MLTO C6, P6

This is the sixth Part of "MLIV:TO" 's sixth and final Chapter.
It was released on 22.04.2023.
== Plot ==
Having managed to complete the challenge of the White Trinity together, the Mark of The Phoenix finally starts to show inside of Geralt and Kaiden. Since Aurelia was also responsible for this great triumph, she also gets a small part of the legendary power inside of her.
With the legendary sword Starshine finally in his hands, Geralt is more than ready to take on Redmark and his allies, but the road ahead of him is still very long. On the way to the top, our heroes encounter an ancient member of the Kaos family. A true servant of evil, living proof of what they once were. He is angered by the sudden change inside of the family and is more than eager to bring forth their inner darkness once more.
Will the light of the Kaos family prevail again?
== Story ==
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"Umm, excuse me for being so clueless. But I am not sure who you are."- He says- "Are you willing to enlighten me?"
The man nods.
"Yes. I can see that you're not aware. Youthful ignorance is quite common for kids like you."- He says- "Well, allow me to introduce myself."
He smiles.
"My name is Keenan. I'm a member of the legendary Kaos family- sworn destroyers of all that's sacred. For many centuries, we've been reshaping the world to our liking. Time and time again, we were being defeated, but we always rose back. Even the mighty demons of the underworld trembled when we were nearby. We were truly unstoppable, and everyone knew it."- He says- "Unfortunately, our glorious family fell apart in the last few decades. And it's all because of a faceless fool, now buried under the rubble of his own mistakes. He was the one who called for a change. He wanted the family to emerge from the darkness and step into the light, the same disgusting light that we swore to destroy so many years ago. And so, many of those who disobeyed were either imprisoned or outright slain by them. I was able to escape, the only living witness of the change inside of my own family. I joined many villains. Saw many settlements burn to the ground. And yet, I still had a duty for my family. So, I came back to make the change."
Geralt smiles.
"Oh! So, you are a Kaos, too?"- He says- "It is good to see you! Perhaps we can go back in time and reminisce some good memories! I admit it, it has been way too long since we've seen one of our people recently! Your presence surely sheds some light inside of our lives!"
Kaiden sighs.
"I can't tell if you're joking of being semi-honest."- He mutters- "Still, I don't think that I can agree with you."
Keenan raises his eyebrow.
"What is this? Another trick, meant to snare old Keenan and push him to the limit?"- He asks and laughs- "How naive of you, kinsman! Talking to me is like speaking to a wall. In fact, you have a better chance of convincing the wall than making me repent for my sins!"
Geralt sighs.
"Oh well. It was worth a try."- He says- "So. What is your deal, Mr. Keenan? What do you want from us?"
Keenan smiles.
"I want to make you feel true pain. I want to put your filthy, chivalrous lives through the test. I want your blood to flow as your screams pierce the night."- He says- "You've become one with the light that we swore to destroy. Because of that, you became victims of the darkness yourselves. You disgust me."
Kaiden raises his eyebrow.
"And yet, you're still willing to talk to us."- He says- "Do you have some sort of duality inside of you?"
Keenan sighs.
"You know, it's been way too long since I saw any members of my own family. The so-called "good" people of this world were not enough to satisfy my thirst to see my true home again."- He says- "I do admit it, seeing you in a place like this brings back some memories of what I used to be. Our family used to be whole. Pure. Unbreakable. Sometimes, when I look at you, I can see the same spark of life that was extinguished decades ago."
He clenches his fists.
"But that's as far as I will go. My mission's to eliminate you and restore the purity of the Kaos family, so that's exactly what I'll do."- He says- "I've been looking forward to this moment for far too long."
Kaiden draws his weapon.
"What are you waiting for, then?"- He asks him- "Get over here!"
Keenan smiles.
"Oh, I would love to crush you. I would love to make y'all cry."- He says- "But not here. Not now. This is not the time nor the place for this fateful battle."
He raises his hand. Dark tendrils emerge from it as his eyes start to glow black. Then, he stares at Geralt and smiles.
"If you really want to stop the impending purification, then come and face me in a fair battle."- He says- "I shall be waiting for you, young lightbringer."
Having said that, the tendrils engulf him. He disappears a few seconds later.
"Well, that was surely... enlightening."- Kaiden says and looks at Geralt- "Are you sure that we're going to fall for this trick? He's obviously trying to eradicate us, so I'm not sure if it is wise."
Geralt sighs.
