PRESENT

"Through Chaos, Order is born. I was the balance for a goddess whose powers negated mine." -- Daraxerxes, Chapter 7, Invision

The view where Xevikan overlooks from where he's currently sitting is breathtaking. The sea is calm. The skies are clear and the afternoon sun shines brightly. It should somehow give him a semblance of peace and serenity. Nature's beauty usually had that calming effect on anyone or everyone. But with Xev's current predicament, it gave him none. No matter how he tries to distract himself, it isn't effective. The news and confirmation that Janan-Azar is alive hit him hard. Numerous memories came back flashing as if it just happened yesterday. Both good and bad. Happy and painful.

The daughter of Cam and Rezar was his best friend. The yin to his yang. ORDER to his CHAOS. Light to his Darkness. The other half of his whole ---- HIS SOULMATE.

He lost her that same moment he found her. Just like him, she was conceived and birthed to serve the primal gods. She was the source for the creation of the sepherii army. Just as Herit-Anat was for the Malachai army.

The lives of all generations directly sired by the primal dieties evolved and revolved only for their commitments toward their respective purposes, duties, responsibilities and obligations. No more and no less. They were supposedly created and spawned without the so-called emotions. So when they started feeling and manifesting emotions, they were taught hard and painful lessons on not relying to any of it for it just served as weaknesses to be used and exploited. So they learned to repress and suppress it as if it was never there. Duty first, before anything else. Obey without complaining. Act as if they were merely puppets whose strings were controlled by their masters.

Despite the forbiddance of having affairs with fellow descendants of the Primals, he and Janan-Azar secretly persevered. How can he stay away when she showed and gave him his heart - the organ responsible for pumping blood throughout his body; proved to be far more than just an instrument to sustain physical life. His heart taught him to feel. Made him realize that he also had a soul. And that said organ served as said soul's eyes. Eyes that sees and discerns what is morally right and wrong. What's decent and not. And most of all, why it's a need to feel.

Living solely for reason and rationality never made his personal life complete and at peace. Such existence proved to be hollow and empty. Yet, he persevered. Because despite his utter denials, that small voice still speaks to him. He just can't extinguish that particular light that fires his soul to believe. Encouraging and inspiring him to hold on. To hold on for hope. To have faith that someday, everything will be all right. That change will eventually happen no matter what. A change for the better.

When the seven primals waged war against each other that resulted to the primus bellum, Xevikan thought he lost everything he held dear. His heart, will and desire to fight and persevere living righteously and honorably died. Treason, abandonment and torture takes its toll in an immortal.

Until he unexpectedly met his great grandchildren. That alone is the sole reason why he's fighting now. Or so again, he thought. Because after finding out, the love of his life is still alive just strengthened his resolve to continue fighting.

Janan-Azar's life force was supposed to be tied to the Mimoroux. For she and the leader of the sepherri army are one and the same. Anchor and vessel. When Myone fell in the primus bellum, he thought that was also Janan-Azar's end. Looks like Cam, Rezar and his father yet instigated another game plan that had the dark Primals blindsided. A despised and cold applause for their conniving ways. And he always wondered why the Primals never got along when they were all the same. Always devious, conniving and plotting.

So many questions unanswered. It never stops, instead, it just keeps piling up. Lilith's Dracomai children have a lot to answer for this, especially Sarraxyn and Falcyn. They were the ones responsible for guarding Janan-Azar and the Kyra (leader) of the Mimoroux. Damn them for keeping their silence after all these millenia and making him believe her dead.

Xevikan's melancholy was interrupted when a blinding light suddenly flashed to his left. As its brightness gradually faded, three figures started to materialize. From the looks of it, two are obviously males and the last one, female. Their forms, not yet even complete materializing when Xev realized who's one of them, his cerulean eyes suddenly turned flaming red.

"YOU…"

"Xev, no!'" Caleb's plea of warning came in too late. His older brother was already attacking the oldest Dracomai with much gusto.

