105.) Embers of Mayhem and Annihilation!

Haydes, a brother to many and an enemy to many more. Someone with self righteous claims and goals. A warrior with a mission and obsession that can even glaze over his love for family. And for these goals, he attacks those he loves in an all out attempt to crush Shiishii once and for all. Even if the fatalities are great in number, none of it matters so long as Haydes can achieve it. Achieve the goal of upsetting balance itself.

In the midst of that, Young Strife II was pulled into the conflict. Having the likes of Morpheus, Kenny, Ju'Mosi and Fong fight the two cloaked beings that came for them. While the rest pushed the remaining Nymphians back. Though it all seems so simple, the kids were at heavy disadvantages with the ability match ups. But this did not phase them as they learned they are not limited by such boundaries. There is always… a way.

Morpheus: "See if you can burn this!" *Fwish*

Kenny: "Hmph!" *Swish*

Both: "Jester's Bombs of Mayhem!!"

???: "Pshh! Trifling to say the least!" *WOOSH*

The cloaked stranger holds out his hand as a swarm of bombs are thrown his way. He creates a small flare and waits for them all to get into range. The flare flickers and a command is chanted.

???: "Source switch: Heat! Cosmic Blaze:Vermillion Sweep!" *FUEERF*

The flames generate a heat like no other. More than hot enough to melt the amount of essence used in Kenny and Morpheus' conjoined technique. It burns in cinders as the two attacks clash head on. Luckily for Morpheus and Kenny, their attack had enough force behind it to break down the Vermillion sweep. Morpheus is quick to follow up with a close quarters approach. Unleashing a paralyzing combination of powerful kicks. The stranger begins to dodge each attack as Morpheus advances.

"Child's play, it doesn't compare to the real thing." The stranger says just before attempting to grab hold of Morpheus' foot. Morpheus, already irritated by the insult, brings his foot down before they make contact. He boosts his speed for a rapid spin which generates enough force for his kick to keep its power behind it. The stranger takes heed of this and brings about a wall of heat. It singes the threads of Morpheus' combat pants.

Kenny: "Ayo Morpheus, back yo ass up bruh. Let me try this!"

Morpheus: "Tch! Alright!" *FWIP*

???: "Oh?"

Kenny: "Magician's Hand: Snatch!" *PLOOP*

???: "Really… a Magician's hat? What's next… you're gonna bring out a rabbit."

Kenny: "Eh… something like that. Morpheus ready up." *FWISH*

Kenny reaches into his hat in a VERY familiar manner that we've seen once before. He digs around as if he's looking for something, all the while, confusing the stranger AND Morpheus. They both awaited to see what was going to happen which was the perfect diversion. A portal opened above the strangers head and out came a white glove wearing hand. *Grip*

???: "You've GOT to be FUCKing kidding me-" *FWISH*

Kenny: "Aha! Now Morpheus!" *PLOP*

Morpheus: "Right, Principle of Conflict; Apply!" *FIISHUUF*

A strange light wraps itself around that of the stranger. There are no clear changes that occur upon it being applied though. As a result, the stranger was quick to brush it off and ready another Vermillion technique. Just as the blast was going to be shot, it began to crackle and defect. The stranger didn't understand what was going on and attempted to override the effects with higher potency. This only made it stir up even more and eventually explode in his face. Sending him flying into the floor.

Kenny: "Worked like a charm!"

Morpheus: "Indeed my man. Lovely little technique Gaia taught me when I was 13."

Stranger: "What the hell was that?"

Morpheus: "The principle of Strife is conflict. And conflict's principle can stretch quite far on what it can affect. Such as Inner Conflict, which is what your element has been afflicted with. Now let's see you work, Stranger."

