Genesis Crisis IC

Satellite Cannon

"I'll be fine." Alina responded to Jax's inquiry as she got back to her feet. The air temperature dropped around her as the tiara of ice formed on her head. Even if she was hoping against hope right now, there was a chance it might slow the beast's reactions even a little. She had to take that chance.

Lisa, who was still looking a bit green, frowned at Rise's suggestion. Could she really even hope to move something that big? Would her magic even work on it? So far, it hadn't had any effect... James' words were far more terrifying though. Even guessing at what he had in mind made her stomach lurch again.

"He said something about coming back to eat us earlier." Keynes responded so Lisa wouldn't have to. "Something that big probably doesn't chew its food. So, I'm betting its insides aren't any more pleasant than its outsides."

Swallowing down her nausea, Lisa stumbled across the walkway to where Leviathan's coils were gripping the frame of the cannon. Her hand hovered inches from the rough skin for a moment, almost as if she were afraid to touch it, and then she tapped her fingers to it, removing them quickly as a magic circle spread around the coil.

It took all she had in her to push the coil even an inch away from the structure, but at least the spell was working. With the explosions caused by the dolls finally coming to an end, Leviathan seemed to realize this though, and there was a snapping sound as the coil loosened a bit. Taking the opportunity that presented itself, Lisa pushed her magic harder. That was exactly what Leviathan had planned for though...

With her concentration elsewhere, Lisa didn't even hear Alina's scream for her to move, and the lower portion of the coil she had been using so much effort to move wrapped over Lisa's legs, constricting to pin her up against the metal frame of the cannon.

The realization that she was trapped completely broke Lisa's concentration, and the coils tightened again, pressing across her chest as well and completely binding her against the cannon. Not good. She was running out of oxygen and couldn't inhale because of the pressure it was putting on her lungs.

Closing her eyes, she focused on pushing the coil away from her again. It had to be done. She couldn't afford for it not to be done. Her life depended on it...

"Help me pull it off!" Keynes barked, wedging his spear between the coil and the cannon about a foot away from Lisa. With a grunt of exertion, he pulled downward, prying the coil outward a tiny bit.

Satellite Cannon

Jax released his hold on Alina, watching as she moved away from him without even a glance, the familiar aura of ice and frost forming about her like a majestic mantle. Despite her fruitless attempts, she was determined to continue no matter what.

The Red Rider hung his head in shame, balling his hands into fists and clenching his teeth. He felt so useless. With the synth seraph gone, the Leviathan had take away all magic.

So what?

His strength was nothing compared to the might of this beast.

So what?

Nothing he could do would make a difference.

So what?

Maybe that was true... all of it. But that still didn't excuse him from trying with everything he had. He owed that to everyone. He owed it to Miki. He owed it to himself.

A familiar rush filled his body, and he could feel the air crackling with power, red arcs like electricity flashing about him. Yes.. this familiar power he'd touched on briefly during his fight with Valkenheiyn. If he could grasp it again, just this one time...

"Heat Riser!" he called loudly, feeling power explode through every cell in his body as the air seemed to roar around him and the metal splinter beneath his feet. With a burst of speed that dented the plating plating below him, Jax dove toward the monster, slamming his fists down on the monster's body. With a grunt of pain, the beast slackened its hold momentarily on Lisa. That was all Jax needed to wrap his arms around the Leviathan's body and sieze it in a powerful grip. With a mighty roar, he ripped the coil back from around Lisa, releasing her from its hold.

"Come on, Lisa, we have to force it back!" the Red Rider called to her, barrelling into the nearest bit of the Leviathan's body and punching, kicking, and pushing it back with all his strength. Lambda, seeing his efforts, flew to his aid. With a powerful cry, she sent her capacitors to maximum as she pushed against the creature's body.

Kokonoe, who had been watching the proceedings with a feeling of resigned hopelessness, was suddenly seized by a mad inspiration at the sight of Jax's demonstration.

"He used his Overlimit, despite the fact that the synth seraph was removed from his body..." she whispered to herself, rubbing her forehead. "Is it possible that..?"

Her eyes searched for Keynes, and she hurried over to him and clutched at his arm.

