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A Hero Tale {Complete}

Geode looked at Oz with frustration and humiliation. It was true that he could not harm anyone while he was a ghostly apparition, but it was also a fact that Oz couldn't do anything to force him anywhere. Not unless he flooded him with more Ki, but that was more opt to kill him at this point. Either way, Geode was unsatisfied. He looked down at the crumbling remains of Gol-Ino, and knelt down.

"You're bold to be giving me orders, boy," He complained, suddenly transferring his three cores into Gol-Ino's body. The translucent figure regains its shape, cracks and holes fading as its body lit up. Although Geode had no power while in a physical body, it made it much easier for him to speak, move, and interact with the world around him. Gol Ino's body stood up, and flexed its various appendages, non-aggressively. He turned to face Oz and sighed. "I will go of my own will. There is nothing left for me here, and death befits only the cowardly and insignificant." It was clear that his morals hadn't changed in the slightest, but he clearly didn't want to sink to the bottom of the ocean, sulking for all eternity. Whatever his motives, he would go along with Oz and his friends. For now.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Mikey waved from the hovercraft smiling. "We're comin' Jenso!"

A Hero Tale {Complete}

"No, then?" Yzeira said, seeing right through Jenso's attempt to stall for time, "A shame. I suppose it was foolish to even consider." Yzeira closed his eyes and shook his head. The man looked to Jenso one last time. "Then it is decided. I will destroy your universe." He turned to Shadra and placed on hand on her head, petting her gently. They exchanged a sombre look, and began to fade away, along with the rest of the order. Rajaka let go of Oz's atlas arm and faded first.

"Ah well! Guess we won't get to have a rematch," Rajaka groaned, waving at Jenso with one arm on his waist.

"There will be more like him," Zelriane cut in, reassuring Rajaka, "There are always more like him."

"They all die, just the same!" Ada spat. In a puff of black smoke, the order was gone. Yzeira left Jenso with one last message before they disappeared, however. Mockery? Arrogance? Whatever it was, it told him exactly where he needed to go.

"Come to the shore of my tower, if you have a change of heart."

And with that, they were gone.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

"I will refrain from destroying your universe," Yzeira answered immediately, almost cutting Jenso off. "You will submit to me. You will become one with me. You will change. You will become one of my immortal tools." Yzeira's coat floated behind him as the ocean breeze made its way across the platform they stood upon. "A fair offer. You were responsible for Prisma's death, after all."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Yzeira's hair was blown back by the backlash of Oz's giant arm. He closed his eyes and sighed. "Rajaka, could you.."

"Gotchya!" He grunted, walking forwards. He placed his hands underneath Oz's giant Atlas-appendage, and lifted slowly. "Up-!" At first, nothing happened. But as Rajaka pulled up with more strength, the arm budged, and with a single, hefty heave, he held it over his head, revealing the Order to both Oz and Jenso once again. "Ya go!" Yzeira looked at Jenso again and cleared his throat into his right first before continuing.

"Surrender yourself," he said clearly, "And join my order."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

"It's about that time, yes," Yzeira admitted. Rajaka stomped the ground a few times to test the durability of the platform below them, cracking it into several shards that barely managed to hold themselves together.

"Uh, boss? We've got like, 5 minutes til' this whole thing comes down, tops," Rajaka stated. 5 minutes? Was he right? Did he understand how time worked? Who knew. Zelriane sighed and shook his head.

"Not five," He corrected, "We have as much time as that one can manage this form of his. " Zelriane pointed at Oz as he spoke and then lowered his hands.

"Fall.." Shadra murmured quietly.

"Why don't we speed up the process a bit hun?" Ada suggested, stepping forwards and conjuring a mass of purple goo around her hand. Yzeira rose his arm to block her path, and she froze in place. "Huh?.. Master?"

"This is my only offer," Yzeira announced. Ada's eyes narrowed and he usual dominant stance faltered to one of submission before she stepped back and dispelled the goo around her hand. She was being ignored. "My only offer." Yzeira looked at Jenso with his eyes flickering with a resolute flare, unblinking and focused. "Will you listen?" Nexus looked at Jenso with concern as Yzeira spoke. "Jenso?"

A Hero Tale {Complete}

~ Chapter 131 ~

_{Holding Up The World, An Unbearable Pressure}

Yzeira's eyes wandered from Geode, back to Jenso. "Quite a ruckus," He said calmly, "I was right to infer your presence."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Geode's eyes flickered at the mention of Vale. Where did the vampire slink away to? He couldn't sense the void in his soul. So that must've meant... Had he dived into the ocean unseen!? It didn't matter now, though. Geode shook his head and turned to Jenso. "Not your friend..." Suddenly, in a flash of red light, several figures formed into view behind Jenso and Oswald.

A giant, standing high above the other five with his arms crossed his his brightened smile shining below a set of arrogant, eager eyes.

A shorter man, his arms also crossed, standing below the elbows of his larger ally with lazy, uninterested eyes.

A woman garbed in purple with her stomach revealed, and a large burn mark scarring her belly, with angry, fiendish eyes.

A Small girl, hunched over and curiously gazing upon Jenso and Oz, ignorant of the happenings.

An armoured man who looked upon Jenso with grief and worry, forced into position next to the final figure who stood at the center of the group.

"Him,"

---

~ End Of Chapter 130 ~

A Hero Tale {Complete}

"YEAH BUT WHO THE HELL IS THAT?" Mikey shouted, "I was headed back already after that massive energy surge, but now I'm seeing.. What am I seeing?.. Ah, never mind! I'll be there soon!" He announced. It wouldn't be long now.

Geode's eyes narrowed and his head tilted forwards. Oz's words stung deep, now that he stood humbly before them as no more than a harmless ghost. He didn't speak, but as his giant form appeared, his eyes widened again. He looked up and around. "He's..." He muttered quietly. He didn't think of it. The amount of energy they'd both put out was far beyond the norm, and they were much closer to the shore than any of the other battles that Jenso had taken part in. Geode looked over his shoulder and clenched his ghostly hand.

"He's.. Coming..."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Jenso's flame whip phased through Geode's body again, as did his arm. Geode's composition never changed. He backed away from Jenso and grunted. "An amoeba to the end," Geode scoffed, "Spare me your mercy and moronic words, mortal fools. I've lost my power. Without a body, I am but a spirit, bound by these cores in my chest. Without power I cannot be a threat. Likewise, you cannot harm me. But I will take solace in your deaths when my body explodes and eradicates you both from existence." Geode looked up at the falling citadel and sighed. "There is no light in my future, either way. This entire disaster is a stain on my pride. Your actions have halted my golems. I suppose if you really are defending your people, you've won at least that much."