Episode 21: Yesterday

"Allen!" Allen could faintly hear the sound of someone calling out to him. The voice was unfamiliar. It didn't seem like someone he knew. It was the same distorted voice he heard before, ominous. However, this time it seemed concerned about something.

"ALLEN!" The voice contorts into different octaves. "ALLEN!" The voice raised a pitch and suddenly, it seemed feminine.

"ALLEN!" Canny's voice pierced through the Allen's stupor and he woke with a rush.

"Finally, you're up!" Canny's lab coat was covered in grease and dirt. She had a little smudge of oil over her face and some blood dripping down here cheek.

"Eh!? Are you alright!?" Allen exclaimed in concern.

"We don't have time to worry about me, the ship crashed and we need help to get it back up and running."

"I thought we took down the Blighted Tree?"

"If you remember, we still have the Blighted Generals to worry about. We need to evacuate and leave the rest to the High Chief."

"I see," Allen pondered for a bit about the situation but he remembered something grave. "What about John!?"

~

"Father," young Karl sat by his father's side as they watched over the lively cityscape. The vehicles move about like fireflies through the luscious scape that expanded before them. "What is the purpose to being a High Chief?"

"What do you mean, my child?" His father peered down on him with questioning eyes. At first it was scary to gaze back at him at first but Karl kept firm to his curiosity and inquired again.

"We see them high in their seats, watching over the people and write away orders but I do not understand why they do it? Isn't that boring?"

His father chuckled a bit before answering, "Son, it is more than just sitting in a seat and writing away."

"Really?"

"Yes," His father took a breath. He looked over the city and stretched his arms over it. "You see, son, the universe is a vast place. With it, carries other folks that live in different worlds, just like our own. Within those papers and upon that seat, the chief's- let's say power lies."

"His power?"

"Yes, the power to connect with those people. Those sheets have the lives of others and that seat is the foundation that holds the weight of every soul."

"That's a strong seat."

"Indeed, it is," his father chuckled again. "And on that seat is the person strong enough to wield it."

"Wow," Young Karl's eyes were opened anew to the responsibilities of which the High Chief holds. "Can I be strong like them one day?"

The father looked to his son at first in astonishment but it changed into an expression of pride. "One day, you will."

That memory echoed in the back of Karl's mind. Now, he holds that power in his very body and with it he was willing to protect the people he cherishes, no matter what stood in his way.

As he watched as the Kasipeia triumphs over the curse of the Blighted Tree and the void being taken away, he can't help but feel proud about the accomplishment he felt this day. Over the many years of life given to the universe, none has every stood so strong against the blighted forces until today.

It was unforeseen that the blight would invade but it was also luck that gave them success today. The horde of Blighted infected are almost wiped out, Pride had been defeated and all that was left is the remaining Blight Lords.

He did not know where Wrath was but he knew someone was keeping him at bay and that's all he needed, some time.

Before him, stood the Blight Lord of Gluttony surrounded by the Thiadigm and a member of the Stitches. The person was named Titan and being able to hold her own against one of the Blight Lords was a great feat. However, the battle was arduous as the damage showed on the pieces of broken armor.

"It seems that you have failed this time, Blight of the Cosmos."

"Yes," Porcus was looking at what remains of the blighted tree. "It seems so."

"Seems?" Porcus's choice of words confused the High Chief.

Titan did not hesitate to hold the blight Lord down. "It's not over, yet, Chief!" She exclaimed.

"You pesky, ape!"

"High Chief!" Sera rushed over to the chief's side, almost out of breath.

"Captain Sera," Karl noticed that Sera's face was a bit pale. "What's wrong?"

"It's John!"

Karl was about to rush but he felt something ominous creeping up behind him. That same feeling he had on the night before the invasion. Something bad was going to happen. He did not have time to think due to the fact that Titan's body was being flung over his way.

With swift action, he took his and met Porcus's strike before it reached Sera.

"Hoo," Porcus reveled. "Despite that aging body, you still have the kick in you."

Karl pushed the Blight Lord away a couple feet. However, he felt that his strength drained a bit from that impact. It didn't take him long to notice that Porcus had slashed a bit above his waist before pulling back. The pain from the wound was intense but it was nothing to worry about for now.

