im gonna have a busy day so i thought i'd update early
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Jimin hadn't registered where the sword had cut him, for he was too shocked; too devastated as the book was sliced up right in front of him.
Tears, mixed with blood, ran down his face.
He had failed.
A violent shiver wracked through him at the words.
He had failed.
He had failed all of them, fighting while risking their lives just to buy him time -
"Jimin- shit!" it took Jimin a second to figure out who the sudden alarmed voice belonged to. Yoongi. "You fucker!" the rage in his voice was tangible and as Jimin kept staring woodenly, Yoongi pulled the scythe in a smooth arc, so quick that Jimin hadn't even noticed it, and the man who'd crept up on Jimin lay dead upon the floor.
"Jimin- shit, Jimin" Yoongi rushed towards him, cradling Jimin in his arms, unshed tears in his eyes. "What- oh fuck your eye"
And Jimin had never heard Yoongi swear so much. But as the Reaper's shaky words processed in his mind, Jimin's hand suddenly flew up to cover his left eye. He hadn't realized that he'd been looking through one eye this entire time. As his palm pressed against the cut, Jimin whimpered in pain.
Yoongi was aghast. "I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you-"
His words were cut off when more and more demons began to surround them. Bile rose up Jimin's throat at the horror he was facing. There was no way they could win against so many enemies. Jimin was again being nothing but a liability-
"Jimin!!"
Seokjin had slashed his way in through the enemies, eyes wild and stood in front of the two of them protectively. "Chant the spell. Now"
Jimin watched in horror as more and more enemies advanced- had there really been that many in Ajax's army?- and they were nothing short of surrounded. They couldn't win. They couldn't. Yoongi and Seokjin were going to die protecting him.
Until Erata and Draiotch and Fen and-
Jimin gasped in shock. Jungkook.
Fen gave him a desperate look as he also joined the protective curve around Jimin and Yoongi. "Please, Jimin, you need to get going. Please. You are our only hope"
Jimin looked at all his friends, sacrificing themselves so selflessly and wordlessly pleading through their eyes and determination ran through his veins strongly. He pulled away from Yoongi and gave him a brief nod.
Keeping his left eye shut tightly and ignoring the tingles of pain, he picked up the hacked pieces of the spell. Around him, this time much much closer, he heard the roars, the shouts, the clanking and the shootings starting again, but he paid them no mind. He sorted out the pieces through sure hands, finally laying them in front of him as he firmly, with no waver in his voice this time, began to chant.
He could hear a roar akin to Ajax's own coming closer and closer, but he refused to break his concentration.
He kept on chanting. As the world burned around him, he kept on chanting, shaping his lips around the unfamiliar words until he felt a strange kind of weight lift off his shoulders. Until he felt his weakened state slowly restoring its strength. Until he saw that his fingertips were beginning to glow.
Even then, he dismissed every thought in his mind, focusing on the spell and the spell alone. And when he was nearing the end, he was surprised to hear that the spell was simply rolling off his tongue, as smooth as if the language was in his mother tongue.
He got to the last two sentences of the spell, and now, he was no longer on his knees.
Somewhere along the lines, he'd stood up, and now he was levitating an inch or two above the ground. The winds swirled around him, forming sort of rings around him. His entire body was now enclosed in a golden glow.
He raised his left arm towards the direction of the tomb, and then,
"I command you to give yourself over to me" The words came to him naturally, as if he'd memorized them. "To let me be your judge. To let me control you, for the greater good of this world. I command you, the Spirit of the Good, to bind with me and together, we shall ruler over Elyxion, as the Angel King"
As his voice quietened, a blinding white light veiled the entire battlefield, stilling each and every warrior to a halt.
With a loud sound that must've surely shocked all of them, the tomb sealing the Spirit of the Good cracked, and from it, emerged a woman robed in white and gold, her hair brown and cascading over her shoulders akin to a waterfall. She rose and rose, until she was well above the battlefield, looking at the paused stances of each warrior.
