebellion. "It's a test," Gatanozoa had repeated over and over again. "Father must've found a way to overthrow Dehadrayth and use him as a pawn. Yes, that is exactly what happened!" Gatanozoa's lavender-hued orbs stared up at the sky, and looked beyond the darkness he had unleashed earlier. "I won't fail you, Father." Psychically, Gatanozoa sensed every thought dwelling the Zoigar swarm. The disturbance he had felt earlier was about to be taken care of. Still curious, Gatanozoa telepathically contacted the Zoigars that were approaching the intruder. The Zoigar eyes became Gatanozoa's own. Gatanozoa peered out of the optics of his hideous creations and saw a region smothered in darkness. An outline of light was barely seen on the horizon. There was still a world out there awaiting Gatanozoa's tyranny. Suddenly, one of the Zoigar cackled wildly. It had spotted the intruder. The Zoigars dove down to a frigid gorge and located their target. Standing amidst a range of frozen mountains, the hideous outline of Gudis stood motionlessly. "Gudis," Gatanozoa angrily whispered. Gatanozoa imagined Gudis' appearance; a bipedal creature that had several tentacles wiggling out of its sides. Gudis possessed a humanoid-shaped head, which harbored two red glowing eyes. A hard, tortoise-like shell contained the exterior of Gudis' outline. Inside, bright green skin covered a portion of the body. The Dark Lord's angry words managed to come out of a Zoigar is controlled. Gudis' crimson eyes admired every inch of the gruesome creatures before him. Instinctively, the living plague sensed the presence of his brother. Gudis was fully aware that this land was Gatanozoa's domain. It's exactly what made the intrusion exciting in the first place. Gudis had hoped his infringement would antagonize Gatanozoa to the point of where he'd launch an immediate attack. Truthfully, Gudis desired only to raid Africa and plague its wildlife. Alas, a greater force had intervened and compelled Gudis to combat his brother. "I know you see me, brother," Gudis unkindly whispered. "You cannot hide behind your pawns for long." Using one of the Zoigar as its puppet, Gatanozoa spoke through the Zoigar's mouth in regards to Gudis' snide comment. "How dare you plague my domain," Gatanozoa's voice shouted out of the Zoigar's mouth. "I did not desire to destroy you yet, brother, but you leave me with no choice." A sinister laugh chuckled out of Gudis' gruesome mandibles. "No need to be dishonest, brother," Gudis snickered. "I am well aware of your ambitions. You strive to conquer this pathetic planet and all of its occupants. In the process, I'd be exterminated, yes?" The controlled Zoigar descended to the ground. Gatanozoa made sure that his puppet landed several hundred meters away from Gudis. The Dark Lord was well aware of his brother's infamous reach. The Zoigar's eyes started to crackle a bright purple luminance. Gatanozoa ordered the Zoigar to speak his exact words… "Yes, and now I'll be forced to skip to the latter," the Zoigar grimly promised. Energy balls blazed out of the Zoigar's beak. The energetic spheres pummeled Gudis, introducing Dogolas's horrid spawn to a baptism of fire. Flames rolled away from Gudis' putrid flesh, revealing an un-scathed demon within. A wave of energy shimmered inside Gudis' demonic orbs, a prelude to the massacre to come. Bolts of energy erupted out of Gudis' fiery optics and blasted numerous holes inside the Zoigar's figure. The Zoigar wailed in agony as smoke churned out of the charred holes Gudis' energy beams engraved. Zoigar's bodily organs had been fried beyond repair. Large, gaping holes resided inside the Zoigar's body, providing a glimpse of what was behind the horrid creature. Zoigar started to fall to its knees, unable to summon the strength needed to launch a counterattack. Gatanozoa's enraged will overpowered the Zoigar's own and forced the creature to rise in a bipedal stance. But the Zoigar was too late to strike back; Gudis' tentacles overwhelmed the mindless creature and snapped its bones with a constricting vice. In order to scream in pain, the Zoigar's lungs needed oxygen, which was impossible to retrieve at the time. The Zoigar felt a strange sensation overcome the intense pain. Gudis' tentacles secreted a strange liquid compound that stained the Zoigar's skin. It introduced a colony of microscopic organisms, each capable of genetically altering the organic material around it. The pale brownish skin that covered Zoigar's featherless body started to morph into a dark green exterior. Black veins bulged out of the Zoigar's flesh. Gatanozoa's mind disconnected from its former pawn. It was now Gudis' puppet. An eerie green glow replaced the lavender color that dwelled inside the Zoigar's eyes. The other Zoigars started to circle their fallen brethren. Gudis commanded its puppet to take to the sky and launch a relentless strike upon its brothers. The Zoigar complied and eagerly flapped its wings to propel its slender shape directly into the dark skies above. There the two other Zoigars still under Gatanozoa's rule attacked without remorse. They sliced the tainted Zoigar with their birdlike claws, leaving deep bloody trenches. Gudis' mind-slave refused to exert painful cries. Instead, it viciously defended itself by ripping the throat out of one of its former brethren. In doing so, it left itself completely defenseless. The other Zoigar that was still under Gatanozoa's tyranny shredded both of the traitor's shoulder blades. Black blood sprayed out of the traitor's back, staining the Zoigar's claws. "Realize the futility of your efforts, brother," Gudis snickered from below, "and realize your efforts shall be in vain." The attacking Zoigar prepared to decapitate the traitor's head with its energy ball, but it stopped. A staggering pain gripped the Zoigar's consciousness, overwhelming its flight stability. The Zoigar plummeted into the ground, but the impact against the hard earthly surface did not damage it. Instead, parasitic organisms pervaded to all corners of the Zoigar's body. They mutated the Zoigar's genetic structure. Soon, an emerald glow emitted out of its eyes. A grainy layer of green scales stained the Zoigar's skin. With its transformation complete, the tainted Zoigar reared its head to the dark clouds and released a high-pitched wail. In the air, the Zoigar not yet tainted by Gudis' parasites fought vigorously to impress Gatanozoa. It had sunk its claws deep into the traitor's skull, critically damaging the brain. But the traitor had already sliced the Zoigar's stomach wide open. Wet, dripping intestines dangled out of the belly. The Zoigar down below expressed its newfound loyalties to Gudis and flew at the only one still loyal to Gatanozoa. Gudis watched with great interest as the two Zoigars shredded the only one still loyal to Gatanozoa. It didn't take long for Gudis' parasites to transform and manipulate the Zoigar into its slave. With three Zoigar under his supremacy, Gudis arrogantly sent a telepathic message to its brother… "I'll be over soon…" At the apex of Mt. Everest, Gatanozoa patiently waited for Gudis' coming. The tides had turned against him. Already, Gatanozoa had speculated Gudis' betrayal towards their Father. It was the only way. How else could Gudis shroud its ingenious act of betrayal? Dehadrayth must've extended its divine hand and made a deal with the disgusting Gudis. Gatanozoa's hatred towards Dehadrayth met a new low. He was aware of the personification in which Dehadrayth represented, and was even more aware of the idiotic façade it had taken to represent itself as a divine being; but allying itself with Gudis was simply disgusting. "Had these impudent creatures ever laid eyes on such an alliance, they would fall to their knees and pray for Dogolas to drain them dry," Gatanozoa coldly announced. The Dark Lord commanded the black clouds above to disperse. Gatanozoa's lavender orbs stared at the blackness of space, where gleaming stars dwelled. Somewhere out there in the cosmos, Gatanozoa felt as if Dogolas was looking down at him. "Father, I'm sorry, but I must slay him. I've always been aware of his feelings towards you. So bitter and malicious, he strives to overthrow you. Only in death, shall my brother achieve peace." A disturbance attracted Gatanozoa's attention. Gatanozoa had ordered his entire Zoigar legion to guard the outskirts of his kingdom. In the northern regions, the Zoigar have encountered a problem. On the frozen slopes of snowy mountains, three infected Zoigar flew to meet several thousand others in combat. The odds had been heavily stacked against them. Gatanozoa's Zoigar received an order to take them down before they could get any closer. Several miles away, in a frigid gorge, Gudis watched the three infected Zoigar meet a bombardment of projectiles. Thousands of energy balls steamed the cold air as they closed in to meet the three defectors. The energy balls struck and detonated, unleashing balls of fire that burned the tainted bodies of the infected Zoigar. Despite the massive amounts of damage they endured, the infected Zoigar continued to press their advance. It was all for naught. The infected Zoigar suffered critical injuries. Their bodies had been maimed to the point of where they could no longer be identified. They fell to the icy surface below. Mangled body parts lay scattered for miles. A horrible stench secreted out of the corpses, attracting the attention of thousands of Zoigar to the graveyards of the infected ones. Gudis comfortably watched the scene unfold as thousands of Zoigar flocked to devour the dead. They digested the contaminated body parts. Some even killed one another just for the taste of a little scrap of meat. It was like devouring a meal that was infested with flesh-eating bacteria. Gudis felt the parasites enter the feasting forms of the Zoigar swarm. His facial muscles formed a wretched smile. Brawny tentacles wiggled freely around the sides of Gudis' torso. They anticipated the thought of gripping Gatanozoa and squeezing the life out of him. Gudis psychically felt the parasites mutate the genetic structure of the Zoigar swarm. Dark veins visibly revealed themselves beneath the layers of skin that encased the Zoigar. The flesh reverted to an encasement of dark green scales. Green eyes replaced the red glow that dwelled inside the pupils. "Attack them my pets," Gudis whispered. Those that were infected amongst the feeding frenzy went on unnoticed until it was too late. The cannibalistic nature of the Zoigar was legendary, but the homicidal nature of the infected Zoigar was too scary to believe. Filthy talons ripped deep cuts inside the uninfected Zoigar. They screamed, forewarning the rest of the swarm of the traitors amongst them. But it was too late. Filthy claws had already spread the infectious disease. Every Zoigar that was scourged by their infected counterparts housed parasites that immediately started to mutate their bodies. As soon as the infection was complete, they turned on their former brethren and mutilated them on the spot. Energy balls blazed out of a dozen mouths every few seconds, and punched holes inside organic and inorganic materials alike. The infected had low numbers at first. But soon they started to convert the vast majority. Hundreds on both sides were slain. Fresh blood stained the icy surface, symbolizing the bloodshed that had ensued. Gudis watched with envious eyes, enjoying the bloody battle that had been occurring for a few hours. The spawn of Dogolas stood silently, immune to the frigid winds that molested its stature. Gudis' crimson pupils surveyed the chaotic battle ensuing before him. It wasn't just the realization that his parasites were spreading like a wildfire, but the thrill of the battle itself is what made Gudis privileged to be alive. As Gudis watched the massacre unfold before his hideous eyes, the spawn of Dogolas reflected upon the previous events that brought him here… "Before being transported here, I was roaming the countryside of Africa. I had encountered a combination of human and animal life. Naturally, I assimilated both species and converted them under my rule. Connected we were. My intelligence prospered and in time, I quickly understood the primitive minds of these creatures. To them, life is a burden that is filled with obstacles. Most of them demand the hand of a divine being to offer them success. How timid," Gudis recalled irritably, "I'm surprised they've lived and prospered this long. No matter, they proved to be an asset to my Father, or were going to be. After infecting nearly every single life form in the Congo, I was planning to expand my borders, until I was interrupted by my dear Grandfather. It seems my Father met defeat for the first time since creation. A shame really, I intended to bring my Father down to his knees myself. Alas, I was informed of something called a trial and I ended up near my brother's borders. It appears I've been given a task of the utmost importance: to slay my brother, Gatanozoa." After hours of bloodshed, the battle finally came to an end. Thousands of infected Zoigar flocked to surround the three remaining survivors. They prepared to annihilate them by unleashing a bombardment of energy balls. "Leave them to me," Gudis demanded. The infected swarm obeyed their master's wishes. In unison, they flapped their vile wings and ascended to the dark skies above. There, they patiently watched Gudis crawl towards the last few survivors. Gudis sensed Gatanozoa's presence lurking behind the eyes of the Zoigar not yet under Gudis' supremacy. A threatening cackle echoed out of the back of the Zoigar's throats. Their threats did not postpone Gudis' advance. Instead, muscular tentacles lashed out and constricted the Zoigar together. They struggled to breathe, but their bodies collapsed from the devastating force of the tentacles. The Zoigar felt their bones crack and splinter their organs, causing internal bleeding. Blood seeped out of the Zoigars' ears, which hindered their ability to hear. Each of their eyes started to swell up out of their sockets, inching closer to where they'd reach the point of popping. Gudis continued to constrict the life out of them until his stomach growled. "How sweet," Gudis announced to the Zoigar, fully aware that they couldn't hear him even if they tried. "I'm starting to get a little hungry. Since I have an army, I'm afraid neither one of you can be apart of it. Pity," Gudis murmured and had his jaws snap open. Serrated teeth lingered inside Gudis' mouth and throat, awaiting the chance to tear into flesh and rip it apart. Gudis' powerful tentacles pulled the Zoigar towards his hungry jaws. Tempted eyes peered out of Gudis' orbs, acknowledging the Zoigar that had been pulled in close enough. Gudis leaned forward, and swallowed the entire upper body of one of the Zoigar. The Zoigar wildly squirmed from inside Gudis' throat. Gudis' savage teeth shredded the Zoigar. The final moments of the Zoigar's life was realizing that Gudis' teeth had minced every bone, muscle and skin tissue present. Gudis swallowed the Zoigar's entire body into his sweltering stomach. If there was any shred of life left inside Zoigar's minced carcass, there wasn't anymore as its shredded body dipped into a pool of acid. The infected Zoigar happily watched their master devour the rest. Each of their bellies started to growl. The infected Zoigar noticed that some of their appendages were barely holding on by a thread. The brutal battle had taken its toll. Each of them had suffered terrible injuries. Luckily, Gudis' infectious disease made short work of the injured body parts. In a few hours, all of them would be fully healed. After devouring the rest of the Zoigar, Gudis surveyed the massive army before him. The spawn of Dogolas felt the parasites thrive inside the corridors of the infected army. Gudis sensed a strange sensation emanating out of the large Zoigar bodies. Every single one of them couldn't wait to die for him. "Splendid," Gudis proudly exclaimed. Now he has an army that can challenge his brother's own. "It is time." A furnace of dark clouds blossomed out of the icy tundra. Gatanozoa had planted seeds of darkness deep inside the soil. The seeds had tainted the land and all of its inhabitants. Gatanozoa studied the land in front of him. Lavender energies burned from inside Gatanozoa's eyes. The lavender orbs spotted Gudis and his army moving towards him. While they were still hundreds of miles away, Gatanozoa was still able to see them as clear as daylight. Gatanozoa assembled all of his Zoigar army. All of them gathered at the base of Mt. Everest, eagerly awaiting the will of Gatanozoa. None of them knew about Gudis' ability to infect their DNA. Information that regarded the massacre of their brethren had been locked away. But in the end, it didn't matter. They were all willing to die for Gatanozoa. Gatanozoa wouldn't have it any other way. Gudis' army marched beyond Gatanozoa's borders. He considered it more appropriate for them to venture on foot than to use their wings to fly. The pacing form of Gudis was seen behind the massive army of infected Zoigar. Gudis had no desire to rush things. As the spawn of Dogolas slowly crept to meet his brother in combat, Gudis envisioned ways he'd annihilate Gatanozoa in a variety of ways. A commotion from the Zoigar flock interrupted Gudis' reverie. It appears that Gudis' daydreams had been observed by the minds of the entire army. Their adrenaline rose even higher than before. Anticipation grew for the chance to see their newfound master slay their old one. They all knew their lives were worthless, used only as pawns. In truth, even if they weren't infected by Gudis' bacteria, it wouldn't matter; it was the thrill of butchering other life forms that motivated them to do anything. Gudis understood the Zoigar behavior. He nurtured their tenacious attitudes, believing it to be the only way to survive in this barbaric existence. From the apex of Mt. Everest, Gatanozoa eagerly anticipated his brother's arrival. The Dark Lord found it strange that the infected Zoigar preferred not to use their wings. They would've surely reached Gatanozoa's army by now. The demeanor in Gatanozoa's eyes observed Gudis' distant figure. Gatanozoa had known Gudis for centuries. The two brothers never talked, and as a result the two were forced to recognize the true form of communication: body movement. Gatanozoa read Gudis' physical movements, and discovered why Gudis was taking his time. "So, you wish to savor this moment? Does my threshold not represent a great enough obstacle for you to immediately annihilate?" Gatanozoa angrily snorted. The Dark Lord noticed that Gudis' army was within range. Gatanozoa telepathically ordered his Zoigar to launch their long-range weapons. A bombardment of the Zoigars' energy balls flared out of their mouths, and struck Gudis' infected army without remorse. The energy balls detonated and left smoldering craters inside the enemy's bodies. Green innards spewed out of the penetrated wounds and stained the frozen ground. Intense heat boiled and burned the contaminated flesh. The infected Zoigar had singed skin dangling from the pores of their damaged body parts. Despite the horrible wounds, Gudis' infected Zoigars continued to march towards their attackers. No longer wishing to see his foes blown to pieces, but to be ripped to shreds by his soldiers' bare hands, Gatanozoa ordered his Zoigar swarm to engage the enemy in a physical confrontation. Gatanozoa's patience had met its limits. But the Dark Lord was not aware of the disadvantage he was about to place himself in. The Zoigar under Gatanozoa's rule sprinted to meet their infected counterparts. Dehadrayth's celestial essence surveyed the unholy battle that was about to transpire. Truthfully, the being desired for both sides to lose; however, the trial was not his own. He could only watch and judge the outcome for whoever wins. The cries of war interrupted Dehadrayth's advanced level of thinking. Thousands of Zoigar clashed into one another, caring not of the infectious disease that would likely spread and consume them all. Dirty claws tore chunks of flesh out of opposing bodies. Energy balls plowed into the skulls of their targets, smearing the blood of the dispersed craniums all over the region. Amidst the bloody warfare, Gudis slithered down a free path, unopposed by any Zoigar. A path had been made that lead directly to the base of Mt. Everest. Once in a while, Gudis' tentacles lashed out and entangled any Zoigar, whether it being Gatanozoa's or his own, it didn't matter; Gudis crushed their bodies and dragged the broken carcasses towards his hungry jaws. With each meal, Gudis' power increased substantially. "Damn it," Gatanozoa muttered silently. He had at last deciphered Gudis' strategy. "Not only do you plan to have your disease infect my army, you also plan to have one big meal before fighting me. Clever, I admit." Gatanozoa commanded flocks of Zoigar to disengage from the battle and focus all of their firepower on Gudis. Several Zoigars obliged by unfolding their wings and gracefully ascended hundreds of feet into the dark sky. They circled Gudis like vultures, foolishly warning Gudis. Energy circulated to the center of Gudis' eyes, serving as a prelude to total annihilation. Bolts of energy blazed out of the demon's malicious eyes. The Zoigars attempted to avoid contact, but ended up having their wings singed from their backs. Each of the Zoigars crashed into the ground, no longer possessing the means of flight. Fresh blood seeped out of the wingless appendages. The injured Zoigar entrenched their claws deep inside the soil, enraged by the recent loss of their wings. Each of them blocked out the intense pain and rushed Gudis. Gudis' tentacles scourged the air, striking the rushing Zoigar from which they stood, and squeezed the life out of them. Their veins popped in fountains of blood. Bones broke through the skin; the intense pain brought the Zoigars' nervous systems to a grinding halt. No matter how hard they fought, the strength in Gudis' tentacles was superior to their own. One by one, they were digested into Gudis' acid-filled belly. Energy balls pelted Gudis' filthy hide, but they failed to make any penetration. Gudis' eyes ensnared the attacking Zoigar with their horrendous gaze. Preferring to just see their body parts rain from the sky, Gudis unleashed a barrage of energy blasts. The Zoigar's appendages, no where near fragile, were disconnected from their bodies. They plummeted into a sea of warring Zoigar. It didn't take long for them to experience a discomforting death. Gatanozoa slithered down the slopes of Mt. Everest. A wave of darkness flourished out of the pores of Gatanozoa's demonic body. Gatanozoa's tentacles attached themselves to the ground and pulled the entire body forward. Large tendrils that wielded large, bristly horns at the tips freely smashed the side of the mountain. Gatanozoa inched closer towards the base of the mountain, intent on battling his misbehaved brother himself. The Dark Lord sensed a disturbance within his Zoigar flock; Gudis' parasitic diseases were infecting the majority of his army. They had succeeded in reducing the numbers of Gudis' soldiers, but it wouldn't be long until Gatanozoa's loyal Zoigar became Gudis' own. Gatanozoa had to act fast. The Dark Lord's charcoal-coated hide blended in with the gloomy environment. Gatanozoa's pincer-like claws waved randomly. On each side of the claws, dozens of saturated tentacles wiggled freely. There was only one thing Gatanozoa could do now; kill Gudis personally. A large path had been intentionally made by the feuding armies. While they fought to the death, two brothers slithered towards one another from opposite directions. The look of rage emanated out of their grisly eyes, promising one another a long, painful demise. Just as soon as they were only several hundred meters apart, Gatanozoa and Gudis simultaneously stopped. "Gudis, you are a disgrace to our Father," Gatanozoa mockingly murmured, "How dare you betray his love! We were both given a chance to become rulers, and maybe someday, if we were loyal enough, we'd achieve his status. But now, you have backstabbed our beloved Father. In order to suit your own agenda, you betrayed his love and guidance. For that, I will show you no mercy." Gudis was silent. A relaxing smile was expressed from Gudis' foul face. The cries of war soothed Gudis' maniacal consciousness. Gudis' eyes slit open, and the filthy entity surveyed the gruesome war unfolding around him. All around him, Gudis saw Zoigars mutilate one another, not a shred of mercy was given. The frozen soil was no longer cold; it had received its baptism after being exposed to the hot, steamy blood of the Zoigar. It was the most beautiful thing Gudis had ever seen. "Die," Gudis psychotically replied. Blazing torrents of energy seared out of Gudis' brimstone eyes. The hellish bolts singed the dark carapace of Gatanozoa's upper body. They failed to penetrate, but Gatanozoa's pain receptors frustrated the Dark Lord nonetheless. Brawny tentacles broke out of the ground, each of the tips wielded thorny maces. Gatanozoa smashed the thorny tentacles against Gudis' cranium, and nearly crushed the skull to pieces. Green blood leaked out of the broken exterior of Gudis' head. But almost immediately, the bone structure inside Gudis' skull snapped into place. Gatanozoa's tinier tendrils ensnared Gudis' rotten form. They tried to squeeze the life out of him, but to no avail. There was no oxygen to escort. Gudis didn't need it. In retaliation, Gudis' brawny tentacles snapped Gatanozoa's weaker ones in two. Without hesitation, Gudis seized his brother's body with his muscular tentacles. Gatanozoa's upside down face separated its monstrous jaws and gestured a painful roar as Gudis' tentacles constricted his throat. Not willing to give Gudis the benefit of victory, Gatanozoa advanced forward and the two gigantic brothers clashed. Each of them propelled their massive bodies against one another. Sonic booms screeched out of the colliding behemoths and rattled the entire region. Scarlet energies emitted out of Gudis' bleak eyes, and carved smoldering craters within Gatanozoa's armored-carapace. Gatanozoa tried to scream, but Gudis' tentacles hindered Gatanozoa's ability to do so. Gatanozoa felt the bacteria secrete out of Gudis' tentacles and stain his flesh. While Gatanozoa was immune to Gudis' infectious disease, it still managed to sting him. Gatanozoa desperately summoned his larger tentacles to aid him. They smashed against Gudis' brawny figure, and shattered the bones inside. They broke through Gudis' flesh, allowing fountains of blood to pour out. Instead of roaring painfully, Gudis presented a satisfied grin. It was the pain that excited him. "More, brother, more," Gudis demanded. Gatanozoa obliged by bashing Gudis repeatedly. Gatanozoa's powerful tentacles reduced Gudis to a bleeding pulp. But within the blink of an eye, all of the damage Gatanozoa inflicted disappeared. Energy bolts rapidly fired out of Gudis' eyes, and blasted holes into Gatanozoa's dense upper body. "Imagine it brother, the power either one of us would've wielded! Do you realize how difficult it would've been for any being on the planet to oppose us? It would've taken an army of their finest. In fact, it would've taken a lot more than the group of monsters that defied our dear Father." Gatanozoa forced his voice through his squeezed throat, "Be silent, Gudis! We are no where near the omnipotence of Dogolas! Our Father defeated them, and he will love me for striking down a traitor like you." "Wake up you fool, and smell the blood," Gudis whispered happily. "He's helpless, can't you feel it; the spine-twisting atmosphere that transcend these very black skies? Oh, it is so soothing… I am glad you can't feel it." "What are you talking about?" "I'm talking about the celestial trials," Gudis revealed, "we are all apart of it. Father was a fool to believe he could ever achieve perfection. Don't you understand? He was willing to sacrifice the entire universe!" Gudis' tentacles intensified their constriction around Gatanozoa's throat. "We included…though I do admire his willingness to destroy anything just for his own desires, I'd do it myself, let's return to reality; those ambitions were for nothing. And now, because of him, we are all forced to be apart of Grandfather's lovely game. Do I need to explain? Very well," Gudis cleared his filthy throat, while tightening the grip once again, "we are all taking part in a trial of where we are being judged. I do not know the specifications; I just know we're being judged. Personally, I know for a fact that we are going to fail." "Why?" Gatanozoa weakly gasped. "Call it heritage," Gudis replied. "We are destined to follow our Father's footsteps." Gudis' echoing words would forever stain Gatanozoa's subconscious. It was the last thing Gudis would ever say. Layers of skin that was above Gatanozoa's deformed head slit open. Inside, a dark hole channeled Gatanozoa's demonic energy, and extinguished a supernatural beam. The beam was not designed to pierce the flesh, but merely the soul itself. Gudis' soul was a twisted manifestation of malevolence and anarchy. Gatanozoa's supernatural beam not only froze Gudis' soul in time, but it also changed the genetic structure of his brother's body. Seconds passed and the only thing that remained was a stone statue. The stoned-tentacles constricting Gatanozoa's body crumbled and dissolved. Gatanozoa watched as the entire statue crumbled. All that was left was dust that was blown away by the frigid winds. A victorious roar escaped Gatanozoa's savage jaws. "I win!" Gatanozoa shouted to the heavens. 