"Keynes, the Overlimits!" she rattled off frantically. "They're spells beyond the ordinary strain magic, beyond Leviathan's own power. If my theory is correct... they might be powerful enough to damage it where usual spells can't."

Satellite Cannon

James shrugged, secretly glad he didn't have to push on. Lisa continued to try Rise's advice of lifting the Leviathan away, and it actually started working, but the monster was far too smart and trapped her, binding her to the cannon.

James hurried over to Keynes and Lisa, trying to pull the Leviathan further away to keep her from being suffocated and crushed. It was no use. Despite all their efforts, it only let up a little bit.

Suddenly Jax rushed forward, using his overlimit. He looked surprised. How did he use magic without his synth seraph? He shook his head. It didn't matter now. All that mattered was that it worked. With Keynes' help, he pulled Lisa out and steadied her.

"You okay?" he asked her worried. His eyes drifted over to the monster, seeing how it was affected by the use of Overlimits. "Please try. Your Overlimit is probably the most effective." James ground his teeth, annoyed that he couldn't be of any help if only Overlimit spells could affect the Leviathan.

Satellite Cannon

"Only overlimits work?" Alex muttered in anger, as he looked up at the leviathan with his eyes set on the creature still blinded by the darkness spell.

It seems like the vision based spells worked on it though, so for the the time being the best he could do was keep the creature blinded and divert its spells away from the main ground with the noise he makes. So, Alex quickly got ready to cast again, as he pointed his katana at the creature.

"Mamudo." Alex yelled again recasting the spell, as he quickly dashed away from the coil to draw the creature's attention.

"Hey, over here!" Alex yelled throwing a piece of debris at the creature in a desperate attempt to draw it away from the main ground with his katana held in front of him ready to defend the barrage of spells.

Satellite Cannon

Lisa gasped for air as they slowly pulled Leviathan's coiled tail away from her, giving her a chance to breathe again. With renewed vigor, she forced the spell a little more, helping to shift the monstrosity off of the cannon.

Meanwhile, Keynes nodded at Kokonoe's words. "I guess it makes sense in a strange way..." He responded, glancing down at the handful of crystals that were essentially useless right now. "Everyone unleash your overlimits on it!" He called out to the group, but it seemed like the beast had different ideas.

Above them, Leviathan's head thrashed back and forth in the darkness Alex had inflicted upon it before it let out another predatory roar. Even through the thick darkness, the spell circle could be seen forming, and then, light burst from the shadows as Leviathan fired an Absolution Axis down on the group.

Satellite Cannon

Jax continued to pummel the Leviathan's body, trying to do as much damage as he could before the effect wore off. Punch, kick, ram, slam, smash - his attacks were a blind frenzy of movement. Rise watched him in awe before snapping out of it, staring up at the beast.

"Most of us don't even have Overlimits..." she whispered desperately before glancing over at James. Hurrying over to him, she cought him by the arm and looked imploringly into his eyes.

"Is there some way for you to try to use your Overlimit offensively?" she asked him. "We have to try everything we can."

Jax and Lisa were already trying their hardest, and Kokonoe and Keynes couldn't use magic at all. The rest of them would have to try their best to figure out some way to help.

"I need... I need to do this," she thought, closing her eyes and holding her fan out, diving deep within herself. "I have to try to find an Overlimit."

Meanwhile, Lambda had flown into the air once more, her eye glowing as she extended her hands to activate her Overlimit.

"Angelic Ray!" she called, unleashing a barrage of lasers that teleported to strike Leviathan from all angles.

Satellite Cannon

James watched, his hand balled into fists, while Jax and Lisa tried to combat the Leviathan. He couldn't help but feel a little desperate, his Overlimit was purely defensive. Even though the conditions were right, he still couldn't help.

Suddenly Rise gripped his arm and stared into his eyes, asking him to do what he could. To use his Overlimit in an offensive way. James swallowed hard and then nodded, looking determined. "I'll try," he said.

He was the one who created his Overlimit, the one who formed it, so there damn well better be a way to change it. Closing his eyes, he concentrated deep on the magic within him. If he wanted this to work, he would have to fully embrace this power that he had always partly rejected.

