Both Megalodon and the cloaked man rushed forward. Their fists collided—
a wet pop.
The cloaked man's wrist bent the wrong direction, bone poking under the skin.
Cloaked man: "So… I guess I have no choice but to get serious, huh?"
Megalodon: "You cannot beat me in a contest of strength. I'm vastly superior to you in everything."
The cloaked man powered up, his aura darkening pitch-black as the bone snapped back into place on its own. He kicked Megalodon in the stomach—WHUMP—sending Megalodon skidding back, feet ripping trenches in the dirt.
The cloaked man flicked his fingers. Thin, fast blades of energy shot out, slicing into Megalodon's shoulders, gut, thighs—
shhk-shhk-shhk-shhk.
He stopped, posing for a split second—then every embedded blade detonated.
The blast threw Megalodon across the field, debris bouncing off his body as he crashed.
Black Mentis sprinted in, boots crunching rubble. He kicked the cloaked man in the spine—
THUD—and fired an energy beam point-blank. It slammed the cloaked man back, dragging him into the ground and erupting into an explosion of dust and broken concrete.
Cloaked man: "Oblivion put a leech on your own dog."
Oblivion stood up slowly, head still bent sideways. He grabbed his skull with both hands.
CRACK—CRACK—CRACK.
He snapped his neck back into place, exhaling through his teeth.
Oblivion: "Yup, my B, my dude."
Oblivion: "Aaah… that wasn't bad. But if you think you can take us down… you're sorely mistaken."
His aura surged—dark red mixed with crawling black streaks. He pressed a hand over one eye and started laughing, shoulders shaking. His right eye flashed green, a symbol spinning inside the pupil.
Black Mentis: "You're not a human anymore. How the hell are you still standing?"
He lifted his hand.
Millions of micro-energy blades formed above him, vibrating. Then they launched downward in a single wave, all aimed at Mentis and Megalodon's internal organs.
Cloaked man: "You shouldn't activate your powers. So far we've been fighting them with raw strength. Keep your abilities secret until we are done with the fusion."
Mentis crossed his arms to guard—but the blades slipped through him like needles through wet paper.
Black Mentis: "Shit… there's literally no end to them… I can't keep holding in any longer…"
Each micro-cut reopened old wounds. Blood poured out in thin streams down his ribs, soaking his waist. Breathing turned rough, wheezing.
Where Megalodon had fallen, the blades rained down, burying him completely.
Megalodon pushed himself up, pieces of energy blades sliding out of his skin by themselves. His wounds sealed shut, tightening and closing.
The cloaked man dropped to one knee, touched Megalodon's blood, twisted his fingers, then licked his bloody fingertips.
A third eye opened on his forehead—three pupils rotating slowly.
Cloaked man: "I do not see any future where you two survive. Let's finish this. I am killing you here and now."
(pointing toward Megalodon)
"You'll see the true power of a mere warrior who serves under the real king."
He flicked one finger.
Megalodon's body detonated from the inside—
SHLOKKKK.
Organs burst out like wet meat shrapnel. His upper torso vaporized. Ribs flew like broken knives. His lower half dropped to the ground with a heavy slap.
Black Mentis lunged in on instinct, slamming a fist into Oblivion's face—
CRACK.
His arm snapped instantly, bending to the side.
Mentis leapt back, clutching his ruined arm.
Black Mentis: "Wh—what? How's this possible? What did you do?!"
Oblivion scratched the back of his head casually.
Oblivion: "Me? (chuckles) Aww, nothing. All the damage you gave me—and the beating? It made me stronger, faster, harder. I was just playing along this whole time."
Mentis clenched his teeth.
Mentally: "I have no choice but to use the spell… even Megalodon's getting torn apart. They damaged him with less effort than I ever could…"
Megalodon re-formed, flesh pulling itself together in violent spasms until his torso returned. He stretched out a hand.
Megalodon: "Grasp of heart."
He clenched his fist.
The cloaked man gagged, blood dripping from his mouth. He dropped to one knee.
Cloaked man: "Foolish… y-you think crushing my heart is enough to kill me?"
Megalodon appeared behind Oblivion, grabbed both his arms, twisting them behind his back.