"That axe," Karl pointed out.

"You noticed?"

"Sera, what's his condition." Karl knew he wouldn't be able to make it himself but there was a way to help John even in the direst situations.

"Extreme."

"Take some of the Thiadigm with you, they should be able to help."

"What about you?"

"I'll keep Gluttony busy."

"Even if you are the High Chief, that's a high order."

"You're one to talk about the stakes."

Sera gathered some of the thiadigm that didn't look too out of shape with her but before she left, she said to Karl, "Make sure you make it back home too."

"I'm planning on." He looked back at Sera with a grin on his scarred face. "My wife would scold me in the afterlife if I don't."

Sera nodded with a smile and went on her way.

Karl focused his attention on the Blight Lord and aimed his spear true to his direction.

"It is an honor to be doing battle with the esteemed High Chief, Karl Krempt."

"And to meet a Blight Lord in my lifetime, it's an honor as well." They twirled about each other, each step carrying the weight of authority they hold.

Karl's steps were light, barely making a sound, but they were also firmly planted, ready to get into a stance for an attack.

Porcus's steps were heavy, crunching and cracking whatever was under his hooves. Even the rocks were crushed under the weight of the blight lord.

"You seem like a more reasonable person to deal with, Sir Karl. Not like the drabby folk that came at me like fools."

"It's only due to the fact that I'm facing you. You have taken many things from the people of this universe and I'm not willing to give you my people's lives."

"Hah! Even when I already hold those lives?"

"You do not," Karl made the first move. He lunged himself towards the Blight Lord with his spear at the front.

Porcus deftly dodged the oncoming attack. "Really? Is that your mo-"

It was sudden but the High Chief, upon reaching the range of his spear, twirled the weapon before it passed Porcus's head. The strike after was a slash to the face, shipping away a piece of Gluttony's adornment of a skull that laid on his shoulders.

Porcus responded with a quick spring of his hooves, aiming for a tackle towards the High Chief getting within the range of his spear. However, Karl reacted with a kick to the Blight Lord's face, leaping to the side.

Porcus stopped with a screech.

"You are more agile than you look, High Chief."

"You judge a book by its cover."

"No, just reading its contents currently."

Karl made another initial attack, this time, aiming for the large torso.

Again, Porcus dodge the attack and again, Karl went for another twirl but the slash was halted. It caught Karl off guard to see that those large axes were moved with such speed, just to be able to meet his spear.

"The same trick won't work twice!" Porcus pushed the High Chief away.

Karl then stabbed his spear to the ground and used that momentum to spring back. Using the spear like a staff, he went for a slash downwards on the Blight Lord. However, the Blight Lord slashed his axe in the air toward him.

That slash sent a wave of energy that seemed too dangerous to meet head one, so Karl twirled his body around to dodge in mid-air, barely avoiding the wave.

When he landed on his feet, he saw the wave had torn a hole in the building behind him.

One axe siphon, the other releases. This is dangerous.

"I'm impressed you were able to dodge that."

Karl kept his focus on Porcus. Although his appearance be as it may, there is something that he's been holding back.

"Ready for more?" In swift succession, Porcus released consecutive strikes towards Karl. Each strike released a variety of energy.

Karl used his spear to avoid the first few with a leap and dodged the rest in the air.

"You apes seem to have some credibility when it comes to defying even physics but when it comes down to it, you are still-" With a large swing upwards, Porcus sent a wall of energy towards Karl who was still in mid-air. This seemed inescapable. "Mortal."

"You speak as if you understand-" Krempt summoned a deeper power within himself, one that he hasn't used in ages. "Mortality."

Krempt pushed that welled up energy out towards his front and released a matching wall, countering the strike.

The noise that resonated was like two waves meeting one another, splashing and melding till nothing was left between the two.

"I know it well..." Porcus said unfazed by the attack. There was not many that can withstand the pure intensity of Porcus but of course he expected a few exceptions. "I know how fragile life can be to those who perceive it as nothing but inevitability."

"That fragility is what gives life its meaning." Karl summoned another well of energy within himself, focusing it outward, from the pit of his stomach to the fibers of his muscles into the tip of his spear. "For someone to have abandoned it, you will never know."

