" Crystal! "
The Wolf King had several of the undeads, leeched onto his body, but he didn't care. The scenario that his eyes were witnessing, made a shiver of joyous pain, run all over his veins. 
Crystal, his beloved Crystal was standing in front of him. But she wasn't the Crystal he had known or seen. She was in her true form, the ethereal mer-queen. 
She had a power ord circulating around both her hands and with every punch she dealt in the air, the undeads went reeling back inside the pit they were crawling out from. The intensity of the shock wave was sending those leeches flying in every direction. She had her eyes locked on the Wolf King and with one blast the ones around him were gone. 
He ran towards her, before she could come to him. 
The Wolf King scooped her up and pressed her close. 
At last, they were in each other's arms, a tender collision that transcended time and space. The Wolf King's strong embrace enveloped the Mer-queen, his rough hands cradling her delicate form as if he held a precious gem. She, in turn, twined her arms slowly around his powerful frame, their bodies melding together in a perfect fated union. 
Tears flowed unbidden, mingling with the sweat and grime of battle, as their foreheads touched and their breaths synchronised . " You have no idea, how I have yearned for this moment, my love, my Crystal," the Wolf King murmured, his voice choked with a mixture of longing ,relief, disbelief and confusion. 
"As have I," Crystal confessed, her fingers tracing the contours of his face with a gentle reverence. "To see you again, to feel your heartbeat against mine,to breathe your scent in, is a dream fulfilled beyond measure.A wish that kept me awake beyond death."
The Wolf king finally blinked. Realisation hit. 
Indead, the scent of his Crystal was just like the undeads that he was trying to kill. 
She tried to move back as she noticed the confusion and hesitation in his eyes. 
But he pulled her back. He pulled her back with double the force and locked her lips with a kiss. 
" In death or in life, you are mine and I am yours. And that's a promise. "
His voice was not a whisper anymore as if he wanted to reclaim his life. 
Crystal touched his face with her ice cold hands again, and with a sad smile she whispered, 
" I didn't want to keep Mia away from you. You must know that. I was only trying to protect her. It was in her best interest. "
" Ssssshhhhhh! You don't have to explain yourself."
He placed his hand over her lips. 
It seemed like amidst the mayhem of the war, these two had found their own heaven. 
" It means you have forgiven me? " Crystals eyes lit up but the Wolf King broke down in tears. 
" I have forgiven you? It should have been me who should have begged for your forgiveness. I failed you. I failed to protect both you and our kid. "
Suddenly they broke their embrace as Roe's yell pierced through the sky. 
Crystal jumped at the spot where she had just been stabbed. She pulled Roe out of there and place her hand right over her wound while her palms emitted a fluroscent essence. 
" This will stop the poison from spreading. Get her back to the mainland. " She ordered as the Wolf king caught up. 
Lin could also come and join them because of the large number of undeads that the mer-queen was able to get rid of. 
Crystal looked at Lin and added, 
" Mia and Boshu don't have much time either. They were both exposed to the miasma from the netherworld before the barrier was broken. They both were distorted into being like these. But their transformation is not permanent. Not yet. We need to hurry. We need to extract the miasma out of their bodies if we might hope for any chance of saving them. "
She explained. 
" They both disappeared down the Ancient well, " Roe tried to speak even though she could barely keep her eyes open. 
" I tried to find them down there but it's like a dead end." Lin added, very agitated, " What do I do? Do I jump down there? "
He asked like a desperately lost child, pointing at the hell hole from where the dead were oozing out across the shattered barrier. 
Crystal couldn't help but laugh. She was satisfied at how Lin had turned out. She was right about the guy when she was living, even though he had lied about his identity back then. 
" You cannot go through the barrier in the well because you are still alive, but I can. Let's head back. We will need to look for the Great Serpent after that. Only he can help us restore the barrier once again. We have no time to waste. We need to hurry. "
But they all looked hesitant. 
" These creatures will flood the entire world if we leave..."
Just then the Late Fox king descended. 
" Let me do my part here in restoring some order and peace. I will take it from here. You go get things done. My bones have been collecting rust for awhile. It's like to gain some new muscles. "
The ones those were living had no clue about the changed demeanor of the Late Fox king . They looked at Crystal who gave it a go by nodding. 
" All of us who were stuck beyound the barrier had some reason for not being able to crossover. He and I both got our second chances. We better make full use of that. "
Somewhere from the edge of the battle field, the Wolf Queen looked on. 
She watched all the drama unfold before her eyes. Yet she found herself too distant, both physically and mentally. She had no strength left to either face or counter them. She silently saw them all leave together as drops of tears fell from her eyes. 