Megalodon: "I know you are hiding something. Do it now, Mentis."
(turning to the cloaked man)
"You're not the only one with sight that can see infinite futures. Don't get cocky, child."
The cloaked man tried to stand but his legs gave out, dropping him on his ass.
Cloaked man: "Wh—why can't I stand? What… what is this…?"
Mentis spread his arms—his left one dangling broken and flipping loosely.
Black Mentis: "Fine. I'll do it then."
He inhaled sharply.
Black Mentis:
"O lux divina caelestis, descende super daemonem tenebrarum!
Inimice omnis sancti, te in oblivionem deleo!"
Megalodon's eyes lit up, pupils tightening.
Megalodon: "This spell… this is my chance. To show him the truth."
Mentis continued, voice trembling from pain:
Black Mentis:"Per aeternam Dei vim, existentiam tuam in aeternum erado!
Forma tua in nihilum dissolvat, numquam reditura!"
Megalodon: "This will change the future I foresaw… and he'll pick the right path."
White flames burst from Mentis's hand—wild, thick, swallowing everything in front of him.
The cloaked man fired a black-purple energy sphere—the white flames dissolved it on contact.
All three—Oblivion, the cloaked man, and Megalodon—were hit.
The blast slapped into Megalodon. His body glitched for a second—
then detonated again. Flesh peeled off in sheets. His veins lit up from the inside. His body flew backward across the shattered ground.
Megalodon (smirking through the destruction): "Perfect… works in my favor. My path changed… but my goal's the same."
The cloaked man went ethereal, but the flames wrapped around him instantly. His scream tore through the burning air.
Cloaked man: "NO—NO! How did your attack connect?! I placed pieces of myself in other worlds—parallel dimensions—this shouldn't be possible!"
Oblivion howled, skin charring, cracking open as the flames crawled inside him. He thrashed, shadows tearing out of his back and melting on contact.
Oblivion: "AARGH—! Get—it off!"
Megalodon watched, half-burned.
Megalodon: "They're in pain? They must be fusing with high-ranking demons… interesting."
The blast tore through the battlefield. Streets melted. Shockwaves punched through buildings. Glass shattered in waves. A few towers leaned, then collapsed completely.
Black Mentis dropped face-first, then rolled to his back, chest heaving. Sweat mixed with blood spilled across his face.
Black Mentis: "I… I can't move… but I have to finish them… before it's too late…"
He stared at the writhing forms—Oblivion and the cloaked man shifting, teleporting flames into empty universes with pocket dimensions. Their flesh was burnt raw, almost unrecognizable.
Megalodon: "This will keep them busy for a few years… their fusion will take longer."
Megalodon's embers scattered in the ruined wind.
Megalodon's half-formed body leaned up, extending a hand. Inside Mentis's mind, Megalodon's voice echoed:
Megalodon: "Black Mentis… continue what you haven't finished. I'll trust everything to you. Choose the right successor."
A faint healing aura wrapped around Mentis—barely enough to move.
Then—a vision struck him.
Flashes of Megalodon's memories. Deception. Layers of hidden truth ripping open all at once.
Black Mentis's breath stopped. His eyes widened. Tears mixed with the blood on his cheeks.
Black Mentis: "So… this is what was really happening?"
His fists shook, blood leaking between his fingers.
Black Mentis: "So this is why you called me a puppet the moment you saw me…? You knew everything… didn't you?"
He swallowed hard.
Black Mentis: "Every battle… every struggle… everything… a lie…?"
He stood, barely holding himself up. Legs trembling. Chest pumping for breath.
A small, tired smirk touched his lip.
Black Mentis: "Thanks for not keeping me in the dark… you asshole. Sneaking a spell into my head… making me do your dirty work."
The smoke has thinned. The first rays of light cut through it, illuminating the battlefield.
Corpses of his comrades lay still.
Black Mentis lowered his head, jaw trembling.
He could barely stand.
And he knew he wouldn't survive much longer.
Black Mentis steadied himself. Blood poured from his mouth and dripped down his chin. He coughed hard—thick, dark clots splattering the cracked ground.
Black Mentis (voice shaking but firm): "I'll make you all pay… for making me feel this way. For making me live this lie. He's not getting a damn thing from me… This is the only revenge I got left."
