The Evil Returns is the second part of the series The Rise of The Order Empire, a series created by the user BoredUser231. Two weeks have roughly passed since The Battle of Soulwrath Camp. The Soulwrath and Technion are at a strained alliance, due to the storm already taking over the north. With Project Hades destroyed, and only a few weeks left to escape the island, with both of their statues, will they get to Order in time?
Little Heads Up:[]
The Chapters get a little bigger after the Elementals are introduced. Also, Chapter 12's going to be incredibly long. Chapters 14 & 15 are going to be massive.
Prologue: On the Ocean[]
"Alright, so it's settled. Once we find Order, we need to get to the ruins of the Chaos Empire as quickly as possible. There might be something which is keeping Medusa's soul from moving on in there." Hatheon said to the newly formed Technion-Soulwrath alliance. "But where do we set up camp?" Taconia said, crouching down at the campfire. "I was thinking maybe somewhere near the Ice Hills? Therefore none of the natives can get us."
"That seems to work out." Alinion said. "Alright, to the oceans, everyone!" Everyone began going aboard destroyed parts of Hades, which had now been converted into a fleet of boats. "Are we sure that we sealed up all of the gaps on Hades?"
"Pretty sure we did." Taconia said, unsure of if they had patched up Hades' remnants fully.
Chapter I: Desert Showdown[]
"We've finally reached the desert. Again." Cedarion said to himself. Then, it hit him. "Wait, last time their statue was just that massive giant Hatheon killed. I wonder..." Cedarion summoned his two earth pillars once again, to see if the statue was just another Mega Giant. "Men, stay here while I confirm whether or not they got another one of those things to pose as a statue."
Cedarion flung himself towards the statue, with both Archidons and Speartons trying to strike them down before they could reach the statue. "Nobody let them reach the statue! They're going to repeat what they did to the Speartons!" One of the enemy Magikill managed to knock Cedarion off of the pillar, but this didn't stop one of the pillars from breaking the Giant's position. "I knew it!"
"It's that giant again!" One of Order's Swordwrath said. "Get them!" All of Order's forces charged at the thing, with many of them merely being whacked backwards by it either using it's club or using another Giant it had killed. "Circle it!" The Giant kept on having to swing it's club everywhere, but it had no effect.
Out of the blue, an enemy Magikill stunned some of the troops, allowing the Giant to kill some of Order's forces. "You guys focus on the Giant! Generals, help me out here!" Cedarion and the other 3 generals began attacking the enemy forces, in an attempt to prevent them from helping the Giant reach Order's statue. Eventually, they had taken out all of the miners they could, the enemy had no way to help counter-act the reborn Order Empire.
The Giant was knocked out, and was just about ready to bail. "You ain't going anywhere!" Cedarion ran towards the Giant, wielding Hatheon's old spear. The Giant grabbed Cedarion. "Puny Magikill. Your kind never learns."
"Neither do your kind!" Cedarion stabbed the spear directly into the Giant's head, bringing the beast down and ensuring Order was back. "Now what?" Cedarion said.
"Now, we reclaim the Chaos Empire." The Spearton general said.
Chapter II: Charybdis Rises[]
"Be still, my children." The ghost of Medusa said to the now corrupted natives of the newly named Shadow Island. "We will return to Inamorta eventually, but for now, we will let's say, introduce our motives to the locals. But for the time being, RISE, CHARYBDIS!" A massive tentacle erupted from the ocean floor, followed by a bellowing roar that could be heard all the way from No Man's Land. Charybdis had awoken from it's slumber. Medusa's ultimate weapon.
Cedarion, Hatheon, Alinion and Taconia all looked towards the direction of the roar. "Alinion, Taconia! Do you guys know what that was?" Hatheon asked, puzzled about what caused the roar. "No clue, but whatever it was, it's something big."
"General, do you know what that was?" Cedarion asked one of the other generals. "No sir." Cedarion had a puzzled look on his face, but later shrugged it off. "Make preparations on attacking the remnants of the Chaos Empire. It's time we reclaimed Inamorta and begin focusing on finding the people who were lost at sea." Cedarion said to the generals.
Charybdis looked at Medusa's ghost. "You have one last thing you must do, my child." Medusa said to Charybdis, telling them that they must transport the corrupted natives to Inamorta, and that if anything went wrong, they were to intervene. Charybdis grabbed the natives, and dove down into the ocean, heading straight for Inamorta.
"With Order gone, and Inamorta in shambles, who can stop me now?"
Chapter III: The Rise of Corruption[]
Charybdis arrived at Inamorta, dropping the corrupted natives, nicknamed The Infected, off the shore of what was once the Chaos Empire. "FIND THE ORDER EMPIRE." One Infected said to the others. The Infected snarled, and ran off in all different directions, in an attempt to find the Order's army before they could reach the Chaos Castle.
Medusa looked at the ground beneath them, and found their old headband. "The age of Chaos is over, the age of Corruption begins!" She shouted on the island. Meanwhile, the Infected were busy looking for the travelling Order army. "ANY SIGNS OF ORDER?" One Infected asked to the hive mind.
"NEGATIVE. KEEP SEARCHING."
The Infected had eventually come across No Man's Land, and set up a small nation there. They eventually managed to retrieve the technologies of the other nations Order had annexed. However, they had different names for each of the new technologies. There were the Archishadows, the Necrowrath, Corruptons and Infectikill.
Meanwhile back on the ocean, the Soulwrath-Technion Alliance were attempting to set up a tempoorary island on the ocean, in an attempt to reconstruct Hades. "Hades was designed to go on both land and sea. And as a bonus, most of the body parts aren't that heavily damaged." The Technion general said to the others. "We just need to fashion a new Magic Core. Are we clear?"
"Yes, sir."
Chapter IV: The Elementals[]
Meanwhile, on another island, the Elemental Empire had set up a fully self-sustaining society, and were currently attempting to revive Zealon, a Archidon who knew Hatheon, Taconia and Alinion well. As they had also recently washed ashore. "Alright! Roast Chicken and Sweet Potato Soup's on the table! For the third time this week..." An Air Elemental said, looking at the dish that they just made for the nation. "Aw, cheer up Cyclonio, at least we got away from that prison."
"Yeah, I know Flamaga." Cyclonio said, sipping a bit of their soup. After the Elementals had escaped from Order's prison, they ran off to one of the larger islands of Inamorta. They originally tried to settle in with the Technion and Soulwrath, but they had arrived at the worst time, as the Technion had just used up most of the island's resources to construct Hades, and the natives would have tried to attack them either way.
"Hey, has anyone checked on that beached stick recently?" One WaterElemental said, wondering whether or not the others had remembered to check Zealon's health. "No, someone go check on him!" Cyclonio said to the others. Meanwhile, Zealon had woken up, and was trying to figure out where on earth they were. "This doesn't seem like Inamorta to me. In fact, I don't even think I AM in Inamorta."
"There he is!"
"They're awake?"
"Oh boy."
"What the- The Elementals? How'd they end up here?" Zealon said to himself, both puzzled and cautious. Zealon reached for his bow, but it was nowhere to be found. "What the? They took my bow! If you come any closer, I'll have to use force!" Zealon said to the Elementals looking at him on top of the hill, trying their best to at least convince them not to roast him alive. "We aren't going to hurt you!" Cyclonio said to Zealon. "What is it with Order's troopers always being so cautious around us? So what if we can cook them alive at any given moment!" Cyclonio thought to himself, later telling Zealon to follow them into the Elemental's main village.
"So, after you all broke out, you built your own civilisation? I'm impressed. Considering the area's limited resources and whatnot." Zealon said to Cyclonio. "By the way, I'm Zealon. An Archidon of Order."
