Jasper dove through the bars, her eyes squeezing shut as she felt the Darkness burn, blackening the front and back of her clothes she landed on the other side, catching Sapphire's attention.
"Jasper? What are you doing over there? We're supposed to be in here!" She giggled.
"Shut up," the fairy snapped. "I'm going to help Salem-"
Jasper stopped when she saw the expressions the other Heroes were wearing. Even Mono had turned from her argument with Yin, staring at the garden of the red spider lilies. Jasper followed their gazes, her eyes widening in surprise.
Salem was taking off her armor, letting the chest plate fall to the ground, soon followed by her chainmail tunic that had been underneath. She was making herself even with the First Vao, who stood back and waited for her to get ready.
"W... What the hell is she doing?" Sasha muttered. "She's weakening her own defenses?"
Salem and the First Vao stared at each other, the Lord of Grimmore flashing a small smirk. "... You ready?" He rasped. Salem nodded.
"Yeah... Let's settle this old score, once and for all," she growled back. The First Vao let out a content sigh. He was in his element.
Their magics began to crackle through the air like lightning around their bodies. They were going to go all out. Celestial magic and Darkness began to battle against each other as they took the first step in unison, the two demigods staring each other down. The First Vao popped his knuckles, jerking his head at her.
"Right... Let's just get right to the point, Mistress."
Salem launched herself at him with a shockwave that sent the flowers arching into the sky, the First Vao's Darkness wrapping around his pale body.
CRACK!
Her magic sizzled against the shield, the Darkness peeling back just enough to expose his face. He was wearing an irritating smirk - not the smirk of the Lord of Grimmore, not the smirk of a murderous cannibal hell-bent on her murder.
It was the irritating, shit-eating grin of Vao Branwen.
Salem felt her lips tugging upwards into a smirk of her own. He was back. The real First Vao was back.
Jasper was nearly knocked from the air when Salem let loose on his shield, the fairy crying out in terror as she dodged the Celestial beams that snapped past her. The others were screaming for her to return to the safety of their prison - that even Mono was having a hard time keeping her balance under the power of the two who had surpassed their humanity itself. But Jasper ignored them, dropping to the ground and clinging to the grass, using it to pull herself closer.
SMASH!
With a final kick Salem shattered the Darkness, the First Vao skidding back - but more than ready for her when she charged. In an instant the world went pitch dark, his Aura piercing the blackness. Unable to see his hands, Salem quickly threw a shield of her own around her. She could feel her magic tremble as the First Vao slammed against it, his Aura disappearing as ash floated in the Darkness. She spun around and drove her leg into his hip, the Darkness fading in an instant.
The First Vao leapt into the air, his Darkness raising him higher and higher, his axe held tight in his hands. With each swing he sent arcs of magic hurtling her way, the Celestial retrieving her sword and cutting through them.
"Nyahahahaha!"
His laughter pierced the air. But it lacked the anger. It lacked the insanity. He was having fun. Just like the old days. Salem grabbed him when he rocketed towards her, their magics burning the air, driving Jasper back. The fairy was beginning to sweat.
Were they going to destroy the entire garden until the First Vao was satisfied? Knowing him, he wouldn't stop even there. He loved fighting. He wouldn't want to stop until he got tired, and the First Vao had a massive amount of endurance. And to make matters worse, he was so used to functioning off less than an hour of sleep that it didn't even affect him anymore. He wasn't going to get tired - not unless he was fighting for a week straight. If she couldn't get to Salem's side, it would be an endless fight.
The cursed weapon slammed into the ground when the First Vao threw it, breaking the ground as his magic propelled him forward, the sound barrier shattering as he drove his knuckles straight into Salem's face, mowing her down. The Celestial landed on her back, the First Vao driving his heel straight into her chest. But he was pulling his punches; he had enough power to kick holes in concrete. Salem appreciated that. That was why she was pulling her punches too - so she wouldn't kill him.
The First Vao stumbled back, his body glowing with a blue aura. Salem rolled to her feet, her grin falling. She could hear them, the voices of the countless Souls he had stolen.
FLASH!
...
The First Vao trudged through the swamp, his axe slung over his shoulder. A Failure stumbled from the shadows, reaching its arms out to him.
("S... Souls... You have... So many-")
("And they aren't for you, cunt.")
SPLATTER!
The rotting man's head exploded into pieces when the First Vao punched him in the face, his lifeless corpse dropping to the grass. The First Vao scowled, looking around.
("Where are they...? These zombie things... Failures... If my intuition is right, if that really was the God of Darkness that I saw... I need to hurry...")