His fingers lifted, trembling, tracing sharp, fast arcs through the air. The runes flickered like hot metal. His voice wavered, but it didn't stop.
Black Mentis: "Ex cruore et cinere cadentium… ex ossibus fractis heroum et daemonum…"
His throat seized. He spit more blood onto the dirt—thick strings hanging from his lips.
"…ex spiritu ultimo eorum qui hodie occubuerunt… ego… Mentis…"
"…iubeo et signo… Transferte omnem virtutem… omnem scientiam… omnem flammam latentem…"
The runes snapped brighter.
"…in unum vas electum… in Filium Prophetae… in Deorum Delictum…"
His knees buckled. He forced the last words out, choking on blood.
"…OMNITHON… si audis—coughed violently, spit shooting out—btestare… hoc pactum…"
"…Sic fiat… Sic erit… in nomine Ultionis Aeternae…"
A violent surge of energy tore up through him. His veins glowed white. His body shook like it was being ripped open from the inside.
The battlefield vibrated. Dead heroes, demon corpses, torn limbs, loose bones, puddles of blood—anything left of them—lit up in gold. Stray fingers, spines, shattered ribs, even melted armor fragments—all humming, pulling toward him.
A thin line of white light shot out of Mentis' chest and blasted across the sky, disappearing at incredible speed.
The ground cracked open around him. Clouds ripped apart overhead. Black lightning scattered across the sky, raw and loud.
Mentis stood in the middle of it all, swaying. His breathing was ragged. Blood dripped off him nonstop, pooling at his feet. But he didn't fall.
The moment lasted only a second.
A soft shift of air behind him.
Oblivion (right behind him, voice right at his ear): "The hell was that spell, huh?"
Mentis slowly turned.
THWACK!
Oblivion's backhand smashed across Mentis' face. Teeth flew. Mentis spun and hit the ground hard, sliding through dust and blood.
He grunted, pushing up with shaking arms.
The cloaked man stepped forward, placing his boot on Mentis' chest, pinning him.
Cloaked Man (teeth clenched): "Doesn't matter what you did. We're finishing the mission."
Oblivion glanced at Megalodon's crushed, split-open torso. "Yeah. I'll grab his powers. Hold on."
He tossed the red artifact gem to Oblivion. The runes inside twitched like something trapped.
Mentis slapped the cloaked man's boot away and lunged. His punch missed by inches.
The cloaked man moved around him cleanly and raised one hand.
A dagger of raw energy formed instantly and slammed into Mentis' back. The blade burst out of his stomach with a wet SHLKK. His body jerked violently.
Before he could react, the cloaked man drove his other hand straight into Mentis' chest. Bones cracked. Flesh tore. Blood sprayed out in short bursts.
Mentis gasped—air escaping like a punctured lung.
Cloaked Man: "Stay down already. It's over. The false demon's dead. You're so eager to die gosh."
Mentis' vision blurred. Cold spread from his chest outward.
Oblivion knelt beside Megalodon's corpse, jamming his blade into the demon's ribcage. He twisted it, carving space for the gem. He shoved the artifact into the corpse's cavity.
Oblivion (glancing back, annoyed): "Damn… even now he's still upright? Hah…" He licked Megalodon's blood off his lips. "Heroes are too damn stubborn. Should've stayed down."
The cloaked man pulled his hand out of Mentis' chest with a wet CHRRRK.
Mentis coughed again—blood gushing out. His knees collapsed. He hit the ground face-first. His skin shook between burning hot and freezing cold.
Cloaked Man: "You should know… no one wins against the new gods. This world belongs to the new ruler."
Mentis' fingers twitched. He forced a small smile, dark and shaky.
Mentis (gurgling, laughing weakly): "Tell your master… go fuck himself. The puppet… shoved a middle finger up his ass…"
(Gurgling sounds)
"I…Already took a shit on that fucker whole plan…"
The cloaked man stiffened. "The hell are you talking about?"
Oblivion jogged over, frustrated. "Man, something's off. The gem isn't working. Or maybe I'm doing it wrong." He shoved the gem back into the cloaked man's chest. "Here. You try."