Stranger: "Tch! What an annoying ability you have, boy!" *FWIP*

Kenny: "I'll take the lead! Source Switch: Zenchied Mana!" *FWIP*

Morpheus: "For sure! Source Switch: Aura! Mental Zenchi!" *PHWOW*

Morpheus used his Zenchi to observe the future movements of the Stranger. He honed in on his position and followed its path of "Happening" to get a tight read on his next move. Kenny stayed still waiting for the Stranger to make his move. Just then… a gust of wind struck him and behind him came the Stranger. He swung with a wild backarm that was ducked by Kenny. Morpheus commands Kenny to leap upwards afterwards with his telepathy. Kenny leaps and notices a flaming sweep kick from the Stranger's left leg. The flames bubble and crackle just as they did before and… *kaBLOOM* another explosion occurs.

Kenny: "Alright, Deck of the Jester!"

Morpheus: "Mhm, time to start something atrociously annoying. Mayhem Field… OPEN!!!" *FWOOM* *kaPOOOSH*

Stranger: *Tssss* "What is it now?"

A field of wild extremities and abominations shows itself. It was filled with constant storms and natural disasters with an abundance of creatures that looked like agents of chaos with bizarre proportions. And to top it off, it would seem most of the creatures were mutated further and had the symbols of playing cards on them. Seems as though Kenny and Morpheus' abilities fuse well to one another.

Morpheus: (I'll keep observing. Thanks to our Fusion of techniques, these creatures can't hurt you or touch and that's without me needing to focus now. Cut loose and I'll make sure he can't counter.)

Kenny: (Bet, say less my wardian. When do you want to jump in for a double assault?)

Morpheus: (Once I have his instinctive movements and patterns down. I'm almost there as is, I've been observing him from the start. My Source of Aura is making it easier to track him. Plus… he ain't no damn speed demon!)

Kenny: (Riiiight. Say less bro, brotha ain't going to know what hit him!) *FWIP*

Stranger: (I'll force him into hand-to-hand combat!) *FWIP*

The two clash head on with their forearms. Kenny uses a high kick to try and blind the Stranger. He blocks the kick with his left hand and counters with a right jab. Kenny weaves to his right and counters with a left handed uppercut. The Stranger dodges by stepping back, but Kenny revs up the ante and throws a series of two fingered jabs. They were all aimed at the throat of the Stranger who was steadily backing up while dodging the barrage. He awaits Kenny to slip up by lowering his speed. That chance comes quite quickly as one of the Jabs was a bit sloppy in technique and sharpness. The Stranger grabs hold of Kenny's right arm and forces it to his chest. He throws a knee with his left leg hoping to hit Kenny's rib cage. Kenny acts quickly and blocks it with a knee from his right leg.

"Pretty good for a petty magician." The Stranger says as they back off from one another. Kenny smirks at the Stranger while staring at whatever may be behind the stranger. The Stranger catches wind of it, but takes it as a bluff. Only until he felt drool hit the top of his hood and burned it with ease. He turns around to notice a gigantic creature that was shaped like a deformed gorilla. It had ten draconic eyes on its head and face. Two small fiends sticking out of its shoulders and a mouth on its chest. The damn thing had more than fifty rows of teeth it seemed like. The bottom half of the beast was in the shape of a gorgon with spines on its back that reminded one of the fabled creature, Godzilla.

Stranger: "What the!?"

Morpheus: "Get 'em, Alph."

Alph: "SCREEEEeeeYEEAaaEhh!!!"

Stranger: "Tuh!?"

Kenny: *covers ears* "Ugliest shit I done eva heard in my fuckin' life, dawg!"

The beast, Alph swung his arm wide with an array of odd essence wrapped around it. The Stranger grits his teeth and jumps back. Then he tucks himself and flips to his '6', flying off as the wave of essence flies after him. Morpheus can be seen waving his arms down and can be heard shouting something in the distance.

"Come down Gallant the Colossal Titanous!" Morpheus yelled, and without a second of breathing room. A giant foot nearly stamped the stranger out. Kenny readied some cards and made them vanish into the realm. Alph caught up with the distraught Stranger who was busy dodging foot steps. Just as Alph caught up, the Stranger used his flames to jolt forward towards Kenny. The boost of speed made for a good blitz, but Kenny smiled and switched places with Alph. *THUD*

Stranger: "What!?"

