MLSB Part 8.1- "Between Angels and Demons"

This is the continuation of Part 8 of "ML:SB". It also serves as the official finale of the story.
It was released on 12.06.2024.
== Plot ==
Years after the demise of protagonist Maxwell Wilson, most people forgot about his noble sacrifice and his final wishes. It is almost as if he has never existed. However, for a certain circle of people, his desires are of utmost importance. And the one who brought him down needs to be brought to justice.
Benjamin Taylor- best friend of Max and his most loyal ally in times of need- takes on the mantle of the hero. He does his best to maintain the legacy of his friend and do things the way he once did. However, despite his best attempts, he is still unable to catch Hannah- the vile former GA who caused so much trouble during the awakening of Monarch.
Join Benjamin as he, with the help of Alicia, attempts to bring the endless cycle of pain and suffering to an abrupt end. Will he avenge the demise of the person whom he sees as his brother? That remains to be seen.
== Story ==
Benjamin sits on a desk, undisturbed by anyone but his own thoughts. He is writing several reports of a paper, regarding a certain series of mysterious attacks on the countryside. Thanks to the evidence that he discovered while interrogating the culprits, he managed to discover valuable knowledge- the events and Hannah's influence... are all connected to each other.
"Hmph. This explains their sheer confidence. Few would act brave under such circumstances."- He says to himself- "Hannah. You may think you're a clever one, but you're just as stupid as an inanimate rock. You may have fooled the law during the first months and sent the chase in a different direction. Perhaps you even managed to trick some of our comrades into joining you, out of utter fear and desperation. But your luck's not endless. Sooner or later, you're gonna make a slip. And when that happens, I will be there."
Then, he calls for Kaiden, presenting him the full report regarding the attacks. Evidence, as revealed by witnesses and interrogated subjects. Maps of analyzed locations, where the attacks happened. And, last but not least, the central evidence that points toward the ultimate mastermind- Hannah.
"Well. That surely came out of the blue."- Kaiden says- "How are you certain that this is all connected? It's not that I don't trust you, but I need to be sure before we do something about it."
Benjamin sighs.
"Remember how I told you that I have a sixth sense about certain things, sir? Well, I suspect that this is a similar case. So, if you're willing to listen, I shall explain my case."- He says- "Throughout the past few years, Hannah has done a great job at avoiding the law and working for her precious dark overlord Monarch. But that's not the end of the case. No matter how hard one tries to keep out of danger, safety is not fully guaranteed. Sometimes, the person has to divert their attention elsewhere. After all, everyone has many duties, some of them long and excruciating. And that, sir, is the though part. Dealing with many problems may cause several mental problems, even for someone with a strong mind like Hannah. She knows that she's often caught red-handed, even though she is never present herself. She has become delirious. Desperate. Even slightly unhinged. And, once we get to see her again, she may not be the same person we once knew."
Kaiden nods.
"That... sounds perfectly plausible. To think that Hannah could orchestrate those raids and demoralize the commoners, it is not impossible."- He says and takes a look at the files- "The evidence that you have collected matches your reports. The goals of the culprits seem believable. And the fact that you called the mastermind "a despotic and terrible demon, shielded by a thick layer of human skin", it's like you unleashed a perfect J'Accuse onto our oblivious, delirious suspect."
He looks at him.
"Alright, Benny. Once again, I shall trust your judgement. Investigations shall begin as soon as night falls. We don't want any of the civilians to learn of our true intentions. Some of them might be spies for Monarch and his dark regiment."- He says- "But tell me, my friend. You have gone a long way to prove how horrible Hannah truly is. Are you doing this because you simply hate her? Or are you here because of... someone else?"
Ben shakes his head.
"No, sir. I'm not a person who hates or kills without a goal. I do desire revenge, but for all of the right reasons."- He admits- "Hannah, once my superior, is responsible for many crimes against humanity. First of all, she betrayed the trust of the entire army- a huge group of soldiers that were loyal and ready to perish in her name. Second, she destroyed our home. Our dreams. Our brothers and sisters. And let's not forget about the one whom she killed while her heart was at its coldest- my brother Maxwell."
Kaiden nods.
"Ah. That explains it, You never got over Max's demise, so you want to avenge him."- He says- "Yes. I understand how it feels. When my sister died, me and my brother were on the verge of going mad. She was always so dear to us, so eager to help. Nicest girl you'll ever meet, that's for sure. But soon, our rage turned into a desire for vengeance. We hunted down Redmark because he was the reason why everything was falling apart. Kia didn't perish by herself- someone was responsible for her demise. And, trust me, our desire was like a burning fire over an unsuspecting village of pure evil. We stopped at nothing to achieve our goal. Everyone who dared to stand in our way received proper judgement, if a little bit too severe sometimes. But, in the end, we learned one important lesson- awful events like those are the ones that truly keep us together."
Ben raises his eyebrow.
"You said "we", as if you were there when Mr. Kaos burned Emperor Redmark to ashes."- He says- "Didn't you say that you nearly perished on that dark mountain?"
Suddenly, Kaiden starts to sweat a little bit. The mention of that dark place still has a huge effect on his soul. He tries to forget about it, but is often reminded of his treachery and incompetence in sudden, unexpected ways. Like now.
"It's true. I was never there when my brother confronted the vile one, when he made him answer for his endless list of heinous crimes. But, in spirit, I felt as he broke his soul in half. I realized how badly he punished him. It was almost as if I was there, even though I was only envisioning the chain of events inside of my mind."- He says- "Believe me. I really wanted to go there and help my brother. I wanted to stand by his side, an unbreakable bond between the mighty Kaos siblings. However, do you know why I failed to do that? Because my family still thinks that I'm gone. They still believe that I sacrificed my own life in a noble, altruistic way. What would happen if they learned that foolish, cowardly Kaiden fled without a trace after putting an end to Keenan Kaos's madness? That he started another family, without sending a single letter to his loved ones? Benny, I am a disgrace to the entire Kaos family, and everyone knows it. There's no way I'll ever be able to see them. Ever again."
Ben sighs.
"I... understand, sir. It must be tough to lose yourself like that."- He says- "Many of us lost people dear to us. But you, you also lost your identity. Your dreams. The mark that you made is still there, but you're not the same person you once were. Deep inside, maybe, but you definitely changed- just like the world all around us."
Kaiden nods.
"And I did it for you. I made it happen because I wanted to protect those who are still around."- He says- "You. Abigail. Max. Kira and Sam. You are my second family. And I'll do anything to keep you around."
Ben looks at him.
"So, you don't expect to be forgiven."
Kaiden sighs.
"Not at all."- He says- "What I did back there, it was an act of pure cowardice. Nobody will ever forgive it."
Then, he stands up, straightens his tie and hands the reports back to Ben.
"Anyway, I congatulate you for another flawless success. Well done. With each passing day, you become more and more like your dear friend. Maybe you can even surpass him... someday."- He says- "But time is still short and we have a lot of things to do. So, thank you for taking your time to speak to me. It was a nice diversion, but I have to keep directing our forces to the right places. Until the need calls us again, I bid you farewell."
Ben nods.
"Have a nice day, sir."
Kaiden smiles.
"You too, kiddo."
After shaking his hand one last time, Kaiden leaves Ben alone in his office. This interaction shows how much Kaiden has changed ever since he was last seen- from the angry, helpless child, he turned into a strong and determined leader-like figure. People like Ben and Max are like brothers and sisters to him, and he treats them with the respect that they truly deserve.
Once Kaiden is out of the room. Ben takes the precious reports in his hands. He looks at them one last time and smiles, knowing that progress is finally being made. Then, he goes to a nearby cabinet and searches for a certain spot to place them. Once he finds it, he triumphantly places them there, confident that they are just as important as they seem to be on first glance.
"There we go, Johnson. I organized everything, just like you taught me."- He says and salutes the sky beyond a nearby window- a tribute to his fallen friend- "Can't say that I'm proud of what I've done, but I hope that you are. Thank you for everything."
