Chapter 22: He Who Controls All

*The castle is currently in chaos, Creo stood with determination, Athena who had just finished off her battle against Queen went to help out her friend and king, Zion Kishima, aiding him in his confrontation against the one unstoppable enemy that still stands before them, King of the CHESS organization.

*Creo and King clashed their blades with one another with both having the intent to kill one another*

"You continue to amaze me with your consistent determination, King of Elderith, you are willing to go this far to best me? I am quite honored, let's see how long you last!" King said in amusement.

"Like I've said King, me and my allies will not give up in defeating the threats that loom around this realm, you and your cronies proved to be strong but like them, you will eventually fall and lose to your destined fate." Creo stated, his voice was steady and his heart pounded in his chest deeply.

"Are you ready for this, my dear comrades?" Creo asked to his allies who aided him in his journey.

"Of course, we have no other choice but to end this battle, right here and right now." Athena nodded as she gripped tightly on her weapon.

"I'm always ready, King of Elderith, plus it's for your dear kingdom, I'm willing to help out a friend in need." Zion said, his eyes were fierce, filled with determination just like Creo.

"For Elderith!" Creo said proudly.

The air started to crackle with energy as blows were exchanged from left and right with Creo lunging himself forward, his blade clashing against King's very own blade.

Sparks started to blew as the ground beneath them had started to crumble and tremble from the force of their strikes.

Athena and Zion rushed in, giving aid and support to Creo in making a well-coordinated attack in hopes to exploit any opening to King's defense and attack him in his vulnerable spot.

But, King was a force of nature, he knew that he should not let his guard down when it comes to such dangerous foes before him, he proceeded to unleash various counterattacks that were swift and brutal, with each strike landing with such bone-crushing force.

Athena was thrown aback, crashing to the ground with a pained cry, Zion barely could handle, nor deflect the overwhelming blow that was aimed at his head, and the impact had left him staggering.

"Your reign of terror will end now, here today, as we speak." Creo said determined.

"Ha! You think that you are even capable of defeating me? You three are nothing but children who are playing in this war." King said mockingly.

"We'll see about that. For Elderith, we will fight with everything we have." Athena said as she was slowly struggling to get up.

"For our fallen friends, for my dear kingdom, we will never fall nor back down from the likes of you!" Creo said determinedly.

"Athena, Zion. I want you two to flank him for a while that way, we can find an opening to attack him." Creo said.

"Pathetic fools! Is this all that you can do?" King said mockingly, he proceeds to use the crystal to initiate a shockwave, sending it towards their direction.

"Watch out!" Athena said as she deflects a blow meant for Creo and Zion, but is knocked by the impact.

"Athena, are you okay?!" Creo and Zion shouted out, worried for Athena's condition.

"I'm fine, just keep pushing forward, guys." Athena said as she was struggling to get up from the impact.

"You three can't win. You're just delaying the inevitable that's about to come." King said mockingly.

"You call yourself a true king, Creo Creatorius? Well let me show you what a true king can do!" King stated as he used the crystal again to deliver a powerful strike.

"We can't keep up with him. His power is too strong!" Zion said as he was struggling to keep up.

"We need to get the crystal off his hands!" Athena said.

"Surrender and submit now and perhaps I might make your deaths swift and painless." King stated in a mockingly tone.

"Never, a true king never gives up, and never backs down, no matter what challenge lies ahead." Creo said as he stood up.

Athena used her ice powers and unleashed an icy attack towards King but he used the crystal's power and melted the ice, Zion rushes in and swings his blade, almost reaching towards King's neck.

"Not bad, samurai." King said.

"But this will be your last attack." King said as he grabs Zion's neck and drags him to a wall and knocks him unconscious.

Athena proceeds to shoot a fireball towards King's direction catching him off-guard, she walks towards him, grabbing him by the collar, pointing her sword to his face.

"You're eyes scream a real killer, don't they?" King stated.

"You're right with that, I'm not afraid to kill." Athena stated.

King then catches her off-guard, he kicks her by the leg, knocking her down on the ground, Athena tries using another attack but he surprises her and sends her unconscious.

"As I've said you're no match for me, especially you, King of Elderith." King said as he approached towards Creo.

"Y-you...you're going to pay for this!!!" Creo said angrily.

"I'd like to see you try." King said.

He rushes towards Creo, as Creo and King exchange blow after blow, King manages to catch Creo off-guard and stabs him.

"It looks like between the two of us, you're the one who let your guard down." King said as he pulled out his blade from Creo's body.

Creo was still standing even though the pain from King's blade was still aching from his body,

"It is not yet my time to give up." Creo said as he was coughing up from blood.

Suddenly a surge of energy was emitting from Creo, as he was being engulfed by a blinding light.

"Wh-what is going on?" King said nervously.

"It looks like Creo is...transforming." Athena said as she was shocked to see what was happening to Creo.

"It looks like now is our chance to beat King." Zion said excitingly.

"Like I told you King, a true king never gives up and never backs down from a fight." Creo said after finishing up his transformation.

Creo had a change in appearance as he suddenly had a blue and gray crown, his blue and gold eyes shine much brighter and his face looks different from before.

"I will bring you down." Creo said angrily as he charged towards King.

"I admire your undying will to stop me, you have earned my respect Creo, you are a true king." King stated.

Creo and King clash their blades with them delivering heavy blows by the minute, as Creo was distracting King in their confrontation, Athena and Zion took the opportunity to catch him off-guard.