"Perhaps," Porcus with vicious speeds went in for another charge, this time his target was dead on. The jaw that he adorned on his shoulders were not just for show and despite the chips, imbuing blighted essence would make them as powerful as a piercing battering ram.

However, Karl stood firm in his place, taking a stationary stance, willing to meet the opponent head on.

This delighted the blight lord. He didn't have to waste time catching his prey.

When they clashed, shivers ran throughout the land and the following shock erupted the scape. They were in a standstill as Krempt kept his spear quivered under the pressure of the Blight Lord's charge.

~

"It's tight," Elaine said as she considered her predicament. Under the heavy rubble, there was barely any way to move around. She was fortunate to at least not have her limbs crushed.

She continued to wriggle her toes underneath the slab to ensure that she had feeling in them. She doesn't have too much arm space nor does she have any visible exit. It was only a tinge of light that seeped through the gaps.

"Not a lot I could do under this circumstance." Elaine only received the power of acute perception and senses. She didn't gain any powerful physical strength nor did take the necessary divination to provide support.

The last time she had felt this hopeless was during her last phase of training with the Sisterhood. They underwent an arduous course to develop skills that aided the Cosmos covertly in order to stop its natural foe. The last part of that training was to be ingulfed in the darkness.

The memories of the pain she had experienced rose from the back of her mind. The horror she had to commit in order to save herself and the pain she had to go through. They returned as flashes but this time there was no outlet to release that tension.

There was nothing she could do but wait.

It wasn't long till a single tear fell down her face. "Help me."

That was all she could do, to call for help.

"Please, someone." The images in her mind formed a familiar appearance. Though unlikely he was to come to her aid, she still clung to that image for reassurance. "Please..."

There was no use, her voice was too hoarse to be heard and her body became weary. Within the span of 24 hours, she had used her essence to empower herself and it wears its vessel down. She didn't have any proper rest to recuperate.

The light through the gaps seemed to become fainter and the rumbles slowly pieced her concrete grave together. It wasn't long until she was completely crushed under its weight.

"HERE!" She heard a voice through the seams. "I need help with this!"

The faint light began to flicker as the commotion outside got closer to her. It then graced Elaine with a yawned glow that warmed her face. The light was almost blinding.

A silhouette blocked a part of the light blinding her and a hand came through the gap.

"Her legs under a slab, get these things off please," the voice called out as if they had noticed her predicament without her saying so.

"It's alright, El," he said softly. "I found you."

Allen and a few others were lifting the weight off and she could feel the burden lighten from her foot. She assisted the best she could to lift her own burdens and together they successfully got Elaine free.

"Canny, could you help her?"

"Yeah, yeah, it doesn't look too bad." A woman in a lab coat approached her and gave her the full aid to help ease the pain.

"You alright?"

Elaine couldn't help but feel elated to see his face again after worrying so much. She came here to help him but the irony almost made her laugh. "Do I look like someone so fragile?"

"Huh? Uh, no but-" Allen was caught off guard for a second.

"I'm fine, thank you," she said softly. "What's the situation?"

"Aren't you the busybody?" Canny commented. "It's not looking too good. Karl is holding off Gluttony but the other Blight Lords are rampaging through the Thiadigm."

"John? Pride?"

"Pride is out, but John is getting some attention." Those words were supposed to sound reassuring but Allen's expression says otherwise.

After taking a breath, Elaine stumbled to her feet.

"You shouldn't be moving," Canny was trying to keep Elaine still but she patted Canny's hand away.

Once she was up, Elaine saw the collateral damage of the ensuing battle. "There is so much carnage."

"Yesterday-" Cilli said as he stood next to them. "It was just yesterday that these streets were filled with joy and satisfaction."

It was surprising to see Allen's acquaintances with them. It seems as though they were determined to do something about the situation.

"Millions used to roam about without a worry in the universe," a half-ork said next to Cilli. He must have been the muscle that helped lift the rubble. "Now."

"Now, we'll take it back." Allen stated as he glared unto the battlefield. The explosions and the roars of the creatures before didn't deter him.

"Are you sure you're up for this?"