"Cyclonio. I'm currently trying to become our Empire's leader. Or as we call them here, their "V". I've got no clue why they're called that, but hey: You get what you're given, right?"
"Right." Zealon said, looking at the young Elementals playing cheerfully, and the locals waving at Cyclonio. "Huh, guess people really like you here, don't they?" Zealon said, before remembering that Hatheon, Taconia and Alinion were also lost in the storm. "Wait, have any other stickment washed ashore other than me Cyclonio?"
"Only a few corpses, but that's it. Why do you ask?" Cyclonio said, wondering why someone who had woken up only a few minutes ago would ask such a bizarre question. "I've got three- no, four other friends back at Inamorta. Only four of us were lost in a storm, however. I was one of the four." Zealon said to Cyclonio, before handing them a folded drawing of them, Hatheon, Taconia, Alinion and Cedarion all smiling behind the Order Castle, with the words "FIND THEM" scribbled on the bottom left corner.
"Huh, they're your friends. How did you all meet?" Cyclonio said, eager to hear the story of them all meeting. "Well, if you do want to hear it that badly, take a seat. This is going to take a while to explain." Cyclonio pulled a chair out from behind him, and prepared for the story.
"Alright, this all started way back when we had just conquered the Speartons. At the time, it was only me, Alinion, an incredibly smart Miner, and Taconia, who at the time was a Swordwrath. When we were surveying the new land. We met a young Spearton named Hatheon, and Taconia, being their "Happy-Go-Lucky" personality, wanted to make friends with them. If I were to say that they didn't bother them, I'd be lying. Hatheon eventually gave in, and reluctantly tagged along with us. We were a finally a group. After that, we were preparing to attack the Magikill. We were doing alright, until we noticed one younger Magikill who somehow figured out how to use Earth to help them, we did manage to contain them, but they weren't so eager to make nice with us. That mage was Cedarion. Funnily enough, Alinion pointed out how their name sounded like the wood Cedar. Eventually, they grew to become friends with us. And they've been my only friends ever since. But, I've been rambling for way too long. What's your story?" Zealon asked Cyclonio.
Chapter V: Hades Reborn[]
"Alright, so far we've managed to rebuild most of Hades, minus some sunken pieces here and there." Alinion said, looking at what was left of Hades. Minus some wooden parts filling in every now and then. "Well, at this point it isn't really a Hades now, isn't it?" Hatheon said to Alinion, with a sarcastic look on his face. Alinion later responded with: "No, but if you're going to be sarcastic about it, how about you keep the platform floating?"
"Aw, come on Alinion! Hatheon's just trying to cheer us up! Right?" Taconia said, later looking at Hatheon for an answer. Hatheon just shrugged. After the Battle of Soulwrath Camp, Hades was left broken, immobile, even partially decayed. The Technion-Soulwrath Alliance had tried their best to at least convert the remaining pieces of Hades into makeshift rafts, but some had contained too much heavy metal inside of them, and had sunk to the bottom of the sea. The remaining parts of Hades were eventually rebuilt, and was now nicknamed Poseidon, after the God of The Seas.
"Alright, we renamed the God of Death into the God of The Sea. Now what?" A Soulwrath soldier said to Alinion. "Now, we get off the platform. Everyone get on Poseidon! We're taking down the platform!" Alinion said, signalling for the Soulwrath and Technion underneath the platform to get on the platform. One Technion said in sign language "Won't that sink the platform?"
"Don't worry! It's ready!"
The Technion and Soulwrath keeping the platform afloat got on Poseidon, and Poseidon later dived into the water, preparing to travel to Inamorta. "Woo! Inamorta, here we come!"
"Taconia, just stop." Both Hatheon and Alinion said to Taconia. Hatheon later went to check the observation deck of Poseidon. "Huh, so this is what they saw when I rammed into the deck back when it was still Hades." Hatheon said, looking at the massive patch in one of the glass panels.
Poseidon was swimming by some sunken boats, some which the others had remembered what happened with them. "Huh, the first boat Order ever made. I can see why it sunk." Alinion said, looking at a torn apart ship. Around halfway into the voyage, a storm had hit Poseidon, capsizing it and drowning a few Technion and Soulwrath, and sending Taconia down to the ocean.
"Taconia!" Alinion said, trying to grab their hand, only for it to slip off.
"I'm going in after him!" Hatheon said, throwing their Soul Rippers to the ground and wearing a Technion-grade diving suit. "Are you nuts Hatheon?! You'll just end up in the ocean with them!" Alinion said, grabbing Hatheon's wrist. "We can't just let them die though, even if it seems like it's impossible, there's going to be a chance."
Meanwhile underwater, Taconia was still concious. They noticed Charybdis headed towards the Technion and Soulwrath's old island. Taconia let off a confused "Hmm?" before realising that they were beginning to drown. Due to their fear of going underwater, their frantic panicking only helped to worsen how much time was left. Until they had accidentally triggered something which sent them flying out of the water.
Taconia hit Poseidon hard, and confused both Alinion and Hatheon. "The heck?" Hatheon said, looking behind him. "What?" Alinion also said, looking at a seaweed and eel covered Taconia. "How on earth did they get out without any assistance?"
"Guys, put that aside, I saw something in those waters, something big. Heading towards the island." Taconia said, pulling off some eels and seaweed and throwing them into the ocean. "Huh, weird. Once we get back to Inamorta. We'll check in Order's library. If it hasn't been destroyed yet, that is." Alinion said, still remembering that the storm would have destroyed Order. "For now, we keep sailing." Hatheon said, putting his Soul Rippers back on.
"Do you guys think Cedarion and Zealon were also sucked into the storm?" Taconia asked, looking up at the stars. "I definitely saw Zealon, but you know how Ced is. They were the only one of us with some actual magic before we got on the islands. They probably tried to bring back Order." Alinion said. Hatheon didn't say anything, just an "I don't know." grunt. "Maybe they did? Maybe they didn't. What matters now is that we're back together."
"Right."
Three days and nights passed, and it looked like there was no sign of the horizon. "It's only been three days, where's Inamorta?" Hatheon said, trying to catch a fish for their lunch.
"Wait, what's that there?" Alinion said, pointing at what looked like a blurry Order statue.
"Oh my god, they're okay! We're here!" Taconia said, happy to see Inamorta again.
Chapter VI: Order's Rest[]
"Huh, what's that there?" Cedarion said, looking at Poseidon in the distance. "Get ready, this thing could be another giant."
"There's Cedarion!" Hatheon said, readying the cannon to launch him, Alinion and Taconia over to the Order camp. "Technion, fire on my command." Alinion said to some Technion Cannoneers. "Get ready," Alinion said, making sure they had the right angle.
"Aim, fire!" The three were launched towards Cedarion, Taconia was eager as usual to reunite with Cedarion, Hatheon was indifferent about it, but was glad to see them again either way. Alinion, on the other hand, was wondering how Cedarion was capable of single-handedly rebuilding Order to it's glory after Medusa's Ghost had passed through Southern Inamorta. "Oh, right. The storm's Medusa."
"Huh?" Taconia said, forgetting what the native said back on the island. "What do you mean the storm was Medusa- Oh, wait. Now I remember."
"Uh, guys? We got a pillar incoming-" Hatheon tried to warn before they hit the pillar head first.
"Oh god! Is he okay? You alright Hath?" Taconia said, looking at the pillar Hatheon hit face-first.
"I don't think he's gonna get out of that unscathed Tac." Alinion said to Taconia, later showing him a paper titled "The Anatomy of The Stickman, by me, Alinion.". "That pillar would have hit all of his ribs and his skull. There'd at LEAST be some injury-" Alinion said, before also being hit from their side by another pillar. They ended up falling off their pillar, it was at this point Cedarion realised that that was Alinion, Hatheon and Taconia he was hitting. "Oh great, now I'm gonna be in some trouble off of Hatheon." Cedarion stopped sending pillars, letting Taconia get to them.