Minutes later, a new person enters the room. Without looking, Ben motions for them to sit down. He reads a book regarding law and order, combining it with the filing of more reports regarding minor issues. He's a very busy man, but he's always willing to listen to the problems of other people.
"Umm, Ben. It's me- Alicia."- She says- "I come with a message from the HQ. Very important."
Hearing his friend's voice, Ben tilts his head upwards and looks at her.
"To what do I owe this visit, my dear Alicia?"
Alicia looks nervous, but she does a good job of hiding the uncertainty inside of her heart. At least on the outside.
"Remember how you ordered the construction of a brand new battle mech? Well, I have good news for ya- it's complete and ready for use."- She says- "But don't take my word for it. Management wants you to be the first to test it. So, how about we go downstairs and take a look?"
Ben is close to snapping at her, deeming this achievement too unimportant when compared to the rest of their duties. However, the mention of the mech does have an effect on him. Intrigued, he decides to investigate and judge its power with his own eyes.
"Very well. Lead the way."- He says- "I am eager to see the fruits of our labor."
Alicia nods and smiles.
"You won't regret it!"
Once Ben and Alicia are downstairs, they witness the final plans for their new weapon- a powerful battle mech. It is a giant suit of steel, capable of withstanding tremendous amounts of damage from all kinds of sources. It is armed with semi-accurate lasers of doom, homing missiles and an energy shield, for additional protection. Also, it has a built-in air conditioner which is capable of changing the temperature inside the mech to hot or cold- something that Ben wanted ever since the beta testing and greatly appreciates.
"It's a good thing that decent materials cost less nowadays. If we lived in a different decade, all of this would've cost a fortune."- Alicia says- "According to the army engineers, even Hannah's forces will struggle to take down this mighty titan. I want to see the look on her face when she witnesses its arrival with her own eyes!"
Ben sighs.
"And yet, I still have a bad feeling about this whole thing."- He says- "It's been years since we last faced Hannah in battle. She was a monster back then. Who knows what kind of a monster she is now... "
Alicia thinks about this dilemma, lost in thought for a few seconds.
"Or maybe she's a different kind of monster now."- She suggests- "Nobody knows what she's capable of."
Ben clenches his fists.
"This unhinged maniac killed my dear friend. She crushed our army as if they were a bunch of ants. She razed our home and turned it into a smoking ruin."- He says- "No matter what is now, she has to be stopped."
Alicia nods.
"And stop her we shall."- She says- "For now, take a good look at the work of your allies. Bask in the glory of this legendary weapon of justice. Maybe you will find the strength to find Hannah and annihilate her once and for all."
Ben sighs.
"After all that we have been through, it's not very likely."- He says- "But at least we'll have a good way of turning the tables and striking her down. And then, when she least expects it, we'll be there to finish her off."
As Ben moves closer to look at the mech, he can't help but notice that several parts have been sabotaged. Though the mech itself is nearly complete, someone was able to tamper with it, removing several essential components.
"It looks like we have a traitor in the ranks. Or maybe it's because of the sloppy attitude of certain workers."- Ben says to himself- "Maybe I should inform Mr. Kaos about this... "
However, as he slowly backs away to inspect it a little bit better, he nearly bumps into a person that was standing behind him. When he turns around, he comes face to face with a muscular orc(ish) individual. The weirldly human-like beast also notices him, putting something away and smiling as he does so.
"So. You've finally managed to get back here."- He says- "What a shame that your "ultimate weapon" will never work against us."
Ben smiles back.
"Let me guess."- He says- "You're one of Hannah's goons."
The orc nods.
"Not just any goon. I am the lead goon. The chief of the squad, known simply as Dom."- He says- "But enough talk. Ya know what I want. Bring me what I desire and Hannah will leave you alone."
Alicia slowly reaches for her weapon.
"Are you joking? You'll never get your filthy hands on it!"- She exclaims- "Dream on, fiend! Your boss is empty-handed, and she shall stay that way!"
Dom smiles.
"Then I guess that we need to raise the stakes, mademoiselle Redmark."- He says- "You see. While you two were yapping like a bunch of fools, I managed to set up a bunch of land mines without you noticing. I have the remote that activates them. If you don't bring me the core, I shall blow this place up. And, since this is one of the essential parts of the building, the whole place will join it soon after."
Ben shakes his head.
"That won't be necessary."- He assures him- "You've won, Dom. The core is all yours."
Alicia turns to Ben. She looks very alarmed.
"A-are you joking, Ben?"- She says- "But... the promise... "
Ben shakes his head again.
"Don't move a muscle."- He says- "I've got this."
Soon, Ben returns with the core that Dom desires. He hands it to him, feigning great regret.
"Oh, what will we do without this crucial part?"- He says- "We are so doomed! We will never be able to withstand Hannah's might!"
Dom chuckles.
"Yeah. That's a good boy."- He says- "Now, let's see if it's truly legitimate... "
However, when Dom looks down at the part, he notices that the signal is flashing red. Too late, he realizes that he has been tricked. He tries to push the button on his remote, but the fake device in his hands soon explodes, knocking him into a wall and making him drop both the remote and the parts of the mech that he tried to take away.
"Curse you, Benjamin Taylor!"- He yells- "You'll pay for this insolence!"
Ben swiftly grabs the remote and shakes his head.
"The only one that will pay is you, monster helper!"- He yells back- "It's time for you to taste your own medicine!"
Before Dom could react, Ben uses a hidden turbine to blow the mines out of the ground. The force of wind is strong enough to send them back at Dom. As he tries to throw them away, Ben pushes the button, sending a surge into the newly activated and making them explode with enough force to send Dom crashing into the ceiling above.
Due to his legendary heritage, Dom manages to survive the blast. However, the explosion manages to leave him heavily weakened. Having failed his task, he simply shakes his head, pulls out a smoke bomb and escapes the compound without another word.
"Good grief."- Ben says and puts the remote away- "What an annoying specimen he was."
Alicia looks at him.
"He will be back, you know?"
Ben nods.
"He will."- He responds- "And so will I."
Knowing enough about engineering to deal with minor disturbances, Ben manages to set the missing parts back into the mech, undoing Dom's attempted sabotage and leaving the group one step closer to victory against the dreaded Hannah.
"I imagine this is time when we go outside and test this bad boy."- Ben says- "What do you say, Alicia?"
A little bit worried, Alicia decides to politely deny Ben's offer. But it's not because she's afraid of the mechanical beast. Something else is on her mind.
"Umm... sorry, Ben. I would love to join you, but I'm really busy!"- She says- "An important guest is joining us today and I wish to welcome him! So, see you around!"
As Alicia nervously walks away, Ben looks down, lost in thought.
"An important guest? But we don't have any scheduled visits for the month. At least not yet, that is."- He says to himself- "Wait a minute. Could it be... ?"
Suddenly, he stands up and shakes his head.
"I have to take a look."- He says- "Whoever this so-called guest might be, I feel like he is too important to ignore."
As he walks out of the laboratory, Ben bumps into Kaiden. Much like Alicia, he also seems to be in a hurry.
"Mr. Kaos! There you are!"- Ben exclaims- "I have so much to tell you! There was an enemy in the mech lab and he tried to sabotage our new weapon, but I managed to stop him! We need to inform the HQ as soon as possible! This is a Code Red and it needs to be handled quickly!"
Kaiden shakes his head.
"I appreciate your good deed, my dear Ben. However, as much I would like to help you out, my hands are full. Again."- He responds- "We have an important guest and I must speak with him. People say that he is very... insistent. Why don't you go to the office and file the report yourself? I shall join you as soon as possible."
As Kaiden walks away, Ben stops him.
"With all due respect sir, but I wanted to ask you something."- He says- "Who is this "important guest"? Why is he so important? Is he an ally of ours, or just a simple visitor?"
Kaiden sighs.
