Klaus stood frozen, as if any sudden movement might threaten the erasure of his very existence.
What lay before him was terrifying: the gods he once knew, scattered around the enormous table, all appearing as golden statues. The fear etched onto their frozen faces hinted at the horror that must have taken place just moments earlier.
Among these petrified figures stood three unfamiliar beings, all towering far above mortal height. One stood slightly ahead of the others, his curly iceberg-blue hair as striking as his bright smile and gleaming silver armor. Like the rest, his eyes lacked pupils, and the folded wings on his back marked him unmistakably as a god.
To his left stood a god clad in bronze armor. His long, medium brown hair was tied into a single ponytail that reached the middle of his back. Though not too extreme, of all the gods present, and perhaps even of the pantheon as a whole, he seemed the most muscular, his armor doing little to hide his powerful build. His stern gaze was fixed ahead, where the newcomers had just arrived.
The third, on the right, wore deep black armor. His messy, dark purple hair draped down around his face, nearly covering his eyes. His gaze was hollow, and his disgust for the situation was unmistakable.
"It appears the final batch has arrived, Father," the blue-haired god said.
Klaus immediately became aware of a fourth presence in the room. As he pieced things together, his eyes found the figure seated at the head of the table, his feet resting casually atop one of the golden statues. The strange, incomprehensible armor and the sheer command he radiated as he adjusted his posture left no doubt in Klaus's mind.
It was The End.
The End looked directly at Klaus and the others, and the room felt heavier under his presence. But unlike the other gods, his appearance was both different and eerily familiar; something Klaus quickly noticed.
Unlike the other deities, The End's eyes were not blank or hollow. They had pupils, but the sclerae were pitch black instead of white, and his irises were pure white instead, creating an inverted, yet haunting glare. However, none of that compared to the most shocking realization Klaus had.
The End looked remarkably similar to someone else he knew: his father, Sol.
Confusion gripped Klaus as he struggled to make sense of what he was seeing. The scene before him was the most horrifying vision he had ever witnessed, and panic began to swell within him.
"Klaus..." a voice suddenly cut through the tension.
"Breathe!"
It was Sol's voice, calm yet commanding, that was spoken to him while keeping his eyes forward. Upon hearing those words, Klaus's mind finally realized he hadn't taken a single breath since arriving, something Sol had also picked up on. Klaus exhaled sharply, then began hyperventilating.
Klaus exhaled, gripped by fear and disbelief, his sense of reality slipping from him. His eyes swept the room again, landing once more on the petrified gods, each frozen in their final moments. His gaze shifted to one statue in particular, standing tall with a composed, neutral expression. It was Torrent, the god of Water.
However, lying beside Torrent's statue to the right was a long, sleek trident. Navy blue with yellow markings, it was snapped clean in two. Klaus recognized it instantly: Tidebringer, the Weapon of Imperium, the very relic used to bring Trent into being.
Klaus's thoughts scrambled for understanding. Sitting before him was the one sentient being who threatened the entire fabric of reality, now no longer imprisoned.
"How... is this... possible?" Klaus asked aloud, his eyes wide, his mouth slightly agape.
Sol understood the gravity of the situation, especially regarding the two demigods behind him. He turned his thoughts inward, immediately addressing Klaus telepathically, his mouth still and gaze unmoving.
"Klaus," Sol's voice echoed in Klaus's mind, calm and resolute, "you both need to leave. Now."
Klaus looked toward his father, his fear laced within his own telepathic response. "But… how?" he questioned.
"It will be fine," Sol replied. "He's not here for you; only us. So go."
Klaus hesitated, his voice cracking despite its telepathic nature. "What happened… to the other gods?" he asked.
Sol was quiet for a moment. "What you see before you..." he muttered softly, "is what happens when a god dies."
Each new revelation only deepened Klaus's fear, and Sol noticed.
"However," Sol continued, "Nekro is still alive, in Under World. Once you escape, gather the other demigods and go to him. Tell him The End has been freed. He may not know it yet, likely due to the barrier of silence in this place, but he will know what to do once you are all there."
Klaus couldn't move. He could feel the implication behind his father's words. "W-What about you?" he finally asked.
Sol remained silent. His eyes stayed forward. "I have been prepared to die for this reality for a long time," he said gently. "So worry not about me."
The blue-haired god ahead suddenly lifted his gaze after a moment, recognizing the silence. His eyes narrowed at Klaus and Shade, who stood behind, as he examined their existence. Soon after, he arched an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Mortals carrying divine radiance?" he murmured, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Do the blasphemies of you treacherous gods know no bounds?"
Without warning, the god extended his right index finger and aimed it at Klaus. Fear surged through Klaus as the tip of the god's finger began to crystallize with ice.
"Perhaps I should dispose of the unwanted audience myself," the god said coldly.
Suddenly, the frost at the blue-haired god's fingertip launched forward, shooting toward Klaus at a speed too fast for even him to follow. But just before the shard of ice could reach Klaus's forehead, Sol raised his hand and caught the thin projectile with perfect precision.
