Chapter 10 (The Lord of Darkness Part 2) We join Team Phenomenon in one of Spark's hidden bases, covered by canyons and sand. A week after their brutal beat down by the hands of the dark brothers, with two new companions of massive stature joined in the group now. Xak in full recovery as well as Marytha, and Silver, and the rest of the group preparing an all-out, upcoming battle, Shocram still in distraught feeling useless that he feel into a trap laid out by the ruthless dark brothers, and was not able to aid in the battle, was well as the others who feel into the deceitful traps and Xak soaking in his sadness in the midnight desert sky, knowing that he yet still is the only one left of his family, and heartbroken because of Myral's devious disguise. Marytha walked out outside and sat next to Xak with a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Hey Xak, are you alright?" Marytha asked softly, already knowing his response. "Yeah... just... thinking about how life was before all this happened.... wishing I could... go back, and forget about all of this..." Xak replied in a sorrowful tone "Hey now, things are bad, but you don't need to worry, because you have all of us, and like we said, we're all here to help, we'll fix this and help you get your girlfriend back, but you have to be strong, you're our leader, remmeber? ... if you're down we're down" Marytha said, smiling warmly at an attempt to cheer Xak up. "Yeah I guess you're right... it would be kinda selfish of me, to just give up on you guess huh?" Xak said still in regret but with a little weight lifted and feeling some confidence again. "Thanks Mary... i'm glad you're on our side, especially after seeing you fight, you're very skilled." Xak said smiling and complementing her. "Well that's kinda the result when you're a master thief and a top notch combat specialist." Marytha said standing up on her feet and giving Xak a friendly wink of pride. "Hm... well I'm glad I met you, and Mia has taken quite a liking to you too." Xak said "Yeah well she's a sweet heart; by the way I’ve been meaning to ask you something?" Marytha said suddenly changing her tone into a serious note "Um, yeah… what?" Xak replied a little confused. "Why do you have a little girl traveling with you?” Marytha asked looking at Xak with a little bit of an apprehensive expression. "Eh, well you see me--" "Hey Xak, Spark found something! Come look!" Shocram said rushing to the outside door and shouted lightly to them. Xak and Marytha looked at each other and nodded in sync as they both hurried to Spark's computer lab, "What it is anyway Shocram?” Xak asked as the three ran down into the base. "It has something to do with that Martyr guy!" Shocram said seriously. Suddenly, hearing that name Xak kicked it into full gear and ran fast deeper in the base. (Meanwhile) Spark and Cyborg were in the computer lab with monitors glowing and brightening up the entire room, while the others stood behind them, watching them push buttons on the computers, as Xak, Shocram, and Marytha quickly rushed in. "Spark, what did you find?!" Xak asked, panting a little from his run. "Wow, Xak are you alright? You never ran out of breath that easily before." Shocram asks. "Yeah i'm fine." Xak reassured "This is not good Xak, there are readings all over the grass plains near here, and these readings are not normal... take a look." Spark said uneasily, in his little kid voice, gesturing to the screen before them. Xak took a look at the screen only to see what looked like black clouds covering the skies and all life, plant, and mobian falling under illness and transforming into mindless shadow minions, "w-what the hell?" Xak said looking quite disturbed "This isn’t good, he's only been free for a week and he's already built what looks to be a massive fortress." Cyborg, crunching buttons as he spoke, said to them. "Show me this fortress." Xak commanded, Cyborg and Spark brought the image up as Xak eyes were brought to tears, in a heartbeat as Martyr's fortress was built right where Xak's kingdom once stood, on top of the ruins. "That....that...." Xak was speechless with tears running down his face, everyone looked at Xak confused. "What’s wrong Big brother?" Mia asked a she tapped his leg, but received no response as Xak, as was seemingly frozen. "Xak?" Solar said waving his hand in front of Xak's face when Xak snapped back but his tears immediately turned black, and shortly after they stopped. Xak looked down, clenched a fist tight enough to crush iron in his hands, and gritted his teeth, as he grunted and slowly his grunts turned into pure anger growling, shouting at the top of his longs, everyone looked at Xak a little scared, Xak looked the group . "this... is my battle now..." Xak growled with his skin turning pale and his eyes turning from the usual bright blue, to a dark