He continued his path, running into a few more of the Soulless creatures. None of them stood much of a chance - they were too slow. The First Vao didn't even need to use his magic to break their bones, he didn't even need his weapon. His bare hands were good enough for ripping their arms off, breaking their necks, or punching holes straight through them. It was only after the twelfth Failure that he was finally beginning to grow very annoyed. They were drawn to him, drawn to the billions of Souls he had kept inside his Reality.
They quickly had him surrounded, the First Vao looking at them, his Aura beginning to flicker to life.
("Will you piss off? I have places to be.")
("Ssssouls... Just one...")
The First Vao scoffed. ("I guess you have no bloody idea who you're walkin' up on. Guess I'll just have to teach you.")
In the span of less than a minute, his axe gleamed through the air, stained and dyed scarlet, the crimson liquid dripping off the blade as he left the clearing, leaving behind nothing but a trail of death. He paused when he heard something ahead, shrouding himself in shadow before leaping into the trees, hopping from branch to branch like a monkey.
As he drew closer, he could see the Heroes running away from the Failures, the God of Darkness flying after them. The First Vao sighed. He was right; they were choosing to run away. He couldn't really blame them - he wouldn't want to fight either of the Gods with a bunch of extras. Silently he followed through the trees, his Darkness branching out and tripping the Failures that were falling behind before putting them to sleep.
({"Where are you going? Don't run away! That takes all the fun away!"}) The God of Darkness laughed hysterically. The First Vao winced.
("... If I had a voice like that, I think I'd kill myself... Dust, he's annoyin' as 'ell...")
He dared to draw closer, intensifying the Darkness, hiding himself entirely. He watched as Sapphire tripped, the Failures beginning to swarm her. He didn't see Yin turn around to help her.
("N-not that one!")
If he didn't react quickly, Sapphire was going to be killed. Even though she was no longer a part of his Cult, the First Vao still saw her as family. She didn't deserve to be killed here. His Darkness snapped out, tearing through the Failures close to her. Yin skidded to a halt, looking into the trees, looking straight at the shadowy silhouette. The First Vao finally noticed the healer, watching his blue eyes go wide in horror before he grabbed the doll and ran after his friends. The First Vao groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.
("Fuck... So much for being discreet... Guess I don't really need to hide anymore.")
His Darkness vanished from his body, the Lord of Grimmore dropping to the ground and breaking into a light jog, keeping the Heroes in his sight, but staying just far enough where they wouldn't see him.
("Don't get killed, don't get killed,") he murmured. ("I still have to judge Salem...")
He thought about it for a moment. He doubted Salem would die here. In his mind, she was the type of person to start throwing her allies at the Failures to buy herself time - she wasn't, but he was absolutely certain that she would do exactly that.
Should he get involved directly? No, there was no guarantee that they wouldn't attack him, even if Mono was right there. But if something didn't happen soon, Mono might get hurt.
Before he could make his decision, he watched as the tall elf - Sasha Steel, if he remembered correctly - turned on her heel and shouted for everyone else to keep running. The First Vao skidded to a halt, watching as the others forcefully dragged Salem away, the Celestial kicking and screaming, but outnumbered. Sasha sighed and turned to the Failures, letting her hair down. He circled around her as he watched her mow down the Failures, sweat dripping from her muscles.
He could see it - she wasn't like the rest of her friends. While nearly all of them were guilty of killing someone, especially Mono, Jasper, and Sapphire - Vao had killed dozens in the Wilds during his exile, Verde had killed priests when she still lived in the Great Swamp, Yin had killed in self-defense or straight up tortured particularly... Undesirable villains, and Salem... That story tells itself. Sasha was different; she wasn't holding back, not giving it a second thought even when she knew what the Failures were, their backstory. He stroked his chin, struggling to recall the details.
("... A child soldier,") he rasped quietly. ("In the Second Timeline, anyway... In the Third, she ran with some bandits after she escaped that Leaf prick... So she's a killer too...")
It was time he got involved. He could see the weariness creeping up on her. If he didn't do something, she was going to get killed eventually. And the First Vao, ironically, was sick of people dying for no good reason. He scaled the nearest tree, Sasha's eyes flicking in his direction, her face falling.
("They can fuckin' climb... You're shitting me...")
The First Vao ignored the comment, performing a somersault off the branch he stood on, his body silhouetted by the moon as his Grimm Demise clicked loudly, transforming into a rocket launcher. He took aim at the largest group he could find, his finger sliding over the trigger and giving it a quick squeeze.
BOOM!
The fire Dust ignited, the Failures screeching and wailing as they tried to get away from the flame, the First Vao landing perfectly on his feet in the middle of the destruction, swinging his axe over his shoulder and stepping through the black smoke that began to fill the air, approaching Sasha. When he came into view, he jerked his head at her. He was going to give her a hand. He had respect for people with something to protect.