"Go! Now," Sol ordered, his eyes shifting to his back. "Both of you."
Klaus and Shade exchanged a look before taking off without hesitation.
Before Klaus could completely exit the meeting chamber, a voice called out his name."Klaus," Siege said, his eyes still fixed on their enemies. "Make sure he doesn't interfere. No matter what."
There was a hollowness in Siege's voice, something different from what Klaus was used to. That alone helped Klaus grasp the weight of the god's words. And he knew exactly who Siege was referring to, which made the moment all the more difficult.
"I will," Klaus replied softly, then continued on, following Shade, who had already left.
Just before stepping out of the room entirely, Klaus turned his head toward Sol, who still had his eyes on him, making sure his son had left safely. They exchanged one last look. Then Sol smiled, calm and warm, helping ease the fear in Klaus's chest before he finally left the chamber.
Sol held onto his smile for a moment longer, his eyes lingering on the doorway before his expression gradually darkened. "Take care of your mother for me," he said quietly, his voice full of sorrow, before his expression darkened even further.
Sol had no fear in his eyes; only rage. His gaze swept across the room, lingering on the bodies of his fallen siblings, each one piercing his soul like a needle. At last, his eyes returned to the front of the chamber, landing on the ones responsible for it all.
A tense silence hung among the deities before The End shifted in his seat and rose to his feet. Sol, Siege, and Abyss stood motionless, watching as their creator stood upright, his inverted eyes fixed with a steady expression.
The End stood tall, yet his feet never touched the floor, keeping him in a hovering state just a few inches above the ground. His eyes remained locked on the three gods--Sol, Siege, and Abyss--before he finally spoke.
"Perhaps ye have forgotten yourselves in my presence."
His voice carried an evident resonance, an echo that seemed to fracture the very air around them. The moment the words left his mouth, Sol, Siege, and Abyss dropped to their knees, the sheer force of his voice bending their will against their own.
Their fury was clear even in their forced submission as The End drifted closer. As he passed the other newly freed gods, each bowed in reverence. He hovered forward until he stopped directly in front of the kneeling pantheon.
Looking down at them, The End wore a look of disdain. "It makes no sense to me," he said, his voice like a blade. "I gave thee sentience. I gave thee true power. And in return, thou repayest me with imprisonment. Ye chose to betray me, despite knowing thine inevitable demise, and all for the sake of mortals."
As he lingered on his own words, his scowl deepened. "I should have destroyed thee the moment ye crossed those doors," he muttered darkly. "But I seek only this... was it worth it?"
The three gods stayed silent, their heads bowed as they remained on their knees. Then, after a brief pause, Sol responded.
"Yes."
The End gnashed his teeth, the fury in his eyes unmistakable, before gradually steadying himself. "I have already destroyed ye once," he said, raising his right hand. "But the satisfaction of doing it again is welcome."
Yet, just as his hand continued to rise toward the pantheon gods, a voice suddenly interrupted.
"Father."
The End paused, turning around to see who had spoken: the blue-haired god. "And what is it you want?" he asked, irritation in his tone.
The blue-haired god bowed his head before rising to his feet again, the other two remaining on their knees. "Thy greatness is highly exalted, father," he began, "and for that... I bring only a humble request."
Several seconds passed in silence before The End lowered his hand, his expression one of fading interest. "Speak," he said flatly.
At the sound of his creator's voice, the blue-haired god's expression shifted. "Just as thou wert, father," he began, "we were imprisoned by these treacherous beings; punished simply for our loyalty to thee. They humiliated us. And all I ask... is the chance to return the favor."
His eyes shifted back toward his creator, resolve hardening in his face. "Please, father," he said, "along with my siblings, Tremor and Tempest, at my side, I ask thee to grant us the right to slay our betrayers in thy name, and provide thee the entertainment thou dost deserve in doing so."
The blue-haired god, now identifiable by process of elimination as Tundra, god of Frost, held a quiet rage in his eyes, still burning over his imprisonment.
The End waited a moment before suddenly vanishing, reappearing seated once more at the head of the meeting table before any of the gods could register the movement. A slow grin formed across his face as he looked toward Tundra.
"Then see to it that I am entertained," he said, reclining as he rested his feet once again atop the petrified corpse of Zenith.
Sol, Siege, and Abyss slowly rose from their kneeling positions, the crushing force that had held them finally lifted. Tundra grinned, his gaze fixed on his opponents, as the other two gods beside him rose as well.
"Who gave thee permission to speak on my behalf?" the purple-haired god spat at Tundra, his tone fierce.
"Thou should be thanking me, Tempest," Tundra replied, still smiling, his eyes avoiding the god's. "I have just handed thee a chance to reclaim thy dignity after thy last defeat."
Tundra's smile widened. "Because believe me... I intend to repay them myself."
Klaus and Shade rushed forward, their movements swift and focused. The dread that gripped Klaus was overwhelming, his mind struggling to make sense of his own existence. From the moment he laid eyes on The End, the terror he felt surpassed anything imaginable. No words could adequately describe the magnitude of his fear.
