MLIV C5, P5.1- "Strings Of Fate"

"Strings Of Fate" is the first Extra Part of "Miracula Luxia V" 's fifth Chapter.
It was released on 08.08.2022.
== Plot ==
While Adam and his allies wrap up their business back in Erika's Tower and steel themselves while preparing to deal with a notoriously dangerous tyrant with whatever powers they still have left, the situation is quite different for Jared and Linus, who remained in the Spirit Realm for far too long.
Tired of sitting ducks in the middle of a raging conflict, the two heroes make a decision to travel to Avernum themselves and help their allies. However, they unknowingly find themselves in a risky situation.
All alone in the most hostile and unwelcome regions of the Abyss, they stumble upon a strange spaceship in the sky and encounter one of the most powerful (and despicable) warriors of elvenkind, the one maniac that Adam and Derion did not manage to take care of when they breached King Torion's stronghold not too long ago.
Will Adam's father finish what his son started... or will the vile creature finally get his revenge on humanity?
== Story ==
Jared and Linus stand in a corner, awaiting Adam and Akira's return.
"You know."- Linus says- "I've always been unsure whether I'm worthy enough to be with you."
Jared raises his eyebrow."
"Why would you even think about this?"- He asks him- "You're such an honest and hard-working man. And yet, you doubt yourself. You throw away all of the trust that we have in you."
Linus shakes his head.
"No, it's not about that."- He says- "It's about... Akira."
Jared crosses his arms.
"What about my daughter?"
Linus looks up,
"Are we... really meant to be together?"- He asks- "Even after everything that we went through?"
Jared sighs.
"Only time can tell if you are lucky enough."- He says- "Even after so long, Akira is still my little girl. She and Adam have suffered more that we ever have. And yet, when I saw them being so happy together at last, I keep wondering if there is something wrong with me. I abandoned them because I thought they deserved more. But now, I am not sure anymore."
He places his hand on Linus's shoulder.
"My boy, you must not lose hope. You must not let go of your greatest desires, wild as they may be."- He continues- "Both of us have yet to redeem ourselves to those that we love. And the best way to make a difference in their name is to stay beside them as they fight against the darkness. It is our fate to be together, after all."
Linus raises his eyebrow.
"Mr. Kaos, that look in your eyes. I recognize it."- He says- "Do you really want to... to... "
Jared nods.
"Yes, I do."- He says- "I know that it is risky, but it is in the name of the people dearest to us. We can cover more ground this time and discover enemies that might prove to be more than just a simple threat for them."
He turns toward the nearby portal and takes a step forward.
"Unless you are scared of the consequences."- He says, without looking back.
Linus nods.
"Yes. I see it now. You're trying to test me, to judge me and see whether I'm worthy of basking in your eternal light."- He says- "Well, I accept. Do your best, because I'm going all out!"
Jared grins and nods.
"That is the spirit, my boy!"- He exclaims- "Perhaps you are, indeed, ready for what lies ahead!"
He looks back at the portal.
"Rentar-Ihrno, we have a request to make."
Suddenly, the spirit of Rentar-Ihrno coalesces before them.
"What do you wish to know?"
Jared nods.
"We want to go into Avernum ourselves."- He says- "Is the offer still standing?"
Rentar-Ihrno raises her eyebrow.
"You do realize that the portal is still one-way, right?"- She asks- "That means I won't be able to take you back, either!"
Jared nods.
"Sure. There are risks and we will take them."- He says- "Just get us inside. We have a plan in mind."
Linus raises his eyebrow.
"Wait!"- He says- "We do?"
Jared nods.
"Indeed, we do."
Rentar-Ihrno nods.
"I respect your wishes, old friend. You've done a lot for Avernum and deserve to stay there as much as any other hero before you. You are the people's king and have the sacred duty of leading them against Darkthrop."- She says- "And yet, I can't allow this. Not when your son and daughter are willingly endangering themselves to save an entire nation of innocents. Have you ever dug deeper into the problems all around you? Realized how much is at stake? If not, then I suggest you rethink your decisions before it is too late."
Linus stands by Jared's side, angered by the way Rentar-Ihrno is treating his idol.
"Don't you dare speak ill of Mr. Kaos, lost one!"- He yells- "If he says that he has a plan, then I know that he is speaking the truth! We may have not known each other for long, but I know that he is neither a liar, nor an incompetent! His hands carry more than just a family- he is the patriarch of the New World... and he acts like it! So, stop being so dramatic and let us be a helpful part of this society!"
Jared nods.
"Linus is tired of staying inert like this. I am the same."- He says- "If you know what is good for the two of us, then I am sure that you will try to understand how we feel."
Rentar-Ihrno bows her head.
"In the time when I still lived, I thought that actions matter more than words. After meeting you humans for the first time, I thought that I could listen to you. I fooled myself that one's words would matter more than the good deeds that they will do for the world. This philosophy fell apart when I saw Avernum as a nation of enemies, though I still held a little sympathy in my heart for those who actually cared."- She says- "Jared, perhaps your words shall ring true. Perhaps I shall hear more of your exploits and understand what you went through to be here. Until then, I shall stand aside as a neutral bystander and watch as the world keeps changing."
Indeed, she stands aside as soon as she finishes her speech.
"Good luck and good journey, heroes."- She says to Jared and Linus- "I hope that you find the inner peace that you've always wanted."
Jared nods.
"We will never forget what you did for us... Rentar-Ihrno."
Rentar-Ihrno smiles.
"And I'll never forget you, Jared Kaos."
Jared and Linus approach the portal and step into it. They are whisked away into a vortex of madness and chaos, barely able to keep standing like they always have.
"Any signs of salvation?"- Linus asks.
Jared stares at the darkness that is all around them. Everything seems like some sort of fever dream, some kind of alternate reality that they never came to see. Just like Linus, he is unsure whether he can make heads or tails of his surroundings and simply continues to search for what he might be too blind to discover.
Finally, his efforts come to fruition. A faint light shimmers just ahead, beckoning them to get closer and feel its glory, no matter how small it may be.