"He is... a hero. What kind of hero, I'm not quite sure."- He says- "But our scouts assure me that he is a friendly unit. Perhaps he can help us deal with our current crisis. Or maybe he just wants to... take a look around. Either way, I need to go there to deal with him. So, be a dear and take care of this mess yourself. The secretary will direct you while I'm gone."
Having said enough, Kaiden walks away without another word.
"Mr. Kaos... "
Ben looks down and shakes his head.
"I hate to disobey the orders of a superior officer. It pains me to do so."- He says to himself- "But I really need to find out more about this mysterious guest. Such an unexpected visit is not allowed. I need to make sure he's not some sort of spy. Or worse... "
With that thought in mind, Ben walks far behind Kaiden, unnoticed by his superior. He is disobeying his orders and he knows that he will be punished if he gets caught. But, if he manages to prevent an inevitable invasion from happening, it is worth it.
When Kaiden arrives at the meeting spot, Ben hides behind a wall and listens to the conversation between him and the soldiers at the gate. As the gate is opened, he witnesses the arrival of the so-called "important guest". He is a young man with long, black hair, dressed fairly well. And the most interesting thing is... the aura of confidence that Ben notices almost immediately. From the looks of it, this could be the leader of a large force in the outside world. Or maybe a renowned hero who is capable of rallying the forces of the world against unspeakable evil.
"Mysterious hero."- He mutters- "Who in the world are you."
As the hero's eyes become visible, Ben hides behind the pillar and gasps silently.
"No. I-it can't be!"- He mutters- "It really is him!"
He looks back at the hero and sighs.
"Now, I need to find out what he wants."- He mutters- "Hopefully, he means well to us. Despite the... incident that happened years ago."
As the hero starts to speak, Ben starts to listen. He is interested in learning more about his intentions, whatever they may be.
"Are my eyes deceiving me? Is this some sort of illusion, cunningly weaved by our enemies?"- Kaiden says, shocked and amazed at the same time- "Is this you, my boy? So, you finally found the strength to face me?"
Kaiden attempts to hug his son, but the young hero pushes him away. A simple glance at his face tells Ben that he means business... and business is all that he cares about right now.
"Enough with the pleasantries, father."- Will says- "You know why I am here."
Kaiden takes a step back, mildly surprised.
"So, you're not here to ask me to come back with you?"
Will shakes his head.
"Ask for your help? After what you did many years ago?"- He says- "I would rather work with the orcs than plead you for your support."
Ben continues to stare at the meeting, barely believing what he sees. William Kaos- his best friend Maxwell's greatest idol, a pinacle of goodness and kindness- turned out to be a ruthless, heartless harbringer of justice. It is as if his heart's empathy evaporated over the years since his battle with the Dark Angel began. And now, his heart's previous contents are replaced by a raging fire- a white flame that shows no mercy. Just like himself.
"To think that William is a boy with no respect for members of his own family, it's unthinkable."- He says to himself- "Sure. His father had to abandon the Kaos family. But his reasons were completely justified. Why would he act like this?"
Kaiden shakes his head.
"Is this what your uncle and aunt taught you when you were a child? To abhor the good deeds of those who came before you and despise those who risked everything to ensure your existence and survival?"- He says- "William, I thought you were better than this. I saw what kind of a monster your brother has become. And I hoped to see the opposite kind of personality within you."
He turns away.
"What I realize now... is that I was far too naive."- He adds- "How foolish of me to believe that my noble son would look at anything under his own nose!"
As Kaiden takes another step backwards, Will takes a step forward. He boldly looks into his own father's eyes, the fire inside of them burning stronger than the Sun itself. He always respects the laws and helps to keep them alive. But, in this rare instance, he is forced to act the interests of the government.
"Father. The feelings that you have for me... I can feel them myself. I thought you were a man of honor, sworn to keep the family traditions alive. At times, I wanted to see you with my own eyes. I wanted to witness the hero that once kept the world on his mighty shoulders."- He says- "But now, I can see that the mighty have fallen. And this is what you will get, for abandoning your pregnant wife, your clueless children, and your broken family!"
Before Kaiden can react, Will slaps him with all of his might. The impact leaves a large part of Kaiden's skin ruby red as he stumbles back, shocked and betrayed by his very own child. Many years ago, he gave the seeds to two new lives. And now, the one that the Hand has been feeding... is biting back.
"All this time, I heard all kinds of excuses. People who have done horrible things, pretending that they were never wrong. Monsters in human disguise, searching for reason. Of course, despite everything that happened between us, I was willing to forgive them. It was their own ego that drove them toward the bring of oblivion. Maybe they will learn next time."- He says- "But... people like you. Self-centered warlords who make families and abandon them in the blink of an eye, those are the ones that truly don't deserve any mercy."
Kaiden shakes his head.
"I had no choice!"- He exclaims- "I managed to survive, but my reputation was on the line. If I decided to return, everything that I fought for would've fallen apart. People think that I died a hero, so what would they think if I suddenly came back? Take a more realistic look at the world around you, Will. How would you keep helping your family, when everything around you can fall apart instantly?"
Will shakes his head.
"As I said, reasons like yours are meaningless to me."- He says- "When you make a family, you take a silent oath to protect them. To be there for them. Even if you perish in your line of duty, you will still be thinking of them. And, most importantly, that you will never abandon them- no matter what happens next."
He clenches his fists.
"Is this what you mean, father?! Is this what you call a "perfect family"?!"- He yells, his red lips quivering with pure rage- "I know your motives now! Sooner or later, you will abandon Miss Samantha and Kira! Just like you abandoned us!"
Before the situation could escalate further, Ben decides to take the mantle of the hero in this situation. He jumps between Kaiden and his son, pushes Will away and glares at him.
"Look. I don't know what breed of of a hero you are, but you have no reason to disrespect this man like this."- He says- "Mr. Kaos, unlike what you just said, is a man of honor who always does his best for the good of this world. Many times, he has saved villages from being razed to the bone. He restored the light in many broken people's lives, banished the darkness from a large part of the world. Wayward heroes like you are just a bunch of meaningless leaves in front of this huge tree. If you did three good deeds, he is responsible for three thousand. So stop acting like a superior being, because you still have a long way to go."
Ben's speech has an immediate effect. Will's rage is replaced by confusion. He wants to believe Ben, but something inside of him tells him to keep on fighting.
"Yes. I am perfectly aware of your intentions. And I am sorry that things turned out to be like that for you. I sympathize, and wish things could've been different."- He adds- "But wishful thinking alone will not save the world. Standing in one place and blaming someone for your own problems will do no good, either. So, I have a good suggestion for you, William of Silverdale- why don't we stop fighting each other and take some of the rage toward our dreaded foes?"
Though Will is furious at Ben's interference, he cannot deny the existence of the elephant in the room anymore- this is not the time for heroes to fight each other. In dark times like these, people like them are supposed to be inspirations for the world around them- not perfect examples of a broken system of Laws and Traditions. Shattering the heroes means shattering all the good inside of the people. And Will does not want that to happen. At all.
Alicia steps forward and shakes her head.
"As much as I disagree with Ben screaming at you like this, Willy, I think that he's right."- She says- "This world's a chaotic place. We live in some of the worst times ever. And now, we make things worse by arguing with each other. Thinking that we can do things better ourselves."
She looks down, clearly ashamed that she is also a part of this madness.
"This is not what Mother wanted to see. Miss Isabella, too."- She adds- "What would they think if they saw our noble faction in total disarray? That we are becoming worse than the monsters themselves? Would they still support our methods of dealing with trouble?"
Defeated, Will finally sees the errors in his ways. He bows his head, apologetic and regretful.
"I... never thought that I was harming the world like this. If my heart was bleeding, so was the world itself."- He says and sighs- "I understand. I am sorry that we had to go through this. Everything that we did... I can't believe what we have become."
He looks at Ben.
