Ilios stared up at the crystal glass dome covering him. Purple light cracked and flashed inside the glass as the machine was activated. The angel remained calm while he felt his energy and life begin to be pulled from his body. Ilios steadied his breathing and ran the plan through his head, remembering how and when Rae and Kilo would reveal themselves.

Orion began to stir with the whirring of the machine. He looked around in a daze until he saw those soft red eyes staring down at him. "Aklys?" The actaeon groaned as he tried to sit up. With the help of Aklys, Orion was able to look around the throne room. 

"Castyr!" The angel gasped when he recalled being dragged out of his holding cell. He whipped his head to look at his love who had been declared dead, his eyes filling with relief when he felt Aklys' warmth. He did not ask why or how Aklys was alive. He was just grateful Aklys was there beside him. After a few breaths of silence, Orion let his gaze flow to the glass dome.

Orion crinkled his brows as he stared at the majestic, blonde angel glowing under the dome. The pull from the machine forced his wings to spread, displaying the angel's full beauty. Orion gazed in awe at the giant white wings stretched out on either side of the angel. Ilios and Orion locked eyes for a split second before the white-winged angel tore his gaze away and stared at one of the side entrances in shock.

Orion followed Ilios' gaze to see a frenzied Castyr running into the throne room. His clothes were torn, revealing claw marks from fighting his way to the hall, and his body was covered with blood. The star looked around the throne room hastily, his eyes running over Orion in Aklys' arms before landing on the white-winged angel in the dome.

Castyr's eyes filled with fear and rage when he saw Ilios standing under the dome. Before he knew it, his hand was glowing a hot white, and he charged the king of Hades. A smirk replaced the king's surprised expression, and he easily evaded the star's blasts of light. Castyr was so immersed in defeating the king and rescuing Ilios that he did not notice the two angels jump from the stone beams in the ceiling and begin fighting the wave of demons rushing through every door.

With the arrival of Rae and Kilo, Denzyl and Aklys immediately joined the fight, keeping the demons from swarming the star.

"Get Ilios out of there!" Kilo shouted to Rae during the bloody frenzy.

Understanding Kilo's order, Rae left the captain's side and raced over to the machine's control panel. Having carefully observed the process of putting Ilios into the dome, Rae was able to quickly decipher the disabling and cool-down processes. As soon as the dome retracted, Rae rushed onto the platform. The chocolate-haired angel scooped Ilios in his arms and brought him over to where Orion was recovering.

"Rae," Ilios clung onto his angel's arm, grabbing his love's attention.

"Are you okay?" Rae asked as he gently set his love on the ground.

Ilios reassured his love with a nod. "Save Castyr...please."

"Of course." Rae pecked Ilios on the head before standing and rejoining the fight. A few moments later, Denzyl broke away and went to guard the two recovering angels on orders from Kilo.

"Surrender if you value his life!" The king's voice boomed throughout the throne room as Kilo slashed Ymir through an enemy's neck, severing its head. 

Orion and Ilios quickly looked in the direction of the command to see Castyr being held in the king's clutches. Kilo immediately lowered his sword; Rae and Aklys quickly followed suit. "Good, good," the king chuckled as he led the star by the throat toward the middle of the throne room, his sword threatening to penetrate Castyr's skin with the slightest move of resistance.

"Take their swords." With one command from the king, the rescue party's weapons were confiscated, and the warriors were rallied and forced to their knees. The king kept his sword on Castyr's throat as they watched the party be brought together and surrounded at sword-point. Two demons approached their king, and the star was handed over to them to be subdued.

"What have we here?" The king wondered aloud as he addressed his new captives. "Four angels, two demons, and, of course, a star. The universe must be with me for gifting me such an abundance of power. Heaven shall be mine."

"Let them go." The star's voice was firm as it sounded through the hall. Vitrius turned to look at the source of the command, a sneer forming on his face. Castyr glared at the demon as he stood confidently between his two subduers. "I am the one you want so badly. I will do anything. Just let them go."

"Now, why would I do that?" The king scoffed. His eyes were filled with cruel disdain. "You are of more use to me drained than alive. I will have your power, and you will not be around to cause trouble. Besides, why would I give up six healthy men who are flowing with energy?"