"It is so... sparkly."- Jared says- "We... need to get there."
Linus looks at Jared.
"Mr. Kaos?"- He asks- "Is there something that I'm missing?"
Jared takes a step forward.
"We are almost there, Linus."- He says- "Just keep it up."
Linus gasps.
"Mr. Kaos, I'm scared!"- He exclaims- "What if this is something worse than what we're anticipating?"
Jared shakes his head.
"It does not matter."- He says- "Danger or not, it must be done. If we do not hurry, Adam and Akira might be in danger."
Linus sighs and nods.
"Alright. If you say so."- He says- "Just try not to get too close to it, okay?"
Jared sighs.
"I can't make any promises."
The two of them reach the light. They quickly realize that it is a portal to another reality. A warp point that will take them closer to their goal, if they are brave enough to venture into it.
"So."- Jared says and looks at Linus- "Are you still as enthusiastic as before?"
Linus grins.
"You better believe it!"
Jared smiles.
"Then let us save mankind, together."
With that, they step into the luminous portal, eager to redeem themselves.
However, things soon switch from bad to worse. Immediately after they reach the other side, they find themselves standing on a small basalt platform, surrounded by a lake of lava.
"Oh no!"- Linus exclaims- "We're stuck!"
Jared shakes his head.
"I don't see this as an obstacle."- He says- "Not when there is still much worse to be seen."
With a single jump, he makes it on another platform.
"There."- He says- "Now, we can have a better view."
Linus takes a step forward, but immediately backs away when the lava starts to bubble.
"What is the matter, my boy? Are you afraid of a little fire?"- Jared asks him- "Come on! I know that you are better than that!"
Linus blinks a few times, unconvinced.
"I... I'm not sure."- He says- "This looks quite dangerous."
Jared shakes his head.
"In my experience as a hero, I never saw anyone who has been so afraid. Everyone fought back with dignity in their minds, and I want you to be the same way."- He says- "So, tell me. Is this what Akira would want? Is this what you really want?"
In a matter of seconds, Linus realizes how wrong he is to be afraid. It does not take him long to steel himself and prepare to make a single leap of faith.
"I'm not afraid, Mr. Kaos!"- He yells- "Watch me dance in the face of danger!"
And then, with a single jump, he makes it on the other side.
As the two of them look back at the basalt platform behind them, they stare, horrified, as it swiftly sinks into the sea of fire below it, never to be seen again.
"See what I meant?"- Jared asks Linus- "Had I not encouraged you to be a little braver, you would have stumbled into a perilous situation. And, knowing how fast those things are sinking, let us just say that it would have been quite... caliente.
Linus sighs.
"Yeah. Right."- He says- "Very caliente."
Jared smiles.
"Are you ready to meet your true challenge?"
Linus nods.
"I've never been more hyped than this."- He says- "Bring it on."
As the two of them jump from platform to platform, with the sinking feeling of falling along with it in mind, the two of them find themselves in another risky situation when a fumarole erupts in front of them.
"Oh, not again!"- Linus exclaims.
Jared draws his sword.
"A little fire never hurt nobody."- He says- "Here. Watch... and learn."
Then, he leaps forward and slices the rock in two without hesitation. The magic within his sword absorbs the fire and empowers it, giving the weapon a faint, red glow.
"Woah!"- Linus exclaims- "Mr. Kaos, you're a magician."
Jared smiles.
"This is not the first time someone has compared me to the more magically inclined members of our kind."- He says- "I appreciate it, kid. Thank you for helping me remember who I used to be."
Linus nods.
"Anytime, sir."- He responds- "Now, where shall we go?"
Jared stares at the area ahead of them. The dust and smoke make it much harder to see, but the hero manages to see something intriguing past the black mist of sorrow.
"Another faint light."- He says- "Is this some kind of a sign? A cry for help?"
Linus raises his eyebrow.
"Or an ancient trap, set by the natives to trick us into condemning ourselves?"
Jared sighs.
"Jesus, my boy. Please do not be so pessimistic."- He says- "We will emerge from this place alive. I promise."
Linus's eyes light us.
"You do, Mr. Kaos?"
Jared smiles.
"I am a man of my word."- He says- "When I say that I want to do something, I do my best to make sure that it happens."
As Linus stares at him, Jared takes a step closer. He smiles more serenely, as if he is seeing someone who is very close to him.
And then, he sees the face of his beloved son. The one that he lost not long ago. The one whom he always loved, yet never had the chance to say it out loud.
"I will do anything for you... Alcander."
Linus raises his eyebrow.
"Umm. Al... cander?"- He asks- "I think you're mistaken. I'm Linus. Linus the Warrior."
Jared takes a step back and gasps, finally getting back to his senses.
"Oh! Linus!"- He exclaims- "I'm sorry! I... drifted away for a second?"
He looks around, somewhat concerned.
"Was it that bad?"
Linus shakes his head.
"Not at all."
Jared sighs.
"I still cannot forget the fact that he is gone. I want to think that this is just a bad dream... but I think that it has all gone too far."- He says- "I... just want to be with Adam and Akira. They are all that I still have left and I... I do not want to lose them, too."
Linus nods.
"Stay strong, Mr. Kaos!"- He exclaims- "We're almost out of the waters!"
He looks around.
"Or fires, to be more precise."
Jared nods.
"I will try to forget what happened now, but I still have my regrets."- He says- "Come on, my boy. Let us find the way back to the real world."
With that, the two of them leap their way past the numerous fumaroles and unstable basalt platforms, making it past the blistering badlands without sustaining any injuries.
"Lucky break, eh?"- Linus says and brushes the dust from his clothes- "I never thought that I would say this, but I made it out of the fire! Alive!"
Jared smiles and takes a look back. He sees the destroyed fumaroles- a grim testimony of his power and the fact that he is not to be trifled with.
"You are not alone, my boy."- He says- "This feeling is mutual. We both got past our worst fears."
He sighs.
"And yet, we still have a long way to go."