"I don't know who you are, but I thank you for your help."- He says- "Without your guidance, I would have never found the right answer to this twisted dilemma. If there is anything do to help, please say it. After all, I live for the human race... no matter how much it tries to reject me."
Ben smiles.
"I'm just glad you didn't walk on the same path as your brother."- He says- "Deep inside, I knew you were a keeper of law and goodness. You ain't just some kind of everyday hero. Mark my words, you will make things right someday."
Will nods silently, then turns to his father- Kaiden Kaos.
"Father, I still have conflicting emotions inside of me. The two sides of my persona are fighting for dominance. And I... am not sure what to do next."- He says- "But you did so much for the Kaos family and the world around it. And you still are. Such a thing cannot be denied. And I... just can't bring myself to hate you. After all, you are the man who planted the seed of my humble, little tree. So, in the name of everyone in the Kaos family, I shall forgive you. Past deeds shall be forgotten, and a new future shall be forged."
Kaiden smiles and hugs his son. This time, Will allows it.
"But there is one more thing that I want to say."- Will adds- "No matter what happened here, nothing has changed. In the eyes of the world, you are still a hero. Still a person who sacrificed his own life, in a most noble way, to banish the ultimate darkness. So, I will not say anything about your survival to anyone. Not even uncle Geralt and aunt Aurelia. Your secret shall stay safe with me, for as long as I am able to keep it. Hopefully for a long time."
Kaiden nods.
"I appreciate it, my young squire."- He says- "Don't worry about your daddy. As long as you keep bringing good to this world, I shall always be proud."
Alicia rolls her eyes.
"That's very sweet of you, Willy. It's nice to see a family member after so long."- She says- "But the mission that I have for you still remains. Did you bring the help that the HQ needs? Can we rely on you once again?"
Will smiles.
"I thought that you might never ask, my dear Alicia."- He says- "Why, the help that you desire is already here. Come with me."
As the rest of the group follows Will outside, they stare at the sea ahead. Soon, a large pirate ship arrives and sets its sails at the HQ's dock. A lone man comes out, dressed in a sea captain's clothing. His burning glare alone is enough to give villains goosebumps, and he always keeps his weapon close. A suspicious man, but a caring one nonetheless.
"Wow! How the tides have turned!"- Alicia exclaims- "Welcome back, big bro!"
Rufus, Alicia's big brother, smiles at his sister and salutes her,
"It's a pleasure to see you too, comrade of mine."- He says- "I'm ready to help. Again."
Ben looks at Alicia.
"Well, this is it. With the help of your brother, I will be able to reach the Dark Coast and face Hannah one last time."- He says to her- "But before I go, there is something that I want to know. Did you tell my dear Abigail that I shall be going into the lands of darkness once again? Is she aware of my eventual departure?"
Alicia smiles.
"You'll be surprised to know that I didn't miss this opportunity. Things like those are very important for me."- She says- "Abi said that she's very worried about you. And, as much as I want to tell her not to be afraid, I can understand her concerns. After all, you're going into one of the most dangerous territories in this region, and there's a chance for you to get in real trouble. So, we decided to work on an emergency plan. Abi wishes to see you go. And who am I to refuse this sweetheart's plea... "
As Ben continues to stare at her, a lone boat emerges from the open sea. It is piloted by a lone girl, a powerful survivor. When the boat finally reaches land, Abigail leaps out of the boat, runs to Ben and hugs him.
"My dearest Abi."- Ben says and hugs her back, showing as much love as she does- "This is the best surprise. Ever."
Will and Alicia stare as the brave soldier and his beloved girl embrace each other. Failing to resist the urge of love, Alicia hugs Will and smiles at him. Will, not wanting to ruin the special moment between Ben and Abigail, decides to allow it. Just this once.
"Isn't it beautiful, Willy?"- Alicia says- "Abigail may have lost most of her speech, but she's capable of expressing herself with more than just mere words."
Will nods.
"Indeed. And I can see that Ben is resonates those feelings in a perfect way."- He says- "It is no mystery. The heart of this fearless soldier is filled with love. True love. Abigail means more than just the world itself to him. She is a priceless diamond. A gorgeous angel. She is the beacon of sanity in a land of madness. It is a heavenly experience between two pure souls. Unbroken. Untainted. Unstoppable."
Alicia smiles.
"I hope that we can find true love, too."- She says- "Someday."
Sensing her clever intentions, Will decides to refrain himself from turning up the heat. Instead, he takes a neutral stance.
"Yes."- He says stoically- "We will."
Unfortunately, this action has the opposite effect. Alicia squeals like a little girl, and her hug gets much tighter. However, instead of pushing her away, Will acts like a gentleman and simply smiles at her, knowing that he cannot resist the descendant of Redmark's fiery touch.
"Alright, lovebirds. Time's up."- Rufus says and shakes his head- "Every moment we spend away from the battlefield, the enemy keeps getting stronger. Get up and get ready. There's a long journey ahead of us."
Ben turns to Abigail, embraces her and kisses her on the forehead.
"I know that you're scared, my dear. But fear not."- He says- "In these many years of pain and misfortune, I faced many problems. Hannah sent many mercenaries to hunt me down. And yet, I am still here. I won't fall apart like Max."
Hearing her late brother's name, Abigail begins to cry silently.
"Yes. I know. His demise was a breaking point for us."- He adds- "But together, we shall make Hannah pay for this insolence. We shall avenge the one who avenged many others. Hannah's not getting out of the Abyss again. I assure you."
Abigail looks at him, as if to ask him "Is that a promise?".
"It is a promise."- Ben says and smiles- "Now sit tight and wait for my message in a bottle. Soon, the Knight in Shining Armor shall make the light shine again!"
Having said that, Ben and Abigail share a kiss (and another big hug). Abigail sends her beloved off and watches as he, Alicia and Rufus and embark on a new, pitch dark journey.
"There's a dark future ahead of us, comrades."- Rufus says- "Soon, we shall experience the eye of the storm firsthand. And it will be... devastating."
Ben shakes his head.
"More devastating than the demise of Max? I highly doubt it, my friend."- He says- "Hannah is a tricky fighter, but she knows she can't break us further. Max's demise was our breaking point. At this point, we can only go higher."
Alicia looks at him.
"Do you think she still has her sights on the new HQ?"- She asks- "She might be sending her spies to undermine us, but I fear that this might be some sort of a distraction, meant to divert our attention from the elephant in the room... "
Ben shakes his head. Again.
"I will not be reckless. After what we saw at the old HQ, I'm aware that the army is far from invulnerable. Only a fool believes otherwise."- He says- "But I trust in the power of our warriors. I know that they can make a fierce stand against Hannah's wicked traitors and send them back into the darkness that they adore."
Alicia sighs.
"Yeah. I know that they can hold them off."- She says- "I just... don't want the people to get desperate. Nobody wants to see the rise of another Marcus Redmark."
Ben turns around and looks at the Redmark siblings.
"From what Mr. Kaos managed to explain to me, I deduced that the wicked Marcus Redmark is the late uncle of both of you. Thus, you are direct descendants of his throne of darkness."- He says- "How do you feel about that? Are you afraid that you're related to a monster like him?"
Rufus shakes his head.
"Uncle Marcus was a glorious man, but he was far from a saint. He was neither an Angel, nor a Demon. Just a broken man, tainted by the mistakes that he made."- He says- "But there's one that I agree with. The poetic justice that he received, it was something truly important. This world doesn't want another wicked genius to replace him, and neither do I."
Alicia looks down.
"Sometimes, I can't believe that this foul demon is a relative of mine. Rufus forced himself to forget, yet I still remember. He was the one who convinced our mom to go out of her way to act. Yes, he tried to do this for the greater good (or the kind that he believed in), but it was not the kind of fate that she deserved."- She says- "Yet, if the Crimson Throne remains empty, I won't refuse to take on the queen's mantle. I don't want a fiend to corrupt everything and make a dark empire."
Ben shakes his head.
"And yet, you still made a lot of mistakes yourselves."
Rufus nods.