"Huh, "By me, Alinion."? Isn't that a little... Honestly, I have no clue. It's just Alin Taconia, It's just Alin." Taconia thought to themself, wondering why Alinion would write that as the name. "Besides, how long have I been in the air for-"
WHACK!
Taconia hit the ground hard, and at Cedarion's feet. "Uhh... Hey, Taconia..? You alright?" Cedarion was trying his best to not sound confused, but it was clearly showing through. "Yeah, I'm fine Cedarion. We missed you!" Taconia said, before hugging Cedarion. "How does he just get back up from that so quickly?" Cedarion thought to himself. "Hey, uh, are the other two okay? I'm kind of concerned whether or not they had some bones broken."
"Uhh, yeah about that..."
"CEDARION! GET OVER HERE!" Hatheon angrily yelled, using his arms to drag himself towards Cedarion to try and slap them. "Uh oh." Cedarion said to himself, realising that his worst nightmare had become a reality: He had greatly injured both Alinion and Hatheon. "Should I... Run?" Cedarion said to Taconia in a concerned voice. "Not really in the case of Hath."
"What about Alinion?"
"Don't panic. He's not as short-tempered."
"Got it." After some time, Hatheon and Alinion eventually did make it to the camp where the Merics healed them accordingly. Cedarion was later slapped. "HAH! Told you I'd slap him when I got there!"
"You didn't say anything about that." Alinion said, sipping some tea. "Anyhow, it's good to see you again Cedarion. How have you been?"
"Pretty good. I got Order back on it's knees, invented a new weapon, and even became the general of the Magikill!" Cedarion said, showing off his Staffragments, two small staffs which acted like blades in melee combat. "Oh, so you made Soul Rippers?"
"What?" Hatheon and Taconia showed Cedarion their Soul Rippers. "They're like your weapons, only these are more melee based than magic based."
"I see. Anybody want some roast beef?" Cedarion said before starting up a fire.
"You don't remember the fact I'm a vegetarian Ced?" Alinion said, raising an eyebrow. "I know it's been a month, but come on, really?"
"Cut him some slack, Alin. He was busy rebuilding Order." Hatheon said before eating a chunk of their pork ribs. "Sorry, Hath. But we've been friends for a year now. We should remember." Alinion said, trying to find a salad to eat. "Also, one of the lenses in my glasses are broken. Does ANYONE have a spare lens? At all?"
Chapter VII: Memories Pt. I[]
ABOUT A YEAR AGO...
"I still have no idea why I decided to tag along with you guys." Hatheon said, looking at Cedarion, only for them to turn their head away from them. "Aw, come on Hath, it'll be fun, I promise!" Taconia said to Hatheon, later elbowing their bicep. "Don't elbow me ever again." Hatheon said to Taconia, not approving of them elbowing them."Yeesh, is Hatheon ever in a good mood?" Zealon asked, not expecting a response.
"Honestly, I've got no clue." Alinion said, "Besides, I've got a thing I've got to attend to at 3." Alinion later said, pointing to the prototype watch in their pocket. "Wait, what's that made out of?" Zealon said, looking puzzled as to how a miner ended up fashioning something that advanced out of the current technologies available. "Oh, this? I fashioned it from some quartz, some makeshift gears and some other materials I can't remember."
"That seems... not all that possible, considering how basic the materials are..." Zealon said to himself, later looking away from Alinion, then attempting to change the subject. "Uhh, anyhow what is the thing you're going to?"
"It's a date. Not sure why you'd want to know however..." Alinion said to Zealon, confused as to why they had asked about it. "Oh um, not too sure. Just wondering is all. Who's the person?" Zealon said, trying his best not to be the awkward one of the group. "It's someone from the Magikill, only their caste is one lower than Cedarion's."
"Is it Fernia?" Cedarion said, later sending Taconia into awe, causing Zealon and Hatheon to just look confused at Taconia, and Alinion to say: "No, it's not whoever that is. It's someone called Cherry. Both of us had interests on how Inamorta was formed, where Stickmen originated, and what caused the Giants to get so... Giant. So it was a win-win!"
"So the "date" is just you guys studying stuff? Boooring."
"Boring indeed! You guys should really go enjoy yourselves! Go bowling! Or something like that..." Taconia said to Alinion, not knowing that they actually WERE going to go bowling after the five were finished hanging out. "Eh, alright. Anyhow, where the heck are we going?"
"To those ruins which we were never told to go to!" Taconia said, pointing to the ruins of the Chaos Castle. "But... The name, isn't going in there a little... stupid?" Zealon said, trying to include common sense and safety into the argument. "Alinion! You agree, right? Alinion?" Zealon looked for Alinion, but they were nowhere to be found.
"Huh, Taconia was actually right. This WAS a good idea!" Cherry said to Alinion, later going to sit down and have a drink.
"Great, JUST GREAT! The only ACTUAL person who had some brain cells here just left us! Now what?" The other three just looked at Zealon, Hatheon was just his usual, unimpressed self, Cedarion frankly, didn't care, but Taconia was nothing like himself. He grabbed Zealon by his quiver strap, and said in a very quiet angry voice: "Listen here, mate. If you're going to tell all of us off for trying to have some FUN, then maybe you should just go back and deal with having to fight some Giants, how about that?" Taconia said to Zealon, successfully intimidating them. "I may look friendly, but if you're going to call us "Stupid", over us wanting to do something we think will be fun? Get. The. F***. Out. Got it? I don't give a F*** if you call us "Stupid", "Annoying", "Over-Optimistic", or anything like that, but I just want to enjoy today, as after that we gotta go into No Man's Land! Now, get the f*** out, and don't come back, or just tag along with us, Got it? Just don't talk to me. You f****** coward." Taconia then threw Zealon to the ground, later saying "Now, are you coming with us? Or not?"
"I'll just go... Cry in the rubble, alone." Zealon said, brushing the grass and dust off of him, and heading towards a pile of rubble.
"Holy moley, Zealon just got torn apart by Taconia. He's never been that angry before." Hatheon whispered to Cedarion, surprised. Later looking at a crying Zealon in the corner. "I think he broke him."
"Whatever." Cedarion kept walking towards the ruined throne room, completely ignoring Zealon, who was in the corner, crying next to the larger pile of rubble in the room.
Chapter VIII: Order's Attack on The Juggerknights[]
"Hatheon?" Taconia asked, looking at Hatheon with a look which they almost never used.
"What's up Taconia? Something wrong?"
"Look, come over here. We need to talk. Alone." Taconia said, later going into one of the secluded alley ways of Order's main province. "Look, you know how you three know me as the happy one of the group?" Taconia said, looking down at a puddle on the ground. "Well, yeah, mostly. Unless you're angry at someone. Why?"
"Well, recently, I've been beginning to see things differently, and not for the better. I'm worried that if I am optimistic all the time, I might become... A liability to the team." Taconia said, later looking back at Hatheon. "What do you mean "Liability"? You're like, way better than I am with these Soul Ripper things! If anything, your optimism actually helps boost the morale of everyone around you!"
"Yeah... I know... But that isn't the point I wanted to make. The thing is, my optimism is getting the better of me. I fear if I do act optimistic at the wrong time, the cost will be my life. Or worse, you guys." Taconia said, now looking less and less than himself. "I know what you're feeling, Taconia. I try my very best to keep you guys around. It may not have seemed that way a year back, but people change. I learnt to have sympathy for my former enemies. Do you know what I mean?"