As Jared continues to stare at the lava ahead of them, Linus gets his attention and points at something in the distance.
"Umm. Mr. Kaos?"- He asks- "What is that?"
Jared looks back and stares at the sky.
"Are you seeing it?"- Linus continues.
Jared sees another faint light in the sky. Anticipating something very dangerous to happen, he pushes Linus away and watches as a huge laser is shot at them, freezing the nearby lava with ease.
"Everyone at school has always told me to cool down, but this is just ridiculous!"- Linus exclaims.
Jared sighs.
"Another megalomanical fool has revealed himself."- He mutters- "I wonder what he's got in store for us."
In the distance, the two of them see the faint outlines of what looks like some kind of spaceship. A lone figure emerges from it and laughs.
"Behold my great power, you insolent humans!"- It yells- "This is the fate that you brought upon yourselves! There is no escape!"
Jared shakes his head.
"Do not be afraid of him, Linus."- He says- "He might look like a tough customer, but he lacks the determination that his kind normally possesses."
Linus raises his eyebrow.
"You're saying that... he doesn't mean what he said?"
And then, when the spaceship fires another massive laser at them, he realizes how wrong he was.
"He means it!"- Linus exclaims- "He's not joking!"
Jared sighs.
"I should have expected this from a madman like him."
Without thinking twice, he pushes Linus away, and spins his sword with incredible speed, forming a tornado of pure fury that resembles a spinning, flaming wheel of doom. The energy that he stored within his blade is unleashed upon impact, sending the massive laser back to the spaceship with an even greater power than before, shattering its front part and sending it falling to the ground below within seconds.
"Curses!"- The figure exclaims and runs back into the descending spaceship- "Take control! Don't let it fall apart!"
As the crew tries to stop the massive vehicle from plunging toward its certain destruction, Jared grabs Linus by the shoulder and leans closer to him.
"If you have a desire to see her again, do as I say."- He says- "Follow my lead if you want to live through this mess."
Linus nods.
"You got it, sir."
And then, the two of them dash forward and leap behind a giant rock as the ship miraculously flies back into the sky and continues to search for them.
"Run! Run, but you cannot hide!"- The figure from before yells again- "All cowards receive a taste of their own medicine soon enough! And you'll be next, sooner or later!"
With that, the ship flies away, leaving them alone. For now.
"Do you think that this is it?"- Linus asks- "Will they be back for us?"
Jared pulls a large rope from his backpack and shakes his head.
"Not if we take care of them before they do."
And then, he runs forward, forcing Linus to run after him.
"Mr. Kaos!"- He exclaims- "What in the world are you thinking?!"
Jared continues to run, despite Linus's protests.
"I know that you are afraid. But this is our chance to make a difference."- He says- "Are you really going to stand back and watch as those creatures try to destroy everything we love? Because I am sure that this is what they are about to do!"
Linus realizes that Jared has just attached a large hook on the rope and finally understands what is going on. He is serious. He wants to be useful again and does not want to back down, even if the odds are against him.
He nods.
"Wherever you go, I'll also be there."- He says- "Let's go, Mr. Kaos."
Jared smiles.
"I knew that I could count on you."- He says- "You are one of a kind, Linus."
And then, without any hesitation, he launches the rope toward the rear exit of the ship and quickly runs on top of it along with Linus.
Soon, the two of them gain entry into the spaceship. They look around for anyone who might have seen them, but soon realize that they are safe.
"No guards? No workers?"- Linus wonders aloud- "What kind of battle station is this, anyway?"
Jared sighs.
"Perhaps their vehicle is severely understaffed. That explains their inability to give chase again after we broke their engines."- He says- "And yet, I still have a bad feeling. It is almost as if someone will jump out at us if we get closer and it may be more than just mere paranoia."
Linus nods.
"If there's a strange occurence happening around us, being wary of your surroundings is completely understandable."
Jared nods and looks back at the rope behind them.
"We must cut it."- He says- "It is a piece of evidence that might expose our presence in this ship."
Having said that, he draws his sword and slices it with just one hit.
"There we go."- He says as the rope falls toward the ground below- "Now, we only have to worry about-- "
Suddenly, a single shot rings out, barely missing Linus's shoulder.
"What was that?"- They hear a voice as they hide behind a pack of crates.
A group of elven warriors approaches the site. They are armed, determined and dangerous.
"Ah. I knew it."- Jared whispers- "Looks like our murder of King Torion did not go unnoticed."
Linus stares at the warriors as they pass by, slightly concerned.
"It looks like they really hate humans for some reason."- He says- "Did you do anything to wrong them?"
Jared sighs.
"Believe me when I say they only managed to wrong themselves when they chose their incompetent king."- He says- "We did the elven kingdom a big favor, yet they refused to accept it. Packs of those malcontents fought back and tried to destroy us, but always ended up on the wrong side of the rainbow. And I believe that those fools shall soon meet the same fate... if they even have the courage to stand against us, that is."
Linus smiles.
"So, they just a bunch of deranged lunatics? Slaves of an evil tyrant?"- He asks- "Alright! Let's get them!"
Just as Linus is about to attack them, however, Jared pulls him back.
"No! Not yet!"- He whispers- "Do you really want to fight with all of them?"
Linus raises his eyebrow.
"All of them?"- He asks- "How many are there?"
Jared shakes his head.
"We are not sure. Yet."- He says- "Even if it seems that there are few of them, we should not fully exclude the possibility that their warriors could be hiding in the shadows."
Linus looks up.
"Like ninjas?"
Jared nods.
"I guess you can call them like that, if it is what you prefer."- He says- "Now, let us get moving. Every second that we spend away from their command center, the worse it will become for us."
Linus nods.
"I got it."
The two of them leap away just as the warriors get close to the crates and investigate.
"Did you hear? The gate to the control chamber is broken."- One of the guards says- "The captain said that it'll be quite a while until it's repaired."
A second guard nods.
"What about the mechanism?"- He asks- "It will take us quite a lot of money to repair that much damage. What could we possibly do to earn it? Raid another human settlement?"