Everyone was doing their part, so he had to try. He would. For Rise.

After almost a full minute, he took a deep breath and pushed his hands together. "Lightning Surf," he called out and pushed his hands outward. This time, instead of the lightning materializing under his feet, smaller discs, like circular saw blades, appeared all around him.  With a swipe of his hand he sent the wave of flying discs towards the Leviathan. The razor sharp edges aimed to embed themselves into its skin, sending lightning through the monster upon contact.

James looked a bit surprised. "Well that worked better than I thought," he murmured and pushed his hands together to conjure another wave of lightning discs.

Satellite Tower

Alex watched in horror as the beast somehow fired an absolution axis straight for the group.  The holy and brilliant light from the sun now being used against them by something that was the complete opposite with its beast-like and disgusting appearance.

"Like hell!" Alex yelled at the beast, as he quickly changed his spell from the casting stance he was in to another spell.  The magic circle changed from a darker and more dim color to a more neutral color that gave saftey and protection.

"Makarakarn." Alex yelled, as a magic circle appeared in front of the group to protect them from the approaching spell.  But as the spell faded, Alex looked at the barrier in bewilderment wondering how he casted that spell yet again.

"What's going on?" Alex thought, as he looked down at his hands for a brief moment with his brain stunned. What else could he do with this power?

Satellite Cannon

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Rise opened her eyes, feeling her heart plummet with disappointment at her ability to do anything. Jax was still pummeling the Leviathan with everything he had. Lambda was unleashing her barrage of lasers to the point of dangerously depleting her energy. Lisa was pushing the beast back with all her might. James had managed to adapt his Overlimit offensively. Even Alex was protecting them all from the Leviathan's spells.

"Please, I need to help too," she thought. "Just this once."

Something that would damage the monster. Something that would replenish the energy her friends had exhausted battling so many foes.

"I want to help them. And I want to stop that monster too," she told herself, feeling magic rise within her. She brought up her fan automatically, feeling the air sizzle around her.

"Feathers of the Phoenix!" Rise called, slashing her fan at the magic circle. A storm of flaming feathers burst forth, exploding all over the monster's body. And wherever the feathers hit, a stream of light burst forth that healed the closest teammate. Wounds were mended instantly, and everyone's energy was replenished to its maximum.

"I did it," she whispered, feeling tears spring at her eyes as the best roared in rage.

Satellite Cannon

Spoiler:

The beast writhed and flailed as Lambda, Rise, and James' overlimits cut into its tough skin. Lisa squeaked and dove to the side as its massive tail crashed into the cannon beside where she had been standing.

Keynes could only stand by and watch as the others poured their energy into taking down Leviathan. He had nothing left to contribute to this fight, nothing left to give...

As its most recent attack was reflected by Alex, Alina darted forward, tipping the crown from her head and throwing it into the air. The circle expanded as it spun towards Leviathan, and just as the beast opened its mouth to roar again, the crown collapsed around it, pinning Leviathan's jaws together.

The beast's eyes glowed with rage as it surveyed the group, and it dipped its head low, smashing the ice against the side of the cannon with enough force to make the frame shake.

Keynes grabbed the railing for stability, and wrapped an arm around Kokonoe's waist to keep her from going down as well. Alina wasn't quite as prepared for it, but she managed to stop herself from toppling over completely by going to one knee. Lisa wasn't quite as lucky, and once more found herself thrown to the ground, rolling until she came to a stop at Rise's feet.

"Hi..." She said weakly, just before she realized that fragments of the ice that had been holding Leviathan's mouth shut were falling towards them. Reacting instantly, her arms went up. "Garu!"

The shards were blasted away, but without them to block her vision, she could see the magic circle forming in front of Leviathan's now opened mouth. Like dark ink, it drew black lines through the air, and as Leviathan inhaled, they seemed to bleed upwards for a moment, only to be washed away in a glowing rush of explosive energy that was aimed directly down on the two women.

OOC: Alina, if you'd be so kind as to have James rescue our two damsels in distress, I'd appreciate it. : P
And Danny, have Alex dive in to try and do the same, but let James get them out. Only Alex needs to be at the heart of this attack. (Illya should pm you the rest.)