"I made a lot of mistakes. And I'm not ashamed to admit it. They form the cross of shame that I always carry with me."- He says- "And yet, I always do my best to correct them. I strive to be an example for greatness, not for madness. Unlike our dear Uncle Redmark."
Alicia sighs.
"The only mistake that I made is when I trusted Uncle Redmark's words. When I believed that he would create the perfect empire for us."- She says- "There's nothing perfect in this world. Perfection is a coin with two sides. You're either happy that you achieved something amazing... or become corrupted by your own wicked pride. There's nothing in-between."
Rufus smiles.
"Unless you believe hard enough, that is."
Alicia rolls her eyes.
"Ignore him."- She says to Ben- "His positivity can be... annoying."
Ben nods.
"His attitude is truly inspiring. I like it."- He says- "I would love to fight beside you, umm... "
Rufus smiles again.
"Rufus."- He says- "My name is Rufus... Redmark."
Ben nods and shakes his hand.
"It's an honor to be here with you, Rufus."- He says- "Let's make a difference. Together."
With that, the three heroes head off to their individual quarters. As Ben heads off to his own, he notices that his door has clearly been tampered with. Another trick by Hannah and her allies, perhaps? Either way, he heads inside.
Once inside, he notices a large, glowing red rune in front of the door. He is quick to realize that it isn't just some kind of fancy decoration. He carefully walks around it, doing his best not to step on it, even a little bit. Eventually, he succeeds.
Unbeknownst to him, this is exactly what his enemies wanted. Once he does the seemingly opposite action, a secret tripwire is triggered. A hidden enemy's gears start turning. Something powerful (and evil) comes to life.
As Ben heads to bed, he can't help but hear the sounds of moving stone. His enemy is powerful, but far from silent. He knows that something is amiss, and makes the hard decision to ruin his sleep schedule. He turns to the side, secretly sleeping with one eye open- something Hannah and her allies are not aware of.
During midnight, the hidden enemy punches its way through the secret compartment, taking pains not to cause too much noise. It is soon revealed to be a giant golem of pure steel, a nearly indestructible titan that can cause heavy damage. From the looks of it, the metal beast seems to be a temporary creation. It will stay active for a short time, but it's powerful enough to take down an entire village's worth of people. A fearsome enemy, capable of causing fear and delivering immense pain.
As promised, Ben is not fully asleep. Using his open eye, he manages to analyze the golem's position. He watches as it begins to glow slightly. And then, just as it begins to land a devastating blow, he jumps into action and pushes a nearby button. A nearby wall opens the way to reveal a hidden plasma grenade, its blast easily knocking the metal titan back and giving Ben the chance to come back to his senses.
Just as he gets out of bed, he realizes that his hands have become paralyzed. It seems that Hannah's allies made sure to set another trap for him- should he manage to get up, a scheduled spell will paralyze the upper half of his body.
And yet, the spell is not powerful enough to cause full paralysis. This allows Ben to leap back as the golem attempts to crush him with its giant head. This allows him to see a giant flaw in the ways of his enemies.
When the golem was made, its creator worked on making it as strong as possible. This left the creature's stone heart very weak and vulnerable. Thus, if Ben is able to send a powerful surge of energy toward the golem's chest, it may prove to be far too devastating for the beast. On the other hand, the paralysis spell that is affecting Ben seems to loosen its effect from time to time, allowing Ben to move his hands again. With those things in mind, if he manages to execute a perfect set of actions, he might have a chance.
But there is no time left to think. As soon as the golem angrily raises its fists and prepares to pound the ground around Ben, the brave soldier uses his legs to knock down a plasma grenade from a shelf and kicks it in the golem's face, sending him back with earth-shattering force. And then, when the golem prepares to deliver a final, extremely powerful punch of steel, Ben weakly raises one of his arms to block it. A magical shield appears, but the golem easily shatters the layer of protection into pieces.
As the final blow lands, the golem's steel lips twist into a little smile, showing a worryingly human-like expression. It is as if it knew that it would win this battle ever since it was created. An easy victory, showing that humans are inferior beings.
=== . . . ===
Even so, such a bold action is far from enough. Much to the steel nightmare's surprise, Ben smiles himself. As he starts to explain why the golem is wrong, he decides that actions matter more than words. So, he takes a look at his arm.
It is revealed that this is the arm where he has a white bracelet. But this is no ordinary bracelet. It is a magical accessory, blessed with a powerful enchantment. Its wide array of abilities has kept Ben alive for a long time.
As soon as the golem takes a slow step back, it is revealed that the bracelet has managed to touch its chest. And the attempt to move away is what makes the miracle happen. Soon, a giant jolt runs through the entire body of the golem. While the rest of it is completely unaffected (due to the fact that it is refined steel), the bolt of lightning manages to reach the golem's weak point- the heart. And, as soon as it reaches it, this causes a massive explosion that completely destroys the animated pile of steel, ending its unusual animation almost instantly. All that remains afterwards... is a pile of charred scrap. And the former golem's power core, shattered in hundreds of pieces.
"A perfect plan. But your execution was, as always, flawed."- He says- "Nice try, Hannah. But it will take more than a rusty iron monster and a bunch of fancy fireworks to take down the successor of Maxwell Wilson."
As the paralysis finally wears off, Ben picks up pieces of steel and sticks them to a nearby wall, using the bagic inside of his bracelet. Soon, he manages to form two simple words for the spies of Hannah- "N I C E T R Y".
"Are you still relying on your goons to do all of the work, just like you did years ago?"- Ben says and shakes his head- "I guess a coward is like a wolf- he may change his fur, but his attitude always remains the same."
Then, he smiles.
"How predictable of you."
As Alicia enters the room, he has managed to clean up the mess than the steel golem made. She looks around, shocked by the fact that Hannah's forces struck during nighttime.
"Goodness, Ben. If I knew what was happening, I would've been here sooner."- She says- "Are you okay? Did that... creature harm you?"
Ben looks down at the blood on his stomach and shakes his head.
"It was a dangerous experience, but nothing we haven't seen before."- He says- "Hannah's getting far too predictable. Reckless, too. This might be in our favor."
Alicia nods.
"I'll send Rufus to keep watch for us. He's very good at spotting suspicious noises."- She says- "Don't worry. Whatever happened here, it won't happen again."
Ben sighs.
"I just want the morning to come sooner."- He says- "Good night, Alicia."
Alicia sighs, as well.
"Good night, comrade."
With that, Alicia leaves the room as Ben lays back on his bed. This time, he is not able to fully close his eyes. Still suspicious that Hannah can strike again, he continues to be wary of his surroundings. It is a long rest of the night, but no longer an eventful one.
During the morning, Rufus opens his eyes very quickly, He jumps out of bed and changes to his battle attire. When he opens his door, he notices that Rufus and Alicia have already taken positions. Apparently, something is attacking the ship, and the Redmark siblings are on the defensive.
"Benjamin, arm the cannons!"- Rufus exclaims- "Hannah's combatants have finally arrived! We must hold them off!"
As Ben wonders what to do, he swiftly avoids a hail of bullets heading toward him. When he regains his balance, he looks up. What he sees is not a good thing.
"Oh no."- He mutters- "Not you again."
In the sky, he sees Dom- the servant of Hannah who attempted to murder him earlier. He is now riding a large battle plane, using his newfound power to decimate his sworn enemies.
"Did ya miss me, Taylor? Did you really think that you could escape from me?"- He yells- "Come out now! Face me like the man that you are!"
Ben smirks.
"Be careful what you wish for, fiend."
Having said that, he avoids another hail of bullets, performs a backflip, grabs a pair of guns from a nearby shelf and boards one of the ship's battle cruisers.
"It's time to send you back into the highlands where you belong."- He says- "Bring it on, Dom! We're ready!"
Realizing that his opponent is fully ready for battle, Dom narrowly avoids the incoming fusion of lasers and bullets coming his way. The sky is pierced by the sound of gunfire as light and darkness face each other once again. 