'On the contrary,' a booming voice from the sky replied. 'How could one related to me be so fool-hearty?' Gatanozoa was speechless. 'Is the Dark Lord speechless? Is my dear Grandson going to preach about how his Father is wise and powerful?' the celestial being reprieved. 'Spare me, I do not wish to hear anymore lies. I had doubts about your trials, both you and your brother's, but mostly yours. Gudis was a wicked spawn of Evil, and yet he was wise enough to see the truth. You are still shallow and weak. And that is why you will not pass, Gatanozoa. That is why you failed.' Gatanozoa contemplated a reply, but before he could, fabrics of holy light cleansed the darkness that shrouded the sky. Demonic cackles captured Gatanozoa's bewildered attention. To Gatanozoa's terror, all of the Zoigar present were no longer under his control. Gudis' diseases had infected all of them. The embodiment of Dehadrayth watched from above as thousands of Zoigar descended upon Gatanozoa's wounded and battered form. Gatanozoa's painful screams echoed across the vastness of Eternity, until the screams faded. Enter MASSACER Multi Artificial Synthetic Siphon Archetype Contraption Efficiency Ruler Behold the information that shrouds Zog's ultimate weapon. It landed on Earth years ago. Designed to not only carry out vengeance, but also utilize a unique form of redemption for its creator. It had been sent through a worm hole, eventually arriving at the Earth's core. There its programming activated. It succeeded in tunneling all the way to the planet's soil. There it burst out of the frigid tundra of Antarctica. To those present upon its arrival, it was a symbol of beauty and mystery. Resembling a gigantic, artificial arachnid that possessed two, mammoth horns that sprung out of its jaws. At the center of Massacer's head, surrounded by the two razor-sharp blades, was a crimson glowing eye. Seeking only to follow its programming, Massacer proceeded to make Antarctica its personal paradise. It was there that it constructed a factory that built machines programmed to build other machines. These machines expanded Massacer's empire. Eventually, Massacer birthed tinier, yet still gigantic, clones. They too were able to make smaller copies of themselves. Massacer's army was ready to overrun the planet. Tanks, battleships, fighter jets; bombs, rockets, atomic weapons; it did not matter. Only an electromagnetic pulse served to be the only thing that could neutralize their dominion. But the most powerful army on the planet had not yet met the artificial arachnids in combat. After realizing that humanity could not endure Massacer's planetary conquest any longer; the MWF: Monster Wrestling Federation stepped in, and manipulated the minds of the monsters to help them. The gigantic monsters proved to be effective. But Zog's ultimate creation was capable of adapting and evolved. No matter how many times the drones were destroyed, they reformed, reproduced, and carried on the attack. MWF's strongest and mightiest monsters eventually met oblivion. Only a handful of the monsters remained. It was then that Massacer's programming informed the artificial monarch that it was time for Phase-Two of its mission to commence. Massacer gently neutralized the monsters and placed them inside a holding pin within its borders. Deeming the monsters the next step of evolution for the planet, Massacer desired for them to live. Massacer was ready to manipulate the evolutionary course of the planet. Zog's ultimate creation would forever decide the fate of the planet Earth. Its life forms would be carefully designed, altered, and given a chance to become the dominant species of the planet. After an unknown length of time, Massacer would then exterminate the species at the top of the list, and allow the next species to emerge and take its rightful place. And so the human race was exterminated. Massacer engineered a massive storm that cleansed humanity off the face of the Earth. It was rain that wiped out Mankind. After humanity was destroyed, Massacer allowed the monsters to overrun the planet. Centuries passed, until Massacer deemed the monsters no longer fit to live. It was a brutal war, yet Massacer inevitably prevailed. Over the years, species after species were wiped off the face of the Earth. Massacer's artificial intelligence reached an all-time high. But it wasn't just Massacer that was evolving; it was also its drones. They too started to evolve. One night, Massacer faintly noticed the arrival of a human shrouded by his shadow. The silhouette human addressed the ruler of the world with grave news. All of this was a mere trial. Massacer didn't believe the silhouette human and demanded for him to leave. But before leaving, the human revealed a special gift of his: he possessed the means of seeing into the future. Massacer was given a chance to see into a bleak and very near future. The world was lifeless. Planets that orbited it had become military bases. Massacer's inferior probes had rebelled. Not only against Massacer, but against each other! The battle waged across the solar system, and eventually engulfed the galaxy and beyond… Massacer chose not to believe in the premonition. It was a fabrication of lies. And so, the silhouette human waved fair well and disappeared. But the human's visions of the future were no lies. They soon became a reality. By disobeying the human's kind suggestion, Massacer had failed to pass Dehadrayth's trial, and faded from Eternity. Its sentient essence joined Dehadrayth's own… From within the Earth's core, Massacer's optic eye opened. It noticed the fiery depths of the Earth's core plaguing its surroundings. But it wasn't the Earth's core that worried Zog's creation…it was a dream that seemed awfully real. Being apart of Dehadrayth was no reward. Massacer's sentient life force was damned to forever have this dream, again and again until someone passes the trial… |
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| Balkzardan's Damnation Dabbles of light bathed the magnificent land in an apron of natural beauty. Entire forests stretched for miles, concealing the mystical creatures that roamed within. Elsewhere, rivers of water flowed freely down peaceful paths. The water was crystal clear, allowing any to peer into its depths and pinpoint the watery soil perfectly. Gusts of wind gently blew against the region's wondrous surface; on opposite sides of the land, rivers of lava secreted out of the ground. Cloisters of volcanoes surveyed the land, dormant yet still proving to be opposing figures. Despite the lava's extreme temperatures, neither the water nor the lava disturbed one another. The land's natural environments respected one another. A perfect balance concreted the impression of the region being a paradise. A lone figure quietly stood atop a hilltop. His emerald-hued eyes scanned the beautiful, yet familiar surroundings. After countless years of serving a blood-thirsty tyrant, Balkzardan never thought he'd ever see his home again. But why would he not? He was the one responsible for its destruction. It was once a thriving paradise, but it quickly changed into a frozen wasteland. Not one organism managed to stay alive. And yet, the frigid temperatures paled in comparison to the coldness of Balkzardan's heart. His entire mythical race met oblivion. Balkzardan personally brought death to them all. On lone nights, Balkzardan would wake up, and pray it was all a horrible nightmare. "A nightmare that will forever be true," Balkzardan sneered sadly. But the death of his family was only the beginning of his sadness. Recent events revealed a startling revelation; Balkzardan's entire race was engineered by the malevolent despot, Dogolas. Dogolas used his power to construct this peaceful paradise. With it came a race of mythical dragons, each possessing a benign soul. They all had a unique gift; each of them was able to control one of the elements. All of them in time grew to accept that they were meant to be guardians of the universe. Meant to uphold the right and defend the innocent. A dedication to this belief nurtured into a declaration of honor. "But I was meant to destroy it…" Balkzardan regretted, as he continued to recall his birth. Tears dripped out of his eyes, as he returned to the past. A child had been mysteriously born. Unlike the rest, its soul remained shrouded in obscurity. To the surprise of its brethren, the child was able to control all of the elements. The entire race believed the child to be an anointed warrior sent to them from the heavens, and bring forth an era of peace. It turned out to be true. The elemental messiah forcefully created a peaceful atmosphere to whoever it met. Until one day, it was greeted by a being that resembled an angel. When lured in its realms, the dragon was stunned to see the halo floating atop the angel's head turn into a ring of fire. Feathery wings burnt into flames that ate away the flesh. Charred skin covered the entity's body. The elemental messiah attempted to leave, but the demon managed to place him under its spell. The messiah returned to his world, where he brutally murdered his entire family. After bringing forth genocide to his mythical race, the controlled dragon wiped out the entire planet. An ice age would forever freeze its surface. It was then that the spell was finally broken. Everything he had done flashed before his eyes. Guilt, sadness, and anger tainted the being's soul. He was a pariah that would forever roam the universe alone. To the dragon's surprise, an entity made its presence known to him. Intrigued by the element wielder, it offered him a chance to achieve redemption. Only it was all a fabricated lie. The demon that seduced him in murdering his race was a façade, concealing a greater evil within. By the time that the dragon learned the truth, it was too late. Like all of the Knights of the Kion Dehadrayth, the element wielder was given a name that would strike fear: Balkzardan. Balkzardan sighed in disdain; he was never keen on remembering the horrible incidents of the past. The element wielder tried to keep his mind focused on current events. But every time Balkzardan surveyed his surroundings, he was reminded of its destruction, so many years ago. A combination of sadness and anger blossomed within the cortex of Balkzardan's mind. Balkzardan's mixed feelings manipulated the wind, causing it to ravage entire forests. Trees were ripped out of the ground, clouds of dirt were lifted into the air, and waves of water crashed against the shorelines. Balkzardan ascended his gaze to the beautiful clouds above. Almost immediately, dark clouds rolled in. Thunder rumbled from the dark clouds, a prelude to the devastation that had not yet come. Bolts of lightning blazed out of the rumbling clouds, striking trees that had survived the ravaging winds. A sea of fire replaced the once captivating forest. Burning smoke entered Balkzardan's nostrils. "I was never meant to return," Balkzardan angrily protested. "My home was destroyed. No sorcery in the universe could bring it back." Suddenly, the dark clouds above dispersed. A blinding glow secreted out of a celestial mass of light. Whether it was alive or simply an unknown phenomenon, it captured Balkzardan's attention nonetheless. The arrival of the celestial being quickly stopped Balkzardan's elemental breakdown. Its light bathed Balkzardan's entire body. It not only bathed the body, but also the mythical dragon's soul. It cleansed Balkzardan of the intense stress he was feeling. At that point in time, Balkzardan felt complete peace. 'I see you aren't pleased with your home's resurrection,' Dehadrayth's booming voice contemplated from above. 'Why is that?' There was no reply. Balkzardan's eyes were dead shut. A great sensation stretched itself to all corners of Balkzardan's nervous system. But it was never meant to last; the great feeling faded, and Balkzardan was once again left with only pain and sadness. An irritated Balkzardan ascended his gaze. "I know what your intentions are, Dehadrayth," Balkzardan murmured without regret. "You are hoping that I gather the courage to take part in your trials. You pray I will disaffiliate these terrible emotions that continue to torture my soul. You long for a chance to see me strip these tears away and courageously accept the offer of becoming a hero. I'm sorry, but I do not deserve it. I'd rather become nothing." Balkzardan revealed regrettably. 'Is that really how you feel?' Dehadrayth replied charitably. 'I can sense the benevolence within you. I strongly believe you can bring salvation to all.' Balkzardan turned away and bleakly acknowledged the rivers of lava. "I know what you are, Dehadrayth; an embodiment of disheartened souls. All of you once lived separate lives. I believe you all thrived in this very universe, a long time ago. But your souls screamed for damnation, and as a result, you merged into one entity. So as you can guess, Dehadrayth, there's no reason for you to hide your true self. After all, don't you find it redundant that you are an embodiment of pain and misery, yet you take the form of a celestial being? For all we know, when compared to your malevolent son, you could be the greater of two evils." The celestial cloud dimmed its vibrant glow. Dehadrayth carefully processed Balkzardan's statements. The celestial entity contemplated an articulated reply, 'I'm giving you the chance to achieve redemption, element wielder. True, I am an embodiment of torn souls that will forever feel misery, but that does not mean I do not care about you or anyone. If I didn't, then why have I begun these trials?' "For your own benefit," Balkzardan profanely replied. "If just one of us passes the trials, it means you will no longer have to feel eternal agony; instead, you will be greeted to a blissful haven." 'If only it was that easy,' Dehadrayth softly said. 'I am judging you all. If it was as easy as you say, then why don't I just pass everyone, and be done with it?' Balkzardan remained silent. 'It's because I too am being judged. Judging all of you is my trial. If I unfairly pass you all, then I'll forever know that I or any other being did not deserve salvation. Do you have any idea of what kind of damage that would cause? It would be astronomical. I could not cope with the realization that I am a failure. The trillions of souls dwelling inside of me would be torn even further away from feeling great inside. It would just make us feel less conspicuous.' "So what then, Dehadrayth," Balkzardan lividly questioned, "one of us passes, then your torn souls finally achieve redemption, and go to Heaven, while the rest of us struggles with life, and form another Dehadrayth? Face it, in all probability, the same thing will happen again. You and your son have caused havoc in this dimension, and others. I don't care if you never meant to hurt anyone. You should've been thinking properly. Had you figured out a way to find peace instead of wasting the time to make yourself feel better by creating a bastard of a son, we wouldn't be in this mess!" 'You are right,' Dehadrayth exclaimed truthfully. 'There is a possibility of another entity coming into existence long after I have been redeemed. And yes, years ago, I should've concentrated solely on finding out a way to do well, instead of pleasure myself in knowing that I had the power to create life. But that is in the past, Balkzardan. I do not possess the power to change the past. Had I, then all of this would never have occurred. Can you not see this was the best solution?' Balkzardan turned his back towards Dehadrayth's illuminating essence. The mythic dragon strolled in the direction of the rivers of lava. There, near the charred shores, Balkzardan lied down, allowing the heat to furnace his body. "There's no point," Balkzardan hopelessly bickered. "I wish I had the courage to help everyone, but I don't. I wish I never murdered anyone in Dogolas's name, but I did. And I wish my family was still here with me, but they're not. I will forever be disheartened by my actions. Passing a trial or any other for that matter cannot save me from becoming docile. It's best to just let me die here." Reluctantly, Dehadrayth had no choice but to oblige; energetic tentacles slithered out of the illuminating essence of Dehadrayth. They entangled Balkzardan's body, and started to dissolve the mythic dragon. The shedding particles joined Dehadrayth. Before Balkzardan became completely absorbed, the wielder of the elements took these last few moments of life to gaze at his home. To the dragon's surprise, the damage he had caused had instantly healed, and returned to the beautiful paradise it once was. Tears of joy ran down Balkzardan's face, as the mythical creature dissolved into thin air, eventually joining Dehadrayth. Those final tears assured Dehadrayth of one thing; if one as selfless and benevolent as Balkzardan was willing to become apart of him, even if he was doubtful in the end, then perhaps there was hope for Dehadrayth to finally feel good about himself. Heart of the Dragon Frigid winds relentlessly blew across the icy environment. Frozen mountains observed the lifeless, frozen region beneath them. Trillions of snowflakes fell from the bleached skies above, and fused with the frozen soil, dampening its growth. Amidst the falling snow, hail pelted the icy soil, leaving small imprints in the surface. A lone creature stood out in the open. The freezing storm failed to force the lone creature into submission. It resembled a lifeless statue as it stood perfectly still, meant only to be a witness to the flow of life. Shades of grief emanated out of the creature's fiery eyes. A battle had occurred not long ago, one of biblical proportions. The amount of power and aggression exchanged would've reduced this frozen wasteland to a smoldering crater. The casualties on both sides were enormous, and excruciating to bear. Crimson wings stretched out, allowing boiling veins to keep them warm. An amber-hued glow constantly radiated out of the creature's orbs. Scarlet scales covered the creature's body, immune to the freezing temperatures. Two horns curved out of the top of the dragon's cranium. A razor-sharp blade extended out of the tip of the dragon's tail. Serrated teeth loomed within the monster's jaws. "Is this my trial?" Enferno cursed with boredom, "to freeze to death, while dwelling on past and present events?" The howling winds became the dragon's only form of response. "Figures," Enferno groaned stubbornly. "I'd rather fight with Dogolas. At least that gave meaning to my life." A disturbance in the wind ended Enferno's bickering. The dragon shifted its stance, intent on being prepared for the disturbance at hand. But Enferno was too late; howling winds washed over Enferno, carrying with it absolute zero temperatures. Before Enferno knew it, the freezing temperatures had encased him inside a frozen statue. Enferno's suspicious eyes peered out of their frozen prison, forced to do nothing else. The eyes could do nothing, but the rest of the body was conjuring up a way to achieve freedom. Flames faintly churned inside Enferno's throat. The buildup of heat inside Enferno's mouth made the ice around the dragon's head melt. Finally, a streak of fire shot out of Enferno's jaws, dissipating the ice instantly. Enferno was allowed to freely move his head, but the rest of his body was still trapped. Flames baked out of Enferno's jaws, the extreme temperatures melted the ice around the dragon. At the same time, Enferno's body temperature was rising. It helped make the ice melt even faster. Waves of water flowed down the slopes of Enferno's majestic shape. The water touched the frigid soil, and was exposed to an apron of freezing temperatures that turned the water to ice instantly. Enferno's monstrous feet crushed the mound of ice beneath its weight. A circulation of heat burned inside the dragon's veins. An unnerving scent captured Enferno's attention. Another creature was roaming the frozen environment, unseen and unnoticed. The scent was familiar, yet ancient to Enferno's nervous system. As the scarlet dragon tried to spot his mysterious visitor, howling winds erratically blew against every inch of Enferno's body. Billions of snowflakes cluttered the scarlet dragon's range of sight. A torrent of fire seared out of Enferno's jaws and vaporized the cloud of snowflakes. But just as they disappeared, another cloud of snowflakes hindered Enferno's vision. "He is causing this!" Enferno angrily snorted. The scarlet dragon's mind remembered an element wielder years ago. It wasn't Balkzardan, but another element controller. Years ago, Enferno savagely murdered another dragon. While Balkzardan was capable of controlling all of the elements, the dragon could only control the elements of ice and other cold elements. Apparently, the dragon had been resurrected just for the sole purpose of making Enferno's life miserable. "Show yourself, Frostflare!" The silhouette of a dragon appeared several hundred meters away. It hid beneath a frozen mountain, barely visible. Wind heralding billions of snowflakes per second succeeded in shielding Frostflare from mortal eyes. Enferno separated his savage jaws, emitting an earth shaking roar. The scarlet dragon had reached the pinnacle of its patience. Fireballs erupted out of Enferno's maw, striking the frozen mountain. Several explosions covered the icy mountain, vaporizing the ice and engraving impact craters inside its rocky surface. A shower of rocks covered the landscape. Amidst the shower of rocks, Frostflare swiftly moved to another area to hide. Enferno failed to see the sneaky dragon escape. Crimson wings flapped the cold air, creating strong gusts of wind that pushed against the frigid soil, propelling Enferno straight into the sky. Enferno flew towards the area of where his fireballs had been discharged. A stream of fire engulfed the entire mountain, incinerating every dense compound it was made up of. A large ball of fire replaced the mountain. Fabrics of light shot out in every direction, brightening the scope of the land. Light reflected off the icy surface, creating an illuminating region of light. The fire that was escaping out of Enferno's brawny jaws faded. Enferno's volcanic-like eyes marbled at the beauty below. But as Enferno's fiery eyes scanned the radiating world, a familiar shape caught his eye. Hiding within the snowy surface, Frostflare prepared to make his move. Enferno glanced down, recalling Frostflare's intimidating appearance; Frostflare's scales were as white as the snow around him. Two horns stuck out of the side of his skull. Gray eyes glared out of Frostflare's retinas, condemning Enferno as a heartless fiend. Despite being smaller than Enferno, Frostflare was faster and far more agile. "You," Enferno grumbled fiercely. Frostflare's glossy wings expanded. Powerful winds bounced off the ground, hurling Frostflare straight towards the scarlet dragon above. The two dragons met one another, exchanging slashing claws, designed to scourge the flesh off its organic surface. Frostflare's cold claws sunk into Enferno's crimson scales, and ripped them out of their foundations. Warm blood poured out of Enferno's flesh, dousing Frostflare's brawny lips. Frostflare's tongue emerged and slurped the blood cleanly off the lips. Enferno parted jaws, unleashing a spewing torrent of fire that approached Frostflare at point blank range. Amazingly, Frostflare twisted his body completely around, barely avoiding an induction to fire. But even then, Frostflare felt the heat of the fire bathe his silky skin. The pallid dragon reacted quickly; Frostflare slashed Enferno's face, scourging deep enough wounds that ended up blinding one of Enferno's eyes. As Enferno's eyes regenerated, Frostflare had already flown miles away. Naturally, Enferno reacted the only way he can; fireballs spewed out of his mouth every few seconds, demolishing the landscape. Balls of fire grew out of the ground; the intense heat melted the ice around it. Enferno's eyes had at last regenerated. After realizing he had wasted a