Temple of Ozeah vs Red Queen - Part Two

Red Queen's armored back was embedded into the ground beneath it. Over her stood the Temple of Ozeah whose spear was in a deadlock with the clasped palms of Red Queen.

His angelic wings expanded to cover the night's moon, and with all his might he thrust his spear, flying into the ground. The ground beneath Red Queen began cracking from the pressure however her palms remained unmoved.

"Are you surprised?" Red Queen mockingly asked.

With furrowed eyebrows, Temple of Ozeah responded with a wide grin. He released his grasp on his spear. From his right came wheezing his light sword. Catching it he used the momentum of the flying sword to deliver a spinning slash on Red Queen.

The light sword sliced through the cracked ground but when it made contact with Hero Red Queen's armor it was as soft as daylight.

Red Queen's armor absorbed the heat and radiation the powerful weapon of light emitted.

Immediately Temple of Ozeah pulled his sword of light away from his opponent.

Red Queen jumped up from the crater without any damage. Her crimson armor was glowing a reddish-orange.

She threw the spear of Temple of Ozeah to the side and smashed her two wrists together, all the energy her armor had absorbed was released in a blast as a concentrated beam. The beam was like a stream of lightning exploding to pieces the ground it grazed.

Temple of Ozeah was too fast flying into the sky. Red Queen aimed the beam towards the sky chasing the flying Temple of Ozeah. As the beam weakened Red Queen's armor slowly returned to its original crimson color.

Temple of Ozeah was in the sky now and Red Queen was standing on the ground. They had created distance between each other but remained in a deadlock.

Temple of Ozeah smiled at Red Queen before turning his eyes to the forest south from the Western Wall of New Ark City. He raised his sword of light whose light had been drastically reduced by Al and Red Queen.

Without a command, the sword condensed into a small sphere of yellow light. The small sphere floated above the palm of the Temple of Ozeah like a miniature sun.

Red Queen saw the actions of the Temple of Ozeah and scoffed, still she widened her stance in preparation.

He placed both plans together and aimed the miniature sun. In a flash, the sphere of light made contact with the ground in the forest.

In the blink of an eye, a large portion of the forest was consumed by a blinding light. The attack shook the entire battlefield, its illuminating force could be seen all the way to Hero's Tower in New Ark City.

All the Heroes on the battlefield turned toward the explosion. Al and Elissa were staring at the pillar of light which faded into the starry night sky. "Was she... defeated?" Elissa pondered.

Red Queen watched in surprise as the devastating power obliterated a part of the forest. "Is he calling for a truce?" Red Queen questioned.

Once the light disappeared, a large, charred circle was left. Small fires made visible the target of Temple of Ozeah, a small dark crystal dome.

A crack appeared in the crystal dome before it shattered exposing a group of cloaked human figures. It was Ragjiel's group of Enlightened Dark Acolytes who commanded the army of Hybrids.

Seeing their location had been discovered, an Enlightened Dark Acolyte who had the form of an old, hunched hooded figure created a green rift. Before the Temple of Ozeah could make a move the entire group including Ragjiel stepped through the portal disappearing.

Once they were gone the Temple of Ozeah slowly descended towards Red Queen, his sword of light no longer at his side.

"Did you see that?" He asked her.

Red Queen maintained her defenses up as she replied yes.

Stepping on the ground the celestial warrior slowly walked towards Red Queen with his hands up saying, "Someone is trying to get us to kill one another."

Red Queen's stance did not shift as she stated. "That doesn't excuse you mercilessly killing, Hero Misume and waging war against New Ark City."

The temple of Ozeah was standing a short distance from Red Queen as he explained his situation. "It was an unfortunate accident. My spear was aimed at the white-haired cultivator. He's the one my human counterpart is after."

Red Queen's stance shifted but she remained quiet allowing Temple of Ozeah to approach her.

A few miles from the Red Queen and Temple of Ozeah, the Light Acolytes of the holy men were ripping apart the remaining army of Hybrids.

The Heroes of New Ark City cautiously dispatched the remaining Hybrids near the Western Wall of New Ark City.

The middle of the battlefield was now barren, all 8 teleportation devices remained unharmed. Al and Elissa were recuperating their Will.

"They're here after you Al. And I don't know how willing some of these Heroes are to stand with us." Elissa said.

Al opened his eyes, stopping his breathing exercise he looked at Elissa. Her skin without a blemish, was stained by dirt and blood, still, her eyes were bright and sharp. "What about you, will you still stand with me?" he asked as he got up from the ground.

Elissa looked at Al who she had taken under her wing. "You're my disciple."