hollow blue, and black flames raged in his hands, he took a small look at his friends, and then busted with power knocking everyone out unconscious. Xak quickly took off and headed to his once proud home, with nothing but pure hatred in his eyes. "MEPHILES!" Xak said as he ran into a rock and his raw power alone shattered the stone removing it from his path, "MISCHEF!" his black flames reached unbearable degrees of heat burning everything to charcoal around him, "MYRAL!" Xak shouted as his entire body was ablaze and suddenly became a black blur of fire dashing through the desert. "MMMMAAAAARRRTTTYYYYYRRRRR!!!!" Xak finally shouted as his suddenly blitzed off faster than any living thing possibly alive, using this speed was something Xak did not possess, but Xak didn't care he only had one thought on his mind... Revenge... (Meanwhile) "My lord it's so good to have you back" Mephiles says as the three brothers bowed before Martyr who sat proudly in his new throne. "Hmhmhm and its Grand to be back my faithful disciple, Mephiles..." Martyr said in his wickedly evil low toned voice, "But now introduce me too these two..." "Of course my Lord, this is the second oldest brother, Mischef" Mephiles said introducing Mischef to Martyr. "Welcome back my lord, I’ve heard tales of you grand feats, of the world so long ago, it's such an honor to meeting in person, My Lord," Mischef said almost quickly, bowing his head in respects. "And this is the third oldest, and youngest Brother, Myral" Mephiles explained, pointing at Myral to introduce him to Martyr. "Hehehe so you're the big bad, dark lord huh? You don't look so big and bad to me," Myral said, not giving a damn about respect. "Silence you fool!" Mephiles shouted angrily out at Myral. "No... Mephiles, Let the child speak... I'd like to hear his audacity ..." Martyr said calmly, looking dead center at the young Myral, still sitting in his throne, leaning on his arm almost bored. "Hmph, I’ve heard stories of the evil Martyr, but to be honest, this isn’t what I expected." Myral said out right. "And what were you expecting? ... Pup." Martyr demanded sounding a little peeved. "Something.... not weak looking... "Myral explained with his wicked psycho tone rising as he stared directly at Martyr not even fazed by Martyr's tremendous power flow around him. Martyr stood up calmly and walked slowly to Myral, "and I suppose you...” Martyr began to ask with a rising laugh in his breath, “think you are stronger?" "Hmhm, well definitely not weaker then you." Myral said as if his nads were made of stone. Even Mephiles was a little frightened at what was to happen, he already knew how strong Martyr is, witnessing his power from so long ago and while he wanted to interfere for his brother’s sake, he knew it was be pointless. As well, Mischef was little frightened as his fear was placed in known rather than not knowing what was gonna happen next. "Hmhm then allow me to see how strong you are?" Martyr said, darting forward with incredible speed. Myral was about to react and respond, but was beaten to the punch line as Martyr grabbed hold of Myral's face with one hand and lifted him off the ground while applying pressure; enough pressure to crack Myral’s seemingly unbreakable crystal skin. Martyr continued to apply pressure until cracks became fractures and Myral started to feel the pain, panicking, he submitted to Martyr as he cried out in agony. "Alight alright! I’ll submit!" Myral cried out, not even getting a chance to prove himself, now feeling ashamed. Martyr merely chuckled as he continued to crush Myral’s head like a walnut. "I won't have weaklings in my mists, if you want to be of my faith; you better give me one. Damn. Good. Reason..." Martyr growled brutally tightening his grip on each word. "My lord, forgive me out burst of rudeness,” Mischef blurted out as he bowed on his hands and knees with his head touching the ground, begging him, “but Myral can be of use, I promise you!" Martyr looked at Mischef and let go of Myral, as he walked over to Mischef, picked him up and pressed their faces close. "Very well little one, but if he, or you fail me, I'll annihilate you both… understand?" Martyr tossed Mischef on his back while Martyr withdrew to his throne, and sat back down. Mephiles bowed to Martyr, "My lord, you know me of all people would never deceive you, as I beg of you spare my brother's idiocy,” Mephiles said confidently. Behind him Myral held his cracked face in silent pain, “they are just a little anxious to get this show on the road." "Very well, I suppose I'll forgive their ignorance, for now, but if this happens again, know this... I'll kill all three of you. It makes no difference to me." Martyr said coldly as Mephiles's, Mischef's, and Myral's faces dropped in fear. "Y-yes... My lord, Martyr." Mephiles replied as he stood up and the three