Act 1:Ch.22 Old grudge

"One thousand years. One thousand years since you humiliated me Nova." Falce practically spat my name, his amber eyes never breaking contact with my own.

"Well I can see your Ethos returned in time," I commented nodding to Azazel and Mammon who scowled. "and I see that I left my own little gift with you."

The scar across Falce's face was messy yet clean at the same time which somehow brought the Demoreal's good looks even closer to light.

"That's the one thing I'm glad about actually," Falce said taking a few steps towards me. "It's served as a reminder of sorts."

His signature scythe materialised in his right hand and he spun it around between his fingers like a propeller.

"A reminder for what I'd do if I saw you again!" He suddenly yelled swiping his scythe viscously to the side. In an instant the mountains surrounding us for hundreds of miles split in two as if they were butter cut by a hot knife.

Shion and Kuni jumped back in surprise slightly while Rei and the two other generals kept up their guard. What caught my eye however was that Lazuli hadn't seem to have moved at all. She'd only flinched slightly.

Perhaps she's a lot stronger when compared to Kuni and Shion than initially thought. Lazuli Titana, you are full of surprises.

"How'd you find me anyway?" I asked casually.

"I had already heard that you'd be meeting with the Council but I didn't know where exactly." Falce explained. "However those dragons breathing fire was like a beacon yelling "over here", you can put the rest together."

Falce had five other Demoreals with him. Two were Azazel and Mammon but there were three others that I didn't recognise however I could tell they were all members of the Five Great Families by their features. Falce's fiery amber eyes were the signature look of the Tungsten Family while Azazel's yellow streak in his hair was a tell tale sign that he was part of the Platinum Family. Mammon's scaly cheek gave away that he was part of the Titanium family. The Demoreal standing next to Azazel also had the same streak of yellow hair as him so I assumed that he was also a part of the same family. That was the same with the Demoreal next to Mammon as he had a scaly left cheek so I assumed he was of Titanium blood. There was one other Demoreal however. He was tall and lean but not overly impressive and nothing seemed very unique about him except for his long neon green hair that flowed down to his shoulders.

Tanzanite Family. Not many of them left are there right?

Your right Duo. Most of them were killed in the war by Kara.

There was a long pause as everyone stood their ground before Mammon spoke up.

"You look a little different Nova," He said with a thin smile. "Those red eyes you had back then really made you fit the nickname the us Demoreals called you."

"You did have one for me didn't you. What was it again?"

"Crimson Wave."

"Crimson Wave that's it." I mocked slightly.

"Fitting isn't it. Everywhere you seemed to go the colour red seemed to follow you whether that be your shadow soldiers or the blood of the people you killed. Soldiers, men, women and sometimes children if you attacked a city."

Trying to provoke me are we? Words like that may be irritating but they're not enough.

"Maybe the rumours about him being weak are true." The Demoreal standing next to Azazel said. "That'd explain why he looks different as well as his hesitation to attack us. I don't blame him."

I raised an eyebrow.

"What's your name?" I asked the cocky Demoreal.

"Lias Platinum, The Demon Flash, third in line to be the head of the Platinum Family." He said, puffing out his chest.

"Ah." I said nodding like I cared. "So no one noteworthy then."

My comment clearly struck a nerve with Lias since he lunged forward while preparing a punch at the same time, his fists glowing orange.

I immediately activated my Yin-Yang Eye and Lias froze in place a few inches away, his face a mixture of shock and sudden pain. Still staring at him, I watched him begin to sweat and wince in pain which turned to groans before yells and eventually screams filled with agony. Glowing orange cracks began to appear on his body. Crawling across his arms, legs and chest before reaching up his neck and connecting with his eyes.

Falce and the other Demoreals took a step back in surprise, they faces a mixture of confusion and grim curiosity. Even Lazuli and others' eyes widened as they looked on horror at the sight before them.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME!!?" Lias screeched in agony, his body still mostly still however his limbs began to twitch and writhe randomly.

"This eye also allows me to fuse things and not just separate things." I said pointing to my right eye. "What I've just done Lias Platinum, The Demon Flash, third in line to head of the Platinum Family. What I've done is fuse you and your Ethos together."

"That doesn't make any sense!" The Tanzanite Demoreal yelled as Lias screamed in anguish. "Ethorians and Ethos are already fused together at birth."

"No they're not." Falce corrected him with a stern glance from his amber eyes.

"Correct Falce. Ethorians are infused with Ethos not fused." I explained. "It's basic definition though it is sometimes confused. If two subjects are fused together they form a single entity. To be infused with something is to be filled or instilled with a quality, power, etc."

Lias's screams suddenly turned into a horrific noise as bloody spit flew from his mouth, splattering into the air. The noise was like his throat was being shredded.