"We have no other choice. He is far too dangerous for this world, especially in those dark times."- He says- "Besides, he is a part of our family, no matter how tainted his heart really is. The best thing that we could do right now is to put him into eternal rest, in the hopes that he will regret his mistakes in the next life."
Kaiden nods.
"I suppose that you're right. Bringing peace is the least we could do for deranged souls like those."- He says- "But I'm still afraid. A tiny bit. He seemed to be really dangerous and his powers were quite real. I won't say anything else, but I still don't think that it's wise."
The four of them leave the chapel behind and approach the dark summit far ahead of them. They have a new destiny to fulfill and the stakes are only getting higher. Whatever fire this mysterious man is trying to start, it is their job to put it out.
On their way to the summit, they encounter a family of four. Their clothes are torn and they seem to be very tired. In addition to that, they also seem to be very miserable- a sign of the dark times that are corrupting this world.
"Hello, brave heroes. We are just a humble family that's fleeing the ravages of the war. We've been on the road for quite a while and we're not sure if our village is standing or not."- The elder says- "We have a long way to go, but we are unsure whether we will make it or not. Bandits have attacked and robbed us more than once and we don't have enough money to sustain ourselves. And yet, we are too proud to beg, We will just stumble away and try to survive with what we have left. So, please excuse us. We still have a long way to go."
As the family prepares to leave, Geralt takes a step forward.
"Wait."
They turn around.
"I understand that you have been in a lot of trouble lately. You never dare to say to someone else, but your eyes are quick to betray it."- He says- "We want to help you out as best as we can."
The elder raises his eyebrow.
"I do not mean to be rude, but you seem to be just as humble as we are."- He says- "How are you going to help us out?"
Geralt smiles.
"Well, I am glad that you asked!"- He exclaims- "I know that we are not the richest people in this world, but I will still give you... this!"
Then, he pulls out something from his pocket. It is a large sack of gold coins, given to him by the White Trinity for completing their sacred challenge. It is unknown whether they were actually wealthy in life and the money that they rightfully earned was passed on to them in the Afterlife or if it was just left behind by some generous soul. Even so, the money is quite real, and the council thought that it would be wise for it to be given to Geralt, in the hopes that he will do the right thing.
"That's quite a bulky reward, little bro."- Kaiden says- "Are you sure that we want to, you know, give it away like this?"
Geralt looks at him.
"Of course we are!"- He exclaims- "Why are you asking?"
Kaiden smiles.
"I can see that you're being honest about it. That's a good thing, little bro. I'm very proud of you."- He says- "So, go ahead. Do what your heart desires. Your world is a broad horizon, so feel free to expand it."
Geralt nods.
"Thank you, Kai."
Then, he turns to the family and gives them the large sack. Before they can object, he leans back and shakes his head.
"Do not feel unsure about what you want. Your happiness is the only thing that I want to see. Fortune and fame can never dare to compete."- He says- "So, I want you to take this, with all of my best wishes for a better life. Buy yourselves some bodyguards. Get yourselves some good food. The dark times are going to be over soon, so start enjoying the bounties of Life and make others feel the same way."
The elder bows deeply. From the looks of it, he seems to be impressed by Geralt's actions. And rightfully so.
"Thank you very much, brave hero. Your actions might have just saved us from the inevitable famine."- He says- "May your blessed heart always shine bright in the face of the darkness. We will remember what you did forever."
Having said that, he shows the sack to the rest of his family. Their eyes glitter with childlike innocence as their hopes are finally restored.
"At last, we can escape from this accursed place!"
Then, the elder turns to Geralt and bows again.
"We wish you a safe journey, young samaritan."- He says- "Wherever you are going right now and whatever you are doing, we hope that you succeed."
Geralt nods.
"With the help of wonderful people like you, I know that we can make it to the top."- He says- "Farewell, good citizens. I hope that the gods continue to illuminate your path to the glorious light."
The elder nods back.
"We wish the same thing to you, brave hero."
With that, the family of four leaves, their newly acquired money on the elder's back. They are eager to approach another friendly settlement, so they waste no time to do so. After all, they now have a new future in their hands, far brighter than what their previous one used to be. 
"Well, that is another mess sorted out."- Geralt says and smiles serenely- "I'm glad that we managed to give that poor family another chance in Life."
Kaiden sighs.
"I don't mean to sound disrespectful, but we still have to take care of that rogue Kaos."- He says- "Are we getting closer?"
