If he had eyes, he would've rolled them. A hexagonal orange barrier of light formed around him and expanded outward, pushing away the Gouka. It settled in place a foot away from him, protecting him from all harm. Not even Kuro could break through this light without the proper ability, which was very, very hard to master.

"So, any other lame attempts on my life, kid?" he questioned as his wings spread out around him.

===In the Reality Marble===

Alasea laughed. "You have no idea what you're getting into, do you?" she said, "This is a Reality Marble. This is the physical representation of an aspect of my very soul."

A thin line of light shone in her open left hand, widening and forming. Soon, she stood before her opponent with a Phase Blade, exactly like one from the pair that R.D. kept on his person, in her left hand. A brief flash of light on her hip, and a second one came into existence. She fell back into a ready stance, her sword blades crossed over and ready for combat. Around her, the various swords began to vibrate, the dust shaking off of their forms as they were ripped from the ground, their blades gleaming in the dull light. Thirteen of these weapons floated over to Alasea and surrounded her, blades pointed out as they slowly revolved around her form.

"Here, I can do anything," she said, "Here, I make the rules."

Kalmar yelled in pain as the shards cut him deeply, leaving him bleeding with gaping wounds.

The Demon Hunter quickly flew away, landing on a nearby boulder. Black and red flames surrounded him as the wounds on his body began to slowly close, though the blood stains still covered his torn clothing.

"Blazen, the shield's down! Kill this son of a bitch!"

Meta heard the roar from the mighty sea creature even from so far away, although it was a bit faint. She turned her head a little, scanning the ocean from where the roar might've come from. When she spotted the Gan, her brow rose in surprise. "Not quite the ride I had expected, but alright." She said to herself. "Not like I'll ever have a tip big enough for that thing, though." She added mutteringly as she descended the sandy hills of the coast towards the line where land and sea met.

Matt swing the Goldion Hammer around to smash into Xazax's warhammer, and the two weapons struggled for dominance. Gritting his teeth, digging his feet in, Matt pushed foward. He just had to get this guy off-balance, and then he could slip in a quick strike.

Sparks flew as the black warhammer ground against the Goldion Hammer. Xazax struggled, trying to force it back, and let go of the weapon's haft with one hand. Then, with a roar, he reared his fist back and sent it flying underneath the two hammers, striking Matt soundly in the gut and sending him up into the air. He leapt up and continued with several punches and kicks that knocked him around the airspace. Before the boy could recover, the demon summoned his warhammer and spun it around overhead before crashing it down into his back, sending him spiraling to the ground.

Grinning at his handiwork, the demon lowered his weapon upside down, and stood on the head of the weapon, floating in midair as he shaded his black eyes with his hand.

===In Quebec===

Re-Tuul's claw moved like a black and white blur as the weapon came down, and the entire golem was covered in a strange white light. It flared brightly before disappearing as suddenly as it came. When the light had cleared, the golem was no where to be seen, having been completely destroyed by the burst of anti-matter the Khaglessi had released. I don't need protection from your creations, brat.

"You really don't realize just what in the hell you did when you crossed the field, do you, kid?" Re-Tuul mocked, grinning widely. "Poor, poor child. Such potential, only to burn out so young."

===In the Reality Marble===

"An aspect of it," Alasea corrected, unperturbed by her foe's laughter in the slightest. She really wouldn't like the surprises she'll find in this place, with manipulation of time being impossible, and with all aspects of nature under her direct control, to be changed at a whim. "Well, ready to fight? Or are you scared?" she challenged.

Another slash of his claw, and the ten Golems disappeared in more flashes of light, victims of anti-matter. This is... boring, he thought with annoyance, Some master creation. Can't even fight on his own.

To respond to the son of Xastra, Re-Tuul merely lifted his middle finger at the dragoon. He did not care if the boy was a homunculus of Xastra's; Re-Tuul was far more powerful and was the minion of a far more dangerous master than Xastra could ever hope to be.