("... 'Ello.")
...
They stumbled back in surprise, the First Vao shaking his head.
"Ugh... Enough with my memories already..."
Salem stared at him, her smirk returning. "Did you want to protect us, Vao?"
The First Vao scoffed, but grinned back. "... You know wot? I'm not gonna lie. Yeah, I did. I thought that maybe if I was going to kill you, if the world was going to end... I might as well do at least one good thing in my life."
They charged each other again, their fingers locking together in a shoving match, pushing against the other. Veins snaked up their arms as they struggled, Jasper inching closer, preparing herself for another blast of power from the two demigods. Gritting her teeth, she dared to fly forward, landing on Salem's shoulder.
"Salem! His eye socket! Go for his eye socket!" She shouted. "That red flame is pure Aura! If you hit it, you'll break his Aura!"
The First Vao scowled. "Hey, wait a minute! That's cheating! How the 'ell did you get out of the prison, anyway!?"
"You left a gap big enough for me to squeeze through!"
"... Fuck me."
Salem tore her hand away. If she hit his Aura with her magic, she'd risk killing him. Her bare knuckles came into view as her magic dissipated, her fist swinging for his face. The First Vao ducked and weaved his head out of the way, his smile growing as the adrenaline began to pump, his eye widening in excitement.
"Ooh, this is fun!"
He sidestepped her hand and headbutted her, pushing Salem back. And without warning, he headbutted her again.
THWACK!
CRACK!
SMACK!
Salem finally backed away from him, the First Vao swaying on his feet dizzily. She took the opportunity to sucker punch him in the gut, doubling him over for a devastating knee. Hitting him was like hitting a wall. A steel wall. She used her magic to force the pain away, jumping back into the fight while Jasper shouted techniques for her to pull.
The First Vao flinched under her blows, his arms moving to protect his face as she jabbed and punched at his thin frame. She knew she needed to be careful - the First Vao was capable of taking a mean hit and keeping a level head. She was willing to bet that he was planning something.
His grin grew, his eye staring up at her. She braced herself as his Darkness exploded outward, knocking her back. Black flames crackled around his body as he burst into a fit of laughter.
"NYAHAHAHAHA!"
Again it was the same laughter she had heard earlier. Not the deranged laughter of a murderous lunatic. Just the laughter of a delinquent who loved combat. For a split second, she saw a vision.
For a split second, she saw a younger version of the First Vao. His hair flowing just past his shoulders, his skin a healthier color. And in a split second, it was gone.
It reminded her of how much had happened. Countless wars had been fought, countless murders committed, they had even survived the end of the world together. And throughout everything, he had been there all along, hidden behind the walls that had crumbled as he watched her. Saw her actions. Witnessed the true Salem.
The Souls burst from the First Vao's body, swirling around him. Salem took a step back, sweat beading on her forehead. Was he going to use the power of the Souls to win? If he used that kind of power, she wasn't even sure she'd beat him even if she fought dirty. Up until now, he rarely showed how many Souls he had stolen; he almost never used them in a fight, preferring to keep them away from violence. With this extra boost in power... She wasn't sure just how she'd win.
The First Vao squeezed his fists, the voices of the Souls squeaking out. And with a toss of his arms, the Souls were thrown into the air, hovering above them in an endless spiral. Salem took a step back, her jaw falling open in surprise.
He wasn't using the Souls for power. He was removing their ability to make him stronger. He couldn't let them free - they were trapped in his Reality with no way out unless he was killed. But he could cast them aside for a bit. But that would mean he was deliberately weakening himself. Salem looked back down at him in utter shock, the First Vao grinning up at her, rolling his shoulders back.
"That's better... Now fight me, Mistress! Fight me as myself!" He demanded ecstatically. "Fight me, as Vao Dusty Branwen!"
She stared at him for a moment, blinking her surprise away before smiling at him.
"... Yeah. I think I will."
Jasper wailed in terror and clung to Salem's shoulder for dear life as she launched forward, mirroring the First Vao's blows as they battled. Their knuckles met again, magic blasting through the air, shooting high into the sky as Darkness and Celestial power spiraled around each other like a beacon.
...
The God of Light didn't bother looking up from his wine as the windows shuddered under the power, his book splayed out in his lap. He took a sip from his drink, unfazed by the noise.
And farther away at the base of operations, the forces of the armies and the Cult's flinched as the earth beneath their feet shivered, the sky brightening as magic filled the air. Winter looked up from her conversation with the Second Ironwood, her eyes widening in horror.
"S-Salem's fighting the First Vao!?"