Alph: "Grah…" *GrIN*

Stranger: "Oh…" *FWIP*

*SMASH*

The Stranger dodges a huge hammer arm that smashes into the ground. The Stranger flies off to gain distance only to have the foot stomps come after him yet again. Along with an array of debri being thrown by the citizens of Mayhem. And the debris was far from normal as everything it touched vanished from the Realm of Mayhem. The realm… was literally tearing itself apart while restructuring. Kenny decided to make matters a whole lot tougher by throwing his cards into it. Swapping places with the debris to stop from needless missed shots occurring too often. Though even with this… the Stranger still managed to maneuver around it.

Morpheus: "He's going North at a high pace. Hmm… (It's about that time, Kenny!)"

Kenny: "Hm-Hmm! *Grin* (Alright, let me show you something nice then!) *FWIP* *he brings out his Magician's Staff* Magician's Hand: Underwater Escape Box!"

Morpheus: "What… the FUCK!?"

Eight of Kenny's cards formed a gigantic box that was greater in size than that of a 4-story duplex. The cards shot essence that formed a box around the Stranger. Water instantly formed around the Stranger as he tried to maneuver out of the way. The water was heavy and dense, plus that wasn't all it had in store. A straight jacket with chains and a brick sized lock held everything down. His movements were nearly put to a halt. Thinking it was the end of it, he attempted to try his escape which seemed to be working. But he forgot about Morpheus…

"Principle of Conflict!", yelled out a voice from the distance. Just then, the stranger could feel the waters dance violently as if a class 10 storm was occurring. He was being ripped around and pummeled every which way. Just when the worst was thought to have occurred, Morpheus AND Kenny come rushing in. They were both completely unaffected by the dual Technique.

Morpheus: "HYOOOOA!!!" *FWISH*

Stranger: "Hm- *GASP* (DAMN!!)" *SMASH*

The stranger was knocked horizontally within the box by the nasty uppercut from Morpheus. He was still unable to move his body but noticed he was being repositioned anyway. At a very slow pace I might add. He looked around frantically to see what was making him do so and saw a waving hand within the water. It was MORPHEUS.

Kenny: (Time for the follow up!)

Morpheus: (Hold on now. Let 'em get up, Let 'em get up.)

Stranger: (Damned brat-) *WHAM*

Kenny strikes the Stranger with a right hook. His fist was coated in Physical Zenchi and Mana. He tried to rebound in order to dodge another blow, but his body just wouldn't budge. Morpheus finally appeared and kicked the right side of his jaw with a round-house. The stranger is now infuriated from just those two blows, but it doesn't stop there. A left handed uppercut sends his body into a stiffened, pencil-like state. Morpheus follows up with a vicious left armed back elbow to the gut. Kenny follows through with a stiff straight jab from his right. *WHAM* The Stranger is sent floating towards Morpheus who then lands a crucial uppercut with his right.

(D-Damm… I'm starting to feel the effects of their blows.) The Stranger thought to himself as a flying knee from Kenny's left leg made his body fold. Morpheus lands a straight left kick to his jaw which gives Kenny a chance for a dual hammer arm to the back. A platform is made and The Stranger bounces off of it which in turn, allows Morpheus to land a right footed punt kick. Mind you… this is all being done with their Elements and Physical Zenchi wrapped around their limbs.

Kenny: "Come on! *Prch**PSH* Fight back!"

Morpheus: *PRCH* "Fight back lil bitch, FIGHT BACK!" *SMASH*

Stranger: "GaaAah."

The assault continued for a little while longer. The Stranger was slowly becoming less of a stranger as his face started to show. The hood he once dawned was being torn to ribbons by the rippling effects of its own inner conflicts being brought about. Literally having its own threads gain sentient status and going at each other's necks until a war brewed. Tearing the hood they once made up apart. Crazy as always, huh?

With this development being made, the Stranger was fed up and his essence had reached a boiling point. The waters they were within also began to boil to a point that even Kenny and Morpheus found a bit much. But before they could bring about the means to end such an act, the Stranger's eyes burst out into flames.

Stranger: "Vermillion Bomb."

Morpheus: (That fool!)

Kenny: (Did he finally lose it?)

