Part 1

Dominique

Day 166

The battle is no longer physical; it is medical. Staff had little to no breaks, had little to no sleep. So did I. The bags under our eyes are heavy and our sight hurts to stay open, but we can't shut them yet. It didn't matter if they were Gaeriscelleh, Titane, Jersome, Ferilocks, Evanity, or Teketa. We all needed to pair up and help each other to help with the wounded. The advanced medical spells are able to help, but more keep piling up as more troops realise that they were paralysed and critically injured on the stained battlefield. We had volunteers help seek out survivors.

I help administer IV fluids to a Titane soldier, who is dehydrated and recovering from blood loss. Their blood never stops flowing and clotting is so slow. They have more blood than a human body and their skin is thicker. A cut with a kitchen knife won't break the skin enough to bleed, and it takes more lashes with a sword to slice it open. They have higher physical defence, but once that is damaged, they're done for if untreated.

Jersome is a next-door neighbour that had other things to offer. Their bodies and their technology rely on gas. Their thick pores from their hands, feet, and mouth can leak gases with different compositions and effects. Forty-seven of their soldiers leaked euphoric gases in their room to get themselves high and distract them from the pain. Five of them had to get their mouths, hands, and feet taped up because they made it hard for the staff to treat them because all of them were falling to the ground in laughter. Laughter is good and all, but they need to stay focused.

"Don't emit too much of it, otherwise, we will have to block your pores," I said to the Jersome soldier. His arm was cut off and has minor explosion wounds. I can see that pink gas exit his mouth. I'll know what is too much when the room is literally covered in a thick fog of pink or white or both.

"I won't," he says while smiling. Actual Translation: No promises.

I slide his medical room door shut and move on. I hope deep beneath his highness, he better listen. Their fog can slip out of the room and affect medical staff in the hallway. At least, the hallways are not as bad as they were days ago. We are quick. I pass by the entrance to the patio outside that is filled with Teketa. I froze and put my ears against the wall. I can still hear things on the other side of the wall even with background noises.

"Do you think our Lord will be happy?" I hear.

"I don't know. Perhaps, not."

"Should we carry out an attack?"

"Seriously, Entell? They are treating us without judgement and you wanted to go and attack them? I know you are afraid of the Lord, but hell, have some respect for outsiders. Don't get Netedinark's gatekeeping rules in your goddamn head."

Another voice comes in. "He hasn't met us on the battlefield at all. He told us he will be there."

"He said he will be there after defeating Bracus."

"He did say that, but where is he?"

"He probably is still battling him. Bracus is also a God."

"Yeah, but now, we are in Bracus's lands. How will he be happy about this?"

"He will be relieved that we are alive."

"And he will keep us fighting and fighting! I am sick of this routine. I wanted to settle down and date a Reveta girl!" I guess that Naomi is telling the truth, and her going out of her way to join a rebellious meeting did help in the long run.

"Really, the blanket-heads?"

"Yes!"

"We can't even date each other!"

Laughter ensues.

"Wait?! What?! We are brothers, Sons of Util!"

Laughter increases. I can't even help the weird look forming on my face.

"I meant that we couldn't date the lady soldiers, stupid!"

"Then, say that, dumbass!"

Both Naomi's observations and my eavesdropping prove more that Teketa are so irrational when they are not totally loyal to Netedinark or want to focus on themselves. Perhaps, this is my choice that I can both help the future of Verantuvia. No more fighting. They continue to laugh. I open the patio door. The piano stops and everything falls flat as I walk into the door as the character that everyone hates. They all stare at me. They know me as the secondary Alpha, Bracus's mate. They fear me from my first appearance when they ambushed Gaeriscelleh during the Blue Star Festival, which seems long ago.

"Are any officers present?" I ask out loud. I don't want to sound too dangerous or threatening.

None of them did. My wolf senses kick up. Their rank is by their higher frequencies. One thing Bracus learned and told Naomi. I see some of the waves did have higher frequencies. If they were visible, they are more intense than a tiny creature's heartbeat. I am not going to give up on my idea. I need to look less intimidating. They don't trust me yet. I relax my shoulders and smile. "Scratch that. I want to hear all of your voices. I wish to come to an agreement- A treaty, perhaps. I want this to end and we should all come to an agreement. Your voice matters."

That got their attention. Fine. I can hear their voices, all of them. "Is it okay that I can bring the other rules of the empires? They'll be fine to meet you all." They all agree.

