-Without further adue, I bring you the final chapter, I hope you enjoy the last installment of Elements-
Roketh stood solemn and unmoving. The only presence of life was the rise and fall of his massive shoulders. The Dragon held his scythe rather loosely, breathing very hard. If he was tired or full of rage, Kronock couldn't tell, yet he still guessed both.
"Hm hm hm...", Kronock almost mocked him now, as his new-found 'hands' felt across the ground, begging him to unleash them, "So...enough?"
Roketh merely stood there, as if waiting to die. Kronock was more than a bit puzzled by this action. Roketh was strong, not as strong as him, but strong enough and determined enough not to surrender so easily.
"....fool." Kronock said slowly with a small grunt. His tendrils came to life at these words, slicing through the air with anticipation of their soon to be purchase.
Still. Roketh was utterly stonic, not even flinching at the site. Even his mighty shoulders had stopped moving very much, only a faint movement could be detected of him now, his eyes.
Roketh's eyes had always given away his mood. This time was no exception. Kronock could not peer directly into his foe's sockets, for his head was limply on his neck, hanging forward. As if he could crack the very planet with that stare. Kronock could, however, see a faint, dancing light on Roketh's cheeks. As if a rainbow was galloping across Roketh's face, yet he still stared forever down.
Kronock was beginning to get a little less confident and a bit more fearful of this stance. Perhaps he was thinking over strategies? Maybe last rights for his weakling accomplices? He was a fool either way, Kronock was unstoppable now, the Amalgam as he referred to himself. The perfect being that assimilated every breed into him, even man. Still, even now, there was one that stood against him, one that still, even with all his power, was still poised to send it all crashing back to the ground. Kronock wouldn't have it, not ever!
With one wicked scream Kronock slung his left arm over his head and behind him. He then slung it towards the patient Dragon. Still Roketh stood his ground, forever unimpressed.
Then, the tentacles struck with all the force they had been building up, and Roketh...shattered? Chips and pieces fell to the ground, breaking again and again, like an endless hall of vases falling.
"What?!" Kronock exclaimed.
He turned to look behind him, ready to fight. Nothing. He turned a complete circle, then backtracked half of one, to find nothing. He was gone. Ran away? Not likely, this battle would decide the fate of the world, and more. He would not just flee.
Still nothing. He had utterly vanished. Kronock looked about him and above him frantically. He decided to investigate his statue. The feet were about the only thing still intact, other then his head a few inches away. Kronock stomped on it with a vengeance, infuriated that his was foolish enough to be deceived. In the heel of each foot, resided a small hole.
"But...how?...and where?" Kronock still asked.
Then, the ground under those holes exploded, catching Kronock completely off guard. He stumbled back, being mere inches from that explosion. He stopped and stared into the dust that was falling around him now. He saw a faint, pink glow rising. He was confused by this, had something killed Roketh? The pink rose and fell as it bobbed towards him. It rose one final time, higher than before. Then, it was speeding at Kronock's face. Kronock never had time to react as a pink endowed fist tore through the debris and slammed into Kronock's jaw. He was now slightly air born, almost hovering, backwards. The ground under him exploded again, this time the Dragon did appear, standing beside the horizontal villain.
Roketh raised his right knee as hard as he could into the small of Kronock's back, and powered his right hand up again. Kronock's body bowed and his head fell back slightly. Roketh spiked his punch into the bottom of Kronock's chin, sending him one flip off Roketh's knee and into the ground. Roketh grabbed his leg as he laid face down on the harsh, unforgiving earth. With one swift toss, Kronock was flying. One could say almost gracefully. Roketh went into his bag of tricks and pulled one out he hadn't used since his first encounter with Nightmare.
A blue disk materialized into his palm, made of water. On the edge, were small but in quite a large number, liquid and ice spikes. Roketh merely glanced at it, then at the floating visage of Kronock, and threw it as hard as he could. The disk sped for Kronock, who was still a bit off centered. Then, the tendrils lashed out and shattered the disk in mid air. In all actuality, this didn't make his situation any better.