Satellite Cannon

Their attacks finally showed some effect and James breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe there still was a way to defeat this monster. Next to him, Rise suddenly released a spell, no an Overlimit. Despite having two strains, she overcame the limitations. That girl never ceased to amaze him.

The healing energy washed over him and he found his tired muscles and mind replenished, full of new energy. He prepared to cast his Overlimit again, when without warning the Leviathan turned to counterattack, aiming his pitch black spell at Rise and Lisa. No, he couldn't let her get hurt, not after what she achieved.

There was not enough time to call out to them so he simply reacted, quickly redirecting the energy from the Overlimit back into the defensive form. "Lightning Surf!"

His hand wrapped around Rise's waist while the board of lightning formed underneath his feet. "Hold on tight," he said and grabbed Lisa's hand, pulling her up. In the next second they sped through the air, just before the explosive energy from the spell impacted on the very spot they just stood. The shockwave from the explosion still reached them, but James managed to steady the board and circled around to land safely on the platform.

"Everyone still in one piece?"

Satellite Cannon

Alex felt the refreshing energy from Rise's overlimit, as it washed away all his fatigue, and while he was surprised about her overlimit... he was even more surprised from the sensation he felt.

It was hidden before amongst all the battles, but now it felt almost clear to him.  There was a certain power within him that made him feel more powerful, connected to the beast in front of him, and with it he might be able too...

"No, Lisa, Rise!" Alex yelled, as he quickly yelled afraid at what the pitch black spell could mean as he used his new found energy to dash with all his might towards the girls.

Thankfully, James grabbed onto the girls and got away with his overlimit, as Alex was able to breathe a sigh of relief for the time being until he realized he was right at the heart of the spell.  The beast was starting right at him, and he was going to die if he didn't do something right away.

"I need to do something, something that involves my powers..." Alex thought to himself with determination.  He saw Rise cast an overlimit, so he should be able too as well right?

The blast from the ferocious spell soon engulfed Alex, but the explosion didn't move past him at all in fact it seemed like it was being drawn into a black hole or something.  Eventually the energy from the blast got weaker and weaker until it was clear as day to see Alex with a gray magical circle floating in front of him, and part of the sataliate around him was just missing in such a clean cut manner.  It was almost like someone cut through the metal as if it was butter with a knife.

But the strangest feeling of it all was the energy that surrounded Alex, there were sparks of light that seemed to contain countless bits of energy floating around him changing colors frequently before it was drawn into the magical circle with the circle soon mimicking the very same light.

"Antimatter" Alex yelled, as a ray of pure and hostile energy was launched at the creature with even more power and size then it had from before.

Satellite Cannon

Rise stared up with a mixture of awe and horror as the Leviathan unleashed its most powerful spell down upon them. As Kokonoe accurately assessed with a panicked yell, the spell was enough to wipe out the entire satellite cannon in one stroke.

Before she realized what was happening, James had whisked by and scooped up her and Lisa, moving them out of the direct path of the enormous magical blast. But even then, the shockwave and explosion of the cannon would probably still reach them... and Kokonoe, Keynes, Jax, Alina, Alex...

"Alex!" Rise screamed as he moved directly into the path, seeming to draw in the massive amount of energy before redirecting the blast right back toward the beast. Could this really be it? Could that be enough to stop the monster?

"How did he do that?" Kokonoe whispered, clinging shakily to Keynes arm as the moment of impending death seemed to turn on its head. Jax staggered back, staring transfixed at Alex's Overlimit in action.

"Wow.. he really had it in him..." the Red Rider breathed, shaking his head.

Satellite Cannon

"I think I'm still alive." Lisa responded, giving James a crooked smile, although it didn't last long when she saw the blast bearing down on Alex. No... It wasn't bearing down on him. He was absorbing it. Lisa's horror turned quickly to shock as the air around Alex rippled and he actually reflected the attack back on the beast.