The technique, just like all others before it began to crackle and push back on itself. But just as that happened…

Stranger: "Melt the Conflicts, Vermillion Quazaar."

Morpheus: "WHAT!?"

Kenny: "We gotta MOVE!" *FWIP*

Morpheus: "R-Right!" *FWIP*

They exit the box crested by Kenny's technique to witness the fiasco. The ball of light within the box was emitting such an intense heat, that even the mana and essence that was infused into the technique began to disintegrate. Just as the cords of mana that binded the box together melted away. The water evaporated, then out burst a flow of heat and essence of high intensity. Kenny and Morpheus are being steadily pushed back by the force generated by the blast. The light reached its peak which in turn burst into a veil of smoke and suds.

Kenny: "Tch! Fuck this smokescreen bruh! *WOOSH* Away with you." *GUST*

Morpheus: "Good shit brotha. Now we should get a glimpse of who the hell this guy is… what!?"

Kenny: "What… the hell. Why is he- wh-what's going on, mayne!?"

Both: "D-D…"

From underneath the cloak stood a brown skinned young man. His eyes were purple and so was his hair. His hair stood up and his eyes were somewhat heavy on signs of exhaustion. A Phoenix native and none other than… Prince Demetri!

Both: "DEMETRI!?!"

Demetri: "Hmph! Unlock the Space: Dominion Control!!!"

Morpheus: "Damn!"

Kenny: "What the!?"

A purple translucent Sphere formed around Demetri and casted itself around Kenny and Morpheus alike. The two were then cut off from the planes of the base reality. They now found themselves in a version completely devoid of all life besides theirs and Demetri's.

Kenny: "This may be… bad."

Morpheus: "Yeah, I didn't think Demetri would be the cloaked Stranger."

Kenny: "Yeah, Time to dawn my Magician attire. This is gonna get ugly."

Morpheus: "Yeah, but I'm baffled… why the hell is Demetri helping my brother!?"

Within the underground bunker…

Amiyama: "Hm?!"

Diablos: "What's wrong Milady?"

Amiyama: "For some odd reason, Demetri's essence signature just spawned out of nowhere. And he has to be fighting since his source has changed to Heat."

Angelos: "Demetri!?"

Diablos: "Hm… I think it's high time we go out to regroup with Shii, Brother."

Angelos: "Huh!? Why would we leave-" *Pat*

Amiyama: "Just go, she is safe with me. I mean just look at the heavy little sleeper, none of this is bothering her slumber."

Angelos: "Mhm… guess you're right. Alright, let's go out there Diablos."

Diablos: "Yeah. We'll return, Ami."

Amiyama: "Be careful out there, Los Twins."

Both: "We will!" *Fwi-FWIP*

Amiyama: "Mhm… (Be careful everyone.)"

Shiishii: (Say what? Nice!) "Now the odds are in even favor."

Haydes: "Seems as though they are. I can sense the essence of Angelos and Diablos within you now. Good."

Shiishii: "Hmph, Indeed." *Grin*

Haydes: "Now you can lose at one-hundred percent of your power." *Grin*

Shiishii: "Yeah right. (I'm worried about Demetri's essence appearing over where Morpheus and YS II are.) Tch!" *Grip*

The world of Gaia was being damaged left and right by the battles that were taking place. Though there was one piece of her that remained untouched for quite a few minutes now. That same place was where ZeeArc summoned a realm of Annihilation in order to combat Leygo and Teyliigo. Both of which were still being pressured by ZeeArc.

ZeeArc: "I think I told you didn't I? That you would NEVER get another chance at getting a foot up in this race we call a "battle"?"

Leygo: "Dammit, making surviving here as easy as talking didn't help the odds. He annihilates everything we do as we're doing it!"

Teyliigo: "I didn't think he'd be… *GYAK* THIS overwhelming!"

Leygo: "Yeah, we might be in trouble here, little brother!"

Teyliigo: "Yeah… I won't deny that."

ZeeArc: "Hmph! Fan Style: Wave of Annihilation."

Leygo: "Damn! Gamma Ray EXPLOSION!!!"