Mentis smiled wider, teeth red.
A flash of panic twitched across the cloaked man's eyes.
Cloaked Man: "You think this is funny?!" He grabbed Mentis by the collar and shook him. "WHAT DID YOU DO?! WHY ISN'T THE GEM WORKING?!"
Mentis' eyes rolled, but the spark stayed.
The cloaked man lifted him off the ground by the throat.
Cloaked Man: "Like I said. This is the end. Now I take everything."
Oblivion pulled on his cloak again, arms crossed.
The cloaked man's glove lit up. The red artifact pulsed.
Tendrils of concept magic shot out, wrapping around Mentis' body—searching—clawing—
Nothing.
The glow died instantly. The gem turned a dull, empty red.
Both villains froze.
Oblivion: "See? I told you. It's dead. Not working at all."
Cloaked Man: "No… no no no—this should've taken seconds!"
Mentis' fingers twitched. A faint white spark gathered at his fingertips—quiet, controlled.
Mentis (barely above a whisper): "My last gift… rot in hell."
ZIPP—CRACK.
A thin white beam shot from his finger and sliced through the gemstone.
The artifact shrieked—unstable, glitching—then—
CRACK—CRACK—CRACK—BOOM!
It shattered into dozens of sharp pieces.
Oblivion stumbled back. "Oh shit—shit! We fucked up! Why'd you let your guard down?!"
Cloaked Man: "DAMN YOU! DAMN YOUUU!"
He threw the useless, sparking remains. "THE BOSS IS GONNA BLAME ME!"
He pointed at Oblivion.
"And YOU! You lowered your guard too, asshole!"
He spun and punched Mentis in the face with everything he had.
THOOM!
Mentis' head snapped sideways. Blood and teeth flew in an arc. His body hit the rubble and didn't get back up. Only a faint, rattling breath came out.
Oblivion rubbed his arms, shaking. "We're dead. We failed to steal his powers. Everyone else's too. And worse—our demon fusions will be delayed." He spit—and continued. "His white flames fried my instant healing. It's not working."
Cloaked Man: "Mine isn't working either… and that's not even the worst part. That artifact was irreplaceable. The boss will rip us apart when he wakes up!"
Oblivion: "Not irreplaceable. Artifacts respawn in parallel universes. We just need the right one."
Both floated up slowly, rising above the battlefield.
Below them—everything was broken. Craters. Severed limbs. Smoke columns. Melted streets. No movement anywhere.
Oblivion: "All this… for nothing. Since the gem didn't grab anything—not from Mentis, not from Megalodon—it means one thing."
He pointed at Mentis' limp body.
Oblivion: "This bastard moved his powers to someone else. Probably that false fucker helped."
The cloaked man's jaw tightened. "That spell… who did he send it to…? He shattered everything."
Oblivion (grinning): "We're screwed anyway. Want to see who's behind Black Mentis' mask?"
A cold tremor ran through the cloaked man.
Cloaked Man: "Fuck no. The King will kill us. We're leaving."
Oblivion sighed. "Tch. Coward."
Cloaked Man: "We also need to wipe the survivors the heroes saved earlier. If anyone saw—"
He winced, touching burned skin. Smoke still curled from some patches.
Oblivion: "And your skin is fucked."
The cloaked man gritted his teeth but didn't deny it.
Oblivion adjusted his hood. "Don't blame yourself. Like I said—artifacts respawn somewhere. We just need another artifact to track the right universe."
Silence swept the battlefield.
Black Mentis lay half-buried in rubble. His breath rattled. Warm blood seeped out around him.
Smoke drifted overhead, but a thin line of morning light started to cut through it.
He exhaled hard—barely a sound.
Mentis (weak, fading): "Alan… Diana… Jade… my… three years with you were real…"
His fingers twitched once.
His chest rose.
Then stopped.
Black Mentis—Ben Winchester—went still.
The battlefield stayed silent.
The war was only beginning.
((Thanks for reading this chapter, if you enjoyed it, please leave a comment, I could use suggestions, feedback or ideas. If you want to support me. Then I accept red stones or gifts etc… it keeps me motivated, plus with enough support your OC could appear in future arcs just dm their info))