Al's seriousness softened as the edge of his lip slightly curved. "I did warn you, didn't I?" he reminded Elissa who did not smile but simply nodded her head in silence. The two got up from their short recovery, Elissa looked towards the direction of Red Queen while Al turned to the holy men whose Light Acolytes were busy with the Hybrid army.

Without saying another word Al began sprinting towards the defenseless Exarchs and holy men.

Elissa followed right next to him. "So, what's your plan?" Elissa asked.

"Kill as many holy men as we can, it's the fastest way to kill a Light acolyte." He answered with a smirk on his face.

Elissa's face frowned at the idea but remained quiet.

A loud whistling noise echoed through the air before gray missiles landed a small distance in front of Al and Elissa. Instead of exploding they released clouds of dark smoke.

Forced to a halt, Al and Elissa turned around to see the golden figure of Temple of Ozeah walking towards them along with the crimson-armored Red Queen.

"He's missing his sword of light, but has Red Queen by his side now," Al whispered as he pulled both of his blades out. Elissa remained quiet, the two readied themselves against any possibility.

"Stop!" Temple of Ozeah loudly urged. "We've come to an agreement that will resolve the issue on both sides. Red Queen presented a way to end the bloodshed before it officially begins. The man who killed our brethren is a Stubborn Will cultivator, correct?" The celestial warrior inquired.

Elissa raised his palm gesturing Al to put his blades away. Slowly lowering his blades Al answered "I only killed the Exarch because I didn't die when he tried to kill me. So yes I am a Stubbron Will cultivator."

Temple of Ozeah took a deep breath in. "I know what occurred. All Light Acolytes share one collective memory. The problem comes with our human counterparts. When channeling us through prayer they go into a trance and do not know about the events that occur while they are in prayer. It is them who wage war against New Ark City and demand your death as payment for killing one of our brethren."

Al's eyes went wide, he did not know that Light Acolytes gave such freedom to their human counterparts.

Elissa was also wide-eyed, she was a recognized disciple, a cultivator in the Spirit Domain of the Mortal Chasm one step away from the Immortal Chasm and only now was learning that Light Acolytes shared a collective memory.

Temple of Ozeah continued sharing with the plan Red Queen had come up with. "You will come with us and will die before my people to appease their anger, however, you will heal in secret and leave our land. You will say to our people that the light has bound you to your faith. None of you will speak to our people about our true nature."

After Temple of Ozeah spoke his last words a sparkling light was expelled from his orifices and transfigured back into apostle Ozeah who fell to his knees and leaned on his staff.

Red Queen pointed at Al "Don't say I never did nothing for you!" She spoke making it clear that the path opened up before him was because of her doing.

Apostle Ozeah saw Al and Elissa staring at him and Red Queen next to him. "I, I, was my temple defeated?" he asked out loud.

Red Queen extended her arm helping him stand, "Quite the contrary, the light of your God has spoken to us all. He has delivered your enemies into your hands and made the wolf lay down with the lamb. Because of his mercy, we extend a peace offering giving you the man who killed one of your own." she explained to him.

Elissa slowly walked over quickly adding, "The light of your God demands peace in his name, not war. We hope this offering brings an end to your hate against all cultivators."

Red Queen looked at Elissa, behind her helmet she was biting her tongue. "Temple of Ozeah never mentioned such a thing. What a sly woman."

Apostle Ozeah's face became furious "The light would never say such a thing. Cultivators are directly opposed to the light." he yelled at Elissa.

Elissa's nostrils flared but she focused her breath, "War is not sustainable. Periods of peace must exist, at least until the world rids itself from the invading force of the Rakh-ahtan. The Church of New Light and the God Leaves must co-exist in peace." She reasoned.

Apostle Ozeah was clenching his teeth not sure of what to say.

Al walked over standing next to Elissa and looked directly at the Apostle "I am turning myself to be killed because of the words spoken by your god. Where is your faith?"

Apostle Ozeah felt his hair raise at the words and conviction the man whom he was ordered to kill had spoken.

The gray smoke covering the four of them dissipated allowing apostle Ozeah to see the outcome on the battlefield.

None of the Holy Men had been killed the army of Hybrids invisible to his mortal eyes seemed to have all died out. The Heroes stood shoulder to shoulder and opposed the holy men. Both sides were waiting for the other to make a move.

Apostle Ozeah's mouth felt dry, struggling to speak he raised his staff high into the air, "If that is what my God commands, then peace it is!" he shouted as he began walking towards his brethren.

Al and Elissa followed right behind him while Red Queen walked towards the remaining group of Heroes.