great deal of his energy, Enferno tried to locate his nemesis. "You're such a fool, Enferno," Frostflare shouted miles away. "Do you honestly believe you could hit me, blindfolded? You can't even hit me with both of your eyes opened, what hope have you with none?" Enferno's fiery eyes glared at Frostflare from afar, "Was it not I that killed you, Frostflare? As far as I'm concerned, you have neither the skill nor the jurisdiction to insult me." "Do you really believe that?" Frostflare chuckled endlessly. "I never died, you fool. I played dead and watched helplessly as you flew away. Yes, I should've died, but luckily, I was well adapted to survive any environment." Wishing to waste no time, Enferno released a ball of fire that blazed towards Frostflare. Frostflare easily dodged the fireball, but noticed an enraged Enferno flying straight towards him. The pallid dragon mimicked the strategy and rushed Enferno head on. As Frostflare flew to meet Enferno head on, azure particles swirled into his mouth. Bluish-silvery spheres erupted forth, striking each of Enferno's slender wings. Blocks of ice imprisoned the wings, hindering their ability to fly. Enferno aguishly roared helplessly as he descended to the frozen world below. The ground recoiled from the impact; waves of ice and snow dispersed, shockwaves shook the entire region, and Enferno found himself lying inside an impact crater. An impatient Enferno weakly rose to his feet, obsessed with the idea of removing the icy confines that imprisoned his wings. Enferno's wings collided, shattering the ice in the process. The Scarlet Dragon felt a decrease of temperature. Frostflare was manipulating the elements, binding it to his will. Cold winds forged unbearable temperatures. A dome of ice rose out of the ground, shackling Enferno and preventing him from leaving the crater's boundaries. Particles sparkled into the dragon's gaping maw, a prelude to Enferno's most devastating attack. But the ice instantly covered Enferno completely; however, a particle beam broke through the ice with the utmost ease, punching a hole into Frostflare's shoulder. Pain overwhelmed Frostflare's senses as the silky-coated dragon descended rapidly towards a mountain. Frostflare struck the mountain's side and bounced off of it. The pallid dragon slid down the mountain's slope, eventually striking the icy base below. Cracks splintered the icy dome, as Enferno broke free of his frigid prison. "You know what's funny?" Frostflare snickered as he pulled his head out of the ice. "I've been watching you. Yes Enferno, I'm well aware of your career in the MWF." "Like I give a damn?" Enferno fired back. "You should! Even if I hate you, I can't deny that you and I are both apart of a mystical race, destined to live forever," Frostflare articulated, "but you disgrace us everyday by being a pawn, and for what? Entertainment!? You've been manipulated, Enferno. You possess a sentient mind that you never deserved to harbor, at least this quickly." "Bullshit," Enferno snarled. "My behavior was never tampered with. My mind merely evolved." "All lies," Frostflare revealed without hesitation. "My mind evolved by its own accord; yours, however, did not. Search through your mind, can you truly recall ever earning this intelligence?" Enferno did not respond. Frostflare favored Enferno with a grim smile, "I knew it." "You know nothing!" Enferno hollered. Fire churned brightly within Enferno's ravenous jaws. A stream of fire spewed out. Frostflare responded by unleashing a beam designed to freeze its targets. The two projectiles, each the antithesis of the other, clashed. Instead of fighting for superiority, they combined. A condensation of hot and cold particles transpired, which ended up forming dark clouds that shimmered with bolts of lightning. Frostflare was temporarily stunned by the unbelievable sight before him. But the dark clouds were blown away as Enferno flew through them, and struck Frostflare off guard. Enferno tackled Frostflare against the mountain side. Shockwaves vibrated the entire mountain, failing to topple it in the process. Within the mountain's core, Enferno had Frostflare pinned. "Go ahead," Frostflare urged Enferno on, "kill me! You still have the same look in your eyes. You haven't changed one bit." Enferno silenced Frostflare with a ground-shaking roar. The scarlet dragon inched closer, intent on thrashing Frostflare's throat wide open. "You know what happened to me, Enferno? After you left me to die? I wandered the world, searching for you. My mind constantly reminded me of your blood-thirsty nature. It was the only thing that drove me to achieve vengeance. And when I finally found you, I was relieved. What the humans had done inflicted far more damage than I could ever inflict. You were a puppet, used only to entertain the masses. And with that said, I am ready to die." Rage flared out of Enferno's primordial orbs. The scarlet dragon inched closer, anticipating the warm feeling of sinking his teeth into Frostflare's neck. Suddenly, Enferno stopped. Instead of seeing Frostflare, Enferno's eyes told his conscious that he was staring at Putricus! A bewildered Enferno backed off, unsure of what to make of this sudden phenomenon. Putricus didn't say a word. The dragon merely stared into Enferno's eyes. Enferno read Putricus' expressive eyes like a book. "So I have changed…" Enferno murmured out loud, after deciphering Putricus' optical message. Putricus disappeared. "What?" Frostflare contemplated. Enferno backed away. The scarlet dragon turned its back on Frostflare and trudged out of the mountain. Frostflare was unsure of Enferno's actions. Was the dragon planning to bring down the entire mountain, sealing Frostflare inside? That had to be it. Enferno deemed all threats unfit to survive; he'd never hesitate to kill any creature that posed a threat to him. And yet, Enferno walked further and further away. Frostflare's upper lips pulled up, revealing the carnivorous teeth within. Enferno's decision to simply walk away irritated Frostflare. In the end, Frostflare didn't consider it a noble decision, but merely an insult. "How dare that bastard leave," Frostflare whispered lividly. "Leaving me for dead is one thing, but to simply walk away is unacceptable!" The pallid dragon jumped to its feet and launched its slender form out of the mountain. Frostflare's amazing speed allowed the dragon to achieve the speed he needed to inflict a critical hit. Enferno had stopped dead in his tracks. Truthfully, he had sensed Frostflare's movements, and had the chance to prevent it from happening. But in a split second, Enferno had made a decision. Enferno's fading eyes shifted downwards and surveyed Frostflare's grisly claw; the claw was covered completely in blood. The hand was squeezing Enferno's exposed heart. Warm blood emptied out of the bodily organ. Frostflare's vengeful claw had been buried deep into Enferno's spine, and managed to tunnel its way to the other side. Frostflare's fingers wiggled freely. Blood dripped from the stained fingers, tarnishing the frozen soil that lay beneath Enferno's feet. "You see, Enferno?" Frostflare murmured menacingly over Enferno's shoulder. "I ripped out your cold heart. And what a surprise, it hasn't frozen over yet." Enferno's knees collapsed. The dragon would've fallen, had it not been for Frostflare's arm to keep Enferno steady. "Ironic, isn't it? I'm the only one who is keeping you on your feet. But I shall be the only one that sends you to the grave, where you rightfully belong." Enferno refused to reply. Strangely, he didn't really feel any pain. Either it was the enlightenment that Enferno had recently experienced or it was the lost of blood. It didn't matter; Enferno will at last find peace. The scarlet dragon started to close his eyes. Frostflare's arm emanated freezing temperatures from inside Enferno. Enferno's muscles, veins, organs, and everything else froze over. Enferno never had the chance to close his eyes; instead they turned into frigid sculptures. Frostflare's arm was pulled away, and the pallid dragon studied the frozen statue before him. Enferno was once a glorious creature that conveyed beauty and devastation… But now, He had been reduced to a lifeless vessel of ice. A satisfied Frostflare roared to the heavens, accepting the fruits of victory, "At last, vengeance is mine." 'But at what cost?' an earth trembling voice inquired. 'Vengeance achieves nothing. It is but a temporary setback that allows you to experience a sensation of pleasure, pleasure you will never feel again.' "Dehadrayth, I am well aware of these trials you have forced everyone to endure," Frostflare shouted to the heavens, "and I could care less about your decision. Am I not innocent? Enferno nearly killed me centuries ago! I was simply returning the favor. He deserved it." 'And what do you deserve?' Dehadrayth replied intelligently. 'Eternal suffering, it seems. You were given a simple trial, Frostflare. But your thirst for destruction usurped any integrity you once had.' Frostflare silently growled. "Shut the hell up," Frostflare retorted angrily. "What right do you have to give us these trials?" 'What right do I have to not?' Dehadrayth claimed truthfully. 'Had I not, my son would've conquered Eternity. Either you would've been a reluctant slave or death would've been inevitable. Do thou understand the pretense of thy trials?' "Just because I understand it, doesn't mean I have to like it. Nevertheless, what should I have done?" 'The answer is elementary,' Dehadrayth crudely responded. 'But I presume you are still lost, yes? Very well, I'll give you the chance to understand your mistake, before you receive a fate worse than death. Can you believe that you were relying on one another? In order to have passed, Enferno not only needed to change and abandon any urges to kill you, but he also needed you to accept it. And of course, had you forgiven him and forfeited your desires of achieving vengeance that would've happened. Alas, I am greeted to another wave of sadness and failure. Had you succeeded, the trials would've been over, and everyone's sorrow would've been uplifted.' Frostflare's gaze descended and focused on the lifeless form of Enferno. Strangely, Frostflare walked in front of Enferno, embracing the frozen dragon with a distraught stare. Light glinted off Enferno's icy orbs. There was no time to feel remorse or even regret. Frostflare had a shot to save Eternity, and he blew it. The pallid dragon was not afraid to admit it. He was wrong, but at the same time, he felt relief. To him, Enferno was a representation of his past, present and future. Buried deep inside the cornerstone of Frostflare's mind, there was another representation: obsession. Frostflare's obsession infringed the sanity the dragon once had. To Frostflare, killing Enferno was the only logical thing left to do; Enferno's death was the only thing capable of bringing peace to Frostflare. 'But at what cost?' Dehadrayth asked, questioning Frostflare's hidden agenda. 'It is a habit for me to ask a question and give an answer every time I speak to thee and all. If you are incapable of comprehending the devastation your ambitions have caused, then you do not deserve an explanation,' Dehadrayth continued and prepared to reveal Frostflare's fate. 'You deserve despair.' Cracks of supernatural light splintered Frostflare's glossy figure. Painful cries blurted out of Frostflare's disfigured jaws, but they eventually died down. Frostflare closed his predatory eyes, preferring to die in a manner of where he had no regrets. Celestial light obscured Frostflare's outline, as the dragon's mind and body dissolved into a stream of light that shot into the sky above. There Frostflare's essence joined Dehadrayth. Frigid wings gently brushed against Enferno's frozen stature. Supernatural light bathed the unmoving statue, summoning the soul that secretly dwelled within. The soul resembled an energetic sphere. But the spiritual energies transformed into an exact copy of Enferno's corporal appearance. Enferno's amber-hued eyes stared up at the shimmering sky. Dehadrayth's light emitted a soothing song that cried out to Enferno's soul. The cosmic trials had seen many upsets, even tragedies, but none could ever compare to the blight of Enferno's trial. In his draconic heart, the dragon proved to be a noble warrior whose dealings with humanity had changed his life forever. The memory of Putricus' redemption bleached out the coldness of Enferno's soul. Out of all of those who had failed the trials, Dehadrayth labeled Enferno the saddest addition to his collection of lost souls thus far. Truly, the only comparison Dehadrayth could make to recognize Enferno's wrongful prosecution, involved a benevolent Angel forcefully shackled to the fiery depths of Hell, unfairly accused of damnation… |
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| The Heavens Tremble 'Space…it the only comfort I have, the only place that allows me to escape the hardships of reality. But even here, I am forced to suffer an eternal array of despair. I thought the trials would've hindered the wretched souls within, but instead, they have grown more hopeless. For every creature that fails to pass the trials, the essence of their souls are joined with my own. I'm well aware of my plan's shortcomings. It was a risk I had to take. In spite of my growing depression, I still feel hopeful. There is a chance for victory; however, I'm beginning to believe that I have been fooling myself. Perhaps the correct way to judge these creatures is not by the use of morals, but by pure instinct. Five will be selected. And five will be driven by pure instinct. Against their instincts and natural power, I alone will stand in their way. I do not wish to purposely bring destruction to them, but in order to see the truth, to see if they truly deserve salvation, they will have to face an opponent whose power extends the reach of the stars. Hopefully, when this is all over, a new tomorrow will await us all. 'And when that day happens…I will no longer exist.' Dark clouds bleached the skies. Raindrops poured out of the black clouds, dousing the island below. The island consisted of different environments. Parts of the island were covered with plant life that expanded for miles. On the outskirts, large bodies of water resided silently. Tiny islands peaked out of the watery surface and were constantly exposed to its frigid mass. The central region of the island was made up of frozen ice. Frosty winds caressed the freezing landscape, removing any chance of it ever heating up. Snowy mountains surveyed the environment beneath their imposing figures. Miles away, concrete covered a large portion of the area. Manmade buildings stood up high in the air. Electricity empowered the metropolis with what it needed to chase away the night. A volcanic region resided a few miles away. Lava spewed out of the ground, scorching the molten rock. Towering volcanoes birthed columns of lava high into the ash-filled sky. Surrounding these mixed terrains was an artificial blockade, designed to repel the strongest creatures on Earth. Beyond the blockades were millions of stands, designed to support a large crowd of people. The island was simply known as: Battle Island. Celestial bolts of energy manifested around the stands. They tore open a hole through time and space, transporting a large gathering of people. All of them were surprised to find themselves sitting amongst the largest crowd on the planet. Fear had drifted into the abyss of their minds, confusing them beyond a shadow of a doubt. Dehadrayth had psychically informed every sentient life form in the known cosmos of the trials everyone had to take. Being warped to an area of where giant monsters occasionally clashed was bound to intensify that fear. Aprons of light gleamed from the sky. A lone figure descended rapidly to the ground, intent on landing as fast as possible. The crowd gasped as the entity pulled upwards just before striking the grassy terrain. Silvery flames baked out of its leg sockets, creating a trail of dense smoke. The entity reared upwards, just as the flames died down. Its massive figure collided against the granite surface. Mounds of dirt were thrown into the air, temporarily shrouding the creature's form. A bellowing howl echoed across the island, informing the crowd of the entity's sheer power. The smoke cleared, and its identity was revealed. Large twin fangs stood out of the ends of its bottom jaw. Plates that were aligned on the creature's shell shifted into place. Reptilian claws twitched occasionally, slicing the current of wind. A blade extended out of each of the creature's forearms, created for the sole purpose of piercing flesh. Two hollow eyes stared outwards, granting mercy to none. Smoke churned out of its empty maw. The creature that resembled an upright turtle gestured another chaotic scream. Gamera, the Guardian of the Universe, had made its presence known. The earth quaked with every step Gamera took. Gamera issued another terrifying roar. He sensed the presence of the one that brought him here. Strangely, he felt deprived. Something of great value had been taken from him. Gamera contemplated over the issue, but failed to touch upon what was lost. The custodian's primitive mind was unable to understand that its mind was purposely engineered by humans to become smarter. An unforeseen force had robbed him of that intellect. Gamera's emerald retinas spotted the large numbers of people. They were all silent, not sure of what Gamera would do. But Gamera's instincts did not instruct him to attack. Instead, Gamera ventured miles away from where he landed, hoping to locate the one that had brought him there in the first place. Suddenly, Gamera shifted the course of its gaze, and spotted another entity close by. An armored-saurian crawled out of a valley of trees. Thorny spikes pointed out of its thick shell. Rows of horns stood at the top of the creature's cranium. A single horn rested on the apex of its nostrils. The creature had a long, crocodilian-like snout. Its muscular tail waved impatiently as it crawled to meet Gamera. An aggressive roar sounded off from the armored monster's mouth. Anguirus was not going to allow Gamera to intimidate him. Channels of light emanated out of Gamera's crackling throat. Flames baked inside Gamera's gaping maw. The sizzling flames fed off of the oxygen that surrounded Gamera's mouth. Gamera was unable to breathe for a temporary amount of time. But it did not matter; Gamera was dead set on reducing Anguirus to a pile of charcoal. Anguirus' fearless eyes glared into the shallow abyss of Gamera's own. The two exchanged an ancient form of communication, one no human could ever comprehend. It was a way for the two titans to stare into one another's souls, and identify the other's true motives. Gamera's eyes squinted as they noticed something bizarre. Anguirus remained perfectly still. The seriousness in Anguirus' eyes was enough to freeze Gamera's artificial soul. The flames died down. Gamera closed his hazy mouth, inhaling the burning smoke down his throat. Gamera's inner instincts decreed Anguirus innocent. The armored-saurian was not to blame for the lost of Gamera's intelligence. In fact, it was likely that Anguirus was a victim as well. Noticing that Gamera was not going to attack, Anguirus' tense muscles relaxed. If he felt threatened, Anguirus wouldn't hesitate to launch a preemptive strike, but for now, Anguirus understood Gamera's reasons for not wanting to fight. The two colossal creatures remained perfectly still. They stood next to one another, waiting for an explanation of why they were there in the first place. Dehadrayth was ready to answer their silent question. Waves of celestial light swirled around the dark skies. A beam of light panned down, exposing a vacant area of land to its illuminating beauty. The energy flowing around the sky journeyed to the ground. All of the light had successfully seceded from the sky. Amidst the glowing refuge of light, a physical form manifested. A shadowy figure, concealed by holy light, stood defiantly within. The light started to die down, revealing the corporal form Dehadrayth had chosen. Dehadrayth stood in an upright position, bearing a resemblance to the outline of a human. But everything after that was completely abnormal. A brownish carapace covered Dehadrayth's body. One row of jagged horns tipped out of Dehadrayth's backside. Four black wings extended out of the outskirts of the horns. Dozens of holes had been carved into each of the wings. On each of Dehadrayth's shoulders was a long, razor-sharp blade. Two toes were present on each of the feet. Three, spaced claws scourged out of the malicious hands. A demonic head sat on the apex of the throat. White flames burned out of the caverns of Dehadrayth's estranged jaws and hollow eyes. 'The others will be with us shortly,' Dehadrayth alleged. 'Until then, let the combat begin.' A lightning bolt streaked across the night sky. It served a prelude to the storm that was brewing above. Trillions of raindrops poured out of the dark clouds, saturating the land and its inhabitants below. The raindrops failed to get anywhere near Dehadrayth. Dehadrayth's blinding radiance evaporated the rain. But the light faded, allowing the rain to douse Dehadrayth completely. Dehadrayth strangely enjoyed the cold dampness the rain provided. It soothed the entity that was an embodiment of countless others. It was a shame that Dehadrayth couldn't enjoy the rain any longer… Energetic flames engulfed Gamera's maw. Crimson bolts circulated inside Gamera's brawny throat. After a few seconds of silence, Gamera unleashed a fireball that propelled itself towards Dehadrayth at high speeds. The downpour of rain made the fireball sizzle intensely. Dehadrayth's glowing eyes considered the fiery projectile. The embodiment of sorrow contemplated over the possibility of allowing it to strike him, to test his corporal form. Alas, Dehadrayth preferred to examine the intensity of his psychic powers. Dehadrayth's telekinetic mind sprinted out of Dehadrayth's fiery eyes, and ensnared the fireball. Dehadrayth's united minds ripped the fireball to pieces, reducing it to strands of light that dispersed harmlessly across the region. 'In order to test these creatures for all they're worth, I'll have to decrease my power once again,' Dehadrayth contemplated. The white flames that burned inside the pits of Dehadrayth's emotionless eyes considered the two monsters before him. Instinctively, the two monsters took an affront from the rage burning within Dehadrayth's fiery orbs. A loud, rumbling growl crept out of Anguirus' prehistoric maw. The ground shook every time Anguirus' feet collided with the ground. On all fours, Anguirus sprinted towards the ominous shape of Dehadrayth. In a stunning display, Anguirus leaped forward and curled into a spiky ball. Anguirus' curled form bounced against the terrain, the sheer mass and collision of Anguirus striking the ground left several impact craters behind; meanwhile, sweltering flames burned inside Gamera's gaping maw. Three fireballs erupted out of Gamera's jaws. The fiery spheres eagerly approached Dehadrayth's looming form. Upon contact, a large cloud of fire engulfed Dehadrayth's being. The fires died down and the smoke cleared… An unscathed Dehadrayth was spotted. Anguirus smashed his spiky carapace against Dehadrayth's bulky chest. The impact alone was enough to knock Dehadrayth to the ground. Anguirus landed next to the fallen being, and did not hesitate to attack; Anguirus' savage jaws clamped down on Dehadrayth's sturdy throat. The monster's pointy teeth failed to break the thick carapace. Anguirus was left with only one option: close Dehadrayth's windpipe. But no matter how hard Anguirus tried, Dehadrayth was still conscious. Anguirus' predatory eyes spotted Dehadrayth raising one of his claws. But the resilient reptile was not willing to let go. Anguirus' courage was admirable, but it proved to be the beginning of his downfall. Dehadrayth's serrated claws sliced deep trenches into the reptile's visage. Anguirus released his grip on Dehadrayth's throat, which proved to be a testament of the threat posed by Dehadrayth. Afterwards, Anguirus became a victim of Dehadrayth's telekinetic might, and was chucked miles away. Anguirus' sailing body met the bottom of a rocky gorge. The vibrations caused by Anguirus' descending figure made the rocks slide down their slopes, imprisoning the armored-reptile. Gamera's pupils gazed at Dehadrayth's ominous figure. The Guardian of the Universe wailed a challenging roar, allowing the rain to douse his sizzling mouth. Gamera's instincts were right about Dehadrayth, yet the custodian was wary, for he did not know what else Dehadrayth was capable of. Gamera knew it was a foolish decision, but he had to know. Dehadrayth obliged, proving to be the type of being that didn't disappoint its onlookers. Chasms of holy light formed an energetic sphere inside the palm of Dehadrayth's right hand. Dehadrayth pointed it directly at Gamera. Gamera nervously stood his ground, waiting to see Dehadrayth's new power. An energetic whip emerged out of the radiating sphere, and wrapped itself around Gamera's throat. It instantly burned the flesh, but Dehadrayth had another agenda; it was like the whip possessed the ability to levitate anything it came into contact with. The energetic whip pulled Gamera off the ground, and slammed him back down. The impact made the ground rise high into the air. In the center of the recoiled ground, Gamera's body was unable to move. Mounds of dirt and other soil properties dispersed in separate directions. Gamera's weary eyes blinked open, noticing that he was lying inside an impact crater. But Dehadrayth didn't allow Gamera any time to recuperate; Dehadrayth's energetic whip lifted Gamera high into the air, giving Gamera enough time to see the ravaged landscape below. Like before, Dehadrayth slammed Gamera deep into the island's surface. Thousands of tons of dirt were thrown into the air. The entire area frequently vibrated from the impact tremors. Dehadrayth relinquished its energetic whip. It faded from existence, complying with its creator's wishes. Gamera's hind legs weakly lifted the rest of the body. Thick layers of smoke covered the scope of the area. Gamera knew that the smoke wouldn't provide him cover. Desiring not to be cut off guard, Gamera's gaping maw releases a blazing fireball. The fireball singed Dehadrayth's chest, enveloping the entire upper body in an apron of fire. But Dehadrayth's telekinesis instantly blew the mixture of smoke and fire away. Pallid streaks of light shot out of Dehadrayth's celestial irises and pierced Gamera's body. The two beams emerged out of Gamera's thick shell. The beams faded from reality; Gamera weakly fell to his knees. Gamera's eye lids concealed his reptilian optics, signaling the custodian's temporary defeat. Dehadrayth twisted the arc of its position and stared off in an opposite direction, 'Now to find the others,' the entity exclaimed, 'and bring all of them together.' Dehadrayth's dark, gritty wings grew larger. Fabrics of blinding light dabbled out of Dehadrayth's corporal figure. The Sorrow of Eternity disappeared, and was replaced by a glowing sphere. A murky coverage of fog followed the glowing sphere. What were once Dehadrayth's wings was now the fog that never went away. It soared through the sky, arriving at its destination a few seconds later. The glowing sphere touched down in a frozen wasteland. Intense heat radiated off of the sphere's illuming form, melting the ice around it. The dark fog swirling around the energized sphere converged upon it. Dehadrayth's corporal form emerged out of the sphere. Gargantuan feet sunk beneath the cold soil, and sapped it of its frigid temperatures. Four, ghastly wings protruded out of Dehadrayth's back. Upon Dehadrayth's arrival, the entire area was completely silent. Not even the wind dared to make a sound. White flames burned out of the cortex of Dehadrayth's orbs. The white flames that burned inside the empty maw of the celestial being blazed with greater intensity. Dehadrayth's multiple minds sensed another creature nearby. At the apex of a frozen mountain, a figure shrouded in darkness spied on Dehadrayth. Had it been day, the figure would've been identified as a humanoid in appearance. Dark hair covered its entire body. Sentient eyes peered out of its skull. Might fists squeezed tightly, cracking the bones inside. Hot breath steamed the air around its hairy mouth. Silvery hair arched down its backside. The hairy surface failed to conceal the brawny muscles bulging beneath the entity's hide. Dehadrayth's cosmic senses deciphered the identity of the giant ape. It was none other than King Kong. King Kong frowned irritably. The ape had been spotted. With his cover blown, Kong stood straight up, and slammed his brawny fists against his muscular chest. A defiant roar rumbled out of the ape's manlike mandibles. King Kong proceeded to jump down the side of the mountain. The titanic ape slid down its frigid slopes. Kong's fur shielded him from the cold the ice provided. The descent was complete; King Kong's feet fell into the snowy soil. Kong leaned down, and entrenched his earth-shattering fists into the snow. In an aggressive display of dominance, King Kong charged Dehadrayth head on. Kong galloped to meet the intruder in combat; the only thought on the ape's mind was the satisfaction of crushing Dehadrayth's skull. Dehadrayth's last skirmish made the being chary of its power. 