I summoned up the rulers that were there at the previous meeting. I warned them to not be too judgy, but still be honest. I meet them all in the woods, not some meeting room. There are not enough seats for everyone and I think it's best to be out in the open. I need some air too. I set this gathering away from the bodies and where the air is not saturated with death. We all have a conversation with the Teketa. They got to meet the Gods that they wish to meet. They opened up to us. They were honest to us.

"There was a Reveta that helped our underground meetings. After our Lord attacked and imprisoned our people, she never came back. There were sayings that she was tormented by him...

"What was her name?"

"Kursa."

Blathnaid looks at me. Ourdera's teachings were written all over her face in a highlighter. I sigh. This is going to be hard. "She wasn't exactly a Reveta. She was one of our troops. She did something that angered Bracus. Her punishment was observing you. She gave us insight into what's happening behind those rough borders. Your troubles, your struggle, and your military. She helped us out, so we can provide refuge for those who were imprisoned."

"What happened to her?"

"She got caught and we did an emergency rescue mission. She was tormented by Netedinark. She did survive." Only for her to go back into it... She has been trembling left and right.

Some of them sighed in relief while some didn't.

"Where is she now?"

"Catching up with her father and uncle. The only family she has left."

"What's family?" One of them asks.

That makes me frown. It's the same thing that I feel for orphans that were never adopted, abused children, neglected, and those who were desolate in the world. A sad and chronic feeling that someone can be used to or unable to speak out. There may be close to eight billion people in the world, but not everyone is going to be their friend. It can still be an isolated place.

"A family can be two things. The people you are related to or the people you deeply care for. It can be both. Do you all know who you are related to?"

Not of a lot of hands raised. Gosh, it's hard not to cry at this moment. A lot of them don't know who their lost brothers, sisters, fathers, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, etcetera. They could have known they were born by someone, but were easily separated or they lost their parents when they were young. Titane and Jersome experienced heavy immigration thousands of years before today. Their ancestors must still be there.

"Do you have someone that you are close with?"

"We do develop bonds with some members of our squads or roommates. Don't know if they are deep though. We do have friends, but can't get close because we don't know when their days will be their last"

"Having a room for family and friends may be costly, but can give you something to fight for," I imply.

"Have you ever lost your family?"

My face tightens. "Yes," I croak, "I am not from this world."

"Wait! Which world did you come from?!" They ask suddenly and excitedly. Some of them remind me of schoolchildren or when college students finally are able to live by themselves after living with their parents for so long. I was also that person once. I enjoyed it at first and then it wore off.

"I am one from another universe. I am from Earth."

"Earth?!" They get more excited, "Another universe?! Holy shit!"

"Settle down," Ablen orders. They all did, but can't contain themselves.

"How did you get here?"

"I did see another girl say she is from Earth a long time ago with the Lord," Reveta mentions. Her frequency is high. Female Revetas still have that feminine voice like our species.

"Was her name Ivelisse?" I ask her.

"Seems so," she says while trying to recall.

"She was part of our coven, to which I bonded as my family."

Blathnaid blushes and smiles, very cute and hilarious. Her blushes are purple against her blue skin. She may be a blue-skinned, but she is still human as ever.

"Before them, I lost my daughter and son. All of them were very young. My former husband left me. I missed them very much and was sick with loneliness. I moved to another side of the world. Then, I met the coven. I developed a sibling-like bond with each of them. I will never forget them."

My head throbs into a very strong head pound. My hands clutch my head as I slam my head onto the ground in searing pain. I feel Bracus is in great danger. Netedinark is finally getting the upper hand.

What's wrong? Blathnaid asks telepathically.

Bracus is in trouble, I tell her, We have to help him!

You have to tell the Teketa what's going on.

They might turn against us!

Be honest with them. We have a choice not to kill Netedinark and stop him.

I stop clenching my head. "Netedinark is getting the upper hand. Don't worry, I won't kill him. I will stop this fight." Their faces flatten as all the previous happiness goes away. Some of them show their concerns that are not for me, but probably fear for the Lord himself. "He will help us come up with a treaty for us all. Blathnaid, you're coming with me. Other rulers, you have a choice to discuss with them or let them relax."

Blathnaid and I rush back to the castle. "You get Ella, Rick, and Phil. I will telepathically inform Markus, Naomi, Ivelisse, and Aelen."

"Yes, Dominique!"

I open up the telepathic link with the blue sorcery gem. Markus, Naomi, Ivelisse, and Aelen, meet us at the throne room at the castle immediately!

What's going on? Naomi asks. She doesn't sound amused at this at all.

Bracus is in danger! I reply urgently.

Got to save t'e boyfriend! Ivelisse sarcastically comes in. Thank goodness, that she said not in a goofy way, otherwise, I would've ripped her a new one. Markus and Naomi got in the throne room at the same time. Aelen is already there and Ivelisse arrives a minute after all showed up. Blathnaid later comes in with Ella, Rick, and Phil.