Linus gasps quietly.
"A... human settlement?"
The first guard shakes his head.
"Don't think so. Not yet, at least."- He says- "We can't go razing their settlements to the ground. Not without the captain's word."
The second one sighs.
"Oh. It's always the captain."- He says- "Why can't we do something ourselves? I'm sure he would appreciate it."
The first one eyes him suspiciously.
"What? Are you unhappy with your place?"- He asks- "Do you really want to start a mutiny?"
The second one shakes his head.
"I don't."- He replies- "I just wish we had more freedom. That's all."
The first one sighs.
"Yeah. We all do."- He says- "Just keep it down, for now. Someone might be listening."
The second one raises his eyebrow.
"The captain?"
The first one shakes his head.
"Nope."- He replies- "Someone much worse."
With that, the small group of well-armed guards get out of sight.
"So. Umm... why didn't we fight them?"- Linus asks- "We were much stronger!"
Jared shakes his head.
"Even if we won the fight, they would have alerted the main force and flooded us with their soldiers."- He says- "It is best to not make much noise yet. Not until we reach their captain."
Linus nods.
"And who might that be?"
Jared stares at the hallway ahead.
"Someone with a lot of influence."- He says- "And a lot of power in his hands."
Linus nods.
"And a lot of free time, it would seem."
Jared sighs.
"Whatever mischievous activities they might still have in mind, they will have a lot more free time to spare for them if we do not act fast."
The two of them sneak into the inner sanctum of the ship, reaching the cafeteria before the soldiers.
"They've got their own food in here?"- Linus says- "Awesome! Let's dig in?"
As Linus prepares to eat a sandwich he found on one of the plates, Jared hears something and pulls him away.
"It's the same noises again!"- The same guard from earlier says- "Are we going mad?"
Jared and Linus hide behind the nearby counter.
"Oh, you'll be more than just mad soon."- Linus whispers.
The guards turn around.
"A voice!"- The guard says- "Where did it come from?"
Jared sighs.
"Way to go, my boy. Now they know that we are here."- He says- "But do not worry. I can still get us out of here."
Linus raises his eyebrow.
"You can?"- He asks- "But... how?"
Jared smiles.
"Watch as the master performs his finest trick."
And then, he sneaks away from the guards, unseen by any of them. As they wonder what is going on, he reaches the nearby fire alarm, breaks the glass that is keeping him from reaching the button and pushes it.
Suddenly, alarms start to blare all around the ship. The guard start to panic and try to turn it off, fearing that they might be in actual danger.
In the chaos that Jared has causes, nobody is able to notice him and Linus as they escape.
"Nice work, Mr. Kaos!"- Linus exclaims- "That was loud! And cool! Especially cool!"
Jared smiles.
"I am glad that you appreciate the risks that I am taking for you."- He says- "But we are not out of danger yet."
As they try to sneak away, Jared sneaks back and approaches one of the guards. He is staring at the nearby fire alarm and is unable to see him.
He sees something rattling in his pocket and smiles.
"Now this is a lucky find."
With incredible speed and agility, he leans closer to the unsuspecting fool and takes the key, leaping back just as he notices something suspicious.
"What is it?"- Another guard asks him- "Did you see a ghost again?"
The guard shakes his head.
"It's just the wind, I suppose."
The first guard sighs.
"Yeah."- He says- "Keep on believing that. I'll check the hallway, just in case."
The group of guards attempts to catch the intruders red-handed, but they are too late. Jared and Linus are already gone, out of sight and out of mind.
"What?"- The guard says- "Where'd they go?"
A second guard shrugs.
"Maybe they... faded away?"
The first one sighs.
"Sometimes, I wish your shenanigans would actually be true."- He says- "But they're not. So, stop daydreaming and do your job. The captain's gonna be mad at us if we fail him."
The soldiers nod.
"Yes, sir!"
As they walk away for the cafeteria, Jared and Linus sneak past the surveilance cameras while using an invisibility cloak that Jared formed for them.
"Keep in mind that this will not protect us for long."- Jared says- "If the power wears off, we must make a run for it."
Linus looks around.
"In other words, we must be ready for the worst?"
Jared nods.
"Indeed."- He says- "And please, try to stay alive. I do not want to see you suffer because of me."
Linus shakes his head.
"You should stop blaming yourself for every unfortunate event in this world, sir."- He suggests- "I know that it's tough to comprehend them, but they're not your fault. Some of those things had to happen and we, as heroes, must contain them before it is too late."
Jared sighs.
"If only it were that easy."
As the two of them enter another large room, the gate behind them slams shut. A massive creature comes into view, its massive footsteps creating little tremors that shake our heroes to the core.
"What... is that?"- Linus whispers.
Jared stares at the creature as it gets closer.
"It is a golem- one of the mightiest creatures made by man's hand. It is attuned to the element of its master and is much stronger when fighting in an area that corresponds to its element."- He says and draws his sword- "And I can tell that it is not fooled by our clever disguise. It will be unwise to stay hidden when your enemy does not tell the difference of it."
The golem takes a step forward and slams its giant fists together. Small chunks of rock fall from them as he continues to eye them with ill intent.
"BLASTED INTRUDERS! YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE!"- It roars- "EVACUATE FROM THIS SHIP OR PREPARE TO FEEL THE POWER THAT MY MASTER BESTOWED UPON ME!"
Jared sighs.
"Threats will not get you anywhere, titan of the earth!"- He yells- "We are not going anywhere! Not until you and your master pay for your crimes!"
The golem slams its fists together again.
"A FIGHT IT IS, THEN!"- He roars- "STAND STILL! IT SHALL BE OVER FOR YOU SOON!"
And then, without another warning, it lunges forward and tries to punch both Jared and Linus down.
Fortunately, the two heroes anticipated the golem's move. They roll sideways and strike its arm with their blades.
Although the rock beast does not feel the blow, it is still forced to withdraw it and attack again.