Geralt looks up. After a few seconds, he nods.
"Indeed, we are. The end is already in sight."- He says- "Once we get there, we can finally end the dark legacy of our family."
Kaiden nods.
"And it seems like that fiend's probably thinking the same thing right now."- He says- "Still, I'm eager to make him see the light. Our duty is to protect the world from vile people like him, and the future of everyone is in our hands."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"Once again?"
Kaiden sighs.
"Yes."- He says- "Once. Again."
The four of them climb the small mountain. Since he has experience in exploring treacherous places like those, Geralt takes the matter of leading the team through this one in his own lands. Throughout the journey, he manages to lead his fellow heroes away from dangerous monsters, nasty traps and potential avalanches. Sure, they have to fight a few servants of the underworld, but those are no match for the well-trained warrior. And Geralt is more than eager to show them what he is capable of.
Finally, all of them manage to reach the summit completely unharmed. In the middle of it, Keenan is standing within a magical circle. Four black candles surround it as he prepares to call some sort of very dangerous magic that will destroy this world and make it start anew.
"Ah, yes! Welcome, my family!"- He exclaims- "Welcome to your doom!"
Geralt takes a look around. Everything he sees around him is doom and destruction. The place truly feels like a giant ruin, infested by some sort of dangerous monster that should be eradicated. A truly sad sight, and the responsibility for cleansing it has fallen on their shoulders.
"So."- He says- "What is with the pervasive feeling of doom and gloom around here? Are you planning to devour us with your magic?"
Keenan laughs.
"A very accurate statement, young Kaos!"- He exclaims- "But you've realized it far too late! I'm already done! Now, all that I have to do is to keep you distracted long enough until it consumes you!"
Kaiden takes a step forward.
"You do realize that you're also hurting the world, aren't you?"- He asks- "If so, why would you involve them all, as well? Aren't we enough for you?"
Keenan smiles.
"The thing that you call a minor setback is actually a bonus for me!"- He exclaims- "If some of the people of this world are meant to die in this fight, then that's a perfect accident! It'll make my job to destroy the rest of them much easier!"
Geralt and Kaiden draw their weapon.
"We've had enough of your chaotic personality, dark one! Insulting the family that gave birth to you is one thing, but harming everyone else is where we draw the line!"- Geralt exclaims- "We do not want to listen to your pointless banter- we already know how amazing and wicked you are! So, how about we jump to the chase and start this battle already?"
Keenan laughs.
"Now that's what I've been hoping to hear!"- He exclaims- "Prepare yourselves, kinsmen! It's time for you to feel the wrath of the old one!"
Suddenly, the sky around them turns completely black. Bolts of lightning strike the ground around them as the earth around their feet opens up to reveal a giant pool of lava, patiently awaiting the moment when it will burn them to the bone.
At the same time, dark portals appear around them. Lesser daemonic creatures start to jump out of them and lunge at our allies, forcing them to defend themselves almost immediately.
"Keep your heads high, everyone! "- Geralt exclaims- "This is only the first wave! There are many more to go!"
As chaos quickly starts to break loose, Keenan laughs at the sight of fear and despair.
"Well, would you look at that! The mighty Geralt Kaos and his allies are stuck in a very dangerous situation!"- He exclaims- "It's a shame that you never accepted the darkness! It would have suited you much better!"
Geralt turns around and glares at him.
"I will never let the darkness corrupt me, you freak!"- He yells- "Save your pleasantries for someone else! They do not have an effect on me!"
Keenan smiles.
"Whatever you say, kinsman."
As our heroes continue to fight for their lives, Keenan continues to chant a very unholy ritual, in the hopes of destroying them all with just a single move. Geralt coordinates his movements, waiting for the right moment to strike. And then, just as he starts to flinch a bit due to the dark magic's side effects, the young hero pierces a larger imp's heart and, with the help of Kaiden, throws it at the bloodthirsty villain and watches as he falls away from the circle.
"No! The circle!"- He yells and runs forward- "No good! I must complete it! I must destroy the filthy human race and cleanse the world!"
As he tries to reach it again, Geralt stands in his way and shakes his head.
"Not on my watch, kinsman."
Keenan smirks, leaps back and forms a dark sword out of thin air.
"So. You want to feel my true power yourself?"- He says- "I must warn you. Many human beings have already been foolish enough to incur my wrath. Do you really want to be one of the-- "
Suddenly, Geralt lunges forward, clashing his weapon into Keenan's sword.