Castyr gritted his teeth when he realized the king was too ambitious. There would be no agreements. When Vitrius turned toward the six prisoners, the star doubled over in pain shocking the two demons holding him. Castyr grunted as his head swam from the new surge of energy.

"Castyr!" Kilo called out to his star when he saw his love in pain, earning him a strike to the back.

"The peak is near." The king grinned when he observed the star kneeling to catch his breath. "Put him in the dome. It is time."

Kilo earned four more blows as he struggled against his captors and watched Castyr be thrown into the dome of Hell's machine. The star's body slowly adjusted to the new wave, allowing him to stand to his feet when the machine was activated. Castyr raised his head when purple light bolted throughout the dome. Castyr immediately felt light-headed as the machine began to drain his energy. His body felt as if it was phasing in and out of reality. The star closed his eyes as the pull from the machine tugged on his life force.

A cry from outside the dome shook Castyr while his energy was stolen from his body, ripping him from his death trance. The star opened his eyes to see Kilo fighting to reach him.

Kilo.

A fire sparked deep within Castyr that he had not felt in a long time. It was a fire felt on the ship with Miren on the way to Earth, a fire felt on the transport tower when he watched Kilo fight to save him, a fire felt when Ithyos was invaded and he and Kilo fell to Earth. A fire of despair and rage as he was helpless and watched Kilo be in pain. A fire with the drive to protect, to save. A fire of love.

Castyr knew Kilo would do anything to save him, but so would he. He would give his life for Kilo. Kilo had given him so much: protection, warmth, safety, love. Castyr had decided on the transport to Heaven that he would risk everything to save Kilo. And now was the time. He would do whatever it took.

Castyr closed his eyes and let the fire burn through his throat and cover his entire being. The star released a cry as he drew upon the blood sun and unleashed a blast of purple light, shattering the crystal glass dome. The peak had come.

Denzyl and Aklys' eyes turned purple as they, too, gained power from the blood sun's peak. Chaos broke out in the throne room. Rae and Kilo wasted no time in joining their two demon comrades in overthrowing their captors and engaging the demons in combat.

Ilios is quick to find the king through the chaos. He watched in horror while Vitrius used his power from the blood sun to create a poisonous smoke of darkness to lace his sword.

"If I cannot control him, he must die," the king growled as he raised his arm and released his sword into the air.

Castyr opened his glowing, purple eyes as he stiffly walked to the front of the platform. Unaware of the danger flying toward him, Castyr prepared to enter the fight. It was not until white wings covered him and brought him to the ground that Castyr was able to focus. Castyr gasped when he saw silver eyes gazing down at him softly. A trail of bright, red blood oozed from the angel's mouth as Ilios hovered over the star, the warrior's hand holding the black blade protruding from his chest and stopping it from piercing the precious boy beneath him.

"I-Ilios," Castyr voiced quietly. He could not believe his eyes. Did he cause Ilios to take a blade that was destined for him? All of a sudden, he was back to being that little kid on the transport tower staring up at the white-winged warrior who shielded him from the explosion. He was helpless. He had tried so hard to break the dome only to bring harm to Ilios.

"I'm okay. I'll be okay," Ilios comforted his little star through the pain. A grunt left the angel, and he felt blood fill his mouth.

Castyr reached up and tried to stop the blood that was leaving the wound, but Ilios ripped Castyr's hands away before the star could touch the laced blade. Ilios' eyes closed as he grunted, and his head swooned. Denzyl, Orion, and Aklys quickly engaged the king in combat, allowing Rae to rush over and catch Ilios before he fell.

"Ilios!" Rae gently held his love while Ilios fought to stay conscious. Black veins filled with poison began creeping through the angel's body while the venom from the blade seeped into his blood.

"Rae...pull it out...please," Ilios begged.

"But-"

"Take it out! I don't want to die with this monstrosity in me. Please, Rae."

Tears filled Rae's eyes as he grasped the hilt of the black blade. Ilios gritted his teeth while the blade was pulled from him. He immediately put his wings away before his body became limp.