With a wave of his right arm and the fan within its hand. ZeeArc was able to focus his Annihilation into the tips of the fan's blades. That then turned into the literal gusts of winds created by the fan itself. Those same gusts blew across the lands of his realm, engulfing everything between him and the brothers. Leygo had a gigantic green dome around Teyliigo and he. It had the violent properties of the unstable Gamma element sewn into it. Its purpose was to let out explosions to counter the force of the opposing attack(s).

Leygo: "Damn… I don't think it's gonna hold up!"

Teyliigo: "It's like his technique is the literal definition of "Fuck everything in that direction!"

Leygo: "Yeah, this is what Haydes meant when he said to avoid ZeeArc, Kishin, Hideaki, Amiyama and Shiishii. They're all freaks of nature."

Teyliigo: "Damn."

ZeeArc: "You Two truly are hopeless aren't you. Idle talking while five more waves were just sent your way? Crazy indeed… pathetic all the more."

Leygo: "WHAT!? Gamma's BIG BANG!"

Teyliigo: "Damn! Atomic's BIG BANG!"

ZeeArc: (Oh? Good.) *PEW*

Their attacks clash, but the six Waves of Annihilation were a bit too powerful. So to compensate, the brothers twist their blasts upwards to shift the force of ZeeArc's attacks into the upper atmosphere of his hellish realm. The attacks fuse, and create a turquoise color with yellow and red hues flowing through it. The blasts disperse and the realm shakes from their combined might. Leygo and Teyliigo bring their arms down for a bit of rest after such a tense moment, but ZeeArc doesn't play fair enough for that. *WHAM* *SLAM*

Leygo: "GAH!!!"

Teyliigo: "GUAAAH!!!"

ZeeArc, smiling from ear to ear, rams his fists into the back of both their heads and breaks the floor beneath them. Their bodies bounced up like basketballs, ZeeArc used a single round-house kick with his left leg at that moment. A wave of Zenchi and Annihilation sends them flying into a silhouette that looks like a fifty story building. Their bodies smash against it and fall to the floor with the building crumbling down atop them.

ZeeArc: "I guess this is the end huh?" *Phueeewww*

Leygo: "D-Dammit brother, we've gotta use our Clan forms or we'll end up dying!"

Teyliigo: "F-Fine, I'd rather not die in such a pathetic way.

Leygo: "Hmm!"

ZeeArc: "Sayonara you peons. Annihilo's GRIM COMET!" *PFEOWW*

A gigantic blast of red, yellow and black rays formed a spherical shape and came crashing down on them like a comet. ZeeArc hadn't noticed, but a beam of light had shot out right as it landed. It settled and condensed as it got ready to burst, just then… the light that had shown before the blast hit had burst through. Ripping the attack apart before it could do its worst. Out from the light came two armored men, the big one had scythes for hands. The other had a sword for a right arm and a shield for a left hand. The head of who seemed to be Leygo had turned into a green inferno that constantly crackled. Red eyes glowed from it while the other had green eyes with a purple inferno for a head. Their capes matched their flames and danced in the wind as they slowly advanced towards ZeeArc. Their armor also looked like that of an Egyptian guardian's, sporting runes of all kinds.

Leygo: "You're going to die, you bastard!"

Teyliigo: "Indeed, prepare."

ZeeArc:"Sounding a bit cliche there, but bring it nonetheless."

The two rushed in head first, brimming with confidence. Teyliigo brings down his right arm and slashes through a couple of silhouettes as ZeeArc dodges. Leygo flanks his rear and slashes down with his sword which is blocked by the front of ZeeArc's fan. ZeeArc summons an uproar of force just before rotating the fan to send Leygo back a few meters. He swings it to his forefront and smacks the side of Teyliigo's arm. He was forced to flinch from the sting of the hit, but not enough to stop his counter. His right arm came flying up with the edge of the scythe as its lead. ZeeArc barely manages to dodge the slash, but still does regardless and counters with a strong right kick to the shoulder.