"Well, I'll take that as a yes!"
Using the residual energy inside of the dark weapon, Keenan rends the fabric of reality and creates blows so strong that they easily push Geralt back. But the young hero refuses to surrender. As soon as he is bottled up, he finds his way out of the maze of despair and continues to use his shining weapon to weaken the vile Kaos. 
Seeing that his strategy won't work, Keenan leaps back again and raises his hands in the air.
"Foul spirits of the underworld! Hear my call!"- He chants with all of his strength- "Descend from the dark skies and destroy them all!"
Suddenly, small wisps of dark flame emerge from the palms of his hands. At first, they seem to be small and insignificant. One could rarely look more than once at those non-threatening beasts. However, the magic that called them to this world soon grows in intensity. The wisps of dark flame quickly go larger and larger, surrounding the young hero and swirling around him. Their motions make him feel disoriented and their shrieking laughter slowly makes him go mad.
Meanwhile, Keenan's laughter matches that of the wisps. For some reason, he is clearly enjoying the young hero's suffering and does not seem like he is going to show any mercy anytime soon.
"Hah! You've been helping so many people in your life! And now, you're the one who needs help!"- He exclaims- "How does it feel, Geralt? Do you feel the despair yet?!"
As Geralt slowly goes mad from the laughter and swirling all around him, he remembers a powerful move that Akihiro taught him during his time in the temple. A type of meditation that can divert the dark energies and turn them into pure light.
While the wisps continue to taunt him, he sits on the ground and closes his eyes. Having developed a pose perfect for meditation, he places his weapon on his lap and begins to chant.
"What the hell? What is going on?!"- Keenan yells- "Dark spirits! Crush that non-believer! Now!"
At the same time, Geralt looks up and smiles. He opens his eyes, revealing that they are glowing white.
"Kindred spirits of the forgotten realms. Listen to my prayers and play no games."- He chants- "All that you did in life is now pardoned. Now go and unleash the true power of your inner flames."
Suddenly, the wisps of dark flame that are circling around Geralt stop for a second. Then, the darkness inside of them burns out and is quickly replaced by light. Holy flames start to burn around them as they focus their attention on the fool who dared to call them.
"Hey! Why are you looking at me like that?!"- Keenan yells- "Stop it! Come to your senses and destroy that fo-- "
The wisps waste no time with idle banter. Instead of listening to Keenan again, they lunge forward and prepare to strike. All of them explode at once, sending Keennan flying off the summit at a tremendous speed.
"The darkness in the Kaos family will never be gone!"- He shrieks as he quickly descends to the ground below- "You've only prolonged the inevitable!"
Geralt and Kaiden watch as Keenan seemingly falls to his death. However, they do not hear a loud thud, making them doubt the fact that he is gone forever.
"Can you believe it?"- Kaiden asks- "This man has been a part of the darkness for hundreds of years! He claims to be one and the same with it, yet says that our family has originated from the shadows! Is this something that we're just going to accept?"
Geralt sighs and shakes his head.
"Sometimes, it is best to forget if you want to remember."- He says- "Dark times like those have only caused us pain. We endured the suffering ourselves, just so others could not feel the same way themselves. And people like Mr. Keenan over here, they are just the bottom of the barrel. The worst of the worst. People like him should not be remembered at all. Neither in a good light, nor otherwise."
Kaiden points at something in the air.
"Well, I assume that it's not time to remember him at all!"- He exclaims- "Because he's still here!"
Everyone stares at a large, demonic creature that is flying in the air. Geralt gasps, immediately recognizing Keenan, albeit in a different form.
"No! This is impossible!"- He exclaims- "How is this even remotely possible? You were supposed to go down!"
Keenan, now in his perfect daemonic form, laughs and points a finger at him.
"Unlike most of the fools you fought, I am one of the immortals! I am perfection... and perfection is me!"- He shrieks- "Take a good look at me, Geralt Kaos! As soon as I come for you, it shall be the last time you ever will!"
Geralt draws his weapon.
"Legendary fiend or not, you are still a mortal being. No demon has ever lived to see the triumph of his own regiment."- He says- "So! What are you waiting for?! Come and fight us! We will defeat you again, if we must!"
Keenan laughs. It is a loud, piercing sound, capable of making even the most peaceful souls tremble in fear.
"Is this your heart's desire, young kinsman?"- He says- "Well, allow me to oblige!"
