Burn [Chapter XIII]

[Kara]

It was as she feared, the Netherrealm has merged so much with Genesis that while her own power was fading Ranko's were only growing stronger. Were the other gods feeling the same? Why didn't they come to help them? If Ranko wasn't stopped she wouldn't stop at Jherra, all of Genesis was at risk. Kara would be pulled away from the battle at the sounds of the screams, the cries of her people calling out to her while others screamed out in pain. It caused a terrible headache inside her head as she pressed her fingers against her temples, not used to hearing so many people call upon her this early into her reign. If she continued to fight and focus closing the portals, people would most surely die and the Woman of Steel, god or not, was not ready to make that kind of sacrifice. It went against everything she stood for.

"Fall back!" Kara yelled to the others who were still standing. "Fall back!" With a burst of her godly strength, Kara literally punched through the increasing army and knocked them to the side, clearing a path to the injured Utena, Aminee and Sailor V, picking them up and taking off into the air as the citizens on Moon Valley who managed to escape were already heading for Jherrazad. They couldn't win here, they had to make their stand elsewhere. "Fall back!" Nobody else was going to die today.

[Ayen]

Ranko watched as Superwoman heard the cries of her people calling out for her help, and she did what any loving god would do; came to their aid. Ranko continued down the dirt street of Moon Valley, feeling another force taking the souls of her army away from her. They soon adapted, becoming immune to the Ajerian's attack and continued to press forward in spite of the lava, having already been adapted to such a thing prior to this battle.

The Crimson Devil beckoned for her elites once more. Giving each their own army in reward for their triumph here today. For Scorpion, the fallen warriors of the Shirai Ryu clan would be his to command in battle. For Noob Saibot, their rival clan disguised as figures of shadow, the Lin Kuei. And for Quan Chi, an army of Genesis' most powerful Sorcerers through the ages, from the beginning of time to present day.

Together with the Fallen Angels of Yahweh, the power of the Netherrealm, Kasul and their adaptability Moon Valley's fate was sealed.

[Kragen]

Scorpion moved out of the path of the Goddess as she forced her way through the vast demon army to get to her people. His attention however would soon be taken away by something else entirely as his white eyes grew wide at the sight of his clan members coming back to life. The Shirai Ryu, back and more powerful than ever. Taking his rightful place by their side, the specter led the resurrected fallen clan into the mountains to set up outposts for the Netherrealm.

[Raal]

His fire wasn't doing the job. Normally they'd all be incinerated by now, but they adapted to what was happening. This army had gotten way too large, way too fast. The demon retreated, eating his pride like eating a cactus whole. He had to survive to fight another day. He could do that much.

Firebrand retreated, flying off in a blur of white as his Luminous Body was still active. He covered the retreat of the humans, blasting distracting fireballs as he flew backward. Hopefully the actions will give enough time for a proper retreat.

Damn it all.

[Sparda]

Retreating already? Damn it. This army was getting out of hand way too quickly... Not to mention their souls were somehow now out of his reach, refusing to break down or even leave their bodies when they died. Now his only means of trying to cull their burgeoning numbers had been denied.

Who was this woman, and where had she raised this force...?

No matter. He'd faced worse against the Abyss even before his Binding. Choking down his sizeable pride for now, Demetrios made sure of one more thing; in the midst of the marauding soldiers he appeared before Quan Chi and his new sorcerers. Immediately they set upon him, and with one swing of his massive sword, he eviscerated the closest group with the pressure wave and kicked up a sphere of raging air blades that formed a hollow dome around he and Quan Chi, ripping apart every soldier that tried to breach it.

He raised Diabolus, staring down its length at Quan Chi. The blue flames of his eyes flared dangerously.

"I'll be seeing you again."

With nothing further to say, and no intention of sticking around to try and fend off a seemingly infinite army, the Ajerian vanished as quickly as he had come.

[Tenjou, Utena]

Utena was able to see Aminee stabbed in the back and she could do nothing to help her. As the two laid on the ground with soldiers passing them by, Utena tried her hardest to crawl over to Aminee and hold her by the hand. To try to provide her with some comfort as the grim realization of their situation was starting to kick in. Her regrets? Never finding Anthy and the way she left things with June, in uncertainty. But just as the former Champion of Ohtori thought her number was finally up she would feel the warm embrace of Superwoman lifting her up and carrying the three of them into the sky.

A wave of relief washed over her but at the same time she was saddened. Saddened that for all their effort a place she called home was lost to a force they were just no match for. It broke her heart. And if she could feel that bad for a place she only spent nearly a year in, she couldn't imagine how Kara felt having lived here all her life.
"I'm sorry, Kara. I tried... I really did."

[DC Comics]

Quan Chi watched as the defense team began their retreat and a smile appeared on his lips as he looked on at the Netherrealm army like a proud father looked on at their children. Though he was no longer the ruler of the realm many of the warriors being called on by Ranko was brought here by his doing, making him feel like a father to the souls that fought under his command for so long before the Crimson Devil defeated him in combat.

The Sorcerer greeted the sorcerers that was summoned by Ranko, knowing many of them from Genesis history books and personal experiences as Netherrealm's king. Their union was interrupted shortly by Demetrios who were fast approaching, however Quan Chi held out his arm and motioned for the sorcerers to stay back, his Amulet ready to protect them for the worse but instead a warning would be issued by the unknown warrior before he vanished. In the aftermath of his departure Quan Chi thought about what demon from down below would be best suited for such a powerhouse.

And a smile curved his lips once again when the answer came.

[Bee]

Anderson's smile faded from his face, "Pull back? Why in gods name would we do such a thing?" He witnessed everyone running in the opposite direction before throwing a massive amount of bayonets left and right sticking them into the ground then yelled, "AMEN!"

The explosion would cut off advancing troops long enough to let those close enough to Anderson retreat. He himself turned and simply began walking away, but like the pages flipped in his book they released into the air and he was gone just like that.

[Garrus Vakarian]

It was the Lin Kuei, only twisted and deformed like himself. They were shadows of their former selves figuratively and literally. But now they were the perfect assassins, beings able to blend into the very darkness itself. So they did, traveling amongst the shadows of others and you wouldn't know they were there.

Until it was too late.

[Sailor V]

Sailor V wrapped her arms around Artemis, apologizing for not listening to him before when he tried to tell her she wasn't ready for this. Then she felt herself flying through the air, the woman in the cape somehow managing to hold her with two others at once while Sailor V held on to her cat. Her arms stretching out farther than should be physically possible? What was she? One good look at the S on her chest and Sailor V saw who it was, the Woman of Steel. Back again to save their lives, at least the lives she could save. She felt like such a failure as she looked down below to see her home falling to evil as they fled to Jherrazad.

[Aminee Starlight]

Aminee would feel the relief of the soldier's foot being removed from the back of her head before being lifted up into the air. The Pop Idol wouldn't have time to ask questions or wonder what was happening as she was losing blood fast from where she was stabbed, and in that moment lost consciousness; believing she would never wake up.

At least she wouldn't feel the pain anymore.

[Kara]

"Shh! Don't say a word. Save your strength." Though she didn't show it, because she had to be strong for her people, the Woman of Steel was dying on the inside. Unable to even look down and see what was becoming of her home. The only thing she could take comfort in knowing was the fact her friends and family managed to get out of the city in time. But for how much longer could they pull back before they were forced to either hold their ground...

Or lose everything?