Rocks poured down from the ceiling as it rumbled, and cracks formed in its intricate marble and metal surface! Swarm winced as he swept two of the magicians, one bearing a shield and another bearing a sword, into his arms just before a particularly large chunk of marble could knock them out. Swarm scoffed as it crumbled to bits before them.

"What am I doing standing around here?" Swarm demanded.

His brilliant eyes shimmered in the little light provided. That same light reflected off his sleek body, and highlighted its muscles in a way that made him look ultra-strong—just as strong as Arkilles seemed, even! Those bright, shiny eyes of his zeroed in on where Arkilles held back his chest and cackled like the supervillain he was, all high, snide, and haughty. It was a disgusting sight, but it wouldn't last for long!

"I've gotta stop him!" Swarm cried as he flew up, and his snarl turned to a wide smile. "Super Swarm, to the rescue!"

"Don't forget about us!" the two magicians cried in tandem as they floated out of Swarm's arms and sat on his shoulders.

A twinkle shone in sword-bearing magician's eye beneath the thick black hair that masked it, and he turned to the shield-bearing magician as that twinkle glowed bright. "You know, Swarm, brother," the sword magician remarked as he drew his sword and raised it to the ceiling, "I think I have the perfect way to get this hardhead's eyes off of us!"

The shield magician perked his brows, and that same twinkle shone in his golden brown eyes. "Why, I think I may have had the same idea, brother!" he remarked as he drew his shield.

The two of them nodded, leaped off of Swarm's shoulders, and zipped across as they flew around each other while trails of light and darkness spiraled behind them. They were so in-sync, it was almost kinda creepy—but then again, that could be said of the eerily connected way that they always held themselves with.

"Swarm, see if you can catch Great King Arkie's attention!" the magicians cried in sync. "We've got an idea!"

"I heard you the first time," Swarm buzzed, yet nonetheless he flitted up to Arkilles and drew his barbed arms. "But I've got just the thing!"

Arkilles continued to cackled as he shot down laser beams, and sent everyone screaming and running for the hills, all while flames burned down from the spots that had been warmed by the lasers! His robotic laugh dripped with pride as he held his hands up, so snide and so full of twisted confidence. Well, not for long!

"Ha! Ha, ha!" Arkilles cackled, and the robotic filter that covered his voice only served to make him sound even more twisted than usual. "I, Arkilles, am all powerful! Nobody can beat my ultra powerful eye lasers of doom!"

"No body, huh?" Swarm remarked as he flew up right in Arkilles's face. "What about no bee?"

Arkilles gasped, growled as he swung his fist, and tried to swat Swarm away! But, the great, mighty Swarm wouldn't go down so easily! He just zipped away and rubbed his chin!

"Huh, that sounded better in my head," Swarm remarked as he zipped away from Arkilles's blows and the crumbling ceiling all at once. A tough task for most, but Swarm wasn't like the rest!

"Argh, stand still, stupid gnat!" Arkilles cried as continued to fruitlessly swat Swarm, who dodged every blow still. "Get out of my sight!"

Swarm giggled as he leaped right above Arkilles's fist and did a split right on top of it. He chuckled as he pressed his hands down on its surface, and stood upside-down.

"Alright, you asked!"

With another laugh, Swarm spun around and completely dissolved into a swarm of buzzing bees! The bees all buzzed even louder as they turned their sharp as knives stingers right on Arkilles, who only gulped as he drew back.

"Uh oh," was all Arkilles said.

The bees sprung forward and jabbed their stingers into Arkilles's metal body! His metal dented and caved underneath the stingers' might. Arkilles himself only fruitlessly flailed his arms and ran around in circles!

"Noooooooooooooooo! Not bees! Anything but bees!" Arkilles wailed like a terrified child. "I'm allergic to bees!"

Swarm's own bee swarm just buzzed with laughter as they jabbed away. Bright bursts of golden light and smoky shadows cackled as they flew right past him! Swarm gasped; his swarm drew away and formed into a vague shape of his own body as they transformed back into him. Swarm panted as he buzzed in place, and before him, Arkilles reeled and held his head. Arkilles's armor was cracked in some placed, lined with bumps in the others… Swarm really did a number on him!

Arkilles groaned as he lifted his head, his eyes so cracked that red light seeped through the cracks, and he growled once more as he glared at Swarm. "You'll pay for that!" Arkilles cried as the red light that came from his cracked eyes glowed even brighter. "Once I fry you with my ultra-powerful eye lasers of doom, you'll be nothing more than a grilled bug!"

