Memories of the Forgotten

Yay, it's another chapter update! I am dedicated to my work to see it through to the bitter end! Any and every writer should be the same!


Chapter 33


Darkness. Knowing he was standing on something solid, yet unable to see it, did nothing to help John Aaron one bit. The void around him seemed to head on for miles in any one direction, and yet he couldn't tell if there really was a beginning or an end to this infernal darkness. He took a step foward, and readied his blade. He had to be cautious for in this world, Mammon would be at his strongest. He willed his fire magic to surround the blade, but the flames made no difference. It was unable to pierce the darkness and show him any more then what he could already see.

For awhile there was only silence that greeted him. No booming laugh or boast of victory. Mammon clearly wasn't that stupid as to let himself be noticed that easily. But whatever he was that he was doing here, it sure unnerved him far more then any creepy laugh or ominous threat ever did. But perhaps it was more to the fact that he was, literally, in the dark to his whereabouts and actions.

He sensed it a moment before it happened, ducking quickly to avoid the strike that would have surely killed him. Turning quickly and swinging his weapon, John struck Mammon's blade, the two swords emitting powerful magic. Darkness seemed to surround Mammon's blade as it dueled with the fire magic of John's. In the end both broke away, but not before John noticed that as unpenetreble as the darkness seemed, he could clearly see Mammon's body. Or, at least his human host. Both blades looked ready to strike yet again, each of their owners waiting for the opening that could lead them to start the attack.

"Impressive reflexes. I assumed this would not be an overly easy fight, though I don't really expect much of a challenge out of you. Now let me show you more of my power. Dark Matter!" He brought his hands together as a dark light emerged between them. Suddenly it disappeared and John took this as an opening to attack. He rushed in, noting that Mammon was doing nothing to defend himself from the awaiting blow. A minute later, John realized why.

Pain, ripping through every nerve of his body. He felt the raw strength of the four elements at once, the burning of fire, the crushing of earth, the pressure of water, the cutting of wind. A few moments and it was over, but it was more then enough to send him on his knees, using his sword to keep from totally collasping. His body felt drained of energy, yet he knew after a minute or two he could still try and fight back. Though he wasn't sure how much of a fight he could bring if Mammon continued to use that attack. Gazing to his opponent, he noticed that the attack hadn't even seemed to drain him, despite John knowing that such an ability would have been exhausting to him as well.

Mammon too was slightly surprised. Normally the spell would have tired him some, and he knew that he couldn't cast it more then three times in a day without suffering from it's effects and needing to rest. But now not only was the skill just as devestating, but it didn't take its toll like normally. Which instantly got him to wonder just what else he could get away with. Grinning to himself at the thought, he faced his victim once more. "Tired? Maybe you should take a break for a moment..."

"I'll take a break when I'm dead," John spat out, realizing that Mammon could truely make that statement come true. It didn't matter to him however. Somehow, even when he told Midas 'no' in the beginning, his body knew that this moment would come. That he would end up fighting this battle, a battle that he wished he could have put behind him and never got involved with. He had sworn that after Beras had been killed, and Jessica was born that this part of him would remain in the past.

"As you wish," Mammon declared readying himself for a strike. John knew that it was now or never to launch a counterattack, and it would need his strongest magic to do it. Preparing his body, he focused all his will into unleashing his strongest fire spell, the power of his own family's magic burning deep in his viens. As he focused, a circle of fire appeared around him, similar symbols appearing in the blaze, sparking untold power and energy. The fire sparked upwards, forming once more the egg-shaped flame.

And like with Midas, the flames became the pheonix once again, it's flaming wings streaching upwards giving a screech. But whether Mammon was impressed or even cared, it didn't show. He stared down the bird with had fallen Midas with a curious expression before it turned to one of amusement. "Silly human, you think your little firebird can stop me?"