The field of energy sprang up around him, its hexagonal barrier fluctuating in the cold air. "This is the light of my soul," Re-Tuul said, turning his gaze to the boy, "A sacred barrier in which no being may intrude. A living creature, an incorporeal one, even a ghost... it doesn't matter. Entering without my permission is fatal."

Re-Tuul grinned. "And don't even bother saying your power, your master is superior to it. Your master knows nothing of this. By entering the field you sealed your fate. Your body will relinquish its fleshly bindings, and fall apart. You'll die, in a slow and painful manner. There's no cure, save one. No spell of Kaitlon's, no working of Xastra fix it. Only one way. But the only way to learn it is through my master... good luck in getting into His good graces, kid."

The Khaglessi couldn't grin more wider even if he wanted to. Since the boy had pushed through with his hand first, it would be the first to fall. It'd slowly decay and disintegrate, falling off. The arm would follow next in bits and pieces, followed by the rest of the body. It'd be slow, painful, and for the unlucky child... conscious.

"You've got a few more minutes to live, kid," the demon sneered, "Make'em count."

===In the Reality Marble===

Alasea paused when she saw Cora's actions, and grew infuriated. She gave her a chance, and she wasn't going to fight now? Fine then.

The swords floating around her fell to the ground with resounding clangs, and the Daughter of Dawn looked at Cora in absolute disappointment and disgust.

"Fine then," she said quietly, "If you won't fight... then you have no business here."

The world disappeared in a flash of light. Alasea had banished the Reality Marble, and used the Pillar of Dawn to move her foe. Alasea found herself back in Japan, standing before the Pillar of Dawn. Cora would find herself somewhere across the world, near the eastern coast of the United States.

"Feh," Alasea spat, rubbing her cheek where Cora had struck her. "Guess it's time do deal with my problem."

Edited by RisingDragon on August 28, 2007 at 13:06:45.

Re-Tuul looked upwards at the floating boy with something akin to indifference. "Actually, He's got that," he muttered, snorting, "And your dramatics are... wasted." As the golem was created, a massive, circular object was revealed within it. It collapsed to the ground with a resounding crash as the weight of golem standing atop it brought it down.

Within this chamber, as it hit the earth, the glass of the various tubes within shattered upon impact, revealing hundreds of monsters. A crack formed in the ceiling, shining light into the dull chamber, and it fell on one of the monsters, which had fallen out of its broken stasis tube onto the floor. Alabaster white skin marked in black covered its form, and the creature had no eyes: a second Khaglessi. The creature slowly stood and looked up as the golem struck.

Re-Tuul raised its hand slowly, indifferently. The fist streaked in, filling his spectral vision, and struck his hand. There was a resounding crash of thunder as the attack was stopped cold. The Khaglessi hadn't even flinched. Cracks appeared all along the length of the golem's arm, spreading out across the chest and to the rest of the body before it crumbled--Re-Tuul had done nothing, the golem had destroyed itself with its own strength.

The Khaglessi's wings spread out and he took to the air, settling himself a fair distance away from Carnax. Below, as the rubble of the golem began to fall, the crack in the chamber widened substantially. Dozens of shapes flitted out of it at high speeds, going out in every which direction as they weaved between the rocks and took to the skies. Each one stopped in the air, surrounding Carnax on all sides, each staring at them with an eyeless gaze.

The skies were infested with the newly created Khaglessi, each floating in the air on black-feathered wings, each with disturbing grins on eyeless heads, each with various black markings on their white bodies, arms, and legs. "Well, now, Carnax," Re-Tuul said, his voice carrying, "I have to thank you. With your stupid ramblings and pathetic creations, you have given us the time for my people to come into being."

Portals ripped into existence throughout the skies, and the Khaglessi all began flitting into them, one after another, each heading for different locations, each seeking out the others.

"Don't think these are the only ones. There are dozens of cloning facilities with the same amount of my kind in them, and by now, all of them have awakened," Re-Tuul continued as his race escaped, "And all of them are spreading. The Destroyer of Worlds thanks you, Carnax. I hope Xastra can forgive your failure."