"Nashira, get Takeshi. NOW!" The demigod Daeva barked with extreme urgency.

The Japanese white tengu's lavender eyes widened with terror at what she witnessed. Without uttering anything, she immediately flashed out to get her husband.

~~~

Itzal Tsuneo aka Takeshi and an unidentified human wearing a religious habit of a fully pledged Catholic nun was in a middle of discreet argument when a sudden flash came and his wife manifested in front of them. Her face mirrors utter terror and panic. He was about to ask her what's wrong when Nashira beat him to it.

"Tasukete, Neo. Daraxerxes wa bodai Falcyn na mono desu." (Help, Neo. Daraxerxes is attacking Falcyn.)

Janan-Azar's face blanched in horrified expression while Takeshi turned to granite as he comfortingly hugged his wife. "We need to go, Takeshi. We don't have a choice on this matter. If Dagon failed to get to Xevikan first, then something must have happened that detained him and Seth."

"But your condition prohibits you to do so, Goddess. You can't…"

"I know, but there's no other creature who can wake Dary up from his blind rage now. Ambrose is currently busy with Cyprian, Cherise is still locked in stasis and the light primals tied with their own battles against their dark sibs," the second direct descendant of the light primals gently chided.

~~~

Ominous-looking clouds began appearing that covered the shining rays of the sun. It was followed by successive loud cackling of thunder that was accompanied by fully charged lightning. The earth shook from below and all plant forms began growing to massive sizes branching out with its vines crawling everywhere. It lashed out anywhere and at everything destroying anything on its path. The lighting also created a havoc of tornados from the ocean nearby and charged the plants with electricity. The requiem for Armageddon is about to begin.

"Shit!" Caleb let out expletives in demonkyn that will make his mother proud. He saw Falcyn transform to his full dragon glory. It's the only way he'll get out of the Blood King's death grip that could have killed him instantly if he was just an ordinary human. Both of them knew Xev is out of reach now. He's been eaten by millennia of bottled up rage. Gawds. If this does not stop soon, this place will be engulfed in fire too.

"Shadowwwww! Get. Your. Rank. Ass. Here. NOW." He bellowed.

"Geez Demon. What's your…" He halted the moment he saw what's happening. "Shit! Why did you let them meet without a thousand cavalry? You know those two don't get along since they first drew breaths."

"Shut your trap and help me STOP THEM."

"Lost your bonkers Daeva? The only creatures who can stop Daraxerxes are either the primals themselves orrrrr his dead wife. You remember what happened the last time we interfered? I still feel the ass-whopping in my butt as it if happened yesterday."

"You think I don't know? I can feel the limp from it too as if it occurred earlier. But do we have a choice? Just a few seconds of delay until Nashira brings her husband here with our brother's wife." The Daeve ranted while he deftly erected defensive barriers to encase the area of battle with shields to protect the outside. It won't take long though. He just hopes Nashira will return soon. 'Damn it Shadow, enough talking. Falcyn is about to hurl a ball of fire."

"What?" The prince of shadows erected a secondary barrier to support and fortify the ones Caleb erected.

"Just shut up already!"

"Fuck! Where's Dagon?"

"Don't ask questions I do not know the answers to. "

A millisecond before the ball of fire from Falcyn collided with Xevikan's tornadoes wrapped in humungous electrified thorny vines, all of them were transported to another dimension.

"You ok?" The Japanese chthonian asked uneasily as he gently held Janan-Azar to steady her when her stance suddenly staggered.

"No. This mortal body has limits. It can't sustain the primal power I possess. The more I use it, the more this body deteriorates. I can't do squat for now. I need to rest. Find Savitar. ASAP. I need him."

Takeshi turned to Nashira and the sarru-ninim wordlessly nodded then immediately flashed out to carry her new orders.