*******
Struggle
***Somewhere in the middle of nowhere***
"It feels good to be alive, doesn't it son? "
The original serpent coiled his way away from the Great Serpent and hissed as his son chased after him. 
" You know, you cannot escape me. I will get you and drag you to that hell hole, where you actually belong. "
He whisked a ring of fire around the original serpent, trying to trap him, but tripped. The original serpent had again tricked him with his visual imagery. 
" Hhhhmmm, the air in this era feels so fresh, so unadulterated... Let me fix that. "
And he blew his deadly venom in circles, as if dancing to a symphony, all across the field. 
It was deadly but the Great Serpent knew it was a trap. His father was planning to disappear on him the moment he rushed to contain that. The world had to suffer a little. It was a compromise. 
Little did the two of them know, that they were heading towards the Sacred Lands. 
***At the Ancient Well***
"She has gone for hours. Should we not at least go down and check. "
The Wolf King was getting anxious but Roe held him back. 
" She specifically mentioned not to interfere no matter what. She said we were not to go down there even if she called out for help. 
We can only send Akata down if and only if she doesn't come back after the Fourth Hour has passed. "
The Wolf King nodded. 
Crystal had a very intimate session with little Akata after they came back. No one was allowed inside. Only Crystal and her grandchild. 
When they finally came out, Akata had a glass jar, full of starry lights, fluttering inside like fireflies. 
" Is that a gift? " Lin was inquisitive. He couldn't help but ask. 
" No. That's a weapon. A deadly one. If anybody on this entire planet can use it and still survive, it would be this little child. He is quite mature for his age. He knows how to use this well. 
If the dire necessity arises, you will have to take the tough decision of lowering down inside the well, along with this. It must be hard as a father but trust me. It's in our best interest. "
Nobody clearly understood what she meant but they chose to trust her judgement and wisdom nevertheless. 
The crowd had been patiently waiting for her to come back for over an hour even since but there was pin drop silence down there. 
And then sudden they all peeked down. There was movement in the water. 
As if a fish or a snake was wriglging ita way forward. 
With a loud splash, they all saw Crystal's head pop out. 
It looked like she was struggling for breath. A very absurd notion of a mermaid to be struggling for breath underwater. 
" Crystal... "
The Wolf King extending his hand towards her, almost topping inside. Luckily, Lin caught him in time, by his waist. 
" Father! That's exactly what she warned us against. Get a grip over your emotions. It's probably not even her. Some evil illusion. "
" Help me! Mia... Mia is down here. Come and save us. Come and save your love and your daughter. "
The voice started pleading as they all looked at eachother. 
" It's getting so cold. Hurry. Get us out of here please. Please my darling. Will you stand and watch me die for the second time? "
The voice grew more and more desperate . 
" Can't you come down here Wolf... "
It shrieked in an unearthly tone and then disappeared. 
Exactly at the same moment, Mia's voice was heard. 
" Lin, come and save me please. Father. Father, help me. I'm dying. I can't breathe. Father... "
Those moments were harrowing. To hear your loved ones groan and beg for help in front of your eyes, yet stand and do nothing, was a torture of the next level. 
They all had their fists clutched tight and barely holding on to their rationale. 
The clock was ticking rather slow and the moments seemed like hours for everyone. 
As soon as the clock struck the Fourth hour , they knew they had to send Akata in the well. 
"Must we really do this? "
The father in Lin was begging him not to put his son in such danger. They had no idea or knowledge about those vicious creatures. 
How was a little child supposed to tackle those monsters in there. It was stupidity.
" You must Lin. I think I know what Crystal is trying to do here. The Great Serpent was awakened against his will. 
She is trying to help him put things back in order. 
Akata is special. He isn't like other children. 
We all have our purpose in this life. Perhaps, his miraculous birth was destined for this day. "
Ruby was finally awake. She limped her way towards them as Roe ran to her side, to give her support as she tried to walk with a stick. 
Lin grabbed his little bundle and planted a vigorous kiss on his forehead. 
" Good luck little buddy. I don't know what to say but ne strong and come back safely with Mommy. "
Akata smiled and nodded. He looked super excited as he was being lowered with a rope. He could barely contain his giggles. 
The dark tower lit up as he made his way further down. 
The onlookers gasped. 
There was no longer any water at the end of the well. Nor did it look dingy and gloomy anymore. 
There was a portal at the end of it. 
A portal that lead to another world. A very very different kind of dimension. 
A place unseen to the living, naked eye, except for some chosen few.