"Have you done as I asked?" Pythus addressed the Angel of Death. He nodded. "Good. Send our finest troops, Withers, blazes, ghasts, to guard the last portal. No one must pass through." He walked down from the throne. "Now, you must find my brother. He will be charged then executed for treason. By destroying the portals, he has declared war upon the Nether and upon myself."
"Are you looking for me, brother?" Volcannus announced his entrance casually. The guards, both Netherans and wither skeletons alike, watched as he entered the hall, quietly making a path for him.
"The throne does not belong to you, Pythus." He said calmly as he came to the center.
"Then does it belong to you? Traitor?" Pythus retorted. "You acted in direct opposition of the Nether's interest when you destroyed the potals. You brought the Enderqueen into our capital city and gave her records and scrolls from our sacred library. You dare stand before me now and suggest the throne is not mine?"
"I do no such disgrace." Volcannus replied calmly. "The only one who has wronged our people is yourself, brother, when you put your axe through our father's chest and stole his throne. Have you never wondered why, when you wore the Nethercrown, our traditional dignification of a king, it never shone? Have you never wondered why, when you tried the Nethersword, it never glowed?"
"Hmph." Pythus pounded his axe on the floor and stood up. "You will soon learn that thrones are not won by virtue or ancient traditions. They belong to those who know power, and have the courage to seek it."
Red Ardoni entered. Ingressus, flanked by Lucidius and Deltheus, stood beside Volcannus, weapons raised.
"Ingressus?" Pythus pointed with his axe. "I do not recall summoning you. But since you are here, eradicate my brother and our alliance will continue."
"No, I will not." The Ardoni crossed his arms. "King Volcannus is with me." He nodded to the Netheran beside him. "You see, there is a complication."
"Complication?" Pythus demanded, "What complication?"
"You, Pythus." The Deathsinger answered. "You have become a liability, and I can no longer rely on you for my plans. Your reign must now come to an end."
"You are many things Ingressus." Pythus stood his ground. "but I never thought you a fool. You cannot possibly hope to kill me here."
"And you wonder why I have the title Deathsinger." The Ardoni replied. "But it seems I have no need to. You are being replaced."
"And you!" Pythus pointed his axe back at Volcannus. "You have been conspiring with the Voltaris as well?"
"I'm hardly the first Nether king to do so." Volcannus stared down his brother. He took out the Nethercrown and put it on his head. In the gloomy hall, it shone bright orange, drawing gasps from the crowd. Volcannus drew the Nethersword, and it, too, glowed bright orange.
"I am Vulcannus, son of Kronus, and the rightful king of the Nether." He announced. "Stand with me against this usurper. Join me and I will restore our kingdom to what it once was. A peaceful, happy realm, devoid of warfare and chaos."
The hall fell silent. The air grew cold, though it is usually scorching in the Nether. The crowd looked from one king to another, then at each other, pondering what to do, which side to take.
Pythus held his hands to his stomach. Then, he laughed. "You fools! Hahaha! Are you really so naïve as to think anyone still cares who the "rightful" king is? Kronus was the rightful king and he led our people to ruin." He stepped forward. "And that is why I put my axe through him."
"By right of our ancient law," Volcannus also stepped forth, "I challenge you Pythus, son of Chronos, for the right to the throne."
"Didn't you just hear what I said?" Pythus was now laughing almost hysterically. "No one cares!" He sat down, placing his hands on the armrests. "I now sit on two thrones, and after we're finished here, I will destroy the End and claim that throne as well. Do you not see? I will be the king of all three realms! And I did all of this without a crown. The Nether will be stronger than ever before!" He leaned back and rested his axe beside him.
"The Voltaris won't save you." He mocked. "They can't even save themselves! They have grown weak and desperate. Why else would they come groveling at my feet? I have become far more powerful than you, they, together, ever were."
He stopped, waiting for their response. Sensing none, he turned his gaze towards Ingressus. "And yet, despite all my achievements, some still believe you are the most powerful being, the Deathsinger. But are you really? Do you think I didn't know of your little tricks? Why do you think I allowed the Voltaris to settle in Hailstone? Can you protect your people, when you are in another realm?"
He pounded his axe twice, and the Angel of Death appeared at his side. "Fly to Hailstone. Tell the troops here to eradicate the Voltaris, every last man, woman, and child." The Angel crossed his arms and flew away.
Pythus turned back to Volcannus and Ingressus, stunned in their spots. "What, you think there was only one portal left? What if I made a new one just outside of Hailstone?" He raised his axe. "The rest of you, KILL THEM!"
Ingressus grew golden wings and chased after the Angel. With his staff, he threw rock after rock at his wings, but they were either dodged by the Angel or fell short of the distance between them. Ingressus gathered everything he had and gained one last boost of speed. He shot forward and grabbed the Angel's ankles. Drawing out his sword, he slashed at his wings. The portal to Hailstone came into view. From all sides but this, it was obscured by walls. The Angel dived and flew into a narrow crevice, too narrow for his wings.
Just as he was about to hit it, he turned in the air, making his wings vertical. He slipped through the slit. Ingressus, however, could not fit through. "Ah!" His long staff locked him out and he watched helplessly as the Angel flew into the portal and vanished.