"Falcyn, do you hear me? Refrain from landing destructive blows to Dary. Call for your dracomai siblings. They can help you subjugate him without hurting him. I need to rest this mortal body a bit. I used my powers to create and transport you to a new dimension. Away from all living creatures that could be harmed," the mesopotamian goddess of order chided while she tried to get to Xevikan in a mental link. Unfortunately, she really is too weak for even that simple task.

"Won't be making promises here, Mistress. Your husband couldn't be reasoned at the moment. As you can see, I'm trying to survive here."

"Do the dragonbane then."

"Still busy," the primal war dragon retorted.

A still frantic Nashira with a pissed-off Savitar suddenly flashed in. It was followed by an anxious Sarraxyn with confused Urian then a worried Styxx and an apprehensive Bethany in tow.

"Takeshi, what is happening here?" The demon-chthonian growled but it immediately shifted to unavoidable dread the moment he saw who was battling whom. His lavender eyes grew saucers. "Fuck! Who let those two meet?"

"Kissare." The soft melodic lilt of a voice assailed Savitar's sensitive ears and he knew he wasn't mistaken as to who called him. His suspicion was confirmed when his sights landed and finally focused on the woman whom Takeshi is supporting to stand.

"Agna!" Savitar nimbly sprinted to where they stood and helped his fellow chthonian hold her.

"Time is of essence, Kri. We need to wake Daraxerxes up from his blind rage or all will be for naught."

"I understand, Agna. What would you have me do?"

Violet eyes met shining golden amber. They silently communicated and, in a few seconds, the demon chthonian barked orders that even Bethany complied.

"Sarraxyn and Urian assist Falcyn. As the dragonmark and a primal powerhouse, you can support and magnify his powers then match the sarru-dara's attacks. Damn it. Where's Max and Illy when we need them?"

"Um, busy with their wives? Urian interjected that earned him six pairs (Savitar, Takeshi, Falcyn, Shadow, Caleb and Nashira) of terrifying glowers.

"Hey, he asked, I answered." The Stygian heir raised his eyebrows mockingly.

"Uri, save your sardonic remarks for later. Focus here please." Sarraxyn admonished while she and Falcyn simultaneously fired hot and cold balls of fires to counter Xevikan's attacks that's aimed at them.

"Takeshi, help Caleb slow time and Beth, assist Shadow in securing the deflection of stray powers that may get out of this faux dimension," Savitar continued to bark orders.

"On it." They complied without complaint.

"Styxx', he motioned for his fellow chthonian. 'Shield Nashira and I while we work on nursing the mimoroux back to health."

The Atlantean war general wordlessly nodded, positioned himself to shield them and firmly stood his ground.

Savitar, immediately sat down and checked for Janan-Azar's barely-there pulse. "@#$%! The life force of her mortal body is dwindling fast. If we don't do something soon we will all perish together with the dimension she made."

"Tell me what to do Sav," Nashira assured. "I'm at your disposal."

"This is going to be hard. But you are Ama No Zaku and the current Sarru-Ninim. Yokais are your forte. I need you to restrain the demon part of me while I draw the kalosum energy hidden inside me. Can you do that?"

"Yes."

"Damn you for this Sav. If my wife dies I'll fucking hunt you down and kill you repeatedly." They heard Takeshi roar while he was holding the fort up with Caleb.

"It's ok Neo. I can do this. Trust me, Anata." A surge of youkai power emerged from Nick's chosen sarru-ninim and as the shimmer gradually faded, the queen and ancestress of tengus immerged in her full yokai glory.

Savitar cradled the now barely conscious Janan-Azar and tenderly held her. He just hopes Styxx covered them well and Xevikan doesn't see this or he'll be a cum stain on the floor in a heartbeat. Nashira in turn positioned herself on Savitar's back and hugged him tightly.

"Ready?" He anxiously asked.

"Ready." Nashira boldly replied.