Leviathan's eyes seemed to widen in shock as well, and it tried to twist away from the blast, crushing the shaft of the cannon with its coiled tail in the process. It wasn't enough though. There was nowhere for the beast to run, and no way for it to divert the force of the impact that ripped the entire upper section of its body away, leaving behind only dust and the same ear-splitting scream that the giant Majin had once made as they were cut into.

Alina let out a breath that she didn't even realize she'd been holding onto and slouched backwards, relief flooding her system. It was finally over...

A few steps away, Keynes spoke the words aloud, leaning back against the railing and giving Kokonoe a wink. "Does it matter how he did it? It's over. That's all I care about."

"We did it!" Lisa practically squealed, wrapping her arms around James and Rise, pulling both of them into a hug as she jumped up and down. As her feet hit the ground a third or fourth time, it made an odd creaking sound though, and then the floor seemed to drop from beneath all of them as a loud bang echoed from beneath the cannon.

"I think the engine might have just given out!" Keynes barked, gripping the railing with one hand and holding onto Kokonoe with the other to keep the lighter woman from flying away.

"What ever would have given you that idea?" Alina called back from where she had pressed herself against the ground to keep the wind from getting under her.

Satellite Cannon

He watched stunned as Alex seemed to absorb all the energy from the Leviathan's attack and then blasted it back towards the monsters with much more power. Where did he get all that energy from? Was this his true power?

Only moments after the Leviathan was destroyed, he realized they were falling while the satellite cannon was breaking apart.

"C'mon," he said and pulled Rise and Lisa close. Holding on to what was left of the railing, they made their way over to Kokonoe and Keynes, fighting the pulling winds that kept them off balance. "Tell me you've got a way out of this," he asked Kokonoe loudly to make his voice heard over the whistling of the wind around them.

Satellite Cannon

Kokonoe stared at Keynes incredulously. She certainly felt his relief, but how could he have such little interest in that power?

"Of course it does!" she said, the scientist in her flaring up. "That was an unprecedented display of-"

She paused for a moment, then shrugged.

"Oh, whatever. I'm more than a little sick of these magic strains anyway," the researcher said, relenting. At the same time, Lisa had squealed and pulled James and Rise into tight hugs. Rise could only laugh somewhat hysterically as sweet relief finally washed over her. They'd done it. They'd finally done it.

But before it could really set in, the cannon gave a terrifying jolt and ominous noise. Jax, near the edge, was flung off the side with a cry of surprise, but a strong metal hand quickly snatched him before he could fall.

"There is no need for alarm. I have you," Lambda said calmly in her crisp voice. Jax's stunned mutter of thanks was nearly drowned out as the cannon shuddered again and began to descend more rapidly.

"We have to get off," Kokonoe said, ushering everyone in close as she tried to search for a Traesto gem in her pocket. With the worst bang yet, Kokonoe was thrown to the ground, the gem flying from her hand and over the side.

"That... was my last one," she muttered hoarsely. Her eyes swiveled over to Alex. If he really had the Unified Gene...

But before she could even propose her idea, a black blur shot from the water like a column of blackest smoke, high above them. The only distinguishing feature in the shadowy, serpentine mass were two glowing, venomous yellow eyes.

"Fools, did you really think you'd won? I told you already. As long as one with the Unified Gene exists, my spirit will remain grounded to this world!"

Leviathan's spirit descended on Alex, jaws opened wide as though to swallow him. Before Alex could move, before anyone could react, it has passed through Alex, encompassing him in a column of shadow as the dark spirit attempted to possess Alex's body.

"No, Alex!!" Rise screamed in horror.

Satellite Cannon

Alex fell to the ground out of exhaustion after casting his overlimit, as he caught himself with his right hand barely able to hold himself up.  His body was burning on the inside and it felt like he was being torn at from the inside and out… or like a black hole was inside his lungs.

“That spell took a lot out of me.” Alex mumbled with a smile, as he heard the cheering of the rest of the group in the distance.  Someone was jumping and Kokonoe was rambling about the great power he had just used.

It was difficult for sure, but the hard part wasn’t using all his strains to cast the overlimit but stopping that crazy thing from engulfing him.  But in the end it worked out, until a familiar figure appeared in front of Alex’s eyes.

