"... I don't think either Matt or R.D. really trusted him when he appeared at my house," Alasea mused, slumping back. She looked over at Hugo. "How are they gonna react to this?"

Kyoka rose from his throne and stepped down to meet X. "I happen to know what your Hell is." Taking his index finger he touched X on the forehead.

"Great," eX whined. "I have to count on that wuss? Fu--"

~~~~

X awoke in a familiar location. It was a battlefield. His first field mission during the War. His transport whooshed by him. The door opened and out hopped an athletic man with short brown hair.

John.

Then stepped out a beautiful woman, blonde and kind yet tough and competent. Memories welled up inside X. He knew what was coming.

Serena.

Out stepped a familiar face, his tan arms in his pockets.

Silvanus.

And then... X. A younger version of himself, still uncomfortable in that armor lumbered out. He almost tripped and fell, but Silvanus caught him.

"Careful, X."

Serena turned to look at him. "Don't be nervous. You'll do fine."

John looked back at him and grinned. "Heh, you won't even get a chance to fight sorry to say. We'll take out this Remnant fella in a flash. Then, how 'bout dinner Serena?"

"Not if you were the last man in the universe."

"Heh, it was worth a shot."

Oh God no, X thought. Anything but this.

Aram nearly dropped his weapon as the demon emerged from the hellfire. The sound of his metal armor clicking against the burning hot ground was unheard over the flames rising around them, as Aram backed up slowly, staring as Diablo stood up... and up... and up... he didn't remember the devil being so tall.

The scar left by the Soulstone burned between the fanning crest of horns on the Prime Evil's face, and several mandibles surrounded the monster's powerful jaws, giving Diablo an intimidating impression of a helmet, framing the burning eyes that stared down at Aram with impunity. More blackened spikes of bone jutted from the demon's arms and back and body, contrasting with the crimson hide that was his flesh. Razor-sharp claws ended at Diablo's hands and talons, and the thick, powerful tail lashed once behind him, various spikes protruding from its end. It struck the ground once, cracking it beneath its terrible strength.

Aram backed up another step as the monster came forward, a malevolent grin partially hidden behind its mandibles. Its foot stepped down with the sound of a thunderclap, shaking the ground and crushing it underfoot. Aram staggered to keep his balance, bringing up his magical shield, holding it in front of him, as if it was enough to ward off the monstrosity that approached him. The King's Sword of the Heavens trembled in his hand.

This was impossible. Diablo, the Lord of Terror, was dead. He had slain the devil beneath the cathedral, in the twisted representation of Hell, and thrust the Soulstone into his own skull, sealing his fate by becoming a dark wanderer and evolving into Diablo. And then they were both slain by a vengeful lad clad in the armor of a dragon. No, they were slain by two dragons that pretended to be human. So this wasn't possible! Diablo was dead! He was dead!

The Lord of Terror unleashed his terrifying roar again, as if to challenge such an absurd notion. He was the Lord of Terror. Not even Death can save anyone from him.

X watched in horror as the memories continued. He watched as the group came upon the battlefield, covered with injured allies and all sorts of virus abominations.

"X, Silvanus! Help them evacuate!" John cried. X watched his past self nod and help injured soldiers into the transport. Silvanus did the same.

Facing the horde of enemies, X watched John unsheathe his sword.

"Sylvontis." X muttered, remembering how he got the sword.

Serena follow suit, pulling out two pistols and firing. The two of them cut a swath through the enemies and soon none stood before them.

As John polished the blood off his blade, the group was treated to the sound of applause. Looking up, they saw him.

X remembered him well. He didn't resemble his current self at all. Where the current Remnant was sleek, this one was bulky in plate mail and with a giant broadsword.

The next part played again and again in slow motion. Remnant reaches for the pommel of his blade. Serena freezes. Remnant swings, John intercepts. Remnant cleaves John cleanly in two. Silvanus intervenes and Remnant slashes again. Silvanus falls, but he is injured not dead.

"Fortified with Eternum, I see. And so quickly? Impressive." Remnant remarks. Past-X runs to help, but he is slow. Too slow. Serena falls and dies in his arms. The woman he loved.

