Chapter 197 - 2.74 That Escalated Quickly
Zander and the princes were locked in battle for what seemed like forever, but was really only a few hours. Whenever he would find himself in trouble, he would rewind time to when he wasn't, learn from what happened and would try a new plan of attack. Beezle consistently created mutated creatures that came his way while the other two attacked with ferocious magical ability.
'I have to take down the weird looking prince that creates the extra enemies. Then I can concentrate on the others. I'm glad they haven't figured out I can rewind time yet, but they always adjust anyway. It's a little annoying but I think I have this fight under control.'
"Give up already." Adramelech screamed at the boy.
"I think you are the ones who need to give up. You have no chance at beating me!" Xander taunted back while teleporting rapidly, destroying the mutated creatures along the way.
"I think it's time we stop playing fairly Beelze," Astraroth whispered as he appeared by his side.
"Bring them in—" Beezle started to say before Xander landed a clean sword swipe through his head.
'Yes! They fell for it. Thanks dad.'
Sora cast an illusion on Beezle that Xander was locked in battle with Adramelech, far away from him.
"Sora! Why would you do that?"
"Just a hunch. I think something's up. The way those two were talking… it feels ominous around here."
"You're right it does feel heavy."
Xander left himself wide open and Lust had a clean shot at him. As soon as he pulled the bowstring, Pride appeared, stabbing an elongated metal piece through his heart.
"Pathetic."
"Why?! You're breaking the sin bond! Surely you will pay."
"From whom? Azazel is dead. I just had to make sure to not speak of any of you idiots, or the stupid princes and I was safe. But it's pitiful you would plan a sneak attack on a child and not expect me to hear it."
Xander darted away and all hell broke loose. Sora and Brie quickly jumped into battle and the 5 sins, Adramelech and Asaroth were on the defensive.
"Five vs seven doesn't seem very fair does it?" Sora taunted the enemy.
"You brought this upon yourselves when you upset Hades. What happens today is irrelevant. We will just end up in the Underworld, heralded as heroes." They taunted.
"Well if that's the case," Sora smirked.
"Eye of Chronos!"
Time froze for everyone except him, and Brie and Xander popped themselves out. What surprised him the most was Pride stayed frozen.
"I thought for sure Pride would break out of it. Maybe he just wants this done and over with?" Sora asked Brie.
"Not sure babe, but I'm glad our time in Paradise taught me how to get out of your little time trick. I think I was even faster than Xander this time!" She said with a kiss.
"You were! I'm proud of you. Let's finish these creepy fuckers off. Great job Xander, sorry they played unfairly. You did amazing!" Sora exclaimed.
"Can I be the one to finish them off? Let's absorb their power!" Xander grinned.
"Xander Joseph Lockheart you should not be so excited to be absorbing someone's lifeforce and power!" Brie scolded.
"I'm sorry mom! They're pure evil! What's wrong with being happy that we're getting that power?"
"Because it's like Athena said, we only do it because it's necessary to stay on a level playing field with Hades, not for pleasure. I know it feels amazing to have this instant boost in power, but you have to think of what you're actually doing to someone." Sora added.
Xander frowned. "I understand…It's just, they're so evil and we don't know what Hades is up to!"
"I know son. Pride obviously knew a lot more than he could tell us but maybe with the sin bond being broken, he will be able to tell us once we get back to the mansion?"
"Hopefully, but go ahead Xander, the princes are yours. We will take care of the sins." Brie said while hugging him and kissing him on his head.
"I Love you and Diana is worried sick."
Xander frowned then smiled. He didn't like anything about this anymore so he quickly absorbed the lifeforce from Beelze, then the two other remaining sins, watching them fall into dust.
Sora and Brie absorbed the power from the sins and Sora finally released his spell.
"I believe this is yours," Sora said while grabbing Pride's arm and transferring the power of the sins to him.
"Thank you Sora, but save some for yourself and let Brie keep what she has. We are equal partners, as you say."