brothers quickly left Martyr in peace. "Oh and Mephiles..." Martyr shouted out just as Mephiles was about to close the door. "Yes? My lord?" Mephiles asked. "Don’t forget about the fourth, he shouldn't be late to the party..." Martyr said, leaning on his arm that rested on his throne. "Yes of course my lord, we will make sure he arrives..." Mephiles said closing the doors. (Meanwhile) Blazing still in a rush to find the voids, Xak bursts out in more anger and flames, as he finally arrived at his once proud kingdom, so perfect before the attack, and now completely controlled and rebuilt in the unnatural wicked darkness. "I'll kill every last one of you!" Xak growled, speaking to himself as he came closer to the gates. "So you've finally have awakened huh?" a voice in Xak’s head said. "Not you again..." Xak said out loud talking to himself with his other half's thoughts. "You are aware that once you enter... there may be no return..." the other Xak mentioned. "Yeah, I’m perfectly aware... and I don't care I’ll kill them all" Xak said in grunts while he stepped closer to the gates. "Hmhmhm sound good to me--" "Wait blakPhyre!" a third voice entered the party. "Whoa? Who are you?" xak said "It is I, Spirit, i'm talking to you in your mind, and I must add, you turning into this mindless monster won’t solve anything, for you'll only get yourself killed, especially if you plan to battle Martyr..." Spirit says. "And what do you know about Martyr?" Xak asked. "Only that I faced him, and fell by his hand... many years ago..." Spirit said, "I was a lot like you blakPhyre... easily tempered, and I let my anger and pride stand of the way of common sense, and so Martyr Slew me, in my rage." "You... you were murdered by Martyr?" Xak asked as his face lit up with fear a little. "Yes... he is why I am here like this now..." "And so you're just going to let a dead guy scare you Xak?” the second voice of Xak asked in contempt, “obviously he was weak, but not you Xak, you're powerful and you can mop the floor with Martyr, face him..." "Grrrr SHUT UP!" Xak shouted holding his head as the voices suddenly went away, and he began to calm himself down a little but still in rage he continued into the castle. (Meanwhile) The team finally awoke to a damaged room, everyone slowly getting back up when it dawned on them that Xak was missing. "Hey where is Xak?" Solar asked first. "No... He didn't!" Shocram growled. "He wouldn't." Solar realized. "He obviously did..." Shadow said calmly. "We need to find him, and--" Shocram said as he was already rushing his way out of the base when suddenly he was blacked by a somewhat familiar body. "I see I leave you runts alone for a month... and you let all hell break lose..." the body's voice spoke. "Uhg, HEY! Get out of the way--" Shocram was quickly silenced when he looked up and saw Syclone standing in front of him. "Sy-Syclone? What are you doing here?" Shocram asked getting back on his feet. "I’m here because of this dark cloud, the one that's haunting my forest... I assumed it had something to do with you and Xak, as usual...” he sneered, but lightened up as he continued with his explanation, “So I followed your scent to this location, now tell me... what did you two do this time?" Syclone asked like some disappointed parent. "Hey we didn't do anything we were just--" "Just what? Shocram?" Syclone interrupted. "Hey, look buddy whoever you are, if you got skills you better help." Marytha shouted out with an attitude. Syclone leaned over to look around Shocram and saw Marytha, he suddenly turned from parent mode to stud mode, and pushed Shocram out of his way and easily swayed his way over to Marytha, "hey babe, how about you and I go and uh... have some fun?" Syclone boldly suggested, when Marytha's face lit up like a red candle, she lowered her head and suddenly became irked and super kicked Syclone into the nearest wall and slammed his chest harder against the wall with her foot and held him at bay. "Look pal, if you haven't noticed, crap’s going down, and you choose now to act like a shmuck, especially when one of our friends, and also leader, has gone on a rampage! If you wanna flirt, flirt with somebody who gives you single damn, but i'm not your girl, not ever, got me? Now act up, or get up, either way you're pushing your luck with me..." Marytha said very commandingly pressing her foot harder on his chest. Syclone coughed and smiled, “Yeah alright... i'm sorry, I just kinda get carried away around a pretty face... please forgive me, I'm-” he coughed again under the pressure of her foot, “-i'm fully aware of the direness of this situation..." Martha let off of him and turned around and walked away while everyone had sat there watching their little fuss, Syclone got back on his feet, "Hey, rabbit girl." "That's Marytha! To you pal... and what do you want?" Martha