Elaine knew that Allen wasn't like them. He didn't have any overpowering strength nor a potent skill that made him stand out. No, he wasn't like anyone here.

"I may be weak," he said almost shivering under his words. "I may not have anything special." He grips his hand tightly. "However, I won't stand by and watch!"

Yes, Allen wasn't like them. Even when he knows his weakness, he can muster the strength to overcome the obstacles placed before him.

"So, what's the plan?" Cann questioned but she knew this wasn't going to turn out well.

"I might have something in mind." He said with a mischievous smile on his face.

~

"What can we do?" Sera asked the Thiadigm. John wasn't looking too good. His face was pale and his breathing was heavy. The wound placed on his chest missed his vitals but there was something that was hurting him badly.

"His vessel has been struck."

"What?!" Damaging a vessel is dire. This is worse than getting your heart struck since the Vessel is a conceptual object that maintains the Essence of Life. There was no physical treatment to repair a damaged vessel.

"We need to repair it." The Thiadigm did not waste any time and began to remove his arm plates to get a better touch with the body.

"How long will that take?"

"Depends on the person." The thiadigm began to motion his hands outward. To the naked eye, it seemed like he was preforming a weird stationary dance but to those who are acute with even magic, they can see him gathering the essence of the environment around him. "Considering the corruption in the air as well, this might take a while."

"As long as you save him," Sera said out of concern. John was their only chance in turning the tide in this battle. Sir Karl cannot keep fighting the Blight Lord by himself and since the other Lords seem to be missing, there was no way to know how the battle will go.

"If we can gather more essence, the better." The thiadigm then repeated the motion of gathering the essence from the air and flowed it through John's body.

Sera though for a bit and came up with an idea. "I'll give you something better."

The Thiadigm wasn't sure about her statement, but they knew that she was the best person to come up with unorthodox methods. There was no time to think about risks. "Please."

~

"What's the matter, High Chief? Running out of steam?"

The unrelenting strikes of the Blight Lord made Karl tremble to his feet. It wasn't that he was afraid of the battle but it was taking a toll on his body. It has been too long since he had to engage in close quarters combat.

Porcus released another wave of energy towards Karl and he deftly avoided the strike but another wall of energy was coming his way. There was no time nor any room of evasion. He had to take the hit.

Karl empowered his body to resist the attack but the impact made him hurdle a couple feet before crashing into some rubble.

"Is this all the High Chief of Kasipeia can offer?" Porcus mocked the weakened Chief.

Karl used his spear as a walking stick to lift his tired body from the ground. He was already heaving in pain and a smidge of blood dripped from his face.

"This isn't looking too good."

Porcus was siphoning energy from somewhere but Karl couldn't see where it was coming from. If he understood the Blight Lord's equipment, he could say that the mantle on his shoulders was made from a magical beast. It would explain how he could barely chip at it without breaking it entirely. Even with his full strength, that bone was unbreakable.

His axes, one siphons and the other releases energy. However, Porcus wasn't siphoning energy anytime during their bout. So, where is this energy coming from?

Karl needed to unravel this mystery before the battle turns awry.

Karl saw Porcus raise his arm and immediately avoided, however, that was a faint. Porcus had switched the axes and used his other arm to slashed towards the Chief.

Karl barely avoided the strike.

"You think I'd use the same arm twice," Porcus mocked him more. "Even a monkey could see that coming."

"I bet you didn't see this one though."

Porcus hadn't noticed but the Chief didn't have his spear in hand. The spear was in the air hurdling down towards the Blight Lord.

"Paltry tricks," the Blight Lord said as he raised his axe to the air to block the spear's strike, however he was struck from the back with so much force that it sent him flying towards Karl.

Karl met the Blight Lord with his arm to give him a Lariat. "Wha-"

Karl kept him in his arm for a sec to sling the incoming force back, sending the Blight Lord to the air, where Titan was ready with another attack.

"You're not getting me!" Porcus was about to release a slash of energy but his hand was pierced with a spear of light, forcing him to release the axe. He thought John had awaken but this was different than John's.

Of course, considering the Thiadigm work directly under the High Chief, he would also learn their traits as a part of his uprising.