"There's a reason us Ethorians are infused with Ethos and not fused together." I said as I took a step towards Lias so that I was close enough to kiss him if I were to move my head forward slightly.

He continued to scream in agony as the skin on his hands and arms began to break away in flakes before gently flying up into the air like ash. Disintegrating at the same time. The flesh revealed was a glowing deep orange that flicked like fire. The veins in his eyes burst causing the whites to turn red as they filled with blood.

"That reason being that an Ethos's power is far too much for the body and general existence of the Ethorian to handle." I said as the flaking of skin reached up to Lias's neck. "The result of the phenomena like this is the complete destruction of the Ethorians existence as the Ethos's power slowly tears apart."

As I finished the skin of Lias's face broke away and floated up into the air in flakes before said flakes disintegrated. A face made out of orange flames screamed at me as tears of blood streamed down it's cheeks while Lias gave one last shriek before his body blew apart in gentle explosion of orange particles. The particles floated around in the air before gathering together into the outline of 7ft tall figure for a few moments until they blew away and disappeared out of sight.

There was a long pause before the Demoreal next to Mammon with the scaly cheek lunged forward but I dispatched of him as soon as he took his first step by making the cause for his existence is his own nonexistence. Instantly erasing him.

Falce and the other Demoreals got into to fighting stances and my friends behind me did the same in response.

"You can't take us all down if we attack at once Nova!" The Tanzanite Demoreal snarled.

"That isn't going to happen though." I looked at Falce and grinned. "Right, Falce Tungsten?"

The other Demoreals turned to look at Falce confusion who sheepishly smiled.

"Looks like you already read my thoughts." He said as he chuckled to himself. "I'm fighting Nova alone. Our history is personal. Azazel, Mammon, Marko. You will take care of his friends."

The Demoreals seemed to hesitate for a moment but nodded in the end.

"Since there's one for each of them." I mumbled to myself. "Rei, Minerva, Andrea, listen up now. This is an order. Kuni, Lazuli and Shion will each fight one of the Demoreals and you are to do nothing but watch. Only interfere if one of them is about to die do, you understand me."

They all nodded as my three close friends looked to me in surprise, nervous expressions on their face.

"Are you kidding Nova?" Shion said, her mouth wide open.

"This might be a bit much don't ya think?" Kuni said eyeing the Demoreals a ways in front of me.

"I'll d-do i-i-it but they all look s-strong." Lazuli stammered.

"You have been thrown into a new world which is scary, I understand that." I said as I gave them a reassuring smile. "But don't put yourselves down. You guys are stronger than you realise so I know you've got this."

They paused, still looking surprised, before they all nodded. Confident expressions on their faces.

"Enough of the chit chat Yin-Yang King." Falce said with a battle hungry grin. "Let's just get to the part where I kill you."

Everyone roared together as one before charging forwards and crashing into their opponents.

Somewhere far away

A woman with red hair dark that it verged on being black stood on one knee, bowing before someone sitting on a thrown. The thrown was massive and pitch black with glowing purple markings scrawled across all of it.

The person sitting on it was hidden in shadows making so that only their legs and outline of their body was just barely visible.

The woman kept her head down low, her face hidden.

"Your Highness," the woman said, her voice calm and gentle. "I have returned from telling Falce Tungsten what you asked me to."

"Well done Phoenix." The figure on the thrown said. His voice was low and seemed to carried power with every syllable in his words. "Make your way the sector 4 of the Demoreal Empire and prep the army for invasion of Ethereal Territory."

Phoenix nodded but did not move.

"Something weighs on your mind child." The figure said. "Speak it."

"Your Majesty…" Phoenix seemed hesitant as her hands turned into fists. "I wish to aid Falce in battle."

"Oh?" The figure said place his fingers on his chin in thought. "Why do you think that?"

"I am much more knowledgeable in Nova Cosmos's power and abilities while also being significantly stronger than Falce. It is my belief that if Nova gets serious, even in his currently weakened state, he will kill Falce and his men. This will be a significant blow to how forces as we will loose a valued member of our army. If Nova does kill Falce there's a high probability he will turn him into a Shadow Soldier or devour him and take is abilities for himself. There is also-"

"There is also the fact you have a history with Nova and want to settle the score." The figure said, interrupting Phoenix. "Am I correct?"

She hesitated but Phoenix nodded.

There was a long pause.

"Very well my child." The figure said, standing up from his throne. "Then watch the battle unfold and if Falce shows any significant signs of defeat, intervene. Attack and defeat Nova Cosmos along with any allies he may have with him. This is not just a request from a friend Phoenix. This is an order declared by myself Damion The Demoreal King. Kill Nova Cosmos and end