The First Verde looked up from her computer, nodding her head. "Correct. Though these readings are strange. I can't detect any of the power of his Souls."
"That don't make any sense!" The Second Yin shouted. Winter was already mobilizing her troops, the General glaring at them.
"Strangeness or not, I'm not letting him kill Salem! This proves he didn't change even after the Blood was destroyed! We're following through with his execution!"
"The fuck you are!" Tanjin shouted. The Cultists were blocking the way of the soldiers, their weapons ready. "We aren't letting you lay a finger on Lord Vao!"
Winter looked like she was about to explode. "I have no qualms killing off a murderous, cannibalistic Cult! Get the HELL out of my way!"
"Make us, cow!"
A war was about to break out. The First Verde set aside her computer, joining the Second Yin in jumping between them.
"Wait! Wouldn't it be better to at least check things out first!?" The cyborg shouted. "It's like the First Verde said, she can't detect the Souls at all! We've always been able to... V-Vao, what are you doing on their side!?"
The Second Vao was standing with New Atlas, his axe slung over his shoulder. "That bastard killed Verde!"
"I get it, but we already established he was Blooded out-"
"He still killed her!"
The First Verde raised a finger, silencing the Second Yin before he could speak. "So the Blood doesn't matter... Then theoretically, you should not have continued a relationship with the Second Verde because of the atrocities she committed while she was influenced by the Blood. Correct?"
The Second Vao opened his mouth to argue, but nothing came out. The First Verde had won the argument in one blow. The soldier next to the mafia member nudged him with his rifle. "Say something, dude..."
The Second Vao closed his mouth, averting his eyes. "... I hate it when other people are right," he growled. "Fine... Fine!"
He stomped next to his brother, crossing his arms angrily. Now there were three of them standing between several armies ready to clash. The Second Yin spoke again, still trying to negotiate.
"Winter! Weren't you all for the whole 'save the First Vao' plan-"
"You want the truth?" The General hissed, stomping forward. "I lied about that! I was going to blow that fucker's brains out the moment I saw the chance, and then THIS shit happened! Blood or not, you can't ignore the deaths of billions! He ate them, took their damned Souls!"
"And Salem did the same thing, didn't she!? You aren't as eager to off her!"
"She made up for it by fighting a GOD! Name one person that Branwen ever saved! And not those psychopaths behind you! Name one and I'll consider going for 'just a look'! Hell, I'll even consider giving him to that Cult and leaving it at that!"
The Second Yin froze. The Second Vao looked up at him worriedly. "... H-hey, now isn't the time for stage fright, bruv... Don't you have anything...?"
But he didn't. They had all witnessed the horrors the First Vao had been capable of in the Graveyard. In a way, he could understand where Winter was coming from. The majority of her friends were dead and never reached the Graveyard, their Souls trapped within the Lord of Grimmore's body. He looked around for someone, anyone. From what the Cult said, the First Vao went out of his way to help all of them, but Winter would easily pass that off as either a manipulation tactic, or the Cult being zealots over the man they idolized.
It was the First Sasha who spoke up, dragging someone by the arm. "... I got someone who fought that maniac and survived. Or rather, he didn't kill."
She tossed Cinder to the ground, the Maiden rubbing her arm sorely. "O-ow-"
"Stop crying and start talking, pussy," the First Sasha growled. "We're about to go to war with each other. No one has time to kiss your boo boo."
She was just as harsh as ever. Cinder shakily stood up, nodding her head. "I-it's true... When I caught him stealing Dust in the Graveyard, we had a fight... But he didn't kill me-"
"Only because you used to be in a relationship with him!" Winter protested. "That doesn't count!"
"Wot an arrogant bitch," the Second Vao muttered. "Rich people, mate... I can't stand rich people-"
FLASH!
They all saw the hallucination. The First Vao holding a rocket over the cliff, watching as Salem and the God of Darkness duked it out. With a small smirk, he let go and watched it fall.
("Oops... It slipped.")
The vision ended, the New Atlas army left stunned. And quickly the murmurs rose.
"Hey... He did that on purpose, right...?"
"But that means he helped Salem of all people..."
Winter looked like she was struggling for an excuse to launch an attack, the Second Yin shaking his head.
"You had to have seen that, Winter! There's no way he was holding out a rocket he's seen a million times just to look at it! He did that shit deliberately!"
Winter glared at him, but she didn't back down. She looked around at her soldiers, her face falling as she saw the hesitation in their eyes. The Second Ironwood crossed his arms, nodding firmly.
"... I say we give it a chance. Check things out. If I recall correctly, that maid talked up a storm that he wouldn't be the same without the Blood. And we all heard his Blood admit everything. What was that woman's name? Mini?"