"How amusing."- Jared says as he easily parries the golem's next attack- "I have never felt so determined. So... alive."
Linus raises his eyebrow.
"You think that this is amusing, sir?"- He asks- "What about the giant creature that's trying to kill us?"
Jared shakes his head.
"There is nothing to be worried about. Golems are incredibly powerful, but they are neither very bright, nor very fast."- He says nonchalantly- "Keep on hitting and running. One of those blows is sure to shake him down... I hope."
As he avoids the golem's blows again and again, he remembers something. A piece of information that he discovered a few years ago, yet never desired to look further into it as it was not a part of his line of work.
"Maybe this would turn out to be in our favor."- He says to himself- "Shall we try it out?"
As the golem prepares to use both of its fists to attack him, he realizes that there is no time to waste.
"Linus, I want you to be the hero of the hour! Right here and right now!"- He says- "Once I weaken the golem, I want you to channel all of the strength within your soul. Use it to strike it down. Only then we will be able to win this fight!"
Linus gasps.
"But I am nowhere near powerful enough."
Jared places his hand on Linus's shoulder.
"Linus, please. Do not let me down."- He says- "We put so much trust in you. Do not stray away from your true goal, no matter how dangerous it would seem to be for you."
Linus looks at Jared. Then, back at the golem. He is not sure whether he wants to fight back like this or not.
Then, suddenly, he remembers how Akira once told him that he is much mightier than he thinks. That he is much better than any enemy he would meet.
"It's all deep inside, Lin."- He hears her voice- "Use it. Don't lose it."
Determined to make Akira proud of him, Linus turns around. He draws his blade and bravely stands by Jared's side.
"I'm not afraid of you, giant!"- He yells- "You might be the king of the wastelands... but I'm the king of the world!"
As the golem attempts to hit them, Jared uses his wind magic, directing the hit back to the creature and forces it to hit itself with both of its own fists.
The creature stumbles back. It is no longer able to retailiate, nor see where it is going.
"Linus!"- Jared yells- "Now!"
Linus nods and, without any hesitation, makes one last leap of fate.
Pouncing in the air like a lion, the mighty warrior raises his blade and glares at the golem as he descends.
"This is for Akira! For Adam!"- He yells- "And for everyone who wants to see a better future!"
Having said that, he delivers a single swing with his blade, cutting though the nearly indestructible rock like a knife through butter and shattering the unsuspecting golem in two.
As Jared is about to congratulate Linus for his victory, a large amount of rocks nearly falls on top of them. However, they are narrowly saved by a mysterious, blond-haired stranger, who manages to pull them to safety as the rest of the fallen golem's body falls apart.
"Phew. That was a close one."- The stranger says- "Well met, mates. Looks like I came at the right time."
Jared looks up and recognizes Deugan- one of Adam's closest friends and mentors.
"How did you end up here, Deugan?"- He asks him- "Were you... spying on us?"
Deugan smiles.
"What? No hello? No how are you?"- He says- "Come on, Mr. Kaos. I know that you always care about your companions, so try to be more... compassionate."
Jared nods.
"Yes. Sorry about that."- He says- "It is just that I am very glad to see you. That is all."
Deugan nods and looks at Linus.
"And you, young man?"- He asks him- "What is your name?"
Linus looks back.
"I am Linus."- He introduces himself- "Battle-hardened warrior of the wastes and an ever-faithful friend of Adam Kaos."
Deugan smiles.
"Ah! A fellow fighter for justice!"- He exclaims- "Good. Your abilities show that you are no mere pedestrian."
He looks around, as if he is expecting someone to burst their way into the room at any moment.
"We're not safe here."- He whispers to them- "Eldar's allies know that we're here. They saw us on the monitors when we arrived. I've been on the run ever since."
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"We?"- He asks- "So, you came here with someone else?"
Deugan nods.
"My very own ever-faithful friend- the great Sir Mardek!"- He says- "Unfortunately, we stumbled into trouble not too long ago and had to split up, for the sake of surprising them from different angles. And, well, you saw how well that went for us."
Linus nods.
"Perhaps we should team up against this man. Use the combined power that we have now to shut down this whole place and prevent him from acting against our friends."- He says- "If that's good for you, that is."
Deugan smiles.
"The lone wolf never turns down a challenge."- He says- "He accepts all challengers and gives them a fair share of his unquestioned power."
Linus smiles.
"So, does that mean that you agree?"
Deugan nods.
"Absolutely. I'm tired of hiding like I once did, so I'm ready to show the world that I can still be the old Deugan that they once knew."- He says- "Get moving, everyone. We've got a tyrant to dethrone. And not a lot of time left to do it."
As the three of them push their way past the rubble, they encounter the same group from before. However, they are actually noticed this time.
"I knew that I wasn't seeing things!"- Their leader exclaims- "Get them!"
Jared leaps forward and strikes three of them down with a magical blast from his sword. Then, he, Linus and Deugan work together to create a hurricane of blades that is powerful enough to rend through the rest.
As the fallen warriors lay on the ground all around them, the three hereos approach the last door. They get a little nervous, but soon realize that there is nothing to be worried about.
"Just keep doing what you've been doing so far."- Deugan says- "Eldar may be older than us, but that doesn't make him smarter or stronger!"
Jared shakes his head.
"Strength and intelligence are a viable part of a true warrior's phisique, but they do not describe him best."- He says- "Their soul is the eternal fire that always keeps them fighting for their dear lives."
He takes a step forward.
"Mr. Kaos, we already have the key that unlocks this door."- Linus says- "Are you sure that you want to do this?"
Jared smiles.
"You cannot be a hero without taking risks."- He says- "And this is just another one of them!"
Without any hesitation, he blasts the door open with a single fireball, knocking the door into an unsuspecting band of soldiers just behind it.
"Do you see what I mean?"- Jared says as he enters- "This is the strength that so many are trying to understand, yet always fail to truly comprehend."
Deugan nods.
"Strength comes through unity."- He says- "And this is the strength of our bond. Thus, we are stronger than ever."