Everything was burry at this point, as his eyes slowly began to recover and be able to make out the appearance of what was in front of him.  It was Will or whatever form that demon decided to take, but now the leviathan was gone and he… lost.  At least Alex thought that the figment was lost, as it dashed towards him adding to the pain that was already inside of him.

Everything went black, it felt like he could still move his arms but his vision and his body was starting to go stiff.  His strains felt almost nonexistent like it was being controlled by some hostile force, and it even felt like the strain inside of him was being grabbed and torn at.  But for some reason there was no pain, it only felt sickening like he was under some sort of painkiller while his vital organs were being torn out.

“What’s going on?” Alex mumbled, as turned towards were he remembered everyone else cheering. His hand reached out towards them, but for some reason he left like he was in another world now far away from them.

“How could I of failed?” Alex continued to mutter, starting to lose hope about the whole situation, thinking what would be happening to his friends right now since he wasn’t there…

Satellite Cannon

Lisa had never suffered from a fear of heights, but as the cannon plummeted, she quickly developed one. With white knuckles, she gripped James' shirt with one hand and the railing with the other. When they arrived at Kokonoe's location, she felt her stomach drop as the crystal tumbled over the edge and disappeared from sight.

Alina had slowly been crawling across the platform to where the others were when the black shadow descended. For a moment, her eyes went wide in terror, expecting the beast to rise up once more and finish them, but instead, it seemed to target Alex, and Will's words from before came rushing back to her mind. Alex was another possibly host for the creature...

"No..." She whispered, shaking her head in denial. They'd already lost too many friends to this creature, already sacrificed so much...

"Alex." Keynes growled, pushing Kokonoe towards James, Rise, and Lisa so he could stagger towards the boy, who seemed unable to move. After a moment of being jostled back and forth, he reached Alex and kneeled, shaking his shoulder. "Hey, Alex. Are you alri--?" The words died in his throat when he saw Alex's eyes, which had remained open, even though he didn't seem to be seeing anything. One of them had gone jet black, and the other was slowly darkening as well.

Lisa seemed to have realized what was going on as well, and she practically screamed from where she stood by the rail. "If you let that thing take over you and we all die from this fall, I'll kill you damn it! Get a grip already!"

Satellite Cannon

James watched in horror as first the last crystal tumbled off the platform and next the Leviathan's spirit descended down on Alex. For a few seconds he was speechless. How could everything change again so fast? At first it had looked like they finally succeeded, but now…the situation just seemed hopeless again.

He took a few steps towards the Alex, fighting for his balance and watched in horror as his eyes began to turn pitch black. "C'mon Alex!" he followed after Lisa voiced her thoughts. "You can't give up now! Think about what we've been through, don't let it end here damnit!"

Satellite Cannon

Kokonoe yanked Keynes away from Alex with shaking hands, unsure of how he might react. Even now, the Leviathan seemed to be eroding his mind and consuming his body. The idea was frightening and appalling, but at the same time, it made her angry.

"Hey, kid, I thought you were wanted to be some kind of hero!" she found herself shouting in accusation. "And now you're going to let this thing possess you and destroy everything? I thought you were better than that!"

Jax wasn't having any of it either. He distinctly recalled working out with Alex and the words they'd exchanged on the weight bench. If any of them had a strength and determination of spirit, it was Alex.

"Hey, Alex, I know you remember that conversation we had! Do you really want to carry this burden on your shoulders? Come on, man up! You don't have to let this thing control you!" Jax yelled, raising his fists in passion.

But Rise was the most emotional of all. She'd already lost one best friend today; she was not about to lose another.

"Alex! Don't you dare think of giving up and leaving me all alone!" she screamed, tears running down her face. "I can't lose another friend! I can't lose you, you idiot! Fight that thing!"

The group huddled together tightly, Lambda standing in the front and shielding the others for any sudden moves, as they watched and waited. The wavering shadowy aura around Alex seemed to be growing stronger and more dense, and the satellite cannon was descending ever more rapidly and beginning to fragment.

Time was running out.

