We arrived at a wetland and looked around. I noticed there was no pyramid around and thought we might've taken a wrong turn. I was about to turn back until Misao grabbed my arm. I looked at her.
"Don't move.." Misao said then noticed eyes peering from the lake in front of us. "We are in the right location...These Crocodilians...They are the Uprising Guards for Sobek..any sudden movements and they will attack without a second thought."
"You three...state your names and your business here!" A Crocodilian called out to us.
"My name is Olympia, this is Misao, and she is Hisumi. We are the Infinity Council and we have come to quell the anger of your Goddess, Sobek!" Olympia spoke.
"Infinity Council..? Ha...those guys died out a few hundred years ago. There's no way you three are the Infinity Council. Go ahead and turn around if you don't want any problems." The Crocodilian said.
"We can prove it to you that we are the Infinity Council and not some impersonators!" I said. "Come face us in battle! Three on three!"
The Crocodilians looked at each other then three of them stood up with their weapons in hand. The one in the front had multiple battle scars on his body and he seemed to be the most experienced in battle. He reverted to his human form and looked at us. He had short blue hair, black scleras, and green reptilian eyes. He wore an Egyptian Deity outfit and carried a blue bladed sword with a golden hilt that had a blue orb on the hilt.
"A Ruler's Gem?" I asked.
"Nope...This isn't a Ruler's Gem, but this orb has the same properties of the Ruler of the Seas. We call this a Pseudo Orb or a Pseudo Ruler's Gem. We shall truly see if you are the Infinity Council! You can call me Krok as that is my name and the last name you'll ever hear!" Krok dashed toward me and his eyes shined.
I unsheathed my katanas then blocked his attack and grunted as I slid backwards. Krok rushed towards me and I transformed into my Ruler Form then dashed towards him. We clashed and entered a blade lock.
"Come on Crocodile Lord Krok! Make Miss Sobek proud!" A Crocodilian cheered for Krok.
I pushed Krok back then used my Flash Step technique to move around him quickly. I went for multiple attacks as I moved around. I noticed I wasn't doing any damage on him then appeared in front of him. He smirked as he watched me dash towards him. I bellowed and went for an attack but he parried my attack then punched my stomach. I groaned loudly then he kicked me away, causing me to roll backwards.
"Hisumi!" Misao called out then kicked her opponent away then rushed towards Krok. She slashed through him then a barrage of slashes struck his body, but he took no damage. She stood up straight and looked back at Krok.
"Scales plus his Durability is nullifying all forms of damage. We've got to break through his defenses!" Olympia said then dodged an attack then blew her opponent away with a powerful arrow.
I slowly stood up and looked at Krok and my Raijin Eyes appeared then I opened multiple voids behind me. "Here's what I think about your durability!" I bellowed and sent a bullet hell of lightning bolts at Krok.
Krok grunted as he noticed the bolts then used the mud to form a barrier around his body. Once the barrage ended, he lowered the barrier then looked at me. "The Overlord of Thunder's power...now I understand why you're here and you should be eliminated immediately!"
I glared at Krok then dashed towards him as he dashed towards me.
"W-Wait hold on! She's not an Overlord!" Misao called out.
Krok and I clashed then a repulsive force of energy blew around us. He used his tail to attack, but I summoned a Raijin Shield to block the attack then roared, punching his stomach. He groaned as I broke through his defenses. I slid backwards then a barrage of hidden slashes struck his body then he was sent flying. I teleported above him and kicked him down then teleported under him then roared and an explosion of lightning energy hit him. He yelled and was blown away. He grunted as he rolled on his side then slowly stood up.
"You're not gonna stop me from saving your asses!" I bellowed and my aura surged powerfully.
"Her ambition...her will is making her stronger.." Olympia said in shock as she felt my powerful aura.
"Hisumi...this energy is completely different from the Hisumi I battled a while ago.." Misao said.
"You think just by powering up, you'll have enough power to take me down?! For Sobek I will defeat you!" Krok bellowed and dashed toward me.
I glared at Krok then roared loudly, releasing energy waves that immobilized Krok. He looked surprised and looked at me. He grunted and bellowed, pushing past the paralysis. Krok bellowed then rushed towards me then slashed down at me.
"I got you now!" Krok laughed.
"Hisumi!" Misao called out.
I roared and awakened my Ryu Ruler Form then Krok's sword broke upon contact with my body. He looked surprised then jumped backwards. My dragon aura appeared around my body then I looked serious at Krok.
"Olympia..." Misao said.