===At Japan===

Alasea turned her head slightly in the direction of Cora, and frowned. This was growing... annoying. The Pillar of Dawn flashed, and Cora's armor was disintegrated into nothing. Alasea turned and faced the demoness. "Listen, you tainted spawn of a whore," she said coldly, "This is my place. This is my world. You don't belong here. I won't be the one defeated. You will."

Soft, silver light pulsed into being from Alasea's chest, and her upper body was encompassed in a silvery aura. Two long tendrils of silver energy rose upwards from her back and spread out, then split outwards into a pair of long, flat wings of light. Inside, she was calm, and the piece of Xastra's soul was, at the moment, starved. "Leave now, or perish."

...that sucked.

Willing himself to raise amid the newly formed web of cracks in the earth, Matt slid his knees foward and sat up. He clasped his chest in pain. This was getting annoying...where the fuck was R.D.?

Gripping the Goldion Hammer more tightly, he began to rise to his feet. Well, if R.D. wasn't here, he'd have to finish this guy off, wouldn't he?

No! I have to get out of here!

Darkness.

It was pressing in all around him, threatening to crush him. He couldn't stand it.

I have to escape!

He sought desperately, trying to find the light. Trying to find his way back.

Escape!

Fear scoured at his heart. What if he couldn't escape? What if he was trapped here... forever?

Escape!!

That's when he heard it. Or felt it. He wasn't sure which. It was a two-toned pulse, like a giant heartbeat. It filled his mind, obliterating all thought. It surfaced and spread out, taking control.

Escape!!!

Power flooded into him, and he could feel himself being washed away.

======

The pile of rubble that had buried began to glow, red light emanating from between the cracks and crevices. The pulses were growing faster, more insistent, and growing in speed. The wave of power that washed over everyone caused them all to stop, looking about in confusion for the source. Xazax snarled and looked down at the collapsed canyon wall, just as a glowing, blood-red hand burst out of its top.

It stretched out and curved down, as if trying to pull itself out of the debris. A second hand emerged, helping to pull out the being. The head and body emerged, its back to Matt and Xazax. As half of its body was exposed, it looked over its shoulder, staring with blazing, blindingly white eyes. Its gaze penetrated them for the briefest of moments, and then it ripped its away free. Thunder crashed as the rubble was sent high into the air, where it remained, held aloft solely by the immense energy that the being was producing.

Produced by Michael's instrument, a short, catchy guitar riff danced through the air as R.D. was revealed.

Standing on a mound of melted slag, he gazed out across a silent battlefield. His entire body was blazing red, his eyes shining a pure white. His armor was missing, but his clothing was also swathed in that same red energy. Lightning crackled down the blades of his two swords, one held in each hand.

"This is gonna be awesome," Michael whispered as he finished the short tune.

Having found Hugo knocked a fair distance away, Helena, with the Mettaur on her back, had begun galloping back toward the fight when the red hands emerged.

She skidded to a halt.

"...what the fuck is that?" Hugo muttered.

"What the FUCK is THAT?!" Matt shouted, pointing.

Oh, man, he really hoped this was one of those powerups that turned the tide of battle that didn't threaten the lives of everyone around the place, good or bad. He'd hate to have one of those.

A strange, eight-pronged symbol shone on R.D.'s forehead with the same white light, albeit dimmer than his eyes.

Xazax's eyes widened in shock. What... what in the hell was this!? He was snarling again. "You just... won't... stay DOWN!"

With a furious roar, Xazax streaked down at R.D., his warhammer held at his side, ready to swing. R.D. barely gave him a glance before the demon struck. There was a blinding flash of light that spread out across the canyon and a sound like a cannon firing, sending a shockwave that obliterated the demons nearby and knocked down everyone else. The two combatants were suddenly in the sky, moving too fast to be seen. Flashes of light blazed in the sky where they traded blows, and after a few short seconds, R.D. and Xazax had their weapons locked.