"Mono!" Rinys shouted. Ironwood snapped his fingers.
"That's it."
Winter was still against the idea. "But sir-"
"Overruled. If I recall correctly, I was a General before you, even if it wasn't the First Timeline. Everyone board the planes and helis. We're going to investigate and nothing more."
The Second Yin and Second Vao breathed a sigh of relief, the First Verde fetching her computer. They had managed to convince the New Atlas military to hold their fire. Or not really them, but the strange vision. As the Second Yin and Second Vao boarded a Cultist helicopter, the blonde lit a cigarette and turned to his older brother. "Hey... What was that thing we saw?"
The Second Vao scoffed, reaching for his flask. It wasn't filled with alcohol, but tea instead. "I dunno. That wasn't a trick of yours?"
"Since when did I ever make people hallucinate?"
"Um... F-fair..."
As the helicopters flew away, the busty woman stepped from her hiding place, the jewelery on her wrists clinking as she put her hands on her wide hips, watching them fly away.
"Ah~! I love making things interesting~!" Baphomet giggled. She flapped her black feathery wings, hovering in the air. "God of Light~! You were always so annoying, but so weak I couldn't be bothered to get rid of you myself~! But now I've got pawns of my own~!"
The woman named Baphomet took to the skies, returning to the final battle against the two who had done nothing but wrong each other.
...
SLAAAAAM!
Magic sizzled around them as Salem's forehead smashed against the First Vao's face, nearly sending Jasper sky high. The bars of pure Darkness that imprisoned the Heroes began to falter, finally fading away. But none of them could intervene. They dropped to the ground to keep their balance as power duked it out with power, the two demigods before them locked in their heated battle.
The First Vao clutched his bloodied nose, flicking the scarlet fluid to the ground. "Ooh... That one hurt," he rasped. "Nyahahaha!"
They charged each other again, their minds flashing back to their CQC training as they attempted to lock their opponent in a hold, rolling across the flowers. The First Vao pinned the Celestial beneath him, his hands flickering and blacking out with Darkness. He raised his fists, driving his knuckles into her chest with his full force. They didn't hear the aircraft humming above them, the soldiers and Cult watching them.
"Sh-shit! He's trying to kill her!" Winter screamed. "Get the artillery ready-"
The General was cut off when Ironwood held up his hand, stopping the soldiers from moving. He leaned against the window of the airship, jerking his head at the Second Yin. "... What do you see?"
The cyborg stood next to the general with the remnants of his team, the trio staring out the window.
They watched as Salem pushed the First Vao away and kicked him between the legs, the Lord of Grimmore hopping around in pain. He whirled around and struck her with his foot, the Celestial blocking and countering his attack.
"... That's a sparring match. I can see it in the way they moved - it's a battle between two warriors, not two enemies," the Second Sasha finally said. The Second Yin nodded.
"Yeah... If he was trying to kill her, he'd have his weapons. And the Souls wouldn't be up there."
Ironwood hummed in approval. "Precisely. Hold your fire, ladies and gentlemen. Let's watch, shall we?"
"But sir! You have no idea what he's capable of!" Winter protested. "He's batshit INSANE!"
"Ms. Forest?"
The First Verde looked up from her laptop. "Yes, sir?"
"Tune in the audio machines. Pick up what they're saying."
"On it, sir."
Down below, Salem headbutted the First Vao once, twice, then thrice, her magic nearly knocking him over from the powerful force. Salem rolled her shoulders, standing up tall.
"Vao," she hissed. "I'm not holding back anymore... Vao Dusty Branwen!"
The First Vao grinned back, his eye flickering with happiness.
"Now THAT'S wot I want to hear, Mistress! Give me a real fight! Let's make history together! Let's put an end to this story!"
Salem rushed forward, her knuckles slamming against his sternum and driving the air from his lungs.
Many would see it as a well-deserved beating as Salem bashed his front, leaving him no opening to defend himself, her magic carrying her arms as fast as light itself. She had wiped the grin right off his face, his Aura burning hot, and finally beginning to flicker.
But to Salem, it was a sign of respect. Because in the very end, in their very last battle, she realized just how alike they were.
Controlled by their emotions - Salem by her guilt, and the First Vao by his anger. Both of them suffered the Blood, seen horrors that no one should, survived the wrath of the Gods. From bitter enemies, they found respect in one another. They could never be friends, but they'd always have a deep respect for each other in the fact that they had suffered through it all and came out alive.
Crack... CRACK...
Mono's eye widened in horror, the maid struggling to get closer. "Vao! Vao, teleport! T-TELEPORT, VAO!"
CRACKLE! CRACK!