Keenan descends with incredible speed. Not quite the speed of light, but he is getting there. And yet, Geralt is still able to leap away. The resulting explosion hurts him a bit, but he retaliates by throwing Starshine at the demon's wings, severely damaging them in the process.
As the two of them continue to fight for our lives, Akihiro takes a look at the demonic being himself. Then, he takes a step back and gasps.
"By the gods!"- He exclaims- "I have never seen such incredible power before!"
Aurelia looks at him.
"What is it, master?"- She asks- "Is it dangerous to us?"
Akihiro stares at her.
"It is a Daerva, you fool! The true lords of the underworld, set into our world and given human form!"- He exclaims- "It is said that even the Haakai- mightiest demons of the underworld- bow down to them! And, from the looks of it, this one can command them all at will!"
He glares at Keenan as he continues to fight, his heart filled with hatred for the first time in years.
"Keenan Kaos. For years, I've been looking for signs of you, hoping that I could cleanse your soul for good. And now, you finally show yourself, in your darkest night. Getting the world in your grasp was not enough, so you aim to make your family pay now."- He says to himself- "You should be warned, though. Just because I am becoming older as time passes, this doesn't mean that others will not bring you down. Watch your back."
Meanwhile, Geralt takes a step back and shakes his head.
"I have had enough of your tricks, foul demon of the Kaos!"- He yells- "Allow me to show you my true light!"
Then, much to everyone's surprise, he transforms into an angellic being. Both angellic and phoenixian wings appear on his back as Starshine glows much brighter. It is the power that the alliance unlocked inside of him, now shaped in its purest form.
"Hah! That doesn't scare me!"- Keenan yells- "Wings or not, I'll still clip 'em all!"
Geralt shakes his head.
"Be careful what you wish for, dark one!"- He yells back- "Dreams do come true!"
Keenan laughs.
"I know!"- He exclaims- "That's why I'll turn them into nightmares! For you... and only for you!"
He looks at the rest of his allies and smiles.
"But first, let's make sure that those fools don't interfere with our battle!"- He is quick to add- "We don't want any pointless distractions do we?!"
With a swift motion of his hand, Keenan wraps Geralt's entire team with unbreakable tentacles. They immdiately start to slowly choke them, as Keenan starts to laugh uncontrollably.
"You monster!"- Geralt yells- "What have they done to you?! Why would to do such a thing?! I am your true enemy, not them!"
Keenan smiles.
"Oh, little Geralt. You just don't understand it, do you?"- He says- "No matter how weak a soul may be, they always pose a threat to my plans. No human being shall ever be spared from my wrath, even those who have such incredible... potential."
Geralt shakes his head.
"Still, this does not justify your actions!"- He yells- "Release them all, or I will make you let them go!"
Keenan laughs.
"Your threats are as good as a dull kitchen knife! They will never hurt me!"- He exclaims- "If you want to have a chance to strike me down, come here and fight me like the man that you are! Or rather, the kid hero that you are! Ha-ha-ha!"
Geralt decides to take on the challenge almost immediately. As he spreads his wings and flies up into the dark skies, Keenan smiles. The prospect of facing such a worthy opponent has never occured to him, yet he is still eager to test his power. Good and evil are about to clash, in one of the biggest battles known to Man.
As the young hero attempts to swings his holy sword at him, Keenan smiles again and disappears. Much to his surprise, he reappears behind him, now with a giant cross made of tainted gold in his hands.
"You like crosses, don't you?!"- He yells and looks at him- "Well, how does it feel to be betrayed by them?!'
Suddenly, he lunges forward and smacks Geralt with the giant cross. The force of the blow is strong enough to send Geralt flying to the ground at incredible speed, creating a large crater at the place where he landed.
Keenan descends to the ground, his eyes glowing black like the darkest of nights. He approaches the young hero, his intentions to get rid of him very clear, and raises the giant cross again.
"This holy artifact will prove to be your undoing!"- He exclaims- "Rest in peace, kinsman! Or don't! I don't care either way! Ha-ha-ha!"
As Kaiden watches the foul daemon approach his brother, he struggles even harder to break free. And then, he remembers that his sword is enchanted with light magic, just like Geralt's Starshine. He slowly draws it and swiftly slices the foul tentacles into small pieces.
Then, just as Keenan comes uncomfortably close to his brother, he pulls out a lot of small, glowing vials.
"It's a good thing I kept those around."