Satellite Cannon

The entire world began to dull around Alex’s eyes, and it felt like he was blinded in a matter of seconds expect the darkness took on a new form.  It seemed to be darker than the color black, and moved around like it was some liquid that was engulfing him, almost like being stuck in the ooze of a majin.

“What…?” Alex muttered, as he felt a surge of pain, air, and life flow into his shoulders as it felt like something attempted to pull him back into the real world.  The liquid squealed and screamed at this interference and quickly countered it, as Alex was plunged back into darkness.  But the murky liquid was too slow; his mind began to listen to the outside world.

“You think I don’t know that?” Alex for some reason thought in response even though he didn’t hear anything, as the image of Lisa with that typical strict expression glaring at him like he did something wrong.  Alex couldn’t help but chuckle a bit, as it seemed the slightly tainted liquid began to hide from the angry in Lisa’s voice.

“Hm?” Alex muttered, as he noticed a figure gloss through the waters for a view moments that seemed to resemble James.  The amount of caring of the well-being of everyone and not just him resonated through his voice, like a loyal knight who protected his friends until his last breath.

Spoiler:

Soon voices began to barrage him from all directions, as the waters around him turned crystal clear filling with images from his memories that aligned with the voices.

Kokonoe yelling at him back at the meeting that felt like such a long time ago…. It’s hard to believe that they ever didn’t trust her.

Jax fighting valiantly for his sister and the better times when he put too many weights on the dumbbell when Alex was in the middle of lifting…

But most of all Rise and their time at the university and how they shared all their secrets and trusted each other through trail and trail again, and while they didn’t have Will with them anymore or ever in that matter, it’s amazing to see how much she grew.  She was embarrassed just some time ago about her singing but now… she sang in front of an entire city changing the fate of the entire army.

“How the hell am I still letting this hold me back!?” Alex yelled in fury, as the amount of weight that this put on him was nothing.  They defeated the army, they defeated the legion this kind of weight is nothing!  

“Get out of me you bastard!” Alex continued to yell, as he reached out towards the clear waters were all his friends were and reaching back out into the light that they deserved to be in once and for all.

Satellite Cannon

The dark spirit of the Leviathan roared as Alex tried to buck control, and Alex's body convulsed on the ground beside Keynes, who shrugged Kokonoe off to reach down and keep him from hurting himself. One jet black eye swiveled towards Keynes, and there was a faint glimmer of toxic gold at its center, but before he could tell if he'd only imagined it, the darkness in the other eye began to recede, constricting back into the normal iris.

Alex's breathing was ragged, but he still somehow managed to push out a defiant roar, and it could only be called such, considering the ferocity with which it exited his lungs. The gold in his other eye surged for a second, and then winked out as the darkness faded from that one as well.

"Alex? Hey, Alex, wake up!" Keynes gave him another shake and was glad to see the man's eyes finally focus on him properly. Before anything could be said, a dark haze drifted from Alex's mouth though. As if displeased with being expelled, the haze twisted in the air, shooting back towards his nose.

"Garu!" Keynes flinched as a wave of wind washed over him, and the haze seemed to writhe in midair, trying to hold onto the body it was being pushed away from before finally giving in to the wind and dissipating into the atmosphere with a feral howl.

Lisa continued to grip the railing with her other hand, and the one she'd raised to cast the spell quickly found its way back to the railing as well. When Keynes shot her a questioning look, she tried to smile, but she felt more like throwing up than smiling at the moment. So, it probably didn't come out very well.

"Alex. Get it together man. We've gotta get off this thing before we hit the ground, in case you've forgotten."

"As if any of us could forget..." Alina muttered as she finally reached the others and pulled herself to a standing position.

Satellite Cannon

Rise could not stop the sudden burst of fresh tears - nor did she feel any compulsion to do so - as she rushed forward and embraced Alex, overwhelmed with relief. He'd managed to resist Leviathan's possession, and now it was finally gone.

"I know we're all relieved, but this really isn't the time," Kokonoe interjected, pulling Rise back. "Let's go, kid. We need that Traesto spell now."