The Cultists cried out in shock, the Heroes above freezing. The First Verde's eyes widened, her hand grabbing her laptop screen for a better look. "H-his Aura...!?"
SMAAAAASH!
With one last blow, Salem had shattered his Aura to pieces, the First Vao skidding across the ground. The Celestial panted hard, staring him down and taking a stance. The First Vao's fingers curled into the devastated flowers, his eye socket dark, blind. But his good eye was filled with something she had only seen when he was ridden with the Blood.
It was bliss.
"My... My Aura," he rasped as he staggered dizzily to his feet, his arms hanging at his sides. "How long... How long has it been since someone broke my Aura...? This feeling...! Mistress... No... Salem...!"
He looked back up at her, holding out his hands. It looked like he had a few broken fingers, his Darkness already trying to heal them. But without his Aura, it wasn't as fast as before. He clenched his fists, breaking out into a fit of laughter.
"I feel... Adrenaline...! I haven't felt like this in so, so long...! Nyaha... Nyahahaha...! Salem... I can still fight, even without Aura!"
His Darkness vanished, Salem dissipating her own magic. The two charged again, their knuckles grazing over each other. The sickening crack echoed through the air like thunder.
CRACK!
They had punched each other at the same time, their eyes rolling back in their heads as they stumbled back. The First Vao's knees trembled, the Lord of Grimmore swinging his fists blindly. He couldn't focus. But neither could Salem.
Their knuckles punched each other in the guts, driving them back again. And then their shins crashed into each other when they kicked. They grappled with each other, but didn't have the strength to bring their opponent to the ground. Salem hissed through her exhaustion, driving her knee into the First Vao's scarred abs and doubling him over. She took a fistful of his absurdly long hair and yanked his head back, slamming her knuckles straight down into his nose.
Scarlet blood dropped and even spewed on the ground, on her knuckles, on him. Gasping for air she let go and winded her arm back. The moment the First Vao lifted his head, she delivered it.
The final blow.
CRACK!
Her knuckles were scraped against his teeth when she punched him right in the mouth, the First Vao stumbling back. His breath was the only sound aside from the howling wind and the sound of airships as he looked back up at her, his lips twitching into a soft smile, his hand reaching for her. And finally, he pointed.
"You're... Pretty... Good," he rasped hoarsely. Salem flinched.
It was the same words she said to him during their first CQC match together, during his final exam for his survival training.
The First Vao's finger started to waver, the Lord of Grimmore finally falling down on his back.
No one could move. It was hard to believe it. The First Vao had been defeated for the first time since he started his quest for revenge. And in a twist of irony, the one who had defeated him was Salem, the woman he had cursed as his enemy.
Salem approached the First Vao, kneeling down beside him. The Lord of Grimmore stared at the sky, his eye struggling to stay open. Even still, he looked at her, that same smile appearing on his lips.
The smile of a better age. The smile of an old friend.
"S... Salem," he rasped. "F... F-finally... M-my nightmare... It can... I-it can end..."
Salem shook her head. She already knew what he was asking. She had seen it in Mono's Reality.
"... I'm not going to kill you," she whispered with ragged breath. "I said... I wouldn't do that..."
The First Vao's smile faltered and fell, his eye watering.
"... P-please," he begged. "I c... C-can't take it... E-every time... I close my eyes, I-I see... I see it all..."
She reached down, running her fingers through his bloody hair. "... Sometimes, we have to keep going," she whispered. "Even if it seems like we can't take it... We need to stay strong... You have people waiting for you... Your Cult, Mono... You can't just abandon them, can you?"
The First Vao's breath hitched in his throat when she mentioned them. His lip trembled, but he couldn't argue. A tear ran down the side of his face as his head fell back. And finally, he flashed a small, half-hearted smirk.
"N... N-nyahaha... Y-you... Really are c-cruel..."
Salem chuckled a bit at his little joke. The Celestial stood up, breathing in the fresh air, letting it fill her lungs.
It was over. Her battle with the First Vao was finally over. Neither of them wanted to fight each other. The Heroes watched as the Souls drifted down from the sky, seeping back into the First Vao's body. The airships pulled back a bit, the occupants too stunned to say nor do anything.
Salem looked to her friends, giving them a small smile.
"... Come on," she said hoarsely. "We still... Have one more enemy..."
Slowly they walked with her, the Celestial giving one last look at Mono.
"... Mono... Take care of him, alright?"
Mono, her eye wet and puffy, could only nod as she watched the Heroes leave for their final battle, the airships pulling back completely. The only one that remained was the airships that belonged to the Cult, the aircraft landing on the ruined garden, the Cultists slowly filing out.