'In order to test these creatures fairly, I must further decrease my power.' A gap of only a thousand yards separated the raging ape from reaching its target. Dehadrayth located a frozen boulder nearby. The gravity around the boulder was warped by Dehadrayth's telekinetic mind. It was lifted out of its frozen foundations. Curious in testing the ape of its animalistic intelligence, Dehadrayth chucked the boulder at the charging beast. Kong's antagonistic eyes spotted the aloft object immediately. The giant ape, without even stopping, shattered the boulder with its bone-crushing fist. Shards of the boulder pelted the ground, as the ape made its advance. King Kong's slamming fists struck Dehadrayth's armored-carapace. The physical impacts managed to hinder Dehadrayth's stature. After several blows, King Kong nearly punched Dehadrayth off his feet. Dehadrayth quickly responded; a telekinetic pulse detonated against Kong's sternum. The psychic assault made Kong fly back several hundred meters. But the ape quickly got back on its feet. At best, Dehadrayth's telekinesis bruised the ape's sturdy chest. Once again, Kong charged. Only this time, the ape was unaware of two icy boulders being lodged at him from opposite angles. They simultaneously struck Kong's skull. For a short span of time, King Kong suffered a concussion. It was enough to postpone the ape's fearless charge. Intrigued by the animal's impressive strength, Dehadrayth was interested in testing his own. Dehadrayth deemed his wings unnecessary. As a result, the wings were sucked into the entity's backside, and were no longer accounted for. Free to move at a faster pace, Dehadrayth lunged forward, and swatted the ape's face with his arm. The sheer force Dehadrayth unleashed sent Kong flying. King Kong crashed against the frozen mountain. The collision had splintered the icy exterior. King Kong plummeted towards the ground; an imprint of his shape was left inside the cold exterior of the mountain. Kong struck the ground, the impact made the frigid soil soar upwards. Snow smeared Kong's animalistic eyes, preventing the ape from seeing Dehadrayth's next move. Energy cutters blossomed out of Dehadrayth's fiery eyes; the twin beams struck the upper level of the frozen mountain, and horizontally carved it in half. Chunks of rock and ice blew off, as the apex of the mountain started to slide downwards. It slid down the edge and rapidly descended downhill. King Kong impatiently rubbed the snow out of his eyes. The ape angrily roared, but a shadow fell over his colossal figure. The top part of the mountain struck King Kong, burying the magnificent creature beneath thousands of tons of ice and rock. Dark wings protruded out of Dehadrayth's back. The size of each of the wings transcended their normal limitations. They had grown large enough to cover the entire region in its darkness. The gravity was warped, allowing Dehadrayth to levitate off the ground. Without a moment's hesitation, Dehadrayth ascended thousands of feet above the island, and took off to meet its next challenger. The fields of ice passing beneath Dehadrayth's slender form faded rapidly from sight. It was replaced by the rooftops of buildings. Dehadrayth's scorching orbs spotted an anonymous figure. Standing between two large skyscrapers, concealed beneath metallic skin and the latest in technological warfare, the mysterious figure watched Dehadrayth move closer. To an uneducated eye, the figure's outline resembled that of the most infamous kaiju to ever stalk the Earth. Bathed in artificial armor, amber-hued optics glowed out of their sectors. The mechanical dragon separated its metallic jaws, emitting an artificial roar like none other. Beneath its armored-coating, the organic remains of what it used to be awaited the day it could return to its former glory. But that day would never come. Instinctively, it knew that the shackles of time would forever imprison it within this manmade vessel. Kiryu patiently watched his target move closer. On each of Kiryu's shoulders stood a missile pack eager to unload its payload. Kiryu's sensors zoomed in on Dehadrayth's face, noticing the imposing figure had already spotted him. Had daylight lit up the sky, Dehadrayth's gigantic wings would've blocked it out. Dehadrayth made its descent. Its black, demonic wings decreased in size. By the time Dehadrayth's feet touched the ground, they had returned to their normal size and stature. The ground quaked; unable to withstand the magnitude of Dehadrayth's mass crashing against the artificial soil. The electricity dimly flashed on and off from inside the surrounding buildings. Despite having perfect knowledge, Dehadrayth still studied Kiryu carefully. The mechanical dragon returned the sentiment. "At the twilight of my life, I saw my son proudly accept me as his father, and marched on to defy the malevolent Bagan," Kiryu contemplated. "I went offline, no longer was I needed to guard the humans or defend the world from intergalactic threats. It was a peaceful death, one I have longed to experience. And yet, I was purged from a peaceful paradise, just to take part in a trial to prove my worth? While this being's intentions may be pure, I still do not trust it. Whatever the outcome, I will not rest until I have earned my rightful place in existence." 'There's no need to deem me untrustworthy,' Dehadrayth announced truthfully. 'I am not here to seduce you into a tale of lies, but to merely give you a second chance at life.' "I do not need a second chance at life," Kiryu stated decrepitly. "I've already had it. All I wanted was to rest in peace. Is that so much to ask for?" 'No, it is not,' Dehadrayth replied. 'But if I had not intervened, the twilight of your peace would've been short-lived. My Son's ascension would've torn you from your resting place and bury you in an endless pit of despair. My decision was better than the alternative.' Kiryu didn't respond right away. "Even so, you had no right to force me to defend myself. For that, I'll be forced to take part in your trials." Kiryu's mechanical jaws separated. Dazzling streaks of energy spewed forth, striking Dehadrayth's sturdy sternum. The energy baked Dehadrayth's chest, weakening the thick armor that covered it. Dehadrayth groaned in disapproval, annoyed by Kiryu's declaration of war. Holy energy gleamed from inside the palm of Dehadrayth's hand. With a swift swipe, Dehadrayth's energetic whip sliced the two buildings in half. Glass, concrete and other building accessories rained down, hindering Kiryu's sensors from locating Dehadrayth. The thick layer of debris weakened the flow of energy circulating out of Kiryu's jaws. Kiryu ceased firing, and attempted to locate Dehadrayth. The artificial dragon failed to spot its crafty foe. Until suddenly, Kiryu's sensors detected a disturbance nearby. Kiryu shifted the trajectory of its artificial gaze, attempting to salvage Dehadrayth's position. The machine succeeded, but failed to counter Dehadrayth's counterstrike. An upwind of telekinesis propelled Dehadrayth towards Kiryu at amazing speeds. Dehadrayth's left claw grazed Kiryu's mechanical frame, inflicting enough physical force to whack Kiryu off its feet. The razor-sharp claws shredded the thick alloy of Kiryu's armor. Sparks sprayed out of the deep cuts, as gravity brought the mechanical dragon into the streets below. The metallic dorsal spines jolting out of Kiryu's back stabbed into the ground. Kiryu's impact made the area violently shake. Cracks splintered the streets; the broken pieces recoiled hundreds of feet upwards. Empty cars that had been coincidentally placed nearby suffered the same fate. The cracks had crawled up the slopes of buildings, shattering the exterior of the buildings apart. Kiryu's synthetic hands gripped the broken street. Fire blossomed out of Kiryu's rocket boosters, which lifted Kiryu off the ground. The intense heat the rocket boosters emitted melted the concrete of the streets, reducing it to a steaming pile of molten slag. Dehadrayth watched Kiryu carefully. Kiryu returned to its bipedal stance, ready to resume its attack. Laser cannons were mounted on each of Kiryu's wrists. Light particles swirled around the barrel tips. Dehadrayth's burning eyes delved into Kiryu's digital optics. It was a dare, a dare Kiryu was not hesitant to accept. Burning lasers tore out of the barrels, striking Dehadrayth's shadowy figure. Knowing full well that wouldn't be enough, Kiryu's jaws separated, releasing a trio of erratic energy beams. Dehadrayth willingly withstood Kiryu's bombardment of energy attacks. An outpour of energy continued to flow into the corporal Dehadrayth. Dehadrayth patiently took its time. 'Now,' Dehadrayth gestured in a serious tone. Psychic energies manipulated the airspace between Dehadrayth and Kiryu. The air was warped, bent to forge a visible bubble that deflected Kiryu's energy attacks. Kiryu's energy beams struck the telekinetic bubble and bounced off, striking nearby buildings, blowing steamy holes in their lifeless forms. Dehadrayth wasn't done yet; the telekinetic bubble swiftly moved forward, its destination: Kiryu. Kiryu desperately tried to disrupt its molecular makeup, but failed and braced for impact. Dehadrayth's telekinetic bubble struck Kiryu's outer haul, knocking the mechanical dragon several hundred feet back. Kiryu was a split second away from striking the ground, but Dehadrayth psychically constrained the synthetic leviathan. Dehadrayth extended his hand and motioned it towards a cloister of buildings close by. Kiryu was chucked straight towards it. Dehadrayth's eyes were not able to see the initial impact, but the aftermath was plain to see. The buildings were ripped out of the ground. A few were literally tossed high enough for Dehadrayth to see. A large body of smoke crawled upwards, preventing Dehadrayth from seeing anything, even if he wanted to. Holy energy sparkled inside Dehadrayth's ominous hands. 'It is amazing that this being still possesses the intelligence he had prior to his trial,' Dehadrayth eloquently thought. 'Unlike the other kaiju, this one is different. His behavior was never altered by the humans.' Amidst the dense apron of smoke, Kiryu's amber glowing eyes penetrated its thick makeup. Kiryu's mechanical muscles struggled to allow the fearsome machine to rise up. Artificial optics scanned the energy readings emanating out of Dehadrayth's hands. "I have no choice, but to unleash all of my weapons," Kiryu reluctantly declared subconsciously. It was a disappointment. While Kiryu was not happy about being ripped out of a place he could only refer to as Heaven, he was still aware of the upgrades he was given. Kiryu no longer possessed the absolute zero cannon, but it didn't matter; the upgrades allowed Kiryu to battle longer, and discharge enough firepower to disable the target. "But my target isn't exactly easy, far from it. If I'm going to win, I shall hit him with everything I have." Kiryu's targeting systems locked on. The chest compartment opened, revealing three empty holes meant to channel an incredible amount of energy. In a few seconds, every long-range weapon in Kiryu's arsenal will scream across the deserted city, and strike Dehadrayth with enough firepower to immobilize even the strongest kaiju. A loud, booming noise distracted both combatants. It sounded like cannon-fire. Only it was far more powerful than any cannon. Three balls of fire seared the air, striking Dehadrayth's sturdy form. They provided enough explosive power to make Dehadrayth nearly fall back. Kiryu noticed a chance to reserve ammunition. His sensors also noticed another event about to transpire. As a result, Kiryu selected only two missiles to fire out of their shoulder compartments. The metallic arrows struck Dehadrayth in the chest, just as he was rearing back up. Two separate explosions engulfed the upper half of Dehadrayth's body. It was enough to make Dehadrayth stumble, and lean back. While leaning back, Dehadrayth deciphered the strategy of his attackers. A spiky ball of gigantic proportions descended from the sky, striking the center of Dehadrayth's gut. The spiky ball drilled Dehadrayth deep beneath the city's surface. A mixture of smoke and debris exploded thousands of feet into the air. The spinning form of Anguirus emerged out of the debris. Anguirus extended out of its curled shape, and planted all of his feet into the ground. The armored-saurian slid down the street corner, plowing building after building with his prehistoric bulk. Anguirus stopped; deviant pupils eagerly surveyed the huge crater. Dark wings sprouted out of the crater. They brought up Dehadrayth's demonic visage. No visible wounds could be seen. Dehadrayth prepared to abolish Kiryu and Anguirus, but the third attacker intervened. Gamera soared over hundreds of rooftops; the intention of the custodian was obvious. Thick sheets of smoke were left behind in Gamera's wake. Gamera struck the aloft Dehadrayth, burying a combination of tooth and claw in his armored figure. Gamera focused all available energy to the guardian's leg sockets. Azure-silvery flames blazed out, releasing an incredible amount of energy. Gamera drove Dehadrayth into the heart of a towering skyscraper. The two colossal titans demolished the skyscraper, and tore out of its backside. They landed on top of an embassy building, crushing it with their combined mass. The skyscraper tipped over and fell on top of them. A mound of rubble covered the two behemoths. Suddenly, Gamera was knocked out of the pile, driven away by Dehadrayth's telekinetic might. Gamera crashed into skyscraper after skyscraper, unable to come to a halt. Flames blossomed out of Gamera's intimidating maw. Fireballs singed towards Dehadrayth, hoping to reduce the celestial being to a pile of cinders. Dehadrayth emerged out of the pile of rubble, and quickly retaliated. Energetic whips crackled out of Dehadrayth's hands, slicing the fireballs in half. Explosions wracked the air, as the fireballs failed to survive the vigorous onslaught. Four missiles avoided stable buildings, and struck Dehadrayth's dark wings. The explosive shockwaves rippled the wings out of view, temporary destabilizing their physical shape. In a cloud of smoke, the wings reformed a few seconds later. Enkindling eyes spotted Kiryu hiding amongst the group of buildings. While the buildings provided cover against a conventional approach, they would not be able to stop a psychic assault. Telekinetic waves gripped Kiryu's outer haul, squeezing the dense armor to the point of where it started to splinter. Kiryu's sensors detected damages occurring left and right, circuits were being severed, shutting down specific functions Kiryu needed to operate. Dehadrayth relinquished the telekinetic grip, and allowed Kiryu a moment of silence. Kiryu's knees caved in, forcing the metallic saurian to fall flat down on its face. Savage jaws growled defiantly. Dehadrayth immediately found the one threatening him. A large, spiky ball bounced across the city, leaving gigantic craters. Bursts of psionic energy ignited out of Dehadrayth's sweltering mouth. They singed passed the bouncing saurian, instilling the reptilian with the false idea of evading Dehadrayth's attack. But the burning projectiles would not be denied. They avoided contact with any inanimate object. There was only one target and that was Anguirus. Anguirus sensed the projectiles chasing after him, blasting scorching holes in buildings along the way. They relentlessly chased Anguirus, hoping to strike the beast and incinerate its molecules. Luckily, Anguirus' speed proved useful. But the burning mass of psionic energies hunting Anguirus down were not that far behind. Anguirus' nostrils sniffed the scent the energies secreted. But there was a foreign odor, one that did not belong to the blistering horde of energies behind him. Anguirus didn't know what hit him. Pallid whips entangled Anguirus' twirling shape. They only burnt the exterior of Anguirus' round-form, nothing more. Anguirus sensed the power coursing within the energetic whips, knowing full well that they could easily mutilate him. Anguirus was angry, he just couldn't comprehend why. Unknowingly, Anguirus adopted a feeling all sentient beings feel: jealousy. Helplessly, Anguirus was forced to be a prisoner. Dehadrayth's unpredictable strength swung Anguirus in the opposite direction the reptile was originally heading. The end result was not pretty; the psionic energies struck Anguirus' aloft figure, engraving sizzling craters that cauterized the flesh instantly. The explosions blew chunks of Anguirus' flesh and armor off. The energetic whips disappeared. The momentum they prior to disappearing had forced Anguirus into an assembly of buildings. Steel, concrete and debris buried the courageous kaiju. Hundreds of jagged spikes punctured the rubble's surface, signifying Anguirus' inability to quit. Anguirus emerged out of the rubble, battle scathed and wearied. Dehadrayth ignored Anguirus, and focused on the synthetic war-machine. Kiryu's body had automatically repaired the internal damages. The damages inflicted on the outside could not be repaired. Kiryu's artificial hands stabbed the ground, creating an imprint on the street's surface. The mechanical monster struggled to rise; its metallic legs screeched as they lifted the rest of the body up. A shower of sparks sprayed out of Kiryu's wounds. Kiryu's amber-lit eyes scanned the perimeter, searching for its target. Suddenly, two skyscrapers right next to Kiryu started to move. A telekinetic grasp pulled the buildings out of their foundations, and levitated them into the air. They floated hypnotically, but Kiryu was not easily deceived. Kiryu activated its rocket boosters; blistering streaks of light circulated, giving the boost Kiryu needed to ascend out of harm's way. The two buildings slammed into one another, crumbling into hundreds of smaller pieces. A ball of dust climbed out of the wreckage, blocking any from seeing the large pile of debris. Dehadrayth's flaming orbs stared sacredly at the flying robot, 'A worthy adversary, I admit,' Dehadrayth whispered softly, 'a symbol of hope?' The sorrowful entity pondered on Kiryu's purpose. Dehadrayth vaguely noticed Gamera approaching. It was strange that a being made up of many, responsible for giving birth to a creature that single-handedly tainted existence, could not even notice Gamera striding towards him. Crackling flames enriched Gamera's gaping maw. Gamera narrowed his reptile eyes, concentrating solely on the ominous figure standing thousands of meters away. 'Very well, Kiryu, I shall give chase.' The dark wings grew several times larger. Dehadrayth warped the gravity, bending it to his will. The manipulation allowed Dehadrayth to ascend into the black infested clouds. While ascending, a fireball buried its burning essence into Dehadrayth's kneecap. Luckily, Gamera's attack went unnoticed. Dehadrayth approached the black clouds. He sensed Kiryu nearby, abiding its time. Kiryu's targeting computers locked on, awaiting its master's orders to engage. Kiryu obliged. Missiles flew out of their ports. They swiftly grazed the murky clouds. The missiles located Dehadrayth, and pounded the entity's armored-hide. Several explosions rocked Dehadrayth's body, but failed to inflict any superficial damage. A barrage of lasers tore into Dehadrayth's torso, desperately trying to carve tiny craters. And yet, the lasers failed to pack the firepower necessary to get the job done. Annoyed by Kiryu's antics, Dehadrayth engaged the metallic saurian. Energetic whips sliced the air, piercing Kiryu's distant shape. Instead of entangling they're prey, they had been ordered to simply stab him. Kiryu's artificial brain acknowledged Dehadrayth's strategy; it wouldn't be difficult for the energy whips to dice him into tiny pieces. The foreign objects wiggling inside him disrupted specific machinery. Kiryu's eyes repeatedly flashed on and off, fighting to stay online. Before anything could reach a decisive conclusion, Dehadrayth noticed another object flying straight towards him: Gamera. Before the giant tortoise entered firing range, Dehadrayth savored the feeling the rain provided. The rain dribbled down Kiryu's metallic hide. The light emanating out of Dehadrayth's energy whips glinted off Kiryu's shiny body. Dehadrayth wished such a feeling could last forever. A fireball attempted to explode against Dehadrayth, but the celestial being telekinetically halted the fireball's advance. The fireball was kept at bay several hundred meters away. Rain soaked the fiery sphere, the watery substance evaporated instantly. Piercing beams of light sliced the fireball, disrupting its burning core. The fireball detonated, engulfing the dark sky in a bright ball of orange-reddish flames. But the explosion failed to neutralize the piercing beams that continued to soar, until finally reaching its target. The beams singed Gamera's shoulder, singing a combination of both Gamera's rough-hide and brawny shell. Green blood sprayed externally, staining a large portion of the monster's upper-body. Rivers of rain flowed downwards, carrying the blood with it. Dehadrayth's simple, yet effective attack was enough to send Gamera crashing to the metropolis below. Gamera spotted the rooftop of a skyscraper. The colossal mass of the kaiju instantly crushed the apex of the structure. It was like dropping a brick on a stack of cards. The skyscraper was completely crushed by Gamera's unwavering stature. Gamera not only crushed the skyscraper, but also penetrated the ground beneath it. Broken slabs were separated from the artificial soil and were chucked up thousands of feet into the air. Gamera's sprawled shape was seen lying amidst the rubble. Amongst the dark clouds, Kiryu attempted to severe the energy whips. Electrical beams flared out of its metallic jaws, striking the energetic whips with all the force it could muster. A fluorescent glow emanated out of the union between the two energies, suggesting a failure on Kiryu's part. Without any method to disable Dehadrayth's energy whips, Kiryu was forced to take a risky strategy. Two missiles spiraled out of the rocket compartments, striking Dehadrayth's face with an explosive surprise. It was enough to divert Dehadrayth's attention. Energy raged out of Kiryu's rocket boosters, propelling the mechanical leviathan towards the stunned antagonist. The energy whips inflicted further injuries to Kiryu's internal circuits, but Kiryu was close enough to physically engage Dehadrayth. Kiryu's right hand transformed into a razor-sharp drill; the drill swiftly rotated, providing an intimidating factor. By the time Dehadrayth understood Kiryu's strategy, it was too late; Kiryu jabbed the rotating drill deep into Dehadrayth's armored-chest. The drill ripped the layers of flesh that would normally be strong enough to repel physical and energetic attacks. As the drill dug deeper, pallid flames roared out of the wound. The flames not only consumed the drill, but also slithered out far enough to touch the rest of the arm. If Kiryu didn't know any better, he would've guessed that he was penetrating Dehadrayth's souls. The energy whips suddenly faded. A buildup of telekinesis manipulated the air, preventing any raindrop from getting close. The intensity of Dehadrayth's psychic force managed to concoct a psychic bubble that was strong enough to turn night into day. Within the interior of the telekinetic bubble, daylight brightly bathed its occupants. Beyond the telekinetic bubble, there was only darkness. From another dimension, a window was pulled open, and allowed the light of a star to enter. One of Kiryu's metallic arms forcefully broke out of the bubble's boundaries. The silvery metallic skin that covered the arm had changed into a burning red tint. Steam derived out of the overheated metal. The steam intensified as rain pounded the hot arm. A digital roar echoed out of the center of the glowing sphere. If this continued, Kiryu would un-doubtfully meet death or something far worst. Luckily, the light rapidly faded just as a large telekinetic shockwave was born. The telekinetic force engulfed Kiryu's synthetic body, and knocked the gigantic machine out of the sky. Large, towering buildings did not have the luxury of being spared of the ensuing battle nor Kiryu's descent. The mechanical dragon smashed the building structures, reducing them to rubble. Smoke billowed out of the rubble pile. Kiryu's synthetic hand emerged out of the rubble, its cybernetic fingers twitched uncontrollably. Dehadrayth's burning optics observed the destruction. The worm-hole was sealed shut, preventing the light of a star to seep out. Dehadrayth's nefarious bodily structure blended in with the dark sky. Only Dehadrayth's piercing eyes gave away his position. Slowly but surely, Dehadrayth started to make his descent. Raindrops saturated Dehadrayth's ominous figure, allowing the incredible entity to flourish in an element it deeply loved. Gamera weakly emerged out of the ground. Fresh blood continued to ooze out of the tortoise's damaged shoulder. Gamera's reptilian pupils examined Dehadrayth's descending figure. Even if Dehadrayth's outline gave the distinct impression that it was born in the fiery depths of Hell, Gamera didn't sense any malevolence lurking behind Dehadrayth's eyes. And yet, Gamera felt indebted to the entity's destruction. Natural instincts urged the gargantuan turtle to annihilate the creature as fast as possible. Gamera's jaws gently separated. A low, threatening growl ushered out. Several hundred feet away, an injured Anguirus weakly crawled down the street. The armored-reptile was eager to have another chance to engage Dehadrayth. Gamera and Anguirus noticed their other ally rising within an eyes-view. Kiryu's circuitry scrambled to repair the damages Dehadrayth inflicted. It would take a few minutes. But at this rate, Kiryu didn't have a few minutes. Miles away from the city, frigid winds nurtured the icy soil of the ice lands. Beneath thousands of tons of ice, a bloody fist punched its way out of the ground. Red blood stained the black hair that consumed the humanoid fist. Its wielder desperately fought to the surface. The hand clenched the icy surface, and acted as an anchor for the gigantic creature to pull itself out. King Kong's animalistic eyes witnessed the frigid climate it had not seen for nearly a half an hour. During King Kong's imprisonment, the ape's body was not only broken in seven different places, but it hadn't also breathed oxygen. King Kong instinctively knew that the exposure to the elements would infect the open wounds that wracked his body. Frigid winds blew against King Kong's stained fur. Savage eyes searched for the one responsible for Kong's suffering. The eyes failed to locate the enemy. But Kong's nostrils did detect it. The injured animal weakly limped towards the metropolis that was alive with the cries of war. Though injured, Kong's relentless nature would not allow the beast to be swayed from combat. Kiryu needed to buy himself some time. As Dehadrayth loomed closer, Kiryu communicated with the sentient being once more. "Why do you harm us? Why not just let us win and be done with it?" 