said stopping and turned her head "If I can't date you, I’d at least like to spar with you sometime, with a kick like that, you're definitely a Gem." Syclone said chuckling a little. "Yeah whatever, I guess it'll be fun kicking your butt again." Marytha said. "Okay now that you two have got your little squabble done, mind getting back to the task at hand?" Cyborg blurted out. "Oh yeah sorry--" "Hey, where is Shocram?" Solar pointed out. "I don't—oh, no he didn't." Marytha said. "It’s obvious he has..." Shadow stated once again. (Meanwhile) Electristy sparked around the golden hedgehog as he raced away through the landscape, his eyes on the ground to follow where Xak’s black fire tracks left behind his trace. "Don’t worry Xak, I'm coming!" Shocram said, blitzing faster to reach the speed of light. (Meanwhile) "Okay so now we have two runaways, and still no plan, because we keep getting stuck on somebody else." Solar stated "Not to mention this darkness is spreading faster..." Lunar pointed out. "Wait what?" Spark asked worriedly, checking the stats on the dark cloud as Lunar was correct. "Holy crud! He’s right, the darkness has accelerated! We need to move fast!" Spark shouted in panic as everyone also fell to panic. "Well two of us have already come up with the only plan we have..." Sonic said casually as he could. "Oh, and what was that?" Silver asked. "Just go for it!" Sonic said simply. And with that Sonic took off after Xak and Shocram. "Hmph... show off...” Shadow said, now looking back to everyone, “but he's right that seems to be our only course of action right now... besides we won't know what we're up against until we face it..." "Yeah I'm with them, this Martyr guy maybe strong but we couldn't possible beat all of us all together could he?" Silver asked rallying the groups hope as they felt prepared. "Yeah let's go and get those void losers." Solar said ready to go. "No way in hell will I lose to them...” Lunar said pompously. "Pfft, I've got some respects to pay to that Myral punk, for beating the crud out of me last time!" Marytha snapped, standing proudly with her hands on her hips. "Not to mention I still have unfinished business with Mephiles." Shadow added. "Then it's decided, we charge in, now you're all fully aware that this plan is absolutely crazy and only has a 30/100 chance of success, as in we may not survive this... does this not change your minds?" Cyborg said casually statistical. "Yeah!" the group said in Sync. "Besides, Xak’s our leader, and we have to follow the leader no matter where he goes!" Solar said. "Then... let's go" Cyborg said. "Actually you guys go ahead, me and Cyborg need to stay behind, trust me, it's better this way, and Mia you're staying too, this is way too dangerous for you to go." Spark said. "But I--" She quickly said, but Marytha kneeled down on one knee in front of Mia and patted her head. "I know sweet heart, but Spark is right this is way too dangerous for you, you need to stay back, and let us handle this okay?" Marytha says, smiling warmly when suddenly Mia replied with a hug and tears. "Bring big brother back and that stupid head Shocy, okay! Tou too… Mary." Mia said submitting easily letting go of her and walked over to Cyborg and Spark. "Alright we're heading out, now." Solar said as everyone had already taken off except Marytha and Solar, shortly after Marytha and Solar left Spark and Cyborg got straight to work on a project as Mia sat there in tears watching them. "What are you two doing?" Mia asked. "It’s a secret for right now, but don't worry. With this, their chances of success will be greater, I promise." Spark said. (Meanwhile) "Where the hell is those damned Voids...?” Xak said still annoyed. From inside the fortress, he smashed down every door, gate, wall, and object in his way trying to find those Voidians, "VOIDS SHOW YOURSELVES!" Xak shouted as his body exploded in flames, blasting away a wall, which behind it was the throne room, as Xak walked into it seeing as the entire room was dull and empty but only the lone Martyr sat in the throne. "Well, well, well, welcome to my humble home... hmhm," Martyr said sitting in his throne looking less amused. "You must be Martyr, well... for your sake you better hope not, because I've got a heavy beat down, with his name on it!" Xak said bolting at Martyr at full force ready to through a punch, when suddenly Mischef stepped in front of Xak and caught Xak's thrown punch. "Hmhm well now. doesn't this look familiar…" Mischef said as he widened his eyes like before and blasted Xak back into a wall, but this time Xak flipped and landed on the way and used it as a counter and leaped back at Mischef following with a round house kick knocking Mischef across the room. "Yeah it does do it, except one difference, I'm a lot stronger now!" Xak said looking at Mischef, while Mischef stood