Her smile could dim entire galaxies, and it was now directed towards Jimin.
"Well done, dearest"
And then she shot down, straight at Jimin at a speed that made her practically invisible, right into his chest.
Jimin expected pain, but as the seconds ticked by, he only got stronger and stronger; only felt warmer and warmer. His entire form began to glow. He felt a silky smoothness encompass his entire body, and was shocked to see that he was now robed in white and gold, much similar to the Spirit of the Good. He didn't feel weak anymore. His limbs weren't resembling blocks of concrete anymore. As Jimin's feet finally hit the round again, he felt refreshed.
Let me take over your body, dearest. Jimin couldn't say that he wasn't shocked as a voice beside his own, echoed in his mind. I need to let my spirit take over your body to mend it and give you a temporary burst of strength.
And Jimin knew that his weakened body could not handle any more of the stress. So he agreed. At once, strength coursed through his entire system.
Thank you, dearest.
The Reaper too, was now encased in a glow much darker than Jimin's, and his torn clothes were replaced by silky robes of black and red. On his forehead, now, was a black gemstone. And Jimin belatedly realized that he too, had a similar gemstone on his forehead. One that was lighter in color.
Jimin stared, amazed when every person on the battlefield began to kneel down in respect, friend and foe alike. Although some were only begrudgingly doing the act. All except for, of course, Ajax and Fey.
Fey, who was now standing directly opposite from Jimin, shaking from head-to-toe. When Jimin spoke again, directed at her, his voice was now amplified tenfold and was richer. More fuller.
"You have been gravely mistaken, my dear child" in the ringing silence of the battlefield, only Fey's growing sobs were heard. "I have always loved you, and I have always stood up for you. And yet you lock me away, for thousands of years, thinking I have never appreciated you as much as your brother"
Jimin watched through the eyes of the spirit, as the Demonic Angel fell on to her knees. "You-you have never appreciated me...as much as him"
"What makes you say that, my love?" Jimin's voice was gentle. Soothing. "I have always protected you, standing up against those who claimed you were a mistake"
And it was a shocking revelation. To find out that the leading head of the council had been treated as such, in a past time that had been locked away along with her mother.
"It is your fault" Fey cried. "You are the one who made me like this! An abnormality. An angel who is unholy! It is your fault, mother!"
Jimin could feel the spirit's sadness at the words as if it were his own. He felt the heartbreak, almost as it was something he'd gone through.
"I have made you into something you have still chosen not to accept, my love" her words were sad. "I have made you and your brother, the symbols of balance and equality. After all these years, have you still not embraced it?"
"This is not balance!" Fey shrieked. "I am an abnormality!"
"My dear child" this time, it was Yoongi who spoke up. "You were never an abnormality. We are. It is impossible for a concept like good or bad to exist separately, and yet your mother and I, we exist. And we created a perfected version. A balance. That is you and your brother. The Angelic Demon and the Demonic Angel. People might have misunderstood the new concept as a monstrosity, but in our eyes, you two were much better than anything we could have expected"
Fey had quietened down.
As a cool breeze rushed past them, Jimin walked up to Fey, resting his hand upon her cheek as he spoke up again.
"Do you accept your wrongdoings, my love?"
There was a brief silence, until Fey raised her head and nodded shakily. "I-I do, mother"
"Will you finally accept what you are, and help regain balance of the world?" as Fey nodded again, this time more actively, Jimin gestured Fen to come forward. The Angelic Demon bowed at Jimin, before turning to face his sister.
"This time, we are both in control" he firmly said. His sister gave a sheepish nod.
As the twins held hands and closed their eyes, a small glow sparked from their joint hands, growing and growing until it caged the two of them and in a sudden burst of light, they disappear with a wound similar to a sigh. A second later, the entire sky light up briefly with a golden tint almost as if they had touched the sky and suddenly, a deep sense of peace instilled within Jimin. He could feel it within his very core.
The spirits of Balance and equality were born on that fateful day, on the 21st of September. An incident no one had dreamed would take place.