"I feel it too.." Olympia said. "Her power level is constantly raising just like Nagini's when she's in her Ruler Form. This is the Will Nagini spoke of...the Will of Infinity."
I balled my fists then noticed Fallen being summoned around us. We looked around and I glared.
"The hell...the Fallen are here?" Krok asked surprised.
"Lord Krok!" A female Crocodilian screamed for help as a Fallen latched onto her and began corrupting her.
Krok looked back and noticed his people being corrupted by the Fallen. "What the hell..? These Fallen...they....they are more powerful than I remember..."
I looked at the Fallen and clenched my katanas tightly then glared. I sensed familiar energy and looked up. "He's back..."
Olympia and Misao looked at me then looked in the sky then their eyes widened.
"Qiao...Zhi...?" Misao said in shock.
Qiao Zhi smirked as he tossed a Gem up and down. "Hello...Infinity Council..."
"He has a Ruler's Gem!" Olympia called out.
"Siroz has been keeping track of your progress and she's quite not happy with the progress you're making with yourselves, especially you Hisumi. But...all that will come to an end. Once I become the Ruler of Hell...I will have enough power to even take down someone as invincible as Dr. Noxius!" Qiao Zhi laughed then summoned an army of Risen. "This is truly the start of a Fallen World! A Fallen Universe! Say goodbye to your REA-"
Qiao Zhi looked surprised when I appeared behind him and took the Gem of Hell out of his hand then kicked him to the ground. I looked down at Qiao Zhi.
"I won't allow you to become the Ruler of Hell and I won't allow you to destroy my world!" I roared and my aura surged powerfully.
Qiao Zhi stood up and chuckled darkly. White horns protruded from the side of his head and his golden eyes shined brightly. His left arm slowly became a white dragon arm and his right arm slowly turned into a black demon arm. He transformed into his Risen Form then looked up at me.
"You think you can defeat me..? I am the descendant of Zhong Li, killer of the legendary Long Zhihou...if you believe you can defeat me...think again, Ruler." Qiao Zhi chuckled then summoned his halberd.
He flew up to me and slashed at me. I blocked his attack and grunted as I was being pushed back by his strength. He bellowed and pushed me away then flew towards me and punched my stomach. I groaned as he punched my stomach with great force. He quickly made his way behind me then slashed down with his halberd and sent me crashing to the ground.
"Hisumi!" Olympia yelled as she noticed me. She grunted as she fought off the Risen and the Fallen.
"We have to help her..! There's no way she can fight Qiao Zhi alone, not in his current state where he's at full power!" Krok yelled out as he fought off the Fallen and the Risen as well. He grunted as he noticed Sobek's pyramid rising and felt a sudden relief as Sobek awakened from her slumber.
"Sobek is awakening to help us!" Misao said with hope.
A woman emerged from the pyramid and caused a massive tidal wave to wash away and drown the Fallen and the Risen. I looked down and noticed the woman. She had long wavy green hair, amber colored eyes, and a scar along the middle of her face. She wore a green and gold Egyptian Deity outfit and carried a battle axe in her hand. She landed on top of the water and her crocodile tail swayed from side to side.
"Well well...if it isn't the Uprising Goddess, Sobek. Unfortunately for you, you're too late! Your grand warriors have all either been corrupted or killed by my army and all that remains is a King with no people to rule." Qiao Zhi smirked.
"Qiao Zhi...The Egyptian Deities of the past respected you. The Shinto and the Greeks as well as the Ancient Deities of China helped you become who you are now...why have you betrayed our trust?" Sobek asked and looked at Qiao Zhi.
I watched Qiao Zhi float down on land then he looked at Sobek. I floated down beside Olympia and Misao then glared at Qiao Zhi.
"I doubt me explaining my motives...me sharing the knowledge of my goals would change anything...but I will entertain you while you still have time to live your precious lives. The reason I'm doing this is to eliminate every Deity...every Ruler...Every Gem and Orb to recreate a balanced world. That is the original reason I fought. When Fallan became a Ruler...Greed took over her morals. Instead of blessing the people who worshipped her, she wanted more power. With the Key of Origin...she obtained it. This only caused more Rulers to be born...and once those Rulers tried to stop her...a war broke out, killing my people...my mother and father...my brother and sister." Qiao Zhi started.
I looked at him and slightly lowered my weapon.