"Damn, he's tough!" Teyliigo said as he tried to keep his balance after the strike landed. Leygo jumps in for a Gamma charged shield bash. ZeeArc matches him with a Annihilation charged fan slap. *kaBLOAW* Both parties were blown back a bit from the clash. Teyliigo used his weight to keep from going as far as ZeeArc or his brother had gone. Making for the perfect opportunity to jump back in for a swift counter. He brings both scythes over his head and brings them down in a pincer-like formation for maximum output. ZeeArc brings his fan above his head and grabs the blade. The strikes come down and he withstands them, but is stuck in place. Leygo took that chance to try and slice him in half with a clean cut. *SHINK* It landed, but was ineffective as ZeeArc split by choice. Leaving nothing, but a scatter of Annihilation particles behind as his upper half floats above the lower. The two conjure a huge cluster of particles until they meet and reattach ZeeArc.

Leygo: "Damn… hm?"

Teyliigo: "What the hell… are those!?"

ZeeArc: "Heh! You're shit out of look it seems!" *STOMP*

The floor burst open with flames of Annihilation properties. The air itself was being erased by the blasts as they shot out from the ground. Both Teyliigo and Leygo were forced to retreat as a result. Teyliigo set his feet first and was ready to jump back in, but was stopped by a sudden hand on the shoulder.

Teyliigo: "What- (A clone!?)" *WHAM*

He was smacked and sent hurtling towards the real ZeeArc who had summoned a pillar of flames just as Teyliigo got close. Leygo was shocked by the development and rushed in to save his brother. Just as he did, ZeeArc waved his fan with a fierce thrust and created a cyclone. This cyclone of course had Annihilation properties and stirred Leygo like cake mix as he crashed into it head first. Both brothers had their forms and powers crushed from the attacks they endured. ZeeArc sat idly by as they crumbled under the pressure.

ZeeArc: "Your Clan Forms mean nothing, fools. My Annihilation is of the absolute level and can adapt to any element or concept. Transforming earlier would've made it harder to adapt but now I'm immune. It was all in vain."

Leygo: "A-ah…."

Teyliigo: "Ha-Ha~ah…."

ZeeArc walks towards the unconscious brothers, undoing his form and realm as he does. Neither could move a muscle, all they could do is wait for what came next. All three found themselves in a forest after the realm disappeared. ZeeArc pulls out a cigarette and lights it as he bends down to look at his work.

ZeeArc: "Hm… you two are pretty pathetic in all honesty. Wallow in shame that I didn't even want to kill you, you just aren't worth it." *Inhale* … *Exhale*

Leygo: "A-ah…."

Teyliigo: "Haaa..."

ZeeArc: "See what I mean? You both have enough essence to focus on healing, yet here you are succumbing to temporary pain. Truly not worthy of death by my hand. *Step* *Step* Clean yourselves up."

Leygo: "D-Damn."

Teyliigo: (W-We lost, total… defeat.)

Haydes: "Tch!"

Shiishii: "Awwh, baby mad his goons lost the fight? You knew it'd happen either way, so why even react?"

Haydes: "... Man, you're irritating!"

Shiishii: "Well, I try my best to be."

Haydes: "NRRGH!" *PEW*

Haydes and Shiishii continue their battle at high velocity. Meanwhile, Morpheus and Kenny were being pushed back by Demetri. His control of space and the added Phoenix Fire made it nearly impossible to get close. Everytime they did, he just increased the space between them.

Morpheus: "Bruh… we're getting nowhere!"

Kenny: Yeah, he's far tougher than I ever imagined. What can we do?"

Morpheus: "Switch places for now. *Step* *step* I'll take the lead and you support for now. Best way to do this until you learn the way my Beast moves. Use Mental to get a read on both of us, and your magician tactics to avoid major injuries to us both."

Kenny: "R-Right… wait, BEAST!? You're going to-"

Morpheus: "Yeah, I'm unleashing the Wolf within." *SHING*

The battles heat up and already, one has been ended in a swift notion. ZeeArc brought an end to Leygo and Teyliigo's interference. Now Morpheus and Kenny try to deal with a controlled Demetri. It'll be the Wolf VS the Phoenix as the war rages on!

Next Chapter: Young Strife on the Move!