back up. Martyr sat in his throne watching the two battle it out as he suddenly looked pleased. "Hmhm looks like you did, but sorry to say, that merely tickled... last time it felt like a pinch." Mischef said charging at Xak, as Xak did the same. The two black fire user's collided hand to hand forehead to forehead knees bashing knees "I’ll make you pay for everything you did Mischef, you and your whole messed up family!" Xak said gritting his teeth while holding Mischef in place, struggling to turn this tuggle around, as Mischef held Xak in place "Hmhm well then I look forward to it!" Mischef said as he suddenly used his tail to wrap around Xak’s leg and lift him off the ground, and repeatedly smash him back and Forth left to right into the ground "You know with all this entertainment, need's a crowd" Martyr said as Mephiles and Myral spawned next to Martyr's thrown and suddenly a black portal opened and Ophilia appeared in chains "Indeed my lord," Mephiles said, Myral keeping Silent still a little in pain from the fractures in his face from his last outburst earlier "LEAVE HIM ALONE!" suddenly a voice busted out from nowhere and Shocram blitz in from Xak’s wall bashing trail in the castle and crashed right into Mischef, causing him to let go of Xak, dropping him roughly on the floor and smashed Mischef into he wall, he quickly got up and rushed to Xak's side. "Xak are you alright!" he said helping Xak up on his feet. "I thought I said don't help--" "And I thought I said this doesn’t just involve you..." Shocram said when suddenly Myral stood in front of Shocram. “You’re mine!" Myral said as he grabbed Shocram by the throat and smashed him into the ground and dragged him across the throne room floor breaking the stone floor in the trail making. Shocram found it tough to breathe with his throat grasped and being dragged through stone, Shocram suddenly grabbed Myral's wrist and gave him a massive electrical burst, stunning Myral’s arm for a moment. "You sun of a!--" Myral shouted out as Shocram quickly used the moment to counter with an electrical back flip upper cut kick to Myral Jaw, causing Myral to lift off the ground and a few feet away from Shocram. "Ow, damn I see what Xak meant by hit stone's... this guy is a solid." Shocram said to himself standing ready to fight while Mischef got back up and charged at Xak knee bashing Xak in the face making Xak fly into the wall, but before Xak could even get the chance to travel, Mischef used his tail to grab Xak's leg again and spun him in a 180 degrees and tossed him into the opposite direction, Xak flew into the wall smashing a hole in the stone wall, but did not falter, he quickly got back up and summoned black flames to his hands. He started blasting fire balls at Mischef, as Mischef dodged and returned fire of the black fire balls, as it suddenly became a black fire war zone in one half of the throne room, while Myral and Shocram fought ferociously clashing crystal and electric storms. "Hmhm you fight a lot like your brother!" Myral said boldly to Shocram, as he snuck a cheap shot with his knee into Shocram's stomach, because Shocram to cough heavily and knock him back into a wall. Shocram got back up wiping his chin of spit and looked at Myral. "And what do you know of my brother?" Shocram said standing there, with a suspicious glare. "Oh I know a lot about him, after all... I'm the one who... hmhm hm KILLED HIM!" Myral said bluntly with his eyes suddenly drawn into a blood thirty glow of purple, Shocram absorbed this shocking news and looked at Myral's eyes realizing that exact purple glow from that day Shocram’s brother Bolt died. (Flashback) Noises surrounding Bolt and Shocram running throughout the town we once called home, the two brothers running to every inch of the town in anarchy trying to escape the chaos. "Shock! Don’t get lost, no matter what you understand me!" Bolt said strongly to Shocram as they ran side by side next to each other trying to escape. "I promise bro, I won’t!" Shocram said as the two turned a corner and finally saw and exit of escape that hadn’t been blacked or crowded by angry mob Mobians, the two brothers hurried to the edge of the town, ready to escape, and just before Bolt could take that one step outside of chaos, a red crystal like shaped speak impaled Shocram's brother in the back taking his life. Shocram rushed back to his brother and held him in his arms. "BOLT! BBOOLLLTTT!" Shocram screamed as tears filled his eyes. "Listen...” he coughed in pain, “Shock... leave... don't come back... “ he gasped for air and coughed again, “go and be free... I wish I could've seen you grow up more... but 'guess it wasn't meant to be..." Bolt said hollowly with blood dripping down the corner of his lips, and tears in his eyes. "Bolt, shut up! You’re gonna make it!" Shocram said trying to get Bolt back on