Arkilles screamed as his cracked eyes glowed like suns. Just before he could fire, a bright yellow laser shot right into his left eye and completely cracked it! Arkilles's screams came not from anger, but pain as he held the injured side of his head. Above him, the shield magician hovered and chuckled as he drew back a glowing shield.

"Your turn, brother!" the shield magician shouted as he waved to Arkilles's other side.

"Gladly, brother!" the sword magician shouted back. He grinned as he drew his sword up, and with a couple slashes, ripples of darkness shot through the air and shattered Arkilles's other eye!

"AUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! MY EYES!" Arkilles wailed as he shielded his broken eyes with his massive, mechanical fists!

The magicians both cackled as they gazed upon Arkilles, left so helpless as he covered his eyes—but while they laughed in the air, Arkilles snatched them and yanked them back to him! Their eyes popped out of their heads as Arklilles' massive head gazed upon them, and they both squirmed as they tried to escape his grip. Arkilles squeezed them tighter and they could only scream!

"How about we play a game of pop the magicians, huh?" Arkilles remarked as he squeezed them!

Swarm gasped and leaped into action! "Oh no you don't, Arkilles!" Swarm cried as his body glowed with a bright power. "Time for me to bring the sting!"

As Swarm called out, the bright, golden light enveloped his body, and he grew twice his already-gigantic size! With his new height, he completely towered over Arkilles, who now looked very nervous indeed. Quicksilver oil crept down Arkilles's head as he released the magicians, and he only gulped as he came in Swarm's presence.

"Oh no, not the almighty Swarm!"

Swarm let out a haughty laugh that shook the room around, and with a single slice from Swarm's barbs, Arkilles got cut in half! Arkilles’s mechanical wails resounded around the room as he exploded in a fury of flame, while everyone cheered as they surrounded Swarm!

"Swarm, you're our hero!" they all cried at once!

§

Swarm clasped his fists and shook them in the air. "Thank you, thank you!" Swarm cried.

Chihiro's eyes sparkled as Swarm basked in his imaginary glory. But, Thumpback and Eye both sighed as they shot him glares—and though Brawl didn't have a face, the way he crossed his arms was enough to show his displeasure.

Swarm grinned as he lowered his fists, tilted his head and twitched his antenna as he gazed back at the others. "Wait, what's with that look, guys?"

"That isn't how we defeated Arkilles and you know it, Swarm," Eye remarked as he plopped back on top of Brawl and crossed his wings.

"Is that true?" Chihiro asked as she tilted her own head.

Swarm's eyes grew wider, and a soft blush came over his face as he chuckled and scratched his head. "Er, well, I, may have embellished the details just a little bit."

Tree Rex, Eye, and Thumpback all sighed and shook their heads.

Chihiro just turned her gaze back up to Tree Rex and Eye-Brawl. "So, if that wasn't how you defeated Arkilles, then, how did you?"

Tree Rex cleared his massive throat and sat down. "Ah yes, I remember it quite well," Tree Rex remarked. He rubbed his throat and a small nod came to him. "Well, you see, it actually happened a little something like this…"

§

"Augh!" cried the magicians' leader as she crashed into a pile of rocky rubble! She stood back up and swayed from side to side as she bared her staff, but alas, she could only collapse despite her show of determination.

Around her, the other magicians all writhed in pain and laid still on the floor. Their bodies were grave with injury as they heaved shallow breaths with all the might they had. They all fought their hardest, yet it still wasn't enough!

Above them, Arkilles cackled as he brushed away their combined attack like it was little more than a fly. Though his eyes were rid of their glass, they still shone bright as morning stars while they trained on the weakened magicians! His cackles filled the room with dread as he lifted his fist, and his massive cape fluttered in the wind as he turned it down.

"I'll give you credit, you did fight pretty hard," Arkilles remarked as he twisted his fist around and let out low chuckles, "but it wasn't hard enough!" Arkilles raised his fist as it glowed, shot it down and pointed towards the injured free magicians. "Minions, finish them!"

The sound of clunking metal and shuffling feet echoed from the halls as masses of Arkeyan robots poured out from the halls, all armed with glowing rifles that were pointed right at the magicians! They were charged and ready, and there was no way the magicians could fight back with them in such a weakened state! They could only groan as they lifted their heads and faced their laser-borne death.

"Say hello to your precious Ancients for me, stage magicians!"

The rifles shrieked as they charged further, their glow pulsing and fading with every cycle, and the magicians just stood silent still. A few of them held their heads or turned away; some pounded their fists against the ground. It was like all hope had been lost, and yet, a tiny pair of feet dashed through the wreckage and screamed.

"Leave them alone!" cried a young voice as a burst of magic shot from the crowds!