"Why are you bringing my dad?" Naomi asks protectively.

"It's urgent, Naomi," I tell her flatly.

"You're bringing him in grave danger!"

"Relax, Naomi, I'll be fine," Father Phil says to her.

"If he turns to stone, I will lose my shit!" She warns. Her electricity is going sharp like an indoor lightning show. His lightning is a dark purple, instead of blood red. When she struck a massive lightning attack in training, her lightning was red. Is that okay, right?

"Hey, Sparky, watch your lightning. You might cause a power surge," I remark.

Now time for the real topic. They already know what's going on. Blathnaid is going to grant those who can't handle space immunity, which is most of us. I give Blathnaid the location. I know he went to another planet to save Naomi days ago. I know where he is, but I can't trace him outside the planet.

"Remember, don't kill him," I say to them, but mostly directed towards Markus and Naomi, "I know it'll be hard."

Naomi looks down as her lips curl with disdain. "Get him off the planet."

"We need him to stop this fight, Naomi."

"I meant to get him off Uedie," she clarifies, trying not to go postal on me. I should probably dismiss her, along with her father and uncle, but we need all the people we can get. We need a full team. Netedinark can knock us all out if he decides to use his oblivion power. I guess, I will try to keep her father not so involved. I don't respond back. Blathnaid places a spell on Markus, Phil, Rick, Ella, and I. A blue magical wave dances around us and fades. "Go, Blath," I nod to her. She uses her powers and teleports us to Uedie.

"Holy moly," is all I can say. There are rifts everywhere, fallen buildings, and the planet is screaming for peace. I spot Bracus and Netedinark upon a large crystal foundation. Bracus's limbs are cut off, fighting to stay alive. The next second will give me the greatest scare of my life. Netedinark slices Bracus's head off. Blood, muscles, nerves, and the spine in the neck spew out as it rolls around on the ground.

A deafening howl comes out of me. I charge at Netedinark at space-breaking speed. I don't have to transform to become a beast. The power of the cosmos is speaking to me, telling me that it's by my side, forming around me. I crash into Netedinark; I shove him away with my own power. He didn't have time to react; he was blasted for a long distance. I feel the power coming back to me, pulsing me like a star. He is not done on my list.

Naomi goes behind me and resurrects Bracus. I exhale most of the tension out of my mouth. I rushed beside him, holding his hand.

"Thank you for the help," he says tiredly, "You didn't have to come here though."

"You were in danger," I say to him, caressing his cheek, "And I don't want to lose you."

A big blue flash at the corner of my eye makes me yelp. All of us wince. Blathnaid powers against Netedinark. He got back on his feet and tried to blast us. The scholar didn't want that. She looks at us, silently warning us that we need to get off the ground now. Naomi and I help Bracus up. By that time we got back up, Blathnaid saved us again.

Netedinark barely moves for a second before getting up and laughing. "Ourdera has taught you well," he says with a smirk. Blathnaid gives him a dirty look as she gets ready to blast him again. He insults, "At least, she doesn't ghost like a coward."

"You have never seen ghosting yet," Blathnaid remarks as she disappears into thin air.

Netedinark's body gets hit several times by the unseen power of Blathnaid. She creates a loud explosion of magic right in his face, sending him flying. Rick charges toward him as he is on the ground. He kicks him with mighty strength.

"I am not waiting for you to recover," he says to him coldly before beating his face into the ground.

Blathnaid reemerges with her hands raised in a what the heck position. "Rick, I almost blasted you."

"Call out your attacks!" Bracus lectures.

Rick stops and looks at her. "Sorry," he says.

"Don't stop, keep going!" Blathnaid yells at him.

Netedinark's tendrils slam Rick up in the air before slamming him back down. His tendrils are coarse enough that it tears off a layer of his shirt and skin. Blathnaid rushes to his aid to protect him from the upcoming tendril. She fails; she gets swept away by another one. We watch the tendril rip his head off just as when he was about to get off the ground. The nasty lord smirks. Naomi runs to resurrect Rick. She blocks off as many tendrils as she can before she gets stabbed by one, pumping venomous bugs into her. She collapses to the ground; she goes into a quiet breakdown by shaking and whispering to herself.

"Keep away from her!" Markus marches toward Netedinark. Dark wings appear on Markus's back. His body bursts into white flames. Red scalic armour martializes all around him. "I am not letting you control my Wrath. I am my own self that you take away from me," he spat.