"That is true, but the thing I'm trying to say is: Do you think my constant optimism can get annoying? And if I should maybe try to tone it down?"
"As I said earlier. Your optimism is crucial to our team. When we think that we've lost, you're there to help boost our confidence back up, and help us win. But, about toning it down. If you asked someone like Alinion or Cedarion, they'd probably say a whole different thing. Which is why I'm glad you decided to talk to me about this. While I do think your optimism isn't annoying at all. You should know when to use it. Like when we're feeling down."
"Alright, I'll try to do that Hatheon. Thanks for taking the time to hear me ramble. But, I believe we gotta go fight some undeads?" Taconia said, wiping their face.
"Yeah, I think so. Let's go." Hatheon said, later igniting their Soul Rippers.
"Where the f*** were you two? We're literally being overwhelmed as we speak!" Cedarion said while trying their best to keep a pillar wall up to stop the Juggerknights. "We were somewhere, let's just get this over with already!" Hatheon said, before jumping onto one of Cedarion's pillars to launch himself towards the spire which would clear the way for the rest of the troops to help fight the Juggerknights. At the same time, Hatheon had accidentally triggered a new Soulwrath ability, 4 other, slightly transparent versions of Hatheon appeared at his sides, puzzling him. "How did he trigger his Shadow Clones?" A Soulwrath general said, looking at the 5 Hatheons. This would be short lived, however. As after Hatheon noticed the other 4 clones, they had disappeared.
"What was that?" Hatheon thought to themself, before grabbing a Juggerknight's axe and later impaling it into the Juggerknight who they took it off. "Anyhow, back on track: Get the Juggerknights away from the spire!" Hatheon then proceeded to clear the area of the spire away from any Juggerknights, thus allowing the other Order troops to enter the Juggerknight territory. "Nice work Hath!" Cedarion said, propelling the four of them with his pillars. "I need a clear shot!" Alinion said, charging up a prototype he had been working on while on the island. Cedarion launched Alinion into the air by sending him away from the main pillars, and using a vertical pillar. "Go for it, Alinion!"
"Rest in pieces, Tin Man!" Alinion said, before firing the prototype at the Juggerknight statue, causing the remaining Juggerknights to run away from the war zone and securing the Juggerknight territory for Order.
"Nice work guys!" Taconia said, before putting his hand out for a high five. The four high-fived in the air, ready to enact revenge on the Deads for what had happened six months ago.
Meanwhile, in the distance, a group of Speartons were training in the Way of the Axe, possibly trying to become Order's Juggerknights. "No, we can't call ourselves Armortons, that just doesn't roll off the tounge well. How about: Juggerwrath?"
"Eh, fair enough."
Chapter IX: The Infected's Invasion of the Archidons[]
Meanwhile, on the other side of Northern Inamorta, the Infecteds had become more and more corrupted by Medusa's influence, causing their language to break apart and become a mess of letters only they could understand. They had also developed their own various technologies, however, these were more infection based than weapons. There were the Husks, bloated piles of assimilated stickmen which exploded into Spores when close to a group of enemies. Spores, which were the most basic form of Infected, taking over the mind of the closest stickmen to it. The Basic Infected, which used it's left arm to assimilate stickmen in order to become a Husk, and the Hive Mind. Which are capable of controlling Infected when needed.
"HIXAA CD HXVCH DU DGSTG PCNLWTGT. PCN HXVCH XC IWT HDJIW?" A Basic Infected had reported to the Northern Hive Mind, checking if any of the other Infecteds in the South had seen them. "ZTTE HTPGRWXCV XCUTRITS, IWTN RPC'I WXST UDGTKTG." The Northern Hive Mind said to the Infected. "WPAU DU XCUTRITS VD IDLPGSH IWT HDJIW; IWTGT BPN QT BDGT IGPRTH DU IWTB IWTGT."
Half of the Infected forces headed towards Southern Inamorta, thinking that most of Order's forces would still be there. Instead, they were greeted with some of the nations attempting to rebel against Order. "Alright, so it's settled. We attack them at dawn- Wait, what are those things?" The rebelling Archidons had looked behind them to see a group of Infected behind them.
"What the heck are those things?" An Archidon rebel said, trying not to make eye contact with the blood filled eye sockets of the Infected in front of them. "EGTEPGT ID YDXC IWT PGBN DU IWT XCUTRITS PGRWXSDCH. PAA PGT LTARDBT ID IWT UPBXAN." A Basic Infected had said to the Archidon, before imaling it with it's tentacles and assimilating it into itself. "What the f***?! Get away from that thing!"
"Guys! HELP ME, PLEASE- It... Alright... Brothers... Join... Us..." The assimilated Archidon rebel said, before their language had begun to deteriorate, and become more Infected than Human. "Whatever that thing is, it isn't our friend. Not anymore. Destroy the things at all costs!" The Rebel Archidon Leader said, preparing to fire an explosive arrow at the Infected's exposed heart. "Why... Resist..? Ydxc... Jh..." The Basic Infected said, before lashing a tentacle at the leader of the rebelling Archidons, only for another person to cut a part of the tentacle off with a knife. The piece of the cut off tentacle began to morph, turning itself into a Spore. "The heck is that thing?" A rebel said, before the Spore hissed and leapt onto them, crippling their whole left side, before getting swarmed by more Spores, turning into a Basic Infected. "You must join us..."
Back on the island, Medusa had begun collecting various scraps from Hades and Technion technology, in an attempt to create herself a temporary physical body. "How much stuff did they forget when they ran off? No matter, Vitaeque reddenda!" Medusa said, before the parts of Technion technology contorted and melted, turning them into a Metal Medusa body, with a hatred of Inamorta as fiery as the Solar Eclipse, and a heart as cold as the Ice Hills.
"Time to show Inamorta what happens when you refuse the truth the first time." Medusa said, before configuring Hade's sonar to be able to communicate with Charybdis. Medusa set the sonar to "ATTRACT", and activated it. Charybdis rose from the water, to look for the source of the noise. "It is alright, my child. It is only me." Metal Medusa said to Charybdis. Preparing to go on top of Charybdis to get to Inamorta.
"Watch out Inamorta, I'm coming for you." Medusa said, standing on top of Charybdis, looking at Inamorta.
Chapter X: The Elemental Empire's Arrival[]
"Hold up." Alinion said, remembering something they had helped worked on back when the Technion and Soulwrath were still on Shocknia Island. "Hey, uh, sir. Didn't we have this prototype we were working on?" Alinion said to the Technion leader, remembering that before they had went to fight the Soulwrath, they were working on another project. "Uh, yeah, I think so. Which one? Stickdrones? Artificialmen? Or that one which failed horribly and killed almost all of us?"
"I think the Artificialmen? That was the one which was meant to be a humanoid robot, right?"
"What are they talking about?" Hatheon whispered to Taconia and Cedarion. Both just shrugged, confused. "Something about a humanoid robot thingo? How have you guys advanced so far but us back on the island, which KEEP IN MIND, have more resources, still need to deal with natives attacking us?" Cedarion said, looking at the Technion's hangar of machinery.
"We don't have to focus that much on wars, therefore innovation happens faster." The Soulwrath's ambassador said to Cedarion. "Also, our natives are kind of small in numbers."
"Wait! Who's that in the distance?"
Poseidon came to a stop, and set the four onto the ground. What they had found was the deceased body of the original king. The one who had started it all, and made Order into the nation it had become. "Oh no..." Taconia said, covering their mouth in shock. "He's... Gone." Hatheon said, before lowering their bandana in respect of their fallen king. "He was always there for us. All of us. Rest in peace, my lord. May the halls of Coelum welcome you with pride." Alinion said while Cedarion prepared a pyre for their fallen king.