his feet. "Shock, Stop... Just go on without me...” he said with another cough, “i'll only slow you down..." Bolt said soundly like his life was fading. "Not I don't care, you're my brother, and you’re my only family! You’re all I have! Y-you can't leave me!" Shocram said with tears stained eyes. "Shock, remember... I'm always be with you... I-.... I love you... Little Brother..." Bolt said as his eyes faded color, and his life finally drained. “Bolt... BOLT! BBBOOOOLLLLTTTT!!!!!!!" Shocram yelled, holding his brother's body in his hands as he looked back into the direction where the spear had launched, and only saw glowing purple eyes. (Present) Those same glowing purple eyes that stood in front of Shocram, now light a force inside Shocram, a rage beyond all control. "You.... you sick..." Shocram snarled, looking at Myral with hateful eyes. "I'm sick? Hmhm…" Myral said agitating Shocram "You sick... son... OF A BASTARD!!" Shocram yelled, unleashing huge amounts of electricity and Charging at Myral with full force, and speed bashing right into Myral and just after, smashed into the wall as Shocram’s entire body was electrocuted, and unleashing even bigger amounts in every punch that laid impact to Myral's face as the fractures started to give way to the brutal impacts. Myral then grabbed Shocram's fist and punched him off, and quickly lifted his arm and aimed at Shocram and shot crystal needles out from his hand. Shocram dodged them all and returned fire with his electrical bolts, as the two were sling bolts and needles at each other furiously. Xak and Mischef, now clashing against each other, while both were engulfed in their battle with black flames and Xak was growing angrier with every impact between the two until he started turning pale. "I'll defeat you once and for all, Mischef!" Xak growled and landed a heavy kick into Mischef's chest throwing him back to the ground, but he quickly recovered and leaped back up to Xak with an upper cut, their fight escalating to higher and higher levels of brutality. "I gladly welcome the challenge!" Mischef replied punching Xak in the stomach, but Xak easily countered by grab his wrist, and with anger in his strength Xak tore off Mischef’s arm cause Mischef to grieve in agony for a moment and stared in disbelief. "You tore off my ARM!" Mischef gasped, looking at Xak. "I’m not done yet punk!" Xak said as he grabbed Mischef by the throat and as they dropped down to the ground, Xak help Mischef ahead of him, the smashed into the ground with Mischef as the fall breaker, while Mischef laid there, a bit shaking in pain. "You... definitely have gotten Stronger..." Mischef said as he stood back up hunched over, as he regenerated his arm, "But i'm not done either..." Mischef said moving his new arm for practice, as he looked at Xak with ill-tempered eyes. "Then bring it on," Xak taunted. Mephiles was looking at the two furious battles taking place, "My lord perhaps we should--" "No... Mephiles... we're not stopping anything, i'm having fun..." Martyr said chuckling. "Well then, have fun with this!" suddenly a familiar voice called out as light spear objects shot for Mephiles. But Mephiles dodged them and looked at the spears, knowing who it was as he turned around to the broken whole entrance. "Well, Shadow, glad to see you've arrived..." Mephiles said chuckling but was quickly introduced by Shadow's fist into his face, knocking he back to the steps of the throne. "Let’s finish this, Mephiles! No more games!" Shadow shouted out as he tossed more chaos Spears at Mephiles, but found them to be ineffective, as Mephiles simply dodged them. "If that's all you've got Shadow then I might as well just toss you a bib and a bottle..." Mephiles taunted, as Shadow didn't take to kindly to Mephiles's words. "Hmph... well then, allow me to show you something new..." Shadow said as he used his hover skates and used them as rockets propelling himself towards Mephiles as shadow created one massive chaos Spear, as he got two inched in front of Mephiles's face, and released the concentrated spear right into his face, making so Mephiles could not dodge so easily, taking the hit Mephiles took steps back in pain as he held his right eye. "Why you! I’ll show you who you're dealing with!" Mephiles growled, sinking into the ground and reappeared behind shadow and started kicking and punching Shadow from all directions doing the sinking, and re curve technique while shadow took the hits, but he quickly pulled out an emerald, and used his famous chaos control technique to slow Mephiles down as he waited for Mephiles to rise above from the ground, quickly Shadow saw his chance and grabbed Mephiles by the throat, and undid chaos control not holding Mephiles in real time. "You know Mephiles... of someone who's supposedly evil you should know... to never leave the chaos emeralds