"Because of Fallan's ungodly abilities, more Rulers rose up and tried to stop her, but it was futile until the Rulers of Life, Virtue, and Humanity took her down at the cost of their own life. You'd think that would be the end of the cycle, but it wasn't...Fallan came back with a vengeance. A vengeance to destroy everything. Her second coming was when I rose up and became a Guardian by stopping her. I fought to end this cycle and I believed by stopping an old friend, it would end it but she just kept coming back. Century after Century I watched my people, my friends and beloved die...I had enough of watching them die in front of my eyes...I joined Fallan to kill the heroes. As long as the Heroes exist...villains will have a motive to destroy more. More people that I care about will die. So to end the cycle...I will end the ones that started. I fight to create a change...to finally create peace and justice." Qiao Zhi said.
"Peace...and Justice..?! Give me a fucking break! You betrayed the Infinity Council. Betrayed your Guardianship...Killed millions! Killed Mona! Hurt my friends and allies, and now you're helping a crazy bitch destroy the Universe and you want to talk about peace and justice?! Cut the shit!" I yelled.
Qiao Zhi looked at me and a soft wind blew. He placed the bottom of his lance on the ground then closed his eyes. "Hisumi...when I look at you, I only see a person who's faced hardships only and yet...you still decide to be a hero. Let me ask you this...Morata and Kioshi...they had families as well and you killed them without a second thought. Do you believe it was fair of you to kill them and not show compassion? How about the Ex-Daitengu you and Tengu killed. Orion correct? He also had a family...do you think it was fair to kill him? There was no peace in that...no balance. No. All you have done is continue the cycle. You only have continued something...that could've been done a long time ago."
I looked at Qiao Zhi then averted eye contact.
"You and I are one of the same. We both faced nothing but hardship from birth until now. We both have nothing else to lose other than what we have in possession. As they say, 'Don't fear a man with everything to gain, but fear a man with nothing else to lose'. I see that in you. You do not truly care for this world. The world that has put your through nothing but trial. A world that has put you through nothing but pain. I know of your loved ones...Saito, Yae, Orika, Nagini, Yusa, the Valkyrias...the Infinity Council...you wish to protect them but at the cost of other's expense. To protect, you must also sacrifice something whether it be your own life...or another's. Now do you understand why I fight against you all..? To create peace and balance means you fight without discrimination. Balance doesn't come from the end of one side, but the end of all. Once I'm done with you...I will be killing the Overlords...then the Sovereigns and end this cycle that I've endured for years on end. With that said, if you disagree with anything I've said...face me now in battle and show me your side of the story." Qiao Zhi said then pointed his halberd at me.
A portal opened and a yell was heard. Qiao Zhi grunted and dodged an attack. I noticed the woman and my eyes widened.
"Orika..?" I said.
"I disagree with everything you've said!" Orika yelled. "You say...getting rid of us will end the cycle but you're wrong! You're the problem now! You've become something you sought to destroy and...now you've become the Assailant. As a Ruler...I can't allow you to go any...further!"
Orika yelled and transformed into her Ruler Form. She yelled and dashed towards Qiao Zhi then summoned her ice sword then slashed at Qiao Zhi. He dodged her attack then slashed at her, hitting her. Orika groaned and stumbled backwards.
"The Ruler of Frost...Your crimes haven't gone unnoticed. Freezing an entire nation to death because of a disagreement. And yet here you are...blinded by your selfish desire. Have you not listened to a thing I've said...kill me if you want. Call me the Assailant, but in the end...you know I'm right." Qiao Zhi said.
Orika grunted and held her stomach which had a deep wound on it from Qiao Zhi's attack. "You're...wrong...we haven't done anything. I too...have lost people who were precious to me...lost things I can never obtain again...but that doesn't mean I will turn to the side of evil! You doing this only continues this cycle. Open your eyes...there is no such thing as peace and justice as long as death and war exists. As long...as the Overlords exist...for there to be peace and justice...you must disappear!" Orika said then looked at Qiao Zhi and readied her weapon. She ran to Qiao Zhi and went for an attack.
Qiao Zhi parried her attack then stabbed her with the blade of his halberd. Orika grunted and lowered her arms. My eyes widened and I felt my heart thump hard.
"To admit I am wrong would mean denying everything that I've faced up until this point. I've lost countless...sacrificed everything for the sake of this pathetic cold world. This cold Universe in which we truly do not know the true extent of. Sacrificed my sanity to stop a fate...that is meant to be." Qiao Zhi said then took his halberd out of Orika's chest then kicked her away. "I refuse to accept your reality."
I ran to Orika and held her in my arms. "Orika..!"