'Would you not prefer to clench the fruits of victory by your own accord than to have it be handed to you?' Dehadrayth replied soothingly. "Yes," Kiryu truthfully replied. "To end our suffering, I would." 'A bland yet noble response,' Dehadrayth deduced. 'But you want something more, do you?' Kiryu allowed the silence to be his answer. 'You are only postponing the inevitable, Kiryu. You are welcome to ask me questions, but do not think that I am unaware of your true intentions. I know you are only buying time.' "Then why don't you strike me down, and claim victory?" 'I wouldn't consider it a victory, more of a curse,' the celestial entity reprieved. 'I'm not in a hurry to let my Son rule Eternity." Kiryu contemplated over Dehadrayth's last words, "If what I've quantified is to be true, it is impossible to rule Eternity. Ruling a planet, galaxy, and a dimension is a plausible outcome, but…" It was the first time Dehadrayth had ever cut off an innocent being. 'Eternity is neither the flow of time nor a mere void. It is the personification of everything there ever was and that's yet to come, a manifestation of the combined minds of every sentient being in existence, in Eternity. If I could ever describe any of them in one word, it would be: arbitrary.' "How could you quite possibly know all of them?" Kiryu hypothetically demanded. 'How could I not?' Dehadrayth truthfully retorted. 'The void I was born out of was one of if not the first ever created. The amalgam of my souls was its occupants. Our eternal suffering helped spawn a being that single-handedly tainted Eternity. We were the first that represented the symbolic symbols of character. So we were able to relate to your very way of life. It made it easier for beings like you to accept the eternal purgatory that waited all in the after-life. Cruel? Yes. Undignified? Affirmative. Unfair? Correct.' Kiryu grew annoyed, "This isn't true. I had the pleasure of experiencing peace after my demise. Not the eternal purgatory you speak of." 'Then you were one of the few that escaped the suffering I know all too well.' "And you took that away from me," Kiryu angrily remarked. Dehadrayth's dark wings transcended their limitations, and obscured its physical shape. The darkness shrouded Kiryu's world, hindering the synthetic warrior from seeing anything else. Suddenly, the darkness faded and Kiryu was greeted to a barren wasteland. The ground was rich with a pallid, emotionless glow. Light that shined down from an unseen sky was dim and deviant. In the middle of this barren landscape, Kiryu alone stood. A voice echoed across the empty courtyard. 'This is why I took that away from you, Kiryu,' Dehadrayth's voice sympathetically declared. 'Otherwise, the fate of all would've ended up here. Here, there is no singular conscious, no awareness. You would cease to exist. No being could ever fathom what it would be like to simply fade away and never return. Your ideal of Heaven would've been disturbed nonetheless. Everyone's fate would've became your own.' Darkness replaced the desolate landscape. Kiryu returned to the city, as if he had never left. Amber-hued optics peered out of Kiryu's metallic frame, and curiously considered Dehadrayth. It was a look of understanding. Dehadrayth returned the sentiment. For the first time, Dehadrayth was able to connect with another being. Such gratitude would sadly be short-lived. Now, Kiryu had to win. In order to win, Dehadrayth would have to die. Dehadrayth desired death more than anything else, yet he was forbidden to ever commit the ultimate sacrifice. Whether it was a psychological flaw or the act of a higher being, Dehadrayth truly didn't know. Thunder rumbled out of the dark clouds. The dark skies were brightly lit by lightning bolts, which added to the apocalyptic showdown. Kiryu's targeting system locked on. Every weapon in Kiryu's arsenal was ready to be deployed. The chest compartment opened, revealing three empty, black holes. Kiryu's metallic jaws flickered with glimmering beauty. Particles of light were sucked into Kiryu's exposed chest. Kiryu prepared to unleash Hell; however, Gamera was the one that fired first. A sizzling ball of fire exploded against Dehadrayth, ensnaring the ominous-shaped behemoth in a sea of flames. Anguirus noticed Kiryu's intentions, and didn't attack. A bombardment of missiles and hot lasers relentlessly pounded Dehadrayth. But it was only the beginning. Electrical streaks of energy spewed out of Kiryu's mouth, and crashed against Dehadrayth's sternum. Finally, three energy beams emerged out of Kiryu's chest. The discharge nearly made Kiryu topple to the ground. Kiryu fought for balance, as the three powerful beams collided against Dehadrayth's abdomen. The massive assault was enough to topple the celestial being. Dehadrayth was blown away; the entity's colossal form was stopped only after an abundant amount of buildings had been flattened. A combination of rock and solid concrete made sure Dehadrayth could not break free anytime soon. At the city limits, desperate hands grabbed a hold of the electric wires. Electrical currents circulated out of the wires, and entered King Kong's brawny arms. The flow of electricity increased the density of King Kong's fatigue. Kong's bulging muscles grew larger. Hungry eyes greedily peered down at the electrical wires. But they eventually looked further, and spotted a cylinder-shaped object. Kong instinctively sensed a large gathering of electricity within. King Kong's stern strength ripped the wire out of the way, and proceeded to approach the cylinder. Kong's massive hands gripped the cylinder, and slowly crushed its exterior. A flow of electricity flowed out of the cylinder, increasing King Kong's strength. The huge increase of energy helped Kong's body repair the damages Dehadrayth had earlier inflicted. King Kong didn't stop until all of the electricity was sapped dry. The lights in nearby buildings faded. King Kong stood amongst the shadowy skyscrapers, more powerful than he had ever been before. Kong's earth-shattering fists repeatedly struck his chest. A mighty roar escaped King Kong's raspy throat, the sound pervaded to the dueling titans that were not far away. All of them knew at that moment another challenger had made its presence known, and soon it will be severely felt. Telekinetic waves splintered the street corner and any building caught in its path. Shards of glass and rubble rained down from what remained of the manmade district. The telekinetic waves crashed against Gamera's chest plates, releasing enough concussive strength to plow the giant tortoise off its feet. Gamera's widespread shell crushed the rooftop of a nearby bank, flattening it instantly. Rubble defied gravity as it flew upwards, acknowledging Gamera's massive impact against the surface. As Gamera struggled to rise; Dehadrayth's dashing form eclipsed the custodian's chances of getting up. Dehadrayth's slashing claws scourged Gamera's armor-plated chest, piercing the thick shell. Green blood slowly dribbled out of the claw-marks. Gamera's enraged eyes glared at the monstrous creature that loomed over him. Churning flames engulfed Gamera's jaws. Just as Gamera was about to unleash a blazing fireball, Dehadrayth's telekinesis forced the custodian to crack its neck, and aim down the street. A blistering fireball arced down the street and struck the heart of a skyscraper. A ball of fire grew out of the building, and completely consumed it. Dehadrayth jumped off of Gamera, and with just a simple thought, he lifted Gamera off the ground. A loud, booming noise attracted Dehadrayth's attention. The celestial entity threw Gamera's unmoving form in the direct path of Anguirus' twirling, ball-like posture. The midair collision generated a grueling cracking sound that shattered windows. Gamera's immobile form crashed against the solid concrete below. Blood gushed out of Gamera's cracked shell, a testament of the thorny solitude of Anguirus' stature. Unlike Gamera, Anguirus was very much awake. The armored-titan descended, its reptilian feet poised to land on the ground below. Anguirus landed, but wasted no time; Anguirus jumped forward, and curled up in a thorny ball. The mammoth creature slammed its twirling form against Dehadrayth. It was enough to not only topple Dehadrayth, but also send him flying several hundred meters away. The air failed to catch the celestial creature, as gravity forced its colossal form downwards, while making short work of the buildings that did catch him. Dark wings obscured Dehadrayth's appearance, preventing Anguirus from inflicting any further damage. Dehadrayth emerged out of the darkness, no longer concealed by its dark wings, and launched an all out assault. Beams of light blitzed out of Dehadrayth's illuminating orbs. Telekinetic shockwaves pummeled every corner of Anguirus' body. Energy whips singed the monster's ankles. The simultaneous attacks left a broken Anguirus lying helplessly on the ground. Burning energy beams had carved deep holes in the monster's prehistoric shape. The telekinetic blows damaged the bones of the courageous kaiju, weakening the beast from within. Dehadrayth's energetic whips had made it impossible for Anguirus to rise off the ground. A staggering pain overwhelmed the insatiable urge to keep fighting. At this rate, Anguirus was going to bleed to death, from the inside. Luckily, a barrage of missiles diverted Dehadrayth's attention. The metallic projectiles struck the gruesome being without any shred of mercy. Balls of fire and smoke enmeshed Dehadrayth completely. Though there wasn't any damage, the highly explosive rockets succeeded in saving Anguirus' life. Electric energies spat out of Kiryu's mouth, striking Dehadrayth's gargoyle-shaped head. Even if the beam could not injure Dehadrayth, it still managed to distract the entity…or so Kiryu presumed. Kiryu's chest compartment once again opened and prepared to discharge a trio of powerful energy beams. Dehadrayth did not desire to feel the onslaught of energy that had ravaged him earlier. Thus, Dehadrayth raised one of his wings, and placed it in the trajectory of Kiryu's destructive arsenal. Dehadrayth manipulated the molecular structure of his wings, and made it extremely thick. A trio of energy beams spewed out of the chest ports, striking the hardened wings. Remnants of the striking beams formed a shower of particles, which bounced off the brawny wings and floated harmlessly to the ground. Fire blazed inside Gamera's gaping jaws, as the custodian weakly rose to its feet. A bombardment of fireballs disjointedly erupted outwards. One by one, they detonated against Dehadrayth's wing. But even the combined assaults of Gamera and Kiryu failed to pierce the thickly covered wing. Amidst the action, Dehadrayth's articulated mind contemplated over the purpose of these insignificant creatures. Dehadrayth cursed himself for thinking such horrible thoughts, but the celestial being couldn't help but tread upon Dogolas's outlook. Dehadrayth's estranged son had never faced an obstacle like these creatures. It was the main reason of why Dehadrayth chose them to be the final test. And yet, Dehadrayth didn't feel any hope. 'Why?' Dehadrayth thought bitterly. His fiery eyes looked past the attacking kaiju, and spotted the assembly of humans. They were dead quiet. In the past, such people would've been on their feet, chanting the names of their colossal gods, urging them to win. But these people were prisoners of their own minds, compelled to watch a battle that they decreed to be utterly hopeless to win. All of them waited for Dehadrayth to smite these abominations of science and nature, and allow Eternity to suffer a fate unlike any other. 'Perhaps I should…' Dehadrayth hesitated. 'No, I won't end this until I know for sure. There is still hope. These people need to see it.' A thundering roar heralded the hope Dehadrayth strived for. Dehadrayth's pallid, glowing eyes eerily examined the owner of such a powerful cry. Curiosity aroused Dehadrayth's indecisive judgment. The creature behind him should've died. He distinctly witnessed the titan's destruction, and declared the beast unworthy. And yet, the beast from the icy mountains had returned, eager to dismantle the one responsible for its suffering. Dehadrayth sensed a newfound strength in the creature. While the kaiju could not overcome Dehadrayth alone, together, they had a chance. 'Perfect,' Dehadrayth thought eloquently. Beastly eyes lividly glared out of their sockets. King Kong tightened the grip of his fists. The bones cracked into place. Kong's dark hair poked straight up. Electricity surged out of the titan's veins, and started to visibly travel around the monster's muscular form. King Kong defiantly raised his fists above his head, serving as a perfect conductor to one of nature's most dazzling elements. A bolt of lightning struck King Kong's fists, as the gigantic ape furiously smashed them against the ground. The ground had no time to recoil from such a devastating blow. A current of cracks and electricity splintered the road. The seismic destruction rapidly moved towards Dehadrayth. Dehadrayth's telekinesis stopped the earth-shattering attack. But as Dehadrayth looked up to read King Kong's expression, the colossal ape used its time wisely; mighty fists bashed Dehadrayth's skull, temporarily weakening the manipulation it had over its wing density. Kiryu's electrical beams, alongside Gamera's fireballs, greedily strike Dehadrayth. King Kong grips Dehadrayth's chest, and keeps him at bay. As Kiryu's energetic attacks lance deeper into Dehadrayth's corporal form, Gamera's balls of fire scald the outer flesh. Electricity surge out of King Kong's burly hands, adding to the torment Dehadrayth had to be experiencing. But he wasn't. Quite the opposite; Dehadrayth wasn't feeling a surge of pain, but a surge of hope. Cold gusts of wind pervaded across the ocean surf. Even if the many raindrops disturbed the gentle sea, it could not quell the course of its natural existence. Recently, the gigantic battle that had occurred in the heart of Battle Island disrupted the walls that separated the island's artificially created lake from the ocean beyond. Sea-life entered the island's watery habitat. While it lacked the sentient mind needed to take part in the cosmic trials, it proceeded to follow its instincts nonetheless. A school of fish entered the manmade environment. It was a natural defense against the predators of the sea. In the ocean, size was the pinnacle of dominance. Only a few creatures dared to tackle these monstrous titans. A dark shadow emerged out of the dark depths. Its terrifying size convinced the school of fish to disperse immediately. But the leviathan desired not their flesh, but something so much more. A calling of biblical proportions had reached out to him, urging the radioactive titan to rise out of the dark depths of the sea, and answer its plea of desperation. A wall of water rose out of the surf. Inside the rushing wall of water, a beast moaned softly. Three rows of dorsal spines sliced the water. A saurian head peaked out of the water. Any human could identify the creature right away. But for any that had never laid eyes upon it, it was as if time itself returned to an era that had been long extinct. The creature's black cornea imprisoned white irises that sparkled with a mixture of beauty and desolation. Alas, the kaiju emerged higher out of the water, revealing its scaly upper body. Raindrops pelted the creature's black scales. Streams of water poured down the creature's wet body. The monster flexed its reptilian claws. At long last, the beast reached land. In less than an hour, the most infamous kaiju to ever stalk the planet would join a battle unlike any other. Herculean hands stroked the exterior of a building and crushed its mainframe. As King Kong's monstrous hands ripped the building out of its foundations, the building windows and asphalt shattered. Dehadrayth levitated forward; the ominous-shaped feet never touched the ground. King Kong swung the building, smashing it across Dehadrayth's deranged face. Smoke and debris emanated out of the destroyed building carcass. The impact failed to knock Dehadrayth down, but it was enough to temporarily stun the entity. King Kong's eyes failed to penetrate the thick coverage of smoke, but Dehadrayth didn't need to see his opponent; a grisly hand jabbed King Kong's skull, knocking the colossal ape to the ground. The street recoiled from the impact, casting asphalt remnants high up into the air. Electricity faintly illuminated King Kong's animalistic irises, as the titan picked itself off the ground and charged into Dehadrayth. Unexpectedly, Kong's stampeding form bounced off of Dehadrayth's mighty chest. A disgruntled Kong ignored his failure, and proceeded to viciously pound Dehadrayth with a volley of fists. Shockwaves lingered out of every blow. After an earth-shattering blow to the temple, Dehadrayth's fiery eyes blossomed even brighter. A thrashing claw bashed King Kong's forehead. The physical blow not only lobotomized the skull, but also sent the kaiju reeling backwards. King Kong's arms scraped the buildings along the way. Crimson blood secreted out of the penetrated wound. Streaks of electricity snaked out of Kong's fur, electrocuting nearby objects. Dehadrayth's levitating feet descended upon the cold, lifeless street. It frequently vibrated. Dehadrayth knew the reason why; Anguirus' twirling figure rapidly bounced towards him. Strangely enough, the ominous entity didn't avoid the inevitable collision. Anguirus smashed its spiky carapace against Dehadrayth's grotesque face. The world turned upside down, as Dehadrayth tipped over and crushed the ground. Dehadrayth's fiery eyes stared up at the night sky. The descending shapes of Kiryu's armor-piercing missiles disrupted the lovely scenery. Every missile scored a direct hot. Blazing balls of fire blossomed out of Dehadrayth's obscured figure. Amidst the pillars of fire and thick smoke, Dehadrayth's pallid eyes glowed furiously. Dehadrayth's telekinesis lifted the being to its feet. A combination of missiles and yellow-hued lasers pelted Dehadrayth's armored shape. 'This is getting aggravating,' Dehadrayth thought in frustration. Several buildings were pulled out of the ground. Dehadrayth's psychic prowess had ripped them from their foundations with the intent of chucking them at Kiryu. One by one, Kiryu's armored-exterior withstood the aloft building structures. After receiving no forms of injury, Kiryu was not only toppled, but was also buried alive beneath the building remains. Kiryu's mechanical shape emerged out of the debris. Kiryu pointed his wrist-mounted lasers, but psionic bolts fried their circuits before a laser could be discharged. The two wrist-mounted devices separated themselves from Kiryu's arm. Kiryu's mouth parted, heralding the coming of its destructive electrical beams. The dazzling projectiles singed Dehadrayth's sternum. All it really did was tickle the celestial being. Dehadrayth's grisly claws embodied the radiating essence of divine energy. The hands crackled with uncontrollable bolts of energy, which was a testament of the power Dehadrayth had in the palm of his hands. Alas, Dehadrayth did not have the chance to bring the synthetic leviathan down. Anguirus' spiky shape landed on top of Dehadrayth's cranium. The momentum of Anguirus' weight and the gravity that pushed it down, buried Dehadrayth hundreds of feet beneath the city's artificial surface. Anguirus crawled out of the impact crater. The armored-saurian paced further away, hoping to wedge space between them. When the distance was at last remedied, Anguirus turned and was intent on attacking Dehadrayth the moment he emerged out of the crater. Multiple booming sounds attracted Anguirus' reptilian gaze, shifting the monster's attention to the sky above. Three fireballs fell out of the sky, and struck the heart of the crater. Cascades of fire engulfed not only the crater, but also the occupant that dwelled within. The blazing flames ate all of the oxygen it could. Until suddenly, four black wings materialized out of the wall of fire. Telekinetic winds emanated out of the dark wings, which blew the fire out like a candle. As the smoke cleared, Dehadrayth's levitating presence grimly showed itself. From four separate corners, Dehadrayth's foes gathered. Every single one of them acknowledged Dehadrayth's threat. No matter the differences, the instincts of the titans of planet Earth sought an alliance and decreed Dehadrayth a greater threat. But their combined strengths were not enough. Parts of the city were on fire, while other areas had been reduced to a graveyard of rubble. Luckily, there was no loss of life. Lurking beyond the borders, safe from the titanic struggle of the kaiju, an assembly of humans watched on. Although there were moments of when the humans gasped and cheered for their gigantic defenders, they were completely silent. To them, hope had dwindled a long time ago. Dehadrayth was surrounded. The celestial being imagined the many ways he could dispatch them. At full power, none of them stood a chance. The majority of them were fighting on pure instinct. Only one possessed the intellect the humans implanted in him years ago. 'Though I commend Kiryu on his admirable efforts and intellect, even he knows it is all for naught,' Dehadrayth regretfully contemplated, 'unless he finds a way to pass the trial.' A nervous thought captured Dehadrayth's attention. 'Exactly what is their trial?' Dehadrayth was hoping they would've shown it to him by now. Long had Dehadrayth prayed, even before the battle took place, that these titans among Men would prove themselves worthy, and yet it hasn't happened! 'This is our only chance,' Dehadrayth snarled in frustration. 'Dogolas won't wait forever; soon he'll find a way to break free.' At long last, it became clear as to why Dehadrayth was in a hurry. 'I would pass them if I could, but then the balance of Eternity will shift, and things would be worse. They have to prove it! And I'm cursed to eternally judge them for being…imperfect. But it's the only way to overcome Dogolas. By proving themselves worthy, their power will never become one with my own. If they pass, I'll cease to exist, and my son's dreams of achieving perfect will crumble before him. And when that happens, I'll finally fuse with him, becoming one once more…and the Sorrow of Eternity will end.' Dehadrayth stared divinely at the kaiju. A strange aura emanated out of the entity's fiery orbs. It was a feeling of love and sincerity. The kaiju were confused at first, but they remained poised to attack. 