"Mommy, why must we wait in this building?" In Hailstone, a Voltaris child asked.
"For the Master of our clan to protect us." His mother answered.
"But it's so crowded and hot! Everybody's here." The child pursued.
"I know, sweetie, we just need to wait until…" But she never finished. The Angel of Death burst through the roof, tearing open a big hole.
In the throne room, all hell broke loose. Half of the Nether people cried "For our rightful King Pythus!" and the other half cried, "For our righteous King Volcannus!" They clumped into groups, each dueling the other to the death.
Lucidius and Deltheus nodded at each other. "We stand with you, King Volcannus." Lucidius shouted. "We cannot help our brothers, but we can help you kill this demon!" They readied their weapons. Lucidius took out his axes and spread his hands by his side. Deltheus took out a whip with many strands of metal hooks. He put his left foot forward, holding his right hand high with his weapon.
Pythus laughed. He leapt from his high ground by the throne into the center of the trio. Swinging his axe around him, he created a circle that none dared pass.
"Dong!" Volcannus stopped the axe midswing, hitting it right on the missing triangle. Lucidius hacked from above, while Deltheus swept Pyhthus's letgs. The Netheran pulled his axe back and leapt into the air. Twisting himself along the weapon's handle, he kicked Lucidius flying backwards into the mess of swords and knives all around them. A rogue sword struck him on the head and his markings dimmed to black.
Only Deltheus and Volcannus remained. Pythus drew back the Nethersword and stabbed. However, he was quickly beaten back by the longer range of Pythus's war axe. Put on the defensive, he tried as best he could to weave his attacks in between the heaves and hos of the axe. Deltheus swept repeatedly at Pythus's midriff and legs, forcing the Netheran to jump left and right to dodge the little hooks.
"Argh!" Pythus roared. He was sick of this annoying whip. He pulled his axe towards him and thrust it at the Voltaris. Caught unawares, Deltheus was pushed back out of their small circle and into the fighting crowds. Another rogue sword stabbed him in the neck. The color leached out of his markings and he collapsed on the groud.
Pythus turned around and caught the Nethersword on his axe. "What a waste, for all of you to die so needlessly." He taunted. Volcannus looked him dead in the eye as he pushed against his axe.
"Do you know why they chose swords as the weapons for the Nether and Ender Kings? Brother? Because swords are the weapon of nobility, of virtue." He broke the lock and kicked, hitting Pythus in the chest. "It is not vicious and fast, like a knife. Nor is it brutal and stupid, like an axe." Pythus's eye twitched. "It represents true virtue, and is therefore the weapon of a true king."
"Have you not listened, brother?" Pythus roared, smashing his axe down. "A crown does not give you power. Power gives you power!" The shear force made Volcannus catch the axe in his palms.
"Raom!" A dragon roar shook the palace. Luna descended from the black sky and Abbigail leapt off. She thrust the black Endersword toward Pythus's waist, forcing him to retreat.
"Are you waiting for an invitation?" She shouted at Volcannus. "Come on!" He took her hand and jumped on the dragon's back. Pythus charged, but Luna blew purple flames at him and he was forced to back off. Luna beat her wings and heaved herself into the air, sending a huge gust of wind through the hall.
With Pythus no longer locked in combat, the tide of the battle turned in the hall. One by one, he slaughtered those shouting "Our righteous king" until all that's left were his supporters. He panted as he sat down once more on the throne. It's not every day you have to kill this many skeletons and Netherans.
"Bring me the Enderknight prisoners," Pythus barked at the closest skeleton. "We leave for the End at once!"
"What happened, Volcannus?" Abbigail asked as they came out of the Nether portal.
Volcannus climbed up the dragon's back. "My plan to take down Pythus failed." He said, "And he ordered the massacre of the Voltaris."
"The red Ardoni? Aren't they fighting against us?" Abbigail was astonished.
"No, their leader, Ingressus, also known as the Deathsigner, joined in on my plan." Volcannus said. "I think their alliance grew sour since it no longer benefits the clan."
They did not speak for a while. "We need to head for the End." Abbigail said. She turned Luna towards the stronghold. "Pythus will surely make a move against us now, and he still has my knights. Knowing his type, he will definitely use them as hostages."
They fell silent again. "So many of them." Volcannus gasped. "Standing before the truth, tenacious in their loyalty to a false king. I had expected so much more from my people, but I should have known better." He looked at Abbigail. "Pythus was right. A crown does not give us power."
Only now did he notice her difference. She was no longer standing proud and confident, but rather with a newfound humbleness. "Abbigail, the Endersword…"
"I failed the Ender Trials, Volcannus." She confessed. "Neither of us were the king or queen we expected to be, but a crown is merely a decoration. Not being a king or queen doesn't mean we can't still fight for what we believe in. We aren't born as leaders, Volcannus. We have to earn that right."
"Abbigail, you've become more…" Volcannus held her hand. "Philosophical."
"Is that a good thing?" She took his other hand, and they pulled each other in.
"It would depend on the situation, but" Volcannus touched his forehead to hers, "I like it."