I take a deep breath, as the Artefact for the fourth time transports me to my quarry.
Breathing in the very essence of space and time as it flows all around my being, my body, protected by the artefact.
I feel it, I feel the artefact's power growing weaker with each jump, and I know I've almost completely drained its power.
"Just one more jump after this..." I muse to myself, as reality settles before me.
And this time again, it is a familiar one.
Back to the beginning of my expedition, I am sent.
The same space, yet a different time.
As I appear before a field of clouds, a white kingdom rising behind me where I only remember ruins.
I hear it, I smell and sense it.
Battles occur to my left and my right, war surrounds me.
As Angels, light and dark, fight for what each side believes is right.
Joined by demonic creatures from beyond the grave.
Briefly I take in this clash, dissipating into the veil immediately after as to not waste too much of my remaining time, I begin my search by flying upwards.
Yet it was unneeded, as I sense a familiar soul nearby.
Looking down upon the field, I watch as three rifts tear open, gigantic in size.
Just as large a fighting force then begins to march out.
And standing alone before them, even though I've changed so much from the timeline...
He still stands tall.
Sly still stands alone.
Facing the armada of monsters joined together by the beast and its horsemen.
I restrain myself, wishing with everything I have that I could stop what is about to happen...
I stop myself from trying to save him, knowing that changing time is not so easy a task.
Keeping to my plan, to change it for real...I watch, silently and painfully I watch.
As my old friend massacres them by the thousands, weaponless, his very hands destroy anything that comes by him. From Fallen Angels to Vampire lords, none stand in the undead Zeokul's path.
None...but my quarry.
As the Arch-Angel Michael appears before Zeokul, dragging behind him the corpse of a Lich...A different Lich from Scythe though I realise, so at least I know my actions are taking effect.
Still I restrain myself, I continue to observe.
"Hah…looks like I am too late." As Michael, wielding his angelic weapons, clashes with the Dreadknight Devil.
Even as I lay hidden within the veil, I feel their mana surging with each collision.
As Sly's raw power destroys the very landscape around him, as like a beast, he thrashes about.
Forcing Michael into the defensive, as the Arch-Angel evades about, all too fast and fully knowing of what was occuring within his foe...
As Sly suddenly falls to his knees, I sense the dread within him growing to overwhelming levels.
Continuing to destroy the body which held it, I fully sense it now cracking away at his soul.
I watch, as Michael descends before him.
"What is your name, Lich-killer." Michael asks, as his blade rests over Sly's head.
Sly chuckled weakly, yet did not meet the Arch-Angel's eyes. "Zeokul, D-Devil of Wrath." He croaks out, his very voice withering away.
The Angel raised his sword away from Sly's face and asked, "I am Michael, Arch Angel of light. Any last words, Zeokul Devil of Wrath?"
Sly glanced down at the ground before him, as I now notice a shattered VCD, over which Micheal had landed upon. "So many…but they cannot hear me now…"
I feel my chest restrict, barely able to contain myself now.
Yet I know, there is nothing I can do.
But wait, for the right moment...
"That is…unfortunate." said Michael as he raised his sword "Even more unfortunate, is that I must execute a proud warrior such as yourself."
But Sly did not respond, he simply remained motionless, staring down at the broken device.
Then I sense it.
I sense his soul starting to break.
I see Michael preparing to strike...
I tear through the veil.
Quakes of raw mana spiralling forth from my entrance, as my full Fox-form appears around me.
I soar, faster than the passage of time itself, I descend down between them.
The mere swipe from my tail, sending Michael splattering into a pool of blood beneath me.
I turn around, as still time is trying to catch up with me.
As I watch into the spirit realm of this place, I see the Reaper standing over Sly.
Their scythe, poised to harvest, as a sphere of energy leaves my friend's body.
I step forth just as time continues to flow, grabbing onto the Reaper's scythe, I look the Death God straight in the eye.
It speaks not, moves not.
It is a God, it knows what I am.
It knows what I'm capable of.
It knows it is about to die.
As I breathe out, blue flames gushing out of my maw, they engulf it whole. Destroying its very existence.
Still holding onto the scythe, I return to my fallen comrade. His soul laying broken, it hovers before me, waiting to be harvested.
I step forth, grasping the dim sphere into my other hand.
"I've lived a long and good life Justin, while I cannot give you the same starting from now...I can give you a second chance in the future," I chuckle in amusement as I think the next few words. "And a new save file for another time, if I succeed...I'm sorry, and thank you."
Speaking my final words, I press the broken soul into the scythe.
Not harvesting the soul with the scythe.
But harvesting the scythe, with the soul.
Binding Sly's being to the weapon and tool, I cast the object into the veil, hoping it finds its way as all Reapers do.
I then watch, as his body disintegrates into ash, yet relief is what fills me.
For even if I fail, at least I know I saved him.
As I focus my mind onto the artefact one last time...
I prepare myself, for the boss fight.