Orika looked at me and smiled then touched my cheek. She slowly reverted to her normal form then looked at the sky. "I know he's wrong...You knew nothing about us Valkyrias and still decided to fight with us. You were a Judgement member and instead of using that to kill us, you fought with us. Despite what you've lost...even after you tried to kill us because you're tired of being led out the Darkness just to go back in...despite everything...you fight...with us...because you know deep down...within your soul...you are the peacemaker...you're the one who will balance the light and the dark as you are Ruler and Overlord.."
"Orika...please shut up and save your energy..!" I said and tears formed in my eyes.
"Hisumi..." Orika smiled and looked at me. "I love you..."
I looked at her and watched her close her eyes. My tears fell on her face and my body shook. "Orika...don't go...please..."
Everyone looked at us in shock then felt my draconic aura growing more powerful. Qiao Zhi looked at me then his eyes slightly widened. I screamed in sorrow and my aura exploded and surged wildly. Qiao Zhi felt my power raising to even higher heights and took a step back.
"What is this power..?" He asked.
I growled then my eyes shined white as I began to morph into a dragon. I roared as I transformed into a dragon. My dragon body was black with white armored scales on my head, arms, legs, back, and tail. My Core of Drakes shined on my chest area then I let out a powerful roar as my transformation was completed.
"Nya! Do you feel that?!" Pryniau asked in shock.
Nagini stayed silent as she felt my energy. She looked back and felt the others were in danger if they stayed in the area for much longer. She grabbed Pryniau's tail then opened a portal then went inside. Pryniau hissed and mewled in pain.
Liao Ru stopped walking as she felt my destructive power.
"You felt it too..?" Raiden said then stopped walking.
"Yeah...we should turn back and save the others." Liao Ru said then turned around and ran off.
Raiden nodded and followed Liao Ru.
"M-Mama..." Mona said terrified.
"Yeah I felt that power too...Hisumi has gone out of control. We need to hurry back over to the others to help them quell her anger." Ataraxia said then held Mona then her angel wings emerged from her back and she flew off.
I stood over Orika's body and growled at everyone. Everyone was an enemy to me. My mind was Feral. I could no longer control myself. I roared and black lightning surrounded my body then I spread my wings, creating an electromagnetic ball above me.
"Everyone! Avoid that attack! If that ball of black lightning hits you, you're dead automatically!" Olympia warned.
I roared and sent it crashing to the ground. Everyone dodged the attack and a massive explosion happened. Orika's body was blown away from the high winds then Nagini caught her.
Nagini looked at Orika and heard a faint heartbeat. "She's holding on...Pryniau...make yourself useful and take her back to Ra-to."
Pryniau looked at Orika then nodded and took her body then rushed off to Ra-to's Pyramid.
"I'll kill...you all!" I roared and summoned Fallen to aid me in battle.
"Ah shit..! I forgot Aermyth was a Fallen Dragon so not only does Hisumi have all of Aermyth's draconic abilities, but she's also a summoner for the Fallen!" Misao warned. "Misua! Come help us out will ya!"
Misua appeared and let out a battle cry then prepared herself for battle.
"Hmph...so much for trying to grow closer to her. Now she's our enemy." Olympia said then transformed into her Ruler Form.
The other Infinity Council members appeared on the scene then prepared themselves for battle against me. I looked around and roared loudly.
"You dare go against me?! You took someone I love, now I'll wipe this entire continent off the maps!" I roared then the Fallen rushed into battle against everyone.
Nagini summoned her Fell Beast and summoned her cross. "She has Action Empowerment like me...plus her draconic abilities boost her power to a much more higher degree. You all handle the Fallen! I'll defeat Hisumi!" Nagini said then fused with her Fell Beast to transform into her Lamia Form.
I flew into the sky and charged up a beam of black lightning. I groaned as I was hit with a beam on my head. I shook my head and looked down at Nagini.
"Noxius...You dare go against me?! How foolish!" I roared and began to charged a beam.
"My Lab Rat...you are one of us...I can't allow you to suffer much longer, but I also can't allow you to interfere with this battle..if you kill Sobek or any of the other Uprising Goddesses, we can't get their key so that's why you must be stopped now!" Nagini said then summoner her staff and pointed it at me then shot a beam of destructive energy at me.
I blasted my beam back at her and we entered a beam struggle. An explosion happened and Nagini grunted slightly.
"This Uncontrolled Power is starting to match mine...If I don't stop here soon, she might become too powerful to stop.." Nagini said.
I flapped my wings sent a large electromagnetic pulse that paralyzed everyone except Nagini, who was immune in her Lamia Form due to her skin.