Kronock was kind of dumbfounded by Roketh's assault, but felt a little better smashing a finishing move. Kronock was as surprised as Roketh, but not quite as pleased, as the shards and spikes of the disk still hit him. The volley pierced him indefinitely. Like a bag of needles had been thrown at his whole being. Kronock screamed, for even being a super monster, he still felt pain. And he had never felt it this strong. Roketh smiled, almost laughing as Kronock landed on the ground softly, contrary to his size.
"...luck. Dumb...luck, everyone...has it." Kronock spoke slowly as the shards slowly melted and ran down his body.
"Well, I don't know about your luck part." roketh said, still smiling.
"You insult...me? You...would...challenge...my intellect?" Kronock still sound breathless, though Roketh knew it wasn't the case as he said, "I have...devoured(Deep breathe)Undines, Katos, Pixies, Suezos, Tigers, Monols, Galis, and the smartest Human alive, and...you would...question my...intellegence?"
Roketh sobered instantly at the remembrance of Dadge. This creature will be destroyed and, hopefully, set free all his captives. Even if he couldn't free them, killing them would still be saving them. Roketh's grip could have broken any material now, save the Demon scythe.
Kronock grew a bit more wary as every second passed. Roketh was a force to be reckoned with, but if he could be absorbed...think of his power then! Kronock smiled happily at his new plan. Kronock's appendages shot out at Roketh once more, this time totally affirmed to tasting blood, not hardened clay. With one swift slash upwards, they were severed and Roketh was crouched, running at his foe. The tendrils rapidly replaced themselves and rained on Roketh. For all his speed, he failed to escaped their embrace.
Two of Kronock's new weapons wrapped around his feet, another about his waist. The second hand tentacles fell on Roketh like whips, gingerly snipping off patches of orange like Dragon hide as they fell. They struck three times, then wrapped around his arms, and one around the neck.
Roketh was on one knee, facing his jailer. His scythe had been dropped mere inches from his left hand and, for all his might, he could not reach it. Kronock slowly strolled to Roketh location, chuckling with utter joy at the fact he had now won.
The tendrils tightened slightly and roketh flinched, so Kronock knew he was still there, head down.
"Poor Roketh...can't even...look...at his...superior?" Kronock was so happy he could explode.
Roketh's eyes were, in fact, closed. Kronock could barely see his eyes, and there was now prancing light to be seen. Kronock did note a slight red vapor coming up and around Roketh's jaw and dissipating into the air, but he thought, being a Dragon, this was a sign of defeat.
Kronock chuckled slightly at his own joke, but Roketh muttered something, barely audible.
Kronock nodded slightly and said, "Come...again...?"
"If you insist." Roketh's voice was very muffled, like his mouth was full. Before Kronock could ponder this Roketh's head shot up and his eyes blazed open. Kronock only managed to draw in one breathe as the Dragon's red, pulsating eyes locked onto him, and the red net that covered Roketh's maw began to expand.
Roketh's entire vision was red, as if he was in a sea of blood. The balloon filled up quicker than ever, and the Demon Flare attack was well under way. This one was larger than any before it, and now it snatched up a speechless Kronock in its hands. The tentacles, luckily, had went limp at the shock, and were pulled along beside the fire beast.
Then, it stopped. It stopped in the air and held Kronock in two hands. The villain fought furiously against the grip, to no avail. Roketh's sight pulled up into view, about five yards in front of Kronock's new cage.
Kronock's mouth went slack as he saw the unimaginable. Roketh's body shook violently as several bulges appeared on his form. They broke off and formed monstrous shapes. One turned into a Pressure, another turned into a Hercules, another turned into a gold and diamond Durahan, and another turned into a very familiar Hydra.
"The...Eight Lords!" Kronock cried.
Indeed, the lords were forming, not actually them, but each held their respected powers. They slowly encircled the beastly prison of Kronock. Kronock frantically searched the horizon, expecting an unknown source of help. None came. He was utterly alone, and outclassed.
"We will now preside on the Trail of Kronock." Roketh spoke.
"What!? You mock me!? The mighty Kronock!?"