Fortunately, such a spell was nothing compared to the Overlimit he had just pulled. As everyone pressed in together, they felt the familiar rush around them and the slightly dizzying distortion of space before finding themselves on the landing at the top of the stairs to the Imperial Palace. None too soon either. In the distance, they could see the form of the satellite crashing into the ocean, sending up a tremendous spurt of water. With that, it was finally over. The weapons of destruction that had put into motion all these vents were finally gone. The curtain had fallen.

"We did it," Rise whispered.

Raidon was the first to spy them, and he nudged Arya before signaling to the others. Lancar and the Army squad looked relieved and hurried behind Raidon and Arya as they ascended the staircase to reach the victorious members of Aegis.

But the first to greet them was Lecarde, still sitting where he had fallen with an expression of haunted disbelief etched on his young face.

"You're all heroes..." he said quietly, his eyes fixed particularly on Alina before he hung his head, his blonde hair forming a curtain over his face. "I was wrong all along."

Satellite Cannon to Imperial Palace

Their voiced had gotten through to Alex and the darkness around him faded away. When they all gathered in close, James gave him an encouraging squeeze on the shoulder, showing how proud he was that Alex managed to withstand the Leviathan.

The familiar rush of a Traesto spell surrounded them and a second later they found themselves back on the steps of the Imperial Palace. Only a few moments later, the satellite cannon crashed into the ocean and James finally allowed himself to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Yes, we made it!" he echoed Rise's voice louder and more cheerful. "And you were amazing." Without thinking he pulled her into a hug and spun her around once, before letting her go, looking slightly embarrassed. His hand ran through his ruffled blonde hair and he had a nervous grin on his face.

Thankfully in that moment the others arrived.

Snow had watched the cannon hit the water before he turned his attention to the members of Aegis who had just arrived on the steps of the Imperial Palace. He pulled Lizzy up.

"Looks like those kids pulled through after all," he said huskily and pulled out a cigarette. "Guess we do owe you guys a thank you," he grumbled as they headed closer. Despite his lack of emotion, he the relief showed plainly on his face

It took Arya a second to spot the others when Raidon nudged her. When she finally did, it felt like her heart lifted and became lighter and lighter with relief. She squeezed his hand tightly and as they ascended the stairs there was an unusual spring in her step.

"Oh God, they are all okay," she whispered to Raidon as they approached. "They made it. It's finally over and we are safe." A smile spread across her face, lighting up her features as the worry fell from her expression.

It made her especially happy to see Lisa, to see that her sister was unharmed. Letting go of Raidon's hand for the first time in hours, she took a hesitant step towards her.

Imperial Palace

"Yeah... Looks like we might live to see tomorrow after all." Lizzy said as she leaned against Snow. "Thank you all." She said, echoing his sentiments. "For everything you've done for the people."

Lisa tried to offer her a smile in return, but her eyes immediately caught Arya and Raidon approaching as well. The light in them seemed to dull a little, but it surged back as she stepped forward to meet Arya with a tight hug. "It's finally over..." She whispered against her sister's hair. "Now, I can say what I wanted to earlier." Lisa continued, enjoying the feeling of her sister's warmth against her for the time that it could last.

"I'm so sorry that you got dragged into this Arya. If I'd given in just a little, it could have been so much easier for you, and I know you may hate me for it, but I couldn't betray them. Not for you, and not even for my own soul..." The words were pained, as if they'd been torn from her, but they were spoken firmly. Her resolve was clear where all else fell away.

Keynes watched the two women embrace each other for a moment, and then he stepped forward, stooping over so that he was on eye level with Lecarde. "Being wrong isn't the end of the world." He said, speaking sofly. "Take that from someone who's been about as wrong as anyone can be for a damn long time." His eyes drifted to Kokonoe for a moment, and his expression softened. "The strength of a man is measured by how he makes up for that though." Still smiling, he extended his hand to the man.

Alina seemed somewhat bemused by the exchange, but there were other things on her mind, as there had been for several hours. Taking a deep breath, she turned to look at Jax. His eyes didn't quite meet hers, a slight she'd noticed on the satellite as well, or at least she'd thought she imagined it. Now, she was sure though. With absolutely no pretense, she walked over to him, placing her hands on her hips and looking up at him accusingly. "You're avoiding me."