Alex's Party, now two short, continued towards the Arkhis Mountains. With the help of the pendant obtained by the Malachyte leader, Mathis was able to locate the location of the Road that lead across the mountains, to Megalensis. Mathis no longer walked as if it was pleasure trip. His enthusiasm and adventurous spirit were replaced by determination and firmness. He would not let Jezza's death be in vain.
Alex noticed this, and began to wonder about his companion's emotional state. Thanks to Nevanyk, he had taken yesterday's events rather well. He hoped he could keep up his strength though. Who knows what lay ahead at the hands of Malachy.
"BYRON, IT IS TIME."
"For the spear?" he asked.
"YES. YOU MAY NOW GIVE ALEX THE SPEAR."
"Do you really think that that is wise? I mean, taking into consideration what just happened on Lunar."
"DO NOT DISOBEY ME! I CANNOT TOLERATE INSOLENCE, AND IT IS NOT THAT HARD TO FIND A REPLACEMENT FOR YOU. REMEMBER THAT BYRON."
Byron's face turned an ashen white. He figured it would be rather imprudent to disobey his master. "I would never think of disobeying you."
"GOOD. NOW GIVE THE SPEAR TO ALEX."
Byron bowed his head. "Your word is my command." In a flash of blue, he disappeared.
In front of the trio, a ball of blue energy took the form of a man. "It's you!" Alex exclaimed.
"I'm glad you remembered me, Alex."
"Who is this guy?" Mathis asked coldly, his eyes remaining staring at the man.
"This is the one who has helped us with Terranox. He is the one who brought me here."
"That is correct," Byron answered, "and I now I have brought you some aid once more." Byron held out his arm, and a spear appeared in his hand. "This, is the Spear of Longinus. It's powers are unimaginable. Its powers will ensure its wielder instant victory. That is how powerful it is."
"Why the hell are you giving it to us now!?" Mathis exclaimed. "Why couldn't you give us that thing yesterday! Jezza could still be alive now! Why the hell did you wait till now!?" By now Mathis had broken into tears and was kneeling on the ground, his head facing the earth.
Byron stood unfazed. "Everything, has a purpose."
"Bullshit!"
"Alex, take the spear. Defeat Malachy, and save your planet." Byron disappeared as the spear was tossed at Alex.
Alex caught the spear in his hand. Immediately, a rush of energy surged through Alex's body. It was overbearing and caused Alex to teeter off balance. Then a feeling that Alex could not explain rushed over him. He felt as if someone was inside his head. He pressed his hand to his skull and began to moan. "Gnnnnh. My head." Alex fell to his knees, still holding his head. "Gnnh. Ahhhhhh!" everything went black.
Alex found himself in a black, open space. Coming from everywhere, yet nowhere, was music. It was a song Alex had never heard before. That is when he really realized the situation that he was in. "What the hell is this?"
"The Ride of the Valkyries," a voice answered, "good song huh."
Alex turned to see a man with long brown hair. He appeared to be floating in the air. That's when Alex noticed, that he too was floating. "Who are you? And where am I? And where the hell is that music coming from!?"
"One at a time Alex. My name is Longinus. The original owner of the spear. You are in my Self. And the music, well I just like it."
"Your Self? You mean I'm in your mind?"
"No, no, no, Alex. Not the mind. The mind is merely a physical organ. The Self is eternal."
"So I'm in your soul?"
"Wrong again. Soul and Self are two totally different things. By wielding the spear, you have accepted my Self into your own. Our Selves are now one."
"I don't understand."
"You don't have to. All you have to do, is accept my Self."
"And if I don't?"
Longinus floated closer to Alex and smiled. "Then, you'll be trapped in my Self for eternity."
Alex stepped (or rather, floated) back. "How, how do I accept you?"
The music suddenly changed to "In the Hall of the Mountain King". "Ah, that's better. I was tiring of that song." Longinus floated close to Alex. "In order for you to accept me, you must accept what I've done, and how the spear received its powers." Longinus dissolved into Alex, and was blinded by a bright light.
Alex found himself in the body of Longinus. He was wearing Roman Armor, and held a spear. In front of him, was a man nailed to a cross. His name was Jesus Christ, the supposed Son of God. His orders were simple: finish the man off. Longinus was a soldier, and had no remorse at all. Alex was taken back at the realization of what he was about to do.
He then realized that the music was still playing. Only now, it had reached the climax. Longinus ran forward to spear the man. Alex screamed and tried to make him stop, but to no avail. The tip penetrated Christ's side, and a flow of blood and water ran from the wound.