Wishing to end this confrontation quickly, the orc soldier fires at the center of the battleship- the place where its precious core is hidden. But Ben is prepared for this- he uses the magic of his bracelet to transform the bullets of his vehicle into a mighty defense- a Bulletstorm Ring. As the Dom's bullets ricochet from the nearly impenetrable shield back to their sender, Dom is forced to change direction and trick Ben into following him.
"You think that the skies are your domain?"- Dom says- "Poor child of the earth! We orcs have lived in the mountains for a long time! Few have been close to the skies as us!"
Ben shakes his head.
"Don't act like you're anything special."- He says- "Even though you have the heritage of an orc, human blood also flows inside of your veins. Your legacy is nothing more than an accidental inheritance."
Dom clenches his fist.
"I rejected my humanity a long time ago! You humans mean nothing to me!"- He yells- "All that I live for is the alliance of humanoids- mightiest warriors of the unsettled lands. Many of your kind dared to stand against us. They tried to convince me that I'm as much of a human as them. But they were nothing more than fuel to the fire, leaves in the wind. Their lives were meaningless!"
Hearing the words of Dom makes Ben angry. Since he lost the life of a dear friend years ago, he could not disagree more than this.
"Silence! You have no right to disrespect the life of a living being, you filthy weasel!"- He says- "All life has its own color, its own light. Everyone deserves the chance to forge a meaningful existence. Villains like you show no respect towards this crucial principle. And I have no choice but to make an example, out of you and your foolish kind!"
As the final fragments of the Bulletstorm Ring fade away, Ben pulls out his guns. Before Dom can do anything to stop him, he fires two precise shots, infused with the magic coming from his bracelet. Increasing the impact of the strike, this allows Ben to shatter the engines of Dom's vehicle, setting the lower side of his plane on fire.
Thinking quickly, Dom plunges the lower part of his vehicle in the water below. Luckily for him, the battleship was designed to be waterproof, so it survives the ordeal. But the damage done to the plane is quite visible, even to the untrained eye. Still, he has to keep fighting, for the honor of people and country. Or whatever he may believe in.
"Long is the road to the destined heaven, human brother."- Dom says and smiles- "We're like leaves in the wind- always on the run. We always fight for our beliefs. Protect our sacred honor. Every little thing we do is paid in precious blood, far more than this troubled world has to offer. But have you thought about the higher reason of our existence? We orcs always ponder our cursed heritage, search for the secrets behind our revered ancestors. We hone our skills because we believe that something can be achieved only with great strength and dedication. We respect those who know how to fight well. And I think that you're far beyond the lofty goals of greedy, feeble humankind."
He bares his white teeth. From this far away, they seem like sharp knives- unstained, fully functional and ready to tear their way through anything that dares to impede them.
"Mark my words, survivor."- He says as he grins at Ben, his expression darker than the eternal moon- "Humankind may be the most widespread race. You may have lived the longest, went beyond the goals of your creator. But there is one little flaw- you are a fading breed. Your dominion over this world is not guaranteed. Soon, you will see what happens if you dare to defy Nature and live to witness the betrayal of your own people."
Ben nods.
"I see the truth in your words. Many humans think about boosting their own ego than to be productive parts of society. Few heroes are made nowadays, and fewer will be brave enough to join us."- He says- "But arrogance is not exclusive to humans. Many non-humans share the same trait. And I want you to note this word- humanoid. It's a humanlike being, capable of free speech and thought. And, no matter how much your kind denies it, you can't say humanoid without the word "human". Even non-human has it."- He continues"- "All life on this planet, no matter how diverse and unique, is connected to the human race. We made what is known as "civilization". We are the ones to created almost every metropolis on this planet. Every city. Even the statues of those you see throughout known (and unknown) lands were shaped by the hands of human beings. And where do you live? In mountain caves, away from all the ruckus? You pretend that you have settlements as close as ours, but you only succeeded because you allied yourselves with people who once belonged (and, legally, still belong) to humanity. So, don't pretend that you're one of the saints who are capable of changing the world- it's true that this world was meant to change, but only the gods know what must be done. All of us are merely tools to the heavenly government. Rebelling against those sacred laws... will only lead to oblivion."
Dom raises his eyebrow.
"What are ya? Some kind of a philosopher?"- He shakes his head- "Ugh. My head hurts just thinking about your words. Awful person, you are."
Ben smiles.
"I am surprised that your kind knows about such complex words."- He says- "Your English pronunciation has always been... unsatisfactory."
Dom grins.
"Just like your performance, Mr. Soldier!"
Before Ben can respond, a hidden compartment opens in the front side of Dom's battleship. Soon, a mounted lance appears. Dom lunges forward, fiercely striking the front side of Ben's vehicle with his mighty lance and slowly shattering his last means of defense.
Stuck between the hammer and the anvil once again, Ben pulls out his guns, in an attempt to gun down the lance. But Dom knows better than to face an enemy in a reckless way- he picks up the huge battleaxe on his back and slices both of them (and, nearly, Ben's right hand) in half in the process. The battleship shakes as this titan steps on Ben's home ground, putting his own vehicle on Autopilot.
Ben attempts to use the magic of his bracelet to protect him, but Dom knows how to react. Using the power of his own bracelet, he sends waves that nullify the effect of Ben's bracelet, making it much harder for him to concentrate at the same time. Before Ben can attempt to run back and reactivate it, Dom pushes him to the ground and pushes the handle of his battleaxe next to his neck. He coughs drops of blood as he attempts to fight back.
"I already told you, filthy human. Only the ones who are worthy of surviving... are capable of doing so."- Dom says and smiles- "Sadly, you're about to sleep with the fishes. Forever, and ever. And nobody will ever find you."
It all seems hopeless for our hero. His battleship is unable to protect him. His allies are far away. He has little strength left. It is as if life itself is testing him, and he is failing to meet the heavenly quota. 
"Maybe this is truly meant to be."- He says and smiles- "Wait for me, Max. I'm right behind you... "
However, before he can leave this world behind, another miracle happens. Just before Dom can choke the last fragments of life out of Ben, a shining, blazing force flies forward. It easily cuts its way through the remnants of Dom's ship and causing a brief, but intense explosion. Then, as Dom looks up, the mighty force pushes him back, as if by a wild tornado. And then, before his very eyes, his huge battleaxe explodes, and the palm of his right hand is cut off. As he struggles to prevent himself from screaming, the mysterious force reveals itself to be William Kaos- one of the world's greatest living heroes.
"Wicked servant of the lost world!"- He yells- "Go back to the dark domain from whence you came!"
Dom attempts to punch him with his mighty fist, but Will bends the light itself to avoid the incoming blow. Then, before his opponent even knows it, he unleashes a fiery tornado upon him, setting him on fire and pushing him out of the vehicle and onto the ground below. A loud splat is heard soon after.
"You always amaze me, but this is a new one."- Ben says- "How did you manage to join me so fast?"
Will shakes his head.
"I may still be a mere apprentice, but looks can be deceiving."- He says- "Many foes failed to not underestimate me, simply because I look like a simple child to them. And that, my friend, did not go well for their poor souls."
Ben sighs.
"I only wish Max were here to witness this... "
Suddenly, the core of the battleship starts to lose its power. Loud alarms start to blare around them.
"Oh no!"- Ben exclaims- "I may be good at driving a plane, but I'm not sure what must be done here!"
Will shakes his head.
"You lost the fragments of training that you had in your mind."- He reprimands him- "Allow me to refresh them for you."
Will politely asks for the wheel and sits on the driving spot when allowed to do so. Even though he is under pressure, he still manages to maneuver his way past the large and sharp sea rocks, unbreakable icebergs, and the constant flocks of birds. Though the ship is close to falling apart, he has faith that it will take them to safety before its power expires. And, true to his faith, it manages to land close to the nearby beach, starting to build momentum after Will and Ben disembark it.