in a tomb, where you enemies are... we now possess all seven, and that's sure to spell defeat for you!" Shadow said charging a chaos Spear in his hand and instead of throwing it; he punched Mephiles in the stomach and released the spear into him blasting him back. Finally the others arrived in time to see Mephiles knocked out, and Mischef seriously wounded, and Shocram and Myral still brutally at it. "Guys you're alright?" Marytha asked. "There!" Solar said pointing to Shocram. Marytha quickly rushed to Shocram side was greeted with an electrical wall tazing her as she got to close, "Ow! What the- Shocram?" Marytha said confused "Stay away, this is my battle!" Shocram said with an uneasy tone, holding his arm injury as he began to charge at Myral once again, the two battled greatly, inflicting massive amounts of damage one another with every hit they made, "I’ll kill you Myral!" Shocram said as he suddenly grabbed Myral's head with his two hands and pulled him in, for a gruesome and brutal head bash, cause Myral's fracture to open wider. While Shocram continued with his unrelenting beating as he followed the head bash with a knee bash to Myral's stomach, and the continued with a leg sweep tossing Myral off the ground and flipped on his back in midair, as Shocram stepped to the side and elbow smashed Myral into he ground cause a huge quake and hole in the throne room floor. "I'll never forgive you... for what you did, you bastard..." Shocram said hunched over and looking at Myral dug deep in the hole. "Hehe.... you know.... I wouldn't forgive me either... hehehe" Myral said struggling to get back up but he tricked Shocram by thinking he was done in, but he launched a spike down and up behind Shocram's back, striking him heavily. "AHHHHHHH!!!!!" Shocram screams as his right shoulder was impaled. "SHOCRAM!" Xak called out, as he was mommentarully distracted , and leaped from his battle with Mischef to aid Shocram, when suddenly Martyr stood form his throne and flashed infront of Xak stopping him in his tracks, and quickly grabbed Xak by the head and lifted him up. "Alright, I've had just about enough of this... time to awaken you, Xak" Martyr said. "Hey let me-- awaken what do you mean?" Xak said struggling to get free from Martyr's grip, everyone stopped and watched Xak, Martyr, and Shocram heavily injured, as Myral struggling to get up, Mephiles awoke but couldn't move, Shadow standing over Mephiles and Mischef hunched and looking Martyr holding Xak high off the ground. "Why i'm surprised you haven't figured it out... after all it's clear and spelled out for you... how you easily came to these powers, how you have the same powers as Mischef, how you were able to unlock the chamber I've been hidden in... it's clear as day." Martyr said chuckling a little looking at Xak. "Well then make it crystal because I don't know what you're talking about uh! Let me go!" Xak said attempting to kick him but no effect "You my dear boy... Are one of us... you're a void like we are..." Martyr said bluntly as everyone but the voids suddenly became shocked. "No I can't be! I could never be one of you--" "Oh but you are... let me ask you something?" Martyr asked calmly, "w-what?" Xak replied "Have you had random dreams, and inner thoughts of conversations with yourself?" Martyr said as Xak’s face lit up as he recalled moments himself talking to himself and the dream he had back in Solar and Lunar's home town. "y-y-yeah?" Xak replied a little sacred "That was you're other half... you're void self-reaching out to you... now allow me to fully introduce you!" Martyr said as he suddenly turned his hand into black fog and reached gently inside Xak; cause him enormous amounts of trauma and agony. "AAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Stop! STOP!" Xak cried out, in pain, Solar quickly launched to help Xak, but was met with a black wall blocking him from getting close enough. "Damnit I can't get in!" Solar said as the others started attacking the wall with Solar, but nothing happened, as all they could do was listen to Xak’s screams, the three dark brothers stood on their feet, damaged and beaten, as they disappeared while the others were distracted by Martyr. Martyr then pulled out of Xak and with his hand was another Xak, as he brutally ripped Xak apart, soon Xak became silent and unconscious while another Xak had been born... his eyes opened and revealed a horror like no other, the other Xak stood on his own feet, and looked at his former friends, while Martyr simply tossed the unconscious Xak aside. "Hmhm. Hm, hm, hm, hm, hmhm HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!...... I’m finally free..." the dark Xak said looking at his hands and body in shock, witnessing himself in physical form. "Uh...Xak...” suddenly Ophilia awoke and saw Xak laying down unconscious, she suddenly