Keenan stops and takes the moment of peace (at least for him) to laugh like a maniac. Such a victory is unheard of for the villains who came before him and he is thrilled that he's the one to experience it, at long last. However, just as he is about to grab the sigil of victory with his clawed hands, he manages to lose it almost immediately. Kaiden, now free from the restraint of the tentacles that were wrapped around his body, starts to throw the vials of glowing liquid at him.
Too late, Keenan realizes that the vials that Kaiden is throwing at him are samples of holy water, in its purest form. Due to the fact that it is untainted by anything else, the water easily burns its way through the ancient Kaos's daemonic skin, causing him a lot of pain in the process.
"Argh! You filthy rascal!"- He yells- "How dare you act against my mighty rule over this world?!"
Kaiden shakes his head.
"You're not the only one full of surprises, Keenan!"- He exclaims- "We of the Kaos family have a lot to show you!"
Greatly annoyed, Kaiden swoops toward him and grabs him by the neck.
"You should have gone for the head."
Just as he is about to rip Kaiden's head off his shoulders, Geralt stand up on his feet. Like a duelist standing on his trusty horse, he lunges forward and lances Keenan through the back, creating a very unpleasant reaction for the vile daemon as he falls to his knees.
As Geralt and Kaiden glare at him, Keenan glares back. And then, he smiles, seemingly almused by the whole situation.
"You foolish children."- He says- "I already told you. You're only prolonging the inevitable."
He rises to his feet, continuing to smile.
"But it's not enough!"
Suddenly, Keenan disappears again. Then, he reappears behind them, now back on the ominous magical circle that he was standing on when they arrived,
"Prepare yourselves, impure imbeciles!"- He yells- "Your souls shall crumble along with this mountain!"
And then, he begins his dark chant anew. Demons start to appear from the portals, attempting to kill Geralt's allies. However, thanks to the heroes' fast interference, the fiends are held back and are unable to pass through their impenetrable barrier.
"If you have any ideas how to stop him, this is the perfect time to reveal them!"- Kaiden yells.
Geralt continues to fight, lost in thought.
"Come on, Geralt! Everyone's counting on you!"- Kaiden yells again- "Are you seriously going to give up like this?!"
Geralt thinks about this for a while. And then, he gasps and looks up.
"Yes! This is it!"- He exclaims- "We can do a reverse ritual! We can turn the tables in our favor with ease!"
Kaiden raises his eyebrow.
"What in the world are you talking about?!"- He yells- "Reverse ritual?! This is crazy! No sane person has ever done such a thing!"
Geralt looks at him.
"Nobody until now!"- He exclaims- "Just follow my instructions and stay calm. Together, we can revert everything back to normal. I assure you."
Kaiden sighs.
"I've always believed you, little bro. But today, I... am not that sure."- He says and looks up- "Still, I'll do my best to be a good brother. I won't betray you like I did before."
Geralt shakes his head.
"You never betrayed anyone, Kai. You have always been a pure person."- He says- "So. How about we make this world pure, as well?"
Kaiden takes a step forward and smiles.
"Count me in!"- He exclaims, finally reassured- "I'm always eager to make this world pure!"
As the two heroes begin to chant, Keenan notices their plan. He tries to send his demons to disrupt their work, but is immediately stopped by the rest of their allies, now free from the vile bonds that were holding them down.
"They may have taken our lives away, but they'll never take our future!"- Akihiro exclaims- "Come on, my children! Let us push the darkness back to the foul underworld where it belongs!"
Keenan stares around, barely able to believe that this small force of brave heroes may be enough to stop him.
"This is not real! The Kaos family, it is still pure! The shadows are still there!"- He yells- "I will not allow you to take it all away from me!"
As his eyes start to glow red, the portals around him summon two last, powerful defenders. Two haakai emerge from them, their sharp claws tearing their fabric and breaking a small part of the mountain. They stare at the heroes and laugh as they bombard them with a barrage of fireballs.
"Remember! They may look strong, but they're just a bunch of oversized fiends in the end!"- Aurelia yells- "Keep your heads high and your swords drawn! We'll outsmart them, sooner or later!"
Keenan and his Haakai attempt to break through this mighty defense. The foul demon lord continues to chant, in the hopes of cutting his way through the spell, but his efforts seem to be in vail. All signs point out that Geralt and Kaiden are more than ready for this. Their intentions are clear and their souls are unbreakable.
And then, their eyes start to glow white. The phoenix carvings on their backs start to shine as they make their final chants. A faint light appears in the sky as the heavens finally join their cause. Together, they manage to make this force of nature become much stronger, breaking through the magical darkness and incinerating the Haakai in just a few mere seconds.