As the three of them stumble into the room, they come face to face with the most mean-looking elven warrior that they have ever seen. A tall, imposing figure with a laser gun in his hand, he stares at them and smiles, thinking that his prey has finally fallen into his trap.
"At last, you have arrived."- He says- "I, Eldar Fajor, have been expecting you."
Jared recognizes him immediately. He glares at him as he continues to smile.
"You! You are the man who nearly froze us!"- He exclaims- "What are your intentions? What do you want from us?"
Eldar smiles again.
"You're the father of Adam Kaos. Thus, you are equally responsible for the murder of my liege."- He says- "Always righteous. Always a sight to see. Everyone admires you and wishes that they could become like you. Well, I have news for them. Their dear hero will soon roam no more!"
Jared shakes his head.
"Eliminating me from the face of the earth does not mean that you will win anything, nor recruit anyone on your side."- He says- "You control others by using your money. You make them fear you so much that they forget that they are, in fact, completely independent creatures capable of using their own free will. From the way you speak, you claim that you are the one who is always right, but have you ever seen yourself in a different light? Have you realized that you are a traitor, and that your very own people are staring you down for all the crimes that you have committed? That they do not see you as their savior? Your king may have once been a wise ruler, but he was nothing more than a tyrant at the end of his life. And you are not better than him. You serve a ghost of a man, thinking that you can keep his legacy burning after so long. And yet, you fail to see how foolish you are. The fires have long since been extinguished and you are only condemning yourself to a fate worse than King Torion's. Just try to place yourself in the place of those innocents that you have been murdering and you shall soon realize how right I am."
Eldar shakes his head angrily.
"Argh! Shut up, you insolent fool!"- He says- "I've had enough of you lecturing me! You're not my liege!"
And then, without another word, he pulls out a bow from his shoulder and fires flaming arrows at them.
"Alright then."- Jared says- "If it is a fight you want, then we will not deny you the chance of showing how deranged you are."
He draws his sword and strikes the incoming arrows, sending them ricocheting into the nearby walls and getting stuck into them not long after.
"Ugh."- Eldar says- "I should have known that."
Seeing that his current strategy is only going to invite a fierce counterattack, he decides to use trickery instead. Thus, while Jared and his allies are still trying to study his next move, the way he nimbly uses his flashbang to jump somewhere else is quite a surprise for them.
"Look out!"- Deugan says- "He's over th-- "
Suddenly, Eldar appears behind Deugan. The young hero tries to leap to safety, but is immediately struck by the elven warrior's longsword, sending him flying into a nearby wall and hitting his head.
Jared stares at Eldar as he uses another flashbang and smiles.
"Ah. This is quite a good strategy."- He says- "It is a shame that I have already studied every single detail of it."
Without saying anything else, he creates a gust of wind that blows away the smoke and sends Eldar away from them. 
This also gives Linus a chance to strike back. The young hero leaps forward, striking Eldar with his blade a few times before being forced to retreat.
"You saw through my defense!"- Eldar exclaims as he stands back up- "Perhaps I underestimated you, once. But no more! I'll show you the power of my mighty renegades!"
He turns to the soldiers behind him.
"Guards! Bash them all down!"- He barks a single order- "For the king!"
The soldiers, albeit reluctantly, draw their blades and stride forward, intending to repel the invaders from their ship.
"Hmm."- Jared says- "I guess that I should have expected this... from a total coward."
Eldar gasps.
"How dare you!"- He exclaims- "I've always fought many heroes like you. Stood against their views. I always emerged victorious, so my battle with you shall be the same either way."
Jared shakes his head.
"A true commander does not send his forces straight to their apparent doom alone. He always stands beside them, providing them with both advice and support."- He says- "And, so far, I have seen nothing that can make be believe that you are a worthy adversary."
Eldar clenches his fist.
"Argh! I'm better than you'll ever be!"- He exclaims- "Stop pretending to be the good guy! You left your own childen and people alone, just to help save the world! But that won't happen and you know it!"
Jared shakes his head.
"It is true that I left my own childen behind. And I deeply miss them. They are my sacred signs of hope, my priceless little diamonds. Without them, I am nothing."- He says- "And yet, I had to do it, for reasons that your miniscule mind will never be able to comprehend. So, stop complaining and fight like the warrior that you are supposed to be!"
Eldar takes a step forward.
"Jared Kaos!"- He yells- "I'll defeat you! With my own ha-- "
However, he is soon interrupted when his warriors charge.
"Wait!"- He yells- "Not yet, you bloodthirsty freaks!"
Jared sighs.
"I guess that some people will never learn."- He says- "Now, allow me to show you what I have learned in my time alone."
He uses how own soul to create several perfect copies of himself, fragments of his very soul who have taken physical forms.
"You may have an army, but I have something that is much more powerful than that."- He says- "One hero can make an army. So, feel the army of my pure soul!"
Jared's clones form spectral blades in their hands. They charge and blast the incoming elven warriors with blades and magic within nothing more than mere seconds.
Eldar is shocked by the humiliating defeat of some of his finest warriors. He glares at Jared, having finally realized that he cannot defeat him by simply standing behind his own allies.
"Fine!"- He yells and draws his longsword- "In the name of holy King Torion, I shall smite you, destroyer of empires!"
Having said that, he leaps forward and, with incredible speed and agility, clashes his blade against Jared's sword.
Linus and Deugan try to help him out, but are soon overwhelmed by an approaching group of elven warriors.
"Try to keep them tame."- Jared says- "I will handle this traitor."
As Linus prepares to block the door with a nearby cabinet, Deugan looks back at Eldar, as if trying to determine whether he has any weaknesses in his fighting style.
"I wonder what Mardek would do if he were here."- He says to himself- "Maybe he'll joke how he's never met him before. Pretend that he is fighting someone very powerful. Maybe even throw in a nice compliment or two."
He sighs.
"But Mardek isn't here."- He continues- "So, it is up to us to handle this situation. Alone."