"NNGH!!" Liao Ru grunted loudly as she couldn't move anymore.
"Such...power..." Ataraxia groaned and looked up at me.
"If this keeps up...we...might not even win.." Krok said and grunted.
"We have to protect...Sobek at all costs..!" Misao groaned and tried to break through the paralysis.
Nagini looked up and noticed storm clouds filling the sky. "She's actually planning to kill us...no...I won't allow it..! I won't allow you to kill us!"
I roared and black lightning crackled in the clouds. "Die!" I roared and sent a massive bolt of black lightning crashing down at them.
Nagini bellowed and raised her staff in the sky then created a barrier to surround everyone. The bolt of lightning hit the barrier and Nagini groaned loudly. The barrier began cracking and I roared making the lightning stronger. A floating sword struck my core and I roared in pain then began to lose my balance in the air. The lightning disappeared and Nagini rested.
Mona gripped her paint brush tightly and looked up at me. I looked at her then had a flashback to a conversation I had with Liao then growled lowly. I roared and flew away then the Fallen disappeared.
Nagini watched and slowly turned normal and landed on her floating platform then exhaled. Her Fell Beast disappeared and the barrier turned into green healing ooze.
Sobek looked at every then noticed Qiao Zhi was gone. "He's gone..! And the Gem of Hell is missing as well..! He must've slipped by in the mist of all the chaos."
"Don't worry about him. We'll get him...and this time we will make sure he never returns." Nagini said.
"What's gonna happen to Orika? Is she.." Liao started.
"She's fine. She still had a heartbeat and is now in Ra-to's care. Our main focus should be Hisumi now. Her Uncontrollabled Ryu Form is a problem. We should split up into two teams now. Team 1 will pursue Hisumi and quell her anger. Team 2 will go after the remaining Uprising Keys. Right now Pryniau is with Ra-to so that leaves us with Me, Olympia, Liao Ru, Misao, Raiden, Ataraxia, and Mona." Nagini said. "I'm gonna lead Team 1."
"I'll lead Team 2." Ataraxia said.
"I'm gonna join Nagini. We still have to work things out on top of our current situation." Olympia said.
"I'll join Nagini as well." Liao Ru said.
"Same." Misao nodded.
"I'll go with Ataraxia." Raiden said.
"I'll stick with Mama." Mona said then hurried over to Ataraxia.
"Alright so Team 1 has Me, Olympia, Liao Ru, and Misao. Team 2 has Ataraxia, Raiden, and Mona. Huh seems a bit disproportionately, but I'm sure you can make it work." Nagini said.
"Well make it work." Ataraxia smiled and nodded.
"Hold on." Sobek said then walked over to Ataraxia and handed her the Key of Sobek. "Good luck. Also you shouldn't worry about Siroz getting into the pyramid. She can't enter unless she possesses the Keys."
Ataraxia nodded then looked at they Key of Sobek. "Alright. Let's head out. Good luck Doctor."
Nagini nodded then floated off on her platform with her team following behind her.
I landed on the ground and panted then laid down. I heard footsteps on the sand then raised my head. I sensed the energy of a Guardian then stood up and noticed a woman walking up.
She had long black hair with yellow highlights. Her eyes were a cold blue color and she held a sleepy expression on her face much like Sumi. She wore a black and white dress with a piece in the chest area missing to where her cleavage was showing. She wore black spiked gauntlets on her arms. She had on dark colored stockings with fancy designs on them with black and blue heels on her feet. She had a single black wing on her right side that had some bright blue feathers.
"Easy girl.." The woman said as she held her hand out at me.
I growled softly and watched her walk closer to me then looked surprised when she placed her hand on my snout.
"The name's Artemis...Number XII of the Infinity Council. I'm a Songtress who wields a bow. I'm known as the Killer Melody and the Guardian of the Song. I heard your song of sorrow...and followed you here." Artemis said then noticed me calm down then smiled.
I looked at her then closed my eyes and laid down. She sat beside me and looked up at the sky.
"You know...you're extremely powerful. To push someone like Nagini back and make her struggle...it was pretty awesome." Artemis smiled then looked at me. She looked back at the sky. "Qiao Zhi is a real jackass for what he's done to us. Now he's gone and made you turn into this. Well make him pay...once and for all."
Artemis laid against me and I looked at her. I ignored her then laid my head down to rest. She closed her eyes and rested up as it seemed like the sun made her tired. Artemis seemed friendly, but I didn't completely trust her as I knew nothing about her...but I was too tired to fly away so I just let her rest against me.