Meanwhile, on the Elemental's island, Zealon was preparing to return to Inamorta. "Okay, so far I've constructed a boat, found a map of Inamorta, and gathered enough food to leave this place. Thank. You. Alinion!" Zealon said, as he prepared to drag the boat out to sea. "Wait! Zealon! Where are you going?"
"Home." Zealon said, finally getting the boat onto the sea.
"Well, if you're going. You'll want someone to keep you company, right?" Cyclonio said, before levitating in the air. "You want a faster way of getting home?"
"Eh. Alright." Zealon said, not knowing that Cyclonio would send them flying using controlled blasts of air. "Okay, this is cool!" Zealon said, trying their best not to fall into the ocean. "I'm just hoping Taconia's moved on after my little... Anger thing." Zealon thought to himself, not realising that there was a bunch of Elementals beneath and around them.
"Wait, anybody seen Cherry?" Alinion said, looking at a photo of them two. "We kind of left off our last thing unfinished."
"Cherry? They said they were going to go look for you, and then they never came back." An Order Swordwrath said to Alinion. "Wait... They disappeared? That's... very worrisome." Alinion said, worried whether or not Cherry was still alive. "Hey," Taconia said, putting their hand on his shoulder. "Cherry'll be fine. It's not like a giant pulverised them."
"Yeah. I guess you're right." Alinion said. At that moment, a massive army could be seen in the distance. "Wait... What's that in the distance?" Hatheon said, pulling out a spyglass. "Is that..." Cedarion snatched the spyglass, and confirmed Hatheon's suspicions. "It's Zealon! And the... Elementals- It's the Elementals! Get ready for anything!" Hatheon and Taconia ignited their Soul Rippers, and Alinion readied his prototype, now nicknamed the Stick Slaughterer. "Last time these guys attacked us, we sent them to some other place. Let's make sure they stay there permanently this time! And make sure nobody hits Zealon!"
"If they even TRY to attack me, I'll literally proceed to break their bones." Zealon said, hoping that they wouldn't attack. "Don't let them think we're a threat. Got it?" Cyclonio said to the Elementals. The two groups charged at each other, but only stopping as soon as both realised they weren't a threat to each other.
"Ew. why'd I think it was a good idea to get a Bear Cake?" Hatheon said, looking at a half-eaten bear cake. "Maybe it's because you picked the worst bar in the town?"
"Touche."
"So, what have you guys been up to while I was gone?" Zealon said chugging down a drink, eager to hear about the other's stories. "Alright, so me, Hath and Alin were all put on the same island, and turns out; the nations we got put in actually hated each other!"
"That was very confusing, and in my eyes, unneeded." Alinion said, later popping a piece of vegetable stew in his mouth. "So, you ended up on the Elemental Island, and they DIDN'T roast you at first chance?"
"Yep. Even I was surprised. Hey, uh, Taconia. Are we... Cool now? After the whole Chaos Castle thing?"
"..."
"Of course we are!" Taconia said to Zealon.
Chapter XI: Memories Pt. II[]
"I doubt anything will really happen to the others, if I'm being really honest." Alinion said to Cherry, while walking down one of Order's alleyways. "I've only met Hatheon and Taconia. Those two will definitely be fine." Cherry said to Alinion.
Meanwhile, in the ruins of the Chaos Castle, Hatheon was losing it. "Great, JUST GREAT! Zealon's completely lost it, Taconia's p***ed off, and Cedarion's just being... Cedarion." Hatheon said to himself out loud. "... Yep. That's me." Cedarion said, looking down at the ruined red carpet beneath them.
Meanwhile, back in Order, it had begun raining. "You want to go get a drink somewhere Al?" Cherry said to Alinion. "Uh, y-yeah, sure. Where at though?" Alinion said, getting his cloak out from his back and putting it over his head like an umbrella. "I packed you a thing I fashioned. Want to use it?" Alinion took out a head umbrella from his backpack, and showed it to Cherry. "Sure." Cherry said, taking the head umbrella and later hugging Alinion. "You want to know something?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"You're the first boyfriend I've had who's actually bothered to care about me. I respect that." Cherry said, looking up at Alinion with a smile. Alinion smiled back, not knowing that he was about to trip and fall face first into a puddle. "What the- Ah!" Alinion fell into a puddle, and both ended up laughing together. "That was unexpected!" Cherry said to Alinion, stretching out their hand to help Alinion back up to their knees.
"You don't say?" Alinion said, later grabbing Cherry's hand to get back up and grab their cloak, continuing back down on the footpath to the bar.
"Alright, Zealon. Let's go explore this place further." Taconia said, looking at Zealon, who was as pale as ghost. "Uhh... You okay?"
Zealon didn't respond, instead only looking at Taconia, "Yeah... Let's just go explore this place further." Zealon said, wiping their face and looking eager again. "That was... Weird." Hatheon said to Cedarion. Cedarion just gave another shrug, looking back down at the ground after. The group walked down one of the corridors, looking at burnt pictures of Medusa with a freshly hatched Charybdis in a small tank. "What's that thing in the tank?"
"No clue. Let's keep moving." Hatheon said, opening up one of the doors in the castle.
"Huh, this must've been the courtyard. There's the camp for the Marrowkai, the... Eclipseers?"
"Eclipsors." Cedarion said, holding a piece of Medusa's cloak in one of his hands. "We took their technology to make the Albowtross, remember?"
"Right, didn't Medusa-"
The piece of cloak began to glow, and temporarily possess Cedarion, causing his voice to become more and more hoarse, and turn his eyes black. "YOU HAVE AWAKENED ME FROM MY SLUMBER, FOOLS, NOW YOU WILL PAY THE PRICE!" Cedarion turned back to normal, only to feel the ground tremor underneath them. A snake as big as Order had erupted from the ground, and stared down the four. Taconia and Zealon were petrified, Hatheon was prepared to protect the group from anything, even if it costed his life, and Cedarion just looked at the serpent, then went to looking at their fingers.
"You guys go, I'll take care of this thing." Hatheon said, the other three darted towards the exit. Hatheon attempted to subdue the serpent, but ended up flinging him towards the direction of Order's capital.
"This is a really nice "Giant's Tears." That name's a little strange, but whatever." Alinion said, sipping their drink. "Well, it is a mix of a bunch of other drinks, so it can only be two things." Cherry said, taking a sip of some tea. Hatheon came crashing in through a window, confusing the servers, bartenders, Cherry & Alinion, and leaving Hatheon groaning in pain from most of his bones being broken.
"Huh, guess you had second thoughts too." Alinion said to Hatheon. Signalling for Cherry to bring out their Meric staff.
Chapter XII: The Technion's Prototype[]
"So long story short, we left the only working prototype of the Artificialmen on Shocknia." Alinion said to the group, next to a window which was broken for about a year now. "I'm getting a serious sense of deja-vu with this window..." Hatheon thought to himself. "So, what was this prototype meant to be?"
"It was our attempt at creating an easy to produce, military grade robot to fight in our wars. Pretty much, give us unlimited troops." The Technion general said to Hatheon. "We did have a single prototype, but we initially wanted to put it through tests to see if it could handle what a normal Swordwrath could handle, but at the time we put all of our resources into constructing Hades."
"Pfft, that went well." Cedarion said, rolling their eyes.
"So pretty much we've gotta go back to the island?" Taconia said to the group.
"Unfortunately, yes."
"Wait, we can send a group of Elementals to retrieve the prototype. We can use our Air and Water squads." Cyclonio said to the group, pointing towards the group of elementals two tables over. "Alright, we'll send them. Zealon, you're our ambassador for the Elementals, so keep an eye on them. Got it?"