'I can only pray that there is a creature strong enough to fulfill the task of passing the trial…a creature that is worthy.' Suddenly, an unearthly roar shook the ground beneath those that were present. Bolts of lightning lit up the horizon, revealing the silhouette of a titanic creature of biblical proportions. The figure's shape was indisputably recognized by the human crowd. It was the shape of the world's most infamous kaiju. It was a creature that lived and breathed eons before Man ever stepped foot on the face of the planet. But Man's folly had turned the beast into a symbol of anarchy and chaos. Power born out of the heart of a nuclear blast surged through the creature's veins. An irradiated glow embodied the creature's jagged spines. Nuclear flames engulfed the monster's pulsating mouth. It was at that moment, Dehadrayth, the sorrow of Eternity, witnessed the atomic fury of Godzilla, King of the Monsters! A scorching stream of blue-silvery flames soared above the earth. Its blistering heat melted the asphalt beneath it, reducing it to a puddle of molten slag. Destructive shockwaves recoiled out of the beam, demolishing the exterior of nearby buildings. The atomic beam struck Dehadrayth's abdomen, delivering enough heat and force to disembowel the thick carapace. Godzilla's atomic flame thrusted Dehadrayth off his feet, pushing the sorrowful entity miles away. Godzilla's beam faded, and the behemoth's reptilian pupils surveyed the path of destruction before him. An ear-piercing wail escaped Godzilla's primordial throat, signifying the creature's approval. Without a moment's rest, Godzilla moved forward. Powerful legs embedded their gigantic feet into the platonic soil. Every time the nuclear leviathan took a step, the monster's bony spines clattered against one another. Godzilla sneered in contempt, as he approached the other kaiju. A King didn't show any sentiment, no matter the status or representation. All were below him. Those that defied him would meet a scorching fate. King Kong's chest heaved repeatedly. Blood was still gushing out of the ape's wounded forehead. And yet, Kong never diverted his eyes from Godzilla's own. The two kaiju locked eyes, intent on exchanging a conversation no human could ever comprehend. Godzilla growled, deeming the monstrous ape before him unworthy. Kong pulled up his upper lips, revealing his humanoid teeth. Godzilla's dorsal spines crackled brightly. Electricity possessed Kong's clenched fists. In the distance, a telekinetic storm leveled every building it came into contact with. Mounds of dirt, pavement, and debris dispersed in all directions. Standing at the center of the chaos was an enraged Dehadrayth. Godzilla and King Kong exchanged one last glance, before they focused all of their attention on Dehadrayth. A surge of irradiated fury escaped Godzilla's jaws. The atomic beam spewed directly towards Dehadrayth. Dehadrayth pointed both of his ominous claws in front of him. Dehadrayth's telekinesis caught Godzilla's ray, but it didn't stop him from being pushed back. The entity's ominous feet dragged against the ground, as the beam continued to pour against him. Azure-hued flames replaced Gamera's legs. The custodian propelled himself into the air. Anguirus curled up in his spiky ball and bounced away. Kiryu's rocket boosters defied gravity, thrusting the synthetic creature upwards. King Kong sprinted on its own accord, pounding the artificial surface with his fists and feet. All four kaiju waited for the perfect moment to strike. Kiryu's targeting computers locked on to Dehadrayth's energy signature. The robotic-saurian was not going to allow him to bring any harm to his son. Kiryu's shoulder packs purged every missile they had. Every single missile scored a direct hit, generating dozens of fiery spheres rose from all corners of Dehadrayth. Gamera's fireballs joined the fray and struck Dehadrayth's exterior, engulfing the horrid creature in a living inferno. Without any warning, energy beams sliced out of the wall of fire, singing Gamera's chest. The energy beams tore out of Gamera's backside. Gamera was unable to endure the devastating pain; the giant tortoise plummeted downwards. Next, Dehadrayth focused on Kiryu. Psionic bolts tore out of no where, striking numerous spots on Kiryu's body. They splintered Kiryu's metallic skin, cracking it wide enough to allow sparks to spray out. Kiryu's boosters faded and the robotic dragon fell into the ground below. Dehadrayth shifted its gaze, noticing Anguirus spinning towards him. One of Dehadrayth's black wings shot out, enveloping Anguirus' rotating shape. A few seconds later, an immobilized Anguirus fell out of the darkness, out cold. King Kong angrily bashed his chest. The monstrous ape charged Dehadrayth, arms swinging. Dehadrayth eyed the ground beneath the charging ape. Dehadrayth shifted the iron plates underneath. Before Kong understood the purpose of Dehadrayth's strategy, it was too late. The ground split asunder, forcing Kong to fall between its broken mass. But just as the ape fell in, the boundaries of the ground closed once more, pinning Kong within. Dehadrayth returned his attention to Godzilla. Godzilla's atomic beam was still pushing against his telekinetic might. An increase of mental stability erupted out of Dehadrayth's demonic claws. It plowed through Godzilla's beam, forcing the powerful ray to disperse and strike nearby landscapes. Godzilla's reptilian pupils grew wider. The atomic saurian could not avoid the telekinetic assault that spiraled towards him. In an attempt to reserve energy, Godzilla's atomic ray ceased firing. A telekinetic wave crashed against the nuclear leviathan, leveling the entire district. Buildings, streets, and everything else was pulled out of their foundations, and were thrown miles away. Godzilla was amongst those many structures. The terrifying reptile bounced off the crippled soil, knocking the wind out of him. Godzilla's carcass slid into a pile of wreckage. For the next few minutes or perhaps forever, Godzilla was knocked out. Above Godzilla's unmoving form, Kiryu weakly descended. He mechanical dragon was barely able to return to the sky. It was the fastest option Kiryu had to visit his son. A shower of sparks sprayed out of Kiryu's damaged areas. The flames flaring out of Kiryu's booster rockets dimmed on and off. When Kiryu was just about to reach the ground, the flames faded, and Kiryu's metallic feet slammed into the battered soil. Kiryu's amber-hued optics scanned Godzilla. They detected a heart beat and a strong pulse. No damage was specified. If anything, Dehadrayth's psychic assault scrambled Godzilla's brain waves. Either it was a brief set back or Godzilla's mind would be lost forever. Kiryu stopped a few feet away. The majority of Kiryu was completely mechanical. Kiryu's heart had long extinguished, ages ago. The only love Kiryu had to offer was purely based on memory. Whether Kiryu's evolved mind was that of the original nuclear leviathan that stalked Tokyo over fifty years ago, or it was but a mere clone, it did not matter. If Kiryu was going to die, he would do it by defending the son he loved more than anything. "Sleep well, my son," Kiryu digitally assured the sleeping giant at his feet. "Dream about better days, when the world was once ours. Remember the love you had for your son. I know the bond between us cannot compare to the one you had with your child, but alas, I am proud of you. You are a great father. You're an even greater son. Thank you," Kiryu concluded sympathetically. Kiryu paused. 'Your love for your child is admirable,' Dehadrayth murmured truthfully, as the celestial entity slowly descended behind the synthetic dragon. "I know," Kiryu replied soulfully. Kiryu's metallic fingers twitched. Dehadrayth examined Kiryu's actions with envious eyes. 'I pray you are the one that can save Eternity.' Kiryu allowed silence to fill the air, "I'd rather save my son." The last salvo of missiles tore out of their holding pins. They struck Dehadrayth's grotesque head, hindering the entity's ability from seeing one of Kiryu's missile packs emerging out of the smoke. It struck Dehadrayth's dense sternum. Flames roared out of its base, as it applied enough force to drive Dehadrayth back. Kiryu watched Dehadrayth disappear in a cloud of burning fire. Shockwaves rippled out of the explosion, knocking Dehadrayth deep into the artificial surface. Amongst the hazy smoke, the obscured outline of Dehadrayth was barely visible. Kiryu took one last look at his son and then attacked. Kiryu's chest compartment opened, immediately expelling a surge of energy beams. They crashed against Dehadrayth, shoving the celestial entity with sheer force. Kiryu's mouth expelled a weaker, and yet effective energy beam. The combined energy attacks toppled Dehadrayth. But it was a short victory. Dehadrayth's telekinesis instantly returned to its devastating ways. No matter how powerful the assault was, Kiryu's energy beams could not overcome Dehadrayth's psychic force. The telekinesis dissipated the energy attacks, causing them to disperse in every direction. Dehadrayth retaliated; the entity moved like a phantom, levitating its unearthly form to meet its goal and render it immobile. Slashing claws sunk deep beneath Kiryu's metallic hide, cutting off the circuits and rendering Kiryu helpless. Dark wings echoed Dehadrayth's terrifying presence, as they stretched their horrifying visage around the two titans, ensnaring them both out of view. The darkness yielded a strange side-effect on Kiryu's circuitry. Kiryu's power was depleting at an astonishing rate. If this strange phenomenon continued, Kiryu would be forced to go into stasis lock. Kiryu's artificial brain selected the weapon arsenal. A split second later, Kiryu activated the weapon's use, and was forced to dwell on its stability. Kiryu's final missile pack soared from its holding pin, inching closer and closer until it at last struck Dehadrayth's face. Outside the enveloping darkness, the blackness of Dehadrayth's wings contained a tiny glow. The tiny glow multiplied in size, until it at last blossomed into a fiery explosion. Shockwaves rippled out of the blast, disrupting the dark thickness the wings provided. At last, the explosion was strong enough to disable the wing's combined mass. It was a momentous victory, at best. Kiryu was free to operate, but Dehadrayth was still at large. Kiryu's synthetic legs started to give. The metallic muscles struggled to support the massive machine, but the damage was finally taking its toll. As Kiryu leaned forward, Dehadrayth's ghostly eyes spotted the retaliation of a newly awakened Godzilla! Atomic flames rushed out of Godzilla's gaping maw. The beam stretched its energetic form above Kiryu, and struck Dehadrayth's skull. The tremendous power of Godzilla's atomic beam literally pushed Dehadrayth across the torn and battered city. A quick decision emanated out of Dehadrayth's combined consciousness. Divine energies hurled their grace out of Dehadrayth's eyes, striking Godzilla's beam head on. Dehadrayth's head snapped back after discharging its eye beams. The eye beams slowly pushed Godzilla's atomic beam further away from Dehadrayth's presence. Both beams were at a stalemate right when they coincidentally started looming above the damaged Kiryu. The buildup of energy intensified, as the clashing beams begun the process of becoming unstable. Kiryu's sensors didn't need to assume the worst, it was self-evident. Godzilla's feral pupils narrowed, acknowledging the artificial creature that had nearly fainted as his father. Godzilla summoned an increase of energy, but Dehadrayth anticipated such a move, and did the same. For every second that passed, the stalemate caused the unstable energies to intensify. Kiryu braced for the worst. Luckily, Kiryu's rescue came in the form of Gamera. The custodian bravely risked its existence as it dove down from the sky, and hurled its thrashing claws against Kiryu's exterior. The momentum of the flying turtle managed to push Kiryu out of harm's way, no matter the physical damage that might've been conceived. Kiryu watched helplessly from the distance, as the two clashing beams formed a powerful explosion that hindered all from view. The shockwaves swiftly scourged the surface, and proceeded to slam into the two behemoths. Godzilla was thrown back, failing to withstand such an unfathomable amount of power. Dehadrayth suffered the same fate. Godzilla's body could be seen soaring in the distance, until it at last lands on top of a few buildings, crushing them utterly with his immense bulk. Dehadrayth crash landed in the heart of a towering skyscraper. The massive structure fell upon its invader, burying it beneath hundreds of thousands of tons of steel and rubble. Smoke stretched out of the rubble's confines. A telekinetic shockwave annihilated the rubble, freeing its master from imprisonment. Dehadrayth's bipedal figure stood upright. White, burning eyes spotted the dark outline of Godzilla, emerging out of a rubble graveyard. Godzilla's binocular vision allowed the fearsome saurian to meet Dehadrayth's gaze. Nuclear energy embodied Godzilla's dorsal spines. Godzilla's jaws parted, exposing a blinding light of atomic devastation. Energetic whips quickly wrapped themselves around Godzilla's jaws, tightening the jaw bones together. Godzilla sneered out of his nostrils, angered by the fact that he is unable to release his primary weapon. The dorsal spines continued to crackle with nuclear contempt. Godzilla's reptilian hands clasped the energetic whips, but the specific areas of where Godzilla touched instantly became hot enough to repel his grip. Dehadrayth had Godzilla where he wanted him, but to the entity's disdain, the other kaiju attacked. King Kong combined his fists and angrily bashed them against Dehadrayth's face. A combination of electricity and physical force simultaneously struck Dehadrayth without any shred of mercy. King Kong's assault nearly disrupted Dehadrayth's concentration. But no matter how hard Kong slugged the celestial entity, he could not bring Dehadrayth to disable the whips; he did, however, capture Dehadrayth's attention. One of Dehadrayth's gruesome claws ceased firing its portion of the energetic whip attack and tore the air with its supernatural speed. The maniacal hand grabbed Kong's scrawny throat, and nearly yanked it out of its confinements. Dehadrayth's single arm lifted Kong's bulky body off the ground. Suddenly, Dehadrayth diverted its attention elsewhere. Dehadrayth swiftly ducked its head, as Anguirus' twirling form past by. But Anguirus reacted quickly enough to catch Dehadrayth off guard, by un-curling its body in midair, and swatting Dehadrayth aside the face with his spiky tail. Anguirus landed against the ground shortly after. The armored-saurian jumped forward, and once again curled into a spiky ball. Anguirus smashed his twirling form against Dehadrayth's head, knocking the fearsome entity to the ground. It was enough to disable Dehadrayth's concentration. The energy whips disappeared, freeing Godzilla from their energetic clutches. Dehadrayth wearily raised its feet, predicting the atomic devastation to come. Godzilla leaned forward, expelling a powerful atomic beam that nearly knocked him off his feet. The atomic beam passed King Kong and Anguirus, scalding their flesh with blistering levels of heat. It struck Dehadrayth, shrouding its fallen body in a blinding explosion. King Kong and Anguirus closed their eyes, choosing not to be blinded by the explosion's bright radiance. But the blinding light was short-lived, as its explosive properties were absorbed by Dehadrayth's celestial essence. It all happened in a blink of an eye. And now, an unharmed Dehadrayth stood behind King Kong and Anguirus. Gamera attempted to warn his kaiju brethren, but Dehadrayth's telekinesis ravaged the custodian's vocals before it could release a sound. Feeling the need to reserve his energy, Godzilla sprinted forward, shaking the earth with every stride. Dehadrayth warped the particles in the air, causing random explosions to grip Anguirus' exposed figure. Stunned by the surprise attack, Dehadrayth psychically forced Anguirus to curl up into a round ball. Before Kong could react, Dehadrayth telekinetically slammed Anguirus against the ape's chest, knocking the air out of its animalistic lungs. Next, Dehadrayth threw Anguirus towards the speeding Godzilla. To everyone's surprise, Godzilla leaped over Anguirus' aloft form. Before Godzilla could plant his feet into the ground, Dehadrayth unleashed a devastation attack. A ball of holy energy raced out of Dehadrayth's jaws and struck Godzilla in midair. It rammed its holy structure deep into Godzilla's sternum, and pushed Godzilla clear across the city. Godzilla disappeared out of view, as he entered the volcanic regions. An explosion indicated the area of where Godzilla landed. From such a distance, the explosion appeared as nothing more then a small flash. The flash glinted off of Kiryu's artificial eyes. Kiryu's scanners could not detect Godzilla's energy readings. In all probability, the explosive force likely incinerated him completely. A strange feeling blocked out Kiryu's thinking process, dwarfing the machine's ability to choose the right decision. It was a feeling of sadness and lost. If there was any other reason for Kiryu to stay alive, it would be to have a chance to see his son and grandson live a healthy life. Now, Kiryu's only purpose was no more. There was only room for death. And vengeance! Kiryu concentrated solely on Dehadrayth's distant figure. Electrical energies surged out of Kiryu's metallic jaws. At the same time, energy beams emerged out of Kiryu's chest, joining the electric beams in their crusade against Dehadrayth. All of Kiryu's attacks struck Dehadrayth dead on, but the celestial being stood there, unaffected. Dehadrayth slowly expanded its dark wings. They quickly enlarged their mass. Gusts of telekinetic winds billowed out of the wings. Dehadrayth ascended higher and higher… 'Enough.' Dehadrayth's trembling voice announced. Kiryu reluctantly obliged. The sizzling attacks disappeared. 'You shall all receive one last chance to repent the dark fate that awaits us all. No level of mercy shall be offered. I pray you all find a way to prove to me why life deserves to live. So they,' Dehadrayth murmured, gesturing towards the human crowd, 'and beyond can have a second chance, and pursue whatever destiny they choose.' Dehadrayth swiftly tore the air with his slender form. The colossal being flew towards the volcanic regions. Kiryu gathered the strength to move its mechanic body. Sparks flared out of numerous areas, but Kiryu ignored the damage reports that constantly bothered his cybernetic mainframe. Anguirus regained his composure and gradually followed. King Kong tried to walk in a straight path, but the ape's lungs could not steadily breathe. Gamera stood perfectly still. The custodian allowed the rain to saturate his scaly hide. Steam rolled out of Gamera's maw, as the Guardian of the Universe activated its organic boosters. Azure-hued streaks of light replaced Gamera's legs. They created enough force to propel the mighty creature off the ground. All four kaiju converged on the volcanic regions. Blistering torrents of steam emanated out of the rivers of lava. They filled the air with toxic fumes, hampering any living creature the right to breathe. Above the rivers of lava, Dehadrayth gradually flew by. The rain extinguished by the dark clouds could not saturate this barbaric environment. Staggering levels of heat evaporated the tiny rain droplets before they had a chance. While Dehadrayth deeply admired all terrestrial environments, it was a shame that he could no longer feel the soothing touch the rain offered. Dehadrayth approached the largest volcano in the region. Its size dwarfed even Mt. Rainier. Dark coated rocks covered the volcano, concealing the burning lava within. Lava hissed and spewed out of the volcanoes mouth. Dehadrayth's demonic feet landed on the outskirts of the apex. From the top of Mt. Monster, Dehadrayth had a good view of the final battleground. 'My worst fears have been realized,' Dehadrayth painfully admitted. 'This is the last chance they have.' One of Dehadrayth's illuminating eyes spotted the first to arrive. 'Gamera…' Plasmatic flames churned Gamera's ancient jaws. Without any remorse, Gamera unleashed three balls of fire. They quickly sped towards Dehadrayth. With the wave of Dehadrayth's hand, the fireballs stopped. Dehadrayth's telekinesis disrupted their fiery cores. All three fireballs exploded. A shower of fire rained down from the sky. Gamera's emerald corneas intently glared at Dehadrayth. An increase of energy tore out of Gamera's leg sockets. Gamera reached an aerial speed he had never achieved. There was only one desire the noble custodian had… Saving existence… Dehadrayth gently raised one of his hands. As the volcano coughed lava out of its core, its blistering heat bathing Dehadrayth's demented figure, holy energies embodied the palm of Dehadrayth's raised hand. Gamera drew closer. Dehadrayth's fiery eyes formed a look of sympathy, one Gamera was barely able to decipher. A screeching cry escaped Gamera's mouth. Dehadrayth lowered the hand, releasing an energy whip that swiftly approached its aerial target. 'Goodbye, Gamera, Guardian of the Universe,' Dehadrayth mournfully decreed. 'I will miss the symbolism you represent,' Dehadrayth silently whispered before stopping, and recalled Gamera's amazing acts of heroism, 'courage. It was your courage that helped save millions of lives. For that, I will miss you.' The energy whip vertically struck Gamera's aloft form. No words could describe the brief moment of pain Gamera must've endured. The divine energy had instantly incinerated Gamera's brain. It was the only level of dignity Gamera was given. The Guardian of the Universe was spared of the realization that his body had been split in half. Gamera's insides poured out, staining the charred lands below. The remaining pieces of Gamera's dead carcass impaled the side of the volcano. Cries escaped the human audience. One of the world's last heroes faded from existence. Gamera's selfless acts would be remembered till the very end of time. A rumbling roar caught Dehadrayth's attention. The enraged god of Skull Island climbed up the slope of the volcano. King Kong ignored the searing levels of heat that tried to fry his body. The magnificent kaiju just witnessed the death of a worthy ally. Even King Kong's primordial mind possessed the means of respecting a comrade in arms. Now, Kong vigorously climbed to the apex of Mt. Monster, with one goal in mind: ripping Dehadrayth to pieces. The moment King Kong reached the apex; the ape released a defiant roar. Kong's bloodshot eyes lividly stared at the being before them. The volcanic fumes had dried out the liquids inside Kong's eyes, making them slowly shrivel. Kong's burly fists grazed Dehadrayth's cranium. The physical blows nearly toppled the celestial being. Kong curled his upper lips, revealing the clutched teeth within. No matter how hard Kong punched, Dehadrayth remained healthier as ever. Growing tired of Kong's futile attempts, Dehadrayth stared hypnotically at Kong's chest cavity. Dehadrayth's cosmic awareness pinpointed exactly where the ape's heart was present. Without further delay, Dehadrayth jabbed one of his claws into Kong's chest cavity, immediately ending King Kong's fruitless tantrum. Dehadrayth's twiddling claws shredded the ape's heart. It was only the beginning of the end for the mighty ape. Divine energies dispersed out of Dehadrayth's hand, frazzling Kong's insides. The holy energies lanced out of Kong's eye sockets. After the holy energies returned to Dehadrayth's hand, Kong slumped to his knees. Dehadrayth pulled out his blood infested claw. Kong's nostrils weakly inhaled the toxic air one last time, before falling into the heart of the volcano. King Kong's magnificent body disappeared beneath the lava's boiling surface. 'Goodbye, King Kong,' Dehadrayth telepathically announced. 'Your animalistic beauty would forever be a testament of what this beautiful world is capable of cultivating. If only you were more than a symbol…' Dehadrayth turned away. The sorrowful creature widened its gigantic wings. Dehadrayth hovered down the side of Mt. Monster, approaching the jagged wasteland below. Where rivers of lava visibly burned the charred surface, jagged mounds of rock pointed out of the desolate surface. Dehadrayth's feet touched down against the jagged surface, crushing it flat with his mass. The ground quaked beneath Dehadrayth's feet. It was not volcanic activity. Ahead of Dehadrayth, the armored-saurian, Anguirus, bounced into Dehadrayth's line of sight. A bellowing roar exited Anguirus' prehistoric maw. Carnivorous eyes carefully considered Dehadrayth's ominous figure. Anguirus had to be careful. Every single move from this point forward will decide the outcome of this duel. Anguirus' reptilian hide reveled in the hot environment. 'Come with it, reptile,' Dehadrayth demanded. A provoking snarl was Dehadrayth's only response. Anguirus sprinted across the hellish wasteland. As Anguirus shortened the space between them, Dehadrayth wasn't thinking about the battle, but merely the sympathy he had for the kaiju. Only Kiryu possessed the intellect of realizing the importance of the situation. Had they retained the intellect the humans gave them, they would've likely fought harder than before. Instincts have shown to be capable of understanding a threat, but it was the intellect that allowed its wielder to summon the extra strength needed to survive. Anguirus' courage was a true credit to his race; it still wouldn't be enough to challenge the embodiment of Eternity's sorrow. The armored-saurian jumped forward and curled into a giant round ball. Hundreds of sharp spikes shredded the air, as they approached their destination. Anguirus' twirling formation made them deadlier. Amazingly, Dehadrayth jumped straight up, avoiding Anguirus' twisting knives. Anguirus struck the side of a hilltop, destroying the majority of its mass. Lava sprayed out of the penetrated areas. Burning magma scalded Anguirus' protected carapace. Although the pain was duly noted, Anguirus' ferocious attitude could not be beaten. The twirling ball of spikes bounced back into the air. Dehadrayth hovered higher upwards, but this time, Anguirus was prepared; Anguirus un-raveled its prehistoric body and wrapped its tail around Dehadrayth's brawny throat. The corporal form of Dehadrayth wielded strength that was above even King Kong's natural physique, but no strength in the world was able to defy the combined might of Anguirus' mass and gravity itself. Both titans crashed against the charred soil. The ground vibrantly quaked from the impact. Tiny ripples of lava emerged out of the ground, but there wasn't enough to envelop both behemoths. Anguirus jumped at Dehadrayth's throat, hoping to clench it with his mighty jaws. Dehadrayth's claws intervened. They grabbed Anguirus' snout, never allowing it to venture any closer. No matter how hard Anguirus pushed, he could not move an inch. Anguirus dug its hind legs into the ground, not caring if the lava boiled out of the earth and melted the skin from the bone. He was determined to meet its goal, no matter the cost. 'So be it, warrior,' Dehadrayth remarked silently. Dehadrayth willingly allowed Anguirus to inch closer. Anguirus' reptilian jaws clasped over Dehadrayth's throat. Razor-sharp teeth dug into the armored carapace. As Anguirus bit harder, Dehadrayth moved its claws over Anguirus' skull. The inhuman creature perceived Anguirus' scaly hide. It was indeed a remarkable creature. The tension between Anguirus' jaws never faltered. Dehadrayth wouldn't have it any other way. 'I will surely miss your bravery, Anguirus,' the celestial entity spoke softly. 