Both closed their eyes. While Savitar released all restrictions of his demonic powers, Nashira, on the other hand held them at bay with all her might. It's the only way for the dormant sephiroth part of him to emerge. Janan-Azar repressed that part of him a long time ago in order to hide and protect him from the primal gods who's after his head. He owed his third life to the daughter of Cam and Rezar. The progenitor of the sepherri army. Just like him and Braith, Janan-Azar and Daraxerxes suffered the same fate as they did. It was heartbreaking to watch his mistress alone and imprisoned by her own makers and used as a breeding source for the sepherii army. Could have been fine if a sephiroth traitor hadn't ratted her and Daraxerxes' marriage out that caused them their daughter. A daughter thought long lost that even the mesopotamian god of chaos is oblivious about. A daughter who have the ability to end the war that the primal gods started a long time ago. A living, breathing daughter who's in very danger of ending up in the wrong hands if they don't act fast enough to save and protect.

"Savitar…" Nashira agonizingly murmured. "I'm nearing my limit. Please… hurry."

The sarru-ninims's urgent plea woke him from his reverie and hurriedly called forth his slumbering sephiroth self. As soon as it manifested, he in turn, called forth the kalosum power that runs through his veins, kissed Janan-Azar and released the life force that sustains the light primal gods like her. He originally came from her. So it's only right that he gives that part of him that's rightfully hers. This should be enough to temporarily sustain the mortal body she's currently using. Until they can retrieve Myone, Janan-Azar's real physical body, from Laguerre's hands, this has to make do.

"You can let go now, Kri." There goes that familiar melodic voice in his head again. This time he detected a hint of amusement in it. He only realized what amused her mistress when he opened his eyes that met another pair that looked back at him. At first he felt disoriented. When his gaze looked down, he immediately knew why. They're still in liplock. He blushed profusely and immediately disengaged. He prayed to the Gods no one saw or he'll die of humiliation.

"Sorry, Agna." He barely uttered.

"There's nothing to apologize. It is I that should thank you," she warmly smiled now looking healthy. "Nashira, you can now release Savitar. Its finally safe."

The lavender-eyed tengu princess unceremoniously sat down and drew successive hard breaths. She felt deeply relieved that she survived Savitar's demonic self. She never encountered a hybrid youkai of his caliber in her long years of existence. He's one of a kind. Good thing she doesn't need to tangle with him. He might be an opponent worthy to fight but not worth loosing friendship with. Such melancholic musings got disrupted when she heard Falcyn cursed colorfully.

"Argggghhhhh! Why won't you go tire and sleep already!!!!!" He attempted to lash Xevikan using his barbed tail but it was only met and deflected by thorny vines as thick as jack's giant beanstalks.

"That hurts you @#$%!" It was the Shadow's turn to shout tirades as countless loose humungous boulder of solid earth flew towards his direction and hit him.

Moments later they heard him screech an earsplitting roar. It happened so fast they didn't see it coming.

"Shit! Dary's bloody scythe is out. This is not looking good."

Caleb's dire statement made Bethany's already frightened expression worse. "Please tell me this is not happening. He can't be opening portals now."

"@#$%! Tell me again why Verlyn lifted his part of the hubris?"

"He what?" It was Falcyn and Sarraxyn's turn to be dumbfounded at Takeshi's exasperated question addressed meant to himself.

Caleb managed to air a bitter laugh despite his now nearing limit to hold the barriers up. "Yes, my merry band, SD lifted his part of the curse. That's fatherly love to you. Be grateful though he doesn't have wings. He cannot fully morph to his demon incarnation yet. That's only Verlyn 5.0 on a rampage you're witnessing folks. With a little dose of Shyamala in it."

"He's quite a handful, huh? Talk about source power in its first order. Please gawds, let this be my last encounter with any rampaging primal relative. Looks like Seth is better suited here than I do."

"Scared of a primordial chaos diety, love? Be glad his godhood powers are not fully restored yet. This is just a little taste of what the god Daraxerxes is capable of doing," Sarraxyn retorted at Urian's childish complaints.

Shadow is now down on one knee. "I can't hold the shadows any longer. We need more back-up."

