As the forces clashed, Lukyan, Jasoslav, and Akachi exchanged glances.

Prior to the battle, Jalila had informed them that the portal to Xuviphas could only be closed if someone closed it from the inside.

      "This is gonna be the end of the world, isn't it?" Akachi swallowed, fear edging his voice.

     "It sure feels like it," Jasoslav said, grimly. Before, he had been able to hide his fear, but now? It wasn't possible for him to. He shivered slightly while being practically paralyzed in his tracks.

     Lukyan took a deep breath. "Not if we can help it."

     In unison both Akachi and Jasoslav both looked over to him.

     "We'll fight. And even if we don't win… at least we tried," Lukyan said.

     Akachi nodded. He then hopped over the debris and rushed to Sethunya's aid.

      "I think it's time you faced your father, J," Lukyan told Jasoslav.

     "We," Jasoslav corrected the siren. "We're doing this together."

     Lukyan smiled. "Together then."  He grabbed Jasoslav's hand.

        They gazed at each other for a moment or two. It's like time didn't exist around them–everything that existed was them.

        Lukyan then lurched forward, placing a kiss on Jasoslav's lips before re-grabbing his hand. "Let's go kick some archangel ass."

     Jasoslav smiled back. "Let's."

     The two rushed forward, weaving in and out of battling monsters, their eyes locked on the old castle where Perseus would be hiding.

     Right as the two's hopes started to rise–right as they started to near the palace steps, a demon knocked them backward, sending the two tumbling over the cliff's edge.

      Jasoslav frantically grasped for something to hold on the cliff-face. Finally, he was able to stop his fall. He looked down. That was a big mistake. This ravine was ten times larger than the one outside of Vladikovo.

    Still holding tightly on Jasoslav's arm, Lukyan asked, dangling above the abyss, "That portal isn't gonna close, is it?"

          "Not at the moment," Jasoslav began.

     "Someone's gotta close it from the inside," Lukyan cooed.

        Jasoslav swallowed. "Luka, you're not gonna do what I think you're going to do, right?"

        "It's the only way," Lukyan told the demon.

        Jasoslav shook his head. "No. It's not." He paused before continuing, "I'll pull us up and we'll find another way to close it."

         "There is no other way, J," Lukyan commented.

        Tears began to come to Jasoslav's eyes. "Luka, no. You've heard what Jalila said. There's danger to even those with immortality in Xuviphas. There's another way!" For a second, Jasoslav lost a hold of Lukyan's hand before regaining it. "There has to be another way."

         Straining and struggling to keep himself up, Lukyan grunted. "There's no other way." Then Lukyan said in a soft voice, "J, you have to let me go. It's better for everyone this way."

      "It's not better for me!" Jasoslav sobbed, his hands starting to tremble.

          "This is all for the greater good, I think you've forgot that. I have to go."

        "Aren't you scared?" Jasoslav asked, softer, still holding onto Lukyan's wrist.

        "Scared of death?" Lukyan asked.

         Jasoslav silently nodded.

        "No. I've been around it my whole life." There was a pause. "Xuviphas is place of mystery. And if it really can kill the immortal, then I'm fine with that."

       A loud roar pierced the earthly chasm, bouncing off the rocky walls.

          "Xisuthros," Jasoslav mouthed.

        Lukyan looked down and then back up to Jasoslav. "It's now or never."

           "No, we'll find another way," Jasoslav sniffled.

         Lukyan said nothing as he nodded to Jasoslav, gave him a quick smile and whispered, "Tell my mother I love her." Quickly, Lukyan kicked off from the wall.

        Jasoslav lost grasp of the siren and Lukyan was sent free-falling through the chasm and down towards the gates of Xuviphas.

      "No~!" Jasoslav screamed, dangling over the edge. He debated letting go and jumping into Xuviphas with Lukyan, but someone at the top of the chasm grabbed onto his hand.

      The portals of Xuviphas began to close.
  Shedding one final, silent tear, Jasoslav whispered, "I love you.", beforing being pulled up.

        Decimus looked at Jasoslav. "You okay?"

    Jasoslav said nothing, he just gazed to the ground.

        Decimus gazed around. "Where's Lukyan?"

     Jasoslav couldn't meet the archangel's gaze. "He's gone." He tried to hold back his tears, but he couldn't. And just like after Pagan's death, tears trickled down his face one after another. Soon, it had become a waterfall.

     Decimus then pulled Jasoslav into a hug, rubbing his back. "It's okay. It'll all be okay."

      As much as Jasoslav wanted to believe Decimus's words, he couldn't. Nothing would ever be okay again. Battles continued to rage around Jasoslav, but to him, they were almost non-existent–they all faded into nothingness in his mind as another wave of pain drowned him.