Memories: Is it This The Last Time I See Her

"Looks like I took a little too much of my sweet time coming home." Zarten exclaimed, standing at the entrance leading to his castle. Lord Heli stood right by his side.

"I thought this was what you wanted. Isn't that why you let the horseman leave Astron last time?" Heli commented, his words filled with anticipation.

"Don't bother, I won't be asking you to deal with this. I guess a month was just wishful thinking on my part." he walked forward with a serious look. Heli followed behind him.

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Ryuga found Ash lying on the ground unconscious. He shook him and and sat him up while calling out to him. "Ash..! Ash..! Are you okay. Ash! Wake up. Where is Allura Ash?"

Ash opened his eyes. His vision was still blurred. "The....horseman. Go find….. the horseman." He forced the words out and pointed in the direction the horseman took. Blood filled up in his mouth as his hand lost strength and fell down. He lost consciousness yet again.

Irla noticed Allura 's energy faintly leaving in that direction. "< Kreashen>" her clothes changed in an instant and she casted <Flight>, flying into the sky above the castle. The same height of the barrier. She built up her ohra and glowed. The ohra built up, generated shockwaves but wass absorbed back by her.

"Activate, Axis-Star <Space Reign>" Irla's ohra exploded out of her in a scattered way. Her Axis Star ability, Space Reign was generating a barrier. She was replacing the old shattered barrier with her own power and sealing the imperial grounds in a dome that can separate space itself.

Ryuga realised what she was doing and layed Ash down without a word. He looked around and noticed that everyone was focused on Irla. He casted <Flight> and pursued the horseman. Ezekiel came after him but was not able to catch up to him in speed. just as he drew a magic circle to summon his blade, Ryuga became even faster and disappeared from his sight. He came to a halt and looked around, but he couldn't tell which direction he took. "Damn it." He cursed in frustration.

…

Ryuga intentionally took the wrong path because he knew someone would follow him and try to stop him. He used an ability to switch space itself from his blade and it took him onto the horseman's trail. Since he knew the layout of the castle, it was easy to mark the way to the other gate of the imperial grounds.

Irla 's barrier was quickly extending across the sky. It had covered most of it and the dome was almost done.

The horseman's black horse galloped through the open land and headed to the gate out of the imperial grounds, moving through the night like a shadow chasing light.

Ryuga 's eyes came into the horseman 's view from a distance way back from behind. His gritted his teeth and face twisted with anger. He felt his blood boil from the rage that wanted to burst out of him.

"I should've done this the last time. Transcend <Resemblance >" bright white light illuminated the dark night and converged infront of Ryuga. He grabbed it and swung to the side. His blade, the resemblance appeared.

He spun around and made multiple fake copies of the resemblance. "Haaaaa…!!" He fired them to the horseman with a huge roar.

The blades stabbed into the back of the horse and spherical orbs appeared behind their hilts. A powerful force pulled Ryuga towards the horseman with even more speed that he felt as if the air pressure was cutting into him.

The horseman approached the gate. He was halfway out when Irla 's barrier cut his horse's back. He fell and rolled over a few times before he got up. Allura fell off his shoulder, rolled over once and hit a stone. Blood dripped down, paintong her beautiful silver hair in red.

"No no no noooo!" Ryuga came crushing down but was able to lighten the fall by rolling over and jumping on the horse of the back and landing back. He held his sword filled the resemblance with ohra and it responded with a huge radiat light. "Infinite cu—" something hit him hard on the back of his head.

His sight became unfocused as he became light headed. His grip on his blade loosened, but it it fell out of his hands, he stilled his resolve and tightened it. He tried to swing it down but a huge figure came infront of him, blocking him. Another huge blow was delivered on him and he fell to his knees. Before he lost consciousness, he noticed the horseman walking to Allura and picking he up and carrying her on his shoulder. "Allura…" He called out his sister's name under his breath before slumped to the ground powerless.

"Are you sure you want to let Zephra have the girl Zarten. You know the boy was clearly trying to keep her out of Zephra's hands." Lord Heli was standing by Ryuga who layed on the ground unconscious.

"I wouldn't let such a dangerous thing happen." Zarten simply nonchalantly. He stretched his hand out aiming at the horseman who stood on the other side of the barrier. "Be gone now." He closed his hand as if gripping.

The horseman stumbled backwards and dropped Allura. He supported himself with half of the corpse of his horse. He raised his gaze to Zarten. "Damn it. This is not gonna happeeen!!" He shouted in utter fear evident in his voice.

Blood spilled to the ground through his armour. He coughed up in his helmet and blood dripped from the holes in it.

"You could just kill him instantly. But you chose to kill him slowly. You're truly cruel you know." Heli commented without doing a thing.

"Those who run to gain eternal life when they meet death are truly disgusting. I'm just slowly taking away his power and the eternal life he so wished for. The suffering would be unbearable for a living person." Zarten walked closer to the barrier.

The horseman writhing in pain, reached for Allura and pierced himself in the heart with his own hand. Darkness spilled out of him in a huge swirling torrent. The darkness was unable to reach inside the barrier. Not even a crack was made by it.

A huge hand came out and grabbed him. He was sucked into the portal of swirling darkness along with Allura who was in his grip.

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[The Netherworld]

"You did well. Even though you had to keep me waiting for over a two weeks. I will give you a reward. You will fight one more battle." Zephra 's voice echoed in the silent room. He footsteps were the only sound that followed.

The horseman lied on the floor with his body falling to pieces. He had lost his legs and one of his arms. He shook like a person in pain.

Zephra 's red eyes looked down at the horseman as if piercing through him. She stabbed his chest and pulled out his heart which was enshrouded in black magic and smiled looking at it.

"Shelia take this and build up his body again. I don't see how foolish he had to be to go up against Zarten." She gave the heart to Shelia, who left with it on a platter.

…

In the room where the horsemen were awakened. Allura is floating, tied up with black chains. There are alters with spheres on each corner of the room.

Zephra walked in with a devilish grin on her face and her gaze fell on Allura who was regaining consciousness.

"I've been waiting, shall we begin?"

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