"Got it."
The Elementals ran north-east towards Shocknia island. With Zealon being carried by a cushion of air formed by the Air Elementals. "Remember, our side of the island is on the far north. You'll know when you're there when you begin seeing scraps of metal." Alinion said to Zealon over a Technion earpiece.
"Got it. We're on the island now, we've sent some Elementals to scout the area beforehand, just in case." Zealon said, before signalling some Elementals to set up a temporary outpost on the island's beaches. When the scouting party arrived at northern Shocknia, they had found some leftover Infected there. "SOMEONE PRESENT."
"LOCATE AND INFECT." Another Infected said.
"Scout Team Alpha to Mothership, we've spotted a group of unidentified individuals who appear to have been transformed into some variant of Dead, over."
"Observe them from a safe distance, we don't know what they're capable of yet." Zealon said, beginning to monitor Scout Team Bravo to see if there was any Infected on Southern Shocknia. "Scout Team Bravo, are there any people on your side of Shocknia?"
"Negative. This place is barren."
Back at Northern Shocknia, Scout Team Alpha were about to witness the Infected's capabilities. A native emerged from the bushes, in an attempt to collect some Technion scrap. Unfortunately for them, they had treaded too close to an Infected, causing the Infected to impale the native in the chest with their tentacle, assimilating them into themselves. "Good god! Take out every last one of those things!" The Elementals began attacking the Infected, with some being burnt, drowned, buried and even flung into the water. "ADAPT. OVERCOME. DESTROY." The Infected finally assimilated their first Elemental, and thus ended up gaining the powers of that Elemental. "Everyone, keep your distance! They'll become you if they get you!"
While Scout Team Alpha was busy attacking the group of Infected, Scout Team Bravo began searching the abandoned Technion base. "Alright Flamaga, last time I saw the thing it was in a small chamber adjacent to a group of hanging Technion goggles." Alinion said to Flamaga, trying to remember where the Artificialmen prototype was. Flamaga opened up a door which showed the hangar in which Hades was created, minus a few broken tubes and a broken lift. "I think I found it." Flamaga said, looking at a rusted, greyish stickman.
"Excellent, now, just boot it up from the back of it's neck. It'll run some diagnostics, so don't worry." The Technion general said to Flamaga. Flamaga pressed the button on the back of it's neck, and let it boot up. "ARTIFICIALMEN OS VERSION 1.5 BOOTING UP. SCANNING. SCANNING. SCANNING. NO HOSTILES IN CURRENT GROUND LEVEL. Hello, how may I help you?" The prototype said to Flamaga. "Uhm.. Uhh,"
"Artificialmen, download schematics to Hades."
"Command received, transmitting schematics to Technion Database #0001, Hades."
"Go help out the others Flamaga, we'll get reinforcements in here soon." Flamaga ran out of the old Technion base, and began burning the Infected behind them. "I got you guys covered on the flanks!" Hatheon stood up, and began running out to go help the Elementals. "Hath! What are you doing?"
"Doing what I do best!"
"Saving Inamorta?"
"Destroying nations." Hatheon activated a portal to Shocknia, and jumped through it, beginning to help the Elementals & Zealon destroy the group of Infected on Shocknia. However, unknown to them, Medusa was watching the fight, and was fully aware of what was happening. Meanwhile, Hatheon threw his Soul Rippers in the direction of the group of infected, and split the Infected group in half. "There, that should make it easier for you guys!" Hatheon later reignited the Soul Rippers, with the wall still intact. "UNKNOWN DEFENCE. PROCEED WITH CAUTION." The Infected said to each other. After a long battle, they had finally destroyed every single Infected on the island. "Alright, everything's been cleared out, now what?"
"We'll set it up as a port so we can ship Artificialmen to any of our battles." Alinion said, later sending Poseidon to Shocknia to begin creating a factory on the island. "You guys deserve a bigger place to call home, so you can also settle down here and have the Artificialmen help build for you guys."
"Thanks Alin. Zealon, let's go home." Hatheon said, opening up a portal to the bar.
Meanwhile, in an undiscovered region of Inamorta, Medusa was preparing to begin their plan to destroy the Order Empire once and for all. "Fools think some metal men will help them crush me? They have no idea what's coming to them." Medusa said, later looking at an unconscious Cherry laying atop an altar. "If they wish to win this war, what will they be willing to give up to win this war?"
Chapter XIII: Memories Pt. III[]
"And that's how I got sent through the window." Hatheon said, eating a piece of cake. "I've still got no clue what the heck that giant snake was, however."
"Who knows what it was? Maybe it was Griffon? Maybe it was the Omega Giant? Maybe it was that Jörmungandr snake everyone kept talking about?" Cherry said, beginning to heal Hatheon's ribcage. "Put your chin up, it'll hurt less that way."
"I thought the whole point of healing was to remove pain."
"It isn't really healing, it's more of moving bones back into place and merging them together." Alinion said, sipping some tea. "Well, that's what Cherry tells me anyway. Anyhow, you told us two the others are in danger, let's go help them." Alinion said, grabbing his pickaxe and standing up. The three ran out of the bar towards the ruins of the Chaos Castle. "Hey! You guys gonna pay for your food?" The restaurant owner said, before getting a gold bar thrown in their face by Alinion. "Thank you!"
Meanwhile, back at the Chaos ruins, the group was having trouble dealing with Jörmungandr. "I've got no clue how much longer this wall will hold, but get ready to attack that thing!" Cedarion said to Zealon & Taconia. Jörmungandr kept on ramming into the wall, and eventually made a hole in it. Taconia began cutting at Jörmungandr's side, and Zealon began shooting arrows at the serpent's eyes and nostrils. "The thing keeps on moving, I can't get a clear shot on it's eyes!" Zealon said, trying to keep a good aim on their eyes.
"Who cares? Just run!" Cedarion said, before being snagged by the serpent. Cedarion stared into it's amber bloodshot eyes, accepting their fate. At that moment, a spear got thrown into it's eye, and Jörmungandr screamed in pain. "Hatheon?" Cedarion said, looking at the direction the spear come from. A Spearton, Miner and Meric began running towards the serpent, ready to help them deal with the snake as big as Inamorta.
"They showed up!" Taconia said, later getting whacked by one of the scales. "And they took out one of the eyes!" Jörmungandr began burrowing into the ground in an attempt to get away from the six. Hatheon, wouldn't let that happen. "Grab onto that thing and try to pierce it's scales!" Hatheon said to the group. Taconia tried basic swords to pierce the scales, Zealon using his melee-issued knife to pierce them, Cherry & Alinion both used the ends of their weapons and pushed down, opening the scales, and Cedarion kept on using the earth around them to try and trap Jörmungandr.
They kept on attacking Jörmungandr until they had hit a massive cave, filled with piles of bones and gold. "Wait, this cave seems familiar to me, is this-" WHACK! Jörmungandr was struck down by a massive club, being wielded by a familiar looking Fire Mask wearing giant. "You guys okay?" Griffon said, putting away their club. "Yeah, we are. Thanks for that Griffon." Zealon said to Griffon.
"Greatly appreciated." Alinion said.
The group got all of their gear back, and Cedarion then began to move the earth to create a hole big enough for one of his pillars to get through. "Thanks for dealing with that thing Griffon!"
"Anytime!"
"So, you're Cherry?" Taconia said to Cherry, looking at them.
"Huh, so Alinion wasn't lying at all." Cedarion said, looking at the ground beneath them. "I'm surprised." Eventually, the six got out of Griffon's cave, and sealed the hole they made. "So, do you two have to go back to your bowling now?" Hatheon said, cracking his back. "Unless you guys were done with that?"