Karl Krempt summoned another spear and threw it, hitting the Blight Lord's other hand, releasing the axe from his hand.

"GRAAAGH!" Before the Blight lord could retaliate, Titan grabbed him midair and dropped with a lightening Supplex, cratering the ground below.

Titan hopped from the crater to keep a distance.

"Did that get him?" Karl asked uncertain of the damage.

"Not enough," Titan replied.

"Then," Karl summoned more of his essence to call upon a dozen spears, right above the crater. He then released them with intense force. The sound of the impact is like the crackling of lightening descending from the heavens, shaking the ground below them.

Karl had stopped for a second to guarantee that the strikes were enough.

However, an ominous glow emitted from the crater followed by guttural laughter. "You apes think you can take me down with that measly attack?"

What emerged was not the same Gluttony as before. It continued to grow to such a height that it made the two outstretch their necks upward.

His was covered in a mesh of Blight Goo and the tusk that dawned his shoulder fit perfectly into the jaws of the malformed beast. The eyes gleamed with a purply glow but its body did not grow any fat, malnourished and bony to the point that its joints protruded from the oozy shell, like spikes off the cliff.

"Let me show you true potency!"

As he stood on its hind legs, it towered over the two of them. The Blight Lord of Gluttony revealed his true form.

~

"Are you mad?" Ronx exclaimed over the intercom, slightly deafening Sera.

"This should work," Sera said satisfied at her work. Connecting the last line, she looked over at the amalgamation of cords and wires that were all leading to the Stitches. All of them were connected to John.

"That could kill him!"

"That statement is not 100% true."

"And what you're saying is?!"

"Not exactly, but!"

"Do you really wanna risk John's life on this?"

"You have any other bright ideas?" This made Ronx flinch a bit. "Maybe something as convenient as a well of essence lying around maybe?"

"Well, no," Ronx was stumped. It's true that the only power source now that could restore a vessel would be their Ouroboros core but there were complications to this hypothesis. "Are you sure this will work?"

"It's a chance I'm willing to take." There was no use convincing Sera at this point. She was always stubborn when it comes down to it. However, when the time does come, she always pulls through.

"Okay," Ronx said hesitantly. "Whenever you're ready, Cap."

"On you, warrior."

The Thiadigm, although aghast to the idea, readied himself.

The idea was to use the power of the Ouroboros core, something that only a few ships can have to travel through warps, to give enough energy, allowing the Thiadigm to restore John's vessel.

This has never been done before due to the outlandish thought of it.

Thiadigm gave the signal and Sera responded, "First charge!"

Ronx pulled the switch and opened the siphon from the core for a second, before closing it. The energy surged through the coils and entered John's body, the Thiadigm struggled for a bit from the sheer amount of power from that single burst.

John's body convulsed, his back arched and his eyes squeezed tightly. After the burst, his complexion was still the same. It seemed like it was getting worse.

The Thiadigm signaled for another go.

"Second Charge!"

The ship hummed to life this time for a little longer than before, sending John to the depths of pain. They put a cloth over his mouth to ensure he doesn't bite his own tongue off.

The Thiadigm signaled again.

"Third Charge!"

~

"Move!" Karl pushed Titan out of the way as a wave of energy burst from the Blight Lord's body, sending everything away within a radius.

Titan couldn't do anything but watch as the High Chief was struck by the attack, soaring a couple feet away till he plummeted to the ground with a cratering tumble.

"CHIEF!" She called out to him but soon her vision was blocked by an enormous arm. She didn't have time to react so she held her guard up to embrace the impact.

"That won't save you!"

Titan was sent flying towards the buildings on the opposite side. Her body didn't move an inch as she was rendered unconscious.

"What will I do to you now?" The blight lord chuckled, sending shivers down Karl's spine. "I might as well consume you but I want to savor what I can. I cannot simply let such delicacy go to waste in a single go."

The Blight Lord inched closer. With each step, the ground quivered. "First, I might start with the shoulders, fine meat from a spear user." His mouth began to water with a tinge of ooze, sparkling under the dim light of the sky.

"Then I'd go for the legs, maybe deep fried under some oil." His eyes, despite glowing with a purple haze, seemed to be hollowed. There was no life in them, a void that reached to the pit of its unending stomach. "Of course, I'd do it all while you are still conscious. Meat always tastes best when fresh."