Phil watches in worry from the man that came to our house disabled and is superhuman. Days ago, it took us a long time to calm Markus down and maintain self-control. He is making the cold dead planet erupt with fire. Netedinark is getting severe burns from the white flames as Markus clashes with him. He keeps coursing his tendrils to provide some sort of shield against the heat.

"He is not going to hold him back forever," Blathnaid implies.

"He's gonna take him to his oblivion," Naomi gets up. Her words sound tired and cynical. Her arms visibly twitching, and her back hunched over. She is still in a lot of pain. Lighting sprouts from her. Her lightning is very, very dark purple, almost black.

"Nao, no!" Blath screams.

A dark cloud bangs from Netedinark; both he and Markus vanish. Naomi growls animalistically. She screeches. "Markus! Keep fighting him!"

"He's powerless in his realm, Naomi," Blathnaid states.

"I dead-well know, Blath," Naomi argues. She yells out Markus's name again. She howls before collapsing again.

Silence. There's no wind. Not a sound. I find it weird that we can still hear our voices on this planet even without an atmosphere. It's either we are advanced enough to translate the silence of space or it's cinematic magic. Aelen takes this as an opportunity to run towards the beheaded Rick. He inspects his body. He tries to use his regeneration ability on him, but to no avail. "My body can snap back together with the other half of my body, but not a friend's head," he flares. He begs for his power to connect the head. Again, nothing. He can heal all kinds of ailments and injuries as long the person is alive; the dead or the beheaded won't bring him back.

"Can Naomi do it?" Phil asks, "She has done it before." He looks at his daughter, hoping she will get up, fight the agony, and resurrect a companion. No one answered his question. It is obvious for the answer. "He died as a good soul," he muffles, "Now time to save Markus from the same fate."

We all wince once a golden glow comes out of nowhere and expands into Markus with a woman covered in golden light. She helps lower Markus down safely.

"Thanks, Alicia," Phil says out of the blue.

"I'm always there wherever you go," she says with an echoey tone before vanishing as quickly as she appeared.

Naomi looks at her father with her mouth agape. "You can summon her?"

"My abilities can do that, Nao."

"I have told you she's always here!"

"I know, sorry for not believing you earlier."

Everything goes quiet. We all look around. Netedinark hasn't come out of his realm.

"Where is he?" I whisper.

"I don't know," Bracus answers with a shrug, "Back in his realm."

"My sister only grabbed me," Markus adds. His eyes glowing red.

Then, a malicious grin appears on Naomi's face. She begins to laugh evilly as she gets up. We all go into a defensive stance.

"Naomi," Bracus speaks before I can.

"Netedinark going crazy in three- two- one- zer-"

An explosion of oblivion grows from the ground. These aren't branches, but rather a liquid black cloud spreading beneath our feet. We saw this during the time Ivelisse was possessed. It spread around the entire globe this time. Tendrils rise from the ground and try to stab us. Markus and Blath fly off the ground. I rip the branch off of me once it wraps around my ankle. Bracus uses his cosmic powers to rip the nearby branches. The branches kept coming and coming. Markus flies towards Naomi's father, but the branches quickly wrap around him and drag him under. Nowhere to be found. Naomi clenches her fist again as the lighting goes erratic, very close to black. They are blowing up the branches once they touch it. A cloud, darker than darkness itself manifests above us. I can tell who it is based on what Naomi said earlier.

"Get him off this planet now!" Blathnaid shouts.

Netedinark laughs that there is no escape now. Tendrils inject more venom inside Naomi to minimise the sparks. The tendrils are wrapping around our necks and bodies. "Once I get rid of you all, I can replenish what I lost," he says manically. The dark cloud spreads around us, making it hard to see. We know it's not a dark cloud; it's either the gates of his own hell-hole or his powers at full swing. He sends it to us. The tendrils immobilise us even further. I can feel it leaving sore marks on my skin. It is the least of my worries.

The cloud gets closer and closer to the point we no longer see Netedinark himself. I close my eyes, embracing death. Seconds, maybe minutes, and I feel nothing. I don't feel a slow miserable death. I can hear my howling heart beating. I open my eyes to see a warp bubble around me. The clouds turn into nothing. I can see the stars twinkling in a forever night. I see warp bubbles around all of us. Our nemesis is now visibly angry. The tendrils chuck Ivelisse to the ground. She does not let go of the warp bubbles. Netedinark looks so out of breath that he can't speak.

It is now Ivelisse's turn to shine. When he is about to chop her head, she tunnels away, now standing. "Your aim sucks!" She teases. He spins around, and they both battle it out. Mostly, Ivelisse is tunnelling away from his attacks. She hides her amusement. They go on this for a moment before Netedinark yells. They both vanish. I wish the tendrils would go out too.