As they returned to the Exalted City, they made their way directly to the cafeteria, where they found Tyler, Mia, Ace, and Iris engaging in conversation.
Ace turned to them with his usual grin. "Hey, dudes," he greeted, before his eyes caught Klaus's change in outfit. "Damn, sweet trench coat."
But Klaus and Shade had no time to ease into what they had to say. "The End has been freed," Klaus said urgently, the distress on his face speaking louder than his words.
The atmosphere shifted instantly, each demigod's expression darkening, especially Ace, who already understood the full weight of that name.
"He killed all the gods," Shade added grimly. "And right now, he's in the gods' meeting room with Siege, Sol, and my father."
"Please tell me this is a sick joke," Iris said, her voice low, her face more serious than ever before.
Klaus didn't need to say much more. The look on his face alone gave them all the confirmation they feared. "My father said Nekro is still alive in Under World," he continued, "and that every demigod should head there immediately. So you guys need to move now."
Without hesitation, the group began to rise, heading toward the transportation podium. Klaus quickly shared the coordinates to Under World, and they wasted no time. But as they prepared to leave, Mia paused, clearly troubled.
"Trent..." she muttered, her voice soft. "Was he there too?"
At her words, Klaus's thoughts returned to what he had seen beside Torrent. The reality of it all finally hit him. "Yes," he said quietly, his tone full of pain. "Tidebringer, the weapon that made him, was beside Torrent when it happened. But..."
"Stop," Mia interrupted, her voice trembling, tears already forming in her eyes as her face flushed. "I... I understand."
She turned away quickly, running toward the exit, knowing there was no time to grieve.
Klaus's chest tightened. The truth about Trent was now setting in, but like Mia, he knew this was not the time to falter. Without wasting another second, using his Burst Speed, he scoured the Exalted City for any remaining demigods, and only two were still present.
"Ah, Klaus Walker," Lance said with a smile as he noticed Klaus's sudden arrival.
He stood alongside Arthur, both of them clearly fresh from training. But Lance immediately noticed the tension in Klaus's expression.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
Klaus wasted no time. He relayed everything: the return of The End, the fate of the gods, and Sol's command for the demigods to go to Under World.
Lance's face dropped in disbelief, his brother beside him wearing the same horrified expression. "I-Impossible," Lance muttered. "It can't be. My father..."
"He was still alive when I left," Klaus explained. "But he stayed behind to confront The End."
Lance's jaw clenched as he turned his face away. "He's still alive," he said quietly, before suddenly beginning to walk off. "I have to go and help him."
"You can't," Klaus said firmly. "You're just going to get yourself killed."
"I will not accept his sacrifice," Lance replied, his tone heavy as he kept walking.
Lance had never let himself appear vulnerable before, but this time, he did not care.
"Lance, if you interfere, you'll only make things worse," Klaus said urgently, attempting to stop the demigod.
"I don't care," Lance snapped. "I won't sit by and let him die."
"Stop it, brother," Arthur said gently, sorrow in his eyes. "Compose yourself. Father wouldn't want this from you."
"I don't care," Lance repeated, his voice cracking as tears welled in his eyes and his pace began to slow.
"He said you shouldn't come," Klaus added, his voice quieter now.
Lance froze in place.
Klaus's expression softened. "He knew the news would break you," he continued. "That's why he told me to make sure you don't interfere."
Lance stood in silence, tears slipping down his cheeks. Arthur soon walked up beside him. "We have to go, brother," he said gently.
Lance wiped his eyes and nodded, following his brother shortly after toward the transportation podium bound for Under World.
Once they had departed, Klaus did not hesitate. With no demigods left in Higher World, he moved toward the Arena of Valor to regroup with Shade and continue their objective. Upon entering the arena, they called for XVII.
"Welcome, Klaus and Shade Walker," XVII greeted. "How may I assist you both?"
"Contact every demigod," Klaus ordered. "Tell them The End has returned and most of the gods have been slain. Direct them to Under World, and provide the coordinates to the Facility, where Nekro still resides."
Terror flickered across XVII's face, but he nodded and immediately began sending out the telepathic message to every demigod.
With their task complete, Klaus and Shade turned to head for the transportation podium and regroup with the others in Under World. But before they left, Klaus paused, a sudden thought pushing its way to the surface.
"We need to go back to the domain of the gods," he said.
"What?" Shade asked in disbelief. "Are you insane?"
"Do you trust me?" Klaus replied, his tone serious.
Shade sighed. "You can't ask me something that obvious," he said.
"Then please," Klaus said. "We don't have much time."
Without another word, they instead teleported back to the gods' domain.
Shade followed as Klaus led them with urgency. They stopped at a door, which Klaus opened without hesitation. At the center of the door, Shade immediately recognized a symbol: two swirling ghosts, one black and one white. He immediately recognized it as the emblem of the Onyx history back on Earth.
As they stepped inside, a voice greeted them.
"It is a pleasure to see you again, Klaus Walker."
Moving closer, Klaus and Shade came face to face with two contrasting figures seated side by side, unfamiliar to Shade, but all too familiar to Klaus: Halo and Horns.