With that, he strained for all he was worth, cracking his confines. the Demon Flare lowered his head slightly, looking at its captive struggle. Kronock screamed one good time and broke both of its hands. He spun and opened one hand towards the monstrosity. A large, black orb, twice as big as Kronock appeared. It collided with the fire being with amazing force. It did not explode, however, but rather engulfed the beast. The creature attempted to self detonate, and did. It was too late. It went off inside a large purple circle now, totally encased.
Kronock laughed as the neon ball filled with flame. It was actually quite pretty, considering. Kronock did, however, underrate the strength of the attack. A crack ran down the ball, fire spraying forth like a trapped geyser. Then, small sections blew off, venting the flames. One blew and slammed into Kronock, yet to everyone's amazement, Kronock acted as if nothing had hit him, and continued to stand in the fire's fury.
It did die down, then the orb disappeared into nothing. Kronock turned to look at Roketh. however, unbenounced to him, Roketh was already on his way. A large dragon foot slammed into him at an angle. Kronock flew into the ground, but landed on his feet, crouched. The ground around him imploded and sunk in with all his force. He was hurting, bad. This battle was taking its toll, but he could only hope it was exerting the same to his opposition.
He looked up, and was horrified. The lords were circling Roketh, who was barreling towards Kronock. Each lord was now lit up with their elemental color. The Phoenix was red, the Pressure was blue, the Hydra was white, etc. Roketh, now he was a site. He radiated all of them, represented them, even evil's true form.
Kronock managed to peer directly into Roketh's eyes. In contrast to Kronock's now totally fearful expression, was the unchanging, unregretting eyes of Roketh. They were like glass now, no pupils. They were totally indifferent to Kronock's presence, seeming to gaze into him and through him, through all time. The circling deities got faster, forming a barely viable ball around Roketh.
Kronock knew what was to happen, but couldn't even scream as the attack came on to him. At the last second, he caught its name, as Roketh muttered the instrument of both of their destruction's.
Roketh's eyes were now as empty as Kronock's soul as he slowly said, "Justice Charge."
Kronock held up both hands and actually caught the ball. It pressed into him, he pressed into the earth, such force they may have well shifted the planet. Kronock felt his feet sinking into the solid earthen floor. Kronock could only mutter, "No..."
Roketh gazed into his eyes, it seemed like an eternity, "I am the final weapon of good, and I will stop you, even if it takes this."
The explosion was unprecedented. A white wave rolled across the land in all directions. Trees were uprooted and dissolved into nothing, as did everything else it touched. After a while, the light faded, then began to shrink back to its origin. In a large crater, the form of a Dragon lie helpless and unconscious, maybe dead.
Roketh's eyes barely opened, but he knew he was a dead one anyway. He let his head limply roll to his right. A smoldering suit of armor was scattered across the hole, with one almost naked human form laying in the center, if any could be named, of the debris. It flinched slightly, then rose. Roketh was shocked to see Dadge rise. It was actually him. Then, a thin, white beam of pure light shot through his chest. Dadge gasped, then fell back, dead again.
Roketh half leaned up with a slight, "No..."
He immediately shot his stared to his left, where and angel stood with one outreached hand, "He was not meant to survive."
Roketh staggered to his feet, a struggle to e sure, and one he never achieved for long. He collapsed back to one knee and continued to stare at the creature, "You, you saved me in the pits?"
"It wasn't your time to go..."
"And what justifies you to kill or let live?!" Roketh tried to scream, but sounded more like a deep whine.
"I am the overseer. One could say, I am your version of God."
"But why?" Roketh spoke weakly, "Why all the death, and why Dadge? Why not me?"
"Because you are not finished." She was very dainty, and articulate, but never seemed to speak down to him.
"Yes, I am..." Roketh said as he fell back on his left arm, for his right was in a lot of pain. "I'm just gonna sit here and die now..."
"No...You deserve your reward, you can live."
"Reward?"
"Yes, my dear champion of the Realm. I do mean this Realm of the Universe. You saved this planet. It would have been either you or Kronock to be my champion, but I'm glad you won."
Roketh was speechless, almost. "A game...", he muttered.
"No, not a game. This is quite serious. You saved this realm, for you receive one wish now. Anything. Kronock would have wished for power, so I'm glad you were victorious. I'm required to give my strongest warrior a place at my side. That's you, and one wish for you."