Eldar is tired of Jared's prolonged survival. He enchants his sword with the power of earth and throws him back with a single swing. Then, he delivers three more vicious strikes, forcing him to fall on his knees.
"Hmm."- Jared says and easily stands back up- "You seem to rely on power more than you do for actual skill and strategic thinking. Perhaps you need to look into your own abilities before you go around, playing with the big guns."
Eldar shakes his head.
"I suggest that you don't judge a book by its cover."- He says- "I may be old and predictable, but I'm devoted to my cause."
Jared nods.
"And so am I."
As the two of them continue to fight, a single arrow emerges from a crack in the door. Jared leaps away and watches as Eldar is struck in the shoulder.
The vile elven warrior manages to pull the arrow away and continues to fight. However, it is more than clear that the reagent that was seemingly infused within the arrow's tip has managed to weaken him, creating some sort of unwanted reaction that irritates Eldar.
"You said that you wanted me to have a taste of my own medicine, Eldar."- He says- "But right now, you are clearly having a taste of your own."
Eldar shakes his head.
'This is just a part of the plan."
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"Your... plan?"
Eldar smiles.
"Yeah."- He says- "My plan."
Too late, Jared realizes that he has stumbled upon an anti-magic field. He tries to get away, but everything happens way too fast for him to handle. Soon, every single cell of his body is drained of magic. And he is unable to prevent it, no matter how hard he tries.
Eldar laughs.
"This is it! The powers of Jared Kaos are mine!"- He exclaims- "All mine!"
Linus and Deugan look back, concerned.
"Oh no."- Deugan says- "This is not good."
Linus nods.
"Should we help Mr. Kaos?"
Deugan looks back at the door and sighs.
"It's my destiny to aid those in need, so I'm afraid that I must stay here."- He says- "You, however, still have a lot of fight left in you. Go. Use it all. Have your moment of glory and prove yourself. To me... and to all of us."
Linus nods, draws his blade, let out a fierce battle cry and charges.
"What? Another challenger?"- Eldar says as Linus approaches him- "Very well. You shall become the fuel of my great revenge!"
Linus shakes his head.
"I will never be your puppet, servant of darkness."- He says- "In the name of all that is sacred, I shall be the hero who brings you down!"
Swinging his sword with precision and care, Linus manages to land a few quick blows. Although they were not the strongest that he could deliver, the force that he used in them was so strong that it easily throws the surprised Eldar back.
"Look at you. Fighting almost like your master."- He says as he stands up- "But can you fight with as much passion as her?"
Linus raises his eyebrow.
"Akira?"
He points his blade at Eldar.
"What do you know about her?!"
Eldar smiles.
"Servant of Darkthrop. Betrayed her own people for mere safety and glory. Was a prick in your sides, even as she came back."- He says- "Akira is quite the fool if she thinks that she can pick you as her soulmate. You clearly still have a green thumb in fighting and-- "
Linus shakes his head.
"I will not let you insult my beloved like that!"
With that, he rushes forward and, unknowingly, channels a huge about of fire energy that sets the ground around himself on fire.
"What?!"- Eldar yells in surprise- "This was not meant to be!"
Linus is equally surprised, but managed to keep himself calm and collected... despite the fact that he is technically surrounded by the flames of his own soul. And yet, none of them are hurting him, despite their close proximity and high temperature. It is as if they are here to keep him alive, not to destroy Eldar or anyone else on the ship.
"This is the path that I have chosen. The road to victory that I've always dreamed of. Mom and dad once told me to follow my dreams and be more than those who try to drag me down. But the thought of losing them made me lose my mind, made me think that I'm fighting for the right side, against my friends- my true family."- He says to himself- "My inner fire has always been burning, but never in a way like this. Perhaps this is the force that changes everything. And I'll use everything I still have left to penetrate through this tyrant and punish him, in the name of the Order."
As Eldar takes a few steps back, Linus leaps forward and jumps in the air.
"It's time for you to be baptized... by the holy fire!"
With a single, well-aimed move, he launches a stream of magical fire, hitting Eldar and sending him flying into a nearby door. Toward the ship's balcony, from the looks of it.
"Agh!"- Eldar exclaims- "A little fire won't scare me off!"
Linus nods.
"Maybe you should be more concerned of what's behind you."
Eldar looks back and soon realizes that Deugan is standing behind him. With a few strikes from his greatsword, he manages to render the villain powerless.
"Game over, Eldar."- He says- "You've lost this match."
Eldar shakes his head,
"Don't count me out just yet."- He gasps- "I still have something else left."
He uses a small amount of dark magic, temporarily blinding and confusing the two of them.
"What's happening?"- Deugan asks.
Linus tries to swing his sword, but soon realizes that he is not hitting anything.
"I don't know!"- He admits- "It's so dark out here!"
Eldar laughs.
"Hah!"- He exclaims- "So much for all of your bravado!"
He leaps back and prepares to take control of his ship once again.
"The intruders have been dispatched and the ride's back on again."- He says- "Perhaps we can still find Adam Kaos while he's still hot on the trai-- "
Suddenly, he is tackled by a wounded Adam Kaos. Exhausted to the point of collapse but still alive, the legendary hero faces against his enemy once again.
"You think that you have a chance against me, Kaos?"- He asks him and laughs- "Not at all! Your magic's all gone. And soon, it will be used against you!"
Jared shakes his head.
"I already told you. I do not need magic to defeat a villain."- He says and points at his chest- "My heart is still beating. I am still alive. As long as I am still on my feet, I will not surrender my own soul."
Eldar clenches his fists.
"Then I'll extinguish that flame of yours until there's nothing left!"
As the two of them continue to struggle against each other, Jared analyzes the ground around his feet. He sees that Deugan is just a few feet behind him and that the door leading to the balcony is still open. This is a perfect opportunity for him to show that he is more than just a loyal warrior of the Order.
He leans back and whispers something to Deugan. The young warrior nods and, despite being nearly comletely blinded, draws his greatsword and patiently awaits his prey to stumble into his web.
