“End of Red”

A blood curling shout was heard throughout the kingdom, Nico's eyes filling with a red energy as a storm began, heavy rain falling upon the area.

Nico seemed in pain and agony, blood beginning to pour out his mouth as he hit himself in the forehead, wanting it to stop desperately.

The townsfolk watched in fear, his suffering leaving a sick feeling in even the worst of people. Malik could be heard chuckling from afar as he approached.

"You thought that you could take MY power!? You're weak, you can't even put the ring on without feeling agony! I'll devour your spirit itself."

Malik points his hand forth, a black symbol forming on his palm as he charged up a dark energy.

"Say goodbye to your hero, everyone!"

The shot was fired towards Nico, a bright light seen out Nico's eyes, as for a moment pain left him, a feeling of tranquility forseen.

Nico's eyes then widened.

A thick white smoke could be seen, as the warmth of a person could be felt falling onto Nico's shoulder, this warmth slowly fading.

Nico's body shivered, slowly glancing to his shoulder, as a blue flame could be seen, as it then went out.

"I was always dead, Nico.."

A whisper could be heard in a sobbing tone, the crowd gone silent, as Nico's body shook more by the second.

"I'm a mere ghost.. but.. even a spirit has their passing time."

The pale skinned girl lapped on his shoulder began to fade into a white mist, Nico's head dropping down.

"My journey ended long ago.. but, yours just started. Please, win for me."

The girl, Lucy then faded away. Through the grey clouds a small gap of sunlight formed, which the mist rised to, didappearing into the light.

Nico's head twitched, slowly glancing up to Malik, who stared down heartlessly.

"Stupid brat got in the way.."

Malik chuckled, pointing his palm back at Nico as he quickly repeated his attack, though in a quick motion, his hand was sliced off.

"You view yourself as God, that the world revolved around you, right?"

Nico stepped forth, a burst of red energy sending Malik back a few feet, as Nico approached. Malik's eyes widened as a menacing presence could be felt.

"A ruler protects their people, but look around, you're doing a shit job!"

A red aura grew around Nico, as he activated his blade, demonic hands sprouting out of it. The hands seemed less hostile then last time, as if in fear of Nico as it was under his control.

Nico pointed the sword forth, commanding the hands to sprout out as their arms grew in length, wrapping around Malik's body tightly.

"Let me tell you something, Malik."

The arms tightened to a crushing point, Malik shouting in pain as the arms then faded into a black smoke. Malik was left disabled with every bone in his body crushed.

"This world you created stands on a glass bridge."

Malik struggled frantically, Nico's blade emitted mass amounts of energy as the ground cracked and shook, the wind blowing around as tornadoes formed in the distance.

Nico took a lunge forth, his sword's weight causing him to place the end of the sword to the ground, dragging it through the debris as a giant beam of crimson formed.

-WORLD EATER-

A loud humming sound could be heard as the beam created crevices through the surface, before being swung up towards Malik, disinitigrating him out of existence entirely, his atoms erased.

Nico raised the sword into the aif, the beam suddenly increasing into the width of the castle itself, shooting into the sky as it blew the clowds far away.

As the beam stopped Nico dropped the blade on the floor, breathing heavily as he fell on one knee, holding his shoulder, dislocated from the pressure.

After a long silence, cheering was heard from the crowd, Nico lookinf around as The Leader and Rowlocus ran to him, helping him stand.

"Nico, you did it..! But…"

Nico looked back at the sky. He could sense Lucy, Lucy's presence imbedding him, she was in a better place now, as he shook his head.

"She'll be happier up there.."

The Leader ruffled his hair, as Rowlocus hugged him, the crowd approaching as the cheering grew louder.

Nico smiled. In a way, he was succesful. A loss, though horrible, were sometimes a necessity. As the cheering came, it quickly ended as a crumbling sound could be heard.

The destruction Nico's beam had formed began shaking, before the two sides of the world began separating. The revine grew into multiple cracks through the ground, as the whole world was collapsing.

The cheers began to become panicking as people ran around screaming, Nico's eyes widening as the three looked around.

"Over here..!"

The two lizard-like guards called out to them, a portal opened as everyone ran for it, the guards beginning to open more portals.

The Leader pushed the two towards the portals, cracking his knuckles.

"You two go quickly. I'll help everyone else escape."

Nico nodded, holding Rowlocus as they ran through the portal, making their way back into the city, along of the many townsfolk, both humanoid and creatures.

It was luckily nighttime as nobody was around. The Leader stayed back in the other world, continuing to crack his knuckles before a yellow glow came from his finger.

"Vibrational stasis, begin!"

He placed his hands to the surface, as the shaking began to end, though he struggled to keep it that way. The remaining townsfolk managed to get out, The Leader being the last one left as he released the vibrations, quickly jumping through the destruction as he made his way out as well.

It was quite a ruckus back in the overworld, discussions being made as Nico looked around, The Leader regrouping with the two.

"What do we do now..?"

Nico asked the Leader, who took out an old flip phone, calling somebody.

"Hey, Royce. I need everyone you have available at hq to come to my location. We've returned, and bring trucks, there's a lot of people we need to contain."