Remnant's haunting and mocking laughter echoes around him.

Then X heard an echoing and booming voice all around him. It belonged to Kyoka.

"I'm going to have fun playing this again and again."

"Maybe the Chronomancer didn't think it was important to tell us," Hugo said. "But still." He glanced down at Matt, nudging his chest with the handle of his pickaxe. "Are they gonna be okay?"

"Now that we've given them the antidote, they'll fully recover in a few hours," Joseph said. "If we hadn't sped over here when he found out where Alex was going to strike next, we might have been too late." He folded his arms. "Though the Chronomancer was right when he said you can handle yourselves. Who got him in the leg?"

"Me," Hugo said.

Joseph smirked, shifting his beard. "Good shot."

"The burns were my handiwork," Alasea said, shifting as the truck hit a slight bump, causing the slightest of jolts. "I didn't have the time to summon my blade and kill him myself."

===Hell===

Aram could feel the memories crowding his mind, unwillingly brought up by the visage of the Lord of Terror.

He saw as he arrived in the village, carrying only a sword and a buckler, speaking to the townspeople before venturing into the cathedral.

He remembered as he faced down against a towering, brutish monster wielding a cleaver, and of facing against the reanimated skeleton of the slain King. The horrors of facing the supernatural first-hand, and desperately seeking a way to counter it.

How he first traded a piece of his humanity in exchange for power.

Aram finally leaped back as Diablo struck, his claw flashing down and stabbing into the rock he had been standing on, shattering it. The warrior brought his shield up to defend, and Diablo's tail smashed hard against it, staggering him with his brute strength. The tail struck again, and the warrior barely managed to move out of its path.

Aram's heart was pounding in his chest, like it was trying to get free. More memories forced themselves to the forefront of his mind, even though he could not afford the distraction. He remembered nearly dying as he searched for the Blood Stones, and giving up more of his humanity to survive and secure Arkaine's Valor. How the demons began to fear him as he traveled deeper into the catacombs, seeking his prey hidden deep beneath the skin of the world.

He knew what was coming next. But that wouldn't matter if the beast standing over him struck him down before that.

"Jotaro mentioned that he had a Stand," Hugo said. "That's what Alex had, right?"

"Yes. I also have a Stand as well." Joseph lifted up his arm. "The Chronomancer told us that Matt was the only one who could see Stands, seeing as how he had one for a brief time."

"Four of them, actually. Only one of them... belonged to him," Alasea said quietly, sparing a glance at Helena.

Edited by RisingDragon on September 6, 2009 at 18:20:08.

"Hahahaha" Kyoka laughed. "Now let's play that agai--"

"No."

Kyoka seemed taken aback. "What makes you think you get a say?"

X clenched his fists and began to tremble. "Keep playing the memory? Or did Remnant not tell you what happened next?"

"N-next?" Kyoka stammered.

X's emotions ran wildly. He remembered how he'd felt at that exact moment. The rage, the helplessness... something inside of him had clicked at that moment. And it was happening again. The rocks on the ground near him began to vibrate. A blue aura began to surround him ever so slightly. Cracks appears in the memory and it shattered, bringing him back to the throne room.

"--ck...?" eX finished.

"How did you...? No one can defeat my illusions!" Kyoka yelled.

X unsheathed Sylvontis from his scabbard and held it out to his side. The blue aura exploded into a blinding blue light. Sylvontis's shape changed, expanding into a giant silver cleaver. The light grew and expanded, and eX found himself sucked into it. Kyoka felt his hold grow ever shakier. The throne cracked, Kyoka panicking.

X stepped out of the light, his head bowed, obscuring his face. "I won't let you use their memories as weapons" he quietly remarked. He raised his head, and as he blue eyes flashed gold he yelled, "and I'll KILL you if you try it!" Gripping the sword he lunged at Kyoka and impaled him.

Edited by Mega X.exe on September 6, 2009 at 19:48:16.

"Four?!" Joseph blinked quickly. "How did he manage to use four?"