"Ilios! Stay with me. Open your eyes! Please!" Rae pleaded as he held his angel in his arms.

"Rae..." Ilios's eyes fought to stay open so he could look at his love. The blonde reached up and wiped a tear from Rae's cheek. "You have to stay alive..." Ilios began before a clot of black blood clogged his throat. After a few coughs, the angel was able to spit out the clot. "Promise me..." he continued, "Go on a vacation."

"Ilios, you have to come with me. We promised we would go together," Rae cried as his tears fell on his love.

"Please, Rae."

Once Rae nodded slowly, Ilios reached out for his little star. Castyr instantly took Ilios' hand, fresh tears staining his face. "Stay strong, Castyr. It's been an honor."

Castyr became inconsolable when Ilios turned his head to Rae and gave him the sweetest smile. "I love you," Ilios whispered before those silver eyes fell closed for the last time, the image of his love aiding him in a peaceful passing.

"Ilios! No, no, no. Baby? Ilios," Rae cried and held Ilios's head gently before pressing him close to his chest.

Castyr looked down at the hand holding his. Its faint grip had disappeared. Castyr wished it would suddenly hold onto him and he would look up to see those silver eyes smiling at him. But he knew that would not happen. Those silver eyes were closed, and there was no life left to open them.

Castyr began to shake with fury as he stood to his feet. He looked down into the chaos to see Kilo battling demons while the others occupied the king. Feeling another surge of energy rush through his body, Castyr began firing light sphere after light sphere into the crowd of demons while he ran down the steps of the platform and charged toward the king. He would end this...once and for all.

"Move!" Castyr warned as he neared the king. Orion, Aklys, and Denzyl turned to see Castyr charging at them with blazing purple eyes. The three whirled away when Castyr reached the king and grabbed him by the throat. Castyr gasped when Vitrius copied his hold and also clutched his throat.

"You just won't die!" The king growled in a low voice that was filled with annoyance.

"Not before you," Castyr retorted, causing Vitrius to tighten his hold. Castyr did the same, shocking the man in his hold.

"If you won't die, I'll make you wish you had," the king decided as he began filling Castyr with poisonous smoke.

By this time, Orion, Aklys, and Denzyl had taken over the fight with the masses for Kilo. The captain was quick to run to his star only to be stopped by an outstretched arm. "Don't come any closer!" Castyr begged his angel. He hoped with all his might that Kilo would heed his warning. He could not let Kilo get hurt.

"Castyr-"

"Stay away!" Castyr ordered as he focused on fighting the poison flowing into his body. Wait...that's it! I know how to defeat him. Castyr gave the king a triumphant smirk as he tightened his hold and spread his light to surround both himself and the king.

"Castyr!" Kilo called out his star's name and started running toward Castyr, but Denzyl quickly came and held him back. "Let me go!" Kilo ordered and struggled against the demon.

"No, Kilo. Castyr knows what he is doing," Denzyl replied as he kept his hold on the angel. Denzyl looked at the star with knowing eyes while he stopped Castyr's lover from going to him.

Kilo watched as black veins crept over Castyr's body and his eyes turned black. What surprised Kilo was that the black veins were flowing out of the king's body, almost as if Castyr was sucking the demon's essence into his own body.

"What-what are you doing to me?" The king called out when the light began to whirl around them.

I love you, Kilo. Castyr bid through the link as he closed his eyes and used the blood sun one last time to send a final blast throughout the entirety of Hades.

"Castyr!!!" Denzyl was quick to cover Kilo's eyes as the angel called his star's name desperately.

Kilo ripped away Denzyl's hand as soon as the light receded. Denzyl loosened his hold on Kilo when he saw that it was done. Kilo rushed to the spot where the star and king were fighting to find it empty. Kilo felt as if his world was crashing down. Castyr was gone. He had sacrificed himself to save everyone. A single tear escaped Kilo's eye as the angel fell to his knees. His mind became empty when Castyr's presence dissipated. He was alone.

His star had disappeared. The light of his world, the one he fought so hard to protect...his love had vanished.

Castyr was gone.