She gently raised his head enough for her to rest it on her lap, her fingers smoothing out the knots in his overgrown mass of hair. Even with her eye closed, she could feel his gaze burning on her.
"... W... Why...?"
Mono opened her eye, her lips curling into a soft, tender smile. "... Why what?"
"Why... D-didn't you ever run away...?"
He had asked that question before. He never understood why Mono wasn't afraid of him in the slightest. She smiled patiently, her nails lightly scratching at his scalp. "Because I love you."
The First Vao's eye watered, his lips pulling back. "Th... Th-that isn't... Isn't good enough," he hissed, his voice straining itself to speak. "You s... Saw them... The Souls... I-I've killed... K-killed so many... My p-power... I-is made to destroy... S-so... Why...?"
She gently wiped at his cheek, cleaning the tears off.
"... Power should not dictate what makes us monsters... Right?"
She could feel him flinch. Those words had been special to her. It was what he had said after it was revealed to him that she could stop time. He was the first person to ever look past her ability, to want to be her friend even knowing what she could do. The First Vao glared at her, his eye watering again.
"U... U-using my own... W-words against me..."
Mono nodded, wiping his tears away again. "Of course. It is how I truly feel. Your powers were made to destroy... But you're different from your powers, are you not...?"
The First Vao opened his mouth to argue before he stopped, finally taking notice of the Cultists that surrounded them. Everyone was there, every resident of Grimmore who had survived their battles in the Royal Capital and the Realm of the Gods. "... E... E-everyone...?"
Mono hummed, locking eyes with him again. "Everyone is here... None of us want to leave your side... You are our Lord, Vao..."
The First Vao, even though it was painful, tried to sit up. But he was weakened from his battle with Salem. Mono had no trouble keeping his head on her lap.
"I... A-admitted to everything," he hissed quietly. "I've... I've o-only s-sought revenge..."
"Then why did you go out of your way for us?"
The First Vao opened his mouth, but no argument came out. Mono continued to play with his hair, brushing his bangs out of the way.
"You gave us a home in Grimmore... You never judged... You made everyone feel welcome in Grimmore," the monoeye continued gently. "It was more than some of us could have ever asked for... I do not care about reaching a new Timeline... My dream was already reached the day I met you... The day you went out of your way to make me feel respected... Special... I knew from that day, I loved you... I care not for how dangerous you think you are, because I know that isn't you..."
"She's right, Lord Vao!" Rinys agreed, her southern drawl sticking out like a sore thumb. "You say you're a bad guy, but if you were really so selfish, would you have gone out of your way to know everyone in the Cult's name?"
"O-or... C-celebrate our accomplishments, n-no matter how small?" Muriel added tearfully.
"Yeah, you aren't bad," Tanjin agreed. "Honestly... Most of us were alone before the Cult... You made us feel like we had a place to really belong..."
"And you even went out of your way to not eat any of us!"
There was a light chuckle from the Cultists at Harold's little joke. The First Vao opened his mouth to try and argue, but was silenced by Mono's finger pressing against his lips.
"Vao," she cooed. "It's my turn to ask a question... Why?"
She could see his eye brimming with confusion. He didn't understand what she was saying. Mono felt her smile grow just a tiny bit.
"Why did you let Salem go, if you're so bad?"
It was a question he couldn't answer, and she knew it. She had won the argument. The First Vao tried to sit up again, Mono keeping a firm, yet gentle grip on his head. The Lord of Grimmore, the man who had become known as Death, Doom with One Eye, was cracking under the weight of his sin, his guilt, and the Cult's love for him.
"I... I-I don't... U-understand..."
"Then let's understand together."
"I... I-I've a-always... B-been alone..."
"I am here."
She countered everything he said swiftly, taking out any chance of resistance he had. Without the Blood, and after his memories had been shown to them, Mono knew he was at his most emotionally vulnerable. She cupped his cheek, leaning closer to his face.
"... And I will always be here."
The First Vao's chest heaved with a rigid gasp, tears leaving clear streaks down the side of his face as he stared at her in silence. And finally he tried to sit up again. Only this time Mono helped him, letting him lean on her for support. His bangs fell back over his face, the dim light of his Aura beginning to flicker in his eye socket as it healed.
"M... M-Mono..."
She smiled patiently, holding his hand. It didn't feel cold like it used to. It didn't feel like a block of ice. It was warm, soft. And she knew she was the only one he had ever allowed to hold his hand like this. "Yes, Vao?"
The First Vao looked up at her, his pale skin glowing in the sunlight like a sliver of the full moon. His lip twitched, exposing a bit of his teeth, his eyebrows quivering as he tried to bottle it all in, like he always did.