Athena proceeds to freeze King's body, making him unable to move and trapping him, with Zion grabbing the Aethereal Dreamstone Crystal away from King's hands.

"Here you go, Creo." Zion said as he hands the crystal to Creo.

"Thank you very much, Zion." Creo said in relief.

"You manage to be one step ahead of me huh? I'm quite impressed." King said in respect.

"It's over King, we have won, we have you trapped and the crystal in our hands, now you're reign of terror has ended here today." Creo said.

"Terror, you say?" King laughed.

"What's so funny?" Creo said angrily.

"I'm sure you've heard of this popular saying before." King said.

"They say that to see is to believe but sometimes what you see is just a facade and that there is more than meets the eye." King said.

"So what's the point you're trying to make?" Creo stated.

"You have not seen the real me, King of Elderith." King said.

"You have no idea how much pained I suffered from your kingdom!" King shouted angrily.

"What do you mean by that, I don't understand what you are saying?" Creo said.

"Well allow me to turn the clock a bit and tell you a story where it all began." King stated.

"Before you became the King of Elderith, no, before you were even born, I was one of the most trusted soldiers of the Elderith military alongside my comrades." King stated.

"We did our job splendidly, we thought we would have a good time under the kingdom's rule, but then everything changed when the kingdom betrayed us, branded us as outlaws and exiled us." King said.

"And so, the kingdom that we originally called us home branded us as 'monsters', which made me furious and so I began to lead this very terrorist organization before you." King replied.

"All of these actions you've been doing, and the reason you want the Aethereal Dreamstone Crystal was for revenge?" Creo said as he was shocked to learn about Elderith's past.

"You are correct with that." King said.

"Its the same thing that Queen said to me earlier, all of this was for revenge." Athena stated.

"I understand that you have suffered pain, discriminated, and been resented, but you don't have to let the pain of yours consume you." Creo said.

"Let the past be in the past, it can't be changed, and accept what you have today." Creo stated.

"You...understand nothing! You haven't lost what I have!" King said angrily.

"Believe me, I do. But I won't let it stop me from ending this battle!" Creo said as he charged towards King.

"Then come forth and show me your strength warrior, show me your power!" King said.

And so Creo and King clash, with a furry of blows that shakes the battlefield and then after long last, Creo had finally found an opening.

"This is for Elderith!" Creo said as he delivers a piercing strike with his sword, breaking King's defenses.

He uses the power of the Kontroligan Eyes to control his blade in order to figure out a way to make King vulnerable.

"And so it has reached to this point, so I have one final request from you, Creo Creatorius..." King stated weakingly.

"Please...end it...end my suffering!!!" King replied.

"As you wish, King of the CHESS organization." Creo said as he marched towards King.

"You will now be at peace." Creo said as he delivered a final merciful strike, ending King's life.

*Creo pulls out his blade and heads towards Athena and Zion*

"It is now over...we did it." Zion sighed in relief.

"Elderith is now free from CHESS' clutches." Athena stated.

"You're right, but at what cost? The people that died, the destruction that was caused, I'm not sure if I could handle this." Creo stated.

"We've won Creo, we managed to win against this war, we helped out our enemies find peace before dying, that's what matters." Athena said as she placed her hand over Creo's shoulder.

"Athena's right, Creo. Everything's going to be fine, now let's go and check up on Zino and Bookkeeper, I'm sure they also finished theirs as well." Zion stated.

"Alright then." Creo said as he stood up.

Creo, Zion and Athena head down from the castle and went to Zino and the Bookkeeper along with the Arquitenen archers who had just finished their battle against the Pawns.

"Hey! It looks like the King of Elderith has won the battle!" The Bookkeeper said.

"Yup, he sure did." Athena said as she placed her arm over Creo's shoulder.

"So did you manage to get what you were looking for?" Zino said.

Creo shows the crystal now in his possession

"Well, now that you have it, what are you going to do with it?" The Arquitenen Leader asked.

"Well I know what I have to wish with this crystal." Creo said as he held the crystal.

He whispers the wish he wants and the crystal grants his wish, the kingdom is restored from the damage caused by the CHESS organization.

"Well I guess it's time for a celebration!" The Arquitenen Leader said.

"Yeah, but I have something else to do first." Creo said.

"Sure Creo, take your time." Zion said.

Creo proceeds to head back to the castle with Athena accompanying him, and they recover Oskar, Queen and King's bodies and went ahead to give them proper burials.

"They will find peace in the afterlife." Athena stated as she put her hand over Creo's shoulder.

"Indeed Athena, indeed they will." Creo said.

As Creo and Athena walk, Creo began to have a vision of a mysterious figure in front of him.

"Creo Creatorius, you have down well." The mysterious voice said.

"Who are you?" Creo cried out.

"I am Modikos, the god of control, you are learning well in mastering Kontroligan." Modikos said.

"Why thank you, I feel honored." Creo said happily.

"Don't mention it, I see you will have potential and someday you'll learn to control everything." Modikos said.

"That's something from someone who controls all." Creo chuckled.

"Indeed it is." Modikos replied.

Creo regains consciousness, Athena asks him if he is okay and Creo replies stating that he is fine. He proceeds to look at the crystal and thought to himself.

"Someday I will be known by a name, they will learn that Creo Creatorius, will be known by the epithet..." Creo paused.

'He Who Controls All." Creo concluded.