This tiny little ball of magic ricocheted off the robots' head and disappeared in a flash, but it was enough that the robots lowered their weapons and craned their heads around in confusion. Though they scanned the battlefields below, nothing could be seen save for one tiny little child with their pale skin, torn clothes, scarred and scratched up body, and soft, sky blue hair! Their silver eyes were puffy and filled with tears as they flung their arms in front of their fellow magicians. Though their legs trembled so hard that it seemed like they would collapse, they still stood tall in front of the opposition.

"Le, leave," the child sputtered between sniffles and sobs. They lowered their head for a moment as they wiped away their tears, but they still turned to the Arkeyans and faced them nonetheless. "LEAVE MY FAMILY ALONE!"

"Varonis, what, what are you doing?" demanded one of the magicians between sputters and coughs. His dark hair fluttered over his face, but between its strands, worry cleared showed in his brown eyes. "Get out of here! Those things will kill you!"

"No! I'm not gonna do that, Vaayu!" Varonic cried as they turned back to the portal master. "I'm not leaving you behind! You told me that as free magicians, it's our duty to protect Skylands and all inside it from the Arkeyans' evil, even if it means we die!" Varonis turned back to the Arkeyans, and a hint of courage shone in their teary, swollen eyes as they faced the masses of Arkeyan armies once more. "SO THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO!"

Arkilles only chuckled as he glanced down at Varonis, and a hint of amusement shone in his broken eyes. "My, my, the kid thinks they can play the hero! Give them a round of applause!" Arkilles cackled as he clapped his hands.

The robots all turned to each other, shrugged and dropped their weapons as they clapped alongside Arkilles.

Arkilles scowled and screeched so hard it nearly blew everyone off their feet. "I DIDN'T MEAN IT LITERALLY, YOU BUFFOONS! TAKE UP YOUR ARMS!"

The robots all whirred and beeped as they scrambled to yank their weapons from the floors. They cocked their rifles and pointed them all out once more. Their weaponry fully charged once more, and with a single pull of the trigger, anyone in the line of fire would be toast!

"Now, minions," Arkilles cried as he pointed to the magicians, "show them what we do to heroes around here!"

"YES SIR!" The robots all chimed as they readied their weaponry. "Three, two, one…"

Varonis only gulped as their arms joined their legs in shuddering with fury, but they still stood tall and waved their hands as the robots prepared to fire. Bursts of cyan magic sparkled and shone from their palms, yet disappeared just as quickly as they appeared! All that was left was for them to stand still, and face the robots as their guns' barrels shuddered with light.

"FIRE!" the robots cried!

Varonic screamed and prepared to cast a shield as laser bursts came straight for them, their eyes screwed shut as they surely prepared for the end. Just before the laser came, a gigantic purple shield sprung between them and the robots! The robots' laser blows slammed into the shield and reflected back at them, tearing them to bits as they exploded upon contact.

Varonis's eyes fluttered open as shadows cast above them, and something lifted them from the floor. They finally lifted their head, gasped and grinned as Ninjini lifted them into her palms—she came to save them all! More than her, the other seven Elder Elementals flanked her from behind, all with smiles on their faces and weapons clasped tight!

"Are you alright, Varonis?" Ninjini asked.

Varonis furiously nodded, but their grin fell as their eyes drifted down to where the other magicians laid sprawled against the floor. Arkilles's haughty laughter drained the color from his face, and Ninjini lowered her hand as she let Varonis tend back to their fellow magicians.

"Well, well, look who's here!" Arkilles remarked. "Come to save the day again, Minor Elementals?"

"More than that, Arkilles!" Tree Rex bellowed as he pounded his fists together. "Your reign of terror ends now! We're not going to let you bring any more harm to Skylands!"

"My, such confidence!" Arkilles called as he waved his glowing fist around. "But, I wonder—will you still act so high and mighty when you face my CONQUERTRONS?"

The entire world rumbled around them as the halls below smashed to bits, and out from their rubble came massive, humanoid machines! They were taller than buildings and towers, and their eyes glowed with a menacing yellow light as they flanked Arkilles on each end. They leaned down and put themselves in fighting positions; with a single snap of Arkilles's fingers, they were off like rockets!

"Their legs are their weak spots!" Ninjini cried. "Aim for those!"

Ninjini summoned her wishblades as she burst forward, tossed them out and zapped them with purple magic bolts! A bright purple glow surrounded the wishblades as they zipped around on their own and sliced the first few Conquertrons' legs in half. The Conquertrons themselves just flew into the air and crashed back down! Just before they hit the ground, an anchor's chain wrapped around them and swung them around.