Eldar swings his sword wildly and prepares to execute Jared. However, before he could actually do so, the hero backs away, allowing Deugan to strike him in the chest and throw him back into the balcony outside.
"How can this be possible?!"- Eldar gasps as he barely stands still- "You couldn't see a thing! This is not real!"
Deugan smiles.
"You might have taken my eyes away, but ears are still sharper than you think."
Eldar smirks.
"Well, my eyes are sharper!"
He tries to leap toward him, but Jared strikes him back into a corner.
Surrounded by his own enemies, with no other way to go, Eldar finally realizes the magnitude of the threat that he has to face.
Jared takes a step forward and points his sword at his chest.
"I have dealt with many villains, but I have never seen someone who is so... delusional."- He says- "Eldar, you tried to revive a long-dead empire. You tried to harm the entire human race, just because you were ashamed of being unable to protect your king. You chose the road of chaos, and look where your decisions brought you."
He stares into his eyes.
"So, tell me."- He says- "Are you happy with that? Are you satisfied with the way things have turned out to be for you? Or are you still going to hide behind that mask of madness, pretending that you are someone else?"
Eldar shakes his head.
'Even after causing all of this chaos around your precious world. I regret nothing."- He says- "And if I'm given another chance, I'll gladly do it again. Just like you chose your own path, I chose mine. And you'll never break me down. I'll always fight in the name of my liege."
Jared sighs.
"Like I said earlier, you brought this upon yourself. Was it deserved? Did you just want to be a hero to your people while taking the risk of being a villain for mine? Well, I am not quite sure of that."- He says- "However, you are still a danger to our society. You brought everything to ruin. And now, your own empire shall be the one to suffer the same fate."
He takes a step forward.
"So, forgive me for acting so soon, but I must save my son from people like you."- He says- "Farewell. I hope that you realize how wrong you were once you are gone."
He tries to push him down, but gets an unpleasant surprise. While Eldar falls, he suddenly grabs Jared's leg and trips him, threatening to send him down along with himself.
And yet, the hero always has a backup plan for everything. As soon as he does so, he quickly plants his sword into the ground, holding onto it with all of his might.
"You might have been the Chosen One once, but I am the one who was chosen to defeat you now!"- Eldar yells- "Your days are numbered, Kaos! One way or another, you will suffer tragedy after tragedy! And then, you will travel no more! You will see that there is no other way and succumb to your very own sorrow! There is no other way!"
Jared shakes his head.
"My boy's demise pained me a lot. I was traumatized by the way he was humiliated and killed by the man I despised so much. And yet, I never let fear overtake me. I always stood strong, because I knew that the rest of my living children still needed me."- He says- "They needed a parent, Eldar! They needed me, and I was not there for them! But now, I will never abandon them anymore! And I will not allow you to drag me to the bottom of the lake with you!"
Having said that, he uses the last of his strength to kick Eldar in the face. He struggles mightily against his cowardly opponent, despite the fact that the odds are against him. And yet, Eldar still stands strong. He continues to hold onto Jared and tries to pull him down, unwilling to stop even in those perilous circumstances.
"I have to say, Eldar. You are a truly strong opponent. I admire your courage and resourcefulness, your ability to take advantage of a moment of surprise and the resilience that you always show in the face of danger."- He says- "But your soul will never burn as bright as mine! Not while my friends and family are still there for me!"
Eldar raises his eyebrow.
"Oh yeah?"- He asks- "And where are your allies now, mighty one?"
Jared smiles.
"The entire world itself is my ally. Every person in here is a friend of mine."- He responds- "And we are all united in defeating people like you!"
With one last, incredible effort, he uses all of the strength that he has left to channel a kick that leaves Eldar very dizzy. His entire face is crushed by the impact and he soon lets go of Jared's foot.
As he falls, he tries to scream, but he is too hurt to do anything else. So, he simply accepts his fate and prepares to meet his own end with dignity.
"My liege."- He mutters- "I... failed you."
With Eldar gone from the ship, Jared stands back up. He stumbles back in and sits on a nearby chair.
"Took your time, didn't you?"- Deugan says and smiles- "Not bad. Perhaps the stories about you were true, after all."
Jared smiles.
"I do not know what you might have hear about me, but I assure you that those overexaggerated tales of my exploits in the past have more to them than you expect."
Deugan nods.
"It shows, sir."- He responds- "You're quite a great hero."
As Jared tries to rest, Linus leans closer and shakes his hand.
"Mr. Kaos! We watched your battle against that man and we were thrilled!"- He exclaims excitedly- "It's such an honor to be standing by your side again! I knew that you were capable enough to win this fight! I'm very proud of you, Mr. Kaos!"
Jared pats Linus's head.
"Yes, yes. Spare your pleasantries. I know how much you want to be with good, old me all the time."- He says and stares at the lands below them- "For now, we must focus on admiring everything on the ground instead. And helping those who are in trouble."
Deugan looks at him.
"And finding little Adam?"
Jared nods.
"Indeed."- He says- "But do not call him little anymore. He is big enough to make his own mark in the world."
Deugan nods.
"As you say, sir."- He says- "Adam is a good friend of mine. He once helped me find my long lost brother and I appreciated it. I treated him like my little brother, but I can see that he has grown up a lot more since we last met."
As the spaceship flies in the sky, Adam and Akira continue to move toward the town below. Suddenly, they are ambushed by a group of brigands.
"Are those the servants of the tyrant you have been hunting?"- Adam asks his sister.
Akira nods.
"They match the description."- She says- "Let's bring them to their knees."
As the heroes draw their weapons, however, something spectacular happens. A giant spaceship flies above the villains and blasts them all down with huge lasers, incinerating them in mere second.
"What in the world?"- Akira asks- "Is this... ?"
Adam nods.
"Yes, it is."
As the spaceship prepares to fly away, Adam sees his father standing on the balcony, He winks and waves at him and the young hero waves back.
"Thank you for everything, dad."- He says and smiles serenely- "In my eyes, you are the greatest hero of all. And I will always love you, even if you were not."