Roketh stared at her blankly, "Your the real thing, aren't you?"
She smiled, one that almost melted Roketh, "One wish, for you are the new defender of this realm."
"Bring them back." Roketh whispered, "Bring them all back."
She smiled, brightly this time, as if that was the answer she wanted more than any. There was a bright flash of white that engulfed Roketh's vision. He reappeared into a town, one he remembered slightly. They stopped here, him, Vyger, and Jace.
"Momma?!" A young child screamed.
Roketh turned to see a mother and child crying in an embrace only found in family. The child was sobbing, in-between breathes saying, "I thought...the purple...dragon killed you..."
The mother could only reply, "So did I..."
"Hey champ."
Roketh turned to see them all there, everyone. Moonshadow and Galin stood there, along with Dadge, Jace, even War and Slayer's gang. All the Lords were there, except Dante, Lord of Earth. A new, less corruptible guardian would be chosen.
After a brief bit a reminiscing and thanks, they all went up to the battlefield where Bloodlust and Denemaur had battled Nightmare, Dragonnaught, and Galin. When he was still evil, that is.
A very petite Angel stood on the battlefield. All the corpses were gone. Resurrected by the Goddess, or God, whichever. She turned and smiled at Roketh, "Time to go, Guardian."
Roketh stopped, slightly confused and asked, "Will I be dead?"
"No, no, just immortal. you've crafted your own legend now, and it will be spoken for years to come." She smiled slightly.
Roketh had a single tear in his eye as he waved to his comrades, his allies, but more importantly, his friends. Naturally, the less intelligent monsters wept up a storm, namely War and Tiny. They all watched with an odd sense of regret and joy as a slight, white ring appeared under Roketh. He and the Angel smiled as the ring started to emit a smoke, or mist of some kind. They both began to sparkle a bit, like the godly figures they were. Roketh tossed his scythe to Azurian, who watched dumbfounded, and yet still upset. They all had at least one ice tear fall down their cheeks to the ground. Roketh's tear, largest by far, hit the ground harder than the rest. In later years, where these tears fell, a massive forest appeared, with one mighty cyprus in the center, and the barren wastes were no more.
Many still believe that the Elements Legend was true, and that Roketh still holds a watchful eye over this world. Now, he has a council of warriors, supposedly the strongest beings ever. Even now he presides, though never getting directly involved, he more less watches over rather than guide those of us who are still here. Even now, people believe it.
Now, there is a statue on that mountain, overlooking the lush forest below. A Dragon, setting his watchful gaze over his last creation. In the evening, when the sun is red as it falls, the light strikes the statue just right, and it glows orange, just like the real beast. He holds his scythe limply in his right hand, slightly turned, starring left, over his massive forest. Engraved in the base is a simple epitaph, in remembrance.
For our Champion, savior of all, this statue of you, will never fall.
Indeed it never will. the finest craftsmen and the finest metals were put into it, so it may last forever.
-End CHB
By torey_luvullo on Saturday, November 10, 2001 - 05:06 am:
wonderful. thank you.
By Black Razor on Saturday, November 10, 2001 - 01:50 pm:
BEHOLD! Gaze in awe! Get on your knees and bow down to the final chapter!! Bout time you finished CHB. Then again, bout time I restarted my own story. I'll do so soon. Great work. I'd give more praise but I'm mad at you for breaking my record for most chapters. ;)
By CHB on Saturday, November 10, 2001 - 07:02 pm:
Lol. Thanks. By the by torey, I finally broke and typed it under Netscape Composer, I think thats why the format is like it is. I could've fixed it, but it was midnight and I had to get up at 4:00AM the next morning and go to A+M University for a career day. Just got back (blah).
By Wolfwood on Sunday, December 9, 2001 - 05:52 pm:
I'm glad I got to see this. For a while I thought I wouldn't come back. Anyways great job CHB and congrates on doing as so many chapters. I feel as if I might continue my story when I have the time, but I'm having too much fun writing Sotsu. Anyways great story, and I loved the ending. Take care and c'ya whenever!
Pretty •••• good. Your writing has improved greatly since the story began. When it started everything was rushed, but at some point it slowed down and was more like a real novel.