As the Spirit retreated to a corner of his mind and allowing Jimin to start to regain control over his entire body, Jimin realized that the spirit was still ensuring that he had enough strength to keep standing till everything was over. The glow around his body started to fade away and even though he still couldn't open his left eye, He felt marginally better- stronger than ever. It felt as if Elyxion wasn't draining away his stamina anymore.
But there was no time to rejoice over the fact now, for there was one last matter to deal with.
He looked at Yoongi and shared a nod with the Reaper before the two of them turn to face Ajax: the man who must be punished for all the crimes he has committed against the world.
He stood alone, in the field of grass, frozen and unaided by even his own army.
When Jimin spoke up again, breaking the silence that had fallen over the field, his voice was louder than it had been.
"You are now to be punished, Ajax, for everything you have done" he spoke clearly.
It took Ajax a minute to recover, but when he did, he spat at the ground. "I'm not afraid of you"
"Does it matter, if you are not?" Yoongi sneered. "I am the rightful Demon King. I have always been. And now, I will take control over my brethren again, and will them to fight. Against you"
"They will not listen to you!" the man incredulously said. "I have led them all these years. They have not even seen you for more than five seconds"
"But they had seen you" the Reaper said. The scythe wasn't in his hands and Jimin presumed that Hoseok had returned to his normal form. "They've seen you, trying to lead them on the wrong path and manipulate the Demonic Angel into doing your twisted beliefs. Look around you, Ajax. You've caused so many unreasonable deaths" and now that Jimin was surveying the aftermath, he could feel the shock and horror of seeing so many dead bodies in one place. "All of this could have been avoided if you hadn't let your anger rule you. But you did. Whether or not they choose me, I do not know, but I do know, that after everything, they will not choose you"
And Yoongi was undeniably correct.
Ajax was now shaking. He looked nothing like the calm and composed, cocky man that Jimin had learned to fear and hate over the months.
"You cannot defeat me" he growled, but it didn't sound as threatening as it used to sound. Jimin wanted to scoff.
"You're defeated yourself Ajax" he scorned. "You've let your anger defeat yourself"
"Nonsense!" the man cried. Jimin shared a look with Yoongi again, nodding. They walked up to the now rambling man, nothing but a shell of the boisterous, vile Demon King he used to be. "You cannot defeat me! I will get my revenge on the world! I will take all happiness from the world! Just as they took mine! I-"
Jimin and Yoongi stood on opposite sides of the panicking man.
"Tell me Ajax" Yoongi called out in a hard voice. "Are you happy now? With all the decades of pain you gave me because I had been powerless to go against my family? I had taken all the risks I could, befriending you and risking my sister's life because they threatened to have her killed if I continued my friendship with you. Are you happy now? Are you satisfied?" the Reaper's words, Jimin stored away for later, to question the man about for it was a startling piece of information.
As Ajax's lips fell apart, Jimin could see for once, the tiniest ounce of regret on his face.
A second chance.
The words hit Jimin with the force of an avalanche.
He looked inside him for the spirit- it was still a whole new concept to him.
I want you to help me with a purifying ritual.
The spirit was shocked. You want to purify him? After everything? He manipulated my children-
And yet you gave Fey a second chance, Jimin interrupted her. After everything she did. Everyone deserves a second chance. You know this.
At the sudden silence within him, Jimin was worried that he might have offended her. But a second later, she huffed.
A second chance it is, then.
As Jimin raised his hands, index finger and middle finger held out as he had seen Yoongi and Seokjin do so many times. He directed his arms in a straight line, chanting- words flowing out freely with the help of the spirit- and around Ajax, slowly, Yoongi and Jimin drew a square, caging him in. Much like the time Jimin had gone through a freedom ritual, the square at Ajax's feet started to glow up, four walls rising up from the two dimensional shape, imprisoning the man inside.
Once the cage had risen sky high, in unison, Yoongi and Jimin raised their arms skywards, yelling, "Be purified!"