"You might want to get away from here."- Will suggests- "Battleship explosions can be fairly nasty."
As the two of them leap to safety, the battleship explodes, taking down a horde of bewildered orcs that came to avenge their fallen leader.
Ben sits on the beach, slightly exhausted. He clearly did not expect his adventure to be so... bizarre.
"Wow. What a bizarre adventure."- He says, confirming the state of this adventure- "In my years in the army, I never thought that I would get this lucky."
Will says.
"This is not luck. It is a road of Fate, woven by the heralds of Destiny."- He says- "Remember the difference. Luck runs out after a certain amount of time. Fate and Destiny are always around to keep you around."
Ben nods.
"Yes. I know."- He says- "I may not understand many things in this new world, but I can still tell what Fate has in store for us. Kind of."
As the two of them sit on the beach together, the ship approaches them. Alicia and Rufus leap out, clearly relieved that they made it.
"You guys seem to be doing well."- Alicia says- "For better or worse, most of the orcs retreated after they witnessed their master's defeat."
Rufus nods, confirming his sister's statement.
"Indeed."- He says- "The few of them who are lucky enough to be alive are now on the run. No more revolution. No more disrespecting humankind. Plain and simple, those fiends will know their place in this world. Or will know, soon enough."
The four of them attempt to plan their next move, but they soon feel a vibration in the waters below. Soon, Ben feels something grabbing his leg, attempting to drag him into the dark waters. He wisely reaches for a large rock, but it's not strong enough to keep him up. His allies attempt to pull him back, but even their force is not enough to serve as precious leverage. 
When Ben looks back, he can see two red eyes staring at him from the sea. Two dark lights, ready to consume his very being.
"You'll pay for what you did to me, Benjamin!"- He hears a yell- "All of you will join the heavenly train!"
However, Will is one step ahead once again. As the mysterious hand drags Ben deeper to his doom, Will leaps in the air and unleashes a massive shockwave with the help of his sword. The force of the impact is strong enough to shake the sea itself, sending out the mysterious assailant out of his hidden lair and launches him into the nearby rock, nearly shattering the right part of his skull in the process.
As they turn around to look at their new enemy, they realize that it is none other than Dom- Hannah's not-so-human faithful servant- himself. Severely wounded by his last battle, he attempted to bring Ben down once again. And, even though Ben is annoyed by his survival, he can't help but admire his unbreakable desire to assist his master.
"This guy doesn't know when to quit!"- Rufus exclaims- "Quick! Put him out of his misery before he hurts anyone else!"
Alicia, sympathetic, decides to do it herself. Grabbing her brother's gun, she prepares to fire a bullet at Dom's thick skull. However, Will pushes her away before she can do the job, and the bullet only manages to pierce his right ear.
"Enough is enough, Alicia."- He says to her- "This creature may be evil, but he doesn't deserve to be given such a harsh punishment."
Rufus attempts to say something in retaliation, but Will silences him with a cold glare. Then, he approaches Dom and shakes his head.
"You broke many laws today. What you did was meant to hurt many people. You almost ended the life of my friends, you and that ragtag army of yours."- He says- "But I am not the type of person who kills in cold blood, unless I absolutely must. What you experienced here shall serve as the cross that you will carry on that back of yours. Your life may be spared, but you have yet to pay the price."
Dom looks up at him.
"What price?"
Will shakes his head again.
"The price of change. Every wicked being comes face to face with it."- He says- "Now stand still and let me heal you. Your wounds are worse than they look."
Using his magical touch, Will manages to seal the wounds of his enemy. It is a last act of kindness that cements his decision to spare the life of the villain. If he was truly as merciless as people claim that he is, he would have simply left him to bleed out from his many wounds.
However, as Dom stands back on his feet, he grabs Alicia by the dress and lifts her up.
"You imcompetent fool! Don't you know that helping the enemy only spells more despair for you!"- He exclaims- "Now, give me what I want or the girl gets it!"
Suddenly, he feels the barrel of a gun at the back of his head. Rufus took the opportunity to grab his gun from Alicia and position himself behind the villain. This gives him a clear shot, no matter how far away Dom goes.
"Will said that you'll be spared. And I wish to enforce his order."- He says- "Leave this holy land right this instant... or I'll make you wish that you perished in that plane crash."
Stuck in a bad situation, Dom starts to sweat. He is nervous about his chances in this confrontation. If he lets go of Alicia, this means that Hannah's plans are doomed to fail. If he refuses, this means that his fall is the one that's guaranteed to happen. Such a predicament is something that he hoped to avoid. Leaving it to his servants is what he did in the past, but it's his decision now.
Though overwhelmed by the sense of dark justice and wicked vengeance, Dom allows the peaceful thoughts inside of his mind to prevail. He releases Alicia and calmly steps away from the gun.
"Remember what I said about the show of power? Well, I think I've seen enough."- He says- "You folks are definitely not a force to be reckoned with. Me and my boys were far too unwise. Maybe that old, feeble hag was not worth helping, after all... "
As a gesture of peace, he drops his remaining weapons. he stares back at the remains of his battleaxe and sighs.
"It's a new world now. A new order."- He says- "Humanity may still be doomed, but villainy will share the same fate. It's best if I rethink my oath."
Rufus nods.
"Atta boy."- He says- "So, what will it be. Gun... or run?"
Dom sighs,
"On the run."- He says- "Like everyone else."
He grabs a few supplies from the wreckage of his battleship and bows his head.
"If you ever find out what happened to Hannah, I want you to know one thing."- He says- "Time has... not been kind to her. Or her subordinates. You might not like what you'll see. So, please, put her out of her misery. Don't let her suffer. She might be a bad girl, but she doesn't deserve this."
Will nods.
"Hannah will not suffer for much longer. We will make sure that she receives her peace of body and soul."- He says- "Now go find your destiny. It is out there, waiting for you."
Dom smiles. A little bit.
"Gotcha, big hero."- He says- "Take it easy. You're going to make it."
With that, Dom scavenges the last of his things and heads off for lands unknown, using his rickety boat to cross the unforgiving sea.
"We come from a proud family. Few of us respect the villains of this world. But what we saw just now, it was an act of kindness beyond human comprehension."- Rufus says- "I believe that this won't be the last time when we see Dom. Sooner or later, our paths will cross again."
Ben nods.
"Indeed. And then, hopefully, he is going to be a reformed person... umm, creature."- He responds- "But our mission's not done yet. We still have to find the location of our enemy. So, let's begin the hunt. And I hope that we succeed this time."
That said, the four heroes leave the wreckage of Dom's battleship behind.
As they do so, Ben can't help but notice Rufus's sudden interest in the battleship (or rather, what remains of it). He looks around just as Rufus runs behind the group to take something that he deems important.
"You seem rather exhilarated right now."- Ben says- "Is there anything you'd like to share?"
Rufus shakes his head.
"Oh. It's nothing unusual. Just a minor analysis of our enemy's device."- He says- "Maybe we can find an existing weakness. Or maybe we could discover the secret behind Hannah's successful campaigns. Anything could be an advantage, at this point."
He sighs.
"But... the truth is, this one of my greatest passions."- He says- "You know. I don't tell everyone about this, but me and Alicia loved seafaring when we were children. Our mother always took us to the most exquisite places, the most breathtaking sceneries.... with the help of our uncle's funds, of course. I still think about the time when Alicia lost Mother's amulet, and I had to jump into the sea to recover it."
Ben raises his eyebrow.
"Well? How did that go?"- He asks- "You must have been young, so I bet that it was a challenge?"
Rufus looks at him. His eyes burn with raw passion, as if he is willing to relive that moment in time. Again... and again.