"I... I-I'm a m... M-murderer..."
Mono hummed, shifting closer, staring down at him.
"What a coincidence... So am I..."
They grew closer, his hand resting on her shoulders when she pulled him closer. She could feel his breath on her neck now. And just like his hands, it was warm. It was natural, without the horrid effects of the Curse. And finally, their lips met. Mono could feel his tongue against her own as she stroked his hair, her fingers brushing against the many scars on his back.
The Cultists stepped closer, surrounding them as they moved in. Mono pulled away after a long time, looking into his one scarlet eye.
"Vao... What do you want us to do now-!?"
She was cut off when he leaned forward again, trapping her in another kiss, sitting on his knees in a failed attempt to be taller than her.
That night they spent together in her room, the First Vao hadn't been so responsive. He had let Mono take the lead almost the entire time. She could hear his heart beating in his chest, as if it were trying to escape. He broke away, his arms draped over her shoulders.
"... I-I... R-reached my dream, t-too..."
Mono could feel the familiar feeling of butterflies in her stomach again when he had said the words. "P... Pardon...?"
"I r... Reached my d-dream," the First Vao repeated quietly. "B-building a new T-Timeline... I-isn't worth it... Not without you..."
The Cult murmured amongst each other, their grins growing.
Almost everyone, with the exception of the three fairies who had worked directly under her, had referred to her as 'Milady' shortly after she had become their leader and the First Vao's maid. There was a reason for this - they all had wanted Mono and their Lord to get close. Tanjin and Muriel held each other's hands as they shifted closer to one another, Rinys leaning against Harold's ghostly form as they watched Mono and the First Vao look at each other, their passion, their love, growing with each breath they took.
Mono had never known what it was like to be accepted and loved when she was young. The closest she ever had was a young kelpie named Blaire, and even then Mono had to pretend to be someone she wasn't. But with the First Vao, she didn't need to hide anything.
The First Vao, who had become known as a ruthless killer, had become a nightmare that haunted nearly everyone he encountered. Hated, feared, he understood Mono better than anyone else. With her, he didn't need to be worried about how she'd react to his past. He already knew how she'd react; he was seeing it now.
They leaned into each other when Mono helped him stand up, his knees trembling as his Aura grew brighter, his Darkness beginning to heal his wounds. Her fingers slipped between his own, the First Vao giving her hand a gentle squeeze as he looked back up at the Cult he cherished, loved. They stared back, waiting. They were there for him too.
The First Vao heaved a trembling breath, slowly extending his arms. He wasn't sure if he was ready. But he had come to the realization that there wasn't a single thing he wouldn't do for them. Even if it meant struggling against the Blood again, even if it meant facing off against a God, he'd do it for his Cult. The Cult he loved.
"C... C-can I... H-have a hug...?"
The Cult was surprised by his words. They all knew he hated being touched. Most of them had never done more than shake his hand, and even then he had always been alert. But this time, he was allowing it. The Cult stepped forward, grouping together under the sun, in the garden of red spider lilies as the cherry blossom petals fell around them, a quiet murmur growing into a soft chorus as they laughed together.
Like one big family, something the First Vao had sought after for so many long, painful years.
...
Yin walked beside Salem in the halls, his hands in his pockets as the Heroes followed the Celestial, the Relics clinking together as she moved. The blonde reached for his cigarettes, but stopped. He moved his hand away, looking up at her.
"... You aren't worried he'll attack again...?"
Salem shook her head. "No. I could see it. He doesn't want to keep fighting," she replied softly. "He wants a better life. That was his ultimate goal - it was partly for revenge, but what he really wanted was a happy ending. And now he knows he had it all along with his Cult and Mono."
"Father, are you crying again?"
"Bugger off. These are manly tears," Vao muttered under his breath. Sasha let out an amused hum.
"Sure... Manly emotional tears..."
"Can it, you nit."
Jasper rested on Yin's shoulder, her hands folded in her lap and her legs crisscrossed. "... You aren't angry at him, Salem?"
The Celestial shook her head. "No. Why should I be? I know what it's like to be desperate. I know what it's like when you feel there's no other way. I was never angry with him because I've done the same." She turned back to her friends, flashing a small smile. "I think... We still might be able to do it, though."
"Do what?" Verde asked.
"Reach a happy ending," Salem said. "After all, there's just one God... We can figure out what to do from there, right? Making the best out of shitty situations... That's what we've been doing, hasn't it?"
She had a point that none of them had an argument for, nor were willing to go against it. They faced ahead, marching forward as they always did.
Marching to the golden doors that stood in the way of their final obstacle.
The final obstacle who had repeatedly taken their lives and destroyed them over and over.
The God of Light.