The holograph-like walls began to glow, and Ajax gave a sudden cry of pain, falling on to his knees.
Jimin could feel his energy dwindling- not drastically, but still enough for him to notice and be wary of it. He held him arm outwards, waiting and waiting for the tiring ritual to be done with.
What almost broke him out of his concentration was Ajax running around the cage, banging against each wall in desperation. He was screaming in agony, pleading with them, but there was no turning back now. Jimin's brows furrowed in further concentration, using all his might to keep the walls in place against the battering.
"Please!" the man croaked. "Please, have mercy"
Jimin closed his eyes against the scene. He couldn't bear to watch it anymore.
What caught his attention was the sudden reduce in his use of energy, He opened his eyes, surprised and unsure of what to expect. His eyes caught on the sorry sight that was Ajax, slumped on the ground in a heap. A crumpled, broken and sobbing heap.
As he watched, the walls around the man started to shrink further and further, until Jimin let his hand down by his side, staring at the unmoving heap of a man.
It didn't dawn on him, until Ajax was too still. Too unnaturally still.
Jimin chocked.
Ajax was dead.
The seconds ticked by, and there was not a single movement from the man and Jimin could feel the tears prickle his eyes again.
Ajax was dead.
Against his better judgment, the man who had caused so much pain and suffering, had died.
Jimin fell on to the ground in a trance.
Peace finally settle over the field. The tension had broken.
Everything ended with the man who was nothing but a corpse now.
It was over.
Everything was finally over.
As cheering started to erupt from around him, Jimin was suddenly swarmed with people- Seokjin, Erata, Hoseok and Jungkook- they held him close reassuringly. Jimin looked up through his good eye at Driaotch.
"He died" he whispered. He didn't feel any of the joy the others felt. "He died"
Draiotch knelt down beside him with a wince that did not go unnoticed by Jimin. His eyes were pained. "He was too tainted Jimin. He had no humanity left in him. That's why he died. You had a good intention, but he could not be saved"
And as Jimin closed his eyes, he let the death pass over him. Ajax had done too many crimes to be saved. It wasn't Jimin's fault.
When he opened his good eyes again, he broke out in a wide smile. He could see Yoongi crawl over to his side with an unsure expression and beamed at the man. "I did it"
He looked at all of his friends, now battered and bruised, and then around at all the survivors who were closing in on him and Yoongi.
Erata broke out with a wrecked chuckled. "Yes Jimin" she whispered back, right into the crown of his head. "You did it"
It was as if those words were a catalyst, for Seokjin gently pulled him to a stand, with Erata's help. As Hoseok pulled Yoongi towards Jimin, Draiotch quite unexpectedly yelled, "All hail the Angel King!"
As the crowd repeated the sentence over and over again he couldn't help but tear up. His entire body was hurting like there was no tomorrow, and every time his eyes moved, his left one pained violently, and maybe Yoongi was too far away from him for his liking, but Jimin had all the time in the world to talk it out; had all the time in the world to get healed.
For now, he would let himself bask in the glory that he deserved.
**
The aftermath was messy.
As the crowd dispersed to give the fallen soldiers a proper burial, the mood that veiled upon them was somber.
Jimin so badly wanted to meet Yoongi and talk to him, but his heart yearned to see Jungkook and see if the man was doing alright.
He didn't have to walk far, for there was a hand pulling him back, forcing him to turn around and it was none other than Jungkook himself. Eyes raking over his friend's face, Jimin couldn't help but worry over all the bruises and cuts that littered his skin.
"I told you not to come" he scolded, taking Jungkook's hands and observing his palms. There were so many wound just on them. "Look at you now"
"Says the one who looks like a fucking mess" the younger retaliated. "Do you even notice that you've got blood all over your face? And a huge fucking cut over your eye?"
"Yeah, you know. I kind of did notice" Jimin teased. Despite the light mood, now he was actually very scared. And he should probably go to a hospital without waiting any more, but he just didn't want to. Something at the back of his mind told him that it was already too late.
He'd lost one eye.