"There's one thing you should know, soldier boy. Never judge a book by its cover, even if it's gold-plated and studded with precious diamonds."- He says- "Most adults feared for my life. They kept saying that a kid can't survive in the dark seas. Many of them expressed their condolences to Mother in advance, worrying her even more. That's the kind of attitude that I'll never accept. Pessimism and cowardice are some of humanity's worst traits. So what if a mission seems to be hopeless? What if a man is too far gone? You must do whatever you can, not to give up and pretend that you don't care about it. Even when I was the bad guy, I still wanted to keep people from making the same mistakes... even though my way of thinking was far too unpopular amongst my peers."
He sighs and turns his nose back to the wreckage.
"Anyway, it took three days to find that little thing. At first, I didn't see why she wanted it back. It was just another trinket- a replacable item that'll be forgotten as quickly as it was lost. But she saw something special in it, something that reminded her of the home that we lost a long time ago... our fallen kingdom. And when I scared away those greedy treasure hunters, when I made my way through the jaws of three huge sharks, I finally understood what she meant. And, like I said before, it's always worth analyzing a book's contents before coming to a full conclusion."- He says- "Many people throw away their items in the sea, thinking that they don't need them anymore. Just like they throw away their true feelings- a constant state of uncertainty occurs. And the worst thing is... they harm lifeforms with their actions, most of the time without even knowing it."
Suddenly, Rufus stands up and stares at Ben, determined to find the answer inside of his feelings.
"Tell me, soldier boy."- He says bluntly- "Is it fair for those poor beasts to suffer, just because we can't look at anything below our noses? Are we truly the saviors of this world... or are we just the lifeforms that help it vanish faster? Can we still see each other as the good guys... or are we just too selfish and arrogant to ever think otherwise?"
Ben is too stunned to respond. Rufus's glare alone is enough to give the young soldier goosebumps. And his words... the coldness inside of them, the seriousness, the desire to do something right. It is clear that Rufus has developed a sense of justice well before his mother left this world behind.
"I'll take your answer as approval. Most people always try to make excuses and brag about how we're always better than every race that has ever existed."- He says- "But the statistics go well above the spectrum of science. Heaven and Hell are fighting for dominance, but we stay indifferent. However, sooner or later, we all have to answer for our sins... whatever they may be."
Rufus looks up at Ben.
"So, Benjamin."- He says- "Between you and me, what is your biggest sin, if there is any in the first place?"
Ben looks down, clearly ashamed.
"My biggest sin is... not being able to help my best friend."- He says- "Though he always pretended to be fine, I was able to hear the cries of his heart. I knew that he was looking for a savior himself. After all, even the champion needs a champion by his side. But when he needed us the most... we abandoned him. Alone, in that cavern. Afraid for our lives. Desperate to slay the darkness. And, in his struggle, the fragment of light and life vanished. The person who was destined to restore the world's order and take it to greater heights... gone in an instant. Many people forgot who he was, Even the newspapers, enthusiastic as they were, stopped writing their false stories about him, It was almost as if they didn't care about his heroic status."
Suddenly, Ben clenches both of his fists. Thinking about this act of disrespect clearly makes him angry.
"Woah, Benjamin. Calm down."- Rufus says- "There's no need to-- "
Ben looks at the sky.
"I'll make them pay for turning down a champion! For disrespecting a true servant of order!"- He yells- "Max was my hero! My savior! And now, my shining martyr! Their arrogance is truly limitless!"
Rufus looks him in the eye.
"If you had the chance to change this, what would you do?"
Ben does the same.
"I would protect the honor of my fallen friend."- He responds, loud and proud- "If I have to explore the entire world to make it happen, I won't allow myself to stop."
Rufus nods and smiles.
"Then your friend was truly a spectacular persona."- He says- "It's a shame that we didn't get to meet him. He was going to be a legendary ally."
Ben nods.
"In life, his dream was to meet William Kaos. After hearing the stories about him, that boy became his hero."- He says- "Do you think we could... make his dream come true? Even though he's no longer here to witness it?"
Rufus smiles again.
"That, my friend, would be up to you."- He says- "Maybe we're far too unworthy to carry his shining legacy. Or maybe we're not trying hard enough. Either way, nothing stops us from doing our best. Right?"
Ben nods again.
"I hope that I can live up to his expectations."- He says- "I just... want his soul to be happy while watching us from beyond the golden gates of Heaven."
Rufus raises his eyebrow.
"So, you're a religious type?"- He says- "It's surprising, coming from a high-ranking member of the army."
Ben smiles, sadly and serenely.
"After all the people that we lost, how could I not be one?"- He says- "I just know that they're up there, watching us from whatever place Heaven may be. And, if you think that we're alone out here, you're wrong."
Rufus nods.
"Well said, my friend."- He says- "I myself have dreamed about Mother, thinked about how her soul's far away from this nightmarish wasteland, No more sorrow. No more guilt. No more bad decisions, Just a peaceful coexistence with the spirits of Man and Animal alike. A piece of Mind and Soul, untainted by dark thoughts and evil individuals,"
Ben smiles.
"Maybe this will be our final reward?"
Rufus smiles back and shakes his head.
"All that I want is for me and Alicia to reunite with Mom and Uncle. To see their faces once again."- He says- "Everything else always comes second."
Ben nods.
"Then you and I share the same goal."- He says- "Making our loved ones proud. Keeping the world safe. And, last but not least, achieving the impossible."
Rufus approaches Ben and places his hand on the soldier's shoulder.
"You were honest with me. So let me do the same for you."- He says- "Benjamin Taylor, the world needs more people like you and me. Maybe we're not perfect. Maybe we just do whatever our brave hearts desire. But our resolve always opens the gates of infinity and leads us to the truth that we wish to see. We may look like simple peasants to others, but a true king has always shown himself to be humble."
Ben tilts his head, clearly amused by Rufus's inspiring speech.
"And you're a truly remarkable person. Both a speaker and listener, that's a hard thing to achieve."- He says- "Your philosophical remarks often leave a person wondering whether they've done enough our not. And the way you speak, with so much determination, it makes me think you've always been the hero."
Rufus smiles knowingly. It is as if he has heard words like those countless times before.
"I may look smart. That's possibly true."- He says- "But there's always people who are smarter than me."
He looks at Will as he watches him from a distance, smiling as he thinks about their friendship.
"I think I've talked enough. Sometimes, I tend to get lost in the narration. It's a trait that I've inherited from Mother."- He adds- "It's time to grab what we need and get moving."
As Rufus collects more seemingly useless debris, Ben watches him. It is as if a master is teaching an apprentice. An elaborate process, filled with the tiniest of details. Knowing which pieces of equipment are the most useful takes a lot of time and dedication.
"Anyway, why do you need all this scrap?"- He asks him- "Are you looking for something... meaningful again?"
Rufus sighs.
"It might seem like scrap to you, but it's treasure to me."- He says- "But don't worry. Different people have different mindsets. It's what makes us so unique, in our own way."
He looks down again, measuring the size of a core piece, then continuing to inspect the reactors of the wings.
"As I said before, me and my sister always loved to traverse the Seven Seas together. But, as our mother left this world, she became more desperate. Uninterested in almost everything."- He says- "My love for seafaring eventually evolved into a love for the aerial world. The new designs of battleships that they make, they've always been of great interest to me. That's why I always enjoy analyzing pieces such as this one. When a normal individual sees nothing of value, a true conoisseur sees a priceless hoard of treasure."
Ben giggles.
"Like a pirate's booty?"
Rufus smiles.
"Yup!"- He exclaims- "Exactly!"
As he collects the last of the supplies needed for his projects, Rufus carefully stuffs them inside of his back. He makes sure that there is always enough space for more, should the need for another "analysis" arise.
"You want to find answers, right?"- He says to Ben- "Reach the end of the road. You will find them, sooner or later."
Ben smiles.
"Thank you, Master Rufus."
Rufus gives him a thumbs-up.
"I'm glad that I helped, young scholar."
The two of them return to their group, which seemingly hasn't noticed their absence. From there, everything continues in a normal way, undistrubed by their little adventure.
"The truth is lying out there."- Ben says to himself- "I just need to be brave. For the sake of myself... and those who believe in me."