'It is an honor to have you join me. I just wish you could live out the rest of your days on the planet that gave birth to you.' Dehadrayth's claws tightened its grip over Anguirus' skull. They leisurely started to push the cranium from all sides. Cracks splintered Anguirus' skull, slicing the skin and allowing blood to drip out. Anguirus ignored the pain. Dehadrayth's burning eyes remained the same. Finally, Dehadrayth's incredible strength crushed the reptile's cranium. Remnants of the brain dribbled out of Anguirus' crushed head. Yellow-whitish pus followed. It was a gruesome sight. Some in the human audience screamed, while the rest mournfully watched on as another of their defenders wasted away before their very eyes. But even after Anguirus' death, the jaws didn't release their constricting grip. Demonic claws unlatched the jaws from the neck. Dehadrayth dropped Anguirus' dead corpse to the ground. "Dehadrayth," an artificial voice muttered. Dehadrayth turned away from the dead Anguirus and marbled at a distant figure. Crimson light seeped out of the lava banks, glinting off of Kiryu's metallic skin. "Is this really what you wanted?" 'You know that is not the case,' Dehadrayth replied carefully. 'I did not wish to murder these fascinating creatures. They are all living symbols.' "Symbols that are now dead because of you," Kiryu remarked coldly. "How dare you use your omnipotent powers to slay creatures that are weaker than you; you have no right to judge any of us." 'You mourn over their deaths?' Dehadrayth publicly contemplated. 'While that is noble, I feel you don't care about any of them. If there is anyone's death you mourn over, it is your son's.' Kiryu retracted its gaze and stared down at the barren soil. "Yes," Kiryu admitted sadly. "But I did care about the others." 'So be it,' Dehadrayth said, ending that discussion. 'Now then, I suppose you wish to try and kill me.' "While I'd love to, I fear I cannot," Kiryu revealed. "I do not possess the power to challenge you. But power isn't everything; I need something more to overcome you.' 'Something I'm afraid you do not have,' Dehadrayth whispered with despair. Psionic bolts internally ravaged Kiryu from within. It took only a split second for the psionic bolts to fry every working circuit. They emerged out of Kiryu's synthetic exterior, mutilating the machine. Burnt body parts fell to the blistering soil. Kiryu's decapitated head rolled to the edge of a crevasse. If it moved any closer, it would fall into a molten pit of sizzling lava. Kiryu's amber-hued eyes dimmed on and off. Its artificial brain was barely working, but it lacked the capability of thinking. All it could do was stare off into space. 'And so ends the true symbol of Man's greatest technological advancements.' Dehadrayth stammered away. The sorrowful being surveyed the empty land. A strange scent emanated from its toxic atmosphere. It was the scent of death. Dehadrayth ignored the sweltering land, and gawked at the human crowd. There was only one true emotion that all of them felt: fear. While some of them tried to be brave, they could not quell the empty feeling that pierced their souls. The Apocalypse had come at last. 'Hear me, mortals,' Dehadrayth announced regrettably, 'your warriors have fallen. It pains me to announce your imminent destruction, but the truth must come out. I'm sorry, but none of these creatures are capable of passing the trials. I wish I could turn back time and realize the truth. But I'm afraid I do not possess such power. In order to pass my judgment, you must overcome your flaws, and conquer the melody of doubt. You must ignore your temptations. Pride itself proved to be the misfortune of all. I fear that is the reason of why my son shall require the conquest he strives for…all of you are imperfect. The symbolic symbols of character weren't enough, and now, we must accept oblivion…' An atomic beam lanced into Dehadrayth's skull, knocking the powerful entity to the ground. Dehadrayth regenerated the damages and zoomed in on its attacker. At only a few hundred meters away, the towering shape of Godzilla made its presence known. 'But, I killed you…' Dehadrayth telepathically declared. It took only a moment for Dehadrayth to discover why he was unable to sense Godzilla's presence. 'I see; the genetic code I personally implanted in you has a strange side-effect. But why does it block you from my psychic mind now?' Godzilla parted his prehistoric jaws and issued a thundering roar of defiance. Dehadrayth analyzed the wounds Godzilla had sustained earlier. Permanent scars thrashed Godzilla's body. Not even the monster's incredible regeneration could overcome it. Dehadrayth's divine energies had genetically hampered Godzilla's body. Godzilla was left with only one option: attack. It proved to be the only thing Godzilla can do. Godzilla's feral eyes took the moment to survey the environment. The lifeless corpses of his fallen brethren were detected in numerous areas. But what angered Godzilla the most was the realization that his father was among the dead. Godzilla didn't roar or even look Dehadrayth in the eyes. Instead, the radioactive titan spat a torrent of atomic flames. A nuclear explosion replaced Dehadrayth's sprawled figure. Lava spewed out of the torn land. Dense smoke hindered Godzilla's ability to see the damage he had caused. But Godzilla knew better. Without a moment's notice, Godzilla charged to meet Dehadrayth head on. Telekinetic winds blew the smoke away, allowing both combatants the chance to see one another. Godzilla raised his monstrous claws and whacked Dehadrayth aside the face. Godzilla's strength alone nearly floored the ominous-shaped leviathan. But the relentless Godzilla was not the type to discard any chance of victory. At point blank range, Godzilla's mouth widened. Azure-silvery light gleamed out of Godzilla's dorsal spines. A beam of light emerged out of Godzilla's gaping maw. The beam struck Dehadrayth's sternum, scorching its organic compounds. Godzilla's atomic beam exerted enough concussive force to drill beneath the strands of flesh. The intensity of Dehadrayth's blazing eyeballs increased substantially. Dehadrayth's telekinesis levitated the corporal entity off the ground, allowing the bipedal creature to strike Godzilla's ribcage with one of his feet. The physical blow caused Godzilla's wrathful beam to disappear. Godzilla wailed a painful cry, as the nuclear saurian fell backwards. Jagged, dorsal spines poked the charcoal soil. The sharp appendages deeply penetrated the ground. Godzilla's savage jaws parted, issuing a violent roar. Dehadrayth's levitating body glinted off of Godzilla's untamed pupils. Divine energies surged around Dehadrayth's left claw. Godzilla tapped into his energy, summoning enough power to inflict a permanent injury. Atomic particles swirled around the entrance of Godzilla's ravenous maw. Sweltering levels of heat resonated off of Godzilla's dorsal spines. The molten soil around Godzilla's spines melted from the high levels of heat. At last, Godzilla discharged a super-charged beam. The power was so intense; the beam's departure pushed the terrifying kaiju deeper into the ground. It caught Dehadrayth completely off guard. Godzilla's beam singed Dehadrayth's right arm, vaporizing the holy constructs within. Dehadrayth's eyes widened in complete, utter shock, as his right arm separated from the rest of the body. Particles of energy constantly flowed out of Dehadrayth's amputated arm. Dehadrayth was literally bleeding light. Godzilla was quick to hop up and press the attack. Serrated teeth gripped Dehadrayth's neck. It was the exact place Anguirus attacked. With only one arm, Dehadrayth quickly pulled Godzilla off of him, and battered the reptile's skull. It took only one punch to knock Godzilla to the ground. Godzilla struck the molten soil, his sheer mass alone made the ground frequently tremor. Dehadrayth took the time to examine the damage Godzilla inflicted. A few cheers came from the human audience. 'Such power,' Dehadrayth said in an astonished tone. 'I was well aware of your evolution, saurian. The power you wielded as Super Godzilla was impressive, but even after returning to your normal state, you are a force to be reckoned with. But what do you represent? Are you the only chance existence has? I pray so. But your father learned the hard way that you need more than just power to achieve everlasting victory.' Godzilla's skull regenerated the damages. The nuclear saurian gathered the strength to rise again. An ear-splintering roar captured Dehadrayth's attention. 'So you wish to try?' Dehadrayth's body touched down on the ground. Godzilla narrowed his eyes. Dehadrayth was accepting his invitation. Godzilla managed to follow through; the towering beast sprinted forward, leaving sizzling footprints left in his wake. Godzilla jumped into Dehadrayth, ramming his gigantic mass against Dehadrayth's own. Dehadrayth was forced to stumble back, but in retaliation, he physically beat Godzilla's head with his claw. At times, the claw managed to pierce Godzilla's flesh. Boiling blood streamed down Godzilla's face. But that didn't stop Godzilla from using his teeth and claws to rip into Dehadrayth. No longer wishing to engage the reptile any longer, Dehadrayth took a swipe at Godzilla's neck, applying enough force to send Godzilla sailing hundreds of meters away. Godzilla landed next to the destroyed head of his father, Kiryu. Godzilla's savage eyes focused on Kiryu's artificial orbs. Deep down inside, Godzilla did not require any human-based intellect to know Kiryu was his father. But suddenly, a remarkable thing occurred. Watery tears dribbled out of Godzilla's eyes. It was Godzilla's way of saying goodbye. Godzilla was an unstoppable juggernaut, driven by pure instincts, and possessed a power that the universe itself needed to survive. But on the eve of his greatest battle, Godzilla's instincts managed to cultivate a feeling of sadness and remorse. Dehadrayth silently watched on. Kiryu's energy was rapidly depleting. With the last ounce of energy the machine had left, Kiryu whispered its final words. "I love you." The glowing eyes went dark. Godzilla stared at Kiryu's lifeless head for nearly a minute. Before the kaiju had a chance to mourn the lost of his father, Dehadrayth regrettably interfered. A wave of telekinesis shredded the soil. A wall of lava and molten rock rushed to meet Godzilla head on. Godzilla was overwhelmed, not even his incredible stature could restrain the seismic assault. Both Godzilla and Kiryu's lifeless head plummeted into the crevasse, disappearing in a fiery pit of lava below. Dehadrayth acknowledged the departing kaiju. 'Farewell,' Dehadrayth whispered sadly. 'I am sorry.' Dehadrayth's corporal form dissolved into a magnificent ball of holy light. It ascended to the dark clouds above. Dehadrayth's beautiful glows chased away the darkness. All of Battle Island started to dissolve into streaks of light. The light was absorbed by Dehadrayth's radiance. Without a trial, the world itself was fading away. Before Dehadrayth absorbed the souls of the fallen kaiju and the humans present, Dehadrayth gave one last speech. 'To those that were spectators today, I am deeply saddened to announce your impending demise. Soon all of Eternity shall join you. I really believed the kaiju would be the perfect candidates here today to challenge me. I felt they alone possessed the instincts necessary to overcome the odds. But I was wrong. Sadly, they were never qualified to begin with. I now know the truth. While they are magnificent, awe-inspiring creatures, that deserve our respect, they do not represent the three symbolic symbols of character needed to pass the trials. Their hearts were in the right place, but they were never meant to save Eternity. They are a message, meant to guide and teach them to make better choices. 'They were never meant to pass,' Dehadrayth sadly revealed. 'Humanity was.' The souls of the fallen kaiju exited their destroyed remains and joined Dehadrayth. As the souls of the humans dissolved, wild cracks splintered the ground. Torrents of lava sprayed out of the broken soil. Godzilla's dorsal spines emerged out of the soil. The rest of Godzilla's body burst into view. As lava boiled Godzilla's hide, the atomic saurian sensed his life force fading rapidly. Streaks of the monster's soul slowly left Godzilla's prehistoric stature. Godzilla channeled all of the energy he had. The monster's atomic heart was willing to give up everything. Golden energies embodied Godzilla's dorsal spines. Godzilla's gaping maw crackled with high-levels of radiation. Whether it was an unseen ability or a strange side-effect, it did not matter; Godzilla's rising energies manipulated the gravity. Remnants of the ground gradually ascended out of their establishments. Godzilla gently shut his eyes, preferring not to see the blinding light anymore. A loud, prehistoric cry escaped Godzilla's vocals. It heralded the release of a golden beam of energy. The golden projectile spewed out of Godzilla's jaws, and punched a hole through Dehadrayth's gleaming form. Bolts of holy energies encircled the powerful projectile, attempting to harness its incredible power. The mighty reptile's feet started to sink beneath the burnt crust, a testament of the phenomenal power the beast wielded. Large, jagged boulders were cast off into the sky, unable to withstand the radical disturbance in the gravity. Godzilla's eyes slit open. An illuminating wave of energy embodied Godzilla's irradiated orbs. There was no regret on Godzilla's mind. Mental images of Godzilla's son and father flashed before his glowing eyes. On the eve of Godzilla's destruction, the most infamous kaiju to ever stalk the Earth showed no fear or regret. Dehadrayth's holy tendrils latched onto Godzilla's sturdy shape and abstracted the creature's essence. The rest of the body dissolved into particles of light. The rest of the world followed shortly after. Who would've thought that an empty world could be so beautiful? |
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| One's Conversations The aisle was cold and reeked of a foul odor. I blindly walked down its dark path, never knowing what might await me at the end of the tunnel. Truthfully, I didn't want to know. If I had it my way, I'd never reach the end. I'd rather walk forever, never knowing the truth about Eternity's destruction. But alas, I could not stall my feet from taking me. At least my body was brave enough to learn the truth. My mind was too frightened to give a damn. Oh well, I didn't want to have to adjust to the horrid smell that pervaded the dark corridor. I guess there are things worse than death. In a few minutes, I'll find out first hand. Incase I've lost my mind, perhaps it would be best to find out who I am. Let's see if I remember everything. Well, my name is Tom Singleton, and I'm the proud chairman of an organization that profits off of the titanic battles between these terrifying creatures known as kaiju, or just monsters. To the rest of the world, I'm known simply as Tomzilla. In a long story short, my organization encountered problems of biblical proportions. Some we were barely able to endure; however, it seems we finally found a threat we could not overcome. It's not like I'm thrilled. While I wouldn't mind eternal bliss, I have a gut-feeling that we're going to die a horrible death, and cease to exist. Man, I really can't handle that smell. It smells like someone just died. Believe me; I know what a dead person smells like. Hell, I know what dead things smell like, and they all mostly smell the exact same. The smell reeks of death. It suffocates your nostrils, and fills your throat with vomit. But it also influences your mentality. You start to black out, while feeling your body go numb. Not exactly a feeling I want to relive. Well, at least I know my name. Not sure if my English literature is up to speed, but who cares? For all I know, I'm the only sentient being left. Who gives a damn if I am flawed? Besides, I lived a good life, right? Alright, I'm wrong there; my life has witnessed disaster after disaster. I just can't fathom as to why or how I've lived this long. I mean, I was nothing before the MWF came along. In the beginning, I was a puppet, meant to bring in cash for some suicidal reason. Hey, that's right! Those damn people were planning this crap from the start. Oh joy… Luckily, I managed to deceive them, and convince my colleagues to do the same. I couldn't overthrow them, but I was able to overcome them. Afterwards, I ran the organization alone. Yeah, I had a board of political heathens to give me advice, but they didn't try anything else, at least to my knowledge. As time flew by, I helped save the planet. No joke, I really did. When your organization happens to control the most powerful creatures in the galaxy, you instantly receive respect. We also received the understanding of roughly every government on the planet. Well, at least the civilized ones… Damn, I still can't see anything. Maybe there isn't an ending after all. As much as I'd rather have it that way, I digress; there must be a conclusion. I didn't come all this way just to keep going. Whether it was the act of a supernatural being or it was merely the end of the tunnel, a bright light appeared twenty feet away. The light shined upon my tired form. I was the only thing visible. Everything else remained unseen. Oh well, I'd rather not see what lurked in those shadows, or what was causing that stench. I walked into the light and was consumed completely. *** Large doors closed behind the mortal. Tom ignored the loud clang of the doors slamming shut. He preferred to be exiled from such a disgusting environment. "How typical," Tom thought smoothly. "Just a few minutes ago, I would rather have walked in that corridor for all Eternity." But then suddenly, the human stopped in his tracks. A strange force ensnared his tiny body, hindering the body from pressing on. Tom felt his arms go numb. A mysterious presence had literally caressed the human's very soul, and now, it was intruding the barrier of the human's mind. Tom's eyes slowly started to shut. As the human's vision begun to blur, the irises attempted to identify the human's surroundings. The surrounding darkness failed to conceal the area around him. If there was a spectator, it was possible for it to examine Tom's features; the human wore dark jeans and a white shirt. His red hair occupied the apex of the human's head. Azure corneas surrounded the black pupils of Tom's eyes. They slowly deciphered the layout of the environment. The environment was gigantic, big enough to house any kaiju. Amidst the central area, there stood another occupant of biblical proportions. Tom's bent his neck, hoping to identify the creature's identity. A whisper telepathically informed the human of the creature's name, a split second before his brain was able to. It was the Dark Echelon, Dogolas. Fear gripped Tom's fragile soul. He nearly toppled to his feet, but his legs made sure that he didn't. It was too much to bear. Standing before Tom was a being that single-handedly tainted the cosmos with its Evil, a dictator that conquered countless worlds and wrought genocide to thousands of civilizations. The most infamous names ever known were influenced by this devil's insidious agenda. Not only did Dogolas strike fear in the hearts and minds of everyone he came across, but the Dark Echelon was also able to duel the most powerful kaiju ever known and live. Tom didn't need to hide his resentment. In fact, even if he did, Dogolas's psychic abilities knew no equal. "Except maybe Dehadrayth," Tom whispered fearfully. Dogolas's animosity towards his estranged father was self-evident. Tom's fearful eyes ascended higher, spotting a phenomenal sight. "Beautiful," Tom murmured silently. A beautiful sphere loomed above the dark room. There was no ceiling to prevent any from seeing such a gorgeous symbol of beauty. Millions of illuminating tendrils attached to the glowing sphere empowered it with the souls of countless individuals. Beyond the scope of light lay the blackness of space, where the stars watched in wonder. The light shined down upon Dogolas, revealing the monarch's crippled state. A look of joy shined on Tom's face. "That's right, you can't do anything! Super Godzilla must've really screwed you over." 'On the contrary,' a demented voice said within Tom's mind, 'I can still lobotomize your mediocre mind.' Tom felt a sudden chill climb up his spine and as he replied, the human's once proud voice deteriorated to fear, "So why haven't you?" 'There's just no need,' Dogolas's creepy voice revealed. "Can you at least tell me what's going on?" Tom demanded, while gulping. 'Isn't it obvious?' "Well excuse me for not possessing a super-intellect," the human exclaimed, feeling insulted. 'Very well,' Dogolas soothingly responded. Tom shuddered uncomfortably. He didn't support Dogolas's soothing voice. 'My father's pathetic plan has failed, and now he's mourning over his inevitable defeat. He knows he can't prolong my destiny any longer. Even now, while he absorbs all those that failed to pass the trails, Dehadrayth is trying to reverse the past. But he knows it is impossible. Soon, I shall ascend, and I'll finally achieve the perfection I deserve.' "You only deserve death," Tom countered irritably. 'Now Tom, there's no need to be negative,' Dogolas retorted maturely. "What the hell are you talking about?" the human snapped back. "You are about to wipe out existence! Everyone will cease to exist or even worse, they'll be under your demented rule." 'You are welcome to dwell on the possible future,' Dogolas exquisitely announced, 'however, I do not have the slightest idea on what to expect. If I must do that in order to be perfect, then so be it.' Tom tried to divert his eyes, but they would not oblige. "Goddamn it," Tom professed miserably. 'You curse your Lord's name in vain?' "Damn right I do! Where is He? Eternity itself is about to be destroyed, and He does nothing about it!" 'Oh but He does,' Dogolas amusingly whispered. Tom's mortal eyes blankly stared at Dogolas. "No," Tom said, "don't you even dare." 'Dare what?' "Don't even try to pass off as God, you bastard!" A demonic chuckle escaped Dogolas's unseen vocals. 'So I'm not the only mind reader.' "You miserable prick," Tom softly muttered. 'How so,' Dogolas questioned. 'Were you not just renouncing God?' "I wasn't renouncing Him, I was…" 'Cursing His existence,' Dogolas fiendishly pointed out. "Exactly my damn point," Tom whined, but then he started to notice the connection. Dogolas didn't need to probe Tom's mind, he saw the defeat in the human's eyes right away. 'No, I'm not God,' Dogolas declared in a serious tone. "Then why the fucking mind games?" 'Call it boredom.' Tom's hands clenched into fists, "Then why the hell doesn't He save us? If there really is a God, why the fuck isn't He here right now?' 'Perhaps the hope isn't there? He knows it would be futile? Or maybe the most logical reasoning of all,' Dogolas continued, but Tom knew what Dogolas's finishing remark would be, 'He doesn't exist.' Luckily, Tom was prepared to respond. "I once thought that, too, honestly I did," Tom announced bitterly. "But when you start to believe in miracles, you begin to feel a supernatural hand guiding your soul to salvation. Just by being silent, you can feel His presence. I don't care what you say, He does exist." 'The reason of why I adore your species,' Dogolas spoke proudly, 'your egocentric minds hinders your ability to ever see the truth. Does your race not fight amongst themselves?' "They do, but…" 'Tell me the main reasoning behind such pointless conflicts.' "Power," Tom replied. 'Very good,' Dogolas admitted, 'but that isn't the main reason. While your thirst for power corrupts the very soul that gives you strength, it isn't the reason of why you kill one another. Your beliefs separated you from the rest of the world. Your arrogance clouds whatever judgment you make. If such a God exists, He would feel embarrassed that His precious children fight amongst one another. And for what, I ask? The answer you wish to know has already been clarified.' There was a moment of silence. Tom contemplated his thoughts, before finally making a statement. "We're flawed, plain and simple." 'At least you know the truth,' the Dark Echelon replied. "Yes, but you on the other hand don't." 'Child, I have existed long before your planet was ever forged from gas and dust,' Dogolas articulated, 'do not question my superiority. Accept my word, for I am forever. And if I am incorrect, it does not matter; when I become perfect, I shall mitigate it so it is so.' "Bullshit," Tom refuted, "Dogolas, even I know you won't even bother. You're going to destroy everything!" 'And why is that so?' "You're an evil tyrant! Isn't it obvious?" Tom stopped and realized his mistake. He was about to refute his statement, but it had already been solidified. Now, he was at the mercy of the most diabolical being to ever exist. 'And I single-handedly tainted every sentient creature with my Evil,' Dogolas started, 'every being in existence is essentially twisted and demented. Your analogy actually supports my reasoning, human. After all, if you had a chance, would you not destroy me? No need to respond, as I know the truth. You would, because I am malevolent and deserve death, yes?' Tom reluctantly nodded. The light of Dehadrayth's illuminating form glinted off his sleek red hair. 'Then my fate will become everyone's. If you truly desire Evil's destruction, then why do you deny my inevitable conquest?' "Simple comparisons, Dogolas, simple comparisons…" 'Such as,' Dogolas demanded. "Well for one, you tainted us. It's not our damn fault.' 'Incorrect.' "Let me finish you bastard! So yeah, it's not our," Tom stopped. "What do you mean, 'incorrect'?" 'Do you believe in choice? Of course you do. My Evil merely creates balance.' "And you strive to destroy that balance." 'Indeed I have. What is your point?' "If you destroy Evil, then there can be no Good; in order to be benign, there must be an antithesis of some kind, otherwise the clarity of benevolence wouldn't exist.' 'Go on.' "So why are you going to even bother to destroy us all?" 'A mere assumption, falsely conjured by my father. Once again, I have not yet shown my intentions. I truly do not know what will happen, all I know is it will. And if the balance as a whole is completely destroyed, then so be it.' Dogolas boldly concluded. Tom shook his head. He had reached the point of where he didn't know what he was fighting for. But a strange tingling urged the human to press on; not to win the argument, but to understand why he believes the way he does. "No, it won't happen," Tom haughty announced. 'I have foreseen it, and I can assure you, it does.' "How can you see a future that doesn't exist?" Dogolas didn't reply. "You see? You've been lying to me this entire time. You know damn well what you plan to do. You've known all along!" Tom's face burned red. A livid expression flared out of his eyes. Dogolas probed Tom's mind, predicting the human's actions before he himself knew it. Dogolas elaborated the perfect response. 