"Long, boring story," Hugo said. "Where are you taking us, by the way?"

Joseph leaned his elbow on the truck hatch, watching the buildings zoom behind. "We're going to Jotaro's home. We'll have enough room to keep everyone, as well as plan our next move."

"We'll need to be careful when Matt and R.D. wake up," Alasea said. "Neither of them are gonna be in real good moods when they wake up and their fists tend to come out first in situations they don't like."

===Hell===

Fire buffeted Aram's body as Diablo unleashed his power on him, turning the burnt ground into molten slag around the two of them. His shield protected him against the flames, but it would not hold up forever. Diablo roared, extra mouths opening up in the devil's shoulders as he charged, smashing Aram to the ground as the blow struck against his armor.

The claw came down again, only to be blocked by the King's Sword of the Heavens. Sparks flew as the claw struggled to get past the magical weapon, but Aram poured all of his strength into keeping it away. The strength he developed in the caverns beneath the cathedral, where the enemies began to flee at his presence. After all, he was the one who had cut through the hordes struggling through the darkened hallways to reach the green Earth. He, who ventured deep into the Chamber of Bone and came out, summoning terrible creatures from the depths to strike them down with unholy flame. He had wandered into the shadows of the Halls of the Blind, and came out with the power to See. And in those very caverns, he had gained more power. More, and more power, finding the equipment of the Hellforge, and strange growths that unlocked even greater power in his body.

So why is he letting this fear get to him now?

He was Aram Kiros Denamon, the man who slew the Devil himself. He, who ventured into Hell itself! The cursed warriors of Hell threw themselves at his blade and fell by the dozen. What was it that he had said on that fateful day, as the legions of Hell lay vanquished before him, and Diablo unleashed his burning wrath against him.

Your fires are nothing compared to mine, monster!

Diablo was faltering as Aram stood up from the ground, shoving his claw off. As the demon stumbled back, surprised, Aram sneered behind his helmet, lifting his sword up and aiming at the demon's foul heart. It was the same as before.

The darkness could not stand before him.

With a cry, the world shattered before him. Now, he was at the throne, as X stepped out of light before a terrified Kyoka. "I have walked the roads that lead to Hell, I have challenged all but Fate," he snarled, bring his blade up to bear. "I have walked the paths... the shadowed roads that led to terror’s breast. I have plumbed the depths of Hatred’s womb and scaled Destruction’s crest! Did you really think that your petty mind tricks would stop me here!?"

Even as X's sacred blade pierced through the flesh of Kyoka in the front, Aram swung his sword, sending its keen edge hurtling at Kyoka's neck from the back.

Finally, the truck parked, after driving through a suburb of expansive green bushes and trees along a smooth, dark road. Joseph clicked open the hatch and slid out, walking around to look at where they had stopped. It was a house made out of long, flat panels of wood, spanning a large width. White curtains danced in the breeze.

Jotaro stepped out of the truck and closed the door with an easy swing. He moved to the back and pulled out the nearest body-in this case, Matt-and slung him over his shoulder.

Ileyna was scooped up into Alasea's arms after she got R.D. and Matt's bags, along with her own purse.

Edited by RisingDragon on September 6, 2009 at 20:00:25.

"You two go in first," Joseph said to Jotaro and Alasea. "I'm going to watch over the others. We can't risk any attempt by the enemy to come back and finish the job."

"Mmmm." Jotaro began walking towards the house entrance.

"I'll look after them too," Hugo said. "You go ahead, Alasea."

Alasea nodded, following after Jotaro. "How can that guy come back after us?" she asked as she caught up to him. "He's missing a leg and you turned him into paste. There's no way he can come back from that."

"He's not the only one," Jotaro said directly, gruffly.

At the entrance, he slid open the wooden door-apparently it was just a frame surrounding paper. "Hey," he called into the well kept living room that was revealed.

Eventually a woman shuffled into the room, anxiously rubbing down a plate with a washcloth. "Yes, Jotaro?" She looked up at him and Alasea, her eyes widening. "Oh! You're back! Are they-"

"They'll live," Jotaro said.