As his putrid snout got closer to Karl's sweat beaten face, the High Chief could see that the end of his life could be at the beginning of the Blight Lord of Gluttony's mouth.

"How 'bout some wild catch?" A voice echoed from the distance.

The Blight Lord turned to search for the next prey but was met with a sword in its eye. "GRAAAAAAAAAGH!" He wailed in pain as the sword dug deeper into its skull.

He clawed at the blade only to find that no one was holding it. He did see a streak of red zoom pass his peripheral. He scanned the area but couldn't catch up to whatever was running about him.

He was then suddenly struck in the back with another blade. Immediately, he tried to reach for the source but the strike was in his blind. His body's deformity made it impossible to claw at whatever is attack him.

He decided to ram his back into the building, hoping to scratch that sudden itch.

The debris from that building were about to fall upon Karl. In swift succession, Elaine picked him up and ran as fast as she could to avoid the debris.

"DAMN PESKS!" The blight lord twisted its arm to reach the blade stuck into his back. He was about to go on a rampage but the blade made an odd beeping noise. He looked to inspect it and found rune bombs with a timer attached to it. Before he could toss it, it exploded near his face, tearing away the decaying skin with his right arm.

"Good job, El!" Allen complimented Elaine as she returned with Karl beside her.

"Yungins, what are you doing here?"

"Giving aid." Allen replied with a smile on his face. To the chief, his look seemed so familiar. It was the snarky kind of look that annoyed him at first but gave him a sense of reassurance. He knew that this must have been the brother John was so proud about.

Karl noticed that he didn't come alone. Above the Blight Lord, at the top of the building stood a half-ork with a giant battle axe on hand. He leaped off the ground and careened down on the Blight Lord.

"I will get you for that!" Before the blight lord could begin to muster power, his left arm was swiped clean. "GRAAGH!"

Krazong then swung another attack towards the hind leg. However, on impact, the ooze from the skin hardened quickly, sticking the axe to it.

Porcus reached down with his mouth to take a bite out of Krazong but he leapt back, leaving a rune bomb to meet his jaws. The explosion tore his jaw open.

The Blight Lord of Gluttony was roaring with its jaw swinging about and arms flailing. Within its mouth came a surge of energy, pointed towards the group.

"CILLI!"

The Blight Lord released that energy, sending a beam of dark matter towards them.

Cilli came in a nick of time, placing a platform in front of them. He then pressed a button he was holding, activating it. A deflector field was the most efficient way to return oncoming attacks.

The beam was immediately reflected back to the blight lord, striking at his torso. From the large body popped out the original Porcus, tumbling on the ground.

"NOT YET!" Allen yelled as he began to rush down to the battle himself, but not towards the Blight Lord.

Krazong was the quickest one to meet Porcus.

"YOU PIG THINK YOU CAN STOP ME!?" Porcus recalled his axes to him, ready to strike with a wave of energy.

Karl was about to warn the Half-ork but Krazong knew the dangers those weapons hold. Despite his build, Krazong stretched back, barely avoiding the slash. His knees scrapped the ground below and his hand was outstretched.

However, Krempt noticed he didn't have a weapon at hand. What was he planning to do without one?

It was then that a spear was sent flying towards the half-ork who caught it without avoiding eye contact with the Blight Lord. He used the spear's tip to slash at Gluttony's hind legs, using the Blight Lord's size to his advantage as he slipped through.

Elaine swiftly joined in as she leaped high into the air. She stretched her hand out and received a sword. She used her height to carry a momentum to strike the Blight Lord in between his collar, a critical hit.

The Blight Lord retaliated with a wave of energy just like the one that sent Karl flying.

They leaped a short distance away but it was not far enough to escape the oncoming blast. It was then that platforms landed before them and out came a different shield, one that would safely keep whoever stood behind them out of harm's way.

Karl was dumbfounded. These were new recruits who had no battle experience with his understanding, were standing toe to toe with a Blight Lord. For a moment, they were taking the high ground. However, it was only for a moment.