As Keenan's body starts to melt, he glares at the two brothers. His eyes are filled with hatred, and his mind- with pure madness. Even in his final moments, he refuses to be defeated and continues to fruitlessly struggle against the light.
"You won't defeat me!"- He shrieks- "My soul may have been destroyed, but my power shall live on! Even in death, I'll still make your whole world fall apart! Mark my words, kinsmen! You won't survive the aftermath either way!"
With that, he is finally incinerated by the approaching light. Motes of purity engulf him as he turns into a giant pile of black ashes, banished from this world forevermore.
Geralt and Kaiden stare at each other for a few moments. They are barely able to believe it- they have won. Keenan Kaos- the most dangerous and ancient villain from a forgotten era, has been lost in history. He will no longer torment the good people of this world with his undisputed evil.
And yet, they can still feel the dark energies in the air. Even though Keenan is gone for good, a small part of his incredible magic can be felt by those who are truly attuned to the world. The two brothers feel a sense of dread wash over them and turn around, staring at a seemingly empty plot of land.
"Children! We have won!"- Akihiro exclaims- "Why are you still worried?"
Geralt and Kaiden continue to stare, saying nothing to the master.
"Children?"
Suddenly, a massive portal appears in front of them. It is fueled by the power of darkness and radiates pure malice. And just as soon as it is placed into existence, it starts to glow with an errie black light, devouring everything around itself like a black hole.
Geralt looks at Kaiden, shocked by this sudden revelation.
"Oh no! This one is even stronger than we had anticipated!"- He exclaims- "Kai! We have to do something!"
Kaiden looks at himself, then at Geralt. Their allies watch from afar as the dark portal starts to slowly reel them in, ignoring everyone else. Judging from the way it acts on its own, it almost seems like the foul spawn of evil demands the blood of a true hero. Like them.
"It seems like we have no other choice."- He says- "Geralt. I... am not sure if you can ever forgive me, but this must be done. One of us has to go."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"What are you talking about, Kai?!"
Kaiden looks at the portal and sighs.
"Back when I was still in Silverdale, I saw the same giant portal inside of my dreams. Me and you, we were too afraid to come face to face with it, so we escaped. And this thing just... destroyed the entire world a few days later. Redmark didn't even have to do anything. It all happened without his consent."- He says- "I'm sure that you're just as shocked as I am. But there's no turning back. The portal was made by a Kaos and it demands the blood of another one. In order to satisfy it, one of us must go in there."
As Geralt prepares to step forward, Kaiden stops him.
"But it won't be you."- He adds- "I would never allow it."
Geralt looks at him, now outright horrified.
"You can't just do this, Kai!"- He exclaims- "You have two children! They still need you!"
Kaiden sighs.
"Yes. I already know that."- He says- "But I also know that my boys will be in good hands once I'm gone. There's no need to worry about the things that Fate has already predetermined. They must happen. This is just another way of Life."
He looks at his brother and smiles serenely.
"In the beginning, both of us wanted to be heroes. Both of us wanted to help the world as best as we could. We dreamed of being the pillars of hope that change everything for good, even if it meant to sacrifice what we are and what we will be."- He says- "And yet, Fate has determined that I won't be the one who holds such a legendary title. I won't be one of the living legends, those who shall be remembered for all eternity. Until the end of my days, I'll be wandering the endless wastes of the underworld, searching for redemption like the biggest, guiltiest criminal this world has ever seen. I'll never be at peace again."
He sighs.
"I'm sorry, Geralt."- He adds- "This has to be done."
Geralt tries to cry. However, he has already cried too much. He just stands next to his brother, his head held down as he silently mourns him.
"Will you... be back?"
Kaiden raises his eyebrow.
"You... want to see me?"- He asks- "Again?"
Geralt nods.
"Then I shall make it happen."- Kaiden says- "Someday, somehow, we shall be reunited. But not now. Not while the servants of evil still roam free."
He looks down for a second.
"Do you believe in miracles, little bro?"
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"Miracles?"- He says- "You mean... "
Kaiden smiles.
"Watch closely."- He says- "I'll show you the results of those months of hard work that I spent in town. The power of light that I acquired through a calm mind and true meditation."
Looking up, he pulls his glasses up. His entire body starts to shine as he prepares for the final revelation. Then, much to everyone's surprise, he opens them and blinks! Sure, they are milky and partially broken, but they still work!