"We'll find out right now then!" John shouted before pointing his finger towards Mammon. "There's your target, so go and get him!" Without question the flaming beast charged, divebombing it's target in an attempt to envelop Mammon in it's inferno. In response he raised his hand, as the bird collided with it, attempting to break through. Mammon held his ground, his hand trying to push back the pheonix and for a few moments, both were at a standstill.

"Heh. Discharge." A small ball of darkness emerged, before growing and enveloping the pheonix. Giving a final screech, the pheonix vanished and John felt himself violently thrown back by the force of the attack, the circle of fire diappearing. Mammon lowered his hand and examined it, surprised to find a minor burn mark. He simply smiled to it though. "I told you. You can't win, no matter how hard you try."

"Damn you..." was all John could muster in reply. He forced himself to stand, straining his body. The spell he had cast had certainly done more harm then good in this case, draining what precious little strength he had left out of him. By some miracle he was able to stand up again, facing Mammon once more, though he wasn't sure how much good it would do now.

"I grow tired of our little game. I think I've proven my point and tested my power long enough. It's time to end this." At that, he walked up toward John, blade in hand. "I'll admit Aaron, you are more then what you appear, even if you were only human. But I am beyond human, beyond the realms of the divine and the damned." He raised his blade up high, knowing thta John could do nothing at this point to avoid or defend himself. "And that is why I will rule this world..."

He brought his blade down and instantly John could see a bright light...

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Am I... dead?

He didn't want to believe that, but here in this weightlessness, he wondered if death was truely this. Because if it was, dying was clearly overexaggerated, especially about being in pain or agony. He felt nothing here in the void where only light existed. If only he could remain like this, till the end of time...

"John!"

The voice broke his thoughts and caused him to open his eyes. Mammon was not there, and the darkness no longer seemed to be existant. Instead there was a brillent light light surrounding his body, and before him stood both Jessica and Aivon. "You guys? What are... you doing here?"

"We came to help, duh," Aivon smirked, his face confident. "Midas is back to noraml and is trying to help us. We aren't really here with you though."

"What do you mean? I can see you and everything..."

"What Aivon means to say..." Jessica interrupted, "is that while we are still outside that dark dome Mammon trapped you in, we are able to help you and give you some of our power."

"Right. So John, you ready to take this guy down? Cause there is no way we are letting you take all the action away from us!" Aivon said, placing his hand out. Jessica placed her hand on top of Aivon's, a look of confidence on her face. John couldn't help but smile. Though he was doing the fighting, he knew that from this point he wouldn't be fighting alone. He placed his hand on top of the other two.

"Alright, now let's show Mamon he can't mess with us anymore!" All three gave a nod and suddenly John felt a warming light from within his body. It continued to grow and grow consuming him as the images of Jessica and Aivon began to fade.

Mammon recoiled away, the instant the ball of light emerged, a shining beacon in the darkness that he had trapped him and John in. Inside that light he knew John lay, possibly recharging his power. But Mammon didn't care, his power was still far to weak for him to even make much more then a dent. And knowing John, it wouldn't be long before he came out and confronted him. When the ball of light broke however, Mammon clearly wasn't expecting what he saw.

John was shirtless, scale-like armor covering his lower arms and chest, like a breastplate. Red markings appeared over his eyes, as the blade he held in his hands held a soft glow. The hilt had changed to some foreign material that resembled the scales on John's body, yet had more polish then his protective ones. But what amazed Mammon the most was the pair of wings that had emerged from his back. They were a brillant white, with the exception of the tips which looked like they had been burnt black.

For a few moments John hovered there in the air, before slowly his feet touched the ground. He opened his eyes which had changed from a sea-green to an angelic gold. They instantly glared to Mammon who backed a bit. He could tell that this new change just wasn't for looks, his power had increased tremendously. Suddenly, as though they were shadows that only he could see, Mammon gazed upon two more determined face, standing just behind John. It was the demon and the angel, interfering with the fight.

"Now Mammon, it's time I showed you, just what we can do," John said, readying himself to strike.