Chapter 48: The Breaking Point and Unexpected Sacrifices
Between the Void-Wesley's final, desperate assault on Kael and the dark tentacles sprouting from the Void portal above them, Kael had to make a decision in a matter of seconds. On one side was James Wesley, with that tiny shred of humanity inside him, perhaps waiting to be saved; on the other, was a hellish portal threatening to swallow all of New York and perhaps beyond.
The Chitauri core rang like an alarm in Kael's mind, shouting the danger of the overwhelming Void energy the portal was emitting. But at the same time, the Life Seed was warming in his palm, responding to the faint echo of life within Wesley. This was one of the most difficult tests of an Echo Bearer: save a single soul or prevent a greater catastrophe that threatened millions?
Kael's decision came with the instinctive speed of a marksman. "Lion!" he shouted. "Help Fisk! Stall the portal!" He made one last move toward the Void-Wesley who was advancing on him. He focused all of his attention not on Wesley, but on the dark entity within him and the purifying power of the Life Seed.
This was an incredible risk. If he could not save Wesley, or if the portal opened completely, all would be lost. But Kael could not ignore the momentary whisper of "help" in Wesley's eyes. Perhaps this was not a trick of the Void; perhaps this was the last gasps of a true soul.
Kael pressed the Life Seed directly into Void-Wesley's chest. The pure life energy emanating from the seed burned through Wesley's body like an ember. The Void entity within him screamed more violently than ever before. Wesley's body spasmed, dark smoke billowing from his eyes and mouth. It was like an exorcism of some kind; a final battle between life and death, light and darkness.
At the same time, Fisk and Aslan were desperately fighting against the dark tentacles that were pouring out of the Void portal. Fisk's technological weapon was destroying the tentacles one by one, but new ones were quickly replacing them. Aslan supported Fisk with his agility and some echo energy deflection techniques he had learned from Kael, preventing the tentacles from wrapping around them.
"Hold on, Kael!" Aslan shouted, having seen Kael's deadly struggle with Wesley.
Kael was channeling all his willpower and the last bits of energy from his Chitauri core into the Life Seed. Wesley's body seemed to be unable to hold on any longer. The dark glow in his eyes began to fade, replaced by a pained, human expression. "Thank you... thank you..." Wesley whispered, his voice barely above a whisper. And then, his body went limp, a final wave of dark energy erupting from within him as he collapsed to the ground. The Void entity was gone, but there was no sign of Wesley's life either. The Life Seed, as if its task had been completed, glowed faintly in Kael's palm one last time before it turned to ash.
Kael fell to the ground, exhausted. Had he saved Wesley, or had he merely ended his suffering? He did not know. But he had no time to worry about that now. He turned his full attention to the Void portal, which was growing larger and larger, and from which not only tentacles but also unidentifiable shadowy figures began to appear.
"Fisk!" Kael shouted. "Increase the power of your weapon! We must close the portal!"
Fisk glared at Kael, but he too knew the seriousness of the situation. He aimed his weapon at the portal again, this time using all his strength. Kael rose to his feet with one last effort. The Chitauri core was almost completely exhausted, but Kael used the last bits of energy he had from the Great Seal and the Heart of Life, and his own inner strength as the Echo Carrier, to support Fisk's attack. Two polar opposites, two implacable enemies, now fighting side by side against a common disaster.
Their combined power created incredible pressure on the Void portal. It began to crack, twist, and collapse inward. The shadowy figures emerging from it screamed in pain and disappeared, the vortex of dark energy shrinking.
And finally, with a deafening explosion and complete silence, the Void portal closed. The ominous vortex at the top of Fisk Tower had vanished, leaving behind only destruction and the thick smell of ozone.
Kael could barely stand. Aslan rushed to his side. Fisk turned toward them, his weapon still smoking. His face showed more fatigue and reckoning than triumph.
"It would seem," Fisk said, his voice as cold as ever. "We have saved my city, Echo Carrier. But that does not mean our troubles are over."
At that moment, through the collapsed windows of the tower, bright lights and sirens began to sound, as armored and armed soldiers of a type never seen before poured in. These soldiers wore a familiar symbol on their uniforms: S.H.I.E.L.D., or a new organization rising from its ashes.
"Wilson Fisk and an unidentified accomplice," the metallic voice of one of the soldiers announced. "You are under arrest for illegal energy use, public disorder, and potential extraterrestrial threat!"
Kael and Fisk looked at each other. They had escaped one chaos, but now they were caught in a very different, and perhaps more complex, battle.