The demon was now sporting numerous cuts and was breathing raggedly as he pressed his attack. He screamed in rage, revealing sharp, serrated teeth as he raised the warhammer overhead and brought it down, his body almost completely turning around with the force of the swing. The weapon rang as a Phase Blade flashed out and parried it away, leaving a deep gash in the side of the weapon. Again the demon struck, swinging the hammer across, only for it to be knocked away by the second Phase Blades. A third time the demon attacked, with a quick pair of swings that parried one Phase Blade as a distraction and careened for R.D.'s glowing chest... only for the crossed Phase Blades to catch the weapon soundly.

Hot DAMN, that was fast! R.D. was really cookin' now...but still, no reason to let him have all the fun.

"Dragon Drive!" With the draconic aura of power flowing about him, Matt took to the air, approaching the aerial battle at high speeds. He threw his right hand back, lashing with his energy claws when close enough to Xazax's unprotected backside.

After a bit of struggle, R.D. flung Xazax off of him, who went tumbling back in the air, only to get his back sliced open by Matt's fly-by attack. The beast bellowed, then saw R.D. begin to chase after him, and decided to strike first. The demon's warhammer streaked in and slammed against the Phase Blades, causing a tremendous explosion of light.

Shockwaves were spreading across the sky as the three engaged in a vicious dogfight; as one crimson blur, an electric-blue one, and a blood-red streak blasted across the sky along intricate paths as their weapons and attacks clashed against each other, light flashing with each strike.

Matt tore the air in front of him with his claws-swiping once with both hands, arcs of energy curved toward Xazax. "Dragon Nail!"

Hugo kept his gaze to the sky where the blurs clashed. Dammit, he wanted to get in there and fight, but experience dictated not to get involved in an escelating superhuman battle, and he made sure Helena knew this.

"Yeah...but I still wish we could do something," she muttered.

"We'll help them clean-up when that demon's grounded for good."

Edited by The Helldragon on August 28, 2007 at 23:24:18.

A flash of light appeared so suddenly that it seemed evern faster than light itself. Above the battllefield, a figure stepped out of the air and onto a beautiful golden eagle that was flapping its wings silently while hovering in one spot. Watching was coming to an end, action must be taken before the infection of the soul would spread through Alasea's body.

Riul knew that her powers would not be enough to remove the piece completely. Battle or no battle, Alasea's place in it was over now. Someone else would finish it. "Alasea," spoke Riul calmly, but in a voice that both soothed and commanded attention, "you're injured now, this battle must end quickly if your safety is to be insured."

The eagle descended and vanished as it neared the ground and the roman dressed girl landed lightly. "Being of darkness and destruction, curse us no more with your presence!" Riul's clothes lit up and ten twenty-foot tall mirrors sprang from the ground and encompassed the battlefield. Clouds shifted in the sky revealing the full power of the sun. Riul smiled at her allies and readied herself for the fight.

Xazax snarled as he shot by, striking a number of the blasts with his hammer to send them scattering in the air, while the others that escaped his strike missed due to his speeds. However, only seconds after shooting past Matt, he was sent flying as the blazing R.D. slammed him with his foot. The demon quickly righted himself and stared hatefully at the boy, who had his Phase Blades crossed over in front of him, lightning crackling between the crimson blades. With a primal scream, Xazax blasted down at the crimson warrior and sent his warhammer crossways at R.D.'s head.

The weapon was stopped cold by R.D.'s outstretched hand, freed from its weapon while the other held both swords, crossed over in his hands. With a single, swift movement, the boy slashed upwards at Xazax, and his eyes widened in shock for a single second.

There was a sound of flesh being cut as the warhammer spun upwards through the air from the force of the blow, while a bloody, lacerated Xazax plummeted downwards through the air in freefall. The demon grunted in pain as he hit the ground hard and bounced, rolling slightly as he landed again. The demon pushed himself up onto all fours and stared upwards as a crimson blur flew backwards through the sky, curve upwards, and rocket right towards him. "This isn't possible," he muttered shakily as he saw the boy had the weapons combined into the Phase Scythe, and he braced himself for impact as the red streak grew wider and wider in his vision.