Xevikan raised the Scythe made out of his blood above his head. Lightning danced and cackled back and forth from him to his personal weapon. He's eyes shining vibrant red while he mumbles mantra of primal language.

"No!!!!" All of them bellowed simultaneously.

A fraction of a second later, if no pack of charonte demons descended on every part of the Sarru-darra's body like piranhas, latched into it and held him immobile, the door to prison realms he guarded should have opened. Savitar followed suit. The moment he held Xevikan in a tight body lock, the charonte demons vanished and returned back to his body while Nashira wrapped herself to the arm that held the scythe immobile. She too murmured binding spells in an attempt to paralyze the said arm holding the weapon or at least try to contradict the Sarru-Darra's intent of unleashing his armies.

"Now, Styxx! Aim for his hand and make him release the scythe." Savitar hollered. He just hoped Styxx chthonian powers don't backfire on him since this particular deity is immune to chthonian hocus-pocus. Gah! Why does it always have an exception to every rule in creation? Damn the source of its paranoid desire for checks and balances. They're not the ones getting them asses fried when complications and problems arise. Screw them.

Styxx raised his bow, aimed and let a single arrow, embossed of chthonian and mixed with primal powers he got from Beth, to fly to its target. As it perfectly hit its intended aim, it reacted as if it contradicted to the Sarru-Dara's that is already in motion and caused the latter's hand to burn. The moment it collided with his hand, the blood king roared in agonizing pain and released the said weapon/key from his tight grip. The moment he released his hold of the said weapon, it automatically disintegrated.

Judging from his current predicament, Xevikan knew his enemies already had him cornered. His whole body is paralyzed. His lips are forcefully sealed that he can't even utter a single word much less an entire sentence. Even his thoughts are blocked from thinking anything that could get him out of his present situation. He failed. Again. His body rocked in excruciating agony at the realization of another failure.

"Just kill me now. End my suffering." He murmured in primal language, utter defeat obvious in his low guttural voice. Anyone who could hear it will feel the resignation. "Please."

"Dauhrxeez."

There's that familiar voice again resounding in his head. It's been a while since he heard someone call him by that name. No one calls him by that name except for two. The Malachai bloodline who enslaved him, and the owner of his heart. It couldn't be the Malachai for it has a feminine inflection.

"Dauhrxeez."

The melodic cadence of its tenor sounds music to his ears. He could listen to this forever. This must be it. The death he's longing for too long is about to come. Hearing Janan-Azar's voice in his mind must be the sign of his impending demise. At least he'd die happy for he was able to listen to it again in his imagination.

"Dary, enough. Expend more destructive primal energy and the entire world including all dimensions will wither away. So please, stop. I'm here, Beloved. I'm real. There's no need for more bloodshed."

The Sarru-dara heard that gentle admonishment this time with stern rebuttal. He heard it earlier, but was just a mere whisper so he told himself his mind must be playing tricks on him. But now, the volume is louder and clearer with more urgency it cannot be an illusion.

"Open your eyes and see for yourself, Love. I'm here." A hand gently nudged the Sarru-Dara's right cheek so that he'll feel her touch is real.

"No. You're just an illusion that plays mind tricks. You're not real."

"My precious Dary. Ever obstinate." Her voice is now tinged with amusement.

"Come on Love. Take a peek. I know you're dying to prove yourself wrong that this is really happening." This time he felt the softest touch of a pair of lips on his right cheek. Then his sense of smell was bombarded by lavender mixed with citrus. The smell he intimately knew and finally recognized.

The Blood King involuntary pouted. How could his own illusion feel so real? Now the mind tricks are playing on his senses and emotions too. Wait. Did he just hear a chorus of chuckles and grunts in the background? That finally caught his attention and made him open his eyes. Cerulean orbs met golden amber. Golden amber eyes conveying a playfully amused mirth addressed to him.

"Hi!" She cheerfully greeted. "Welcome back to civilization."