'He gets it. Thank Athena, he finally is starting to understand.' Brie thought with a large smile on her face.
"You're finally starting to get it Pride! Good stuff bud." Sora said while he kept the remaining power for himself.
"How did you know they were going to play dirty?"
"The idiots are pathetic and were talking about it all night. I'm sorry I couldn't explain more, but we have a bond to always hear what the others are talking about if it involves the princes or an attack, etc. I navigated through it by being vague and being in our untrackable, untraceable headquarters helped, I think, but I wanted to be certain to protect Xander at all cost."
"Thanks Pride! Mom, Dad, let's go. I love you both too. Thank you for the illusion on Beezle. How did you two sense it?"
"Just a hunch your father said." Brie smiled while kissing his cheek.
They all walked through the portal back to Diana's suburb and Diana sprinted up to Xander, who was covered in blood, sweat and filth and nearly tackled him while hugging him.
"I'm so glad you're safe! I wanted my abilities back so badly, just to make sure," she cried.
"I told you! I will always protect you and make sure you're safe. I knew you would be safe with our party supporting you. I powered up too!" Xander said while sharing some with Diana, who experienced it for the first time.
"Woah, that feels.. Amazing. What power is this?"
"I gave you all of the power from Beelze."
"We shouldn't do that! Won't Athena be upset?!" Diana pleaded.
"I wouldn't do something unless I had Nana Fena's blessing, silly!" He said while kissing her cheek.
She blushed and continued to hug him.
"You're gross Xander. You need a shower, bad."
They both laughed. "Yeah, I know. That was a long battle but I'm glad everyone is ok. The princes and sins are gone from this world!"
"So is Malphas, now it's just Fenrir and the werewolves leading the demon and werewolf army before Hades and whatever the hell he and the secret god are working on." Pride added.
"It's not going to be easy, but as long as we're together, we will be just fine," Eris smiled, staring into the night sky.
"Diana, thank you for bringing your party to protect us. Go stay at your mansion tonight, you deserve to celebrate with everyone." Her mom yelled.
She ran up, gave them a hug, told them how much she loved them and she ran back to Xander, grabbing his hand.
They all returned to the mansion where the rest of the party was very glad to see everyone. They weren't ever really worried, especially knowing Sora and Brie were out with them, but ever since losing Luna, there was always that thought in the back of their minds of, 'It could happen to any one of us and we would give up our lives for Brie or Sora in a heartbeat.'
Xander took a quick shower and the group gathered in the living area, reminiscing about the times they used to fear Pride, who laughed.
"That was a long time ago, it seems, but at the same time, feels so recent. Am I the only one that feels that way?"
"I think anyone who is not a Lockheart feels that way…" Shawn laughed.
"I wasn't even around for that and don't even remember what I was doing back then! But I do know they spent 8 years in Paradise, so that has to be way different for them."
"Yeah, a little bit, but we're also gods so it's not like we have an expiration date," Xander laughed, wrapping his arm around Diana.
"So… you're saying that you're not going to grow old with me?" She frowned.
"I never said that at all. I'll age up until a certain point, right dad?"
"Yes son, I look like I'm in my middle 20s now, even though it's been all these years. Your mom still looks like she did when she was a human, so I'm guessing you'll grow up just like Diana will, maybe just a little more rapidly."
"Couldn't I just do what Brie did and take the trial of the gods?" Diana asked nervously.
"No!" Everyone in the party shouted at once.
Diana started to tear up, until Xander held her close.
"They're saying not right now sweetheart. Maybe one day when you're older and stronger ok?"
"Promise?" She asked.
"I promise. Plus, you get the help of one god on one trial if you ask my Nana Fena!"
"Xander… I already saw myself as a goddess, and it's sooner than you'd think." She whispered.
He simply smiled and gave her a kiss. 'I swear it's like Nana Fena always knows what's going to happen.'