"Kai!"- Geralt exclaims, beaming with childlike joy- "You can see again!"
Kaiden smiles.
"This is the power that was given to us."- He says- "Thanks to it, we don't need any miracles to help us out anymore. In fact, we are the miracles that this world needs. And as long as this spirit still burns bright, no blind eyes shall remain closed forever."
Geralt smiles serenely and hugs Kaiden.
"I love you, big bro."
Kaiden smiles back and hugs him.
"Me too, little bro."- He says- "When this work is done, go out there without any fear. Stay safe and make me proud. I'll keep you safe, no matter where you are."
Then, he turns to the huge, ominous portal, his hands held behind his back.
"Remnants of a forgotten world! Foul servant of the dark one!"- He yells, making sure that he is heard by whatever malevolent force is controlling it- "My name is Kaiden Kaos! I am the son of the legendary hero Adam Kaos, and the brother of the living legend Geralt Kaos! I am the one that you're looking for!"
The portal quivers in anticipation, as much as a magical construction like that can ever quiver. Which is not a lot.
"Long have our worlds collided with each other. Your shadows have always crept close to us, but we always drove you back. And yet, you never stopped torturing us. Your darkness never faded away."- He says- "But today, the war between Good and Evil will be over for good! I shall be your burning sacrifice, your scapegoat in a dark world!"
Everyone gasps as Kaiden gets closer. They urge Geralt to stop him, but the young hero does not budge. He has finally accepted his brother's fate and understands that he cannot stop him anymore.
"So! What are you waiting for?!"- Kaiden yells- "Come and get me! I'm right here!"
In front of his astounded (and shocked) allies, Kaiden stares at the sky and lets out a fierce yell as his eyes start to burn white. His entire body turns into a mist and starts to turn into something else. Soon, he transforms himself into a giant, white phoenix.
As the giant portal continues to devour the landscape around itself, the giant phoenix swiftly flies into the portal and cuts off its inner power, banishing its dark energy and cleansing the lands around it forevermore.
"My children."- Akihiro mutters- "I think that this is a good time to run."
As the giant portal starts to grow larger and larger, it drains the rest of the lands of their dark energies. The world's corruption is slowly banished by the light. Feelings of dread and fear quickly turn into happiness and purity as the portal's existence swiftly comes to an end.
And then, without another warning, the huge portal explodes. The landscape around it is almost fully obliterated as the massive summit turns into a single giant crater. Demons of all sizes fly out of it as it finally gives out, frantically trying to escape the incoming destruction. However, their fate is the same as those who happened to be at the mountain when it was destroyed- annihilated by the portal's light and gone forever.
Fortunately, Geralt and his allies managed to leap away just before the massive explosion. They watch it from afar, glad that they were not there when it happened but also sad that Kaiden went down along with the portal itself.
"And thus, we came to the end of another saga. The last descendant of the dark Kaos family has been banished from this world, no longer a threat to the innocent people within."- Akihiro says and smiles sadly- "You should be proud, Geralt. What your brother did out there, it is truly a miracle for the entire world."
Geralt looks down and sighs.
"But was it truly worth it?"- He asks- "Was I really a good brother? Should I be truly proud of what I allowed to happen?"
Akihiro and Aurelia stare at each other, unsure how to respond. Then, just before they could give a clear answer, Geralt stands up and readies his weapon.
"But that doesn't mean that I will allow Kai's sacrifice to be in vain. Far from it."- He says- "Redmark caused so many people to lose their lives. Were it not for his foul empire, that wicked fool would have stayed inside his domain and Kai would still be alive. So, in the name of my pure brother, I shall bring the Empire to its knees. Alone."
As Geralt runs forward, Aurelia and Akihiro gasp.
"Alone?!"
Geralt looks back.
"Do not try to stop me!"- He yells- "This is my chance to prove my worth to the world! Do not deny the lone wolf his most loathed target, or you will pay!"
Aurelia tries to follow him, but Akihiro stops her.
"No, my dear. It is pointless."- He says- "Talking to Geralt right now is like trying to make a wall speak for the first time. You cannot make it happen and you cannot stop the inevitable."
He turns around and looks at Geralt.
"Let the young hero do his job."
Aurelia looks down and sighs.
"Good luck, my dear Geralt."- She says- "Wherever you're going, my heart will always be there with yours."
Then, she looks up and smiles.
"Stay safe, my love."