R.D. struck, and explosions ran up the length of the canyon from the impact. Dozens of demons were killed as their leader was blasted down the canyon, caught in the lethal fire of Lumiya's might. As the smoke cleared, R.D. was standing, his weapon held low from finishing a vicious attack. The power he had generated was suddenly gone, his body returned to its normal state. With a groan as his body suddenly felt aflame, the boy collapsed into the dirt. And after several moments, Xazax could be seen, standing. Cuts and bruises covered his blood-red hide, and he gripped his left arm with his right, as it hung uselessly. The demon stopped and stared at the fallen boy, then released a howl of absolute rage and dashed forward, intending to rip him limb from limb.

===Quebec===

Behind the Apocalyptic Beast, the chains were already beginning to dissolve as the Khaglessi freed themselves, aided by Re-Tuul's power gained through his link to Ziatoch. Unseen to everyone but Re-Tuul, the Khaglessi survivor gathered the dark power of the Destroyer and rent apart Carnax's workings. As they moved, each one seemed to disappear into thin air, placed into a special realm not unlike the Blood Beach, where Carnax could no longer touch them. The Khaglessi were safely hidden in Paradise Lost.

Re-Tuul spread his arms out wide and laughed maniacally. The Light of the Soul spread out around him, and he disappeared in a flash of light.

The Khaglessi found himself in a massive, broken, and disused hanger along the base of a massive elevator shaft. Atop a crude altar in the middle of the hanger was a large sphere, made of a strange, translucent material. Its depths were obscured from concentrated darkness, like writhing smoke. The Khaglessi swiftly approached the Orb of Infinity, and a bloody red light appeared in its center. Re-Tuul reached for the Orb with both hands and lifted it from its dias, and the entire land shuddered.

As darkness blanketed the room, the demon thought, Now they'll see just what power I can wield.

Outside, the doors to the elevator shaft rumbled as they opened, and the air grew ominous. A trembling, sonorous drone echoed from the darkened depths: Thwump. Thwump. Thwump. The demons began to flee from the research base, while the humans, freed from Carnax's spell, fled inside. The sky, so blue and bright that day, was destroyed.

Like a plague spreading across healthy flesh, black spots bordered by red flame appeared across that blue surface and then spread like a fire washing through old paper. Purple-green lightning erupted from thin air, lancing out to carve gouges through the plains. The Sun died. The world went dark and dim, but still remained bright enough for all to see as clearly as they had just a moment before.

And after a few brief moments, something gigantic erupted from the darkness of the shaft. The land died under its shadow, and the ground shook as it landed, and turned to face Carnax.

Re-Tuul no longer was the smooth white-and-black creature he had been created to be. Now he was a true monster. His height equaled that of Carnax's true form, and his body was covered in black, armor-like hide that glowed red beneath. His head was a lipless thing that was filled with three dozen prominent and very sharp silver-crimson teeth; two curving rams horns the colour of midnight ivory jutted out from just above and behind where the twisted smile of the creature's mouth ended, right in line with the five black eyes with red irises that ran above the sharp teeth. His body was still slim and lithe, but his hands ended with scythe-like claws and his elbows and knees had sprouted needle-spikes that dripped a thick, bloody liquid. At the rear partitions a tail had sprouted, a forked thing like a snakes tongue that ran more needle-spiked all across the ridge and along the spine of the back. Immense, flapping wings akin to those of a dragon's curled across a quarter-mile portion of the sky. Large and dark enough to block out the sun--if there were still such a thing anymore.

Five eyes independently searched the air, then centered on Carnax. A horrible squeal rent the air and sent all to their knees in pain and horror. Violet-green flames licked out from between the teeth of the awakened abomination, hungrily scorching the sky as it sped for Carnax.

Hell on Earth took new forms.