The woman pointed down the hall with a nervous gesture. "Take him to the guest bedrooms. How many are there?"

"Four."

"Okay," the woman said as Jotaro walked past her without a second glance. "We should have enough beds, then." Now she faced Alasea, and tried a smile. "Hello. I'm Holly, Jotaro's mother. Would you like some tea?"

Alasea smiled weakly. "I'm Alasea. I get the feeling I should stay away from drinks today," she said. "Hold on a moment, I need to go put Ileyna down."

She followed Jotaro to the guest bedrooms.

The lights weren't on in the guest bedrooms, but sunlight leaked through the thin window anyway. Jotaro laid Matt down on one of the queen-sized beds and moved past Alasea just as she appeared. This one was all business.

Alasea followed the man out after laying Ileyna down in the other room. She bit her lip once as he strode past, slightly unnerved by his behavior. She kept her thoughts to herself, though, and returned to the living room.

After a moment of thought, she looked around the room. "I should set up some wards," she muttered, partly to herself. "I should still have enough power to do that."

The swords struck and as they pierced Kyoka's flesh, the final illusion disappeared. The throne room fell away, replaced by the field they'd left.

Kyoka stood before them once more, burned and cackling. Yet X's golden eyes widened and he slashed his sword behind him, blocking Kyoka's arm. Kyoka's eyes widened in shock as X spun around and slashed through part of his arm.

"I severed a tendon. That arm is useless to you. I'd like to kill you, but I need you alive so you can bring me to Remnant." Nodding to Aram he added, "by the way, I've noticed that when he hides himself, he can't hide his spiritual presence. Try feeling for it, you'll see him nice and clear."

Aram nodded. "I've realized that... now that I know what kind of mage he is."

Aram extended his sword arm to the side and sheathed the King's Sword of the Heavens on his back before removing his helmet. "I can place a Stone Curse on him to petrify him when we return; that way he won't be tempted to escape. Lifting the curse when he'll be useful is a simple enough matter."

X glanced at his arm, the one covered with the Queen's symbols. "No, I have something more fitting in mind."

Kyoka lunged at him, but X didn't react. Kyoka passed harmlessly through him, and X jabbed his sword to his left, drawing blood from his unseen foe.

"Don't you get it, Kyoka? We can see through every move you can make. It's over."

As Kyoka lunged and was thwarted, Aram reached out and caught the man by his collar before he fell on the ground completely. He lifted the man up with one hand until they were face to face.

"If you keep struggling, I will put you through a Hell of my own design," he growled. "I was once the Devil, and I am far more than capable of making you suffer. Now cease your struggles."

"You'd think I'd betray Remnant?" Kyoka asked. "I'd sooner die. But don't worry, I'd say you had less than a year before he came back to finish the job." He began to laugh and cackle.

"Fine" X replied. "Now what was it you said about dying?" he said as he placed his arm on Kyoka's forehead. "If you have anyone to pray to, know would be the time."

Aram removed his shield and placed it on the ground with his helmet, then stood and drew his sword once more. He lay the flat of his blade against Kyoka's shoulder, moving to the side and back to test the path of his swing. He would want a clean, killing blow here, after all.

Hacking away at the head of a dying opponent was always a messy affair. "Not that whatever God he believes in would accept such prayers," the warrior murmured as he drew his weapon back to strike.

X's arm crackled with purple lightning and the sigils began to glow. Kyoka's body was consumed by purple flame. It died down moments later, Kyoka having been reduced to a withering dessicated husk.

X glanced at his arm again. "Huh, I thought that'd kill him for sure."

Kyoka glared at Aram in a show of defiance. "D...do it."

Aram closed his eyes for the briefest of moments, then opened them, an emotionless expression on his face.

"Hiyaah!"

The King's Sword of the Heavens cut through the air as he swung to decapitate Kyoka.

hi i am new here and whats the topic?

"What's that, Alasea?" Holly asked. She had sat down on the pale white couch. The dish lay on her lap, still wrapped in the towel.

"I said I should set up some wards," Alasea reiterated. "I can at least make some that'll let me know if someone or something gets close to the house."