Ivelisse returns before Netedinark, but something is wrong. She is not moving and is covered in cuts. She smiles and chuckles. The warp bubbles burst, along with the tendrils. We all drop to the ground. She looks at me and reaches out towards me. "Forgive me," she says in a raspy whisper. I take her hand, only to realise that her hand falls off where the cuts are. Her arms keep falling off. I gasp and fight back my tears. "I love you all. We will meet again. I will never truly die," then her entire body crumbles to the ground.

"Hopefully," I manage to utter, still looking at her body, "We will fight for you." Her body glitches away just as when Netedinark came back. I wanted to hold her close, but I couldn't. His sinister smile is not fading, causing cosmic energy to emerge around me. The several deep cuts and lacerations all around his body satisfied me. He tells us that her clones could no longer mess with him. We get back up, still wanting to fight. Before he decides to aim at me, a golden figure with wings swings its sword at him, cutting him open. That is so sudden even Netedinark was thrown off guard.

Aelen starts to throw large volumes of rocks at him, giving this golden being a chance to fight it. I scan around to find out where this figure has originated. I see Father McKelsey's shining gold even in his eyes.

"Dominique!" Bracus calls out to me, "Blast him." All of us join in and blast out onto him. Netedinark's skin cracks. He hisses in agony. For a Lesser God, he is pretty tough. He slams his hands against the ground. It creates the blackness beneath our feet to ripple. We are blown back to the ground. Unlike Uedie's actual surface, his darkness feels smooth as a crystal. He should've changed its texture, so we can get drag burns and those things hurt. A fog of despair initiates all around us. Spikes rise out of the ground with speed, then retreat for its next victim.

"D-Dad?" I hear Naomi meekly call out. We all look at her father, who is still on the ground, injured from the fall. A dark spike went straight through his torso. Markus breaks the spike with his white flame, only for a tendril to wrap around him and chuck him away. She cries out to her father while dashing to him. She stops once she sees multiple dark spikes cage her father. Her sparks go crazier than a transformer. She glares back at Netedinark. Her lightning is now black in colour. Blathnaid looks at me while I look at her. She is worried, alerting us to stand back.

Sometimes minds with control and so much anger are the most dangerous, Blathnaid says telepathically, Stand back and don't stop her.

We won't, Blathnaid, Bracus replies.

The heartbeat is now like unnerving thunder. Her provoked screech doesn't sound like a woman, nor does any animal scream on Earth. Creatures from folklore can't compete against what I've just heard. The damned from Hell is powerless to rally against it. My inner fluids froze from the sound of it. Black lightning erupts from her; it erupts from all around us. I transform into a Morphan to withstand the electricity. I howl in pain as I shield the bolts from striking Bracus. My fur smells like smoke as the lightning ignites my skin.

"Dominique..." Bracus looks at me concerned. He summons a magic shield to block most of it from coming in. I look up and see the most severe parts of the blast are going towards Netedinark. A fast electromagnetic ominous wave blasts out in all directions from Naomi again. For the first time in a long time, fear possesses me and so does regret. She has so many things built up that she can't hide them anymore. This battle may not be the brightest, but if I kept Naomi and her family at Gaeriscelleh, she wouldn't have snapped. She would have blown up against us at a later date. Naomi went through so much misery and it was hard to face the cause again and again. My lesson is about feet away from me, already blazing out, hurtling towards us.

Many screams break out, but stop when the lightning vanishes before hitting us, before hurting us. Netedinark, Blathnaid, and Naomi are gone. Uedie returned back to where it was before Netedinark unleashed his crap all over the surface. Naomi's father lies on the ground. I see Markus drop a shield, similar to Bracus. He shielded Phil and Aelen from the blast just in case it hit them. Naomi would never hurt her true family. Aelen is covered in burns that heal up within seconds.

"Where's Nao and Blath?" Aelen asks.

"Most importantly, where's Netedinark?" Markus comes in.

"They're gone," I said.

"Where did they go?" Markus asks, heating up.

"Going to finish this dazzle somewhere else," Bracus answered.

"Should we follow?"

"No," Bracus shakes his head, "They'll be back. In the meantime, heal up."

"Aelen, heal Father McKelsey pronto!" I command.

Aelen goes back to his previous intention; it is to heal Naomi's father. Luck is on Naomi's side. The dark spiked missed the heart and lungs. He was unconscious and breathing right when Aelen healed him. I see Bracus smirking at me, not from Father McKelsey's near death.

"COE has noticed." That is why he is smiling.