In the center of the storm, sweat poured down Thumpback's body as he strained and swung his anchor around; finally, he released and sent them crashing back into the rest! The pile of Conquertrons twitched and strained as they rested on the ground and sent clouds of dust floating around. A burst of flames shot forward and set them alight. Strained, screeching beeps and whirs came from them as the flames ate away, and they all exploded to bits with one single laser blast!

Smoke and fire covered the room while Arkilles broke into a coughing fit, and under the smoke's cover, the Elder Elementals all charged forward! Crusher nodded and swerved away from the rest of the group as they burst through the smoke, a bright glow of light around their bodies as their signal. They all stood tall as Arkilles fanned the smoke from his face, and growled as his eyes fell on them!

Arkilles lurched forward and went to stomp Tree Rex, but Tree Rex just ran aside and disappeared in a murky, shadowy smoke that burst from his solar cannon! Arkilles gasped, pounded his foot around, and dented the floors as he sought out Tree Rex, but he just couldn't find Tree Rex in spite of Tree Rex's laughter!

"Where are you, you overgrown twig?" Arkilles demanded as he continued to stomp. "I demand you show yourself this instant!"

Though Arkilles fixed on Tree Rex, Crusher was the one he really should've worried about! Crusher sneaked out of the shadows with his hammer clutched tight in his hands. He leaped up and slammed his hammer right into the back of Arkilles's leg! Arkilles wailed as he fell to his knees; his hands pressed against the floor as he pushed himself up, and a bright glow from below caught his attention!

He snarled as his eyes fell on Eye's glowing eye, swung his hand and grappled for Eye—but Eye popped off and zapped Arkilles right in the face! Arkilles reeled backwards and slammed into the wall, but Eye just floated back as Ninjini zipped ahead of him. Ninjini shouted out as she slammed a magic orb into Arkilles's chest and knocked him aside, and Arkilles growled as he leaned up to his feet. Sparks flew from the injured wiring in his leg, but he hardly cared as he raised a glowing fist and shot a storm of lasers right at her!

Ninjini chuckled and teleported away, but the lasers phased right through the cloud of smoke she left behind and blew up a part of the ceiling! Arkilles clenched his fist as rocks and marble crumbled down, and a POP from the side showed Ninjini's return. She giggled and waved at Arkilles as she hovered next to a wall, but Arkilles screamed as he slung a punch at her—except it never landed! She disappeared at just the right moment, and he just lodged his glowing fist into the wall. Arkilles grunted as he tried to yank it out, and Ninjini teleported back onto the ground.

"Tree Rex, Swarm, now!" Ninjini cried.

"On it, Jeannie!" Swarm cried in the distance,

The sound of buzzing resounded across the floor as Swarm zipped forward with Tree Rex hanging from his arms! Swarm grunted as he zipped past another portion of crumbling ceiling, and snarled as his eyes fell on Arkilles. He swung his arms back and forth, and...

"Jump for it, boss!"

With a grunt, Swarm tossed Tree Rex right for Arkilles! Arkilles turned around as Tree Rex's screams hit the air, and just in time for Tree Rex to punch his head clean off! Arkilles's head spun across the fields and slammed right into the wall. Without a head to guide it, the body slunk backwards and severed itself from its glowing, dislodged fist as it collapsed on the ground!

A low, decidedly unrobotic groan echoed from within the hollow body as a red and gold glow came from it, and it slowly shrunk down until it was no bigger than an average human. A pop of red and gold sparkles came and unveiled Arkilles once more—the true Arkilles. His snow white skin was covered in bruises and bloody cuts, his hair was disheveled and his clothing was tattered. His kingly image was torn to shreds, and all that remained was a sad, sad shell of a man.

The Elder Elementals all snarled as they surrounded Arkilles with weapons raised, but Arkilles only gritted his teeth and pounded his bloody, bruised fist into the floor! Arkilles glared up at Tree Rex. Despite his eyes both being bruised, he still found it in him to muster a look of defiance in his blood red eyes.

"I, I, I—" Arkilles croaked before he hacked out blood and collapsed on the floor!

Tree Rex only held up a glowing solar cannon and snarled as Arkilles coughed and hacked.

"Your reign ends here, Arkilles," was all Tree Rex said as he prepared to fire…

When a shriek and a bright flash of light caught his attention!

All eyes turned around to where the Fist of Arkus laid lodged in the wall, except it grew unstable! Sparks flew from its interior, and it glowed with a harsh light akin to the sun itself. Massive winds whipped around the interior as the light glowed bright, and it expanded in a full on rift! Arkilles was forgotten in all the Elder Elementals' minds as they scrambled for something to cling to, but it was too late. The winds whipped them right off the ground, and in that instant, a bright flash of light drowned out everything else as they got sucked in…