"Actually, you guys could come with us for a game of bowling, we don't mind." Alinion said, wondering if they would want to go with them. "Well, it IS you two's own time so-"
"So, we'll go!" Hatheon said, covering Taconia's mouth.
Chapter XIV: Medusa's True Intentions[]
"You've fulfilled your purpose, Charybdis. You are no longer needed." Medusa said, before turning their left hand into a blade and stabbing Charybdis in the heart. "I have a new puppet who will actually do as they are told." Medusa said, later looking at an aged Griffon being held by a group of Infected Colossi. "What do you want, Medusa?"
"Two massive beasts who would be willing to do my bidding, unlike the massive sea worm. Infected, get some Spores inside of him." Two Infected Colossi forcefully ripped off Griffon's mask, and ordered a group of Spores to begin infecting Griffon. "As for the second puppet, I'll need my new vessel. I've got everything needed, I just need-" At that moment, a group of Order's best soldiers; including Hatheon, Alinion, Taconia, Cedarion & Zealon showed up. "The game's over, Medusa! Your reign of terror on Order was over a LONG time ago!" Taconia said to Medusa, as the others prepared themselves to fight the metal variation of Medusa. "Powerful words for someone so weak to the power of the Omega Infected, RISE, MY CHILD!" Griffon's infection had taken it's hold, and Griffon turned a jade green, and stood up. "By the order of our true queen, you will be destroyed!" The five began attacking the not-so-jolly green giant, and Medusa retreated to their chamber.
Alinion, Hatheon & Cedarion caught onto this, and followed her in. "What are you doing- Agh!" Alinion said, before having all but their head held in suspended animation by an Infected Magikill "Wait, is that-"
"No, it can't be-"
"Cherry?!" Alinion said in horror, realising why Cherry had been missing for so long, why they never came back, and why they didn't return after learning of his return. They had been held captive, unconscious, being prepared for a ritual. "What are you doing with them?!" Alinion said, gritting their teeth and trying their best to break out of the Infected's spell. "Get away from them, or else you'll wish you never crossed paths with Alinion Goldstone!"
"Stupid Miner! Do you not know of the forbidden revival ritual?" Medusa was referring to a ritual that involved using a vessel, a weapon owned by the person being revived, and a remnant of them. "I'm going to use your oh-so-precious Cherry as a vessel for Mistress Death herself, thus killing Cherry, and ensuring that my reign is eternal! And the best part? You get a front seat to their demise!" Medusa said to Alinion's face, knowing that this event would forever traumatise Alinion. "I just need one more trinket..." Medusa said, before clenching their hand in the direction of Cedarion, taking the scrap of Medusa's cloak off of them. "What the- I thought I told you to destroy that!" Hatheon said to Cedarion, confused and in shock. "Perfect. Now, it's time to bring back Mistress and destroy Order once and for all!"
"NO!" Alinion said, frantically trying to break free and stop Medusa.
Medusa used a spell to separate Cherry's soul from her body, causing Cherry's soul to wake up. "Huh? Alinion? What's going on-" Medusa later used another spell to bind her soul with their own, giving Medusa her old physical form back, and killing Cherry in the process. "Now, let the main event begin!" Medusa said, cackling at the thought of Death returning.
"NO!" Alinion said, using up all of his strength to try and break the Magikill's grip on him,
Death's scythe began to impale itself in Cherry's body, and in turn caused Cherry's skin to fade, their hair to go white, and their eyes to go more dull. Finally, the scythe fully merged with Cherry's body, making itself begin to float, Cherry's head going limp, and the Scythe obtaining a skull on it's hilt, awakening Death. "Thank you, Medusa." Death said, grateful for Medusa conducting the ritual. Alinion was trying to process what had happened. "No..." The Infected Magikill dropped the three, and later resumed doing it's usual work. "Now, let's get to someplace safe, shall we?" Death said, before opening a rift to get them to the Underworld. Alinion tried to chase after them, but only ended up ramming into a wall.
"Oh my..." Hatheon said in shock, realising what just happened. "They actually did it, they brought back Inamorta's worst fear."
"Take all the time you need, Alinion. I feel your pain." Cedarion said, later taking their hat off in respect of Cherry. "I... failed her... no..." Alinion said, on the verge of tears. Taconia & Zealon burst through the door, wondering why Griffon disappeared. "Guys, what happened?" Zealon said, before looking at a mourning Alinion, a shocked Hatheon, and a Cedarion bowing their head in respect. "Medusa just revived Death using Cherry."
"Oh no..." Taconia said, covering their mouth in horror. "Death's back? This is bad... Like, really, REALLY bad."
"They brought back Death? We gotta stop them before they can use the plague on Inamorta again." Zealon said. "But what about Alinion?"
"Don't worry about me, I've got to go collect my thoughts right now. Besides, I'm kind of useless right now." Alinion said to the group, picking up his Stick Slaughterer and going outside for some air. "Alright, let's get out of here." Hatheon said before opening up a portal back to Order. "You're back this early? What happened?"
"Medusa brought back Death. We're in massive trouble right now." Hatheon said to the king of Order.
"My god... Round up the generals, this is a Fate-Of-Inamorta class emergency." Order's king said, before activating the alarm to send Order's generals to his throne room. "We came as soon as possible, m'lord. What seems to be the problem?"
"Death has come back."
"What are our orders?"
"Evacuate all the citizens, and send out search parties to check every corner of Inamorta."
"Yes, sir." The generals ran off, evacuating the citizens of Inamorta, and sending scout parties. There were babies crying, civillians fearing for their life, and soldiers preparing for war. "Good luck, generals. May Zeus come to your aid when it is needed most."
In the depths of Inamorta, Medusa, Death & The Infected were planning to destroy the Order Empire once and for all. "So, you tell me that they've stuck you down before, and now they're even stronger now that they have some better technology and some more mages?" Death said to Medusa, not amused at the fact that Medusa had lost to a group of swordsmen, archers, mages & spartans prior to their revival. "Yes, mistress. But this time, we are stronger, we can take them out for good this time."
"I know, but, if your promise is broken, you will know what will be waiting for you at Inferos, understood?"
"Understood." Medusa said. "Alright, my children, go find the heart of Order, and CRUSH it."
"NTH, BDIWTG." The army of Infected said, before breaking down one of the cave's walls to go find Order's fortress. "Soon, Inamorta will be mine again, but this time, I don't want to fix it, I want to crush it." Medusa said, later looking to see Death's approval.
Meanwhile, Alinion was outside, looking at the full moon in their eyes. "Hey, I don't know if you can hear me Cherry, but, I'm sorry. For failing to stop them from killing you, I promise I'll make those two pay, even if it costs my life. I will fight in your name." Alinion said, before taking Cherry's staff and looking at the water beside them. "I promise." Alinion stood up, putting Cherry's staff on his back, and beginning walking towards the direction of Order's main city.
"I promise."
Final Chapter: Order vs Chaos II[]
"No signs of Death, or Medusa." Atreyos, the Spearton general said to the Order king over an intercom. "In fact, I don't think they're even IN Inamorta."
"Alright, all scout parties, return to Order. We'll keep searching tomorrow." Order's king said. "Where would they be then?"
Meanwhile, down at the Underworld, Death was still getting used to their new body, and the new powers which came with it. The Omega Infected arrived, carrying the skeletal remains of Jörmungandr on it's back. "Jörmungandr retrieved, new orders at all?"
"Negative, Omega. Have a rest." Medusa said, later walking towards Death's throne room. "Mistress, the skeleton's here."