'Yes, I did lie.' Tom was speechless. He once again looked up at Dehadrayth's illuming presence and grew tempered. "Enough of these mind games," Tom begged, "I just want answers." 'You've already received them,' Dogolas sighed annoyingly. Tom curiously glanced at Dogolas's crippled mass. The human tried to recall conversations that occurred during their devastating battle. One of Dogolas's former disciples, Balkzardan, brought up an interesting remark that always frustrated Dogolas. A smile molded on Tom's visage. If he was going to die, Tom might as well make Dogolas's days of imperfection a living Hell. "That's the reason of why you wish to be perfect," Tom inquired, "You see everyone as a reflection of yourself. You did after all taint existence. Every time you lay your defiling eyes on us imperfect life forms, you become disgusted. And once you become disgusted, you realize you are no better than the rest of us." Tom examined Dogolas, realizing the Dark Echelon anticipated his lecture all along. It didn't stop Tom from smiling boldly. "You're no better than the rest of us. This brings me back to my original statement about simple comparisons. You see, your Evil tainted us. We may have choices to make, but not all of us fully accepted the darkness you implanted in us. Unlike you, we deserve to live, because unlike you, we didn't murder countless civilizations." 'Ever wondered why?' "What kind of stupid question is that?" Tom insisted blindly. 'Think of it, human,' Dogolas prepared to reveal, 'if a human wielded my power and intellect, do you honestly believe he or she would not bring about Armageddon? Already I could name people on your planet that tried to destroy everything. People such as Patrick and Orukai to name a few…' Tom's heart faintly stopped beating. The human's mind instantly brought up a mental image of his deceased friend and former associate. Tom bit his lip as he shook his head, "It wasn't Patrick's fault. Someone made him go insane." Dogolas mentally laughed. He had found the one thing that Tom couldn't ignore. Dogolas loved how Tom completely ignored Orukai, but that was understandable. 'I'll spare your primitive mind,' the Dark Echelon wickedly promised, 'and just come out with it. You are correct, it wasn't Patrick's fault. He did go insane…because of me.' Tom's pupils narrowed. "Why," the mortal asked defiantly. 'Had you been there when it happened, you would've seen just how weak he was. I mentally contacted him months before. And every night, I pushed him an inch closer until he at last crossed the threshold that separates sanity and insanity. Quite a pathetic mind, Patrick was. He had no idea that he was being a mere pawn. Alas, my point has been proven. If one of those or millions of other humans took the mantle of my kingdom, they would be no better than I am.' "Then why not put someone like Jim or other people that haven't been corrupted by society?" Tom alleged, feeling he had a point. 'Power corrupts all. The quintessential human mind is dependent on its belief system; without it, it would fall apart and be reduced to nothing. Instinctively, your minds fight to overcome such retributions; the only way to uphold such radical agendas, would be to gain power. As you can see, it corrupts all. Even you were destined to become infected by its quintessence. On the other hand, you already were.' The human frowned. 'Your expressions are laughable at best. So predicted and yet still captivating in its surprising tone.' In an attempt to ignore his dark past, Tom brings up a new counter. "Why not destroy yourself? If you do that, then you won't be offended every time you look at us." 'And if I eliminate Eternity itself, there would be none to miss it, yes? Your analogy betrays you, mortal. Besides, I won't be the only one that ascends. Do not forget my original proposal. I offered you and your army a chance to put aside our differences, and join me as I ascend. Don't you see? While I consider all sentient life imperfect and a plague, I can save us all. Perfection will forever be better than this abysmal called Eternity.' Dogolas discontinued, knowing full well that he is on the verge of victory. It would be the perfect way to end his days of imperfect; convincing the last human that his intentions were noble. There hasn't been a deception like this since the days of Eden… Tom remained speechless. He knew Dogolas was a conniving tyrant, but his words shed some truth. While Dogolas's ambitions were far from being selfless, in the end, would anyone really care? How can anyone care if they don't exist? No, Tom deliberated, there had to be a way. It was impossible to convince Dogolas to change his mind, Tom knew that, but maybe there was another way. "Damn it," Tom cursed softly. "I was in control of the most powerful organization the galaxy had ever known. The technology I wielded was inferior to other alien civilizations; I still was in control of the most powerful creatures of all time. And yet, even through my dark hours, I never resorted to annihilating all life. But in the end, it didn't matter, did it? I still couldn't destroy you, even with my bare hands." 'Correct,' Dogolas mumbled fluently. 'I do admire your courage, human, but that doesn't change anything. If you posed a threat, I would've disintegrated your existence. But alas, when you come to realize one simple fact, I was never going to lose. Father merely prolonged the inevitable. The war waged between us is over. And to think, it all started in the void your species identifies as a universe. It was in this void that I was forged out of a mixture of divine and demonic power. Countless eons ago, this void contained many sentient organisms. But there was a flaw; upon death, the dismay of their minds and soul created an entity built upon sorrow. In the end, they destroyed themselves, and all that was left was Dehadrayth. The rest is history. 'Even if I died, I would've joined my father, and took control. The power would've been immense, but father's decision to take the long route ultimately made things better for me.' Dogolas snickered. If his head could arch back and glance upwards at Dehadrayth's gleaming essence, he would. 'Such a fool, I still wonder to this day on how we're related.' Tom shook his head. "You know, I don't give a damn," Tom rebelliously declared. "Even if you achieve perfection, I'm not going to let you win this battle. Whether we die and you alone are left to dwell on the past, it doesn't matter, because when you do just that, you're going to remember how I defied you. How we all did. Even your perfection couldn't break us. That is what separates you from the rest of us, Dogolas," the human continued excitedly, "that's what makes us better." 'And yet, none of you could pass the trials. Even my father knew none of you truly deserve it. It was a bold plan, a foolish one, but bold nonetheless; it was the only way to put a stop to my plans. But as we both know by now,' Dogolas abruptly stopped, and allowed the human to observe the phenomenon unfolding above them, 'the plan did not succeed.' Tom dwelled on Dogolas's words. Ever since Tom first laid eyes on Dogolas, he felt feeble and helpless. No matter the thought, no matter the action, it seemed as if Dogolas had predicted it all in advance. If the human was willing to bet openly, he would reckon that Dogolas predicted Dehadrayth's cosmic trials from the start, or at least knew the results. Tom sighed nervously. There was only one thing he could do in a situation like this: hope. 'Hope is for those that are too weak to seize power,' Dogolas emotionlessly stated, interrupting Tom's mental thought. 'Isn't it ironic? Your mind is intelligent enough to see that you have absolutely no chance at changing the tide of destiny. Even now, you sense oblivion, straying straight towards you, yet you blindly stand before it, pretending it is not there. Hope is what makes you all weak, you especially. Without Hope, those capable of grabbing power and making a true difference are free to bring out their fullest potential, as I have.' In disagreement with the Dark Echelon, Tom simply shakes his head. 'I admit; I admire your willingness to ignore oblivion. I won't call it an act of stupidity, as I've searched your thoughts and examined your brain impulses. You don't honestly believe there is any hope. You simply claim there is just for the sake of doing so. Such an action can be considered stupidity in its finest.' "But you refuse to call it stupidity, why?" 'Your race is filled to the brim with such stupid acts; I figured I might as well be lenient to the last.' "You're wrong, Dogolas," Tom declared without regret. "I do believe there is still Hope. It isn't a lie." Dogolas sighed. 'Very well, human, I shall deliver you a gift before you are erased from Eternity. I see your pride prohibits you from seeing the truth. As a result, I will grant you the ability to see what I see.' Emerald energies entombed Dogolas's piercing red eyes. An eerie luminance shined out of Dogolas's orbs, completely bathing the human in its awe and wonder. Tom felt a strange sensation inside his brain. Uncontrolled excitement slithered up his spine, making the human's hair literally stick straight up. A crackling green glow blotted out Tom's azure eyes. Tom's skin became pale white. The sudden rush of excitement turned into an unbearable numbness. Tom lost his balance and fell on his back. The cold ground further traumatized Tom's unwanted condition. The illuminating aura that emitted out of Dogolas's eyes disappeared. 'The time has come,' Dogolas proudly announced. 'I have enough strength to do what none ever could.' Dogolas's vast and highly intelligent mind ordered his psionic energies to overload. Psionic bolts ravaged Dogolas's internal organs, frying the bodily functions instantly. Dogolas's bulbous head was split asunder. As the Dark Echelon's psionic energies continued to rip his own body apart, Dogolas took his last few moments as a mortal to address the tormented human beneath him. 'The event that shall lead to my ascension has been fulfilled. Soon, I'll join my father, and take over. And then, at long last, I will become perfect. Consider it an honor to be the only singular being present here today to witness my impending omnipotence. While the trials are not yet over, at least for everyone else, I can personally harness the power I have long desired. The gift I have granted you is the proof you need to see the truth. It is a guide, the one thing that guided me to where I am today. While your human mind cannot comprehend the scope of the power I have offered you, it can at least see a small sample of what it offers. 'I have given you a gift, I have given you a curse…from this day forward, until the day Death takes you, which won't be long now, you have the foresight of seeing into the future.' With those final words, Dogolas vanished into a nefarious cloud of particles. The particles willingly joined Dehadrayth's glowing essence. Dehadrayth's illuminating beauty turned into a crimson glow of dread. Every single soul that was apart of Dehadrayth's sorrowful existence became tainted with Evil. They once screamed for redemption and peace, but now they jointly demanded oblivion. As Eternity itself underwent the procedure of being completely wiped out, the tiny human lying on his back opened his pale white eyes. "These strange images are from the future," Tom weakly murmured to himself. Random images of the future flooded his consciousness. Tom's exposed eyes went dizzy. He tried desperately not to puke. "In my current state, all I see is destruction and then nothing. But when I start to believe in something other than oblivion…" A crimson tendril harpooned Tom's chest. It impatiently extracted Tom's soul. In Tom's final moments, he had an epiphany like none other. The only thought he had as he attempted to see into the future, seeped out of his weak lips. "Hope." *** In an environment of where there was no beginning or end, no sympathy or resolution, no identity or freedom, but only sorrow; a lonely human's soul was pulled away from Dehadrayth's gloomy essence. No longer was Dehadrayth as a whole in complete control. The sorrowful being that once sought everlasting peace had been usurped by its only son. But now, a human soul had been abstracted. Its perpetual core had been tainted by Dehadrayth's unending pain. That pain had morphed into pleasure. The souls no longer craved retribution, but genocide. Dogolas's conniving mentality manipulated them all. And even the human soul that had miraculously escaped felt the Dark Echelon's tainting ways. For a brief moment in time, the human soul was Dehadrayth. By some miracle, it had been ripped away and thrown into the cradle of time. Dogolas's vast mind quickly resorted to achieving ultimate power. The unholy union between father and son amplified the Dark Echelon's psionic might. Dogolas's network of minds now slaved to transcend the boundaries of the void that contained them all, and tap into the source of Eternity itself. It cared not for the lonely human soul that drifted further away. At this point, Dogolas wasn't interested in absorbing everyone. A scythe attached to a psionic tendril pierced the boundaries of Eternity. It lanced the source of all creation, and sapped its divinity into itself. Dogolas felt the divine energies circulate into his mind. It empowered the diabolical being ever further. Knowledge, power, and immortality instantly greeted the malevolent monarch. An incredible sense of pleasure entrapped Dogolas's very being. It was unrivaled. For a brief moment in time, Dogolas achieved perfection. The Dark Echelon allowed its omnipotence to fill every inch of his demented being. 'Perfection,' Dogolas's malevolent voice delightfully whispered. And it echoed across the endless void of Eternity, forever. It proved to be the only reminder that Dogolas ever existed. *** Epilogue A cold, discomforting feeling forced Tom to awaken. The human's eyelids cracked open, allowing the eyes to see a stunning display of beauty. Illuminating lights outlined the shape of a human. Divine energies gleamed out of its magnificent spheres. Pallid flames sparkled around the edges of the gigantic figure. A strange sensation informed Tom not to be afraid. The human tried to budge, but his body was still too weak. The human's veins had turned black. Tom's black veins were visibly seen outside the exterior of his pale flesh. Even after death, Dogolas's malicious power continued to wreak havoc on the mortal's body. 'There's no need to get up,' a soothing, benevolent voice informed the human. Tom's weak eyes examined the celestial entity before him. It was enormous. No longer could Tom see Dehadrayth's gleaming presence. Instead, it appeared Dehadrayth had been replaced by this celestial giant. "Who are you?" Tom whispered. He started to question if he had actually said anything. 'A being that was once filled with sorrow and remorse, but no longer,' the celestial giant announced proudly. "Dehadrayth," Tom softly replied, deciphering the giant's identity. "How did you… Where's Dogolas?" 'Gone,' Dehadrayth replied. 'My son is no longer apart of this existence or any other. The forsaken child has finally been put to rest.' "Will he return?" 'No, but his Evil has spawned enough tyrants to keep Eternity occupied forever,' Dehadrayth regrettably revealed. The divine entity judged Tom's tiny form. Dehadrayth felt the unbearable pain Tom was forced to contend with. 'Dogolas tainted your soul, but somehow you escaped,' Dehadrayth said aloud. Tom gathered his thoughts and the strength to respond, "It's all a blur. All I remember is… Being able to… See into the future. I dreamt of a future filled with Hope, and everything went bright. I… I was introduced to a realm, a realm of sorrow, hate, and anguish… And for a brief moment, I reveled in it." Dehadrayth felt Tom's sadness. "I didn't want to," the human declared, as tears dribbled out of his decrepit eyes. "It felt as if… As if my soul was sold to the Devil. But despite these circumstances, I still strived to see Hope." If Dehadrayth possessed the means of smiling, he would. An aura of benevolence shined down upon Tom, bathing the human in a glow that helped calm him. 'Thank you,' Dehadrayth exclaimed proudly. 'While you and countless more failed to pass the trials, it seems my son's arrogance ultimately lead to his downfall.' "I don't understand." 'Dogolas possessed an amazing attribute. He was able to see into the future, one of many,' Dehadrayth articulated, 'but sadly, my son sought only perfection, and in order to achieve it, there was only despair. As a result, when he looked into the future, my son was staring into a future that could only come into being if his malevolence made it happen. He was seeing a future he wanted to see.' The revelation completely silenced Tom. He was too weak to respond anyways. 'To explore this, I had secretly manipulated Dogolas's premonitions, and included the myth of Six Ones that would defy him. Originally, they were never apart of Dogolas's futuristic visions, but I made it happen. It confirmed my suspicions,' Dehadrayth announced, 'however, I couldn't do anything about it. But when you were absorbed, your newfound abilities became my own. Our dreams of a hopeful future became one. Out of countless souls, I do not know why you were ripped away, but it was for the best.' "So what happened?" Tom murmured, while struggling to stay conscious. 'We searched for a future of where there was Hope. Unlike my son, who searched for a desolate future, we sought one of peace and prosperity, one of Hope…' the divine entity explained. 'Somewhere out there, we located a sentient being that passed the trial. It was what we hoped for. It was all that was needed to set us free.' Those words helped make a smile appear on Tom's weakened face. 'And now, 'The Sorrow of Eternity' can at last rest in peace. As a token for our gratitude, I shall bestow you a gift of my own. To balance the equation, your curse can truly become a gift. Hopefully, it can help guide you all, and with any luck, we shall see each other again in paradise…' Dehadrayth dissolved into a cloud of light. An apron divine radiance bathed Tom's pale flesh. Its benevolence removed the dark veins that bulged out of Tom's skin. The pale skin returned to its original texture, no longer carrying a message of death. Tom's strength returned. He no longer felt too weak to think or even move. A surge of holy light eclipsed Tom's vision, and warped reality itself. *** Fabrics of light bathed the marvelous island below. The Sun's illuminating beauty showed the wonderful landscapes. An amalgam of organic and inorganic regions helped shape up the island's facade. Azure-hued skies filled the atmosphere. Not one cloud roamed about. A cool, gentle wind pervaded over the island's surface. It blew against the hair of one of the island's occupants. Atop the apex of the abandoned Announcing Booth, Tom's eyes opened and realized that he was sitting on the booth's rooftop. Tom placed his hands on the cold surface and helped his legs get a firm footing. The human stood straight up. Tom's irises scoped the amazing scenery before him. He has never seen such an incredible outlook on life. Before he could truly grasp the gorgeous scenery, he heard footsteps. Images instantly flooded Tom's vision, revealing the identities of the people walking towards him. As the images of the future faded, Tom's eyes had a chance to confirm his visions. Two familiar faces approached him, surprised as ever to see him. Tom's mouth dropped open in complete and utter shock. "You both are alive," Tom gulped sympathetically. Jim and Monty stopped. Each of them took the time to observe one another, realizing that Tom's words weren't fiction, but a reality. "Holy shit," Monty shouted in excitement. He grabbed his face and combed every inch of it, just to make sure he was alive. "I'm not an Eva…" Jim had a perplexing look. "But how?" he asked. He was obviously stunned in disbelief. "I mean, I'm human again. Well, I was human as an Eva, but now I'm me again." Tom analyzed them for a moment, contemplating over the events of Dehadrayth's trials and his final words before fading away. "You both had trials, right? You know the trials Dehadrayth told everyone about," Tom's skeptic voice inquired, unsure if the trials ever actually happened. Jim and Monty looked at the other and then back at Tom. "That was fucking real?" Monty shouted. "I thought it was a dream or something." "Apparently it wasn't," Jim concluded. Knowing that such an aftermath could certainly be dwelled upon forever, Tom decided to give everyone a few moments to think for themselves, before changing the subject. "So, how did it feel? To be one with your Evangelion, I mean," Tom asked. Monty remained oblivious to Tom's question. Monty was still contemplating over the incidents that had recently occurred. Jim, however, was able to answer Tom's question. "It felt perfect. Well, not the perfect Dogolas desired, but the perfection humans are capable of achieving. Hey," Jim said, "what of Evajiran?" Tom honestly didn't know. A wave of light embodied Tom's eyes, showing the human the fate of the Evangelion-Godzilla hybrid. Jim marbled at his friend's eyes, unsure of what to make of it. But up to that point, Jim has seen strange things. Glowing eyes, even for a human, didn't seem that odd. As the light faded, Tom answered Jim's question, "He's at peace. The soul that I shared with in Evajiran's core is now in paradise. Godzilla's son has at last found peace and harmony." "That's good to hear," Jim replied. He stared at Tom for a moment, without saying a word. Tom knew exactly why. "I won't elaborate on how I know. Some things are better off not being explained." "Right," Jim responded in a serious tone. "So what happened? Did we win or something?" "The trials were passed," Tom revealed while smiling. "Really," Jim questioned, "by whom?" Tom ascended his gaze to the sky above. "I don't know," Tom revealed truthfully. "It could've been God for all I know. But deep down inside, I think it was someone simply beyond this realm of existence; someone that is watching us right now, and has been with us every step of the way." "Maybe we'll never know," Jim eloquently proposed. Tom nodded. "Hey, any idea of where Vader is?" Monty asked, after returning to the conversation. Jim and Tom shrugged. "He's probably still inside Cybersaur," Jim stated, not really knowing the answer. All three of them became silent. They sighed in relief, as they reflected on past events. It was hard to keep a conversation going, after going through such a dramatic experience. A distant roar attracted their attention. The three humans turned to the direction of the sound that instantly captured their awareness. It was an amazing spectacle. The scenery contained the gigantic forms of every single kaiju in the MWF. They basked in the sunlight, free to roam the island's landscapes. All of them still possessed the altered behaviors the humans granted them ever since the organization premiered. Memories of the trials and the devastating battles of the past flooded their minds. "Amazing," Jim expressed openly. "Originally, these terrifying creatures were considered abominations of nature. Safe to say, we know that isn't the case." Tom nodded, "And if you ask me, I don't think they're just representations anymore. I don't see them as symbols to help guide humans in life. They are something much, much more. The dawn of a new race that was once primordial in nature, but can now evolve…." "They're almost human," Monty exclaimed. "Yeah," Tom replied, "or they're simply beyond." Jim scanned the monsters. "I don't see Balkzardan anywhere, nor Ultraman Dyna," he nervously said, "did they not return?" Tom briefly stared off into space, before returning to reality. "They're alive. They are on Dogolas's home-world. Both are intent on re-shaping the world and Dogolas's fallen empire, for the best. It seems they'll have assistance from an unexpected kaiju, too." "Who," Monty asked. "Biollante, she survived. Her spores shall rekindle the planet. Barugaron, however, also survived. He'll prove to be a challenge, but I'm positive they'll succeed." Godzilla's thundering roar attracted the human's attention. They noticed the nuclear saurian strolling up a huge mountain. Godzilla's savage shape was obscured by the Sun's radiance, appearing only as silhouette against the backdrop of the massive star. Godzilla's reptilian orbs briefly scanned the island. For a brief moment in time, Godzilla spotted two familiar entities; Kiryu and his son, Godzilla Junior. The radiance of the sun faintly blinded Godzilla's vision. When Godzilla's vision returned, his father and son were gone. Accepting their peaceful fates, Godzilla's gaze returned to the horizon. "A dark horizon looms ahead," Monty speculated, as he stared off in the distance, unable to notice what Godzilla was seeing. The humans instinctively imagined the catastrophes before them. They contemplated the fates of monstrosities such as SpaceGodzilla, King Ghidorah, Irys, Destoroyah, and far more. Somewhere out there, the malevolent titans were plotting, planning for dominion or absolute destruction over all. Dehadrayth's trials had rekindled Eternity of its Sorrow and given new life to all. It had also resurrected History's deadliest murderers. But History's greatest warriors, Good or Neutral, had also returned. "Yes," Tom admitted, "I know. You don't have to see into the future to know that. But if you ask me, I think we can handle it. In fact, I know we can. We've been given a second chance at life," he articulated, while staring at the many kaiju before him, "and with their help, I think we have finally deciphered the hidden message. Whatever the future brings, we'll always be there." "Tell us, Tom," Jim inquired, "what do you see?" Tom didn't respond right away. As his eyes became fixated on the sun, its burning radiance reflected off the human's eyes. Reflections of the kaiju gradually appeared as well. "Hope." THE END "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." - Matthew 7:7-8 Thank you, to the following: Patrick Peterson Iguanoman DinoDragonBoy Vader Montyzilla RC2000 - Ralph Case Middleton ElectricOreo EarthBaragon Deathbeast Blake Kedzuel Ssvegeta JojoMoss MechaRodan Varan101 Lord Draco TitanoGoji Putricus Monster Master MCW KaijuHQ Aidan And to everyone else, a HUGE thank you. Four years, and it's finally over. For four years, you've helped me. For four years, we were connected. And now, we shall go our separate paths. Life itself is a trial, one we must all endure and overcome. In one way or another, this experience was a trial for all of us to take part in. We passed. From the bottom of my heart, I will always remember this. And I'll always be happy. |