===In Japan===

Alasea's eyes widened as she looked over at the newcomer, awed be the strength she radiated, and she smiled. "Feel free to step in."

Whoever you are, she added silently, Good luck.

"YAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH-!"

Dragon Drive burning, Matt suddenly appeared in Xazax's path, and he charged the demon, brandishing his powered claws. "I don't think so!"

Left, right, straight his claws slashed, tearing through Xazax's broken body. The attacks came in faster, switching to punches and strikes that came at all sides, forcing the demon back.

A left cross. A right slash. A rising hook to the chin. Matt continued to press his attack, each powered blow smashing into flesh and bone until he couldn't even realize what he was hitting anymore, he was caught up in the moment.

One last claw slash burst across Xazax's face, and the demon recoiled slowly, riddled with wounds to even collapse properly.

The pupils in Matt's eyes narrowed. "GAME OVER!"

Crouching somewhat, he extended his left palm, chambering his right. "FALCON..."

The great specter of a firebird erupted around his fist as it exploded toward Xazax's chest, power unheard of contained within one attack.

"PUUUUUUUUUUUUNCH!"

Xazax screamed as each blow landed, pain exploding throughout his body. His body was failing under the onslaught, and he could no longer counter. Blood sprayed everywhere as skin broke open from the cuts and the sheer impact. When the final blow of the lethal combo ended, the spike-riddled demon staggered back, too punch-drunk to even collapse properly. But then, the battle was ended when Matt's final blow struck him.

The Falcon Punch burned him, with intense flames scorching him from all sides. He screamed in pain, but the air was knocked out of his lungs when the punch hit. The blow produced a sonic boom and the air exploded all around him, he was lost in flames and succumbed to the darkness.

The dust was sent everywhere when his body landed, and quickly dispersed in the same movement. It revealed the fate of Xazax--his body was broken and ruined. His left leg had been torn completely off at the knee, his right arm was barely attached only by a few slivers of flesh. His left shoulder was mostly separated. Nearly all of the spikes on his back had been broken off, one of his horns had been ground into dust, with only a broken nub to signify it was even there to begin with. The ground was being stained with black blood, spreading outward rapidly. And his chest... was moving. He breathed; he was still alive. The pain he felt blinded him from everything else.

Black flames licked the ground around him, covering him. But before his final fate could be determined, a terrible cry rose up in the air, as the remaining mass of demons felt the loss of their leader. The ground was shaking under the stampede of the thousands of monsters, and they were rushing with an intent to kill.

Meta slowly took a step forward. A small shield of energy appeared below her booted foot, and it allowed her to stand on the water of the ocean. It was good that it wasn't stormy at the moment, that would make standing somewhat harder. She took another step, and the same thing happened to her other booted foot. After she stood firmly atop the surface of the water of the Indian Ocean, she started walking across it, her eyes fixed on the sea creature in the distance. It likely couldn't come too close to land without scraping it's body across the bottom of the sea.

Matt backed up as he saw the demons begin their rush. Shit! He didn't have much energy left, he didn't think he could take them all out.

Time to do the next best thing.

"Run awaaaaaaaaaaay!" Turning around, Matt bolted. In the midst of his flight, his hand scooped down to grab R.D.'s shirt, and he pulled the boy up as he ran.

"Let's GOOOOO!" Matt shouted at Helena as he ran past, and was soon joined by the speeding emerald dragon at his side, Hugo straining to stay on her back. The four rushed toward the Firebird, where they could hopefully escape the coming horde.

R.D. awoke as Matt grabbed his collar and, after a few moments of being dragged, managed to get to his feet and run alongside Matt towards the Firebird, his gigantic Phase Scythe in hand. Their feet pounded the cold dirt as the ran, chased by crazed horde of monsters. Overhead, the sky was writhing as hundreds of demons flitted about, and one of them streaked in. Summoning his depleted reserves of strength, R.D. hopped up and cleaved the beast in two before he made it to the Firebird.