"Excellent, now stand back and allow me to do my necromancy." Death said, standing up and preparing to turn Jörmungandr into a massive seige weapon. "Retrieval et perierunt!" Death said, before focusing some dark magic onto the skeleton. Jörmungandr's hollowed out eyes began to glow a deep purple, and the skeleton began to form a semi-transparent purple veil around itself. "Why waste time training millions of Marrowkai for war, when you can just obtain a single weapon as powerful as an army extremely quick?" Death said, staring back at the newly revived Jörmungandr. "This will help us breach Order's walls, and crush them from the inside. Now go, with your army and take out Order for good."
"Yes, Mistress." Medusa said, before they, Omega Infected & the Infected army grabbed onto Jörmungandr and broke their way through the several layers of earth into Inamorta. "It's them, they're here!" Taconia said to the others, letting the Elemental-Order Alliance know that Medusa and her Infected army had arrived. "Everyone, to your battle stations!" Atreyos said to Order's army. "Those fools think the same strategy they tried last time will beat me this time? Hahaha... They really all are IDIOTS." Medusa said, before Jörmungandr struck the ground again, causing an earthquake which ended up destroying one of the towers of Order's Citadel. "Protect our Statue at all costs!" Hatheon said, before they, Taconia, Zealon & Cedarion were all catapulted towards the massive skeletal snake.
Meanwhile, back on the ground, thousands upon thousands of Infected stormed Order's Citadel. Cyclonio arrived with the Elemental Empire. "We'll distract them, you guys just shoot at the things!"
"Got it!" The Archidon general said, before yelling to the Archidons to begin firing at the infected. Meanwhile, on Medusa's Serpentine Fortress, the four were busy taking out the Infected still on the remains of the serpent. "Wait, is that Griffon on the ground?" Cedarion said, looking at a massive masked Infected. "Yeah, but who cares? Keep attacking!" Hatheon said, throwing their Soul Rippers like knifes, only for one to shatter after being thrown. "God******!" Hatheon said, looking at the broken crystal on the Soul Ripper Generators. "After this, I need new Soul Rippers."
The Omega Infected grew closer and closer towards Order's Citadel, with both Order's and the Elemental's forces both preparing for their demise. "We've got one last trump card, Flamaga, get the Water and Earth general, it's time we tried forming them again." Cyclonio said, preparing to show the Infected army the true power of the Elementals. The four merged, and a glowing white stick figure emerged from the smoke. "I will be your god once again!" the stick figure said.
"No way, they formed V!" An Air Elemental said, before being infected by an Infected soldier. V flew over the battlefield, possessing various Infected and causing them to begin destroying other Infected. "We've got the normal Infected dealt with, focus all of your arrows at the Omega Infected!" V yelled to Order's citadel, later possessing an Infected Colossus to try and attack the Omega Infected. "You heard the Elemental! All Archidons, focus your fire on the massive Infected!"
Hatheon, Taconia, Zealon & Cedarion were all fighting one Infected Colossus, until they had noticed a familiar laser shot blast the Colossus' face clean off. Alinion came in using some makeshift Albowtross wings, followed by jumping off of the glider, and then shooting some more Infected. "What are we waiting for? Let's go take out that Gorgon once and for all!" The five began running towards the head of the skeletal snake, where Medusa was petrifying Elementals from a distance. "The Earth Elementals are immune? So be it, Infected, focus ALL of your numbers on the Earth Elementals!" Medusa said, before resuming their work.
The Infected stopped attacking the other Elementals, and began focusing all their infections on the Earth Elementals. "We need some backup here!" An Earth Elemental said, before summoning an earth pillar to knock back a group of Infected. "You guys keep going, I'll go help them!" Cedarion said, before jumping off of Jörmungandr and towards the Earth Elementals. Cedarion sent two boulders towards two groups of Infected, helping the Earth Elementals to get out of the trap. "Thanks, Magikill!" An Earth Elemental said.
"They're winning, Mistress!" Medusa said to Death via telepathy. "We could use some of your magic, please."
"Alright, alright! Let me just ready up a spell." Death said, charging up a black ball with a dark red aura. Death fired it into the sky, turning the sky a dark red and causing all the Infected's eyes on the battlefield to glow red, and their appearance become more and more feral. "THIS IS THE END FOR YOU." The newer, more corrupted Infected army said in sync to the Order Citadel.
"What the heck happened to those guys?" A group of Albowtross said, before a group of Infected jumped up and began gnawing at their wings. "What the- get the things off!" The frantic flailing of the Albowtrosses caused them to fall to the ground, and become Infected along with them. However, they did not resume using their traditional wings, instead, they underwent a transformation, turning themselves into bat-like creatures covered in patches of fur, and were able to emit a screech which could burst an enemies ears with it's screech.
"What happened to our Albowtross squadrons?" The Order King said to the Generals, puzzled as to why all of the Albowtrosses had gone missing on the Technion's heat signature reader.
"They were completely decimated, sir. Shall we send in our other forces?" The Royal Advisor said to Order's King. "No, we might risk them being infected too, whatever happened to the sky, it's got to have something to do with their sudden power boost." At that moment, a massive boat filled to the brim with Artificialmen wielding guns showed up, ready to help Order fight. "SCANNING FOR ENEMIES: ENEMY SPOTTED. TERMINATING ENEMY." The Artificialmen stormed the battlefield, destroying thousands of Infected in their sights.
"Alright! The first batch finished!" Alinion said, before shooting an Infected in it's heart. "We're almost there!" Hatheon said, seeing Medusa in their line of sight. "Everyone, get your blindfolds on, that way she can't turn us into stone." Zealon said, slapping a mask on his face. As Hatheon's Soul Rippers had broken, he instead went for using his old spear as a substitute.
"The game's up, Medusa!" Hatheon said, looking at a direction he thought Medusa was in.
"Oh, really now? Well, you guys got me. Take me away and get rid of me for good, will you?" Medusa said, holding a spore cluster in the hand behind her back. "Don't worry about my snakes either, they won't hurt." The four took off their masks and prepared to kill the Gorgon. At that moment, Medusa slid underneath Taconia and prepared to infect them, however, Hatheon saw what was about to happen, and pushed Taconia out of the way before it was too late, however, this ended up having Hatheon take the spores to the face. "Hatheon!" Taconia said, coming to the aid of their friend. "Get out of here... They were spores!"
The three ran, accepting Hatheon's wishes, and not wanting to have to kill their friend either. "Perfect..." Medusa said, witnessing Hatheon's infection. "With my last breath, I say that you... won't... win... I am ready for combat, Lady Medusa." Hatheon said, before standing up and taking a completely different pose.
"Wonderful, Infected Type H, now, go there and help them destroy Order once and for all."
"As you wish." Type H said, before jumping off of the skeletal snake and destroying all those in his way.
"What the- Hatheon's turned on us!" A Swordwrath said, before being knocked out by them.
"Man the fort!" Order's king said, ordering for everyone to get back into the castle. However, this would be their fatal mistake, as this in turn, lead to the Omega Infected reaching the citadel, and destroying the castle, causing all those who did not escape in time to be killed or infected by the Infected. In the case of the Artificialmen, they were reprogrammed to spread the Infected virus into Inamorta, virtually turning everyone in Inamorta into Infected troops.
"Finally, I win." Medusa said, before seeing the rift to the Underworld. Type H came along with them, so Death could see that they had finally infected one of their biggest threats to their reign, ensuring that Chaos would live. "Well done, Medusa. I see you've corrupted the Soulwrath as well, I am grateful for your assistance in my plan."
"You're welcome, my liege." Medusa said, bowing to Death.
Meanwhile, on Elemental Island, the remaining forces of Order had rebuilt, and were formulating a plan to rescue Hatheon & Griffon, and take back Inamorta. "We may have been defeated now, but this is all part of the cycle." Alinion said to the resistance.
"Not every empire is going to last forever."