"Honestly, hyung, you should get it checked. And your whole body checked" Jungkook shook his head wearily. "Taehyung's gonna freak"
"Where is he?"
"I made him stay at home"
"So why'd you come?" Jimin asked, curious. Jungkook scratched his head.
"I talked to my dad. Like you said in the letter. And-and it turned out better than I expected. And honestly, even he had no idea of why gang activities where increasing. And that weird man you sent-"
"Draiotch"
"-he was very convincing. So dad was hooked" Jungkook shrugged, wincing as the movement caused him pain. "I hate not knowing what's going to happen next though" he admitted in a small voice. "I don't want to get tangled up in the Mafia"
"I know you don't Kookie" Jimin sighed. "And I'm sorry for making you go through this"
"It was going to happen anyway" the younger gave a smile. "Now, let's get some partying going on, yeah? It's your big day. Also, does this mean you're actually a king?"
Jimin laughed. "Yes, Kook. Unbelievable, I know"
Someone tapped his shoulder, and Jimin turned around to see Hoseok, looking serious. Jimin cocked his right eyebrow, now wanting to move anything around his left eye.
"We're going to bury the dead" the man said and Jimin nodded. He turned back to Jungkook.
"Did you...lose any of your father's people?" he asked. The younger gave a tiny sad nod.
"Yeah, two"
"Will you be burying them here?"
Jungkook shook his head. "Dad said they'll be taking them home. He also wants to talk to you too. He's kind of impressed by that magical shit you pulled"
"So are you Kookie, don't lie"
"I was more impressed by Namjoon-hyung rapping"
As Jungkook waved him bye and Jimin had promised his father that he would meet him sometime later when he came back to Earth (or his parents would pull a tantrum) Jungkook finally left through a portal Erata had made.
As Jimin returned back to the Willow, where the dead were being buried, Jimin closed his eyes, wishing them a happy afterlife, wherever they go. Even Ajax.
As he opened his eyes however, he discovered that everyone was looking at him expectantly. Seokjin nudged him, before whispering a, "You're the Angel King, Jimin. Give a small speech"
So Jimin drew a deep breath, before stepping forward.
"Thank you all, for helping us make a better world. I'm sorry that you had to give your life up while doing so, more sorry that you can't see the world you helped build, but I will make sure that your name go down in history" he gave a small smile. "I will promise you, here and now, that your death will not go wasted" he looked around suddenly, smiling when his eyes landed on the Reaper. Enclosing his wrist around the man's wrist, Jimin pulled him forward. "I, along with the Demon King, will make this world a happier place. I swear upon my honor"
As he stepped back, there was a silence for a minute or two, before the crowd dispersed, leaving all but Jimin and a few others in the field.
He was forced into another shock, however, when he saw Hyung and Hyojong walk up to him, without their usual companion Lucas. Jimin's lips curved down.
"Oh no" he whispered. Hyunga smiled sadly. Hyojong looked blank. "I'm so sorry"
"It...it happens" Hyuna shrugged. "We wanted to congratulate you. And thank you. For finally bringing this world peace"
Jimin nodded. "That you for saving me from the Warden"
Hyung gave a wet chuckle, before she dragged Hyojong and herself away from the battlefield they'd lost their friend.
Finally, it was just Jimin, Seokjin, Erata, Hoseok, Draiotch and Yoongi.
As Jimin stared at his friends faces, he couldn't help but finally allowing himself to relax and let himself finally cool down.
"I'm sorry I had you guys captured" he apologized in a small voice.
Seokjin gave him a wan smile. "You made it up to us all Jimin. How about you-"
Before he could finish his sentence, Draiotch slumped forward, falling on to the ground with a thump.
The five of them stood, shocked, before Jimin knelt beside the man, only now seeing the wound on his back and the blood seeping our horrendously, coloring his entire shirt. Shaking, Jimin checked his pulse, only for his heart to pound against his ribcage.
In a panicked daze, Jimin cried, "Hospital! We need to take him! Now!"
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SO
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