Gluttony, enraged by this sudden development, furiously swiped in the air with his axe, sending multiple slashes of energy at random. The shields won't hold their own and getting out of cover is too risky.

Krazong was trapped in the fire and noticing his shield was falling apart, wanted to escape but before he could do anything, the Blight Lord appeared right beside him.

The Blight Lord, with a vicious strike, swiped at the Half-Ork, sending him a couple feet away. Elaine responded swiftly but was met with a fist to the stomach. "You think that increasing your numbers with even the odds... WITH ME?!"

Karl wanted to help but was then held down by Canny. "Leave this to them while I treat you."

"They need help!"

"Not yet," Canny said as she began to use her own essence. The light that emitted from her palm washed over the High Chief, giving him a feeling of warmth and a sense of ease, like his fatigue began to fade away gradually. "Not when they are doing their best."

Elaine wasn't done yet. She stretched her arm out and received a great sword. It was heavy to hold but the momentum was enough to swipe at the Blight Lord's arm. Though it stopped at his bone, it was enough for him to reel back.

Krempt didn't notice at first but Allen was going around gathering weapons from the battlefield. With this, he was able to support those that were fighting.

Elaine fell to her knees. The impact was too heavy for her to recover quick enough.

The Blight Lord was about to use his axe on her but before the impact, Titan returned to the battle with a fist to his face. The impact was enough to disorient the Blight Lord. She followed up with a grapple, holding the axe down.

"NOW!"

Elaine wanted to respond but there was not enough energy in her body. Krazong was still unconscious. Cilli was too far and Karl was still in the process of recuperating. All that was left was Allen who had a sword at hand ready to strike.

The Blight Lord was more amazed than shocked. He was pushed to this point from a couple of mortals who had yet to comprehend life's judgement. This was it for him.

Before Allen could deliver the final blow, a sudden quake erupted. The tremor was so great that Allen fell to the ground, dropping his weapon.

Immediately after, a ginormous beam of energy tore through the building, melting even the foundation a couple feet below it. Everyone was sent flying from the sheer wave of heat that followed. The intensity was so great that Allen felt that his face was about to melt off.

When the beam settled, at the end of it was an unfamiliar figure. He had what could have been massive wings but it was charred from receiving a direct hit. His body was miraculously intact with only severe burns and torn armor.

"You are sturdier than I thought," a thunderous voice echoed through the city. "Maybe another hit will do. Hmm?"

It was the stuff of legends. A being that was taught to little ones through stories and myths. They had been gone way before the incarnation of human-kind in the cosmos and were thought to be extinct. Before them stood a dragon.

"It seems as though you are in a bit of trouble my little pig."

"Blasphemous fool, I could have taken care of them if you hadn't interrupted."

Allen didn't notice till now but Gluttony had instantly recovered and was wielding his axes again. He could have died if he had gone in for the kill. They all could have.

The dragon burst into a roaring fit. "How can you not be thankful to your savior?"

The Blight Lord of Gluttony grunted, "It seems as though you had trouble yourself."

"Minor inconvenience."

Karl couldn't believe what he was seeing. It was wrath in his true form and this was no measly interpretation that Porcus conjures. This was Wrath's draconic form that was said to topple entire civilizations alone.

The one who had been hit was an aasimar, an angelic being said to be among the greatest descendants of archangels. To be even alive after that, it could only be called a grace from his ancestors.

"Pfft, to be using your draconic form for such a minor inconvenience. How petty can you be?"

"Speak more or hold your stomach. I sense something far more dangerous than the likes of that half-baked angel."

"What do you-" Porcus felt the sensation going down his spine. A huge surge of energy was gathering in a certain area, an energy that he was all too familiar with.

It wasn't just the blight lord that felt it. Everyone presents could feel it too. It was intense, so intense that the lingering miasma began to dissipate from the mere presence of him.

"I see that warm-ups are over!" That voice brought chills to those against and goosebumps to those with him.

"It's time to liven up the party!" A blinding light was featuring above the battle. It didn't make sense at first considering the clouds were still present. However, to those who knew, the light brought an omen of good fortune.

"JOHN!" Allen exclaimed, glad to see that his brother was all right.

"Who's ready to dance!" John said with that same grin on his face and a sparkle in his eyes.