freaked out and started rattling her cage. "Xak... Xak! XAK LET ME OUT XAK ARE YOU ALRIGHT? XAK SPEAK TO ME!" Ophilia cried out as she tipped her cage over and tumbled down the throne stares, Shadow quickly reached for Xak and picked him up and carried him, while Solar, and Lunar grabbed Ophilia, and Sonic grabbed Shocram, while the rest rushed out of the castle in a hurry, while Martyr and dark Xak simply laughed watching them run away like cowards, as the castle suddenly started to fall apart, with stones and blocks falling down all around team Phenomenon, Silver managed to hold and move some of the blocks in there way. As they suddenly met a dead end towards the entrance that not even Silver could lift, suddenly an explosion blew the blockade away revealing the outside as Spark, Cyborg, and Mia were waiting for them in a hover craft like vehicle, the team climbed in quickly and took off, as they flew off they watched the castle turn to rubble and they traveled back to the base in the desert... (Meanwhile) The dark brothers were leaning on each other, badly wounded, when suddenly dark Xak walked up to them, "Why are you three lying down? We have worked to do..." Dark Xak said as Martyr stood behind them. "You three disappointed me, you worse of all Mephiles, I expected more from you..." Martyr said as he and Dark Xak walked away. "Uhg... was it me or did it seem strange? That we lost our battles?" Mephiles said standing up while the other two followed. "Speak for yourselves I was doing fine." Mischef said. "If I didn't have this fracture in my head from Martyr... I'd been just fine..." Myral growled. "Regardless, we lost... how was Xak, Shadow, or Shocram that strong in the first place?" Mephiles questioned as they walked away behind Dark Xak and Martyr "I don't know…" Mischef and Myral said in sync. (Meanwhile) The group made it back to base, and Xak still unconscious, Shocram still extremely injured, and Ophilia, who was just starved and weak. "Well at least they're safe now... but I have a feeling... things just got worse...." Solar said a little disappointed in their loss. Shocram awoke in a start, as he was ready to rip off Myral's head when he shockingly noticed he wasn’t in the castle anymore, "Where is he?" Shocram said as he tried getting up but grunted in pain holding his shoulder, "let me at'em I'll kill him, I'll freaking Kill him! I'LL KILL YOU, MYRAL!" Shocram said shouting out lout as he stood up and limped out of the room, as Sonic, and Solar rushed to Shocram's room and grabbed a hold of him. "You’re not going anywhere, pal!' Sonic said holding him down "Let me go, he has to pay for killing my brother! I'LL MURDER HIM! I SWEAR IT, MYRAL YOU'RE DEAD, YOU HEAR ME... YOU'RE DEEEEEAAAAADDDDDD!!!!" Shocram said dropping to his knees, and started crying. "Why... why my Brother...? He didn't do anything..." Shocram said graveling at the ground while Sonic and Solar stood over him with their heads hung. "I’m gonna go." Sonic said leaving quickly. "And where are you going?" Silver said. "This has gone on long enough... i'm gonna leave..." Sonic said bluntly and continued walking. "So what you're just gonna leave us, like this..." Solar snapped. "Don’t worry... I never said I was leaving... i'll just be away... I promise I'll be back... and when I do... i'll have this war turned to our favor... I swear it" Sonic said looking back at Silver and Solar and smiled, with thumbs up and took off at the speed of sound out of the base. Shocram crying, as he slowly over did his strength and fainted, hearing Shocram slumped over made Silver and Solar remember Shocram as they rushed to his aid and picked him up, and put him back in his bed. Ophilia resting a bed with Marytha sitting by her side. "I see why Xak went to such lengths to save her... she's beautiful... poor thing, must have suffered a lot..." Marytha said in grief. "Yeah... she is pretty... speaking of Xak, how is he doing?" Solar asked when Cyborg walked back. "He’s not doing so well, he's got a fever like no other, and there are no signs of awakening any time soon, Spark says he maybe comatose.. we don't know when Xak will wake up... or if he will wake up... so in the mean time we need a second in command... while our leader is out... any suggestions?" Cyborg said greifuly. "Well there is only one person I can think of..." Solar said looking at Marytha. "Well, I'll take charge, somebody has too!" Silver said. "No, i'll do it" Syclone said walking in from out of the blue, "After all; i'm the only one here with any leadership skills." Syclone continued to say. “NO! There is only one person that can fill Xak’s shoes....and we all know who that is..." Solar said as the all the others looked at Solar and they realized he was right. "So then... I guess he's the leader until Xak wakes up" Cyborg confirmed.... (To be continued)