The sky's suddenly went black, and a strike of lightning streaked across the sky. The earth began to shake, and people panicked. That's when Longinus knew that he was doomed; doomed to walk the earth until the Apocalypse. Because of him, the Son of God was dead.
As Alex screamed, he found himself back in the empty space. Longinus was in front of him, and the music had once again changed. The music being played in the background was now "Ode to Joy". "Y, you killed him," Alex told him.
"I know. And for that reason, I was cursed."
"And I cannot take a weapon that was granted its powers through blood."
"But you must. For if you don't, then you will be trapped within my Self forever."
"NO! Just let me out!" Alex grabbed his head and began to shake. "Get out of my head!"
"I cannot. You have to accept me. You have to accept the spear! If not, Lunar will perish along with Lograndia!"
"But I can't! Not with such an evil weapon!"
Longinus sighed and crossed his arms across his chest. "Very well. At least I have someone to keep me company for the rest of eternity now. We can talk about our past, and listen to music. You know, this place really isn't that bad once you get used to it."
"No." Alex said flatly. "I will not be absorbed into your Self. I am my own, not you. I WILL return to my own. And I WILL wield the spear. To save both worlds. I will accept you!" Alex stood as straight as he can and looked into Longinus' eyes. Before he knew what was happening, everything went white.
Alex awoke to find himself laying on the ground. When he sat up, he rubbed his head. He had a terrible headache.
"Alex, you're awake!" Mathis yelled as he ran towards him. "You gave us quite a scare!"
"How long was I out?" Alex asked. He was starving.
"Three days," Nevanyk answered.
"Three days! No wonder I'm hungry!"
Mathis handed Alex some meat. "Here, eat this."
Alex thanked him and ate ravenously. After his meal was done, he looked around the camp. "Where's the spear?"
"Right next to you," Nevanyk answered. Alex looked, and sure enough, it was there. "You wouldn't let go of it when you were asleep."
Alex picked the spear up. He no longer felt the rush of energy like before. He looked into the spear and said, "Thank you, Longinus."
"Did you say something Alex?" Mathis asked.
Alex looked up at the boy. He had indeed changed. He had become a man. It was kind of sad that he had to grow up so quickly. Then again, so did Alex. "No Mathis. I was just talking to myself."
Alex stood up and looked across the horizon. The mountains could be easily seen now. It would only be a day until they reached the Road. "We should head out," Nevanyk stated.
"Nevanyk! Alex just got up!"
"No, It's all right. Nevanyk's right. We should be going." Alex looked back at Mathis. "Lead on, Mathis." Mathis nodded then took the lead. Towards the mountains they headed.
After a day, they reached the spot where the Road was. Mathis stopped. "It's here." Mathis looked down at the pendant. It had begun to glow. Mathis closed his eyes and concentrated on the spot in front of him. Suddenly, the air opened up. There was a hole in the air that seemed to go on forever. The walls were blue, and seemed to flow like water. Nevanyk walked around to the other side and looked back at Mathis as if the hole wasn't there.
"This is a very strange occurrence."
When Mathis opened his eyes, he looked at the gate he had opened. "Let's go." Mathis was the first to enter. As he walked through, his body seemed to distentigrate and shoot down the hole. Nevanyk and Alex soon followed suit.
When the trio arrived at the other side, they found themselves in a vast desert. There was sand as far as the eye could see. And in front of them, was the tower of Megalensis. The tower was so high, it seemed to pierce the heavens.
Alex walked up to what he assumed was the door. The door was built of steel, along with the rest of the tower. Next to the door, was a switch. Alex pulled the switch, and the door slid open. Sand flew up from the ground. Alex peered inside, then beckoned them to come in.
The inside was vast and empty. In the center of the room was a pillar. Along the sides, were stairs. The stairs had been destroyed in multiple areas, and were impossible to climb. Alex looked up and saw no ceiling. It was obvious that the tower had only one floor. Actually, there was probably a second at the top like the Phoenix's tower.
"Now what!" Mathis exclaimed. "How are we supposed to get to the top of this tower?"
Nevanyk approached the pillar in the center of the room. It had a door similar to the one at the entrance of the tower. He pressed the switch next to it, and the door slid open. "This is a good place to start."
The three entered the small room. It was no more than five feet in diameter. Alex saw another switch beside the door. "Is everyone ready?" Alex didn't wait for a response. He pressed the switch. The doors slid shut, as was expected. But then, the small room, began to rapidly ascend to the sky.