It was too late, however. Both sides of the canyon were cut off, and the skies were too dangerous to risk flight. They were trapped, but R.D. was unwilling to give up yet. "Hold them off!" he shouted as dark energy gathered into his left palm, and a black mist surrounded his hand as tendrils of dark matter crept over his glove and up his forearm. Darkness was absorbed into the swirling maesma, and R.D. released it. The Darkburst soared to the ground just slightly ahead of the monsters and exploded, issuing waves of dark matter into the air as an unstable vortex was ripped into existence. The gravity of the portal began sucking dozens of monsters into it, destroying many before they could be absorbed into its depths. Despite the many slain, it lasted only for a few brief moments before it was dispelled, and the horde kept coming.

===In Japan===

Alasea blinked and stopped moving as Cora disappeared in a gout of fire, and breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly acted, drinking in the power of the Pillar for a brief moment, and used it to create an anti-teleportation field against demons. Cora and her kind would be unable to warp within fifty miles of the Pillar, and the sacred totem was encompassed in a bright, golden field of light to protect it from harm and prevent its actions from being negated or reversed.

With the spell in place, Alasea let her Drastic Soul transformation fade, and with a heavy sigh, she turned to Riul and asked, "Who are you?"

===In Quebec===

Re-Tuul's massive wings swept around his upper body as he blasted forward, and slammed into the sphere of hellfire. As the Gouka was obliterated, Re-Tuul spread his wings, which where now swathed in black flame, enhanced by Carnax's attack. The sound barrier collapsed as he moved, creating a sonic boom, and the gigantic demon's scythe-bladed hands darted out in a rapid series of thrusts aimed at Carnax's head and upper torso, the strikes moving too fast to be seen.

"I don't think we can hold them off much longer!" Hugo shouted, blasting demons tirelessly.

He was right. Normally this wouldn't be too difficult, but their group was exhausted-it would only be a matter of time before they were overwhelmed. Matt's eyes narrowed as he felt the Dragon Drive beginning to fade. He needed to get them out-!

"Everyone in the car, NOW!" he shouted, raising a fist. "Cover me from behind!"

R.D. gestured with his hand, channeling earth and fire energy into the ranks of the horde on one side, and the ground exploded beneath their feet. Demons were killed by flying shrapnel and incinerated in the gouts of flame. R.D. continued attacking with his Lumiya-granted powers, but as he attacked, he came to a conclusion.

Despite how tired we are, we can't let an army like this still live, he thought frantically as he fired another Darkburst into the horde, There are still innocent people out there, and these freaks will kill them in their insanity.

His mind sought the solution to their growing problem, and R.D. realized it came down to a single, final tactic.

I have to do it.

R.D. looked over his shoulder and shouted. "We don't have that kind of time, Matt!" he yelled, "Helena can't fly us out of here, and we can't waste any time for her to revert to human! We have to use Chaos Control!"

"You sure you wanna risk that?" Matt kept his hand high. "If you make us die, I'll kill you!"

R.D. fished the yellow Chaos Emerald out of his satchel. "Don't worry," he said, "I've been practicing with it. I'll get us out of here, no problem."

The roar of a massive brute caught the teen's attention, and R.D. quickly blasted it through the skull with an energy beam. He turned back to his friends and gazed at them with a solemn look on his face.

"Guys... I'm sorry."

The yellow gemstone caught the light and refracted it brilliantly as the amnesiac tossed it up into the air. In a single motion, R.D. caught the gemstone and unleashed its power as he thrust it out before him.

"Chaos Control!"

The chaotic powers of the Emerald flashed and swirled around Matt, Helena, Hugo, and the Firebird itself, creating a dazzling display that hurt his eyes as R.D. looked into it, and with a final flash of light and a crack of thunder, the car, and his friends, disappeared, having teleported them to safety, several miles away where they couldn't get hurt by what he was about to do.

He was finally alone. The monsters pressed in around him, seething as they tried to get to him. R.D. turned and faced his enemies, ready to annihilate them all.